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Abstract Background Low physical activity (LPA) is a leading risk factor for type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). We examine the temporal and spatial trends in the burden of T2DM attributable to LPA at the global, regional, and country scales. Methods Data were obtained from the Global Burden of Disease Study 2021. The numbers of deaths and disability-adjusted life years (DALYs) of LPA-related T2DM, and the corresponding age-standardized mortality rate (ASMR) and age-standardized DALYs rate (ASDR) were compared across regions and countries by age, sex, and sociodemographic index (SDI). The annual percentage changes (EAPCs) in the ASMR or ASDR were calculated to quantify temporal trends from 1990 to 2021. We also quantified the relationship between SDI and the ASMR and ASDR of T2DM attributable to LPA. Results Globally, the number of T2DM deaths and DALYs attributable to LPA were approximately 0.15 million and 5.52 million respectively in 2021, which more than doubled compared to 1990. Over the past 32 years, the global EAPCs of ASMR and ASDR were 0.26 (95% CI: 0.20, 0.31) and 0.97 (95% CI: 0.93, 1.02), respectively. The ASMR or ASDR had a reverse U-shaped relationship with the SDI, with the most severe burden observed in the low-middle and middle SDI regions. The age group older than 60 years had the highest rate of DALYs for LPA-related T2DM in 2021, while the 25–44 age group showed the largest increase between 1990 and 2021. Conclusions Over the past 32 years, the global burden of LPA-related T2DM has continued to increase at an alarming rate in almost all countries, particularly in regions with low-middle and middle SDI. Substantial increases in national action are urgently needed to target elder populations especially in low-middle and middle SDI regions, and special efforts should be made to promote physical activity in young adults with LPA.

In soft lithography roof collapse is frequently observed on the stamp surface consisting of rectangular micro-grooves which yields unwanted contact between the sagged surface and the substrate. Deep understanding of the adhesive contact behavior is a key to design of high-performance collapse-resistant stamp. Both theoretical and numerical studies are presented for a single rectangular micro-groove in the middle of the stamp surface under applied pressure. The JKR-type adhesion solution is established by the principle of superposition and equivalent energy release rate, with a series of closed-form expressions derived which are consistent with previous studies. Finite element analysis (FEA) is performed based on virtual crack closure technique (VCCT) to investigate the roof collapse mechanism with interfacial adhesion and applied pressure considered. Comparison of theoretical, numerical, and experimental results demonstrates that both size effect and constitutive nonlinearity of the stamp on the self-collapse contact width are not obvious for shallow grooves but become prominent for deep grooves, so that the obtained analytical solution is limited to shallow grooves due to its assumptions of half-plane and linear elasticity adopted for the stamp. For deep grooves, the present FEA method shows potential to capture more accurate results.

Abstract The Wannan black pig is a superior local breed in Anhui province, renowned for its exceptional meat quality and remarkable adaptability to various environmental conditions. Semen, being a crucial indicator of male sexual maturity and fertility, significantly influences the performance of breeding boars. The molecular basis for comprehending the fecundity of boars in practical production lies in understanding the disparities in sperm proteins among boars of varying ages. In this investigation, spermatozoa from three one-year-old and three seven-year-old Wannan black pigs were individually chosen. Employing a tandem mass tag (TMT)-based quantitative proteomics approach, a total of 4050 proteins were identified, out of which 130 proteins exhibited significant differences between the two groups. GO enrichment analysis revealed that these proteins primarily participated in energy metabolism, spermatogenesis, fertilization, and reproduction. KEGG enrichment analysis demonstrated that the differential proteins predominantly resided within the ribosome pathway. A protein-protein interaction (PPI) network was constructed to identify core proteins such as Small ribosomal subunit protein uS7 (RPS5). Ultimately, parallel reaction monitoring (PRM) was conducted on the selected differential proteins to validate result accuracy. The findings of this study establish a foundation for elucidating the molecular mechanism underlying variations in spermatozoa protein levels among Wannan Black Pig with different age.

