Effects of additional physical exercise on the nutritional status and disease progression during the low-protein diet in Chronic Kidney Disease Patients: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Low-protein diet (LPD) is the core of dietary and nutritional therapy for non-dialysis chronic kidney disease (CKD) patients. In addition, physical exercise could prevent and treat various illnesses and chronic diseases. The objective of the study was to search for and appraise evidence on the effect of additional physical exercise on patients' nutritional status and indicators of disease progression when compared with the LPD alone. PubMed Central, Embase, Cochrane, and Web of Knowledge for randomized controlled trials (published between January 1, 1956 and May 17, 2023) were searched. A total of 8698 identified studies, 9 were eligible and were included in our analysis (N = 250 participants). Compared with the LPD alone, additional physical exercise reduced serum creatinine by a mean of -0.21 mg/dL (95% CI -0.39 to -0.03) in CKD patients. Similarly, blood pressure decreased after physical exercise, with systolic blood pressure decreasing by -7.05 mm Hg (95% CI -13.13 to -0.96) and diastolic blood pressure decreasing by -5.31 mm Hg (95% CI -7.99 to -2.62). Subgroup analyses revealed that resistance exercise (RE) was effective in decreasing estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) of -1.71 mL/min per 1.73 m² (95% CI -3.29 to -0.14). In addition, the VO2peak increasing by 2.41 mL/kg/min (95% CI 0.13 to 4.70) when physical exercise was continued for 24 weeks. The above results suggest that the LPD with additional physical exercise care is more beneficial for patients with CKD.

Tunable Pt-NiO interaction-induced efficient electrocatalytic water oxidation and methanol oxidation.

Metal-support interaction engineering is considered an efficient strategy for optimizing the catalytic activity. Nevertheless, the fine regulation of metal-support interactions as well as understanding the corresponding catalytic mechanisms (particularly those of non-carbon support-based counterparts) remains challenging. Herein, a controllable adsorption-impregnation strategy was proposed for the preparation of a porous nonlayered 2D NiO nanoflake support anchored with different forms of Pt nanoarchitectures, i.e. single atoms, clusters and nanoparticles. Benefiting from the unique porous architecture of NiO nanosheets, abundant active defect sites facilitated the immobilization of Pt single atoms onto the NiO crystal, resulting in NiO lattice distortion and thus changing the valence state of Pt, chemical bonding, and the coordination environment of the metal center. The synergy of the porous NiO support and the unexpected Pt single atom-NiO interactions effectively accelerated mass transfer and reduced the reaction kinetic barriers, contributing to a significantly enhanced mass activity of 5.59 A mgPt -1 at an overpotential of 0.274 V toward the electrocatalytic oxygen evolution reaction (OER) while 0.42 A mgPt -1 at a potential of 0.7 V vs. RHE for the methanol oxidation reaction (MOR) in an alkaline system, respectively. This work may offer fundamental guidance for developing metal-loaded/dispersed support nanomaterials toward electrocatalysis through the fine regulation of metal-support interactions.

Yishen Tongbi decoction attenuates inflammation and bone destruction in rheumatoid arthritis by regulating JAK/STAT3/SOCS3 pathway.

Background: Yishen-Tongbi Decoction (YSTB), a traditional Chinese prescription, has been used to improve syndromes of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) for many years. Previous research has shown that YSTB has anti-inflammatory and analgesic properties. However, the underlying molecular mechanism of the anti-RA effects of YSTB remains unclear. Purpose and study design: The purpose of this research was to investigate how YSTB affected mice with collagen-induced arthritis (CIA) and RAW264.7 cells induced with lipopolysaccharide (LPS). Results: The findings show that YSTB could significantly improve the clinical arthritic symptoms of CIA mice (mitigate paw swelling, arthritis score, thymus and spleen indices, augment body weight), downregulated expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines like tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), interleukin-1ß (IL-1ß), IL-6 and IL-17, while upregulated the level of anti-inflammatory like IL-10 and transforming growth factor-ß (TGF-ß). Meanwhile, YSTB inhibits bone erosion and reduces inflammatory cell infiltration, synovial proliferation, and joint destruction in CIA mice. In addition, we found that YSTB was able to suppress the LPS-induced inflammation of RAW264.7 cells, which was ascribed to the suppression of nitric oxide (NO) production and reactive oxygen species formation (ROS). YSTB also inhibited the production of inducible nitric oxide synthase and reduced the releases of pro-inflammatory cytokines TNF-α, IL-1ß, and IL-6 in LPS-induced RAW264.7 cells. Furthermore, the phosphorylation expression of JAK2, JAK3, STAT3, p38, ERK and p65 protein could be suppressed by YSTB, while the expression of SOCS3 could be activated. Conclusion: Taken together, YSTB possesses anti-inflammatory and prevention bone destruction effects in RA disease by regulating the JAK/STAT3/SOCS3 signaling pathway.

