Building synergistic multiple active sites in branch-leaf nanostructured carbon nanofiber derived from MOF/COF hybrid for flexible wearable Zn-air battery

Covalent organic frameworks (COFs) and metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) have attracted growing attention in electrochemical energy storage and conversion systems (e.g., Zn-air batteries, ZABs) owing to their structural tunability, ordered porosity and high specific surface area. In this work, for the first time, the three-dimensional (3D) highly open catalyst (CNFs/CoZn-MOF@COF) possessing hierarchical porous structure and high-density active sites of uniform cobalt (Co) nanoparticles and metal-Nx (M-Nx, M = Co and Zn) is demonstrated, which is fabricated using electrospinning technique in combination with MOF/COF hybridization strategy and direct pyrolysis. Benefiting from the well-designed branch-leaf nanostructures, plentiful and uniform active sites on the MOF/COF-derived carbon frameworks, as well as the synergistic effect of multiple active sites, CNFs/CoZn-MOF@COF catalyst achieves superior electrocatalytic activity and stability towards both oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) and oxygen evolution reaction (OER) with a small potential gap (ΔE = 0.75 V). In situ Raman spectroscopy and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy results indicate that the CoOOH intermediates are the main active species during OER/ORR. Significantly, both aqueous and all-solid-state rechargeable ZABs assembled with CNFs/CoZn-MOF@COF as the air cathode show high open-circuit potential, outstanding peak power density, large capacity and long cycle life. More impressively, the obtained all-solid-state ZAB also displays superb mechanical flexibility and device stability under different, showcasing great application deformations potential in portable and wearable electronics. This work provides a new insight into the design and exploitation of bifunctional catalysts from MOF/COF hybrid materials for energy storage and conversion devices.

Renewable lignin-derived heteroatom-doped porous carbon nanosheets as an efficient oxygen reduction catalyst for rechargeable zinc-air batteries

Lignin upgrading to various functional products is promising to realize high-value utilization of low-cost and renewable biomass waste, but is still in its infancy. Herein, using industry waste lignosulfonate as the biomass-based carbon source and urea as the dopant, we constructed a heteroatom-doped porous carbon nanosheet structure by a simple NaCl template-assisted pyrolytic strategy. Through the synergistic effect of the NaCl template and urea, the optimized lignin-derived porous carbon catalyst with high content of active nitrogen species and large specific surface area can be obtained. As a result, the fabricated catalysts exhibited excellent electrocatalytic oxygen reduction activity, as well as good methanol tolerance and stability, comparable to that of commercial Pt/C. Moreover, rechargeable Zn-air batteries assembled with this electrocatalyst have a peak power density of up to 150 mW cm-2 and prominent long-term cycling stability. This study offers an inexpensive and efficient way for the massive production of highly active metal-free catalysts from the plentiful, inexpensive and environmentally friendly lignin, offering a good direction for biomass waste recycling and utilization.

Magnetoacoustic cutoff effect in numerical simulations of the partially ionized solar atmosphere

The cutoff effect is a significant determinant of solar magnetohydrodynamic wave propagation and hence pivotal in energy transfer studies, such as solar plasma heating and seismological diagnostics. Despite continuous efforts, no good agreement between observed waveperiods and theory or numerical simulations was found. Our objective is to investigate the magnetoacoustic cutoff effect in the partially ionized solar atmosphere, factoring in the two-fluid effects. We developed a two-fluid MHD numerical model and used it to simulate a quiet region of the Sun from the top of the convective zone to the low corona. Our findings show that the ongoing granulation excites a wide range of waves propagating into the upper atmospheric layers. The cutoff waveperiods strongly depend on the height. Two-fluid waveperiods obtained with numerical simulations reproduce the recent observations at a very good level of compliance. Furthermore, direct comparison with strongly coupled cases that imitate the single-fluid approximation have shown that the waveperiod propagation pattern is only present in fully two-fluid simulations. We conclude that the presence of neutrals and therefore collisional terms change the dynamics of the magnetized plasma, in comparison with the single-fluid approximation. This effect is more prominently seen in the upper photosphere and chromosphere. This article is part of the theme issue 'Partially ionized plasma of the solar atmosphere: recent advances and future pathways'.

Alfvén pulse driven spicule-like jets in the presence of thermal conduction and ion-neutral collision in two-fluid regime

We present the formation of quasi-periodic cool spicule-like jets in the solar atmosphere using 2.5-D numerical simulation in two-fluid regime (ions+neutrals) under the presence of thermal conduction and ion-neutral collision. The nonlinear, impulsive Alfvénic perturbations at the top of the photosphere trigger field aligned magnetoacoustic perturbations due to ponderomotive force. The transport of energy from Alfvén pulse to such vertical velocity perturbations due to ponderomotive force is considered as an initial trigger mechanism. Thereafter, these velocity perturbations steepen into the shocks followed by quasi-periodic rise and fall of the cool jets transporting mass in the overlying corona. This article is part of the theme issue 'Partially ionized plasma of the solar atmosphere: recent advances and future pathways'.

Implantation of Adipose-Derived Mesenchymal Stromal Cells (ADSCs)-Lining Prosthetic Graft Promotes Vascular Regeneration in Monkeys and Pigs

BACKGROUND

Current replacement procedures for stenosis or occluded arteries using prosthetic grafts have serious limitations in clinical applications, particularly, endothelialization of the luminal surface is a long-standing unresolved problem.

METHOD

We produced a cell-based hybrid vascular graft using a bioink engulfing adipose-derived mesenchymal stromal cells (ADSCs) and a 3D bioprinting process lining the ADSCs on the luminal surface of GORE-Tex grafts. The hybrid graft was implanted as an interposition conduit to replace a 3-cm-long segment of the infrarenal abdominal aorta in Rhesus monkeys.

RESULTS

Complete endothelium layer and smooth muscle layer were fully developed within 21 days post-implantation, along with normalized collagen deposition and crosslinking in the regenerated vasculature in all monkeys. The regenerated blood vessels showed normal functionality for the longest observation of more than 1650 days. The same procedure was also conducted in miniature pigs for the interposition replacement of a 10-cm-long right iliac artery and showed the same long-term effective and safe outcome.

CONCLUSION

This cell-based vascular graft is ready to undergo clinical trials for human patients.

Iron, Tungsten Dual-Doped Nickel Sulfide as Efficient Bifunctional Catalyst for Overall Water Splitting

Developing low-cost and highly efficient bifunctional catalysts for both the oxygen evolution reaction (OER) and the hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) is a challenging problem in electrochemical overall water splitting. Here, iron, tungsten dual-doped nickel sulfide catalyst (Fe/W-Ni3S2) is synthesized on the nickel foam, and it exhibits excellent OER and HER performance. As a result, the water electrolyze based on Fe/W-Ni3S2 bifunctional catalyst illustrates 10 mA cm-2 at 1.69 V (without iR-compensation) and highly durable overall water splitting over 100 h tested under 500 mA cm-2. Experimental results and DFT calculations indicate that the synergistic interaction between Fe doping and Ni vacancy induced by W leaching during the in situ oxidation process can maximize exposed OER active sites on the reconstructed NiOOH species for accelerating OER kinetics, while the Fe/W dual-doping optimizes the electronic structure of Fe/W-Ni3S2 and the binding strength of intermediates for boosting HER. This study unlocks the different promoting mechanisms of incorporating Fe and W for boosting the OER and HER activity of Ni3S2 for water splitting, which provides significant guidance for designing high-performance bifunctional catalysts for overall water splitting.

MOF-derived low Ru-loaded high entropy alloy as an efficient and durable self-supporting electrode in rechargeable liquid/flexible Zn-air batteries

Exploiting the high-entropy alloy (HEA) electrocatalysts with the synergistic effect of multi-metal components is an effective approach to address the slow kinetics and undesirable stability of the oxygen evolution reaction (OER) in Zn-air batteries (ZABs), but still faces many challenges. In this study, a multimetallic Metal-organic framework (MOF)-derived HEA catalyst was successfully fabricated on carbon fiber as a flexible self-supporting electrode (denoted as CC@FeCoNiMoRu-HEA/C) for high-performance liquid/flexible ZABs using a facile and cost-effective strategy. The three-dimensional (3D) highly open network framework and hierarchical porous structure accelerate the mass transport of OH-/O2 and charge transfer. The electronic structure adjustment, lattice defects and high entropy effects enable the CC@FeCoNiMoRu-HEA/C catalysts to perform high OER catalytic activity and strong durability while reducing the Ru content and lowering the economic cost. In situ Raman spectra and XPS results reveal the generation of metal-OOH intermediates on the HEA surface during the OER process. In a practical demonstration, the liquid ZAB assembled with CC@FeCoNiMoRu-HEA/C + Pt/C as the air electrode offers stable open-circuit voltage, large power density, excellent specific capacity and satisfactory cycle life, outperforming the commercial RuO2 + Pt/C-based reference ZAB. More attractively, the flexible solid-state ZAB also achieves fast dynamic response, high peak power density, robust cycling stability as well as favorable mechanical flexibility, indicating a promising application prospect in future flexible electronics and wearable devices. This work provides a viable pathway to develop low precious metal-loaded HEAs as advanced OER self-supporting electrocatalysts and realize high-performance flexible energy storage devices.

