miR-486-5p diagnosed atrial fibrillation, predicted the risk of left atrial fibrosis, and regulated angiotensin II-induced cardiac fibrosis via modulating PI3K/Akt signaling through targeting FOXO1.

This study focused on miR-486-5p in atrial fibrillation (AF) evaluating its clinical significance and revealing its regulatory mechanism in cardiac fibroblasts, aiming to explore a novel biomarker for AF. The study enrolled 131 AF patients and 77 non-AF individuals. With the help of polymerase chain reaction (PCR), the expression of miR-486-5p was evaluated. The significance of miR-486-5p in the diagnosis of AF and the occurrence of left atrial fibrosis (LAF) was assessed by receiver operating curve (ROC) and logistic analyses. The regulatory effect and mechanism of miR-486-5p on cardiac fibrosis were investigated in human cardiac fibroblasts treated with angiotensin II. miR-486-5p was significantly upregulated in AF patients and discriminated AF patients from non-AF individuals. Increasing miR-486-5p showed a significant association with decreasing left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF), increasing left atrial diameter (LAD) and left ventricular end-diastolic diameter (LVEDd), and the high incidence of LAF in AF patients. Moreover, miR-486-5p was identified as a risk factor for LAF and could distinguish AF patients with LAF and without LAF. In cardiac fibroblasts, angiotensin II induced the upregulation of miR-486-5p and promoted cell proliferation, migration, and collagen synthesis. miR-486-5p negatively regulated forkhead box O1 (FOXO1) and its knockdown could reverse the promoted effect of angiotensin II. FOXO1 alleviated the effect of miR-486-5p, and the miR-486-5p/FOXO1 could activate PI3K/Akt signaling. The activation of PI3K/Akt signaling alleviated the enhanced proliferation, migration, and collagen synthesis of cardiac fibroblasts induced by angiotensin II, and its inhibition showed opposite effects. Increased miR-486-5p served as a biomarker for the diagnosis and development prediction of AF. miR-486-5p regulated cardiac fibroblast viability and collagen synthesis via modulating the PI3K/Akt signaling through targeting FOXO1.

[Correlation between chemical composition,ecological factors and soil factors of Chinese herbal medicine Daphnes Cortex].

In this paper, the correlation between the chemical constituents of Chinese herbal medicines Daphnes Cortex and the ecological factors and soil factors was studied, which provided a reference for the selection of suitable areas for artificial cultivation of Daphne giraldii and wild tending. The geographic information system(GIS) was applied to obtain the ecological factor information of 23 collection sites of Daphnes Cortex, and the soil factor information was determined by the standard procedure in the soil test standard manual. Combining the information of 93 chemical constituents of Daphnes Cortex in 23 collection sites the correlation between components and ecological factors and soil factors was analyzed by statistical methods. The correlation analysis showed that the longitude, annual average rainfall, annual sunshine intensity, annual average temperature in the ecological factors, soil type, effective copper and pH value were the dominant factors affecting the chemical composition of Daphnes Cortex.

[Resource situation investigation and analysis about endangered Chinese herbal medicine Daphnes Cortex].

In order to figure out the status and distribution of the wild and cultivated resources of traditional Chinese medicine Daphnes Cortex, its suitable habitat and endangering factors were analyzed to provide the basis for its rational use, protection and cultivation.Our research group tooka resources survey in Shanxi, Gansu, Sichuan and Qinghai provinces, which include 23 counties. Investigation and sampling investigation combined with interview were carried out. The total reserve of resources was estimated through route-quadrat method in combination with the vegetation and soil-type map area method. The results indicated that there was no obvious change between the present distribution ranges of the wild Daphnes Cortex and its historical records, but the density of the population has undergone major changes. The wild reserves resources has declined seriously, even on the verge of exhaustion in some regions. According to the survey results, the current total reserve of the wild Daphnes Cortex in the four provinces was no more than 600 tons. Simultaneously, we only found the cultivated resource in a mountain at an altitude of about 2 800 m in Kang county of Gansu province, which cropping scope was about 33 000 m². The cultivated resource can't provide medicinal products at present, because their growing period is too short to have curative effect. Destructive excavation and the longer growth cycle result in a sharp decline of the wild resources reserves, even to the point of extinction. Artificial cultivation of product will become the main source of medicinal resources in the future. Therefore, we must protect its suitable habitat, formulate rational harvesting policy, strengthen the supervision of government departments, collect and establish the germplasm nursery and seed bank. On the basis, we must carry out studies into seed-selecting and breeding as well as rapid propagation and growth technology at once.

