OVAR-BPnet: A General Pulse Wave Deep Learning Approach for Cuffless Blood Pressure Measurement.

Pulse wave analysis, a non-invasive and cuffless approach, holds promise for blood pressure (BP) measurement in precision medicine. In recent years, pulse wave learning for BP estimation has undergone extensive scrutiny. However, prevailing methods still encounter challenges in grasping comprehensive features from pulse waves and generalizing these insights for precise BP estimation. In this study, we propose a general pulse wave deep learning (PWDL) approach for BP estimation, introducing the OVAR-BPnet model to powerfully capture intricate pulse wave features and showcasing its effectiveness on multiple types of pulse waves. The approach involves constructing population pulse waves and employing a model comprising an omni-scale convolution subnet, a Vision Transformer subnet, and a multilayer perceptron subnet. This design enables the learning of both single-period and multi-period waveform features from multiple subjects. Additionally, the approach employs a data augmentation strategy to enhance the morphological features of pulse waves and devise a label sequence regularization strategy to strengthen the intrinsic relationship of the subnets' output. Notably, this is the first study to validate the performance of the deep learning approach of BP estimation on three types of pulse waves: photoplethysmography, forehead imaging photoplethysmography, and radial artery pulse pressure waveform. Experiments show that the OVAR-BPnet model has achieved advanced levels in both evaluation indicators and international evaluation criteria, demonstrating its excellent competitiveness and generalizability. The PWDL approach has the potential for widespread application in convenient and continuous BP monitoring systems.

ARL13B promotes cell cycle through the sonic hedgehog signaling pathway to alleviate nerve damage during cerebral ischemia/reperfusion in rats.

Cerebral ischemia/reperfusion (CIRI) is a leading cause of death worldwide. A small GTPase known as ADP-ribosylation factor-like protein 13B (ARL13B) is essential in several illnesses. The role of ARL13B in CIRI remains unknown, though. A middle cerebral artery occlusion/reperfusion (MCAO/R) in rats as well as an oxygen-glucose deprivation/reoxygenation (OGD/R) models in PC12 cells were constructed. The neuroprotective effects of ARL13B against MCAO/R were evaluated using neurological scores, TTC staining, rotarod testing, H&E staining, and Nissl staining. To detect the expression of proteins associated with the SHH pathway and apoptosis, western blotting and immunofluorescence were employed. Apoptosis was detected using TUNEL assays and flow cytometry. There was increased expression of ARL13B in cerebral ischemia/reperfusion models. However, ARL13B knockdown aggravated CIRI nerve injury by inhibiting the sonic hedgehog (SHH) pathway. In addition, the use of SHH pathway agonist (SAG) can increased ARL13B expression, reverse the effects of ARL13B knockdown exacerbating CIRI nerve injury. ARL13B alleviated cerebral infarction and pathological injury and played a protective role against MCAO/R. Furthermore, ARL13B significantly increased the expression of SHH pathway-related proteins and the anti-apoptotic protein BCL-2, while decreased the expression of pro-apoptotic protein BAX, thus reducing apoptosis. The results from the OGD/R model in PC12 cells were consistent with those obtained in vivo. Surprisingly, we demonstrated that ARL13B regulates the cell cycle to protect against CIRI nerve injury. Our findings indicate that ARL13B protects against CIRI by reducing apoptosis through SHH-dependent pathway activation, and suggest that ARL13B plays a crucial role in CIRI pathogenesis.

Integrating Molecular Biology and Network Pharmacology to Analyze the Antidepressant Mechanism of Glycyrrhizaglabra.

INTRODUCTION: Antidepressants have adverse effects and induce drug resistance when used excessively or frequently. Therefore, adjuvants are needed to reduce the use of antidepressants during treatment. Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) is an important adjunctive approach to depression with safety, environmental protection, and low toxicity. Glycyrrhizaglabra (licorice, GG) is a plant commonly used in various herbal remedies. METHOD: We investigated the antidepressant activity of GG, its active constituents, and potential depression-related targets. We combined animal behavioral and molecular biological assays with network pharmacology to analyze the antidepressant mechanism of GG. GG extracts reversed lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced depression-like behavior in behavioral tests. We selected 56 active compounds and 695 target compounds of licorice from TCMSP. The PPI network screened 80 core targets for enrichment analysis. It shows that GG significantly affected neurodegeneration pathways, neuroactive ligand-receptor interaction, cAMP signaling pathway, serotonergic synapse, dopaminergic synapse, and MAPK signaling pathway. RESULT: Mechanistic studies showed that GG reduced IL-1ß, IL-6, and TNF-α levels, 5-HTRA1 expression, and GSK3ß phosphorylation in mouse hippocampus. It also increased BDNF and DRD1 expression and CREB and ERK1/2 phosphorylation. CONCLUSION: It shows that GG acted on these proteins to affect multiple pathways that mediate the pathogenesis of depression.

