Shh regulates M2 microglial polarization and fibrotic scar formation after ischemic stroke.

BACKGROUND: Fibrotic scar formation is a critical pathological change impacting tissue reconstruction and functional recovery after ischemic stroke. The regulatory mechanisms behind fibrotic scarring in the central nervous system (CNS) remain largely unknown. While macrophages are known to play a role in fibrotic scar formation in peripheral tissues, the involvement of microglia, the resident immune cells of the CNS, in CNS fibrosis requires further exploration. The Sonic Hedgehog (Shh) signaling pathway, pivotal in embryonic development and tissue regeneration, is also crucial in modulating fibrosis in peripheral tissues. However, the impact and regulatory mechanisms of Shh on fibrotic scar formation post-ischemic stroke have not been thoroughly investigated. METHODS: This study explores whether Shh can regulate fibrotic scar formation post-ischemic stroke and its underlying mechanisms through in vivo and in vitro manipulation of Shh expression. RESULTS: Our results showed that Shh expression was upregulated in the serum of acute ischemic stroke patients, as well as in the serum, CSF, and ischemic regions of MCAO/R mice. Moreover, the upregulation of Shh expression was positively correlated with fibrotic scar formation and M2 microglial polarization. Shh knockdown inhibited fibrotic scar formation and M2 microglial polarization while aggravating neurological deficits in MCAO/R mice. In vitro, adenoviral knockdown or Smoothened Agonist (SAG) activation of Shh expression in BV2 cells following OGD/R regulated their polarization and influenced the expression of TGFß1 and PDGFA, subsequently affecting fibroblast activation. CONCLUSION: These results suggest that Shh regulates M2 microglial polarization and fibrotic scar formation after cerebral ischemia.

Effects of nano-Rhodiola rosea combined with treadmill exercise on anti-exercise fatigue in rats.

Objective: To explore the potential strategies and mechanisms for enhancing the bioavailability of Rhodiola rosea. Methods: 36 Sprague-Dawley rats (8-weeks-old) were randomly assigned to six groups (n = 6 per group). Groups I and II received nano-dose forms of R. rosea, groups III and IV received normal dose form of R. rosea, and groups V and VI served as distilled water control groups. Groups II, IV, and VI were combined with moderate -intensity treadmill exercise. Each group received a daily gavage with 0.5 mL of nano -R. rosea solution (0.01 mg/mL), normal R. rosea solution, and distilled water. All rats were subjected to exhaustive swimming after 4 weeks. Outcome measures include GSH-px activity, T-AOC activity, MDA content, hepatic glycogen content, and T-SOD activity. Results: For plasma MDA content, group I was lower than group III (p < 0.01) and group V (p < 0.01), group II was lower than group III (p < 0.01), group VI was higher than group II (p < 0.05) and group IV (p < 0.05). For plasma T-AOC activity, group II was higher than group VI (p < 0.01). For plasma GSH-px activity, group I was lower than group IV (p < 0.05), groups II, III, and IV were higher than group V (p < 0.05), and group V was lower than that of group VI (p < 0.05). For T-SOD activity of quadriceps muscle, groups I and III were higher than that in group V (p < 0.05). Conclusion: R. rosea has a positive effect on anti-exercise fatigue in rats, with the nano-dosage form of R. rosea showing more significant efficacy than the normal form especially combined with aerobic exercise.

Ag-Catalyzed cross-dehydrogenative-coupling for the synthesis of 1,4-dioxan-2-yl substituted quinazoline hybrids in an aqueous medium.

We herein developed an effective approach for the construction of 2- or 4-(1,4-dioxan-2-yl) substituted quinazolines under mild conditions. A silver-K2S2O8 catalyzed direct CDC reaction between quinazolines and 1,4-dioxane for the synthesis of a series of 2- or 4-(1,4-dioxan-2-yl) substituted quinazoline hybrids is reported. The reaction proceeded well in water under mild conditions and showed a broad substrate scope and good functional group compatibility.

