[Relationship between macrophage pyroptosis and atherosclerosis based on theory of "spleen in correlation with endoplasmic reticulum"].

The key pathogenesis of atherosclerosis(AS) in traditional Chinese medicine(TCM) lies in the combination of phlegm and stasis due to spleen deficiency. In Western medicine, it is believed that pyroptosis can lead to atherosclerosis, and endoplasmic reticulum stress has been shown to promote pyroptosis. According to the theories of " spleen in correlation with endoplasmic reticulum",guided by spleen governing transportation and transformation, and endoplasmic reticulum processing proteins, it is believed that the syndrome of phlegm combined with stasis due to spleen deficiency has similarities with the mechanism of macrophage pyroptosis induced by endoplasmic reticulum stress in accelerating the progression of AS. This study explored the correlation between phlegm combined with stasis due to spleen deficiency and pyroptosis induced by endoplasmic reticulum stress, and then analyzed the modern medical mechanisms of phlegm combined with stasis due to spleen deficiency in mediating atherosclerosis. The discussion enriches the theory of spleen in correlation with endoplasmic reticulum, provides research ideas on the prevention and treatment of AS by invigorating spleen,eliminating phlegm, and resolving stasis, and lays a theoretical foundation for the clinical application of spleen-invigorating TCM in the treatment of AS.

Comparative genomics of the medicinal plants Lonicera macranthoides and L. japonica provides insight into genus genome evolution and hederagenin-based saponin biosynthesis.

Lonicera macranthoides (LM) and L. japonica (LJ) are medicinal plants widely used in treating viral diseases, such as COVID-19. Although the two species are morphologically similar, their secondary metabolite profiles are significantly different. Here, metabolomics analysis showed that LM contained ~86.01 mg/g hederagenin-based saponins, 2000-fold higher than LJ. To gain molecular insights into its secondary metabolite production, a chromosome-level genome of LM was constructed, comprising 9 pseudo-chromosomes with 40 097 protein-encoding genes. Genome evolution analysis showed that LM and LJ were diverged 1.30-2.27 million years ago (MYA). The two plant species experienced a common whole-genome duplication event that occurred ∼53.9-55.2 MYA before speciation. Genes involved in hederagenin-based saponin biosynthesis were arranged in clusters on the chromosomes of LM and they were more highly expressed in LM than in LJ. Among them, oleanolic acid synthase (OAS) and UDP-glycosyltransferase 73 (UGT73) families were much more highly expressed in LM than in LJ. Specifically, LmOAS1 was identified to effectively catalyse the C-28 oxidation of ß-Amyrin to form oleanolic acid, the precursor of hederagenin-based saponin. LmUGT73P1 was identified to catalyse cauloside A to produce α-hederin. We further identified the key amino acid residues of LmOAS1 and LmUGT73P1 for their enzymatic activities. Additionally, comparing with collinear genes in LJ, LmOAS1 and LmUGT73P1 had an interesting phenomenon of 'neighbourhood replication' in LM genome. Collectively, the genomic resource and candidate genes reported here set the foundation to fully reveal the genome evolution of the Lonicera genus and hederagenin-based saponin biosynthetic pathway.

Paired Derivatization Approach with H/D-Labeled Hydroxylamine Reagents for Sensitive and Accurate Analysis of Monosaccharides by Liquid Chromatography Tandem Mass Spectrometry.

Monosaccharides play important roles in biological processes. Sensitive and accurate analyses of monosaccharides remain challenging because of their high hydrophilicities and poor ionization efficiencies. Here, we developed a paired derivatization approach with H/D-labeled hydroxylamines for simultaneous quantification of 12 monosaccharides by liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS). O-(4-Methoxybenzyl)hydroxylamine hydrochloride (4-MOBHA·HCl) showed higher derivatization efficiency for monosaccharides compared to six other hydroxylamine analogues. The derivatization of monosaccharides was readily achieved in an aqueous solution. Furthermore, the deuterium-labeled isotope reagent, d3-4-MOBHA·HCl, was newly synthesized to stably label monosaccharides to improve its accuracy and precision in complex matrix analysis. As a result, 12 monosaccharides were rapidly detected by LC-MS/MS within 16 min with significant improvements in chromatographic separation and retention time. The detection sensitivity increased by 83 to 1600-fold with limits of quantitation ranging from 0.25 to 3.00 fmol. With the paired derivatization strategy, the monosaccharides could be accurately quantified with good linearity (R2 > 0.99) and satisfactory accuracy (recoveries: 85-110%). Using this method, we achieved sensitive and accurate quantification of the monosaccharide composition of herbal polysaccharides and the change in monosaccharide levels in human cell lines under physiopathological conditions. More importantly, the developed method was able to differentiate between the levels of the monosaccharides in fecal samples of human ulcerative colitis (UC) patients and UC mice compared to their respective controls. The differential monosaccharides determined in human feces provided a good diagnostic performance in distinguishing the UC patients from healthy individuals, showing potential for clinical application.

