Efficacy of levetiracetam combined with oxcarbazepine in the treatment of adults with temporal lobe epilepsy and its impact on memory and cognitive function

OBJECTIVE

To explore the effect of levetiracetam combined with oxcarbazepine on the memory and cognitive function of adult patients with temporal lobe epilepsy.

METHODS

This retrospective analysis included 91 adult patients with temporal lobe epilepsy treated at Xianyang Hospital from June 2020 to December 2022. Based on their medication regimen, patients were categorized into an observation group (n=51) receiving levetiracetam plus oxcarbazepine and a control group (n=40) receiving only levetiracetam. Both groups underwent 3 months of continuous treatment. Therapeutic efficacy, pre- and post-treatment memory function (assessed using the Clinical Memory Scale, CMS), cognitive function (evaluated with the Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale-Revised in China, WAISRC), anxiety and depression levels (measured by the Hamilton Anxiety Scale, HAMA, and Hamilton Depression Scale, HAMD), as well as adverse reactions, were compared between the two groups. Independent factors influencing treatment efficacy were also analyzed.

RESULTS

CMS and WAISRC scores significantly increased in both groups after treatment (both P=0.001), with the observation group showing more significant improvements than the control group (P=0.001). The improvements in HAMA and HAMD scores in the observation group were significantly better than the control group (all P<0.001). Adverse reaction occurrence showed no significant difference between the two groups (P>0.05). Prognostic analysis identified seizure frequency and treatment regimen as independent factors influencing efficacy.

CONCLUSION

Levetiracetam combined with oxcarbazepine effectively improves cognitive dysfunction in adults with temporal lobe epilepsy, with superior efficacy to levetiracetam alone, and good safety.

Targeting glutamine metabolism exhibits anti-tumor effects in thyroid cancer

BACKGROUND

Effective treatment for patients with advanced thyroid cancer is lacking. Metabolism reprogramming is required for cancer to undergo oncogenic transformation and rapid tumorigenic growth. Glutamine is frequently used by cancer cells for active bioenergetic and biosynthetic needs. This study aims to investigate whether targeting glutamine metabolism is a promising therapeutic strategy for thyroid cancer.

METHODS

The expression of glutaminase (GLS) and glutamate dehydrogenase (GDH) in thyroid cancer tissues was evaluated by immunohistochemistry, and glutamine metabolism-related genes were assessed using real time-qPCR and western blotting. The effects of glutamine metabolism inhibitor 6-diazo-5-oxo-l-norleucine (DON) on thyroid cancer cells were determined by CCK-8, clone formation assay, Edu incorporation assay, flow cytometry, and Transwell assay. The mechanistic study was performed by real time-qPCR, western blotting, Seahorse assay, and gas chromatography-mass spectrometer assay. The effect of DON prodrug (JHU-083) on thyroid cancer in vivo was assessed using xenograft tumor models in BALB/c nude mice.

RESULTS

GLS and GDH were over-expressed in thyroid cancer tissues, and GLS expression was positively associated with lymph-node metastasis and TNM stage. The growth of thyroid cancer cells was significantly inhibited when cultured in glutamine-free medium. Targeting glutamine metabolism with DON inhibited the proliferation of thyroid cancer cells. DON treatment did not promote apoptosis, but increased the proportion of cells in the S phase, accompanied by the decreased expression of cyclin-dependent kinase 2 and cyclin A. DON treatment also significantly inhibited the migration and invasion of thyroid cancer cells by reducing the expression of N-cadherin, Vimentin, matrix metalloproteinase-2, and matrix metalloproteinase-9. Non-essential amino acids, including proline, alanine, aspartate, asparagine, and glycine, were reduced in thyroid cancer cells treated with DON, which could explain the decrease of proteins involved in migration, invasion, and cell cycle. The efficacy and safety of DON prodrug (JHU-083) for thyroid cancer treatment were verified in a mouse model. In addition to suppressing the proliferation and metastasis potential of thyroid cancer in vivo, enhanced innate immune response was also observed in JHU-083-treated xenograft tumors as a result of decreased expression of cluster of differentiation 47 and programmed cell death ligand 1.

CONCLUSIONS

Thyroid cancer exhibited enhanced glutamine metabolism, as evidenced by the glutamine dependence of thyroid cancer cells and high expression of multiple glutamine metabolism-related genes. Targeting glutamine metabolism with DON prodrug could be a promising therapeutic option for advanced thyroid cancer.

Higher Cognitive Reserve Is Beneficial for Cognitive Performance Via Various Locus Coeruleus Functional Pathways in the Pre-Dementia Stage of Alzheimer's Disease

BACKGROUND

Cognitive reserve (CR) shows protective effects on cognitive function in older adult and in Alzheimer's disease (AD). However, the brain mechanisms underlying the CR effect on the non-dementia AD spectrum (subjective cognitive decline (SCD) and mild cognitive impairment (MCI)) are unknown. The aim of this study was to investigate the potential moderate effect of CR on brain functional networks associated with cognitive performance.

METHODS

We selected 200 participants, including 48 cognitively normal (CN) and 56 SCD, and 96 patients with MCI from the Alzheimer's Disease Neuroimaging Initiative (ADNI). Seed-based locus coeruleus functional connectivity (LC FC) was conducted to detect early brain functional changes in the non-dementia AD spectrum. CR was assessed via years of education and intelligence (IQ). The ANDI composite executive function scores (ADNI-EF) and ADNI composite memory scores (ANDI-MEM) at baseline and 24-month follow-up were used to assess cognitive performance.

RESULTS

Compared to the CN group, the SCD group showed abnormal LC FC with the executive control network (dorsolateral prefrontal cortex, DLPFC), salience network, sensorimotor network, reward network, and hippocampus, while these alterations were inverted at the MCI stage. The LC-hippocampus FC was correlated with ADNI-MEM at baseline and follow-up, and these relationships were moderated by education. The LC-DLPFC FC was correlated with ADNI-EF at baseline, and this association was moderated by IQ.