Oyster viperin retains direct antiviral activity and its transcription occurs via a signalling pathway involving a heat-stable haemolymph protein.

Little is known about the response of non-model invertebrates, such as oysters, to virus infection. The vertebrate innate immune system detects virus-derived nucleic acids to trigger the type I IFN pathway, leading to the transcription of hundreds of IFN-stimulated genes (ISGs) that exert antiviral functions. Invertebrates were thought to lack the IFN pathway based on the absence of IFN or ISGs encoded in model invertebrate genomes. However, the oyster genome encodes many ISGs, including the well-described antiviral protein viperin. In this study, we characterized oyster viperin and showed that it localizes to caveolin-1 and inhibits dengue virus replication in a heterologous model. In a second set of experiments, we have provided evidence that the haemolymph from poly(I : C)-injected oysters contains a heat-stable, protease-susceptible factor that induces haemocyte transcription of viperin mRNA in conjunction with upregulation of IFN regulatory factor. Collectively, these results support the concept that oysters have antiviral systems that are homologous to the vertebrate IFN pathway.

A comparative first principles study on trivalent ion incorporated SSZ-13 zeolites.

The dispersion-corrected density functional theory has been used to study the trivalent ions B, Al, Ga, and Fe incorporated SSZ-13-type zeolites. The associated structure and Brønsted/Lewis acidity change caused by the incorporation ions were comparatively studied. It was found that the smaller the radius differences of the incorporation ions are, the smaller the changes in the structure will be and the less acidity will be enhanced for the Brønsted sites. The trivalent Al is found to be the most favorable trivalent incorporation ion and Na is found to be the most favorable charge balanced ion for the synthesis of SSZ-13-type zeolites due to size comparability, which are in line with the experimental observation. The substitution energies which show the relative synthesis difficulty level were also applied for B, Al, Ga, and Fe incorporated zeolites and found that the difficulty decreases with order of Fe > B > Ga ≫ Al, also in good agreement with the experimental observations. Adsorption studies for the NH3 and pyridine molecules indicate that adsorption on the Brønsted acid sites is more stable than on the Lewis acid sites. The Brønsted acidity was found to follow the order of HAl-SSZ-13 > HGa-SSZ-13 ≈ HFe-SSZ-13 > HB-SSZ-13 where the Lewis acidity was found to follow the order of HGa-SSZ-13 ≈ HFe-SSZ-13 > HAl-SSZ-13 > HB-SSZ-13. Our results provide new insights for the synthesis of the SSZ-13-type zeolites and fundamental information for the zeolitic catalyst designation to enhance the catalytic performance.

[Dissolution, absorption and bioaccumulation in gastrointestinal tract of mercury in HgS-containing traditional medicines Cinnabar and Zuotai].

