A BiGRU joint optimized attention network for recognition of drilling conditions

The identification and recording of drilling conditions are crucial for ensuring drilling safety and efficiency. However, the traditional approach of relying on the subjective determination of drilling masters based on experience formulas is slow and not suitable for rapid drilling. In this paper, we propose a drilling condition classification method based on a neural network model. The model uses an improved Bidirectional Gated Recurrent Unit (BiGRU) combined with an attention mechanism to accurately classify seven common drilling conditions simultaneously, achieving an average accuracy of 91.63%. The model also demonstrates excellent generalization ability, real-time performance, and accuracy, making it suitable for actual production. Additionally, the model has excellent expandability, which enhances its potential for further application.

海量数据冗余干扰下云数据查询的安全索引构建方法（英文）

针对云数据查询安全检索结构未能考虑数据的不确定性,在海量数据冗余干扰下无法稳定挖掘数据特征,提出一种专门针对海量数据冗余干扰的云数据查询的安全索引构建方法,其构建规则是以数据可被安全查询为基础,构建了一种新型云数据查询的安全索引结构,通过迭代法消除冗余数据,并从位于中心区域的R树开始顺次索引个体云数据,以便得到比较确切且更加安全的查询或索引结果。实验结果表明:所提方法的云数据索引规模大,数据查询效率与查准率高,具有较好的抗干扰性能,且在索引过程中能够消除大量数据冗余干扰,稳定性较好。

Chinese medicine formulas for nonalcoholic fatty liver disease: Overview of systematic reviews

BACKGROUND Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease(NAFLD)affects more than one-quarter of the global population.Due to the lack of approved chemical agents,many patients seek treatment from traditional Chinese medicine(TCM)formulas.A variety of systematic reviews have been published regarding the effectiveness and safety of TCM formulas for NAFLD.AIM To critically appraise available systematic reviews and sort out the high-quality evidence on TCM formulas for the management of NAFLD.METHODS Seven databases were systematically searched from their inception to 28 February 2020.The search terms included“non-alcoholic fatty liver disease,”“Chinese medicines,”“systematic review,”and their synonyms.Systematic reviews involving TCM formulas alone or in combination with conventional medications were included.The methodological quality and risk of bias of eligible systematic reviews were evaluated by using A Measure Tool to Assess Systematic Reviews 2(AMSTAR 2)and Risk of Bias in Systematic Review(ROBIS).The quality of outcomes was assessed by the Grading of Recommendations Assessment,Development and Evaluation(GRADE)system.RESULTS Seven systematic reviews were ultimately included.All systematic reviews were conducted based on randomized controlled trials and published in the last decade.According to the AMSTAR 2 tool,one systematic review was judged as having a moderate confidence level,whereas the other studies were rated as having a low or extremely low level of confidence.The ROBIS tool showed that the included systematic reviews all had a high risk of bias due to insufficient consideration of identified concerns.According to the GRADE system,only two outcomes were determined as high quality;namely,TCM formulas with the HuoXueHuaYu principle were better than conventional medications in ultrasound improvement,and TCM formulas were superior to antioxidants in alanine aminotransferase normalization.Other outcomes were downgraded to lower levels,mainly because of heterogeneity among studies,not meeting optimal information sample size,and inclusion of excessive numbers of small sample studies.Nevertheless,the evidence quality of extracted outcomes should be further downgraded when applying to clinical practice due to indirectness.CONCLUSION The quality of available systematic reviews was not satisfactory.Researchers should avoid repeatedly conducting systematic reviews in this area and focus on designing rigorous randomized controlled trials to support TCM formula applications.

Natural products that target macrophages in treating non-alcoholic steatohepatitis

Nonalcoholic steatohepatitis(NASH)is the progressive subtype of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease and potentiates risks for both hepatic and metabolic diseases.Although the pathophysiology of NASH is not completely understood,recent studies have revealed that macrophage activation is a major contributing factor for the disease progression.Macrophages integrate the immune response and metabolic process and have become promising targets for NASH therapy.Natural products are potential candidates for NASH treatment and have multifactorial underlying mechanisms.Macrophage involvement in the development of steatosis and inflammation in NASH has been widely investigated.In this review,we assess the evidence for natural products or their active ingredients in the modulation of macrophage activation,recruitment,and polarization,as well as the metabolic status of macrophages.Our work may highlight the possible natural products that target macrophages as potential treatment options for NASH.

