Improving management in gastroesophageal reflux disease through leveraging WeChat platform for mobile health care: A randomized control trial.

BACKGROUND: Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) refers to a clinical condition characterized by gastric content reflux into the esophagus, causing symptoms like acid regurgitation and heartburn. While patient education is essential for GERD treatment, traditional educational models often struggle to effectively improve treatment outcomes. METHODS: Between January 2021 and April 2022, we enrolled 257 patients and assessed their GERD knowledge. The patients were randomly assigned to either the WeChat group (60 participants) for health education via WeChat platform or the control group (60 participants) for conventional education only. GERD-Q scores were collected at 1, 3, and 6 months post-intervention, with compliance and satisfaction assessed at the study's conclusion. RESULTS: The overall awareness rate of GERD among patients was approximately 22.3 %. The WeChat group showed better compliance than the control group in terms of adhering to a proper diet, taking medication on time, and engaging in moderate exercise (P < 0.05 for all). Furthermore, the WeChat group demonstrated significantly higher treatment effectiveness and satisfaction than the control group (P < 0.05 for all). CONCLUSION: Patients have a relatively low level of knowledge regarding GERD. WeChat has the potential to facilitate lifestyle changes and improve compliance, treatment effectiveness, and treatment satisfaction among patients with gastroesophageal reflux disease.

Evidence of an excitatory purinergic innervation in mouse corpus cavernosum smooth muscle.

BACKGROUND: Evidence suggests that the corpus cavernosum smooth muscle (CCSM) cells of several species, including humans, express purinergic P2X receptors, but it is not known if the corpus cavernosum has an excitatory purinergic innervation. AIM: In this study we aimed to determine if the mouse CCSM has a functional purinergic innervation. METHODS: Mouse CCSM myocytes were enzymatically isolated and studied using the perforated patch configuration of the patch clamp technique. Isometric tension was measured in whole cavernosum tissue subjected to electrical field stimulation (EFS) to evoke nerve-mediated responses. OUTCOMES: The mouse CCSM myocytes expressed P2X1 receptors, and adenosine triphosphate (ATP) evoked inward currents in these cells. In addition, P2X1-mediated contractions were recorded in whole tissue in response to EFS. RESULTS: In cells held under a voltage clamp at -60 mV, ATP (1 µm) evoked large inward currents (mean approximately 900 pA). This current rapidly declined but was repeatable at 8-minute intervals. α,ß-methylene ATP (10 µM), an agonist of P2X1 and P2X3 receptors, caused a similar current that also rapidly declined. Desensitization to α,ß-methylene ATP negated the effect of ATP, but the ATP effect was restored 8 minutes after washout of α,ß-methylene ATP. The effect of ATP was reversibly blocked by NF449 (1 µm), a selective antagonist of P2X1 receptors. In isometric tension experiments electrical field stimulation (EFS) at 0.5-8 Hz evoked frequency-dependent contractions in the presence of l-nitro arginine (l-NO-Arg) (100 µm). When phentolamine (3 µm) and atropine (1 µm) were applied, there remained a nonadrenergic, noncholinergic component of the response to EFS, consisting mainly of a transient contraction. This was significantly reduced by NF449 (1 µm). Finally, in immunocytochemistry experiments, isolated CCSM myocytes stained positively when exposed to an antibody raised against P2X1 receptors. CLINICAL IMPLICATIONS: Previous studies have shown that P2X1 receptors in CCSM are upregulated in diabetes. These findings, taken together with the functional evidence presented here, indicate that P2X1 receptors may provide an alternative therapeutic target for treatment of erectile dysfunction in patients with diabetes, which is known to be relatively resistant to treatment with phosphodiesterase 5 inhibitors. STRENGTHS AND LIMITATIONS: Strengths of this study are the use of a combination of functional experiments (patch clamp) and immunocytochemical analyses to show expression of P2X1 receptors on CCSM myocytes while also performing functional experiments to show that stimulation these receptors results in contraction of CCSM. A limitation of this study was the use of animal rather than human tissue. CONCLUSION: This investigation provides evidence that mouse corpus cavernosum smooth muscle cells express P2X1 receptors and that these receptors are involved in mediating part of the contractile response to nerve stimulation evoked by EFS.

