Ecological drivers of nesting behavior in a subtropical city: An observational study on spotted doves.

Due to rapid homogenization in habitat types as a result of urbanization, some urban birds adapt their nesting strategies to changes in local habitat characteristics. Bird nesting decisions might have been mainly linked to resource constraints and ensuring reproductive success. In this study, we examined patterns of nesting behavior by spotted doves (Spilopelia chinensis) in a rapidly urbanizing area of Nanchang, China using ArcGIS 10.8, satellite tracking, camera traps, and field survey. To explore the mechanisms underlying nesting behavior in urban habitats, we assessed the correlations between nest reuse and reproductive success, and between nest reuse and nest predation. From December 2018 to December 2021, a total of 302 breeding nests were surveyed. The results revealed that the nest reuse rate was 38.08% (n = 115). Nests closer to trunk, with lower nest position and higher large-scale urbanization score tended to have higher reuse rate. In addition, nests with the higher the nest height and percent of canopy cover, and the lower small-scale urbanization score were more likely to reproduce successfully, and the reused nests also reproduce more successfully. The reproductive success associated with nest reuse was significantly higher than that associated with new nests (χ 2 = 8.461, p = .004). High degree of urbanization promoted nest reuse of spotted doves (large-scale urbanization score, z = 2.094, p = .036), which apparently enhanced their reproductive success (nest reuse, z = 2.737, p = .006). In conclusion, a nest structure with good permeability is the material basis for the nest reuse in spotted dove, while the relatively low risk of predation in urban habitat and the scarcity of nest site resources due to urbanization increase the tendency of birds to reuse old nests, which is associated with their reproductive success and evolutionary fitness.

ICAM-1 may promote the loss of dopaminergic neurons by regulating inflammation in MPTP-induced Parkinson's disease mouse models.

Parkinson's disease (PD) is a chronic neurodegenerative disease with unclear pathogenesis that involves neuroinflammation and intestinal microbial dysbiosis. Intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1), an inflammatory marker, participates in neuroinflammation during dopaminergic neuronal damage. However, the explicit mechanisms of action of ICAM-1 in PD have not been elucidated. We established a subacute PD mouse model by the intraperitoneal injection of 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine (MPTP) and observed motor symptoms and gastrointestinal dysfunction in mice. Immunofluorescence was used to examine the survival of dopaminergic neurons, expression of microglial and astrocyte markers, and intestinal tight junction-associated proteins. Then, we use 16 S rRNA sequencing to identify alterations in the microbiota. Our findings revealed that ICAM-1-specific antibody (Ab) treatment relieved behavioural defects, gastrointestinal dysfunction, and dopaminergic neuronal death in MPTP-induced PD mice. Further mechanistic investigations indicated that ICAM-1Ab might suppress neuroinflammation by inhibiting the activation of astrocytes and microglia in the substantia nigra and relieving colon barrier impairment and intestinal inflammation. Furthermore, 16 S rRNA sequencing revealed that the relative abundances of bacterial Firmicutes, Clostridia, and Lachnospiraceae were elevated in the PD mice. However, ICAM-1Ab treatment ameliorated the MPTP-induced disorders in the intestinal microbiota. Collectively, we concluded that the suppressing ICAM-1 might lead to the a significant decrease of inflammation and restore the gut microbial community, thus ameliorating the damage of DA neurons.

Discriminating atypical parotid carcinoma and pleomorphic adenoma utilizing extracellular volume fraction and arterial enhancement fraction derived from contrast-enhanced CT imaging: A multicenter study.

