Strengthening the argument for a large Greater India.

The Sangdanlin section in southern Tibet represents a geologic Rosetta stone to constrain the initiation of the India-Asia collision from its sedimentary and paleomagnetic records. However, geoscientists have arrived at fundamentally divergent interpretations surrounding the age of the strata and its paleomagnetic record. Here, we report paleontologic, petrographic, and paleomagnetic data from the Sangdanlin section that recognize the sequence as a thrust complex containing interlaced Barremian-Albian (Early Cretaceous) and Paleocene strata, each separated by thrust faults. Recognizing two complexly interwoven formations of distinctly different ages contradicts a continuous stratigraphic superposition. Assigning an Early Cretaceous, instead of Paleocene, age to the units collected for paleomagnetic data revises paleogeographic models thereby supporting a large (2,000 to 3,000 km) extent of Greater India, with collision initiating at 55 ± 5 Ma in the western Himalayas. A contiguous plate in the Neotethys Ocean precludes that Asia's southern margin was built through a succession of accreted terrains.

Bioinspired and Bioderived Aqueous Electrocatalysis.

The development of efficient and sustainable electrochemical systems able to provide clean-energy fuels and chemicals is one of the main current challenges of materials science and engineering. Over the last decades, significant advances have been made in the development of robust electrocatalysts for different reactions, with fundamental insights from both computational and experimental work. Some of the most promising systems in the literature are based on expensive and scarce platinum-group metals; however, natural enzymes show the highest per-site catalytic activities, while their active sites are based exclusively on earth-abundant metals. Additionally, natural biomass provides a valuable feedstock for producing advanced carbonaceous materials with porous hierarchical structures. Utilizing resources and design inspiration from nature can help create more sustainable and cost-effective strategies for manufacturing cost-effective, sustainable, and robust electrochemical materials and devices. This review spans from materials to device engineering; we initially discuss the design of carbon-based materials with bioinspired features (such as enzyme active sites), the utilization of biomass resources to construct tailored carbon materials, and their activity in aqueous electrocatalysis for water splitting, oxygen reduction, and CO2 reduction. We then delve in the applicability of bioinspired features in electrochemical devices, such as the engineering of bioinspired mass transport and electrode interfaces. Finally, we address remaining challenges, such as the stability of bioinspired active sites or the activity of metal-free carbon materials, and discuss new potential research directions that can open the gates to the implementation of bioinspired sustainable materials in electrochemical devices.

Sphingolipid profiling reveals differential functions of sphingolipid biosynthesis isozymes of Caenorhabditis elegans.

Multiple isozymes are encoded in the Caenorhabditis elegans genome for the various sphingolipid biosynthesis reactions, but the contributions of individual isozymes are characterized only in part. We developed a simple but effective reversed-phase liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (RPLC-MS/MS) method that enables simultaneous identification and quantification of ceramides (Cer), glucosylceramides (GlcCer), and sphingomyelins (SM) from the same MS run. Validating this sphingolipid profiling method, we show that nearly all 47 quantifiable sphingolipid species found in young adult worms were reduced upon RNA interference (RNAi) of sptl-1 or elo-5, which are both required for synthesis of the id17:1 sphingoid base. We also confirm that HYL-1 and HYL-2, but not LAGR-1, constitute the major ceramide synthase activity with different preference for fatty acid substrates, and that CGT-3, but not CGT-1 and CGT-2, plays a major role in producing GlcCers. Deletion of sms-5 hardly affected SM levels. RNAi of sms-1, sms-2, and sms-3 all lowered the abundance of certain SMs with an odd-numbered N-acyl chains (mostly C21 and C23, with or without hydroxylation). Unexpectedly, sms-2 RNAi and sms-3 RNAi elevated a subset of SM species containing even-numbered N-acyls. This suggests that sphingolipids containing even-numbered N-acyls could be regulated separately, sometimes in opposite directions, from those containing odd-numbered N-acyls, which are presumably monomethyl branched chain fatty acyls. We also find that ceramide levels are kept in balance with those of GlcCers and SMs. These findings underscore the effectiveness of this RPLC-MS/MS method in studies of C. elegans sphingolipid biology.

Asperosaponin VI facilitates the regeneration of skeletal muscle injury by suppressing GSK-3ß-mediated cell apoptosis.

