Transglutaminase-induced soybean protein isolate cold-set gels treated with combination of ultrasound and high pressure: Physicochemical properties and structural characterization

Soybean protein isolate (SPI) was treated by the combined exposure to ultrasound and high pressure and then subjected to transglutaminase (TGase)-catalyzed cross-linking to prepare SPI cold-set gels. The effects of combined treatments on physicochemical and structural properties of TGase-induced SPI cold-set gels were investigated. The combination of ultrasound and high pressure promoted the covalent disulfide bonds and ε-(γ-glutaminyl) lysine isopeptide bonds as well as non-covalent hydrophobic interactions, which further improved the gelation properties of SPI compared to ultrasound or high pressure alone. In particular, the 480 W ultrasound followed by high pressure treatment of gels led to higher strength (120.53 g), water holding capacity (95.39 %), immobilized water (93.92 %), lightness (42.18), whiteness (51.03), and elasticity (G' = 407 Pa), as well as more uniform and compact microstructure, thus resulting in the improved gel network structure. The combination of two treatments produced more flexible secondary structure, tighter tertiary conformation and higher denaturation degree of protein in the gels, leading to more stable gel structure. The structural modifications of SPI contributed to the improvement of its gelation properties. Therefore, the combined application of ultrasound and high pressure can be an effective method for improving the structure and properties of TGase-induced SPI cold-set gels.

Oncogenic KRAS effector USP13 promotes metastasis in non-small cell lung cancer through deubiquitinating β-catenin

KRAS mutations are frequently detected in non-small cell lung cancers (NSCLCs). Although covalent KRASG12C inhibitors have been developed to treat KRASG12C-mutant cancers, effective treatments are still lacking for other KRAS-mutant NSCLCs. Thus, identifying a KRAS effector that confers poor prognosis would provide an alternative strategy for the treatment of KRAS-driven cancers. Here, we show that KRAS drives expression of deubiquitinase USP13 through Ras-responsive element-binding protein 1 (RREB1). Elevated USP13 promotes KRAS-mutant NSCLC metastasis, which is associated with poor prognosis in NSCLC patients. Mechanistically, USP13 interacts with and removes the K63-linked polyubiquitination of β-catenin at lysine 508, which enhances the binding between β-catenin and transcription factor TCF4. Importantly, we identify 2-methoxyestradiol as an effective inhibitor for USP13 from a natural compound library, and it could potently suppress the metastasis of KRAS-mutant NSCLC cells in vitro and in vivo. These findings identify USP13 as a therapeutic target for metastatic NSCLC with KRAS mutations.

A combined impedance compensation strategy applied to external automatic defibrillators

Transthoracic impedance is one of the key factors affecting the success of defibrillation. Impedance compensation technique is used to adjust defibrillation parameters according to the transthoracic impedance of the defibrillator. In this paper, a combined impedance compensation strategy is proposed to address the shortcomings of existing compensation strategies. In order to evaluate the performance of the combined compensation strategy, this paper uses the prototype as the experimental machine, and uses two AED with representative impedance compensation strategies as the control machine, and the simulated defibrillation method is used for comparative testing. The results show that the combined impedance compensation has a more steadier distribution over the defibrillation energy and current: compared with the energy-based impedance compensation strategy, this strategy can significantly reduce the peak current (25 Ω: 27.8 vs. 54.7 A; 50 Ω: 20.7 vs. 32.3 A) and average current (25 Ω: 24.8 vs. 37.5 A) of defibrillation at low impedance, and compared with the current impedance compensation strategy, it can significantly reduce the defibrillation energy (150 Ω: 8.6 vs. 1.7 %, 175 Ω: 15.6 vs. 4.9 %, 200 Ω: 21.9 vs. 8.5 %) at high impedance. Impedance compensation is more precise and the current passing during defibrillation is steadier.

Association between adequacy of antenatal care and neonatal outcomes in Rwanda: a cross-sectional study design using the Rwanda demographic and health surveys

BACKGROUND

Maternal and neonatal health services are life-saving interventions for neonatal health outcomes. As Rwanda endeavors to accomplish sustainable development goals, adequate ANC is essential to lessen of neonatal mortality. The utilization of ANC continues to be inadequate and high neonatal mortality rate persevere in Rwanda. Understanding the direct and indirect factors that affect newborn health outcomes is necessary for well-targeted interventions. However, few studies had been conducted in Rwanda to evaluate the importance of ANC in improving neonatal health. This study therefore assessed the association between ANC and neonatal outcomes.