Oral administration of astilbin mitigates acetaminophen-induced acute liver injury in mice by modulating the gut microbiota.

Acetaminophen (APAP) overdose-induced acute liver injury (ALI) is characterized by extensive oxidative stress, and the clinical interventions for this adverse effect remain limited. Astilbin is an active compound found in the rhizome of Smilax glabra Roxb. with anti-inflammatory and antioxidant activities. Due to its low oral bioavailability, astilbin can accumulate in the intestine, which provides a basis for the interaction between astilbin and gut microbiota (GM). In the present study we investigated the protective effects of astilbin against APAP-induced ALI by focusing on the interaction between astilbin and GM. Mice were treated with astilbin (50 mg·kg-1·d-1, i.g.) for 7 days. After the last administration of astilbin for 2 h, the mice received APAP (300 mg/kg, i.g.) to induce ALI. We showed that oral administration of astilbin significantly alleviated APAP-induced ALI by altering the composition of GM and enriching beneficial metabolites including hydroxytyrosol (HT). GM depletion using an "antibiotics cocktail" or paraoral administration of astilbin abolished the hepatoprotective effects of astilbin. On the other hand, administration of HT (10 mg/kg, i.g.) caused similar protective effects in APAP-induced ALI mice. Transcriptomic analysis of the liver tissue revealed that HT inhibited reactive oxygen species and inflammation-related signaling in APAP-induced ALI; HT promoted activation of the Nrf2 signaling pathway to combat oxidative stress following APAP challenge in a sirtuin-6-dependent manner. These results highlight that oral astilbin ameliorates APAP-induced ALI by manipulating the GM and metabolites towards a more favorable profile, and provide an alternative therapeutic strategy for alleviating APAP-induced ALI.

ER stress modulates Kv1.5 channels via PERK branch in HL-1 atrial myocytes: Relevance to atrial arrhythmogenesis and the effect of tetramethylpyrazine.

Endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress is implicated in cardiac arrhythmia whereas the associated mechanisms remain inadequately understood. Kv1.5 channels are essential for atrial repolarization. Whether ER stress affects Kv1.5 channels is unknown. This study aimed to elucidate the response of Kv1.5 channels to ER stress by clarifying the unfolded protein response (UPR) branch responsible for the channel modulation. In addition, the effect of tetramethylpyrazine (TMP) on Kv1.5 channels was studied. Patch clamp and western-blot results revealed that exposure of HL-1 atrial myocytes to ER stress inducer tunicamycin upregulates Kv1.5 expression, increases Kv1.5 channel current (I Kur ) (14.91 ± 1.11 vs. 6.11 ± 1.31 pA/pF, P < 0.001), and shortened action potential duration (APD) (APD90: 82.79 ± 5.25 vs.121.11 ± 6.72 ms, P < 0.01), which could be reverted by ER stress inhibitors. Blockade of the PERK branch while not IRE1 and ATF6 branches of UPR downregulated Kv1.5 expression, accompanied by a decreased I Kur (9.03 ± 0.99 pA/pF) and a prolonged APD90 (113.69 ± 4.41 ms) (P < 0.01). PERK-mediated increases of Kv1.5 expression and I Kur were also observed in HL-1 cells incubated with thapsigargin. TMP suppressed the enhancement of I Kur (10.52 ± 0.97 vs. 17.52 ± 2.25 pA/pF, P < 0.05), prevented the shortening of APD (APD90: 110.16 ± 5.36 vs. 84.84 ± 4.58 ms, P < 0.05), and inhibited the upregulation of Kv1.5 triggered by ER stress. Our study suggests that ER stress induces upregulation and activation of Kv1.5 channels in atrial myocytes through the PERK branch of UPR. TMP prevents Kv1.5 upregulation/activation and the resultant APD shortening by inhibiting ER stress. These results may shed light on the mechanisms of atrial arrhythmogenesis and the antiarrhythmic effect of the traditional Chinese herb TMP.

