Application of New Polymer Soil Amendment in Ecological Restoration of High-Steep Rocky Slope in Seasonally Frozen Soil Areas.

In seasonally frozen soil areas, high-steep rocky slopes resulting from open-pit mining and slope cutting during road construction undergo slow natural restoration, making ecological restoration generally challenging. In order to improve the problems of external soil attachment and long-term vegetation growth in the ecological restoration of high-steep rocky slopes in seasonally frozen areas, this study conducted a series of experiments through the combined application of polyacrylamide (PAM) and carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC) to assess the effects of soil amendments on soil shear strength, water stability, freeze-thaw resistance, erosion resistance, and vegetation growth. This study showed that the addition of PAM-CMC significantly increased the shear resistance and cohesion of the soil, as well as improving the water stability, freeze-thaw resistance, and erosion resistance, but the internal friction angle of the soil was not significantly increased after reaching a certain content. Moderate amounts of PAM-CMC can extend the survival of vegetation, but overuse may cause soil hardening and inhibit vegetation growth by limiting air permeability. It was observed by a scanning electron microscope (SEM) that the gel membrane formed by PAM-CMC helped to "bridge" and bind the soil particles. After discussion and analysis, the optimum application rate of PAM-CMC was 3%, which not only improved the soil structure but also ensured the growth of vegetation in the later stage under the optimum application rate. Field application studies have shown that 3% PAM-CMC-amended soil stably attaches to high-steep rocky slopes, with stable vegetation growth, and continues to grow after five months of freeze-thaw action, with no need for manual maintenance after one year.

Evaluation of groundwater quality with multi-source pollution based on source identification and health risks.

Groundwater is a crucial water supply source in Chengdu City, western China, a region experiencing significant water scarcity. The sources of inorganic pollutants in groundwater and their potential health risks are of great concern. In this study, based on 156 groundwater samples collected in 2021 in the study area were analyzed for hydrochemical characterization and controlling factors. The Positive Matrix Factorization (PMF) model was used for contaminant source analysis, and Monte Carlo Simulation (MCS) combined with the Health Risk Evaluation Model (HREM) was used to quantify the health risks. The results indicate that the groundwater in the study area is predominantly of the Ca·Na-SO4·HCO3, Ca·Na-HCO3·SO4 and Ca-HCO3·SO4 types, mainly influenced by the combination of evaporation-concentration-crystallization and rock leaching-weathering. K+, Na+, and Cl- mainly originate from the weathering and dissolution of potassium feldspar and rock salt, while Ca2+, Mg2+, HCO3-, and SO42- primarily come from the weathering and dissolution of sulfate minerals. The main sources of groundwater pollution and their contributions are as follows: domestic pollution (25.6 %), dissolution-filtration-evaporation-concentration action (22.8 %), hydrogeochemical evolution (15.8 %), water-rock interactions (12.8 %), primary geologic context (12.1 %), and agricultural non-point source pollution (11.0 %). Cl- and As are the primary contributors to non-carcinogenic and carcinogenic risks, respectively. Non-carcinogenic risks are below USEPA standards, while the average carcinogenic risk for arsenic exceeded the maximum acceptable risk level thresholds by 23 and 109 times for adults and children, respectively. Non-carcinogenic and carcinogenic health risks were mainly influenced by pollutant concentrations. The primary geological background and domestic pollution contributed the most to the non-carcinogenic risk for adults (50.3 %) and children (77.1 %), and 38.2 % and 10.3 %, respectively. This study highlights the necessity of establishing a comprehensive groundwater pollution monitoring system, enhancing industrial waste management practices, and raising public awareness to mitigate contamination and ensure the sustainable use of groundwater resources in Chengdu City.

Quality evaluation and health risk assessment of karst groundwater in Southwest China.

Groundwater in karst regions is of immense value due to its vital support for regional ecosystems and residents' livelihoods. However, it is simultaneously threatened by multi-source pollution from agricultural non-point sources, industrial and domestic point sources, and mining activities. This study focuses on the Guangxi of China, which features typical karst topography, aiming to thoroughly assess the groundwater quality and related health risks in Guangxi, especially identifying the impacts of various key pollution sources on the groundwater environment. A total of 1912 groundwater samples were collected, covering an area of approximately 237,600 km2. The spatial distribution of pollutants was analysed using the Nemeroww index method and Kriging interpolation, while multivariate statistical and cluster analysis methods were employed to identify the main types of pollution sources. Furthermore, based on the human health risk assessment model of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (US EPA), a risk assessment was conducted for key pollutants. The results revealed widespread heavy metal contamination in Guangxi's groundwater, particularly with concentrations of Mn, As, Al, Pb reaching up to 9.4 mg/L, 2.483 mg/L, 37.95 mg/L, 4.761 mg/L, respectively, significantly exceeding China's national Class III groundwater quality standards. Cluster analysis indicated that mining and industrial activities are the primary sources of pollution. The health risk assessment demonstrated that these activities pose a significant risk to public health. The aim of this study is to provide a scientific basis for the protection of the groundwater environment in Guangxi and other karst areas, the formulation of pollution prevention and control strategies, and the optimization of urban and industrial land use layouts. Future research should focus on advanced isotopic and molecular biological techniques to trace pollution sources more precisely and evaluate the effectiveness of pollution control measures.

