Light signaling-dependent regulation of plastid RNA processing in Arabidopsis.

Light is a vital environmental signal that regulates the expression of plastid genes. Plastids are crucial organelles that respond to light, but the effects of light on plastid RNA processing following transcription remain unclear. In this study, we systematically examined the influence of light exposure on plastid RNA processing, focusing on RNA splicing and RNA editing. We demonstrated that light promotes the splicing of transcripts from the plastid genes rps12, ndhA, atpF, petB, and rpl2. Additionally, light increased the editing rate of the accD transcript at nucleotide 794 (accD-794) and the ndhF transcript at nucleotide 290 (ndhF-290), while decreasing the editing rate of the clpP transcript at nucleotide 559 (clpP-559). We have identified key regulators of signaling pathways, such as CONSTITUTIVELY PHOTOMORPHOGENIC 1 (COP1), ELONGATED HYPOCOTYL 5 (HY5), and PHYTOCHROME-INTERACTING FACTORs (PIFs), as important players in the regulation of plastid RNA splicing and editing. Notably, COP1 was required for GENOMES UNCOUPLED1 (GUN1)-dependent repression of clpP-559 editing in the light. We showed that HY5 and PIF1 bind to the promoters of nuclear genes encoding plastid-localized RNA processing factors in a light-dependent manner. This study provides insight into the mechanisms underlying light-mediated post-transcriptional regulation of plastid gene expression.

Effect of applying digital health in palliative care for patients with advanced cancer: a meta-analysis and systematic review.

PURPOSE: To assess the effectiveness of applying digital health palliative care to improve symptoms, mood, and quality of life in patients with advanced cancer. METHODS: We searched PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, Cochrane Library (CENTRAL), and CINAHL databases on November 16, 2023, to identify randomized controlled trials of the impact of palliative care applying digital health on patients with advanced cancer. The Cochrane Risk of Bias Tool version 1.0 was used to evaluate the quality of randomized controlled trials. RESULTS: A total of 20 randomized controlled trials were included, of which 18 were meta-analyzed. Compared with usual care, palliative care applying digital health was effective in improving symptoms (SMD = -0.21, 95% CI: -0.37 to -0.06, P = 0.007) and reducing the intensity of pain (SMD = -0.49, 95% CI: -0.85 to -0.13, P = 0.008) in patients with advanced cancer, but no effective improvement in depressive symptoms, anxiety symptoms, or quality of life was found. CONCLUSIONS: Our systematic review provides evidence that palliative care applying digital health has great potential to improve symptoms in patients with advanced cancer, but more research is needed to explore its impact on mood and quality of life.

MYO3B promotes cancer progression in endometrial cancer by mediating the calcium ion-RhoA/ROCK1 signaling pathway.

PURPOSE: This study aimed to investigate the effect of MYO3B on endometrial cancer (EC) proliferation and invasion. METHODS: The expression of MYO3B in EC tissues and cells was analyzed using TCGA database, immunohistochemical staining, real-time PCR, and western blot (WB). Cell proliferation was detected by CCK8, Annexin V-APC/PI flow cytometry was used to detect apoptosis, intracellular calcium ion (Ca2+) was detected by flow cytometry with Fluo-4 AM fluorescent probe, cell migration by scratch assay, and cell invasion by Transwell assay, and the expression of proteins related to Ca2+ homeostasis and RhoA/ROCK1 signaling pathway was detected by WB and immunofluorescence staining. RESULTS: The expression of MYO3B was an influential factor in EC recurrence, and the expression of MYO3B was significantly up-regulated in EC tissues and cells, but down-regulated in KLE cells, and MYO3B knockdown inhibited the proliferation, migration, and invasion ability of EC cells and promoted apoptosis, suggesting that MYO3B plays a tumor-promoting role in EC. Furthermore, MYO3B knockdown decreased Ca2+ concentration in EC cells and the RhoA/ROCK1 signaling pathway was inhibited, and the effect of MYO3B knockdown on RhoA/ROCK1 signaling was reversed by treatment with the Calmodulin agonist CALP-2, and the effects of MYO3B knockdown on cell proliferation, migration, and invasion were reversed after treatment with the RhoA agonist U-46,619. CONCLUSION: MYO3B promotes the proliferation and migration of endometrial cancer cells via Ca2+-RhoA/ROCK1 signaling pathway. High expression of MYO3B may be a biomarker for EC metastasis.

