Hydrogen-Bonded Organic Cocrystal-Encapsulated Perovskite Nanocrystals as Coreactant-Free Electrochemiluminescent Luminophore for the Detection of Uranium.

Lead halide perovskite nanocrystals with excellent photophysical properties are promising electrochemiluminescence (ECL) candidates, but their poor stability greatly restricts ECL applications. Herein, hydrogen-bonded cocrystal-encapsulated CsPbBr3 perovskite nanocrystals (PeNCs@NHS-M) were synthesized by using PeNCs as nuclei for inducing the crystallization of melamine (M) and N-hydroxysuccinimide (NHS). The as-synthesized composite exhibits multiplicative ECL efficiencies (up to 24-fold that of PeNCs) without exogenous coreactants and with excellent stability in the aqueous phase. The enhanced stability can be attributed to the well-designed heterostructure of the PeNCs@NHS-M composite, which benefits from both moiety passivation and protection of the peripheral cocrystal matrix. Moreover, the heterostructure with covalent linkage facilitates charge transfer between PeNCs and NHS-M cocrystals, realizing effective ECL emission. Meanwhile, the NHS and M components act as coreactants for PeNCs, shortening the electron-transport distance and resulting in a significant increase in the ECL signal. Furthermore, by taking advantage of the specific binding effect between NHS-M and uranyl (UO22+), an ECL system with both a low detection limit (1 nM) and high selectivity for monitoring UO22+ in mining wastewater is established. The presence of UO22+ disrupted the charge-transfer effect within PeNCs@NHS-M, weakening the ECL signals. This work provides an efficient design strategy for obtaining stable and efficient ECLs from perovskite nanocrystals, offering a new perspective for the discovery and application of perovskite-based ECL systems.

Hydrogen-Bonded Cocrystals Encapsulating CsPbBr3 Perovskite Nanocrystals with Enhancement of Charge Transport for Photocatalytic Reduction of Uranium.

At present, poor stability and carrier transfer efficiency are the main problems that limit the development of perovskite-based photoelectric technologies. In this work, hydrogen-bonded cocrystal-coated perovskite composite (PeNCs@NHS-M) is easily obtained by inducing rapid crystallization of melamine (M) and N-hydroxysuccinimide (NHS) with PeNCs as the nuclei. The outer NHS-M cocrystal passivates the undercoordinated lead atoms by forming covalent bonds, thereby greatly reducing the trap density while maintaining good structure stability for perovskite nanocrystals. Moreover, benefiting from the interfacial covalent band linkage and long-range ordered structures of cocrystals, the charge transfer efficiency is effectively enhanced and PeNCs@NHS-M displays superior photoelectric performance. Based on the excellent photoelectric performance and abundant active sites of PeNCs@NHS-M, photocatalytic reduction of uranium is realized. PeNCs@NHS-M exhibits U(VI) reduction removal capability of up to 810.1 mg g-1 in the presence of light. The strategy of cocrystals trapping perovskite nanocrystals provides a simple synthesis method for composites and opens up a new idea for simultaneously improving the stability and photovoltaic performance of perovskite.

Effects of SARS-COV-2 infection during the frozen-thawed embryo transfer cycle on embryo implantation and pregnancy outcomes.

