Associations of E-proteinoid 3 receptor genetic polymorphisms with salt sensitivity, longitudinal blood pressure changes, and hypertension incidence in Chinese adults.

The E-proteinoid 3 receptor (PTGER3), a member of the prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) subtype receptor, belongs to the G-protein-coupled superfamily of receptors. Animal studies have demonstrated its involvement in salt sensitivity by regulating sodium reabsorption. This study aimed to investigate the association between genetic variants of PTGER3 and salt sensitivity, longitudinal blood pressure (BP) changes, and the incidence of hypertension in Chinese adults. A chronic salt intake intervention was conducted involving 514 adults from 124 families in the 2004 Baoji Salt-Sensitivity Study Cohort in northern China. These participants followed a 3-day regular baseline diet, followed by a 7-day low-salt diet (3.0 g/d) and a 7-day high-salt diet (18 g/d), and were subsequently followed for 14 years. The findings revealed a significant relationship between the single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) rs17482751 of PTGER3 and diastolic blood pressure (DBP) response to high salt intervention. Additionally, SNPs rs11209733, rs3765894, and rs2268062 were significantly associated with longitudinal changes in systolic blood pressure (SBP), DBP, and mean arterial pressure (MAP) during the 14-year follow-up period. SNP rs6424414 was significantly associated with longitudinal changes in DBP over 14 years. Finally, SNP rs17482751 showed a significant correlation with the incidence of hypertension over 14 years. These results emphasize the significant role of PTGER3 gene polymorphism in salt sensitivity, longitudinal BP changes, and the development of hypertension in the Chinese population.

[Spatiotemporal Coupling Analysis of Urbanization and Ecosystem Services in Southeastern Fujian].

Revealing the spatiotemporal coupling relationship between urbanization and ecosystem services can help to clarify regional development differences, optimize the implementation path of urbanization, and improve the quality of ecosystem services. Taking southeastern Fujian, a region with a good ecological foundation and strong urbanization potential, as a case study, the levels of multidimensional urbanization systems and typical ecosystem services of this region in the years 2000, 2010, and 2020 were quantified using the index comprehensive evaluation method and the InVEST model. The Pearson correlation coefficient and the coupling coordination degree model were used to analyze the spatiotemporal coupling relationship between urbanization and ecosystem services, and suggestions for improving regional coordinated development were proposed. The results showed that： ① The comprehensive urbanization level in southeastern Fujian increased continuously, with an average annual growth rate of 7.3%, of which social urbanization was the fastest, followed by economic urbanization and population urbanization, and spatial urbanization was relatively backward. Ecosystem services tended to decline, especially food and water provision services, which decreased by 61.9% and 46.9%, respectively. The spatial distribution showed a mismatch pattern of "high urbanization level and weak ecosystem services" in the southeast coastal area and "low urbanization level and strong ecosystem services" in the northwest inland area. ② The correlation between urbanization and ecosystem services was mainly negative. The negative effect of economic and social urbanization on ecosystem services was weaker than that of population and spatial urbanization, with a clear weakening tendency. As population and spatial urbanization slowed down sharply and economic and social urbanization accelerated, the driving force of urbanization development gradually shifted from "quantitative increase" to "qualitative improvement." Thus, the decline of ecosystem services was alleviated. ③ Comprehensive urbanization and various ecosystem services experienced three stages of "imbalance-transition-reconciliation," with an average increase of 60.5% to 120.6% in the coupling coordination degree. However, highly coordinated regions remained scarce, indicating that there is still significant room for improvement. The relative relationship between urbanization and ecosystem services evolved from urbanization lag to ecosystem services lag. The fluctuation problem of backward coupling coordination level caused by excessive urbanization had initially appeared in the southeastern coastal area. Therefore, in future construction, southeastern Fujian should improve economic quality and social benefits； strengthen the overall management, protection, and restoration of ecological space； and enhance the order and stability of the coordinated development of urbanization and ecosystem services.

