Associations between oral health and depression and anxiety: A cross-sectional and prospective cohort study from the UK Biobank.

AIM: To investigate the associations between oral health and depression, anxiety and their comorbidity in the UK Biobank cohort. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Oral health problems were self-reported at baseline. Symptoms of depression and anxiety were assessed using the Mental Health Questionnaire (PHQ-4) in a cross-sectional study. In the cohort study, diagnoses of depression and anxiety disorders were based on hospital records. Logistic regression and Cox regression models were used to analyse the association between oral health and depression/anxiety. RESULTS: A total of 305,188 participants were included in the cross-sectional study, and multivariate analysis showed that periodontal disease was associated with depression and/or anxiety (odds ratio [OR]: 1.79, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.73-1.86). In the prospective cohort study involving 264,706 participants, periodontal disease was significantly associated with an increased risk of depression and/or anxiety (hazard ratio [HR]: 1.14, 95% CI: 1.10-1.19), depression (HR: 1.19, 95% CI: 1.13-1.25) and anxiety (HR: 1.13, 95% CI: 1.07-1.19). Periodontal disease was also significantly associated with comorbid depression and anxiety (HR: 1.27, 95% CI: 1.16-1.38). Multiple mediation analysis using baseline inflammatory factors showed that white blood cell count and C-reactive protein explained 3.07% and 3.15% of the association between periodontal disease and depression and anxiety, respectively. However, the results of longitudinal multiple mediation analysis of inflammatory factors at first follow-up (N = 10,673) were not significant. CONCLUSIONS: Periodontal disease was found to be consistently associated with an increased risk of depression, anxiety and their comorbidity.

Transcriptomic and proteomic elucidation of Z chromosome dosage compensation in Helicoverpa armigera.

Transcriptomic data have been used to study sex chromosome dosage compensation (SCDC) in approximately 10 Lepidoptera ZW species, yielding a consensus compensation pattern of Z ≈ ZZ < AA . $$ \approx \mathrm{ZZ}<\mathrm{AA}. $$ It remains unclear whether this compensation pattern holds when examining more Lepidoptera ZW species and/or using proteomic data to analyse SCDC. Here we combined transcriptomic and proteomic data as well as transcriptional level of six individual Z genes to reveal the SCDC pattern in Helicoverpa armigera, a polyphagous lepidopteran pest of economic importance. Transcriptomic analysis showed that the Z chromosome expression of H. armigera was balanced between male and female but substantially reduced relative to autosome expression, exhibiting an SCDC pattern of Z ≈ ZZ < AA $$ \approx \mathrm{ZZ}<\mathrm{AA} $$ . When using H. amigera midgut proteomic data, the SCDC pattern of this species changed from Z ≈ ZZ < AA $$ \approx \mathrm{ZZ}<\mathrm{AA} $$ at transcriptomic level to Z = ZZ = AA at the proteomic level. RT-qPCR analysis of transcript abundance of six Z genes found that compensation for each Z gene could vary from no compensation to overcompensation, depending on the individual genes and tissues tested. These results demonstrate for the first time the existence of a translational compensation mechanism, which is operating in addition to a translational mechanism, such as has been reported in other lepidopteran species. And the transcriptional compensation mechanism functions to accomplish Z chromosome dosage balance between the sexes (M = F on the Z chromosome), whereas the translation compensation mechanism operates to achieve dosage compensation between Z chromosome and autosome (Z = AA).

Schistosoma japonicum cystatin alleviates paraquat poisoning caused acute lung injury in mice through activating regulatory macrophages.

