Metformin suppresses NFE2L1 pathway activation to inhibit gap junction beta protein expression in NSCLC

OBJECTIVE

Non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is a deadly form of cancer that exhibits extensive intercellular communication which contributed to chemoradiotherapy resistance. Recent evidence suggests that arrange of key proteins are involved in lung cancer progression, including gap junction proteins (GJPs).

METHODS AND RESULTS

In this study, we examined the expression patterns of GJPs in NSCLC, uncovering that both gap junction protein, beta 2 (GJB2) and gap junction protein, beta 2 (GJB3) are increased in LUAD and LUSC. We observed a correlation between the upregulation of GJB2, GJB3 in clinical samples and a worse prognosis in patients with NSCLC. By examining the mechanics, we additionally discovered that nuclear factor erythroid-2-related factor 1 (NFE2L1) had the capability to enhance the expression of connexin26 and connexin 31 in the NSCLC cell line A549. In addition, the use of metformin was discovered to cause significant downregulation of gap junction protein, betas (GJBs) by limiting the presence of NFE2L1 in the cytoplasm.

CONCLUSION

This emphasizes the potential of targeting GJBs as a viable treatment approach for NSCLC patients receiving metformin.

Stability Enhancement in All-Inorganic Perovskite Light Emitting Diodes via Dual Encapsulation

Addressing the challenge of lighting stability in perovskite white light emitting diodes (WLEDs) is crucial for their commercial viability. CsPbX3 (X = Cl, Br, I, or mixed) nanocrystals (NCs) are promising for next-generation lighting due to their superior optical and electronic properties. However, the inherent soft material structure of CsPbX3 NCs is particularly susceptible to the elevated temperatures associated with prolonged WLED operation. Additionally, these NCs face stability challenges in high humidity environments, leading to reduced lighting performance. This study introduces a two-step dual encapsulation method, resulting in CsPbBr3 @SiO2 /Al2 SiO5 composite fibers (CFs) with enhanced optical stability under extreme conditions. In testing, WLEDs incorporating these CFs, even under prolonged operation at high power (100 mA for 9 h), maintain consistent electroluminescence (EL) intensity and optoelectronic parameters, with surface temperatures reaching 84.2 °C. Crucially, when subjected to 85 °C and 85% relative humidity for 200 h, the WLEDs preserve 97% of their initial fluorescence efficiency. These findings underscore the efficacy of the dual encapsulation strategy in significantly improving perovskite material stability, marking a significant step toward their commercial application in optoelectronic lighting.

Efficacy of art therapy in enhancing mental health of clinical nurses: A meta-analysis

INTRODUCTION

Art therapy (AT) has been widely utilized as a therapeutic approach for clinical nurses. In recent years, more and more researchers have applied art therapy to enhance clinical nurses' mental well-being. However, many studies conducted in this area have suffered from limited sample sizes and insufficient research evidence.

AIM

This study aims to conduct a systematic evaluation of the efficacy of art therapy on the mental health of clinical nurses.

METHODS

RCTs on art therapy for clinical nurses were searched across databases such as PubMed, Embase, etc., the results were analysed using RevMan 5.3.

RESULTS

There were 19 RCTs encompassing 1338 clinical nurses involved in this analysis. The Meta-analysis revealed that art therapy exhibited a significant reduction in anxiety levels (measured by the SAS) among clinical nurses, as well as depression levels and perceived stress levels (measured by the CPSS). Furthermore, art therapy demonstrated a reduction in negative coping style and an improvement in positive coping style.

DISCUSSION

Findings indicate that art therapy can reduce anxiety, depression and stress levels in clinical nurses, while also enhance positive coping styles and promote mental well-being. Therefore, the widespread implementation of art therapy in this context is highly recommended.

DECLARATION

I hereby declare that my article is directly relevant to the field of mental health nursing. It highlights the critical importance of psychological well-being and supplements the evidence on The effects of art therapy on the occupational mental health of clinical nurses.

Immune dysregulation is associated with symptom dimensions and cognitive deficits in schizophrenia: accessible evidence from complete blood count

BACKGROUND

Schizophrenia (SCZ) is a psychotic disorder with an unknown pathogenesis accompanied by varying degrees of cognitive deficits. Recent studies have shown that immune dysregulation plays an important role in developing symptoms and cognitive deficits in SCZ. This study aimed to determine the complete blood count (CBC), including white blood cells, neutrophils, monocytes, lymphocytes, platelets, neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio (NLR), platelet-lymphocyte ratio (PLR), and monocyte-lymphocyte ratio (MLR), in patients with SCZ and explore their correlations with SCZ symptom dimensions and cognitive function.