Role of the GalNAc-galectin pathway in the healing of premature rupture of membranes.

BACKGROUND: Premature rupture of the membranes (PROM) is a key cause of preterm birth and represents a major cause of neonatal mortality and morbidity. Natural products N-acetyl-d-galactosamine (GalNAc), which are basic building blocks of important polysaccharides in biological cells or tissues, such as chitin, glycoproteins, and glycolipids, may improve possible effects of wound healing. METHODS: An in vitro inflammation and oxidative stress model was constructed using tumor necrosis-α (TNF-α) and lipopolysaccharide (LPS) action on WISH cells. Human amniotic epithelial cells (hAECs) were primarily cultured by digestion to construct a wound model. The effects of GalNAc on anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidative stress, migration and proliferation, epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT), glycosaminoglycan (GAG)/hyaluronic acid (HA) production, and protein kinase B (Akt) pathway in hAECs and WISH cells were analyzed using the DCFH-DA fluorescent probe, ELISA, CCK-8, scratch, transwell migration, and western blot to determine the mechanism by which GalNAc promotes amniotic wound healing. RESULTS: GalNAc decreased IL-6 expression in TNF-α-stimulated WISH cells and ROS expression in LPS-stimulated WISH cells (P < 0.05). GalNAc promoted the expression of Gal-1 and Gal-3 with anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidative stress effects. GalNAc promoted the migration of hAECs (50% vs. 80%) and WISH cells through the Akt signaling pathway, EMT reached the point of promoting fetal membrane healing, and GalNAc did not affect the activity of hAECs and WISH cells (P > 0.05). GalNAc upregulated the expression of sGAG in WISH cells (P < 0.05) but did not affect HA levels (P > 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: GalNAc might be a potential target for the prevention and treatment of PROM through the galectin pathway, including (i) inflammation; (ii) epithelial-mesenchymal transition; (iii) proliferation and migration; and (iv) regression, remodeling, and healing.

[Pollution Assessment and Source Apportionment of Heavy Metals in the Surrounding Soil of Typical Mining Areas in Tongling, Anhui Province].

To study the level of heavy metal pollution and ecological risks in the soil around typical mining areas in Tongling, a total of 150 soil samples were collected from the study area. The content characteristics of 10 elements, namely, As, Cd, Cr, Cu, Hg, Mn, Ni, Pb, Fe, and Zn, in the soils were analyzed. Methods including enrichment factor, the geo-accumulation index, single-factor pollution index, Nemero comprehensive pollution index, and potential ecological risk index were used to evaluate the pollution status of heavy metals in the soil of the study area. The pollution sources of heavy metals in the soil were also analyzed using correlation analysis, cluster analysis, and principal component analysis. The results showed that except for Cr and Fe, the average contents of the other eight heavy metal elements were higher than the soil background values in the study area. Pb, Zn, As, Cu, and Cd had a high degree of variation and were significantly affected by external interference. The spatial distribution showed that both Cr and Ni showed a decreasing trend from the edge to the central region, whereas the other eight heavy metals showed a decreasing trend from the central region to the surrounding areas. The pollution level of Cd and Cu in the soil of the research area was relatively severe. The overall ecological risk was at a medium to low level. Cd and Hg were the main contributing factors. As, Cd, Cu, Fe, Mn, Pb, and Zn mainly came from agricultural, industrial, and transportation sources, whereas Cr and Ni were mainly from natural sources. However, the sources of Hg were relatively complex. The research results can provide a scientific basis for the prevention and control of soil heavy metal pollution in metal mining areas, as well as the remediation of mine pollution.

Optimal Sparse Survival Trees.

Interpretability is crucial for doctors, hospitals, pharmaceutical companies and biotechnology corporations to analyze and make decisions for high stakes problems that involve human health. Tree-based methods have been widely adopted for survival analysis due to their appealing interpretablility and their ability to capture complex relationships. However, most existing methods to produce survival trees rely on heuristic (or greedy) algorithms, which risk producing sub-optimal models. We present a dynamic-programming-with-bounds approach that finds provably-optimal sparse survival tree models, frequently in only a few seconds.

Quercetin relieves compression-induced cell death and lumbar disc degeneration by stabilizing HIF1A protein.

