Perilipin 5 deficiency aggravates cardiac hypertrophy by stimulating lactate production in leptin-deficient mice

BACKGROUND

Perilipin 5 (Plin5) is well known to maintain the stability of intracellular lipid droplets (LDs) and regulate fatty acid metabolism in oxidative tissues. It is highly expressed in the heart, but its roles have yet to be fully elucidated.

METHODS

Plin5-deficient mice and Plin5/leptin-double-knockout mice were produced, and their histological structures and myocardial functions were observed. Critical proteins related to fatty acid and glucose metabolism were measured in heart tissues, neonatal mouse cardiomyocytes and Plin5-overexpressing H9C2 cells. 2-NBDG was employed to detect glucose uptake. The mitochondria and lipid contents were observed by MitoTracker and BODIPY 493/503 staining in neonatal mouse cardiomyocytes.

RESULTS

Plin5 deficiency impaired glucose utilization and caused insulin resistance in mouse cardiomyocytes, particularly in the presence of fatty acids (FAs). Additionally, Plin5 deficiency increased the NADH content and elevated the expression of lactate dehydrogenase (LDHA) in cardiomyocytes, which resulted in increased lactate production. Moreover, when fatty acid oxidation was blocked by etomoxir or LDHA was inhibited by GSK2837808A in Plin5-deficient cardiomyocytes, glucose utilization was improved. Leptin-deficient mice exhibited myocardial hypertrophy, insulin resistance and altered substrate utilization, and Plin5 deficiency exacerbated myocardial hypertrophy in leptin-deficient mice.

CONCLUSION

Our results demonstrated that Plin5 plays a critical role in coordinating fatty acid and glucose oxidation in cardiomyocytes, providing a potential target for the treatment of metabolic disorders in the heart.

Long-term changes in crystalline lens transparency after accelerated transepithelial corneal cross-linking in patients with keratoconus

PURPOSE

To investigate the long-term clinical outcomes and changes in crystalline lens transparency after accelerated (45 mW/cm2) transepithelial corneal cross-linking (ATE-CXL) using the Pentacam imaging system in patients with progressive keratoconus.

METHODS

The study prospectively included 44 keratoconus eyes of 40 patients (mean age: 24.39  ±  5.61 years) who underwent ATE-CXL. The examinations, including assessment of uncorrected distance visual acuity, corrected distance visual acuity, corneal topography, and corneal endothelial cell density count, were conducted preoperatively and 1 month, 3 months, 6 months, 1 year, and 5 years postoperatively. Measurement of crystalline lens density using Pentacam images was also performed pre- and postoperatively.

RESULTS

All surgeries were uneventful with no postoperative complications. All keratometry values and corneal thickness remained stable during the 5-year follow-up period (all p > 0.05). There were no significant differences in corneal endothelial cell density count, visual acuity, and anterior average lens density in the 0.5-, 1.0-, and 1.5-mm depth zones during the 5-year follow-up period compared with the preoperative values (all p > 0.05).

CONCLUSION

The results of this study suggest that ATE-CXL at 45 mW/cm2 is safe and effective for the treatment of progressive keratoconus in terms of both crystalline lens density and endothelial cell density.

Relevant detection indicator of prethrombotic state in patients with primary hypertension

BACKGROUND

Hypertension is a common chronic disease that affects many people worldwide. Only a few reports related to the exploration of relevant indicators of the prethrombotic state in patients with primary hypertension (PH) in clinical settings were available.

AIM

To detect prethrombotic state-related indicators in patients with PH and analyze their differences in different patient populations to provide a laboratory basis for the clinical prevention and control of hypertensive thrombotic diseases.

METHODS

The general data of patients with PH who attended the Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital of Jiangxi Medical College, from January 2022 to December 2022 were collected retrospectively. The patients were divided into three groups of 40 patients each according to the Grade of PH: Grade 1, Grade 2, and Grade 3 hypertension experimental group. The baseline data of 40 volunteers, who underwent physical examination in our hospital but were not diagnosed with PH during the same period, were included in the control group. The relevant indicators of prethrombotic state of the participants were compared, and mainly included inflammation-related indicators, hemorheology-related indicators, and coagulation function related indicators. The relationship between the aforementioned indicators and the progression of PH was analyzed.

