Synthesis of 1-Benzyl-2,4-diarylimidazole through I2/CuI-Catalyzed Cyclization of Benzylamine and Hydrazone.

In this paper, we report an innovative method for synthesizing 1-benzyl-2,4-diarylimidazole utilizing 1-phenylethanone-2-(2-pyridinyl) hydrazine and benzylamine, catalyzed by an I2/CuI system. This approach represents a significant departure from traditional methods for synthesizing polysubstituted imidazoles; it employs the I2/CuI catalyst to replace rare metal catalysts, thereby achieving high yields of substitution products (≤85%). This method for the generation of 1,2,4-triimidazole derivatives is characterized by its exceptional chemical selectivity and extensive substrate compatibility.

Preparation and Preliminary Structure-Activity Relationship Studies of Schwarzinicine A Analogs as Vasorelaxant Agents.

Schwarzinicines A-D, a series of alkaloids recently discovered from Ficus schwarzii, exhibit pronounced vasorelaxant activity in rat isolated aorta. Building on this finding, a concise synthesis of schwarzinicines A and B has been reported, allowing further investigations into their biological properties. Herein, a preliminary exploration of the chemical space surrounding the structure of schwarzinicine A (1) was carried out aiming to identify structural features that are essential for vasorelaxant activity. A total of 57 analogs were synthesized and tested for vasorelaxant activity in rat isolated aorta. Both efficacy (Emax) and potency (EC50) of these analogs were compared. In addition to identifying structural features that are required for activity or associated with potency enhancement effect, four analogs showed significant potency improvements of up to 40.2-fold when compared to 1. Molecular dynamics simulation of a tetrameric 44-bound transient receptor potential canonical-6 (TRPC6) protein indicated that 44 could potentially form important interactions with the residues Glu509, Asp530, Lys748, Arg758, and Tyr521. These results may serve as a foundation for guiding further structural optimization of the schwarzinicine A scaffold, aiming to discover even more potent analogs.

Neural EGFL-like 1, a craniosynostosis-related osteochondrogenic molecule, strikingly associates with neurodevelopmental pathologies.

Various craniofacial syndromes cause skeletal malformations and are accompanied by neurological abnormalities at different levels, leading to tremendous biomedical, financial, social, and psychological burdens. Accumulating evidence highlights the importance of identifying and characterizing the genetic basis that synchronously modulates musculoskeletal and neurobehavioral development and function. Particularly, previous studies from different groups have suggested that neural EGFL-like-1 (Nell-1), a well-established osteochondrogenic inducer whose biopotency was initially identified in the craniofacial tissues, may also play a vital role in the central nervous system, particularly regarding neurological disorder pathologies. To provide first-hand behavior evidence if Nell-1 also has a role in central nervous system abnormalities, we compared the Nell-1-haploinsufficient (Nell-1+/6R) mice with their wild-type counterparts regarding their repetitive, social communication, anxiety-related, locomotor, sensory processing-related, motor coordination, and Pavlovian learning and memory behaviors, as well as their hippocampus transcriptional profile. Interestingly, Nell-1+/6R mice demonstrated core autism spectrum disorder-like deficits, which could be corrected by Risperidone, an FDA-approved anti-autism, anti-bipolar medicine. Besides, transcriptomic analyses identified 269 differential expressed genes, as well as significantly shifted alternative splicing of ubiquitin B pseudogene Gm1821, in the Nell-1+/6R mouse hippocampus, which confirmed that Nell-1 plays a role in neurodevelopment. Therefore, the current study verifies that Nell-1 regulates neurological development and function for the first time. Moreover, this study opens new avenues for understanding and treating craniofacial patients suffering from skeletal deformities and behavior, memory, and cognition difficulties by uncovering a novel bone-brain-crosstalk network. Furthermore, the transcriptomic analysis provides the first insight into deciphering the mechanism of Nell-1 in neurodevelopment.

Bisphosphonate conjugation enhances the bone-specificity of NELL-1-based systemic therapy for spaceflight-induced bone loss in mice.

