A new horizon for neuroscience: terahertz biotechnology in brain research.

Terahertz biotechnology has been increasingly applied in various biomedical fields and has especially shown great potential for application in brain sciences. In this article, we review the development of terahertz biotechnology and its applications in the field of neuropsychiatry. Available evidence indicates promising prospects for the use of terahertz spectroscopy and terahertz imaging techniques in the diagnosis of amyloid disease, cerebrovascular disease, glioma, psychiatric disease, traumatic brain injury, and myelin deficit. In vitro and animal experiments have also demonstrated the potential therapeutic value of terahertz technology in some neuropsychiatric diseases. Although the precise underlying mechanism of the interactions between terahertz electromagnetic waves and the biosystem is not yet fully understood, the research progress in this field shows great potential for biomedical noninvasive diagnostic and therapeutic applications. However, the biosafety of terahertz radiation requires further exploration regarding its two-sided efficacy in practical applications. This review demonstrates that terahertz biotechnology has the potential to be a promising method in the field of neuropsychiatry based on its unique advantages.

The amino acid sensor MetRS is required for methionine-induced milk protein synthesis in a domestic pigeon model.

This study was conducted to investigate whether methionyl-tRNA synthetase (MetRS) is a mediator of Met-induced crop milk protein synthesis via the janus kinase 2 (JAK2)/signal transducer and activator of transcription 5 (STAT5) signalling pathway in breeding pigeons. In Experiment 1, a total of 216 pairs of breeding pigeons were divided into 3 groups (control, Met-deficient, and Met-rescue groups). In Experiments 2 and 3, forty pairs of breeding pigeons from each experiment were allocated into 4 groups. The 2nd experiment included a control group and 3 MetRS inhibitor (REP8839) groups. The 3rd experiment included a Met-deficient group, Met-sufficient group, REP8839 + Met-deficient group, and REP8839 + Met-sufficient group. Experiment 1 showed that Met supplementation increased crop development, crop milk protein synthesis, the protein expression of MetRS and JAK2/STAT5 signalling pathway, and improved squab growth. Experiment 2 showed that crop development, crop milk protein synthesis, and the protein expression of MetRS and the JAK2/STAT5 signalling pathway were decreased, and squab growth was inhibited by the injection of 1.0 mg/kg BW REP8839, which was the selected dose for the 3rd experiment. These results showed that Met supplementation increased crop development, crop milk protein synthesis, and the expression of MetRS and JAK2/STAT5 signalling pathway and rescued squab growth after the injection of REP8839. Moreover, the Co-IP results showed that there was an interaction between MetRS and JAK2. Taken together, these findings indicate that MetRS mediates Met-induced crop milk protein synthesis via the JAK2/STAT5 signalling pathway, resulting in improved squab growth in breeding pigeons.

The Predictive Value of Geriatric Nutritional Risk Index Combined with the GRACE Score in Predicting the Risk of One Year Poor Prognosis in Elderly Patients with Non-ST Segment Elevation Myocardial Infarction After PCI.

Background: As a nutritional indicator, a lower level of geriatric nutritional risk index (GNRI) has been suggested as a predictor for poor prognosis in acute coronary syndrome (ACS). However, whether GNRI could improve the predictive value of the Global Registry of Acute Coronary Events (GRACE) score for the prognosis in elderly patients with non-ST segment elevation myocardial infarction (NSTEMI) after PCI remains unclear. Methods: A total of 446 elderly patients with NSTEMI after percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) were consecutively enrolled. Patients were divided into major adverse cardiovascular and cerebrovascular events (MACCE) group and control group according to the occurrence of MACCE during one year follow up. The clinical parameters including GNRI were compared to investigate the predictors for MACCE. The performance after the addition of GNRI to the GRACE score for predicting MACCE was determined. Results: A total of 68 patients developed MACCE. In unadjusted analyses, the rate of MACCE was significantly higher in the 93.8

The role of peripheral white blood cell counts in the association between central adiposity and glycemic status.

