Research progress on Helicobacter pylori infection related neurological diseases.

Helicobacter pylori, a type of gram-negative bacterium, infects roughly half of the global population. It is strongly associated with gastrointestinal disorders like gastric cancer, peptic ulcers, and chronic gastritis. Moreover, numerous studies have linked this bacterium to various extra-gastric conditions, including hematologic, cardiovascular, and neurological issues. Specifically, research has shown that Helicobacter pylori interacts with the brain through the microbiota-gut-brain axis, thereby increasing the risk of neurological disorders. The inflammatory mediators released by Helicobacter pylori-induced chronic gastritis may disrupt the function of the blood-brain barrier by interfering with the transmission or direct action of neurotransmitters. This article examines the correlation between Helicobacter pylori and a range of conditions, such as hyperhomocysteinemia, schizophrenia, Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, ischemic stroke, multiple sclerosis, migraine, and Guillain-Barré syndrome.

From macroautophagy to mitophagy: Unveiling the hidden role of mitophagy in gastrointestinal disorders.

In this editorial, we comment on an article titled "Morphological and biochemical characteristics associated with autophagy in gastrointestinal diseases", which was published in a recent issue of the World Journal of Gastroenterology. We focused on the statement that "autophagy is closely related to the digestion, secretion, and regeneration of gastrointestinal cells". With advancing research, autophagy, and particularly the pivotal role of the macroautophagy in maintaining cellular equilibrium and stress response in the gastrointestinal system, has garnered extensive study. However, the significance of mitophagy, a unique selective autophagy pathway with ubiquitin-dependent and independent variants, should not be overlooked. In recent decades, mitophagy has been shown to be closely related to the occurrence and development of gastrointestinal diseases, especially inflammatory bowel disease, gastric cancer, and colorectal cancer. The interplay between mitophagy and mitochondrial quality control is crucial for elucidating disease mechanisms, as well as for the development of novel treatment strategies. Exploring the pathogenesis behind gastrointestinal diseases and providing individualized and efficient treatment for patients are subjects we have been exploring. This article reviews the potential mechanism of mitophagy in gastrointestinal diseases with the hope of providing new ideas for diagnosis and treatment.

A panoramic view of the virosphere in three wastewater treatment plants by integrating viral-like particle-concentrated and traditional non-concentrated metagenomic approaches.

Wastewater biotreatment systems harbor a rich diversity of microorganisms, and the effectiveness of biotreatment systems largely depends on the activity of these microorganisms. Specifically, viruses play a crucial role in altering microbial behavior and metabolic processes throughout their infection phases, an aspect that has recently attracted considerable interest. Two metagenomic approaches, viral-like particle-concentrated (VPC, representing free viral-like particles) and non-concentrated (NC, representing the cellular fraction), were employed to assess their efficacy in revealing virome characteristics, including taxonomy, diversity, host interactions, lifestyle, dynamics, and functional genes across processing units of three wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs). Our findings indicate that each approach offers unique insights into the viral community and functional composition. Their combined use proved effective in elucidating WWTP viromes. We identified nearly 50,000 viral contigs, with Cressdnaviricota and Uroviricota being the predominant phyla in the VPC and NC fractions, respectively. Notably, two pathogenic viral families, Asfarviridae and Adenoviridae, were commonly found in these WWTPs. We also observed significant differences in the viromes of WWTPs processing different types of wastewater. Additionally, various phage-derived auxiliary metabolic genes (AMGs) were active at the RNA level, contributing to the metabolism of the microbial community, particularly in carbon, sulfur, and phosphorus cycling. Moreover, we identified 29 virus-carried antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) with potential for host transfer, highlighting the role of viruses in spreading ARGs in the environment. Overall, this study provides a detailed and integrated view of the virosphere in three WWTPs through the application of VPC and NC metagenomic approaches. Our findings enhance the understanding of viral communities, offering valuable insights for optimizing the operation and regulation of wastewater treatment systems.

Characterize direct protein interactions with enrichable, cleavable and latent bioreactive unnatural amino acids.

