Repressing iron overload ameliorates central post-stroke pain via the Hdac2-Kv1.2 axis in a rat model of hemorrhagic stroke

JOURNAL/nrgr/04.03/01300535-202412000-00027/figure1/v/2024-04-08T165401Z/r/image-tiff Thalamic hemorrhage can lead to the development of central post-stroke pain. Changes in histone acetylation levels, which are regulated by histone deacetylases, affect the excitability of neurons surrounding the hemorrhagic area. However, the regulatory mechanism of histone deacetylases in central post-stroke pain remains unclear. Here, we show that iron overload leads to an increase in histone deacetylase 2 expression in damaged ventral posterolateral nucleus neurons. Inhibiting this increase restored histone H3 acetylation in the Kcna2 promoter region of the voltage-dependent potassium (Kv) channel subunit gene in a rat model of central post-stroke pain, thereby increasing Kcna2 expression and relieving central pain. However, in the absence of nerve injury, increasing histone deacetylase 2 expression decreased Kcna2 expression, decreased Kv current, increased the excitability of neurons in the ventral posterolateral nucleus area, and led to neuropathic pain symptoms. Moreover, treatment with the iron chelator deferiprone effectively reduced iron overload in the ventral posterolateral nucleus after intracerebral hemorrhage, reversed histone deacetylase 2 upregulation and Kv1.2 downregulation, and alleviated mechanical hypersensitivity in central post-stroke pain rats. These results suggest that histone deacetylase 2 upregulation and Kv1.2 downregulation, mediated by iron overload, are important factors in central post-stroke pain pathogenesis and could serve as new targets for central post-stroke pain treatment.

Dependence of evolution of Cyanobacteria superiority on temperature and nutrient use efficiency in a meso-eutrophic plateau lake

Algal blooms in lakes have been a challenging environmental issue globally under the dual influence of human activity and climate change. Considerable progress has been made in the study of phytoplankton dynamics in lakes; The long-term in situ evolution of dominant bloom-forming cyanobacteria in meso-eutrophic plateau lakes, however, lacks systematic research. Here, the monthly parameters from 12 sampling sites during the period of 1997-2022 were utilized to investigate the underlying mechanisms driving the superiority of bloom-forming cyanobacteria in Erhai, a representative meso-eutrophic plateau lake. The findings indicate that global warming will intensify the risk of cynaobacteria blooms, prolong Microcystis blooms in autumn to winter or even into the following year, and increase the superiority of filamentous Planktothrix and Cylindrospermum in summer and autumn. High RUETN (1.52 Biomass/TN, 0.95-3.04 times higher than other species) under N limitation (TN < 0.5 mg/L, TN/TP < 22.6) in the meso-eutrophic Lake Erhai facilitates the superiority of Dolichospermum. High RUETP (43.8 Biomass/TP, 2.1-10.2 times higher than others) in TP of 0.03-0.05 mg/L promotes the superiority of Planktothrix and Cylindrospermum. We provided a novel insight into the formation of Planktothrix and Cylindrospermum superiority in meso-eutrophic plateau lake with low TP (0.005-0.07 mg/L), which is mainly influenced by warming, high RUETP and their vertical migration characteristics. Therefore, we posit that although the obvious improvement of lake water quality is not directly proportional to the control efficacy of cyanobacterial blooms, the evolutionary shift in cyanobacteria population structure from Microcystis, which thrives under high nitrogen and phosphorus conditions, to filamentous cyanobacteria adapted to low nitrogen and phosphorus levels may serve as a significant indicator of water quality amelioration. Therefore, we suggest that the risk of filamentous cyanobacteria blooms in the meso-eutrophic plateau lake should be given attention, particularly in light of improving water quality and global warming, to ensure drinking water safety.

An investigation into the HIF-dependent intestinal barrier protective mechanism of Qingchang Wenzhong decoction in ulcerative colitis management

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

Ulcerative colitis (UC) is a chronic, non-specific inflammatory disease affecting the colon and rectum with an etiology that remains elusive. Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) has been widely used on long-term UC treatment to better maintain the efficacy than traditional aminosalicylic acid or glucocorticosteroids and to ease financial burden of patients. Qingchang Wenzhong Decoction (QCWZD) is a modern TCM decoction with established clinical efficacy but the mechanism of its protection on intestinal barrier function remains unclear.

AIM OF THE STUDY

Current findings highlight that the activation of the hypoxia inducible factor (HIF) pathway can facilitate the repair of intestinal epithelium barrier. This study is to investigate the protective effects of QCWZD and its HIF-targeted ingredients on hypoxia-dependent intestinal barrier.

METHODS

The mice model of UC was induced by dextran sulfate sodium (DSS). Disease activity index (DAI) and histopathology scores and colon length were used to measure the severity of colitis. The DAO activity in serum and protein expression of tight junction (TJ) proteins were detected to explore the function of intestinal barrier. The protein levels of HIF-1α and its downstream gene heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) were measured as well. HIF-targeted active ingredients in QCWZD were selected by network pharmacology and molecular docking. Protective effects of six constituents on HIF-related anti-oxidative and barrier protective pathway were evaluated by lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced HT29 and RAW264.7 cells, through the measurement of the production of ROS and mRNA level of pro-inflammatory cytokines. HIF-1α knockdown was carried out to explore the correlation of protection effects with HIF-related pathway of the active ingredients.

RESULTS

QCWZD effectively alleviated colitis induced by DSS and demonstrated a protective effect on intestinal barrier function by upregulating HIF-related pathways. Six specific ingredients in QCWZD, targeting HIF, successfully reduced the production of cellular ROS and proinflammatory cytokines in LPS-induced cells. It is noteworthy that the barrier protection provided by these molecules is intricately linked with the HIF-related pathway.

CONCLUSIONS

This study elucidates the HIF-related molecular mechanism of QCWZD in protecting the function of the epithelial barrier. Six compounds targeting the activation of the HIF-dependent pathway were demonstrated to unveil a novel therapeutic approach for managing UC.

A novel injectable thermo/photo dual-crosslinking hydrogel based on modified chitosan for fast sealing open globe injury

Open globe injuries (OGIs) demand immediate attention to prevent further complications and improve vision prognosis. Herein, we developed a thermo/photo dual-crosslinking injectable hydrogel, HBC_m_Arg, for rapidly sealing OGIs in emergency ophthalmic cases. HBC_m_Arg was prepared with arginine and methacrylic anhydride modified hydroxybutyl chitosan (HBC). HBC_m_Arg was initially in liquid form at 25 °C, enabling easy injection at the injury site. After reaching the ocular surface temperature, it underwent reversible heat-induced gelation to achieve in situ transformation. Further, HBC_m_Arg was capable of rapid photocrosslinking under UV light, forming a dual network structure to bolster mechanical strength, thereby facilitating effective OGI closure. Biocompatibility assessments, including in vitro studies with three ocular cell types and in vivo experiments on rabbit eyes, confirmed the safety profile of HBC_m_Arg. Ex vivo and in vivo burst pressure tests demonstrated the hydrogel's ability to promptly restore intraocular pressure and withstand elevated pressures, underscoring its potential for OGI stabilization. Additionally, the suitable degradation of HBC_m_Arg within ocular tissues, coupled with its stability in ex vivo assessments, presented a delicate balance between stability and biodegradability. In conclusion, HBC_m_Arg holds promise for improving emergency ophthalmic care by providing a rapid, effective, and safe way to seal OGIs in critical situations.

Aucubin alleviates doxorubicin-induced cardiotoxicity through crosstalk between NRF2 and HIPK2 mediating autophagy and apoptosis

BACKGROUND

Doxorubicin (DOX) is widely used for the treatment of a variety of cancers. However, its clinical application is limited by dose-dependent cardiotoxicity. Recent findings demonstrated that autophagy inhibition and apoptosis of cardiomyocytes induced by oxidative stress dominate the pathophysiology of DOX-induced cardiotoxicity (DIC), however, there are no potential molecules targeting on these.

PURPOSE

This study aimed to explore whether aucubin (AU) acting on inimitable crosstalk between NRF2 and HIPK2 mediated the autophagy, oxidative stress, and apoptosis in DIC, and provide a new and alternative strategy for the treatment of DIC.

