LncRNA RP11-773H22.4 is upregulated in severe pneumonia and may be a diagnostic and prognostic marker for severe pneumonia.

The incidence of pneumonia has become increasingly prevalent, and its severity has been continuously escalating, bringing significant damage and stress to people's lives. The regulatory role of RP11-773H22.4 in the onset and development of severe pneumonia is emerging as an important factor, however, the exact mechanisms controlling its effects have not been fully elucidated. ROC curve and Kaplan-Meier curve were employed to assess the diagnostic and prognostic significance of RP11-773H22.4 in severe pneumonia. qRT-PCR was employed to assess the RP11-773H22.4 and miR-1287-5p expression. The CCK-8 was employed to assess cell viability. The rate of apoptosis was measured utilizing flow cytometric. The concentration of inflammatory factors was detected by ELISA kit. The interaction between RP11-773H22.4 and miR-1287-5p was verified by dual luciferase reporter gene assay. In individuals afflicted with severe pneumonia, there was an observed up-regulation in RP11-773H22.4 expression and a corresponding decline in miR-1287-5p expression. RP11-773H22.4 demonstrated diagnostic and prognostic significance for severe pneumonia. RP11-773H22.4 augmented the viability of MRC-5 cells with LPS treatment by modulating miR-1287-5p, leading to a reduction in apoptosis and lower levels of inflammatory cytokines. RP11-773H22.4 was highly expressed in severe pneumonia and may serve as a diagnostic and prognostic marker for severe pneumonia. miR-1287-5p was downregulated in severe pneumonia, and RP11-773H22.4 participated in the pathogenesis of severe pneumonia by regulating the expression of miR-1287-5p.

Comparative proteomics analysis of samples from hepatic cystic echinococcosis patients using data-independent acquisition approach.

Cystic echinococcosis is a zoonotic disease resulting from infection caused by the larval stage of Echinococcus granulosus. This study aimed to assess the specific proteins that are potential candidates for the development of a vaccine against E. granulosus. The data-independent acquisition approach was employed to identify differentially expressed proteins (DEPs) in E. granulosus samples. The Gene Ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway enrichment analysis was employed to identify several noteworthy proteins. Results: The DEPs in E. granulosus samples were identified (245 pericystic wall vs. parasite-free yellowish granuloma (PYG, 1725 PY vs. PYG, 2274 PN vs. PYG). Further examination of these distinct proteins revealed their predominant enrichment in metabolic pathways, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, and neurodegeneration-associated pathways. Notably, among these DEPs, SH3BGRL, MST1, TAGLN2, FABP5, UBE2V2, and RARRES2 exhibited significantly higher expression levels in the PYG group compared with the PY group (P < 0.05). The findings may contribute to the understanding of the pathological mechanisms underlying echinococcosis, providing valuable insights into the development of more effective diagnostic tools, treatment modalities, and preventive strategies. SIGNIFICANCE: CE is a major public health hazard in the western regions of China, Central Asia, South America, the Mediterranean countries, and eastern Africa. Echinococcus granulosus is responsible for zoonotic disease through infection Our analysis focuses on the proteins in various samples by data-dependent acquisition (DIA) for proteomic analysis. The importance of this research is to develop new strategies and targets to protect against E. granulosus infections in humans.

Self-Healing Polyurethane Elastomers with Superior Tensile Strength and Elastic Recovery Based on Dynamic Oxime-Carbamate and Hydrogen Bond Interactions.

The preparation of self-healing polyurethane elastomers (PUEs) incorporating dynamic bonds is of considerable practical significance. However, developing a PUE with outstanding mechanical properties and high self-healing efficiency poses a significant challenge. Herein, this work has successfully developed a series of self-healing PUEs with various outstanding properties through rational molecular design. These PUEs incorporate m-xylylene diisocyanate and reversible dimethylglyoxime as hard segment, along with polytetramethylene ether glycol as soft segment. A significant amount of dynamic oxime-carbamate and hydrogen bonds are formed in hard segment. The microphase separated structure of the PUEs enables them to be colorless with a transparency of >90%. Owing to the chemical composition and multiple dynamic interactions, the PUEs are endowed with ultra-high tensile strength of 34.5 MPa, satisfactory toughness of 53.9 MJ m-3, and great elastic recovery both at low and high strains. The movement of polymer molecular chains and the dynamic reversible interactions render a self-healing efficiency of 101% at 70 °C. In addition, this self-healing polyurethane could still maintain high mechanical properties after recycling. This study provides a design strategy for the preparation of a comprehensive polyurethane with superior overall performance, which holds wide application prospects in the fields of flexible displays and solar cells.