Neuraminidase 1 is a driver of experimental cardiac hypertrophy.

AIMS: Despite considerable therapeutic advances, there is still a dearth of evidence on the molecular determinants of cardiac hypertrophy that culminate in heart failure. Neuraminidases are a family of enzymes that catalyze the cleavage of terminal sialic acids from glycoproteins or glycolipids. This study sought to characterize the role of neuraminidases in pathological cardiac hypertrophy and identify pharmacological inhibitors targeting mammalian neuraminidases. METHODS AND RESULTS: Neuraminidase 1 (NEU1) was highly expressed in hypertrophic hearts of mice and rats, and this elevation was confirmed in patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (n = 7) compared with healthy controls (n = 7). The increased NEU1 was mainly localized in cardiomyocytes by co-localization with cardiac troponin T. Cardiomyocyte-specific NEU1 deficiency alleviated hypertrophic phenotypes in response to transverse aortic constriction or isoproterenol hydrochloride infusion, while NEU1 overexpression exacerbated the development of cardiac hypertrophy. Mechanistically, co-immunoprecipitation coupled with mass spectrometry, chromatin immunoprecipitation, and luciferase assays demonstrated that NEU1 translocated into the nucleus and interacted with GATA4, leading to Foetal gene (Nppa and Nppb) expression. Virtual screening and experimental validation identified a novel compound C-09 from millions of compounds that showed favourable binding affinity to human NEU1 (KD = 0.38 µM) and effectively prevented the development of cardiac remodelling in cellular and animal models. Interestingly, anti-influenza drugs zanamivir and oseltamivir effectively inhibited mammalian NEU1 and showed new indications of cardio-protection. CONCLUSIONS: This work identifies NEU1 as a critical driver of cardiac hypertrophy and inhibition of NEU1 opens up an entirely new field of treatment for cardiovascular diseases.

Functional Metabolomics Characterizes a Key Role for N-Acetylneuraminic Acid in Coronary Artery Diseases.

BACKGROUND: As new biomarkers of coronary artery diseases (CAD) emerge via metabolomics, the underlying functional mechanisms remain to be elucidated. Functional metabolomics aims to translate metabolomics-derived biomarkers to disease mechanisms. METHODS: A cohort of 2324 patients who underwent coronary angiography from 4 independent centers was studied. A combination of ultra-performance liquid chromatography and quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry in the negative ion mode was used for untargeted analysis of metabolites in plasma. Significant differential metabolites were identified by cross-comparisons with and within CAD types, including normal coronary artery, nonobstructvie coronary atherosclerosis, stable angina, unstable angina, and acute myocardial infarction. A tandem liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry-based approach using isotope-labeled standard addition was subsequently performed for targeted analysis of the metabolic marker N-acetylneuraminic acid (Neu5Ac). A functional metabolomics strategy was proposed to investigate the role of Neu5Ac in the progression of CAD by using in vitro and in vivo models. RESULTS: We identified a total of 36 differential metabolites, 35 of which were confirmed with reference compounds. Elevation of Neu5Ac was observed in plasma during CAD progression in center 1 (P=4.0e-64, n=2019) and replicated in 3 independent centers (n=305). The increased level of Neu5Ac in plasma was confirmed by accurate targeted quantification. Mechanistically, Neu5Ac was able to trigger myocardial injury in vitro and in vivo by activation of the Rho/Rho-associated coiled-coil containing protein kinase signaling pathway through binding to RhoA and Cdc42, but not Rac1. Silencing neuraminidase-1, the enzyme that regulates Neu5Ac generation, ameliorated oxygen-glucose deprivation-induced injury in cardiomyocytes and ligation/isoprenaline-induced myocardial ischemia injury in rats. Pharmacological inhibition of neuraminidase by anti-influenza drugs, oseltamivir and zanamivir, also protected cardiomyocytes and the heart from myocardial injury. CONCLUSIONS: Functional metabolomics identified a key role for Neu5Ac in acute myocardial infarction, and targeting neuraminidase-1 may represent an unrecognized therapeutic intervention for CAD.

