Single-nucleus RNA-seq atlas of equine skeletal muscle reveals donkey and horse distinct cell types, with species-specific age-related shifts in muscle fiber composition. The conserved upregulation pattern of LDHA reveals the critical role of propanoate metabolism in energy supply for equine locomotion. Cross-species transcriptomic comparison delineates a highly conserved atlas of skeletal muscle cell types.

A new study projects widespread habitat loss for European snakes under climate change, with cold-adapted species most vulnerable, while the Balkan Peninsula becomes a climate refugium.

Penile shortening and erectile dysfunction are common problems after radical pelvic surgery for prostate, bladder, or rectal cancer. A new review published in UroPrecision finds that penile traction therapy (PTT), a non-invasive mechanical treatment, may help preserve penile length and improve erectile function when started early after surgery. This review is part of the themed issue “Distinct Themes for the Advanced Practice Providers in Andrology”

Impaired mitophagy and the accumulation of damaged mitochondria are key drivers of endothelial cell (EC) dysfunction in diabetic wounds. While mitochondrial transplantation (MT) has demonstrated therapeuticpotential in such mitochondrial damage-related diseases, its application is still thwarted by elusive mechanisms and practical hurdles such as poor targeting specificity and low delivery efficiency. Here, wereveal that MT acts by reactivating mitophagy to selectively eliminate dysfunctional mitochondria, therebyrestoring mitochondrial homeostasis and rescuing EC functionality. To exploit this discovery, we engineer abiomimetic MT strategy through coating EC-derived apoptotic vesicle membrane (AVM) onto the surfaceof isolated mitochondria. The resulting mitochondria–AVM complex (Mito-AVM) leverages homologoustargeting and phosphatidylserine-mediated “eat-me” signaling, achieving a remarkable 150% increasein delivery efficiency to ECs in diabetic wounds. Furthermore, we construct a 3-aminophenylboric acid-modified hyaluronic acid/polyvinyl alcohol hydrogel for the diabetic wound microenvironment, enablingreactive oxygen species/glucose-triggered sustained release of encapsulated Mito-AVM at the wound site. In summary, our work elucidates a fundamental mechanism of MT and provides an efficient and targetedstrategy for MT therapy, offering fresh perspectives for diabetic wound treatment.

The research findings have been published in Research under the title "Apoptotic Vesicle Membrane-Mediated Targeted Endothelial Mitochondrial Transplantation-Clearance Therapy for Diabetic Wound Healing."

Living tissues do not change through biology alone.

Erectile dysfunction is one of the most frequent and distressing complications after radical prostatectomy, significantly impairing patients’ quality of life. A new review published in UroPrecision summarizes current evidence on penile rehabilitation strategies, including oral medications, intracavernosal injections, and vacuum devices, and proposes a risk-stratified algorithm to guide clinical decision-making. 

This review is part of the themed issue “Distinct Themes for the Advanced Practice Providers in Andrology”