Structure-Photoreactivity Studies of BODIPY Photocages: Limitations of the Activation Barrier for Optimizing Photoreactions

BODIPY photocages are photoreactive chromophores that release covalently linked cargo upon absorption of visible light. Here, we used computations of the T1 photoheterolysis barrier to ascertain whether a computational approach could assist in a priori structure design by identifying new structures with higher quantum yields of photorelease. The electronic structure-photoreactivity relationships were elucidated for boron-substituted and core-functionalized 2-substituted BODIPY photocages as well as aryl substitutions at the meso-methyl position. Although there is a clear trend for the 2-substituted derivatives, with donor-substituted derivatives featuring both lower computed barriers and higher experimental quantum yields, no trend in the quantum yield with the computed activation barrier is found for the meso-methyl-substituted or boron-substituted derivatives. The lack of a correlation between the experimental quantum yield with the computed barrier in the latter two substitution cases is attributed to the substituents having larger effects on the rates of competing channels (internal conversion and competitive photoreactions) than on the rate of the photoheterolysis channel. Thus, although in some cases computed photoreaction barriers can aid in identifying structures with higher quantum yields, the ignored impacts of how changing the structure affects the rates of competing photophysical/photochemical channels limit the effectiveness of this single-parameter approach.

miR-155-5p promotes hepatic steatosis via PICALM-mediated autophagy in aging hepatocytes

BACKGROUND

Hepatic steatosis, a lipid disorder characterized by the accumulation of intrahepatic fat, is more prevalent in the elderly population. This study investigates the role of miR-155-5p in the autophagy dysregulation of aging hepatic steatosis.

METHODS

We established an aging mouse model in vivo and a hepatocellular senescence model induced by low serum and palmitic acid in vitro. The fluctuations of microRNAs were derived from RNA-seq data and confirmed by qPCR in 4- and 18-month-old mouse liver tissues. Hematoxylin-eosin (H&E) staining observed pathological changes. Markers of senescence, autophagy, and lipolysis genes were analyzed using Western blot and qPCR. Bioinformatics analysis predicted miR-155-5p's target gene PICALM, confirmed by dual luciferase reporter assay and transfection of miR-155-5p mimic/inhibitor into senescent hepatocytes.

RESULTS

Senescent markers (p21, p16, and p-P53) and miR-155-5p were up-regulated in aging liver tissues and senescent hepatocytes. Bioinformatics analysis identified PICALM as a target gene of miR-155-5p, a finding further supported by dual luciferase reporter assays. Inhibition of miR-155-5p reduced expression of senescent marker genes (p16, p21, p-P53), improved autophagy (evidenced by increased LC3B-II and ATG5, and decreased P62), and enhanced lipolysis (indicated by increased ATGL and p-HSL) in senescent hepatocytes. Oil red O staining confirmed that miR-155-5p inhibition significantly reduced lipid accumulation in these cells.

CONCLUSIONS

This study suggests a potential new therapeutic approach for age-related hepatic steatosis through the inhibition of miR-155-5p to enhance autophagy.

Molecular Mechanisms and Roles of MiR-136-5p in Human Cancer and Other Disorders

BACKGROUND

MiR-136-5p plays a vital function in regulating developmental processes as well as in the pathophysiology of diseases, with a notable record in tumor suppression.

METHODS

This article summarizes the latest findings on the physiological and pathophysiological processes of miR-136-5p in diseases. We searched for relevant studies and selected research articles from the last five years on PubMed with miR-136-5p as the keyword.

RESULTS

MiR-136-5p represents a class of microRNAs (miRNAs) that are involved in various human maladies, encompassing cancers, cardio-cerebrovascular disease, diabetes, inflammatory disease, tuberous sclerosis, idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, and polycystic ovary syndrome. Altered expression of miR-136-5p in specific ailments results in downstream gene expression imbalance, influencing cellular behaviors, such as migration, proliferation, and invasion. Furthermore, miR-136-5p is implicated in five signaling pathways, where it is critical in the onset and advancement of a number of illnesses. Additionally, it has the potential to promote drug resistance to a variety of medications.

CONCLUSION

The current review aims to elucidate the role of miR-136-5p in both cancer progression and non-cancerous disorders, emphasizing dysregulated signaling pathways. It also sheds light on the potential of this miRNA as a prognostic biomarker in cancer, offering valuable insights and directions for future research.

Systematic review and meta-analysis of endovascular therapy versus open surgical repair for the traumatic lower extremity arterial injury

OBJECTIVE

For traumatic lower extremity artery injury, it is unclear whether it is better to perform endovascular therapy (ET) or open surgical repair (OSR). This study aimed to compare the clinical outcomes of ET versus OSR for traumatic lower extremity artery injury.

METHODS

The Medline, Embase, and Cochrane Databases were searched for studies. Cohort studies and case series reporting outcomes of ET or OSR were eligible for inclusion. Robins-I tool and an 18-item tool were used to assess the risk of bias. The primary outcome was amputation. The secondary outcomes included fasciotomy or compartment syndrome, mortality, length of stay and lower extremity nerve injury. We used the random effects model to calculate pooled estimates.

RESULTS

A total of 32 studies with low or moderate risk of bias were included in the meta-analysis. The results showed that patients who underwent ET had a significantly decreased risk of major amputation (OR = 0.42, 95% CI 0.21-0.85; I2=34%) and fasciotomy or compartment syndrome (OR = 0.31, 95% CI 0.20-0.50, I2 = 14%) than patients who underwent OSR. No significant difference was observed between the two groups regarding all-cause mortality (OR = 1.11, 95% CI 0.75-1.64, I2 = 31%). Patients with ET repair had a shorter length of stay than patients with OSR repair (MD=-5.06, 95% CI -6.76 to -3.36, I2 = 65%). Intraoperative nerve injury was just reported in OSR patients with a pooled incidence of 15% (95% CI 6%-27%).

CONCLUSION

Endovascular therapy may represent a better choice for patients with traumatic lower extremity arterial injury, because it can provide lower risks of amputation, fasciotomy or compartment syndrome, and nerve injury, as well as shorter length of stay.

Epidemiological and etiological characteristics of 1266 patients with severe acute respiratory infection in central China, 2018-2020: a retrospective survey

BACKGROUND

Severe acute respiratory infection (SARI), a significant global health concern, imposes a substantial disease burden. In China, there is inadequate data concerning the monitoring of respiratory pathogens, particularly bacteria, among patients with SARI. Therefore, this study aims to delineate the demographic, epidemiological, and aetiological characteristics of hospitalised SARI patients in Central China between 2018 and 2020.

METHODS

Eligible patients with SARI admitted to the First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University between 1 January 2018 and 31 December 2020 were included in this retrospective study. Within the first 24 h of admission, respiratory (including sputum, nasal/throat swabs, bronchoalveolar lavage fluid, thoracocentesis fluid, etc.), urine, and peripheral blood specimens were collected for viral and bacterial testing. A multiplex real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) diagnostic approach was used to identify human influenza virus, respiratory syncytial virus, parainfluenza virus, adenovirus, human bocavirus, human coronavirus, human metapneumovirus, and rhinovirus. Bacterial cultures of respiratory specimens were performed with a particular focus on pathogenic microorganisms, including S. pneumoniae, S. aureus, K. pneumoniae, P. aeruginosa, Strep A, H. influenzae, A. baumannii, and E. coli. In cases where bacterial culture results were negative, nucleic acid extraction was performed for PCR to assay for the above-mentioned eight bacteria, as well as L. pneumophila and M. pneumoniae. Additionally, urine specimens were exclusively used to detect Legionella antigens. Furthermore, epidemiological, demographic, and clinical data were obtained from electronic medical records.

RESULTS

The study encompassed 1266 patients, with a mean age of 54 years, among whom 61.6% (780/1266) were males, 61.4% (778/1266) were farmers, and 88.8% (1124/1266) sought medical treatment in 2020. Moreover, 80.3% (1017/1266) were housed in general wards. The most common respiratory symptoms included fever (86.8%, 1122/1266) and cough (77.8%, 986/1266). Chest imaging anomalies were detected in 62.6% (792/1266) of cases, and 58.1% (736/1266) exhibited at least one respiratory pathogen, with 28.5% (361/1266) having multiple infections. Additionally, 95.7% (1212/1266) of the patients were from Henan Province, with the highest proportion (38.3%, 486/1266) falling in the 61-80 years age bracket, predominantly (79.8%, 1010/1266) seeking medical aid in summer and autumn. Bacterial detection rate (39.0%, 495/1266) was higher than viral detection rate (36.9%, 468/1266), with the primary pathogens being influenza virus (13.8%, 175/1266), K. pneumoniae (10.0%, 127/1266), S. pneumoniae (10.0%, 127/1266), adenovirus (8.2%, 105/1266), P. aeruginosa (8.2%, 105/1266), M. pneumoniae (7.8%, 100/1266), and respiratory syncytial virus (7.7%, 98/1266). During spring and winter, there was a significant prevalence of influenza virus and human coronavirus, contrasting with the dominance of parainfluenza viruses in summer and autumn. Respiratory syncytial virus and rhinovirus exhibited higher prevalence across spring, summer, and winter. P. aeruginosa, K. pneumoniae, and M. pneumoniae were identified at similar rates throughout all seasons without distinct spikes in prevalence. However, S. pneumoniae showed a distinctive pattern with a prevalence that doubled during summer and winter. Moreover, the positive detection rates of various other viruses and bacteria were lower, displaying a comparatively erratic prevalence trend. Among patients admitted to the intensive care unit, the predominant nosocomial bacteria were K. pneumoniae (17.2%, 43/249), A. baumannii (13.6%, 34/249), and P. aeruginosa (12.4%, 31/249). Conversely, in patients from general wards, predominant pathogens included influenza virus (14.8%, 151/1017), S. pneumoniae (10.4%, 106/1017), and adenovirus (9.3%, 95/1017). Additionally, paediatric patients exhibited significantly higher positive detection rates for influenza virus (23.9%, 11/46) and M. pneumoniae (32.6%, 15/46) compared to adults and the elderly. Furthermore, adenovirus (10.0%, 67/669) and rhinovirus (6.4%, 43/669) were the primary pathogens in adults, while K. pneumoniae (11.8%, 65/551) and A. baumannii (7.1%, 39/551) prevailed among the elderly, indicating significant differences among the three age groups.

