[Incidence of comorbid ED with LUTS and its risk factors in patients with BPH].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the incidence of comorbid ED with lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) and its risk factors in BPH patients. METHODS: Based on inclusion and exclusion criteria, we selected BPH patients visiting the outpatient department of the Second Xiangya Hospital of Central South University from January 2020 to January 2023. We collected the general and clinical data from the patients, including age, height, body weight, abdominal circumference, hip circumference, blood pressure, blood routine, liver function, kidney function, blood lipids and fasting blood glucose, obtained their IPSS, quality of life (QOL) scores, and IIEF-5 scores by questionnaire investigation, and performed data processing and analysis with the SPSS 22.0 software. RESULTS: The incidence rate of comorbid ED with LUTS in the BPH patients rose with the increase of age, 36.46% in the 45－49-year group, 43.72% in the 50－54-year group, 53.66% in the 55－59-year group, 69.23% in the 60－64-year group, and 78.74% in the 65－70-year group. The lipid accumulation product (LAP), visceral adiposity index (VAI), triglycerides and glucose (TyG), hepatic steatosis index (HSI), body mass index (BMI), waist-to-hip ratio (WHR), waist-to-height ratio (WHtR), triglycerides (TG) and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) were correlated positively with IPSS scores and negatively with IIEF-5 scores, while LDL-C and total cholesterol (TC) negatively with IPSS scores and positively with IIEF-5 scores. CONCLUSION: The incidence of comorbid ED with LUTS in BPH patients increases with age. The risk factors for this comorbidity include hypertension, dyslipidemia, diabetes, BMI, and lifestyle, and the risk of the condition can be effectively assessed by LAP, VAI, TYG, HSI, BMI, WHtR, WHR, TG and HDL-C.

Insights into the defensive roles of lncRNAs during Mycoplasma pneumoniae infection.

Mycoplasma pneumoniae causes respiratory tract infections, affecting both children and adults, with varying degrees of severity ranging from mild to life-threatening. In recent years, a new class of regulatory RNAs called long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) has been discovered to play crucial roles in regulating gene expression in the host. Research on lncRNAs has greatly expanded our understanding of cellular functions involving RNAs, and it has significantly increased the range of functions of lncRNAs. In lung cancer, transcripts associated with lncRNAs have been identified as regulators of airway and lung inflammation in a process involving protein complexes. An excessive immune response and antibacterial immunity are closely linked to the pathogenesis of M. pneumoniae. The relationship between lncRNAs and M. pneumoniae infection largely involves lncRNAs that participate in antibacterial immunity. This comprehensive review aimed to examine the dysregulation of lncRNAs during M. pneumoniae infection, highlighting the latest advancements in our understanding of the biological functions and molecular mechanisms of lncRNAs in the context of M. pneumoniae infection and indicating avenues for investigating lncRNAs-related therapeutic targets.

Salvia miltiorrhiza suppresses cardiomyocyte ferroptosis after myocardial infarction by activating Nrf2 signaling.

