High-Strength, High-Swelling-Resistant, High-Sensitivity Hydrogel Sensor Prepared with Wood That Retains Lignin.

Wood-derived hydrogels possess satisfactory longitudinal strength but lack excellent swelling resistance and dry shrinkage resistance when achieving high anisotropy. In this study, we displayed the preparation of highly dimensional stable wood/polyacrylamide hydrogels (wood/PAM-Al3+). The alkali-treated wood retains lignin as the skeleton of the hydrogel. Second, Al ions were added to the metal coordination with lignin. Finally, by employing free radical polymerization, we construct a conductive electronic network using polyaniline within the wood/PAM-Al3+ matrix to create the flexible sensor. This approach leverages lignin's integrated structure within the middle lamella to provide enhanced swelling resistance and stronger binding strength in the transverse direction. Furthermore, coordination between lignin and Al ions improves the mechanical strength of the wood hydrogel. Polyaniline provides stable linear pressure and temperature responses. The wood/PAM-Al3+ exhibits a transverse swelling ratio of 3.90% while achieving a longitudinal tensile strength of 20.5 MPa. This high-strength and high-stability sensor is capable of monitoring macroscale human behavior. Therefore, this study presents a simple yet innovative strategy for constructing tough hydrogels while also establishing an alternative pathway for exploring lignin networks in new functional materials development.

A target-triggered strand displacement-assisted target recycling based on carbon dots-based fluorescent probe and MSNs@PDA nanoparticles for miRNA amplified detection and fluorescence imaging.

A target-triggered strand displacement-assisted target recycling based on carbon dots-based fluorescent probe and mesoporous silica nanoparticles@polydopamine (MSNs@PDA) was established to detect miRNA. The surface of MSNs rich in mesopores was coated with a layer of PDA, which can adsorb and quench the fluorescence of single-stranded Fuel DNA with fluorescent carbon dots (CDs) modified at the end through fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET). After adding double-stranded DNA-gold nanoparticles (dsDNA-AuNPs) and target let-7a, it will trigger two toehold-mediated strand displacement reactions (TSDR), leading to the recovery of fluorescence and the recycling of target let-7a (excitation wavelength: 380 nm; emission wavelength: 458 nm). The recovery value of fluorescence is proportional to the logarithm of the target microRNA let-7a concentration, thus realizing the sensitivity amplification detection of disease markers. The MSNs@PDA@Fuel DNA-CDs/dsDNA-AuNPs nanoplatform based on the strategy of "on-off-on" and TSDR cyclic amplification may hold great potential as an effective and safe nanoprobe for accurate fluorescence imaging of diseases related to miRNA with low abundances.

TonEBP: A Key Transcription Factor in Microglia Following Intracerebral Hemorrhage Induced-Neuroinflammation.

Transcription factors within microglia contribute to the inflammatory response following intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH). Therefore, we employed bioinformatics screening to identify the potential transcription factor tonicity-responsive enhancer-binding protein (TonEBP) within microglia. Inflammatory stimuli can provoke an elevated expression of TonEBP in microglia. Nevertheless, the expression and function of microglial TonEBP in ICH-induced neuroinflammation remain ambiguous. In our recent research, we discovered that ICH instigated an increased TonEBP in microglia in both human and mouse peri-hematoma brain tissues. Furthermore, our results indicated that TonEBP knockdown mitigates lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced inflammation and the activation of NF-κB signaling in microglia. In order to more deeply comprehend the underlying molecular mechanisms of how TonEBP modulates the inflammatory response, we sequenced the transcriptomes of TonEBP-deficient cells and sought potential downstream target genes of TonEBP, such as Pellino-1 (PELI1). PELI has been previously reported to mediate nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) signaling. Through the utilization of CUT & RUN, a dual-luciferase reporter, and qPCR, we confirmed that TonEBP is the transcription factor of Peli1, binding to the Peli1 promoter. In summary, TonEBP may enhance the LPS-induced inflammation and activation of NF-κB signaling via PELI1.

