Sex differences in hemoglobin levels and five-year refracture risk in patients with osteoporotic fractures: a retrospective cohort analysis.

We conducted a retrospective cohort analysis to examine the association between hemoglobin (Hb) levels and refracture risk in elderly patients with osteoporotic fractures (OPFs). Our findings suggest a nonlinear relationship exists in females, and females with Hb levels below 10.7 g/dL may be at a higher risk of refracture. INTRODUCTION: Hematopoiesis and bone health have a reciprocal influence on each other. Nevertheless, there is a scarcity of in-depth research on the association between Hb levels and the occurrence of fractures. The present research aimed to investigate the correlation between Hb levels and the rate of refracture within 5 years among individuals with OPFs. METHODS: A retrospective cohort analysis was undertaken between 2017 and 2022. The study included 1906 individuals who were inhabitants of Kunshan and were over 60 years old. These individuals had experienced an OPF between January 1, 2017, and July 27, 2022, resulting in their hospitalization. Cox proportional hazard regression models were used to evaluate the risk of refracture within 5 years based on the Hb levels acquired during the admission examination, with consideration for sex differences. A nonlinear relationship was identified using smoothed curve fitting and threshold analysis. Kaplan-Meier curves were used to compare refracture rates between patients with low and high Hb levels. RESULTS: Elderly female patients with OPFs and lower Hb levels exhibited a significantly higher risk of a 5-year refracture. Conversely, no significant associations were observed between the two variables in male patients. A nonlinear correlation was found between Hb levels and the probability of refracture in females, with a turning point identified at 10.7 g/dL of Hb levels. A strong negative association was observed with the five-year refracture rate when Hb levels fell below 10.7 g/dL (hazard ratio (HR) = 0.63; 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.48 to 0.83; P-value = 0.0008). This finding suggests that for every 1 g/dL increase in Hb below 10.7 g/dL, the risk of refracture reduced by 37%. However, no statistically significant association was observed when Hb levels were above 10.7 g/dL. CONCLUSIONS: The findings demonstrated a significant negative correlation between Hb levels and the likelihood of refracture in elderly female patients with OPFs and suggested that elderly females with recent OPFs and Hb levels below 10.7 g/dL may be at a higher risk of refracture. Additionally, the Hb levels can serve as an indicator of bone fragility in elderly female patients with OPFs. These findings highlight the importance of monitoring Hb levels as a part of comprehensive management strategies to both assess skeletal health and prevent refractures in this population.

Biomechanical analysis of adjacent segments after correction surgery for adult idiopathic scoliosis: a finite element analysis.

The biomechanical aspects of adjacent segment degeneration after Adult Idiopathic Scoliosis (AdIS) corrective surgery involving postoperative changes in motion and stress of adjacent segments have yet to be investigated. The objective of this study was to evaluate the biomechanical effects of corrective surgery on adjacent segments in adult idiopathic scoliosis by finite element analysis. Based on computed tomography data of the consecutive spine from T1-S1 of a 28-year-old male patient with adult idiopathic scoliosis, a three-dimensional finite element model was established to simulate the biomechanics. Two posterior long-segment fixation and fusion operations were designed: Strategy A, pedicle screws implanted in all segments of both sides, and Strategy B, alternate screws instrumentation on both sides. The range of motion (ROM), Maximum von Mises stress value of intervertebral disc (IVD), and Maximum von Mises stress of the facet joint (FJ) at the fixation adjacent segment were calculated and compared with data of the preoperative AdIS model. Corrective surgery decreased the IVD on the adjacent segments, increased the FJ on the adjacent segments, and decreased the ROM of the adjacent segments. A greater decrease of Maximum von Mises stress was observed on the distal adjacent segment compared with the proximal adjacent segment. The decrease of Maximum von Mises stress and increment of Maximum von Mises stress on adjacent FJ in strategy B was greater than that in strategy A. Under the six operation modes, the change of the Maximum von Mises stress on the adjacent IVD and FJ was significant. The decrease in ROM in the proximal adjacent segment was greater than that of the distal adjacent segment, and the decrease of ROM in strategy A was greater than that in strategy B. This study clarified the biomechanical characteristics of adjacent segments after AdIS corrective surgery, and further biomechanical analysis of two different posterior pedicle screw placement schemes by finite element method. Our study provides a theoretical basis for the pathogenesis, prevention, and treatment of adjacent segment degeneration after corrective surgery for AdIS.