An enormous number of compact binary systems, spanning from stellar to supermassive levels, emit substantial gravitational waves during their final evolutionary stages, thereby creating a stochastic gravitational wave background (SGWB). We calculate the merger rates of stellar compact binaries and massive black hole binaries using a semi-analytic galaxy formation model – Galaxy Assembly with Binary Evolution (GABE) – in a unified and self-consistent approach, followed by an estimation of the multiband SGWB contributed by those systems. We find that the amplitudes of the principal peaks of the SGWB energy density are within one order of magnitude ΩGW ∼ 10−9–10−8. This SGWB could easily be detected by the Square Kilometre Array (SKA), as well as by the planned interferometric detectors, such as the Einstein Telescope and the Laser Interferometer Space Antenna (LISA). The energy density of this background varies as ΩGW ∝  f 2/3 in the SKA band. The shape of the SGWB spectrum in the frequency range ∼[10−4,1] Hz could allow the LISA to distinguish the black hole seed models. The amplitude of the SGWB from merging stellar binary black holes at ∼100 Hz is approximately 10 and 100 times greater than those from merging binary neutron stars and neutron-star–black-hole mergers, respectively. Note that, since the cosmic star formation rate density predicted by GABE is somewhat lower than the observational results by ∼0.2 dex at z < ∼2, the amplitude of the SGWB in the frequency range ∼[1, 104] Hz may be underestimated by a similar factor at most. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Context: The mesophase pitch prepared by acid catalytic method typically had the advantages of low softening point and high solubility. To fully understand the mechanism of acid-catalyzed reactions and gain a deeper understanding of the microstructure of mesophase pitch, this article studied the mechanism of hydrofluoride/boron trifluoride (HF/BF3)–catalyzed anthracene using molecular simulation methods. The results showed that there might be two types of carbocations present in the system: classical and non-classical carbocations, and five reactions might occur, protonation reaction, chain elongation reaction, intramolecular cyclization reaction, deprotonation reaction, and dehydrogenation reaction. Classical carbocations acted as reactive intermediates in the chain elongation reaction and intramolecular cyclization reaction. When anthracene occurred chain elongation reactions with carbocations to form polymers, the generation of the tetramer required lager energy barriers than that of the dimer and trimer. The stiffness and flatness of molecules could be increased via intramolecular cyclization reactions. The polymers of anthracene might also occurred dehydrogenation reactions when the non-classical carbocations played the role of reactive intermediates. The dehydrogenation reactions required large energy barriers, which might be the reason for the product having a high aliphatic hydrogen content. Method: The Materials Studio (MS) 2020 software was used to complete the simulation. The atomic charge distribution calculation and the structure optimization of molecules were carried out using the B3LYP functional and DNP basis. The DFT-D (TS) dispersion corrections were added to calculate the dispersion interaction between aromatic molecules. The complete LST/QST method was used to search the transition states and calculate the reaction energy barrier. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cu clusters are generally unstable and their cluster nuclei are difficult to be controlled. Even minor adjustments in the synthesis of Cu clusters can easily lead to great changes in their cluster nuclei. In this work, we have successfully utilized triple collaborative ligands to obtain a pair of infinitely extended Cu12 cluster‐based chains (Cu12‐1 and Cu12‐2). They have identical Cu12 metal core structures but slightly different coordinated ligands. Both Cu12‐1 and Cu12‐2 show excellent thermal and ambient stability. However, they exhibit diverse room‐temperature photoluminescence phenomena. Crystalline Cu12‐2 displays red‐shifted photoluminescence (637 nm) compared with Cu12‐1 (624 nm) due to the relatively smaller LUMO‐HOMO gap caused by the substituent effect of electro‐withdrawing F atoms. Meanwhile, the substituent effect has influences on electronic structures and electrostatic potentials, thus leading to differences in photoluminescence intensity, PLQY, and lifetime. Crystalline Cu12‐1 displays more intense room‐temperature photoluminescence, higher PLQY and longer lifetime. This work provides a valuable approach for how to prepare highly stable Cu clusters and precisely control their structures to regulate their properties. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

