Paired organoids from primary gastric cancer and lymphatic metastasis are useful for personalized medicine.

BACKGROUND: Organoids are approved by the US FDA as an alternative to animal experiments to guide drug development and for sensitivity screening. Stable organoids models of gastric cancer are desirable for personalized medicine and drug screening. METHODS: Tumor tissues from a primary cancer of the stomach and metastatic cancer of the lymph node were collected for 3D culture. By long-term culture for over 50 generations in vitro, we obtained stably growing organoid lines. We analyzed short tandem repeats (STRs) and karyotypes of cancer cells, and tumorigenesis of the organoids in nude mice, as well as multi-omics profiles of the organoids. A CCK8 method was used to determine the drugs sensitivity to fluorouracil (5-Fu), platinum and paclitaxel. RESULTS: Paired organoid lines from primary cancer (SPDO1P) and metastatic lymph node (SPDO1LM) were established with unique STRs and karyotypes. The organoid lines resulted in tumorigenesis in vivo and had clear genetic profiles. Compared to SPDO1P from primary cancer, upregulated genes of SPDO1LM from the metastatic lymph node were enriched in pathways of epithelial-mesenchymal transition and angiogenesis with stronger abilities of cell migration, invasion, and pro-angiogenesis. Based on drug sensitivity analysis, the SOX regimen (5-Fu plus oxaliplatin) was used for chemotherapy with an optimal clinical outcome. CONCLUSIONS: The organoid lines recapitulate the drug sensitivity of the parental tissues. The paired organoid lines present a step-change toward living biobanks for further translational usage.

Structure and performance regulation of energetic complexes through multifunctional molecular self-assembly.

The design of novel energetic compounds constitutes a pivotal research direction within the field of energetic materials. However, exploring the intricate relationship between their molecular structure and properties, in order to uncover their potential applications, remains a challenging endeavor. Therefore, employing multi-molecule assembly techniques to modulate the structure and performance of energetic materials holds immense significance. This approach enables the creation of a new generation of energetic materials, fueling research and development efforts in this field. In this study, a series of coordination compounds are synthesized by utilizing tetranitroethide (TNE) as an anion, which possesses a high nitrogen and oxygen content. The synthesis involves the synergistic modification between metal ions and small molecule ligands. Characterization of the obtained compounds is carried out using various techniques, including single crystal X-ray diffraction, IR spectroscopy, elemental analysis, and simultaneous TG-DSC analysis. Additionally, the energy of formation for these compounds is calculated using bomb calorimetry, based on the heat of combustion. The detonation performances of the compounds are determined through calculations using the EXPLO 5 software, and their sensitivities to external stimuli are evaluated.

Dopamine in the regulation of glucose and lipid metabolism: a narrative review.

OBJECTIVE: Owing to the global obesity epidemic, understanding the regulatory mechanisms of glucose and lipid metabolism has become increasingly important. The dopaminergic system, including dopamine, dopamine receptors, dopamine transporters, and other components, is involved in numerous physiological and pathological processes. However, the mechanism of action of the dopaminergic system in glucose and lipid metabolism is poorly understood. In this review, we examine the role of the dopaminergic system in glucose and lipid metabolism. RESULTS: The dopaminergic system regulates glucose and lipid metabolism through several mechanisms. It regulates various activities at the central level, including appetite control and decision-making, which contribute to regulating body weight and energy metabolism. In the pituitary gland, dopamine inhibits prolactin production and promotes insulin secretion through dopamine receptor 2. Furthermore, it can influence various physiological components in the peripheral system, such as pancreatic ß cells, glucagon-like peptide-1, adipocytes, hepatocytes, and muscle, by regulating insulin and glucagon secretion, glucose uptake and use, and fatty acid metabolism. CONCLUSIONS: The role of dopamine in regulating glucose and lipid metabolism has significant implications for the physiology and pathogenesis of disease. The potential therapeutic value of dopamine lies in its effects on metabolic disorders.

