Fluorescent response mechanism based on ESIPT and TICT of novel probe H2QJI: A TD-DFT investigation.

Recently, synthesized N-linked-disalicylaldehyde H2QJI probes have been used to detect heavy metal ions in the experiment conveniently. Nevertheless, there needs to be a more in-depth examination of the excited state intramolecular proton transfer (ESIPT) mechanism and photophysical properties of the probe. This work remedied it based on quantum chemistry calculations. We contained due hydrogen bond (O1-H2 ⋯ N3 and O4-H5 ⋯ O6) and then analyzed bond parameters, IR vibration spectra, and non-covalent interaction. The bond strength is enhanced under photoexcitation, and the former is significantly stronger. The calculated electron spectra are in agreement with the experimental values. The results of the S0 and S1 potential energy curves and IRC calculations also confirm the unique ESIPT behavior, which isan excited stated stepwise double proton transfer. The fluorescence, internal conversion, and intersystem crossing rate of KD molecules (twisted-, double proton transfer) were calculated respectively to reveal the radiative and non-radiative pathways. It proved that the corresponding spectra are not obtained since the electrons are mainly deactivated by the ISC (S1->T1). Furthermore, the interfragment charge transfer (IFCT) approach indicates that the molecule possesses twisted intramolecular charge transfer (TICT) characteristics, which lead to the quenching of fluorescence introduction.

Cellular mechanism underlying leptin-induced anion secretion of rat epididymal epithelial cells.

BACKGROUND: A large number of studies have shown that leptin plays an important role in the regulation of fertility via the hypothalamus-pituitary-gonad axis. However, its peripheral function in epididymis was still elusive. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to determine the pro-secretion effect of leptin on the rat epididymal epithelium. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In the present study, real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction, western blot, and immunohistochemical analysis were employed to detect the expression pattern of leptin receptors in rat epididymis. The pro-secretion effect of leptin on epididymal epithelial cells was measured by short-circuit current, and the prostaglandin E2 and cyclic adenosine monophosphate level was evaluated by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. RESULTS: We verified that the leptin receptor was located on the epididymal epithelium, with a relatively high expression level in corpus and cauda epididymis. Ussing chamber experiments showed that leptin stimulated a significant rise of the short-circuit current in rat epididymal epithelial cells, which could be abolished by the specific leptin receptor antagonist peptide Allo-aca, or by removing the ambient Cl- and HCO3 -. Furthermore, the leptin-stimulated short-circuit current response could be abrogated by blocking the apical cystic fibrosis transmembrane regulator or the basolateral Na+-K+-2Cl- cotransporter. Our pharmacological experiments manifested that interfering with the prostaglandin H synthase-2-prostaglandin E2-EP2/EP4-adenylate cyclase pathways could significantly blunt the cystic fibrosis transmembrane regulator-mediated anion secretion induced by leptin. The enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay demonstrated that leptin could induce a substantial increase in prostaglandin E2 release and cyclic adenosine monophosphate synthesis of primary cultured rat cauda epididymal epithelial cells. Our data also suggested that JAK2, ERK, and PI3K-dependent phosphorylation may be involved in the activation of prostaglandin H synthase-2 and the subsequent prostaglandin E2 production. CONCLUSIONS: The present study demonstrated the pro-secretion function of leptin in rat epididymal epithelium via the activation of cystic fibrosis transmembrane regulator and Na+-K+-2Cl- cotransporter, which was dependent on the paracrine/autocrine prostaglandin E2 stimulated EP2/EP4-adenylate cyclase pathways, and thus contributed to the formation of an appropriate microenvironment essential for sperm maturation.

Investigation of Bandgap Properties of a Piezoelectric Phononic Crystal Plate Based on the PDE Module in COMSOL.