地塞米松诱导的人小梁网基因表达谱变化及生物信息学分析

目的:通过生物信息学方法分析地塞米松诱导的人小梁网基因表达谱变化,揭示激素性青光眼(GIG)发病过程中可能涉及的机制。方法:从公共基因芯片数据库(GEO)获取基因表达数据集GSE37474,GEO2R筛选地塞米松组和正常小梁网之间的差异表达基因。使用DAVID数据库对差异基因进行GO功能注释和KEGG通路富集分析,使用STRING数据库和Cytoscape软件构建蛋白相互作用网络(PPI),利用CytoHubba插件筛选关键枢纽基因,最后对关键枢纽基因的mRNA表达进行RT-PCR验证。结果:与正常小梁网组织相比,地塞米松处理的小梁网组织有252个基因存在差异表达,其中141个为上调基因,111个为下调基因。GO功能注释显示差异基因主要定位于细胞外基质,参与炎症的正调控和细胞外基质重塑等生物学过程。KEGG通路富集分析显示差异基因主要参与血管平滑肌收缩、花生四烯酸代谢、醚脂质代谢和胆碱代谢。从PPI网络中筛选出7个关键枢纽基因,包括3个上调基因EDN1、FOS、LPL和4个下调基因CCL2、IGF1、PTGS2、CCL5,RT-PCR验证结果和基因表达谱芯片一致。结论:地塞米松可引起小梁网基因表达谱发生显著变化,差异基因富集到的通路及筛选到的一些关键枢纽基因在细胞外基质重塑和房水流出调控中起着重要作用,这将有助于更全面地认识GIG的分子机制。

CircRNA_0084927 promotes colorectal cancer progression by regulating miRNA-20b-3p/glutathione S-transferase mu 5 axis

BACKGROUND Colorectal cancer(CRC)is the third most common cancer and the second most common cause of cancer-related death worldwide.The 5-year survival rate of patients with early-stage CRC could reach 90%,but it is very low in patients with advanced-stage CRC.Recent studies have shown that circular RNAs play important roles in regulating the migration and invasion of CRC cells.AIM To elucidate the role of circRNA_0084927(circ_0084927)in the migration and invasion of CRC cells and its underlying mechanism.METHODS Clinical tissue samples and cells were collected,and the expression of circ_0084927 was detected by quantitative polymerase chain reaction(qPCR).The diagnostic performance of circ_0084927 was assessed by receiver operating characteristic curve analysis.The role of circ_0084927 in CRC cell proliferation,migration,and invasion was determined using cell counting kit-8 assay,wound healing assay,and transwell assay,respectively.The regulatory relationship among circ_0084927,miRNA-20b-3p(miR-20b-3p),and glutathione S-transferase mu 5(GSTM5)was identified using databases,luciferase reporter assay,qPCR,and Western blot analysis.AKT-mTOR signaling was also verified after circ_0084927 knockdown or miR-20b-3p mimic treatment.RESULTS The expression of circ_0084927 was significantly increased in CRC tissues and cells,and it was higher in advanced-stage CRC compared with early-stage CRC.The area under the curve(AUC)of circ_0084927 was 0.806[95%confidence interval(CI):0.683-0.896].In addition,the AUC was 0.874(95%CI:0.738-0.956)in patients with advanced-stage CRC and 0.713(95%CI:0.555-0.840)in those with early-stage CRC.Knockdown of circ_0084927 inhibited the migration and invasion of HCT116 cells.Moreover,circ_0084927 was found to act as a sponge of miR-20b-3p.MiR-20b-3p activation reduced the circ_0084927 level,whereas miR-20b-3p inhibition increased the circ_0084927 level.But the effect was not found after circ_0084927 mutation.In addition,miR-20b-3p expression in CRC patients was also reduced and negatively correlated with circ_0084927 expression.The function of circ_0084927 in HCT116 cells with circ_0084927 knockdown was rescued by miR-20b-3p.Moreover,GSTM5 expression was significantly decreased after overexpressing miR-20b-3p or inhibiting circ_0084927,but its expression was rescued when circ_0084927 and miR-20b-3p were both inhibited.Finally,AKTmTOR signaling was markedly regulated by circ_0084927 and miR-20b-3p.CONCLUSION The expression of circ_0084927 is significantly increased in CRC and higher in advanced-stage CRC than in early-stage CRC.Moreover,circ_0084927 potentially regulates CRC cell migration and invasion via the miR-20b-3p/GSTM5/AKT/mTOR pathway.