RESULTS

No significant differences were observed in age, sex, diabetes mellitus, smoking history, drinking history, body mass index, New York Heart Association functional classification, or the course of hypertension among the four groups (P > 0.05). The expressions of high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP), thrombomodulin (TM), hematocrit (Hct), erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), P-selectin on platelet surface (CD62P), and fibrinogen (FIB) in the control group were < Grade 1 hypertension group < Grade 2 hypertension group < Grade 3 hypertension group, and the expressions of platelet (PLT), activated partial thromboplastin time (APTT), prothrombin (PT), and plasma thrombin time (TT) in the control group was > Grade 1 hypertension group > Grade 2 hypertension group > Grade 3 hypertension group, and the difference was statistically significant (P < 0.05). The results of the multivariate logistic regression model showed that the expression of hs-CRP, TM, Hct, ESR, CD62P, PLT, APTT, PT, TT, and FIB in the included participants was related to the progression of PH. Among these, high expression of hs-CRP, TM, Hct, ESR, CD62P, APTT, PT, and TT, and low expression of PLT and FIB were risk factors for PH (OR > 1, P < 0.05). The results of the receiver operating characteristic curve analysis showed that the area under the curve of hs-CRP, TM, ESR, CD62P, APTT, PT, TT, and FIB for the prediction of PH were > 0.80, and the prediction value was ideal. Linear correlation analysis with bivariate Spearman showed that hs-CRP, TM, Hct, ESR, CD62P, APTT, PT, and TT were positively correlated with each other (r > 0, P < 0.05); PLT and FIB were negatively correlated with hs-CRP, TM, Hct, ESR, CD62P, APTT, PT, and TT (r < 0, P < 0.05); and PLT and FIB were positively correlated (r > 0, P < 0.05). Linear correlation analysis using bivariate Spearman showed that hs-CRP, TM, Hct, ESR, CD62P, and FIB were positively correlated with each other (r > 0, P < 0.05), whereas PLT, APTT, PT, and TT were negatively correlated with hs-CRP, TM, Hct, ESR, CD62P, and FIB (r < 0, P < 0.05). There was a positive correlation between PLT, APTT, PT, and TT (r > 0, P < 0.05).

CONCLUSION

The relevant indicators of the prethrombotic state in patients with PH, such as hs-CRP, TM, Hct, ESR, CD62P, PLT, APTT, PT, TT, and FIB, showed differences. High expression of hs-CRP, TM, Hct, ESR, CD62P, and FIB, and low expression of PLT, APTT, PT, and TT are the keys to the occurrence, progression, and thrombotic state of PH. Based on the above serum indicators' expression in patients, targeted interventions can be administered to patients with abnormal expression levels to control the progression of their disease and reduce the risk of developing a prethrombotic state.

The Effect of Different Milling Methods on the Physicochemical and In Vitro Digestibility of Rice Flour

Preparation methods have been found to affect the physical and chemical properties of rice. This study prepared Guichao rice flour with wet, dry, semi-dry, and jet milling techniques. Differences in the particle size distribution of rice flour were investigated in order to assess their impact on pasting, thermal, gel, starch digestibility, and crystalline structure using an X-ray diffractometer (XRD) and a Rapid Visco Analyzer (RVA) across in vitro digestibility experiments. The results showed that semi-dry-milled rice flour (SRF) and wet-milled rice flour (WRF) were similar in damaged starch content, crystalline structure, and gelatinization temperature. However, compared with dry-milled rice flour (DRF) and jet-milled rice flour (JRF), SRF had less damaged starch, a higher absorption enthalpy value, and a higher gelatinization temperature. For starch digestibility, the extended glycemic index (eGI) values of WRF (85.30) and SRF (89.97) were significantly lower than those of DRF (94.47) and JRF (99.27). In general, the physicochemical properties and starch digestibility of WRF and SRF were better than those of DRF and JRF. SRF retained the advantages of WRF while avoiding the high energy consumption, high water consumption, and microbial contamination disadvantages of WRF and was able to produce better rice flour-associated products.

Randomized phase II adjuvant trial to compare two treatment durations of icotinib (2 years versus 1 year) for stage II-IIIA EGFR-positive lung adenocarcinoma patients (ICOMPARE study)

BACKGROUND

Despite the prolonged median disease-free survival (DFS) by adjuvant targeted therapy in non-small-cell lung cancer patients with epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) mutations, the relationship between the treatment duration and the survival benefits in patients remains unknown.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

In this multicenter, randomized, open-label, phase II trial, eligible patients aged 18-75 years with EGFR-mutant, stage II-IIIA lung adenocarcinoma and who had not received adjuvant chemotherapy after complete tumor resection were enrolled from eight centers in China. Patients were randomly assigned (1 : 1) to receive either 1-year or 2-year icotinib (125 mg thrice daily). The primary endpoint was DFS assessed by investigator. The secondary endpoints were overall survival (OS) and safety. This study was registered at ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT01929200).

