α-Ketoglutarate plays an inflammatory inhibitory role by regulating scavenger receptor class a expression through N6-methyladenine methylation during sepsis.

Sepsis arises from an uncontrolled inflammatory response triggered by infection or stress, accompanied by alteration in cellular energy metabolism, and a strong correlation exists between these factors. Alpha-ketoglutarate (α-KG), an intermediate product of the TCA cycle, has the potential to modulate the inflammatory response and is considered a crucial link between energy metabolism and inflammation. The scavenger receptor (SR-A5), a significant pattern recognition receptor, assumes a vital function in anti-inflammatory reactions. In the current investigation, we have successfully illustrated the ability of α-KG to mitigate inflammatory factors in the serum of septic mice and ameliorate tissue damage. Additionally, α-KG has been shown to modulate metabolic reprogramming and macrophage polarization. Moreover, our findings indicate that the regulatory influence of α-KG on sepsis is mediated through SR-A5. We also elucidated the mechanism by which α-KG regulates SR-A5 expression and found that α-KG reduced the N6-methyladenosine level of macrophages by up-regulating the m6A demethylase ALKBH5. α-KG plays a crucial role in inhibiting inflammation by regulating SR-A5 expression through m6A demethylation during sepsis. The outcomes of this research provide valuable insights into the relationship between energy metabolism and inflammation regulation, as well as the underlying molecular regulatory mechanism.

Photocatalytic reduction of carbon dioxide by BiTeX (X = Cl, Br, I) under visible-light irradiation.

In this study, a series of BiTeX (X = Cl, Br, I) photocatalysts were successfully synthesized via a simple hydrothermal method. The synthesis process involved dissolving BiX3 and Te powder in toluene to identify the most efficient material for photocatalytic activity. The main objective of this approach is to facilitate the conversion of carbon dioxide into sustainable solar fuels, such as alcohols and hydrocarbons, offering an appealing solution to address environmental concerns and energy crises. The BiTeX photocatalysts demonstrated significant proficiency in converting CO2 into CH4, particularly BiTeCl exhibited a notable photocatalytic conversion rate of up to 0.51 µmolg-1h-1. The optimized BiTeX photocatalysts displayed a gradual and selective transition from CO2 to CH4, ultimately producing valuable hydrocarbons (C2+). Furthermore, owing to their ability to reduce CO2, these photocatalysts show promise as materials for mitigating environmental pollution.

Efficacy and Safety of Dexmedetomidine Premedication in Balanced Anesthesia: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis in Dogs.

Dexmedetomidine is commonly used in small animal anesthesia for its potent sedative and analgesic properties; however, concerns regarding its cardiovascular effects prevent its full adoption into veterinary clinical practice. This meta-analysis was to determine the effects of dexmedetomidine on sedation, analgesia, cardiovascular and adverse reactions in dogs compared to other premedications. Following the study protocol based on the Cochrane Review Methods, thirteen studies were included in this meta-analysis ultimately, involving a total of 576 dogs. Dexmedetomidine administration probably improved in sedation and analgesia in comparison to acepromazine, ketamine and lidocaine (MD: 1.96, 95% CI: [-0.08, 4.00], p = 0.06; MD: -0.95, 95% CI: [-1.52, -0.37] p = 0.001; respectively). Hemodynamic outcomes showed that dogs probably experienced lower heart rate and higher systolic arterial blood pressure and mean arterial blood pressure with dexmedetomidine at 30 min after premedication (MD: -13.25, 95% CI: [-19.67, -6.81], p < 0.0001; MD: 7.78, 95% CI: [1.83, 13.74], p = 0.01; MD: 8.32, 95% CI: [3.95, 12.70], p = 0.0002; respectively). The incidence of adverse effects was comparable between dexmedetomidine and other premedications (RR = 0.86, 95% CI [0.58, 1.29], p = 0.47). In summary, dexmedetomidine provides satisfactory sedative and analgesic effects, and its safety is proved despite its significant hemodynamic effects as part of balanced anesthesia of dogs.

An assessment of morphological and pathological changes in paravertebral muscle degeneration using imaging and histological analysis: a cross-sectional study.