DISCUSSION

In Central China, among patients with SARI, the prevailing viruses included influenza virus, adenovirus, and respiratory syncytial virus. Among bacteria, K. pneumoniae, S. pneumoniae, P. aeruginosa, and M. pneumoniae were frequently identified, with multiple infections being very common. Additionally, there were substantial variations in the pathogen spectrum compositions concerning wards and age groups among patients. Consequently, this study holds promise in offering insights to the government for developing strategies aimed at preventing and managing respiratory infectious diseases effectively.

Resolved magnetohydrodynamic wave lensing in the solar corona

Electromagnetic wave lensing, a common physical phenomenon recognized in visible light for centuries, finds extensive applications in manipulating light in optical systems such as telescopes and cameras. Magnetohydrodynamic wave is a common perturbation phenomenon in the corona. By using high spatio-temporal resolution observations from the Solar Dynamics Observatory, here, we report the observation of a magnetohydrodynamic wave lensing in the highly ionized and magnetized coronal plasma, where quasi-periodic wavefronts emanated from a flare converged at a specific point after traversing a coronal hole. The entire process resembles an electromagnetic wave lensing from the source to the focus. Meanwhile, the magnetohydrodynamic wave lensing is well reproduced through a magnetohydrodynamic numerical simulation with full spatio-temporal resolution. We further investigate potential applications for coronal seismology, as the lensing process encodes information on the Alfvén speed, in conjunction with favorable geometric and density variations.

Ginsenoside Rd Attenuates Myocardial Ischemia/Reperfusion Injury by Inhibiting Inflammation and Apoptosis through PI3K/Akt Signaling Pathway

Myocardial ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) injury is the leading cause of death worldwide. Ginsenoside Rd (GRd) has cardioprotective properties but its efficacy and mechanism of action in myocardial I/R injury have not been clarified. This study investigated GRd as a potent therapeutic agent for myocardial I/R injury. Oxygen-glucose deprivation and reperfusion (OGD/R) and left anterior descending (LAD) coronary artery ligation were used to establish a myocardial I/R injury model in vitro and in vivo. In vivo, GRd significantly reduced the myocardial infarct size and markers of myocardial injury and improved the cardiac function in myocardial I/R injury mice. In vitro, GRd enhanced cell viability and protected the H9c2 rat cardiomyoblast cell line from OGD-induced injury GRd. The network pharmacology analysis predicted 48 potential targets of GRd for the treatment of myocardial I/R injury. GO and KEGG enrichment analysis indicated that the cardioprotective effects of GRd were closely related to inflammation and apoptosis mediated by the PI3K/Akt signaling pathway. Furthermore, GRd alleviated inflammation and cardiomyocyte apoptosis in vivo and inhibited OGD/R-induced apoptosis and inflammation in cardiomyocytes. GRd also increased PI3K and Akt phosphorylation, suggesting activation of the PI3K/Akt pathway, whereas LY294002, a PI3K inhibitor, blocked the GRd-induced inhibition of OGD/R-induced apoptosis and inflammation in H9c2 cells. The therapeutic effect of GRd in vivo and in vitro against myocardial I/R injury was primarily dependent on PI3K/Akt pathway activation to inhibit inflammation and cardiomyocyte apoptosis. This study provides new evidence for the use of GRd as a cardiovascular drug.

Atomic-Level Tailoring of the Electronic Metal-Support Interaction Between Pt-Co3O4 Interfaces for High Hydrogen Evolution Performance

Atomic-level modulation of the metal-oxide interface is considered an effective approach to optimize the electronic structure and catalytic activity of metal catalysts but remains highly challenging. Here, we employ the atomic layer deposition (ALD) technique together with a heteroatom doping strategy to effectively tailor the electronic metal-support interaction (EMSI) at the metal-oxide interface on the atomic level, thereby achieving high hydrogen evolution performance and Pt utilization. Theoretical calculations reveal that the doping of N atoms in Co3O4 significantly adjusts the EMSI between Pt-Co3O4 interfaces and, consequently, alters the d-band center of Pt and optimizes the adsorption/desorption of reaction intermediates. This work sheds light on the atomic-level regulation and mechanistic understanding of the EMSI in metal-oxide, while providing guidance for the development of advanced EMSI electrocatalysts for various future energy applications.

Assessment of aortic hemodynamics in patients with thoracoabdominal aortic aneurysm using four-dimensional magnetic resonance imaging: a cross-sectional study

Background

Thoracoabdominal aortic aneurysms (TAAAs) are rare but complicated aortic pathologies that can result in high morbidity and mortality. The whole-aorta hemodynamic characteristics of TAAA survivors remains unknown. This study sought to obtain a comprehensive view of flow hemodynamics of the whole aorta in patients with TAAA using four-dimensional flow (4D flow) magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).

Methods

This study included patients who had experienced TAAA or abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) and age- and sex-matched volunteers who had attended China Hospital from December 2021 to December 2022 in West. Patients with unstable ruptured aneurysm or other cardiovascular diseases were excluded. 4D-flow MRI that covered the whole aorta was acquired. Both planar parameters [(regurgitation fraction (RF), peak systolic velocity (Vmax), overall wall shear stress (WSS)] and segmental parameters [pulse wave velocity (PWV) and viscous energy loss (VEL)] were generated during postprocessing. The Student's t-test or Mann-Whitney test was used to compare flow dynamics among the three groups.

Results

A total of 11 patients with TAAA (mean age 53.2±11.9 years; 10 males), 19 patients with AAA (mean age 58.0±11.7 years; 16 males), and 21 controls (mean age 55.4±15.0 years; 19 males) were analyzed. The patients with TAAA demonstrated a significantly higher RF and lower Vmax in the aortic arch compared to healthy controls. The whole length of the aorta in patients with TAAA was characterized by lower WSS, predominantly in the planes of pulmonary artery bifurcation and the middle infrarenal planes (all P values <0.001). As for segmental hemodynamics, compared to controls, patients with TAAA had a significantly higher PWV in the thoracic aorta (TAAA: median 11.41 m/s, IQR 9.56-14.32 m/s; control: median 7.21 m/s, IQR 5.57-7.79 m/s; P<0.001) as did those with AAA (AAA: median 8.75 m/s, IQR 7.35-10.75 m/s; control: median 7.21 m/s, IQR 5.57-7.79 m/s; P=0.024). Moreover, a greater VEL was observed in the whole aorta and abdominal aorta in patients with TAAA.

Conclusions

Patients with TAAA exhibited a stiffer aortic wall with a lower WSS and a greater VEL for the whole aorta, which was accompanied by a higher RF and lower peak velocity in the dilated portion of the aorta.

Gender Differences in Prognosis After Primary Resection for Retroperitoneal Liposarcoma

BACKGROUND

Current evidence regarding gender difference in retroperitoneal liposarcoma (RLPS) is scarce, so we sought to investigate whether gender may affect prognosis after primary resection of RLPS.

METHODS

We used the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) database to identify RLPS patients from January 1973 to December 2015. Multivariate cox proportional hazard analysis was adopted to generate adjusted hazard ratio (AHR) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) of survival outcomes.

RESULTS

In total, 2108 RLPS patients, including 971 women and 1137 men, were identified, with a median follow-up of 45.0 (17.0-92.0) months. The 5-year and 10-year overall survival rates were 50.5% and 31.5% for men and 60.4% and 42.5% for women. The 5-year and 10-year disease-specific survival rates for men and women were 71.5%, 57.3% and 76.3%, 62.1%, respectively. We found men were associated with an increased risk of all-cause mortality (AHR 1.3, 95% CI 1.0-1.6, P = .017) but not disease-specific mortality (AHR 1.2, 95% CI .9-1.6, P = .246). The subgroup analyses revealed that men were associated with an increased risk of all-cause mortality in patients with low-grade tumors (AHR 1.8, 95% CI 1.3-2.5) or patients who received non-radical resection (AHR 1.6, 95% CI 1.2-2.1). In the subgroup of low-grade tumors, men were also associated with an increased risk of disease-specific mortality (AHR 2.0, 95% CI 1.2-3.3).

CONCLUSION

Men may have worse survival after primary resection of RLPS compared with women, especially in patients with low-grade tumors or patients who received non-radical resection. Gender-based disparities may deserve more attention in patients with RLPS.

