The effects of exercise interventions on brain-derived neurotrophic factor levels in children and adolescents: a meta-analysis.

Brain-derived neurotrophic factor is a crucial neurotrophic factor that plays a significant role in brain health. Although the vast majority of meta-analyses have confirmed that exercise interventions can increase brain-derived neurotrophic factor levels in children and adolescents, the effects of specific types of exercise on brain-derived neurotrophic factor levels are still controversial. To address this issue, we used meta-analytic methods to quantitatively evaluate, analyze, and integrate relevant studies. Our goals were to formulate general conclusions regarding the use of exercise interventions, explore the physiological mechanisms by which exercise improves brain health and cognitive ability in children and adolescents, and provide a reliable foundation for follow-up research. We used the PubMed, Web of Science, Science Direct, Springer, Wiley Online Library, Weipu, Wanfang, and China National Knowledge Infrastructure databases to search for randomized controlled trials examining the influences of exercise interventions on brain-derived neurotrophic factor levels in children and adolescents. The extracted data were analyzed using ReviewManager 5.3. According to the inclusion criteria, we assessed randomized controlled trials in which the samples were mainly children and adolescents, and the outcome indicators were measured before and after the intervention. We excluded animal experiments, studies that lacked a control group, and those that did not report quantitative results. The mean difference (MD; before versus after intervention) was used to evaluate the effect of exercise on brain-derived neurotrophic factor levels in children and adolescents. Overall, 531 participants (60 children and 471 adolescents, 10.9-16.1 years) were included from 13 randomized controlled trials. Heterogeneity was evaluated using the Q statistic and I2 test provided by ReviewManager software. The meta-analysis showed that there was no heterogeneity among the studies (P = 0.67, I2 = 0.00%). The combined effect of the interventions was significant (MD = 2.88, 95% CI: 1.53-4.22, P < 0.0001), indicating that the brain-derived neurotrophic factor levels of the children and adolescents in the exercise group were significantly higher than those in the control group. In conclusion, different types of exercise interventions significantly increased brain-derived neurotrophic factor levels in children and adolescents. However, because of the small sample size of this meta-analysis, more high-quality research is needed to verify our conclusions. This meta-analysis was registered at PROSPERO (registration ID: CRD42023439408).

Correlation Analysis of Traditional Chinese Medicine Constitution and Metabolic Indexes in General Physical Examination People.

OBJECTIVE: Analysis of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) constitution type general medical patients and the relationship between the metabolic index. METHODS: A cohort of 1,029 general individuals who underwent a physical examination at the Affiliated Hospital of Changchun University of Chinese Medicine for identification of their TCM constitution between January 2021 and April 2023 were included in this study. Their data were sorted and analyzed using Microsoft Excel and SPSS26.0 statistical software. RESULTS: Among the 1029 study participants, the balanced constitution (BC) type was the most prevalent (33.24%), and the blood stasis constitution (BSC) type was the least prevalent (2.62%). Compared with BC, phlegm-dampness constitution (PDC) (P=0.000), yang-deficiency constitution (YADC) (P=0.000) and BSC (P=0.008) had significant differences in body mass index (BMI) (P<α). The systolic blood pressure (SBP) of PDC was different (P=0.042, P<α). There was a significant difference in diastolic blood pressure (P=0.001, P<α). The diastolic blood pressure (DBP) of YADC was significantly different (P=0.001, P<α). Yin-deficiency constitution (YIDC) (P = 0.007) and YADC differences between fasting blood glucose (FBG) (P = 0.025) were significantly (P<α). There were significant differences in uric acid (UA) of YADC (P=0.000), BSC (P=0.004), PDC (P=0.007) and qi-stagnation constitution (QSC) (P=0.012, P<α). The triglyceride (TG) of YADC (P=0.000) and PDC (P=0.005) were significantly different (P<α). There was a difference in total cholesterol (TC) between PDC (P=0.046) and BC (P<α). BSC (P = 0.028) and PDC (P = 0.023) of low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) also had a significant difference (P<α). CONCLUSION: People with PDC, YADC and BSC had more abnormal metabolic indexes than people with BC, and the metabolic indexes of people with YIDC constitution were different from those with BC. Individuals with these four TCM constitution types should pay attention to making appropriate changes in lifestyles and dietary habits and take required measures to prevent the incidence and development of metabolic diseases.

