Isotopic spike 190Os as internal standard and empirical coefficient LA-ICP-MS combined with Sb fire assay for the determination of ultra-trace platinum group elements in geochemical samples

In this work, a novel method of antimony fire assay (Sb-FA) enrichment combined with laser ablation ICP-MS (LA-ICP-MS) for the determination of ultra-trace platinum group elements (PGEs) in geological samples was established. The purification and recycling technology of ultra-clean and high-purity fire assay collector Sb2O3 was proposed, in addition, high-purity quartz crucible was developed to replace the usual clay crucible, then the blank values of PGEs were as low as 0.0007-0.0028 ng g-1 (for 20 g sample). 190Os isotopic diluent was used as internal standard (IS) and quantitatively added into the fire assay ingredients, and fully mixed and balanced with the PGEs in the real samples by means of high temperature melting, cupellation and horizontal rotation of crucible and dish. Both 190Os and PGEs in the real sample were pre-concentrated in microgram level Sb granules (100 mg) through Sb-remaining cupellation. After grinding and polishing, 195Pt, 105Pd, 101Ru, 103Rh, 193Ir, total 189Os and 190Os enriched in Sb slices were determined by LA-ICP-MS, 190Os in the internal standard was calculated by isotope dilution equations. The Certified Reference Materials (CRMs) for PGEs were treated by the same procedure to obtain completely matrix matched Sb slices to solve the problem of no internationally recognized uniform PGEs standard materials for LA-ICP-MS determination. Due to the similar distribution trends of different PGEs in Sb slices by LA-ICP-MS imaging, then matrix-matched internal standard calibration strategy was used to reduce the element fractionation effect and improve the determination precision and accuracy of LA-ICP-MS. The laser frequency, energy density, denudation diameter and dwell times were optimized. Under the optimal conditions, empirical coefficient method was used to fit the standard curve and excellent curve fitting of PGEs were obtained with the correlation coefficient between 0.9990 and 0.9999. The method detection limits (LODs) for PGEs ranged from 0.00042 to 0.010 ng g-1. The established method was successfully applied to analyze real geochemical samples and various matrix Certified Reference Materials (CRMs) domestic and international, the determined values were in good agreement with the results of Sb-FA ICP-MS and the certified values.

Cerebral small vessel injury in mice with damage to ACE2-expressing cerebral vascular endothelial cells and post COVID-19 patients

INTRODUCTION

The angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2), which is expressed in cerebral vascular endothelial cells (CVECs), has been currently identified as a functional receptor for SARS-CoV-2.

METHODS

We specifically induced injury to ACE2-expressing CVECs in mice and evaluated the effects of such targeted damage through magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and cognitive behavioral tests. In parallel, we recruited a single-center cohort of COVID-19 survivors and further assessed their brain microvascular injury based on cognition and emotional scales, cranial MRI scans, and blood proteomic measurements.

RESULTS

Here, we show an array of pathological and behavioral alterations characteristic of cerebral small vessel disease (CSVD) in mice that targeted damage to ACE2-expressing CVECs, and COVID-19 survivors. These CSVD-like manifestations persist for at least 7 months post-recovery from COVID-19.

DISCUSSION

Our findings suggest that SARS-CoV-2 may induce cerebral small vessel damage with persistent sequelae, underscoring the imperative for heightened clinical vigilance in mitigating or treating SARS-CoV-2-mediated cerebral endothelial injury throughout infection and convalescence.

HIGHLIGHTS

Cerebral small vessel disease-associated changes were observed after targeted damage to angiotensin-converting enzyme 2-expressing cerebral vascular endothelial cells. SARS-CoV-2 may induce cerebral small vessel damage with persistent sequelae. Clinical vigilance is needed in preventing SARS-CoV-2-induced cerebral endothelial damage during infection and recovery.

Integration Analysis of miRNA Circulating Expression Following Cerebellar Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation in Patients with Ischemic Stroke

The aim of this study was to explore the molecular mechanisms underlying cerebellar transcranial direct current stimulation (ctDCS) as a rehabilitation intervention for patients with ischemic stroke, focusing on the role of microRNAs (miRNAs). Whole-transcriptome sequencing was employed to obtain circulating expression profiles of miRNAs, long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs), circular RNAs (circRNAs), and mRNAs in patients with ischemic stroke before and after 3-week ctDCS. miRanda software was used to predict the target genes of miRNAs, while Gene Ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) analyses were conducted to identify biological functions and signaling pathways. Subsequently, competing endogenous RNA (ceRNA) regulatory networks comprising circRNA-miRNA-mRNA and lncRNA-miRNA-mRNA interactions were constructed. Key miRNAs in blood samples were validated through quantitative RT-PCR. In total, 43 miRNAs, 807 lncRNAs, 1,111 circRNAs, and 201 mRNAs were differentially expressed after ctDCS compared with before ctDCS. Bioinformatics analyses revealed significant enrichment of target genes regulated by differentially expressed miRNAs across multiple biological pathways. CeRNA regulatory networks implied that several miRNAs were closely related to the ctDCS. Among them, hsa-miR-181a-5p, hsa-miR-224-5p, and hsa-miR-340-3p showed significantly downregulated expression levels as confirmed by qRT-PCR. This study conducted the first-ever assessment of miRNA expression patterns in patients with ischemic stroke undergoing ctDCS. The findings revealed that ctDCS induces alterations in miRNA levels, suggesting their potential utility as therapeutic markers.