CONCLUSION

Our results manifested that higher levels of CR would confer protective effects on SCD and MCI. Furthermore, IQ and education could moderate the relationship between LC FC and cognition through different pathways.

The MuSK-BMP pathway regulates synaptic Nav1.4 localization and muscle excitability

The neuromuscular junction (NMJ) is the linchpin of nerve-evoked muscle contraction. Broadly considered, the function of the NMJ is to transduce a nerve action potential into a muscle fiber action potential (MFAP). Efficient information transfer requires both cholinergic signaling, responsible for the generation of endplate potentials (EPPs), and excitation, the activation of postsynaptic voltage-gated sodium channels (Nav1.4) to trigger MFAPs. In contrast to the cholinergic apparatus, the signaling pathways that organize Nav1.4 and muscle fiber excitability are poorly characterized. Muscle-specific kinase (MuSK), in addition to its Ig1 domain-dependent role as an agrin-LRP4 receptor, is also a BMP co-receptor that binds BMPs via its Ig3 domain and shapes BMP-induced signaling and transcriptional output. Here we probed the function of the MuSK-BMP pathway at the NMJ using mice lacking the MuSK Ig3 domain ('ΔIg3-MuSK'). Synapses formed normally in ΔIg3-MuSK animals, but the postsynaptic apparatus was fragmented from the first weeks of life. Anatomical denervation was not observed at any age examined. Moreover, spontaneous and nerve-evoked acetylcholine release, AChR density, and endplate currents were comparable to WT. However, trains of nerve-evoked MFAPs in ΔIg3-MuSK muscle were abnormal as revealed by increased jitter and blocking in single fiber electromyography. Further, nerve-evoked compound muscle action potentials (CMAPs), as well as twitch and tetanic muscle torque force production, were also diminished. Finally, Nav1.4 levels were reduced at ΔIg3-MuSK synapses but not at the extrajunctional sarcolemma, indicating that the observed excitability defects are the result of impaired localization of this voltage-gated ion channel at the NMJ. We propose that MuSK plays two distinct roles at the NMJ: as an agrin-LRP4 receptor necessary for establishing and maintaining cholinergic signaling, and as a BMP co-receptor required for maintaining proper Nav1.4 density, nerve-evoked muscle excitability and force production. The MuSK-BMP pathway thus emerges as a target for modulating excitability and functional innervation, which are defective in conditions such as congenital myasthenic syndromes and aging.

Ag-doped Cu nanosheet arrays for efficient hydrogen evolution reaction

A zinc-infiltration process was adopted to prepare silver-doped copper nanosheet arrays. The larger atomic radius of Ag introduces tensile stress, which lowers the electron density at the s-orbitals of Cu atoms and improves the adsorption capability for hydrogen atoms. As a catalyst for hydrogen evolution, these silver doped copper nanosheet arrays achieved a low overpotential of 103 mV at 10 mA cm^-2 in 1 M KOH, which is 604 mV lower than that of pure copper foil.

CPT1 Mediated Ionizing Radiation-Induced Intestinal Injury Proliferation via Shifting FAO Metabolism Pathway and Activating the ERK1/2 and JNK Pathway

The intestinal compensatory proliferative potential is a key influencing factor for susceptibility to radiation-induced intestinal injury. Studies indicated that the carnitine palmitoyltransferase 1 (CPT1) mediated fatty acid β-oxidation (FAO) plays a crucial role in promoting the survival and proliferation of tumor cells. Here, we aimed to explore the effect of 60Co gamma rays on CPT1 mediated FAO in the radiation-induced intestinal injury models, and investigate the role of CPT1 mediated FAO in the survival and proliferation of intestinal cells after irradiation. We detected the changed of FAO in the plasma and small intestine of Sprague Dawley (SD) rats at 24 h after 60Co gamma irradiation (0, 5 and 10 Gy), using target metabolomics, qRT-PCR, immunohistochemistry (IHC), western blot (WB) and related enzymatic activity kits. We then analyzed the FAO changes in radiation-induced intestinal injury models regardless of ex vivo (mice enteroids), or in vitro (normal human intestinal epithelial cell lines, HIEC-6). HIEC-6 cells were transduced with lentivirus vector GV392 and treated with puromycin for obtaining CPT1 stable knockout cell lines, named CPT1 KO. CPT1 enzymatic activities of HIEC-6 cells and mice enteroids were also inhibited by pharmaceutical inhibitor ST1326 and Etomoxir (ETO), to study the function of CPT1 in the survival and proliferation of HIEC-6 cells after 60Co gamma irradiation. We found that CPT1 mediated FAO was altered in the small intestine of the SD rats after irradiation, especially, the expression level and enzymatic activity of CPT1 were significantly increased. Similarly, the expression levels of CPT1 were also remarkably enhanced in mice enteroids and HIEC-6 cells after irradiation. CPT1 inhibition decreased the proliferation of the HIEC-6 cells and mice enteroids after irradiation partially by reducing the extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK1/2) and c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK) pathways activation, CPT1 inhibition also reduced the proliferation of mice enteroids after irradiation partially by down-regulating the Wnt/β-catenin signaling activity. In conclusion, our study indicated that CPT1 plays a crucial role in promoting intestinal epithelial cell proliferation after irradiation.

Ion Solvation Free Energy Calculation Based on Ab Initio Molecular Dynamics Using a Hybrid Solvent Model

Free energy calculation of small molecules or ion species in aqueous solvent is one of the most important problems in electrochemistry study. Although there are many previous approaches to calculate such free energies, they are based on ab initio methods and suffer from various limitations and approximations. In the current work, we developed a hybrid approach based on ab initio molecular dynamics (AIMD) simulations to calculate the ion solvation energy. In this approach, a small water cluster surrounding the central ion is used, and implicit solvent model is applied outside the water cluster. A dynamic potential well is used during AIMD to keep the water cluster together. Quasi-harmonic approximation is used to calculate the entropy contribution, while the total energy average is used to calculate the enthalpy term. The obtained solvation voltages of the bulk metal agree with experiments within 0.3 eV, and the simulation results for the solvation energies of gaseous ions are close to the experimental observations. Besides the free energies, radial pair distribution functions and coordination numbers of hydrated cations are also obtained. The remaining challenges of this method are also discussed.

