Global incidence and mortality trends of gastric cancer and predicted mortality of gastric cancer by 2035.

OBJECTIVE: To study the historical global incidence and mortality trends of gastric cancer and predicted mortality of gastric cancer by 2035. METHODS: Incidence data were retrieved from the Cancer Incidence in Five Continents (CI5) volumes I-XI, and mortality data were obtained from the latest update of the World Health Organization (WHO) mortality database. We used join-point regression analysis to examine historical incidence and mortality trends and used the package NORDPRED in R to predict the number of deaths and mortality rates by 2035 by country and sex. RESULTS: More than 1,089,000 new cases of gastric cancer and 769,000 related deaths were reported in 2020. The average annual percent change (AAPC) in the incidence of gastric cancer from 2003 to 2012 among the male population, South Korea, Japan, Malta, Canada, Cyprus, and Switzerland showed an increasing trend (P > 0.05); among the female population, Canada [AAPC, 1.2; (95%Cl, 0.5-2), P < 0.05] showed an increasing trend; and South Korea, Ecuador, Thailand, and Cyprus showed an increasing trend (P > 0.05). AAPC in the mortality of gastric cancer from 2006 to 2015 among the male population, Thailand [3.5 (95%cl, 1.6-5.4), P < 0.05] showed an increasing trend; Malta Island, New Zealand, Turkey, Switzerland, and Cyprus had an increasing trend (P > 0.05); among the male population aged 20-44, Thailand [AAPC, 3.4; (95%cl, 1.3-5.4), P < 0.05] showed an increasing trend; Norway, New Zealand, The Netherlands, Slovakia, France, Colombia, Lithuania, and the USA showed an increasing trend (P > 0.05). It is predicted that the mortality rate in Slovenia and France's female population will show an increasing trend by 2035. It is predicted that the absolute number of deaths in the Israeli male population and in Chile, France, and Canada female population will increase by 2035. CONCLUSION: In the past decade, the incidence and mortality of gastric cancer have shown a decreasing trend; however, there are still some countries showing an increasing trend, especially among populations younger than 45 years. Although mortality in most countries is predicted to decline by 2035, the absolute number of deaths due to gastric cancer may further increase due to population growth.

Progressive encephalomyelitis with rigidity and myoclonus: a pediatric case report and literature review.

BACKGROUND: Progressive encephalomyelitis with rigidity and myoclonus (PERM) is a rare and life-threatening autoimmune disease of the central nervous system. So far, only ten cases of PERM have been reported in children worldwide, including the one in this study. CASE PRESENTATION: We report a case of an 11-year-old boy with PERM with an initial presentation of abdominal pain, skin itching, dysuria, urinary retention, truncal and limb rigidity, spasms of the trunk and limbs during sleep, deep and peripheral sensory disturbances, and dysphagia. A tissue-based assay using peripheral blood was positive, demonstrated by fluorescent staining of mouse cerebellar sections. He showed gradual and persistent clinical improvement after immunotherapy with intravenous immunoglobulin, steroids, plasmapheresis and rituximab. CONCLUSIONS: We summarized the diagnosis and treatment of a patient with PERM and performed a literature review of pediatric PERM to raise awareness among pediatric neurologists. A better comprehension of this disease is required to improve its early diagnosis, treatment, and prognosis.

SETDB1 regulates short interspersed nuclear elements and chromatin loop organization in mouse neural precursor cells.

