Bufalin Regulates STAT3 Signaling Pathway to Inhibit Corneal Neovascularization and Fibrosis After Alkali Burn in Rats.

PURPOSE: Bufalin (BU) is a bioactive ingredient extracted from the skin and parotid venom glands of Bufo raddei, which can effectively inhibit angiogenesis. The aim of this study was to investigate whether BU could affect corneal neovascularization (CoNV). METHODS: A rat CoNV model (right eye) was constructed by administration of NaOH, and the left eye served as a control. Corneal damage scores of rats were detected. Hematoxylin & eosin, TUNEL, and Masson staining examined pathological changes, apoptosis, and fibrosis of corneal tissues. Immunohistochemistry and western blotting assessed the expression of proteins. RESULTS: BU intervention resulted in a significant reduction in corneal inflammatory cells, repair of corneal epithelial hyperplasia, significant reduction in stromal edema, and reduction in vascular proliferation. BU can inhibit corneal neovascularization. CONCLUSION: This study demonstrated that BU inhibits CoNV, fibrosis, and inflammation by modulating the STAT3 signaling pathway, elucidating the intrinsic mechanism of its protective effect. BU has great potential in the treatment of CoNV caused by corneal alkali burns.

Isolated liver gastrointestinal stromal tumor: A case report.

Gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GISTs) originate from the gastrointestinal tract. GISTs originate outside the gastrointestinal tract, referred to as extra GISTs, which is rare. Primary liver gastrointestinal stromal tumor (PLGIST) and liver metastasis of gastrointestinal stromal tumor (LMGIST) may present isolated liver lesion, making it difficult to determine their origin. A 38-year-old man who presented with isolated multiple giant cystic-solid liver lesions, ultimately diagnosed as liver GIST through CT-guided fine-needle aspiration. However, distinguishing between PLGIST and LMGIST in this case is challenging due to the absence of detailed medical records of emergency small intestine resection 5 years ago. Over 2-year follow-up period, the maximum lesion size increased from 16 to 21 cm, still, no extra liver lesions were observed. This study aims to provide a review to enhance understanding of this rare liver entity, aiding in tumor diagnosis and staging.

Broadband Ca3MgZrGe3O12:Cr3+ garnet phosphor for high-performance NIR pc-LED application.

The near-infrared (NIR) phosphor-converted light-emitting diode (pc-LED) is heavily reliant upon the performance of NIR phosphors. However, the current NIR pc-LEDs suffer from low photoelectric efficiency and insufficient near-infrared output power. In this study, Cr3+-doped Ca3MgZrGe3O12 phosphors leading to high-performance NIR pc-LEDs were developed for the first time. They feature robust and wide NIR emission that extends over the spectrum from 650 to 1100 nm with a full width at half maximum of 120 nm, a high quantum yield of 82% and excellent thermal stability of T50% = 250 °C and I150 °C = 80% when excited at 460 nm. The NIR pc-LED was constructed by combining the Ca3MgZrGe3O12:0.04Cr3+ phosphor with a blue LED chip, resulting in a device that exhibits a photoelectric conversion efficiency of 20% and a near-infrared output power of 54.19 mW when operated at a current of 100 mA. The obtained luminous efficacy is superior to that of the vast majority of current broadband near-infrared pc-LEDs. In addition, this NIR pc-LED exhibits strong penetration and its applications in bio-imaging are demonstrated. The results indicate that Ca3MgZrGe3O12:Cr3+ NIR broadband phosphors are efficient for NIR pc-LEDs.

Demand Analysis of Self-Management Mobile Health Applications for Middle-Aged and older Patients with Chronic Kidney Disease Based on the Kano Model.

