Associations of sex-related and thyroid-related hormones with risk of metabolic dysfunction-associated fatty liver disease in T2DM patients.

BACKGROUND: We aimed to examine sex-specific associations between sex- and thyroid-related hormones and the risk of metabolic dysfunction-associated fatty liver disease (MAFLD) in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). METHODS: Cross-sectional analyses of baseline information from an ongoing cohort of 432 T2DM patients (185 women and 247 men) in Xiamen, China were conducted. Plasma sex-related hormones, including estradiol (E2), follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), luteinizing hormone (LH), prolactin (PRL), progesterone, and total testosterone (TT), and thyroid-related hormones, including free triiodothyronine (FT3), free thyroxine (FT4), thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH), and parathyroid hormone (PTH), were measured using chemiluminescent immunoassays. MAFLD was defined as the presence of hepatic steatosis (diagnosed by either hepatic ultrasonography scanning or fatty liver index (FLI) score > 60) since all subjects had T2DM in the present study. RESULTS: Prevalence of MAFLD was 65.6% in men and 61.1% in women with T2DM (P = 0.335). For men, those with MAFLD showed significantly decreased levels of FSH (median (interquartile range (IQR)):7.2 (4.9-11.1) vs. 9.8 (7.1-12.4) mIU/ml) and TT (13.2 (10.4-16.5) vs. 16.7 (12.8-21.6) nmol/L) as well as increased level of FT3 (mean ± standard deviation (SD):4.63 ± 0.68 vs. 4.39 ± 0.85 pmol/L) than those without MAFLD (all p-values < 0.05). After adjusting for potential confounding factors, FSH and LH were negative, while progesterone was positively associated with the risk of MAFLD in men, and the adjusted odds ratios (ORs) (95% confidence intervals (CIs)) were 0.919 (0.856-0.986), 0.888 (0.802-0.983), and 8.069 (2.019-32.258) (all p-values < 0.05), respectively. In women, there was no statistically significant association between sex- or thyroid-related hormones and the risk of MAFLD. CONCLUSION: FSH and LH levels were negative, whereas progesterone was positively associated with the risk of MAFLD in men with T2DM. Screening for MAFLD and monitoring sex-related hormones are important for T2DM patients, especially in men.

Predictive value of bronchoscopy combined with CT score for refractory mycoplasma pneumoniae pneumonia in children.

INTRODUCTION: Mycoplasma pneumoniae pneumonia (MPP) is prevalent in paediatric patients and can progress to refractory mycoplasma pneumoniae pneumonia (RMPP). OBJECTIVE: To assess the predictive value of bronchoscopy combined with computed tomography (CT) score in identifying RMPP in children. METHODS: A retrospective analysis was conducted on 244 paediatric patients with MP, categorising them into RMPP and general mycoplasma pneumoniae pneumonia (GMPP) groups. A paired t-test compared the bronchitis score (BS) and CT score before and after treatment, supplemented by receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis. RESULTS: The RMPP group showed higher incidences of extrapulmonary complications and pleural effusion (58.10% and 40%, respectively) compared with the GMPP group (44.60%, p = 0.037 and 18.71%, p < 0.001, respectively). The CT scores for each lung lobe were statistically significant between the groups, except for the right upper lobe (p < 0.05). Correlation analysis between the total CT score and total BS yielded r = 0.346 and p < 0.001. The ROC for BS combined with CT score, including area under the curve, sensitivity, specificity, and cut-off values, were 0.82, 0.89, 0.64, and 0.53, respectively. CONCLUSION: The combined BS and CT score method is highly valuable in identifying RMPP in children.

C15:0 and C17:0 partially mediate the association of milk and dairy products with bladder cancer risk.