BACKGROUND: Transposable elements play a critical role in maintaining genome architecture during neurodevelopment. Short Interspersed Nuclear Elements (SINEs), a major subtype of transposable elements, are known to harbor binding sites for the CCCTC-binding factor (CTCF) and pivotal in orchestrating chromatin organization. However, the regulatory mechanisms controlling the activity of SINEs in the developing brain remains elusive. RESULTS: In our study, we conduct a comprehensive genome-wide epigenetic analysis in mouse neural precursor cells using ATAC-seq, ChIP-seq, whole genome bisulfite sequencing, in situ Hi-C, and RNA-seq. Our findings reveal that the SET domain bifurcated histone lysine methyltransferase 1 (SETDB1)-mediated H3K9me3, in conjunction with DNA methylation, restricts chromatin accessibility on a selective subset of SINEs in neural precursor cells. Mechanistically, loss of Setdb1 increases CTCF access to these SINE elements and contributes to chromatin loop reorganization. Moreover, de novo loop formation contributes to differential gene expression, including the dysregulation of genes enriched in mitotic pathways. This leads to the disruptions of cell proliferation in the embryonic brain after genetic ablation of Setdb1 both in vitro and in vivo. CONCLUSIONS: In summary, our study sheds light on the epigenetic regulation of SINEs in mouse neural precursor cells, suggesting their role in maintaining chromatin organization and cell proliferation during neurodevelopment.

Electro-absorption modulated 53 Gbps widely tunable laser based on half-wave V-coupled cavities.

In this paper, a 53 Gbps widely tunable transmitter is experimentally demonstrated for the first time, to our knowledge. An InGaAlAs/InP multiple-quantum-well (MQW) wafer is used with an identical layer structure for both the V-coupled cavity laser (VCL) and the electro-absorption modulator (EAM). The VCL uses a shallow-etched waveguide to reduce loss, while the EAM uses a deep-etched waveguide to increase the 3-dB modulation bandwidth. With the temperature varying from 19.5 to 30°C, the transmitter achieves wavelength tuning of 42 channels with a spacing of 100 GHz, corresponding to a tuning range of 32.6 nm from 1538.94 to 1571.54 nm. The static extinction ratio (ER) for all channels is higher than 14 dB. The measured 3-dB electro-optic (E0) bandwidth of the transmitter is over 40 GHz, which fits well with the calculated 3-dB bandwidth. At a fixed peak-to-peak driving voltage of 2.4 V, all channels exhibit clearly an open eye diagram with a 53 Gbps non-return-to-zero (NRZ) signal, while the dynamic ER is higher than 4.5 dB.

GSK2334470 attenuates high salt-exacerbated rheumatoid arthritis progression by restoring Th17/Treg homeostasis.

High salt (HS) consumption is a risk factor for multiple autoimmune disorders via disturbing immune homeostasis. Nevertheless, the exact mechanisms by which HS exacerbates rheumatoid arthritis (RA) pathogenesis remain poorly defined. Herein, we found that heightened phosphorylation of PDPK1 and SGK1 upon HS exposure attenuated FoxO1 expression to enhance the glycolytic capacity of CD4 T cells, resulting in strengthened Th17 but compromised Treg program. GSK2334470 (GSK), a dual PDPK1/SGK1 inhibitor, effectively mitigated the HS-induced enhancement in glycolytic capacity and the overproduction of IL-17A. Therefore, administration of GSK markedly alleviated HS-exacerbated RA progression in collagen-induced arthritis (CIA) model. Collectively, our data indicate that HS consumption subverts Th17/Treg homeostasis through the PDPK1-SGK1-FoxO1 signaling, while GSK could be a viable drug against RA progression in clinical settings.

Antioxidant, Antimicrobial, and Anti-Inflammatory Effects of Liriodendron chinense Leaves.