Single-cell RNA sequencing identifies IFNICs as a cellular target for mitigating the progression of abdominal aortic aneurysm and rupture risk.

AIMS: Abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) represents a life-threatening condition characterized by medial layer degeneration of the abdominal aorta. Nevertheless, knowledge regarding changes in regulators associated with aortic status remains incomplete. A thorough understanding of cell types and signaling pathways involved in the development and progression of AAAs is essential for the development of medical therapy. METHODS AND RESULTS: We harvested specimens of the abdominal aorta with different pathological features in Angiotensin II (AngII)-infused ApoE-/- mice, conducted scRNA-seq, identified a unique population of interferon-inducible monocytes/macrophages (IFNICs), which were amply found in the abdominal aortic aneurysms (AAAs). Gene set variation analysis (GSVA) revealed that activation of the cytosolic DNA sensing cGAS-STING and JAK-STAT pathways promoted the secretion of type I interferons in monocytes/macrophages and differentiated them into IFNICs. We generated myeloid cell-specific deletion of Sting1 (Lyz2-Cre+/-; Sting1flox/flox) mice and performed bone marrow transplantation and found that myeloid cell-specific deletion of Sting1 or Ifnar1 significantly reduced the incidence of AAA, aortic rupture rate and diameter of the abdominal aorta. Mechanistically, the activated pyroptosis- and inflammation-related signaling pathways, regulated by IRF7 in IFNICs, play critical roles in the developing AAAs. CONCLUSION: IFNICs is a unique monocyte/macrophage subset implicated in the development of AAAs and aortic rupture.

Autophagy regulates bone loss via the RANKL/RANK/OPG axis in an experimental rat apical periodontitis model.

AIM: Autophagy is involved in human apical periodontitis (AP). However, it is not clear whether autophagy is protective or destructive in bone loss via the receptor activator of nuclear factor-κB ligand (RANKL)/RANK/osteoprotegerin (OPG) axis. This study aimed to investigate the involvement of autophagy via the RANKL/RANK/OPG axis during the development of AP in an experimental rat model. METHODOLOGY: Twenty-four female Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into control, experimental AP (EAP) + saline, and EAP + 3-methyladenine (An autophagy inhibitor, 3-MA) groups. The control group did not receive any treatment. The EAP + saline group and the EAP + 3-MA group received intraperitoneal injections of saline and 3-MA, respectively, starting 1 week after the pulp was exposed. Specimens were collected for microcomputed tomography (micro-CT) scanning, histological processing, and immunostaining to examine the expression of light chain 3 beta (LC3B), RANK, RANKL, and OPG. Data were analysed using one-way analysis of variance (p < .05). RESULTS: Micro-CT showed greater bone loss in the EAP + 3-MA group than in the EAP + saline group, indicated by an elevated trabecular space (Tb.Sp) (p < .05). Inflammatory cell infiltration was observed in the EAP + saline and EAP + 3-MA groups. Compared with EAP + saline group, the EAP + 3-MA group showed weaker expression of LC3B (p < .01) and OPG (p < .05), more intense expression of RANK (p < .01) and RANKL (p < .01), and a higher RANKL/OPG ratio (p < .05). CONCLUSION: Autophagy may exert a protective effect against AP by regulating the RANKL/RANK/OPG axis, thereby inhibiting excessive bone loss.

Fractionated irradiation induces radioresistant oral carcinoma cells with enhanced malignant phenotypes.