Latent bioreactive unnatural amino acids (Uaas) have been widely used in the development of covalent drugs and identification of protein interactors, such as proteins, DNA, RNA and carbohydrates. However, it is challenging to perform high-throughput identification of Uaa cross-linking products due to the complexities of protein samples and the data analysis processes. Enrichable Uaas can effectively reduce the complexities of protein samples and simplify data analysis, but few cross-linked peptides were identified from mammalian cell samples with these Uaas. Here we develop an enrichable and multiple amino acids reactive Uaa, eFSY, and demonstrate that eFSY is MS cleavable when eFSY-Lys and eFSY-His are the cross-linking products. An identification software, AixUaa is developed to decipher eFSY mass cleavable data. We systematically identify direct interactomes of Thioredoxin 1 (Trx1) and Selenoprotein M (SELM) with eFSY and AixUaa.

The roles of branched-chain amino acids metabolism in tumorigenesis and progression.

Branched-chain amino acids (BCAAs), including leucine, valine, and isoleucine, play crucial roles in regulating metabolic balance and maintaining physiological functions in the body. Extensive studies have been focused on their implications in obesity, diabetes, and cardiovascular diseases. Nevertheless, accumulating evidence suggests that BCAAs metabolism also plays significant roles in tumorigenesis and progression. In this review, we overview recent progress of the study on BCAAs metabolism including its relationship with epigenetic regulation. Particularly, we discuss the metabolic reprogramming and metabolic sensing of BCAAs and its intermediate metabolites in tumor cells and microenvironment to decipher their functions. An enhanced understanding of the roles and mechanism of BCAAs metabolism in tumorigenesis and progression will contribute to development of novel therapeutic strategies against tumor.

Preoperative prediction of perineural invasion of rectal cancer based on a magnetic resonance imaging radiomics model: A dual-center study.

BACKGROUND: Perineural invasion (PNI) has been used as an important pathological indicator and independent prognostic factor for patients with rectal cancer (RC). Preoperative prediction of PNI status is helpful for individualized treatment of RC. Recently, several radiomics studies have been used to predict the PNI status in RC, demonstrating a good predictive effect, but the results lacked generalizability. The preoperative prediction of PNI status is still challenging and needs further study. AIM: To establish and validate an optimal radiomics model for predicting PNI status preoperatively in RC patients. METHODS: This retrospective study enrolled 244 postoperative patients with pathologically confirmed RC from two independent centers. The patients underwent pre-operative high-resolution magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) between May 2019 and August 2022. Quantitative radiomics features were extracted and selected from oblique axial T2-weighted imaging (T2WI) and contrast-enhanced T1WI (T1CE) sequences. The radiomics signatures were constructed using logistic regression analysis and the predictive potential of various sequences was compared (T2WI, T1CE and T2WI + T1CE fusion sequences). A clinical-radiomics (CR) model was established by combining the radiomics features and clinical risk factors. The internal and external validation groups were used to validate the proposed models. The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC), DeLong test, net reclassification improvement (NRI), integrated discrimination improvement (IDI), calibration curve, and decision curve analysis (DCA) were used to evaluate the model performance. RESULTS: Among the radiomics models, the T2WI + T1CE fusion sequences model showed the best predictive performance, in the training and internal validation groups, the AUCs of the fusion sequence model were 0.839 [95% confidence interval (CI): 0.757-0.921] and 0.787 (95%CI: 0.650-0.923), which were higher than those of the T2WI and T1CE sequence models. The CR model constructed by combining clinical risk factors had the best predictive performance. In the training and internal and external validation groups, the AUCs of the CR model were 0.889 (95%CI: 0.824-0.954), 0.889 (95%CI: 0.803-0.976) and 0.894 (95%CI: 0.814-0.974). Delong test, NRI, and IDI showed that the CR model had significant differences from other models (P < 0.05). Calibration curves demonstrated good agreement, and DCA revealed significant benefits of the CR model. CONCLUSION: The CR model based on preoperative MRI radiomics features and clinical risk factors can preoperatively predict the PNI status of RC noninvasively, which facilitates individualized treatment of RC patients.

Catalytic Pyrolysis of Polypropylene for Cable Semiconductive Buffer Layers.