OBJECTIVES: To investigate the added value of extracellular volume fraction (ECV) and arterial enhancement fraction (AEF) derived from enhanced CT to conventional image and clinical features for differentiating between pleomorphic adenoma (PA) and atypical parotid adenocarcinoma (PCA) pre-operation. METHODS: From January 2010 to October 2023, a total of 187 cases of parotid tumors were recruited, and divided into training cohort (102 PAs and 51 PCAs) and testing cohort (24 PAs and 10 atypical PCAs). Clinical and CT image features of tumor were assessed. Both enhanced CT-derived ECV and AEF were calculated. Univariate analysis identified variables with statistically significant differences between the two subgroups in the training cohort. Multivariate logistic regression analysis with the forward variable selection method was used to build four models (clinical model, clinical model+ECV, clinical model+AEF, and combined model). Diagnostic performances were evaluated using receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analyses. Delong's test compared model differences, and calibration curve and decision curve analysis (DCA) assessed calibration and clinical application. RESULTS: Age and boundary were chosen to build clinical model, and to construct its ROC curve. Amalgamating the clinical model, ECV, and AEF to establish a combined model demonstrated superior diagnostic effectiveness compared to the clinical model in both the training and test cohorts (AUC = 0.888, 0.867). There was a significant statistical difference between the combined model and the clinical model in the training cohort (p = 0.0145). CONCLUSIONS: ECV and AEF are helpful in differentiating PA and atypical PCA, and integrating clinical and CT image features can further improve the diagnostic performance.

Effectiveness and Safety of Radiofrequency Ablation versus Liver Resection in the Treatment of Early-stage Hepatocellular Carcinoma: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis.

OBJECTIVE: To systematically evaluate the efficacy and safety of radiofrequency ablation and liver resection in the therapeutic management of early-stage hepatocellular carcinoma. METHOD: We conducted a comprehensive search of domestic and foreign databases including PubMed, Web of Science, Embase, Cochrane Library, China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI), and Wanfang to retrieve literature on radiofrequency ablation and liver resection for the treatment of early hepatocellular carcinoma. The retrieved literature underwent thorough screening, and relevant data were extracted. Following the evaluation of the literature's quality, Meta-analysis was performed using RevMan 5.4 software. RESULTS: In this study, a total of 11 documents were selected, comprising 1334 patients with hepatocellular carcinoma. Meta-analysis results indicated that there was no statistically significant difference in the 1-year overall survival rate [Relative risk (RR) = 1.01, 95% confidence intervals (CI) (0.98; 1.04)] and the 3-year overall survival rate [RR = 0.95, 95% CI (0.90; 1.01)] between the radiofrequency ablation and liver resection groups (p > 0.05). Similarly, there was no statistically significant difference in the 1-year disease-free survival rate [RR = 0.94, 95% CI (0.87; 1.01)] between the two groups. However, the 3-year disease-free survival rate [RR = 0.84, 95% CI (0.74; 0.96)] of patients in the radiofrequency ablation group was significantly lower than that in the hepatectomy group (p < 0.05). Notably, the incidence of complications [RR = 0.42, 95% CI (0.33; 0.55)] was significantly lower in the radiofrequency ablation group compared to the hepatectomy group. Conversely, the local recurrence rate [RR = 1.45, 95% CI (1.22; 1.73)] was significantly higher in the radiofrequency ablation group compared to the hepatectomy group (p < 0.05). CONCLUSION: During the treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma, hepatectomy demonstrates superior clinical efficacy compared to radiofrequency ablation, particularly in its ability to control tumor recurrence. However, radiofrequency ablation presents with fewer complications and a higher level of safety. These findings can serve as a valuable foundation for clinicians when selecting the most suitable treatment approaches for liver cancer.

Construction of A Smart Hospital Innovation Platform Using the Internet + Technology.