Pantothenic Acid Alleviates Fat Deposition and Inflammation by Suppressing the JNK/P38 MAPK Signaling Pathway

Excessive fat deposition leads to obesity and cardiovascular diseases with abnormal metabolism. Pantothenic acid (PA) is a major B vitamin required for energy metabolism. However, the effect of PA on lipid metabolism and obesity has not been explored. We investigated the effects and molecular mechanism of PA on fat accumulation as well as the influence of adipogenic marker genes in both adult male mice and primary adipocytes. First, we demonstrated that PA attenuates weight gain in mice fed high-fat diet (HFD). Besides, PA supplementation substantially improved glucose tolerance and lipid metabolic disorder in obese mice. Furthermore, PA significantly inhibited white adipose tissue (WAT) deposition as well as fat droplets visualized by magnification in both chow and HFD group. More importantly, PA obviously suppressed the mRNA levels of CD36, IL-6, and TNF-α to alleviate inflammation and reduced the levels of PPARγ, aP2, and C/EBPα genes that are related to lipid metabolism in inguinal white adipose tissue (ing-WAT) and epididymal white adipose tissue (ei-WAT). In vitro, PA supplementation showed a lower lipid droplet aggregation as well as reduced expression levels of adipogentic genes. Finally, we identified that PA inhibits the phosphorylation levels of p38 and JNK in murine primary adipocytes. Collectively, our data demonstrated for the first time that PA attenuates lipid metabolic disorder as well as fat deposition by JNK/p38 MAPK signaling pathway.

Social Support, Coping Strategies, Depression, Anxiety, and Cognitive Function Among People With Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus: A Path Analysis

OBJECTIVE

To explore the linear associations between social support, coping strategies, depression, anxiety, and cognitive function among people with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) using a path-analytic method.

METHODS

This cross-sectional study enrolled 496 individuals hospitalized due to T2DM. Well-trained investigators conducted face-to-face interviews with the participants using the Social Support Rating Scale, the Chinese version of Medical Coping Modes Questionnaire, the Hospital Anxiety and Depression scale, and the Mini Mental State Examination to measure social support (including objective support, subjective support, and support utilization), coping strategies (including confrontation, avoidance, and acceptance-resignation), depression/anxiety, and cognitive function, respectively. A path analysis was used to elucidate the linear associations between social support, coping strategies, depression, anxiety, and cognitive function.

RESULTS

In the final path model with satisfactory model fit, objective support was found to be associated with cognitive function not only directly but also indirectly through confrontation coping and depression, and acceptance-resignation coping and depression/anxiety. Further, subjective support was found to be associated with cognitive function indirectly through depression/anxiety, as well as serially through acceptance-resignation coping and depression/anxiety. Support utilization was found to be associated with cognitive function indirectly through confrontation coping and depression, as well as through acceptance-resignation coping and depression/anxiety.

CONCLUSION

Social support, coping strategies, depression, and anxiety were associated with cognitive function among people with T2DM, and these associations were best explained by a serial mediation model from social support, coping strategies, and depression and anxiety to cognitive function.

Association between the guardians' educational levels and unintentional injuries in children aged 6-18 in Shenzhen, China

BACKGROUND

Unintentional injuries is the leading cause of death in children aged 6-18 in China. Previous studies on the association between the guardians' educational levels and unintentional injuries in children have been inconclusive, and it remains unclear among the Chinese population. Therefore, this study aimed to identify the association between guardians' educational levels and unintentional injuries in children aged 6-18 in Shenzhen, China.

METHODS

This cross-sectional study enrolled 9,903 children aged 6-18 in Shenzhen in 2020 using a multistage cluster sampling method. Information on the children and guardians were collected, and unintentional injuries in the past year was examined by using two nested questions. Logistic regression analyses were used to test the association between the guardians' educational levels and unintentional injuries in children aged 6-18, and the crude odds ratios (ORs) and adjusted ORs with 95% confidence intervals (95% CI) were calculated.

RESULTS

275 of the 9,903 children reported experiencing at least one unintentional injuries in the past year, and the weighted incidence of unintentional injuries was 6.3% (95% CI: 5.8-6.8%) in children aged 6-18 in Shenzhen, China. The incidence of unintentional injuries differed significantly in the guardians' education levels (P < 0.05). After adjustment for the children's variables, multiple binary logistic regression analysis showed that compared to children whose guardians' educational levels were low, children whose guardians' educational levels were high (adjusted OR = 0.57, 95% CI: 0.37-0.87) and medium (adjusted OR = 0.56, 95% CI: 0.39-0.81) had a lower odds of unintentional injuries. Similar results were also observed when further adjustment for both the children's and guardians' variables.

CONCLUSION

The overall incidence of unintentional injuries in children aged 6-18 in Shenzhen was low, and it was associated with the guardians' educational levels. Children whose guardians' educational levels were low should be given special concern to prevent unintentional injuries, and it is suggested to reduce the incidence of unintentional injuries in children by improving the guardians' educational levels.

Risk factors for inadequate bowel preparation before colonoscopy: A meta-analysis

OBJECTIVE

This meta-analysis aimed to comprehensively explore the risk factors for inadequate bowel preparation (IBP).

METHODS

We searched the Embase, PubMed, Web of Science, and The Cochrane Library databases up to August 24, 2023, to identify observational studies and randomized controlled trials (RCTs) that examined risk factors for IBP. A random effects model was used to pool the adjusted odds ratios and 95% confidence intervals.