The Function of RhoA/ROCK Pathway and MYOCD in Airway Remodeling in Asthma.

INTRODUCTION: Asthma is a common chronic respiratory disease characterized by chronic airway inflammation and abnormal airway remodeling. The RhoA/ROCK pathway and myocardin-related transcription factor A (MRTF-A) demonstrate significant associations with the proliferation of airway smooth muscle cells (ASCMs), which tightly correlates with the process of airway remodeling. MYOCD, which is homologous to MRTF-A but specifically expressed in smooth muscle cells, potentially regulates RhoA/ROCK activated cell proliferation and subsequent airway remodeling. METHODS: The RhoA/ROCK overexpression and silencing cell lines were constructed in vitro, as well as MYOCD overexpression/silencing. The cytoskeleton alterations induced by RhoA/ROCK pathway were identified by the measuring of globular actin and filamentous actin. RESULTS: The comparison between controls for overexpression/silencing and ROCK overexpression/silencing revealed that MYOCD presented consistent change trends with cytoskeleton and RhoA/ROCK pathway. The ROCK1 facilitates the proliferation and migration of ASCMs. The MYOCD enhanced the proliferation and migration of HASMCs. CONCLUSION: Our study indicates that Rho/ROCK/MYOCD is a key pathway involved in the migration and proliferation of airway smooth muscle cells. Inhibition of Rho/ROCK may be an effective approach to breaking the vicious cycle of asthmatic ASCMs proliferation, providing a novel strategy in treating asthma airway remodeling.

Modified Chitosan-Based Coating/Packaging Composites with Enhanced Antibacterial, Antioxidant, and UV-Resistant Properties for Fresh Food Preservation.

Chitosan-based biomass packaging materials are a promising material for food preservation, but their limited solubility, antioxidant capacity, UV resistance, and mechanical properties severely restrict their application. In this study, we developed a novel chitosan-based coating/packaging composite (QCTO) using quaternary ammonium salt and tannic acid (TA)-modified chitosan (QCS-TA) and oxidized chitosan (OCS). The introduction of quaternary ammonium salt and TA effectively improves the water solubility and antibacterial, antioxidant, and UV-resistant properties of chitosan. The Schiff-base bond formed between OCS and QCS-TA, along with the TA-mediated multiple interactions, conferred the prepared composite film with good mechanical properties (69.9 MPa tensile strength) and gas barrier performance to water (14.3 g·h-1·m-2) and oxygen (3.5 g·mm·m-2·h-1). Meanwhile, the prepared QCTO composites demonstrate excellent biocompatibility and safety and are applied as coatings for strawberries and bananas as well as packaging films for mushrooms. These preservation experiments demonstrated that the prepared composites are able to effectively reduce weight loss, prevent microbial growth, maintain color, and significantly prolong the shelf life of fresh products (bananas, strawberries, and mushrooms extended shelf life by 6, 5, and 6 days, respectively). Therefore, the developed QCTO coating/packaging film shows great potential for applications in the field of food preservation and packaging.

[Effects of inhibition of Rho/ROCK pathway on proliferation and migration of airway smooth muscle cells and related mechanisms]. / 抑制Rho/ROCKé€šè·¯å¯¹æ°”é“å¹³æ»‘è‚Œç»†èƒžå¢žæ®–ä¸Žè¿ç§»çš„å½±å“åŠç›¸å ³æœºåˆ¶.

