Relationship between ODI and sleep structure of obstructive sleep apnea and cardiac remodeling.

PURPOSE: The purpose of the study was to evaluate the quantitative relationship between Oxygen Desaturation Index (ODI) and sleep structure of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) and cardiac remodeling. METHODS: In this study, patients were enrolled from January 2015 to October 2022, and were divided into 3 groups according to AHI: patients with AHI < 15, patients with 15 ≤ AHI < 30, and 260 patients with AHI ≥ 30. Stratified linear regression was used to analyze independent risk factors for cardiac remodeling in OSA. RESULTS: A total of 479 patients were enrolled. We found that compared with AHI < 15 group (n = 120), the group with AHI > 30 (n = 260) had increased left atrial anteroposterior diameter, left ventricular end-diastolic internal diameter, left ventricular posterior wall thickness, right ventricular anteroposterior diameter, and interventricular septal thickness (P < 0.05). The group with 15 ≤ AHI ≤ 30 (n = 99) had increased left atrial anteroposterior diameter (P < 0.05). Multivariate linear regression revealed that N2 sleep was an independent risk factor for left ventricular posterior wall thickness, with positive correlation (p < 0.05). N3 sleep was an independent risk factor for transverse right atrial diameter and right ventricular anteroposterior diameter, with negative correlation (P < 0.05). ODI was an independent risk factor for interventricular septal thickness, with positive correlation (P < 0.05). The arousal index was an independent risk factor for increased left atrial anteroposterior diameter, with positive correlation (P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Increased ODI is an independent risk factor for interventricular septal thickness, while decreased slow wave sleep is an independent risk factor for right heart remodeling in OSA.

Spatial variation, emissions, transport, and risk assessment of organophosphate esters in two large petrochemical complexes in southern China.

Organophosphate esters (OPEs) serve as significant flame retardants and plasticizers in various petrochemical downstream products. The petrochemical industry could be a potential source of atmospheric OPEs, but their emissions from this industry are poorly understood. The present study revealed the spatial variation, emission, and atmospheric transport of traditional and novel OPEs (TOPEs and NOPEs, respectively) in atmospheric particulate matter (PM) across Hainan and Guangdong petrochemical complexes (HNPC and GDPC, respectively) in southern China. The total concentrations of TOPEs ranged from 232 to 46,002 pg/m3 and from 200 to 20,347 pg/m3 in the HNPC and GDPC, respectively, which were substantially higher than those of NOPEs (HNPC: 23.5-147 pg/m3, GDPC: 13.9-465 pg/m3). Enterprises involved in the production of downstream petrochemical products presented relatively high concentrations of OPEs, indicating evident emissions of these pollutants in the petrochemical industry. The correlations of PM-bound OPEs in the atmosphere are determined mainly by their coaddition to industrial products or their coexistence in technical mixtures. The annual emissions of TOPEs and NOPEs in the HNPC were 42.6 kg and 0.34 kg, respectively, and those in the GDPC were 116 kg and 1.85 kg, respectively. OPEs from the HNPC can reach Vietnam, Cambodia, and Guangxi Province, China, and those from the GDPC can reach Guangxi Province and Hunan Province via atmospheric transmission after 24 h of emission. The OPE concentrations reaching the receptor regions were generally less than 3.20 pg/m3. Risk assessment revealed that OPE inhalation exposure on two petrochemical complexes likely poses minor risks for people living in the study areas, but the risk resulting from two chlorinated OPEs should be noted since they are close to the threshold values. This study has implications for enhancing control measures for OPE emissions to reduce health risks related to the petrochemical industry.

Molecular Dynamics Study on the Demulsification Mechanism of Water-In-Oil Emulsion with SDS Surfactant under a DC Electric Field.