Critical Role of Mineral Fe(IV) Formation in Low Hydroxyl Radical Yields during Fe(II)-Bearing Clay Mineral Oxygenation.

In subsurface environments, Fe(II)-bearing clay minerals can serve as crucial electron sources for O2 activation, leading to the sequential production of O2•-, H2O2, and •OH. However, the observed •OH yields are notably low, and the underlying mechanism remains unclear. In this study, we investigated the production of oxidants from oxygenation of reduced Fe-rich nontronite NAu-2 and Fe-poor montmorillonite SWy-3. Our results indicated that the •OH yields are dependent on mineral Fe(II) species, with edge-surface Fe(II) exhibiting significantly lower •OH yields compared to those of interior Fe(II). Evidence from in situ Raman and Mössbauer spectra and chemical probe experiments substantiated the formation of structural Fe(IV). Modeling results elucidate that the pathways of Fe(IV) and •OH formation respectively consume 85.9-97.0 and 14.1-3.0% of electrons for H2O2 decomposition during oxygenation, with the Fe(II)edge/Fe(II)total ratio varying from 10 to 90%. Consequently, these findings provide novel insights into the low •OH yields of different Fe(II)-bearing clay minerals. Since Fe(IV) can selectively degrade contaminants (e.g., phenol), the generation of mineral Fe(IV) and •OH should be taken into consideration carefully when assessing the natural attenuation of contaminants in redox-fluctuating environments.

The demethylase ALKBH5 mediates ZKSCAN3 expression through the m6A modification to activate VEGFA transcription and thus participates in MNNG-induced gastric cancer progression.

N-Nitroso compounds (NOCs) are recognized as important factors that promote gastric cancer development, but the specific effects and potential mechanisms by which NOC exposure promotes gastric cancer are still poorly understood. In this study, we explored the effects and potential molecular mechanisms of NOCs on the promotion of gastric cancer using methylnitronitrosoguanidine (MNNG), a classical direct carcinogen of NOC. The results of in vivo and in vitro experiments showed that chronic and low-concentration MNNG exposure significantly promoted the malignant progression of tumors, including cell migration, cell invasion, vasculogenic mimicry (VM) formation, cell spheroid formation, stem cell-like marker expression, and gastric cancer growth and metastasis. Mechanistically, we revealed that demethylase ALKBH5 regulated the level of the N6­methyladenosine (m6A) modification in the 3'UTR and CDS region of the ZKSCAN3 mRNA to promote ZKSCAN3 expression, mediated the binding of ZKSCAN3 to the VEGFA promoter region to regulate VEGFA transcription, and participated in MNNG-induced gastric cancer cell migration, invasion, VM formation, cell spheroid formation, stem cell-like marker expression and ultimately gastric cancer progression. In addition, our study revealed that ALKBH5-ZKSCAN3-VEGFA signaling was significantly activated during MNNG-induced gastric carcinogenesis, and further studies in gastric cancer patients showed that ALKBH5, ZKSCAN3, and VEGFA expression were upregulated in cancers compared with paired gastric mucosal tissues, that ALKBH5, ZKSCAN3, and VEGFA could serve as important biomarkers for determining patient prognosis, and that the molecular combination showed greater prognostic value. These findings provide a theoretical basis for developing gastric cancer interventions for NOCs and for determining gastric cancer progression.

Eugenol Possesses Colitis Protective Effects: Impacts on the TLR4/MyD88/NF-[Formula: see text]B Pathway, Intestinal Epithelial Barrier, and Macrophage Polarization.

