Identification of 8 candidate microsatellite instability loci in colorectal cancer and validation of the ACVR2A mechanism in the tumor progression.

This study probes the utility of biomarkers for microsatellite instability (MSI) detection and elucidates the molecular dynamics propelling colorectal cancer (CRC) progression. We synthesized a primer panel targeting 725 MSI loci, informed by The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) and ancillary databases, to construct an amplicon library for next-generation sequencing (NGS). K-means clustering facilitated the distillation of 8 prime MSI loci, including activin A receptor type 2A (ACVR2A). Subsequently, we explored ACVR2A's influence on CRC advancement through in vivo tumor experiments and hematoxylin-eosin (HE) staining. Transwell assays gauged ACVR2A's role in CRC cell migration and invasion, while colony formation assays appraised cell proliferation. Western blotting illuminated the impact of ACVR2A suppression on CRC's PI3K/AKT/mTOR pathway protein expressions under hypoxia. Additionally, ACVR2A's influence on CRC-induced angiogenesis was quantified via angiogenesis assays. K-means clustering of NGS data pinpointed 32 MSI loci specific to tumor and DNA mismatch repair deficiency (dMMR) tissues. ACVR2A emerged as a pivotal biomarker, discerning MSI-H tissues with 90.97% sensitivity. A curated 8-loci set demonstrated 100% sensitivity and specificity for MSI-H detection in CRC. In vitro analyses corroborated ACVR2A's critical role, revealing its suppression of CRC proliferation, migration, and invasion. Moreover, ACVR2A inhibition under CRC-induced hypoxia markedly escalated MMP3, CyclinA, CyclinD1, and HIF1α protein expressions, alongside angiogenesis, by triggering the PI3K/AKT/mTOR cascade. The 8-loci ensemble stands as the optimal marker for MSI-H identification in CRC. ACVR2A, a central element within this group, deters CRC progression, while its suppression amplifies PI3K/AKT/mTOR signaling and angiogenesis under hypoxic stress.

Unveiling the impact of high-pressure processing on anthocyanin-protein/polysaccharide interactions: A comprehensive review.

Anthocyanins, natural plant pigments responsible for the vibrant hues in fruits, vegetables, and flowers, boast antioxidant properties with potential human health benefits. However, their susceptibility to degradation under conditions such as heat, light, and pH fluctuations necessitates strategies to safeguard their stability. Recent investigations have focused on exploring the interactions between anthocyanins and biomacromolecules, specifically proteins and polysaccharides, with the aim of enhancing their resilience. Notably, proteins like soy protein isolate and whey protein, alongside polysaccharides such as pectin, starch, and chitosan, have exhibited promising affinities with anthocyanins, thereby enhancing their stability and functional attributes. High-pressure processing (HPP), emerging as a non-thermal technology, has garnered attention for its potential to modulate these interactions. The application of high pressure can impact the structural features and stability of anthocyanin-protein/polysaccharide complexes, thereby altering their functionalities. However, caution must be exercised, as excessively high pressures may yield adverse effects. Consequently, while HPP holds promise in upholding anthocyanin stability, further exploration is warranted to elucidate its efficacy across diverse anthocyanin variants, macromolecular partners, pressure regimes, and their effects within real food matrices.

Multiple factors influenced the aggregation behavior of adult Eucryptorrhynchus scrobicuatus (Coleoptera: Curculionidae).

Eucryptorrhynchus scrobiculatus (Motschulsky) (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) is a notorious pest of Ailanthus altissima (Mill.) Swingle (Sapindales: Simaroubaceae). E. scrobiculatus adults typically aggregate under leaves and in soil crevices at the base of A. altissima in the field. We hypothesize that the environmental factors and conspecific signals determine their aggregation behavior. To test this, we investigated adult numbers in light-exposed and shaded areas of the sample trees and conducted experiments in both field and lab settings. Results revealed that (i) greater adult distribution in shaded areas; (ii) significant influence of temperature and illumination on aggregation tendency in the field; (iii) no gender-based difference in aggregation degree and maximum aggregation between light and dark; (iv) the host plant triggering the aggregation tendency, negatively affected in the absence; (v) the aggregation tendency of E. scrobiculatus weakened with the temperature gradually changing to ordinary temperature; and (vi) mutual attraction and chemical attraction between males and females. Thus, the aggregation behavior was influenced by factors including temperature, light intensity, host plant, and conspecific signals, but light's role was not obvious in the lab.