Application of an electric field is an effective demulsification method for water-in-oil (W/O) emulsions. For the W/O emulsions stabilized by anionic surfactants, the microscopic demulsification mechanism is still not very clear. In this work, the coalescence behavior of two droplets stabilized by the anionic surfactant sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) in the oil phase under a DC electric field is investigated by molecular dynamics simulation. The effects of electric field strength and oil type on the electrocoalescence of two water droplets are mainly considered. The trajectory snapshots and center of mass of the two water droplets suggest that there is almost no migratory coalescence. The movement of sodium ions and SDS, which is a combined effect of the electric field force and the resistance from the oil phase, is crucial for the deformation and connection of two water droplets. The results of mean square displacement, radial distribution function, hydration number, and interaction energies of Na+-H2O and SDS-H2O indicate that the sodium ion has a stronger ability to carry water molecules for movement than SDS. The stronger electric field strength will result in more severe deformation and shorter coalescence time. Under the higher electric field strength, the two droplets will be elongated into a slender water ribbon. By applying a pulsed DC electric field with suitable amplitude, frequency, and duty ratio, it is possible to achieve full coalescence for the ionic surfactant-stabilized W/O emulsions. The oil phase also plays an important role for the deformation of droplets and the migration of emulsion components. For the different oil phases, a longer time or stronger electric field strength would be needed for the electrocoalescence of droplets in the oil phase with higher density and viscosity. Our results are expected to be helpful for practical application in the petroleum industry and chemical engineering.

Proteome of Saccharomyces cerevisiae under paraquat stress regulated by therapeutic concentration of copper ions.

Paraquat (PQ) is a non-selective herbicide with strong toxicity to humans and mammals. However, the proteome regulation of cells by PQ is still unclear, limiting the development of effective antidotes. Studies have shown that a slight excess of intracellular copper levels could be beneficial to the survival under exposure to PQ. In this study, Saccharomyces cerevisiae was used as a model to explore the regulation effect of copper ions on PQ poisoning by the approach of date independent acquisition proteomics. The results showed that toxic effect of PQ was primarily induced by oxidative damage in the mitochondria and the disorder of gene expression. The addition of Cu2+ involved a series of favorable reactions to cell survival under PQ stress, including activation of the mitogen-activated protein kinase signaling pathway, regulation of processes such as sulfur metabolism, carbon metabolism and gene expression in cells. The generation of glutathione, heme and steroids advantageous to cell growth under stress was also increased. These findings inferred that therapeutic concentration of copper ions could prolong the survival of cells under PQ stress.

Mandatory use of prescription drug monitoring program and benzodiazepine prescribing among U.S. Medicaid enrollees.

BACKGROUND: In the past two decades, the U.S. saw an alarmingly increasing trend of benzodiazepine prescribing. Mandatory use of Prescription Drug Monitoring Programs (PDMPs) was suggested to have the potential to reduce opioid prescribing, but little is known about its impacts on benzodiazepines. This study examined whether PDMP data use mandates were associated with changes in benzodiazepine prescribing in the U.S. Methods: Aggregate state quarterly prescription drug records of benzodiazepines for Medicaid enrollees during 2010-2017 were obtained from the U.S. Medicaid State Drug Utilization Data. Three population-adjusted outcome variables were evaluated, including quantity, dosage, and Medicaid spending of benzodiazepine prescriptions per quarter per 100 Medicaid enrollees. The primary policy variable was the state-wide implementation of PDMP data use mandates for benzodiazepines. To account for between-state variations in mandates, an additional policy variable was considered to indicate strong mandates on PDMP data use, which required all prescribers to query a patient's PDMP records for first prescribing and subsequent prescribing at least every 12 months. Linear regressions with difference-in-difference approach were used to assess the associations between PDMP data use mandates and benzodiazepine prescribing, controlling for state-level time-varying policy and socioeconomic covariates. Results: The state-wide implementation of PDMP data use mandates for benzodiazepines was not associated with quantity, dosage, or Medicaid spending of benzodiazepine prescriptions. Strong mandates on PDMP data use were not associated with any benzodiazepine prescribing outcomes, either. Conclusions: There was no evidence for the associations between PDMP data use mandates for benzodiazepines and changes in benzodiazepine prescribing among Medicaid enrollees. Future research is warranted to replicate the study in other populations using individual patient records and continuously monitor the trends in benzodiazepine prescribing in association with PDMPs.

