Fibroblasts facilitate lymphatic vessel formation in transplanted heart

Rationale: Lymphangiogenesis plays a critical role in the transplanted heart. The remodeling of lymphatics in the transplanted heart and the source of newly formed lymphatic vessels are still controversial, especially the mechanism of lymphangiogenesis remains limited. Methods: Heart transplantation was performed among BALB/c, C57BL/6J, Cag-Cre, Lyve1-CreERT2;Rosa26-tdTomato and Postn(2A-CreERT2-wpre-pA)1;Rosa26-DTA mice. scRNA-seq, Elisa assay, Western blotting, Q-PCR and immunohistochemical staining were used to identify the cells and cell-cell communications of allograft heart. Cell depletion was applied to in vivo and in vitro experiments. Whole-mount staining and three-dimensional reconstruction depicted the cell distribution within transparent transplanted heart. Results: Genetic lineage tracing mice and scRNA-seq analysis have revealed that these newly formed lymphatic vessels mainly originate from recipient LYVE1+ cells. It was found that LECs primarily interact with activated fibroblasts. Inhibition of lymphatic vessel formation using a VEGFR3 inhibitor resulted in a decreased survival time of transplanted hearts. Furthermore, when activated fibroblasts were ablated in transplanted hearts, there was a significant suppression of lymphatic vessel generation, leading to earlier graft failure. Additional investigations have shown that activated fibroblasts promote tube formation of LECs primarily through the activation of various signaling pathways, including VEGFD/VEGFR3, MDK/NCL, and SEMA3C/NRP2. Interestingly, knockdown of VEGFD and MDK in activated fibroblasts impaired cardiac lymphangiogenesis after heart transplantation. Conclusions: Our study indicates that cardiac lymphangiogenesis primarily originates from recipient cells, and activated fibroblasts play a crucial role in facilitating the generation of lymphatic vessels after heart transplantation. These findings provide valuable insights into potential therapeutic targets for enhancing graft survival.

Determination of the Σ^{+} Timelike Electromagnetic Form Factors

Based on data samples collected with the BESIII detector at the BEPCII collider, the process e^{+}e^{-}→Σ^{+}Σ[over ¯]^{-} is studied at center-of-mass energies sqrt[s]=2.3960, 2.6454, and 2.9000 GeV. Using a fully differential angular description of the final state particles, both the relative magnitude and phase information of the Σ^{+} electromagnetic form factors in the timelike region are extracted. The relative phase between the electric and magnetic form factors is determined to be sinΔΦ=-0.67±0.29(stat)±0.18(syst) at sqrt[s]=2.3960  GeV, ΔΦ=55°±19°(stat)±14°(syst) at sqrt[s]=2.6454  GeV, and 78°±22°(stat)±9°(syst) at sqrt[s]=2.9000  GeV. For the first time, the phase of the hyperon electromagnetic form factors is explored in a wide range of four-momentum transfer. The evolution of the phase along with four-momentum transfer is an important input for understanding its asymptotic behavior and the dynamics of baryons.

Cobalt-Catalyzed Enantioselective Reductive Amination of Ketones with Hydrazides

An efficient cobalt-catalyzed asymmetric reductive amination of ketones with hydrazides has been realized, directly producing valuable chiral hydrazines in high yields and enantioselectivities (up to 98% enantiomeric excess).

China's prevention and control experience of echinococcosis: A 19-year retrospective

Echinococcosis poses a significant threat to public health. The Chinese government has implemented prevention and control measures to mitigate the impact of the disease. By analyzing data from the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention and the State Council of the People's Republic of China, we found that implementation of these measures has reduced the infection rate by nearly 50% between 2004 to 2022 (from 0.3975 to 0.1944 per 100,000 person-years). Nonetheless, some regions still bear a significant disease burden, and lack of detailed information limites further evaluation of the effects on both alveolar and cystic echinococcosis. Our analysis supports the continuing implementation of these measures and suggests that enhanced wildlife management, case-based strategies, and surveillance systems will facilitate disease control.

First Measurement of the Decay Asymmetry in the Pure W-Boson-Exchange Decay Λ_{c}^{+}→Ξ^{0}K^{+}

Based on 4.4  fb^{-1} of e^{+}e^{-} annihilation data collected at the center-of-mass energies between 4.60 and 4.70 GeV with the BESIII detector at the BEPCII collider, the pure W-boson-exchange decay Λ_{c}^{+}→Ξ^{0}K^{+} is studied with a full angular analysis. The corresponding decay asymmetry is measured for the first time to be α_{Ξ^{0}K^{+}}=0.01±0.16(stat)±0.03(syst). This result reflects the noninterference effect between the S- and P-wave amplitudes. The phase shift between S- and P-wave amplitudes has two solutions, which are δ_{p}-δ_{s}=-1.55±0.25(stat)±0.05(syst)  rad or 1.59±0.25(stat)±0.05(syst)  rad.