Effectiveness of e-health interventions for chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

INTRODUCTION: The goal of this systematic review was to examine the effectiveness of e-health interventions for chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting (CINV). METHODS: A literature search was conducted across the databases of PubMed, Web of Science, Embase, CINAHL, and Cochrane Library from database establishment to 3 March 2024. We included randomized controlled trials in English where the intervention group was via e-health. Two reviewers independently carried out the screening, data extraction, and quality appraisal of the studies. Using Stata 17.0, meta-analyses were conducted to synthesize the effects of outcomes of interest. RESULTS: A total of 6663 studies were retrieved, with only 8 RCTs meeting criteria, involving 620 patients. Meta-analysis revealed that e-health interventions significantly reduce CINV severity (MD = - 7.687; 95% CI - 11.903, - 3.326; p < 0.001). However, results regarding CINV incidence reduction and quality of life improvement are inconclusive due to variations in intervention content, modality, and frequency among studies. CONCLUSIONS: e-health interventions may reduce the severity and incidence of CINV, while enhancing quality of life. However, the results should be interpreted cautiously. Higher quality studies are needed in the future to further validate the effectiveness of e-health interventions for CINV.

Band-Edge Mixture Engineered Giant and Switchable Shift Current Generation.

Two-dimensional materials have enormous development prospects in the bulk photovoltaic effect (BPVE). The enhancement and manipulation of the BPVE are some of the key roles of its various applications. Through a simplified Hamiltonian model, this work shows that a substantial band mixture between occupied and unoccupied states could produce a large optical absorption rate with trivial topological features, resulting in a significantly enhanced shift current generation. Furthermore, this mechanism is illustrated in a realistic C3B/C3N bilayer material based on density functional theory calculation and tight-binding model. As each layer of C3B/C3N is centrosymmetric, the in-plane shift current arises from the interfacial interaction. The electron transfer between the layers gives a controllable band mixture, which offers a giant shift current reaching over ∼1500 µA/V2. In addition, we propose that interlayer sliding could reverse the in-plane shift current. Our work suggests a feasible approach for giant and switchable nonlinear optical processes.

Evaluation of CD4+ T Lymphocyte Counts to Predict Survival of ICU Patients with Sepsis Using Sepsis-3 Criteria: A Prospective Cohort Study.

Background: Sepsis remains a major health condition with a high mortality rate that may be related to immunosuppression. T lymphocyte subsets may reflect the immune function of sepsis patients. The purpose of this study was to investigate the predictive value of CD4+ T lymphocyte counts of ICU patients for their short-term prognosis. Methods: We conducted a prospective, observational cohort study in a general ICU and enrolled patients with sepsis using the Sepsis-3 criteria. Peripheral blood samples were collected within 24 hours of enrollment or measurement of blood cell analysis and biomarkers of CD4+ T lymphocytes and CD8+ T lymphocytes. Severity was classified by the Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation II and Sequential Organ Failure Assessment (SOFA) scores. The primary outcome was 28-day mortality. Results: A total of 100 patients with sepsis were enrolled and analyzed. CD4+ T lymphocyte counts gradually decreased based on 28-day mortality (p < 0.001). Similarly, multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that only CD4+ T lymphocyte counts were an independent predictor of 28-day mortality in sepsis patients. The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve of the combination of CD4+ T lymphocyte counts and the SOFA score was 0.78. Conclusion: Our study demonstrated that CD4+ T lymphocyte counts are associated with 28-day mortality. A combination of CD4+ T lymphocyte counts with the SOFA score increased the predictive accuracy for 28-day mortality.

Development and validation of Social Support Needs Questionnaire (SSNQ) for the left-behind older adults in rural China.

Objectives: This study compiled a Social Support Needs Questionnaire (SSNQ) for the left-behind older adults in rural China and assessed its psychometric properties. Methods: The formation of the SSNQ included three stages. First, item pool was established based on literature analysis. Second, through expert consultation, the 1-version questionnaire items were determined. Third, pre-survey with 901 cases of rural left-behind older adults was used to develop and test final-version of the Social Support Needs Questionnaire (SSNQ). Results: The Cronbach's α of the SSNQ was 0.914, ranging from 0.815 to 0.886 for each factor. The item-content validity index ranged from 0.875 to 1.00, and the scale-content validity index was 0.969. Conclusions: The SSNQ prepared by this study can be used as an evaluation tool for the social support needs of left-behind older adults in rural China, providing a basis for further establishment of the social support system.

