Current advance of nanotechnology in diagnosis and treatment for malignant tumors.

Cancer remains a significant risk to human health. Nanomedicine is a new multidisciplinary field that is garnering a lot of interest and investigation. Nanomedicine shows great potential for cancer diagnosis and treatment. Specifically engineered nanoparticles can be employed as contrast agents in cancer diagnostics to enable high sensitivity and high-resolution tumor detection by imaging examinations. Novel approaches for tumor labeling and detection are also made possible by the use of nanoprobes and nanobiosensors. The achievement of targeted medication delivery in cancer therapy can be accomplished through the rational design and manufacture of nanodrug carriers. Nanoparticles have the capability to effectively transport medications or gene fragments to tumor tissues via passive or active targeting processes, thus enhancing treatment outcomes while minimizing harm to healthy tissues. Simultaneously, nanoparticles can be employed in the context of radiation sensitization and photothermal therapy to enhance the therapeutic efficacy of malignant tumors. This review presents a literature overview and summary of how nanotechnology is used in the diagnosis and treatment of malignant tumors. According to oncological diseases originating from different systems of the body and combining the pathophysiological features of cancers at different sites, we review the most recent developments in nanotechnology applications. Finally, we briefly discuss the prospects and challenges of nanotechnology in cancer.

Development of Negative-Temperature Cement Emulsified Asphalt Spraying Materials Based on Spraying Performance and Rheological Parameters.

To develop a cement emulsified asphalt composite (CEAC) that can be sprayed under a plateau negative temperature environment, the effects of the water-solid ratio, calcium aluminate cement substitution rate, emulsified asphalt content, sand-binder ratio, and polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) fiber content on the spraying performance and rheological parameters of CEAC were explored through the controlled variable method. Additionally, the correlation between the spraying performance and rheological parameters of CEAC was established, and the optimal proportion of CEAC was determined. Then, the difference in frost resistance and pore structure between the cement slurry (CS) without emulsified asphalt and CEAC at the optimum proportion was analyzed. The results showed that the optimum proportions for sprayed CEAC were 0.14 water-solid ratio, 0.5 sand-binder ratio, 25% substitution of calcium aluminate cement, 5% emulsified asphalt content, and 1.5% PVA fiber volume mixing. The yield stress and plastic viscosity of CEAC were positively correlated with the build-up thickness, whereas the rebound rate and the latter showed a negative correlation. The spraying performance may be described by the rheological parameters; the ranges of yield stress and plastic viscosity of 2.37-3.95 Pa·s and 77.42-108.58 Pa, respectively, produced the best spray ability. After undergoing an equivalent number of freeze-thaw cycles, CEAC exhibited lower mass and strength loss rates compared to CS, thereby demonstrating superior frost resistance. In addition, the pore structure analysis showed that the difference in capillary and macropore contents was the main reason for the variability in frost resistance between CS and CEAC.

Intranasal Delivery of Curcumin Nanoparticles Improves Neuroinflammation and Neurological Deficits in Mice with Intracerebral Hemorrhage.

Intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) represents one of the most severe subtypes of stroke. Due to the complexity of the brain injury mechanisms following ICH, there are currently no effective treatments to significantly improve patient functional outcomes. Curcumin, as a potential therapeutic agent for ICH, is limited by its poor water solubility and oral bioavailability. In this study, mPEG-PCL is used to encapsulate curcumin, forming curcumin nanoparticles, and utilized the intranasal administration route to directly deliver curcumin nanoparticles from the nasal cavity to the brain. By inhibiting pro-inflammatory neuroinflammation of microglia following ICH in mice, reprogramming pro-inflammatory microglia toward an anti-inflammatory function, and consequently reducing neuronal inflammatory death and hematoma volume, this approach improved blood-brain barrier damage in ICH mice and promoted the recovery of neurological function post-stroke. This study offers a promising therapeutic strategy for ICH to mediate neuroinflammatory microenvironments.