[Effects of Straw and Biochar Amendments on Characteristics of Soil Fungal Community and Organic Carbon Pool in Jasminum sambac Garden].

In order to elucidate the changes in the soil fungal community and soil organic carbon components of a Jasminum sambac garden after straw and biochar application, we measured the organic carbon components and soil fungal community of the 0-15 cm soil layer in a J. sambac garden, which was divided into a control group, straw treatment group, and biochar treatment group. The carbon pool management index （CPMI） was also calculated. The results showed that the diversity of the soil fungal community was decreased after straw and biochar application, and the structure of dominant fungal genera was changed in each treatment. The soil fungal community structure in the biochar treatment was significantly different from that in the straw treatment and control groups. Redundancy analysis （RDA） showed that soil fungal community structure was mainly affected by soil bulk density, C∶N, salinity, and TN. Secondly, compared with that in the control group, soil labile organic carbon （LOC） in the straw treatment group was significantly increased by 87.44% （P<0.05）, whereas soil dissolved organic carbon （DOC） and microbial biomass carbon （MBC） in the biochar treatment group were significantly increased by 22.27% and 23.17% （P<0.05）, respectively. Further, compared with that in the control group, the carbon pool activity （L） under straw treatment was significantly increased （P<0.05）, and the carbon pool index （CPI） under biochar treatment was significantly increased （P<0.05）. Spearman correlation analysis showed that the distribution characteristics of soil organic carbon active components were regulated by the dominant fungi. FUNGuild functional prediction results showed that saprophytic and its facultative nutritional fungi had an important impact on soil organic carbon active components and carbon pool management index after straw and biochar application.

Selective Activation of Cascade Assembly Amplification for DNA Methyltransferase Detection Using a Double-Loop Interlocked DNA Circuit.

Precise and reliable monitoring of DNA adenine methyltransferase (Dam) activity is essential for disease diagnosis and biological analysis. However, existing techniques for detecting Dam activity often rely on specific DNA recognition probes that are susceptible to DNA degradation and exhibit limited target sensitivity and specificity. In this study, we designed and engineered a stable and dynamic DNA nanodevice called the double-loop interlocked DNA circuit (DOOR) that enables the sensitive and selective monitoring of Dam activity in complex biological environments. The DOOR incorporates two interlocked specialized sequences: a palindromic sequence for Dam identification and an initiator sequence for signal amplification. In the presence of Dam, the DOOR is cleaved by double-stranded DNA phosphodiesterase I endonuclease, generating massive double-stranded DNA (dsDNA) units. These units can self-assemble into a long dsDNA scaffold, thereby enhancing the subsequent reaction kinetics. The dsDNA scaffold further triggers a hyperbranched hybrid chain reaction to produce a fluorescent 3D DNA nanonet, enabling more precise monitoring of the Dam activity. The DOOR device exhibits excellent sensitivity, specificity, and stability, rendering it a powerful tool for studying DNA methylation in various biological processes and diseases.

Stratifying risk of failure to achieve textbook outcomes among patients undergoing hepatectomy for hepatocellular carcinoma: A multicenter score validation study.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: The concept of textbook outcomes (TOs) has gained increased attention as a critical metric to assess the quality and success of outcomes following complex surgery. A simple yet effective scoring system was developed and validated to predict risk of not achieving textbook outcomes (non-TOs) following hepatectomy for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). METHODS: Using a multicenter prospectively collected database, risk factors associated with non-TO among patients who underwent hepatectomy for HCC were identified. A predictive scoring system based on factors identified from multivariate regression analysis was used to risk stratify patients relative to non-TO. The score was developed using 70 % of the overall cohort and validated in the remaining 30 %. RESULTS: Among 3681 patients, 1458 (39.6 %) failied to experience a TO. Based on the derivation cohort, obesity, American Society of Anaesthesiologists score(ASA score), Child-Pugh grade, tumor size, and extent of hepatectomy were identified as independent predictors of non-TO. The scoring system ranged from 0 to 10 points. Patients were categorized into low (0-3 points), intermediate (4-6 points), and high risk (7-10 points) of non-TO. In the validation cohort, the predicted risk of developing non-TOs was 39.0 %, which closely matched the observed risk of 39.9 %. There were no differences among the predicted and observed risks within the different risk categories. CONCLUSIONS: A novel scoring system was able to predict risk of non-TO accurately following hepatectomy for HCC. The score may enable early identification of individuals at risk of adverse outcomes and inform surgical decision-making, and quality improvement initiatives.

