Emerging Roles of Galectin-3 in Pulmonary Diseases.

Galectin-3 is a multifunctional protein that is involved in various physiological and pathological events. Emerging evidence suggests that galectin-3 also plays a critical role in the pathogenesis of pulmonary diseases. Galectin-3 can be produced and secreted by various cell types in the lungs, and the overexpression of galectin-3 has been found in acute lung injury/acute respiratory distress syndrome (ALI/ARDS), pulmonary hypertension (PH), pulmonary fibrosis diseases, lung cancer, lung infection, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), and asthma. Galectin-3 exerts diverse effects on the inflammatory response, immune cell activation, fibrosis and tissue remodeling, and tumorigenesis in these pulmonary disorders, and genetic and pharmacologic modulation of galectin-3 has therapeutic effects on the treatment of pulmonary illnesses. In this review, we summarize the structure and function of galectin-3 and the underlying mechanisms of galectin-3 in pulmonary disease pathologies; we also discuss preclinical and clinical evidence regarding the therapeutic potential of galectin-3 inhibitors in these pulmonary disorders. Additionally, targeting galectin-3 may be a very promising therapeutic approach for the treatment of pulmonary diseases.

BDNF-VGF Pathway Aggravates Incision Induced Acute Postoperative Pain via Upregulating the Neuroinflammation in Dorsal Root Ganglia.

Approximately one-third of postoperative patients are troubled by postoperative pain. Effective treatments are still lacking. The aim of this study is to investigate the role of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF)-VGF (non-acronymic) in dorsal root ganglia (DRG) in postoperative pain. Pain behaviors were assessed through measurements of paw withdrawal threshold (PWT) and paw withdrawal latency (PWL). Transcriptome analysis was conducted to identify potential targets associated with postoperative pain. Western blotting, immunofluorescence, and ELISA were employed to further detect macrophage activation as well as the expression of BDNF, VGF, TNF-α, IL-1ß, and IL-6. Results showed that plantar incision induced both mechanical and thermal hyperalgesia. Transcriptome analysis suggested that plantar incision caused upregulation of BDNF and VGF. The expressions of BDNF and VGF were upregulated in isolectin B4-positive (IB4+) and calcitonin gene-related peptide-positive (CGRP+) neurons, rather than neurofilament 200-positive (NF200+) neurons. The activation of BDNF-VGF pathway upregulated expression of IL-6, TNF-α, and IL-1ß and promoted the activation of macrophages. In conclusion, BDNF-VGF pathway aggravates acute postoperative pain by promoting macrophage activation and pro-inflammatory cytokine production, which may provide a new target for the treatment of postoperative pain.

Postoperative Multimodal Analgesia Strategy for Enhanced Recovery After Surgery in Elderly Colorectal Cancer Patients.

Enhanced Recovery After Surgery (ERAS) protocols have substantially proven their merit in diminishing recuperation durations and mitigating postoperative adverse events in geriatric populations undergoing colorectal cancer procedures. Despite this, the pivotal aspect of postoperative pain control has not garnered the commensurate attention it deserves. Typically, employing a multimodal analgesia regimen that weaves together nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, opioids, local anesthetics, and nerve blocks stands paramount in curtailing surgical complications and facilitating reduced convalescence within hospital confines. Nevertheless, this integrative pain strategy is not devoid of pitfalls; the specter of organ dysfunction looms over the geriatric cohort, rooted in the abuse of analgesics or the complex interplay of polypharmacy. Revolutionary research is delving into alternative delivery and release modalities, seeking to allay the inadvertent consequences of analgesia and thereby potentially elevating postoperative outcomes for the elderly post-colorectal cancer surgery populace. This review examines the dual aspects of multimodal analgesia regimens by comparing their established benefits with potential limitations and offers insight into the evolving strategies of drug administration and release.

Droplet Micro-Sensor and Detection of Respiratory Droplet Transmission.

