Association of soy intake and cooking methods with colorectal polyp and adenoma prevalence: findings from the extended Lanxi pre-colorectal cancer cohort (LP3C).

Background: Limited research has explored the association between dietary soy products and colorectal polyps and adenomas, with insufficient attention given to cooking methods and subtypes of polyps. This study aimed to comprehensively assess the relationship between soy intake, its cooking methods, and the risk of colorectal polyps and adenomas within a high-incidence population of colorectal cancer (CRC) in China. Methods: Data were derived from 14,903 participants aged 40-80 years, enrolled in the extended Lanxi Pre-colorectal Cancer Cohort (LP3C) between March 2018 and December 2022. This cross-sectional study is based on the participants' baseline information. Long-term dietary information was collected through a validated food frequency questionnaire (FFQ), and colorectal polyps and adenomas were identified through electronic colonoscopy. Employing multivariate logistic regression, results were expressed as odds ratios (ORs) with their corresponding 95% confidence intervals (95% CIs). Results: 4,942 cases of colorectal polyps and 2,678 cases of adenomas were ascertained. A significant positive association was found between total soy intake and the occurrence of polyps/adenomas. Considering cooking methods, a notable increase in polyp risk was associated with the consumption of fried soys while no association was detected for boiled or marinated soys. Furthermore, total soy intake demonstrated associations with large and multiple polyps, polyps Yamade-typed less than II, and polyps across all anatomical subsites. Conclusion: Within the high-risk CRC population in China, increased soy product intake was linked to a higher risk of polyps, primarily attributed to the consumption of fried soys. This suggests that modifying cooking methods to avoid fried soys may serve as a preventive strategy for colorectal polyps.

Long Noncoding RNA CRNDE Promotes Gastric Cancer Progression through Targeting miR-136-5p/MIEN1.

Background: Long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) contribute to the initiation and progression of gastric cancer (GC). The purpose of this study is to examine the potential role of lncRNA colorectal neoplasia differentially expressed (CRNDE) in modulating the expression of migration and invasion enhancer 1 (MIEN1) through the suppression of miR-136-5p in GC. Methods: The biological roles of CRNDE, miR-136-5p, and MIEN1 in GC were assessed both in laboratory settings and through the examination of clinical samples. Results: CRNDE was found to be significantly increased in GC tissues, and this upregulation was associated with an unfavorable prognosis of GC patients. In vitro experiments showed that inhibiting cell growth and migration, along with promoting apoptosis in GC cells, could be achieved by either disabling CRNDE or MIEN1, or by increasing the expression of miR-136-5p. MIEN1 is a specific recipient of miR-136-5p, and the anticancer effects of miR-136-5p can be counteracted by the increased expression of MIEN1. Through the examination of clinical specimens, it has been observed that there is a significant positive correlation between the expression of MIEN1 and CRNDE. In contrast, miR-136-5p expression in GC tissues shows a negative correlation. Conclusion: A previously unexplored therapeutic target for GC involves the CRNDE/miR-136-5p/MIEN1 signal transduction cascade.

Fruit but not vegetable consumption is beneficial for low prevalence of colorectal polyps in a high-risk population: findings from a Chinese Lanxi Pre-colorectal Cancer Cohort study.

PURPOSE: The available evidence regarding the role of fruit and vegetable consumption in the development of colorectal polyps remains inconclusive, and there is a lack of data on different histopathologic features of polyps. We aimed to evaluate the associations of fruit and vegetable consumption with the prevalence of colorectal polyps and its subtypes in a high-risk population in China. METHODS: We included 6783 Chinese participants aged 40-80 years who were at high risk of colorectal cancer (CRC) in the Lanxi Pre-colorectal Cancer Cohort (LP3C). Dietary information was obtained through a validated food-frequency questionnaire (FFQ), and colonoscopy screening was used to detect colorectal polyps. Dose-response associations of fruit and vegetable intake with the prevalence of polyps were calculated using multivariate-adjusted regression models, which was reported as odds ratios (ORs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs). RESULTS: 2064 cases of colorectal polyps were ascertained in the LP3C during 2018-2019. Upon multivariable adjustments, including the diet quality, fruit consumption was inversely associated with the prevalence of polyps (P trend = 0.02). Participants in the highest tertile of fruit intake had a 25% lower risk (OR: 0.75; 95% CI 0.62‒0.92) compared to non-consumers, while vegetable consumption had no significant association with polyp prevalence (P trend = 0.86). In terms of colorectal histopathology and multiplicity, higher fruit intake was correlated with 24, 23, and 33% lower prevalence of small polyps (OR: 0.76; 95% CI 0.62‒0.94; P trend = 0.05), single polyp (OR: 0.77; 95% CI 0.62‒0.96; P trend = 0.04), and distal colon polyps (OR: 0.67; 95% CI 0.51‒0.87; P trend = 0.003), respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Fresh fruit is suggested as a protective factor to prevent colorectal polyps in individuals at high risk of CRC, and should be underscored in dietary recommendations, particularly for high-risk populations.

