Association between ambient temperature and influenza prevalence: A nationwide time-series analysis in 201 Chinese cities from 2013 to 2018.

BACKGROUND: Temperature affects influenza transmission; however, currently, limited evidence exists about its effect in China at the national and city levels as well as how temperature can be integrated into influenza interventions. METHODS: Meteorological, pollutant, and influenza data from 201 cities in mainland China between 2013 and 2018 were analyzed at both the city and national levels to investigate the relationship between temperature and influenza prevalence. We examined the impact of temperature on the time-varying reproduction number (Rt) using generalized additive quasi-Poisson regression models combined with the distributed lag nonlinear model. Threshold temperatures were determined for seven regions based on the early warning threshold of serious influenza outbreaks, set at Rt = 1.2. A multivariate random-effects meta-analysis was employed to assess region-specific associations. The excess risk (ER) index was defined to investigate the correlation between Rt and temperature, modified based on seasonal and regional characteristics. RESULTS: At the national level and in the central, northern, northwestern, and southern regions, temperature was found to be negatively correlated with relative risk, whereas the shapes of the data curves for the eastern, southwestern, and northeastern regions were not well defined. Low temperatures had an observable effect on influenza prevalence; however, the effects of high temperatures were not obvious. At an Rt of 1.2, the threshold temperatures for reaching a warning for serious influenza outbreaks were - 24.3 °C in the northeastern region, 16.6 °C in the northwestern region, and between 1℃ and 10 °C in other regions. CONCLUSION: The study findings revealed that temperature had a varying effect on influenza transmission trends (Rt) across different regions in China. By identifying region-specific temperature thresholds at Rt = 1.2, more effective early warning systems for influenza outbreaks could be tailored. These findings emphasize the significance of the region-specific adaptation of influenza prevention and control measures.

Epigallocatechin-3-gallate inhibits osteogenic differentiation of vascular smooth muscle cells through the transcription factor JunB.

Medial arterial calcification (MAC) accompanying chronic kidney disease (CKD) leads to increased vessel wall stiffness, myocardial ischemia, heart failure, and increased cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. Unfortunately, there are currently no drugs available to treat MAC. The natural polyphenol epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG) has been demonstrated to protect against cardiovascular disease; however, whether EGCG supplementation inhibits MAC in CKD remains unclear. In this study, we utilize a CKD-associated MAC model to investigate the effects of EGCG on vascular calcification and elucidate the underlying mechanisms involved. Our findings demonstrate that EGCG treatment significantly reduces calcium phosphate deposition and osteogenic differentiation of VSMCs in vivo and in vitro in a dose-dependent manner. In addition, through RNA sequencing (RNA-seq) analysis, we show a significant activation of the transcription factor JunB both in CKD mouse arteries and in osteoblast-like VSMCs. Notably, EGCG effectively suppresses CKD-associated MAC by inhibiting the activity of JunB. In addition, overexpression of JunB can abolish while knockdown of JunB can enhance the inhibitory effect of EGCG on the osteogenic differentiation of VSMCs. Furthermore, EGCG supplementation inhibits MAC in CKD via modulation of the JunB-dependent Ras/Raf/MEK/ERK signaling pathway. In conclusion, our study highlights the potential therapeutic value of EGCG for managing CKD-associated MAC, as it mitigates this pathological process through targeted inactivation of JunB.

Accountability analysis of health benefits related to National Action Plan on Air Pollution Prevention and Control in China.

China is one of the largest producers and consumers of coal in the world. The National Action Plan on Air Pollution Prevention and Control in China (2013-2017) particularly aimed to reduce emissions from coal combustion. Here, we show whether the acute health effects of PM2.5 changed from 2013 to 2018 and factors that might account for any observed changes in the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei (BTH) and the surrounding areas where there were major reductions in PM2.5 concentrations. We used a two-stage analysis strategy, with a quasi-Poisson regression model and a random effects meta-analysis, to assess the effects of PM2.5 on mortality in the 47 counties of BTH. We found that the mean daily PM2.5 levels and the SO42- component ratio dramatically decreased in the study period, which was likely related to the control of coal emissions. Subsequently, the acute effects of PM2.5 were significantly decreased for total and circulatory mortality. A 10 µg/m3 increase in PM2.5 concentrations was associated with a 0.16% (95% CI: 0.08, 0.24%) and 0.02% (95% CI: -0.09, 0.13%) increase in mortality from 2013 to 2015 and from 2016 to 2018, respectively. The changes in air pollution sources or PM2.5 components appeared to have played a core role in reducing the health effects. The air pollution control measures implemented recently targeting coal emissions taken in China may have resulted in significant health benefits.

