Anti-inflammatory steroids from the South China Sea Sponge Spongia officinalis.

One new highly degraded steroid, namely 21-nor-4-ene-chaxine A (1) furnishing a 5/6/5-tricyclic, along with one known related analogue (2), were isolated from the South China Sea sponge Spongia officinalis. Their structures including absolute configurations were established by extensive spectroscopic data analysis, TDDFT-ECD calculation, and comparison with the spectral data previously reported in the literature. Compound 1 represent the new member of incisterols family with a highly degradation in ring B. In vitro bioassays revealed compound 2 exhibited significant anti-microglial inflammatory effect on lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced inflammation in BV-2 microglial cells.

Chinese medicinal formula Fu Xin decoction against chronic heart failure by inhibiting the NLRP3/caspase-1/GSDMD pyroptotic pathway.

BACKGROUND: Various heart diseases ultimately lead to chronic heart failure (CHF). In CHF, the inflammatory response is associated with pyroptosis, which is mediated by the NOD-like receptor protein 3 (NLRP3) inflammasome. Fu Xin decoction (FXD) is commonly used in clinical practice to treat CHF and improve inflammatory conditions. However, the specific pharmacological mechanisms of action for FXD in these processes have yet to be fully understood. PURPOSE: The objective of this study was to examine the protective mechanism of FXT against CHF, both in H9c2 cells and mice. METHOD: A CHF mouse model was established, and the effect of FXD was observed via gavage. Cardiac function was evaluated using echocardiography, while serum BNP and LDH levels were analyzed to assess the severity of CHF. Hematoxylin and eosin staining (H&E) and Masson staining were performed to evaluate myocardial pathological changes, and TdT-mediated dUTP Nick-End Labeling staining was used to detect DNA damage. Additionally, doxorubicin was utilized to induce myocardial cell injury in H9c2 cells, establishing a relevant model. CCK8 was used to observe cell viability and detect LDH levels in the cell supernatant. Subsequently, the expression of pyroptosis-related proteins was detected using immunohistochemistry, immunofluorescence, and western blotting. Finally, the pharmacological mechanism of FXD against CHF was further validated by treating H9c2 cells with an NLRP3 activator and inducing NLRP3 overexpression. RESULT: According to current research findings, echocardiography demonstrated a significant improvement of cardiac function by FXD, accompanied by reduced levels of BNP and LDH, indicating the amelioration of cardiac injury in CHF mice. FXD exhibited the ability to diminish serum CRP and MCP inflammatory markers in CHF mice. The results of HE and Masson staining analyses revealed a significant reduction in pathological damage of the heart tissue following FXD treatment. The CCK8 assay demonstrated the ability of FXD to enhance H9c2 cell viability, improve cell morphology, decrease LDH levels in the cell supernatant, and alleviate cell damage. Immunohistochemistry, Western blotting, and immunofluorescence staining substantiated the inhibitory effect of FXD on the NLRP3/caspase-1/GSDMD pyroptosis signaling pathway in both CHF and H9c2 cell injury models. Ultimately, the administration of the NLRP3 activator (Nigericin) and the overexpression of NLRP3 counteract the effects of FXD on cardiac protection and pyroptosis inhibition in vitro. CONCLUSION: FXD exhibits a cardioprotective effect, improving CHF and alleviating pyroptosis by inhibiting the NLRP3/caspase-1/GSDMD pathway.

Achieving High Isotropic Figure of Merit in Cd and in Codoped Polycrystalline SnSe.

