Effect of black wolfberry anthocyanin and maltitol on the gelation and microstructural properties of curdlan/gellan gum hybrid gels

BACKGROUND

Laboratory scale experiments have shown that curdlan and gellan gum gelled together as curdlan/gellan gum (CG) hybrid gels showed better gel properties than the individual curdlan and gellan gum. In this study, CG and black wolfberry anthocyanin (BWA), CG and maltitol (ML) hybrid gels were constructed using CG hybrid gel as matrix. The effects of BWA or ML on the gel properties and microstructure of CG hybrid gels were investigated and a confectionery gel was developed.

RESULTS

The presence of BWA increased the storage modulus (G') value of CG at 0.1 Hz, whereas ML had little effect on the G' value of CG. The addition of BWA (5 g L-1 ) and ML (0.3 mol L-1 ) increased the melting and gelling temperatures of CG hybrid gels to 42.4 °C and 34.1 °C and 44.2 °C and 33.2 °C, respectively. Meanwhile, the relaxation time T22 in CG-ML and CG-BWA hybrid gels was reduced to 91.96 and 410.27 ms, indicating the strong binding between BWA and CG, ML and CG. The hydrogen bond interaction between BWA or ML and CG was confirmed by the shift in the hydroxyl stretching vibration peak. Moreover, the microstructures of CG-ML and CG-BWA hybrid gels were denser than that of CG. In addition, confectionery gel containing CG-BWA-ML has good chewing properties.

CONCLUSION

These results indicated that the incorporation of BWA or ML could improve the structure of CG hybrid gels and assign a sustainability potential for the development of confectionery gels based on CG complex. © 2024 Society of Chemical Industry.

IRF4 induces M1 macrophage polarization and aggravates ulcerative colitis progression by the Bcl6-dependent STAT3 pathway

Ulcerative colitis (UC) is an idiopathic chronic intestinal inflammation. An increasing body of evidence shows that macrophages play an important role in the pathogenesis of UC. Interferon regulatory factor 4 (IRF4) is crucial for the development of autoimmune diseases via regulating immune cells. This research was designed to explore the function of IRF4 in UC and its association with macrophage polarization. The in vitro model of UC was established by stimulating colonic epithelial cells with tumor necrosis factor α (TNF-α). A mouse model of UC was constructed by injecting C57BL/6 mice with dextran sulfate sodium salt. Flow cytometry was used to assess percentage of CD11b+ CD86+ and CD11b+ CD206+ cells in bone marrow macrophages. Occult blood tests were used to detect hematochezia. Hematoxylin and eosin staining assay was used to assess colon pathological changes. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was used to detect concentrations of inflammatory cytokines. The interaction of IRF4 and B-cell lymphoma 6 (Bcl6) was confirmed using GST pull-down and coimmunoprecipitation assays. Our findings revealed that IRF4 promoted cell apoptosis and stimulated M1 macrophage polarization in vitro. Furthermore, IRF4 aggravated symptoms of the mouse model of UC and aggravated M1 macrophage polarization in vivo. IRF4 negatively regulated Bcl6 expression. Downregulation of Bcl6 promoted apoptosis and M1 macrophage polarization in the presence of IRF4 in vitro and in vivo. Moreover, Bcl6 positively mediated the Janus kinase 2 (JAK2)/signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3) signaling pathway. In conclusion, IRF4 aggravated UC progression through promoting M1 macrophage polarization via Bcl6/JAK2/STAT3 pathway. These findings suggested that IRF4 might be a good target to competitively inhibit or to treat with UC.

Comparing surgical and endoscopic resection approaches for colorectal neuroendocrine tumors within the diameter range of 10-20mm: an inverse probability weighting analysis based on the SEER database

Background

Currently, the primary treatment modalities for colorectal neuroendocrine tumors (CRNET) with a diameter between 10mm and 20mm are surgical resection (SR) and endoscopic resection (ER). However, it remains unclear which surgical approach yields the greatest survival benefit for patients.

Methods

This study included data from patients diagnosed with CRNET with tumor diameters ranging from 10mm to 20mm between the years 2004 and 2019, obtained from the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) database. Patients were categorized into ER and SR groups based on the respective surgical approaches. Inverse probability weighting (IPTW) was employed to mitigate selection bias. Kaplan-Meier analysis and log-rank tests were utilized to estimate overall survival (OS) and cancer-specific survival (CSS). Cox regression analysis (univariate and multivariate) was performed to evaluate potential factors influencing survival.

Results

A total of 292 CRNET patients were included in this study (ER group: 108 individuals, SR group: 184 individuals). Prior to IPTW adjustment, Kaplan-Meier analysis and Cox proportional hazard regression analysis demonstrated that the OS and CSS of the SR group were inferior to those of the ER group. However, after IPTW adjustment, no statistically significant differences in prognosis were observed between the two groups. Subgroup analyses revealed that patients with muscular invasion, positive lymph nodes, or distant metastasis derived greater survival benefits from SR. Significant differences in OS and CSS between the two groups were also observed across different age groups.

Conclusion

For patients with mucosal-limited lesions and without local lymph node or distant metastasis, ER is the preferred surgical approach. However, for patients with muscular invasion or positive lymph nodes/distant metastasis, SR offers a better prognosis. The choice of surgical approach should be based on the specific clinical characteristics of patients within different subgroups.

Gel properties and interactions of hydrogels constructed with low acyl gellan gum and puerarin

To develop composite hydrogels based on low acyl gellan gum (GG), the effect of puerarin (PUE) on the gel properties of GG was investigated. The results showed that the maximum storage modulus (G') of the 1.2 % GG/0.8 % PUE composite hydrogel was 377.4 Pa at 0.1 Hz, which was enhanced by 4.7-fold compared with that of 1.2 % GG. The melting temperature of this composite hydrogel increased from 74.1 °C to >80.0 °C. LF-NMR results showed that a significant amount of free water was present in the hydrogel matrix. The surface structure aggregation and the shrinkage of the honeycomb meshes in the composite hydrogel proved the cross-linking of PUE and GG. XRD, FTIR and molecular simulation results illustrated that hydrogen bonds were the most important factor controlling the interaction between GG and PUE. Thus, the GG/PUE composite hydrogel has good elasticity, thermal stability and water retention, which lays a good foundation for further application in the food industry.

CYP1B1-AS1 Delays the Malignant Progression of Colorectal Cancer by Binding with NOP58

BACKGROUND

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is a prevalent type of gastrointestinal cancer, and its poor prognosis is mainly attributed to the occurrence of invasion and metastasis. CYP1B1-AS1, as non-coding RNA, plays an important role in tumorigenesis and progression. However, the mechanism by which CYP1B1-AS1 acts in CRC is not yet understood.

AIMS

The objective of this study was to investigate how CYP1B1-AS1 contributes to the development of CRC, and provide a base for CRC diagnosis and treatment.