RESULTS

Between September 2013 and October 2018, 109 patients were enrolled (1-year group, n = 55; 2-year group, n = 54). Median DFS was 48.9 months [95% confidence interval (CI) 33.1-70.1 months] in the 2-year group and 32.9 months (95% CI 26.6-44.8 months) in the 1-year group [hazard ratio (HR) 0.51; 95% CI 0.28-0.94; P = 0.0290]. Median OS for patients was 75.8 months [95% CI 64.4 months-not evaluable (NE)] in the 2-year group and NE (95% CI 66.3 months-NE) in the 1-year group (HR 0.34; 95% CI 0.13-0.95; P = 0.0317). Treatment-related adverse events (TRAEs) were observed in 41 of 55 (75%) patients in the 1-year group and in 36 of 54 (67%) patients in the 2-year group. Grade 3-4 TRAEs occurred in 4 of 55 (7%) patients in the 1-year group and in 3 of 54 (6%) patients in the 2-year group. No treatment-related deaths or interstitial lung disease was reported.

CONCLUSIONS

Two-year adjuvant icotinib was shown to significantly improve DFS and provide an OS benefit in EGFR-mutant, stage II-IIIA lung adenocarcinoma patients compared with 1-year treatment in this exploratory phase II study.

Magnetic molecularly imprinted polymers as a fluorescent sensor for selective detection of Sudan I in chili powder

In this manuscript, a novel strategy to design and prepare magnetic molecularly imprinted polymers (MMIPs) is proposed. Based on the synthesized MMIPs, a fluorescent sensor for low-cost and fast detection of Sudan I was established. Under the optimal conditions, the fluorescence intensity of MMIPs decreased linearly with the concentration of Sudan I in the range of 1-40 μM, and the detection limit was 0.38 μM. The present fluorescent sensor demonstrated satisfactory performance for the quantification of Sudan I in chili powder, covering a concentration range of 49.66-993.12 mg kg^-1. The LOD was determined to be 17.38 mg kg^-1. Furthermore, the average percentage recovery for both intraday and inter-day precision studies ranged from 98% to 104% and 99% to 105%, respectively. The experimental results indicate that the prepared MMIPs exhibited broad potential for low-cost and fast detection in food safety analysis.

Ultrasound findings of Castleman's disease of the parotid gland

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Measurement of Direct-Photon Cross Section and Double-Helicity Asymmetry at sqrt[s]=510 GeV in p[over →]+p[over →] Collisions

We present measurements of the cross section and double-helicity asymmetry A_{LL} of direct-photon production in p[over →]+p[over →] collisions at sqrt[s]=510  GeV. The measurements have been performed at midrapidity (|η|<0.25) with the PHENIX detector at the Relativistic Heavy Ion Collider. At relativistic energies, direct photons are dominantly produced from the initial quark-gluon hard scattering and do not interact via the strong force at leading order. Therefore, at sqrt[s]=510  GeV, where leading-order-effects dominate, these measurements provide clean and direct access to the gluon helicity in the polarized proton in the gluon-momentum-fraction range 0.02<x<0.08, with direct sensitivity to the sign of the gluon contribution.

Oriented Plate-like KNbO3 Polycrystals: Topochemical Mesocrystal Conversion and Piezoelectric and Photocatalytic Responses

KNbO₃ (KN) with a perovskite structure is an outstanding representative of lead-free piezoelectric materials, and its mesocrystals have broad application prospects in the fields of catalysis, energy storage, and conversion. However, the formation conditions of KN mesocrystals reported so far are difficult owing to their high aspect ratio and excellent preferred orientation. In this study, the solvothermal process was used successfully to prepare the flake-like potassium salt of Lindquist hexaniobate (K₈Nb₆O₁₉·10H₂O). Subsequently, the precursor niobate was calcined to prepare two-dimensional (2D) plate-like KN mesocrystals. The formation mechanism of the plate-like KN mesocrystals is further revealed from a paired topochemical mesocrystal conversion of K₈Nb₆O₁₉·10H₂O niobate. Finally, the microscopic piezoelectric and photocatalytic responses of the obtained plate-like KN mesocrystals were investigated. The high piezoelectric coefficient of plate-like KN mesocrystals implies that excellent charge separation promotes the photocatalytic performance of rhodamine B (RhB). This study provides a strategy for the efficient application of 2D oriented materials in the field of piezoelectricity and photocatalysis.