Here, we combined Cd and In codoping with a simple hydrothermal synthesis method to prepare SnSe powders composed of nanorod-like flowers. After spark plasma sintering, its internal grains inherited well the morphological features of the precursor, and the multiscale microstructure included nanorod-shaped grains, high-density dislocations, and stacking faults, as well as abundant nanoprecipitates, resulting in an ultralow thermal conductivity of 0.15 W m-1 K-1 for the synthesized material. At the same time, Cd and In synergistically regulated the electrical conductivity and Seebeck coefficient of SnSe, leading to an enhanced power factor. Among them, Sn0.94Cd0.03In0.03Se achieved a peak ZT of 1.50 parallel to the pressing direction, representing an 87.5% improvement compared with pure SnSe. Notably, the material possesses isotropic ZT values parallel and perpendicular to the pressing direction, overcoming the characteristic anisotropy in thermal performance observed in previous polycrystalline SnSe-based materials. Our results provide a new strategy for optimizing the performance of thermoelectric materials through structural engineering.

Danggui Sini decoction alleviates oxaliplatin-induced peripheral neuropathy by regulating gut microbiota and potentially relieving neuroinflammation related metabolic disorder.

BACKGROUND: Danggui Sini decoction (DSD), a traditional Chinese medicine formula, has the function of nourishing blood, warming meridians, and unblocking collaterals. Our clinical and animal studies had shown that DSD can effectively protect against oxaliplatin (OXA)-induced peripheral neuropathy (OIPN), but the detailed mechanisms remain uncertain. Multiple studies have confirmed that gut microbiota plays a crucial role in the development of OIPN. In this study, the potential mechanism of protective effect of DSD against OIPN by regulating gut microbiota was investigated. METHODS: The neuroprotective effects of DSD against OIPN were examined on a rat model of OIPN by determining mechanical allodynia, biological features of dorsal root ganglia (DRG) as well as proinflammatory indicators. Gut microbiota dysbiosis was characterized using 16S rDNA gene sequencing and metabolism disorders were evaluated using untargeted and targeted metabolomics. Moreover the gut microbiota mediated mechanisms were validated by antibiotic intervention and fecal microbiota transplantation. RESULTS: DSD treatment significantly alleviated OIPN symptoms by relieving mechanical allodynia, preserving DRG integrity and reducing proinflammatory indicators lipopolysaccharide (LPS), IL-6 and TNF-α. Besides, DSD restored OXA induced intestinal barrier disruption, gut microbiota dysbiosis as well as systemic metabolic disorders. Correlation analysis revealed that DSD increased bacterial genera such as Faecalibaculum, Allobaculum, Dubosiella and Rhodospirillales_unclassified were closely associated with neuroinflammation related metabolites, including positively with short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) and sphingomyelin (d18:1/16:0), and negatively with pi-methylimidazoleacetic acid, L-glutamine and homovanillic acid. Meanwhile, antibiotic intervention apparently relieved OIPN symptoms. Furthermore, fecal microbiota transplantation further confirmed the mediated effects of gut microbiota. CONCLUSION: DSD alleviates OIPN by regulating gut microbiota and potentially relieving neuroinflammation related metabolic disorder.

Multi-omics study reveals different pathogenesis of the generation of skin lesions in SLE and IDLE patients.

Lupus erythematosus (LE) is a heterogeneous, antibody-mediated autoimmune disease. Isolate discoid LE (IDLE) and systematic LE (SLE) are traditionally regarded as the two ends of the spectrum, ranging from skin-limited damage to life-threatening multi-organ involvement. Both belong to LE, but IDLE and SLE differ in appearance of skin lesions, autoantibody panels, pathological changes, treatments, and immunopathogenesis. Is discoid lupus truly a form of LE or is it a completely separate entity? This question has not been fully elucidated. We compared the clinical data of IDLE and SLE from our center, applied multi-omics technology, such as immune repertoire sequencing, high-resolution HLA alleles sequencing and multi-spectrum pathological system to explore cellular and molecular phenotypes in skin and peripheral blood from LE patients. Based on the data from 136 LE patients from 8 hospitals in China, we observed higher damage scores and fewer LE specific autoantibodies in IDLE than SLE patients, more uCDR3 sharing between PBMCs and skin lesion from SLE than IDLE patients, elevated diversity of V-J recombination in IDLE skin lesion and SLE PBMCs, increased SHM frequency and class switch ratio in IDLE skin lesion, decreased SHM frequency but increased class switch ratio in SLE PBMCs, HLA-DRB1*03:01:01:01, HLA-B*58:01:01:01, HLA-C*03:02:02:01, and HLA-DQB1*02:01:01:01 positively associated with SLE patients, and expanded Tfh-like cells with ectopic germinal center structures in IDLE skin lesions. These findings suggest a significant difference in the immunopathogenesis of skin lesions between SLE and IDLE patients. SLE is a B cell-predominate systemic immune disorder, while IDLE appears limited to the skin. Our findings provide novel insights into the pathogenesis of IDLE and other types of LE, which may direct more accurate diagnosis and novel therapeutic strategies.