Effects of Intranasal Insulin Pretreatment on Preoperative Sleep Quality and Postoperative Delirium in Patients Undergoing Valve Replacement for Rheumatic Heart Disease.

Background: Postoperative delirium (POD) is a common neurological complication associated with valve replacement. Preoperative sleep disturbance is a risk factor for POD development, and nasal insulin modulates the sleep-wake cycle. This study investigated the beneficial effects of intranasal insulin pretreatment on preoperative sleep quality and reducing POD in patients undergoing valve replacement for rheumatic heart disease. Patients and Methods: This prospective, single-center, randomized controlled trial (RCT) included 76 adult patients aged 18-65 years undergoing valve surgery with cardiopulmonary bypass who were randomly allocated to receive intranasal insulin or normal saline interventions two days before surgery. POD incidence was on postoperative days 1 (T3), 2 (T4), and 3 (T5). Before the first intervention (T0), 1 d before surgery (T1), and before anesthesia on the day of surgery (T2), sleep quality was assessed and serum cortisol concentrations were measured. At T1 and T2, sleep quality related indicators monitored by sleep monitoring watches from the previous night were recorded. Results: Compared with the normal saline group, 3 days after surgery, the insulin group showed a significantly reduced incidence of POD; significantly increased deep sleep, REM sleep, deep sleep continuity, and total sleep quality scores at T1 and T2; and significantly reduced serum cortisol concentration, PSQI scale, light sleep ratio, and wakefulness at T1 and T2. Conclusion: The administration of 20 U of intranasal insulin twice daily, from 2 days preoperatively until 10 minutes preanesthesia on the day of surgery, can improved preoperative sleep quality significantly and reduced POD incidence in patients with rheumatic heart disease undergoing valve replacement. Clinical Trial Registration: This study was registered with the Chinese Clinical Trial Registry (www.chictr.org.cn, with the unique identifier ChiCTR2100048515; July 9, 2021).

The Etiology of Rapidly Progressive Dementia: A 3-Year Retrospective Study in a Tertiary Hospital in China.

Background: Rapidly progressive dementia (RPD), characterized by a rapid cognitive decline leading to dementia, comprises a diverse range of disorders. Despite advancements in diagnosis and treatment, research on RPD primarily focuses on Western populations. Objective: This study aims to explore the etiology and demographics of RPD in Chinese patients. Methods: We retrospectively analyzed 323 RPD inpatients at Huashan Hospital from May 2019 to March 2023. Data on sociodemographic factors, epidemiology, clinical presentation, and etiology were collected and analyzed. Results: The median onset age of RPD patients was 60.7 years. Two-thirds received a diagnosis within 6 months of symptom onset. Memory impairment was the most common initial symptom, followed by behavioral changes. Neurodegenerative diseases accounted for 47.4% of cases, with central nervous system inflammatory diseases at 30.96%. Autoimmune encephalitis was the leading cause (16.7%), followed by Alzheimer's disease (16.1%), neurosyphilis (11.8%), and Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (9.0%). Alzheimer's disease, Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease, and frontotemporal dementia were the primary neurodegenerative causes, while autoimmune encephalitis, neurosyphilis, and vascular cognitive impairment were the main non-neurodegenerative causes. Conclusions: The etiology of RPD in Chinese patients is complex, with neurodegenerative and non-neurodegenerative diseases equally prevalent. Recognizing treatable conditions like autoimmune encephalitis and neurosyphilis requires careful consideration and differentiation.

diABZI and poly(I:C) inhibit osteoclastic bone resorption by inducing IRF7 and IFIT3.