Study on the Properties of FEVE Modified with Ag2O/OH-MWCNTS Nanocomposites for Use as Adhesives for Wooden Heritage Objects.

The durability of wooden heritage objects and sites can be affected by external environmental factors, leading to decay, cracking, and other forms of deterioration, which might ultimately result in significant and irreversible loss. In this study, a FEVE resin was modified with Ag2O/OH-MWCNTS (MA), denoted as MAF, where three concentrations were prepared using in situ precipitation, and the resulting composite adhesive was characterized by a high viscosity and effective bacteriostatic properties, demonstrating a better viscosity and thermal stability, as well as antibacterial properties, than pure FEVE resin. The results show that MAF adhesives present good thermal stability, as evidenced by a lower mass loss rate following treatment at 800 °C compared to the pure FEVE resin. At a consistent shear rate, the viscosity of MAF demonstrates a notable increase with the proportion of MA, which is better than that of FEVE. This suggests that the nano-Ag2O particles in MA act as physical crosslinking agents in FEVE, improving the viscosity of the composite adhesive MAF. The adhesion strength between MAF and wood exhibits a similar trend, with wooden samples showing higher shear strengths as the proportion of MA increases in comparison to FEVE. Simultaneously, the antibacterial effects of the MAF adhesive exceeded 1 mm for Trichoderma, Aspergillus niger, and white rot fungi. The antibacterial activity of the MAF adhesive exhibited a direct correlation with the concentration of Ag2O/OH-MWCNTS, with the most pronounced inhibitory effect observed on Trichoderma. The MAF adhesive demonstrates promising prospects as an adhesive for wooden heritage artifacts, offering a novel approach for the rapid, environmentally friendly, and efficient development of composite adhesives with superior adhesive properties.

Milk-derived small extracellular vesicles: a new perspective on dairy nutrition.

Milk contains bioactive compounds that have multiple essential benefits. Milk-derived small extracellular vesicles (M-sEVs) have emerged as novel bioactive milk components with various beneficial biological functions and broad applications. The M-sEVs from different mammalian sources have similar composition and bioactive functions. The digestive stability and biocompatibility of the M-sEVs provide a good foundation for their physiological functions. Evidence suggests that M-sEVs promote intestinal, immune, bone, neural, liver, and heart health and show therapeutic effects against cancer, indicating their potential for use in functional foods. In addition, M-sEVs can be developed as natural delivery carriers owing to their superior structural characteristics. Further studies are needed to elucidate the relationship between the specific components and functions of M-sEVs, standardize their extraction processes, and refine relevant clinical trials to advance the future applications of M-sEVs. This review summarizes the structure and composition of M-sEVs isolated from different milk sources and discusses several common extraction methods. Since the introduction of M-sEVs for digestion and absorption, studies have been conducted on their biological functions. Furthermore, we outline the theoretical industrial production route, potential application scenarios of M-sEVs, and the future perspectives of M-sEV research.

Effect of organic amendments obtained from different pretreatment technologies on soil microbial community.

The application of organic amendments (OAs) obtained from biological treatment technologies is a common agricultural practice to increase soil functionality and fertility. OAs and their respective pretreatment processes have been extensively studied. However, comparing the properties of OAs obtained from different pretreatment processes remains challenging. In most cases, the organic residues used to produce OAs exhibit intrinsic variability and differ in origin and composition. In addition, few studies have focused on comparing OAs from different pretreatment processes in the soil microbiome, and the extent to which OAs affect the soil microbial community remains unclear. This limits the design and implementation of effective pretreatments aimed at reusing organic residues and facilitating sustainable agricultural practices. In this study, we used the same model residues to produce OAs to enable meaningful comparisons among compost, digestate, and ferment. These three OAs contained different microbial communities. Compost had higher bacterial but lower fungal alpha diversity than ferment and digestate. Compost-associated microbes were more prevalent in the soil than ferment- and digestate-associated microbes. More than 80% of the bacterial ASVs and fungal OTUs from the compost were detected 3 months after incorporation into the soil. However, the addition of compost had less influence on the resulting soil microbial biomass and community composition than the addition of ferment or digestate. Specific native soil microbes, members from Chloroflexi, Acidobacteria, and Mortierellomycota, were absent after ferment and digestate application. The addition of OAs increased the soil pH, particularly in the compost-amended soil, whereas the addition of digestate enhanced the concentrations of dissolved organic carbon (DOC) and available nutrients (such as ammonium and potassium). These physicochemical variables were key factors that influenced soil microbial communities. This study furthers our understanding of the effective recycling of organic resources for the development of sustainable soils.