Aiming to address the vibration noise problems on ships, we constructed a piezoelectric phononic crystal (PC) plate structure model, solved the governing equations of the structure using the partial differential equations module (PDE) in the finite element softwareCOMSOL6.1, and obtained the corresponding energy band structure, transmission curves, and vibration modal diagrams. The application of this method to probe the structural properties of two-dimensional piezoelectric PCs is described in detail. The calculation results obtained using this method were compared with the structures obtained using the traditional plane wave expansion method (PWE) and the finite element method (FE). The results were found to be in perfect agreement, which verified the feasibility of this method. To safely and effectively adjust the bandgap within a reasonable voltage range, this paper explored the order of magnitude of the plate thickness, the influence of the voltage on the bandgap, and the dependence between them. It was found that the smaller the order of magnitude of the plate thickness, the smaller the order of magnitude of the band in which the bandgap was located. The magnitude of the driving voltage that made the bandgap change became smaller accordingly. The new idea of attaching the PC plate to the conventional plate structure to achieve a vibration damping effect is also briefly introduced. Finally, the effects of lattice constant, plate width, and thickness on the bandgap were investigated.

Genomic variation in weedy and cultivated broomcorn millet accessions uncovers the genetic architecture of agronomic traits.

Large-scale genomic variations are fundamental resources for crop genetics and breeding. Here we sequenced 1,904 genomes of broomcorn millet to an average of 40× sequencing depth and constructed a comprehensive variation map of weedy and cultivated accessions. Being one of the oldest cultivated crops, broomcorn millet has extremely low nucleotide diversity and remarkably rapid decay of linkage disequilibrium. Genome-wide association studies identified 186 loci for 12 agronomic traits. Many causative candidate genes, such as PmGW8 for grain size and PmLG1 for panicle shape, showed strong selection signatures during domestication. Weedy accessions contained many beneficial variations for the grain traits that are largely lost in cultivated accessions. Weedy and cultivated broomcorn millet have adopted different loci controlling flowering time for regional adaptation in parallel. Our study uncovers the unique population genomic features of broomcorn millet and provides an agronomically important resource for cereal crops.

Preparation of a Polycarboxylate Superplasticizer with Different Monomer Regulations and Its Effect on Fluidity, Rheology, and Strength of Cement.

Polycarboxylate superplasticizers (PCEs) are indispensable functional ingredients in modern construction, and their usage is extensive. Herein, a polyether macromonomer (VPEG) with high reactivity was used to prepare VAPCEs with different interfacial adsorption properties (acid-ether ratio) at low temperatures and reacted in 30 min. The effects of various VAPCEs on the fluidity, rheology, and strength of cement were investigated with a w/c (water/cement) ratio of 0.35. Results showed that VAPCE-3 (acid-ether ratio is 3) exhibited the best dispersion, and the fluidity of cement slurry with VAPCE-3 (280 mm) is 278.38% higher than that of the control sample (74 mm). The reason is summarized as VAPCE-3 having good adsorption performance on the surface of cement particles and having a large steric hindrance between particles. The compressive strength of cement with VAPCE-3 was enhanced by 8.29% compared with pure cement in 3 days of curing age due to its densification on microstructure and lowest R orientation index of calcium hydroxide. With the amount of acrylic acid in VAPCE increasing, the flexural strength enhanced because a more cross-linking network was formed with Ca2+ in cement with the increase of COO- content in VAPCEs.

Checklist and distribution of Nepomorpha (Hemiptera: Heteroptera) from China.

An updated catalog of the infraorder Nepomorpha from China is provided based on literature reports, museum specimens, and field collections. In total, 214 species of Nepomorpha are listed in 6 superfamilies, 11 families, and 37 genera, including: Aphelocheiridae (1 genus, 27 species), Belostomatidae (3 genera, 7 species), Corixidae (9 genera, 52 species), Gelastocoridae (1 genus, 3 species), Helotrephidae (5 genera, 25 species), Micronectidae (1 genus, 28 species), Naucoridae (7 genera, 12 species), Nepidae (5 genera, 21 species), Notonectidae (4 genera, 32 species), Ochteridae (1 genus, 2 species) and Pleidae (1 genus, 5 species). Paraplea liturata (Fieber, 1844) is reported from mainland China for the first time. Distribution maps are provided for most species and are based on museum specimens and our field collections.

