Risk Factors for Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease in Patients with Bipolar Disorder: A Cross-Sectional Retrospective Study.

Purpose: The co-morbidity of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) in patients with bipolar disorder (BD) has a negative impact on patient treatment and prognosis. This study aimed to identify the prevalence of NAFLD in patients with BD and investigate the risk factors of NAFLD. Patients and Methods: A total of 678 patients with BD were included in the study. Clinical data were obtained from the hospital's electronic health record system. Data included fasting blood glucose, alanine aminotransferase, triglycerides, aspartate aminotransferase, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL), alkaline phosphatase, total cholesterol, glutamine transpeptidase, uric acid, apolipoprotein A1, apolipoprotein B, and liver ultrasound findings. Results: The prevalence of NAFLD was 43.66% in patients with BD. Significant differences in body mass index (BMI), mean age, diabetes prevalence, course of BD, fasting blood glucose, alanine aminotransferase, HDL, alkaline phosphatase, triglycerides, aspartate aminotransferase, uric acid, glutamine transpeptidase, apolipoprotein B, total cholesterol, and apolipoprotein A1 were seen between the groups (all P<0.01). Male sex, age, BMI, course of BD, alanine aminotransferase, fasting blood glucose, aspartate aminotransferase, diabetes, glutamine transpeptidase, total cholesterol, alkaline phosphatase, triglycerides, uric acid, apolipoprotein B, HDL, and apolipoprotein A1 levels were correlated with NAFLD (all P<0.05). In patients with BD, diabetes (OR=6.412, 95% CI=1.049-39.21), BMI (OR=1.398, 95% CI=1.306-1.497), triglycerides (OR=1.456, 95% CI=1.036-2.045), and apolipoprotein A1 (OR=0.272, 95% CI=0.110-0.672) were risk factors for NAFLD (all P<0.05). Conclusion: Risk factors for NAFLD in patients with BD include diabetes, BMI, course of BD, and a low level of apolipoprotein A1. A proactive approach to disease management, such as appropriate physical activity and adoption of a healthy diet, and regular monitoring of changes in patient markers should be adopted to reduce the prevalence of NAFLD.

Readiness and challenges of carbon capture technologies based on the shipping industry.

In the context of carbon emission reduction in the shipping industry, CCUS technology can modify ships to reduce carbon emissions, providing a new direction for the green development of the shipping industry. Based on this, this paper investigates the technology related to carbon capture on ships, firstly puts forward the applicable requirements of carbon capture technology; and analyses the adaptability of the existing carbon capture solutions to the shipping industry; and discusses the development prospect of carbon capture on ships through the three challenges of space utilisation, safety, and economy; and finally analyses the related policies. After analysis and discussion, this paper concludes that the alcohol-amine method is the most suitable carbon capture solution for ships, but there are challenges in economics and space utilisation. The future research direction lies in optimising the performance of the absorber, improving the energy efficiency of the system and solving the CO2 storage problem.

Integrated Carbon Layer and CoNiP Cocatalyst on SnWO4 Film for Enhanced Photoelectrochemical Water Splitting.

α-SnWO4 is a promising semiconductor for solar water splitting, however, its performance is limited by weak water oxidation and poor charge transfer. In this study, we employ a vapor deposition method to uniformly implement a carbon layer onto the surface of SnWO4 coupled with a CoNiP cocatalyst, successfully constructing the integrated CoNiP/C/SnWO4 film photoanode and alleviating the oxidation of Sn2+ when loading electrocatalyst. Incorporating the carbon layer enhances the interface charge conduction behavior between the SnWO4 substrate and the CoNiP cocatalyst, thereby mitigating charge recombination. The synergistic interplay between the carbon layer and CoNiP leads to a remarkable achievement, as evidenced by the photocurrent of 1.72 mA cm-2 (1.23 V vs. RHE) observed for SnWO4 film measured in 0.2 M potassium phosphate buffer solution. In this work, we demonstrate the viability of tailoring SnWO4 photoanode and provide valuable insights for prospective advancements in modifying SnWO4 photoanode.