BACKGROUND: Paraquat (PQ) is a widely used herbicide that poisons human by accident or intentional ingestion. PQ poisoning causes systemic inflammatory response syndrome (SIRS) resulting in acute lung injury (ALI) with an extremely high mortality rate. Blood trematode Schistosoma japonicum-produced cystatin (Sj-Cys) is a strong immunomodulatory protein that has been experimentally used to treat inflammation related diseases. In this study, Sj-Cys recombinant protein (rSj-Cys) was used to treat PQ-induced lung injury and the immunological mechanism underlying the therapeutic effect was investigated. METHODS: PQ-induced acute lung injury mouse model was established by intraperitoneally injection of 20 mg/kg of paraquat. The poisoned mice were treated with rSj-Cys and the survival rate was observed up to 7 days compared with the group without treatment. The pathological changes of PQ-induced lung injury were observed by examining the histochemical sections of affected lung tissue and the wet to dry ratio of lung as a parameter for inflammation and edema. The levels of the inflammation related cytokines IL-6 and TNF-α and regulatory cytokines IL-10 and TGF-ß were measured in sera and in affected lung tissue using ELISA and their mRNA levels in lung tissue using RT-PCR. The macrophages expressing iNOS were determined as M1 and those expressing Arg-1 as M2 macrophages. The effect of rSj-Cys on the transformation of inflammatory M1 to regulatory M2 macrophages was measured in affected lung tissue in vivo (EKISA and RT-PCR) and in MH-S cell line in vitro (flow cytometry). The expression levels of TLR2 and MyD88 in affected lung tissue were also measured to determine their role in the therapy of rSj-Cys on PQ-induced lung injury. RESULT: We identified that treatment with rSj-Cys significantly improved the survival rate of mice with PQ-induced lung injury from 30 % (untreated) to 80 %, reduced the pathological damage of poisoning lung tissue, associated with significantly reduced levels of proinflammatory cytokines (IL-6 from 1490 to 590 pg/ml, TNF-α from 260 to 150 pg/ml) and increased regulatory cytokines (IL-10 from360 to 550 pg/ml, and TGF-ß from 220 to 410 pg/ml) in both sera (proteins) and affected lung tissue (proteins and mRNAs). The polarization of macrophages from M1to M2 type was found to be involved in the therapeutic effect of rSj-Cys on the PQ-induced acute lung injury, possibly through inhibiting TLR2/MyD88 signaling pathway. CONCLUSIONS: Our study demonstrated the therapeutic effect of rSj-Cys on PQ poisoning caused acute lung injury by inducing M2 macrophage polarization through inhibiting TLR2/MyD88 signaling pathway. The finding in this study provides an alternative approach for the treatment of PQ poisoning and other inflammatory diseases.

Factor XII and prekallikrein promote microvascular inflammation and psoriasis in mice.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Psoriasis is an autoimmune inflammatory skin disease, featuring microvascular abnormalities and elevated levels of bradykinin. Contact activation of Factor XII can initiate the plasma kallikrein-kinin cascade, producing inflammation and angioedema. The role of Factor XII in psoriasis is unknown. EXPERIMENTAL APPROACH: The effects of deficiency of Factor XII or its enzymatic substrate, prekallikrein, were examined in the imiquimod-induced mouse model of psoriasis. Skin microcirculation was assessed using intravital confocal microscopy and laser Doppler flowmeter. A novel antibody blocking Factor XII activation was evaluated for psoriasis prevention. KEY RESULTS: Expression of Factor XII was markedly up-regulated in human and mouse psoriatic skin. Genetic deletion of Factor XII or prekallikrein, attenuated imiquimod-induced psoriatic lesions in mice. Psoriatic induction increased skin microvascular blood perfusion, causing vasodilation, hyperpermeability and angiogenesis. It also promoted neutrophil-vascular interaction, inflammatory cytokine release and enhanced Factor XII / prekallikrein enzymatic activity with elevated bradykinin. Factor XII or prekallikrein deficiency ameliorated these microvascular abnormalities and abolished bradykinin increase. Antagonism of bradykinin B2 receptors reproduced the microvascular protection of Factor XII / prekallikrein deficiency, attenuated psoriatic lesions, and prevented protection by Factor XII / prekallikrein deficiency against psoriasis. Furthermore, treatment of mice with Factor XII antibody alleviated experimentally induced psoriasis and suppressed microvascular inflammation. CONCLUSION AND IMPLICATIONS: Activation of Factor XII promoted psoriasis via prekallikrein-dependent formation of bradykinin, which critically mediated psoriatic microvascular inflammation. Inhibition of contact activation represents a novel therapeutic strategy for psoriasis.