OBJECTIVE: The fact that certain oral carcinoma patients experience radiotherapy failure implies that a more radioresistant and aggressive phenotype of surviving cancer cells potentially occurs during treatment. Our study aimed to establish radioresistant oral cancer cells through a fractionated irradiation protocol that mimics clinically relevant radiotherapy dosing strategies and to investigate all-round alterations in the malignant phenotype. METHODS: Radioresistant oral carcinoma cells were generated by exposing Cal27 and Detroit 562 cells to 60 Gy radiation in 10 dose-escalating fractions and verified by cell immunofluorescence. Specific markers related to the epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) process and the cancer stem cell (CSC) phenotype were assessed by Western blotting. Cell invasion and migration were evaluated using Matrigel-coated transwell and wound healing assays, respectively. Nontargeted metabolomics was used to mechanistically delineate the potential metabolic patterns linked to EMT and CSCs; the CSC phenotype was also examined by sphere formation assays and cell immunofluorescence. RESULTS: Radioresistant oral carcinoma cell lines were successfully established and validated. These cells exhibited enhanced EMT and increase in both cell invasion and migration. These radioresistant cells further demonstrated a high metabolic profile, notably marked by lipid metabolism reprogramming and functional enrichment of ATP-binding cassette (ABC) transporters. Consistently, enhanced CSC phenotype in radioresistant cells was confirmed by elevated expression of stemness markers and increased sphere-forming capacity. CONCLUSION: Radioresistant oral carcinoma cells subjected to fractionated radiation exhibit an augmented malignant phenotype. The metabolic characteristics linked to enhanced EMT and CSC phenotypes provide potential targets for improving radiotherapy in oral carcinoma.

Autonomous ultrasound scanning robotic system based on human posture recognition and image servo control: an application for cardiac imaging.

In traditional cardiac ultrasound diagnostics, the process of planning scanning paths and adjusting the ultrasound window relies solely on the experience and intuition of the physician, a method that not only affects the efficiency and quality of cardiac imaging but also increases the workload for physicians. To overcome these challenges, this study introduces a robotic system designed for autonomous cardiac ultrasound scanning, with the goal of advancing both the degree of automation and the quality of imaging in cardiac ultrasound examinations. The system achieves autonomous functionality through two key stages: initially, in the autonomous path planning stage, it utilizes a camera posture adjustment method based on the human body's central region and its planar normal vectors to achieve automatic adjustment of the camera's positioning angle; precise segmentation of the human body point cloud is accomplished through efficient point cloud processing techniques, and precise localization of the region of interest (ROI) based on keypoints of the human body. Furthermore, by applying isometric path slicing and B-spline curve fitting techniques, it independently plans the scanning path and the initial position of the probe. Subsequently, in the autonomous scanning stage, an innovative servo control strategy based on cardiac image edge correction is introduced to optimize the quality of the cardiac ultrasound window, integrating position compensation through admittance control to enhance the stability of autonomous cardiac ultrasound imaging, thereby obtaining a detailed view of the heart's structure and function. A series of experimental validations on human and cardiac models have assessed the system's effectiveness and precision in the correction of camera pose, planning of scanning paths, and control of cardiac ultrasound imaging quality, demonstrating its significant potential for clinical ultrasound scanning applications.

Energy stress-induced circDDX21 promotes glycolysis and facilitates hepatocellular carcinogenesis.

Cancer cells undergo metabolic reprogramming in response to hostile microenvironments, such as energy stress; however, the underlying mechanisms remain largely unclear. It is also unknown whether energy stress-responsive circular RNA (circRNA) is involved in the regulation of glucose metabolism. Here we report that circDDX21 is upregulated in response to glucose deprivation by the transcription factor c-Myc. Functionally, circDDX21 is shown to promote glycolysis by increasing PGAM1 expression. Mechanistically, circDDX21 interacts with the RNA binding protein PABPC1, disrupting its association with the ubiquitin E3 ligase MKRN3. This disassociation attenuates MKRN3-mediated PABPC1 ubiquitination and enhances the binding of PABPC1 to PGAM1 mRNA, thereby leading to PGAM1 mRNA stabilization. The ability of the circDDX21-PGAM1 axis to promote hepatocellular carcinogenesis is validated in a xenograft mouse model. Additionally, in clinical hepatocellular carcinoma tissues, there is a positive correlation between circDDX21 and PGAM1 expression. These findings establish circDDX21 as an important regulator of glycolysis and suggest circDDX21 as a potential therapeutic target for hepatocellular carcinoma.

DNMT1-targeting remodeling global DNA hypomethylation for enhanced tumor suppression and circumvented toxicity in oral squamous cell carcinoma.