Case report: Symmetrical and increased lateral sway-based walking training for patients with corpus callosum infarction: a case series.

Introduction: Corpus callosum injury is a rare type of injury that occurs after a stroke and can cause lower limb dysfunction and a decrease in activities of daily living ability. Furthermore, there are no studies that focus on the progress in rehabilitation of the lower limb dysfunction caused by infarction in the corpus callosum and the effective treatment plans for this condition. We aimed to present a report of two patients with lower limb dysfunction caused by corpus callosum infarction after a stroke and a walking training method. Methods: We implemented a walking training method that prioritizes bilateral symmetry and increases lateral swaying before the patients established sitting/standing balance. The plan is a rapid and effective method for improving walking dysfunction caused by corpus callosum infarction. Case characteristics: Following sudden corpus callosum infarction, both patients experienced a significant reduction in lower limb motor function scores and exhibited evident gait disorders. Scale evaluations confirmed that walking training based on symmetrical and increased lateral sway for patients with lower limb motor dysfunction after corpus callosum infarction led to significant symptom improvement. Conclusion: We report two cases of sudden motor dysfunction in patients with corpus callosum infarction. Symmetrical and increased lateral sway-based walking training resulted in substantial symptom improvement, as confirmed by scale assessments.

Bone Marrow Mesenchymal Stem Cell-Derived Nanovesicles Containing H8 Improve Hepatic Glucose and Lipid Metabolism and Exert Ameliorative Effects in Type 2 Diabetes.

Purpose: Nanovesicles (NVs) derived from bone mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs) as drug delivery systems are considered an effective therapeutic strategy for diabetes. However, its mechanism of action remains unclear. Here, we evaluated the efficacy and molecular mechanism of BMSC-derived NVs carrying the curcumin analog H8 (H8-BMSCs-NVs) on hepatic glucose and lipid metabolism in type 2 diabetes (T2D). Subjects and Methods: Mouse BMSCs were isolated by collagenase digestion and H8-BMSCs-NVs were prepared by microvesicle extrusion. The effects of H8-BMSCs-NVs on hepatic glucose and lipid metabolism were observed in a T2D mouse model and a HepG2 cell insulin resistance model. To evaluate changes in potential signaling pathways, the PI3K/AKT/AMPK signaling pathway and expression levels of G6P and PEPCK were assessed by Western blotting. Results: H8-BMSCs-NVs effectively improved lipid accumulation in liver tissues and restored liver dysfunction in T2D mice. Meanwhile, H8-BMSCs-NVs effectively inhibited intracellular lipid accumulation in the insulin resistance models of HepG2 cells. Mechanistic studies showed that H8-BMSCs-NVs activated the PI3K/AKT/AMPK signaling pathway and decreased the expression levels of G6P and PEPCK. Conclusion: These findings demonstrate that H8-BMSCs-NVs improved hepatic glucose and lipid metabolism in T2D mice by activating the PI3K/AKT/AMPK signaling pathway, which provides novel evidence suggesting the potential of H8-BMSCs-NVs in the clinically treatment of T2D patients.

First detection of multiple cases related to CV-A16 strain of B1c clade in Beijing in 2022.