Silver nanoparticle-functionalized melamine-formaldehyde aerogel for online in-tube solid-phase microextraction of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons followed by HPLC-DAD analysis.

Based on the π-metal interaction between silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) and aromatic compounds, AgNPs were in-situ grown to melamine-formaldehyde (MF) aerogel for improving the extraction performance to polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). The AgNPs/MF aerogel was regulated through varing the concentration of reactants, and characterized by scanning electron microscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and X-ray powder diffraction. As a new extraction coating, the AgNPs/MF aerogel was coated to stainless-steel wires for in-tube solid-phase microextraction (IT-SPME). The extraction effects of MF aerogels before and after the modification of AgNPs were compared, and the AgNPs greatly improved the extraction ability for PAHs reaching to 166.4 %. Combining IT-SPME with high performance liquid chromatographic detection, an online analytical system was constructed. Furthermore, the sampling volume and rate, concentration of organic solvent, and desorption time were optimized factor by factor. The online analytical method with low detection limits (0.003-0.010 µg L-1) and efficient enrichment factors (1998-3237) for PAHs was established, which fastly detected trace level of PAHs in drinking and environmental water samples. Compared with other methods, the method was comparable or better in the detection limit and linear range, indicating prospective application of the AgNPs/MF aerogel for sample preparation.

Management of type 1 gastric neuroendocrine tumors: an 11-year retrospective single-center study.

BACKGROUND: Type 1 gastric neuroendocrine tumors (NETs) are relatively rare to the extent that some physicians have little experience in diagnosing and treating them. The purpose of this study was to increase the understanding of the disease by analyzing and summarizing the management and prognoses of patients with type 1 gastric NETs at our center. METHODS: The data of 229 patients (59.4% female) with type 1 gastric NETs who were treated at our center during 2011-2022 were retrospectively analyzed. RESULTS: The average patient age was 50.5 ± 10.8 years. Multiple tumors affected 72.5% of the patients; 66.4% of the tumors were < 1 cm, 69.4% were NET G1, and 2.2% were stage III-IV. A total of 76.9% of the patients had received endoscopic management, 60.7% had received traditional Chinese medicine treatment, 10.5% received somatostatin analogues treatment, and 6.6% underwent surgical resection. Seventy patients (41.2%) experienced the first recurrence after a median follow-up of 31 months (range: 2-122 months), and the median recurrence-free time was 43 months. The 1-, 2-, and 3-year cumulative recurrence-free survival rates were 71.8%, 56.8%, and 50.3%, respectively. During a median follow-up of 39 months (range: 2-132 months), one patient had bilateral pulmonary metastasis, and no disease-related deaths were observed. CONCLUSION: Type 1 gastric NETs have a high recurrence rate and a long disease course, underscoring the importance of long-term and comprehensive management.

Correlation between conventional ultrasound features combined with contrast-enhanced ultrasound patterns and pathological prognostic factors in malignant non-mass breast lesions.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the correlation between ultrasound performance and prognostic factors in malignant non-mass breast lesions (NMLs). MATERIALS AND METHODS: This study included 106 malignant NMLs in 104 patients. Different US features and contrast enhancement patterns were evaluated. Prognostic factors, including histological types and grades, axillary lymph node and peritumoral lymphovascular status, estrogen and progesterone receptor status and the expression of HER-2 and Ki-67 were determined. A chi-square test and logistic regression analysis were used to analyse possible associations. RESULTS: Lesion size (OR: 3.08, p = 0.033) and posterior echo attenuation (OR: 8.38, p < 0.001) were useful in reflecting malignant NMLs containing an invasive carcinoma component. Posterior echo attenuation (OR: 7.51, p = 0.003) and unclear enhancement margin (OR: 6.50, p = 0.018) were often found in tumors with axillary lymph node metastases. Peritumoural lymphovascular invasion mostly exhibited posterior echo attenuation (OR: 3.84, p = 0.049) and unclear enhancement margin (OR: 8.68, p = 0.042) on ultrasound images. Perfusion defect was a comparatively accurate enhancement indicator for negative ER (OR: 2.57, p = 0.041) and PR (OR: 3.04, p = 0.008) expression. Calcifications (OR: 3.03, p = 0.025) and enlarged enhancement area (OR: 5.36, p = 0.033) imply an increased risk of positive HER-2 expression. Similarly, Calcifications (OR: 4.13, p = 0.003) and enlarged enhancement area (OR: 11.05, p < 0.001) were valid predictors of high Ki-67 proliferation index. CONCLUSION: Ultrasound performance is valuable for non-invasive prediction of prognostic factors in malignant NMLs.