Background: Lumbar disc degeneration (LDD) is a prevalent condition characterized by the decreased viability and functional impairment of nucleus pulposus mesenchymal stem cells (NPMSCs). Shaoyao-Gancao decoction (SGD), a traditional Chinese medicine formula, has been used to treat LDD, but its active components and mechanisms are unclear. Methods: An integrative network pharmacology and transcriptome analysis were conducted to identify bioactive compounds in SGD that could target LDD. NPMSCs were cultured under mechanical compression as a cellular model of LDD. A rat model of annulus fibrosus needle-puncture was established to induce intervertebral disc degeneration. The effects of quercetin, a predicted active component, on alleviating compression-induced NPMSC death and LDD were evaluated in vitro and in vivo. Results: The analysis identified hypoxia-inducible factor 1-alpha (HIF1A) as a potential target of quercetin in LDD. HIF1A was upregulated in degenerated human disc samples and compression-treated NPMSCs. Quercetin treatment alleviated compression-induced oxidative stress, apoptosis, and loss of viability in NPMSCs by stabilizing HIF1A. The protective effects of quercetin were abrogated by HIF1A inhibition. In the rat model, quercetin ameliorated intervertebral disc degeneration. Conclusion: Our study identified HIF1A as a protective factor against compression-induced cell death in NPMSCs. Quercetin, a bioactive compound found in the traditional Chinese medicine formula SGD, improved the survival of NPMSCs and alleviated LDD progression by stabilizing HIF1A. Targeting the HIF1A pathway through natural compounds like quercetin could represent a promising strategy for the clinical management of LDD and potentially other degenerative disc diseases.

A comprehensive synthesis of dung beetle records (Coleoptera, Scarabaeidae, Scarabaeinae) from Sabah, Malaysia.

Background: Dung beetles play key roles in terrestrial ecosystems, contributing to many important ecosystem process and functions, such as nutrient recycling, parasite control and seed dispersal. Due to their tight associations with mammals and their responses to environmental change, they are also frequently used as environmental and biological indicators. Despite their importance, knowledge about dung beetles in Southeast Asia is limited. To address this information gap, we established a databasing project - "Mobilising data on ecologically important insects in Malaysia and Singapore" - funded by the Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF). As part of this project, we compiled two extensive datasets - a sampling-event and occurrence dataset and a taxonomic checklist - for the dung beetles of Sabah, Bornean Malaysia. The sampling-event dataset documents 2,627 unique sampling events and 21,348 dung beetle occurrence records for Sabah. The taxonomic checklist includes 156 confirmed dung beetle species and 36 synonyms, totalling 192 records. These datasets have been made open access through the GBIF portal, which we hope will enhance the understanding of dung beetle taxonomy and their distributions in Southeast Asia. New information: All data presented in this paper comprises of available information pertaining to the dung beetles of Sabah.

Expression pattern and functional analysis of kinesin-14 KIFC1 in spermatogenesis of Macaca mulatta.

C-terminal kinesin motor KIFC1 is increasingly concerned with an essential role in germ cell development. During the spermatogenesis of mice, rats, and crustaceans, KIFC1 functions in regulating meiotic chromosome separation, acrosome vesicle transportation, and nuclear morphology maintenance. The expression pattern of KIFC1 is conservatively concentrated at the acrosome and nucleus of haploid sperm cells. However, whether KIFC1 has similar functions in non-human primates remains unknown. In this study, we constructed the testis-specific cDNA library and cloned different transcripts of KIFC1 based on the genomic sequence. New variants of KIFC1 were identified, and showed different functional domains from the predicted isoforms. The spatio-temporal expression of KIFC1 proteins in seminiferous tubules of rhesus monkeys showed an obvious nuclear localization, specifically expressed in the spermatocytes and early haploid spermatids. The transcripts of KIFC1 also exhibited considerable expression in the nucleus of rhesus LLC-MK2 cells. Besides, we demonstrated that KIFC1 located at the acrosome and microtubule flagella of the mature sperm, and KIFC1 inhibition resulted in sperm tail deformation as well as increased the instability of head-to-tail connection. In summary, this study filled a gap in the reproductive research of the KIFC1 gene in non-human primates.

