Podocyte injury at young age causes premature senescence and worsens glomerular aging.

As life expectancy continues to rise, age-related diseases are becoming more prevalent. For example, proteinuric glomerular diseases typified by podocyte injury have worse outcomes in the elderly compared with young patients. However, the reasons are not well understood. We hypothesized that injury to nonaged podocytes induces senescence, which in turn augments their aging processes. In primary cultured human podocytes, injury induced by a cytopathic antipodocyte antibody, adriamycin, or puromycin aminonucleoside increased the senescence-related genes CDKN2A (p16INK4a/p14ARF), CDKN2D (p19INK4d), and CDKN1A (p21). Podocyte injury in human kidney organoids was accompanied by increased expression of CDKN2A, CDKN2D, and CDKN1A. In young mice, experimental focal segmental glomerulosclerosis (FSGS) induced by adriamycin and antipodocyte antibody increased the glomerular expression of p16, p21, and senescence-associated ß-galactosidase (SA-ß-gal). To assess the long-term effects of early podocyte injury-induced senescence, we temporally followed young mice with experimental FSGS through adulthood (12 m of age) and middle age (18 m of age). p16 and Sudan black staining were higher at middle age in mice with earlier FSGS compared with age-matched mice that did not get FSGS when young. This was accompanied by lower podocyte density, reduced canonical podocyte protein expression, and increased glomerular scarring. These results are consistent with injury-induced senescence in young podocytes, leading to increased senescence of podocytes by middle age accompanied by lower podocyte lifespan and health span.NEW & NOTEWORTHY Glomerular function is decreased by aging. However, little is known about the molecular mechanisms involved in age-related glomerular changes and which factors could contribute to a worse glomerular aging process. Here, we reported that podocyte injury in young mice and culture podocytes induced senescence, a marker of aging, and accelerates glomerular aging when compared with healthy aging mice.

Accuracy and adaptation of one-piece endodontic crowns fabricated through 3D printing and milling.

STATEMENT OF PROBLEM: High-level evidence regarding the accuracy and adaptation of 1-piece endodontic crowns fabricated by using 3-dimensional (3D) printing technology is lacking. PURPOSE: The purpose of this in vitro study was to compare the accuracy and adaptation of 1-piece endodontic crowns produced through 3D printing and computer-numerical-control milling technology and to explore the influence of trueness on 1-piece endodontic crown adaptation. MATERIAL AND METHODS: One-piece endodontic crowns were prepared for a typodont right mandibular first molar, scanned with a 3Shape E3 scanner, and designed with a computer-aided design software program. Two types of 1-piece endodontic crowns were fabricated: 3D printed by using resin and zirconia slurry and milled from Grandio and zirconia blocks. A reverse engineering software program was used to superimpose 4 groups of crowns with the reference crowns used for accuracy analysis. Microcomputed tomography was used to measure 1-piece endodontic crown adaptation. The correlation between trueness and adaptation was evaluated through the Spearman correlation test (α=.05). RESULTS: Milled resin-based 1-piece endodontic crowns demonstrated better trueness on marginal and occlusal surfaces compared with 3D printed ones (P<.001). However, no significant difference was observed in the trueness of intaglio surfaces between the 2 groups (P>.05). The milled group exhibited better adaptations than the printed one (P<.05). For zirconia 1-piece endodontic crowns, no significant differences were found in trueness or adaptation between the milled and printed groups (P>.05). Notably, the trueness of the axial wall had the greatest impact on overall crown adaptation, with its adaptation closely linked to the trueness of each area, particularly the axial wall. CONCLUSIONS: Milled resin-based 1-piece endodontic crowns exhibited higher levels of trueness and adaptation compared with 3D printed ones, while 3D printed zirconia 1-piece endodontic crowns were comparable with milled ones.

Impaired angiogenesis in ageing: the central role of the extracellular matrix.