Objective: This study aims to investigate the practical application of "Internet + technology" leveraging medical big data to enhance the development of a smart hospital platform. Specifically, the focus is on optimizing patient care processes, refining medical data management systems, and enhancing operational efficiency within the hospital setting. Methods: With the help of traditional Internet and mobile Internet technology, we analyzed the patient behavior big data accumulated in our hospital for many years, simplified the diagnosis and treatment links, refined the service connotation, and improved patient satisfaction before, during and after diagnosis; With the help of barcode, RFID and 5G networks, the links that are easy to produce medical security incidents can be monitored to improve medical quality, such as digital operating room system, establishment of multidisciplinary consultation center (MDT), electronic medical record system based on digital signature, etc.; Integrate the existing data of human resources, equipment and consumables, drugs, general supplies and finance, establish the hospital ERP system, introduce BI, and realize the dynamic monitoring of revenue and cost; Artificial intelligence technologies such as natural language processing (NLP) and machine learning are used to extract, clean, transform and analyze a large number of hospital medical information data to form a medical data platform, which can assist the hospital knowledge base to be applied in diagnosis and treatment, clinical research, clinical medicine, clinical medicine and other fields. The effectiveness of these technologies was assessed through a comprehensive analysis of their impact on patient care processes, medical data management, and overall operational efficiency within the hospital setting. Results: The study yielded significant outcomes across three critical domains. Firstly, in patient care, the implementation of expanded mobile medical services, mobile applications for records and rounds, and the establishment of digital signature-based records and intelligent surgical assistance enhanced accessibility and quality of care. Secondly, operational efficiency was notably improved through the integration of ERP and BI systems, streamlining resource management and surgical procedures. Lastly, advancements in data management, including the development of a medical data platform and the deployment of AI technologies, facilitated efficient analysis and utilization of clinical data. Quantitatively, reductions in patient visit time and medical costs were observed, alongside improved diagnostic accuracy facilitated by comprehensive records. These findings collectively underscore the transformative impact of "Internet + technology" integration on hospital operations and patient outcomes. Conclusion: The integration of "Internet + technology" in a smart hospital setting has demonstrated numerous benefits. This study has revealed novel findings regarding the tangible improvements in patient outcomes and hospital efficiency resulting from technology integration. Specifically, the implementation of mobile medical services, digital records, and AI-driven systems has led to significant reductions in patient visit times and medical costs. Moreover, the streamlining of operational processes through ERP and BI systems has enhanced resource management and surgical procedures. These findings underscore the transformative potential of technology in revolutionizing healthcare delivery, ultimately leading to better patient care and operational effectiveness in smart hospital environments.

Systemic evaluation of novel acaricide hexythiazox for bioactivity improvement and risk reduction at the enantiomer level.

Traditional risk assessments of chiral pesticides mainly depend on racemic form, which is often incomprehensive. This study conducted systemic investigations on the bioactivity, toxicity, and ecotoxicological effects of hexythiazox (HTZ) at the enantiomer level. The elution order and absolute configuration of HTZ enantiomers were determined. (4R, 5R)-(+)-HTZ exhibited 708 and 1719 times higher bioactivity against Tetranychus cinnabarinus and Tetranychus urticae eggs than (4S, 5S)-(-)-HTZ, respectively. Molecular docking indicated greater interactions between (4R, 5R)-(+)-HTZ and chitin synthase leading to higher bioactivity of (4R, 5R)-(+)-HTZ. However, (4S, 5S)-(-)-HTZ induced greater changes in protein and malondialdehyde content, and antioxidant and detoxification enzyme activities than (4R, 5R)-(+)-HTZ in earthworms. Furthermore, integrated biomarker response results indicated (4S, 5S)-(-)-HTZ exhibited higher toxic effects on earthworms than (4R, 5R)-(+)-HTZ. Finally, significant differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were observed in earthworms after exposure to (4R, 5R)-(+)-HTZ and (4S, 5S)-(-)-HTZ, respectively. These DEGs were mainly enriched in glycolysis/gluconeogenesis and purine metabolism pathways in earthworms. Additionally, six metabolism pathways were also enriched, including pyruvate metabolism, fatty acid biosynthesis, oxidative phosphorylation, citric acid cycle, fatty acid degradation, and ATP-binding cassette transporters. These findings suggest that earthworms exhibited enantiomer-specific responses to (4R, 5R)-(+)-HTZ and (4S, 5S)-(-)-HTZ. This study provides systemic insight into the toxicity mechanism of HTZ at the enantiomer level and the potential to develop (4R, 5R)-(+)-HTZ as a high-efficiency and low-risk pesticide.

Multi­parameter quantitative magnetic resonance imaging in the early assessment of radiation­induced parotid damage in patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma following intensity­modulated radiotherapy.

