Research progress and hotspots on macrophages in osteoarthritis: A bibliometric analysis from 2009 to 2022.

BACKGROUND: Macrophages in the synovium, as immune cells, can be polarized into different phenotypes to play an anti-inflammatory role in the treatment of osteoarthritis. In this study, bibliometric methods were used to search the relevant literature to find valuable research directions for researchers and provide new targets for osteoarthritis prevention and early treatment. METHODS: Studies about the application of macrophages in the treatment of osteoarthritis were searched through the Web of Science core database from 2009 to 2022. Microsoft Excel 2019, VOSviewer, CiteSpace, R software, and 2 online websites were used to analyze the research status and predict the future development of the trend in research on macrophages in osteoarthritis. RESULTS: The number of publications identified with the search strategy was 1304. China and the United States ranked first in the number of publications. Shanghai Jiao Tong University ranked first in the world with 37 papers. Osteoarthritis and Cartilage was the journal with the most publications, and "exosomes," "stem cells," "macrophage polarization," "regeneration," and "innate immunity" may remain the research hotspots and frontiers in the future. CONCLUSION: The findings from the global trend analysis indicate that research on macrophages in the treatment of osteoarthritis is gradually deepening, and the number of studies is increasing. Exosomes may become a research trend and hotspot in the future.

Transcriptional regulator CTR9 promotes hepatocellular carcinoma progression and metastasis via increasing PEG10 transcriptional activity.

Cln Three Requiring 9 (CTR9), a scaffold protein of the polymerase-associated factor-1 (PAF1) complex (PAF1c), is primarily localized in the nucleus of cells. Recent studies show that CTR9 plays essential roles in the development of various human cancers and their occurrence; however, its regulatory roles and precise mechanisms in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) remain unclear. In this study, we investigated the roles of CTR9 using in vitro assays and a xenograft mouse model. We found that CTR9 protein is upregulated in tumor tissues from HCC patients. Knockdown of CTR9 substantially reduced HCC cell proliferation, invasion, and migration, whereas its overexpression promoted these activities. In addition, in vitro results revealed that CTR9 silencing dramatically increased cell cycle regulators, p21 and p27, but markedly decreased matrix metalloproteinases, MMP2 and MMP9, with these outcomes reversed upon CTR9 overexpression. Furthermore, the underlying molecular mechanism suggests that CTR9 promoted the oncogene paternally expressed gene 10 (PEG10) transcription via its promoter region. Finally, the oncogenic roles of CTR9 were confirmed in a xenograft mouse model. This study confirms that CTR9, an oncoprotein that promotes HCC cell proliferation, invasion, and migration, increases tumor growth in a xenograft mouse model. CTR9 could be a novel therapeutic target. Further investigation is warranted to verify CTR9 potential in novel therapies for HCC.

Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungal species identity governs plant water content and soil aggregation improvements under wet-dry climate conditions.

Our study aimed to uncover the functions of two species of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) in soil aggregation and plant water content regulation under wetting-drying climate conditions. The climatic characteristics of seasonal drought in karst areas were simulated. Two watering periods were established in a controlled greenhouse to compare the different effects of two genetically different AMF species (Funneliformis mosseae and Rhizophagus intraradices) on the water content of 90-day-old mulberry seedlings and on soil aggregates. Our results showed that inoculation with the Rhizophagus intraradices (R.i) strain was more effective at improving mulberry growth performance than Funneliformis mosseae (F.m) inoculation under semiarid conditions. The AMF remained highly infective and continuously increased the proportion of soil macroaggregates under soil drought stress. As a result, our study showed the potential of AMF to promote sustainable mulberry plantations and the rehabilitation of degraded soil in karst areas of southwestern China.

[A new isobenzofuranone derivative from Chaenomeles sinensis and its antibacterial activity].