Continuously tunable ultrasonic focusing by Moiré metalenses.

Tunable ultrasonic focusing holds great significance in both medicine and engineering. Recent advancements in metalenses have introduced approaches for tunable acoustic focusing, but their complex configurations and limited tuning range remain challenges. Here, acoustic Moiré metalenses (AMMs) are proposed to achieve continuously tunable ultrasonic focusing in water. Two cascading metasurfaces that can function as Moiré diffractive elements make up the AMM. By mutually rotating the metasurface, the focal point of the AMM can be continuously tuned in a large range. The focal length can be adjusted continuously from ∼14.3λ0to ∼50λ0for the axial focusing. We further show that the well-designed AMM can achieve the continuously tunable lateral focusing, with the deflection angle of the focal point being tunable between approximately -40°,40°. Both simulation and experimental results confirm the excellent tunable focusing performances of the AMMs. The proposed AMMs with continuously tunable focusing capability may have potential applications in ultrasonic imaging and ultrasound treatment.

RLI-SLAM: Fast Robust Ranging-LiDAR-Inertial Tightly-Coupled Localization and Mapping.

Simultaneous localization and mapping (SLAM) is an essential component for smart robot operations in unknown confined spaces such as indoors, tunnels and underground. This paper proposes a novel tightly-coupled ranging-LiDAR-inertial simultaneous localization and mapping framework, namely RLI-SLAM, which is designed to be high-accuracy, fast and robust in the long-term fast-motion scenario, and features two key innovations. The first one is tightly fusing the ultra-wideband (UWB) ranging and the inertial sensor to prevent the initial bias and long-term drift of the inertial sensor so that the point cloud distortion of the fast-moving LiDAR can be effectively compensated in real-time. This enables high-accuracy and robust state estimation in the long-term fast-motion scenario, even with a single ranging measurement. The second one is deploying an efficient loop closure detection module by using an incremental smoothing factor graph approach, which seamlessly integrates into the RLI-SLAM system, and enables high-precision mapping in a challenging environment. Extensive benchmark comparisons validate the superior accuracy of the proposed new state estimation and mapping framework over other state-of-the-art systems at a low computational complexity, even with a single ranging measurement and/or in a challenging environment.

Oreonectes yuedongensis (Cypriniformes, Nemacheilidae), a new freshwater fish species from the Lianhua Mountains in eastern Guangdong, China.

In this work, we describe a new species of the genus Oreonectes, Oreonectes yuedongensis sp. nov., collected from the Lianhua Mountains in eastern Guangdong, China. Phylogenetic trees constructed based on the mitochondrial cytochrome b (Cyt b) gene showed that this new species represents an independent evolutionary lineage, with uncorrected genetic distances (Kimura 2-parameter model) from congeners ranging from 5.1% to 8.3%. In addition, nuclear DNA analysis indicated O. yuedongensis as an independent lineage separate from its closely related species. Morphologically, the new species can be distinguished from other six species in the genus Oreonectes by a combination of serial characters. The description of this new species suggests that it is necessary to reassess the biodiversity of Oreonectes platycephalus as a complex, especially in the middle reaches of the Pearl River near the border between Guangdong and Guangxi. Morphological and genetic evidence supports O. yenlingi as a synonym of O. platycephalus.

pH-Responsive supramolecular vesicles for imaging-guided drug delivery: Harnessing aggregation-induced emission.

The water-soluble tribenzotriquinacene-based hexacarboxylic acid ammonium salt, TBTQ-C 6 , acts as the host component (H) forming host-guest complexes with tetraphenylethylene (TPE)-functionalized monotopic and tetratopic quaternary ammonium derivatives, G1 and G2, to yield supra-amphiphiles. These supra-amphiphiles self-assemble to form pH-responsive fluorescent vesicles, which have allowed us to capitalize on the aggregation-induced emission (AIE) effect for imaging-guided drug delivery systems. These systems exhibit efficient drug loading and pH-responsive delivery capabilities. Upon encapsulation of the anticancer drug doxorubicin (DOX), both the TPE and DOX chromophores undergo dual-fluorescence deactivation due to the energy transfer relay (ETR) effect. Under acidic conditions, the release of DOX interrupts the ETR effect, resulting in the fluorescence recovery of TPE fluorogens and DOX, allowing for real-time visual monitoring of the drug release process. Cytotoxicity experiments confirmed the low toxicity of the unloaded vectors to normal cells, while the DOX-loaded vectors were found to significantly enhance the anticancer activity of DOX against cancer cells in vitro. The AIE-featured supramolecular vesicles presented in this research hold great potential for imaging-guided drug delivery systems.

