Isotropic Quantum Griffiths Singularity in Nd_{0.8}Sr_{0.2}NiO_{2} Infinite-Layer Superconducting Thin Films.

This work reports on the emergence of quantum Griffiths singularity (QGS) associated with the magnetic field induced superconductor-metal transition (SMT) in unconventional Nd_{0.8}Sr_{0.2}NiO_{2} infinite layer superconducting thin films. The system manifests isotropic SMT features under both in-plane and perpendicular magnetic fields. Importantly, after scaling analysis of the isothermal magnetoresistance curves, the obtained effective dynamic critical exponents demonstrate divergent behavior when approaching the zero-temperature critical point B_{c}^{*}, identifying the QGS characteristics. Moreover, the quantum fluctuation associated with the QGS can quantitatively explain the upturn of the upper critical field around zero temperature for both the in-plane and perpendicular magnetic fields in the phase boundary of SMT. These properties indicate that the QGS in the Nd_{0.8}Sr_{0.2}NiO_{2} superconducting thin film is isotropic. Moreover, a higher magnetic field gives rise to a metallic state with the resistance-temperature relation R(T) exhibiting lnT dependence among the 2-10 K range and T^{2} dependence of resistance below 1.5 K, which is significant evidence of Kondo scattering. The interplay between isotropic QGS and Kondo scattering in the unconventional Nd_{0.8}Sr_{0.2}NiO_{2} superconductor can illustrate the important role of rare region in QGS and help to uncover the exotic superconductivity mechanism in this system.

Lewis Acid-Driven Multicomponent Reactions Enable 2-Alkyl Chromanones with Anticancer Activities.

2-Alkyl chromanone scaffold has become prominent in pharmaceuticals and natural compounds. Consequently, devising robust strategies for synthesizing 2-alkyl chromanones remains crucial. Here, multicomponent reactions were employed to synthesize 2-alkyl chromanones containing an oxazole moiety using 3-formylchromones, amines, and N-propargylamides as reactants. This method utilizes readily available feedstocks with a catalytic amount of Zn(OTf)2 and exhibits an impressive substrate scope compared to existing methods. Importantly, the synthesized compounds demonstrated highly selective anticancer activity against the DU145 cell line.

The Surgical Strategy Cerebrospinal Fluid Decompression Facilitates Outcomes of Adults with Chiari Malformation Type I: An Observational, Real-World, Single-Center Study of 528 Patients.

OBJECTIVE: We designed this study to introduce the surgical strategy cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) decompression in treatment of Chiari malformation type I and compared CSF decompression with other surgical strategies to provide a solid basis for patient counseling. METHODS: The study enrolled 528 consecutive patients with CMI who underwent surgical interventions from 2012 to 2022. The surgical strategy for these patients was bony and dural decompression, anatomical reduction of herniated tonsils, or CSF decompression. Short-term results were determined after 3 months; long-term outcomes were evaluated at last follow-up (at least 18 months). RESULTS: CSF decompression was independently associated with better long- or short-term primary outcomes than anatomical reduction of herniated tonsils or bony and dural decompression (P < 0.001). Compared with short-term, the long-term outcomes were better in patients who underwent CSF decompression (P = 0.035), but were worse in patients with bony and dural decompression (P = 0.03). Specific surgical techniques cannot affect the long- and short-term outcomes of patients with Chiari malformation type I. CSF decompression provided better long-term syringomyelia improvement than short-term (181/218, 83% vs. 169/218, 77.5%; P < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: CSF decompression, but not a specific surgical technique or operative method, was associated with favorable neurological outcomes in ADULT patients with Chiari malformation type I. The surgical technique and operative method should be selected according to the characteristics of each patient and the intraoperative condition to normalize CSF circulation at the craniovertebral junction area. The intraoperative target, smooth CSF flow out from the fourth ventricle and in to the bilateral Luschka foramina, could be observed.

Palladium-anchored calix[4]arene-derived porous organic polymer towards efficient hydrolytic cleavage of carbon disulfide.