INTRODUCTION: Middle-aged and older individuals often face significant challenges in adopting digital health solutions, leading to a digital divide that hinders their ability to benefit from mobile health (mHealth) interventions. This study aims to investigate the specific requirements of middle-aged and older patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) for self-management through mobile health applications (mHealth apps), using the Kano model. METHODS: A multicenter cross-sectional survey was conducted from April to September 2023 in five hospitals across Sichuan, Shandong, Guangdong, and Shaanxi provinces in China. The Kano model was employed to analyze participants' preferences regarding mHealth apps for self-management. RESULTS: Out of 359 participants (57.1% men, predominantly aged 45-54), the study identified essential and desirable features for mHealth apps. Essential attributes include comprehensive CKD information and robust privacy protection. Key to enhancing user satisfaction are features like symptom and medication management, access to medical insurance information, and app interface simplicity. Additional attractive features for increasing app appeal include diet management, exercise guidance, and customizable text size. CONCLUSION: This study identifies critical mHealth app features for self-management in middle-aged and older CKD patients, emphasizing the importance of user-centric design. The findings provide valuable insights for app developers to create tailored solutions that cater to the specific needs of this demographic, potentially enhancing their self-management capabilities.

Effects of steel slag mixed substrate on rooting of Hydrangea macrophylla cuttings.

To investigate the effect of steel slag used as substrate on the rooting of Hydrangea macrophylla cuttings, and to develop a new mixed substrate that can partially replace conventional cutting substrates and realize the high-efficient utilization of solid waste, we examined the physical and chemical properties of different mixed substrates containing 10% (T1), 20% (T2), 30% (T3), and 40% (T4) volume fractions of steel slag, and investigated the rooting of H. macrophylla 'Red Beauty' cuttings growing on these substrates, with conventional cutting substrates (peat and perlite) as the control (CK). The results showed that pH value, electrical conductivity, and bulk density of the mixed substrates were significantly higher than those of CK. The aeration porosity of T2 was higher than other treatments, while the total porosity and water holding porosity differed little from others. Both fresh weight and dry weight of all the four treatments were higher than those of CK, with stem diameter being higher than that of CK (except T4), plant height showing no significant difference compared to CK (except T4), and leaf chlorophyll content being significantly lower than CK. Root length ranked as T2>CK>T1>T3>T4, the root surface area and root volume both ranked as T2>T1>CK>T4>T3, the root tip ranked as T2>CK>T1>T4>T3. Both average root diameter and root activity were significantly higher than that of CK, with the highest value being observed in T2. Soluble sugar content in the leaves of T2 was the highest, followed by T4, T3, CK, and T1. The weight ranking of root growth indices was root activity > average root diameter > root volume > root surface area > root tip number > root length. Redundancy analysis indicated that pH value, electrical conductivity, aeration porosity, and water holding porosity of substrates were key factors influencing root growth and development of cuttings. Our results suggested that substrates mixed with 10% to 40% steel slag could be used for H. macrophylla cutting propagation, and 20% (T2) being the best one because it could significantly improve the survival rate, growth status, and root development of cuttings. Steel slag would be a novel substrate to partially replace conventional unrenewable substrates such as peat and perlite for flower seedling propagation, which could reduce agricultural production cost and provide a high-value utilization way of industry solid waste.

Optimization of Different Extraction Methods for Phenolic Compound Verbascoside from Chinese Olea europaea Leaves Using Deep Eutectic Solvents: Impact on Antioxidant and Anticancer Activities.

Chinese Olea europaea leaves, rich in verbascosides, were extracted using ultrasound-assisted extraction (UAE) and wall-breaking extraction (WBE) with deep eutectic solvents (Optimal UAE: 55 min, 200 mL/g liquid-solid ratio, 20% moisture, yielding 206.23 ± 0.58 mg GAE/g total phenolic content (TPC) and 1.59 ± 0.04% verbascoside yield (VAY); Optimal WBE: 140 s, 210 mL/g, 30% moisture, giving 210.69 ± 0.97 mg GAE/g TPC and 1.33 ± 0.2% VAY). HPLC analysis showed that young leaves accumulated higher TPC and phenolic compounds. Among the five olive varieties, Koroneiki and Chemlal showed the highest TPC in UAE, while Arbosana and Chemlal excelled in WBE. WBE yielded a higher TPC and rutin, whereas UAE marginally increased other phenolics. Additionally, the DPPH• assay showed that WBE-extracted verbascoside-rich extracts (VREs) of Chemlal exhibited high antioxidant activity (EC50 of 57 mg/mL), but Koroneiki-VREs exhibited lower activity against the ABTS•+ radical (EC50 of 134 mg/mL). Remarkably, the UAE/WBE-extracted Chemlal-VREs promoted the normal esophageal Het-1A cell line at 25 µg/mL for 24 h; yet, the esophageal cancer Eca-109 cells were sensibly inhibited, especially at 50 µg/mL; and the cell viability decreased dramatically. The results confirmed WBE as a relatively efficient method, and the Chemlal variety may be an excellent source of verbascoside.