Comprehensive evaluation of time-varied outcomes for invasive and conservative strategies in patients with NSTE-ACS: a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.

Background: Results from randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and meta-analyses comparing invasive and conservative strategies in patients with non-ST-elevation acute coronary syndrome (NSTE-ACS) are highly debatable. We systematically evaluate the efficacy of invasive and conservative strategies in NSTE-ACS based on time-varied outcomes. Methods: The RCTs for the invasive versus conservative strategies were identified by searching PubMed, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, Embase, and ClinicalTrials.gov. Trial data for studies with a minimum follow-up time of 30 days were included. We categorized the follow-up time into six varied periods, namely, ≤6 months, 1 year, 2 years, 3 years, 5 years, and ≥10 years. The time-varied outcomes were major adverse cardiovascular event (MACE), death, myocardial infarction (MI), rehospitalization, cardiovascular death, bleeding, in-hospital death, and in-hospital bleeding. Risk ratios (RRs) and 95% confidence intervals (Cis) were calculated. The random effects model was used. Results: This meta-analysis included 30 articles of 17 RCTs involving 12,331 participants. We found that the invasive strategy did not provide appreciable benefits for NSTE-ACS in terms of MACE, death, and cardiovascular death at all time points compared with the conservative strategy. Although the risk of MI was reduced within 6 months (RR 0.80, 95% CI 0.68-0.94) for the invasive strategy, no significant differences were observed in other periods. The invasive strategy reduced the rehospitalization rate within 6 months (RR 0.69, 95% CI 0.52-0.90), 1 year (RR 0.73, 95% CI 0.63-0.86), and 2 years (RR 0.77, 95% CI 0.60-1.00). Of note, an increased risk of bleeding (RR 1.80, 95% CI 1.28-2.54) and in-hospital bleeding (RR 2.17, 95% CI 1.52-3.10) was observed for the invasive strategy within 6 months. In subgroups stratified by high-risk features, the invasive strategy decreased MACE for patients aged ≥65 years within 6 months (RR 0.68, 95% CI 0.58-0.78) and 1 year (RR 0.75, 95% CI 0.62-0.91) and showed benefits for men within 6 months (RR 0.71, 95% CI 0.55-0.92). In other subgroups stratified according to diabetes, ST-segment deviation, and troponin levels, no significant differences were observed between the two strategies. Conclusions: An invasive strategy is superior to a conservative strategy in reducing early events for MI and rehospitalizations, but the invasive strategy did not improve the prognosis in long-term outcomes for patients with NSTE-ACS. Systematic Review Registration: https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/prospero/display_record.php?ID=CRD42021289579, identifier PROSPERO 2021 CRD42021289579.

Intervention effect of encouraging mental and programmed nursing of patients in interventional operating room on their compliance and bad moods.