BACKGROUND: The faithful maintenance of DNA methylation homeostasis indispensably requires DNA methyltransferase 1 (DNMT1) in cancer progression. We previously identified DNMT1 as a potential candidate target for oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC). However, how the DNMT1- associated global DNA methylation is exploited to regulate OSCC remains unclear. METHODS: The shRNA-specific DNMT1 knockdown was employed to target DNMT1 on oral cancer cells in vitro, as was the use of DNMT1 inhibitors. A xenografted OSCC mouse model was established to determine the effect on tumor suppression. High-throughput microarrays of DNA methylation, bulk and single-cell RNA sequencing analysis, multiplex immunohistochemistry, functional sphere formation and protein immunoblotting were utilized to explore the molecular mechanism involved. Analysis of human samples revealed associations between DNMT1 expression, global DNA methylation and collaborative molecular signaling with oral malignant transformation. RESULTS: We investigated DNMT1 expression boosted steadily during oral malignant transformation in human samples, and its inhibition considerably minimized the tumorigenicity in vitro and in a xenografted OSCC model. DNMT1 overexpression was accompanied by the accumulation of cancer-specific DNA hypomethylation during oral carcinogenesis; conversely, DNMT1 knockdown caused atypically extensive genome-wide DNA hypomethylation in cancer cells and xenografted tumors. This novel DNMT1-remodeled DNA hypomethylation pattern hampered the dual activation of PI3K-AKT and CDK2-Rb and inactivated GSK3ß collaboratively. When treating OSCC mice, targeting DNMT1 achieved greater anticancer efficacy than the PI3K inhibitor, and reduced the toxicity of blood glucose changes caused by the PI3K inhibitor or combination of PI3K and CDK inhibitors as well as adverse insulin feedback. CONCLUSIONS: Targeting DNMT1 remodels a novel global DNA hypomethylation pattern to facilitate anticancer efficacy and minimize potential toxic effects via balanced signaling synergia. Our study suggests DNMT1 is a crucial gatekeeper regarding OSCC destiny and treatment outcome.

Improving the Performance of Si/PEDOT:PSS Hybrid Solar Cells with More Economical and Environmentally Friendly Alcohol Ether Solvents.

The photoelectric characteristics of poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene):polystyrene sulfonate (PEDOT:PSS) films significantly affect the power conversion efficiency and stability of Si/PEDOT:PSS hybrid solar cells. In this paper, we investigated PEDOT:PSS modification with alcohol ether solvents (dipropylene glycol methyl ether (DPM) and propylene glycol phenyl ether (PPH)). The reduction of PSS content and the transformation of the PEDOT chain from benzene to a quinone structure in PEDOT:PSS induced by doping with DPM or PPH are the reasons for the improved conductivity of PEDOT:PSS films. DPM and PPH doping improves the quality of silicon with the PEDOT:PSS heterojunction and silicon surface passivation, thereby reducing the surface recombination of charge carriers, which improves the photovoltaic performance of Si/PEDOT:PSS solar cells. Comparing the power conversion performance (PCE) and air stability of Si/PEDOT:PSS solar cells with DPM (13.24%), DPH (13.51%), ethylene glycol (EG, 13.07%), and dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO, 12.62%), it is suggested that doping with DPM and DPH can replace DMSO and EG to enhance the performance of Si/PEDOT:PSS solar cells. The EG and DMSO solvents not only have a certain toxicity to the human body but also are not environmentally friendly. In comparison to DMSO and EG, DPM and DPH are more economical and environmentally friendly, helping to reduce the manufacturing cost of Si/PEDOT:PSS solar cells and making them more conducive to their commercial applications.

The impact of hypertension follow-up management on the choices of signing up family doctor contract services: does socioeconomic status matter?

BACKGROUND: This study aimed to explore the association between hypertension follow-up management and family doctor contract services, as well as to examine whether socioeconomic status (SES) had an interaction effect on this relationship among older adults in China. METHODS: We used data from the sixth National Health Service Survey of Shandong Province, China, including 3,112 older adults (age ≥ 60 years) with hypertension in 2018. Logistic regression models and a margins plot were used to analyze the role of SES in the relationship between hypertension follow-up management and family doctor contract services. RESULTS: The regular hypertension follow-up management rate and family doctor contracting rate were 81.8% and 70.9%, respectively, among older adults with hypertension. We found that participants with regular hypertension follow-up management were more likely to sign family doctor contract services (OR=1.28, 95%CI: 1.04, 1.58, P=0.018). The interaction effect occurred in the groups who lived in rural areas (OR=1.55, 95%CI: 1.02, 2.35), with high education level (OR=0.53, 95%CI: 0.32, 0.88) and had high incomes (OR=0.53, 95%CI: 0.35, 0.81). CONCLUSIONS: Our findings suggested that regular hypertension follow-up management was associated with family doctor contract services and SES influenced this relationship. Primary health care should improve the contracting rate of family doctors by strengthening follow-up management of chronic diseases. Family doctors should focus on improving services quality and enriching the content of service packages especially for older adults with higher income and education level.