[New insights into the role of macrophages in tumor immunotherapy]

Macrophages are the main components of the innate immunity system, derived mainly from blood monocytes, and help the host to defend itself against many pathogens and cancers. Most established tumors can educate macrophages into tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs), which contribute to tumor growth, invasion and metastasis, as well as resistance to chemotherapeutic agents and immune checkpoint inhibitors. However, when appropriately activated, macrophages can also exert anti-tumor effects through enhanced phagocytosis and cytotoxicity against tumor cells. In addition, TAMs are associated with poor prognosis and drug resistance, including immunotherapies, suggesting that macrophages are attractive targets as part of combination therapy in cancer treatment. Herein, we review the recent findings on the role of macrophages in tumor development, metastasis and immunotherapy. We focus mainly on macrophage-centered therapy, including strategies to reduce and reshape TAMs, to represent potential targets for tumor immunotherapy.

Remnant cholesterol is associated with hip BMD and low bone mass in young and middle-aged men: a cross-sectional study

PURPOSE

Remnant cholesterol (RC) is a contributor to cardiovascular diseases, obesity, diabetes, and metabolic syndrome. However, the specific relationship between RC and bone metabolism remains unexplored. Therefore, we aimed to investigate the relationships of RC with hip bone mineral density (BMD) and the risk of low bone mass.

METHODS

Physical examination data was collected from men aged < 60 years as part of the Kailuan Study between 2014 and 2018. The characteristics of the participants were compared between RC quartile groups. A generalized linear regression model was used to evaluate the relationship between RC and hip BMD and a logistic regression model was used to calculate odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for low bone mass. Additional analyses were performed after stratification by body mass index (BMI) (≥ or < 24 kg/m2). Sensitivity analyses were performed by excluding individuals who were taking lipid-lowering therapy or had cancer, cardiovascular diseases, or diabetes.

RESULTS

Data from a total of 7,053 participants were included in the analysis. After adjustment for confounding factors, RC negatively correlated with hip BMD (β =  - 0.0079, 95% CI: - 0.0133, - 0.0025). The risk of low bone mass increased from the lowest to the highest RC quartile, with ORs of 1 (reference), 1.09 (95% CI: (0.82, 1.44), 1.35 (95%CI: 1.02, 1.77), and 1.43 (95% CI: 1.09, 1.89) for Q1, Q2, Q3, and Q4, respectively (P for trend = 0.004) in the fully adjusted model. Compared to RC < 0.80 mmol/l group, the risk of low bone mass increased 39% in RC ≥ 0.80 mmol/l group (P < 0.001). The correlation between RC and hip BMD was stronger in participants with BMI ≥ 24 kg/m2 group (β =  - 0.0159, 95% CI: - 0.0289, - 0.0029). The results of sensitivity analyses were consistent with the main results.

CONCLUSION

We have identified a negative correlation between serum RC and hip BMD, and a higher RC concentration was found to be associated with a greater risk of low bone mass in young and middle-aged men.

Beyond Vision: A View from Eye to Alzheimer's Disease and Dementia

With the aging of the global population, the health care burden of Alzheimer's disease (AD) and dementia is considered to increase dramatically in the coming decades. Given the insufficiency of effective interventions for AD and dementia, clinical research on identifying potentially modifiable risk factors and early diagnostic biomarkers becomes a public health priority. Currently, extracerebral manifestations with a large proportion of ocular involvement are usually recognized to precede the symptoms of AD and dementia. Growing epidemiologic evidence also suggests that eye disorders, such as cataracts, age-related macular degeneration, glaucoma, diabetic retinopathy, and so on, are closely associated with and even have a higher incidence of AD and dementia. The eye, as an extension of the central nervous system, therefore has the potential to provide a feasible approach to detecting structural and functional abnormalities of the brain. Numerous new imaging modalities are developed and give novel insights into the detection of several neurodegenerative, vascular, neuropathological, and other ocular abnormalities of AD and dementia in scientific research and clinical application. This review provides an overview of the epidemiologic associations between eye disorders and AD or dementia and summarizes the recent advances in ocular examinations and techniques employed for the detection of AD and dementia. With more brain-and-eye interconnections being identified, the eye is becoming a noninvasive and easily accessible window for the early diagnosis and prevention of AD and dementia.

Effects of empagliflozin on progression of chronic kidney disease: a prespecified secondary analysis from the empa-kidney trial

BACKGROUND

Sodium-glucose co-transporter-2 (SGLT2) inhibitors reduce progression of chronic kidney disease and the risk of cardiovascular morbidity and mortality in a wide range of patients. However, their effects on kidney disease progression in some patients with chronic kidney disease are unclear because few clinical kidney outcomes occurred among such patients in the completed trials. In particular, some guidelines stratify their level of recommendation about who should be treated with SGLT2 inhibitors based on diabetes status and albuminuria. We aimed to assess the effects of empagliflozin on progression of chronic kidney disease both overall and among specific types of participants in the EMPA-KIDNEY trial.