The relationship between saturated fatty acids (SFA) and bladder cancer (BC) risk has been conflicting. Our aim was to investigate the relationship between erythrocyte membrane SFA and BC risk. A total of 404 participants were enrolled in the study (including 112 cases and 292 controls). A validated food frequency questionnaire was used to assess the food intake. The constitutive composition of fatty acids in the erythrocyte membrane was measured by gas chromatography. After adjustment for BC risk factors, SFA had no significant association with BC risk. However, C18:0 was positively linked with BC risk with an odds ratio (OR; 95% CI) of 2.99 (1.37-6.53). In contrast, very-long-chain saturated fatty acids (VLCSFA), especially C24:0, were negatively related to BC risk with an OR (95% CI) of 0.28 (0.12-0.65) for VLCSFA and 0.33 (0.15-0.75) for C24:0. Higher total odd-chain SFA (C15:0 and C17:0) were associated with a lower risk of BC with OR (95% CI) of 0.18 (0.076-0.44), 0.18 (0.068-0.47), 0.34 (0.14-0.81), respectively. After subgroup analysis, the protective effects C15:0 and C17:0 were still remained. Receiver operating characteristic analysis displayed that the combination of C15:0 and C17:0 indexes increased the accurate predictive rate of BC risk. Further mediation effect analysis showed that C15:0 and C17:0 could be used as partial mediation effectors for milk and dairy products and bladder carcinogenesis. Overall, the combination of odd-chain SFA (C15:0 and C17:0) in the erythrocyte membrane could serve as a reliable mediator and predictor, indicating a relationship between a high intake of milk and dairy products and a lower risk of BC.

Ultra-Fast Selenol-Yne Click (SYC) Reaction Enables Poly(selenoacetal) Covalent Adaptable Network Formation.

The emergence of covalent adaptable networks (CANs) based on dynamic covalent bonds (DCBs) presents a promising avenue for achieving resource recovery and utilization. In this study, we discovered a novel dynamic covalent bond called selenacetal, which is obtained through a double click reaction between selenol and activated alkynes. Density functional theory (DFT) calculations demonstrated that the ΔG for the formation of selenoacetals ranges from 12 to 18 kJ mol-1, suggesting its potential for dynamic reversibility. Dynamic exchange experiments involving small molecules and polymers provide substantial evidence supporting the dynamic exchange properties of selenoacetals. By utilizing this highly efficient click reaction, we successfully synthesized dynamic materials based on selenoacetal with remarkable reprocessing capabilities without any catalysts. These materials exhibit chemical recycling under alkaline conditions, wherein selenoacetal (SA) can decompose into active enone selenide (ES) and diselenides. Reintroducing selenol initiates a renewed reaction with the enone selenide, facilitating material recycling and yielding a newly developed dynamic material exhibiting both photo- and thermal responsiveness. The results underscore the potential of selenoacetal polymers in terms of recyclability and selective degradation, making them a valuable addition to conventional covalent adaptable networks.

A new PEDV strain CH/HLJJS/2022 can challenge current detection methods and vaccines.

BACKGROUND: Porcine epidemic diarrhea virus (PEDV) variant strains cause great economic losses to the global swine industry. However, vaccines do not provide sufficient protection against currently circulating strains due to viral mutations. This study traced the molecular characteristics of the most recent isolates in China and aimed to provide a basis for the prevention and treatment of PEDV. METHODS: We obtained samples from a Chinese diarrheal swine farm in 2022. Reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction and immunofluorescence were used to determine the etiology, and the full-length PEDV genome was sequenced. Nucleotide similarity was calculated using MEGA to construct a phylogenetic tree and DNASTAR. Mutant amino acids were aligned using DNAMAN and modeled by SWISS-MODEL, Phyre2 and FirstGlance in JMOL for protein tertiary structure simulation. Additionally, TMHMM was used for protein function prediction. RESULTS: A PEDV virulent strain CH/HLJJS/2022 was successfully isolated in China. A genome-wide based phylogenetic analysis suggests that it belongs to the GII subtype, and 96.1-98.9% homology existed in the whole genomes of other strains. For the first time, simultaneous mutations of four amino acids were found in the highly conserved membrane (M) and nucleocapsid (N) proteins, as well as eight amino acid mutations that differed from the vast majority of strains in the spike (S) protein. Three of the mutations alter the S-protein spatial structure. In addition, typing markers exist during strain evolution, but isolates are using the fusion of specific amino acids from multiple variant strains to add additional features, as also demonstrated by protein alignments and 3D models of numerous subtype strains. CONCLUSION: The newly isolated prevalent strain CH/HLJJS/2022 belonged to the GII subtype, and thirteen mutations different from other strains were found, including mutations in the highly conserved m and N proteins, and in the S1° and COE neutralizing epitopes of the S protein. PEDV is breaking through original cognitions and moving on a more complex path. Surveillance for PEDV now and in the future and improvements derived from mutant strain vaccines are highly warranted.

Preparation, structural properties, and in vitro and in vivo activities of peptides against dipeptidyl peptidase IV (DPP-IV) and α-glucosidase: a general review.

