Previous studies have proved that activation of aldehyde dehydrogenase two (ALDH2) can attenuate oxidative stress through clearance of cytotoxic aldehydes, and can protect against cardiac, cerebral, and lung ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) injuries. In this study, we investigated the effects of the ALDH2 activator Alda-1 on hepatic I/R injury. Partial warm ischemia was performed in the left and middle hepatic lobes of Sprague-Dawley rats for 1 h, followed by 6 h of reperfusion. Rats received either Alda-1 or vehicle by intravenous injection 30 min before ischemia. Blood and tissue samples of the rats were collected after 6-h reperfusion. Histological injury, proinflammatory cytokines, reactive oxygen species (ROS), cellular apoptosis, ALDH2 expression and activity, 4-hydroxy-trans-2-nonenal (4-HNE) and malondialdehyde (MDA) were measured. BRL-3A hepatocytes were subjected to hypoxia/reoxygenation (H/R). Cell viability, ROS, and mitochondrial membrane potential were determined. Pretreatment with Alda-1 significantly alleviated I/R-induced elevations of alanine aminotransferase and aspartate amino transferase, and significantly blunted the pathological injury of the liver. Moreover, Alda-1 significantly inhibited ROS and proinflammatory cytokines production, 4-HNE and MDA accumulation, and apoptosis. Increased ALDH2 activity was found after Alda-1 administration. No significant changes in ALDH2 expression were observed after I/R. ROS was also higher in H/R cells than in control cells, which was aggravated upon treatment with 4-HNE, and reduced by Alda-1 treatment. Cell viability and mitochondrial membrane potential were inhibited in H/R cells, which was attenuated upon Alda-1 treatment. Activation of ALDH2 by Alda-1 attenuates hepatic I/R injury via clearance of cytotoxic aldehydes.

Erectile dysfunction (ED) is a common complication in men suffered with diabetic mellitus. Stem cell transplantation is a promising strategy for the treatment of diabetic ED (DED). In this study, we evaluated whether combined transplantation of adipose tissue-derived stem cells (ADSCs) and endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) could improve the erectile function of the DED rat model. DED rats were induced via intraperitoneal injection of streptozotocin (50 mg/kg), and ED was screened by apomorphine (100 mg/kg). DED rats were divided into 4 groups (n=14 each): DED, ADSC, EPC, and ADSC/EPC group. Another 14 age-matched male SD rats with normal erectile function were served as the normal group. The normal group and the DED group were received intracavernous injection with phosphate-buffered saline (PBS). And the other groups were received intracavernous injection with ADSCs (1×106), EPCs (1×106), and ADSCs/EPCs (0.5×106/0.5×106), respectively. The total intracavernous pressure (ICP) and mean arterial pressure (MAP) were recorded at day 28 after injection. The endothelium, smooth muscle, and penile dorsal nerves were assessed within cavernoursal tissue. On day 28 after injection, the ADSC/EPC group displayed more significantly enhanced ICP and ICP/MAP than the DED or ADSC or EPC group (p<0.05). Immunofluorescent analysis and western blot demonstrated that the improvement of erectile function in the ADSC/EPC5 group was associated with increased expression of endothelial marker (CD31) and the correction of eNOS-cGMP-NO signaling. More 5-ethynyl-2′-deoxyuridine- (EdU-) positive EPCs could be found lining in the cavernous endothelial layer in the ADSC/EPC group than the EPC group, which was attributed to the paracrine of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and stromal-derived factor-1 (SDF-1) by ADSCs. Combined transplantation of ADSCs and EPCs has a synergic effect in repairing the endothelial function of DED rats, and the underlying mechanism might be the paracrine of VEGF and SDF-1 by ADSCs, which improves the recruitment and proliferation of EPCs in the cavernosum.

We aimed to evaluate the effects of intratunical injection of exosomes derived from human urine‐derived stem cells (USC‐exo) on plaque formation and erectile function in a transforming growth factor‐β1 (TGF‐β1) induced Peyronie's disease (PD) rat model. Twenty‐four SD rats were randomly assigned equally to three groups: (I) Sham group (50 μl phosphate‐buffered saline [PBS] injected into the tunica albuginea [TA]), (II) PD group (0.5 μg TGF‐β1 in 50 μl PBS injected into the TA) and (III) USC‐exo group (0.5 ug TGF‐β1 plus 100 μg USC‐exo injected into the TA at the same day). The maximum intracavernous pressure (ICPmax) and mean arterial pressure (MAP) of each group were evaluated 4 weeks after injection. The plaque formation, fibrosis, matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) and tissue inhibitor of MMPs (TIMPs) in the TA were evaluated. Four weeks after injection, USC‐exo group showed more significantly enhanced ICPmax and ICPmax/MAP than PD group (p < .05). USC‐exo could significantly ameliorate the TA fibrosis that could be associated with the inhibition of transdifferentiation of fibroblasts into myofibroblasts, decreased expression of TIMPs (TIMP‐1, 2, 3) and increased activity of MMPs (MMP‐1, 3, 9) in the TA. According to these findings, USC‐exo can be a new candidate for the prevention of PD.

Along with the rapid development of big data, artificial intelligence, and information technology, the relationship quality (RQ) between short video applications and users is important for the sustainable development of short video applications. However, the existing studies have explored the mechanism of the role of RQ in a limited way. In order to respond to this critical issue, this study constructs a theoretical model based on attachment theory and combined with self-determination theory, with autonomy needs (AN), competence needs (CN), and relationship needs (RN) as influencing factors, emotional attachment (EA) as mediating variables and relationship quality as outcome variables, and the moderating role of attachment anxiety (AA) in which this study also analyzes the mechanism of short video applications users’ psychological needs on relationship quality by combining the moderating role of AA. In this study, a sample of 512 university students using short video applications was used. The results of the data analysis indicated that EA was significantly influenced by psychological needs that played a positive role in relationship quality and mediated the relationship between psychological needs and relationship quality. The results of further analysis also revealed that attachment anxiety plays a moderating role in the relationship between emotional attachment and relationship quality. This study examines the intrinsic mechanism by which psychological needs affect relationship quality through emotional attachment, reveals the practical effects of short video applications users’ sustained use behavior, and provides a reference for innovative management and business practices of short video applications.

β-lactoglobulin (β-Lg) is a protein found in milk that can cause severe allergic reactions, including rash, vomiting, and diarrhea. Thus, it is crucial to develop a sensitive β-Lg detection method to protect people who are susceptible to allergies. Here, we introduce a novel and highly sensitive fluorescent aptamer biosensor for detecting β-Lg. First, a fluorescein-based dye (FAM)-labeled β-lactoglobulin aptamer (β-Lg aptamer) is adsorbed on the surface of tungsten disulfide (WS2) nanosheets via van der Waals forces, resulting in fluorescence quenching. When β-Lg is present, the β-Lg aptamer selectively binds to β-Lg, causing a conformational change in the β-Lg aptamer and releasing it from the surface of WS2 nanosheets, which restores the fluorescence signal. Simultaneously, DNase I in the system cleaves the aptamer bound to the target, producing a short oligonucleotide fragment and releasing β-Lg. The released β-Lg then binds to another β-Lg aptamer adsorbed on WS2, initiating the next round of cleavage, resulting in significant amplification of the fluorescence signal. This method has a linear detection range of 1–100 ng mL−1, and the limit of detection is 0.344 ng mL−1. Furthermore, this approach has been successfully used for detecting β-Lg in milk samples with satisfactory results, providing new opportunities for food analysis and quality control.