STUDY QUESTION: Does severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection during the frozen-thawed embryo transfer (FET) cycle affect embryo implantation and pregnancy rates? SUMMARY ANSWER: There is no evidence that SARS-CoV-2 infection of women during the FET cycle negatively affects embryo implantation and pregnancy rates. WHAT IS KNOWN ALREADY: Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), as a multi-systemic disease, poses a threat to reproductive health. However, the effects of SARS-CoV-2 infection on embryo implantation and pregnancy following fertility treatments, particularly FET, remain largely unknown. STUDY DESIGN, SIZE, DURATION: This retrospective cohort study, included women who underwent FET cycles between 1 November 2022 and 31 December 2022 at an academic fertility centre. PARTICIPANTS/MATERIALS, SETTING, METHODS: Women who tested positive for SARS-CoV-2 during their FET cycles were included in the COVID-19 group, while those who tested negative during the same study period were included in the non-COVID-19 group. The primary outcome was ongoing pregnancy rate. Secondary outcomes included rates of implantation, biochemical pregnancy, clinical pregnancy, early pregnancy loss, and ongoing pregnancy. Multivariate logistic regression models were applied to adjust for potential confounders including age, body mass index, gravidity, vaccination status, and endometrial preparation regimen. Subgroup analyses were conducted by time of infection with respect to transfer (prior to transfer, 1-7 days after transfer, or 8-14 days after transfer) and by level of fever (no fever, fever <39°C, or fever ≥39°C). MAIN RESULTS AND THE ROLE OF CHANCE: A total of 243 and 305 women were included in the COVID-19 and non-COVID-19 group, respectively. The rates of biochemical pregnancy (58.8% vs 62.0%, P = 0.46), clinical pregnancy (53.1% vs 54.4%, P = 0.76), implantation (46.4% vs 46.2%, P = 0.95), early pregnancy loss (24.5% vs 26.5%, P = 0.68), and ongoing pregnancy (44.4% vs 45.6%, P = 0.79) were all comparable between groups with or without infection. Results of logistic regression models, both before and after adjustment, revealed no associations between SARS-CoV-2 infection and rates of biochemical pregnancy, clinical pregnancy, early pregnancy loss, or ongoing pregnancy. Moreover, neither the time of infection with respect to transfer (prior to transfer, 1-7 days after transfer, or 8-14 days after transfer) nor the level of fever (no fever, fever <39°C, or fever ≥39°C) was found to be related to pregnancy rates. LIMITATIONS, REASONS FOR CAUTION: The retrospective nature of the study is subject to possible selection bias. Additionally, although the sample size was relatively large for the COVID-19 group, the sample sizes for certain subgroups were relatively small and lacked adequate power, so these results should be interpreted with caution. WIDER IMPLICATIONS OF THE FINDINGS: The study findings suggest that SARS-CoV-2 infection during the FET cycle in females does not affect embryo implantation and pregnancy rates including biochemical pregnancy, clinical pregnancy, early pregnancy loss, and ongoing pregnancy, indicating that cycle cancellation due to SARS-CoV-2 infection may not be necessary. Further studies are warranted to verify these findings. STUDY FUNDING/COMPETING INTEREST(S): This study was supported by the National Key Research and Development Program of China (2023YFC2705500, 2019YFA0802604), National Natural Science Foundation of China (82130046, 82101747), Shanghai leading talent program, Innovative research team of high-level local universities in Shanghai (SHSMU-ZLCX20210201, SHSMU-ZLCX20210200, SSMU-ZLCX20180401), Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine Affiliated Renji Hospital Clinical Research Innovation Cultivation Fund Program (RJPY-DZX-003), Science and Technology Commission of Shanghai Municipality (23Y11901400), Shanghai Sailing Program (21YF1425000), Shanghai's Top Priority Research Center Construction Project (2023ZZ02002), Three-Year Action Plan for Strengthening the Construction of the Public Health System in Shanghai (GWVI-11.1-36), and Shanghai Municipal Education Commission-Gaofeng Clinical Medicine Grant Support (20161413). The authors have no conflicts of interest to declare. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER: N/A.

Thin-film lithium niobate electro-optic isolator fabricated by photolithography assisted chemo-mechanical etching.

We report an electro-optic isolator fabricated on thin-film lithium niobate by photolithography-assisted chemo-mechanical etching that shows an isolation of 39.50 dB and an overall fiber-to-fiber loss of 2.6 dB.

Molecular and cellular role of variants of the promoter region of HAND1 gene in sporadic and isolated ventricular septal defect.

Ventricular septal defect (VSD) is the most common type of congenital heart disease. HAND1 gene plays a crucial role in the development of the heart, but the role of the variants in the HAND1 gene promoter region in patients with VSD has not been explored yet. From 588 participants (300 with isolated and sporadic VSD and 288 healthy controls), DNA was extracted from blood samples. Variants at the HAND1 gene promoter region were analyzed through Sanger sequencing. Subsequently, cell functional validation was conducted through cell experiments, including dual-luciferase reporter gene analysis, electrophoretic mobility shift analysis, and bioinformatics analysis was also conducted. The promoter region of HAND1 gene had a total of 9 identified variant sites. Among them, 4 variants were exclusively found in VSD patients, and 1 variant (g.3631A>C) was newly discovered. Cell functional experiments indicated that all four variants decreased the transcriptional activity of HAND1 gene promoter with three of them reached statistical significance (p < 0.05). Subsequent analysis using JASPAR (a transcription factor binding profile database) suggests that these variants may alter the binding sites of transcription factors, potentially contributing to the formation of VSD. Our study for the first time identified variants in the promoter region of HAND1 gene in Chinese patients with isolated and sporadic VSD. These variants significantly decreased the expression of HAND1 gene, impacting transcription factor binding sites, and thereby demonstrating pathogenicity. This study offers new insights into the role of HAND1 gene promoter region, contributing to a better understanding of the genetic basis of VSD formation.