METHODS AND RESULTS

We first demonstrated the protection of AU on cardiac structure and function in DIC mice manifested by increased EF and FS values, decreased serum CK-MB and LDH contents and well-aligned cardiac tissue in HE staining. Furthermore, AU alleviated DOX-induced myocardial oxidative stress, mitochondrial damage, apoptosis, and autophagy flux dysregulation in mice, as measured by decreased ROS, 8-OHdG, and TUNEL-positive cells in myocardial tissue, increased SOD and decreased MDA in serum, aligned mitochondria with reduced vacuoles, and increased autophagosomes. In vitro, AU alleviated DOX-induced oxidative stress, autophagy inhibition, and apoptosis by promoting NRF2 and HIPK2 expression. We also identified crosstalk between NRF2 and HIPK2 in DIC as documented by overexpression of NRF2 or HIPK2 reversed cellular oxidative stress, autophagy blocking, and apoptosis aggravated by HIPK2 or NRF2 siRNA, respectively. Simultaneously, AU promoted the expression and nuclear localization of NRF2 protein, which was reversed by HIPK2 siRNA, and AU raised the expression of HIPK2 protein as well, which was reversed by NRF2 siRNA. Crucially, AU did not affect the antitumor activity of DOX against MCF-7 and HepG2 cells, which made up for the shortcomings of previous anti-DIC drugs.

CONCLUSION

These collective results innovatively documented that AU regulated the unique crosstalk between NRF2 and HIPK2 to coordinate oxidative stress, autophagy, and apoptosis against DIC without compromising the anti-tumor effect of DOX in vitro.

Oxygen vacancies synergistic cobalt phosphide electron bridge modulated bismuth oxychloride/carbon nitride Z-scheme junction for efficient carbon dioxide reduction coupled with tetracycline oxidation

Although great progress has been made with respect to electron bridges, the electron mobility of the state-of-the-art electron bridges is far from satisfactory because of weak electrical conductivity. To overcome the above issue, cobalt phosphide (CoP), as a model electron bridge, was modified by superficial oxygen vacancies (OVs) and embedded into a defective bismuth oxychloride/carbon nitride (BiO1-xCl/g-C3N4) Z-scheme heterojunction to obtain atomic-level insights into the effect of surface OVs on CoP electron bridges. Compared to BiO1-xCl/g-C3N4 and bismuth oxychloride/cobalt phosphide/carbon nitride (BiOCl/CoP/g-C3N4) composites, the defective bismuth oxychloride/cobalt phosphide/carbon nitride (BiO1-xCl/CoP/g-C3N4) heterojunction exhibited remarkable photocatalytic redox performance, indicating that the surface OVs-assisted CoP electron bridge effectively boosted electrical conductivity and yielded ultrafast electron transfer rates. The theoretical and experimental results demonstrate that the surface OVs play a critical role in improving the electrical conductivity of the CoP electron bridge, thereby accelerating electron mobility. This research provides insights into interfacial OVs-modified transition metal phosphide (TMP) electron bridges and their potential application in heterojunctions for energy crisis mitigation and environmental remediation.

Improving image quality of triple-low-protocol renal artery CT angiography with deep-learning image reconstruction: a comparative study with standard-dose single-energy and dual-energy CT with adaptive statistical iterative reconstruction

AIM

To investigate the improvement in image quality of triple-low-protocol (low radiation, low contrast medium dose, low injection speed) renal artery computed tomography (CT) angiography (RACTA) using deep-learning image reconstruction (DLIR), in comparison with standard-dose single- and dual-energy CT (DECT) using adaptive statistical iterative reconstruction-Veo (ASIR-V) algorithm.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Ninety patients for RACTA were divided into different groups: standard-dose single-energy CT (S group) using ASIR-V at 60% strength (60%ASIR-V), DECT (DE group) with 60%ASIR-V including virtual monochromatic images at 40 keV (DE40 group) and 70 keV (DE70 group), and the triple-low protocol single-energy CT (L group) with DLIR at high level (DLIR-H). The effective dose (ED), contrast medium dose, injection speed, standard deviation (SD), signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) and contrast-to-noise ratio (CNR) of abdominal aorta (AA), and left/right renal artery (LRA, RRA), and subjective scores were compared among the different groups.

RESULTS

The L group significantly reduced ED by 37.6% and 31.2%, contrast medium dose by 33.9% and 30.5%, and injection speed by 30% and 30%, respectively, compared to the S and DE groups. The L group had the lowest SD values for all arteries compared to the other groups (p<0.001). The SNR of RRA and LRA in the L group, and the CNR of all arteries in the DE40 group had highest value compared to others (p<0.05). The L group had the best comprehensive score with good consistency (p<0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

The triple-low protocol RACTA with DLIR-H significantly reduces the ED, contrast medium doses, and injection speed, while providing good comprehensive image quality.

Coronary microvascular dysfunction: prevalence and aetiology in patients with suspected myocardial ischaemia

AIM

To evaluate the prevalence, aetiology, and corresponding morbidity of coronary microvascular dysfunction (CMD) in patients with suspected myocardial ischaemia.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The present study included 115 patients with suspected myocardial ischaemia who underwent stress perfusion cardiac magnetic resonance imaging. CMD was assessed visually based on the myocardial perfusion results. The CMR-derived myocardial perfusion reserve index (MPRI) and left ventricular (LV) strain parameters obtained using the post-processing software CVI42 were employed to evaluate LV myocardial perfusion and deformation. LV strain parameters included global longitudinal, circumferential, and radial strain (GLS, GCS, and GRS), global systolic/diastolic longitudinal, circumferential, and radial strain rates (SLSR, SCSR, SRSR, DLSR, DCSR, and DRSR).

RESULTS

Of the 115 patients, 12 patients were excluded and 103 patients were finally included in the study. CMD was observed in 79 % (81 patients, aged 53 ± 12 years) of patients. Regarding aetiology, 91 (88 %) patients had non-obstructive coronary artery disease (CAD), eight (8 %) had obstructive CAD, and four (4 %) had hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM). The incidence of CMD was highest (100 %) in patients with HCM, followed by those with non-obstructive CAD (up to 79 %). There were no statistical differences between CMD and non-CMD groups in GCS, GRS, GLS, SRSR, SCSR, SLSR, DCSR, DRSR and DLSR.

CONCLUSION

The incidence of CMD was higher in patients with signs and symptoms of ischaemia. CMD occurred with non-obstructive CAD, obstructive CAD, and HCM, with the highest prevalence of CMD in HCM.

Risk factors and prediction model construction for peripherally inserted central catheter-related infections

Objective

To establish a predictive modeling for the risk of bloodstream infection associated with peripherally inserted central catheter (PICC).

Methods

Patients receiving PICC treatment in Shenzhen People's Hospital from June 2020 to December 2020 were retrospectively enrolled and divided into the infection group and the non-infection group according to the presence and absence of PICC-related infections. Then, relevant clinical information of patients was collected and the predictors of PICC-related infection were screened by the least absolute shrinkage and selection operator regression (LASSO) model. Besides, multivariate logistic regression was used to analyze the influencing factors of PICC-related infection, A nomogram was constructed based on the results of the multivariate analysis. Ultimately, a receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve was plotted to analyze the application value of influencing factors to predict PICC-related infections.

Results

A total of 505 patients were included, including 75 patients with PICC-related infections (14.85%). The main pathogen was gram-positive cocci. The predictors screened by LASSO included age >60 years, catheter movement, catheter maintenance cycle, insertion technique, immune function, complications, and body temperature ≥37.2 °C before PICC placement. Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that independent risk factors of infections related to PICC included age >60 years [odds ratio (OR) = 1.722; 95% confidence interval (CI) = 1.312-3.579; P = 0.006], catheter movement (OR = 1.313; 95% CI = 1.119-3.240; P = 0.014), catheter maintenance cycle >7 days (OR = 2.199; 95% CI = 1.677-4.653; P = 0.000), direct insertion (OR = 1.036; 95% CI = 1.019-2.743; P = 0.000), poor immune function (OR = 2.322; 95% CI = 2.012-4.579; P = 0.000), complications (OR = 1.611; 95% CI = 1.133-3.454; P = 0.019), and body temperature ≥37.2 °C before PICC placement (OR = 1.713; 95% CI = 1.172-3.654; P = 0.012). Besides, the area under the ROC curve was 0.889.

Conclusion

PICC-related infections are associated with factors such as age >60 years, catheter movement, catheter maintenance cycle, insertion technique, immune function, complications, and body temperature ≥37.2 °C before PICC placement. Additionally, the LASSO model is moderately predictive for predicting the occurrence of PICC-related infections.

A novel fluorescent probe for visualizing viscosity changes in lipid droplets during chemotherapy-induced ferroptosis

BACKGROUND

Ferroptosis, as a novel form of cell death, is becoming one of the hot topics in cancer treatment research. It differs from necrosis and autophagy in that it involves the accumulation of lipid peroxides and is triggered by iron dependency. Recent studies have suggested that this mechanism may alter the viscosity or structure of lipid droplets (LDs). The relationship between LDs viscosity and ferroptosis remains an active area of research with limited reports at present. Additionally, there is a lack of effective anticancer drugs targeting the ferroptosis pathway to promote ferroptosis in tumour cells. Therefore, the development of tools to detect viscosity changes during ferroptosis and targeted therapeutic strategies is of great significance.

