Genetic variation and molecular profiling of congenital malformations of the female genital tract based on whole-genome sequencing.

BACKGROUND: Congenital malformations of the female genital tract (CM-FGT) are characterized by abnormal development of the fallopian tubes, uterus, and vagina, often accompanied by malformations in the urinary system, bones and hearing. However, no definitive pathogenic genes and molecular genetic causes have been identified. METHODS: We present the largest whole-genome sequencing study of CM-FGT to date, analyzing 590 individuals in China: 95 patients, 442 case-controls, and 53 familial controls. RESULTS: Among the patients, 5.3% carried known CM-FGT-related variants. Pedigree and case-control analyses in two dimensions of coding and non-coding regulatory regions revealed seven novel de novo copy number variations, 12 rare single-nucleotide variations, and 10 rare 3' untranslated region (UTR) mutations in genes related to CM-FGT, particularly highlighting ASH1L as a pathogenic gene. Single-cell sequencing data showed that the majority of CM-FGT-related risk genes are spatiotemporally specifically expressed early in uterus development. CONCLUSIONS: In conclusion, this study identified novel variants related to CM-FGT, particularly highlighting ASH1L as a pathogenic gene. The findings provide insights into the genetic variants underlying CM-FGT, with single-cell sequencing data revealing spatiotemporal specific expression patterns of key risk genes early in uterine development. This study significantly advances the understanding of CM-FGT etiology and genetic landscape, offering new opportunities for prenatal screening.

The risk of thromboembolic events in patients with nephrotic syndrome and relatively high albumin levels: a study over 10 years.

BACKGROUND: Low albumin level is a risk factor for thromboembolic events in patients with NS (nephrotic syndrome). However, little is known about the proportion and characteristics of patients with NS who experience thromboembolic events with relatively high albumin levels (≥ 25 g/L). Therefore, we explored the features of this specific group of patients. METHODS: This study included all hospitalized patients in our center for the past 10 years who had diagnoses of NS and relevant thromboembolic events. We divided them into 2 groups based on their serum albumin level when the thromboembolic event occurred. The clinical data were analyzed with SPSS software. RESULTS: There were 312 patients enrolled in our study. Eighty-four (26.9%) of them had relatively high albumin levels (≥ 25 g/L). Patients with NS with high albumin levels had significantly lower levels of 24-h proteinuria (P < 0.01) and a higher rate of autoimmune disease (P = 0.03) than the low-albumin group. Membranous nephropathy (MN) was the most frequent pathological type of NS in patients with thromboembolic events, regardless of their albumin level. There were significantly fewer patients with anti-PLA2R (M-type phospholipase A2 receptor)-positive MN in the high-albumin group than in the low-albumin group (P < 0.01). CONCLUSIONS: Our study found that there was still a high risk for patients with NS and relatively high albumin levels to develop thromboembolic events.

Developing an assessment tool for the healthy lifestyles of the occupational population in China: a modified Delphi-analytic hierarchy process study.

Lifestyle is an important factor affecting people's health. Evaluating and promoting healthy lifestyles among occupational population can not only improve work ability and efficiency, but also contribute to the prevention a variety of potential diseases. This study developed a preliminary index system based on literature review and group discussion. Two rounds of expert consultation were conducted on 12 experts using Delphi method. The questionnaire recovery rate of the two rounds of Delphi survey was over 85%, the expert authority coefficient was over 0.70, and Kendall W was 0.450 and 0.446, which were significant (P < 0.001). The weighting coefficient of each indicator was calculated using the hierarchical analysis method. Among them, the weighting coefficients of physical health lifestyle, mental health lifestyle, social adaptation lifestyle and occupational health lifestyle were 0.4133, 0.2922, 0.1078 and 0.1867, respectively. The consistency index CI = 0.024 and the consistency ratio CR = 0.027 of the first-level index judgment matrix. The weighting coefficient is acceptable and the indicators do not cause logical confusion. The healthy lifestyle assessment tool of the occupational population constructed in this study consists of 4 primary indicators, 13 secondary indicators and 45 tertiary indicators, which can provide a standardized and operable assessment tool for monitoring and evaluating the healthy lifestyle of the Chinese occupational population. At the same time, the weight analysis of various indicators through the analytic hierarchy process can also provide reference for the key areas of occupational health intervention.