RESULTS

A total of 125 studies (91 observational studies, 34 RCTs) were included. Meta-analyses of observational studies revealed that three preparation-related factors, namely, characteristics of last stool (solid or brown liquid), incomplete preparation intake, and incorrect diet restriction, were strong predictors of IBP. The other factors were moderately correlated with IBP incidence, including demographic variables (age, body mass index, male sex, Medicaid insurance, and current smoking), comorbidities (diabetes, liver cirrhosis, psychiatric disease, Parkinson's disease, previous IBP, poor mobility, inpatient, and Bristol stool form 1/2), medications (tricyclic antidepressants, opioids, antidepressants, narcotics, antipsychotics, and calcium channel blockers), and preparation-related factors (preparation-to-colonoscopy interval not within 3 to 5/6 h, nonsplit preparation, and preparation instructions not followed). No colonoscopy indications were found to be related to IBP. Meta-analyses of RCTs showed that education, constipation, stroke/dementia, and discomfort during preparation were also moderately associated with IBP. Most of the other findings were consistent with the pooled results of observational studies. However, primarily due to imprecision and inconsistency, the certainty of evidence for most factors was very low to moderate.

CONCLUSIONS

We summarized five categories of risk factors for IBP. Compared to demographic variables, comorbidities, medications, and colonoscopy indications, preparation-related elements were more strongly associated with IBP. These findings may help clinicians identify high-risk individuals and provide guidance for IBP prevention.

Suppression of MyD88 disturbs gut microbiota and activates the NLR pathway and hence fails to ameliorate DSS-induced colitis

Background

Myeloid differentiation factor 88 (MyD88) is the core adaptor for Toll-like receptors defending against microbial invasion and initiating a downstream immune response during microbiota-host interaction. However, the role of MyD88 in the pathogenesis of inflammatory bowel disease is controversial. This study aims to investigate the impact of MyD88 on intestinal inflammation and the underlying mechanism.

Methods

MyD88 knockout (MyD88-/-) mice and the MyD88 inhibitor (TJ-M2010-5) were used to investigate the impact of MyD88 on acute dextran sodium sulfate (DSS)-induced colitis. Disease activity index, colon length, histological score, and inflammatory cytokines were examined to evaluate the severity of colitis. RNA transcriptome analysis and 16S rDNA sequencing were used to detect the potential mechanism.

Results

In an acute DSS-colitis model, the severity of colitis was not alleviated in MyD88-/- mice and TJ-M2010-5-treated mice, despite significantly lower levels of NF-κB activation being exhibited compared to control mice. Meanwhile, 16S rDNA sequencing and RNA transcriptome analysis revealed a higher abundance of intestinal Proteobacteria and an up-regulation of the nucleotide oligomerization domain-like receptors (NLRs) signaling pathway in colitis mice following MyD88 suppression. Further blockade of the NLRs signaling pathway or elimination of gut microbiota with broad-spectrum antibiotics in DSS-induced colitis mice treated with TJ-M2010-5 ameliorated the disease severity, which was not improved solely by MyD88 inhibition. After treatment with broad-spectrum antibiotics, downregulation of the NLR signaling pathway was observed.

Conclusion

Our study suggests that the suppression of MyD88 might be associated with unfavorable changes in the composition of gut microbiota, leading to NLR-mediated immune activation and intestinal inflammation.

Efficacy and safety of cladribine in combination with busulfan and cyclophosphamide as an intensive conditioning regimen preceding allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation in relapsed or refractory acute myeloid leukemia

BACKGROUND

Cladribine, an analogue of deoxyadenosine, is used for therapy of hematological malignancies. Cladribine-containing regimen has been recommended as a rescue therapy for relapsed or refractory (R/R) acute myeloid leukemia (AML). Its combination with busulfan plus cyclophosphamide (BuCy), as an intensive conditioning regimen prior to allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (allo-HSCT), requires more clinical evidence. This study aimed to explore the efficacy and safety of cladribine plus BuCy administered as an intensive conditioning regimen before allo-HSCT in R/R AML patients.

METHODS

Twenty-three R/R AML patients, who underwent cladribine plus BuCy intensive conditioning regimen before allo-HSCT, were retrospectively analyzed. The median (range) follow-up duration time of observation was 0.73 (0.08-2.69) years.

RESULTS

The median (range) returned levels of mononuclear cells were 11.5 (6.1-18.5) x 108/kg and CD34+ cells were 5.5 (3.5-9.3) x 106/kg. The median (range) time of platelet reconstitution was 13.0 (9.0-21.0) days and neutrophil reconstitution was 14.0 (11.0-26.0) days. The incidence of conditioning regimen related toxicity (CRRT) affected 69.6% of patients; all CRRT-affected patients had grade I-II symptoms, including gastrointestinal tract (39.1%), oral cavity (26.1%), liver (8.7%), and kidney (4.3%) CRRTs. The incidence of acute graft-versus-host disease (GVDH) included 30.4% among all patients with 4.3% of grade III-IV acute GVHD, and 34.8% of chronic GVHD. During the follow-up period, 4 (17.4%) patients relapsed, and 6 (26.1%) patients died (cause of death: disease relapse, n = 3; infection, n = 2; GVHD, n = 1). The 1-year and 2-year accumulating event-free survival rates were 66.3% and 53.1%, respectively. The 1-year accumulating overall survival rate was 74.7% and 2-year survival rate was 64.0%.

CONCLUSION

Cladribine plus BuCy intensive conditioning regimen before allo-HSCT exhibits favorable treatment efficacy with acceptable toxicity in R/R AML patients.