Comparison of bilateral differential characteristics of corneal biomechanics between keratoconus and normal eyes

Purpose: To compare bilateral differences in corneal biomechanics between keratoconus and normal eyes. Methods: In this case-control study, 346 eyes of 173 patients (aged 22.1 ± 6.1 years) with keratoconus (KC group) and 378 eyes of 189 patients (aged 26.7 ± 5.6 years) with ametropia (control group) were enrolled. Corneal tomography and biomechanical properties were examined using Pentacam HR and Corvis ST, respectively. The corneal biomechanical parameters were compared between eyes with forme fruste keratoconus (FFKC) and normal eyes. Bilateral differences in corneal biomechanical parameters were compared between the KC and control groups. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis was used to assess discriminative efficacies. Results: The areas under the ROC curves (AUROCs) of stiffness parameter at the first applanation (SP-A1) and Tomographic and Biomechanical Index (TBI) for identifying FFKC were 0.641 and 0.694, respectively. The bilateral differential values of major corneal biomechanical parameters were significantly increased in the KC group (all p < 0.05), except for the Corvis Biomechanical Index (CBI). The AUROCs of the bilateral differential values of the deformation amplitude ratio at 2 mm (ΔDAR2), Integrated Radius (ΔIR), SP-A1 (ΔSP-A1), and the maximum inverse concave radius (ΔMax ICR) for discriminating keratoconus were 0.889, 0.884, 0.826, and 0.805, respectively. The Logistic Regression Model-1 (comprising of ΔDAR2, ΔIR, and age) and the Logistic Regression Model-2 (comprising of ΔIR, ΔARTh, ΔBAD-D, and age) had AUROCs of 0.922 and 0.998, respectively, for discriminating keratoconus. Conclusion: The bilateral asymmetry of corneal biomechanics was significantly increased in keratoconus compared with normal eyes, which may be helpful for the early detection of keratoconus.

TabZIP60 is involved in the regulation of ABA synthesis-mediated salt tolerance through interacting with TaCDPK30 in wheat (Triticum aestivum L.)

MAIN CONCLUSION

TabZIP60 is found to interact with TaCDPK30 and act as a positive regulator of ABA synthesis-mediated salt tolerance in wheat. Wheat basic leucine zipper (bZIP) transcription factor (TabZIP60) was previously found to act as a positive regulator of salt resistance. However, its molecular mechanism in response to salt stress in wheat is still unclear. In this study, TabZIP60 was found to interact with wheat calcium-dependent protein kinase (TaCDPK30), which belonged to group III of CDPK family, and was induced by salt, polyethylene glycol, and abscisic acid (ABA) treatments. This mutation of serine 110 in TabZIP60 resulted in no interaction with TaCDPK30. Moreover, TaCDPK30 was involved in interactions with wheat protein phosphatase 2C clade A (TaPP2CA116/TaPP2CA121). TabZIP60-overexpressing wheat plants showed increased salt tolerance, as exhibited by better growth status, higher soluble sugar, and lower malonaldehyde contents of transgenic plants than wild-type wheat cv. Kenong 199 under salt stress. Moreover, transgenic lines showed high ABA content by upregulating ABA synthesis-related gene expression levels. TabZIP60 protein could bind and interact with the promoter of the wheat nine-cis epoxycarotenoid dioxygenase (TaNCED2) gene. Furthermore, TabZIP60 upregulated several stress response gene expression levels, which could also increase the plant's ability to resist salt stress. Thus, these results suggest that TabZIP60 could function as a regulator of ABA synthesis-mediated salt tolerance through interacting with TaCDPK30 in wheat.

[Association between urinary arsenic level and serum testosterone in Chinese men aged 18 to 79 years]

Objective: To investigate the association between the urinary arsenic level and serum total testosterone in Chinese men aged 18 to 79 years. Methods: A total of 5 048 male participants aged 18 to 79 years were recruited from the China National Human Biomonitoring (CNHBM) from 2017 to 2018. Questionnaires and physical examinations were used to collect information on demographic characteristics, lifestyle, food intake frequency and health status. Venous blood and urine samples were collected to detect the level of serum total testosterone, urine arsenic and urine creatinine. Participants were divided into three groups (low, middle, and high) based on the tertiles of creatinine-adjusted urine arsenic concentration. Weighted multiple linear regression was fitted to analyze the association of urinary arsenic with serum total testosterone. Results: The weighted average age of 5 048 Chinese men was (46.72±0.40) years. Geometric mean concentration (95%CI) of urinary arsenic, creatinine-adjusted urine arsenic and serum testosterone was 22.46 (20.08, 25.12) μg/L, 19.36 (16.92, 22.15) μg/L and 18.13 (17.42, 18.85) nmol/L, respectively. After controlling for covariates, compared with the low-level urinary arsenic group, the testosterone level of the participants in the middle-level group and the high-level group decreased gradually. The percentile ratio (95%CI) was -5.17% (-13.14%, 3.54%) and -10.33% (-15.68%, -4.63). The subgroup analysis showed that the association between the urinary arsenic level and testosterone level was more obvious in the group with BMI<24 kg/m² group (P_interaction<0.05). Conclusion: There is a negative association between the urinary arsenic level and serum total testosterone in Chinese men aged 18-79 years.