Exploring the effect of different application rates of biochar on the accumulation of nutrients and growth of flue-cured tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum).

Background: Biochar application has become one of the most potential tools to improve soil fertility and plant growth for sustainable and eco-friendly agriculture. However, both positive and negative effects of biochar application have been recorded on plant growth and soil fertility. Methods: This study investigated the impact of different application rates (0, 600, 900, 1200, and 1800 kg/ha) of biochar on the soil nutrient contents, accumulation of nutrients and dry matter in different plant parts, and growth of flue-cured tobacco plants under field conditions. Results: Results demonstrated that soil organic carbon pool and carbon/nitrogen ratio were increased proportionally with the increasing dosage of biochar, 25.54 g/kg and 14.07 g/kg compared with control 17 g/kg and 10.13 g/kg, respectively. The contents of soil total nitrogen were also significantly increased after biochar application in the middle (1.77 g/kg) and late-growth (1.54 g/kg) stages of flue-cured tobacco than in control (1.60 g/kg and 1.41 g/kg, respectively). The contents of soil nitrate nitrogen were also higher under low (600 and 900 kg/ha) application rates of biochar and reduced when higher (1200 and 1800 kg/ha) dosages of biochar were applied. However, it was observed that varying application rates of biochar had no impact on soil ammonium nitrogen content during the growth period of flue-cured tobacco plants. The nutrient accumulation (N, P, K) in different parts of flue-cured tobacco plants was significantly increased under a low application rate of biochar, which enhanced the soil and plant analyzer development values, effective leaves number, growth, dry matter accumulation, and leaf yield of flue-cured tobacco. In contrast, the high biochar application rate (1200 and 1800 kg/ha) negatively impacted nutrient accumulation and growth of flue-cured tobacco. Conclusion: Conclusively, the optimum application of biochar (600 and 900 kg/ha) is beneficial for plant growth, soil fertility, accumulation of nutrients, and dry matter in different plant parts. However, excessive biochar application (> 900 kg/ha) could inhibit flue-cured tobacco plant growth. This study provides a theoretical foundation for biochar application in tobacco and other crop production to obtain agricultural sustainability and economic stability.

Analysis of treatment-related adverse events and wound complications of surgical resection after neoadjuvant chemoimmunotherapy for non-small cell lung cancer.

Neoadjuvant chemoimmunotherapy is becoming an increasingly important part of the management of lung cancer to facilitate surgical resection. This study aimed to summarize the treatment-related adverse events (TRAEs) and wound complications of neoadjuvant chemoimmunotherapy in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Eligible studies of neoadjuvant chemoimmunotherapy for NSCLC were identified from PubMed, Embase and Web of Science. The endpoints mainly included TRAEs and wound complications. Stata18 software was used for statistical analysis with p < 0.05 considered statistically significant. Twenty studies including a total of 1072 patients were eligible for this study. Among the patients who received neoadjuvant chemoimmunotherapy, the pooled prevalence of any grade TRAEs was 77% (95% confidence interval [CI] [0.64-0.86]), grade 1-2 TRAEs was 77% (95% CI [0.58-0.89]) and grade ≥3 TRAEs was 26% (95% CI [0.16-0.38]). Surgery-related complications rate was 22% (95% CI [0.14-0.33]). Among the wound complications, the pooled rate of air leakage was 10% (95% CI [0.04-0.23]), pulmonary/wound infection was 8% (95% CI [0.05-0.13]), bronchopleural fistula was 8% (95% CI [0.02-0.27]), bronchopulmonary haemorrhage was 3% (95% CI [0.01-0.05]), pneumonia was 5% (95% CI [0.02-0.10]), pulmonary embolism was 1% (95% CI [0.01-0.03]), pleural effusion was 7% (95% CI [0.03-0.14]) and chylothorax was 4% (95% CI [0.02-0.09]). Overall, neoadjuvant chemoimmunotherapy in NSCLC results a high incidence of grade 1-2 TRAEs but a low risk of increasing the incidence of ≥3 grade TRAEs and wound complications. These results need to be confirmed by more large-scale prospective randomized controlled trials and studies.