Clinical Effect of Personalized Adjustable Mandibular Advancement Device on Obstructive Sleep Apnea.

Aims/Background: Mandibular advancement devices are effective in treating mild or moderate obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), but such devices that are commonly used in clinical settings require further improvement. In this study, we evaluated the clinical effects of personalized adjustable mandibular advancement devices on mild or moderate OSA. Methods: Forty patients with mild or moderate OSA were randomly divided into experimental (personalized adjustable device) and control (traditional device) groups. Side effects, including increased salivation, dry mouth, muscle aches, and temporomandibular joint discomfort, were assessed. Respiratory markers during sleep, including the apnea-hypopnea index, mean blood oxygen saturation, lowest blood oxygen saturation and maximum apnea time, were evaluated using polysomnography. The upper airway cross-sectional area and temporomandibular joint morphology and motion trajectory were evaluated using cone beam computed tomography. Results: Side effects were significantly lower in the experimental group than in the control group. Respiratory marker levels were significantly restored post-treatment. Soft palate- and tongue-pharyngeal cross-sectional areas were significantly increased in both groups, but temporomandibular joint morphology or motion trajectory remained unchanged. Conclusion: The personalized adjustable mandibular advancement devices may reduce side effects and are effective in treating patients with OSA. Clinical Trial Registration: The study was registered and approved by the Chinese Clinical Trial Registry (ChiCTR2400080306). https://www.chictr.org.cn/showproj.html?proj=206538.

[Analysis of Heavy Metal Sources in Farmland Soil of Sewage Irrigation and Industrial Complex Area Based on APCS-MLR and PMF].

The contents of eight heavy metals （Cr, Ni, Cu, Zn, Cd, Pb, As, and Hg） were determined based on the surface soil samples of sewage irrigation and industrial complex in Kaifeng City. The absolute factor analysis-multiple linear regression （APCS-MLR） model and positive matrix factorization （PMF） model were used to analyze the sources and contribution rates of heavy metals in soil combined with correlation analysis and systematic cluster analysis. The results showed that： ① The average values of ω（Cr）, ω（Ni）, ω（Cu）, ω（Zn）, ω（Cd）, ω（Pb）, ω（As）, and ω（Hg） in the study area were 52.19, 25.00, 42.03, 323.53, 1.79, 53.45, 9.43, and 0.20 mg·kg-1, respectively, and Cr, Ni, and As are lower than the background values of tidal soil. Cu, Zn, Cd, Pb, and Hg are higher than the background values of the tidal soil. ② There were four sources of the eight heavy metals： natural sources, agricultural sewage irrigation sources, industrial atmospheric sedimentation sources, and transportation sources. Cr and Ni were mainly from natural sources； Cu, Zn, Cd, and Pb were mainly from agricultural sewage irrigation and transportation sources； As was mainly from natural sources and agricultural sewage irrigation； and Hg was mainly from industrial atmospheric sedimentation. ③ The APCS-MLR and PMF source analysis results indicated that industrial and agricultural activities were the main sources of heavy metals in the soil of the study area. The average contribution rates of APCS-MLR in the nine sampling areas of the research area were 76.01% （natural sources and agricultural sewage irrigation sources）, 22.71% （industrial atmospheric sedimentation sources and transportation sources）, and 1.28% （unknown sources）. The average contribution rates of PMF were 59.66% （natural sources and agricultural sewage irrigation sources） and 40.34% （industrial atmospheric sedimentation sources and transportation sources）. The source analysis results of the LZ, XZ, NLT, PT, YLZ, and BC models were basically consistent, and WL was better in the APCS-MLR model, whereas SG and QT were better in the PMF model. The research results can provide a scientific basis for the prevention and control of soil heavy metal pollution and environmental remediation.

Evaluation of Tibial Slope on Radiographs in Pediatric Patients With Tibial Spine Fractures: An Age- and Sex-Matched Study.