Architecting N-doped Carbon Nanotube-Rich Carbon Nanofibers with Biomimetic Vine-Leaf-Whisker Structure as Robust Bifunctional Electrocatalysts for Rechargeable Zn-Air Batteries

Efficient and durable bifunctional catalysts toward oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) and oxygen evolution reaction (OER) are urgently desirable but challenging for rechargeable Zn-air batteries (ZABs), especially flexible wearable ZABs. Inspired by the vine-leaf-whisker structure in nature, we proposed a three-dimensional (3D) hierarchical bifunctional catalyst (denoted as Co-Fe-Zn@N-CNT/CNF) consisting of N-doped carbon nanotubes embedded with abundant CoFe alloy nanoparticles, leaf-shaped N-doped carbon nanoflakes, and porous carbon fibers for rechargeable ZABs. The special biomimetic structure provides a large specific surface area, allowing for high exposure of the active site and ensuring fast mass transport/charge transfer. The close combination of CoFe bimetallic alloys and N-doped carbon nanotubes delivers high electrocatalytic activity, while the coexistence of various active sites such as metal nanoparticles (NPs), metal-Nx, doped N species, and their synergistic interactions endows the catalysts with more active sites. As such, the Co-Fe-Zn@N-CNT/CNF catalyst achieves superior bifunctional catalytic activities for the ORR (a half-wave potential of 0.84 V) and the OER (an overpotential of 326 mV at 10 mA cm-2) in alkaline media, comparable to commercial Pt/C and RuO2. Remarkably, both aqueous and solid-state ZABs assembled with Co-Fe-Zn@N-CNT/CNF catalysts as air electrodes demonstrate excellent charging/discharging performance, high peak power density, and robust long-term cycling stability. More interestingly, the flexible ZAB performs well even under bending conditions, displaying satisfactory device stability and mechanical flexibility. This study presents a new collective morphological-composition-structural engineering strategy for exploiting the efficient bifunctional oxygen electrocatalysts, which is of great significance for high-performance rechargeable ZABs and wearable energy storage devices.

Diagnosis and treatment of carotid-left subclavian bypass graft infection complicated with mitral valve aneurysm and perforation following hybrid TEVAR: A case report

Hybrid thoracic endovascular aortic repair (TEVAR) has been proved to be an effective and reliable treatment option for aortic arch diseases requiring extension of the proximal landing zone. However, hybrid TEVAR was associated with potential risk of post-operative complications, including cerebral infarction, endoleaks and paraplegia. Here we reported a rare case of bypass graft infection complicated with mitral valve aneurysm and perforation following landing zone 2 hybrid TEVAR procedure, who presented with symptoms of fever, major bleeding and anastomotic pseudoaneurysm and received emergency bypass graft removal and stent implantation with acceptable short and midterm follow-up results.

Multimodality magnetic resonance evaluating the effect of enhanced physical exercise on the growth rate, flow haemodynamics, aneurysm wall and ventricular-aortic coupling of patients with small abdominal aortic aneurysms (AAA MOVE trial): a study protocol for an open-label randomised controlled trial

INTRODUCTION

The best lifestyle for small abdominal aortic aneurysms (sAAA) is essential for its conservative management. Physical exercise can improve the cardiopulmonary function of the patients, but it remains unclear which specific type of exercise is most beneficial for individuals with sAAA. The current study was designed to investigate the effect of physician-guided enhanced physical exercise programme on the aorto-cardiac haemodynamic environment, aneurysm sac wall, cardiac function and growth rate of sAAA by multimodality MRI.

METHODS AND ANALYSIS

AAA MOVE study is a prospective, parallel, equivalence, randomised controlled trial. Eligible individuals will be recruited if they are diagnosed with sAAA (focal dilation of abdominal aorta with maximum diameter <5 cm), without contraindication for MRI scanning, or severe heart failure, or uncontrolled arrhythmia. Participants will be randomly allocated to intervention group (physician-guided enhanced physical exercise programme: mainly aerobic training) and control group (standard clinical care) separately in a 1:1 ratio. The primary outcome is 12-month growth rate of sAAA. The first set of secondary outcomes involve multimodality MRI parameters covering flow haemodynamics, aortic wall inflammation and cardiac function. The other secondary outcome (safety end point) is a composite of exercise-related injury, aneurysm rupture and aneurysm intervention. Follow-up will be conducted at 6 and 12 months after intervention.

ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION

This study was approved by the Ethics Committee on Biomedical Research of West China Hospital (approval number: 2023-783) on 16 June 2023. Main findings from the trial will be disseminated through presentations at conferences, peer-reviewed publications and directly pushed to smartphone of participants.

TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER

ChiCTR2300073334.

Types of Membrane Transporters and the Mechanisms of Interaction between Them and Reactive Oxygen Species in Plants

Membrane transporters are proteins that mediate the entry and exit of substances through the plasma membrane and organellar membranes and are capable of recognizing and binding to specific substances, thereby facilitating substance transport. Membrane transporters are divided into different types, e.g., ion transporters, sugar transporters, amino acid transporters, and aquaporins, based on the substances they transport. These membrane transporters inhibit reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation through ion regulation, sugar and amino acid transport, hormone induction, and other mechanisms. They can also promote enzymatic and nonenzymatic reactions in plants, activate antioxidant enzyme activity, and promote ROS scavenging. Moreover, membrane transporters can transport plant growth regulators, solute proteins, redox potential regulators, and other substances involved in ROS metabolism through corresponding metabolic pathways, ultimately achieving ROS homeostasis in plants. In turn, ROS, as signaling molecules, can affect the activity of membrane transporters under abiotic stress through collaboration with ions and involvement in hormone metabolic pathways. The research described in this review provides a theoretical basis for improving plant stress resistance, promoting plant growth and development, and breeding high-quality plant varieties.

The Discovery of Exarafenib (KIN-2787): Overcoming the Challenges of Pan-RAF Kinase Inhibition

RAF, a core signaling component of the MAPK kinase cascade, is often mutated in various cancers, including melanoma, lung, and colorectal cancers. The approved inhibitors were focused on targeting the BRAFV600E mutation that results in constitutive activation of kinase signaling through the monomeric protein (Class I). However, these inhibitors also paradoxically activate kinase signaling of RAF dimers, resulting in increased MAPK signaling in normal tissues. Recently, significant attention has turned to targeting RAF alterations that activate dimeric signaling (class II and III BRAF and NRAS). However, the discovery of a potent and selective inhibitor with biopharmaceutical properties suitable to sustain robust target inhibition in the clinical setting has proven challenging. Herein, we report the discovery of exarafenib (15), a highly potent and selective inhibitor that intercepts the RAF protein in the dimer compatible αC-helix-IN conformation and demonstrates anti-tumor efficacy in preclinical models with BRAF class I, II, and III and NRAS alterations.

Upper extremity phlegmasia cerulea dolens complicating supra vena cava embolism in a cervical cancer patient: case report

Phlegmasia cerulea dolens (PCD) is a rare yet severe complication of deep vein thrombosis (DVT), characterized by a high amputation rate and mortality. Early diagnosis and treatment are crucial in managing this condition. PCD predominantly affects the lower extremities rather than the upper extremities. We herein present a rare upper extremity PCD case accompanied with supra vena cava and pulmonary embolism in a cervical cancer patient, who presented to our institution with severe pain, edema and irreversible venous gangrene of right upper limb with no response to anticoagulation therapy. Emergency fasciotomy and amputation were performed due to the progressed venous gangrene, however, the patient developed severe infection and coagulation disorders, gastrointestinal bleeding and disseminated intravascular coagulation after the surgery. Despite medical interventions, her family chose to withdraw treatment and the patient died in ICU at the fourth day following emergency surgery.

Wuzi Yanzong administration alleviates Sertoli cell injury by recovering AKT/mTOR-mediated autophagy and the mTORC1-mTROC2 balance in aging-induced testicular dysfunction

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

Wuzi Yanzong Prescription (WZ), a classic traditional Chinese medicine formula, has the properties of kidney nourishing and essence strengthening, and it is widely used to treat male infertility with a long history. Sertoli cells are injured with aging, resulting in testicular dysfunction, and WZ effectively rejuvenates the age-related decline of testicular function. However, whether the therapeutic effects of WZ on aging-related testicular dysfunction are dependent on the restoration of Sertoli cell function remains unclear.

AIM OF THE STUDY

In a mouse model of natural aging, we explored the protective effects of WZ and its potential mechanisms.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Fifteen-month-old C57BL/6 mice were randomized to receive either standard diet or WZ (2 and 8 g/kg) for 3 months. Meanwhile, 10 1-month-old mice were considered the adult control group and received standard diet for 3 months. The testis and epididymis were rapidly collected, and the sperm quality, testicular histology, Sertoli cell numbers, tight junction (TJ) ultrastructure, and blood-testis barrier-associated protein expression and localization were assessed.

