The relationship between family cohesion and bedtime procrastination among Chinese college students: the chain mediating effect of coping styles and mobile phone addiction.

BACKGROUND: Bedtime procrastination refers to an individual's inability to go to bed at a predetermined time without external obstacles. Previous researchers have found that the bedtime procrastination is harmful to human physical and mental health, but these research on bedtime procrastination have mostly focused on exploring individual factors, while ignoring the external environmental factors. Therefore, this is the first study to investigate bedtime procrastination from the perspective of family environments. METHODS: The study was conducted using a convenient sampling method and online questionnaires. Family Cohesion Scale, Coping Styles Questionnaire, Mobile Phone Addiction Tendency Scale and Bedtime Procrastination Scale were used to measure sleep and psychological condition of 1,048 college students. RESULTS: Family cohesion negatively predicted bedtime procrastination. Additionally, positive coping style and mobile phone addiction had significant independent mediating effects. Furthermore, positive coping style and mobile phone addiction had chain mediating effects between family cohesion and bedtime procrastination. CONCLUSION: This study revealed the effect of coping styles and mobile phone addiction on the relationship between family cohesion and bedtime procrastination among Chinese college students. These findings explained the mechanisms of bedtime procrastination from the perspective of environment, so as to effectively intervene the bedtime procrastination of college students from the perspective of external environment.

LXRα Promotes Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm Formation Through UHRF1 Epigenetic Modification of miR-26b-3p.

BACKGROUND: Abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) is a severe aortic disease without effective pharmacological approaches. The nuclear hormone receptor LXRα (liver X receptor α), encoded by the NR1H3 gene, serves as a critical transcriptional mediator linked to several vascular pathologies, but its role in AAA remains elusive. METHODS: Through integrated analyses of human and murine AAA gene expression microarray data sets, we identified NR1H3 as a candidate gene regulating AAA formation. To investigate the role of LXRα in AAA formation, we used global Nr1h3-knockout and vascular smooth muscle cell-specific Nr1h3-knockout mice in 2 AAA mouse models induced with angiotensin II (1000 ng·kg·min; 28 days) or calcium chloride (CaCl2; 0.5 mol/L; 42 days). RESULTS: Upregulated LXRα was observed in the aortas of patients with AAA and in angiotensin II- or CaCl2-treated mice. Global or vascular smooth muscle cell-specific Nr1h3 knockout inhibited AAA formation in 2 mouse models. Loss of LXRα function prevented extracellular matrix degeneration, inflammation, and vascular smooth muscle cell phenotypic switching. Uhrf1, an epigenetic master regulator, was identified as a direct target gene of LXRα by integrated analysis of transcriptome sequencing and chromatin immunoprecipitation sequencing. Susceptibility to AAA development was consistently enhanced by UHRF1 (ubiquitin-like containing PHD and RING finger domains 1) in both angiotensin II- and CaCl2-induced mouse models. We then determined the CpG methylation status and promoter accessibility of UHRF1-mediated genes using CUT&Tag (cleavage under targets and tagmentation), RRBS (reduced representation bisulfite sequencing), and ATAC-seq (assay for transposase-accessible chromatin with sequencing) in vascular smooth muscle cells, which revealed that the recruitment of UHRF1 to the promoter of miR-26b led to DNA hypermethylation accompanied by relatively closed chromatin states, and caused downregulation of miR-26b expression in AAA. Regarding clinical significance, we found that underexpression of miR-26b-3p correlated with high risk in patients with AAA. Maintaining miR-26b-3p expression prevented AAA progression and alleviated the overall pathological process. CONCLUSIONS: Our study reveals a pivotal role of the LXRα/UHRF1/miR-26b-3p axis in AAA and provides potential biomarkers and therapeutic targets for AAA.

Transketolase promotes MAFLD by limiting inosine-induced mitochondrial activity.