Asperosaponin VI (ASA VI) is a bioactive triterpenoid saponin extracted from Diptychus roots, of Diptyl, and has previously shown protective functions in rheumatoid arthritis and sepsis. This study investigates the effects and molecular mechanisms of ASA VI on skeletal muscle regeneration in a cardiotoxin (CTX)-induced skeletal muscle injury mouse model. Mice were subjected to CTX-induced injury in the tibialis anterior and C2C12 myotubes were treated with CTX. Muscle fiber histology was analyzed at 7 and 14 days postinjury. Apoptosis and autophagy-related protein expression were evaluated t s by Western blot, and muscle regeneration markers were quantified by quantitative polymerase chain reaction. Docking studies, cell viability assessments, and glycogen synthase kinase-3ß (GSK-3ß) activation analyses were performed to elucidate the mechanism. ASA VI was observed to improve muscle interstitial fibrosis, remodeling, and performance in CTX-treated mice, thereby increased skeletal muscle size, weight, and locomotion. Furthermore, ASA VI modulated the expression of apoptosis and autophagy-related proteins through GSK-3ß inhibition and activated the transcription of regeneration genes. Our results suggest that ASA VI mitigates skeletal muscle injury by modulating apoptosis and autophagy via GSK-3ß signaling and promotes regeneration, thus presenting a probable therapeutic agent for skeletal muscle injury.

Quantifying Structural Polarization by Continuous Regulation of Lone-Pair Electron Expression in Molecular Crystals.

Rational design of structural polarization is vital for modern technologies, as it allows the physical properties of functional materials to be tailored. An effective approach for governing polarization involves the utilization of stereochemical lone-pair electrons (LPEs). However, despite the recognized significance of LPEs in controlling structural polarization, there remains a lack of understanding regarding the quantitative relationship between their expression and the extent of structural polarization. Here, by using pressure to continuously tune the LPE expression, we achieve the precise control and quantification of structural polarization, which brings enhanced second harmonic generation (SHG) of the molecular crystal SbI3·3S8. We introduce the I-Sb-I angle (α̅) that describes the degree of LPE expression and establishes a quantitative relationship between α̅ and structural polarization. That is, decreasing α̅ shapes LPE expression from delocalization to localization, which repels the bonding pairs of electrons and thus enhances the structural polarization. In addition, we extend this quantified relationship to a series of molecular crystals and demonstrate its applicability to the design of structural polarization by tailoring LPE expression.

Cetuximab plus FOLFOXIRI versus cetuximab plus FOLFOX as conversion regimen in RAS/BRAF wild-type patients with initially unresectable colorectal liver metastases (TRICE trial): A randomized controlled trial.

BACKGROUND: It remains unclear whether intensification of the chemotherapy backbone in tandem with an anti-EGFR can confer superior clinical outcomes in a cohort of RAS/BRAF wild-type colorectal cancer (CRC) patients with initially unresectable colorectal liver metastases (CRLM). To that end, we sought to comparatively evaluate the efficacy and safety of cetuximab plus FOLFOXIRI (triplet arm) versus cetuximab plus FOLFOX (doublet arm) as a conversion regimen (i.e., unresectable to resectable) in CRC patients with unresectable CRLM. METHODS AND FINDINGS: This open-label, randomized clinical trial was conducted from April 2018 to December 2022 in 7 medical centers across China, enrolling 146 RAS/BRAF wild-type CRC patients with initially unresectable CRLM. A stratified blocked randomization method was utilized to assign patients (1:1) to either the cetuximab plus FOLFOXIRI (n = 72) or cetuximab plus FOLFOX (n = 74) treatment arms. Stratification factors were tumor location (left versus right) and resectability (technically unresectable versus ≥5 metastases). The primary outcome was the objective response rate (ORR). Secondary outcomes included the median depth of tumor response (DpR), early tumor shrinkage (ETS), R0 resection rate, progression-free survival (PFS), overall survival (not mature at the time of analysis), and safety profile. Radiological tumor evaluations were conducted by radiologists blinded to the group allocation. Primary efficacy analyses were conducted based on the intention-to-treat population, while safety analyses were performed on patients who received at least 1 line of chemotherapy. A total of 14 patients (9.6%) were lost to follow-up (9 in the doublet arm and 5 in the triplet arm). The ORR was comparable following adjustment for stratification factors, with 84.7% versus 79.7% in the triplet and doublet arms, respectively (odds ratio [OR] 0.70; 95% confidence intervals [CI] [0.30, 1.67], Chi-square p = 0.42). Moreover, the ETS rate showed no significant difference between the triplet and doublet arms (80.6% (58/72) versus 77.0% (57/74), OR 0.82, 95% CI [0.37, 1.83], Chi-square p = 0.63). Although median DpR was higher in the triplet therapy group (59.6%, interquartile range [IQR], [50.0, 69.7] versus 55.0%, IQR [42.8, 63.8], Mann-Whitney p = 0.039), the R0/R1 resection rate with or without radiofrequency ablation/stereotactic body radiation therapy was comparable with 54.2% (39/72) of patients in the triplet arm versus 52.7% (39/74) in the doublet arm. At a median follow-up of 26.2 months (IQR [12.8, 40.5]), the median PFS was 11.8 months in the triplet arm versus 13.4 months in the doublet arm (hazard ratio [HR] 0.74, 95% CI [0.50, 1.11], Log-rank p = 0.14). Grade ≥ 3 events were reported in 47.2% (35/74) of patients in the doublet arm and 55.9% (38/68) of patients in the triplet arm. The triplet arm was associated with a higher incidence of grade ≥ 3 neutropenia (44.1% versus 27.0%, p = 0.03) and diarrhea (5.9% versus 0%, p = 0.03). The primary limitations of the study encompass the inherent bias in subjective surgical decisions regarding resection feasibility, as well as the lack of a centralized assessment for ORR and resection. CONCLUSIONS: The combination of cetuximab with FOLFOXIRI did not significantly improve ORR compared to cetuximab plus FOLFOX. Despite achieving an enhanced DpR, this improvement did not translate into improved R0 resection rates or PFS. Moreover, the triplet arm was associated with an increase in treatment-related toxicity. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT03493048.