[Effects of Land Use Patterns on Soil Microplastic Pollution in the Luoshijiang Sub-watershed of Erhai Lake Basin].

Microplastic pollution in the soil environment has received extensive attention, but the effects of different land use patterns on the sub-watershed scale on soil microplastic pollution are poorly understood. The Luoshijiang sub-watershed in the north of Erhai Lake was selected as the research object, and the characteristics of microplastic pollution in farmland, riparian zone, grassland, and woodland soils were analyzed. The pollution risks of microplastics in the four types of soil were assessed using the polymer risk index method, and the effects of land use patterns on the distribution and risk of microplastic pollution were further explored. The results showed that:① The abundance of microplastics in the soil of the Luoshijiang sub-watershed ranged from 220 to 1 900 n·kg-1, and the average abundance was (711 ± 55) n·kg-1. The main polymer types were polyester (PES, 32.52%) and polyethylene terephthalate (PET, 21.95%). The particle size of microplastics was concentrated in the range of 0.5-2 mm (61.89%). Fiber was the main shape of microplastics (>75%), and the dominant color was transparent (58.50%). ② Land use patterns determined the abundance and pollution characteristics of soil microplastics in the Luoshijiang sub-watershed. A significantly higher abundance of microplastics was found in the soil of farmland[(885 ± 95) n·kg-1] and riparian zone[(837 ± 155) n·kg-1], which had stronger intensities of human activity, than that in woodland soil[(491 ± 53) n·kg-1] (P<0.05). Film and fragment microplastics mainly occurred in farmland soil, which also had the largest number of polymer types and the most abundant colors. ③ The risk index level of microplastics (Level Ⅲ) in the soil of farmland was higher than that of the other three land use patterns (Level Ⅰ). This research indicated that the higher the intensity of human activities of a sub-watershed was, the more complex the occurrence characteristics of soil microplastics, the richer the types of polymers, and the higher the potential pollution risks would be. Therefore, it is necessary to strengthen the control of soil microplastic pollution in farmland.

[Identification of Cervi Cornu (Cervus elaphus) and its formula granules based on PCR-RFLP].

Cervi Cornu is the ossified antler, or the base antler that falls off in the spring of the following year after the pilose antler is sawn off from Cervus elaphus or C. nippon, as a precious traditional Chinese medicine, has been recognized for its medicinal value and widely used in clinical practice. However, the origins of Cervi Cornu are miscellaneous, and Cervi Cornu is even mixed with adulterants in the market. Currently, there is a shortage of ways to identify Cervi Cornu and no standard to control the quality of Cervi Cornu. So it is valuable to develop a way to effectively identify Cervi Cornu from the adulterants. In this study, the differences in the mitochondrial barcode cytochrome b(Cytb) gene sequences of C. elaphus, C. nippon and their related species were compared and the specific single nucleotide polymorphism(SNP) sites on the Cytb sequences of Cervi Cornu were screened out. According to the screened SNPs, Cervi Cornu-specific primers dishmy-F and dishmy-R were designed. The PCR system was established and optimized, and the tolerance and feasibility of Taq polymerases and PCR systems affecting the repeatability of the PCR method were investigated. The amplification products of C. elaphus and C. nippon were digested using the restriction enzyme MseⅠ. The results showed that after electrophoresis of the product from PCR with the annealing temperature of 56 ℃ and 35 cycles, a single specific band at about 100 bp was observed for C. elaphus samples, and the product of C. elaphus samples was 60 bp shorter than that of C. nippon samples. There was no band for adulterants from other similar species such as Alces alces, Rangifer tarandus, Odocoileus virginianus, O. hemionus, Cap-reolus pygargus, Przewalskium albirostis and negative controls. The polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism(PCR-RFLP) method established in this study can quickly and accurately identify Cervi Cornu originated from C. elaphus in crude drugs, standard decoctions, and formula granules, and distinguish the origins of Cervi Cornu products, i.e., C. nippon and similar species. This study can be a reference for other studies on the quality standard of other formula granules of traditional Chinese medicines.