Type I interferons (IFN-I) are pleiotropic factors endowed with multiple activities that play important roles in innate and adaptive immunity. Although many studies indicate IFN-I inducers exert favorable effects on broad-spectrum antivirus, immunomodulation, and anti-tumor by inducing endogenous IFN-I and IFN-stimulated genes (ISGs), their function in bone homeostasis still needs further exploration. Here, our study demonstrates two distinct IFN-I inducers, diABZI and poly(I:C), as potential therapeutics to alleviate osteolysis and osteoporosis. Firstly, IFN-I inducers suppress the genes that control osteoclast (OC) differentiation and activity in vitro. Moreover, diABZI alleviates bone loss in Ti particle-induced osteolysis and ovariectomized (OVX)-induced osteoporosis in vivo by inhibiting OC differentiation and function. In addition, the inhibitory effects of IFN-I inducers on OC differentiation are not observed in macrophages derived from Ifnar1-/- mice, which indicate that the suppressive effect of IFN-I inducers on OC is IFNAR-dependent. Mechanistically, RNAi-mediated silencing of IRF7 and IFIT3 in OC precursors impair the suppressive effect of the IFN-I inducers on OC differentiation. Taken together, these results demonstrate that IFN-I inducers play a protective role in bone turnover by limiting osteoclastogenesis and bone resorption through the induction of OC-specific mediators via the IFN-ß signaling pathway.

A comprehensive review on the recent advances for 5-aminolevulinic acid production by the engineered bacteria.

5-Aminolevulinic acid (5-ALA) is a non-proteinogenic amino acid essential for synthesizing tetrapyrrole compounds, including heme, chlorophyll, cytochrome, and vitamin B12. As a plant growth regulator, 5-ALA is extensively used in agriculture to enhance crop yield and quality. The complexity and low yield of chemical synthesis methods have led to significant interest in the microbial synthesis of 5-ALA. Advanced strategies, including the: enhancement of precursor and cofactor supply, compartmentalization of key enzymes, product transporters engineering, by-product formation reduction, and biosensor-based dynamic regulation, have been implemented in bacteria for 5-ALA production, significantly advancing its industrialization. This article offers a comprehensive review of recent developments in 5-ALA production using engineered bacteria and presents new insights to propel the field forward.

Implications of Low-concentration Polymer on the Physical Stability of Glassy Griseofulvin: Role of the Segmental Mobility.

Crystallization of amorphous pharmaceutical solids are widely reported to be affected by the addition of polymer, while the underlying mechanism require deep study. Herein, crystal growth behaviors of glassy griseofulvin (GSF) doped with various 1% w/w polymer were systematically studied. From the molecular structure, GSF cannot form the hydrogen bonding interactions with the selected polymer poly(vinyl acetate), polyvinyl pyrrolidone (PVP), 60:40 vinyl pyrrolidone-vinyl acetate copolymer (PVP/VA 64), and poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO). 1% w/w polymer exhibited weak or no detectable effects on the glass transition temperature (Tg) of GSF. However, crystal growth rates of GSF was altered from 4.27-fold increase to 2.57-fold decrease at 8 ℃ below Tg of GSF. Interestingly, the ability to accelerate and inhibit the growth rates of GSF crystals correlated well with Tg of polymer, indicating the controlling role of segmental mobility of polymer. Moreover, ring-banded growth of GSF was observed in the polymer-doped systems. Normal compact bulk and ring-banded crystals of GSF were both characterized as the thermodynamically stable form I. More importantly, formation of ring-banded crystals of GSF can significantly weaken the inhibitory effects of polymer on the crystallization of glassy GSF.

Outdoor walking, genetic predisposition, and the risk of incident osteoporosis among older adults: A prospective large population-based cohort study.