ObjectiveTo explore the reliability and validity of the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health Rehabilitation Set (ICF-RS) in assessing the body function, activities and social participation of patients with knee osteoarthritis (KOA).MethodsA total of 60 KOA patients in the Outpatient Department of Orthopedic Rehabilitation in the Fifth Hospital of Xiamen and the Xiangyang Central Hospital from October to December 2022 were recruited. The ICF-RS was used to assess the patients' function; the criterion-related validity between the ICF-RS scale and the commonly used clinical scales for knee joints [visual analogue scale (VAS) for pain, hospital for special surgery (HSS) knee score, modified Barthel index (MBI) and 36-item short form health survey (SF-36)] was used to evaluate the effectiveness of ICF-RS scale in assessing the function and activity performance of patients with KOA. Internal consistency and item discriminant validity were used to evaluate reliability and validity of the ICF-RS.Results(1) ICF-RS functional status: about 60% of KOA patients had no or mild functional impairments. The most common moderate to severe impairments in body function domain included b280 sensation of pain (54 cases, 90.00%), b455 exercise tolerance (44 cases, 73.33%), and b134 sleep function (28 cases, 46.67%); the most common moderate to severe impairments in activities included d455 moving around (52 cases, 86.67%) and d410 changing basic body position (30 cases, 50.00%); the most common moderate to severe impairments in participation included d660 assisting others (38 cases, 63.33%), d850 remunerative employment (32 cases, 53.33%) and d920 recreation and leisure (38 cases, 63.33%). (2) Criterion-related validity: the ICF-RS body function score was negatively correlated with HSS score (|r|>0.4, Pr|>0.6, Pr|>0.6, PPr|>0.8 could effectively distinguish KOA patients with high and low score function, including d420 changing body position, d510 washing oneself, d640 doing household chores and d470 using transportation.ConclusionICF-RS could be used to assess the functional status of KOA patients with good reliability, validity and criterion-related validity.

Abstract Intramuscular injection of Wnt7a has been shown to accelerate and augment skeletal muscle regeneration and to ameliorate dystrophic progression in mdx muscle, a model for Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD). Here, we assessed muscle regeneration and function in wild type (WT) and mdx mice where Wnt7a was deleted in muscle using a conditional Wnt7a floxed allele and a Myf5-Cre driver. We found that both WT and mdx mice lacking Wnt7a in muscle, exhibited marked deficiencies in muscle regeneration at 21 d following cardiotoxin (CTX) induced injury. Unlike WT, deletion of Wnt7a in mdx resulted in decreased force generation prior to CTX injury. However, both WT and mdx muscle lacking Wnt7a displayed decreased force generation following CTX injection. Notably the regeneration deficit in mdx mice was rescued by a single tail vein injection of extracellular vesicles containing Wnt7a (Wnt7a-EVs). Therefore, we conclude that the regenerative capacity of muscle in mdx mice is highly dependant on the upregulation of endogenous Wnt7a following injury, and that systemic delivery of Wnt7a-EVs represents a therapeutic strategy for treating DMD.

Abstract This work presents air-coupled piezoelectric micromachined ultrasonic transducers (pMUTs) with high sound pressure level (SPL) under low-driving voltages by utilizing sputtered potassium sodium niobate K0.34Na0.66NbO3 (KNN) films. A prototype single KNN pMUT has been tested to show a resonant frequency at 106.3 kHz under 4 Vp-p with outstanding characteristics: (1) a large vibration amplitude of 3.74 μm/V, and (2) a high acoustic root mean square (RMS) sound pressure level of 105.5 dB/V at 10 cm, which is 5–10 times higher than those of AlN-based pMUTs at a similar frequency. There are various potential sensing and actuating applications, such as fingerprint sensing, touch point, and gesture recognition. In this work, we present demonstrations in three fields: haptics, loudspeakers, and rangefinders. For haptics, an array of 15 × 15 KNN pMUTs is used as a non-contact actuator to provide a focal pressure of around 160.3 dB RMS SPL at a distance of 15 mm. This represents the highest output pressure achieved by an airborne pMUT for haptic sensation on human palms. When used as a loudspeaker, a single pMUT element with a resonant frequency close to the audible range at 22.8 kHz is characterized. It is shown to be able to generate a uniform acoustic output with an amplitude modulation scheme. In the rangefinder application, pulse-echo measurements using a single pMUT element demonstrate good transceiving results, capable of detecting objects up to 2.82 m away. As such, this new class of high-SPL and low-driving-voltage pMUTs could be further extended to other applications requiring high acoustic pressure and a small form factor.