OBJECTIVES: To investigate the effects and molecular mechanisms of inhibition of the Ras homolog gene (Rho)/Rho-associated coiled-coil forming protein kinase (ROCK) pathway on the proliferation and migration of airway smooth muscle cells involving myocardin (MYOCD). METHODS: Human airway smooth muscle cells were infected with the adenoviral vector Ad-ZsGreen-shRNA-hROCK1 in vitro. The cells were randomly divided into four groups: ROCK1 gene silencing control (shNC) group, shNC + arachidonic acid (AA, Rho/ROCK pathway activator) group, ROCK1 gene silencing (shROCK1) group, and shROCK1 + AA group (n=3 each). Quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction and Western blot were used to detect the expression levels of ROCK1 and MYOCD mRNA and protein. ELISA was employed to measure the levels of globular actin and filamentous actin, while immunofluorescent staining and scratch assays were utilized to assess cell proliferation and migration. RESULTS: Compared to the shNC + AA group, the shROCK1 + AA group exhibited decreased levels of ROCK1 and MYOCD mRNA and protein expression, reduced expression levels of globular actin and filamentous actin, and diminished cell proliferation and migration capabilities (P<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Inhibition of the Rho/ROCK pathway suppresses the proliferation and migration of airway smooth muscle cells, which may be associated with the downregulation of MYOCD.

Comprehensive lipidomic profiling of human milk from lactating women across varying lactation stages and gestational ages.

An untargeted lipidomic analysis was conducted to investigate the lipid composition of human milk across different lactation stages and gestational ages systematically. A total of 25 lipid subclasses and 934 lipid species as well as 90 free fatty acids were identified. Dynamic changes of the lipids throughout lactation and gestational phases were highlighted. In general, lactation stages introduced more variations in the lipid composition of human milk than gestational ages. Most lipids decreased as the milk progressed from the colostral stage to the mature stage, with some reaching a peak at the transitional stage. Significant variations in lipid composition across gestational ages were predominantly evident during early lactation period. In mature milks, most of the lipids exhibited no discernible statistical differences among gestational ages. This elucidation offers valuable insights and guidance for tailoring precise nutritional strategies for infants with diverse health needs.

A high cholesterol diet aggravates experimental colitis through SREBP2-modulated endocytosis and degradation of occludin and Zo-1 proteins.

Disrupted cholesterol homeostasis plays a critical role in the development of multiple diseases, such as cardiovascular disease and cancer. However, the role of cholesterol in inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) remains unclear. In the present study, we investigated whether and how high levels of cholesterol in the diet affect experimental colitis in mice. A normal diet supplemented with 1.25% cholesterol (high cholesterol diet) caused more severe colitis and aggravated the disruption of intestinal tight junction structure, accompanied by higher colonic tissue total cholesterol (TC) levels in a dextran sulfate sodium (DSS)-induced experimental colitis mouse model. Cholesterol aggravated DSS-induced intestinal epithelial barrier impairment and nuclear sterol regulatory element-binding protein 2 (nSREBP2) inhibition both in vivo and in vitro. In addition, nSREBP2 overexpression ameliorated cholesterol-induced intestinal epithelial barrier disruption in Caco2 cells. Interestingly, inhibition of SREBP2 disrupted intestinal epithelial barrier in the absence of cholesterol. Furthermore, SREBP2 regulated the protein expression of tight junction proteins (occludin/Zo-1) via modulating caveolin-1-mediated endocytosis and lysosomal degradation. Analysis of UK Biobank data indicated that, in fully adjusted models, higher serum TC concentrations were an independent protective factor for IBD incidence. The sterol regulatory element-binding factor 2 (SREBF2) gene rs2228313 (G/C) genetic variant was associated with the incidence of IBD and the CC genotype of SREBF2 rs2228313 was associated with higher serum TC levels and decreased the risk of IBD. In summary, a high cholesterol diet aggravates DSS-induced colitis in mice by down-regulating nSREBP2 expression, thereby promoting the endocytic degradation of tight junction proteins. In humans, SREBF2 gene single nucleotide polymorphism rs2228313 and serum TC levels are associated with IBD incidence.

Involvement of different K+ channel subtypes in hydrogen sulfide-induced vasorelaxation of human internal mammary artery.