AIMS: Although central adiposity is a well-known risk factor for diabetes, the underlying mechanism remains unclear. The aim of this study was to explore the potential mediation role of circulating WBC counts in the association between central adiposity and the risk of diabetes. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted using data from the Fuqing cohort study, which included 6,613 participants aged 35-75 years. Logistic regression analysis and Spearman's rank correlation analysis were used to examine the relationships between waist-to-hip ratio, WBC counts and glycemic status. Both simple and parallel multiple mediation models were used to explore the potential mediation effects of WBCs on the association of waist-to-hip ratio with diabetes. RESULTS: The study revealed a positive relationship between waist-to-hip ratio and risk of prediabetes (OR = 1.53; 95% CI, 1.35 to 1.74) and diabetes (OR = 2.89; 95% CI, 2.45 to 3.40). Moreover, elevated peripheral WBC counts were associated with both central adiposity and worsening glycemic status (P < 0.05). The mediation analysis with single mediators demonstrated that there is a significant indirect effect of central adiposity on prediabetes risk through total WBC count, neutrophil count, lymphocyte count, and monocyte count; the proportions mediated were 9.92%, 6.98%, 6.07%, and 3.84%, respectively. Additionally, total WBC count, neutrophil count, lymphocyte count, monocyte count and basophil count mediated 11.79%, 11.51%, 6.29%, 4.78%, and 1.76%, respectively, of the association between central adiposity and diabetes. In the parallel multiple mediation model using all five types of WBC as mediators simultaneously, a significant indirect effect (OR = 1.09; 95% CI, 1.06 to 1.14) were observed, with a mediated proportion of 12.77%. CONCLUSIONS: Central adiposity was independently associated with an elevated risk of diabetes in a Chinese adult population; levels of circulating WBC may contribute to its underlying mechanisms.

Beetle-inspired AuNPs semi-embedded colloidal crystal chips for the highly sensitive and colored detection of chloramphenicol in foods.

Inspired by the desert beetle, a novel biomimetic chip was developed to detect chloramphenicol (CP). The chip was characterized by a periodic array in which hydrophobic Au nanoparticles (AuNPs) were semi-embedded on hydrophilic polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA) spheres. Among them, the AuNPs exhibited both a localized surface plasmon resonance effect to amplify the reflected signal and a synergistic effect with PMMA spheres to create a significant hydrophilic-hydrophobic interface, which facilitated the enrichment of target CP molecules and improved sensitivity. After optimization, the chip showed direct, ultrasensitive (as low as 0.2 ng/mL), fast (5 min), and selective detection of CP with a wide concentration range extending from 0.2 ng/mL to 1000 ng/mL. During detection, color changes of the chip were observed by naked eyes without any color display equipment. The recovery of CP was between 94.65 % and 108.70 % in chicken and milk samples.

Inhibition Effects and Mechanisms of Marine Compound Mycophenolic Acid Methyl Ester against Influenza A Virus.

Influenza A virus (IAV) can cause infection and illness in a wide range of animals, including humans, poultry, and swine, and cause annual epidemics, resulting in thousands of deaths and millions of hospitalizations all over the world. Thus, there is an urgent need to develop novel anti-IAV drugs with high efficiency and low toxicity. In this study, the anti-IAV activity of a marine-derived compound mycophenolic acid methyl ester (MAE) was intensively investigated both in vitro and in vivo. The results showed that MAE inhibited the replication of different influenza A virus strains in vitro with low cytotoxicity. MAE can mainly block some steps of IAV infection post adsorption. MAE may also inhibit viral replication through activating the cellular Akt-mTOR-S6K pathway. Importantly, oral treatment of MAE can significantly ameliorate pneumonia symptoms and reduce pulmonary viral titers, as well as improving the survival rate of mice, and this was superior to the effect of oseltamivir. In summary, the marine compound MAE possesses anti-IAV effects both in vitro and in vivo, which merits further studies for its development into a novel anti-IAV drug in the future.

Enhanced stability and kinetic performance of sandwich Si anode constructed by carbon nanotube and silicon carbide for lithium-ion battery.

