Challenges and Opportunities of Artificial Intelligence in CDSS and Patient Safety.

Ensuring patient safety in healthcare involves training professionals and implementing clinical decision support systems (CDSS) and health IT solutions to reduce errors and adverse events. The integration of artificial intelligence (AI) into health IT has revolutionized clinical settings by enabling real-time insights and personalized recommendations. However, the use of health IT can lead to unintended consequences that are not adequately addressed during training and implementation. These consequences can hinder the maximization of benefits and limit equitable access to healthcare. In this paper, we explore the impact of AI on CDSS and health IT, discuss the challenges in educating clinical informaticians, and aim to promote patient safety through collaboration with practitioners, researchers, and educators.

Active Learning Pipeline to Identify Candidate Terms for a CDSS Ontology.

Ontology is essential for achieving health information and information technology application interoperability in the biomedical fields and beyond. Traditionally, ontology construction is carried out manually by human domain experts (HDE). Here, we explore an active learning approach to automatically identify candidate terms from publications, with manual verification later as a part of a deep learning model training and learning process. We introduce the overall architecture of the active learning pipeline and present some preliminary results. This work is a critical and complementary component in addition to manually building the ontology, especially during the long-term maintenance stage.

Concomitant atypical knee gout and seronegative rheumatoid arthritis: A case report.

BACKGROUND: Gout and seronegative rheumatoid arthritis (SNRA) are two distinct inflammatory joint diseases whose co-occurrence is relatively infrequently reported. Limited information is available regarding the clinical management and prognosis of these combined diseases. CASE SUMMARY: A 57-year-old woman with a 20-year history of joint swelling, tenderness, and morning stiffness who was negative for rheumatoid factor and had a normal uric acid level was diagnosed with SNRA. The initial regimen of methotrexate, leflunomide, and celecoxib alleviated her symptoms, except for those associated with the knee. After symptom recurrence after medication cessation, her regimen was updated to include iguratimod, methotrexate, methylprednisolone, and folic acid, but her knee issues persisted. Minimally invasive needle-knife scope therapy revealed proliferating pannus and needle-shaped crystals in the knee, indicating coexistent SNRA and atypical knee gout. After postarthroscopic surgery to remove the synovium and urate crystals, and following a tailored regimen of methotrexate, leflunomide, celecoxib, benzbromarone, and allopurinol, her knee symptoms were significantly alleviated with no recurrence observed over a period of more than one year, indicating successful management of both conditions. CONCLUSION: This study reports the case of a patient concurrently afflicted with atypical gout of the knee and SNRA and underscores the significance of minimally invasive joint techniques as effective diagnostic and therapeutic tools in the field of rheumatology and immunology.

High-yield extracellular vesicle production from HEK293T cells encapsulated in 3D auxetic scaffolds with cyclic mechanical stimulation for effective drug carrier systems.

Extracellular vesicles (EVs) show promise in drug loading and delivery for medical applications. However, the lack of scalable manufacturing processes hinders the generation of clinically suitable quantities, thereby impeding the translation of EV-based therapies. Current EV production relies heavily on non-physiological two-dimensional (2D) cell culture or bioreactors, requiring significant resources. Additionally, EV-derived ribonucleic acid cargo in three-dimensional (3D) and 2D culture environments remains largely unknown. In this study, we optimized the biofabrication of 3D auxetic scaffolds encapsulated with human embryonic kidney 293 T (HEK293 T) cells, focusing on enhancing the mechanical properties of the scaffolds to significantly boost EV production through tensile stimulation in bioreactors. The proposed platform increased EV yields approximately 115-fold compared to conventional 2D culture, possessing properties that inhibit tumor progression. Further mechanistic examinations revealed that this effect was mediated by the mechanosensitivity of YAP/TAZ. EVs derived from tensile-stimulated HEK293 T cells on 3D auxetic scaffolds demonstrated superior capability for loading doxorubicin compared to their 2D counterparts for cancer therapy. Our results underscore the potential of this strategy for scaling up EV production and optimizing functional performance for clinical translation.