Effects of Clip Anchoring on Preventing Migration of Fully Covered Self-Expandable Metal Stent in Patients Undergoing Endoscopic Retrograde Cholangiopancreatography: A Multicenter, Randomized Controlled Study.

INTRODUCTION: Fully covered self-expandable metal stents (FCSEMSs) are commonly placed in patients with biliary stricture during endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP). However, up to 40% of migration has been reported, resulting in treatment failure or the requirement for further intervention. Here, we aimed to investigate the effects of metal clip anchoring on preventing the migration of FCSEMS. METHODS: Consecutive patients requiring placement of FCSEMS were included in this multicenter randomized trial. The enrolled patients were randomly assigned in a 1:1 ratio to receive clip anchoring (clip group) or not (control group). The primary outcome was the migration rate at 6 months after stent insertion. The secondary outcomes were the rates of proximal and distal migration and stent-related adverse events. The analysis followed the intention-to-treat principle. RESULTS: From February 2020 to November 2022, 180 patients with biliary stricture were enrolled, with 90 in each group. The baseline characteristics were comparable between the 2 groups. The overall rate of stent migration at 6 months was significantly lower in the clip group compared with the control group (16.7% vs 30.0%, P = 0.030). The proximal and distal migration rates were similar in the 2 groups (2.2% vs 5.6%, P = 0.205; 14.4% vs 22.2%, P = 0.070). Notably, none of the patients (0/8) who received 2 or more clips experienced stent migration. There were no significant differences in stent-related adverse events between the 2 groups. DISCUSSION: Our data suggest that clip-assisted anchoring is an effective and safe method for preventing migration of FCSEMS without increasing the adverse events.

Association of obesity with cardiovascular disease in the absence of traditional risk factors.

BACKGROUND: The association between obesity and cardiovascular disease (CVD) in people without traditional CVD risk factors is unclear. This study aimed to investigate the association of obesity with CVD and its subtypes in people without traditional CVD risk factors. METHODS: Based on the Kailuan cohort study, the included participants were divided into different groups according to levels of body mass index (BMI) and waist height ratio (WHtR), respectively. Multivariate Cox proportional hazard models were used to evaluate the associations. RESULTS: This study included 31,955 participants [men 63.99%; mean age (48.14 ± 3.33) years]. During a median follow-up period of 12.97 (interquartile range: 12.68-13.17) years, 1298 cases of CVD were observed. Compared with the normal BMI group, the hazard ratios (HRs) for CVD, stroke, and myocardial infarction (MI) in the BMI obese group were 1.31 (95% confidence interval [CI] 1.11-1.55), 1.21 (95%CI 1.01-1.46), 1.62 (95%CI 1.13-2.33), respectively. Compared with the WHtR non-obese group, the HRs for CVD, stroke, and MI in the obese group were 1.25(95%CI 1.11-1.41), 1.18 (95%CI 1.03-1.34), 1.57 (95%CI 1.18-2.09), respectively. There was an interaction between age and WHtR (P for interaction was 0.043). The association between WHtR and CVD was stronger in people under 60 years old, with a HR of 1.44 (95%CI 1.24-1.67). CONCLUSION: We found that obesity increased the risk of CVD in people without traditional CVD risk factors. The association of WHtR with CVD was stronger in people under 60 years old.