Microgravity-induced bone loss results in a 1% bone mineral density loss monthly and can be a mission critical factor in long-duration spaceflight. Biomolecular therapies with dual osteogenic and anti-resorptive functions are promising for treating extreme osteoporosis. We previously confirmed that NELL-like molecule-1 (NELL-1) is crucial for bone density maintenance. We further PEGylated NELL-1 (NELL-polyethylene glycol, or NELL-PEG) to increase systemic delivery half-life from 5.5 to 15.5 h. In this study, we used a bio-inert bisphosphonate (BP) moiety to chemically engineer NELL-PEG into BP-NELL-PEG and specifically target bone tissues. We found conjugation with BP improved hydroxyapatite (HA) binding and protein stability of NELL-PEG while preserving NELL-1's osteogenicity in vitro. Furthermore, BP-NELL-PEG showed superior in vivo bone specificity without observable pathology in liver, spleen, lungs, brain, heart, muscles, or ovaries of mice. Finally, we tested BP-NELL-PEG through spaceflight exposure onboard the International Space Station (ISS) at maximal animal capacity (n = 40) in a long-term (9 week) osteoporosis therapeutic study and found that BP-NELL-PEG significantly increased bone formation in flight and ground control mice without obvious adverse health effects. Our results highlight BP-NELL-PEG as a promising therapeutic to mitigate extreme bone loss from long-duration microgravity exposure and musculoskeletal degeneration on Earth, especially when resistance training is not possible due to incapacity (e.g., bone fracture, stroke).

Geraniin Ameliorates Hypertensive Vascular Remodelling in a Diet-Induced Obese Animal Model through Antioxidant and Anti-Inflammatory Effects.

Geraniin, an ellagitannin, has shown a potent blood pressure-lowering effect in vivo. Therefore, this study aims to further characterize the ability of geraniin to attenuate hypertensive vascular dysfunction, a key feature of cardiovascular disease (CVD) development. Hypertension was induced in male Sprague-Dawley rats through feeding a high-fat diet (HFD) for eight weeks, followed by oral administration of 25 mg/kg/day geraniin for four weeks. The parameters of vascular dysfunction such as the structure and function of blood vessels as well as the vascular oxidative stress and inflammation were evaluated. The outcomes of geraniin-treated rats were compared with those of untreated rats on either a normal diet (ND) or HFD and with HFD-fed rats treated with captopril (40 mg/kg/day). We found that geraniin supplementation effectively ameliorated HFD-induced hypertension and abnormal remodelling of the thoracic aorta by suppressing excessive vascular superoxide (O2-) radical generation and overexpression of pro-inflammatory mediators in the circulating leukocytes. Furthermore, compared to the ND-fed rats, geraniin also independently promoted the significant enlargement of the thoracic aortic lumen for blood pressure reduction. Notably, the vascular benefits of geraniin were comparable to that of captopril. Collectively, these data suggest that geraniin can mitigate hypertensive vascular remodelling caused by overnutrition, which potentially abrogates the further development of CVDs.

Specific host metabolite and gut microbiome alterations are associated with bone loss during spaceflight.

Understanding the axis of the human microbiome and physiological homeostasis is an essential task in managing deep-space-travel-associated health risks. The NASA-led Rodent Research 5 mission enabled an ancillary investigation of the gut microbiome, varying exposure to microgravity (flight) relative to ground controls in the context of previously shown bone mineral density (BMD) loss that was observed in these flight groups. We demonstrate elevated abundance of Lactobacillus murinus and Dorea sp. during microgravity exposure relative to ground control through whole-genome sequencing and 16S rRNA analyses. Specific functionally assigned gene clusters of L. murinus and Dorea sp. capable of producing metabolites, lactic acid, leucine/isoleucine, and glutathione are enriched. These metabolites are elevated in the microgravity-exposed host serum as shown by liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) metabolomic analysis. Along with BMD loss, ELISA reveals increases in osteocalcin and reductions in tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase 5b signifying additional loss of bone homeostasis in flight.

