System analysis based on weighted gene co-expression analysis identifies SOX7 as a novel regulator of hepatic stellate cell activation and liver fibrosis.

Hepatic stellate cell (HSC) activation is the essential pathological process of liver fibrosis (LF). The molecular mechanisms regulating HSC activation and LF are incompletely understood. Here, we explored the effect of transcription factor SRY-related high mobility group box 7 (SOX7) on HSC activation and LF, and the underlying molecular mechanism. We found the expression levels of SOX7 were decreased in human and mouse fibrotic livers, particularly at the fibrotic foci. SOX7 was also downregulated in primary activated HSCs and TGF-ß1 stimulated LX-2 cells. SOX7 knockdown promoted activation and proliferation of LX-2 cells while inhibiting their apoptosis. On the other hand, overexpression of SOX7 suppressed the activation and proliferation of HSCs. Mechanistically, SOX7 attenuates HSC activation and LF by decreasing the expression of ß-catenin and phosphorylation of Smad2 and Smad3 induced by TGF-ß1. Furthermore, overexpression of SOX7 using AAV8-SOX7 mouse models ameliorated the extent of LF in response to CCl4 treatment in vivo. Collectively, SOX7 suppressed HSC activation and LF. Targeting SOX7, therefore, could be a potential novel strategy to protect against LF.

Activated sputum eosinophils associated with exacerbations in children on mepolizumab.

BACKGROUND: MUPPITS-2 was a randomized, placebo-controlled clinical trial that demonstrated mepolizumab (anti-IL-5) reduced exacerbations and blood and airway eosinophils in urban children with severe eosinophilic asthma. Despite this reduction in eosinophilia, exacerbation risk persisted in certain patients treated with mepolizumab. This raises the possibility that subpopulations of airway eosinophils exist that contribute to breakthrough exacerbations. OBJECTIVE: We aimed to determine the effect of mepolizumab on airway eosinophils in childhood asthma. METHODS: Sputum samples were obtained from 53 MUPPITS-2 participants. Airway eosinophils were characterized using mass cytometry and grouped into subpopulations using unsupervised clustering analyses of 38 surface and intracellular markers. Differences in frequency and immunophenotype of sputum eosinophil subpopulations were assessed based on treatment arm and frequency of exacerbations. RESULTS: Median sputum eosinophils were significantly lower among participants treated with mepolizumab compared with placebo (58% lower, 0.35% difference [95% CI 0.01, 0.74], P = .04). Clustering analysis identified 3 subpopulations of sputum eosinophils with varied expression of CD62L. CD62Lint and CD62Lhi eosinophils exhibited significantly elevated activation marker and eosinophil peroxidase expression, respectively. In mepolizumab-treated participants, CD62Lint and CD62Lhi eosinophils were more abundant in participants who experienced exacerbations than in those who did not (100% higher for CD62Lint, 0.04% difference [95% CI 0.0, 0.13], P = .04; 93% higher for CD62Lhi, 0.21% difference [95% CI 0.0, 0.77], P = .04). CONCLUSIONS: Children with eosinophilic asthma treated with mepolizumab had significantly lower sputum eosinophils. However, CD62Lint and CD62Lhi eosinophils were significantly elevated in children on mepolizumab who had exacerbations, suggesting that eosinophil subpopulations exist that contribute to exacerbations despite anti-IL-5 treatment.

Safety of Exposure to 0.2 T and 4 Hz Rotating Magnetic Field: A Ten-Month Study on C57BL/6 Mice.

