Effects of soy protein isolate interaction with brown rice starch on the multiscale structure of brown rice bread.

BACKGROUND: Gluten-free bread (GFB) has technical bottlenecks such as hard texture, rough taste and low nutrition in practical production. In order to solve these problems, this study used germinated brown rice starch as the main raw material, and investigated the effects of soybean isolate protein (SPI) on the multiscale structure of germinated brown rice starch and bread quality. RESULTS: A gluten-free rice bread process simulation system was established, and the interaction between SPI and starch in the simulation system was characterized. The result shows that the interaction forces between SPI and germinated brown rice starch were mainly represented by hydrogen bonds, and with the addition of SPI, the crystallinity of starch showed a downward trend. At the same time, when the amount of SPI was 3%, the appearance quality was the best and the specific volume of bread was 1.08 mL g-1. When the amount of SPI was 6%, the texture quality was the best. Compared with the bread without SPI, the hardness of the bread with 6% SPI was reduced by 0.13 times, the springiness was increased by 0.03 times, the color was the most vibrant, the L* value being 1.02 times the original, and the baking loss was reduced to 0.98 times the original. CONCLUSIONS: The interaction force between SPI and germinated brown rice starch and its effect on bread quality were clarified, and these results inform choices about providing a theoretical basis for the subsequent development of higher-quality GFB. © 2024 Society of Chemical Industry.

Decoding the genomic landscape of chromatin-associated biomolecular condensates.

Biomolecular condensates play a significant role in chromatin activities, primarily by concentrating and compartmentalizing proteins and/or nucleic acids. However, their genomic landscapes and compositions remain largely unexplored due to a lack of dedicated computational tools for systematic identification in vivo. To address this, we develop CondSigDetector, a computational framework designed to detect condensate-like chromatin-associated protein co-occupancy signatures (CondSigs), to predict genomic loci and component proteins of distinct chromatin-associated biomolecular condensates. Applying this framework to mouse embryonic stem cells (mESC) and human K562 cells enable us to depict the high-resolution genomic landscape of chromatin-associated biomolecular condensates, and uncover both known and potentially unknown biomolecular condensates. Multi-omics analysis and experimental validation further verify the condensation properties of CondSigs. Additionally, our investigation sheds light on the impact of chromatin-associated biomolecular condensates on chromatin activities. Collectively, CondSigDetector provides an approach to decode the genomic landscape of chromatin-associated condensates, facilitating a deeper understanding of their biological functions and underlying mechanisms in cells.

Hydrogen sulfide inhibits skeletal muscle ageing by up-regulating autophagy through promoting deubiquitination of adenosine 5'-monophosphate (AMP)-activated protein kinase α1 via ubiquitin specific peptidase 5.

