Plant Flavonoids with Antimicrobial Activity against Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA).

Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) has become a serious threat to human public health and global economic development, and there is an urgent need to develop new antimicrobial agents. Flavonoids are the largest group of plant secondary metabolites, and the anti-S. aureus and anti-MRSA activities of flavonoids have now been widely reported. The aim of this Review is to describe plant-derived flavonoid active ingredients and their effects and mechanisms of inhibitory activity against MRSA in order to provide insights for screening novel antimicrobial agents. Here, 85 plant-derived flavonoids (14 flavones, 21 flavonols, 26 flavanones, 9 isoflavones, 12 chalcones, and 3 other classes) with anti-MRSA activity are reviewed. Among these flavonoids, flavones and isoflavones generally showed the most significant anti-MRSA activity (MICs: 1-8 µg/mL). The results of the present Review display that most of the flavonoids with excellent anti-MRSA activity were derived from Morus alba L. and Paulownia tomentosa (Thunb.) Steud. The antibacterial mechanism of flavonoids against MRSA is mainly achieved by disruption of membrane structures, inhibition of efflux pumps, and inhibition of ß-lactamases and bacterial virulence factors. We hope this Review can provide insights into the development of novel antimicrobials based on natural products for treating MRSA infections.

Assessment of bidirectional relationships between hypothyroidism and endometrial cancer: a two-sample Mendelian randomization study.

Objective: Hypothyroidism, characterized by reduced thyroid hormone levels, and endometrial cancer, a prevalent gynecological malignancy, have been suggested to have a potential association in previous observational studies. However, the causal relationship between them remains uncertain. This study aimed to investigate the causal relationship between hypothyroidism and endometrial cancer using a bilateral Mendelian randomization approach. Methods: A bidirectional two-sample Mendelian randomization study was conducted using summary statistics from genome-wide association studies to identify genetic variants associated with hypothyroidism and endometrial cancer. The inverse variance weighting method was used as the main analysis, and sensitivity analyses were conducted to validate the MR results. Results: The results of our analysis did not support a causal effect of hypothyroidism (OR: 0.93, p=0.08) or autoimmune hypothyroidism (OR: 0.98, p=0.39) on endometrial cancer risk. In the reverse MR analysis, we did not find a significant causal effect of endometrial cancer on hypothyroidism (OR: 0.96, p=0.75) or autoimmune hypothyroidism (OR: 0.92, p=0.50). Based on subgroup analysis by pathological subtypes of endometrial cancer, the above findings were further substantiated (all p-value >0.05). Conclusions: Our Mendelian randomization analysis suggests a lack of causal association between hypothyroidism and endometrial cancer. To gain a deeper understanding of this association, it is essential to conduct large-scale randomized controlled trials in the future to validate our findings.

Cathepsin K deficiency prevented stress-related thrombosis in a mouse FeCl3 model.

BACKGROUND: Exposure to chronic psychological stress (CPS) is a risk factor for thrombotic cardiocerebrovascular diseases (CCVDs). The expression and activity of the cysteine cathepsin K (CTSK) are upregulated in stressed cardiovascular tissues, and we investigated whether CTSK is involved in chronic stress-related thrombosis, focusing on stress serum-induced endothelial apoptosis. METHODS AND RESULTS: Eight-week-old wild-type male mice (CTSK+/+) randomly divided to non-stress and 3-week restraint stress groups received a left carotid artery iron chloride3 (FeCl3)-induced thrombosis injury for biological and morphological evaluations at specific timepoints. On day 21 post-stress/injury, the stress had enhanced the arterial thrombi weights and lengths, in addition to harmful alterations of plasma ADAMTS13, von Willebrand factor, and plasminogen activation inhibitor-1, plus injured-artery endothelial loss and CTSK protein/mRNA expression. The stressed CTSK+/+ mice had increased levels of injured arterial cleaved Notch1, Hes1, cleaved caspase8, matrix metalloproteinase-9/-2, angiotensin type 1 receptor, galactin3, p16IN4A, p22phox, gp91phox, intracellular adhesion molecule-1, TNF-α, MCP-1, and TLR-4 proteins and/or genes. Pharmacological and genetic inhibitions of CTSK ameliorated the stress-induced thrombus formation and the observed molecular and morphological changes. In cultured HUVECs, CTSK overexpression and silencing respectively increased and mitigated stressed-serum- and H2O2-induced apoptosis associated with apoptosis-related protein changes. Recombinant human CTSK degraded γ-secretase substrate in a dose-dependent manor and activated Notch1 and Hes1 expression upregulation. CONCLUSIONS: CTSK appeared to contribute to stress-related thrombosis in mice subjected to FeCl3 stress, possibly via the modulation of vascular inflammation, oxidative production and apoptosis, suggesting that CTSK could be an effective therapeutic target for CPS-related thrombotic events in patients with CCVDs.