This large-scale prospective study showed that a significant association between longer duration of daily outdoor walking and reduced osteoporosis risk was found among older adults, particularly among those with a low genetic predisposition to osteoporosis, which highlighted the importance of outdoor walking as a simple, cost-effective adjunct for preventing osteoporosis. PURPOSE: The available cross-sectional data and small-scale studies indicate that outdoor walking benefits bone metabolism. Nevertheless, there is a scarcity of comprehensive prospective research investigating the enduring correlation between outdoor walking and osteoporosis. This study aims to conduct a prospective analysis of the correlation between outdoor walking and osteoporosis while also examining potential variations influenced by genetic susceptibility to osteoporosis. METHODS: 24,700 older adults without osteoporosis at baseline were enrolled. These individuals were followed up until December 31, 2021, during which data on outdoor walking was gathered. The genetic risk score for osteoporosis was comprised of 14 single-nucleotide polymorphisms. RESULTS: 4,586 cases of osteoporosis were identified throughout a median follow-up period of 37.3 months. Those who walked outside for > 30 but ≤ 60 min per day had a hazard ratio (HR) of 0.83 (95% confidence interval (CI): 0.72-0.95) for incident osteoporosis, whereas those who walked outside for > 60 min per day had an HR of 0.60 (95% CI: 0.39-0.92). We found that osteoporosis risk exhibited a declining trend in individuals with low genetic risk. Individuals walking outside for > 60 min per day tended to have the lowest overall osteoporosis risk among those with high genetic risk. CONCLUSIONS: A significant negative correlation exists between an extended period of daily outdoor walking and osteoporosis incidence risk. This correlation is particularly pronounced among individuals with low genetic risk. The results above underscore the significance of outdoor walking as a simple and economical adjunct to public health programs to prevent osteoporosis.

Dual­regulated oncolytic adenovirus carrying ERCC1­siRNA gene possesses potent antitumor effect on ovarian cancer cells.

Ovarian cancer is a multifactorial and deadly disease. Despite significant advancements in ovarian cancer therapy, its incidence is on the rise and the molecular mechanisms underlying ovarian cancer invasiveness, metastasis and drug resistance remain largely elusive, resulting in poor prognosis. Oncolytic viruses armed with therapeutic transgenes of interest offer an attractive alternative to chemical drugs, which often face innate and acquired drug resistance. The present study constructed a novel oncolytic adenovirus carrying ERCC1 short interfering (si)RNA, regulated by hTERT and HIF promoters, termed Ad­siERCC1. The findings demonstrated that this oncolytic adenovirus effectively inhibits the proliferation, migration and invasion of ovarian cancer cells. Furthermore, the downregulation of ERCC1 expression by siRNA ameliorates drug resistance to cisplatin (DDP) chemotherapy. It was found that Ad­siERCC1 blocks the cell cycle in the G1 phase and enhances apoptosis through the PI3K/AKT­caspase­3 signaling pathways in SKOV3 cells. The results of the present study highlighted the critical effect of oncolytic virus Ad­siERCC1 in inhibiting the survival of ovarian cancer cells and increasing chemotherapy sensitivity to DDP. These findings underscore the potent antitumor effect of Ad­siERCC1 on ovarian cancers in vivo.

[Mechanism of Shenling Baizhu Powder on treatment of alcoholic liver disease by regulating TLR4/NLRP3 pathway].

This study aims to investigate the regulatory effects of Shenling Baizhu Powder(SBP) on cellular autophagy in alcoholic liver disease(ALD) and its intervention effect through the TLR4/NLRP3 pathway. A rat model of chronic ALD was established by gavage of spirits. An ALD cell model was established by stimulating BRL3A cells with alcohol. High-performance liquid chromatography(HPLC) was utilized for the compositional analysis of SBP. Liver tissue from ALD rats underwent hematoxylin-eosin(HE) and oil red O staining for pathological evaluation. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay(ELISA) was applied to quantify lipopolysaccharides(LPS), tumor necrosis factor-alpha(TNF-α), interleukin-1 beta(IL-1ß), and interleukin-18(IL-18) levels. Quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction(qRT-PCR) was conducted to evaluate the mRNA expression of myeloid differentiation factor 88(MyD88) and Toll-like receptor 4(TLR4). The effect of different drugs on BRL3A cell proliferation activity was assessed through CCK-8 analysis. Western blot analysis was performed to examine the protein expression of NOD-like receptor pyrin domain-containing 3(NLRP3), nuclear factor-kappa B P65(NF-κB P65), phosphorylated nuclear factor-kappa B P65(p-P65), caspase-1, P62, Beclin1, and microtubule-associated protein 1 light chain 3(LC3Ⅱ). The results showed that SBP effectively ameliorated hepatic lipid accumulation, reduced liver function, mitigated hepatic tissue inflammation, and reduced levels of LPS, TNF-α, IL-1ß, and IL-18. Moreover, SBP exhibited the capacity to modulate hepatic autophagy induced by prolonged alcohol intake through the TLR4/NLRP3 signaling pathway. This modulation resulted in decreased expression of LC3Ⅱ and Beclin1, an elevation in P62 expression, and the promotion of autolysosome formation. These research findings imply that SBP can substantially enhance liver function and mitigate lipid irregularities in the context of chronic ALD. It achieves this by regulating excessive autophagic responses caused by prolonged spirit consumption, primarily through the inhibition of the TLR4/NLRP3 pathway.

