The miR-641-STIM1 and SATB1 axes play important roles in the regulation of the Th17/Treg balance in ITP

Immune thrombocytopenia (ITP) is an autoimmune disease caused by T-cell dysfunction. Recently, several studies have shown that a disturbed Th17/Treg balance contributes to the development of ITP. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are small noncoding RNA moleculesthat posttranscriptionally regulate gene expression. Emerging evidences have demonstrated that miRNAs play an important role in regulating the Th17/Treg balance. In the present study, we found that miR-641 was upregulated in ITP patients. In primary T cells, overexpression of miR-641 could cause downregulation of its target genes STIM1 and SATB1, thus inducing a Th17 (upregulated)/Treg (downregulated) imbalance. Inhibition of miR-641 by a miR-641 sponge in primary T cells of ITP patients or by antagomiR-641 in an ITP murine model could cause upregulation of STIM1 and SATB1, thus restoring Th17/Treg homeostasis. These results suggested that the miR-641-STIM/SATB1 axis plays an important role in regulating the Th17/Treg balance in ITP.

Enhancing multiple myeloma staging: a novel cell death risk model approach

The prognostication of survival trajectories in multiple myeloma (MM) patients presents a substantial clinical challenge. Leveraging transcriptomic and clinical profiles from an expansive cohort of 2,088 MM patients, sourced from the Gene Expression Omnibus and The Cancer Genome Atlas repositories, we applied a sophisticated nested lasso regression technique to construct a prognostic model predicated on 28 gene pairings intrinsic to cell death pathways, thereby deriving a quantifiable risk stratification metric. Employing a threshold of 0.15, we dichotomized the MM samples into discrete high-risk and low-risk categories. Notably, the delineated high-risk cohort exhibited a statistically significant diminution in survival duration, a finding which consistently replicated across both training and external validation datasets. The prognostic acumen of our cell death signature was further corroborated by TIME ROC analyses, with the model demonstrating robust performance, evidenced by AUC metrics consistently surpassing the 0.6 benchmark across the evaluated arrays. Further analytical rigor was applied through multivariate COX regression analyses, which ratified the cell death risk model as an independent prognostic determinant. In an innovative stratagem, we amalgamated this risk stratification with the established International Staging System (ISS), culminating in the genesis of a novel, refined ISS categorization. This tripartite classification system was subjected to comparative analysis against extant prognostic models, whereupon it manifested superior predictive precision, as reflected by an elevated C-index. In summation, our endeavors have yielded a clinically viable gene pairing model predicated on cellular mortality, which, when synthesized with the ISS, engenders an augmented prognostic tool that exhibits pronounced predictive prowess in the context of multiple myeloma.

TRIM21 is critical in regulating hepatocellular carcinoma growth and response to therapy by altering the MST1/YAP pathway

Liver cancer is the sixth most common cancer and the third leading cause of cancer-related death globally. Despite efforts being made in last two decades in cancer diagnosis and treatment, the 5-year survival rate of liver cancer remains extremely low. TRIM21 participates in cancer metabolism, glycolysis, immunity, chemosensitivity and metastasis by targeting various substrates for ubiquitination. TRIM21 serves as a prognosis marker for human hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), but the mechanism by which TRIM21 regulates HCC tumorigenesis and progression remains elusive. In this study, we demonstrated that TRIM21 protein levels were elevated in human HCC. Elevated TRIM21 expression was associated with HCC progression and poor survival. Knockdown of TRIM21 in HCC cell lines significantly impaired cell growth and metastasis and enhanced sorafenib-induced toxicity. Mechanistically, we found that knockdown of TRIM21 resulted in cytosolic translocation and inactivation of YAP. At the molecular level, we further identified that TRIM21 interacted and induced ubiquitination of MST1, which resulted in MST1 degradation and YAP activation. Knockdown of MST1 or overexpression of YAP reversed TRIM21 knockdown-induced impairment of HCC growth and chemosensitivity. Taken together, the current study demonstrates a novel mechanism that regulates the Hippo pathway and reveals TRM21 as a critical factor that promotes growth and chemoresistance in human HCC.

Advancing Guideline-Directed Medical Therapy in Heart Failure: Overcoming Challenges and Maximizing Benefits

The delayed titration of guideline-directed drug therapy (GDMT) is a complex event influenced by multiple factors that often result in poor prognosis for patients with heart failure (HF). Individualized adjustments in GDMT titration may be necessary based on patient characteristics, and every clinician is responsible for promptly initiating GDMT and titrating it appropriately within the patient's tolerance range. This review examines the current challenges in GDMT implementation and scrutinizes titration considerations within distinct subsets of HF patients, with the overarching goal of enhancing the adoption and effectiveness of GDMT. The authors also underscore the significance of establishing a novel management strategy that integrates cardiologists, nurse practitioners, pharmacists, and patients as a unified team that can contribute to the improved promotion and implementation of GDMT.

tRNA-derived small RNAs in human cancers: roles, mechanisms, and clinical application

Transfer RNA (tRNA)-derived small RNAs (tsRNAs) are a new type of non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs) produced by the specific cleavage of precursor or mature tRNAs. tsRNAs are involved in various basic biological processes such as epigenetic, transcriptional, post-transcriptional, and translation regulation, thereby affecting the occurrence and development of various human diseases, including cancers. Recent studies have shown that tsRNAs play an important role in tumorigenesis by regulating biological behaviors such as malignant proliferation, invasion and metastasis, angiogenesis, immune response, tumor resistance, and tumor metabolism reprogramming. These may be new potential targets for tumor treatment. Furthermore, tsRNAs can exist abundantly and stably in various bodily fluids (e.g., blood, serum, and urine) in the form of free or encapsulated extracellular vesicles, thereby affecting intercellular communication in the tumor microenvironment (TME). Meanwhile, their abnormal expression is closely related to the clinicopathological features of tumor patients, such as tumor staging, lymph node metastasis, and poor prognosis of tumor patients; thus, tsRNAs can be served as a novel type of liquid biopsy biomarker. This review summarizes the discovery, production, and expression of tsRNAs and analyzes their molecular mechanisms in tumor development and potential applications in tumor therapy, which may provide new strategies for early diagnosis and targeted therapy of tumors.

Immunotherapy and the ovarian cancer microenvironment: Exploring potential strategies for enhanced treatment efficacy

Despite progress in cancer immunotherapy, ovarian cancer (OC) prognosis continues to be disappointing. Recent studies have shed light on how not just tumour cells, but also the complex tumour microenvironment, contribute to this unfavourable outcome of OC immunotherapy. The complexities of the immune microenvironment categorize OC as a 'cold tumour'. Nonetheless, understanding the precise mechanisms through which the microenvironment influences the effectiveness of OC immunotherapy remains an ongoing scientific endeavour. This review primarily aims to dissect the inherent characteristics and behaviours of diverse cells within the immune microenvironment, along with an exploration into its reprogramming and metabolic changes. It is expected that these insights will elucidate the operational dynamics of the immune microenvironment in OC and lay a theoretical groundwork for improving the efficacy of immunotherapy in OC management.

Harnessing spin and orbital angular momentum light for optimal algae growth

The present study investigated the difference in transmittance of light carrying opposite spin angular momentum (SAM) and orbital angular momentum (OAM) through chlorella algal fluid with varying concentrations and thicknesses. Our results indicate that, under specific conditions, right-handed light sources exhibit higher transmittance in the algal fluid compared to left-handed light sources. Furthermore, we observed that light with OAM also demonstrated higher transmittance than other types of light sources, leading to faster cell density growth of Chlorella. Interestingly, we also discovered that light with OAM stimulates Chlorella to synthesize more proteins. These findings provide different insights for selecting appropriate light sources for large-scale algae cultivation, and may facilitate the realization of carbon peaking and carbon neutrality in the future.

Identification of an anaplastic subtype of prostate cancer amenable to therapies targeting SP1 or translation elongation

Histopathological heterogeneity is a hallmark of prostate cancer (PCa). Using spatial and parallel single-nucleus transcriptomics, we report an androgen receptor (AR)-positive but neuroendocrine-null primary PCa subtype with morphologic and molecular characteristics of small cell carcinoma. Such small cell-like PCa (SCLPC) is clinically aggressive with low AR, but high stemness and proliferation, activity. Molecular characterization prioritizes protein translation, represented by up-regulation of many ribosomal protein genes, and SP1, a transcriptional factor that drives SCLPC phenotype and overexpresses in castration-resistant PCa (CRPC), as two potential therapeutic targets in AR-indifferent CRPC. An SP1-specific inhibitor, plicamycin, effectively suppresses CRPC growth in vivo. Homoharringtonine, a Food And Drug Administration-approved translation elongation inhibitor, impedes CRPC progression in preclinical models and patients with CRPC. We construct an SCLPC-specific signature capable of stratifying patients for drug selectivity. Our studies reveal the existence of SCLPC in admixed PCa pathology, which may mediate tumor relapse, and establish SP1 and translation elongation as actionable therapeutic targets for CRPC.