METHODS

RT-qPCR was used to detect the expression level of CYP1B1-AS1 in CRC and adjacent tissues. CCK-8, Edu, scratch healing, and transwell experiments were used to detect the changes of proliferation, migration, and invasion ability of CRC cells after overexpression or knockdown of CYP1B1-AS1 respectively. The RNA binding protein NOP58 combined with CYP1B1-AS1 was verified by RIP and RNA Pull-down experiments. Functional recovery experiments validated the interaction between CYP1B1-AS1 and NOP58 in CRC cells. The changes of EMT-related proteins were detected by Western blot, and the half-life of transcription factor SNAIL mRNA were detected by RT-qPCR after overexpression or knockdown of NOP58.

RESULTS

CYP1B1-AS1 was found to be significantly downregulated in CRC compared to adjacent noncancerous tissues. Experiments conducted in vitro and in vivo confirmed that upregulation of CYP1B1-AS1 significantly inhibited the proliferation, migration, and invasion of CRC cells. In addition, CYP1B1-AS1 can directly bind to NOP58 and negatively regulate NOP58. The effect of overexpression CYP1B1-AS1 was reversed by NOP58 overexpression. NOP58 regulates the EMT process of CRC cells by affecting the stability of EMT-related transcription factor SNAIL mRNA, and then affects the progress of CRC.

CONCLUSION

This research proves that CYP1B1-AS1 can inhibit the occurrence of EMT in CRC by binding with NOP58, thus delaying the progress of CRC. This finding indicates that CYP1B1-AS1 may be a novel biomarker to improve the diagnosis and treatment of CRC.

Anaerobic glucose uptake in Pseudomonas putida KT2440 in a bioelectrochemical system

Providing an anodic potential in a bio-electrochemical system to the obligate aerobe Pseudomonas putida enables anaerobic survival and allows the cells to overcome redox imbalances. In this setup, the bacteria could be exploited to produce chemicals via oxidative pathways at high yield. However, the absence of anaerobic growth and low carbon turnover rates remain as obstacles for the application of such an electro-fermentation technology. Growth and carbon turnover start with carbon uptake into the periplasm and cytosol. P. putida KT2440 has three native transporting systems for glucose, each differing in energy and redox demand. This architecture previously led to the hypothesis that internal redox and energy constraints ultimately limit cytoplasmic carbon utilization in a bio-electrochemical system. However, it remains largely unclear which uptake route is predominantly used by P. putida under electro-fermentative conditions. To elucidate this, we created three gene deletion mutants of P. putida KT2440, forcing the cells to exclusively utilize one of the routes. When grown in a bio-electrochemical system, the pathway mutants were heavily affected in terms of sugar consumption, current output and product formation. Surprisingly, however, we found that about half of the acetate formed in the cytoplasm originated from carbon that was put into the system via the inoculation biomass, while the other half came from the consumption of substrate. The deletion of individual sugar uptake routes did not alter significantly the secreted acetate concentrations among different strains even with different carbon sources. This means that the stoichiometry of the sugar uptake routes is not a limiting factor during electro-fermentation and that the low rates might be caused by other reasons, for example energy limitations or a yet-to-be-identified oxygen-dependent regulatory mechanism.

Burning questions: Exploring the limits of microbial electrochemical technology for industrial biotechnological applications

Microbial electrochemical technology (MET) has proven to be a promising solution to overcome the redox and energy metabolic constraints, enabling high yields of biosynthesis beyond stoichiometric limits. While there is room for improvement in extracellular electron transfer rates and productivity of the target compounds, it is crucial to think in advance about which bioprocess could be electrified and what would face major challenges. In this opinion paper, I presented and addressed interfacial electron transfer capacity of MET, whether built on biofilm or planktonic cells, and also discussed the upper limits of the MET system for biosynthesis of chemicals accordingly. Potential future application scenarios of different MET were also briefly addressed. This opinion paper aims to encourage the community to rethink the design and development of microbial electrochemical technologies for potential future applications in industrial biotechnology.

Enhancing physiological recovery and subsequent exercise performance in the heat using a phase-change material cooling blanket

This study aimed to assess the effect of a phase-change material (PCM) cooling blanket for cooling between exercise bouts on recovery of physiological parameters and subsequent exercise performance in the heat. Eighteen male volunteers were recruited to participate in human trials involving two exhaustive treadmill running bouts (Bout1 for 3 km and Bout2 for 1.5 km) in a climate chamber (temperature = 33 °C; relative humidity = 40%). Participants were randomly subjected to one of two cooling conditions for a 10-min period between exercise bouts: CON: natural cooling; 10-min PCM: with a PCM cooling blanket for 10 min. Several physiological parameters including mean skin temperature (Tskin), oral temperature (Toral), core temperature (Tcore), heart rate (HR), mean arterial pressure (MAP), respiratory rate (RR), peripheral capillary oxygen saturation (SpO2), average running speed and rating of perceived exertion (RPE) scale score were analyzed. The results showed that compared to the CON group, participants in the 10-min PCM group had a significant lower Tskin, Tcore, HR and RR at post-cooling, as well as greater reductions in mean skin temperature (ΔTskin) and core temperature (ΔTcore) from post-Bout1 to post-cooling. Additionally, the 10-min PCM group exhibited significantly lower peak Tcore, peak HR and RPE scale score during Bout2, while the average running speed during Bout2 was significantly higher. The present study suggests that cooling with a PCM cooling blanket can enhance physiological recovery and subsequent exercise performance in the heat.

Formation and microstructural characterization of scallop (Patinopecten yessoensis) male gonad hydrolysates/sodium alginate coacervations as a function of pH

Studying the noncovalent interactions between proteins and polysaccharides is quite important mainly due to the wide number of applications such as developing pH-responsive complexes. Scallop Patinopecten yessoensis male gonad hydrolysates‑sodium alginate (SMGHs-SA) was investigated as noncovalent complexes at pH from 1 to 10. The critical pH values pHC (around 6) and pHφ (around 4) were independent of the SMGHs-SA ratio, indicating the formation of soluble and insoluble complexes. The pH response of SMGHs-SA complexes was evaluated by investigating the rheological behavior, moisture distribution, functional group change and microstructure. Compared to the co-soluble and soluble complexes phases, the SMGHs-SA complexes had a higher storage modulus and viscosity as well as a lower relaxation time (T23) in the insoluble complexes phase (pHφ>3). Additionally, the amide I band and COO- stretching vibration peaks were redshifted and the amide A band vibration peaks were blueshifted by acidification. Electrostatic interactions and intermolecular/intramolecular hydrogen bonding led to SMGHs-SA agglomeration at pH 3, forming a uniform and dense gel network structure with strong gel strength and water-retention capacity. This study provides a theoretical and methodological basis for the design of novel pH-responsive complexes by studying SMGHs-SA complex coacervation.