Global prevalence, clinical characteristics, surveillance, treatment allocation, and outcomes of alcohol-associated hepatocellular carcinoma.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Although the burden of alcohol-associated hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is increasing with rising alcohol consumption, clinical presentation and outcomes of alcohol-associated HCC have not been systematically assessed. We aimed to determine the prevalence, clinical characteristics, surveillance rates, treatment allocation, and outcomes of alcohol-associated HCC. METHODS: Medline and Embase were searched from inception to January 2023. Proportional data were analyzed using a generalized linear mixed model. The odds ratio (OR) or mean difference comparing alcohol-associated HCC and other causes was obtained with pairwise meta-analysis. Survival outcomes were evaluated using a pooled analysis of hazard ratios. RESULTS: Of 4,824 records identified, 55 articles (86,345 patients) were included. Overall, 30.4% (CI: 24.0%-37.7%) of HCC were alcohol-associated, with the highest proportion in Europe and the lowest in the Americas. People with alcohol-associated HCC were more likely male, but similar in age and comorbidities, compared to other causes. 20.8% (CI: 11.4%-34.9%) of people with alcohol-associated HCC underwent surveillance compared to 35.0%, 31.6%, and 21.4% in hepatitis B virus, hepatitis C virus, and metabolic dysfunction-associated HCC, respectively (all P<0.05). Alcohol-associated HCC had a lower likelihood of BCLC stage (0/A) (OR: 0.7, CI: 0.6-0.9; P=0.018) and curative therapy (24.5% vs 33.9%; OR 0.7, CI: 0.5-0.9; P=0.003), and higher mortality (HR: 1.3, CI: 1.1-1.5, P=0.012) when compared to other causes. CONCLUSIONS: Alcohol-associated HCC is associated with lower surveillance rates, more advanced BCLC stage, lower likelihood of receiving curative therapy, and poorer survival. These data call for measures to reduce heavy alcohol consumption and improve strategies for effective HCC surveillance in high-risk individuals.

SiO 2 Induces Iron Overload and Ferroptosis in Cardiomyocytes in a Silicosis Mouse Model.

Objective: The aim of this study was to explore the role and mechanism of ferroptosis in SiO 2-induced cardiac injury using a mouse model. Methods: Male C57BL/6 mice were intratracheally instilled with SiO 2 to create a silicosis model. Ferrostatin-1 (Fer-1) and deferoxamine (DFO) were used to suppress ferroptosis. Serum biomarkers, oxidative stress markers, histopathology, iron content, and the expression of ferroptosis-related proteins were assessed. Results: SiO 2 altered serum cardiac injury biomarkers, oxidative stress, iron accumulation, and ferroptosis markers in myocardial tissue. Fer-1 and DFO reduced lipid peroxidation and iron overload, and alleviated SiO 2-induced mitochondrial damage and myocardial injury. SiO 2 inhibited Nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) and its downstream antioxidant genes, while Fer-1 more potently reactivated Nrf2 compared to DFO. Conclusion: Iron overload-induced ferroptosis contributes to SiO 2-induced cardiac injury. Targeting ferroptosis by reducing iron accumulation or inhibiting lipid peroxidation protects against SiO 2 cardiotoxicity, potentially via modulation of the Nrf2 pathway.

Recurrence in isolated distal DVT after anticoagulation: a systematic review and meta-analysis of axial and muscular venous thrombosis.