BACKGROUND: Hydrogen sulfide (H2S), the third gasotransmitter discovered, regulates a variety of physiological functions. Whether H2S alleviates skeletal muscle ageing by regulating autophagy has not been reported. METHODS: Mice were administered 150 mg/kg/day of D-galactose ( D-gal), and C2C12 myotubes were cultured in 20 g/L D-gal to induce ageing. Sodium hydrosulfide (NaHS) was employed as an exogenous donor in the treatment group. The intracellular concentration of H2S was quantified by the 7-azido-4-methylcoumarin fluorescence probe. The proteins involved in the ubiquitin-mediated degradation of AMPKα1 were detected by liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) and co-immunoprecipitation (Co-IP). S-sulfhydration of USP5 was tested by a biotin-switch assay. Associated proteins were analysed by western blot. RESULTS: NaHS was found to effectively restore the H2S content in both ageing gastrocnemius (+91.89%, P < 0.001) and C2C12 myotubes (+27.55%, P < 0.001). In comparison to the D-gal group, NaHS was observed to increase the mean cross-sectional area of muscle fibres (+44.91%, P < 0.001), to decrease the collagen volume fraction of gastrocnemius (-81.32%, P = 0.001) and to reduce the ß-galactosidase-positive area of C2C12 myotubes (-28.74%, P < 0.001). NaHS was also found to reverse the expression of muscle atrophy F box protein (MAFbx), muscle-specific RING finger protein 1 (MuRF1), Cyclin D1 and p21 in the ageing gastrocnemius tissue (MAFbx: -31.73%, P = 0.008; MuRF1: -32.37%, P = 0.003; Cyclin D1: +45.34%, P = 0.010; p21: -25.53%, P = 0.022) and C2C12 myotubes (MAFbx: -16.38%, P < 0.001; MuRF1: -16.45%, P = 0.003; Cyclin D1: +40.23%, P < 0.001; p21: -35.85%, P = 0.026). The AMPKα1-ULK1 pathway was activated and autophagy was up-regulated in NaHS-treated gastrocnemius tissue (p-AMPKα1: +61.61%, P = 0.018; AMPKα1: +30.64%, P = 0.010; p-ULK1/ULK1: +85.87%, P = 0.005; p62: -29.07%, P < 0.001; Beclin1: +24.75%, P = 0.007; light chain 3 II/I [LC3 II/I]: +55.78%, P = 0.004) and C2C12 myotubes (p-AMPKα1: +77.49%, P = 0.018; AMPKα1: +26.18%, P = 0.022; p-ULK1/ULK1: +38.34%, P = 0.012; p62: -9.02%, P = 0.014; Beclin1: +13.36%, P < 0.001; LC3 II/I: +79.38%, P = 0.017; autophagy flux: +24.88%, P = 0.034) compared with the D-gal group. The effects of NaHS on autophagy were comparable to those of acadesine and LYN-1604, and chloroquine could reverse its effects on ageing. LC-MS/MS and Co-IP experiments demonstrated that USP5 is a deubiquitinating enzyme of AMPKα1. Following the knockdown of USP5, the activation of AMPKα1 was decreased (p-AMPKα1: -42.10%, P < 0.001; AMPKα1: -43.93%, P < 0.001), autophagy was inhibited (p-ULK1/ULK1: -27.51, P = 0.001; p62: +36.00, P < 0.001; Beclin1: -22.15%, P < 0.001) and NaHS lost its ability to up-regulate autophagy. NaHS was observed to restore the expression (gastrocnemius: +62.17%, P < 0.001; C2C12 myotubes: +37.51%, P = 0.003) and S-sulfhydration (+53.07%, P = 0.009) of USP5 and reduce the ubiquitination of AMPKα1. CONCLUSIONS: H2S promotes the deubiquitination of AMPKα1 by increasing the expression and S-sulfhydration of USP5, thereby up-regulating autophagy and alleviating skeletal muscle ageing.

Comprehensive compositional analysis of liquid organic product prepared by industrialized hydrothermal cracking of biomass waste and its potential application as fertilizer.

Hydrothermal cracking involves the conversion of organic waste into efficient fertilizer through hydrolysis at temperatures ranging from 180 to 220 °C and pressures of 1.5 to 2.45 MPa, which offers significant advantages in shortening the production cycle, enhancing efficiency, and decomposing antibiotics. As a result, it holds immense practical value for promoting organic fertilizer manufacturing processes globally. The products derived from hydrothermal cracking can be categorized into solid and liquid components. Extensive research has focused on the composition and use of solids, while studies on liquids have mainly examined basic characteristics. The study aimed to comprehensively analyze the components in liquid products prepared through hydrothermal cracking and evaluate their suitability as liquid fertilizers. Specifically, we employed rigorous analytical techniques to accurately identify and quantify medium and trace elements, organic acids, amino acids, and plant growth regulators. Furthermore, we carried out a planting experiment to assess the yield and soil changes following the application of liquid products in maize cultivation. The experimental data revealed that the liquid product contained abundant medium and trace elements, along with 6.22 g/L free amino acids and 9.22 g/L organic acids. It is noteworthy that this liquid product contained 1.22 × 105 pg/mL ABA, 6.26 × 103 pg/mL IAA, 1.07 × 102 pg/mL IBA, and 3.60 × 10-2 pg/mL GA3. The utilization of this liquid product has the potential to enhance the disease resistance of maize crops and promote the accumulation of nitrate nitrogen in the soil. By understanding the composition of liquid products via hydrothermal cracking, valuable insights can be gained into their potential benefits for agricultural and ecological applications.