Fluorescence array sensor based on lanthanide complex for pattern recognition detection of fluoroquinolone antibiotics.

Fluoroquinolone antibiotics, a class of animal and human useful antibiotics, are widely utilized in numerous fields including biomedical science, animal husbandry, and aquatic finfish farming. Its high demand and wide application have directly or indirectly led to substantial consumption and discharge of antibiotics, affecting not only the environment but also endangering human health through bioaccumulation. Hence, rapid and precise detection of trace antibiotics in water, food, and biological samples is critically important. This research synthesized Tb3+/Eu3+ complexes with dual emission centers, and a fluorescence sensor array was constructed with the fluorescence intensity ratio F1/F2 of the two emission centers as a signal. Different sensitization effect of fluoroquinolone antibiotics towards lanthanide complexes aided in differentiating five fluoroquinolone antibiotics from two others. Additionally, the sensor array can effectively detect fluoroquinolone antibiotics in real samples, suggesting its reliability and practicality of complex sample analysis. The excellent qualitative and quantitative analysis ability of this strategy for fluoroquinolone antibiotics offers a novel perspective for antibiotic residue detection, showcasing a new opportunity for lanthanide complex application in sensor arrays.

The Role of Neuro-Immune Interactions in the Pathology and Pathogenesis of Allergic Rhinitis.

BACKGROUND: Allergic rhinitis (AR) is a non-infectious inflammatory disease of the nasal mucosa mediated by IgE and involving a variety of immune cells such as mast cells. In previous studies, AR was considered as an isolated disease of the immune system. However, recent studies have found that the nervous system is closely related to the development of AR. Bidirectional communication between the nervous and immune systems plays an important role in AR. SUMMARY: The nervous system and immune system depend on the anatomical relationship between nerve fibers and immune cells, as well as various neurotransmitters, cytokines, inflammatory mediators, etc. to produce bidirectional connections, which affect the development of AR. KEY MESSAGES: This article reviews the impact of neuro-immune interactions in AR on the development of AR, including neuro-immune cell units.

Advanced Lung Adenocarcinoma with EGFR 19-del Mutation Transformed into SCC after EGFR-tyrosine Kinase inhibitors Treatment: A Case report.

BACKGROUND: Epidermal growth factor receptor tyrosine kinase inhibitors (EGFR-TKIs) significantly improve the survival of patients with Epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) sensitive mutations in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). CASE SUMMARY: A 67-year-old female patient in advanced lung adenocarcinoma suffered from drug resistance after EGFR-TKIs treatment. Secondary pathological tissue biopsy confirmed squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) transformation. Patients inevitably encountered drug resistance issues after receiving EGFR-TKIs treatment for a certain period of time, while EGFR-TKIs can significantly improve the survival of patients with EGFR-sensitive mutations in NSCLC. Notably, EGFR-TKIs resistance includes primary and acquired. Pathological transformation is one of the mechanisms of acquired resistance in EGFR-TKIs, with SCC transformation being relatively rare. Our results provide more detailed results of the patient's diagnosis and treatment process on SCC transformation after EGFR-TKIs treatment for lung adenocarcinoma. CONCLUSION: Squamous cell carcinoma transformation is one of the acquired resistance mechanisms of EGFR-TKIs in advanced lung adenocarcinoma with EGFR mutations.

Impact and migration behavior of triclosan on waste-activated sludge anaerobic digestion.

