Molecular phylogeny and species diversity of the genus Dichaetophora Duda and related taxa (Diptera: Drosophilidae).

Our intensive surveys of wild drosophilids in East and Southeast Asia discovered a great species diversity (more than 100 putatively new species) of the genus Dichaetophora, which is currently comprised of 67 formally described species assigned into five species groups, i.e., agbo, tenuicauda, acutissima, sinensis and trilobita. In the present study, we delimited species from a huge amount of samples of Dichaetophora and allied taxa (the genus Mulgravea and the subgenus Dudaica of Drosophila) collected from a wide range of the Oriental and east Palearctic regions. We first sorted all specimens into morpho-species, and representative specimen(s) selected from each morpho-species were subjected to barcoding of COI (the cytochrome c oxidase subunit I gene) sequences. The applied ASAP (Assemble Species by Automatic Partitioning) analysis estimated a total of 166 to 168 MOTUs (molecular operational taxonomic units). Integrating this result with morphological evidence from re-examined, detailed structures of male terminalia, we recognized a total of 144 (109 new and 35 known) species in our sample. Out of them, 83 species representing the supraspecific taxa of Dichaetophora, Mulgravea and Dudaica were selected, along with 33 species from major genera and subgenera of Drosophila in the tribe Drosophilini, as in-group and four species from the tribe Colocasiomyini as out-group for phylogenetic reconstruction based on 12 nuclear gene markers. In the trees constructed by the maximum likelihood and Bayesian inference methods, the three focal taxa (i.e., Dichaetophora, Mulgravea and Dudaica) formed a clade provisionally called the "pan-Dichaetophora". Within this large clade, the agbo, tenuicauda, sinensis and trilobita groups of Dichaetophora, Mulgravea and Dudaica were recovered as monophyletic groups, but Dichaetophora and its acutissima group were regarded as paraphyletic. In addition, two clusters were recognized among ungrouped species of Dichaetophora. Thus, the present study has uncovered some issues concerning the taxonomy of the pan-Dichaetophora. Such issues will be addressed elsewhere in the phylogenetic reclassification of the pan-Dichaetophora, along with descriptions/redescriptions of a large number of new/known species delimited in the present study.

Phylogeography of the ambrosia beetle Euwallacea interjectus (Coleoptera: Curculionidae: Scolytinae): an emerging poplar pest and its Fusarium mutualists from poplar plantations in China.

Native to Asia, Euwallacea interjectus (Blandford) (Coleoptera: Curculionidae: Scolytinae) is a destructive and invasive pest of live trees, and now it has been found in the United States and Argentina. In recent years, this pest appeared in high densities in poplar monocultures from Eastern China (Jiangsu and Shanghai) and Argentina and caused significant poplar mortality. However, the origin of the pests related to tree damage and the Fusarium mutualists from some poplar zones in China remained unclear. Here, we provided a broader phylogeographic analysis of E. interjectus based on the mitochondrial gene (cytochrome c oxidase I) to determine the global genetic structure of this species. Five mitochondrial lineages were found in the native area. Populations introduced to the United States were originated from 4 localities. The Argentine population was derived from Japan. The species was observed with strikingly high level of cytochrome c oxidase I intraspecific divergence that exceeded interspecific divergence, but the high intraspecific variation was correlated with geographical locations among the native populations. Two nuclear genes (arginine kinase and carbamoyl-phosphate synthetase 2-aspartate transcarbamylase-dihydroorotase) were more conservative, and intraspecific differences were lower than interspecific differences. The mitochondrial genetic variation was probably caused by evolution of lineages among geographically isolated populations. But it is immature to infer the existence of cryptic species based on cytochrome c oxidase I differences. All samples collected from poplar populations were indigenous and formed close relationship with a specimen from eastern and southern China. Surprisingly, pests from poplar populations in Jiangsu and Shanghai showed different haplotypes and mutualists. This suggested that the control strategies should consider the genetic and mutualistic diversity of beetles at different poplar localities.

