Effect of metabolic dysfunction on the risk of liver-related events in patients cured of hepatitis C virus.

The impact of metabolic dysfunction or metabolic dysfunction-associated fatty liver disease (MAFLD) on liver-related events (LREs) in patients with chronic hepatitis C (CHC) who had achieved a sustained virologic response (SVR) to direct-acting antiviral agents (DAAs) is unknown. A total of 924 patients with cured CHC and documented body mass index (BMI) were included in the analysis, and the data period was from September 2012 to April 2022. Hepatic steatosis was identified either through ultrasonography or blood biomarkers. Metabolic dysfunction was defined as the presence of overweight or obesity (BMI ≥ 23 kg/m2), type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM), and metabolic dysregulation. Patients may have more than one metabolic dysfunction. Variables at 12 or 24 weeks after DAA therapy (PW12) were used to identify predictors of LREs. The median age of the 924 patients was 58 (49-65) years. Of the participants, 418 (45.2%) were male. The median BMI was 24.01 (21.78-26.73) kg/m2, and 174 (18.8%) patients had DM. A multivariable Cox regression analysis revealed that age, male, albumin, total bilirubin, alpha-fetoprotein (AFP), metabolic dysfunction (hazard ratio: 1.709, 95% confidence interval: 1.128-2.591, P = .011), and FIB-4 > 3.25 were independent predictors of LREs. Type 2 DM and metabolic dysregulation exhibited a larger time-dependent area under the receiver operating characteristic curve for LREs than did overweight or obesity. Moreover, metabolic dysfunction was identified to be an independent predictor of hepatocellular carcinoma. Metabolic dysfunction increased the risk of LREs and HCC in patients with CHC who had achieved an SVR to DAA therapy.

Correlating Reiff scores with clinical, functional, and prognostic factors: characterizing noncystic fibrosis bronchiectasis severity: validation from a nationwide multicenter study in Taiwan.

BACKGROUND: Our study aimed to confirm a simplified radiological scoring system, derived from a modified Reiff score, to evaluate its relationship with clinical symptoms and predictive outcomes in Taiwanese patients with noncystic fibrosis bronchiectasis (NCFB). METHODS: This extensive multicenter retrospective study, performed in Taiwan, concentrated on patients diagnosed with NCFB verified through high-resolution computed tomography (HRCT) scans. We not only compared the clinical features of various types of bronchiectasis (cylindrical, varicose, and cystic). Furthermore, we established relationships between the severity of clinical factors, including symptom scores, pulmonary function, pseudomonas aeruginosa colonization, exacerbation and admission rates, and HRCT parameters using modified Reiff scores. RESULTS: Data from 2,753 patients were classified based on HRCT patterns (cylindrical, varicose, and cystic) and severity, assessed by modified Reiff scores (mild, moderate, and severe). With increasing HRCT severity, a significant correlation was found with decreased forced expiratory volume in the first second (FEV1) (p < 0.001), heightened clinical symptoms (p < 0.001), elevated pathogen colonization (pseudomonas aeruginosa) (p < 0.001), and an increased annual hospitalization rate (p < 0.001). In the following multivariate analysis, elderly age, pseudomonas aeruginosa pneumonia, and hospitalizations per year emerged as the only independent predictors of mortality. CONCLUSION: Based on our large cohort study, the simplified CT scoring system (Reiff score) can serve as a useful adjunct to clinical factors in predicting disease severity and prognosis among Taiwanese patients with NCFB.

Wheat peptide alleviates DSS-induced colitis by activating the Keap1-Nrf2 signaling pathway and maintaining the integrity of the gut barrier.