Single-nucleus RNA-sequencing of orbitofrontal cortex in rat model of methamphetamine-induced sensitization.

The behavioral sensitization, characterized by escalated behavioral responses triggered by recurrent exposure to psychostimulants, involves neurobiological mechanisms that are brain-region and cell-type specific. Enduring neuroadaptive changes have been observed in response to methamphetamine (METH) within the orbitofrontal cortex (OFC), the cell-type specific transcriptional alterations in response to METH sensitization remain understudied. In this study, we utilized Single-nucleus RNA-sequencing (snRNA-seq) to profile the gene expression changes in the OFC of a rat METH sensitization model. The analyses of differentially expressed genes (DEGs) unveiled cell-type specific transcriptional reactions associated with METH sensitization, with the most significant alterations documented in microglial cells. Bioinformatic investigations revealed that distinct functional and signaling pathways enriched in microglia-specific DEGs majorly involved in macroautophagy processes and the activation of N-methyl-D-aspartate ionotropic glutamate receptors (NMDAR). To validate the translational relevance of our findings, we analyzed our snRNA-seq data in conjunction with a transcriptomic study of individuals with opioid use disorder (OUD) and a large-scale Genome-Wide Association Studies (GWAS) from multiple externalizing phenotypes related to drug addiction. The validation analysis confirmed the consistent expression changes of key microglial DEGs in human METH addiction. Moreover, the integration with GWAS data revealed associations between addiction risk genes and the DEGs observed in specific cell types, particularly microglia and excitatory neurons. Our study highlights the importance of cell-type specific transcriptional alterations in the OFC in the context of METH sensitization and their potential translational relevance to human drug addiction.

Navß2 Intracellular Fragments Contribute to Aß1-42-Induced Cognitive Impairment and Synaptic Deficit Through Transcriptional Suppression of BDNF.

A pathological hallmark of Alzheimer's disease (AD) is the region-specific accumulation of the amyloid-beta protein (Aß), which triggers aberrant neuronal excitability, synaptic impairment, and progressive cognitive decline. Previous works have demonstrated that Aß pathology induced aberrant elevation in the levels and excessive enzymatic hydrolysis of voltage-gated sodium channel type 2 beta subunit (Navß2) in the brain of AD models, accompanied by alteration in excitability of hippocampal neurons, synaptic deficits, and subsequently, cognitive dysfunction. However, the mechanism is unclear. In this research, by employing cell models treated with toxic Aß1-42 and AD mice, the possible effects and potential mechanisms induced by Navß2. The results reveal that Aß1-42 induces remarkable increases in Navß2 intracellular domain (Navß2-ICD) and decreases in both BDNF exons and protein levels, as well as phosphorylated tropomyosin-related kinase B (pTrkB) expression in cells and mice, coupled with cognitive impairments, synaptic deficits, and aberrant neuronal excitability. Administration with exogenous Navß2-ICD further enhances these effects induced by Aß1-42, while interfering the generation of Navß2-ICD and/or complementing BDNF neutralize the Navß2-ICD-conducted effects. Luciferase reporter assay verifies that Navß2-ICD regulates BDNF transcription and expression by targeting its promoter. Collectively, our findings partially elucidate that abnormal enzymatic hydrolysis of Navß2 induced by Aß1-42-associated AD pathology leads to intracellular Navß2-ICD overload, which may responsible to abnormal neuronal excitability, synaptic deficit, and cognition dysfunction, through its transcriptional suppression on BDNF. Therefore, this work supplies novel evidences that Navß2 plays crucial roles in the occurrence and progression of cognitive impairment of AD by transcriptional regulatory activity of its cleaved ICD.