Female frogs communicate with males through blinking.

Blinking is a behavior unique to animal taxa with motile eyelids, such as most amphibians and reptiles as well as all birds and mammals1. Eyelid movement has physiological functions, such as lubricating the cornea and washing away dust, but its potential signaling functions are not well understood1,2. The use of eyeblinks as a social signal is currently thought to be restricted to some primates, especially humans and their companion animals, but has not been verified in other taxa1,3,4. Here, through field observation and experiments, we demonstrate that female concave-eared torrent frogs (Odorrana tormota), which inhabit noisy streams, use eyeblinks to communicate with males to urge them to initiate amplexus for mating. Our findings reveal that eyeblinks may serve as a social signal in non-primate species.

Non-coding RNAs: targets for Chinese herbal medicine in treating myocardial fibrosis.

Cardiovascular diseases have become the leading cause of death in urban and rural areas. Myocardial fibrosis is a common pathological manifestation at the adaptive and repair stage of cardiovascular diseases, easily predisposing to cardiac death. Non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs), RNA molecules with no coding potential, can regulate gene expression in the occurrence and development of myocardial fibrosis. Recent studies have suggested that Chinese herbal medicine can relieve myocardial fibrosis through targeting various ncRNAs, mainly including microRNAs (miRNAs), long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs), and circular RNAs (circRNAs). Thus, ncRNAs are novel drug targets for Chinese herbal medicine. Herein, we summarized the current understanding of ncRNAs in the pathogenesis of myocardial fibrosis, and highlighted the contribution of ncRNAs to the therapeutic effect of Chinese herbal medicine on myocardial fibrosis. Further, we discussed the future directions regarding the potential applications of ncRNA-based drug screening platform to screen drugs for myocardial fibrosis.

In Situ Growth Strategy to Construct "Four-In-One" Separators with Functionalized Polyphosphazene Coatings for Safe and Stable Lithium-Sulfur Batteries.

Lithium-sulfur batteries (LSBs) are facing many challenges, such as the inadequate conductivity of sulfur, the shuttle effect caused by lithium polysulfide (LiPSs), lithium dendrites, and the flammability, which have hindered their commercial applications. Herein, a "four-in-one" functionalized coating is fabricated on the surface of polypropylene (PP) separator by using a novel flame-retardant namely InC-HCTB to meet these challenges. InC-HCTB is obtained by cultivating polyphosphazene on the surface of carbon nanotubes with an in situ growth strategy. First, this unique architecture fosters an enhanced conductive network, bolstering the bidirectional enhancement of both ionic and electronic conductivities. Furthermore, InC-HCTB effectively inhibits the shuttle effect of LiPSs. LSBs exhibit a remarkable capacity of 1170.7 mA h g-1 at 0.2 C, and the capacity degradation is a mere 0.0436% over 800 cycles at 1 C. Third, InC-HCTB coating serves as an ion migration network, hindering the growth of lithium dendrites. More importantly, InC-HCTB exhibits notable flame retardancy. The radical trapping action in the gas phase and the protective effect of the shielded char layer in the condensed phase are simulated and verified. This facile in situ growth strategy constructs a "four-in-one" functional separator coating, rendering InC-HCTB a promising additive for the large-scale production of safe and stable LSBs.

Genetic linkage map construction and QTL analysis for plant height in proso millet (Panicum miliaceum L.).

