Reform of Teaching Practice of Modern Instrumental Analysis in Biotechnology Programs

Through the online and offline practical reform of the Modern Instrumental Analysis course of biotechnology majors from teaching content,teaching method,teaching demonstration to teaching effect,the traditional single offline lecture is transformed into diversified and interactive modern teaching.The practical reform enriches and optimizes the course content,perfects and improves the course assessment system,and improves the teaching quality.It achieves the student-centered and application-oriented teaching goal,and also provides reference for further cultivating high-quality applied talents.

Weekly albumin-bound paclitaxel/cisplatin versus gemcitabine/cisplatin as first-line therapy for patients with advanced non-small-cell lung cancer:A phase II open-label clinical study

Objective: The aim of this trial was to compare both the efficacy and the safety of a weekly nanoparticle albumin-bound paclitaxel(nab-paclitaxel) plus cisplatin vs. gemcitabine plus cisplatin in patients with advanced non-small-cell lung cancer(NSCLC).Methods: A total of 84 participants received either 100 mg/m^2 nab-paclitaxel each week on d 1, 8 and 15 of a 28 day cycle, as well as cisplatin 75 mg/m^2 on d 1 every three weeks(nab-TP arm); or gemcitabine 1,000 mg/m^2 on d 1 and 8, plus cisplatin 75 mg/m^2 on d 1 every three weeks(GP arm). The primary end point was progression-free survival(PFS). The secondary end points were overall response rate(ORR) and overall survival(OS).Results: According to our analysis, the median PFS was 4.8 months for the nab-TP arm vs. 5.2 months for the GP arm(P=0.55). Analysis showed the median OS was 14.6 months for participants who were in the nab-TP arm vs. 15.1 months for those in the GP arm(P=0.94). Besides, nab-TP showed OS advantages over GP in patients harboring epidermal growth factor receptor(EGFR) mutation(26.7 vs. 15.3 months, P=0.046) and patients with a performance status of 0(23.5 vs. 14.7 months, P=0.020). It was found that incidences of drug-related grade 3 or 4 toxicities were comparable between the two treatment arms.Conclusions: Therefore, it can be seen that weekly nab-TP treatment has a similar efficacy and tolerability to GP treatment for patients who are undergoing their first-line treatment for NSCLC. It could be that survival differences among platinum doublets in the context of both EGFR mutation and performance status have the potential to be the basis for our further clinical trials.

SARS-CoV-2 Entry Factors: ACE2 and TMPRSS2 Are Expressed in Peri-Implantation Embryos and the Maternal–Fetal Interface

在全球肆虐的严重急性呼吸综合征冠状病毒2(severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2,SARS-CoV-2)导致了大量人群感染,血管紧张素转化酶2(angiotensin-converting enzyme 2, ACE2)是SARS-CoV和SARS-CoV-2的受体蛋白。然而是否存在SARS-CoV-2的垂直传播仍颇有争议。为了探讨SARS-CoV-2垂直传播的潜在风险,我们利用已发表的单细胞转录组数据观察了围着床期胚胎和母胎界面上ACE2和TMPRSS2(编码跨膜丝氨酸蛋白酶2)的转录表达情况。结果显示,ACE2和TMPRSS2在第6天(D6)围着床期胚胎的滋养外胚层(trophectoderm, TE)细胞、妊娠第8周的合胞滋养层(syncytiotrophoblast at 8 weeks of gestation, STB8W)细胞以及妊娠第24周的绒毛外滋养层(extravillous trophoblasts at 24 weeks of gestation, EVT24W)细胞中均存在明显的共表达现象,表明这些细胞类群可能易被SARS-CoV-2感染。在这三个细胞类群中,ACE2阳性表达细胞相对于阴性细胞在自噬和免疫相关过程中存在差异。尽管ACE2的表达水平在围着床期胚胎中没有表现出性别偏差,但是其在D6 TE、第6天围着床期胚胎的原始内胚层(D6 primitive endoderm, D6 PE)细胞以及ACE2阳性表达的STB细胞中存在明显的性别差异。这表明围着床期发育第6天以及妊娠期胚胎对SARS-CoV-2的易感性可能存在性别差异。我们的结果揭示了胚胎移植过程中,围着床期以及妊娠期胚胎面临着SARS-CoV-2的潜在感染风险。