Triclosan (TCS), a hydrophobic antibacterial agent, is extensive application in daily life. Despite a low biodegradability rate, its hydrophobicity results in its accumulation in waste-activated sludge (WAS) during domestic and industrial wastewater treatment. While anaerobic digestion is the foremost strategy for WAS treatment, limited research has explored the interphase migration behavior and impacts of TCS on WAS degradation during anaerobic digestion. This study revealed TCS migration between solid- and liquid-phase in WAS digestion. The solid-liquid distribution coefficients of TCS were negative for proteins and polysaccharides and positive for ammonium. High TCS levels promoted volatile-fatty-acid accumulation and reduced methane production. Enzyme activity tests and functional prediction indicated that TCS increased enzyme activity associated with acid production, in contrast to the inhibition of key methanogenic enzymes. The findings of the TCS migration behavior and its impacts on WAS anaerobic digestion provide an in-depth understanding of the evolution of enhanced TCS-removing technology.

Fully human chitinase-3 like-1 monoclonal antibody inhibits tumor growth, fibrosis, angiogenesis, and immune cell remodeling in lung, pancreatic, and colorectal cancers.

Considering the limited efficacy of current therapies in lung, colorectal, and pancreatic cancers, innovative combination treatments with diverse mechanisms of action are needed to improve patients' outcomes. Chitinase-3 like-1 protein (CHI3L1) emerges as a versatile factor with significant implications in various diseases, particularly cancers, fostering an immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment for cancer progression. Therefore, pre-clinical validation is imperative to fully realize its potential in cancer treatment. We developed phage display-derived fully human monoclonal CHI3L1 neutralizing antibodies (nAbs) and verified the nAbs-antigen binding affinity and specificity in lung, pancreatic and colorectal cancer cell lines. Tumor growth signals, proliferation and migration ability were all reduced by CHI3L1 nAbs in vitro. Orthotopic or subcutaneous tumor mice model and humanized mouse model were established for characterizing the anti-tumor properties of two CHI3L1 nAb leads. Importantly, CHI3L1 nAbs not only inhibited tumor growth but also mitigated fibrosis, angiogenesis, and restored immunostimulatory functions of immune cells in pancreatic, lung, and colorectal tumor mice models. Mechanistically, CHI3L1 nAbs directly suppressed the activation of pancreatic stellate cells and the transformation of macrophages into myofibroblasts, thereby attenuating fibrosis. These findings strongly support the therapeutic potential of CHI3L1 nAbs in overcoming clinical challenges, including the failure of gemcitabine in pancreatic cancer.

[Using Cloud Healthcare to Improve Home Learning Efficacy in Congenital Heart Disease Infants].

BACKGROUND: During the COVID-19 pandemic, visitation restrictions in line with infection control policies curtailed opportunities for family members to learn essential caregiving skills in the intensive care unit. This limitation decreased satisfaction among family members, possibly indicating their increased difficulties in care due to the lack of face-to-face guidance. Thus, increasing family member understanding of and ability to apply learning content without direct interaction presents a significant and urgent challenge. Moreover, because of lack of caregiving confidence, some family members may be reluctant to facilitate the discharge of critically ill patients, causing delays in discharge planning. These challenges underscore the obstacles faced by nursing health education during the pandemic. PURPOSE: This study was designed to utilize cloud technology to enhance the knowledge and skills of families caring for infants with congenital heart disease at home and to assess their satisfaction with the associated homecare learning platform. RESOLUTION: Based on our hospital's cloud-based health education platform, a series of personalized instructional video materials was developed for families of infants with congenital heart disease. These materials cover comprehensively the entire treatment process, from diagnosis to post-discharge home care skills, for these patients. To facilitate autonomous learning, the videos in this series were made accessible to the families anytime, anywhere via personal devices such as smartphones and tablets. Concurrently, a chatbot tool was integrated to provide guidance on inpatient care for infants with congenital heart disease, including fundamental aspects of newborn care, with the aim of equipping parents and caregivers with the knowledge and skills necessary to provide basic post-discharge care. To ensure the families acquired personalized care skills, after completing the learning modules, practical bedside training sessions incorporating knowledge and skills assessments were organized for family members. RESULTS: After project implementation, the average knowledge score for family members increased significantly from 79.1 to 100 (perfect score). The proportion of family members proficient in executing caregiving techniques autonomously also rose impressively from 30% to 95%. Furthermore, average overall satisfaction with cloud-based technology-assisted caregiving learning among the family members rose 31.4% from 3.5 to 4.6. CONCLUSIONS: This project represents a viable solution to providing clinical nursing guidance independent of the constraints of time and location, and effectively enhances homecare-skill-related learning outcomes in family members, especially with regard to caring for infants with congenital heart disease.

