Examining the correlates of cigarette smoking, e-cigarette use and dual use among Canadian post-secondary students.

Many Canadians use nicotine products such as cigarettes and e-cigarettes. A particular subpopulation of concern is post-secondary students given they have a higher prevalence of use. Many correlates of cigarette smoking and e-cigarette use have been identified. However, less focus has been on examining the correlates of cigarette smoking, e-cigarette use and dual use. This study explores the correlates of different nicotine modality use in post-secondary students. Using data from the Canadian Campus Wellbeing Survey (CCWS; n = 27,164), a multi-level nominal regression assessed the correlates of nicotine modality use. In comparison to individuals who were <20, individuals 20-24 (OR = .448, 95% CI .321, .625), 25-29 (OR = .140, 95% CI .093, .212), 30-34 (OR = .076, 95% CI .046, .125) and over 35 (OR = .041, 95% CI .024, .071) had lower odds of e-cigarette use compared to cigarette smoking. Identifying as a woman (OR = 1.553, 95% CI 1.202, 2.006), non-heterosexual (OR = .642, 95% CI = .485,0.851), current cannabis user (OR = 1.651, 95% CI 1.296, 2.104), and being an international student (OR = .350, 95% CI .251, .487) also impacted the odds of e-cigarette use vs only cigarette smoking. When considering dual use vs cigarette smoking, individuals aged 20-24 (OR = .491, 95% CI .337, .717), 25-29 (OR = .221, 95% CI .137, .357), 30-34 (OR = .163, 95% CI .091, .292) and over 35 (OR = .122, 95% CI .065, .230) had lower odds than individuals <20. Current cannabis use (OR = 1.680, 95% CI = 1.209, 2.138), binge drinking (OR = 1.885, 95% CI 1.384, 2.568), and international student status (OR = .689, 95% CI .476, .996) also impacted cigarette smoking vs dual-use. Overall, a minority of young adults (11.5%) at post-secondary institutions in our sample use nicotine products, and the higher prevalence of e-cigarette use warrants continued monitoring. Health promotion campaigns addressing e-cigarette use are required. Additionally, tailored intervention efforts could prioritize the treatment needs of international students studying in Canada.

Formononetin attenuates psoriasiform inflammation by regulating interferon signaling pathway.

BACKGROUND: Psoriasis is a long-lasting, inflammatory, continuous illness caused through T cells and characterized mainly by abnormal growth and division of keratinocytes. Currently, corticosteroids are the preferred option. However, prolonged use of traditional topical medication can lead to adverse reactions and relapse, presenting a significant therapeutic obstacle. Improved alternative treatment options are urgently required. Formononetin (FMN) is a representative component of isoflavones in Huangqi (HQ) [Astragalus membranaceus (Fisch.) Bge.]. It possesses properties that reduce inflammation, combat oxidation, inhibit tumor growth, and mimic estrogen. Although FMN has been shown to ameliorate skin barrier devastation via regulating keratinocyte apoptosis and proliferation, there are no reports of its effectiveness in treating psoriasis. OBJECTIVE: Through transcriptomics clues and experimental investigation, we aimed to elucidate the fundamental mechanisms underlying FMN's action on psoriasis. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Cell viability was examined using CCK8 assay in this study. The results of analysis of differentially expressed genes (DEGs) between FMN-treated HaCaT cells and normal HaCaT cells using RNA-sequencing (RNA-seq) were presented on volcano plots and heatmap. Enrichment analysis was conducted on DEGs using Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) and Gene Ontology (GO), and results were validated through RT-qPCR verification. After 12 days of FMN treatment in psoriasis mouse model, we gauged the PASI score and epidermis thickness. A variety of techniques were used to assess FMN's effectiveness on inhibiting inflammation and proliferation related to psoriasis, including RT-qPCR, HE staining, western blot, and immunohistochemistry (IHC). RESULTS: The findings indicated that FMN could suppress the growth of HaCaT cells using CCK8 assay (with IC50 = 40.64 uM) and 20 uM FMN could reduce the level of tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) and interleukin-6 (IL-6) to the greatest extent. FMN-treated HaCaT cells exhibited 985 up-regulated and 855 down-regulated DEGs compared to normal HaCaT cells. GO analysis revealed that DEGs were linked to interferon (IFN) signaling pathway. Furthermore, FMN improved pathological features, which encompassed decreased erythema, scale, and thickness scores of skin lesions in psoriasis mouse model. In vivo experiments confirmed that FMN down-regulated expression of IFN-α, IFN-ß, IFN-γ, decreased secretion of TNF-α and IL-17 inflammatory factors, inhibited expression of IFN-related chemokines included Cxcl9, Cxcl10, Cxcl11 and Cxcr3 and reduced expression of transcription factors p-STAT1, p-STAT3 and IFN regulatory factor 1 (IRF1) in the imiquimod (IMQ) group. CONCLUSIONS: In summary, these results suggested that FMN played an anti-inflammatory and anti-proliferative role in alleviating psoriasis by inhibiting IFN signaling pathway, and FMN could be used as a potential therapeutic agent.