METHODS

The Demographic and Health Surveys (DHS) are household surveys that are cross-sectional, nationally representative, and used to collect data on population, health, and nutrition. Data from the 2010,2015 and 2020 Rwanda Demographic and Health Surveys (RDHS) were used. The study involved 17,747 women between the ages of 15 and 49 who had a single live birth and at least one ANC visit in five years prior to each survey. Bivariate and multivariable logistic regression, a survey adjusted for clusters at multiple level, and the estimation of adjusted odds ratios (aOR) and 95% confidence intervals were used to evaluate the relationship between the outcome and independent variables.

RESULTS

Out of 17,747 women ;7638(42.91%) of the mothers had adequate ANC visits and low birth weight (LBW) was found among 833(4.63%) neonates. The birth of a LBW baby (aOR:4.64;95%CI:3.19,6.74) was directly related to increased odds of neonatal death. Mothers aged 20-34 years (aOR:0.40; 95%CI:0.20,0.81), a preceding birth interval of 24months or greater (aOR:0.41:95%CI:0.28,0.60), baby being female (aOR:0.72; 95%CI:0.54,0.96), having adequate ANC visits (aOR:0.64;95% CI:0.46,0.89) and the birth order of the newborn being ranked second or third (aOR:0.60; 95%CI:0.38,0.95) were negatively associated with neonatal death.

CONCLUSION

Health education programs targeting teen and primigravida mothers should be encouraged. Among the newborn survival interventions, addressing short birth intervals and the effective management of LBW cases should be explored. The findings confirm the fundamental importance of adequate ANC in the neonatal survival.

MiR-495-3p regulates myoblasts proliferation and differentiation through targeting cadherin 2

MircoRNAs (miRNAs) play an important role in skeletal muscle development. Previous study had found that miR-495-3p was differentially expressed in fetal and adult goat skeletal muscle, but its function in myogenic proliferation and differentiation are unclear. Herein, we found the expression of miR-495-3p in C2C12 was downregulated during proliferation stage and upregulated during differentiation stage. Functionally, overexpression of miR-495-3p in C2C12 inhibited proliferation, and promoted myogenic differentiation. Mechanistically, the luciferase reporter assay demonstrated that cadherin 2 (CDH2) was a potential target gene of miR-495-3p. Importantly, overexpression of miR-495-3p inhibited CDH2 expression. Furthermore, knockdown of CDH2 in C2C12 inhibited proliferation and promoted myogenic differentiation. Together, the results showed that miR-495-3p inhibits C2C12 proliferation and promotes myogenic differentiation through targeting CDH2.

Targeting VCP potentiates immune checkpoint therapy for colorectal cancer

Immune checkpoint blockade therapies are still ineffective for most patients with colorectal cancer (CRC). Immunogenic cell death (ICD) enables the release of key immunostimulatory signals to drive efficient anti-tumor immunity, which could be used to potentiate the effects of immune checkpoint inhibitors. Here, we showed that inhibition of valosin-containing protein (VCP) elicits ICD in CRC. Meanwhile, VCP inhibitor upregulates PD-L1 expression and compromises anti-tumor immunity in vivo. Mechanistically, VCP transcriptionally regulates PD-L1 expression in a JAK1-dependent manner. Combining VCP inhibitor with anti-PD1 remodels tumor immune microenvironment and reduces tumor growth in mouse models of CRC. Addition of oncolytic virus further augments the therapeutic activity of the combination regimen. Our study shows the molecular mechanism for regulating PD-L1 expression by VCP and suggests that inhibition of VCP has the potential to increase the efficacy of immunotherapy in CRC.

Considerable effects of lateralization and aging in intracortical excitation and inhibition

Introduction

Findings based on the use of transcranial magnetic stimulation and electromyography (TMS-EMG) to determine the effects of motor lateralization and aging on intracortical excitation and inhibition in the primary motor cortex (M1) are inconsistent in the literature. TMS and electroencephalography (TMS-EEG) measures the excitability of excitatory and inhibitory circuits in the brain cortex without contamination from the spine and muscles. This study aimed to investigate the effects of motor lateralization (dominant and non-dominant hemispheres) and aging (young and older) and their interaction effects on intracortical excitation and inhibition within the M1 in healthy adults, measured using TMS-EMG and TMS-EEG.

Methods

This study included 21 young (mean age = 28.1 ± 3.2 years) and 21 older healthy adults (mean age = 62.8 ± 4.2 years). A battery of TMS-EMG measurements and single-pulse TMS-EEG were recorded for the bilateral M1.

Results

Two-way repeated-measures analysis of variance was used to investigate lateralization and aging and the lateralization-by-aging interaction effect on neurophysiological outcomes. The non-dominant M1 presented a longer cortical silent period and larger amplitudes of P60, N100, and P180. Corticospinal excitability in older participants was significantly reduced, as supported by a larger resting motor threshold and lower motor-evoked potential amplitudes. N100 amplitudes were significantly reduced in older participants, and the N100 and P180 latencies were significantly later than those in young participants. There was no significant lateralization-by-aging interaction effect in any outcome.