[Clinical characteristics of pertussis in hospitalized children under 3 months]

Demographic data and clinical data were collected retrospectively from patients with pertussis at the Children's Hospital Affiliated to the Capital Institute of Pediatrics between March 2011 and February 2023. Among the 270 hospitalized patients, 151 cases were male and 119 were female. The youngest age of admission was 10 days and the eldest age of admission was 11 years. The 270 hospitalized patients were divided into two groups according to onset age: <3 months (n=143) and≥3 months (n=127). For those in the <3-month-old group, the incidence of severe pneumonia and severe pertussis were 21.0% and 38.5%, respectively, both were significantly higher than those in≥3-month-old group (7.9% and 11.0%, both P<0.05). For those in the <3-month-old group, paroxysmal spasmodic cough, post-tussive vomiting, paroxysmal cyanosis, apnea, and decreased heart rate after coughing were 86.7%, 25.2%, 38.5%, 7.0% and 16.8%, respectively, all were significantly higher than those in ≥3-month-old group (76.4%, 10.2%, 15.7%, 1.6% and 1.6%, all P<0.05). For those in the<3-month-old group, the incidence of hypoxemia, respiratory failure, were 36.4%, 16.8%, respectively, and both were significantly higher than those in≥3-month-old group (10.2%, 7.1%, P<0.05). It indicated that among the infants under 3 months, the incidence of vomiting after coughing, paroxysmal cyanosis, apnea, hypoxemia, respiratory failure, decreased heart rate after coughing and severe pneumonia were significantly higher than those above 3 months. Infants under 3 months were prone to severe pertussis.

Altered Functional Connectivity of Temporoparietal Lobe in Obstructive Sleep Apnea: A Resting-State fNIRS Study

Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA), a sleep disorder with high prevalence, is normally accompanied by affective, autonomic, and cognitive abnormalities, and is deemed to be linked to functional brain alterations. To investigate alterations in brain functional connectivity properties in patients with OSA, a comparative analysis of global and local topological properties of brain networks was conducted between patients with OSA and healthy controls (HCs), utilizing functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS) imaging. A total of 148 patients with OSA and 150 healthy individuals were involved. Firstly, quantitative alterations in blood oxygen concentration, changes in functional connectivity, and variations in graph theory-based network topological characteristics were assessed. Then, with Mann-Whitney statistics, this study compared whether there are significant differences in the above characteristics between patients with OSA and HCs. Lastly, the study further examined the correlation between the altered characteristics and the apnea hypopnea index (AHI) using linear regression. Results revealed a higher mean and standard deviation of hemoglobin concentration in the superior temporal gyrus among patients with OSA compared to HCs. Resting-state functional connectivity (RSFC) exhibited a slight increase between the superior temporal gyrus and other specific areas in patients with OSA. Notably, neither patients with OSA nor HCs demonstrated significant small-world network properties. Patients with OSA displayed an elevated clustering coefficient (p < 0.05) and local efficiency (p < 0.05). Additionally, patients with OSA exhibited a tendency towards increased nodal betweenness centrality (p < 0.05) and degree centrality (p < 0.05) in the right supramarginal gyrus, as well as a trend towards higher betweenness centrality (p < 0.05) in the right precentral gyrus. The results of multiple linear regressions indicate that the influence of the AHI on RSFC between the right precentral gyrus and right superior temporal gyrus (p < 0.05), as well as between the right precentral gyrus and right supramarginal gyrus (p < 0.05), are statistically significant. These findings suggest that OSA may compromise functional brain connectivity and network topological properties in affected individuals, serving as a potential neurological mechanism underlying the observed abnormalities in brain function associated with OSA.

Identification and validation of potential diagnostic signature and immune cell infiltration for HIRI based on cuproptosis-related genes through bioinformatics analysis and machine learning

Background and aims

Cuproptosis has emerged as a significant contributor in the progression of various diseases. This study aimed to assess the potential impact of cuproptosis-related genes (CRGs) on the development of hepatic ischemia and reperfusion injury (HIRI).

Methods

The datasets related to HIRI were sourced from the Gene Expression Omnibus database. The comparative analysis of differential gene expression involving CRGs was performed between HIRI and normal liver samples. Correlation analysis, function enrichment analyses, and protein-protein interactions were employed to understand the interactions and roles of these genes. Machine learning techniques were used to identify hub genes. Additionally, differences in immune cell infiltration between HIRI patients and controls were analyzed. Quantitative real-time PCR and western blotting were used to verify the expression of the hub genes.

Results

Seventy-five HIRI and 80 control samples from three databases were included in the bioinformatics analysis. Three hub CRGs (NLRP3, ATP7B and NFE2L2) were identified using three machine learning models. Diagnostic accuracy was assessed using a receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve for the hub genes, which yielded an area under the ROC curve (AUC) of 0.832. Remarkably, in the validation datasets GSE15480 and GSE228782, the three hub genes had AUC reached 0.904. Additional analyses, including nomograms, decision curves, and calibration curves, supported their predictive power for diagnosis. Enrichment analyses indicated the involvement of these genes in multiple pathways associated with HIRI progression. Comparative assessments using CIBERSORT and gene set enrichment analysis suggested elevated expression of these hub genes in activated dendritic cells, neutrophils, activated CD4 memory T cells, and activated mast cells in HIRI samples versus controls. A ceRNA network underscored a complex regulatory interplay among genes. The genes mRNA and protein levels were also verified in HIRI-affected mouse liver tissues.

Conclusion

Our findings have provided a comprehensive understanding of the association between cuproptosis and HIRI, establishing a promising diagnostic pattern and identifying latent therapeutic targets for HIRI treatment. Additionally, our study offers novel insights to delve deeper into the underlying mechanisms of HIRI.