BACKGROUND: Patients' lack of correct understanding of cardiovascular disease and interventional therapy is often accompanied by varying degrees of fear, depression and anxiety. Negative emotion will affect the hemodynamic fluctuation of patients undergoing interventional surgery, which is not conducive to the smooth and safe operation of interventional surgery. Therefore, it is very important to implement effective nursing intervention in the operating room. AIM: To explore the intervention effect of motivational psychological nursing combined with programmed nursing on compliance and bad mood of patients in interventional operating room. METHODS: A total of 98 patients in the interventional operating room of our hospital from October 2019 to March 2021 were randomly divided into study group (n = 49) and control group (n = 49). The control group took routine nursing. However, the study group took motivational psychological nursing combined with procedural nursing on the basis of the control group. Statistics were made on rehabilitation compliance, Positive and Negative Affect Schedule of bad mood, Simplified Coping Styles Questionnaire score of coping style and satisfaction of intervention between the two groups before and after intervention. RESULTS: The rehabilitation compliance of the study group (95.92%) was higher than that of the control group (81.63%) (P < 0.05). After intervention, the scores of upset, fear, irritability, tension and fear in the study group were respectively, which were lower than those in the control group (P < 0.05). After intervention, the score of positive coping in the study group was higher than that in the control group. However, the score of negative coping in the study group was lower than that in the control group (P < 0.05). The intervention satisfaction of the study group (93.88%) was higher than that of the control group (79.59%) (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: The intervention of motivational psychological nursing combined with procedural nursing can improve the rehabilitation compliance, and alleviate the bad mood. In addition, it can change their coping style to the disease, and the patients are more satisfied with the nursing work.

Ginsenoside Rb1 inhibits astrocyte activation and promotes transfer of astrocytic mitochondria to neurons against ischemic stroke.

Astrocytes activation in response to stroke results in altered mitochondrial exchange with neurons. Ginsenoside Rb1is a major ginsenoside of Panax ginseng particularly known for its neuroprotective potential. This work aimed to investigate if Rb1 could rescue neurons from ischemic insult via astrocyte inactivation and mitochondrial transfer. We prepared conditioned astrocytes-derived medium for co-culture with neurons and examined the role of Rb1 in mitochondrial transfer from astrocytes to neurons. The neuroprotective potential of Rb1 was further confirmed in vivo using a mouse model of brain ischemia. In response to oxygen-glucose deprivation and reperfusion (OGD/R), astrocytes were reactivated and produced reactive oxygen species (ROS), an action that was blocked by Rb1. Mechanistically, Rb1 inhibited NADH dehydrogenase in mitochondrial complex I to block reverse electron transport-derived ROS production from complex I, and thus inactivated astrocytes to protect the mitochondria. Mitochondrial signal, mitochondrial membrane potential and ATP production detected in conditioned astrocyte-derived medium indicated that Rb1 protected functional mitochondria and facilitated their transfer. When neurons were injured by OGD/R insult, co-culturing with conditioned medium increased mitochondrial membrane potential and oxygen consumption rate within the neurons, indicating the protection conferred on them by Rb1 via mitochondrial transfer from astrocytes. Using the ischemic mouse brain model, CD38 knockdown in the cerebral ventricles diminished the neuroprotective effects of Rb1, providing evidence in support of the role of astrocyte mitochondrial transfer. Transient inhibition of mitochondrial complex I by Rb1 reduced mitochondrial ROS production and consequently avoided astrocyte activation. Astrocyte mitochondrial transfer therefore seemed a means by which Rb1 could promote neuronal survival and function. Different from the neurocentric view, these findings suggest the astrocytes may be a promising target for pharmacological interventions in ischemic brain injury.

The mitochondrial ß-oxidation enzyme HADHA restrains hepatic glucagon response by promoting ß-hydroxybutyrate production.

Disordered hepatic glucagon response contributes to hyperglycemia in diabetes. The regulators involved in glucagon response are less understood. This work aims to investigate the roles of mitochondrial ß-oxidation enzyme HADHA and its downstream ketone bodies in hepatic glucagon response. Here we show that glucagon challenge impairs expression of HADHA. Liver-specific HADHA overexpression reversed hepatic gluconeogenesis in mice, while HADHA knockdown augmented glucagon response. Stable isotope tracing shows that HADHA promotes ketone body production via ß-oxidation. The ketone body ß-hydroxybutyrate (BHB) but not acetoacetate suppresses gluconeogenesis by selectively inhibiting HDAC7 activity via interaction with Glu543 site to facilitate FOXO1 nuclear exclusion. In HFD-fed mice, HADHA overexpression improved metabolic disorders, and these effects are abrogated by knockdown of BHB-producing enzyme. In conclusion, BHB is responsible for the inhibitory effect of HADHA on hepatic glucagon response, suggesting that HADHA activation or BHB elevation by pharmacological intervention hold promise in treating diabetes.