Droplet transmission is the primary infection route for respiratory diseases like COVID-19 and influenza, but small and low-cost wearable droplet detection devices are a significant challenge. Herein, a respiratory droplet micro-sensor based on graphene oxide quantum dots (GOQDs) assembled onto SiO2 microspheres by the nebulized natural deposition is presented. Benefiting from the energy dissipation of the microsphere to droplets, the sensor can detect droplets as far as 2 m from coughing. With this sensor, droplet signal variations caused by some factors like distance, speech, angles, and wind directions are explored, and the effectiveness of different protective measures in preventing droplet transmission is evaluated. This droplet detection technology is expected to be utilized for the development of personal detection and protection devices against infectious respiratory diseases.

Muscular Function Recovery from General Anesthesia in 132 Patients Undergoing Surgery with Acceleromyography, Combined Acceleromyography, and Ultrasonography, and without Monitoring Muscular Function.

BACKGROUND Diaphragmatic thickness fraction (DTF), measured by ultrasound, can predict the occurrence of postoperative residual neuromuscular blockade (RNMB). We hypothesized that the utilization of diaphragmatic ultrasound during the postoperative awakening phase of anesthesia in patients offers a successful means of avoiding RNMB in a notably comfortable manner, as compared to the use of acceleromyograph. MATERIAL AND METHODS Patients who underwent elective thyroid cancer radical surgery were enrolled in this prospective clinical study. Eligible participants were randomly assigned to 1 of 3 groups: 1) combined ultrasonography with acceleromyography group (the US+AMG group), 2) the AMG group, or 3) the usual clinical practice group (the UCP group). The primary outcomes of the study were the incidence of RNMB and hypoxemia after tracheal extubation. RESULTS The study included a total of 127 patients (43 in the US+AMG group, 44 in the AMG group, and 40 in the UCP group). The incidence of RNMB and hypoxemia was higher in the UCP group than in the US+AMG and AMG groups at 15 and 30 min after extubation, respectively. The mean area under the receiver operating characteristic curve, and the decision curve of the recovery rate of DTF (DTF) was greater than that of DTF. CONCLUSIONS The use of diaphragm ultrasound during the postoperative awakening phase of anesthesia can significantly reduce the incidence of RNMB. This method was non-inferior to the use of AMG during the entire perioperative period.

PD-L1/PD-1 pathway: a potential neuroimmune target for pain relief.

Pain is a common symptom of many diseases with a high incidence rate. Clinically, drug treatment, as the main method to relieve pain at present, is often accompanied by different degrees of adverse reactions. Therefore, it is urgent to gain a profound understanding of the pain mechanisms in order to develop advantageous analgesic targets. The PD-L1/PD-1 pathway, an important inhibitory molecule in the immune system, has taken part in regulating neuroinflammation and immune response. Accumulating evidence indicates that the PD-L1/PD-1 pathway is aberrantly activated in various pain models. And blocking PD-L1/PD-1 pathway will aggravate pain behaviors. This review aims to summarize the emerging evidence on the role of the PD-L1/PD-1 pathway in alleviating pain and provide an overview of the mechanisms involved in pain resolution, including the regulation of macrophages, microglia, T cells, as well as nociceptor neurons. However, its underlying mechanism still needs to be further elucidated in the future. In conclusion, despite more deep researches are needed, these pioneering studies indicate that PD-L1/PD-1 may be a potential neuroimmune target for pain relief.

Diaphragm ultrasonography as a monitor in assessing antagonistic effect of sugammadex on rocuronium in patients with Child-Pugh grades A and B.

Background: Although diaphragm ultrasound can be used for detecting residual neuromuscular blockade post-surgery, there exists notable dearth in contemporary research exploring the correlation between preoperative Child-Pugh classification and the effectiveness of sugammadex in reversing rocuronium-induced blockade as evaluated by diaphragmatic ultrasonography. Methods: This was a prospective, double-blind, non-randomized controlled clinical trial conducted on patients scheduled for laparoscopic liver resection surgery. The participants were categorized into two groups, A and B, based on their preoperative Child-Pugh classification. Prior to anesthesia induction, baseline diaphragm thickness was evaluated using ultrasonography. Throughout the surgical procedure, a deep neuromuscular blockade was maintained with rocuronium. Post-surgery, sugammadex (2 mg/kg) was intravenously administered to patients in both groups upon reaching a train-of-four ratio of 0.2. Diaphragm thickness was assessed at 0, 10, and 30 min, as well as 2 h after extubation, to analyze thickening fractioning (TF) and thickness recovery fractioning (TRF). Results: No significant differences in TF or TRF were observed between the two groups at 0, 10, and 30 min, as well as 2 h after extubation. Furthermore, there were no significant variances in hemodynamic stability following sugammadex administration. However, patients in the Child-Pugh B group experienced a significantly prolonged time from sugammadex administration to tracheal extubation (19 ± 8.0 min vs. 11 ± 6.1 min) and an extended post-anesthesia care unit stay (123 ± 28.3 min vs. 103 ± 26.0 min) compared to those in the Child-Pugh A group. Conclusion: The preoperative Child-Pugh grades may not exhibit a significant association with the reversal effect of sugammadex on rocuronium, as evaluated through diaphragmatic ultrasonography. Clinical trial registration: Registered in the ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT05028088) on July 18, 2021.