PCAO2: an ontology for integration of prostate cancer associated genotypic, phenotypic and lifestyle data.

Disease ontologies facilitate the semantic organization and representation of domain-specific knowledge. In the case of prostate cancer (PCa), large volumes of research results and clinical data have been accumulated and needed to be standardized for sharing and translational researches. A formal representation of PCa-associated knowledge will be essential to the diverse data standardization, data sharing and the future knowledge graph extraction, deep phenotyping and explainable artificial intelligence developing. In this study, we constructed an updated PCa ontology (PCAO2) based on the ontology development life cycle. An online information retrieval system was designed to ensure the usability of the ontology. The PCAO2 with a subclass-based taxonomic hierarchy covers the major biomedical concepts for PCa-associated genotypic, phenotypic and lifestyle data. The current version of the PCAO2 contains 633 concepts organized under three biomedical viewpoints, namely, epidemiology, diagnosis and treatment. These concepts are enriched by the addition of definition, synonym, relationship and reference. For the precision diagnosis and treatment, the PCa-associated genes and lifestyles are integrated in the viewpoint of epidemiological aspects of PCa. PCAO2 provides a standardized and systematized semantic framework for studying large amounts of heterogeneous PCa data and knowledge, which can be further, edited and enriched by the scientific community. The PCAO2 is freely available at https://bioportal.bioontology.org/ontologies/PCAO, http://pcaontology.net/ and http://pcaontology.net/mobile/.

Mex-3 RNA binding family member A (MEX3A)/circMPP6 complex promotes colorectal cancer progression by inhibiting autophagy.

RNA-binding proteins (RBPs)-RNA networks have contributed to cancer development. Circular RNAs (circRNAs) are considered as protein recruiters; nevertheless, the patterns of circRNA-protein interactions in colorectal cancer (CRC) are still lacking. Processing bodies (PBs) formed through liquid-liquid phase separation (LLPS) are membrane-less organelles (MLOs) consisting of RBPs and RNA. Previous evidence suggests a connection between PBs dynamics and cancer progression. Despite the increasingly acknowledged crucial role of RBPs and RNA in the accumulation and maintenance of MLOs, there remains a lack of specific research on the interactions between PBs-related RBPs and circRNAs in CRC. Herein, we identify that MEX-3 RNA binding family member A (MEX3A), frequently upregulated in CRC tissues, predicts poorer patient survival. Elevated MEX3A accelerates malignance and inhibits autophagy of CRC cells. Importantly, MEX3A undergoes intrinsically disordered regions (IDRs)-dependent LLPS in the cytoplasm. Specifically, circMPP6 acts as a scaffold to facilitate the interaction between MEX3A and PBs proteins. The MEX3A/circMPP6 complex modulates PBs dynamic and promotes UPF-mediated phosphodiesterase 5A (PDE5A) mRNA degradation, consequently leading to the aggressive properties of CRC cells. Clinically, CRC patients exhibiting high MEX3A expression and low PDE5A expression have the poorest overall survival. Our findings reveal a collaboration between MEX3A and circMPP6 in the regulation of mRNA decay through triggering the PBs aggregation, which provides prognostic markers and/or therapeutic targets for CRC.

Electrical stress and acid orange 7 synergistically clear the blockage of electron flow in the methanogenesis of low-strength wastewater.