Dipeptidyl peptidase-4 disturbs adipocyte differentiation via the negative regulation of the glucagon-like peptide-1/adiponectin-cathepsin K axis in mice under chronic stress conditions.

Exposure to chronic psychosocial stress is a risk factor for metabolic disorders. Because dipeptidyl peptidase-4 (DPP4) and cysteinyl cathepsin K (CTSK) play important roles in human pathobiology, we investigated the role(s) of DPP4 in stress-related adipocyte differentiation, with a focus on the glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1)/adiponectin-CTSK axis in vivo and in vitro. Plasma and inguinal adipose tissue from non-stress wild-type (DPP4+/+), DPP4-knockout (DPP4-/-) and CTSK-knockout (CTSK-/-) mice, and stressed DPP4+/+, DPP4-/-, CTSK-/-, and DPP4+/+ mice underwent stress exposure plus GLP-1 receptor agonist exenatide loading for 2 weeks and then were analyzed for stress-related biological and/or morphological alterations. On day 14 under chronic stress, stress decreased the weights of adipose tissue and resulted in harmful changes in the plasma levels of DPP4, GLP-1, CTSK, adiponectin, and tumor necrosis factor-α proteins and the adipose tissue levels of CTSK, preadipocyte factor-1, fatty acid binding protein-4, CCAAT/enhancer binding protein-α, GLP-1 receptor, peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-γ, perilipin2, secreted frizzled-related protein-4, Wnt5α, Wnt11 and ß-catenin proteins and/or mRNAs as well as macrophage infiltration in adipose tissue; these changes were rectified by DPP4 deletion. GLP-1 receptor activation and CTSK deletion mimic the adipose benefits of DPP4 deficiency. In vitro, CTSK silencing and overexpression respectively prevented and facilitated stress serum and oxidative stress-induced adipocyte differentiation accompanied with changes in the levels of pref-1, C/EBP-α, and PPAR-γ in 3T3-L1 cells. Thus, these findings indicated that increased DPP4 plays an essential role in stress-related adipocyte differentiation, possibly through a negative regulation of GLP-1/adiponectin-CTSK axis activation in mice under chronic stress conditions.

A glutamine tug-of-war between cancer and immune cells: recent advances in unraveling the ongoing battle.

Glutamine metabolism plays a pivotal role in cancer progression, immune cell function, and the modulation of the tumor microenvironment. Dysregulated glutamine metabolism has been implicated in cancer development and immune responses, supported by mounting evidence. Cancer cells heavily rely on glutamine as a critical nutrient for survival and proliferation, while immune cells require glutamine for activation and proliferation during immune reactions. This metabolic competition creates a dynamic tug-of-war between cancer and immune cells. Targeting glutamine transporters and downstream enzymes involved in glutamine metabolism holds significant promise in enhancing anti-tumor immunity. A comprehensive understanding of the intricate molecular mechanisms underlying this interplay is crucial for developing innovative therapeutic approaches that improve anti-tumor immunity and patient outcomes. In this review, we provide a comprehensive overview of recent advances in unraveling the tug-of-war of glutamine metabolism between cancer and immune cells and explore potential applications of basic science discoveries in the clinical setting. Further investigations into the regulation of glutamine metabolism in cancer and immune cells are expected to yield valuable insights, paving the way for future therapeutic interventions.