Design and Application of Cu2+ Fluorescent Sensor Based on Carbazole Derivatives.

A novel fluorescent sensor for the detection of Cu2+ was developed based on carbazole derivatives. After the addition of Cu2+, the sensor exhibited obvious fluorescence quenching phenomenon, and the optical signal variation also enabled the sensor to quantitatively analyze Cu2+ due to the formation of a stable 1:1 metal-ligand complex in a short time. In addition, the sensor possessed chemical reversibility and pH stability. The cell imaging and zebra fish experiments also verified its application value in biological system.

The Brachypodium distachyon DREB transcription factor BdDREB-39 confers oxidative stress tolerance in transgenic tobacco.

Key message BdDREB-39 is a DREB/CBF transcription factor, localized in the nucleus with transactivation activity, and BdDREB-39-overexpressing transgenic yeasts and tobacco enhanced the tolerance to oxidative stress.Abstract The DREB/CBF transcription factors are generally recognized to play an important factor in plant growth, development and response to various abiotic stresses. However, the mechanism of DREB/CBFs in oxidative stress response is largely unknown. This study isolated a DREB/CBF gene BdDREB-39 from Brachypodium distachyon (B. distachyon). Multiple sequence alignment and phylogenetic analysis showed that BdDREB-39 was closely related to the DREB proteins of oats, barley, wheat and rye and therefore its study can provide a reference for the excavation and genetic improvement of BdDREB-39 or its homologs in its closely related species. The transcript levels of BdDREB-39 were significantly up-regulated under H2O2 stress. BdDREB-39 was localised in the nucleus and functioned as a transcriptional activator. Overexpression of BdDREB-39 enhanced H2O2 tolerance in yeast. Transgenic tobaccos with BdDREB-39 had higher germination rates, longer root, better growth status, lesser reactive oxygen species (ROS) and malondialdehyde (MDA), and higher superoxide dismutase (SOD) and peroxidase (POD) activities than wild type (WT). The expression levels of ROS-related and stress-related genes were improved by BdDREB-39. In summary, these results revealed that BdDREB-39 can improve the viability of tobacco by regulating the expression of ROS and stress-related genes, allowing transgenic tobacco to accumulate lower levels of ROS and reducing the damage caused by ROS to cells. The BdDREB-39 gene has the potential for developing plant varieties tolerant to stress.

Short-term glycemic variability and intracranial atherosclerotic plaque stability assessed by high-resolution MR vessel wall imaging in type 2 diabetes mellitus.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the relationship between short-term glycemic variability in patients with T2DM and the vulnerability of intracranial atherosclerotic plaques using HR-MR-VWI. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In total, 203 patients with acute ischemic stroke (AIS)/transient ischemia (TIA) combined with T2DM were enrolled. All of them underwent HR-MR-VWI during the period between July 2020 and July 2023. 203 patients were divided into groups with higher (1,5-AG≤ 30.7 µmol/L) and lower (1,5-AG> 30.7 µmol/L) short-term glycemic variability. Patients were also divided into the T1WI and non-T1WI hyperintensity groups. Associated factors(FBG, HbA1c, and 1,5-AG)for the T1WI hyperintensity were analyzed by binary logistic regression. We used the area under the curve (AUC), while the sensitivity and specificity were calculated at the optimal threshold. The Delong test was employed to compare the quality of the AUC of the predictors. RESULTS: The group with higher short-term glycemic variability had a higher incidence of the hyperintensity on T1WI, higher degree of enhancement, higher degree of stenosis and smaller lumen area (P < 0.05). The T1WI hyperintensity group had higher HbA1c levels, higher hemoglobin levels and lower 1,5-AG levels(P < 0.05). 1,5-AG (OR = 0.971, 95 % CI: 0.954∼0.988, P = 0.001), HbA1c (OR=1.305, 95 % CI: 1.065∼1.598, P = 0.01) and male sex (OR = 2.048, 95 % CI: 1.016∼4.128, P = 0.045)/(OR=2.102, 95 % CI: 1.058∼4.177, P = 0.034) were independent risk factors for the hyperintensity on T1WI. 1,5-AG demonstrated enhanced performance and yielded the highest AUC of the receiver operator characteristic curve (AUC = 0.726), with sensitivity and specificity values of 0.727 and 0.635 respectively. CONCLUSION: 1,5-AG, HbA1c and male sex are independent predictors of intracranial plaques with T1WI hyperintensity, the greater short-term glycemic variability, the higher incidence of vulnerable plaques.