Microplastic concentrations in river water and bed sediments in a tropical river: implications for water quality monitoring.

Recent increase in awareness of the extent of microplastic contamination in marine and freshwater systems has heightened concerns over the ecological and human health risks of this ubiquitous material. Assessing risks posed by microplastic in freshwater systems requires sampling to establish contamination levels, but standard sampling protocols have yet to be established. An important question is whether sampling and assessment should focus on microplastic concentrations in the water or the amount deposited on the bed. On three dates, five replicated water and bed sediment samples were collected from each of the eight sites along the upper reach of the Semenyih River, Malaysia. Microplastics were found in all 160 samples, with mean concentrations of 3.12 ± 2.49 particles/L in river water and 6027.39 ± 16,585.87 particles/m2 deposited on the surface of riverbed sediments. Fibres were the dominant type of microplastic in all samples, but fragments made up a greater proportion of the material on the bed than in the water. Within-site variability in microplastic abundance was high for both water and bed sediments, and very often greater than between-site variability. Patterns suggest that microplastic accumulation on the bed is spatially variable, and single samples are therefore inadequate for assessing bed contamination levels at a site. Sites with the highest mean concentrations in samples of water were not those with the highest concentrations on the bed, indicating that monitoring based only on water samples may not provide a good picture of either relative or absolute bed contamination levels, nor the risks posed to benthic organisms.

A novel injectable fibromodulin-releasing granular hydrogel for tendon healing and functional recovery.

A crucial component of the musculoskeletal system, the tendon is one of the most commonly injured tissues in the body. In severe cases, the ruptured tendon leads to permanent dysfunction. Although many efforts have been devoted to seeking a safe and efficient treatment for enhancing tendon healing, currently existing treatments have not yet achieved a major clinical improvement. Here, an injectable granular hyaluronic acid (gHA)-hydrogel is engineered to deliver fibromodulin (FMOD)-a bioactive extracellular matrix (ECM) that enhances tenocyte mobility and optimizes the surrounding ECM assembly for tendon healing. The FMOD-releasing granular HA (FMOD/gHA)-hydrogel exhibits unique characteristics that are desired for both patients and health providers, such as permitting a microinvasive application and displaying a burst-to-sustained two-phase release of FMOD, which leads to a prompt FMOD delivery followed by a constant dose-maintaining period. Importantly, the generated FMOD-releasing granular HA hydrogel significantly augmented tendon-healing in a fully-ruptured rat's Achilles tendon model histologically, mechanically, and functionally. Particularly, the breaking strength of the wounded tendon and the gait performance of treated rats returns to the same normal level as the healthy controls. In summary, a novel effective FMOD/gHA-hydrogel is developed in response to the urgent demand for promoting tendon healing.

Knowledge, attitude and practice of community pharmacists towards household pharmaceutical waste disposal.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the knowledge, attitude and practice of community pharmacists (CP) towards household pharmaceutical waste disposal. METHODS: All pharmacists attending the Malaysian Community Pharmacy Guild event held in-person were invited to self-administer a web-based survey. KEY FINDINGS: The response rate was 61% (168/276). Overall, community pharmacists have mixed knowledge (mean ± SD: 5.89 ± 1.38) and positive attitude (mean ± SD: 9.58 ± 0.81) towards household pharmaceutical waste disposal. However, few community pharmacists (18/168, 10.7%) have promotional materials encouraging safe medication disposal in their pharmacies. CONCLUSIONS: Community pharmacists do not proactively promote safe household pharmaceutical waste disposal to mitigate pharmaceutical pollutants entering the environment although they have satisfactory knowledge and attitude.

