Systematic characterization of Gossypium GLN family genes reveals a potential function of GhGLN1.1a regulates nitrogen use efficiency in cotton.

The enzyme glutamine synthetase (GLN) is mainly responsible for the assimilation and reassimilation of nitrogen (N) in higher plants. Although the GLN gene has been identified in various plants, there is little information about the GLN family in cotton (Gossypium spp.). To elucidate the roles of GLN genes in cotton, we systematically investigated and characterized the GLN gene family across four cotton species (G. raimondii, G. arboreum, G. hirsutum, and G. barbadense). Our analysis encompassed analysis of members, gene structure, cis-element, intragenomic duplication, and exploration of collinear relationships. Gene duplication analysis indicated that segmental duplication was the primary driving force for the expansion of the GhGLN gene family. Transcriptomic and quantitative real-time reverse-transcription PCR (qRT-PCR) analyses indicated that the GhGLN1.1a gene is responsive to N induction treatment and several abiotic stresses. The results of virus-induced gene silencing revealed that the accumulation and N use efficiency (NUE) of cotton were affected by the inactivation of GhGLN1.1a. This study comprehensively analyzed the GhGLN genes in Gossypium spp., and provides a new perspective on the functional roles of GhGLN1.1a in regulating NUE in cotton.

Hairpin Switches-Based Isothermal Transcription Amplification for Simple, Sensitivity Detection of MicroRNA.

The ability to simply, selectively, and sensitively detect low numbers of miRNAs in clinical samples is highly valuable but remains a challenge. In this work, we present a novel miRNA detection system by using the elaborately designed hairpin switch, where the T7 primer, template, target recognize sequence, and light-up RNA aptamer template are edited and embedded in one single-stranded DNA hairpin structure. In the beginning, the hairpin switch maintained the hairpin structure 1, in which the ds promoter of T7 polymerase was disrupted, thus the transcription reaction of T7 polymerase was inhibited. After binding to the target, the hairpin switch 1 was unfolded and turned to the hairpin structure 2. This switch initiates the in vitro T7 transcription reaction, producing plenty of RNA transcripts containing RNA aptamers. Consequently, transcribed tremendous RNA aptamers lighted up the fluorophore for quantitative analysis. Compared with the existing T7 polymerase-based amplification system, this strategy exhibits several advantages, including simplicity, convenience, and high selectivity and sensitivity. The experimental results demonstrated that we could achieve the quantification of miRNA in buffer and complex biological samples.

Time-dependent impact of type 2 diabetes mellitus on incident prodromal Alzheimer disease: A longitudinal study in 1395 participants.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: This study was undertaken to investigate the longitudinal impact of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) on the prodromal and dementia stages of Alzheimer disease (AD), focusing on diabetes duration and other comorbidities. METHODS: A total of 1395 dementia-free individuals aged 55-90 years with maximum 15-year follow-up data were enrolled from the Alzheimer's Disease Neuroimaging Initiative database. Cox proportional hazards regression models were used to estimate hazard ratios (HRs) of the incidence of prodromal or dementia stages of AD. RESULTS: Longer T2DM duration (≥5 years; multiadjusted HR = 2.19, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.05-4.58), but not shorter T2DM duration (<5 years), was associated with a significantly increased risk of incident prodromal AD over a mean follow-up of 4.8 years. APOE ε4 allele (HR = 3.32, 95% CI = 1.41-7.79) and comorbid coronary artery disease (CAD; HR = 3.20, 95% CI = 1.29-7.95) further increased the risk of incident prodromal AD in patients with T2DM. No significant association was observed between T2DM and the risk of progression from prodromal AD to AD dementia. CONCLUSIONS: T2DM, which is characterized by a longer duration, increases the incidence risk of prodromal AD but not AD dementia. APOE ε4 allele and comorbid CAD strengthen the relationship between T2DM and prodromal AD. These findings highlight T2DM characteristics and its comorbidities as predictors for accurate prediction of AD and screening of at-risk populations.

Trends and associated factors of HIV, HCV and syphilis infection among different drug users in the China-Vietnam border area: an 11-year cross-sectional study (2010-2020).