Metabolic dysfunction-associated fatty liver disease (MAFLD) has a global prevalence of about 25% and no approved therapy. Using metabolomic and proteomic analyses, we identified high expression of hepatic transketolase (TKT), a metabolic enzyme of the pentose phosphate pathway, in human and mouse MAFLD. Hyperinsulinemia promoted TKT expression through the insulin receptor-CCAAT/enhancer-binding protein alpha axis. Utilizing liver-specific TKT overexpression and knockout mouse models, we demonstrated that TKT was sufficient and required for MAFLD progression. Further metabolic flux analysis revealed that Tkt deletion increased hepatic inosine levels to activate the protein kinase A-cAMP response element binding protein cascade, promote phosphatidylcholine synthesis, and improve mitochondrial function. Moreover, insulin induced hepatic TKT to limit inosine-dependent mitochondrial activity. Importantly, N-acetylgalactosamine (GalNAc)-siRNA conjugates targeting hepatic TKT showed promising therapeutic effects on mouse MAFLD. Our study uncovers how hyperinsulinemia regulates TKT-orchestrated inosine metabolism and mitochondrial function and provides a novel therapeutic strategy for MAFLD prevention and treatment.

Extensive Stage Small-Cell Lung Cancer with Cystic Brain Metastases: A Report of Two Cases.

Objective: Cystic brain metastases (BMs) are rare in small cell lung cancer (SCLC), and there are limited data on the treatment and prognosis of cystic BMs. Whole brain radiotherapy has been the mainstay for BMs since several years. Immune checkpoint inhibitors in extensive stage small cell lung cancer (ES-SCLC) have been shown to be suitable for patients who experienced better overall survival and progress-free survival and have been approved as the first-line treatment for ES-SCLC. In this report, we described two ES-SCLC patients developed cystic BMs after immunotherapy, after which the patients continued to treat the primary lesion with immune checkpoint inhibitors and the cystic BMs with radiotherapy. Case Description: Two male patients were diagnosed with ES-SCLC at the first admission and were subsequently treated with immunotherapy plus platinum therapy, during which cystic BMs developed. One patient received whole brain radiotherapy and the other received whole brain radiotherapy and Gamma knife radiosurgery (GKRS). Immunotherapy was continued after the brain lesions were controlled. It has been 33 months since the first patient was diagnosed and is now in stable condition. The other patient achieved an overall survival of 30 months. Conclusion: This report describes two patients with cystic brain metastases in ES-SCLC. Whole brain radiotherapy has a good effect on local control of cystic brain metastases in small cell lung cancer and can significantly improve the symptoms of patients. At the same time, we treat immunotherapy as the first-line treatment, and then perform cross-immunotherapy after disease progression, combined with anti-vascular targeting drugs. The patient did not develop severe iRAEs.

Policies and Practices Regarding Preparative Fasting for Contrast-Enhanced Computed Tomography: A Nationwide Survey.

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate current policies and practices regarding preparative fasting before contrast-enhanced computed tomography (CECT) and the knowledge and attitudes of radiology head nurses. METHODS: Radiology head nurses in 499 Chinese hospitals participated in an online survey on preparative fasting for CECT, which mainly included current departmental policies and practices and their knowledge and attitudes. RESULTS: Response rate was 89.8% (448/499). All surveyed hospitals established preparative fasting protocols, mainly based on guidelines for iodinated contrast media (ICM) usage (68.8%). For the nongastrointestinal CECT scan, the most frequent fasting duration for solid food, semiliquid diet, liquid diet, and clear liquids was 4 to 6 hours (215/422 [50.9%]), less than 6 hours (332/396 [83.8%]), less than 6 hours (275/320, 85.9%), and less than 6 hours (151/189 [79.9%]), respectively. Forty-six percent of the respondents confirmed that unnecessary excessive fasting existed in practice, and the related patient discomfort occurred in 60.3% of the hospitals, mainly manifested as hypoglycemia (86.7%). Expert consensus and guidelines for iodinated contrast media usage (75%) were the leading approach to gain knowledge about preparative fasting; 90.6% of the respondents believed that the clinical scenarios requiring preparative fasting were the upper abdominal examinations. A majority of respondents (72.1%) believed that the current preparative fasting policies needed improvement. CONCLUSION: Preparative fasting policies varied among hospitals in terms of the fasting content and duration. Respondents' opinions differed on fasting requirements based on various CECT examination sites and patients. The latest guideline regarding no fasting before CECT has not been fully adopted. Further research is required to promote the transformation of guideline evidence.

Assessment of drinking water quality and health risk using water quality index and multiple computational models: a case study of Yangtze River in suburban areas of Wuhan, central China, from 2016 to 2021.