High-precision 3D printing of multi-branch vascular scaffold with plasticized PLCL thermoplastic elastomer.

Three-dimensional (3D) printing has emerged as a transformative technology for tissue engineering, enabling the production of structures that closely emulate the intricate architecture and mechanical properties of native biological tissues. However, the fabrication of complex microstructures with high accuracy using biocompatible, degradable thermoplastic elastomers poses significant technical obstacles. This is primarily due to the inherent soft-matter nature of such materials, which complicates real-time control of micro-squeezing, resulting in low fidelity or even failure. In this study, we employ Poly (L-lactide-co-ε-caprolactone) (PLCL) as a model material and introduce a novel framework for high-precision 3D printing based on the material plasticization process. This approach significantly enhances the dynamic responsiveness of the start-stop transition during printing, thereby reducing harmful errors by up to 93%. Leveraging this enhanced material, we have efficiently fabricated arrays of multi-branched vascular scaffolds that exhibit exceptional morphological fidelity and possess elastic moduli that faithfully approximate the physiological modulus spectrum of native blood vessels, ranging from 2.5 to 45 MPa. The methodology we propose for the compatibilization and modification of elastomeric materials addresses the challenge of real-time precision control, representing a significant advancement in the domain of melt polymer 3D printing. This innovation holds considerable promise for the creation of detailed multi-branch vascular scaffolds and other sophisticated organotypic structures critical to advancing tissue engineering and regenerative medicine. .

LncRNA-SERB promotes vasculogenic mimicry (VM) formation and tumor metastasis in renal cell carcinoma.

A growing body of evidence shows that vasculogenic mimicry (VM) is closely related to the invasion and metastasis of many tumor cells. Although the estrogen receptor (ER) can promote initiation and progression of renal cell carcinoma (RCC), how downstream biomolecules are involved, and the detailed mechanisms of how ER expression is elevated in RCC remain to be further elucidated. Here, we discovered that LncRNA-SERB is highly expressed in tumor cells of RCC patients. We used multiple RCC cells and an in vivo mouse model for our study, and results indicated that LncRNA-SERB could boost RCC VM formation and cell invasion in vitro and in vivo. Although a previous report showed that ER beta (ERß) can affect the VM formation in RCC, it is unclear which factor could up-regulate ERß. This is the first study to show LncRNA-SERB can be the upstream regulator of ERß to control RCC progression. Mechanistically, LncRNA-SERB may increase ERß via binding to the promoter area, and ERß functions through transcriptional regulation of Zinc finger E-box binding homeobox 1 (ZEB1) to regulate VM formation. These results suggest that LncRNA-SERB promotes RCC cell VM formation and invasion by upregulating the ERß/ZEB1 axis and that therapeutic targeting of this newly identified pathway may better inhibit RCC progression.

Attachment and sleep quality in adults: A multilevel meta-analysis of actor and partner effect.