α-HgS is the main component of traditional Chinese medicine cinnabar, while ß-HgS is the main component of Tibetan medicine Zuotai. However, there was no comparative study on the dissolution and absorption in gastrointestinal tract and bioaccumulation in organs of mercury in Cinnabar, Zuotai, α-HgS and ß-HgS. In this study, the dissolution process of the four compounds in the human gastrointestinal tract was simulated to determine the mercury dissolutions and compare the mercury dissolution of different medicines and the dissolution-promoting capacity of different solutions. To explore the absorption and bioaccumulation of cinnabar and Zuotai in organisms, mice were orally administered with clinical equivalent doses cinnabar and Zuotai. Meanwhile, a group of mice was given α-HgS and ß-HgS with the equivalent mercury with cinnabar, while another group was given ß-HgS and HgCl2 with the equivalent mercury with Zuotai. The mercury absorption and bioaccumulation capacities of different medicines in mice and their mercury bioaccumulation in different tissues and organs were compared. The experimental results showed a high mercury dissolutions of Zuotai in artificial gastrointestinal fluid, which was followed by ß-HgS, cinnabar and α-HgS. As for the mercury absorption and bioaccumulation in mice, HgCl2 was the highest, ß-HgS was the next, and a-HgS was slightly higher than cinnabar. The organs with the mercury bioaccumulation from high to low were kidney, liver and brain. This study is close to clinical practices and can provide reference for the clinical safe medication as well as a study model for the safety evaluation on heavy metal-containing medicines by observing the mercury dissolution, absorption, distribution and accumulation of mercury-containing medicines cinnabar and zuotai.

Transcription factor Sp1 transcriptionally enhances GSDME expression for pyroptosis.

Gasdermin-E (GSDME), the executioner of pyroptosis when cleaved by caspase 3, plays a crucial role in tumor defense and the response to chemotherapy drugs in cells. So far, there are poorly known mechanisms for the expression regulation of GSDME during cell death. Here, we identify the transcription factor Sp1 (Specificity protein 1) as a positive regulator of GSDME-mediated pyroptosis. Sp1 directly interacts with the GSDME promoter at -36 ~ -28 site and promotes GSDME gene transcription. Further, Sp1 knockdown or inhibition suppresses GSDME expression, thus reducing chemotherapy drugs (topotecan, etoposide, doxorubicin, sorafinib and cisplatin) induced cell pyroptosis. The regulation process synergizes with STAT3 (Signal transducer and activator of transcription 3) activity and antagonizes with DNA methylation but barely affects GSDMD-mediated pyroptosis or TNF-induced necroptosis. Our current finding reveals a new regulating mechanism of GSDME expression, which may be a viable target for the intervention of GSDME-dependent inflammatory diseases and cancer therapy.

A novel yeast-based biosensor for the quick determination of Deoxynivalenol.

Mycotoxins are commonly found in food materials and severely threaten human health. Antibodies play a key role as a part of immunological techniques in detecting mycotoxins. Therefore, highly specific antibodies and detection techniques against mycotoxins need to be developed for advancements in medical research. In this study, we presented a novel strategy for quickly screening highly specific antigen-binding fragment (Fab) antibodies based on yeast surface display (YSD) and detecting small-molecule compounds based on a YSD biosensor. We constructed a yeast surface display Deoxynivalenol (DON)-Fab library with 105 cfu/mL with a galactose-inducible bidirectional promoter. By conducting efficient magnetic-activated cell sorting and fluorescence-activated cell sorting (MACS/FACS), four kinds of DON-selective yeasts were screened. As Fab@YSD C4# showed high sensitivity, we used it to build a one-pot Fab@YSD chemiluminescence biosensor with DON-BSA@Biotin and Streptavidin-alkaline phosphatase (SA-ALP). This method showed a low operational threshold (LOD = 0.166 pg/mL) and a high population range (linear range = 0.001-132.111 ng/mL) within 40 min, which facilitated the detection of DON with high specificity and better recovery in real samples (wheat, corn, flour, and cornmeal). Our results suggested that the Fab@YSD chemiluminescence biosensor is an inexpensive, reproducible, user-friendly, and sensitive method for detecting DON and may be used to quickly detect other small-molecule contaminants in food items.

Polar alcohol guest molecules regulate the stacking modes of 2-D MOF nanosheets.