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is difficult to cure, and formulating a dietary plan is an effective means to prevent and treat this disease. Wheat peptide contains a variety of bioactive peptides with anti-inflammatory and antioxidant functions. The results of this study showed that preventive supplementation with wheat peptide (WP) can significantly alleviate the symptoms of dextran sulfate sodium (DSS)-induced colitis in mice. WP can increase body weight, alleviate colon shortening, and reduce disease activity index (DAI) scores. In addition, WP improved intestinal microbial disorders in mice with colitis. Based on LC-MS, a total of 313 peptides were identified in WP, 4 of which were predicted to be bioactive peptides. The regulatory effects of WP and four bioactive peptides on the Keap1-Nrf2 signaling pathway were verified in Caco-2 cells. In conclusion, this study demonstrated that WP alleviates DSS-induced colitis by helping maintain gut barrier integrity and targeting the Keap1-Nrf2 axis; these results provided a rationale for adding WP to dietary strategies to prevent IBD.

Echinacea purpurea Polysaccharide Ameliorates Dextran Sulfate Sodium-Induced Colitis by Restoring the Intestinal Microbiota and Inhibiting the TLR4-NF-κB Axis.

Ulcerative colitis (UC) is a chronic intestinal ailment which cannot be completely cured. The occurrence of UC has been on the rise in recent years, which is highly detrimental to patients. The effectiveness of conventional drug treatment is limited. The long-term usage of these agents can lead to substantial adverse effects. Therefore, the development of a safe and efficient dietary supplement is important for the prevention of UC. Echinacea purpurea polysaccharide (EPP) is one of the main bioactive substances in Echinacea purpurea. EPP has many favorable effects, such as antioxidative, anti-inflammatory, and antitumor effects. However, whether EPP can prevent or alleviate UC is still unclear. This study aims to analyze the effect and mechanism of EPP on UC in mice using a 3% dextran sulfate sodium (DSS)-induced UC model. The results showed that dietary supplementation with 200 mg/kg EPP significantly alleviated the shortening of colon length, weight loss, and histopathological damage in DSS-induced colitis mice. Mechanistically, EPP significantly inhibits the activation of the TLR4/NF-κB pathway and preserves the intestinal mechanical barrier integrity by enhancing the expression of claudin-1, ZO-1, and occludin and reducing the loss of goblet cells. Additionally, 16S rRNA sequencing revealed that EPP intervention reduced the abundance of Bacteroides, Escherichia-Shigella, and Klebsiella; the abundance of Lactobacillus increased. The results of nontargeted metabonomics showed that EPP reshaped metabolism. In this study, we clarified the effect of EPP on UC, revealed the potential function of EPP, and supported the use of polysaccharide dietary supplements for UC prevention.

Single-Cell Transcriptional Profile Construction of Rat Pituitary Glands before and after Sexual Maturation and Identification of Novel Marker Spp1 in Gonadotropes.

The mammalian pituitary gland drives highly conserved physiological processes such as somatic cell growth, pubertal transformation, fertility, and metabolism by secreting a variety of hormones. Recently, single-cell transcriptomics techniques have been used in pituitary gland research. However, more studies have focused on adult pituitary gland tissues from different species or different sexes, and no research has yet resolved cellular differences in pituitary gland tissue before and after sexual maturation. Here, we identified a total of 15 cell clusters and constructed single-cell transcriptional profiles of rats before and after sexual maturation. Furthermore, focusing on the gonadotrope cluster, 106 genes were found to be differentially expressed before and after sexual maturation. It was verified that Spp1, which is specifically expressed in gonadotrope cells, could serve as a novel marker for this cell cluster and has a promotional effect on the synthesis and secretion of follicle-stimulating hormone. The results provide a new resource for further resolving the regulatory mechanism of pituitary gland development and pituitary hormone synthesis and secretion.

GnRH-driven FTO-mediated RNA m6A modification promotes gonadotropin synthesis and secretion.