Association between the neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio and in-hospital mortality in patients with chronic kidney disease and coronary artery disease in the intensive care unit.

BACKGROUND: The objective of this study was to investigate the correlation between neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratios (NLR) and the risk of in-hospital death in patients admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU) with both chronic kidney disease (CKD) and coronary artery disease (CAD). METHODS: Data from the MIMIC-IV database, which includes a vast collection of more than 50,000 ICU admissions occurring between 2008 and 2019, was utilized in the study and eICU-CRD was conducted for external verification. The Boruta algorithm was employed for feature selection. Univariable and multivariable logistic regression analyses and multivariate restricted cubic spline regression were employed to scrutinize the association between NLR and in-hospital mortality. The receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves were conducted to estimate the predictive ability of NLR. RESULTS: After carefully applying criteria to include and exclude participants, a total of 2254 patients with CKD and CAD were included in the research. The findings showed a median NLR of 7.3 (4.4, 12.1). The outcomes of multivariable logistic regression demonstrated that NLR significantly elevated the risk of in-hospital mortality (OR 2.122, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.542-2.921, P < 0.001) after accounting for all relevant factors. Further insights from subgroup analyses unveiled that age and Sequential Organ Failure Assessment (SOFA) scores displayed an interactive effect in the correlation between NLR and in-hospital deaths. The NLR combined with traditional cardiovascular risk factors showed relatively great predictive value for in-hospital mortality (AUC 0.750). CONCLUSION: The findings of this research indicate that the NLR can be used as an indicator for predicting the likelihood of death during a patient's stay in the intensive care unit, particularly for individuals with both CAD and CKD. The results indicate that NLR may serve as a valuable tool for assessing and managing risks in this group at high risk. Further investigation is required to authenticate these findings and investigate the mechanisms that underlie the correlation between NLR and mortality in individuals with CAD and CKD.

Catastrophic health expenditure and health-related quality of life among older adults in Shandong, China: the moderation effect of daily care by adult children.

BACKGROUND: Catastrophic health expenditure (CHE) has a considerable impact on older people in later life, but little is known about the relationship between catastrophic health expenditure and health-related quality of life (HRQOL). The aim of this study was to examine the relationship between catastrophic health expenditure and health-related quality of life in older people, and to explore whether the daily care provided by adult children is a moderator in this relationship. METHODS: Data from the sixth National Health Services Survey in Shandong Province, China. The sample consisted of 8599 elderly people (age ≥ 60 years; 51.7% of female). Health-related quality of life was measured by the health utility value of EQ-5D-3 L. Interaction effects were analyzed using Tobit regression models and marginal effects analysis. RESULTS: The catastrophic health expenditure prevalence was 60.5% among older people in Shandong, China. catastrophic health expenditure was significantly associated with lower health-related quality of life (ß= - 0.142, P < 0.001). We found that adult children providing daily care services to their parents mitigated the effect of catastrophic health expenditure on health-related quality of life among older people (ß = 0.027, P = 0.040). CONCLUSIONS: Our findings suggested that catastrophic health expenditure was associated with health-related quality of life and the caring role of older adult children moderated this relationship. Reducing the damage caused by catastrophic health expenditure helps to improve health-related quality of life in older people. Adult children should increase intergenerational contact, provide timely financial and emotional support to reduce the negative impact of catastrophic health expenditure on health-related quality of life.

Ammonia distribution and ecological risk assessment in nine fresh lakes in China.