Background: A recent study has reported that the radiographic measurement of posterior tibial slope (PTS) is larger in male pediatric patients with tibial spine fractures (TSF) than in controls. However, they found no difference in PTS between female patients and controls. Purpose: (1) To identify whether PTS is larger in female pediatric patients with TSF than in female controls and (2) to validate the relationship between PTS and pediatric TSF in male patients. Study Design: Cross-sectional study; Level of evidence, 3. Methods: After an a priori power analysis, 84 pediatric patients with TSF (50 female patients and 34 male patients) and 84 age- and sex-matched controls were enrolled in this study. Demographic information, including sex, age, and race, was recorded. Skeletal maturity was determined based on the stage of epiphyseal union on knee radiographs. PTS was defined as the angle between a line perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the tibia and the posterior inclination of the medial tibial plateau on standard knee lateral radiographs. Results: The mean age when the TSF occurred was 11.2 ± 2.7 years for female patients and 12.9 ± 2.5 years for male patients. There was no significant difference in skeletal maturity between female patients and female controls or between male patients and male controls. The mean PTS was not significantly different between female patients (8.8°± 2.8°) and female controls (8.3°± 3.1°) (P = .366) or between male patients (9.0°± 2.8°) and male controls (9.3°± 2.6°) (P = .675). Those with a PTS >1 SD (2.9°) above the mean (8.8°) had no greater odds (1.0 [95% CI, 0.4-2.5]; P≥ .999) of having a TSF than others. Conclusion: PTS was not found to be a risk factor for pediatric TSF in female or male patients in this study.

BCAA-producing Clostridium symbiosum promotes colorectal tumorigenesis through the modulation of host cholesterol metabolism.

Identification of potential bacterial players in colorectal tumorigenesis has been a focus of intense research. Herein, we find that Clostridium symbiosum (C. symbiosum) is selectively enriched in tumor tissues of patients with colorectal cancer (CRC) and associated with higher colorectal adenoma recurrence after endoscopic polypectomy. The tumorigenic effect of C. symbiosum is observed in multiple murine models. Single-cell transcriptome profiling along with functional assays demonstrates that C. symbiosum promotes the proliferation of colonic stem cells and enhances cancer stemness. Mechanistically, C. symbiosum intensifies cellular cholesterol synthesis by producing branched-chain amino acids (BCAAs), which sequentially activates Sonic hedgehog signaling. Low dietary BCAA intake or blockade of cholesterol synthesis by statins could partially abrogate the C. symbiosum-induced cell proliferation in vivo and in vitro. Collectively, we reveal C. symbiosum as a bacterial driver of colorectal tumorigenesis, thus identifying a potential target in CRC prediction, prevention, and treatment.

Venetoclax-Obinutuzumab for previously untreated chronic lymphocytic leukemia: 6-year results of the phase 3 CLL14 study.

Venetoclax-obinutuzumab (Ven-Obi) is a standard-of-care for patients with previously untreated chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL). In the CLL14 study, patients with previously untreated CLL and coexisting conditions were randomized to 12 cycles of Ven-Obi (n=216) or chlorambucil-obinutuzumab (Clb-Obi, n=216). Progression-free survival (PFS) was the primary endpoint. Key secondary endpoints included time-to-next-treatment (TTNT), rates of undetectable minimal residual disease (uMRD), overall survival (OS) and rates of adverse events. Patient reported outcomes (PROs) of time until definitive deterioration (TUDD) in quality of life (QoL) were analyzed. At a median observation time of 76.4 months, PFS remained superior for Ven-Obi compared to Clb-Obi (median 76.2 vs 36.4 months; HR 0.40[95%CI 0.31-0.52], p<0.0001). Likewise, TTNT was longer after Ven-Obi (6-year-TTNT 65.2% vs 37.1%; HR 0.44, 95%CI 0.33-0.58, p<0.0001). In the Ven-Obi arm, presence of del(17p), unmutated-IGHV and lymph node size ≥5 cm were independent prognostic factors for shorter PFS. Five years after treatment, 17 patients (7.9% of intention-to-treat-population) in the Ven-Obi arm had uMRD (<10-4 in peripheral blood) compared to 4 (1.9%) in the Clb-Obi arm. 6-year-OS rate was 78.7% in the Ven-Obi and 69.2% in the Clb-Obi arm (HR 0.69[95%CI 0.48-1.01], p=0.052). A significantly longer TUDD in global health status/QoL was observed in the Ven-Obi compared to the Clb-Obi arm (median 82.1 vs 65.1 months; HR 0.70[95%CI 0.51-0.97]). Follow-up adjusted SPM incidence rates were 2.3 and 1.4/1000 patient-months in the Ven-Obi and Clb-Obi arm, respectively. The sustained long-term survival, uMRD and QoL benefits support the use of one-year fixed-duration Ven-Obi in CLL. NCT02242942, EudraCT 2014-001810-24.