RESULTS

WZ significantly increased sperm concentration and sperm viability, improved the degenerative histomorphology and elevated the seminiferous epithelium height. Furthermore, WZ increased the number of Sertoli cells, restored the ultrastructure of the Sertoli cell TJ, and upregulated the expression of TJ-associated proteins (zonula occludens-1 and Claudin11), ectoplasm specialized-associated proteins (N-Cadherin, E-Cadherin and β-Catenin), and gap junction-associated protein (connexin 43), but did not affect the expression of Occludin and cytoskeletal protein (Vimentin). In addition, WZ did not change the localization of zonula occludens-1 and β-Catenin in aged testis. Moreover, WZ increased the expression of autophagy-associated proteins (light chain 3 beta and autophagy related 5) and decreased the expression of p62, phosphorylated mammalian target of rapamycin, and phosphorylated AKT in Sertoli cells. Finally, we found that WZ attenuated mTOR complex 1 (mTORC1) activity and upregulated mTORC2 activity, as evidenced by inhibition of the expression of the regulatory-associated protein of mTOR, phosphorylated p70 S6K, and phosphorylated ribosomal protein s6 and enhancement of the expression of Rictor in the Sertoli cells of aging mice.

CONCLUSIONS

WZ improves the injury of Sertoli cells by restoring AKT/mTOR-mediated autophagy and the mTORC1-mTROC2 balance in Sertoli cells during aging. Our findings provide a new mechanism of WZ in the treatment of aging-induced testicular dysfunction.

Etiology of lower respiratory tract in pneumonia based on metagenomic next-generation sequencing: a retrospective study

Introduction

Pneumonia are the leading cause of death worldwide, and antibiotic treatment remains fundamental. However, conventional sputum smears or cultures are still inefficient for obtaining pathogenic microorganisms.Metagenomic next-generation sequencing (mNGS) has shown great value in nucleic acid detection, however, the NGS results for lower respiratory tract microorganisms are still poorly studied.

Methods

This study dealt with investigating the efficacy of mNGS in detecting pathogens in the lower respiratory tract of patients with pulmonary infections. A total of 112 patients admitted at the First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University between April 30, 2018, and June 30, 2020, were enrolled in this retrospective study. The bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) was obtained from lower respiratory tract from each patient. Routine methods (bacterial smear and culture) and mNGS were employed for the identification of pathogenic microorganisms in BALF.

Results

The average patient age was 53.0 years, with 94.6% (106/112) obtaining pathogenic microorganism results. The total mNGS detection rate of pathogenic microorganisms significantly surpassed conventional methods (93.7% vs. 32.1%, P < 0.05). Notably, 75% of patients (84/112) were found to have bacteria by mNGS, but only 28.6% (32/112) were found to have bacteria by conventional approaches. The most commonly detected bacteria included Acinetobacter baumannii (19.6%), Klebsiella pneumoniae (17.9%), Pseudomonas aeruginosa (14.3%), Staphylococcus faecium (12.5%), Enterococcus faecium (12.5%), and Haemophilus parainfluenzae (11.6%). In 29.5% (33/112) of patients, fungi were identified using mNGS, including 23 cases of Candida albicans (20.5%), 18 of Pneumocystis carinii (16.1%), and 10 of Aspergillus (8.9%). However, only 7.1 % (8/112) of individuals were found to have fungi when conventional procedures were used. The mNGS detection rate of viruses was significantly higher than the conventional method rate (43.8% vs. 0.9%, P < 0.05). The most commonly detected viruses included Epstein-Barr virus (15.2%), cytomegalovirus (13.4%), circovirus (8.9%), human coronavirus (4.5%), and rhinovirus (4.5%). Only 29.4% (33/112) of patients were positive, whereas 5.4% (6/112) of patients were negative for both detection methods as shown by Kappa analysis, indicating poor consistency between the two methods (P = 0.340; Kappa analysis).

Conclusion

Significant benefits of mNGS have been shown in the detection of pathogenic microorganisms in patients with pulmonary infection. For those with suboptimal therapeutic responses, mNGS can provide an etiological basis, aiding in precise anti-infective treatment.

[Research progress on development and utilization of minor ginsenosides]

Minor ginsenosides are a class of processed saponins with minor natural content, high bioavailability, and outstanding bio-logical activity, which are usually obtained by biological or chemical transformation of prototype saponins directly extracted from Panax plants. In recent years, with the clarification of the biosynthetic pathway of saponins and the development of synthetic biology, it has become possible to use synthetic metabolic engineering methods with microorganisms as hosts to produce saponins. Minor ginsenosides have received widespread attention because of their remarkable biological activities in enhancing the immune function of the body and antitumor property. At present, most of the reviews on minor ginsenosides focus on transformation preparation, process optimization, and pharmacological activity, but there are some deficiencies in industrial analysis. This study summarized structural types, pharmacological activities, sources of acquisition, and transformation pathways of minor ginsenosides based on the relevant literature in China and abroad, proposed problems in the preparation of existing minor ginsenosides, and discussed the future research and utilization prospects, to provide a theoretical basis for improving the basic research of minor ginsenosides and promoting their industrialization.

Role of LncRNA MIAT in Diabetic Complications

Long non-coding RNA (LncRNA) refers to a large class of RNAs with over 200 nucleotides that do not have the function of encoding proteins. In recent years, more and more literature has revealed that lncRNA is involved in manipulating genes related to human health and disease, playing outstanding biological functions, which has attracted widespread attention from researchers. The newly discovered long-stranded non-coding RNA myocardial infarction-related transcript (LncRNA MIAT) is abnormally expressed in a variety of diseases, especially in diabetic complications, and has been proven to have a wide range of effects. This review article aimed to summarize the importance of LncRNA MIAT in diabetic complications, such as diabetic cardiomyopathy, diabetic nephropathy, and diabetic retinopathy, and highlight the latest findings on the pathway and mechanism of its participation in regulating diabetic complications, which may aid in finding new intervention targets for the treatment of diabetic complications. LncRNA MIAT competitively binds microRNAs to regulate gene expression as competitive endogenous RNAs. Thus, this review article has reviewed the biological function and pathogenesis of LncRNA MIAT in diabetic complications and described its role in diabetic complications. This paper will help in finding new therapeutic targets and intervention strategies for diabetes complications.

Understanding divergent substrate stereoselectivity in the isothiourea-catalysed conjugate addition of cyclic α-substituted β-ketoesters to α,β-unsaturated aryl esters

The development of enantioselective synthetic methods capable of generating vicinal stereogenic centres, where one is tetrasubstituted (such as either an all-carbon quaternary centre or where one or more substituents are heteroatoms), is a recognised synthetic challenge. Herein, the enantioselective conjugate addition of a range of carbo- and heterocyclic α-substituted β-ketoesters to α,β-unsaturated aryl esters using the isothiourea HyperBTM as a Lewis base catalyst is demonstrated. Notably, divergent diastereoselectivity is observed through the use of either cyclopentanone-derived or indanone-derived substituted β-ketoesters with both generating the desired stereodefined products with high selectivity (>95 : 5 dr, up to 99 : 1 er). The scope and limitations of these processes are demonstrated, alongside application on gram scale. The origin of the divergent substrate selectivity has been probed through the use of DFT-analysis, with preferential orientation driven by dual stabilising CH⋯O interactions. The importance of solvation with strongly polar transition-states is highlighted and the SMD solvation model is demonstrated to capture solvation effects reliably.

2-Methoxyestradiol ameliorates paraquat-induced pulmonary fibrosis by inhibiting the TGF-β1/Smad2/3 signaling pathway

Paraquat (PQ) is a highly effective and highly toxic herbicide that is highly toxic to both humans and animals. Pulmonary fibrosis is the primary cause of fatality in patients with PQ poisoning, there is no effective drug treatment yet. 2-Methoxyestradiol (2ME) is a natural metabolite of estradiol with anti-tumor, anti-angiogenesis, and anti-proliferative effects. Whether 2ME has the potential to inhibit pulmonary fibrosis induced by PQ is unclear. This study aims to investigate the potential effects and mechanism of 2ME on PQ-induced pulmonary fibrosis. C57BL/6 mice and A549 cells were exposed to PQ to establish pulmonary fibrosis model. In vivo, Hematoxylin and eosin (H&E) staining was utilized to assess the pathological characteristics. Masson's trichrome staining was employed to evaluate the collagen deposition. Western blot and immunohistochemistry were conducted to determine the expressions of fibrosis markers. In vitro, the expressions of epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) markers were detected using western blot and immunofluorescence to evaluated the potential inhibition of PQ-induced EMT by 2ME. And proteins associated with the TGF-β1/Smad2/3 signaling pathway were measured by western blot in vivo and in vitro. The result found that 2ME can ameliorated PQ-induced pulmonary fibrosis and inhibit the activation of TGF-β1/Smad2/3 signaling pathway. These findings suggest that 2ME may serve as a potential therapeutic agent for treating PQ-induced pulmonary fibrosis.

Saponins from Panax japonicus improve neuronal mitochondrial injury of aging rats

CONTEXT

Panax japonicus is the dried rhizome of Panax japonicus C.A. Mey. (Araliaceae). Saponins from Panax japonicus (SPJ) exhibit anti-oxidative and anti-aging effects.

OBJECTIVE

We evaluated the neuroprotective effects of SPJ on aging rats.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Sprague-Dawley rats (18-months-old) were randomly divided into aging and SPJ groups (n = 8). Five-month-old rats were taken as the adult control (n = 8). The rats were fed a normal chow diet or the SPJ-containing diet (10 or 30 mg/kg) for 4 months. An in vitro model was established by d-galactose (d-Gal) in the SH-SY5Y cell line and pretreated with SPJ (25 and 50 µg/mL). The neuroprotection of SPJ was evaluated via Nissl staining, flow cytometry, transmission electron microscopy and Western blotting in vivo and in vitro.