A new isobenzofuranone derivative was isolated from Chaenomeles sinensis by using various chromatographic techniques,including silica gel,Sephadex LH-20,MCI-gel resin and RP-HPLC. This compound was determined as 2,2-dimethyl-5-( 2-oxopropyl)-2 H-furo[3,4-h]chromen-7( 9 H)-one( 1) by NMR,MS,IR and UV spectra,and was also evaluated for its antibacterial activity. The results showed that it showed prominent antibacterial activity with MIC90 value of( 53. 7±4. 5) mg·L-1 for methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus( MRSA) strain. This value is close to that of levofloxacin [with MIC90 value( 50. 2± 4. 2) mg·L-1].

[A new naphthaldehyde derivative from Comastoma pulmonarium and its anti-tobacco mosaic virus (anti-TMV) activity].

A new naphthaldehyde derivative has been isolated from Comastoma pulmonarium by using various chromatographic techniques, including silica gel, Sephadex LH-20, MCI-gel resin and RP-HPLC. This compounds was determined as 5-methoxy-2-methyl-7-(2-oxopropyl)naphthalene-1-carbaldehyde(1) by NMR, MS, IR and UV spectra. This compound was also evaluated for its anti-tobacco mosaic virus (anti-TMV) activity. The result showed that it showed high anti-TMV activity with inhibition rate of 32.8%. The inhibition rate is close to that of positive control (ningnanmycin).

A novel algorithm for finding optimal driver nodes to target control complex networks and its applications for drug targets identification.

BACKGROUND: The advances in target control of complex networks not only can offer new insights into the general control dynamics of complex systems, but also be useful for the practical application in systems biology, such as discovering new therapeutic targets for disease intervention. In many cases, e.g. drug target identification in biological networks, we usually require a target control on a subset of nodes (i.e., disease-associated genes) with minimum cost, and we further expect that more driver nodes consistent with a certain well-selected network nodes (i.e., prior-known drug-target genes). RESULTS: Therefore, motivated by this fact, we pose and address a new and practical problem called as target control problem with objectives-guided optimization (TCO): how could we control the interested variables (or targets) of a system with the optional driver nodes by minimizing the total quantity of drivers and meantime maximizing the quantity of constrained nodes among those drivers. Here, we design an efficient algorithm (TCOA) to find the optional driver nodes for controlling targets in complex networks. We apply our TCOA to several real-world networks, and the results support that our TCOA can identify more precise driver nodes than the existing control-fucus approaches. Furthermore, we have applied TCOA to two bimolecular expert-curate networks. Source code for our TCOA is freely available from http://sysbio.sibcb.ac.cn/cb/chenlab/software.htm or https://github.com/WilfongGuo/guoweifeng . CONCLUSIONS: In the previous theoretical research for the full control, there exists an observation and conclusion that the driver nodes tend to be low-degree nodes. However, for target control the biological networks, we find interestingly that the driver nodes tend to be high-degree nodes, which is more consistent with the biological experimental observations. Furthermore, our results supply the novel insights into how we can efficiently target control a complex system, and especially many evidences on the practical strategic utility of TCOA to incorporate prior drug information into potential drug-target forecasts. Thus applicably, our method paves a novel and efficient way to identify the drug targets for leading the phenotype transitions of underlying biological networks.

How Could Agronomic Biofortification of Rice Be an Alternative Strategy with Higher Cost-Effectiveness for Human Iron and Zinc Deficiency in China?