Changes in CA15-3, S100B, and IGF-1 in glioma and their predictive value for treatment efficacy

OBJECTIVE

To analyze the changes of carbohydrate antigen 153 (CA15-3), S-100 calcium-binding protein B (S100B) and insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) in the treatment of patients with high-grade glioma and their predictive value for efficacy.

METHODS

In this retrospective the PG and CG study, 74 patients with glioma who were treated in the Affiliated Hospital of Yan'an University from January 2015 to January 2017 were labeled as the patient group (PG); the other 70 patients who underwent craniocerebral trauma surgery during the same period were selected as the control group (CG). The expressions of CA15-3, S100B and IGF-1 in the PG and CG were compared. The relationship between CA15-3, S100B, IGF-1, and the pathologic data of patients was analyzed. The expression differences of CA15-3, S100B, and IGF-1 were compared between low-grade glioma patients and high-grade glioma patients and their diagnostic value was analyzed. The values of CA15-3, S100B, and IGF-1 expression for predicting treatment efficacy were analyzed.

RESULTS

Expressions of CA15-3, S100B, and IGF-1 in glioma patients were markedly higher than those in the CG (P<0.0001). The proportion of grade III+IV patients with high expression of CA15-3, S100B, and IGF-1 was higher than in grade II patients (P<0.05), and the expressions of CA15-3, S100B and IGF-1 in low-grade glioma patients were lower than in high-grade glioma (P<0.01). The AUCs of CA15-3, S100B, and IGF-1 in differentiating different grades of glioma were 0.822, 0.722, and 0.768, respectively. Serum CA15-3, S100B and IGF-1 levels of the patients after treatment were significantly lower than those before treatment (P<0.0001). With the deterioration of clinical efficacy, serum levels of CA15-3, S100B, and IGF-1 gradually increased (P<0.05), and CA15-3, S100B and IGF-1 were positively correlated with therapeutic efficacy (P<0.05). AUCs of CA15-3, S100B, and IGF-1 for predicting the clinical efficacy in glioma patients were 0.824, 0.741, and 0.800, respectively.

CONCLUSION

CA15-3, S100B, and IGF-1 are highly expressed in patients with glioma. They are diagnostic indicators to distinguish patients with high-grade glioma, and have predictive value for treatment efficacy.

CPT1 Mediated Ionizing Radiation-Induced Intestinal Injury Proliferation via Shifting FAO Metabolism Pathway and Activating the ERK1/2 and JNK Pathway

The intestinal compensatory proliferative potential is a key influencing factor for susceptibility to radiation-induced intestinal injury. Studies indicated that the carnitine palmitoyltransferase 1 (CPT1) mediated fatty acid β-oxidation (FAO) plays a crucial role in promoting the survival and proliferation of tumor cells. Here, we aimed to explore the effect of 60Co gamma rays on CPT1 mediated FAO in the radiation-induced intestinal injury models, and investigate the role of CPT1 mediated FAO in the survival and proliferation of intestinal cells after irradiation. We detected the changed of FAO in the plasma and small intestine of Sprague Dawley (SD) rats at 24 h after 60Co gamma irradiation (0, 5 and 10 Gy), using target metabolomics, qRT-PCR, immunohistochemistry (IHC), western blot (WB) and related enzymatic activity kits. We then analyzed the FAO changes in radiation-induced intestinal injury models regardless of ex vivo (mice enteroids), or in vitro (normal human intestinal epithelial cell lines, HIEC-6). HIEC-6 cells were transduced with lentivirus vector GV392 and treated with puromycin for obtaining CPT1 stable knockout cell lines, named CPT1 KO. CPT1 enzymatic activities of HIEC-6 cells and mice enteroids were also inhibited by pharmaceutical inhibitor ST1326 and Etomoxir (ETO), to study the function of CPT1 in the survival and proliferation of HIEC-6 cells after 60Co gamma irradiation. We found that CPT1 mediated FAO was altered in the small intestine of the SD rats after irradiation, especially, the expression level and enzymatic activity of CPT1 were significantly increased. Similarly, the expression levels of CPT1 were also remarkably enhanced in mice enteroids and HIEC-6 cells after irradiation. CPT1 inhibition decreased the proliferation of the HIEC-6 cells and mice enteroids after irradiation partially by reducing the extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK1/2) and c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK) pathways activation, CPT1 inhibition also reduced the proliferation of mice enteroids after irradiation partially by down-regulating the Wnt/β-catenin signaling activity. In conclusion, our study indicated that CPT1 plays a crucial role in promoting intestinal epithelial cell proliferation after irradiation.

Screening of radiation gastrointestinal injury biomarkers in rat plasma by high-coverage targeted lipidomics

INTRODUCTION

In the event of radiological accidents and cancer radiotherapies in clinic, the gastrointestinal (GI) system is vulnerable to ionizing radiation and shows GI injury. Accessible biomarkers may provide means to predict, evaluate, and treat GI tissue damage. The current study investigated radiation GI injury biomarkers in rat plasma.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

High-coverage targeted lipidomics was employed to profile lipidome perturbations at 72 h after 0, 1, 2, 3, 5 and 8 Gy (⁶⁰Co γ-rays at 1 Gy/min) total-body irradiation in male rat jejunum. The results were correlated with previous plasma screening outcomes.

RESULTS

In total, 93 differential metabolites and 28 linear dose-responsive metabolites were screened in the jejunum. Moreover, 52 lipid species with significant differences both in jejunum and plasma were obtained. Three lipid species with linear dose-response relationship both in jejunum and plasma were put forth, which exhibited good to excellent sensitivity and specificity in triaging different exposure levels.