D-dimer levels predict the treatment efficacy and prognosis of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma treated with PD-1/PD-L1 inhibitors.

OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to explore the value of D-dimer levels in predicting the treatment efficacy and prognosis of advanced esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) treated with programmed cell death protein-1/programmed death-ligand 1 (PD-1/PD-L1) inhibitors. METHODS: The study retrospectively analyzed 233 ESCC patients who received PD-1/PD-L1 inhibitors. The optimal cut-off values for platelets, fibrinogen, and D-dimer were calculated based on maximally selected rank statistics for patients' overall survival. Univariate and multivariate analyses of progression-free survival and overall survival were conducted by Cox proportional hazards regression model. Subgroup analyses of D-dimer levels in different fibrinogen levels were performed by log-rank test. RESULTS: The multivariate Cox regression analyses demonstrated that ESCC patients with D-dimer levels > 236 ng/mL exhibited both poorer progression-free survival (P = 0.004) and overall survival (P < 0.0001) compared to those with low D-dimer levels. The subgroup analyses further indicated that in the group of low fibrinogen levels, the higher D-dimer levels of ESCC patients exhibited significantly shorter progression-free survival (P = 0.0021) and overall survival (P < 0.0001). CONCLUSIONS: The study revealed that the D-dimer levels possess predictive value for the treatment efficacy and prognosis of ESCC patients treated with PD-1/PD-L1 inhibitors.

Transcriptome Analysis of the Regulatory Mechanisms of Holly (Ilex dabieshanensis) under Salt Stress Conditions.

The holly Ilex dabieshanensis K. Yao & M. B. Deng, a tree endemic to the Dabieshan Mountains region in China, is a commonly used landscaping plant. Like other crops, its growth is affected by salt stress. The molecular mechanism underlying salt tolerance in holly is still unclear. In this study, we used NaCl treatment and RNA sequencing (RNA-seq) at different times to identify the salt stress response genes of holly. A total of 4775 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were identified. Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) analysis of the DEGs obtained at different salt treatment times (3, 6, 9, 12, and 24 h), as compared to control (ck, 0 h), showed that plant hormone signal transduction and carotenoid biosynthesis were highly enriched. The mechanism by which holly responds to salt stress involves many plant hormones, among which the accumulation of abscisic acid (ABA) and its signal transduction may play an important role. In addition, ion homeostasis, osmotic metabolism, accumulation of antioxidant enzymes and nonenzymatic antioxidant compounds, and transcription factors jointly regulate the physiological balance in holly, providing important guarantees for its growth and development under conditions of salt stress. These results lay the foundation for studying the molecular mechanisms of salt tolerance in holly and for the selection of salt-tolerant varieties.

Comprehensive analysis of the Spartina alterniflora WD40 gene family reveals the regulatory role of SaTTG1 in plant development.

Introduction: The WD40 gene family, prevalent in eukaryotes, assumes diverse roles in cellular processes. Spartina alterniflora, a halophyte with exceptional salt tolerance, flood tolerance, reproduction, and diffusion ability, offers great potential for industrial applications and crop breeding analysis. The exploration of growth and development-related genes in this species offers immense potential for enhancing crop yield and environmental adaptability, particularly in industrialized plantations. However, the understanding of their role in regulating plant growth and development remains limited. Methods: In this study, we conducted a comprehensive analysis of WD40 genes in S. alterniflora at the whole-genome level, delving into their characteristics such as physicochemical properties, phylogenetic relationships, gene architecture, and expression patterns. Additionally, we cloned the TTG1 gene, a gene in plant growth and development across diverse species. Results: We identified a total of 582 WD40 proteins in the S. alterniflora genome, exhibiting an uneven distribution across chromosomes. Through phylogenetic analysis, we categorized the 582 SaWD40 proteins into 12 distinct clades. Examining the duplication patterns of SaWD40 genes, we observed a predominant role of segmental duplication in their expansion. A substantial proportion of SaWD40 gene duplication pairs underwent purifying selection through evolution. To explore the functional aspects, we selected SaTTG1, a homolog of Arabidopsis TTG1, for overexpression in Arabidopsis. Subcellular localization analysis revealed that the SaTTG1 protein localized in the nucleus and plasma membrane, exhibiting transcriptional activation in yeast cells. The overexpression of SaTTG1 in Arabidopsis resulted in early flowering and increased seed size. Discussion: These outcomes significantly contribute to our understanding of WD40 gene functions in halophyte species. The findings not only serve as a valuable foundation for further investigations into WD40 genes in halophyte but also offer insights into the molecular mechanisms governing plant development, offering potential avenues in molecular breeding.