Nanocoated bacteria with H2S generation-triggered self-amplified photothermal and photodynamic effect for breast cancer therapy.

Phototherapy utilizing bacterial carriers has demonstrated efficacy in anti-tumor therapy, while the poor delivery of phototherapeutic agents and immunogenicity of microbial substances remain problematic. Herein, we develop a nanocoated bacterial delivery system (IF-S.T) that in situ forms the efficient photothermal agents via biomineralization and improves the intracellular oxygenation, thus triggering the self-enhanced photothermal therapy (PTT) and photodynamic therapy (PDT) on tumor. We densely coat self-assembled IF (ICG-Fe2+) nanocomplex onto the surface of LT2, weakly virulent strain of Salmonella typhimurium (S.T), by bioadaptive nanocoating techniques, masking bacterial virulence factors and reducing the potential immune adverse effects. Upon penetrating into the tumor environment, IF-S.T responds to H2O2 to trigger the removal of the IF coating, where S.T produces excess hydrogen sulfide (H2S). H2S reacts with Fe2+, yielding ferrous sulfide (FeS) for PTT, and inhibits mitochondrial respiration to enhance tumor cell oxygenation for PDT. Consequently, IF-S.T plus laser irradiation exhibits direct tumor cells killing and elicits robust antitumor immune responses, leading to the complete tumor elimination. Thus, IF-S.T represents a promising platform for effective tumor delivery of photoactive agents for improved PTT/PDT efficacy.

Broadband and fabrication-tolerant 3-dB couplers with topological valley edge modes.

3-dB couplers, which are commonly used in photonic integrated circuits for on-chip information processing, precision measurement, and quantum computing, face challenges in achieving robust performance due to their limited 3-dB bandwidths and sensitivity to fabrication errors. To address this, we introduce topological physics to nanophotonics, developing a framework for topological 3-dB couplers. These couplers exhibit broad working wavelength range and robustness against fabrication dimensional errors. By leveraging valley-Hall topology and mirror symmetry, the photonic-crystal-slab couplers achieve ideal 3-dB splitting characterized by a wavelength-insensitive scattering matrix. Tolerance analysis confirms the superiority on broad bandwidth of 48 nm and robust splitting against dimensional errors of 20 nm. We further propose a topological interferometer for on-chip distance measurement, which also exhibits robustness against dimensional errors. This extension of topological principles to the fields of interferometers, may open up new possibilities for constructing robust wavelength division multiplexing, temperature-drift-insensitive sensing, and optical coherence tomography applications.

The Benefit of the Optimized Formula of Yinxieling in Psoriasis Vulgaris via Regulation on Autophagy Based on microRNA Expression Profile and Network Pharmacology Analysis.

Background: Psoriasis is a widespread chronic, immune-mediated skin disease with frequent recurrences, and is extremely harmful to the physical and mental health of patients, causing enormous suffering and exerting considerable economic burdens on the health care system as a whole. In more than a decade of clinical use, the optimized formula of Yinxieling (PSORI-CM01) has consistently demonstrated its effectiveness for treating psoriasis. However, its underlying mechanism remains largely unexplored. Methods: The network pharmacology analysis was conducted to predict the mechanism and protective effect of PSORI-CM01 in treating psoriasis. Subsequently, we collected blood samples from 21 patients with psoriasis as part of a randomized, double-blind, and double-dummy clinical trial for microRNA expression profiling. Finally, it was experimentally confirmed that PSORI-CM01 improved psoriasis by regulating miR-20a-3p and miR-3184-3p expression. Results: As a result of the network pharmacology analysis, PSORI-CM01 improved psoriasis through the regulation of autophagy, cellular apoptosis, cellular proliferation, and anti-inflammatory processes. In the target-miRNA regulatory network, these key targets were mainly associated with the regulation of hsa-miR-20a-3p, hsa-miR-155-5p, has-miR-3184-3p, hsa-miR-328-3p and hsa-miR-124-3p. Based on the microRNA expression profiling results, the PSORI-CM01 treatment group exhibited five up-regulated genes and 16 down-regulated genes compared with the healthy control group. In particular, miR-20a-3p and miR-3184-3p were the primary differentially expressed microRNAs, and they were significantly enriched in the signaling pathways involving autophagy, apoptosis, proliferation, and anti-inflammation. Further experiments confirmed that PSORI-CM01 effectively regulates miR-20a-3p and miR-3184-3p, resulting in increased autophagy. Conclusion: We demonstrated by combining network pharmacology and clinical studies of miRNA expression profiles in PBMCs that PSORI-CM01 effectively modulated miR-20a-3p and miR-3184-3p, leading to an increase in autophagy and a decrease in keratinocyte proliferation.