RESULTS

SPJ improved the neuronal degeneration and mitochondrial morphology that are associated with aging. Meanwhile, SPJ up-regulated the protein levels of mitofusin 2 (Mfn2) and optic atrophy 1 (Opa1) and down-regulated the protein level of dynamin-like protein 1 (Drp1) in the hippocampus of aging rats (p < 0.05 or p < 0.01 vs. 22 M). The in vitro studies also demonstrated that SPJ attenuated d-Gal-induced cell senescence concomitant with the improvement in mitochondrial function; SPJ, also up-regulated the Mfn2 and Opa1 protein levels, whereas the Drp1 protein level (p < 0.05 or p < 0.01 vs. d-Gal group) was down-regulated.

DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSIONS

Further research on the elderly population will contribute to the development and utilization of SPJ for the treatment of neurodegenerative disorders.

Fast-Track Management of Concurrent Percutaneous Coronary Intervention in Patients Scheduled for Endovascular Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm Repair

PURPOSE

To investigate the safety and efficacy of fast-track management of concurrent percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) in patients with abdominal aortic aneurysm scheduled for endovascular aortic aneurysm repair (EVAR).

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Eligible patients with abdominal aortic aneurysm who received EVAR from January 2011 to December 2019 were included in this retrospective cohort study. Propensity score (PS)-matched analysis was used to balance the baseline between the fast-track and standard control (EVAR without significant coronary artery disease) groups. Effects of fast-track management on short-term and midterm outcomes were evaluated via Cox proportional hazard regression and logistic regression analyses with corresponding hazard ratio (HR) or odds ratio (OR) and associated 95% confidence intervals (95% CIs), respectively.

RESULTS

The study included 669 patients (73 fast-track and 596 standard control). Compared with the standard control group, no significant difference was found regarding major adverse cardiac events (HR 0.78, 95% CI [0.36, 1.68], p=0.519), overall mortality (HR 0.63, 95% CI [0.25, 1.55], p=0.315), and 30-day major hemorrhage events (OR 1.01, 95% CI [0.99, 1.03], p=0.514). The results were consistent in the PS-matched cohorts regarding major adverse cardiac events (HR 0.57, 95% CI [0.25, 1.29], p=0.176), overall mortality (HR 0.43, 95% CI [0.17, 1.11], p=0.820), and 30-day major hemorrhage events (OR 1.00, 95% CI [0.05, 10.61], p=0.999). Similar results were found in the subgroup analyses concerning fast-track management of 2-week intervals and patients with high age-adjusted Charlson comorbidity index.

CONCLUSIONS

Under appropriate perioperative care, shortening the time interval between PCI and EVAR to 1 month, or even 2 weeks, seemed to be safe and effective. Short-term and midterm cardiovascular and survival outcomes were comparable with patients who underwent standard EVAR without significant coronary artery disease.

miR-871-5p/PGC1α Regulates Aging-Induced Lipid Deposition in Hepatocytes Through Fatty Acid β-Oxidation

This study investigated the role of the miR-871-5p/proliferator-activated receptor α (PGC1α) pathway in ameliorating hepatic steatosis. We examined miR-871-5p expression in liver tissues of aging mice and AML12 senescent cells co-induced by low serum and palmitic acid (PA). Bioinformatics and multiple experiments were employed to validate the expression level of the target gene PGC1α for miR-871-5p. In this study, we aimed to investigate the potential role of miR-871-5p in regulating hepatic lipid deposition associated with aging. To do so, we performed in vitro transfection of both miR-871-5p mimic and inhibitor into senescent hepatocytes. Our results showed that miR-871-5p could inhibit PGC1α expression and cause lipid deposition in the liver due to aging. miR-871-5p controls this process by regulating PGC1α/fatty acid β-oxidation. H&E staining displayed the appearance of fat vacuoles in the livers of aging mice, and fatty acid β-oxidation-related genes (acyl-coenzyme A oxidase 1 carnitine palmitoyl transferase 1α and peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor α) expression was significantly reduced. Lipogenic genes (sterol regulatory element binding protein 1C and fatty acid synthase) expression level was increased in the livers of aging mice. In AML12 cells co-induced by low serum and PA, miR-871-5p mimics decreased PGC1α expression and increased lipid droplet accumulation in senescent hepatocytes. Conversely, miR-871-5p inhibitor promoted PGC1α expression and reduced lipid deposition in senescent hepatocytes. Our findings suggest that inhibiting miR-871-5p could be crucial in ameliorating aging-associated hepatic steatosis. These findings offer valuable insights into the molecular mechanisms driving hepatic steatosis in aging.

LncRNA MEG3: Targeting the Molecular Mechanisms and Pathogenic causes of Metabolic Diseases

BACKGROUND

Non-coding RNA is a type of RNA that does not encode proteins, distributed among rRNA, tRNA, snRNA, snoRNA, microRNA and other RNAs with identified functions, where the Long non-coding RNA (lncRNA) displays a nucleotide length over 200. LncRNAs enable multiple biological processes in the human body, including cancer cell invasion and metastasis, apoptosis, cell autophagy, inflammation, etc. Recently, a growing body of studies has demonstrated the association of lncRNAs with obesity and obesity-induced insulin resistance and NAFLD, where MEG3 is related to glucose metabolism, such as insulin resistance. In addition, MEG3 has been demonstrated in the pathological processes of various cancers, such as mediating inflammation, cardiovascular disease, liver disease and other metabolic diseases.

OBJECTIVE

To explore the regulatory role of lncRNA MEG3 in metabolic diseases. It provides new ideas for clinical treatment or experimental research.

METHODS

In this paper, in order to obtain enough data, we integrate and analyze the data in the PubMed database.

RESULTS

LncRNA MEG3 can regulate many metabolic diseases, such as insulin resistance, NAFLD, inflammation and so on.

CONCLUSION

LncRNA MEG3 has a regulatory role in a variety of metabolic diseases, which are currently difficult to be completely cured, and MEG3 is a potential target for the treatment of these diseases. Here, we review the role of lncRNA MEG3 in mechanisms of action and biological functions in human metabolic diseases.

ZNF671 methylation test in cervical scrapings for cervical intraepithelial neoplasia grade 3 and cervical cancer detection

Effective triage of high-risk human papillomavirus (hrHPV)+ women is warranted to avoid unnecessary referral and overtreatment. Molecular triage tests have recently begun to impact cervical intraepithelial neoplasia grade 3 (CIN3) or cervical cancer (CC), termed CIN3+, detection. We find that zinc finger protein 671 methylation (ZNF671m) test has superior performance for CIN3+ detection in all single molecular triage tests, including HPV16/18 genotyping, paired box gene 1 methylation (PAX1m), and ZNF671m, in the training set. Using ZNF671m test instead of Thinprep cytologic test (TCT) as a single triage strategy or as a combined triage strategy with HPV16/18 genotyping has achieved comparable sensitivity but higher specificity for CIN3+ detection among 391 hrHPV+ women in the validation set. Little attention has been paid to the women with hrHPV- status but detected CIN3+. We find that the CIN3+ risk after a negative result could be reduced further by triage using ZNF671m in hrHPV- patients.

Patent iliolumbar artery increase no risk of type II endoleaks after endovascular abdominal aortic aneurysm: a case-control study

Objective

The aims of the present study were to explore the risk factors for type 2 endoleaks (T2ELs) after endovascular aneurysm repair (EVAR) and the association between T2ELs and the iliolumbar artery.

Materials and methods

A single-center, retrospective case-control study in West China Hospital was conducted among patients with infrarenal abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) who underwent EVAR between June 2010 and June 2019. The associations of patient characteristics, anatomical factors, internal iliac artery embolization, and ILA with the primary outcome were analyzed. The secondary objective was to analyze survival and reintervention between the T2EL group and the non-T2EL group. Kaplan-Meier survival, propensity matching analysis and multivariate logistic regression analysis were used.

Results

A total of 603 patients were included. The median follow-up was 51 months (range 5.0-106.0). There was a significant difference in the diameter of the lumbar artery (LA), middle sacral artery (MSA) and inferior mesentery artery (IMA), proportion of thrombus and LA numbers. The univariate analysis showed that T2ELs were more likely to develop more thrombus in aneurysm cavity (OR = 0.294, p = 0.012), larger MSA (OR = 1.284, p = 0.04), LA (OR = 1.520, p = 0.015), IMA (OR = 1.056, p < 0.001) and more LAs (OR = 1.390, p = 0.019). The multivariate analysis showed that the number of LAs (HR: 1.349, 95% CI: 1.140-1.595, p < .001) and the diameter of the IMA (HR: 1.328, 95% CI: 1.078-1.636, p = 0.008) were significantly associated with T2ELs. There were no new findings from the propensity score matching. The reintervention-free survival rates were significantly different between the two groups (p = 0.048). Overall survival and AAA-related death rates were not different between the two group. This was consistent with the PSM analysis.

Conclusion

The iliolumbar artery and the different internal iliac artery interventions may not increase the incidence of T2ELs. But the numbers of LAs and IMA diameter were independent risk factors for T2Els. T2ELs was associated with the reintervention but did not affect long-term survival or increase aneurysm-related mortality after EVAR.

