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Autophagy is a cellular process that involves the degradation and recycling of cellular components, including damaged proteins and organelles. It is an important mechanism for maintaining cellular homeostasis and has been implicated in various diseases, including cancer. Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) are a class of RNA molecules that do not code for proteins but instead play regulatory roles in gene expression. Emerging evidence suggests that lncRNAs can influence autophagy and contribute to the development and progression of colorectal cancer (CRC). Several lncRNAs have been identified as key players in modulating autophagy in CRC. The dysregulation of autophagy and non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs) in CRC suggests a complex interplay between these two factors in the pathogenesis of the disease. Modulating autophagy may sensitize cancer cells to existing therapies or improve the efficacy of new treatment approaches. Additionally, targeting specific lncRNAs involved in autophagy regulation could potentially be used as a therapeutic intervention to inhibit tumor growth, metastasis, and overcome drug resistance in CRC. In this review, a thorough overview is presented, encompassing the functions and underlying mechanisms of autophagy-related lncRNAs in a range of critical areas within tumor biology. These include cell proliferation, apoptosis, migration, invasion, drug resistance, angiogenesis, and radiation resistance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Currently, the treatment and prevention of migraine remain highly challenging. Mendelian randomization (MR) has been widely used to explore novel therapeutic targets. Therefore, we performed a systematic druggable genome-wide MR to explore the potential therapeutic targets for migraine. Methods: We obtained data on druggable genes and screened for genes within brain expression quantitative trait locis (eQTLs) and blood eQTLs, which were then subjected to two-sample MR analysis and colocalization analysis with migraine genome-wide association studies data to identify genes highly associated with migraine. In addition, phenome-wide research, enrichment analysis, protein network construction, drug prediction, and molecular docking were performed to provide valuable guidance for the development of more effective and targeted therapeutic drugs. Results: We identified 21 druggable genes significantly associated with migraine (BRPF3, CBFB, CDK4, CHD4, DDIT4, EP300, EPHA5, FGFRL1, FXN, HMGCR, HVCN1, KCNK5, MRGPRE, NLGN2, NR1D1, PLXNB1, TGFB1, TGFB3, THRA, TLN1 and TP53), two of which were significant in both blood and brain (HMGCR and TGFB3). The results of phenome-wide research showed that HMGCR was highly correlated with low-density lipoprotein, and TGFB3 was primarily associated with insulin-like growth factor 1 levels. Conclusions: This study utilized MR and colocalization analysis to identify 21 potential drug targets for migraine, two of which were significant in both blood and brain. These findings provide promising leads for more effective migraine treatments, potentially reducing drug development costs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

DC Beads and CalliSpheres are commonly used microspheres in clinical transcatheter arterial chemoembolization, but these microspheres cannot be visualized by themselves. Therefore, in our previous study, we developed multimodal imaging nano-assembled microspheres (NAMs), which are visualized under CT/MR and the location of embolic microspheres can be determined during postoperative review, facilitating the evaluation of embolic areas and guiding subsequent treatment. Moreover, the NAMs can be carried with positively and negatively charged drugs, increasing the choice of drugs. Systematic comparative analysis of the pharmacokinetics of NAMs with commercially available DC Bead and CalliSpheres microspheres is important for evaluating the clinical application of NAMs. In our study, we compared the similarities and differences between NAMs and two drug-eluting beads (DEBs) in respect to drug loading capacity, drug release profiles, diameter variation and morphological characteristics. The results indicate that NAMs had good drug delivery and release characteristics as well as DC Bead and CalliSpheres in vitro experimental stage. Therefore, NAMs have a good application prospect in transcatheter arterial chemoembolization treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Chromatin ImmunoPrecipitation (ChIP) is a widely used method for the analysis of protein–DNA interactions in vivo; however, ChIP has pitfalls, particularly false-positive signal enrichment that permeates the data. We have developed a new approach to control for non-specific enrichment in ChIP that involves the expression of a non-genome-binding protein targeted in the IP alongside the experimental target protein due to the sharing of epitope tags. ChIP of the protein provides a "sensor" for non-specific enrichment that can be used for the normalization of the experimental data, thereby correcting for non-specific signals and improving data quality as validated against known binding sites