METHODS

EMPA-KIDNEY, a randomised, controlled, phase 3 trial, was conducted at 241 centres in eight countries (Canada, China, Germany, Italy, Japan, Malaysia, the UK, and the USA), and included individuals aged 18 years or older with an estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) of 20 to less than 45 mL/min per 1·73 m2, or with an eGFR of 45 to less than 90 mL/min per 1·73 m2 with a urinary albumin-to-creatinine ratio (uACR) of 200 mg/g or higher. We explored the effects of 10 mg oral empagliflozin once daily versus placebo on the annualised rate of change in estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR slope), a tertiary outcome. We studied the acute slope (from randomisation to 2 months) and chronic slope (from 2 months onwards) separately, using shared parameter models to estimate the latter. Analyses were done in all randomly assigned participants by intention to treat. EMPA-KIDNEY is registered at ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT03594110.

FINDINGS

Between May 15, 2019, and April 16, 2021, 6609 participants were randomly assigned and then followed up for a median of 2·0 years (IQR 1·5-2·4). Prespecified subgroups of eGFR included 2282 (34·5%) participants with an eGFR of less than 30 mL/min per 1·73 m2, 2928 (44·3%) with an eGFR of 30 to less than 45 mL/min per 1·73 m2, and 1399 (21·2%) with an eGFR 45 mL/min per 1·73 m2 or higher. Prespecified subgroups of uACR included 1328 (20·1%) with a uACR of less than 30 mg/g, 1864 (28·2%) with a uACR of 30 to 300 mg/g, and 3417 (51·7%) with a uACR of more than 300 mg/g. Overall, allocation to empagliflozin caused an acute 2·12 mL/min per 1·73 m2 (95% CI 1·83-2·41) reduction in eGFR, equivalent to a 6% (5-6) dip in the first 2 months. After this, it halved the chronic slope from -2·75 to -1·37 mL/min per 1·73 m2 per year (relative difference 50%, 95% CI 42-58). The absolute and relative benefits of empagliflozin on the magnitude of the chronic slope varied significantly depending on diabetes status and baseline levels of eGFR and uACR. In particular, the absolute difference in chronic slopes was lower in patients with lower baseline uACR, but because this group progressed more slowly than those with higher uACR, this translated to a larger relative difference in chronic slopes in this group (86% [36-136] reduction in the chronic slope among those with baseline uACR <30 mg/g compared with a 29% [19-38] reduction for those with baseline uACR ≥2000 mg/g; ptrend<0·0001).

INTERPRETATION

Empagliflozin slowed the rate of progression of chronic kidney disease among all types of participant in the EMPA-KIDNEY trial, including those with little albuminuria. Albuminuria alone should not be used to determine whether to treat with an SGLT2 inhibitor.

FUNDING

Boehringer Ingelheim and Eli Lilly.

The Impact of Testosterone on Alzheimer's Disease Are Mediated by Lipid Metabolism and Obesity: A Mendelian Randomization Study

BACKGROUND

To investigate the causal relationship between testosterone (BT) levels and Alzheimer's disease (AD) risk and to quantify the role of obesity and lipid metabolism as potential mediators.

METHODS

We used a two-sample, two-step MR to determine:1) the causal effect of BT levels on AD; 2) the causal effect of two lipid metabolites, obesity and LDLc on AD; and 3) the mediating effects of these metabolites. Pooled data for BT levels and lipid metabolism were obtained from the UK Biobank. AD data were obtained from the Alzheimer's Disease Project International Genomics Consortium, FinnGen Consortium, and UK Biobank study. Effect estimates from external genome-wide association study (GWAS) pooled statistics were obtained using inverse variance-weighted (IVW) MR analysis.

RESULTS

Higher levels of BT were associated with a reduced risk of AD (odds ratio [OR] 0.9992, 95% CI 0.9985-0.9998, P = 0.019), and there was a negative correlation with LDLc (OR 0.9208, 95% CI 0.8569-0.9895, P = 0.024) and obesity class 2 (OC2) (OR 0.7445, 95% CI 0.5873-0.9437, P = 0.014). Conversely, there was a positive correlation between LDLc (OR 1.0014, 95% CI 1.0000-1.0029, P = 0.043) and OC2 (OR 1.0005, 95% CI 1.0001-1.0009, P = 0.003) and AD. Mediation analysis showed that the indirect effect of BT levels on AD was achieved through LDLc and OC2, which accounted for 17% and 17% of the total effect, respectively.

CONCLUSION

Our study identified a causal role of BT levels in LDLc and OC2. BT levels may affect AD through LDLc and OC2 metabolic processes.

Prognostic and immune roles of UROC1 in human cancers: from mechanism exploration of NAFLD and HCC to pan-cancer analysis

OBJECTIVE

Both non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) are prevalent diseases worldwide. This study aimed to explore the underlying mechanisms of NAFLD and HCC and identify new therapeutic targets for human cancers.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

NAFLD and HCC gene expression profiles were obtained from the Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) database. Differentially expressed genes (DEGs) and weighted gene co-expression network analysis (WGCNA) were utilized to identify co-expressed genes associated with NAFLD and HCC. Public databases were consulted to find common targets of NAFLD and HCC. Enrichment analysis and CIBERSORT techniques were employed to analyze the pathways enriched with DEGs and the attributes of infiltrating immune cells. Furthermore, the expression data of UROC1 and clinical information of patients were acquired from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) database. Finally, the expression of the UROC1 was validated by immunohistochemistry (IHC).

