Uniform nucleation and epitaxy of bilayer molybdenum disulfide on sapphire.

Two-dimensional transition-metal dichalcogenides (TMDs) are of interest for beyond-silicon electronics1,2. It has been suggested that bilayer TMDs, which combine good electrostatic control, smaller bandgap and higher mobility than monolayers, could potentially provide improvements in the energy-delay product of transistors3-5. However, despite advances in the growth of monolayer TMDs6-14, the controlled epitaxial growth of multilayers remains a challenge15. Here we report the uniform nucleation (>99%) of bilayer molybdenum disulfide (MoS2) on c-plane sapphire. In particular, we engineer the atomic terrace height on c-plane sapphire to enable an edge-nucleation mechanism and the coalescence of MoS2 domains into continuous, centimetre-scale films. Fabricated field-effect transistor (FET) devices based on bilayer MoS2 channels show substantial improvements in mobility (up to 122.6 cm2 V-1 s-1) and variation compared with FETs based on monolayer films. Furthermore, short-channel FETs exhibit an on-state current of 1.27 mA µm-1, which exceeds the 2028 roadmap target for high-performance FETs16.

cfOmics: a cell-free multi-Omics database for diseases.

Liquid biopsy has emerged as a promising non-invasive approach for detecting, monitoring diseases, and predicting their recurrence. However, the effective utilization of liquid biopsy data to identify reliable biomarkers for various cancers and other diseases requires further exploration. Here, we present cfOmics, a web-accessible database (https://cfomics.ncRNAlab.org/) that integrates comprehensive multi-omics liquid biopsy data, including cfDNA, cfRNA based on next-generation sequencing, and proteome, metabolome based on mass-spectrometry data. As the first multi-omics database in the field, cfOmics encompasses a total of 17 distinct data types and 13 specimen variations across 69 disease conditions, with a collection of 11345 samples. Moreover, cfOmics includes reported potential biomarkers for reference. To facilitate effective analysis and visualization of multi-omics data, cfOmics offers powerful functionalities to its users. These functionalities include browsing, profile visualization, the Integrative Genomic Viewer, and correlation analysis, all centered around genes, microbes, or end-motifs. The primary objective of cfOmics is to assist researchers in the field of liquid biopsy by providing comprehensive multi-omics data. This enables them to explore cell-free data and extract profound insights that can significantly impact disease diagnosis, treatment monitoring, and management.

High spatial-resolved heat manipulating membrane heterogeneity alters cellular migration and signaling.

Plasma membrane heterogeneity is a key biophysical regulatory principle of membrane protein dynamics, which further influences downstream signal transduction. Although extensive biophysical and cell biology studies have proven membrane heterogeneity is essential to cell fate, the direct link between membrane heterogeneity regulation to cellular function remains unclear. Heterogeneous structures on plasma membranes, such as lipid rafts, are transiently assembled, thus hard to study via regular techniques. Indeed, it is nearly impossible to perturb membrane heterogeneity without changing plasma membrane compositions. In this study, we developed a high-spatial resolved DNA-origami-based nanoheater system with specific lipid heterogeneity targeting to manipulate the local lipid environmental temperature under near-infrared (NIR) laser illumination. Our results showed that the targeted heating of the local lipid environment influences the membrane thermodynamic properties, which further triggers an integrin-associated cell migration change. Therefore, the nanoheater system was further applied as an optimized therapeutic agent for wound healing. Our strategy provides a powerful tool to dynamically manipulate membrane heterogeneity and has the potential to explore cellular function through changes in plasma membrane biophysical properties.

CaSnRK2.4-mediated phosphorylation of CaNAC035 regulates abscisic acid synthesis in pepper (Capsicum annuum L.) responding to cold stress.