Expression and role of angiopoietin-like protein 4 signaling pathway in rats with adenine- induced chronic kidney disease / 中华肾脏病杂志

Objective:To observe the expression of angiopoietin-like protein 4 (ANGPTL4) signaling pathway in adenine-induced chronic kidney disease (CKD) rat model, and to explore the role of this pathway in renal fibrosis.Methods:Thirty-six male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into control group (saline, intragastric administration, n=15) and CKD group (250 mg·kg -1·d -1 2.5% adenine, intragastric administration, n=21). At the end of the 1st, 2nd and 4th week, 5 rats were randomly selected from each group. Renal function and 24-hour urinary protein quantity were measured. HE and Masson staining were used to observe the pathological changes of kidneys. Immunohistochemistry and real-time PCR were used to detect renal protein and mRNA expressions of hypoxia-inducible factor-1α (HIF-1α), ANGPTL4, bone morphogenetic protein 7 (BMP7), Smad1, α-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA) and type Ⅰ collagen (Col-Ⅰ). Pearson correlation analysis was used to analyze the correlation between the different indicators. Results:(1) Compared with the control group, the expression levels of serum creatinine and blood urea nitrogen in CKD group were higher at each time point, and the expression levels of 24-hour urinary protein quantity were higher at the end of the 2nd and 4th week (all P < 0.05). (2) HE and Masson staining showed that there were obvious renal structural disorders and collagen fiber deposition at each time point in CKD group compared with the control group, which got worse with time. (3) The results of immunohistochemistry and real-time PCR showed that compared with the control group, the protein and mRNA expression levels of ANGPTL4, α-SMA and Col-Ⅰ were higher, while the protein and mRNA expression levels of BMP7 and Smad1 were lower at the end of the 1st, 2nd and 4th week, and the protein and mRNA expression levels of HIF-1α were higher at the end of 2nd and 4th week in CKD group (all P < 0.05). (4) Correlation analysis results showed that HIF-1α and ANGPTL4 mRNA expression were positively correlated with α-SMA mRNA ( r=0.919, P < 0.001; r=0.757, P < 0.001), and also positively correlated with Col-Ⅰ mRNA ( r=0.925, P < 0.001; r=0.777, P < 0.001). HIF-1α mRNA expression was positively correlated with ANGPTL4 mRNA ( r=0.766, P < 0.001). There were significant negative correlations between HIF-1α, ANGPTL4 mRNA and BMP7 mRNA ( r=-0.652, P < 0.001; r=-0.741, P < 0.001). Conclusions:ANGPTL4 signaling pathway may be activated in adenine-induced CKD rat model, and involved in the renal fibrosis process of CKD.

Pediatric Classic Prescription Xiaoruwan Based on Ancient Literature / 中国实验方剂学杂志

Xiaoruwan is one of the classic prescriptions included in the Catalogue of Ancient Classic Prescriptions （the Second Batch of Pediatrics） published by the National Administration of Traditional Chinese Medicine（TCM） in 2022 with definite clinical efficacy， but it has not been converted into Chinese patent medicine preparations. The authors collected 173 pieces of data based on ancient literature on Xiaoruwan by the method of bibliometrics and selected 99 pieces of effective data， involving 46 ancient books of TCM. The study analyzed the historical development origin， prescription names， formulation rules， dosage， drug origin， preparation method and usage， indications and functions， and other aspects of Xiaoruwan. The results showed that Xiaoruwan was presumably derived from Ying Hai Miao Jue Lun（《婴孩妙诀论》） written by TANG Minwang， a doctor in the Song Dynasty. In the records of ancient medical books， there are names such as Xiaoshiwan，Yangshi Xiaoruwan， and Kuaige Xiaoshiwan， but they are mainly recorded in the name of Xiaoruwan. The prescription was composed of Cyperi Rhizoma， Amomi Fructus， Citri Reticulatae Pericarpium， Massa Medicata Fermentata， Hordei Fructus Germinatus， and Glycyrrhizae Radix et Rhizoma. In terms of processing method， Cyperi Rhizoma， Massa Medicata Fermentata， and Hordei Fructus Germinatus are fried， Glycyrrhizae Radix et Rhizoma is processed， and raw materials of Amomi Fructus and Citri Reticulatae Pericarpium are used directly. In terms of function， it is effective in warming the middle， improving digestion， stopping vomiting， and digesting milk and food. The main indications include vomiting， diarrhea， night crying， and other diseases caused by milk and food stagnation. The dosage of the most used prescription in the records of ancient books is Cyperi Rhizoma 41.30 g， Amomi Fructus 20.65 g， Citri Reticulatae Pericarpium 20.65 g， Massa Medicata Fermentata 20.65 g， Hordei Fructus Germinatus 20.65 g， and Glycyrrhizae Radix et Rhizoma 20.65 g， which are prepared into pills. In the taking method， it is recommended to take it with warm boiled water or ginger soup after meals. The study summarized the historical evolution of Xiaoruwan and identified the key information， with a view to providing a reference for the modern development and research of Xiaoruwan.

