Individualized Dose-Response to Statins Associated with Cardiovascular Disease Outcomes.

Background: Statins reduce low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) and are efficacious in the prevention of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD). Dose-response to statins varies among patients and can be modeled using three distinct pharmacological properties: (1) E0 (baseline LDL-C), (2) ED50 (potency: median dose achieving 50% reduction in LDL-C); and (3) Emax (efficacy: maximum LDL-C reduction). However, individualized dose-response and its association with ASCVD events remains unknown. Objective: We analyze the relationship between ED50 and Emax with real-world cardiovascular disease outcomes. Method: We leveraged de-identified electronic health record data to identify individuals exposed to multiple doses of the three most commonly prescribed statins (atorvastatin, simvastatin, or rosuvastatin) within the context of their longitudinal healthcare. We derived ED50 and Emax to quantify the relationship with a composite outcome of ASCVD events and all-cause mortality. Results: We estimated ED50 and Emax for 3,033 unique individuals (atorvastatin: 1,632, simvastatin: 1,089, and rosuvastatin: 312) using a nonlinear, mixed effects dose-response model. Time-to-event analyses revealed that ED50 and Emax are independently associated with the primary endpoint. Hazard ratios were 0.85 (p < 0.01), 0.83 (p < 0.01), and 0.87 (p = 0.10) for ED50 and 1.13 (p < 0.001), 1.06 (p < 0.001), and 1.15 (p = 0.009) for Emax in the atorvastatin, simvastatin, and rosuvastatin cohorts, respectively. Conclusion: The class-wide association of ED50 and Emax with clinical outcomes indicates that these measures influence the risk for ASCVD events in patients on statins.

Neuroprotective effect of acetoxypachydiol against oxidative stress through activation of the Keap1-Nrf2/HO-1 pathway.

BACKGROUND: Excessive oxidative stress in the brain is an important pathological factor in neurological diseases. Acetoxypachydiol (APHD) is a lipophilic germacrane-type diterpene extracted as a major component from different species of brown algae within the genus Dictyota. There have been no previous reports on the pharmacological activity of APHD. The present research aims to explore the potential neuroprotective properties of APHD and its underlying mechanisms. METHODS: The possible mechanism of APHD was predicted using a combination of molecular docking and network pharmacological analysis. PC12 cells were induced by H2O2 and oxygen-glucose deprivation/reoxygenation (OGD/R), respectively. Western blot, flow cytometry, immunofluorescence staining, and qRT-PCR were used to investigate the antioxidant activity of APHD. The HO-1 inhibitor ZnPP and Nrf2 gene silencing were employed to confirm the influence of APHD on the signaling cascade involving HO-1, Nrf2, and Keap1 in vitro. RESULTS: APHD exhibited antioxidant activity in both PC12 cells subjected to H2O2 and OGD/R conditions by downregulating the release of LDH, the concentrations of MDA, and ROS, and upregulating SOD, GSH-Px, and GSH concentrations. APHD could potentially initiate the Keap1-Nrf2/HO-1 signaling cascade, according to the findings from network pharmacology evaluation and molecular docking. Furthermore, APHD was observed to increase Nrf2 and HO-1 expression at both mRNA and protein levels, while downregulating the protein concentrations of Keap1. Both Nrf2 silencing and treatment with ZnPP reversed the neuroprotective effects of APHD. CONCLUSIONS: APHD activated antioxidant enzymes and downregulated the levels of LDH, MDA, and ROS in two cell models. The neuroprotective effect is presumably reliant on upregulation of the Keap1-Nrf2/HO-1 pathway. Taken together, APHD from brown algae of the genus Dictyota shows potential as a candidate for novel neuroprotective agents.

Whole-transcriptome profiling and identification of cold tolerance-related ceRNA networks in japonica rice varieties.