Mechanism of KLF9 in airway inflammation in chronic obstructive pulmonary.

BACKGROUND: Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is an airway-associated lung disorder, resulting in airway inflammation. This article aimed to explore the role of the krüppel-like factor 9 (KLF9)/microRNA (miR)-494-3p/phosphatase and tensin homolog (PTEN) axis in airway inflammation and pave a theoretical foundation for the treatment of COPD. METHODS: The COPD mouse model was established by exposure to cigarette smoke, followed by measurements of total cells, neutrophils, macrophages, and hematoxylin and eosin staining. The COPD cell model was established on human lung epithelial cells BEAS-2B using cigarette smoke extract. Cell viability was assessed by cell counting kit-8 assay. miR-494-3p, KLF9, PTEN, and NLR family, pyrin domain containing 3 (NLRP3) levels in tissues and cells were measured by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction or Western blot assay. Inflammatory factors (TNF-α/IL-6/IL-8/IFN-γ) were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Interactions among KLF9, miR-494-3p, and PTEN 3'UTR were verified by chromatin immunoprecipitation and dual-luciferase assays. RESULTS: KLF9 was upregulated in lung tissues of COPD mice. Inhibition of KLF9 alleviated airway inflammation, reduced intrapulmonary inflammatory cell infiltration, and repressed NLRP3 expression. KLF9 bound to the miR-494-3p promoter and increased miR-494-3p expression, and miR-494-3p negatively regulated PTEN expression. miR-494-3p overexpression or Nigericin treatment reversed KLF9 knockdown-driven repression of NLRP3 inflammasome and inflammation. CONCLUSION: KLF9 bound to the miR-494-3p promoter and repressed PTEN expression, thereby facilitating NLRP3 inflammasome-mediated inflammation.

Nano selenium-doped TiO2 nanotube arrays on orthopedic implants for suppressing osteosarcoma growth.

Osteosarcoma, the most common primary malignant bone tumor, is characterized by malignant cells producing osteoid or immature bone tissue. Most osteosarcoma patients require reconstructive surgery to restore the functional and structural integrity of the injured bone. Metal orthopedic implants are commonly used to restore the limb integrity in postoperative patients. However, conventional metal implants with a bioinert surface cannot inhibit the growth of any remaining cancer cells, resulting in a higher risk of cancer recurrence. Herein, we fabricate a selenium-doped TiO2 nanotube array (Se-doped TNA) film to modify the surface of medical pure titanium substrate, and evaluate the anti-tumor effect and biocompatibility of Se-doped TNA film. Moreover, we further explore the anti-tumor potential mechanism of Se-doped TNA film by studying the behaviors of human osteosarcoma cells in vitro. We provide a new pathway for achieving the anti-tumor function of orthopedic implants while keeping the biocompatibility, aiming to suppress the recurrence of osteosarcoma.

Ligamentum teres hepatis wrapping of the gastroduodenal artery stump for protection in total laparoscopic pancreaticoduodenectomy: a single-center experience.