Influence of sex on outcomes of liver transplantation for hepatocellular carcinoma: a multicenter cohort study in China.

OBJECTIVE: Sex-specific differences are observed in various liver diseases, but the influence of sex on the outcomes of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) after liver transplantation (LT) remains to be determined. This study is the first Chinese nationwide investigation of the role of sex in post-LT outcomes in patients with HCC. METHODS: Data for recipients with HCC registered in the China Liver Transplant Registry between January 2015 and December 2020 were analyzed. The associations between donor, recipient, or donor-recipient transplant patterns by sex and the post-LT outcomes were studied with propensity score matching (PSM). The survival associated with different sex-based donor-recipient transplant patterns was further studied. RESULTS: Among 3,769 patients enrolled in this study, the 1-, 3-, and 5-year overall survival (OS) rates of patients with HCC after LT were 96.1%, 86.4%, and 78.5%, respectively, in female recipients, and 95.8%, 79.0%, and 70.7%, respectively, in male recipients after PSM (P = 0.009). However, the OS was comparable between recipients with female donors and male donors. Multivariate analysis indicated that male recipient sex was a risk factor for post-LT survival (HR = 1.381, P = 0.046). Among the donor-recipient transplant patterns, the male-male donor-recipient transplant pattern was associated with the poorest post-LT survival (P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Our findings highlighted that the post-LT outcomes of female recipients were significantly superior to those of male recipients, and the male-male donor-recipient transplant pattern was associated with the poorest post-LT survival. Livers from male donors may provide the most benefit to female recipients. Our results indicate that sex should be considered as a critical factor in organ allocation.

A Targeted and Responsive Nanoprodrug Delivery System for Synergistic Glioma Chemotherapy.

Doxorubicin (DOX) is widely used as a chemotherapeutic agent for both hematologic and solid tumors and is a reasonable candidate for glioma treatment. However, its effectiveness is hindered by significant toxicity and drug resistance. Moreover, the presence of the blood-brain barrier (BBB) brings a crucial challenge to glioma therapy. In response, a GSH-responsive and actively targeted nanoprodrug delivery system (cRGD/PSDOX-Cur@NPs) are developed. In this system, a disulfide bond-bridged DOX prodrug (PEG-SS-DOX) is designed to release specifically in the high glutathione (GSH) tumor environment, markedly reducing the cardiotoxicity associated with DOX. To further address DOX resistance, curcumin, serving as a P-glycoprotein (P-gp) inhibitor, effectively increased cellular DOX concentration. Consequently, cRGD/PSDOX-Cur@NPs exhibited synergistic anti-tumor effects in vitro. Furthermore, in vivo experiments validated the superior BBB penetration and brain-targeting abilities of cRGD/PSDOX-Cur@NPs, showcasing the remarkable potential for treating both subcutaneous and orthotopic gliomas. This research underscores that this nanoprodrug delivery system presents a novel approach to inhibiting glioma while addressing resistance and systemic toxicity.

Preparation and efficacy verification of three-dimensional printed partitioned multi-effect precision-care gel facial mask.