[The characteristics and correlations of vaginal flora in women with cervical lesions]

Objective: To explore the characteristics and correlations of vaginal flora in women with cervical lesions. Methods: A total of 132 women, including 41 women diagnosed with normal cervical (NC), 39 patients with low-grade cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN 1), 37 patients with high-grade cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN 2/3) and 15 patients with cervical squamous cell carcinoma (SCC), who came from the gynecological clinic of Second Hospital of Shanxi Medical University during January 2018 to June 2018, were enrolled in this study according to the inclusive and exclusive criteria strictly. The vaginal flora was detected by 16S rDNA sequencing technology. Co-occurrence network analysis was used to investigate the Spearman correlations between different genera of bacteria. Results: The dominant bacteria in NC, CIN 1 and CIN 2/3 groups were Lactobacillus [constituent ratios 79.4% (1 869 598/2 354 098), 63.6% (1 536 466/2 415 100) and 58.3% (1 342 896/2 301 536), respectively], while Peptophilus [20.4% (246 072/1 205 154) ] was the dominant bacteria in SCC group. With the aggravation of cervical lesions, the diversity of vaginal flora gradually increased (Shannon index: F=6.39, P=0.001; Simpson index: F=3.95, P=0.012). During the cervical lesion progress, the ratio of Lactobacillus gradually decreased, the ratio of other anaerobes such as Peptophilus, Sneathia, Prevotella and etc. gradually increased, and the differential bacteria (LDA score >3.5) gradually evolved from Lactobacillus to other anaerobes. The top 10 relative abundance bacteria, spearman correlation coefficient>0.4 and P<0.05 were selected. Co-occurrence network analysis showed that Prevotella, Peptophilus, Porphyrinomonas, Anaerococcus, Sneathia, Atopobium, Gardnerella and Streptococcus were positively correlated in different stages of cervical lesions, while Lactobacillus was negatively correlated with the above anaerobes. It was found that the relationship between vaginal floras in CIN 1 group was the most complex and only Peptophilus was significantly negatively correlated with Lactobacillus in SCC group. Conclusions: The increased diversity and changed correlations between vaginal floras are closely related to cervical lesions. Peptophilus is of great significance in the diagnosis, prediction and early warning of cervical carcinogenesis.

[Prokaryotic expression of mitoferrin 2/SLC25A28 and rabbit polyclonal antibody preparation]

Objective To construct the prokaryotic expression plasmid of human mitoferrin 2 (SLC25A28), and to express and purify the protein for preparing its rabbit polyclonal antibody. Methods The prokaryotic expression plasmid pET28a(+)-SLC25A28-His was constructed and transferred into E. coli BL21 (DE3), and induced with Isopropyl-β-D-thiogalactopyranoside (IPTG). The SLC25A28 protein was extracted in form of inclusion bodies, and was further purified by His-NTA column after dissolved in 8 mol/L urea. The anti-SLC25A28 polyclonal antibody was prepared by immunizing rabbits, and its specificity was determined by Western blot analysis. Results pET28a(+)-SLC25A28-His was constructed and SLC25A28 protein was successfully expressed in E. coli BL21 (DE3) with the purity up to 90%. The Western blot results indicated that anti-SLC25A28 polyclonal antibody was capable to recognize specifically the SLC25A28 protein in testis. Conclusion The human SLC25A28 is successfully expressed in E. Coli, and the rabbit polyclonal antibody specific to SLC25A28 is prepared.

Cognitive Appraisal, Dispositional Coping, and Posttraumatic Growth among Patient-Caregiver Dyads Undergoing Hemodialysis

The present study aims to investigate the mediating effect of dispositional coping on the relationship between cognitive appraisal (which includes areas of threat, challenge, harm/loss, and benign/irrelevant appraisals) and posttraumatic growth (PTG) among patient-caregiver dyads undergoing hemodialysis. In total, 237 dyads of patients undergoing hemodialysis and their family caregivers were recruited from a tertiary hospital in Tianjin, China. Dyadic data were analyzed using the Actor-Partner Interdependence Mediation Model (APIMeM). The final APIMeM model examining dyadic effects of challenge appraisal and dispositional coping on PTG demonstrated an excellent model fit. The challenge appraisal of family caregivers was directly associated with the PTG of patients undergoing hemodialysis. Dispositional coping mediated the pathways between challenge appraisal and PTG for both patients undergoing hemodialysis and family caregivers. By exploring the cognitive appraisal and dispositional coping of patient-caregiver dyads undergoing hemodialysis may help both partners foster PTG.