Amidst the burgeoning interest in rotating magnetic fields (RMF) within biological research, there remains a notable gap in the scientific evidence concerning the long-term safety of RMF. Thus, this study aimed to investigate the safety of protracted exposure to a 0.2 T, 4 Hz RMF over 10 months in mice. Two-month-old female C57BL/6 mice were randomly allocated to either the RMF group (exposed to 0.2 T, 4 Hz real RMF) or the SHAM group (exposed to 0 T, 4 Hz sham RMF). Throughout the experiment, the murine weekly body weights were recorded, and their behavioral traits were assessed via open field tests. In the final month, a comprehensive evaluation of the murine overall health was conducted, encompassing analyses of blood parameters, histomorphological examination of major organs, and skeletal assessments using X-ray and micro-CT imaging. The murine immune system and lipid metabolism were evaluated through immunochip analysis and metabolomics. Notably, no discernible adverse effects with RMF exposure were observed. Murine body weight, locomotor behavior, organ histomorphology, and skeletal health remained unaffected by RMF. Blood analysis revealed subtle changes in hormone and lipid levels between the SHAM and RMF groups, yet these differences did not reach statistical significance. Moreover, RMF led to elevated serum interleukin-28 (IL-28) levels, albeit within the normal range, and modest alterations in serum lipid metabolites. Conclusively, mice exposed to the 0.2 T, 4 Hz RMF for 10 months displayed no significant signs of chronic toxicity, indicating its potential clinical application as a physical therapy.

Identification of COQ2 as a regulator of proliferation and lipid peroxidation through genome-scale CRISPR-Cas9 screening in myeloma cells.

Multiple myeloma (MM) is the second most common malignant haematological disease with a poor prognosis. The limit therapeutic progress has been made in MM patients with cancer relapse, necessitating deeper research into the molecular mechanisms underlying its occurrence and development. A genome-wide CRISPR-Cas9 loss-of-function screening was utilized to identify potential therapeutic targets in our research. We revealed that COQ2 plays a crucial role in regulating MM cell proliferation and lipid peroxidation (LPO). Knockout of COQ2 inhibited cell proliferation, induced cell cycle arrest and reduced tumour growth in vivo. Mechanistically, COQ2 promoted the activation of the MEK/ERK cascade, which in turn stabilized and activated MYC protein. Moreover, we found that COQ2-deficient MM cells increased sensitivity to the LPO activator, RSL3. Using an inhibitor targeting COQ2 by 4-CBA enhanced the sensitivity to RSL3 in primary CD138+ myeloma cells and in a xenograft mouse model. Nevertheless, co-treatment of 4-CBA and RSL3 induced cell death in bortezomib-resistant MM cells. Together, our findings suggest that COQ2 promotes cell proliferation and tumour growth through the activation of the MEK/ERK/MYC axis and targeting COQ2 could enhance the sensitivity to ferroptosis in MM cells, which may be a promising therapeutic strategy for the treatment of MM patients.

Palliative effect of rotating magnetic field on glucocorticoid-induced osteonecrosis of the femoral head in rats by regulating osteoblast differentiation.

With the substantial increase in the overuse of glucocorticoids (GCs) in clinical medicine, the prevalence of glucocorticoid-induced osteonecrosis of the femoral head (GC-ONFH) continues to rise in recent years. However, the optimal treatment for GC-ONFH remains elusive. Rotating magnetic field (RMF), considered as a non-invasive, safe and effective approach, has been proved to have multiple beneficial biological effects including improving bone diseases. To verify the effects of RMF on GC-ONFH, a lipopolysaccharide (LPS) and methylprednisolone (MPS)-induced invivo rat model, and an MPS-induced invitro cell model have been employed. The results demonstrate that RMF alleviated bone mineral loss and femoral head collapse in GC-ONFH rats. Meanwhile, RMF reduced serum lipid levels, attenuated cystic lesions, raised the expression of anti-apoptotic proteins and osteoprotegerin (OPG), while suppressed the expression of pro-apoptotic proteins and nuclear factor receptor activator-κB (RANK) in GC-ONFH rats. Besides, RMF also facilitated the generation of ALP, attenuated apoptosis and inhibits the expression of pro-apoptotic proteins, facilitated the expression of OPG, and inhibited the expression of RANK in MPS-stimulated MC3T3-E1 cells. Thus, this study indicates that RMF can improve GC-ONFH in rat and cell models, suggesting that RMF have the potential in the treatment of clinical GC-ONFH.