Conclusion

Lateralization and aging have independent and significant effects on intracortical excitation and inhibition in healthy adults. The functional decline of excitatory and inhibitory circuits in the M1 is associated with aging.

Effect of Language Arousal Nursing Combined with Thermal Insulation Nursing on MAP, SPO2, NRS and Adverse Reactions in Elderly Patients Undergoing Spinal Fracture Surgery Under General Anesthesia

Objective

To evaluate the effects of language awakening nursing and thermal insulation nursing on anesthesia in elderly patients undergoing spinal fracture surgery.

Methods

Randomized control method was used in this study, 200 elderly patients who underwent spinal fracture surgery under general anesthesia between January and December 2022. Among the patients, 100 cases were selected as the observation group, and the other 100 cases were included in the control group by the random number table method. The control group was treated with thermal insulation nursing, and the observation group was given language arousal nursing (a type of care that helps patients regain consciousness after surgery or anesthesia) combined with thermal insulation nursing (A nursing method for maintaining a patient's body temperature in a medical setting).

Results

After the intervention, the observation group showed shorter extubation time, awaking time, eye-opening time, and respiratory recovery time compared to the control group (P < .05). Systolic, diastolic, and MAP decreased in both groups after the intervention, with the observation group showing lower values (P < .05). Heart rate at 5 and 10 minutes after extubation decreased in both groups, with the observation group having a lower heart rate than the control group (P < .05). There were no significant differences in SPO2 between the groups after intervention (P > .05). The observation group reported milder pain and a lower incidence of anesthesia-related adverse reactions (P < .05). These findings suggest that language arousal nursing combined with heat preservation nursing improves anesthesia recovery in elderly patients undergoing spinal fracture surgery, leading to better outcomes and reduced adverse events.

Conclusion

Combining language arousal and thermal insulation nursing enhances anesthesia recovery in elderly spinal fracture surgery patients, leading to optimized blood pressure, heart rate, reduced pain, and fewer anesthesia-related adverse events.

Deficiency of spns1 exacerbates per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances mediated hepatic toxicity and steatosis in zebrafish (Danio rerio)

Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are man-made long-lasting chemical compounds that are found in everyday household items. Today they occur in the environment as a major group of pollutants. These compounds are broadly used in commercial product preparation such as, for food packaging, nonstick coatings, and firefighting foam. In humans, PFAS can cause immune disorders, impaired fetal development, abnormal skeletal tissue development, osteoarthritis, thyroid dysfunctions, cholesterol changes, affect insulin regulation and lipid metabolism, and are also involved in the development of fatty liver disease. In the current study, we investigated the effect of low, but physiologically relevant, concentrations of perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), heptafluorobutyric acid (HFBA), and perfluorotetradecanoic acid (PFTA) on gene expression markers of an inflammatory response (tnfa, il-1b, il-6, rplp0, edem1, and dnajc3a), unfolded protein response (UPR) (bip, atf4a, atf6, xbp1, and ddit3), senescence (p21, pai1, smp30, mdm2, and baxa), lipogenesis (scd1, acc, srebp1, pparγ, and fasn) and autophagy (p62, atg3, atg7, rab7, lc3b, and becn1) in AB wild-type (+/+), spns1-wt sibling (+/+), (+/-) and spns1 homozygous mutant (-/-) zebrafish embryos. Exposure to PFOA and HFBA (50 and 100 nM) specifically modulated inflammatory, UPR, senescence, lipogenic, and autophagy signaling in spns1-wt (+/+), (+/-), and spns1-mutant (-/-) zebrafish embryos. Furthermore, PFOA, but not HFBA, upregulated lipogenic-related gene expression and enhanced hepatic steatosis in spns1-wt (+/+), (+/-) zebrafish embryos. Combined exposure to PFOA, HFBA, and PFTA differentially expressed inflammatory, senescence, lipogenic, and autophagy-associated gene expression in spns1-mutant (-/-) zebrafish embryos compared with spns1-wt (+/+), (+/-) and AB-wt (+/+) zebrafish embryos. In addition, chronic exposure (∼2 months) to PFOA (120-600 nM) upregulated the expression of hepatic lipogenic and steatosis biomarkers in AB-wt (+/+) zebrafish. Collectively, our data suggest that acute/chronic physiologically relevant concentrations of PFOA upregulate inflammatory, UPR, senescence, and lipogenic signaling in spns1-wt (+/+), (+/-) and spns1-mutant (-/-) zebrafish embryos as well as in two-month-old AB-wt zebrafish, by targeting autophagy and hence induces toxicity that could promote nonalcoholic fatty liver disease.

