The role of gonadal hormones in regulating opioid antinociception.

Opioids are the most prescribed drugs for the alleviation of pain. Both clinical and preclinical studies have reported strong evidence for sex-related divergence regarding opioid analgesia. There is an increasing amount of evidence indicating that gonadal hormones regulate the analgesic efficacy of opioids. This review presents an overview of the importance of gonadal steroids in modulating opioid analgesic responsiveness and focuses on elaborating what is currently known regarding the underlyingmechanism. We sought to identify the link between gonadal hormones and the effect of oipiod antinociception.

Gonadal hormones contribute to the sexual dimorphism of opioid antinociception.Generally, oestradiol is a negative modulator of opioid analgesia via both non-genomic and genomic effects.Testosterone facilitates opioid analgesia mainly through the transcriptional activities of androgen receptors.Under normal physiological conditions, progestin and oestrogen exist in parallel and have a combined effect. However, progestin alone could promote opioid analgesia by increasing the expression of opioid receptors.

Synergistic hyperactivation of both mTORC1 and mTORC2 underlies the neural abnormalities of PTEN-deficient human neurons and cortical organoids.

Mutations in the phosphatase and tensin homolog (PTEN) gene are associated with severe neurodevelopmental disorders. Loss of PTEN leads to hyperactivation of the mechanistic target of rapamycin (mTOR), which functions in two distinct protein complexes, mTORC1 and mTORC2. The downstream signaling mechanisms that contribute to PTEN mutant phenotypes are not well delineated. Here, we show that pluripotent stem cell-derived PTEN mutant human neurons, neural precursors, and cortical organoids recapitulate disease-relevant phenotypes, including hypertrophy, electrical hyperactivity, enhanced proliferation, and structural overgrowth. PTEN loss leads to simultaneous hyperactivation of mTORC1 and mTORC2. We dissect the contribution of mTORC1 and mTORC2 by generating double mutants of PTEN and RPTOR or RICTOR, respectively. Our results reveal that the synergistic hyperactivation of both mTORC1 and mTORC2 is essential for the PTEN mutant human neural phenotypes. Together, our findings provide insights into the molecular mechanisms that underlie PTEN-related neural disorders and highlight novel therapeutic targets.

Effect of synergistic fermentation of Saccharomyces cerevisiae and Lactobacillus plantarum on thermal properties of hyaluronic acid-wheat starch system.

Hyaluronic acid (HA), as a multifunctional hydrophilic polysaccharide, is potentially beneficial in improving the thermal stability of fermented modified starches, but relevant insights at the molecular level are lacking. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of different levels (0 %, 3 %, 6 %, 9 %, 12 % and 15 %) of HA on the structural, thermal and pasting properties of wheat starch co-fermented with Saccharomyces cerevisiae and Lactobacillus plantarum. We found that the addition of HA increased the median particle size of fermented starch granules from 16.387 to 17.070 µm. Meanwhile, the crystallinity of fermented starch was negatively correlated with the HA content, decreasing from 14.70 % to 12.80 % (p < 0.05). Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy results confirmed that HA interacted with starch granules and water molecules mainly through hydrogen bonding. Thermal analyses showed that the thermal peak of the composite correlated with the HA concentration, reaching a maximum of 73.17 °C at 12 % HA. In addition, HA increases the pasting temperature, reduces the peak, breakdown and setback viscosities of starch. This study demonstrates the role of HA in improving the thermal stability of fermented starch, providing new insights for traditional fermented food research and the application of HA in food processing.

Color-Shifting Iontronic Skin for On-Site, Nonpixelated Pressure Mapping Visualization.

Mimicking the function of human skin is highly desired for electronic skins (e-skins) to perceive the tactile stimuli by both their intensity and spatial location. The common strategy using pixelated pressure sensor arrays and display panels greatly increases the device complexity and compromises the portability of e-skins. Herein, we tackled this challenge by developing a user-interactive iontronic skin that simultaneously achieves electrical pressure sensing and on-site, nonpixelated pressure mapping visualization. By merging the electrochromic and iontronic pressure sensing units into an integrated multilayer device, the interlayer charge transfer is regulated by applied pressure, which induces both color shifting and a capacitance change. The iontronic skin could visualize the trajectory of dynamic forces and reveal both the intensity and spatial information on various human activities. The integration of dual-mode pressure responsivity, together with the scalable fabrication and explicit signal output, makes the iontronic skin highly promising in biosignal monitoring and human-machine interaction.

Identification of host protein ENO1 (alpha-enolase) interacting with Cryptosporidium parvum sporozoite surface protein, Cpgp40.