Pathomics and single-cell analysis of papillary thyroid carcinoma reveal the pro-metastatic influence of cancer-associated fibroblasts.

BACKGROUND: Papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC) is globally prevalent and associated with an increased risk of lymph node metastasis (LNM). The role of cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) in PTC remains unclear. METHODS: We collected postoperative pathological hematoxylin-eosin (HE) slides from 984 included patients with PTC to analyze the density of CAF infiltration at the invasive front of the tumor using QuPath software. The relationship between CAF density and LNM was assessed. Single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) data from GSE193581 and GSE184362 datasets were integrated to analyze CAF infiltration in PTC. A comprehensive suite of in vitro experiments, encompassing EdU labeling, wound scratch assays, Transwell assays, and flow cytometry, were conducted to elucidate the regulatory role of CD36+CAF in two PTC cell lines, TPC1 and K1. RESULTS: A significant correlation was observed between high fibrosis density at the invasive front of the tumor and LNM. Analysis of scRNA-seq data revealed metastasis-associated myoCAFs with robust intercellular interactions. A diagnostic model based on metastasis-associated myoCAF genes was established and refined through deep learning methods. CD36 positive expression in CAFs can significantly promote the proliferation, migration, and invasion abilities of PTC cells, while inhibiting the apoptosis of PTC cells. CONCLUSION: This study addresses the significant issue of LNM risk in PTC. Analysis of postoperative HE pathological slides from a substantial patient cohort reveals a notable association between high fibrosis density at the invasive front of the tumor and LNM. Integration of scRNA-seq data comprehensively analyzes CAF infiltration in PTC, identifying metastasis-associated myoCAFs with strong intercellular interactions. In vitro experimental results indicate that CD36 positive expression in CAFs plays a promoting role in the progression of PTC. Overall, these findings provide crucial insights into the function of CAF subset in PTC metastasis.

The Prognostic Value and Potential Immune Mechanisms of lncRNAs Related to Immunogenic Cell Death in Papillary Thyroid Carcinoma.

Background: Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) associated with immunogenic cell death (ICD) play a pivotal role in tumorigenesis and offer prognostic insights for papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC) patients. This study delves into the impact of ICD-related lncRNAs on the prognosis of PTC. Methods: PTC samples were accessed from The Cancer Genome Atlas-Thyroid carcinoma database (TCGA-THCA) and consensus cluster analysis to elucidate the influence of ICD-related lncRNA expression. To gauge the prognostic significance of these lncRNAs, we developed a prognostic model. Additionally, we conducted GO and KEGG enrichment analyses, assessed immune cell infiltration (ICI) using CIBERSORT and ssGSEA, examined immune checkpoint expression, tumor mutation burden (TMB), tumor microenvironment (TME), T-cell dysfunction and exclusion (TIDE), TCIA, and drug sensitivity across various groups. A comprehensive suite of in vitro experiments, encompassing EdU labeling, wound scratch assays, Transwell assays, and flow cytometry, were conducted to elucidate the regulatory role of LINC00924 in two PTC cell lines, BCPAP and TPC1, transfected with LINC00924 overexpression plasmids. Results: Two distinct clusters demonstrated varying TME, BRAF, NRAS, and ICI characteristics, suggesting potential immune mechanisms in PTC. Our prognostic model identified seven lncRNAs: SRRM2-AS1, AC008556.1, BHLHE40-AS1, EGOT, AL39066.1, LINC00924, and PICART1. The expression of ICD-related lncRNAs correlated with progression-free interval (PFI) in PTC patients. Overexpression of LINC00924 significantly reduced cell proliferation, migration, and invasion, while augmenting apoptosis in PTC cells. Conclusion: Our findings highlight the potential of ICD-related lncRNAs as prognostic biomarkers for PFI in PTC. In vitro experiments suggest a protective role of LINC00924 in PTC progression.

