TMCO1 Is an ER Ca(2+) Load-Activated Ca(2+) Channel.

Maintaining homeostasis of Ca(2+) stores in the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) is crucial for proper Ca(2+) signaling and key cellular functions. The Ca(2+)-release-activated Ca(2+) (CRAC) channel is responsible for Ca(2+) influx and refilling after store depletion, but how cells cope with excess Ca(2+) when ER stores are overloaded is unclear. We show that TMCO1 is an ER transmembrane protein that actively prevents Ca(2+) stores from overfilling, acting as what we term a "Ca(2+) load-activated Ca(2+) channel" or "CLAC" channel. TMCO1 undergoes reversible homotetramerization in response to ER Ca(2+) overloading and disassembly upon Ca(2+) depletion and forms a Ca(2+)-selective ion channel on giant liposomes. TMCO1 knockout mice reproduce the main clinical features of human cerebrofaciothoracic (CFT) dysplasia spectrum, a developmental disorder linked to TMCO1 dysfunction, and exhibit severe mishandling of ER Ca(2+) in cells. Our findings indicate that TMCO1 provides a protective mechanism to prevent overfilling of ER stores with Ca(2+) ions.

Reduced Expression of miR-146a Potentiates Intestinal Inflammation following Alcohol and Burn Injury.

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are small noncoding RNA molecules that negatively regulate gene expression. Within the intestinal epithelium, miRNAs play a critical role in gut homeostasis, and aberrant miRNA expression has been implicated in various disorders associated with intestinal inflammation and barrier disruption. In this study, we sought to profile changes in intestinal epithelial cell miRNA expression after alcohol and burn injury and elucidate their impact on inflammation and barrier integrity. Using a mouse model of acute ethanol intoxication and burn injury, we found that small intestinal epithelial cell expression of miR-146a is significantly decreased 1 d following injury. Using in vitro studies, we show that reduced miR-146a promotes intestinal epithelial cell inflammation by promoting p38 MAPK signaling via increased levels of its target TRAF6 (TNFR-associated factor 6). Furthermore, we demonstrate that in vivo miR-146a overexpression significantly inhibits intestinal inflammation 1 d following combined injury and potentially supports intestinal barrier homeostasis. Overall, this study highlights the important impact that miRNA expression can have on intestinal homeostasis and the valuable potential of harnessing aberrant miRNA expression as a therapeutic target to control intestinal inflammation.

p300-Mediated Lysine 2-Hydroxyisobutyrylation Regulates Glycolysis.

Lysine 2-hydroxyisobutyrylation (Khib) is an evolutionarily conserved and widespread histone mark like lysine acetylation (Kac). Here we report that p300 functions as a lysine 2-hyroxyisobutyryltransferase to regulate glycolysis in response to nutritional cues. We discovered that p300 differentially regulates Khib and Kac on distinct lysine sites, with only 6 of the 149 p300-targeted Khib sites overlapping with the 693 p300-targeted Kac sites. We demonstrate that diverse cellular proteins, particularly glycolytic enzymes, are targeted by p300 for Khib, but not for Kac. Specifically, deletion of p300 significantly reduces Khib levels on several p300-dependent, Khib-specific sites on key glycolytic enzymes including ENO1, decreasing their catalytic activities. Consequently, p300-deficient cells have impaired glycolysis and are hypersensitive to glucose-depletion-induced cell death. Our study reveals an p300-catalyzed, Khib-specific molecular mechanism that regulates cellular glucose metabolism and further indicate that p300 has an intrinsic ability to select short-chain acyl-CoA-dependent protein substrates.

The Drosophila blood-brain barrier regulates sleep via Moody G protein-coupled receptor signaling.