BACKGROUND: Changes in K+ channel expression/function are associated with disruption of vascular reactivity in several pathological conditions, including hypertension, diabetes, and atherosclerosis. Gasotransmitters achieve part of their effects in the organism by regulating ion channels, especially K+ channels. Their involvement in hydrogen sulfide (H2S)-mediated vasorelaxation is still unclear, and data about human vessels are limited. OBJECTIVE: To determine the role of K+ channel subtypes in the vasorelaxant mechanism of H2S donor, sodium-hydrosulfide (NaHS), on isolated human internal mammary artery (HIMA). RESULTS: NaHS (1 × 10-6-3 × 10-3 mol/L) induced a concentration-dependent relaxation of HIMA pre-contracted by phenylephrine and high K+. Among K+ channel blockers, iberiotoxin, glibenclamide, 4-aminopyridine (4-AP), and margatoxin significantly inhibited NaHS-induced relaxation of phenylephrine-contracted HIMA (P < 0.01), whereas in the presence of apamin/1-[(2-chlorophenyl) diphenylmethyl]-1H-pyrazole (TRAM-34) combination, the HIMA relaxation was partially reduced (P < 0.05). The effect of NaHS was antagonized by NO pathway inhibitors, L-NAME and KT5823, and by cyclo-oxygenase inhibitor, indomethacin (P < 0.01). Under conditions of blocked NO/prostacyclin synthesis and release, apamin/TRAM-34 and glibenclamide caused further decrease in NaHS-induced vasorelaxation (P < 0.01), while iberiotoxin, 4-AP, and margatoxin were without additional effect (P > 0.05). In the presence of nifedipine, NaHS induced partial relaxation of HIMA (P < 0.01). CONCLUSION: Our results demonstrated that H2S donor, NaHS, induced concentration-dependent relaxation of isolated HIMA. Vasorelaxant mechanisms of H2S included direct or indirect opening of different K+ channel subtypes, KATP, BKCa, SKCa/IKCa, and KV (subtype KV1.3), in addition to NO pathway activation and interference with extracellular Ca2+ influx.

Barriers to professional psychological help among pregnant women in China: a qualitative study.

BACKGROUND: Pregnant women face significant physiological and psychological stressors, which can lead to mental health issues such as anxiety and depression. Despite the importance of professional psychological assistance, many pregnant women in China do not seek help due to various barriers. This study aims to explore the experiences and challenges of pregnant women in seeking psychological help in China through qualitative methods. METHODS: Purposive sampling was employed to select 20 pregnant women from a Class III Type A hospital in Hainan. Semi-structured in-depth interviews were conducted from July to August 2023, focusing on psychological states, help-seeking experiences, encountered challenges, and suggestions for improving psychological support. Colaizzi's 7-step method was used to synthesize the themes. RESULTS: We distilled five themes: (1) Psychological conditions during pregnancy, which includes stress and emotional fluctuations and anticipations of postpartum challenges; (2) Barriers to seeking help, underscored by societal misconceptions, limited professional access, and varied familial support; (3) Sources of psychological stress, highlighting physical changes, familial and work pressures, and societal expectations; (4) Expectations for psychological assistance, emphasizing the need for professional understanding and societal awareness; (5) Impact of psychological issues on daily life, such as decreased work efficiency and affected social activities. CONCLUSION: Pregnant women in China confront significant psychological stress and face multiple barriers in accessing help. There is an urgent need for personalized and professional psychological services for pregnant women. Addressing barriers such as societal stigma and poor accessibility, along with increasing public awareness and improving mental health services, is crucial. These findings provide a foundation for developing effective psychological support strategies aimed at enhancing the mental health of pregnant women in China.

Dissolvable microneedles loaded ginsenoside Rg3 liposome: a transdermal delivery approach for alopecia treatment.