Irisin alleviates obesity-induced bone loss by inhibiting interleukin 6 expression via TLR4/MyD88/NF-κB axis in adipocytes.

INTRODUCTION: Obesity-induced bone loss affects the life quality of patients all over the world. Irisin, one of the myokines, plays an essential role in bone and fat metabolism. OBJECTIVE: Investigate the effects of irisin on bone metabolism via adipocytes in the bone marrow microenvironment. METHODS: In this study, we fed fibronectin type III domain-containing protein 5 (FNDC5, the precursor protein of irisin) knockout mice (FNDC5-/-) with a high-fat diet (HFD) for 10 weeks. The quality of bone mass was assessed by micro-CT analysis, histological staining, and dynamic bone formation. In vitro, the lipogenic differentiation of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs) was assayed by Oil Red O staining, and the osteogenic differentiation was assayed by alkaline phosphatase staining. Meanwhile, the gene expression in the BMSC-differentiated adipocytes by RNA sequence and the involved pathway of irisin were determined by western blot and qRT-PCR were performed. RESULTS: The FNDC5-/- mice fed with a HFD showed an increased body weight, fat content of the bone marrow and bone, and a decreased bone formation compared with those with a standard diet (SD). In vitro, irisin inhibited the differentiation of BMSCs into adipocytes and alleviated the inhibition of osteogenesis derived from BMSCs by the adipocyte supernatant. RNA sequence and blocking experiment showed that irisin reduced the production of interleukin 6 (IL-6) in adipocytes through downregulating the TLR4/MyD88/NF-κB pathway. Immunofluorescence staining of bone marrow further confirmed an increased IL-6 expression in the FNDC5-/- mice fed with HFD compared with those fed with SD, which suffered serious bone loss. CONCLUSION: Irisin downregulates activation of the TLR4/MyD88/NF-κB pathway, thereby reducing IL-6 production in adipocytes to enhance the osteogenesis of BMSCs. Thus, the rescue of osteogenesis of BMSCs, initially inhibited by IL-6, is a potential therapeutic target to mitigate obesity-induced osteoporosis.

Cu-phen Coordination Enabled Selective Electrocatalytic Reduction of CO2 to Methane.

Manipulation of selectivity in the catalytic electrochemical carbon dioxide reduction reaction (eCO2RR) poses significant challenges due to inevitable structure reconstruction. One approach is to develop effective strategies for controlling reaction pathways to gain a deeper understanding of mechanisms in robust CO2RR systems. In this work, by precise introduction of 1,10-phenanthroline as a bidentate ligand modulator, the electronic property of the copper site was effectively regulated, thereby directing selectivity switch. By modification of [Cu3(btec)(OH)2]n, the use of [Cu2(btec)(phen)2]n·(H2O)n achieved the selectivity switch from ethylene (faradaic efficiency (FE) = 41%, FEC2+ = 67%) to methane (FECH4 = 69%). Various in situ spectroscopic characterizations revealed that [Cu2(btec)(phen)2]n·(H2O)n promoted the hydrogenation of *CO intermediates, leading to methane generation instead of dimerization to form C2+ products. Acting as a delocalized π-conjugation scaffold, 1,10-phenanthroline in [Cu2(btec)(phen)2]n·(H2O)n helps stabilize Cuδ+. This work presents a novel approach to regulate the coordination environment of active sites with the aim of selectively modulating the CO2RR.

The oncogenic role and regulatory mechanism of ACAA2 in human ovarian cancer.