With the development of industry and economy, ammonia nitrogen pollutions in surface water are of great concern worldwide. This study investigated the historical contents of total ammonia nitrogen (TAN) and unionized ammonia molecules (NH3) in nine fresh lakes in China during 2014-2022. Three different classification methods (flood season, season, and geographical distribution) were used to analyze the concentration variation of TAN and NH3. The concentration of TAN first decreased and then increased in the flood season, showing a lower concentration in summer and a higher concentration in winter. The variation trend of NH3 was in an opposite way with TAN. Correlation analysis between ammonia and 10 water quality parameters and 4 pollution emission and treatment parameters showed that the correlation coefficient between TAN and total phosphorus (total nitrogen) was 0.44 (0.43), respectively. The correlation coefficients between average annual TAN concentration and total emissions (waste water treatment input) were 0.35 (0.53), respectively. Combined with ecotoxicity data from a series of aquatic species, the ecological risks of TAN and NH3 in lakes were evaluated using hazard quotient and joint probability curve methods. From 2014 to 2022, the probability of 5% species affected in the acute ecological risk of TAN and NH3 is lower than 0.01, but for the chronic ecological risk of TAN and NH3, the probabilities of 5% species affected are 0.003-0.030 and 0.04-0.14, respectively. The chronic ecological risks were higher than the acute ecological risks, and high risks in plateau lakes like Dianchi Lake should be paid more attention to.

Investigating the levels, spatial distribution, and trophic transfer patterns of short-chain chlorinated paraffins in the Southern Bohai Sea, China.

The marine environment of the southern Bohai Sea is severely polluted by short-chain chlorinated paraffins (SCCPs). To improve understanding of how SCCPs occur and of how they migrate, are transformed, and transferred in this area, we collected seawater, sediment, and organism samples, and determined the SCCP contents using a new approach based on high-resolution mass spectrometry. The ΣSCCP concentrations in the seawater, sediment, and organism samples ranged from 57.5 to 1150.4 ng/L, 167.7-1105.9 ng/g (dry weight), and 11.4-583.0 ng/g (wet weight), respectively. Simulation of the spatial distribution of SCCPs using Kriging interpolation showed that SCCPs were markedly influenced by land-based pollution. Substantial quantities of SCCPs were transported to the marine environment via surface runoff from rivers that passed through areas of major SCCP production. Once discharged from such rivers into the Bohai Sea, these SCCPs were further dispersed under the influence of ocean currents. Furthermore, the logarithmic bioaccumulation factor that varied from 2.12 to 3.20 and the trophic magnification factor that reached 5.60 (r2 = 0.750, p < 0.01) suggest that organisms have the ability to accumulate and biomagnify SCCPs through the food chain, which could potentially present risks to both marine ecosystems and human health.

Activities of daily living limitations and the use of physical examination among older adults with informal care in China: do gender and residence make differences?

BACKGROUND: This study investigated the relationship between activities of daily living (ADL) limitations and the use of physical examination among older adults receiving informal care, and to further examine whether this relationship varies by gender and urban-rural areas. METHODS: The data in this study were obtained from the sixth Health Service of Shandong province, China. In total, 8,358 older adults aged 60 years or older who received informal care were included in the analysis. Binary logistic regression models were conducted to explore the association between ADL limitations and the use of physical examination and examine the differences between gender and urban-rural areas. RESULTS: The prevalence of limitations in ADL and physical examination utilization rate among older adults receiving informal care in Shandong Province were 14.12% and 72.31%, respectively. After adjusting for confounders, ADL limitations were negatively correlated with the utilization of physical examination services among older adults receiving informal care (OR = 0.74, 95% CI: 0.64, 0.87, P < 0.001), and there were gender and rural-urban differences. The association between ADL limitations and the use of physical examination was statistically significant in older women receiving informal care (OR = 0.65, 95% CI: 0.53, 0.80, P < 0.001). And only among urban older adults receiving informal care, those with ADL limitations had lower utilization of physical examination services than participants without ADL limitations (OR = 0.59, 95% CI: 0.47, 0.74, P < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Our study suggested that the relationship between ADL limitations and the use of physical examination among older adults receiving informal care differed by gender and urban-rural areas in Shandong, China. These findings implied that the government should provide more health resources and personalized physical examination service programs, especially to meet the differential needs of women and urban old adults receiving informal care, to contribute to the implementation of healthy aging strategies.

FBXO31 is upregulated by METTL3 to promote pancreatic cancer progression via regulating SIRT2 ubiquitination and degradation.