Safety assessment of electrosurgical electrodes by using mini pig tissue.

Electrosurgical electrodes are the main dissecting devices widely used for surgeries throughout the world. The present study aimed to evaluate the thermal injury and safety within animals' organs following a minimally invasive electrosurgery technique with electrosurgical electrode AE40-300 (LIPO) and AE20-80 (LIFT). To ensure the effective application of electrosurgery in a clinical environment, it is crucial to minimize heat-induced injury to nearby tissues. In this study, the skin, liver, kidney, and femoral muscle dissected from 9 minipigs were used in tissue thermal spread experiments. Thermal imaging area analysis, maximum temperature, and time to reach basal temperature were evaluated. Thermography results revealed that the surgical temperature was significantly lower in the minimally invasive electrosurgery with AE40-300 (LIPO) and AE20-80 (LIFT) compared to the predicate device. In addition, AE40-300 (LIPO) and AE20-80 (LIFT) created a relatively small thermal injury area and thermal diffusion. Our results indicated that the tested devices named AE40-300 (LIPO) and AE20-80 (LIFT) reduced excessive thermal injury and could be applied to clinical use safely.

Quercetin promotes the proliferation, migration, and invasion of trophoblast cells by regulating the miR-149-3p/AKT1 axis.

Recurrent spontaneous abortion (RSA) has a complex pathogenesis with an increasing prevalence and is one of the most intractable clinical challenges in the field of reproductive medicine. Quercetin (QCT) is an effective active ingredient extracted from Semen Cuscutae and Herba Taxilli used in traditional Chinese medicine for tonifyng the kidneys and promoting fetal restoration. Although QCT helps improve adverse pregnancy outcomes, the specific mechanism remains unclear. The trophoblast cell line HTR-8/SVneo cultured in vitro was treated with different concentrations of QCT, and the cell counting kit-8 assay, wound healing assay, transwell assay, and western blotting were used to evaluate the effects and mechanisms of QCT on the proliferation, migration, and invasion of HTR-8/SVneo cells, respectively. To assess the expression levels of miR-149-3p and AKT serine/threonine kinase 1 (AKT1), quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) and western blotting analysis were performed. A dual-luciferase reporter assay was used to investigate the potential regulatory relationship between miR-149-3p and AKT1. Our results showed that QCT promoted the proliferation, migration, and invasion of trophoblast cells, promoted the expression of MMP2, MMP9, and vimentin, and downregulated the expression of E-cadherin. Mechanistically, QCT downregulated the expression of miR-149-3p and upregulated the expression of AKT1, and miR-149-3p directly targets AKT1, negatively regulating its expression. Overexpression of miR-149-3p and silencing of AKT1 counteracted the promotional effects of QCT on trophoblast proliferation, migration, and invasion. Taken together, QCT regulates the migration and invasion abilities of HTR-8/SVneo cells through the miR-149-3p/AKT1 axis, which may provide a promising therapeutic approach for RSA.

Expression of Iron Metabolism Genes Is Potentially Regulated by DOF Transcription Factors in Dendrocalamus latiflorus Leaves.

Transcription factors (TFs) are crucial pre-transcriptional regulatory mechanisms that can modulate the expression of downstream genes by binding to their promoter regions. DOF (DNA binding with One Finger) proteins are a unique class of TFs with extensive roles in plant growth and development. Our previous research indicated that iron content varies among bamboo leaves of different colors. However, to our knowledge, genes related to iron metabolism pathways in bamboo species have not yet been studied. Therefore, in the current study, we identified iron metabolism related (IMR) genes in bamboo and determined the TFs that significantly influence them. Among these, DOFs were found to have widespread effects and potentially significant impacts on their expression. We identified specific DOF members in Dendrocalamus latiflorus with binding abilities through homology with Arabidopsis DOF proteins, and established connections between some of these members and IMR genes using RNA-seq data. Additionally, molecular docking confirmed the binding interactions between these DlDOFs and the DOF binding sites in the promoter regions of IMR genes. The co-expression relationship between the two gene sets was further validated using q-PCR experiments. This study paves the way for research into iron metabolism pathways in bamboo and lays the foundation for understanding the role of DOF TFs in D. latiflorus.