Within the context of sleep, attachment is hypothesized to play a central role in regulating bedtime affect and arousal. While previous studies have suggested a link between attachment and sleep quality, a meta-analysis specifically examining this association in adults has been lacking. To address this gap, we conducted a series of multilevel meta-analyses of 28 studies on this topic. Our results indicated a correlation between attachment anxiety and an individual's own sleep quality (r = -0.16, p < 0.001), as well as their partner's sleep quality (r = -0.10, p < 0.05). There was also a negative correlation between attachment avoidance and an individual's sleep quality (r = -0.15, p < 0.001) as well as their partner's sleep quality (r = -0.16, p < 0.01). Additionally, the relationships were moderated by several variables, including age, sleep measurement, and gender. Further analysis indicated that attachment anxiety was associated with poorer subjective sleep quality (PSQI) (r = -0.23, p < 0.001), longer sleep latency (r = -0.10, p < 0.05), increased wakefulness after sleep onset (r = -0.09, p < 0.05), and greater daytime sleepiness (r = -0.20, p < 0.01). Attachment avoidance was associated with poorer self-reported sleep quality (PSQI) (r = -0.16, p < 0.001), longer time to fall asleep (r = -0.15, p < 0.05), and increased daytime sleepiness (r = -0.15, p < 0.05). In summary, the findings of the current study supported the association between attachment insecurity and poorer sleep quality in both individuals and their partners. These findings hold important implications for future interventions aimed at improving sleep quality by addressing attachment-related concerns.

Viscoelastic Extracellular Matrix Enhances Epigenetic Remodeling and Cellular Plasticity.

Living tissue and extracellular matrices possess viscoelastic properties, but understanding how viscoelastic matrix regulates chromatin and the epigenome is limited. Here, we find that the regulation of the epigenetic state by the viscoelastic matrix is more pronounced on softer matrices. Cells on viscoelastic matrices exhibit larger nuclei, increased nuclear lamina ruffling, loosely organized chromatin, and faster chromatin dynamics, compared to those on elastic matrices. These changes are accompanied by a global increase in euchromatic marks and a local increase in chromatin accessibility at the cis -regulatory elements associated with neuronal and pluripotent genes. Consequently, viscoelastic matrices enhanced the efficiency of reprogramming fibroblasts into neurons and induced pluripotent stem cells, respectively. Together, our findings demonstrate the key roles of matrix viscoelasticity in the regulation of epigenetic state, and uncover a new mechanism of biophysical regulation of chromatin and cell reprogramming, with implications for the design of smart materials to engineer cell fate.

An electrochemical aptasensor based on silver-thiolated graphene for highly sensitive detection of Pb2.

The presence of lead ions (Pb2+) in the environment not only leads to environmental contamination but also poses a significant risk to public health through their migration into food and drinking water. Therefore, the development of rapid and effective techniques for detection of trace amounts of Pb2+ is crucial for safeguarding both the environment and biosafety. In this study, an aptamer-based electrochemical sensor was developed for specific detection of Pb2+ by modifying a polylysine (PLL) coated silver-thiolated graphene (Ag-SH-G) nanocomposite (PLL/Ag-SH-G) on the surface of a glassy carbon electrode, which was further modified with gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) for attachment of aptamers (Apt) that specifically recognized Pb2+. The Ag-SH-G particles were synthesized using a one-step in situ method, resulting in significantly enhanced electrochemical properties upon incorporating Ag nanoparticles into the PLL/Ag-SH-G composite. Coating of the covalently or no-covalently bonded Ag-SH-G particles with PLL provides an excellent supporting matrix, facilitating the assembly of AuNPs and a thiol-modified aptamer for Pb2+. Under optimized conditions, Apt/AuNPs/PLL/Ag-SH-G/GCE exhibited excellent sensing performance for Pb2+ with a wide linear response range (10-1000 nM), a low detection limit (0.047 nM) and extraordinary selectivity. The sensor was employed and satisfactory results were obtained in river water, soil and vegetable samples for the detection of Pb2+.