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE: Ferroptosis, a recently identified non-apoptotic form of cell death reliant on iron, is distinguished by an escalation in lipid reactive oxygen species (ROS) that are iron-dependent. This phenomenon has a strong correlation with irregularities in iron metabolism and lipid peroxidation. Salvia miltiorrhiza Bunge (DS), a medicinal herb frequently utilized in China, is highly esteemed for its therapeutic effectiveness in enhancing blood circulation and ameliorating blood stasis, particularly during the treatment of cardiovascular diseases (CVDs). Numerous pharmacological studies have identified that DS manifests antioxidative stress effects as well as inhibits lipid peroxidation. However, ambiguity persists regarding the potential of DS to impede ferroptosis in cardiomyocytes and subsequently improve myocardial damage post-myocardial infarction (MI). AIM OF THE STUDY: The present work focused on investigating whether DS could be used to prevent the ferroptosis of cardiomyocytes and improve post-MI myocardial damage. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In vivo experiments: Through ligation of the left anterior descending coronary artery, we constructed both a wild-type (WT) and NF-E2 p45-related factor 2 knockout (Nrf2-/-) mouse model of MI. Effects of DS and ferrostatin-1 (Fer-1) on post-MI cardiomyocyte ferroptosis were examined through detecting ferroptosis and myocardial damage-related indicators as well as Nrf2 signaling-associated protein levels. In vitro experiments: Erastin was used for stimulating H9C2 cardiomyocytes to construct an in vitro ferroptosis cardiomyocyte model. Effects of DS and Fer-1 on cardiomyocyte ferroptosis were determined based on ferroptosis-related indicators and Nrf2 signaling-associated protein levels. Additionally, inhibitor and activator of Nrf2 were used for confirming the impact of Nrf2 signaling on DS's effect on cardiomyocyte ferroptosis. RESULTS: In vivo: In comparison to the model group, DS suppressed ferroptosis in cardiomyocytes post-MI and ameliorated myocardial damage by inducing Nrf2 signaling-related proteins (Nrf2, xCT, GPX4), diminishing tissue ferrous iron and malondialdehyde (MDA) content. Additionally, it enhanced glutathione (GSH) levels and total superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity, effects that are aligned with those of Fer-1. Moreover, the effect of DS on alleviating cardiomyocyte ferroptosis after MI could be partly inhibited through Nrf2 knockdown. In vitro: Compared with the erastin group, DS inhibited cardiomyocyte ferroptosis by promoting the expression of Nrf2 signaling-related proteins, reducing ferrous iron, ROS, and MDA levels, but increasing GSH content and SOD activity, consistent with the effect of Fer-1. Additionally, Nrf2 inhibition increased erastin-mediated ferroptosis of cardiomyocytes through decreasing Nrf2 signaling-related protein expressions. Co-treatment with DS and Nrf2 activator failed to further enhance the anti-ferroptosis effect of DS. CONCLUSION: MI is accompanied by cardiomyocyte ferroptosis, whose underlying mechanism is probably associated with Nrf2 signaling inhibition. DS possibly suppresses ferroptosis of cardiomyocytes and improves myocardial damage after MI through activating Nrf2 signaling.

Association of gestational metabolic syndrome with the Chinese Healthy Eating Index in mid-pregnancy: a cross-sectional study.

BACKGROUND: This study aims to investigate the relationship between gestational metabolic syndrome (GMS) and the Chinese Healthy Eating Index (CHEI) in mid-pregnancy, and to identify potentially beneficial or high-risk dietary habits. We have developed a mid-pregnancy version of CHEI-2022, adapting the Chinese Healthy Eating Index to align with the food quantity recommendations outlined in the 2022 Dietary Guidelines for Chinese Residents for mid-pregnancy. METHODS: Using the inclusion and exclusion criteria, data from 2411 mid-pregnant individuals were collected through interviews. The Total CHEI score and its component scores were determined through analysis of responses from the food frequency questionnaire. GMS diagnosis involved conducting physical examinations and performing blood biochemical tests. A logistic regression model was employed to analyze the relationship between GMS or related indices and both the total CHEI score and its component scores. RESULTS: The study identified an overall GMS prevalence of 21.65% (522 out of 2411 participants). During mid-pregnancy, participants diagnosed with GMS exhibited higher BMI, FBG, 1hPBG, 2hPBG, TC, TG, HDL, SBP, as well as higher educational levels and daily activity, compared to those without GMS (P < 0.001). After adjusting for potential confounders, participants with higher total CHEI scores (≥ 80) were found to have lower odds of GMS or related indices (P < 0.05). Increasing dietary intake of potatoes, whole grains, beans, dark green vegetables, and fruits, as per the CHEI recommendations, was associated with reduced odds of GMS or related indices (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: A high-quality diet, as indicated by a total CHEI score of 80 or higher, and increased consumption of specific dietary components, namely potatoes, beans, dark green vegetables, and fruits, were found to effectively reduce the odds of GMS or related indices during mid-pregnancy.

Value of Hcy combined with Framingham score for predicting macrovascular disease in elderly patients with type 2 diabetes.