RESULTS

Through a comprehensive bioinformatics analysis, eight hub genes (CCL2, CCR2, IL6, CSF3R, ATL2, SESN3, UROC1, FIGNL1) were identified. Enrichment analysis indicated that inflammatory and immune response may be common features between NAFLD and HCC. CIBER-SORT analysis revealed an imbalance of plasma cells and macrophages in NAFLD and HCC. Pan-cancer analysis demonstrated that UROC1 expression was related to clinical outcomes and tumor immunity in various cancers. Moreover, a strong correlation was exhibited between UROC1 expression and crucial elements, including tumor mutation burden (TMB), microsatellite instability (MSI), multiple immune checkpoints (ICP), and tumor microenvironment (TME). Importantly, an adverse clinical prognosis of HCC was linked to decreased UROC1 expression, which was consistent with IHC results.

CONCLUSIONS

We identified eight hub genes (CCL2, CCR2, IL6, CSF3R, ATL2, SESN3, UROC1, FIGNL1), which may become early diagnostic and therapeutic targets for NAFLD and HCC. The pan-cancer analysis of UROC1 provides new evidence for its broad application prospects in the field of HCC and other cancers.

Impact of primary kidney disease on the effects of empagliflozin in patients with chronic kidney disease: secondary analyses of the EMPA-KIDNEY trial

BACKGROUND

The EMPA-KIDNEY trial showed that empagliflozin reduced the risk of the primary composite outcome of kidney disease progression or cardiovascular death in patients with chronic kidney disease mainly through slowing progression. We aimed to assess how effects of empagliflozin might differ by primary kidney disease across its broad population.

METHODS

EMPA-KIDNEY, a randomised, controlled, phase 3 trial, was conducted at 241 centres in eight countries (Canada, China, Germany, Italy, Japan, Malaysia, the UK, and the USA). Patients were eligible if their estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) was 20 to less than 45 mL/min per 1·73 m2, or 45 to less than 90 mL/min per 1·73 m2 with a urinary albumin-to-creatinine ratio (uACR) of 200 mg/g or higher at screening. They were randomly assigned (1:1) to 10 mg oral empagliflozin once daily or matching placebo. Effects on kidney disease progression (defined as a sustained ≥40% eGFR decline from randomisation, end-stage kidney disease, a sustained eGFR below 10 mL/min per 1·73 m2, or death from kidney failure) were assessed using prespecified Cox models, and eGFR slope analyses used shared parameter models. Subgroup comparisons were performed by including relevant interaction terms in models. EMPA-KIDNEY is registered with ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT03594110.

FINDINGS

Between May 15, 2019, and April 16, 2021, 6609 participants were randomly assigned and followed up for a median of 2·0 years (IQR 1·5-2·4). Prespecified subgroupings by primary kidney disease included 2057 (31·1%) participants with diabetic kidney disease, 1669 (25·3%) with glomerular disease, 1445 (21·9%) with hypertensive or renovascular disease, and 1438 (21·8%) with other or unknown causes. Kidney disease progression occurred in 384 (11·6%) of 3304 patients in the empagliflozin group and 504 (15·2%) of 3305 patients in the placebo group (hazard ratio 0·71 [95% CI 0·62-0·81]), with no evidence that the relative effect size varied significantly by primary kidney disease (pheterogeneity=0·62). The between-group difference in chronic eGFR slopes (ie, from 2 months to final follow-up) was 1·37 mL/min per 1·73 m2 per year (95% CI 1·16-1·59), representing a 50% (42-58) reduction in the rate of chronic eGFR decline. This relative effect of empagliflozin on chronic eGFR slope was similar in analyses by different primary kidney diseases, including in explorations by type of glomerular disease and diabetes (p values for heterogeneity all >0·1).

INTERPRETATION

In a broad range of patients with chronic kidney disease at risk of progression, including a wide range of non-diabetic causes of chronic kidney disease, empagliflozin reduced risk of kidney disease progression. Relative effect sizes were broadly similar irrespective of the cause of primary kidney disease, suggesting that SGLT2 inhibitors should be part of a standard of care to minimise risk of kidney failure in chronic kidney disease.

FUNDING

Boehringer Ingelheim, Eli Lilly, and UK Medical Research Council.

miR-29c-3p Attenuates beta-Amyloid-Induced Neurotoxicity in Alzheimer's Disease Through Regulating beta-Site Amyloid Precursor Protein-Cleaving Enzyme 1