Synthesis and Characterization of Sulfonamide-Containing Naphthalimides as Fluorescent Probes.

A tumor-targeting fluorescent probe has attracted increasing interest in fluorescent imaging for the noninvasive detection of cancers in recent years. Sulfonamide-containing naphthalimide derivatives (SN-2NI, SD-NI) were synthesized by the incorporation of N-butyl-4-ethyldiamino-1,8-naphthalene imide (NI) into sulfonamide (SN) and sulfadiazine (SD) as the tumor-targeting groups, respectively. These derivatives were further characterized by mass spectrometry (MS), nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy (1H NMR), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), ultraviolet-visible spectroscopy (UV), and a fluorescence assay. In vitro properties, including cell cytotoxicity and the cell uptake of tumor cells, were also evaluated. Sulfonamide-containing naphthalimide derivatives possessed low cell cytotoxicity to B16F10 melanoma cells. Moreover, SN-2NI and SD-NI can be taken up highly by B16F10 cells and then achieve good green fluorescent images in B16F10 cells. Therefore, sulfonamide-containing naphthalimide derivatives can be considered to be the potential probes used to target fluorescent imaging in tumors.

Mortality of mesozooplankton in an acidified ocean: Investigating the impact of shallow hydrothermal vents across multiple monsoonal periods.

The shallow hydrothermal vents (HVs) of Kueishan Island are considered as a template for studying the extremes of sulfide-polluted and acidified water. The present study examined the biological and spatiotemporal aspects of mesozooplankton mortality in waters around this extreme HV environment. Zooplankton sample collection was carried out in three monsoonal periods and the results revealed that there was a significant decrease in the mortality of total mesozooplankton with increasing distance from the HVs. The overall mortality of mesozooplankton showed a significant negative correlation with sea surface temperature and pH. Particularly, mortality of copepods showed a significant negative correlation with pH, whereas it was significantly positive correlated with sea surface temperature in the southwest monsoon prevailing period. Overall, the results may imply a situation that zooplankton will encounter in the more acidified environment of a future ocean.

Benzyl isothiocyanate ameliorates cognitive function in mice of chronic temporal lobe epilepsy.

Objective: Temporal lobe epilepsy (TLE) is a prevalent refractory partial epilepsy seen in clinical practice, with most cases originating from the hippocampus and being characterized by impaired learning and memory. Oxidative stress plays a direct role in the development of epilepsy and neurodegeneration while promoting cognitive dysfunction. Previous research indicates that benzyl isothiocyanate (BITC) has antioxidative stress properties and contributes to neuroprotection. In this study, we aimed to investigate the neuroprotective effect of BITC on a lithium-pilocarpine-induced temporal lobe epileptic mice model. Methods: We conducted Intellicage learning tests, Morris water maze, open field test, and step-down-type passive avoidance tests, respectively. In addition, body weight and brain-to-body ratio were calculated. Nissl staining, real-time quantitative PCR detection of nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2), heme oxygenase 1 (HO-1) and NAD(P)H dehydrogenase quinone 1(NQO1) were performed. Content of malondialdehyde (MDA) and activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) and total antioxidant capacity (T-AOC) were determined. Results: Our results demonstrate that BITC enhances cognitive function and motor ability in mice, as determined by Intellicage learning tests, Morris water maze, open field test, and step-down-type passive avoidance tests, respectively. Epilepsy leads to the loss of neurons in the CA3 region, while BITC treatment plays a positive role in neuroprotection, especially in the cortex. In comparison to the control group, the EP group exhibited decreased transcription levels of HO-1 and NQO1, alongside reduced GSH-Px activity, while MDA content was elevated. Conversely, the BITC treatment group, when compared to the EP group, showed enhanced transcription levels of Nrf2, HO-1, and NQO1, along with increased GSH-Px activity, and a decrease in MDA content. Conclusion: In summary, our study provides evidence that BITC can improve cognitive impairments in pilocarpine-induced epileptic mice, demonstrating significant antioxidant effects and neuroprotective properties. This highlights its potential as a phytochemical for managing the sequelae of epilepsy.