BACKGROUND: Cryptosporidium parvum is an apicomplexan zoonotic parasite causing the diarrheal illness cryptosporidiosis in humans and animals. To invade the host intestinal epithelial cells, parasitic proteins expressed on the surface of sporozoites interact with host cells to facilitate the formation of parasitophorous vacuole for the parasite to reside and develop. The gp40 of C. parvum, named Cpgp40 and located on the surface of sporozoites, was proven to participate in the process of host cell invasion. METHODS: We utilized the purified Cpgp40 as a bait to obtain host cell proteins interacting with Cpgp40 through the glutathione S-transferase (GST) pull-down method. In vitro analysis, through bimolecular fluorescence complementation assay (BiFC) and coimmunoprecipitation (Co-IP), confirmed the solid interaction between Cpgp40 and ENO1. In addition, by using protein mutation and parasite infection rate analysis, it was demonstrated that ENO1 plays an important role in the C. parvum invasion of HCT-8 cells. RESULTS: To illustrate the functional activity of Cpgp40 interacting with host cells, we identified the alpha-enolase protein (ENO1) from HCT-8 cells, which showed direct interaction with Cpgp40. The mRNA level of ENO1 gene was significantly decreased at 3 and 24 h after C. parvum infection. Antibodies and siRNA specific to ENO1 showed the ability to neutralize C. parvum infection in vitro, which indicated the participation of ENO1 during the parasite invasion of HCT-8 cells. In addition, we further demonstrated that ENO1 protein was involved in the regulation of cytoplasmic matrix of HCT-8 cells during C. parvum invasion. Functional study of the protein mutation illustrated that ENO1 was also required for the endogenous development of C. parvum. CONCLUSIONS: In this study, we utilized the purified Cpgp40 as a bait to obtain host cell proteins ENO1 interacting with Cpgp40. Functional studies illustrated that the host cell protein ENO1 was involved in the regulation of tight junction and adherent junction proteins during C. parvum invasion and was required for endogenous development of C. parvum.

Association of flavonoid intake with coronary artery disease risk in the older population based on the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey.

We investigated the association between flavonoid intake and coronary artery disease (CAD) risk in older adults. Data were extracted from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (age ≥ 70 years; 2007-2010 and 2017-2018; n = 2 417). The total flavonoid and flavonoid subclass intake was calculated using validated food frequency questionnaires. The association between flavonoid intake and CAD risk was examined using generalized linear models with restricted cubic spline models. After multivariate adjustment, anthocyanin intake was positively associated with CAD risk; no significant associations were observed between other flavonoid subcategories and endpoint outcomes. Anthocyanins exhibited a non-linear association with CAD risk, and threshold effect analysis showed an inflection point of 15.8 mg/day for anthocyanins. Per unit increase in anthocyanins, the odds of CAD on the left of the inflection point decreased by 2%, while the odds on the right increased by 35.8%. Excessive flavonoid intake may increase CAD risk in the older population.

Association between PM2.5 and hypertension among the floating population in China: a cross-sectional study.

Few studies have investigated the association between PM2.5 and hypertension among floating populations. We therefore examined the relationship using binary logistic regression. Each grade of increment in the annual average PM2.5 (grade one: ≤15 µg/m3; grade two: 15-25 µg/m3; grade three: 25-35 µg/m3 [Excluding 25]; grade four: ≥35 µg/m3) was associated with an increased risk of hypertension (odds ratio [OR] = 1.081, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.034-1.129). Among the female floating population (OR = 1.114, 95% CI: 1.030-1.204), those with education level of primary school and below (OR = 1.140, 95% CI: 1.058-1.229), construction workers (OR = 1.228, 95% CI: 1.058-1.426), and those living in the eastern region of China (OR = 1.241, 95% CI: 1.145-1.346) were more vulnerable to PM2.5. These results indicate that PM2.5 is positively associated with hypertension in floating populations. Floating populations who are female, less educated, construction workers, and living in the eastern region of China are more vulnerable to the adverse impacts of PM2.5.

Associations between short-term exposure to ambient PM2.5 and incident cases of cardiovascular disease in Yantai, China.

There are limited studies investigating the association between short-term exposure to PM2.5 and incident cardiovascular disease (CVD) cases in China. This study aims to examine the short-term effects of PM2.5 on the incidence of cardiovascular diseases. A combination of Poisson-distribution generalized linear model and distributed lag non-linear model was used to examine the association between short-term exposure to PM2.5 and incident cases of CVD. The results revealed that per 10 µg/m3 increment of PM2.5 would increase the incident CVD cases by 0.147% (Relative Risk: 1.00147, 95% Confidence Interval: 1.00008-1.00286) at a lag of 2 days. The stratified analyses showed higher effects risk in females, older residents (aged 60-75 years), and acute myocardial infarction group (p-value for difference <0.05). This study indicates that short-term exposure to PM2.5 may increase the risk of CVD and highlights the necessity for a higher air quality standard in Yantai, China.