Diabetes is one of the fastest-growing and most widespread diseases worldwide. Approximately 90% of diabetic patients have type 2 diabetes. In 2019, there were about 463 million diabetic patients worldwide. Inhibiting the dipeptidyl peptidase IV (DPP-IV) and α-glucosidase activity is an effective strategy for the treatment of type 2 diabetes. Currently, various anti-diabetic bioactive peptides have been isolated and identified. This review summarizes the preparation methods, structure-effect relationships, molecular binding sites, and effectiveness validation of DPP-IV and α-glucosidase inhibitory peptides in cellular and animal models. The analysis of peptides shows that the DPP-IV inhibitory peptides, containing 2-8 amino acids and having proline, leucine, and valine at their N-terminal and C-terminal, are the highly active peptides. The more active α-glucosidase inhibitory peptides contain 2-9 amino acids and have valine, isoleucine, and proline at the N-terminal and proline, alanine, and serine at the C-terminal.

Optimization strategy for the early timing of bronchoalveolar lavage treatment for children with severe mycoplasma pneumoniae pneumonia.

BACKGROUND: Early evaluation of severe mycoplasma pneumoniae pneumonia (SMPP) and the prompt utilization of fiberoptic bronchoscopic manipulation can effectively alleviate complications and restrict the progression of sequelae. This study aim to establish a nomogram forecasting model for SMPP in children and explore an optimal early therapeutic bronchoalveolar lavage (TBAL) treatment strategy. METHODS: This retrospective study included children with mycoplasma pneumoniae pneumonia (MPP) from January 2019 to December 2021. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was used to screen independent risk factors for SMPP and establish a nomogram model. The bootstrap method was employed and a receiver operator characteristic (ROC) curve was drawn to evaluate the accuracy and robustness of the model. Kaplan-Meier analysis was used to assess the effect of lavage and hospitalization times. RESULTS: A total of 244 cases were enrolled in the study, among whom 68 with SMPP and 176 with non-SMPP (NSMPP). A prediction model with five independent risk factors: left upper lobe computed tomography (CT) score, sequential organ failure assessment (SOFA) score, acute physiology and chronic health assessment (APACHE) II score, bronchitis score (BS), and c-reactive protein (CRP) was established based on the multivariate logistic regression analysis. The ROC curve of the prediction model showed the area under ROC curve (AUC) was 0.985 (95% confidence interval (CI) 0.972-0.997). The Hosmer-Lemeshow goodness-of-fit test results showed that the nomogram model predicted the risk of SMPP well (χ2 = 2.127, P = 0.977). The log-rank result suggested that an early BAL treatment could shorten MPP hospitalization time (P = 0.0057). CONCLUSION: This nomogram model, based on the left upper lobe CT score, SOFA score, APACHE II score, BS, and CRP level, represents a valuable tool to predict the risk of SMPP in children and optimize the timing of TBAL.

Study of T2 mapping in quantifying and discriminating uterine lesions under different magnetic field strengths: 1.5 T vs. 3.0 T.

BACKGROUND: MRI is the best imaging tool for the evaluation of uterine tumors, but conventional MRI diagnosis results rely on radiologists and contrast agents (if needed). As a new objective, reproducible and contrast-agent free quantification technique, T2 mapping has been applied to a number of diseases, but studies on the evaluation of uterine lesions and the influence of magnetic field strength are few. Therefore, the aim of this study was to systematically investigate and compare the performance of T2 mapping as a nonenhanced imaging tool in discriminating common uterine lesions between 1.5 T and 3.0 T MRI systems. METHODS: A total of 50 healthy subjects and 126 patients with suspected uterine lesions were enrolled in our study, and routine uterine MRI sequences with additional T2 mapping sequences were performed. T2 maps were calculated by monoexponential fitting using a custom code in MATLAB. T2 values of normal uterine structures in the healthy group and lesions (benign: adenomyosis, myoma, endometrial polyps; malignant: cervical cancer, endometrial carcinoma) in the patient group were collected. The differences in T2 values between 1.5 T MRI and 3.0 T MRI in any normal structure or lesion were compared. The comparison of T2 values between benign and malignant lesions was also performed under each magnetic field strength, and the diagnostic efficacies of the T2 value obtained through receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis were compared between 1.5 T and 3.0 T. RESULTS: The mean T2 value of any normal uterine structure or uterine lesion under 3.0 T MRI was significantly lower than that under 1.5 T MRI (p < 0.05). There were significant differences in T2 values between each lesion subgroup under both 1.5 T and 3.0 T MRI. Moreover, the T2 values of benign lesions (71.1 ± 22.0 ms at 1.5 T and 63.4 ± 19.1 ms at 3.0 T) were also significantly lower than those of malignant lesions (101.1 ± 4.5 ms at 1.5 T and 93.5 ± 5.1 ms at 3.0 T) under both field strengths. In the aspect of differentiating benign from malignant lesions, the area under the curve of the T2 value under 3.0 T (0.94) was significantly higher than that under 1.5 T MRI (0.90) (p = 0.02). CONCLUSION: T2 mapping can be a potential tool for quantifying common uterine lesions, and it has better performance in distinguishing benign from malignant lesions under 3.0 T MRI.