Investigating the cardiotoxicity of N-n-butyl haloperidol iodide: Inhibition mechanisms on hERG channels.

The human Ether-à-go-go-Related Gene (hERG) encodes a protein responsible for forming the alpha subunit of the IKr channel, which plays a crucial role in cardiac repolarization. The proper functioning of hERG channels is paramount in maintaining a normal cardiac rhythm. Inhibition of these channels can result in the prolongation of the QT interval and potentially life-threatening arrhythmias. Cardiotoxicity is a primary concern in the field of drug development. N-n-Butyl haloperidol iodide (F2), a derivative of haloperidol, has been investigated for its therapeutic potential. However, the impact of this compound on cardiac toxicity, specifically on hERG channels, remains uncertain. This study employs computational and experimental methodologies to examine the inhibitory mechanisms of F2 on hERG channels. Molecular docking and molecular dynamics simulations commonly used techniques in computational biology to predict protein-ligand complexes' binding interactions and stability. In the context of the F2-hERG complex, these methods can provide valuable insights into the potential binding modes and strength of interaction between F2 and the hERG protein. On the other hand, electrophysiological assays are experimental techniques used to characterize the extent and nature of hERG channel inhibition caused by various compounds. By measuring the electrical activity of the hERG channel in response to different stimuli, these assays can provide important information about the functional effects of ligand binding to the channel. The study's key findings indicate that F2 interacts with the hERG channel by forming hydrogen bonding, π-cation interactions, and hydrophobic forces. This interaction leads to the inhibition of hERG currents in a concentration-dependent manner, with an IC50 of 3.75 µM. The results presented in this study demonstrate the potential cardiotoxicity of F2 and underscore the significance of considering hERG channel interactions during its clinical development. This study aims to provide comprehensive insights into the interaction between F2 and hERG, which will may guid us in the safe use of F2 and in the development of new derivatives with high efficiency while low toxicity.

Regulation of the PD-1/PD-L1 Axis and NK Cell Dysfunction by Exosomal miR-552-5p in Gastric Cancer.

OBJECTIVE: NK cells play a vital role in tumor immune resistance. Various factors affect NK cell activity. While NK cell dysfunction has been observed in numerous malignancies, the underlying mechanisms in gastric cancer remain unclear. METHOD: Flow cytometry was used to identify the phenotypic distribution and expression of activated receptors on NK cells. ELISA was used to determine the expression of cytokines. We examined the expression of NK cell-related genes and explored their association with survival and prognosis. Additionally, we conducted PCR detection of miR-552-5p expression levels in plasma exosomes of patients and investigated its correlation with phenotypic distribution and activated receptors. We used flow cytometry and ELISA to verify the role of miR-552-5p in NK cell dysfunction. Furthermore, we investigated the potential role of PD-1/PD-L1 in regulating NK cell dysfunction in patients' cells. RESULTS: We observed a significant decrease in the percentage of NKG2D and NKp30 and IFN-γ and TNF-α in patients than in healthy volunteers. Patients with low levels of CD56, CD16, NKG2D, and NKP46 exhibited poorer survival prognoses. Moreover, increased expression levels of plasma exosomal miR-552-5p in patients were negatively associated with NK cell phenotypic distribution and activated receptor expression. MiR-552-5p downregulated the secretion of perforin, granzyme, and IFN-γ as well as the expression of NKp30, NKp46, and NKG2D. Additionally, it suppressed the cytotoxicity of NK cells. The inhibitory effect of miR-552-5p, on NK cell function was reversed when anti-PD-L1 antibodies were used. CONCLUSION: Exosomal miR-552-5p targets the PD-1/PD-L1 axis, leading to impaired NK cell function.

Developing an optimal stratification model for colorectal cancer screening and reducing racial disparities in multi-center population-based studies.