Left ventricle-right atrial communication: A specific type of ventricular septal defect.

Left ventricular-right atrial communication (LV-RAC) refers to the shunt from the left ventricle to the right atrium caused by an abnormal channel between the left ventricle and the right atrium, and is a specific type of ventricular septal defect that is rare. We diagnosed one case using echocardiography.

Research on social and economic factors influencing regional mortality patterns in China.

Regional population mortality correlates with regional socioeconomic development. This study aimed to identify the key socioeconomic factors influencing mortality patterns in Chinese provinces. Using data from the Seventh Population Census, we analyzed mortality patterns by gender and urban‒rural division in 31 provinces. Using a functional regression model, we assessed the influence of fourteen indicators on mortality patterns. Main findings: (1) China shows notable gender and urban‒rural mortality variations across age groups. Males generally have higher mortality than females, and rural areas experience elevated mortality rates compared to urban areas. Mortality in individuals younger than 40 years is influenced mainly by urban‒rural factors, with gender becoming more noticeable in the 40-84 age group. (2) The substantial marginal impact of socioeconomic factors on mortality patterns generally becomes evident after the age of 45, with less pronounced differences in their impact on early-life mortality patterns. (3) Various factors have age-specific impacts on mortality. Education has a negative effect on mortality in individuals aged 0-29, extending to those aged 30-59 and diminishing in older age groups. Urbanization positively influences the probability of death in individuals aged 45-54 years, while the impact of traffic accidents increases with age. Among elderly people, the effect of socioeconomic variables is smaller, highlighting the intricate and heterogeneous nature of these influences and acknowledging certain limitations.

Comprehensive genome-wide analysis of wheat xylanase inhibitor protein (XIP) genes: unveiling their role in Fusarium head blight resistance and plant immune mechanisms.

In this comprehensive genome-wide study, we identified and classified 83 Xylanase Inhibitor Protein (XIP) genes in wheat, grouped into five distinct categories, to enhance understanding of wheat's resistance to Fusarium head blight (FHB), a significant fungal threat to global wheat production. Our analysis reveals the unique distribution of XIP genes across wheat chromosomes, particularly at terminal regions, suggesting their role in the evolutionary expansion of the gene family. Several XIP genes lack signal peptides, indicating potential alternative secretion pathways that could be pivotal in plant defense against FHB. The study also uncovers the sequence homology between XIPs and chitinases, hinting at a functional diversification within the XIP gene family. Additionally, the research explores the association of XIP genes with plant immune mechanisms, particularly their linkage with plant hormone signaling pathways like abscisic acid and jasmonic acid. XIP-7A3, in particular, demonstrates a significant increase in expression upon FHB infection, highlighting its potential as a key candidate gene for enhancing wheat's resistance to this disease. This research not only enriches our understanding of the XIP gene family in wheat but also provides a foundation for future investigations into their role in developing FHB-resistant wheat cultivars. The findings offer significant implications for wheat genomics and breeding, contributing to the development of more resilient crops against fungal diseases.

Missense mutation of ISL1 (E283D) is associated with the development of type 2 diabetes.