BACKGROUND: Data on recent human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), hepatitis C virus (HCV) and syphilis prevalence among drug users in the Southwest China are sparse despite the high burden of drug use. This study aims at assessing the prevalence trends and related factors of HIV, HCV and syphilis infection among different drug users in the China-Vietnam border area. METHODS: A continuous cross-sectional survey was conducted among drug users from 2010 to 2020 in the China-Vietnam border area. Chi-square trend tests were used to assess the trend of HIV, HCV and syphilis prevalence and the proportion for drug type used by drug users. Multivariate logistic regression was used to identify associated factors of HIV, HCV and syphilis infection in different drug users. RESULTS: In this study, a total of 28,951 drug users were included, of which 27,893 (96.45%) male, 15,660 (54.09%) aged 13-34 years, 24,543 (84.77%) heroin-only users, 2062 (7.12%) synthetic drug-only (SD-only) users and 2346 (8.10%) poly-drug users. From 2010 to 2020, the proportion of heroin-only users decreased from 87.79% to 75.46%, whereas SD-only users and poly-drug users increased from 5.16% to 16.03%, and from 7.05% to 8.52%, respectively. The prevalence of HIV, HCV, and syphilis during the study period declined from 12.76%, 60.37% and 5.72% to 4.35%, 53.29% and 4.53%, respectively, among heroin-only users and declined from 18.30%, 66.67% and 15.69% to 6.95%, 27.81% and 5.35%, respectively, among poly-drug users; however, the prevalence of HIV and HCV among SD-only users increased from 0.89% and 8.93% to 2.84% and 18.75%, respectively. Having ever injected drugs and needle sharing were common associated factors for both HIV and HCV infection among poly-drug users and heroin-only users. Aged ≥ 35 years old was an associated factor for HIV, HCV and syphilis infection among the SD-only users. Female drug users were at high risk of contracting syphilis among three different drug users. CONCLUSIONS: The prevalence of HIV, HCV and syphilis among heroin-only users and poly-drug users decreased during the study period. However, the prevalence of HIV and HCV among SD-only users increased. Comprehensive intervention strategies, particularly focusing on the SD-only users are needed in order to bring down the disease burden in this population in the China-Vietnam border areas.

Bergapten inhibits NLRP3 inflammasome activation and pyroptosis via promoting mitophagy.

Inhibition of NLRP3 inflammasome activation produces potent therapeutic effects in a wide array of inflammatory diseases. Bergapten (BeG), a furocoumarin phytohormone present in many herbal medicines and fruits, exibits anti-inflammatory activity. In this study we characterized the therapeutic potential of BeG against bacterial infection and inflammation-related disorders, and elucidated the underlying mechanisms. We showed that pre-treatment with BeG (20 µM) effectively inhibited NLRP3 inflammasome activation in both lipopolysaccharides (LPS)-primed J774A.1 cells and bone marrow-derived macrophages (BMDMs), evidenced by attenuated cleaved caspase-1 and mature IL-1ß release, as well as reduced ASC speck formation and subsequent gasdermin D (GSDMD)-mediated pyroptosis. Transcriptome analysis revealed that BeG regulated the expression of genes involved in mitochondrial and reactive oxygen species (ROS) metabolism in BMDMs. Moreover, BeG treatment reversed the diminished mitochondrial activity and ROS production after NLRP3 activation, and elevated the expression of LC3-II and enhanced the co-localization of LC3 with mitochondria. Treatment with 3-methyladenine (3-MA, 5 mM) reversed the inhibitory effects of BeG on IL-1ß, cleaved caspase-1 and LDH release, GSDMD-N formation as well as ROS production. In mouse model of Escherichia coli-induced sepsis and mouse model of Citrobacter rodentium-induced intestinal inflammation, pre-treatment with BeG (50 mg/kg) significantly ameliorated tissue inflammation and injury. In conclusion, BeG inhibits NLRP3 inflammasome activation and pyroptosis by promoting mitophagy and maintaining mitochondrial homeostasis. These results suggest BeG as a promising drug candidate for the treatment of bacterial infection and inflammation-related disorders.

Scoparone suppresses mitophagy-mediated NLRP3 inflammasome activation in inflammatory diseases.