The modulation of two-dimensional metal-organic framework (2-D MOF) nanosheet stacking is an effective means to improve the properties and promote the application of nanosheets in various fields. Here, we employed a series of alcohol guest molecules (MeOH, EtOH and PrOH) to modulate Zr-BTB (BTB = benzene-1,3,5-tribenzoate) nanosheets and to generate untwisted stacking. The distribution of stacking angles was statistically analyzed from high-angle annular dark-field (HAADF) and fast Fourier transform (FFT) images. The ratios of untwisted stacking were calculated, such as 77.01% untwisted stacking for MeOH, 83.45% for EtOH, and 85.61% for PrOH. The obtained untwisted Zr-BTB showed good separation abilities for different substituted benzene isomers, superior para selectivity and excellent column stability and reusability. Control experiments of 2-D Zr-TCA (TCA = 4,4',4''-tricarboxytriphenylamine) and Zr-TATB (TATB = 4,4',4''-(1,3,5-triazine-2,4,6-triyl)tribenzoic acid) nanosheets with similar pore sizes and stronger polarity regulated by the alcohol guests exhibited moderate separation performance. The electron microscopy images revealed that polar alcohol regulation dominantly generated the twisted stacking of Zr-TCA and Zr-TATB with various Moiré patterns. Polar guest molecules, such as alcohols, provide strong host-guest interactions during the regulation of MOF nanosheet stacking, providing an opportunity to design new porous Moiré materials with application prospects.

A novel universal small-molecule detection platform based on antibody-controlled Cas12a switching.

Molecular diagnostics play an important role in illness detection, prevention, and treatment, and are vital in point-of-care test. In this investigation, a novel CRISPR/Cas12a based small-molecule detection platform was developed using Antibody-Controlled Cas12a Biosensor (ACCBOR), in which antibody would control the trans-cleavage activity of CRISPR/Cas12a. In this system, small-molecule was labeled around the PAM sites of no target sequence(NTS), and antibody would bind on the labeled molecule to prevent the combination of CRISPR/Cas12a, resulting the decrease of trans-cleavage activity. Biotin-, digoxin-, 25-hydroxyvitamin D3 (25-OH-VD3)-labeled NTS and corresponding binding protein were separately used to verify its preformance, showing great universality. Finally, one-pot detection of 25-OH-VD3 was developed, exhibiting high sensitivity and excellent specificity. The limit of detection could be 259.86 pg/mL in serum within 30 min. This assay platform also has the advantages of low cost, easy operation (one-pot method), and fast detection (∼30 min), would be a new possibilities for the highly sensitive detection of other small-molecule targets.

Evaluating the Prognostic Value of the Modified H2FPEF Score in Patients With Heart Failure With Preserved Ejection Fraction.

Background: The H2FPEF score, a convenient tool developed for diagnosing heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF), exhibited useful prognostic utility in HFpEF. However, the applicability and the prognostic value of the H2FPEF score in Chinese HFpEF patients have yet to be fully confirmed. The study aimed to evaluate the effect of modified H2FPEF score on the prognosis of Chinese HFpEF patients. Methods: In this retrospective study, we calculated the H2FPEF scores by body mass index (BMI) ≥ 25 kg/m2 and 30 kg/m2 respectively, for 497 consecutive HFpEF patients in China. Subjects were divided into low- (0 - 3 points), intermediate- (4 - 6 points), and high-score (7 - 9 points) groups. The primary and secondary endpoints were heart failure (HF)-related events and acute coronary syndrome (ACS), respectively. Cox proportional hazard models were applied to calculate hazard ratios (HRs). Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves and areas under the curve (AUC) were used to evaluate the prediction of the H2FPEF score for adverse outcomes. Results: Over a mean follow-up of 40.46 ± 6.52 months, the primary and secondary endpoints occurred in 168 patients (33.8%) and 97 patients (19.5%), respectively. By the definition of obesity as BMI ≥ 25 kg/m2, a higher incidence of HF-related events and ACS was observed among those with a higher modified H2FPEF score. The modified H2FPEF significantly predicted HF-related events (AUC: 0.723; 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.676 - 0.770; P < 0.001) and ACS (AUC: 0.670; 95% CI: 0.608 - 0.731; P < 0.014) with higher power than the H2FPEF score calculated by BMI ≥ 30 kg/m2. The cutoff of the modified H2FPEF score was 6.5 for detecting HF-related events and ACS. Conclusions: The modified H2FPEF score, using BMI ≥ 25 kg/m2 to define obesity, could more effectively predict the occurrence of subsequent cardiovascular events in Chinese HFpEF patients. The modified H2FPEF score above 6.5 is a risk factor for adverse cardiovascular events in HFpEF patients.