RNA-Seq profiling of circular RNAs in human colorectal cancer 5-fluorouracil resistance and potential biomarkers

BACKGROUND Colorectal cancer(CRC)is a commonly diagnosed cancer of the digestive system worldwide.Although chemotherapeutic agents and targeted therapeutic drugs are currently available for CRC treatment,drug resistance is a problem that cannot be ignored and needs to be solved.AIM To explore the relationship between circular RNA(circRNA)and CRC drug resistance.circRNA plays a key role in the occurrence and development of cancers,but its function in the process of drug resistance has not been widely revealed.METHODS To explore the role of circRNA in 5-fluorouracil(5-Fu)resistance,we performed the circRNA expression profile in two CRC cell lines and their homologous 5-Fu resistant cells by high-throughput sequencing.RESULTS We validated the differentially expressed circRNAs in other two paired CRC cells,confirmed that circ_0002813 and circ_0000236 could have a potential competitive endogenous RNA mechanism and be involved in the formation of 5-Fu resistance.And we combined the sequencing results of mRNA to construct the regulatory network of circRNA-miRNA-mRNA.CONCLUSION Our study revealed that circ_0002813 and circ_0000236 may as the biomarkers to predict the occurrence of 5-Fu resistance in CRC.

MKK7-mediated phosphorylation of JNKs regulates the proliferation and apoptosis of human spermatogonial stem cells

BACKGROUND Human spermatogonial stem cells(SSCs)are the basis of spermatogenesis.However,little is known about the developmental regulatory mechanisms of SSC due to sample origin and species differences.AIM To investigates the mechanisms involved in the proliferation of human SSC.METHODS The expression of mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase 7(MKK7)in human testis was identified using immunohistochemistry and western blotting(WB).MKK7 was knocked down using small interfering RNA,and cell proliferation and apoptosis were detected by WB,EdU,cell counting kit-8 and fluorescenceactivated cell sorting.After bioinformatic analysis,the interaction of MKK7 with c-Jun N-terminal kinases(JNKs)was verified by protein co-immunoprecipitation and WB.The phosphorylation of JNKs was inhibited by SP600125,and the phenotypic changes were detected by WB,cell counting kit-8 and fluorescenceactivated cell sorting.RESULTS MKK7 is mainly expressed in human SSCs,and MKK7 knockdown inhibits SSC proliferation and promotes their apoptosis.MKK7 mediated the phosphorylation of JNKs,and after inhibiting the phosphorylation of JNKs,the phenotypic changes of the cells were similar to those after MKK7 downregulation.The expression of MKK7 was significantly downregulated in patients with abnormal spermatogenesis,suggesting that abnormal MKK7 may be associated with spermatogenesis impairment.CONCLUSION MKK7 regulates the proliferation and apoptosis of human SSC by mediating the phosphorylation of JNKs.

Numerical investigations of focused wave interact with a moving cylinder

This paper presents a numerical study on focused wave and current interactions with a cylinder.The cylinder is moving in the opposite direction to the wave propagation.An effective computational decomposition method is adopted to reduce the calculation resources.A potential solver high-order spectral(HOS)method is applied to generate focused wave field,while our in-house computational fluid dynamics(CFD)solver naoe-FOAM-SJTU with overset grid takes the charge of achieving the viscous effect around the moving cylinder.The viscous domain moving with the cylinder thus the size and mesh grids in computational domain is greatly reduced.The pressure on cylinder surface and wave fields around cylinder are compared with experimental data,shows a well agreement.Meanwhile,the scattering wave field and vortex shedding are discussed.With the existence of moving cylinder,the classical scattering wave types are still observed.