for several proteins that we tested, including Fkh1, Orc1, Mcm4, and Sir2. We also tested a DNA-binding mutant approach and showed that, when feasible, ChIP of a site-specific DNA-binding mutant of the target protein is likely an ideal control. These methods vastly improve our ChIP-seq results in S. cerevisiae and should be applicable in other systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The serial resistor of alloy material can be integrated on negative feedback avalanche diodes to reduce afterpulsing effect. In this work, the influence of parasitic capacitance on the avalanche quenching resistor was theoretically analyzed. By using simulation model of device & circuit mixed-mode, the quenching capability of integrated resistors was evaluated with the parasitic parameters. For the material growth of feedback quenching resistor, thin film based on CrSi alloy was prepared by ion beam sputtering process, realizing the sheet resistance of 3 kΩ/square. The resistor material were sufficiently investigated by characterizing the morphology and element component. CrSi pattern of spiral shape was fabricated on sapphire substrate, realizing a resistor of the order of 500 kΩ in area of diameter 40 μm, which was equivalent to the active area of avalanche diodes. The electrical measurement indicated the excellent temperature stability of this integrated resistor, showing the promising application prospect for preparing high-performance negative feedback avalanche diodes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Crystalline heptazine g-C 3 N 4 with a high specific surface area and abundant cyano groups was synthesized by molten salt post-treatment strategy combining with adjusting the ratio of urea and melamine, which showed high-efficient H 2 O 2 production rate up to 10.94 mmol∙g−1∙h−1, far exceeding that of most g-C 3 N 4 -based photocatalysts in reported literatures. [Display omitted] • Crystalline g-C 3 N 4 with less PTI chains and more cyano groups was prepared. • Precursor regulation and molten salt treatment induced thinner g-C 3 N 4 nanosheets. • CN-U20M shows high-efficient H 2 O 2 production rate up to 10.94 mmol∙g−1∙h−1. • Extended intraplanar basic units and interlayer K ions accounts for the high activity. Graphitic phase carbon nitride (g-C 3 N 4) is considered one of the most promising catalysts for photocatalytic production of hydrogen peroxide (H 2 O 2) due to its green and non-polluting nature and stability. However, the conventional g-C 3 N 4 prepared by direct thermal polymerization has insufficient reaction sites due to its excessive bulk defects derived from incomplete polymerization and low specific surface area, leading to rapid carrier recombination and limited photocatalytic activity. In this work, a series of crystalline g-C 3 N 4 (CN-UxM) with large specific surface areas have been prepared by a molten salt post-treatment strategy with regulating the precursor ratio of urea to melamine. In-situ KPFM, photoelectrochemical experiment and DFT calculation results show that the sample with an optimized urea/melamine ratio of 20 (CN-U20M) has the highest charge separation and transfer efficiency derived from the internal electric field. And its H 2 O 2 production rate under simulated visible light reaches as high as 10.94 mmol∙g−1∙h−1, far exceeding that of most g-C 3 N 4 -based photocatalysts in reported literatures. The present work provides an effective strategy to enhance the photocatalytic activity of g-C 3 N 4 , which is expected to be applied to other organic semiconductor catalytic systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• We recorded significant methodological differences in monitoring fish faunas. • Fewer eDNA samples can represent an adequate exploration of fish richness. • eDNA recorded significantly lower Shannon-wiener index in low-water phase. • eDNA recorded significantly lower β SOR and β SIM in high-water phase. Fish, acting as the dominant vertebrates in aquatic ecosystems, exhibit strong mobility and complex activity patterns, which make it challenging for the quantitative assessment of fish communities. Previous fieldwork has applied multiple fish sampling devices as well as eDNA technology respectively, with limited studies comparing the reliability, representativity, and applicability of eDNA metabarcoding and traditional sampling methods in investigating fish assemblages across spatiotemporal scales. In this study, we selected Lake Huang (a provincial nature reserve) to compare the eDNA technology and traditional sampling methods (multi-mesh gillnets and accordion-shaped traps) in revealing differences in species composition, α diversity, and β diversity of fish assemblages in both high-water phase and low-water phase. Results showed that eDNA technology detected more fish species and required fewer samples to achieve sufficient sampling compared to traditional methods. Specifically, our results demonstrated significant methodological variations in species composition, with both traditional sampling and eDNA approaches revealing the method-dependent species checklist. In the high-water phase, the eDNA approach recorded significantly lower β diversity (β SOR and β SIM) than traditional sampling