Genome-wide identification and expression analysis of calmodulin and calmodulin-like genes in passion fruit (Passiflora edulis) and their involvement in flower and fruit development.

BACKGROUND: The calmodulin (CaM) and calmodulin-like (CML) proteins play regulatory roles in plant growth and development, responses to biotic and abiotic stresses, and other biological processes. As a popular fruit and ornamental crop, it is important to explore the regulatory mechanism of flower and fruit development of passion fruit. RESULTS: In this study, 32 PeCaM/PeCML genes were identified from passion fruit genome and were divided into 9 groups based on phylogenetic analysis. The structural analysis, including conserved motifs, gene structure and homologous modeling, illustrates that the PeCaM/PeCML in the same subgroup have relative conserved structural features. Collinearity analysis suggested that the expansion of the CaM/CML gene family likely took place mainly by segmental duplication, and the whole genome replication events were closely related with the rapid expansion of the gene group. PeCaM/PeCMLs were potentially required for different floral tissues development. Significantly, PeCML26 had extremely high expression levels during ovule and fruit development compared with other PeCML genes, suggesting that PeCML26 had potential functions involved in the development of passion fruit flowers and fruits. The co-presence of various cis-elements associated with growth and development, hormone responsiveness, and stress responsiveness in the promoter regions of these PeCaM/PeCMLs might contribute to their diverse regulatory roles. Furthermore, PeCaM/PeCMLs were also induced by various abiotic stresses. This work provides a comprehensive understanding of the CaM/CML gene family and valuable clues for future studies on the function and evolution of CaM/CML genes in passion fruit. CONCLUSION: A total of 32 PeCaM/PeCML genes were divided into 9 groups. The PeCaM/PeCML genes showed differential expression patterns in floral tissues at different development stages. It is worth noting that PeCML26, which is highly homologous to AtCaM2, not only interacts with multiple BBR-BPC TFs, but also has high expression levels during ovule and fruit development, suggesting that PeCML26 had potential functions involved in the development of passion fruit flowers and fruits. This research lays the foundation for future investigations and validation of the potential function of PeCaM/PeCML genes in the growth and development of passion fruit.

Associations between rheumatoid arthritis and intestinal flora, with special emphasis on RA pathologic mechanisms to treatment strategies.

BACKGROUND: Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is an autoimmune inflammatory disease that primarily affects the joints. Individuals at risk for RA and people with RA develop intestinal dysbiosis. The changes in intestinal flora composition in preclinical and confirmed RA patients suggest that intestinal flora imbalance may play an important role in the induction and persistence of RA. METHODS: Based on the current research on the interaction between RA and intestinal microbiota, intestinal microbiota metabolites and intestinal barrier changes. This paper systematically summarized the changes in intestinal microbiota in RA patients, the metabolites of intestinal flora, and the influence mechanism of intestinal barrier on RA, and further discussed the influence of drugs for RA on intestinal flora and its mechanism of action. RESULTS: Compared with healthy controls, α diversity analysis of intestinal flora showed no significant difference, ß diversity analysis showed significant differences. The intestinal flora produces bioactive metabolites, such as short-chain fatty acids and aromatic amino acids, which have anti-inflammatory effects. Abnormal intestinal flora leads to impaired barrier function and mucosal immune dysfunction, promoting the development of inflammation. Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) and chemical drugs can also alleviate RA by regulating intestinal flora, intestinal flora metabolites, and intestinal barrier. Intestinal flora is closely related to the pathogenesis of RA and may become potential biomarkers for the diagnosis and treatment of RA. CONCLUSIONS: Intestinal flora and its metabolites play an important role in the pathogenesis of autoimmune diseases such as RA, and are expected to become a new target for clinical diagnosis and treatment, providing a new idea for targeted treatment of RA.

Flipped online teaching of histology and embryology with design thinking: design, practice and reflection.

