Frontiers in Physiology最新文献

Background: Estrogen homeostasis is crucial for the structure and function of the urethra, and estrogen deprivation resulting from menopause, ovariectomy, or ovarian dysfunction may lead to various urethral dysfunctions. However, the specific molecular mechanisms involved are still not fully understood.

Methods: Urethras from three ovariectomized (OVX) rats and three Sham rats were collected for snRNA-seq analysis. Data analysis included unsupervised clustering using the UMAP algorithm to identify distinct cell types based on marker gene expression. Differential gene expression analysis was performed to identify changes in estrogen-related gene expression across different cell types. Functional enrichment analysis was conducted to elucidate biological pathways associated with differentially expressed genes. Additionally, cellular interactions and developmental trajectories were analyzed to characterize cellular dynamics during menopause.

Results: Here, we profiled 69,529 single-nucleus transcriptomes from rat urethra (three OVX rats and three Sham rats). The snRNA-seq analysis revealed pronounced cellular heterogeneity and menopause-associated transcriptional reprogramming. We identified Fos as a key transcription factor associated with epithelial cell communication and differentiation under estrogen-deprived conditions. In addition, basal epithelial cells displayed EMT-associated transcriptional programs and a potential epithelial-to-mesenchymal continuum toward a mesenchymal-like state in OVX rats. We also identified Tmem233 as a hub gene in a striated muscle contraction-related module enriched in type IIa myofibers, and observed heightened inflammatory activation in immune cells, particularly T cells, in OVX rats.

Conclusion: In summary, our study provides a comparative analysis of the snRNA-seq data from the urethra of female rats, elucidating cellular and molecular changes during menopause.

Neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder (NMOSD) can affect autonomic centers in the dorsal medulla, but presentation with recurrent sinus arrest is extremely rare. We report a 71-year-old woman with 10 days of persistent hiccups and vomiting who developed repeated syncopal episodes. ECG monitoring revealed vomiting-induced bradycardia progressing to sinus arrest, and Holter monitoring showed nocturnal sinus pauses up to 40.6 s. Routine cardiac and neurological evaluations were unremarkable, but serum anti-aquaporin-4 antibodies were markedly elevated, and brain MRI demonstrated a dorsal medullary lesion, confirming NMOSD with area postrema involvement. The patient was treated with intravenous immunoglobulin and high-dose methylprednisolone, resulting in complete resolution of vomiting and normalization of sinus node function. A temporary pacemaker was required acutely, and a permanent pacemaker was implanted before discharge. She remained stable on rituximab without relapse. This case underscores that severe vomiting-triggered sinus arrest may be an autonomic manifestation of NMOSD and is reversible with timely immunotherapy.

This article provides a conceptual and pedagogical analysis aimed at advancing homeostasis education within integrative physiology. Although homeostasis was originally formulated to describe the stability of the internal environment (IE), educators have traditionally emphasized the regulation of individual parameters such as body temperature, blood glucose, and blood pressure. This emphasis reflects historical methodological limitations rather than the full conceptual scope intended by Claude Bernard and Walter Cannon. Building on conceptual developments articulated in Kuang (2023), the present analysis examines how homeostasis education can be refined and reoriented by clarifying several foundational conceptual distinctions. In particular, it addresses persistent gaps in current teaching, including common ambiguities related to the concepts of steady state, dynamic equilibrium, constancy, and stability and builds upon the distinction between parameter homeostasis and, IE homeostasis to strengthen its pedagogical and conceptual application. At the organism level, the article addresses how, IE homeostasis can be appropriately interpreted and taught, highlighting its emergent nature and the role of modern integrative measurements, including multi-omics approaches, in supporting a system-level understanding of homeostasis. Overall, the analysis supports the following central conclusions: (1) Parameter homeostasis refers to the relatively stable oscillation of the parameter value; (2) IE homeostasis constitutes a high-level emergent property of the organism; (4) modern integrative measurement approaches make it possible to study the IE as a whole, providing system-level readouts relevant to IE homeostasis; and (4) the conceptual scope of homeostasis or homeostatic tendency, is expanded in two directions: across health, subhealth, disease, and psychological steady states, and toward an explicit recognition of the constitutive role of organism-environment interactions in shaping internal stability. In sum, this article envisions an integrated direction for homeostasis education that moves beyond parameter-centric approaches and supports a coherent understanding of organismal regulation, adaptation, and resilience across diverse conditions.

Background: The primary aim of this study was to characterise the thermoregulatory and cardiovascular responses of non-acclimatised mountaineers during different exercise modalities and camping conditions in extreme cold. A secondary aim was to assess the feasibility of real-time transmission of physiological data to enhance safety during cold expeditions.