An integrated framework for UAV-based precision plant protection in complex terrain: the ACHAGA solution for multi-tea fields.

UAV-based plant protection represents an efficient, energy-saving agricultural technology with significant potential to enhance tea production. However, the complex terrain of hilly and mountainous tea fields, coupled with the limited endurance of UAVs, presents substantial challenges for efficient route planning. This study introduces a novel methodological framework for UAV-based precision plant protection across multiple tea fields, addressing the difficulties in planning the shortest routes and optimal flights for UAVs constrained by their endurance. The framework employs a hyperbolic genetic annealing algorithm (ACHAGA) to optimize UAV plant protection routes with the objectives of minimizing flight distance, reducing the number of turns, and enhancing route stability. The method involves two primary steps: cluster partitioning and sortie allocation for multiple tea fields based on UAV range capabilities, followed by refining the UAV's flight path using a combination of hyperbolic genetic and simulated annealing algorithms with an adaptive temperature control mechanism. Simulation experiments and UAV route validation tests confirm the effectiveness of ACHAGA. The algorithm consistently identified optimal solutions within an average of 40 iterations, demonstrating robust global search capabilities and stability. It achieved an average reduction of 45.75 iterations and 1811.93 meters in the optimal route, with lower variation coefficients and extreme deviations across repeated simulations. ACHAGA significantly outperforms these algorithms, GA, GA-ACO, AFSA and BSO, which are also heuristic search strategies, in the multi-tea field route scheduling problem, reducing the optimal routes by 4904.82 m, 926.07 m, 3803.96 m and 800.11 m, respectively. Field tests revealed that ACHAGA reduced actual flight routes by 791.9 meters and 359.6 meters compared to manual and brainstorming-based planning methods, respectively. Additionally, the algorithm reduced flight scheduling distance and the number of turns by 11 compared to manual planning. This study provides a theoretical and technical foundation for managing large-scale tea plantations in challenging landscapes and serves as a reference for UAV precision operation planning in complex environments.

Solid-State Fermentation of Wheat Bran with Clostridium butyricum: Impact on Microstructure, Nutrient Release, Antioxidant Capacity, and Alleviation of Ulcerative Colitis in Mice.

This study investigated the effects of solid-state fermentation with Clostridium butyricum on the microstructure of wheat bran, the release of dietary fiber and phenolic compounds, and antioxidant capacity. Compared with unfermented wheat bran, insoluble dietary fiber and phytic acid content decreased, whereas soluble dietary fiber and water-extractable arabinoxylan content increased in C. butyricum culture. Because of the increased release of phenolic compounds, such as ferulic acid and apigenin, and organic acids, such as isobutyric acid, the antioxidant capacity of the culture was considerably improved. Furthermore, the culture of C. butyricum treated with dextran sulfate sodium-induced ulcerative colitis in mice enhanced the expression of intestinal mucus and tight-junction proteins, modulating the gut microbiota structure, increasing the levels of short-chain fatty acids in the intestine, and restoring the essential functions of the gut microbiota. These anti-inflammatory effects stemmed from the combined action of various effective components.

Efficient V-Shaped Substrate for Surface and Volume Enhanced Raman Spectroscopic Analysis of Bioaerosol: Prevention from Potential Health Risk.

Bioaerosols pose a great threat to human life and health, and developing highly efficient and accurate identification and analysis methodologies for bioaerosols provides prerequisite knowledge to evaluate their toxicity on human health. In this paper, a rapid and economical method is proposed for the detection of bioaerosols based on surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS). The SERS substrate was prepared using an anodic aluminum oxide (AAO) template with an inverted conical (V-shaped) nanopore array structure that was subsequently deposited with Ag nanoparticles (AgNPs) through magnetron sputtering. This tailored nanostructure essentially enables the differentiated and efficient detection of Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus epidermidis health risks within 10 min, along with corresponding detection limits of 103 cells/mL and 104 cells/mL, respectively. Notably, by comparing the Raman spectrum of the two bacteria obtained from the plain plane deposited with the same AgNPs, the V-shaped nanopore array structure provides a more robust enhancement effect in the Raman signal relative to the ordinary plane. More importantly, the applicability of developed AgNPs@V-shaped AAO SERS substrate was validated using ambient bioaerosols, thus emphasizing the great potential of the application of SERS-based technique for a cost-effective, rapid label-free and culture-free bioaerosol analysis without experiencing conventional time-consuming and laborious incubation processes.