Each step in angiogenesis is regulated by the extracellular matrix (ECM). Accumulating evidence indicates that ageing-related changes in the ECM driven by cellular senescence lead to a reduction in neovascularisation, reduced microvascular density, and an increased risk of tissue ischaemic injury. These changes can lead to health events that have major negative impacts on quality of life and place a significant financial burden on the healthcare system. Elucidating interactions between the ECM and cells during angiogenesis in the context of ageing is neceary to clarify the mechanisms underlying reduced angiogenesis in older adults. In this review, we summarize ageing-related changes in the composition, structure, and function of the ECM and their relevance for angiogenesis. Then, we explore in detail the mechanisms of interaction between the aged ECM and cells during impaired angiogenesis in the older population for the first time, discussing diseases caused by restricted angiogenesis. We also outline several novel pro-angiogenic therapeutic strategies targeting the ECM that can provide new insights into the choice of appropriate treatments for a variety of age-related diseases. Based on the knowledge gathered from recent reports and journal articles, we provide a better understanding of the mechanisms underlying impaired angiogenesis with age and contribute to the development of effective treatments that will enhance quality of life.

Effect of B-Doping and Manifestation on TiO2-Supported IrO2 for Oxygen Evolution Reaction in Water Electrolysis.

To commercialize hydrogen production by proton exchange membrane (PEM) electrolysis, the amount of rare and precious metal (iridium) required for anodic oxygen evolution reaction (OER) must be greatly reduced. In order to solve the problem, carrier loading is used to reduce the amount of iridium. Unlike the carrier modified by conventional metal element doping, this work doped the carrier with the nonmetallic element and then prepared IrO2/TiBxO2 composite catalyst using the Adams melting method. B-doped TiO2 supports with different doping amounts show the main phase rutile structure. Among them, the conductivity of B-doped carrier shows an increasing trend with the increase of doping amount, because boron can form holes and negative centers after doping, and more carriers improve the conductivity of the support. In addition, since element B is manifested from inside to outside on the support, B can affect the catalytic process. After the manifestation of element B, the carrier loaded with IrO2 exhibited superior electrocatalytic properties. The voltammetric charge per unit mass of 40IrO2/TiB0.3O2#2 (where #2 represents B after manifestation) reaches 1970 mC (cm2 mg)-1, the corresponding overpotential is 273 mV at a current density of 10 mA/cm-2, and the Tafel slope is 61.9 mV/dec Also, the charge transfer resistance is only 15 Ω. Finally, in the stability test, the composite catalyst is also better than pure IrO2 in the 20 000 s operation. Therefore, element B has an unexpectedly positive effect on the catalytic progress on the surface of the support after its manifestation.

Psychometric evaluation of nursing interns' consciousness of rights scale in clinical practice.

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to translate the Awareness of Rights Scale into Chinese and test its psychometric properties among nursing students in clinical practice. METHODS: The original English scale was translated, synthesized, and back-translated according to the Brislin translation model: the translated scale was cross-culturally adapted through expert correspondence and pretesting to form the Chinese version of the scale; a convenience sampling method was used to survey 486 nursing interns in Liaoning, Guangdong, and Anhui regions to assess the reliability and validity of the scale. RESULTS: The Chinese version of the scale consists of 14 items in three dimensions. The Cronbach's alpha value of the scale was 0.916 and the range of Cronbach's alpha coefficients of subscale was 0.768 to 0.894. The discounted half reliability was 0.867 and the retest reliability was 0.901. The scale content validity index (S-CVI) was 0.963. A total of three common factors were extracted for the exploratory factor analysis. The confirmatory factor analysis indices fit well (χ2/df = 1.092, RMSEA = 0.014, CFI = 0.998, IFI = 0.998. TLI = 0.997), and the model fit was good. CONCLUSION: The Chinese version of the scale has good reliability and validity in the nursing intern population and can be used to assess nursing interns' awareness of their rights in clinical practice in mainland China.

Effects of Tiaopi Xiezhuo decoction on constipation and gut dysbiosis in patients with peritoneal dialysis.