Dual-mode transfer response based on electrochemical and fluorescence signals for the detection of amyloid-beta oligomers (AßO).

An aptamer sensor has been developed utilizing a dual-mode and stimuli-responsive strategy for quantitative detection of AßO (amyloid-beta oligomers) through simultaneous electrochemical and fluorescence detection. To achieve this, we employed UIO-66-NH2 as a carrier container to load MB (Methylene Blue), and Fe3O4 MNPs (iron oxide magnetic nanoparticles) with aptamer (ssDNA-Fe3O4 MNPs) fixed on their surface for biological gating. The ssDNA-Fe3O4 MNPs were immobilized onto the surface of UIO-66-NH2 through hydrogen bonding between the aptamer and the -NH2 group on the surface of UIO-66-NH2, thereby encapsulating MB and forming ssDNA-Fe3O4@MB@UIO-66-NH2. During the detection of AßO, the aptamer selectively reacted with AßO to form the AßO-ssDNA-Fe3O4 complex, leading to its detachment from the surface of UIO-66-NH2. This detachment facilitated the release of MB, enabling its electrochemical detection. Simultaneously, the AßO-ssDNA-Fe3O4 complex was efficiently collected and separated using a magnet after leaving the container's surface. Furthermore, the addition of NaOH facilitated the disconnection of biotin modifications at the 3' end of the aptamer from the avidin modifications on the Fe3O4 MNPs. Consequently, the aptamer detached from the surface of Fe3O4 MNPs, resulting in the restoration of fluorescence intensity of FAM (fluorescein-5'-carboxamidite) modified at its 5' end for fluorescence detection. The dual-mode sensor exhibited significantly enhanced differential pulse voltammetry signals and fluorescence intensity compared to those in the absence of AßO. The sensor demonstrated a wide detection range of 10 fM to 10 µM, with a detection limit of 3.4 fM. It displayed excellent performance in detecting actual samples and holds promising prospects for early diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease.

Biochar nanosphere-functionalized carbon fibers for in-tube solid-phase microextraction of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in environmental water followed by liquid chromatography and diode array detection.

In order to improve the extraction ability of carbon fibers (CFs) for microextraction of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), biochar nanospheres derived from glucose were in-situ grown onto the surface of CFs via hydrothermal synthesis. The surface morphology and elemental composition of biochar nanospheres-CFs were investigated by scanning electron microscopy and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. Thereafter, the biochar nanosphere-CFs were pulled into the polyetheretherketone tube for solid-phase microextraction, and the tube was combined with high-performance liquid chromatography-diode array detector to online detect PAHs. With the help of π-stacking, hydrophobic, and hydrophilic effect of biochar nanospheres, the extraction efficiency of CFs was greatly enhanced (enrichment factor increased by 293% compared with  the original). The conditions affecting the analytical performance (sampling volume, sampling rate, methanol content, and desorption time) were investigated. Under the optimal conditions, an online analytical method for microextraction and determination of several PAHs was developed, and satisfactory results were achieved. The limits of detection were 0.003-0.010 ng mL-1 owing to high enrichment effect (2973-3600), linearity ranged from  0.010-15.0 ng mL-1, and relative standard deviations were 0.4%-1.6% (intra-day) and 2.4%-4.4% (inter-day), respectively. The method was applied to analyze environmental water samples (rain water, snow water, and river water), and spiked recoveries within 80.0%-119% were obtained.

Analysis and Prediction of Electrospun Nanofiber Diameter Based on Artificial Neural Network.

Electrospinning technology enables the fabrication of electrospun nanofibers with exceptional properties, which are highly influenced by their diameter. This work focuses on the electrospinning of polyacrylonitrile (PAN) to obtain PAN nanofibers under different processing conditions. The morphology and size of the resulting PAN nanofibers were characterized using scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and the corresponding diameter data were measured using Nano Measure 1.2 software. The processing conditions and corresponding nanofiber diameter data were then inputted into an artificial neural network (ANN) to establish the relationship between the electrospinning process parameters (polymer concentration, applied voltage, collecting distance, and solution flow rate), and the diameter of PAN nanofibers. The results indicate that the polymer concentration has the greatest influence on the diameter of PAN nanofibers. The developed neural network prediction model provides guidance for the preparation of PAN nanofibers with specific dimensions.