With the progress of the power grid system, the coverage area of cables is widening, and the problem of cable faults is gradually coming to affect people's daily lives. While the vast majority of cable faults are caused by the ablation of the cable buffer layer, polypropylene (PP), as a common cable buffer material, has pyrolysis properties that critically impact cable faults. Studying the semiconductive buffer layer of polypropylene (PP) and its pyrolysis properties allows us to obtain a clearer picture of the pyrolysis products formed during PP ablation. This understanding aids in the accurate diagnosis of cable faults and the identification of ablation events. In this study, the effects of temperature and catalyst (H-Zeolite Standard Oil Corporation Of New York (Socony) Mobil-Five (HZSM-5)) content on the PP thermolysis product distribution were studied by using an online tubular pyrolysis furnace-mass spectrometry (MS) experimental platform. The results showed that PP/40% HZSM-5 presented the highest thermolytic efficiency and relative yield of the main products at 400 °C.

Genetically redirected HBV-specific T cells target HBsAg-positive hepatocytes and primary lesions in HBV-associated HCC.

Background and Aims: HBV-DNA integration in HBV-related hepatocellular carcinoma (HBV-HCC) can be targeted by HBV-specific T cells. SCG101 is an autologous, HBV-specific T-cell product expressing a T-cell receptor (TCR) after lentiviral transduction recognizing the envelope-derived peptide (S20-28) on HLA-A2. We here validated its safety and efficacy preclinically and applied it in an HBV-related HCC patient (NCT05339321). Methods: GMP-grade manufactured cells were assessed for off-target reactivity and functionality against hepatoma cells. Subsequently, a patient with advanced HBV-HCC (Child-Pugh:A, BCLC:B, ECOG:0, HBeAg-, serum HBsAg+, hepatocytes 10% HBsAg+) received 7.9x107 cells/kg after lymphodepletion. Safety, T-cell persistence, and antiviral and antitumor efficacy were evaluated. Results: SCG101, produced at high numbers in a closed-bag system, showed HBV-specific functionality against HBV-hepatoma cells in vitro and in vivo. Clinically, treatment was well tolerated, and all adverse events, including transient hepatic damage, were reversible. On day 3, ALT levels increased to 1404 U/ml, and concurrently, serum HBsAg started decreasing by 3.84log and remained <1 IU/ml for over six months. HBsAg expressing hepatocytes in liver biopsies were undetectable after73 days. The patient achieved a partial response according to mRECIST score with a >70% reduction of target lesion size. Transferred T cells expanded, developed a stem cell-like memory phenotype, and were still detectable after six months in the patient's blood. Conclusions: SCG101 T-cell therapy showed encouraging efficacy and safety in pre-clinical models and in a patient with primary HBV-HCC and concomitant chronic hepatitis B with the capability to eliminate HBsAg+ cells and achieve sustained tumor control after single dosing.

Role of albumin-bilirubin score in non-malignant liver disease.

The albumin-bilirubin (ALBI) score, which was proposed to assess the prognosis of patients with hepatocellular carcinoma, has gradually been extended to other liver diseases in recent years, including primary biliary cholangitis, liver cirrhosis, hepatitis, liver transplantation, and liver injury. The ALBI score is often compared with classical scores such as the Child-Pugh and model for end-stage liver disease scores or other noninvasive prediction models. It is widely employed because of its immunity to subjective evaluation indicators and ease of obtaining detection indicators. An increasing number of studies have confirmed that it is highly accurate for assessing the prognosis of patients with chronic liver disease; additionally, it has demonstrated good predictive performance for outcomes beyond survival in patients with liver diseases, such as decompensation events. This article presents a review of the application of ALBI scores in various non-malignant liver diseases.

Preliminary investigation on the causes of red tides in Qinhuangdao coastal areas in 2022.