CONTEXT: A Chinese herbal formula, Tiaopi Xiezhuo decoction (TXD), is developed from a classical Chinese prescription Sanhuang Xiexin decoction. OBJECTIVE: To investigate the regulatory effect of TXD on gut dysbiosis, as a treatment of constipation in patients with peritoneal dialysis (PD). MATERIALS AND METHODS: The chemical content of TXD was assessed by high-performance liquid chromatography. A total of 29 PD patients were enrolled and treated with TXD orally (3 g crude drug/each/twice/day) for 3 months. Blood and faecal samples were collected at the beginning and end, to determine the changes in biochemical characteristics and gut microbial composition. The stool conditions were asked to be scored. Additional 30 healthy individuals were recruited as a control for the analysis of gut microbiota. RESULTS: Although having no significant effects on serum biochemical characteristics, 3-month TXD intervention improved constipation in PD patients: decreased 80% abdominal distention (p < 0.01), increased 2.6-fold sloppy stools (p < 0.05) and eliminated hard stool completely (p < 0.01). The analysis of gut microbiota showed that, compared to the healthy group, the microbial richness was reduced in PD patients. After a 3-month TXD treatment, this reduced richness was raised, and Paraprevotella clara, Lachnospiraceae bacterium 2-146FA, Phascolarctobaterium succinatutens, Lachnospiraceae bacterium 2-1-58FAA, Fusobacterium mortiferum, and Prevotella copri were accumulated in the intestinal flora. Furthermore, the bacterial species enriched by TXD correlated with the improvement of constipation. DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSIONS: TXD treatment may improve constipation by modulating gut dysbiosis in PD patients. These findings provide data to support the further application of TXD in the adjuvant treatment of PD.

Construction and verification of a quantitative index system to evaluate the medical and nursing care for the elderly service needs. / è€å¹´äººåŒ»å »æœåŠ¡éœ€æ±‚é‡åŒ–è¯„ä¼°æŒ‡æ ‡ä½“ç³»çš„æž„å»ºä¸ŽéªŒè¯.

OBJECTIVES: To construct a quantitative index system with the integrated medical and nursing care assessment for the elderly service needs, this system can assess the cost of medical and care services accurately and objectively, so as to provide scientific basis for the allocation of old-age service resources in China. METHODS: Based on the survival needs of the Existence, Relation and Growth theory, an index system is constructed through literature analysis, group discussion, and expert correspondence. Analytic hierarchy process was used to determine the weights of indicators at all levels. The 3-grades service items corresponding to each index were quantified through the measurement of working hours, and the medical and nursing care needs of 624 disabled/demented elderly people over 60 years old in Changsha were investigated to evaluate their reliability and validity. RESULTS: The authoritative coefficients of the 2 rounds of expert correspondence were 88.5% and 88.6%, respectively, and the opinion coordination coefficients were 0.159 and 0.167, respectively. The final quantitative evaluation index system included 4 first-level indicators, 17 second-level indicators, and 105 third-level indicators. The service time of doctor ranged from 6.01 to 22.64 min, the service time of nurses ranged from 0.77 to 24.79 min, and the service time of caregiver ranged from 0.12 to 51.88 min. The Cronbach's αcoefficient was 0.73, the split-half reliability was 0.74, the content validity was 0.93, and the calibration validity was 0.781. CONCLUSIONS: The quantitative evaluation index system of medical and nursing service need for the elderly can be used to accurately evaluate the medical and nursing service need.

First Report of Black Dot Caused by Colletotrichum coccodes on Potato in the Tibet Autonomous Region of China.