Identification of the key genes of tuberculosis and construction of a diagnostic model via weighted gene co-expression network analysis

BACKGROUND

Tuberculosis (TB) is an infectious disease with high mortality, and mining key genes for TB diagnosis is vital to raise the survival rate of patients.

METHODS

The whole microarray datasets GSE83456 (training set) and GSE19444 (validation set) of TB patients were downloaded from the Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) database. Differential expression was conducted on genes between TB and normal samples (unconfirmed TB) in GSE83456 to yield TB-related differentially expressed genes (DEGs). DEGs were subjected to weighted gene co-expression network analysis (WGCNA) and clustered to form distinct gene modules. The immune scores of 25 kinds of immune cells were obtained by single-sample gene set enrichment analysis (ssGSEA) of TB samples, and Pearson correlation analysis was carried out between the 25 immune scores and diverse gene modules. The gene modules significantly associated with immune cells were retained as Target modules. Gene Ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) enrichment analyses were performed on the genes in the modules (p-value <0.05). The protein-protein interaction (PPI) network was established utilizing the STRING database for genes in the Target module, and the selected key genes were intersected with immune-related genes in the ImmPort database. The obtained immune-related module genes were used for subsequent least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO) regression analysis and diagnostic models were constructed. Finally, the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve was utilized to validate the diagnostic model.

RESULTS

The turquoise and yellow modules had a high correlation with macrophages. LASSO regression analysis of immune-related genes in TB was carried on to finally construct a 5-gene diagnostic model composed of C5, GRN, IL1B, IL23A, and TYMP. As demonstrated by the ROC curves, the diagnostic efficiency of this diagnostic model was 0.957 and 0.944 in the training and validation sets, respectively. Therefore, the immune-related 5-gene model had a good diagnostic function for TB.

CONCLUSION

We identified 5 immune-related diagnostic markers that may play an important role in TB, and verified that this immune-related key gene model had a good diagnostic performance.

Esculentoside A ameliorates BSCB destruction in SCI rat by attenuating the TLR4 pathway in vascular endothelial cells

BACKGROUND AND AIMS

Overexpressed MMP-9 in vascular endothelial cells is involved in blood spinal cord barrier (BSCB) dysfunction in spinal cord injury (SCI). Esculentoside A (EsA) has anti-inflammatory and cell protective effects. This study aimed to evaluate its effects on neuromotor function in SCI rats, as well as the potential mechanisms.

METHODS

The therapeutic effect of EsA in SCI rats was investigated using Basso-Beattie-Bresnahan (BBB) scores, a grid walk test and histological analyses. To assess the protective role of EsA in the BSCB and in oxygen glucose deprivation/reoxygenation (OGD/R)-induced hBMECs, the BSCB function, tight junctions (TJ) protein (ZO-1 and claudin-5) expression, structure of the BSCB and Matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9) expression were observed via Evans blue (EB) detection, immunofluorescence analyses and western blotting. Molecular docking simulations and additional experiments were performed to explore the potential mechanisms by which EsA maintains the function of the BSCB in vivo and in vitro.

RESULTS

EsA treatment improved BBB scores, reduced cavity formation and the loss of neuronal cells, demonstrating an improvement in motor function in SCI rats. In vivo experiments showed that EsA decreased the infiltration of blood cells and inflammatory mediators (IL-1β, IL-6 and TNF-α) and protected the structure of TJs in the rat spinal cord and in OGD/R-induced hBMECs. EsA inhibited the activation of Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4) signalling, which may be related to the protective effect of EsA against MMP-9-induced BSCB damage.

CONCLUSIONS

EsA downregulated MMP-9 expression in vascular endothelial cells, protected BSCB function in SCI rats and attenuated TLR4 signalling and thus provide new options for the treatment of SCI.

TCAF2 in Pericytes Promotes Colorectal Cancer Liver Metastasis via Inhibiting Cold-Sensing TRPM8 Channel