A Chromosome-Level Genome Assembly and Annotation for the Oecanthus rufescens (Orthoptera: Oecanthidae).

Oecanthus is a genus of cricket known for its distinctive chirping and distributed across major zoogeographical regions worldwide. This study focuses on Oecanthus rufescens, and conducts a comprehensive examination of its genome through genome sequencing technologies and bioinformatic analysis. A high-quality chromosome-level genome of O. rufescens was successfully obtained, revealing significant features of its genome structure. The genome size is 877.9 Mb, comprising ten pseudo-chromosomes and 70 other sequences, with a GC content of 41.38% and an N50 value of 157,110,771 bp, indicating a high level of continuity. BUSCO assessment results demonstrate that the genome's integrity and quality are high (of which 96.8% are single-copy and 1.6% are duplicated). Comprehensive genome annotation was also performed, identifying approximately 310 Mb of repetitive sequences, accounting for 35.3% of the total genome sequence, and discovering 15,481 tRNA genes, 4,082 rRNA genes, and 1,212 other noncoding genes. Furthermore, 15,031 protein-coding genes were identified, with BUSCO assessment results showing that 98.4% (of which 96.3% are single-copy and 1.6% are duplicated) of the genes were annotated.

Genetic polymorphisms and their correlation with dyslipidemia in Chinese patients diagnosed with diabetes mellitus.

BACKGROUND: Dyslipidemia is a common complication in patients with diabetes mellitus (DM) that increases the risk of cardiovascular disease. Genetic polymorphisms have been implicated in the development of dyslipidemia. AIM: To investigate the association between polymorphisms of candidate genes involved in lipid metabolism and dyslipidemia in Chinese patients with DM. METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted on 1098 Chinese patients with DM recruited from multiple healthcare centers. Demographic and clinical data were collected, and dyslipidemia was defined according to the National Cholesterol Education Program Adult Treatment Panel III guidelines. Genomic DNA was extracted from blood samples and genotyping for selected polymorphisms of candidate genes (APOE, LPL, CETP, and others) was performed using PCR and DNA sequencing techniques. Statistical analyses were performed using logistic regression models adjusted for potential confounding factors. RESULTS: The study population consisted of 578 males (52.6%) and 520 females (47.4%), with a mean age of 58.4 ± 12.2 years. The prevalence of dyslipidemia was 64.8%. Significant associations were found between dyslipidemia and the APOE rs7412 T/T, APOE rs429358 C/C, LPL rs328 G/G, and CETP rs708272 G/G genotypes after adjusting for covariates. Subgroup analyses showed generally consistent associations across subgroups, although some variations in effect sizes were observed. CONCLUSION: This study identified significant associations between genetic polymorphisms of APOE, LPL, and CETP genes and dyslipidemia in Chinese patients with DM.

In situ Raman reveals the critical role of Pd in electrocatalytic CO2 reduction to CH4 on Cu-based catalysts.

