Regulation of optimized new Shengmai powder on cardiomyocyte apoptosis and ferroptosis in ischemic heart failure rats: The mediating role of phosphatidylinositol-3-kinase/protein kinase B/tumor protein 53 signaling pathway.

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE: Optimized New Shengmai Powder (ONSMP) is a sophisticated traditional Chinese medicinal formula renowned for bolstering vital energy, optimizing blood circulation, and mitigating fluid retention. After years of clinical application, ONSMP has shown a significant impact in improving myocardial injury and cardiac function and has a positive effect on treating heart failure. However, many unknowns exist about the molecular biological mechanisms of how ONSMP exerts its therapeutic effects, which require further research and exploration. AIM OF THE STUDY: Exploring the potential molecular biological mechanisms by which ONSMP ameliorates cardiomyocyte apoptosis and ferroptosis in ischemic heart failure (IHF). MATERIALS AND METHODS: First, we constructed a rat model of IHF by inducing acute myocardial infarction through surgery and using echocardiography, organ coefficients, markers of heart failure, antioxidant markers, and histopathological examination to assess the effects of ONSMP on cardiomyocyte apoptosis and ferroptosis in IHF rats. Next, we used bioinformatics analysis techniques to analyze the active components, signaling pathways, and core targets of ONSMP and calculated the interactions between core targets and corresponding elements. Finally, we detected the positive expression of apoptosis and ferroptosis markers and core indicators of signaling pathways by immunohistochemistry; detected the mean fluorescence intensity of core indicators of signaling pathways by immunofluorescence; detected the protein expression of signaling pathways and downstream effector molecules by western blotting; and detected the mRNA levels of p53 and downstream effector molecules by quantitative polymerase chain reaction. RESULTS: ONSMP can activate the Ser83 site of ASK by promoting the phosphorylation of the PI3K/AKT axis, thereby inhibiting the MKK3/6-p38 axis and the MKK4/7-JNK axis signaling to reduce p53 expression, and can also directly target and inhibit the activity of p53, ultimately inhibiting p53-mediated mRNA and protein increases in PUMA, SAT1, PIG3, and TFR1, as well as mRNA and protein decreases in SLC7A11, thereby inhibiting cardiomyocyte apoptosis and ferroptosis, effectively improving cardiac function and ventricular remodeling in IHF rat models. CONCLUSION: ONSMP can inhibit cardiomyocyte apoptosis and ferroptosis through the PI3K/AKT/p53 signaling pathway, delaying the development of IHF.

AMPK regulates immature boar Sertoli cell proliferation through affecting CDK4/Cyclin D3 pathway and mitochondrial function.

Sertoli cell (SC) proliferation plays an important role in sperm production and quality; however, the regulatory mechanism of SC proliferation is not well understood. This study investigated the role of adenosine monophosphate-activated protein kinase (AMPK) in the regulation of immature boar SC activity. Cell counting kit-8, Seahorse XFe96, mitochondrial respiratory enzyme-related assay kits, and transmission electron microscopy were used to detect SC proliferative viability, oxygen consumption rate (OCR), mitochondrial respiratory enzyme activity, and the ultrastructure of primary cultured SCs in vitro from the testes of 21-day-old boars. A dual luciferase reporter assay was performed to determine the miRNA-mRNA target interaction. Western blotting was used to analyze cell proliferation-related protein expression of p38, p21, proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA), Cyclin-dependent kinase 4 (CDK4), Cyclin D3, and phosphorylated retinoblastoma protein (Rb). Each experiment had a completely randomized design, with three replicates in each experiment. The results showed that the AMPK inhibitor (Compound C, 20 µM-24 h) increased cell proliferation viability, ATP production, and maximal respiration of SCs by 0.64-, 0.12-, and 0.08-fold (p < 0.05), respectively; increased the SC protein expression of PCNA, CDK4, Cyclin D3, and p-Rb by 0.13-, 0.09-, 0.88-, and 0.12-fold (p < 0.05), respectively; and decreased the SC protein expression of p38 and p21 by 0.36- and 0.27-fold (p < 0.05), respectively. The AMPK agonist AICAR (2 mM-6 h) significantly inhibited SC ultrastructure, OCR, mitochondrial respiratory enzyme activity, and cell proliferation-related protein levels. AMPK was validated to be a target gene of miR-1285 based on the result in which the miR-1285 mimic inhibited the luciferase activity of wild-type AMPK by 0.54-fold (p < 0.001). MiR-1285 mimic promoted the OCR of SCs, with 0.45-, 0.15-, 0.21-, and 0.30-fold (p < 0.01) increases in ATP production, basal and maximal respiration, and spare capacity, respectively. MiR-1285 mimic increased the mitochondrial respiratory enzyme activity of SCs, with 0.63-, 0.70-, and 0.97-fold (p < 0.01) increases in NADH-Q oxidoreductase, cytochrome c oxidase, and ATP synthase, respectively. Moreover, the miR-1285 mimic increased the protein expression of PCNA, CDK4, Cyclin D3, and p-Rb by 0.24-, 0.30-, 0.22-, and 0.13-fold (p < 0.05), respectively, and reduced the protein expression of p38 and p21 by 0.58- and 0.66-fold (p < 0.001). MiR-1285 inhibitor showed opposite effects on the above indicators and induced numerous autophagosomes and large lipid droplets in SCs. A high dose of estradiol (10 µM-6 h, showed a promotion of AMPK activation in a previous study) significantly inhibited SC ultrastructure, mitochondrial function, and proliferation-related pathways, while these adverse effects were weakened by Compound C treatment or miR-1285 mimic transfection. Our findings suggest that the activation and inhibition of AMPK induced by specific drugs or synthesized targeted miRNA fragments could regulate immature boar SC proliferative activity by influencing the CDK4/Cyclin D3 pathway and mitochondrial function; this helps to provide a basis for the prevention and treatment of male sterility in clinical practice.