BACKGROUND: Gonadotropin precisely controls mammalian reproductive activities. Systematic analysis of the mechanisms by which epigenetic modifications regulate the synthesis and secretion of gonadotropin can be useful for more precise regulation of the animal reproductive process. Previous studies have identified many differential m6A modifications in the GnRH-treated adenohypophysis. However, the molecular mechanism by which m6A modification regulates gonadotropin synthesis and secretion remains unclear. RESULTS: Herein, it was found that GnRH can promote gonadotropin synthesis and secretion by promoting the expression of FTO. Highly expressed FTO binds to Foxp2 mRNA in the nucleus, exerting a demethylation function and reducing m6A modification. After Foxp2 mRNA exits the nucleus, the lack of m6A modification prevents YTHDF3 from binding to it, resulting in increased stability and upregulation of Foxp2 mRNA expression, which activates the cAMP/PKA signaling pathway to promote gonadotropin synthesis and secretion. CONCLUSIONS: Overall, the study reveals the molecular mechanism of GnRH regulating the gonadotropin synthesis and secretion through FTO-mediated m6A modification. The results of this study allow systematic interpretation of the regulatory mechanism of gonadotropin synthesis and secretion in the pituitary at the epigenetic level and provide a theoretical basis for the application of reproductive hormones in the regulation of animal artificial reproduction.

Huaier Polysaccharide Alleviates Dextran Sulphate Sodium Salt-Induced Colitis by Inhibiting Inflammation and Oxidative Stress, Maintaining the Intestinal Barrier, and Modulating Gut Microbiota.

The incidence of ulcerative colitis (UC) is increasing annually, and UC has a serious impact on patients' lives. Polysaccharides have gained attention as potential drug candidates for treating ulcerative colitis (UC) in recent years. Huaier (Trametes robiniophila Murr) is a fungus that has been used clinically for more than 1000 years, and its bioactive polysaccharide components have been reported to possess immunomodulatory effects, antitumour potential, and renoprotective effects. In this study, we aimed to examine the protective effects and mechanisms of Huaier polysaccharide (HP) against UC. Based on the H2O2-induced oxidative stress model in HT-29 cells and the dextran sulphate sodium salt (DSS)-induced UC model, we demonstrated that Huaier polysaccharides significantly alleviated DSS-induced colitis (weight loss, elevated disease activity index (DAI) scores, and colonic shortening). In addition, HP inhibited oxidative stress and inflammation and alleviated DSS-induced intestinal barrier damage. It also significantly promoted the expression of the mucin Muc2. Furthermore, HP reduced the abundance of harmful bacteria Escherichia-Shigella and promoted the abundance of beneficial bacteria Muribaculaceae_unclassified, Anaerotruncus, and Ruminococcaceae_unclassified to regulate the intestinal flora disturbance caused by DSS. Nontargeted metabolomics revealed that HP intervention would modulate metabolism by promoting levels of 3-hydroxybutyric acid, phosphatidylcholine (PC), and phosphatidylethanolamine (PE). These results demonstrated that HP had the ability to mitigate DSS-induced UC by suppressing oxidative stress and inflammation, maintaining the intestinal barrier, and modulating the intestinal flora. These findings will expand our knowledge of how HP functions and offer a theoretical foundation for using HP as a potential prebiotic to prevent UC.

Safety and efficacy of transcatheter arterial embolization in autosomal dominant polycystic kidney patients with gross hematuria: Six case reports.

BACKGROUND: To retrospectively report the safety and efficacy of renal transcatheter arterial embolization for treating autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease (ADPKD) patients with gross hematuria. CASE SUMMARY: The purpose of this study is to retrospectively report the safety and efficacy of renal transcatheter arterial embolization for treating ADPKD patients with gross hematuria. Materials and methods: During the period from January 2018 to December 2019, renal transcatheter arterial embolization was carried out on 6 patients with polycystic kidneys and gross hematuria. Renal arteriography was performed first, and then we determined the location of the hemorrhage and performed embolization under digital subtraction angiography monitoring. Improvements in routine blood test results, routine urine test results, urine color and postoperative reactions were observed and analyzed. Results: Renal transcatheter arterial embolization was successfully conducted in 6 patients. The indices of 5 patients and the color of gross hematuria improved after surgery compared with before surgery. No severe complication reactions occurred. CONCLUSION: For autosomal dominant polycystic kidney syndrome patients with gross hematuria, transcatheter arterial embolization was safe and effective.