Whole exome sequencing analyses identified novel genes for Alzheimer's disease and related dementia.

INTRODUCTION: The heritability of Alzheimer's disease (AD) is estimated to be 58%-79%. However, known genes can only partially explain the heritability. METHODS: Here, we conducted gene-based exome-wide association study (ExWAS) of rare variants and single-variant ExWAS of common variants, utilizing data of 54,569 clinically diagnosed/proxy AD and related dementia (ADRD) and 295,421 controls from the UK Biobank. RESULTS: Gene-based ExWAS identified 11 genes predicting a higher ADRD risk, including five novel ones, namely FRMD8, DDX1, DNMT3L, MORC1, and TGM2, along with six previously reported ones, SORL1, GRN, PSEN1, ABCA7, GBA, and ADAM10. Single-variant ExWAS identified two ADRD-associated novel genes, SLCO1C1 and NDNF. The identified genes were predominantly enriched in amyloid-ß process pathways, microglia, and brain regions like hippocampus. The druggability evidence suggests that DDX1, DNMT3L, TGM2, SLCO1C1, and NDNF could be effective drug targets. DISCUSSION: Our study contributes to the current body of evidence on the genetic etiology of ADRD. HIGHLIGHTS: Gene-based analyses of rare variants identified five novel genes for Alzheimer's disease and related dementia (ADRD), including FRMD8, DDX1, DNMT3L, MORC1, and TGM2. Single-variant analyses of common variants identified two novel genes for ADRD, including SLCO1C1 and NDNF. The identified genes were predominantly enriched in amyloid-ß process pathways, microglia, and brain regions like hippocampus. DDX1, DNMT3L, TGM2, SLCO1C1, and NDNF could be effective drug targets.

TaMYB-CC5 gene specifically expressed in root improve tolerance of phosphorus deficiency and drought stress in wheat.

Phosphate deficiency and drought are significant environmental constraints that impact both the productivity and quality of wheat. The interaction between phosphorus and water facilitates their mutual absorption processes in plants. Under conditions of both phosphorus deficiency and drought stress, we observed a significant upregulation in the expression of wheat MYB-CC transcription factors through the transcriptome analysis. 52 TaMYB-CC genes in wheat were identified and analyzed their evolutionary relationships, structures, and expression patterns. The TaMYB-CC5 gene exhibited specific expression in roots and demonstrated significant upregulation under phosphorus deficiency and drought stress compared to other TaMYB-CC genes. The overexpression of TaMYB-CC5A in Arabidopsis resulted in a significant increase of root length under stress conditions, thereby enhancing tolerance to phosphate starvation and drought stress. The wheat lines with silenced TaMYB-CC5 genes exhibited reduced root length under stress conditions and increased sensitivity to phosphate deficiency and drought stress. In addition, silencing the TaMYB-CC5 genes resulted in altered phosphorus content in leaves but did not lead to a reduction in phosphorus content in roots. Enrichment analysis the co-expression genes of TaMYB-CC5 transcription factors, we found the zinc-induced facilitator-like (ZIFL) genes were prominent associated with TaMYB-CC5 gene. The TaZIFL1, TaZIFL2, and TaZIFL5 genes were verified specifically expressed in roots and regulated by TaMYB-CC5 transcript factor. Our study reveals the pivotal role of the TaMYB-CC5 gene in regulating TaZIFL genes, which is crucial for maintaining normal root growth under phosphorus deficiency and drought stress, thereby enhanced resistance to these abiotic stresses in wheat.

Engineering a NanoBiT biosensor for detecting angiotensin-converting enzyme-2 (hACE2) interaction with SARS-CoV-2 spike protein and screening the inhibitors to block hACE2 and spike interaction.