Chemical constituents from stipes of Lentinus edodes and their protective effects against Aß25-35-induced N9 microglia cells injury.

Nine undescribed compounds, along with eight known compounds, were isolated from the stipes of Lentinus edodes. Their structures were established by extensive spectroscopic and circular dichroism analyses. The protective effects against Aß25-35-induced N9 microglia cells injury of these compounds were tested by MTT method, and the levels of apoptosis and ROS were detected by flow cytometry. In addition, the binding sites and interactions of compound with amyloid precursor protein were revealed using molecular docking simulations. These findings further establish the structural diversity and bioactivity of stipes of L. edodes, and provide an experimental basis for targeting Alzheimer's disease as a potential strategy.

Association of preoperative coronavirus disease 2019 with mortality, respiratory morbidity and extrapulmonary complications after elective, noncardiac surgery: An observational cohort study.

STUDY OBJECTIVE: To assess the impact of preoperative infection with the contemporary strain of severe acute respiratory coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) on postoperative mortality, respiratory morbidity and extrapulmonary complications after elective, noncardiac surgery. DESIGN: An ambidirectional observational cohort study. SETTING: A tertiary and teaching hospital in Shanghai, China. PATIENTS: All adult patients (≥ 18 years of age) who underwent elective, noncardiac surgery under general anesthesia at Huashan Hospital of Fudan University from January until March 2023 were screened for eligibility. A total of 2907 patients were included. EXPOSURE: Preoperative coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) positivity. MEASUREMENTS: The primary outcome was 30-day postoperative mortality. The secondary outcomes included postoperative pulmonary complications (PPCs), myocardial injury after noncardiac surgery (MINS), acute kidney injury (AKI), postoperative delirium (POD) and postoperative sleep quality. Multivariable logistic regression was used to assess the risk of postoperative mortality and morbidity imposed by preoperative COVID-19. MAIN RESULTS: The risk of 30-day postoperative mortality was not associated with preoperative COVID-19 [adjusted odds ratio (aOR), 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.40, 0.13-1.28, P = 0.123] or operation timing relative to diagnosis. Preoperative COVID-19 did not increase the risk of PPCs (aOR, 95% CI: 0.99, 0.71-1.38, P = 0.944), MINS (aOR, 95% CI: 0.54, 0.22-1.30; P = 0.168), or AKI (aOR, 95% CI: 0.34, 0.10-1.09; P = 0.070) or affect postoperative sleep quality. Patients who underwent surgery within 7 weeks after COVID-19 had increased odds of developing delirium (aOR, 95% CI: 2.26, 1.05-4.86, P = 0.036). CONCLUSIONS: Preoperative COVID-19 or timing of surgery relative to diagnosis did not confer any added risk of 30-day postoperative mortality, PPCs, MINS or AKI. However, recent COVID-19 increased the risk of POD. Perioperative brain health should be considered during preoperative risk assessment for COVID-19 survivors.

A new surface plasmon resonance-based immunoassay for rapid and sensitive quantification of D-dimer in human plasma for thrombus screening.

D-dimer is a protein fragment generated during the fibrin breakdown by plasmin, and it serves as a mature biomarker for diagnosing thrombotic disorders. A novel immunoassay method based on surface plasmon resonance (SPR) has been developed, validated, and successfully applied for the quantification of D-dimer in human plasma with high sensitivity and rapidity. In this methodological study, we investigated the activity and stability of the SPR biosensor, sample pre-processing, washing conditions, intra-day and inter-day precision and accuracy and detection parameters, including a limit of detection of 8.3 ng/mL, a detection range spanning from 31.25 to 4000 ng/mL, and a detection time of 20 min. We compared D-dimer plasma concentration determination results using SPR with a classical latex-enhanced immunoturbidimetric immunoassay in 29 healthy individuals and thrombotic patients, and both methods exhibited consistency. Furthermore, we propose a hypothesis about the relationship between the concentration of D-dimer and its molecular weight. With an increase in the D-dimer concentration in plasma, the D-dimer approaches its simplest form (190 kDa).