Characterization of structural and functional properties of soybean 11S globulin during renaturation after denaturation induced by changes in pH.

BACKGROUND: This study explored the denaturation of 11S globulin, a protein known for its diverse functional properties in soy protein applications, at pH 3.0 and pH 10.0, followed by a gradual return to pH 7.0 to facilitate renaturation. It investigated the structural and functional changes during renaturation induced by a change in pH, revealing the stabilization mechanism of 11S globulin. RESULTS: The findings revealed that during pH adjustment to neutral, the denatured soybean 11S globulin - resulting from alkaline (pH 10.0) or acidic (pH 3.0) treatments - experienced a refolding of its extended tertiary structure to varying extents. The particle size and the proportions of α-helix and ß-sheet in the secondary structure aligned progressively with those of the natural-state protein. However, for the alkali-denatured 11S, the ß-sheet content decreased upon adjustment to neutral, whereas an increase was observed for the acid-denatured 11S. In terms of functional properties, after alkaline denaturation, the foaming capacity (FC) and emulsifying activity index (EAI) of 11S increased by 1.4 and 1.2 times, respectively, in comparison with its native state. The solubility, foamability, and emulsifiability of the alkali-denatured 11S gradually diminished during renaturation but remained superior to those of the native state. Conversely, these properties showed an initial decline, followed by an increase during renaturation triggered by pH neutralization. CONCLUSIONS: This research contributes to the enhancement of protein functionality, offering a theoretical foundation for the development of functional soy protein products and expanding their potential applications. © 2024 Society of Chemical Industry.

Semi-automatic proximal humeral trabecular bone density assessment tool: technique application and clinical validation.

PURPOSE: This study aimed to apply a newly developed semi-automatic phantom-less QCT (PL-QCT) to measure proximal humerus trabecular bone density based on chest CT and verify its accuracy and precision. METHODS: Subcutaneous fat of the shoulder joint and trapezius muscle were used as calibration references for PL-QCT BMD measurement. A self-developed algorithm based on a convolution map was utilized in PL-QCT for semi-automatic BMD measurements. CT values of ROIs used in PL-QCT measurements were directly used for phantom-based quantitative computed tomography (PB-QCT) BMD assessment. The study included 376 proximal humerus for comparison between PB-QCT and PL-QCT. Two sports medicine doctors measured the proximal humerus with PB-QCT and PL-QCT without knowing each other's results. Among them, 100 proximal humerus were included in the inter-operative and intra-operative BMD measurements for evaluating the repeatability and reproducibility of PL-QCT and PB-QCT. RESULTS: A total of 188 patients with 376 shoulders were involved in this study. The consistency analysis indicated that the average bias between proximal humerus BMDs measured by PB-QCT and PL-QCT was 1.0 mg/cc (agreement range - 9.4 to 11.4; P > 0.05, no significant difference). Regression analysis between PB-QCT and PL-QCT indicated a good correlation (R-square is 0.9723). Short-term repeatability and reproducibility of proximal humerus BMDs measured by PB-QCT (CV: 5.10% and 3.41%) were slightly better than those of PL-QCT (CV: 6.17% and 5.64%). CONCLUSIONS: We evaluated the bone quality of the proximal humeral using chest CT through the semi-automatic PL-QCT system for the first time. Comparison between it and PB-QCT indicated that it could be a reliable shoulder BMD assessment tool with acceptable accuracy and precision. This study developed and verify a semi-automatic PL-QCT for assessment of proximal humeral bone density based on CT to assist in the assessment of proximal humeral osteoporosis and development of individualized treatment plans for shoulders.

Design, synthesis and biological evaluation of indole-2-carboxylic acid derivatives as novel HIV-1 integrase strand transfer inhibitors.

