Overexpression of GPX2 gene regulates the development of porcine preadipocytes and skeletal muscle cells through MAPK signaling pathway.

Glutathione peroxidase 2 (GPX2) is a selenium-dependent enzyme and protects cells against oxidative damage. Recently, GPX2 has been identified as a candidate gene for backfat and feed efficiency in pigs. However, it is unclear whether GPX2 regulates the development of porcine preadipocytes and skeletal muscle cells. In this study, adenoviral gene transfer was used to overexpress GPX2. Our findings suggest that overexpression of GPX2 gene inhibited proliferation of porcine preadipocytes. And the process is accompanied by the reduction of the p-p38. GPX2 inhibited adipogenic differentiation and promoted lipid degradation, while ERK1/2 was reduced and p-p38 was increased. Proliferation of porcine skeletal muscle cells was induced after GPX2 overexpression, was accompanied by activation in JNK, ERK1/2, and p-p38. Overexpression methods confirmed that GPX2 has a promoting function in myoblastic differentiation. ERK1/2 pathway was activated and p38 was suppressed during the process. This study lays a foundation for the functional study of GPX2 and provides theoretical support for promoting subcutaneous fat reduction and muscle growth.

Effects of dietary supplementation of polysaccharide from Agaricus blazei Murr on productive performance, egg quality, blood metabolites, intestinal morphology and microbiota of Korean quail.

Objective: This study aimed to investigate the effects of dietary supplementation with Agaricus blazei polysaccharide (ABP) at varying concentrations on the performance, egg quality, blood biochemistry, intestinal morphology, and microflora of quail. Methods: The study involved a total of 2,700 Korean quails, which were randomly divided into three groups. The measured variables encompassed productive performance, egg parameters, carcass parameters, serum metabolites, immune response parameters, antioxidative properties, and gut microbiome. Results: The addition of ABP did not have a significant effect on average daily feed intake. However, it was found to increase the average daily egg weight and egg production rate, reduce the feed-egg ratio. There were no significant impacts on egg quality measures such as egg shape index, egg yolk index and color, egg yolk and protein content. However, ABP supplementation significantly increased the Hough Unit (HU) (p<0.01) and decreased the rate of unqualified eggs(p<0.01). Regarding serum parameters, the inclusion led to an increase in total protein concentration(p<0.05) and a reduction in low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) (p<0.05). There were no significant effects observed on immune indicators such as immune globulin A (IgA) and immune globulin M (IgM). ABP supplementation increased the levels of serum antioxidant indicators, including glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px), total superoxide dismutase (T-SOD) (p<0.05), and total antioxidant capacity colorimeter (T-AOC) (p<0.05). Furthermore, ABP supplementation significantly elevated the intramuscular fatty acid content in quail meat. Additionally, ABP supplementation demonstrated a significant improvement in the diversity of gut microbiota and induced alterations in the composition of the gut microbiota. Conclusion: The findings of this study indicate that dietary supplementation of ABP enhanced production performance and antioxidant capacity while increasing the levels of polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) in quail muscle.

Cabrol procedure and its modifications: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: The Cabrol procedure has undergone various modifications and developments since its invention. However, there is a notable gap in the literature regarding meta-analyses assessing it. METHODS: A systematic review and meta-analysis was conducted to evaluate the effectiveness and long-term outcomes of the Cabrol procedure and its modifications. Pooling was conducted using random effects model. Outcome events were reported as linearized occurrence rates (percentage per patient-year) with 95% confidence intervals. RESULTS: A total of 14 studies involving 833 patients (mean age: 50.8 years; 68.0% male) were included in this meta-analysis. The pooled all-cause early mortality was 9.0% (66 patients), and the combined rate of reoperation due to bleeding was 4.9% (17 patients). During the average 4.4-year follow-up (3,727.3 patient-years), the annual occurrence rates (linearized) for complications were as follows: 3.63% (2.79-4.73) for late mortality, 0.64% (0.35-1.16) for aortic root reoperation, 0.57% (0.25-1.31) for hemorrhage events, 0.66% (0.16-2.74) for thromboembolism, 0.60% (0.29-1.26) for endocarditis, 2.32% (1.04-5.16) for major valve-related adverse events, and 0.58% (0.34-1.00) for Cabrol-related coronary graft complications. CONCLUSION: This systematic review provides evidence that the outcomes of the Cabrol procedure and its modifications are acceptable in terms of mortality, reoperation, anticoagulation, and valve-related complications, especially in Cabrol-related coronary graft complications. Notably, the majority of Cabrol procedures were performed in reoperations and complex cases. Furthermore, the design and anastomosis of the Dacron interposition graft for coronary reimplantation, considering natural anatomy and physiological hemodynamics, may promise future advancements in this field.