Effects of different rearing methods on cocoon silk strength in silkworm Bombyx mori (Lepidoptera: Bombycidae).

In recent years, the use of artificial diet to rear silkworm Bombyx mori (L.) (Lepidoptera: Bombycidae) has advanced rapidly in China. However, significant differences are found in the production and performance of silk from silkworms reared on artificial diet and mulberry leaves, thereby affecting the development of artificial diet usage in sericulture. To understand the reasons for these differences, we tested the following 3 rearing methods: all-instar mulberry leaf rearing (Mul), all-instar artificial diet rearing (Diet), and instars 1-3 reared on artificial diet followed by instars 4-5 reared on mulberry leaf (Mix). The results showed that the silk production was significantly lower under Diet than Mix and Mul. Electron microscopy images revealed that the protein synthesis and energy supply were decreased under Dier and Mix compared with Mul. Subsequent strength analysis indicated that the relative strength of silk was highest under Mix, followed by Mul, and weakest under Diet. However, no significant differences in elongation were observed among treatments. The ß-sheet content of silk was significantly higher under Mix than Diet and Mul, and a similar trend was observed for the crystallinity. Furthermore, the elevated expression of BmChiNAG and the reduced expression of BmTpn genes may be a significant factor for the notable disparities in cocoon silk fineness and strength among the threes. These findings provide deep insights into the differences in silk produced by silkworms reared on mulberry leaves and artificial diet, as well as providing a reference for improving artificial diet for rearing silkworms.

Incorporation of enzyme-mimic species in porous materials for the construction of porous biomimetic catalysts.

The unique catalytic properties of natural enzymes have inspired chemists to develop biomimetic catalyst platforms for the intention of retaining the unique functions and solving the application limitations of enzymes, such as high costs, instability and unrecyclable ability. Porous materials possess unique advantages for the construction of biomimetic catalysts, such as high surface areas, thermal stability, permanent porosity and tunability. These characteristics make them ideal porous matrices for the construction of biomimetic catalysts by immobilizing enzyme-mimic active sites inside porous materials. The developed porous biomimetic catalysts demonstrate high activity, selectivity and stability. In this feature article, we categorize and discuss the recently developed strategies for introducing enzyme-mimic active species inside porous materials, which are based on the type of employed porous materials, including metal-organic frameworks (MOFs), covalent organic frameworks (COFs), molecular sieves, porous metal silicate (PMS) materials and porous carbon materials. The advantages and limitations of these porous materials-based biomimetic catalysts are discussed, and the challenges and future directions in this field are also highlighted.

CircPOLA2 sensitizes non-small cell lung cancer cells to ferroptosis and suppresses tumorigenesis via the Merlin-YAP signaling pathway.

Circular RNAs (circRNAs) have been implicated in the tumorigenesis of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Ferroptosis is considered a mechanism to suppress tumorigenesis. Herein, we identified a downregulated circRNA, circPOLA2 (hsa_circ_0004291), in NSCLC tissues and found that it was correlated with advanced clinical stage in patients. Nuclear-cytoplasmic fractionation assays and FISH assays confirmed that circPOLA2 was predominantly localized in the cytoplasm. Overexpression of circPOLA2 promoted lipid peroxidation and ferroptosis in NSCLC cells, thereby inhibiting cell proliferation and migration, while knockdown of circPOLA2 exerted the opposite effects. Mechanistically, circPOLA2 interacted with Merlin, a critical regulator of the Hippo pathway, and restricted Merlin phosphorylation at S518, leading to the activation of the Hippo pathway. In addition, circPOLA2 enhanced ferroptosis in NSCLC cells by activating the Hippo pathway. Together, circPOLA2 sensitizes cells to ferroptosis and suppresses tumorigenesis in NSCLC by facilitating Merlin-mediated activation of the Hippo signaling pathway.

Effects of different soil and water conservation measures on plant functional traits in the Loess Plateau.