Integrase plays an important role in the life cycle of HIV-1, and integrase strand transfer inhibitors (INSTIs) can effectively impair the viral replication. However, drug resistance mutations have been confirmed to decrease the efficacy of INSTI during the antiviral therapy. Herein, indole-2-carboxylic acid (1) was found to inhibit the strand transfer of integrase, and the indole nucleus of compound 1 was observed to chelate with two Mg2+ ions within the active site of integrase. Through optimization of compound 1, a series of indole-2-carboxylic acid derivatives were designed and synthesized, and compound 17a was proved to markedly inhibit the effect of integrase, with IC50 value of 3.11 µM. Binding mode analysis of 17a demonstrated that the introduced C6 halogenated benzene ring could effectively bind with the viral DNA (dC20) through π-π stacking interaction. These results indicated that indole-2-carboxylic acid is a promising scaffold for the development of integrase inhibitors.

Self-Delivery Nanoplatform Based on Amphiphilic Apoptosis Peptide for Precise Mitochondria-Targeting Photothermal Therapy.

Mitochondria-targeting photothermal therapy could significantly enhance the tumor cell killing effect. However, since therapeutic reagents need to overcome a series of physiological obstacles to arrive at mitochondria accurately, precise mitochondria-targeting photothermal therapy still faces great challenges. In this study, we developed a self-delivery nanoplatform that specifically targeted the mitochondria of tumor cells for precise photothermal therapy. Photothermal agent IR780 was encapsulated by amphiphilic apoptotic peptide KLA with mitochondria-targeting ability to form nanomicelle KI by self-assembly through hydrophilic and hydrophobic interactions. Subsequently, negatively charged tumor-targeting polymer HA was coated on the surface of KI through electrostatic interactions, to obtain tumor mitochondria-targeting self-delivery nanoplatform HKI. Through CD44 receptor-mediated recognition, HKI was internalizated by tumor cells and then disassembled in an acidic environment with hyaluronidase in endosomes, resulting in the release of apoptotic peptide KLA and photothermal agent IR780 with mitochondria anchoring capacity, which achieved precise mitochondria guidance and destruction. This tumor mitochondria-targeting self-delivery nanoplatform was able to effectively deliver photothermal agents and apoptotic peptides to tumor cell mitochondria, resulting in precise destruction to mitochondria and enhancing tumor cell inhibition at the subcellular organelle level.

Coherently parallel fiber-optic distributed acoustic sensing using dual Kerr soliton microcombs.

Fiber-optic distributed acoustic sensing (DAS) has proven to be a revolutionary technology for the detection of seismic and acoustic waves with ultralarge scale and ultrahigh sensitivity, and is widely used in oil/gas industry and intrusion monitoring. Nowadays, the single-frequency laser source in DAS becomes one of the bottlenecks limiting its advance. Here, we report a dual-comb-based coherently parallel DAS concept, enabling linear superposition of sensing signals scaling with the comb-line number to result in unprecedented sensitivity enhancement, straightforward fading suppression, and high-power Brillouin-free transmission that can extend the detection distance considerably. Leveraging 10-line comb pairs, a world-class detection limit of 560 fε/√Hz@1 kHz with 5 m spatial resolution is achieved. Such a combination of dual-comb metrology and DAS technology may open an era of extremely sensitive DAS at the fε/√Hz level, leading to the creation of next-generation distributed geophones and sonars.

Advances of Photothermal Agents with Fluorescence Imaging/Enhancement Ability in the Field of Photothermal Therapy and Diagnosis.

Photothermal therapy (PTT) is an effective cancer treatment method. Due to its easy focusing and tunability of the irradiation light, direct and accurate local treatment can be performed in a noninvasive manner by PTT. This treatment strategy requires the use of photothermal agents to convert light energy into heat energy, thereby achieving local heating and triggering biochemical processes to kill tumor cells. As a key factor in PTT, the photothermal conversion ability of photothermal agents directly determines the efficacy of PTT. In addition, photothermal agents generally have photothermal imaging (PTI) and photoacoustic imaging (PAI) functions, which can not only guide the optimization of irradiation conditions but also achieve the integration of disease diagnosis. If the photothermal agents have function of fluorescence imaging (FLI) or fluorescence enhancement, they can not only further improve the accuracy in disease diagnosis but also accurately determine the tumor location through multimodal imaging for corresponding treatment. In this paper, we summarize recent advances in photothermal agents with FLI or fluorescence enhancement functions for PTT and tumor diagnosis. According to the different recognition sites, the application of specific targeting photothermal agents is introduced. Finally, limitations and challenges of photothermal agents with fluorescence imaging/enhancement in the field of PTT and tumor diagnosis are prospected.