To explore the causes of red tides in Qinhuangdao coastal water, we conducted surveys on both water quality and red tides during April to September of 2022 and analyzed the relationships between main environmental factors and red tide organisms through the factor analysis and canonical correspondence analysis. The results showed that there were eight red tides along the coast of Qinhuangdao in 2022, with a cumulative blooming area of 716.1 km2. The red tides could be divided into three kinds based on the major blooming organisms and occurrence time, Noctiluca scintillans bloom, diatom-euglena (Skeletonema costatum, Eutreptiella gymnastica, Pseudo-nitzschia spp.) bloom, and dinoflagellate (Scrippsiella trochoidea and Ceratium furca) bloom. Seasonal factor played roles mainly during July to September, while inorganic nutrients including nitrogen and phosphorus influenced the blooms mainly in April and July. The canonical correspondence analysis suggested that N. scintillans preferred low temperature, and often bloomed with high concentrations of ammonium nitrogen and dissolved inorganic phosphorus. S. costatum, E. gymnastica, and Pseudo-nitzschia spp. could tolerate broad ranges of various environmental factors, but favored high temperature and nitrogen-rich seawater. C. furca and S. trochoidea had higher survival rate and competitiveness in phosphate-poor waters. Combined the results from both analyses, we concluded that the causes for the three kinds of red tide processes in Qinhuangdao coastal areas in 2022 were different. Adequate diet algae and appropriate water temperature were important factors triggering and maintaining the N. scintillans bloom. Suitable temperature, salinity and eutrophication were the main reasons for the diatom-euglena bloom. The abundant nutrients and seawater disturbance promoted the germination of S. trochoidea cysts, while phosphorus limitation caused the blooming organism switched to C. furca and maintained the bloom hereafter.

Myositis-associated antibodies predict the severity of lung involvement in adult patients with inflammatory myositis - a cohort study of 70 adult patients with myositis in a single center.

Introduction: Idiopathic inflammatory myopathies (IIMs) encompass a diverse group of diseases characterized by considerable variability in clinical manifestations, antibody profiles, and responsiveness to immunosuppressive therapies. This study aimed to investigate the association between organ involvement and distinct myositis autoantibodies in individuals with IIM in a single-center cohort. Methods: Patients with ICD diagnoses M33.1, M33.2, M33.9, or M609 who (1) had been tested with Euroline blot assay for myositis autoantibodies and (2) met the classification criteria of definite/probable polymyositis (PM) or dermatomyositis (DM), anti-synthetase syndrome (ASS), or inclusion body myositis (IBM) were included. Medical journals were retrospectively examined with respect to clinical disease features. Results: Seventy patients (median age 58 years; 66% females) were included and represented the following diagnosis: PM (n = 23), DM (n = 21), ASS (n = 23), and IBM (n = 3). Most of the patients (87%) presented a muscle biopsy indicative of myositis. The presence of autoantibodies was as follows: myositis-specific antibodies, MSA (n = 53), myositis-associated antibodies, MAA (n = 33), both MSA + MAA (n = 24), MSA only (n = 29), MAA only (n = 9), no MSA, or MAA (n = 8). Anti-Jo-1 was the most common MSA (19%), whereas the most common MAA was anti-Ro/SSA52 (31%). We observed a significant association between antibody patterns and lung disease. In our cohort, 47% of the patients in the whole study group, 86% of patients with anti-SSA52, and 100% with anti-Jo-1 had pulmonary involvement. Patients with both MSA and MAA had a higher incidence of lung disease and decreased CO-diffusion capacity. This was especially prominent in anti-Ro/SSA52-positive patients. Interestingly, none of the patients suffered from lung disease if only antibodies against Mi-2α, Mi-2ß, NXP2, HMGCR, and TIF1γ were present or no MSA/MAA were detected. Discussion: The simultaneous presence of both MAA and MSA indicates an increased risk of lung involvement in patients with inflammatory myopathies. The presence of any MAA, and especially anti-Ro/SSA52, is associated with more severe pulmonary disease. Our data suggest that MAA antibodies might be relevant markers for early detection and treatment of lung involvement in IIM.

Giant cell tumor of bone at distal radius suffered more soft tissue recurrence and ultrasonography is effective to detect the soft tissue recurrence.