Eugenol (EU) has been shown to ameliorate experimental colitis due to its anti-oxidant and anti-inflammatory bioactivities. In this study, DSS-induced acute colitis was established and applied to clarify the regulation efficacy of EU on intestinal barrier impairment and macrophage polarization imbalance along with the inflammatory response. Besides, the adjusting effect of EU on macrophages was further investigated in vitro. The results confirmed that EU intervention alleviated DSS-induced colitis through methods such as restraining weight loss and colonic shortening and decreasing DAI scores. Microscopic observation manifested that EU maintained the intestinal barrier integrity in line with the mucus barrier and tight junction protection. Furthermore, EU intervention significantly suppressed the activation of TLR4/MyD88/NF-[Formula: see text]B signaling pathways and pro-inflammatory cytokines gene expressions, while enhancing the expressions of anti-inflammatory cytokines. Simultaneously, WB and FCM analyses of the CD86 and CD206 showed that EU could regulate the DSS-induced macrophage polarization imbalance. Overall, our data further elucidated the mechanism of EU's defensive effect on experimental colitis, which is relevant to the protective efficacy of intestinal barriers, inhibition of oxidative stress and excessive inflammatory response, and reprogramming of macrophage polarization. Hence, this study may facilitate a better understanding of the protective action of the EU against UC.

Association of serum phosphate, calcium and alkaline phosphatase with risk of incident fractures in healthy older adults.

BACKGROUND: Aging increases fracture risk through bone loss and microarchitecture deterioration due to an age-related imbalance in bone resorption and formation during bone remodelling. We examined the associations between levels of phosphate, calcium, and alkaline phosphatase, and fracture risk in initially-healthy older individuals. METHODS: A post-hoc analysis of the Aspirin in Reducing Events in the Elderly (ASPREE) trial recruited 16,703 Australian participants aged ≥70 years and 2,411 US participants aged ≥65 years. Analyses were conducted on ASPREE-Fracture substudy participants from Australia with serum calcium, phosphate, and alkaline phosphatase measurement. Fracture data were collected post-randomization. Cox regression was used to calculate hazard ratios (HR) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs). Phosphate, calcium, and alkaline phosphatase were analysed in deciles (D1-D10), with deciles 4-7 (31-70%) as the reference category. Restricted cubic spline curves were used to identify nonlinear associations. RESULTS: Of the 9915 participants, 907 (9·2%) persons had incident fractures recorded over 3·9 (SD 1·4) years. In the fully adjusted model, males in the top decile (D10) of phosphate had 78% higher risk of incident fracture (HR 1·78, 95% CI 1·25-2·54). No such association was observed for females (HR 1·09, 95% CI 0·83-1·44). The population attributable fraction in men within the D10 phosphate category is 6·9%. CONCLUSION: This result confirms that, high-normal serum phosphate levels are associated with increased fracture risk in older men.

Association of plasma high-density lipoprotein cholesterol level with risk of incident dementia: a cohort study of healthy older adults.

Background: Recent studies have reported associations between high plasma high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) levels and risk of all-cause mortality, age-related macular degeneration, sepsis and fractures, but associations with dementia risk remain unclear. To determine whether high plasma HDL-C levels are associated with increased incident dementia risk in initially-healthy older people. Methods: We conducted a post-hoc analysis of the Aspirin in Reducing Events in the Elderly (ASPREE) trial; a double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled trial of daily low-dose aspirin in healthy older people. ASPREE recruited 16,703 participants aged ≥70 years (from Australia) and 2411 participants aged ≥65 years (from the US) between 2010 and 2014. Participants had no diagnosed cardiovascular disease, dementia, physical disability, or life-threatening illness at enrolment and were cognitively healthy (3MS score ≥78). All-cause dementia was a primary trial endpoint, and determined by DSM-IV criteria. Cox regression was used to examine hazard ratios between HDL-C categories <40 mg/dL, 40-60 mg/dL (reference category), 60-80 mg/dL, and >80 mg/dL and dementia. Restricted cubic spline curves were used to determine nonlinear associations. Data analysis was performed from October 2022 to January 2023. Findings: Of the 18,668 participants, 850 (4.6%) cases of incident dementia were recorded over 6.3 (SD 1.8) years. Participants with high HDL-C (>80 mg/dL) had a 27% higher risk of dementia (HR 1.27, 95% CI 1.03, 1.58). Age stratified analyses demonstrated that the risk of incident dementia was higher in participants ≥75 years compared to participants <75 years (HR 1.42, 95% CI 1.10, 1.83 vs HR 1.02, 95% CI 0.68, 1.51). Associations remained significant after adjusting for covariates including age, sex, country of enrolment, daily exercise, education, alcohol consumption, weight change over time, non-HDL-C, HDL-C-PRS, and APOE genotype. Interpretation: In a population of initially-healthy older adults aged ≥75 years, high HDL-C levels were associated with increased risk of all-cause dementia. Funding: National Institutes of Health, USA; National Health and Medical Research Council Australia; Monash University (Melbourne, VIC, Australia); and the Victorian Cancer Agency (Australia).