Unravelling Immune-Inflammatory Responses and Lysosomal Adaptation: Insights from Two-Photon Excited Delayed Fluorescence Imaging.

Two-photon excitation (TPE) microscopy with near-infrared (NIR) emission has emerged as a promising technique for deep-tissue optical imaging. Recent developments in fluorescence lifetime imaging with long-lived emission probes have further enhanced the spatial resolution and precision of fluorescence imaging, especially in complex systems with short-lived background signals. In this study, two innovative lysosome-targeting probes, Cz-NA and tCz-NA, are introduced. These probes offer a combination of advantages, including TPE (λex = 880 nm), NIR emission (λem = 650 nm), and thermally activated delayed fluorescence (TADF) with long-lived lifetimes (1.05 and 1.71 µs, respectively). These characteristics significantly improve the resolution and signal-to-noise ratio in deep-tissue imaging. By integrating an acousto-optic modulator (AOM) device with TPE microscopy, the authors successfully applied Cz-NA in two-photon excited delayed fluorescence (TPEDF) imaging to track lysosomal adaptation and immune responses to inflammation in mice. This study sheds light on the relationship between lysosome tubulation, innate immune responses, and inflammation in vivo, providing valuable insights for the development of autofluorescence-free molecular probes in the future.

The influence of motor learning methods on motor performance stability: The moderating effect of reinvestment propensity.

Different motor learning methods (explicit or analogy learning) show different effects on motor performance stability, and reinvestment propensity plays an important role in motor performance stability. This study aimed to explore whether reinvestment propensity, that is, movement self-consciousness (MS-C) and conscious motor processing (CMP) as two dimensions, played a moderating role in the relationship between motor learning methods and motor performance stability. A total of 78 participants were randomly assigned to either the explicit or analogy learning group and their reinvestment propensity was measured. We recorded the number of golf putt goals in both the practice phase and the test phases (including a retention test and a stress test). In the moderating analysis, participants' reinvestment propensity was the moderating variable, and the dependent variable was motor performance stability (i.e., the difference between the two test phases). Results showed that motor performance was significantly different between practicing blocks, which indicated that the motor performance of learners was gradually increasing. The significant interaction between learning methods and the test phase on motor performance was detected, suggesting under stress, analogy learning was more likely to maintain the stability of motor performance, while explicit learning impaired the stability of motor performance. The CMP played a significant moderating role in the relationship between motor learning methods and motor performance stability. The result indicated that for learners with low CMP, the motor performance stability of analogy learning was better than explicit learning, while there was no significant difference in the stability of motor performance between the two learning methods for learners with high reinvestment propensity. No significant evidence was found that MS-C played a moderating role in the relationship between motor learning methods and motor performance stability. These findings expand the theoretical framework of motor skill learning and provide theoretical support for motor performance stability.

Early, non-invasive detection of radiation-induced lung injury using PET/CT by targeting CXCR4.

PURPOSE: Radiation-induced lung injury (RILI) is a severe side effect of radiotherapy (RT) for thoracic malignancies and we currently lack established methods for the early detection of RILI. In this study, we synthesized a new tracer, [18F]AlF-NOTA-QHY-04, targeting C-X-C-chemokine-receptor-type-4 (CXCR4) and investigated its feasibility to detect RILI. METHODS: An RILI rat model was constructed and scanned with [18F]AlF-NOTA-QHY-04 PET/CT and [18F]FDG PET/CT periodically after RT. Dynamic, blocking, autoradiography, and histopathological studies were performed on the day of peak uptake. Fourteen patients with radiation pneumonia, developed during or after thoracic RT, were subjected to PET scan using [18F]AlF-NOTA-QHY-04. RESULTS: The yield of [18F]AlF-NOTA-QHY-04 was 28.5-43.2%, and the specific activity was 27-33 GBq/µmol. [18F]AlF-NOTA-QHY-04 was mainly excreted through the kidney. Significant increased [18F]AlF-NOTA-QHY-04 uptake in the irradiated lung compared with that in the normal lung in the RILI model was observed on day 6 post-RT and peaked on day 14 post-RT, whereas no apparent uptake of [18F]FDG was shown on days 7 and 15 post-RT. MicroCT imaging did not show pneumonia until 42 days post-RT. Significant intense [18F]AlF-NOTA-QHY-04 uptake was confirmed by autoradiography. Immunofluorescence staining demonstrated expression of CXCR4 was significantly increased in the irradiated lung tissue, which correlated with results obtained from hematoxylin-eosin and Masson's trichrome staining. In 14 patients with radiation pneumonia, maximum standardized uptake values (SUVmax) were significantly higher in the irradiated lung compared with those in the normal lung. SUVmax of patients with grade 2 RILI was significantly higher than that of patients with grade 1 RILI. CONCLUSION: This study indicated that [18F]AlF-NOTA-QHY-04 PET/CT imaging can detect RILI non-invasively and earlier than [18F]FDG PET/CT in a rat model. Clinical studies verified its feasibility, suggesting the clinical potential of [18F]AlF-NOTA-QHY-04 as a PET/CT tracer for early monitoring of RILI.