Liriodendron chinense has been widely utilized in traditional Chinese medicine to treat dispelling wind and dampness and used for alleviating cough and diminishing inflammation. However, the antioxidant, antimicrobial, and anti-inflammatory effects of L. chinense leaves and the key active constituents remained elusive. So, we conducted some experiments to support the application of L. chinense in traditional Chinese medicine by investigating the antioxidant, antibacterial, and anti-inflammatory abilities, and to identify the potential key constituents responsible for the activities. The ethanol extract of L. chinense leaves (LCLE) was isolated and extracted, and assays measuring ferric reducing antioxidant power, total reducing power, DPPH•, ABTS•+, and •OH were used to assess its in vitro antioxidant capacities. Antimicrobial activities of LCLE were investigated by minimal inhibitory levels, minimum antibacterial concentrations, disc diffusion test, and scanning electron microscope examination. Further, in vivo experiments including macro indicators examination, histopathological examination, and biochemical parameters measurement were conducted to investigate the effects of LCLE on lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced acute lung injury (ALI) in mice. LCLE was further isolated and purified through column chromatography, and LPS-induced RAW264.7 cells were constructed to assess the diminished inflammation potential of the identified chemical composites. ABTS•+ and •OH radicals were extensively neutralized by the LCLE treatment. LCLE administration also presented broad-spectrum antimicrobial properties, especially against Staphylococcus epidermidis by disrupting cell walls. LPS-induced ALI in mice was significantly ameliorated by LCLE intervention, as evidenced by the histological changes in the lung and liver tissues as well as the reductions of nitric oxide (NO), TNF-α, and IL-6 production. Furthermore, three novel compounds including fragransin B2, liriodendritol, and rhamnocitrin were isolated, purified, and identified from LCLE. These three compounds exhibited differential regulation on NO accumulation and IL-10, IL-1ß, IL-6, TNF-α, COX-2, and iNOS mRNA expression in RAW264.7 cells induced by LPS. Fragransin B2 was more effective in inhibiting TNF-α mRNA expression, while rhamnocitrin was more powerful in inhibiting IL-6 mRNA expression. LCLE had significant antioxidant, antimicrobial, and anti-inflammatory effects. Fragransin B2, liriodendritol, and rhamnocitrin were probably key active constituents of LCLE, which might act synergistically to treat inflammatory-related disorders. This study provided a valuable view of the healing potential of L. chinense leaves in curing inflammatory diseases.

Optimal extent of lymphadenectomy improves prognosis and guides adjuvant chemotherapy in esophageal cancer: A propensity score-matched analysis.

BACKGROUND: The optimal extent of lymphadenectomy in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) patients remained debatable. AIM: To explore the ideal number of cleared lymph nodes in ESCC patients undergoing upfront surgery. METHODS: In this retrospective, propensity score-matched study, we included 1042 ESCC patients who underwent esophagectomy from November 2008 and October 2019. Patients who underwent neoadjuvant therapy were excluded. We collected patients' clinicopathological features and information regarding lymph nodes, including the total number of resected lymph nodes (NRLN), and pathologically diagnosed positive lymph nodes (RPLN). SPSS and R software were used for statistical analysis. RESULTS: Among the included 1042 patients, two cohorts: ≤ 21 (n = 664) and > 21 NRLN (n = 378) were identified. The final prognostic model included four variables: T stage, N, venous thrombus, and the number of removed lymph nodes. Among them, NRLN > 21 was determined as an independent prognosticator after surgery for esophageal cancer (hazards regression = 0.66, 95% confidence interval: 0.50-0.87, P = 0.004). A nomogram was created based on the regression coefficients of the variables in the final model. In the training cohort, the predictive model displayed an uncorrected five-year overall survival C-index of 0.659, with a bootstrap-corrected C-index of 0.654. In the subgroup analysis, adjuvant chemotherapy was beneficial in the subgroup with NRLN > 21 and RPLN ≤ 0.16 and NRLN ≤ 21 and RPLN > 0.16. CONCLUSION: NRLN > 21 was an independent prognostic factor after ESCC surgery. The combination of NRLN and RPLN may provide a reference for adjuvant chemotherapy use in potential beneficiaries.

Effects of different tooth movement patterns and aligner thicknesses on maxillary arch expansion with clear aligners: a three-dimensional finite element study.