Characterised intron retention profiles in muscle tissue of idiopathic inflammatory myopathy subtypes.

OBJECTIVES: Idiopathic inflammatory myopathies (IIMs) are a group of heterogeneous autoimmune diseases. Intron retention (IR) serves as an important post-transcriptional and translational regulatory mechanism. This study aims to identify changes in IR profiles in IIM subtypes, investigating their influence on proteins and their correlations with clinical features. METHODS: RNA sequencing and liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry were performed on muscle tissues obtained from 174 patients with IIM and 19 controls, following QC procedures. GTFtools and iREAD software were used for IR identification. An analysis of differentially expressed IRs (DEIs), exons and proteins was carried out using edgeR or DEP. Functional analysis was performed with clusterProfiler, and SPIRON was used to assess splicing factors. RESULTS: A total of 6783 IRs located in 3111 unique genes were identified in all IIM subtypes compared with controls. IIM subtype-specific DEIs were associated with the pathogenesis of respective IIM subtypes. Splicing factors YBX1 and HSPA2 exhibited the most changes in dermatomyositis and immune-mediated necrotising myopathy. Increased IR was associated with reduced protein expression. Some of the IIM-specific DEIs were correlated with clinical parameters (skin rash, MMT-8 scores and muscle enzymes) and muscle histopathological features (myofiber necrosis, regeneration and inflammation). IRs in IFIH1 and TRIM21 were strongly correlated with anti-MDA5+ antibody, while IRs in SRP14 were associated with anti-SRP+ antibody. CONCLUSION: This study revealed distinct IRs and specific splicing factors associated with IIM subtypes, which might be contributing to the pathogenesis of IIM. We also emphasised the potential impact of IR on protein expression in IIM muscles.

A Novel Postconditioning Approach Attenuates Myocardial Ischaemia-Reperfusion Injury in Rats.

Background: Ischaemia-reperfusion injury (IRI) is the damage that occurs when blood flow is restored to a tissue or organ after a period of ischaemia. Postconditioning is a therapeutic strategy aimed at reducing the tissue damage caused by IRI. Postconditioning in rodents is a useful tool to investigate the potential mechanisms of postconditioning. Currently, there is no convenient approach for postconditioning rodents. Methods: Rats were subjected to a balloon postconditioning procedure. A balloon was used to control the flow in the vessel. This allowed for easy and precise manipulation of perfusion. Evans blue and triphenyltetrazolium chloride (TTC) double staining were used to determine the infarct size. Apoptosis in the myocardium was visualised and quantified by terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase dUTP nick end labeling (TUNEL). Western blotting was performed to assess the expression of key apoptotic proteins, i.e., B-cell lymphoma 2 (Bcl-2), Bcl-2 Associated X (Bax), and cleaved caspase-3. Results: The balloon control approach to postconditioning provided accurate control of coronary blood flow and simplified the postconditioning manipulation. Infarct size reduction was observed in IRI rats after post-conditioning. There was a decrease in cardiac apoptosis in IRI rats after conditioning, as detected by TUNEL staining. IRI rats showed increased Bcl-2 levels and decreased Bax and cleaved caspase-3 levels in the myocardium. Conclusions: Postconditioning was successfully applied in rats using this novel approach. Postconditioning with this approach reduced infarct size and apoptosis in the area at risk.

Hyperuricemia: A key contributor to endothelial dysfunction in cardiovascular diseases.