Bioactive Nanoliposomes for Enhanced Sonodynamic-Triggered Disulfidptosis-Like Cancer Cell Death via Lipid Peroxidation.

Introduction: Cell death regulation holds a unique value in the field of cancer therapy. Recently, disulfidptosis has garnered substantial scientific attention. Previous studies have reported that sonodynamic therapy (SDT) based on reactive oxygen species (ROS) can regulate cancer cell death, achieving an limited anti-cancer effect. However, the integration of SDT with disulfidptosis as an anti-cancer strategy has not been extensively developed. In this study, we constructed an artificial membrane disulfidptosis sonosensitizer, specifically, a nanoliposome (SC@lip) coated with a combination of the chemotherapy medicine Sorafenib (Sora) and sonosensitizer Chlorin e6 (Ce6), to realize a one-stop enhanced SDT effect that induces disulfidptosis-like cancer cell death. Methods: Sorafenib and Ce6 were co-encapsulated into PEG-modified liposomes, and SC@Lip was constructed using a simple rotary evaporation phacoemulsification method. The cell phagocytosis, ROS generation ability, glutathione (GSH) depletion ability, lipid peroxidation (LPO), and disulfidptosis-like death mediated by SC@Lip under ultrasound (US) irradiation were evaluated. Based on a 4T1 subcutaneous tumor model, both the in vivo biological safety assessment and the efficacy of SDT were assessed. Results: SC@Lip exhibits high efficiency in cellular phagocytosis. After being endocytosed by 4T1 cells, abundant ROS were produced under SDT activation, and the cell survival rates were below 5%. When applied to a 4T1 subcutaneous tumor model, the enhanced SDT mediated by SC@Lip inhibited tumor growth and prolonged the survival time of mice. In vitro and in vivo experiments show that SC@Lip can enhance the SDT effect and trigger disulfidptosis-like cancer cell death, thus achieving anti-tumor efficacy both in vitro and in vivo. Conclusion: SC@Lip is a multifunctional nanoplatform with an artificial membrane, which can integrate the functions of sonosensitization and GSH depletion into a biocompatible nanoplatform, and can be used to enhance the SDT effect and promote disulfidptosis-like cancer cell death.

Coordination-driven in-situ controlled synthesis of cellulose-based fluorescent composite with tunable color for decoration, anti-counterfeiting, and accurate color recognition.

Fluorescent composites have widespread applications in many aspects. Wood-derived cellulose is a renewable, easily processed and biodegradable, and cellulose-based fluorescent composites are highly favored for in different fields. However, the existing cellulose-based fluorescent composites still have many urgent problems to be solved, such as unstable luminescence properties and easy shedding of luminescent substances, and the development of their practical applications is still a formidable challenge. Herein, a green and mild strategy for the in-situ controllable synthesis of cellulose-based fluorescent composites membrane (CFM) was developed. Firstly, delignified wood (DW) was modified with citric acid, and then lanthanide ions were introduced on modified DW through coordinated covalent bonds. Additionally, the luminescence mechanism of CFM is proposed. CFMs show adjustable color for decorative and light conversion and can be accurately identified for data protection, which increases the high value-added of cellulose-based composites. The stable luminescent properties were maintained after sonication for 30 min or solvent immersion for three months. Therefore, this work presents a new approach for the synthesis of CFM, which provides an environment-friendly strategy for manufacturing cellulose-based fluorescent materials, which is significant for the subsequent development of environment-friendly composites for anti-counterfeiting and decorative applications.

"Bottom-up" and "top-down" strategies toward strong cellulose-based materials.

Cellulose, as the most abundant natural polymer on Earth, has long captured researchers' attention due to its high strength and modulus. Nevertheless, transferring its exceptional mechanical properties to macroscopic 2D and 3D materials poses numerous challenges. This review provides an overview of the research progress in the development of strong cellulose-based materials using both the "bottom-up" and "top-down" approaches. In the "bottom-up" strategy, various forms of regenerated cellulose-based materials and nanocellulose-based high-strength materials assembled by different methods are discussed. Under the "top-down" approach, the focus is on the development of reinforced cellulose-based materials derived from wood, bamboo, rattan and straw. Furthermore, a brief overview of the potential applications fordifferent types of strong cellulose-based materials is given, followed by a concise discussion on future directions.