To analyze the predictive value of homocysteine (Hcy) combined with the Framingham risk score for cardio- and cerebrovascular disease in elderly patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) to provide a reference for clinical treatment. We retrospectively reviewed the clinical data of 1036 elderly patients with T2DM admitted to our hospital between July 2017 and July 2022. The patients were divided into occurrence (n = 438) and control (n = 598) groups based on the incidence of cardio- or cerebrovascular disease. Univariate and multivariate logistic analyses were used to analyze the factors associated with cardio-cerebral small-vessel disease in the elderly patients with T2DM. The predictive value of Hcy combined with the Framingham score for cardio- and cerebrovascular diseases in elderly patients with T2DM was determined using receiver operating characteristic curves. Univariate analysis showed that the occurrence group had significantly higher Framingham score, systolic blood pressure (SBP), total cholesterol (TC), fasting blood glucose (FBG), 2-hour postprandial plasma glucose, Hcy, glycated hemoglobin, smoking history, and disease duration than the control group (all P < .05). Food preferences, sleep duration, physical exercise, high density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels were significantly lower in the occurrence group than in the control group (all P < .05). Multivariate logistic analysis showed that smoking history, duration of diabetes, Framingham score, SBP, TC, FBG, HDL-C, 2h postprandial plasma glucose, and Hcy levels were risk factors for cardio- and cerebrovascular disease in elderly patients with T2DM. The area under the curve for Hcy and Framingham scores was 0.741 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.635-1.871) and 0.717 (95% CI: 0.601-0.856), respectively. Hcy combined with the Framingham score demonstrated a significantly higher predictive value (0.852, 95% CI: 0.741-0.979). Long smoking history, long diabetes duration, high Framingham score, high SBP, high TC, high FBG, low HDL-C, and high Hcy levels are risk factors for cardio-cerebrovascular disease in elderly patients with T2DM. In addition, Hcy level combined with the Framingham score demonstrated superior predictive power for cardio- and cerebrovascular disease in elderly patients with T2DM.

Real-Time Recognition Method for Key Signals of Rock Fracture Acoustic Emissions Based on Deep Learning.

The characteristics of acoustic emission signals generated in the process of rock deformation and fission contain rich information on internal rock damage. The use of acoustic emissions monitoring technology can analyze and identify the precursor information of rock failure. At present, in the field of acoustic emissions monitoring and the early warning of rock fracture disasters, there is no real-time identification method for a disaster precursor characteristic signal. It is easy to lose information by analyzing the characteristic parameters of traditional acoustic emissions to find signals that serve as precursors to disasters, and analysis has mostly been based on post-analysis, which leads to poor real-time recognition of disaster precursor characteristics and low application levels in the engineering field. Based on this, this paper regards the acoustic emissions signal of rock fracture as a kind of speech signal generated by rock fracture uses this idea of speech recognition for reference alongside spectral analysis (STFT) and Mel frequency analysis to realize the feature extraction of acoustic emissions from rock fracture. In deep learning, based on the VGG16 convolutional neural network and AlexNet convolutional neural network, six intelligent real-time recognition models of rock fracture and key acoustic emission signals were constructed, and the network structure and loss function of traditional VGG16 were optimized. The experimental results show that these six deep-learning models can achieve the real-time intelligent recognition of key signals, and Mel, combined with the improved VGG16, achieved the best performance with 87.68% accuracy and 81.05% recall. Then, by comparing multiple groups of signal recognition models, Mel+VGG-FL proposed in this paper was verified as having a high recognition accuracy and certain recognition efficiency, performing the intelligent real-time recognition of key acoustic emission signals in the process of rock fracture more accurately, which can provide new ideas and methods for related research and the real-time intelligent recognition of rock fracture precursor characteristics.

Ferrostatin-1 suppresses cardiomyocyte ferroptosis after myocardial infarction by activating Nrf2 signaling.

OBJECTIVES: Ferroptosis, a new regulated cell death pathway, plays a crucial part in the development of cardiovascular disease. However, the precise underlying mechanism remains unclear. Therefore, this study aimed to elucidate this. METHODS: Herein, an erastin-induced H9C2 cell ferroptosis in vitro model and a myocardial infarction murine model, which was created by ligating the left anterior descending coronary artery, were established. Ferroptosis-related indicators, myocardial injury-related indicators, and Nrf2 signaling-related proteins expression were analyzed to explore the potential mechanism underlying cardiomyocyte ferroptosis-mediated cardiovascular disease development. RESULTS: We demonstrated that Nrf2 downregulation in myocardial tissue, accompanied by ferroptotic events and changes in xCT and GPX4 expressions, induced cardiomyocyte ferroptosis and myocardial injury after myocardial infarction. These events, including ferroptosis and changes in Nrf2, xCT, and GPX4 expressions, were improved by ferrostatin-1 in vivo and in vitro. Besides, Nrf2 deficiency or inhibition aggravated myocardial infarction-induced cardiomyocyte ferroptosis by decreasing xCT and GPX4 expressions in vivo and in vitro. Moreover, ferrostatin-1 directly targeted Nrf2, as evidenced by surface plasmon resonance analysis. CONCLUSIONS: These results indicated that myocardial infarction is accompanied by cardiomyocyte ferroptosis and that Nrf2 signaling plays a crucial part in regulating cardiomyocyte ferroptosis after myocardial infarction.