Recent evidence shows that targeting NLRP3 inflammasome activation is an important means to treat inflammasome-driven diseases. Scoparone, a natural compound isolated from the Chinese herb Artemisia capillaris Thunb, has anti-inflammatory activity. In this study we investigated the effect of scoparone on NLRP3 inflammasome activation in inflammatory diseases. In LPS-primed, ATP or nigericin-stimulated mouse macrophage J774A.1 cells and bone marrow-derived macrophages (BMDMs), pretreatment with scoparone (50 µM) markedly restrained canonical and noncanonical NLRP3 inflammasome activation, evidenced by suppressed caspase-1 cleavage, GSDMD-mediated pyroptosis, mature IL-1ß secretion and the formation of ASC specks. We then conducted a transcriptome analysis in scoparone-pretreated BMDMs, and found that the differentially expressed genes were significantly enriched in mitochondrial reactive oxygen species (ROS) metabolic process, mitochondrial translation and assembly process, as well as in inflammatory response. We demonstrated in J774A.1 cells and BMDMs that scoparone promoted mitophagy, a well-characterized mechanism to control mitochondrial quality and reduce ROS production and subsequent NLRP3 inflammasome activation. Mitophagy blockade by 3-methyladenine (3-MA, 5 mM) reversed the protective effects of scoparone on mitochondrial damage and inflammation in the murine macrophages. Moreover, administration of scoparone (50 mg/kg) exerted significant preventive effects via inhibition of NLRP3 activation in mouse models of bacterial enteritis and septic shock. Collectively, scoparone displays potent anti-inflammatory effects via blocking NLRP3 inflammasome activation through enhancing mitophagy, highlighting a potential action mechanism in treating inflammasome-related diseases for further clinical investigation.

Uptake of HIV testing and its correlates among sexually experienced college students in Southwestern, China: a Web-Based online cross-sectional study.

BACKGROUND: The prevalence of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) is becoming more common among college students in China. However, latest data on the prevalence and correlates of HIV testing among sexually experienced college students is rarely. METHODS: An online survey was conducted among college students aged 18 years or older using multistage stratified cluster sampling from 16 colleges. Data on socio-demographic, HIV testing, HIV-related awareness, attitudes, sexual education and behaviors were collected. Propensity score matching (PSM) and logistic regression model were used to identify factors associated with HIV testing. RESULT: A total of 108,987 students participated the survey, of which 13,201 sexually experienced college students were included in this study. 1,939 (14.69%) college students with sexual experience reported uptake of HIV testing in the preceding year. The uptake of HIV testing increased for college students with a rising HIV knowledge score and sexual health knowledge. Being awareness of HIV-related knowledge (aOR = 1.15, 95%CI: 1.01-1.30), accepting one-night stands (aOR = 1.16, 95%CI:1.03-1.32), obtaining satisfactory sexual interpretation from parent(s) (aOR = 1.24, 95%CI: 1.07-1.43), ever had unintended pregnancy (aOR = 1.78, 95%CI: 1.32-2.38), ever had received HIV-related preventive service(s) (aOR = 1.37, 95%CI: 1.10-1.70), ever had participated HIV-related preventive services (aOR = 3.76, 95%CI: 2.99-4.75) and ever had anal sex (aOR = 2.66, 95%CI: 2.11-3.34) were positively associated with uptake of HIV testing. However, accepting premarital sex (aOR = 0.76, 95%CI: 0.66-0.88), accepting cohabitation (aOR = 0.75, 95%CI: 0.61-0.92), occasionally discussing sex with parent(s) (aOR = 0.68, 95%CI: 0.50-0.91), and being with moderate satisfaction of school sex courses (aOR = 0.74, 95%CI: 0.58-0.95) were negatively associated with uptake of HIV testing. CONCLUSION: The prevalence of HIV testing was relatively low. Participation in HIV-related services and high-risk sexual behaviors were important enablers for testing. Improving sex education for students, increasing HIV preventive services on campus, and improving family sex education are necessary to increase HIV testing among college sexually experienced students.

CompleteInst: An Efficient Instance Segmentation Network for Missed Detection Scene of Autonomous Driving.