BACKGROUND: Soft tissue recurrence of giant cell tumor of bone (GCTB) is rare. This study aims to provide its prevalence, recurrent locations, risk factors, effective detection methods and a modified classification for this recurrence. METHODS: Patients with soft tissue recurrence after primary surgery for GCTB were screened from January 2003 to December 2022. General data, recurrence frequency, types according to an original classification (type-I: peripheral ossification; type-II: central ossification; type-III: without ossification), a modified classification with more detailed subtypes (type I-1: ≤ 1/2 peripheral ossification; type I-2: ≥ 1/2 peripheral ossification; type II-1: ≤ 1/2 central ossification; type II-2: ≥ 1/2 central ossification; type III: without ossification), locations, detection methods such as ultrasonography, X-ray, CT or MRI, Musculoskeletal Tumor Society (MSTS) scores were recorded. Multivariate regression analysis was conducted to identify risk factors for recurrence frequency. RESULTS: A total of 558 recurrent cases were identified from 2009 patients with GCTB. Among them, 32 were soft tissue recurrence. The total recurrence rate was 27.78% (558/2009). Soft tissue recurrence rate was 5.73% among 558 recurrent cases, and 1.59% among 2009 GCTB patients, respectively. After excluding one patient lost to follow-up, 10 males and 21 females with the mean age of 28.52 ± 9.93 (16-57) years were included. The definitive diagnosis of all recurrences was confirmed by postoperative pathology. The interval from primary surgery to the first recurrence was 23.23 ± 26.12 (2-27) months. Eight recurrences occurred from primary GCTB located at distal radius, followed by distal femur (6 cases). Recurrence occurred twice in 12 patients and 3 times in 7 patients. Twenty-seven recurrences were firstly detected by ultrasonography, followed by CT or X-ray (10 cases in each). Types at the first recurrence were 5 cases in type-I, 8 in type-II and 18 in type-III. According to the modified classification, 3 patients in type I-1, 2 in type I-2, 1 in type II-1, 7 in type II-2, and 18 in type III. The mean MSTS score was 26.62 ± 4.21 (14-30). Neither Campanacci grade nor recurrence type, modified classification and other characters, were identified as risk factors. CONCLUSIONS: Soft tissue recurrence of GCTB may recur for more than once and distal radius was the most common location of primary GCTB that would suffer a soft tissue recurrence. Ultrasonography was a useful method to detect the recurrence. Since no risk factors were discovered, a careful follow-up with ultrasonography was recommended.

The CT-guided percutaneous drainage of pancreatic pseudocyst accompanied by pseudoaneurysm: A case report.

RATIONALE: This case report discusses the CT-guided percutaneous drainage of a pancreatic pseudocyst accompanied by a pseudoaneurysm. Pancreatic pseudocysts can erode the peripancreatic artery and produce pseudoaneurysms. This is rare, but it can be life-threatening. PATIENT CONCERNS: The case presented involves a 58-year-old female who was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer and underwent surgical treatment. She presented with hematochezia, dizziness, and hypodynamic findings with no obvious cause. Imaging revealed a pancreatic pseudocyst and small arterial aneurysms. To reduce the risk of aneurysm rupture, the patient underwent transcatheter arterial coil embolization. Three days later, CT-guided catheter drainage was performed to reduce the erosion of the arterial wall caused by pancreatic fluid. DIAGNOSES: The contrast-enhanced-CT imaging showed a round, slightly high-density lesion in the cyst, suggesting the presence of a pseudoaneurysm. INTERVENTIONS: The patient was sent for another transcatheter arterial embolization with coils and n-butyl-2-cyanoacrylate. OUTCOMES: After receiving the transcatheter arterial embolization, the patient had no serious bleeding or other complications. LESSONS: Early detection and accurate assessment of pseudoaneurysms are essential for appropriate management. This case shows that contrast-enhanced CT is necessary before CT-guided percutaneous drainage of pancreatic pseudocysts. It also shows that, due to the many complications that pancreatic pseudocysts may cause, appropriate treatment of pseudocysts complicated with pseudoaneurysm has important clinical significance.

Inhibition of iron oxidation in Acidithiobacillus ferrooxidans by low-molecular-weight organic acids: Evaluation of performance and elucidation of mechanisms.