30-min decayless kink oscillations in a very long bundle of solar coronal plasma loops

The energy balance in the corona of the Sun is the key to the long-standing coronal heating dilemma, which could be potentially revealed by observational studies of decayless kink oscillations of coronal plasma loops. A bundle of very long off-limb coronal loops with the length of [Formula: see text] Mm and a lifetime of about 2 days are found to exhibit decayless kink oscillations. The oscillations are observed for several hours. The oscillation amplitude is measured at 0.3-0.5 Mm, and the period at 28-33 min. The existence of 30-min periodicity of decayless kink oscillations indicates that the mechanism compensating the wave damping is still valid in such a massive plasma structure. It provides important evidence for the non-resonant origin of decayless kink oscillations with 2-6 min periods, i.e., the lack of their link with the leakage of photospheric and chromospheric oscillations into the corona and the likely role of the broadband energy sources. Magnetohydrodynamic seismology based on the reported detection of the kink oscillation, with the assistance of the differential emission measure analysis and a background coronal model provides us with a comprehensive set of plasma and magnetic field diagnostics, which is of interest as input parameters of space weather models.

[The mechanism of microcystin leucine-arginine (MC-LR)-induced injury of Sertoli cell immune response and biological behavior]

Microcystin-leucine arginine (MC-LR), a potentially carcinogenic toxin, is produced by Cyanobacteria such as Microcystis and Ananabacteria during water bloom. Increasing evidence demonstrated that MC-LR induces male reproductive toxicity, mainly by inducing germ cell apoptosis, destroying cell cytoskeleton, interfering with DNA damage repair pathway, and damaging blood-testicular barrier (BTB), which eventually lead to male sterility. Testicular Sertoli cells are the somatic cells that directly contact with spermatogenic cells in seminiferous tubules. They not only regulate immune response to maintain testicular immune homeostasis by secreting a variety of cytokines and immunosuppressive factors, but also provide the protective effects of spermatogenic cells by forming BTB. MC-LR induces inflammation and apoptosis of Sertoli cells, and destroys the integrity of the BTB, and then causes spermatogenesis dysfunction.

[Protective effects of total saponins from Panax japonicus against high-fat diet-induced testicular Sertoli cell junction damage in mice]

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the protective effects of total saponins from Panax japonicus (TSPJ) against high-fat dietinduced testicular Sertoli cell junction damage in mice.

METHODS

Forty male C57BL/6J mice were randomized into normal diet group, high-fat diet group, and low-dose (25 mg/kg) and high-dose (75 mg/kg) TSPJ treatment groups (n=10). The mice in the normal diet group were fed a normal diet, while the mice in the other groups were fed a high-fat diet. After TSPJ treatment via intragastric administration for 5 months, the testes and epididymis of the mice were collected for measurement of weight, testicular and epididymal indices and sperm parameters. HE staining was used for histological evaluation of the testicular tissues and measurement of seminiferous tubule diameter and seminiferous epithelium height. The expression levels of ZO-1, occludin, claudin11, N-cadherin, E-cadherin and β-catenin in Sertoli cells were detected with Western blot, and the localization and expression levels of ZO-1 and β-catenin in the testicular tissues were detected with immunofluorescence assay. The protein expressions of LC3B, p-AKT and p-mTOR in testicular Sertoli cells were detected using double immunofluorescence assay.

RESULTS

Treatment with TSPJ significantly improved high-fat diet-induced testicular dysfunction by reducing body weight (P < 0.001), increasing testicular and epididymal indices (P < 0.05), and improving sperm concentration and sperm viability (P < 0.05). TSPJ ameliorated testicular pathologies and increased seminiferous epithelium height of the mice with high-fat diet feeding (P < 0.05) without affecting the seminiferous tubule diameter. TSPJ significantly increased the expression levels of ZO-1, occludin, N-cadherin, E-cadherin and β-catenin (P < 0.05) but did not affect claudin11 expression in the testicular tissues. Immunofluorescence assay showed that TSPJ significantly increased ZO-1 and β-catenin expression in the testicular tissues (P < 0.001), downregulated LC3B expression and upregulated p-AKT and p-mTOR expressions in testicular Sertoli cells.

CONCLUSION

TSPJ alleviates high-fat diet-induced damages of testicular Sertoli cell junctions and spermatogenesis possibly by activating the AKT/mTOR signaling pathway and inhibiting autophagy of testicular Sertoli cells.

Electrolyte and Additive Engineering for Zn Anode Interfacial Regulation in Aqueous Zinc Batteries

Aqueous Zn-metal batteries (AZMBs) have gained great interest due to their low cost, eco-friendliness, and inherent safety, which serve as a promising complement to the existing metal-based batteries, e.g., lithium-metal batteries and sodium-metal batteries. Although the utilization of aqueous electrolytes and Zn metal anode in AZMBs ensures their improved safety over other metal batteries meanwhile guaranteeing their decent energy density at the cell level, plenty of challenges involved with metallic Zn anode still await to be addressed, including dendrite growth, hydrogen evolution reaction, and zinc corrosion and passivation. In the past years, several attempts have been adopted to address these problems, among which engineering the aqueous electrolytes and additives is regarded as a facile and promising approach. In this review, a comprehensive summary of aqueous electrolytes and electrolyte additives will be given based on the recent literature, aiming at providing a fundamental understanding of the challenges associated with the metallic Zn anode in aqueous electrolytes, meanwhile offering a guideline for the electrolytes and additives engineering strategies toward stable AZMBs in the future.

Transcriptome analysis showed that tomato-rootstock enhanced salt tolerance of grafted seedlings was accompanied by multiple metabolic processes and gene differences

Introduction

Grafting is a commonly used cultural practice to counteract salt stress and is especially important for vegetable production. However, it is not clear which metabolic processes and genes are involved in the response of tomato rootstocks to salt stress.

Methods

To elucidate the regulatory mechanism through which grafting enhances salt tolerance, we first evaluated the salt damage index, electrolyte permeability and Na⁺ accumulation in tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.) leaves of grafted seedlings (GSs) and nongrafted seedlings (NGSs) subjected to 175 mmol·L^{- 1} NaCl for 0-96 h, covering the front, middle and rear ranges.

Results

Compared with the NGS, the GSs were more salt tolerant, and the Na⁺ content in the leaves decreased significantly. Through transcriptome sequencing data analysis of 36 samples, we found that GSs exhibited more stable gene expression patterns, with a lower number of DEGs. WRKY and PosF21 transcription factors were significantly upregulated in the GSs compared to the NGSs. Moreover, the GSs presented more amino acids, a higher photosynthetic index and a higher content of growth-promoting hormones. The main differences between GSs and NGSs were in the expression levels of genes involved in the BR signaling pathway, with significant upregulation of XTHs. The above results show that the metabolic pathways of "photosynthetic antenna protein", "amino acid biosynthesis" and "plant hormone signal transduction" participate in the salt tolerance response of grafted seedlings at different stages of salt stress, maintaining the stability of the photosynthetic system and increasing the contents of amino acids and growth-promoting hormones (especially BRs). In this process, the transcription factors WRKYs, PosF21 and XTHs might play an important role at the molecular level.

Discussion

The results of this study demonstrates that grafting on salt tolerant rootstocks can bring different metabolic processes and transcription levels changes to scion leaves, thereby the scion leaves show stronger salt tolerance. This information provides new insight into the mechanism underlying tolerance to salt stress regulation and provides useful molecular biological basis for improving plant salt resistance.

Transverse oscillations and an energy source in a strongly magnetized sunspot

The solar corona is two to three orders of magnitude hotter than the underlying photosphere, and the energy loss of coronal plasma is extremely strong, requiring a heating flux of over 1,000 W m-2 to maintain its high temperature. Using the 1.6 m Goode Solar Telescope, we report a detection of ubiquitous and persistent transverse waves in umbral fibrils in the chromosphere of a strongly magnetized sunspot. The energy flux carried by these waves was estimated to be 7.52 × 106 W m-2, three to four orders of magnitude stronger than the energy loss rate of plasma in active regions. Two-fluid magnetohydrodynamic simulations reproduced the high-resolution observations and showed that these waves dissipate significant energy, which is vital for coronal heating. Such transverse oscillations and the associated strong energy flux may exist in a variety of magnetized regions on the Sun, and could be the observational target of next-generation solar telescopes.

A quasi-solid polymer electrolyte initiated by two-dimensional functional nanosheets for stable lithium metal batteries

Lithium-metal batteries (LMBs) are expected to serve as next-generation energy storage systems due to their high theoretical energy density. However, their practical application is largely impeded due to the safety risks that arise from the uncontrollable Li dendrite growth and the high reactivity between high flammability liquid organic electrolytes and metallic lithium. Here, we report a highly safe quasi-solid gel polymer electrolyte (GPE) to achieve stable cycling of lithium metal with high coulombic efficiency, and it is prepared by in situ polymerization of 1,3-dioxolane (DOL) assisted by multi-functional H₃Sb₃P₂O₁₄ sheets. H₃Sb₃P₂O₁₄ acts as an initiator and a functional additive simultaneously that promotes the formation of a stable solid electrolyte interface (SEI) layer, thereby regulating the uniform deposition of Li and improving the Li plating/stripping efficiency. The obtained quasi-solid GPE exhibits high ionic conductivity and enhanced oxidative stability, favoring a stabilized electrode/electrolyte interface. Using the GPE, the electrochemical performance of the quasi-solid-state LMB with a LiFePO₄ cathode and a lithium metal anode is significantly improved, delivering a discharge capacity of 125.7 mA h g^-1 even after 1000 cycles. Therefore, the high reversibility and remarkable battery cyclability suggest that such a GPE is a promising choice of electrolyte for LMBs, while its facile preparation makes its large-scale application possible in the future.