OBJECTIVE: Hemorrhage from the stump of the gastroduodenal artery (GDA) is a significant postoperative risk with pancreaticoduodenectomy (PD). Studies have shown that wrapping the GDA stump using the omentum or the falciform ligament can help prevent bleeding. We aimed to determine whether wrapping the GDA stump with the ligamentum teres hepatis (LTH) would reduce postoperative PD hemorrhage. METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed data for 148 patients who underwent laparoscopic pancreatoduodenectomy (LPD) at our hospital from November 2015 to September 2021. We compared perioperative data from 63 LPD patients without wrapping of the GDA (unwrapped group) and 85 whose GDA stumps were wrapped (wrapped group). RESULTS: There were no significant differences in the groups' baseline characteristics. The postoperative GDA stump bleeding incidence was significantly lower in the wrapped group than that in the unwrapped group (7.9% vs. 0, respectively). There was also no significant difference in the incidence of other complications (intra-abdominal infection, postoperative pancreatic fistula (POPF), biliary fistula, and gastrointestinal bleeding). CONCLUSION: Using the LTH to wrap the GDA stump during LPD can reduce bleeding from the GDA stump but not the incidence of other complications.

Xuebijing injection protects sepsis induced myocardial injury by mediating TLR4/NF-κB/IKKα and JAK2/STAT3 signaling pathways.

OBJECTIVE: Compelling evidence has demonstrated that Xuebijing (XBJ) exerted protective effects against SIMI. The aims of this study were to investigate whether TLR4/IKKα-mediated NF-κB and JAK2/STAT3 pathways were involved in XBJ's cardio-protection during sepsis and the mechanisms. METHODS: In this study, rats were randomly assigned to three groups: Sham group; CLP group; XBJ group. Rats were treated with XBJ or sanitary saline after CLP. Echocardiography, myocardial enzymes and HE were used to detect cardiac function. IL-1ß, IL-6 and TNF-α in serum were measured using ELISA kits. Cardiomyocyte apoptosis were tested by TUNEL staining. The protein levels of Bax, Bcl-2, Bcl-xl, Cleaved-Caspase 3, Cleaved-Caspase 9, Cleaved-PARP, TLR4, p-NF-κB, p-IKKα, p-JAK2 and p-STAT3 in the myocardium were assayed by western blotting. And finally, immunofluorescence was used to assess the level of p-JAK2 and p-STAT3 in heart tissue. RESULTS: The results of echocardiography, myocardial enzyme and HE test showed that XBJ could significantly improve SIMI. The IL-1ß, IL-6 and TNF-α levels in the serum were markedly lower in the XBJ group than in the CLP group (p<0.05). TUNEL staining's results showed that XBJ ameliorated CLP-induced cardiomyocyte apoptosis. Meanwhile, XBJ downregulated the protein levels of Bax, Cleaved-Caspase 3, Cleaved-Caspase 9, Cleaved-PARP, TLR4, p-NF-κB, p-IKKα, p-JAK2 and p-STAT3, as well as upregulated the protein levels of Bcl-2, Bcl-xl (p <0.05). CONCLUSIONS: In here, we observed that XBJ's cardioprotective advantages may be attributable to its ability to suppress inflammation and apoptosis via inhibiting the TLR4/ IKKα-mediated NF-κB and JAK2/STAT3 pathways during sepsis.

Studying on Alloying Elements, Phases, Microstructure and Texture in FH36 Ship Plate Steel.

This study used simulation software and experiments to analyze the microstructure and texture of FH36 ship plate steel at different thicknesses and temperatures. The austenite phase transformed into ferrite phase at 830 °C and MC and M7C3 phases precipitated at 1150 °C and 543 °C, respectively. At room temperature, the microstructure at the surface and 1/4 thickness consisted of polygonal ferrite, acicular ferrite and granular bainite, while the 1/2 thickness had less acicular ferrite and granular bainite. The texture components were mainly {111}<110> and {111}<112> at all thicknesses, but {001}<110> was stronger at 1/2 thickness. The grain size decreased gradually from 1/2 thickness to the surface, and the proportion of high-angle grain boundaries was significantly lower at the surface than at 1/4 and 1/2 thickness.

Association between hemoglobin glycation index and 5-year major adverse cardiovascular events: the REACTION cohort study.