Different projection neurons of basolateral amygdala participate in the retrieval of morphine withdrawal memory with diverse molecular pathways

Context-induced retrieval of drug withdrawal memory is one of the important reasons for drug relapses. Previous studies have shown that different projection neurons in different brain regions or in the same brain region such as the basolateral amygdala (BLA) participate in context-induced retrieval of drug withdrawal memory. However, whether these different projection neurons participate in the retrieval of drug withdrawal memory with same or different molecular pathways remains a topic for research. The present results showed that (1) BLA neurons projecting to the prelimbic cortex (BLA-PrL) and BLA neurons projecting to the nucleus accumbens (BLA-NAc) participated in context-induced retrieval of morphine withdrawal memory; (2) there was an increase in the expression of Arc and pERK in BLA-NAc neurons, but not in BLA-PrL neurons during context-induced retrieval of morphine withdrawal memory; (3) pERK was the upstream molecule of Arc, whereas D1 receptor was the upstream molecule of pERK in BLA-NAc neurons during context-induced retrieval of morphine withdrawal memory; (4) D1 receptors also strengthened AMPA receptors, but not NMDA receptors, -mediated glutamatergic input to BLA-NAc neurons via pERK during context-induced retrieval of morphine withdrawal memory. These results suggest that different projection neurons of the BLA participate in the retrieval of morphine withdrawal memory with diverse molecular pathways.

Superior anodic electro-fermentation by enhancing capacity for extracellular electron transfer

Anodic electro-fermentation (AEF), where an anode replaces the terminal electron acceptor, shows great promise. Recently a Lactococcus lactis strain blocked in NAD+ regeneration was demonstrated to use ferricyanide as an alternative electron acceptor to support fast growth, but the need for high concentrations of this non-regenerated electron acceptor limits practical applications. To address this, growth of this L. lactis strain, and an adaptively evolved (ALE) mutant with enhanced ferricyanide respiration capacity were investigated using an anode as electron acceptor in a bioelectrochemical system (BES) setup. Both strains grew well, however, the ALE mutant significantly faster. The ALE mutant almost exclusively generated 2,3-butanediol, whereas its parent strain mainly produced acetoin. The ALE mutant interacted efficiently with the anode, achieving a record high current density of 0.81 ± 0.05 mA/cm2. It is surprising that a Lactic Acid Bacterium, with fermentative metabolism, interacts so well with an anode, which demonstrates the potential of AEF.

Physicochemical Properties of Granular and Gelatinized Lotus Rhizome Starch with Varied Proximate Compositions and Structural Characteristics

As a traditional and popular dietary supplement, lotus rhizome starch (LRS) has health benefits for its many nutritional components and is especially suitable for teenagers and seniors. In this paper, the approximate composition, apparent amylose content (AAC), and structural characteristics of five LRS samples from different regions were investigated, and their correlations with the physicochemical properties of granular and gelatinized LRS were revealed. LRS exhibited rod-shaped and ellipsoidal starch granules, with AAC ranging from 26.6% to 31.7%. LRS-3, from Fuzhou, Jiangxi Province, exhibited a deeper hydrogel color and contained more ash, with 302.6 mg/kg iron, and it could reach the pasting temperature of 62.6 °C. In comparison, LRS-5, from Baoshan, Yunnan Province, exhibited smoother granule surface, less fragmentation, and higher AAC, resulting in better swelling power and freeze-thaw stability. The resistant starch contents of LRS-3 and LRS-5 were the lowest (15.3%) and highest (69.7%), respectively. The enzymatic digestion performance of LRS was positively correlated with ash content and short- and long-term ordered structures but negatively correlated with AAC. Furthermore, the color and network firmness of gelatinized LRS was negatively correlated with its ash content, and the retrograde trend and freeze-thaw stability were more closely correlated with AAC and structural characteristics. These results revealed the physicochemical properties of LRS from different regions and suggested their advantages in appropriate applications as a hydrogel matrix.

Structure-function and engineering of plant UDP-glycosyltransferase

Natural products synthesized by plants have substantial industrial and medicinal values and are therefore attracting increasing interest in various related industries. Among the key enzyme families involved in the biosynthesis of natural products, uridine diphosphate-dependent glycosyltransferases (UGTs) play a crucial role in plants. In recent years, significant efforts have been made to elucidate the catalytic mechanisms and substrate recognition of plant UGTs and to improve them for desired functions. In this review, we presented a comprehensive overview of all currently published structures of plant UGTs, along with in-depth analyses of the corresponding catalytic and substrate recognition mechanisms. In addition, we summarized and evaluated the protein engineering strategies applied to improve the catalytic activities of plant UGTs, with a particular focus on high-throughput screening methods. The primary objective of this review is to provide readers with a comprehensive understanding of plant UGTs and to serve as a valuable reference for the latest techniques used to improve their activities.

Monovalent Salt and pH-Stimulated Gelation of Scallop (Patinopecten yessoensis) Male Gonad Hydrolysates/κ-Carrageenan

The gelation of scallop Patinopecten yessoensis male gonad hydrolysates (SMGHs) and κ-carrageenan (KC) subjected to pH (2-8, 3-9) and NaCl/KCl stimuli-response was investigated. SMGHs/KC gels subjected to a NaCl response exhibited an increasing storage modulus G'from 2028.6 to 3418.4 Pa as the pH decreased from pH 8 to 2, with corresponding T23 fluctuating from 966.40 to 365.64 ms. For the KCl-treated group, SMGHs/KC gels showed an even greater G' from 4646.7 to 10996.5 Pa, with T23 fluctuating from 622.2 to 276.98 ms as the pH decreased from 9 to 3. The improved gel strength could be ascribed to the blueshift and redshift of hydroxyl groups and amide I peaks, enhanced enthalpy and peak temperature, and gathered characteristic diffraction peaks from SMGHs, KC, NaCl, and KCl. The CLSM and cryo-SEM images further reflected that SMGHs/KC gels showed more flocculation formation and denser and more homogeneous networks with smaller pore sizes in more acidic domains, especially when subjected to the KCl response. This research gives a theoretical and methodological understanding of the construction of salt- and pH-responsive SMGHs/KC hydrogels as novel functional soft biomaterials applied in food and biological fields.

Univariable and multivariable mendelian randomization study revealed the modifiable risk factors of urolithiasis

BACKGROUND

Urolithiasis is a common urological disease with increasing incidence worldwide, and preventing its risk poses significant challenges. Here, we used Mendelian randomization (MR) framework to genetically assess the causal nature of multifaceted risk factors on urolithiasis.

METHODS

17 potential risk factors associated with urolithiasis were collected from recently published observational studies, which can be categorized basically into lifestyle factors and circulating biomarkers. The instrumental variables of risk factors were selected from large-scale genome-wide association studies (N ≤ 607,291). Summary-level data on urolithiasis were obtained from UK Biobank (UKB) (3,625 cases and 459,308 noncases) and the FinnGen consortium (5,347 cases and 213,445 noncases). The univariable and multivariable MR analyses were applied to evaluate the causal, independent effect of these potential risk factors upon urolithiasis. Effects from the two consortia were combined by the meta-analysis methods.