D-beta-hydroxybutyrate up-regulates Claudin-1 and alleviates the intestinal hyperpermeability in lipopolysaccharide-treated mice.

The hyperpermeability of intestinal epithelium is a key contributor to the occurrence and development of systemic inflammation. Although D-beta-hydroxybutyrate (BHB) exhibits various protective effects, whether it affects the permeability of intestinal epithelium in systemic inflammation has not been clarified. In this study, we investigated the effects of BHB on the intestinal epithelial permeability, the epithelial marker E-cadherin and the tight junction protein Claudin-1 in colon in the lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced systemic inflammation mouse model. Intraperitoneal injection of LPS was used to induce systemic inflammation and BHB was given by oral administration. The permeability of intestinal epithelium, the morphological changes of colonic epithelium, the distribution and generation of colon E-cadherin, and the Claudin-1 generation and its epithelial distribution in colon were detected. The results confirmed the intestinal epithelial hyperpermeability and inflammatory changes in colonic epithelium, with disturbed E-cadherin distribution in LPS-treated mice. Besides, colon Claudin-1 generation was decreased and its epithelial distribution in colon was weakened in LPS-treated mice. However, BHB treatments alleviated the LPS-induced hyperpermeability of intestinal epithelium, attenuated the colonic epithelial morphological changes and promoted orderly distribution of E-cadherin in colon. Furthermore, BHB up-regulated colon Claudin-1 generation and promoted its colonic epithelial distribution and content in LPS-treated mice. In conclusion, BHB may alleviate the hyperpermeability of intestinal epithelium via up-regulation of Claudin-1 in colon in LPS-treated mice.

Relative quantitation of chiral thiol compounds labeled based on isotope novel mass spectrometry probes: Monitoring of the dynamic changes of chiral thiol compounds in human urine during normal, exercise, and rest recovery states.

Monitoring changes in the content of chiral thiol compounds in the human body is crucial for the early diagnosis of oxidative stress-related diseases and the exploration of their pathogenesis. To address this, we synthesized a novel isotope mass spectrometry (MS) probe, denoted as (R)-(5-(3-isothiocyanato (13C) pyrrolidin-1-yl)-5-oxopentyl) triphenylphosphonium (N13CS-OTPP), with triphenylphosphine as its parent structure. In this study, we established a new ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography high-resolution mass spectrometry (UHPLCHRMS) relative quantitative method to monitor chiral thiol compounds in human urine under varying oxidative stress conditions. This method relies on the ratio of 12C/13C isotope-labeled peak areas. To assess the chiral separation efficiency of N13CS-OTPP, we employed three types of thiol compounds (D/L-GSH, D/L-Cys, and D/L-Hcy) and observed separation degrees (Rs) ranging from 1.82 to 1.89. We further validated the accuracy and feasibility of our relative quantitative methods using D/L-Cys-as a model compound. N12C/13CS-OTPP-Cys-exhibited excellent linearity (R2 = 0.9993-0.9994) across different molar ratios (D/L-Cys = 10:1, 4:1, 2:1, 1:1, 1:2, 1:4, 1:10) and achieved a low limit of detection (LOD) of 2.5 fmol. Additionally, we monitored the dynamic changes in urine D/L-Cys-and D/L-Hcy ratios in 12 healthy volunteers (six males and six females) under various oxidative stress states. We generated fitting curves and investigated the trends in chiral thiol compounds in vivo. This study introduces a novel method for the relative quantitative monitoring of chiral thiol compounds in different oxidative stress states within the human body. It also presents a new strategy for understanding the pathogenesis of related diseases resulting from the abnormal metabolism of thiol compounds.

Genome-wide association study identifies genetic regulation of oestrone concentrations and association with endometrial cancer risk in postmenopausal women.