Sleep is vital for most animals, yet its mechanism and function remain unclear. We found that permeability of the BBB (blood-brain barrier)-the organ required for the maintenance of homeostatic levels of nutrients, ions, and other molecules in the brain-is modulated by sleep deprivation (SD) and can cell-autonomously effect sleep changes. We observed increased BBB permeability in known sleep mutants as well as in acutely sleep-deprived animals. In addition to molecular tracers, SD-induced BBB changes also increased the penetration of drugs used in the treatment of brain pathologies. After chronic/genetic or acute SD, rebound sleep or administration of the sleeping aid gaboxadol normalized BBB permeability, showing that SD effects on the BBB are reversible. Along with BBB permeability, RNA levels of the BBB master regulator moody are modulated by sleep. Conversely, altering BBB permeability alone through glia-specific modulation of moody, gαo, loco, lachesin, or neuroglian-each a well-studied regulator of BBB function-was sufficient to induce robust sleep phenotypes. These studies demonstrate a tight link between BBB permeability and sleep and indicate a unique role for the BBB in the regulation of sleep.

Mindfulness meditation enhances interbrain synchrony of adolescents when experiencing different emotions simultaneously.

Mindfulness is considered to benefit social behavior and interpersonal communication. However, the underlying neural mechanism has not been fully examined. This study aimed to explore how mindfulness practice affected the interbrain synchrony within adolescent peer dyads when sharing emotional experience together by using the electroencephalograph hyperscanning approach. Thirty adolescent dyads were randomly assigned to a mindfulness group or a non-mindfulness group. Mindfulness group performed a 20-min mindfulness exercise. Non-mindfulness group were instructed to rest. Simultaneously, electroencephalograph was recorded when they completed a picture-processing task. Phase-locking-value in the gamma band was used to calculate adolescent dyads' brain-to-brain synchrony. Results showed that greater interbrain synchrony in the frontal region was observed when viewing different emotional stimuli together after the mindfulness than before the mindfulness in the mindfulness group. However, there was no significant difference in the interbrain synchrony in the non-mindfulness group. Moreover, greater interbrain synchrony was observed in the mindfulness group than in the non-mindfulness group after mindfulness or rest in the frontal region. However, there was no significant difference between the mindfulness and non-mindfulness group before mindfulness or rest. The findings are discussed in light of the broader theoretical questions of how mindfulness may promote interpersonal functioning from a psychophysiological perspective.

Unraveling CCL20's role by regulating Th17 cell chemotaxis in experimental autoimmune prostatitis.

Chronic prostatitis and chronic pelvic pain syndrome (CP/CPPS), a prevalent urological ailment, exerts a profound influence upon the well-being of the males. Autoimmunity driven by Th17 cells has been postulated as a potential factor in CP/CPPS pathogenesis. Nonetheless, elucidating the precise mechanisms governing Th17 cell recruitment to the prostate, triggering inflammation, remained an urgent inquiry. This study illuminated that CCL20 played a pivotal role in attracting Th17 cells to the prostate, thereby contributing to prostatitis development. Furthermore, it identified prostate stromal cells and immune cells as likely sources of CCL20. Additionally, this research unveiled that IL-17A, released by Th17 cells, could stimulate macrophages to produce CCL20 through the NF-κB/MAPK/PI3K pathway. The interplay between IL-17A and CCL20 establishes a positive feedback loop, which might serve as a critical mechanism underpinning the development of chronic prostatitis, thus adding complexity to its treatment challenges.

Protein lysine four-carbon acylations in health and disease.

Lysine acylation, a type of posttranslational protein modification sensitive to cellular metabolic states, influences the functions of target proteins involved in diverse cellular processes. Particularly, lysine butyrylation, crotonylation, ß-hydroxybutyrylation, and 2-hydroxyisobutyrylation, four types of four-carbon acylations, are modulated by intracellular concentrations of their respective acyl-CoAs and sensitive to alterations of nutrient metabolism induced by cellular and/or environmental signals. In this review, we discussed the metabolic pathways producing these four-carbon acyl-CoAs, the regulation of lysine acylation and deacylation, and the functions of individual lysine acylation.

A real-world observation on thrombopoietic agents for patients with cancer treatment-induced thrombocytopenia in China: A multicenter, cross-sectional study.