KEY MESSAGE: A genetic linkage map representing proso millet genome was constructed with SSR markers, and a major QTL corresponding to plant height was mapped on chromosome 14 of this map. Proso millet (Panicum miliaceum L.) has the lowest water requirements of all cultivated cereal crops. However, the lack of a genetic map and the paucity of genomic resources for this species have limited the utility of proso millet for detailed genetic studies and hampered genetic improvement programs. In this study, 97,317 simple sequence repeat (SSR) markers were developed based on the genome sequence of the proso millet landrace Longmi 4. Using some of these markers in conjunction with previously identified SSRs, an SSR-based linkage map for proso millet was successfully constructed using a large mapping population (316 F2 offspring). In total, 186 SSR markers were assigned to 18 linkage groups corresponding to the haploid chromosomes. The constructed map had a total length of 3033.42 centimorgan (cM) covering 78.17% of the assembled reference genome. The length of the 18 linkage groups ranged from 88.89 cM (Chr. 15) to 274.82 cM (Chr. 16), with an average size of 168.17 cM. To our knowledge, this is the first genetic linkage map for proso millet based on SSR markers. Plant height is one of the most important traits in crop improvement. A major QTL was repeatedly detected in different environments, explaining 8.70-24.50% of the plant height variations. A candidate gene affecting auxin biosynthesis and transport, and ROS homeostasis regulation was predicted. Thus, the linkage map and QTL analysis provided herein will promote the development of gene mining and molecular breeding in proso millet.

Effect of short-term nitrogen deposition on dry-wet seasonal variation of soil respiration in degraded Poa pratensis alpine meadow of the Napahai, Yunnan, China.

To explore the coupling of dry-wet seasonal variations of soil respiration with their environmental factors in the alpine meadow under the background of increasing nitrogen (N) deposition, we conducted an experiment in the typical degraded Poa pratensis meadow in the Napahai, Yunnan. There were four treatments, i.e., control (0 g·m-2·a-1), low (5 g·m-2·a-1), medium (10 g·m-2·a-1), and high (15 g·m-2·a-1) levels. We examined the effects of aboveground biomass, plant diversity, and soil physicochemical properties on soil respiration. The results showed that N deposition significantly promoted soil respiration. Compared with that in the control, soil respiration rates increased by 21.9%-53.9% and 27.3%-51.2% in dry and wet seasons, respectively. The maximum value of soil respiration rate was recorded in the medium N treatment. N deposition dramatically elevated aboveground biomass (52.2%-66.4%). Plant diversity declined with increasing N addition levels, with the maximum value (13.5%-24.2%) being recorded in high treatment in wet season. The values of ammonium nitrogen, organic matter, microbial biomass carbon and nitrogen, temperature and moisture in the three N treatments were elevated by 14.3%-333.5% compared with the control, while those of soil pH were decreased by 9.0%-34.6%. Results of the structural equation modelling showed that plant biomass, Shannon diversity, microbial biomass, soil temperature, and moisture showed a positive effect on soil respiration, while bulk density had a negative effect. Soil nitrogen pool and pH were main factors driving soil CO2 emissions, accounting for 55.7% and 45.1% of the variations, respectively. Therefore, short-term atmospheric N deposition stimulated soil respiration primarily via altering soil pH and nitrogen pool components in the degraded alpine meadow.

Enhanced humification via lignocellulosic pretreatment in remediation of agricultural solid waste.

Stover and manure are the main solid waste in agricultural industry. The generation of stover and manure could lead to serious environmental pollution if not handled properly. Composting is the potential greener solution to remediate and reduce agricultural solid waste, through which stover and manure could be remediated and converted into organic fertilizer, but the long composting period and low efficiency of humic substance production are the key constraints in such remediation approach. In this study, we explore the effect of lignocellulose selective removal on composting by performing chemical pretreatment on agricultural waste followed by utilization of biochar to assist in the remediation by co-composting treatment and reveal the impacts of different lignocellulose component on organic fertilizer production. Aiming to discover the key factors that influence humification during composting process and improve the composting quality as well as comprehensive utilization of agricultural solid waste. The results demonstrated that the removal of selective lignin or hemicellulose led to the shift of abundances lignocellulose-degrading bacteria, which in turn accelerated the degradation of lignocellulose by almost 51.2%. The process also facilitated the remediation of organic waste via humification and increased the humic acid level and HA/FA ratio in just 22 days. The richness of media relies on their lignocellulose content, which is negatively correlated with total nitrogen content, humic acid (HA) content, germination index (GI), and pH, but positively correlated with fulvic acid (FA) and total organic carbon (TOC). The work provides a potential cost effective and efficient framework for agricultural solid waste remediation and reduction.

Association between stroke and venous leg ulcers: A Mendelian randomization study.