Acetyl-CoAacyltransferase2 (ACAA2) is a key enzyme in the fatty acid oxidation pathway that catalyzes the final step of mitochondrial ß oxidation, which plays an important role in fatty acid metabolism. The expression of ACAA2 is closely related to the occurrence and malignant progression of tumors. However, the function of ACAA2 in ovarian cancer is unclear. The expression level and prognostic value of ACAA2 were analyzed by databases. Gain and loss of function were carried out to explore the function of ACAA2 in ovarian cancer. RNA-seq and bioinformatics methods were applied to illustrate the regulatory mechanism of ACAA2. ACAA2 overexpression promoted the growth, proliferation, migration, and invasion of ovarian cancer, and ACAA2 knockdown inhibited the malignant progression of ovarian cancer as well as the ability of subcutaneous tumor formation in nude mice. At the same time, we found that OGT can induce glycosylation modification of ACAA2 and regulate the karyoplasmic distribution of ACAA2. OGT plays a vital role in ovarian cancer as a function of oncogenes. In addition, through RNA-seq sequencing, we found that ACAA2 regulates the expression of DIXDC1. ACAA2 regulated the malignant progression of ovarian cancer through the WNT/ß-Catenin signaling pathway probably. ACAA2 is an oncogene in ovarian cancer and has the potential to be a target for ovarian cancer therapy.

Minor Hydroxylated Triterpenoids Produced in Engineered Yeast by the Enzymes OSC and CYP716s from the Plant Enkianthus chinensis and Their Anti-Inflammatory and Hepatoprotective Activities.

Triterpenoids are a type of specialized metabolites that exhibit a wide range of biological activities. However, the availability of some minor triterpenoids in nature is limited, which has hindered our understanding of their pharmacological potential. To overcome this limitation, heterologous biosynthesis of triterpenoids in yeast has emerged as a promising and time-efficient production platform for obtaining these minor compounds. In this study, we analyzed the transcriptomic data of Enkianthus chinensis to identify one oxidosqualene cyclase (EcOSC) gene and four CYP716s. Through heterologous expression of these genes in yeast, nine natural pentacyclic triterpenoids, including three skeleton products (1-3) produced by one multifunctional OSC and six minor oxidation products (4-9) catalyzed by CYP716s, were obtained. Of note, we discovered that CYP716E60 could oxidize ursane-type and oleanane-type triterpenoids to produce 6ß-OH derivatives, marking the first confirmed C-6ß hydroxylation in an ursuane-type triterpenoid. Compound 9 showed moderate inhibitory activity against NO production and dose-dependently reduced IL-1ß and IL-6 production at the transcriptional and protein levels. Compounds 1, 2, 8, and 9 exhibited moderate hepatoprotective activity with the survival rates of HepG2 cells from 61% to 68% at 10 µM.

Cytotoxic indole diterpenoids and rare pyridoxatin atropisomers from the endophytic fungus Tolypocladium sp. SHJJ1.

Phytochemical investigation on the extract of endophytic fungus Tolypocladium sp. SHJJ1 resulted in the identification of a pair of previously undescribed pyridoxatin atropisomers [1 (M/P)] and three new indole diterpenoids (3-5), together with a pair of known pyridoxatin atropisomers [2 (M/P)] and ten known indole diterpenoids (6-15). Their structures, including their absolute configurations were elucidated by extensive spectroscopic analysis, quantum chemical calculations, and X-ray diffraction. Among the undescribed natural products, [1 (M/P)] that two rapidly interconverting atropisomers are the third example to report in the pyridoxatin atropisomers. Except for compounds 1 (M/P) and 2 (M/P), all other compounds were tested for their cytotoxicity using HepG2, A549, and MCF-7 human cell lines. Compound 9 displayed moderate cytotoxicity against the HepG2, A549, and MCF-7 cell lines with IC50 values of 32.39 ± 1.48 µM, 26.06 ± 1.14 µM, and 31.44 ± 1.94 µM, respectively, which was similar to the positive drug cisplatin (with IC50 values of 32.55 ± 1.76 µM, 18.40 ± 1.43 µM, and 27.31 ± 1.22 µM, respectively).

Integrated small RNA, transcriptome and physiological approaches provide insight into Taxodium hybrid 'Zhongshanshan' roots in acclimation to prolonged flooding.