methods, which may result from the more homogeneous eDNA water samples triggered by flooding, resulting in lower between-sites variations in fish communities. However, in the low-water phase, eDNA technology reported significantly higher β diversity (β SOR and β SNE) than traditional sampling methods, potentially attributed to the loss of eDNA information as well as heterogeneous eDNA samples accompanied by water receding. In addition, taking advantage of the separated and narrowed habitat in the low-water phase, fish individuals were more easily captured, resulting in a relatively higher Shannon-Wiener index recorded by traditional sampling methods. Based on inconsistency in species composition characterized by two methods, our results exhibited that eDNA technology is more efficient in detecting species, while there was an urgent need to design more sensitive primers, provide more complete reference databases, and popularize more emerging sequencing platforms for the advancement of eDNA technology. Comparing with the fish assemblage diversity identified by traditional sampling methods, our result exhibited the transport of DNA fragments may potentially enlarge the homogenized or heterogeneous fish community characterization influenced by flood pulses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The overall morphological characteristics and shallow architecture of a tidal sand ridge were examined for the first time in the Beibu Gulf, northwestern South China Sea. The linear sand ridge is characterized by a unique binary feature in terms of its shape, constituents, architecture, and behavior. In the northern part, the crestline has rotated anticlockwise to the principal tidal currents, the sediment is coarse, and large active sand waves occur on the surface. In the southern part, the crestline is parallel to the principal tidal currents, the sediment is fine, and no large bedforms have developed on the crest. The sand ridge has shrunk in the northern part and elongated at its southern end in recent decades, leading to a southward or southeasterly movement. The upper strata of the northern part mainly comprise inclined bedding, whereas parallel bedding prevails in the southern part. The bedding implies historically dominant transport directions in different sand ridge parts and suggests that flow modification occurred during ridge evolution. The inclined bedding in the lower strata of the northern part dips to the south or southeast, indicating the existence of unidirectionally moving sand waves. This is unusual for a growing sand ridge where convergent sand transport should have already occurred. The present sand ridge is interpreted as a source from the joining of a sand wave assemblage and an adjoining nascent sand ridge, which has experienced stages of connection, accretion, and migration. The transformation of a sand wave assemblage to the northern part is attributed to the hydraulic change from a unidirectional residual flow regime over sand waves to a bidirectional residual flow regime. This flow regime change was not related to sea level changes but benefited from a new sand body that was produced by sand waves merging into the original nascent ridge. • The first study on sand ridge morphology and evolution in the South China Sea • The sand ridge has a unique binary feature on its north and south parts. • The sand ridge shrank in its north part and elongated in its south end. • The stacked inclined beddings suggest the flow regime change once occurred. • Sand waves can grow into a sand ridge under modern tidal conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article examines how to automate the determination of the coagulant dosage for water treatment plants. Whilst most of the processes for water treatment are automated, determining the coagulant dosage, required for reducing turbidity, depends on well-trained and experienced operators. Based on a time-series data set provided by the Shanghai municipal investment water production company, this article comprehensively surveys existing coagulant prediction methods and utilizes an auto-adjustable and time-consistent model to incorporate the operators’ experience. Compared to existing methods, the algorithm introduced in this article produced a better accuracy for predicting the coagulant dosage. Moreover, this article demonstrates that taking seasonal effects into account can approximate operator behavior more accurately. To examine the robustness of the identified models, this article examines the model performance based on water drawn from different locations/sources. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Meningitis outcome is associated with the severity of inflammation in the subarachnoid space and that the outcome can be improved through anti-inflammation. However, a comprehensive understanding of the molecular basis underlying inflammatory responses in meningitis remains enigmatic. In the current study, we sought to determine the molecular mechanism of TLR7/NF-κB on the development of meningitis in children. Cerebrospinal fluid of patients with meningitis and children with simple febrile convulsions was collected, and meningitis mouse model was induced. TLR7 expression was determined in the serum of meningitis model mice and the cerebrospinal fluid of patients using RT-qPCR and Western blot. Afterwards, loss- and gain- function assays were conducted to determine the functional role of TLR7 in meningitis mouse model. The level of procalcitonin (PCT) and the number of bacterial colonies in the serum were analyzed. ELISA was used to detect the expression of inflammatory factors. Upregulated level of TLR7 was observed in patients and mice with meningitis. Inhibiting the expression of TLR7 inhibited the development of meningitis. Overexpressing TLR7 can activate the NF-κB signaling pathway and promote mouse meningitis. NF-κB signaling pathway inhibitor reversed promotion of meningitis caused by TLR7 activation. Our study provides evidence that TLR7 elevation can activate the NF-κB signaling pathway and promote meningitis in mice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• LSC 3D matrix has a large specific area and a high electronic conductivity. • LSC can provide abundant sulfur hosts and alleviate the shuttle effect. • Li-S batteries using S/LSC electrode exhibit long cycling stability. • The S/LSC cathode can achieve a high rate performance. • LS can be used as a cost-effective biochar material for Li-S batteries. A loofah sponge-derived 3D carbon matrix (LSC) with large specific surface area and high conductivity is prepared via a simple chemical activation and calcination process. The characterization analyses reveal that plentiful pyrrolic N groups exist in LSC, which can provide strong affinity for polysulfides species through a coordinate-like Li-N interaction, and thereby effectively alleviate the shuttle effect and the capacity decay. The Li-S cell with S/LSC cathode delivers a high initial discharge capacity of 1392 mAh g−1 and a retention discharge capacity of 848 mAh g−1 after 100 cycles at 0.1 C. The results demonstrate that the loofah sponge can be a highly efficient and cost-effective biochar for the cathode of Li-S batteries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract In this paper, we present a multi-view transfer learning model named Multi-view Transfer Discriminative Model (MTDM) for both image and text classification tasks. Transfer learning, which aims to learn a robust classifier for the target domain using data from a different distribution, has been proved to be effective in many real-world applications. However, most of the existing transfer learning methods map across domain data into a high-dimension space which the distance between domains is closed. This strategy always fails in the multi-view scenario. On the contrary, the multi-view learning methods are also difficult to extend in the transfer learning settings. One of our goals in this paper is to develop a model which can perform better in both multi-view and transfer learning settings. On the one hand, the problem of multi-view is implemented by the paradigm of learning using privileged information (LUPI), which could guarantee the principle of complementary and consensus. On the other hand, the model adequately utilizes the source domain data to build a robust classifier for the target domain. We evaluate our model on both image and text classification tasks and show the effectiveness compared with other baseline approaches. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Chitin and chitosan are important structural macromolecules for most fungi and marine crustaceans. The functions and application areas of the two molecules are also adjacent beyond their similar molecular structure, such as tissue engineering and food safety where solution systems are involved. However, the elasticities of chitin and chitosan in solution lack comparison at the molecular level. In this study, the single-molecule elasticities of chitin and chitosan in different solutions are investigated via atomic force microscope (AFM) based single-molecule spectroscopy (SMFS). The results manifest that the two macromolecules share the similar inherent elasticity in DOSM due to their same chain backbone. However, obvious elastic deviations can be observed in aqueous conditions. Especially, a lower pH value (acid environment) is helpful to increase the elasticity of both chitin and chitosan. On the contrary, the tendency of elastic variation of chitin and chitosan in a larger pH value (alkaline environment) shows obvious diversity, which is mainly determined by the side groups. This basic study may produce enlightenment for the design of intelligent chitin and chitosan food packaging and biomedical materials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The differentiation of sediment grain size from large river deltas to distal areas in a coastal flow system and its evolution are vital because they greatly contribute to matter transport, pollution accumulation, and carbon cycling on the inner shelf. Here, the Yellow River sedimentary system in the adjacent seas is studied, including the proximal delta of the Yellow River and the distal mud patch. The grain size distributions of the suspended particulate matter (SPM), surface sediments, and core sediments in the Shandong Peninsula Coastal Current (SPCC) system were integrated and analyzed. The results show that apparent