The leaching of additive-derived flame retardants (FRs) from plastics in avian digestive fluids: The significant risk of highly lipophilic FRs.

The exposure to plastic debris and associated pollutants for wildlife is of urgent concern, but little attention has been paid on the transfer of plastic additives from plastic debris to organisms. In the present study, the leaching of incorporated flame retardants (FRs), including polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs), alternative brominated FRs (AFRs), and phosphate flame retardants (PFRs), from different sizes of recycled acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene (ABS) polymer were investigated in avian digestive fluids. The impact of co-ingested sediment on the leaching of additive-derived FRs in digestive fluids was also explored. In the recycled ABS, BDE 209 (715 µg/g) and 1, 2-bis(2,4,6-tribromophenoxy) ethane (BTBPE, 1766 µg/g) had the highest concentrations among all target FRs. The leaching proportions of FRs were higher in finer sizes of ABS. The leaching proportions of FRs from recycled ABS increased with elevated logKOW of FRs. In the tests with coexisted ABS and sediment, hexa- to deca-BDEs, BTBPE, and decabromodiphenyl ethane (DBDPE) migrated from ABS to sediment, which resulted in the less bioaccessible fractions of these FRs in gut fluids. More lipophilic chemicals tended to be adsorbed by sediment from ABS. The results suggest the migration of additive-derived FRs from plastics to other indigestible materials in digestive fluids. The findings in this study provide insights into the transfer of additive-derived FRs from plastics to birds, and indicate the significant contribution of FR-incorporated plastics to bioaccumulation of highly lipophilic FRs.

Indole inhibited the expression of csrA gene in Escherichia coli.

Indole is a very important signal molecule which plays multiple regulatory roles in many physiological and biochemical processes of bacteria, but up to now, the reasons for its wide range of functions have not been revealed. In this study, we found that indole inhibits the motility, promotes glycogen accumulation and enhances starvation resistance of Escherichia coli. However, the regulatory effects of indole became insignificant while the global csrA gene was mutated. To reveal the regulatory relationship between indole and csrA, we studied the effects of indole on the transcription level of csrA, flhDC, glgCAP and cstA, and also the sensing of the promoters of the genes on indole. It was found that indole inhibited the transcription of csrA, and only the promoter of the csrA gene can sense indole. Namely, indole indirectly regulated the translation level of FlhDC, GlgCAP and CstA. These data indicates that indole regulation is related with the regulation of CsrA, which may throw light on the regulation mechanism research of indole.

Promoting ultrasonic cavitation via Negative-Curvature nanoparticles.

It is a challenge to study the nucleation of cavitation bubbles, which critically depends on nanoscale morphological features. Our recent advances in synthesizing colloidal negative-curvature nanoparticles (NGC-NPs) offer a rare opportunity, in comparison to the conventional studies of bulk substrates, where it is difficult to obtain consistent and well-defined surface features. In order to quantitatively assess their effects, we exploit the radical-induced color change of [Fe(SCN)6]3-, which turned out to be a more convenient method than the bending of AgNWs and the fluorescence-based methods. We show that the NGC-NPs outperform positive-curvature nanoparticles (PSC-NPs) and homogeneous nucleation, in terms of promoting cavitation. The NGC-NPs provide a higher percentage of gas-solid interface, and thus reduces the activation barrier during the critical stage of bubble nucleation. This leads a higher probability of cavitation and transforms more energy from ultrasonication to radical formation and shockwaves.

Morpholine-modified polyacrylamides with Polymerization-Induced emission and its specific detection to Cu2+ ions.