RESULTS

By coupling 1,3-indandione with naphthalimide, including decamethylamine as a LDs recognition group, we designed and synthesized an environmental fluorescent probe that induces intramolecular charge transfer (TICT) effects. Notably, the diffusion and transport of intracellular substances may be affected in highly viscous environments. Under such conditions, intracellular iron ions may accumulate, leading to peroxide production and cellular damage, which can trigger ferroptosis. Therefore, WD-1 achieved excellent in situ bioimaging of LDs targeting and its viscosity during ferroptosis in HeLa cells and zebrafish. Furthermore, it was observed that WD-1 effectively differentiated between malignant and normal cells during this process, highlighting its potential significance in distinguishing cellular states. In addition, we used the antitumour drug paclitaxel to study ferroptosis in cancer cells. These findings not only provide an excellent tool for the development of the ferroptosis response, but also are crucial for understanding the biological properties of LDs during the ferroptosis response.

SIGNIFICANCE AND NOVELTY

Based on a powerful tool of fluorescent probe with in vivo bioimaging, we developed WD-1 to track the impact of paclitaxel on the process of ferroptosis in living cells. Therefore, we preliminarily believe that paclitaxel may affect the occurrence of ferroptosis and control apoptosis in cancer cells. These findings not only serve as an exceptional tool for advancing our understanding of the ferroptosis response, but furthermore play a vital role in comprehending the biological characteristics of LDs in relation to ferroptosis.

A study on why foreign-born East Asians but not US-born East Asians are underrepresented in leadership attainment in the U.S

A recent study investigated the impact of culture of Asian groups on leadership attainment in the U.S. It revealed that East Asians (EAs) are less likely than South Asians (SAs) and white people (WP) to attain leadership positions, and SAs may even surpass WP in leadership attainment. The study explained that the underrepresentation of EAs in leadership positions in the U.S. (the so called bamboo ceiling) is partly because EAs communicate less assertively. Specifically, EA cultures value collectivism (e.g., humility and harmony), which are at odds with western cultures that value individualism (e.g., extraversion and assertiveness), whereas SA cultures are congruent with western cultures. However, the study did not distinguish the different impact of home culture (i.e., EA cultures) and host culture (i.e., western cultures) on US-born EAs versus foreign-born EAs. We argue that for US-born EAs (i.e., second generation EAs), host culture plays a more important role than home culture in their growth and they may not be underrepresented in leadership attainment compared to WP. The bamboo ceiling effect is mostly demonstrated among foreign-born EAs (i.e., first generation EAs) who are shaped mainly under the home culture. We support the argument by conducting analysis on one of the datasets in the original study and a new dataset from Fortune's 40-under-40 list. Our study suggests that when studying the underrepresentation of leadership attainment for EAs, US-born EAs and foreign-born EAs should not be aggregated in one category. Considering the ethnic EA group, the bamboo ceiling phenomenon may exist mainly among foreign-born EAs because US-born EAs, with a median age of 21.3, are much younger than the general American population, who may not be experienced enough to be considered for leadership positions in established large companies.

Tethered Helical Ladder-Type Aromatic Lactams

Tethered nonplanar aromatics (TNAs) make up an important class of nonplanar aromatic compounds showing unique features. However, the knowledge on the synthesis, structures, and properties of TNAs remains insufficient. In this work, a new type of TNAs, the tethered aromatic lactams, is synthesized via Pd-catalyzed consecutive intramolecular direct arylations. These molecules possess a helical ladder-type conjugated system of up to 13 fused rings. The overall yields ranged from 3.4 to 4.3%. The largest of the tethered aromatic lactams, 6L-Bu-C14, demonstrates a guest-adaptive hosting capability of TNAs for the first time. When binding fullerene guests, the cavity of 6L-Bu-C14 became more circular to better accommodate spherical fullerene molecules. The host-guest interaction is thoroughly studied by X-ray crystallography, theoretical calculations, fluorescence titration, and nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) titration experiments. 6L-Bu-C14 shows stronger binding with C70 than with C60 due to the better convex-concave π-π interaction. P and M enantiomers of all tethered aromatic lactams show distinct and persistent chiroptical properties and demonstrate the potential of chiral TNAs as circularly polarized luminescence (CPL) emitters.

Dietary isoflavone intake is inversely associated with remnant cholesterol in US adults: A cross-sectional study

BACKGROUND

Several studies have shown that dietary isoflavones are negatively correlated with total cholesterol and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol. However, few studies have investigated the link between dietary isoflavones and remnant cholesterol (RC).

OBJECTIVES

We used the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) database to explore the association between dietary isoflavone intake and RC.

METHODS

A cross-sectional study was conducted with 4731 participants aged ≥ 20 years from the 2007-2008, 2009-2010, and 2017-2018 NHANES databases. We adopted univariate and multiple linear regression analysis and restricted cubic spline (RCS) to assess the relationship between dietary isoflavone intake and RC. Moreover, we conducted stratified and interaction analyses to ensure the stability of the results and identify specific populations.

RESULTS

The weighted multifactor linear regression model showed a negative correlation between dietary isoflavone intake and remnant cholesterol (Model 2, β = -0.049, 95% CI: (-0.096, -0.002), P = 0.040). The RCS analysis indicated that there was an L-shaped negative correlation between dietary isoflavone intake and RC (P-value for non-linearity was 0.0464). Stratified analyses showed the inverse relationship between dietary isoflavone intake and RC persisted in most subgroups and there was no interaction except for the recreational activity group.

CONCLUSIONS

Our study found a non-linear and negative association between dietary isoflavone intake and RC in US adults, so we hypothesized that consuming an isoflavone-rich diet may help reduce blood RC and further reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease.

Fast Label-Free Metabolic Profile Recognition Identifies Phenylketonuria and Subtypes

Phenylketonuria (PKU) is the most common inherited metabolic disease in humans. Clinical screening of newborn heel blood samples for PKU is costly and time-consuming because it requires multiple procedures, like isotope labeling and derivatization, and PKU subtype identification requires an additional urine sample. Delayed diagnosis of PKU, or subtype identification can result in mental disability. Here, plasmonic silver nanoshells are used for laser desorption/ionization mass spectrometry (MS) detection of PKU with label-free assay by recognizing metabolic profile in dried blood spot (DBS) samples. A total of 1100 subjects are recruited and each DBS sample can be processed in seconds. This platform achieves PKU screening with a sensitivity of 0.985 and specificity of 0.995, which is comparable to existing clinical liquid chromatography MS (LC-MS) methods. This method can process 360 samples per hour, compared with the LC-MS method which processes only 30 samples per hour. Moreover, this assay enables precise identification of PKU subtypes without the need for a urine sample. It is demonstrated that this platform enables high-performance and fast, low-cost PKU screening and subtype identification. This approach might be suitable for the detection of other clinically relevant biomarkers in blood or other clinical samples.

Identification and validation of serum metabolite biomarkers for endometrial cancer diagnosis

Endometrial cancer (EC) stands as the most prevalent gynecological tumor in women worldwide. Notably, differentiation diagnosis of abnormity detected by ultrasound findings (e.g., thickened endometrium or mass in the uterine cavity) is essential and remains challenging in clinical practice. Herein, we identified a metabolic biomarker panel for differentiation diagnosis of EC using machine learning of high-performance serum metabolic fingerprints (SMFs) and validated the biological function. We first recorded the high-performance SMFs of 191 EC and 204 Non-EC subjects via particle-enhanced laser desorption/ionization mass spectrometry (PELDI-MS). Then, we achieved an area-under-the-curve (AUC) of 0.957-0.968 for EC diagnosis through machine learning of high-performance SMFs, outperforming the clinical biomarker of cancer antigen 125 (CA-125, AUC of 0.610-0.684, p < 0.05). Finally, we identified a metabolic biomarker panel of glutamine, glucose, and cholesterol linoleate with an AUC of 0.901-0.902 and validated the biological function in vitro. Therefore, our work would facilitate the development of novel diagnostic biomarkers for EC in clinics.

Multi-target mechanism of misoprostol in pregnancy termination based on network pharmacology and molecular docking

Misoprostol is a prostaglandin analogue that contracts the uterus, prompting the expulsion of the embryo. No systematic evaluation of the mechanisms of misoprostol has previously been performed. In this study, known targets of misoprostol were obtained from the DrugBank database; potential targets of misoprostol were predicted using data from the SwissTargetPrediction and PharmMapper databases; and the main targets of pregnancy termination were obtained from the GeneCards database. The protein-protein interaction (PPI) network of the shared genes between misoprostol and pregnancy termination was constructed using data from the STRING database, and the "misoprostol-pregnancy termination-pathway" network was constructed and potential targets was verified through molecular docking. We analyzed 37 shared target genes and obtained a network diagram of 134 potential targets, which the core therapeutic targets were HSP90AA1, EGFR, and MAPK1. GO functional and KEGG pathway enrichment analyses showed that misoprostol can modulate the VEGF signaling pathway, calcium signaling pathway, and NF-κB signaling pathway in pregnancy termination and mainly interferes with protein phosphorylation, cell localization, and protein hydrolysis regulation processes. This research illustrates the mechanism underlying the pharmacological effect of misoprostol, namely pregnancy termination. However, further experimental verification is warranted for optimal use of misoprostol during clinical practice.