OBJECTIVE: To identify recurrent venous thromboembolism (VTE) after discontinuation of anticoagulation in patients with isolated distal deep vein thrombosis based on its anatomic localization (axial or muscular veins). METHODS: Data were sourced from PubMed, Embase, Cochrane Library, Web of Science, and ClinicalTrials.gov databases in the time period up to October 2023. The study followed PRISMA guidelines using a registered protocol (CRD42023443029). Studies reporting recurrent VTE in patients with axial or muscular DVT were included in the analysis. RESULTS: Five studies with a total of 1,403 participants were evaluated. The results showed a pooled odds ratio of 1.12 (95% confidence interval 0.77-1.63) between axial and muscular DVT. Heterogeneity was low (I2 = 0%, p = 0.91) and there was no significant difference in the rate of recurrent VTE between axial and muscular DVT in each subgroup. CONCLUSIONS: Muscular and axial DVT showed comparable recurrent VTE rates after anticoagulation. However, uncertainties regarding the possibility of recurrence affecting the popliteal vein or resulting in pulmonary embolism following muscular DVT anticoagulation persisted. Randomized trials in patients with isolated distal DVT are still needed to clarify its prognosis for different anatomical thrombus locations.

The prognostic value of immune escape-related genes in lung adenocarcinoma.

Background: Lung cancer is one of the most common cancers in humans, and lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD) has become the most common histological type of lung cancer. Immune escape promotes progression of LUAD from the early to metastatic late stages and is one of the main obstacles to improving clinical outcomes for immunotherapy targeting immune detection points. Our study aims to explore the immune escape related genes that are abnormally expressed in lung adenocarcinoma, providing assistance in predicting the prognosis of lung adenocarcinoma and targeted. Methods: RNA data and related clinical details of patients with LUAD were obtained from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) database. Through weighted gene coexpression network analysis (WGCNA), 3112 key genes were screened and intersected with 182 immune escape genes obtained from a previous study to identify the immune escape-related genes (IERGs). The role of IERGs in LUAD was systematically explored through gene ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genome (KEGG) analyses, which were used to enrich the relevant pathways of IERGs. The least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO) algorithm and multivariate Cox regression analysis were used to identify the key prognostic genes, and a prognostic risk model was constructed. Estimation of Stromal and Immune Cells in Malignant Tumor Tissues Using Expression Data (ESTIMATE) and microenvironment cell populations (MCP) counter methods (which can accurately assess the amount of eight immune cell populations and two stromal cell groups) were used to analyze the tumor immune status of the high and low risk subgroups. The protein expression level of the differentially expressed genes in lung cancer samples was determined by using the Human Protein Atlas (HPA) database. A nomogram was constructed, and the prognostic risk model was verified via the Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) datasets GSE72094 and GSE30219. Results: Twenty differentially expressed IERGs were obtained. GO analysis of these 20 IERGs revealed that they were mainly associated with the regulation of immune system processes, immune responses, and interferon-γ enrichment in mediating signaling pathways and apoptotic signaling pathways; meanwhile, KEGG analysis revealed that IERGs were associated with necroptosis, antigen processing and presentation, programmed cell death ligand 1 (PD-L1) expression and programmed cell death 1 (PD-1) pathway in tumors, cytokine-cytokine receptor interactions, T helper cell 1 (Th1) and Th2 differentiation, and tumor necrosis factor signaling pathways. Using LASSO and Cox regression analysis, we constructed a four-gene model that could predict the prognosis of patients with LUAD, and the model was validated with a validation cohort. The immunohistochemical results of the HPA database showed that AHSA1 and CEP55 had low expression in normal lung tissue but high expression in lung cancer tissue. Conclusions: We constructed an IERG-based model for predicting the prognosis of LUAD. Among the genes identified, CEP55 and AHSA1 may be potential prognostic and therapeutic targets, and reducing their expression may represent a novel approach in the treatment of LUAD.