BACKGROUND: The hemoglobin glycation index (HGI) was developed to quantify glucose metabolism and individual differences and proved to be a robust measure of individual glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1c) bias. Here, we aimed to explore the relationship between different HGIs and the risk of 5-year major adverse cardiovascular events (MACEs) by performing a large multicenter cohort study in China. METHODS: A total of 9791 subjects from the Risk Evaluation of Cancers in Chinese Diabetic Individuals: a Longitudinal Study (the REACTION study) were divided into five subgroups (Q1-Q5) with the HGI quantiles (≤5th, >5th and ≤33.3th, >33.3th and ≤66.7th, >66.7th and ≤95th, and >95th percentile). A multivariate logistic regression model constructed by the restricted cubic spline method was used to evaluate the relationship between the HGI and the 5-year MACE risk. Subgroup analysis between the HGI and covariates were explored to detect differences among the five subgroups. RESULTS: The total 5-year MACE rate in the nationwide cohort was 6.87% (673/9791). Restricted cubic spline analysis suggested a U-shaped correlation between the HGI values and MACE risk after adjustment for cardiovascular risk factors ( χ2 = 29.5, P <0.001). After adjustment for potential confounders, subjects with HGIs ≤-0.75 or >0.82 showed odds ratios (ORs) for MACE of 1.471 (95% confidence interval [CI], 1.027-2.069) and 2.222 (95% CI, 1.641-3.026) compared to subjects with HGIs of >-0.75 and ≤-0.20. In the subgroup with non-coronary heart disease, the risk of MACE was significantly higher in subjects with HGIs ≤-0.75 (OR, 1.540 [1.039-2.234]; P = 0.027) and >0.82 (OR, 2.022 [1.392-2.890]; P <0.001) compared to those with HGIs of ≤-0.75 or >0.82 after adjustment for potential confounders. CONCLUSIONS: We found a U-shaped correlation between the HGI values and the risk of 5-year MACE. Both low and high HGIs were associated with an increased risk of MACE. Therefore, the HGI may predict the 5-year MACE risk.

MiRNA-19b-3p downregulates the endothelin B receptor in gastric cancer cells to prevent angiogenesis and proliferation.

MiR19b-3p acts as a tumor suppressor gene in various cancers, but its function in gastric cancer is unknown. This study investigated the role of miR19b-3p in angiogenesis and the proliferation of human gastric cancer cells targeting ETBR expression. Cell proliferation in SGC-7901 cells, cell transfection, luciferase reporter assay, detection of endothelin B receptor mRNAs by RT-qPCR, and a Western blot assay were carried out. RT-qPCR expression analysis showed a prominent (p<0.01) downregulation of miR19b-3p in SGC-7901 cells, which was inversely correlated with a substantial increase (p<0.01) in the endothelin B receptor (ETBR). However, overexpression of miR19b-3p in SGC-7901 cells with its mimic (p<0.01) resulted in the loss of cell viability in the MTT assay. This effect was reversed (p<0.01) by the inhibitor. Western blot analysis revealed that ETBR was significantly (p<0.01) decreased by miR19b-3p overexpression compared with that of the negative control or its inhibitor. Based on bioinformatics tools and luciferase reporter assays, we found that miR19b-3p interacts with the 3'untranslated region (3'UTR) of ETBR. Restoring miR19b-3p overexpression with its mimic led to downregulation of ETBR in gastric cancer cells (SGC-7901), which significantly (p<0.01) decreased the expression of vascular endothelial growth factor A (VEGF-A). These findings were considerably reversed by miR19b-3p inhibitors (p<0.01). The results indicated that miR19b-3p exerts its molecular action by targeting ETBR at the post-transcriptional level by regulating angiogenesis and proliferation by overexpressing miR19b-3p as a potential treatment target for gastric cancer.

Ralstonia chuxiongensis sp. nov., Ralstonia mojiangensis sp. nov., and Ralstonia soli sp. nov., isolated from tobacco fields, are three novel species in the family Burkholderiaceae.