PoSnf1 affects cellulose utilization through interaction with cellobiose transporter in Pleurotus ostreatus.

Pleurotus ostreatus is one of the most cultivated edible fungi worldwide, but its lignocellulose utilization efficiency is relatively low (<50 %), which eventually affects the biological efficiency of P. ostreatus. Improving cellulase production and activity will contribute to enhancing the lignocellulose-degrading capacity of P. ostreatus. AMP-activated/Snf1 protein kinase plays important roles in regulating carbon and energy metabolism. The Snf1 homolog (PoSnf1) in P. ostreatus was obtained and analyzed using bioinformatics. The cellulose response of PoSnf1, the effect of the phosphorylation level of PoSnf1 on the expression of cellulose degradation-related genes, the putative proteins that interact with the phosphorylated PoSnf1 (P-PoSnf1), the cellobiose transport function of two sugar transporters (STP1 and STP2), and the interactions between PoSnf1 and STP1/STP2 were studied in this research. We found that cellulose treatment improved the phosphorylation level of PoSnf1, which further affected cellulase activity and the expression of most cellulose degradation-related genes. A total of 1, 024 proteins putatively interacting with P-PoSnf1 were identified, and they were enriched mainly in the substances transport and metabolism. Most of the putative cellulose degradation-related protein-coding genes could respond to cellulose. Among the P-PoSnf1-interacting proteins, the functions of two sugar transporters (STP1 and STP2) were further studied, and the results showed that both could transport cellobiose and were indirectly regulated by P-PoSnf1, and that STP2 could directly interact with PoSnf1. The results of this study indicated that PoSnf1 plays an important role in regulating the expression of cellulose degradation genes possibly by affecting cellobiose transport.

Unveiling the hidden dangers: enteropathogens carried by flies in Pudong New Area.

BACKGROUND: Flies are acknowledged as vectors of diseases transmitted through mechanical means and represent a significant risk to human health. The study aimed to determine the prevalence of enteropathogens carried by flies in Pudong New Area to inform strategies for preventing and controlling flies. METHODS: Samples were collected from various locations in the area using cage trapping techniques between April and November 2021, encompassing various habitats such as parks, residential areas, restaurants, and farmers' markets. The main fly species were identified using cryomicrography and taxonomic enumeration, with 20 samples per tube collected from different habitats. Twenty-five enteropathogens were screened using GI_Trial v3 TaqManTM microbial arrays. RESULTS: A total of 3,875 flies were collected from 6,400 placements, resulting in an average fly density of 0.61 flies per cage. M. domestica were the most common species at 39.85%, followed by L. sericata at 16.57% and B. peregrina at 13.14%. Out of 189 samples, 93 tested positive for enteropathogens, with nine different pathogens being found. 12.70% of samples exclusively had parasites, a higher percentage than those with only bacteria or viruses. The study found that M. domestica had fewer enteropathogens than L. sericata and B. peregrina, which primarily harbored B. hominis instead of bacteria and viruses such as E. coli, Astrovirus, and Sapovirus. During spring testing, all three fly species exhibited low rates of detecting enteropathogens. M. domestica were found in residential areas with the highest number of pathogen species, totaling six. In contrast, L. sericata and B. peregrina were identified in farmers' markets with the highest number of pathogen species, totaling six and seven, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Flies have the potential to serve as vectors for the transmission of enteropathogens, thereby posing a substantial risk to public health.

YOLOv8-CML: a lightweight target detection method for color-changing melon ripening in intelligent agriculture.