Traditional Chinese Medicine Syndromes Distribution in Colorectal Cancer and its Association with Western Medicine Treatment and Clinical Laboratory Indicators

Objective:The objective of the study is to explore the traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) syndrome distribution in colorectal cancer (CRC) and its correlation with treatment methods and clinical laboratory indicators.Materials and Methods: Using the CRC cases report form of TCM,760 CRC patients with TCM four diagnosis information,western medicine treatment information and clinical laboratory indicators were collected,and TCM syndromes distribution in CRC were summarized.The correlation between TCM syndrome type and western medicine treatments,clinical laboratory indicators such as liver and kidney function,immune function,and tumor biomarkers was analyzed. Results:In 760 cases of CRC, Spleen deficiency syndrome (SDS, 25%),liver and kidney Yin deficiency syndrome (LKYDS, 13%), LKYDS-SDS,12%,spleen deficient Qi stagnation syndrome (SDQSS, 10%),and damp heat syndrome (DHS, 9%) were more common TCM syndrome types.LKYDS, SDS,LKYDS-SDS,and SDQSS were significantly distributed under different treatment methods (P < 0.001).There was no statistically significant difference in the distribution of immune fUnction and cytokine among the five TCM syndromes (P > 0.05),but there was statistically significant difference in the distribution of blood routine,liver and kidney function, and tumor biomarkers (P < 0.05). Conclusion: LKYDS,SDS,LKYDS-SDS, SDQSS,and DHS were the first five TCM syndromes in CRC.There were the significant correlations between the distribution of TCM syndrome and the clinical laboratory indicators,and the distribution of TCM syndromes was affected by surgery, radiotherapy,and chemotherapy.

Influence of sperm morphology on pregnancy outcome and offspring in in vitro fertilization and intracytoplasmic sperm injection:a matched case-control study

Sperm morphology was once believed as one of the most predictive indicators of pregnancy outcome in assisted reproductive technology(ART).However,the impact of teratozoospermia on in vitro fertilization(IVF)/intracytoplasmic sperm injection(ICSI)outcomes and its offspring remains inconclusive.In order to evaluate the influence of teratozoospermia on pregnancy outcome and newborn status after IVF and ICSI,a retrospective study was conducted.This was a matched case-control study that included 2202 IVF cycles and 2574 ICSI cycles and was conducted at the Reproductive and Genetic Hospital of CITIC-Xiangya in Changsha,China,from June 2013 to June 2018.Patients were divided into two groups based on sperm morphology:teratozoospermia and normal sperm group.The pregnancy outcome and newborn outcome were analyzed.The results indicated that couples with teratozoospermia had a significantly lower optimal embryo rate compared to those with normal sperm morphology in IVF(P=0.007),while there were no statistically significant differences between the two groups in terms of the fertilization rate,cleavage rate,implantation rate,and pregnancy rate(all P>0.05).Additionally,teratozoospermia was associated with lower infant birth weight in multiple births after IVF.With regard to ICSI,there was no significant difference in both pregnancy outcome and newborn outcome between the teratozoospermia and normal groups(both P>0.05).Furthermore,no increase in the risk of birth defects occurred in the teratozoospermia group after IVF/ICSI.Consequently,we believe that teratozoospermia has limited predictive value for pregnancy outcomes in IVF/ICSI,and has little impact on the resulting offspring if multiple pregnancy is avoided.