Construction of a Bifunctional Redox-Site Conjugated Covalent-Organic Framework for Photoinduced Precision Trapping of Uranyl Ions.

The performance of covalent-organic frameworks (COFs) for the photocatalytic extraction of uranium is greatly limited by the number of adsorption sites. Herein, inspired by electronegative redox reactions, we designed a nitrogen-oxygen rich pyrazine connected COF (TQY-COF) with multiple redox sites as a platform for extracting uranium via combining superaffinity and enhanced photoinduction. The preorganized bisnitrogen-bisoxygen donor configuration on TQY-COF is entirely matched with the typical geometric coordination of hexavalent uranyl ions, which demonstrates high affinity (tetra-coordination). In addition, the presence of the carbonyl group and pyrazine ring effectively stores and controls electron flow, which efficaciously facilitates the separation of e-/h+ and enhances photocatalytic performance. The experimental results show that TQY-COF removes up to 99.8% of uranyl ions from actual uranium mine wastewater under the light conditions without a sacrificial agent, and the separation coefficient reaches 1.73 × 106 mL g-1 in the presence of multiple metal ions, which realizes the precise separation in the complex environment. Importantly, DFT calculations further elucidate the coordination mechanism of uranium and demonstrate the necessity of the presence of N/O atoms in the photocatalytic adsorption of uranium.

Diagnostic and prognostic potential of long non-coding RNA NORAD in patients with acute deep vein thrombosis and its role in endothelial cell function.

BACKGROUND: Deep venous thrombosis (DVT) is the common clinical cardiovascular disease, and easily develops into post-thrombotic syndrome (PTS). The study aimed to examine the clinical value of long non-coding RNA NORAD gene in the development of DVT and PTS. In vitro, the underlying mechanism was explored. METHODS: Serum levels of lncRNA NORAD gene in 85 DVT cases and 85 healthy individuals were tested. The role of lncRNA NORAD gene in human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) proliferation, migration and inflammation was examined. The candidate downstream target gene was predicted via bioinformatic analysis. Gene ontology (GO) analysis and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway enrichment analysis were done for the function annotation and pathway enrichment. RESULTS: LncRNA NORAD gene was at high expression in the serum of DVT patients, it can distinguish DVT patients from healthy controls with the area under the curve of 0.919. Elevated expression of lncRNA NORAD gene in PTS patients was detected, DVT cases with high expression of lncRNA NORAD gene were more susceptible to PTS. LncRNA NORAD gene knockdown promoted HUVECs' proliferation, migration while suppressing cell apoptosis and inflammation. MiR-93-5p served as a target of lncRNA NORAD gene, and its overexpression reversed the role of lncRNA NORAD gene in the biological function of HUVECs. The target genes of miR-93-5p were enriched in HIF-1 signaling, TGF-beta signaling and PI3K-Akt signaling, protein-protein interaction (PPI) network indicated STAT3, MAPK1 to be the key targets. CONCLUSIONS: Upregulation of expression of lncRNA NORAD gene was a potential diagnostic biomarker for DVT and related to the development of PTS. LncRNA NORAD/miR-93-5p axis was involved in the progress of DVT through regulating endothelial cell function.

Chlorogenic acid improves the development of porcine parthenogenetic embryos by regulating oxidative stress and ameliorating mitochondrial function.