As an end product of purine metabolism, uric acid (UA) is a major endogenous antioxidant in humans. However, impaired UA synthesis and excretion can lead to hyperuricemia (HUA), which may in turn induce endothelial dysfunction (ED) and contribute to the pathogenesis of cardiovascular diseases (CVDs; e.g., atherosclerosis and hypertension). In this review, we discuss recent advances and novel insights into the effects exerted by HUA conditions in ED and related underlying mechanisms focusing on impaired UA metabolism, reduction in the synthesis and bioavailability of nitric oxide, endothelial cell injury, the endothelial-to-mesenchymal transition, insulin resistance, procoagulant activity, and acquisition of an inflammatory phenotype. We additionally discuss intervention strategies for HUA-induced ED and the paradoxical roles of UA in endothelial function. We summarize major conclusions and perspectives: the deleterious effects of HUA contribute to the initiation and progression of CVD-related ED. However, the treatment strategies (in addition to urate-lowering therapy) for increasing endothelial function are limited because the majority of literature on pharmacological and pathophysiological mechanisms underlying HUA-induced ED solely describes in vitro models. Therefore, a better understanding of the mechanisms involved in HUA-induced ED is critical to the development of novel therapies for preventing and treating CVD-HUA comorbidities.

UFMylation of HRD1 regulates endoplasmic reticulum homeostasis.

Ubiquitin fold modifier 1 is a small ubiquitin-like protein modifier that is essential for embryonic development of metazoans. Although UFMylation has been connected to endoplasmic reticulum homeostasis, the underlying mechanisms and the relevant cellular targets are largely unknown. Here, we show that HRD1, a ubiquitin ligase of ER-associated protein degradation (ERAD), is a novel substrate of UFM1 conjugation. HRD1 interacts with UFMylation components UFL1 and DDRGK1 and is UFMylated at Lys610 residue. In UFL1-depleted cells, the stability of HRD1 is increased and its ubiquitination modification is reduced. In the event of ER stress, the UFMylation and ubiquitination modification of HRD1 is gradually inhibited over time. Alteration of HRD1 Lys610 residue to arginine impairs its ability to degrade unfolded or misfolded proteins to disturb protein processing in ER. These results suggest that UFMylation of HRD1 facilitates ERAD function to maintain ER homeostasis.

Dopamine enhances recovery after traumatic brain injury through ubiquitylation and autophagic degradation of RIPK1.

BACKGROUND: Although the neurotransmitter dopamine (DA) plays a crucial pathophysiologic role after traumatic brain injury (TBI), its function and specific underlying mechanisms of action remain unclear. METHODS: Adult male mice underwent controlled cortical impact (CCI). We administered DA intraperitoneally to mice for 14 consecutive days, starting 8 h before CCI. On day 3 after brain injury, cortical lesion volume and brain water content were measured. On days 7-13, behavioral tests were performed. RESULTS: Herein we report that DA inhibits neural death after injury, which is mediated via the dopamine D1 receptor (DRD1). Our results also showed that DRD1 signaling promotes RIPK1 ubiquitination via the E3 ubiquitin ligase Chip and then degradation through autophagy. Importantly, in vivo data revealed that DRD1 signaling prevented neural death, suppressed neuroinflammation, and restored many TBI-related functional sequelae. CONCLUSIONS: These data reveal a novel mechanism involving dopamine, and suggest that DRD1 activation positively regulates Chip-mediated ubiquitylation of RIPK1-leading to its autophagic degradation.

Development and Validation of a Machine Learning-based, Point-of-Care Risk Calculator for Post-ERCP Pancreatitis and Prophylaxis Selection.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: A robust model of post-ERCP pancreatitis (PEP) risk is not currently available. We aimed to develop a machine learning-based tool for PEP risk prediction to aid in clinical decision-making related to periprocedural prophylaxis selection and post-procedural monitoring. METHODS: Feature selection, model training, and validation were performed using patient-level data from 12 randomized controlled trials. A gradient-boosted machine (GBM) model was trained to estimate PEP risk and the performance of the resulting model was evaluated using the area under the receiver operating curve (AUC) with 5-fold cross-validation. A web-based clinical decision-making tool was created, and a prospective pilot study was performed using data from ERCPs performed at the Johns Hopkins Hospital over a one-month period. RESULTS: A total of 7389 patients were included in the GBM with an 8.6% rate of PEP. The model was trained on twenty PEP risk factors and 5 prophylactic interventions (rectal non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs [NSAID], aggressive hydration, combined rectal NSAID and aggressive hydration, pancreatic duct [PD] stenting, and combined rectal NSAID and PD stenting). The resulting GBM model had an AUC of 0.70 (65% specificity, 65% sensitivity, 95% negative predictive value, 15% positive predictive value). A total of 135 patients were included in the prospective pilot study, resulting in an AUC of 0.74. CONCLUSIONS: This study demonstrates the feasibility and utility of a novel machine learning-based PEP risk estimation tool with high negative predictive value to aid in prophylaxis selection and identify patients at low risk who may not require extended post-procedure monitoring.