Coxsackievirus A16 (CV-A16) is a significant etiologic agent of hand, foot, and mouth disease (HFMD) and herpangina (HA), with the capacity to progress to severe complications, including encephalitis, aseptic meningitis, acute flaccid paralysis, myocarditis, and other critical conditions. Beijing's epidemiological surveillance system, established in 2008, encompasses 29 hospitals and 16 district disease control centers. From 2019 to 2021, the circulation of CV-A16 was characterized by the co-circulation of B1a and B1b clades. Multiple cases of HFMD linked to clade B1c has not been reported in Beijing until 2022. This study enrolled 400 HFMD and 493 HA cases. Employing real-time RT-PCR, 368 enterovirus-positive cases were identified, with 180 selected for sequencing. CV-A16 was detected in 18.89% (34/180) of the cases, second only to CV-A6, identified in 63.33% (114/180). Full-length VP1 gene sequences were successfully amplified and sequenced in 22 cases, revealing the presence of clades B1a, B1b, and B1c in 14, 3, and 5 cases, respectively. A cluster of five B1c clade cases occurred between June 29 and July 17, 2022, within a 7-km diameter region in Shunyi District. Phylogenetic analysis of five complete VP1 gene sequences and two full-genome sequences revealed close clustering with the 2018 Indian strain (GenBank accession: MH780757.1) within the B1c India branch, with NCBI BLAST results showing over 98% similarity. Comparative sequence analysis identified three unique amino acid variations (P3S, V25A, and I235V). The 2022 Shunyi District HFMD cases represent the first instances of spatiotemporally correlated CV-A16 B1c clade infections in Beijing, underscoring the necessity for heightened surveillance of B1c clade CV-A16 in HFMD and HA in this region.

Fetal membrane imaging: current and future perspectives-a review.

Fetal membrane providing mechanical support and immune protection for the growing fetus until it ruptures during parturition. The abnormalities of fetal membrane (thickening, separation, etc.) are related to adverse perinatal outcomes such as premature delivery, fetal deformities and fetal death. As a noninvasive method, imaging methods play an important role in prenatal examination. In this paper, we comprehensively reviewed the manuscripts on fetal membrane imaging method and their potential role in predicting adverse perinatal fetal prognosis. We also discussed the prospect of artificial intelligence in fetal membrane imaging in the future.

DCFNet: Infrared and Visible Image Fusion Network Based on Discrete Wavelet Transform and Convolutional Neural Network.

Aiming to address the issues of missing detailed information, the blurring of significant target information, and poor visual effects in current image fusion algorithms, this paper proposes an infrared and visible-light image fusion algorithm based on discrete wavelet transform and convolutional neural networks. Our backbone network is an autoencoder. A DWT layer is embedded in the encoder to optimize frequency-domain feature extraction and prevent information loss, and a bottleneck residual block and a coordinate attention mechanism are introduced to enhance the ability to capture and characterize the low- and high-frequency feature information; an IDWT layer is embedded in the decoder to achieve the feature reconstruction of the fused frequencies; the fusion strategy adopts the l1-norm fusion strategy to integrate the encoder's output frequency mapping features; a weighted loss containing pixel loss, gradient loss, and structural loss is constructed for optimizing network training. DWT decomposes the image into sub-bands at different scales, including low-frequency sub-bands and high-frequency sub-bands. The low-frequency sub-bands contain the structural information of the image, which corresponds to the important target information, while the high-frequency sub-bands contain the detail information, such as edge and texture information. Through IDWT, the low-frequency sub-bands that contain important target information are synthesized with the high-frequency sub-bands that enhance the details, ensuring that the important target information and texture details are clearly visible in the reconstructed image. The whole process is able to reconstruct the information of different frequency sub-bands back into the image non-destructively, so that the fused image appears natural and harmonious visually. Experimental results on public datasets show that the fusion algorithm performs well according to both subjective and objective evaluation criteria and that the fused image is clearer and contains more scene information, which verifies the effectiveness of the algorithm, and the results of the generalization experiments also show that our network has good generalization ability.

High Levels of BPA and BPF Exposure during Pregnancy Are Associated with Lower Birth Weight in Shenyang in Northeast China.