In Situ Growth of Cs3Bi2Br9 Quantum Dots on Bi-MOF Nanosheets via Cosharing Bismuth Atoms for CO2 Capture and Photocatalytic Reduction

Given the global warming caused by excess CO₂ accumulation in the atmosphere, it is essential to reduce CO₂ by capturing and converting it to chemical feedstock using solar energy. Herein, a novel Cs₃Bi₂Br₉/bismuth-based metal-organic framework (Bi-MOF) composite was prepared via an in situ growth strategy of Cs₃Bi₂Br₉ quantum dots (QDs) on the surface of Bi-MOF nanosheets through coshared bismuth atoms. The prepared Cs₃Bi₂Br₉/Bi-MOF exhibits bifunctional merits for both the high capture and effective conversion of CO₂, among which the optimized 3Cs₃Bi₂Br₉/Bi-MOF sample shows a CO₂-CO conversion yield as high as 572.24 μmol g^-1 h^-1 under the irradiation of a 300 W Xe lamp. In addition, the composite shows good stability after five recycles in humid air, and the CO₂ photoreduction efficiency does not decrease significantly. The mechanistic investigation uncovers that the intimate atomic-level contact between Cs₃Bi₂Br₉ and Bi-MOF via the coshared atoms not only improves the dispersion of Cs₃Bi₂Br₉ QDs over Bi-MOF nanosheets but also accelerates interfacial charge transfer by forming a strong bonding linkage, which endows it with the best performance of CO₂ photoreduction. Our new finding of bismuth-based metal-organic framework/lead-free halide perovskite by cosharing atoms opens a new avenue for a novel preparation strategy of the heterojunction with atomic-level contact and potential applications in capture and photocatalytic conversion of CO₂.

Lipolysis is accompanied by immune microenvironment remodeling in adipose tissue of obesity with different exercise intensity

OBJECTIVE

Obesity and overweight are risk factors for chronic disease worldwide. The purpose of this study was to compare the transcriptome of exercise-induced fat mobilization in obese people, and to explore the effect of different exercise intensity on the correlation of immune microenvironment remodeling and lipolysis in adipose tissue.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Microarray datasets of adipose tissue before and after exercise were downloaded from the Gene Expression Omnibus. Then, we used gene-enrichment analysis and PPI-network construction to elucidate the function and enrichment pathways of the differentially expressed genes (DEGs) and to identify the central genes. A network of protein-protein interactions was obtained using STRING and visualized with Cytoscape.

RESULTS

A total of 929 DEGs were identified between 40 pre-exercise (BX) samples and 65 post-exercise (AX) samples from GSE58559, GSE116801, and GSE43471. Among these DEGs, adipose tissue-expressed genes were duly recognized. Gene Ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) enrichment analyses indicated that DEGs were mostly enriched in lipid metabolism. Studies have found that mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) signaling pathway and forkhead box O (FOXO) signaling pathway are up-regulated, while Ribosome, coronavirus disease (COVID-19) and IGF-1 gene are down-regulated. Although we found the up-regulated genes that noted IL-1 among others, and the down-regulated gene was IL-34. The increase of inflammatory factors leads to changes in cellular immune microenvironment, and high-intensity exercise leads to increased expression of inflammatory factors in adipose tissue, leading to inflammatory responses.

CONCLUSIONS

Exercise at different intensities leads to the degradation of adipose and is accompanied by changes in the immune microenvironment within adipose tissue. High intensity exercise can cause the imbalance of immune microenvironment of adipose tissue while causing fat degradation. Therefore, moderate intensity and below exercise is the best way for the general population to reduce fat and weight.

Comparison of Two Scheimpflug Systems in the Measurements of Eyes with Corneal Diameter Smaller than 11.1 mm

INTRODUCTION

This article aimed to evaluate the measurements of ectasia parameters by two Scheimpflug-based tomography devices, Pentacam and Sirius, for eyes with different corneal diameters (CDs).

METHODS

This cross-sectional research included subjects from the Fudan University EENT Hospital Refractive Center Database that were followed once a year for at least 3 years with unremarkable slit-lamp examination and normal topography. Pentacam and Sirius examinations were performed on these subjects and the ectasia indices were compared between different CD groups.