Color-changing melon is an ornamental and edible fruit. Aiming at the problems of slow detection speed and high deployment cost for Color-changing melon in intelligent agriculture equipment, this study proposes a lightweight detection model YOLOv8-CML.Firstly, a lightweight Faster-Block is introduced to reduce the number of memory accesses while reducing redundant computation, and a lighter C2f structure is obtained. Then, the lightweight C2f module fusing EMA module is constructed in Backbone to collect multi-scale spatial information more efficiently and reduce the interference of complex background on the recognition effect. Next, the idea of shared parameters is utilized to redesign the detection head to simplify the model further. Finally, the α-IoU loss function is adopted better to measure the overlap between the predicted and real frames using the α hyperparameter, improving the recognition accuracy. The experimental results show that compared to the YOLOv8n model, the parametric and computational ratios of the improved YOLOv8-CML model decreased by 42.9% and 51.8%, respectively. In addition, the model size is only 3.7 MB, and the inference speed is improved by 6.9%, while mAP@0.5, accuracy, and FPS are also improved. Our proposed model provides a vital reference for deploying Color-changing melon picking robots.

Enhanced stability and biocompatibility of HIPEs stabilized by cyclodextrin-metal organic frameworks with inclusion of resveratrol and soy protein isolate for ß-carotene delivery.

High internal phase Pickering emulsions (HIPEs) constitute a significant research domain within colloid interface chemistry, addressing the demand for robust emulsion systems across various applications. An innovative nanoparticle, synthesized from a cyclodextrin metal-organic framework encapsulated with a composite of resveratrol and soy isolate protein (RCS), was employed to fortify a high internal phase emulsion. The emulsion's three-dimensional printing capabilities, alongside the encapsulated delivery efficacy for ß-carotene, were thoroughly examined. Cyclodextrin metal-organic frameworks (CD-MOFs), facilitated by cellulose nanofibrils, were synthesized to yield particles at the nanoscale, maintaining a remarkable 97.67 % cellular viability at an elevated concentration of 1000 µg/ml. The RCS nanoparticles demonstrated thermal stability and antioxidant capacities surpassing those of CD-MOF. The integration of soybean isolate protein augmented both the hydrophobicity (from 21.95 ± 0.64° to 59.15 ± 0.78°) and the interfacial tension (from 14.36 ± 0.46 mN/m to 5.34 ± 0.81 mN/m) of the CD-MOF encapsulated with resveratrol, thereby enhancing the RCS nanoparticles' adsorption at the oil-water interface with greater stability. The durability of the RCS-stabilized high internal phase emulsions was contingent upon the RCS concentration. Emulsions stabilized with 5 wt%-RCS exhibited optimal physical and chemical robustness, demonstrating superior performance in emulsion 3D printing and ß-carotene encapsulation delivery. This investigation furnishes a novel perspective on the amalgamation of food customization and precision nutrition.

The impact of sunlight exposure on brain structural markers in the UK Biobank.

Sunlight is closely intertwined with daily life. It remains unclear whether there are associations between sunlight exposure and brain structural markers. General linear regression analysis was used to compare the differences in brain structural markers among different sunlight exposure time groups. Stratification analyses were performed based on sex, age, and diseases (hypertension, stroke, diabetes). Restricted cubic spline was performed to examine the dose-response relationship between natural sunlight exposure and brain structural markers, with further stratification by season. A negative association of sunlight exposure time with brain structural markers was found in the upper tertile compared to the lower tertile. Prolonged natural sunlight exposure was associated with the volumes of total brain (ß: - 0.051, P < 0.001), white matter (ß: - 0.031, P = 0.023), gray matter (ß: - 0.067, P < 0.001), and white matter hyperintensities (ß: 0.059, P < 0.001). These associations were more pronounced in males and individuals under the age of 60. The results of the restricted cubic spline analysis showed a nonlinear relationship between sunlight exposure and brain structural markers, with the direction changing around 2 h of sunlight exposure. This study demonstrates that prolonged exposure to natural sunlight is associated with brain structural markers change.

Effectiveness and Safety of Pyrotinib-Based Therapy in the Treatment of HER2-Positive Breast Cancer Patients with Brain Metastases: A Multicenter Real-World Study.