Chemoselectivity of the CuAAC/Ring Cleavage/Cyclization Reaction between Enaminones and α-Acylketenimine.

Ketenimines represent an important class of reactive species, useful synthetic intermediates, and synthons. However, in general, ketenimines preferentially undergoes nucleophilic addition reactions with hydroxyl and amino groups, and carbon functional groups remain a less studied subset of such systems. Herein, we develop a straightforward syntheses of pyridin-4(1H)-imines that is achieved by cyclization of a reacting enaminone unit with α-acylketenimine which is generated from the reactions of sulfonyl azides and terminal ynones in situ (CuAAC/Ring cleavage reaction). The cascade process preferentially starts with the nucleophilic α-C of the enaminone unit instead of an amino group, attacking the electron-deficient central carbon of ketenimine, and the chemoselectivity unconventional products pyridin-4(1H)-imines were formed by intramolecular cyclization.

Global Prevalence of Preexisting Antibodies against Human Adenoviruses, Surveyed from 1962 to 2021.

BACKGROUND: Human adenoviruses (HAdVs) are extensively used as vectors for vaccines development and cancer therapy. People who already have antibodies against HAdVs, on the other hand, would have an impact on the preventative or therapeutic effect. This review focuses primarily on the prevalence of pre-existing antibodies against HAdVs in distinct geographical populations. SUMMARY: After screening, 64 studies from 31 countries between 1962 and 2021 were selected, totaling 39,427 samples. The total prevalence of preexisting antibodies to HAdVs varied by country or location, ranging from 2.00 to 95.70%. Southeast Asia had the highest prevalence (54.57%) while Europe had the lowest (18.17%). The prevalence in practically all developing nations was higher than in developed nations. Adults have a greater frequency than children and newborns in most nations. The primary HAdV antibody types varied by country. Adults in China, the USA, the United Kingdom, and Belgium had the lowest prevalence of preexisting antibodies against HAdV55, HAdV37, HAdV8, and HAdV36, respectively. Children in the USA, China, the United Kingdom, and Japan had the lowest rates of HAdV48, HAdV11, HAdV8, and HAdV40. The frequency of antibodies differed significantly between military and civilian groups. KEY MESSAGES: Preexisting antibodies against various types of HAdVs differed greatly throughout worldwide populations. Future development of HAdV-vector vaccines and medicines should focus on preexisting antibodies in target groups rather than a "one-size-fits-all" strategy. It might be advantageous in selecting HAdV vectors for studying the prevalence of preexisting antibodies against HAdVs in different locations and people throughout the world.

The prevalence and independent risk factors of elevated common carotid artery intima-media thickness and carotid plaque in patients with gout.

OBJECTIVES: Gout patients are at high risk of carotid atherosclerosis, which could be convincingly reflected by common carotid artery intima-media thickness (CCAIMT) and carotid plaque. The current study aimed to investigate the prevalence and risk factors of thick CCAIMT and carotid plaque in gout patients. METHODS: Comprehensive demographic characteristics, chronic comorbidities, disease features, and biochemical indexes (42 parameters) were obtained from 237 gout patients. CCAIMT and carotid plaque were evaluated by bilateral carotid artery ultrasound in gout patients and 80 healthy controls. RESULTS: The CCAIMT and carotid plaque percentage were increased in gout patients compared to healthy controls (both p<0.001). In detail, the prevalence of thick CCAIMT (>0.9 mm) and carotid plaque was 22.4% and 34.6% in gout patients, respectively. Forward-stepwise multivariate logistic regression model revealed that age (p<0.001, odds ratio (OR)=1.143], disease duration (p=0.001, OR=1.176), alkaline phosphatase (ALP) (p=0.002, OR=1.037), and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDLC) (p=0.039, OR=2.144) were independently associated with elevated thick CCAIMT risk, while serum uric acid (SUA) (p=0.002, OR=0.992) exhibited an opposite trend; their combination well-identified thick CCAIMT risk [area under the curve (AUC)=0.910] by receiver operator characteristic (ROC) curve. Meanwhile, age (p<0001, OR=1.116), tophus (p=0.009, OR=3.523), and triglycerides (TG) (p=0.014, OR=1.323) were independently associated with a higher risk of carotid plaque, while SUA (p=0.008, OR=0.995) showed an opposite trend; their combination also well-identified carotid plaque risk (AUC=0.886) by ROC curve. CONCLUSIONS: Thick CCAIMT and carotid plaque are prevalent in gout patients, whose occurrence relates to age, disease duration, ALP, LDLC, SUA, TG, and tophus.