Lifestyle behaviours and associated factors among people with type 2 diabetes attending a diabetes clinic in Ningbo, China: A cross-sectional study.

The burden of type 2 diabetes (T2DM) in China is significant and growing, and this is reflected in high rates of T2DM in the city of Ningbo, China. Consequent impacts on morbidity, mortality, healthcare expenditure, and health-related quality of life, make this a problem of the utmost importance to address. One way to improve T2DM outcomes is to address lifestyle behaviours that may affect prognosis and complications, such as physical activity levels, dietary habits, smoking status, and alcohol intake. A cross-sectional survey was undertaken to describe the prevalence of being physically active, having a healthy diet, currently smoking, and currently drinking alcohol among people living with T2DM attending a diabetes clinic in Ningbo, China. Regression analysis was used to determine the factors associated with these lifestyle behaviours. We found a high prevalence of a healthy diet (97.8%, 95% CI 96.5-98.7%). Prevalence of being physically active (83.4%, 95% CI 80.6-85.9%), smoking (21.6%, 95% CI 18.8-24.6%), and alcohol drinking (32.9%. 95% CI 29.6-36.2%) appeared in keeping with those of the general population. Marked associations were demonstrated between male sex and smoking (OR 41.1, 95% CI 16.2-139.0), and male sex and alcohol drinking (OR 4.00, 95% CI 2.62-6.20). Correlation between lifestyle factors was demonstrated including between alcohol drinking and smoking, and between physical activity and reduced smoking. General diabetes self-management education programmes that address multiple lifestyle risk factors simultaneously may be beneficial in this population. Specific interventions targeting smoking cessation and reduction in alcohol drinking may be of benefit to men living with T2DM attending a diabetes clinic in Ningbo.

System analysis based on glutamine catabolic-related enzymes identifies GPT2 as a novel immunotherapy target for lung adenocarcinoma.

BACKGROUND: In recent years, targeting glutamine metabolism has gained attention as a promising therapeutic approach. Glutamine catabolic-related enzymes play a crucial role in modulating glutamine metabolism and influencing immune responses in the tumor immune microenvironment (TME). However, current literature on the function of glutamine catabolic enzymes in lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD) is limited. METHODS: We validated the glutamine dependency of LUAD cells in vitro, followed by transcriptome data to identify differentially expressed genes (DEGs), with transcriptome and single-cell data analysis utilized to explore the role of such genes within the tumor immune microenvironment. We performed employed subcutaneous injection of lewis lung carcinoma cells in C57BL/6 mice to confirm the role of candidate genes in tumor growth and anti-tumor immunity. RESULTS: Our study revealed that glutamine is essential for the growth of LUAD cells. Subsequently, we identified four DEGs - glutamate pyruvate transaminase 1 (GPT1), glutamate pyruvate transaminase 2 (GPT2), glutamic-oxaloacetic transaminase 1 (GOT1), and glutamic-oxaloacetic transaminase 2 (GOT2) - in LUAD patients, which were highly expressed in tumor tissue and associated with an immunosuppressive TME. Single-cell sequencing analysis detected high expression levels of GOT1 and GOT2 in immune and stromal cell subpopulations, while GPT1 and GPT2 showed relatively lower expression. Based on the lower immune score and lower expression in immune and stromal cells, we validated the role of GPT2 in vivo for modulating the TME and tumor growth. Inhibition of GPT2 resulted in suppressed tumor growth and increased the expression of CD4 and CD8. Additionally, GPT2 inhibitors induced a stronger antitumor immunity when used in combination with anti-programmed cell death ligand 1. CONCLUSION: This study is the first to show the critical role of glutamine catabolic-related enzymes in the TME, and identified GPT2 as a promising therapeutic target for inhibiting tumor growth and improving anti-tumour immune responses for LUAD. Additional studies will be required to define the roles glutamine catabolic-related enzymes play in LUAD.