Electrocatalytic CO2 reduction reaction (CO2RR) for CH4 production presents a promising strategy to address carbon neutrality, and the incorporation of a second metal has been proven effective in enhancing catalyst performance. Nevertheless, there remains limited comprehension regarding the fundamental factors responsible for the improved performance. Herein, the critical role of Pd in electrocatalytic CO2 reduction to CH4 on Cu-based catalysts has been revealed at a molecular level using in situ surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS). A "borrowing" SERS strategy has been developed by depositing Cu-Pd overlayers on plasmonic Au nanoparticles to achieve the in situ monitoring of the dynamic change of the intermediate during CO2RR. Electrochemical tests demonstrate that Pd incorporation significantly enhances selectivity toward CH4 production, and the Faradaic efficiency (FE) of CH4 is more than two times higher than that for the catalysts without Pd. The key intermediates, including *CO2-, *CO, and *OH, have been directly identified under CO2RR conditions, and their evolution with the electrochemical environments has been determined. It is found that Pd incorporation promotes the activation of both CO2 and H2O molecules and accelerates the formation of abundant active *CO and hydrogen species, thus enhancing the CH4 selectivity. This work offers fundamental insights into the understanding of the molecular mechanism of CO2RR and opens up possibilities for designing more efficient electrocatalysts.

Design, synthesis and activity evaluation of usnic acid monoesterification derivatives.

A new series of usnic acid (UA) monoesterified derivatives 2-15 were designed and synthesised using UA (1) as starting material. The structural characterisation of all compounds was elucidated using 1H-NMR and 13C-NMR spectral data. In vitro studies demonstrated thatmost UA derivatives exhibited higher inhibitory activity against Candida albicans and Staphylococcus aureus. Among them, compound 7 displayed the highest inhibitory activity against C. albicans with a minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of 32 µg/mL. Compounds 5, 8, 9, 11and 13 demonstrated superior inhibition of S. aureus (MIC, 16 µg/mL) and biofilm formation in a concentration-dependent manner. With the exception of 11, compounds 5, 8, 9 and 13 were all more effective than UA in inhibiting S. aureus biofilms. This research highlights the potential of UA monoesterified derivatives for the development of dual antimicrobial and antibiofilm agents.

A Recess Is Observed Between the Posterior Knee Capsule and the Meniscotibial Ligament Complex in Pediatric Specimens.

Purpose: To define the surgical anatomy of the meniscotibial ligament complex of the pediatric medial and lateral menisci and their relation to the proximal tibial physis and posterior joint capsule. Methods: Fourteen pediatric cadaveric knee specimens (aged 3 months to 11 years) were dissected to clarify the relation of the posterior knee capsule, the meniscus, and the meniscotibial ligament complex. Metallic markers were placed marking the meniscotibial ligament capsular attachment on the proximal tibia. Specimens underwent computed tomography scanning to evaluate pin placement and relation to the physis. A digital measurement tool was used to measure the distances between the proximal tibial physis and the pins (placed at 5 points on both the lateral and medial menisci). Results: In each specimen, clear separation was noted between the posterior joint capsule from the meniscus and meniscotibial ligament complex in the medial and lateral compartments. There was an increase in the distance between the proximal tibial physis and the insertion points of the meniscotibial ligament complex with increasing specimen age. For both the medical and lateral menisci in group 1, the median meniscotibial ligament insertion points were often less than 7 mm (interquartile range, 0.00-7.8 mm) away from the physis. The median meniscotibial ligament insertion points in group 2 tended to be farther from the physis but always less than 20 mm (interquartile range, 2.5-17.5 mm)-and as close as less than 5 mm (lateral posterior root). Conclusions: In this anatomic study of pediatric knees, we observed a distinct recess/cul-de-sac space between the posterior knee capsule and meniscal attachments in all specimens. This defines a distinct plane between the posterior knee capsule and the meniscotibial ligament complex, with a distance between the physis and meniscotibial ligament capsular attachments that increases with age. Clinical Relevance: The anatomic parameters evaluated in our study should be considered as future meniscal repair and transplantation techniques aim to restore the meniscal anatomy, stability, and mobility provided by the meniscotibial ligament complex and capsule structures.

Effect of Age and Sex on Anterior Cruciate Ligament Functional Tests Approximately 6 Months After Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction.