Transcriptome analysis of flower colour reveals the correlation between SNP and differential expression genes in Phalaenopsis.

BACKGROUND: Phalaenopsis is an important ornamental plant that has great economic value in the world flower market as one of the most popular flower resources. OBJECTIVE: To investigate the flower colour formation of Phalaenopsis at the transcription level, the genes involved in flower color formation were identified from RNA-seq in this study. METHODS: In this study, white and purple petals of Phalaenopsis were collected and analyzed to obtained (1) differential expression genes (DEGs) between white and purple flower color and (2) the association between single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNP) mutations and DEGs at the transcriptome level. RESULTS: The results indicated that a total of 1,175 DEGs were identified, and 718 and 457 of them were up- and down-regulated genes, respectively. Gene Ontology and pathway enrichment showed that the biosynthesis of the secondary metabolites pathway was key to color formation, and the expression of 12 crucial genes (C4H, CCoAOMT, F3'H, UA3'5'GT, PAL, 4CL, CCR, CAD, CALDH, bglx, SGTase, and E1.11.17) that are involved in the regulation of flower color in Phalaenopsis. CONCLUSION: This study reported the association between the SNP mutations and DEGs for color formation at RNA level, and provides a new insight to further investigate the gene expression and its relationship with genetic variants from RNA-seq data in other species.

Arginine-Glycine-Aspartic Acid-anchored Curcumin-based Nanotherapeutics Inhibit Pyroptosis-induced Cytokine Release Syndrome for In Vivo and In Vitro Sepsis Applications.

AIM: We aimed to design RGD-anchored liposomes encapsulating an antipyroptosis drug that could efficiently target macrophages and relieve the rate of cytokine release syndrome, providing a new strategy for sepsis treatment, especially sepsis-induced acute renal injury. BACKGROUND: Sepsis is a clinical syndrome of life-threatening organ dysfunction caused by host response disorders due to infection. Sepsis has a high incidence and remains one of the leading causes of death worldwide. OBJECTIVE: Macrophage-mediated pyroptosis plays an important role in the occurrence and development of cytokine release syndrome and organ injury caused by sepsis. Curcumin can inhibit inflammasome assembly and slow the progression of pyroptosis by scavenging intracellular reactive oxygen species, but it has poor water solubility and low bioavailability. The emergence of drug-delivery nanosystems has overcome this problem, but there is still a lack of research on how to accurately deliver antipyroptotic drugs to innate immune cells and subsequently hinder pyroptosis. METHODS: We constructed a curcumin-loaded RGD-modified liposome (RGD-lipo/Cur) and demonstrated that RGD-lipo/Cur could effectively target macrophages. RESULTS: In vitro, RGD-lipo/Cur reduced the upregulation of caspase-1, caspase-3, NLRP3, IL-1ß and GSDMD, inhibiting pyroptosis, reducing oxidative stress, and attenuating the proinflammatory cytokine cascade. CONCLUSION: RGD-lipo/Cur was considered to have great potential for sepsis treatment.

Novel INHAT repressor drives glioblastoma growth by promoting ribosomal DNA transcription in glioma stem cells.