Soil and water conservation measures (SWCM) have wide-ranging effects on vegetation and soil, and their effects on the ecosystem are multifaceted, with complex mechanisms. While numerous studies have focused on the impact of such measures on soil, the improvement of plant functional traits is a major factor in the ecological recovery of the Loess Plateau. This survey extensively investigated no measure plots, vegetation measure plots, and engineering measure plots in the Loess Plateau. The impact of SWCM on plant functional traits was investigated using structural equation modeling. We examined six plant functional traits-leaf dry weight (LD), specific leaf area (SLA), leaf tissue density (LTD), leaf total phosphorus (LTP), leaf total nitrogen (LTN), and leaf volume (LV)-correlated with resource acquisition and allocation. In 122 plots, we explored the effects of measures, soil, diversity, and community structure on the weighted average of plant functional traits. The findings showed substantial positive correlations between LD and SLA, LD and LV, SLA and LV, SLA and LTP, and LTP and LTN. LTD has a substantial negative correlation with LD, LTD with SLA, and LTD with LV. SWCM limits diversity, and the mechanisms by which it affects plant functional traits vary. In the structural equation model (SEM) of vegetation measures, improving community structure enhances plant functional traits, but soil factors have the greatest influence on plant functional traits in SEM engineering measures. Plant functional trait differences on the Loess Plateau result are due to differential plant responses to diverse soil properties and community structure. Vegetation measures enhance the chemical properties of plant functional traits, while engineering measures improve physical properties. The study provides a theoretical foundation for vegetation restoration and management following the implementation of diverse SWCM.

Lipid droplets sequester palmitic acid to disrupt endothelial ciliation and exacerbate atherosclerosis in male mice.

Disruption of ciliary homeostasis in vascular endothelial cells has been implicated in the development of atherosclerosis. However, the molecular basis for the regulation of endothelial cilia during atherosclerosis remains poorly understood. Herein, we provide evidence in male mice that the accumulation of lipid droplets in vascular endothelial cells induces ciliary loss and contributes to atherosclerosis. Triglyceride accumulation in vascular endothelial cells differentially affects the abundance of free fatty acid species in the cytosol, leading to stimulated lipid droplet formation and suppressed protein S-palmitoylation. Reduced S-palmitoylation of ciliary proteins, including ADP ribosylation factor like GTPase 13B, results in the loss of cilia. Restoring palmitic acid availability, either through pharmacological inhibition of stearoyl-CoA desaturase 1 or a palmitic acid-enriched diet, significantly restores endothelial cilia and mitigates the progression of atherosclerosis. These findings thus uncover a previously unrecognized role of lipid droplets in regulating ciliary homeostasis and provide a feasible intervention strategy for preventing and treating atherosclerosis.

Comparative Analysis of Volatile Components in Chi-Nan and Ordinary Agarwood Aromatherapies: Implications for Sleep Improvement.

Agarwood, a precious traditional medicinal herb and fragrant material, is known for its sedative and sleep-improving properties. This study explores the mechanisms underlying the aromatherapy effects of Chi-Nan agarwood and ordinary agarwood in improving sleep. Using a combination of gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS), network pharmacology, and molecular docking techniques, we identified and c ompared the chemical compositions and potential molecular targets of both types of agarwood. The GC-MS analysis detected 87 volatile components across six types of agarwood aromatherapy, with 51 shared between Chi-Nan and ordinary agarwood, while each type also had 18 unique components. Ordinary agarwood was found to be richer in sesquiterpenes and small aromatic molecules, whereas Chi-Nan agarwood contained higher levels of chromones. These differences in chemical composition are likely responsible for the distinct sleep-improving effects observed between the two types of agarwood. Through network pharmacology, 100, 65, and 47 non-repetitive target genes related to sleep improvement were identified for components shared by both types of agarwood (CSBTs), components unique to common agarwood (CUCMs), and components unique to Chi-Nan agarwood (CUCNs), respectively. The constructed protein-protein interaction (PPI) networks revealed that key targets such as MAOA, MAOB, SLC6A4, and ESR1 are involved in the sleep-improving mechanisms of agarwood aromatherapy. Molecular docking further confirmed the strong binding affinities of major active components, such as 5-Isopropylidene-6-methyldeca-369-trien-2-one and 2-(2-Phenylethyl)chromone, with these core targets. The results suggest that agarwood aromatherapy enhances sleep quality through both hormonal and neurotransmitter pathways, with ordinary agarwood more deeply mediating hormonal regulation, while Chi-Nan agarwood predominantly influences neurotransmitter pathways, particularly those involving serotonin and GABA. This study provides valuable insights into the distinct therapeutic potentials of Chi-Nan and ordinary agarwood, highlighting their roles in sleep improvement and offering a foundation for future research in the clinical application of agarwood-based aromatherapy.