Epithelial-myoepithelial carcinoma of the nasopharynx: A case report and review of the literature.

Background: Epithelial-myoepithelial carcinoma (EMCa) is a rare low-grade malignant tumor that most commonly occurs in the salivary glands, with approximately 320 cases having been reported worldwide. Here, we report the third case of EMCa occurring in the nasopharynx. Rare cases in the breast, pituitary gland, lacrimal gland, nose, paranasal sinus, nasal cavity, trachea and bronchus, lung, and even the pleura mediastinalis have also been reported. Histopathology and immunohistochemistry are useful for confirming the diagnosis of EMCa, which is characterized by biphasic tubular structures composed of inner ductal and outer clear myoepithelial cells and stains for different markers in each layer. However, because of the rarity of EMCa, the clinicopathological characteristics and treatment of these patients remain unclear. Case presentation: We report a rare case of EMCa of the nasopharynx. A 51-year-old man presented with a 5-month history of pain while swallowing and aggravation accompanied by right ear tinnitus lasting for 1 month. Nasopharyngoscopy and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the nasopharynx and neck revealed a 5.6 cm × 3.4 cm × 3.1 cm mass in the nasopharyngeal space, invasion of the right cavernous sinus, and lymph node enlargement in the right retropharyngeal space. On 17 April 2019, based on the histopathological and immunohistochemical features, a final diagnosis of EMCa of the right nasopharynx was made. The patient underwent concurrent chemoradiotherapy (CCRT), and his symptoms were relieved after treatment. On 10 January 2022, nasopharynx MRI and biopsy revealed local recurrence, but chest and abdominal computed tomography (CT) showed no obvious signs of metastasis. The local recurrence-free survival (LRFS) period was 33 months. Conclusion: To the best of our knowledge, this is the third reported case of EMCa in the nasopharynx and the only case of EMCa in the nasopharynx treated with CCRT, and a partial response was achieved. Therefore, to improve the quality of life and prognosis of patients with unresectable tumors, we believe that CCRT is a suitable option. Further clinical observations are required to elucidate the pathophysiology and prognosis of EMCa.

Exploring Potential Mechanisms of Fludioxonil Resistance in Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. melonis.

Melon Fusarium wilt (MFW), which is caused by Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. melonis (FOM), is a soil-borne disease that commonly impacts melon cultivation worldwide. In the absence of any disease-resistant melon cultivars, the control of MFW relies heavily on the application of chemical fungicides. Fludioxonil, a phenylpyrrole fungicide, has been shown to have broad-spectrum activity against many crop pathogens. Sensitivity analysis experiments suggest that fludioxonil has a strong inhibitory effect on the mycelial growth of FOM isolates. Five fludioxonil-resistant FOM mutants were successfully generated by repeated exposure to fludioxonil under laboratory conditions. Although the mutants exhibited significantly reduced mycelial growth in the presence of the fungicide, there initially appeared to be little fitness cost, with no significant difference (p < 0.05) in the growth rates of the mutants and wild-type isolates. However, further investigation revealed that the sporulation of the fludioxonil-resistant mutants was affected, and mutants exhibited significantly (p < 0.05) reduced growth rates in response to KCl, NaCl, glucose, and mannitol. Meanwhile, molecular analysis of the mutants strongly suggested that the observed fludioxonil resistance was related to changes in the sequence and expression of the FoOs1 gene. In addition, the current study found no evidence of cross-resistance between fludioxonil and any of the other fungicides tested. These results indicate that fludioxonil has great potential as an alternative method of control for FOM in melon crops.

Cordyceps Improves Obesity and its Related Inflammation via Modulation of Enterococcus cecorum Abundance and Bile Acid Metabolism.