To gain an in-depth understanding of the asymmetric structure of the Southwest Vortex producing rainstorms, the rainstorm process in the Sichuan Basin on 30 June 2013 was investigated in this study. This rainstorm was caused by the slowly moving Southwest Vortex, and had the most significant impact in the past decade. Based on WRF numerical simulation and other data, the asymmetric structure characteristics and causes in the mature stage of the Southwest Vortex rainstorm were analyzed by using a dynamic composite method that followed the vortex center, combined with vorticity equation diagnosis, divergence equation diagnosis, and wind field decomposition. The results are as follows. (1) The Southwest Vortex exhibited convergent airflows which rotated into the center and gradually weakened at low altitudes, while divergent airflows rotated at high altitudes. The precipitation, positive vorticity, low-level convergence, and vertical ascending motion of the Southwest Vortex exhibited significant asymmetric distribution characteristics. The front side of the vortex exhibited significant positive vorticity, and prominent convergence ascending motion, leading to heavy rainfall. While on the rear side of the vortex, the positive and negative vorticity coexisted, with weaker convergence and ascending motion, accompanied by weaker rainfall. (2) The asymmetric distribution of the Southwest Vortex was related to the impact of subtropical high in front of the vortex. The maintenance of subtropical high favors the formation of the asymmetric structure of the Southwest Vortex, which was conducive to the formation of the gradually increasing potential height gradient and the enhancement of the low-level jet in front of the southeastward vortex. The spatial distribution led to negative evolutions of the Laplace term of potential height and the Laplace term of kinetic energy, which produced a sustained low-level negative non-equilibrium dynamic forcing effect. Then the negative non-equilibrium dynamic forcing promoted the development of low-level convergence, and vertical ascending motion, and led to heavy rainfall. In addition, the positive vorticity was generated through low-level convergence and vertical ascending motion in front of the vortex, forming asymmetric distribution characteristics of rainfall, positive vorticity, low-level convergence, and vertical ascending motion associated with the Southwest Vortex.

The fibroblast growth factor receptor (FGFR) is a crucial receptor tyrosine kinase involved in essential biological processes, including growth, development, and tissue repair. However, FGFR gene mutations, including amplification, fusion, and mutation, can disrupt epigenetics, transcriptional regulation, and tumor microenvironment interactions, leading to cancer development. Targeting these kinase mutations with small molecule drugs or antibodies has shown clinical benefits. For example, erdafitinib is approved for treating locally advanced or metastatic urothelial cancer patients with FGFR2/FGFR3 mutations, and pemigatinib is approved for treating cholangiocarcinoma with FGFR2 fusion/rearrangement. Effective screening of FGFR variant patients is crucial for the clinical application of FGFR inhibitors. Various detection methods, such as polymerase chain reaction, next-generation sequencing, fluorescence in situ hybridization, and immunohistochemistry, are available, and their selection should be based on diagnostic and treatment decision-making needs. Our developed expert consensus aims to standardize the diagnosis and treatment process for FGFR gene mutations and facilitate the practical application of FGFR inhibitors in clinical practice.

[Purposes] The study on flood discharge safety of high arch dam involves the design of spillways, the strength of structure, the distribution of flow pressure, and the characteristics of flow pattern during flood discharge. [Methods] The study focuses on an arch dam with a height of 270 m, and CFD method is employed to simulate the flow field in the spillway tunnel and analyze the distribution of fluctuating pressures. Furthermore, fluid-structure coupling finite element method is used to simulate the worst case pulsating pressure and the vibration characteristics of the dam structure, and analyze the vibration mechanism of the high arch dam under discharge excitation. [Findings] The results show that the pulsating pressure inside the spillway of the arch dam is extremely complex, with the maximum and minimum values of the pulsating pressure of the surface sluice being 133.25 and 29.48 kPa, respectively, and the maximum and minimum values of the pulsating pressure of the middle sluice being 5 274.99 and 953.24 kPa, respectively. The energy distribution of the pulsating pressure in frequency domain has low-frequency characteristics, with the main energy distribution in the frequency range of 0-10 Hz. Under discharge excitation, the total displacement of the arch dam shows a certain periodicity with changes of the pulsating pressure, and the total displacement gradually decays with the period. The total displacement reaches the maximum value of 0.212 0 cm at 1.2 s, at the same time, the maximum values of equivalent stress is 1 426.60 kPa, and equivalent strain is 7.49×10-5, the pulsating pressure shows the same trend in the vibration period, corresponding to the maximum value of the fluctuating pressure in the spillway tunnel. The variations of equivalent stress and equivalent strain of the arch dam are basically the same, and they have a complete correlation with the changes of pulsating pressure.