Plant NAC transcription factors play a crucial role in enhancing cold stress tolerance, yet the precise molecular mechanisms underlying cold stress remain elusive. In this study, we identified and characterized CaNAC035, an NAC transcription factor isolated from pepper (Capsicum annuum) leaves. We observed that the expression of the CaNAC035 gene is induced by both cold and abscisic acid (ABA) treatments, and we elucidated its positive regulatory role in cold stress tolerance. Overexpression of CaNAC035 resulted in enhanced cold stress tolerance, while knockdown of CaNAC035 significantly reduced resistance to cold stress. Additionally, we discovered that CaSnRK2.4, a SnRK2 protein, plays an essential role in cold tolerance. In this study, we demonstrated that CaSnRK2.4 physically interacts with and phosphorylates CaNAC035 both in vitro and in vivo. Moreover, the expression of two ABA biosynthesis-related genes, CaAAO3 and CaNCED3, was significantly upregulated in the CaNAC035-overexpressing transgenic pepper lines. Yeast one-hybrid, Dual Luciferase, and electrophoretic mobility shift assays provided evidence that CaNAC035 binds to the promoter regions of both CaAAO3 and CaNCED3 in vivo and in vitro. Notably, treatment of transgenic pepper with 50 µm Fluridone (Flu) enhanced cold tolerance, while the exogenous application of ABA at a concentration of 10 µm noticeably reduced cold tolerance in the virus-induced gene silencing line. Overall, our findings highlight the involvement of CaNAC035 in the cold response of pepper and provide valuable insights into the molecular mechanisms underlying cold tolerance. These results offer promising prospects for molecular breeding strategies aimed at improving cold tolerance in pepper and other crops.

Inhibition of FoxO1 alleviates polycystic ovarian syndrome by reducing inflammation and the immune response.

The aim of this study was to explore the role of forkhead box transcription Factor O1 (FoxO1) in chronic inflammation in polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). A PCOS rat model was constructed as an in vivo model by letrozole induction, and granulosa cells (GCs) from PCOS rats were isolated and cultured as an in vitro cellular model. FoxO1 was knocked down by shRNA and siRNA in the PCOS rat model and GCs model, respectively. H&E staining was conducted to evaluate the effect of FoxO1 inhibition on ovarian pathology and dysfunction in PCOS rats. The levels of inflammatory cytokines in the ovaries and uterus of PCOS rats and in GCs were assessed by ELISA. Flow cytometry was used to evaluate the changes in the contents of neutrophils and macrophages in the peripheral blood and spleen of PCOS rats. CCK-8 assays and Annexin V-FITC/PI staining were performed to evaluate the proliferation and apoptosis of GCs. The expression of genes and proteins related to the TLR4/NF-κB/NLRP3 pathway in GCs was determined by RT-qPCR and Western blotting. The results indicated that FoxO1 was highly expressed in PCOS rat model. Inhibition of FoxO1 significantly mitigated the pathological changes and dysfunction in the ovaries of PCOS rats while also suppressing inflammation and fibrosis in the ovaries and uterus. Moreover, knocking down FoxO1 facilitated the restoration of the normal ratio of neutrophils and macrophages in the peripheral blood and spleen of PCOS rats and promoted M2 polarization of macrophages. Additionally, inhibition of FoxO1 promoted the proliferation of GCs and inhibited the inflammatory response in GCs. Furthermore, FoxO1 knockdown inhibited the activation of the NF-κB pathway and the formation of the NLRP3 inflammasome in GCs. In conclusion, inhibition of FoxO1 can alleviate PCOS by inhibiting the TLR4/NF-κB/NLRP3 pathway to reduce inflammation and the immune response.

Nanoenzyme Hydrogel Film-Based Portable Point-of-Care Testing Platform for Double-Signal Visual Detection of PSA.

The development of the Point-of-Care Testing (POCT) platform that combines convenience and cost-effectiveness is crucial for enabling the visual detection of disease biomarkers. In this work, a POCT platform for the sensitive in situ detection of prostate specific antigen (PSA) with dual-signal output was constructed by functionalizing the Eppendorf (EP) tube. This was achieved through the modification of aptamer hairpin probes (AHPs) on the lid of the EP tube and the assembly of a nanoenzyme hydrogel film on its inner wall. The target could trigger the release of Ag+ by AHP and subsequently activate Ag+-dependent DNAzyme (Ag-DNAzyme). This would initiate the cleavage of the DNA-Au/Pt NP hydrogel network, leading to the release of Au/Pt NPs. The released Au/Pt NPs exhibit both peroxidase (POD)-like and catalase (CAT)-like activity to produce a colorimetric response and induce liquid flow under pressure. Therefore, the target can be measured visually and quantitatively through colorimetric analysis and the measurement of total dissolved solids (TDS) using a pressure-triggered liquid flow device integrated into the platform. The designed platform is distinguished by its simplicity, specificity, cost-effectiveness, and remarkable sensitivity. It allows for the visual detection of PSA within concentration ranges of 0.5-100 ng/L (colorimetric) and 3-100 ng/L (TDS reading), boasting detection limits as low as 0.15 ng/L (colorimetric) and 0.57 ng/L (TDS reading). The strategy of target-triggered nanoenzyme release significantly enhances sensitivity and provides a guiding approach for visual biomarker detection.