Widespread photosynthesis reaction centre barrel proteins are necessary for haloarchaeal cell division.

Cell division is fundamental to all cellular life. Most archaea depend on either the prokaryotic tubulin homologue FtsZ or the endosomal sorting complex required for transport for division but neither system has been robustly characterized. Here, we show that three of the four photosynthesis reaction centre barrel domain proteins of Haloferax volcanii (renamed cell division proteins B1/2/3 (CdpB1/2/3)) play important roles in cell division. CdpB1 interacts directly with the FtsZ membrane anchor SepF and is essential for cell division, whereas deletion of cdpB2 and cdpB3 causes a major and a minor division defect, respectively. Orthologues of CdpB proteins are also involved in cell division in other haloarchaea, indicating a conserved function of these proteins. Phylogenetic analysis shows that photosynthetic reaction centre barrel proteins are widely distributed among archaea and appear to be central to cell division in most if not all archaea.

The neurobiological mechanisms and therapeutic prospect of extracellular ATP in depression.

BACKGROUND: Depression is a prevalent psychiatric disorder with high long-term morbidities, recurrences, and mortalities. Despite extensive research efforts spanning decades, the cellular and molecular mechanisms of depression remain largely unknown. What's more, about one third of patients do not have effective anti-depressant therapies, so there is an urgent need to uncover more mechanisms to guide the development of novel therapeutic strategies. Adenosine triphosphate (ATP) plays an important role in maintaining ion gradients essential for neuronal activities, as well as in the transport and release of neurotransmitters. Additionally, ATP could also participate in signaling pathways following the activation of postsynaptic receptors. By searching the website PubMed for articles about "ATP and depression" especially focusing on the role of extracellular ATP (eATP) in depression in the last 5 years, we found that numerous studies have implied that the insufficient ATP release from astrocytes could lead to depression and exogenous supply of eATP or endogenously stimulating the release of ATP from astrocytes could alleviate depression, highlighting the potential therapeutic role of eATP in alleviating depression. AIM: Currently, there are few reviews discussing the relationship between eATP and depression. Therefore, the aim of our review is to conclude the role of eATP in depression, especially focusing on the evidence and mechanisms of eATP in alleviating depression. CONCLUSION: We will provide insights into the prospects of leveraging eATP as a novel avenue for the treatment of depression.

Expert consensus on perioperative integrated skincare for noninvasive energy-based device aesthetic procedures in clinical practice in China.

BACKGROUND: Noninvasive energy-based device (NI-EBD) aesthetic procedures has recently gained widespread usage for treating various skin conditions, enhancing skin texture and performing rejuvenation-related procedures. However, practically all NI-EBD procedures result in variable degrees of damage to the skin barrier, inducing pathological and physiological processes such as oxidative stress and inflammation, and only a small percentage of individuals possess the innate ability to restore it. OBJECTIVE: To introduce the concept of integrated skincare and establish standardized operational procedures for perioperative integrated skincare, and furnish a theoretical basis for clinical diagnosis and treatment performed by professional medical aestheticians. METHODS: The author leveraged domestic and international guidelines, clinical practice expertise and evidence-based research, adapting them to suit the specific circumstances in China. RESULTS: The consensus were provided four parts, including concept and essence of integrated skincare, integrated skincare significance during the perioperative phase of NI-EBD procedures, active ingredients and functions of effective skincare products, standardized perioperative skincare procedure for NI-EBD procedures and precautions. For the standardized perioperative skincare procedure, four recommendations were listed according to different stages during NI-EBD procedures. CONCLUSION: These recommendations create the 'Expert Consensus on Perioperative Integrated Skincare for Noninvasive Energy-Based Device Aesthetic Procedures in Clinical Practice in China'.