Confinement-Induced Isosymmetric Metal-Insulator Transition in Ultrathin Epitaxial V2O3 Films.

Dimensional confinement has shown to be an effective strategy to tune competing degrees of freedom in complex oxides. Here, we achieved atomic layered growth of trigonal vanadium sesquioxide (V2O3) by means of oxygen-assisted molecular beam epitaxy. This led to a series of high-quality epitaxial ultrathin V2O3 films down to unit cell thickness, enabling the study of the intrinsic electron correlations upon confinement. By electrical and optical measurements, we demonstrate a dimensional confinement-induced metal-insulator transition in these ultrathin films. We shed light on the Mott-Hubbard nature of this transition, revealing a vanishing quasiparticle weight as demonstrated by photoemission spectroscopy. Furthermore, we prove that dimensional confinement acts as an effective out-of-plane stress. This highlights the structural component of correlated oxides in a confined architecture, while opening an avenue to control both in-plane and out-of-plane lattice components by epitaxial strain and confinement, respectively.

Transarterial chemoembolization plus stent placement for hepatocellular carcinoma with main portal vein tumor thrombosis: A meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: Portal vein tumor thrombus is an important indicator of poor prognosis in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma. Transarterial chemoembolization is recommended as the standard first-line therapy for unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma. Portal vein stent placement is a safe and effective therapy for promptly restoring flow and relieving portal hypertension caused by tumor thrombus. AIM: To assess the clinical significance of transarterial chemoembolization plus stent placement for the treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma with main portal vein tumor thrombosis. METHODS: We searched English and Chinese databases, assessed the quality of the included studies, analyzed the characteristic data, tested heterogeneity, explored heterogeneity, and tested publication bias. RESULTS: In total, eight clinical controlled trials were included. The results showed that the pressure in the main portal vein after stent placement was significantly lower than that with no stent placement. The cumulative stent patency and survival rates at 6 and 12 months were lower in the transarterial chemoembolization + stent placement group than in the transarterial chemoembolization + stent placement + brachytherapy/radiotherapy group. The survival rates of patients treated with transarterial chemoembolization + stent placement for 6 and 12 months were higher than those of patients treated with transarterial chemoembolization alone. CONCLUSION: For Chinese patients with hepatocellular carcinoma with main portal vein tumor thrombosis, transarterial chemoembolization plus stenting is effective. Transarterial chemoembolization + stent placement is more effective than transarterial chemoembolization alone. Transarterial chemoembolization + stent placement + brachytherapy/radiotherapy is more effective than transarterial chemoembolization + stenting.

Qbnb: An innovative C2B2C2B2C e-commerce mode for integrated on-demand services.

The traditional supply-side-driven e-commerce modes provide consumers with massive amounts of structured information about goods and services. Due to the lack of a tailor-made ability to describe, explain, and accurately understand unstructured service demands, existing technologies and service modes still struggle to fully explore, articulate, and meet the personalized, high-quality, and urgent service demands of the disadvantaged groups in e-commerce. This paper innovatively proposes the concept of "integrated services on demand" and develops its C2B2C2B2C-based "Qbnb" e-commerce mode, operation mechanism and intermediary platform architecture. After conducting exploratory operation training, it demonstrates that the Qbnb mode can effectively achieve centralized allocation of idle social surplus service capacity to cater to the needs of disadvantaged groups in e-commerce. Compared to the traditional e-commerce service mode, Qbnb will significantly expand service demand and capacity, achieve higher service efficiency, and create a broader service consumption market, resulting in many more job opportunities.

Shade responses and resistant mechanisms in Spatholobus suberectus.