Hematogenous metastasis is the main approach for colorectal cancer liver metastasis (CRCLM). However, as the gatekeepers in the tumor vessels, the role of TPCs in hematogenous metastasis remains largely unknown, which may be attributed to the lack of specific biomarkers for TPC isolation. Here, microdissection combined with a pericyte medium-based approach is developed to obtain TPCs from CRC patients. Proteomic analysis reveals that TRP channel-associated factor 2 (TCAF2), a partner protein of the transient receptor potential cation channel subfamily M member 8 (TRPM8), is overexpressed in TPCs from patients with CRCLM. TCAF2 in TPCs is correlated with liver metastasis, short overall survival, and disease-free survival in CRC patients. Gain- and loss-of-function experiments validate that TCAF2 in TPCs promotes tumor cell motility, epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT), and CRCLM, which is attenuated in pericyte-conditional Tcaf2-knockout mice. Mechanistically, TCAF2 inhibits the expression and activity of TRPM8, leading to Wnt5a secretion in TPCs, which facilitates EMT via the activation of the STAT3 signaling pathway in tumor cells. Menthol, a TRPM8 agonist, significantly suppresses Wnt5a secretion in TPCs and CRCLM. This study reveals the previously unidentified pro-metastatic effects of TPCs from the perspective of cold-sensory receptors, providing a promising diagnostic biomarker and therapeutic target for CRCLM.

Phenylalanine-Arginine-β-Naphthylamide Enhances the Photobactericidal Effect of Methylene Blue on Pseudomonas aeruginosa

Objective: To investigate the effectiveness, dosing sequence, concentration, and mechanism of antimicrobial photodynamic inactivation (aPDI) using methylene blue (MB) plus phenylalanine-arginine-β-naphthylamide (PAβN) against Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Methods: P. aeruginosa bacterial suspension was incubated with MB for different times (5-240 min), and then, 10 J/cm2 red light was irradiated. The efflux pump inhibitor (EPI) PAβN (10-100 μg/mL) was combined with MB (1-20 μM) in different sequences (PAβN-first, PAβN+MB, PAβN-after). Colony-forming units were then determined by serial dilution. Results: Using MB 10 μM plus 10 J/cm2, the killing effect of MB-aPDI on P. aeruginosa increased first and then decreased with longer incubation time. The killing effect of MB+PAβN-aPDI on P. aeruginosa was better than that of MB-aPDI (p < 0.05) by up to 2 logs. PAβN-first had the best killing effect, whereas PAβN-after had the worst killing effect. The killing effect increased with PAβN concentration and at 100 μg/mL reached 5.1 logs. Conclusions: The EPI PAβN enhanced the bactericidal effect of MB-aPDI on P. aeruginosa, especially when added before MB. It is proposed that MB is a substrate of the resistance-nodulation-division family efflux pump.

[Effect of Shionone on Neuron Apoptosis After Spinal Cord Injury in Mice]

Objective To explore the effect of shionone(SHI)on motor function in the mouse model of spinal cord injury(SCI)and probe into the underlying molecular mechanism.Methods C57BL/6 mice were treated to induce the SCI model and then assigned into a model group(SCI group),a SCI+SHI group,and a sham surgery(control)group.The Basso mouse scale(BMS)score was determined to evaluate the recovery of motor function in SCI mice.Hematoxylin-eosin(HE)staining,Nissl staining,and immunofluorescence staining were employed to examine the fibrosis,morphological changes of neurons,and neuron apoptosis in the spinal cord tissue of SCI mice,respectively.The mouse hippocampal neuronal cell line HT22 was cultured in vitro and then classified into tumor necrosis factor α(TNF-α)induction and SHI groups.Western blotting was employed to determine the expression of apoptosis-associated proteins.Network pharmacology,gene ontology annotation,and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes pathway enrichment were employed to predict the possible molecular targets and signaling pathways of SHI in promoting functional recovery from SCI.Furthermore,the prediction results were verified by in vitro and in vivo experiments.Results Compared with the SCI group,the SCI+SHI group showed increased BMS score on days 21,28,35,and 42(P=0.003,P=0.004,P=0.023,and P=0.007,respectively),reduced area of spinal cord fibrosis(P=0.021),increased neurons survived(P=0.001),and down-regulated expression of cleaved cysteine aspastic acid-specific protease 3(cleaved Caspase-3)(P=0.017).Compared with the TNF-α group,the SHI group presented down-regulated expression levels of cleaved Caspase-3 and Bax(P=0.010,P=0.001)and up-regulated expression level of Bcl-2(P=0.001).The results of bioinformatics analysis showed that SHI might improve the motor function of SCI mice via the phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase(PI3K)/protein kinase B(Akt)signaling pathway.The results of in vivo and in vitro experiments showed that SHI inhibited the phosphorylation of PI3K and Akt in SCI mice or HT22 cells exposed to TNF-α(all P<0.05).The number of apoptotic HT22 cells after treatment with insulin-like growth factor 1 was higher than that in the SHI group(P=0.003).Conclusion SHI may inhibit neuron apoptosis via the PI3K/Akt signaling pathway,thereby promoting the recovery of motor function in SCI mice.