Potato black dot causing by Colletotrichum coccodes is a common disease in potato throughout the world, infecting underground stems, tubers, roots and foliage. Potato is becoming the third main food crop produced on ~16,000 ha annually in the Tibet Autonomous Region of China, situated on the world's highest plateau. However, the disease causing by C. coccodes has not been reported in this region. During the disease survey in the Bailang County of Tibet in August, 2020, some potato plants cv. "JiZhang 12" with chlorosis and wilting of foliage were observed. The incidence of affected plants was 20%. Necrotic lesions were also observed on the basal stems of the affected plants. Three affected plants were collected for pathogen isolation and three isolates were obtained for further investigation. The colonies on potato dextrose agar (PDA) were initially white, turning gradually black with age and producing abundant black sclerotia. Conidia were cylindrical, hyaline, aseptate, guttulate, with average size of 13.80 to 18.55×4.94 to 5.35 µm for the three isolates in which 30 conidia each were measured. Such characteristics are similar to C. coccodes (Lees and Hilton, 2003). Mycelial growth rate was 0.69 to 0.74 cm/day at 25 oC over the three isolates. The three isolates were confirmed to be C. coccodes by species-specific PCR using primer set of Cc1NF1/Cc2NR1 producing 350 bp amplicons in the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) region according to Cullen et al. (2002). The Cc1NF1/Cc2NR1 sequences were identical for three isolates, therefore one sequence from isolate BL_JZ_J1 was submitted to the GenBank with accession number OM368349. Additional genes were also sequencing including the actin (ACT), chitin synthase l (CHS1), glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase (GAPDH), and another larger ITS region were also amplified from genomic DNA using primers sets ACT512F/ACT783R, CHS-79F/CHS-354R (Carbone and Kohn 1999), GDF1/GDR1 (Templeton et al. 1992) and ITS1/ITS4 (Glass and Donaldson 1995), respectively. Sequences obtained for those four regions were 216 bp, 218bp, 235bp and 576 bp, respectively. Each region in the three isolates were also identical, therefore one sequence for each region was submitted to the GenBank with accession number of OM417059, OM417060, OM417061, and OM349570, respectively, which had 100% similarity with C. coccodes of MN336525 (ACT), KU821274 (CHS1), KU821397 (GAPDH) and KU821175 (ITS), respectively. Phylogenetic analyses based on the concatenated sequences of those four loci showed that the BL_JZ_J1 was close to C. coccodes, a reference isolate of CPOS1 with the accession numbers of GQ856787 (ACT), GQ856723 (CHS1), GQ856744 (GAPDH) and GQ485588 (ITS) (Yang et al. 2009). Pathogenicity was confirmed by inoculating a conidia suspension (100 µl of 105 conidia/ml) on three stems of 6-week-old potato plant cv. 'Favorita' with an artificial wound generated by sterile toothpick for each isolate. An equal volume of sterile water was injected on the wound of three stems as a noninoculated control. Brownish necrotic lesions were observed on all inoculated stems 3 days post-inoculation under natural conditions, whereas control stems remained symptomless. Reisolation of the fungus from all inoculated symptomatic plants confirmed Koch's Postulates. To our knowledge, this is the first report of C. coccodes in potato in Tibet Autonomous Region of China. The finding of black dot in this region has important management implications for the growers since the pathogen can survive for long periods in the field both on potato debris and in soil.

Global Identification and Characterization of C2 Domain-Containing Proteins Associated with Abiotic Stress Response in Rice (Oryza sativa L.).

C2 domain-containing proteins (C2DPs) have been identified in different genomes that contain single or multiple C2 domains in their C- or N-terminal. It possesses higher functional activity in the transmembrane regions. The identification of C2 domains were reported in a previous study, such as multiple C2 domains and transmembrane-region proteins (MCTPs) and N-terminal-TM-C2 domain proteins (NTMC2s) of rice, Arabidopsis thaliana, and cotton, whereas the C2DP gene family in rice has not been comprehensively studied, and the role of the C2DP gene in rice in response to abiotic stress is not yet fully understood. In this study, we identified 82 C2DPs in the rice genome and divided them into seven groups through phylogenetic analysis. The synteny analysis revealed that duplication events were either exhibited within the genome of rice or between the genomes of rice and other species. Through the analysis of cis-acting elements in promoters, expression profiles, and qRT-PCR results, the functions of OsC2DPs were found to be widely distributed in diverse tissues and were extensively involved in phytohormones-related and abiotic stresses response in rice. The prediction of the microRNA (miRNA) targets of OsC2DPs revealed the possibility of regulation by consistent miRNAs. Notably, OsC2DP50/51/52 as a co-tandem duplication exhibited similar expression variations and involved the coincident miRNA-regulation pathway. Moreover, the results of the genotypic variation and haplotype analysis revealed that OsC2DP17, OsC2DP29, and OsC2DP49 were associated with cold stress responses. These findings provided comprehensive insights for characterizations of OsC2DPs in rice as well as for their roles for abiotic stress.