Effects of age and tissue of Juniperus sabina L. on its phytochemical characteristics, anti-cholinesterase, antidiabetes, and anti-drug resistant bacteria activities.

Juniperus sabina L. is used in the traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) system to prevent or treat various diseases. However, only the leaves and branches are used as medicinal parts. The aim of this study was to compare the chemical characteristics of different tissues (leaves, branches, stems, and roots) of J. sabina at different ages by HPLC-MS and to evaluate the biological activity (enzyme inhibition, anti-drug-resistant bacteria). Total phenol (TPC) and total lignan (TLC) contents in J. sabina were determined by Folin-Ciocalteu method and UV spectrophotometry, respectively. High levels of total phenols (87.16 mg GAE/g dry weight) and total lignans (491.24 mg PPT/g dry weight) were detected in fifteen annual J. sabina roots and current year leaves, respectively. Eleven compounds, of which six were phenolic compounds and five were lignans, were identified and quantified by HPLC/HPLC-MS. Statistical analysis showed that the distribution and content of the detected compounds showed considerable variation among ages and tissues, and that the current year leaves of fifteen annual J. sabina could be used as a potential application site for the source of podophyllotoxin. Acetylcholinesterase (AChE) inhibitory activity was found to be the highest on the extracts of fifteen annual J. sabina current year leaves (47.37 µg/mL), while the highest inhibition towards butyrylcholinesterase (BChE) was observed for the extracts of seven annual J. sabina previous year leaves (136.3 µg/mL). And the second annual J. sabina current year stem's extracts showed the best antidiabetic activity (anti-α-glucosidase, 62.59 µg/mL). In addition, the extracts of fifteen annual J. sabina roots (47.37 µg/mL) showed the highest anti-MRSA activity (31.25 µg/mL). Redundancy analysis (RDA) was conducted to clarify the factors affecting the biological activity of J. sabina, and its results showed that epicatechin and matairesinol showed positive promotion. This study provides a new perspective for understanding the chemical differences and comprehensive utilization of different tissues of J. sabina.

Recent advances in mRNA cancer vaccines: meeting challenges and embracing opportunities.

Since the successful application of messenger RNA (mRNA) vaccines in preventing COVID-19, researchers have been striving to develop mRNA vaccines for clinical use, including those exploited for anti-tumor therapy. mRNA cancer vaccines have emerged as a promising novel approach to cancer immunotherapy, offering high specificity, better efficacy, and fewer side effects compared to traditional treatments. Multiple therapeutic mRNA cancer vaccines are being evaluated in preclinical and clinical trials, with promising early-phase results. However, the development of these vaccines faces various challenges, such as tumor heterogeneity, an immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment, and practical obstacles like vaccine administration methods and evaluation systems for clinical application. To address these challenges, we highlight recent advances from preclinical studies and clinical trials that provide insight into identifying obstacles associated with mRNA cancer vaccines and discuss potential strategies to overcome them. In the future, it is crucial to approach the development of mRNA cancer vaccines with caution and diligence while promoting innovation to overcome existing barriers. A delicate balance between opportunities and challenges will help guide the progress of this promising field towards its full potential.

Cathepsin S activity controls chronic stress-induced muscle atrophy and dysfunction in mice.