[Screening of hepatotoxicity fraction of Genkwa Flos and study on UPLC fingerprint of hepatotoxicity fraction].

OBJECTIVE: To look for the active fraction of ethanol extract of Genkwa Flos (EGF) induced hepatotoxicity and develop an UPLC fingerprint of the active fraction. METHOD: Target fraction of EGF induced hepatotoxicity was guided by the serum biochemical and histopathology methods. The UPLC method was applied to establish the chromatographic fingerprint. The separation was achieved on a BEH C18 column (2.1 mm x 50 mm, 1.7 microm) with a mobile phase consisting of acetonitrile and water containing 0.05% phosphate acid running gradient elution. The detection was carried out at 210 nm and the analysis was finished within 10 min. RESULT: The chloroform phase of EGF could be responsible for the hepatotoxicity of this herb. The common mode of the UPLC fingerprint was set up under the established condition. There were 17 common peaks in fourteen batches of herbs, eight of which were identified, and the similar degrees of the fourteen batches to the common mode were between 0.890-0.999. CONCLUSION: It is easy to locate the chloroform extraction of EGF with hepatotoxicity. And the UPLC fingerprint was developed for the above fraction, which could provide valuable references for safe and effective clinical use of EGF.

Zhilong Huoxue Tongyu Capsule attenuates hemorrhagic transformation through the let-7f/TLR4 signaling pathway.

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE: Hemorrhagic transformation after acute ischemic stroke is a life-threatening disease that currently has no effective chemotherapy. Zhilong Huoxue Tongyu Capsule (ZL) is an empirical prescription of traditional Chinese medicine that is used to prevent and treat cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases in China. However, only a few studies have addressed the mechanisms of ZL in treating hemorrhagic transformation. AIM OF THE STUDY: To evaluate the anti-inflammatory effects of ZL on hemorrhagic transformation model rats and lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced RAW264.7 macrophages and to explore the underlying molecular mechanisms. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Murine RAW264.7 cells were treated with ZL and LPS (1 µg/mL), and cell viability was detected by cell counting kit-8 assay. RT-qPCR was used to detect the expression of inflammatory chemokines, microRNA let-7a/e/i/f, toll like receptor 4 (TLR4), myeloid differentiation factor 88 (MyD88), and nuclear factor kappa-B (NF-κB) p65. The protein expression levels of TLR4, MyD88, NF-κB p65, and apoptosis related molecules were determined by Western blotting. The apoptosis rate of RAW264.7 macrophages was detected by Annexin V-FITC/PI double staining. A hemorrhagic transformation model in rats was established by intraperitoneal injection of high glucose solution combined with thread embolization. Then, the model rats were observed behaviourally, pathologically, and molecularly. The gene expression of TLR4, MyD88, and NF-κB p65 was measured by RT-qPCR and used to evaluate the protective effect of ZL against hemorrhagic transformation in rats. RESULTS: ZL (5, 20, 40 µg/mL) was beneficial in cell proliferation. LPS (1 µg/mL) stimulated the production of inflammatory chemokines and inhibited the production of let-7a/e/i/f, with let-7f being influenced most strongly. Moreover, overexpression of let-7f decreased the gene and protein levels of TLR4, MyD88, and NF-κB p65, downregulated TLR4, and inhibited its transcriptional activity. ZL (5, 20, and 40 µg·mL-1) inhibited the production of TLR4, MyD88, and NF-κB p65 and promoted the production of let-7f in a concentration-dependent manner. Furthermore, the blockade of TLR4 antagonized the promoting effects of TLR4 pathway activation in cell inflammation and apoptosis by downregulating let-7f. Critically, it was confirmed in vivo and in vitro that ZL upregulated the expression of let-7f and inhibited the gene expression of TLR4, MyD88, and NF-κB p65 to reduce inflammatory cell infiltration, which determined the occurrence of hemorrhagic transformation. CONCLUSIONS: ZL can reduce inflammatory response by upregulating let-7f and subsequently inhibiting the TLR4 signaling pathway, thereby decreasing the occurrence of hemorrhagic transformation.