To investigate any potential bidirectional causal relationships between stroke and venous leg ulcers (VLUs), Mendelian randomization (MR) analyses were carried out in this study. The exposure factor was stroke, the outcome factor was VLUs. The two-sample MR study was carried out based on the online analysis platform (http://app.mrbase.org/). The association of stroke and VLUs was analysed via methods of Inverse Variance Weighted (IVW), Weighted Median, MR-Egger and weighted mode. IVW method suggested no association between stroke and VLUs ((ß 1.06; SE 9.321; p = 0.9095)). Weighted median estimator (ß 5.906; SE 11.99, p = 0.6223), MR-Egger (ß -0.8677; SE 21.89; p = 0.9691) and weighted mode (ß 9.336; SE 17.77; p = 0.6089) showed consistent results. Conversely, evidence indicating that the presence of VLUs increased the risk of stroke was lacking. According to this MR study, there is no causal connection between stroke and VLUs, which suggests that therapies targeting stroke may not be effective against VLUs.

Loss of macrophage TSC1 exacerbates sterile inflammatory liver injury through inhibiting the AKT/MST1/NRF2 signaling pathway.

Tuberous sclerosis complex 1 (TSC1) plays important roles in regulating innate immunity. However, the precise role of TSC1 in macrophages in the regulation of oxidative stress response and hepatic inflammation in liver ischemia/reperfusion injury (I/R) remains unknown. In a mouse model of liver I/R injury, deletion of myeloid-specific TSC1 inhibited AKT and MST1 phosphorylation, and decreased NRF2 accumulation, whereas activated TLR4/NF-κB pathway, leading to increased hepatic inflammation. Adoptive transfer of AKT- or MST1-overexpressing macrophages, or Keap1 disruption in myeloid-specific TSC1-knockout mice promoted NRF2 activation but reduced TLR4 activity and mitigated I/R-induced liver inflammation. Mechanistically, TSC1 in macrophages promoted AKT and MST1 phosphorylation, and protected NRF2 from Keap1-mediated ubiquitination. Furthermore, overexpression AKT or MST1 in TSC1-knockout macrophages upregulated NRF2 expression, downregulated TLR4/NF-κB, resulting in reduced inflammatory factors, ROS and inflammatory cytokine-mediated hepatocyte apoptosis. Strikingly, TSC1 induction in NRF2-deficient macrophages failed to reverse the TLR4/NF-κB activity and production of pro-inflammatory factors. Conclusions: Macrophage TSC1 promoted the activation of the AKT/MST1 signaling pathway, increased NRF2 levels via reducing Keap1-mediated ubiquitination, and modulated oxidative stress-driven inflammatory responses in liver I/R injury. Our findings underscore the critical role of macrophage TSC1 as a novel regulator of innate immunity and imply the therapeutic potential for the treatment of sterile liver inflammation in transplant recipients. Schematic illustration of macrophage TSC1-mediated AKT/MST1/NRF2 signaling pathway in I/R-triggered liver inflammation. Macrophage TSC1 can be activated in I/R-stressed livers. TSC1 activation promotes phosphorylation of AKT and MST1, which in turn increases NRF2 expression and inhibits ROS production and TLR4/NF-κB activation, resulting in reduced hepatocellular apoptosis in I/R-triggered liver injury.

Communication between nonalcoholic fatty liver disease and atherosclerosis: Focusing on exosomes.

Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is the most prevalent chronic hepatic disorder on a global scale. Atherosclerosis (AS), a leading cause of cardiovascular diseases, stands as the primary contributor to mortality among patients diagnosed with NAFLD. However, the precise etiology by which NAFLD causes AS remains unclear. Exosomes are nanoscale extracellular vesicles secreted by cells, and are considered to participate in complex biological processes by promoting cell-to-cell and organ-to-organ communications. As vesicles containing protein, mRNA, non-coding RNA and other bioactive molecules, exosomes can participate in the development of NAFLD and AS respectively. Recently, studies have shown that NAFLD can also promote the development of AS via secreting exosomes. Herein, we summarized the recent advantages of exosomes in the pathogenesis of NAFLD and AS, and highlighted the role of exosomes in mediating the information exchange between NAFLD and AS. Further, we discussed how exosomes play a prominent role in enabling information exchange among diverse organs, delving into a novel avenue for investigating the link between diseases and their associated complications. The future directions and emerging challenges are also listed regarding the exosome-based therapeutic strategies for AS under NAFLD conditions.