Effect of virtual cement space and restorative materials on the adaptation of CAD-CAM endocrowns.

BACKGROUND: This study aimed to evaluate the effect of virtual cement space and restorative materials on the fit of computer-aided design and computer-aided manufacturing (CAD-CAM) endocrowns. METHODS: A mandibular first molar tooth model received a butt joint margin endocrown preparation with a 2-mm occlusal thickness. Then, using a 3D-printing system, 120 copies of this prepared die were printed and assigned equally to three groups with different cement space settings (30, 60, and 120 µm) during the chairside CAD design. In the milling process, CAD-based models with a particular space setting were subdivided into four groups (n = 10) and fabricated from different CAD-CAM materials: Vita Suprinity (VS), Celtra Duo (CD), Lava Ultimate (LU), and Grandio blocs (GR). Finally, the endocrowns were stabilized over their corresponding models with siloxane and subjected to micro-computed tomography to measure the fit. RESULTS: The cement space that was predesigned at 30 µm generated the largest marginal discrepancy (from 144.68 ± 22.43 µm to 174.36 ± 22.78 µm), which was significantly different from those at 60 µm and 120 µm (p < 0.001). The combination of VS or CD with a pre-setting cement space of 60 µm and the combination of LU or GR with a cement space of 120 µm showed better agreement between the predesigned and actual measured marginal gap widths. For internal adaptation, only the cement space set to 30 µm exceeded the clinically acceptable threshold (200 µm). CONCLUSIONS: The setting of the cement space and restorative material significantly affected the marginal adaptation of CAD-CAM endocrown restorations. Considering the discrepancy between design and reality, different virtual cement spaces should be applied to ceramic and resin composite materials.

Development of the nurse's communication ability with angry patients scale and evaluation of its psychometric properties.

AIMS: To develop the Nurse's Communication Ability with Angry Patients Scale (NCAAPS) and evaluate its psychometric properties. DESIGN: An instrument development and validation study. METHODS: The survey was administered to 501 nurses from different emergency departments in China between 2 August 2019 and 3 October 2019. Data from 456 completed questionnaires were analysed to identify the factor structure of the NCAAPS. RESULTS: The content validity index was satisfactory. Four factors were included and 71.25% of the total variance was explained by 19 items in NCAAPS. Confirmatory factor analysis supported the four-factor structure. Cronbach's α coefficient was 0.96 for the overall scale and 0.81-0.92 for its subscales. Test-retest reliability was 0.740. CONCLUSION: We consider the NCAAPS to be a useful tool for measuring the ability of nurses to communicate with angry patients. IMPACT: It is anticipated that this new scale will help educators to identify specific areas of deficiency that could be targeted with training to improve the ability of nursing staff to communicate with angry patients.

Influence of restorative material and cement on the stress distribution of endocrowns: 3D finite element analysis.