Owing to highly theoretical capacity of 3579 mAh/g for lithium-ion storage at ambient temperature, silicon (Si) becomes a promising anode material of high-performance lithium-ion batteries (LIBs). However, the large volume change (∼300 %) during lithiation/delithiation and low conductivity of Si are challenging the commercial developments of LIBs with Si anode. Herein, a sandwich structure anode that Si nanoparticles sandwiched between carbon nanotube (CNT) and silicon carbide (SiC) has been successfully constructed by acetylene chemical vapor deposition and magnesiothermic reduction reaction technology. The SiC acts as a stiff layer to inhibit the volumetric stress from Si and the inner graphited CNT plays as the matrix to cushion the volumetric stress and as the conductor to transfer electrons. Moreover, the combination of SiC and CNT can relax the surface stress of carbonaceous interface to synergistically prevent the integrated structure from the degradation to avoid the solid electrolyte interface (SEI) reorganization. In addition, the SiC (111) surface has a strong ability to adsorb fluoroethylene carbonate molecule to further stabilize the SEI. Consequently, the CNT/SiNPs/SiC anode can stably supply the capacity of 1127.2 mAh/g at 0.5 A/g with a 95.6 % capacity retention rate after 200 cycles and an excellent rate capability of 745.5 mAh/g at 4.0 A/g and 85.5 % capacity retention rate after 1000 cycles. The present study could give a guide to develop the functional Si anode through designing a multi-interface with heterostructures.

In Silico Design and Synthesis of Antifungal Peptides Guided by Quantitative Antifungal Activity.

Antifungal peptides (AFPs) are emerging as promising candidates for advanced antifungal therapies because of their broad-spectrum efficacy and reduced resistance development. In silico design of AFPs, however, remains challenging, due to the lack of an efficient and well-validated quantitative assessment of antifungal activity. This study introduced an AFP design approach that leverages an innovative quantitative metric, named the antifungal index (AFI), through a three-step process, i.e., segmentation, single-point mutation, and global multipoint optimization. An exhaustive search of 100 putative AFP sequences indicated that random modifications without guidance only have a 5.97-20.24% chance of enhancing antifungal activity. Analysis of the search results revealed that (1) N-terminus truncation is more effective in enhancing antifungal activity than the modifications at the C-terminus or both ends, (2) introducing the amino acids within the 10-60% sequence region that enhance aromaticity and hydrophobicity are more effective in increasing antifungal efficacy, and (3) incorporating alanine, cysteine, and phenylalanine during multiple point mutations has a synergistic effect on enhancing antifungal activity. Subsequently, 28 designed peptides were synthesized and tested against four typical fungal strains. The success rate for developing promising AFPs, with a minimal inhibitory concentration of ≤5.00 µM, was an impressive 82.14%. The predictive and design tool is accessible at https://antifungipept.chemoinfolab.com.

The protective effect of Lonicera japonica Thunb. against lipopolysaccharide-induced acute lung injury in mice: Modulation of inflammation, oxidative stress, and ferroptosis.

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE: Various components of Lonicera japonica Thunb. (LJT) exhibit pharmacological activities, including anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects. Nevertheless, the relationship between LJT and ferroptosis remains largely unexplored. AIM OF THE STUDY: The purpose of this research was to look into the role of LJT in regulating LPS-induced ferroptosis in ALI and to compare the effects of different parts of LJT. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We established a mice ALI model by treating with LPS. Administered mice with different doses of Lonicerae Japonicae Flos (LJF), Lonicera Japonica Leaves (LJL) and Lonicerae Caulis (LRC) extracts, respectively. The levels of IL-6, IL-1ß, TNF-α, IL-4, IL-10, and PGE2 in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) were measured using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Furthermore, the concentrations of superoxide dismutase (SOD), malondialdehyde (MDA), glutathione (GSH), reactive oxygen species (ROS), and total ferrous ions (Fe2+) in lung tissues were evaluated. Hematoxylin and eosin staining was conducted to examine the morphological structure of lung tissues. Transmission electron microscopy was used to investigate the ultrastructural morphology of mitochondria. Furthermore, the effects of LJT were evaluated via immunohistochemical staining, western blotting, and quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction analyses. Finally, employing molecular docking and molecular dynamics research techniques, we aimed to identify crucial components in LJT that might inhibit ferroptosis by targeting nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) and glutathione peroxidase 4 (GPX4). RESULTS: We observed that pretreatment with LJT significantly mitigated LPS-induced lung injury and suppressed ferroptosis. This was supported by reduced accumulation of pro-inflammatory cytokines, ROS, MDA, and Fe2+, along with increased levels of anti-inflammatory cytokines, SOD, GSH, Nrf2, and GPX4 in the lung tissues of ALI mice. Luteolin-7-O-rutinoside, apigenin-7-O-rutinoside, and amentoflavone in LJT exhibit excellent docking effects with key targets of ferroptosis, Nrf2 and GPX4. CONCLUSIONS: Pretreatment with LJT may alleviate LPS-induced ALI, possibly by suppressing ferroptosis. Our initial results indicate that LJT activates the Nrf2/GPX4 axis, providing protection against ferroptosis in ALI. This finding offers a promising therapeutic candidate for ALI treatment.