Objectives: The objective of this study was to investigate the biomechanical effects of different tooth movement patterns and aligner thicknesses on teeth and periodontal tissues during maxillary arch expansion with clear aligners, to facilitate more precise and efficient clinical orthodontic treatments. Methods: Three-dimensional models including teeth, maxilla, periodontal ligament, and aligner were constructed and subjected to finite element analysis. Tooth displacement trends and periodontal ligament stresses were measured for seven tooth displacement patterns (divided into three categories including overall movement of premolars and molars with gradually increasing molar expansion in each step; distributed movement of premolars and molars; and alternating movement between premolars and molars at intervals) and two aligner thicknesses (0.5 mm and 0.75 mm) during maxillary arch expansion with clear aligners. Results: When expanding the maxillary arch with clear aligners, the effective expansion of the target teeth mainly showed a tilting movement trend. Increasing the amount of molar expansion increased the buccal displacement of the first molar but decreased the buccal displacement of the premolars. The mean buccal displacement of the target teeth was greater in the posterior teeth interval alternating movement group (0.026 mm) than in the premolar/molar distributed movement group (0.016 mm) and the overall movement group (0.015 mm). Increasing aligner thickness resulted in greater buccal displacement of the crowns and increased stress on the periodontal ligaments. Conclusion: Increasing the amount of molar expansion reduces the efficiency of premolar expansion. Alternating movement of premolars and molars at intervals achieves a higher arch expansion efficiency, but attention should be paid to the anchorage of adjacent teeth. Increasing the thickness of the aligner increases the expansion efficiency but may also increase the burden on the periodontal tissues.

Integrated analysis of genes shared between type 2 diabetes mellitus and osteoporosis.

Background: The relationship between type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and osteoporosis (OP) has been widely recognized in recent years, but the mechanism of interaction remains unknown. The aim of this study was to investigate the genetic features and signaling pathways that are shared between T2DM and OP. Methods: We analyzed the GSE76894 and GSE76895 datasets for T2DM and GSE56815 and GSE7429 for OP from the Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) database to identify shared genes in T2DM and OP, and we constructed coexpression networks based on weighted gene coexpression network analysis (WGCNA). Shared genes were then further analyzed for functional pathway enrichment. We selected the best common biomarkers using the least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO) algorithm and validated the common biomarkers, followed by RT-PCR, immunofluorescence, Western blotting, and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) to validate the expression of these hub genes in T2DM and OP mouse models and patients. Results: We found 8,506 and 2,030 DEGs in T2DM and OP, respectively. Four modules were identified as significant for T2DM and OP using WGCNA. A total of 19 genes overlapped with the strongest positive and negative modules of T2DM and OP. Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) analysis showed these genes may be involved in pantothenate and CoA biosynthesis and the glycosaminoglycan biosynthesis-chondroitin sulfate/dermatan sulfate and renin-angiotensin system signaling pathway. The LASSO algorithm calculates the six optimal common biomarkers. RT-PCR results show that LTB, TPBG, and VNN1 were upregulated in T2DM and OP. Immunofluorescence and Western blot show that VNN1 is upregulated in the pancreas and bones of T2DM model mice and osteoporosis model mice. Similarly, the level of VNN1 in the sera of patients with T2DM, OP, and T2DM and OP was higher than that in the healthy group. Conclusion: Based on the WGCNA and LASSO algorithms, we identified genes and pathways that were shared between T2DM and OP. Both pantothenate and CoA biosynthesis and the glycosaminoglycan biosynthesis-chondroitin sulfate/dermatan sulfate and renin-angiotensin systems may be associated with the pathogenesis of T2DM and OP. Moreover, VNN1 may be a potential diagnostic marker for patients with T2DM complicated by OP. This study provides a new perspective for the systematic study of possible mechanisms of combined OP and T2DM.

Localized fine-tuning and clinical evaluation of deep-learning based auto-segmentation (DLAS) model for clinical target volume (CTV) and organs-at-risk (OAR) in rectal cancer radiotherapy.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Various deep learning auto-segmentation (DLAS) models have been proposed, some of which have been commercialized. However, the issue of performance degradation is notable when pretrained models are deployed in the clinic. This study aims to enhance precision of a popular commercial DLAS product in rectal cancer radiotherapy by localized fine-tuning, addressing challenges in practicality and generalizability in real-world clinical settings. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 120 Stage II/III mid-low rectal cancer patients were retrospectively enrolled and divided into three datasets: training (n = 60), external validation (ExVal, n = 30), and generalizability evaluation (GenEva, n = 30) datasets respectively. The patients in the training and ExVal dataset were acquired on the same CT simulator, while those in GenEva were on a different CT simulator. The commercial DLAS software was first localized fine-tuned (LFT) for clinical target volume (CTV) and organs-at-risk (OAR) using the training data, and then validated on ExVal and GenEva respectively. Performance evaluation involved comparing the LFT model with the vendor-provided pretrained model (VPM) against ground truth contours, using metrics like Dice similarity coefficient (DSC), 95th Hausdorff distance (95HD), sensitivity and specificity. RESULTS: LFT significantly improved CTV delineation accuracy (p < 0.05) with LFT outperforming VPM in target volume, DSC, 95HD and specificity. Both models exhibited adequate accuracy for bladder and femoral heads, and LFT demonstrated significant enhancement in segmenting the more complex small intestine. We did not identify performance degradation when LFT and VPM models were applied in the GenEva dataset. CONCLUSIONS: The necessity and potential benefits of LFT DLAS towards institution-specific model adaption is underscored. The commercial DLAS software exhibits superior accuracy once localized fine-tuned, and is highly robust to imaging equipment changes.