AIMS/HYPOTHESIS: Mutations in Isl1, encoding the insulin enhancer-binding protein islet-1 (ISL1), may contribute to attenuated insulin secretion in type 2 diabetes mellitus. We made an Isl1E283D mouse model to investigate the disease-causing mechanism of diabetes mellitus. METHODS: The ISL1E283D mutation (c. 849A>T) was identified by whole exome sequencing on an early-onset type 2 diabetes family and then the Isl1E283D knockin (KI) mouse model was created and an IPGTT and IPITT were conducted. Glucose-stimulated insulin secretion (GSIS), expression of Ins2 and other ISL1 target genes and interacting proteins were evaluated in isolated pancreas islets. Transcriptional activity of Isl1E283D was evaluated by cell-based luciferase reporter assay and electrophoretic mobility shift assay, and the expression levels of Ins2 driven by Isl1 wild-type (Isl1WT) and Isl1E283D mutation in rat INS-1 cells were determined by RT-PCR and western blotting. RESULTS: Impaired GSIS and elevated glucose level were observed in Isl1E283D KI mice while expression of Ins2 and other ISL1 target genes Mafa, Pdx1, Slc2a2 and the interacting protein NeuroD1 were downregulated in isolated islets. Transcriptional activity of the Isl1E283D mutation for Ins2 was reduced by 59.3%, and resulted in a marked downregulation of Ins2 expression when it was overexpressed in INS-1 cells, while overexpression of Isl1WT led to an upregulation of Ins2 expression. CONCLUSIONS/INTERPRETATION: Isl1E283D mutation reduces insulin expression and secretion by regulating insulin and other target genes, as well as its interacting proteins such as NeuroD1, leading to the development of glucose intolerance in the KI mice, which recapitulated the human diabetic phenotype. This study identified and highlighted the Isl1E283D mutation as a novel causative factor for type 2 diabetes, and suggested that targeting transcription factor ISL1 could offer an innovative avenue for the precise treatment of human type 2 diabetes.

Lon1 Inactivation Downregulates Autophagic Flux and Brassinosteroid Biogenesis, Modulating Mitochondrial Proportion and Seed Development in Arabidopsis.

Mitochondrial protein homeostasis is crucially regulated by protein degradation processes involving both mitochondrial proteases and cytosolic autophagy. However, it remains unclear how plant cells regulate autophagy in the scenario of lacking a major mitochondrial Lon1 protease. In this study, we observed a notable downregulation of core autophagy proteins in Arabidopsis Lon1 knockout mutant lon1-1 and lon1-2, supporting the alterations in the relative proportions of mitochondrial and vacuolar proteins over total proteins in the plant cells. To delve deeper into understanding the roles of the mitochondrial protease Lon1 and autophagy in maintaining mitochondrial protein homeostasis and plant development, we generated the lon1-2atg5-1 double mutant by incorporating the loss-of-function mutation of the autophagy core protein ATG5, known as atg5-1. The double mutant exhibited a blend of phenotypes, characterized by short plants and early senescence, mirroring those observed in the individual single mutants. Accordingly, distinct transcriptome alterations were evident in each of the single mutants, while the double mutant displayed a unique amalgamation of transcriptional responses. Heightened severity, particularly evident in reduced seed numbers and abnormal embryo development, was observed in the double mutant. Notably, aberrations in protein storage vacuoles (PSVs) and oil bodies were evident in the single and double mutants. Gene Ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) analyses of genes concurrently downregulated in lon1-2, atg5-1, and lon1-2atg5-1 unveiled a significant suppression of genes associated with brassinosteroid (BR) biosynthesis and homeostasis. This downregulation likely contributes to the observed abnormalities in seed and embryo development in the mutants.

Insulin resistance and its relationship with long-term exposure to ozone: Data based on a national population cohort.

The relationship of ozone (O3), particularly the long-term exposure, with impacting metabolic homeostasis in population was understudied and under-recognised. Here, we used data from ChinaHEART, a nationwide, population-based cohort study, combined with O3 and PM2.5 concentration data with high spatiotemporal resolution, to explore the independent association of exposure to O3 with the prevalence of insulin resistance (IR). Among the 271 540 participants included, the crude prevalence of IR was 39.1%, while the age and sex standardized prevalence stood at 33.0%. Higher IR prevalence was observed with each increase of 10.0 µg/m3 in long-term O3 exposure, yielding adjusted odds ratios (OR) of 1.084 (95% CI: 1.079-1.089) in the one-pollutant model and 1.073 (95% CI: 1.067-1.079) in the two-pollutant model. Notably, a significant additive interaction between O3 and PM2.5 on the prevalence of IR was observed (P for additive interaction < 0.001). Our main findings remained consistent and robust in the sensitivity analyses. Our study suggests long-term exposure to O3 was independently and positively associated with prevalence of IR. It emphasized the benefits of policy interventions to reduce O3 and PM2.5 exposure jointly, which could ultimately alleviate the health and economic burden related to DM.

Unveiling the hub genes in the SIGLECs family in colon adenocarcinoma with machine learning.