Development of antibody-aptamer sandwich-like immunosensor based on RCA and Nicked-PAM CRISPR/Cas12a system for the ultra-sensitive detection of a biomarker.

Biomarkers are the most sensitive reactants and early indicators of many kinds of diseases. The development of highly sensitive and simple techniques to quantify them is challenging. In this study, based on rolling cycle amplification (RCA) and the Nicked PAM/CRISPR-Cas12a system (RNPC) as a signal reporter, a sandwich-type method was developed using antibody@magnetic beads and aptamer for the high-sensitive detection of the C-reactive protein (CRP). The antibody-antigen (target)-aptamer sandwich-like reaction was coupled to RCA, which can produce hundreds of similar binding sites and are discriminated by CRISPR/Cas12a for signal amplification. The ultrasensitivity is achieved based on the dual-signal enhancing strategy, which involves the special recognition of aptamers, RCA, and trans-cleavage of CRISPR/Cas12a. By incorporating the CRISPR/Cas12a system with cleaved PAM, the nonspecific amplification of the RCA reaction alone was greatly reduced, and the dual signal output of RCA and Cas12a improved the detection sensitivity. Our assay can be performed only in two steps. The first step takes only 20 min of target capture, followed by a one-pot reaction, where the target concentration can be obtained by fluorescence values as long as there are 37 °C reaction conditions. Under optimal conditions, this system detected CRP with high sensitivity. The fabricated biosensor showed detection limits of 0.40 pg/mL in phosphate-buffered saline and 0.73 pg/mL in diluted human serum and a broad linear dynamic range of 1.28 pg/mL to 100 ng/mL within a total readout time of 90 min. The method could be used to perform multi-step signal amplification, which can help in the ultrasensitive detection of other proteins. Overall, the proposed biosensor might be used as an immunosensor biosensor platform.

MLKL deficiency alleviates neuroinflammation and motor deficits in the α-synuclein transgenic mouse model of Parkinson's disease.

Parkinson's disease (PD), one of the most devastating neurodegenerative brain disorders, is characterized by the progressive loss of dopaminergic neurons in the substantia nigra (SN) and deposits of α-synuclein aggregates. Currently, pharmacological interventions for PD remain inadequate. The cell necroptosis executor protein MLKL (Mixed-lineage kinase domain-like) is involved in various diseases, including inflammatory bowel disease and neurodegenerative diseases; however, its precise role in PD remains unclear. Here, we investigated the neuroprotective role of MLKL inhibition or ablation against primary neuronal cells and human iPSC-derived midbrain organoids induced by toxic α-Synuclein preformed fibrils (PFFs). Using a mouse model (Tg-Mlkl-/-) generated by crossbreeding the SNCA A53T synuclein transgenic mice with MLKL knockout (KO)mice, we assessed the impact of MLKL deficiency on the progression of Parkinsonian traits. Our findings demonstrate that Tg-Mlkl-/- mice exhibited a significant improvement in motor symptoms and reduced phosphorylated α-synuclein expression compared to the classic A53T transgenic mice. Furthermore, MLKL deficiency alleviated tyrosine hydroxylase (TH)-positive neuron loss and attenuated neuroinflammation by inhibiting the activation of microglia and astrocytes. Single-cell RNA-seq (scRNA-seq) analysis of the SN of Tg-Mlkl-/- mice revealed a unique cell type-specific transcriptome profile, including downregulated prostaglandin D synthase (PTGDS) expression, indicating reduced microglial cells and dampened neuron death. Thus, MLKL represents a critical therapeutic target for reducing neuroinflammation and preventing motor deficits in PD.