Plasma levels of alarmin HNPs 1-3 associate with lung dysfunction after cardiac surgery in children.

BACKGROUND: Early onset of lung injury is considerable common after cardiac surgery and is associated with increasing in morbidity and mortality, but current clinical predictors for the occurrence of this complication always have limited positive warning value. This study aimed to evaluate whether elevated plasma levels of human neutrophil peptides (HNPs) 1-3 herald impaired lung function in infants and young children after cardiac surgery necessitating cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB). METHODS: Consecutive children younger than 3 years old who underwent cardiac surgery were prospectively enrolled. Plasma concentrations of HNPs 1-3 and inflammatory cytokines were measured before, and immediately after CPB, as well as at 1 h, 12 h, and 24 h after CPB. RESULTS: Thirty patients were enrolled, 18 (60%) of whom were infants. Plasma levels of HNPs 1-3 and the pro-inflammatory cytokine interleukin-6 (IL-6) significantly increased immediately after CPB (P < 0.001), while IL-8 increased 1 h after the CPB operation (P = 0.002). The anti-inflammatory cytokine IL-10 levels were also significantly elevated immediately after CPB compared with the baseline (P < 0.001). The stepwise multiple linear regression analysis showed that the plasma HNPs 1-3 levels immediately after CPB was independent correlated with the declined lung function, as reflected by the PaO2/FiO2 ratio on the first 2 days after operation (for the first day: OR, -1.067, 95% CI, -0.548 to -1.574; P < 0.001; for the second day: OR, -0.667, 95% CI, -0.183 to -1.148; P = 0.009) and prolonged mechanical ventilation time (OR, 0.039, 95% CI, 0.005 to 0.056; P = 0.011). Plasma levels of HNPs 1-3 and IL-10 returned to the baseline values, while IL-6 and IL-8 levels remained significantly higher than baseline 24 h after CPB (P ≤ 0.01). CONCLUSIONS: Elevated HNPs 1-3 levels immediately after CPB correlate with impaired lung function, and HNPs 1-3 could serve as a quantifiable early alarmin biomarker for onset of lung injury in infants and young children undergoing cardiac surgery with CPB.

[Progress on Hypoxic-ischemic Brain Damage Associated with CCR2 and CCL2].

Hypoxic-ischemic brain damage (HIBD) is referred to a common type of cerebral damage, which is caused by injury, leading to shallow bleeding in the cortex with intact cerebral pia mater. In recent years, studies show that a various kinds of immune cells and immune cellular factors are involved in the occurrence of HIBD. CC chemokine receptor 2 (CCR2) is a representative of CC chemokine receptor, and is widely distributed in cerebral neuron, astrocyte, and microglial cells, and is the main chemo-tactic factor receptor in brain tissue. CC chemokine ligand 2 (CCL2) is a kind of basophilic protein and the ligand of CCR2, and plays an important role in inflammation. In order to provide evidence for correlational studies in HIBD, this review will introduce the biological characteristics of CCR2 and CCL2, and illustrate the relationship between the immunoreactivity and HIBD.

Optimizing intracranial electric field distribution through temperature-driven scalp conductivity adjustments in transcranial electrical stimulation.