A case report of a normal fertile woman with 46,XX/46,XY somatic chimerism reveals a critical role for germ cells in sex determination

Individuals with 46,XX/XY chimerism can display a wide range of characteristics, varying from hermaphroditism to complete male or female, and can display sex chromosome chimerism in multiple tissues, including the gonads. The gonadal tissues of females contain both granulosa and germ cells. However, the specific sex chromosome composition of the granulosa and germ cells in 46,XX/XY chimeric female is currently unknown. Here, we reported a 30-year-old woman with secondary infertility who displayed a 46,XX/46,XY chimerism in the peripheral blood. FISH testing revealed varying degrees of XX/XY chimerism in multiple tissues of the female patient. Subsequently, the patient underwent preimplantation genetic testing (PGT) treatment, and 26 oocytes were retrieved. From the twenty-four biopsied mature oocytes, a total of 23 first polar bodies (PBs) and 10 second PBs were obtained. These PBs and two immature metaphase I (MI) oocytes only displayed X chromosome signals with no presence of the Y, suggesting that all oocytes in this chimeric female were of XX germ cell origin. On the other hand, granulosa cells obtained from individual follicles exhibited varied proportions of XX/XY cell types, and six follicles possessed 100% XX or XY granulosa cells. A total of 24 oocytes were successfully fertilized, and 12 developed into blastocysts, where 5 being XY and 5 were XX. Two blastocysts were transferred with one originating from an oocyte aspirated from a follicle containing 100% XY granulosa cells. This resulted in a twin pregnancy. Subsequent prenatal diagnosis confirmed normal male and female karyotypes. Ultimately, healthy boy-girl twins were delivered at full term. In summary, this 46,XX/XY chimerism with XX germ cells presented complete female, suggesting that germ cells may exert a significant influence on the sexual determination of an individual, which provide valuable insights into the intricate processes associated with sexual development and reproduction.

Synthetic Cells from Droplet-Based Microfluidics for Biosensing and Biomedical Applications

Synthetic cells function as biological mimics of natural cells by mimicking salient features of cells such as metabolism, response to stimuli, gene expression, direct metabolism, and high stability. Droplet-based microfluidic technology presents the opportunity for encapsulating biological functional components in uni-lamellar liposome or polymer droplets. Verified by its success in the fabrication of synthetic cells, microfluidic technology is widely replacing conventional labor-intensive, expensive, and sophisticated techniques justified by its ability to miniaturize and perform batch production operations. In this review, an overview of recent research on the preparation of synthetic cells through droplet-based microfluidics is provided. Different synthetic cells including lipid vesicles (liposome), polymer vesicles (polymersome), coacervate microdroplets, and colloidosomes, are systematically discussed. Efforts are then made to discuss the design of a variety of microfluidic chips for synthetic cell preparation since the combination of microfluidics with bottom-up synthetic biology allows for reproductive and tunable construction of batches of synthetic cell models from simple structures to higher hierarchical structures. The recent advances aimed at exploiting them in biosensors and other biomedical applications are then discussed. Finally, some perspectives on the challenges and future developments of synthetic cell research with microfluidics for biomimetic science and biomedical applications are provided.

Psychosocial intervention programme based on the needs of women undergoing termination of pregnancy for foetal anomalies: A modified Delphi study

AIM

To construct a psychosocial intervention programme for women diagnosed with foetal anomalies based on their needs in China.

DESIGN

A three round-modified Delphi survey from September to November 2020.

METHODS

In Round 1, based on literature review and qualitative interviews, a face-to-face meeting with eight taskforce members was conducted to generate the initial intervention indicators. In Round 2 and 3, 15 experts and three stakeholders (women undergoing termination of pregnancy for foetal anomalies) were invited by email to evaluate the importance of the indicators and built the final psychosocial intervention programme.

RESULTS

The response rate for both two rounds is 100%. The experts' authority coefficient was 0.86. The Kendall W value of the two rounds ranged between 0.191 and 0.339. A needs-based psychosocial intervention programme was established, including four periods (denial, confirmation, decision-making and recovery), three needs-based supports (information, social and acceptance commitment therapy) and 27 intervention indicators. The mean value of the importance of each index was 4.00-5.00. Further research is required to evaluate whether this programme is realistic and effective for the target audiences.

Overcoming barriers for left atrial appendage thrombus: a systematic review of left atrial appendage closure

BACKGROUND

Approximately 90% of intracardial thrombi originate from the left atrial appendage in non-valvular atrial fibrillation patients. Even with anticoagulant therapy, left atrial appendage thrombus (LAAT) still occurs in 8% of patients. While left atrial appendage closure (LAAC) could be a promising alternative, the current consensus considers LAAT a contraindication to LAAC. However, the feasibility and safety of LAAC in patients with LAAT have yet to be determined.

METHODS

This systematic review synthesizes published data to explore the feasibility and safety of LAAC for patients with LAAT.

RESULTS

This study included a total of 136 patients with LAATs who underwent successful LAAC. The Amulet Amplatzer device was the most frequently utilized device (48.5%). Among these patients, 77 (56.6%) had absolute contraindications to anticoagulation therapy. Cerebral protection devices were utilized by 47 patients (34.6%). Transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) is the primary imaging technique used during the procedure. Warfarin and novel oral anticoagulants were the main anticoagulant medications used prior to the procedure, while dual antiplatelet therapy was primarily used post-procedure. During a mean follow-up period of 13.2 ± 11.5 months, there was 1 case of fatality, 1 case of stroke, 3 major bleeding events, 3 instances of device-related thrombus, and 8 cases of peri-device leakage.

CONCLUSIONS

This review highlights the preliminary effectiveness and safety of the LAAC procedure in patients with persistent LAAT. Future large-scale RCTs with varied LAAT characteristics and LAAC device types are essential for evidence-based decision-making in clinical practice.

Untargeted Metabolomic Analyses and Antilipidemic Effects of Citrus Physiological Premature Fruit Drop

Increasingly globally prevalent obesity and related metabolic disorders have underscored the demand for safe and natural therapeutic approaches, given the limitations of weight loss drugs and surgeries. This study compared the phytochemical composition and antioxidant activity of five different varieties of citrus physiological premature fruit drop (CPFD). Untargeted metabolomics was employed to identify variations in metabolites among different CPFDs, and their antilipidemic effects in vitro were assessed. The results showed that Citrus aurantium L. 'Daidai' physiological premature fruit drop (DDPD) and Citrus aurantium 'Changshan-huyou' physiological premature fruit drop (HYPD) exhibited higher levels of phytochemicals and stronger antioxidant activity. There were 97 differential metabolites identified in DDPD and HYPD, including phenylpropanoids, flavonoids, alkaloids, organic acids, terpenes, and lipids. Additionally, DDPD and HYPD demonstrated potential antilipidemic effects against oleic acid (OA)-induced steatosis in HepG2 hepatocytes and 3T3-L1 adipocytes. In conclusion, our findings reveal the outstanding antioxidant activity and antilipidemic effects of CPFD, indicating its potential use as a natural antioxidant and health supplement and promoting the high-value utilization of this resource.

Leukocyte immunoglobulin-like receptor A3 gene deletion in five Chinese populations and protective association with nasopharyngeal carcinoma

Among the thirteen leukocyte Ig-like receptor (LILR) loci located at 19q13.4, LILRA3 is unique in that it encodes a soluble protein lacking the transmembrane and cytoplasmic domains, and a 6.7 kb deletion spanning the first seven exons has been detected in some human individuals. Presently, there is a lack of data about the distribution of LILRA3 gene deletion in more diverse ethnic groups. Also, no previous studies have investigated the correlation between copy number variation (CNV) of LILRA3 and nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC). In this study, five populations from China mainland: two Southern Han populations, Hunan (N = 1478) and Guandong (N = 107); one Southeastern Han population, Fujian (N = 439); and two Northern populations, Inner Mongolia Han (N = 104) and Mongol population from Inner Mongolia (N = 158) were investigated for CNV of LILRA3 using polymerase chain reaction-sequence-specific priming (PCR-SSP) method. LILRA3 variants were also examined in a cohort of NPC cases (N = 1142) in Hunan Han population. The five Chinese populations demonstrated northward increase in frequency of the deleted form of LILRA3 gene (LILRA3*Del) (all corrected p values < 0.05). Inter-population comparison also uncovered significant differentiation in the distribution of CNV of LILRA3 among modern human populations. LILRA3*Del was found to confer significantly reduced risk to NPC in Hunan Han population (at allelic level: OR = 0.79, 95% CI = 0.71-0.89, p < 0.0001; at genotype level: OR = 0.63, 95% CI = 0.51-0.79, p < 0.0001). No interaction was found between LILRA3 variants and HLA-A*02:07, HLA-A*11:01, HLA-B*13 and HLA-B*46:01 alleles in susceptibility to NPC. Our study constitutes the first demonstration of LILRA3 gene as a locus linked to NPC susceptibility in a southern Chinese population. Future independent studies in other populations are warranted to confirm the findings reported in this study.