OBJECTIVE: A partition multi-effect precision-care gel facial mask conforming to facial skin characteristics was prepared using three-dimensional (3D) printing technology. METHODS: First, the hydrogel matrix and humectant of a 3D-printed gel for facial masks were screened, and three 3D-printed gels of arbutin, hexapeptide, and salicylic acid were prepared with whitening, wrinkle removal, and oil control functions, respectively. Skin irritation tests were performed on the gels. Physicochemical properties such as pH, heat and cold tolerance were evaluated. The efficacy of three 3D-printed gels was assessed by measuring melanin value, wrinkle depression score, and oil secretion. Finally, the facial mask model design and printing parameters were studied, and a partition multi-effect precision-care gel facial mask was printed in line with facial skin characteristics. RESULTS: For the 3D-printed facial mask, the gel prescription with 2% hydroxyethyl cellulose gel as matrix and 7% glycerol as humectant was the best. The prepared 3D-printed gel did not irritate the human skin, and its physicochemical properties met the Chinese facial mask industry standard (QB/T2872-2017). We showed that three types of 3D-printed gels containing arbutin, hexapeptide, and salicylic acid could be applied to the corresponding parts of the face to solve different problems, such as facial skin dullness, wrinkles, and oil secretion. Therefore, according to facial physiological characteristics, the facial mask model was designed for the forehead and nasolabial fold, which needs to be anti-wrinkled; the cheek, which needs to be whitened; and the nose and chin, which need oil control. The optimal printing parameters were 0.26 mm nozzle diameter, 90 mm/s printing speed, 30% filling density, 140% wire extrusion ratio, and 0.25 mm layer height. Different skin care effects can be achieved using a three-nozzle printer to print arbutin, hexapeptide, or salicylic acid gel on the mask's forehead and nasolabial fold, cheek, and nose and chin, respectively. CONCLUSION: The 3D-printed partition multi-effect care gel facial mask prepared according to the skin features of different parts of the face can overcome the problem of the single skincare effect of the mass-produced facial masks.

OBJECTIF: Un masque facial de soin de précision en gel à effets multiples, adapté aux caractéristiques de la peau du visage, a été préparé à l'aide de la technologie d'impression tridimensionnelle (3D). MÉTHODES: Tout d'abord, la matrice d'hydrogel et l'humectant d'un gel imprimé en 3D pour les masques faciaux ont été sélectionnés, et trois gels imprimés en 3D d'arbutine, d'hexapeptide et d'acide salicylique ont été préparés avec des fonctions de blanchiment, d'élimination des rides et de contrôle du sébum, respectivement. Des tests d'irritation cutanée ont été réalisés sur les gels. Les propriétés physicochimiques telles que le pH et la tolérance à la chaleur et au froid ont été évaluées. L'efficacité des trois gels imprimés en 3D a été évaluée en mesurant la valeur de la mélanine, le score de dépression des rides et la sécrétion de sébum. Enfin, la conception du modèle de masque facial et les paramètres d'impression ont été étudiés, et un masque facial de gel de soin de précision à effets multiples a été imprimé en fonction des caractéristiques de la peau du visage. RÉSULTATS: Pour le masque facial imprimé en 3D, la prescription de gel avec 2 % de gel d'hydroxyéthylcellulose comme matrice et 7 % de glycérol comme humectant était la meilleure. Le gel imprimé en 3D n'a pas irrité la peau humaine et ses propriétés physicochimiques sont conformes à la norme industrielle chinoise relative aux masques faciaux (QB/T2872­2017). Nous avons montré que trois types de gels imprimés en 3D contenant de l'arbutine, de l'hexapeptide et de l'acide salicylique pouvaient être appliqués aux parties correspondantes du visage pour résoudre différents problèmes, tels que l'aspect terne de la peau du visage, les rides et la sécrétion de sébum. Par conséquent, en fonction des caractéristiques physiologiques du visage, le modèle de masque facial a été conçu pour le front et le sillon nasogénien, qui doivent être antirides, la joue, qui doit être blanchie, et le nez et le menton, qui ont besoin d'un contrôle du sébum. Les paramètres d'impression optimaux étaient les suivants : diamètre de buse de 0,26 mm, vitesse d'impression de 90 mm/s, densité de remplissage de 30 %, rapport d'extrusion du fil de 140 % et hauteur de couche de 0,25 mm. Différents effets de soin de la peau peuvent être obtenus en utilisant une imprimante à trois buses pour imprimer de l'arbutine, de l'hexapeptide ou du gel d'acide salicylique sur le front et le sillon nasogénien, la joue, le nez et le menton du masque, respectivement. CONCLUSION: Le masque facial en gel de soin à effets multiples imprimé en 3D et préparé en fonction des caractéristiques de la peau des différentes parties du visage peut résoudre le problème de l'effet de soin unique des masques faciaux produits en masse.