Interaction between adolescent sleep rhythms and gender in an obese population.

BACKGROUND: The obesity rate of adolescents is gradually increasing, which seriously affects their mental health, and sleep plays an important role in adolescent obesity. AIM: To investigate the relationship between sleep rhythm and obesity among adolescents and further explores the interactive effect of sleep rhythm and gender on adolescent obesity, providing a theoretical basis for developing interventions for adolescent obesity. METHODS: Research data source Tianjin Mental Health Promotion Program for Students. From April to June 2022, this study selected 14201 students from 13 middle schools in a certain district of Tianjin as the research subject using the convenient cluster sampling method. Among these students, 13374 accepted and completed the survey, with an effective rate of 94.2%.The demographic data and basic information of adolescents, such as height and weight, were collected through a general situation questionnaire. The sleep rhythm of adolescents was evaluated using the reduced version of the morningness-eveningness questionnaire. RESULTS: A total of 13374 participants (6629 females, accounting for 49.56%; the average age is 15.21 ± 1.433 years) were analyzed. Among them, the survey showed that 2942 adolescent were obesity, accounting for 22% and 2104 adolescent were overweight, accounting for 15.7%. Among them, 1692 male adolescents are obese, with an obesity rate of 25.1%, higher than 18.9% of female adolescents. There is a statistically significant difference between the three groups (χ2 = 231.522, P < 0.000). The obesity group has the smallest age (14.94 ± 1.442 years), and there is a statistical difference in age among the three groups (F = 69.996, P < 0.000).Obesity rates are higher among individuals who are not-only-child, have residential experience within six months, have family economic poverty, and have evening-type sleep (P < 0.05). Logistic regression analysis shows a correlation between sleep rhythm and adolescent obesity. Evening-type sleep rhythm can increase the risk of obesity in male adolescents [1.250 (1.067-1.468)], but the effect on female obesity is not remarkable. Further logistic regression analysis in the overall population demonstrates that the interaction between evening-type sleep rhythm and the male gender poses a risk of adolescent obesity [1.122 (1.043-1.208)]. CONCLUSION: Among adolescents, the incidence of obesity in males is higher than in females. Evening-type sleep rhythm plays an important role in male obesity but has no significant effect on female obesity. Progressive analysis suggests an interactive effect of sleep rhythm and gender on adolescent obesity, and the combination of evening-type sleep and the male gender promotes the development of adolescent obesity. In formulating precautions against adolescent obesity, obesity in male adolescents with evening-type sleep should be a critical concern.

Embryonic inhibition of colony-stimulating factor 1 receptor induces enlarged cartilaginous zone of the midpalatal suture in postnatal mice.