Academic motivation and contextual influences in well-being for students with disabilities in higher education.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to utilize self-determination theory (SDT) incorporating the person-environment contextual factors as a framework to examine how the SDT factors may interact with functional disability and contextual factors to influence well-being for students with disabilities in higher education. Methods and participants: A quantitative descriptive design utilizing a convenience sample of 210 students with disabilities in higher education was used. Results: The final regression model accounted for 64% of the variance in well-being. When controlling for all other predictor variables in the model, functional disability, autonomy, learning competence, and relatedness were found to be predictive of well-being, with autonomy being the strongest predictor of well-being, followed by relatedness, learning competence, and functional disability. Conclusion: This study offers critical insights for higher education institutions, emphasizing the need for fostering environments that prioritize autonomy, competence, and relatedness to promote the well-being of students with disabilities.

Molecular mechanisms and targeted therapy for the metastasis of prostate cancer to the bones (Review).

The incidence of prostate cancer (PCa) is increasing, making it one of the prevalent malignancies among men. Metastasis of PCa to the bones poses the greatest danger to patients, potentially resulting in treatment ineffectiveness and mortality. At present, the management of patients with bone metastasis focuses primarily on providing palliative care. Research has indicated that the spread of PCa to the bones occurs through the participation of numerous molecules and their respective pathways. Gaining knowledge regarding the molecular processes involved in bone metastasis may result in the development of innovative and well­tolerated therapies, ultimately enhancing the quality of life and prognosis of patients. The present article provides the latest overview of the molecular mechanisms involved in the formation of bone metastatic tumors from PCa. Additionally, the clinical outcomes of targeted drug therapies for bone metastasis are thoroughly analyzed. Finally, the benefits and difficulties of targeted therapy for bone metastasis of PCa are discussed, aiming to offer fresh perspectives for treatment.

Oral nano-formulations for endocrine therapy of endometrioid adenocarcinomas.

Endometrial cancer is one of the three major malignant tumors of the reproductive system that threaten women's lives and health. The incidence of this disease is on the rise globally. Most cases of endometrial cancer comprise endometrioid adenocarcinomas, whose treatment is challenged by factors such as their high recurrence rate and the need to preserve fertility among young patients. Thus, oral endocrine therapy has become the main treatment modality. The main drugs used in oral endocrine therapy are progestins, selective estrogen receptor antagonists, and aromatase inhibitors. However, their clinical use is hindered by their low solubility and low oral utilization. The rapid development of nanotechnology allows the combination of these drugs with oral nano-formulations to create a good carrier. Such nanocarriers, including nanospheres, nanocapsules, and micelles can protect the drug against clearance and increase the site specificity of drug delivery. This paper reviews the pathogenesis of endometrioid endometrial cancer (EEC) and oral nano-formulations for endocrine therapy.

Potential Mechanism and Perspectives of Mesenchymal Stem Cell Therapy for Ischemic Stroke: A Review.

Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs), as a stem cell type with multiple differentiation potentials and immune regulatory abilities, have shown broad prospects in the treatment of ischemic stroke in recent years. The main characteristics of MSCs include their self-renewal ability, differentiation potential for different types of cells, and the ability to secrete various bioactive factors such as cytokines, chemokines, and growth factors, which play a key role in tissue repair and regeneration. In the treatment of ischemic stroke, MSCs exert therapeutic effects through various mechanisms, including promoting vascular regeneration of damaged brain tissue, reducing inflammatory responses, and protecting neurons from damage caused by apoptosis. Research have shown that MSCs can promote the repair of ischemic areas by releasing neurotrophic factors and angiogenic factors, while inhibiting immune responses triggered by ischemia, thereby improving neurological function. With the in-depth study of its biological mechanism, MSCs have gradually shown good safety and effectiveness in clinical applications. Therefore, fully exploring and utilizing the potential of MSCs in the treatment of ischemic stroke may provide new ideas and solutions for future neural repair and regenerative medicine.

Integrative transcriptomic analysis reveals Cd72 as a novel pro-inflammatory factor in microglia following experimental ischemic stroke.