Green syntheses of silk fibroin/wool keratin-protected AuAg nanoclusters with enhanced fluorescence for multicolor and patterned anti-counterfeiting.

Counterfeiting is a serious worldwide issue that threatens human health and economic security. How to apply anti-counterfeiting techniques to textile materials remains a great challenge. Herein, we report bimetallic AuAg nanoclusters (NCs) synthesized by one-step reduction of chloroauric acid (HAuCl4) and silver nitrate (AgNO3) with wool keratin (WK) as reducer and silk fibroin (SF) as stabilizer. The strongest orange-red fluorescence under ultraviolet light as well as the highest zeta potential absolute values of -27.97 mV were simultaneously realized in the optimal proportion Au-AgNCs2 (WK/SF is 3/2), which was further processed to a series of anti-counterfeiting films by blending with SF, silk sericin (SS), and polyvinyl alcohol (PVA). After successfully being numbered into fifteen colors, a dark blue-orange-dark red-dark blue cyclic fluorescent anti-counterfeiting color chart was designed. In addition, a two-Maxwell-unit model was constructed to assist with the microstructure analysis, which found that the formation of hydrogen bonds and the secondary structure transition from α-helices to ß-sheets during stretching were responsible for improving the mechanical properties and the two-staged fracture curves of films, respectively. Finally, a patterned and multicolor fluorescence anti-counterfeiting fabric application was demonstrated by combining the color chart and screen printing, indicating the great potential in textile anti-counterfeiting.

Untargeted metabolomics analysis reveals spatial metabolic heterogeneity in different intestinal segments of type 1 diabetic mice.

Type 1 diabetes (T1D) has been reported to cause systematic metabolic disorders, but metabolic changes in different intestinal segments of T1D remain unclear. In this study, we analyzed metabolic profiles in the jejunum, ileum, cecum and colon of streptozocin-induced T1D and age-matched control (CON) mice by an LC-MS-based metabolomics method. The results show that segment-specific metabolic disorders occurred in the gut of T1D mice. In the jejunum, we found that T1D mainly led to disordered amino acid metabolism and most amino acids were significantly lower relative to CON mice. Moreover, fatty acid metabolism was disrupted mainly in the ileum, cecum and colon of T1D mice, such as arachidonic acid, alpha-linolenic acid and linoleic acid metabolism. Thus, our study reveals spatial metabolic heterogeneity in the gut of T1D mice and provides a metabolic view on diabetes-associated intestinal diseases.

Improved catalytic performance in gas-phase dimethyl ether carbonylation over facile NH4F etched ferrierite.

Gas-phase dimethyl ether (DME) carbonylation to methyl acetate (MA) initiates a promising route for producing ethanol from syngas. Ferrierite (FER, ZSM-35) has received considerable attention as it displays excellent stability in the carbonylation reaction and its modification strategy is to improve its catalytic activity on the premise of maintaining its stability as much as possible. However, conventional post-treatment methods such as dealumination and desilication usually selectively remove framework Al or Si atoms, ultimately altering the intrinsic composition, crystallinity, and acidity of zeolites inevitably. In this study, we successfully prepared a series of hierarchical ZSM-35 materials through post-treatment with NH4F etching, which dissolved framework Al and Si at similar rates and preferentially attacked the defective sites. Interestingly, the produced pore systems effectively penetrated the [100] plane, offering elevated access to both the 8-membered ring (8-MR) and 10-membered ring (10-MR) channels. The physicochemical and acid properties of the pristine and NH4F etched ZSM-35 samples were comprehensively characterized using various techniques, including XRD, XRF, FESEM, HRTEM, Nitrogen adsorption-desorption, NH3-TPD, Py-IR, 27Al MAS NMR, and 29Si MAS NMR. Under moderate treatment conditions, the intrinsic microporous structure, acid properties, and crystallinity of zeolite were retained, leading to superior catalytic activity and stability with respect to the pristine sample. Nonetheless, severe NH4F etching disrupted the crystalline framework and created additional defective sites, bringing about faster deposition of coke precursors on the interior Brønsted acid sites (BAS) and decreased catalytic performance. This technique provides a novel and efficient method to slightly enhance the micropore and mesopore volume of industrially pertinent zeolites through a straightforward post-treatment, thus elevating the catalytic performance of these zeolites.