The release of carbon disulfide can have adverse effects on our environment and human health. The stability of carbon disulfide and the slow kinetics of hydrolysis can make it challenging to achieve efficient and practical cleavage of the CS bonds. Herein, a calix[4]arene-based porous organic polymer (CPOP-1) is innovatively synthesized through an optimized polycondensation reaction using C-Methylcalix[4]resorcinarene and hexafluoro-hexaazatriphenylene as monomers. Subsequently, palladium-induced calix[4]arene-based porous organic polymer was also synthesized via strong Pd-N coordination bonds to construct the metal-induced porous catalyst (CPOP-2). The polymeric catalyst active center [Pd2+(N^N)(NO3-)2] demonstrated outstanding catalytic hydrolysis performance (11.14 µmol g-1 h-1) in 10.5 h which is significantly enhanced by ca.13.2 times as compared to reported mononuclear Bpy-Pd(NO3)2, and 7.07 times than model trinuclear complex catalyst HATN-Pd-1, respectively. The control experiments revealed that POP catalysts showcased robust stability, prolonged effectiveness, and feasible recyclability during the hydrolytic cleavage of carbon disulfide at room temperature in aqueous solutions. Furthermore, the coordination environment of [Pd2+(N^N)] was validated through XPS, EXAFS, and isotope labeling measurements, and the hydrolysis cleavage products were confirmed e. g. CO2, sulfide, and protons. More importantly, a reaction mechanism was formulated coupled with theoretical calculations, and simulations. The proposed mechanism involves sequential OH- nucleophilic attacks on the carbon atoms of insert-coordinated CS2 and COS, leading to the cleavage of double CS bonds and the formation of CO bonds. The concurrent dissociation of the C-S bond and liberation of CO2 result in an intermediate structure characterized by [(N^N)Pd2+](SH-)2. This intermediate motif serves as the source of the thermodynamic driving force for the reaction.

Progress in long non-coding RNAs as prognostic factors of papillary thyroid carcinoma.

Papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC) is generally recognized as a slow-growing tumor. However, a small subset of patients may still experience relapse or metastasis shortly after therapy, leading to a poor prognosis and raising concerns about excessive medical treatment. One major challenge lies in the inadequacy of effective biomarkers for accurate risk stratification. Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs), which are closely related to malignant characteristics and poor prognosis, play a significant role in the genesis and development of PTC through various pathways. The objective of this review is to provide a comprehensive summary of the biological functions of lncRNAs in PTC, identify prognosis-relevant lncRNAs, and explore their potential mechanisms in drug resistance to BRAF kinase inhibitors, tumor dedifferentiation, and lymph node metastasis. By doing so, this review aims to offer valuable references for both basic research and the prediction of PTC prognosis.

Short-term effects of cupping and scraping therapy for chronic nonspecific low-back pain: A prospective, multicenter randomized trial.

BACKGROUND: As one of the most common musculoskeletal ailments, chronic nonspecific low-back pain (CNLBP) causes persistent disability and substantial medical expenses. Epidemiological evidence shows that the incidence rate of CNLBP in young and middle-aged people who are demanded rapidly recovery and social contribution is rising. Recent guidelines indicate a reduced role for medicines in the management of CNLBP. OBJECTIVE: The present study investigates the short-term effects of cupping and scraping therapy using a medicated balm, compared to nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) with a capsaicin plaster, in the treatment of CNLBP. DESIGN, SETTING, PARTICIPANTS AND INTERVENTIONS: We designed a prospective multicenter randomized clinical trial enrolling patients from January 1, 2022 to December 31, 2022. A total of 156 patients with CNLBP were randomized into two parallel groups. Diclofenac sodium-sustained release tablets were administered orally to participants in the control group for one week while a capsaicin plaster was applied externally. Patients in the test group were treated with cupping and scraping using a medical device and medicated balm. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Primary outcome was pain recorded using the visual analogue scale (VAS). Two secondary outcomes were recorded using the Japanese Orthopedic Association low-back pain scale (JOA) and the traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) syndrome integral scale (TCMS) as assessment tools. RESULTS: Between baseline and postintervention, all changes in outcome metric scales were statistically significant (P < 0.001). Compared to the control group, patients in the test group had a significantly greater treatment effect in all outcome variables, as indicated by lower VAS and TCMS scores and higher JOA scores, after the one-week intervention period (P < 0.001). Further, according to the findings of multivariate linear regression analysis, the participants' pain (VAS score) was related to their marital status, age, smoking habits and body mass index. No adverse reactions were reported for any participants in this trial. CONCLUSION: The effectiveness of TCM combined with the new physiotherapy tool is superior to that of NSAID combined with topical plasters, regarding to pain intensity, TCM symptoms and quality of life. The TCM plus physiotherapy also showed more stable and long-lasting therapeutic effects. TRIAL REGISTRATION: This study was registered at Chinese Clinical Trial Registry (ChiCTR2200055655). Please cite this article as: He JY, Tu XY, Yin ZF, Mu H, Luo MJ, Chen XY, Cai WB, Zhao X, Peng C, Fang FF, Lü C, Li B. Short-term effects of cupping and scraping therapy for chronic nonspecific low-back pain: A prospective, multicenter randomized trial. J Integr Med. 2024; 22(1): 39-45.