A novel electrochemical sensor based on dual-functional MMIP-CuMOFs for both target recognition and signal reporting and its application for sensing bisphenol A in milk

In this work, novel magnetic molecularly imprinted CuMOFs (MMIP-CuMOFs) were synthesized and applied to construct an electrochemical bisphenol A sensor. The constructed sensor used an electrode modified with reduced graphene oxide (RGO/GCE) as the sensing platform to improve its stability and sensitivity. The Fe3O4 nanoparticles in magnetic MOFs simplified the preparation process. Moreover, the combination of CuMOFs and molecular imprinting methodology was beneficial for improving the detection specificity, and the electroactive copper hexacyanoferrate generated by the reaction of Cu2+ in CuMOFs with potassium ferricyanide was used as the signal probe. The sensor showed a good linear relationship in the range of 0.5 to 500 nmol/L, with a low detection limit of 0.18 nmol/L. In addition, the sensor had good selectivity, repeatability (RSD = 2.59 %), and a good recovery rate for actual milk sample detection (99.8-102.49 %). This technique holds great promise for the detection of detrimental substances in food.

Clinical use of macitentan in the treatment of connective tissue disease-associated pulmonary arterial hypertension

Background

Connective tissue disease (CTD) is the second most common cause of the pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH). Currently, clinical data concerning CTD-PAH is scarce. Our study aimed to assess the efficacy and safety of macitentan in the treatment of CTD-PAH.

Methods

In this retrospective study, patients diagnosed with CTD-PAH at The First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University from April 2020 to November 2021 were included. Of the patients, 9 were switched to macitentan monotherapy whereas 23 received initial combination therapy. The mean follow-up time was 24 weeks. Six-minute walking distance (6MWD), World Health Organization functional class (WHO-FC), serum N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP), and echocardiography parameters before and after medication were assessed. Adverse reactions were also recorded and compared.

Results

After 24 weeks of treatment, 6MWD, NT-proBNP, systolic pulmonary artery pressure (sPAP) estimated by ultrasound, tricuspid regurgitation pressure gradient (TRPG) and tricuspid annular plane systolic excursion (TAPSE) in the macitentan monotherapy group revealed significant differences (Z=-2.67, Z=-2.67, t=6.20, t=5.60, t=-3.04, P<0.05). There were no statistically significant differences in right ventricular diameter (RVD), right atrial diameter (RAD), ascending aortic root inner diameter (AAO) and left ventricular end-diastolic diameter (LVEDd) (P>0.05). After 24 weeks of medication, the number of patients with WHO-FC grade III/IV symptoms decreased from 6 to 3, 1 to 0 respectively (P<0.05), and that of patients with WHO-FC grade I/II symptoms increased from 0 to 2, 2 to 4 respectively(P<0.05). After 24 weeks of treatment, 6MWD, NT-proBNP, LVEDd, sPAP and TRPG in the macitentan combined with sildenafil treatment group revealed statistically significant differences (Z=-4.11, Z=-3.74, Z=-3.83, t=6.88, t=6.54, P<0.001). Significant differences in RVD, RAD, and TAPSE were found (t=3.46, t=3.69, t=-3.12, P<0.05). There were no statistically significant variances in AAO between the groups (P>0.05). The number of patients with WHO-FC grade III/IV symptoms decreased from 16 to 8, 5 to 0 respectively (P<0.05), and that of patients with WHO-FC grade I/II symptoms increased from 0 to 1, 2 to 14 respectively (P<0.001). There were no statistically significant differences before and after treatment in 6MWD, NT-proBNP, RVD, RAD, AAO, LVEDd, sPAP, TRPG and TAPSE between the two groups (P>0.05). There were no statistically significant differences in alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), serum creatinine (Scr) and hemoglobin (Hb) between 0 and 24 weeks (P>0.05).

Conclusions

Exercise tolerance and cardiac function in patients with CTD-PAH were significantly improved after treatment with macitentan, which was well tolerated. Therefore, macitentan may be an effective and safe targeted drug for CTD-PAH.

Achieving Strong Circularly Polarized Luminescence through Cascade Cationic Insertion in Lead-free Hybrid Metal Halides

Generating circularly polarized luminescence (CPL) with simultaneous high photoluminescence quantum yield (PLQY) and dissymmetry factor (glum) is difficult due to usually unmatched electric transition dipole moment (μ) and magnetic transition dipole moment (m) of materials. Herein we tackle this issue by playing a "cascade cationic insertion" trick to achieve strong CPL (with PLQY of ~100 %) in lead-free metal halides with high glum values reaching -2.3×10-2 without using any chiral inducers. Achiral solvents of hydrochloric acid (HCl) and N, N-dimethylformamide (DMF) infiltrate the crystal lattice via asymmetric hydrogen bonding, distorting the perovskite structure to induce the "intrinsic" chirality. Surprisingly, additional insertion of Cs+ cation to substitute partial (CH3)2NH2 + transforms the chiral space group to achiral but the crystal maintains chiroptical activity. Further doping of Sb3+ stimulates strong photoluminescence as a result of self-trapped excitons (STEs) formation without disturbing the crystal framework. The chiral perovskites of indium-antimony chlorides embedded on LEDs chips demonstrate promising potential as CPL emitters. Our work presents rare cases of chiroptical activity of highly luminescent perovskites from only achiral building blocks via spontaneous resolution as a result of symmetry breaking.

Enhanced microwave absorption performance of Fe3Al flakes by optimizing the carbon nanotube coatings

Fe3Al is a good magnetic loss absorber for microwave absorption. However, due to the relatively high density and poor impedance matching ratio, the potential of Fe3Al cannot be fully released. Herein, a dielectric loss absorber of carbon nanotubes (CNTs) is coupled with Fe3Al to form Fe3Al/CNTs composite absorbers. CNTs are randomly tangled and coated on the surface of the Fe3Al flakes, forming a connecting conductive network. By carefully tuning the content of CNTs, the optimized Fe3Al/CNTs composite absorber with 1.5% of CNTs can combine both magnetic loss and dielectric loss mechanisms, thus achieving an impedance matching ratio close to 1 while keeping strong attenuation for enhanced microwave absorption. As a result, an effective absorption bandwidth (RL ≤ -10 dB) of 4.73 GHz at a thickness of 2 mm is achieved.

Identify CTBP1-DT as an immunological biomarker that promotes lipid synthesis and apoptosis resistance in KIRC

Recently, mounting evidence has highlighted the essential function of the C-terminal binding protein-1 divergent transcript (CTBP1-DT) in malignancies. However, its role in kidney renal clear cell carcinoma (KIRC) remains largely unknown. Our study aimed to identify the potential function of CTBP1-DT in KIRC. RT-qPCR, Kaplan-Meier survival analysis, Cox regression analysis, and nomogram analysis were utilized to determine the expression and effects of CTBP1-DT on survival. The subcellular localization of CTBP1-DT was determined using RNA fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH). To investigate the functions of CTBP1-DT in regulating KIRC cell proliferation, migration, invasion, lipid synthesis, and apoptosis, we conducted CCK8, EdU, Transwell, and Oil Red O staining and cell apoptosis staining assays. The relationships between CTBP1-DT and the tumor microenvironment were investigated with multiple bioinformatics analysis algorithms and databases, including CYBERSORT, TIMER2, Spearman correlation test, tumor mutation burden (TMB), microsatellite instability (MSI), and immunophenoscore (IPS). According to our results, CTBP1-DT is a lncRNA located in the nucleus that is significantly upregulated in KIRC and is correlated with better clinical outcomes. Downregulating CTBP1-DT inhibited cell viability, migration, invasion, and lipid synthesis but triggered cell apoptosis. Additionally, we explored the potential effect of CTBP1-DT in regulating immune cell infiltration in KIRC and other malignancies. Furthermore, CTBP1-DT could be used to predict the effectiveness of targeted drugs and immune checkpoint inhibitors. In conclusion, we identified CTBP1-DT as a potential immunological biomarker and discovered the potential role of CTBP1-DT in regulating lipid synthesis and apoptosis resistance.

Newborn Screening: Current Practice and Our Journey over the Last 60 Years

BACKGROUND

Inborn errors of metabolism comprise a set of more than 2000 known disorders which can result in significant morbidity and may be rapidly fatal. Diagnosing these disorders at birth and treating immediately, however, may often result in a normal to near-normal life for the affected infant. Thus, newborn screening (NBS) has saved or improved the lives of countless individuals since its inception in the 1960s.