DISCUSSION

The linear dose-effect relationship of lipid metabolites in the jejunum and the triage performance of radiation GI injury biomarkers in plasma were studied for the first time.

CONCLUSION

The present study can provide insights into expanded biomarkers of IR-mediated GI injury and minimally invasive assays for evaluation.

A silver catalyst with a high-energy surface prepared by plasma spraying for the hydrogen evolution reaction

A self-supported silver electrode was prepared by plasma spraying and used for catalysing the hydrogen evolution reaction. Thanks to the non-equilibrium synthetic conditions, the silver catalyst exposes high-energy (200) crystal planes, which enhance the adsorption of hydrogen and improve the intrinsic catalytic activity. As a result, the silver catalyst delivers an overpotential of 349 mV at 10 mA cm^-2, which was much lower than those of Ag foil (742 mV) and commercial Ag powder (657 mV). This work provides a new idea of preparing active electrocatalysts by traditional processes.

Revealing the Dynamics and Roles of Iron Incorporation in Nickel Hydroxide Water Oxidation Catalysts

The surface of an electrocatalyst undergoes dynamic chemical and structural transformations under electrochemical operating conditions. There is a dynamic exchange of metal cations between the electrocatalyst and electrolyte. Understanding how iron in the electrolyte gets incorporated in the nickel hydroxide electrocatalyst is critical for pinpointing the roles of Fe during water oxidation. Here, we report that iron incorporation and oxygen evolution reaction (OER) are highly coupled, especially at high working potentials. The iron incorporation rate is much higher at OER potentials than that at the OER dormant state (low potentials). At OER potentials, iron incorporation favors electrochemically more reactive edge sites, as visualized by synchrotron X-ray fluorescence microscopy. Using X-ray absorption spectroscopy and density functional theory calculations, we show that Fe incorporation can suppress the oxidation of Ni and enhance the Ni reducibility, leading to improved OER catalytic activity. Our findings provide a holistic approach to understanding and tailoring Fe incorporation dynamics across the electrocatalyst-electrolyte interface, thus controlling catalytic processes.

Euphornin L promotes lipid clearance by dual regulation of LDLR and PCSK9

Our previous study identified euphornin L as an active lipid-lowering compound in high-fat diet-fed Golden Syrian hamsters. The aim of the present study was to investigate the mechanisms underlying the lipid-lowering effects of euphornin L. Euphornin L in HepG2 cells was assessed via DiI-LDL update assays and found to increase LDL-update and LDLR protein levels. RNA interference assays demonstrated that its LDL-update effects were LDLR-dependent. Dual luciferase reporter and mRNA stability assays revealed that euphornin L had little effect on LDLR mRNA transcription but lengthened the half-life of LDLR mRNA by activating ERK protein in cells. Euphornin L decreased the secretion of PCSK9 protein and alleviated PCSK9-mediated LDLR protein degradation. In vivo experiments in hamsters, which were treated with euphornin L (30 mg/kg/day) for 3 weeks, confirmed these findings. LDLR protein levels in liver tissue were upregulated, while PCSK9 protein levels in serum were downregulated. Altogether, the present study demonstrated that euphornin L increased LDLR protein levels by dual regulation of LDLR mRNA and PCSK9 protein, and represented an active compound for lipid-lowering drug development.

LncRNA LINC01278 accelerates colorectal cancer progression via miR-134-5p/KDM2A axis

OBJECTIVE

Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) play vital roles in the pathogenesis and development of multiple cancers, including colorectal cancer (CRC). Nevertheless, the regulatory mechanisms of LINC01278 in CRC remain unknown. Our research aims to identify the regulatory mechanisms of LINC01278 in CRC.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

The expression of LINC01278 was examined by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR). StarBase and TargetScan websites were used to predict the interaction between miR-134 and LINC01278 or KDM2A, which was further confirmed by Dual-Luciferase reporter assay and RNA immunoprecipitation (RIP) assay. Cell viability, migration, and invasion were detected by Cell Counting Kit-8 (CCK-8) and transwell assays.

RESULTS

LINC01278 was upregulated in CRC tissues and cell lines, and knockdown of LINC01278 suppressed CRC cell progression. In addition, LINC01278 inhibited miR-134 expression by direct interaction, and the inhibition of miR-134 abolished the suppressive effects of LINC01278 knockdown on viability, migration, and invasion of CRC cells. Furthermore, KDM2A was confirmed to be a target gene of miR-134. Overexpression of KDM2A facilitated the tumorigenesis of CRC, while this effect was reversed by the upregulation of miR-143. Finally, it was demonstrated that miR-134 inhibitor reversed the shLINC01278‑mediated inhibitory effect on KDM2A expression.

CONCLUSIONS

Our study demonstrated that LINC01278 upregulated KDM2A to promote CRC progression by interacting with miR-143, suggesting that LINC01278 might be a new therapeutic target of CRC.

Valence-State Effect of Iridium Dopant in NiFe(OH)2 Catalyst for Hydrogen Evolution Reaction

Engineering high-performance electrocatalysts is of great importance for energy conversion and storage. As an efficient strategy, element doping has long been adopted to improve catalytic activity, however, it has not been clarified how the valence state of dopant affects the catalytic mechanism and properties. Herein, it is reported that the valence state of a doping element plays a crucial role in improving catalytic performance. Specifically, in the case of iridium doped nickel-iron layer double hydroxide (NiFe-LDH), trivalent iridium ions (Ir³⁺ ) can boost hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) more efficiently than tetravalent iridium (Ir⁴⁺ ) ions. Ir³⁺ -doped NiFe-LDH delivers an ultralow overpotential (19 mV @ 10 mA cm^-2 ) for HER, which is superior to Ir⁴⁺ doped NiFe-LDH (44 mV@10 mA cm^-2 ) and even commercial Pt/C catalyst (40 mV@ 10 mA cm^-2 ), and reaches the highest level ever reported for NiFe-LDH-based catalysts. Theoretical and experimental analyses reveal that Ir³⁺ ions donate more electrons to their neighboring O atoms than Ir⁴⁺ ions, which facilitates the water dissociation and hydrogen desorption, eventually boosting HER. The same valence-state effect is found for Ru and Pt dopants in NiFe-LDH, implying that chemical valence state should be considered as a common factor in modulating catalytic performance.