Factors Influencing the Self-management of Breast Cancer-Related Lymphedema: A Meta-synthesis of Qualitative Studies.

BACKGROUND: Patients with breast cancer have an estimated 14% to 60% risk of developing lymphedema after treatment. Self-management behavior strategies regarding lymphedema are essential in preventing and alleviating the severity of lymphedema. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to evaluate qualitative research evidence on the potential influencing factors for self-management behaviors of lymphedema in patients with breast cancer. METHODS: A systematic search of 10 electronic databases was conducted to identify qualitative studies on patient experience of lymphedema self-management. The following databases were included and appraised using the Joanna Briggs Institute Critical Appraisal Checklist: Cochrane Library, PubMed, EMBASE, Web of Science, PsycINFO, Scopus, Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature, China National Knowledge Infrastructure, Wanfang Med Online, and Chinese Biomedical Database. RESULTS: The literature search yielded 5313 studies, of which only 22 qualitative studies fulfilled the eligibility criteria. Five synthesized findings were derived encompassing personal characteristics, personal knowledge and experience, personal health beliefs, self-regulation skills and abilities, and social influences and support. CONCLUSIONS: Patients with breast cancer are confronted with many challenges when performing self-management of lymphedema. Therefore, it is important to recognize potential facilitators and barriers to further offer practical recommendations that promote self-management activities for lymphedema. IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE: Healthcare professionals should receive consistent training on lymphedema management. On the basis of individual patient characteristics, tailored education and support should be provided, including transforming irrational beliefs, and improving related knowledge and skills, with the aim to promote self-management behaviors with respect to lymphedema.

Effectiveness and safety of early lens extraction during par plana vitrectomy for proliferative diabetes retinopathy with mild cataract: a randomized clinical trial.

AIM: To evaluate the effectiveness and safety of early lens extraction during pars plana vitrectomy (PPV) for proliferative diabetic retinopathy (PDR) compared to those of PPV with subsequent cataract surgery. METHODS: This multicenter randomized controlled trial was conducted in three Chinese hospitals on patients with PDR, aged >45y, with mild cataracts. The participants were randomly assigned to the combined (PPV combined with simultaneously cataract surgery, i.e., phacovitrectomy) or subsequent (PPV with subsequent cataract surgery 6mo later) group and followed up for 12mo. The primary outcome was the change in best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) from baseline to 6mo, and the secondary outcomes included complication rates and medical expenses. RESULTS: In total, 129 patients with PDR were recruited and equally randomized (66 and 63 in the combined and subsequent groups respectively). The change in BCVA in the combined group [mean, 36.90 letters; 95% confidence interval (CI), 30.35-43.45] was significantly better (adjusted difference, 16.43; 95%CI, 8.77-24.08; P<0.001) than in the subsequent group (mean, 22.40 letters; 95%CI, 15.55-29.24) 6mo after the PPV, with no significant difference between the two groups at 12mo. The overall surgical risk of two sequential surgeries was significantly higher than that of the combined surgery for neovascular glaucoma (17.65% vs 3.77%, P=0.005). No significant differences were found in the photocoagulation spots, surgical time, and economic expenses between two groups. In the subsequent group, the duration of work incapacity (22.54±9.11d) was significantly longer (P<0.001) than that of the combined group (12.44±6.48d). CONCLUSION: PDR patients aged over 45y with mild cataract can also benefit from early lens extraction during PPV with gratifying effectiveness, safety and convenience, compared to sequential surgeries.