Water quality, increasingly recognized for its significant impact on health, is garnering heightened attention. Previous studies were limited by the number of water quality indicators and the duration of analysis. This study assessed the drinking water quality and its associated health risk in suburban areas of Wuhan, a city in central China, from 2016 to 2021. We collected 368 finished water samples and 1090 tap water samples and tested these for 37 different indicators. The water quality was evaluated using the water quality index, with trends over time analyzed via the Mann-Kendall test. Furthermore, an artificial neural network model was employed for future water quality prediction. Our findings indicated that the water quality in rural Wuhan was generally good and had an improvement from 2016 to 2021. The qualification and excellent rates were 98.91% and 86.81% for finished water, and 97.89% and 78.07% for tap water, respectively. The drinking water quality was predicted to maintain satisfactory in 2022 and 2023. Additionally, principal component analysis revealed that the primary sanitary issues in the water were poor sensory properties, elevated metal contents, high levels of dissolved solids, and microbial contamination. These issues were likely attributable to domestic and industrial waste discharge and aging water pipelines. The health risks associated with the long-term consumption of this water have been steadily decreasing over the years, underscoring the effectiveness of Wuhan's ongoing water management efforts.

GPIbα CAAR-T cells function like a Trojan horse to eliminate autoreactive B cells to treat immune thrombocytopenia.

Breakthrough treatment for refractory and relapsed immune thrombocytopenia (ITP) patients is urgently needed. Autoantibody-mediated platelet clearance and megakaryocyte dysfunction are important pathogenic mediators of ITP. Glycoprotein (GP) Ibα is a significant autoantigen found in ITP patients and is associated with poor response to standard immunosuppressive treatments. Here, we engineered human T cells to express a chimeric autoantibody receptor (CAAR) with GPIbα constructed into the ligand-binding domain fused to the CD8 transmembrane domain and CD3ζ-4-1BB signaling domains. We performed cytotoxicity assays to assess GPIbα CAAR-T-cell selective cytolysis of cells expressing anti-GPIbα B-cell receptors (BCRs) in vitro. Furthermore, we demonstrated the potential of GPIbα CAAR-T cells to persist and precisely eliminate GPIbα-specific B cells in vivo. In summary, we present a proof of concept for CAAR-T-cell therapy to eradicate autoimmune B cells while sparing healthy B cells with GPIbα CAAR-T cells that function like a Trojan horse. GPIbα CAAR-Tcell therapy is a promising treatment for refractory and relapsed ITP patients.

Single-cell RNA sequencing reveals the mechanism of PI3K/AKT/mTOR signaling pathway activation in lung adenocarcinoma by KRAS mutation.

BACKGROUND: Aberrant activation of the phosphatidlinositol 3-kinase (PI3K)/protein kinase B (AKT)/mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) signaling pathway has been shown to play an important role in lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD). The effect of KRAS mutations, one of the important signatures of LUAD, on the PI3K/AKT/mTOR pathway in LUAD remains unclear. METHODS: The Seurat package and principal component analysis were used for cell categorization of single-cell RNA sequencing data of LUAD. The AUCell score was used to assess the activity of the PI3K/AKT/mTOR pathway. Meanwhile, using the gene expression profiles and mutation profiles in the The Cancer Genome Atlas dataset, LUAD patients were categorized into KRAS-mutant (KRAS-MT) and KRAS-wild-types (KRAS-WT), and the corresponding enrichment scores were calculated using gene set enrichment analysis analysis. Finally, the subpopulation of cells with the highest pathway activity was identified, the copy number variation profile of this subpopulation was inscribed using the inferCNV package and the CMap database was utilized to make predictions for drugs targeting this subpopulation. RESULTS: There is higher PI3K/AKT/mTOR pathway activity in LUAD epithelial cells with KRAS mutations, and high expression of KRAS, PIK3CA, AKT1 and PDPK1. In particular, we found significantly higher levels of pathway activity and associated gene expression in KRAS-MT than in KRAS-WT. We identified the highest pathway activity on a subpopulation of GRB2+ epithelial cells and the presence of amplified genes within its pathway. Finally, drugs were able to target GRB2+ epithelial cell subpopulations, such as wortmannin, palbociclib and angiogenesis inhibitor. CONCLUSIONS: The present study provides a basic theory for the activation of the PI3K/AKT/mTOR signaling pathway as a result of KRAS mutations.

Stoichiometry and architecture of the platelet membrane complex glycoprotein Ib-IX-V.