Spectrum-effect relationship between HPLC fingerprints and antioxidant activity of Qi-Fu-Yin based on multiple statistical correlation analysis.

INTRODUCTION: Qi-Fu-Yin has been used to treat Alzheimer's disease (AD) in China. Oxidative stress has been recognized as a factor in AD progress. To date, there is no quality control method to ensure batch-to-batch consistency of Qi-Fu-Yin, and the potential antioxidant compounds in Qi-Fu-Yin remain uncertain. OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study is to identify the potential antioxidant compounds of Qi-Fu-Yin and establish quality control standards for Qi-Fu-Yin. METHODS: High-performance liquid chromatography was used to establish and quantify the fingerprints of Qi-Fu-Yin from various batches. Ultrahigh-performance liquid chromatography coupled with quadrupole time-of-flight tandem mass spectrometry (UHPLC-Q-TOF/MS) was used to identify the common peaks. Bivariate correlation analysis, partial least squares regression analysis, and gray correlation analysis were used to establish the spectrum-effect relationship. RESULTS: Forty-nine common peaks were determined through the establishment of fingerprints. Among them, 35 common peaks were preliminarily characterized. The multiple statistical correlation analysis methods identified six compounds as potential antioxidant constituents of Qi-Fu-Yin, and their antioxidant activities were validated in vitro. All six antioxidant compounds derived from two herbs. Therefore, three chemical index compounds derived from other three herbs were added to the quantitative analysis, while for two herbs, no peaks could be included. Eventually, six antioxidant constituents and three index compounds were quantitatively determined to provide a relatively comprehensive quality control for Qi-Fu-Yin. CONCLUSIONS: The study elucidated the antioxidant substance basis of Qi-Fu-Yin and provided a relatively comprehensive approach for the assay of Qi-Fu-Yin, which is a promising advance in the quality control of Qi-Fu-Yin.

Diagnostic value of laboratory parameters for complicated appendicitis: A two­center study.

There are two types of treatment for acute appendicitis (AA): surgery and antibiotic therapy. Some patients with complex appendicitis are treated with surgery; however, for uncomplex appendicitis, most could be treated effectively with antibiotics instead. How to distinguish complex appendicitis from uncomplex appendicitis before surgery is currently unknown. The present study aimed to assess the efficacy of the laboratory parameters to diagnose complicated appendicitis. Data from 1,514 cases with acute appendicitis who were admitted to Beijing Tsinghua Changgung Hospital and Beijing Aerospace General Hospital (both Beijing, China) from January 2016 to September 2021 were retrospectively analyzed. All cases were divided into uncomplicated and complicated appendicitis. Independent variables were analyzed by uni- and multivariate logistic regression analyses. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis was used to identify significant parameters in the multivariate logistic regression analysis. Cut-off values, sensitivity, specificity and accuracy with area under the curve (AUC)>0.600 were considered significant parameters. Significant differences were found in age (P<0.001), body temperature (P<0.001), white blood cell (WBC) count (P<0.001), C-reactive protein (CRP; P<0.001), neutrophil count (P<0.001), neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR, P=0.019), platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio (PLR, P<0.001), platelet count (P<0.001), coefficient of variation (CV) and standard deviation (SD) of red blood cell distribution width (RDW); both P<0.001), mean platelet volume (MPV, P<0.001) and total (P<0.001) and direct bilirubin (P<0.001) between the two groups. CRP, neutrophil count, NLR, PLR, platelet count, RDW-CV, RDW-SD, MPV and direct bilirubin levels were found as the independent variables to diagnose complicated appendicitis. In patients with acute appendicitis, CRP >22.95 mg/l, NLR >5.7, serum direct bilirubin >6.1 mmol/l and RDW-SD>17.7 fl were significantly associated with complicated appendicitis.