Hepatic injury and ileitis associated with gut microbiota dysbiosis in mice upon F-53B exposure.

Chlorinated polyfluorinated ether sulfonate (F-53B), a substitute of perfluorooctane sulfonic acid (PFOS), has attracted significant attention for its link to hepatotoxicity and enterotoxicity. Nevertheless, the underlying mechanisms of F-53B-induced enterohepatic toxicity remain incompletely understood. This study aimed to explore the role of F-53B exposure on enterohepatic injury based on the gut microbiota, pathological and molecular analysis in mice. Here, we exposed C57BL/6 mice to F-53B (0, 4, 40, and 400 µg/L) for 28 days. Our findings revealed a significant accumulation of F-53B in the liver, followed by small intestines, and feces. In addition, F-53B induced pathological collagen fiber deposition and lipoid degeneration, up-regulated the expression of fatty acid ß-oxidation-related genes (PPARα and PPARγ, etc), while simultaneously down-regulating pro-inflammatory genes (Nlrp3, IL-1ß, and Mcp1) in the liver. Meanwhile, F-53B induced ileal mucosal barrier damage, and an up-regulation of pro-inflammatory genes and mucosal barrier-related genes (Muc1, Muc2, Claudin1, Occludin, Mct1, and ZO-1) in the ileum. Importantly, F-53B distinctly altered gut microbiota compositions by increasing the abundance of Akkermansia and decreasing the abundance of Prevotellaceae_NK3B31_group in the feces. F-53B-altered microbiota compositions were significantly associated with genes related to fatty acid ß-oxidation, inflammation, and mucosal barrier. In summary, our results demonstrate that F-53B is capable of inducing hepatic injury, ileitis, and gut microbiota dysbiosis in mice, and the gut microbiota dysbiosis may play an important role in the F-53B-induced enterohepatic toxicity.

Metal-Free Catalyzed Oxidation/Decarboxylative [3+2] Cycloaddition Sequences of 3-Formylchromones to Access Pyrroles with Anti-Cancer Activity.

An efficient and direct approach to pyrroles was successfully developed by employing 3-formylchromones as decarboxylative coupling partners, and facilitated by microwave irradiation. The protocol utilizes easily accessible feedstocks, a catalytic amount of DBU without any metals, resulting in high efficiency and regioselectivity. Notably, all synthesized products were evaluated against five different cancer cell lines and compound 3l selectively inhibited the proliferation of HCT116 cells with an IC50 value of 10.65 µM.

Dual targeted extracellular vesicles regulate oncogenic genes in advanced pancreatic cancer.

Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) tumours carry multiple gene mutations and respond poorly to treatments. There is currently an unmet need for drug carriers that can deliver multiple gene cargoes to target high solid tumour burden like PDAC. Here, we report a dual targeted extracellular vesicle (dtEV) carrying high loads of therapeutic RNA that effectively suppresses large PDAC tumours in mice. The EV surface contains a CD64 protein that has a tissue targeting peptide and a humanized monoclonal antibody. Cells sequentially transfected with plasmid DNAs encoding for the RNA and protein of interest by Transwell®-based asymmetric cell electroporation release abundant targeted EVs with high RNA loading. Together with a low dose chemotherapy drug, Gemcitabine, dtEVs suppress large orthotopic PANC-1 and patient derived xenograft tumours and metastasis in mice and extended animal survival. Our work presents a clinically accessible and scalable way to produce abundant EVs for delivering multiple gene cargoes to large solid tumours.

