Spin-orbit periodic conversion in a gradient-index fiber.

The characteristics of the cylindrical vector beam (CVB) and the cylindrical vector vortex beam (CVVB) in a radial gradient-index (GRIN) fiber are analyzed on the basis of the generalized Huygens-Fresnel principle. The CVB and CVVB exhibit periodic and stable transmission characteristics in the radial GRIN fiber. In the beam with a vortex phase (CVVB), the polarization changes and the spin angular momentum (SAM) is detected at the focal plane of the radial GRIN fiber. A spin-orbit periodic conversion is observed in the radial GRIN fibers. Finally, the SAM expression of partially coherent light is deduced and verified via a simulation.

Mapping the spin angular momentum distribution of focused linearly and circularly polarized vortex fields.

Using the previously proposed spin-resolved near-field scanning optical microscopy (NSOM) technique, we mapped the spin angular momentum (SAM) axial component (Sz) distributions of tightly focused linearly and circularly polarized vortex beams. The system's effectiveness was confirmed in our previous article by mapping various tightly focused cylindrical vector vortex beams. The SAM of different focused vortex light fields is essential in the research of near-field spin optics and topological photonics. The SAM distributions of different orders of linearly and circularly polarized vortex beams were mapped by separating their right spin (IRCP) and left spin component (ILCP) using the relationship Sz∝IRCP-ILCP.

Design, synthesis, and anticancer evaluation of alkynylated pyrrole derivatives.

A series of alkynylated pyrrole derivatives were meticulously designed, drawing inspiration from the structure of 3-alkynylpyrrole-2,4-dicarboxylates, which were synthesized via a cyclization process involving methylene isocyanides and propiolaldehydes under mild conditions. These derivatives were subsequently subjected to evaluation for their anticancer properties against a panel of cell lines, including U251, A549, 769-P, HepG2, and HCT-116. According to the detailed analysis of structure-activity relationship, compound 12l emerged as the most promising molecule, with IC50 values of 2.29 ± 0.18 and 3.49 ± 0.30 µM toward U251 and A549 cells, respectively. Subsequent mechanistic investigations revealed that compound 12l exerts its effects by arresting the cell cycle in the G0/G1 phase and inducing apoptosis specifically in A549 cells. These innovative alkynylated pyrrole derivatives hold the potential to serve as a valuable template for the discovery of novel anticancer molecules.

Preliminary Analysis of Aging-Related Genes in Intracerebral Hemorrhage by Integration of Bulk and Single-Cell RNA Sequencing Technology.

Background: Aging is recognized as the key risk for intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH). The detailed mechanisms of aging in ICH warrant exploration. This study aimed to identify potential aging-related genes associated with ICH. Methods: ICH-specific aging-related genes were determined by the intersection of differentially expressed genes (DEGs) between perihematomal tissues and corresponding contralateral parts of four patients with ICH (GSE24265) and 349 aging-related genes obtained from the Aging Atlas database. Gene Ontology (GO), Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) and Gene Set Enrichment Analysis (GSEA) analyses were performed to identify the potential biological functions and pathways in which these ICH-specific aging-related genes may be involved. Then, PPI network was established to identify the hub genes of ICH-specific aging-related genes. Meanwhile, miRNA-mRNA and transcription factor (TF)-mRNA regulatory networks were constructed to further explore the ICH-specific aging-related genes regulation. The relationship between these hub genes and immune infiltration was also further explored. Additional single-cell RNA-seq analysis (scRNA-seq, GSE167593) was used to locate the hub genes in different cell types. Besides, expression levels of the hub genes were validated using clinical samples from our institute and another GEO dataset (GSE206971). Results: This study identified 24 ICH-specific aging-related genes, including 22 up-regulated and 2 down-regulated genes. The results of GO and KEGG suggested that the ICH-specific aging-related genes mainly enriched in immunity and inflammation-related pathways, suggesting that aging may affect the ich pathogenesis by regulating inflammatory and immune-related pathways. Conclusion: Our study revealed 24 ICH-specific aging-related genes and their functions highly pertinent to ICH pathogenesis, providing new insights into the impact of aging on ICH.

Placenta-specific 8 (PLAC8) mediates inflammation and mobility of the hPDLCs via MEK/ERK signaling pathway.

BACKGROUND: Placenta-specific 8 (PLAC8) is reported to regulate cellular functions in the progression of various diseases. However, its role in periodontitis is still unclear. METHODS: Human periodontal ligament cells (hPDLCs) were treated with lipopolysaccharide of Porphyromonas Gingivalis (LPS-PG) to mimic periodontitis in vitro. Real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) was performed to measure the mRNA expression levels and western blot was for protein levels. Wound healing and transwell migration assays were performed to assess the cell mobility of hPDLCs. Both mRNA and protein levels of inflammatory cytokines including IFN-γ, IL-17, TNF-α, IL-4, IL-10 and IL-13 were accessed to evaluated process of periodontitis in vitro. Furthermore, the protein expressions of mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase (MEK), extracellular regulated protein kinase (ERK) and their phosphorylated products quantified by western blotting assay were determined to confirm the activation of the MEK/ERK signaling pathway. RESULTS: The microarray analysis results showed that PLAC8 was most significantly downregulated in periodontium samples of patients with periodontitis, which participates in blood coagulation and integrin-mediated signaling pathway. PLAC8 was also markedly downregulated in the LPS-PG-treated hPDLCs. Moreover, overexpression of PLAC8 ameliorated inflammation and promoted cell mobility of LPS-PG-treated hPDLCs, while inhibition of PLAC8 exhibited the opposite effects. MEK/ERK was selected based on analyses of the protein-protein interaction (PPI) network as the potential signaling pathway interacted with PLAC8, and PLAC8 showed regulatory function on activation of the MEK/ERK pathway. Additionally, U0126, the inhibitor of MEK, abrogated the effects of PLAC8 on inflammation and cell mobility of LPS-PG-treated hPDLCs. CONCLUSION: Overexpression of PLAC8 protected hPDLCs from dysfunction of inflammation and cell mobility via activating MEK/ERK pathway, indicating a novel therapeutic target for periodontitis.

Metabolomic analysis revealed glycylglycine accumulation in astrocytes after methionine enkephalin administration exhibiting neuron protective effects.

Owing to its unrevealed etiology, multiple sclerosis lacks specific therapies up to now. Experiential administration of methionine enkephalin (MENK) on mouse model improved disease manifestations to some extent. In order to gain more insight on the significance of MENK application, a capillary electrophoresis-mass spectrometry (CE-MS) technique was employed to profile intracellular metabolite fluctuation in 5 astrocytoma cell lines challenged by MENK. The processed data were first evaluated through a bioinformatic process to ensure their compatibility with the study aims and then subjected to multivariate analysis. The results indicated that MENK administration increased intracellular tyrosine, phenylalanine, methionine and glycylglycine. Exemplified by U87 cells, glycylglycine inhibited cell proliferation as well as MENK but it also decreased cell nitric oxide excretion which could not be evoked by MENK. The neuron protective effects were also mirrored by the increased expression of some genes related to remyelination. This study demonstrated CE-MS to be a promising tool for cell metabolomic analysis and benefited the therapeutic exploring of multiple sclerosis with respect to metabolism intervention.