Analysis of risk factors of suicidal ideation in adolescent patients with depression and construction of prediction model.

BACKGROUND: Major depressive disorder is a common mental illness among adolescents and is the largest disease burden in this age group. Most adolescent patients with depression have suicidal ideation (SI); however, few studies have focused on the factors related to SI, and effective predictive models are lacking. AIM: To construct a risk prediction model for SI in adolescent depression and provide a reference assessment tool for prevention. METHODS: The data of 150 adolescent patients with depression at the First People's Hospital of Lianyungang from June 2020 to December 2022 were retrospectively analyzed. Based on whether or not they had SI, they were divided into a SI group (n = 91) and a non-SI group (n = 59). The general data and laboratory indices of the two groups were compared. Logistic regression was used to analyze the factors influencing SI in adolescent patients with depression, a nomogram prediction model was constructed based on the analysis results, and internal evaluation was performed. Receiver operating characteristic and calibration curves were used to evaluate the model's efficacy, and the clinical application value was evaluated using decision curve analysis (DCA). RESULTS: There were differences in trauma history, triggers, serum ferritin levels (SF), high-sensitivity C-reactive protein levels (hs-CRP), and high-density lipoprotein (HDL-C) levels between the two groups (P < 0.05). Logistic regression analysis showed that trauma history, predisposing factors, SF, hs-CRP, and HDL-C were factors influencing SI in adolescent patients with depression. The area under the curve of the nomogram prediction model was 0.831 (95%CI: 0.763-0.899), sensitivity was 0.912, and specificity was 0.678. The higher net benefit of the DCA and the average absolute error of the calibration curve were 0.043, indicating that the model had a good fit. CONCLUSION: The nomogram prediction model based on trauma history, triggers, ferritin, serum hs-CRP, and HDL-C levels can effectively predict the risk of SI in adolescent patients with depression.

Five new eremophilane-type sesquiterpenes from the fresh roots of Rehmannia glutinosa.

Five undescribed eremophilane-type sesquiterpenes, remophilanetriols E-I (1-5), along with seven known compounds (6-12) were isolated from the fresh roots of Rehmannia glutinosa. Their structures were characterized by extensive spectroscopic data analysis and their absolute configurations were determined by comparing their calculated electronic circular dichroism (ECD) spectra and experimental ECD spectra. The anti-pulmonary fibrosis activities of all compounds were evaluated in vitro by MTT methods, and compounds 2, 8, 10, and 12 exhibited excellent anti-pulmonary fibrosis activities. In addition, compound 2 can reduce the levels of ROS and apoptosis in TGF-ß1-induced BEAS-2B cells.

Subjective social status, health and well-being among older adults in China and South Korea: a cross-sectional analysis.

INTRODUCTION: Social status, which encompasses various psychosocial dimensions, such as income, education and social relationships, can have a significant impact on physical and mental health outcomes. The study aims to explore the association among subjective social status, health and well-being among individuals aged 55 years and older in China and South Korea. PARTICIPANTS: Sample population included individuals aged 55 years and older: China (n=1779) and South Korea (n=421). OUTCOME MEASURES: Outcome measures included self-reported health status and well-being which were assessed by life satisfaction and general happiness. RESULTS: The percentage of participants who reported a 'very good' health condition was higher in South Korea (14.5%) than in China (11.0%). The percentage of participants who reported feeling very satisfied (14.7%) with their life was lower in South Korea (11.8%). In China, 6.7% of the respondents reported their health as 'very bad' (rating 5), while in South Korea, this percentage was higher at 18.1%. Regression analysis revealed an inverse association among higher social status and poorer health, lower life satisfaction and lower happiness levels. For example, individuals who placed themselves in the highest social status category had 0.26 times lower odds (95% CI=0.13 to 0.55) of reporting poorer self-rated health status than those in the lowest category. Similarly, compared with individuals who place themselves in the lowest social status category, those who place themselves in the highest social status category have 0.03 times lower odds of reporting lower life satisfaction (95% CI=0.02 to 0.07). CONCLUSION: Overall, the results highlight a significant association among social status, subjective health, life satisfaction and general happiness in both the countries. Health policymakers should identify effective strategies to promote healthy ageing and reduce disparities in health and well-being outcomes among older adults from different social backgrounds.