Ginsenoside Rb1 Pretreatment Attenuates Myocardial Ischemia by Reducing Calcium/Calmodulin-Dependent Protein Kinase Ⅱ-Medicated Calcium Release

Objective:The aim of this study was to investigate the protective effects of ginsenoside Rb1 and assess whether these protective effects are related to calcium/calmodulin-dependent protein kinaseⅡ(Ca MKⅡ).Methods:A myocardial ischemia(IS)rat.model and a myocardial H9 C2 cell hypoxia model were established.MI was induced by occluding the left anterior descending artery for 120 min.Ginsenoside Rb1(10 mg/kg)was administered 30 min before ischemia induction,and the treatment continued for 7 days.Results:In the rat IS injury model,ginsenoside Rb1 reduced myocardial infarct size,mean left ventricular diastolic pressure,incidence of arrhythmia,and levels of serum creatine kinase,lactate dehydrogenase,and malondialdehyde.However,the mean left ventricular systolic pressure,and maximal rising and falling rates of ventricular pressure(±dp/dtmax)increased.In the myocardial H9 C2 cell hypoxia model,ginsenoside Rb1 reduced intracellular calcium concentrations([Ca2+]i)during hypoxia,and markedly reversed the hypoxia-induced decrease in cell survival.Ginsenoside Rb1 was involved in the downregulation of CaMKⅡand the ryanodine receptor,as well as hypoxia-induced H9 C2 cell survival.Conclusion:The findings of the present study suggest that ginsenoside Rb1 attenuates MI injury in rats,partially through the downregulation of CaMKⅡexpression.

Appraisal of treatment outcomes in integrative medicine using metabonomics:Taking non-alcoholic fatty liver disease with spleen deficiency syndrome as an example

Objective:Appraisal of treatment outcomes in integrative medicine is a challenge due to a gap between the concepts of Western medicine(WM)disease and traditional Chinese medicine(TCM)syndrome.This study presents an approach for the appraisal of integrative medicine that is based on targeted metabolomics.We use non-alcoholic fatty liver disease with spleen deficiency syndrome as a test case.Methods:A patient-reported outcome(PRO)scale was developed based on literature review,Delphi consensus survey,and reliability and validity test,to quantitatively evaluate spleen deficiency syndrome.Then,a metabonomic foundation for the treatment of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease with spleen deficiency syndrome was identified via a longitudinal interventional trial and targeted metabolomics.Finally,an integrated appraisal model was established by identifying metabolites that responded in the treatment of WM disease and TCM syndrome as positive outcomes and using other aspects of the metabonomic foundation as independent variables.Results:Ten symptoms and signs were included in the spleen deficiency PRO scale.The internal reliability,content validity,discriminative validity and structural validity of the scale were all qualified.Based on treatment responses to treatments for WM disease(homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance)or TCM syndrome(spleen deficiency PRO scale score)from a previous randomized controlled trial,two cohorts comprised of 30 participants each were established for targeted metabolomics detection.Twenty-five metabolites were found to be involved in successful treatment outcomes to both WM and TCM,following quantitative comparison and multivariate analysis.Finally,the model of the integrated appraisal system was exploratively established using binary logistic regression;it included 9 core metabolites and had the prediction probability of 83.3%.Conclusion:This study presented a new and comprehensive research route for integrative appraisal of treatment outcomes for WM disease and TCM syndrome.Critical research techniques used in this research included the development of a TCM syndrome assessment tool,a longitudinal interventional trial with verified TCM treatment,identification of homogeneous metabolites,and statistical modeling.

Visible-light-mediated external-reductant-free reductive cross coupling of benzylammonium salts with(hetero)aryl nitriles

Herein we report a novel visible-light-mediated external reductant-free reductive cross coupling for the construction of C sp2–C sp3 bonds.A variety of benzylammonium salts underwent selective coupling with(hetero)aryl nitriles to deliver important diarylmethanes under mild reaction conditions.Importantly,photocatalysts can be omitted for many cases,which might involve the electron donor acceptor(EDA)complex.Mechanistic studies indicated benzylic radicals might be involved as the key intermediates.Moreover,the in situ generated NMe3 via cleavage of C–N bond in ammonium salts acts as the electron donor,thus avoiding the use of external-reductant.