Carbonaceous Materials-Based Photothermal Process in Water Treatment: From Originals to Frontier Applications

The photothermal process has attracted considerable attention in water treatment due to its advantages of low energy consumption and high efficiency. In this respect, photothermal materials play a crucial role in the photothermal process. Particularly, carbonaceous materials have emerged as promising candidates for this process because of exceptional photothermal performance. While previous research on carbonaceous materials has primarily focused on photothermal evaporation and sterilization, there is now a growing interest in exploring the potential of photothermal effect-assisted advanced oxidation processes (AOPs). However, the underlying mechanism of the photothermal effect assisted by carbonaceous materials remains unclear. This review aims to provide a comprehensive review of the photothermal process of carbonaceous materials in water treatment. It begins by introducing the photothermal properties of carbonaceous materials, followed by a discussion on strategies for enhancing these properties. Then, the application of carbonaceous materials-based photothermal process for water treatment is summarized. This includes both direct photothermal processes such as photothermal evaporation and sterilization, as well as indirect photothermal processes that assisted AOPs. Meanwhile, various mechanisms assisted by the photothermal effect are summarized. Finally, the challenges and opportunities of using carbonaceous materials-based photothermal processes for water treatment are proposed.

Cellular metabolism: A key player in cancer ferroptosis

Cellular metabolism is the fundamental process by which cells maintain growth and self-renewal. It produces energy, furnishes raw materials, and intermediates for biomolecule synthesis, and modulates enzyme activity to sustain normal cellular functions. Cellular metabolism is the foundation of cellular life processes and plays a regulatory role in various biological functions, including programmed cell death. Ferroptosis is a recently discovered form of iron-dependent programmed cell death. The inhibition of ferroptosis plays a crucial role in tumorigenesis and tumor progression. However, the role of cellular metabolism, particularly glucose and amino acid metabolism, in cancer ferroptosis is not well understood. Here, we reviewed glucose, lipid, amino acid, iron and selenium metabolism involvement in cancer cell ferroptosis to elucidate the impact of different metabolic pathways on this process. Additionally, we provided a detailed overview of agents used to induce cancer ferroptosis. We explained that the metabolism of tumor cells plays a crucial role in maintaining intracellular redox homeostasis and that disrupting the normal metabolic processes in these cells renders them more susceptible to iron-induced cell death, resulting in enhanced tumor cell killing. The combination of ferroptosis inducers and cellular metabolism inhibitors may be a novel approach to future cancer therapy and an important strategy to advance the development of treatments.

Preoperative evaluation of microvascular invasion in hepatocellular carcinoma with a radiological feature-based nomogram: a bi-centre study

PURPOSE

To develop a nomogram for preoperative assessment of microvascular invasion (MVI) in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) based on the radiological features of enhanced CT and to verify two imaging techniques (CT and MRI) in an external centre.

METHOD

A total of 346 patients were retrospectively included (training, n = 185, CT images; external testing 1, n = 90, CT images; external testing 2, n = 71, MRI images), including 229 MVI-negative patients and 117 MVI-positive patients. The radiological features and clinical information of enhanced CT images were analysed, and the independent variables associated with MVI in HCC were determined by logistic regression analysis. Then, a nomogram prediction model was constructed. External validation was performed on CT (n = 90) and MRI (n = 71) images from another centre.

RESULTS

Among the 23 radiological and clinical features, size, arterial peritumoral enhancement (APE), tumour margin and alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) were independent influencing factors for MVI in HCC. The nomogram integrating these risk factors had a good predictive effect, with AUC, specificity and sensitivity values of 0.834 (95% CI: 0.774-0.895), 75.0% and 83.5%, respectively. The AUC values of external verification based on CT and MRI image data were 0.794 (95% CI: 0.700-0.888) and 0.883 (95% CI: 0.807-0.959), respectively. No statistical difference in AUC values among training set and testing sets was found.

CONCLUSION

The proposed nomogram prediction model for MVI in HCC has high accuracy, can be used with different imaging techniques, and has good clinical applicability.

A bibliometric study: Relevant studies on scar laser therapy since the 21st century

To summarise research studies on scar laser therapy since the 21st century using bibliometric methods, and to speculate on the possible development in the future. The literature about scar laser therapy in Web of Science database was searched. CiteSpace and VOSviewer were used to analyse main countries, institutions, journals，subject hotspots and trends, etc. A total of 884 papers have been published since the 21st century. These publications were written by 653 authors from 515 institutions in 58 countries. The United States published 287 papers in this field and ranks first. Laser in Surgery and Medicine is the most widely published journal, with Shumaker as the core author. The main keyword clustering includes terms such as combination therapy, wound healing, fractional photothermolysis, experience, scar formation, etc. CiteSpace and VOSviewer were used to sort out and summarise the countries, institutions, authors, journals, research hotspots and frontier topics of related literature about scar laser therapy since the 21st century. The current situation of its application and basic scientific research in clinical treatments were summarised briefly. This provides a new idea for the development and research of scar laser therapy in the future.

Physiological tolerance of black locust (Robinia pseudoacacia L.) and changes of rhizospheric bacterial communities in response to Cd and Pb in the contaminated soil

Woody plants possess great potential for phytoremediation of heavy metal-contaminated soil. A pot trial was conducted to study growth, physiological response, and Cd and Pb uptake and distribution in black locust (Robinia pseudoacacia L.), as well as the rhizosphere bacterial communities in Cd and Pb co-contaminated soil. The results showed that R. pseudoacacia L. had strong physiological regulation ability in response to Cd and Pb stress in contaminated soil. The total chlorophyll, malondialdehyde (MDA), soluble protein, and sulfhydryl contents, as well as antioxidant enzymes (superoxide dismutase, peroxidase, catalase) activities in R. pseudoacacia L. leaves under the 40 mg·kg-1 Cd and 1000 mg·kg-1 Pb co-contaminated soil were slightly altered. Cd uptake in R. pseudoacacia L. roots and stems increased, while the Pb content in the shoots of R. pseudoacacia L. under the combined Cd and Pb treatments decreased in relative to that in the single Pb treatments. The bacterial α-diversity indices (e.g., Sobs, Shannon, Simpson, Ace, and Chao) of R. pseudoacacia L. rhizosphere soil under Cd and Pb stress were changed slightly relative to the CK treatment. However, Cd and Pb stress could significantly (p < 0.05) alter the rhizosphere soil microbial communities. According to heat map and LEfSe (Linear discriminant analysis Effect Size) analysis, Bacillus, Sphingomonas, Terrabacter, Roseiflexaceae, Paenibacillus, and Myxococcaceae at the genus level were notably (p < 0.05) accumulated in the Cd- and/or Pb-contaminated soil. Furthermore, the MDA content was notably (p < 0.05) negatively correlated with the relative abundances of Isosphaeraceae, Gaiellales, and Gemmatimonas. The total biomass of R. pseudoacacia L. was positively (p < 0.05) correlated with the relative abundances of Xanthobacteraceae and Vicinamibacreraceae. Network analysis showed that Cd and Pb combined stress might enhance the modularization of bacterial networks in the R. pseudoacacia L. rhizosphere soil. Thus, the assembly of the soil bacterial communities in R. pseudoacacia L. rhizosphere may improve the tolerance of plants in response to Cd and/or Pb stress.

Amino acids and their roles in tumor immunotherapy of breast cancer

Breast cancer is the most commonly diagnosed cancer among women. The primary treatment options include surgery, radiotherapy, chemotherapy, targeted therapy and hormone therapy. The effectiveness of breast cancer therapy varies depending on the stage and aggressiveness of the cancer, as well as individual factors. Advances in early detection and improved treatments have significantly increased survival rates for breast cancer patients. Nevertheless, specific subtypes of breast cancer, particularly triple-negative breast cancer, still lack effective treatment strategies. Thus, novel and effective therapeutic targets for breast cancer need to be explored. As substrates of protein synthesis, amino acids are important sources of energy and nutrition, only secondly to glucose. The rich supply of amino acids enables the tumor to maintain its proliferative competence through participation in energy generation, nucleoside synthesis and maintenance of cellular redox balance. Amino acids also play an important role in immune-suppressive microenvironment formation. Thus, the biological effects of amino acids may change unexpectedly in tumor-specific or oncogene-dependent manners. In recent years, there has been significant progress in the study of amino acid metabolism, particularly in their potential application as therapeutic targets in breast cancer. In this review, we provide an update on amino acid metabolism and discuss the therapeutic implications of amino acids in breast cancer.