The lncRNA LINC01605 promotes the progression of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma by activating the mTOR signaling pathway.

BACKGROUND: This study investigated the molecular mechanism of long intergenic non-protein coding RNA 1605 (LINC01605) in the process of tumor growth and liver metastasis of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC). METHODS: LINC01605 was filtered out with specificity through TCGA datasets (related to DFS) and our RNA-sequencing data of PDAC tissue samples from Renji Hospital. The expression level and clinical relevance of LINC01605 were then verified in clinical cohorts and samples by immunohistochemical staining assay and survival analysis. Loss- and gain-of-function experiments were performed to estimate the regulatory effects of LINC01605 in vitro. RNA-seq of LINC01605-knockdown PDAC cells and subsequent inhibitor-based cellular function, western blotting, immunofluorescence and rescue experiments were conducted to explore the mechanisms by which LINC01605 regulates the behaviors of PDAC tumor cells. Subcutaneous xenograft models and intrasplenic liver metastasis models were employed to study its role in PDAC tumor growth and liver metastasis in vivo. RESULTS: LINC01605 expression is upregulated in both PDAC primary tumor and liver metastasis tissues and correlates with poor clinical prognosis. Loss and gain of function experiments in cells demonstrated that LINC01605 promotes the proliferation and migration of PDAC cells in vitro. In subsequent verification experiments, we found that LINC01605 contributes to PDAC progression through cholesterol metabolism regulation in a LIN28B-interacting manner by activating the mTOR signaling pathway. Furthermore, the animal models showed that LINC01605 facilitates the proliferation and metastatic invasion of PDAC cells in vivo. CONCLUSIONS: Our results indicate that the upregulated lncRNA LINC01605 promotes PDAC tumor cell proliferation and migration by regulating cholesterol metabolism via activation of the mTOR signaling pathway in a LIN28B-interacting manner. These findings provide new insight into the role of LINC01605 in PDAC tumor growth and liver metastasis as well as its value for clinical approaches as a metabolic therapeutic target in PDAC.

Coherence-controlled chaotic soliton bunch.

Controlling the coherence of chaotic soliton bunch holds the promise to explore novel light-matter interactions and manipulate dynamic events such as rogue waves. However, the coherence control of chaotic soliton bunch remains challenging, as there is a lack of dynamic equilibrium mechanism for stochastic soliton interactions. Here, we develop a strategy to effectively control the coherence of chaotic soliton bunch in a laser. We show that by introducing a lumped fourth-order-dispersion (FOD), the soliton oscillating tails can be formed and generate the potential barriers among the chaotic solitons. The repulsive force between neighboring solitons enabled by the potential barriers gives rise to an alleviation of the soliton fusion/annihilation from stochastic interactions, endowing the capability to control the coherence in chaotic soliton bunch. We envision that this result provides a promising test-bed for a variety of dynamical complexity science and brings new insights into the nonlinear behavior of chaotic laser sources.

[Identification of chemical components in Qinggu San reference sample of classial prescription based on UHPLC-Q/Orbitrap HRMS combined with molecular network technology].