Effects of Drought Stress on Non-Structural Carbohydrates in Different Organs of Cunninghamia lanceolata.

The Chinese fir Cunninghamia lanceolata (Lamb.) Hook. is an important timber conifer species in China. Much has been studied about Chinese fir, but the distribution of non-structural carbohydrates (NSCs) among different organs (needles, branch, stem, and roots) under drought stress remains poorly understood. In this study, we used one-year-old C. lanceolata plantlets to evaluate the effects of simulated drought under four water regimes, i.e., adequate water or control, light drought, moderate drought, and severe drought stress corresponding to 80%, 60%, 50%, and 40%, respectively of soil field maximum capacity on various NSCs in the needles, branch, stem and roots. The degree and duration of drought stress had significant effects on fructose, glucose, sucrose, soluble sugar, starch, and NSC content in various organs (p < 0.05). Fructose content increased in stem xylem, stem phloem, and leaves. Glucose and sucrose content declined in stem and branch xylem under light drought stress and moderate drought stress, and increased under severe drought stress conditions. Soluble sugars content declined, and starch content increased in leaf and branch phloem, but the latter could not compensate for soluble sugar consumption in the whole plant, and therefore, total NSCs decreased. Correlation analysis showed that a significant positive correlation existed in the soluble sugar content between leaves and roots, and between xylem and phloem in the stems and branches. Chinese fir appears to have different NSCs distribution strategies in response to drought stress, viz., allocating more soluble sugars to fine roots and increasing starch content in the needles, as well as ensuring osmosis to prevent xylem embolism. Our study may broaden the understanding of the various mechanisms that Chinese fir and other plants have to enhance their tolerance to drought stress.

Mineral Nutrient Uptake, Accumulation, and Distribution in Cunninghamia lanceolata in Response to Drought Stress.

Mineral accumulation in plants under drought stress is essential for drought tolerance. The distribution, survival, and growth of Chinese fir (Cunninghamia lanceolata (Lamb.) Hook.), an evergreen conifer, can be affected by climate change, particularly seasonal precipitation and drought. Hence, we designed a drought pot experiment, using 1-year-old Chinese fir plantlets, to evaluate drought effects under simulated mild drought, moderate drought, and severe drought, which corresponds to 60%, 50%, and 40% of soil field maximum moisture capacity, respectively. A treatment of 80% of soil field maximum moisture capacity was used as control. Effects of drought stress on mineral uptake, accumulation, and distribution in Chinese fir organs were determined under different drought stress regimes for 0-45 days. Severe drought stress significantly increased phosphorous (P) and potassium (K) uptake at 15, 30 and 45 days, respectively, within fine (diameter < 2 mm), moderate (diameter 2-5 mm), and large (diameter 5-10 mm) roots. Drought stress decreased magnesium (Mg) and manganese (Mn) uptake by fine roots and increased iron (Fe) uptake in fine and moderate roots but decreased Fe uptake in large roots. Severe drought stress increased P, K, calcium (Ca), Fe, sodium (Na), and aluminum (Al) accumulation in leaves after 45 days and increased Mg and Mn accumulation after 15 days. In stems, severe drought stress increased P, K, Ca, Fe, and Al in the phloem, and P, K, Mg, Na, and Al in the xylem. In branches, P, K, Ca, Fe, and Al concentrations increased in the phloem, and P, Mg, and Mn concentrations increased in the xylem under severe drought stress. Taken together, plants develop strategies to alleviate the adverse effects of drought stress, such as promoting the accumulation of P and K in most organs, regulating minerals concentration in the phloem and xylem, to prevent the occurrence of xylem embolism. The important roles of minerals in response to drought stress should be further evaluated.

Electrochemical aptasensor based on gold nanoparticle decorated Ti3C2Tx nanocomposites for chloramphenicol detection.