The risk of attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder among children with congenital heart disease: A systematic review and meta-analysis

BACKGROUND

Although current treatments are effective in dealing with congenital heart disease (CHD), non-cardiac comorbidities such as attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) have received widespread attention. The purpose of this systematic review and meta-analysis is to assess the risk of ADHD associated with CHD.

METHODS

The literature search was carried out systematically through eight different databases by the end of September 2022. Either a fixed- or a random-effects model was used to calculate the overall combined risk estimates. The heterogeneity of the studies was assessed by the Cochran Q test and the I2 statistic. Subgroup and sensitivity analyses were used to explore the potential sources of heterogeneity.

RESULTS

Eleven studies were included in this study, which involved a total of 296 741 participants. Our study showed that the children with CHD were at a significantly increased risk of ADHD compared with the reference group (OR = 2.98, 95% CI: 2.18-4.08). The results were moderately heterogeneous. These factors including study design, geographic region and study quality were identified as the first three of the most relevant heterogeneity moderators by subgroup analyses. Sensitivity analysis yielded consistent results. There was no evidence of publication bias.

CONCLUSIONS

The present study suggests that CHD children have a significantly higher risk of ADHD when compared with those without CHD. Early identification and intervention of ADHD is important to reduce its symptoms and adverse effects; therefore, clinicians should increase screening for ADHD in children with CHD and intervene promptly to reduce its effects whenever possible.

Associations between maternal syphilis infection during pregnancy and low birth weight and preterm birth: a prospective cohort study

BACKGROUND

In recent years, syphilis is still the most common sexually transmitted disease worldwide. Pregnant women infected with syphilis can transmit it to the fetus in utero through mother-to-child transmission, which can directly lead to adverse pregnancy outcomes. The aim of this study was to investigate the associations between maternal syphilis infection and low birth weight and preterm birth in offspring.

METHODS

Multinomial logistic regression model was used to analyze the associations between maternal syphilis infection and low birth weight and preterm birth, and to explore its stability through subgroup analysis.

RESULTS

A total of 34,074 subjects were included in the study. After adjusting for potential confounders, maternal syphilis infection during pregnancy was associated with a 2.60-fold (95% CI 1.83-3.69) increased risk of low birth weight and a 1.91-fold (95% CI 1.35-2.69) increased risk of preterm birth. Subgroup analysis showed that the association was stable.

CONCLUSION

We found that maternal syphilis infection during pregnancy was significantly associated with an increased risk of low birth weight and preterm birth. The implementation of reasonable syphilis screening and standardized treatment and follow-up of pregnant syphilis may have important practical significance in reducing the low birth weight and preterm birth rate in offspring.

Strategies for Enhancing the Photocatalytic and Electrocatalytic Efficiency of Covalent Triazine Frameworks for CO2 Reduction

Converting carbon dioxide (CO2 ) into fuel and high-value-added chemicals is considered a green and effective way to solve global energy and environmental problems. Covalent triazine frameworks (CTFs) are extensively utilized as an emerging catalyst for photo/electrocatalytic CO2 reduction reaction (CO2 RR) recently recognized for their distinctive qualities, including excellent thermal and chemical stability, π-conjugated structure, rich nitrogen content, and a strong affinity for CO2 , etc. Nevertheless, single-component CTFs have the problems of accelerated recombination of photoexcited electron-hole pairs and restricted conductivity, which limit their application for photo/electrocatalytic CO2 RR. Therefore, emphasis will then summarize the strategies for enhancing the photocatalytic and electrocatalytic efficiency of CTFs for CO2 RR in this paper, including atom doping, constructing a heterojunction structure, etc. This review first illustrates the synthesis strategies of CTFs and the advantages of CTFs in the field of photo/electrocatalytic CO2 RR. Subsequently, the mechanism of CTF-based materials in photo/electrocatalytic CO2 RR is described. Lastly, the challenges and future prospects of CTFs in photo/electrocatalytic CO2 RR are addressed, which offers a fresh perspective for the future development of CTFs in photo/electrocatalytic CO2 RR.

Uncertainty Evaluation of Soil Heavy Metal(loid) Pollution and Health Risk in Hunan Province: A Geographic Detector with Monte Carlo Simulation

Research on soil heavy metal(loid) pollution and health risk assessment is extensive, but a notable gap exists in systematically examining uncertainty in this process. We employ the Nemerow index, the health risk assessment model, and the geographic detector model (GDM) to analyze soil heavy metal(loid) pollution, assess health risks, and identify driving factors in Hunan Province, China. Furthermore, the Monte Carlo simulation (MCS) method is utilized to quantitatively evaluate the uncertainties associated with the sampling point positions, model parameters, and classification boundaries of the driving factors in these processes. The experimental findings reveal the following key insights: (1) Regions with high levels of heavy metal(loid) pollution, accompanied by low uncertainty, are identified in Chenzhou and Hengyang Cities in Hunan Province. (2) Arsenic (As) and chromium (Cr) are identified as the primary contributors to health risks. (3) The GDM results highlight strong nonlinear enhanced interactions among lithology and other factors. (4) The input GDM factors, such as temperature, river distance, and gross domestic product (GDP), show high uncertainty on the influencing degree of soil heavy metal(loid) pollution. This study thoroughly assesses high heavy metal(loid) pollution in Hunan Province, China, emphasizing uncertainty and offering a scientific foundation for land management and pollution remediation.

Association between adjuvant chemotherapy and survival in stage I gastric cancer patients after curative resection

Background

The efficacy of adjuvant chemotherapy (AC) on survival outcomes of patients with stage I gastric cancer (GC) after curative resection remains controversial. We aimed to determine whether these patients would benefit from AC.

Methods

This retrospective study included patients with pathologically confirmed stage I GC who underwent curative resection between November 2010 and December 2020. Patients were divided into AC and non-AC groups, then a 1:1 propensity score matching (PSM) analysis was performed to minimize the selection bias. Potential risk factors including age, pN stage, pT stage, lymphovascular invasion, perineural invasion, tumor size, histological type, and carcinoembryonic antigen level were used as matching covariates. The recurrence-free survival (RFS) and disease-specific survival (DSS) were compared between groups using the Kaplan-Meier method.

Results

A total of 902 consecutive patients were enrolled and 174 (19.3%) patients were treated with AC. PSM created 123 pairs of patients. Before PSM, patients receiving AC had lower 10-year RFS rates (90% vs 94.6%, P = 0.035) than those who did not receive AC; the two groups had similar 10-year DSS rates (93.8% vs 95.0%, P = 0.240). After PSM, there were no statistical differences in the 10-year RFS (90.9% vs 93.0%, P = 0.507) or DSS rates (93.5% vs 93.6%, P = 0.811) between the two groups. Similar results were found in the stage IA and IB subgroups. Moreover, these findings were not affected by AC cycles.

Conclusions

The addition of AC could not provide survival benefits for patients with stage I GC after surgery and follow-up is thus recommended. However, large-scale randomized clinical trials are required.

Reexamining the Causes and Effects of Cholesterol Deposition in the Brains of Patients with Alzheimer's Disease

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a degenerative disease of the central nervous system. Numerous studies have shown that imbalances in cholesterol homeostasis in the brains of AD patients precede the onset of clinical symptoms. In addition, cholesterol deposition has been observed in the brains of AD patients even though peripheral cholesterol does not enter the brain through the blood‒brain barrier (BBB). Studies have demonstrated that cholesterol metabolism in the brain is associated with many pathological conditions, such as amyloid beta (Aβ) production, Tau protein phosphorylation, oxidative stress, and inflammation. In 2022, some scholars put forward a new hypothesis of AD: the disease involves lipid invasion and its exacerbation of the abnormal metabolism of cholesterol in the brain. In this review, by discussing the latest research progress, the causes and effects of cholesterol retention in the brains of AD patients are analyzed and discussed. Additionally, the possible mechanism through which AD may be improved by targeting cholesterol is described. Finally, we propose that improving the impairments in cholesterol removal observed in the brains of AD patients, instead of further reducing the already impaired cholesterol synthesis in the brain, may be the key to preventing cholesterol deposition and improving the corresponding pathological symptoms.