Introduction: Low-temperature stress negatively impacts rice yield, posing a significant risk to food security. While previous studies have explored the physiological and linear gene expression alterations in rice under low-temperature conditions, the changes in competing endogenous RNA (ceRNA) networks remain largely unexamined. Methods: We conducted RNA sequencing on two japonica rice varieties with differing cold-tolerance capabilities to establish ceRNA networks. This enabled us to investigate the transcriptional regulatory network and molecular mechanisms that rice employs in response to low-temperature stress. Results: We identified 364 differentially expressed circular RNAs (circRNAs), 224 differentially expressed microRNAs (miRNAs), and 12,183 differentially expressed messenger RNAs (mRNAs). WRKY family was the most prominent transcription factor family involved in cold tolerance. Based on the expression patterns and targeted relationships of these differentially expressed RNAs, we discerned five potential ceRNA networks related to low-temperature stress in rice: osa-miR166j-5p from the miR166 family was associated with cold tolerance; osa-miR528-3p and osa-miR156j-3p were linked to stress response; and osa-miR156j-3p was involved in the antioxidant system. In addition, Os03g0152000 in the antioxidant system, as well as Os12g0491800 and Os05g0381400, correlated with the corresponding stress response and circRNAs in the network. A gene sequence difference analysis and phenotypic validation of Os11g0685700 (OsWRKY61) within the WRKY family suggested its potential role in regulating cold tolerance in rice. Discussion and conclusion: We identified Os11g0685700 (OsWRKY61) as a promising candidate gene for enhancing cold tolerance in japonica rice. The candidate miRNAs, mRNAs, and circRNAs uncovered in this study are valuable targets for researchers and breeders. Our findings will facilitate the development of cold-tolerant rice varieties from multiple angles and provide critical directions for future research into the functions of cold-tolerance-related miRNAs, mRNAs, and circRNAs in rice.

Variations in surface area and biogeochemistry of subarctic-arctic lakes established through satellite and in-situ observations: An overview of published research from the past 30 years.

Human activities have strongly impacted the global climate, and during the last few decades the global average temperature has risen at a rate faster than at any time on record. High latitude lakes in the subarctic and arctic permafrost regions have particularly been vulnerable given the "Arctic amplification" phenomenon and acceleration in warming rate in the northern hemisphere (0.2-0.8 °C/decade). This paper presents a comprehensive overview of the last 30 years of research investigating how subarctic and Arctic lakes respond to climate warming. The review focused on studies where remote sensing technology was used to quantify these responses. The difference between summer lake water temperature and air temperature varied between 1.7 and 5.4 °C in subarctic lakes and 2.4-3.2 °C in Arctic lakes. Overall, the freezing date of lake ice is generally delayed and the date of lake thawing occurs earlier. Lake surface area (4-48.5 %), and abundance in the subarctic and Arctic region have increased significantly due to rising temperature, permafrost thawing, increased precipitation and other localized surface disturbances. However, in recent years, instances of lake shrinkage (between -0.4 % and -40 %) have also been reported, likely due to riparian overflow, groundwater infiltration and lateral drainage. Furthermore, in subarctic and Arctic lakes, climate change and permafrost thawing would release CO2 and CH4, and alter carbon dynamics in impacted lakes through various interconnected processes which could potentially affect the quality of carbon (terrestrial, algae) entering a lake system. The review also highlighted a potential intersection between permafrost melting and public health through human exposure to long-buried viruses. Subarctic and arctic ecosystems' responses to climate change will continue to be an area of intense research interest, and this review has highlighted priority areas for research and how remote sensing technologies can facilitate the pursuit of such a research agenda.

Effect of different exercise modalities on nonalcoholic fatty liver disease: a systematic review and network meta-analysis.

Physical exercise intervention can significantly improve the liver of patients with Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), but it is unknown which exercise mode has the best effect on liver improvement in NAFLD patients. Therefore, we systematically evaluated the effect of exercise therapy on liver and blood index function of NAFLD patients through network meta-analysis (NMA). Through systematic retrieval of PubMed, Cochrane Library, Web of Science, EBSCO, and CNKI (National Knowledge Infrastructure), two reviewers independently screened the literature, extracted data, and assessed the risk of bias of the included studies by means of databases from inception to January 2023. The NMA was performed using the inconsistency model. A total of 43 studies, 2070 NAFLD patients were included: aerobic training (n = 779), resistance training (n = 159), high-intensity interval training (n = 160), aerobic training + resistance training (n = 96). The results indicate that aerobic training + resistance training could significantly improve serum total cholesterol (TC) (Surface under the cumulative ranking curve (SUCRA) = 71.7), triglyceride (TG) (SUCRA = 96.8), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) (SUCRA = 86.1) in patients with NAFLD including triglycerides. Aerobic training is the best mode to improve ALT (SUCRA = 83.9) and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) (SUCRA = 72.3). Resistance training is the best mode to improve aspartate transaminase (AST) (SUCRA = 81.7). Taking various benefits into account, we believe that the best modality of exercise for NAFLD patients is aerobic training + resistance training. In our current network meta-analysis, these exercise methods have different effects on the six indicators of NAFLD, which provides some reference for further formulating exercise prescription for NAFLD patients.