BACKGROUND: Early detection of colorectal neoplasms can reduce the colorectal cancer (CRC) burden by timely intervention for high-risk individuals. However, effective risk prediction models are lacking for personalized CRC early screening in East Asian (EAS) population. We aimed to develop, validate, and optimize a comprehensive risk prediction model across all stages of the dynamic adenoma-carcinoma sequence in EAS population. METHODS: To develop precision risk-stratification and intervention strategies, we developed three trans-ancestry PRSs targeting colorectal neoplasms: (1) using 148 previously identified CRC risk loci (PRS148); (2) SNPs selection from large-scale meta-analysis data by clumping and thresholding (PRS183); (3) PRS-CSx, a Bayesian approach for genome-wide risk prediction (PRSGenomewide). Then, the performance of each PRS was assessed and validated in two independent cross-sectional screening sets, including 4600 patients with advanced colorectal neoplasm, 4495 patients with non-advanced adenoma, and 21,199 normal individuals from the ZJCRC (Zhejiang colorectal cancer set; EAS) and PLCO (the Prostate, Lung, Colorectal, and Ovarian Cancer Screening Trial; European, EUR) studies. The optimal PRS was further incorporated with lifestyle factors to stratify individual risk and ultimately tested in the PLCO and UK Biobank prospective cohorts, totaling 350,013 participants. RESULTS: Three trans-ancestry PRSs achieved moderately improved predictive performance in EAS compared to EUR populations. Remarkably, the PRSs effectively facilitated a thorough risk assessment across all stages of the dynamic adenoma-carcinoma sequence. Among these models, PRS183 demonstrated the optimal discriminatory ability in both EAS and EUR validation datasets, particularly for individuals at risk of colorectal neoplasms. Using two large-scale and independent prospective cohorts, we further confirmed a significant dose-response effect of PRS183 on incident colorectal neoplasms. Incorporating PRS183 with lifestyle factors into a comprehensive strategy improves risk stratification and discriminatory accuracy compared to using PRS or lifestyle factors separately. This comprehensive risk-stratified model shows potential in addressing missed diagnoses in screening tests (best NPV = 0.93), while moderately reducing unnecessary screening (best PPV = 0.32). CONCLUSIONS: Our comprehensive risk-stratified model in population-based CRC screening trials represents a promising advancement in personalized risk assessment, facilitating tailored CRC screening in the EAS population. This approach enhances the transferability of PRSs across ancestries and thereby helps address health disparity.

In Situ Electrochemical Polymerization of Cathode Electrolyte Interphase Enabling High-Performance Lithium Metal Batteries.

Lithium metal batteries (LMBs) with high-voltage nickel-rich cathodes show great potential as energy storage devices due to their exceptional capacity and power density. However, the detrimental parasitic side reactions at the cathode electrolyte interface result in rapid capacity decay. Herein, a polymerizable electrolyte additive, pyrrole-1-propionic acid (PA), which can be in situ electrochemically polymerized on the cathode surface and involved in forming cathode electrolyte interphase (CEI) film during cycling is proposed. The formed CEI film prevents the formation of microcracks in LiNi0.8Co0.1Mn0.1O2 (NCM811) secondary particles and mitigates parasitic reactions. Additionally, the COO- anions of PA promote the acceleration of Li+ transport from cathode particles and increase charging rates. The Li||NCM811 batteries with PA in the electrolyte exhibit a high capacity retention of 83.83% after 200 cycles at 4.3 V, and maintain 80.88% capacity after 150 cycles at 4.6 V. This work provides an effective strategy for enhancing interface stability of high-voltage nickel-rich cathodes by forming stable CEI film.

Fusobacterium nucleatum induces oxaliplatin resistance by inhibiting ferroptosis through E-cadherin/ß-catenin/GPX4 axis in colorectal cancer.