Pharmacokinetic analysis of alpha and beta epimers of glycyrrhetinic acid in rat plasma: differences in singly and combined administrations.

An HPLC method for the determination of 18alpha-glycyrrhetinic acid and 18beta-glycyrrhetinic acid in rat plasma was established, which was used subsequently to determine the pharmacokinetic profiles of both epimers of glycyrrhetinic acid in rats. alpha-glycyrrhetinic acid, beta-glycyrrhetinic acid, and a mixture of alpha-glycyrrhetinic and beta-glycyrrhetinic acids were administered to rats via gastric infusion. Blood samples were collected at different time intervals and extracted by liquid-liquid extraction. Separation was achieved by using a Kromasil C18 column (150 mm x 4.6 mm, 5 microm) with the mobile phase composed of acetonitrile--4 mmol x L(-1) ammonium acetate solution (46 : 54, v/v) at a flow rate of 1.0 mL x min(-1), and the detection wavelength was set at 250 nm. The pharmacokinetic parameters were calculated using the software DAS 2.0. In a combined administration, the main pharmacokinetic parameters of beta-glycyrrhetinic acid are significantly different from that of alpha-glycyrrhetinic acid (P < 0.05), while no significant difference was obtained when administrated individually. Compared to the single administration, significant differences (P < 0.05) on the values of AUC(0-t) and AUC(0-infinity) of beta-glycyrrhetinic acid were observed when this chemical was administrated together with alpha-glycyrrhetinic acid. In contrast, the pharmacokinetic parameters of alpha-glycyrrhetinic acid were not affected even under the co-administration. Here, a sensitive, specific, rapid and reproducible HPLC method was developed for the pharmacokinetic studies of alpha-glycyrrhetinic acid and beta-glycyrrhetinic acid in rat plasma.

The Effect of Red and Blue on Gross and Fine Motor Tasks: Confirming the Inverted-U Hypothesis.

Previous studies have shown that the color red can affect basic motor functioning. However, these studies utilized simple gross motor tasks rather than those assessing complex fine motor skills. Moreover, these empirical studies were theoretically based on the threat-behavior link in human and non-human animals, and neglected the relationship between arousal and motor performance. According to the Yerkes-Dodson law and the inverted-U hypothesis in sport psychology, for simple motor tasks, high arousal (associated with the color red) is more advantageous than low arousal (associated with the color blue); for complex motor tasks, low arousal (blue color) is more advantageous than high arousal (red color). The current research examined the effect of color on different kinds of motor skills (fine motor and gross motor) based on the inverted U-hypothesis. In Experiment 1, we examined the effect of red and blue on dart-throwing performance, whereas in Experiment 2, we examined the effect of red and blue on grip strength performance. The results showed that performance of fine motor skill (dart-throwing) in the blue condition was better than in the red condition, and performance of gross motor skill (handgrip) in the red context was better than in the blue context. These results indicate that the type of motor skill assessed moderates the influence of red and blue on motor performance.

Exploring the Implicit Link Between Red and Aggressiveness as Well as Blue and Agreeableness.