An autocatalytic CRISPR-Cas amplification effect propelled by the LNA-modified split activators for DNA sensing.

CRISPR-Cas systems with dual functions offer precise sequence-based recognition and efficient catalytic cleavage of nucleic acids, making them highly promising in biosensing and diagnostic technologies. However, current methods encounter challenges of complexity, low turnover efficiency, and the necessity for sophisticated probe design. To better integrate the dual functions of Cas proteins, we proposed a novel approach called CRISPR-Cas Autocatalysis Amplification driven by LNA-modified Split Activators (CALSA) for the highly efficient detection of single-stranded DNA (ssDNA) and genomic DNA. By introducing split ssDNA activators and the site-directed trans-cleavage mediated by LNA modifications, an autocatalysis-driven positive feedback loop of nucleic acids based on the LbCas12a system was constructed. Consequently, CALSA enabled one-pot and real-time detection of genomic DNA and cell-free DNA (cfDNA) from different tumor cell lines. Notably, CALSA achieved high sensitivity, single-base specificity, and remarkably short reaction times. Due to the high programmability of nucleic acid circuits, these results highlighted the immense potential of CALSA as a powerful tool for cascade signal amplification. Moreover, the sensitivity and specificity further emphasized the value of CALSA in biosensing and diagnostics, opening avenues for future clinical applications.

Machine learning-based disulfidptosis-related lncRNA signature predicts prognosis, immune infiltration and drug sensitivity in hepatocellular carcinoma.

Disulfidptosis a new cell death mode, which can cause the death of Hepatocellular Carcinoma (HCC) cells. However, the significance of disulfidptosis-related Long non-coding RNAs (DRLs) in the prognosis and immunotherapy of HCC remains unclear. Based on The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) database, we used Least Absolute Shrinkage and Selection Operator (LASSO) and Cox regression model to construct DRL Prognostic Signature (DRLPS)-based risk scores and performed Gene Expression Omnibus outside validation. Survival analysis was performed and a nomogram was constructed. Moreover, we performed functional enrichment annotation, immune infiltration and drug sensitivity analyses. Five DRLs (AL590705.3, AC072054.1, AC069307.1, AC107959.3 and ZNF232-AS1) were identified to construct prognostic signature. DRLPS-based risk scores exhibited better predictive efficacy of survival than conventional clinical features. The nomogram showed high congruence between the predicted survival and observed survival. Gene set were mainly enriched in cell proliferation, differentiation and growth function related pathways. Immune cell infiltration in the low-risk group was significantly higher than that in the high-risk group. Additionally, the high-risk group exhibited higher sensitivity to Afatinib, Fulvestrant, Gefitinib, Osimertinib, Sapitinib, and Taselisib. In conclusion, our study highlighted the potential utility of the constructed DRLPS in the prognosis prediction of HCC patients, which demonstrated promising clinical application value.

Study of the molecular structure of proteins in fermented Maize-Soybean meal-based rations based on FTIR spectroscopy.

This research investigates the dynamic alterations that occur in protein molecular structure during the fermentation process of feed. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), coupled with deconvolution, second derivative and curve-fitting methodologies, was employed to comparatively analyse the protein molecular structures in fermented feed. At the 48-h fermentation mark, the α-helix and ß-sheet contents reached their peaks, while the random coil and ß-turn contents were at their lowest. Simultaneously, the ß-sheet/α-helix ratio was minimized. FTIR spectroscopy emerged as a comprehensive tool, revealing the nuanced changes in molecular structure throughout the fermentation process of corn-soybean meal feed. When integrated with spectral quantitative analysis, it provides a novel perspective for evaluating the nutritional value of fermented feed.

Impact of Hemodialysis on Left Ventricular-Arterial Coupling in End-Stage Renal Disease Patients.