The present study aimed to investigate the value of intravoxel incoherent motion imaging (IVIM) and three-dimensional pulsed continuous arterial spin labeling (ASL) in assessing dynamic changes of the parotid gland in patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) following radiotherapy (RT). A total of 18 patients with NPC who underwent intensity-modulated RT were enrolled in the present study. All patients underwent conventional magnetic resonance imaging, plus IVIM and ASL imaging of the bilateral parotid glands within 2 weeks prior to RT, and 1 week (1W) and 3 months (3M) following RT. Pure diffusion coefficient (D), pseudo-diffusion coefficient (D*), perfusion fraction (F) and blood flow (BF) were analyzed. D and BF values were significantly increased from pre-RT to 1W post-RT [change rate: Median (IQR), ΔD1W%: 39.28% (38.23%) and ΔBF1W%: 60.84% (54.88%)] and continued to increase from 1W post-RT to 3M post-RT [55.44% (40.56%) and ΔBF%: 120.39% (128.74%)]. In addition, the F value was significantly increased from pre-RT to 1W post-RT, [change rate: Median (IQR), ΔF1W%: 28.13% (44.66%)], and this decreased significantly from 1W post-RT to 3M post-RT. However, no significant differences were observed between pre-RT and 3M post-RT. Results of the present study also demonstrated that the D* value was significantly decreased from pre-RT to 1W post-RT and 3M post-RT [change rate: Median (IQR), ΔD*1w%: -41.86% (51.71%) and ΔD*3M: -29.11% (42.67%)]. No significant difference was observed between the different time intervals post-RT. There was a significant positive correlation between percentage change in ΔBF1W and radiation dose (ρ=0.548, P=0.001). Thus, IVIM-diffusion-weighted imaging and ASL may aid in the detection and prediction of radiation-induced parotid damage in the early stages following RT. They may contribute to further understanding the potential association between damage to the parotid glands and patient-/treatment-related variables, through the assessment of individual microcapillary perfusion and tissue diffusivity.

Radiological characteristics predicting early poor drug response in patients with hemifacial spasm.

OBJECTIVES: Patients with hemifacial spasm (HFS) often resort to botulinum toxin injections or microvascular decompression surgery when medication exhibits limited effectiveness. This study aimed to identify MRI and demographic factors associated with poor drug response at an early stage in patients with HFS. METHODS: We retrospectively included patients with HFS who underwent pre-therapeutic MRI examination. The presence, location, severity, and the offending vessels of neurovascular compression were blindly evaluated using MRI. Drug responses and clinical data were obtained from the medical notes or phone follow-ups. Logistic regression analysis was performed to identify potential factors. RESULTS: A total of 116 patients were included, with an average age at the time of first examination of 50.4 years and a median duration of onset of 18 months. Forty-nine (42.2%) patients reported no symptom relief. Thirty-seven (31.9%) patients reported poor symptom relief. Twenty-two (19.0%) patients reported partial symptom relief. Eight (6.9%) patients achieved complete symptom relief. The factors that were statistically significant associated with poor drug responses were contact in the attach segment of the facial nerve and aged 70 and above, with an odds ratio of 7.772 (p = 0.002) and 0.160 (p = 0.028), respectively. CONCLUSIONS: This study revealed that mild compression in the attach segment of the facial nerve in pre-therapeutic MRI increases the risk of poor drug responses in patients with HFS, while patients aged 70 and above showed a decreased risk. These findings may assist clinician to choose optimal treatment at an early stage.

Ultrasound-guided microwave ablation versus surgery for solitary T1bN0M0 papillary thyroid carcinoma: a prospective multicenter study.