Colony performance of three native bumblebee species from South China and association with their gut microbiome.

Bumblebees play an important ecological economic role as pollinators in nature and agriculture. For reasons of biosecurity, many countries promote the cultivation of native bumblebee species for crop pollination instead of importing "alien" species. In South China, a few bumblebee species are considered useful in this way, particularly, Bombus atripes, Bombus bicoloratus and Bombus breviceps. However, whether they are suitable for artificial rearing and forming healthy colonies for pollination, remains unknown. In this project, queens from the 3 native species of Guizhou Province were collected and colonies were started under standardized conditions. The colonies were scored based on 19 parameters, including the stage of colony development, number and weight of offspring, and diet consumed. The data revealed that B. breviceps had the best performance, produced more workers and consumed the smallest diet. Next, we performed 16S rDNA sequencing of the bacterial communities found in the guts of offspring workers, and then a correlation analysis between colony performance and gut bacteria was conducted. Here, B. breviceps showed the highest diversity in gut bacterial composition, dominated by the bacteria Gilliamella, Snodgrassella, Enterobacter, and Lactobacillus Firm5. The higher the abundance of Snodgrassella, the better the performance of the colony in the foundation stage, and later Lactobacillus Firm5, Apibacter and Bifidobacterium were beneficial during the stages of rapid growth and colony decline. Although we do not understand all of the interactions yet, these correlations explain why B. breviceps demonstrated better colony performance. Our data provide valuable information for breeding local Bombus species and will contribute to developing strong colonies for crop pollination.

Genome-Wide Search Links Senescence-Associated Secretory Proteins With Susceptibility for Coronary Artery Disease in Mouse and Human.

Advanced age is an independent risk factor for coronary artery disease (CAD), the leading global cause of mortality. Senescent vascular cells in the atherosclerotic plaques exhibit senescence-associated secretory phenotype (SASP). How SASP contributes to atherosclerosis and CAD, however, remains unclear. Here, we integrated RNA-array datasets of senescent human coronary arterial endothelial cells (HCAECs) and aortic smooth muscle cells (HASMCs) as well as genome-wide association data for CAD. We identified 26 genes from HCAECs and 6 genes from HASMCs related to SASP and CAD in both in-house and published datasets. Of which, Cystatin C (CST3), a CAD susceptibility gene, was found to be expressed in both HCAECs and HASMCs, thus, it was prioritized for further investigation. We demonstrated it was significantly elevated in senescent vascular cells, aged arteries, and early atherosclerosis. In vitro experiments showed that CST3 enhances the monocyte-endothelial cell adhesion. Additionally, ligand-receptor pairing analyses revealed two important pathways, COL4A1-ITGA1 and LPL-LRP1 pathways, linked to the critical processes in the development of atherosclerosis, including cell adhesion, inflammation response, extracellular matrix organization, and lipid metabolism. We further demonstrated a reduced monocyte-endothelial cell adhesion following the knockdown of COL4A1 or ITGA1 and a significantly increased expression of COL4A1, ITGA1, and LPL in arterial intima of aged mice and ApoE-/- mice. Our findings demonstrate that vascular cell-derived SASP proteins increase the CAD susceptibility and identify CST3 functionally contributing to atherosclerosis.