Successful treatment of hyperglycemia with liraglutide in a hospitalized 27-year-old patient with schizophrenia:A case report

BACKGROUND Antipsychotics are associated with abnormalities in glucose metabolism in patients with schizophrenia. Liraglutide, a GLP-1 receptor agonist, is Food and Drug Administration approved for the treatment of type 2 diabetes mellitus. However, ways to maintain the long-term stability of psychotic symptoms and balance the disadvantages of obesity, diabetes, and other metabolic disorders caused by antipsychotic medications remain unclear. In this study, we present a case of weight gain and hyperglycemia in a schizophrenia patient who received antipsychotic polypharmacy for 6 years.CASE SUMMARY A 27-year-old man with olanzapine and sodium valproate-treated disorganized schizophrenia was admitted to a diabetes outpatient clinic. He was diagnosed with type 2 diabetes(fasting blood glucose, 20 mmol/L) and obesity(body mass index, 38.58 kg/m). The patient had been treated with glargine(40 IU/d) and metformin(1.5 g/d) and showed a poor response for 2 mo. Two years of liraglutide treatment resulted in stable blood glucose levels and weight loss in addition to a maintained stable mental status for a long time. The biological activities of GLP-1 significantly improved glucose levels and body weight in the schizophrenia patient treated with antipsychotic medications.CONCLUSION Liraglutide administration can be considered an effective alternative treatment for abnormalities in glucose metabolism in schizophrenia patients receiving antipsychotics.

Alteration of ERβ gene Rsal polymorphism may contribute to reduced fertilization rate and embryonic developmental competence

This paper aims to determine the possible role of estrogen receptor-β （ERβ） gene Rsal polymorphism on sperm fertility and early embryonic development in humans. Three groups of Chinese men were recruited： in vitro fertilization （IVF） group, including 374 couples who underwent conventional IVF; intracytoplasmic sperm injection （ICSI） group, including 294 couples who underwent an ICSI procedure using ejaculated sperm; and azoospermic group, consisting of 197 couples who underwent ICSI using either testis or epididymis sperm. Rsal polymorphism in the ERβ gene was detected by polymerase chain reaction （PCR）-restriction fragment length polymorphism technique; fertilization and high-quality embryo rates were evaluated for each group. In each group, no significant differences were found in the overall rates of fertilization and high-quality embryos among GG, AG and AA genotypes. However, the proportion of cycles possessing a satisfactory high-quality embryo rate with the AA genotype was significantly lower than that in the wild-type GG genotype from each group. These results demonstrated that sperm possessing the ERβ RsalA genotype may have reduced fertilization ability and decreased early embryonic developmental potential, which could directly or indirectly contribute to the low fertilization rate and early embryonic developmental arrest in some cases.

Strategic Scientific and Technological Capacity-Building in Clinical Medicine in China:Taking the Innovative Development of Reproductive Medicine at Peking University Third Hospital as an Example

Based on the macroanalysis of the unbalanced development of the"demand side"and the"supply side"of clinical medicine in China,this paper elucidates the stakeholders,resources,and ecosystem of the strategic scientific and technological capacity-building and calls for a larger coverage,smoother supply chain,and more sustainable ecosystem to ensure the development of clinical medicine.Furthermore,focusing on the establishment and development of clinical reproductive health in China,the authors introduce the strategic scientific and technological capacity-building of reproductive medicine in Peking University Third Hospital,with an attempt to inform similar efforts in other fields and even the whole clinical medicine in China.