Novel point-of-care rapid detection of monkeypox virus.

Monkeypox, a viral zoonotic disease caused by MPXV, has emerged as a significant global health concern since the first outbreak outside Africa in 2003. As of the current data, there have been 30 189 confirmed cases of monkeypox in 88 countries, with 29 844 cases reported in 81 countries. Given the absence of prior documented instances of the disease, swift and accurate testing is imperative to contain the spread of monkeypox. In this study, we developed a LAMP detection reagent for monkeypox and evaluated its performance in terms of sensitivity, specificity, repeatability, stability, linear range, and linearity, utilizing a commercial magnetic bead-based nucleic acid extraction system. This has led to the establishment of an integrated on-site detection platform for the monkeypox virus, utilizing a closed cartridge. The sensitivity was found to be 100 copies per µL, with no cross-reactivity observed with three other viruses, indicating robust performance. The parameters of repeatability, stability, linear range, and linearity were also assessed. For 28 simulated samples, the detection results obtained from the integrated system were consistent with those from conventional laboratory methods, specifically qPCR and LAMP detection following nucleic acid extraction. The entire process can be completed in approximately one hour, making it highly suitable for immediate rapid testing.

AMD-SD: An Optical Coherence Tomography Image Dataset for wet AMD Lesions Segmentation.

Wet Age-related Macular Degeneration (wet AMD) is a common ophthalmic disease that significantly impacts patients' vision. Optical coherence tomography (OCT) examination has been widely utilized for diagnosing, treating, and monitoring wet AMD due to its cost-effectiveness, non-invasiveness, and repeatability, positioning it as the most valuable tool for diagnosis and tracking. OCT can provide clear visualization of retinal layers and precise segmentation of lesion areas, facilitating the identification and quantitative analysis of abnormalities. However, the lack of high-quality datasets for assessing wet AMD has impeded the advancement of related algorithms. To address this issue, we have curated a comprehensive wet AMD OCT Segmentation Dataset (AMD-SD), comprising 3049 B-scan images from 138 patients, each annotated with five segmentation labels: subretinal fluid, intraretinal fluid, ellipsoid zone continuity, subretinal hyperreflective material, and pigment epithelial detachment. This dataset presents a valuable opportunity to investigate the accuracy and reliability of various segmentation algorithms for wet AMD, offering essential data support for developing AI-assisted clinical applications targeting wet AMD.

Prognostic impact of right atrial strain in systemic lupus erythematosus with pulmonary arterial hypertension.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to assess right atrial (RA) function, including RA phase strain, via speckle-tracking echocardiography (STE) in a cohort of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) patients with pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) and in particular to explore the relationship between RA phase strain and the occurrence of cardiovascular events. METHODS: STE analyses of RA function were evaluated in patients with SLE-PAH and in 33 healthy control subjects. Clinical associations, serum biomarkers, echocardiographic data, survival times, and adverse cardiovascular events were evaluated. RESULTS: A total of 66 patients with SLE-PAH were enrolled; they were divided into two groups based on the occurrence of adverse clinical events. RA phase strain was significantly reduced in patients with events than in patients without events. The endpoint was defined as the combined outcome of all-cause mortality, right heart failure, and rehospitalization due to disease progression. During a mean follow-up of 17.2 ± 9.9 months, 23 patients (35%) reached the endpoint. Compared with patients with RA reservoir strain (RASr) ≥33.45%, patients with RASr < 33.45% had more adverse long-term outcomes (log rank p < .0001). RASr was independently associated with adverse clinical outcomes according to multivariate analysis (p = .010). CONCLUSION: Our data suggest that RA function has prognostic value for SLE-PAH patients, and strain analysis revealed that the worse the RA function is, the worse the prognosis.