Development and validation of a nomogram for Siewert II esophagogastric junction adenocarcinoma: a retrospective analysis.

Background: Due to the complex histological type and anatomical structures, there has been considerable debate on the classification of adenocarcinoma of the esophagogastric junction (AEG), especially Siewert II AEG. Furthermore, neither the American Joint Committee on Cancer (AJCC) 7th tumor-node-metastasis (TNM) [esophageal adenocarcinoma (E) or gastric cancer (G)] nor the AJCC 8th TNM (E or G) accurately predicted the prognosis of patients with Siewert II AEG. Objective: This study aimed to investigate the factors influencing the survival and prognosis of patients with Siewert II AEG and establish a new and better prognostic predictive model. Design: A retrospective study. Methods: Patients with Siewert II AEG, retrieved from the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) databases, were assigned to the training set. Patients retrieved from a single tertiary medical center were assigned to the external validation set. Significant variables were selected using univariate and multivariate Cox regression analyses to construct the nomogram. Nomogram models were assessed using the concordance index (C-index), a calibration plot, decision curve analysis (DCA), and external validation. Results: Age, tumor grade, and size, as well as the T, N, and M stages, were included in the nomograms. For the SEER training set, the C-index of the nomogram was 0.683 (0.665-0.701). The C-index of the nomogram for the external validation set was 0.690 (0.653-0.727). The calibration curve showed good agreement between the nomogram estimations and actual observations in both the training and external validation sets. The DCA showed that the nomogram was clinically useful. Conclusion: The new predictive model showed significant accuracy in predicting the prognosis of Siewert II AEG.

Integration of machine learning for developing a prognostic signature related to programmed cell death in colorectal cancer.

BACKGROUND: Colorectal cancer (CRC) presents a significant global health burden, characterized by a heterogeneous molecular landscape and various genetic and epigenetic alterations. Programmed cell death (PCD) plays a critical role in CRC, offering potential targets for therapy by regulating cell elimination processes that can suppress tumor growth or trigger cancer cell resistance. Understanding the complex interplay between PCD mechanisms and CRC pathogenesis is crucial. This study aims to construct a PCD-related prognostic signature in CRC using machine learning integration, enhancing the precision of CRC prognosis prediction. METHOD: We retrieved expression data and clinical information from the Cancer Genome Atlas and Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) datasets. Fifteen forms of PCD were identified, and corresponding gene sets were compiled. Machine learning algorithms, including Lasso, Ridge, Enet, StepCox, survivalSVM, CoxBoost, SuperPC, plsRcox, random survival forest (RSF), and gradient boosting machine, were integrated for model construction. The models were validated using six GEO datasets, and the programmed cell death score (PCDS) was established. Further, the model's effectiveness was compared with 109 transcriptome-based CRC prognostic models. RESULT: Our integrated model successfully identified differentially expressed PCD-related genes and stratified CRC samples into four subtypes with distinct prognostic implications. The optimal combination of machine learning models, RSF + Ridge, showed superior performance compared with traditional methods. The PCDS effectively stratified patients into high-risk and low-risk groups, with significant survival differences. Further analysis revealed the prognostic relevance of immune cell types and pathways associated with CRC subtypes. The model also identified hub genes and drug sensitivities relevant to CRC prognosis. CONCLUSION: The current study highlights the potential of integrating machine learning models to enhance the prediction of CRC prognosis. The developed prognostic signature, which is related to PCD, holds promise for personalized and effective therapeutic interventions in CRC.