Construction of RNAi Expression Vector against Riboflavin Synthase Gene

[Objective] This study aimed to construct RNAi expression vector against r/boflavin synthase （RS） gene. [Method] By using the primers designed based on RS gone coding sequence that was screened from Arabidopsis cDNA library, the 476 bp cDNA fragment of RS was amplified from pGADTT-RS recombinant plasmid, and then cloned into pUCm-T vector to obtain pUCm-RS. Two RS fragments （476 bp） were obtained through digesting pUCm-RS with restriction enzymes PstI/BamHI and PstI / Xhol, and then respectively connected into vector pBSSK-in to form pBSSK-RS-in-RS, in which the two RS fragments were inverted re- peats. Finally, the transform unit RS-intron-RS, got by digesting vector pBSSK-RS-in-RS with Sac I and Kpn I, was ligated into expression vector pCAMBIA1301 to obtain the RS gene silencing vector. [ Result] The restriction enzyme digestion sequencing analysis proved that the RS gene silencing vector was successfully con- structed. [ Conclusion] This study may provide a basic material for further studies on the bio-function of RS gene and the mechanism of signal transduction induced by HpaGxoo in plant.

Determination of the Content of Gastrodin in Jingtianshenma Tablets by High Performance Liquid Chromatography

[Objectives]The research aimed to establish a high performance liquid chromatography method for the content determination of gastrodin in Jingtianshenma Tablets.[Methods]A phenomenex Luna C18(250 mm×4.6 mm,5μm)column was used;the mobile phase was acetonitrile-0.05%phosphoric acid solution(3∶97);the detection wavelength was 220 nm,and the column temperature was set at 25℃.[Results]Gastrodin showed a good linear relationship in the range of 0.0984-0.5904μg with the peak area,and regression equation was Y=2000000X-51999(r=0.9999).The limits of detection and quantification for gastrodin were 2.50 and 4.20 ng respectively,and the average recovery rate was 95.95%.[Conclusions]This method is sensitive,accurate and reproducible,with good linearity,and it is suitable for the content determination of gastrodin in health food Jingtianshenma Tablets.

GametesOmics:A Comprehensive Multi-omics Database for Exploring the Gametogenesis in Humans and Mice

Gametogenesis plays an important role in the reproduction and evolution of species.The transcriptomic and epigenetic alterations in this process can influence the reproductive capacity,fertilization,and embryonic development.The rapidly increasing single-cell studies have provided valuable multi-omics resources.However,data from different layers and sequencing platforms have not been uniformed and integrated,which greatly limits their use for exploring the molecular mechanisms that underlie oogenesis and spermatogenesis.Here,we develop GametesOmics,a comprehensive database that integrates the data of gene expression,DNA methylation,and chromatin accessibility during oogenesis and spermatogenesis in humans and mice.GametesOmics provides a user-friendly website and various tools,including Search and Advanced Search for querying the expression and epigenetic modification(s)of each gene;Tools with Differentially expressed gene(DEG)analysis for identifying DEGs,Correlation analysis for demonstrating the genetic and epigenetic changes,Visualization for displaying single-cell clusters and screening marker genes as well as master transcription factors(TFs),and MethylView for studying the genomic distribution of epigenetic modifications.GametesOmics also provides Genome Browser and Ortholog for tracking and comparing gene expression,DNA methylation,and chromatin accessibility between humans and mice.GametesOmics offers a comprehensive resource for biologists and clinicians to decipher the cell fate transition in germ cell development,and can be accessed at http://gametesomics.cn/.