METHODS

Seventy-four patients with SCZ and 57 age- and sex-matched healthy controls with available demographic and clinical information were recruited for this study. Blood samples were collected, and symptom dimensions and cognitive function were evaluated using the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS) and MATRICS Consensus Cognitive Battery (MCCB) separately.

RESULTS

Our results demonstrate that SCZ patients showed higher monocyte counts, PLR, MLR, and worse performance in the total MCCB than healthy controls. Neutrophil and lymphocyte counts and NLR were positively related to symptom severity and negatively related to depressive symptoms. White blood cell (WBC) count, monocyte count, and MLR were positively correlated with cognitive performance in patients with SCZ.

CONCLUSION

In summary, this study suggests that cognitive deficits and symptom severity in patients were associated with dysregulation of immunity. Moreover, we found that WBC could be used as a marker for symptom severity and cognitive deficits in SCZ and that neutrophils are more closely related to the former and monocytes to the latter. We hope that clinicians will pay more attention to dysregulated immunity in patients with SCZ in the future.

Feasibility of Two-Screw Anterior Fixation for Odontoid Fractures in a Chinese Population: A Morphometric Study Based on Computed Tomography

Background

To evaluate the feasibility of treating odontoid fractures in the Chinese population with two cortical screws based on computed tomography (CT) scans and describe a new measurement strategy to guide screw insertion in treating these fractures.

Methods

A retrospective review of cervical computed tomographic scans of 128 patients (aged 18-76 years; men, 55 [43.0%]) was performed. The minimum external transverse diameter (METD), minimum external anteroposterior diameter (MEAD), maximum screw length (MSL), and screw projection back angle (SPBA) of the odontoid process were measured on coronal and sagittal CT images.

Results

The mean values of METD and MEAD were 10.0 ± 1.1 mm and 12.0 ± 1.0 mm, respectively, in men and 9.2 ± 1.0 mm and 11.0 ± 1.0 mm, respectively, in women. Both measurements were significantly higher in men (p < 0.001). In total, 87 individuals (68%) had METD > 9.0 mm that could accommodate two 3.5-mm cortical screws. The mean MSL value and SPBA range were 34.4 ± 2.9 mm and 13.5°-24.2°, respectively, with no statistically significant difference between men and women.

Conclusions

The insertion of two 3.5-mm cortical screws was possible for anterior fixation of odontoid fractures in 87 patients (68%) in our study, and there was a statistically significant difference between men and women.

PLK3 promotes the proneural-mesenchymal transition in glioblastoma via transcriptional regulation of C5AR1

BACKGROUND

Accumulating evidence suggests that polo-like kinase 3 (PLK3) plays an essential role in tumor cells and induces cell proliferation and may have implications for the prognosis of various cancers. We sought to define the role of PLK3-dependent proneural-mesenchymal transition (PMT) in the glioblastoma (GBM) therapy.

METHODS AND RESULTS

We analyzed the expression data for PLK3 by using the TCGA database. PLK3 expression in GBM cell lines was determined by qRT-PCR and Western blotting. PLK3 levels were modulated using Lentivirus infection, and the effects on symptoms, tumor volume, and survival in mice intracranial xenograft models were determined. Irradiation (IR) was performed to induce PMT. PLK3 expression was significantly elevated in mesenchymal subtype GBM and promoted tumor proliferation in GBM. Additionally enriched PLK3 expression could be associated with poor prognosis in GBM patients compared with those who have lower PLK3 expression. Mechanically, PLK3-dependent PMT induced radioresistance in GBM cells via transcriptional regulation of complement C5a receptor 1 (C5AR1). In therapeutic experiments conducted in vitro, targeting PLK3 by using small molecule inhibitor decreased tumor growth and radioresistance of GBM cells both in vitro and in vivo.

CONCLUSIONS

PLK3-C5AR1 axis induced PMT thus enhanced radioresistance in GBM and could become a novel potential therapeutic target for GBM.

Preparation of Structure Vacancy Defect Modified Diatomic-Layered g-C3 N4 Nanosheet with Enhanced Photocatalytic Performance

Structure self-modification of graphitic carbon nitride (g-C3 N4 ) without the assistance of other species has attracted considerable attention. In this study, the structure vacancy defect modified diatomic-layered g-C3 N4 nanosheet (VCN) is synthesized by thermal treatment of bulk g-C3 N4 in a quartz tube with vacuum atmosphere that will generate a pressure-thermal dual driving force to boost the exfoliation and formation of structure vacancy for g-C3 N4 . The as-prepared VCN possesses a large specific surface area with a rich pore structure to provide more active centers for catalytic reactions. Furthermore, the as-formed special defect level in VCN sample can generate a higher exciton density at photoexcitation stage. Meanwhile, the photogenerated charges will rapidly transfer to VCN surface due to the greatly shortened transfer path resulting from the ultrathin structure (≈1.5 nm), which corresponds to two graphite carbon nitride atomic layers. In addition, the defect level alleviates the drawback of enlarged bandgap caused by the quantum size effect of nano-scaled g-C3 N4 , resulting in a well visible-light utilization. As a result, the VCN sample exhibits an excellent photocatalytic performance both in hydrogen production and photodegradation of typical antibiotics.