INTRODUCTION: As a key determinant of cardiovascular performance, vascular-arterial coupling (VAC) has been reported to be a predictor of clinical outcomes in various clinical scenarios. However, few studies have explored how acute fluid removal during hemodialysis (HD) impacts the interaction between cardiac function and the arterial system. METHODS: We recruited 317 HD patients from an established renal dialysis unit for this cross-sectional study and a total of 285 were included in the final analyses. We measured left ventricle end-systolic elastance (Ees), the effective arterial elastance (Ea), and VAC before and after HD using noninvasive echocardiographic measurements. We also compared echocardiographic and hemodynamic parameters in ventriculo-arterial coupling and ventriculo-arterial uncoupling patients. RESULTS: HD significantly altered partial ventricular and vascular function parameters such as blood pressure, left ventricular end-diastolic volume, stroke volume, left ventricular ejection fraction, and systemic vascular resistance index. Ea increased following HD from 3.5 ± 1.4 to 4.2 ± 1.8 mm Hg/mL (p < 0.0001), Ees increased following HD from 7.9 ± 5.5 to 9.2 ± 6.9 mm Hg/mL (p = 0.04), whereas VAC did not markedly alter as a result of HD. Ventriculo-arterial uncoupling was found to be related to abnormal cardiac structure and worse systolic function. CONCLUSIONS: VAC obtained from echocardiography is likely to be load-independent and useful as a reliable index for stratifying the risk of cardiovascular diseases in HD patients. Further investigations on larger patient cohorts are needed to further validate our findings.

Effects of problem-based learning on delivering medical and nursing education: A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.

BACKGROUND: There is still a lack of high-level evidence on the effects of problem-based learning (PBL) in general medical and nursing education. AIMS: We aimed to summarize current evidence on the effects of PBL in delivering medical and nursing education from randomized controlled trials (RCTs). METHODS: A systematic search was performed in MEDLINE, EMBASE, Cochrane Central Library, and CINAHL Complete. RCTs that assessed the effects of a PBL module in delivering medical education were eligible. Outcomes included knowledge, performance, and satisfaction. The risk of bias was assessed according to Cochrane handbook guidelines. Standardized mean differences with 95% confidence intervals of each outcome between PBL and control groups were pooled using a random-effects model. RESULTS: In all, 22 RCTs with 1969 participants were included. Both pooled analyses of changes in scores compared with baseline and absolute post-interventional scores favored PBL module in knowledge and performance. The satisfaction degree was also higher in participants receiving PBL methods. Publication bias might exist in satisfaction; however, not in knowledge and performance. Eleven of the 22 studies were assessed as having a high risk of bias. LINKING EVIDENCE TO ACTION: Compared with traditional lecture-based modules, PBL delivered medical education in different medical science specialities more efficiently from both theoretical knowledge and practice skill perspectives. The feedback from participants receiving PBL methods was more positive than that from those receiving traditional methods. However, the high heterogeneity and low quality of the included studies prevented drawing definite conclusions.

Characterization of Risk Prediction Models for Acute Kidney Injury: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis.

Importance: Despite the expansion of published prediction models for acute kidney injury (AKI), there is little evidence of uptake of these models beyond their local derivation nor data on their association with patient outcomes. Objective: To systematically review published AKI prediction models across all clinical subsettings. Data Sources: MEDLINE via PubMed (January 1946 to April 2021) and Embase (January 1947 to April 2021) were searched using medical subject headings and text words related to AKI and prediction models. Study Selection: All studies that developed a prediction model for AKI, defined as a statistical model with at least 2 predictive variables to estimate future occurrence of AKI, were eligible for inclusion. There was no limitation on study populations or methodological designs. Data Extraction and Synthesis: Two authors independently searched the literature, screened the studies, and extracted and analyzed the data following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Review and Meta-analyses guideline. The data were pooled using a random-effects model, with subgroups defined by 4 clinical settings. Between-study heterogeneity was explored using multiple methods, and funnel plot analysis was used to identify publication bias. Main Outcomes and Measures: C statistic was used to measure the discrimination of prediction models. Results: Of the 6955 studies initially identified through literature searching, 150 studies, with 14.4 million participants, met the inclusion criteria. The study characteristics differed widely in design, population, AKI definition, and model performance assessments. The overall pooled C statistic was 0.80 (95% CI, 0.79-0.81), with pooled C statistics in different clinical subsettings ranging from 0.78 (95% CI, 0.75-0.80) to 0.82 (95% CI, 0.78-0.86). Between-study heterogeneity was high overall and in the different clinical settings (eg, contrast medium-associated AKI: I2 = 99.9%; P < .001), and multiple methods did not identify any clear sources. A high proportion of models had a high risk of bias (126 [84.4%]) according to the Prediction Model Risk Of Bias Assessment Tool. Conclusions and Relevance: In this study, the discrimination of the published AKI prediction models was good, reflected by high C statistics; however, the wide variation in the clinical settings, populations, and predictive variables likely drives the highly heterogenous findings that limit clinical utility. Standardized procedures for development and validation of prediction models are urgently needed.