Systematic investigation of chemo-immunotherapy synergism to shift anti-PD-1 resistance in cancer.

Chemo-immunotherapy combinations have been regarded as one of the most practical ways to improve immunotherapy response in cancer patients. In this study, we integrate the transcriptomics data from anti-PD-1-treated tumors and compound-treated cancer cell lines to systematically screen for chemo-immunotherapy synergisms in silico. Through analyzing anti-PD-1 induced expression changes in patient tumors, we develop a shift ability score to measure if a chemotherapy or a small molecule inhibitor treatment can shift anti-PD-1 resistance in tumor cells. By applying shift ability analysis to 41,321 compounds and 16,853 shRNA treated cancer cell lines transcriptomic data, we characterize the landscape of chemo-immunotherapy synergism and experimentally validated a mitochondrial RNA-dependent mechanism for drug-induced immune activation in tumor. Our study represents an effort to mechanistically characterize chemo-immunotherapy synergism and will facilitate future pre-clinical and clinical studies.

Evaluation of recoverable potential of deep coalbed methane in the Linxing Block, Eastern Margin of the Ordos Basin.

The deep coalbed methane (CBM) resources are widely developed in the Linxing Block. However, the evaluation of CBM geological areas suitable for CBM exploitation remains unexplored, hindering further development. This research optimizes the key geological parameters that influence the development of deep CBM from the perspectives of resource and development conditions. The evaluation system for deep CBM recoverability has been established, and the multi-fuzzy evaluation method has been used to perform the quantitative evaluation of recoverability. The results indicate that the resource conditions of No.8 + 9 coal seam are superior to those of No.4 + 5 coal seam. Favorable resource conditions are predominantly concentrated in the northeast and specific southern portions of the research area. Favorable development conditions for both coal seams are mostly concentrated in the northeastern area. Based on the classification standard of recoverable favorable areas, the Level II area is crucial for the development of No.4 + 5 coal seam. This area is primarily distributed in the northeast of the research area., Both Level I and Level II areas for the No. 8 + 9 coal seam are situated in the northeast. The Level III area is earmarked for deep CBM production and shows potential for exploration. Further analysis reveals that the resource conditions in the favorable area are generally superior to the development conditions. These areas are classified as Class A, including categories such as I-A, II-A, and III-A, indicating relatively complex reservoir transformation.

Metals/bisulfite system involved generation of 24-sulfonic-25-ene ginsenoside Rg1, a potential quality control marker for sulfur-fumigated ginseng.

Ginseng is a most popular health-promoting food with ginsenosides as its main bioactive ingredients. Illegal sulfur-fumigation causes ginsenosides convert to toxic sulfur-containing derivatives, and reduced the efficacy/safety of ginseng. 24-sulfo-25-ene ginsenoside Rg1 (25-ene SRg1), one of the sulfur-containing derivatives, is a potential quality control marker of fumigated ginseng, but with low accessibility owing to its unknown generation mechanism. In this study, metals/bisulfite system involved generation mechanism was investigated and verified. The generation of 25-ene SRg1 in sulfur-fumigated ginseng is that SO2, formed during sulfur-fumigation, reacted with water and ionized into HSO3-. On the one hand, under the metals/bisulfite system, HSO3- generates HSO5- and free radicals which converted ginsenoside Rg1 to 24,25-epoxide Rg1; on the other hand, as a nucleophilic group, HSO3- reacted with 24,25-epoxide Rg1 and further dehydrated to 25-ene SRg1. This study provided a technical support for the promotion of 25-ene SRg1 as the characteristic quality control marker of sulfur-fumigated ginseng.

A Computational Investigation of the Effects of Temporal Synchronization of Left Ventricular Assist Device Speed Modulation with the Cardiac Cycle on Intraventricular Hemodynamics.