Burden of hemorrhagic stroke and hypertensive heart disease attributed to alcohol consumption in China / 中华流行病学杂志

Objective: To describe the prevalence of alcohol consumption and the burden of hemorrhagic stroke and hypertensive heart disease attributed to alcohol consumption in adults aged ≥20 years in 31 provinces in China from 2005 to 2018. Methods: Data from several national representative surveys was used to estimate provincial alcohol exposure level of adults aged ≥20 years from 2005 to 2018 by using kriging interpolation and locally weighted regression methods. Global disease burden research method and data, and China's death cause surveillance data were used to calculate the population attributable fraction (PAF) of hemorrhagic stroke and hypertensive heart disease and the deaths due to alcohol consumption in men and women aged ≥20 years in 31 provinces in China. China census data of 2010 were used to calculate the attributable standardized mortality rate. Results: In 2005 and 2018, the prevalence of alcohol consumption was 58.7% (95%CI: 57.8%-59.5%) and 58.4% (95%CI: 57.6%-59.3%), respectively, in men and 17.0% (95%CI: 16.6%-17.4%) and 18.7% (95%CI:18.1%-19.3%), respectively, in women. The daily alcohol intake was 24.6 (95%CI: 23.8-25.3) g and 27.7 (95%CI: 26.8-28.7) g, respectively, in men and 6.3 (95%CI: 6.0-6.5) g and 5.3 (95%CI: 5.0-5.6) g, respectively, in women. Alcohol exposure level was higher in the provinces in central and eastern China than in western provinces. The lowest exposure level was found in northwestern provinces. From 2005 to 2018, the PAF of hemorrhagic stroke death due to alcohol consumption increased from 5.5% to 6.8%, the attributable deaths increased from 50 200 to 59 100, while the PAF of hypertensive heart disease death due to alcohol consumption increased from 7.0% to 7.7%, the attributable deaths increased from 15 200 to 29 300. The PAF of hypertensive heart disease and hemorrhagic stroke was higher in men than in women, and in central and eastern provinces than in western provinces. In 2018, the standardized mortality rates of hemorrhagic stroke and hypertensive heart disease attributed to alcohol consumption were 4.58/100 000 and 2.11/100 000, respectively. Conclusions: The prevalence of alcohol consumption in men and daily alcohol intake of drinkers were relatively high in China, especially in eastern provinces. Alcohol exposure level was lower in women than in men. Regional measures should be taken to reduce the alcohol intakes in men and current drinkers in order to reduce the health problems caused by alcohol consumption.

Medicinal Mushrooms and Their Use to Strengthen Respiratory Health during and Post-COVID-19 Pandemic.

COVID-19 infection has been a key threat to the public health system globally, with an estimated 248 million cases worldwide. COVID-19 patients are subject to a higher risk of developing chronic respiratory disorders that are closely associated with long-term disability, multi-morbidity, and premature mortality. Although there have been recent advancements in respiratory treatment regimens, there has also been increased interest in the use of medicinal mushrooms in bridging the unaddressed pathways of action within the treatment algorithms. In this review, we provide a collection of medicinal mushrooms that are beneficial in promoting respiratory health and potentially reducing COVID-19 symptoms in patients who are newly diagnosed and those who have recovered. While reviewing the use of immunomodulatory pathways, which have shown promising results in tackling side effects and post-COVID syndromes, we also provide insights into how the antioxidant elements present in medicinal mushrooms help to achieve the same results, especially in the prophylactic and therapeutic management of COVID-19 infection. To date, medicinal mushrooms are regarded as a functional food, which, however, need further quality, safety, and efficacy assessments. These requirements are also highlighted in the present review to promote the future development and application of medicinal mushrooms for better respiratory health.