Synergetic Nanostructure Engineering and Electronic Modulation of a 3D Hollow Heterostructured NiCo2O4@NiFe-LDH Self-Supporting Electrode for Rechargeable Zn-Air Batteries

Developing electrocatalysts that integrate the merits of the hollow structure and heterojunction is an attractive but still challenging strategy for addressing the sluggish kinetics of oxygen evolution reaction (OER) in many renewable energy technologies. Herein, a 3D hierarchically flexible self-supporting electrode with a hollow heterostructure is intentionally constructed by assembling thin NiFe layered double hydroxide (LDH) nanosheets on the surface of metal-organic framework-derived hollow NiCo₂O₄ nanoflake arrays (NiCo₂O₄@NiFe-LDH) for rechargeable Zn-air batteries (ZABs). Theoretical calculations demonstrate that the interfacial electron transfer from NiFe-LDH to NiCo₂O₄ induces the electronic modulation, improves the conductivity, and lowers the reaction energy barriers during OER, ensuring high catalytic activity. Meanwhile, the 3D hierarchically hollow nanoarray architecture can afford plentiful catalytic active sites and short mass-/charge-transfer pathways. As a result, the obtained catalyst exhibits remarkable OER electrocatalytic performance, showing low overpotentials (only 231 mV at 10 mA cm^-2, 300 mV at 50 mA cm^-2) and robust stability. When assembling liquid and flexible solid-state ZABs with NiCo₂O₄@NiFe-LDH as the OER catalyst, the ZABs achieve excellent power density, high specific capacity, superior cycle durability, and good bending flexibility, exceeding the RuO₂ + Pt/C benchmarks and other previously reported self-supporting catalysts. This work not only constructs an advanced hollow heterostructured catalyst for sustainable energy systems and wearable electronic devices but also provides insights into the role of interfacial electron modulation in catalytic performance enhancement.

Total saponins from Panax japonicus reduce inflammation in adipocytes through the miR155/SOCS1/NFκB signaling pathway

BACKGROUND

The rising incidence of metabolic diseases due to chronic inflammation in the adipose tissue has been attributed to factors such as high fat diet (HFD). Previous studies have demonstrated that the total saponins from Panax japonicus (TSPJ) can reduce HFD-induced adipocyte inflammation, but the underlying mechanism remains unclear. In this work, we explored the molecular mechanism by which TSPJ reduces inflammation response in adipocytes.

METHODS

We first established C57BL/6 mouse and 3T3-L1 adipocyte models. Lentiviruses packaged with the plasmids were injected into mice through the tail vein or into adipocytes to generate the in vivo and in vitro models with miR155 knockdown and overexpression. The mice were fed with HFD to trigger inflammation and administered TSPJ (25 mg/kg∙d and 75 mg/kg∙d) by gavage. The adipocytes were treated with palmitic acid (PA) to trigger inflammation response, then treated with TSPJ (25 μg/ml and 50 μg/ml). Finally, the expression of miR155, inflammatory factors, SOCS1, and NFκB pathway-related proteins was explored.

RESULTS

TSPJ significantly inhibited the expression of inflammation-related genes and the miR155 expression in adipocytes both in vitro and in vivo. The dual luciferase reporter gene assay revealed that miR155 mediated the downregulation of SOCS1. TSPJ significantly inhibited and upregulated the phosphorylation of the NFκB protein and the SOCS1 proteins, respectively.

CONCLUSION

TSPJ inhibits miR155 to upregulate the SOCS1 expression, which subsequently inhibits the NFκB signaling pathway, thereby mitigating the inflammatory response in the adipocytes of HFD mice.

Comprehensive analysis of the role of SFXN family in breast cancer

The sideroflexin (SFXN) family is a group of mitochondrial membrane proteins. Although the function of the SFXN family in mitochondria has been widely recognized, the expression levels, role, and prognostic value of this family in breast cancer (BC) have not been clearly articulated and systematically analysed. In our research, SFXN1 and SFXN2 were significantly upregulated in BC versus normal samples based on Gene Expression Profiling Interactive Analysis 2 and the Human Protein Atlas databases. We found that high SFXN1 expression was significantly related to poor prognosis in BC patients and that high SFXN2 expression was significantly associated with good prognosis in BC patients. Gene Ontology analysis of the SFXN family was performed based on the STRING database to explore the potential functions of this family, including biological processes, cellular components, and molecular functions. Based on the MethSurv database, we found that two SFXN1 CpG sites (5′-UTR-S_Shelf-cg06573254 and TSS200-Island-cg17647431), two SFXN2 CpG sites (3′-UTR-Open_Sea-cg04774043 and Body-Open_Sea-cg18994254), one SFXN3 CpG site (Body-S_Shelf-cg17858697), and nine SFXN5 CpG sites (1stExon;5′-UTR-Island-cg03856450, Body-Open_Sea-cg04016113, Body-Open_Sea-cg04197631, Body-Open_Sea-cg07558704, Body-Open_Sea-cg08383863, Body-Open_Sea-cg10040131, Body-Open_Sea-cg10588340, Body-Open_Sea-cg17046766, and Body-Open_Sea-cg22830638) were significantly related to the prognosis of BC patients. According to the ENCORI database, four negative regulatory miRNAs for SFXN1 (hsa-miR-22-3p, hsa-miR-140-5p, hsa-miR-532-5p, and hsa-miR-582-3p) and four negative regulatory miRNAs for SFXN2 (hsa-miR-9-5p, hsa-miR-34a-5p, hsa-miR-532-5p, and hsa-miR-885-5p) were related to poor prognosis for BC patients. This study suggests that SFXN1 and SFXN2 are valuable biomarkers and treatment targets for patients with BC.

Randomised controlled trial to evaluate the effect of contrast material dilution on renal function in patients after endovascular aortic repair: rationale and design for the CULTURE trial

INTRODUCTION

Postoperative renal function decline is a major concern for thoracic endovascular aortic repair (TEVAR) and endovascular abdominal aortic repair (EVAR). Diluting contrast medium in the power injector may be helpful in reducing the risk of contrast-induced nephropathy, but it can also blur fluoroscopic vision during surgery. The quality of the current evidence is very low; thus, this study is designed to investigate the effect of contrast dilution in the power injector on renal function changes in patients after endovascular aortic repair.

METHOD AND ANALYSIS

The study is a prospective, single-blind, parallel, non-inferiority, randomised controlled trial with two independent cohorts: Cohort TEVAR and EVAR. Individuals will enter the appropriate cohort based on clinical interviews if they meet the eligibility criteria. Participants in Cohort TEVAR and EVAR will be randomly allocated to the intervention group (diluting contrast medium to 50% in the power injector) and control group (pure contrast medium in the power injector) separately in a 1:1 ratio. The primary study points consist of the proportion of patients who develop acute kidney injury within 48 hours after TEAVR or EVAR (first stage) and freedom of major adverse kidney events at 12 months after TEAVR or EVAR (second stage). The safety endpoint is freedom of all types of endoleaks at 30 days after TEVAR or EVAR. Follow-up will be conducted at 30 days and 12 months after intervention.

ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION

The trial was approved by the Ethics Committee on Biomedical Research, West China Hospital of Sichuan University (approval number: 20201290). The results of the study will be disseminated through publications in peer-reviewed journals and presentations at academic conferences.

TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER

Chinese Clinical Trial Registry (ChiCTR2100042555).

Learning Response-Consistent and Background-Suppressed Correlation Filters for Real-Time UAV Tracking

With the advantages of discriminative correlation filter (DCF) in tracking accuracy and computational efficiency, the DCF-based methods have been widely used in the field of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV) for target tracking. However, UAV tracking inevitably encounters various challenging scenarios, such as background clutter, similar target, partial/full occlusion, fast motion, etc. These challenges generally lead to multi-peak interferences in the response map that cause the target drift or even loss. To tackle this problem, a response-consistent and background-suppressed correlation filter is proposed for UAV tracking. First, a response-consistent module is developed, in which two response maps are generated by the filter and the features extracted from adjacent frames. Then, these two responses are kept to be consistent with the response from the previous frame. By utilizing the l2-norm constraint for consistency, this module not only can avoid sudden changes of the target response caused by background interferences but also enables the learned filter to preserve the discriminative ability of the previous filter. Second, a novel background-suppressed module is proposed, which makes the learned filter to be more aware of background information by using an attention mask matrix. With the introduction of this module into the DCF framework, the proposed method can further suppress the response interferences of distractors in the background. Finally, extensive comparative experiments have been conducted on three challenging UAV benchmarks, including UAV123@10fps, DTB70 and UAVDT. Experimental results have proved that our tracker has better tracking performance compared with 22 other state-of-the-art trackers. Moreover, our proposed tracker can run at ∼36 FPS on a single CPU for real-time UAV tracking.