Chlorogenic acid (CGA) is an effective phenolic antioxidant that can scavenge hydroxyl radicals and superoxide anions. Herein, the protective effects and mechanisms leading to CGA-induced porcine parthenogenetic activation (PA) in early-stage embryos were investigated. Our results showed that 50 µM CGA treatment during the in vitro culture (IVC) period significantly increased the cleavage and blastocyst formation rates and improved the blastocyst quality of porcine early-stage embryos derived from PAs. Then, genes related to zygotic genome activation (ZGA) were identified and investigated, revealing that CGA can promote ZGA in porcine PA early-stage embryos. Further analysis revealed that CGA treatment during the IVC period decreased the abundance of reactive oxygen species (ROS), increased the abundance of glutathione and enhanced the activity of catalase and superoxide dismutase in porcine PA early-stage embryos. Mitochondrial function analysis revealed that CGA increased mitochondrial membrane potential and ATP levels and upregulated the mitochondrial homeostasis-related gene NRF-1 in porcine PA early-stage embryos. In summary, our results suggest that CGA treatment during the IVC period helps porcine PA early-stage embryos by regulating oxidative stress and improving mitochondrial function.

The time-dependent expression of FPR2 and ANXA1 in murine deep vein thrombosis model and its relation to thrombus age.

Thrombus age determination in fatal venous thromboembolism cases is an important task for forensic pathologists. In this study, we investigated the time-dependent expressions of formyl peptide receptor 2 (FPR2) and Annexin A1 (ANXA1) in a stasis-induced deep vein thrombosis (DVT) murine model, with the aim of obtaining useful information for thrombus age timing. A total of 75 ICR mice were randomly classified into thrombosis group and control group. In thrombosis group, a DVT model was established by ligating the inferior vena cava (IVC) of mice, and thrombosed IVCs were harvested at 1, 3, 5, 7, 10, 14, and 21 days after modeling. In control group, IVCs without thrombosis were taken as control samples. The expressions of FPR2 and ANXA1 during thrombosis were detected using immunohistochemistry and double immunofluorescence staining. Their protein and mRNA levels in the samples were determined by Western blotting and quantitative real-time PCR. The results reveal that FPR2 was predominantly expressed by intrathrombotic neutrophils and macrophages. ANXA1 expression in the thrombi was mainly distributed in neutrophils, endothelial cells of neovessels, and fibroblastic cells. After thrombosis, the expressions of FPR2 and ANXA1 were time-dependently up-regulated. The percentage of FPR2-positive cells and the level of FPR2 protein significantly elevated at 1, 3, 5 and 7 days after IVC ligation as compared to those at 10, 14 and 21 days after ligation (p < 0.05). Moreover, the mRNA level of FPR2 were significantly higher at 5 days than that at the other post-ligation intervals (p < 0.05). Besides, the levels of ANXA1 mRNA and protein peaked at 10 and 14 days after ligation, respectively. A significant increase in the mRNA level of ANXA1 was found at 10 and 14 days as compared with that at the other post-ligation intervals (p < 0.01). Our findings suggest that FPR2 and ANXA1 are promising as useful markers for age estimation of venous thrombi.

Cullin-3 proteins be a novel biomarkers and therapeutic targets for hyperchloremia induced by oral poisoning.

Oral poisoning can trigger diverse physiological reactions, determined by the toxic substance involved. One such consequence is hyperchloremia, characterized by an elevated level of chloride in the blood and leads to kidney damage and impairing chloride ion regulation. Here, we conducted a comprehensive genome-wide analysis to investigate genes or proteins linked to hyperchloremia. Our analysis included functional enrichment, protein-protein interactions, gene expression, exploration of molecular pathways, and the identification of potential shared genetic factors contributing to the development of hyperchloremia. Functional enrichment analysis revealed that oral poisoning owing hyperchloremia is associated with 4 proteins e.g. Kelch-like protein 3, Serine/threonine-protein kinase WNK4, Serine/threonine-protein kinase WNK1 and Cullin-3. The protein-protein interaction network revealed Cullin-3 as an exceptional protein, displaying a maximum connection of 18 nodes. Insufficient data from transcriptomic analysis indicates that there are lack of information having direct associations between these proteins and human-related functions to oral poisoning, hyperchloremia, or metabolic acidosis. The metabolic pathway of Cullin-3 protein revealed that the derivative is Sulfonamide which play role in, increasing urine output, and metabolic acidosis resulted in hypertension. Based on molecular docking results analysis it found that Cullin-3 proteins has the lowest binding energies score and being suitable proteins. Moreover, no major variations were observed in unbound Cullin-3 and all three peptide bound complexes shows that all systems remain compact during 50 ns simulations. The results of our study revealed Cullin-3 proteins be a strong foundation for the development of potential drug targets or biomarker for future studies.

Long COVID outcomes following omicron wave in non-hospital population.