Exposure to chronic psychological stress (CPS) is an intractable risk factor for inflammatory and metabolic diseases. Lysosomal cysteinyl cathepsins play an important role in human pathobiology. Given that cathepsin S (CTSS) is upregulated in the stressed vascular and adipose tissues, we investigated whether CTSS participates in chronic stress-induced skeletal muscle mass loss and dysfunction, with a special focus on muscle protein metabolic imbalance and apoptosis. Eight-week-old male wildtype (CTSS+/+) and CTSS-knockout (CTSS-/-) mice were randomly assigned to non-stress and variable-stress groups. CTSS+/+ stressed mice showed significant losses of muscle mass, dysfunction, and fiber area, plus significant mitochondrial damage. In this setting, stressed muscle in CTSS+/+ mice presented harmful alterations in the levels of insulin receptor substrate 2 protein content (IRS-2), phospho-phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase, phospho-protein kinase B, and phospho-mammalian target of rapamycin, forkhead box-1, muscle RING-finger protein-1 protein, mitochondrial biogenesis-related peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-γ coactivator-α, and apoptosis-related B-cell lymphoma 2 and cleaved caspase-3; these alterations were prevented by CTSS deletion. Pharmacological CTSS inhibition mimics its genetic deficiency-mediated muscle benefits. In C2C12 cells, CTSS silencing prevented stressed serum- and oxidative stress-induced IRS-2 protein reduction, loss of the myotube myosin heavy chain content, and apoptosis accompanied by a rectification of investigated molecular harmful changes; these changes were accelerated by CTSS overexpression. These findings demonstrated that CTSS plays a role in IRS-2-related protein anabolism and catabolism and cell apoptosis in stress-induced muscle wasting, suggesting a novel therapeutic strategy for the control of chronic stress-related muscle disease in mice under our experimental conditions by regulating CTSS activity.

Effect of Academic Self-Efficacy on Test Anxiety of Higher Vocational College Students: The Chain Mediating Effect.

Objective: This study aimed to investigate the impact of academic self-efficacy on test anxiety among higher vocational students, as well as the role of sense of life meaning, fear of failure, and gender difference in mediating this relationship. Methods: A total of 2231 higher vocational students from Shandong Province were surveyed by means of Academic Self-efficacy Questionnaire, Meaning in Life Questionnaire, and Test Anxiety Scale. Results: There were significant negative correlations among academic self-efficacy, sense of life meaning, and test anxiety. Fear of failure was positively correlated with test anxiety. Sense of life meaning and fear of failure played a mediating role in the relationship between academic self-efficacy and test anxiety. The chain mediating effect was significant only in the female group, not in the male group. In contrast, academic self-efficacy indirectly predicted test anxiety by the independent mediating effect of sense of life meaning or fear of failure in the male group. Conclusion: Academic self-efficacy may influence test anxiety through the independent mediating effect of sense of life meaning, fear of failure, and the chain mediating effect, and there is a gender difference in these effects.

Cathepsin S deficiency improves muscle mass loss and dysfunction via the modulation of protein metabolism in mice under pathological stress conditions.

Cathepsin S (CTSS) is a widely expressed cysteinyl protease that has garnered attention because of its enzymatic and non-enzymatic functions under inflammatory and metabolic pathological conditions. Here, we examined whether CTSS participates in stress-related skeletal muscle mass loss and dysfunction, focusing on protein metabolic imbalance. Eight-week-old male wildtype (CTSS+/+ ) and CTSS-knockout (CTSS-/- ) mice were randomly assigned to non-stress and variable-stress groups for 2 weeks, and then processed for morphological and biochemical studies. Compared with non-stressed mice, stressed CTSS+/+ mice showed significant losses of muscle mass, muscle function, and muscle fiber area. In this setting, the stress-induced harmful changes in the levels of oxidative stress-related (gp91phox and p22phox ,), inflammation-related (SDF-1, CXCR4, IL-1ß, TNF-α, MCP-1, ICAM-1, and VCAM-1), mitochondrial biogenesis-related (PPAR-γ and PGC-1α) genes and/or proteins and protein metabolism-related (p-PI3K, p-Akt, p-FoxO3α, MuRF-1, and MAFbx1) proteins; and these alterations were rectified by CTSS deletion. Metabolomic analysis revealed that stressed CTSS-/- mice exhibited a significant improvement in the levels of glutamine metabolism pathway products. Thus, these findings indicated that CTSS can control chronic stress-related skeletal muscle atrophy and dysfunction by modulating protein metabolic imbalance, and thus CTSS was suggested to be a promising new therapeutic target for chronic stress-related muscular diseases.