Energy recovery from low-strength wastewater through anaerobic methanogenesis is constrained by limited substrate availability. The development of efficient methanogenic communities is critical but challenging. Here we develop a strategy to acclimate methanogenic communities using conductive carrier (CC), electrical stress (ES), and Acid Orange 7 (AO7) in a modified biofilter. The synergistic integration of CC, ES, and AO7 precipitated a remarkable 72-fold surge in methane production rate compared to the baseline. This increase was attributed to an altered methanogenic community function, independent of the continuous presence of AO7 and ES. AO7 acted as an external electron acceptor, accelerating acetogenesis from fermentation intermediates, restructuring the bacterial community, and enriching electroactive bacteria (EAB). Meanwhile, CC and ES orchestrated the assembly of the archaeal community and promoted electrotrophic methanogens, enhancing acetotrophic methanogenesis electron flow via a mechanism distinct from direct electrochemical interactions. The collective application of CC, ES, and AO7 effectively mitigated electron flow impediments in low-strength wastewater methanogenesis, achieving an additional 34% electron recovery from the substrate. This study proposes a new method of amending anaerobic digestion systems with conductive materials to advance wastewater treatment, sustainability, and energy self-sufficiency.

Palmitoylation of KSHV pORF55 is required for Golgi localization and efficient progeny virion production.

Kaposi's sarcoma-associated herpesvirus (KSHV) is a double-stranded DNA virus etiologically associated with multiple malignancies. Both latency and sporadic lytic reactivation contribute to KSHV-associated malignancies, however, the specific roles of many KSHV lytic gene products in KSHV replication remain elusive. In this study, we report that ablation of ORF55, a late gene encoding a tegument protein, does not impact KSHV lytic reactivation but significantly reduces the production of progeny virions. We found that cysteine 10 and 11 (C10 and C11) of pORF55 are palmitoylated, and the palmytoilation is essential for its Golgi localization and secondary envelope formation. Palmitoylation-defective pORF55 mutants are unstable and undergo proteasomal degradation. Notably, introduction of a putative Golgi localization sequence to these palmitoylation-defective pORF55 mutants restores Golgi localization and fully reinstates KSHV progeny virion production. Together, our study provides new insight into the critical role of pORF55 palmitoylation in KSHV progeny virion production and offers potential therapeutic targets for the treatment of related malignancies.

Kidney Cysts in Children With Alport Syndrome: A Report of 3 Cases.

Alport syndrome (AS) is a progressive hereditary kidney disease characterized by hematuria, proteinuria, and progressive kidney dysfunction accompanied by sensorineural hearing loss and ocular abnormalities. Pathogenic COL4A3-5 variants can result in different AS spectra. Further, kidney cysts have been reported in adults with AS. However, the relationship between kidney cysts and AS remains unclear. Here, we report 3 cases of AS in children that occurred with kidney cysts. The patient in case 1 was initially diagnosed with IgA nephropathy at the age of 8 years but later developed bilateral multiple kidney cysts at the age of 17 years, suggesting autosomal-dominant polycystic kidney disease. Whole-exome sequencing identified a pathogenic COL4A5 variant and confirmed the AS diagnosis. The patients in cases 2 and 3 had already been diagnosed with X-linked AS using kidney biopsy and genetic analysis. Initial kidney ultrasonography showed nephromegaly; however, kidney cyst formation was observed during their annual follow-up. Our study supports the association between AS and kidney cysts. Kidney cysts in adolescents with suspected AS should not discourage clinicians from testing for pathogenic COL4A3-COL4A5 variants. Early detection of kidney cysts is critical because it may indicate kidney disease progression.

H*ads dynamics engineering via bimetallic Pd-Cu@MXene catalyst for enhanced electrocatalytic hydrodechlorination.