A dual-target SPR screening system for simultaneous ligand discovery of SARS-CoV-2 spike protein and its receptor ACE2 from Chinese herbs.

Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) is a supremely valuable resource for the development of drug discovery. Few methods are capable of hunting for potential molecule ligands from TCM towards more than one single protein target. In this study, a novel dual-target surface plasmon resonance (SPR) biosensor was developed to perform targeted compound screening of two key proteins involved in the cellular invasion process of the Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2): the spike (S) protein receptor binding domain (RBD) and the angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2). The screening and identification of active compounds from six Chinese herbs were conducted taking into consideration the multi-component and multi-target nature of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM). Puerarin from Radix Puerariae Lobatae was discovered to exhibit specific binding affinity to both S protein RBD and ACE2. The results highlight the efficiency of the dual-target SPR system in drug screening and provide a novel approach for exploring the targeted mechanisms of active components from Chinese herbs for disease treatment.

Flowering Ocimum gratissimum intercropped in tea plantations attracts and reduces Apolygus lucorum populations.

BACKGROUND: Apolygus lucorum is one of the most important piercing-sucking insect pests of the tea plant In this study, we assessed the attractiveness of basil plants to A. lucorum and the effectiveness of Ocimum gratissimum L. in the control of A. lucorum. The control efficiency of main volatile chemicals emitted from O. gratissimum flowers was also evaluated. RESULTS: Among seven basil varieties, O. gratissimum was more attractive to A. lucorum adults and was selected as a trap plant to assess its attractiveness to A. lucorum and effects on natural enemies in tea plantations. The population density of A. lucorum on trap strips of O. gratissimum in tea plantations was significantly higher than that on tea at 10-20 m away from the trap strips. Intercropping O. gratissimum with tea plants, at high-density significantly reduced A. lucorum population levels. Eucalyptol, limonene, ß-ocimene, and linalool were the four dominant components in the O. gratissimum flower volatiles, and their emissions showed a gradual upward trend over the sampling period. Olfactometer assays indicated that eucalyptol and dodecane showed attraction to A. lucorum. High numbers of A. lucorum were recorded on limonene, eucalyptol, and myrcene-baited yellow sticky traps in field trials in which 11 dominant volatiles emitted by O. gratissimum flowers were evaluated. CONCLUSION: Our research indicated that the aromatic plant O. gratissimum and its volatiles could attract A. lucorum and planting O. gratissimum has the potential as a pest biocontrol method to manipulate A. lucorum populations in tea plantations. © 2024 Society of Chemical Industry.

Mechanism of Shenfu Injection in Treating Ischemic Stroke Elucidated using Network Pharmacology and Experimental Validation.

BACKGROUND: Shenfu injection was derived from the classical Chinese medicine formula 'Shenfu decoction', which was widely used in the treatment of cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases in clinical practice. OBJECTIVES: Predict the main active ingredients, core targets, and related signaling pathways of Shenfu injection in the treatment of ischemic stroke. METHODS: Databases were used to collect the active ingredients and target information of Shenfu injection; GO and KEGG pathway enrichment analyses were performed using the David database. The effects of Shenfu injection on core targets were verified using molecular docking and in vivo experiments. RESULTS: The predicted results identified 44 active ingredients and 635 targets in Shenfu injection, among which 418 targets, including TNF, IL-6, MAPK1, and MAPK14, were potential targets for the treatment of ischemic stroke. Molecular docking revealed that the active ingredients had good binding to IL-6, MAPK1, and MAPK14. In vivo experiments demonstrated that Shenfu injection significantly improved the pathological damage due to ischemic stroke, promoted the expression of tight junction proteins, and inhibited MMP-2 and MMP-9 expressions, thereby reducing BBB permeability. Animal experiments revealed that Shenfu injection could inhibit p38、JNK and ERK phosphorylation. CONCLUSIONS: Mechanism of Shenfu injection in treating ischemic stroke may be via inhibition of the inflammatory factors levels and protecting the BBB, thereby warranting subsequent studies and highlighting its potential as a reference for new drug development.