BACKGROUND: Iron and zinc deficiencies affect human health globally, especially in developing countries. Agronomic biofortification, as a strategy for alleviating these issues, has been focused on small-scale field studies, and not widely applied while lacking of cost-effectiveness analysis (CEA). OBJECTIVE: We conducted the CEA of agronomic biofortification, expressed as USD per disability-adjusted life years (DALYs) saved, to recommend a cost-effectiveness strategy that can be widely applied. METHODS: The DALYs were applied to quantify the health burden due to Fe and/or Zn deficiency and health cost of agronomic biofortification via a single, dual, or triple foliar spray of Fe, Zn, and/or pesticide in 4 (northeast, central China, southeast, and southwest) major Chinese rice-based regions. RESULTS: The current health burden by Fe or Zn malnutrition was 0.45 to 1.45 or 0.14 to 0.84 million DALYs for these 4 regions. Compared to traditional rice diets, the daily Fe and/or Zn intake from Fe and/or Zn-biofortified rice increased, and the health burden of Fe and/or Zn deficiency decreased by 28% and 48%, respectively. The cost of saving 1 DALYs ranged from US$376 to US$4989, US$194 to US$2730, and US$37.6 to US$530.1 for the single, dual, and triple foliar Fe, Zn, and/or pesticide application, respectively, due to a substantial decrease in labor costs by the latter 2 applications. CONCLUSIONS: Agronomic biofortification of rice with the triple foliar spray of Fe, Zn, and pesticide is a rapidly effective and cost-effectiveness pathway to alleviate Fe and Zn deficiency for rice-based dietary populations.

Isocoumarins from the fermentation products of a plant entophytic fungus Penicillium oxalicum.

Three new isocoumarins, terrecoumarins A-C (1-3), together with six known isocoumarins (4-9) were isolated from the fermentation products of the fungus Penicillium oxalicum 0403. Their structures were elucidated by spectroscopic methods, including extensive 1D and 2D NMR techniques. The anti-tobacco mosaic virus (anti-TMV) activities of 1-9 were evaluated. The results revealed that compound 1 showed high anti-TMV activity with inhibition rate 25.4 ± 3.5%. Other compounds also showed weak activity with inhibition rate in the range of 11.3-18.9%.

Flavones from Cassia siamea and their anti-tobacco mosaic virus activity.

Two new flavones, siameflavones A and B (1 and 2), together with five known flavones (3-7) were isolated from the stem of Cassia siamea. Their structures were elucidated by spectroscopic methods including extensive 1D and 2D NMR techniques. Compounds 1-5 were evaluated for their anti-tobacco mosaic virus (Anti-TMV) activity. The results showed that compounds 1-5 showed weak anti-TMV activity with inhibition rates in the range of 11.6-18.5%.

Dihydroxanthenones from the fermentation product of an endophytic fungus Gliomastix murorum.

Three new dihydroxanthones, muroxanthenones A-C (1-3), together with three known dihydroxanthones (4-6) were isolated from the fermentation products of an endophytic fungus Gliomastix murorum. Their structures were elucidated by spectroscopic methods, including extensive 1D and 2D NMR techniques. Compound 3 showed high cytotoxicities against NB4 and PC3 cell with IC(50) values of 2.2 and 2.8 µM. The other compounds also showed moderate cytotoxicities for some tested cell lines with IC(50) values between 4.1 and 9.5 µM.

catena-Poly[[(ethane-diol-κ²O,O')zinc]-µ-oxalato-κ4O¹,O²:O¹',O²'].

In the title complex, [Zn(C2O4)(C2H6O2)](n), the Zn(II) ion is in a distorted octa-hedral environment formed by two O atoms from an ethyl-ene glycol mol-ecule and four O atoms from two oxalate anions. The oxalate anions link the Zn(II) ions, forming a zigzag chain along [010]. The zigzag chains are extended into a three-dimensional network by O-H⋯O hydrogen bonds.

4-(1H-Pyrazol-3-yl)pyridine-terephthalic acid-water (2/1/2).

In the title compound, 2C(8)H(7)N(3)·C(8)H(6)O(4)·2H(2)O, the pyridine and pyrazole rings are approximately coplanar, the dihedral angle between them being 4.69 (9)°. The asymmetric unit consists of half of the terephthalic acid (an inversion centre generates the other half of the mol-ecule), one 4-(1H-pyrazol-3-yl)pyridine (4pp) mol-ecule and one water mol-ecule. In the crystal, two 4pp and one terephthalic acid mol-ecules form a linear three-molecule unit as a result of O-H⋯N hydrogen bonds. These units are further assembled into a three-dimensional network by two types of hydrogen bonds, viz. O-H⋯O and N-H⋯O.