Transcranial electrical stimulation (TES) is a promising non-invasive neuromodulation technique. How to increase the current intensity entering the skull and reduce scalp shunting has become a key factor significantly influencing regulatory efficacy. In this study, we introduce a novel approach for optimizing TES by adjusting local scalp temperature to modulate scalp conductivity. We have developed simulation models for TES-induced electric fields and for temperature-induced alterations in scalp conductivity. Two common types of stimulation montage (M1-SO and 4 × 1 montage) were adopted for the evaluation of effectiveness. We observed that the modulation of scalp temperature has a significant impact on the distribution of the electric field within the brain during TES. As local scalp temperature decreases, there is an increase in the maximum electric field intensity within the target area, with the maximum change reaching 18.3%, when compared to the electric field distribution observed under normal scalp temperature conditions. Our study provide insights into the practical implementation challenges and future directions for this innovative methodology.

Screening candidate genes for fruit size based on QTL-seq in Chinese jujube.

Introduction: Fruit size is an important economic trait affecting jujube fruit quality, which has always been the focus of marker-assisted breeding of jujube traits. However, despite a large number of studies have been carried out, the mechanism and key genes regulating jujube fruit size are mostly unknown. Methods: In this study, we used a new analysis method Quantitative Trait Loci sequencing (QTL-seq) (bulked segregant analysis) to screen the parents 'Yuhong' and 'Jiaocheng 5' with significant phenotypic differences and mixed offspring group with extreme traits of large fruit and small fruit, respectively, and, then, DNA mixed pool sequencing was carried out to further shortening the QTL candidate interval for fruit size trait and excavated candidate genes for controlling fruit size. Results: The candidate intervals related to jujube fruit size were mainly located on chromosomes 1, 5, and 10, and the frequency of chromosome 1 was the highest. Based on the QTL-seq results, the annotation results of ANNOVAR were extracted from 424 SNPs (single-nucleotide polymorphisms) and 164 InDels (insertion-deletion), from which 40 candidate genes were selected, and 37 annotated candidate genes were found in the jujube genome. Four genes (LOC107428904, LOC107415626, LOC125420708, and LOC107418290) that are associated with fruit size growth and development were identified by functional annotation of the genes in NCBI (National Center for Biotechnology Information). The genes can provide a basis for further exploration and identification on genes regulating jujube fruit size. Discussion: In summary, the data obtained in this study revealed that QTL intervals and candidate genes for fruit size at the genomic level provide valuable resources for future functional studies and jujube breeding.

Serum urate is associated with an increased risk of inflammatory bowel disease: A bidirectional Mendelian randomization study.

BACKGROUND: Previous studies have indicated bidirectional associations between urate levels and inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), including ulcerative colitis (UC) and Crohn's disease (CD). However, it remains unclear whether the observations are causal because of confounding factors. AIM: To investigate the causal associations between urate levels and IBD using bidirectional Mendelian randomization (MR). METHODS: Independent genetic variants for urate levels and IBD were selected as instrumental variables from published genome-wide association studies (GWASs). Summary statistics for instrument-outcome associations were retrieved from three separate databases for IBD (the UK Biobank, the FinnGen database and a large GWAS meta-analysis) and one for urate levels (a large GWAS meta-analysis). MR analyses included the inverse-variance-weighted method, weighted-median estimator, MR-Egger and sensitivity analyses (MR-PRESSO). A meta-analysis was also conducted to merge the data from separate outcome databases using a fixed-effects model. RESULTS: Genetically higher serum urate levels were strongly associated with an increased risk of UC [odds ratio (OR): 1.95, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.86-2.05] after outlier correction, and the ORs (95%CIs) for IBD and CD were 0.94 (95%CI: 0.86-1.03) and 0.91 (95%CI: 0.80-1.04), respectively. Animal studies have confirmed the positive association between urate levels and UC. Moreover, genetically predicted IBD was inversely related to urate levels (OR: 0.97, 95%CI: 0.94-0.99). However, no association was observed between genetically influenced UC or CD and urate levels. CONCLUSION: Urate levels might be risk factors for UC, whereas genetically predicted IBD was inversely associated with urate levels. These findings provide essential new insight for treating and preventing IBD.

Intestinal metabolite UroB alleviates cerebral ischemia/reperfusion injury by promoting competition between TRIM65 and TXNIP for binding to NLRP3 inflammasome in response to neuroinflammation.