OBJECTIVE: Microwave ablation (MWA) has emerged as a minimally invasive technology for papillary thyroid microcarcinoma (PTMC), but it has not been widely applied to treat T1bN0M0 PTC with high-level evidence. This study was designed to compare the real-world efficacy and safety of MWA or surgery for treating T1bN0M0 PTC. METHODS: From December 2019 to April 2021, 123 continuous unifocal T1bN0M0 PTC patients without lymph node metastasis (LNM) or distant metastasis (DM) were included from 10 hospitals. Patients were allocated into the MWA or surgery group based on their willingness. The main outcomes were local tumour progression (LTP), new thyroid cancer, LNM, and DM. The secondary outcomes included changes in tumour size and volume, complications, and cosmetic results. Subgroup analyses were conducted to identify influencing factors. RESULTS: Fifty-two patients chose MWA, and 71 patients chose surgery. Patients had similar demographic information and tumour characteristics in the two groups. The follow-up durations after MWA and surgery were 10.6 ± 4.2 and 10.4 ± 3.4 months, respectively. The LNM rate was 5.8% in the MWA group and 1.4% in the surgery group (p = 0.177). No LTP, new thyroid cancer, or distant metastasis (DM) occurred in either group. Five (9.6%) of the 52 patients in the MWA group and 8 (11.3%) of the 71 patients in the surgery group had complications (p = 0.27). Better cosmetic results were found in the MWA group (p < 0.01). CONCLUSION: MWA achieved comparable short-term treatment efficacy with surgery. MWA might be an optional choice for surgery for low-risk T1bN0M0 PTC but concerns about LNM need to be studied further. CLINICAL RELEVANCE STATEMENT: MWA achieved comparable short-time treatment efficacy with surgery. MWA might be an optional choice for surgery for low-risk T1bN0M0 PTC. KEY POINTS: • MWA achieved comparable short-term treatment efficacy with surgery. MWA might be an optional choice for surgery for low-risk T1bN0M0 PTC but concerns about LNM need to be studied further. • The complication rate in the surgery group was higher than that in the MWA group without a significant difference. • There was no statistically significant difference in the LNM rate between the MWA and surgery groups.

Enantioselective metabolism of fenpropathrin enantiomers by carboxyl/choline esterase 6 in Tetranychus cinnabarinus.

BACKGROUND: Tetranychus cinnabarinus is a polyphagous pest mite commonly found in agriculture. As an excellent acaricide, fenpropathrin (FEN) is frequently used to control T. cinnabarinus in agriculture. However, commercial FEN is a racemate with two enantiomers, R-FEN and S-FEN. Considering that investigations on the metabolism of FEN by T. cinnabarinus are based on racemate FEN, it is important to investigate the enantioselective metabolism of FEN in T. cinnabarinus. RESULTS: S-FEN was more toxic to T. cinnabarinus than R-FEN by more than 68.8-fold. Moreover, the synergist bioassay revealed that carboxylesterase and cytochrome P450 were the primary enzymes engaged in the detoxification of FEN in T. cinnabarinus, with carboxylesterase playing a leading role. Seven genes were substantially different after the induction of S-FEN and R-FEN. TcCCE06 was screened and selected as a key gene that related to FEN metabolism in T. cinnabarinus. The metabolic results showed that the recombinant TcCCE06 effectively metabolized 32.1% of the R-FEN and 13.8% of the S-FEN within 4 h of incubation. Moreover, R-FEN was demonstrated to have a higher affinity for the TcCCE06 protein than S-FEN based on molecular docking. CONCLUSION: Our results indicated that TcCCE06 mediates the enantioselective metabolism of FEN in T. cinnabarinus. Our findings will contribute to a more comprehensive understanding of the mechanisms underlying the differential toxicity of the FEN enantiomers against T. cinnabarinus. Furthermore, they also provide a new perspective for the development of enantiomer-enriched acaricides with higher activity and lower pesticide dosage and pollution risks. © 2023 Society of Chemical Industry.

Development and validation of a nomogram based on CT texture analysis for discriminating minimally invasive adenocarcinoma from glandular precursor lesions in sub­centimeter pulmonary ground glass nodules.