[Carbon Emission Characteristics and Influencing Factors of Typical Processes in Drinking Water Treatment Plant].

Based on the actual operating conditions and data monitoring, the carbon emission characteristics of typical processes of a drinking water treatment plant (DWTP) in Tianjin were studied. The total carbon emission intensity measured by CO2-eq was 0.254 kg·m-3, and the proportion of carbon emissions from electricity consumption and reagent consumption was 81.76% and 9.15%, respectively. The key carbon emission sectors of electricity consumption were the water supply pump house, ultrafiltration membrane process, and inlet pump house, which accounted for 50.99%-73.51%, 17.64%-20.70%, and 17.97%-22.40% of the total carbon emission from electricity consumption in the DWTP, respectively. The contribution of sodium hypochlorite to the carbon emission of reagent consumption was 89.12%-90.30%, followed by ferric chloride, PAC, and ammonium sulfate. In the traditional water purification process, the carbon emission intensity of the process unit was in the order of inlet pump house > rapid filter > sedimentation tank. The order in the ultrafiltration membrane advanced treatment process was inlet pump house > ultrafiltration membrane > mechanical coagulation > clarification tank. The carbon emission intensity of the rapid filter process and the ultrafiltration membrane process were 0.070 9 kg·m-3 and 0.109 0 kg·m-3, respectively. The ultrafiltration membrane process could save 23% of the reagent consumption, and its carbon emission of electricity consumption was twice that of the traditional treatment process. The analysis of factors affecting carbon emission in key sectors showed that the raw water quality parameters such as turbidity, pH, ammonia nitrogen, temperature, etc., were significantly correlated with the carbon emission intensity of sodium hypochlorite. There was a significant linear regression relationship between ex-factory water pressure, daily water supply, and carbon emission intensity of the water supply pump house. The control measures of water quality and water pressure can effectively reduce the carbon emissions of the DWTP.

Long-term oncological outcomes of robotic versus laparoscopic gastrectomy for gastric cancer: multicentre cohort study.

BACKGROUND: The aim of this multicentre cohort study was to compare the long-term oncological outcomes of robotic gastrectomy (RG) and laparoscopic gastrectomy (LG) for patients with gastric cancer. METHODS: Patients with gastric cancer who underwent radical gastrectomy by robotic or laparoscopic approaches from 1 March 2010 to 31 December 2018 at 10 high-volume centres in China were selected from institutional databases. Patients receiving RG were matched 1 : 1 by propensity score with patients undergoing LG. The primary outcome was 3-year disease-free survival. Secondary outcomes were overall survival and disease recurrence. RESULTS: Some 2055 patients who underwent RG and 4309 patients who had LG were included. The propensity score-matched cohort comprised 2026 RGs and 2026 LGs. Median follow-up was 41 (i.q.r. 39-58) months for the RG group and 39 (38-56) months for the LG group. The 3-year disease-free survival rates were 80.8% in the RG group and 79.5% in the LG group (log rank P = 0.240; HR 0.92, 95% c.i. 0.80 to 1.06; P = 0.242). Three-year OS rates were 83.9 and 81.8% respectively (log rank P = 0.068; HR 0.87, 0.75 to 1.01; P = 0.068) and the cumulative incidence of recurrence over 3 years was 19.3% versus 20.8% (HR 0.95, 0.88 to 1.03; P = 0.219), with no difference between groups. CONCLUSION: RG and LG in patients with gastric cancer are associated with comparable disease-free and overall survival.

Incidence of cancer for patients after bariatric surgery: evidence from 33 cohort studies.