Association of Dietary Vitamin C Consumption with Serum Klotho Concentrations

BACKGROUND

Klotho is widely recognized as a protein that combats aging and possesses antioxidative characteristics, which have been implicated in the pathophysiology of numerous diseases. There is emerging evidence suggesting that the consumption of dietary nutrients, particularly those rich in antioxidants, could be associated with serum Klotho concentrations. Dietary vitamin C is one of the critical nutrients that possesses antioxidant properties. Nonetheless, the association between dietary vitamin C consumption and serum Klotho concentrations remains unclear.

OBJECTIVE

Aiming to evaluate the relationship between serum Klotho concentrations and dietary vitamin C consumption among Americans aged 40 to 79, we conducted a population-based study.

METHODS

From the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) conducted between 2007 and 2016, a grand total of 11,282 individuals who met the criteria were selected as eligible participants for the study. Serum Klotho concentrations were measured using an ELISA kit that is commercially available. Trained interviewers evaluated the consumption of dietary vitamin C in the diet through a 24-hour dietary recall technique. A generalized linear model was used to evaluate the correlation between the consumption of dietary vitamin C in the diet and serum Klotho concentrations. Further examination was conducted using restricted cubic spline (RCS) analysis to explore the non-linear correlation between dietary vitamin C consumption in the diet and serum Klotho concentrations.

RESULTS

After accounting for possible confounding factors, serum Klotho concentrations rose by 1.17% (95% confidence interval (CI): 0.37%, 1.99%) with every standard deviation (SD) rise in dietary vitamin C consumption. With the first quintile of dietary vitamin C consumption as a reference, the percentage change of serum Klotho concentrations in the fifth quintile of dietary vitamin C consumption was 3.66% higher (95% CI: 1.05%, 6.32%). In older, normal-weight, and male participants, the subgroup analysis revealed a stronger correlation between dietary vitamin C consumption and serum Klotho concentrations. Analysis of RCS showed a linear positive association between dietary vitamin C consumption and the levels of serum Klotho concentrations.

CONCLUSION

The findings of this research indicate a strong and positive correlation between dietary vitamin C consumption and serum Klotho concentrations among the general adult population in the United States. Further studies are needed to validate the present findings and to explore specific mechanisms.

Global burden and influencing factors of chronic kidney disease due to type 2 diabetes in adults aged 20-59 years, 1990-2019

Population structure and lifestyles may have contributed to the epidemiological status of Chronic Kidney Disease due to Type 2 Diabetes (CKD-T2D). This study is a secondary data analysis. Using data from the Global Burden of Disease Study, we describe the changes in CKD-T2D burden and its influencing factors in the population aged 20-59 years from 1990 to 2019. Globally, the incidence, death, and Disability Adjusted Life Years (DALYs) rate of CKD-T2D showed an upward trend and increased with age, and the burden in males was higher than that in females. Population growth and aging were important driving factors for the increase of CKD-T2D DALY burden, while high systolic blood pressure and high body-mass index were the primary attributable risk factors. High body-mass index exhibited higher contributions to high Socioeconomic Development Index (SDI) countries, whereas low SDI countries were more impacted by high systolic blood pressure. The population attributable fraction of CKD-T2D DALY caused by high body-mass index was positively correlated with SDI, while high temperature and lead exposure were negatively correlated. Therefore, strengthening disease screening for people aged 20-59 years and formulating early intervention measures based on the level of socioeconomic development may effectively alleviate the burden of CKD-T2D.

Silicon Nitride Bioceramics Sintered by Microwave Exhibit Excellent Mechanical Properties, Cytocompatibility In Vitro, and Anti-Bacterial Properties

Silicon nitride is a bioceramic with great potential, and multiple studies have demonstrated its biocompatibility and antibacterial properties. In this study, silicon nitride was prepared by a microwave sintering technique that was different from common production methods. SEM and pore distribution analysis revealed the microstructure of microwave-sintered silicon nitride with obvious pores. Mechanical performance analysis shows that microwave sintering can improve the mechanical properties of silicon nitride. The CCK-8 method was used to demonstrate that microwave-sintered silicon nitride has no cytotoxicity and good cytocompatibility. From SEM and CLSM observations, it was observed that there was good adhesion and cross-linking of cells during microwave-sintered silicon nitride, and the morphology of the cytoskeleton was good. Microwave-sintered silicon nitride has been proven to be non-cytotoxic. In addition, the antibacterial ability of microwave-sintered silicon nitride against Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli was tested, proving that it has a good antibacterial ability similar to the silicon nitride prepared by commonly used processes. Compared with silicon nitride prepared by gas pressure sintering technology, microwave-sintered silicon nitride has excellent performance in mechanical properties, cell compatibility, and antibacterial properties. This indicates its enormous potential as a substitute material for manufacturing bone implants.

Role of lipins in cardiovascular diseases

Lipin family members in mammals include lipins 1, 2, and 3. Lipin family proteins play a crucial role in lipid metabolism due to their bifunctionality as both transcriptional coregulators and phosphatidate phosphatase (PAP) enzymes. In this review, we discuss the structural features, expression patterns, and pathophysiologic functions of lipins, emphasizing their direct as well as indirect roles in cardiovascular diseases (CVDs). Elucidating the regulation of lipins facilitates a deeper understanding of the roles of lipins in the processes underlying CVDs. The activity of lipins is modulated at various levels, e.g., in the form of the transcription of genes, post-translational modifications, and subcellular protein localization. Because lipin characteristics are undergoing progressive clarification, further research is necessitated to then actuate the investigation of lipins as viable therapeutic targets in CVDs.

Role of sonic hedgehog signaling pathway in the regulation of ion channels: focus on its association with cardio-cerebrovascular diseases

Sonic hedgehog (SHH) signaling is vital for cell differentiation and proliferation during embryonic development, yet its role in cardiac, cerebral, and vascular pathophysiology is under debate. Recent studies have demonstrated that several compounds of SHH signaling regulate ion channels, which in turn affect the behavior of target cells. Some of these ion channels are involved in the cardio-cerebrovascular system. Here, we first reviewed the SHH signaling cascades, then its interaction with ion channels, and their impact on cardio-cerebrovascular diseases. Considering the complex cross talk of SHH signaling with other pathways that also affect ion channels and their potential impact on the cardio-cerebrovascular system, we highlight the necessity of thoroughly studying the effect of SHH signaling on ion homeostasis, which could serve as a novel mechanism for cardio-cerebrovascular diseases. Activation of SHH signaling influence ion channels activity, which in turn influence ion homeostasis, membrane potential, and electrophysiology, could serve as a novel strategy for cardio-cerebrovascular diseases.

Soluble TAM Receptor Tyrosine Kinases Correlate with Disease Severity and Predict the Early Responsiveness of Sublingual Immunotherapy in Allergic Rhinitis

Background

Allergic rhinitis (AR) is a common allergic disease, and SLIT has shown effectiveness as a treatment method. This study focuses on the evaluation of serum TAM receptor tyrosine kinases (TYRO3, AXL, and MER) levels as potential indicators of disease severity and predictive markers for sublingual immunotherapy (SLIT) responsiveness in AR patients.

Methods

A total of 160 AR subjects, including 40 mild AR (MAR) and 120 moderate-severe AR (MSAR) patients, and 40 healthy controls (HC) were recruited. Serum concentrations of TYRO3, AXL, and MER were measured and their relationships with disease severity were examined. In the MSAR group, 102 patients underwent SLIT, and the early efficacy was evaluated. The correlations between the baseline serum concentrations of TYRO3, AXL, and MER and the early responsiveness of SLIT were analyzed.

Results

Serum concentrations of TYRO3, AXL, and MER were significantly reduced in AR patients, particularly in those MSAR subjects. Correlation analysis results indicated that serum TYRO3 and MER levels were negatively correlated with the visual analog scale (VAS) and the total nasal symptom score (TNSS). After one year of follow-up, 80 AR patients completed the treatment and were divided into effective and ineffective groups. Serum baseline levels of TYRO3 and MER were found to be lower in the effective group compared to the ineffective group. Additionally, there was a significant increase in serum TYRO3 and MER levels compared to baseline levels. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis revealed that circulating TYRO3 and MER had potential values for reflecting AR severity and predicting early SLIT responsiveness.

Conclusion

Serum TYRO3 and MER concentrations were decreased in AR patients and negatively associated with disease severity. Circulating TYRO3 and MER seem to be promising indicators for monitoring the efficacy of SLIT in AR patients.