As a fundamental computer vision task, instance segmentation is widely used in the field of autonomous driving because it can perform both instance-level distinction and pixel-level segmentation. We propose CompleteInst based on QueryInst as a solution to the problems of missed detection with a network structure designed from the feature level and the instance level. At the feature level, we propose Global Pyramid Networks (GPN) to collect global information of missed instances. Then, we introduce the semantic branch to complete the semantic features of the missed instances. At the instance level, we implement the query-based optimal transport assignment (OTA-Query) sample allocation strategy which enhances the quality of positive samples of missed instances. Both the semantic branch and OTA-Query are parallel, meaning that there is no interference between stages, and they are compatible with the parallel supervision mechanism of QueryInst. We also compare their performance to that of non-parallel structures, highlighting the superiority of the proposed parallel structure. Experiments were conducted on the Cityscapes and COCO dataset, and the recall of CompleteInst reached 56.7% and 54.2%, a 3.5% and 3.2% improvement over the baseline, outperforming other methods.

Phased Feature Extraction Network for Vehicle Search Tasks Based on Cross-Camera for Vehicle-Road Collaborative Perception.

The objective of vehicle search is to locate and identify vehicles in uncropped, real-world images, which is the combination of two tasks: vehicle detection and re-identification (Re-ID). As an emerging research topic, vehicle search plays a significant role in the perception of cooperative autonomous vehicles and road driving in the distant future and has become a trend in the future development of intelligent driving. However, there is no suitable dataset for this study. The Tsinghua University DAIR-V2X dataset is utilized to create the first cross-camera vehicle search dataset, DAIR-V2XSearch, which combines the cameras at both ends of the vehicle and the road in real-world scenes. The primary purpose of the current search network is to address the pedestrian issue. Due to varying task scenarios, it is necessary to re-establish the network in order to resolve the problem of vast differences in different perspectives caused by vehicle searches. A phased feature extraction network (PFE-Net) is proposed as a solution to the cross-camera vehicle search problem. Initially, the anchor-free YOLOX framework is selected as the backbone network, which not only improves the network's performance but also eliminates the fuzzy situation in which multiple anchor boxes correspond to a single vehicle ID in the Re-ID branch. Second, for the vehicle Re-ID branch, a camera grouping module is proposed to effectively address issues such as sudden changes in perspective and disparities in shooting under different cameras. Finally, a cross-level feature fusion module is designed to enhance the model's ability to extract subtle vehicle features and the Re-ID's precision. Experiments demonstrate that our proposed PFE-Net achieves the highest precision in the DAIR-V2XSearch dataset.

Designing a CRISPR/Cas12a- and Au-Nanobeacon-Based Diagnostic Biosensor Enabling Direct, Rapid, and Sensitive miRNA Detection.

Direct, rapid, sensitive, and selective detection of nucleic acids in complex biological fluids is crucial for medical early diagnosis. We herein combine the trans-cleavage ability of clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats (CRISPR)/Cas12a with Au-nanobeacon to establish a CRISPR-based biosensor, providing rapid miRNA detection with high speed and attomolar sensitivity. In this strategy, we first report that the trans-cleavage activity of CRISPR/cas12a, which was previously reported to be triggered only by target ssDNA or dsDNA, can be activated by the target miRNA directly. Therefore, this method is direct, i.e., does not need the conversion of miRNA into its complementary DNA (cDNA). Meanwhile, as compared to the traditional ssDNA reporters and molecular beacon (MB) reporters, the Au-nanobeacon reporters exhibit improved reaction kinetics and sensitivity. In this assay, the miRNA-21 could be detected with very high sensitivity in only 5 min. Finally, the proposed strategy enables rapid, sensitive, and selective miRNA determination in complex biological samples, providing a potential tool for medical early diagnosis.

Nanoflare Couple: Multiplexed mRNA Imaging and Logic-Controlled Combinational Therapy.