Kondo scattering in underdoped Nd1-xSrxNiO2 infinite-layer superconducting thin films.

The recent discovery of superconductivity in infinite-layer nickelates generates tremendous research endeavors, but the ground state of their parent compounds is still under debate. Here, we report experimental evidence for the dominant role of Kondo scattering in the underdoped Nd1-xSrxNiO2 thin films. A resistivity minimum associated with logarithmic temperature dependence in both longitudinal and Hall resistivities are observed in the underdoped Nd1-xSrxNiO2 samples before the superconducting transition. At lower temperatures down to 0.04 K, the resistivities become saturated, following the prediction of the Kondo model. A linear scaling behavior [Formula: see text] between anomalous Hall conductivity [Formula: see text] and conductivity [Formula: see text]is revealed, verifying the dominant Kondo scattering at low temperature. The effect of weak (anti-)localization is found to be secondary. Our experiments can help in clarifying the basic physics in the underdoped Nd1-xSrxNiO2 infinite-layer thin films.

Maturity-onset diabetes of the young type 9 or latent autoimmune diabetes in adults: A case report and review of literature.

BACKGROUND: Maturity-onset diabetes of the young (MODY) is a monogenic genetic disease often clinically misdiagnosed as type 1 or type 2 diabetes. MODY type 9 (MODY9) is a rare subtype caused by mutations in the PAX4 gene. Currently, there are limited reports on PAX4-MODY, and its clinical characteristics and treatments are still unclear. In this report, we described a Chinese patient with high autoimmune antibodies, hyperglycemia and a site mutation in the PAX4 gene. CASE SUMMARY: A 42-year-old obese woman suffered diabetes ketoacidosis after consuming substantial amounts of beverages. She had never had diabetes before, and no one in her family had it. However, her autoantibody tested positive, and she managed her blood glucose within the normal range for 6 mo through lifestyle inter-ventions. Later, her blood glucose gradually increased. Next-generation sequencing and Sanger sequencing were performed on her family. The results revealed that she and her mother had a heterozygous mutation in the PAX4 gene (c.314G>A, p.R105H), but her daughter did not. The patient is currently taking liraglutide (1.8 mg/d), and her blood glucose levels are under control. Previous cases were retrieved from PubMed to investigate the relationship between PAX4 gene mutations and diabetes. CONCLUSION: We reported the first case of a PAX4 gene heterozygous mutation site (c.314G>A, p.R105H), which does not appear pathogenic to MODY9 but may facilitate the progression of latent autoimmune diabetes in adults.

Silver-Catalyzed Decarboxylative Acylation of Isocyanides Accesses to α-Ketoamides with Air as a Sole Oxidant.

α-Ketoamide moieties, as privileged units, may represent a valuable option to develop compounds with favorable biological activities, such as low toxicity, promising PK and drug-like properties. An efficient silver-catalyzed decarboxylative acylation of α-oxocarboxylic acids with isocyanides was developed to derivatize the α-ketoamide functional group via a multicomponent reaction (MCR) cascade sequence in one pot. A series of α-ketoamides was synthesized with three components of isocyanides, aromatic α-oxocarboxylic acid analogues and water in moderate yields. Based on the research, the silver-catalyzed decarboxylative acylation confirmed that an oxygen atom of the amide moiety was derived from the water and air as a sole oxidant for the whole process.

Cross-cultural adaptation and psychometric validation of the Chinese version of career success in nursing scale (CSNS).