Patients with advanced heart failure are implanted with a left ventricular assist device (LVAD) as a bridge-to-transplantation or destination therapy. Despite advances in pump design, the risk of stroke remains high. LVAD implantation significantly alters intraventricular hemodynamics, where regions of stagnation or elevated shear stresses promote thrombus formation. Third generation pumps incorporate a pulsatility mode that modulates rotational speed of the pump to enhance in-pump washout. We investigated how the timing of the pulsatility mode with the cardiac cycle affects intraventricular hemodynamic factors linked to thrombus formation. Computational fluid dynamics simulations with Lagrangian particle tracking to model platelet behavior in a patient-specific left ventricle captured altered intraventricular hemodynamics due to LVAD implantation. HeartMate 3 incorporates a pulsatility mode that modulates the speed of the pump every two seconds. Four different timings of this pulsatility mode with respect to the cardiac cycle were investigated. A strong jet formed between the mitral valve and inflow cannula. Blood stagnated in the left ventricular outflow tract beneath a closed aortic valve, in the near-wall regions off-axis of the jet, and in a large counterrotating vortex near the anterior wall. Computational results showed good agreement with particle image velocimetry results. Synchronization of the pulsatility mode with peak systole decreased stasis, reflected in the intraventricular washout of virtual contrast and Lagrangian particles over time. Temporal synchronization of HeartMate 3 pulsatility with the cardiac cycle reduces intraventricular stasis and could be beneficial for decreasing thrombogenicity.

Bladder xanthoma: clinical analysis of 22 cases from multiple centers.

This study aims to outline the clinical and pathological characteristics of bladder xanthoma, alongside its diagnostic and treatment approaches. METHODS: We reviewed bladder xanthoma literature spanning the last 60 years from databases such as PubMed, Web of Science, Embase, and Medline. Additionally, we analyzed clinical data from a singular case of bladder xanthoma treated at our hospital. Patient particulars, including age, gender, symptoms, tumor size, associated neoplasms, imaging results, and pathological findings, were documented. Tumors underwent surgical removal, followed by pathological examination of the excised tissues. Subsequent to surgery, patients underwent cystoscopy follow-up after 3 months. RESULTS: Among the 22 identified cases of bladder xanthoma, 15 were solitary (comprising both single and multiple lesions), while 7 were associated with urinary tract epithelial tumors. There were 6 male patients and 1 female patient concurrently diagnosed with urinary tract epithelial carcinoma. Males exhibited an average onset age of 56.0 years, with an average tumor diameter of 21.57 mm. Females presented an average onset age of 63.00 years, with an average tumor diameter of 20.86 mm. The onset age for females was notably lower than that for males, and their tumor diameter was significantly smaller than that of males (P<0.05). Among the 9 patients with lipid metabolism disorders, 7 were males and 2 were females, indicating a marked male predominance. No instances of recurrence or malignant transformation were observed during follow-up. In this study, we treated a 65-year-old female patient who, during cystoscopy, exhibited a round, hanging lesion measuring about 2.5 × 1 × 1 cm on the left side of the ureteral opening in the bladder trigone. Post-surgery, pathological examination disclosed bladder xanthoma with multiple groups of foam cells. Immunohistochemistry findings were as follows: CD68 (+), CD163 (+), Vimentin (+), CK (-), Desmin (-). A follow-up cystoscopy after 3 months did not reveal any tumor recurrence. CONCLUSION: Bladder xanthoma is an uncommon benign condition predominantly affecting older males. It frequently manifests on the side walls and trigone region of the bladder and may be linked to lipid metabolism disorders. Approximately 50% of patients exhibit concurrent urinary tract epithelial tumors, with diagnosis primarily reliant on microscopic tissue examination. Prolonged post-surgical follow-up is imperative.

Abnormal expression of PRKAG2-AS1 in endothelial cells induced inflammation and apoptosis by reducing PRKAG2 expression.