Update on techniques for cryopreservation of human spermatozoa

In the 1960s,sperm cryopreservation was developed as a method to preserve fertility.Currently,techniques for the cryopreservation of human spermatozoa have been widely used in assisted reproduction.However,although sperm cryobiology has made notable achievements,the optimal method for the recovery of viable spermatozoa after cryopreservation remains elusive.Postthawing sperm quality can be affected by cryoprotectants,ice formation,storage conditions,and osmotic stress during the freezing process.This review discusses recent advances in different cryopreservation techniques,cryoprotectants,and freezing and thawing methods during cryopreservation and new indications for the use of cryopreserved spermatozoa.

Therapeutic Effect of Jianpi Decoction Combined with Chemotherapy on Postoperative Treatment of Colorectal Cancer: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis

Objective:The purpose of this systematic review is to assess the therapeutic effect of Jianpi decoctions in Chinese herbal medicines(CHM)combined with chemotherapy on the postoperative treatment of colorectal cancer.Methods:Literatures were obtained from Wanfang database,CNKI,Pub Med,Cqvip,MEDLINE,Cochrane,CBM,and Springer LINK as well as other conference papers and theses.The search included all documents in English or Chinese published before September 2018.We selected randomized controlled trials based on specific criteria and the most important criteria were that Jianpi decoction should be applied in combination with chemotherapy on the postoperative treatment of colorectal cancer.Results:Publications in eight electronic databases were extensively searched and 20 trials were included for analysis eventually.A total of 1652 patients in total were enrolled in these studies.Among them,879 patients received CHM and Western medicine combination therapy and another 773 participants only got Western medicine therapy.Compared with those patients receiving Western medicine alone,the survival rate of 1-year(odds ratio[OR]=2.35,95%confidence limit[Cl]=1.30–4.28,P<0.05),3-year(OR=2.02,95%Cl=1.49–2.73,P<0.001),and 5-year survival rate(OR=2.32,95%Cl=1.56–3.45,P<0.001)of patients in the group of Jianpi decoctions in CHM and chemotherapy combination has significantly increased.Moreover,results also showed positive effects on immunoregulation such as CD3^+(OR=0.68,95%confidence interval[CI]=0.52–0.85,P<0.0001),CD4^+/CD8^+(OR=0.77,95%CI=0.29–1.26,P<0.05).Side effects caused by chemotherapy such as nausea(OR=0.35,95%CI=0.25–0.50,P<0.0001)and vomiting(OR=0.32,95%CI=0.22–0.46,P<0.0001),diarrhea(OR=0.42,95%CI=0.30–0.60,P<0.0001),as well as metastasis and recurrence(OR=0.38,95%CI=0.24–0.61,P<0.001)were remarkably reduced.The quality of life(OR=4.40,95%Cl=2.86–6.77,P<0.0001)has been improved.Moreover,there was no statistically significant bias in the overall studies.Conclusion:This systematic review suggests that Jianpi decoction in CHM can reduce the chemotherapy toxicity,enhance the patient's immunity,prolong their survival rate,improve their quality of life as well as prevent metastasis,and recurrence for patients in postoperative treatment of colorectal cancer.

Visible-Light-Driven Anti-Markovnikov Hydrocarboxylation of Acrylates and Styrenes with CO_(2)

Light-driven carbon dioxide(CO_(2))capture and utilization is one of the most fundamental reactions in Nature.Herein,we report the first visible-light-driven photocatalyst-free hydrocarboxylation of alkenes with CO_(2).Diverse acrylates and styrenes,including challenging tri-and tetrasubstituted ones,undergo anti-Markovnikov hydrocarboxylation with high selectivities to generate valuable succinic acid derivatives and 3-arylpropionic acids.In addition to the use of stoichiometric aryl thiols,the thiol catalysis is also developed,representing the first visible-lightdriven organocatalytic hydrocarboxylation of alkenes with CO_(2).The UV-vis measurements,NMR analyses,and computational investigations support the formation of a novel charge-transfer complex(CTC)between thiolate and acrylate/styrene.Further mechanistic studies and density functional theory(DFT)calculations indicate that both alkene and CO_(2)radical anions might be generated,illustrating the unusual selectivities and providing a novel strategy for CO_(2)utilization.