The medicinal plant Spatholobus suberectus Dunn is easily exposed to shade stress during growth, but its shade responses and shade stress resistant mechanisms have not been clarified. In this study, shade treatments including four attenuated sunlight intensities (100%, 60%, 40%, and 10%) and three shade durations (30 d, 45 d, and 60 d) were applied to S. suberectus. The shade-induced morphological indicators, phytohormonal regulations, metabolic flavonoids contents, transcriptomic flavonoid pathway gene expressions, and stress physiological changes of S. suberectus were analyzed. The putative promoter cis-regulatory elements (CREs) of 18 flavonoid biosynthetic pathway genes were identified. Results showed the stem growth indicators of S. suberectus were better at 40% light intensity. Phytohormones were involved in the shade-induced responses. Short-term shade (30 d) increased total flavonoids, gallated catechins and especially epigallocatechin gallate contents and favored for boosting medicinal value. Long-term shade (45 d, 60 d) tended to decrease flavonoids. The shade-induced flavonoids changes were attributed to their corresponding biosynthesizing genes expression variations. The high antioxidant capacity and the presence of phytohormone-, stress-, and development-related CREs provided the basis for stress resistance. In conclusion, the multiple responses under shade and the CREs analysis elucidated S. suberectus' shade tolerance.

Liver stiffness and spleen stiffness predict distinct liver-related events after hepatitis C eradication with direct-acting antivirals.

BACKGROUND: /Purpose: This study aimed to directly compare the utility of liver stiffness (LS) and spleen stiffness (SS) at sustained virologic response (SVR) for predicting hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and non-HCC events in patients with chronic hepatitis C (CHC) after direct-acting antiviral therapy. METHODS: This retrospective study included 695 CHC patients who achieved SVR and underwent LS and SS measurements. LS and SS were measured using point shear wave elastography and compared head-to-head. RESULTS: During a median follow-up of 29.5 months, 49 (7.1%) patients developed liver-related events (LREs), including 28 HCC and 22 non-HCC events after SVR. Multivariable Cox regression analysis revealed that age, albumin level, and LS (≥ versus <1.46 m/s) at SVR (adjusted hazard ratio [aHR]: 5.390; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 2.349-12.364; p < 0.001), but not SS at SVR, significantly predicted the overall risk of post-SVR LREs (n = 49). Furthermore, age and LS (≥ versus <1.46 m/s) at SVR (aHR: 6.759; 95% CI: 2.317-19.723; p < 0.001), but not SS at SVR, independently predicted the risk of post-SVR incident HCC. In contrast, SS (≥ versus <2.87 m/s) at SVR (aHR: 11.212; 95% CI: 1.564-20.132; p = 0.021) and albumin level, but not LS at SVR, significantly predicted the risk of post-SVR non-HCC events. CONCLUSION: Post-SVR LS better predicts HCC risk. Post-SVR SS helps predict non-HCC risk after antiviral therapy for CHC. LS and SS at SVR provide complementary prognostic information regarding risks of HCC and non-HCC events in the post-SVR setting. Further validation is warranted in larger cohorts.

Effects of different colors of plastic-film mulching on soil temperature, yield, and metabolites in Platostoma palustre.

Platostoma palustre is an annual herb and an important medicinal and edible plant in southern China. Plastic-film mulching is an effective agronomic practice in the cultivation system of P. palustre, of which black-film mulching is the most common. However, fewer researches have been focused on the use of other colors of plastic films in P. palustre cultivation. In this study, different colors (white, black, red, and green) of plastic film were adopted, and the effects of different colors of plastic film mulching on the soil temperature, yield, and metabolites of P. palustre were investigated. The results showed that the fresh weight of a single plant of the green film treatment was significantly higher than that of the white film treatment (n = top 28). Based on the results of three temperature measurements, the soil temperature was almost the highest in the red film treatment and lowest in the white film treatment. The metabolomic analysis revealed that a total of 103 differential metabolites were identified. Among these, the gluconic acid, deoxyribose, and N-Acetylmannosamine in the red film treatment presented the highest abundance compared with the other treatments, meanwhile, the abundances of the five monosaccharides in the red film treatment were significantly higher than those of the green film treatment. Moreover, the sucrose, trehalose, and D-(+)-trehalose in the green film treatment exhibited the highest abundance, and the abundances of eight different amino acids in the red film treatment were almost the lowest while those in the black film treatment were almost the highest. Further analysis of the membership function values indicated that the black and red film treatments might be more suitable for the cultivation and quality production of P. palustre in comparison with the other two treatments. This study will provide a theoretical basis for improving the efficient cultivation technology of P. palustre and forming a theoretical system of P. palustre film mulching cultivation.