Mesenchymal stem cells ameliorate inflammation and pyroptosis in diabetic cardiomyopathy via the miRNA-223-3p/NLRP3 pathway.

BACKGROUND: Diabetic cardiomyopathy (DCM) stands as the primary cause of heart failure and mortality among patients with diabetes. Nevertheless, conventional treatment approaches are limited in their ability to effectively prevent myocardial tissue damage itself. Mesenchymal stem cell (MSC) therapy exhibits immense potential for treating DCM; however, the precise mechanisms involved in regulating inflammatory responses and pyroptosis processes, an emerging form of cellular death, within myocardial cells remain elusive. Hence, it is imperative to further elucidate the precise underlying mechanisms to facilitate the clinical implementation of MSC therapy. METHODS: In vivo, we established a DCM mouse model by administering streptozotocin and fed the mice a high-glucose and high-fat diet, followed by MSC therapy. Cardiac function and myocardial injury were evaluated through echocardiography and histological analysis. Furthermore, the levels of inflammation and pyroptosis were assessed using ELISA, Western blotting, and qRT-PCR. In vitro experiments involved inducing H9C2 myocardial cell damage with high glucose treatment, followed by coculture with MSCs to investigate their role in modulating inflammation and pyroptosis mechanisms. RESULTS: MSCs can maintain cardiac function and alleviate myocardial injury in mice with DCM. Moreover, they effectively suppress the activation of NLRP3 and reduce the release of inflammatory factors (such as IL-1ß and ROS), thereby further downregulating the expression of pyroptosis-related proteins including NLRP3, Caspase-1, and GSDMD. Additionally, we experimentally validated that MSCs exert their therapeutic effects by promoting the expression of miR-223-3p in cardiac myocytes; however, this effect can be reversed by an miR-223-3p inhibitor. CONCLUSION: MSCs effectively mitigate the release of inflammatory factors and cell lysis caused by pyroptosis through the regulation of the miR-223-3p/NLRP3 pathway, thereby safeguarding cardiomyocytes against damage in DCM. This mechanism establishes a novel theoretical foundation for the clinical treatment of cardiac conditions utilizing MSCs.

A Soldering Flux Tackles Complex Defects Chemistry in Sn-Pb Perovskite Solar Cells.

Developing tin-lead (Sn-Pb) narrow-bandgap perovskites is crucial for the deployment of all-perovskite tandem solar cells, which can help to exceed the limits of single-junction photovoltaics. However, the Sn-Pb perovskite suffers from a large number of bulk traps and interfacial nonradiative recombination centers, with unsatisfactory open-circuit voltage and the consequent device efficiency. Herein, for the first time, it is shown that abietic acid (AA), a commonly used flux for metal soldering, effectively tackles complex defects chemistry in Sn-Pb perovskites. The conjugated double bond within AA molecule plays a key role for self-elimination of Sn4+-Pb0 defects pair, via a redox process. In addition, C═O group is able to coordinate with Sn2+, leading to the improved antioxidative stability of Sn-Pb perovskites. Consequently, a ten-times longer carrier lifetime is observed, and the defects-associated dual-peak emission feature at low temperature is significantly inhibited. The resultant device achieves a power conversion efficiency improvement from 22.28% (Ref) to 23.42% with respectable stability under operational and illumination situations.