Animal studies indicate that bisphenol A (BPA) has obesogenic effects. Recent experiments reported similar endocrine-disrupting effects of bisphenol F (BPF) and bisphenol S (BPS), which are substitutes of BPA. The aim of this study was to investigate the exposure levels of these bisphenols in pregnant women and their effects on the physical development of infants aged 0-12 months. This study recruited pregnant women who gave birth at a hospital between February 2019 and September 2020. Urine samples from these pregnant women in the third trimester of pregnancy were detected by using ultrahigh-performance liquid chromatography-triple quadruple mass spectrometry. Follow-ups at 6 and 12 months of age were conducted by telephone by pediatricians using a structured questionnaire. Multiple linear regressions were used to determine the associations between bisphenol concentrations and infant weight. A total of 113 mother-child pairs had complete questionnaires and urine samples as well as data on newborns aged 6 months and 12 months. The detection rates of urinary BPA, BPF, and BPS in pregnant women were 100, 62.83, and 46.02%, respectively. Their median levels are 5.84, 0.54, and 0.07 µg/L, respectively. Increased urinary BPA and BPF concentrations during pregnancy were significantly associated with lower birth weight (standardized regression coefficients [ß] = -0.081 kg, 95% confidence interval [CI]: -0.134 to -0.027; ß = -0.049 kg, 95% CI: -0.097 to -0.001). In addition, urinary BPA and BPF concentrations during pregnancy were positively associated with weight growth rate from 0 to 6 months (ß = 0.035 kg/mouth, 95% CI: 0.00-0.064; ß = 0.028 kg/mouth, 95% CI: 0.006-0.050), especially in female infants (ß = 0.054 kg/mouth, 95% CI: 0.015-0.093; ß = 0.035 kg/mouth, 95% CI: 0.005-0.065). Therefore, maternal BPA and BPF levels during pregnancy were negatively correlated with birth weight and positively correlated with the growth rate of infant weight at 0-6 months of age, especially in female infants.

ß-catenin mediates monocrotaline-induced pulmonary hypertension via glycolysis in rats.

BACKGROUND: Metabolic abnormalities and immune inflammation are deeply involved in pulmonary vascular remodelling and the development of pulmonary hypertension (PH). However, the regulatory mechanisms of glycolysis in macrophages are still elusive. Cumulative evidence indicates that ß-catenin plays a crucial role in metabolic reprogramming. This study aimed to investigate the effect of ß-catenin on macrophage glycolysis in PH. METHODS: LPS-induced BMDMs were generated via in vitro experiments. A monocrotaline (MCT)-induced PH rat model was established, and the ß-catenin inhibitor XAV939 was administered in vivo. The role of ß-catenin in glycolysis was analysed. The degree of pulmonary vascular remodelling was measured. RESULTS: ß-catenin was significantly increased in both in vitro and in vivo models. In LPS-induced BMDMs, ß-catenin increased the levels of hexokinase 2 (HK2), phosphofructokinase (PFK), M2-pyruvate kinase (PKM2), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), and lactate (LA) and the expression of inflammatory cytokines and promoted PASMC proliferation and migration in vitro. XAV939 decreased the level of glycolysis and downregulated the expression of inflammatory cytokines in vivo. MCT promoted pulmonary arterial structural remodelling and right ventricular hypertrophy, and XAV939 alleviated these changes. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings suggest that ß-catenin is involved in the development of PH by promoting glycolysis and the inflammatory response in macrophages. Inhibition of ß-catenin could improve the progression of PH.

Interaction between the Neuroprotective and Hyperglycemia Mitigation Effects of Walnut-Derived Peptide LVRL via the Wnt3a/ß-Catenin/GSK-3ß Pathway in a Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus Model.