BACKGROUND: Cancer cells including cancer stem cells exhibit a higher rate of ribosome biogenesis than normal cells to support rapid cell proliferation in tumors. However, the molecular mechanisms governing the preferential ribosome biogenesis in glioma stem cells (GSCs) remain unclear. In this work, we show that the novel INHAT repressor (NIR) promotes ribosomal DNA (rDNA) transcription to support GSC proliferation and glioblastoma (GBM) growth, suggesting that NIR is a potential therapeutic target for GBM. METHODS: Immunoblotting, immunohistochemical and immunofluorescent analysis were used to determine NIR expression in GSCs and human GBMs. Using shRNA-mediated knockdown, we assessed the role and functional significance of NIR in GSCs and GSC-derived orthotopic GBM xenografts. We further performed mass spectrometry analysis, chromatin immunoprecipitation, and other biochemical assays to define the molecular mechanisms by which NIR promotes GBM progression. RESULTS: Our results show that high expression of NIR predicts poor survival in GBM patients. NIR is enriched in the nucleoli of GSCs in human GBMs. Disrupting NIR markedly suppresses GSC proliferation and tumor growth by inhibiting rDNA transcription and pre-ribosomal RNA synthesis. In mechanistic studies, we find that NIR activates rDNA transcription to promote GSC proliferation by cooperating with Nucleolin (NCL) and Nucleophosmin 1 (NPM1), 2 important nucleolar transcription factors. CONCLUSIONS: Our study uncovers a critical role of NIR-mediated rDNA transcription in the malignant progression of GBM, indicating that targeting this axis may provide a novel therapeutic strategy for GBM.

Comparison of the predictive value of anthropometric indicators for the risk of benign prostatic hyperplasia in southern China.

This study aimed to compare the predictive value of six selected anthropometric indicators for benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH). Males over 50 years of age who underwent health examinations at the Health Management Center of the Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University (Changsha, China) from June to December 2020 were enrolled in this study. The characteristic data were collected, including basic anthropometric indices, lipid parameters, six anthropometric indicators, prostate-specific antigen, and total prostate volume. The odds ratios (ORs) with 95% confidence intervals (95% CIs) for all anthropometric parameters and BPH were calculated using binary logistic regression. To assess the diagnostic capability of each indicator for BPH and identify the appropriate cutoff values, receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves and the related areas under the curves (AUCs) were utilized. All six indicators had diagnostic value for BPH (all P ≤ 0.001). The visceral adiposity index (VAI; AUC: 0.797, 95% CI: 0.759-0.834) had the highest AUC and therefore the highest diagnostic value. This was followed by the cardiometabolic index (CMI; AUC: 0.792, 95% CI: 0.753-0.831), lipid accumulation product (LAP; AUC: 0.766, 95% CI: 0.723-0.809), waist-to-hip ratio (WHR; AUC: 0.660, 95% CI: 0.609-0.712), waist-to-height ratio (WHtR; AUC: 0.639, 95% CI: 0.587-0.691), and body mass index (BMI; AUC: 0.592, 95% CI: 0.540-0.643). The sensitivity of CMI was the highest (92.1%), and WHtR had the highest specificity of 94.1%. CMI consistently showed the highest OR in the binary logistic regression analysis. BMI, WHtR, WHR, VAI, CMI, and LAP all influence the occurrence of BPH in middle-aged and older men (all P ≤ 0.001), and CMI is the best predictor of BPH.

Mst1 silencing alleviates hypertensive myocardial injury associated with the augmentation of microvascular endothelial cell autophagy.

The activation of mammalian ste20­like kinase1 (Mst1) is a crucial event in cardiac disease development. The inhibition of Mst1 has been recently suggested as a potential therapeutic strategy for the treatment of diabetic cardiomyopathy. However, whether silencing Mst1 also protects against hypertensive (HP) myocardial injury, or the mechanisms through which this protection is conferred are not yet fully understood. The present study aimed to explore the role of Mst1 in HP myocardial injury using in vivo and in vitro hypertension (HP) models. Angiotensin II (Ang II) was used to establish HP mouse and cardiac microvascular endothelial cell (CMEC) models. CRISPR/adenovirus vector transfection was used to silence Mst1 in these models. Using echocardiography, hematoxylin and eosin staining, Masson's trichrome staining, the enzyme­linked immunosorbent assay detection of inflammatory factors, the enzyme immunoassay detection of oxidative stress markers, terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase dUTP nick­end labeling staining, scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, as well as immunofluorescence and western blot analysis of the autophagy markers, p62, microtubule­associated proteins 1A/1B light chain 3B and Beclin­1, it was found that Ang II induced HP myocardial injury with impaired cardiac function, increased the expression of inflammatory factors, and elevated oxidative stress in mice. In addition, it was found that Ang II reduced autophagy, enhanced apoptosis, and disrupted endothelial integrity and mitochondrial membrane potential in cultured CMECs. The silencing of Mst1 in both in vivo and in vitro HP models attenuated the HP myocardial injury. On the whole, these findings suggest that Mst1 is a key contributor to HP myocardial injury through the regulation of cardiomyocyte autophagy.