Our previous research suggests that targeting NLRP3 inflammasomes holds promise for mitigating cerebral ischemia/reperfusion injury. The gut metabolite Urolithin B (UroB) has been shown to inhibit the neuroinflammation. However, the specific role of UroB in cerebral ischemia/reperfusion injury and its potential impact on NLRP3 inflammasome remain unclear. In this study, acute stroke was simulated using the MCAO model in male Sprague-Dawley rats. UroB was intraperitoneally administered after 1 h of reperfusion. The effects of UroB on brain tissue were evaluated, including infarct volume, brain edema, and neurobehavioral changes. Western blotting and immunofluorescence were performed to investigate the effect of UroB on inflammation-related proteins. Furthermore, TRIM65 knockdown and TXNIP overexpression experiments elucidated the role of UroB in NLRP3 inflammasome activation. The ( demonstrate the neuroprotective effect of UroB in acute stroke, reducing brain tissue damage and improving motor function. Mechanistically, UroB modulated neuroinflammation by influencing TXNIP and TRIM65 protein expression, as well as competitive binding to the NLRP3 inflammasome, attenuating cerebral ischemia/reperfusion injury. In conclusion, the potential of UroB as a protective agent against cerebral ischemia/reperfusion injury in acute stroke stands out as it regulates TRIM65 and TXNIP competitive binding to the NLRP3 inflammasome. These findings suggest that UroB is a promising drug candidate for the treatment of acute stroke.

Reinforcement and Deacidification for a Textile Scroll Painting (AD 1881) Using the CNF and MgO Suspensions.

The scroll paintings for ancestor trees have been used to inherit the spirit of ancestor worship as a historical record of family development since the late Ming Dynasty in China. A severely degraded scroll painting of an ancestor tree (made of cotton textiles) needs intervention and conservation treatment to mitigate further deterioration. On the basis of the previously reported characterization results for the painting, in this paper, a suspension that is composed of 0.6% cellulose nanofibril (CNF) and nanosized 0.15% MgO in aqueous solvent (denoted as the CNF-MgO susairpension) was prepared. Conventional characterization methods were used to assess the properties of model samples before and after treatment with the CNF-MgO suspension, as well as before and after degradation under two sets of conditions. The results show that the treated model samples are slightly alkaline, given the deposit of alkaline particles, and demonstrate good mechanical properties before and after degradation due to the increase in fiber-to-fiber bond and mitigation of acid-catalyzed hydrolysis. In spite of the non-transparency of CNF and MgO nanoparticles, they have little impact on the optical properties of textiles, as verified by transmittance data and the determination of color changes. This suspension was then used to reinforce and restore the scroll painting in a practical conservation process. The application of CNF and MgO nanoparticles on textile objects investigated in this study would expand our understanding of the conservation of such objects, especially for those that have already become acidic and degraded.

Impact of Three Thiazolidinone Compounds with Piperine Skeletons on Trehalase Activity and Development of Spodoptera frugiperda Larvae.

Trehalases (TREs) are pivotal enzymes involved in insect development and reproduction, making them prime targets for pest control. We investigated the inhibitory effect of three thiazolidinones with piperine skeletons (6a, 7b, and 7e) on TRE activity and assessed their impact on the growth and development of the fall armyworm (FAW), Spodoptera frugiperda. The compounds were injected into FAW larvae, while the control group was treated with 2% DMSO solvent. All three compounds effectively inhibited TRE activity, resulting in a significant extension of the pupal development stage. Moreover, the treated larvae exhibited significantly decreased survival rates and a higher incidence of abnormal phenotypes related to growth and development compared to the control group. These results suggest that these TRE inhibitors affect the molting of larvae by regulating the chitin metabolism pathway, ultimately reducing their survival rates. Consequently, these compounds hold potential as environmentally friendly insecticides.

The role of DNA damage response in human embryonic stem cells exposed to atmospheric oxygen tension: Implications for embryo development and differentiation.