BACKGROUND: With the rising prevalence of severe obesity, bariatric surgery has emerged as a crucial treatment option. As the number of surgeries performed worldwide increases, there has been growing interest in the impact of bariatric surgery on cancer incidence. While several studies have examined this relationship, the topic remains controversial. OBJECTIVES: We conducted this systematic review of cohort studies with meta-analysis to evaluate the effect of bariatric surgery versus nonsurgical treatment on overall cancer incidence. However, the effects may vary when focusing on specific cancer types, surgical procedures, or gender, so we conducted additional subgroup analyses. SETTING: A meta-analysis. University hospital. METHODS: The Cochrane, Embase, PubMed, and Web of Science databases were searched for studies from 1 January 2000 to 1 December 2022. Meta-analysis was conducted to evaluate the pooled effect and further implemented subgroup analysis stratified by cancer type, operation type, and sex. RESULTS: All cohort studies were included in this meta-analysis from 18,216 studies. The overall cancer incidence demonstrated a significant decrease in the group with bariatric surgery (odds ratios [OR] = .56, P = .000, 95% CI .46 to .68). In subgroup analysis, similar decrease effect was found in 9 cancers. Furthermore, the incidence of cancer decreased significantly in male (OR = .66, P = .001, 95% CI .51 to .85) and female patients (OR = .63, P = .000, 95% CI .57 to .69) and patients undergoing gastric bypass (OR = .46, P = .000, 95% CI .33 to .63) or sleeve gastrectomy (OR = .44, P = .001, 95% CI .27 to .70). CONCLUSIONS: In the overall analysis, bariatric surgery could reduce the incidence of cancer significantly. Further large-scale well-matched studies are needed to verify the protective effect of bariatric surgery on cancer incidence.

Helicobacter pylori infection prevalence declined among an urban health check-up population in Chengdu, China: a longitudinal analysis of multiple cross-sectional studies.

Objectives: The efficacy of updated health policy in improving the generalization of Helicobacter pylori screening and eradication in southwest China was assessed in a longitudinal analysis of multiple cross-sectional studies from an institution. Methods: In the periods 2009-2010, 2013-2014, and 2019-2021, 8,365, 16,914, and 18,281 urban observations from health check-ups at West China Hospital were analyzed, respectively. The 14C-urea or 13C-urea breath test was consistently used for H. pylori detection. The protocol has been reported elsewhere (PROSPERO Registration number: CRD42019120764). Results: The overall prevalence of H. pylori dramatically decreased from 53.1% to 30.7% over the past decade (OR = 0.39, 95% CI 0.37-0.41), with a similar decline in all sex-specific and age-specific subgroups. The age-specific prevalence consistently increased before 40 years of age and always peaked at 50-59 years. Longitudinal clearance increased along with aging, and prevalence dropped to 22.6%, 25.1%, and 23.6% in the 40-49, 50-59, and 60-69 years initial age groups, respectively. Conclusion: The generalization of H. pylori screening and eradication could greatly contribute to the control of H. pylori infection among urban health check-up populations and lower gastric cancer incidence.

Two new species of the planthopper genus Usana Distant, 1906 (Hemiptera, Fulgoromorpha, Achilidae) from China.

Two new species of the achilid planthopper genus Usana Distant, 1906 (Hemiptera, Fulgoromorpha, Achilidae, Myconinae, Plectoderini), U.tongmaiensis Long & Huang, sp. nov. and U.rotalarius Long & Huang, sp. nov., are described and illustrated from Xizang and Chongqing. A key to all known species and a map of geographic distributions for Chinese taxa is provided.