Previous studies have found a link between red and aggressive behavior. For example, athletes who wear red uniforms in sports are considered to have a competitive advantage. So far, most previous studies have adopted self-report methods, which have low face validity and were easily influenced by the social expectations. Therefore, the study used two implicit methods to further explore the association between red and aggressiveness. A modified Stroop task was used in Experiment 1 to probe college students' differences between "congruent" tasks (i.e., red-aggressiveness and blue-agreeableness) and "incongruent" tasks (i.e., red-agreeableness and blue-aggressiveness). Result showed that participants responded more quickly to the congruent tasks than the incongruent tasks. Then, in order to adapt to the competitive context, Experiment 2 used an implicit association test with photos of athletes as the stimulus to college students and athletes to evaluate "congruent" tasks (i.e., red uniform photo-aggressiveness and blue uniform photo-agreeableness) as well as "incongruent" tasks (i.e., red uniform photo-agreeableness and blue uniform photo-aggressiveness), respectively. According to the results, both college students and athletes respond faster to congruent tasks than to incongruent tasks. Besides, athletes' reactions to the red-aggressiveness association are faster than college students, which may relate to the athletes' professional experience. The athletes may be more aggressive and impulsive. Overall, the study has attempted to examine the association between red and aggressiveness through implicit methods, but in the future, researches are need to find a deep association from brain mechanism aspect.

Efficacy and safety of neoadjuvant immunotherapy in resectable nonsmall cell lung cancer: A meta-analysis.

OBJECTIVE: Progress in neoadjuvant therapy for resectable nonsmall cell lung cancer(NSCLC1)has been stagnant. There have been great achievements in immunotherapy for advanced NSCLC, but the efficacy and safety of neoadjuvant immunotherapy for resectable NSCLC has not been clearly demonstrated. METHODS: Original articles describing the safety and efficacy of neoadjuvant immunotherapy in resectable NSCLC published before January 2020 were retrieved from PubMed, Embase and Cochrane Library. The odds ratio (OR2) and 95 % confidence interval (CI3) were calculated. Heterogeneity and subgroup analysis were performed. RESULTS: A total of 252 patients from seven studies were included. Major pathological response (MPR4) and pathological complete response (pCR5) were used to evaluate the efficacy of neoadjuvant immunotherapy. Compared with neoadjuvant chemotherapy, which exhibited less than 25 % MPR and approximately 2 %-15 % pCR, the values in neoadjuvant immunotherapy were significantly higher (MPR: OR = 0.59; 95 % CI, 0.36-0.98; pCR: OR = 0.16; 95 % CI, 0.09-0.27). Safety was evaluated by the incidence of treatment-related adverse events (TRAE6), surgical resection rate, incidence of surgical complications and surgical delay rate. The pooled OR values of the incidence of TRAE, incidence of surgical complications and surgical delay rate were 0.19, 0.41 and 0.03, respectively, which were significantly better than those for neoadjuvant chemotherapy (95 % CI, 0.04-0.90; 0.22-0.75; 0.01-0.10, respectively). The mean surgical resection rate was 88.70 %, which was similar to the 75 %-90 % rate reported for neoadjuvant chemotherapy (OR = 7.61; 95 % CI, 4.90-11.81). CONCLUSION: Neoadjuvant immunotherapy is effective and safe for resectable NSCLC.

The biomarkers related to immune related adverse events caused by immune checkpoint inhibitors.

The enthusiasm for immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs), an efficient tumor treatment model different from traditional treatment, is based on their unprecedented antitumor effect, but the occurrence of immune-related adverse events (irAEs) is an obstacle to the prospect of ICI treatment. IrAEs are a discrete toxicity caused by the nonspecific activation of the immune system and can affect almost all tissues and organs. Currently, research on biomarkers mainly focuses on the gastrointestinal tract, endocrine system, skin and lung. Several potential hypotheses concentrate on the overactivation of the immune system, excessive release of inflammatory cytokines, elevated levels of pre-existing autoantibodies, and presence of common antigens between tumors and normal tissues. This review lists the current biomarkers that might predict irAEs and their possible mechanisms for both nonspecific and organ-specific biomarkers. However, the prediction of irAEs remains a major clinical challenge to screen and identify patients who are susceptible to irAEs and likely to benefit from ICIs.