Preparation and Mechanical Properties of Low Carbon Cementitious Materials with Superfine Cement Reverse Filling High-Volume Mineral Admixtures.

In order to increase the content of mineral admixtures in cement, this study proposes a method for preparing a high-volume mineral admixture cementitious material (HMAC) using superfine cement as a reverse filling material. Firstly, superfine cement is prepared through mechanical grinding. Then, the activity of mineral admixtures (such as slag and fly ash) is enhanced by mechanical grinding, sulfate activation, and alkali activation methods. Meanwhile, the evolution of HMCM from microstructure to macroscopic mechanical behavior is studied by combining a laser particle size analyzer and a scanning electron microscope. Furthermore, the reverse filling mechanism of superfine cement on mineral admixtures under different activation conditions is proposed. Results show that superfine cement can largely improve the utilization rate of cement clinker and the compressive strength of cementitious materials. In the condition that the compressive strength is not lower than that of the control group (without mineral admixture), the content of mineral admixture can be increased to 50%, 70%, and 90% after mechanical grinding, sulfate activation, and alkali activation, respectively. Analysis indicates that the reverse filling effect of superfine cement is the main reason for improving the density of the HMCM.

CTSS Modulates Stress-Related Carotid Artery Thrombosis in a Mouse FeCl3 Model.

BACKGROUND: Exposure to chronic psychological stress is a risk factor for metabolic cardiovascular disease. Given the important role of lysosomal CTSS (cathepsin S) in human pathobiology, we examined the role of CTSS in stress-related thrombosis, focusing on inflammation, oxidative stress, and apoptosis. METHODS: Six-week-old wild-type mice (CTSS+/+) and CTSS-deficient mice (CTSS-/-) randomly assigned to nonstress and 2-week immobilization stress groups underwent iron chloride3 (FeCl3)-induced carotid thrombosis surgery for morphological and biochemical studies. RESULTS: On day 14 poststress/surgery, stress had increased the lengths and weights of thrombi in the CTSS+/+ mice, plus harmful changes in the levels of PAI-1 (plasminogen activation inhibitor-1), ADAMTS13 (a disintegrin and metalloproteinase with thrombospondin type 13 motifs), and vWF (von Willebrand factor) and arterial tissue CTSS expression. Compared to the nonstressed CTSS+/+ mice, the stressed CTSS-/- mice had decreased levels of PAI-1, vWF, TNF (tumor necrosis factor)-α, interleukin-1ß, toll-like receptor-4, cleaved-caspase 3, cytochrome c, p16INK4A, gp91phox, p22phox, ICAM-1 (intercellular adhesion molecule-1), MCP-1 (monocyte chemoattractant protein-1), MyD88 (myeloid differentiation primary response 88), and MMP (matrix metalloproteinase)-2/-9 and increased levels of ADAMTS13, SOD (superoxide dismutase)-1/-2, eNOS (endothelial NO synthase), p-Akt (phospho-protein kinase B), Bcl-2 (B-cell lymphoma-2), p-GSK3α/ß (phospho-glycogen synthase kinases alpha and beta), and p-Erk1/2 (phospho-extracellular signal-regulated kinase 1 and 2) mRNAs and/or proteins. CTSS deletion also reduced the arterial thrombus area and endothelial loss. A pharmacological inhibition of CTSS exerted a vasculoprotective action. In vitro, CTSS silencing and overexpression, respectively, reduced and increased the stressed serum and oxidative stress-induced apoptosis of human umbilical vein endothelial cells, and they altered apoptosis-related proteins. CONCLUSIONS: CTSS inhibition appeared to improve the stress-related thrombosis in mice that underwent FeCl3-induction surgery, possibly by reducing vascular inflammation, oxidative stress, and apoptosis. CTSS could thus become a candidate therapeutic target for chronic psychological stress-related thrombotic events in metabolic cardiovascular disease.