Optimal timing of surgery for gastric cancer after neoadjuvant chemotherapy: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: Following neoadjuvant chemotherapy, surgical resection is one of the most preferred treatment options for locally advanced gastric cancer patients. However, the optimal time interval between chemotherapy and surgery is unclear. This review aimed to identify the optimal time interval between neoadjuvant chemotherapy and surgery for advanced gastric cancer. METHODS: Beginning on November 12, 2022, we searched the PubMed, Cochrane Library, Web of Science databases, and Embase.com databases for relevant English-language research. Two authors independently screened the studies, assessed their quality, extracted the data, and analyzed the results. The primary goal was to investigate the relationship between the time interval to surgery (TTS) and long-term survival outcomes for patients. This study has been registered with PROSPERO (CRD42022365196). RESULTS: After an initial search of 4880 articles, the meta-analysis review ultimately included only five retrospective studies. Ultimately, this meta-analysis included 1171 patients, of which 411 patients had TTS of < 4 weeks, 507 patients had TTS of 4-6 weeks, and 253 patients had TTS of > 6 weeks. In survival analysis, patients with TTS of > 6 weeks had poorer overall survival outcomes than patients with TTS of 4-6 weeks (HR = 1.34, 95% CI: 1.03-1.75, P = 0.03). No significant differences were found in terms of disease-free survival the groups. CONCLUSION: Based on the current clinical evidence, patients with locally advanced gastric cancer may benefit better with a TTS of 4-6 weeks; however, this option still needs additional study.

First Report of Erysiphe astragali Causing Powdery Mildew on Astragalus mongholicus in China.

Astragalus mongholicus Bge. [A. membranaceus Bge. var. mongholicus (Bge.) Hsiao] is a highly valuable perennial medicinal plant mainly distributed in China, whose dry roots are known as Huangqi in traditional Chinese medicine for reinforcing vital energy, strengthening superficial resistance, and promoting tissue regeneration (Lin et al. 2000). A. mongholicus roots of high quality are produced in Northwest and North China. Since July 2021, powdery mildew outbreaks happened annually on the leaves of A. mongholicus in a plantation (123° 56' 40'' E, 47° 22' 20'' N) in Qiqihar city, Heilongjiang Province, China. Disease incidence reached 100% by October (Fig. 1A-C), causing severe impairment of growth. Powdery mildew spots of circular or irregular shapes emerged on upper surface of leaf, resulting in plentiful lesion specks. Dense white hyphae appeared chaotically intertwined. Hyphae were hyaline and highly flexuous, 5.3 - 10.7 µm in diameter (n = 20). Chasmothecia were globose or slightly ovoid-shaped and turned dark brown when matured. Chasmothecia (diameter: 135.2 - 222.9 µm, n = 20) existed abundantly on the diseased leaves in the fields. Conidiophores were 89.0 - 129.9 µm in length (n = 20) and composed of one cylindrical, straight foot cell, followed by two cells and one to three conidia. Conidia were slim ellipsoid-shaped, occasionally ovoid-shaped, measuring 14.6 - 24.7 µm by 6.4 to10.4 µm, length/width ratio was 1.8 - 3.0 (n = 30). Hyphal appressoria were nipple-shaped and appeared in singular, occasionally in pairs. Unbranched germ tube emerged reaching out of the germinating conidia while forming an acute angle with the long axis. Comprehensively, the pathogen exhibited micro-morphology of the genus Erysiphe. For molecular identification, pathogen was carefully scraped off diseased leaves for DNA extraction. We used the DNA samples of three biological replicates for the sequencing of the ITS rDNA fragment (primers by (White et al. 1990). All the samples resulted in an identical ITS sequence (deposited in GenBank as OQ390098.1). It displayed 99.83% identity with OP806835.1 of an E. astragali voucher collected in Iran (Fig. 1D-M, O). Hence, our pathogen was identified as an E. astragali stain. Additionally, we amplified the Mcm7 sequence (using primers by (Ellingham et al. 2019), deposited as OQ397582.1). We propagated 40-day-old A. mongholicus plants via germinating seeds in pot soil and performed pathogenicity tests. Firstly, we incubated detached healthy leaves of propagated plants with severely symptomatic leaves collected from the fields in petri dishes under saturated moisture content and room temperature. Powdery mildew symptoms emerged on each healthy leaf (n = 5) after two weeks. Further, we infected healthy plants (n = 5) by gently pressing and rubbing symptomatic leaves on each healthy leaf, and kept them in a greenhouse (24 ℃, 80% humidity, 16/8-hour light/dark cycle). After a month, symptoms emerged on a number of leaves of each infected plant. We performed micromorphology observation (Fig. 1N-P) and ITS sequencing to confirm that the results fulfilled Koch's postulates. Powdery mildew caused by E. astragali on A. strictus in Tibet (Wang and Jiang 2023) and on A. scaberrimus in Inner Mongolia (Sun et al. 2023) have been reported. Here we report powdery mildew caused by E. astragali on Astragalus mongholicus for the first time. These Astragalus spp. are all acknowledged to have medicinal values in China but their usages are quite different.