The term type 3 diabetes mellitus (T3DM) has been considered for Alzheimer's disease (AD) due to the common molecular and cellular characteristics found between type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and cognitive deficits. However, the specific mechanism of T3DM remains elusive, especially the neuroprotective effects of dietary components in hyperglycemic individuals. In this study, a peptide, Leu-Val-Arg-Leu (LVRL), found in walnuts significantly improved memory decline in streptozotocin (STZ)- and high-fat-diet (HFD)-stimulated T2DM mouse models (p < 0.05). The LVRL peptide also mitigated hyperglycemia, enhanced synaptic plasticity, and ameliorated mitochondrial dysfunction, as demonstrated by Morris water maze tests, immunoblotting, immunofluorescence, immunohistochemistry, transmission electron microscopy, and cellular staining. A Wnt3a inhibitor, DKK1, was subsequently used to verify the possible role of the Wnt3a/ß-Catenin/GSK-3ß pathway in glucose-induced insulin resistance in PC12 cells. In vitro LVRL treatment dramatically modulated the protein expression of p-Tau (Ser404), Synapsin-1, and PSD95, elevated the insulin level, increased glucose consumption, and relieved the mitochondrial membrane potential, and MitoSOX (p < 0.05). These data suggested that peptides like LVRL could modulate the relationship between brain insulin and altered cognition status via the Wnt3a/ß-Catenin/GSK-3ß pathway.

1,1,2,2-Tetra(4-carboxylphenyl)ethylene-Based Metal-Organic Gel as Aggregation-Induced Electrochemiluminescence Emitter for the Detection of Aflatoxin B1 Based on Nanosurface Energy Transfer.

In this Letter, a sensitive DNA sensing platform was developed using an indium-ion-coordinated 1,1,2,2-tetra(4-carboxylphenyl)ethylene (TPE) metal-organic gel (In-MOG) as an aggregation-induced electrochemiluminescence (AIECL) emitter and nanosurface energy transfer (NSET) as an efficient quenching strategy for detecting aflatoxin B1 (AFB1), the most dangerous food toxin. The coordination occurred in indium ions, and carboxyl groups restricted the internal rotation and vibration of TPE molecules, forcing them to release photons via radiative transitions. The quenchers of microfluidic-produced gold nanoparticles were embedded in a long-tailed triangular DNA structure, where the quenching phenomenon aligned with the theory of ECL-NSET under the overlap of spectra and appropriate donor-acceptor spacing. The proposed analytical method showed a sensitive ECL response to AFB1 in the wide concentration range of 0.50-200.00 ng/mL with a limit of detection of 0.17 ng/mL. Experimental results confirmed that constraining luminescent molecules using coordination and bonding to trigger the AIECL phenomenon was a promising method to prepare signal labels for the trace detection of food toxins.

Sevoflurane impedes neuropathic pain by maintaining endoplasmic reticulum stress and oxidative stress homeostasis through inhibiting the activation of the PLCγ/CaMKII/IP3R signaling pathway.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effect of sevoflurane on neuropathic pain induced by chronic constriction injury (CCI) of sciatic nerve in mice, and to elucidate its mechanism by animal experiments. METHODS AND RESULTS: Thirty-two C57BL/6 mice were randomly divided into four groups: Sham group, Model group, Control group and Sevoflurane group. First, a mouse model of neuropathic pain was established. Then, the mice in each group were killed on Day 14 after operation to harvest the enlarged lumbosacral spinal cord. In contrast with the Model group, the Sevoflurane group displayed a significantly increased paw withdrawal mechanical threshold (PWMT) and significantly prolonged paw withdrawal thermal latency (PWTL) from Day 5 after operation. The morphological changes of lumbosacral spinal cord were observed by hematoxylin-eosin (HE) staining and transmission electron microscopy. Pathological results showed that sevoflurane reduced nuclear pyknosis in lumbosacral spinal cord tissue, with a large number of mitochondrial crista disappearance and mitochondrial swelling. The results of Western blotting showed that sevoflurane significantly decreased the protein expressions of phosphorylated phospholipase Cγ (p-PLCγ), phosphorylated calcium/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase II (p-CaMKII) and phosphorylated inositol 1,4,5-triphosphate receptor (p-IP3R), and reduced the protein expressions of endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress proteins glucose-regulated protein 78 (GRP78) and GRP94, oxidative stress-related proteins P22 and P47 and inflammatory factors nucleotide-binding oligomerization domain-like receptor protein 3 (NLRP3), interleukin-1 ß (IL-1ß), and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α). CONCLUSIONS: Sevoflurane inhibits neuropathic pain by maintaining ER stress and oxidative stress homeostasis through inhibiting the activation of the PLCγ/CaMKII/IP3R signaling pathway.

Highly extensile approach for comminuted ulna coronoid process fractures with mini-plate fixation: a case series of 31 patients.