BACKGROUND: Studies on various thrombopoietic agents for cancer treatment-induced thrombocytopenia (CTIT) in China are lacking. This study aimed to provide detailed clinical profiles to understand the outcomes and safety of different CTIT treatment regimens. METHODS: In this retrospective, cross-sectional study, 1664 questionnaires were collected from 33 hospitals between March 1 and July 1, 2021. Patients aged >18 years were enrolled who were diagnosed with CTIT and treated with recombinant interleukin 11 (rhIL-11), recombinant thrombopoietin (rhTPO), or a thrombopoietin receptor agonist (TPO-RA). The outcomes, compliance, and safety of different treatments were analyzed. RESULTS: Among the 1437 analyzable cases, most patients were treated with either rhTPO alone (49.3%) or rhIL-11 alone (27.0%). The most common combination regimen used was rhTPO and rhIL-11 (10.9%). Platelet transfusions were received by 117 cases (8.1%). In multivariate analysis, rhTPO was associated with a significantly lower proportion of platelet recovery, platelet transfusion, and hospitalization due to chemotherapy-induced thrombocytopenia (CIT) than rhIL-11 alone. No significant difference was observed in the time taken to achieve a platelet count of >100 × 109/L and chemotherapy dose reduction due to CIT among the different thrombopoietic agents. The outcomes of thrombocytopenia in 170 patients who received targeted therapy and/or immunotherapy are also summarized. The results show that the proportion of platelet recovery was similar among the different thrombopoietic agents. No new safety signals related to thrombopoietic agents were observed in this study. A higher proportion of physicians preferred to continue treatment with TPO-RA alone than with rhTPO and rhIL-11. CONCLUSIONS: This survey provides an overview of CTIT and the application of various thrombopoietic agents throughout China. Comparison of monotherapy with rhIL-11, rhTPO, and TPO-RA requires further randomized clinical trials. The appropriate application for thrombopoietic agents should depend on the pretreatment of platelets, treatment variables, and risk of bleeding. PLAIN LANGUAGE SUMMARY: To provide an overview of the outcome of cancer treatment-induced thrombocytopenia in China, our cross-sectional study analyzed 1437 cases treated with different thrombopoietic agents. Most of the patients were treated with recombinant interleukin 11 (rhIL-11) and recombinant thrombopoietin (rhTPO). rhTPO was associated with a significantly lower proportion of platelet recovery and platelet transfusion compared with rhIL-11.

SIRT1 regulates cardiomyocyte alignment during maturation.

Cardiomyocyte elongation and alignment, a critical step in cardiomyocyte maturation starting from the perinatal stage, is crucial for formation of the highly organized intra- and inter-cellular structures for spatially and temporally ordered contraction in adult cardiomyocytes. However, the mechanism(s) underlying the control of cardiomyocyte alignment remains elusive. Here, we report that SIRT1, the most conserved NAD+-dependent protein deacetylase highly expressed in perinatal heart, plays an important role in regulating cardiomyocyte remodeling during development. We observed that SIRT1 deficiency impairs the alignment of cardiomyocytes/myofibrils and disrupts normal beating patterns at late developmental stages in an in vitro differentiation system from human embryonic stem cells. Consistently, deletion of SIRT1 at a late developmental stage in mouse embryos induced the irregular distribution of cardiomyocytes and misalignment of myofibrils, and reduced the heart size. Mechanistically, the expression of several genes involved in chemotaxis, including those in the CXCL12/CXCR4 and CCL2/CCR2/CCR4 pathways, was dramatically blunted during maturation of SIRT1-deficient cardiomyocytes. Pharmacological inhibition of CCL2 signaling suppressed cardiomyocyte alignment. Our study identifies a regulatory factor that modulates cardiomyocyte alignment at the inter-cellular level during maturation.

Alterations in amygdala subregions-Default mode network connectivity after treatment in patients with schizophrenia.

Disrupted connectivity in the default mode network (DMN) during resting-state functional MRI (rs-fMRI) is well-documented in schizophrenia (SCZ). The amygdala, a key component in the neurobiology of SCZ, comprises distinct subregions that may exert varying effects on the disorder. This study aimed to investigate variations in functional connectivity (FC) between distinct amygdala subregions and the DMN in SCZ individuals and explore the effects of treatment on these connections. Fifty-six SCZ patients and 51 healthy controls underwent FC analysis and questionnaire surveys during resting state. The amygdala was selected as the region of interest (ROI) and subdivided into four parts. Changes in FC were examined, and correlations between questionnaire scores and brain activity were explored. Pre-treatment, SCZ patients exhibited reduced FC between the amygdala and DMN compared to HCs. After treatment, significant differences persisted in the right medial amygdala, while other regions did not differ significantly from controls. In addition, PANSS scores positively correlated with FC between the Right Medial Amygdala and the left SMFC (r = .347, p = .009), while RBANS5A scores showed a positive correlation with FC between the Left Lateral Amygdala and the right MTG (rho = -.347, p = .009). The rsFC between the amygdala and the DMN plays a crucial role in the treatment mechanisms of SCZ. This could provide a promising predictive indicator for understanding the neural mechanisms behind treatment and symptomatic improvement.