Background: The persistence of symptoms or the development of new symptoms following a diagnosis of SARS-CoV-2 has given rise to a multifaceted clinical condition referred to as "long COVID" (LC). The understanding of LC among China's non-hospitalized population continues to be insufficient. This investigation was designed to evaluate the protracted consequences amongst this demographic, as well as to identify the associated risk factors. Methods: This research constitutes a prospective cohort study focusing on non-hospitalized individuals, aged between 18 and 59, who have been positively diagnosed with COVID-19. Each participant was subjected to a sequence of questionnaire-based surveys, designed to evaluate symptoms as well as the status of depression and anxiety. A logistic regression model, adjusted for multiple variables, was employed to scrutinize the correlation between demographic elements, lifestyle attributes, and health-related risk factors in relation to conditions and symptoms post COVID-19 infection. Results: A total of 706 individuals participated in the 3 months follow-up, with 620 continuing on to the 6 months follow-up. The median age was 35 (28, 43) years, and 597 (85%) are female. Upon follow-up, Compared with patients without LC, patients with LC have a higher proportion of females (420 (87%) vs. 177 (79%); p = 0.010), were older (35 (29, 44) years vs. 33 (27, 41) years; p = 0.010) and have more comorbidities. Out of all participants, 483 (68.4%) reported experiencing at least one symptom at the 3 months mark, while 49.7% reported symptoms persisting at the 6 months mark. At the 3 months follow-up, the most prevalent persistent symptoms were cough (46%), fatigue (38%), and shortness of breath (34%). By the 6 months follow-up, fatigue (25%), shortness of breath (22%), and sleep disorders (16%) were the most commonly reported symptoms. Anxiety and depression were consistently reported as prevalent symptoms throughout the follow-up period. Most patient symptoms fade over time, with the quickest decreases observed in cough (from 46 to 9%), expectoration (from 26 to 6.3%), smell disorder (from 16 to 3.9%), and taste disorder (from 18 to 3.5%). Male and those possessing advanced educational qualifications exhibit a decreased susceptibility to the sustained incidence of coughing. Conversely, older age and the presence of comorbidities were identified as risk factors for persistent fatigue and shortness of breath. Conclusion: In the after of COVID-19, it has been observed that the majority of patient symptoms tend to decrease over time. The primary residual symptoms noticed after a 6 month follow-up were fatigue, dyspnea, and sleep disturbances. However, it's noteworthy that the risk factors associated with these symptoms exhibit subtle variations. Furthermore, psychological sequelae, namely depression and anxiety, are frequently reported among COVID-19 survivors.

Prevention of bone dehiscence associated with orthodontic tooth movement by prophylactic injection of bone anabolic agents in mice.

Although bone dehiscence may occur during orthodontic tooth movement into the narrow alveolar ridge, a non-invasive prevention method is yet to be fully established. We show for the first time prevention of bone dehiscence associated with orthodontic tooth movement by prophylactic injection of bone anabolic agents in mice. In this study, we established a bone dehiscence mouse model by applying force application and used the granular type of scaffold materials encapsulated with bone morphogenetic protein (BMP)-2 and OP3-4, the receptor activator of NF-κB ligand (RANKL)-binding peptide, for the prophylactic injection to the alveolar bone. In vivo micro-computed tomography revealed bone dehiscence with decreased buccal alveolar bone thickness and height after force application, whereas no bone dehiscence was observed with the prophylactic injection after force application, and alveolar bone thickness and height were kept at similar levels as those in the control group. Bone histomorphometry analyses revealed that both bone formation and resorption parameters were significantly higher in the injection with force application group than in the force application without the prophylactic injection group. These findings suggest that the prophylactic local delivery of bone anabolic reagents can prevent bone dehiscence with increased bone remodelling activity.

Screening and Validation of Key Genes of Autophagy in Acute Myocardial Infarction Based on Bioinformatics.