PRKAG2 is required for the maintenance of cellular energy balance. PRKAG2-AS1, a long non-coding RNA (lncRNA), was found within the promoter region of PRKAG2. Despite the extensive expression of PRKAG2-AS1 in endothelial cells, the precise function and mechanism of this gene in endothelial cells have yet to be elucidated. The localization of PRKAG2-AS1 was predominantly observed in the nucleus, as revealed using nuclear and cytoplasmic fractionation and fluorescence in situ hybridization. The manipulation of PRKAG2-AS1 by knockdown and overexpression within the nucleus significantly altered PRKAG2 expression in a cis-regulatory manner. The expression of PRKAG2-AS1 and its target genes, PRKAG2b and PRKAG2d, was down-regulated in endothelial cells subjected to oxLDL and Hcy-induced injury. This finding suggests that PRKAG2-AS1 may be involved in the mechanism behind endothelial injury. The suppression of PRKAG2-AS1 specifically in the nucleus led to an upregulation of inflammatory molecules such as cytokines, adhesion molecules, and chemokines in endothelial cells. Additionally, this nuclear suppression of PRKAG2-AS1 facilitated the adherence of THP1 cells to endothelial cells. We confirmed the role of nuclear knockdown PRKAG2-AS1 in the induction of apoptosis and inhibition of cell proliferation, migration, and lumen formation through flow cytometry, TUNEL test, CCK8 assay, and cell scratching. Finally, it was determined that PRKAG2-AS1 exerts direct control over the transcription of PRKAG2 by its binding to their promoters. In conclusion, downregulation of PRKAG2-AS1 suppressed the proliferation and migration, promoted inflammation and apoptosis of endothelial cells, and thus contributed to the development of atherosclerosis resulting from endothelial cell injury.

Ultrasensitive, Label-Free Voltammetric Detection of Dibutyl Phthalate Based on Poly-l-lysine/poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene)-porous Graphene Nanocomposite and Molecularly Imprinted Polymers.

Development of an efficient technique for accurate and sensitive dibutyl phthalate (DBP) determination is crucial for food safety and environment protection. An ultrasensitive molecularly imprinted polymers (MIP) voltammetric sensor was herein engineered for the specific determination of DBP using poly-l-lysine/poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene)/porous graphene nanocomposite (PLL/PEDOT-PG) and poly(o-phenylenediamine)-imprinted film as a label-free and sensing platform. Fabrication of PEDOT-PG nanocomposites was achieved through a simple liquid-liquid interfacial polymerization. Subsequently, poly-l-lysine (PLL) functionalization was employed to enhance the dispersibility and stability of the prepared PEDOT-PG, as well as promote its adhesion on the sensor surface. In the presence of DBP, the imprinted poly(o-phenylenediamine) film was formed on the surface of PLL/PEDOT-PG. Investigation of the physical properties and electrochemical behavior of the MIP/PLL/PEDOT-PG indicates that the incorporation of PG into PEDOT, with PLL uniformly wrapping its surface, significantly enhanced conductivity, carrier mobility, stability, and provided a larger surface area for specific recognition sites. Under optimal experimental conditions, the electrochemical response exhibited a linear relationship with a logarithm of DBP concentration within the range of 1 fM to 5 µM, with the detection limit as low as 0.88 fM. The method demonstrated exceptional stability and repeatability and has been successfully applied to quantify DBP in plastic packaging materials.

New records of Harpiolaisodon (Chiroptera, Vespertilionidae) from the Chinese mainland.

Background: The new species, Harpiolaisodon Kuo et al., 2006, was described from Taiwan, China. So far, no distribution of this species outside Taiwan has been reported. New information: During two field investigations of small mammals in Guanyin Mountains Provincial Nature Reserve, Yuanyang, Yunnan, China, in April 2022 and May 2023, five individuals of Harpiola were collected in the mid-montane evergreen broad-leaved forest. Our morphological and molecular results reveal that these individuals from the Chinese mainland belong to Harpiolaisodon, extending the occurrence of this species well beyond its known distributions in Taiwan, China and Vietnam.