Research on the Mechanical and Thermal Properties of Carbon-Fiber-Reinforced Rubber Based on a Finite Element Simulation.

The comprehensive performance of rubber products could be significantly improved by the addition of functional fillers. To improve research efficiency and decrease the experimental cost, the mechanical and thermal properties of carbon-fiber-reinforced rubber were investigated using finite element simulations and theoretical modeling. The simplified micromechanical model was constructed through the repeatable unit cell with periodic boundary conditions, and the corresponding theoretical models were built based on the rule of mixture (ROM), which can be treated as the mutual verification. The simulation results suggest that, in addition to the fiber volume fraction Vfc increasing from 10% to 70%, the longitudinal Young's modulus, transversal Young's modulus, in-plane shear modulus, longitudinal thermal expansion coefficient, and transversal thermal expansion coefficient changed from 2.31 × 1010 Pa to 16.09 × 1010 Pa, from 0.54 × 107 Pa to 2.59 × 107 Pa, from 1.66 × 106 Pa to 10.11 × 106 Pa, from -4.98 × 10-7 K-1 to -5.89 × 10-7 K-1, and from 5.72 × 10-4 K-1 to 1.66 × 10-4 K-1, respectively. The mechanism by which Vfc influences the properties of carbon-fiber-reinforced rubber was revealed through the distribution of Von Mises stress. This research will contribute to improving the performance of carbon-fiber-reinforced rubber and promote its application.

Dietary nitrate maintains intestinal epithelia homeostasis in aged mice.

The intestinal tract, which is the primary site of digestion and absorption of nutrients, is one of the most vulnerable organs during aging. Dietary nitrate, which is mainly derived from the diet and absorbed in the intestinal tract, is a key messenger that connecting oral and general health. However, whether dietary nitrate regulates intestinal tract homeostasis remains unclear. Our data revealed that the serum and salivary nitrate levels decreased during mice aging. The functional proteins of the epithelial barrier (E-cadherin, Claudin-1 and Zonula Occludens-1) in the colon tissues decreased during the aging process. Long-term nitrate supplement in drinking water restored the serum and salivary nitrate levels and increased the functional proteins expression of the colon epithelial barrier. Dietary nitrates increase the relative abundance of some intestinal probiotics, particularly those associated with the production of short-chain fatty acids, such as Blautia, Alloprevotella, Butyricicoccus, and Ruminococcaceae, while promoting the butyric acid production in the colon. Moreover, the expression of Sialin (encoded by Slc17a5), which is a nitrate transporter, increased in the colon epithelial cells by nitrate supplementation. The epithelial cell-conditional Slc17a5-knockout mutant mice (K14-cre; Slc17a5fl/fl) revealed that the functional proteins expression of the colon epithelial barrier and the proliferation of PCNA-positive intestinal epithelial cells in the colon crypts was significantly decreased compared with those of the K14-cre; Slc17a5fl/+ mice. Taken together, our findings suggested that nitrate supplementations were associated with the increased expression of colonic epithelial barriers-related proteins and the increased Sialin expression. Nitrate may serve as a potential therapeutic approach in maintaining aged colonic homeostasis.

RNA-seq reveals the important role of transcriptional regulator DeoR1 in regulating Brucella abortus various pathways.