Integrated Manipulation and Addressing of Spin Defect in Diamond.

Scalable and addressable integrated manipulation of qubits is crucial for practical quantum information applications. Different waveguides have been used to transport the optical and electrical driving pulses, which are usually required for qubit manipulation. However, the separated multifields may limit the compactness and efficiency of manipulation and introduce unwanted perturbation. Here, we develop a tapered fiber-nanowire-electrode hybrid structure to realize integrated optical and microwave manipulation of solid-state spins at nanoscale. Visible light and microwave driving pulses are simultaneously transported and concentrated along an Ag nanowire. Studied with spin defects in diamond, the results show that the different driving fields are aligned with high accuracy. The spatially selective spin manipulation is realized. And the frequency-scanning optically detected magnetic resonance (ODMR) of spin qubits is measured, illustrating the potential for portable quantum sensing. Our work provides a new scheme for developing compact, miniaturized quantum sensors and quantum information processing devices.

Osteopontin: A Novel Therapeutic Target for Respiratory Diseases.

Osteopontin (OPN) is a multifunctional phosphorylated protein that is involved in physiological and pathological events. Emerging evidence suggests that OPN also plays a critical role in the pathogenesis of respiratory diseases. OPN can be produced and secreted by various cell types in lungs and overexpression of OPN has been found in acute lung injury/acute respiratory distress syndrome (ALI/ARDS), pulmonary hypertension (PH), pulmonary fibrosis diseases, lung cancer, lung infection, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), and asthma. OPN exerts diverse effects on the inflammatory response, immune cell activation, fibrosis and tissue remodeling, and tumorigenesis of these respiratory diseases, and genetic and pharmacological moudulation of OPN exerts therapeutic effects in the treatment of respiratory diseases. In this review, we summarize the recent evidence of multifaceted roles and underlying mechanisms of OPN in these respiratory diseases, and targeting OPN appears to be a potential therapeutic intervention for these diseases.

Yigan Mingmu Decoction inhibits diabetic macular edema through regulating Kir4.1/AQP4 axis: a study based on network pharmacology.

OBJECTIVE: To explore the role and mechanism of Yigan Mingmu Decoction (YGMMD) in preventing and treating diabetic macular edema (DME). METHODS: The bioactive compounds in YGMMD and their targets were screened using network pharmacology. Sprague Dawley (SD) rats were treated with the respective drugs: andomine, YGMMD-L, YGMMD-M, YGMMD-H for four weeks. Blood glucose, body weight, and morphologic indicators were measured, and hematoxylin and eosin (H&E) staining was used to assess retinal pathologic changes. Western blotting was used to monitor the expression of the phosphatidylinositol 3 kinase-protein kinase B (PI3K-AKT), pathway-related proteins aquaporin 4 (AQP4), inwardly rectifying potassium channel subtype 4.1 (Kir4.1), and phosphorylase extracellular regulated protein kinases (p-ERK1/2). Immunofluorescence was used to observe the expression levels of AQP4 and Kir4.1. Immunohistochemistry was performed to determine the expression of p-ERK1/2. RESULTS: Pharmacologic network analysis and molecular docking suggested that YGMMD treatment of DME regulates AQP4/Kir4.1. In vivo experiments showed that YGMMD had significant hypoglycemic effects and reduced retinal edema in Sprague Dawley (SD) rats: YGMMD-H downregulated AQP4 and p-ERK1/2 and upregulated p-AKT and Kir4.1. Findings suggest that the therapeutic effect of YGMMD in DME is probably due to the deregulation of AQP4/Kir4.1 expression through the ERK1/2-PI3K-AKT pathway. CONCLUSION: This study shows that YGMMD inhibits the activation of p-ERK1/2 while concurrently enhancing the expression of p-AKT, leading to a decrease in AQP4 levels and the upregulation of Kir4.1 expression. As a result, the balance in the retinal fluid clearance system is restored, effectively alleviating DME.