Shu Fu Pai® Protein Short Peptides Beverage for the treatment of hypoalbuminemia in liver cirrhosis.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the clinical efficacy of Shu Fu Pai® Protein Short Peptides Beverage in the treatment of hypoalbuminemia in liver cirrhosis. METHODS: A retrospective analysis was conducted on 289 patients with liver cirrhosis and hypoalbuminemia who were admitted to Deyang People's Hospital between April 2021 and April 2023. Among them, 148 patients treated with Shu Fu Pai® Protein Short Peptides Beverage were assigned as an observation group and 141 patients treated with intravenous human albumin were the control group. Liver function, coagulation function before and after treatment, and complications after treatment were compared between the two groups. The patients whose albumin levels did not increase after treatment were counted, and the influencing factors were analyzed using univariate and multivariate analyses. RESULTS: After treatment, there was a significant improvement in liver function, serum albumin level, Child-Pugh score, inflammatory markers, and coagulation function in both groups (all P=0.001). However, no significant difference was found in the peripheral blood indicators between the two groups (P>0.05). Also, there was no significant difference in complications between the two groups (P=0.194). Logistic regression analysis showed that age, pre-treatment serum albumin level, disease type, and abnormal liver function markers were independent factors affecting the treatment outcome of hypoalbuminemia, and treatment regimen was not an influencing factor. CONCLUSION: Shu Fu Pai® Protein Short Peptides Beverage for hypoalbuminemia in liver cirrhosis is not inferior to intravenous human albumin for improving liver function, inflammatory markers, and coagulation function. The therapeutic effect on hypoproteinemia is independent of type of treatment regimen, which suggests that Shu Fu Pai® Protein Short Peptides Beverage is an effective treatment for hypoalbuminemia in liver cirrhosis, without an increased risk of complications.

Microbiota from healthy mice alleviates cognitive decline via reshaping the gut-brain metabolic axis in diabetic mice.

Diabetic cognitive decline has been associated with the gut microbial disorders, but its potential gut-brain axis mechanisms remain unclear. Herein we transplanted the gut microbiota from healthy mice into type 1 diabetic (T1D) mice and then investigated the effect of fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) on cognitive function and the gut-brain metabolic axis. The results demonstrate that FMT from healthy mice effectively improved the learning and memory abilities in T1D mice, and significantly reduced neuroinflammation and neuron injury in the cortex and hippocampus. Moreover, FMT partly reversed the gut microbiota and gut-brain metabolic disorders, particularly glutamate metabolism. In vitro study, we found that glutamate notably decreased microglia activation and the expression levels of proinflammatory factor. Hence, our study suggests that glutamate serves as a key signal metabolite connecting the gut to brain and affects cognitive functions.

Transient neonatal hyperglycemia induces metabolic shifts in the rat hippocampus: a 1H NMR-based metabolomics analysis.