The aberrantly expressed microRNAs (miRNAs) including miR-29c-3p have been reported in the brains of Alzheimer's disease (AD) patients in recent researches. Nevertheless, the functional role and underlying molecular mechanism of miR-29c-3p in AD pathogenesis are still not well elucidated. The purpose of this study was to examine whether miR-29c-3p regulated beta-Ameyloid (Abeta)-induced neurotoxicity by targeting beta-site amyloid precursor protein-cleaving enzyme 1 (BACE1). The expressions of miR 29c 3p and BACE1 mRNA and protein levels in Abeta-treated PC12 cellular AD model were examined by qRT-PCR and western blot analyses. Luciferase reporter assay verified the potential target of miR 29c 3p. Cell viability, apoptosis, and caspase-3 activity in PC12 cells were detected by the MTT assay, flow cytometry, and caspase-3 activity assay, respectively. Our results indicated that miR-29c-3p downregulation and BACE1 upregulation existed in the cellular AD model of PC12 cells. Moreover, miR-29c-3p directly inhibited BACE1 expression. miR-29c-3p overexpression and BACE1 knockdown strengthened Abeta-induced cell apoptosis, and caspase-3 activity in PC12 cells, which was partially eliminated by over-expression of BACE1. Conversely, BACE1 knockdown reversed the miR-29c-3p inhibition- mediated inhibitory effect on Abeta-induced cell toxicity, apoptosis, and caspase-3 activity in PC12 cells. Considering, miR-29c-3p attenuated Abeta-induced neurotoxicity through targeting BACE1 in an cellular AD model of PC12, providing a potential therapeutic target for AD treatment.

A nomogram model for predicting 5-year risk of prediabetes in Chinese adults

Early identification is crucial to effectively intervene in individuals at high risk of developing pre-diabetes. This study aimed to create a personalized nomogram to determine the 5-year risk of pre-diabetes among Chinese adults. This retrospective cohort study included 184,188 participants without prediabetes at baseline. Training cohorts (92,177) and validation cohorts (92,011) were randomly assigned (92,011). We compared five prediction models on the training cohorts: full cox proportional hazards model, stepwise cox proportional hazards model, multivariable fractional polynomials (MFP), machine learning, and least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO) models. At the same time, we validated the above five models on the validation set. And we chose the LASSO model as the final risk prediction model for prediabetes. We presented the model with a nomogram. The model's performance was evaluated in terms of its discriminative ability, clinical utility, and calibration using the area under the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve, decision curve analysis, and calibration analysis on the training cohorts. Simultaneously, we also evaluated the above nomogram on the validation set. The 5-year incidence of prediabetes was 10.70% and 10.69% in the training and validation cohort, respectively. We developed a simple nomogram that predicted the risk of prediabetes by using the parameters of age, body mass index (BMI), fasting plasma glucose (FBG), triglycerides (TG), systolic blood pressure (SBP), and serum creatinine (Scr). The nomogram's area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC) was 0.7341 (95% CI 0.7290-0.7392) for the training cohort and 0.7336 (95% CI 0.7285-0.7387) for the validation cohort, indicating good discriminative ability. The calibration curve showed a perfect fit between the predicted prediabetes risk and the observed prediabetes risk. An analysis of the decision curve presented the clinical application of the nomogram, with alternative threshold probability spectrums being presented as well. A personalized prediabetes prediction nomogram was developed and validated among Chinese adults, identifying high-risk individuals. Doctors and others can easily and efficiently use our prediabetes prediction model when assessing prediabetes risk.

Association between non-high-density lipoprotein to high-density lipoprotein ratio and reversion to normoglycemia in people with impaired fasting glucose: a 5-year retrospective cohort study

OBJECTIVE

The relationship between the non-high-density lipoprotein to high-density lipoprotein ratio (non-HDL-c/HDL-c ratio) and changes in glycemic status as well as the development of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) has been well established. However, there is a lack of evidence concerning the association between the non-HDL-c/HDL-c ratio and the reversal of normoglycemia in individuals with impaired fasting glucose (IFG). Therefore, this study aimed to examine the connection between the non-HDL-c/HDL-c ratio and the likelihood of reverting to normoglycemia among people with IFG.

METHODS

This retrospective cohort study examined data collected from 15,524 non-selective participants with IFG at the Rich Healthcare Group in China between January 2010 and 2016. The Cox proportional-hazards regression model was used to investigate the connection between the baseline non-HDL-c/HDL-c ratio and the probability of reverting to normoglycemia. We were able to discover the non-linear association between the non-HDL-c/HDL-c ratio and reversion to normoglycemia using a Cox proportional hazards regression model with cubical spline smoothing. We also performed several sensitivity and subgroup analyses. A competing risk multivariate Cox regression was utilized as well to examine the development to diabetes as a competing risk for the reversal of normoglycemic events.

RESULTS

In our study, a total of 15,524 individuals participated, with a mean age of 50.9 ± 13.5 years, and 64.7% were male. The average baseline non-HDL-c/HDL-c ratio was 2.9 ± 0.9. Over a median follow-up period of 2.9 years, we observed a reversion rate to normoglycemia of 41.8%. After adjusting for covariates, our findings revealed a negative association between the non-HDL-c/HDL-c ratio and the likelihood of reverting to normoglycemia (HR = 0.71, 95% CI 0.69-0.74). Notably, we identified a non-linear relationship between the non-HDL-c/HDL-c ratio and the probability of transitioning from IFG to normoglycemia. We found an inflection point at a non-HDL-c/HDL-c ratio of 3.1, with HRs of 0.63 (95% CI 0.69, 0.74) on the left side and 0.78 (95% CI 0.74, 0.83) on the right side of the point. Competing risks multivariate Cox's regression, sensitivity analysis, and subgroup analysis consistently supported our robust results.