The catalytic role of Acidithiobacillus ferrooxidans (A. ferrooxidans) in iron biooxidation is pivotal in the formation of Acid Mine Drainage (AMD), which poses a significant threat to the environment. To control AMD generation, treatments with low-molecular-weight organic acids are being studied, yet their exact mechanisms are unclear. In this study, AMD materials, organic acids, and molecular methods were employed to gain a deeper understanding of the inhibitory effects of low-molecular-weight organic acids on the biooxidation of iron by A. ferrooxidans. The inhibition experiments of A. ferrooxidans on the oxidation of Fe2+ showed that to attain a 90 % inhibition efficacy within 72 h, the minimum concentrations required for formic acid, acetic acid, propionic acid, and lactic acid are 0.5, 6, 4, and 10 mmol/L, respectively. Bacterial imaging illustrated the detrimental effects of these organic acids on the cell envelope structure. This includes severe damage to the outer membrane, particularly from formic and acetic acids, which also caused cell wall damage. Coupled with alterations in the types and quantities of protein, carbohydrate, and nucleic acid content in extracellular polymeric substances (EPS), indicate the mechanisms underlying these inhibitory treatments. Transcriptomic analysis revealed interference of these organic acids with crucial metabolic pathways, particularly those related to energy metabolism. These findings establish a comprehensive theoretical basis for understanding the inhibition of A. ferrooxidans' biooxidation by low-molecular-weight organic acids, offering a novel opportunity to effectively mitigate the generation of AMD at its source.

Effect of Dexmedetomidine on Intraoperative Hemodynamics and Blood Loss in Patients Undergoing Spine Surgery: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Objective Dexmedetomidine (Dex) is a highly selective α2 adrenoceptor agonist that reduces blood pressure and heart rate. However, its ability to provide stable hemodynamics and a clinically significant reduction in blood loss in spine surgery is still a matter of debate. This study aimed to investigate the effects of Dex on intraoperative hemodynamics and blood loss in patients undergoing spine surgery.Methods The Web of Science, MEDLINE, EMBASE, and the Cochrane Library were searched up to February 2023 for randomized controlled trials (RCTs) including patients undergoing spine surgeries under general anaesthesia and comparing Dex and saline. A fixed- or random-effect model was used depending on heterogeneity.Results Twenty-one RCTs, including 1388 patients, were identified. Dex added the overall risk of intraoperative hypotension (odds ratio [OR]: 2.11; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.24 - 3.58; P=0.006) and bradycardia (OR: 2.48; 95%CI: 1.57 - 3.93; P=0.0001). The use of a loading dose of Dex led to significantly increased risks of intraoperative hypotension (OR: 2.00; 95%CI: 1.06 - 3.79; P=0.03) and bradycardia (OR: 2.28; 95%CI: 1.42 - 3.66; P=0.0007). For patients receiving total intravenous anesthesia, there was an increased risk of hypotension (OR: 2.90; 95%CI: 1.24 - 6.82; P=0.01) and bradycardia (OR: 2.66; 95%CI: 1.53 - 4.61; P=0. 0005). For patients in the inhalation anesthesia group, only an increased risk of bradycardia (OR: 4.95; 95%CI: 1.41 - 17.37; P=0.01) was observed. No significant increase in the risk of hypotension and bradycardia was found in the combined intravenous-inhalation anesthesia group. The incidence of severe hypotension (OR: 2.57; 95%CI: 1.05 - 6.32; P=0.04), but not mild hypotension, was increased. Both mild (OR: 2.55; 95%CI: 1.06 - 6.15; P=0.04) and severe (OR: 2.45; 95%CI: 1.43 - 4.20; P=0.001) bradycardia were associated with a higher risk. The overall analyses did not reveal significant reduction in intraoperative blood loss. However, a significant decrease in blood loss was observed in total inhalation anesthesia subgroup (mean difference [MD]: -82.97; 95%CI: -109.04 - -56.90; P<0.001).Conclusions Dex increases the risks of intraoperative hypotension and bradycardia in major spine surgery. The administration of a loading dose of Dex and the utilization of various anesthesia maintenance methods may potentially impact hemodynamic stability and intraoperative blood loss.

Exosomes derived from diabetic serum accelerate the progression of osteoarthritis.