Loss of monopolar spindle-binding protein 3B expression promotes colorectal cancer invasiveness by activation of target of rapamycin kinase/autophagy signaling.

BACKGROUND: Monopolar spindle-binding protein 3B (MOB3B) functions as a signal transducer and altered MOB3B expression is associated with the development of human cancers. AIM: To investigate the role of MOB3B in colorectal cancer (CRC). METHODS: This study collected 102 CRC tissue samples for immunohistochemical detection of MOB3B expression for association with CRC prognosis. After overexpression and knockdown of MOB3B expression were induced in CRC cell lines, changes in cell viability, migration, invasion, and gene expression were assayed. Tumor cell autophagy was detected using transmission electron microscopy, while nude mouse xenograft experiments were performed to confirm the in-vitro results. RESULTS: MOB3B expression was reduced in CRC vs normal tissues and loss of MOB3B expression was associated with poor CRC prognosis. Overexpression of MOB3B protein in vitro attenuated the cell viability as well as the migration and invasion capacities of CRC cells, whereas knockdown of MOB3B expression had the opposite effects in CRC cells. At the molecular level, microtubule-associated protein light chain 3 II/I expression was elevated, whereas the expression of matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)2, MMP9, sequestosome 1, and phosphorylated mechanistic target of rapamycin kinase (mTOR) was downregulated in MOB3B-overexpressing RKO cells. In contrast, the opposite results were observed in tumor cells with MOB3B knockdown. The nude mouse data confirmed these in-vitro findings, i.e., MOB3B expression suppressed CRC cell xenograft growth, whereas knockdown of MOB3B expression promoted the growth of CRC cell xenografts. CONCLUSION: Loss of MOB3B expression promotes CRC development and malignant behaviors, suggesting a potential tumor suppressive role of MOB3B in CRC by inhibition of mTOR/autophagy signaling.

A Bio-Inspired Multifunctional Hydrogel Network with Toughly Interfacial Chemistry for Highly Reversible Flexible Zinc Batteries.

Flexible and high-performance aqueous Zn-ion batteries (ZIBs), coupled with low cost and safe, are considered as one of the most promising energy storage candidates for wearable electronics. However, most of hydrogel electrolytes suffer from poor mechanical properties and interfacial chemistry, which limits them to suppressed performance levels in flexible ZIBs, especially under harsh mechanical strains. Herein, a bio-inspired multifunctional hydrogel electrolyte network (polyacrylamide (PAM)/trehalose) with improved mechanical and adhesive properties was developed via a simple trehalose network-repairing strategy to stabilize the interfacial chemistry for highly reversible flexible ZIBs. As a result, the trehalose-modified PAM hydrogel exhibits a superior strength and stretchability up to 100 kPa and 5338%, respectively, as well as strong adhesive properties to various substrates. Also, the PAM/trehalose hydrogel electrolyte provides superior anti-corrosion capability for Zn anode and regulates Zn nucleation/growth, resulting in achieving a high Coulombic efficiency of 98.8%, and long-term stability over 2400 h. Importantly, the flexible Zn//MnO2 pouch cell exhibits excellent cycling performance under different bending conditions, which offers a great potential in flexible energy-related applications and beyond.

TRIM27 promotes the Warburg effect and glioblastoma progression via inhibiting the LKB1/AMPK/mTOR axis.

Altered protein ubiquitination is associated with cancer. The novel tripartite motif (TRIM) family of E3 ubiquitin ligases have been reported to play crucial roles in the development, growth, and metastasis of various tumors. The TRIM family member TRIM27 acts as a potential promoter of tumor development in a wide range of cancers. However, little is known regarding the biological features and clinical relevance of TRIM27 in glioblastoma (GBM). Here, we report findings of elevated TRIM27 expression in GBM tissues and GBM cell lines. Further functional analysis showed that TRIM27 deletion inhibited GBM cell growth both in vitro and in vivo. Furthermore, we found that TRIM27 promoted the growth of GBM cells by enhancing the Warburg effect. Additionally, the inactivation of the LKB1/AMPK/mTOR pathway was critical for the oncogenic effects of TRIM27 in GBM. Mechanistically, TRIM27 could directly bind to LKB1 and promote the ubiquitination and degradation of LKB1, which in turn enhanced the Warburg effect and GBM progression. Collectively, these data suggest that TRIM27 contributes to GNM pathogenesis by inhibiting the LKB1/AMPK/mTOR axis and may be a promising candidate as a potential diagnostic and therapeutic marker for patients with GBM.