Methodologic Quality and Pharmacotherapy Recommendations for Patient Blood Management Guidelines for Cardiac Surgery on Cardiopulmonary Bypass.

Patient blood management (PBM) guidelines for patients undergoing cardiac surgery under cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) have increased during the past decade, and pharmacotherapy plays an important role in PBM. In the face of the undefined consistency in the methodologic quality and pharmacotherapy recommendations across multiple guidelines, this study exclusively evaluated methodologies of the related guideline development process, and compiled medication recommendations of PBM for cardiac surgery patients. PBM guidelines for cardiac surgery under CPB were searched through some mainstream literature and guideline databases from database establishment to May 15, 2023. Nine guidelines meeting inclusion criteria were included in this study. The quality of the guidelines was evaluated using the Appraisal of Guidelines for Research and Evaluation II (AGREE II) tool. "Stakeholder involvement" received the lowest mean score of 49.38% in the AGREE II scoring among the guidelines. PBM for cardiac surgery patients spans the perioperative phase. Drug therapy strategies of PBM for cardiac surgery patients involve anemia therapy, perioperative administration of antithrombotic drugs, intraoperative anticoagulation, and the use of hemostatic drugs. Unlike for adults, there is less evidence about the management of antithrombotic drugs and hemostatic drugs for pediatric cardiac surgery patients. Recombinant activated factor VII (rFVIIa) and desmopressin (DDAVP) are not recommended after pediatric cardiac surgery, whereas prothrombin complex concentrate could be considered in clinical trials. As for the controversies regarding the administration of rFVIIa and DDAVP after adult cardiac surgery by different societies, clinicians should exercise their clinical judgment based on individual patient features.

Spatio-temporal variation and drivers of blue carbon sequestration in Hainan Island, China.

Blue carbon ecosystems, such as mangrove, seagrass bed and salt marsh, have attracted increasing attention due to their remarkable capacity for efficient carbon sequestration. However, the current threat posed by human activities to these ecosystems necessitates the characterization of their changes and identification of the primary driving factors in order to facilitate the gradual restoration of blue carbon ecosystems. In this study, we present an analysis of the spatio-temporal characteristics and primary influencing factors governing carbon sequestration in mangrove and seagrass beds located in Hainan Island. The findings revealed a 40% decline in carbon sequestration by mangroves from 1976 to 2017, while seagrass beds exhibited a 13% decrease in carbon sequestering between 2009 and 2016. The decline in carbon sequestration was primarily concentrated in Wenchang city, with aquaculture and population growth identified as the primary driving factors. Despite the implementation of measures aimed at reducing aquaculture in Hainan Island to promote blue carbon sequestration over the past two decades, the resulting recovery remains insufficient in achieving macro-level goals for carbon sequestration. This study emphasizes the necessity of safeguarding blue carbon ecosystems in Hainan Island by effectively mitigating anthropogenic disturbances.

Whole-transcriptome profiling and identification of cold tolerance-related ceRNA networks in japonica rice varieties.

Introduction: Low-temperature stress negatively impacts rice yield, posing a significant risk to food security. While previous studies have explored the physiological and linear gene expression alterations in rice under low-temperature conditions, the changes in competing endogenous RNA (ceRNA) networks remain largely unexamined. Methods: We conducted RNA sequencing on two japonica rice varieties with differing cold-tolerance capabilities to establish ceRNA networks. This enabled us to investigate the transcriptional regulatory network and molecular mechanisms that rice employs in response to low-temperature stress. Results: We identified 364 differentially expressed circular RNAs (circRNAs), 224 differentially expressed microRNAs (miRNAs), and 12,183 differentially expressed messenger RNAs (mRNAs). WRKY family was the most prominent transcription factor family involved in cold tolerance. Based on the expression patterns and targeted relationships of these differentially expressed RNAs, we discerned five potential ceRNA networks related to low-temperature stress in rice: osa-miR166j-5p from the miR166 family was associated with cold tolerance; osa-miR528-3p and osa-miR156j-3p were linked to stress response; and osa-miR156j-3p was involved in the antioxidant system. In addition, Os03g0152000 in the antioxidant system, as well as Os12g0491800 and Os05g0381400, correlated with the corresponding stress response and circRNAs in the network. A gene sequence difference analysis and phenotypic validation of Os11g0685700 (OsWRKY61) within the WRKY family suggested its potential role in regulating cold tolerance in rice. Discussion and conclusion: We identified Os11g0685700 (OsWRKY61) as a promising candidate gene for enhancing cold tolerance in japonica rice. The candidate miRNAs, mRNAs, and circRNAs uncovered in this study are valuable targets for researchers and breeders. Our findings will facilitate the development of cold-tolerant rice varieties from multiple angles and provide critical directions for future research into the functions of cold-tolerance-related miRNAs, mRNAs, and circRNAs in rice.