Breakthrough applications of porous organic materials for membrane-based CO2 separation: a review.

Over the last decades, porous organic materials (POMs) have been extensively employed in various industrial approaches including gas separation, catalysis and energy production due to possessing indisputable advantages like great surface area, high permeability, controllable pore size, appropriate functionalization and excellent processability compared to traditional substances like zeolites, Alumina and polymers. This review presents the recent breakthroughs in the multifunctional POMs for potential use in the membrane-based CO2 separation. Some examples of highly-selective membranes using multifunctional POMs are described. Moreover, various classifications of POMs following with their advantages and disadvantages in CO2 separation processes are explained. Apart from reviewing the state-of-the-art POMs in CO2 separation, the challenges/limitations of POMs with tailored structures for reasonable application are discussed.

Comparison of the efficacy between the dual therapy of tegoprazan and the quadruple therapy of tegoprazan: A randomized, controlled, multicenter study.

INTRODUCTION: Tegoprazan (TPZ), a potassium-competitive acid blocker, exerts a strong acid-suppression effect and a rapid onset of action. However, research on TPZ-amoxicillin (TA) dual treatment is limited. Here, we compared the safety and efficacy of TPZ-amoxicillin dual treatment and TPZ, bismuth potassium citrate, amoxicillin, and clarithromycin (TBAC) quadruple therapy in patients newly diagnosed with H. pylori infection over a 14-day treatment period. METHODS: A total of 236 patients newly diagnosed with H. pylori were enrolled in this multi-center, prospective, open-label, and randomized controlled study. Patients randomly received either TA dual or TBAC quadruple therapy. The incidence of adverse reactions and treatment compliance were recorded and then analyzed. RESULTS: The intention-to-treat analysis revealed that H. pylori-eradication rates were 83.9% (95% confidence interval [CI] 78.2%-91.3%) and 81.4% (95% CI 74.2%-88.5%) for the TA and TBAC groups, respectively, with no statistically significant difference between them (P = 0.606). The per-protocol analysis revealed that the H. pylori-eradication rates were 88.3% and 84.8% for the TA and TBAC groups, respectively (P = 0.447). The incidence of adverse reactions was significantly lower in the TA group than in the TBAC group (4.2% vs. 15.3%, P = 0.004). Moreover, the TA group demonstrated substantially higher treatment compliance than the TBAC group (94.1% vs. 89.0%, P = 0.020). CONCLUSION: The TA dual therapy successfully eradicated H. pylori with a high eradication rate and a low incidence of adverse reactions. Therefore, this treatment is recommended as an alternative course for patients newly diagnosed with H. pylori infection.

Helicobacter pylori infection induces gastric cancer cell malignancy by targeting HOXA-AS2/miR-509-3p/MMD2 axis.

BACKGROUND: Helicobacter pylori (Hp) infection is considered to be the strongest risk factor for gastric cancer (GC). Long non-coding RNA HOXA cluster antisense RNA 2 (HOXA-AS2) has been indicated to be significantly related to Hp infection in GC patients. OBJECTIVE: To investigate the detailed role and molecular mechanism of lncRNA HOXA-AS2 in Hp-induced GC. METHODS: GC cells were treated with Hp filtrate for cell infection. Bioinformatics tools were utilized for survival analysis and prediction of HOXA-AS2 downstream molecules. Western blotting and RT-qPCR were utilized for assessing protein and RNA levels, respectively. Flow cytometry, colony formation and CCK-8 assays were implemented for testing HOXA-AS2 functions in Hp-infected GC cells. HOXA-AS2 localization in cells was determined by subcellular fractionation assay. The relationship between RNAs were measured by luciferase reporter assay. RESULTS: Hp infection induced HOXA-AS2 upregulation in GC cells. Knocking down HOXA-AS2 restrained cell proliferation but promoted cell apoptosis with Hp infection. HOXA-AS2 bound to miR-509-3p, and miR-509-3p targeted monocyte to macrophage differentiation associated 2 (MMD2). Overexpressing MMD2 reversed HOXA-AS2 depletion-mediated suppression on cell aggressiveness with Hp infection. CONCLUSION: Hp infection induces the aggressiveness of GC cells by regulating HOXA-AS2/miR-509-3p/MMD2 axis.