BACKGROUND: Oestrone, predominantly made in fat, is the main circulating oestrogen and important for target tissue oestradiol production in women after menopause. The present study was undertaken to determine the genetic regulation of blood oestrone, measured with precision, in postmenopausal women and to explore associations between the identified genetic loci and endometrial cancer in a large, independent cohort. METHODS: A genome-wide association study (GWAS) was undertaken in women aged at least 70 years to identify genetic associations with blood oestrone concentrations measured by liquid chromatography and tandem mass spectrometry. The GWAS included participants from the Sex Hormones in Older Women (SHOW) study, a sub-study of the longitudinal ASPREE (ASPirin in Reducing Events in the Elderly) randomised trial. Of the 6358 women providing a biobank sample at enrolment, 4951 unrelated women of European ancestry, not taking sex hormones, anti-oestrogens, anti-androgens or systemic glucocorticoids were included in the GWAS. Single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) from loci identified below the genome-wide significance threshold were then tested in an independent cohort (the UK Biobank) for association with endometrial cancer risk, using logistic regression and adjusting for age, body mass index (BMI) and the top 10 genetic principal components. FINDINGS: The median age of the 4951 women included in the GWAS was 75.9 years (range 70-94.8 years). The GWAS identified four independent SNPs associated with oestrone concentrations (p < 5 × 10-8). Among them, the effect (minor) alleles rs34670419-T, rs2846729-T and rs2414098-T were associated with lower oestrone concentrations. Carrying these effect alleles was associated with lower oestrone concentrations in a dose-dependent manner. The effect allele rs56400819-A was associated with higher oestrone concentrations. When applied to UK Biobank, carrier status for rs2414098-T associated with the CYP19A1 gene which encodes the aromatase enzyme required for oestrogen synthesis was significantly associated with lower endometrial cancer risk (adjusted odd ratio [aOR] 0.87 [95% CI 0.82-0.93]; p = 6.69 × 10-5 for women across all ages and aOR 0.89 [95% CI 0.83-0.96]; p = 0.003 for postmenopausal women). None of the models that included age, body mass index (BMI), the top 10 genetic principal components, parity and diabetes mellitus explained more than 7.6% of the variation in risk. INTERPRETATION: We have shown genetic regulation of oestrone concentrations in postmenopausal women, and that SNPs associated with oestrone were also associated with endometrial cancer risk, independent of BMI, parity and diabetes mellitus. Although the apparent contribution was modest, the biological influence of oestrone concentrations may be greater through conversion to oestradiol in endometrial tissue. FUNDING: The ASPREE trial was supported by the National Institute on Aging and the National Cancer Institute at the National Institutes of Health (Grant U01AG029824); the National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) of Australia (Grant 34047, 1127060); Monash University (Australia); and the Victorian Cancer Agency (Australia). The ASPREE Healthy Ageing Biobank was funded by the CSIRO (Flagship Grant), the National Cancer Institute (Grant U01 AG029824) and Monash University. This analysis of sex hormones was funded by an NHMRC of Australia Project Grant (No. 1105305). SRD holds an NHMRC Investigator Grant (2016627). PL is supported by a National Heart Foundation Future Leader Fellowship (102604).

Predictive Performance of an Updated Polygenic Risk Score for Age-Related Macular Degeneration.

PURPOSE: A recent genome-wide association study of age-related macular degeneration (AMD) identified new AMD-associated risk variants. These variants now can be incorporated into an updated polygenic risk score (PRS). This study aimed to assess the performance of an updated PRS, PRS2023, in an independent cohort of older individuals with retinal imaging data and to compare performance with an older PRS, PRS2016. DESIGN: Cross-sectional study. PARTICIPANTS: A total of 4175 participants of European ancestry, 70 years of age or older, with genotype and retinal imaging data. METHODS: We used logistic regression models and area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC) to assess the performance of PRS2023 compared with PRS2016. AMD status and severity were graded using color fundus photography. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Association of PRS2023 and PRS2016 with AMD risk at baseline. RESULTS: At enrollment among 4175 participants, 2605 participants (62.4%) had no AMD and 853 participants (20.4%), 671 participants (16.1%), and 46 participants (1.1%) had early, intermediate, and late-stage AMD, respectively. More than 27% of the participants with a high PRS2023 (top quartile) had intermediate or late-stage AMD, compared with < 15% for those in the middle 2 quartiles and less than 13% for those in the lowest quartile. Both PRS2023 and PRS2016 were associated significantly with AMD after adjustment for age, sex, smoking status, and lipid levels, with increasing odds ratios (ORs) for worsening AMD grades. PRS2023 outperformed PRS2016 (P = 0.03 for all AMD and P = 0.03 for late AMD, DeLong test comparing AUC). PRS2023 was associated with late-stage AMD with an adjusted OR of 5.05 (95% confidence interval [CI], 3.41-7.47) per standard deviation. The AUC of a model containing conventional or nongenetic risk factors and PRS2023 was 91% (95% CI, 87%-95%) for predicting late-stage AMD, which improved 12% over the model without the PRS (AUC, 79%; P < 0.001 for difference). CONCLUSIONS: A new PRS, PRS2023, for AMD outperforms a previous PRS and predicts increasing risk for late-stage AMD (with stronger association for more severe imaging-confirmed AMD grades). Our findings have clinical implications for the improved prediction and risk stratification of AMD. FINANCIAL DISCLOSURE(S): Proprietary or commercial disclosure may be found in the Footnotes and Disclosures at the end of this article.