Pharmacists' experiences on adverse drug reaction: 10 years later.

Adverse drug reaction (ADR) is one of the leading public health concerns associated with high mortality rate. Healthcare professionals, particularly pharmacists, have a significant role in monitoring and preventing ADRs. This study was conducted on Malaysian Pharmaceutical Society (MPS) pharmacists who worked at the hospitals, health clinics, and community pharmacies to determine if pharmacists' experiences on ADRs are still the same 10 years later. In 2010, a postal survey and in 2020, an online survey were conducted among these pharmacists. A total of 472 pharmacists and 208 participated in 2010 and 2020, respectively. About 82% and 90% of hospital/health clinic pharmacists (HCPs) observed an ADR over the last 6 months in 2010 and 2020, while 60% and 100% community pharmacists in 2010 and 2020 observed an ADR, respectively. Perindopril was the top drug (HCPs: p = 0.657; CPs: p = 0.98), and rash was the top ADR reported by the pharmacists in both years (HCPs: p < 0.001; CPs: p = 0.679). The most common actions taken by HCPs in 2010 were to report the ADR (p = 0.343), while in 2020, most HCPs explained to patients regarding the reaction (p = 0.061), which was also the same in the CP group in 2020 (p = 0.958). The top factor encouraging ADR reporting in both years and both pharmacist groups was the high degree of severity of the reaction (HCPs: p < 0.001; CPs: p = 0.769). While the top factors discouraging ADR reporting were a lack of information from the affected patients (HCPs: p = 0.2; CPs: p = 0.656), reaction is widely known (HCPs: p = 0.001; CPs: p = 0.144) and uncertainty of the causal relationship (HCPs: p = 0.169; CPs: p = 0.609). Majority of the pharmacists agreed that severe reactions should be reported (HCPs: p = 0.158; CPs: p = 0.501) and the main aim for reporting is to measure the incidence of ADRs (HCPs: p = 0.148; CPs: p = 0.762). Despite being able to identify ADRs during the daily practice, many pharmacists especially community pharmacists are not reporting them. There is a misconception on the purpose of reporting ADRs. An interventional program and ADR reporting training would be a useful step in improving ADR reporting practice.

Genetic and pharmacologic suppression of PPARγ enhances NELL-1-stimulated bone regeneration.

Recent investigations into mechanisms behind the development of osteoporosis suggest that suppressing PPARγ-mediated adipogenesis can improve bone formation and bone mineral density. In this study, we investigated a co-treatment strategy to enhance bone formation by combining NELL-1, an osteogenic molecule that has been extensively studied for its potential use as a therapeutic for osteoporosis, with two methods of PPARγ suppression. First, we suppressed PPARγ genetically using lentiviral PPARγ-shRNA in immunocompromised mice for a proof of concept. Second, we used a PPARγ antagonist to suppress PPARγ pharmacologically in immunocompetent senile osteopenic mice for clinical transability. We found that the co-treatment strategy significantly increased bone formation, increased the proliferation stage cell population, decreased late apoptosis of primary mouse BMSCs, and increased osteogenic marker mRNA levels in comparison to the single agent treatment groups. The addition of PPARγ suppression to NELL-1 therapy enhanced NELL-1's effects on bone formation by upregulating anabolic processes without altering NELL-1's inhibitory effects on osteoclastic and adipogenic activities. Our findings suggest that combining PPARγ suppression with therapeutic NELL-1 may be a viable method that can be further developed as a novel strategy to reverse bone loss and decrease marrow adiposity in age-related osteoporosis.

Alternative splicing diversifies the skeletal muscle transcriptome during prolonged spaceflight.