OBJECTIVE: To translate the career success in nursing scale (CSNS) into Chinese and evaluate its psychometric properties. BACKGROUND: A lower sense of career success seriously affects the enthusiasm of nurses and increases their turnover rate. Therefore, an accurate assessment of the career success level of nurses is necessary. However, China does not have a professional tool for assessing the career success of nurses. METHODS: The stratified sampling method was used to recruit participants from 22 hospitals of different grades in 5 cities in China. A total of 650 and 348 subjects were selected for item analysis and reliability and validity tests, respectively, of the translated initial scale. RESULTS: The Chinese version of the CSNS (C-CSNS) with 33 items had good psychometric properties. Cronbach's α was 0.960, split-half reliability was 0.893, and ICC within two weeks was 0.981. Exploratory factor analysis extracted 5 common factors that explained 63.73% of the total variance, and confirmatory factor analysis supported acceptable construct validity. CONCLUSION: The C-CSNS has adequate construct validity and excellent psychometric properties and can be used for accurate assessment of nurses' career success. IMPLICATIONS FOR NURSING MANAGEMENT: A new tool that is more suitable for the Chinese hospital nursing context is available for evaluating Chinese clinical nurses' career success. Nursing managers can formulate appropriate management strategies according to the evaluation results to assist nurses in career development planning, thereby improving their career success level.

Pre-treatment of rapamycin transformed M2 microglia alleviates traumatic cervical spinal cord injury via AIM2 signaling pathway in vitro and in vivo.

BACKGROUND: Traumatic spinal cord injury (SCI) is still devastating. It was suggested that the inhibition of mTOR may alleviate neuronal inflammatory injury but its underlying mechanism remained to be elucidated. AIM2 (absent in melanoma 2) recruits ASC (apoptosis-associated speck-like protein containing a CARD) and caspase-1 to form the AIM2 inflammasome, activate caspase-1, and elicit inflammatory responses. We designed this study to elucidate whether pre-treatments of rapamycin could suppress SCI induced neuronal inflammatory injury via AIM2 signaling pathway in vitro and in vivo. METHODS: We performed oxygen and glucose deprivation / re-oxygenation (OGD) treatment and rats clipping model to mimic neuronal injury after SCI in vitro and in vivo. Morphologic changes of injured spinal cord were detected by hematoxylin and eosin staining. The expression of mTOR, p-mTOR, AIM2, ASC, Caspase-1 and et al were analyzed by fluorescent staining, western blotting or qPCR. The polarization phenotype of microglia was identified by flow cytometry or fluorescent staining. RESULTS: We found BV-2 microglia without any pre-treatment cannot alleviate primary cultured neuronal OGD injury. However, pre-treated rapamycin in BV-2 cells could transform microglia to M2 phenotype and protects against neuronal OGD injury via AIM2 signaling pathway. Similarly, pre-treatment of rapamycin could improve the outcome of cervical SCI rats through AIM2 signaling pathway. CONCLUSIONS: It was suggested that resting state microglia pre-treated by rapamycin could protect against neuronal injury via AIM2 signaling pathway in vitro and in vivo. Pre-inhibition of mTOR pathway may improve neuronal protection after SCI.

Ag-doped Cu nanosheet arrays for efficient hydrogen evolution reaction.

A zinc-infiltration process was adopted to prepare silver-doped copper nanosheet arrays. The larger atomic radius of Ag introduces tensile stress, which lowers the electron density at the s-orbitals of Cu atoms and improves the adsorption capability for hydrogen atoms. As a catalyst for hydrogen evolution, these silver doped copper nanosheet arrays achieved a low overpotential of 103 mV at 10 mA cm-2 in 1 M KOH, which is 604 mV lower than that of pure copper foil.

Surgical outcomes of basilar invagination type B without atlantoaxial dislocation through simple posterior fossa decompression: a retrospective study of 18 cases.