Diabetes mellitus (DM) has been demonstrated to accelerate the progression of osteoarthritis (OA) by largely unknown mechanisms. Studies have shown that DM dysfunctional adipocyte-derived exosomes play a crucial role in the pathogenesis of remote organ functions. The present study aimed to clarify whether and how diabetic adipocyte-derived exosomes mediate the pathological regulation of OA. We found that intraarticular injection of DM serum exosomes in the non-diabetic mice significantly exacerbated OA injury as evidenced by a rough and fractured cartilage surface as well as increased chondrocyte apoptosis, decreased mitochondrial membrane potential (△Ψ) and increased expression of cleaved caspase-3. Mechanistic investigation identified that miR-130b-3p was significantly increased in circulating exosomes derived from DM mice and exosomes derived from HG-treated normal adipocytes, and we demonstrated that transfection of miR-130b-3p mimics significantly exacerbated the mitochondrial function of chondrocytes. Our data also indicated that miR-130b-3p impaired the △Ψ, increased cleaved caspase-3 levels, and decreased the expression of 5'-adenosine monophosphate-activated protein kinase α1 (AMPKα1), Silent mating-type information regulation 2 homolog 1 (SIRT1), and peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma coactivator-1α (PGC-1α) in chondrocytes. Pharmacologic activation of AMPKα1 using AICAR reversed the â–³Ψ and catabolic responses in chondrocytes transfected with miR-130b-3p mimics. Moreover, AICAR decreased the effects of miR-130b-3p mimics on chondrocytes transfected with SIRT1-siRNA or PGC-1α-siRNA. The current study demonstrated that adipocyte-derived exosomal miR-130b-3p under DM conditions suppresses mitochondrial function in chondrocytes through targeting the AMPKα1/SIRT1/PGC1-α pathway, thus exacerbating OA injury.

Biocontrol and Growth Promotion Potential of Bacillus subtilis CTXW 7-6-2 against Rhizoctonia solani that Causes Tobacco Target Spot Disease.

Fungal diseases form perforated disease spots in tobacco plants, resulting in a decline in tobacco yield and quality. The present study investigated the antagonistic effect of Bacillus subtilis CTXW 7-6-2 against Rhizoctonia solani, its ability to promote the growth of tobacco seedlings, and the expression of disease resistance-related genes for efficient and eco-friendly plant disease control. Our results showed that CTXW 7-6-2 had the most vigorous growth after being cultured for 96 h, and its rate of inhibition of R. solani growth in vitro was 94.02%. The volatile compounds produced by CTXW 7-6-2 inhibited the growth of R. solani significantly (by 96.62%). The fungal growthinhibition rate of the B. subtilis CTXW 7-6-2 broth obtained after high-temperature and no-high-temperature sterile fermentation was low, at 50.88% and 54.63%, respectively. The lipopeptides extracted from the B. subtilis CTXW 7-6-2 fermentation broth showed a 74.88% fungal growth inhibition rate at a concentration of 100 mg/l. Scanning and transmission electron microscopy showed some organelle structural abnormalities, collapse, shrinkage, blurring, and dissolution in the R. solani mycelia. In addition, CTXW 7-6-2 increased tobacco seedling growth and improved leaf and root weight compared to the control. After CTXW 7-6-2 inoculation, tobacco leaves showed the upregulation of the PDF1.2, PPO, and PAL genes, which are closely related to target spot disease resistance. In conclusion, B. subtilis CTXW 7-6-2 may be an efficient biological control agent in tobacco agriculture and enhance plant growth potential.

Association between plasma circulating tumor DNA and the prognosis of esophageal cancer patients: a meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: The application of liquid biopsy analysis utilizing circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) has gained prominence as a biomarker in specific cancer types. Nevertheless, the correlation between ctDNA and the prognostic outcomes of patients with esophageal cancer (EC) remains a subject of controversy. This meta-analysis aims to assess the correlation between ctDNA and the prognosis of EC patients. METHODS: We systematically explored Embase, PubMed, and the Cochrane Database to identify studies reporting on the prognostic value of ctDNA in EC patients before November 2023. The primary outcome involved the determine of associations between ctDNA with overall survival (OS), disease-free survival (DFS)/recurrence-free survival (RFS), as well asprogression-free survival (PFS) among EC patients. Secondary outcomes encompassed a detailed subgroup analysis in the setting of EC, including parameters such as detection time, histological subtypes, treatment modalities, regions, anatomic locations, and detection methods. Publication bias was assessed utilizing Begg's test, Egger's test, and funnel plots. A sensitivity analysis was conducted by systematically excluding individual studies to evaluate the stability of the results. RESULTS: A total of 1203 studies were initially screened, from which 13 studies underwent further analysis, encompassing 604 patients diagnosed with EC. The comprehensive pooled analysis indicated a significant association between the detection of ctDNA and poor OS (HR: 3.65; 95% CI: 1.97-6.75, P<0.001), DFS/RFS (HR: 6.08; 95% CI: 1.21-30.50, P<0.001), and PFS (HR: 2.84; 95% CI: 1.94-4.16, P<0.001). Subgroup analysis showed that ctDNA remained a consistent negative predictor of OS when stratified by different detection time, histological subtypes, regions, anatomic locations, and detection methods. Furthermore, subgroup analysis stratified by regions and study types demonstrated an association between ctDNA detection and poor PFS in EC patients. CONCLUSION: Our results indicate plasma ctDNA may serve as robust prognostic markers for OS, DFS/RFS, and PFS among EC patients. This finding suggests that plasma ctDNA could offer a highly effective approach for risk stratification and personalized medicine.