Safety and efficacy of baricitinib in steroid-resistant or relapsed immune thrombocytopenia: An open-label pilot study.

Patients with steroid-resistant or relapsed immune thrombocytopenia (ITP) suffer increased bleeding risk and impaired quality of life. Baricitinib, an oral Janus-associated kinases (JAK) inhibitor, could alleviate both innate and adaptive immune disorders without inducing thrombocytopenia in several autoimmune diseases. Accordingly, an open-label, single-arm, phase 2 trial (NCT05446831) was initiated to explore the safety and efficacy of baricitinib in ITP. Eligible patients were adults with primary ITP who were refractory to corticosteroids and at least one subsequent treatment, and had platelet counts below 30 × 109/L at enrolment. Participants received baricitinib 4 mg daily for 6 months. The primary endpoint was durable response at the 6-month follow-up. A total of 35 patients were enrolled. Durable response was achieved in 20 patients (57.1%, 95% confidence interval, 39.9 to 74.4), and initial response in 23 (65.7%) patients. For patients responding to baricitinib, the median time to response was 12 (IQR 6-20) days, and the median peak platelet count was 94 (IQR 72-128) × 109/L. Among the 27 patients undergoing extend observation, 12 (44.4%) remained responsive for a median duration of approximately 20 weeks after baricitinib discontinuation. Adverse events were reported in 11 (31.4%) patients, including infections in 6 (17.1%) patients during the treatment period. Treatment discontinuation due to an adverse event was reported in 2 (5.7%) patients. Evidence from this pilot study suggested that baricitinib might be a novel candidate for the armamentarium of ITP-modifying agents. Future studies are warranted to validate the safety, efficacy, and optimal dosing of baricitinib in patients with ITP.

PE6c greatly enhances prime editing in transgenic rice plants.

Prime editing is a versatile CRISPR/Cas-based precise genome-editing technique for crop breeding. Four new types of prime editors (PEs) named PE6a-d were recently generated using evolved and engineered reverse transcriptase (RT) variants from three different sources. In this study, we tested the editing efficiencies of four PE6 variants and two additional PE6 constructs with double-RT modules in transgenic rice (Oryza sativa) plants. PE6c, with an evolved and engineered RT variant from the yeast Tf1 retrotransposon, yielded the highest prime-editing efficiency. The average fold change in the editing efficiency of PE6c compared with PEmax exceeded 3.5 across 18 agronomically important target sites from 15 genes. We also demonstrated the feasibility of using two RT modules to improve prime-editing efficiency. Our results suggest that PE6c or its derivatives would be an excellent choice for prime editing in monocot plants. In addition, our findings have laid a foundation for prime-editing-based breeding of rice varieties with enhanced agronomically important traits.

Vinyl-bearing sp2 carbon-conjugated covalent organic framework composites for enhanced electrochemical performance in hydrogen evolution reaction and lithium-sulfur batteries.

Vinyl-bearing triazine-functionalized covalent organic frameworks (COFs) have emerged as promising materials for electrocatalysis and energy storage. Guided by density functional theory calculations, a vinyl-enriched COF (VCOF-1) featuring a donor-acceptor structure was synthesized based on the Knoevenagel reaction. Moreover, the VCOF-1@Ru without pyrolysis was obtained through chemical coordination interactions between VCOF-1 and RuCl3, exhibiting enhanced electrocatalytic performance in the hydrogen evolution reaction when exposed to 0.5 M H2SO4. The results demonstrated that the protonation of VCOF-1@Ru enhanced the electrical conductivity and accelerated the generation of H2 on the catalytically active site Ru. Additionally, VCOF-1@CNT with a tubular structure was prepared by uniformly wrapping VCOF-1 onto carbon nanotubes (CNTs) and using it as a cathode for lithium-sulfur batteries by chemically and physically encapsulating S. The enhanced performance of VCOF-1@CNT was attributed to the effective suppression of lithium polysulfide migration. This suppression was achieved through several mechanisms, including the inverse vulcanization of vinyl on VCOF-1@CNT, the enhancement of material conductivity, and the interaction between N in the materials and Li ions. This study demonstrated a strategy for enhancing material performance by precisely modulating the COF structure at the molecular level.