A large-aperture, high-power ultrawideband radiation system with beam broadening capacity.

Due to the limited maximum output power of the pulsers based on avalanche transistors, high-power ultrawideband (UWB) radiation systems usually synthesize plenty of modules simultaneously to achieve a high peak effective potential (rEp). However, this would lead to an increased aperture size as well as a narrower beam, which would limit their applications in intentional electromagnetic interference fields. In this paper, a high-power UWB radiation system with beam broadening capacity is developed. To achieve beam broadening in the time domain, a power-law time delay distribution method is proposed and studied by simulation, and then the relative excitation time delays of the modules are optimized to achieve higher rEp and avoid beam splitting in the beam broadening mode. In order to avoid false triggering of the pulser elements when implementing the beam broadening, the mutual coupling effect in the system is analyzed and suppressed by employing onboard high-pass filters, since the mutual coupling effect is much more severe in the low-frequency range. Finally, a radiation system with 36 modules is developed. Measuring results indicate that in the high-rEp mode, the developed system could achieve a maximum effective potential rEp of 313.6 kV and a maximum pulse-repetition-rate of 20 kHz. In the beam broadening mode, its half-peak-power beam width in the H-plane is broadened from the original value of 3.9° to 7.9°, with a maximum rEp of 272.9 kV. The polarization direction of the system could be flexibly adjusted by a built-in motor.

Development of a machine learning-based model to predict major adverse events after surgery for type A aortic dissection complicated by malnutrition.

Objective: This study aims to develop a predictive model for the risk of major adverse events (MAEs) in type A aortic dissection (AAAD) patients with malnutrition after surgery, utilizing machine learning (ML) algorithms. Methods: We retrospectively collected clinical data from AAAD patients with malnutrition who underwent surgical treatment at our center. Through least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO) regression analysis, we screened for preoperative and intraoperative characteristic variables. Based on the random forest (RF) algorithm, we constructed a ML predictive model, and further evaluated and interpreted this model. Results: Through LASSO regression analysis and univariate analysis, we ultimately selected seven feature variables for modeling. After comparing six different ML models, we confirmed that the RF model demonstrated the best predictive performance in this dataset. Subsequently, we constructed a model using the RF algorithm to predict the risk of postoperative MAEs in AAAD patients with malnutrition. The test set results indicated that this model has excellent predictive efficacy and clinical applicability. Finally, we employed the Shapley additive explanations (SHAP) method to further interpret the predictions of this model. Conclusion: We have successfully constructed a risk prediction model for postoperative MAEs in AAAD patients with malnutrition using the RF algorithm, and we have interpreted the model through the SHAP method. This model aids clinicians in early identification of high-risk patients for MAEs, thereby potentially mitigating adverse clinical outcomes associated with malnutrition.

Safety and short-term outcomes of esophagectomy after neoadjuvant immunotherapy combined with chemotherapy or chemoradiotherapy for locally advanced esophageal squamous cell cancer: analysis of two phase-II clinical trials.