Effects of chronic stress on cancer development and the therapeutic prospects of adrenergic signaling regulation.

Long-term chronic stress is an important factor in the poor prognosis of cancer patients. Chronic stress reduces the tissue infiltration of immune cells in the tumor microenvironment (TME) by continuously activating the adrenergic signaling, inhibits antitumor immune response and tumor cell apoptosis while also inducing epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) and tumor angiogenesis, promoting tumor invasion and metastasis. This review first summarizes how adrenergic signaling activates intracellular signaling by binding different adrenergic receptor (AR) heterodimers. Then, we focused on reviewing adrenergic signaling to regulate multiple functions of immune cells, including cell differentiation, migration, and cytokine secretion. In addition, the article discusses the mechanisms by which adrenergic signaling exerts pro-tumorigenic effects by acting directly on the tumor itself. It also highlights the use of adrenergic receptor modulators in cancer therapy, with particular emphasis on their potential role in immunotherapy. Finally, the article reviews the beneficial effects of stress intervention measures on cancer treatment. We think that enhancing the body's antitumor response by adjusting adrenergic signaling can enhance the efficacy of cancer treatment.

NeRF-Texture: Synthesizing Neural Radiance Field Textures.

Texture synthesis is a fundamental problem in computer graphics that would benefit various applications. Existing methods are effective in handling 2D image textures. In contrast, many real-world textures contain meso-structure in the 3D geometry space, such as grass, leaves, and fabrics, which cannot be effectively modeled using only 2D image textures. We propose a novel texture synthesis method with Neural Radiance Fields (NeRF) to capture and synthesize textures from given multi-view images. In the proposed NeRF texture representation, a scene with fine geometric details is disentangled into the meso-structure textures and the underlying base shape. This allows textures with meso-structure to be effectively learned as latent features situated on the base shape, which are fed into a NeRF decoder trained simultaneously to represent the rich view-dependent appearance. Using this implicit representation, we can synthesize NeRF-based textures through patch matching of latent features. However, inconsistencies between the metrics of the reconstructed content space and the latent feature space may compromise the synthesis quality. To enhance matching performance, we further regularize the distribution of latent features by incorporating a clustering constraint. In addition to generating NeRF textures over a planar domain, our method can also synthesize NeRF textures over curved surfaces, which are practically useful. Experimental results and evaluations demonstrate the effectiveness of our approach.

Cognitive and Hippocampal Changes in Older Adults With Subjective Cognitive Decline After Acupuncture Intervention.

OBJECTIVE: Converging evidence indicates that subjective cognitive decline (SCD) could be an early indicator of dementia. The hippocampus is the earliest affected region during the progression of cognitive impairment. However, little is known about whether and how acupuncture change the hippocampal structure and function of SCD individuals. METHODS: Here, we used multi-modal MRI to reveal the mechanism of acupuncture in treating SCD. Seventy-two older participants were randomized into acupuncture or sham acupuncture group and treated for 12 weeks. RESULTS: At the end of the intervention, compared to sham acupuncture, participants with acupuncture treatment showed improvement in composite Z score from multi-domain neuropsychological tests, as well as increased hippocampal volume and functional connectivity. Moreover, the greater white matter integrity of the fornix, which is the major output tract of the hippocampus, was shown in the acupuncture group. CONCLUSION: These findings suggest that acupuncture may improve the cognitive function of SCD individuals, and increase hippocampal volume on the regional level and enhance the structural and functional connectivity of hippocampus on the connective level.

Purinergic Astrocyte Signaling Driven by TNF-α After Cannabidiol Administration Restores Normal Synaptic Remodeling Following Traumatic Brain Injury.

Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is a prevalent form of cranial trauma that results in neural conduction disruptions and damage to synaptic structures and functions. Cannabidiol (CBD), a primary derivative from plant-based cannabinoids, exhibits a range of beneficial effects, including analgesic, sedative, anti-inflammatory, anticonvulsant, anti-anxiety, anti-apoptotic, and neuroprotective properties. Nevertheless, the effects of synaptic reconstruction and the mechanisms underlying these effects remain poorly understood. TBI is characterized by increased levels of tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), a cytokine integral for the modulation of glutamate release by astrocytes. In the present study, the potential of CBD in regulating aberrant glutamate signal transmission in astrocytes following brain injury, as well as the underlying mechanisms involved, were investigated using immunofluorescence double staining, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), western blot analysis, hematoxylin and eosin (H&E) staining, Nissl staining, transmission electron microscopy, and RT-qPCR. In this study, we examined the impact of CBD on neuronal synapses, focusing on the TNF-α-driven purinergic signaling pathway. Specifically, our research revealed that CBD pretreatment effectively reduced the secretion of TNF-α induced by astrocyte activation following TBI. This reduction inhibited the interaction between TNF-α and P2Y1 receptors, leading to a decrease in the release of neurotransmitters, including Ca2+ and glutamate, thereby initiating synaptic remodeling. Our study showed that CBD exhibits significant therapeutic potential for TBI-related synaptic dysfunction, offering valuable insights for future research and more effective TBI treatments. Further exploration of the potential applications of CBD in neuroprotection is required to develop innovative clinical strategies.

Nomogram developed with APOA5 genetic variant rs662799 and clinical characteristics predicting risk of essential hypertension in a Chinese population.

Background: The apolipoprotein A5 (APOA5) gene has been identified as a key regulatory factor in triglyceride (TG) metabolism and plasma lipid levels. Genetic polymorphisms of APOA5 have been linked to an elevated risk of atherosclerosis, metabolic syndrome, stroke, and coronary artery disease. The rs662799 variant is a single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) that occurs at a specific position within the APOA5 gene. However, the association between rs662799 polymorphism and essential hypertension (EHT) remains unclear. The study aimed to comprehensively examine the potential correlation between the rs662799 polymorphism and the susceptibility to EHT in a Chinese population using a systematic analysis. Methods: In a case study conducted at the First Affiliated Hospital of Xinjiang Medical University between Jan 2019 and Dec 2021, we examined a total of 700 cases of EHT along with 700 corresponding controls. The serum concentrations of various lipid parameters were measured by enzymatic method, while the genotyping of the SNP was performed using the improved multiplex ligation detection reaction (iMLDR) method. The independent risk factors of EHT were identified from multivariable logistic regression analysis. The nomogram prediction model that incorporated the APOA5 genetic variations and clinical variables was constructed. In addition, receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve and Hosmer-Lemeshow test were conducted to determine the performance of the nomogram model. The optimal threshold was calculated based on Youden index. Results: Our study revealed a higher prevalence of the G allele of the rs662799 variant in individuals diagnosed with EHT compared to the control group. Logistic regression analysis indicated that with the adjustment of other confounders, the observed difference between the two groups remained statistically significant [odds ratio (OR) =1.519; 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.203-1.917; P<0.001]. Based on 8 independent risk factors including APOA5 rs662799 G allele, age, body mass index (BMI), smoking, diabetes, education, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), and TG, we constructed a novel risk evaluation nomogram of EHT. The area under the ROC curve of the nomogram was 0.722 (95% CI: 0.693-0.752; P<0.001) and 0.747 (95% CI: 0.690-0.804; P<0.001) for the training and validation set, respectively. Furthermore, the Hosmer-Lemeshow test indicated excellent calibration performance, yielding P values of 0.969 for the training set and 0.761 for the validation set. Conclusions: In our study, the rs662799 variant of the APOA5 gene was significantly associated with susceptibility to EHT. A nomogram for the early prediction of EHT in in the Chinese population was successfully constructed and validated. The nomogram can provide a visual assessment of the risk of EHT for clinical consultation.