RESULTS

Higher genetically predicted sex hormone-binding globulin (SHBG, OR, 0.708; 95% CI, 0.555 to 0.903), estradiol (OR, 0.179; 95% CI, 0.042 to 0.751), tea intake (OR, 0.550; 95% CI, 0.345 to 0.878), alcoholic drinks per week (OR, 0.992; 95% CI, 0.987 to 0.997), and some physical activity (e.g., swimming, cycling, keeping fit, and bowling, OR, 0.054; 95% CI, 0.008 to 0.363) were significantly associated with a lower risk of urolithiasis. In the Multivariate Mendelian Randomization (MVMR) analyses, the significant causal associations between estradiol, SHBG, tea intake, and alcoholic drinks per week with urolithiasis were robust even after adjusting for potential confounding variables. However, the previously observed causal association between other exercises and urolithiasis was no longer significant after adjusting for these factors.

CONCLUSIONS

The univariable and multivariable MR findings highlight the independent and significant roles of estradiol, SHBG, tea intake, and alcoholic drinks per week in the development of urolithiasis, which might provide a deeper insight into urolithiasis risk factors and supply potential preventative strategies.

Prediction of distant metastasis and specific survival prediction of small intestine cancer patients with metastasis: A population-based study

BACKGROUND

Small intestine cancer (SIC) is difficult to diagnose early and presents a poor prognosis due to distant metastasis. This study aimed to develop nomograms for diagnosing and assessing the prognosis of SIC with distant metastasis.

METHODS

Patients diagnosed with SIC between 2010 and 2015 were included from the Surveillance, Epidemiology and End Results database. Univariate and multifactor analysis determined independent risk factors for distant metastasis and prognostic factors for overall and cancer-specific survival. We then constructed the corresponding three nomograms and assessed the diagnostic accuracy of the nomograms by net reclassification improvement, receiver operating characteristic curves and calibration curves, assessed the clinical utility by decision curve analysis.

RESULTS

The cohort consisted of 6697 patients, of whom 1299 had distant metastasis at diagnosis. Tstage, Nstage, age, tumor size, grade, and histological type were independent risk factors for distant metastasis. Age, histological type, T stage, N stage, grade, tumor size, whether receiving surgery, number of lymph nodes removed, and the presence of bone or lung metastases were predictors of both overall survival and cancer-specific survival. The nomograms showed excellent accuracy in predicting distant metastasis and prognosis.

CONCLUSION

Nomograms were developed and validated for SIC patients with distant metastasis, aiding physicians in making rational and personalized clinical decisions.

Discovery selective acetylcholinesterase inhibitors to control Tetranychus urticae (Acari: Tetranychidae)

The two-spotted spider mite, Tetranychus urticae Koch, has a broad host plant range and presents an extreme capacity for developing pesticide resistance, becoming a major economic pest in agriculture. Anticholinesterase insecticides still account for a big part of global insecticide sales. However, there is a growing concern about the serious resistance problems of anticholinesterase insecticides and their nontarget toxicity. In this study, structure-based virtual screening was performed to discover selective AChE inhibitors from the ChemBridge database, and 39 potential species-specific AChE inhibitor were obtained targeting T. urticae AChE, but not human AChE. Among them, compound No. 8 inhibited AChE from T. urticae, but not from human, and had an inhibitory activity comparable to that of eserine. Compound No. 8 had dose-dependent toxicity to T. urticae in glass slide-dipping assay and had significant mite control effects in a pot experiment, but required a high concentration to achieve similar control effects to spirodiclofen. The toxicity evaluation suggested that compound No. 8 had no acute toxicity on pollinator honey bees and natural predator N. californicus and did not affect strawberry growth in our assay. Compound No. 8 is a potential lead compound for developing novel acaricides with reduced nontarget toxicity.

Phase-change material cooling blanket: A feasible cooling choice during transport after exercise-induced hyperthermia

BACKGROUND

Exercise-induced hyperthermia preceding the onset of exertional heatstroke requires a rapid reduction in the body core temperature (T_core) to ensure safety. In recent years, phase-change material (PCM) cooling devices have been increasingly used for rapid cooling after hyperthermia due to their superior capacity for heat absorption.

OBJECTIVES

This study aimed to evaluate the cooling performance and effectiveness of a PCM cooling blanket on heart rate (HR) and heart rate variability (HRV) recovery after exercise-induced hyperthermia.

DESIGN

Randomized cross-over.

METHODS

The study participants were 12 male volunteers who were engaged in professional training and completed an endurance exercise for approximately 30 min in a hot and humid environment (temperature ≈ 30 °C; relative humidity ≈ 66%). The participants underwent a 30-min cooling trial after exercise, receiving either treatment with a PCM cooling blanket (PCM group) or natural cooling (CON group). The T_core, HR, and HRV time-domain indices were used for analysis.

RESULTS

The T_core values were significantly lower in the PCM group during cooling. Reductions in the T_core from precooling to 20 min of cooling were significantly greater in the PCM group than in the CON group. The HR in the PCM group was lower than that recorded in the CON group at 10 and 20 min of cooling. The reduction in HR during cooling from precooling was also significantly greater in the PCM group. HRV time-domain indices during cooling in the PCM group were significantly lower compared with the CON group while elevations in some HRV time-domain indices from precooling to postcooling were significantly greater in the PCM group than in the CON group.

CONCLUSIONS

The PCM cooling blanket had good cooling performance and the ability to hasten recovery of both HR and HRV. It may serve as a feasible cooling choice during transport after exercise-induced hyperthermia.

Brain glucose metabolism and dopamine transporter changes in rats with morphine-induced conditioned place preference

Addiction to morphine is a chronic brain disease leading to compulsive abuse. Drug addiction animal models with and without conditioned place preference (CPP) training have been used to investigate cue-elicited drug craving. We used ¹⁸ F-fluorodeoxyglucose (¹⁸ F-FDG) and ¹¹ C-2-β-carbomethoxy-3-β-(4-fluorophenyl)tropane (¹¹ C-CFT) micro-PET/CT scans to examine the regional changes in brain glucose metabolism and dopamine transporter (DAT) availability to study their relationship underlying drug memory in morphine-treated rat models with and without CPP. Standardized uptake value ratio (SUVr) of ¹⁸ F-FDG significantly decreased in the medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC) and cingulate with short-term morphine administration compared with the baseline condition. Voxelwise analysis indicated glucose metabolism alterations in the somatosensory cortex, hippocampus and cingulate in morphine-treated rats and in the striatum, thalamus, medial prefrontal cortex, primary motor cortex and many regions in the cortex in the CPP group compared with the baseline condition. Alterative glucose metabolism was also observed in the striatum, primary somatosensory cortex and some cortical regions in the CPP group compared with morphine alone group. DAT expression alterations were only observed in the long-term morphine compared with the short-term morphine group. This study shows that cerebral glucose metabolism significantly altered during morphine administration and CPP process mainly in the mPFC, striatum and hippocampus, which indicates that the function of these brain regions is involved in cue-induced craving and memory retrieval.