BACKGROUND: As the interest in manned spaceflight increases, so does the requirement to understand the transcriptomic mechanisms that underlay the detrimental physiological adaptations of skeletal muscle to microgravity. While microgravity-induced differential gene expression (DGE) has been extensively investigated, the contribution of differential alternative splicing (DAS) to the plasticity and functional status of the skeletal muscle transcriptome has not been studied in an animal model. Therefore, by evaluating both DGE and DAS across spaceflight, we set out to provide the first comprehensive characterization of the transcriptomic landscape of skeletal muscle during exposure to microgravity. METHODS: RNA-sequencing, immunohistochemistry, and morphological analyses were conducted utilizing total RNA and tissue sections isolated from the gastrocnemius and quadriceps muscles of 30-week-old female BALB/c mice exposed to microgravity or ground control conditions for 9 weeks. RESULTS: In response to microgravity, the skeletal muscle transcriptome was remodeled via both DGE and DAS. Importantly, while DGE showed variable gene network enrichment, DAS was enriched in structural and functional gene networks of skeletal muscle, resulting in the expression of alternatively spliced transcript isoforms that have been associated with the physiological changes to skeletal muscle in microgravity, including muscle atrophy and altered fiber type function. Finally, RNA-binding proteins, which are required for regulation of pre-mRNA splicing, were themselves differentially spliced but not differentially expressed, an upstream event that is speculated to account for the downstream splicing changes identified in target skeletal muscle genes. CONCLUSIONS: Our work serves as the first investigation of coordinate changes in DGE and DAS in large limb muscles across spaceflight. It opens up a new opportunity to understand (i) the molecular mechanisms by which splice variants of skeletal muscle genes regulate the physiological adaptations of skeletal muscle to microgravity and (ii) how small molecule splicing regulator therapies might thwart muscle atrophy and alterations to fiber type function during prolonged spaceflight.

NELL1 Regulates the Matrisome to Promote Osteosarcoma Progression.

Sarcomas produce an abnormal extracellular matrix (ECM), which in turn provides instructive cues for cell growth and invasion. Neural EGF like-like molecule 1 (NELL1) is a secreted glycoprotein characterized by its nonneoplastic osteoinductive effects, yet it is highly expressed in skeletal sarcomas. Here, we show that genetic deletion of NELL1 markedly reduces invasive behavior across human osteosarcoma (OS) cell lines. NELL1 deletion resulted in reduced OS disease progression, inhibiting metastasis and improving survival in a xenograft mouse model. These observations were recapitulated with Nell1 conditional knockout in mouse models of p53/Rb-driven sarcomagenesis, which reduced tumor frequency and extended tumor-free survival. Transcriptomic and phosphoproteomic analyses demonstrated that NELL1 loss skews the expression of matricellular proteins associated with reduced FAK signaling. Culturing NELL1 knockout sarcoma cells on wild-type OS-enriched matricellular proteins reversed the phenotypic and signaling changes induced by NELL1 deficiency. In sarcoma patients, high expression of NELL1 correlated with decreased overall survival. These findings in mouse and human models suggest that NELL1 expression alters the sarcoma ECM, thereby modulating cellular invasive potential and prognosis. Disruption of NELL1 signaling may represent a novel therapeutic approach to short-circuit sarcoma disease progression. SIGNIFICANCE: NELL1 modulates the sarcoma matrisome to promote tumor growth, invasion, and metastasis, identifying the matrix-associated protein as an orchestrator of cell-ECM interactions in sarcomagenesis and disease progression.

Schwarzinicine A inhibits transient receptor potential canonical channels and exhibits overt vasorelaxation effects.