The skin stratum corneum (SC) barrier function will interfere with the absorption of topical treatment and reduce the drug's therapeutic effect on alopecia. Microneedles (MNs) can penetrate the skin barrier and deliver drugs to the dermis. Furthermore, MNs can mechanically stimulate the skin, which promotes hair growth. Thus, we designed a green and dissolvable composite microneedle made of hyaluronic acid (HA) and Bletilla striata polysaccharide (BSP) to encapsulate cholesterol-free ginsenoside Rg3 liposomes (Rg3-LPs) to avoid cholesterol metabolism-producing testosterone to inhibit hair regeneration and minimize the effect of the SC barrier on liposomes absorption. HA and BSP can enhance the mechanical strength of Rg3-MNs to ensure the transport of liposomes to the hair follicle (HF) region while causing minimal skin irritation and guaranteeing cell compatibility. In addition, HA increased hair density and was more conducive to hair regeneration. In telogen effluvium (TE) and testosterone-induced androgenetic alopecia (AGA) animals, Rg3-MNs achieved comparable efficacy to minoxidil with low-frequency treatment and the quality of regenerated hair was higher. Furthermore, quantitative characterization and transcriptome sequencing results showed that Rg3-MNs promoted hair regeneration by promoting the expression of Wnt3a and Wnt10b genes, activating the Wnt/ß-catenin pathway. Therefore, Rg3-MNs present broad prospects in the treatment of alopecia.

Rhein targets macrophage SIRT2 to promote adipose tissue thermogenesis in obesity in mice.

Rhein, a component derived from rhubarb, has been proven to possess anti-inflammatory properties. Here, we show that rhein mitigates obesity by promoting adipose tissue thermogenesis in diet-induced obese mice. We construct a macrophage-adipocyte co-culture system and demonstrate that rhein promotes adipocyte thermogenesis through inhibiting NLRP3 inflammasome activation in macrophages. Moreover, clues from acetylome analysis identify SIRT2 as a potential drug target of rhein. We further verify that rhein directly interacts with SIRT2 and inhibits NLRP3 inflammasome activation in a SIRT2-dependent way. Myeloid knockdown of SIRT2 abrogates adipose tissue thermogenesis and metabolic benefits in obese mice induced by rhein. Together, our findings elucidate that rhein inhibits NLRP3 inflammasome activation in macrophages by regulating SIRT2, and thus promotes white adipose tissue thermogenesis during obesity. These findings uncover the molecular mechanism underlying the anti-inflammatory and anti-obesity effects of rhein, and suggest that rhein may become a potential drug for treating obesity.

Methylotrophic substrates stimulated higher methane production than competitive substrates in mangrove sediments.

Although mangrove forests can uptake atmospheric CO2 and store carbon as organic matter called "blue carbon", it is also an important natural source of greenhouse gas methane. Methanogens are major contributors to methane and play important roles in the global carbon cycle. However, our understanding of the key microbes and metabolic pathways responsible for methanogenesis under specific substrates in mangrove sediments is still very limited. Here, we set an anaerobic incubation to evaluate the responses of methanogens in mangrove sediments from South China to the addition of diverse methanogenic substrates (H2/CO2, acetate, trimethylamine (TMA), and methanethiol (MT)) and further investigated the dynamics of the whole microbial community. Our results showed that diverse substrates stimulated methanogenic activities at different times. The stimulation of methanogenesis was more pronounced at early and late periods by the addition of methylotrophic substrates TMA and MT, respectively. The amplicon sequencing analysis showed that genus Methanococcoides was mainly responsible for TMA-utilized methanogenesis in mangrove sediment, while the multitrophic Methanococcus was most abundant in H2/CO2 and MT treatments. Apart from that, the bacteria enrichments of Syntrophotalea, Clostridium_sensu_stricto_12, Fusibacter in MT treatments might also be associated with the stimulation of methane production. In addition, the metagenomic analysis suggested that Methanosarcinaceae was also one of the key methanogens in MT treatments with different genomic information compared to that in TMA treatments. Finally, the total relative abundances of methanogenesis-related genes were also highest in TMA and MT treatments. These results will help advance our understanding of the contributions of different methanogenesis pathways and methanogens to methane emissions in mangrove sediments.