Au/Pt@ZIF-90 Nanoenzyme Capsule-Based "Explosive" Signal Amplifier for "All-in-Tube" POCT.

The sensitive, convenient, and visual detection of low-concentration disease markers in biological samples has always been a priority in disease diagnosis. However, existing research has been problematic due to complex operation and unsatisfactory sensitivity. Consequently, an "explosive" signal amplification platform based on Au/Pt@ZIF-90 was developed for sensitive visual detection of disease markers. In this study, a controllable and explosively released Au/Pt nanoparticles (NPs) "nanoenzyme capsule" was prepared by encapsulating Au/Pt NPs with excellent peroxidase activity in ZIF-90. This was achieved by adjusting the particle size of ZIF-90 and the encapsulation amount of Au/Pt NPs. Using the prepared capsules as the signal output module and aptamer as the target recognition module, an "All-in-Tube" portable point-of-care (POC) platform was constructed by integrating the Au/Pt@ZIF-90/filter paper and TMB/strips into an Eppendorf (EP) tube. By utilizing specific competitive binding of targets to aptamers, the platform enabled the sensitive and convenient measurement of small molecular disease markers. Taking adenosine as the proof of concept, the portable detection achieved excellent sensitivity. Moreover, the platform can achieve universal detection of various targets by varying the aptamer sequence. This signal amplification strategy provides a design pattern for the detection of low-concentration targets in biological samples and holds significant potential in the fields of disease diagnosis and environmental monitoring.

Synergy of Target-Induced Magnetic Network and Single-Drop Chromogenic System for Ultrasensitive "All-in-Tube" Detection of miRNA in Whole Blood.

The development of liquid biopsy methods for the accurate and reliable detection of miRNAs in whole blood is critical for the early diagnosis and monitoring of diseases. However, accurate quantification of miRNA expression levels remains challenging due to the complex matrix and low abundance of miRNAs in blood samples. Herein, we report a contactless signal output strategy with low background interference that ensures "zero-contact" between the reaction system and the colorimetry system. The designed target-induced magnetic ZnS/ZIF-90/ZnS network can serve as a unique signal amplifier and transducer. It releases hydrogen sulfide (H2S) gas in an acidic solution which can be concentrated in a droplet of only a few microliters in volume, etching the silver layer of Au@Ag nanostars (NSTs) in the droplet. This will lead to changes in the localized surface plasmon resonance signals of the NSTs. Finally, quantitative detection of let-7a is realized by measuring the offset value of the UV-vis absorption peak. Therefore, by virtue of the synergistic action of quadruple signal amplification methods, including catalytic hairpin assembly, ZnS/ZIF-90/ZnS, magnetic separation, and microextraction, the "All-in-Tube" ultrasensitive detection of low-abundance let-7a in whole blood is achieved with a detection limit as low as the aM level. In addition, the "zero-contact" signal output mode effectively solves the problem of complex matrix interference, demonstrating the great potential of this method for miRNA quantification in complex samples, such as whole blood.

Hydrogen Bonding-Induced Aggregation of Chiral Functionalized AuNS@Ag NPs for Photothermal Enantioanalysis.

Toward the challenges of signaling transduction amplified in enantioselective recognition, we herein devised an innovative strategy for highly selective recognition of amino acids and their derivatives, leveraging photothermal effects. In this approach, bifunctional l-ascorbic acid is employed to reduce silver ions in situ on Au nanostars. Simultaneously, its oxidate (l-dehydroascorbic acid) is bonded to the silver shell as a chiral selector to prepare chiral nanoparticles (C-AuNS@Ag NPs) with the ability to recognize stereoisomers and sensitively modulate the photothermal effect. l-Dehydroascorbic acid can selectively capture one of the enantiomers of the two forms through hydrogen bonding and drive aggregation of the nanoparticles, which sharply enhances the photothermal effect. Consequently, the two forms of the system exhibit a significant temperature difference, which enables the discrimination and quantification of enantiomers. Our strategy verifies that six chiral amino acids and their derivatives can be discriminated with enantioselective response values of up to 79. Additionally, the chiral recognition mechanism was revealed through density functional theory (DFT) calculations, providing a paradigm shift in the development of enantiomeric recognition strategies.