Curcumin Reduces Hypoxia/Reperfusion Injury of Cardiomyocytes by Stimulating Vascular Endothelial Cells to Secrete FGF2.

OBJECTIVE: Endothelial cells (ECs) can provide cell protection for cardiomyocytes (CMs) under hypoxia-reoxygenation (HR) conditions by secreting derived factors. This study aimed to explore the role of curcumin (CUR) in ECs for protecting CMs from HR injury. METHODS: A co-culture system for ECs and CMs was set up, and subjected to HR. The transcription, expression, and secretion of FGF2 were detected by RT-qPCR, western blot, and ELISA, respectively. siRNAs specifically targeting FGF2 were transfected into ECs. FGF2 receptor- specific inhibitors (AZD4547) were used to treat CMs. RESULTS: The co-culture with ECs did not affect the proliferation of CMs, while CUR and ECs co-culture had a synergistic effect on promoting the proliferation of CMs in HR. Furthermore, the co-culture with ECs did not affect the apoptosis and autophagy of CMs in HR. However, the co-culture of ECs after CUR treatment inhibited the apoptosis and autophagy of CMs in HR. CUR treatment significantly enhanced FGF2 mRNA, protein, and secretion levels of ECs in HR. In addition, CUR treatment increased FGF2 levels in the CMs medium in the ECs and CMs co-culture system. The reduction of FGF2 levels in the medium and the inhibition of FGF2 receptors significantly inhibited the proliferation of CMs and significantly promoted the apoptosis and autophagy of CMs in HR. CONCLUSION: Focusing on the protective effects of CUR and ECs on cardiomyocytes is of great significance for the treatment of clinical myocardial HR injury.

Prognostic gene HLA-DMA associated with cell cycle and immune infiltrates in LUAD.

BACKGROUND: The dominant subclass of non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD). The tumor microenvironment (TME) is a crucial feature of carcinogenesis and progression in LUAD. Furthermore, immune and stromal components of TME are crucial factors to investigating and curing LUAD. Thus, the study assessed the value of TME-related genes for LUAD prognosis and immune infiltration. METHODS: All data were downloaded from TCGA and GEO databases. The immune and stromal scores were downloaded from ESTIMATE, and the association between the scores and prognosis was explored by Kaplan-Meier survival analysis. Protein-protein interaction (PPI) network and univariate Cox regression were used to find TME-related differentially expressed genes (DEGs), and HLA-DMA was regarded as a prognostic hub gene. Western blot analyses, qRT-PCR, and immunofluorescence were applied to verify HLA-DMA expression in clinical samples. NSCLC cell lines were used to verify the effect of HLA-DMA on cell proliferation and cell cycle distribution. At last, the alteration of immunotherapy response and TME transition caused by HLA-DMA different expression were further studied. RESULTS: The immune score was positively correlated with survival. The functional analyses suggested that TME-related DEGs may be involved in the immune response. The expression level of HLA-DMA was decreased in LUAD. In addition, HLA-DMA expression was associated with several clinical features and was positively associated with survival. Furthermore, HLA-DMA may suspend cell proliferation by regulating cell cycle. HLA-DMA expression was closely associated with immune infiltration and positively correlated with TMB, indicating that patients with high HLA-DMA level were more suitable for immunotherapy. CONCLUSION: These results reveal that HLA-DMA might act as a biomarker for immune infiltration and immunotherapy response.