Using gold (Au) nanoparticle decorated Ti3C2Tx (Ti3C2Tx-Au) nanocomposites, a highly sensitive electrochemical aptasensor for the effective detection of chloramphenicol has been developed. As a two-dimensional layered material, the prepared composite not only provides high surface area, good conductivity, and thermal stability but also substantial binding sites for aptamers with high sensitivity and selectivity for the accurate determination of chloramphenicol. Interestingly, the conductivity and active sites were enhanced by freeze-drying Ti3C2Tx and in situ formation of Ti3C2Tx-Au nanocomposite. The fabricated aptasensor exhibited a very low detection limit (S/N ≥ 3) of 13.18 fg mL-1 with a linear range of 1 ~ 700 pg mL-1 and correlation coefficient of 0.9992. The fabricated aptasensor demonstrated an excellent reproducibility, repeatability, long-term stability, and high selectivity toward chloramphenicol. Further, the aptasensor was applied to real milk samples, and the recoveries were ranged from 98.93 to 101.93%.

The Influencing Factors of Aggregation Behavior of Tree-of-Heaven Trunk Weevil, Eucryptorrhynchus brandti (Harold) (Coleoptera: Curculionidae).

The tree-of-heaven trunk weevil, Eucryptorrhynchus brandti (Harold) (Coleoptera: Curculionidae), is one of the most harmful pests that damage the tree of heaven, Ailanthus altissima Swingle (Sapindales: Simaroubaceae). Aggregation behavior tests of E. brandti adults were conducted in laboratory conditions. The effects of temperature and light on the aggregation behavior of adults were tested, and the effect of sex and host was conducted with binomial choice experiments. The results showed that (1) the adults aggregate in both light and dark environments but preferred the dark environment, (2) temperature can drive the aggregation of E. brandti adults, (3) host plants could trigger E. brandti adults' aggregation behavior, which is probably related to phytochemicals and insect feeding and localization, (4) there was mutual attraction of males and females and chemical attraction of crude intestinal extracts of males and females, and (5) aggregation behavior of E. brandti adults may also be related to the mediating of physical signals in insects. In this study, aggregation behavior can help us understand conspecific interactions and discover some strategies for effective control.

circANKRD28 inhibits cisplatin resistance in non-small-cell lung cancer through the miR-221-3p/SOCS3 axis.

BACKGROUND: Non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is a common cancer. Chemotherapeutic drug resistance limits the therapeutic effect of NSCLC and leads to a poor prognosis. As a result, new specific targets may be better identified by studying the mechanism of drug resistance to cisplatin in NSCLC. METHODS: In the present study, we performed a quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction and western blotting to detect mRNA and protein levels. The proliferation of cells was analyzed by a Cell Counting Kit-8 and colony formation assays. Cell invasion was measured via the Transwell assay. A scratch assay was performed to measure cell migration in cisplatin (DDP)-resistant NSCLC cells. Apoptosis of cells was examined using flow cytometry. RESULTS: We found that circANKRD28 was notably decreased in NSCLC. The results showed that circANKRD28 expression was not affected, and its half-life was more than 12 h. Functional experiments revealed that circANKRD28 overexpression inhibited DDP resistance in NSCLC cells in vitro. Mechanistic findings demonstrated that circANKRD28 regulated tumor cell progression and DDP sensitivity through the miR-221-3p/SOCS3 axis. CONCLUSIONS: The present study revealed the regulatory effects and molecular mechanism of circANKRD28 on the development and cisplatin resistance in NSCLC, which may provide experimental basis and theoretical support to identify new targets for therapy of DDP resistance in NSCLC.

Outcomes and risk factors in patients with crescentic glomerulonephritis: a multicenter cohort study.

BACKGROUND: Patients with crescentic glomerulonephritis have a poor prognosis despite immunosuppressive therapy. This study investigated the clinicopathologic features, outcomes, and risk factors in Chinese patients with crescentic glomerulonephritis. METHODS: The multicenter cohort study included consecutive individuals with crescentic glomerulonephritis and a minimum follow-up of 1 year after biopsy, observed from January 2013 to December 2020. Primary outcome was the occurrence of death or end stage kidney disease (ESKD) for surviving patients. Multivariable adjusted Cox proportional hazards model was applied. RESULTS: Of 109 patients enrolled, 73 (67%) suffered primary outcomes, including 39 deaths, and 34 ESKDs among the 70 surviving patients, with a mean follow-up of 26 months. All 26 patients with over 90% glomeruli with crescents reached a primary outcome. Patients with type III crescentic glomerulonephritis had the worst prognosis for primary outcomes (HR, 95% CI for type I vs. type III: 0.29, 0.14-0.58; type II vs. type III: 0.44, 0.22-0.91) and a significantly faster rate of eGFR decline after adjusting for baseline variables. In patients with 75%-100% glomeruli with crescents, the risk of a primary outcome increased nearly fourfold (HR 3.96; 95% CI 2.17-7.23) compared with patients with 50-75% glomeruli with crescents after adjusting for baseline variables. Type of crescentic glomerulonephritis and percentage of cellular and total glomeruli with crescents were independent risk factors for early primary outcomes (within 6 months). CONCLUSIONS: This study provides new insights into crescentic glomerulonephritis, including a description of the worst outcomes occurring in patients with type III crescentic glomerulonephritis, and suggests that the quantification of the percentage of crescents may be of use for guiding therapeutic decisions, due to their role in identifying the risk of primary outcomes.