CONCLUSION

Our study has revealed a negative and non-linear relationship between the non-HDL-c/HDL-c ratio and reversion to normoglycemia in Chinese people with IFG. Specifically, when the non-HDL-c/HDL-c ratio was below 3.1, a significant and negative association with reversion to normoglycemia was observed. Furthermore, keeping the non-HDL-c/HDL-c ratio below 3.1 significantly elevated the probability of returning to normoglycemia.

Ultrahigh Energy Storage in Tungsten Bronze Dielectric Ceramics Through a Weakly Coupled Relaxor Design

Dielectric energy-storage capacitors, known for their ultrafast discharge time and high-power density, find widespread applications in high-power pulse devices. However, ceramics featuring a tetragonal tungsten bronze structure (TTBs) have received limited attention due to their lower energy-storage capacity compared to perovskite counterparts. Herein, a TTBs relaxor ferroelectric ceramic based on the Gd0.03 Ba0.47 Sr0.485-1.5 x Smx Nb2 O6 composition, exhibiting an ultrahigh recoverable energy density of 9 J cm-3 and an efficiency of 84% under an electric field of 660 kV cm-1 is reported. Notably, the energy storage performance of this ceramic shows remarkable stability against frequency, temperature, and cycling electric field. The introduction of Sm3+ doping is found to create weakly coupled polar nanoregions in the Gd0.03 Ba0.47 Sr0.485 Nb2 O6 ceramic. Structural characterizations reveal that the incommensurability parameter increases with higher Sm3+ content, indicative of a highly disordered A-site structure. Simultaneously, the breakdown strength is also enhanced by raising the conduction activation energy, widening the bandgap, and reducing the electric field-induced strain. This work presents a significant improvement on the energy storage capabilities of TTBs-based capacitors, expanding the material choice for high-power pulse device applications.

Assessing multiple factors affecting the gut microbiome structure of very preterm infants

The composition and diversity of the gut microbiota are essential for the health and development of the immune system of infants. However, there is limited information on factors that influence the gut microbiota of very preterm infants. In this study, we analyzed factors that affect the gut microbiota of very preterm infants. The stool samples from 64 very preterm infants with a gestational age less than 32 weeks were collected for 16S rRNA gene sequencing. The infants were divided according to the delivery mode, antibiotic use during pregnancy, and feeding methods. The abundance of Proteobacteria was high in both cesarean (92.7%) and spontaneous (55.5%) delivery groups and then shifted to Firmicutes after the first week of birth. In addition, Proteobacteria was also the dominant phylum of infant gut microbiome for mothers with antibiotic use, with more than 50% after the first week of birth. In comparison, the dominant phylum for mothers without antibiotic use was Firmicutes. Proteobacteria level was also high in breastfeeding and mixed-feeding groups, consisting of more than 90% of the community. By contrast, Proteobacteria was the dominant phylum at the first week of birth but then shifted to Firmicutes for the formula-fed group. The alterations of gut microbiota in infants can affect their health condition during growth. This study confirmed that the different feeding types, delivery modes, and use of antibiotics during pregnancy can significantly affect the composition of the gut microbiota of very preterm infants.

[The effect of tumor spread through air spaces on the prognosis of patients with stage Ⅰ non-small cell lung cancer: a meta-analysis]

Objective: To systematically evaluate the effect of tumor spread through air spaces (STAS) on the prognosis of patients with stage Ⅰ non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Methods: PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, Cochrane Library, CNKI, Wanfang Database and VIP were searched to collect papers related to NSCLC and STAS published from the establishment of aboves databases to November 2022. Papers were screened according to the inclusion and exclusion criteria, and data were extracted. The 5-year overall survival (OS) and relapse-free survival (RFS) of stage Ⅰ NSCLC patients with or without STAS were compared. HR(95%CI) was used as effective indicator to evaluate the impact of STAS positivity on the prognosis of NSCLC. The quality of each included study was assessed using the Newcast-Ottawa Scale (NOS). Results: A total of 24 papers concerning 29 studies were included according to the inclusion and exclusion criteria, and there was no significant heterogeneity among the included papers(all I2<50%). A total of 10 883 patients with stage Ⅰ NSCLC were included in the studies, of which 3 298 (30.3%) were STAS-positive. The 29 studies showed that STAS-positive patients had a higher risk of 5-year recurrence than STAS-negative patients with stage Ⅰ NSCLC [HR=1.94(95%CI:1.74-2.16)];and a meta-analysis of 17 of the studies showed that that STAS-positive patients had a higher risk of 5-year death [HR=2.09 (95%CI:1.80-2.43)]. Compared with stage Ⅰ NSCLC patients who underwent other surgeries, STAS-positive patients who underwent sublobar resection had a higher risk of 5-year recurrence than patients with other procedures (HR=3.44, 95%CI: 2.49-4.76) and a higher risk of 5-year death (HR=3.40, 95%CI:2.05-5.64); and patients with stage Ⅰ NSCLC who had the pathologic histologic type of squamous carcinoma had a higher risk of 5-year recurrence (HR=2.48,95%CI:1.71-3.60) and a higher risk of 5-year death (HR=3.04, 95%CI: 1.90-4.86) than other patients with the type of squamous lung cancer. Conclusion: STAS positivity is a risk factor of poor prognosis in patients with stage Ⅰ NSCLC, especially for patients underwent sublobar resection or with squamous lung cancer.