Heparin-binding protein-enhanced quick SOFA score improves mortality prediction in sepsis patients.

Purpose: The Quick Sequential Organ Failure Assessment (qSOFA) score proposed by Sepsis-3 as a sepsis screening tool has shown suboptimal accuracy. Heparin-binding protein (HBP) has been shown to identify early sepsis with high accuracy. Herein, we aim to investigate whether or not HBP improves the model performance of qSOFA. Methods: We conducted a multicenter prospective observational study of 794 adult patients who presented to the emergency department (ED) with presumed sepsis between 2018 and 2019. For each participant, serum HBP levels were measured and the hospital course was followed. The qSOFA score was used as the comparator. The data was split into a training dataset (n = 556) and a validation dataset (n = 238). The primary endpoint was 30-day all-cause mortality. Results: Compared with survivors, non-survivors had significantly higher serum HBP levels (median: 71.5 ng/mL vs 209.5 ng/mL, p < 0.001). Serum level of HBP weakly correlated with qSOFA class (r 2 = 0.240, p < 0.001). Compared with the qSOFA model alone, the addition of admission HBP level to the qSOFA model significantly improved 30-day mortality discrimination (AUC, 0.70 vs. 0.80; P < 0.001), net reclassification improvement [26% (CI, 17-35%); P < 0.001], and integrated discrimination improvement [12% (CI, 9-14%); P < 0.001]. Addition of C-reactive protein (CRP) level or neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) to qSOFA did not improve its performance. A web-based mortality risk prediction calculator was created to facilitate clinical implementation. Conclusion: This study confirms the value of combining qSOFA and HBP in predicting sepsis mortality. The web calculator provides a user-friendly tool for clinical implementation. Further validation in different patient populations is needed before widespread application of this prediction model.

Corrigendum to "Ginsenoside Ro, an oleanolic saponin of Panax ginseng, exerts anti-inflammatory effect by direct inhibiting toll like receptor 4 signaling pathway" [J Ginseng Res 46 (2022) 156-166].

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.1016/j.jgr.2021.05.011.].

Study on the correlation between homocysteine-related dietary patterns and gestational diabetes mellitus:a reduced-rank regression analysis study.

BACKGROUND: This study aimed to evaluate the association between homocysteine-related dietary patterns and gestational diabetes mellitus. METHODS: A total of 488 pregnant women at 24-28 weeks of gestation between January 2019 and December 2020 were included. Demographic characteristics, dietary intake, and multivitamin supplement intake information were collected using a food frequency questionnaire (FFQ); fasting venous blood samples were collected for serum index detection. Serum homocysteine (Hcy), folic acid, and B12 were selected as response variables, and hyperhomocysteinemia (hHcy)-related dietary patterns were extracted using the reduced rank regression.. The relationship between the score of hHcy-related dietary patterns and GDM was analyzed using a multivariate logistic regression model. RESULTS: Three hHcy-related dietary patterns were extracted. Only mode 2 had a positive and significant relationship with the risk of developing GDM. After adjusting for confounding factors, the risk of GDM was significantly increased in the highest quartile array compared with the lowest quartile of the pattern (OR = 2.96, 95% Confidence Interval: 0.939-9.356, P = 0.004). There was no significant correlation between dietary pattern 1 and GDM risk (P > 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Homocysteine-related dietary patterns were positively associated with gestational diabetes mellitus. Adjusting dietary patterns may contribute to the intervention and prevention of GDM.

Evaluation on the phenotypic diversity of Calamansi (Citrus microcarpa) germplasm in Hainan island.