Innovative insights into extrachromosomal circular DNAs in gynecologic tumors and reproduction

Originating but free from chromosomal DNA,extrachromosomal circular DNAs(eccDNAs)are organized in circular form and have long been found in unicellular and multicellular eukaryotes.Their biogenesis and function are poorly understood as they are characterized by sequence homology with linear DNA,for which few detection methods are available.Recent advances in high-throughput sequencing technologies have revealed that eccDNAs play crucial roles in tumor formation,evolution,and drug resistance as well as aging,genomic diversity,and other biological processes,bringing it back to the research hotspot.Several mechanisms of eccDNA formation have been proposed,including the breakage-fusion-bridge(BFB)and translocation-deletion-amplification models.Gynecologic tumors and disorders of embryonic and fetal development are major threats to human reproductive health.The roles of eccDNAs in these pathological processes have been partially elucidated since the first discovery of eccDNA in pig sperm and the double minutes in ovarian cancer ascites.The present review summarized the research history,biogenesis,and currently available detection and analytical methods for eccDNAs and clarified their functions in gynecologic tumors and reproduction.We also proposed the application of eccDNAs as drug targets and liquid biopsy markers for prenatal diagnosis and the early detection,prognosis,and treatment of gynecologic tumors.This review lays theoretical foundations for future investigations into the complex regulatory networks of eccDNAs in vital physiological and pathological processes.

Associations between thyroid function and autoimmunity indicators and in vitro fertilization/intracytoplasmic sperm injection outcomes in euthyroid PCOS women

To the Editor:Polycystic ovary syndrome(PCOS),characterized by oligo-anovulation,hyperandrogenism,and polycystic ovaries,is the most common endocrinopathy affecting 5-15%of women of reproductive age.[1,2]It can result in a wide range of endocrine and metabolic disorders,including anovulatory infertility,insulin resistance,impaired glucose tolerance,diabetes,obesity,dyslipidemia,and cardiovascular disease,which can occur in different combinations and with different intensities.

Identification of risk genes in Chinese nonobstructive azoospermia patients based on whole-exome sequencing

Nonobstructive azoospermia(NOA)is a severe condition in infertile men,and increasing numbers of causative genes have been identified during the last few decades.Although certain causative genes can explain the presence of NOA in some patients,a proportion of NOA patients remain to be addressed.This study aimed to investigate potential high-risk genes associated with spermatogenesis in idiopathic NOA patients by whole-exome sequencing.Whole-exome sequencing was performed in 46 male patients diagnosed with NOA.First,screening was performed for 119 genes known to be related to male infertility.Next,further screening was performed to determine potential high-risk causative genes for NOA by comparisons with 68 healthy male controls.Finally,risk genes with high/specific expression in the testes were selected and their expression fluctuations during spermatogenesis were graphed.The frequency of cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator(CFTR)gene pathogenic variant carriers was higher in the NOA patients compared with the healthy controls.Potential risk genes that may be causes of NOA were identified,including seven genes that were highly/specifically expressed in the testes.Four risk genes previously reported to be involved in spermatogenesis(MutS homolog 5[MSH5],cilia-and flagella-associated protein 54[CFAP54],MAP7 domain containing 3[MAP7D3],and coiled-coil domain containing 33[CCDC33])and three novel risk genes(coiled-coil domain containing 168[CCDC168],chromosome 16 open reading frame 96[C16orf96],and serine protease 48[PRSS48])were identified to be highly or specifically expressed in the testes and significantly different in the 46 NOA patients compared with 68 healthy controls.This study on clinical NOA patients provides further evidence for the four previously reported risk genes.The present findings pave the way for further functional investigations and provide candidate risk genes for genetic diagnosis of NOA.

Review on degradation mechanism and health state estimation methods of lithium-ion batteries