BACKGROUND: Flexible hybrid teaching has become the new normal of basic medical education in the postepidemic era. Identifying ways to improve the quality of curriculum teaching and achieve high-level talent training is a complex problem that urgently needs to be solved. Over the course of the past several semesters, the research team has integrated design thinking (DT) into undergraduate teaching to identify, redesign and solve complex problems in achieving curriculum teaching and professional talent training objectives. METHODS: This study is an observational research. A total of 156 undergraduate stomatology students from Jining Medical University in 2021 were selected to participate in two rounds of online flipped teaching using the design thinking EDIPT (empathy, definition, idea, prototype, and test) method. This approach was applied specifically to the chapters on the respiratory system and female reproductive system. Data collection included student questionnaires, teacher-student interviews, and exam scores. GraphPad Prism software was used for data analysis, and the statistical method was conducted by multiple or unpaired t test. RESULTS: According to the questionnaire results, the flipped classroom teaching design developed using design thinking methods received strong support from the majority of students, with nearly 80% of students providing feedback that they developed multiple abilities during the study process. The interview results indicated that teachers generally believed that using design thinking methods to understand students' real needs, define teaching problems, and devise instructional design solutions, along with testing and promptly adjusting the effectiveness through teaching practices, played a highly positive role in improving teaching and student learning outcomes. A comparison of exam scores showed a significant improvement in the exam scores of the class of 2021 stomatology students in the flipped teaching chapters compared to the class of 2020 stomatology students, and this difference was statistically significant. However, due to the limitation of the experimental chapter scope, there was no significant difference in the overall course grades. CONCLUSION: The study explores the application of design thinking in histology and embryology teaching, revealing its positive impact on innovative teaching strategies and students' learning experience in medical education. Online flipped teaching, developed through design thinking, proves to be an effective and flexible method that enhances student engagement and fosters autonomous learning abilities.

Polyethylene Upgrading to Liquid Fuels Boosted by Atomic Ce Promoters.

Hydrocracking catalysis is a key route to plastic waste upgrading, but the acid site-driven C-C cleavage step is relatively sluggish in conventional bifunctional catalysts, dramatically effecting the overall efficiency. We demonstrate here a facile and efficient way to boost the reactivity of acid sites by introducing Ce promoters into Pt/HY catalysts, thus achieving a better metal-acid balance. Remarkably, 100 % of low-density polyethylene (LDPE) can be converted with 80.9 % selectivity of liquid fuels over the obtained Pt/5Ce-HY catalysts at 300 °C in 2 h. For comparison, Pt/HY only gives 38.8 % of LDPE conversion with 21.3 % selectivity of liquid fuels. Through multiple experimental studies on the structure-performance relationship, the Ce species occupied in the supercage are identified as the actual active sites, which possess remarkably-improved adsorption capability towards short-chain intermediates.

Designing Dual-Site Catalysts for Selectively Converting CO2 into Methanol.

The variability of CO2 hydrogenation reaction demands new potential strategies to regulate the fine structure of the catalysts for optimizing the reaction pathways. Herein, we report a dual-site strategy to boost the catalytic efficiency of CO2-to-methanol conversion. A new descriptor, τ, was initially established for screening the promising candidates with low-temperature activation capability of CO2, and sequentially a high-performance catalyst was fabricated centred with oxophilic Mo single atoms, who was further decorated with Pt nanoparticles. In CO2 hydrogenation, the obtained dual-site catalysts possess a remarkably-improved methanol generation rate (0.27 mmol gcat. -1 h-1). For comparison, the singe-site Mo and Pt-based catalysts can only produce ethanol and formate acid at a relatively low reaction rate (0.11 mmol gcat. -1 h-1 for ethanol and 0.034 mmol gcat. -1 h-1 for formate acid), respectively. Mechanism studies indicate that the introduction of Pt species could create an active hydrogen-rich environment, leading to the alterations of the adsorption configuration and conversion pathways of the *OCH2 intermediates on Mo sites. As a result, the catalytic selectivity was successfully switched.