Non-mass Breast Lesions: Could Multimodal Ultrasound Imaging Be Helpful for Their Diagnosis?

Objective: To develop a prediction model for discriminating malignant from benign breast non-mass-like lesions (NMLs) using conventional ultrasound (US), strain elastography (SE) of US elastography and contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS). Methods: A total of 101 NMLs from 100 patients detected by conventional US were enrolled in this retrospective study. The characteristics of NMLs in conventional US, SE and CEUS were compared between malignant and benign NMLs. Histopathological results were used as the reference standard. Binary logistic regression analysis was performed to identify the independent risk factors. A multimodal method to evaluate NMLs based on logistic regression was developed. The diagnostic performance of conventional US, US + SE, US + CEUS and the combination of these modalities was evaluated and compared. Results: Among the 101 lesions, 50 (49.5%) were benign and 51 (50.5%) were malignant. Age ≥45 y, microcalcifications in the lesion, elasticity score >3, earlier enhancement time and hyper-enhancement were independent diagnostic indicators included to establish the multimodal prediction method. The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC) of US + SE + CEUS was significantly higher than that of US (p < 0.0001) and US + SE (p < 0.0001), but there was no significant difference between the AUC of US + SE + CEUS and the AUC of US + CEUS (p = 0.216). Conclusion: US + SE + CEUS and US + CEUS could significantly improve the diagnostic efficiency and accuracy of conventional US in the diagnosis of NMLs.

Acteoside alleviates dextran sulphate sodium­induced ulcerative colitis via regulation of the HO­1/HMGB1 signaling pathway.

Ulcerative colitis (UC) is a significant burden on human health, and the elucidation of the mechanism by which it develops has potential for the prevention and treatment of UC. It has been reported that acteoside (ACT) exhibits strong anti­inflammatory activity. In the present study, it was hypothesized that ACT may exert a protective effect against UC. The effects of ACT on inflammation, oxidative stress and apoptosis were evaluated using dextran sulphate sodium (DSS)­treated mice and DSS­treated human colorectal adenocarcinoma Caco­2 cells, which have an epithelial morphology. The results demonstrated that the ACT­treated mice with DSS­induced UC exhibited significantly reduced colon inflammation, as demonstrated by a reversal in body weight loss, colon shortening, disease activity index score, inflammation, oxidative stress and colonic barrier dysfunction. Further in vivo experiments demonstrated that ACT inhibited DSS­induced apoptosis in colon tissues, as demonstrated by the results of the TUNEL assay and the altered protein expression levels of Bax, cleaved caspase­3 and Bcl­2. Furthermore, DSS significantly stimulated the protein expression levels of high mobility group box 1 protein (HMGB1), which serves a central role in the initiation and progression of UC, an effect which was markedly inhibited by ACT. Finally, DSS significantly decreased the protein expression levels of heme oxygenase­1 (HO­1) in colon tissues and the effect of ACT on GSH, apoptotic proteins and HMGB1 was markedly attenuated in the presence of the HO­1 inhibitor tin protoporphyrin. In conclusion, ACT ameliorated colon inflammation through HMGB1 inhibition in a HO­1­dependent manner.

White matter hyperintensities volume and cognition: A meta-analysis.