Theranostics, which combines both diagnostic and therapeutic capabilities in one dose, has always been an intractable challenge in personalized cancer treatment. Herein, a versatile nanotheranostic platform "nanoflare couple (NC)" has been developed for in situ multiplex cancer-related mRNA imaging and subsequent logic-controlled aggregation of gold nanoparticles, leading to gene therapy and photothermal therapy upon irradiation with infrared light. As a proof of concept, TK1 and survivin mRNAs that are highly expressed in most tumor tissues are selected as endogenous cancer indicators and therapy triggers to design the NC. Mice bearing breast cancer cells MCF-7 are prepared as a model to test its efficacy. The in vitro and in vivo assays validate that the NC show the capability for multiplexed mRNA imaging and high efficiency for logic-controlled combinational therapy of breast cancer.

Immunotherapy and Prognosis of Non-small Cell Lung Carcinoma by Monomethoxy polyethylene glycol-hyaluronic acid-platinum Combined with Immune CT4+ and CT8+ Detection.

To investigate the changes in CT4+ and CT8+ lymphocyte subpopulations of patients with non-small cell lung carcinoma (NSCLC) by monomethoxy polyethylene glycol-hyaluronic acid-platinum (MPEG-HA-Pt) and the correlation between efficacy evaluation and the changes in T lymphocyte subpopulation, 76 NSCLC patients treated at oncology department of Chengdu First People's Hospital were selected and randomly divided into the treatment group and the control group (38 cases in each). mPEG-HA-Pt was used for the treatment of the included patients in the research. The patients in the control group were performed with traditional chemotherapy for 2 treatment courses. The changes in the T-lymphocyte subpopulation before and after the treatment were detected and the therapeutic effects on the patients in the two groups were compared. The particle size of mPEG-HA-Pt ranged between 78nm and 100nm with an average of 84.6±7.5nm. After that, a transmission electron microscope (TEM) was used to observe the spheres with uniform size. The drug loading capacity and entrapped efficiency of mPEG-HA-Pt were 18.7% and 87.4%, respectively. After the treatment for NSCLC patients by nanomicelle, cellular immune functions were all improved. In particular, cellular immune functions of the patients with good efficacy evaluation were improved more apparently.

Factors associated with prolonged postoperative length of hospital stay after laparoscopic colorectal cancer resection: a secondary analysis of a randomized controlled trial.

BACKGROUND: The postoperative length of hospital stay (PLOS) is an important indicator of surgical quality. We identified perioperative factors that affect prolonged PLOS (PPLOS) after laparoscopic colorectal cancer resection, which is the preferred surgical approach for colorectal cancer, the third most common cancer. METHODS: This study was a secondary analysis of a randomized trial (clinicaltrials.gov ID: NCT03160144) that included 280 patients who underwent laparoscopic colorectal cancer resection. The primary outcome was a PPLOS, defined as a PLOS that was longer than the median PLOS. Baseline, anesthetic, surgical, and postoperative management factors were included in the univariate and multivariate analyses to identify factors influencing PPLOS. RESULTS: The median PLOS was 10 days, and 117 patients had a PPLOS. We identified six influencing factors for PPLOS: preoperative pulse oxygen saturation < 96% (odds ratio [OR], 3.09 [95% confidence interval (CI) 1.38-6.92]; P = 0.006), distant tumor metastasis (OR, 0.34 [95% CI 0.13-0.91]; P = 0.031), the Miles procedure or left hemicolectomy (OR, 4.51 [95% CI 1.67-12.18]; P = 0.003), perioperative surgical events (OR, 2.44 [95% CI 1.25-4.76]; P = 0.009), postoperative albumin infusion (OR, 2.19 [95% CI 1.14-4.19]; P = 0.018), and postoperative early ambulation (OR, 0.35 [95% CI 0.18-0.68]; P = 0.002). Further stratified analysis showed that postoperative albumin infusion might be a risk factor for PPLOS, even in patients with a preoperative albumin level < 40 g/L (OR, 2.29 [95% CI 0.98-5.34]; P = 0.056) or duration of surgery ≥ 3 h (OR, 2.52 [95% CI 1.08-5.87]; P = 0.032). CONCLUSIONS: A low preoperative pulse oximetry reading, complex surgical procedures, perioperative surgical events, and postoperative albumin infusion may be risk factors for PPLOS after laparoscopic colorectal cancer resection, whereas distant tumor metastasis and postoperative early ambulation might be protective factors. The association between postoperative albumin infusion, a modifiable factor, and PLOS or clinical outcomes warrants further investigation.