Small G-Protein Rheb Gates Mammalian Target of Rapamycin Signaling to Regulate Morphine Tolerance in Mice.

BACKGROUND: Analgesic tolerance due to long-term use of morphine remains a challenge for pain management. Morphine acts on µ-opioid receptors and downstream of the phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase signaling pathway to activate the mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) pathway. Rheb is an important regulator of growth and cell-cycle progression in the central nervous system owing to its critical role in the activation of mTOR. The hypothesis was that signaling via the GTP-binding protein Rheb in the dorsal horn of the spinal cord is involved in morphine-induced tolerance. METHODS: Male and female wild-type C57BL/6J mice or transgenic mice (6 to 8 weeks old) were injected intrathecally with saline or morphine twice daily at 12-h intervals for 5 consecutive days to establish a tolerance model. Analgesia was assessed 60 min later using the tail-flick assay. After 5 days, the spine was harvested for Western blot or immunofluorescence analysis. RESULTS: Chronic morphine administration resulted in the upregulation of spinal Rheb by 4.27 ± 0.195-fold (P = 0.0036, n = 6), in turn activating mTOR by targeting rapamycin complex 1 (mTORC1). Genetic overexpression of Rheb impaired morphine analgesia, resulting in a tail-flick latency of 4.65 ± 1.10 s (P < 0.0001, n = 7) in Rheb knock-in mice compared to 10 s in control mice (10 ± 0 s). Additionally, Rheb overexpression in spinal excitatory neurons led to mTORC1 signaling overactivation. Genetic knockout of Rheb or inhibition of mTORC1 signaling by rapamycin potentiated morphine-induced tolerance (maximum possible effect, 52.60 ± 9.56% in the morphine + rapamycin group vs. 16.60 ± 8.54% in the morphine group; P < 0.0001). Moreover, activation of endogenous adenosine 5'-monophosphate-activated protein kinase inhibited Rheb upregulation and retarded the development of morphine-dependent tolerance (maximum possible effect, 39.51 ± 7.40% in morphine + metformin group vs. 15.58 ± 5.79% in morphine group; P < 0.0001). CONCLUSIONS: This study suggests spinal Rheb as a key molecular factor for regulating mammalian target of rapamycin signaling.

Ultrathin Van der Waals Lanthanum Oxychloride Dielectric for 2D Field-Effect Transistors.

Downsizing silicon-based transistors can result in lower power consumption, faster speeds, and greater computational capacity, although it is accompanied by the appearance of short-channel effects. The integration of high-mobility 2D semiconductor channels with ultrathin high dielectric constant (high-κ) dielectric in transistors is expected to suppress the effect. Nevertheless, the absence of a high-κ dielectric layer featuring an atomically smooth surface devoid of dangling bonds poses a significant obstacle in the advancement of 2D electronics. Here, ultrathin van der Waals (vdW) lanthanum oxychloride (LaOCl) dielectrics are successfully synthesized by precisely controlling the growth kinetics. These dielectrics demonstrate an impressive high-κ value of 10.8 and exhibit a remarkable breakdown field strength (Ebd ) exceeding 10 MV cm-1 . Remarkably, the conventional molybdenum disulfide (MoS2 ) field-effect transistor (FET) featuring a dielectric made of LaOCl showcases an almost negligible hysteresis when compared to FETs employing alternative gate dielectrics. This can be attributed to the flawlessly formed vdW interface and excellent compatibility established between LaOCl and MoS2 . These findings will motivate the further exploration of rare-earth oxychlorides and the development of more-than-Moore nanoelectronic devices.

2D quasi-layered material with domino structure.

Interlayer coupling strength dichotomizes two-dimensional (2D) materials into layered and non-layered types. Traditionally, they can be regarded as atomic layers intrinsically linked via van der Waals (vdW) forces or covalent bonds, oriented orthogonally to their growth plane. In our work, we report a material system that differentiates from layered and non-layered materials, termed quasi-layered domino-structured (QLDS) materials, effectively bridging the gap between these two typical categories. Considering the skewed structure, the force orthogonal to the 2D QLDS-GaTe growth plane constitutes a synergistic blend of vdW forces and covalent bonds, with neither of them being perpendicular to the 2D growth plane. This unique amalgamation results in a force that surpasses that in layered materials, yet is weaker than that in non-layered materials. Therefore, the lattice constant contraction along this unique orientation can be as much as 7.7%, tantalizingly close to the theoretical prediction of 10.8%. Meanwhile, this feature endows remarkable anisotropy, second harmonic generation enhancement with a staggering susceptibility of 394.3 pm V-1. These findings endow further applications arranged in nonlinear optics, sensors, and catalysis.