PURPOSE: This study aimed to evaluate the influence of different types of restorative materials and resin cements on the stress distribution in the regions of the restoration, cement layer and dental remnant in endodontically treated posterior endocrowns. METHODS: A 3D finite element analysis (FEA) model of the first mandibular molar that was restored with an endocrown designed by computer-aided design (CAD) software was generated. Three kinds of restorative materials (Vita Enamic (VE), IPS e.max CAD (EMX) and Grandio blocs (GR)) and two types of cementing materials (NX3 and Maxcem Elite Chroma (MX)) were analysed with such a model. The food layer was also designed before vertical (600 N) forces were applied to simulate physiological masticatory conditions. Thermal expansion was used to simulate the polymerization shrinkage effects of cement layers. The results were obtained by colorimetric graphs of the maximum principal stress in the restoration and tooth remnant. The failure risk of the cement layer was also calculated based on the normal stress. RESULTS: The elastic modulus was positively correlated with the tensile stress peak values in the restoration, mainly at the intaglio surface. However, in the cervical enamel and cement layer, restorative material with a higher elastic modulus generated lower peak stress values. The cement with a higher elastic modulus resulted in higher stress peak values inside the cement layer. The combination of EMX (restorative material) and NX3 (cement material) in the cement layer resulted in the lowest failure risk. SIGNIFICANCE: The ceramic material EMX with a higher elastic modulus appeared to be more effective at protecting the cement layer and residual enamel tissue. Based on the analysis of the failure risk of the cement layer, the combination of EMX and NX3 was recommended as an optional material for endocrowns for endodontically treated posterior teeth.

Nursing behaviors relevant to pressure injury in the general hospitals of Changsha, China. / 长沙市三级综合医院护士压力性损伤护理行为现状.

OBJECTIVES: To investigate the status and the related factors of nursing behaviors for pressure injury, and to provide the evidence for standardizing pressure injury management. METHODS: A total of 1 039 clinical nursing staff from 4 general hospitals in Changsha from December 1 to 30, 2017 were selected by a stratified random sampling procedure. Nurses' demographic information such as age, gender, title, educational attainment, and department were collected. We investigated the status of nursing behaviors on pressure injury by a self-designed questionnaire, assessed nurses' knowledge of pressure injury and nurses' attitude of pressure injury using the Pressure Ulcer Knowledge Test and Attitude towards Pressure Ulcer Prevention Instrument, respectively, compared the nursing behaviors on pressure injury with different backgrounds, used multiple linear regression to analyze the influential factors for nursing behaviors on pressure injury, and conducted the Pearson correlation analysis for nurses' knowledge, attitude, and behaviors on the pressure injury. RESULTS: The overall nursing behaviors score on pressure injury was 155.96±17.29. The 5 dimensional scores from high to low were: risk assessment (4.42±0.49), prevention actions (4.40±0.50), risk understanding (4.35±0.52), injury assessment and interventions (4.27±0.55), and health education (4.25±0.63). A significant difference was found in the nursing behavior scores of pressure injury among ages, lengths of service, education, and training times (all P˂0.05). There was no correlation between nurses' knowledge and behaviors (P=0.606). The nurses' attitude was positively correlated with their behaviors (r=0.307, P˂0.001), and the nurses' knowledge was also positively correlated with their attitudes (r=0.212, P˂0.001). The results of multiple linear regression showed that the length of service (≤5 years), training times (1-2 times), education (diploma or below), the scores of nurses' knowledge, and the scores of nurses' attitude were independent influencial factors of nurses' behaviors on pressure injury. CONCLUSIONS: The nursing staff in the general hospital of Changsha has a high level of nursing behaviors on pressure injury, and they has good sense of responsibility and confidence. However, personal competence in pressure injury is insufficient and still needs to be improved. The nursing managers should focus on the nurses' attitude and training frequency, increasing the experience in nursing the pressure injury and practical level, and arouse the highly educated nurses' enthusiasm and sense of accomplishment to prevent pressure injury, thus reducing the incidence of pressure injury.

Effects of Intrinsic and Extrinsic Factors on the Level of Hope and Psychological Health Status of Patients with Cervical Cancer During Radiotherapy.