OBJECTIVES: The midpalatal suture acts as the growth centre of the maxilla. Colony-stimulating factor 1 receptor (CSF1R) is essential for osteoclastogenesis. Deletion of CSF1R, and its ligand, results in significant craniofacial phenotypes but has not been studied in detail in the midpalatal suture. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Pregnant ICR mice were treated with the CSF1R inhibitor PLX5622 at embryo Day 14.5 (E14.5) to E17.5. Pups at E18.5, postnatal Day 3 (P3) and P7 were collected for skeletal and histological staining. Osteoclasts were labelled using TRAP staining. PHH3 and TUNEL were employed to detect cell proliferation and apoptosis. Sox9, Ihh, and Col10a1 and Runx2, Col1a1, and DMP1 were used to detect chondrogenic differentiation and osteogenic differentiation, respectively. CD31, MMP9 and CTSK were utilized to assess vascular invasion and osteoclast secretion enzymes, respectively. RESULTS: Embryonic inhibition of CSF1R resulted in a depletion of TRAP-positive cells and an enlarged cartilage zone of the midpalatal suture of postnatal mice. Compared to those in the control group, Sox9, Ihh, Col10a1, Runx2 and Col1a1 were upregulated, whereas TUNEL and DMP1 were decreased in this zone. In the trabecular region, Col10a1 was upregulated, while TUNEL, Col1a1 and DMP1 were downregulated. Moreover, the expression of MMP9, CTSK and CD31 was decreased, and invasion into the cartilage zone was delayed. CONCLUSIONS: Embryonic inhibition of CSF1R led to an abnormally enlarged cartilaginous zone in the midpalatal suture, potentially due to delayed endochondral ossification caused by the depletion of osteoclasts. Additionally, we established a novel model of midpalatal suture dysplasia, offering prospects for future research.

Facile strategy for gelatin-based hydrogel with multifunctionalities to remodel wound microenvironment and accelerate healing of acute and diabetic wounds.

Chronic diabetic wounds represent the most common diabetes complication. Wound healing depends on scavenging reactive oxygen species (ROS), neovascularization, and controlling infection. A naturally derived gelatin-based hydrogel is biocompatible, biodegradable, does not promote inflammation, and can remove ROS, but strategies for developing a gelatin-based hydrogel currently require careful chemical modification of gelatin and time-consuming purification and post-crosslinking processing. Herein, a facile method of combining zirconium (Zr4+), gelatin, and quercetin (QCN) to generate an injectable gelatin-based hydrogel (QCN@Gel-Zr) for diabetic wound treatment was presented. Adding QCN improved the mechanical, injection, and adhesive performance of the Gel-Zr hydrogel and conferred antibacterial and free radical-scavenging abilities. These properties induced cellular proliferation and migration, protection against oxidative stress, and reduction in inflammatory expression. In vivo models of acute and chronic diabetic skin wounds were used to demonstrate biocompatibility and the ability of the gelatin hydrogels to promote wound healing. The histological analysis showed that the QCN@Gel-Zr hydrogel promoted angiogenesis, collagen deposition, and hair follicle regeneration with no detectable cytotoxicity. This study demonstrates the preparation of gelatin-based hydrogel with various flexible functions to address the complex biological requirements of diabetic wound repair.

Voluntary running wheel exercise induces cognitive improvement post traumatic brain injury in mouse model through redressing aberrant excitation regulated by voltage-gated sodium channels 1.1, 1.3, and 1.6.

Traumatic brain injury (TBI) leads to disturbed brain discharge rhythm, elevated excitability, anxiety-like behaviors, and decreased learning and memory capabilities. Cognitive dysfunctions severely affect the quality of life and prognosis of TBI patients, requiring effective rehabilitation treatment. Evidence indicates that moderate exercise after brain injury decreases TBI-induced cognitive decline. However, the underlying mechanism remains unelucidated. Our results demonstrate that TBI causes cognitive impairment behavior abnormalities and overexpression of Nav1.1, Nav1.3 and Nav1.6 proteins inside the hippocampus of mice models. Three weeks of voluntary running wheel (RW) exercise treatments before or/and post-injury effectively redressed the aberrant changes caused by TBI. Additionally, a 10% exercise-conditioned medium helped recover cell viability, neuronal sodium current and expressions of Nav1.1, Nav1.3 and Nav1.6 proteins across cultured neurons after injury. Therefore, the results validate the neuroprotection induced by voluntary RW exercise treatment before or/and post-TBI. The RW exercise-induced improvement in cognitive behaviors and neuronal excitability could be associated with correcting the Nav1.1, Nav1.3, and Nav1.6 expression levels. The current study proves that voluntary exercise is an effective treatment strategy against TBI. The study also highlights novel potential targets for rehabilitating TBI, including the Navs proteins.