Brucella spp. is an intracellular bacterium that uses its transcriptional regulator DeoR1 to promote intracellular transport and survival, but the molecular mechanism remains unknown. To analyze the role of DeoR1 in the virulence of B. abortus and the genes regulated by DeoR1, we created a A19ΔdeoR1 mutant of B. abortus A19 (A19). Virulence assay was performed using a murine macrophage cell line (RAW264.7) and mice. We observed that A19ΔdeoR1 mutant is attenuated in RAW264.7 cells and mice. We performed RNA-seq whole transcriptome analysis of A19ΔdeoR1 and A19 from infected RAW264.7 cells. A total of 135 differentially expressed genes were identified, including 100 up-regulated and 35 down-regulated genes. These differentially expressed genes were involved in amino acid synthesis and metabolism, energy production and conversion, stress proteins, chaperonin, hypothetical proteins and protein of unknown function, cell wall/membrane/envelope, intracellular transporting and secretion, and transcriptional regulator. Interestingly, genes involved in the intracellular trafficking and secretion were significantly down-regulated in A19ΔdeoR1. Furthermore, selected RNA-seq results were experimentally confirmed by qRT-PCR. Overall, these results deciphered differential phenomena associated with virulence in A19ΔdeoR1 and A19 from infected RAW264.7 cells, which provided important information for understanding the detailed role of DeoR1 in Brucella pathogenesis. SIGNIFICANCE: Transcriptional regulators are predominant bacterial signal transduction factors. The pathogenicity of Brucella is due to its ability to regulate the expression of virulence related genes. Transcriptional regulators are designed to regulate gene expression and enact an appropriate adaptive physiological response. Here, a total of 135 differentially expressed genes were identified in transcriptional regulator deoR1 mutant.

Chinese nursing students' academic self-concept and deep learning in online courses: Does psychological capital play a moderating role?

The advent of online education has become indispensable for nursing students seeking to acquire knowledge. However, the efficacy of online education often falls short of initial expectations. Deep learning (DL) can assist learners tackle complex problems and make innovative decisions. Despite its potential, there has been limited exploration into the underlying mechanisms of DL among nursing students, both domestically and globally. This study examined the potential moderating effect of psychological capital (PC) on the association between academic self-concept (AS-c) and DL among nursing students from China enrolled in online courses. Conducted from October 2022 to January 2023, the survey involved 635 nursing students from four public universities in eastern China, utilizing convenience sampling. Data was collected using the AS-c scale, psychological capital scale, and DL scale in online courses. Correlation analyses, univariate analyses, multiple linear regression analyses, and the PROCESS macro were employed for a comprehensive examination. The results revealed a strong positive relationship between nursing students' DL and both their AS-c (r = 0.766, P < 0.01) and PC (r = 0.714, P < 0.01), respectively. Additionally, the effect of AS-c on DL was stronger among individuals with high PC (ß = 0.34, SE = 0.03, P < 0.001) compared to those with low (ß = 0.29, SE = 0.02, P < 0.001) or medium (ß = 0.24, SE = 0.02, P < 0.001) levels of PC, indicating that PC exerts moderating effects and promotes DL among nursing students enrolled in online courses. Based on these findings, several implications are suggested for the theory and practice of facilitating DL.

ABL1-mediated phosphorylation promotes FOXM1-related tumorigenicity by Increasing FOXM1 stability.

The transcription factor FOXM1, which plays critical roles in cell cycle progression and tumorigenesis, is highly expressed in rapidly proliferating cells and various tumor tissues, and high FOXM1 expression is related to a poor prognosis. However, the mechanism responsible for FOXM1 dysregulation is not fully understood. Here, we show that ABL1, a nonreceptor tyrosine kinase, contributes to the high expression of FOXM1 and FOXM1-dependent tumor development. Mechanistically, ABL1 directly binds FOXM1 and mediates FOXM1 phosphorylation at multiple tyrosine (Y) residues. Among these phospho-Y sites, pY575 is indispensable for FOXM1 stability as phosphorylation at this site protects FOXM1 from ubiquitin-proteasomal degradation. The interaction of FOXM1 with CDH1, a coactivator of the E3 ubiquitin ligase anaphase-promoting complex/cyclosome (APC/C), which is responsible for FOXM1 degradation, is significantly inhibited by Y575 phosphorylation. The phospho-deficient FOXM1(Y575F) mutant exhibited increased ubiquitination, a shortened half-life, and consequently a substantially decreased abundance. Compared to wild-type cells, a homozygous Cr-Y575F cell line expressing endogenous FOXM1(Y575F) that was generated by CRISPR/Cas9 showed obviously delayed mitosis progression, impeded colony formation and inhibited xenotransplanted tumor growth. Overall, our study demonstrates that ABL1 kinase is involved in high FOXM1 expression, providing clear evidence that ABL1 may act as a therapeutic target for the treatment of tumors with high FOXM1 expression.

Analysis of Biodistribution and in vivo Toxicity of Varying Sized Polystyrene Micro and Nanoplastics in Mice.