The method of ultra-high performance liquid chromatography-quadrupole-electrostatic field orbitrap high-resolution mass spectrometry(UHPLC-Q/Orbitrap HRMS)combined with molecular network was developed in this study for rapidly analyzing the chemical components of the Qinggu San reference sample of classical prescription. Firstly, an ACQUITY UPLC BEH Shield RP_(18) column(2.1 mm×100 mm, 1.7 µm)was used, and acetonitrile and 0.1% formic acid were taken as the mobile phases for gradient elution. The flow rate was 0.4 mL·min~(-1), and the column temperature was 30 ℃. Under these conditions, the mass spectrum data were collected in both positive and negative ion modes of the heated electrospray ionization source. Subsequently, the mass spectrum data of the Qinggu San reference sample were uploaded to the Global Natural Products Social Molecular Network(GNPS)platform for calculation and analysis, and a visual molecular network was built with Cytoscape 3.8.2 software. On this basis, the chemical components of the Qinggu San reference sample were identified by fragmentation regularity of standard compounds, retention time, accurate relative molecular weight of HR-MS, characteristic fragment ions information, literature, and databases. Finally, a total of 105 chemical components were identified and speculated in the Qinggu San reference sample, including 19 iridoid glycosides, 23 flavonoids, 15 phenylpropanoids, 11 triterpene saponins, and 37 other components. Meanwhile, two of these components are potential new compounds. The method used in this study not only achieved rapid and accurate identification of chemical components in the Qinggu San reference sample and provided a scie-ntific basis for the study of pharmacological substances and quality control of Qinggu San compound preparations but also provided a refe-rence for the rapid identification of chemical components in traditional Chinese medicine compound preparations.

Isolation and Characterization of Meniscus Progenitor Cells From Rat, Rabbit, Goat, and Human.

OBJECTIVE: Meniscus progenitor cells (MPCs) have been identified as promising candidates for meniscus regeneration, and it is crucial for us to understand meniscus injury repair mechanism at the cellular level. In this study, we investigate the biological properties of MPCs isolated from different species using the differential adhesion to fibronectin (DAF) technique. We aim to characterize MPCs in different species and evaluate the feasibility of these models for future meniscal investigation. DESIGN: MPCs were isolated from freshly digested meniscus from rat, rabbit, goat, and human cells using DAF. Biological properties, including proliferation, colony-forming, multilineage differentiation, and migration abilities, were compared in MPCs and their corresponding mixed meniscus cell (MCs) population in each species. RESULTS: MPCs were successfully isolated by the DAF technique in all species. Rat MPCs appeared cobblestone-like, rabbit MPCs were more polygonal, goat MPCs had a spindle-shaped morphology, human MPCs appear more fibroblast-like. Compared with MCs, isolated MPCs showed progenitor cell characteristics, including multilineage differentiation ability and MSC (mesenchymal stem cells) markers (CD166, CD90, CD44, Stro-1) expression. They also highly expressed fibronectin receptors CD49e and CD49c. MPCs also showed greater proliferation capacity and retained colony-forming ability. Except for goat MPCs showed greater migration abilities than MCs, no significant differences were found in the migration ability between MPCs and MCs in other species. CONCLUSION: Our study shows that DAF is an effective method for isolating MPCs from rat, rabbit, goat, and human. MPCs in these species demonstrated similar characteristics, including greater proliferation ability and better chondrogenic potential.

Angelicin improves osteoporosis in ovariectomized rats by reducing ROS production in osteoclasts through regulation of the KAT6A/Nrf2 signalling pathway.

BACKGROUND: Angelicin, which is found in Psoralea, can help prevent osteoporosis by stopping osteoclast formation, although the precise mechanism remains unclear. METHODS: We evaluated the effect of angelicin on the oxidative stress level of osteoclasts using ovariectomized osteoporosis model rats and RAW264.7 cells. Changes in the bone mass of the femur were investigated using H&E staining and micro-CT. ROS content was investigated by DHE fluorescence labelling. Osteoclast-related genes and proteins were examined for expression using Western blotting, immunohistochemistry, tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase staining, and real-time quantitative PCR. The influence of angelicin on osteoclast development was also evaluated using the MTT assay, double luciferin assay, chromatin immunoprecipitation, immunoprecipitation and KAT6A siRNA transfection. RESULTS: Rats treated with angelicin had considerably higher bone mineral density and fewer osteoclasts. Angelicin prevented RAW264.7 cells from differentiating into osteoclasts in vitro when stimulated by RANKL. Experiments revealed reduced ROS levels and significantly upregulated intracellular KAT6A, HO-1, and Nrf2 following angelicin treatment. The expression of genes unique to osteoclasts, such as MMP9 and NFATc1, was also downregulated. Finally, KAT6A siRNA transfection increased intracellular ROS levels while decreasing KAT6A, Nrf2, and HO-1 protein expression in osteoclasts. However, in the absence of KAT6A siRNA transfection, angelicin greatly counteracted this effect in osteoclasts. CONCLUSIONS: Angelicin increased the expression of KAT6A. This enhanced KAT6A expression helps to activate the Nrf2/HO-1 antioxidant stress system and decrease ROS levels in osteoclasts, thus inhibiting oxidative stress levels and osteoclast formation.