Transcriptome screening identifies TIPARP as an antiviral host factor against the Getah virus.

IMPORTANCE: Alphaviruses threaten public health continuously, and Getah virus (GETV) is a re-emerging alphavirus that can potentially infect humans. Approved antiviral drugs and vaccines against alphaviruses are few available, but several host antiviral factors have been reported. Here, we used GETV as a model of alphaviruses to screen for additional host factors. Tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin-inducible poly(ADP ribose) polymerase was identified to inhibit GETV replication by inducing ubiquitination of the glycoprotein E2, causing its degradation by recruiting the E3 ubiquitin ligase membrane-associated RING-CH8 (MARCH8). Using GETV as a model virus, focusing on the relationship between viral structural proteins and host factors to screen antiviral host factors provides new insights for antiviral studies on alphaviruses.

Tolerability, safety and efficacy of a novel phosphate binder VS-505 (AP301): a Phase 2 dose-escalation and dose-ranging study in patients undergoing maintenance hemodialysis.

BACKGROUND: VS-505 (AP301), an acacia and ferric oxyhydroxide polymer, is a novel fiber-iron-based phosphate binder. This two-part Phase 2 study evaluated the tolerability, safety and efficacy of oral VS-505 administered three times daily with meals in treating hyperphosphatemia in chronic kidney disease (CKD) patients receiving maintenance hemodialysis (MHD). METHODS: In Part 1, patients received dose-escalated treatment with VS-505 2.25, 4.50 and 9.00 g/day for 2 weeks each, guided by serum phosphorus levels. In Part 2, patients received randomized, open-label, fixed-dosage treatment with VS-505 (1.50, 2.25, 4.50 or 6.75 g/day) or sevelamer carbonate 4.80 g/day for 6 weeks. The primary efficacy endpoint was the change in serum phosphorus. RESULTS: The study enrolled 158 patients (Part 1: 25; Part 2: 133), with 130 exposed to VS-505 in total. VS-505 was well tolerated. The most common adverse events were gastrointestinal disorders, mainly feces discolored (56%) and diarrhea (15%; generally during Weeks 1-2 of treatment). Most gastrointestinal disorders resolved without intervention, and none was serious. In Part 1, serum phosphorus significantly improved (mean change -2.0 mg/dL; 95% confidence interval -2.7, -1.4) after VS-505 dose escalation. In Part 2, serum phosphorus significantly and dose-dependently improved in all VS-505 arms, with clinically meaningful reductions with VS-505 4.50 and 6.75 g/day, and sevelamer carbonate 4.80 g/day [mean change -1.6 (-2.2, -1.0), -1.8 (-2.4, -1.2) and -1.4 (-2.2, -0.5) mg/dL, respectively]. In both parts, serum phosphorus reductions occurred within 1 week of VS-505 initiation, returning to baseline within 2 weeks of VS-505 discontinuation. CONCLUSION: VS-505, a novel phosphate binder, was well tolerated with a manageable safety profile, and effectively and dose-dependently reduced serum phosphorus in CKD patients with hyperphosphatemia receiving MHD. CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER: NCT04551300 .

Melatonin Prevents Thioacetamide-Induced Gut Leakiness and Liver Fibrosis Through the Gut-Liver Axis via Modulating Sirt1-Related Deacetylation of Gut Junctional Complex and Hepatic Proteins.