In a recent reclassification, adenocarcinoma in situ has been redefined as a glandular precursor lesion (GPL), alongside adenomatous hyperplasia. This updated classification necessitates corresponding adaptations in clinical diagnostic and therapeutic protocols. Consequently, the present study aimed to construct and validate a nomogram utilizing computed tomography (CT) texture features to effectively discriminate between minimally invasive adenocarcinoma (MIA) and GPL within sub-centimeter pulmonary ground glass nodules (GGNs). To achieve this objective, the present study employed rigorous statistical methodologies, including the Mann-Whitney U test and binary logistic regression analysis, to identify distinguishing features and establish predictive models. Subsequently, the diagnostic performance of these models underwent evaluation through receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves. The area under the curve (AUC) in ROC curves was compared using DeLong's test. Additionally, the nomogram was constructed using R software and its diagnostic performance was validated through calibration curves. Within both the training and validation datasets, the AUCs were observed to be 0.992 [95% confidence interval (CI): 0.980-1.000] and 0.975 (95% CI: 0.935-1.000), respectively. DeLong's test revealed significant disparities in the AUCs between the nomogram and single-parameter models (P<0.001). Furthermore, calibration curves demonstrated concordance between the training and validation datasets. In conclusion, the application of a CT texture-based nomogram model has demonstrated aptitude in differentiating between MIA and GPL within sub-centimeter GGNs. This model streamlines the identification of optimal surgical interventions and enhances the sphere of clinical decision-making and management.

In situ rapid synthesis of ionic liquid/ionic covalent organic framework composites for CO2 fixation.

IL/ICOF composites were in situ synthesized via a one-pot route in half an hour under ambient conditions for catalytic cycloaddition of CO2 with epoxides into cyclic carbonates. The prepared composites feature a decent CO2 adsorption capacity of 1.63 mmol g-1 at 273 K and 1 bar and exhibit excellent catalytic performance in terms of yield and durability. This work may pave a new way to design and construct functionalized porous organic frameworks as heterogeneous catalysts for CO2 capture and conversion.

Uridine Diphosphate Glycosyltransferases (UGTs) Involved in the Carotenoid-Based Body Color Difference between Tetranychus cinnabarinus (Red) and Tetranychus urticae (Green).

It has long been disputed whether Tetranychus cinnabarinus and Tetranychus urticae belong to the same genus, with T. cinnabarinus regarded as a red form of T. urticae. However, it is unclear why T. urticae and T. cinnabarinus have different body colors. Since carotenoids are responsible for the color of many organisms, the carotenoid profiles of T. cinnabarinus and T. urticae were compared by HPLC. There was no difference in carotenoid type, but T. cinnabarinus contained significantly more neoxanthin, astaxanthin, α-carotene, ß-carotene, and γ-carotene, which may contribute to the deep red color. The transcriptome sequencing of both species identified 4079 differentially expressed genes (DEGs), of which 12 were related to carotenoid metabolism. RNA interference (RNAi) experiments demonstrated that silencing seven of these DEGs resulted in the different accumulation of carotenoid compounds in T. cinnabarinus and T. urticae. In addition, the body of T. urticae turned yellow after two days of feeding with UGT double-stranded RNAs and ß-UGT small interfering RNAs. In conclusion, differences in the carotenoid profiles of T. urticae and T. cinnabarinus may be responsible for the different body colors.

Selective Organ-Targeting Hafnium Oxide Nanoparticles with Multienzyme-Mimetic Activities Attenuate Radiation-Induced Tissue Damage.

Radioprotective agents hold clinical promises to counteract off-target adverse effects of radiation and benefit radiotherapeutic outcomes, yet the inability to control drug transport in human organs poses a leading limitation. Based upon a validated rank-based multigene signature model, radiosensitivity indices are evaluated of diverse normal organs as a genomic predictor of radiation susceptibility. Selective ORgan-Targeting (SORT) hafnium oxide nanoparticles (HfO2 NPs) are rationally designed via modulated synthesis by α-lactalbumin, homing to top vulnerable organs. HfO2 NPs like Hensify are commonly radioenhancers, but SORT HfO2 NPs exhibit surprising radioprotective effects dictated by unfolded ligands and Hf(0)/Hf(IV) redox couples. Still, the X-ray attenuation patterns allow radiological confirmation in target organs by dual-beam spectral computed tomography. SORT HfO2 NPs present potent antioxidant activities, catalytically scavenge reactive oxygen species, and mimic multienzyme catalytic activities. Consequently, SORT NPs rescue radiation-induced DNA damage in mouse and rabbit models and provide survival benefits upon lethal exposures. In addition to inhibiting radiation-induced mitochondrial apoptosis, SORT NPs impede DNA damage and inflammation by attenuating activated FoxO, Hippo, TNF, and MAPK interactive cascades. A universal methodology is proposed to reverse radioenhancers into radioprotectors. SORT radioprotective agents with image guidance are envisioned as compelling in personalized shielding from radiation deposition.