Endogenous mRNA-Powered and Spatial Confinement-Derived DNA Nanomachines for Ultrarapid and Sensitive Imaging of Let-7a.

DNA nanostructure-based signal amplifiers offer new tools for imaging intracellular miRNA. However, the inadequate kinetics and susceptibility to enzymatic hydrolysis of these amplifiers, combined with a deficient cofactor concentration within the intracellular environment, significantly undermine their operational efficiency. In this study, we address these challenges by encapsulating a localized target strand displacement assembly (L-SD) and a toehold-exchange endogenous-powered component (R-mRNA) within a framework nucleic acid (FNA) structure─20 bp cubic DNA nanocage (termed RL-cube). This design enables the construction of an endogenous-powered and spatial-confinement DNA nanomachine for ratiometric fluorescence imaging of intracellular miRNA Let-7a. The R-mRNA is designed to be specifically triggered by glyceraldehyde 3-phosphate dehydrogenase (GAPDH), an abundant cellular enzyme, and concurrently releases a component that can recycle the target Let-7a. Meanwhile, L-SD reacts with Let-7a to release a stem-loop beacon, generating a FRET signal. The spatial confinement provided by the framework, combined with the ample intracellular supply of GAPDH, imparts remarkable sensitivity (7.57 pM), selectivity, stability, biocompatibility, and attractive dynamic performance (2240-fold local concentration, approximately four times reaction rate, and a response time of approximately 7 min) to the nanomachine-based biosensor. Consequently, this study introduces a potent sensing approach for detecting nucleic acid biomarkers with significant potential for application in clinical diagnostics and therapeutics.

Development of an ubiquitin-proteasome system signature for predicting prognosis and providing therapeutic guidance for patients with triple-negative breast cancer.

BACKGROUND: Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) is a pathological subtype with a high mortality, and the development of inhibitors in the ubiquitin-proteasome system (UPS) component could be a novel therapeutic tool. METHODS: Triple-negative breast cancer data were obtained from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA), and subtype analysis was performed by consistent clustering analysis to identify molecular subtypes of TNBC according to UPS characteristics. Differential analysis, COX and least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO) COX regression analyses were performed to select genes associated with overall survival in TNBC. The final prognostic model (UPS score) was determined using the LASSO COX model. The model performance was assessed using receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves and survival curves. In addition, the results of the UPS score on analyzing the abundance of immune cell infiltration and immunotherapy were explored. Finally, we developed a nomogram for TNBC survival prediction. RESULTS: Two UPS subtypes (UPSMS1 and UPSMS2) showing significant survival differences were classified. COX regression analysis on differentially expressed genes in UPSMS1 and UPSMS2 filtered five genes that affected overall survival. Based on the regression coefficients and expression data of the five genes, we built a prognostic assessment system (UPS score). The UPS score showed consistent prognostic and therapeutic guidance values. Finally, the ROC curve of the nomogram and UPS score showed the highest predictive efficacy compared with traditional clinical prognostic indicators. CONCLUSION: The UPS score represented a promising prognostic tool to predict overall survival and immune status and guide personalized treatment selection in TNBC patients, and this study may provide a more practical alternative for clinical monitoring and management of TNBC.

The Role of Grain Boundaries on Ion Migration and Charge Recombination in Halide Perovskites.

Grain boundaries (GBs) have a significant role in polycrystalline perovskite solar cells (PSCs). However, there is ongoing debate regarding the impact of GBs on the performance and long-term stability of PSCs. Employing the first-principles molecular dynamics for perovskites, the iodine vacancy defect migrations both in bulk and at GBs are investigated. i) The positive iodine vacancy (VI +) is found that have both lower formation energy (1.4 eV) and activation energy (0.18 eV) than those of neutral iodine vacancy (VI), statistically. It indicated the VI + acts as the dominant migrated iodine vacancy rather than VI; ii) the iodine vacancy at GBs has ≈0.48 eV higher activation energy than those in bulk, which leads to the accumulation of iodine vacancy at GBs; iii) the presence of VI + result in a 3-fold increase in charge recombination ratio at GBs, compared to pristine PSCs. Based on quantum molecular dynamics statistical results, which are consistent with experimental measurements, insights into iodine vacancy migration both at GBs and in the bulk are gained. This understanding can be valuable for defects engineering related to ion migration, in order to improve the long-term stability and promote the performance of PSCs.