Mitochondrial Dysfunction in Arrhythmia and Cardiac Hypertrophy.

Arrhythmia and cardiac hypertrophy are two very common cardiovascular diseases that can lead to heart failure and even sudden death, thus presenting a serious threat to human life and health. According to global statistics, nearly one million people per year die from arrhythmia, cardiac hypertrophy and other associated cardiovascular diseases. Hence, there is an urgent need to find new treatment targets and to develop new intervention measures. Recently, mitochondrial dysfunction has been examined in relation to heart disease with a view to lowering the incidence of arrhythmia and cardiac hypertrophy. The heart is the body's largest energy consuming organ, turning over about 20 kg of adenosine triphosphate (ATP) per day in the mitochondria. Mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation (OXPHOS) produces up to 90% of the ATP needed by cardiac muscle cells for contraction and relaxation. Dysfunction of heart mitochondria can therefore induce arrhythmia, cardiac hypertrophy and other cardiovascular diseases. Mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) mutations cause disorders in OXPHOS and defects in the synthesis of muscle contraction proteins. These lead to insufficient production of secondary ATP, increased metabolic requirements for ATP by the myocardium, and the accumulation of reactive oxygen species (ROS). The resulting damage to myocardial cells eventually induces arrhythmia and cardiac hypertrophy. Mitochondrial damage decreases the efficiency of energy production, which further increases the production of ROS. The accumulation of ROS causes mitochondrial damage and eventually leads to a vicious cycle of mitochondrial damage and low efficiency of mitochondrial energy production. In this review, the mechanism underlying the development of arrhythmia and cardiac hypertrophy is described in relation to mitochondrial energy supply, oxidative stress, mtDNA mutation and Mitochondrial dynamics. Targeted therapy for arrhythmia and cardiac hypertrophy induced by mitochondrial dysfunction is also discussed in terms of its potential clinical value. These strategies should improve our understanding of mitochondrial biology and the pathogenesis of arrhythmia and cardiac hypertrophy. They may also identify novel strategies for targeting mitochondria in the treatment of these diseases.

Research on sensitized Fiber Bragg Grating temperature sensor based on bimetal three-substrates.

Temperature is one of the most important physical quantities in the field of earthquake precursor observation. Aiming at the problem of low sensitivity in the Fiber Bragg Grating (FBG) temperature sensor, the sensitized FBG temperature sensor based on bimetal three-substrates is proposed. Through theoretical analysis of the bimetallic model, the structural parameters of the sensor are optimized, and the sensor is simulated and analyzed with ANSYS. Then, the sensor is developed according to the simulation results, and the temperature test system is built to test the performance of the sensor. The results show that the sensitivity of the temperature sensor is 49.3 pm/°C, which is about 4.9 times that of the bare FBG sensor, and the linearity is over 0.999. The research results provide a reference for developing the same type of sensors and further improving the sensitivity of FBG temperature sensors.

Association between triglyceride to HDL cholesterol ratio and a risk of diabetes mellitus: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to investigate the link between the triglyceride-to-high-density lipoprotein cholesterol ratio (TG/HDL-C) and the occurrence of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). METHODS: PubMed, Embase, and Scopus databases were searched for cohort and case-control studies that reported on the link between TG/HDL-C and a risk of T2DM, with no restrictions on criteria used for the definition and categorization of low and high TG/HDL-C ratios. RESULTS: A total of 20 studies were included. There was considerable variability in terms of categorization of low or normal and higher TG/HDL-C ratio among the studies. Patients with high TG/HDL-C ratio had markedly higher risk of developing T2DM compared with patients with low or normal TG/HDL-C. Each unit increase in the ratio correlated with the increased risk of diabetes. Subgroup analysis based on sex showed an increased risk of T2DM in males and females with a high ratio compared with the group with a low/normal ratio. CONCLUSION: Higher TG/HDL-C ratio correlates with increased risk of T2DM. Despite limitations, the study demonstrates a possible value of using TG/HDL-C ratio as a biomarker for diabetes risk.