[Penile cancer with perineural invasion is more prone to postoperative recurrence]

OBJECTIVE

To explore the correlation between perineural invasion and postoperative recurrence in patients surgically treated for penile cancer.

METHODS

We conducted a retrospective analysis of the clinical data on 18 penile cancer patients surgically treated in our hospital from January 2018 to December 2021, 8 with postoperative recurrence (the recurrence group) and the other 10 without (the non-recurrence control group). We compared the two groups of patients in the age of onset, tumor-node-metastasis (TNM) stages, American Joint Committee on Cancer (AJCC) prognosis stages, surgical methods, perineural invasion and recurrence time. We analyzed the differences in postoperative recurrence using the Kaplan Meier plotted survival curve and in independent risk factors in predicting postoperative recurrence using the ROC curve.

RESULTS

Compared with the non-recurrence controls, the patients in the recurrence group had a significantly older age of onset (P=0.0411) and severer perineural invasion (P<0.001), and those with perineural invasion had a shorter recurrence time (P<0.001), which was an independent risk factor for postoperative recurrence. The areas under the ROC curves for perineural invasion and age were 0.885 and 0.213, respectively.

CONCLUSION

Penile cancer with perineural invasion is more prone to and perineural invasion is an independent risk factor for postoperative recurrence of the malignancy.

Target tumor therapy in human gastric cancer cells through the combination of docetaxel-loaded cationic lipid microbubbles and ultrasound-triggered microbubble destruction

It is well accepted that ultrasound-induced microbubble (USMB) cavitation is a promising method for drug delivery. Ultrasound-targeted destruction of cytotoxic drug-loaded lipid microbubbles (LMs) is used to promote the treatment of cancer. This study aimed to investigate the antitumor effects from a combination of docetaxel-loaded cationic lipid microbubbles (DLLM⁺) and ultrasound (US)-triggered microbubble destruction (UTMD) on gastric cancer (GC). It was found that the functional dose of DOC in this study was 1 × 10^-9 mol/L. We found that DLLM combined with the UTMD group showed greater growth inhibition of the cultured human gastric cancer cells (HGCCs) when compared with the other five groups by arresting the G₂/M phase in the cell cycle. However, DLLM⁺ combined with UTMD showed a higher inhibition rate of tumor growth than DLLM combined with UTMD and that of the RC/CMV-p16 combined with UTMD in vitro and in vivo experiments. DLLM⁺ combined with UTMD significantly suppressed proliferation and promoted the apoptosis of HGCCs with more cells arrested in the G₂/M phase. In addition, DLLM⁺ combined with UTMD suppressed the proliferation and induced apoptosis by arresting cells in the G₂/M phase, which led to a great inhibition of GC progression. Thus, our results indicated that the combination of DLLM⁺ and UTMD might represent a novel and promising approach to chemotherapy for GC.

Utilizing Cyanobacteria in Biophotovoltaics: An Emerging Field in Bioelectrochemistry

Anthropogenic global warming is driven by the increasing energy demand and the still dominant use of fossil energy carriers to meet these needs. New carbon-neutral energy sources are urgently needed to solve this problem. Biophotovoltaics, a member of the so-called bioelectrochemical systems family, will provide an important piece of the energy puzzle. It aims to harvest the electrons from sunlight-driven water splitting using the natural oxygenic photosystem (e.g., of cyanobacteria) and utilize them in the form of, e.g., electricity or hydrogen. Several key aspects of biophotovoltaics have been intensively studied in recent years like physicochemical properties of electrodes or efficient wiring of microorganisms to electrodes. Yet, the exact mechanisms of electron transfer between the biocatalyst and the electrode remain unresolved today. Most research is conducted on microscale reactors generating small currents over short time-scales, but multiple experiments have shown biophotovoltaics great potential with lab-scale reactors producing currents over weeks to months. Although biophotovoltaics is still in its infancy with many open research questions to be addressed, new promising results from various labs around the world suggest an important opportunity for biophotovoltaics in the decades to come. In this chapter, we will introduce the concept of biophotovoltaics, summarize its recent key progress, and finally critically discuss the potentials and challenges for future rational development of biophotovoltaics.

Two kinds of transcription factors mediate chronic morphine-induced decrease in miR-105 in medial prefrontal cortex of rats

Chronic morphine administration alters gene expression in different brain regions, an effect which may contribute to plastic changes associated with addictive behavior. This change in gene expression is most possibly mediated by addictive drug-induced epigenetic remodeling of gene expression programs. Our previous studies showed that chronic morphine-induced decrease of miR-105 in the medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC) contributed to context-induced retrieval of morphine withdrawal memory. However, how chronic morphine treatment decreases miR-105 in the mPFC still remains unknown. The present study shows that chronic morphine induces addiction-related change in miR-105 in the mPFC via two kinds of transcription factors: the first transcription factor is CREB activated by mu receptors-ERK-p90RSK signaling pathway and the second transcription factor is glucocorticoid receptor (GR), which as a negative transcription factor, mediates chronic morphine-induced decrease in miR-105 in the mPFC of rats.

Non-pharmacological management of dental fear and anxiety in children and adolescents: An umbrella review

AIM

To synthesise knowledge on the relative efficacies of non-pharmacological strategies for managing dental fear and anxiety (DFA) in children and adolescents, specifically their effects on behaviour, anxiety levels and pain perception.

METHODS

An umbrella review on non-pharmacological strategies used to manage DFA in children and adolescents was conducted based the Joanna Briggs Institute methodology. Searches were performed in 5 main electronic databases and the grey-literature. Two independent reviewers selected and appraised the included studies using the AMSTAR2 tool. Disagreements were resolved by a third reviewer.

CONCLUSION

Audio-visual distraction was effective in reducing anxiety during a variety of dental procedures including those requiring local anaesthesia. A combination of techniques may be more effective in managing DFA in children and adolescents, possibly improving pain perception and cooperative behaviour.

Sepsis complicated with secondary hemophagocytic syndrome induced by giant gouty tophi rupture: A case report

BACKGROUND

Gouty tophi are a chronic granulomatous caused by a deposition of monosodium urate crystal deposition in the body. Once broken, it may easily induce severe infection. Sepsis complicated with secondary hemophagocytic syndrome induced by gouty tophi rupture is extremely rare in the clinical setting, and no such serious complications have been reported in literature.