Progress of organoid platform in cardiovascular research.

Cardiovascular disease is a significant cause of death in humans. Various models are necessary for the study of cardiovascular diseases, but once cellular and animal models have some defects, such as insufficient fidelity. As a new technology, organoid has certain advantages and has been used in many applications in the study of cardiovascular diseases. This article aims to summarize the application of organoid platforms in cardiovascular diseases, including organoid construction schemes, modeling, and application of cardiovascular organoids. Advances in cardiovascular organoid research have provided many models for different cardiovascular diseases in a variety of areas, including myocardium, blood vessels, and valves. Physiological and pathological models of different diseases, drug research models, and methods for evaluating and promoting the maturation of different kinds of organ tissues are provided for various cardiovascular diseases, including cardiomyopathy, myocardial infarction, and atherosclerosis. This article provides a comprehensive overview of the latest research progress in cardiovascular organ tissues, including construction protocols for cardiovascular organoid tissues and their evaluation system, different types of disease models, and applications of cardiovascular organoid models in various studies. The problems and possible solutions in organoid development are summarized.

α-Ketoglutarate plays an inflammatory inhibitory role by regulating scavenger receptor class a expression through N6-methyladenine methylation during sepsis.

Sepsis arises from an uncontrolled inflammatory response triggered by infection or stress, accompanied by alteration in cellular energy metabolism, and a strong correlation exists between these factors. Alpha-ketoglutarate (α-KG), an intermediate product of the TCA cycle, has the potential to modulate the inflammatory response and is considered a crucial link between energy metabolism and inflammation. The scavenger receptor (SR-A5), a significant pattern recognition receptor, assumes a vital function in anti-inflammatory reactions. In the current investigation, we have successfully illustrated the ability of α-KG to mitigate inflammatory factors in the serum of septic mice and ameliorate tissue damage. Additionally, α-KG has been shown to modulate metabolic reprogramming and macrophage polarization. Moreover, our findings indicate that the regulatory influence of α-KG on sepsis is mediated through SR-A5. We also elucidated the mechanism by which α-KG regulates SR-A5 expression and found that α-KG reduced the N6-methyladenosine level of macrophages by up-regulating the m6A demethylase ALKBH5. α-KG plays a crucial role in inhibiting inflammation by regulating SR-A5 expression through m6A demethylation during sepsis. The outcomes of this research provide valuable insights into the relationship between energy metabolism and inflammation regulation, as well as the underlying molecular regulatory mechanism.

Label-Free Fiber-Optic Raman Spectroscopy for Intravascular Coronary Atherosclerosis and Plaque Detection.

The rupture of atherosclerotic plaques remains one of the leading causes of morbidity and mortality worldwide. The plaques have certain pathological characteristics including a fibrous cap, inflammation, and extensive lipid deposition in a lipid core. Various invasive and noninvasive imaging techniques can interrogate structural aspects of atheroma; however, the composition of the lipid core in coronary atherosclerosis and plaques cannot be accurately detected. Fiber-optic Raman spectroscopy has the capability of in vivo rapid and accurate biomarker detection as an emerging omics technology. Previous studies demonstrated that an intravascular Raman spectroscopic technique may assess and manage the therapeutic and medication strategies intraoperatively. The Raman spectral information identified plaque depositions consisting of lipids, triglycerides, and cholesterol esters as the major components by comparing normal region and early plaque formation region with histology. By focusing on the composition of plaques, we could identify the subgroups of plaques accurately and rapidly by Raman spectroscopy. Collectively, this fiber-optic Raman spectroscopy opens up new opportunities for coronary atherosclerosis and plaque detection, which would assist optimal surgical strategy and instant postoperative decision-making. In this paper, we will review the advancement of label-free fiber-optic Raman probe spectroscopy and its applications of coronary atherosclerosis and atherosclerotic plaque detection.