ENO2-derived phosphoenolpyruvate functions as an endogenous inhibitor of HDAC1 and confers resistance to antiangiogenic therapy

Metabolic reprogramming is associated with resistance to antiangiogenic therapy in cancer. However, its molecular mechanisms have not been clearly elucidated. Here, we identify the glycolytic enzyme enolase 2 (ENO2) as a driver of resistance to antiangiogenic therapy in colorectal cancer (CRC) mouse models and human participants. ENO2 overexpression induces neuroendocrine differentiation, promotes malignant behaviour in CRC and desensitizes CRC to antiangiogenic drugs. Mechanistically, the ENO2-derived metabolite phosphoenolpyruvate (PEP) selectively inhibits histone deacetylase 1 (HDAC1) activity, which increases the acetylation of β-catenin and activates the β-catenin pathway in CRC. Inhibition of ENO2 with enolase inhibitors AP-III-a4 or POMHEX synergizes the efficacy of antiangiogenic drugs in vitro and in mice bearing drug-resistant CRC xenograft tumours. Together, our findings reveal that ENO2 constitutes a useful predictive biomarker and therapeutic target for resistance to antiangiogenic therapy in CRC, and uncover a previously undefined and metabolism-independent role of PEP in regulating resistance to antiangiogenic therapy by functioning as an endogenous HDAC1 inhibitor.

Relationships among oral hygiene behavior, toothache, and depressive symptoms in Chinese older adults

OBJECTIVES

The study aims to investigate the relationships among oral hygiene behavior, toothache, and depression among Chinese older adults.

METHODS

We used data came from the 2018 wave of Chinese Longitudinal Healthy Longevity Survey (CLHLS). The Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale was used to evaluate depression. Binary logistic regression was performed to analyze the relationships among oral hygiene behavior, toothache, and depression.

RESULTS

A total of 12,172 older adults were included in the study, of whom 27.2% had depression. Compared with those who did not brush their teeth daily, those who brushed their teeth at least once daily exhibited lower odds of having depressive symptoms (odds ratio [OR] = 0.86, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 0.77-0.97 versus OR = 0.81, 95% CI = 0.71-0.93). Compared with those who did not have toothache, those who had toothache over the past 6 months exhibited higher odds of having depression (OR = 1.49, 95% CI = 1.33-1.68). Living arrangement had a significant effect on the correlation between toothache and depression (p = 0.049), who lived alone and had toothache exhibited higher odds of having depressive symptoms.

CONCLUSIONS

Oral hygiene behavior and toothache are associated with depression. Taking effective measures to maintain a daily toothbrushing pattern and reduce the occurrence of toothache may mitigate the risk of depression among older adults, especially among those living alone.

CLINICAL RELEVANCE

The present study reports that the potential relationship between different oral hygiene behavior, toothache, and depressive symptoms.

[Identification of ecological functional zoning and its influencing factors in the Sihu Lake Basin, China]

Rational delineation of ecological functional areas and clarification of their driving factors are of significance for maintaining regional ecosystem stability. We assessed six ecosystem services of Sihu Lake Basin located in Jianghan Plain using InVEST and RUSLE models and recreational scoring methods. By using K-means clustering, we identified the ecosystem service bundles, and delineated the ecological functional areas in combination with ecological sensitivity and ecosystem service bundles. The dominant driving factors of different ecological functional areas were analyzed by Geodetector. The results showed that the spatial distributions of habitat quality and carbon sequestration services were similar, with high values being mainly concentrated in Changhu Lake Basin and Honghu Lake Basin. However, the spatial distributions of crop production and soil conservation services were different, with high-value areas concentrated in the northwest area with mountains. The high values of water production service were mainly concentrated in the eastern part of Honghu Lake Basin, while the high-value areas of ecological recreation service were mainly concentrated in the northwest area and the southern part of Honghu Lake Basin. The Sihu Lake Basin could be classified into crop production bundle, habitat quality bundle, and urban living bundle according to cluster analysis. The low ecological sensitivity areas accounted for 59.0% of the Sihu Lake Basin. We classified the study area into ecological restoration areas, ecological conservation areas, ecological transition areas, ecological development areas, and comprehensive use areas by combination of ecological sensitivity and ecosystem service bundles. The geodetector results indicated that the driving factors of each ecological function zone were significantly different. The natural factors significantly influenced the ecological restoration zone, while the normalized vegetation index and population density were the main influencing factors in the ecological conservation zone and the ecological development zone, respectively. Land use type was the main influencing factor in the ecological transition zone and the comprehensive use zone. The results could provide important support for coordinated regional social development and environmental protection.

Examining the impact of perceived stress, anxiety, and resilience on depression among medical staff after COVID-19 quarantine: a chain mediation analysis

Introduction

The COVID-19 pandemic and subsequent quarantine measures have led to a significant impact on mental health worldwide. Medical staff, in particular, have been exposed to high levels of stress due to their frontline work during the crisis. However, there is still limited research on the psychological mechanism among medical staff after quarantine.