Infection with severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) is facilitated by its trimeric surface spike protein, which binds to the human angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (hACE2) receptor. This critical interaction facilitates viral entry and is a primary target for therapeutic intervention against COVID-19. However, it is difficult to fully optimize viral infection using existing protein-protein interaction methods. Herein, we introduce a nano-luciferase binary technology (NanoBiT)-based pseudoviral sensor designed to stimulate the dynamics of viral infection in both living cells and animals. Infection progression can be dynamically visualized via a rapid increase in luminescence within 3 h using an in vivo imaging system (IVIS). Inhibition of viral infection by baicalein and baicalin was evaluated using a NanoBiT-based pseudoviral sensor. These results indicate that the inhibitory efficacy of baicalein was strengthened by targeting the spike protein, whereas baicalin targeted the hACE2 protein. Additionally, under optimized conditions, baicalein and baicalin provided a synergistic combination to inhibit pseudoviral infection. Live bioluminescence imaging was used to evaluate the in vivo effects of baicalein and baicalin treatment on LgBiT-hACE2 mice infected with the BA.2-SmBiT spike pseudovirus. This innovative bioluminescent system functions as a sensitive and early-stage quantitative viral transduction in vitro and in vivo. This platform provides novel opportunities for studying the molecular biology of animal models.

Epicardial adipose tissue volume and density are associated with heart failure with improved ejection fraction.

BACKGROUND: Heart failure (HF) with improved ejection fraction (EF, HFimpEF) is a distinct HF subtype, characterized by left ventricular (LV) reverse remodeling and myocardial functional recovery. Multiple cardiometabolic factors are implicated in this process. Epicardial adipose tissue (EAT), emerging as an endocrine and paracrine organ, contributes to the onset and progression of HF. However, the relation between EAT and the incidence of HFimpEF is still unclear. METHODS: A total of 203 hospitalized HF patients with reduced EF (HFrEF, LVEF ≤ 40%) who underwent coronary CT angiography (CCTA) during index hospitalization were consecutively enrolled between November 2011 and December 2022. Routine follow-up and repeat echocardiograms were performed. The incidence of HFimpEF was defined as (1) an absolute LVEF improvement ≥ 10% and (2) a second LVEF > 40% (at least 3 months apart). EAT volume and density were semiautomatically quantified on non-enhanced series of CCTA scans. RESULTS: During a median follow-up of 8.6 (4.9 ~ 13.3) months, 104 (51.2%) patients developed HFimpEF. Compared with HFrEF patients, HFimpEF patients had lower EAT volume (115.36 [IQR 87.08 ~ 154.78] mL vs. 169.67 [IQR 137.22 ~ 218.89] mL, P < 0.001) and higher EAT density (-74.92 ± 6.84 HU vs. -78.76 ± 6.28 HU, P < 0.001). Multivariate analysis showed lower EAT volume (OR: 0.885 [95%CI 0.822 ~ 0.947]) and higher density (OR: 1.845 [95%CI 1.023 ~ 3.437]) were both independently associated with the incidence of HFimpEF. Subgroup analysis revealed that the association between EAT properties and HFimpEF was not modified by HF etiology. CONCLUSIONS: This study reveals that lower EAT volume and higher EAT density are associated with development of HFimpEF. Therapies targeted at reducing EAT quantity and improving its quality might provide favorable effects on myocardial recovery in HF patients.

Tumor-related factor complement Clq/TNF-related protein 6 affects the development of digestive system tumors through the phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase pathway.

In this editorial, we review the work of Razali et al published in World J Gastroenterology, with a particular focus on the effect of rs10889677 variation in the phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K) pathway and buparlisib on colitis-associated cancer. The role of PI3K in promoting cancer progression has been widely recognized, as it is involved in regulating the survival, differentiation, and proliferation of cancer cells. The complement Clq/TNF-related protein 6 (CTRP6) is a newer tumor-associated factor. Recent studies have revealed the pro-tumor effect of CTRP6 in gastric cancer, hepatocellular carcinoma, colorectal cancer, and other gastrointestinal tumors through the PI3K pathway. This article attempts to reveal the mechanism through which the CTRP6 affects the development of digestive system tumors through the PI3K pathway by summarizing recent research.