Aims: Autophagy plays a significant role in the development of acute myocardial infarction (AMI), and cardiomyocyte autophagy is of major importance in maintaining cardiac function. We aimed to identify key genes associated with autophagy in AMI through bioinformatics analysis and verify them through clinical validation. Materials and Methods: We downloaded an AMI expression profile dataset GSE166780 from Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO). Autophagy-associated genes potentially differentially expressed in AMI were screened using R software. Then, to identify key autophagy-related genes, Gene Ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) enrichment analysis, protein-protein interaction (PPI) analysis, Receiver Operating Characteristic (ROC) curve analysis, and correlation analysis were performed on the differentially expressed autophagy-related genes in AMI. Finally, we used quantificational real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) to verify the RNA expression of the screened key genes. Results: TSC2, HSPA8, and HIF1A were screened out as key autophagy-related genes. qRT-PCR results showed that the expression levels of HSPA8 and TSC2 in AMI blood samples were lower, while the expression level of HIF1A was higher than that in the healthy controls. Conclusions: TSC2, HSPA8, and HIF1A were identified as key autophagy-related genes in this study. They may influence the development of AMI through autophagy. These findings may help deepen our understanding of AMI and may be useful for the treatment of AMI.

Dyschromatopsia: a comprehensive analysis of mechanisms and cutting-edge treatments for color vision deficiency.

Color blindness is a retinal disease that mainly manifests as a color vision disorder, characterized by achromatopsia, red-green color blindness, and blue-yellow color blindness. With the development of technology and progress in theory, extensive research has been conducted on the genetic basis of color blindness, and various approaches have been explored for its treatment. This article aims to provide a comprehensive review of recent advances in understanding the pathological mechanism, clinical symptoms, and treatment options for color blindness. Additionally, we discuss the various treatment approaches that have been developed to address color blindness, including gene therapy, pharmacological interventions, and visual aids. Furthermore, we highlight the promising results from clinical trials of these treatments, as well as the ongoing challenges that must be addressed to achieve effective and long-lasting therapeutic outcomes. Overall, this review provides valuable insights into the current state of research on color blindness, with the intention of informing further investigation and development of effective treatments for this disease.

mir-150-5p inhibits the osteogenic differentiation of bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells by targeting irisin to regulate the p38/MAPK signaling pathway.

PURPOSE: To study the effect of miR-150-5p on the osteogenic differentiation of bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs), and further explore the relationship between its regulatory mechanism and irisin. METHODS: We isolated mouse BMSCs, and induced osteogenic differentiation by osteogenic induction medium. Using qPCR to detect the expression of osteogenic differentiation-related genes, western blot to detect the expression of osteogenic differentiation-related proteins, and luciferase reporter system to verify that FNDC5 is the target of miR-150-5p. Irisin intraperitoneal injection to treat osteoporosis in mice constructed by subcutaneous injection of dexamethasone. RESULTS: Up-regulation of miR-150-5p inhibited the proliferation of BMSCs, and decreased the content of osteocalcin, ALP activity, calcium deposition, the expression of osteogenic differentiation genes (Runx2, OSX, OCN, OPN, ALP and BMP2) and protein (BMP2, OCN, and Runx2). And down-regulation of miR-150-5p plays the opposite role of up-regulation of miR-150-5p on osteogenic differentiation of BMSCs. Results of luciferase reporter gene assay showed that FNDC5 gene was the target gene of miR-150-5p, and miR-150-5p inhibited the expression of FNDC5 in mouse BMSCs. The expression of osteogenic differentiation genes and protein, the content of osteocalcin, ALP activity and calcium deposition in BMSCs co-overexpressed by miR-150-5p and FNDC5 was significantly higher than that of miR-150-5p overexpressed alone. In addition, the overexpression of FNDC5 reversed the blocked of p38/MAPK pathway by the overexpression of miR-150-5p in BMSCs. Irisin, a protein encoded by FNDC5 gene, improved symptoms in osteoporosis mice through intraperitoneal injection, while the inhibitor of p38/MAPK pathway weakened this function of irisin. CONCLUSION: miR-150-5p inhibits the osteogenic differentiation of BMSCs by targeting irisin to regulate the/p38/MAPK signaling pathway, and miR-150-5p/irisin/p38 pathway is a potential target for treating osteoporosis.

Pargyline-phosphine copper(I) clusters with tunable emission for light-emitting devices.

Three pargyline-phosphine copper(I) clusters, [Cu4(CC-C9H12N)3(PPh3)4](PF6) (1) and [Cu6(CC-C9H12N)4(dppy)4](X)2 (dppy = diphenyl-2-pyridylphosphine; X = PF6 for 2 and X = ClO4 for 3), were synthesized. Their structures were fully characterized using various spectroscopic methods and X-ray crystallography, which showed that the stoichiometry and nature of pargyline and phosphine ligands play an important role in tuning the structure and photophysical features of Cu(I) clusters. Interestingly, clusters 1, 2 and 3 exhibited red, orange and yellow phosphorescence with high quantum yields of 88.5%, 22.0% and 40.2%, respectively, at room temperature. Moreover, clusters 1-3 show distinct temperature-dependent emissions. The excellent luminescence performance of 1 and 3 was designed and employed for the construction of monochrome and white light-emitting devices (LEDs).