The Influence of Electroluminescent Inhomogeneous Phase Addition on Enhancing MgB2 Superconducting Performance and Magnetic Flux Pinning.

As a highly regarded superconducting material with a concise layered structure, MgB2 has attracted significant scientific attention and holds vast potential for applications. However, its limited current-carrying capacity under high magnetic fields has greatly hindered its practical use. To address this issue, we have enhanced the superconducting performance of MgB2 by incorporating inhomogeneous phase nanostructures of p-n junctions with electroluminescent properties. Through temperature-dependent measurements of magnetization, electronic specific heat, and Hall coefficient under various magnetic fields, we have confirmed the crucial role of inhomogeneous phase electroluminescent nanostructures in improving the properties of MgB2. Experimental results demonstrate that the introduction of electroluminescent inhomogeneous phases effectively enhances the superconducting performance of MgB2. Moreover, by controlling the size of the electroluminescent inhomogeneous phases and optimizing grain connectivity, density, and microstructural uniformity, we can further improve the critical temperature (TC) and flux-pinning capability of MgB2 superconducting materials. Comprehensive studies on the physical properties of MgB2 superconducting structures added with p-n junction electroluminescent inhomogeneous phases also confirm the general effectiveness of electroluminescent inhomogeneous phases in enhancing the performance of superconducting materials.

DNMT3L inhibits hepatocellular carcinoma progression through DNA methylation of CDO1: insights from big data to basic research.

BACKGROUND: DNMT3L is a crucial DNA methylation regulatory factor, yet its function and mechanism in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) remain poorly understood. Bioinformatics-based big data analysis has increasingly gained significance in cancer research. Therefore, this study aims to elucidate the role of DNMT3L in HCC by integrating big data analysis with experimental validation. METHODS: Dozens of HCC datasets were collected to analyze the expression of DNMT3L and its relationship with prognostic indicators, and were used for molecular regulatory relationship evaluation. The effects of DNMT3L on the malignant phenotypes of hepatoma cells were confirmed in vitro and in vivo. The regulatory mechanisms of DNMT3L were explored through MSP, western blot, and dual-luciferase assays. RESULTS: DNMT3L was found to be downregulated in HCC tissues and associated with better prognosis. Overexpression of DNMT3L inhibits cell proliferation and metastasis. Additionally, CDO1 was identified as a target gene of DNMT3L and also exhibits anti-cancer effects. DNMT3L upregulates CDO1 expression by competitively inhibiting DNMT3A-mediated methylation of CDO1 promoter. CONCLUSIONS: Our study revealed the role and epi-transcriptomic regulatory mechanism of DNMT3L in HCC, and underscored the essential role and applicability of big data analysis in elucidating complex biological processes.

Diagnosis, Treatment, and Associated Factors Among Patients with HCV Infection - Jiangsu Province, China, 2004-2020.

What is already known on this topic?: The global efforts to address the hepatitis C virus (HCV) are progressing, but there are still significant gaps in the diagnosis and treatment of HCV, leading to an increasing number of deaths related to HCV. What is added by this report?: An extensive investigation was conducted to assess HCV RNA diagnosis, treatment uptake, and associated factors among individuals infected with HCV within Jiangsu Province. The study encompassed a large geographical area and utilized a substantial sample size. What are the implications for public health practice?: Implementing focused interventions to improve the timely diagnosis of HCV RNA and increase the uptake of HCV treatment could effectively reduce the future burden of HCV-related health problems, deaths, and healthcare expenses. This is essential for achieving the global target of eliminating hepatitis C.