Significant association of elevated serum galectin-9 levels with the development of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease in patients with rheumatoid arthritis.

Background: Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is prevalent among rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients, but its pathogenesis has rarely been explored. Galectin-9 (Gal-9) interacts with T cell immunoglobulin and mucin-containing-molecule-3 (TIM-3) expressed on hepatocytes and thus regulates T cell proliferation in a murine model of NAFLD. We aimed to examine the pathogenic role of the Gal-9/TIM-3 pathway in RA-NAFLD. Methods: Serum levels of Gal-9, soluble TIM-3 (sTIM-3), fatty acid-binding proteins (FABP)1, and FABP4 were determined by ELISA in forty-five RA patients and eleven healthy participants. Using Oil-red O staining and immunoblotting, we examined the effects of Gal-9 and free fatty acid (FFA) on lipid accumulation in human hepatocytes and FABP1 expression. Results: Serum Gal-9, sTIM-3 and FABP1 level were significantly higher in RA patients (median 5.02 ng/mL, 3.42 ng/mL, and 5.76 ng/mL, respectively) than in healthy participants (1.86 ng/mL, 0.99 ng/mL, and 0.129 ng/mL, all p < 0.001). They were also significantly higher in patients with moderate-to-severe NAFLD compared with none-to-mild NAFLD (p < 0.01; p < 0.05; and p < 0.01, respectively). Serum Gal-9 levels were positively correlated with sTIM-3, FABP1, FABP4 levels, and ultrasound-fatty liver score, respectively, in RA patients. Multivariate regression analysis revealed that Gal-9 (cut-off>3.30) was a significant predictor of NAFLD development, and Gal-9 and sTIM-3 were predictors of NAFLD severity (both p < 0.05). The cell-based assay showed that Gal-9 and FFA could upregulate FABP1 expression and enhance lipid droplet accumulation in hepatocytes. Conclusion: Elevated levels of Gal-9 and sTIM3 in RA patients with NAFLD and their positive correlation with NAFLD severity suggest the pathogenic role of Gal-9 signaling in RA-related NAFLD.

EGF-driven EGFR/miR-27b-3p/FOXO1 promotes rat FSH synthesis and secretion.

The adenopituitary secretes follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), which plays a crucial role in regulating the growth, development, and reproductive functions of organisms. Investigating the process of FSH synthesis and secretion can offer valuable insights into potential areas of focus for reproductive research. Epidermal growth factor (EGF) is a significant paracrine/autocrine factor within the body, and studies have demonstrated its ability to stimulate FSH secretion in animals. However, the precise mechanisms that regulate this action are still poorly understood. In this research, in vivo and in vitro experiments showed that the activation of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) by EGF induces the upregulation of miR-27b-3p and that miR-27b-3p targets and inhibits Foxo1 mRNA expression, resulting in increased FSH synthesis and secretion. In summary, this study elucidates the precise molecular mechanism through which EGF governs the synthesis and secretion of FSH via the EGFR/miR-27b-3p/FOXO1 pathway.

Lower body mass index is an independent predictor of mortality in older patients with acute respiratory distress syndrome.