Background: Preoperative chemotherapy (CT) or chemoradiotherapy (CRT) show survival benefits in patients with locally advanced esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC); however, ESCC patients still have a dismal prognosis. We conducted two phase-II, single-armed clinical trials to assess the potential benefits, efficacy, feasibility, and safety of esophagectomy after combining preoperative CT or CRT and neoadjuvant programmed cell death protein 1 (PD-1) inhibitors in the treatment of ESCC. Methods: Patients were included with histologically confirmed ESCC (clinical stage II-IVA according to the American Joint Committee on Cancer 8th staging system) from two phase-II, single-arm trials (NCT04506138 and NCT03940001). Patients underwent two doses of intravenous PD-1 inhibitor (either camrelizumab or sintilimab) every 3 weeks, combined with two cycles of either CT or CRT. The primary endpoint of the study was the safety and short-term outcomes of esophagectomy as measured by the risk of developing complications within 30 days, after the combination of preoperative PD-1 inhibitor and CT or CRT Secondary endpoint was to evaluate the pCR rates (pT0N0), primary tumor pCR rates (pT0), operation time, postoperative stay, and 30-day mortality rate between both groups. Results between both groups were compared using a multivariable log-binomial regression model to obtain the adjusted relative risk ratios (RRs). Results: Between May 2019 and June 2022, 55 patients were included. All patients completed neoadjuvant therapy. Age, sex, performance status, clinical stage, histologic subtype, procedure type, operative time, and blood loss volume were similar between the two groups. The primary tumor pCR rates were 52.9% in the nICRT group and 21.6% in the nICT group (P=0.03), while the postoperative pCR rates were 41.2% in the nICRT group and 21.6% in the nICT group (P=0.19). The minimally invasive surgery rates were 89.2% (33/37) in the nICT group and 94.1% (16/17) in the nICRT group. The risk of developing pulmonary, anastomotic, or other complications were similar between the two groups. Conclusions: Esophagectomy was safe after the addition of the PD-1 inhibitor to preoperative CT or CRT in ESCC neoadjuvant therapies. Follow-up and the exploratory endpoints, including biomarkers analyses, are ongoing.

Fluid-responsive tunable metasurfaces for high-fidelity optical wireless communication.

Optical wireless communication (OWC), with its blazing data transfer speed and unparalleled security, is a futuristic technology for wireless connectivity. Despite the significant advancements in OWC, the realization of tunable devices for on-demand and versatile connectivity still needs to be explored. This presents a considerable limitation in utilizing adaptive technologies to improve signal directivity and optimize data transfer. This study proposes a unique platform that utilizes tunable, fluid-responsive multifunctional metasurfaces offering dynamic and unprecedented control over electromagnetic wave manipulation to enhance the performance of OWC networks. We have achieved real-time, on-demand beam steering with vary-focusing capability by integrating the fabricated metasurfaces with different isotropic fluids. Furthermore, the designed metasurfaces are capable of polarization-based switching of the diffracted light beams to enhance overall productivity. Our research has showcased the potential of fluid-responsive tunable metasurfaces in revolutionizing OWC networks by significantly improving transmission reliability and signal quality through real-time adjustments. The proposed methodology is verified by designing and fabricating an all-dielectric metasurface measuring 500 µm × 500 µm and experimentally investigating its fluid-responsive vary-focal capability. By incorporating fluid-responsive properties into spin-decoupled metasurfaces, we aim to develop advanced high-tech optical devices and systems to simplify beam-steering and improve performance, adaptability, and functionality, making the devices suitable for various practical applications.

Thoracoscopic pulmonary resection combined with real-time image-guided percutaneous ablation for multiple pulmonary nodules: a novel surgical approach and literature review.