Ischemic stroke remains a leading cause of global mortality and disability, with neuroinflammation playing a critical role in determining patient outcomes. Microglia, the brain's resident immune cells, can both exacerbate neuroinflammation and neuronal damage by releasing neurotoxic mediators and engaging in excessive phagocytosis, while also aiding recovery through the production of anti-inflammatory cytokines and debris clearance. However, the molecular mechanisms governing microglial activation and polarization after ischemic stroke are not well elucidated. In this study, we combined integrative transcriptomic analyses with experimental validation in a murine model of middle cerebral artery occlusion/reperfusion (MCAO/R) to explore microglial heterogeneity and identify key regulatory factors in ischemic stroke. Bioinformatics analysis identified Cd72 as a novel pro-inflammatory modulator within ischemia-associated microglial phenotypes. We observed significant upregulation of Cd72 in microglia following MCAO/R, and selective knockdown of Cd72 using CX3CR1Cre/ERT2 mice and Cre recombinase-dependent adeno-associated virus reduced MCAO/R-induced infarct volume, neuronal apoptosis, and neurological deficits. Furthermore, Cd72 expression in microglia was positively correlated with pro-inflammatory pathways and cytokines, including TNF-α, IL-1ß, and IL-6. Knockdown of Cd72 significantly reduced these pro-inflammatory factors, highlighting its potential as a therapeutic target for mitigating inflammation in ischemic stroke. In conclusion, this study identifies Cd72 as a critical pro-inflammatory regulator in microglia following ischemic stroke, with its knockdown effectively reducing neuroinflammation and associated brain injury, highlighting Cd72 as a promising therapeutic target.

Selection of Negative Charged Acidic Polar Additives to Regulate Electric Double Layer for Stable Zinc Ion Battery.

Zinc-ion batteries are promising for large-scale electrochemical energy storage systems, which still suffer from interfacial issues, e.g., hydrogen evolution side reaction (HER), self-corrosion, and uncontrollable dendritic Zn electrodeposition. Although the regulation of electric double layer (EDL) has been verified for interfacial issues, the principle to select the additive as the regulator is still misted. Here, several typical amino acids with different characteristics were examined to reveal the interfacial behaviors in regulated EDL on the Zn anode. Negative charged acidic polarity (NCAP) has been unveiled as the guideline for selecting additive to reconstruct EDL with an inner zincophilic H2O-poor layer and to replace H2O molecules of hydrated Zn2+ with NCAP glutamate. Taking the synergistic effects of EDL regulation, the uncontrollable interface is significantly stabilized from the suppressed HER and anti-self-corrosion with uniform electrodeposition. Consequently, by adding NCAP glutamate, a high average Coulombic efficiency of 99.83% of Zn metal is achieved in Zn|Cu asymmetrical cell for over 2000 cycles, and NH4V4O10|Zn full cell exhibits a high-capacity retention of 82.1% after 3000 cycles at 2 A g-1. Recapitulating, the NCAP principle posted here can quicken the design of trailblazing electrolyte additives for aqueous Zn-based electrochemical energy storage systems.

Development and Validation of a Carbohydrate Metabolism-Related Model for Predicting Prognosis and Immune Landscape in Hepatocellular Carcinoma Patients.

OBJECTIVE: The activities and products of carbohydrate metabolism are involved in key processes of cancer. However, its relationship with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is unclear. METHODS: The cancer genome atlas (TCGA)-HCC and ICGC-LIRI-JP datasets were acquired via public databases. Differentially expressed genes (DEGs) between HCC and control samples in the TCGA-HCC dataset were identified and overlapped with 355 carbohydrate metabolism-related genes (CRGs) to obtain differentially expressed CRGs (DE-CRGs). Then, univariate Cox and least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO) analyses were applied to identify risk model genes, and HCC samples were divided into high/low-risk groups according to the median risk score. Next, gene set enrichment analysis (GSEA) was performed on the risk model genes. The sensitivity of the risk model to immunotherapy and chemotherapy was also explored. RESULTS: A total of 8 risk model genes, namely, G6PD, PFKFB4, ACAT1, ALDH2, ACYP1, OGDHL, ACADS, and TKTL1, were identified. Moreover, the risk score, cancer status, age, and pathologic T stage were strongly associated with the prognosis of HCC patients. Both the stromal score and immune score had significant negative/positive correlations with the risk score, reflecting the important role of the risk model in immunotherapy sensitivity. Furthermore, the stromal and immune scores had significant negative/positive correlations with risk scores, reflecting the important role of the risk model in immunotherapy sensitivity. Eventually, we found that high-/low-risk patients were more sensitive to 102 drugs, suggesting that the risk model exhibited sensitivity to chemotherapy drugs. The results of the experiments in HCC tissue samples validated the expression of the risk model genes. CONCLUSION: Through bioinformatic analysis, we constructed a carbohydrate metabolism-related risk model for HCC, contributing to the prognosis prediction and treatment of HCC patients.