CASE SUMMARY

This is a 52-year-old Chinese male patient with a 20-year history of gouty arthritis. At admission, the gout stone in the patient’s right ankle was broken and it secreted a white mucoid substance. During the course of treatment, the patient suffered from systemic inflammatory response syndrome multiple times. His condition gradually deteriorated, further complicated by hemophagocytic syndrome. After thorough removal of gout lesions and active anti-infection treatment and control of blood uric acid level, combined with multidisciplinary cooperation, the patient was finally cured.

CONCLUSION

Sepsis complicated with secondary hemophagocytic syndrome induced by gouty tophi rupture is extremely rare in the clinical setting. Timely and accurate diagnosis is very important to save patients' lives.

Interferon Regulatory Factor 4 (IRF4) Promotes Lipopolysaccharide-Induced Colonic Mucosal Epithelial Cell Proliferation by Regulating Macrophage Polarization

INTRODUCTION

Ulcerative colitis (UC) is a chronic disease characterized by diffuse inflammation of the mucosa of colon and rectum. Interferon regulatory factor 4 (IRF4) mediates macrophage anti-inflammatory phenotype (alternatively activated macrophages [M2]). This study aimed to investigate the mechanism of IRF4 in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced colonic mucosal epithelial cell proliferation via the regulation of macrophage polarization.

METHODS

Human bone marrow-derived macrophages were subjected to interleukin 4 (IL-4) induction. M2 macrophages were identified using flow cytometry and quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR). IRF4 expression in M2 macrophages was detected using Western blot and qRT-PCR. IRF4 expression was silenced in M2 macrophages. IL-10 mRNA expression and protein level were detected using qRT-PCR and Western blot. The binding relation between IRF4 and IL-10 was verified using dual-luciferase and chromatin immunoprecipitation assays. Macrophages under different treatments were cocultured with LPS-induced human colonic mucosal epithelial cells. The levels of inflammatory factors (TNF-α, IL-6, and IL-1β) were detected using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. The proliferation of inflammatory cells was measured using Cell Counting Kit-8 assay, and the healing of inflammatory cells was detected using wound healing assay.

RESULTS

M2 macrophages alleviated LPS-induced inflammatory responses. IRF4 bound to IL-10 and promoted IL-10 expression. Inhibition of IRF4 reduced IL-10 expression and attenuated the alleviating effect of M2 macrophages on inflammatory responses. Inhibition of IRF4 combined with IL-10 overexpression enhanced the promoting effect of M2 macrophages on inflammatory healing.

CONCLUSION

IRF4 promoted colonic mucosal epithelial cell proliferation by increasing IL-10 expression and regulating macrophage polarization to M2 phenotype, which might be related to UC mucosal healing.

The double homeobox a pseudogene 8 accelerates cell proliferation, migration, and invasion in colon cancer

Double homeobox A pseudogene 8 (DUXAP8) is a known tumor promoter in several malignancies. Nonetheless, its function in colon cancer (CC) is indefinite. Herein, we explored the significance of DUXAP8 and its underlying mechanism in CC. Our data indicated that DUXAP8 was upregulated in CC, and it was related to advanced stages and lymph node metastases. Based on our Kaplan-Meier survival analysis, elevated DUXAP8 expression resulted in shorter patient overall survival (OS). Conversely, DUXAP8 silencing strongly suppressed cellular proliferation, migration and invasion in vitro. Based on our western blot analysis, DUXAP8 deficiency strongly inhibited the epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) in vitro. Alternately, DUXAP8 overexpression accelerated cellular proliferation migration and invasion in CC. Finally, silencing DUXAP8 prevented tumorigenesis in a mouse xenograft model in vivo. Collectively, our results demonstrated that DUXAP8 regulates the occurrence and advancement of CC, and may serve as a regulatory hub for this disease.

Long-segmental middle aortic coarctation: a rare case first diagnosed by transthoracic echocardiography

Background

Middle aortic coarctation (MAC), also known as middle aortic syndrome, is an atypical aortic coarctation characterized by narrowing of the distal thoracic aorta and proximal abdominal aorta. MAC is a rare disease commonly diagnosed by computed tomography angiography (CTA). In this paper, we present a case of long-segmental MAC first diagnosed by transthoracic echocardiography (TTE) and further evaluated by CTA.

Case presentation.

A 14-year-old girl, with dyspnea and fatigue on exertion for 2 months and refractory hypertension for 6 months, was referred by the local clinic to our hospital. Physical examination showed blood pressure up to 176/100 mmHg measured in the arms despite dual antihypertensives, a marked pressure gradient between her arms and legs, and weak pulses in both dorsal pedes arteries. TTE revealed a segmental narrowing in the descending thoracic aorta below the level of the atrioventricular sulcus, with a calcified plaque in the stenotic region. Abdominal vascular ultrasound revealed the segmental narrowing extending to the descending abdominal aorta (5.7 mm in diameter) above the level of the superior mesenteric artery. Subsequently, CTA verified a long-segment narrowing in the descending aorta from the level of T8 to L2 vertebra, with a calcified plaque in the stenotic aorta, right renal artery involvement, and a rich network of collateral vessels between the pre-and post-stenotic region. The patient was referred for cardiovascular surgery in which a successful ascending aorta-abdominal aorta bypass was performed.

Conclusions

Although MAC is usually diagnosed by CTA, it may also be first diagnosed by TTE in some patients whose longitudinal axis view of the thoracic descending aorta could be shown. Careful TTE scan can improve the diagnostic rate of MAC, especially for some hypertension patients whose marked pressure gradient between arms and legs was ignored by the physician.

Supplementary Information

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12872-022-02475-2.

Metabolic syndrome and its association with components of sarcopenia in older community-dwelling Chinese

Aging and obesity contribute to muscle dysfunction. This study aimed to determine the cross-sectional associations between components of metabolic syndrome (MetS) and sarcopenia in 251 older community-dwelling Chinese. The total fat-free mass was measured by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry, muscle strength (handgrip strength) by a handheld dynamometer, physical performance by 4-meter walk, 5-time chair stand test, and the short physical performance battery (SPPB). MetS was defined using the International Diabetes Federation (IDF) criteria. The participants with MetS had a higher appendicular skeletal muscle mass (ASM) and relative ASM (RASM). The males with MetS had higher handgrip strength, and the females with MetS had higher SPPB scores. After adjusting for age and body mass index, the participants with an increased waist circumference had a higher ASM, and those with increased diastolic blood pressure (DBP) also had higher handgrip strength. The males with elevated fasting blood glucose (FBG) levels had a lower gait speed. Components of MetS, such as DPB and FBG, were associated with muscle strength and physical performance in older adults. These results suggest that muscle strength and function should be considered in treating older adults with MetS.