RNASEH1-AS1 induced by H3K27ac stabilizes ANXA2 mRNA to promote the progression of colorectal cancer through recruiting BUD13.

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is a malignant tumor with high morbidity and mortality. It is well-accepted that dysregulated lncRNAs are closely related to the development of CRC. In this study, the function and mechanism of RNASEH1-AS1 in CRC were investigated. RT-qPCR and western blot detected the expression of targeted genes in tissues and cells. CCK-8, clone formation, wound healing assay, and Transwell were applied to evaluate CRC cell malignant behaviors. ChIP, RIP, and RNA pull-down validated interactions among RNASEH1-AS1, H3K27ac, CBP, BUD13, and ANXA2. Nucleoplasmic separation and FISH assay determined the location of RNASEH1-AS1 in CRC cells. IHC assay was used to detect Ki-67 expression in tumor tissues from mice. RNASEH1-AS1 was highly expressed in CRC tumor tissues and cells. RNASEH1-AS1 silencing effectively suppressed the viability, proliferation, migration, and invasion of CRC cells. In addition, CBP-mediated H3K27ac increased RNASEH1-AS1 expression in CRC cells and RNASEH1-AS1 could elevate ANXA2 expression through recruiting BUD13. Furthermore, RNASEH1-AS1 silencing inhibited malignant phenotypes of CRC cells and tumor growth in mice through decreasing ANXA2 expression and inactivating the Wnt/ß-catenin pathway. Our results revealed that RNASEH1-AS1 induced by CBP-mediated H3K27ac activated Wnt/ß-catenin pathway to promote CRC progression through recruiting BUD13 to stabilize ANXA2 mRNA, which provides substantial evidence of RNASEH1-AS1 in CRC. Targeting RNASEH1-AS1 might alleviate CRC progression.

Effect of atrazine on testicular toxicity involves accommodative disorder of xenobiotic metabolizing enzymes system and testosterone synthesis in European quail (Coturnix coturnix).

Due to the wide use of atrazine (ATR), the concern has increased regarding the negative impact of ATR on reproduction. Nevertheless, the reproductive effects caused by different exposure concentrations and the severity of toxic damage are poorly understood. In organisms, ATR is metabolized and degraded through phase II enzyme systems, and changes in cytochrome P450 (CYP) enzymes may have a regulatory role in the harm of ATR. However, less information is available on the induction of CYPs by ATR in avian organisms, and even less on its effects on the testis. Birds are exposed to ATR mainly through food residues and contaminated water, the purpose of this study was to examine reproductive toxicity by different exposure concentrations and elaborate metabolic disorders caused by ATR in European quail (Coturnix coturnix). In this study, the quail were given ATR at 50 mg/kg, 250 mg/kg and 500 mg/kg by oral gavage for 45 days, and the testicular weight coefficients, histopathology and ultrastructure of testes, primary biochemical functions, sex steroid hormones, critical protein levels in the testosterone synthesis pathway, the expression of genes involved CYPs, gonad axis and nuclear receptors expression were investigated. Altogether, testicular coefficient decreased significantly in the high-dose group (1.22%) compared with the control group (3.03%) after 45 days of ATR exposure, and ATR is a potent CYP disruptor that acts through the NXRs and steroid receptor subfamily (APND, CAR, ERND and ERα) without a dose-dependent manner. Notably, ATR interfered with the homeostasis of hormones by triggering the expression of hormones on the gonad axis (LH and E2). These results suggest that exposure to ATR can cause testicular toxicity involving accommodative disorder of phase II enzyme and testosterone synthesis in European quail.