High-Resolution Estimates of N2O Emissions from Inland Waters and Wetlands in China.

Inland waters (rivers, lakes, and reservoirs) and wetlands (marshes and coastal wetlands) represent large and continuous sources of nitrous oxide (N2O) emissions, in view of adequate biomass and anaerobic conditions. Considerable uncertainties remain in quantifying spatially explicit N2O emissions from aquatic systems, attributable to the limitations of models and a lack of comprehensive data sets. Herein, we conducted a synthesis of 1659 observations of N2O emission rates to determine the major environmental drivers across five aquatic systems. A framework for spatially explicit estimates of N2O emissions in China was established, employing a data-driven approach that upscaled from site-specific N2O fluxes to robust multiple-regression models. Results revealed the effectiveness of models incorporating soil organic carbon and water content for marshes and coastal wetlands, as well as water nitrate concentration and dissolved organic carbon for lakes, rivers, and reservoirs for predicting emissions. Total national N2O emissions from inland waters and wetlands were 1.02 × 105 t N2O yr-1, with contributions from marshes (36.33%), rivers (27.77%), lakes (25.27%), reservoirs (6.47%), and coastal wetlands (4.16%). Spatially, larger emissions occurred in the Songliao River Basin and Continental River Basin, primarily due to their substantial terrestrial biomass. This study offers a vital national inventory of N2O emissions from inland waters and wetlands in China, providing paradigms for the inventorying work in other countries and insights to formulate effective mitigation strategies for climate change.

Real-world pharmacological treatment of pregnant patients with rheumatic diseases from China: a retrospective analysis from 2016 to 2021.

Introduction: We investigated trends in the use of therapeutic drugs for pregnant patients with rheumatic diseases in nine Chinese cities (Beijing, Chengdu, Guangzhou, Harbin, Hangzhou, Shanghai, Shenyang, Tianjin, and Zhengzhou) to provide a reference for drug use in clinic. Methods: Outpatient prescription data for pregnant patients diagnosed with rheumatic diseases in nine cities across China in 2016-2021 were extracted from the Hospital Prescription Cooperation Project of the Hospital Pharmacy Professional Committee of the Chinese Pharmaceutical Association. A retrospective analysis was then performed, incorporating data on patient age, defined daily doses (DDDs), defined daily cost (DDC), and other metrics. Results: In 2016-2020, more than 70% of the pregnant patients diagnosed with rheumatic diseases in these nine cities were 25 to < 35 years of age. The most common rheumatic diseases during pregnancy were antiphospholipid antibody syndrome (APS) and systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). In terms of the routine use of daily therapeutic drugs, the DDDs of low molecular weight heparins (LMWHs), glucocorticoids, and immunosuppressive agents dominated the top three. Intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG) and tumor necrosis factor inhibitors (TNFi) have been used since 2019 and had been in the forefront of the DDC. Conclusion: The number and total cost of prescriptions for therapeutic drugs of pregnancy complicated by rheumatic diseases, have increased significantly over the study interval. Conventional therapeutic drugs, especially glucocorticoids, LMWHs, and hydroxychloroquine were the most widely used drugs in pregnant patients with rheumatic diseases. However, IVIG and TNFi, relatively high cost, have shown gradual increases in clinical use since 2019.

Modulation of host lipid metabolism by virus infection leads to exoskeleton damage in shrimp.