Investigation of Cd and Pb enrichment capacities of Erigeron sumatrensis across three polluted regions: Insights into soil parameters and microbial communities.

Erigeron sumatrensis is a vigorously growing invasive plant in mining areas and has been the subject of research for its potential in the phytoremediation of heavy metals. In this study, the bioconcentration factor (BCF) and translocation factor (TF) of E. sumatrensis were assessed to evaluate its phytoaccumulation potential for cadmium (Cd) and lead (Pb) across three distinct zinc mining regions with different degrees of contamination, including Huayuan (HY), Yueyang (YY), and Liuyang (LY) areas. The region of HY is identified as having the most severe Cd contamination, while the most pronounced Pb pollution characterizes the LY area. The findings indicate that E. sumatrensis demonstrated a stronger ability to enrich Cd and Pb in less contaminated areas. To elucidate the underlying mechanisms, high-throughput sequencing of 16S rRNA and internal transcribed spacer (ITS) regions was employed to analyze the rhizosphere bacterial and fungal communities across the three areas. The results revealed significant variations in the microbial community structure, function, and composition, suggesting a complex interplay between the plant and its associated microorganisms. Correlation analysis identified several soil properties, including soil pH, total nitrogen (TN), available nitrogen (AN), organic matter (OM), and available phosphorus (AP), as pivotal factors that may influence the heavy metal enrichment capabilities of the plant. Notably, some microorganisms (e.g., Burkholderia, Brevundimonas, Paraglomus, and Trichoderma) and enzymes (e.g., P-type ATPases, citrate synthase, catalase) of microorganisms were found to be potentially involved in facilitating the accumulation of Cd and Pb by E. sumatrensis. This research contributes to understanding how invasive alien plants can be utilized to remedy contaminated environments. It highlights the importance of modulating critical soil factors to enhance the phytoremediation potential of E. sumatrensis, which could aid in developing strategies to manage invasive plants and mitigate heavy metal pollution in ecosystems.

Systematic Evaluation of Guidelines for the Diagnosis and Treatment of Hepatitis E Virus Infection.

Background and Aims: The hepatitis E virus (HEV) is a zoonotic disease, and infection with HEV in humans primarily causes acute infections and can progress to chronic manifestation in immunocompromised individuals. Over the past decade, guidelines for diagnosing and treating HEV infection have been developed. This study aimed to systematically assess the quality of current guidelines for diagnosing and treating HEV infection, and we analyzed the differences in guideline quality and primary recommendations and explored possible reasons for these differences. Methods: Guidelines published between 2013 and 2022 were searched, and studies were identified using selection criteria. The study assessed the quality of the included guidelines using the Appraisal of Guidelines for Research and Evaluation tool, extracted the primary recommendations in the guidelines, determined the highest level of evidence supporting the recommendations, and reclassified the evidence using the Oxford Centre for Evidence-Based Medicine grading system. Results: Seven guidelines were included in the final analysis. The quality of the guidelines varied widely. The discrepancies may have been caused by the lack of external experts, the failure to consider influencing factors in guideline application, and the lack of consideration of the public's opinion. Analysis of the heterogeneity in primary recommendations revealed differences in algorithms for managing chronic HEV infection, the dosage of ribavirin, and a low level of evidence supporting the primary recommendations. Conclusions: Guideline quality and primary recommendations vary considerably. Refinement by guideline developers and researchers would facilitate updating and applying guidelines for diagnosing and treating HEV infection.

ITGB3-enriched extracellular vesicles mediate the formation of osteoclastic pre-metastatic niche to promote lung adenocarcinoma bone metastasis.