Intestinal barrier dysfunction with high serum endotoxin is common in patients with liver fibrosis, but the mechanisms underlying liver fibrosis remain unclear. Melatonin is a well-recognized antioxidant and an anti-inflammatory agent that benefits multiple organs. However, the beneficial effects of melatonin on gut leakiness-associated liver fibrosis have not been systemically studied. Here, we investigated the protective mechanisms of melatonin against thioacetamide (TAA)-induced gut barrier dysfunction and hepatic fibrosis by focusing on posttranslational protein modifications through the gut-liver axis. Our results showed that gut leakiness markers, including decreased gut tight/adherens junction proteins (TJ/AJs) with increased intestinal deformation, apoptosis, and serum endotoxin, were observed early at 1 week after TAA exposure. Liver injury, apoptosis, and fibrosis were prominent at 2 and 4 weeks. Mechanistically, we found that gut TJ/AJs were hyper-acetylated, followed by ubiquitin-dependent proteolysis, leading to their degradation and gut leakiness. Gut dysbiosis, hepatic protein hyper-acetylation, and SIRT1 downregulation were also observed. Consistently, intestinal Sirt1 deficiency greatly enhanced protein hyper-acetylation, gut leakiness, endotoxemia, and liver fibrosis. Pretreatment with melatonin prevented or improved all these changes in both the gut and liver. Furthermore, melatonin blunted protein acetylation and injury in TAA-exposed T84 human intestinal and AML12 mouse liver cells. Overall, this study demonstrated novel mechanisms by which melatonin prevents gut leakiness and liver fibrosis through the gut-liver axis by attenuating the acetylation of intestinal and hepatic proteins. Thus, melatonin consumption can become a potentially safe supplement for liver fibrosis patients by preventing protein hyper-acetylation and gut leakiness.

Recent approaches for the synthesis of heterocycles from amidines via a metal catalyzed C-H functionalization reaction.

Transition metal catalyzed C-H bond activation has become one of the most important tools for constructing new chemical bonds. Introducing directing groups to the substrates is the key to a successful reaction, these directing groups can also be further transformed in the reaction. Amidines with their unique structure and reactivity are ideal substrates for transition metal-catalyzed C-H transformations. This review describes the major advances and mechanistic investigations of the C-H activation/annulation tandem reactions of amidines until early 2024, focusing on metal-catalyzed C-H activation of amidines with unsaturated compounds, such as alkynes, ketone, vinylene carbonate, cyclopropanols and their derivatives. Meanwhile this manuscript also explores the reaction of amidines with different carbene precursors, for example diazo compounds, azide, triazoles, pyriodotriazoles, and sulfoxonium ylides as well as their own C-H bond activation/cyclization reactions. A bright outlook is provided at the end of the manuscript.

Comparison of cognitive performance in first-episode drug-naïve schizophrenia, bipolar II disorder, and major depressive disorder patients after treatment.

BACKGROUND: Cognitive impairment is a recognized fundamental deficit in individuals diagnosed with schizophrenia (SZ), bipolar II disorder (BD II), and major depressive disorder (MDD), among other psychiatric disorders. However, limited research has compared cognitive function among first-episode drug-naïve individuals with SZ, BD II, or MDD. METHODS: This study aimed to address this gap by assessing the cognitive performance of 235 participants (40 healthy controls, 58 SZ patients, 72 BD II patients, and 65 MDD patients) using the Repeatable Battery for the Assessment of Neuropsychological Status (RBANS) before and after 12 weeks of treatment in SZ, BD II, and MDD patients. To clarify, the healthy controls only underwent RBANS testing at baseline, whereas the patient groups were assessed before and after treatment. The severity of symptoms in SZ patients was measured using the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS), and depression in BD II and MDD patients was assessed using the Hamilton Depression Scale-24 items (HAMD-24 items). RESULTS: Two hundred participants completed the 12-week treatment period, with 35 participants dropping out due to various reasons. This group included 49 SZ patients, 58 BD II patients, and 53 MDD patients. Among SZ patients, significant improvements in immediate and delayed memory were observed after 12 weeks of treatment compared to their initial scores. Similarly, BD II patients showed significant improvement in immediate and delayed memory following treatment. However, there were no significant differences in RBANS scores for MDD patients after 12 weeks of treatment. CONCLUSIONS: In conclusion, the findings of this study suggest that individuals with BD II and SZ may share similar deficits in cognitive domains. It is important to note that standardized clinical treatment may have varying degrees of effectiveness in improving cognitive function in patients with BD II and SZ, which could potentially alleviate cognitive dysfunction.