Glycoprotein (GP) Ib-IX-V is the second most abundant platelet receptor for thrombin and other ligands crucial for hemostasis and thrombosis. Its activity is involved in platelet adhesion to vascular injury sites and thrombin-induced platelet aggregation. GPIb-IX-V is a heteromeric complex composed of four subunits, GPIbα, GPIbß, GPV and GPIX, in a stoichiometric ratio that has been wildly debated. Despite its important physiological roles, the overall structure and molecular arrangement of GPIb-IX-V are not yet fully understood. Here, we purify stable and functional human GPIb-IX-V complex from reconstituted EXPi293F cells in high homogeneity, and perform biochemical and structural characterization of this complex. Single-particle cryo-electron microscopy structure of GPIb-IX-V is determined at ∼11 Å resolution, which unveils the architecture of GPIb-IX-V and its subunit organization. Size-exclusion chromatography-multi-angle static light scattering analysis reveals that GPIb-IX-V contains GPIb-IX and GPV at a 1:1 stoichiometric ratio and surface plasmon resonance assays show that association of GPV leads to slow kinetics of thrombin binding to GPIb-IX-V. Taken together, our results provide the first three-dimensional architecture of the intact GPIb-IX-V complex, which extends our understanding of the structure and functional mechanism of this complex in hemostasis and thrombosis.

Leveraging an efficient preparation method into magnetic resonance examinations of young children aged 3-6.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the benefits of a multifaceted concept, ANMTE (Appropriate Number of children, appropriate learning Methods, appropriate adaptive Training, and appropriate Encouragement), proposed by our group, in improving the success rate, efficiency and image quality of Magnetic Resonance (MR) examinations for children from 3 to 6 years old. METHOD: In this study, 150 participants were included from July 2019 to January 2023, including 50 non-sedated children in ANMTE group, 50 in the group with sedative, and 50 in the group with routine preparations. ANMTE refers to appropriate number of children, appropriate learning methods, appropriate adaptive training, and appropriate encouragement, developed by our group for MR examinations of children from 3 to 6 years old. Group differences in success rate, efficiency, and image quality were evaluated across the three groups using Kaplan-Meier, Log-rank and Chi-square test, respectively. RESULTS: The rates of successful MR examinations were 44/50 (88 %), 45/50 (90 %), and 36/50 (72 %) for ANMTE group, the group with sedatives and the group with routine preparations, respectively (P = 0.03). Image quality of the 3 groups showed no significant group difference (P = 0.067). In terms of the median duration of MR examinations, ANMTE group was comparable to the group with sedative (both were about 10.0 min), but better than the group with routine preparations (16.5 min) (P = 0.024). CONCLUSION: We demonstrated the feasibility of our comprehensive nursing method ANMTE in MR examinations of young children, similar to the group with sedative at the success rate and image quality as well as the durations of MR examinations. ANMTE has not only better efficiency but also higher safety as it does not require sedative, which could be promising in clinical routine MR examinations for young children aged 3-6 years old.

Transcriptome analysis of three medicinal plants of the genus Polygonatum: identification of genes involved in polysaccharide and steroidal saponins biosynthesis.

Polysaccharides and saponins are the main active components of Polygonati Rhizoma. Studying the molecular mechanism of their synthesis pathway is helpful in improving the content of active components at the molecular level. At present, transcriptome analysis of three Polygonatum species (Polygonatum sibiricum Red., Polygonatum cyrtonema Hua, Polygonatum kingianum Coll. et Hemsl.) has been reported, but no comparative study has been found on the transcriptome data of the three species. Transcriptome sequencing was performed on the rhizomes of three Polygonatum species based on high-throughput sequencing technology, and all transcripts were assembled. A total of 168,108 unigenes were generated after the removal of redundancy, of which 121,642 were annotated in seven databases. Through differential analysis and expression analysis of key enzyme genes in the synthesis pathway of three Polygonatum polysaccharides and steroidal saponins, 135 differentially expressed genes encoding 18 enzymes and 128 differentially expressed genes encoding 28 enzymes were identified, respectively. Numerous transcription factors are involved in the carbohydrate synthesis pathway. Quantitative real-time PCR was used to further verify the gene expression level. In this paper, we present a public transcriptome dataset of three medicinal plants of the genus Polygonatum, and analyze the key enzyme genes of polysaccharide and steroidal saponins synthesis pathway, which lays a foundation for improving the active component content of Polygonati Rhizoma by molecular means.

Examining the Association Between Boredom Proneness and Bedtime Procrastination Among Chinese College Students: A Sequential Mediation Model with Mobile Phone Addiction and Negative Emotions.