Construction and preliminary application of a training program of operating room nurses for returning to work after delivery based on work adaptation theory / 中华护理杂志

Objective To construct a training program for retuming to work after delivery based on Morrison's job adaptation theory in operating room nurses and to explore its application effect.Methods On the basis of literature research and Delphi expert consultation method,a training program of postpartum return of operating room nurses was constructed.From August 2021 to December 2022,the preliminary application of this research program was carried out,with 6 cases in an experimental group and 5 cases in a control group.The differences between the 2 groups were compared by Job Adaptation Scale,Psychological Resilience Scale and satisfaction evaluation,and the application effect was evaluated.Results After 2 rounds of correspondence,a training program for postpartum return of operating room nurses was formed,which included 4 first-level indicators(role adaptation,task adaptation,environment adaptation and cultural adaptation),and 32 second-level indicators.The authority coefficients of the 2 rounds of correspondence consultation were 0.908 and 0.917,and the Kendall W coefficients were 0.224 and 0.206,respectively(both P＜0.001).The preliminary application results showed that there were statistically significant differences in job adaptation and satisfaction evaluation between the 2 groups(both P＜0.05).There was no significant difference in psychological resilience score between groups(P＞0.05).Conclusion The postpartum retum training program for operating room nurses established in this study is scientific and practical to a certain extent.In the future,samples can be expanded and multi-center studies can be carried out to further test the practicability and effectiveness of the program.

Value of left ventricular shape index and eccentricity index of gated myocardial perfusion imaging in the evaluation of left ventricular remodeling in patients with myocardial infarction / 中华核医学与分子影像杂志

Objective:To investigate the clinical value of left ventricular shape index (SI) and eccentricity index (EI) in evaluating left ventricular remodeling.Methods:A retrospective analysis was performed on 324 patients (264 males, 60 females, age (62.5±11.8) years) diagnosed with myocardial infarction (MI) and 113 healthy controls (HC; 47 males, 66 females, age (57.8±10.7) years) who received gated myocardial perfusion imaging (GMPI) in First Hospital of Shanxi Medical University from January 2016 to September 2020. SI (end-diastolic SI (EDSI), end-systolic SI (ESSI)), EI and left ventricular function parameters (end-diastolic volume (EDV), end-systolic volume (ESV), left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF), summed motion score (SMS), summed thickening score (STS), peak ejection rate (PER) and peak filling rate (PFR)) were obtained by quantitative gated SPECT (QGS) software. Propensity score (PS) inverse probability of treatment weighting (IPTW) was used to balance the intergroup covariates. The differences and correlations of EDSI, ESSI, EI and left ventricular function parameters between patients in MI group and HC group were analyzed. ROC curve analysis was used to evaluate the values of EDV, EDSI, ESSI and EI alone and in combination in the assessment of left ventricular systolic function impairment. Data were analyzed by independent-sample t test, Pearson correlation and Spearman rank correlation analyses, and Delong test. Results:After IPTW, EDSI and ESSI in MI group ( n=319) were higher than those in HC group ( n=133; EDSI: 0.66±0.09 vs 0.60±0.06; ESSI: 0.59±0.11 vs 0.47±0.07; t values: 8.05, 14.67, both P<0.001), and EI was lower than that in HC group (0.81±0.06 vs 0.85±0.03; t=-8.93, P<0.001). In both groups, there were significant correlations between EDSI and ESSI ( r values: 0.928, 0.873), between EDSI, ESSI and EI ( r values: from -0.831 to -0.641), between EDSI, ESSI and LVEF ( r values: from -0.627 to -0.201), between ESSI and EDV, ESV and SMS ( rs values: 0.336-0.584), between ESSI and -PER, PFR ( rs values: from -0.406 to -0.402, r values: from -0.352 to -0.325) (all P<0.01). ROC curve analysis showed that EDV (AUC: 0.895) and ESSI (AUC: 0.839) had the highest efficacy in evaluating left ventricular systolic function impairment in MI group and HC group, respectively. EDV-EDSI-ESSI-(1-EI) had higher efficacy in the assessment of impaired left ventricular systolic function in MI group (AUC: 0.956), which was higher than that of EDV or EDV-EDSI or EDV-ESSI or EDV-(1-EI) ( z values: from -2.64 to -2.18, P values: 0.008-0.029); EDV-EDSI-ESSI-(1-EI) also had high efficacy in HC group (AUC: 0.911), which was higher than that of EDV or EDV-EDSI or EDV-(1-EI) ( z values: from -2.60 to -2.43, P values: 0.009-0.015). Conclusions:In MI patients, the increase of SI and the decrease of EI indicate the increase of left ventricular sphericity and the aggravation of left ventricular remodeling. SI and EI have certain clinical application values in evaluating left ventricular morphology, predicting left ventricular remodeling and left ventricular systolic function impairment.