BACKGROUND: For the treatment of coronoid process fractures, medial, lateral, anterior, anteromedial, and posterior approaches have been increasingly reported; however, there is no general consensus on the method of fixation of coronal fractures. Here, we present a highly-extensile minimally invasive approach to treat coronoid process fractures using a mini-plate that can achieve anatomic reduction, stable fixation, and anterior capsular repair. Further, the study aimed to determine the complication rate of the anterior minimally invasive approach and to evaluate functional and clinical patient-reported outcomes during follow-up. METHODS: Thirty-one patients diagnosed with coronoid fractures accompanied with a "terrible triad" or posteromedial rotational instability between April 2012 and October 2018 were included in the analysis. Anatomical reduction and mini-plate fixation of coronoid fractures were performed using an anterior minimally invasive approach. Patient-reported outcomes were evaluated using the Mayo Elbow Performance Index (MEPI) score, range of motion (ROM), and the visual analog score (VAS). The time of fracture healing and complications were recorded. RESULTS: The mean follow-up time was 26.7 months (range, 14-60 months). The average time to radiological union was 3.6 ± 1.3 months. During the follow-up period, the average elbow extension was 6.8 ± 2.9° while the average flexion was 129.6 ± 4.6°. According to Morrey's criteria, 26 (81%) elbows achieved a normal desired ROM. At the last follow-up, the mean MEPI score was 98 ± 3.3 points. There were no instances of elbow instability, elbow joint stiffness, subluxation or dislocation, infection, blood vessel complications, or nerve palsy. Overall, 10 elbows (31%) experienced heterotopic ossification. CONCLUSION: An anterior minimally invasive approach allows satisfactory fixation of coronoid fractures while reducing incision complications due to over-dissection of soft tissue injuries. In addition, this incision does not compromise the soft tissue stability of the elbow joint and allows the patient a more rapid return to rehabilitation exercises.

Performance and eye movement patterns of industrial design students reading sustainable design articles.

Sustainable design education plays a crucial role in cultivating sustainability awareness and competencies among students studying industrial design. This research investigates their sustainability levels, reading performance when engaging with articles, and fixation patterns during reading. 60 industrial design students participated in the study. We evaluated their sustainability levels using the Sustainable Consumption Measurement Scale. After reading both theoretical and case article, they completed tests assessing their recall and perspective scores. We collected eye-tracking data to analyze fixation duration and conducted lag sequential analysis on fixation transitions. Students were categorized into higher and lower sustainability groups based on their sustainability scores. Female students demonstrated higher sustainability levels, and students with design experience performed better in the higher sustainability group. While recall scores did not differ significantly, the higher sustainability group exhibited elevated perspective scores in theory article. Perspective scores were generally higher for case article compared to theory article. The higher sustainability group exhibited longer fixation durations in theory article, while the case article had longer fixation durations on images. Fixation transition patterns varied between theoretical and case article, with the former featuring transitions from images to texts, and the latter demonstrating transitions between images. This study provides valuable insights into sustainable design education for students studying industrial design.

In vivo mapping of cellular resolution neuropathology in brain ischemia with diffusion MRI.

Noninvasive mapping of cellular pathology can provide critical diagnostic and prognostic information. Recent advances in diffusion magnetic resonance imaging enabled in vivo examination of tissue microstructures well beyond the imaging resolution. Here, we proposed to use diffusion time-dependent diffusion kurtosis imaging (tDKI) to simultaneously assess cellular morphology and transmembrane permeability in hypoxic-ischemic (HI) brain injury. Through numerical simulations and organoid imaging, we demonstrated the feasibility of capturing effective size and permeability changes using tDKI. In vivo MRI of HI-injured mouse brains detected a shift of the tDKI peak to longer diffusion times, suggesting swelling of the cellular processes. Furthermore, we observed a faster decrease of the tDKI tail, reflecting increased transmembrane permeability associated with up-regulated water exchange or necrosis. Such information, unavailable from a single diffusion time, can predict salvageable tissues. Preliminary applications of tDKI in patients with ischemic stroke suggested increased transmembrane permeability in stroke regions, illustrating tDKI's potential for detecting pathological changes in the clinics.