The arthropod exoskeleton provides protection and support and is vital for survival and adaption. The integrity and mechanical properties of the exoskeleton are often impaired after pathogenic infection; however, the detailed mechanism by which infection affects the exoskeleton remains largely unknown. Here, we report that the damage to the shrimp exoskeleton is caused by modulation of host lipid profiles after infection with white spot syndrome virus (WSSV). WSSV infection disrupts the mechanical performance of the exoskeleton by inducing the expression of a chitinase (Chi2) in the sub-cuticle epidermis and decreasing the cuticle chitin content. The induction of Chi2 expression is mediated by a nuclear receptor that can be activated by certain enriched long-chain saturated fatty acids after infection. The damage to the exoskeleton, an aftereffect of the induction of host lipogenesis by WSSV, significantly impairs the motor ability of shrimp. Blocking the WSSV-caused lipogenesis restored the mechanical performance of the cuticle and improved the motor ability of infected shrimp. Therefore, this study reveals a mechanism by which WSSV infection modulates shrimp internal metabolism resulting in phenotypic impairment, and provides new insights into the interactions between the arthropod host and virus.

Biological and physiological effects in Bemisia tabaci feeding on tomatoes endophytically colonized by Beauveria bassiana.

BACKGROUND: Entomopathogenic fungi (EPF) treatment of plants may affect the survival and feeding preferences of herbivorous pests. However, comprehensive studies on the fitness across their entire life cycle, feeding behavior, and physiological changes in herbivores consuming EPF-treated plants within the tripartite interactions of EPF, plants, and pests are still limited. In this study, we utilized life tables, electrical penetration graph (EPG), and metabolomics to uncover the biological and physiological characteristics of Bemisia tabaci on tomato plants inoculated with Beauveria bassiana through root irrigation. RESULTS: Our study indicated that Beauveria bassiana Bb252 can penetrate the entire tissue from the point of inoculation, primarily colonizing the intercellular spaces and vascular tissue. However, this colonization is temporary, lasting no more than 35 days. Moreover, the population fitness and feeding behavior of Bemisia tabaci on tomato plants treated with Beauveria bassiana via root irrigation were significantly affected, showing a substantial 41.4% decrease in net reproductive rate (R0), a notable reduction in watery salivation, and shortened phloem ingestion. Lastly, we observed a significant decrease in hormones and amino acids of whiteflies that fed on Beauveria bassiana-treated tomato plants by root irrigation. CONCLUSIONS: Our results indicated that the endophyte, Beauveria bassiana Bb252, reduced demographic fitness of Bemisia tabaci by altering its hormones and amino acids levels. These findings enhance our understanding of multitrophic interactions in integrated pest management. © 2024 Society of Chemical Industry.

Systemic immune inflammation index and system inflammation response index on the third postoperative day predict poor prognosis of aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage patients.

The inflammatory response is involved in the progression of aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage (aSAH). We sought to investigate the relationships of inflammatory indicators including blood cell counts and the ratios of different blood cells counts with the prognosis of aSAH patients. We performed a retrospective study including 140 patients with aSAH and aneurysm surgeries. The relationships of neutrophils, lymphocytes, monocytes, platelets, systemic immune inflammation index (SII), system inflammation response index (SIRI), neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio and platelet-lymphocyte ratio with prognosis were investigated by univariable analysis and multivariable logistic regression model. The patient with Modified Rankin Scale (mRS) score＜3 was defined as having a good prognosis, while with mRS score ≥3 was defined as having a poor prognosis. Among 140 patients included, there were 108 cases with good prognosis and 32 cases with poor prognosis after follow-up. On the 3rd postoperative day, the neutrophils counts, SIRI level and SII level in cases with poor prognosis were significantly higher than cases with good prognosis, P < .05. After adjusting for baseline differences in Hunt-Hess grade, Glasgow Coma Scale score, combination with intraventricular hemorrhage and maximum diameter of aneurysm, the levels of SIRI (odds ratio = 3.968, 95% CI: 1.432-10.992, P = .008) and SII (odds ratio = 3.313, 95% CI: 1.029-10.665, P = .045) on the 3rd postoperative day could predict poor prognosis. SII and SIRI on the 3rd postoperative day could independently predict the poor prognosis in aSAH. However, the cutoff values for predicting prognosis needs to be validated in larger-sample studies.

Sustained release gel based on CT image inspection for treatment of diabetes fundus macular lesions.