Synthesis of 1,2,4-diazaphospholes via base-promoted cyclization reaction of hydrazonoyl chlorides and [Bu4N][P(SiCl3)2].

Aromatic 1,2,4-diazaphospholes featuring distinct hybrid-mode nitrogen atoms (N(λ3σ2), N(λ3σ3)) and low-valent phosphorus atoms (λ3σ2) exhibited the characteristic of serving as unique hybrid ligands. This study presented a one-pot reaction involving the base-promoted stepwise cyclization of hydrazonoyl chlorides and [Bu4N][P(SiCl3)2] to yield 1,2,4-diazaphospholes, providing an effective method for synthesizing such compounds.

Rapid detection of pathogenic fungi from coastal population with respiratory infections using microfluidic chip technology.

BACKGROUND: Currently, culture methods are commonly used in clinical tests to detect pathogenic fungi including Candida spp. Nonetheless, these methods are cumbersome and time-consuming, thereby leading to considerable difficulties in diagnosis of pathogenic fungal infections, especially in situations that respiratory samples such as alveolar lavage fluid and pleural fluid contain extremely small amounts of microorganisms. The aim of this study was to elucidate the utility and practicality of microfluidic chip technology in quick detection of respiratory pathogenic fungi. METHODS: DNAs of clinical samples (mainly derived from sputa, alveolar lavage fluid, and pleural fluid) from 64 coastal patients were quickly detected using microfluidic chip technology with 20 species of fungal spectrum and then validated by Real-time qPCR, and their clinical baseline data were analyzed. RESULTS: Microfluidic chip results showed that 36 cases infected with Candida spp. and 27 cases tested negative for fungi, which was consistent with Real-time qPCR validation. In contrast, only 16 cases of fungal infections were detected by the culture method; however, one of the culture-positive samples tested negative by microfluidic chip and qPCR validation. Moreover, we found that the patients with Candida infections had significantly higher rates of platelet count reduction than fungi-negative controls. When compared with the patients infected with C. albicans alone, the proportion of males in the patients co-infected with multiple Candidas significantly increased, while their platelet counts significantly decreased. CONCLUSIONS: These findings suggest that constant temperature amplification-based microfluidic chip technology combined with routine blood tests can increase the detection speed and accuracy (including sensitivity and specificity) of identifying respiratory pathogenic fungi.

An N-terminal heptad repeat trimer-based peptide fusion inhibitor exhibits potent anti-H1N1 activity.

Influenza viruses are susceptible to seasonal influenza, which has repeatedly caused global pandemics and jeopardized human health. Vaccines are only used as preventive medicine due to the extreme mutability of influenza viruses, and antiviral medication is the most significant clinical treatment to reduce influenza morbidity and mortality. Nevertheless, the clinical application of anti-influenza virus agents is characterized by the narrow therapeutic time window, the susceptibility to drug resistance, and relatively limited effect on severe influenza. Therefore, it is of great significance to develop novel anti-influenza virus drugs to fulfill the urgent clinical needs. Influenza viruses enter host cells through the hemagglutinin (HA) mediated membrane fusion process, and fusion inhibitors function antivirally by blocking hemagglutinin deformation, promising better therapeutic efficacy and resolving drug resistance, with targets different from marketed medicines. Previous studies have shown that unnatural peptides derived from Human Immunodeficiency Virus Type 1 (HIV-1) membrane fusion proteins exhibit anti-HIV-1 activity. Based on the similarity of the membrane fusion protein deformation process between HIV-1 and H1N1, we selected sequences derived from the gp41 subunit in the HIV-1 fusion protein, and then constructed N-trimer spatial structure through inter-helical isopeptide bond modification, to design the novel anti-H1N1 fusion inhibitors. The results showed that the novel peptides could block 6-HB formation during H1N1 membrane fusion procedure, and thus possessed significant anti-H1N1 activity, comparable to the positive control oseltamivir. Our study demonstrates the design viability of peptide fusion inhibitors based on similar membrane fusion processes among viruses, and furthermore provides an important idea for the novel anti-H1N1 inhibitors development.