Hybridization, polyploidization, and morphological convergence make dozens of taxa into one chaotic genetic pool: a phylogenomic case of the Ficus erecta species complex (Moraceae).

The Ficus erecta complex, characterized by its morphological diversity and frequent interspecific overlap, shares pollinating fig wasps among several species. This attribute, coupled with its intricate phylogenetic relationships, establishes it as an exemplary model for studying speciation and evolutionary patterns. Extensive researches involving RADseq (Restriction-site associated DNA sequencing), complete chloroplast genome data, and flow cytometry methods were conducted, focusing on phylogenomic analysis, genetic structure, and ploidy detection within the complex. Significantly, the findings exposed a pronounced nuclear-cytoplasmic conflict. This evidence, together with genetic structure analysis, confirmed that hybridization within the complex is a frequent occurrence. The ploidy detection revealed widespread polyploidy, with certain species exhibiting multiple ploidy levels, including 2×, 3×, and 4×. Of particular note, only five species (F. abelii, F. erecta, F. formosana, F. tannoensis and F. vaccinioides) in the complex were proved to be monophyletic. Species such as F. gasparriniana, F. pandurata, and F. stenophylla were found to encompass multiple phylogenetically distinct lineages. This discovery, along with morphological comparisons, suggests a significant underestimation of species diversity within the complex. This study also identified F. tannoensis as an allopolyploid species originating from F. vaccinioide and F. erecta. Considering the integration of morphological, molecular systematics, and cytological evidences, it is proposed that the scope of the F. erecta complex should be expanded to the entire subsect. Frutescentiae. This would redefine the complex as a continuously evolving group comprising at least 33 taxa, characterized by blurred species boundaries, frequent hybridization and polyploidization, and ambiguous genetic differentiation.

Rotating magnetic field improved cognitive and memory impairments in a sporadic ad model of mice by regulating microglial polarization.

Neuroinflammation, triggered by aberrantly activated microglia, is widely recognized as a key contributor to the initiation and progression of Alzheimer's disease (AD). Microglial activation in the central nervous system (CNS) can be classified into two distinct phenotypes: the pro-inflammatory M1 phenotype and the anti-inflammatory M2 phenotype. In this study, we investigated the effects of a non-invasive rotating magnetic field (RMF) (0.2T, 4Hz) on cognitive and memory impairments in a sporadic AD model of female Kunming mice induced by AlCl3 and D-gal. Our findings revealed significant improvements in cognitive and memory impairments following RMF treatment. Furthermore, RMF treatment led to reduced amyloid-beta (Aß) deposition, mitigated damage to hippocampal morphology, prevented synaptic and neuronal loss, and alleviated cell apoptosis in the hippocampus and cortex of AD mice. Notably, RMF treatment ameliorated neuroinflammation, facilitated the transition of microglial polarization from M1 to M2, and inhibited the NF-кB/MAPK pathway. Additionally, RMF treatment resulted in reduced aluminum deposition in the brains of AD mice. In cellular experiments, RMF promoted the M1-M2 polarization transition and enhanced amyloid phagocytosis in cultured BV2 cells while inhibiting the TLR4/NF-кB/MAPK pathway. Collectively, these results demonstrate that RMF improves memory and cognitive impairments in a sporadic AD model, potentially by promoting the M1 to M2 transition of microglial polarization through inhibition of the NF-кB/MAPK signaling pathway. These findings suggest the promising therapeutic applications of RMF in the clinical treatment of AD.

Insight into hemostatic performance and mechanism of natural mixed-dimensional Attapulgite clay.