Projection from the basolateral amygdala to the anterior cingulate cortex facilitates the consolidation of long-term withdrawal memory

The process through which early memories are transferred to the cerebral cortex to form long-term memories is referred to as memory consolidation, and the basolateral amygdala (BLA) is an important brain region involved in this process. Although functional connections between the BLA and multiple brain regions are critical for the consolidation of withdrawal memory, whether the projection from the BLA to the anterior cingulate cortex (ACC) is involved in the formation or consolidation of withdrawal memory remains unclear. In this paper, we used a chemical genetic method to specifically label the BLA-ACC projection in a combined morphine withdrawal and conditioned place aversion (CPA) animal model. We found that (1) the inhibition of the BLA-ACC projection during conditioning had no effects on the formation of early withdrawal memory; (2) the inhibition of the BLA-ACC projection had no effects on the retrieval of either early or long-term withdrawal memory; and (3) the persistent inhibition of the BLA-ACC projection after early withdrawal memory formation could inhibit the formation of long-term withdrawal memory and decrease Arc protein expression in the ACC. These results suggested that the persistent activation of the BLA-ACC projection after the formation of early withdrawal memory facilitates the formation of long-term withdrawal memory by increasing the plasticity of ACC neurons.

Alteration of neuroinflammation detected by 18F-GE180 PET imaging in place-conditioned rats with morphine withdrawal

BACKGROUND

Accumulating evidence indicates that neuroinflammation (NI) significantly contributes to drug addiction, but the conversion of NI after drug withdrawal is not clear. Here, we conducted ¹⁸F-flutriciclamide (GE180) positron emission tomography (PET) imaging to investigate the conversion of NI during drug withdrawal and conditioning-induced aversion by measuring the change in microglial activation with ¹⁸F-GE180.

METHODS

Twelve male adult Sprague-Dawley rats were subjected to morphine withdrawal by the administration of naloxone, and six of them were used to model conditioned place aversion (CPA). ¹⁸F-GE180 PET imaging was performed for 11 rats on the last day of the morphine treatment phase and for 10 rats on the response assessment phase of the behavior conditioning procedure. A ¹⁸F-GE180 template was established for spatial normalization of each individual image, and the differential ¹⁸F-GE180 uptakes between the drug withdrawal (DW) group and the drug addiction (DA) group, the CPA group and the DA group, and the CPA group and the DW group were compared by a voxel-wise two-sample t test using SPM8.

RESULTS

Both the DW group and the CPA group spent less time in the conditioning cage during the post-test phase compared with the pretest phase, but only the difference in the CPA group was significant (63.2 ± 34.6 vs. - 159.53 ± 22.02, P < 0.005). Compared with the DA group, the uptake of ¹⁸F-GE180 increased mainly in the hippocampus, visual cortex, thalamus and midbrain regions and decreased mainly in the sensory-related cortices after the administration of naloxone in both the DW and CPA groups. Increased ¹⁸F-GE180 uptake was only observed in the mesolimbic regions after conditioned aversion compared with the DW group.

CONCLUSION

In morphine-dependent rats, Neuroinflammation (NI) became more severe in the addiction-involved brain regions but remitted in the sensory-related brain regions after the administration of naloxone, and this NI induced by withdrawal was further aggravated after conditioned aversion formation thus may help to consolidate the withdrawal memory.

Activation of Rac1 Has an Opposing Effect on Induction and Maintenance of Long-Term Potentiation in Hippocampus by Acting on Different Kinases

Rac1 is a small GTPase of the Rho family. A previous study showed that the activation of Rac1 had an opposing effect on induction and maintenance of long-term potentiation (LTP) in the hippocampus. However, the molecular mechanism underlying this opposing effect remains to be addressed. In the present work, we find that the activation of Rac1 during the induction of LTP leads to an activation of PKCι/λ by phosphatidylinositol-3-kinase (PI3K), whereas the activation of Rac1 during the maintenance of LTP leads to the inhibition of PKMζ by LIM_kinase (LIMK) in the hippocampus. This result suggests that during different stages of LTP, the activation of Rac1 can modulate different signaling pathways, which leads to an opposing effect on the induction and maintenance of LTP in the hippocampus.

Circular RNA hsa_circ_0075542 acts as a sponge for microRNA-1197 to suppress malignant characteristics and promote apoptosis in prostate cancer cells

Numerous differentially expressed circular RNAs (circRNAs) have been identified; however, their roles have not been fully elucidated. Since dysregulated circRNAs may have clinical applications, it is vital to study their expression characteristics, function, and mechanism in prostate cancer cells. The role, regulatory mechanism, and expression of hsa_circ_0075542 were analyzed using quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction. The results indicated that the expression of hsa_circ_0075542 was downregulated in prostate tumor tissues. The functions of prostate cancer cell lines LNCaP and PC3 cells were assessed using cell counting kit-8 and transwell assays and flow cytometry analysis. The results of the functional experiments showed that overexpression of hsa_circ_0075542 suppressed cell proliferation, reduced migration and invasiveness capabilities, and promoted apoptosis. Moreover, hsa_circ_0075542 targeted the microRNA-1197 (miR-1197) homeobox C11 (HOXC11) axis by sponging miR-1197. Overexpression of miR-1197 played a tumor-promoting role. Overexpression of hsa_circ_0075542 alleviated the tumor-promoting effect of miR-1197 overexpression In conclusion, hsa_circ_0075542 suppressed malignant characteristics and promoted apoptosis in LNCaP and PC3 cells by acting as a competing endogenous RNA of miR-1197. The hsa_circ_0075542/miR-1197 axis might play a role via HOXC11.

Study on the phase transition dynamics of HfO2-based ferroelectric films under ultrafast electric pulse

Wake-up effect and fatigue in HfO₂-based ferroelectric films are closely related to the phase transition dynamics of the film subjected to ultrafast electric pulses. Here, we establish a multiphase coexistence phase field dynamics model for HfO₂-based ferroelectric films in the ultrafast time scale and study the effects of the amplitude, width and frequency of the electric pulse on the phase transition dynamics. Based on the simulation results, we obtain the analytical equation of the volume fraction of switchedc-domains under low fields as a function of pulse duration. And we found that monoclinic phase can transform into ferroelectricc-domains under high amplitude electric field (E⩾ 2.8 MV cm^-1). The electric pulse duration affects the film's retention properties. When the duration of the electric pulse is less than 1.2 ns or longer than 1.8 ns, the ferroelectricc-domains will respectively invert into other phases or increase cumulatively after removing the electric field. The frequency of cyclic pulse is related to the degree of wake up effect. The lower the pulse frequency is, the more obvious the 'wake up' effect is.