Electrocatalytic hydrodechlorination (EHDC) is a promising approach to safely remove halogenated emerging contaminants (HECs) pollutants. However, sluggish production dynamics of adsorbed atomic H (H*ads) limit the applicability of this green process. In this study, bimetallic Pd-Cu@MXene catalysts were synthesized to achieve highly efficient removal of HECs. The alloy electrode (Pd-Cu@MX/CC) exhibited better EHDC performance in comparison to Pd@MX/CC electrode, resulting in diclofenac degradation efficiency of 93.3 ± 0.1%. The characterization analysis revealed that the Pd0/PdII ratio decreased by forming bimetallic Pd-Cu alloy. Density functional theory calculations further demonstrated the electronic configuration modulation of the Pd-Cu@MXene catalysts, optimizing binging energies for H* and thereby facilitating H*ads production and tuning the reduction capability of H*ads. Noteably, the amounts and reduction potential of H*ads for Pd-Cu@MXene catalysts were 1.5 times higher and 0.37 eV lower than those observed for the mono Pd electrode. Hence, the introduction of Cu into the Pd catalyst optimized the dynamics of H*ads production, thereby conferring significant advantages to EHDC reactions. This augmentation was underscored by the successful application of the alloy catalysts supported by MXene in EHDC experiments involving other HECs, which represented a new paradigm for EHDC for efficient recalcitrant pollutant removal by H*ads.

Mesenchymal Stem Cell-Derived Exosomes Attenuate Murine Cytomegalovirus-Infected Pneumonia via NF-κB/NLRP3 Signaling Pathway.

Reactivation and infection with cytomegalovirus (CMV) are frequently observed in recipients of solid organ transplants, bone marrow transplants, and individuals with HIV infection. This presents an increasing risk of allograft rejection, opportunistic infection, graft failure, and patient mortality. Among immunocompromised hosts, interstitial pneumonia is the most critical clinical manifestation of CMV infection. Recent studies have demonstrated the potential therapeutic benefits of exosomes derived from mesenchymal stem cells (MSC-exos) in preclinical models of acute lung injury, including pneumonia, ARDS, and sepsis. However, the role of MSC-exos in the pathogenesis of infectious viral diseases, such as CMV pneumonia, remains unclear. In a mouse model of murine CMV-induced pneumonia, we observed that intravenous administration of mouse MSC (mMSC)-exos reduced lung damage, decreased the hyperinflammatory response, and shifted macrophage polarization from the M1 to the M2 phenotype. Treatment with mMSC-exos also significantly reduced the infiltration of inflammatory cells and pulmonary fibrosis. Furthermore, in vitro studies revealed that mMSC-exos reversed the hyperinflammatory phenotype of bone marrow-derived macrophages infected with murine CMV. Mechanistically, mMSC-exos treatment decreased activation of the NF-κB/NLRP3 signaling pathway both in vivo and in vitro. In summary, our findings indicate that mMSC-exo treatment is effective in severe CMV pneumonia by reducing lung inflammation and fibrosis through the NF-κB/NLRP3 signaling pathway, thus providing promising therapeutic potential for clinical CMV infection.

Turns while walking among individuals with Parkinson's disease following overground locomotor training: A pilot study.

BACKGROUND: Individuals with Parkinson's disease are challenged in making turns while walking, evidenced by reduced intersegmental coordination and reduced dynamic postural stability. Although overground locomotor training previously improved ambulation among people with Parkinson's disease, its effect on walking turns remained unknown. We sought to understand the effects of overground locomotor training on walking turns among individuals with mild-Parkinson's disease. METHODS: Twelve participants with Parkinson's (7 Males/5 Females; Age: 68.5 ± 6.4 years) completed twenty-four sessions lasting approximately 60 min and over 12-15 weeks. Baseline and follow-up assessments included the ten-minute walk test using wearable sensors. Primary outcomes included changes to intersegmental coordination, measured by peak rotation and normalized peak rotation, and dynamic postural stability, measured by peak turn velocities in the frontal and transverse planes. Statistical analysis included one-tailed paired t-tests and Cohen's d effect sizes with α = 0.05. FINDINGS: No effects of overground locomotor training on mean peak thoracic rotation (+0.23 ± 4.24°; Cohen's d = 0.05; P = 0.45) or mean normalized peak thoracic rotation (-0.59 ± 5.52 (unitless); Cohen's d = 0.10; P = 0.45) were observed. Moderate and small effects of overground locomotor training were observed on mean peak turn velocities in the frontal (+1.59 ± 2.18°/s; Cohen's d = 0.43; P = 0.01) and transverse planes (+0.88 ± 3.18°/s; Cohen's d = 0.25; P = 0.18). INTERPRETATION: This pilot study provides preliminary evidence suggesting that individuals with mild-Parkinson's moderately improved frontal plane dynamic postural stability after overground locomotor training, likely attenuating the perturbations experienced while turning. CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTRATION: NCT03864393.