BACKGROUND: Approximately 30% to 50% of patients with human epidermal growth factor receptor 2-positive metastatic breast cancer develop brain metastasis (BMs). Pyrotinib has shown promising efficacy in these patients. However, real-world evidence supporting its use is scarce. Therefore, we evaluate the efficacy and safety of pyrotinib-based regimens in the real world. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We enrolled patients with BMs from various healthcare facilities in China's Shandong region and used an updated breast-graded prognostic assessment (breast-GPA) to predict survival outcomes. RESULTS: Efficacy and toxicity were assessed in 101 patients. Overall, the median progression-free survival (PFS) was 11.0 months (95% CI, 7.6-14.4 months). PFS was shorter in patients with a breast-GPA of 0 to 2.0 (P< .001). Previous treatment with pertuzumab plus trastuzumab (P = .039) and varying numbers of BMs (P = .028) had a significant positive correlation with PFS. Additionally, radiotherapy (P = .033) for BMs, especially pyrotinib concurrent with radiotherapy (P = .013), significantly prolonged the PFS. In patients with a breast-GPA of 0 to 2.0, a significant difference in PFS was observed depending on whether the brain was the first metastatic site (P< .001). Furthermore, a breast-GPA (0-2.0 vs. 2.5-4.0), and radiotherapy for BMs were found to be independent predictors of PFS. Overall, the objective response rate was 42.6%, while the disease control rate was 88.1%. Diarrhea emerged as the most common adverse event. CONCLUSION: Pyrotinib-based therapy is effective and tolerable in human epidermal growth factor receptor 2-positive metastatic breast cancer with BMs. Patients who underwent radiotherapy for BMs, particularly those who received pyrotinib concurrently with radiotherapy, exhibited a more favorable prognosis.

The Association between Dietary Protein Intake and Sources and the Rate of Longitudinal Changes in Brain Structure.

Few studies have examined dietary protein intake and sources, in combination with longitudinal changes in brain structure markers. Our study aimed to examine the association between dietary protein intake and different sources of dietary protein, with the longitudinal rate of change in brain structural markers. A total of 2723 and 2679 participants from the UK Biobank were separately included in the analysis. The relative and absolute amounts of dietary protein intake were calculated using a 24 h dietary recall questionnaire. The longitudinal change rates of brain structural biomarkers were computed using two waves of brain imaging data. The average interval between the assessments was three years. We utilized multiple linear regression to examine the association between dietary protein and different sources and the longitudinal changes in brain structural biomarkers. Restrictive cubic splines were used to explore nonlinear relationships, and stratified and sensitivity analyses were conducted. Increasing the proportion of animal protein in dietary protein intake was associated with a slower reduction in the total hippocampus volume (THV, ß: 0.02524, p < 0.05), left hippocampus volume (LHV, ß: 0.02435, p < 0.01) and right hippocampus volume (RHV, ß: 0.02544, p < 0.05). A higher intake of animal protein relative to plant protein was linked to a lower atrophy rate in the THV (ß: 0.01249, p < 0.05) and LHV (ß: 0.01173, p < 0.05) and RHV (ß: 0.01193, p < 0.05). Individuals with a higher intake of seafood exhibited a higher longitudinal rate of change in the HV compared to those that did not consume seafood (THV, ß: 0.004514; p < 0.05; RHV, ß: 0.005527, p < 0.05). In the subgroup and sensitivity analyses, there were no significant alterations. A moderate increase in an individual's intake and the proportion of animal protein in their diet, especially from seafood, is associated with a lower atrophy rate in the hippocampus volume.

Selective autophagy of the immunoproteasomes suppresses innate inflammation.

Immunoproteasomes are involved in various inflammatory diseases. Upon stimulation, standard constitutive proteasomes are partially replaced by newly formed immunoproteasomes that promote inflammatory responses. How the upregulated immunoproteasomes are cleared to constrain hyper-inflammation is unknown. Recently, our studies showed that the pan-FGFR inhibitor LY2874455 efficiently activates macroautophagy/autophagy in macrophages, leading to the degradation of the immunoproteasomes. Immunoproteasome subunits are ubiquitinated and recognized by the selective autophagy receptor SQSTM1/p62. LY2874455 suppresses inflammation induced by lipopolysaccharide both in vivo and in vitro through autophagic degradation of the immunoproteasomes. In summary, our work uncovers a mechanism of inflammation suppression by autophagy in macrophages.