Restoring the natural form and ecological function of artificial coastal zones in coastal cities can effectively improve the ecological quality of these zones. Improving the natural shoreline retention rate through this effort is also an important step in Chinese coastal cities' implementation of Xi Jinping's idea of ecological civilization. With limited resources and funds for ecological restoration, and the dual requirements of urban development and ecological protection, this study primarily focuses on how to scientifically identify the areas for ecological restoration of urban artificial coastal zones, rationally arrange the restoration schedule, and formulate the restoration strategy . This study examines 34 sections of artificial coastal zones in Shenzhen City, integrates multiple data sources to conduct spatial superposition analysis, constructs an index system for evaluating the ecological potential of artificial coastal zones, and formulates a model framework for the selection of restoration strategies, which can inform the restoration of artificial coastal zones and the management of shorelines in other coastal cities in China. The study's findings are as follows: (1) The ecological potential of Shenzhen's artificial coastal zone is spatially heterogeneous, and four different restoration response strategies can be adopted in the order of potential from high to low: "control pressure, natural restoration"; "relief pressure, ecological restoration"; "control pressure, environmental enhancement"; and "relief pressure, environmental enhancement." These correspond to four types of control zoning: ecological restoration zone, ecological recovery zone, ecological control zone, and landscape coordination zone. (2) The six sections of Xiban Park have the greatest ecological potential of Shenzhen's artificial coastline, and the restoration strategy is intended to control the external pressure and guide its natural recovery. The corresponding coastlines of these six sections constitute the first batch of new natural shorelines to be managed, to reach the target of increasing the natural shoreline retention rate of Shenzhen to 40%. (3) Nan'ao Wangyu Jiao and the other five sections of Shenzhen's artificial coastline have the second-largest ecological potential, and the restoration strategy is to relieve external pressure and take appropriate restoration measures to enhance its ecological function. The corresponding coastlines of these five sections can be managed and maintained as reserve natural coastlines. (4) The remaining 23 sections of artificial shoreline have little ecological potential and can be used as urban landscape or general public shorelines in combination with their location, without restoration intervention actions. (5) Coastal zones with high ecological potential are usually located in inlets with weak hydrodynamics, and the seaward side of such coastal zones is prone to siltation. This is conducive to the formation of new habitats and can be used as a simple indicator of whether artificial coastal zones can be restored to their natural state and ecological functions relatively quickly.

Abstract Background It has been reported that the most common post-transcriptional modification of eukaryotic RNA is N6-methyladenosine (m6A). Previous studies show m6A is a key regulator for viral infection and immune response. However, whether there is a pathogen stimulus-dependent m6A regulation in invertebrate shrimp has not been studied. Results In this study, we performed a transcriptome-wide profiling of mRNA m6A methylation in shrimp (Marsupenaeus japonicus) after white spot syndrome virus (WSSV) infection by methylated RNA immunoprecipitation sequencing (MeRIP-seq). A total of 15,436 m6A peaks were identified in the shrimp, distributed in 8,108 genes, mainly enriched in the CDS, 3′ UTR region and near the stop codon. After WSSV infection, we identified 2,260 m6A peaks with significantly changes, of which 1,973 peaks were significantly up-regulated and 287 peaks were significantly down-regulated. 1,795 genes were identified as differentially methylated genes. GO and KEGG analysis showed that hyper-methylated genes or hypo-methylated genes were highly associated with innate immune process and related to metabolic pathways including HIF-1 signaling pathway, lysine degradation and Wnt signaling pathway. Combined analysis showed a positive correlation between m6A methylation levels and mRNA expression levels. In addition, computational predictions of protein-protein interaction indicated that genes with altered levels of m6A methylation and mRNA expression clustered in metabolism, DNA replication, and protein ubiquitination. ZC3H12A and HIF-1 were two hub genes in protein-protein interaction (PPI) network that involved in immune and metabolism processes, respectively. Conclusion Our study explored the m6A methylation pattern of mRNA in shrimp after WSSV infection, exhibited the first m6A map of shrimp at the stage of WSSV induced metabolic reprogramming. These findings may reveal the possible mechanisms of m6A-mediated innate immune response in invertebrates.