In this work, three morpholine-modified polyacrylamide derivatives (MMPAm) were successfully prepared by free radical polymerization of monomers with morpholine moiety. The intramolecular aggregation of morpholine rings on macromolecular backbone gives MMPAm a significant polymerization-induced emission (PIE). Particularly, poly(N-morpholine acrylamide) (PNMPA) has the characteristics of strong fluorescence at 450 nm, and its fluorescence quantum yield reaches 2.87 %. The introduction of morpholine moiety, the length of CH2 spacer between morpholine ring and the backbone and the molecular weight play the important roles in PIE properties of PNMPA. Interestingly, PNMPA can recognize and detect Cu2+ specifically even in the presence of 12 other metal ions by thorough fluorescence quenching, and the detection limit of PNMPA is 17.3 µM. Furthermore, the dynamic quenching of PNMPA by Cu2+ ions and the complexation ratio of 1:2 according to JOB's working diagram were confirmed by fluorescence titration. Under the assistance of EDTA, a reversible detection system for Cu2+ is achieved, and a portable test paper from PNMPA for the detection of Cu2+ was also made. In conclusion, PNMPA is endowed with a significant PIE effect by the intramolecular aggregation of morpholine rings along the backbone in the polymerization of non-fluorescent monomer, and is expected to be a promising material for specific detection to Cu2+ ions.

Impact of COVID-19 on MOUD retention in a sample of rural primary care patients: A secondary analysis of electronic health records.

Introduction: There is limited research examining factors impacting MOUD retention in rural settings, especially within the context of the COVID-19 pandemic. Using electronic health records data collected as part of a NIDA Clinical Trials Network study (CTN-0102), this study explored how the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic may have impacted MOUD retention in a sample of 563 rural primary care patients. Methods: Cox regression model was applied to examine if COVID-19 was related to treatment retention, controlling for demographics, clinic, insurance type, and other diagnoses. The independent variable was the number of days between the patient's first MOUD prescription date during the pre-COVID observation period (10/1/2019-3/13/2020) and the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. The dependent variable was retention on MOUD, defined as the time from the first MOUD prescription documented during the pre-COVID observation period to the first break in consecutive MOUD prescriptions (right censored at 180 days). Results: The findings demonstrated that there was a reduced risk of a prescription break for every 10-day increase in the time from the first documented MOUD prescription to the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic (HR = 0.96, 95 % CI = 0.92-0.99; p = 0.011). Conclusions: While the data did not include complete treatment histories to determine who was new to MOUD treatment, the findings suggest that patients whose first documented MOUD prescription in the dataset was closer to the onset of the pandemic had a greater likelihood of experiencing retention challenges. This underscores the importance for clinics to establish comprehensive contingency plans for future emergencies to ensure uninterrupted MOUD treatment and support, particularly for individuals in the early stabilization phase of their recovery.

Liquid-on-solid heterogeneous nucleation for a general synthesis of yolk-shell nanostructures.

Liquid-on-solid heterogeneous nucleation on solid nanoparticle seeds was achieved. Syrup solutions from a solute-induced phase separation (SIPS) process were heterogeneously nucleated on nanoparticle seeds to form syrup domains, similar to the "seeded growth" method in classical nanosynthesis. The selective inhibition of homogeneous nucleation was also confirmed and exploited for a high-purity synthesis, showing similarity between nanoscale droplets and particles. The seeded-growth of syrup could serve as a general and robust method to one-step fabricate yolk-shell nanostructures, with efficient loading of the dissolved substances.

The effect of obstructive sleep apnea on fatty liver disease may be obscured by alcohol consumption: An ordinal logistic regression analysis.