Adipokines in pulmonary hypertension: angels or demons?

Pulmonary hypertension (PH) is a devastating cardiopulmonary disorder with poor prognosis and limited curative options. Recent studies revealed a strong association between adipose tissue dysfunction (e.g., obesity) and PH. Adipokines are bioactive polypeptides with pleiotropic effects mainly produced by adipose tissue, and it is suggested that imbalanced production of adipokines in obesity may play a key role in the pathogenesis of PH. Alternations in the production and secretion of adipokines have been observed in PH patients and rodents PH models. In this review, we summarize the expressions and functions of several well-recognized adipokines, the roles of adipokines in the pathogenesis of PH and recent advances in the pharmacological and molecular modulation of adipokines in the treatment of PH. We found that several adipokines (e.g., leptin, resistin, and chemerin) have been demonstrated to display pro-proliferation, pro-inflammatory, and pro-oxidative properties and exacerbate PH. Other adipokines (e.g., adiponectin, apelin, and omentin-1) have anti-proliferation, anti-inflammatory, anti-fibrotic and anti-oxidative impacts on the pulmonary vascular remodeling of PH and are suggested as protective factors against PH, and targeting imbalanced adipokines appears to be a potential novel therapeutic strategy for the treatment of PH.

Huangqin Tea Total Flavonoids-Gut Microbiota Interactions: Based on Metabolome and Microbiome Analysis.

Huangqin tea (HQT), a Non-Camellia Tea derived from the aerial parts of Scutellaria baicalensis, is widely used in the north of China. The intervention effects of HQT on intestinal inflammation and tumors have been found recently, but the active ingredient and mechanism of action remain unclear. This study aimed to investigate the interactions between the potential flavonoid active components and gut microbiota through culture experiments in vitro combined with HPLC-UV, UPLC-QTOF-MS, and 16S rDNA sequencing technology. The results showed that the HQT total flavonoids were mainly composed of isocarthamidin-7-O-ß-D-glucuronide, carthamidin-7-O-ß-D-glucuronide, scutellarin, and others, which interact closely with gut microbiota. After 48 h, the primary flavonoid glycosides transformed into corresponding aglycones with varying degrees of deglycosylation. The composition of the intestinal microbiota was changed significantly. The beneficial bacteria, such as Enterococcus and Parabacteroides, were promoted, while the harmful bacteria, such as Shigella, were inhibited. The functional prediction results have indicated notable regulatory effects exerted by total flavonoids and scutellarin on various pathways, including purine metabolism and aminoacyl-tRNA biosynthesis, among others, to play a role in the intervention of inflammation and tumor-related diseases. These findings provided valuable insights for further in-depth research and investigation of the active ingredients, metabolic processes, and mechanisms of HQT.

An 'active site anchoring' strategy for the preparation of PBO fiber derived carbon catalyst towards an efficient oxygen reduction reaction and zinc-air batteries.

In order to promote the wide application of clean energy-fuel cells, it is urgent to develop transition metal-based high-efficiency oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) catalytic materials with a low cost and available rich raw material resources to replace the currently used precious metal platinum-based catalytic materials. Herein, a novel 'active-site-anchoring' strategy was developed to synthesize highly-activated carbon-based ORR catalysts. Firstly, poly(p-phenylene benzobisoxazole) (PBO) fiber with a stable chemical structure was selected as the main precursor, and iron was complexed on its surface, and then poly-dopamine (PDA) was coated on the surface of PBO-Fe to form a PBO-Fe-PDA composite structure. Therefore, carbon-based catalyst PBO-Fe-PDA-900 with abundant Fe2O3 active sites was prepared by anchoring iron sites by PDA after pyrolysis. As a result, the PBO-Fe-PDA-900 catalyst displayed a 30 mV higher half-wave potential (0.86 V) than that of a commercial Pt/C electrocatalyst. Finally, PBO-Fe-PDA-900 was used as a cathode material for zinc-air batteries, showing a high peak power density superior to Pt/C. This work offers new prospects for the design of efficient, non-precious metal-based materials in zinc-air batteries.

Isolation, functional evaluation, and fermentation process optimization of probiotic Bacillus coagulans.