Sex-dependent associations of plasma high-density lipoprotein cholesterol and mortality risk in healthy older men and women: two prospective cohort studies.

The relationship between high plasma high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) and cause and mortality are not well established in healthy older people. This study examined the associations between HDL-C levels and mortality in initially healthy older men and women. This analysis included participants from the Aspirin in Reducing Events in the Elderly (ASPREE; n=18,668) trial and a matched cohort from the UK Biobank (UKB; n=62,849 ≥65 years). Cox regression was used to examine hazard ratios between HDL-C categories <1.03 mmol/L, 1.03-1.55 mmol/L (referent category), 1.55-2.07 mmol/L, and >2.07 mmol/L and all-cause, cancer, cardiovascular disease (CVD), and "non-cancer non-CVD" mortality. Genetic contributions were assessed using a polygenic score for HDL-C. Among ASPREE participants (aged 75±5 years), 1836 deaths occurred over a mean follow-up of 6.3±1.8 years. In men, the highest category of HDL-C levels was associated with increased risk of all-cause (HR 1.60, 95% CI 1.26-2.03), cancer (HR 1.37, 95% CI 0.96-2.00), and "non-cancer non-CVD" mortality (HR 2.35, 95% CI 1.41-3.42) but not CVD mortality (HR 1.08, 95% CI 0.60-1.94). The associations were replicated among UKB participants (aged 66.9±1.5 years), including 8739 deaths over a mean follow-up of 12.7±0.8 years. There was a non-linear association between HDL-C levels and all-cause and cause-specific mortality. The association between HDL-C levels and mortality was unrelated to variations in the HDL-C polygenic score. No significant association was found between HDL-C levels and mortality in women. Higher HDL-C levels are associated with increased risk from cancer and "non-cancer non-CVD" mortality in healthy older men but no such relationship was observed in women.

The inhibition effect of caffeic acid on NOX/ROS-dependent macrophages M1-like polarization contributes to relieve the LPS-induced mice mastitis.

The mammary gland is an adipose tissue containing not only adipocytes but also epithelial, endothelial, and immune cells. Epithelial cells and macrophages, as the integral components of the immune system, are on the front line of defense against infection. Our preliminary work proved that caffeic acid (CA) can effectively inhibit the inflammatory cascade of bovine mammary epithelial cells (BMEC) induced by lipopolysaccharide (LPS) and maintain cellular integrity and viability. Here, we investigated the therapeutic effect of CA on LPS-induced mice mastitis and explored its regulatory mechanism on macrophage inflammatory response induced by LPS in vitro. Firstly, the mice mastitis model was established by intramammary injection with 10 µg LPS, after which different CA doses (5, 10, 15 mg/kg) were administered. Then, the pathological section, myeloperoxidase (MPO) activity, proinflammatory factors and chemokines releasement, and redox state of mammary tissues were assessed, confirming CA's effectiveness on mice mastitis. In vitro, we validated the therapeutic relevance of CA in relieving LPS-induced RAW264.7 inflammatory and oxidative stress responses. Moreover, we further provided evidence that CA significantly reduced LPS-induced reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation via NADPH oxidase (NOX), which improved the imbalance relationship between nuclear factor kappa-B (NF-κB) and NF-E2 p45-related factor 2 (Nrf2) and led to a marked weakening of M1 polarization. The NOX-ROS signal inhibited by CA weakened the oxidative burst and neutrophil chemotaxis of macrophages, thus alleviating the immune cascade in mammary gland tissue and reducing the LPS-induced inflammatory damage. Collectively, CA would be a potential candidate or antibacterial synergist for curbing mastitis.

Reduced Ejection Fraction in Elite Endurance Athletes: Clinical and Genetic Overlap With Dilated Cardiomyopathy.