Effects of blood pathological changes before TAI on pregnancy of dairy cows with anestrus and estrus

ABSTRACT The objective of this study was to investigate the influence of plasma pathological changes before timed artificial insemination (TAI) on pregnancy of cows. The contents of estrogen (E2), progesterone (P4), glucose (Glu), selenium (Se), brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), and histamine (HIS) in plasma of 48 Holstein cows were measured before TAI. According to the estrus detection, the cows were divided into estrus (E) and anestrus (A) groups. After pregnancy testing at 28 d after TAI, two groups of E and A were divided into positive pregnancy of E group (EP+), negative pregnancy of E group (EP-), positive pregnancy of A group (AP+), and negative pregnancy of A group (AP-). The contents of E2, P4, Glu, Se, BDNF and hIS significantly differed among the four groups (P<0.01). The ROC analysis was used to determine the risk of negative pregnancy test (-) after TAI was increased when plasma E2 was less than 46.45 pmol/L in cows before TAI. The changes in E2, P4,hIS, Glu, and BDNF in the blood of natural estrus and natural anestrus cows affected the pregnancy after TAI. the level of E2 in plasma may be used to assess the risk of negative pregnancy after TAI.

Identification of Potential Radiation Responsive Metabolic Biomarkers in Plasma of Rats Exposed to Different Doses of Cobalt-60 Gamma Rays

Metabolomics has great potential to process accessible biofluids through high-throughput and quantitative analysis for radiation biomarker screening. This study focused on the potential radiation responsive metabolites in rat plasma and the dose-response relationships. In the discovery stage, 20 male Sprague–Dawley rats were exposed to 0, 1, 3 and 5 Gy of cobalt-60 gamma rays at a dose rate of 1 Gy/min. Plasma samples were collected at 72 h after exposure and analyzed using liquid chromatography mass spectrometry based on non-targeted metabolomics. In the verification stage, 50 additional rats were exposed to 0, 1, 2, 3, 5 and 8 Gy of gamma rays. The concentrations of candidate metabolites were then analyzed using targeted metabolomics methods. Fifteen candidate radiation responsive metabolites were identified as potential radiation metabolite biomarkers. Metabolic pathways, such as linoleic acid metabolism and glycerophospholipid metabolism pathways, were changed after irradiation. Six radiation responsive metabolites, including LysoPC(20:2), LysoPC(20:3), PC(18:0/22:5), L-palmitoylcarnitine, N-acetylornithine and butyrylcarnitine, had good dose-response relationships (R² > 0.80). The area under the curve of the panel of the 6 radiation responsive metabolites was 0.923. The radiation exposure metabolomics biomarkers and dose-response curves may have potential for rapid dose assessment and triage in nuclear and radiation accidents.

Screening of Lipids for Early Triage and Dose Estimation after Acute Radiation Exposure in Rat Plasma Based on Targeted Lipidomics Analysis

Rapid early triage and dose estimation is vital for limited medical resource allocation and treatment of a large number of the wounded after radiological accidents. Lipidomics has been utilized to delineate biofluid lipid signatures after irradiation. Here, high-coverage targeted lipidomics was employed to screen radiosensitive lipids after 0, 1, 2, 3, 5, and 8 Gy total body irradiation at 4, 24, and 72 h postirradiation in rat plasma. Ultra-performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry with a multiple reaction monitoring method was utilized. In total, 416 individual lipids from 18 major classes were quantified and those biomarkers altered in a dose-dependent manner constituted panel A-panel D. Receiver operator characteristic curve analysis using combined lipids showed good to excellent sensitivity and specificity in triaging different radiation exposure levels (area under curve = 0.814-1.000). The equations for dose estimation were established by stepwise regression analysis for three time points. A novel strategy for radiation early triage and dose estimation was first established and validated using panels of lipids. Our study suggests that it is feasible to acquire quantitative lipid biomarker panels using targeted lipidomics platforms for rapid, high-throughput triage, which can provide further insights in developing lipidomics strategies for radiation biodosimetry in humans.

23,24-Dihydrocucurbitacin B promotes lipid clearance by dual transcriptional regulation of LDLR and PCSK9

23,24-Dihydrocucurbitacin B (designated as C95 in this article) is a cucurbitane triterpenoid that has been shown to possess a variety of pharmacological activities, such as anti-inflammatory and anti-HIV-1 activities etc. In this study, we investigated the effects of 23,24-dihydrocucurbitacin B on lipid regulation. We showed that 23,24-dihydrocucurbitacin B (1–5 μM) dose-dependently promoted DiI-LDL uptake in HepG2 cells by upregulating low-density lipoprotein receptor (LDLR) protein. In HepG2 cells, 23,24-dihydrocucurbitacin B (1–10 μM) dose-dependently enhanced LDLR promoter activity by elevating the mature form of SREBP2 (sterol regulatory element binding protein 2) protein levels on one hand, and inhibited PCSK9 (proprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin type 9) promoter activity by attenuating HNF1α (hepatocyte nuclear factor-1α) protein levels in nuclei on the other hand. Consequently, the expression of LDLR protein markedly increased, whereas the PCSK9-mediated LDLR protein degradation decreased. In a high-cholesterol LVG golden Syrian Hamster model, administration of 23,24-dihydrocucurbitacin B (30 mg · kg⁻¹⋅ d⁻¹, intragastric, for 3 weeks) significantly decreased the serum LDL-cholesterol (LDL-C) levels. PCSK9 protein levels in the serum and liver tissues were significantly decreased, whereas LDLR protein levels in liver tissues were significantly increased in the treated animals as compared with the control animals. In conclusion, our study demonstrates for the first time that 23,24-dihydrocucurbitacin B exhibits dual transcriptional regulation of LDLR and PCSK9 in HepG2 cells by increasing SREBP2 protein levels and decreasing HNF1α protein levels in the nuclei. These results propose a new strategy to simultaneously manage LDLR and PCSK9 protein expression and provide a promising lead compound for drug development.