Purpose: To examine age- and sex-related differences in postoperative functional outcomes at approximately 6 months after anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction (ACLR). Methods: In this study, patients who underwent primary ACLR performed a series of return-to-sport functional tests at 5 to 8 months after surgery. Functional tests included strength tests (knee extensors, knee flexors, hip abductors, and hip extensors), a balance test (Y-balance composite score), and hop tests (single, triple, crossover, and 6-m timed hop tests). Limb symmetry was calculated to compare the reconstructed limb with the uninvolved limb. A 2-way multivariate analysis of covariance was used, and effect size was calculated for data analysis. Results: A total of 176 subjects were included in this study. There were no significant interaction between age and sex on return-to-sport functional tests after ACLR. Also, no main effects of age and sex on return-to-sport functional tests were found in our data. Conclusions: Age and sex do not significantly affect functional test performance after ACLR 6 months postoperatively. Level of Evidence: Level III, retrospective review of prospective cohort study.

A polysaccharide PRCP from Rosa cymosa Tratt fruit: Structural characteristics and immunomodulatory effects via MAPK pathway modulation in vitro.

The Rosa cymosa Tratt, an herbal plant from the Rosaceae family, has historically been valued in China for its medicinal and edible properties. In this study, a novel polysaccharide from R. cymosa fruit, termed PRCP (purified R. cymosa polysaccharide), was isolated using water extraction, decolorization, deproteinization, and ion-exchange chromatography. The structural characteristics of PRCP were investigated using monosaccharide composition analysis, methylation, GPC, FTIR, CD, and NMR spectroscopy. The immunomodulatory effect and potential mechanism of PRCP were evaluated in vitro using a macrophage cell model. Results indicated that PRCP (37.28 kDa) is a highly branched polysaccharide (72.61 %) primarily composed of arabinogalactan, rhamnogalacturonan, and galactoglucan domains with 13 types of glycosidic linkage fragments. Furthermore, PRCP appears to modulate immunomodulatory effects by influencing the phosphorylation of P38 and JNK proteins in the MAPK pathway. Collectively, these findings highlight the potential of PRCP as a promising natural functional food ingredient for immunostimulation.

Network Pharmacology and Bioinformatics Analysis to Identify the Molecular Targets and its Biological Mechanisms of Sciadopitysin against Glioblastoma.

Glioblastoma multiform (GBM) is categorized as the most malignant subtype of gliomas, which comprise nearly 75% of malignant brain tumors in adults. Increasing evidence suggests that network pharmacology will be a novel method for identifying the systemic mechanism of therapeutic compounds in diseases like cancer. The present study aimed to use a network pharmacology approach to establish the predictive targets of sciadopitysin against GBM and elucidate its biological mechanisms. Firstly, targets of sciadopitysin were obtained from the SwissTargetPrediction database, and genes associated with the pathogenesis of GBM were identified from the DiGeNET database. Sixty-four correlative hits were identified as anti-glioblastoma targets of sciadopitysin. Functional enrichment and pathway analysis revealed significant biological mechanisms of the targets. Interaction of protein network and cluster analysis using STRING resulted in two crucial interacting hub genes, namely, HSP90 and AKT1. Additionally, the in vitro cytotoxic potential of sciadopitysin was assessed on GBM U87 cells. The findings indicate that the pharmacological action of sciadopitysin against GBM might be associated with the regulation of two core targets: HSP90 and AKT1. Thus, the network pharmacology undertaken in the current study established the core active targets of sciadopitysin, which may be extensively applied with further validations for treatment in GBM.

Clinicopathological Features and Long-Term Prognostic Role of Human Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor-2 Low Expression in Chinese Patients with Early Breast Cancer: A Single-Institution Study.

Objective: This study aimed to comprehensively analyze and compare the clinicopathological features and prognosis of Chinese patients with human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2)-low early breast cancer (BC) and HER2-IHC0 BC. Methods: Patients diagnosed with HER2-negative BC ( N = 999) at our institution between January 2011 and December 2015 formed our study population. Clinicopathological characteristics, association between estrogen receptor (ER) expression and HER2-low, and evolution of HER2 immunohistochemical (IHC) score were assessed. Kaplan-Meier method and log-rank test were used to compare the long-term survival outcomes (5-year follow-up) between the HER2-IHC0 and HER2-low groups. Results: HER2-low BC group tended to demonstrate high expression of ER and more progesterone receptor (PgR) positivity than HER2-IHC0 BC group ( P < 0.001). The rate of HER2-low status increased with increasing ER expression levels (Mantel-Haenszel χ 2 test, P < 0.001, Pearson's R = 0.159, P < 0.001). Survival analysis revealed a significantly longer overall survival (OS) in HER2-low BC group than in HER2-IHC0 group ( P = 0.007) in the whole cohort and the hormone receptor (HR)-negative group. There were no significant differences between the two groups in terms of disease-free survival (DFS). The discordance rate of HER2 IHC scores between primary and metastatic sites was 36.84%. Conclusion: HER2-low BC may not be regarded as a unique BC group in this population-based study due to similar clinicopathological features and prognostic roles.