BACKGROUND: The high signal of paravertebral muscle (PVM) on T2-weighted image (T2WI) is usually considered to be fatty degeneration. However, it is difficult to distinguish inflammatory edema from fatty degeneration on T2WI. The purpose of this study was to identify different types of PVM high signal in patients with low back pain (LBP) through magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and histology. METHODS: Seventy patients with LBP underwent MRI. The signal change of multifidus both on T2WI and fat suppression image (FSI) was quantified by Image J. Furthermore, 25 of the 70 patients underwent surgery for degenerative lumbar disease and their multifidus were obtained during the operation. Histological analysis of the samples was performed by HE staining. RESULT: Three types of PVM signal changes were identified from the MRI. Type 1 (n = 36) indicated fatty degeneration characterized by a high signal on T2WI and low signal on FSI. High signal on both T2WI and FSI, signifying type 2 meant inflammatory edema (n = 9). Type 3 (n = 25) showed high signal on T2WI and partial signal suppression on FSI, which meant a combination of fatty degeneration and inflammatory edema. Histological results were consistent with MRI. Among the 25 patients who underwent surgery, type 1 (n = 14) showed adipocytes infiltration, type 2 (n = 3) showed inflammatory cells infiltration and type 3 (n = 8) showed adipocytes and inflammatory cells infiltration. CONCLUSION: From our results, there are three types of pathological changes in patients with PVM degeneration, which may help to decide on targeted treatments for LBP.

Controlled hydrothermal synthesis of BiOxCly/BiOmBrn/g-C3N4 composites exhibiting visible-light photocatalytic activity.

The first systematic synthesis of bismuth oxychloride/bismuth oxybromide/graphitic carbon nitride (BiOxCly/BiOmBrn/g-C3N4) nano-composites used a controlled hydrothermal method. The structure, morphology and characteristic of BiOxCly/BiOmBrn/g-C3N4 photocatalyst were measured by XRD, UV-vis-DRS, FT-IR, FE-TEM, FE-SEM-EDS, PL, BET, HR-XPS and EPR. Under visible light irradiation, the photodegradation activity was evaluated for the decolorization of crystal violet (CV) and 2-hydroxybenzoic acid (2-HBA) in aqueous solution. The catalytic performance showed that, when using sample BB2C1-4-250-30 wt% g-C3N4 composite as a photocatalyst, the best reaction-rate-constant (k) was 0.071 h-1. It was 1.5 times higher than the k value of BB2C1-4-250 as a photocatalyst. From the scavenging effect of various scavengers, the results of EPR showed that reactive OH was the main scavenger, while O2-, h+ and 1O2 were the second scavenger in CV degradation. In this study, a possible photodegradation mechanism was proposed and discussed. In this work, our method of BiOxCly/BiOmBrn/g-C3N4 preparation could be used for future mass production and the BiOxCly/BiOmBrn/g-C3N4 composite materials could be applied to the environmental pollution control in future.

Maltol inhibits the progression of osteoarthritis via the nuclear factor-erythroid 2-related factor-2/heme oxygenase-1 signal pathway in vitro and in vivo.

Osteoarthritis (OA) is a common degenerative joint disease characterized by articular cartilage degeneration and inflammation. Currently, there is hardly any effective treatment for OA due to its complicated pathology and the severe side effects of the treatment drugs used. It has been reported that maltol, a Maillard reaction product derived from ginseng, inhibits inflammation and oxidative stress in several animal models. However, the potential anti-inflammatory effects of maltol in OA treatment are unknown. This study aimed to evaluate the anti-inflammatory effects of maltol on interleukin (IL)-1ß-induced mouse chondrocytes and protective effects of maltol on these chondrocytes in medial meniscus destabilization (DMM) OA mouse models. Mice, randomly divided into maltol (n = 15), vehicle (n = 15) and control (n = 15) groups were treated with the same dose of maltol or saline, respectively. The cartilage tissues were extracted for histological analysis 8 weeks postoperative. For the in vitro studies, chondrocytes were treated with 10 ng mL-1 IL-1ß combined with maltol at different concentrations. In vitro assays showed that the maltol pre-treatment significantly inhibited the expressions of multiple inflammatory factors induced by IL-1ß, such as inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2), prostaglandin E2 (PGE2), nitric oxide (NO), interleukin-6 (IL-6) and tumor necrosis factor (TNF-α). In addition, maltol alleviated the degradation of the extracellular matrix (ECM) by inhibiting the expressions of matrix metalloproteinase-13 (MMP13) and thrombospondin motif 5 (ADAMTS5), as well as reversing the degradation of aggrecan and collagen II. Moreover, maltol suppressed nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB) signaling by activating the nuclear factor-erythroid 2-related factor-2 (Nrf2) in in vitro and in vivo studies. These findings indicate that maltol reduces the inflammation induced by IL-1ß in chondrocytes. Therefore, the results of this study indicated that maltol may be a potential drug for the effective treatment of OA.

Odorant-binding proteins and chemosensory proteins potentially involved in host plant recognition in the Asian citrus psyllid, Diaphorina citri.