Punicalagin treats postmenopausal osteoporosis by promoting osteogenesis / 中国组织工程研究

BACKGROUND:Punicalagin has a wide range of effects and high safety,but its effect on osteoblasts and postmenopausal osteoporosis is unknown. OBJECTIVE:To investigate the effect of punicalagin on osteoblasts and postmenopausal osteoporosis. METHODS:The effect of punicalagin on the proliferation of MC3T3-E1 cells was detected.Punicalagin was added to the osteogenic induction medium to detect its effect on osteogenic differentiation.Punicalagin was used to treat ovariectomized rats and Micro CT scan and serum procollagen type 1 N-terminal propeptide test were performed after 3 months to detect the therapeutic effect. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:Cell counting kit-8 assay showed that punicalagin could promote the proliferation of osteoblasts(P＜0.05).The results of qRT-PCR and western blot showed that punicalagin could promote the mRNA and protein expressions of alkaline phosphatase and Runx2 in osteoblasts(P＜0.05).The results of Micro CT scan and serological test showed that punicalagin could improve bone mineral density,bone volume fraction,trabecular thickness,trabecular number and procollagen type 1 N-terminal propeptide level of ovariectomized rats.To conclude,punicalagin can promote osteoblast proliferation and differentiation,and have therapeutic effects in postmenopausal osteoporosis rats.

Influencing factors for efficacy of microvascular decompression in primary trigeminal neuralgia / 中华神经医学杂志

Objective:To analyze the influencing factors for efficacy of microvascular decompression (MVD) in primary trigeminal neuralgia (PTN).Methods:A retrospective study was performed. Clinical data of 178 patients with PTN underwent MVD at Department of Neurosurgery, Affiliated Hospital Affiliated to Nantong University from January 2018 to April 2022 were collected. Efficacy was evaluated according to Brisman's criteria. Differences of MVD efficacy in patients with different clinical characteristics or different neurovascular characteristics were compared. Multivariate Logistic regression was used to analyze the independent influencing factors for MVD efficacy.Results:All patients were followed up for about 2 years; at the last follow-up, 164 patients (92.13%) had good postoperative efficacy (130 were cured, 28 were obvious improved, and 6 were improved); 14 patients (7.87%) had poor postoperative efficacy (10 were ineffective and 4 were relapsed). No significant difference in surgical efficacy was noted among patients with different gender, age, left/right lateral pain, disease courses or pain degrees ( P>0.05). Patients with different contact degrees between the trigeminal nerve and blood vessels, different distances between the trigeminal nerve and blood vessels, and different curvature degrees of the posterior trigeminal nerve had significantly different surgical efficacy ( P<0.05). Multivariate Logistic regression indicated that contact degrees between the trigeminal nerve and blood vessels ( OR=0.233, 95% CI: 0.080-0.675, P=0.007), distances between the trigeminal nerve and blood vessels ( OR=6.991, 95% CI: 3.261-14.984, P=0.000), and curvature degrees of the posterior trigeminal nerve ( OR=0.351, 95% CI: 0.158-0.776, P<0.001) were independent influencing factors for postoperative outcomes. Conclusion:The postoperative efficacy is good in patients with slight contact between the trigeminal nerve and blood vessels, with distance between the trigeminal nerve and blood vessels greater than 1×time median width of the trigeminal nerve (WTN), or with hypotenuse height of the arced trigeminal nerve less than 1/2 WTN.