Calamansi or Philippine lime (Citrofortunella macrocarpa) is an important crop for local economic in Hainan Island. There is no study about Calamansi germplasm evaluation and cultivar development. In this study, Calamansi data were collected from 151 of Calamansi seedling trees, and 37 phenotypic traits were analyzed to investigate their genetic diversities. The cluster analysis and principal component analysis were conducted aiming to provide a theoretical basis for the Calamansi genetic improvement. The results of the diversity analysis revealed: (1) the diversity indexes for qualitative traits were ranged from 0.46-1.39, and the traits with the highest genetic diversity level were fruit shaped and pulp colored (H' > 1.20); and the diversity indexes for quantitative traits ranged from 0.67-2.10, with the exception of a lower in fruit juice rate (1.08) and lower in number of petals (0.67). (2) The clustering analysis of phenotypic traits have arranged the samples into 4 categories: the first group characterized by fewer flesh Segment number per fruit (SNF) and more Oil cell number (OCN); the second group had 7 samples, all characterized with larger Crown breadth (CB), higher Yield per tree (YPT), the lager leaf, the higher Ascorbic acid (AA), and less Seed number per fruit (SNPF); the third group had 25 samples characterized by smaller Tree foot diameter (TFD),smaller Fruit shape index (FSI) and higher Total soluble solids (TSS) contain; the fourth group had 87 samples, they were characterized by shorter Petiole length (PEL), larger fruit, higher Juice ratio (JR), multiple Stamen number (SN) and longer Pistil length (PIL). (3) The principal component analysis showed the values of the first 9 major components characteristic vectors were all greater than 3, the cumulative contribution rate reach 72.20%, including the traits of single fruit weight, fruit diameter, tree height, tree canopy width etc. Finally, based on the comprehensive main component value of all samples, the Calamansi individuals with higher testing scores were selected for further observation. This study concludes that Calamansi seedling populations in the Hainan Island holds great genetic diversity in varies traits, and can be useful for the Calamansi variety improvements.

Ginsenoside Ro, an oleanolic saponin of Panax ginseng, exerts anti-inflammatory effect by direct inhibiting toll like receptor 4 signaling pathway.

BACKGROUND: Panax ginseng Meyer (P. ginseng), a herb distributed in Korea, China and Japan, exerts benefits on diverse inflammatory conditions. However, the underlying mechanism and active ingredients remains largely unclear. Herein, we aimed to explore the active ingredients of P. ginseng against inflammation and elucidate underlying mechanisms. METHODS: Inflammation model was constructed by lipopolysaccharide (LPS) in C57BL/6 mice and RAW264.7 macrophages. Molecular docking, molecular dynamics, surface plasmon resonance imaging (SPRi) and immunofluorescence were utilized to predict active component. RESULTS: P. ginseng significantly inhibited LPS-induced lung injury and the expression of pro-inflammatory factors, including TNF-α, IL-6 and IL-1ß. Additionally, P. ginseng blocked fluorescence-labeled LPS (LPS488) binding to the membranes of RAW264.7 macrophages, the phosphorylation of nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) and mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs). Furthermore, molecular docking demonstrated that ginsenoside Ro (GRo) docked into the LPS binding site of toll like receptor 4 (TLR4)/myeloid differentiation factor 2 (MD2) complex. Molecular dynamic simulations showed that the MD2-GRo binding conformation was stable. SPRi demonstrated an excellent interaction between TLR4/MD2 complex and GRo (KD value of 1.16 × 10-9 M). GRo significantly inhibited LPS488 binding to cell membranes. Further studies showed that GRo markedly suppressed LPS-triggered lung injury, the transcription and secretion levels of TNF-α, IL-6 and IL-1ß. Moreover, the phosphorylation of NF-κB and MAPKs as well as the p65 subunit nuclear translocation were inhibited by GRo dose-dependently. CONCLUSION: Our results suggest that GRo exerts anti-inflammation actions by direct inhibition of TLR4 signaling pathway.

Minimally invasive open reduction of greater tuberosity fractures by a modified suture bridge procedure.