BACKGROUND: Odorant-binding proteins (OBPs) and chemosensory proteins (CSPs) are two families of small water-soluble proteins involved in odor detection and subsequent signal transmission. Determination of their binding mechanisms and specificity towards different odorants is important for developing OBPs/CSPs as targets in pest control management. RESULTS: We re-annotated genes encoding putative OBPs and CSPs in the Asian citrus psyllid (Diaphorina citri) draft genome using various bioinformatic tools. Genes encoding nine OBPs (seven Classic and two Plus-C) and 12 CSPs were identified, consistent with our previous transcriptomic results. Tissue-specific and developmental expression analyses suggested that genes encoding six OBPs and four CSPs were predominantly expressed in antennae, and displayed various expression patterns in different development stages, suggesting potential involvement in olfactory perception. Competitive fluorescence binding assays with 13 candidate ligands, including known host plant volatiles, sex pheromone components and repellents, showed that DcitOBP3 could bind to various odorants, whereas DcitOBP6, 8 and 9 bound specifically to host plant terpenoids. DcitCSP1 and 12 could also bind to certain terpenoids with high binding specificity. CONCLUSION: OBP- and CSP-encoding genes were systematically identified by annotating the draft D. citri genome and those potentially involved in odorant detection and signal transmission were identified by analyzing their tissue-expression profiles and odorant-binding affinities, particularly to the peripheral molecular perception of host plant terpenoids. The identified genes may provide potential targets for efficient pest control. © 2020 Society of Chemical Industry.

Inhibition of Rac1 activity by NSC23766 prevents cartilage endplate degeneration via Wnt/ß-catenin pathway.

Cartilage endplate (CEP) degeneration has been considered as one of important factors related to intervertebral disc degeneration (IVDD). Previous researches have showed that Rac1 played a pivotal role in chondrocyte differentiation. However, the effect of Rac1 during the process of CEP degeneration remains unclear. Herein, we explored the effect of Rac1 on CEP degeneration and elucidated the underlying molecular mechanism. We found expression of Rac1-GTP increased in human-degenerated CEP tissue and IL-1ß-stimulated rat endplate chondrocytes (EPCs). Our study revealed that Rac1 inhibitor NSC23766 treatment promoted the expression of collagen II, aggrecan and Sox-9, and decreased the expression of ADTAMTS5 and MMP13 in IL-1ß-stimulated rat EPCs. Moreover, we also found that NSC23766 could suppress the activation of Wnt/ß-catenin pathway, suggesting that the beneficial effects of Rac1 inhibition in EPCs are mediated through the Wnt/ß-catenin signalling. Besides, puncture-induced rats models showed that NSC23766 played a protective role on CEP and disc degeneration. Collectively, these findings demonstrated that Rac1 inhibition delayed the EPCs degeneration and its potential mechanism may be associated with Wnt/ß-catenin pathway regulation, which may help us better understand the association between Rac1 and CEP degeneration and provide a promising strategy for delaying the progression of IVDD.

Inhibition of EZH2 ameliorates cartilage endplate degeneration and attenuates the progression of intervertebral disc degeneration via demethylation of Sox-9.

BACKGROUND: Cartilaginous endplate (CEP) degeneration is considered as one of the major causes of intervertebral disc degeneration (IVDD) which causes low back pain. Recent studies have proved that epigenetic alteration is involved in a variety of diseases. This work explored the role of histone methyltransferase enhancer of zeste homologue 2 (EZH2) in CEP degeneration, as well as its underlying epigenetic mechanisms, and confirmed the effect of EZH2 knockdown on delaying IVDD development. METHODS: Western blotting, immunofluorescence staining, and ChIP assay were applied to demonstrate the molecular mechanism of EZH2 in CEP tissue. The therapeutic potential of EZH2 was investigated using puncture-induced rat models. FINDINGS: The EZH2 expression was upregulated in human and rat CEP tissue. It was also found that the overexpression of EZH2 suppressed the expression of Collagen II, aggrecan and Sox-9, and promoted the expression of ADTAMTS5 and MMP13 in rat endplate chondrocytes (EPCs), which could be reversed by EZH2 silencing. The correlation between EZH2 and Sox-9 was further explored, while overexpression of Sox-9 could reverse the effect of EZH2 in rat EPCs. Moreover, inhibition of EZH2 upregulated the level of Sox-9 by demethylating H3K27me3 at Sox-9 promoter sites, revealing the regulatory mechanism of EZH2 on Sox-9. Meanwhile, puncture-induced rat models showed that EZH2 knockdown exerted a protective effect on CEP and disc degeneration. INTERPRETATION: This study reveals that EZH2 inhibition is a promising strategy for mitigating the symptoms and progression of IVDD. FUNDING: This study was funded by the Natural Science Foundation of Zhejiang Province (Y16H060034). Authors declare that the funders had no involvement in the study design, data analysis and interpretation of the results.