Effect of dissolved organic matter on the phytoremediation of Cd-contaminated soil by cotton.

Dissolved organic matter (DOM) assists in the phytoremediation of heavy-metal-contaminated soils, but the effect of synergistic remediation of DOM on plants is unclear. This study investigated the effect of two DOM sources (cotton straw (CM) DOM and farmyard manure (FM) DOM) on cadmium (Cd) accumulation in Cd-contaminated soil by cotton and evaluated the phytoremediation effect of DOM. The results showed that adding DOM reduced the available nitrogen and increased organic matter, available phosphorus and available potassium. Applying DOM increased the proportions of Cd acid soluble fractions and reduced the proportions of Cd residual fractions by 1-7%. DOM application increased root length, root surface area and root volume compared to the control and had a promoting or inhibiting effect on cotton biomass, depending on the soil Cd concentration. Furthermore, applying DOM improved the Cd content and bioconcentration factor of cotton. The lower the molecular weight, hydrophilic components and aromaticity of DOM, the more conducive to Cd accumulation is in cotton. The correlation and random forest analyses also showed that CM showed high remediation potential. According to our study, DOM can improve the phytoremediation efficiency of cotton, especially in low-concentration contaminated soils. This study provides a basis for applying DOM in the phytoremediation of Cd-contaminated soils.

Preparation and Characterization of Size-Controlled Lignin Nanoparticles with Deep Eutectic Solvents by Nanoprecipitation.

Lignin nanomaterials have wide application prospects in the fields of cosmetics delivery, energy storage, and environmental governance. In this study, we developed a simple and sustainable synthesis approach to produce uniform lignin nanoparticles (LNPs) by dissolving industrial lignin in deep eutectic solvents (DESs) followed by a self-assembling process. LNPs with high yield could be obtained through nanoprecipitation. The LNPs were characterized by dynamic light scattering (DLS), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), and gel permeation chromatography (GPC). Distinct LNPs could be produced by changing the type of DES, lignin sources, pre-dropping lignin concentration, and the pH of the system. Their diameter is in the range of 20-200 nm and they show excellent dispersibility and superior long-term stability. The method of preparing LNPs from lignin-DES with water as an anti-solvent is simple, rapid, and environmentally friendly. The outcome aids to further the advancement of lignin-based nanotechnology.

Targeting activated PI3K/mTOR signaling overcomes acquired resistance to CDK4/6-based therapies in preclinical models of hormone receptor-positive breast cancer.

BACKGROUND: Combined targeting of CDK4/6 and ER is now the standard of care for patients with advanced ER+/HER2- breast cancer. However, acquired resistance to these therapies frequently leads to disease progression. As such, it is critical to identify the mechanisms by which resistance to CDK4/6-based therapies is acquired and also identify therapeutic strategies to overcome resistance. METHODS: In this study, we developed and characterized multiple in vitro and in vivo models of acquired resistance to CDK4/6-based therapies. Resistant models were screened by reverse phase protein array (RPPA) for cell signaling changes that are activated in resistance. RESULTS: We show that either a direct loss of Rb or loss of dependence on Rb signaling confers cross-resistance to inhibitors of CDK4/6, while PI3K/mTOR signaling remains activated. Treatment with the p110α-selective PI3K inhibitor, alpelisib (BYL719), completely blocked the progression of acquired CDK4/6 inhibitor-resistant xenografts in the absence of continued CDK4/6 inhibitor treatment in models of both PIK3CA mutant and wild-type ER+/HER2- breast cancer. Triple combination therapy against PI3K:CDK4/6:ER prevented and/or delayed the onset of resistance in treatment-naive ER+/HER2- breast cancer models. CONCLUSIONS: These data support the clinical investigation of p110α-selective inhibitors of PI3K, such as alpelisib, in patients with ER+/HER2- breast cancer who have progressed on CDK4/6:ER-based therapies. Our data also support the investigation of PI3K:CDK4/6:ER triple combination therapy to prevent the onset of resistance to the combination of endocrine therapy plus CDK4/6 inhibition.