Low concentration of serum vitamin B12 may be a strong predictor of large-artery atherosclerosis stroke: A case-control study.

INTRODUCTION: Identifying controllable risk factors for large-artery atherosclerosis (LAA) stroke is crucial due to its significant role as a leading cause of ischemic stroke. We aimed to validate the correlation of serum vitamin B12 with LAA stroke. METHODS: Inpatients with LAA stroke and healthy controls were retrospectively collected for a case-control study from January 2020 to May 2022. Serum vitamin B12 concentration and other blood indicators, demographic, lifestyle factors and comorbidities were investigated. Logistic regression analysis was used to identify the correlation of serum vitamin B12 concentrations with LAA stroke, meanwhile adjusted for confounding factors. RESULTS: Patients with LAA stroke had significantly lower serum vitamin B12 concentrations in comparison to those of controls. In the fully adjusted model, vitamin B12 (per 1 interquartile range increase, odds ratio [OR] = 0.84, 95 % confidence interval [CI]: 0.77-0.91), vitamin B12 < 200 pg/mL (OR=7.70, 95 %CI: 2.19-27.03) and vitamin B12 < 300 pg/mL (OR=4.19, 95 %CI: 1.82-9.66) were independently factors for LAA stroke. Furthermore, the optimal cut-off values for vitamin B12 to predict LAA stroke were 305.25 pg/mL (area under the curve [AUC] = 0.71) when unadjusted and 308.25 pg/mL when adjusted for age and sex (AUC=0.68). Lower vitamin B12 concentrations were significantly associated with male sex, smoking, older age, higher neutrophil count, higher creatinine, lower folate and higher total homocysteine. CONCLUSION: Results indicate that low concentration of serum vitamin B12 may be a strong predictor for the risk of LAA stroke.

Tunicate cellulose nanocrystal reinforced multifunctional hydrogel with super flexible, fatigue resistant, antifouling and self-adhesive capability for effective wound healing.

Hydrogels as skin wound dressings have been extensively studied owing to their good flexibility and biocompatibility. Nevertheless, the mechanical performance, adhesive capability, antifouling and antibacterial properties of conventional hydrogels are still unsatisfactory, which hinder the application of hydrogel for cutaneous healing. Here, we developed a novel biocompatible multifunctional hydrogel with super flexible, fatigue resistant, antifouling and self-adhesive capability for effective wound healing, where naturally rigid polymers including quaternized chitosan (QCS) and Tunicate cellulose nanocrystals (TCNCs) are used as bioactive cross-linkers and reinforcers to endow the hydrogel with excellent mechanical and antibacterial property, and the synergistic contributions from the poly(acrylic acid/methacrylate anhydride dopamine/sulfobetaine methacrylate) (poly(AA/DMA/SBMA)) chains and QCS endow the hydrogel with excellent adhesive property, antioxidant, antifouling and pH-responsive sustained drug release capabilities. The optimized hydrogel exhibited high tensile strength (77.69 KPa), large tensile strain (889.9 %), large toughness (307.51KJ.m-3), high adhesive strength (35.57 KPa) and ideal compressive property. The in vivo infected full-thickness skin model demonstrated that the hydrogel with vanvomycin sustained release ability efficiently improved the granulation tissue formation, facilitating collagen deposition and reducing inflammatory expression, thus effectively accelerating wound healing. This superiorly skin-adhesive antibacterial biocompatible hydrogel appears to be a promising candidate for wound therapy.

Effects of ball milling treated wheat flour and maltodextrin on the texture and oil absorption properties of fried batter-coated cashews and almonds.