Cross-lagged panel analysis of the relationship between social networking sites use (SNSU) and sleep problems among university students.

BACKGROUND: Sleep remains a cornerstone for sociopsychological well-being, but it is in decline, especially among today's youth. Simultaneously, engagement with social media is escalating. Research has identified a link between social networking sites use and sleep problems; however, the nature and direction of the relations remain obscure. Therefore, it is imperative to pursue longitudinal research to elucidate this correlation and guide suitable intervention practices. The present study aimed to examine the reciprocal relationship between social networking sites use and sleep problems. METHODS: By adopting a three-stage cross-lagged design across four time points, assessment results from 194 university students were gathered at four-week intervals. RESULTS: The findings indicate that (1) Social networking sites use was significantly greater in females than in males at all four time points, while sleep problems were significantly greater in females than in males at Time 3 and Time 4. (2) Sleep problems at the second time point serve as a positive predictor of subsequent social networking sites use at the third time point. (3) Social networking sites use at the initial time point could marginally significantly predict sleep problems at the fourth time point. CONCLUSIONS: This study elucidates the dynamic relationship between social networking sites use and sleep problems across an academic term, suggesting the need for temporally tailored interventions.

Californium-252 Intracavitary Radiotherapy for Primary Vaginal Carcinoma: A Retrospective Clinical Study.

Objective: To investigate the therapeutic effect of Cf-252 neutron intracavitary brachytherapy (ICBT) in the treatment of primary vaginal carcinoma of stage I-III, along with advanced complications. Methods: Between August 2009 and August 2013, 41 patients with intact primary vaginal carcinoma based on the histological diagnosis at the Second Cancer Hospital of Heilongjiang Province (Beidahuang Group General Hospital) and the Daping Hospital of the Third Military Medical University were included in this study. Among them, 32 patients were squamous cell carcinoma, and 9 adenocarcinomas. Stage I patients were treated with ICBT alone. Patients at stages II and III were treated using ICBT combined with external beam radiotherapy (EBRT). Results: The mean age, the rate of the 5-year local control, the rate of the 5-year overall survival was increased. The rate of the 5-year tumor-free survival was 56.1%, and the incidence of advanced serious complications (grade II and above radiation cystitis, proctitis, etc.) was 29.3%. Compared to later stages, early-stage patients are in better physical shape, so they are better able to withstand the toxic side effects of treatment. The local control (LC), overall survival (OS), or disease-free survival (DFS) rate in stage III patients was significantly lower than those in stage I and stage II. The rate of OS in stage I patients was 90.9% (10/11), which was significantly higher than that in all patients (56.1%; 23/41). Moreover, the mean survival time was significantly different between stage III and stage I. In addition, the survival status of squamous cell carcinoma and adenocarcinoma was also very different. Conclusion: In summary, the use of Cf-252 ICBT radiotherapy resulted in a higher rate of local control of vaginal cancer and a lower rate of recurrence, better-shrinking effect, and efficacy for advanced tumors, and has clinical prospects.

Aberrant METTL14 gene expression contributes to malignant transformation of benzene-exposed myeloid cells.

Benzene is a known contributor to human leukaemia through its toxic effects on bone marrow cells, and epigenetic modification is believed to be a potential mechanism underlying benzene pathogenesis. However, the specific roles of N6-methyladenosine (m6A), a newly discovered RNA post-transcriptional modification, in benzene-induced hematotoxicity remain unclear. In this study, we identified self-renewing malignant proliferating cells in the bone marrow of benzene-exposed mice through in vivo bone marrow transplantation experiments and Competitive Repopulation Assay. Subsequent analysis using whole transcriptome sequencing and RNA m6A methylation sequencing revealed a significant upregulation of RNA m6A modification levels in the benzene-exposed group. Moreover, RNA methyltransferase METTL14, known as a pivotal player in m6A modification, was found to be aberrantly overexpressed in Lin-Sca-1+c-Kit+ (LSK) cells of benzene-exposed mice. Further analysis based on the GEO database showed a positive correlation between the expression of METTL14, mTOR, and GFI and benzene exposure dose. In vitro cellular experiments, employing experiments such as western blot, q-PCR, m6A RIP, and CLIP, validated the regulatory role of METTL14 on mTOR and GFI1. Mechanistically, continuous damage inflicted by benzene exposure on bone marrow cells led to the overexpression of METTL14 in LSK cells, which, in turn, increased m6A modification on the target genes' (mTOR and GFI1) RNA. This upregulation of target gene expression activated signalling pathways such as mTOR-AKT, ultimately resulting in malignant proliferation of bone marrow cells. In conclusion, this study offers insights into potential early targets for benzene-induced haematologic malignant diseases and provides novel perspectives for more targeted preventive and therapeutic strategies.