BACKGROUND: Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is closely associated with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). The current definition of NAFLD cannot exclude the involvement of alcohol consumption in the development of fatty liver disease (FLD), but alcohol can aggravate OSA and participate in steatosis. There is limited evidence on the relationship between OSA and alcohol and its effect on FLD severity. OBJECTIVE: To determine the effect of OSA on FLD severity based on ordinal responses, and its relationship with alcohol consumption, in order to develop strategies for the prevention and treatment of FLD. METHODS: Patients with chief complaints of "snoring" who underwent polysomnography and abdominal ultrasound between January 2015 and October 2022 were selected. A total of 325 cases were divided into three groups according to abdominal ultrasound results: no FLD (n = 66), mild FLD (n = 116), and moderately severe FLD (n = 143) group. Patients were also categorized into alcoholic and nonalcoholic groups. Univariate analysis was used to examine the correlation between OSA and FLD severity. Multivariate ordinal logistic regression analysis was further used to identify the determinants of FLD severity and differences between the alcoholic and nonalcoholic groups. RESULTS: A higher proportion of moderately severe FLD was observed in the group with an apnea/hypopnea index (AHI) > 30 compared to the AHI<15 group in all participants and in the nonalcoholic population (all p < 0.05). There was no significant difference among these groups in the alcoholic population. Ordinal logistic regression analysis found that in all participants, age [OR = 0.966(0.947-0.986)], BMI [OR = 1.293 (1.205-1.394)], diabetes mellitus [OR = 1.932(1.132-3.343)], hyperlipidemia [OR = 2.432(1.355-4.464)], severe OSA [OR = 2.36(1.315-4.259)] (all p < 0.05) were the independent risk factors for more severe FLD. However, different risk factors applied according to alcohol consumption. In addition to age and BMI, the independent risk factors for the alcoholic group also included diabetes mellitus [OR = 3.323(1.494-7.834)] while in the non-alcoholic group risk factors included hyperlipidemia [OR = 4.094(1.639-11.137)], and severe OSA[OR = 2.956(1.334-6.664)] (all p < 0.05). CONCLUSION: Severe OSA is an independent determinant for developing more severe NAFLD in nonalcoholic population, and alcohol consumption may obscure the effect of OSA on the progression of FLD.

FERM domain-containing protein FRMD6 activates the mTOR signaling pathway and promotes lung cancer progression.

FRMD6, a member of the 4.1 ezrin-radixin-moesin domain-containing protein family, has been reported to inhibit tumor progression in multiple cancers. Here, we demonstrate the involvement of FRMD6 in lung cancer progression. We find that FRMD6 is overexpressed in lung cancer tissues relative to in normal lung tissues. In addition, the enhanced expression of FRMD6 is associated with poor outcomes in patients with lung squamous cell carcinoma (n = 75, P = 0.0054) and lung adenocarcinoma (n = 94, P = 0.0330). Cell migration and proliferation in vitro and tumor formation in vivo are promoted by FRMD6 but are suppressed by the depletion of FRMD6. Mechanistically, FRMD6 interacts and colocalizes with mTOR and S6K, which are the key molecules of the mTOR signaling pathway. FRMD6 markedly enhances the interaction between mTOR and S6K, subsequently increasing the levels of endogenous pS6K and downstream pS6 in lung cancer cells. Furthermore, knocking out FRMD6 inhibits the activation of the mTOR signaling pathway in Frmd6-/- gene KO MEFs and mice. Altogether, our results show that FRMD6 contributes to lung cancer progression by activating the mTOR signaling pathway.

Triclocarban triggers osteoarthritis via DNMT1-mediated epigenetic modification and suppression of COL2A in cartilage tissues.

Triclocarban (TCC) is a widely used environmental endocrine-disrupting chemical (EDC). Articular injury of EDCs has been reported; however, whether and how TCCs damage the joint have not yet been determined. Herein, we revealed that exposure to TCC caused osteoarthritis (OA) within the zebrafish anal fin. Mechanistically, TCC stimulates the expression of DNMT1 and initiates DNA hypermethylation of the type II collagen coding gene, which further suppresses the expression of type II collagen and other extracellular matrices. This further results in decreased cartilage tissue and narrowing of the intraarticular space, which is typical of the pathogenesis of OA. The regulation of OA occurrence by TCC is conserved between zebrafish cartilage tissue and human chondrocytes. Our findings clarified the hazard and potential mechanisms of TCC towards articular health and highlighted DNMT1 as a potential therapeutic target for OA caused by TCC.

Critical Sites of Serine Acetyltransferase in Lathyrus sativus L. Affecting Its Enzymatic Activities.