A Multicentre Randomized Controlled Clinical Study of Cross Electro-Nape-Acupuncture (CENA) for the Treatment of Pseudobulbar Palsy in Patients with Tracheotomy Intubation for Severe Cerebral Haemorrhage.

Objective: The objective is to evaluate the clinical efficacy of cross electro-nape-acupuncture (CENA) in the treatment of pseudobulbar palsy in patients with tracheotomy intubation for severe cerebral haemorrhage and to provide an innovative acupuncture method for the treatment of such patients. Methods: A total of 126 patients from six trial centres who met the inclusion criteria were randomly divided into three groups according to the random number table method in the ratio of 1 : 1 : 1, with 42 patients in each group, and the three groups were divided into CENA group, electro-acupuncture group, and acupuncture group. Each group's acupuncture treatment lasted for 30 minutes, and the needles were removed at the end of the treatment. Acupuncture was performed once a week on Sunday only and twice a day from Monday to Saturday, a total of 4 weeks of treatment. The SWT, FDA, ChSWAL-QOL, and TCRGS scores of the three groups of patients before and after treatment were compared to evaluate the effect of CENA on remodelling the function of swallowing reflex and cough reflex and promoting the recovery of dysarthria and swallowing quality of life in pseudobulbar palsy in patients with tracheotomy intubation for severe cerebral haemorrhage. Results: After treatment, the WST and TCRGS grade scores decreased and the FDA and ChSWAL-QOL scores increased significantly in all three groups compared with the pretreatment scores and were statistically significant. There was a significant difference between the three groups for these four indicators after treatment; the comparison between groups showed significant differences in the CENA group compared to the electro-acupuncture and acupuncture groups. The efficiency of the CENA group was significantly better than that of the electro-acupuncture and acupuncture groups. Conclusion: Compared with the acupuncture and electro-acupuncture groups, the CENA could better promote the remodelling of swallowing function and cough reflex function, promote the recovery of dysarthria, and better improve the quality of life of patients with pseudobulbar palsy from tracheotomy intubation in severe cerebral haemorrhage.

Postoperative ctDNA detection predicts relapse but has limited effects in guiding adjuvant therapy in resectable stage I NSCLC.

Background: To date, identifying resectable stage I non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients likely to benefit from adjuvant therapy (ADT) remains a major challenge. Previous studies suggest that circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) is emerging as a promising biomarker for NSCLC. However, the effectiveness of ctDNA detection in guiding ADT for resectable stage I NSCLC patients remains elusive. This study aimed to elucidate the role of ctDNA detection in estimating prognosis and guiding ADT for resectable stage I NSCLC patients. Methods: Individual patient data and ctDNA results data were collected from 270 patients across four independent cohorts. The detection of ctDNA was conducted at 3 days to 1 month after surgery. The endpoint for this study was relapse-free survival (RFS) and overall survival (OS). Results: Of the 270 resectable stage I NSCLC patients, 9 patients with ctDNA-positive and 261 patients with ctDNA-negative. We found that the risk of recurrence was significantly lower in the ctDNA-negative group compared to the ctDNA-positive group(HR=0.11, p<0.0001). However, there is no difference in the risk of death between the two groups (p =0.39). In the ctDNA-positive group, there were no significant differences in RFS between patients who received ADT and patients who did not receive ADT (p =0.58). In the ctDNA-negative group, those who received ADT had a worse RFS in comparison with those who did not receive ADT (HR=2.36, p =0.029). No difference in OS was seen between patients who received ADT and patients who did not receive ADT in both the ctDNA-positive group and the ctDNA-negative group (All p values>0.05). Furthermore, there was no difference in RFS and OS between patients who received chemotherapy-based or tyrosine kinase inhibitor-based ADT and patients who did not receive ADT in both the ctDNA-positive group and the ctDNA-negative group (All p values>0.05). Conclusions: Postoperative ctDNA detection can be a prognostic marker to predict recurrence but has limited effects in guiding ADT for resectable stage I NSCLC. Future prospective investigations are needed to verify these results.