An All-Protein Multisensory Highly Bionic Skin.

To achieve a highly realistic robot, closely mimicking human skin in terms of materials and functionality is essential. This paper presents an all-protein silk fibroin bionic skin (SFBS) that emulates both fast-adapting (FA) and slow-adapting (SA) receptors. The mechanically different silk film and hydrogel, which exhibited skin-like properties, such as stretchability (>140%), elasticity, low modulus (<10 kPa), biocompatibility, and degradability, were prepared through mesoscopic reconstruction engineering to mimic the epidermis and dermis. Our SFBS, incorporating SA and FA sensors, demonstrated a highly sensitive (1.083 kPa-1) static pressure sensing performance (in vitro and in vivo), showed the ability to sense high-frequency vibrations (50-400 Hz), could discriminate materials and sliding, and could even identify the fine morphological differences between objects. As proof of concept, an SFBS-integrated rehabilitation glove was synthesized, which could help stroke patients regain sensory feedback. In conclusion, this work provides a practical approach for developing skin equivalents, prostheses, and smart robots.

Oral health status and oral habits of children and adolescents with hemophilia: a report from the children's hemophilia comprehensive care center of China.

In recent years, the diagnosis and treatment of hemophilic children in China has significantly improved. However, oral health conditions, which affect quality of life, haven't received attention in this population. To explore the oral health status and oral hygiene of children and adolescents with hemophilia in the Children's Hemophilia Comprehensive Care Center of China. Dental and oral hygiene examinations were performed in children and adolescents with hemophilia who visited Beijing Children's Hospital. DMFT/dmft (decayed, missing, filled teeth in permanent and primary teeth) was assessed according to World Health Organization (WHO) criteria. The simplified oral hygiene index (OHI-S) was used to evaluate the oral hygiene condition of the subjects. Questionnaires were completed by their parents. SPSS 21.0 was used for statistical analysis. A total of 114 children and adolescents were enrolled. The caries prevalence was 57.4%, 72.2% and 41.2% in primary, mixed and permanent dentitions respectively. The filling rates were 14.4%, 13.9%, and 11.4%, respectively, and the OHI-S scores of the three dentition groups were 1.49 ± 0.46, 1.57 ± 0.43, and 1.76 ± 0.46, respectively. A total of 103 valid questionnaires were collected. Sixty-nine children (67%) didn't brushed their teeth 2 times a day. Nearly half of the parents knew little about fluoride toothpaste. Multiple linear regression analysis revealed that brushing teeth with the help of parents had a significant positive impact on OHI-S.  Conclusion: Dental health was unsatisfactory among hemophilic children and adolescents. The caries filling rates were low. Patients and their parents did not give much attention to oral health. What is Known: • Caries and gingivitis are the two main oral diseases that affect children with hemophilia. • However, the oral health conditions of children and adolescents with hemophilia have not received much attention in China. What is New: • This is the first study concentrating on the dental health of children with hemophilia in China. • Dental health was unsatisfactory among children and adolescents with hemophilia in China.

CD73-positive pediatric urethral mesenchymal stem-like cell-derived small extracellular vesicles stimulate angiogenesis.