Background: Due to the widespread use of computed tomography (CT) screening and advances in diagnostic techniques, an increasing number of patients with multiple pulmonary nodules are being detected and pathologically diagnosed as synchronous multiple primary lung cancers (sMPLC). It has become a new challenge to treat multiple pulmonary nodules and obtain a favorable prognosis while minimizing the perioperative risk for patients. The purpose of this study was to summarize the preliminary experience with a hybrid surgery combining pulmonary resection and ablation for the treatment of sMPLC and to discuss the feasibility of this novel procedure with a literature review. Methods: This is a retrospective non-randomized controlled study. From January 1, 2022 to July 1, 2023, four patients underwent hybrid surgery combining thoracoscopic pulmonary resection and percutaneous pulmonary ablation for multiple pulmonary nodules. Patients were followed up at 3, 6 and 12 months postoperatively and the last follow-up was on November 30, 2023. Clinical characteristics, perioperative outcomes, pulmonary function recovery and oncologic prognosis were recorded. Meanwhile we did a literature review of studies on hybridized pulmonary surgery for the treatment of multiple pulmonary nodules. Results: All the four patients were female, aged 52 to 70 years, and had no severe cardiopulmonary dysfunction on preoperative examination. Hybrid surgery of simultaneous pulmonary resection and ablation were performed in these patients to treat 2 to 4 pulmonary nodules, assisted by intraoperative real-time guide of C-arm X-ray machine. The operation time was from 155 to 240 minutes, and intraoperative blood loss was from 50 to 200 mL. Postoperative hospital stay was 2 to 7 days, thoracic drainage duration was 2 to 6 days, and pleural drainage volume was 300-1,770 mL. One patient presented with a bronchopleural fistula due to pulmonary ablation; the fistula was identified and sutured during thoracoscopic surgery and the patient recovered well. No postoperative 90-day complications occurred. After 3 months postoperatively, performance status scores for these patients recovered to 80 to 100. No tumor recurrence or metastasis was detected during the follow-up period. Conclusions: Hybrid procedures combining minimally invasive pulmonary resection with ablation are particularly suitable for the simultaneous treatment of sMPLC. Patients had less loss of pulmonary function, fewer perioperative complications, and favorable oncologic prognosis. Hybrid surgery is expected to be a better treatment option for patients with sMPLC.

Structural characteristics of a polysaccharide from Armillariella tabescens and its protective effect on colitis mice via regulating gut microbiota and intestinal barrier function.

A new polysaccharide fraction (ATP) was obtained from Armillariella tabescens mycelium. Structural analysis suggested that the backbone of ATP was →4)-α-D-Glcp(1 â†’ 2)-α-D-Galp(1 â†’ 2)-α-D-Glcp(1 â†’ 4)-α-D-Glcp(1→, which branched at O-3 of →2)-α-D-Glcp(1 â†’ and terminated with T-α-D-Glcp or T-α-D-Manp. Besides, ATP significantly alleviated ulcerative colitis (UC) symptoms and inhibited the production of pro-inflammation cytokines (IL-1ß, IL-6). Meanwhile, ATP could improve colon tissue damage by elevating the expression of MUC2 and tight junction proteins (ZO-1, occludin and claudin-1) levels and enhance intestinal barrier function through inhibiting the activation of MMP12/MLCK/p-MLC2 signaling pathway. Further studies exhibited that ATP could increase the relative abundance of beneficial bacteria such as f. Muribaculacese, g. Muribaculaceae, and g. Alistips, and decrease the relative abundance of g. Desulfovibrio, g. Colidextribacter, g. Ruminococcaceae and g.Oscillibacter, and regulate the level of short-chain fatty acids. Importantly, FMT intervention with ATP-derived microbiome certified that gut microbiota was involved in the protective effects of ATP on UC. The results indicated that ATP was potential to be further developed into promising therapeutic agent for UC.

Gut Microbiome Dysbiosis in Patients with Pemphigus and Correlation with Pathogenic Autoantibodies.

BACKGROUND: Pemphigus is a group of potentially life-threatening autoimmune bullous diseases induced by pathogenic autoantibodies binding to the surface of epidermal cells. The role of the gut microbiota (GM) has been described in various autoimmune diseases. However, the impact of the GM on pemphigus is less understood. This study aimed to investigate whether there was alterations in the composition and function of the GM in pemphigus patients compared to healthy controls (HCs). METHODS: Fecal samples were collected from 20 patients with active pemphigus (AP), 11 patients with remission pemphigus (PR), and 47 HCs. To sequence the fecal samples, 16S rRNA was applied, and bioinformatic analyses were performed. RESULTS: We found differences in the abundance of certain bacterial taxa among the three groups. At the family level, the abundance of Prevotellaceae and Coriobacteriaceae positively correlated with pathogenic autoantibodies. At the genus level, the abundance of Klebsiella, Akkermansia, Bifidobacterium, Collinsella, Gemmiger, and Prevotella positively correlated with pathogenic autoantibodies. Meanwhile, the abundance of Veillonella and Clostridium_XlVa negatively correlated with pathogenic autoantibodies. A BugBase analysis revealed that the sum of potentially pathogenic bacteria was elevated in the AP group in comparison to the PR group. Additionally, the proportion of Gram-negative bacteria in the PR group was statistically significantly lower in comparison to the HC group. CONCLUSION: The differences in GM composition among the three groups, and the correlation between certain bacterial taxa and pathogenic autoantibodies of pemphigus, support a linkage between the GM and pemphigus.