Currently, slow-release gel therapy is considered to be an effective treatment for fundus macular disease, but the lack of effective evaluation methods limits its clinical application. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to investigate the application and clinical effect of slow-release gel based on CT image examination in the treatment of diabetic fundus macular disease. CT images of fundus macular lesions were collected in a group of diabetic patients. Then the professional image processing software is used to process and analyze the image and extract the key parameters. A slow-release gel was designed and prepared, and applied to the treatment of diabetic fundus macular disease. CT images before and after treatment were compared and analyzed, and the effect of slow-release gel was evaluated. In a certain period of time after treatment, the lesion size and lesion degree of diabetic fundus macular disease were significantly improved by using slow-release gel therapy with CT image examination. No significant adverse reactions or complications were observed during the treatment. This indicates that the slow-release gel based on CT image examination is a safe, effective and feasible treatment method for diabetic fundus macular disease. This method can help improve the vision and quality of life of patients, and provide a new idea and plan for clinical treatment.

Glutamate rescues heat stress-induced apoptosis of Sertoli cells by enhancing the activity of antioxidant enzymes and activating the Trx1-Akt pathway in vitro.

Heat stress reduces the number of Sertoli cells, which is closely related to an imbalanced redox status. Glutamate functions to maintain the equilibrium of redox homeostasis. However, the role of glutamate in heat treated Sertoli cells remains unclear. Herein, Sertoli cells from 3-week-old piglets were treated at 44 °C for 30 min (heat stress). Glutamate levels increased significantly following heat stress treatment, followed by a gradual decrease during recovery, while glutathione (GSH) showed a gradual increase. The addition of exogenous glutamate (700 µM) to Sertoli cells before heat stress significantly reduced the heat stress-induced apoptosis rate, mediated by enhanced levels of antioxidant substances (superoxide dismutase (SOD), total antioxidant capacity (TAC), and GSH) and reduced levels of oxidative substances (reactive oxygen species (ROS) and malondialdehyde (MDA)). Glutamate addition to Sertoli cells before heat stress upregulated the levels of glutamate-cysteine ligase, modifier subunit (Gclm), glutathione synthetase (Gss), thioredoxin (Trx1) and B-cell leukemia/lymphoma 2 (Bcl-2), and the ratio of phosphorylated Akt (protein kinase B)/total Akt. However, it decreased the levels of Bcl2-associated X protein (Bax) and cleaved-caspase 3. Addition of the inhibitor of glutaminase (Gls1), Bptes (Bis-2-(5-phenylacetamido-1,3,4-thiadiazol-2-yl)ethyl sulfide, 30 µM)to Sertoli cells before heat stress reversed these effects. These results inferred that glutamate rescued heat stress-induced apoptosis in Sertoli cells by enhancing activity of antioxidant enzymes and activating the Trx1-Akt pathway. Thus, glutamate supplementation might represent a novel strategy to alleviate the negative effect of heat stress.

Does the Dose of Standard Adjuvant Chemotherapy Affect the Triple-negative Breast Cancer Benefit from Extended Capecitabine Metronomic Therapy? An Exploratory Analysis of the SYSUCC-001 Trial.

Purpose: Results from studies of extended capecitabine after the standard adjuvant chemotherapy in early stage triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) were inconsistent, and only low-dose capecitabine from the SYSUCC-001 trial improved disease-free survival (DFS). Adjustment of the conventional adjuvant chemotherapy doses affect the prognosis and may affect the efficacy of subsequent treatments. This study investigated whether the survival benefit of the SYSUCC-001 trial was affected by dose adjustment of the standard adjuvant chemotherapy or not. Patients and Methods: We reviewed the adjuvant chemotherapy regimens before the extended capecitabine in the SYSUCC-001 trial. Patients were classified into "consistent" (standard acceptable dose) and "inconsistent" (doses lower than acceptable dose) dose based on the minimum acceptable dose range in the landmark clinical trials. Cox proportional hazards model was used to investigate the impact of dose on the survival outcomes. Results: All 434 patients in SYSUCC-001 trial were enrolled in this study. Most of patients administered the anthracycline-taxane regimen accounted for 88.94%. Among patients in the "inconsistent" dose, 60.8% and 47% received lower doses of anthracycline and taxane separately. In the observation group, the "inconsistent" dose of anthracycline and taxane did not affect DFS compared with the "consistent" dose. Moreover, in the capecitabine group, the "inconsistent" anthracycline dose did not affect DFS compared with the "consistent" dose. However, patients with "consistent" taxane doses benefited significantly from extended capecitabine (P=0.014). The sufficient dose of adjuvant taxane had a positive effect of extended capecitabine (hazard ratio [HR] 2.04; 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.02 to 4.06). Conclusion: This study found the dose reduction of adjuvant taxane might negatively impact the efficacy of capecitabine. Therefore, the reduction of anthracycline dose over paclitaxel should be given priority during conventional adjuvant chemotherapy, if patients need dose reduction and plan for extended capecitabine.