Comparison of prenatal and postnatal exposure to neonicotinoids and their temporal trends in breast milk.

Although the potential effects of neonicotinoids (NEOs) in early life have received considerable attention, data on the exposure of mothers and infants to NEOs are scarce. In this study, four parent NEOs and one metabolite were widely detected in paired maternal serum (MS), umbilical cord serum (UCS) and breast milk (BM) samples, with median total NEO concentrations (ΣNEOs) of 113, 160 and 69 ng/L, respectively. Decreasing trends were observed for N-desmethyl-acetamiprid (30 %/year), acetamiprid (22 %/year) and ΣNEOs (15 %/year) in breast milk between 2014 and 2022, whereas increasing trends were seen for clothianidin (17 %/year) and thiamethoxam (30 %/year). N-desmethyl-acetamiprid was the predominant compound in all matrices. However, the contributions of N-desmethyl-acetamiprid (35 %) and thiamethoxam (36 %) in breast milk were similar in 2022. Moreover, thiamethoxam has become the predominant contributor to the estimated daily intake of ΣNEOs since 2018, with the highest contribution of 71 % in 2022, suggesting the effects of NEOs continue to evolve and more attention should be paid to the new NEOs. Notably, the correlations and ratios of NEOs between paired UCS and MS were more significant and higher than those between paired BM and MS, respectively, indicating that NEO exposure was largely affected by the prenatal period.

Association between intake of flavanones and the overweight/obesity and central obesity in children and adolescents: a cross-sectional study from the NHANES database.

Aim: The prevalence of obesity (Ob), overweight (Ow) and central obesity (CO) in children and adolescents has increased dramatically over the past decades globally. Flavanones have been recently studied as adjuvants for the treatment of obesity. This study was aimed at evaluating the association between intake of flavanones and its subclasses and the Ow/Ob and CO in children and adolescents. Methods: This cross-sectional study extracted the data of children and adolescents with Ow/Ob and CO from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) database for 2007-2010 and 2017-2018. Ow and Ob were defined as a body mass index (BMI) ≥ 85th percentile. CO was defined as a waist circumference (WC) ≥ 90th percentile. The association between intake of flavanones and its subclasses and the Ow/Ob and CO in children and adolescents was determined by weighted univariate and multivariate Logistic regression models adjusted for potential covariates, and odds ratios (ORs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) was calculated. To further explore association between intake of flavanones and its subclasses and the Ow/Ob and CO in children and adolescents, subgroup analyses stratified by age, and gender. Results: Of the total 5,970 children and adolescents, 2,463 (41.2%) developed Ow/Ob and 1,294 (21.7%) patients developed CO. High intake of flavanones, eriodictyol, hesperetin, and naringenin were associated with lower odds of Ow/Ob in children and adolescents. (OR: 0.75, 95%CI: 0.62-0.92, OR: 0.69, 95%CI: 0.55-0.87, OR: 0.69, 95%CI: 0.55-0.87, and OR: 0.76, 95%CI: 0.63-0.92, respectively). In addition, high intake of flavanones, eriodictyol, and naringenin were associated with lower odds of CO in children and adolescents (OR: 0.71, 95%CI: 0.57-0.88, OR: 0.67, 95%CI: 0.51-0.86, and OR: 0.69, 95%CI: 0.55-0.86, respectively). Subgroup analyses showed that among all the different subgroups, high intake of flavanones was associated with lower odds of Ow/Ob and CO in children and adolescents. Conclusion: A diet loaded with high flavanones were associated with lower odds of Ow/Ob and CO in children and adolescents, and children and adolescents should be encouraged to increase their intake of flavanones.