RESULTS

The right eyes of 153 subjects were included (CD ≤ 11.1 mm, n = 50; 11.2-12 mm, n = 52; > 12.0 mm, n = 51). For the ectasia parameters from Pentacam, CD had the greatest influence on the deviation of normality of back elevation (Db, R² = 0.371, β = - 1.119, P < 0.001), overall deviation of normality (BAD-D, R² = 0.305, β = - 0.589, P < 0.001), and minimum pachymetric progression index (PPImin, R² = 0.282, β = - 0.131, P < 0.001). For parameters derived from Sirius, CD had the greatest influence on Baiocchi-Calossi-Versaci index of the back surface (BCVb, R² = 0.138, β = - 0.179, P < 0.001), keratoconus vertex of the back surface (KVb, R² = 0.099, β = - 2.273, P < 0.001), and BCV (R² = 0.071, β = - 0.078, P = 0.001). CD had little influence on surface asymmetry index of the front (SIf) and back surface (SIb), keratoconus vertex of the front surface (KVf), Baiocchi-Calossi-Versaci index of the front surface (BCVf), and Sirius classifier (P > 0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

For Pentacam, CD mainly influenced indices related to back elevation (BE) and pachymetry progression, whereas for Sirius, CD mainly influenced indices related to BE and corneal aberration.

Corneal thickness measurements with the RTVue, Casia-2, and Pentacam devices in patients with mild-to-moderate keratoconus: a comparative study

BACKGROUND

To compare the characteristics of corneal thickness measurements among the RTVue, Casia-2, and Pentacam in patients with mild-to-moderate keratoconus.

METHODS

We recruited 46 eyes of 46 patients diagnosed with mild-to-moderate keratoconus at our hospital between January and March 2022. The central corneal thickness (CCT) and thinnest corneal thickness (TCT) were measured using two optical coherence tomography (OCT) instruments (RTVue and Casia-2) and the more conventional Pentacam. Differences and correlations between the CCTs and TCTs, based on the device and influencing factors, were explored.

RESULTS

The CCTs were highly consistent among the groups (p = 0.434) and correlated with one another (p < 0.001). The TCTs measured by OCTs were thinner than those measured by the Pentacam (p < 0.001); however, all three devices were highly correlated (p < 0.001). The thinnest point location measurements with RTVue and Casia-2 differed significantly from the measurements with the Pentacam. Bland-Altman plots demonstrated a significant agreement between Pentacam and OCTs in TCT measurement (p < 0.001); the 95% limits of agreement were - 3.1 μm to + 33.1 μm for Pentacam and RTVue and - 8.6 μm to + 36.5 μm for Pentacam and Casia-2. RTVue and Casia-2 showed no difference in corneal thickness (p = 0.633) and thinnest point location measurement (p > 0.05). Multivariate analysis identified that the TCT measurement difference between the RTVue and Pentacam was related to the difference between the CCT and TCT (b = 0.490, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.033 to 0.948, p = 0.036), whereas the difference between the Casia-2 and Pentacam was related to the anterior radius for curvature (A) grade (b = 3.9, 95% CI: 1.753 to 6.074, p = 0.001), corneal pachymetry at the thinnest (C) grade (b = - 7.875, 95% CI: - 11.404 to - 4.346, p < 0.001), and the difference between the CCT and TCT (b = 0.425, 95% CI: 0.1 to 0.751, p = 0.012).

CONCLUSIONS

CCTs in patients with mild-to-moderate keratoconus were similar among all three devices, but the TCTs and the thinnest point locations were not. Furthermore, the TCT measurement differences between the OCT devices and the Pentacam were more pronounced in keratoconus cases with a steeper anterior surface, thicker TCTs, and a larger difference between the CCT and TCT.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

Number: 2021118-1. Retrospectively registered: September 01, 2021.

Discovery of potent microtubule-destabilizing agents targeting for colchicine site by virtual screening, biological evaluation, and molecular dynamics simulation

Microtubule has been considered as attractive therapeutic target for various cancers. Although numerous of chemically diverse compounds targeting to colchicine site have been reported, none of them was approved by Food and Drug Administration. In this investigation, the virtual screening methods, including pharmacophore model, molecular docking, and interaction molecular fingerprints similarity, were applied to discover novel microtubule-destabilizing agents from database with 324,474 compounds. 22 compounds with novel scaffolds were identified as microtubule-destabilizing agents, and then submitted to the biological evaluation. Among these 22 hits, hit4 with novel scaffold represents the best anti-proliferative activity with IC₅₀ ranging from 4.51 to 14.81 μM on four cancer cell lines. The in vitro assays reveal that hit4 can effectively inhibit tubulin assembly, and disrupt the microtubule network in MCF-7 cell at a concentration-dependent manner. Finally, the molecular dynamics simulation analysis exhibits that hit4 can stably bind to colchicine site, interact with key residues, and induce αT5 and βT7 regions changes. The values of ΔG_bind for the tubulin-colchicine and tubulin-hit4 are -172.9±10.5 and -166.0±12.6 kJ·mol^-1, respectively. The above results indicate that the hit4 is a novel microtubule destabilizing agent targeting to colchicine-binding site, which could be developed as a promising tubulin polymerization inhibitor with higher activity for cancer therapy.