Preparation Optimization of Enhanced Poplar Wood by Organic-Inorganic Hybrid Treatment via Response Surface Methodology

In this work, a strategy for hybrid treatment was proposed, aiming to present a hybrid impregnation agent including lignin-derived resin (LR) and surface-modified montmorillonite (GMMT) to treat fast-growing poplar wood. The treating agents could penetrate the wood, fill the cavities of the wood interior, and strengthen the cell wall structure. The optimal WPG of 36.2% was obtained upon the response surface methodology (RSM) at the conditions of 34% LR, 1.8% GMMT, 1.2 MPa impregnation pressure, and 99 min impregnation time. The density, water uptake (WU), modulus of rupture (MOR), modulus of elasticity (MOE), and compressive strength (CS) of the samples were tested to evaluate the enhancement of the physical and mechanical properties. In addition, these samples were investigated via cone calorimeter (CONE), Fourier Transform Infrared spectrometer (FTIR), and X-ray diffraction (XRD). The results showed that the density of the treated samples increased significantly up to 0.72 g/cm3. Compared with 134.8% of the control, the WU of the treated wood sample could decrease to 60.3%. In addition, the MOR and MOE of the resulting samples reached up to 131.8 MPa and 18.14 GPa, respectively, which were 62.3% and 77.7% higher than the control. Notably, the CS was 84.7 MPa with an increase of up to 94.7%. Moreover, the peak heat release rate (HRR) of the treated sample was obviously reduced to 231.33 kW/m2, a decrease of 17.5% compared to the control (271.71 kW/m2).

The HIFIA/LINC02913/IGF1R axis promotes the cell function of adipose-derived mesenchymal stem cells under hypoxia via activating the PI3K/AKT pathway

OBJECTIVE

Promoting angiogenesis is crucial for tissue repair. Adipose-derived mesenchymal stem cells (ADSCs) are endowed with the ability of paracrine secretion of various angiogenic cytokines and the differentiation potential into endothelium-like cells to directly participate in angiogenesis. ADSCs are key seed cells for promoting angiogenesis in regenerative medicine and tissue engineering. This study aimed to explore the role and mechanism of C9orf106 (LINC02913) in the angiogenesis of ADSCs.

METHODS

The microarray dataset GSE12884 was analyzed to identify the differentially expressed lncRNAs in ADSCs under normoxia and hypoxia. The expression of the key genes was detected using qRT-PCR, western blot assay (western blot), and immunofluorescence (IF) staining. The adipogenic ability and tube formation ability of ADSCs was detected using oil red O staining and tube formation assay, respectively. The regulatory relationship between hypoxia-inducible factor-1alpha (HIF1A) and LINC02913 was verified using chromatin immunoprecipitation (ChIP) assay and dual-luciferase reporter gene assay. A skin wound healing nude mice model was established. Hematoxylin and eosin (H&E) staining was applied to detect pathological skin damage. Immunohistochemistry (IHC) staining was used to determine the level of CD31 in skin tissues.

RESULTS

LINC02913 expression was decreased in ADSCs under hypoxia; LINC02913 overexpression inhibited the proliferation, adipogenic ability, endothelial differentiation ability, and tube formation ability of ADSCs. ChIP assay and dual-luciferase reporter gene assay results showed that HIF1A could directly bind to the LINC02913 promoter region to inhibit its transcription. Through RNAact prediction and analysis of the correlation with LINC02913 expression, it was found that IGF1R may directly interact with LINCO02913. The HIF1A/LINC02913/IGF1R axis could activate the PI3K/AKT pathway to promote the biological function of ADSCs. Hypoxia-ADSCs significantly promoted vascularization in the wounded skin. The regulatory effect of LINC02913/IGF1R axis on hypoxia-ADSCs treated skin wound healing were verified.

CONCLUSION

The HIF1A/LINC02913/IGF1R axis promoted the proliferation, adipogenic ability, and tube formation ability of ADSCs under hypoxia via activating the PI3K/AKT pathway.

Serum AKR1B10 as an indicator of unfavorable survival of hepatocellular carcinoma

BACKGROUND AND AIMS

A large-scale multicenter study validated aldo-keto reductase 1B10 (AKR1B10) as a new serum marker of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). This study aimed to evaluate the prognostic value of serum AKR1B10 in HCC.

METHODS

273 naïve HCC patients enrolled for serum AKR1B10 tests were followed up for 2 years. Survival and clinical data were collected. Kaplan-Meier survival analysis and log-rank tests were used to estimate correlation of patient survival with serum AKR1B10. Univariate and multivariate COX regression analyses were used to evaluate the prognostic value of serum AKR1B10 level independently or in combination with other clinicopathological factors. α-fetoprotein (AFP) was analyzed in parallel for comparison.

RESULTS

Serum AKR1B10 associated with tumor stage (p = 0.012), size (p = 0.004), primary tumor number (p = 0.019), and Child-Pugh classification (p = 0.003). HCC patients with a high level of serum AKR1B10 (≥ 267.9 pg/ml) had median survival (MS) of 25 months (95% confidence interval [CI] 20.788-29.212) vs. MS of 34 months (CI 28.911-39.089) in patients with normal serum AKR1B10 (p < 0.001). Univariate and multivariate COX regression analyses showed that serum AKR1B10 level was an unfavorable prognostic marker of HCC independently (HR 1.830, 95% CI 1.312-2.552; p < 0.001) or in combination with other clinical factors (HR 1.883, 95% CI 1.264-2.806; p = 0.002), such as TNM stage, tumor size and portal invasion. In the same cohort of HCC patients, AFP exhibited prognostic value at a cut-off of 400 ng/ml, but not at 20 ng/ml and 200 ng/ml.

CONCLUSIONS

Serum AKR1B10 is a new prognostic marker of HCC, better than AFP.

High-Temperature Compression Behaviors and Constitutive Models of a 7046-Aluminum Alloy

High-temperature forming behaviors of a 7046-aluminum alloy were investigated by hot compression experiments. The microstructural evolution features with the changes in deformation parameters were dissected. Results indicated the formation of massive dislocation clusters/cells and subgrains through the intense DRV mechanism at low compression temperature. With an increase in deformation temperature, the annihilation of dislocations and the coarsening of subgrains/DRX grains became prominent, due to the collaborative effects of the DRV and DRX mechanisms. However, the growth of subgrains and DRX grains displayed the weakening trend at high strain rates. Moreover, two constitutive models involving a physically based (PB) model and a gate recurrent unit (GRU) model were proposed for predicting the hot compression features. By validation analysis, the predicted values of true stress perfectly fit with the experimental data, indicating that both the proposed PB model and the GRU model can accurately predict the hot compression behaviors of 7046-aluminum alloys.

Hot Deformation Behavior of Hastelloy C276 Alloy: Microstructural Variation and Constitutive Models

Isothermal deformation experiments of the Hastelloy C276 alloy were executed using the Gleeble-3500 hot simulator at a temperature range of 1000-1150 °C and a strain rate range of 0.01-10 s-1. Microstructural evolution mechanisms were analyzed via transmission electron microscope (TEM) and electron backscatter diffraction (EBSD). Results reveal that the influences of hot compression parameters on the microstructure variation features and flow behaviors of the Hastelloy C276 alloy were significant. The intense strain hardening (SH) effects caused by the accumulation of substructures were promoted when the strain rates were increased, and true stresses exhibited a notable increasing tendency. However, the apparent DRV effects caused by the annihilation of substructures and the increasingly dynamic recrystallization (DRX) behaviors occurred at high compressed temperature, inducing the reduction in true stresses. In addition, a physical-based (PB) constitutive model and a long short-term memory (LSTM) model optimized using the particle swarm optimization (PSO) algorithm were established to predict the flow behavior of Hastelloy C276 alloy. The smaller average absolute relative error and greater relation coefficient suggest that the LSTM model possesses a higher forecasting accuracy than the PB model.