BACKGROUND: Exercise-induced cardiac remodeling can be profound, resulting in clinical overlap with dilated cardiomyopathy, yet the significance of reduced ejection fraction (EF) in athletes is unclear. The aim is to assess the prevalence, clinical consequences, and genetic predisposition of reduced EF in athletes. METHODS: Young endurance athletes were recruited from elite training programs and underwent comprehensive cardiac phenotyping and genetic testing. Those with reduced EF using cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (defined as left ventricular EF <50%, or right ventricular EF <45%, or both) were compared with athletes with normal EF. A validated polygenic risk score for indexed left ventricular end-systolic volume (LVESVi-PRS), previously associated with dilated cardiomyopathy, was assessed. Clinical events were recorded over a mean of 4.4 years. RESULTS: Of the 281 elite endurance athletes (22±8 years, 79.7% male) undergoing comprehensive assessment, 44 of 281 (15.7%) had reduced left ventricular EF (N=12; 4.3%), right ventricular EF (N=14; 5.0%), or both (N=18; 6.4%). Reduced EF was associated with a higher burden of ventricular premature beats (13.6% versus 3.8% with >100 ventricular premature beats/24 h; P=0.008) and lower left ventricular global longitudinal strain (-17%±2% versus -19%±2%; P<0.001). Athletes with reduced EF had a higher mean LVESVi-PRS (0.57±0.13 versus 0.51±0.14; P=0.009) with athletes in the top decile of LVESVi-PRS having an 11-fold increase in the likelihood of reduced EF compared with those in the bottom decile (P=0.034). Male sex and higher LVESVi-PRS were the only significant predictors of reduced EF in a multivariate analysis that included age and fitness. During follow-up, no athletes developed symptomatic heart failure or arrhythmias. Two athletes died, 1 from trauma and 1 from sudden cardiac death, the latter having a reduced right ventricular EF and a LVESVi-PRS >95%. CONCLUSIONS: Reduced EF occurs in approximately 1 in 6 elite endurance athletes and is related to genetic predisposition in addition to exercise training. Genetic and imaging markers may help identify endurance athletes in whom scrutiny about long-term clinical outcomes may be appropriate. REGISTRATION: URL: https://www.anzctr.org.au/Trial/Registration/TrialReview.aspx?id=374976&isReview=true; Unique identifier: ACTRN12618000716268.

Genome-Wide Association Study of Cardiovascular Resilience Identifies Protective Variation in the CETP Gene.

Background The risk of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD) increases sharply with age. Some older individuals, however, remain unaffected despite high predicted risk. These individuals may carry cardioprotective genetic variants that contribute to resilience. Our aim was to assess whether asymptomatic older individuals without prevalent ASCVD carry cardioprotective genetic variants that contribute to ASCVD resilience. Methods and Results We performed a genome-wide association study using a 10-year predicted ASCVD risk score as a quantitative trait, calculated only in asymptomatic older individuals aged ≥70 years without prevalent ASCVD. Our discovery genome-wide association study of N=12 031 ASCVD event-free individuals from the ASPREE (Aspirin in Reducing Events in the Elderly) trial identified 2 independent variants, rs9939224 (P<5×10-8) and rs56156922 (P<10-6), in the CETP (cholesteryl ester transfer protein) gene. The CETP gene is a regulator of plasma high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, and lipoprotein(a) levels, and it is a therapeutic drug target. The associations were replicated in the UK Biobank (subpopulation of N=13 888 individuals aged ≥69 years without prevalent ASCVD). Carriers of the identified CETP variants (versus noncarriers) had higher plasma high-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels, lower plasma low-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels, and reduced risk of incident ASCVD events during follow-up. Expression quantitative trait loci analysis predicted the identified CETP variants reduce CETP gene expression across various tissues. Previously reported associations between genetic CETP inhibition and increased risk of age-related macular degeneration were not observed among the 3917 ASPREE trial participants with retinal imaging and genetic data available. Conclusions Common genetic variants in the CETP gene region are associated with cardiovascular resilience during aging. Registration URL: https://www.clinicaltrials.gov; Unique identifier: NCT01038583.

Therapeutic effect of a self-made herbal formula on a multi-drug resistant Eimeria tenella isolate infection in broiler chickens.

In-feed prophylactic chemotherapy is widely considered the mainstay of avian coccidiosis control, while serious drug resistance strictly restricts its application. Confronted with the urgent need for an alternative strategy, a traditional Chinese medicine formula (TCMF) was developed. Meanwhile, its potential to iron out complicated clinical coccidiosis was scrutinized in vivo with a field-isolated multi-drug resistant Eimeria tenella (E. tenella) isolate. Birds were inoculated with 5 × 104 sporulated oocysts and administrated with TCMF supplementation in water from 72 h post-infection to the end of the experiment, diclazuril (DIC) was set as a positive control. As a result, TCMF intervention reduced oocyst shedding, cecal lesion and mortality, and enhanced body weight gain. According to the above, anticoccidial index (ACI) was calculated and TCMF exerted a moderate anticoccidial activity. Besides, macroscopic, histopathological, and ultrastructural observations revealed the safeguarding effects of TCMF on E. tenella-induced cecal injury. Following, TCMF treatment presented an obvious inhibition effect on E. tenella caused oxidative stress and inflammatory response. Moreover, TCMF supplementation restored the cecal flora abundance and diversity, reduced the colonization of harmful bacteria, and increased the probiotics abundance. In conclusion, TCMF exhibited a moderate anticoccidial effect along with alleviating E. tenella-induced cecal injury, redox imbalance, and inflammatory response which may be associated with the microflora modulatory effect.