Neoadjuvant nivolumab plus chemotherapy versus chemotherapy for resectable NSCLC: subpopulation analysis of Chinese patients in CheckMate 816

BACKGROUND

Neoadjuvant nivolumab plus chemotherapy significantly improved event-free survival (EFS) and pathologic complete response (pCR) versus chemotherapy alone in patients with resectable non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) in the global phase III CheckMate 816 study. Here, we report post hoc exploratory efficacy, safety, and surgical outcomes in the Chinese subpopulation of this study.

METHODS

Adults with stage IB-IIIA resectable NSCLC were randomized to receive nivolumab 360 mg plus chemotherapy or chemotherapy alone every 3 weeks for three cycles followed by surgery. Primary endpoints included EFS and pCR (both per blinded independent review). EFS and pCR results were from 14 October 2022, and 16 September 2020, database locks, respectively.

RESULTS

The Chinese subpopulation comprised 97 patients (nivolumab plus chemotherapy, 44; chemotherapy, 53). At 38.2 months of minimum follow-up, median EFS was not reached [95% confidence interval (CI) 23.4 months-not reached] in the nivolumab plus chemotherapy arm and 13.9 months (95% CI 8.3-34.3 months) in the chemotherapy arm (hazard ratio 0.47, 95% CI 0.25-0.88). pCR rates were 25.0% (95% CI 13.2% to 40.3%) and 1.9% (95% CI 0.0% to 10.1%), respectively (odds ratio 11.05; 95% CI 1.41-86.49). Of 97 Chinese patients, 36 (82%) in the nivolumab plus chemotherapy arm and 41 (77%) in the chemotherapy arm underwent definitive surgery. Grade 3-4 treatment-related adverse events occurred in 18/43 patients (42%) treated with nivolumab plus chemotherapy and 22/53 patients (42%) treated with chemotherapy.

CONCLUSIONS

Consistent with findings in the global study population of CheckMate 816, neoadjuvant nivolumab plus chemotherapy improved EFS and pCR versus chemotherapy in the Chinese subpopulation without impacting treatment tolerability or the feasibility of surgery. These findings support the use of nivolumab plus chemotherapy as a standard neoadjuvant treatment option for Chinese patients with resectable NSCLC.

Host CD34+ cells are replacing donor endothelium of transplanted heart

BACKGROUND

Endothelium dysfunction is a central problem for early rejection due to the host alloimmune response and the late status of arteriosclerosis in heart transplantation. However, reliable pieces of evidence are still limited concerning the source of the regenerated endothelium within the transplanted heart.

METHODS

We analyzed single-cell RNA sequencing data and constructed an inducible lineage tracing mouse, combined heart transplantation with bone marrow transplantation and a parabiosis model, cellular components, and endothelial cell populations in cardiac graft lesions.

RESULTS

Our single-cell RNA sequencing analysis of a transplanted heart allowed for the establishment of an endothelial cell atlas with a heterogeneous population, including arterial, venous, capillary, and lymphatic endothelial cells. Along with genetic cell lineage tracing, we demonstrated that the donor cells were mostly replaced by recipient cells in the cardiac allograft, up to 83.29% 2 weeks after transplantation. Furthermore, recipient nonbone marrow CD34+ endothelial progenitors contributed significantly to extracellular matrix organization and immune regulation, with higher apoptotic ability in the transplanted hearts. Mechanistically, peripheral blood-derived human endothelial progenitor cells differentiate into endocardial cells via Vascular endothelial growth factor receptor-mediated pathways. Host circulating CD34+ endothelial progenitors could repair the damaged donor endothelium presumably through CCL3-CCR5 chemotaxis. Partial depletion of host CD34+ cells resulted in delayed endothelial regeneration.

CONCLUSIONS

We created an annotated fate map of endothelial cells in cardiac allografts, indicating how recipient CD34+ cells could replace the donor endothelium via chemokine CCL3-CCR5 interactions. The mechanisms we discovered could have a potential therapeutic effect on the long-term outcomes of heart transplantation.

Sophora tonkinensis: response and adaptation of physiological characteristics, functional traits, and secondary metabolites to drought stress

The medicinal plant Sophora tonkinensis is a characteristic Chinese shrub of karst areas. The arid climate in karst areas produces high-quality S. tonkinensis; however, the mechanisms of drought tolerance are not clear, which restricts sustainable plantings of S. tonkinensis. This study involved a 20-day drought stress experiment with potted S. tonkinensis and threee soil water regimes: control (CK), mild drought (MDT), and severe drought (SDT). Plant morphology, biomass, physiological indicators, alkaloid content, and other changes under drought stress were monitored. The content of soluble sugars and proteins, and activity of antioxidant enzymes in leaves and roots were higher under drought than CK, indicating that S. tonkinensis is tolerant to osmotic stress in early drought stages. Content of matrine and oxymatrine increased gradually with increasing drought duration in the short term. The epidermis of S. tonkinensis leaves have characteristics of desert plants, including upper epidermal waxy layer, lower epidermal villi, and relatively sunken stomata, suggesting that S. tonkinensis has strong drought tolerance. In conclusion, drought stress changed the cell structure of S. tonkinensis, induced antioxidant enzyme activity and increased its resistance to drought.