Dysbiotic gut microbiota has been identified as a primary mediator of inherent inflammation that underlies the pathogenesis of obesity. Cordyceps comprises the larval body and the stroma of Cordyceps sinensis (BerK.) Sacc. parasiting on Hepialidae larvae of moths (H. pialusoberthur) with potent metabolic regulation functions. The underlying anti-obesity mechanisms, however, remain largely unknown. Here, we demonstrate that the water extract of Cordyceps attenuates glucose and lipid metabolism disorders and its associated inflammation in high-fat diet (HFD)-fed mice. 16S rRNA gene sequencing and microbiomic analysis showed that Cordyceps reduced the amounts of Enterococcus cecorum, a bile-salt hydrolase-producing microbe to regulate the metabolism of bile acids in the gut. Importantly, E. cecorum transplantation or liver-specific knockdown of farnesoid X receptor (FXR), a bile acid receptor, diminished the protective effect of Cordyceps against HFD-induced obesity. Together, our results shed light on the mechanisms that underlie the glucose- and lipid-lowering effects of Cordyceps and suggest that targeting intestinalE. cecorum or hepatic FXR are potential anti-obesity and anti-inflammation therapeutic avenues.

Integrated metagenomics identifies a crucial role for trimethylamine-producing Lachnoclostridium in promoting atherosclerosis.

Microbial trimethylamine (TMA)-lyase activity promotes the development of atherosclerosis by generating of TMA, the precursor of TMA N-oxide (TMAO). TMAO is well documented, but same can not be said of TMA-producing bacteria. This work aimed to identify TMA-producing genera in human intestinal microbiota. We retrieved the genomes of human-associated microorganisms from the Human Microbiome Project database comprising 1751 genomes, Unified Human Gastrointestinal Genome collection consisting 4644 gut prokaryotes, recapitulated 4930 species-level genome bins and public gut metagenomic data of 2134 individuals from 11 populations. By sequence searching, 216 TMA-lyase-containing species from 102 genera were found to contain the homologous sequences of cntA/B, yeaW/X, and/or cutC/D. We identified 13 strains from 5 genera with cntA sequences, and 30 strains from 14 genera with cutC showing detectable relative abundance in healthy individuals. Lachnoclostridium (p = 2.9e-05) and Clostridium (p = 5.8e-04), the two most abundant cutC-containing genera, were found to be much higher in atherosclerotic patients compared with healthy persons. Upon incubation with choline (substrate), L. saccharolyticum effectively transformed it to TMA at a rate higher than 98.7% while that for C. sporogenes was 63.8-67.5% as detected by liquid chromatography-triple quadrupole mass spectrometry. In vivo studies further showed that treatment of L. saccharolyticum and choline promoted a significant increase in TMAO level in the serum of ApoE-/- mice with obvious accumulation of aortic plaque in same. This study discloses the significance and efficiency of the gut bacterium L. saccharolyticum in transforming choline to TMA and consequently promoting the development of atherosclerosis.

Two-dimensional metal-organic framework-graphene oxide hybrid nanocomposite proton exchange membranes with enhanced proton conduction.

A novel two-dimensional (2D) zeolitic imidazolate framework-graphene oxide hybrid nanocomposite (ZIF-L@GO) is designed as an inorganic filler in sulfonated poly(ether ether ketone) (SPEEK). ZIF-L with unique leaf-like morphology is grown in-situ on the GO sheet in aqueous media at room temperature. The terminal imidazole linker in ZIF-L@GO and the -SO3H in SPEEK can form acid-base pairs in the membrane interface to produce low energy proton conduction highway. Benefiting from the unique structural advantage, the hybrid SP-ZIF-L@GO membranes displayed promoted physicochemical and electrochemical performances over the pure SPEEK. The SP-ZIF-L@GO-5 achieved a proton conductivity of 0.265 and 0.0364 S cm-1 at 70 °C-100% RH and 90 °C-40% RH, 1.76- and 6.24-fold higher than pure SPEEK, respectively. Meanwhile, a single cell based on SP-ZIF-L@GO-5 had an output power up to 652.82 mW cm-2 at 60 °C, 1.45 times higher than the pure SPEEK. In addition, the durability test was performed by holding open circuit voltage (OCV) for 24 h. The SP-ZIF-L@GO-5 provided better long-term stability than the pure SPEEK. These superior performance suggests a promising application in PEMFC.

Serum-Urine Matched Metabolomics for Predicting Progression of Henoch-Schonlein Purpura Nephritis.