Microcavity induced by a few-layer GaSe crystal on a silicon photonic crystal waveguide for efficient optical frequency conversion.

We demonstrate the post-induction of high-quality microcavities on a silicon photonic crystal (PC) waveguide by integrating a few-layer GaSe crystal, which promises efficient on-chip optical frequency conversions. The integration of GaSe shifts the dispersion bands of the PC waveguide mode into the bandgap, resulting in localized modes confined by the bare PC waveguides. Thanks to the small contrast of refractive index at the boundaries of the microcavity, it is reliable to obtain quality factors exceeding 104. With the enhanced light-GaSe interaction by the microcavity modes and GaSe's high second-order nonlinearity, remarkable second-harmonic generation (SHG) and sum-frequency generation (SFG) are achieved with continuous-wave (CW) lasers.

Comprehensive analysis of the miRNA-mRNA regulatory network involved in spontaneous recovery of an H2O2-induced zebrafish cataract model.

OBJECTIVE: To identify the hub miRNAs and mRNAs contributing to the spontaneous recovery of an H2O2-induced zebrafish cataract model. METHODS: Zebrafishes were divided into three groups, i.e., Group A, which included normal control fish (day 0), and Groups B and C, where fish were injected with 2.5% hydrogen peroxide into the anterior chamber and reared for 14 and 30 days, respectively. Fish eyes were examined by stereomicroscope photography and optical coherence tomography (OCT). RNA profiles of fish lenses were detected by RNA sequencing. Differentially expressed genes (DEGs) and differentially expressed miRNAs (DEmiRs) were identified among three groups. The DEGs and DEmiRs, which changed in opposite positions between "B vs. A" and "C vs. B" were defined as ODGs (opposite positions changed DEGs) and ODmiRs (opposite positions changed DEmiRs). Gene Ontology (GO) analysis and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes pathway (KEGG) analysis were carried out by R language. The protein-protein interaction network (PPI) was constructed using STRING. Potential targets of miRNAs were obtained using miRanda. miRNA-mRNA networks were constructed by Cytoscape. RESULTS: The fish lens opacity formed on day 14 and recovered to transparent on day 30 after injection. Compared to group B, 1366 DEGs and 54 DEmiRs were identified in group C. "C vs. B" DEGs were enriched in gene clusters related to development and oxidative phosphorylation. Target genes of DEmiRs were enriched in clusters such as development and cysteine metabolism. Among three groups, 786 ODGs and 27 ODmiRs were identified, and 480 ODGs were predicted as targets of ODmiRs. Target ODGs were enriched in pathways related to methionine metabolism, ubiquitin, sensory system development, and structural constituents of the eye lens. In addition, we established an ODmiRs-ODGs regulation network. CONCLUSION: We identified several hub mRNAs and altered miRNAs in the formation and reversal of zebrafish cataracts. These hub miRNAs/mRNAs could be potential targets for the non-surgical treatment of ARC.

The antioxidant protein glutaredoxin 1 is essential for oxidative stress response and pathogenicity of Toxoplasma gondii.

Glutaredoxins (Grxs) are ubiquitous antioxidant proteins involved in many molecular processes to protect cells against oxidative damage. Here, we study the roles of Grxs in the pathogenicity of Toxoplasma gondii. We show that Grxs are localized in the mitochondria (Grx1), cytoplasm (Grx2), and apicoplast (Grx3, Grx4), while Grx5 had an undetectable level of expression. We generated Δgrx1-5 mutants of T. gondii type I RH and type II Pru strains using CRISPR-Cas9 system. No significant differences in the infectivity were detected between four Δgrx (grx2-grx5) strains and their respective wild-type (WT) strains in vitro or in vivo. Additionally, no differences were detected in the production of reactive oxygen species, total antioxidant capacity, superoxide dismutase activity, and sensitivity to external oxidative stimuli. Interestingly, RHΔgrx1 or PruΔgrx1 exhibited significant differences in all the investigated aspects compared to the other grx2-grx5 mutant and WT strains. Transcriptome analysis suggests that deletion of grx1 altered the expression of genes involved in transport and metabolic pathways, signal transduction, translation, and obsolete oxidation-reduction process. The data support the conclusion that grx1 supports T. gondii resistance to oxidative killing and is essential for the parasite growth in cultured cells and pathogenicity in mice and that the active site CGFS motif was necessary for Grx1 activity.