Minichromosome maintenance 6 protects against renal fibrogenesis by regulating DUSP6-mediated ERK/GSK-3ß/Snail1 signaling.

Minichromosome maintenance 6 (MCM6) has been implicated in the progression of various malignant tumors; however, its exact physiological function in kidney diseases remains unclear. Here, we demonstrated that MCM6 levels showed a significant increase in the proximal tubular cells during progressive renal fibrosis in two unrelated in vivo fibrotic models, including unilateral ureteral obstruction (UUO) and unilateral ischemia-reperfusion injury (UIRI). Depletion of MCM6 aggravated partial epithelial-mesenchymal transition, extracellular matrix accumulation, and myofibroblast activation in the kidneys of UUO or UIRI mice. Conversely, overexpression of MCM6 promoted the recovery of E-cadherin and retarded UUO- or UIRI-induced renal fibrosis. In addition, DUSP6 expression substantially decreased in fibrotic kidneys, and it might be involved in MCM6-induced renal fibrosis by regulating the activation of ERK/GSK-3ß/Snail1 signaling. In conclusion, our results highlight the significance of MCM6 in renal fibrosis, providing a potential therapeutic target for patients with chronic kidney disease.

Novel Jasmonic Acid-Coumarin Pathway in the Eggplant That Inhibits Vitellogenin Gene Expression To Prevent Mite Reproduction.

Plants activate direct and indirect defense mechanisms in response to perceived herbivore invasion, which results in negative consequences for herbivores. Tetranychus cinnabarinus is a polyphagous generalist herbivore that inflicts substantial agricultural and horticultural damage. Our study revealed that mite feeding significantly increased jasmonic acid (JA) in the eggplant. The damage inflicted by the mites decreased considerably following the artificial application of JA, thereby indicating that JA initiated the defense response of the eggplant against mites. The transcriptomic and metabolomic analyses demonstrated the activation of the JA-coumarin pathway in response to mite feeding. This pathway protects the eggplant by suppressing the reproductive capacity and population size of the mites. The JA and coumarin treatments suppressed the vitellogenin gene (TcVg6) expression level. Additionally, RNA interference with TcVg6 significantly reduced the egg production and hatching rate of mites. In conclusion, the JA-coumarin pathway in the eggplant decreases the egg-hatching rate of mites through suppression of TcVg6.

Efficacy and Adverse Reactions of Transcatheter Arterial Chemoembolization Combined with Apatinib in the Treatment of HCC with PVTT: A Meta-Analysis.

Background: Hepatocellular carcinoma is a major contributor to cancer-related deaths in China and ranks among the most prevalent malignant tumors. . The study aimed to assess the efficacy and adverse reactions of transcatheter arterial chemoembolization combined with apatinib in treating hepatocellular carcinoma with portal vein tumor thrombus. Methods: When treating hepatocellular carcinoma with a portal vein tumor thrombus, the computer retrieves eight databases to find controlled trials on the effects of transcatheter arterial chemoembolization combined with apatinib. The Cochrane Library, WanFang databases EMbase, PubMed, Web of Science, China Biomedical Literature Database (CBM), & CNKI are all retrieved by the computer. "Transcatheter arterial chemoembolization", "apatinib", & "hepatocellular carcinoma" are the search terms. As this a meta-analysis, Utilizing RevMan 5.3 software, data analysis was carried out following a thorough assessment of the quality of the literature. Results: This meta-analysis finally contained 7 papers. According to a meta-analysis, the disease control rate of the test category was considerably greater than that of the control category (odd Ratio OR: 1.65; 95% Cl: 1.17,2.33; P = .01). The experimental cohort's level of VEGF was substantially lower than that of the control group (standardized mean difference SMD:-25.38; 95% Cl: -28.69,-21.79; P < .01). According to a meta-analysis, caspase-8 levels in the group that underwent the experiment were substantially greater than those in the control category (SMD: 15.12; 95% Cl: 12.09, 18.15; P < .01). The test control experienced considerably less pain than the control sample (OR: 0.86; 95% Cl: 0.75,0.99; P = .033). Conclusion: The findings of this trial indicate that individuals with HCC & PVTT may benefit from TACE & apatinib together, as evidenced by disease control rate, VEGF, Caspase-8, pain, hypertension, nausea and vomiting, and more reputable studies are required to support the aforementioned conclusions.