3D printed osteochondral scaffolds: design strategies, present applications and future perspectives.

Articular osteochondral (OC) defects are a global clinical problem characterized by loss of full-thickness articular cartilage with underlying calcified cartilage through to the subchondral bone. While current surgical treatments can relieve pain, none of them can completely repair all components of the OC unit and restore its original function. With the rapid development of three-dimensional (3D) printing technology, admirable progress has been made in bone and cartilage reconstruction, providing new strategies for restoring joint function. 3D printing has the advantages of fast speed, high precision, and personalized customization to meet the requirements of irregular geometry, differentiated composition, and multi-layered boundary layer structures of joint OC scaffolds. This review captures the original published researches on the application of 3D printing technology to the repair of entire OC units and provides a comprehensive summary of the recent advances in 3D printed OC scaffolds. We first introduce the gradient structure and biological properties of articular OC tissue. The considerations for the development of 3D printed OC scaffolds are emphatically summarized, including material types, fabrication techniques, structural design and seed cells. Especially from the perspective of material composition and structural design, the classification, characteristics and latest research progress of discrete gradient scaffolds (biphasic, triphasic and multiphasic scaffolds) and continuous gradient scaffolds (gradient material and/or structure, and gradient interface) are summarized. Finally, we also describe the important progress and application prospect of 3D printing technology in OC interface regeneration. 3D printing technology for OC reconstruction should simulate the gradient structure of subchondral bone and cartilage. Therefore, we must not only strengthen the basic research on OC structure, but also continue to explore the role of 3D printing technology in OC tissue engineering. This will enable better structural and functional bionics of OC scaffolds, ultimately improving the repair of OC defects.

Integrating molecular subtype and CD8+ T cells infiltration to predict treatment response and survival in muscle-invasive bladder cancer.

BACKGROUND: Luminal and Basal are the primary intrinsic subtypes of muscle-invasive bladder cancer (MIBC). The presence of CD8+ T cells infiltration holds significant immunological relevance, potentially influencing the efficacy of antitumor responses. This study aims to synergize the influence of molecular subtypes and CD8+ T cells infiltration in MIBC. METHODS: This study included 889 patients with MIBC from Zhongshan Hospital, The Cancer Genome Atlas, IMvigor210 and NCT03179943 cohorts. We classified the patients into four distinct groups, based on the interplay of molecular subtypes and CD8+ T cells and probed into the clinical implications of these subgroups in MIBC. RESULTS: Among patients with Luminal-CD8+Thigh tumors, the confluence of elevated tumor mutational burden and PD-L1 expression correlated with a heightened potential for positive responses to immunotherapy. In contrast, patients featured by Luminal-CD8+Tlow displayed a proclivity for deriving clinical advantages from innovative targeted interventions. The Basal-CD8+Tlow subgroup exhibited the least favorable three-year overall survival outcome, whereas their Basal-CD8+Thigh counterparts exhibited a heightened responsiveness to chemotherapy. CONCLUSIONS: We emphasized the significant role of immune-molecular subtypes in shaping therapeutic approaches for MIBC. This insight establishes a foundation to refine the process of selecting subtype-specific treatments, thereby advancing personalized interventions for patients.

POLQ identifies a better response subset to immunotherapy in muscle-invasive bladder cancer with high PD-L1.