Purpose: The phenomenon of bedtime procrastination has become very common in China in recent years, especially among college students, and it can have numerous negative implications for both physical and mental health. However, the impacting factors and possible underlying mechanisms of bedtime procrastination have not yet been fully clarified. The present study aims to explore the relationship between boredom proneness and bedtime procrastination in Chinese college students, and propose a multiple mediation model to further explore the mediating effects of mobile phone addiction and negative emotions in this link. Participants and Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted involving 668 Chinese college students aged 18 to 32 years old (M=20.36 years [SD=1.69]; 35.03% male). A series of self-rating questionnaires measuring degrees of boredom proneness, mobile phone addiction, bedtime procrastination, as well as negative emotions (depression, anxiety and stress) were administered. Results: The results showed that boredom proneness, mobile phone addiction, negative emotions and bedtime procrastination were significantly and positively correlated with each other in college students. Mobile phone addiction and negative emotions separately played partial mediating roles in the relationship between boredom proneness and bedtime procrastination. Furthermore, a sequential mediation pathway was significant whereby boredom proneness predicted mobile phone addiction, which was associated with higher levels of negative emotions, which were then associated with more bedtime procrastination behaviors. Conclusion: The present findings indicate that both mobile phone addiction and negative emotions are important risk-enhancing mediators in the association between boredom proneness and bedtime procrastination in Chinese college students. Therefore, intervention management that concentrating on reducing mobile phone addiction as well as improving negative emotions may be useful for decreasing bedtime procrastination among college students.

Lymphatic platelet thrombosis limits bone repair by precluding lymphatic transporting DAMPs.

Lymphatic vessels (LVs) interdigitated with blood vessels, travel and form an extensive transport network in the musculoskeletal system. Blood vessels in bone regulate osteogenesis and hematopoiesis, however, whether LVs in bone affect fracture healing is unclear. Here, by near infrared indocyanine green lymphatic imaging (NIR-ICG), we examined lymphatic draining function at the tibial fracture sites and found lymphatic drainage insufficiency (LDI) occurred as early as two weeks after fracture. Sufficient lymphatic drainage facilitates fracture healing. In addition, we identified that lymphatic platelet thrombosis (LPT) blocks the draining lymphoid sinus and LVs, caused LDI and then inhibited fracture healing, which can be rescued by a pharmacological approach. Moreover, unblocked lymphatic drainage decreased neutrophils and increased M2-like macrophages of hematoma niche to support osteoblast (OB) survival and bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cell (BMSC) proliferation via transporting damage-associated molecular patterns (DAMPs). These findings demonstrate that LPT limits bone regeneration by blocking lymphatic drainage from transporting DAMPs. Together, these findings represent a novel way forward in the treatment of bone repair.

Association between sleep apnoea and risk of cognitive impairment and Alzheimer's disease: a meta-analysis of cohort-based studies.

PURPOSE: To provide updated evidence on the association of obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA)/sleep-disordered breathing (SDB) with risk of all-cause cognitive impairment/dementia and Alzheimer's disease (AD). METHODS: A systematic literature search was done in PubMed, EMBASE and Scopus databases for cohort studies (retrospective or prospective) that documented the association of SDB/OSA with the risk of cognitive impairment or all-cause dementia or AD. Only studies that were published in the year 2000 and onwards were included. The random-effects model was used for all the analyses and effect sizes were reported as hazards ratio (HR) with 95% confidence intervals. RESULTS: Of 15 studies were included in the meta-analysis, SDB/OSA was diagnosed with at-home polysomnography in six studies, while five studies relied on self-report or questionnaires. In the remaining studies, International Classification of Diseases (ICD) codes determined the diagnosis of SDB. The overall pooled analysis showed that patients with SDB/OSA had higher risk of cognitive impairment and/or all-cause dementia (HR 1.52, 95% CI: 1.32, 1.74), when compared to patients without SDB/OSA. However, when studies with diagnosis of SDB based on polysomnography were pooled together, the strength of association for all-cause cognitive impairment was weaker (HR 1.32, 95% CI: 1.00, 1.74). CONCLUSION: Findings suggest a possible association of SDB/OSA with risk of all-cause cognitive impairment and/or dementia. However, careful interpretation is warranted as the majority of the studies did not rely on objective assessment based on polysomnography.

The Effects of Drug Exposure and Single Nucleotide Polymorphisms on Aaptinib-Induced Severe Toxicities in Solid Tumors.