USP9X inhibits metastasis in pulmonary sarcomatoid carcinoma by regulating epithelial-mesenchymal transition, angiogenesis and immune infiltration.

BACKGROUND: Pulmonary sarcomatoid carcinoma (PSC) is a highly invasive pulmonary malignancy with an extremely poor prognosis. The results of previous studies suggest that ubiquitin-specific peptidase 9X (USP9X) contributes to the progression of numerous types of cancer. Nevertheless, there is little knowledge about the molecular mechanisms and functions of USP9X in the metastasis of PSC. METHODS: Immunohistochemistry and western blotting were used to detect USP9X expression levels in PSC tissues and cells. Wound healing, transwell, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), tube formation, and aortic ring assays were used to examine the function and mechanism of USP9X in the metastasis of PSC. RESULTS: Expression of USP9X was markedly decreased and significantly correlated with metastasis and prognosis of patients with PSC. Then we revealed that USP9X protein levels were negatively associated with the levels of epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) markers and the migration of PSC cells. It was confirmed that USP9X in PSC cells reduced VEGF secretion and inhibited tubule formation of human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVEC) in vitro. USP9X was detected to downregulate MMP9. Meanwhile, MMP9 was positively related to EMT, angiogenesis and was negatively related to immune infiltration in the public databases. USP9X was significantly negatively associated with the expression of MMP9, EMT markers, CD31, and positively associated with CD4, and CD8 in PSC tissues. CONCLUSION: The present study reveals the vital role of USP9X in regulating EMT, angiogenesis and immune infiltration and inhibiting metastasis of PSC via downregulating MMP9, which provides a new effective therapeutic target for PSC.

Efficient segmentation of fetal brain MRI based on the physical resolution.

BACKGROUND: The image resolution of fetal brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is a critical factor in brain development measures, which is mainly determined by the physical resolution configured in the MRI sequence. However, fetal brain MRI are commonly reconstructed to 3D images with a higher apparent resolution, compared to the original physical resolution. PURPOSE: This work is to demonstrate that accurate segmentation can be achieved based on the MRI physical resolution, and the high apparent resolution segmentation can be achieved by a simple deep learning module. METHODS: This retrospective study included 150 adult and 80 fetal brain MRIs. The adult brain MRIs were acquired at a high physical resolution, which were downsampled to visualize and quantify its impacts on the segmentation accuracy. The physical resolution of fetal images was estimated based on MRI acquisition settings and the images were downsampled accordingly before segmentation and restored using multiple upsampling strategies. Segmentation accuracy of ConvNet models were evaluated on the original and downsampled images. Dice coefficients were calculated, and compared to the original data. RESULTS: When the apparent resolution was higher than the physical resolution, the accuracy of fetal brain segmentation had negligible degradation (accuracy reduced by 0.26%, 1.1%, and 1.8% with downsampling factors of 4/3, 2, and 4 in each dimension, without significant differences from the original data). Using a downsampling factor of 4 in each dimension, the proposed method provided 7× smaller and 10× faster models. CONCLUSION: Efficient and accurate fetal brain segmentation models can be developed based on the physical resolution of MRI acquisitions.

Unlocking aroma in three types of vinasse fish by sensomics approach.

Vinasse fish (VF), a traditional Chinese food, is unique in flavor. However, the key aroma compounds influencing consumer acceptance of VF remain unclear. In this study, the key aroma compounds in three types of VF were explored by a sensomics approach. The results indicated that a total of 50 aroma compounds were quantified, of which 22 compounds exhibited odor activity values ≥1 were key aroma contributors. Eleven key aroma compounds were further confirmed by recombination and omission experiments. Ethyl hexanoate, 1-octen-3-one, and trans-anethole were mutual key aromas, while eugenol, ethyl heptanoate, (2E)-2-nonenal, and hexanal were distinct aroma markers. Particularly, ethyl heptanoate, γ-nonalactone, and eugenol were newly identified as key aroma compounds in VF. Overall, this study revealed the key aroma compounds and their differences in three types of vinasse fish, which will provide profound insights for comprehensively exploring the formation and target regulation of unique flavor in vinasse fish.