LsSAT2 (serine acetyltransferase in Lathyrus sativus) is the rate-limiting enzyme in biosynthesis of ß-N-oxalyl-l-α,ß-diaminopropionic acid (ß-ODAP), a neuroactive metabolite distributed widely in several plant species including Panax notoginseng, Panax ginseng, and L. sativus. The enzymatic activity of LsSAT2 is post-translationally regulated by its involvement in the cysteine regulatory complex in mitochondria via interaction with ß-CAS (ß-cyanoalanine synthase). In this study, the binding sites of LsSAT2 with the substrate Ser were first determined as Glu290, Arg316, and His317 and the catalytic sites were determined as Asp267, Asp281, and His282 via site-directed/truncated mutagenesis, in vitro enzymatic activity assay, and functional complementation of the SAT-deficient Escherichia coli strain JM39. Furthermore, the C-terminal 10-residue peptide of LsSAT2 is confirmed to be critical to interact with LsCAS, and Ile336 in C10 peptide is the critical amino acid. These results will enhance our understanding of the regulation of LsSAT2 activities and the biosynthesis of ß-ODAP in L. sativus.

A mechanism study of sodium dodecylbenzene sulfonate on oil recovery: effect of branched chain structure.

The effects of the branched structures of SDBS molecules on oil recovery are investigated by molecular dynamics method. The relative density of oil molecules shows that SDBS molecule with benzene ring located near the center of alkyl chain has the best effect on oil displacement. Dynamic trajectories show that the water and SDBS molecules gradually occupy the calcite surface and replace the oil droplets. In this process, more water molecules gather nearby the polar groups of SDBS, indicating that the polar group has a significant effect on the water infiltration and the formation of water channels. Contact angle between SDBS molecule and calcite surface indicates that compared to straight chains, the branched structure tends to spread on the calcite interface. Moreover, adsorption energies of the simulation systems further prove that as the aromatic ring is closer to the middle of the alkyl chain, the oil displacement effect is better.

Clinical applications of concentrated growth factors membrane for sealing the socket in alveolar ridge preservation: a randomized controlled trial.

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of concentrated growth factor (CGF) membrane for the sealing of alveolar socket in alveolar ridge preservation (ARP). A total of 22 patients with 24 alveolar sockets were recruited and divided randomly into CGF group and Bio-Gide collagen membrane group. The soft tissue wound healing rate was calculated using intraoral scanner at 3, 7, and 14 days after ARP, and the bone resorption volume at 1, 3, and 5 mm below the alveolar ridge was measured by CBCT at 6 months postoperation. The keratinized gingival width was also measured before and 6 months after ridge preservation. In terms of soft tissue healing rate, the CGF group exhibited significant higher than that of Bio-Gide group at both 7 and 14 days after surgery (P < 0.05). However, there was no significantly different in bone resorption rate and the width of keratinized gingival after 6 months (P > 0.05). Therefore, the use of CGFs membranes for wound closure in ARP is a reliable method, but more clinical data are needed to prove it.

Disparities in digital access among American rural and urban households and implications for telemedicine-based services.

PURPOSE: To examine characteristics associated with disparities in digital access (i.e., access to high-speed Internet via a computer or smartphone) in American rural and urban households given that digital access has a direct impact on access to telemedicine-based services. METHODS: Using the 2019 American Community Survey, we analyzed the proportions of geographic area, race/ethnicity, and socioeconomic status according to device and high-speed Internet access. Maximum likelihood logit estimators estimated how these factors influenced device and high-speed Internet access. FINDINGS: Of 105,312,959 households, 32.29% were without a desktop or laptop computer with high-speed Internet (WDW), 21.51% were without a smartphone with a data plan for wireless Internet (WSW), and 14.02% were without any digital access (WDA). Nonmetropolitan households were significantly more likely to be WDA than metropolitan households (odds ratio [OR] = 1.87; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.83-1.91). Relative to non-Hispanic Whites, non-Hispanic Blacks (OR = 1.60; 95% CI: 1.56-1.64), American Indian or Alaska natives (OR = 2.00; 95% CI: 1.82-2.19), or Hispanics (OR = 1.70; 95% CI: 1.66-1.74) were significantly more likely to be WDA. When compared to households with private health insurance coverage, households WDA were significantly more likely to have no insurance (OR = 2.44; 95% CI: 2.36-2.53) or public insurance coverage (OR = 3.78; 95% CI: 3.70-3.86). Households with any digital access reported higher income and more family members living at home. Using the same predictors, similar findings were reported for households WDW or WSW. CONCLUSIONS: Significant disparities in digital access exist among nonmetropolitan households, racial/ethnic minority households, and lower-income households. The lack of digital access has implications for the accessibility of health care services via telemedicine and thus could exacerbate health disparities.