CONTENT

This review covers NBS, from its early beginnings up to the current day practice. We follow the evolution of NBS, as well as describe the need and how disorders are added to NBS programs, the testing and how its performance is monitored, and the follow-up to the testing. We also briefly touch on NBS outside the United States.

SUMMARY

Newborn screening in the United States is a major public health success story and it continues to grow and evolve to cover more disorders and utilize new technological advances.

Structural Decoration of Porphyrin/Phthalocyanine Photovoltaic Materials

Porphyrin/phthalocyanine compounds with fascinating molecular structures have attracted widespread attention in the field of solar cells in recent years. In this review, we focus on the pivotal role of porphyrin and phthalocyanine compounds in enhancing the efficiency of solar cells. The review seamlessly integrates the intricate molecular structures of porphyrins and phthalocyanines with their proficiency in absorbing visible light and facilitating electron transfer, key processes in converting sunlight into electricity. By delving into the nuances of intramolecular regulation, aggregated states, and surface/interface structure manipulation, it elucidates how various levels of molecular modifications enhance solar cell efficiency through improved charge transfer, stability, and overall performance. This comprehensive exploration provides a detailed understanding of the complex relationship between molecular design and solar cell performance, discussing current advancements and potential future applications of these molecules in solar energy technology.

Comparison of Sampson and extended Martin/Hopkins methods of low-density lipoprotein cholesterol calculations with direct measurement in pediatric patients with hypertriglyceridemia

OBJECTIVE

The Friedewald equation is the commonly used method of low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) calculation, requiring reflex to direct LDL-C measurement when triglycerides (TG) ≥ 400 mg/dL. Recently formulated Sampson and extended Martin/Hopkins methods have been validated with TG up to 800 mg/dL and thus have the potential to replace direct LDL-C measurement. Given the growing prevalence of childhood dyslipidemia, the objective of this study was to compare Sampson and extended Martin/Hopkins methods of LDL-C calculation with the direct measurement in a pediatric cohort with 400 ≤ TG ≤ 799 mg/dL.

METHODS

This study retrieved standard lipid panels and corresponding direct LDL-C measurements of 131 patients with 400 ≤ TG ≤ 799 mg/dL from a pediatric population. Following the application of Sampson and extended Martin/Hopkins calculations, calculated values were compared with direct LDL-C measurements using ordinary least squares linear regression analysis and bias plotting.

RESULTS

Both Sampson and extended Martin/Hopkins LDL-C calculations exhibited a strong correlation with the direct measurements (Pearson r = 0.89) in patients with 400 ≤ TG ≤ 800 mg/dL. Average percentages of bias of 45% and 21% were found between the direct LDL-C measurements and Sampson or extended Martin/Hopkins calculations, respectively.

CONCLUSION

Both Sampson and extended Martin/Hopkins calculations are applicable as clinical alternatives of direct LDL-C measurement in pediatric patients given 400 ≤ TG ≤ 799 mg/dL.

Highly Sensitive and Rapid Screening Technique for the Detection of Organophosphate Pesticides and Copper Compounds Using Bifunctional Recombinant TrxA-PvCarE1

Enabling the detection of organophosphate pesticide (OP) residues through enzyme inhibition-based technology is crucial for ensuring food safety and human health. However, the use of acetylcholinesterase, the primary target enzyme for OPs, isolated from animals in practical production poses challenges in terms of sensitivity and batch stability. To address this issue, we identified a highly sensitive and reproducible biorecognition element, TrxA-PvCarE1, derived from red kidney beans and successfully overexpressed it in Escherichia coli. The resulting recombinant TrxA-PvCarE1 exhibited remarkable sensitivity toward 10 OPs, surpassing that of commercial acetylcholinesterase. Additionally, this approach demonstrated the capability to simultaneously detect copper compounds with high sensitivity, expanding the range of pesticides detectable using the traditional enzyme inhibition method. Spiking recovery tests conducted on cowpea and carrot samples verified the suitability of the TrxA-PvCarE1-based technique for real-life sample analysis. In summary, this study highlights a promising comprehensive candidate for the rapid detection of pesticide residues.

Will large-scale forestation lead to a soil water deficit crisis in China's drylands?

Trading water for carbon has cautioned large-scale afforestation in global drylands. However, model simulations suggested that the consumption of soil water could be partially offset by increasing precipitation due to vegetation feedback. A systematic meta-analysis of long-term and large-scale field observations is urgently required to address the abovementioned limitations, and the implementation of large-scale afforestation since 1978 in northern China provides an ideal example. This study collected data comprising 1226 observations from 98 sites in northern China to assess the variation in soil water content (SWC) with stand age after afforestation and discuss the effects of tree species, precipitation and conversions of land use types on SWC. We found that the SWC has been decreased by coniferous forest and broadleaf forest at rates of 0.6 and 3.2 mm decade-1, respectively, since 1978. There is a significant declining trend of SWC with the stand age of plantations, and the optimum growth stage for plantation forest is 0-20 a in northern China. However, we found increases in SWC for the conversion from grassland to forest and in the low-precipitation region, both are corresponding to the increased SWC in coniferous forest. Our study implies that afforestation might lead to a soil water deficit crisis in northern China in the long term at the regional scale but depends on prior land use types, tree taxa and the mean annual precipitation regime, which sheds light on decision-making regarding ecological restoration policies and water resource management in drylands.

Superhydrophilic Dendritic FeP/Cu3P Electrocatalyst for Urea Splitting via the Intramolecular Mechanism

The electrocatalytic overall urea splitting can achieve the dual goals of urea treatment and hydrogen energy acquisition. Herein, we exploited the principle of precipitation dissolution equilibrium to obtain bimetallic phosphide FeP/Cu3P/CF for the simultaneous oxidation of urea and reduction of water and comprehensively reveal the inherent molecular thermodynamic mechanisms on the surface of catalysts. The excellent electrochemical performance can be derived from the super water affinity and synergistic effect. Especially, the theoretical calculation unveils that the synergistic effect between FeP and Cu3P can lower the activation energy required for urea electrooxidation, thereby promoting urea splitting. In situ differential electrochemical mass spectrometry (in situ DEMS) measurements further demonstrated that urea oxidation on FeP/Cu3P/CF proceeded according to the intramolecular mechanism. This work has laid the foundation for constructing highly efficient superhydrophilic bifunctional electrocatalysts.

Spectral-Spatial Feature Fusion for Hyperspectral Anomaly Detection

Hyperspectral anomaly detection is used to recognize unusual patterns or anomalies in hyperspectral data. Currently, many spectral-spatial detection methods have been proposed with a cascaded manner; however, they often neglect the complementary characteristics between the spectral and spatial dimensions, which easily leads to yield high false alarm rate. To alleviate this issue, a spectral-spatial information fusion (SSIF) method is designed for hyperspectral anomaly detection. First, an isolation forest is exploited to obtain spectral anomaly map, in which the object-level feature is constructed with an entropy rate segmentation algorithm. Then, a local spatial saliency detection scheme is proposed to produce the spatial anomaly result. Finally, the spectral and spatial anomaly scores are integrated together followed by a domain transform recursive filtering to generate the final detection result. Experiments on five hyperspectral datasets covering ocean and airport scenes prove that the proposed SSIF produces superior detection results over other state-of-the-art detection techniques.

A review of existing methods for predicting leachate production from municipal solid waste landfills

Landfilling is one of the predominant methods of municipal solid waste (MSW) disposal worldwide, while the generation of leachate, a kind of toxic wastewater, is among the primary factors behind landfill instability and environmental contamination problems. Precise prediction of leachate production is crucial to landfill safety evaluation and design. This paper presents a comprehensive review of methods for predicting leachate production from MSW landfills. Firstly, compositional characteristics of MSW and leachate generation mechanism are analysed. Factors influencing leachate production are summarised based on the generation mechanism, including the components of MSW, climatic conditions, landfill structure, and environmental factors. Then, we classified the existing methods for predicting leachate production into four categories: water balance formula, water balance model, empirical formula, and artificial intelligence model methods. Advantages, disadvantages, and applicability of different leachate production prediction methods are compared and analysed. Furthermore, limitations in the existing leachate production prediction methods for MSW landfills and scope for future research are discussed.

Protective effect of Tetrandrine on optic nerve by inhibiting glial activation through NF-κB pathway

Introduction

This study aimed to explore the effect and molecular mechanism of Tetrandrine (Tet) onlipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induceduveitis andoptic nerve injury in vivo and in vitro.