Trends and prediction in the incidence rate of hepatitis C in Shandong Province in China from 2004 to 2030.

BACKGROUND: Hepatitis C threatens human health and brings a heavy economic burden. Shandong Province is the second most populous province in China and has uneven regional economic development. Therefore, we analyzed the incidence rate trend and regional differences of hepatitis C in Shandong Province from 2004 to 2021. METHODS: The monthly and annual incidence rates of hepatitis C in Shandong Province from 2022 to 2030 were predicted by fitting Autoregressive Integrated Moving Average model (ARIMA), Long Short-Term Memory (LSTM) and ARIMA-LSTM combined model. RESULTS: From 2004 to 2021, annual new cases of hepatitis C in Shandong Province increased from 635 to 5834, with a total of 61,707 cases. The incidence rate increased from 0.69/100 thousand in 2004 to 6.40/100 thousand in 2019, with a slight decrease in 2020 and 2021. The average annual incidence rate was 3.47/100 thousand. In terms of regional distribution, the hepatitis C incidence rate in Shandong Province was generally high in the west and low in the east. It is estimated that the hepatitis C incidence rate in Shandong Province will be 9.21 per 100 thousand in 2030. CONCLUSION: The hepatitis C incidence rate in Shandong Province showed an increasing trend from 2004 to 2019 and a decreasing trend in 2020 and 2021. Significant regional variations in incidence rate existed. An upward trend in incidence rate is predicted from 2022 to 2030. It is necessary to strengthen the prevention and control of hepatitis C to achieve the goal of eliminating viral hepatitis by 2030.

Integrated Bioinformatic Analyses Reveal Immune Molecular Markers and Regulatory Networks for Cerebral Ischemia-Reperfusion.

BACKGROUND: Cerebral ischemia-reperfusion injury (CIR) following a stroke results in secondary damage and is a leading cause of adult disability. The present study aimed to identify hub genes and networks in CIR to explore potential therapeutic agents for its treatment. METHODS: Differentially expressed genes based on the GSE23163 dataset were identified, and weighted gene co-expression network analysis was performed to explore co-expression modules associated with CIR. Hub genes were identified by intersecting immune gene profiles, differentially expressed genes, and modular genes. Gene Ontology, Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes pathway, and transcription factor-microRNA-gene regulatory network analyses were then conducted in selected crucial modules. Subsequently, their expression levels in animal models were verified using real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction and Western blotting. Finally, potential drug molecules were screened for, and molecular docking simulations were performed to identify potential therapeutic targets. RESULTS: Seven hub genes-namely, Ccl3, Ccl4, Ccl7, Cxcl1, Hspa1a, Cd14, and Socs3-were identified. Furthermore, we established a protein interaction network using the STRING database and found that the core genes selected through the cytohubba plugin remained consistent. Animal experiments showed that at the transcriptional level, all seven genes showed significant differences (p < 0.001, fold change vs sham, 5-200). At the translational level, however, only Ccl3, Ccl4, Ccl7, Hspa1a, and Socs3 showed significant differences, while Cxcl1 and Cd14 did not. Nifedipine, with the highest predicted score, was identified as a therapeutic agent and successfully docked with the protein encoded by the hub genes. CONCLUSIONS: The expression of Ccl3, Ccl4, Ccl7, Hspa1a, and Socs3 was significantly different in CIR tissues compared to normal tissues both at the transcriptional and translational levels. Systems biology approaches indicated that these could be possible CIR marker genes, providing a stepping stone for further experimental studies.

Functional characterization of CpADF, an actin depolymerizing factor protein in Cryptosporidium parvum.