Background: Cerebral small vessel disease (CSVD) is prevalent in the elderly and leads to an increased risk of cognitive impairment and dementia. The volume of white matter hyperintensities (WMHs) increases with age, which affects cognition. Objective: To explore the relationship between WMH volume and cognitive decline in patients with CSVD. Methods: We performed a systematic search of PubMed, Embase, and the Web of Science databases from their respective creation dates to the 5 May 2022 to identify all the clinical studies on either mild cognitive impairment (MCI) or dementia in regards to WMH volume in CSVD. Results: White matter hyperintensities was associated with the risk of both the MCI and dementia, with a 35% increased risk [relative risk (RR) = 1.35; (95% CI: 1.01-1.81)] of progression from cognitively unimpaired (CU) to MCI (six studies, n = 2,278) and a 49% increased risk [RR = 1.49; (95% CI: 1.21-1.84)] of progression to dementia (six studies, n = 6,330). In a subgroup analysis, a follow-up period of over 5 years increased the risk of MCI by 40% [RR = 1.40; (95% CI: 1.07-1.82)] and dementia by 48% [RR = 1.48; (95% CI: 1.15-1.92)]. Conclusion: White matter hyperintensities was found to be substantially correlated with the risk of cognitive impairment. Furthermore, cognitive decline was found to be a chronic process, such that WMH predicted the rate of cognitive decline in CSVD beyond 5 years. The cognitive decline observed in patients with WMH may, therefore, be minimized by early intervention.

High-sensitive ferrocene labeled aptasensor for the detection of Mucin 1 by tuning the sequence constitution of complementary probe.

A strand displacement-based "signal-off" electrochemical aptasensor is reported for the detection of Mucin 1 (MUC 1) based on a high original signal. Different from the conventional "signal-off" electrochemical biosensors where electrochemical substances are dispersed in electrolyte solution, here the current signal was generated by the complementary probe (CP) associated with ferrocene (Fc) labeled aptamer (Apt.-Fc). Because Apt.-Fc and MUC 1 have a higher affinity, Apt.-Fc dissociates from CP in the presence of MUC 1, resulting in a reduction of detection current signal generated by oxidation of labeled Fc. In this system, high detection signal is necessary to improve the sensor's performance. For this aim, a strategy is proposed for changing the modalities of electron transport and the quantity of Apt.-Fc introduced by simply tuning the sequence constitution of CP. As expected, a high detection current signal was obtained after selecting CP(Apt.-Fc)-TTT as the optimal CP. The aptasensor was then employed to detect MUC 1, and satisfactory detection results with a low detection limit (LOD) of 0.087 pM (S/N = 3), good specificity, good stability, and feasibility of detection of MUC 1 in artificial serum (recovery of 92-101%, RSD of 1.36-5.23%) were obtained.

Effects of feeding on different parts of Ailanthus altissima on the intestinal microbiota of Eucryptorrhynchus scrobiculatus and Eucryptorrhynchus brandti (Coleoptera: Curculionidae).

Eucryptorrhynchus brandti and Eucryptorrhynchus scrobiculatus (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) are two monophagous weevil pests that feed on Ailanthus altissima (Mill.) Swingle but differ in their diet niche. In the field, adults of E. brandti prefer to feed on the trunk of A. altissima, whereas adults of E. scrobiculatus prefer to feed on the tender parts. We conducted Illumina sequencing of 16S rRNA to examine changes in bacterial diversity in the adults of these two weevil species after they fed on different parts of A. altissima (trunk, 2-3-year-old branches, annual branches, and petioles). Proteobacteria, Tenericutes, and Firmicutes were the dominant phyla in E. brandti (relative abundance was 50.64, 41.56, and 5.63%, respectively) and E. scrobiculatus (relative abundance was 78.63, 11.91, and 7.41%, respectively). At the genus level, Spiroplasma, endosymbionts2, Unclassified Enterobacteriaceae, and Lactococcus were dominant in E. brandti, and Unclassified Enterobacteriaceae, Wolbachia and Spiroplasma, and endosymbionts2 were dominant in E. scrobiculatus. Linear discriminant analysis effect size analysis revealed microbial biomarkers in the different treatment group of adults of both weevil species. Adults of E. brandti may require the trunk, and adults of E. scrobiculatus may require the petioles and annual branches to maintain the high diversity of their gut microbes. The results of this study indicate that feeding on different parts of A. altissima affects the composition and function of the microbes of E. brandti and the microbial composition of E. scrobiculatus. Variation in the abundance of Wolbachia and Spiroplasma in E. brandti and E. scrobiculatus is associated with dietary niche changes, and this might explain the evolution of reproductive isolation between these two sibling weevil species.