Impact of low-to moderate-intensity exercise training on the mRNA expression of purine receptors across various vessels in SHR.

OBJECTIVE: In this study, we developed an exercise training protocol for assessing both blood pressure dynamics and mRNA expression levels of purine receptors in various vascular tissues during physical activity. The objective is to assess the impact of exercise training on blood pressure regulation in spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR) and purine receptors in vascular tissues. METHODS: Wistar Kyoto (WKY) and SHR rats were randomly allocated into sedentary (Sed) and exercise training (ExT) groups. Rats in the Sed groups were allowed unrestricted movement, whereas those in the ExT groups underwent a 16-week regimen of low- to moderate-intensity treadmill exercise. Throughout the intervention period, blood pressure measurements and body weight recordings were conducted. Additionally, mRNA expressions of purine receptors P2X1, P2Y1, and P2Y2 in renal artery (RA), internal carotid artery (Int), thoracic aorta (Aor), and caudal artery (Cau) tissues were assessed. RESULTS: In the Sed group, body weight of SHR rats was observed to be lower compared to the three other groups. Over the course of the exercise regimen, blood pressure in the ExT group of SHR rats reduced gradually, converging towards levels similar to those observed in WKY rats by the conclusion of the exercise period. Regarding mRNA expression patterns of P2X1 receptors across the four blood vessels, WKY and SHR rats demonstrated similar sequences, consistently displaying the highest expression levels in the Cau. Conversely, mRNA expressions of P2Y1 and P2Y2 receptors exhibited distinct sequences across the four blood vessels in both WKY and SHR rats. Notably, compared to the Sed group of WKY rats, mRNA expression of P2X1 receptor in the Int of SHR rats revealed an increase, while expressions in the Aor of WKY rats and the Cau of SHR rats decreased following exercise. Expression of P2Y1 receptor mRNA decreased across all four types of blood vessels in SHR rats. Post-exercise, P2Y1 receptor mRNA expression increased in the Aor, decreased in the Cau of WKY rats, and increased in the Int and renal artery (RA) of SHR rats. Conversely, expressions of P2Y2 receptor mRNA decreased in the Int and Aor of SHR rats. Except for the Aor of WKY rats, expressions of P2Y2 receptor mRNA increased in the other arteries of both rat types following exercise. CONCLUSION: Differences in the distribution of purine receptor subtypes among distinct arterial segments in both WKY and SHR rats were observed. Exercise training was found to enhance mRNA expression levels of P2Y receptors in these rat models. This finding implies that exercise training might reduce hypertension in SHR rats by bolstering the purinergic relaxation response.

Development and validation of a novel prognostic lncRNA signature based on the APOBEC3 family genes in gastric cancer.