BRG1 is involved in vascular calcification in chronic renal disease via autophagy of vascular smooth muscle cells.

We aimed to investigate the mechanisms of Brahma related gene 1 (BRG1) in promoting vascular calcification in chronic kidney disease (CKD). The expression of BRG1 was examined in high phosphorus stimulated rat aortic smooth muscle cells (RASMCs) and calcified artery tissues from rat models and hemodialysis patients. Autophagosome formation was measured in high phosphorus stimulated RASMCs with and without BRG1 knock-down. We also detected the coexistence of BGR1 and exosomes, and measured the circulatory levels of BRG1 in the hemodialysis patients. BRG1 promoted the osteogenic transdifferentiation of RASMCs. Silencing BRG1 prevented autophagy from being induced by high phosphorus stimulation in RASMCs. Increased expression of BRG1 was observed in calcified blood vessels. Serum BRG1 level increased in the hemodialysis patients. BRG1 was involved in the development of high phosphorus induced osteogenic phenotype in vitro and in vivo, and its underlying mechanism might be facilitating autophagy.

Acute toxicity, biochemical and transcriptomic analysis of Procambarus clarkii exposed to avermectin.

BACKGROUND: Pesticides are extensively applied globally. Pesticide residues induce calamitous effects on the environment and untargeted organisms. Public concerns for the safety of freshwater organisms and the challenges posed by aquatic contaminants remain high. In the present study, the acute toxicity of avermectins (AVMs) to the crayfish, Procambarus clarkii was evaluated. We also evaluated the potential effects of AVM on the biochemical and transcriptomic status of the hepatopancreas and gastrointestinal tract in P. clarkii. RESULTS: The 24, 48, 72, 96 h median lethal concentrations (LC50 ) of AVM on crayfish were 2.626, 1.162, 0.723, 0.566 mg L-1 , respectively. The crayfish were then exposed to 0.65 mg L-1 of AVM for 96 h. AVM significantly altered biochemical parameters including AChE and CAT activities in the hepatopancreas, and AChE, SOD and Na + -K + -ATPase activities in the gastrointestinal tract at several time points. Furthermore, transcriptomic analysis identified 953 and 1851 differentially-expressed genes (DEGs) in the hepatopancreas and gastrointestinal tract, respectively. KEGG enrichment showed that the gene expression profiles of the hepatopancreas and gastrointestinal tract were distinct from each other. The DEGs in the hepatopancreas were mostly enriched with stress-response pathways, while the majority of the DEGs in the gastrointestinal tract belonged to metabolism-related pathways. CONCLUSION: We demonstrated that the AVM induced acute toxicity, oxidative stress, osmoregulation disturbance, neurotoxicity and transcriptome imbalance in crayfish. These findings unraveled the detrimental effects of AVMs exposure on crayfish. © 2022 Society of Chemical Industry.

GPX2 Gene Affects Feed Efficiency of Pigs by Inhibiting Fat Deposition and Promoting Muscle Development.

GPX2 has been recognized as a potential candidate gene for feed efficiency in pigs. This article aimed to elucidate polymorphism of GPX2 associated with feed efficiency and its related molecular mechanism. In this study, seven single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNP) of GPX2 were found among 383 Duroc pigs. In addition, seven SNPs and ALGA0043483 (PorcineSNP60 BeadChip data in 600 Duroc pigs), which are near the GPX2 gene, were identified in one haplotypes block. Furthermore, associated studies showed that the genotype of GPX2 has significant association with weaning weight and 100 kg BF in Duroc pigs. In addition, the AG had no effect when the backfat became thinner, and the FCR and RFI traits had a tendency to decrease in the G3 + TT combination genotype, accompanied by an increase of GPX2 expression in backfat and muscle tissues. At the cellular level, the adipocyte proliferation and ability of adipogenic differentiation were reduced, and the lipid degradation increased in 3T3-L1 when there was overexpression of GPX2. In contrast, overexpression of the GPX2 gene can promote the muscle cell proliferation and myogenic differentiation in C2C12 cells. In other words, GPX2 has the effect of reducing fat deposition and promoting muscle development, and it is a candidate gene for backfat and feed efficiency.