Upregulation of SLAMF8 aggravates ischemia/reperfusion-induced ferroptosis and injury in cardiomyocyte.

BACKGROUND: Myocardial infarction (MI) is a cardiovascular diseases, that seriously threatens human life. Signaling lymphocytic activation molecule family member 8 (SLAMF8) has been discovered to regulate the development and function of many immune cells. However, there are limited reports on SLAMF8 in the field of cardiopathy, and its regulatory role also remains unclear. METHODS: The mRNA and protein expressions of genes were examined through RT-qPCR and western blot. The infarct size in heart was assessed through TTC staining. The pathological section of heart tissue was evaluated through HE staining. The iron, Fe2+, MDA and SOD levels were assessed through the corresponding commercial kits. The ROS level was detected through Immunofluorescence (IF) staining. The cell viability and cell apoptosis were assessed through MTT assay and flow cytometry. RESULTS: Through GEO (GSE84796) database, SLAMF8 exhibited higher expression in heart failure patients. Furthermore, the ischemia/reperfusion SD rat (ischemia/reperfusion, I/R treatment) and H9C2 cell (hypoxia/reoxygenation, H/R treatment) models were set up. The mRNA and protein levels of SLAMF8 were upregulated in ischemia/reperfusion SD rat and H9C2 cell models. In addition, SLAMF8 inhibition alleviated ischemia/reperfusion-induced myocardial injury in SD rats. Moreover, SLAMF8 suppression inhibited ischemia/reperfusion-induced ferroptosis and oxidative stress. Further experiments were performed in H/R stimulated H9C2 cells, and the results showed that SLAMF8 knockdown alleviated H/R-induced cardiomyocyte death, ferroptosis and oxidative stress in H/R-induced cardiomyocyte. Lastly, SLAMF8 activated the TLR4/NOX4 pathway in I/R treated-SD rats or H/R treated-H9C2 cells. CONCLUSION: SLAMF8 aggravated ischemia/reperfusion-induced ferroptosis and injury in cardiomyocyte. This discovery may provide a useful bio-target for MI treatment.

Green-Light GaN p-n Junction Luminescent Particles Enhance the Superconducting Properties of B(P)SCCO Smart Meta-Superconductors (SMSCs).

Superconducting materials exhibit unique physical properties and have great scientific value and vast industrial application prospects. However, due to limitations, such as the critical temperature (TC) and critical current density (JC), the large-scale application of superconducting materials remains challenging. Chemical doping has been a commonly used method to enhance the superconductivity of B(P)SCCO. However, satisfactory enhancement results have been difficult to achieve. In this study, we introduce green-light GaN p-n junction particles as inhomogeneous phases into B(P)SCCO polycrystalline particles to form a smart meta-superconductor (SMSC) structure. Based on the electroluminescence properties of the p-n junction, the Cooper pairs were stimulated and strengthened to enhance the superconductivity of B(P)SCCO. The experimental results demonstrate that the introduction of inhomogeneous phases can indeed enhance the critical temperature TC, critical current density JC, and complete diamagnetism (Meissner effect) of B(P)SCCO superconductors. Moreover, when the particle size of the raw material of B(P)SCCO is reduced from 30 to 5 µm, the grain size of the sintered samples also decreases, and the optimal doping concentration of the inhomogeneous phases increases from 0.15 wt.% to 0.2 wt.%, further improving the superconductivity.