Downregulation of SMAD4 protects HaCaT cells against UVB-induced damage and oxidative stress through the activation of EMT.

As a member of the SMAD family, SMAD4 plays a crucial role in several cellular biological processes. However, its function in UVB radiation-induced keratinocyte damage is not yet clarified. Our study aims to provide mechanistic insight for the development of future UVB protective therapies and therapeutics involving SMAD4. HaCaT cells were treated with UVB, and the dose dependence and time dependence of UVB were measured. The cell function of UVB-treated HaCaT cells and the activity of epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) after overexpression or silencing of SMAD4 was observed by flow cytometry, quantitative reverse transcription PCR (qRT-PCR) and Western Blots (WB). We found that a significant decrease in SMAD4 was observed in HaCaT cells induced by UVB. Our data confirm SMAD4 as a direct downstream target of miR-664. The down-regulation of SMAD4 preserved the viability of the UVB-treated HaCaT cells by inhibiting autophagy or apoptosis. Furthermore, the silencing of SMAD4 activated the EMT process in UVB-treated HaCaT cells. Down-regulation of SMAD4 plays a protective role in UVB-treated HaCaT cells via the activation of EMT.

Diagnostic and prognostic value of angiography-derived index of microvascular resistance: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background: The angiography-derived index of microvascular resistance (A-IMR) is a novel tool for diagnosing coronary microvascular dysfunction (CMD) addressing limitation of unavailability. However, the clinical value of A-IMR remains controversial. Methods: A systematic review and meta-analysis was conducted. PubMed, EMBASE, Cochrane Library and Web of Science were searched for relevant studies. Studies that reported estimates of A-IMR's diagnostic accuracy (with thermodilution-based IMR as the reference test) and/or predictions of adverse cardiovascular events were selected. Pooled sensitivity, specificity, area under the summary receiver operating characteristic curve (sROC) were calculated to measure diagnostic performance; pooled hazard/risk ratio (HR/RR) and 95% confidence interval (95% CI) of major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE) or other independent adverse events were calculated to measure prognostic effect. This study was registered with PROSPERO (CRD42023451884). Results: A total of 12 diagnostic studies pooling 1,642 vessels and 12 prognostic studies pooling 2,790 individuals were included. A-IMR yielded an area under sROC of 0.93 (95% CI: 0.91, 0.95), a pooled sensitivity of 0.85 (95% CI: 0.79, 0.89) and a pooled specificity of 0.89 (95% CI: 0.83, 0.93) for the diagnosis of CMD. CMD diagnosed using A-IMR was associated with higher risks of MACE (HR, 2.73, 95% CI: 2.16, 3.45), CV death (RR, 2.39, 95% CI: 1.49, 3.82) and heart failure hospitalization (HR, 2.30, 95% CI: 1.53, 3.45). Conclusion: A-IMR demonstrated high diagnostic accuracy for CMD and showed a strong prognostic capability in predicting the risk of adverse CV outcomes. Systematic Review Registration: https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/prospero/display_record.php?ID=CRD42023451884, PROSPERO (CRD42023451884).

Optoelectronically navigated nano-kirigami microrotors.