Although Taxodium hybrid 'Zhongshanshan' 406 (Taxodium mucronatum Tenore × Taxodium distichum; Taxodium 406) is an extremely flooding-tolerant woody plant, the physiological and molecular mechanisms underlying acclimation of its roots to long-term flooding remain largely unknown. Thus, we exposed saplings of Taxodium 406 to either non-flooding (control) or flooding for 2 months. Flooding resulted in reduced root biomass, which is in line with lower concentrations of citrate, α-ketoglutaric acid, fumaric acid, malic acid and adenosine triphosphate (ATP) in Taxodium 406 roots. Flooding led to elevated activities of pyruvate decarboxylase, alcohol dehydrogenase and lactate dehydrogenase, which is consistent with higher lactate concentration in the roots of Taxodium 406. Flooding brought about stimulated activities of superoxide dismutase and catalase and elevated reduced glutathione (GSH) concentration and GSH/oxidized glutathione, which is in agreement with reduced concentrations of O2- and H2O2 in Taxodium 406 roots. The levels of starch, soluble protein, indole-3-acetic acid, gibberellin A4 and jasmonate were decreased, whereas the concentrations of glucose, total non-structural carbohydrates, most amino acids and 1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylate (ACC) were improved in the roots of flooding-treated Taxodium 406. Underlying these changes in growth and physiological characteristics, 12,420 mRNAs and 42 miRNAs were significantly differentially expressed, and 886 miRNA-mRNA pairs were identified in the roots of flooding-exposed Taxodium 406. For instance, 1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylate synthase 8 (ACS8) was a target of Th-miR162-3p and 1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylate oxidase 4 (ACO4) was a target of Th-miR166i, and the downregulation of Th-miR162-3p and Th-miR166i results in the upregulation of ACS8 and ACO4, probably bringing about higher ACC content in flooding-treated roots. Overall, these results indicate that differentially expressed mRNA and miRNAs are involved in regulating tricarboxylic acid cycle, ATP production, fermentation, and metabolism of carbohydrates, amino acids and phytohormones, as well as reactive oxygen species detoxification of Taxodium 406 roots. These processes play pivotal roles in acclimation to flooding stress. These results will improve our understanding of the molecular and physiological bases underlying woody plant flooding acclimation and provide valuable insights into breeding-flooding tolerant trees.

Development and validation of a prognostic nomogram for 3-year all-cause mortality risk among elderly patients undergoing surgery for osteoporotic fractures.

Introduction: To develop and validate a comprehensive prognostic model for the mid-to-long term mortality risk among ≥50-year-old osteoporotic fracture (OPF) surgical patients. Methods: Our retrospective investigation included data from the Osteoporotic Fracture Registration System established by the Affiliated Kunshan Hospital of Jiangsu University, and involved 1,656 patients in the development set and 675 patients in the validation set. Subsequently, we employed a multivariable Cox regression model to establish a 3-year mortality predicting nomogram, and the model performance was further evaluated using C-index and calibration plots. Decision curve analysis (DCA) was employed to assess feasibility of the clinical application of this model. Results: Using six prognostic indexes, namely, patient age, gender, the American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) score, the Charlson comorbidity index (CCI), fracture site, and fracture liaison service (FLS), we generated a simple nomogram. The nomogram demonstrated satisfactory discrimination within the development (C-index = 0.8416) and validation (C-index = 0.8084) sets. Using calibration plots, we also revealed good calibration. The model successfully classified patients into different risk categories and the results were comparable in both the development and validation sets. Finally, a 1-70% probability threshold, according to DCA, suggested that the model has promise in clinical settings. Conclusion: Herein, we offer a robust tool to estimating the 3-year all-cause mortality risk among elderly OPF surgical patients. However, we recommend further assessments of the proposed model prior to widespread clinical implementation.

Hypoxic environment promotes angiogenesis and bone bridge formation by activating Notch/RBPJ signaling pathway in HUVECs.