Introduction: Gastric Cancer (GC) refers to a prevalent malignant cancer accompanied by a weak prognosis. The APOBEC3 family genes and lncRNAs are linked with cancer progression. Nevertheless, there is still a scarcity of data concerning the prognostic value of APOBEC3-related lncRNAs in GC. Methods: We extracted the data from GC samples, including transcriptome as well as clinical data, obtained from the TCGA database. Then, we screened for lncRNAs that were correlated with the APOBEC3 family genes and constructed an APOBEC3-related lncRNA prognostic signature (LPS) by utilizing univariate Cox and lasso regression analysis. Furthermore, we validated our constructed signature and evaluated it thoroughly, including analysis of its function, immunity, mutations, and clinical applications via multiple methods, including Metascape, GSEA, and analyses including TIC and TME, immune checkpoints, CNV and SNPs, Kaplan-Meier survival curves, nomogram, decision tree and drug prediction analysis. Finally, we overexpressed LINC01094 to evaluate the impacts on the proliferation as well as migration with regards to KATO-2 cells. Results: We selected eight lncRNAs for our APOBEC3-related LPS, which is demonstrated as a valuable tool in predicting the individual GC patients' prognosis. Subsequently, we segregated the samples into subgroups of high-as well as low-risk relying on the risk score with regards to APOBEC3-related LPS. By performing functional analysis, we have shown that immune-as well as tumor-related pathways were enriched in high- and low-risk GC patients. Furthermore, immune analysis revealed a robust correlation between the APOBEC3-related LPS and immunity. We found that immune checkpoints were significantly associated with the APOBEC3-related LPS and were greatly exhibited in GC tumor and high-risk samples. Mutational analysis suggested that the mutational rate was greater in low-risk samples. Furthermore, we predicted small molecular drugs displayed greater sensitivity in patients categorized as high-risk. Moreover, the immune response was also better in high-risk patients. Of these drugs, dasatinib was significant in both methods and might be considered a potential novel drug for treating high-risk GC patients. Finally, we found that LINC01094 has the potential to enhance the migration, proliferation as well as inhibit apoptosis of KATO-2 in GC cells. And Dasatinib has an inhibitory effect on the migration as well as proliferation in GC cells. Conclusion: We created a novel APOBEC3-related LPS in predicting the prognosis with regards to individual GC patients. Importantly, this APOBEC3-related LPS was closely associated with immunity and might guide clinical treatment.

VTA glutamatergic projections to the nucleus accumbens suppress psychostimulant-seeking behavior.

Converging evidence indicates that both dopamine and glutamate neurotransmission within the nucleus accumbens (NAc) play a role in psychostimulant self-administration and relapse in rodent models. Increased NAc dopamine release from ventral tegmental area (VTA) inputs is critical to psychostimulant self-administration and NAc glutamate release from prelimbic prefrontal cortex (PFC) inputs synapsing on medium spiny neurons (MSNs) is critical to reinstatement of psychostimulant-seeking after extinction. The regulation of the activity of MSNs by VTA dopamine inputs has been extensively studied, and recent findings have demonstrated that VTA glutamate neurons target the NAc medial shell. Here, we determined whether the mesoaccumbal glutamatergic pathway plays a role in psychostimulant conditioned place preference and self-administration in mice. We used optogenetics to induce NAc release of glutamate from VTA inputs during the acquisition, expression, and reinstatement phases of cocaine- or methamphetamine-induced conditioned place preference (CPP), and during priming-induced reinstatement of cocaine-seeking behavior. We found that NAc medial shell release of glutamate resulting from the activation of VTA glutamatergic fibers did not affect the acquisition of cocaine-induced CPP, but it blocked the expression, stress- and priming-induced reinstatement of cocaine- and methamphetamine CPP, as well as it blocked the priming-induced reinstatement of cocaine-seeking behavior after extinction. These findings indicate that in contrast to the well-recognized mesoaccumbal dopamine system that is critical to psychostimulant reward and relapse, there is a parallel mesoaccumbal glutamatergic system that suppresses reward and psychostimulant-seeking behavior.

Dysfunction of DMT1 and miR-135b in the gut-testis axis in high-fat diet male mice.

BACKGROUND: Obese patients have been found to be susceptible to iron deficiency, and malabsorption of dietary iron is the cause of obesity-related iron deficiency (ORID). Divalent metal transporter 1 (DMT1) and ferroportin (FPN), are two transmembrane transporter proteins expressed in the duodenum that are closely associated with iron absorption. However, there have been few studies on the association between these two proteins and the increased susceptibility to iron deficiency in obese patients. Chronic inflammation is also thought to be a cause of obesity-related iron deficiency, and both conditions can have an impact on spermatogenesis and impair male reproductive function. Based on previous studies, transgenerational epigenetic inheritance through gametes was observed in obesity. RESULTS: Our results  showed that obese mice had decreased blood iron levels (p < 0.01), lower protein and mRNA expression for duodenal DMT1 (p < 0.05), but no statistically significant variation in mRNA expression for duodenal FPN (p > 0.05); there was an increase in sperm miR-135b expression (p < 0.05). Bioinformatics revealed ninety overlapping genes and further analysis showed that they were primarily responsible for epithelial cilium movement, fatty acid beta-oxidation, protein dephosphorylation, fertilization, and glutamine transport, which are closely related to spermatogenesis, sperm development, and sperm viability in mice. CONCLUSIONS: In obese mice, we observed downregulation of DMT1 in the duodenum and upregulation of miR-135b in the spermatozoa.