Design, synthesis, and biological evaluation of novel tetrahydroprotoberberine derivatives (THPBs) as proprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin type 9 (PCSK9) modulators for the treatment of hyperlipidemia

Proprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin type 9 (PCSK9) modulators may attenuate PCSK9-induced low-density lipoprotein receptor (LDLR) degradation in lysosome and promote the clearance of circulating low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C). A novel series of tetrahydroprotoberberine derivatives (THPBs) were designed, synthesized, and evaluated as PCSK9 modulators for the treatment of hyperlipidemia. Among them, eight compounds exhibited excellent activities in downregulating hepatic PCSK9 expression better than berberine in HepG2 cells. In addition, five compounds 15, 18, 22, (R)-22, and (S)-22 showed better performance in the low-density lipoprotein, labeled with 1,1′-dioctadecyl-3,3,3′,3′-tetramethyl-indocarbocyanine perchlorate (DiI-LDL) uptake assay, compared with berberine at the same concentration. Compound 22, selected for in vivo evaluation, demonstrated significant reductions of total cholesterol (TC) and LDL-C in hyperlipidemic hamsters with a good pharmacokinetic profile. Further exploring of the lipid-lowering mechanism showed that compound 22 promoted hepatic LDLR expression in a dose-dependent manner in HepG2 cells. Additional results of human ether-à-go-go related gene (hERG) inhibition assay indicated the potential druggability for compound 22, which is a promising lead compound for the development of PCSK9 modulator for the treatment of hyperlipidemia.

Porous Copper Microspheres for Selective Production of Multicarbon Fuels via CO2 Electroreduction

The electroreduction of carbon dioxide (CO₂ ) toward high-value fuels can reduce the carbon footprint and store intermittent renewable energy. The iodide-ion-assisted synthesis of porous copper (P-Cu) microspheres with a moderate coordination number of 7.7, which is beneficial for the selective electroreduction of CO₂ into multicarbon (C₂₊ ) chemicals is reported. P-Cu delivers a C₂₊ Faradaic efficiency of 78 ± 1% at a potential of -1.1 V versus a reversible hydrogen electrode, which is 32% higher than that of the compact Cu counterpart and approaches the record (79%) reported in the same cell configuration. In addition, P-Cu shows good stability without performance loss throughout a continuous operation of 10 h.

Lattice-strained palladium nanoparticles as active catalysts for the oxygen reduction reaction

Compressive strain was successfully introduced into palladium nanoparticles by a novel pulsed laser ablation technology, leading to dramatic improvement of the catalytic performance in the oxygen reduction reaction.

Laser-induced oxygen vacancies in FeCo2O4 nanoparticles for boosting oxygen evolution and reduction

Abundant oxygen vacancies are successfully introduced into NiFe₂O₄ nanoparticles by laser fragmentation, resulting in dramatic improvement of catalytic activities for oxygen evolution and reduction.

The effect of interactions between a bacterial strain isolated from drinking water and a pathogen surrogate on biofilms formation diverged under static vs flow conditions

AIMS

Interactions with water bacteria affect the incorporation of pathogens into biofilms and thus pathogen control in drinking water systems. This study was to examine the impact of static vs flow conditions on interactions between a pathogen and a water bacterium on pathogen biofilm formation under laboratory settings.

METHODS AND RESULTS

A pathogen surrogate Escherichia coli and a drinking water isolate Stenotrophomonas maltophilia was selected for this study. Biofilm growth was examined under two distinct conditions, in flow cells with continuous medium supply vs in static microtitre plates with batch culture. E. coli biofilm was greatly stimulated (c. 2-1000 times faster) with the presence of S. maltophilia in flow cells, but surprisingly inhibited (c. 65-95% less biomass) in microtitre plates. These divergent effects were explained through various aspects including surface attachment, cellular growth, extracellular signals and autoaggregation.

CONCLUSIONS

Interactions with the same water bacterium resulted in different effects on E. coli biofilm formation when culture conditions changed from static to flow.

SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF STUDY

This study highlights the complexity of species interactions on biofilm formation and suggests that environmental conditions such as the flow regime can be taken into consideration for the management of microbial contamination in drinking water systems.

Pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic integration and modeling of acetylkitasamycin in swine for Clostridium perfringens

The aim of this study was to establish an integrated pharmacokinetic/pharmacodynamic (PK/PD) modeling approach of acetylkitasamycin for designing dosage regimens and decreasing the emergence of drug-resistant bacteria. After oral administration of acetylkitasamycin to healthy and infected pigs at the dose of 50 mg/kg body weights (bw), a rapid and sensitive LC-MS/MS method was developed and validated for determining the concentration change of the major components of acetylkitasamycin and its possible metabolite kitasamycin in the intestinal samples taken from the T-shape ileal cannula. The PK parameters, including the integrated peak concentration (C_max ), the time when the maximum concentration reached (T_max ) and the area under the concentration-time curve (AUC), were calculated by WinNonlin software. The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of 60 C. perfringens strains was determined following CLSI guideline. The in vitro and ex vivo activities of acetylkitasamycin in intestinal tract against a pathogenic strain of C. perfringens type A (CPFK122995) were established by the killing curve. Our PK data showed that the integrated C_max , T_max , and AUC were 14.57-15.81 μg/ml, 0.78-2.52 hR, and 123.84-152.32 μg hr/ml, respectively. The PD data show that MIC₅₀ and MIC₉₀ of the 60 C. perfringens isolates were 3.85 and 26.45 μg/ml, respectively. The ex vivo growth inhibition data were fitted to the inhibitory sigmoid E_max equation to provide the values of AUC/MIC to produce bacteriostasis (4.84 hr), bactericidal activity (15.46 hr), and bacterial eradication (24.99 hr). A dosage regimen of 18.63 mg/kg bw every 12 hr could be sufficient in the prevention of C. perfringens infection. The therapeutic dosage regimen for C. perfringens infection was at the dose of 51.36 mg/kg bw every 12 hr for 3 days. In summary, the dosage regimen for the treatment of C. perfringens in pigs administered with acetylkitasamycin was designed using PK/PD integrate model. The designed dose regimen could to some extent decrease the risk for emergence of macrolide resistance.