Diabetes has been reported to induce brain metabolic disturbance, but the effect of transient neonatal hyperglycemia (TNH) on brain metabolism remains unclear. Herein the rats were treated with a single intraperitoneal injection of 100 µg/g body weight of streptozotocin within 12 h after birth and displayed a typical clinical characteristic of TNH. Then we used NMR-based metabolomics to examine the metabolic changes in the hippocampus between TNH and normal control (Ctrl) rats at postnatal 7 days (P7) and 21 days (P21). The results show that TNH rats had significantly increased levels of N-acetyl aspartate, glutamine, aspartate and choline in the hippocampus relative to Ctrl rats at P7. Moreover, we found that the levels of alanine, myo-inositol and choline were significantly lower in TNH rats, although their blood glucose levels have been recovered to the normal level at P21. Therefore, our results suggest that TNH may have a long-term effect on hippocampal metabolic changes mainly involving neurotransmitter metabolism and choline metabolism.

Amelioration of Obesity-Related Disorders in High-Fat Diet-Fed Mice following Fecal Microbiota Transplantation from Inulin-Dosed Mice.

The role of inulin in alleviating obesity-related disorders has been documented; yet, its underlying mechanisms still need to be further investigated. This study attempted to elucidate the causative link between the gut microbiota and the beneficial effect of inulin on obesity-related disorders via transferring the fecal microbiota from inulin-dosed mice to high-fat diet (HFD)-induced obese recipient mice. The results show that inulin supplementation can decrease body weight, fat accumulation, and systemic inflammation and can also enhance glucose metabolism in HFD-induced obese mice. Treatment with inulin reshaped the structure and composition of the gut microbiota in HFD-induced obese mice, as characterized by increases in the relative abundances of Bifidobacterium and Muribaculum and decreases in unidentified_Lachnospiraceae and Lachnoclostridium. In addition, we found that these favorable effects of inulin could be partially transferable by fecal microbiota transplantation, and Bifidobacterium and Muribaculum might be the key bacterial genera. Therefore, our results suggest that inulin ameliorates obesity-related disorders by targeting the gut microbiota.

A novel polysaccharide from Rubus chingii Hu unripe fruits: Extraction optimization, structural characterization and amelioration of colonic inflammation and oxidative stress.

Raspberry is used as a medicine food homology species and its polysaccharides are worthy being investigated and developed. In the present study, a novel polysaccharide of unripe raspberry fruits (pRCP) was extracted and characterized. The results show that pRCP was an acidic heteropolysaccharide and its Mw value was 74.86 kDa with a high homogeneity. The main chain of pRCP consisted of â†’ 3,6)-ß-Galp(1 â†’ and â†’ 5)-α-Araf(1→, and its side chain was composed of α-Araf(1 â†’ linked to the C3 position of â†’ 3,6)-ß-Galp(1 â†’. In addition, pRCP supplementation increased the gut microbial diversity and reduced harmful bacteria including Erysipelatoclostridium and Negativibacillus in high-fat diet (HFD)-fed mice. Treatment with pRCP also alleviated HFD-induced colonic inflammation and oxidative stress in mice. These beneficial effects can be transferred to recipient mice by faecal microbiota transplantation from pRCP-treated mice. Therefore, our study suggests that pRCP could be used as a potential prebiotics to improve intestinal health by modulating the gut microbiota.

Insight on genetic features prevalent in five Ipomoea species using comparative codon pattern analysis reveals differences in major codons and reduced GC content at the 5' end of CDS.

Ipomoea plants possess important commercial, medicinal, and ornamental value. Molecular and morphological studies have confirmed that most species of this genus exhibit similar phenotypes but complex phylogenetic relationships. To date, limited information is available on these evolutionary relationships. In this study, systematic analysis of diverse species from Ipomoea was used to elucidate the relationships in this genus. To this end, we employed the concept of codon usage bias (CUB) to analyze the codon usage bias of five Ipomoea species such as effective number of codons (ENC) and GC content at the third synonym codon position (GC3s). Three types of plots including ENC-GC3s, parity rule 2 (PR2) and neutrality plots were employed to discover the factors determining CUB, and the frequency of hydrogen bonds and nucleotide were calculated to dissect changes in GC content at the 5'-end of the coding sequence. Our results showed little distinctness in CUB among the five species, with a reduction of hydrogen bonds content at the 5'-end (with similar changes in cytosines). In addition, optimal codons of Ipomoea aquatica ended with G or C, different from those of the other four species, which ended in A or T. These results may be useful for exploring the evolutionary relationships among this group, and for understanding the reasons for the variation among Ipomoea species.