N-acetyl-L-leucine protects MPTP-treated Parkinson's disease mouse models by suppressing Desulfobacterota via the gut-brain axis.

Parkinson's disease (PD) is the second most common neurodegenerative disease, and communication between the gut and brain (the gut-brain axis) has been found to be essential in behavior and cognitive function. However, the exact mechanisms underlying microbiota dysbiosis in PD progression have not yet been elucidated. Our study aimed to investigate the correlation between gut microbiota disturbances and feces metabolic disorders in PD. We used 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine (MPTP) to induce PD models and observed mice's motor symptoms, dopaminergic (DA) neuron death, and gastrointestinal dysfunction. To identify alterations in microbiota and metabolome, feces were collected from mice and analyzed using 16 S ribosomal RNA sequencing feces metabolomics. Pearson analysis was utilized to investigate correlations between the abundances of gut microbiota components and the levels of gut microbiota metabolites, displaying their interaction networks. Our findings revealed a significant increase in Desulfobacterota in the PD mouse model and 151 differentially expressed fecal metabolites between PD and vehicle mice. Moreover, Pearson correlation analysis suggested that the protective factor N-acetyl-L-leucine (NALL) may be associated with neuroinflammation in the striatum and substantia nigra, which also had a negative relationship with the concentration of Desulfobacterota. Additionally, we found that oral administration of NALL alleviated MPTP-induced Motor Impairments and DA neuronal deficits. All in all, we concluded that the decrease of NALL might lead to a significant increase of Desulfobacterota in the MPTP model mouse and subsequently result in the damage of DA neurons via the gut-brain aix pathway.

Target identification and acaricidal activity difference of amitraz and its metabolite DPMF in Tetranychus cinnabarinus (Boisduval).

BACKGROUND: Amitraz is a broad-spectrum formamidine acaricide proven to be effective against mites in all development stages. Under acidic conditions, amitraz is hydrolyzed to N2 -(2,4-dimethylphenyl)-N1 -methyformamidine (DPMF), an active metabolite for mite control. Octopamine and tyramine receptors are well known targets of amitraz. Until now, no research has been conducted about the amitraz target in Tetranychus cinnabarinus. This study aimed to identify the target genes of amitraz in T. cinnabarinus and reveal the mechanisms behind the differential acaricidal activities of amitraz and DPMF. RESULTS: Analysis of the toxicity, stress expression, target sensitivity and binding site of amitraz against T. cinnabarinus showed that TcOctß2R was the main target gene of amitraz. DPMF had more potent acaricidal activity against T. cinnabarinus and was more effective at activating TcOctß2R than amitraz. Furthermore, the three synergists had no significant effect on amitraz and DPMF, indicating that the detoxification metabolism was not related to the difference in acaricidal activity. CONCLUSION: In this study, TcOctß2R was identified as the main target gene of amitraz against T. cinnabarinus. The divergence of target binding was responsible for the difference in acaricidal activity between amitraz and DPMF. The results also revealed the physiological and pharmacological functions of octopamine receptors (OARs) in T. cinnabarinus and could provide a basis for the design of new acaricides, with OARs as a special target. © 2023 Society of Chemical Industry.