In this study, the effects of wheat flour treated with ball milling (BM) and maltodextrin on the oil absorption and textural characteristics of fried batter-coated cashews and almonds (BCAs) were investigated. The result showed that the crystallinity of the starch granules in wheat flour decreased after the BM treatment. Furthermore, the ΔH of the batter decreased as the BM time was elongated, but the addition of maltodextrin had no significant impact on ΔH. Both BM-treated wheat flour and maltodextrin increased the fracturability and decreased the oil content of the fried BCAs' batter. The addition of BM-treated wheat flour and maltodextrin decreased the oil content of the batter from 28.93% to 18.75% for batter-coated cashews and from 30.92% to 18.61% for batter-coated almonds. Overall, the addition of BM-treated wheat flour and maltodextrin in batter is an effective approach to decrease oil content and improve the textural quality of fried BCAs.

Prevalence and influencing factors of kinesiophobia in patients with heart disease: a meta-analysis and systematic review.

This study aims to assess the global prevalence of kinesiophobia and the potential influencing factors among patients with heart disease. A comprehensive search was conducted in PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, PsycINFO, and Scopus databases to identify studies reporting on the prevalence of kinesiophobia and its influencing factors in heart disease patients up to January 2024. A random-effects model was employed to aggregate prevalence rates. Heterogeneity sources were investigated through subgroup analysis, while differences in the prevalence of kinesiophobia across regions, types of heart disease, and gender were evaluated. Additionally, a qualitative analysis of the factors influencing kinesiophobia was performed. This research incorporated 15 studies from six countries, with 14 providing data on the prevalence of kinesiophobia and nine exploring its potential influencing factors. The findings indicated that the overall prevalence of kinesiophobia among heart disease patients was 61.0% (95% CI 49.4-72.6%). Subgroup analysis revealed that the prevalence in upper-middle-income countries was 71.8% (95% CI 66.2-77.4%), while it stands at 49.9% (95% CI 30.2-69.5%) in high-income countries. The prevalence rates among patients with coronary artery disease, heart failure, and atrial fibrillation were 63.2% (95% CI 45.2-81.3%), 69.2% (95% CI 57.6-80.8%), and 71.6% (95% CI 67.1-76.1%), respectively. Gender-wise, no significant difference was observed in the prevalence of kinesiophobia between men and women (52.2% vs. 51.8%). A total of 24 potential influencing factors of kinesiophobia were identified, with education level, monthly income, anxiety, and exercise self-efficacy being the most recognized. The prevalence of kinesiophobia in patients with heart disease is notably high and is influenced by a multitude of factors. Early implementation of targeted preventive measures is imperative to mitigate the incidence of kinesiophobia in this population.

Development of a Predictive Nomogram for Intra-Hospital Mortality in Acute Ischemic Stroke Patients Using LASSO Regression.

Background and Purpose: Ischemic stroke is a leading cause of mortality and disability globally, necessitating accurate prediction of intra-hospital mortality (IHM) for improved patient care. This study aimed to develop a practical nomogram for personalized IHM risk prediction in ischemic stroke patients. Methods: A retrospective study of 422 ischemic stroke patients (April 2020 - December 2021) from Chongqing Medical University's First Affiliated Hospital was conducted, with patients divided into training (n=295) and validation (n=127) groups. Data on demographics, comorbidities, stroke risk factors, and lab results were collected. Stroke severity was assessed using NIHSS, and stroke types were classified by TOAST criteria. Least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO) regression was employed for predictor selection and nomogram construction, with evaluation through ROC curves, calibration curves, and decision curve analysis. Results: LASSO regression and multivariate logistic regression identified four independent IHM predictors: age, admission NIHSS score, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) diagnosis, and white blood cell count (WBC). A highly accurate nomogram based on these variables exhibited excellent predictive performance, with AUCs of 0.958 (training) and 0.962 (validation), sensitivities of 93.2% and 95.7%, and specificities of 93.1% and 90.9%, respectively. Calibration curves and decision curve analysis validated its clinical applicability. Conclusion: Age, admission NIHSS score, COPD history, and WBC were identified as independent IHM predictors in ischemic stroke patients. The developed nomogram demonstrated high predictive accuracy and practical utility for mortality risk estimation. External validation and prospective studies are warranted for further confirmation of its clinical efficacy.