BACKGROUND: Though programmed cell death-ligand 1 (PD-L1) has been used in predicting the efficacy of immune checkpoint blockade (ICB), it is insufficient as a single biomarker. As a key effector of an intrinsically mutagenic microhomology-mediated end joining (MMEJ) pathway, DNA polymerase theta (POLQ) was overexpressed in various malignancies, whose expression might have an influence on genomic stability, therefore altering the sensitivity to chemotherapy and immunotherapy. METHODS: A total of 1304 patients with muscle-invasive bladder cancer (MIBC) from six independent cohorts were included in this study. The Zhongshan Hospital (ZSHS) cohort (n = 134), The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) cohort (n = 391), and the Neo-cohort (n = 148) were included for the investigation of chemotherapeutic response. The IMvigor210 cohort (n = 234) and the UNC-108 cohort (n = 89) were used for the assessment of immunotherapeutic response. In addition, the relationship between POLQ and the immune microenvironment was assessed, and GSE32894 (n = 308) was used only for the evaluation of the immune microenvironment. RESULTS: We identified POLQhigh PD-L1high patients could benefit more from immunotherapy and platinum-based chemotherapy. Further analysis revealed that high POLQ expression was linked to chromosome instability and higher tumor mutational burden (TMB), which might elicit the production of neoantigens. Further, high POLQ expression was associated with an active tumor immune microenvironment with abundant infiltration of immune effector cells and molecules. CONCLUSIONS: The study demonstrated that high POLQ expression was correlated with chromosome instability and antitumor immune microenvironment in MIBC, and the combination of POLQ and PD-L1 could be used as a superior companion biomarker for predicting the efficacy of immunotherapy.

Integration of CD4+ T cells and molecular subtype predicts benefit from PD-L1 blockade in muscle-invasive bladder cancer.

Muscle-invasive bladder cancer (MIBC) is a disease characterized by molecular and clinical heterogeneity, posing challenges in selecting the most appropriate treatment in clinical settings. Considering the significant role of CD4+ T cells, there is an emerging need to integrate CD4+ T cells with molecular subtypes to refine classification. We conducted a comprehensive study involving 895 MIBC patients from four independent cohorts. The Zhongshan Hospital (ZSHS) and The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) cohorts were included to investigate chemotherapeutic response. The IMvigor210 cohort was included to assess the immunotherapeutic response. NCT03179943 was used to evaluate the clinical response to a combination of immune checkpoint blockade (ICB) and chemotherapy. Additionally, we evaluated genomic characteristics and the immune microenvironment to gain deeper insights into the distinctive features of each subtype. We unveiled four immune-molecular subtypes, each exhibiting distinct clinical outcomes and molecular characteristics. These subtypes include luminal CD4+ Thigh, which demonstrated benefits from both immunotherapy and chemotherapy; luminal CD4+ Tlow, characterized by the highest level of fibroblast growth factor receptor 3 (FGFR3) mutation, thus indicating potential responsiveness to FGFR inhibitors; basal CD4+ Thigh, which could benefit from a combination of ICB and chemotherapy; and basal CD4+ Tlow, characterized by an immune suppression microenvironment and likely to benefit from transforming growth factor-ß (TGF-ß) inhibition. This immune-molecular classification offers new possibilities for optimizing therapeutic interventions in MIBC.

Spatial variations of DOM in a diverse range of lakes across various frozen ground zones in China: Insights into molecular composition.

Dissolved organic matter (DOM) plays a significant role in aquatic biogeochemical processes and the carbon cycle. As global climate warming continues, it is anticipated that the composition of DOM in lakes will be altered. This could have significant ecological and environmental implications, particularly in frozen ground zones. However, there is limited knowledge regarding the spatial variations and molecular composition of DOM in lakes within various frozen ground zones. In this study, we examined the spatial variations of in-lake DOM both quantitatively, focusing on dissolved organic carbon (DOC), and qualitatively, by evaluating optical properties and conducting molecular characterization using Fourier-transform ion cyclotron resonance mass spectrometry (FT-ICR-MS). Lakes in cold regions retained more organic carbon compared to those in warmer regions, the comparison of the mean value of DOC concentration of all sampling sites in the same frozen ground zone showed that the highest mean lake DOC concentration found in the permafrost zone at 21.4 ± 19.3 mg/L. We observed decreasing trends in E2:E3 and MLBL, along with increasing trends in SUVA254 and AImod, along the gradually warming ground. These trends suggest lower molecular weight, reduced aromaticity, and increased molecular lability of in-lake DOM in the permafrost zone compared to other frozen ground zones. Further FT-ICR MS characterization revealed significant molecular-level heterogeneity of DOM, with the lowest abundance of assigned DOM molecular formulas found in lakes within permafrost zones. In all studied zones, the predominant molecular formulas in-lake DOM were compounds consisted by CHO elements, accounting for 40.1 % to 63.1 % of the total. Interestingly, the percentage of CHO exhibited a gradual decline along the warming ground, while there was an increasing trend in nitrogen-containing compounds (CHON%). Meanwhile, a substantial number of polyphenols were identified, likely due to the higher rates of DOM mineralization and the transport of terrestrial DOM derived from vascular plants under the elevated temperature and precipitation conditions in the warming region. In addition, sulfur-containing compounds (CHOS and CHNOS) associated with synthetic surfactants and agal derivatives were consistently detected, and their relative abundances exhibited higher values in seasonal and short-frozen ground zones. This aligns with the increased anthropogenic disturbances to the lake's ecological environment in these two zones. This study reported the first description of in-lake DOM at the molecular level in different frozen ground zones. These findings underline that lakes in the permafrost zone serve as significant hubs for carbon processing. Investigating them may expand our understanding of carbon cycling in inland waters.