Clay minerals have attracted wide attention as biomedical materials due to the unique crystal structure, abundant morphology and good biocompatibility. However, the relevant studies on the abundant natural mixed clay deposits were scarcely reported. Herein, the hemostatic performance of natural mixed-dimensional attapulgite clay (MDAPT) composed of one-dimensional attapulgite and multiple two-dimensional clay were systematically investigated based on the structural evolution using oxalic acid for different time. The results of hemostatic evaluation showed that MDAPT leached by oxalic acid with 1 h presented the shortest clotting time (134 ± 12.17 s), a 15.09 % and 41.74 % reduction of relative hemoglobin absorbance at 180 s and 120 s when compared with the control group, respectively, and an increase of 19.45 % of the blood clotting index in vitro, as well as MDAPT obtained the shortest bleeding time (158.5 ± 6.9 s), nearly 66 % and 31 % reduction blood loss as compared to the blank group and the YNBY group in vivo. This improvement was primarily ascribed to the synergistic effect of lamellar non-expandable illite, and nano rod-like attapulgite. Furthermore, the rapid hemostasis of MDAPT was also due to the joint effect of superhydrophobic property toward blood, minimizing blood loss, surface negative charge, metal ions from MDAPT structural skeleton, promoting an average increase of 21 % for platelet activation. The results suggested that MDAPT could be served as a promising efficient inorganic hemostatic materials, which provided a feasible strategy to realize the high-valued utilization of natural mixed clay resources.

Lacustrine carbon sink: A hidden driver of the Late Cretaceous Cooling Event.

Lacustrine systems since the Mesozoic have sequestered large quantities of organic carbon, which may have important value for global climate cooling, but there is still a lack of geological evidence of this sequestration. Taking the Songliao Basin in China as a case study, we elucidate the important function of lacustrine basins as sinks of a large amount of organic carbon, particularly when the contemporaneous marine sediments were poor sinks of organic carbon. Volcanic activities and orbital forcing were likely key factors influencing the water transportation between the land and oceans, as well as the alternating burial of organic carbon in the oceans and land. Microorganisms related to methane metabolism may have been highly involved in the mineralization and sequestration of lacustrine organic carbon. This study provides new insights into the coupled carbon-water cycle between the land and oceans and the influence of this process on global climate evolution.

Investigating the Distribution and Antibiotic Resistance of Bacterial Pathogens in Clinical Specimens from a Chinese Maternal and Child Hospital: The Role of Environmental Factors.

Objective: To analyze bacterial distribution and antibiotic resistance in clinical specimens from a Chinese hospital for evaluating environmental factors' impact on pathogen prevalence. Methods: From January 2017 to December 2021, we collected 42,854 clinical specimens from hospitalized children and women. The specimens were cultured on various agar plates and incubated at 35°C for 18-48 h. Their identification was performed using standard biochemical methods and Matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization-time of flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF), whereas antibiotic susceptibilities were determined using the VITEK 2 system. Concurrent environmental data from Wuhan were analyzed for correlations with pathogen prevalence using multiple linear stepwise regression. Results: Of the 24,555 bacterial strains isolated, the majority were gram-positive, and sputum was the most common specimen type. Haemophilus influenzae and Escherichia coli were the most prevalent pathogens in sputum and urine samples, respectively. Notably, H. influenzae and Streptococcus pneumoniae affected children under 6 years of age the most. Furthermore, H. influenzae showed high ampicillin resistance but low cefotaxime resistance; S. pneumoniae was sensitive to penicillin G, and E. coli was resistant to ampicillin but sensitive to cefotetan. The prevalence of multidrug-resistant organisms was below national averages. In terms of seasonality, H. influenzae peaked during late winter and early spring, and environmental analysis indicated positive correlations between PM2.5 and PM10, and H. influenzae and S. pneumoniae prevalence. In addition, NO2 levels were positively correlated with increased S. aureus and M. catarrhalis prevalence; E coli prevalence was negatively correlated with ozone levels. Conclusion: This study provides valuable insights into the distribution and antibiotic resistance patterns of bacterial pathogens in maternal and child healthcare facilities in Wuhan, China. Environmental factors significantly influence the epidemiology of certain bacterial pathogens. Implementing integrated health strategies that combine microbial surveillance with environmental monitoring is needed to effectively manage and prevent bacterial infections.