Eight Gram-negative, aerobic, motile with paired polar flagella and rod-shaped bacteria were isolated from six tobacco fields in Yunnan, PR China. 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis revealed that all the strains belonged to the genus Ralstonia. Among them, strain 22TCCZM03-6 had an identical 16S rRNA sequence to that of R. wenshanensis 56D2T, and the other strains were closely related to R. pickettii DSM 6297T (98.34­99.86%), R. wenshanensis 56D2T (98.70­99.64%), and R. insidiosa CCUG 46789T (97.34­98.56%). Genome sequencing yielded sizes ranging from 5.17 to 5.72 Mb, with overall G + C contents of 63.3­64.1%. Pairwise genome comparisons showed that strain 22TCCZM03-6 shared average nucleotide identity (ANI) and digital DNA­DNA hybridization (dDDH) values above the species cut-off with R. wenshanensis 56D2T, suggesting that strain 22TCCZM03-6 is a special strain of the R. wenshanensis. Five strains, including 21MJYT02-10T, 21LDWP02-16, 22TCJT01-1, 22TCCZM01-4, and 22TCJT01-2, had ANI values >95% and dDDH values >70% when compared with each other. These five strains had ANI values of 73.32­94.17% and dDDH of 22.0­55.20% with the type strains of the genus Ralstonia individually, supporting these five strains as a novel species in the genus Ralstonia. In addition, strains 21YRMH01-3T and 21MJYT02-11T represent two independent species. They both had ANI and dDDH values below the thresholds for species delineation when compared with the type species of the genus Ralstonia. In strains 21YRMH01-3T and 21MJYT02-10T, the main fatty acids were summed features 3, 8, and C16:0; however, strain 21MJYT02-11T contained C16:0, cyclo-C17:0, and summed features 3 as major fatty acids. The main polar lipids, including diphosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylglycerol, and phosphatidylethanolamine, were identified from strains 21YRMH01-3T, 21MJYT02-10T, and 21MJYT02-11T. The ubiquinones Q-7 and Q-8 were also detected in these strains, with Q-8 being the predominant quinone. Based on the above data, we propose that the eight strains represent one known species and three novel species in the genus Ralstonia, for which the names Ralstonia chuxiongensis sp. nov., Ralstonia mojiangensis sp. nov., and Ralstonia soli sp. nov. are proposed. The type strains are 21YRMH01-3T (=GDMCC 1.3534T = JCM 35818T), 21MJYT02-10T (=GDMCC 1.3531T = JCM 35816T), and 21MJYT02-11T (=GDMCC 1.3532T = JCM 35817T), respectively.

Association between inflammatory cytokines and symptoms of major depressive disorder in adults.

Objective: This study investigated the association between inflammatory cytokines and major depressive disorder. Methods: Plasma biomarkers were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Statistical analysis of baseline biomarkers in the major depression disorder (MDD) group and healthy controls (HC) group, and differences in biomarkers before and after treatment. Spearman analysis was performed to correlate baseline and after treatment MDD biomarkers with the 17-item Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HAMD-17) total scores. Receiver operator characteristic (ROC) curves were analyzed for the effect of biomarkers on MDD and HC classification and diagnosis. Results: Tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) and interleukin-6 (IL-6) levels were significantly higher in the MDD group than in the HC group, while high mobility group protein 1 (HMGB1) levels were significantly lower in the MDD group. The AUCs for HMGB1, TNF-α, and IL-6 were 0.375, 0.733, and 0.783, respectively, according to the ROC curves. MDD patients with brain-derived neurotrophic factor precursor (proBDNF) levels were positively correlated with total HAMD-17 scores. The levels of proBDNF levels were positively correlated with the total HAMD-17 score in male MDD patients, and brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) and interleukin 18 (IL-18) levels were negatively correlated with the total HAMD-17 score in female MDD patients. Conclusion: Inflammatory cytokines are associated with the severity of MDD, and TNF-α and IL-6 have the potential as objective biomarkers to aid in the diagnosis of MDD.

Facile, green and scalable preparation of low-cost PET-PVDF felts for oil absorption and oil/water separation.

3D felt materials with pore structures have the advantages of high absorption performance and recyclability in oily wastewater treatment and chemical leakage. However, most of them were fabricated using either toxic organic solvents or complicated procedures. Herein, we report a facile, green, and scalable route for the fabrication of 3D composite felts with large pore structures by sequentially stirring and heating polyethylene terephthalate (PET) fibers and polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF). The resulting PET-PVDF felt exhibits high oil absorption capacity to a variety of oil and organic solvents with a maximum saturated absorption capacity of 32 g/g. Additionally, it can be used to separate oil/water mixtures with a separation efficiency of 99.9% and separation flux of 89570 L m-2 h-1. Moreover, this felt shows excellent mechanical durability and chemical stability under acid, base, salt solution, and other harsh environments. The current study provides a promising approach for large-scale industrial oily wastewater separation.

Preparation of high elastic bacterial cellulose aerogel through thermochemical vapor deposition catalyzed by solid acid for oil-water separation.