Serine protease inhibitor from the muscle larval Trichinella spiralis ameliorates non-alcoholic fatty liver disease in mice via anti-inflammatory properties and gut-liver crosstalk.

Trichinella spiralis is recognized for its ability to regulate host immune responses. The serine protease inhibitor of T. spiralis (Ts-SPI) participates in T. spiralis-mediated immunoregulatory effects. Studies have shown that helminth therapy exhibits therapeutic effects on metabolic diseases. In addition, we previously found that T. spiralis-derived crude antigens could alleviate diet-induced obesity. Thus, Ts-SPI was hypothesized to alleviate non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). Herein, recombinant Ts-SPI (rTs-SPI) was prepared from the muscle larvae T. spiralis. The relative molecular mass of rTs-SPI was approximately 35,000 Da, and western blot analysis indicated good immunoreactivity. rTs-SPI ameliorated hepatic steatosis, inflammation, and pyroptosis in NAFLD mice, which validated the hypothesis. rTs-SPI also reduced macrophage infiltration, significantly expanded Foxp3+ Treg population, and inactivated TLR4/NF-κB/NLRP3 signaling in the liver. Furthermore, rTs-SPI treatment significantly shifted the gut microbiome structure, with a remarkable increase in beneficial bacteria and reduction in harmful bacteria to improve gut barrier integrity. Finally, Abx-treated mice and FMT confirmed that gut-liver crosstalk contributed to NAFLD improvement after rTs-SPI treatment. Taken together, Taken together, these findings suggest that rTs-SPI exerts therapeutic effects in NAFLD via anti-inflammatory activity and gut-liver crosstalk.

Whole-Transcriptome Profiling and Functional Prediction of Long Non-Coding RNAs Associated with Cold Tolerance in Japonica Rice Varieties.

Low-temperature chilling is a major abiotic stress leading to reduced rice yield and is a significant environmental threat to food security. Low-temperature chilling studies have focused on physiological changes or coding genes. However, the competitive endogenous RNA mechanism in rice at low temperatures has not been reported. Therefore, in this study, antioxidant physiological indices were combined with whole-transcriptome data through weighted correlation network analysis, which found that the gene modules had the highest correlation with the key antioxidant enzymes superoxide dismutase and peroxidase. The hub genes of the superoxide dismutase-related module included the UDP-glucosyltransferase family protein, sesquiterpene synthase and indole-3-glycerophosphatase gene. The hub genes of the peroxidase-related module included the WRKY transcription factor, abscisic acid signal transduction pathway-related gene plasma membrane hydrogen-ATPase and receptor-like kinase. Therefore, we selected the modular hub genes and significantly enriched the metabolic pathway genes to construct the key competitive endogenous RNA networks, resulting in three competitive endogenous RNA networks of seven long non-coding RNAs regulating three co-expressed messenger RNAs via four microRNAs. Finally, the negative regulatory function of the WRKY transcription factor OsWRKY61 was determined via subcellular localization and validation of the physiological indices in the mutant.

TP53 disruptive mutation predicts platinum-based chemotherapy and PD-1/PD-L1 blockade response in urothelial carcinoma.