Methods: This study assessed thermoregulatory and cardiovascular responses of 18 non-acclimatised mountaineers from the United Arab Emirates during a 10-day winter expedition in Skeikampen, Norway. Participants performed daily cross-country skiing or snowshoe walking (∼5-6 h/day) and experienced two camping conditions (quinzhee and tent). Core temperature (Tc) was measured via ingestible telemetric pills, and heart rate (HR) via chest straps. Data were transmitted in real-time using a wearable ecosystem comprising Bluetooth gateways and eSIM-enabled smartwatches.

Results: Cross-country skiing elicited significantly higher mean Tc (+0.20 °C, p < 0.01) and HR (+12.8 bpm, p < 0.01) than snowshoe walking. Peak Tc during quinzhee camping was significantly higher than during tent camping (+0.55 °C, p = 0.03), suggesting superior insulation. No cases of hypothermia were recorded. Real-time data transmission enabled continuous remote monitoring, with actionable alerts triggered when Tc dropped below safety thresholds.

Conclusion: This study demonstrates the feasibility of real-time physiological monitoring in extreme cold, offering practical insight into activity-specific thermoregulatory strain. The findings underscore the importance of shelter design, physical activity selection, and wearable monitoring to enhance safety and decision-making in cold environments.

Purpose: The aim of this study was to apply systematic review and meta-analysis methods to analyze the acute effects of esports on heart rate variability (HRV).

Methods: This study systematically searched the PubMed, Web of Science, and Scopus databases, covering publications up to 20 July 2025. Two reviewers independently screened the literature and extracted data, and the analyses were conducted using Review Manager 5.4.

Results: The results indicated that, compared with the resting state, the root mean square of successive differences (RMSSD) [SMD = 0.24; 95% CI: 0.10-0.38; P < 0.001] and high-frequency (HF) [SMD = 0.47; 95% CI: 0.14-0.81; P = 0.006] significantly decreased during gameplay. However, no significant differences were observed for standard deviation of normal-to-normal intervals (SDNN), percentage of adjacent normal-to-normal intervals differing by > 50 m (pNN50), low-frequency (LF), or the low to high frequency ratio (LF/HF).

Conclusion: The study suggests that, although esports is a sedentary activity, it can nevertheless elicit significant autonomic nervous responses. These findings enrich the understanding of the physiological mechanisms of esports and provide empirical support for player health management, training optimization, and psychological regulation strategies.

Gestational diabetes mellitus is defined as glucose intolerance first diagnosed during pregnancy; however, this diagnosis may actually represent a heterogeneous spectrum of primary diabetes phenotypes unmasked by the metabolic stress of pregnancy rather than a single pathophysiological entity. The current review aims to summarise available knowledge about the diabetes spectrum in pregnancy with particular focus on its pathophysiology, risk factors and postpartum destiny. Another aim was to discuss possibilities for stratification of the women according to their immediate and future risks of postpartum persistence of glucose intolerance and its complications in later life. Specific objectives of the paper are: (1) to summarise data on physiological metabolic changes in pregnancy, (2) characterise the diabetes spectrum in pregnancy, (3) address the current state of the art in GDM diagnosis and management, (4) to summarize data on postnatal development and maturation of the infants who experienced GDM in utero and, finally (5) discuss possibilities to stratify GDM women according to the later risk for persistence of glucose intolerance after delivery.

Background: Hepatic fibrosis is a progressive pathological process driven by multiple chronic liver injury factors. Increasing evidence highlights that mitochondrial dysfunction serves as a pivotal mechanism in the onset and progression of hepatic fibrosis.

Methods: A systematic search of the Web of Science Core Collection (WoSCC) and Scopus databases identified 1,634 relevant articles published between January 2005 and December 2025. Following the PRISMA guidelines, duplicate removal and quality control were performed. Bibliometric analysis tools including VOSviewer, CiteSpace, and Scimago Graphica were utilized to extract or calculate evaluation metrics, enabling analysis and visualization of knowledge maps. Publications were categorized by country, institution, author, journal, highly cited papers, and keywords. These variables were compared in terms of publication output and academic impact, including metrics such as citation counts, citation impact, H-index, and journal impact factor.

Results: A total of 1,634 relevant publications were retrieved, originating from 92 countries or regions and 2858 research institutions. China and the United States led in both publication volume and impact; the most prolific institution was the Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red (CIBER), followed by the University of California System. The International Journal of Molecular Sciences was the most frequently publishing journal, while Hepatology was the most highly cited journal. Heidari, Reza was the most prolific author; the five most cutting-edge keywords identified were oxidative stress, apoptosis, mitophagy, hepatic stellate cells, and reactive oxygen species. We confirmed three major research hotspots: activation of hepatic stellate cells, imbalance in mitochondrial quality control, and the vicious cycle of oxidative stress.