How does technological progress affect low carbon economic growth? Evidence from regional heterogeneity in China.

The rapid economic development leads to excessive consumption of fossil energy, resulting in a large number of carbon emissions, which makes the sustainable development of China's economy and society face great challenges. Under the background of global warming and environmental deterioration, developing low-carbon economy has become an inevitable choice for China to change its development model and improve its international competitiveness. Technological progress is the first driving force to promote economic growth. However, the influence degree and mechanism of technological progress on the development of low-carbon economy are still unclear. Based on this, the paper proposes the concept of low-carbon GDP, which is used to measure the low-carbon economic development of 30 Chinese provinces. Then, the panel fixed effect model is used to study the effect degree and mechanism of technological progress on low-carbon GDP and the moderating effect of other factors on the relationship between them. The results show that, first, economically developed provinces and regions have higher per capita low-carbon GDP and low-carbon GDP index, but the speed and quality of low-carbon economic development are not necessarily higher. Second, technological progress can promote the growth of low-carbon GDP and make greater contributions to resources-poor regions. Third, improving local education can make technological progress more effective in low-carbon economic development. China needs to upgrade technological development by developing new and high-tech technologies, promoting new urbanization and strengthening education in order to promote low-carbon economic development.

Preparation, structural characterization, and functional attributes of zein-lysozyme-κ-carrageenan ternary nanocomposites for curcumin encapsulation.

The low water solubility and inadequate bioavailability of curcumin significantly hinder its broad biological applications in the realms of food and medicine. There is limited information currently available regarding the particle characteristics and functional capabilities of zein-lysozyme-based nanomaterials. Thereby, the primary goal of the current work is to effectively develop innovative zein-lysozyme-κ-carrageenan complex nanocomposites (ZLKC) as a reliable carrier for curcumin encapsulation. As a result, ZLKC nanoparticles showed a smooth spherical nanostructure with improved encapsulation efficiency. Fourier-transform infrared, fluorescence spectroscopy, dissociation assay, and circular dichroism analysis revealed that hydrophobic and electrostatic interactions and hydrogen bonding were pivotal in the construction and durability of these composites. X-ray diffraction examination affirmed the lack of crystallinity in curcumin encapsulated within nanoparticles. The incorporation of κ-carrageenan significantly improved the physicochemical stability of ZLKC nanoparticles in diverse environmental settings. Additionally, ZLKC nanocomposites demonstrated enhanced antioxidant and antimicrobial properties, as well as sustained release characteristics. Therefore, these findings demonstrate the potential application of ZLKC nanocomposites as delivery materials for encapsulating bioactive substances.

Efficacy and safety of pyrotinib combined with albumin-bound paclitaxel as first-line treatment for HER2-positive metastatic breast cancer in patients previously treated with adjuvant and/or neoadjuvant trastuzumab therapy: The stage 1 results of a single-arm, phase 2 prospective clinical trial.

OBJECTIVE: It has been observed that the prognosis of patients with HER2-positive metastatic breast cancer has improved significantly with HER2-targeted agents. However, there is still a lack of evidence regarding first-line anti-HER2 treatment options for patients who have received adjuvant and/or neoadjuvant trastuzumab for HER2-positive metastatic breast cancer. Besides, there are no reliable markers that can predict the efficacy of anti-HER2 treatment in these patients. METHODS: Patients who have received adjuvant and/or neoadjuvant trastuzumab for HER2-positive metastatic breast cancer were enrolled. Pyrotinib plus albumin-bound paclitaxel were used as first-line treatment. The primary endpoint was the objective response rate (ORR). The safety profile was also assessed. In order to explore predictive biomarkers using Olink technology, blood samples were collected dynamically. RESULTS: From December 2019 to August 2023, the first stage of the study involved 27 eligible patients. It has not yet reached the median PFS despite the median follow-up being 17.8 months. Efficacy evaluation showed that the ORR was 92.6%, and the DCR was 100%. Adverse events of grade 3 or higher included diarrhoea (29.6%), leukopenia (11.1%), neutropenia (25.9%), oral mucositis (3.7%), and hand-foot syndrome (3.7%). Toll-like receptor 3 (TLR3) and Proto-oncogene tyrosine-protein kinase receptor (RET) were proteins with significant relevance to PFS in these patients. CONCLUSIONS: This study demonstrates that pyrotinib plus albumin-bound paclitaxel as a first-line treatment regimen shows good efficacy and manageable safety for patients who have received adjuvant and/or neoadjuvant trastuzumab for HER2-positive metastatic breast cancer. Besides, a significant association was identified between the expression levels of TLR3 and RET and the PFS in patients.