State of health(SOH)estimation is important for a lithium-ion battery(LIB)health state management system,and accurate estimation of SOH is influenced by the degree of degradation of the LIB.However,considering the complex electrochemical reactions within Li electrons and the influence of many external factors on internal reactions,it is difficult to accurately estimate the SOH based on the surface state characteristics of the battery(including current,voltage,and temperature).Thus,in this study,the knowledge graph method is employed to analyze keyword co-occurrences and citations in the literature on LIB degradation and SOH estimation to determine research hotspots.Based on the research trends,findings regarding the internal and external degradation mechanisms and influencing factors of(LIBs)are reorganized,and chemical and physical degradation processes,including solid electrolyte interface(SEI)layer formation,fracture,Li plating,and dendrite formation,are systematically introduced based on the modeling perspective.The interrelationships between these degradation factors and their effects on capacity and power decay as well as their correlation with SOH estimation are evaluated.Additionally,a comparative analysis of existing SOH estimation methods is presented,and the applicable scenarios and technical problems of each method are summarized.The key issues such as model simplification,estimation methods based on random data,and second-life SOH are also analyzed and discussed.The results show that the estimation results of methods mixing multiple models tend to be more accurate.Finally,the development trend of SOH estimation methods under complex degradation conditions and usage scenarios is analytically discussed.

Characterization of mesenchymal stem cells in human fetal bone marrow by single-cell transcriptomic and functional analysis

Bone marrow mesenchymal stromal/stem cells (MSCs) are a heterogeneous population that can self-renew and generate stroma,cartilage, fat, and bone. Although a significant progress has been made toward recognizing about the phenotypic characteristics ofMSCs, the true identity and properties of MSCs in bone marrow remain unclear. Here, we report the expression landscape of humanfetal BM nucleated cells (BMNCs) based on the single-cell transcriptomic analysis. Unexpectedly, while the common cell surfacemarkers such as CD146, CD271, and PDGFRa used for isolating MSCs were not detected, LIFR+PDGFRB+ were identified to bespecific markers of MSCs as the early progenitors. In vivo transplantation demonstrated that LIFR+PDGFRB+CD45-CD31-CD235a-MSCs could form bone tissues and reconstitute the hematopoietic microenvironment (HME) effectively in vivo. Interestingly, wealso identified a subpopulation of bone unipotent progenitor expressing TM4SF1+CD44+CD73+CD45-CD31-CD235a-, which hadosteogenic potentials, but could not reconstitute HME. MSCs expressed a set of different transcription factors at the different stagesof human fetal bone marrow, indicating that the stemness properties of MSCs might change during development. Moreover,transcriptional characteristics of cultured MSCs were significantly changed compared with freshly isolated primary MSCs. Ourcellular profiling provides a general landscape of heterogeneity, development, hierarchy, microenvironment of the human fetal BMderivedstem cells at single-cell resolution.

POvaStim:An online tool for directing individualized FSH doses in ovarian stimulation

Individualized controlled ovarian stimulation(COS)is a milestone for treatment of infertility.^(1)The two acknowledged time points for individualized ovarian stim-ulation are,one,the beginning of each new treatment cycle when the starting dose is selected and,two,during a given COS cycle when dose adjustment is performed.A few algorithms for directing the follicle-stimulating hormone(FSH)dose have been developed.The number of oocytes retrieved(NOR)during ovarian stimulation was used as the outcome variable,and then the outcome variable and independent variables are stratified and a dose suggested by considering their experience.

Preimplantation genetic testing guidelines of International Society of Reproductive Genetics

The International Society of Reproductive Genetics(ISRG)assembled a workgroup made up of clinicians,clinical laboratory directors,and scientists for the purpose of creating the guidelines for preimplantation genetic testing(PGT).The most up-to-date information and clinical insights for the optimal PGT practice were incorporated in these guidelines.Recommendations are provided for embryologists,medical geneticists,clinical laboratorians,and other healthcare providers to improve the wellbeing of patients seeking assisted reproductive treatment and their offspring.