Perineural invasion in cervical cancer: A multicenter retrospective study.

OBJECTIVE: The study aimed to evaluate the accuracy of perineural invasion (PNI) diagnosis in cervical cancer, and to analyze the impact of PNI on the prognosis and postoperative adjuvant treatment decisions for cervical cancer. METHODS: A retrospective pathological review of PNI in cervical cancer was conducted from 2004 to 2016 in 15 hospitals. RESULTS: This study included a total of 1208 cases, comprising 273 cases with PNI and 935 cases without. The false positive rate and false negative rate of PNI diagnosis were 5.35% (50/935) and 33.33% (91/273), respectively. Adenocarcinoma, deep stromal invasion, lymphovascular space invasion (LVSI) (+), and margin involvement were independent risk factors for PNI. Both 5-year overall survival rate (OS) and 5-year disease-free survival rate (DFS) of PNI group were worse than non-PNI group. PNI was an independent risk factor for 5-year OS and 5-year DFS. In cases receiving standard postoperative adjuvant treatment, among those with two intermediate-risk factors, both 5-year OS and DFS were worse in the PNI group. Among cases with three intermediate-risk factors or at least one high-risk factor, there was no difference in 5-year OS between the two groups, but 5-year DFS was worse in the PNI group. CONCLUSION: The diagnosis of PNI in cervical cancer was not accurate. Adenocarcinoma, deep stromal invasion, LVSI, and margin involvement were independent risk factors for PNI. PNI was an independent risk factor for 5-year OS and DFS. PNI has the potential to serve as a new high-risk factor, thus providing guidance for postoperative adjuvant therapy.

The characteristics of arterial risk factors and ankle-brachial index in patients with lower extremity chronic venous diseases: results from the BEST study.

BACKGROUND: The aim of our study was to explore the characteristics of the arterial risk factors and ankle-brachial index (ABI) in patients with lower extremity chronic venous disease (LECVD). METHODS: A total of 2642 subjects were employed in our study. The lifestyle and clinical data were collected. The history of vascular diseases contained coronary artery disease, stroke, hypertension, and diabetes. ABI low than 0.9 was considered as lower extremity artery disease (LEAD). A series of blood indicators were measured. RESULTS: Patients with ABI low than 0.9 belonged to the group of LEAD. Age, smoking, drinking, hypertension, diabetes mellitus, lipid-lowering drug, antidiabetic, total protein, total protein, triglyceride, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, glycosylated hemoglobin and homocysteine were the common risk factors shared by LEAD and LECVD (P<0.05). The prevalence of LEAD in patients with LECVD was higher than those without LECVD (P<0.05). In Pearson correlation analysis, LECVD was related to LEAD (P<0.05). Before and after adjusted shared factors, as the performance of the logistic regression models, LEAD was an independent risk factor for the prevalence of LECVD (OR=2.937, 95% CI: [1.956, 4.411], P<0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Our study demonstrated that an ABI lower than 0.9 is an independent risk factor for LECVD.

Anti-osteoporotic effects of Yi Mai Jian on bone metabolism of ovariectomized rats.