BACKGROUND: Basilar invagination (BI) is a common disease in the craniocervical junction (CVJ) area. Posterior fossa decompression with/without fixation is a controversial surgical strategy for BI type B. This study aimed to evaluate the efficacy of simple posterior fossa decompression in treating BI type B. METHODS: This study retrospectively enrolled BI type B patients who underwent simple posterior fossa decompression at Huashan Hospital, Fudan University between 2014.12 and 2021.12. Patient data and images were recorded pre- and postoperatively (at the last follow-up) to evaluate the surgical outcomes and craniocervical stability. RESULTS: A total of 18 BI type B patients (13 females), with a mean age of 44.2±7.9 years (range 37-62 years), were enrolled. The mean follow-up period was 47.7±20.6 months (range 10-81 months). All patients received simple posterior fossa decompression without any fixation. At the last follow-up, compared with preoperation, the JOA scores were significantly higher (14.2±1.5 vs. 9.9±2.0, p = 0.001); the CCA was improved (128.7±9.6° vs. 121.5±8.1° p = 0.001), and the DOCL was reduced (7.9±1.5 mm vs. 9.9±2.5 mm, p = 0.001). However, the follow-up and preoperative ADI, BAI, PR, and D/L ratio were similar. No patients had an unstable condition between the C1-2 facet joints that was observed in the follow-up CT and dynamic X-ray. CONCLUSIONS: In BI type B patients, simple posterior fossa decompression could improve neurological function and will not induce CVJ instability in BI type B patients. Simple posterior fossa decompression could be a satisfactory surgical strategy for BI type B patients, but preoperative CVJ stability assessment is crucial.

Effects of social support, anxiety, and hope levels on cognitive bias in patients with nasogastric/nasoenteric tubes.

BACKGROUND: Unplanned extubation is a common adverse event and an important indicator of quality and safety of care. It is well recognized that the incidence of unplanned extubation of nasogastric/nasoenteric tubes is higher than that of other devices. Theory and previous research have suggested that cognitive bias in conscious patients with nasogastric/nasoenteric tubes may lead to unplanned extubation, and that social support, anxiety, and hope are influencing factors of cognitive bias. Therefore, the objective of this study was to investigate the effects of social support, anxiety, and hope levels on cognitive bias in patients with nasogastric/nasoenteric tubes. METHODS: In this cross-sectional study, 438 patients with nasogastric/nasoenteric tubes were selected from 16 hospitals in Suzhou from December 2019 to March 2022 by convenience sampling method. The participants were assessed using the General Information Questionnaire, Perceived Social Support Scale, Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7, Herth Hope Index, and Cognitive Bias Questionnaire for patients with nasogastric/nasoenteric tubes. The structural equation model was established with AMOS 22.0 software. RESULTS: The cognitive bias score of patients with nasogastric/nasoenteric tubes was 2.82±0.61. Patients' perceived levels of social support and hope were negatively correlated with their cognitive bias (r=-0.395 and -0.427, respectively, P<0.05), and anxiety was positively correlated with cognitive bias (r=0.446, P<0.05). Structural equation model analysis showed that anxiety had a direct positive effect on cognitive bias, with an effect value of 0.35 (P<0.001), and hope level had a direct negative effect on cognitive bias with an effect value of -0.33 (P<0.001). Social support had a direct negative effect on cognitive bias and was also shown to indirectly affect cognitive bias through anxiety and hope levels. The effect values were -0.22, -0.12, and -0.19 (P<0.001), for social support, anxiety, and hope, respectively. Social support, anxiety, and hope explained 46.2% of the total variation in cognitive bias. CONCLUSIONS: Moderate cognitive bias is noted in patients with nasogastric/nasoenteric tubes, and social support significantly affects cognitive bias. Anxiety and hope level play a mediating role in social support and cognitive bias. Positive psychological intervention and the obtention of positive support could improve the cognitive bias of patients with nasogastric/nasoenteric tubes.

Pelvic floor dysfunction and its influencing factors during radiotherapy in cervical cancer survivors: A cross-sectional study.

PURPOSE: Radiotherapy can negatively affect the pelvic floor function of patients with cervical cancer; however, the impact of different radiotherapy times and other related factors on pelvic floor function in cervical cancer survivors during radiotherapy remains unclear. We aimed to investigate the status of pelvic floor dysfunction (PFD) in cervical cancer survivors during radiotherapy and to analyze the factors influencing PFD. METHODS: In this cross-sectional study, a convenience sampling method was used to recruit cervical cancer survivors undergoing radiotherapy from January 2022 to July 2022 at a tertiary first-class hospital located in northeastern China. The Pelvic Floor Distress Inventory-Short Form 20 was used for participants' self-report of their PFD during radiotherapy. RESULTS: Data from 120 cervical cancer survivors were included in this study. The results showed that the mean PFDI-20 total score was 32.69 ± 7.76. Multiple stepwise linear regression analysis showed that 56.9% of the variance in PFD was explained by age (ß = 0.25, p < 0.001), body mass index (ß = 0.32, p < 0.001), recurrence (ß = 0.29, p < 0.001), number of radiotherapy sessions (ß = 0.39, p < 0.001), and number of deliveries (ß = 0.35, p < 0.001). CONCLUSION: It is important to pay more attention to the PFD status of cervical cancer survivors receiving radiotherapy. Future therapeutic approaches should involve early identification of relevant risk factors early to provide patients with personalized care at different stages of radiotherapy for reducing their discomfort and improving their health-related quality of life.