Methods

In this cross-sectional observational study, 150 medical staff from Shanghai YangZhi Rehabilitation Hospital, Shanghai, China, were enrolled in October 2022. SPSS 26.0 and PROCESS 4.0 model 6 were used to analyze the chain mediating effect of perceived stress, anxiety, resilience and depression among medical staff after quarantine. Anxiety and depression were compared during and after the quarantine. All scales have high validity and reliability in a Chinese population.

Results

Our findings revealed a positive correlation between perceived stress and anxiety (r = 0.60, p < 0.001) and depression (r = 0.60, p < 0.001) levels among medical staff. Conversely, resilience was found to have a negative correlation with perceived stress (r = -0.67, p < 0.001), anxiety (r = -0.57, p < 0.001) and depression (r = -0.61, p < 0.001). The score of depression during the quarantine was higher than the score after the quarantine, but the p-value is only marginally significant (p = 0.067). The score of anxiety during the quarantine was significantly higher than the score after the quarantine (p < 0.05). Moreover, the chain mediation model suggested that anxiety and resilience could mediate the association between perceived stress and depression among medical staff following quarantine. Specifically, perceived stress had no direct effect on depression (β = 0.025, t = 0.548, p = 0.59) but positively predicted anxiety (β = 0.381, t = 8.817, p < 0.001) and resilience (β = -1.302, t = -6.781, p < 0.001), which influenced depression levels indirectly through multiple pathways. The three indirect paths: the mediating role of anxiety, the mediating role of resilience, and the chain mediating role of both anxiety and resilience.

Discussion

This study emphasizes the importance of psychological interventions aimed at protecting medical staff's psychological resilience and promoting coping mechanisms to manage stress during and after crises such as the COVID-19 pandemic. Additionally, our findings suggest that both anxiety and resilience play critical roles in mitigating the detrimental effects of perceived stress on mental health and further highlight the need for continued research to better understand the complex interplay of these factors.

Research on the Cooperative Target State Estimation and Tracking Optimization Method of Multi-UUV

This work studied two sub-problems of the cooperative state estimation and cooperative optimization of tracking paths in multiple unmanned underwater vehicle (multi-UUV) cooperative target tracking. The mathematical model of each component of the multi-UUV cooperative target tracking system was established. According to the target bearing-only information obtained by each unmanned underwater vehicle's (UUV) detection, the extended Kalman filter algorithm based on interacting with multiple model bearing-only data was used to estimate the target state in a distributed way, and the federal fusion algorithm was used to fuse the estimated results of each UUV. The fused target state was predicted, and, based on the predicted target state, to achieve the persistent tracking of the target, the particle swarm optimization algorithm was used for the online collaborative optimization of the UUV tracking path. The simulation results showed that the multi-UUV distributed fusion filtering algorithm could obtain a better target state estimation effect, and the online path collaborative optimization method based on the prediction of the target state could achieve persistent target tracking.

Unlocking Liquid Sulfur Chemistry for Fast-Charging Lithium-Sulfur Batteries

A recent study of liquid sulfur produced in an electrochemical cell has prompted further investigation into regulating Li-S oxidation chemistry. In this research, we examined the liquid-to-solid sulfur transition dynamics by visually observing the electrochemical generation of sulfur on a graphene-based substrate. We investigated the charging of polysulfides at various current densities and discovered a quantitative correlation between the size and number density of liquid sulfur droplets and the applied current. However, the areal capacities exhibited less sensitivity. This observation offers valuable insights for designing fast-charging sulfur cathodes. By incorporating liquid sulfur into Li-S batteries with a high sulfur loading of 4.2 mg cm-2, the capacity retention can reach ∼100%, even when increasing the rate from 0.1 to 3 C. This study contributes to a better understanding of the kinetics involved in the liquid-solid sulfur growth in Li-S chemistry and presents viable strategies for optimizing fast-charging operations.

Corrigendum to "Preoperative fibrinogen is associated with the clinical survival of primary liver cancer patients and promotes hepatoma metastasis via the PTEN/AKT/mTOR pathway" [Heliyon 6) (June 2023) e16696]

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2023.e16696.].

Chemotherapy-induced metastasis: molecular mechanisms and clinical therapies

Chemotherapy, the most widely accepted treatment for malignant tumors, is dependent on cell death induced by various drugs including antimetabolites, alkylating agents, mitotic spindle inhibitors, antitumor antibiotics, and hormonal anticancer drugs. In addition to causing side effects due to non-selective cytotoxicity, chemotherapeutic drugs can initiate and promote metastasis, which greatly reduces their clinical efficacy. The knowledge of how they induce metastasis is essential for developing strategies that improve the outcomes of chemotherapy. Herein, we summarize the recent findings on chemotherapy-induced metastasis and discuss the underlying mechanisms including tumor-initiating cell expansion, the epithelial-mesenchymal transition, extracellular vesicle involvement, and tumor microenvironment alterations. In addition, the use of combination treatments to overcome chemotherapy-induced metastasis is also elaborated.