The regulatory mechanisms underlying bone metastasis in lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD) are not yet fully understood despite the frequent occurrence of bone involvement. This study aimed to examine the involvement and mechanism of integrin subunit beta 3 (ITGB3) in the process of LUAD bone metastasis. Our findings indicate that ITGB3 facilitates the migration and invasion of LUAD cells in vitro and metastasis to the bone in vivo. Furthermore, ITGB3 stimulates osteoclast production and activation, thereby expediting osteolytic lesion progression. Extracellular vesicles (EVs) isolated from the conditioned medium (CM) of LUAD cells overexpressing ITGB3 determined that ITGB3 facilitates osteoclastogenesis and enhances osteoclast activity by utilizing EVs-mediated transport to RAW264.7 cells. Our in vivo findings demonstrated that ITGB3-EVs augmented the population of osteoclasts, thereby establishing an osteoclastic pre-metastatic niche (PMN) conducive to the colonization and subsequent growth of LUAD cells in the bone. ITGB3 is enriched in serum EVs of patients diagnosed with LUAD bone metastasis, potentially facilitating osteoclast differentiation and activation in vitro. Our research illustrates that ITGB3-EVs derived from LUAD cells facilitate osteoclast differentiation and activation by modulating the phosphorylation level of p38 MAPK. This process ultimately leads to the generation of osteolytic PMN and accelerates the progression of bone metastasis.

Dysbiosis promotes recurrence of adenomatous polyps in the distal colorectum.

BACKGROUND: Colorectal polyps, which are characterized by a high recurrence rate, represent preneoplastic conditions of the intestine. Due to unclear mechanisms of pathogenesis, first-line therapies for non-hereditary recurrent colorectal polyps are limited to endoscopic resection. Although recent studies suggest a mechanistic link between intestinal dysbiosis and polyps, the exact compositions and roles of bacteria in the mucosa around the lesions, rather than feces, remain unsettled. AIM: To clarify the composition and diversity of bacteria in the mucosa surrounding or 10 cm distal to recurrent intestinal polyps. METHODS: Mucosal samples were collected from four patients consistently with adenomatous polyps (Ade), seven consistently with non-Ade (Pol), ten with current Pol but previous Ade, and six healthy individuals, and bacterial patterns were evaluated by 16S rDNA sequencing. Linear discriminant analysis and Student's t-tests were used to identify the genus-level bacteria differences between groups with different colorectal polyp phenotypes. Pearson's correlation coefficients were used to evaluate the correlation between intestinal bacteria at the genus level and clinical indicators. RESULTS: The results confirmed a decreased level of probiotics and an enrichment of pathogenic bacteria in patients with all types of polyps compared to healthy individuals. These changes were not restricted to the mucosa within 0.5 cm adjacent to the polyps, but also existed in histologically normal tissue 10 cm distal from the lesions. Significant differences in bacterial diversity were observed in the mucosa from individuals with normal conditions, Pol, and Ade. Increased abundance of Gram-negative bacteria, including Klebsiella, Plesiomonas, and Cronobacter, was observed in Pol group and Ade group, suggesting that resistance to antibiotics may be one risk factor for bacterium-related harmful environment. Meanwhile, age and gender were linked to bacteria changes, indicating the potential involvement of sex hormones. CONCLUSION: These preliminary results support intestinal dysbiosis as an important risk factor for recurrent polyps, especially adenoma. Targeting specific pathogenic bacteria may attenuate the recurrence of polyps.

Unraveling the Health Benefits and Mechanisms of Time-Restricted Feeding: Beyond Caloric Restriction.

Time-restricted feeding (TRF) is a lifestyle intervention that aims to maintain a consistent daily cycle of feeding and fasting to support robust circadian rhythms. Recently, it has gained scientific, medical, and public attention due to its potential to enhance body composition, extend lifespan, and improve overall health, as well as induce autophagy and alleviate symptoms of diseases like cardiovascular diseases, type 2 diabetes, neurodegenerative diseases, cancer, and ischemic injury. However, there is still considerable debate on the primary factors that contribute to the health benefits of TRF. Despite not imposing strict limitations on calorie intake, TRF consistently led to reductions in calorie intake. Therefore, while some studies suggest that the health benefits of TRF are primarily due to caloric restriction (CR), others argue that the key advantages of TRF arise not only from CR but also from factors like the duration of fasting, the timing of the feeding period, and alignment with circadian rhythms. To elucidate the roles and mechanisms of TRF beyond CR, this review incorporates TRF studies that did not use CR, as well as TRF studies with equivalent energy intake to CR, which addresses the previous lack of comprehensive research on TRF without CR and provides a framework for future research directions.