The role of miR-222-2p in exosomes secreted by hexavalent chromium-induced premature senescent hepatocytes as a SASP component

With the development of world industrialization, the environmental pollution of hexavalent chromium [Cr(VI)] is becoming an increasingly serious problem. In particular, the mechanisms by which long-term and low-dose exposure to Cr(VI) leading the development of related cancers are not well understood. As senescent cells gradually lose their ability to proliferate and divide, they will not be malignantly transformed. However, Senescence-associated secretory phenotype (SASP) released by senescent cells into the cellular microenvironment can act on neighboring cells. Since SASP has a bidirectional regulatory role in the malignant transformation of cells. Hence, It is very necessary to identified the composition and function of SASP which secreted by Cr(VI) induced senescent L02 hepatocytes (S-L02). Exosomes, a vesicle-like substances released extracellularly after the fusion of intracellular multivesicular bodies with cell membrane, are important components of SASP and contain a large number of microRNAs (miRNAs). By establishing Cr(VI)-induced S-L02 model, we collected the exosomes from the supernatants of S-L02 and L02 culture medium respectively, and screened out the highly expressed miRNAs in the exosomes of S-L02, namely the new SASP components. Among them, the increase of miR-222-5p was the most significant. It was validated that as SASP, miR-222-5p can inhibit the proliferation of L02 and S-L02 hepatocytes and at the same time accelerate the proliferation and migration ability of HCC cells. Further mechanistic studies revealed that miR-222-5p attenuated the regulatory effect of protein phosphatase 2A subunit B isoform R2-α (PPP2R2A) on Akt via repressing its target gene PPP2R2A, causing reduced expressions of forkhead box O3 (FOXO3a), p27 and p21, and finally increasing the proliferation of HCC cells after diminishing the negative regulation of on cell cycle. This study certainly provides valuable laboratory evidence as well as potential therapeutic targets for the prevention and further personalized treatment of Cr(VI)-associated cancers.

Curcumin attenuates diphenyl phosphate-induced apoptosis in GC-2spd(ts) cells through activated autophagy via the Nrf2/P53 pathway

Diphenyl phosphate (DPhP) is one of the frequently used derivatives of aryl phosphate esters and is used as a plasticizer in industrial production. Like other plasticizers, DPhP is not chemically bound and can easily escape into the environment, thereby affecting human health. DPhP has been associated with developmental toxicity, reproductive toxicity, neurodevelopmental toxicity, and interference with thyroid homeostasis. However, understanding of the underlying mechanism of DPhP on the reproductive toxicity of GC-2spd(ts) cells remains limited. For the first time, we investigated the effect of DPhP on GC-2spd(ts) cell apoptosis. By decreasing nuclear factor erythroid-derived 2-related factor (Nrf2)/p53 signaling, DPhP inhibited autophagy and promoted apoptosis. DPhP reduced total antioxidant capacity and nuclear Nrf2 and its downstream target gene expression. In addition, we investigated the protective effects of Curcumin (Cur) against DPhP toxicity. Cur attenuated the DPhP-induced rise in p53 expression while increasing Nrf2 expression. Cur inhibited DPhP-induced apoptosis in GC-2spd(ts) cells by activating autophagy via Nrf2/p53 signaling. In conclusion, our study provides new insights into the reproductive toxicity hazards of DPhP and demonstrates that Cur is an important therapeutic agent for alleviating DPhP-induced reproductive toxicity by regulating Nrf2/p53 signaling.

Genome-wide association study of growth curve parameters reveals novel genomic regions and candidate genes associated with metatarsal bone traits in chickens

The growth and development of chicken bones have an enormous impact on the health and production performance of chickens. However, the development pattern and genetic regulation of the chicken skeleton are poorly understood. This study aimed to evaluate metatarsal bone growth and development patterns in chickens via non-linear models, and to identify the genetic determinants of metatarsal bone traits using a genome-wide association study (GWAS) based on growth curve parameters. Data on metatarsal length (MeL) and metatarsal circumference (MeC) were obtained from 471 F2 chickens (generated by crossing broiler sires, derived from a line selected for high abdominal fat, with Baier layer dams) at 4, 6, 8, 10, and 12 weeks of age. Four non-linear models (Gompertz, Logistic, von Bertalanffy, and Brody) were used to fit the MeL and MeC growth curves. Subsequently, the estimated growth curve parameters of the mature MeL or MeC (A), time-scale parameter (b), and maturity rate (K) from the non-linear models were utilized as substitutes for the original bone data in GWAS. The Logistic and Brody models displayed the best goodness-of-fit for MeL and MeC, respectively. Single-trait and multi-trait GWASs based on the growth curve parameters of the Logistic and Brody models revealed 4 618 significant single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs), annotated to 332 genes, associated with metatarsal bone traits. The majority of these significant SNPs were located on Gallus gallus chromosome (GGA) 1 (167.433-176.318 Mb), GGA2 (96.791-103.543 Mb), GGA4 (65.003-83.104 Mb) and GGA6 (64.685-95.285 Mb). Notably, we identified 12 novel GWAS loci associated with chicken metatarsal bone traits, encompassing 35 candidate genes. In summary, the combination of single-trait and multi-trait GWASs based on growth curve parameters uncovered numerous genomic regions and candidate genes associated with chicken bone traits. The findings benefit an in-depth understanding of the genetic architecture underlying metatarsal growth and development in chickens.