Fusobacterium (F.) nucleatum is a carcinogenesis microbiota in colorectal cancer (CRC). Growing evidence shows that F. nucleatum contributes to chemoresistance. Ferroptosis is reported to restore the susceptibility of resistant cells to chemotherapy. However, the role of gut microbiota affecting ferroptosis in chemoresistance remains unclear. Here, we examined the CRC tissues of patients using 16S rRNA sequencing to investigate the possible connection between gut microbiota dysbiosis and the relapse of CRC. We found that a high abundance of F. nucleatum in CRC tissue is associated with relapse. We further demonstrated that F. nucleatum induced oxaliplatin resistance in vitro and in vivo. The transcriptome of an F. nucleatum-infected cell revealed ferroptosis was associated with F. nucleatum infection. We perform malondialdehyde, ferrous iron, and glutathione assays to verify the effect of F. nucleatum on ferroptosis under oxaliplatin treatment in vivo and in vitro. Mechanistically, F. nucleatum promoted oxaliplatin resistance by overexpressing GPX4 and then inhibiting ferroptosis. E-cadherin/ß-catenin/TCF4 pathway conducted the GPX4 overexpression effect of F. nucleatum. The chromatin immuno-precipitation quantitative PCR (CHIP-qPCR) and dual-luciferase reporter assay showed that F. nucleatum promoted TCF4 binding with GPX4. We also determined the E-cadherin/ß-catenin/TCF4/GPX4 axis related to tumor tissue F. nucleatum status and CRC relapse clinically. Here, we revealed the contribution of F. nucleatum to oxaliplatin resistance by inhibiting ferroptosis in CRC. Targeting F. nucleatum and ferroptosis will provide valuable insight into chemoresistance management and may improve outcomes for patients with CRC.

Aerial images object detection method based on cross-scale multi-feature fusion.

Aerial image target detection technology has essential application value in navigation security, traffic control and environmental monitoring. Compared with natural scene images, the background of aerial images is more complex, and there are more small targets, which puts higher requirements on the detection accuracy and real-time performance of the algorithm. To further improve the detection accuracy of lightweight networks for small targets in aerial images, we propose a cross-scale multi-feature fusion target detection method (CMF-YOLOv5s) for aerial images. Based on the original YOLOv5s, a bidirectional cross-scale feature fusion sub-network (BsNet) is constructed, using a newly designed multi-scale fusion module (MFF) and cross-scale feature fusion strategy to enhance the algorithm's ability, that fuses multi-scale feature information and reduces the loss of small target feature information. To improve the problem of the high leakage detection rate of small targets in aerial images, we constructed a multi-scale detection head containing four outputs to improve the network's ability to perceive small targets. To enhance the network's recognition rate of small target samples, we improve the K-means algorithm by introducing a genetic algorithm to optimize the prediction frame size to generate anchor boxes more suitable for aerial images. The experimental results show that on the aerial image small target dataset VisDrone-2019, the proposed method can detect more small targets in aerial images with complex backgrounds. With a detection speed of 116 FPS, compared with the original algorithm, the detection accuracy metrics mAP0.5 and mAP0.5:0.95 for small targets are improved by 5.5% and 3.6%, respectively. Meanwhile, compared with eight advanced lightweight networks such as YOLOv7-Tiny and PP-PicoDet-s, mAP0.5 improves by more than 3.3%, and mAP0.5:0.95 improves by more than 1.9%.

Analysis of the evolving factors of social media users' emotions and behaviors: a longitudinal study from China's COVID-19 opening policy period.

The outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic has triggered citizen panic and social crises worldwide. The Chinese government was the first to implement strict prevention and control policies. However, in December 2022, the Chinese government suddenly changed its prevention and control policies and completely opened up. This led to a large-scale infection of the epidemic in a short period of time, which will cause unknown social impacts. This study collected 500+ epidemic-related hotspots and 200,000+ data from November 1, 2022, to March 1, 2023. Using a sentiment classification method based on pre-trained neural network models, we conducted inductive analysis and a summary of high-frequency words of various emotions. This study focuses on the inflection point of the emotional evolution of social media users and the evolution of "hot topic searches" events and emotional behavioral factors after the sudden open policy. Our research results show that, first of all, the positive emotions of social media users are divided into 4 inflection points and 5 time periods, and the negative emotions are divided into 3 inflection points and 4 time periods. Behavioral factors are different at each stage of each emotion. And the evolution patterns of positive emotions and negative emotions are also different. Secondly, the evolution of behavioral elements deserves more attention. Continue to pay attention: The treatment of diseases, the recovery of personal health, the promotion of festive atmosphere, and the reduction of publicity on the harm of "new crown sequelae and second infections" are the behavioral concerns that affect users' emotional changes. Finally, it is necessary to change the "hot topic searches" event by guiding the user's behavioral focus to control the inflection point of the user's emotion. This study helps governments and institutions understand the dynamic impact of epidemic policy changes on social media users, thereby promoting policy formulation and better coping with social crises.

Clinicopathologic and mutational profiles of primary breast diffuse large B cell lymphoma in a male patient: case report and literature review.

INTRODUCTION: Primary breast lymphoma (PBL) is rare, and most cases occur in female patients, with few reported cases in male patients. The clinical presentation is similar to that of breast cancer, but the condition needs to be well understood, as treatment options and clinical course vary. Hence, we provide a relatively rare case of primary breast diffuse large B cell lymphoma (PB-DLBCL) in a male, including its complete clinicopathological features, radiological findings, genomic mutational profiles, and clinical course. CASE PRESENTATION: A 45-year-old male presented with a lump in his right breast for 1 week and was pathologically diagnosed with breast malignancy after a breast puncture biopsy at the local hospital. He came to our hospital for further treatment and underwent breast ultrasound and systemic positron emission tomography/computed tomography (PET/CT) imaging, followed by right mastectomy and sentinel lymph node biopsy. Histomorphology showed diffuse hyperplasia of tumor cells with clear boundaries and surrounding normal breast ducts. The adhesion of tumor cells was poor with obvious atypia. Immunohistochemical results showed that the tumor cells were positive for CD20, Bcl6, and MUM-1 but negative for CK (AE1/AE3), ER, PR, CD3, and CD10. Forty percent of the tumor cells were positive for c-Myc, and 80% of tumor cells were positive for Bcl2. The Ki-67 proliferation index was up to 80%. The tumor cells were negative for MYC and BCL2 rearrangements but positive for BCL6 rearrangement by fluorescent in situ hybridization. No abnormality was found in the pathological examination of bone marrow aspiration. Therefore, the male was diagnosed with PB-DLBCL, nongerminal center (non-GCB) phenotype, dual-expression type. The sample were sequenced by a target panel of 121 genes related to lymphoma. Next-generation sequencing revealed six tumor-specific mutated genes (IGH/BCL6, TNFAIP3, PRDM1, CREBBP, DTX1, and FOXO1). The patient was given six cycles of orelabrutinib plus R-CHOP chemotherapy and two cycles of intrathecal injection of cytarabine. The last follow-up was on April 13, 2023 (17 months). No recurrence or metastasis was found in laboratory and imaging examinations. CONCLUSION: We reported a relatively rare PB-DLBCL in a male, non-GBC phenotype, dual-expression type. It is worth mentioning that this case had IgH/BCL6 fusion, nonsense mutations in TNFAIP3, frameshift mutations in PRDM1, and missense mutations in CREBBP, DTX1, and FOXO1. To the best of our knowledge, this case is the first report of genomic mutational profiles of PB-DLBCL in males.

A study on the emotional and attitudinal behaviors of social media users under the sudden reopening policy of the Chinese government.