Machine learning-based screening and validation of liver metastasis-specific genes in colorectal cancer.

Colorectal liver metastasis (CRLM) is challenging in the clinical treatment of colorectal cancer. Limited research has been conducted on how CRLM develops. RNA sequencing data were obtained from the Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) and The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA). Four machine learning algorithms were used to screen the hub CRLM-specific genes, including Least Absolute Shrinkage and Selection Operator (Lasso), Random forest, SVM-RFE, and XGboost. The model for identifying CRLM was developed using stepwise logistic regression and was validated using internal and independent datasets. The prognostic value of hub CRLM-specific genes was assessed using the Lasso-Cox method. The in vitro experiments were performed using SW620 cells. The CRLM identification model was developed based on four CRLM-specific genes (SPP1, ZG16, P2RY14, and PRKAR2B), and the model efficacy was validated using GSE41258 and three external cohorts. Five CRLM-specific prognostic hub genes, SPP1, ZG16, P2RY14, CYP2E1, and C5, were identified using the Lasso-Cox algorithm, and a risk score was constructed. The risk score was validated using the GSE39582 cohort. Three genes have both efficacy in identifying CRLM and prognostic value: ZG16, P2RY14, and SPP1. Immune infiltration and enrichment analyses demonstrated that SPP1 was associated with M2 macrophage polarization and extracellular matrix remodeling. In vitro experiments indicated that SPP1 may act as a cancer-promoting factor. The hub CRLM-specific gene SPP1 can help determine the diagnosis, prognosis, and immune infiltration of patients with CRLM.

Bioactive chitosan/polydopamine nanospheres coating on carbon fiber towards strengthening epoxy composites.

This paper initially examines the feasibility and effectiveness on interfacial adhesion of composites when grafting nanoparticle-structured polydopamine (PDA) and chitosan around carbon fiber periphery. The resulting interfacial shear strength was maximized as 92.3 MPa, delivering 50.1 % and 15.7-16.2 % gains over those of control fiber and only polydopamine nanospheres (PDANPs) or only chitosan modified fiber composites. Measuring surface morphology and thermal stability of fibers found that abundant PDANPs well adhered with the help of chitosan, highlighting nanoscale size effects and intrinsic adhesiveness of PDA. Under good wettability, rich and dense interfacial interactions (covalent and hydrogen bond, electrostatic interaction, and π conjugation) caused by PDANPs/chitosan coating provides impetus for effective stress transfer. Additionally, the stable "soft-rigid" combination of chitosan and PDANPs adds the efficiency of crack passivation. As such, it is hoped that this work could fully explore the possibility of PDA geometry in interphase engineering of fiber composites.

Risk prediction and prognostic analysis of post-implantation syndrome after thoracic endovascular aortic repair.