To investigate the value of drug exposure and host germline genetic factors in predicting apatinib (APA)-related toxicities. METHOD: In this prospective study, plasma APA concentrations were quantified using liquid chromatography with tandem mass spectrometry, and 57 germline mutations were genotyped in 126 advanced solid tumor patients receiving 250 mg daily APA, a vascular endothelial growth factor receptor II inhibitor. The correlation between drug exposure, genetic factors, and the toxicity profile was analyzed. RESULTS: Non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) was more prone to APA-related toxicities and plasma concentrations of APA, and its main metabolite M1-1 could be associated with high-grade adverse events (AEs) (P < 0.01; M1-1, P < 0.01) and high-grade antiangiogenetic toxicities (APA, P = 0.034; P < 0.05), including hypertension, proteinuria, and hand-foot syndrome, in the subgroup of NSCLC. Besides, CYP2C9 rs34532201 TT carriers tended to have higher levels of APA (P < 0.001) and M1-1 (P < 0.01), whereas CYP2C9 rs1936968 GG carriers were predisposed to higher levels of M1-1 (P < 0.01). CONCLUSION: Plasma APA and M1-1 exposures were able to predict severe AEs in NSCLC patients. Dose optimization and drug exposure monitoring might need consideration in NSCLC patients with CYP2C9 rs34532201 TT and rs1936968 GG. SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT: Apatinib is an anti-VEGFR2 inhibitor for the treatment of multiple cancers. Though substantial in response, apatinib-induced toxicity has been a critical issue that is worth clinical surveillance. Few data on the role of drug exposure and genetic factors in apatinib-induced toxicity are available. Our study demonstrated a distinct drug-exposure relationship in NSCLC but not other tumors and provided invaluable evidence of drug exposure levels and single nucleotide polymorphisms as predictive biomarkers in apatinib-induced severe toxicities.

Unravelling the imbalanced Th17-like cell differentiation by single-cell RNA sequencing in multiple myeloma.

Multiple myeloma (MM) is a bone marrow resident hematological malignancy. T helper (Th) cells play an essential role in maladjustment of immune function and promotion of myeloma cell proliferation and survival, which has not been fully elucidated. Here, we compared transcriptome profiles of CD4+ T cells in bone marrow samples of 3 healthy individuals and 10 MM patients before and after treatment using single-cell RNA sequencing. CD4+ T cells were divided into 7 clusters. Imbalanced Th17-like cell differentiation was indicated in MM based on bioinformation analyses, which involved IL2-STAT5 pathways and transcription factors NKFB1, RELA, STAT3, and GTF2A2. Pseudotime trajectory analysis of CD4+ T cell clusters further uncovered the enhanced transition of Th17-like to regulatory T (Treg) cells in MM, which was featured by expression changes of PLAC8, NKFB1, RELA, STAT3, and STAT1 along with the developmental path. Reduced cell-cell interaction between MM cells and CD4+ naïve/recently activated naïve T cells via CD74-APP might lead to imbalanced Th17-like cell differentiation. Checkpoints via TIGIT-NECTIN3 and LGALS9-CD47 in Treg and MM cells were also identified. Our study reveals imbalanced differentiation pattern of Th17-like cells and the immunosuppressive profiles in connection with MM cells, which might help to shed light on CD4+ T cell function in MM.

CD36 mediates SARS-CoV-2-envelope-protein-induced platelet activation and thrombosis.

Aberrant coagulation and thrombosis are associated with severe COVID-19 post-SARS-CoV-2 infection, yet the underlying mechanism remains obscure. Here we show that serum levels of SARS-CoV-2 envelope (E) protein are associated with coagulation disorders of COVID-19 patients, and intravenous administration of the E protein is able to potentiate thrombosis in mice. Through protein pull-down and mass spectrometry, we find that CD36, a transmembrane glycoprotein, directly binds with E protein and mediates hyperactivation of human and mouse platelets through the p38 MAPK-NF-κB signaling pathway. Conversely, the pharmacological blockade of CD36 or p38 notably attenuates human platelet activation induced by the E protein. Similarly, the genetic deficiency of CD36, as well as the pharmacological inhibition of p38 in mice, significantly diminishes E protein-induced platelet activation and thrombotic events. Together, our study reveals a critical role for the CD36-p38 axis in E protein-induced platelet hyperactivity, which could serve as an actionable target for developing therapies against aberrant thrombotic events related to the severity and mortality of COVID-19.