The AMPK-HOXB9-KRAS axis regulates lung adenocarcinoma growth in response to cellular energy alterations.

HOXB9 is an important transcription factor associated with unfavorable outcomes in patients with lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD). However, its degradation mechanism remains unclear. Here, we show that HOXB9 is a substrate of AMP kinase alpha (AMPKα). AMPK mediates HOXB9 T133 phosphorylation and downregulates the level of HOXB9 in mice and LUAD cells. Mechanistically, phosphorylated HOXB9 promoted E3 ligase Praja2-mediated HOXB9 degradation. Blocking HOXB9 phosphorylation by depleting AMPKα1/2 or employing the HOXB9 T133A mutant promoted tumor cell growth in cell culture and mouse xenografts via upregulation of HOXB9 and KRAS that is herein identified as a target of HOXB9. Clinically, AMPK activation levels in LUAD samples were positively correlated with pHOXB9 levels; higher pHOXB9 levels were associated with better survival of patients with LUAD. We thus present a HOXB9 degradation mechanism and demonstrate an AMPK-HOXB9-KRAS axis linking glucose-level-regulated AMPK activation to HOXB9 stability and KRAS gene expression, ultimately controlling LUAD progression.

Structural and Functional Brain Changes in Hemodialysis Patients with End-Stage Renal Disease: DTI Analysis Results and ALFF Analysis Results.

INTRODUCTION: The current study aimed to depict intrinsic structural changes and the spontaneous brain activity patterns in voxel level in patients with end-stage renal disease (ESRD) undergoing hemodialysis (HD) by using diffusion-tensor imaging and resting-state functional magnetic resonance (MR) imaging with an amplitude of low-frequency fluctuations (ALFF) algorithm and their clinical relevance. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In the study, the diffusion-tensor imaging and resting-state functional MR imaging were performed in forty-two hemodialysis patients with ESRD and 42 healthy control subjects. Neuropsychological and laboratory tests were performed in all subjects. ALFF, fraction anisotropy (FA), and mean diffusivity (MD) values were compared between the two groups. Correlations between ALFF, FA or MD values, and clinical markers were analyzed. RESULTS: We found that ESRD patients exhibited significantly lower ALFF values in multiple areas, including medial frontal gyrus, limbic lobe, superior frontal gyrus, bilateral lingual gyri, occipital lobe, parahippocampal gyrus, precuneus, while increased ALFF values in medial frontal gyrus than healthy controls. FA values were decreased in medial frontal gyrus, parietal lobe, and left precuneus regions in the ESRD group compared with controls. Importantly, FA for the frontal and parietal lobes was negatively associated with the dialysis duration of ESRD patients, ALFF z-scores for the medial prefrontal cortex (MPFC) were positively correlated with the dialysis duration of ESRD patients and Serum calcium of ESRD patients negatively correlated with FA values in the frontal and parietal lobes (p<0.05). CONCLUSION: Our study revealed that both impaired brain structure and function in ESRD patients with routine hemodialysis distributed mainly in the parietal, temporal, and frontal lobes. ESRD patients have cognitive impairment and declined memory ability. Serum calcium and dialysis duration might be associated with the impairment of brain structure and function in patients with ESRD.