The anoxic electrode-driven fructose catabolism of Pseudomonas putida KT2440

Pseudomonas putida (P. putida) is a microorganism of interest for various industrial processes, yet its strictly aerobic nature limits application. Despite previous attempts to adapt P. putida to anoxic conditions via genetic engineering or the use of a bioelectrochemical system (BES), the problem of energy shortage and internal redox imbalance persists. In this work, we aimed to provide the cytoplasmic metabolism with different monosaccharides, other than glucose, and explored the physiological response in P. putida KT2440 during bioelectrochemical cultivation. The periplasmic oxidation cascade was found to be able to oxidize a wide range of aldoses to their corresponding (keto-)aldonates. Unexpectedly, isomerization of the ketose fructose to mannose also enabled oxidation by glucose dehydrogenase, a new pathway uncovered for fructose metabolism in P. putida KT2440 in BES. Besides the isomerization, the remainder of fructose was imported into the cytoplasm and metabolized. This resulted in a higher NADPH/NADP+ ratio, compared to glucose. Comparative proteomics further revealed the upregulation of proteins in the lower central carbon metabolism during the experiment. These findings highlight that the choice of a substrate in BES can target cytosolic and periplasmic oxidation pathways, and that electrode-driven redox balancing can drive these pathways in P. putida under anaerobic conditions.

SPR sensor based on Bessel-like beam

A proposal toward the enhancement in the sensitivity of a fiber-based surface plasma resonance (SPR) refractive index (RI) sensor is explored experimentally using a Bessel-like beam as the input source. We splice a section of single-mode fiber and a section of multimode fiber to construct the Bessel-like beam, which contains a series of concentric rings for the consistency of the resonance angle configuration to improve the performance of the SPR sensor. We fabricate a dual-truncated-cone (DTC) structure of the fiber to excite and receive the SPR signals. The larger the number of concentric rings, the higher the sensitivity. The number of concentric ring is determined by the length of the multimode fiber. When the grinding angle of the DTC-sensing probe is 15^° and the length of the multimode fiber is 500 µm, the maximum testing average sensitivity is 6908.3 nm/RIU, which is more sensitive than the previous SPR sensor introduced by the Gaussian beam as the input source in multimode fibers.

Technical-scale biophotovoltaics for long-term photo-current generation from Synechocystis sp. PCC6803

A carbon-free energy supply is essential to sustain our future. Biophotovoltaics (BPV) provides a promising solution for hydrogen supply by directly coupling light-driven water splitting to hydrogen formation using oxygenic photoautotrophic cyanobacteria. However, BPV is currently limited by its low photon-to-current efficiency, and current experimental setups at a miniaturized scale hinder the rational investigation of the process and thus system optimization. In this article, we developed and optimized a new technical-scale (~250 ml working volume) BPV platform with defined and controllable operating parameters. Factors that interfered with reproducible and stable current output signals were identified and adapted. We found that the classical BG11 medium, used for the cultivation of cyanobacteria and also in many BPV studies, caused severe interferences in the bioelectrochemical experiments. An optimized nBG11 medium guaranteed a low and stable background current in the BPV reactor, regardless of the presence of light and/or mediators. As proof-of-principle, a very high long-term light-dependent current output (peak current of over 20 µA) was demonstrated in the new set-up over 12 days with living Synechocystis sp. PCC6803 cells and validated with appropriate controls. These results report the first reliable BPV platform generating reproducible photocurrent while still allowing quantitative investigation, rational optimization, and scale-up of BPV processes.

Unusual glomus tumor of the bladder: a rare case report and literature review

Background

Glomus tumor (GT), which are neoplasms of the glomus body, usually occur in the extremities, particularly under the nail bed. GT occurring in the bladder is very rare and has been reported as sporadic. In the present study, a rare case of bladder GT is reported and its clinical and histopathological characteristics are summarized by literature review.

Case presentation

A 57-year-old woman presented with intermittent gross hematuria for 2 years. Urinalysis displayed hematuria. The bladder ultrasound showed an avascular and homogeneous isoechoic polypoid mass with a maximum diameter of 6 mm at the right lateral wall of bladder. The bladder endoscopic examination showed a polypoid lesion, with a smooth surface, located in the right lateral wall. Then, a transurethral resection was performed, its histopathological features indicated a benign GT.

Conclusions

GT arising in the bladder is extremely rare, and only four cases have been identified in studies reported in English. It is difficult to diagnose bladder GTs according to their clinical features. The gold standard method used for their diagnosis is histopathology. However, it should also be considered in the differential diagnosis for bladder mass.

Activity in projection neurons from prelimbic cortex to the PVT is necessary for retrieval of morphine withdrawal memory

Previous work has shown that the paraventricular nucleus of the thalamus (PVT) is an important region that is involved in the conditioned context-induced retrieval of morphine withdrawal memory. However, the upstream neural circuits that activate the PVT to participate in the conditioned context-induced retrieval of morphine withdrawal memory remain unknown. In the present work, we find that the conditioned context activates projection neurons from the prelimbic cortex (PrL) to the PVT, and the inhibition of PrL-PVT projection neurons inhibits the conditioned context-induced retrieval of morphine withdrawal memory; the conditioned context induces an increase in Arc expression, intrinsic excitability, and glutamate output in PrL-PVT projection neurons in morphine-withdrawn mice. These results suggest that the activity of PrL-PVT projection neurons is necessary for the retrieval of morphine withdrawal memory, and the conditioned context causes a plastic change in the activity in these projection neurons during the withdrawal memory retrieval.

Overexpression of SP1 restores autophagy to alleviate acute renal injury induced by ischemia-reperfusion through the miR-205/PTEN/Akt pathway

Background

Acute kidney injury (AKI) is a major kidney disease with poor clinical outcome. SP1, a well-known transcription factor, plays a critical role in AKI and subsequent kidney repair through the regulation of various cell biologic processes. However, the underlying mechanism of SP1 in these pathological processes remain largely unknown.

Methods

An in vitro HK-2 cells with anoxia-reoxygenation injury model (In vitro simulated ischemic injury disease) and an in vivo rat renal ischemia-reperfusion injury model were used in this study. The expression levels of SP1, miR-205 and PTEN were detected by RT-qPCR, and the protein expression levels of SP1, p62, PTEN, AKT, p-AKT, LC3II, LC3I and Beclin-1 were assayed by western blot. Cell proliferation was assessed by MTT assay, and the cell apoptosis was detected by flow cytometry. The secretions of IL-6 and TNF-α were detected by ELISA. The targeted relationship between miR-205 and PTEN was confirmed by dual luciferase report assay. The expression and positioning of LC-3 were observed by immunofluorescence staining. TUNEL staining was used to detect cell apoptosis and immunohistochemical analysis was used to evaluate the expression of SP1 in renal tissue after ischemia-reperfusion injury in rats.

Results

The expression of PTEN was upregulated while SP1 and miR-205 were downregulated in renal ischemia-reperfusion injury. Overexpression of SP1 protected renal tubule cell against injury induced by ischemia-reperfusion via miR-205/PTEN/Akt pathway mediated autophagy. Overexpression of SP1 attenuated renal ischemia-reperfusion injury in rats.

Conclusions

SP1 overexpression restored autophagy to alleviate acute renal injury induced by ischemia-reperfusion through the miR-205/PTEN/Akt pathway.