ZC3H13 Enhances the Malignancy of Cervical Cancer by Regulating m6A Modification of CKAP2.

Sustained expression of zinc finger CCCH-type containing 13 (ZC3H13) in tumors is essential for cancer cell malignancy; however, our understanding of its clinical effects and mechanisms in cervical cancer (CC) is limited. In this study, we aimed to reveal the effect on CC progression of ZC3H13-mediated N6-methyladenosine (m6A) modification to stabilize cytoskeleton-associated protein 2 (CKAP2) expression. CC tissues and paired adjacent normal tissues were collected from 50 patients. qRT-PCR was used to clarify ZC3H13 and CKAP2 expression levels in the CC tissues. The functional roles of ZC3H13 and CKAP2 in CC were analyzed by detecting the changes in CC cell proliferation, migration, invasion, and tumor growth in vivo. The regulatory relationship between ZC3H13 and CKAP2 was investigated by confirming m6A modification levels and their expression correlation. ZC3H13 and CKAP2 were highly expressed in CC and linked with poor prognosis. We observed that ZC3H13 inhibition decreased CC cell proliferation, invasion, and migration, while its facilitation promoted CC cell malignancy. ZC3H13 mediated m6A modification of CKAP2 to enhance CKAP2 expression in CC cells. Furthermore, CKAP2 overexpression partially restored the malignant phenotypic promotion induced by ZC3H13 overexpression in CC cells. In summary, this study revealed that ZC3H13-mediating m6A modification of CKAP2 promotes CC development. This finding should be conducive to an understanding of the role of ZC3H13-m6A-CKAP2 in CC and should provide an effective therapeutic target for this cancer.

Causal effects of dietary habits on COVID-19 susceptibility, hospitalisation and severity: a comprehensive Mendelian randomisation study.

This study aimed to investigate the causal effect of dietary habits on COVID-19 susceptibility, hospitalisation and severity. We used data from a large-scale diet dataset and the COVID-19 Host Genetics Initiative to estimate causal relationships using Mendelian randomisation. The inverse variance weighted (IVW) method was used as the main analysis. For COVID-19 susceptibility, IVW estimates indicated that milk (OR: 0·82; 95 % CI (0·68, 0·98); P = 0·032), unsalted peanut (OR: 0·53; 95 % CI (0·35, 0·82); P = 0·004), beef (OR: 0·59; 95 % CI (0·41, 0·84); P = 0·004), pork (OR: 0·63; 95 % CI (0·42, 0·93); P = 0·022) and processed meat (OR: 0·76; 95 % CI (0·63, 0·92); P = 0·005) were causally associated with reduced COVID-19 susceptibility, while coffee (OR: 1·23; 95 % CI (1·04, 1·45); P = 0·017) and tea (OR: 1·17; 95 % CI (1·05, 1·31); P = 0·006) were causally associated with increased risk. For COVID-19 hospitalisation, beef (OR: 0·51; 95 % CI (0·26, 0·98); P = 0·042) showed negative correlations, while tea (OR: 1·54; 95 % CI (1·16, 2·04); P = 0·003), dried fruit (OR: 2·08; 95 % CI (1·37, 3·15); P = 0·001) and red wine (OR: 2·35; 95 % CI (1·29, 4·27); P = 0·005) showed positive correlations. For COVID-19 severity, coffee (OR: 2·16; 95 % CI (1·25, 3·76); P = 0·006), dried fruit (OR: 1·98; 95 % CI (1·16, 3·37); P = 0·012) and red wine (OR: 2·84; 95 % CI (1·21, 6·68); P = 0·017) showed an increased risk. These findings were confirmed to be robust through sensitivity analyses. Our findings established a causal relationship between dietary habits and COVID-19 susceptibility, hospitalisation and severity.

Inhibin A contributes to the tumorigenesis of oral squamous cell carcinoma by KIAA1429-mediated m6A modification.