Development and analysis of a comprehensive diagnostic model for aortic valve calcification using machine learning methods and artificial neural networks.

Background: Although advanced surgical and interventional treatments are available for advanced aortic valve calcification (AVC) with severe clinical symptoms, early diagnosis, and intervention is critical in order to reduce calcification progression and improve patient prognosis. The aim of this study was to develop therapeutic targets for improving outcomes for patients with AVC. Materials and methods: We used the public expression profiles of individuals with AVC (GSE12644 and GSE51472) to identify potential diagnostic markers. First, the R software was used to identify differentially expressed genes (DEGs) and perform functional enrichment analysis. Next, we combined bioinformatics techniques with machine learning methodologies such as random forest algorithms and support vector machines to screen for and identify diagnostic markers of AVC. Subsequently, artificial neural networks were employed to filter and model the diagnostic characteristics for AVC incidence. The diagnostic values were determined using the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves. Furthermore, CIBERSORT immune infiltration analysis was used to determine the expression of different immune cells in the AVC. Finally, the CMap database was used to predict candidate small compounds as prospective AVC therapeutics. Results: A total of 78 strong DEGs were identified. The leukocyte migration and pid integrin 1 pathways were highly enriched for AVC-specific DEGs. CXCL16, GPM6A, BEX2, S100A9, and SCARA5 genes were all regarded diagnostic markers for AVC. The model was effectively constructed using a molecular diagnostic score system with significant diagnostic value (AUC = 0.987) and verified using the independent dataset GSE83453 (AUC = 0.986). Immune cell infiltration research revealed that B cell naive, B cell memory, plasma cells, NK cell activated, monocytes, and macrophage M0 may be involved in the development of AVC. Additionally, all diagnostic characteristics may have varying degrees of correlation with immune cells. The most promising small molecule medicines for reversing AVC gene expression are Doxazosin and Terfenadine. Conclusion: It was identified that CXCL16, GPM6A, BEX2, S100A9, and SCARA5 are potentially beneficial for diagnosing and treating AVC. A diagnostic model was constructed based on a molecular prognostic score system using machine learning. The aforementioned immune cell infiltration may have a significant influence on the development and incidence of AVC.

Properties of Bentonite Slurry Drilling Fluid in Shallow Formations of Deepwater Wells and the Optimization of Its Wellbore Strengthening Ability While Drilling.

Offshore oil- and gas-field development is shifting from shallow water to deepwater on a large scale. Deepwater shallow bentonite slurry drilling fluid has a single composition and a simple structure. Therefore, the bentonite slurry drilling fluid has been neglected for the shallow wellbore strengthening ability. Based on the shallow geological characteristics and bentonite hydration mechanism, considering the economy and application effect, the optimization of bentonite slurry drilling fluid from four aspects of viscosity enhancement, adsorption, trapping, and physical plugging to carry out deepwater shallow wellbore strengthening research has been undertaken. For an indoor simulation of bentonite slurry and its drilling slurry-making process using a 2-10% mass concentration of bentonite slurry drilling fluid, laser particle size analysis found an interesting phenomenon different from the traditional understanding: for every 5% increase in particle size accumulation in the range of 0.1-100 µm, the bentonite slurry particle size increases linearly. Based on this interesting phenomenon, the basic performance of drilling fluids with different concentrations of bentonite slurry was evaluated. Experiments were conducted to introduce cationic emulsified asphalt as a deformation filler and to explore a new inexpensive drilling and wellbore strengthening material, AEH-P. The effectiveness of deepwater shallow strengthening was evaluated for AEH-P and cationic emulsified asphalt from both mechanistic and experimental aspects. It is obvious that the wellbore strengthening effect is the result of both particle settling and particle size matching. By exploring the relationship among bentonite slurry hydration dispersion, the charged nature, particle concentration, and the wellbore strengthening effect, a set of low-cost deepwater shallow bentonite slurry drilling fluids with a good wellbore strengthening effect are constructed. The research results provide a method to strengthen the wellbore for the subsequent fast and efficient drilling of deepwater shallow wells, further improving the drilling efficiency.

Time-Series-Based Personalized Lane-Changing Decision-Making Model.

