Preparation and Characterization of Soft-Hard Block Copolymer of 3,4-IP-b-s-1,2-PBD Using a Robust Iron-Based Catalyst System.

A series of well-defined diblock copolymers, namely, 3,4-polyisoprene-block-syndiotactic-1,2-polybutadiene (3,4-PI-b-s-1,2-PBD), with a soft-hard block sequence were synthesized via an in situ sequential polymerization process using a robust iron-based catalytic system Fe(acac)3/(isocyanoimino) triptenylphosphorane (IITP)/AliBu3. This catalyst exhibits vigorous activity and temperature tolerance, achieving a polymerization activity of 5.41 × 106 g mol(Fe)-1 h-1 at 70 °C with a [IP]/[Fe] ratio of 15,000. Moreover, the quasi-living polymerization characteristics of the catalyst were verified through kinetic experiments. The first-stage polymerization of isoprene (IP) is performed at 30 °C to give a soft 3,4-PI block, and then a quantitative amount of 1,3-butadiene was added in situ to the quasi-living polymerization system to produce a second hard s-1,2-PBD. The s-1,2-PBD segments in block copolymers display a rodlike morphology contrasting with the spherulitic morphology characteristic of s-1,2-PBD homopolymers. The precise tunability of the length of the soft and hard chain segments of these novel elastic materials with the feed ratio of IP and BD, endowing them with outstanding mechanical properties and excellent dynamic mechanical properties, which are expected to be promising high-performance rubber materials.

Metabolism-regulating non-coding RNAs in breast cancer: roles, mechanisms and clinical applications.

Breast cancer is one of the most common malignancies that pose a serious threat to women's health. Reprogramming of energy metabolism is a major feature of the malignant transformation of breast cancer. Compared to normal cells, tumor cells reprogram metabolic processes more efficiently, converting nutrient supplies into glucose, amino acid and lipid required for malignant proliferation and progression. Non-coding RNAs(ncRNAs) are a class of functional RNA molecules that are not translated into proteins but regulate the expression of target genes. NcRNAs have been demonstrated to be involved in various aspects of energy metabolism, including glycolysis, glutaminolysis, and fatty acid synthesis. This review focuses on the metabolic regulatory mechanisms and clinical applications of metabolism-regulating ncRNAs involved in breast cancer. We summarize the vital roles played by metabolism-regulating ncRNAs for endocrine therapy, targeted therapy, chemotherapy, immunotherapy, and radiotherapy resistance in breast cancer, as well as their potential as therapeutic targets and biomarkers. Difficulties and perspectives of current targeted metabolism and non-coding RNA therapeutic strategies are discussed.

A comprehensive evaluation of circ_0065214/ miR-188-3p/GPNMB axis in breast cancer.

CircRNAs are involved in multiple aspects during carcinogenesis, including tumorigenesis, vascularization, apoptosis and others. Exploring the role of circRNAs in breast cancer (BC) enables us to understand the development mechanism of BC more comprehensively. Here, we screened out and verified an up-regulated circRNA in BC from GEO data. Quantitative Real-time PCR (qRT-PCR) showed that circ_0065214 had a high expression level in BC patients. Besides, circ_0065214 had good diagnostic value in BC serum, and the area under the diagnostic curve, sensitivity and specificity were 0.78, 0.63 and 0.85, respectively. The combined application of circ_0065214 with CEA and CA-153 can further improve the diagnostic efficiency. The knockdown of circ_0065214 in vivo and in vitro inhibited the proliferation, migration and invasion of BC, but promoted autophagy. At last, dual-luciferase reporter assay and rescue assays revealed that circ_0065214 acted as a decoy to adsorb miR-188-3p, and then relieved the repressive effect of miR-188-3p on its target GPNMB. Our results demonstrated that circ_0065214 regulated the expression of GPNMB by competitively binding to miR-188-3p, thus promoting the proliferation, migration and invasion of breast cancer cells and inhibiting autophagy. These findings provided an original therapeutic strategy for BC.

Impact of ultra-low temperature storage on serum sIgE detection and allergic disease biobank feasibility.

Research has shown that the concentration and composition of biological samples may change after long-term ultra-low temperature storage. Consequently, this study examined the effect of ultra-low temperature storage on serum sIgE detection by comparing sIgE concentrations at various durations from the time of sample storage to subsequent testing. We selected 40 serum samples from the Guangzhou Medical University Affiliated First Hospital Biobank, which had been tested for house dust mites, dog hair, tobacco mold, cockroaches, and cow milk allergen sIgE. Samples were categorized by storage duration: 14 samples stored for 10 years, 12 for 5 years, and 14 for 3 years. They were also classified by sIgE positive levels: 15 samples at levels 1-2, 15 at levels 3-4, and 10 at levels 5-6. The allergen sIgE of these samples was retested using the same technology. Regardless of the type of allergen or the level of positivity, the majority of sIgE concentrations measured at the time of storage were higher than the current measurements, but the difference was not statistically significant. The correlation between the sIgE results at the time of storage and the current results was high for samples stored for 10 years (rs = 0.991, P < 0.001) and 5 years (rs = 0.964, P < 0.001). Serum allergen sIgE is stable when stored under ultra-low temperature conditions, making the construction of a biological sample bank for allergic diseases feasible. This will facilitate researchers in quickly obtaining samples, conducting technical research, and translating findings, thereby promoting the development of the field of allergy through integration of industry, academia, and research.