Introduction: Since the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Chinese government has implemented a series of strict prevention and control policies to prevent the spread of the virus. Recently, the Chinese government suddenly changed its approach and lifted all prevention and control measures. This sudden change in policy is expected to lead to a widespread outbreak of COVID-19 in China, and the public and local governments are not adequately prepared for the unknown impact on society. The change in the "emergency" prevention and control policy provides a unique research perspective for this study. Methods: The purpose of this study is to analyze the public's attitudes and emotional responses to COVID-19 under the sudden opening policy, identify the key factors that contribute to these attitudes and emotions, and propose solutions. In response to this sudden situation, we conducted data mining on topics and discussions related to the opening of the epidemic on Sina Weibo, collecting 125,686 interactive comments. We used artificial intelligence technology to analyze the attitudes and emotions reflected in each data point, identify the key factors that contribute to these attitudes and emotions, explore the underlying reasons, and find corresponding solutions. Results: The results of the study show that in the face of the sudden release of the epidemic, the public mostly exhibited negative emotions and behaviors, with many people experiencing anxiety and panic. However, the gradual resumption of daily life and work has also led some people to exhibit positive attitudes. Conclusion: The significance of this study is to help the government and institutions understand the impact of policy implementation on users, and to enable them to adjust policies in a timely manner to respond to potential social risks. The government, emergency departments, and the public can all prepare for similar situations based on the conclusions of this study.

A Model for Urban Environment Instance Segmentation with Data Fusion.

Fine-grained urban environment instance segmentation is a fundamental and important task in the field of environment perception for autonomous vehicles. To address this goal, a model was designed with LiDAR pointcloud data and camera image data as the subject of study, and the reliability of the model was enhanced using dual fusion at the data level and feature level. By introducing the Markov Random Field algorithm, the Support Vector Machine classification results were optimized according to the spatial contextual linkage while providing the model with the prerequisite of the differentiation of similar but foreign objects, and the object classification and instance segmentation of 3D urban environments were completed by combining the Mean Shift. The dual fusion approach in this paper is a method for the deeper fusion of data from different sources, and the model, designed more accurately, describes the categories of items in the environment with a classification accuracy of 99.3%, and segments the different individuals into groups of the same kind of objects without instance labels. Moreover, our model does not have high computational resource and time cost requirements, and is a lightweight, efficient, and accurate instance segmentation model.

Structure-function crosstalk in liver cancer research: Protein structuromics.

Liver cancer can be primary (starting in the liver) or secondary (cancer that has spread from elsewhere to the liver, known as liver metastasis). Liver metastasis is more common than primary liver cancer. Despite great advances in molecular biology methods and treatments, liver cancer is still associated with a poor survival rate and a high death rate, and there is no cure. Many questions remain regarding the mechanisms of liver cancer occurrence and development as well as tumor reoccurrence after treatment. In this study, we assessed the protein structural features of 20 oncogenes and 20 anti-oncogenes via protein structure and dynamic analysis methods and 3D structural and systematic analyses of the structure-function relationships of proteins. Our aim was to provide new insights that may inform research on the development and treatment of liver cancer.

Exploring the Catalytic Flexibility and Reversibility of Plant Glycosyltransferase HtUGT72AS1 for Glycodiversification of Phenolic Compounds.

Plant bioactive metabolites such as flavonoids are usually present in glycosylated forms by the attachment of various sugar groups. In this study, a catalytically flexible and reversible glycosyltransferase (HtUGT72AS1) was cloned and characterized from Helleborus thibetanus. HtUGT72AS1 could directly accept six sugar donors (UDP-glucose/-arabinose/-galactose/-xylose/-N-acetylglucosamine/-rhamnose) to catalyze the 3-OH glycosylation of flavonols. It also catalyzed the 4' and 7-OH glycosylation of other types of flavonoids, which lacked the 3-OH group. Additionally, the HtUGT72AS1-catalyzed reaction was highly reversible when using 2-chloro-4-nitrophenyl glycosides as substrates, which could be used for one-pot or coupled production of bioactive glycosides. It is the first reported UGT for the synthesis of arabinosides and galactosides using a transglycosylation platform. Based on structural modeling and mutagenetic analysis, the mutation of Tyr377 to Ara enhanced the catalytic efficiency of HtUGT72AS1 toward UDP-N-acetylglucosamine, and the V146S mutant gained an improvement in the regioselectivity toward 7-OH of flavonoids.