This study aimed to establish a predictive model for the risk of post-thoracic endovascular aortic repair (TEVAR) post-implantation syndrome (PIS) in type B aortic dissection (TBAD) patients, assisting clinical physicians in early risk stratification and decision management for high-risk PIS patients. This study retrospectively analyzed the clinical data of 547 consecutive TBAD patients who underwent TEVAR treatment at our hospital. Feature variables were selected through LASSO regression and logistic regression analysis to construct a nomogram predictive model, and the model's performance was evaluated. The optimal cutoff value for the PIS risk nomogram score was calculated through receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis, further dividing patients into high-risk group (HRG) and low-risk group (LRG), and comparing the short to midterm postoperative outcomes between the two groups. In the end, a total of 158 cases (28.9%) experienced PIS. Through LASSO regression analysis and multivariable logistic regression analysis, variables including age, emergency surgery, operative time, contrast medium volume, and number of main prosthesis stents were selected to construct the nomogram predictive model. The model achieved an area under the curve (AUC) of 0.86 in the training set and 0.82 in the test set. Results from calibration curve, decision curve analysis (DCA) and clinical impact curve (CIC) demonstrated that the predictive model exhibited good performance and clinical utility. Furthermore, after comparing the postoperative outcomes of HRG and LRG patients, we found that the incidence of postoperative PIS significantly increased in HRG patients. The duration of ICU stay and mechanical assistance time was prolonged, and the incidence of postoperative type II entry flow and acute kidney injury (AKI) was higher. The risk of aortic-related adverse events (ARAEs) and major adverse events (MAEs) at the first and twelfth months of follow-up also significantly increased. However, there was no significant difference in the mortality rate during hospitalization. This study established a nomogram model for predicting the risk of PIS in patients with TBAD undergoing TEVAR. It serves as a practical tool to assist clinicians in early risk stratification and decision-making management for patients.

The effect and mechanism of patchouli alcohol on cognitive dysfunction in AD mice induced by Aß1-42 oligomers through AMPK/mTOR pathway.

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a neurodegenerative brain disorder that progressively impairs long-term and working memory. The function and mechanism of PA(Patchouli alcohol) in improving AD in the external treatment of encephalopathy remain unclear. This study aimed to investigate the therapeutic effect of PA on AD using an Aß1-42 induced AD mouse model with LPS(Lipopolysaccharide) stimulation of BV2 microglial cells. Additionally, we aimed to explore the potential mechanism of PA in enhancing autophagy and reducing neuroinflammation through the AMPK (AMP-activated protein kinase)/mTOR (Mammaliam target of rapamycin) signaling pathway. The Morris water maze was used to assess cognitive function, and cortical and hippocampal tissues were collected for further analysis of the corresponding signaling pathways and inflammatory changes through biological experiments. Our research findings demonstrate that PA has a significant positive impact on cognitive and memory impairments in mice that have been induced with Aß1-42-induced AD. Additionally, PA was also found to revert the activation of microglia induced by LPS. These effects may be attributed to the reduction of neuroinflammation and enhancement of the AMPK/mTOR autophagy pathway. Therefore, PA may serve as an effective therapeutic option to prevent or delay the progression of AD-associated memory dysfunction.

Association between frailty and acute kidney injury after cardiac surgery: unraveling the moderation effect of body fat through an international, retrospective, multi-cohort study.

BACKGROUND: Acute kidney injury (AKI) is a common and serious complication after cardiac surgery that significantly affects patient outcomes. Given the limited treatment options available, identifying modifiable risk factors is critical. Frailty and obesity, two heterogeneous physiological states, have significant implications for identifying and preventing AKI. Our study investigated the interplay among frailty, body composition, and AKI risk after cardiac surgery to inform patient management strategies. MATERIAL AND METHODS: This retrospective cohort study included three international cohorts. Primary analysis was conducted in adult patients who underwent cardiac surgery between 2014 and 2019 at Wuhan XX Hospital, China. We tested the generalizability of our findings with data from two independent international cohorts, the Medical Information Mart for Intensive Care IV (MIMIC-IV) and the eICU Collaborative Research Database. Frailty was assessed using a clinical lab-based frailty index (FI-LAB), while total body fat percentage (BF%) was calculated based on a formula accounting for BMI, sex, and age. Logistic regression models were used to analyze the associations between frailty, body fat, and AKI, adjusting for pertinent covariates. RESULTS: A total of 8785 patients across three international cohorts were included in the study. In the primary analysis of 3,569 patients from Wuhan XX Hospital, moderate and severe frailty were associated with an increased AKI risk after cardiac surgery. Moreover, a nonlinear relationship was observed between body fat percentage and AKI risk. When stratified by the degree of frailty, lower body fat correlated with a decreased incidence of AKI. Extended analyses using the MIMIC-IV and eICU cohorts (n=3,951 and n=1,265, respectively) validated these findings and demonstrated that a lower total BF% was associated with decreased AKI incidence. Moderation analysis revealed that the effect of frailty on AKI risk was moderated by the body fat percentage. Sensitivity analyses demonstrated results consistent with the main analyses. CONCLUSION: Higher degrees of frailty were associated with an elevated risk of AKI following cardiac surgery, and total BF% moderated this relationship. This research underscores the significance of integrating frailty and body fat assessments into routine cardiovascular care to identify high-risk patients for AKI and implement personalized interventions to improve patient outcomes.