Acanthopanax senticosus Polysaccharide Enhances the Pathogen Resistance of Radiation-Damaged Caenorhabditis elegans through Intestinal p38 MAPK-SKN-1/ATF-7 Pathway and Stress Response.

With the advancement of science and technology, humans are chronically exposed to ionizing radiation. It is crucial to look for efficient and low-toxic anti-radiation agents. Through preliminary screening, we found that Acanthopanax senticosus polysaccharide (ASPS) played a major role in regulating immune damage caused by radiation. The objective of this study was to apply the Caenorhabditis elegans-P. aeruginosa (PA14) infection model to illuminate the mechanism of ASPS increasing the pathogen resistance of radiation-damaged nematodes. Results indicated that ASPS (1 mg/mL) significantly enhanced the pathogen resistance of radiation-damaged nematodes by directly elevating the immune response of nematodes rather than by affecting the bacterial activity. Through further research on the p38 MAPK signaling pathway and related mutants, we found that ASPS functioned by the p38 MAPK pathway in the intestine, and SKN-1, ATF-7 as the downstream targets of PMK-1 participated the regulation of ASPS. In addition, ASPS markedly alleviated the stress status of damaged nematodes by regulating oxidative stress. Collectively, our findings suggest that ASPS enhances the pathogen resistance of radiation-damaged nematodes through the intestinal p38MAPK-SKN-1/ATF-7 pathway and stress response.

The Memory of Rice Response to Spaceflight Stress: From the Perspective of Metabolomics and Proteomics.

The stress response of plants to spaceflight has been confirmed in contemporary plants, and plants retained the memory of spaceflight through methylation reaction. However, how the progeny plants adapt to this cross-generational stress memory was rarely reported. Here, we used the ShiJian-10 retractable satellite carrying Dongnong416 rice seeds for a 12.5-day on-orbit flight and planted the F2 generation after returning to the ground. We evaluated the agronomic traits of the F2 generation plants and found that the F2 generation plants had no significant differences in plant height and number of tillers. Next, the redox state in F2 plants was evaluated, and it was found that the spaceflight broke the redox state of the F2 generation rice. In order to further illustrate the stress response caused by this redox state imbalance, we conducted proteomics and metabolomics analysis. Proteomics results showed that the redox process in F2 rice interacts with signal transduction, stress response, and other pathways, causing genome instability in the plant, leading to transcription, post-transcriptional modification, protein synthesis, protein modification, and degradation processes were suppressed. The metabolomics results showed that the metabolism of the F2 generation plants was reshaped. These metabolic pathways mainly included amino acid metabolism, sugar metabolism, cofactor and vitamin metabolism, purine metabolism, phenylpropane biosynthesis, and flavonoid metabolism. These metabolic pathways constituted a new metabolic network. This study confirmed that spaceflight affected the metabolic changes in offspring rice, which would help better understand the adaptation mechanism of plants to the space environment.

The Therapeutic Effect of Acanthopanax senticosus Components on Radiation-Induced Brain Injury Based on the Pharmacokinetics and Neurotransmitters.

Acanthopanax senticosus (AS) is a medicinal and food homologous plant with many biological activities. In this research, we generated a brain injury model by 60Co -γ ray radiation at 4 Gy, and gavaged adult mice with the extract with AS, Acanthopanax senticocus polysaccharides (ASPS), flavones, syringin and eleutheroside E (EE) to explore the therapeutic effect and metabolic characteristics of AS on the brain injury. Behavioral tests and pathological experiments showed that the AS prevented the irradiated mice from learning and memory ability impairment and protected the neurons of irradiated mice. Meanwhile, the functional components of AS increased the antioxidant activity of irradiated mice. Furthermore, we found the changes of neurotransmitters, especially in the EE and syringin groups. Finally, distribution and pharmacokinetic analysis of AS showed that the functional components, especially EE, could exert their therapeutic effects in brain of irradiated mice. This lays a theoretical foundation for the further research on the treatment of radiation-induced brain injury by AS.

Eleutheroside E reduces intestinal fat accumulation in Caenorhabditis elegans through neuroendocrine signals.