Recommendations for managing adult acne and adolescent acne based on an epidemiological study conducted in China.

There are numerous differences between adult acne and adolescent acne in terms of causes, distribution, and characteristics of skin lesions, as well as treatment. This paper aims to summarize the differences between adult and adolescent acne in China, in order to propose more suitable ways to improve their quality of life. We collected basic information, acne-related information, acne-affecting factors, quality of life scores and treatment-related information of acne patients. A total of 552 questionnaires were collected. Adult acne is typically predominant on the cheeks, similar to adolescent acne, with a relatively lower incidence in other areas, apart from the jawline. Pigmentation and depressed scars are present in nearly half of acne patients, while hypertrophic scars are less frequently observed. Teenagers often have a higher consumption of dairy products, sugary drinks, and high-sugar and high-fat foods. Eczema is more common in adult acne. Additionally, more adults than teenagers experience stress and poor quality of life related to acne. Adolescents are more likely to seek treatment online and on social media. Clinicians must thoroughly evaluate diverse risk factors and formulate personalized acne management strategies for patients with different types of acne.

Refining silicon nitride waveguide quality through femtosecond laser annealing.

We present a method for modification of silicon nitride (Si3N4) waveguide resonators using femtosecond laser annealing. The quality (Q) factor of the waveguide resonators can be improved by approximately 1.3 times after annealing. Notably, waveguides that originally had a high Q value maintained their quality after the annealing process. However, those with a lower initial Q value experienced a noticeable improvement post-annealing. To characterize the annealing effect, the surface morphologies of Si3N4 films, both pre- and post-annealing, were analyzed using atomic force microscopy. The findings suggest a potential enhancement in surface refinement. Furthermore, Raman spectroscopy confirmed that the Si3N4 film's composition remains largely consistent with its original state within the annealing power range of 0.6-1.6 W. This research underscores the potential of femtosecond laser annealing as an efficient, cost-effective, and localized technique for fabricating low-loss integrated photonics.

A single session of sensorimotor rhythm neurofeedback enhances long-game performance in professional golfers.

Enhanced Sensorimotor Rhythm activity has been linked to increased automation in motor execution. Although existing research demonstrates the positive effects of SMR neurofeedback training on improving golf putting performance, its influence on golf long-game performance remains unexplored. This study sought to address this gap by involving seventeen professional female golfers (Age =24.63 ± 3.24 years, Handicap＝2.06 ± 1.18) in a crossover-designed experiment incorporating both NFT and a no-training control condition. During the study, participants executed 40 150-yard swings while receiving continuous SMR neurofeedback. Pre- and post-testing included visual analog scales to assess psychological processes associated with SMR activities, including attention engagement, conscious motor control, and physical relaxation levels. The results revealed that a single session of NFT effectively heightened SMR power irrespective of T1 (p = .02) or T2 (p = .03), which was observed with improved swing accuracy compared to the control conditions, particularly in "To Pin" (p = .04, the absolute distance to the hole after the ball comes to a stop). Subjective assessments further indicated that SMR NFT contributed to a sense of ease and tranquility during motor preparation for the golf swing (attention engagement: p = .01, conscious motor control: p = .033, physical relaxation: p = .013), and which offered valuable insights into the potential mechanisms underlying the impact of SMR NFT on long-game performance. Additionally, in such practical applications professional athletes can utilize our single-session neurofeedback protocol to train efficiently and cost-effectively before competitions, thereby enhancing their opportunity to achieve a higher rank.