Hidden magnetism uncovered in a charge ordered bilayer kagome material ScV6Sn6

Charge ordered kagome lattices have been demonstrated to be intriguing platforms for studying the intertwining of topology, correlation, and magnetism. The recently discovered charge ordered kagome material ScV6Sn6 does not feature a magnetic groundstate or excitations, thus it is often regarded as a conventional paramagnet. Here, using advanced muon-spin rotation spectroscopy, we uncover an unexpected hidden magnetism of the charge order. We observe an enhancement of the internal field width sensed by the muon ensemble, which takes place within the charge ordered state. More importantly, the muon spin relaxation rate below the charge ordering temperature is substantially enhanced by applying an external magnetic field. Taken together with the hidden magnetism found in AV3Sb5 (A = K, Rb, Cs) and FeGe kagome systems, our results suggest ubiqitous time-reversal symmetry-breaking in charge ordered kagome lattices.

Role of LncMALAT1-miR-141-3p/200a-3p-NRXN1 Axis in the Impairment of Learning and Memory Capacity in ADHD

As a prevalent neurodevelopmental disease, attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) impairs the learning and memory capacity, and so far, there has been no available treatment option for long-term efficacy. Alterations in gene regulation and synapse-related proteins influence learning and memory capacity; nevertheless, the regulatory mechanism of synapse-related protein synthesis is still unclear in ADHD. LncRNAs have been found participating in regulating genes in multiple disorders. For instance, lncRNA Metastasis Associated Lung Adenocarcinoma Transcript 1 (MALAT1) has an essential regulatory function in numerous psychiatric diseases. However, how MALAT1 influences synapse-related protein synthesis in ADHD remains largely unknown. Here, our study found that MALAT1 decreased in the hippocampus tissue of spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHRs) compared to the standard controls, Wistar Kyoto (WKY) rats. Subsequent experiments revealed that MALAT1 enhanced the expression of neurexin 1 (NRXN1), which promoted the synapse-related genes (SYN1, PSD95, and GAP43) expression. Then, the bioinformatic analyses predicted that miR-141-3p and miR-200a-3p, microRNAs belonging to miR-200 family and sharing same seed sequence, could interact with MALAT1 and NRXN1 mRNA, which were further confirmed by luciferase report assays. Finally, rescue experiments indicated that MALAT1 influenced the expression of NRXN1 by sponging miR-141-3p/200a-3p. All data verified our hypothesis that MALAT1 regulated synapse-related proteins (SYN1, PSD95, and GAP43) through the MALAT1-miR-141-3p/200a-3p-NRXN1 axis in ADHD. Our research underscored a novel role of MALAT1 in the pathogenesis of impaired learning and memory capacity in ADHD and may shed more light on developing diagnostic biomarkers and more effective therapeutic interventions for individuals with ADHD.

Cobalt-Catalyzed Efficient Asymmetric Hydrogenation of α-Primary Amino Ketones

Based on an amino-group-assisted coordination strategy and a proton-shuttle-activated outer-sphere mode, the cobalt-catalyzed asymmetric hydrogenation of α-primary amino ketones has been developed, resulting in the efficient synthesis of chiral vicinal amino alcohols bearing functionalized aryl rings in high yields and enantioselectivities (up to 99% enantiomeric excess (ee)) within 0.5 h.

3,4-dimethoxychalcone induces autophagy and reduces neointimal hyperplasia and aortic lesions in mouse models of atherosclerosis

Autophagy inducers can prevent cardiovascular aging and age-associated diseases including atherosclerosis. Therefore, we hypothesized that autophagy-inducing compounds that act on atherosclerosis-relevant cells might have a protective role in the development of atherosclerosis. Here we identified 3,4-dimethoxychalcone (3,4-DC) as an inducer of autophagy in several cell lines from endothelial, myocardial and myeloid/macrophagic origin, as demonstrated by the aggregation of the autophagosome marker GFP-LC3 in the cytoplasm of cells, as well as the downregulation of its nuclear pool indicative of autophagic flux. In this respect, 3,4-DC showed a broader autophagy-inducing activity than another chalcone (4,4- dimethoxychalcone), spermidine and triethylene tetramine. Thus, we characterized the potential antiatherogenic activity of 3,4-DC in two different mouse models, namely, (i) neointima formation with smooth muscle expansion of vein segments grafted to the carotid artery and (ii) genetically predisposed ApoE-/- mice fed an atherogenic diet. In the vein graft model, local application of 3,4-DC was able to maintain the lumen of vessels and to reduce neointima lesions. In the diet-induced model, intraperitoneal injections of 3,4-DC significantly reduced the number of atherosclerotic lesions in the aorta. In conclusion, 3,4-DC stands out as an autophagy inducer with potent antiatherogenic activity.