TP53 mutation is one of the most common genetic alterations in urothelial carcinoma (UrCa), and heterogeneity of TP53 mutants leads to heterogeneous clinical outcomes. This study aimed to investigate the clinical relevance of specific TP53 mutations in UrCa. In this study, a total of eight cohorts were enrolled, along with matched clinical annotation. TP53 mutations were classified as disruptive and nondisruptive according to the degree of disturbance of p53 protein function and structure. We evaluated the clinical significance of TP53 mutations in our local datasets and publicly available datasets. The co-occurring events of TP53 mutations in UrCa, along with their therapeutic indications, functional effects, and the tumor immune microenvironment, were also investigated. TP53 mutations were identified in 49.7% of the UrCa patients. Within this group, 25.1% of patients carried TP53Disruptive mutations, a genetic alteration correlated with a significantly poorer overall survival (OS) when compared to individuals with TP53Nondisruptive mutations and those with wild-type TP53. Significantly, patients with TP53Disruptive mutations exhibit an increased probability of responding favorably to PD-1/PD-L1 blockade and chemoimmunotherapy. Meanwhile, there was no noteworthy distinction in OS among patients with varying TP53 mutation status who underwent chemotherapy. Samples with TP53Disruptive mutations showed an enriched APOBEC- and POLE-related mutational signature, as well as an elevated tumor mutation burden. The sensitivity to immunotherapy in tumors carrying TP53Disruptive mutation may be attributed to the inflamed tumor microenvironment characterized by increased CD8+T cell infiltration and interferon-gamma signaling activation. In conclusion, UrCa patients with TP53Disruptive mutations have shown reduced survival rates, yet they may respond well to PD-1/PD-L1 blockade therapy and chemoimmunotherapy. By distinguishing specific TP53 mutations, we can improve risk stratification and offer personalized genomics-guided therapy to UrCa patients. © 2024 The Authors. The Journal of Pathology published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of The Pathological Society of Great Britain and Ireland.

The mutual overlapping impact of stress and infection on mental health problems in adolescents and youths during and after COVID-19 pandemic in China.

BACKGROUND: It is unclear about the mutual impact of COVID-19 related psychological stress and infection on mental health of adolescent and youth students. This study aimed to explore the mutual impact of COVID-19 related psychological stress and infection on mental health problems among students. METHODS: This study was conducted from December 14, 2022 to February 28, 2023 in Sichuan, China. Patient Health Questionnaire-9, Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7, PTSD Checklist for DSM-5, Insomnia Severity Index, and Internet Addiction Test were used. Participants were grouped by COVID-19 infection and psychological stress level. The differences among groups were compared, and logistic regression analysis was used to investigate risk factors for depression, anxiety, PTSD and insomnia among groups. RESULTS: Of 90,118 participants, 82,873 (92.0 %) finished the questionnaires and were included in the study. Of 82,873 participants, 33,314 (40.2 %) reported to be infected with COVID-19. Participants had depression symptoms (38.1 %), anxiety symptoms (31.8 %), PTSD (33.9 %), insomnia (34.0 %), and internet addiction (60.3 %). Compared with participants uninfected with low psychological stress level, the risk for symptoms of depression, anxiety, PTSD and insomnia increased by 9.6 %, 12.3 %, 6.6 %, and 12.0 % in participants infected with low psychological stress level (p < 0.001), 106.8 %, 125.9 %, 125.2 %, and 95.7 % in participants uninfected with high psychological stress level (p < 0.001), and 147.3 %, 161.1 %, 158.7 %, and 141.0 % in participants infected with high psychological stress level (p < 0.001). LIMITATION: This study is a cross-sectional design, and no causal associations should be inferred. Infection status was based on self-report of participants with infectious symptoms. CONCLUSION: COVID-19 related psychological stress and infection per se have mutually overlapping impacts on mental health problems among students. Further health policies and psychosocial interventions should be developed to reduce mutually overlapping impact and improve the long-term mental health among students.

Re-estimating China's lake CO2 flux considering spatiotemporal variability.

The spatiotemporal variability of lake partial carbon dioxide pressure (pCO2) introduces uncertainty into CO2 flux estimates at the lake water-air interface. Knowing the variation pattern of pCO2 is important for obtaining accurate global estimation. Here we examine seasonal and trophic variations in lake pCO2 based on 13 field campaigns conducted in Chinese lakes from 2017 to 2021. We found significant seasonal fluctuations in pCO2, with decreasing values as trophic states intensify within the same region. Saline lakes exhibit lower pCO2 levels than freshwater lakes. These pCO2 dynamics result in variable areal CO2 emissions, with lakes exhibiting different trophic states (oligotrophication > mesotrophication > eutrophication) and saline lakes differing from freshwater lakes (-23.1 ± 17.4 vs. 19.3 ± 18.3 mmol m-2 d-1). These spatiotemporal pCO2 variations complicate total CO2 emission estimations. Using area proportions of lakes with varying trophic states and salinity in China, we estimate China's lake CO2 flux at 8.07 Tg C yr-1. In future studies, the importance of accounting for lake salinity, seasonal dynamics, and trophic states must be noticed to enhance the accuracy of large-scale carbon emission estimates from lake ecosystems in the context of climate change.