Exploring salt tolerance mechanisms using machine learning for transcriptomic insights: case study in Spartina alterniflora.

Salt stress poses a significant threat to global cereal crop production, emphasizing the need for a comprehensive understanding of salt tolerance mechanisms. Accurate functional annotations of differentially expressed genes are crucial for gaining insights into the salt tolerance mechanism. The challenge of predicting gene functions in under-studied species, especially when excluding infrequent GO terms, persists. Therefore, we proposed the use of NetGO 3.0, a machine learning-based annotation method that does not rely on homology information between species, to predict the functions of differentially expressed genes under salt stress. Spartina alterniflora, a halophyte with salt glands, exhibits remarkable salt tolerance, making it an excellent candidate for in-depth transcriptomic analysis. However, current research on the S. alterniflora transcriptome under salt stress is limited. In this study we used S. alterniflora as an example to investigate its transcriptional responses to various salt concentrations, with a focus on understanding its salt tolerance mechanisms. Transcriptomic analysis revealed substantial changes impacting key pathways, such as gene transcription, ion transport, and ROS metabolism. Notably, we identified a member of the SWEET gene family in S. alterniflora, SA_12G129900.m1, showing convergent selection with the rice ortholog SWEET15. Additionally, our genome-wide analyses explored alternative splicing responses to salt stress, providing insights into the parallel functions of alternative splicing and transcriptional regulation in enhancing salt tolerance in S. alterniflora. Surprisingly, there was minimal overlap between differentially expressed and differentially spliced genes following salt exposure. This innovative approach, combining transcriptomic analysis with machine learning-based annotation, avoids the reliance on homology information and facilitates the discovery of unknown gene functions, and is applicable across all sequenced species.

Neferine alleviates acute kidney injury by regulating the PPAR-α/NF-κB pathway.

Acute kidney injury (AKI) is a cluster of clinical syndromes with diverse etiologies that ultimately result in a swift decline in kidney function. Regrettably, AKI lacks effective therapeutic agents at present. Neferine, a bioactive alkaloid derived from Lotus Plumule, has been reported to alleviate AKI triggered by cisplatin, ischemia/reperfusion (I/R), and sepsis by inhibiting inflammatory pathways. However, the precise molecular mechanisms underpinning its renoprotective effects remain elusive. Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor alpha (PPAR-α), a regulator of lipid metabolism with anti-inflammatory properties, was investigated in this study to examine its role in neferine's renoprotective effects in cellular and mouse models of AKI. We found that neferine pretreatment in both I/R- or lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced AKI models inhibited the activation of the NF-κB inflammatory pathway and reversed PPAR-α deficiency. In NRK-52E cells exposed to hypoxia/reoxygenation (H/R) or LPS, overexpression of PPAR-α resulted in inhibition of the NF-κB pathway and TNF-α production, while PPAR-α silencing via siRNA transfection negated neferine's anti-inflammatory effects. Furthermore, pretreatment with neferine not only reduced lipid accumulation but also reversed the downregulation of FAO-related enzymes induced by LPS. Our findings suggest that neferine's renoprotective effects against AKI are partially mediated through the reversal of renal PPAR-α deficiency and subsequent inhibition of the inflammatory NF-κB pathway. Therefore, regulating renal PPAR-α expression by neferine could represent a promising therapeutic strategy for AKI.