Mechanism of NO2-induced migraine in rats: The exploration of the role of miR-653-3p/IGF1 axis

Migraine is a severely disabling primary neurological disorder. Although some studies have confirmed that nitrogen dioxide (NO2) pollution increases the risk of migraine, and our previous study demonstrated the role of the channel protein transient receptor potential cation channel subfamily V member 1 (TRPV1) in NO2-induced migraine, the underlying mechanisms have not been fully elucidated. This study aimed to explore the intrinsic toxicity mechanism of NO2-induced migraines using transcriptome sequencing. First, the differentially expressed genes in NO2-induced migraine, insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF1) and miRNA miR-653-3p were identified using RNA and small RNA sequencing, and a protein interaction network was constructed using STRING to explore the possible mechanisms. Next, the targeting relationship between miR-653-3p and IGF1 was determined. NO2-induced migraine was verified by silencing miR-653-3p and IGF1, independently or in combination to regulate the protein kinase B (AKT)/TRPV1 signalling pathway through the miR-653-3p/IGF1 axis. These results indicate that the key molecular mechanism of NO2-induced migraine may be that the miR-653-3p/IGF1 axis regulates the AKT/TRPV1 signalling pathway to induce migraine. The findings of this study will further elucidate the neurotoxic mechanism of NO2-induced migraines and lay a new experimental foundation for implementing migraine-related preventive and therapeutic control measures.

Predictive model for identifying mild cognitive impairment in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus: A CHAID decision tree analysis

BACKGROUND

As the population ages, mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) become common conditions that often coexist. Evidence has shown that MCI could lead to reduced treatment compliance, medication management, and self-care ability in T2DM patients. Therefore, early identification of those with increased risk of MCI is crucial from a preventive perspective. Given the growing utilization of decision trees in prediction of health-related outcomes, this study aimed to identify MCI in T2DM patients using the decision tree approach.

METHODS

This hospital-based case-control study was performed in the Endocrinology Department of Xiangya Hospital affiliated to Central South University between March 2021 and December 2022. MCI was defined based on the Petersen criteria. Demographic characteristics, lifestyle factors, and T2DM-related information were collected. The study sample was randomly divided into the training and validation sets in a 7:3 ratio. Univariate and multivariate analyses were performed, and a decision tree model was established using the chi-square automatic interaction detection (CHAID) algorithm to identify key predictor variables associated with MCI. The area under the curve (AUC) value was used to evaluate the performance of the established decision tree model, and the performance of multivariate regression model was also evaluated for comparison.

RESULTS

A total of 1001 participants (705 in the training set and 296 in the validation set) were included in this study. The mean age of participants in the training and validation sets was 60.2  ±  10.3 and 60.4  ±  9.5 years, respectively. There were no significant differences in the characteristics between the training and validation sets (p > .05). The CHAID decision tree analysis identified six key predictor variables associated with MCI, including age, educational level, household income, regular physical activity, diabetic nephropathy, and diabetic retinopathy. The established decision tree model had 15 nodes composed of 4 layers, and age is the most significant predictor variable. It performed well (AUC = .75 [95% confidence interval (CI): .71-.78] and .67 [95% CI: .61-.74] in the training and validation sets, respectively), was internally validated, and had comparable predictive value compared to the multivariate logistic regression model (AUC = .76 [95% CI: .72-.80] and .69 [95% CI: .62-.75] in the training and validation sets, respectively).

CONCLUSION

The established decision tree model based on age, educational level, household income, regular physical activity, diabetic nephropathy, and diabetic retinopathy performed well with comparable predictive value compared to the multivariate logistic regression model and was internally validated. Due to its superior classification accuracy and simple presentation as well as interpretation of collected data, the decision tree model is more recommended for the prediction of MCI in T2DM patients in clinical practice.

The Development of a Series of Genomic DNA Reference Materials with Specific Copy Number Ratios for The Detection of Genetically Modified Maize DBN9936

The genetically modified (GM) maize DBN9936 with a biosafety certificate will soon undergo commercial application. To monitor the safety of DBN9936 maize, three genomic DNA (gDNA) reference materials (RMs) (DBN9936a, DBN9936b, and DBN9936c) were prepared with nominal copy number ratios of 100%, 3%, and 1% for the DBN9936 event, respectively. DBN9936a was prepared from the leaf tissue gDNA of DBN9936 homozygotes, while DBN9936b and DBN9936c were prepared by the quantitative mixing of gDNA from the leaf tissues of DBN9936 homozygotes and non-GM counterparts. Validated DBN9936/zSSIIb duplex droplet digital PCR was demonstrated to be an accurate reference method for conducting homogeneity study, stability study, and collaborative characterization. The minimum intake for one measurement was determined to be 2 μL, and the gDNA RMs were stable during transport at 37 °C for 14 days and storage at -20 °C for 18 months. Each gDNA RM was certified for three property values: DBN9936 event copy number concentration, zSSIIb reference gene copy number concentration, and DBN9936/zSSIIb copy number ratio. The measurement uncertainty of the certified values took the uncertainty components related to possible inhomogeneity, instability, and characterization into account. This batch of gDNA RMs can be used for calibration and quality control when quantifying DBN9936 events.

Sleep quality and its associated factors among patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus in Hunan, China: a cross-sectional study

OBJECTIVES

Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is a serious public health issue. Compared with the general population, patients with T2DM have a higher risk of poor sleep quality, which could ultimately result in poor prognosis. Therefore, this study aimed to evaluate sleep quality and its associated factors among patients with T2DM in Hunan, China.

DESIGN

This was a cross-sectional study.

SETTING

A tertiary hospital in Hunan, China.