Older liver grafts from donation after circulatory death are associated with impaired survival and higher incidence of biliary non-anastomotic structure.

BACKGROUND: Grafts from older donors after circulatory death were associated with inferior outcome in liver transplants in the past. But it has seemed to remain controversial in the last decade, as a result of modified clinical protocols, selected recipients, and advanced technology of organ perfusion and preservation. The present study aimed to examine the impact of older donor age on complications and survival of liver transplant using grafts from donation after circulatory death (DCD). METHODS: A total of 944 patients who received DCD liver transplantation from 2015 to 2020 were included and divided into two groups: using graft from older donor (aged ≥ 65 years, n = 87) and younger donor (age < 65 years, n = 857). Propensity score matching (PSM) was applied to eliminate selection bias. RESULTS: A progressively increased proportion of liver transplants with grafts from older donors was observed from 1.68% to 15.44% during the study period. The well-balanced older donor (n = 79) and younger donor (n = 79) were 1:1 matched. There were significantly more episodes of biliary non-anastomotic stricture (NAS) in the older donor group than the younger donor group [15/79 (19.0%) vs. 6/79 (7.6%); P = 0.017]. The difference did not reach statistical significance regarding early allograft dysfunction (EAD) and primary non-function (PNF). Older livers had a trend toward inferior 1-, 2-, 3-year graft and overall survival compared with younger livers, but these differences were not statistically significant (63.1%, 57.6%, 57.6% vs. 76.9%, 70.2%, 67.7%, P = 0.112; 64.4%, 58.6%, 58.6% vs. 76.9%, 72.2%, 72.2%, P = 0.064). The only risk factor for poor survival was ABO incompatible transplant (P = 0.008) in the older donor group. In the subgroup of ABO incompatible cases, it demonstrated a significant difference in the rate of NAS between the older donor group and the younger donor group [6/8 (75.0%) vs. 3/14 (21.4%); P = 0.014]. CONCLUSIONS: Transplants with grafts from older donors (aged ≥ 65 years) after circulatory death are more frequently associated with inferior outcome compared to those from younger donors. Older grafts from DCD are more likely to develop NAS, especially in ABO incompatible cases.

NLRP3 upregulation related to sleep deprivation-induced memory and emotional behavior changes in TRPV1-/- mice.

Sleep deprivation, which is a common problem in modern society, impairs memory function and emotional behavior. TRPV1, a subfamily of transient receptor potential cation channels, is abundantly expressed in the central nervous system and is associated with animal behavior. In this article, we report that TRPV1 deficiency in mice alleviates sleep deprivation-induced abnormal behaviors. We found that in the sleep-deprived mice, TRPV1 knockout increased the duration and visits in the central area in the open field task and increased visits to the open arms in the elevated plus maze. The TRPV1-/- mice performed better during the test stage in the Morris water maze phase after sleep deprivation. In the mPFC and hippocampus regions, western blotting results showed that TRPV1-/- attenuated sleep deprivation-induced increases in GFAP, NLRP3, and ASC and increased the expression of the mitochondrial marker Tom20. Immunofluorescence results showed that the action of TRPV1 knockout on NLRP3 was negatively correlated with Tom20 after sleep deprivation. Our results confirm that TRPV1 knockout attenuates sleep deprivation-induced behavioral disorders. The effect of TRPV1 on the behavior of sleep-deprived mice may be related to the neuroinflammation associated with mitochondria in the mPFC and hippocampus.

Prognostic implication of early posttransplant hypercholesterolemia in liver transplantation for patients with hepatocellular carcinoma.