Cell-SELEX and application research of a DNA aptamer against esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) cell line TE-1.

Esophageal cancer is a common cancer with high morbidity and mortality that severely threatens the safety and quality of human life. The strong metastatic nature of esophageal cancer enables it to metastasize more quickly and covertly, making it difficult for current diagnostic and treatment methods to achieve efficient early screening, as well as timely and effective treatment. As a promising solution, nucleic acid aptamers, a kind of special single-stranded DNA or RNA oligonucleotide selected by the Systematic Evolution of Ligands by Exponential Enrichment (SELEX) technology, can specifically bind with different molecular targets. In this paper, random DNA single-stranded oligonucleotides were used as the initial library. Using TE-1 cells and HEEC cells as targets, specific binding sequences were selected by 15 rounds of the cell-SELEX method, and the aptamer sequence that binds to TE-1 cells with the most specificity was obtained and named Te4. The Te4 aptamer was further validated for binding specificity, binding affinity, type of target, in vitro cytotoxicity when conjugated with DOX(Te4-DOX), and in vivo distribution. Results of in vitro validation showed that Te4 has outstanding binding specificity with a Kd value of 51.16 ± 5.52 nM, and the target type of Te4 was preliminarily identified as a membrane protein. Furthermore, the cytotoxicity experiment showed that Te4-DOX has specific cytotoxicity towards cultured TE-1 cells. Finally, the results of the in vivo distribution experiment showed that the Te4 aptamer is able to specifically target tumor regions in nude mice, showing great potential to be applied in future diagnosis and targeted therapy of esophageal cancer.

Case report: TP53 c.848G>A germline mutation as a possible screening target at initial diagnosis for acute lymphoblastic leukemia.

BACKGROUD: Li-Fraumeni syndrome is a hereditary tumor syndrome characterized by an elevated risk of malignancy, particularly acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL), which can be caused by the heterozygous germline mutation. TP53 gene germline mutation is considered a potential risk factor and crucial prognostic parameter for acute leukemia development and diagnosis, but rarely occurs in adults, and its specific pathogenic significance in acute leukemia is unclear. CASE PRESENTATION: We describes a case of a 45-year-old woman diagnosed with ALL. Whole-exome sequencing approach identified one of the TP53 germline mutations from her bone marrow sample with possible pathogenic significance, c.848G>A (p.Arg283His) heterozygous missense mutation located on exon 8, which was further verified in her hair, oral mucous and nail samples. Family pedigree screening revealed that the same TP53 genetic variant was present in the patient's father and non-donor son, whereas not in the donor. Digital PCR observed that this point mutation frequency dropped post-transplantation but remained low during maintenance therapy when the patient was leukemia-free. CONCLUSION: This suspected Li-Fraumeni syndrome case report with a likely pathogenic heterozygous TP53 variant expands the cancer genetic spectrum. Screening her family members for mutations facilitates identifying the optimal relative donor and avoids unnecessary treatment by monitoring TP53 germline mutations for minimal residual disease following hematopoietic stem cell transplantation. Its potential roles in hematological malignant tumor development and clinical pathogenic implications necessitate further probing.

Quantitative Trait Loci Sequencing and Genetic Mapping Reveal Two Main Regulatory Genes for Stem Color in Wax Gourds.

Stem color is an important agronomic trait of wax gourds. However, its regulatory genes have not been identified. In this study, 105 inbred lines constructed from two parents (GX-71 and MY-1) were sequenced and quantitative trait loci sequencing was used to mine the genes that regulate stem color in wax gourds. The results identified two quantitative trait loci related to stem color, qSC5 and qSC12, located on Chr05 (11,134,567-16,459,268) and Chr12 (74,618,168-75,712,335), respectively. The qSC5 had a phenotypic variation rate of 36.9% and a maximum limit of detection of 16.9. And the qSC12 had a phenotypic variation rate of 20.9%, and a maximum limit of detection of 11.2. Bch05G003950 (named BchAPRR2) and Bch12G020400 were identified as candidate genes involved in stem color regulation in wax gourds. The chlorophyll content and expression of BchAPRR2 and Bch12G020400 were significantly higher in green-stemmed wax gourds than in white-stemmed ones. Therefore, BchAPRR2 and Bch12G020400 were considered the main and secondary regulatory genes for wax gourd stem color, respectively. Finally, InDel markers closely linked to BchAPRR2 were developed to validate the prediction of wax gourd stem color traits in 55 germplasm lines, with an accuracy of 81.8%. These findings lay the foundation for exploring the genetic regulation of wax gourd stem color and future research on wax gourd breeding.