The relationship between body dissatisfaction, lifestyle, and nutritional status among university students in Southern China.

BACKGROUND: In recent years, obesity in early adulthood has become an urgent global public health concern. Body dissatisfaction may have adverse effects on lifestyle habits, leading to obesity. However, research on nutritional status and body dissatisfaction among Chinese young adults is still insufficient. Therefore, this study aimed to analyze the relationship between body dissatisfaction, dietary habits, physical activity, and nutritional status among university students. In addition, we explored the feasibility of improving university students' nutritional status by improving the levels of body dissatisfaction. METHODS: This study was conducted in Ganzhou City, Jiangxi Province, China, at a randomly selected university. All 1900 undergraduate students volunteered to participate and signed the consent form. Students were required to completed anthropometric measurements and three questionnaires, which included the Physical Activity Rating Scale-3 (PARS-3), Chinese version of the Dutch Dietary Behavior Questionnaire (C-DEBQ), and Body Dissatisfaction. Of these, 1714 students (age: 18-24 years; men: 933, women: 781) with complete and valid data were included. RESULTS: Higher obesity levels were observed in men compared to women (p<0.01). Meanwhile, body dissatisfaction was higher in women compared to men (p<0.01). Overeating and insufficient physical activity were more problematic in women compared to in men (p<0.01). Multiple regression analyses were conducted separately, with BMI and body dissatisfaction as the dependent variables. Body dissatisfaction (ß=0.72, p<0.01), muscle mass (ß=0.33, p<0.01), emotional eating score (ß=0.05, p<0.01), sex (ß=-0.05, p<0.05) and physical activity (ß=-0.04, p<0.05) score were significant predictors of obesity. Furthermore, Muscle mass (ß=0.61, p<0.01), sex (ß=0.54, p<0.01), restrained eating score (ß=0.25, p<0.01), physical activity score (ß=-0.20, p<0.01) and emotional eating score (ß=0.08, p<0.01) were significant predictors of body dissatisfaction. CONCLUSION: The data presented in this study highlight the impact of university students' body dissatisfaction in China on physical activity deficiency and overeating, discovering that reducing body dissatisfaction has great potential for preventing obesity.

Suitability changes of Citrus medica L. var. sarcodactylis Swingle, a medicine-food plants affected by climate warming using the optimized MaxEnt model.

Climatic variables are important conditions for plant growth, development and reproduction. Citrus medica L. var. sarcodactylis Swingle (Rutaceae: Citrus) is one of the traditional bulk Chinese medicinal materials in China with the effects of bacteriostasis, anti-inflammatory, anti-oxidation, anti-cancer cells, regulating the immun. Analyzing the impact of climate change on geographical distribution of C. medica L. var. sarcodactylis can provide strong support for its production layout and agricultural zoning. In our paper, MaxEnt and ArcGIS were applied to simulate the suitable areas of C. medica L. var. sarcodactylis in China from the perspectives of bioclimate, soil, topographic factors and human activities, and the future climate scenarios generated by global climate models (GCMs) were selected to predict its suitable areas in 2050s and 2090s. Results showed that, 1) Under current climate condition, areas of the total, most, moderately and poorly suitable habitats of C. medica L. var. sarcodactylis in China were 177.36×104 km2, 22.27×104 km2, 51.96×104 km2 and 103.13×104 km2 respectively. The range of the most suitable habitat was the narrowest, which was located in the middle east of Sichuan, western Chongqing in the upstream of the Yangtze River Basin, southern Guizhou and western Guangxi in the upstream of the Pearl River Basin, central and southern Yunnan and Southeast Tibet in the Middle-Lower reaches of the Southwest River Basin and western Taiwan. 2) Under the future climate change scenarios, the total suitable area showed a significant increase trend in 2090s, and the change of most, moderately and poorly suitable habitats showed no obvious law. 3) Under SSP1-2.6, SSP2-4.5 and SSP5-8.5 scenarios, the centroid of the most suitable habitat of C. medica L. var. sarcodactylis would move to the northwest, southeast and southwest respectively.

Trace metals, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and polychlorinated biphenyls in the surface sediments from Sanya River, China: Distribution, sources and ecological risk.