Heterogeneous effects on type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular outcomes of genetic variants and traits associated with fasting insulin.

Hyperinsulinemia is a complex and heterogeneous phenotype that characterizes molecular alterations that precede the development of type 2 diabetes (T2D). It results from a complex combination of molecular processes, including insulin secretion and insulin sensitivity, that differ between individuals. To better understand the physiology of hyperinsulinemia and ultimately T2D, we implemented a genetic approach grouping fasting insulin (FI)-associated genetic variants based on their molecular and phenotypic similarities. We identified seven distinctive genetic clusters representing different physiologic mechanisms leading to rising FI levels, ranging from clusters of variants with effects on increased FI, but without increased risk of T2D (non-diabetogenic hyperinsulinemia), to clusters of variants that increase FI and T2D risk with demonstrated strong effects on body fat distribution, liver, lipid, and inflammatory processes (diabetogenic hyperinsulinemia). We generated cluster-specific polygenic scores in 1,104,258 individuals from five multi-ancestry cohorts to show that the clusters differed in associations with cardiometabolic traits. Among clusters characterized by non-diabetogenic hyperinsulinemia, there was both increased and decreased risk of coronary artery disease despite the non-increased risk of T2D. Similarly, the clusters characterized by diabetogenic hyperinsulinemia were associated with an increased risk of T2D, yet had differing risks of cardiovascular conditions, including coronary artery disease, myocardial infarction, and stroke. The strongest cluster-T2D associations were observed with the same direction of effect in non-Hispanic Black, Hispanic, non-Hispanic White, and non-Hispanic East Asian populations. These genetic clusters provide important insights into granular metabolic processes underlying the physiology of hyperinsulinemia, notably highlighting specific processes that decouple increasing FI levels from T2D and cardiovascular risk. Our findings suggest that increasing FI levels are not invariably associated with adverse cardiometabolic outcomes.

Association Between Triglycerides and Risk of Dementia in Community-Dwelling Older Adults: A Prospective Cohort Study.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: It has been suggested that higher triglyceride levels were associated with a lower risk of Alzheimer disease. This study aimed to examine the association of triglycerides with dementia and cognition change in community-dwelling older adults. METHODS: This prospective longitudinal study used data from the Aspirin in Reducing Events in the Elderly (ASPREE) randomized trial of adults aged 65 years or older without dementia or previous cardiovascular events at enrollment. The main outcome was incident dementia. Other outcomes included changes in composite cognition and domain-specific cognition (global cognition, memory, language and executive function, and psychomotor speed). The association between baseline triglycerides and dementia risk was estimated using Cox proportional hazard models adjusting for relevant risk factors. Linear mixed models were used to investigate cognitive change. The analysis was repeated in a subcohort of participants with available APOE-ε4 genetic data with additional adjustment for APOE-ε4 carrier status and an external cohort (UK Biobank) with similar selection criteria applied. RESULTS: This study included 18,294 ASPREE participants and 68,200 UK Biobank participants (mean age: 75.1 and 66.9 years; female: 56.3% and 52.7%; median [interquartile range] triglyceride: 106 [80-142] mg/dL and 139 [101-193] mg/dL), with dementia recorded in 823 and 2,778 individuals over a median follow-up of 6.4 and 12.5 years, respectively. Higher triglyceride levels were associated with lower dementia risk in the entire ASPREE cohort (hazard ratio [HR] with doubling of triglyceride: 0.82, 95% CI 0.72-0.94). Findings were similar in the subcohort of participants with APOE-ε4 genetic data (n = 13,976) and in the UK Biobank cohort (HR was 0.82 and 0.83, respectively, all p ≤ 0.01). Higher triglycerides were also associated with slower decline in composite cognition and memory over time (p ≤ 0.05). DISCUSSION: Older adults with higher triglyceride levels within the normal to high-normal range had a lower dementia risk and slower cognitive decline over time compared with individuals with lower triglyceride levels. Higher triglyceride levels may be reflective of better overall health and/or lifestyle behaviors that would protect against dementia development. Future studies are warranted to investigate whether specific components within the total circulating pool of plasma triglycerides may promote better cognitive function, with the hope of informing the development of new preventive strategies.