Background: Despite the recognized roles of Sialic acid-binding Ig-like lectins (SIGLECs) in endocytosis and immune regulation across cancers, their molecular intricacies in colon adenocarcinoma (COAD) are underexplored. Meanwhile, the complicated interactions between different SIGLECs are also crucial but open questions. Methods: We investigate the correlation between SIGLECs and various properties, including cancer status, prognosis, clinical features, functional enrichment, immune cell abundances, immune checkpoints, pathways, etc. To fully understand the behavior of multiple SIGLECs' co-evolution and subtract its leading effect, we additionally apply three unsupervised machine learning algorithms, namely, Principal Component Analysis (PCA), Self-Organizing Maps (SOM), K-means, and two supervised learning algorithms, Least Absolute Shrinkage and Selection Operator (LASSO) and neural network (NN). Results: We find significantly lower expression levels in COAD samples, together with a systematic enhancement in the correlations between distinct SIGLECs. We demonstrate SIGLEC14 significantly affects the Overall Survival (OS) according to the Hazzard ratio, while using PCA further enhances the sensitivity to both OS and Disease Free Interval (DFI). We find any single SIGLEC is uncorrelated to the cancer stages, which can be significantly improved by using PCA. We further identify SIGLEC-1,15 and CD22 as hub genes in COAD through Differentially Expressed Genes (DEGs), which is consistent with our PCA-identified key components PC-1,2,5 considering both the correlation with cancer status and immune cell abundance. As an extension, we use SOM for the visualization of the SIGLECs and show the similarities and differences between COAD patients. SOM can also help us define subsamples according to the SIGLECs status, with corresponding changes in both immune cells and cancer T-stage, for instance. Conclusion: We conclude SIGLEC-1,15 and CD22 as the most promising hub genes in the SIGLECs family in treating COAD. PCA offers significant enhancement in the prognosis and clinical analyses, while using SOM further unveils the transition phases or potential subtypes of COAD.

Exposure to Concurrent Heatwaves and Ozone Pollution and Associations with Mortality Risk: A Nationwide Study in China.

BACKGROUND: Concurrent extreme events are projected to occur more frequently under a changing climate. Understanding the mortality risk and burden of the concurrent heatwaves and ozone (O3) pollution may support the formulation of adaptation strategies and early warning systems for concurrent events in the context of climate change. OBJECTIVES: We aimed to estimate the mortality risk and excess deaths of concurrent heatwaves and O3 pollution across 250 counties in China. METHODS: We collected daily mortality, meteorological, and air pollution data for the summer (1 June to 30 September) during 2013-2018. We defined heatwaves and high O3 pollution days, then we divided the identified days into three categories: a) days with only heatwaves (heatwave-only event), b) days with only high O3 pollution (high O3 pollution-only event), and c) days with concurrent heatwaves and high O3 pollution (concurrent event). A generalized linear model with a quasi-Poisson regression was used to estimate the risk of mortality associated with extreme events for each county. Then we conducted a random-effects meta-analysis to pool the county-specific estimates to derive the overall effect estimates. We used mixed-effects meta-regression to identify the drivers of the heterogeneity. Finally, we estimated the excess death attributable to extreme events (heatwave-only, high O3 pollution-only, and concurrent events) from 2013 to 2020. RESULTS: A higher all-cause mortality risk was associated with exposure to the concurrent heatwaves and high O3 pollution than exposure to a heatwave-only or a high O3 pollution-only event. The effects of a concurrent event on circulatory and respiratory mortality were higher than all-cause and nonaccidental mortality. Sex and age significantly impacted the association of concurrent events and heatwave-only events with all-cause mortality. We estimated that annual average excess deaths attributed to the concurrent events were 6,249 in China from 2017 to 2020, 5.7 times higher than the annual average excess deaths attributed to the concurrent events from 2013 to 2016. The annual average proportion of excess deaths attributed to the concurrent events in the total excess deaths caused by three types of events (heatwave-only events, high O3 pollution-only events, and concurrent events) increased significantly in 2017-2020 (31.50%; 95% CI: 26.73%, 35.53%) compared with 2013-2016 (9.65%; 95% CI: 5.67%, 10.81%). Relative excess risk due to interaction revealed positive additive interaction considering the concurrent effect of heatwaves and high O3 pollution. DISCUSSION: Our findings may provide scientific basis for establishing a concurrent event early warning system to reduce the adverse health impact of the concurrent heatwaves and high O3 pollution. https://doi.org/10.1289/EHP13790.

Switchable Single- to Multiwavelength Conventional Soliton and Bound-State Soliton Generated from a NbTe2 Saturable Absorber-Based Passive Mode-Locked Erbium-Doped Fiber Laser.