PARTICIPANTS

Patients with T2DM hospitalised at the Endocrinology Department were consecutively enrolled between March 2021 and December 2022. Sociodemographic characteristics, lifestyle factors and T2DM-related information were collected retrospectively.

PRIMARY AND SECONDARY OUTCOME MEASURES

Sleep quality was evaluated using the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index, with a cut-off value of >7 suggesting poor sleep quality. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was used to determine factors associated with poor sleep quality.

RESULTS

Of the 1039 participants included, 1001 provided complete data. The mean age of the study sample was 60.24±10.09 years, and 40.5% (95% CI 37.5% to 43.5%) of patients had poor sleep quality. Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that female sex (adjusted OR (aOR) 1.70, 95% CI 1.25 to 2.29), unmarried status (aOR 1.72, 95% CI 1.05 to 2.83), diabetic retinopathy (aOR 1.38, 95% CI 1.04 to 1.83), diabetic foot (aOR 1.80, 95% CI 1.11 to 2.93) and a per capita monthly household income of >5000 RMB (aOR 0.66, 95% CI 0.47 to 0.93) were associated with poor sleep quality.

CONCLUSIONS

Nearly two-fifths of patients with T2DM reported poor sleep quality in Hunan, China. Sex, marital status, diabetic retinopathy, diabetic foot and household income were independently associated with sleep quality among patients with T2DM in Hunan, China.

The miR-1290/OGN axis in ovarian cancer-associated fibroblasts modulates cancer cell proliferation and invasion

Despite receiving first-line treatment, ovarian cancer patients continue to experience a high rate of recurrence; nearly all women with ovarian cancer develop chemoresistance and succumb to the disease. In this study, cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) and normal fibroblasts (NFs) were isolated from tumor-containing and normal omenta, respectively, and the downregulation of osteoglycin (OGN) in CAFs was observed. OGN overexpression in CAFs significantly inhibited ovarian cancer cell viability, DNA synthesis, and cell invasion. OGN overexpression also changed epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) markers and promoted mTOR and Akt phosphorylation in ovarian cancer cells. miR-1290 targeted OGN and inhibited OGN expression. miR-1290 overexpression in CAFs significantly promoted ovarian cancer cell viability, DNA synthesis, and cell invasion. Moreover, miR-1290 overexpression in CAFs also changed EMT markers and promoted mTOR and Akt phosphorylation within ovarian carcinoma cells. Finally, when ovarian cancer cells in a conditioned medium derived from CAFs co-transduced with miR-1290 mimics and OGN-OE were cultured, the effects of miR-1290 overexpression were partially reversed by OGN overexpression. In nude mouse xenograft tumor models, OGN overexpression in CAFs suppressed tumor growth, whereas miR-1290 overexpression in CAFs increased tumor growth. In conclusion, a miRNA/mRNA axis in ovarian cancer CAFs modulating the proliferative and invasive abilities of ovarian cancer cells, possibly via the Akt/mTOR pathway, was demonstrated.

Correlation analysis between per-fluoroalkyl and poly-fluoroalkyl substances exposure and depressive symptoms in adults: NHANES 2005-2018

BACKGROUND

Excessive exposure to per and poly-fluoroalkyl compounds (PFAS) can lead to various negative health effects. However, there's a lack of research studying the link between PFAS exposure and depression in adults, and the existing findings are inconsistent.

OBJECTIVES

Utilizing data collected from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) database spanning 2005 to 2018, this study aimed to examine the potential connection between PFAS exposure and depressive symptoms in adults.

METHODS

The correlation between individual PFAS exposure and depressive symptoms was examined through the establishment of weighted logistic regression models (crude model, model 1, model 2) and restricted cubic spline models. To verify the stability of the model, receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves of the logistic regression model were generated, and a ten-fold cross-validation model was employed. Additionally, the relationship between adult depressive symptoms and mixed PFAS exposure was tested through the utilization of quantile g-computation (qgcomp).

RESULTS

The findings revealed that heightened exposure levels to PFOA, PFHxS, and PFUnDA, were connected with a diminished risk of depressive symptoms in adults (ORPFOA: 0.67, 95 % confidence interval (CI): 0.47, 0.95; ORPFHxS: 0.66, 95 %CI: 0.49, 0.89; ORPFUnDA: 0.65, 95 %CI: 0.45, 0.96). PFOS, PFHxS, and PFDA demonstrated a dose-response relationship with the risk of depressive symptoms. The ROC curve indicated model stability, with recognition accuracy exceeding 90 % in the cross-validation model. The outcomes of qgcomp demonstrated that an increase in serum PFAS concentration was linked to a decreased risk of depressive symptoms in adults (OR: 0.85, 95 %CI: 0.75, 0.96).

DISCUSSION

Due to the cross-sectional design of this study, it's important to acknowledge the potential for reverse causality between PFAS exposure and depressive symptoms. As a result, the outcomes should not be oversimplified to interpret PFAS exposure as a protective factor against adult depressive symptoms.