Methods

Uveitis was induced by LPS injected into the hindlimb foot pad of Wistar rats and was intervened by retroeyeball injection of Tet (100 nM, 1 μM or 10 μM).The anterior segment inflammation was observed by slit lamp. Tunelassay was used to detect the survival state of ganglion cells and nuclear layers of inner and outer. The detection of characteristic markers in different activation states of glial cells were performed by qualitative and quantitative test of immunofluorescence and western blotting. Also, western blotting was used to detect the expression of inflammatory factors in retina and the activation of nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB) signal pathway. Meanwhile, routine blood test and function of liver and renal were performed.

Results

The ciliary hyperemia was obvious, and the iris vessels were dilated and tortuous in rats with LPS-induced uveitis. Tet-pretreated obviously elieved these symptoms. In addition, the dilation and hyperemia in Tet group were alleviated compared with LPS group, and the inflammatory scores in Tetgroup were significantly lower than those of LPS group. TUNEL Staining showed that the number ofretinal ganglion cell (RGCs) in Tetgroup was slightly less than that in normal group, but significantly more than that in LPS group, and the cells arranged orderly. Besides, the number of apoptotic cells was significantly less than that in LPS group. Tet reduced LPS-activated gliocyte in a dose-dependent manner. Tumour necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α), interleukin (IL)-1β, interferon gamma (γ-IFN) and IL-2 in retina were increased by LPS but decreased significantly viaTet-pretreatment. Moreover, LPS activate NF-κB signal pathway, while Tet efficiently inhibited this effect.Furthermore, injection of Tet did not damage theroutineblood, liver and kidney.

Conclusions

Retrobulbar injection of Tet significantly alleviatedLPS-induced uveitisand optic nerve injuryof rats by activating gliocyte and NF-κB signaling pathway.

ANXA3-rich exosomes derived from tumor-associated macrophages regulate ferroptosis and lymphatic metastasis of laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma

Tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs) induce immunosuppression in laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma (LSCC). The interaction between LSCC cells and TAMs affects the progression of laryngeal cancer through exosomes, but the underlying molecular mechanism remains unclear. Proteomics analysis of TAMs isolated from human laryngeal tumor tissues obtained from patients with confirmed lymphatic metastasis revealed an upregulation of annexin A3 (ANXA3). In TAMs, ANXA3 promoted macrophages to polarize to an M2-like phenotype by activating the AKT-GSK3β-β-catenin pathway. In addition, ANXA3-rich exosomes derived from TAMs inhibited ferroptosis in laryngeal cancer cells through an ATF2-CHAC1 axis, and this process was associated with lymphatic metastasis. Mechanistically, ANXA3 in exosomes inhibited the ubiquitination of ATF2, while ATF2 acted as a transcription factor to regulate the expression of CHAC1, thus inhibiting ferroptosis in LSCC cells. These data indicate that abnormal ANXA3 expression can drive TAM reprogramming and promote an immunosuppressive microenvironment in LSCC. Meanwhile, ANXA3-rich exosomes inhibit ferroptosis of LSCC cells and promote lymphatic metastasis, thus promoting tumor progression.

An immunogenic cell death-related gene expression signature in predicting prognosis of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma

BACKGROUND

Immunogenic cell death (ICD) has been identified as regulated cell death, which is sufficient to activate the adaptive immune response. This study aimed to research ICD-related genes and create a gene model to predict pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PAAD) patients' prognosis.

METHODS

The RNA sequencing and clinical data were downloaded from the TGCA and GEO databases. The PAAD samples were classified into two subtypes based on the expression levels of ICD-related genes using consensus clustering. Based on the differentially expressed genes (DEGs), a prognostic scoring model was constructed using LASSO regression and Cox regression, and the scoring model was used to predict the prognosis of PAAD patients. Moreover, colony formation assay was performed to confirm the prognostic value of those genes.

RESULTS

We identified two ICD cluster by consensus clustering, and found that the the ICD-high group was closely associated with immune-hot phenotype, favorable clinical outcomes. We established an ICD-related prognostic model which can predict the prognosis of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma. Moreover, depletion of NT5E, ATG5, FOXP3, and IFNG inhibited the colony formation ability of pancreatic cancer cell.

CONCLUSION

We identified a novel classification for PAAD based on the expression of ICD-related genes, which may provide a potential strategy for therapeutics against PAAD.

Aggresome formation promotes ASK1/JNK signaling activation and stemness maintenance in ovarian cancer

Aggresomes are the product of misfolded protein aggregation, and the presence of aggresomes has been correlated with poor prognosis in cancer patients. However, the exact role of aggresomes in tumorigenesis and cancer progression remains largely unknown. Herein, the multiomics screening reveal that OTUD1 protein plays an important role in retaining ovarian cancer stem cell (OCSC) properties. Mechanistically, the elevated OTUD1 protein levels lead to the formation of OTUD1-based cytoplasmic aggresomes, which is mediated by a short peptide located in the intrinsically disordered OTUD1 N-terminal region. Furthermore, OTUD1-based aggresomes recruit ASK1 via protein-protein interactions, which in turn stabilize ASK1 in a deubiquitinase-independent manner and activate the downstream JNK signaling pathway for OCSC maintenance. Notably, the disruption of OTUD1-based aggresomes or treatment with ASK1/JNK inhibitors, including ibrutinib, an FDA-approved drug that was recently identified as an MKK7 inhibitor, effectively reduced OCSC stemness (OSCS) of OTUD1high ovarian cancer cells. In summary, our work suggests that aggresome formation in tumor cells could function as a signaling hub and that aggresome-based therapy has translational potential for patients with OTUD1high ovarian cancer.

Ketogenic diet-produced β-hydroxybutyric acid accumulates brain GABA and increases GABA/glutamate ratio to inhibit epilepsy

Ketogenic diet (KD) alleviates refractory epilepsy and reduces seizures in children. However, the metabolic/cell biologic mechanisms by which the KD exerts its antiepileptic efficacy remain elusive. Herein, we report that KD-produced β-hydroxybutyric acid (BHB) augments brain gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) and the GABA/glutamate ratio to inhibit epilepsy. The KD ameliorated pentetrazol-induced epilepsy in mice. Mechanistically, KD-produced BHB, but not other ketone bodies, inhibited HDAC1/HDAC2, increased H3K27 acetylation, and transcriptionally upregulated SIRT4 and glutamate decarboxylase 1 (GAD1). BHB-induced SIRT4 de-carbamylated and inactivated glutamate dehydrogenase to preserve glutamate for GABA synthesis, and GAD1 upregulation increased mouse brain GABA/glutamate ratio to inhibit neuron excitation. BHB administration in mice inhibited epilepsy induced by pentetrazol. BHB-mediated relief of epilepsy required high GABA level and GABA/glutamate ratio. These results identified BHB as the major antiepileptic metabolite of the KD and suggested that BHB may serve as an alternative and less toxic antiepileptic agent than KD.

Fat accumulation in striped hamsters (Cricetulus barabensis) reflects the temperature of prior cold acclimation

BACKGROUND

Proper adjustments of metabolic thermogenesis play an important role in thermoregulation in endotherm to cope with cold and/or warm ambient temperatures, however its roles in energy balance and fat accumulation remain uncertain. Our study aimed to investigate the effect of previous cold exposure (10 and 0 °C) on the energy budgets and fat accumulation in the striped hamsters (Cricetulus barabensis) in response to warm acclimation. The body mass, energy intake, resting metabolic rate (RMR) and nonshivering thermogenesis (NST), serum thyroid hormone levels (THs: T3 and T4), and the activity of brown adipose tissue (BAT), indicated by cytochrome c oxidase (COX) activity and uncoupling protein 1 (ucp1) expression, were measured following exposure to the cold (10 °C and 0 °C) and transition to the warm temperature (30 °C).

RESULTS

The hamsters at 10 °C and 0 °C showed significant increases in energy intake, RMR and NST, and a considerable reduction in body fat than their counterparts kept at 21 °C. After being transferred from cold to warm temperature, the hamsters consumed less food, and decreased RMR and NST, but they significantly increased body fat content. Interestingly, the hamsters that were previously exposed to the colder temperature showed significantly more fat accumulation after transition to the warm. Serum T3 levels, BAT COX activity and ucp1 mRNA expression were significantly increased following cold exposure, and were considerably decreased after transition to the warm. Furthermore, body fat content was negatively correlated with serum T3 levels, BAT COX activity and UCP1 expression.

CONCLUSION

The data suggest that the positive energy balance resulting from the decreased RMR and NST in BAT under the transition from the cold to the warm plays important roles in inducing fat accumulation. The extent of fat accumulation in the warm appears to reflect the temperature of the previous cold acclimation.