BACKGROUND This study aimed to explore the factors affecting the level of hope and psychological health status of patients with cervical cancer (CC) during radiotherapy. MATERIAL AND METHODS A total of 480 CC patients were recruited. Psychological distress scale, Herth hope index, functional assessment cancer therapy-cervix, and Jolowiec coping scale were used to conduct surveys on psychological distress, level of hope, quality of life (QOL), and coping style to analyze the factors affecting the level of hope and psychological health status of CC patients. RESULTS The morbidity of significant psychological distress in 480 CC patients during radiotherapy was 68%, and the main factors causing psychological distress were emotional problems and physical problems. During radiotherapy, most patients had middle and high levels of hope, and the psychological distress index of patients was negatively correlated with the level of hope. The QOL of CC patients during radiotherapy were at middle and high levels, and the QOL was positively correlated with confrontment, optimism, appeasement, and self-reliance, but it was negatively correlated with predestination and emotional expression. CONCLUSIONS For CC patients during radiotherapy, the morbidity of psychological distress was high, but they were at middle and high levels of hope.

The complete mitochondrial genome of the tropical sea urchin Tripneustes gratilla (Linnaeus, 1758) with two spine colors.

The complete mitochondrial genomes of two spine-color individuals, red and white, of the tropical sea urchin species Tripneustes gratilla (Linnaeus, 1758) were sequenced on Illumina system platform. The red-spined species had a genome size of 15,774 bp, while the white-spined species had a genome size of 15,723 bp. Both genomes contained 13 protein-coding genes, 2 rRNA genes, and 22 tRNA genes. The GC composition in both species was above 40%. In order to investigate the phylogenetic relationships of two different spine-color individuals, a comprehensive analysis was conducted using eight complete mitochondrial genomic sequences of the genus Tripneustes on the software MEGA X. It was observed that the two spine color types of T. gratilla species showed a high similarity of 98.91%. However, different color-spined species of T. gratilla were found in separate branches of the phylogenetic tree of the same sea urchin species.

Aqueous extract of Phellinus igniarius ameliorates hyperuricemia and renal injury in adenine/potassium oxonate-treated mice.

Phellinus igniarius is an important medicinal and edible fungus with diverse biological activities. This study aimed to investigate the effects of aqueous extract from P. igniarius (API) on the treatment of hyperuricemia (HUA) and related kidney damage. The chemical constituents of API were determined. The therapeutic effects of API on HUA and renal injury were assessed in adenine/potassium oxonate (PO)-treated mice. The constituent analysis of API revealed a predominance of polysaccharides (33.4 %), followed by total flavonoids (9.1 %), and total triterpenoids (3.5 %). Compared to control, the adenine/PO treatment greatly elevated serum uric acid (UA) levels but this elevation was attenuated by API. In the liver, the expression and activity of xanthine oxidase (XOD) were increased by HUA which were diminished by API. Furthermore, API was found to enhance the expression of UA transporter ABCG2 in the kidney and intestine of HUA mice, suggesting elevating UA excretion. Additionally, API ameliorated HUA-induced renal injury, as indicated by reduced serum BUN/creatinine levels, decreased glomerular and tubular damage, and lowered fibrotic levels. Network pharmacology analysis predicted that P. igniarius may regulate mitochondrial function to improve HUA-related renal injury. This prediction was then substantialized by the API-induced upregulation of NAD+/NADH ratio, ATP level, SOD2 activity, and expression of SOD2/PCG-1α/PPARγ in the kidney of HUA mice. Our results demonstrate that API may effectively ameliorate HUA by reducing UA production in the liver and enhancing UA excretion in the kidney and intestine, and it might be a potential therapy to HUA-related renal injury.

Hotspots and trends of microglia in Alzheimer's disease: a bibliometric analysis during 2000-2022.