Henoch-Schonlein purpura nephritis (HSPN) is a common glomerulonephritis secondary to Henoch-Schonlein purpura (HSP) that affects systemic metabolism. Currently, there is a rarity of biomarkers to predict the progression of HSPN. This work sought to screen metabolic markers to predict the progression of HSPN via serum-urine matched metabolomics. A total of 90 HSPN patients were enrolled, including 46 HSPN (+) patients with severe kidney damage (persistent proteinuria >0.3 g/day) and 44 HSPN (-) patients without obvious symptoms (proteinuria < 0.3 g/day). Untargeted metabolomics was determined by liquid chromatography-quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry (LC-Q/TOF-MS). A total of 38 and 50 differential metabolites were, respectively, identified in serum and urine from the comparison between HSPN (+) and HSPN (-) patients. Altered metabolic pathways in HSPN (+) mainly included glycerophospholipid metabolism, pyruvate metabolism, and citrate cycle. A panel of choline and cis-vaccenic acid gave areas under the curve of 92.69% in serum and 72.43% in urine for differential diagnosis between HSPN (+) and HSPN (-). In addition, the two metabolites showed a significant association with clinical indices of HSPN. These results suggest that serum-urine matched metabolomics comprehensively characterized the metabolic differences between HSPN (+) and HSPN (-), and choline and cis-vaccenic acid could serve as biomarkers to predict HSPN progression.

Bone Metastases of Glioblastoma: A Case Report and Review of the Literature.

BACKGROUND: Glioblastoma (GBM) is the most common primary intracranial tumor and originates from the small pool of adult neural stem and progenitor cells (NSPCs). According to the World Health Organization (WHO) classification of brain tumors, gliomas are classified into grades I-IV, and GBM is defined as the highest grade (IV). GBM can be disseminated by cerebrospinal fluid (CSF), but extracranial metastasis is rare. Additionally, the pathway and mechanism involved remain unclear. CASE PRESENTATION: We report a rare case of left temporal lobe GBM with multiple bone metastases and soft tissue metastasis. This 49-year-old right-handed man who was diagnosed with GBM underwent surgery on May 9, 2017, followed by radiochemotherapy in June 2017. On August 13, 2019, local relapse was found. Then, the patient received a second surgery but not radiochemotherapy. In November 2019, the patient was reported to be suffering from low back pain for nearly 1 month. On December 6, 2019, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the thoracolumbar vertebrae and abdominal computed tomography (CT) confirmed metastases on the ninth posterior rib on the right, the third anterior rib on the left, and the T7 and T10 vertebrae and their appendages. CT-guided rib space-occupying puncture biopsy was performed, and GBM was identified by pathology. CONCLUSION: We should pay attention to extracranial metastasis of GBM. Timely detection and early treatment improve overall quality of patients' life. The extracranial metastasis in this patient may have occurred through the spinal nerve root or intercostal nerve. Further clinical observations are required to clarify the pathway and mechanism involved.

Minimally invasive co-injection of modular micro-muscular and micro-vascular tissues improves in situ skeletal muscle regeneration.

Various conventional treatment strategies for volumetric muscle loss (VML) are often hampered by the extreme donor site morbidity, the limited availability of quality muscle flaps, and complicated, as well as invasive surgical procedures. The conventional biomaterial-based scaffolding systems carrying myoblasts have been extensively investigated towards improving the regeneration of the injured muscle tissues, as well as their injectable forms. However, the applicability of such designed systems has been restricted due to the lack of available vascular networks. Considering these facts, here we present the development of a unique set of two minimally invasively injectable modular microtissues, consisting of mouse myoblast (C2C12)-laden poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) porous microspheres (PLGA PMs), or the micro-muscles, and human umbilical vein endothelial cell (HUVEC)-laden poly(ethylene glycol) hollow microrods (PEG HMs), or the microvessels. Besides systematic in vitro investigations, the myogenic performance of these modular composite microtissues, when co-injected, was explored in vivo using a mouse VML model, which confirmed improved in situ muscle regeneration and remolding. Together, we believe that the construction of these injectable modular microtissues and their combination for minimally invasive therapy provides a promising method for in situ tissue healing.

Untargeted metabolomics and lipidomics uncovering the cardioprotective effects of Huanglian Jiedu Decoction on pathological cardiac hypertrophy and remodeling.