Thermoelectric nanowires for dense 3D printed architectures

The large-scale employment of 3D printed inorganic thermoelectrics is primarily constrained because of their lower efficiencies as compared to those fabricated from conventional methods such as spark plasma sintering and hot-pressing. This originates from the significant challenge in the densification of printed parts, particularly through the direct-ink-writing fabrication process, which demands a high binder content for printability. To achieve high-density printed thermoelectrics, the ink formulation process often involves the addition of substantial filler content and sintering aids, coupled with prolonged sintering periods. Here, we propose a strategy to resolve the low densification issue of 3D printed thermoelectrics through a binder-less and sintering aid-free thermoelectric nanowire ink system that can achieve dense thermoelectric structures (up to 82.5% theoretical density). The increase in density and corresponding enhancement of thermoelectric material efficiency are attained in a more tunable and controlled manner without compromising the material composition. A high filler-derived density index (FDI) of 2.51 is also achieved, implying the potential to obtain high-density parts with minimal filler content, thus unlocking a cascade of profound impacts. Crucially, this advancement enables the possibilities of anisotropic engineering in thermoelectric materials, thereby shattering the limitations that have hindered the widespread adoption of 3D printed inorganic thermoelectrics.

Artificial intelligence-assisted management of retinal detachment from ultra-widefield fundus images based on weakly-supervised approach

Background

Retinal detachment (RD) is a common sight-threatening condition in the emergency department. Early postural intervention based on detachment regions can improve visual prognosis.

Methods

We developed a weakly supervised model with 24,208 ultra-widefield fundus images to localize and coarsely outline the anatomical RD regions. The customized preoperative postural guidance was generated for patients accordingly. The localization performance was then compared with the baseline model and an ophthalmologist according to the reference standard established by the retina experts.

Results

In the 48-partition lesion detection, our proposed model reached an 86.42% (95% confidence interval (CI): 85.81-87.01%) precision and an 83.27% (95%CI: 82.62-83.90%) recall with an average precision (PA) of 0.9132. In contrast, the baseline model achieved a 92.67% (95%CI: 92.11-93.19%) precision and limited recall of 68.07% (95%CI: 67.25-68.88%). Our holistic lesion localization performance was comparable to the ophthalmologist's 89.16% (95%CI: 88.75-89.55%) precision and 83.38% (95%CI: 82.91-83.84%) recall. As to the performance of four-zone anatomical localization, compared with the ground truth, the un-weighted Cohen's κ coefficients were 0.710(95%CI: 0.659-0.761) and 0.753(95%CI: 0.702-0.804) for the weakly-supervised model and the general ophthalmologist, respectively.

Conclusion

The proposed weakly-supervised deep learning model showed outstanding performance comparable to that of the general ophthalmologist in localizing and outlining the RD regions. Hopefully, it would greatly facilitate managing RD patients, especially for medical referral and patient education.

[Quantitative analysis of risk assessment indicators for re-introduction of imported malaria in China]

OBJECTIVE

To quantitatively analyze the risk indicators of re-introduction of imported malaria in China and their weighting coefficients, so as to investigate the difference in the contribution of risk indicators included in the current risk assessment framework for re-introduction of imported malaria in China to the risk assessment of re-introduction of imported malaria.

METHODS

Publications pertaining to the risk assessment framework for re-introduction of imported malaria in China that reported the risk indicators and their weighting coefficients were retrieved in PubMed, Web of Science, CNKI, Wanfang Data, and VIP with terms of "malaria", "re-introduction/re-transmission/re-establishment", "risk assessment/risk evaluation/risk prediction" from the inception of the database through 3 August 2023, and literature search was performed in Google Scholar to ensure the comprehensiveness of the retrieval. Basic characteristics of included studies were extracted using pre-designed information extraction forms by two investigators, and data pertaining to risk indicators of re-introduction of imported malaria were cross-checked by these two investigators. The risk indicators included in the risk assessment framework for re-introduction of imported malaria in China and their weighting coefficients were visualized with the Nightingale's rose diagrams using the software R 4.2.1, and the importance of risk indictors was evaluated with the frequency of risk indicators included in the risk assessment framework and the ranking of weighting coefficients of risk indicators. In addition, the capability of risk indicators screened by different weighting methods was compared by calculating the ratio of the maximum to the minimum of the weighting coefficients of the risk indicators screened by different weighting methods.

RESULTS

A total of 2 138 publications were retrieved, and following removal of duplications and screening, a total of 8 publications were included in the final analysis. In these 8 studies, 8 risk assessment frameworks for re-introduction of imported malaria in China and 52 risk indicators of re-introduction of imported malaria were reported, in which number of imported malaria cases (n = 8) and species of malaria vectors were more frequently included in the risk assessment frameworks (n = 8), followed by species of imported malaria parasites (n = 6) and population density of local malaria vectors (n = 6), and species of local malaria vectors (n = 6), number of imported malaria cases (n = 5) and species of imported malaria parasites had the three highest weighting coefficients (n = 4). The weighting methods included expert scoring method, combination of expert scoring method and analytic hierarchy process, and combination of expert scoring method and entropy weight method in these 8 studies, and the ratios of the maximum to the minimum of the weighting coefficients of the risk indicators screened by the expert scoring method were 1.143 to 2.241, while the ratios of the maximum to the minimum of the weighting coefficients of the risk indicators screened by combination of the expert scoring method and analytic hierarchy process were 34.970 to 162.000.

CONCLUSIONS

Number of imported malaria cases, species of imported malaria parasites, species of local malaria vectors and population density of local malaria vectors are core indicators in the current risk assessment framework for re-introduction of imported malaria in China. Combination of the expert scoring method and analytic hierarchy process is superior to the expert scoring method alone for weighting the risk indicators.

The signal pathway of melatonin mediates the monochromatic light-induced T-lymphocyte apoptosis in chicken thymus

Our previous study revealed that under monochromatic red light (RL), the melatonin nuclear receptor reduces the proliferation activity of broiler thymic lymphocytes through the P65 signaling pathway. The main objective of this study was to investigate the signal mechanism by which RL decreases thymic lymphocyte proliferation. Initially, broilers were purchased and randomly assigned to be fed under white light (WL), red light (RL), green light (GL), and blue light (BL). Pinealectomy was performed 3 d later, and the broilers were euthanized after 14 d. The results showed that the expression of the antiapoptotic proteins Bcl-2/Bcl-xl decreased under RL, while the expression of the pro-apoptotic factor Bax/caspase-3 and the pro-inflammatory factors INF-γ/TNF-α/IL-6 increased. After pinealectomy, the expression of Bax/TNF-α/IL-6 increased in conjunction with the decrease in Bcl-2 expression. In vitro experiments demonstrated that exogenous melatonin decreased the expression of Bax/TNF-α/IL-6 in thymic lymphocytes of chicks reared under RL. This melatonin-induced effect was enhanced by SR1078 (RORα/RORγ agonist) but attenuated by SR3335 (RORα antagonist) and BAY (P65 antagonist). These findings revealed that the melatonin nuclear receptor RORα/RORγ promotes the expression of the pro-apoptotic factor Bax/caspase-3 and the pro-inflammatory factors INF-γ/TNF-α/IL-6, while inhibiting the expression of the antiapoptotic factor Bcl-2/Bcl-xl. Our research suggested the signaling pathway of monochromatic red light impacts the apoptosis of thymus lymphocytes in broiler.

B cells in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma: current opinion and novel therapy

Head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) is a common malignant tumour. Despite advancements in surgery, radiotherapy and chemotherapy, which have improved the prognosis of most patients, a subset of patients with poor prognoses still exist due to loss of surgical opportunities, postoperative recurrence, and metastasis, among other reasons. The tumour microenvironment (TME) is a complex organization composed of tumour, stromal, and endothelial cells. Communication and interaction between tumours and immune cells within the TME are increasingly being recognized as pivotal in inhibiting or promoting tumour development. Previous studies on T cells in the TME of HNSCC have yielded novel therapeutic possibilities. However, the function of B cells, another adaptive immune cell type, in the TME of HNSCC patients has yet to be determined. Recent studies have revealed various distinct subtypes of B cells and tertiary lymphoid structures (TLSs) in the TME of HNSCC patients, which are believed to impact the efficacy of immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs). Therefore, this paper focuses on B cells in the TME to explore potential directions for future immunotherapy for HNSCC.

Reprogramming mechanism dissection and trophoblast replacement application in monkey somatic cell nuclear transfer

Somatic cell nuclear transfer (SCNT) successfully clones cynomolgus monkeys, but the efficiency remains low due to a limited understanding of the reprogramming mechanism. Notably, no rhesus monkey has been cloned through SCNT so far. Our study conducts a comparative analysis of multi-omics datasets, comparing embryos resulting from intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) with those from SCNT. Our findings reveal a widespread decrease in DNA methylation and the loss of imprinting in maternally imprinted genes within SCNT monkey blastocysts. This loss of imprinting persists in SCNT embryos cultured in-vitro until E17 and in full-term SCNT placentas. Additionally, histological examination of SCNT placentas shows noticeable hyperplasia and calcification. To address these defects, we develop a trophoblast replacement method, ultimately leading to the successful cloning of a healthy male rhesus monkey. These discoveries provide valuable insights into the reprogramming mechanism of monkey SCNT and introduce a promising strategy for primate cloning.