The urban inland river ecosystems are now facing comprehensive pollution and governance pressures. Up to now, few works related to the multiple pollution assessment of trace metals, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) for the urban inland river sediments have been reported in China. Our study investigated the spatial distribution, ecological risk and potential sources of trace metals, PAHs and PCBs in surface sediment collected from 20 sampling sites of Sanya River, Hainan Province, China. The pollution status and potential ecological risk of trace metals were evaluated using the contamination indexes including geoaccumulation index (Igeo), individual potential ecological risk (Eri), potential ecological risk index (RI) and pollution load index (PLI). Considering the carcinogenicity and toxicity of PAHs and PCBs to human health and the ecological environment, we also analyzed the distributions, sources and adverse biological effects of PAHs and PCBs according to the sediment quality guidelines (SQGs), principal component analysis (PCA) and other source analysis. This study revealed that the surface sediments in Sanya River were extremely slight pollution and showed a very low ecological risk according to Igeo, Eri, PLI and RI results for trace metals. Besides, PAHs and PCBs pollution detected may not pose considerable adverse biological effect to ecological environment in a foreseeable period on the basis of comprehensive research results. The overall surface sediments quality of the Sanya River not seem to pose a serious pollution and ecological risk based on the evaluation results of multiple pollution factors. The study provided detailed information on the multiple pollution status and location of surface sediments, one of the key environmental indicators of international tourism cities, in the Sanya River, which would be useful for the water quality improvement of Sanya River and the environmental remediation of the other coastal ecosystems from different regions.

Horizontally acquired cysteine synthase genes undergo functional divergence in lepidopteran herbivores.

Horizontal gene transfer (HGT) plays an important role in evolutionary processes as organisms adapt to their environments, and now cases of gene duplication after HGT in eukaryotes are emerging at an increasing rate. However, the fate and roles of the duplicated genes over time in eukaryotes remain unclear. Here we conducted a comprehensive analysis of the evolution of cysteine synthase (CYS) in lepidopteran insects. Our results indicate that HGT-derived CYS genes are widespread and have undergone duplication following horizontal transfer in many lepidopteran insects. Moreover, lepidopteran CYS proteins not only have ß-cyanoalanine synthase activity but also possess cysteine synthase activity that is involved in sulfur amino acid biosynthesis. Duplicated CYS genes show marked divergence in gene expression patterns and enzymatic properties, suggesting that they probably have undergone subfunctionalization and/or neofunctionalization in Lepidoptera. The gene transfer of CYS genes and subsequent duplication appears to have facilitated the adaptation of lepidopteran insects to different diets and promoted their ecological diversification. Overall, this study provides valuable insights into the ecological and evolutionary contributions of CYS in lepidopteran insects.

A measurement method of knee joint space width by ultrasound: a large multicenter study.

BACKGROUND: Although plain radiology is the primary method for assessing joint space width (JSW), it has poor sensitivity to change over time in regards to determining longitudinal progression. We, therefore, developed a new ultrasound (US) measurement method of knee JSW and aimed to provide a monitoring method for the change of JSW in the future. METHODS: A multicenter study was promoted by the Professional Committee of Musculoskeletal Ultrasound, the Ultrasound Society, and the Chinese Medical Doctor Association. US study of knee specimens determined the landmarks for ultrasonic measurement of knee JSW. The US of 1,272 participants from 27 centers was performed to discuss the feasibility and possible influencing factors of knee JSW. The landmarks for US measurement of knee JS, the inflection point of medial femoral epicondyle and the proximal end of the tibia, were determined. RESULTS: The mean knee JSW1 (medial knee JSW) was 8.57±1.95 mm in females and 9.52±2.31 mm in males. The mean knee JSW2 (the near medial knee JSW) was 9.07±2.24 mm in females and 10.17±2.35 mm in males. The JSW values of males were significantly higher than those of females, with a statistical difference. JSW values were negatively correlated with age and body mass index (BMI) to different degrees and positively correlated with height. CONCLUSIONS: The novel US measurement method can be used to measure knee JSW.

Breast cancer following augmentation mammaplasty with polyacrylamide hydrogel (PAAG) injection.

Polyacrylamide hydrogel (PAAG) as an implanted material for augmentation mammaplasty has been used for years in China. Many kinds of complications associated with PAAG use have been reported in the clinical literature. This report presents two cases of breast cancer occurring after injection of PAAG in augmented breasts. The delayed diagnosis and more aggressive disease due to PAAG injection should be cause for concern. It is very important to detect breast cancer early when it is covered by the induration of the injected gel and inflammation reaction after PAAG injection. PAAG injection for augmentation mammaplasty may affect the outcome of breast cancer diagnosis and prognosis.

Migration of implants: a problem with injectable polyacrylamide gel in aesthetic plastic surgery.

Polyacrylamide gel (PAAG) has been used as a soft tissue filler material for cosmetic purposes in Europe and China since 1997. The various complications of PAAG have been reported. A total of 15 patients who received PAAG injections at other institutions were treated for gel migration in the authors' hospitals. During treatment, the authors found that the injected PAAG had not formed capsules within the muscle and was encapsulated only by thin fibrous tissue in skin and mammary glands. Consequently, the filler material migrated easily because of muscular activity or the influence of gravity, especially when the capsule was broken by incorrect massage or incidental force. It is suggested that PAAG should not be injected into muscular tissue or subcutaneous areas with active movement, such as joints and muscles involved in facial expression with thin skin. After years of gel implantation, the thinned capsule may result in an increasing incidence of this complication. Management and some clinical findings in relation to the complication also are discussed.