BACKGROUND: Acanthopanax senticosus, a small woody shrub of the family Araliaceae, can be used as a functional food with multiple biological activities. Eleutheroside E (EE), an important active component of A. senticosus, has significant effects on neurological diseases. However, whether EE can regulate lipid metabolism has not been reported. The brain can mediate communication between neurons and intestinal cells through long-distance neuroendocrine signals. We speculated that EE might regulate the intestinal lipid metabolism of Caenorhabditis elegans through neuroendocrine signals. RESULTS: First, we found that EE reduced the intestinal fat content of C. elegans, without affecting development, reproduction, food intake or movement. In addition, EE significantly regulated genes and metabolites related to lipid metabolism. EE extensively affected fatty acid synthesis, ß-oxidation and lipolysis processes, and regulated the content of various fatty acid and lipid metabolism intermediates. We finally proved that EE reduced intestinal fat storage through serotonin and neuropeptide flp-7-npr-22 pathways in the nervous system. CONCLUSION: EE is expected to be a functional food that regulates lipid metabolism. © 2022 Society of Chemical Industry.

High-throughput metabolomics method based on liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry: Insights into the underlying mechanisms of salinity-alkalinity exposure-induced metabolites changes in Barbus capito.

It is critical to investigate the adaptive development and the physiological mechanism of fish in external stimulation. In this study, the response of Barbus capito to salinity-alkalinity exposure was explored by high-throughput nontargeted and liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry-based metabolomics to investigate metabolic biomarker and pathway changes. Meanwhile, the biochemical indexes of Barbus capito were measured to discover the chronic impairment response to salinity-alkalinity exposures. A total of 29 tissue metabolites were determined to deciphering the endogenous metabolic changes of fishes during the different concentration salinity-alkalinity exposures environment, which were mainly involved in the key metabolism including the phenylalanine, tyrosine, and tryptophan biosynthesis, arachidonic acid metabolism, pyruvate metabolism, citrate cycle, and glycerophospholipid metabolism. Finally, we found the amino acid metabolism as key target was associated with the endogenous metabolites and metabolic pathways of Barbus capito to salinity-alkalinity exposures. In conclusion, metabolomics is a potentially powerful tool to reveal the mechanism information of fish in various exposure environments.

Divergent Roles of miR-3162-3p in Pulmonary Inflammation in Normal and Asthmatic Mice as well as Antagonism of miR-3162-3p in Asthma Treatment.

MicroRNA (miRNA) mimics or antagomirs hold great promise for asthma treatment compared with glucocorticoids as mainstay therapy for asthma. But the role of miRNA in regulating asthmatic inflammation is largely unclear. We previously reported that miR-3162-3p in the peripheral blood of children with asthma was obviously upregulated compared to that in healthy children. This study aimed to elucidate the role of miR-3162-3p in pulmonary inflammation in normal and asthmatic mice as well as preliminarily explore the potential of miR-3162-3p antagomir in asthma treatment. A noninvasive whole-body plethysmograph measured airway responsiveness. Both qRT-PCR and Western blot were used to detect the expression of miRNA, mRNA, or protein. Cells in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid were counted by platelet counting and Wright's staining. Inflammatory infiltration and mucus secretion were identified by hematoxylin and eosin and periodic acid-Schiff  staining, respectively. Cytokines in the lungs were detected by ELISA. The miR-3162-3p mimic intraperitoneally administered to normal mice decreased ß-catenin levels in the lungs without obviously altering the lung histology and cytokine levels. Antagonizing miR-3162-3p in ovalbumin-induced asthmatic mice effectively alleviated the typical features of asthma, such as airway hyper-responsiveness, airway inflammation, and Th1/Th2 cytokine imbalance, and concomitantly rescued the total and active ß-catenin expression. Collectively, we discovered divergent roles of miR-3162-3p in lung inflammation between normal and asthmatic mice. The anti-inflammatory effects of the miR-3162-3p antagomir were comparable to those of glucocorticoid treatment. Our study helped in understanding the contribution of miRNAs to the pathogenesis of asthma.

On-Demand Dissoluble Diselenide-Containing Hydrogel.

On-demand dissolution of hydrogels is being increasingly studied for their potential use in burn wound dressing applications. Herein, a dynamic diselenide-containing hydrogel is developed through a very simple one-pot and two-step process starting from the selenol functionalization of a partially hydrolyzed poly(2-ethyl-2-oxazoline) with γ-butyroselenolactone. The hydrogel spontaneously cross-links via an in situ oxidation of the selenol functionalities in air. The gelation process and the final viscoelastic properties of the gel are characterized by rheological experiments. The mechanical properties of those new diselenide-containing hydrogels are easily tuned by varying the concentration of γ-butyroselenolactone. The materials also show good skin adhesion and UV light responsiveness. A unique feature of the hydrogel is its capability to be fully and rapidly dissolved on-demand, via oxidation or reduction of the diselenide cross-links, making them particularly attractive for burn wound dressing applications.