Viral aptamer screening and aptamer-based biosensors for virus detection: A review.

Virus-induced infectious diseases have a detrimental effect on public health and exert significant influence on the global economy. Therefore, the rapid and accurate detection of viruses is crucial for effectively preventing and diagnosing infections. Aptamer-based detection technologies have attracted researchers' attention as promising solutions. Aptamers, small single-stranded DNA or RNA screened via systematic evolution of ligands by exponential enrichment (SELEX), possess a high affinity towards their target molecules. Numerous aptamers targeting viral marker proteins or virions have been developed and widely employed in aptamer-based biosensors (aptasensor) for virus detection. This review introduces SELEX schemes for screening aptamers and discusses distinctive SELEX strategies designed explicitly for viral targets. Furthermore, recent advances in aptamer-based biosensing methods for detecting common viruses using different virus-specific aptamers are summarized. Finally, limitations and prospects associated with developing of aptamer-based biosensors are discussed.

ß-catenin mediates monocrotaline-induced pulmonary hypertension via glycolysis in rats.

BACKGROUND: Metabolic abnormalities and immune inflammation are deeply involved in pulmonary vascular remodelling and the development of pulmonary hypertension (PH). However, the regulatory mechanisms of glycolysis in macrophages are still elusive. Cumulative evidence indicates that ß-catenin plays a crucial role in metabolic reprogramming. This study aimed to investigate the effect of ß-catenin on macrophage glycolysis in PH. METHODS: LPS-induced BMDMs were generated via in vitro experiments. A monocrotaline (MCT)-induced PH rat model was established, and the ß-catenin inhibitor XAV939 was administered in vivo. The role of ß-catenin in glycolysis was analysed. The degree of pulmonary vascular remodelling was measured. RESULTS: ß-catenin was significantly increased in both in vitro and in vivo models. In LPS-induced BMDMs, ß-catenin increased the levels of hexokinase 2 (HK2), phosphofructokinase (PFK), M2-pyruvate kinase (PKM2), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), and lactate (LA) and the expression of inflammatory cytokines and promoted PASMC proliferation and migration in vitro. XAV939 decreased the level of glycolysis and downregulated the expression of inflammatory cytokines in vivo. MCT promoted pulmonary arterial structural remodelling and right ventricular hypertrophy, and XAV939 alleviated these changes. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings suggest that ß-catenin is involved in the development of PH by promoting glycolysis and the inflammatory response in macrophages. Inhibition of ß-catenin could improve the progression of PH.

Counting hours or calories? Metabolic regulatory role of time-restricted eating in adults with overweight and obesity: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Time-restricted eating (TRE) effectively improves healthspan, including controlling obesity and improving metabolic health. To date, few meta-analyses have been conducted to explore the effects of various protocols of TRE in participants with overweight/obesity. PubMed, Embase and the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials were searched up until October 15, 2022. Randomized and non-randomized clinical trials that investigated the effect of TRE on body weight, body composition and cardiometabolic parameters in participants with overweight/obesity were included. Mean differences of changes from the baseline were used for all analyses between the two groups. Prespecified subgroup analyses based on different protocols of TRE were performed. Twenty-three studies were included in the meta-analysis with 1867 participants. TRE interventions led to significant changes in body weight. When energy restriction strategies were conducted in both the TRE and control groups, the weight-loss effect of TRE remained significant. TRE with 4 ∼ 8h feeding window, morning or late eating strategies, led to reduction in body weight and fat mass for at least 8 wk. Hence TRE is a potential and effective approach for weight loss for participants with overweight/obesity. An 8h-TRE intervention with a morning eating strategy for at least eight weeks might be the optimum TRE intervention mode.