The protective effect of Schisandra chinensis (Turcz.) Baill. polysaccharide on DSS-induced ulcerative colitis in mice via the modulation of gut microbiota and inhibition of NF-κB activation

BACKGROUND

Schisandra chinensis (Turcz.) Baill, a fruit utilized in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), has a long history of medical application. It has been used to treat diseases of the gastrointestinal tract. Schisandra chinensis (Turcz.) Baill polysaccharide (SACP) is an important biologically active ingredient that has been shown to have a variety of beneficial effects including immune regulation and anti-oxidative properties. Ulcerative colitis (UC) is a complicated gastrointestinal inflammatory disease. We explore the protective effect of SACP against UC.

RESULTS

Schisandra chinensis (Turcz.) Baill polysaccharide significantly reduced the disease activity index (DAI) and levels of myeloperoxidase(MPO) and malondialdehyde (MDA) in colonic tissue. It also alleviated weight loss and histopathological damage of mice. The expression of MUC2 and occludin proteins was increased and the barrier function of the colonic mucosa was enhanced by SACP treatment. NF-κB pathway activation was also inhibited and the production of pro-inflammatory cytokines was decreased whereas anti-inflammatory cytokines were increased. 16SrDNA sequencing of fecal flora showed that SACP increased the abundance of Muribaculaceaeunclassified, LachnospiraceaeNK4A136group and reduced the abundance of Bacteroides and Erysipelatoclostridium.

CONCLUSION

Schisandra chinensis (Turcz.) Baill polysaccharide can protect against Dextran Sulfate Sodium Salt (DSS)-induced ulcerative colitis in mice. © 2023 Society of Chemical Industry.

Transitional responses of tree growth to climate warming at the southernmost margin of high latitudinal permafrost distribution

The marked increase in temperature warming and permafrost degradation has raised apprehensions about the fate of forests of boreal forests in permafrost regions. However, the impact of climate on tree growth is not limited to direct effects but also involves complex interactions with permafrost. The degradation of permafrost poses a threat to forest growth that has received insufficient attention thus far, after analyzing the impact of permafrost degradation and climate on Dahurican larch (Larix gmelinii) growth from six forest sites with two maximum active layer thickness (ALT) classifications (more and less than tree root length) across the southern margin of the permafrost region. We found that accompanying the continued degradation of permafrost, tree growth was inhibited (slope = -0.67, p < 0.05) by the degradation of permafrost and the growth-climate relationship was shifted from positive to negative at maximum ALT less than tree root length sites. However, the growth rate of trees significantly accelerated (slope = 5.46, p < 0.05) at maximum ALT more than tree root length sites. Path analysis indicated that tree growth did not benefit from temperature warming and more stress could be caused by waterlogging due to permafrost degradation at maximum ALT less than tree root length sites, however, enhanced tree growth primarily by reducing the physical spatial constraints and root layer additional water source with permafrost degradation at maximum ALT more than tree root length sites. It also implies that the matchiness between tree root and maximum active layer depth is critical to the effect of permafrost degradation on tree growth. The transitional response to climate warming and the opposite trend of tree growth at two ALT classification sites suggest that future tree growth responds to the different stages of permafrost degradation differently. Our study provides a new insight on permafrost degradation impact on tree growth.

Prognostic value of baseline neutrophil/lymphocyte ratio in HER2-positive metastatic breast cancer: exploratory analysis of data from the CLEOPATRA trial

PURPOSE

This study aimed to evaluate the prognostic role of the baseline neutrophil/lymphocyte ratio (NLR) in HER2-positive metastatic breast cancer (MBC) patients treated with trastuzumab/pertuzumab.

EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN

Data from 780 patients from the CLEOPATRA trial and 248 local patients were collected. Patients were divided into the low and high NLR subgroups by the NLR cutoff value. Propensity score matching (PSM) and inverse probability of treatment weighting (IPTW) methods were used to control bias. Associations between the NLR and progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) were analyzed.

RESULTS

The baseline characteristics of the subgroups were well balanced after PSM and IPTW. A low baseline NLR was associated with better PFS and OS in the trastuzumab and docetaxel (TH) group in the unadjusted, PSM and IPTW models. After IPTW, a low NLR, versus a high NLR, was associated with improved PFS (HR 1.35, 95% CI 1.07-1.70, P = 0.012) and OS (HR 1.47, 95% CI 1.12-1.94, P = 0.006) in the TH group. In patients undergoing treatment with trastuzumab and pertuzumab and docetaxel (THP), a low baseline NLR was also correlated with better PFS but not OS across the three models. After IPTW, a low NLR was associated with better PFS (HR 1.52, 95% CI 1.20-1.93, P = 0.001) than a high NLR in the THP group. Multivariate analyses showed that a low baseline NLR was a predictor for PFS and OS in the TH group and for PFS in the THP group in all three models. In the real-world setting, a low baseline NLR was a predictor of better PFS among patients treated with docetaxel plus trastuzumab without or with pertuzumab in the multivariate model (P = 0.015 and 0.008, respectively).

CONCLUSIONS

A low baseline NLR is associated with better survival outcomes among HER2-positive MBC patients receiving docetaxel plus trastuzumab/pertuzumab as first-line therapy.

Decreased NMIIA heavy chain phosphorylation at S1943 promotes mitoxantrone resistance by upregulating BCRP and N-cadherin expression in breast cancer cells

Mitoxantrone (MX) is an effective treatment for breast cancer; however, high efflux of MX that is accomplished by breast cancer resistance protein (BCRP) leads to acquired multidrug resistance (MDR), reducing MX's therapeutic efficacy in breast cancer. Non-muscle myosin IIA (NMIIA) and its heavy phosphorylation at S1943 have been revealed to play key roles in tumor metastasis and progression, including in breast cancer; however, their molecular function in BCRP-mediated MDR in breast cancer remains unknown. In this study, we revealed that the expression of NMIIA heavy chain phosphorylation at S1943 was downregulated in BCRP-overexpressing breast cancer MCF-7/MX cells, and stable expression of NMIIA-S1943A mutant increased BCRP expression and promoted the resistance of MCF-7/MX cells to MX. Meanwhile, NMIIA S1943 phosphorylation induced by epidermal growth factor (EGF) was accompanied by the downregulation of BCRP in MCF-7/MX cells. Furthermore, stable expression of NMIIA-S1943A in MCF-7/MX cells resulted in upregulation of N-cadherin and the accumulation of β-catenin on the cell surface, which inhibited the nucleus translocation of β-catenin and Wnt/β-catenin-based proliferative signaling. EGF stimulation of MCF-7/MX cells showed the downregulation of N-cadherin and β-catenin. Our results suggest that decreased NMIIA heavy phosphorylation at S1943 increases BCRP expression and promotes MX resistance in breast cancer cells via upregulating N-cadherin expression.

Metal Clusters Based Multifunctional Materials for Solar Cells

As a multifunctional material, metal clusters have recently received some attention for their application in solar cells.This review delves into the multifaceted role of metal clusters in advancing solar cell technologies, covering diverse aspects from electron transport and interface modification to serving as molecular precursors for inorganic materials and acting as photosensitizers in metal-cluster sensitized solar cells (MCSSCs). The studies conducted by various researchers illustrate the crucial impact of metal clusters, such as gold nanoclusters (Au NCs), on enhancing solar cell efficiency through size-dependent effects, distinct interface behaviors, and tailored interface engineering. From optimizing charge transfer rates to improving light absorption and reducing carrier recombination, metal clusters prove instrumental in shaping the landscape of solar energy conversion.The promising performance of metal-cluster sensitized solar cells, coupled with their scalability and flexibility, positions them as a exciting avenue for future clean energy applications. The article concludes by emphasizing the need for continued interdisciplinary research and technological innovation to unlock the full potential of metal clusters in contributing to sustainable and high-performance solar cells.

Application of artificial intelligence in oculoplastics

Oculoplastics is a subspecialty of ophthalmology/dermatology concerned with eyelid, orbital, and lacrimal diseases. Artificial intelligence (AI), with its powerful ability to analyze large data sets, has dramatically benefited oculoplastics. The cutting-edge AI technology is widely applied to extract ocular parameters and to use these results for further assessment, such as screening and diagnosis of blepharoptosis and predicting the progression of thyroid eye disease. AI also assists in treatment procedures, such as surgical strategy planning in blepharoptosis. High efficiency and high reliability are the most apparent advantages of AI, with promising prospects. The possibilities of AI in oculoplastics may lie in three-dimensional modeling technology and image generation. We retrospectively summarize AI applications involving eyelid, orbital, and lacrimal diseases in oculoplastics, and we also examine the strengths and weaknesses of AI technology in oculoplastics.