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE: As a classic herbal prescription, Huanglian Jiedu Decoction (HLJDD) exhibits positive effects against cardiac dysfunction. However, its cardioprotective effects and potential mechanism(s) of action still need to be systematically investigated. AIM OF THE STUDY: This study aimed to reveal the underlying therapeutic mechanism of HLJDD on transverse aortic constriction (TAC)-induced pathological cardiac hypertrophy and remodeling. MATERIALS AND METHODS: TAC-induced cardiac hypertrophy and remodeling mice model was established to evaluate the therapeutic effects of HLJDD. Serum untargeted metabolomics and lipidomic profiling were performed using ultra-performance liquid chromatography quadrupole-time-of-flight mass spectrometry coupled with multivariate statistical analyses. RESULTS: Oral administration of HLJDD (2.5 g/kg/day, 5.0 g/kg/day) significantly improved the heart morphology, enhanced the heart function, and alleviated the accumulation of fibrosis in the interstitial space and the infiltration of inflammatory cells in TAC-stimulated mice. Serum untargeted metabolomics analysis showed that significant alterations were observed in metabolic signatures between the TAC-model and sham group. Principal component analysis and orthogonal partial least-squares discriminant analysis screened 59 differential metabolic features and 13 metabolites were identified. The disturbed metabolic pathways in TAC group mainly related to lipid metabolism. Further serum lipidomic profiling showed that most lipids including cholesterol esters, ceramides, glycerides, fatty acids and phospholipids were decreased in TAC group and these alterations were reversed after HLJDD intervention. CONCLUSION: HLJDD alleviates TAC-induced pathological cardiac hypertrophy and remodeling, and its potential therapeutic mechanism involves the regulation of lipid metabolism.

Citrus polymethoxyflavones attenuate metabolic syndrome by regulating gut microbiome and amino acid metabolism.

Metabolic syndrome (MetS) is intricately linked to dysregulation of gut microbiota and host metabolomes. Here, we first find that a purified citrus polymethoxyflavone-rich extract (PMFE) potently ameliorates high-fat diet (HFD)-induced MetS, alleviates gut dysbiosis, and regulates branched-chain amino acid (BCAA) metabolism using 16S rDNA amplicon sequencing and metabolomic profiling. The metabolic protective effects of PMFE are gut microbiota dependent, as demonstrated by antibiotic treatment and fecal microbiome transplantation (FMT). The modulation of gut microbiota altered BCAA levels in the host serum and feces, which were significantly associated with metabolic features and actively responsive to therapeutic interventions with PMFE. Notably, PMFE greatly enriched the commensal bacterium Bacteroides ovatus, and gavage with B. ovatus reduced BCAA concentrations and alleviated MetS in HFD mice. PMFE may be used as a prebiotic agent to attenuate MetS, and target-specific microbial species may have unique therapeutic promise for metabolic diseases.

Multiple Enhancement Effects of Crown Ether in Tröger's Base Polymers on the Performance of Anion Exchange Membranes.

The development of anion exchange membranes (AEMs) is hindered by the trade-off of ionic conductivity, alkaline stability, and mechanical properties. Tröger's base polymers (Tb-polymers) are recognized as promising membrane materials to overcome these obstacles. Herein, the AEMs made from Tb-poly(crown ether)s (Tb-PCEs) show good comprehensive performance. The influence of crown ether on the conductivity and alkaline stability of AEMs has been investigated in detail. The formation of hydronium ion-crown ether complexes and an obvious microphase-separated structure formed by the existence of crown ether can enhance the conductivity of the AEMs. The maximum OH- conductivity of 141.5 mS cm-1 is achieved from the Tb-PCEs based AEM (Tb-PCE-1) at 80 °C in ultrapure water. The ion-dipole interaction of the Na+ with crown ether can protect the quaternary ammonium from the attack of OH- to improve the alkaline stability of AEMs. After 675 h of alkaline treatment, the OH- conductivity of Tb-PCE-1 decreases by only 6%. The Tb-PCE-1-based single cell shows a peak power density of 0.202 W cm-2 at 80 °C. The prominent physicochemical properties are attributed to the well-developed microstructure of the Tb-PCEs, as revealed by TEM, AFM, and SAXS observations.