Exploration of seasonal fermentation differences and the possibility of flavor substances as regulatory factors in Daqu.

Medium-high temperature Daqu is a characteristic starter for Chinese strong-flavor Baijiu fermentation, and its final quality determines the character and type of Baijiu. Nonetheless, its formation is affected by the interaction of physical and chemical, environmental and microbial interaction, and the differences in seasonal fermentation performance emerge. Here, the differences in the two seasons' Daqu fermentation properties were revealed by the detection of the enzyme activity. The respective dominant enzyme in summer Daqu (SUD) was protease and amylase, while cellulase and glucoamylase in spring Daqu (SPD). The underlying causes of this phenomenon were then investigated through an evaluation of nonbiological variables and microbial community structure. A greater absolute number of microorganisms, particularly Thermoactinomyces, were created in the SPD as a result of the superior growth environment (higher water activity). Additionally, the correlation network and discriminant analysis hypothesized that the volatile organic compound (VOC) guaiacol, which had a different content between SUD and SPD, may be a contributing element to the microbial composition. In contrast to SUD, the enzyme system activity related to guaiacol production in SPD was significantly higher. To support this notion that the volatile flavor chemicals mediate microbial interactions in Daqu, the growth effect of guaiacol on several bacteria isolated from the Daqu was examined in both a contact and non-contact manner. This study emphasized that VOCs not only have the basic characteristics of flavor compounds but also have ecological significance. Because the strains' varied structures and enzyme activities affected how the microorganisms interacted, the VOCs produced in this way ultimately had a synergistic effect on the various effects of Daqu fermentation.

Serum from acupuncture-treated asthmatic rats regulates p38-MAPK activation in airway smooth muscle cells.

OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to investigate the regulation function of acupuncture on airway smooth muscle cells (ASMCs) of asthmatic rats. METHODS: Male Sprague-Dawley rats were challenged using inhalational Ovalbumin (OVA) to establish an asthma model. The acupuncture points (GV14 for Dazhui, bilateral BL12 for Fengmen, and bilateral BL13 for Feishu) were stimulated for asthma relief. The ASMCs isolated from asthmatic rats were incubated in medium containing the serum obtained from asthmatic rats treated with acupuncture. The expression levels of p38 MAPK and p-p38 MAPK were determined by immunocytochemical and western blot. RESULTS: ASMCs were successfully isolated and cultured. The 20% acupuncture treatment of asthmatic rat serum had the least effect on the proliferation ability of asthmatic ASMCs. The serum from asthmatic rats treated with acupuncture could decrease the expression of p-p38 MAPK in asthmatic rat ASMCs. CONCLUSIONS: The serum from acupuncture-treated asthmatic rats has an effect on treating asthma in rats, and the mechanism of action may be by regulating the p38 pathway.

Independent and joint associations of general and abdominal obesity with the risk of conventional adenomas and serrated polyps: A large population-based study in East Asia.