Oil pollution has caused more and more serious damages to the environment, especially to water. Oil and water separation technologies based on high-performance absorbing materials have attracted extensive attentions. Herein, elasticity-enhanced bacterial cellulose (BC) aerogel is synthesized for oil/water separation through thermochemical vapor deposition (CVD) catalyzed by 1, 2, 3, 4-butanetetracarboxylic acid (BTCA). BTCA has two functions, namely, esterification with BC and catalyzing CVD. The prepared aerogel could be recovered soon after being compressed and the elastic recovery was >90 % at set maximum deformation of 80 %. And, it also exhibits vigorous fatigue resistance with an elastic deformation of >80 % after 50 cycles. The high elastic and hydrophobic aerogel is very suitable for absorbing and desorbing oils by simple mechanical squeezing. The adsorption capacity for n-hexane and dichloroethane maintain 87 % and 81 % after 50 cycles, respectively, which implies robust reusability. Importantly, the CVD could also be catalyzed by other solid acids such as citric acid and vitamin C. This design and fabrication method offers a novel avenue for the preparation of hydrophobic bacterial cellulose aerogel with high elasticity.

Enhanced efficiency of calcium-derived oleoyl serine on osteoporosis via Wnt/ß-catenin pathway.

Osteoporosis is a common disease of the elderly that affects millions of patients worldwide. It is mainly characterized by low bone mineral density and increased risk of fracture due to the deterioration of the bone structure, leading to difficulties in functional recovery, reduced quality of life, increased disability risk and mortality in the population. It has already been a major public health problem. Osteoporosis is a chronic disease that is difficult to treat in the elderly population, so it is crucial to develop new drugs for the treatment of osteoporosis. Oleoyl serine, an endogenous fatty acyl amide found in bone, has been shown to have excellent anti-osteoporosis effects, but it is easily hydrolyzed by amidases in vivo. The aim of this study is to determine the anti-osteoporotic effect of calcium-derived oleoyl serine, a novel oleoyl serine derivative and the molecular mechanism underneath. In vitro experiments demonstrated that calcium-derived oleoyl serine suppressed the expression of Fabp4, and Cebpα while Alp, and Runx2 was significantly upregulated compared with the oleoyl serine group and control. With the activation of ß-catenin, calcium-derived oleoyl serine restored the abnormal osteogenesis and lipogenesis, indicating calcium-derived oleoyl serine compared with oleoyl serine has better effects on promoting osteogenesis and suppressing lipogenesis. In vivo experiment agreed with these findings that calcium-derived oleoyl serine promotes osteogenesis and suppresses its lipogenesis to ameliorate osteoporosis via a ß-catenin dependent method. It is a new candidate for treating osteoporosis.

The Inverse Association of Serum Magnesium with Papillary Thyroid Cancer in Thyroid Nodules: a Cross-Sectional Survey Based on Thyroidectomy Population.

Magnesium is considered to play a role in preventing cancer. However, the association between serum magnesium and papillary thyroid cancer (PTC) remains unknown. We retrospectively reviewed records of all patients who underwent thyroidectomy with thyroid nodules confirmed pathologically as benign nodule or PTC at our institution from January 2016 to December 2020. Data including demographic characteristics, laboratory tests, and pathological features were analyzed in 5709 adult patients eventually. The subjects with benign nodules had a higher mean serum magnesium level than those with PTC (P < 0.001), and the proportions of PTCs decreased across quartiles of serum magnesium within the normal range. After adjustment for confounders, patients with the lowest quartile of serum magnesium had a higher prevalence of PTC than those with the highest quartile (OR = 1.421, 95%CI: 1.125-1.795, P for trend = 0.005), and the risk of PTC was 0.863 (95%CI: 0.795-0.936) for a per-SD change in serum magnesium. The contribution of serum magnesium remained in subgroup analysis (P for interaction for all analyses > 0.05). Based on the ROC curve, the cut-off value of serum magnesium used to differentiate benign nodules from PTCs was 935 µmol/L. Combining serum magnesium with other clinical indicators can improve the efficacy of predicting PTC. Our results showed that lower serum magnesium within the normal range was associated with a greater risk of PTC among patients with thyroid nodules considering thyroidectomy. Serum magnesium may be an independent protective factor against PTC and provide additional information on the odds of malignancy in uncertain thyroid nodules in combination with other clinical factors.