The Long-Term Impacts of COVID-19 on Physical and Psychological Health—Beijing Municipality,China,December 2022–April 2023

Summary What is already known about this topic?Reports detailing the clinical presentation of coronavirus disease 2019(COVID-19)are extensive in China.However,data remains limited regarding the long-term effects of the 2022 outbreak on the community and healthcare workers(HCWs).What is added by this report?In the follow-up study conducted with 1,069 community members and 3,309 HCWs infected with COVID-19,we observed that five months postoutbreak,39.2%of community members and 28.7%of HCWs reported experiencing at least one symptom.The symptoms most frequently reported included fatigue or muscle weakness,insomnia,cognitive dysfunction,hair loss,joint or muscle pain,and persistent cough.HCWs tended to experience fewer long-term physical consequences and their symptoms had an expedited recovery time compared to the community members.Nevertheless,HCWs displayed a higher prevalence of moderate to severe depression and anxiety.

OvaRePred:Online tool for predicting the age of fertility milestones

Ovarian reserve is the quantity of primordial follicles present in the ovarian cortex that have the potential to mature into healthy oocytes.A high ovarian reserve typically results in a high chance of a successful pregnancy for couples.Fertility declines as women age because of changes in the ovarian reserve,and this decline is called ovarian aging.Diminished ovarian reserve(DOR)can impact fertility regardless of chronological age and can lead to embryonic aneuploidy,fertilization failure,and high pregnancy loss rates.Therefore,it is important to consider ovarian reserve when evaluating the potential effect of aging on fertility,rather than relying solely on chronological age.Many women are unaware of the heterogeneity in ovarian reserve and ovarian aging.Whereas irregular cycles and menopause are easily identifiable,these signs often indicate extremely low fertility,leaving limited available interventions.

The role of clinical trials in advancing reproductive medicine: a comprehensive overview

Reproductive health encompasses the entire spectrum of reproductive processes and functions throughout a person’s life,playing a vital role in the harmonious development of populations,economies,and societies.This critical aspect has garnered increasing global attention.Ensuring sexual and reproductive health stands as a fundamental step toward achieving the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal(SDG)by 2030[1].Despite extensive efforts,both China and the world at large confront a multitude of reproductive challenges.These challenges encompass declining fertility rates[2,3],high prevalence of birth defects,and the presence of various reproductive diseases that threaten fetal development.These issues contribute to emotional distress,relationship problems,social stigmatization,and an increased risk of adult-onset diseases,imposing a significant burden on individuals and society[2].In the realm of human reproductive health research,epidemiological approaches have played a pivotal role.

The Incidence of Moderate and Severe Ovarian Hyperstimulation Syndrome in Hospitalized Patients in China

Background:Ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome(OHSS)occurs in women receiving fertility treatments.Moderate and severe OHSS cases are required to be admitted to hospital for treatment.The incidence of moderate and severe OHSS and the characteristics of these cases are unknown in China.We aimed to assess the incidence of moderate and severe OHSS in national databases from China between 2013 and 2017.Methods:We extracted moderate and severe OHSS cases from the Hospital Quality Monitoring System,the nationwide inpatient data collection system.We used ovum pick-up(OPUbaidu)cycle data from the annual report of China’s National Health Commission,developed on the basis of OPU data collected by National ART Management Information System.Overall incidence of moderate and severe OHSS(women aged 20 to 50 years)and year-specific incidence by each calendar year in China were calculated.We also investigated the age distribution in OHSS and OHSS with different comorbidities.Results:We extracted 18,022 eligible patients with moderate or severe OHSS and 1,581,703 OPU cycles.The overall incidence of moderate and severe OHSS between 2013 and 2017 was 1.14%.The year-specific moderate and severe OHSS incidence was 1.1%in 2013,1.4%in 2014,1.4%in 2015,1.1%in 2016,0.9%in 2017,respectively.Women aged 26 to 30 years accounted for 48.4%of OHSS cases,followed by women aged 31 to 35 years(30%)and 20 to 25 years(14.2%).The age distribution pattern was consistent across OHSS with different comorbidities.Conclusions:This study reported the incidence of moderate and severe OHSS in China using nationwide data for the first time.Our findings support that women aged under 35 years receiving assisted reproductive technology need more attention than other age groups in terms of OHSS risk control.