Floral Response to Heat: A Study of Color and Biochemical Adaptations in Purple Chrysanthemums.

Chrysanthemums are among the world's most popular cut flowers, with their color being a key ornamental feature. The formation of these colors can be influenced by high temperatures. However, the regulatory mechanisms that control the fading of chrysanthemum flower color under high-temperature stress remain unclear. This study investigates the impact of high temperatures on the color and biochemical responses of purple chrysanthemums. Four purple chrysanthemum varieties were exposed to both normal and elevated temperature conditions. High-temperature stress elicited distinct responses among the purple chrysanthemum varieties. 'Zi Feng Che' and 'Chrystal Regal' maintained color stability, whereas 'Zi Hong Tuo Gui' and 'Zi lian' exhibited significant color fading, particularly during early bloom stages. This fading was associated with decreased enzymatic activities, specifically of chalcone isomerase (CHI), dihydroflavonol 4-reductase (DFR), and anthocyanidin synthase (ANS), indicating a critical period of color development under heat stress. Additionally, the color fading of 'Zi Lian' was closely related to the increased activity of the peroxidase (POD) and polyphenol oxidase (PPO). Conversely, a reduction in ß-glucosidase (ßG) activity may contribute significantly to the color steadfastness of 'Zi Feng Che'. The genes Cse_sc027584.1_g010.1 (PPO) and Cse_sc031727.1_g010.1 (POD) might contribute to the degradation of anthocyanins in the petals of 'Zi Hong Tuo Gui' and 'Zi Lian' under high-temperature conditions, while simultaneously maintaining the stability of anthocyanins in 'Zi Feng Che' and 'Chrystal Regal' at the early bloom floral stage. The findings of this research provide new insights into the physiological and biochemical mechanisms by which chrysanthemum flower color responds to high-temperature stress.

Promising approach for targeting ROBO1 with CAR NK cells to combat ovarian cancer primary tumor cells and organoids.

Aim: This study aimed to explore using peripheral blood mononuclear cell (PBMC)-derived chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) NK cells targeting ROBO1 as a personalized medicine approach for ovarian cancer. Methods: A two-step strategy generated ROBO1-targeted CAR NK cells from PBMCs of ovarian cancer patients. Efficacy was evaluated using xCELLigence RTCA, CCK-8 and Live/Dead fluorescence assays. Results: ROBO1-NK cells exhibited higher efficiency in eradicating primary ovarian cancer cells and lysing ovarian tumor organoids compared with primary NK cells without ROBO1-CAR modification. Conclusion: These findings highlight the potential of developing ROBO1-targeted CAR-NK cells from patients' PBMCs as a personalized treatment option for ovarian cancer.

Ovarian cancer represents a formidable clinical challenge necessitating the urgent exploration of novel therapeutic approaches. In this study, the focus was directed toward ROBO1, a molecule known to play a pivotal role in cancer angiogenesis and metastasis, while limited investigation in the context of ovarian cancer. Leveraging this knowledge, we sought to construct ROBO1-targeting chimeric antigen receptor natural killer (CAR-NK) cells utilizing peripheral blood mononuclear cells derived from the patients themselves. The overarching goal of this investigation was to harness the potential of immunotherapy using autologous resources to realize personalized treatment strategies for ovarian cancer in clinical settings.