After epiphyseal fracture, the epiphyseal plate is prone to ischemia and hypoxia, leading to the formation of bone bridge and deformity. However, the exact mechanism controlling the bone bridge formation remains unclear. Notch/RBPJ signaling axis has been indicated to regulate angiogenesis and osteogenic differentiation. Our study aims to investigate the mechanism of bone bridge formation after epiphyseal plate injury, and to provide a theoretical basis for new therapeutic approaches to prevent the bone bridge formation. The expression of DLL4 and RBPJ was significantly up-regulated in HUVECs after ischemia and hypoxia treatment. Notch/RBPJ pathway positively regulated the osteogenic differentiation of BMSCs. HUVECs can induce osteogenic differentiation of BMSCs under ischemia and hypoxia. Notch/RBPJ pathway is involved in the regulation of the trans-epiphyseal bridge formation. Notch/RBPJ in HUVECs is associated with osteogenic differentiation of BMSCs and may participate in the regulation of the bone bridge formation across the epiphyseal plate.

UPK3A+ umbrella cell damage mediated by TLR3-NR2F6 triggers programmed destruction of urothelium in Hunner-type interstitial cystitis/painful bladder syndrome.

Urothelial damage and barrier dysfunction emerge as the foremost mechanisms in Hunner-type interstitial cystitis/bladder pain syndrome (HIC). Although treatments aimed at urothelial regeneration and repair have been employed, their therapeutic effectiveness remains limited due to the inadequate understanding of specific cell types involved in damage and the lack of specific molecular targets within these mechanisms. Therefore, we harnessed single-cell RNA sequencing to elucidate the heterogeneity and developmental trajectory of urothelial cells within HIC bladders. Through reclustering, we identified eight distinct clusters of urothelial cells. There was a significant reduction in UPK3A+ umbrella cells and a simultaneous increase in progenitor-like pluripotent cells (PPCs) within the HIC bladder. Pseudotime analysis of the urothelial cells in the HIC bladder revealed that cells faced challenges in differentiating into UPK3A+ umbrella cells, while PPCs exhibited substantial proliferation to compensate for the loss of UPK3A+ umbrella cells. The urothelium in HIC remains unrepaired, despite the substantial proliferation of PPCs. Thus, we propose that inhibiting the pivotal signaling pathways responsible for the injury to UPK3A+ umbrella cells is paramount for restoring the urothelial barrier and alleviating lower urinary tract symptoms in HIC patients. Subsequently, we identified key molecular pathways (TLR3 and NR2F6) associated with the injury of UPK3A+ umbrella cells in HIC urothelium. Finally, we conducted in vitro and in vivo experiments to confirm the potential of the TLR3-NR2F6 axis as a promising therapeutic target for HIC. These findings hold the potential to inhibit urothelial injury, providing promising clues for early diagnosis and functional bladder self-repair strategies for HIC patients. © 2024 The Pathological Society of Great Britain and Ireland.

The association of prealbumin, transferrin, and albumin with immunosenescence among elderly males.

OBJECTIVE: As people get older, the innate and acquired immunity of the elderly are affected, resulting in immunosenescence. Prealbumin (PAB), transferrin (TRF), and albumin (ALB) are commonly used markers to monitor protein energy malnutrition (PEM). However, their relationship with the immune system has not been fully explored. METHODS: In our study, a total of 93 subjects (≥65 years) were recruited from Tongji Hospital between January 2015 and February 2017. According to the serum levels of these proteins (PAB, TRF, and ALB), we divided the patients into the high serum protein group and the low serum protein group. Then, we compared the percent expression of lymphocyte subsets between two groups. RESULTS: All the low serum protein groups (PAB, TRF, and ALB) had significant decreases in the percentage of CD4+ cells, CD3+CD28+ cells, CD4+CD28+ cells and significant increases in the percentage of CD8+ cells, CD8+CD28- cells. PAB, TRF, and ALB levels revealed positive correlations with CD4/CD8 ratio, proportions of CD4+ cells, CD3+CD28+ cells, CD4+CD28+ cells, and negative correlation with proportions of CD8+ cells, CD8+CD28- cells. CONCLUSIONS: This study suggested PAB, TRF, and ALB could be used as immunosenescence indicators. PEM might accelerate the process of immunosenescence in elderly males.