Abstract Post-stroke depression (PSD) affects millions of patients who suffer cerebral stroke. However, the molecular mechanisms and pathophysiology are poorly understood. Previous studies have shown that exosomes have been proven to be involved in neuropsychiatric disorders such as stroke and post-stroke depression in neurotransmitter release, neuronal remodeling, and neuron angiogenesis. Here we extracted and purified hippocampal exosomes from stroke mouse model to investigate mechanisms of hippocampal exocytosis in PSD assessed by using behavioral tests and biochemical methods. Aiming at the effect of hippocampal exosomes from stroke on the development of PSD, behavioral test was compared including sugar water preference experiment, open fields, forced swimming test, to explore it in depth. Further, the expression of depression-related protein (proBDNF and p75NTR) and synapse-associated proteins (Synaptotagmin and PSD95) was evaluated by Western blotting, RT-qPCR or immunofluorescence staining. Density of dendritic protrusions of neurons was assessed by Golgi staining to measure changes in spine density after the treatment of hippocampal exosomes from stroke. Our results revealed that injection of exosomes from stroke models significantly aggravated depressive-like behaviors, increase of depression-related protein (proBDNF and p75NTR) expression and deficiency of synapse-associated proteins (Synaptotagmin and PSD95) expression, and the decreased number of spin density. Our findings together suggest that hippocampal exosomes from stroke cause exacerbation of depressive-like behavior in mice, possibly resulting from the regulation of neurogenesis by its depression-associated proteins (proBDNF and p75NTR). Therefore, hippocampal exosomes from stroke are promising targets for the diagnosis and treatment of PSD.

Our previous studies have reported that hydrogen sulfide (H2S) has ability to improve diabetes-associated cognitive dysfunction (DACD), but the exact mechanisms remain unknown. Recent research reveals that Warburg effect is associated with synaptic plasticity which plays a key role in cognition promotion. Herein, the present study was aimed to demonstrate whether hippocampal Warburg effect contributes to H2S-ameliorated DACD and further explore its potential mechanism. We found that H2S promoted the hippocampal Warburg effect and inhibited the OxPhos in the hippocampus of STZ-induced diabetic rats. It also improved the hippocampal synaptic plasticity in STZ-induced diabetic rats, as evidenced by the change of microstructures and the expression of different key-enzymes. Furthermore, inhibited hippocampal Warburg effect induced by DCA markedly abolished the improvement of H2S on synaptic plasticity in the hippocampus of STZ-induced diabetic rats. DCA blocked H2S-attenuated the cognitive dysfunction in STZ-induced diabetic rats, according to the Y-maze, Novel Objective Recognition, and Morris Water Maze tests. Collectively, these findings indicated that the hippocampal Warburg effect mediates H2S-ameliorated DACD by improving hippocampal synaptic plasticity.

The aim of this study was to study the effects of human umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cells (HUC-MSCs) on glutathione (GSH) metabolism in human ovarian cancer cells induced by phosphoramide mustard (PM). The experiment was divided into five groups, namely, the blank group (ovarian cancer cells), the control group (ovarian cancer cells + HUC-MSCs), the model group (ovarian cancer cells + PM), the treatment group (ovarian cancer cells + PM + HUC-MSCs), and the inhibitor group (ovarian cancer cells + PM + HUC-MSCs + extracellular signal-regulated protein kinase inhibitor PD98059). The apoptosis rate of ovarian cancer cells was detected by flow cytometry. Intracellular levels of oxidized glutathione (GSSG), GSH, γ-glutamyl cysteine synthetase (γ-GCS), and intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) were detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Protein imprinting and real-time fluorescence quantitative PCR were used to detect extracellular regulated protein kinase (ERK), p-ERK heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1), and nuclear factor E2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) protein levels. First, the apoptosis rate in the model group was increased compared with that of the blank group. The levels of γ-GCS, p-ERK, HO-1, and Nrf-2 decreased, while the levels of malondialdehyde, GSSG, and ROS increased. Second, compared with the model group, the apoptosis rate in the treatment group decreased. GSH, γ-GCS, p-ERK, HO-1, and Nrf2 levels increased. Malondialdehyde, GSSG, and ROS levels decreased. Third, after the administration of ERK inhibitor, the apoptosis rate of cells increased. GSH, p-ERK, and HO-1 levels decreased. GSSG and ROS levels increased (P < 0.05), and γ-GCS level had a downward trend compared with the treatment group. To conclude, HUC-MSCs may regulate the ERK–Nrf2–HO-1 pathway to increase γ-GCS expression and GSH production, reduce ROS level and apoptosis of ovarian cancer cells, and improve antioxidant capacity.