Candidate genes coding for odorant binding proteins and chemosensory proteins identified from dissected antennae and mouthparts of the southern green stink bug Nezara viridula.

The southern green stink bug Nezara viridula (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae) is a highly polyphagous pest that can significantly impact many major crops worldwide. Insect odorant binding proteins (OBPs) and chemosensory proteins (CSPs) transport chemicals and play critical roles in chemoreception. Studies on N. viridula OBPs and CSPs should increase our overall understandings on chemosensory systems and chemical ecology of stink bugs, which may lead to improved pest control. In this study, we identified candidate genes encoding putative OBPs and CSPs in N. viridula by generating transcriptomes from dissected antennae and mouthparts. In total, the 42 unigenes were identified coding for OBPs (34 Classic OBPs and eight Plus-C OBPs) and 13 unigenes coding for CSPs. Expression profiles of OBP- and CSP -encoding genes were compared between antennae and mouthparts based on FKPM values. Candidates for antenna-predominant OBPs and CSPs were selected for real-time quantitative PCR analyses. Analyses of tissue expression profiles revealed that 17 OBP-encoding genes, and four CSP genes were primarily expressed in antennae, suggesting their putative roles in perception of volatiles. The sex-biased expression patterns of these antenna-predominant genes suggested that they may have important functions in reproduction of the insect. This is a systematic analysis on OBPs and CSPs in a stink bug, providing a comprehensive resource for future functional studies not only for N. viridula, but also for other stink bugs as well.

[Risk factors of radius shortening in adult with distal radius fracture after conservative treatment].

OBJECTIVE: To analyze the of risk factors of radius shortening in adult with distal radius fracture after conservative treatment by Logistic analysis. METHODS: From May 2009 to March 2015, 137 adults patients with distal radius fracture treated by conservative treatment were retrospective analyzed, and 36 patients occurred radius shortening, including 7 males and 29 females with an average age of (58.33±14.06) years old, 8 patients were type A, 34 patients were type B and 12 patients were type C according to fracture classification; 101 patients were without radius shortening, including 23 males and 78 females with an average age of (52.49±12.79) years old, 48 patients were type A, 34 patients were type B and 19 patients were type C according to fracture classification. Ages, gender, BMI , time from injuries to reduction, fracture classification, fixed form and loading time were collected and screened risk factors by Logistic analysis. RESULTS: All patients were followed up from 8 to 16 months. Ages, time from injuries to reduction, fracture classification, earlier loading could obviously affect radius shortening by univariate analysis, multivariate logistic analysis revealed the risk factor including ages [OR=1.045(1.008-1.083), P=0.015], time from injury to reduction[OR=2.853(1.178-6.909), P=0.020], fracture classification(Type C fracture was more relevant to radius shortening than other two type fractures)[OR=4.854(1.506-15.640), P=0.008], and earlier loading[OR=3.038(1.138-8.111), P=0.027]. CONCLUSIONS: Ages, time from injury to reduction, fracture classification, and earlier load are the risk factors of radius shortening, so corresponding preventive measures and appropriate treatment should be applied to according to different risk factor.

[Change of blood parameters in liver failure patients with severe hepatitis after combined therapy].

OBJECTIVE: To determine the feasibility, security and clinical effects of the combination of plasma exchange(PE) and high-flow hemodiafiltration (HDF) in the treatment of liver failure caused by severe hepatitis. METHODS: Fifty-eight treatments with combined therapy were taken in 26 patients with severe hepatitis. The changes of clinical symptom, liver function, plasma thrombinogen activity and ammonia were observed to determine the clinical effects. The feasibility and security were determined by therapy related adverse reactions and tolerance of the patients. RESULTS: After the treatment, the clinical symptoms such as conscious disturbance, jaundice, inertia, abdominal distention were taken better turn. The serum bilirubin decreased [(190.8+/-93.6) micromol/L] and PTA increased [(19.7+/-8.9)%]. The major adverse reaction was hypersensitive to plasma, no severe hemorrhage, shock and superinfection happened. All patients tolerated the combined therapy. CONCLUSION: The combined therapy is a safe treatment and can significantly improve the symptoms, blood parameters and recently mortality in hepatic failure patients with severe hepatitis. The therapy is worth to spread.