Extraction of eutrophic and green ponds from segmentation of high-resolution imagery based on the EAF-Unet algorithm.

Inland ponds exhibit remarkable ubiquity across the globe, playing a vital role in the sustainability of global continental freshwater resources and contributing significantly to their biodiversity. Numerous ponds are eutrophic and experience recurrent seasonal or year-round algal blooms or persistent duckweed cover, conferring a characteristic green hue. Here, we denote these eutrophic and green ponds as EGPs. The excessive proliferation of algal blooms and duckweed within these EGPs poses a significant threat to the ecological functioning of these aquatic systems, which can lead to hypoxia or the release of microcystins. To identify these EGPs automatically, we constructed an Efficient Attention Fusion Unet (EAF-Unet) algorithm using Gaofen-2 (GF2) panchromatic and multispectral imagery. The attention mechanism was incorporated in Unet to help better detect EGPs. Using the first EGP labeled dataset, we determined the best input feature combination (RGB, NIR, NDVI, and Bright) and the most effective encoding (Rasnet50) for EAF-Unet for distinguishing EGPs from other ground cover types. The evaluation indices - Precision (0.81), Recall (0.79), F1-Score (0.80), and Intersection over Union (IoU, 0.67) - indicate that EAF-Unet can accurately and robustly extract EGPs from GF2 images without relying on pond water masks. Remote-sensing EGP products can assist in identifying ponds with severe eutrophication. Moreover, these products can serve as references for identifying high-risk areas prone to improper sewage discharge or inadequate sewer construction.

Integrating scRNA-seq and bulk RNA-seq to characterize infiltrating cells in the colorectal cancer tumor microenvironment and construct molecular risk models.

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is a malignancy that is both highly lethal and heterogeneous. Although the correlation between intra-tumoral genetic and functional heterogeneity and cancer clinical prognosis is well-established, the underlying mechanism in CRC remains inadequately understood. Utilizing scRNA-seq data from GEO database, we re-isolated distinct subsets of cells, constructed a CRC tumor-related cell differentiation trajectory, and conducted cell-cell communication analysis to investigate potential interactions across cell clusters. A prognostic model was built by integrating scRNA-seq results with TCGA bulk RNA-seq data through univariate, LASSO, and multivariate Cox regression analyses. Eleven distinct cell types were identified, with Epithelial cells, Fibroblasts, and Mast cells exhibiting significant differences between CRC and healthy controls. T cells were observed to engage in extensive interactions with other cell types. Utilizing the 741 signature genes, prognostic risk score model was constructed. Patients with high-risk scores exhibited a significant correlation with unfavorable survival outcomes, high-stage tumors, metastasis, and low responsiveness to chemotherapy. The model demonstrated a strong predictive performance across five validation cohorts. Our investigation involved an analysis of the cellular composition and interactions of infiltrates within the microenvironment, and we developed a prognostic model. This model provides valuable insights into the prognosis and therapeutic evaluation of CRC.

P-Glycoprotein Exacerbates Brain Injury Following Experimental Cerebral Ischemia by Promoting Proinflammatory Microglia Activation.

Microglia are activated following cerebral ischemic insult. P-glycoprotein (P-gp) is an efflux transporter on microvascular endothelial cells and upregulated after cerebral ischemia. This study evaluated the effects and possible mechanisms of P-gp on microglial polarization/activation in mice after ischemic stroke. P-gp-specific siRNA and adeno-associated virus (p-AAV) were used to silence and overexpress P-gp, respectively. Middle cerebral artery occlusion/reperfusion (MCAO/R) and oxygen-glucose deprivation/reoxygenation (OGD/R) were performed in mice and cerebral microvascular endothelial cells (bEnd.3) in vitro, respectively. OGD/R-injured bEnd.3 cells were cocultured with mouse microglial cells (BV2) in Transwell. Influences on acute ischemic stroke outcome, the expression of inflammatory cytokines, and chemokines and chemokines receptors, microglial polarization, glucocorticoid receptor (GR) nuclear translocation, and GR-mediated mRNA decay (GMD) activation were evaluated via reverse transcription real-time polymerase chain reaction, western blot, or immunofluorescence. Silencing P-gp markedly alleviated experimental ischemia injury as indicated by reduced cerebral infarct size, improved neurological deficits, and reduced the expression of interleukin-6 (IL-6) and IL-12 expression. Silencing P-gp also mitigated proinflammatory microglial polarization and the expression of C-C motif chemokine ligand 2 (CCL2) and its receptor CCR2 expression, whereas promoted anti-inflammatory microglia polarization. Additionally, P-gp silencing promoted GR nuclear translocation and the expression of GMD relative proteins in endothelial cells. Conversely, overexpressing P-gp via p-AAV transfection offset all these effects. Furthermore, silencing endothelial GR counteracted all effects mediated by silencing or overexpressing P-gp. Elevated P-gp expression aggravated inflammatory response and brain damage after ischemic stroke by augmenting proinflammatory microglial polarization in association with increased endothelial CCL2 release due to GMD inhibition by P-gp.