Associations of Body-Roundness Index and Sarcopenia with Cardiovascular Disease among Middle-Aged and Older Adults: Findings from CHARLS

OBJECTIVES

Sarcopenia and obesity may contribute to chronic disease. However, little is known about the association between sarcopenia, body roundness index (BRI), and cardiovascular disease (CVD). The aim of this study was to investigate the association of sarcopenia and BRI with CVD in middle-aged and older Chinese population.

DESIGN

Cohort study with an 8-year follow-up.

SETTING AND PARTICIPANTS

Data were derived from 4 waves of the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study, and 6152 participants aged 45 or above were included in the study.

METHODS

Sarcopenia was defined according to the Asian Working Group for Sarcopenia 2019 criteria. CVD was defined as the presence of physician-diagnosed heart disease, diabetes and/or stroke. The associations of BRI and sarcopenia with CVD risk were explored using Cox proportional hazards regression models.

RESULTS

The mean age of the participants was 58.3 (8.9) years, and 2936 (47.7%) were males. During the 8 years follow-up, 2385 cases (38.8%) with incident CVD were identified. Longitudinal results demonstrated that compared to neither sarcopenia or high BRI, both sarcopenia and high BRI (HR: 1.49, 95%CI: 1.08, 2.07) were associated with higher risk of CVD. In the subgroup analysis, individuals with both sarcopenia and high BRI were more likely to have new onset stroke (HR: 1.93, 95%CI: 1.12, 3.32) and increased risk of multimorbidity (HR: 2.15, 95% CI: 1.14, 4.04).

CONCLUSIONS

Coexistence of sarcopenia and high BRI was associated with higher risk of CVD. Early identification and intervention for sarcopenia and BRI not only allows the implementation of therapeutic strategies, but also provides an opportunity to mitigate the risk of developing CVD.

Associations of Pain and Sarcopenia with Successful Aging among Older People in China: Evidence from CHARLS

OBJECTIVES

Sarcopenia and chronic pain are geriatric syndromes that negatively impact the lives of older people. The aim of this study was to explore the relationship among sarcopenia, pain, and successful aging among older persons participating in the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study (CHARLS).

DESIGN

Cohort study with a 2-year follow-up.

SETTING AND PARTICIPANTS

Data were derived from 2 waves of the CHARLS, and 4280 community-dwelling participants aged ≥ 60 years were included in the study.

METHODS

Sarcopenia status was defined according to the Asian Working Group for Sarcopenia 2019 (AWGS 2019) criteria. Successful aging was defined following Rowe and Kahn's multidimensional model. Pain was assessed by a self-reported questionnaire. A generalized estimating equation (GEE) was used to examine the associations.

RESULTS

Longitudinal results demonstrated that compared with no sarcopenia, possible sarcopenia [OR (95%CI): 0.600 (0.304~1.188)] was not significantly associated with successful aging. Pain only was strongly associated with successful aging [0.388 (0.251~0.600)], whereas the association between sarcopenia only and successful aging was weaker [0.509 (0.287~0.905)]. The likelihood of being successful aging was substantially lower in the presence of coexisting sarcopenia and pain [0.268 (0.108~0.759)].

CONCLUSIONS

Both pain and sarcopenia are significant predictors for achieving successful aging among community-dwelling older adults. Early identification of sarcopenia and pain permits the implementation of treatment strategies and presents an opportunity to mitigate the risk of being unsuccessful aging.

Fabrication of Micro-Ball Sockets in C17200 Beryllium Copper Alloy by Micro-Electrical Discharge Machining Milling

Micro-liquid floated gyroscopes are widely used in nuclear submarines, intercontinental missiles, and strategic bombers. The machining accuracy of micro-ball sockets determined the motion accuracy of the rotor. However, it was not easily fabricated by micro-cutting because of the excellent physical and chemical properties of beryllium copper alloy. Here, we presented a linear compensation of tool electrode and a proportional variable thickness method for milling micro-ball sockets in C17200 beryllium copper alloy by micro-electrical discharge machining. The machining parameters were systematically investigated and optimized to achieve high-precision micro-ball sockets when the k value was 0.98 and the initial layer thickness was 0.024 mm. Our method provided a new way to fabricate micro-ball sockets in C17200 with high efficiency for micro-liquid floated gyroscopes.