A Review on the Phytochemistry and Pharmacology of the Genus Sterculia.

The Sterculia genus is comprised of approximately 300 species, which have been widely used as traditional medicines to treat inflammation, snake bites, gastrointestinal diseases, skin diseases, microbial infections and many other diseases. To gain a comprehensive understanding of the therapeutic potential of Sterculia plants, an extensive literature search was conducted in CNKI, Bing, Wanfang Database, Springer Database, Elsevier Database, Google Scholar, Baidu Scholar, PubMed, and other similar websites from January 1971 to March 2024. The research indicated that Sterculia species predominantly contain flavonoids, terpenoids, phenylpropanoids, fatty acids, alkaloids and other chemical components. A wide range of pharmacologic activities such as anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, antibacterial and other biological activities have been reported. Nevertheless, there isn't much scholarly research on the therapeutic material basis of the genus Sterculia. This review reports the ethnobotany, phytochemicals, and biological activities of the plants in the Sterculia genus as herbal remedies.

[Research progress of traditional Chinese medicine intervention for ulcerative colitis based on Notch1 signaling pathway].

Ulcerative colitis(UC) is one of the common gastrointestinal diseases worldwide. In recent years, the incidence of UC has been continuously increasing, seriously threatening the health of people globally. It thus has become an urgent problem that needs to be addressed. There is research evidence that intestinal mucosal barrier dysfunction, including changes in intestinal stem cell secretion lineage, mucosal layer damage, disruption of cell junctions, overactive immune function, and imbalanced gut microbiota, is an important pathogenic factor and molecular basis of UC. The Notch signaling pathway is a highly conserved signaling pathway in eukaryotes during evolution, which transmits signals through cell connections between adjacent cells, affecting a series of processes such as cell proliferation, differentiation, development, migration, and apoptosis. Therefore, the Notch signaling pathway can regulate intestinal stem cells, CD4~+T cells, innate lymphoid cells(ILCs), macrophages(MØ), and intestinal microbiota and thus affect the chemical, physical, immune, and biological mucosal barriers of the intestinal mucosa. Its function is extensive and unique, different from those signaling pathways that mainly focus on anti-inflammatory and antioxidant stress. It can explain the therapeutic effects of traditional Chinese medicine from different perspectives. This article reviewed the role of the Notch1 signaling pathway in the pathogenesis of UC and the relevant literature on the targeted prevention and treatment of UC with traditional Chinese medicine, so as to provide new targets and theoretical support for further research on the effective prevention and treatment of UC.

Synergistic Effects of TiO2 and Carbon Black for Water Evaporation-Induced Electricity Generation.

Water evaporation-induced electricity generators (WEGs) have drawn widespread attention in the field of hydrovoltaic technology, which can convert atmospheric thermal energy into sustainable electric power. However, it is restricted in the wide application of WEGs due to the low power output, complex fabrication process, and high cost. Herein, we present a simple and effective approach to fabricate TiO2-carbon black film-based WEGs (TC-WEGs). A single TC-WEG device can sustainably output an open-circuit voltage of 1.9 V and a maximum power density of 40.9 µW/cm2. Moreover, it has been shown that TC-WEGs exhibit stable electrical energy output when operating in seawater, which can yield a short-circuit current of 1.2 µA. The superior electricity generation performance can be attributed to the intrinsic characteristics of the TC-WEGs, including hydrophilicity, porous structure, and electrical conductivity. This work provides an important reference for the constant harvesting of clean energy.