Multifunctional chitosan-based lanthanide luminescent hydrogel with stretchability, adhesion, self-healing, color tunability and antibacterial ability.

Lanthanide luminescent hydrogels have broad application prospects in various fields. However, most of lanthanide hydrogels possess relatively simple functions, which is not conducive to practical applications. Therefore, it is becoming increasingly urgent to develop multifunctional hydrogels. Herein, a multifunctional chitosan-based lanthanide luminescent hydrogel with ultra-stretchability, multi-adhesion, excellent self-healing, emission color tunability, and good antibacterial ability was prepared by a simple one-step free radical polymerization. In this work, our designed lanthanide complexes [Ln(4-VDPA)3] contain three reaction sites, which can be copolymerized with N-[tris(hydroxymethyl) methyl] acrylamide (THMA), acrylamide (AM), and diacryloyl poly(ethylene glycol) (DPEG) to form the first chemical crosslinking network, while hydroxypropyltrimethyl ammonium chloride chitosan (HACC) interacts with the hydroxyl and amino groups derived from the chemical crosslinking network through hydrogen bonds to form the second physical crosslinking network. The structure of the double network as well as the dynamic hydrogen bond and lanthanide coordination endow the hydrogel with excellent stretchability, adhesion and self-healing properties. Moreover, the introduction of lanthanide complexes and chitosan makes the hydrogel exhibit outstanding luminescence and antibacterial performances. This research not only realizes the simple synthesis of multifunctional luminescent hydrogels, but also provides a new idea for the fabrication of biomass-based hydrogels as intelligent and sustainable materials.

Decreased PDLIM1 expression in endothelial cells contributes to the development of intracranial aneurysm.

INTRODUCTION: Intracranial aneurysm (IA) is a common vascular enlargement that occurs in the wall of cerebral vessels and frequently leads to fatal subarachnoid hemorrhage. PDZ and LIM domain protein 1 (PDLIM1) is a cytoskeletal protein that functions as a platform for multiple protein complex formation. However, whether PDLIM is involved in the pathogenesis of IA remains poorly understood. METHODS: Loss-of-function and gain-of-function strategies were employed to determine the in vitro roles of PDLIM1 in vascular endothelial cells (VECs). A rat model of IA was generated to study the role of PDLIM1 in vivo. Gene expression profiling, Western blotting, and dual luciferase reporter assays were performed to uncover the underlying cellular mechanism. Clinical IA samples were used to determine the expression of PDLIM1 and its downstream signaling molecules. RESULTS: PDLIM1 expression was reduced in the endothelial cells of IA and was regulated by Yes-associated protein 1 (YAP1). Genetic silencing of PDLIM1 inhibited the viability, migratory ability, and tube formation ability of VECs. Opposite results were obtained by ectopic expression of PDLIM1. Additionally, PDLIM1 overexpression mitigated IA in vivo. Mechanistic investigations revealed that PDLIM1 promoted the transcriptional activity of ß-catenin and induced the expression of v-myc myelocytomatosis viral oncogene homolog (MYC) and cyclin D1 (CCND1). In clinical settings, reduced expression of PDLIM1 and ß-catenin downstream target genes was observed in human IA samples. CONCLUSION: Our study indicates that YAP1-dependent expression of PDLIM1 can inhibit IA development by modulating the activity of the Wnt/ß-catenin signaling pathway and that PDLIM1 deficiency in VECs may represent a potential marker of aggressive disease.