Thiolutin, a selective NLRP3 inflammasome inhibitor, attenuates cyclophosphamide-induced impairment of sperm and fertility in mice.

OBJECTIVE: The activation of the NLRP3 inflammasome has been implicated in male infertility. Our study aimed to investigate the therapeutic role of Thiolutin (THL), an inhibitor of the NLRP3 inflammasome, on oligoasthenospermia (OA) and to elucidate its mechanisms. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Semen from 50 OA and 20 healthy males were analyzed to assess the sperm quality and levels of inflammatory markers. Their correlation was determined using Pearson's correlation coefficient. The BALB/c mice were intraperitoneal injected by cyclophosphamide at 60 mg/kg/day for five days to induce OA, followed by a two-week treatment with THL or L-carnitine. Reproductive organ size and H&E staining were determined to observe the organ and seminiferous tubule morphology. ELISA and western blotting were utilized to measure sex hormone levels, inflammatory markers, and NLRP3 inflammasome levels. Furthermore, male and female mice were co-housed to observe pregnancy success rates. RESULTS: OA patients exhibited a decrease in sperm density and motility compared to healthy individuals, along with elevated levels of IL-1ß, IL-18 and NLRP3 inflammasome. In vivo, THL ameliorated OA-induced atrophy of reproductive organs, hormonal imbalance, and improved sperm density, motility, spermatogenesis and pregnancy success rates with negligible adverse effects on weight or liver-kidney function. THL also demonstrated to be able to inhibit the activation of NLRP3 inflammasome and associated proteins in OA mice. DISCUSSION: THL can improve sperm quality and hormonal balance in OA mice through the inhibition of NLRP3 inflammasome activation. Thus, THL holds promising potential as a therapeutic agent for OA.

An empirical predictive model for determining the aqueous solubility of BCS class IV drugs in amorphous solid dispersions.

CONTEXT: Determining solubility of drugs is laborious and time-consuming process that may not yield meaningful results. Amorphous solid dispersion (ASD) is a widely used solubility enhancement technique. Predictive models could streamline this process and accelerate the development of oral drugs with improved aqueous solubilities. OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to develop a predictive model to estimate the solubility of a compound from the ASDs in polymer matrices. METHODS: ASDs of model drugs (acetazolamide, chlorothiazide, furosemide, hydrochlorothiazide, sulfamethoxazole) with model polymers (PVP, PVPVA, HPMC E5, Soluplus) and a surfactant (TPGS) were prepared using hotmelt process. The prepared ASDs were characterized using DSC, FTIR, and XRD. The aqueous solubility of the model drugs was determined using shake-flask method. Multiple linear regression was used to develop a predictive model to determine aqueous solubility using the molecular descriptors of the drug and polymer as predictor variables. The model was validated using Leave-One-Out Cross-Validation. RESULTS: The ASDs' drug components were identified as amorphous via DSC and XRD Studies. There were no significant chemical interactions between the model drugs and the polymers based on FTIR studies. The ASDs showed a significant (p < 0.05) improvement in solubility, ranging from a 3-fold to 118-fold, compared with the pure drug. The developed empirical model predicted the solubility of the model drugs from the ASDs containing model polymer matrices with an accuracy greater than 80%. CONCLUSION: The developed empirical model demonstrated robustness and predicted the aqueous solubility of model drugs from the ASDs of model polymer matrices with an accuracy greater than 80%.