Previous retrospective cohort studies have found that, compared with oxygen tension in the uterus and fallopian tubes (2 %-8 %), exposure of pre-implantation embryos to atmospheric oxygen tension (AtmO2, 20 %) during assisted reproductive technology(ART) can affect embryo quality, pregnancy outcomes and offspring health. However, current research on the effects and mechanisms of AtmO2 on the development of embryos and offspring is mainly limited to animal experiments. Human embryonic stem cells (hESCs) play a special and irreplaceable role in the study of early human embryonic development. In this study, we used hESCs as a model to elucidate the possible effects and mechanisms of AtmO2 exposure on human embryonic development. We found that exposure to AtmO2 can reduce cell viability, produce oxidative stress, increase DNA damage, initiate DNA repair, activate autophagy, and increase cell apoptosis. We also noticed that approximately 50 % of hESCs survived, adapted and proliferated through high expression of self-renewal and pluripotency regulatory factors, and affected embryoid body differentiation. These data indicate that hESCs experience oxidative stress, accumulation of DNA damage, and activate DNA damage response under the selective pressure of AtmO2.Some hESCs undergo cell death, whereas other hESCs adapt and proliferate through increased expression of self-renewal genes. The current findings provide in vitro evidence that exposure to AtmO2 during the early preimplantation stage negatively affects hESCs.

Changes in properties of human milk under different conditions of frozen storage.

Human milk is the best source of nutrition for infants. Lower freezing temperatures and faster freezing rates allow for better preservation of human milk. However, research on the freezing conditions of human milk is limited. This study investigated the effectiveness of quick freezing and suitable freezing conditions for home preservation. Human milk was stored under different freezing conditions (-18 °C, -18 °C quick freezing, -30 °C, -40 °C, -60 °C, and - 80 °C) for 30, 60, and 90 days and then evaluated for changes in the microbial counts, bioactive protein, and lipid. The results showed that the total aerobic bacterial and Bifidobacteria counts in human milk after storage at freezing temperatures of - 30 °C and lower were closer to those of fresh human milk compared to - 18 °C. Furthermore, the lysozyme loss, lipid hydrolysis degree, and volatile organic compound production were lower. However, -18 °C quick freezing storage was not markedly different from -18 °C in maintaining human milk quality. Based on the results, for household and environmental reasons, the recommended temperature for storing human milk is suggested as -30 °C.

Identification of novel biomarkers and immune infiltration features of recurrent pregnancy loss by machine learning.

Recurrent pregnancy loss (RPL) is a complex reproductive disorder. The incompletely understood pathophysiology of RPL makes early detection and exact treatment difficult. The purpose of this work was to discover optimally characterized genes (OFGs) of RPL and to investigate immune cell infiltration in RPL. It will aid in better understanding the etiology of RPL and in the early detection of RPL. The RPL-related datasets were obtained from the Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO), namely GSE165004 and GSE26787. We performed functional enrichment analysis on the screened differentially expressed genes (DEGs). Three machine learning techniques are used to generate the OFGs. A CIBERSORT analysis was conducted to examine the immune infiltration in RPL patients compared with normal controls and to investigate the correlation between OFGs and immune cells. Between the RPL and control groups, 42 DEGs were discovered. These DEGs were found to be involved in cell signal transduction, cytokine receptor interactions, and immunological response, according to the functional enrichment analysis. By integrating OFGs from the LASSO, SVM-REF, and RF algorithms (AUC > 0.880), we screened for three down-regulated genes: ZNF90, TPT1P8, FGF2, and an up-regulated FAM166B. Immune infiltration study revealed that RPL samples had more monocytes (P < 0.001) and fewer T cells (P = 0.005) than controls, which may contribute to RPL pathogenesis. Additionally, all OFGs linked with various invading immune cells to varying degrees. In conclusion, ZNF90, TPT1P8, FGF2, and FAM166B are potential RPL biomarkers, offering new avenues for research into the molecular mechanisms of RPL immune modulation and early detection.

Digital Therapeutics in Migraine Management: A Novel Treatment Option in the COVID-19 Era.