Association of Maternal Inactivated COVID-19 Vaccination within 3 Months before Conception with Neonatal Outcomes.

There is limited available data addressing whether inactivated COVID-19 vaccination before conception is associated with adverse neonatal outcomes. This cohort study included all singleton live births at our center from March 1 to June 30, 2022. According to whether a maternal inactivated COVID-19 vaccination had been administered within 3 months before conception or not, neonates were identified as being in the vaccinated or unvaccinated group. Vaccination information and clinical characteristics were extracted for analysis. Furthermore, neonatal outcomes were analyzed and compared between these two groups in the present study. The cohort included 856 eligible newborns, of whom 369 were exposed to maternal vaccination before conception and 487 were unexposed newborns. No differences were observed in rates of preterm birth, newborns being small for gestational age, or neonatal intensive care unit admission between exposed and unexposed newborns. Furthermore, even after adjusting for social-economic status and maternal characteristics, there remained no significant differences in these neonatal outcomes. Our study revealed no statistically significant differences between newborns born to women who received inactivated vaccines prior to conception compared with those who did not receive any vaccinations. In addition, our study also highlights the importance of considering COVID-19 vaccination before conception.

Regulation of cell proliferation and transdifferentiation compensates for ventilator-induced lung injury mediated by NLRP3 inflammasome activation.

BACKGROUND: Mechanical ventilation is an important means of respiratory support and treatment for various diseases. However, its use can lead to serious complications, especially ventilator-induced lung injury (VILI). The mechanisms underlying this disease are complex, but activation of inflammatory signalling pathways results in activation of cytokines and inflammatory mediators, which play key roles in VILI. Recent studies have demonstrated that nod-like receptor protein 3 (NLRP3) inflammasome activation mediates VILI and also accompanied by cell proliferation and transdifferentiation to compensate for alveolar membrane damage. Type I alveolar epithelial cells (AECs I), which are involved in the formation of the blood-air barrier, are vulnerable to damage but cannot proliferate by themselves; thus, replacing AECs I relies on type II alveolar epithelial cells (AECs II). OBJECTIVE: The review aims to introduce the mechanisms of NLRP3 inflammasome activation and its inhibitors, as well as the mechanisms that regulate cell proliferation and transdifferentiation. METHODS: A large number of relevant literature was searched, then the key content was summarized and figures were also made. RESULTS: The mechanism of NLRP3 inflammasome activation has been further explored, including but not limited to pathogenic and aseptic inflammatory signals, such as, pathogenic molecular patterns and host-derived danger-associated molecular patterns activate toll-like receptor 4/nuclear factor-kappaB pathway or reactive oxygen species, cyclic stretch, adenosine triphosphate induce K+ efflux through P2X7, Ca2+ inflow, mitochondrial damage, etc, eventually induce NIMA-related kinase 7/NLRP3 binding and NLRP3 inflammasome activation. Not only that, the review also described in detail the inhibitors of NLRP3 inflammasome. And the mechanisms regulating cell proliferation and transdifferentiation are complex and unclear, including the Wnt/ß-catenin, Yap/Taz, BMP/Smad and Notch signalling pathways. CONCLUSIONS: NLRP3 inflammasome activation mediated VILI, and VILI is alleviated after interfering with its activation, and inflammation and repair exist simultaneously in VILI. Clarifying these mechanisms is expected to provide theoretical guidance for alleviating VILI by inhibiting the inflammatory response and accelerating alveolar epithelial cell regeneration in the early stage.