Conclusion: Based on our previous discussions, mitochondria are increasingly recognized as central to the onset and progression of hepatic fibrosis. Related research is advancing rapidly and has become a key area for interdisciplinary collaboration. Future efforts should focus on: validating mitochondrial function biomarkers such as circulating mtDNA and mitochondria-specific metabolites; refining patient stratification based on mitochondrial dysfunction phenotypes (such as metabolic imbalance type, oxidative stress type); and advancing therapeutic strategies targeting mitochondrial quality control, metabolism, and redox balance. This will translate deep mechanistic insights into effective solutions for improving the clinical management of hepatic fibrosis.

Chronic consumption of high-fat diets (HFDs) induces obesity and metabolic dysfunction and is accompanied by progressive skeletal muscle wasting. Although aerobic exercise is generally considered less effective for maintaining muscle mass, accumulating evidence suggests that it can attenuate HFD-induced muscle wasting. However, the molecular mechanisms underlying this protective effect remain poorly defined. In this study, we investigated the effects of moderate-intensity continuous training (MICT) on HFD-induced muscle wasting and characterized the associated transcriptomic adaptations in the mouse gastrocnemius muscle. 21 weeks of HFD feeding increased body weight and serum glucose levels and induced marked muscle wasting, as evidenced by reduced gastrocnemius muscle index, impaired forelimb grip strength, decreased muscle fiber cross-sectional area, and excessive intramuscular lipid accumulation. These pathological alterations were significantly attenuated by an 8-week MICT intervention. RNA sequencing revealed that HFD predominantly induced a lipid-centered transcriptional program characterized by enhanced fatty acid uptake, trafficking, and β-oxidation. In contrast, MICT predominantly suppressed atrophy-associated genes (Foxo1, Fbxo32, and Trim63), while exerting minimal effects on myogenic genes (Pax7, Myod1, and Myog). Functional enrichment analyses further indicated that MICT modulated signaling pathways related to FoxO, PI3K-Akt, MAPK, and insulin signaling, together with biological processes associated with angiogenesis and calcium signaling. Collectively, these results suggest that MICT mitigates HFD-induced muscle wasting primarily by reprogramming the transcriptome from a lipotoxic, atrophic state toward a more insulin-sensitive, pro-angiogenic profile, with limited myogenic activation.

Background: Accurate, non-invasive quantification of hepatic steatosis is crucial for clinical management. Recently developed ultrasound-guided attenuation techniques, such as Liver Steatosis Analysis (LiSA) and the Ultrasound-Guided Attenuation Parameter (UGAP), integrate real-time B-mode imaging with quantitative measurement, potentially overcoming the limitation of the lack of real-time guidance in the traditional Controlled Attenuation Parameter (CAP). However, direct comparative evidence for their performance in clinical practice remains insufficient. This study aimed to conduct a head-to-head comparison of the diagnostic performance of LiSA and UGAP, using the widely adopted CAP as a clinical reference standard.

Methods: This prospective study ultimately included 357 participants. All participants underwent LiSA, UGAP, and CAP examinations during a single visit. Operations followed standardized protocols with strict quality control (IQR <40 dB/m, IQR/M <30%). CAP-defined steatosis grades (S0-S3) served as the reference. Pearson correlation analysis was used to assess the associations of each parameter with CAP, Body mass index (BMI), etc. Diagnostic performance was evaluated using receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis, and the area under the ROC curves (AUROCs) of LiSA and UGAP were compared using the DeLong test.

Results: Both LiSA and UGAP demonstrated very high technical success rates (both 99.74%), significantly higher than that of CAP (96.84%, p = 0.002). Their measurements showed strong correlations with CAP values (LiSA: r = 0.83; UGAP: r = 0.81, both p < 0.001). For discriminating different steatosis grades (≥S1, ≥S2, =S3), LiSA achieved AUROCs of 0.96, 0.91, and 0.86, respectively, while UGAP achieved AUROCs of 0.96, 0.91, and 0.85, respectively. The DeLong test indicated no statistically significant difference in diagnostic performance between the two techniques across all grades (all p-values >0.62). This study provides, for the first time, CAP-referenced cut-off value suggestions for LiSA in diagnosing S2 and S3 steatosis (269.00 dB/m and 300.00 dB/m, respectively).

Conclusion: LiSA and UGAP show high agreement with CAP in diagnosing and grading hepatic steatosis, with comparable performance to each other. By virtue of their inherent integration with real-time B-mode imaging, they offer higher technical success rates and operational ease, demonstrating superior clinical feasibility compared to CAP. These findings support LiSA and UGAP as effective and practical alternatives or complements to CAP, enriching the toolkit for point-of-care steatosis assessment.