Evaluation of the ability of Acinetobacter baumannii to form biofilms on six different biomedical relevant surfaces

The human opportunistic pathogen, Acinetobacter baumannii, has the propensity to form biofilms and frequently cause medical device-related infections in hospitals. However, the physio-chemical properties of medical surfaces, in addition to bacterial surface properties, will affect colonization and biofilm development. The objective of this study was to compare the ability of A. baumannii to form biofilms on six different materials common to the hospital environment: glass, porcelain, stainless steel, rubber, polycarbonate plastic and polypropylene plastic. Biofilms were developed on material coupons in a CDC biofilm reactor. Biofilms were visualized and quantified using fluorescent staining and imaged using confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM) and by direct viable cell counts. Image analysis of CLSM stacks indicated that the mean biomass values for biofilms grown on glass, rubber, porcelain, polypropylene, stainless steel and polycarbonate were 0·04, 0·26, 0·62, 1·00, 2·08 and 2·70 μm(3) /μm(2) respectively. Polycarbonate developed statistically more biofilm mass than glass, rubber, porcelain and polypropylene. Viable cell counts data were in agreement with the CLSM-derived data. In conclusion, polycarbonate was the most accommodating surface for A. baumannii ATCC 17978 to form biofilms while glass was least favourable. Alternatives to polycarbonate for use in medical and dental devices may need to be considered.

SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY

In the hospital environment, Acinetobacter baumannii is one of the most persistent and difficult to control opportunistic pathogens. The persistence of A. baumannii is due, in part, to its ability to colonize surfaces and form biofilms. This study demonstrates that A. baumannii can form biofilms on a variety of different surfaces and develops substantial biofilms on polycarbonate - a thermoplastic material that is often used in the construction of medical devices. The findings highlight the need to further study the in vitro compatibility of medical materials that could be colonized by A. baumannii and allow it to persist in hospital settings.

Melatonin attenuates sepsis-induced cardiac dysfunction via a PI3K/Akt-dependent mechanism

Myocardial dysfunction is an important manifestation of sepsis. Previous studies suggest that melatonin is protective against sepsis. In addition, activation of the phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K)/protein kinase B (Akt) signaling pathway has been reported to be beneficial in sepsis. However, the role of PI3K/Akt signaling in the protective effect of melatonin against sepsis-induced myocardial dysfunction remains unclear. Here, LY294002, a PI3K inhibitor, was used to investigate the role of PI3K/Akt signaling in mediating the effects of melatonin on sepsis-induced myocardial injury. Cecal ligation and puncture (CLP) surgery was used to establish a rat model of sepsis. Melatonin was administrated to rats intraperitoneally (30 mg/kg). The survival rate, measures of myocardial injury and cardiac performance, serum lactate dehydrogenase level, inflammatory cytokine levels, oxidative stress level, and the extent of myocardial apoptosis were assessed. The results suggest that melatonin administration after CLP surgery improved survival rates and cardiac function, attenuated myocardial injury and apoptosis, and decreased the serum lactate dehydrogenase level. Melatonin decreased the production of the inflammatory cytokines TNF-α, IL-1β, and HMGB1, increased anti-oxidant enzyme activity, and decreased the expression of markers of oxidative damage. Levels of phosphorylated Akt (p-Akt), unphosphorylated Akt (Akt), Bcl-2, and Bax were measured by Western blot. Melatonin increased p-Akt levels, which suggests Akt pathway activation. Melatonin induced higher Bcl-2 expression and lower Bax expression, suggesting inhibition of apoptosis. All protective effects of melatonin were abolished by LY294002, the PI3K inhibitor. In conclusion, our results demonstrate that melatonin mitigates myocardial injury in sepsis via PI3K/Akt signaling activation.

Overexpression of Rcan1-1L inhibits hypoxia-induced cell apoptosis through induction of mitophagy

Mitophagy, a cellular process that selectively targets dysfunctional mitochondria for degradation, is currently a hot topic in research into the pathogenesis and treatment of many human diseases. Considering that hypoxia causes mitochondrial dysfunction, which results in cell death, we speculated that selective activation of mitophagy might promote cell survival under hypoxic conditions. In the present study, we introduced the Regulator of calcineurin 1-1L (Rcan1-1L) to initiate the mitophagy pathway and aimed to evaluate the effect of Rcan1-1L-induced mitophagy on cell survival under hypoxic conditions. Recombinant adenovirus vectors carrying Rcan1-1L were transfected into human umbilical vein endothelial cells and human adult cardiac myocytes. Using the 3-(4,5-Dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide MTT assay and Trypan blue exclusion assay, Rcan1-1L overexpression was found to markedly reverse cell growth inhibition induced by hypoxia. Additionally, Rcan1-1L overexpression inhibited cell apoptosis under hypoxic conditions, as detected by annexin V-fluorescein isothiocyanate (FITC)/propidium iodide (PI) apoptosis assay. Meanwhile, the mitochondria-mediated cell apoptotic pathway was inhibited by Rcan1-1L. In contrast, knockdown of Rcan1-1L accelerated hypoxia-induced cell apoptosis. Moreover, Rcan1-1L overexpression significantly reduced mitochondrial mass, decreased depolarized mitochondria, and downregulated ATP and reactive oxygen species production. We further delineated that the loss of mitochondrial mass was due to the activation of mitophagy induced by Rcan1-1L. Rcan1-1L overexpression activated autophagy flux and promoted translocation of the specific mitophagy receptor Parkin into mitochondria from the cytosol, whereas inhibition of autophagy flux resulted in the accumulation of Parkin-loaded mitochondria. Finally, we demonstrated that mitochondrial permeability transition pore opening was significantly increased by Rcan1-1L overexpression, which suggested that Rcan1-1L might evoke mitophagy through regulating mitochondrial permeability transition pores. Taken together, we provide evidence that Rcan1-1L overexpression induces mitophagy, which in turn contributes to cell survival under hypoxic conditions, revealing for the first time that Rcan1-1L-induced mitophagy may be used for cardioprotection.