Highly Conductive and Stable Composite Polymer Electrolyte with Boron Nitride Nanotubes for All-Solid-State Lithium Metal Batteries.

All-solid-state lithium metal batteries (ASSLMBs) have emerged as the most promising next-generation energy storage devices. However, the unsatisfactory ionic conductivity of solid electrolytes at room temperature has impeded the advancement of solid-state batteries. In this work, a multifunctional composite solid electrolyte (CSE) is developed by incorporating boron nitride nanotubes (BNNTs) into polyvinylidene fluoride-hexafluoropropylene (PVDF-HFP). BNNTs, with a high aspect ratio, trigger the dissociation of Li salts, thus generating a greater population of mobile Li+, and establishing long-distance Li+ transport pathways. PVDF-HFP/BNNT exhibits a high ionic conductivity of 8.0 × 10-4 S cm-1 at room temperature and a Li+ transference number of 0.60. Moreover, a Li//Li symmetric cell based on PVDF-HFP/BNNT demonstrates robust cyclic performance for 3400 h at a current density of 0.2 mA cm-2. The ASSLMB formed from the assembly of PVDF-HFP/BNNT with LiFePO4 and Li exhibits a capacity retention of 93.2% after 850 cycles at 0.5C and 25 °C. The high-voltage all-solid-state LiCoO2/Li cell based on PVDF-HFP/BNNT also exhibits excellent cyclic performance, maintaining a capacity retention of 96.4% after 400 cycles at 1C and 25 °C. Furthermore, the introduction of BNNTs is shown to enhance the thermal conductivity and flame retardancy of the CSE.

LncRNA GABPB1-AS1 is a potential target for the diagnosis of prostate cancer.

BACKGROUND: Prostate cancer is an adverse tumor that occurs in the male reproductive system. The symptoms of patients in the early stage are not obvious and are generally difficult to detect. AIM: The aim of this study was to determine the regulation of lncRNA GABPB1-AS1 (GABPB1-AS1) on prostate cancer progression and explore the diagnostic potential of GABPB1-AS1. METHODS: The contents of serum GABPB1-AS1 and miR-330-3p were examined by RT-qPCR assay. The functions of silencing GABPB1-AS1 and miR-330-3p inhibitor in prostate cancer cells were determined using transfection assay, CCK-8 assay and Transwell assay. The target of GABPB1-AS1 was predicted and verified at the molecular level by bioinformatics and luciferase reporter gene assay. The function of GABPB1-AS1 in prostate cancer diagnosis was evaluated via ROC method. RESULTS: GABPB1-AS1 was upregulated in prostate cancer serum, which was associated with patients' Gleason score and TNM stage. Mechanistically, GABPB1-AS1 directly targeted miR-330-3p, and there was a negative correlation between them. Reduced levels of GABPB1-AS1 in cells after knockdown of GABPB1-AS1 resulted in decreased prostate cancer cell growth and activity, and these inhibitory effects were repaired by miR-330-3p inhibitor. CONCLUSION: The present study confirmed that GABPB1-AS1 was overexpressed in prostate cancer, and its sponge miR-330-3p may be an effective target for timely diagnosis of prostate cancer.

Ile-Pro-Pro attenuates sympathetic activity and hypertension.