Evaluation of the effects of health education interventions for hypertensive patients based on the health belief model.

BACKGROUND: Hypertension is a major risk factor for cardiovascular disease and stroke, and its prevalence is increasing worldwide. Health education interventions based on the health belief model (HBM) can improve the knowledge, attitudes, and behaviors of patients with hypertension and help them control their blood pressure. AIM: To evaluate the effects of health education interventions based on the HBM in patients with hypertension in China. METHODS: Between 2021 and 2023, 140 patients with hypertension were randomly assigned to either the intervention or control group. The intervention group received health education based on the HBM, including lectures, brochures, videos, and counseling sessions, whereas the control group received routine care. Outcomes were measured at baseline, three months, and six months after the intervention and included blood pressure, medication adherence, self-efficacy, and perceived benefits, barriers, susceptibility, and severity. RESULTS: The intervention group had significantly lower systolic blood pressure [mean difference (MD): -8.2 mmHg, P < 0.001] and diastolic blood pressure (MD: -5.1 mmHg, P = 0.002) compared to the control group at six months. The intervention group also had higher medication adherence (MD: 1.8, P < 0.001), self-efficacy (MD: 12.4, P < 0.001), perceived benefits (MD: 3.2, P < 0.001), lower perceived barriers (MD: -2.6, P = 0.001), higher perceived susceptibility (MD: 2.8, P = 0.002), and higher perceived severity (MD: 3.1, P < 0.001) than the control group at six months. CONCLUSION: Health education interventions based on the HBM effectively improve blood pressure control and health beliefs in patients with hypertension and should be implemented in clinical practice and community settings.

Allantoin reduces glucotoxicity and lipotoxicity in a type 2 diabetes rat model by modulating the PI3K and MAPK signaling pathways.

Objective: The current study aimed to investigate the potential therapeutic impact of allantoin on diabetes produced by a high-fat diet (HFD) and streptozotocin (STZ) in rats. Subjects and methods: Male Sprague-Dawley rats were fed a high-fat diet to induce insulin resistance, followed by streptozotocin injection to induce diabetes. The effect of oral treatment of allantoin (200, 400 and 800 mg/kg/day) for 8 weeks was evaluated by calculating the alteration in metabolic parameters, biochemical indicators, the oral glucose tolerance tests (OGTT) and hyperinsulinemic-euglycemic clamp tests were performed. Histopathological studies were performed in the liver, kidney and pancreas. Next, the expressions of the MAPK and insulin signaling pathway were measured by Western blot analysis to elucidate the potential mechanism underlying these antidiabetic activities. Results: The administration of allantoin resulted in a significant decrease in fasting blood glucose (FBG) levels, glycogen levels, and glycosylated hemoglobin levels in diabetic rats. Additionally, allantoin therapy led to a dose-dependent increase in body weight growth and serum insulin levels. In addition, the administration of allantoin resulted in a considerable reduction in lipid profile levels and amelioration of histological alterations in rats with diabetes. The administration of allantoin to diabetic rats resulted in a notable decrease in Malondialdehyde (MDA) levels, accompanied by an increase in the activity of antioxidant enzymes in the serum, liver, and kidney. The findings of oral glucose tolerance and hyperinsulinemic-euglycemic clamp tests demonstrated a significant rise in insulin resistance following the administration of allantoin. The upregulation of IRS-2/PI3K/p-Akt/GLUT expression by allantoin suggests a mechanistic relationship between the PI3K/Akt signaling pathway and the antihyperglycemic activity of allantoin. Furthermore, it resulted in a reduction in the levels of TGF-ß1/p38MAPK/Caspase-3 expression in the aforementioned rat tissues affected by diabetes. Conclusions: This study implies that allantoin treats type 2 diabetes by activating PI3K. Additionally, it reduces liver, kidney, and pancreatic apoptosis and inflammation-induced insulin resistance.re.