Background: Acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) is associated with high mortality. The impacts of body mass index (BMI) on the morality of older patients with ARDS remain unclear. Methods: This is a single-center cohort study which was conducted at Taichung Veterans General Hospital, Taiwan. Adult patients admitted to the ICU needing mechanical ventilation with ARDS were included for analysis. We compared the data of older patients (age ≥65 years) with those of younger patients (Age <65 years). The factors associated with in-hospital mortality of older patients were investigated. Results: This study included a total of 728 (mean age: 66 years; men: 63%) patients, and 425 (58.4%) of them aged ≥65 years. Older patients exhibited lower body mass index (BMI) (23.8 vs 25.2), higher Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation (APACHE) II scores (28.9 vs 26.3), higher Charlson Comorbidity Index (CCI) (4.0 vs 3.4), and lower Sequential Organ Failure Assessment (SOFA) scores (10.0 vs 11.1) than younger patients. Furthermore, older patients had mortality rates similar to younger patients (40.5% vs 42.9%, P = 0.542), but had longer length of stay in the ICU (17.6 vs 15.6 days, P = 0.047). For older patients, BMI <18.5 (odds ratio [OR], 2.78; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.45-5.34), high SOFA score (OR, 1.20; 95% CI, 1.12-1.28), and moderate (OR, 1.95; 95% CI 1.20-3.14) or severe ARDS (OR, 2.30; 95% CI 1.26-4.22) were independent risk factors for mortality. Conclusions: In this cohort, critical ill older patients with ARDS had lower BMI, more comorbidities, and higher APACHE II scores than younger patients. Mortality rate was similar between older and younger patients. Low BMI, high SOFA score, and moderate or severe ARDS were independently associated with mortality in older patients with ARDS.

Ultrasound Flow Imaging Study on Rat Brain with Ultrasound and Light Stimulations.

Functional ultrasound (fUS) flow imaging provides a non-invasive method for the in vivo study of cerebral blood flow and neural activity. This study used functional flow imaging to investigate rat brain's response to ultrasound and colored-light stimuli. Male Long-Evan rats were exposed to direct full-field strobe flashes light and ultrasound stimulation to their retinas, while brain activity was measured using high-frequency ultrasound imaging. Our study found that light stimuli, particularly blue light, elicited strong responses in the visual cortex and lateral geniculate nucleus (LGN), as evidenced by changes in cerebral blood volume (CBV). In contrast, ultrasound stimulation elicited responses undetectable with fUS flow imaging, although these were observable when directly measuring the brain's electrical signals. These findings suggest that fUS flow imaging can effectively differentiate neural responses to visual stimuli, with potential applications in understanding visual processing and developing new diagnostic tools.

Electrochemical nitrate reduction over bimetallic Pd-Sn nanocatalysts with tunable selectivity toward benign nitrogen.

Nitrate is recognized as a highly impactful water contaminant among various pollutants in water. To address the ever-growing demand for water purification, this work investigates the bimetallic palladium (Pd) and tin (Sn) catalysts, which are electrochemically deposited on stainless steel mesh support (Pd-Sn/SS) for the selective conversion of harmful nitrate (NO3-) into benign nitrogen (N2) gas. Results indicate that the bimetallic composition in Pd-Sn/SS electrodes substantially influenced the reaction route for nitrate reduction as well as the performance of nitrate transformation and nitrogen selectivity. It is found that the electrode prepared from Pd:Sn = 1:1 (mole ratio) demonstrates an outstanding nitrate conversion of 95%, nitrogen selectivity of 88%, and nitrogen yield of 82%, which outperform many reported values in the literature. The electrochemically synthesized bimetallic electrode proposed herein enables a new insight for promoting the reactivity and selectivity of nitrate reduction in water.

Mitochondrial and metabolic dysfunction of peripheral immune cells in multiple sclerosis.

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a chronic autoimmune disorder characterized by the infiltration of inflammatory cells and demyelination of nerves. Mitochondrial dysfunction has been implicated in the pathogenesis of MS, as studies have shown abnormalities in mitochondrial activities, metabolism, mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) levels, and mitochondrial morphology in immune cells of individuals with MS. The presence of mitochondrial dysfunctions in immune cells contributes to immunological dysregulation and neurodegeneration in MS. This review provided a comprehensive overview of mitochondrial dysfunction in immune cells associated with MS, focusing on the potential consequences of mitochondrial metabolic reprogramming on immune function. Current challenges and future directions in the field of immune-metabolic MS and its potential as a therapeutic target were also discussed.