Aerobic Exercise Facilitates the Nuclear Translocation of SREBP2 by Activating AKT/SEC24D to Contribute Cholesterol Homeostasis for Improving Cognition in APP/PS1 Mice

Impaired cholesterol synthesizing ability is considered a risk factor for the development of Alzheimer's disease (AD), as evidenced by reduced levels of key proteases in the brain that mediate cholesterol synthesis; however, cholesterol deposition has been found in neurons in tangles in the brains of AD patients. Although it has been shown that statins, which inhibit cholesterol synthesis, reduce the incidence of AD, this seems paradoxical for AD patients whose cholesterol synthesizing capacity is already impaired. In this study, we aimed to investigate the effects of aerobic exercise on cholesterol metabolism in the brains of APP/PS1 mice and to reveal the mechanisms by which aerobic exercise improves cognitive function in APP/PS1 mice. Our study demonstrates that the reduction of SEC24D protein, a component of coat protein complex II (COPII), is a key factor in the reduction of cholesterol synthesis in the brain of APP/PS1 mice. 12 weeks of aerobic exercise was able to promote the recovery of SEC24D protein levels in the brain through activation of protein kinase B (AKT), which in turn promoted the expression of mem-brane-bound sterol regulatory element-binding protein 2 (SREBP2) nuclear translocation and the expression of key proteases mediating cholesterol synthesis. Simultaneous aerobic exercise restored cholesterol transport capacity in the brain of APP/PS1 mice with the ability to efflux excess cholesterol from neurons and reduced neuronal lipid rafts, thereby reducing cleavage of the APP amyloid pathway. Our study emphasizes the potential of restoring intracerebral cholesterol homeostasis as a therapeutic strategy to alleviate cognitive impairment in AD patients.

Association of Maternal Folate Intake and Offspring MTHFD1 and MTHFD2 Genes with Congenital Heart Disease

Existing evidence supported that congenital heart defect (CHD) was associated with a combination of environmental and genetic factors. Based on this, this study aimed at assessing the association of maternal folic acid supplementation (FAS), genetic variations in offspring methylenetetrahydrofolate dehydrogenase (MTHFD)1 and MTHFD2 genes, and their interactions with CHD and its subtypes. A hospital-based case-control study, including 620 cases with CHD and 620 healthy children, was conducted. This study showed that the absence of FAS was significantly associated with an increased risk of total CHD and its subtypes, such as atrial septal defect (ASD). FAS during the first and second trimesters was associated with a significantly higher risk of CHD in offspring compared to FAS during the three months prior to conception. The polymorphisms of offspring MTHFD1 and MTHFD2 genes at rs2236222, rs11849530, and rs828858 were significantly associated with the risk of CHD. Additionally, a significantly positive interaction between maternal FAS and genetic variation at rs828858 was observed for the risk of CHD. These findings suggested that pregnant women should carefully consider the timing of FAS, and individuals with higher genetic risk may benefit from targeted folic acid supplementation as a preventive measure against CHD.

HSSNet: A End-to-End Network for Detecting Tiny Targets of Apple Leaf Diseases in Complex Backgrounds

Apple leaf diseases are one of the most important factors that reduce apple quality and yield. The object detection technology based on deep learning can detect diseases in a timely manner and help automate disease control, thereby reducing economic losses. In the natural environment, tiny apple leaf disease targets (a resolution is less than 32 × 32 pixel2) are easily overlooked. To address the problems of complex background interference, difficult detection of tiny targets and biased detection of prediction boxes that exist in standard detectors, in this paper, we constructed a tiny target dataset TTALDD-4 containing four types of diseases, which include Alternaria leaf spot, Frogeye leaf spot, Grey spot and Rust, and proposed the HSSNet detector based on the YOLOv7-tiny benchmark for professional detection of apple leaf disease tiny targets. Firstly, the H-SimAM attention mechanism is proposed to focus on the foreground lesions in the complex background of the image. Secondly, SP-BiFormer Block is proposed to enhance the ability of the model to perceive tiny targets of leaf diseases. Finally, we use the SIOU loss to improve the case of prediction box bias. The experimental results show that HSSNet achieves 85.04% mAP (mean average precision), 67.53% AR (average recall), and 83 FPS (frames per second). Compared with other standard detectors, HSSNet maintains high real-time detection speed with higher detection accuracy. This provides a reference for the automated control of apple leaf diseases.

The Association between Dietary Fiber Intake and Serum Klotho Levels in Americans: A Cross-Sectional Study from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey

BACKGROUND

Klotho is an aging-related marker closely associated with a number of diseases. A growing body of evidence suggests that dietary factors and lifestyle habits can impact serum Klotho levels. The effect of dietary fiber, a key component of a healthy diet, on the body's serum Klotho levels has not been fully elucidated.

OBJECTIVE

The aim of this study was to explore the relationship between dietary fiber intake and serum Klotho levels in people aged 40-79 years in the United States.

METHODS

A total of 11,282 participants were included in this study, all from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey from 2007 to 2016. Dietary fiber intake was assessed by uniformly trained interviewers using the 24 h dietary recall method. Serum Klotho was quantified using commercially available ELISA kits manufactured by IBL International, Japan. The relationship between dietary fiber intake and serum Klotho levels was analyzed using a multiple linear regression model. Subsequently, the non-linear dose-response relationship between the two was further explored using a restricted cubic spline (RCS) model.

RESULTS

After adjusting for potential confounders, serum Klotho levels increased by 1.9% (95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.8%, 3.0%) for each interquartile range increase in dietary fiber intake in all participants. Considering dietary fiber intake as a categorical variable, serum Klotho levels were found to be 4.7% higher in participants in the highest quartile of dietary fiber intake than in those in the lowest quartile (95% CI: 1.8%, 7.6%). RCS plots depicted a non-linear positive correlation between dietary fiber intake and serum Klotho levels. Subgroup analysis revealed that the relationship between dietary fiber intake and serum Klotho levels was more pronounced in older (percentage change: 7.0%; 95% CI: 2.5%, 11.7%) and overweight and obese participants (percentage change: 4.9%; 95% CI: 1.5%, 8.4%).

CONCLUSIONS

The results of this study showed that dietary fiber intake was significantly associated with serum Klotho levels in participants. This finding is yet to be further confirmed by prospective studies.

Association of MTR gene polymorphisms with the occurrence of non-syndromic congenital heart disease: a case-control study

To exhaustively explore the association of infant genetic polymorphisms of methionine synthase (MTR) gene with the risk of non-syndromic congenital heart disease (CHD). A hospital-based case-control study involving 620 CHD cases and 620 health controls was conducted from November 2017 to March 2020. Eighteen SNPs were detected and analyzed. Our date suggested that the genetic polymorphisms of MTR gene at rs1805087 (GG vs. AA: aOR = 6.85, 95% CI 2.94-15.96; the dominant model: aOR = 1.77, 95% CI 1.35-2.32; the recessive model: aOR = 6.26, 95% CI 2.69-14.54; the addictive model: aOR = 1.81, 95% CI 1.44-2.29) and rs2275565 (GT vs. GG: aOR = 1.52, 95% CI 1.15-1.20; TT vs. GG: aOR = 4.93, 95% CI 1.93-12.58; the dominant model: aOR = 1.66, 95% CI 1.27-2.17; the recessive model: aOR = 4.41, 95% CI 1.73-11.22; the addictive model: aOR = 1.68, 95% CI 1.32-2.13) were significantly associated with the higher risk of CHD. And three haplotypes of G-A-T (involving rs4659724, rs95516 and rs4077829; OR = 5.48, 95% CI 2.58-11.66), G-C-A-T-T-G (involving rs2275565, rs1266164, rs2229276, rs4659743, rs3820571 and rs1050993; OR = 0.78, 95% CI 0.63-0.97) and T-C-A-T-T-G (involving rs2275565, rs1266164, rs2229276, rs4659743, rs3820571 and rs1050993; OR = 1.60, 95% CI 1.26-2.04) were observed to be significantly associated with risk of CHD. Our study found that genetic polymorphisms of MTR gene at rs1805087 and rs2275565 were significantly associated with higher risk of CHD. Additionally, our study revealed a significant association of three haplotypes with risk of CHD. However, the limitations in this study should be carefully taken into account. In the future, more specific studies in different ethnic populations are required to refine and confirm our findings.Trial registration: Registration number: ChiCTR1800016635; Date of first registration: 14/06/2018.

Circular Intronic RNA circTTN Inhibits Host Gene Transcription and Myogenesis by Recruiting PURB Proteins to form Heterotypic Complexes

Muscle cell growth plays an important role in skeletal muscle development. Circular RNAs (circRNAs) have been proven to be involved in the regulation of skeletal muscle growth and development. In this study, we explored the effect of circTTN on myoblast growth and its possible molecular mechanism. Using C2C12 cells as a functional model, the authenticity of circTTN was confirmed by RNase R digestion and Sanger sequencing. Previous functional studies have showed that the overexpression of circTTN inhibits myoblast proliferation and differentiation. Mechanistically, circTTN recruits the PURB protein on the Titin (TTN) promoter to inhibit the expression of the TTN gene. Moreover, PURB inhibits myoblast proliferation and differentiation, which is consistent with circTTN function. In summary, our results indicate that circTTN inhibits the transcription and myogenesis of the host gene TTN by recruiting PURB proteins to form heterotypic complexes. This work may act as a reference for further research on the role of circRNA in skeletal muscle growth and development.