Introduction: Studies have shown that microplastics (MPs) and nanoplastics (NPs) could accumulate in the human body and pose a potential threat to human health. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the biodistribution and toxicity of MPs/NPs with different particle sizes comprehensively and thoroughly. Methods: The purpose of this study was to investigate the biodistribution and in vivo toxicity of polystyrene (PS) MPs/NPs with different sizes (50 nm, 100 nm, and 500 nm). The BALB/c mice were given 100 µL of PS50, PS100 and PS500 at the dosage of 1 mg/kg BW or 10 mg/kg BW, respectively, by gavage once a day. After 28 consecutive days of treatment, the biodistribution of differently sized PS MPs/NPs was determined through cryosection fluorescence microscopy and fluorescent microplate reader analysis, and the subsequent effects of differently sized PS MPs/NPs on histopathology, hematology and blood biochemistry were also evaluated. Results: The results showed that the three different sizes of PS MPs/NPs were distributed in the organs of mice, mainly in the liver, spleen, and intestine. At the same time, the smaller the particle size, the more they accumulate in the body and more easily penetrate the tissue. During the whole observation period, no abnormal behavior and weight change were observed. The results of H&E staining showed that no severe histopathological abnormalities were observed in the main organs in the low-dose exposure group, while. Exposure of three sizes of PS MPs/NPs could cause some changes in hematological parameters or biochemical parameters related to heart, liver, and kidney function; meanwhile, there were size- and dose-dependencies. Conclusion: The biological distribution and toxicity of plastic particles in mice were more obvious with the decrease of particle size and the increase of concentration of plastic particles. Compared with MPs, NPs were easier to enter the tissues and produce changes in liver, kidney, and heart functions. Therefore, more attention should be paid to the toxicity of NPs.

A prediction model for secondary invasive fungal infection among severe SARS-CoV-2 positive patients in ICU.

Background: The global COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in over seven million deaths, and IFI can further complicate the clinical course of COVID-19. Coinfection of COVID-19 and IFI (secondary IFI) pose significant threats not only to healthcare systems but also to patient lives. After the control measures for COVID-19 were lifted in China, we observed a substantial number of ICU patients developing COVID-19-associated IFI. This creates an urgent need for predictive assessment of COVID-19 patients in the ICU environment for early detection of suspected fungal infection cases. Methods: This study is a single-center, retrospective research endeavor. We conducted a case-control study on severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) positive patients. The cases consisted of patients who developed any secondary IFI during their ICU stay at Jilin University China-Japan Union Hospital in Changchun, Jilin Province, China, from December 1st, 2022, to August 31st, 2023. The control group consisted of SARS-CoV-2 positive patients without secondary IFI. Descriptive and comparative analyses were performed, and a logistic regression prediction model for secondary IFI in COVID-19 patients was established. Additionally, we observed an increased incidence of COVID-19-associated pulmonary aspergillosis (CAPA) during this pandemic. Therefore, we conducted a univariate subgroup analysis on top of IFI, using non-CAPA patients as the control subgroup. Results: From multivariate analysis, the prediction model identified 6 factors that are significantly associated with IFI, including the use of broad-spectrum antibiotics for more than 2 weeks (aOR=4.14, 95% CI 2.03-8.67), fever (aOR=2.3, 95%CI 1.16-4.55), elevated log IL-6 levels (aOR=1.22, 95% CI 1.04-1.43) and prone position ventilation (aOR=2.38, 95%CI 1.15-4.97) as independent risk factors for COVID-19 secondary IFI. High BMI (BMI ≥ 28 kg/m2) (aOR=0.85, 95% CI 0.75-0.94) and the use of COVID-19 immunoglobulin (aOR=0.45, 95% CI 0.2-0.97) were identified as independent protective factors against COVID-19 secondary IFI. The Receiver Operating Curve (ROC) area under the curve (AUC) of this model was 0.81, indicating good classification. Conclusion: We recommend paying special attention for the occurrence of secondary IFI in COVID-19 patients with low BMI (BMI < 28 kg/m2), elevated log IL-6 levels and fever. Additionally, during the treatment of COVID-19 patients, we emphasize the importance of minimizing the duration of broad-spectrum antibiotic use and highlight the potential of immunoglobulin application in reducing the incidence of IFI.