Mini-review: Microbial coaggregation: ubiquity and implications for biofilm development

Coaggregation is the specific recognition and adherence of genetically distinct microorganisms. Because most biofilms are polymicrobial communities, there is potential for coaggregation to play an integral role in spatiotemporal biofilm development and the moderation of biofilm community composition. However, understanding of the mechanisms contributing to coaggregation and the relevance of coaggregation to biofilm ecology is at a very early stage. The purpose of this review is to highlight recent advances in the understanding of microbial coaggregation within different environments and to describe the possible ecological ramifications of such interactions. Bacteria that coaggregate with many partner species within different environments will be highlighted, including oral streptococci and oral bridging organisms such as fusobacteria, as well as the freshwater sphingomonads and acinetobacters. Irrespective of environment, it is proposed that coaggregation is essential for the orchestrated development of multi-species biofilms.

Liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry-based plasma metabonomics delineate the effect of metabolites' stability on reliability of potential biomarkers

Metabonomics is an important platform for investigating the metabolites of integrated living systems and their dynamic responses to changes caused by both endogenous and exogenous factors. A metabonomics strategy based on liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry/mass spectrometry in both positive and negative ion modes was applied to investigate the short-term and long-term stability of metabolites in plasma. Principal components analysis and ten types of identified metabolites were used to summarize the time-dependent change rules in metabolites systematically at different temperatures. The long-term stability of metabolites in plasma specimens stored at -80 °C for five years was also studied. Analysis of these subjects identified 36 metabolites with statistically significant changes in expression (p < 0.05) and found a kind of metabolite with a hundred-fold change. The stability of metabolites in blood at 4 °C for 24 h was also investigated. These studies show that a thorough understanding of the effects of metabolite stability are necessary for improving the reliability of potential biomarkers.

Processing and export of peptide pheromones and bacteriocins in Gram-negative bacteria

Cell-density-dependent gene expression is widespread in bacteria and is mediated by extracellular communication molecules. Gram-negative bacteria often use N-acyl homoserine lactones, whereas cell-cell signaling in Gram-positive bacteria is accomplished using post-translationally processed peptide pheromones. In many Gram-positive bacteria, export of these peptides requires the activity of a dedicated ATP-binding cassette (ABC) transporter, which cleaves off a typical leader peptide termed the double-glycine leader sequence concomitant with translocation across the membrane. Inspection of bacterial genome sequences has revealed the presence of similar ABC transporters, as well as genes encoding peptides with double-glycine-type leader sequences in Gram-negative bacteria, and it is suggested that the postulated transported peptides could perform a signaling function.

Use of Dual Marker Transposons to Identify New Symbiosis Genes in Rhizobium

Rhizobium etli elicits nitrogen-fixing nodules on the roots of Phaseolus vulgaris. Using a composite dual-marker mini-Tn5 transposon carrying combinations of a constitutively expressed gfp gene and a promoterless gusA gene, we identified novel genes required for an efficient symbiosis. The induction of the gusA gene was used to determine the expression level of the different target genes under conditions partly mimicking the symbiotic environment ex planta. The green fluorescence was used to localize the bacteria in infection threads or inside the plant cells. Among the identified R. etli mutants, several produced a Nod- phenotype, whereas others were Fix- or displayed a reduced acetylene reduction activity during symbiosis. Partial sequence analysis of the mutated genes allowed us to classify them as nodulation genes, nitrogen fixation genes, genes possessing various enzymatic functions previously not yet associated with symbiosis, and genes displaying no similarity to any other sequence in the database. This methodology can be used to screen large numbers of mutants in the search for novel genes important for Rhizobium-legume symbiosis, and may be adapted to study other plant-bacterium interactions.

[Environmental impact of oil pollutant on groundwater during oilfield exploitation in Daqing--a modelling analysis]

This paper analyzed the pollution sources and paths of groundwater environment in Longnan of Daqing during oilfield exploitation. Based on the technological characteristics of oilfield exploitation, a mathematical model on the migration and transformation of oil pollutants was developed, in which, the degradability and the adsorption capacity of oil pollutants were taken into account. An analytical formula of oil pollutant migration in groundwater was derived with continuous sources, and a prediction on the migration was made, which provide an important basis for the environmental impact assessment of oilfield exploitation project.

The enhanced electrogenerated chemiluminescence of Ru(bpy)3(2+) by glutathione on a glassy carbon electrode modified with some porphine compounds

It has been found that the electrochemical activity of glutathione was increased greatly at the glassy carbon electrodes modified with 5,10,15,20-tetraphenylporphine ruthenium(II) carbenyl (RuTPP), meso-tetraphenylporphine copper(II) complex (CuTTP) and hemin. It has been also found that glutathione would enhance the electrogenerated chemiluminescence (ECL) of Ru(bpy)3(2+) at a hemin glassy carbon electrode; the enhanced ECL intensity was linear with the concentration of glutathione in the range of 1 x 10(-7)-1 x 10(-4) mol l-1, based on which method for determination of glutathione has been developed. The detection limit of glutathione was 2 x 10(-8) mol l-1, and the relative standard deviation for 1 x 10(-6) mol l-1 glutathione was 2.7%. The mechanism for this ECL system has been proposed.