Genetic diversity and population structure of Polygonatum cyrtonema Hua in China using SSR markers.

Polygonatum cyrtonema Hua is a perennial herbaceous plant of the Polygonatum genus, belonging to the Liliaceae family, with significant medicinal and nutritional value. In China, this species is a traditional medicinal and edible herb with a long history of application and is widely appreciated by the people. However, as the demand for medicinal herbs continues to grow, excessive harvesting has led to the depletion of wild resources and the risk of genetic erosion. In addition, the chaotic cultivation of varieties and the lack of high quality germplasm resources have led to inconsistent quality of medical materials. Therefore, it is urgent to conduct genetic diversity evaluation of this species and establish a sound conservation plan. This study assessed the genetic diversity and population structure of 96 samples collected from seven regions in China using the simple sequence repeat (SSR) molecular marker technology. In this study, a total of 60 alleles (Na) were detected across the 10 polymorphic SSR markers used, with an average of 6.0 alleles generated per locus. The values of polymorphic information content (PIC) values ranged from 0.3396 to 0.8794, with an average value of 0.6430. The average value of the effective number of alleles (Ne) was 2.761, and the average value of the Shannon's information index (I) was 1.196. The population structure analysis indicates that the Polygonatum cyrtonema Hua germplasm can be classified into three subpopulations (JZ, QY, JD) at the molecular level, which corresponds to the previous subgroups identified based on individual plant phenotypic traits. Analysis of Molecular Variance (AMOVA) showed that 74% of the genetic variation was between individuals within populations in different regions. The phylogenetic analysis of the 96 germplasm samples divided them into three main populations. The QY and JD subpopulations are largely clustered together, which could be attributed to their mountainous distribution and the local climate environment. The genetic differentiation coefficient (Fst) value was low at 0.065, indicating relatively low population differentiation. The ratio of the genetic differentiation coefficient (Fst) between the JZ population and the other two populations (QY and JD) is much higher than the ratio between the QY and JD populations. Based on the clustering results and the ratio of the genetic differentiation coefficient (Fst), it can be inferred that the genetic relationship between the QY and JD subpopulations is closer, with a certain degree of genetic differentiation from the JZ subpopulation. This study supports the conservation of germplasm resources of Polygonatum cyrtonema Hua in China and provides new parental material for germplasm genetic improvement and breeding programs.

High-Dose Vitamin C Alleviates Pancreatic Necrosis by Inhibiting Platelet Activation Through the CXCL12/CXCR4 Pathway in Severe Acute Pancreatitis.

Background: Platelet activation in the early stage of pancreatitis is the key step developing into pancreatic necrosis. Studies suggested that vitamin C (Vit C) can inhibit platelet activity by targeting CXCL12/CXCR4 pathway. High-dose Vit C were showed to reduce pancreatic necrosis in severe acute pancreatitis (SAP) but the mechanism remains unclear. Here we speculate high-dose Vit C reduce pancreatic necrosis by inhibiting platelet activation through downregulating CXCL12/CXCR4 pathway. Methods: The pancreatic microcirculation of rats was observed by intravital microscopy. The platelet activity of SAP rats treated with or without high-dose Vit C was analyzed by platelet function test. Besides, the activity of platelets preincubated with high-dose Vit C or vehicle from SAP patients was also evaluated. Then, the TFA (CXCR4 agonist) and rCXCL12 were used to neutralize the effect of high-dose Vit C in SAP rats treated with high-dose Vit C. Meanwhile, the levels of enzymes and inflammatory cytokines in rat plasma, and rats' pancreatic histopathology and mortality were assessed. Results: Platelets from animals and patients with SAP are more sensitive to agonists and are more easily activated. Administration of high-dose Vit C significantly ameliorated excessive activation of platelets in SAP rats, ultimately increasing the microvessel density and inducing microthrombus and blood stasis; these results were consistent with clinical sample analysis. Moreover, high-dose Vit C significantly inhibited the release of amylase, lipase, TNF-α, and IL-6 in SAP rat plasma, reducing pancreatic damage and the mortality of SAP rats. However, using TFA and rCXCL12 significantly reversed the effect of high-dose Vit C on excessive activation of platelets, aggravating microcirculation impairment and pancreatic damage. Conclusion: The present study suggests that high-dose Vit C can ameliorate pancreatic necrosis by improving microcirculation disorders of SAP. For the first time, the underlying mechanism is related with inhibiting platelet activation through the CXCL12/CXCR4 pathway.