BACKGROUND: Hyperlipidemia is a common complication after liver transplantation (LT) and develops mostly in the early posttransplant period. Recently, some studies have reported a positive correlation between hyperlipidemia and favorable prognosis in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) undergoing hepatectomy. This study aimed to evaluate the possibility of predicting prognosis in HCC patients receiving LT by early posttransplant dyslipidemia. METHODS: From January 2015 to December 2017, a total of 806 HCC patients from China Liver Transplant Registry database were retrospectively enrolled. The prognostic relevance of early posttransplant hypertriglyceridemia or hypercholesterolemia was examined using survival analysis, and subgroup analysis was implemented based on LT criteria. RESULTS: Early posttransplant hypercholesterolemia (EPHC) was independently inversely associated with the risk of recurrence [hazard ratio (HR) = 0.630; P = 0.022], but was not significantly correlated with the mortality. However, early posttransplant hypertriglyceridemia was not related to prognosis. Intriguingly, with further classification, we found that borderline EPHC (B-EPHC), instead of significant EPHC, was a predictor of lower risk for both recurrence (HR = 0.504; P = 0.006) and mortality (HR = 0.511; P = 0.023). Compared with non-EPHC patients, B-EPHC patients achieved significantly superior 1-year and 3-year tumor-free survival (89.6% and 83.7% vs. 83.8% and 72.7% respectively; P = 0.023), and 1-year and 3-year overall survival (95.8% and 84.8% vs. 94.6% and 77.6% respectively; P = 0.039). In the subgroup analysis, B-EPHC remained an independent predictor of better prognosis in patients beyond Milan criteria and those within Hangzhou criteria; whereas there was no significant relationship between B-EPHC and prognosis in patients within Milan criteria and those beyond Hangzhou criteria. More interestingly, patients beyond Milan criteria but within Hangzhou criteria were identified as the crucial subpopulation who benefited from B-EPHC (recurrence HR = 0.306, P = 0.011; mortality HR = 0.325, P = 0.031). CONCLUSIONS: B-EPHC could assist transplant teams in dynamically evaluating prognosis after LT for HCC as a postoperative non-oncological biomarker, especially in patients beyond Milan criteria but within Hangzhou criteria.

Lifestyle choices mediate the association between educational attainment and BMI in older adults in China: A cross-sectional study.

As the Chinese population ages, unhealthfully high body mass index (BMI) levels in older adults are becoming a public health concern as an unhealthfully high BMI is an ill-being condition and can contribute to the risk of disease. Education and lifestyle choices affect BMI; however, the evidence on the relationships and interactions among these factors remains unclear. This study aimed to investigate the mediating effect of lifestyle choices on educational attainment and BMI among older adults in China. Using the Chinese Family Panel Studies (CFPS) 2018 panel data, this study integrated personal- and family-level economic data libraries, including 7,359 adults aged ≥60 years. Lifestyle parameters included smoking amount and screen time. Height and weight values were used to calculate BMI. The chi-square test, binary logistic regression analysis, stepwise regression analysis, and bootstrapping mediating effect tests were used for data analysis. Single-factor chi-square test revealed differences in BMI levels among groups defined by sex, age, residence, marital status, per capita annual household income, education years, and lifestyle choices. Binary logistic regression showed that age, residence, education years, smoking amount, and screen time influenced BMI. Stepwise regression results showed that education years, smoking amount, and screen time were associated with BMI (t = 3.907, -4.902, 7.491, P < 0.001). The lifestyle variables had partial mediating effects on BMI. The mediating effect of lifestyle on BMI was 0.009, while smoking amount was 0.003, and screen time was 0.006. Unhealthfully high BMI levels are increasing among older adults in China and are affected by many factors. Lifestyle factors and educational attainment can interact, affecting BMI. Interventions should consider lifestyle factors and education attainment to help maintain healthy BMI and reduce unhealthfully high BMI incidence.