In recent years, autonomous driving technology has been changing from "human adapting to vehicle" to "vehicle adapting to human". To improve the adaptability of autonomous driving systems to human drivers, a time-series-based personalized lane change decision (LCD) model is proposed. Firstly, according to the characteristics of the subject vehicle (SV) with respect to speed, acceleration and headway, an unsupervised clustering algorithm, namely, a Gaussian mixture model (GMM), is used to identify its three different driving styles. Secondly, considering the interaction between the SV and the surrounding vehicles, the lane change (LC) gain value is produced by developing a gain function to characterize their interaction. On the basis of the recognition of the driving style, this gain value and LC feature parameters are employed as model inputs to develop a personalized LCD model on the basis of a long short-term memory (LSTM) recurrent neural network model (RNN). The proposed method is tested using the US Open Driving Dataset NGSIM. The results show that the accuracy, F1 score, and macro-average area under the curve (macro-AUC) value of the proposed method for LC behavior prediction are 0.965, 0.951 and 0.983, respectively, and the performance is significantly better than that of other mainstream models. At the same time, the method is able to capture the LCD behavior of different human drivers, enabling personalized driving.

Perspiration-Wicking and Luminescent On-Skin Electronics Based on Ultrastretchable Janus E-Textiles.

Stretchable electronics have attracted surging attention for next-generation smart wearables, yet traditional flexible devices fabricated on hermetical elastic substrates cannot satisfy lengthy wearing comfort and signal stability due to their poor moisture and air permeability. Herein, perspiration-wicking and luminescent on-skin electrodes are fabricated on superelastic nonwoven textiles with a Janus configuration. Through the electrospin-assisted face-to-face assembly of all-SEBS microfibers with differentiated diameters and composition, porosity and wettability asymmetry are constructed across the textile, endowing it with antigravity water transport capability for continuous sweat release. Also, the phosphor particles evenly encapsulated in the elastic fibers empower the Janus textile with stable light-emitting capability under extreme stretching in a dark environment. Additionally, the precise printing of highly conductive liquid metal (LM) circuits onto the matrix not only equips the electronic textile with broad detectability for various biophysical and electrophysiological signals but also enables successful implementation of human-machine interface (HMIs) to control a mechanical claw.

Sclerostin is involved in osteogenic transdifferentiation of vascular smooth muscle cells in chronic kidney disease-associated vascular calcification with non-canonical Wnt signaling.

Vascular calcification is prominent in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) and is a strong predictor of cardiovascular mortality in the CKD population. However, the mechanism underlying CKD-associated vascular calcification remains unclear. To identify potential therapeutic targets, a 5/6 nephrectomy rat model was established by feeding of a high-phosphorous diet as the CKD group and compared with sham group rats at 4 and 16 weeks. Sequencing analyses of the rat aorta revealed 643 upregulated and 1023 downregulated genes at 4 weeks, as well as 899 upregulated and 1185 downregulated genes at 16 weeks in the CKD group compared to the sham group. Bioinformatics analyses suggested that SOST (which encodes sclerostin) and Wnt signaling are involved in CKD-associated vascular calcification. Furthermore, protein-protein interactions analysis revealed interactions between SOST, WNT5A, and WNT5B, that involved runt-related transcription factor 2 (RUNX2) and transgelin (TAGLN). SOST was increased in CKD-associated vascular calcification following reduction of the Wnt signaling, including WNT5A and WNT5B, both in vivo and in vitro. TargetScan was used to predict the microRNAs (miRNAs) targeting WNT5A and WNT5B. The expression levels of miR-542-3p, miR-298-3p, miR-376b-5p, and miR-3568 were significantly reduced, whereas that of miR-742-3p was significantly increased in calcified rat aortic vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs). In CKD rat aortas, the expression of miR-542-3p, miR-298-3p, miR-376b-5p, miR-3568, miR-742-3p, and miR-22-5p were significantly reduced at both 4 and 16 weeks. Altogether, owing to several assessments, potentially diagnostic and prognostic biomarkers for improving common CKD diagnostic tools were identified in this study. Abbreviations: BUN: blood urea nitrogen; CKD: chronic kidney disease; CKD-MBD: chronic kidney disease-mineral bone disorder; GAPDH: glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase; GO: the Gene Ontology; HE: hematoxylin-eosin; HRP: horseradish peroxidase; KEGG: Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes; MiRNAs: microRNAs; PAS: periodic acid-Schiff; RUNX2: runt-related transcription factor 2; SCr: serum creatinine; STRING: the Search Tool for the Retrieval of Interacting Genes/Proteins; TAGLN: transgelin; VSMC: vascular smooth muscle cell.