Reliability, Validity, and Identification Ability of a Commercialized Waist-Attached Inertial Measurement Unit (IMU) Sensor-Based System in Fall Risk Assessment of Older People.

Falls are a prevalent cause of injury among older people. While some wearable inertial measurement unit (IMU) sensor-based systems have been widely investigated for fall risk assessment, their reliability, validity, and identification ability in community-dwelling older people remain unclear. Therefore, this study evaluated the performance of a commercially available IMU sensor-based fall risk assessment system among 20 community-dwelling older recurrent fallers (with a history of ≥2 falls in the past 12 months) and 20 community-dwelling older non-fallers (no history of falls in the past 12 months), together with applying the clinical scale of the Mini-Balance Evaluation Systems Test (Mini-BESTest). The results show that the IMU sensor-based system exhibited a significant moderate to excellent test-retest reliability (ICC = 0.838, p < 0.001), an acceptable level of internal consistency reliability (Spearman's rho = 0.471, p = 0.002), an acceptable convergent validity (Cronbach's α = 0.712), and an area under the curve (AUC) value of 0.590 for the IMU sensor-based receiver-operating characteristic (ROC) curve. The findings suggest that while the evaluated IMU sensor-based system exhibited good reliability and acceptable validity, it might not be able to fully identify the recurrent fallers and non-fallers in a community-dwelling older population. Further system optimization is still needed.

Remodeling the tumor immune microenvironment via siRNA therapy for precision cancer treatment.

How to effectively transform the pro-oncogenic tumor microenvironments (TME) surrounding a tumor into an anti-tumoral never fails to attract people to study. Small interfering RNA (siRNA) is considered one of the most noteworthy research directions that can regulate gene expression following a process known as RNA interference (RNAi). The research about siRNA delivery targeting tumor cells and TME has been on the rise in recent years. Using siRNA drugs to silence critical proteins in TME was one of the most efficient solutions. However, the manufacture of a siRNA delivery system faces three major obstacles, i.e., appropriate cargo protection, accurately targeted delivery, and site-specific cargo release. In the following review, we summarized the pharmacological actions of siRNA drugs in remolding TME. In addition, the delivery strategies of siRNA drugs and combination therapy with siRNA drugs to remodel TME are thoroughly discussed. In the meanwhile, the most recent advancements in the development of all clinically investigated and commercialized siRNA delivery technologies are also presented. Ultimately, we propose that nanoparticle drug delivery siRNA may be the future research focus of oncogene therapy. This summary offers a thorough analysis and roadmap for general readers working in the field.

Comparative transcriptome analysis reveals candidate genes related to the sex differentiation of Schisandra chinensis.

Schisandra chinensis is a monoecious plant with unisex flowers. The fruit of S. chinensis is of high medical with economic value. The yield of S. chinensis fruit is related to the ratio of its female and male flowers. However, there is little research on its floral development and sex differentiation. To elucidate the possible mechanism for the sex differentiation of S. chinensis, we collected 18 samples of female and male flowers from three developmental stages and performed a comparative RNA-seq analysis aimed at identifying differentially expressed genes (DEGs) that may be related to sex differentiation. The results showed 936, 7179, and 6890 differentially expressed genes between female and male flowers at three developmental stages, respectively, and 466 candidate genes may play roles in sex differentiation. KEGG analysis showed genes involved in the flavonoid biosynthesis pathway and DNA replication pathway were essential for the development of female flowers. 51 MADS-box genes and 10 YABBY genes were identified in S. chinensis. The DEGs analysis indicated that MADS-box and YABBY genes were strongly related to the sex determination of S. chinensis. RT-qPCR confirmed the RNA-seq results of 20 differentially expressed genes, including three male-biased genes and 17 female-biased genes. A possible regulatory model of sex differentiation in S. chinensis was proposed according to our results. This study helps reveal the sex-differentiation mechanism of S. chinensis and lays the foundation for regulating the male-female ratio of S. chinensis in the future.