Yi Mai Jian herbal formula (YMJ) is formulated with Eucommiae Folium, Astragali Radix, Ligustri Lucidi Fructus, and Elaeagnus Fructus to improve bone function in traditional Chinese medicine. The anti-osteoporotic effects of YMJ in bone metabolism were evaluated in ovariectomized (OVX) rats. The skeletal structure of the femur and vertebrae was analyzed after treating OVX rats with YMJ for 114 days. The results showed that YMJ significantly increased the bone mineral density (BMD) and trabecular number (Tb. N) of the femur and 5th lumbar vertebrae and reduced trabecular separation (Tb. Sp). Moreover, trabecular bone volume/total tissue volume (BV/TV), bone stiffness, and maximum femur load were significantly increased. The serum concentrations of NTX1 and PYD were significantly decreased. According to these results, YMJ could ameliorate osteoporosis in ovariectomized rats. Eucommiae Folium and Elaeagnus Fructus inhibited osteoclast differentiation, Ligustri Lucidi Fructus inhibited calcium reabsorption, Astragali Radix stimulated osteoblast proliferation, and Astragali Radix and Eucommiae Folium stimulated mineralization. Therefore, the combination of the four herbs into one formula, YMJ, could alleviate bone remodeling caused by low estrogen levels. We suggest that YMJ could be a healthy food candidate for preventing post-menopausal osteoporosis.

Case Report: Technical description and clinical evaluation of three cases of unilateral biportal endoscopic decompression for symptomatic spinal epidural lipomatosis.

Objective: To investigate the clinical characteristics and outcomes of three patients with symptomatic Spinal epidural lipomatosis (SEL) treated using Unilateral Biportal Endoscopic (UBE) surgery. Methods: This report retrospectively analyzed the clinical data of three patients with SEL admitted to our hospital. The analysis covers onset characteristics, clinical manifestations, and the most recent radiologic grading system of neural compression (Manjila classification). Furthermore, it details the decompression accomplished through the application of a minimally invasive UBE surgical technique, specifically targeting the removal of proliferated fat responsible for nerve and spinal cord compression. Results: This technique was performed successfully in 3 patients with SEL. Radiating pain was reduced, and the functional disability and radiologic compression were improved in all three patients. Postoperative spinal instability and surgical complications related to the procedure were not observed. Conclusions: For SEL, timely diagnosis and appropriate intervention can prevent the progression of neurological disability. UBE is a minimally invasive muscle-preserving technique that achieves neural decompression directly by the removal of excessive intraspinal adipose tissue buildup.

Multi-Level Structural Enhancement Mechanism of the Excellent Mechanical Properties of Dung Beetle Leg Joint.

The multi-level structure is a strategy to enhance the mechanical properties of dung beetle leg joints. Under external loads, the microstructure facilitates energy dissipation and prevents crack extension. The macrostructure aids in transferring the load to more reliable parts. The connection established by the two hemispheres is present in the dung beetle leg joint. The micron-layered and nanoscale crystal structures further constitute the leg joint with excellent mechanical properties. The maximum compression fracture force is ≈101000 times the weight of the leg. Here, the structural design within the dung beetle leg joints and reveal the resulting mechanical response and enhancement mechanisms is determined. A series of beetle leg joints where the macrostructure and microstructure of the dung beetle leg provide mechanical strength at critical strains while avoiding catastrophic failure by transferring the load from the joint to the exoskeleton of the femur is highlighted. Nanocrystalline structures and fiber layers contribute to crack propagation of the exoskeleton. Based on this, the bionic joint with multi-level structures using resin and conducted a series of tests to verify their effectiveness is prepared. This study provides a new idea for designing and optimizing high-load joints in engineering.

A novel pH-sensitive hemi-cyanine containing tetrahydropyridine ring near-infrared fluorescence probe with lysosome-targeting ability.

In recent years, hemi-cyanine dyes have been widely used as biological probes due to their red-light emission characteristics and high fluorescence quantum yield. In this study, we synthesized a novel hemi-cyanine dye containing a tetrahydropyridine ring. A lysosomal target was introduced into its structure to create a new pH-sensitive near-infrared fluorescent probe that successfully targeted lysosomes. The results showed that when the probe solution was excited at the absorption wavelength of 650 nm, its fluorescence emission wavelength was about 700 nm, and the peak intensity changed with different pH values in a wide range. Therefore, this probe enabled non-invasive detection of changes in the acidic environment of lysosomes in living organisms and showed good imaging capabilities. Moreover, the probe displays high sensitivity and good stability. The theoretical calculation of a probe structure has also been completed to discuss the relationship between structure and property.