Voxel-based spatial elongation filtering method for airborne single-photon LiDAR data.

A novel voxel-based spatial elongation filtering method is proposed, to reduce noise in airborne single-photon lidar (SPL) data. In this method, six additional points are generated adjacent to each point of interest in the SPL data. Then, we count the number of points within each voxel and discriminate signals from noise via a predefined threshold. A filter performance evaluation index (taking into account the false alarm and signal loss rates, and the average distance between the residual noise points and their nearest signal points) is introduced. We compare the proposed and voxel-based spatial filtering method. The average false alarm rate found with our method (3.5%) is 18.6% smaller than that of the voxel-based spatial filtering method (4.3%).

MiR322 mediates cardioprotection against ischemia/reperfusion injury via FBXW7/notch pathway.

Myocardial ischemia/reperfusion (MI/R) causes loss of cardiomyocytes via oxidative stress-induced cardiomyocyte apoptosis. miR322, orthologous to human miR-424, was identified as an ischemia-induced angiogenic miRNA, but its cellular source and function in the setting of acute MI/R remains largely unknown. Using LacZ-tagged miR322 cluster reporter mice, we observed that vascular endothelial cells are the major cellular source of the miR322 cluster in adult hearts. Moreover, miR322 levels were significantly reduced in the heart at 24 h after MI/R injury. Intramyocardial injection of mimic-miR322 significantly diminished cardiac apoptosis (as determined by expression levels of active caspase 3 by Western blot analysis and immunostaining for TUNEL) and reduced infarct size by about 40%, in association with reduced FBXW7 and increased active Notch 1 levels in the ischemic hearts. FBXW7, which is an ubiquitin ligase that is crucial for activated Notch1 turnover, was identified as a direct target of miR322 via FBXW7 3'UTR reporter assay. Co-injection of FBXW7 plasmid with mimic-miR322 in ischemic hearts abolished the effect of mimic-miR322 to reduce apoptosis and infarct size in MI/R hearts. These data identify FBXW7 as a direct target of miR322 and suggest that miR322 could have potential therapeutic application for cardioprotection against ischemia/reperfusion-induced injury.

Deblurring streak image of streak tube imaging lidar using Wiener deconvolution filter.

We use a Wiener deconvolution filter to deblur the streak image of streak tube imaging lidar to improve the spatial resolution of the system and reduce the edge blurring effect in point clouds. Experiments were performed to investigate the performance of the deconvolution method. Results show that the spatial resolution improved from 9 to 4.5 mm, and the root-mean-square errors of the edge regions are effectively reduced. Additionally, the transition section decreases from 14 to 5.6 mm when the target is 5 m away from the receiver.

A simplified herbal formula for the treatment of heart failure: Efficacy, bioactive ingredients, and mechanisms.

Heart failure (HF) is a complex pathology for which single-agent therapy cannot provide comprehensive efficacy. Therefore, effective combination therapies for HF are increasingly emphasized. Multiple-component drugs derived from Chinese herbal formulae provide efficacy and safety when administered to patients with HF. Nuanxinkang (NXK) is a simplified Chinese herbal formula which has been widely applied in HF for decades. It exhibits comprehensive cardiac protective effects in HF patients as an adjuvant therapy, including improving heart function and quality-of-life, reducing inflammation, and regulating neurohormones. Nevertheless, the bioactive ingredients and mechanisms of action of NXK are unknown, which hinders its further application. Here, we examined the therapeutic efficacy of NXK in a mouse model of HF. Using transcriptome analysis and drug similarity analysis we found that NXK inhibits apoptosis and inflammation, while improving cardiac contraction and reversing myocardial fibrosis. In addition, we detected 21 bioactive species in NXK using UHPLC-MS analysis. Based on these data, we performed network pharmacology analysis to investigate ingredient-target-pathway interactions. We further confirmed 13 genes as potential targets, and assessed the effects of NXK on the AKT to validate the anti-apoptotic role of NXK both in vivo and in vitro. Thus, our work has identified a simplified herbal formula with efficacy against HF by exploring its constituents and mechanism of action, providing evidence for an innovative treatment strategy and novel therapeutic targets for HF.