This study investigated the vasorelaxant effects of schwarzinicine A, an alkaloid recently reported from Ficus schwarzii Koord. Regulation of calcium homeostasis in vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMC) is viewed as one of the main mechanisms for controlling blood pressure. L-type voltage-gated calcium channel (VGCC) blockers are commonly used for controlling hypertension. Recently, the transient receptor potential canonical (TRPC) channels were found in blood vessels of different animal species with evidence of their roles in the regulation of vascular contractility. In this study, we studied the mechanism of actions of schwarzinicine A focusing on its regulation of L-type VGCC and TRPC channels. Schwarzinicine A exhibited the highest vasorelaxant effect (123.1%) compared to other calcium channel blockers. It also overtly attenuated calcium-induced contractions of the rat isolated aortae in a calcium-free environment showing its mechanism to inhibit calcium influx. Fluorometric intracellular calcium recordings confirmed its inhibition of hTRPC3-, hTRPC4-, hTRPC5- and hTRPC6-mediated calcium influx into HEK cells with IC50 values of 3, 17, 19 and 7 µM, respectively. The evidence gathered in this study suggests that schwarzinicine A blocks multiple TRPC channels and L-type VGCC to exert a significant vascular relaxation response.

Chinese Caterpillar Mushroom, Ophiocordyceps sinensis (Ascomycota), Cold-Water Extract Relaxes the Rat Isolated Bladder.

Ophiocordyceps sinensis is a popular medicinal mushroom used for various health conditions, including alleviation of frequent urination, which is a major symptom of overactive bladder (OAB) syndrome. This study aimed to investigate the effect of O. sinensis (OCS02 cultivar) cold-water extract (CWE) against bladder contractility using the organ bath technique. The bladder was removed from male Sprague-Dawley rats and cut into longitudinal strips of 2 mm × 8 mm. In some experiments, the urothelium was removed to study its role in CWE-induced responses. CWE elicited a biphasic response consisting of an immediate, transient contraction that was followed by a sustained relaxation in bladder strips precontracted with carbachol, a muscarinic agonist. Removal of urothelium did not alter the magnitude of the contractile response but significantly attenuated the relaxation response. In the presence of L-NAME (nitric oxide synthase inhibitor) and sodium nitroprusside (nitric oxide donor), CWE-induced transient contraction was enhanced, whereas the relaxation response was significantly reduced. Following preincubation with CWE, the amplitude and the frequency of the spontaneous myogenic contractions induced by carbachol, as well as the contractile response toward calcium, were significantly suppressed. Findings from this study show that the urothelium plays a role in the relaxant effect of CWE. Its mechanisms of action include the regulation of nitric oxide and inhibition of calcium influx.

Relative contributions of different local sources to riverborne microplastic in a mixed landuse area within a tropical catchment.

Information on the relative contributions of microplastics coming from different sources is important to help prioritise measures to reduce river contamination levels and limit human and ecological health risks. This paper reports on work which aimed to quantitatively assess the relative concentrations and types of microplastic delivered from differed sources to a second order river. The study was undertaken in a mixed landuse area within a rapidly urbanising catchment in Malaysia. Over a six-week period, water samples were collected from road culverts and drains in residential and industrial areas across the area to assess microplastic concentrations, while inputs from atmospheric deposition and wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) were also quantified. Microplastic fibres and fragments were the dominant material in all sources, with the majority consisting of styrene-butadiene rubber and nylon. Culverts draining main roads were the main contributor to riverborne microplastic, delivering 42.20 ± 35.29 particles/L directly to the river channel. Road inputs were up to seven times greater than those from residential (8.53 ± 9.91 particles/L) and industrial (5.67 ± 4.88 particles/L) areas. The five WWTPs had removal efficiencies of between 30.95 ± 5.51% and 69.94 ± 22.17%, with their outflows delivering microplastics to the river in concentrations similar to those in uncontrolled residential and industrial drains. Atmospheric deposition across the study area was estimated to be 76.07 ± 32.85 particles/m2/day (=8.35 ± 5.11 particles/L). Mitigation strategies in the study area should focus on improving management of water draining roads, and re-routing discharges from domestic and industrial areas to WWTPs rather than allowing them to flow directly to the river. The low efficiencies of some of the WWTPs are not unusual, and indicate the need for additional water treatment to deal with microplastic present in wastewater.