An Accurate Classification of Rice Diseases Based on ICAI-V4

Rice is a crucial food crop, but it is frequently affected by diseases during its growth process. Some of the most common diseases include rice blast, flax leaf spot, and bacterial blight. These diseases are widespread, highly infectious, and cause significant damage, posing a major challenge to agricultural development. The main problems in rice disease classification are as follows: (1) The images of rice diseases that were collected contain noise and blurred edges, which can hinder the network's ability to accurately extract features of the diseases. (2) The classification of disease images is a challenging task due to the high intra-class diversity and inter-class similarity of rice leaf diseases. This paper proposes the Candy algorithm, an image enhancement technique that utilizes improved Canny operator filtering (the gravitational edge detection algorithm) to emphasize the edge features of rice images and minimize the noise present in the images. Additionally, a new neural network (ICAI-V4) is designed based on the Inception-V4 backbone structure, with a coordinate attention mechanism added to enhance feature capture and overall model performance. The INCV backbone structure incorporates Inception-iv and Reduction-iv structures, with the addition of involution to enhance the network's feature extraction capabilities from a channel perspective. This enables the network to better classify similar images of rice diseases. To address the issue of neuron death caused by the ReLU activation function and improve model robustness, Leaky ReLU is utilized. Our experiments, conducted using the 10-fold cross-validation method and 10,241 images, show that ICAI-V4 has an average classification accuracy of 95.57%. These results indicate the method's strong performance and feasibility for rice disease classification in real-life scenarios.

HDAC inhibitor chidamide overcomes drug resistance in chronic myeloid leukemia with the T315i mutation through the Akt-autophagy pathway

Currently, therapy for Chronic Myeloid Leukemia (CML) patients with the T315I mutation is a major challenge in clinical practice due to its high degree of resistance to first- and second-generation Tyrosine Kinase Inhibitors (TKIs). Chidamide, a Histone Deacetylase Inhibitor (HDACi) drug, is currently used to treat peripheral T-cell lymphoma. In this study, we investigated the anti-leukemia effects of chidamide on the CML cell lines Ba/F3 P210 and Ba/F3 T315I and primary tumor cells from CML patients with the T315I mutation. The underlying mechanism was investigated, and we found that chidamide could inhibit Ba/F3 T315I cells at G0/G1 phase. Signaling pathway analysis showed that chidamide induced H3 acetylation, downregulated pAKT expression and upregulated pSTAT5 expression in Ba/F3 T315I cells. Additionally, we found that the antitumor effect of chidamide could be exerted by regulating the crosstalk between apoptosis and autophagy. When chidamide was used in combination with imatinib or nilotinib, the antitumor effects were enhanced compared with chidamide alone in Ba/F3 T315I and Ba/F3 P210 cells. Therefore, we conclude that chidamide may overcome T315I mutation-related drug resistance in CML patients and works efficiently if used in combination with TKIs.

A Fine-Grained Image Classification Approach for Dog Feces Using MC-SCMNet under Complex Backgrounds

In a natural environment, factors such as weathering and sun exposure will degrade the characteristics of dog feces; disturbances such as decaying wood and dirt are likely to make false detections; the recognition distinctions between different kinds of feces are slight. To address these issues, this paper proposes a fine-grained image classification approach for dog feces using MC-SCMNet under complex backgrounds. First, a multi-scale attention down-sampling module (MADM) is proposed. It carefully retrieves tiny feces feature information. Second, a coordinate location attention mechanism (CLAM) is proposed. It inhibits the entry of disturbance information into the network's feature layer. Then, an SCM-Block containing MADM and CLAM is proposed. We utilized the block to construct a new backbone network to increase the efficiency of fecal feature fusion in dogs. Throughout the network, we decrease the number of parameters using depthwise separable convolution (DSC). In conclusion, MC-SCMNet outperforms all other models in terms of accuracy. On our self-built DFML dataset, it achieves an average identification accuracy of 88.27% and an F1 value of 88.91%. The results of the experiments demonstrate that it is more appropriate for dog fecal identification and maintains stable results even in complex backgrounds, which may be applied to dog gastrointestinal health checks.

1,3-Pentadiene-Assistant Living Anionic Terpolymerization: Composition Impact on Kinetics and Microstructure Sequence Primary Analysis

The combination of a living anionic technology and a unique alternating strategy provided an exciting opportunity to prepare novel and well-defined poly(1,3-pentadiene-co-syrene-co-1,1-diphenylethylene) resins consisting of three alternating sequences of modules (A/B/C zwitterions). "A" being Styrene (St)/1,3-pentadiene (PD), "B" being diphenylethylene (DPE)/PD, "A" being DPE/St, respectively, A wide composition range of new polyolefin resins, i.e., poly (A-co-B), poly (A-co-C), and poly (B-co-C), with controlled molecular weight and very narrow molecular weight and composition distributions have been prepared by a one-pot living characteristic method. In the section of kinetic analysis, the terpolymer yields and kinetic parameters were strongly dependent on the feed/comonomer ratio as well as the content of the alternating structure. The competition copolymerization behaviors of A/B, B/C, and A/C were studied in detail in this work. By contrast, the microstructure and the thermal property of the resulting terpolymer were investigated via Nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) and Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) analysis. The results of 1H NMR tracking the change of [Aromatic ring]/[C=C] value indicated the distinctive copolymer-ization behavior of the selective "alternating-modules". The glass transition temperature (T_g) was very sensitive to the terpolymer composition. By contrast to poly(A-ran-B) with only one obvious T_g, there were two T_gs in the A/C and B/C copolymerization cases. Moreover, the desirable high T_g ~ 140 °C resin was limited to the terpolymers with up to 50 mol % DPE. Finally, the "ABC-X" mechanism was proposed to interpret the unique terpolymerization behavior, which belongs to the classical "bond-forming initiation" theory.

Analysis of LAP+ and GARP+ Treg subsets in peripheral blood of patients with neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorders

INTRODUCTION

Neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder (NMOSD) is a group of antibody-mediated inflammatory demyelinating central nervous system diseases. T lymphocytes participate in NMOSD pathogenesis, with regulatory T cells (Treg) being the core in maintaining immune homeostasis. Studies have revealed that different Treg subsets play different roles in autoimmune diseases. The distribution of LAP+ or GARP+ Treg subsets in NMOSD may help us deeply understand their immune mechanism.

METHODS

This study reviewed 22 NMOSD patients and 20 normal controls. Flow cytometric analysis was utilized to detect subsets of Treg cells expressing Foxp3, Helios, LAP, or GARP in peripheral blood. ELISA was used to detect plasma TGF-β1 and IL-10. In addition, changes in the proportion of Treg cell subsets before and after glucocorticoid treatment in 10 patients were analyzed.

RESULTS

Compared with healthy controls, LAP and GARP expressions were significantly downregulated in the peripheral blood of NMOSD patients. TGF-β1 expression in NMOSD patients was lower and was positively correlated with the ratio of CD4+GARP+ Treg cells. After treatment with glucocorticoid, LAP and GARP expressions in the peripheral blood of NMOSD patients were upregulated.

CONCLUSIONS

The proportion of Treg cells expressing LAP and GARP is downregulated, implying that Treg cells with the best inhibitory function are insufficient to maintain autoimmune homeostasis in NMOSD patients. Upregulation of Treg cells expressing LAP and GARP in NMOSD patients may be one of the mechanisms of glucocorticoid treatment.

Dislocation Substructures Evolution and an Informer Constitutive Model for a Ti-55511 Alloy in Two-Stages High-Temperature Forming with Variant Strain Rates in β Region

The high-temperature compression characteristics of a Ti-55511 alloy are explored through adopting two-stage high-temperature compressed experiments with step-like strain rates. The evolving features of dislocation substructures over hot, compressed parameters are revealed by transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The experiment results suggest that the dislocations annihilation through the rearrangement/interaction of dislocations is aggravated with the increase in forming temperature. Notwithstanding, the generation/interlacing of dislocations exhibit an enhanced trend with the increase in strain in the first stage of forming, or in strain rates at first/second stages of a high-temperature compressed process. According to the testing data, an Informer deep learning model is proposed for reconstructing the stress-strain behavior of the researched Ti-55511 alloy. The input series of the established Informer deep learning model are compression parameters (compressed temperature, strain, as well as strain rate), and the output series are true stresses. The optimal input batch size and sequence length are 64 and 2, respectively. Eventually, the predicted results of the proposed Informer deep learning model are more accordant with the tested true stresses compared to those of the previously established physical mechanism model, demonstrating that the Informer deep learning model enjoys an outstanding forecasted capability for precisely reconstructing the high-temperature compressed features of the Ti-55511 alloy.