Bacillus coagulans is a probiotic agent widely used in various industries. In this study, we isolated a novel strain of B. coagulans, X26, from soil and characterized its properties. X26 exhibited superior enzyme, acid, and biomass yields when compared with other bacterial probiotics and an antibiotic. Moreover, X26 significantly improved the body weight of rats, highlighting its potential for industrial development as a supplement for animals. To optimize the fermentation process of this bacterium, we adopted the response surface design. When X26 was cultured in a medium with 16.5 g/L maltose, 25.00 g/L yeast extract, and 3.5 g/L K2HPO4, the optimal yield was predicted to be 5.1 × 109 CFU/mL. Consistent with the prediction, the yield of X26 in a 500-mL flask culture was (5.12 ± 0.01) × 109 CFU/mL, and in a 30-L fermenter was (5.11 ± 0.02) × 109 CFU/mL, accounting for a 9.9-fold higher field than that with a basal medium before optimization. We further optimized the fermentation process in the 30-L and a 10-T fermenter, generating yields of (7.8 ± 0.2) × 109 CFU/mL (spore rate: 96.54%) and (8.7 ± 0.1) × 109 CFU/mL (spore rate: 97.93%), respectively. These yields and spore rates were achieved at 45-55°C, the typical fermentation temperature of B. coagulans. Our findings indicate that B. coagulans X26 is a promising probiotic with considerable potential for cost-effective industrial fermentation.

The effect of anesthetic depth on postoperative delirium in older adults: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: Postoperative delirium (POD) is an important complication for older patients and recent randomised controlled trials have showed a conflicting result of the effect of deep and light anesthesia. METHODS: We included randomised controlled trials including older adults that evaluated the effect of anesthetic depth on postoperative delirium from PubMed, Embase, Web of Science and Cochrane Library. We considered deep anesthesia as observer's assessment of the alertness/ sedation scale (OAA/S) of 0-2 or targeted bispectral (BIS) < 45 and the light anesthesia was considered OAA/S 3-5 or targeted BIS > 50. The primary outcome was incidence of POD within 7 days after surgery. And the secondary outcomes were mortality and cognitive function 3 months or more after surgery. The quality of evidence was assessed via the grading of recommendations assessment, development, and evaluation approach. RESULTS: We included 6 studies represented 7736 patients aged 60 years and older. We observed that the deep anesthesia would not increase incidence of POD when compared with the light anesthesia when 4 related studies were pooled (OR, 1.40; 95% CI, 0.63-3.08, P = 0.41, I2 = 82%, low certainty). And no significant was found in mortality (OR, 1.12; 95% CI, 0.93-1.35, P = 0.23, I2 = 0%, high certainty) and cognitive function (OR, 1.13; 95% CI, 0.67-1.91, P = 0.64, I2 = 13%, high certainty) 3 months or more after surgery between deep anesthesia and light anesthesia. CONCLUSIONS: Low-quality evidence suggests that light general anesthesia was not associated with lower POD incidence than deep general anesthesia. And High-quality evidence showed that anesthetic depth did not affect the long-term mortality and cognitive function. SYSTEMATIC REVIEW REGISTRATION: CRD42022300829 (PROSPERO).

Exploring the protective effects of herbal monomers against diabetic retinopathy based on the regulation of autophagy and apoptosis: A review.

Diabetic retinopathy (DR) has become one of the top 3 blinding eye diseases in the world. In spite of recent therapeutic breakthroughs, it is not yet possible to cure DR through pharmacotherapy. Cell death is thought to play a key role in the pathogenesis of DR. Moderate modulation of cellular autophagy and inhibition of apoptosis have been identified as effective targets for the treatment of DR. Numerous phytochemicals have emerged as potential new drugs for the treatment of DR. We collected basic DR research on herbal monomers through keywords such as autophagy and apoptosis, and conducted a systematic search for relevant research articles published in the PubMed database. This review provides the effects and reports of herbal monomers on various DR cellular and animal models in vivo and in vitro in the available literature, and emphasizes the importance of cellular autophagy and apoptosis as current DR therapeutic targets. Based on our review, we believe that herbal monomers that modulate autophagy and inhibit apoptosis may be potentially effective candidates for the development of new drugs in the treatment of DR. It provides a strategy for further development and application of herbal medicines for DR treatment.