FBXO31, a member of F-box family to comprise of SCF complex, contributes to a pivotal role in cancer progression. However, the possible involvements of FBXO31 in PC are unelucidated. Here, we reported that FBXO31 was overexpressed in PC patients, which was negatively associated with survival in PC patients. Furthermore, FBXO31 significantly enhanced growth, migration and invasion of PC cells in vitro. Consistently, FBXO31 overexpression promoted tumor growth in nude mice. Mechanistically, SIRT2 was a target of FBXO31 and interacted with FBXO31. Protein half-life and ubiquitination analysis demonstrated that FBXO31 promoted proteasome-dependent degradation of SIRT2. In addition, FBXO31 binds to sirtuin-type domain of SIRT2. Moreover, SIRT2 is required for the oncogenic role of FBXO31 in PC progression. Impressively, METTL3 induced m6A modification of FBXO31 and up-regulated FBXO31 expression, subsequently leading to SIRT2 down-regulation in PC cells. The results showed that METTL3 enhanced FBXO31 mRNA translation in YTHDF1-dependent manner. Taken together, we suggest that METTL3-FBXO31-SIRT2 axis was involved in PC tumorigenesis, which could identify new targets for PC treatment.

Biotemplated fabrication of N/O co-doped porous carbon confined spinel NiFe2O4 heterostructured mimetics for triple-mode sensing of antioxidants and ameliorating packaging properties.

In this work, shrimp shell-derived magnetic NiFe2O4/N, O co-doped porous carbon nanozyme with superior oxidase (OXD)-like activity was prepared and used for colorimetric/photothermal/smartphone dual-signal triple-mode detection of antioxidants in fruits and beverages. The magnetic NiFe2O4/N, O co-doped porous carbon (MNPC) material was triumphantly fabricated using a combined in-situ surface chelation and pyrolysis method. The resultant MNPC composite exhibits a superior OXD-like activity, which can effectively oxidize 3,3',5,5'-tetramethylbenzidine (TMB) for yielding colorimetric/temperature dual-signal (CTDS) in absence of H2O2. This CTDS output sensor was successfully used for the determination of ascorbic acid and tannic acid. The proposed CTDS sensor with good specificity and high sensitivity can satisfy different on-site analysis requirements. Interestingly, the MNPC as a sustainable filler was further used for improving packaging properties of polyvinyl alcohol film. In short, this work offers a large-scale and cheap method to fabricate magnetic carbon-based nanozyme for monitoring antioxidants and ameliorating packaging properties.

Bioinspired electrically stable, optically tunable thermal management electronic skin via interfacial self-assembly.

The skin is the largest organ in the human body and serves vital functions such as sensation, thermal management, and protection. While electronic skin (E-skin) has made significant progress in sensory functions, achieving adaptive thermal management akin to human skin has remained a challenge. Drawing inspiration from squid skin, we have developed a hybrid electronic-photonic skin (hEP-skin) using an elastomer semi-embedded with aligned silver nanowires through interfacial self-assembly. With mechanically adjustable optical properties, the hEP-skin demonstrates adaptive thermal management abilities, warming in the range of +3.5°C for heat preservation and cooling in the range of -4.2°C for passive cooling. Furthermore, it exhibits an ultra-stable high electrical conductivity of âˆ¼4.5×104 S/cm, even under stretching, bending or torsional deformations over 10,000 cycles. As a proof of demonstration, the hEP-skin successfully integrates stretchable light-emitting electronic skin with adaptive thermal management photonic skin.

Resveratrol modulates the inflammatory response in hPDLSCs via the NRF2/HO-1 and NF-κB pathways and promotes osteogenic differentiation.

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to investigate resveratrol's specific role as an anti-inflammatory and osteogenic differentiation of hPDLSCs in periodontitis and to reveal the mechanisms involved. BACKGROUND: Numerous studies have shown that inhibiting the inflammatory response of periodontal tissues and promoting the regeneration of alveolar bone are crucial treatments for periodontitis. Resveratrol has been found to have certain anti-inflammatory property. However, the anti-inflammatory mechanism and osteogenic effect of resveratrol in periodontitis are poorly understood. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We constructed an in vitro periodontitis model by LPS stimulation of hPDLSCs and performed WB, RT-qPCR, and immunofluorescence to analyze inflammatory factors and related pathways. In addition, we explored the osteogenic ability of resveratrol in in vitro models. RESULTS: In vitro, resveratrol ameliorated the inflammatory response associated with activation of the NF-κB pathway through activation of the NRF2/HO-1 pathway, characterized by inhibition of p65/p50 nuclear translocation and the proinflammatory cytokines interleukin-1ß levels. Resveratrol also has a positive effect on osteogenic differentiation. CONCLUSIONS: Observations suggest that resveratrol modulates the inflammatory response in hPDLSCs via the NRF2/HO-1 and NF-κB pathways and promotes osteogenic differentiation.