BACKGROUND: Most greater tuberosity fractures can be treated without surgery but some have a poor prognosis. The surgical procedures for avulsion fractures of the humeral greater tuberosity include screw fixation, suture anchor fixation, and plate fixation, all of which have treatment-associated complications. To decrease surgical complications, we used a modified suture bridge procedure under direct vision and a minimally invasive small incision to fix fractures of the greater tuberosity of the humerus. AIM: To investigate the clinical efficacy and outcomes of minimally invasive modified suture bridge open reduction of greater tuberosity evulsion fractures. METHODS: Sixteen patients diagnosed between January 2016 and January 2019 with an avulsion-type greater tuberosity fracture of the proximal humerus and treated by minimally invasive open reduction and modified suture bridges with anchors were studied retrospectively. All were followed up by clinical examination and radiographs at 3 and 6 wk, 3, 6 and 12 mo after surgery, and thereafter every 6 mo. Outcomes were assessed preoperatively and postoperatively by a visual analog scale (VAS), the University of California Los Angeles (UCLA) shoulder score, the American Shoulder and Elbow Surgeon score (ASES), and range of motion (ROM) for shoulders. RESULTS: Seven men and nine women, with an average age of 44.94 years, were evaluated. The time between injury and surgery was 1-2 d, with an average of 1.75 d. The mean operation time was 103.1 ± 7.23 min. All patients achieved bone union within 3 mo after surgery. VAS scores were significantly decreased (P = 0.002), and the mean degrees of forward elevation (P = 0.047), mean degrees of abduction (P = 0.035), ASES score (P = 0.092) were increased at 3 wk. The UCLA score was increased at 6 wk (P = 0.029) after surgery. The average degrees of external rotation and internal rotation both improved at 3 mo after surgery (P = 0.012 and P = 0.007, respectively). No procedure-related deaths or incision-related superficial or deep tissue infections occurred. CONCLUSION: Modified suture bridge was effective for the treatment of greater tuberosity evulsion fractures, was easier to perform, and had fewer implants than other procedures.

Hsa_circ_0023990 Promotes Tumor Growth and Glycolysis in Dedifferentiated TC via Targeting miR-485-5p/FOXM1 Axis.

BACKGROUND: During the transformation to dedifferentiated thyroid cancer (TC) types, the ability of papillary thyroid carcinomas (PTCs) to concentrate radioactive iodine might be lost, raising difficulty for the current therapy. circRNAs were proved to be implicated in the progression of various cancers. In this study, we aimed to investigate the functional role and mechanism of hsa_circ_0023990 in dedifferentiated TC. METHODS: The expression pattern of genes were detected using quantitative PCR or western blot assays. Cell proliferation was determined by CCK8, colony formation, EdU, and cell-cycle assays. Glycolysis was assessed using glucose uptake and lactate production assays. Luciferase reporter assay was performed to examine the interactions between miR-485-5p and hsa_circ_0023990 or FOXM1. Xenograft assay was allowed for observation of tumor growth in vivo. RESULTS: Hsa_circ_0023990 and FOXM1 were upregulated in dedifferentiated TC tissues and cell lines. The higher level of hsa_circ_0023900 could stimulate the proliferation and glycolysis of dedifferentiated TC cells via positively regulating FOXM1. Mechanistically, miR-485-5p was demonstrated to interact with hsa_circ_0023990 and FOXM1 and involved in the regulation of has_circ_0023990 and FOXM1 in TC biological processes. CONCLUSION: Our results discovered the functional network of hsa_circ_0023990 in dedifferentiated TC development by facilitating cell proliferation and glycolysis via miR-485-5p/FOXM1 axis, implying that hsa_circ_0023990 might be a potential therapeutic target for the dedifferentiated TC treatment.

Identifying the Key Genes in Mouse Liver Regeneration After Partial Hepatectomy by Bioinformatics Analysis and in vitro/vivo Experiments.

BACKGROUND: The liver is the only organ that can completely regenerate after various injuries or tissue loss. There are still a large number of gene functions in liver regeneration that have not been explored. This study aimed to identify key genes in the early stage of liver regeneration in mice after partial hepatectomy (PH). MATERIALS AND METHODS: We first analyzed the expression profiles of genes in mouse liver at 48 and 72 h after PH from Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) database. Gene ontology (GO), and the Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG), and protein-protein interaction (PPI) analysis were performed to identify key genes in liver regeneration. Finally, we validated key genes in vivo and in vitro. RESULTS: We identified 46 upregulated genes and 19 downregulated genes at 48 h after PH, and 223 upregulated genes and 40 downregulated genes at 72 h after PH, respectively. These genes were mainly involved in cell cycle, DNA replication, and p53 signaling pathway. Among of these genes, cycle-related genes (Ccna2, Cdkn1a, Chek1, and Mcm5) and Ube2c were highly expressed in the residual liver both at 48 and 72 h after PH. Furthermore, Ube2c knockdown not only caused abnormal expression of Ccna2, Cdkn1a, Chek1, and Mcm5, but also inhibited transition of hepatocytes from G1 to S phase of the cell cycle in vitro. CONCLUSION: Mouse hepatocytes enter the proliferation phase at 48 h after PH. Ube2c may mediate cell proliferation by regulating or partially regulating Ccna2, Cdkn1a, Chek1, and Mcm5.