Eleutheroside E Enhances the Long-Term Memory of Radiation-Damaged C. elegans through G-Protein-Coupled Receptor and Neuropeptide Signaling Pathways.

Eleutheroside E (EE), a principal active compound of Acanthopanax senticosus, has been shown to have a certain neuromodulation effect. Our previous study indicates that EE protects nerve damage caused by radiation. However, its specific function and underlying mechanism remain unknown. Therefore, the objective of this study is to apply the C. elegans model to illuminate the property and mechanism of EE protecting against nerve damage caused by radiation. Here, we found that EE significantly improved the long-term memory of radiation-damaged C. elegans. Through transcriptome sequencing, the results showed that EE protected radiation-damaged C. elegans mainly through G-protein-coupled receptor and neuropeptide signaling pathways. Further research indicated that EE affected the activity of CREB by cAMP-PKA, Gqα-PLC, and neuropeptide signaling pathways to ultimately improve the long-term memory of radiation-damaged C. elegans. In addition, the activity of Gqα and neuropeptides in AWC neurons and the activity of CREB in AIM neurons might be crucial for EE to function.

Positively charged conjugated microporous polymers with antibiofouling activity for ultrafast and highly selective uranium extraction from seawater.

Uranium high-efficiency separation from seawater still has some obstacles such as slow sorption rate, poor selectivity and biofouling. Herein, we report a strategy for ultrafast and highly selective uranium extraction from seawater by positively charged conjugated microporous polymers (CMPs). The polymers are synthesized by Sonogashira-Hagihara cross-coupling reaction of 1,3-dibromo-5,5-dimethylhydantoin and 1,3,5-triethynylbenzene, and then modified with oxime and carboxyl via click reaction. The CMPs show an ultrafast sorption (0.46 mg g-1 day-1) for uranium, and possess an outstanding selectivity with a high sorption capacity ratio of U/V (8.4) in real seawater. The study of adsorption process and mechanism indicate that the CMPs skeleton exhibits high affinity for uranium and can accelerate the sorption, and uranium(VI) is adsorbed on the materials by the interaction of oxime/carboxyl ligands and hydantoin. Moreover, the material can be simply loaded onto the filter membrane, and shows remarkable antibiofouling properties against E. coli and S. aureus and excellent uptake capacity for uranium with low concentration in real seawater. This work may provide a promising approach to design adsorbents with fast adsorption rate, high selectivity and antibacterial activity, and expand the thinking over the development of novel and highly efficient adsorbents for uranium extraction from seawater.

A bovine lactoferrin-derived peptide induced osteogenesis via regulation of osteoblast proliferation and differentiation.

Osteoporosis is a disease of aging, characterized by a decrease in bone quality and a reduction in bone strength. Promoting the activity of osteoblasts is a useful strategy for combating the progression of osteoporosis. As a novel bone growth factor, lactoferrin plays a role in the anabolic activity in bone by inducing the proliferation and differentiation of osteoblasts and inhibiting the formation of osteoclasts. However, potential peptides with osteogenic activity from lactoferrin have not been identified. In the present study, a peptide with osteogenic activity-LFP-C, fragment residues 624 to 632, derived from lactoferrin hydrolysates-was identified using ultra-performance liquid chromatography/quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry and screened using molecular docking analysis. The LFP-C peptide significantly increased the proliferation of mouse cell line MC3T3-E1 and had a promoting effect on alkaline phosphatase activity and calcium deposition. Moreover, LFP-C increased the proportion of osteoblasts in the G2 and M phases. The osteogenic mechanism of LFP-C was also studied by molecular docking. We found that LFP-C could bind to the key domain (Lys13-Thr15-Gln16-Leu17-Gly18-Asp22) of epidermal growth factor receptor, a vital receptor tyrosine kinase that leads to the activation of the mitogen-activated protein kinase pathway. The main interaction forces were interpolated charge, hydrophobicity, and hydrogen bonding. Results indicated that LFP-C may play an osteogenic role in a similar way to lactoferrin, by promoting the proliferation and differentiation of osteoblasts. The findings of this in vitro experiment also demonstrated that the molecular docking method could play a role in the screening process; this in silico approach allowed for faster and cheaper identification of a promising bioactive component.