Different photocurrent response of Cs4PbBr6 particles.

Zero-dimensional (0D) all-inorganic cesium lead halide perovskites, particularly Cs4PbBr6, have been attracting wide attention due to their excellent optical properties and stability. The research also focuses on the origin of green emission from Cs4PbBr6, which has a bandgap located in the ultraviolet B (UVB) region. So far, both Cs4PbBr6 without visible emission and with green emission have been successfully prepared; however, the origin of green emission remains controversial. Photocurrent response is one of the effective approaches to explore how the photo-excited carriers influence the photo-physical properties of materials. In our study, Cs4PbBr6 particles without visible emission and with green emission were synthesized and their photocurrent response was investigated. The former showed a positive photocurrent response, while the latter showed a negative photocurrent response. The negative response was believed to be due to a built-in electric field constructed by the charged excitons in green-emissive Cs4PbBr6. From our calculations, numerous vacancies of Br are easier to appear in green-emissive Cs4PbBr6 lattices, which could combine the neutral excitons to form charged excitons. This work may contribute to the explanation of the origin of green emission of Cs4PbBr6 to some extent.

Ubiquitin-specific protease 47 is associated with vascular calcification in chronic kidney disease by regulating osteogenic transdifferentiation of vascular smooth muscle cells.

Chronic kidney disease (CKD) has recently become a serious health and social concern. Vascular calcification, a common complication of CKD, is a risk factor that increases the incidence and mortality of cardiovascular events in patients with CKD. However, there are currently no effective therapeutic targets that can facilitate treatment with fewer side effects for vascular calcification in CKD. To identify potential therapeutic targets, we performed label-free quantification (LFQ) analyses of protein samples from rat aortic vascular smooth muscle cells (RASMCs) after high-phosphorus treatment by nano-UPLC-MS/MS. We determined that ubiquitin-specific protease 47 (USP47) may be associated with CKD vascular calcification by regulating the osteogenic transdifferentiation of the vascular smooth muscle cell (VSMC) phenotype, thus suggesting a novel and potentially effective therapeutic target for CKD vascular calcification. USP47 knockdown significantly reduced the expression of ß-transducin repeat-containing protein (BTRC), serine/threonine-protein kinase akt-1 (AKT1), Klotho, fibroblast growth factor (FGF23), and matrix Gla protein (MGP) in RASMCs after high-phosphorus treatment. Consistent with the results of protein-protein interaction (PPI) analyses, USP47 may be involved in regulating osteogenic transdifferentiation markers, such as runt-related transcription factor 2 (RUNX2), Klotho, FGF23, and MGP through the BTRC/AKT1 pathway upon CKD vascular calcification. These data indicate that USP47 may be associated with vascular calcification in CKD by regulating osteogenic differentiation of VSMCs. USP47 may regulate osteogenic transdifferentiation in VSMCs upon CKD vascular calcification through a process involving the BTRC/AKT1 pathway. This study identified a novel potential therapeutic target for the treatment of vascular calcification in CKD.

Xylem-Inspired Polyimide/MXene Aerogels with Radial Lamellar Architectures for Highly Sensitive Strain Detection and Efficient Solar Steam Generation.

Polyimide aerogels with mechanical robustness, great compressibility, excellent antifatigue properties, and intriguing functionality have captured enormous attention in diverse applications. Here, enlightened by the xylem parenchyma of dicotyledonous stems, a radially architectured polyimide/MXene composite aerogel (RPIMX) with reversible compressibility is developed by combining the interfacial enhancing strategy and radial ice-templating method. The strong interaction between MXene flakes and polymer can glue the MXene to form continuous lamellae, the ice crystals grow preferentially along the radial temperature gradient can effectively constrain the lamellae to create a biomimetic radial lamellar architecture. As a result, the nature-inspired RPIMX composite aerogel with centrosymmetric lamellar structure and oriented channels manifests excellent mechanical strength, electrical conductivity, and water transporting capability along the longitudinal direction, endowing itself with intriguing applications for accurate human motion monitoring and efficient photothermal evaporation. These exciting properties make the biomimetic RPIMX aerogels promising candidates for flexible piezoresistive sensors and photothermal evaporators.