With the rapid development of micro/nanofabrication technologies, the concept of transformable kirigami has been applied for device fabrication in the microscopic world. However, most nano-kirigami structures and devices were typically fabricated or transformed at fixed positions and restricted to limited mechanical motion along a single axis due to their small sizes, which significantly limits their functionalities and applications. Here, we demonstrate the precise shaping and position control of nano-kirigami microrotors. Metallic microrotors with size of ~10 micrometers were deliberately released from the substrates and readily manipulated through the multimode actuation with controllable speed and direction using an advanced optoelectronic tweezers technique. The underlying mechanisms of versatile interactions between the microrotors and electric field are uncovered by theoretical modeling and systematic analysis. This work reports a novel methodology to fabricate and manipulate micro/nanorotors with well-designed and sophisticated kirigami morphologies, providing new solutions for future advanced optoelectronic micro/nanomachinery.

sTREM-1 as promising prognostic biomarker for acute-on-chronic liver failure and mortality in patients with acute decompensation of cirrhosis.

BACKGROUND: Acute decompensation (AD) of cirrhosis is associated with high short-term mortality, mainly due to the development of acute-on-chronic liver failure (ACLF). Thus, there is a need for biomarkers for early and accurate identification of AD patients with high risk of development of ACLF and mortality. Soluble triggering receptor expressed on myeloid cells-1 (sTREM-1) is released from activated innate immune cells and correlated with various inflammatory processes. AIM: To explore the prognostic value of sTREM-1 in patients with AD of cirrhosis. METHODS: A multicenter prospective cohort of 442 patients with cirrhosis hospitalized for AD was divided into a study cohort (n = 309) and validation cohort (n = 133). Demographic and clinical data were collected, and serum sTREM-1 was measured at admission. All enrolled patients were followed-up for at least 1 year. RESULTS: In patients with AD and cirrhosis, serum sTREM-1 was an independent prognosis predictor for 1-year survival and correlated with liver, coagulation, cerebral and kidney failure. A new prognostic model of AD (P-AD) incorporating sTREM-1, blood urea nitrogen (BUN), total bilirubin (TBil), international normalized ratio (INR) and hepatic encephalopathy grades was established and performed better than the model for end-stage liver disease (MELD), MELD-sodium (MELD-Na), chronic liver failure-consortium (CLIF-C) ACLF and CLIF-C AD scores. Additionally, sTREM-1 was increased in ACLF and predicted the development of ACLF during first 28-d follow-up. The ACLF risk score incorporating serum sTREM-1, BUN, INR, TBil and aspartate aminotransferase levels was established and significantly superior to MELD, MELD-Na, CLIF-C ACLF, CLIF-C AD and P-AD in predicting risk of ACLF development. CONCLUSION: Serum sTREM-1 is a promising prognostic biomarker for ACLF development and mortality in patients with AD of cirrhosis.

Solubility evolution of elemental sulfur in natural gas with a varying H2S content.

CONTEXT: The solubility variations of elemental sulfur are of great importance in the prevention of sulfur deposition during the development of high-sulfur gas formations. It has been observed that the solubility varies with H2S content, which is the main solvent of elemental sulfur in natural gas. Moreover, the addition of small amounts of CH4 and/or CO2 in H2S leads to a dramatic solubility reduction of which the mechanism remains unclear. Using a modified direct coexistence method, molecular dynamics simulations are conducted to uncover the molecular mechanism of the solubility reduction. The observed solubility variations with H2S content are reproduced, and the solubility reduction is interpreted by the antisolvent effect of CH4 and CO2. While the H2S content varies in a wide range in the known high-sulfur gas formation, our simulations provide useful information for controlling the sulfur deposition in gas development. METHODS: Molecular dynamics simulations are carried out using the LAMMPS package. The initial models are constructed with the Packmol software. The Ballone and Jones' potential is used for S8, the Galliero's potential for H2S and CO2, and the transferable potentials for phase equilibria-united atom (TraPPE-UA) force field for CH4. The time step is set to 1 fs, and the molecular trajectories of additional 2 ns after equilibrium are collected for analysis.

High-efficient separation of deoxyribonucleic acid from pathogenic bacteria by hedgehog-inspired magnetic nanoparticles microextraction.