BACKGROUND: Alzheimer's disease is one common type of dementia. Numerous studies have suggested a correlation between Alzheimer's disease and inflammation. Microglia mainly participate in the inflammatory response in the brain. Currently, ample evidence has shown that microglia are closely related to the occurrence and development of Alzheimer's disease. OBJECTIVE: We opted for bibliometric analysis to comprehensively summarize the advancements in the study of microglia in Alzheimer's disease, aiming to provide researchers with current trends and future research directions. METHODS: All articles and reviews pertaining to microglia in Alzheimer's disease from 2000 to 2022 were downloaded through Web of Science Core Collection. The results were subjected to bibliometric analysis using VOSviewer 1.6.18 and CiteSpace 6.1 R2. RESULTS: Overall, 7449 publications were included. The number of publications was increasing yearly. The United States has published the most publications. Harvard Medical School has published the most papers of all institutions. Journal of Alzheimer's Disease and Journal of Neuroscience were the journals with the most studies and the most commonly cited, respectively. Mt Heneka is the author with the highest productivity and co-citation. After analysis, the most common keywords are neuroinflammation, amyloid-beta, inflammation, neurodegeneration. Gut microbiota, extracellular vesicle, dysfunction and meta-analysis are the hotspots of research at the present stage and are likely to continue. CONCLUSION: NLRP3 inflammasome, TREM2, gut microbiota, mitochondrial dysfunction, exosomes are research hotspots. The relationship between microglia-mediated neuroinflammation and Alzheimer's disease have been the focus of current research and the development trend of future research.

Effects of Nanomaterials on Synthesis and Degradation of the Extracellular Matrix.

Extracellular matrix (ECM) remodeling is accompanied by the continuous synthesis and degradation of the ECM components. This dynamic process plays an important role in guiding cell adhesion, migration, proliferation, and differentiation, as well as in tissue development, body repair, and maintenance of homeostasis. Nanomaterials, due to their photoelectric and catalytic properties and special structure, have garnered much attention in biomedical fields for use in processes such as tissue engineering and disease treatment. Nanomaterials can reshape the cell microenvironment by changing the synthesis and degradation of ECM-related proteins, thereby indirectly changing the behavior of the surrounding cells. This review focuses on the regulatory role of nanomaterials in the process of cell synthesis of different ECM-related proteins and extracellular protease. We discuss influencing factors and possible related mechanisms of nanomaterials in ECM remodeling, which may provide different insights into the design and development of nanomaterials for the treatment of ECM disorder-related diseases.

Therapeutic effects of epigallocatechin-3-gallate for inflammatory bowel disease: A preclinical meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: Epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG), the primary active compound in green tea, is recognized for its significant anti-inflammatory properties and potential pharmacological effects on inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). However, comprehensive preclinical evidence supporting the use of EGCG in treating IBD is currently insufficient. PURPOSE: To evaluate the efficacy of EGCG in animal models of IBD and explore potential underlying mechanisms, serving as a groundwork for future clinical investigations. METHODS: A systematic review of pertinent preclinical studies published until September 1, 2023, in databases such as PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, and Cochrane Library was conducted, adhering to stringent quality criteria. The potential mechanisms via which EGCG may address IBD were summarized. STATA v16.0 was used to perform a meta-analysis to assess IBD pathology, inflammation, and indicators of oxidative stress. Additionally, dose-response analysis and machine learning models were utilized to evaluate the dose-effect relationship and determine the optimal dosage of EGCG for IBD treatment. RESULTS: The analysis included 19 studies involving 309 animals. The findings suggest that EGCG can ameliorate IBD-related pathology in animals, with a reduction in inflammatory and oxidative stress indicators. These effects were observed through significant changes in histological scores, Disease Activity Index, Colitis Macroscopic Damage Index and colon length; a decrease in markers such as interleukin (IL)-1ß, IL-6 and interferon-γ; and alterations in malondialdehyde, superoxide dismutase, glutathione, and catalase levels. Subgroup analysis indicated that the oral administration route of EGCG exhibited superior efficacy over other administration routes. Dose-response analysis and machine learning outcomes highlighted an optimal EGCG dosage range of 32-62 mg/kg/day, with an intervention duration of 4.8-13.6 days. CONCLUSIONS: EGCG exhibits positive effects on IBD, particularly when administered at the dose range of 32 - 62 mg/kg/day, primarily attributed to its ability to regulate inflammation and oxidative stress levels.