As a member of transition metal dichalcogenides (TMDs), NbTe2 has a work function of 5.32 eV and a band gap of 0 eV at the Fermi level, which enables it to possess broadband absorption characteristics and has huge potential in optoelectronic devices. In this work, a combination of liquid phase exfoliation (LPE) and optical deposition methods (ODMs) were used to fabricate a NbTe2 saturable absorber (SA). Based on the NbTe2 SA, a ring passive mode-locked erbium-doped fiber laser (PML-EDFL) was constructed by adding NbTe2 SA into the laser cavity. A switchable single- to multiwavelength (dual/triple/quadruple) conventional soliton (CS) and a bound-state soliton (BS) were observed for the first time. The results reveal that NbTe2 SA has excellent saturable absorption characteristics (modulation depth of 2.6%, saturation intensity of 177.4 MW/cm2, and unsaturated loss of 63.8%) and can suppress mode competition and stabilize multiwavelength oscillation. This study expands the applications of NbTe2 nanosheets in ultrafast optoelectronics. The proposed switchable PML-EDFL has extensive applications in high-capacity all-optical communication, high-sensitivity optical fiber sensing, high-precision spectral measurements, and high-energy-efficiency photon neural networks.

Knowledge of urinary incontinence among women 6 weeks to 1 year after delivery.

BACKGROUND: Urinary incontinence (UI) is common among postpartum women, but many do not seek medical help due to limited knowledge. Understanding the level of knowledge about UI in this population is essential for improving care-seeking behaviors and implementing targeted interventions. OBJECTIVE: The objective was to examine knowledge regarding UI among postpartum women with UI within 6 weeks to 1 year after delivery. METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted at obstetric clinic in two level-three grade A hospitals in Shenzhen, China, from January 2023 to June 2023. Women in their 6 weeks to 1 year after delivery with UI were asked to complete a questionnaire comprising three sections: (1) demographic variable; (2) International Consultation on Incontinence Questionnaire Short Form (ICIQ-UI SF); and (3) The Urinary Incontinence Quiz (UIQ). RESULTS: A total of 1228 women completed the questionnaire. Their mean UIQ score was 6.63 ± 3.51 (minimum = 2, maximum = 15), indicating the deficiency of UI knowledge among Chinese postpartum women. A total of 86.4% of participants experienced slight or moderate postpartum UI. The results of multivariate linear regression models for UIQ reveal significant independent associations between questionnaire scores and two variables: experience in pelvic floor muscle training (PFMT) (p < 0.001) and UI treatment in the past (p < 0.001). The overall model fit was R2 = 0.559 (p < 0.001). The regression coefficients for the experience in PFMT and UI treatment in the past were 2.301 and 4.916, respectively. However, no other discernible factors were identified to distinguish between those with and without adequate knowledge. CONCLUSIONS: Postpartum women with UI within 6 weeks to 1 year after delivery had poor knowledge of UI. Targeted educational interventions focusing on PFMT and early treatment for UI are essential.

The Lipophilic Extract from Ginkgo biloba L. Leaves Promotes Glucose Uptake and Alleviates Palmitate-Induced Insulin Resistance in C2C12 Myotubes.

Ginkgo biloba L. (ginkgo) is a widely used medicinal plant around the world. Its leaves, which have been used as a traditional Chinese medicine, are rich in various bioactive components. However, most of the research and applications of ginkgo leaves have focused on terpene trilactones and flavonol glycosides, thereby overlooking the other active components. In this study, a lipophilic extract (GL) was isolated from ginkgo leaves. This extract is abundant in lipids and lipid-like molecules. Then, its effect and potential mechanism on glucose uptake and insulin resistance in C2C12 myotubes were investigated. The results showed that GL significantly enhanced the translocation of GLUT4 to the plasma membrane, which subsequently promoted glucose uptake. Meanwhile, it increased the phosphorylation of AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) and its downstream targets. Both knockdown of AMPK with siRNA and inhibition with AMPK inhibitor compound C reversed these effects. Additionally, GL ameliorated palmitate-induced insulin resistance by enhancing insulin-stimulated glucose uptake, increasing the phosphorylation of protein kinase B (PKB/AKT), and restoring the translocation of GLUT4 from the cytoplasm to the membrane. However, pretreatment with compound C abolished these beneficial effects of GL. In conclusion, GL enhances basal glucose uptake in C2C12 myotubes and improves insulin sensitivity in palmitate-induced insulin resistant myotubes through the AMPK pathway.