Anti-inflammatory effects of steroidal alkaloids of Solanum lyratum Thunb.

Solanum lyratum Thunb., a traditional Chinese herbal medicine, has a promising background. However, the anti-inflammatory effects of its component steroid alkaloid have not been explored. In this study, animal and cell experiments were performed to investigate the anti-inflammatory effects and mechanism of action of Solanum lyratum Thunb steroid alkaloid (SLTSA), in order to provide evidence for its potential utilization. SLTSA effectively inhibited ear swelling and acute abdominal inflammation of mice. We observed concentration-dependent inhibition of pro-inflammatory cytokines by SLTSA, as confirmed by the ELISA and RT-qPCR results. Flow cytometry, immunofluorescence and RT-qPCR analyses revealed that SLTSA suppressed TLR4 expression. Western blot results indicated that SLTSA inhibited the activation of the TLR4/MyD88/NF-κB signaling pathway. Our study demonstrated that SLTSA possesses anti-inflammatory properties.

Microvascular destabilization and intricated network of the cytokines in diabetic retinopathy: from the perspective of cellular and molecular components.

Microvascular destabilization is the primary cause of the inner blood-retinal barrier (iBRB) breakdown and increased vascular leakage in diabetic retinopathy (DR). Microvascular destabilization results from the combinational effects of increased levels of growth factors and cytokines, involvement of inflammation, and the changed cell-to-cell interactions, especially the loss of endothelial cells and pericytes, due to hyperglycemia and hypoxia. As the manifestation of microvascular destabilization, the fluid transports via paracellular and transcellular routes increase due to the disruption of endothelial intercellular junctional complexes and/or the altered caveolar transcellular transport across the retinal vascular endothelium. With diabetes progression, the functional and the structural changes of the iBRB components, including the cellular and noncellular components, further facilitate and aggravate microvascular destabilization, resulting in macular edema, the neuroretinal damage and the dysfunction of retinal inner neurovascular unit (iNVU). Although there have been considerable recent advances towards a better understanding of the complex cellular and molecular network underlying the microvascular destabilization, some still remain to be fully elucidated. Recent data indicate that targeting the intricate signaling pathways may allow to against the microvascular destabilization. Therefore, efforts have been made to better clarify the cellular and molecular mechanisms that are involved in the microvascular destabilization in DR. In this review, we discuss: (1) the brief introduction of DR and microvascular destabilization; (2) the cellular and molecular components of iBRB and iNVU, and the breakdown of iBRB; (3) the matrix and cell-to-cell contacts to maintain microvascular stabilization, including the endothelial glycocalyx, basement membrane, and various cell-cell interactions; (4) the molecular mechanisms mediated cell-cell contacts and vascular cell death; (5) the altered cytokines and signaling pathways as well as the intricate network of the cytokines involved in microvascular destabilization. This comprehensive review aimed to provide the insights for microvascular destabilization by targeting the key molecules or specific iBRB cells, thus restoring the function and structure of iBRB and iNVU, to treat DR.

Risk factors for preoperative frailty in older patients with gastric cancer: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

PURPOSE: To summarize the available evidence on risk factors for preoperative frailty in older gastric cancer patients. METHODS: We comprehensively searched the CNKI, Wanfang, VIP, CBM, PubMed, Embase, The Cochrane Library, Web of Science, and CINAHL databases for preoperative articles on risk factors for frailty in older gastric cancer patients. The search was conducted from the time of construction of the library to January 27, 2024, with no language restrictions. The quality of the included studies was rated by the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale and the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality tool. RESULTS: A total of 20 studies were included, including 16 cohort studies and 4 cross-sectional studies, with a total sample size of 51,717 individuals. The results of the meta-analysis showed that age, albumin, hemoglobin, cancer stage III-IV, Charlson Comorbidity Index score ≥ 3, Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group score > 2, American Society of Anesthesiologists score > 2, smoking, nutritional risk, high school degree or above, and sleep disorders are the main influencing factors for the occurrence of preoperative frailty in older gastric cancer patients. Among them, high school degree or above was a protective factor. CONCLUSIONS: Our study provides valid evidence of risk factors for preoperative frailty in older patients with gastric cancer and informs clinical healthcare professionals to make targeted interventions.