Migraine is a chronic and often lifelong disease that directly affects over one billion people globally. Because access to migraine medical services is limited, only a minority of migraine patients are treated adequately. This situation worsened during the COVID-19 pandemic. Digital therapeutics (DTx) is an emerging therapeutic approach that opens up many new possibilities for remote migraine management. For instance, migraine management tools, online migraine diagnosis, guideline-based treatment options, digitally networked patients, and collecting anonymized information about migraine attacks and course parameters for scientific evaluation. Various applications of DTx in migraine management have been studied in recent years, such as the usefulness of digital migraine self-management tools in diagnosing and tracking migraine attacks, and the efficacy and safety of digital cognitive behavioural therapy. However, the development of DTx is still in its infancy and still faces many obstacles. The primary goal of this study is to review the latest research on DTx in migraine management, identify challenges, and outline future trends.

The Expression Characteristics and Function of the RECQ Family in Pan-Cancer.

BACKGROUND: The genes of the RECQ DNA helicase family play a part in preserving the stability of the genome and controlling different disease mechanisms. However, the expression features of RECQs in relation to pan-cancer, their correlation with the immune microenvironment of tumors, and the landscape of prognostic power are still undisclosed. METHODS: Various sequence and clinical data extracted from 33 cancers were utilized to generate a comprehensive overview of RECQs in the landscape. Afterward, we discovered variations in gene expression, potential enrichment of functions, genetic alterations, and analysis related to the immune response in tumors. Additionally, we explored the clinical characteristics and diagnostic significance of RECQs. And the important association of RECQL4 with liver hepatocellular carcinoma (LIHC) was investigated. RESULTS: RECQs exhibited extensive mutations in different types of cancers. The expression of RECQ may be influenced by an oncogenic mutation in certain types of cancer, resulting in the observed genomic and epigenetic changes in diverse tumor formations. Furthermore, RECQs originating from tumors exhibited a significant association with the immune microenvironment of the tumor, indicating their potential as promising targets for therapy. Patient prognosis was significantly associated with the majority of genes in the RECQ family. In LIHC, RECQL4 eventually emerged as a separate prognostic determinant. CONCLUSIONS: To summarize, RECQs are essential for the regulation of the immune system in tumors, and RECQL4 serves as a prognostic indicator in LIHC. The results of our study offer fresh perspectives on RECQs from a bioinformatics perspective and emphasize the importance of RECQs in the diagnosis and treatment of cancer.

Astaxanthin Alleviates Inflammatory Response in Neonatal Necrotizing Enterocolitis Rats by Regulating NOD2/TLR4 Pathway.

Background: Necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) is often associated with exaggerated activation of inflammatory response. Astaxanthin has been shown in studies to have a positive and advantageous effect on anti-inflammatory response. Hence, it is of great significance to study the protective effect of astaxanthin in NEC disease and its molecular mechanism. Objective: The present study was to investigate whether astaxanthin attenuates NEC rats and to explore its potential mechanism. Material and Methods. Hematoxylin-eosin staining was used to observe the pathological change of the intestinal tissue in NEC rats. Subsequently, we determined the anti-oxidative stress, anti-apoptosis, and anti-inflammation in astaxanthin with enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay kits, TUNEL staining, western blot, and immunohistochemistry assay. Furthermore, we added nucleotide-binding oligomerization domain 2 (NOD2) inhibitor to certify the molecular pathway of the astaxanthin in NEC rats. Results: Astaxanthin improved the pathological changes of the intestinal tissues. It restrained inflammation, oxidative stress, and protected cells from apoptosis in the intestinal tissue and serum of the NEC rats. Moreover, astaxanthin enhanced NOD2, whereas it suppressed toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4), nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) pathway-related proteins. Apart from that, the NOD2 inhibitor offset the protective effect of the astaxanthin towards the NEC rats. Conclusion: The present study indicated that astaxanthin alleviated oxidative stress, inflammatory response, and apoptosis in NEC rats by enhancing NOD2 and inhibiting TLR4 pathway.