CRIg+ macrophages deficiency enhanced inflammation damage in IBD due to gut extracellular vesicles containing microbial DNA

Gut microbiota-derived extracellular vesicles (mEVs) are reported to regulate inflammatory response by delivering bacterial products into host cells. The complement receptor of the immunoglobulin superfamily macrophages (CRIg+ Mφ) could clear invading bacteria and their derivatives. Here, we investigate the role of CRIg+ Mφ and the mechanism by which mEVs regulate intestinal inflammation. We found that it is exacerbated in IBD patients and colitis mice by mEVs' leakage from disturbed gut microbiota, enriching microbial DNA in the intestinal mucosa. CRIg+ Mφ significantly decrease in IBD patients, allowing the spread of mEVs into the mucosa. The microbial DNA within mEVs is the key trigger for inflammation and barrier function damage. The cGAS/STING pathway is crucial in mEVs-mediated inflammatory injury. Blocking cGAS/STING signaling effectively alleviates inflammation caused by mEVs leakage and CRIg+ Mφ deficiency. Microbial DNA-containing mEVs, along with CRIg+ Mφ deficiency, stimulate inflammation in IBD, with the cGAS/STING pathway playing a crucial role.

Irisin protected hemopoietic stem cells and improved outcome of severe bone marrow failure

Acquired aplastic anemia (AA) is a bone marrow failure (BMF) disease, characterized by fatty bone marrow (BM) and BM hypocellularity resulted from auto-immune dysregulated T cells-mediated destruction of BM haemopoietic stem cells (HPSC). The objective of this study was to investigate potential therapeutic effect of irisin, a molecule involved in adipose tissue transition, on AA mouse model. Our results showed that the concentration of irisin in serum was lower in AA patients than in healthy controls, suggesting a role of irisin in the pathogenesis of AA. In the AA mice, irisin administration prolonged the survival rate, prevented or attenuated peripheral pancytopenia, and preserved HPSC in the BM. Moreover, irisin also markedly reduced BM adipogenesis. In vitro results showed that irisin increased both cell proliferation and colony numbers of HPSC. Furthermore, our results demonstrated that irisin upregulated the expression of mitochondrial ATPase Inhibitory Factor 1 (IF1) in HPSC, inhibited the activation of mitochondrial fission protein (DRP1) and enhanced aerobic glycolysis. Taken together, our findings indicate novel roles of irisin in the pathogenesis of AA, and in the protection of HPSC through stimulation of proliferation and regulation of mitochondria function, which provides a proof-of-concept for the application of irisin in AA therapy.

Development and validation of a three-dimensional deep learning-based system for assessing bowel preparation on colonoscopy video

Background

The performance of existing image-based training models in evaluating bowel preparation on colonoscopy videos was relatively low, and only a few models used external data to prove their generalization. Therefore, this study attempted to develop a more precise and stable AI system for assessing bowel preparation of colonoscopy video.

Methods

We proposed a system named ViENDO to assess the bowel preparation quality, including two CNNs. First, Information-Net was used to identify and filter out colonoscopy video frames unsuitable for Boston bowel preparation scale (BBPS) scoring. Second, BBPS-Net was trained and tested with 5,566 suitable short video clips through three-dimensional (3D) convolutional neural network (CNN) technology to detect BBPS-based insufficient bowel preparation. Then, ViENDO was applied to complete withdrawal colonoscopy videos from multiple centers to predict BBPS segment scores in clinical settings. We also conducted a human-machine contest to compare its performance with endoscopists.

Results

In video clips, BBPS-Net for determining inadequate bowel preparation generated an area under the curve of up to 0.98 and accuracy of 95.2%. When applied to full-length withdrawal colonoscopy videos, ViENDO assessed bowel cleanliness with an accuracy of 93.8% in the internal test set and 91.7% in the external dataset. The human-machine contest demonstrated that the accuracy of ViENDO was slightly superior compared to most endoscopists, though no statistical significance was found.

Conclusion

The 3D-CNN-based AI model showed good performance in evaluating full-length bowel preparation on colonoscopy video. It has the potential as a substitute for endoscopists to provide BBPS-based assessments during daily clinical practice.

Association of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances with hepatic steatosis and metabolic dysfunction-associated fatty liver disease among patients with acute coronary syndrome

Etiology of hepatic steatosis and metabolic dysfunction-associated fatty liver disease (MAFLD) among acute coronary syndrome (ACS) remains unclear. Existing studies suggested the potential role of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in comorbidity of hepatic steatosis among ACS patients. Therefore, we conducted a cross-sectional study based on the ACS inpatients to assess the associations of plasma PFAS congeners and mixtures with hepatic steatosis and MAFLD. This study included 546 newly diagnosed ACS patients. Twelve PFAS were quantified using ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry. Hepatic steatosis was defined by hepatic steatosis index (HSI). MAFLD was defined as the combination of hepatic steatosis based on the risk factor calculation with metabolic abnormalities. Generalized linear model was used to examine the associations of PFAS congeners with HSI and MAFLD. Adaptive elastic net (AENET) was further used for PFAS congeners selection. Mixture effects were also assessed with Bayesian kernel machine regression model (BKMR). Congeners analysis observed significant greater percent change of HSI for each doubling in PFOS (1.82%, 95% CI: 0.87%, 2.77%), PFHxS (1.17%, 95% CI: 0.46%, 1.89%) and total PFAS (1.84%, 95% CI: 0.56%, 3.14%). Moreover, each doubling in PFOS (OR=1.42, 95% CI: 1.13, 1.81), PFHxS (OR=1.31, 95% CI: 1.09, 1.59) and total PFAS (OR=1.43, 95% CI: 1.06, 1.94) was associated with increased risk of MAFLD. In AENET regression, only PFOS presented significant positive associations with HSI. Mixture analysis indicated significant positive associations between PFAS mixtures and HSI. This is the first study to demonstrate associations of PFAS congeners and mixtures with hepatic steatosis and MAFLD among ACS patients, which provides hypothesis into the mechanisms behind comorbidity of hepatic steatosis among ACS patients, as well as tertiary prevention of ACS.