Enhanced Adhesion of Copper Films on Fused Silica Glass Substrate by Plasma Pre-Treatment

A non-thermal atmospheric jet plasma pre-treatment technique was introduced to help the growth of extremely sticky copper films on fused silica glass substrates. A tape test was utilized to assess the bonding quality between copper films and fused silica glass substrates. AFM was used to characterize the sample surface roughness and XPS for chemical bonding characterization. The Owens-Wendt method and a Theta Lite Optical Tensiometer were used to analyze the contact angle and surface energy. The results showed that the surface energy greatly increased from 34.6 ± 0.3 mJ·m^-2 to 55.9 ± 0.4 mJ·m^-2 after 25 s plasma pre-treatment due to the increasing Si-O and Si-N concentrations, which brought about the electrostatic force increasing at the copper/glass interface. After 25 s plasma pre-treatment, the average surface roughness (Sa) grew from 0.8 ± 0.1 nm to 2.4 ± 0.3 nm. With higher surface roughness, there were more spaces and vacancies for the copper atoms to make contact on the bonded surfaces and increase the mechanical bite force. The electrostatic force and the mechanical bite force on the interface helped to form an atomic diffusion connection layer and improved the interactions between the copper film and the glass substrate. The findings in the SEM supported the conclusions stated above. Therefore, the adhesion between copper films and fused silica glass substrates increased by about 20% by 25 s plasma pre-treatment compared with the untreated glass substrate.

Functional Proteomic Profiling Analysis in Four Major Types of Gastrointestinal Cancers

Gastrointestinal (GI) cancer accounts for one in four cancer cases and one in three cancer-related deaths globally. A deeper understanding of cancer development mechanisms can be applied to cancer medicine. Comprehensive sequencing applications have revealed the genomic landscapes of the common types of human cancer, and proteomics technology has identified protein targets and signalling pathways related to cancer growth and progression. This study aimed to explore the functional proteomic profiles of four major types of GI tract cancer based on The Cancer Proteome Atlas (TCPA). We provided an overview of functional proteomic heterogeneity by performing several approaches, including principal component analysis (PCA), partial least squares discriminant analysis (PLS-DA), t-stochastic neighbour embedding (t-SNE) analysis, and hierarchical clustering analysis in oesophageal carcinoma (ESCA), stomach adenocarcinoma (STAD), colon adenocarcinoma (COAD), and rectum adenocarcinoma (READ) tumours, to gain a system-wide understanding of the four types of GI cancer. The feature selection approach, mutual information feature selection (MIFS) method, was conducted to screen candidate protein signature subsets to better distinguish different cancer types. The potential clinical implications of candidate proteins in terms of tumour progression and prognosis were also evaluated based on TCPA and The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) databases. The results suggested that functional proteomic profiling can identify different patterns among the four types of GI cancers and provide candidate proteins for clinical diagnosis and prognosis evaluation. We also highlighted the application of feature selection approaches in high-dimensional biological data analysis. Overall, this study could improve the understanding of the complexity of cancer phenotypes and genotypes and thus be applied to cancer medicine.

Preparation of bottlebrush polymer-modified magnetic graphene as immobilized metal ion affinity adsorbent for purification of hemoglobin from blood samples

An immobilized metal affinity (IMA) adsorbent was prepared by grafting bottlebrush polymer pendant with iminodiacetic acid (IDA) from the surface of polydopamine (PDA)-coated magnetic graphene oxide (magGO), via surface-initiated atom transfer radical polymerization (SI-ATRP). Poly(hydroxyethyl methacrylate) (PHEMA) was grafted firstly from the PDA-coated magGO as the backbone, and then poly(glycidyl methacrylate) was grafted from the PHEMA chains via the second SI-ATRP to afford the bottlebrush polymer-grafted magGO Thereafter, IDA was anchored on the nanocomposites to produce the IMA adsorbent after chelating copper ions. The adsorbent was characterized by various physical and physicochemical methods. Its adsorption properties were evaluated by using histidine-rich proteins (bovine hemoglobin, BHb) and other proteins (lysozyme and cytochrome-C). The results show that its maximum adsorption capacity to BHb was 378.6 mg g^-1, and the adsorption equilibrium can be quickly reached within 1 h. The adsorbent has excellent reproducibility and reusability. It has been applied to selectively purify hemoglobin from human whole blood, indicating its potential in practical applications. Graphical abstract.