Dachshund Homolog 1: Unveiling Its Potential Role in Megakaryopoiesis and Bacillus anthracis Lethal Toxin-Induced Thrombocytopenia.

Lethal toxin (LT) is the critical virulence factor of Bacillus anthracis, the causative agent of anthrax. One common symptom observed in patients with anthrax is thrombocytopenia, which has also been observed in mice injected with LT. Our previous study demonstrated that LT induces thrombocytopenia by suppressing megakaryopoiesis, but the precise molecular mechanisms behind this phenomenon remain unknown. In this study, we utilized 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate (TPA)-induced megakaryocytic differentiation in human erythroleukemia (HEL) cells to identify genes involved in LT-induced megakaryocytic suppression. Through cDNA microarray analysis, we identified Dachshund homolog 1 (DACH1) as a gene that was upregulated upon TPA treatment but downregulated in the presence of TPA and LT, purified from the culture supernatants of B. anthracis. To investigate the function of DACH1 in megakaryocytic differentiation, we employed short hairpin RNA technology to knock down DACH1 expression in HEL cells and assessed its effect on differentiation. Our data revealed that the knockdown of DACH1 expression suppressed megakaryocytic differentiation, particularly in polyploidization. We demonstrated that one mechanism by which B. anthracis LT induces suppression of polyploidization in HEL cells is through the cleavage of MEK1/2. This cleavage results in the downregulation of the ERK signaling pathway, thereby suppressing DACH1 gene expression and inhibiting polyploidization. Additionally, we found that known megakaryopoiesis-related genes, such as FOSB, ZFP36L1, RUNX1, FLI1, AHR, and GFI1B genes may be positively regulated by DACH1. Furthermore, we observed an upregulation of DACH1 during in vitro differentiation of CD34-megakaryocytes and downregulation of DACH1 in patients with thrombocytopenia. In summary, our findings shed light on one of the molecular mechanisms behind LT-induced thrombocytopenia and unveil a previously unknown role for DACH1 in megakaryopoiesis.

Structural and interfacial properties of acetylated Millettia speciosa Champ polysaccharide and stability evaluation of the resultant O/W emulsion containing ß-carotene.

The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of acetylation modification on the structural, interfacial and emulsifying properties of Millettia speciosa Champ polysaccharide (MSCP). Besides, the influence of acetylation modification on the encapsulation properties of polysaccharide-based emulsion was also explored. Results indicated that modification resulted in a prominent reduction in molecular weight of MSCP and the interfacial layer thickness formed by acetylated MSCP (AC-MSCP) was also decreased, but the adsorption rate and ability of AC-MSCP to reduce interfacial tension were improved. AC-MSCP formulated emulsion possessed smaller droplet size (6.8 µm) and exhibited better physical stability under stressful conditions. The chemical stability of ß-carotene was also profoundly enhanced by AC-MSCP fabricated emulsion. Moreover, AC-MSCP improved lipids digestion extent, thus facilitating the formation of micelle and increasing bioaccessibility of ß-carotene. This study provided insights for rational modification of polysaccharide-based emulsifier and designing delivery system for chemically labile hydrophobic bioactive components.