Dichloridobis[4-(1H-pyrazol-3-yl)pyridine-κN]zinc.

In the title compound, [ZnCl(2)(C(8)H(7)N(3))(2)], the Zn(II) cation is coordinated by two Cl(-) anions and two 4-(1H-pyrazol-3-yl)pyridine ligands in a distorted tetra-hedral geometry. In the two 4-(1H-pyrazol-3-yl)pyridine ligands, the dihedral angles between the pyrazole and pyridine rings are 3.3 (3) and 13.3 (3)°. Inter-molecular N-H⋯N and N-H⋯Cl hydrogen bonding is present in the crystal structure.

Effects of propionic acid and pH on ethanol fermentation by Saccharomyces cerevisiae in cassava mash.

The effects of propionic acid on ethanol and glycerol production by Saccharomyces cerevisiae in cassava mash were examined along with the influence of pH (4.0, 5.0, and 6.0) and of dissolved solids content (22%, 25%, and 27%). Inhibition by propionic acid increased as solids content increased and medium pH declined. Complete inhibition of ethanol fermentation was observed in mashes at pH 4.0 (60 mM propionic acid for 22% solids and 45 mM for 25% and 27%). Glycerol production linearly decreased with increased undissociated propionic acid concentration in all mashes at all pH levels, which partly contributed to increased final ethanol production when propionic acid concentration in mashes was low (≤ 30 mM).

Effective ethanol production by reutilizing waste distillage anaerobic digestion effluent in an integrated fermentation process coupled with both ethanol and methane fermentations.

An integrated ethanol-methane fermentation coupled system characterized with full wastewater reutilization was proposed. The waste distillage originated from ethanol distillation was treated with anaerobic digestion and then recycled for medium preparation in the next ethanol fermentation run. This process could enhance wastewater reutilization, save fresh water and reduce energy consumption in the cassava-based ethanol production. The results indicated that, when using anaerobic effluents from the digestion process with only one tank, an ethanol concentration of 10.5% (v/v) compatible with that of conventional one could be achieved, but ethanol fermentation was partially inhibited and operation time gradually prolonged from 48 to 105 h. Using anaerobic effluents from the digestion process with two subsequently connected tanks, ethanol fermentation performance could be largely improved, and the fermentation lag could be completely eliminated. The performance enhancement was due to the concentrations reduction in organic acids, such as acetic and propionic acids in the digestion effluents using two digestion tanks in-series.

[The effect of sufentanil on acute lung injury in rabbits].

OBJECTIVE: To study the effect of sufentanil on acute lung injury induced by hemorrhagic shock in rabbits. METHODS: Fifty-four healthy rabbits were randomly divided into three groups: control group,with only incision of trachea; model group, hemorrhagic shock was produced according to modified Wiggers' method; sufentanil group, intravenous injection of sufentanil at 0.02 microg x kg(-1) x h(-1) after hemorrhagic shock. To all the rabbits, intravenous Ringer lactate solution was given in an amount of 5 ml x kg(-1) x h(-1). Mean arterial pressure (MAP), heart rate (HR) and plasma tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) were determined before shock, 1, 2, 3 and 4 hours after resuscitation. Malondialdehyde (MDA) and water content of lungs were measured 1, 2 and 4 hours after resuscitation. RESULTS: At same time points, MAP and HR in sufentanil group and model group were lower than that in control group (P<0.05) but contents of TNF-alpha in serum, MDA in lung tissue and water content of lungs were elevated gradually. The degree of decrease or increase was less obvious in sufentanil than in model group (P<0.05 or P<0.01). CONCLUSION: Hemorrhagic shock could increase arterial plasma TNF-alpha content with lung injury. Sufentanil could alleviate acute lung injury induced by hemorrhagic shock in rabbits.