Bone and mineral metabolism in patients with primary aldosteronism: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Purpose: Patients with primary aldosteronism (PA) tend to exhibit a high prevalence of osteoporosis (OP) that may vary by whether PA is unilateral or bilateral, and responsive to PA treatment. To explore relationships between bone metabolism, PA subtypes, and treatment outcomes, we performed a systematic review and meta-analysis. Methods: The PubMed, Embase, and Cochrane databases were searched for clinical studies related to PA and bone metabolism markers. Articles that met the criteria were screened and included in the systematic review; the data were extracted after evaluating their quality. R software (ver. 2022-02-16, Intel Mac OS X 11.6.4) was used for the meta-analysis. Results: A total of 28 articles were subjected to systematic review, of which 18 were included in the meta-analysis. We found that PA patients evidenced a lower serum calcium level (mean difference [MD] = -0.06 mmol/L, 95% confidence interval [CI]: -0.10 ~ -0.01), a higher urine calcium level (MD = 1.29 mmol/24 h, 95% CI: 0.81 ~ 1.78), and a higher serum parathyroid hormone (PTH) level (MD = 2.16 pmol/L, 95% CI: 1.57 ~ 2.75) than did essential hypertension (EH) subjects. After medical treatment or adrenal surgery, PA patients exhibited a markedly increased serum calcium level (MD = -0.08 mmol/L, 95% CI: -0.11 ~ -0.05), a decreased urine calcium level (MD = 1.72 mmol/24 h, 95% CI: 1.00 ~ 2.44), a decreased serum PTH level (MD = 2.67 pmol/L, 95% CI: 1.73 ~ 3.62), and an increased serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25-OHD) level (MD = -6.32 nmol/L, 95% CI: -11.94 ~ -0.70). The meta-analysis showed that the ser um PTH level of unilateral PA patients was significantly higher than that of bilateral PA patients (MD = 0.93 pmol/L, 95% CI: 0.36 ~ 1.49) and the serum 25-OHD lower than that of bilateral PA patients (MD = -4.68 nmol/L, 95% CI: -7.58 ~ 1.77). There were, however, no significant differences between PA and EH patients of 25-OHD, or BMD of femoral neck and lumbar spine. BMDs of the femoral neck or lumbar spine did not change significantly after treatment. The meta-analytical results were confirmed via sensitivity and subgroup analyses. Conclusion: Excess aldosterone was associated with decreased serum calcium, elevated urinary calcium, and elevated PTH levels; these effects may be enhanced by low serum 25-OHD levels. The risks of OP and fracture might be elevated in PA patients, especially unilateral PA patients, but could be reduced after medical treatment or adrenal surgery. In view, however, of the lack of BMD changes, such hypothesis needs to be tested in further studies.

Silencing of long non-coding RNA TUC338 inhibits the malignant phenotype of nasopharyngeal cancer cells via modulating the miR-1226-3p/FGF2 axis.

Long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) have been suggested as essential regulators in the cancer progression. LncRNA TUC338 was found to promote the malignancy of various cancers, however, the involvement of TUC338 in nasopharyngeal cancer (NPC) has not been well characterized. Here, our results found the significant overexpression of TUC338 in NPC tissues. Higher level of TUC338 was also observed in NPC cells. Interestingly, NPC patients harboring overexpressed TUC338 have worse prognosis. Functional study indicated that down-regulated TUC338 remarkably suppressed the NPC cell proliferation and cell migration. Notably, depletion of TUC338 significantly inhibited the in vivo tumor growth. Mechanistically, TUC338 acted as molecular sponge of miR-1226-3p and attenuated the negative regulation of miR-1226-3p on the expression of fibroblast growth factor 2 (FGF2). Down-regulation of TUC338 inhibited FGF2 expression in NPC cells and tumor tissues. Overexpression of FGF2 attenuated the suppressed NPC proliferation upon the depletion of TUC338. Our results demonstrated the novel function of TUC338/miR-1226-3p/FGF2 axis in NPC progression, suggesting the potential diagnosis and therapeutics significance of TUC338 in NPC.