18β-glycyrrhetinic acid ameliorates MPTP-induced neurotoxicity in mice through activation of microglial anti-inflammatory phenotype

RATIONALE

18β-glycyrrhetinic acid (18β-GA) has been reported to have anti-inflammatory and neuroprotective effects. However, the therapeutic effect of 18β-GA in Parkinson's disease (PD) has not been defined.

OBJECTIVE

The current study aimed to evaluate the potential therapeutic effects of 18β-GA in treating PD by mitigating 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine (MPTP)-induced neurotoxicity.

RESULTS

The study showed that 18β-GA has anti-inflammatory effects by upregulating TREM2 expression in BV2 cells, which correlates with the presence of NF-E2-related factor-2 (Nrf2). 18β-GA reduced inflammation in BV2 cells treated with 1-methyl-4- phenylpyridinium (MPP+) by enhancing TREM2 expression, which promotes an anti-inflammatory microglial phenotype. Repeated administration of 18β-GA in MPTP-treated mice led to therapeutic effects by enhancing TREM2 expression, resulting in the activation of anti-inflammatory microglia. Moreover, 18β-GA attenuated the decrease in brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) levels in both MPP+-induced BV2 cells and MPTP-intoxicated mice, indicating the involvement of BDNF in the beneficial effects of 18β-GA.

CONCLUSIONS

It is probable that activating microglial anti-inflammatory response through TREM2 expression might serve as a novel therapeutic strategy for PD. Additionally, 18β-GA seems to hold potential as a new therapeutic agent for PD.

N-3, a novel synthetic derivative of bifendate, inhibits metastasis of triple-negative breast cancer via decreasing p38-regulated FOXC1 protein stability

Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) is an aggressive breast cancer subtype with high invasiveness, metastatic potential, and poor prognosis. Epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) is pivotal in TNBC progression, becoming a promising target for TNBC treatment. Our study evaluated N-3, a novel synthetic bifendate derivative, which inhibited the EMT-associated migration and invasion of MDA-MB-231 and 4T1 TNBC cells. The results were consistent with the suppression of FOXC1 expression and transcriptional activity. Additional studies indicated that N-3 reduced the protein stability of FOXC1 by enhancing ubiquitination and degradation. Moreover, N-3 downregulated p-p38 expression and FOXC1 interaction, decreasing the stability of p38-regulated FOXC1. Further, N-3 blocked TNBC metastasis with an artificial lung metastasis model in vivo, related to FOXC1 suppression and EMT. These results highlight the potential of N-3 as a TNBC metastasis treatment. Therefore, FOXC1 regulation could be a novel targeted therapeutic strategy for TNBC metastasis.

Challenges and strategies for ocular posterior diseases therapy via non-invasive advanced drug delivery

Posterior segment diseases, such as age-related macular degeneration (AMD) and diabetic retinopathy (DR) are vital factor that seriously threatens human vision health and quality of life, the treatment of which poses a great challenge to ophthalmologists and ophthalmic scientists. In particular, ocular posterior drug delivery in a non-invasive manner is highly desired but still faces many difficulties such as rapid drug clearance, limited permeability and low drug accumulation at the target site. At present, many novel non-invasive topical ocular drug delivery systems are under development aiming to improve drug delivery efficiency and biocompatibility for better therapy of posterior segment oculopathy. The purpose of this review is to present the challenges in the noninvasive treatment of posterior segment diseases, and to propose strategies to tackle these bottlenecks. First of all, barriers to ocular administration were introduced based on ocular physiological structure and behavior, including analysis and discussion on the influence of ocular structures on noninvasive posterior segment delivery. Thereafter, various routes of posterior drug delivery, both invasive and noninvasive, were illustrated, along with the respective anatomical obstacles that need to be overcome. The widespread and risky application of invasive drug delivery, and the need to develop non-invasive local drug delivery with alternative to injectable therapy were described. Absorption routes through topical administration and strategies to enhance ocular posterior drug delivery were then discussed. As a follow-up, an up-to-date research advances in non-invasive delivery systems for the therapy of ocular fundus lesions were presented, including different nanocarriers, contact lenses, and several other carriers. In conclusion, it seems feasible and promising to treat posterior oculopathy via non-invasive local preparations or in combination with appropriate devices.