Cu fate driven by colloidal polystyrene microplastics with pipe scale destabilization in drinking water distribution systems.

Microplastics (MPs) and Cu have been detected in drinking water distribution systems (DWDSs). Investigating MP effects on Cu adsorption by pipe scales and concomitant variations of pipe scales was critical for improving the water quality, which remained unclear to date. Therefore, polystyrene microplastics (PSMPs) were adopted for the model MPs to determine their effects on Cu fate and pipe scale stabilization, containing batch adsorption, metal speciation extraction, and Cu release experiments. Findings demonstrated that complexation and electrostatic interactions were involved in Cu adsorption on pipe scales. PSMPs contributed to Cu adsorption via increasing negative charges of pipe scales and providing additional adsorption sites for Cu, which included the carrying and component effects of free and adsorbed PSMPs, respectively. The decreased iron and manganese oxides fraction (45.57 % to 29.91 %) and increased organic fraction (48.51 % to 63.58 %) of Cu in pipe scales when PSMPs were coexisting illustrated that PSMPs had a greater affinity for Cu than pipe scales and thus influenced its mobility. Additionally, the release of Cu could be facilitated by the coexisted PSMPs, with the destabilization of pipe scales. This study was the first to exhibit that Cu fate and pipe scale stabilization were impacted by MPs, providing new insight into MP hazards in DWDSs.

Potential probiotic characteristics and genomic analysis of a new folate-producing lactic acid bacteria Lactiplantibacillus plantarum ZFM55.

BACKGROUND: Folate is crucial for maintaining health, but humans are unable to synthesize folate and need to obtain it from food. Lactiplantibacillus plantarum can produce the necessary vitamin B for the human body, including folate. Whole genome sequencing technology can clarify the physiological characteristics of folate production in Lactiplantibacillus plantarum. In order to explore new Lactiplantibacillus plantarum that produce folate, the folate production and probiotic characteristics of Lactiplantibacillus plantarum ZFM55 isolated from infant feces were investigated, and whole genome sequencing was performed. RESULTS: The folate synthesis ability of Lactiplantibacillus plantarum ZFM55 were measured, and its total folate production was 299.72 ± 28.81 ng mL-1. Subsequently, its probiotic properties were explored. The antibacterial test showed that its inhibition zone diameter against Staphylococcus aureus and Salmonella typhimurium was 15.5 ± 0.82 mm and 13.88 ± 0.98 mm, respectively. The tolerance test results indicated that it maintained good activity in simulated gastrointestinal tract and bile salt environments. In vitro intestinal simulation experiments had confirmed that Lactiplantibacillus plantarum ZFM55 can increase the abundance of beneficial bacteria such as Bifidobacteria in the intestine and inhibit the growth of harmful bacteria such as Escherichia_Shigella. Genomic sequencing indicated that the genetic material of Lactiplantibacillus plantarum ZFM55 contains one chromosome and three plasmids, and it has 20 genes related to folate synthesis, which explains its ability to produce folate. CONCLUSION: This study reports a new potential probiotic that produces folate, and provides ideas for exploring probiotics with specific probiotic characteristics. © 2024 Society of Chemical Industry.

Bone marrow stromal cells dictate lanosterol biosynthesis and ferroptosis of multiple myeloma.

Ferroptosis has been demonstrated a promising way to counteract chemoresistance of multiple myeloma (MM), however, roles and mechanism of bone marrow stromal cells (BMSCs) in regulating ferroptosis of MM cells remain elusive. Here, we uncovered that MM cells were more susceptible to ferroptotic induction under the interaction of BMSCs using in vitro and in vivo models. Mechanistically, BMSCs elevated the iron level in MM cells, thereby activating the steroid biosynthesis pathway, especially the production of lanosterol, a major source of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in MM cells. We discovered that direct coupling of CD40 ligand and CD40 receptor constituted the key signaling pathway governing lanosterol biosynthesis, and disruption of CD40/CD40L interaction using an anti-CD40 neutralizing antibody or conditional depletion of Cd40l in BMSCs successfully eliminated the iron level and lanosterol production of MM cells localized in the Vk*MYC Vk12653 or NSG mouse models. Our study deciphers the mechanism of BMSCs dictating ferroptosis of MM cells and highlights the therapeutic potential of non-apoptosis strategies for managing refractory or relapsed MM patients.