[Application of partial least squares algorithm to explore bioactive components of crude and stir-baked hawthorn for invigorating spleen and promoting digestion].

This study was aimed at identifying the bioactive components of the crude and stir-baked hawthorn for invigorating spleen and promoting digestion, respectively, to clarify the processing mechanism of hawthorn by applying the partial least squares(PLS) algorithm to build the spectrum-effect relationship model. Firstly, different polar fractions of crude and stir-baked hawthorn aqueous extracts and combinations of different fractions were prepared, respectively. Then, the contents of 24 chemical components were determined by ultra-high performance liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry. The effects of different polar fractions of crude hawthorn and stir-baked hawthorn aqueous extracts and combinations of different fractions were evaluated by measuring the gastric emptying rate and small intestinal propulsion rate. Finally, the PLS algorithm was used to establish the spectrum-effect relationship model. The results showed that there were significant differences in the contents of 24 chemical components for different polar fractions of crude and stir-baked hawthorn aqueous extracts and combinations of different fractions, and the gastric emptying rate and small intestinal propulsion rate of model rats were improved by administration of different polar fractions of crude and stir-baked hawthorn aqueous extracts and combinations of different fractions. The bioactive components of crude hawthorn identified by PLS models were vitexin-4″-O-glucoside, vitexin-2″-O-rhamnoside, neochlorogenic acid, rutin, gallic acid, vanillic acid, citric acid, malic acid, quinic acid and fumaric acid, while neochlorogenic acid, cryptochlorogenic acid, rutin, gallic acid, vanillic acid, citric acid, quinic acid and fumaric acid were the bioactive components of stir-baked hawthorn. This study provided data support and scientific basis for identifying the bioactive components of crude and stir-baked hawthorn, and clarifying the processing mechanism of hawthorn.

CircRBM23 regulates the switch between osteogenesis and adipogenesis of mesenchymal stem cells via sponging miR-338-3p.

BACKGROUND: The disruption of the balance between osteogenic and adipogenic differentiation of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) in bone marrow contributes to the adipocytes accumulation and bone loss, which leads to the development of osteoporosis (OP). The circular RNA (circRNA), circRBM23, was generated from the RNA binding motif protein 23 (RBM23) gene. It was reported that circRBM23 was down-regulated in OP patients, but it remains unknown whether its down-regulation is involved in the lineage switch of MSCs. OBJECTIVE: We aimed to explore the role and mechanism of circRBM23 in regulating the switch between osteogenic and adipogenic differentiation of MSCs. METHODS: The expression and function of circRBM23 in vitro were detected by qRT-PCR, alizarin red staining, and oil Red O staining. The interactions between circRBM23 and microRNA-338-3p (miR-338-3p) were analyzed by RNA pull-down assay, FISH, and dual-luciferase reporter assay. MSCs treated with lentivirus overexpression of circRBM23 was applied for both in vitro and in vivo experiments. RESULTS: CircRBM23 was expressed at lower levels in OP patients. Besides, circRBM23 was up-regulated during osteogenesis and down-regulated during adipogenesis of MSCs. CircRBM23 could promote the osteogenic differentiation but inhibit the adipogenic differentiation of MSCs. Mechanistically, circRBM23 acted as a sponge for microRNA-338-3p (miR-338-3p) to enhance the expression of RUNX family transcription factor 2 (RUNX2). CONCLUSIONS: Our research indicates that circRBM23 could promote the switch from adipogenic to osteogenic differentiation of MSCs via sponging miR-338-3p. It might improve the understanding of the lineage switch of MSCs and provide a potential target for diagnosing and treating OP.