Efficient separation of deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) through magnetic nanoparticles (MN) is a widely used biotechnology. Hedgehog-inspired MNs (HMN) possess a high-surface-area due to the distinct burr-like structure of hedgehog, but there is no report about the usage of HMN for DNA extraction. Herein, to improve the selection of MN and illustrate the performance of HMN for DNA separation, HMN and silica-coated Fe3O4 nanoparticles (Fe3O4@SiO2) were fabricated and compared for the high-efficient separation of pathogenic bacteria of DNA. Escherichia coli (E. coli) and Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) are typical Gram-negative and Gram-positive bacteria and are selected as model pathogenic bacteria. To enhance the extraction efficiency of two kinds of MNs, various parameters, including pretreatment, lysis, binding and elution conditions, have been optimized in detail. In most separation experiments, the DNA yield of HMN was higher than that of Fe3O4@SiO2. Therefore, a HMN-based magnetic solid-phase microextraction (MSPE) and quantitative real-time PCR (qPCR) were integrated and used to detect pathogenic bacteria in real samples. Interestingly, the HMN-based MSPE combined qPCR strategy exhibited high sensitivity with a limit of detection of 2.0 × 101 CFU mL-1 for E. coli and 4.0 × 101 CFU mL-1 for S. aureus in orange juice, and 2.8 × 102 CFU mL-1 for E. coli and 1.1 × 102 CFU mL-1 for S. aureus in milk, respectively. The performance of the proposed strategy was significantly better than that of commercial kit. This work could prove that the novel HMN could be applicable for the efficient separation of DNA from complex biological samples.

Modifiable risk factors for thyroid cancer: lifestyle and residence environment.

In recent years, there has been a rapid increase in the prevalence of benign and malignant tumours of the thyroid gland worldwide, positioning it as one of the most prevalent neoplasms within the endocrine system. While the pathogenesis of thyroid tumours is still unclear, an increasing number of studies have found that certain lifestyle and residence environments are associated with their occurrence and development. This article endeavours to elucidate the correlation between lifestyle, residential environment, and the increased prevalence of thyroid cancer in recent years. It specifies the frequency of the lifestyle and outlines the scope of the residential environment. It also endeavours to summarise the main mechanistic pathways of various modifiable risk factors that cause thyroid cancer. Factors that prevent thyroid cancer include smoking and alcohol consumption, quality and regular sleep, consumption of cruciferous vegetables and dairy products, and consistent long-term exercise. Conversely, individuals with specific genetic mutations have an elevated risk of thyroid cancer from prolonged and frequent use of mobile phones. In addition, individuals who work in high-pressure jobs, work night shifts, and live near volcanoes or in environments associated with pesticides have an elevated risk of developing thyroid cancer. The impact of living near a nuclear power plant on thyroid cancer remains inconclusive. Raising awareness of modifiable risk factors for thyroid cancer will help to accurately prevent and control thyroid cancer. It will provide a scientific basis for future research on lifestyles and living environments suitable for people at high risk of thyroid cancer.

Waterlogging in soil restricts the growth of Gleditsia sinensis seedlings and inhibits the accumulation of lignans and phenolic acids in thorns.

Gleditsia sinensis, commonly known as Chinese Zaojiao, has important economic value and medicinal compounds in its fruits and thorns, making it widely cultivated artificially in China. However, the available literature on the impact of waterlogging on the growth of G. sinensis seedlings and the accumulation of metabolite compounds in its thorns is limited. To address this knowledge gap, G. sinensis seedlings were planted in soil supplemented with pindstrup substrate, which enhances the water-holding capacity of the soil. The analyses of morphological traits and nutrient elements in one-year-old G. sinensis seedlings grown naturally under ambient conditions and metabolite accumulation in its thorns were conducted. The results showed that the waterlogged soil significantly diminished the height, fresh weight, and dry weight of seedling roots and stems (P < 0.05). Furthermore, waterlogging hindered the uptake of iron (Fe) and manganese (Mn), as well as the transport of potassium (K). The identified metabolites within the thorns were categorized into 16 distinct groups. Relative to the control soil, fatty acids and derivatives were the most down-regulated metabolites in the waterlogged soil, accounting for 40.58% of the total metabolites, followed by lignans (38.71%), phenolic acids (34.48%), saccharides and alcohols (34.15%), steroids (16.67%), alkaloids (12.24%), flavonoids (9.28%), and glycerophospholipids (7.41%). Conversely, nucleotides and derivatives experienced the greatest up-regulation in the waterlogged soil, accounting for 50.00% of the total metabolites. In conclusion, waterlogging negatively impacted the growth of G. sinensis seedlings and inhibited the accumulation of metabolites. Hence, when considering the accumulation of secondary metabolites such as lignans and phenolic acids, appropriate management of soil moisture levels should be taken into account.