Isoleucine-proline-proline (Ile-Pro-Pro, IPP) is a natural food source tripeptide that inhibits angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) activity. The aim of this study was to determine the central and peripheral roles of IPP in attenuating sympathetic activity, oxidative stress and hypertension. Male Sprague-Dawley rats were subjected to sham-operated surgery (Sham) or two-kidney one-clip (2K1C) surgery to induce renovascular hypertension. Renal sympathetic nerve activity and blood pressure were recorded. Bilateral microinjections of IPP to hypothalamic paraventricular nucleus (PVN) attenuated sympathetic activity (-16.1 ± 2.5%, P < 0.001) and hypertension (-8.7 ± 1.5 mmHg, P < 0.01) in 2K1C rats by inhibiting ACE activity and subsequent angiotensin II and superoxide production in the PVN. Intravenous injections of IPP also attenuated sympathetic activity (-15.1 ± 2.1%, P < 0.001) and hypertension (-16.8 ± 2.3 mmHg, P < 0.001) via inhibiting ACE activity and oxidative stress in both PVN and arteries of 2K1C rats. The duration of the effects of the intravenous IPP was longer than those of the PVN microinjection, but the sympatho-inhibitory effect of intravenous injections occurred later than that of the PVN microinjection. Intraperitoneal injection of IPP (400 pmol/day for 20 days) attenuated hypertension and vascular remodeling via inhibiting ACE activity and oxidative stress in both PVN and arteries of 2K1C rats. These results indicate that IPP attenuates hypertension and sympathetic activity by inhibiting ACE activity and oxidative stress. The sympathoinhibitory effect of peripheral IPP is mainly caused by the ACE inhibition in PVN, and the antihypertensive effect is related to the sympathoinhibition and the arterial ACE inhibition. Long-term intraperitoneal IPP therapy attenuates hypertension, oxidative stress and vascular remodeling.

NRF3 suppresses the metastasis of triple-negative breast cancer cells by inhibiting ERK activation in a ROS-dependent manner.

PURPOSE: Our previous study demonstrated that NRF3 (NFE2L3, Nuclear Factor-erythroid 2-related factor 3) could suppress cell metastasis and proliferation in breast cancer. In this study, we investigated the mechanisms underlying its function in breast cancer. METHODS: In the present study, NRF3 expression and its clinical characteristics in breast cancer were analyzed using public datasets and clinical specimens. After breast cancer cells were overexpressed NRF3, FACS was used to detect the intracellular ROS levels. The migration and invasion activities of NRF3-ectopic expressed breast cancer cells were determined by transwell assay. To validate the role of ROS/ERK axis in the inhibitory effect of NRF3 in cell metastasis, ROS scavenger NAC was also included. RESULTS: We found that NRF3 mRNA was highly expressed, while NRF3 protein was extremely lowly expressed in breast cancer tissues compared with their normal counterparts, and low level NRF3 was associated with poorer prognosis in patients with triple negative breast cancer (TNBC). More interestingly, overexpression of NRF3 protein significantly increased cellular ROS production and dramatically decreased p-ERK level and cell migration in TNBC cells. Mechanistically, NRF3 protein was found to be mutually regulated by valosin-containing protein (VCP). Strikingly, VCP-knockdown dramatically increased NRF3 protein expression, but NRF3-knockin also decreased VCP expression in return. Moreover, antioxidant NAC treatment effectively increased the level of p-ERK and VCP expression, as well as cell migration and invasion abilities of TNBC cells. CONCLUSION: NRF3, a tumor suppressor downregulated by VCP, could attenuate cell metastasis in TNBC cells by increasing cellular ROS accumulation and subsequently inhibiting the ERK phosphorylation.

Identification of the conductivity type of single-walled carbon nanotubes via dual-modulation dielectric force microscopy.

The conductivity type is one of the most fundamental transport properties of semiconductors, which is usually identified by fabricating the field-effect transistor, the Hall-effect device, etc. However, it is challenging to obtain an Ohmic contact if the sample is down to nanometer-scale because of the small size and intrinsic heterogeneity. Noncontact dielectric force microscopy (DFM) can identify the conductivity type of the sample by applying a DC gate voltage to the tip, which is effective in tuning the accumulation or depletion of charge carriers. Here, we further developed a dual-modulation DFM, which simplified the conductivity type identification from multiple scan times under different DC gate voltages to a single scan under an AC gate voltage. Taking single-walled carbon nanotubes as testing samples, the semiconducting-type sample exhibits a more significant charge carrier accumulation/depletion under each half-period of the AC gate voltage than the metallic-type sample due to the stronger rectification effect. The charge carrier accumulation or depletion of the p-type sample is opposite to that of the n-type sample at the same half-period of the AC gate voltage because of the reversed charge carrier type.