Glycine Decarboxylase (GLDC) Plays a Crucial Role in Regulating Energy Metabolism, Invasion, Metastasis and Immune Escape for Prostate Cancer.

Glycine decarboxylase (GLDC) is one of the core enzymes for glycine metabolism, and its biological roles in prostate cancer (PCa) are unclear. First, we found that GLDC plays a central role in glycolysis in 540 TCGA PCa patients. Subsequently, a metabolomic microarray showed that GLDC enhanced aerobic glycolysis in PCa cells, and GLDC and its enzyme activity enhanced glucose uptake, lactate production and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) activity in PCa cells. Next, we found that GLDC was highly expressed in PCa, was directly regulated by hypoxia-inducible factor (HIF1-α) and regulated downstream LDHA expression. In addition, GLDC and its enzyme activity showed a strong ability to promote the migration and invasion of PCa both in vivo and in vitro. Furthermore, we found that the GLDC-high group had a higher TP53 mutation frequency, lower CD8+ T-cell infiltration, higher immune checkpoint expression, and higher immune exclusion scores than the GLDC-low group. Finally, the GLDC-based prognostic risk model by applying LASSO Cox regression also showed good predictive power for the clinical characteristics and survival in PCa patients. This evidence indicates that GLDC plays crucial roles in glycolytic metabolism, invasion and metastasis, and immune escape in PCa, and it is a potential therapeutic target for prostate cancer.

Nitrogen acquisition strategy and its effects on invasiveness of a subtropical invasive plant.

Introduction: Preference and plasticity in nitrogen (N) form uptake are the main strategies with which plants absorb soil N. However, little effort has been made to explore effects of N form acquisition strategies, especially the plasticity, on invasiveness of exotic plants, although many studies have determined the effects of N levels (e.g. N deposition). Methods: To address this problem, we studied the differences in N form acquisition strategies between the invasive plant Solidago canadensis and its co-occurring native plant Artemisia lavandulaefolia, effects of soil N environments, and the relationship between N form acquisition strategy of S. canadensis and its invasiveness using a 15N-labeling technique in three habitats at four field sites. Results: Total biomass, root biomass, and the uptakes of soil dissolved inorganic N (DIN) per quadrat were higher for the invasive relative to the native species in all three habitats. The invader always preferred dominant soil N forms: NH4 + in habitats with NH4 + as the dominant DIN and NO3 - in habitats with NO3 - as the dominant DIN, while A. lavandulaefolia consistently preferred NO3 - in all habitats. Plasticity in N form uptake was higher in the invasive relative to the native species, especially in the farmland. Plant N form acquisition strategy was influenced by both DIN levels and the proportions of different N forms (NO3 -/NH4 +) as judged by their negative effects on the proportional contributions of NH4 + to plant N (f NH4 +) and the preference for NH4 + (ß NH4 +). In addition, total biomass was positively associated with f NH4 + or ß NH4 + for S. canadensis, while negatively for A. lavandulaefolia. Interestingly, the species may prefer to absorb NH4 + when soil DIN and/or NO3 -/NH4 + ratio were low, and root to shoot ratio may be affected by plant nutrient status per se, rather than by soil nutrient availability. Discussion: Our results indicate that the superior N form acquisition strategy of the invader contributes to its higher N uptake, and therefore to its invasiveness in different habitats, improving our understanding of invasiveness of exotic plants in diverse habitats in terms of utilization of different N forms.

The role of neutrophils in diabetic ulcers and targeting therapeutic strategies.

Diabetic ulcers (DUs) are a common complication of diabetes with high morbidity, poor prognosis, and a high socio-economic burden. The main pathological manifestations of DUs are chronic inflammation, impaired re-epithelialization, and impaired angiogenesis. During the inflammatory phase, neutrophils are one of the main DU cell types and act by releasing neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs), leading to poor healing in DUs. This review summarizes the role of neutrophils in the pathology and treatment of DUs, with a view to potential novel therapies and therapeutic targets.