A comparative study of methods for remediation of diesel-contaminated soil

Soil pollution by diesel fuels is a worldwide environmental problem,but little research has been carried out into on-site techniques for remediation of soil polluted by waste solvents.This study compared chemical oxidation and soil washing methods for their efficiency and environmental and economic impacts.Soil was spiked with 0#diesel to simulate an actual pollution level of about 1260 mg/kg total petroleum hydrocarbon(TPH).Fenton-like oxidation eliminated 90.4%of the TPH with a Fe2+׃H2O2 ratio of 1:10 in 5 d compared with 25.8%removal by the activated persulfate method under the same conditions.In washing tests,sodium dodecylbenzenesulfonate and Tween 80 were both unsuitable for TPH washing,while ultrapure water removed 36.1%of TPH in 75 min.Only the Fenton-like oxidation technique met remediation goals based on the screening values of the Guideline for Risk Assessment of Contaminated Sites.The environmental impact and economic assessment of techniques demonstrated the superiority of water washing for dealing with low-degree TPH contamination.

Integrated miRNA and mRNA Analysis Identified Potential Mechanisms and Targets of Qianggan Extracts in Preventing Nonalcoholic Steatohepatitis

Objective: Qianggan(QG) extract is a patented traditional Chinese medicine that has been widely used for the clinical treatment of nonalcoholic steatohepatitis(NASH). However, its mechanism remains unclear. Methods: The efficacy of QG was evaluated in mice with methionine-and-choline-deficient diet-induced NASH by measuring serum alanine aminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferase, and alkaline phosphatase levels and by H and E staining of liver sections. Microarray and bioinformatics analyses were performed to obtain hepatic micro RNA(mi RNA) and m RNA expression profiles and to mine potential mechanisms and therapeutic targets. Furthermore, representative mi RNA and m RNA expression levels were validated by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction(q RT-PCR). Results: QG extract significantly improved NASH. Twelve differentially expressed mi RNAs and 1124 differentially changed m RNAs were identified as potential targets of QG extract. Integrated analysis detected 976 mi RNA–m RNA regulatory pairs, and networks including 11 mi RNAs and 427 m RNAs were constructed by Cytoscape. Hub nodes including mi R-7050-5p, mi R-212-3p, Bcl2l11, and Kras were filtered out. Gene Ontology and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes pathway analyses revealed that 427 m RNAs were enriched in pathways including apoptotic process, immune response, Fox O signaling pathway, and natural killer cell-mediated cytotoxicity. We also constructed a protein–protein interaction network with 254 nodes, and identified hub genes including Kras, Fasl, and Ncam1. Finally, the results of q RT-PCR were in good accordance with microarray data. Conclusion: This study identified important hub mi RNAs and m RNAs involved in the mechanism of QG extract and which might provide potential therapeutic targets for patients with NASH.

Exploring the impact of pericentric inversion ofchromosome 9 on fertility in sperm donors

Pericentric inversion of chromosome 9(inv[9])is a common chromosomal structural variant,but its impact on clinical outcomesremains debated.The screening criteria of sperm banks are rarely mentioned to individuals with inv(9).In this study,we evaluatedthe fertility of sperm donors with inv(9)who met eligibility criteria for sperm banks(inv[9]-eligible donors).From March 2004 toMay 2022,chromosomal analysis of 16124 sperm donors at CITIC-Xiangya Human Sperm Bank in Hunan Province(Changsha,China)found that 251(1.6%)had chromosome variations,with inv(9)being the most prevalent at 1.1%.All 169 inv(9)-eligibledonors were contacted to collect fertility outcome data,along with 206 eligible donors without inv(9)as controls.In addition,semen samples from inv(9)-eligible donors and eligible donors underwent assessments of sperm fluorescence in situ hybridization(FISH),mitochondrial membrane potential,DNA fragmentation index,acrosome integrity,reactive oxygen species(ROS),andsperm morphology.Results showed that inv(9)did not significantly increase reproductive risks overall.Despite detecting ROSlevel differences,the clinical impact may be insignificant.This study provides new data on the inv(9)population that can serveas a valuable reference for decision-making by sperm banks as well as for genetic counseling and clinical guidance for individualscarrying inv(9)variant.