BACKGROUND: Inhibin A and N6-methyladenosine methylation modifications participate in oral squamous cell carcinoma development. However, the N6-methyladenosine modification of Inhibin A in oral squamous cell carcinoma has not been revealed. This study reveals a key gene "Inhibin A" that may affect the tumorigenesis of oral squamous cell carcinoma and its molecular mechanisms on N6-methyladenosine methyltransferase KIAA1429-mediated N6-methyladenosine methylation modification. METHODS: Bioinformatics analysis and quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction identified the potential regulatory genes in oral squamous cell carcinoma. We examined the changes in the proliferation (Cell Counting Kit-8 assay), migration (transwell migration assay), and invasion (transwell invasion assays) of oral squamous cell carcinoma cells. We performed a xenograft tumor experiment to validate the role of Inhibin A in oral squamous cell carcinoma in vivo. The interactions between Inhibin A and KIAA1429 were analyzed using bioinformatics, methylated RNA immunoprecipitation-qPCR, quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction, and Western blotting experiments. RESULTS: Inhibin A had the highest expression in patients with oral squamous cell carcinoma. Inhibin A silencing impaired the ability of oral squamous cell carcinoma cells to proliferate, migrate, and invade, as well as limited the tumorous growth of oral squamous cell carcinoma cells in vivo. Bioinformatics analysis showed that Inhibin A expression positively interacted with KIAA1429 expression in The Cancer Genome Atlas database. The levels were also upregulated in our clinical samples. Furthermore, KIAA1429 silencing repressed the N6-methyladenosine level of Inhibin A in oral squamous cell carcinoma. CONCLUSIONS: Inhibin A promotes the tumorigenesis of oral squamous cell carcinoma by KIAA1429-mediated N6-methyladenosine modification. This study adds to our current knowledge of the molecular mechanisms underlying oral squamous cell carcinoma malignancy.

Rapid screening and target-guided isolation of antioxidants from German chamomile by 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl-ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry coupled with off-line two-dimensional high-speed countercurrent chromatography.

German chamomile is one of the most effective herbal elements used in anti-allergic products and as an antioxidant. Herein, the antioxidant activity of different extract fractions of German chamomile was initially evaluated using an off-line 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl spectrophotometric assay. The ethyl acetate extract demonstrated the highest efficacy in scavenging free radicals. Based on this, a rapid screening and separation method using ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography combined with the 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl assay was implemented to identify antioxidants in the ethyl acetate fraction of German chamomile flowers. Ten potential radical scavengers were tentatively screened from German chamomile using a target-guided isolating approach with off-line two-dimensional high-speed countercurrent chromatography and the structures of the compounds were analyzed and identified. Ultimately, 10 radical scavengers were obtained from the ethyl acetate extract with a purity quotient exceeding 90%. The results demonstrated the effectiveness and reproducibility of this method for isolating potential antioxidants from complex mixtures in a targeted manner. This strategy can be applied to the target-guided isolation of complex mixtures of natural products with broad K-values and similar structures.

Urine albumin-to-creatinine ratio diurnal variation rate predicts outcomes in idiopathic membranous nephropathy.

BACKGROUND: Idiopathic membranous nephropathy (IMN) is a leading cause of end-stage renal disease (ESRD). The purpose of this study was to evaluate whether urinary albumin-to-creatinine ratio (UACR) diurnal variation rate calculated by spot urinary protein test predicts 1-year nephrotic outcomes as a biomarker of proteinuria severity in patients with IMN. METHODS: Patients' baseline demographics, blood and urinary biomarkers, and clinical and pathological characteristics were collected retrospectively. Urine samples were collected at 7:00 (before breakfast) and 19:00 (after dinner) to calculate the UACR diurnal variation rate. A prediction model for no remission (NR) was developed statistically based on differences between prognosis groups. Receiver operating characteristic curve (ROC) analysis was performed to evaluate prediction abilities and determine optimal cut-off points of the model and UACR diurnal variation rate alone. RESULTS: The formula for calculating the probability of NR was exp(L)/(1 + exp(L)), where the linear predictor L = - 22.038 + 0.134 × Age (years) + 0.457 × 24-h urinary protein + 0.511 × blood urea nitrogen (BUN) + 0.014 × serum uric acid (SUA) + 2.411 if glomerular sclerosis + 0.816 × fasting blood glucose (FBG)-0.039 × UACR diurnal variation rate (%). Optimal cut-off points for NR prediction by the final model and UACR diurnal variation rate alone were 0.331 and 58.5%, respectively. Sensitivity and specificity were 0.889 and 0.859 for the final model, and 0.926 and 0.676 for UACR diurnal variation rate alone. CONCLUSION: UACR diurnal variation using spot urinary protein is a simpler way to predict nephrotic outcomes and is a highly sensitive screening tool for identifying patients who should undergo further comprehensive risk assessment.