Cryptosporidium is a highly pathogenic water and food-borne zoonotic parasitic protozoan that causes severe diarrhea in humans and animals. Apicomplexan parasites invade host cells via a unique motility process called gliding, which relies on the parasite's microfilaments. Actin depolymerizing factor (ADF) is a fibrous-actin (F-actin) and globular actin (G-actin) binding protein essential for regulating the turnover of microfilaments. However, the role of ADF in Cryptosporidium parvum (C. parvum) remains unknown. In this study, we preliminarily characterized the biological functions of ADF in C. parvum (CpADF). The CpADF was a 135-aa protein encoded by cgd5_2800 gene containing an ADF-H domain. The expression of cgd5_2800 gene peaked at 12 h post-infection, and the CpADF was located in the cytoplasm of oocysts, middle region of sporozoites, and cytoplasm of merozoites. Neutralization efficiency of anti-CpADF serum was approximately 41.30%. Actin sedimentation assay revealed that CpADF depolymerized but did not undergo cosedimentation with F-actin and its ability of F-actin depolymerization was pH independent. These results provide a basis for further investigation of the roles of CpADF in the invasion of C. parvum.

Measuring endogenous levels of unconjugated bilirubin released from isolated murine brain tissue during oxygen-glucose deprivation.

Quantitative assessment of endogenously synthesized and released bilirubin from brain tissue remains a challenge. Here, we present a sensitive and reproducible experimental paradigm to quantify, in real time, unconjugated bilirubin (UCB) from isolated murine brain tissue during oxygen-glucose deprivation (OGD). We describe steps for perfusion, brain dissection, brain slice preparation and incubation, glucose depletion, and OGD processing. We then detail procedures for standard calibration plotting and sample UCB measurement. For complete details on the use and execution of this protocol, please refer to Liu et al.1.

A designer peptide against the EAG2-Kvß2 potassium channel targets the interaction of cancer cells and neurons to treat glioblastoma.

Glioblastoma (GBM) is an incurable brain cancer that lacks effective therapies. Here we show that EAG2 and Kvß2, which are predominantly expressed by GBM cells at the tumor-brain interface, physically interact to form a potassium channel complex due to a GBM-enriched Kvß2 isoform. In GBM cells, EAG2 localizes at neuron-contacting regions in a Kvß2-dependent manner. Genetic knockdown of the EAG2-Kvß2 complex decreases calcium transients of GBM cells, suppresses tumor growth and invasion and extends the survival of tumor-bearing mice. We engineered a designer peptide to disrupt EAG2-Kvß2 interaction, thereby mitigating tumor growth in patient-derived xenograft and syngeneic mouse models across GBM subtypes without overt toxicity. Neurons upregulate chemoresistant genes in GBM cells in an EAG2-Kvß2-dependent manner. The designer peptide targets neuron-associated GBM cells and possesses robust efficacy in treating temozolomide-resistant GBM. Our findings may lead to the next-generation therapeutic agent to benefit patients with GBM.

Elevated pre-mRNA 3' end processing activity in cancer cells renders vulnerability to inhibition of cleavage and polyadenylation.

Cleavage and polyadenylation (CPA) is responsible for 3' end processing of eukaryotic poly(A)+ RNAs and preludes transcriptional termination. JTE-607, which targets CPSF-73, is the first known CPA inhibitor (CPAi) in mammalian cells. Here we show that JTE-607 perturbs gene expression through both transcriptional readthrough and alternative polyadenylation (APA). Sensitive genes are associated with features similar to those previously identified for PCF11 knockdown, underscoring a unified transcriptomic signature of CPAi. The degree of inhibition of an APA site by JTE-607 correlates with its usage level and, consistently, cells with elevated CPA activities, such as those with induced overexpression of FIP1, display greater transcriptomic disturbances when treated with JTE-607. Moreover, JTE-607 causes S phase crisis and is hence synergistic with inhibitors of DNA damage repair pathways. Together, our data reveal CPA activity and proliferation rate as determinants of CPAi-mediated cell death, raising the possibility of using CPAi as an adjunct therapy to suppress certain cancers.

Real-time programmable metasurface for terahertz multifunctional wave front engineering.

Terahertz (THz) technologies have become a focus of research in recent years due to their prominent role in envisioned future communication and sensing systems. One of the key challenges facing the field is the need for tools to enable agile engineering of THz wave fronts. Here, we describe a reconfigurable metasurface based on GaN technology with an array-of-subarrays architecture. This subwavelength-spaced array, under the control of a 1-bit digital coding sequence, can switch between an enormous range of possible configurations, providing facile access to nearly arbitrary wave front control for signals near 0.34 THz. We demonstrate wide-angle beam scanning with 1° of angular precision over 70 GHz of bandwidth, as well as the generation of multi-beam and diffuse wave fronts, with a switching speed up to 100 MHz. This device, offering the ability to rapidly reconfigure a propagating wave front for beam-forming or diffusively scattered wide-angle coverage of a scene, will open new realms of possibilities in sensing, imaging, and networking.