Evidence regarding associations of general and abdominal obesity with the risk of conventional adenomas (ADs) and serrated polyps (SPs) from Asian population is scarce. Our study aimed to investigate the independent and joint associations of general obesity assessed by body mass index (BMI) and abdominal obesity assessed by waist circumference (WC) or waist-to-hip ratio (WHR) with the risk of ADs and SPs among 25 222 participants recruited by a population-based screening program. Compared to participants with normal BMI, those with a BMI ≥28 kg/m2 had increased risk of ADs (odds ratio [OR] 1.52, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.36-1.70) and SPs (OR 1.69, 95% CI: 1.38-2.07). For participants with a WC ≥102 cm (≥88 cm for females), the risk of ADs (OR 1.37, 95% CI: 1.25-1.51) and SPs (OR 1.81, 95% CI: 1.52-2.16) was higher than that of the reference group. For participants with a WHR ≥0.95 (≥0.90 for females), the risk of ADs (OR 1.26, 95% CI: 1.16-1.36) and SPs (OR 1.46, 95% CI: 1.26-1.69) was higher than that of the reference group. Moreover, participants with both BMI ≥28 kg/m2 and WC ≥102 cm (≥88 cm for females) had 61% and 119% higher risk of ADs (OR 1.61, 95% CI: 1.39-1.85) and SPs (OR 2.19, 95% CI: 1.70-2.82) compared to those with both normal BMI and WC. These findings indicate that both general and abdominal obesity are associated with SPs and ADs, presenting stronger association with SPs than ADs. Moreover, the association is more evident when both obesities exist.

Design, synthesis and antibacterial evaluation of a novel class of tetrahydrobenzothiophene derivatives.

In this study, a new series of tetrahydrobenzothiophene derivatives have been designed. Newly designed molecules have been synthesized through a medicinal chemistry route, and their characterization was done by using NMR and HR-MS techniques. Biological evaluation of the synthesized compounds has been done on Gram-negative and Gram-positive bacteria. The marketed antibiotics such as ciprofloxacin and gentamicin were used as controls. The in vitro evaluation results have shown that most of the targeted compounds exhibit good potency in inhibiting the growth of bacteria, including E. coli (MIC: 0.64-19.92 µM), P. aeruginosa (MIC: 0.72-45.30 µM), Salmonella (MIC: 0.54-90.58 µM) and S. aureus (MIC: 1.11-99.92 µM). In particular, compound 3b showed excellent activity with an MIC value of 1.11 µM against E. coli, 1.00 µM against P. aeruginosa, 0.54 µM against Salmonella, and 1.11 µM against S. aureus. From the results, a promising lead compound was identified for future development.

circ-IARS depletion inhibits the progression of non-small-cell lung cancer by circ-IARS/miR-1252-5p/HDGF ceRNA pathway.

This study aims to explore the role and mechanism of circ-IARS in non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) progression. Expression of circ-IARS, microRNA (miR)-1252-5p, and hepatoma-derived growth factor (HDGF) was measured by real-time quantitative PCR and western blotting. The interactions among circ-IARS, miR-1252-5p, and HDGF were determined by dual-luciferase reporter assay and RNA immunoprecipitation. Cell behaviors were measured by 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT), 5-ethynyl-2'-deoxyuridine (EdU) assay, flow cytometry, scratch wound assay, and transwell assay, and validated in in vivo xenograft model. Exosomes were isolated using commercial kit, and the expression and functions of exosomal circ-IARS (exo-circ-IARS) were analyzed as described above. Results showed that the expression of circ-IARS was upregulated in NSCLC cells, NSCLC tissues, and serum exosomes from NSCLC patients. circ-IARS exhaustion antagonized cell proliferation, cell cycle progression, migration, and invasion and promoted apoptosis in NSCLC. Molecularly, circ-IARS could sponge miR-1252-5p to modulate the expression of the downstream gene HDGF. In addition, miR-1252-5p downregulation attenuated circ-IARS exhaustion-mediated effects in H1299 and A549 cells. MiR-1252-5p mimic-induced effects were relieved by increasing HDGF expression in H1299 and A549 cells. Exo-circ-IARS promoted H460 cell proliferation, migration, and invasion and inhibited cell apoptosis. Silencing circ-IARS retarded tumor growth of NSCLC cells in vivo. Thus, circ-IARS, secreted by exosomes, was a novel oncogene in NSCLC and regulated the malignant development of NSCLC cells via circ-IARS/miR-1252-5p/HDGF competing endogenous RNA regulatory axis.