Introduction: Angiogenesis plays an important role in the repair of urethral injury, and stem cells and their secretomes can promote angiogenesis. We obtained pediatric urethral mesenchymal stem-like cells (PU-MSLCs) in an earlier study. This project studied the pro-angiogenic effect of PU-MSLC-derived small extracellular vesicles (PUMSLC-sEVs) and the underlying mechanisms. Materials and methods: PUMSLCs and PUMSLC-sEVs were cultivated and identified. Then, biological methods such as the ethynyl deoxyuridine (EdU) incorporation assay, Cell Counting Kit-8 (CCK-8) assay, scratch wound assay, Transwell assay, and tube formation assay were used to study the effect of PUMSLC-sEVs on the proliferation, migration, and tube formation of human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs). We explored whether the proangiogenic effect of PUMSLC-sEVs is related to CD73 and whether adenosine (ADO, a CD73 metabolite) promoted angiogenesis. GraphPad Prism 8 software was used for data analysis. Results: We observed that PUMSLC-sEVs significantly promoted the proliferation, migration, and tube-forming abilities of HUVECs. PUMSLC-sEVs delivered CD73 molecules to HUVECs to promote angiogenesis. The angiogenic ability of HUVECs was enhanced after treatment with extracellular ADO produced by CD73, and PUMSLC-sEVs further promoted angiogenesis by activating Adenosine Receptor A2A (A2AR). Conclusions: These observations suggest that PUMSLC-sEVs promote angiogenesis, possibly through activation of the CD73/ADO/A2AR signaling axis.

Ferroptosis in cardiovascular disease.

In the 21st century, cardiovascular disease (CVD) has become one of the leading causes of death worldwide. The prevention and treatment of CVD remain pressing scientific issues. Several recent studies have suggested that ferroptosis may play a key role in CVD. Most studies conducted thus far on ferroptosis and CVD have supported the link. Ferroptosis mediated by different signaling and metabolic pathways can lead to ischemic heart disease, myocarditis, heart failure, ischemia-reperfusion injury, and cardiomyopathy. Still, the specific mechanism of ferroptosis in CVD, the particular organ areas affected, and the stage of disease involved need to be further studied. Therefore, understanding the mechanisms regulating ferroptosis in CVD may improve disease management. Throughout this review, we summarized the mechanism of ferroptosis and its effect on the pathogenesis of CVD. We also predicted and discussed future research directions, aiming to provide new ideas and strategies for preventing and treating CVD.

Mediation role of anxiety on social support and depression among diabetic patients in elderly caring social organizations in China during COVID-19 pandemic: a cross-sectional study.

BACKGROUND: Diabetes has become a prominent global public health problem, which is an important cause of death, disease burden, and medical and health economic burden. Previous studies have reported that majority of persons diagnosed with diabetes later presented with psychological and mental health diseases. The study aimed to explore the mediation role of anxiety on social support and depression among diabetic patents in elderly caring social organizations (SOs). METHODS: A multi-stage stratified cluster random sampling method was used in this cross-sectional study, and a questionnaire consisting of demographic questionnaire, MSPSS, GAD-7, and CES-D-10 was utilized to gather data. SPSS 22.0 and MPLUS 7.4 were used for statistical analysis. Spearman correlation analysis was employed to investigate correlations of key variables. A generalized linear model was used to exam factors associated with depression. Finally, the mediation effect among study variables was investigated by structural equation modeling (SEM). RESULTS: The average scores of social support, anxiety, and depression were 58.41 ± 14.67, 2.95 ± 3.95, and 7.24 ± 5.53, respectively. The factors of gender, social support, and anxiety were identified as significantly influential factors related to depression among diabetic patients in elderly caring SOs. The effect of social support on depression was significantly mediated by anxiety (ß = -0.467, 95%CI: -0.813 to -0.251). Furthermore, anxiety partially mediated the relationship between family support and depression (ß = -0.112, 95%CI: -0.229 to -0.012), and anxiety functioned as a complete mediator in the effect of significant others' support and depression (ß = -0.135, 95%CI: -0.282 to -0.024). CONCLUSIONS: The indirect effect of social support on depression through anxiety among diabetic patients in elderly caring SOs was elucidated. Social support played a key role in maintaining and regulating their mental health, particularly from family and significant others. Social support provided by both family and significant others exerted an important influence on maintaining and regulating their mental health. In light of this pathway, the elderly caring SOs should enhance the magnitude of social support from these two sources, thereby diminishing the likelihood of experiencing anxiety and depression.