variations in the grain size distribution exist in the SPM and sediments in the SPCC system. The grain size distribution of the SPM near the proximal delta of the Yellow River is multimodal and variable with water depth, whereas that in the distal mud area is typically unimodal. The coarse-grained endmember of suspended sediments is restricted in the proximal area by ocean fronts under fair weather conditions in both summer and winter and is only transported to the distal mud area under strengthened coastal currents in winter. In contrast, fine-grained endmembers can be transported far away under tidal currents and coastal currents year-round. The temporal grain size variation near the proximal delta is also significantly affected by historical shifts in the Yellow River mouth, while the strength of coastal currents associated with the East Asian Winter Monsoon (EAWM) controls the grain size distribution in the distal mud area. The roles of river behaviors, ocean fronts, tides, and winds are all highlighted in the control of grain size differentiation. These results potentially have significance for understanding sediment dynamics and mass transport processes in similar coastal current systems involving large rivers worldwide. • Grain size distribution of suspended particle matters in coastal flows was analyzed. • Small grains (>5φ) diffuse under tide currents and coastal currents all year round. • Large grains (<5φ) only transport far away in Winter. • Grain size distribution is different in proximal delta and distal mud area. • The EAWM strength, Yellow River evolution, and ocean processes all play roles. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Gait is a unique biometric feature that can be recognized at a distance; thus, it has broad applications in crime prevention, forensic identification, and social security. To portray a gait, existing gait recognition methods utilize either a gait template which makes it difficult to preserve temporal information, or a gait sequence that maintains unnecessary sequential constraints and thus loses the flexibility of gait recognition. In this paper, we present a novel perspective that utilizes gait as a deep set, which means that a set of gait frames are integrated by a global-local fused deep network inspired by the way our left- and right-hemisphere processes information to learn information that can be used in identification. Based on this deep set perspective, our method is immune to frame permutations, and can naturally integrate frames from different videos that have been acquired under different scenarios, such as diverse viewing angles, different clothes, or different item-carrying conditions. Experiments show that under normal walking conditions, our single-model method achieves an average rank-1 accuracy of 96.1 percent on the CASIA-B gait dataset and an accuracy of 87.9 percent on the OU-MVLP gait dataset. Under various complex scenarios, our model also exhibits a high level of robustness. It achieves accuracies of 90.8 and 70.3 percent on CASIA-B under bag-carrying and coat-wearing walking conditions respectively, significantly outperforming the best existing methods. Moreover, the proposed method maintains a satisfactory accuracy even when only small numbers of frames are available in the test samples; for example, it achieves 85.0 percent on CASIA-B even when using only 7 frames. The source code has been released at https://github.com/AbnerHqC/GaitSet. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Progress of the aortic disease after the stent graft treatment of aortic dissection implicates the potential risks of stent graft-induced new entry (SINE). Although rarely reported, it should be vigilant in patients who might incur serious complication in early period after the thoracic endovascular aortic repair (TEVAR). Thus, the development of aortic disease-specific stent grafts would assist in achieving positive patient outcomes when suffering SINE. However, it is an extremely rare for SINE between two non-overlapping stent-grafts.Case Presentation: We here reported a 59-year-old male patient with sudden onset of chest pain for 4 h. Multi-detector computed tomography (MDCT) revealed a huge SINE formed between two non-overlapping stent-grafts. The re-TEVAR surgery was performed and the patient experienced a good recovery.Conclusion: The SINE between two non-overlapping stent-grafts treated by re-TEVAR operation was alternative and feasible. The short-term and medium-term follow-up results were satisfactory. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Silica aerogel, a kind of nanoporous material, is regarded as a desired drug carrier for its low toxicity, high specific surface area, and excellent biocompatibility. Using silica aerogel in a drug carrier may be an appropriate method to improve the performance of pure resveratrol. In this study, resveratrol-loaded silica aerogel (RSA) as a drug delivery system was prepared by the sol-gel method. Before gelling, resveratrol was added into the hydrolyzed tetraethyl orthosilicate (TEOS) ethanol solution then dispersed by stir and ultrasound. The results showed that RSA has a high loading rate of 19% with low cost and excellent biocompatibility. The SEM images showed that silica aerogel wraps up outside the resveratrol. Sustained releasing effect could be observed in RSA after 1 h, while pure resveratrol did not display this. The release of RSA lasted for over 6 h, and the release amount reached over 90% and 80% in either simulated gastric fluid (pH = 2.0) or phosphate-buffered saline (pH = 7.4) at 37 °C. Preliminary in vitro toxicity test revealed RSA to be biocompatible and stable; and when coupled with the anti-inflammatory effects of resveratrol, showed good potential for osteoarthritis treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: There is an association between migraine and dementia, however, their causal relationship remains unclear. This study employed bidirectional two-sample Mendelian randomization (MR) to investigate the potential causal relationship between migraine and dementia and its subtypes: Alzheimer's disease (AD), vascular dementia (VaD), frontotemporal dementia (FTD), and dementia with Lewy bodies (DLB). Methods: Summary-level statistics data were obtained from publicly available genome-wide association studies (GWAS) for both migraine and five types of dementia. Single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) associated with migraine and each dementia subtype were selected. MR analysis was conducted using inverse variance weighting (IVW) and weighted median (WM) methods. Sensitivity analyses included Cochran's Q test, MR pleiotropy residual sum and outlier (MR-PRESSO) analysis, the intercept of MR-Egger, and leave-one-out analysis. Results: Migraine showed a significant causal relationship with AD and VaD, whereas no causal relationship was observed with all-cause dementia, FTD, or DLB. Migraine may be a potential risk factor for AD (odds ratio [OR]: 1.09; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.02–0.14; P = 0.007), while VaD may be a potential risk factor for migraine (OR: 1.04; 95% CI: 0.02–0.06; P = 7.760E-5). Sensitivity analyses demonstrated the robustness of our findings. Conclusion: Our study suggest that migraine may have potential causal relationships with AD and VaD. Migraine may be a risk factor for AD, and VaD may be a risk factor for migraine. Our study contributes to unraveling the comprehensive genetic associations between migraine and various types of dementia, and our findings will enhance the academic understanding of the comorbidity between migraine and dementia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: We developed and validated a clinical-radiomics model for preoperative prediction of the short-term efficacy of initial drug-eluting beads transarterial chemoembolization (D-TACE) treatment in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Methods: In this retrospective cohort study of 113 patients with intermediate and advanced HCC, 5343 features were extracted based on three sequences of the arterial phase (AP), diffusion-weighted imaging, and T2-weighted images based on contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging, and minimum redundancy maximum correlation and least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO) regression were applied for feature selection and model construction. Multifactor logistic regression was used to build a clinical-imaging model based on clinical factors and a clinical-radiomics model. The area under the curve (AUC) and calibration curves were used to assess model performance, and the clinical value of the model was analyzed using decision curve analysis. The relationship between the actual and predicted short-term efficacy of the combined model and progression-free survival (PFS) was evaluated using Kaplan–Meier survival curves and log-rank tests. Results: A total of 34 radiomics features were selected by LASSO, and the clinical-radiomics model had the best predictive performance (AUC = 0.902 and AUC = 0.845 for the training and testing sets, respectively), and the model based on AP had the best predictive performance among the four radiomics models (AUC = 0.89 for the training set and AUC = 0.85 for the testing set); the multifactorial logistic regression results showed that microsphere type (p = 0.042) and AP Rad-score (p = 0.01) were associated with short-term efficacy. In addition, a difference in PFS was observed in patients with HCC with different short-term efficacies predicted by the combined model. Moreover, prognosis was better in the objective versus non-objective response group. Conclusions: The combined clinical-radiomics model is an effective predictor of the short-term efficacy of initial D-TACE in patients with HCC, contributing to clinical and economic benefits for patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective. The effects of apelin-13 on the expression of Bcl-2 and caspase-3 factors and the apoptosis of adipocytes were studied at the cellular and animal levels. Methods. 3T3-L1 preadipocytes were cultured and grouped. The third-generation cells were added to the control DMSO solvent and amidation-modified apelin-13. The expression of Bcl-2 and caspase-3 were detected. The cell growth viability and cell apoptosis were detected. DOI model rats were established. The effects of apelin-13 on DOI rat biochemical indicators, the expression of Bcl-2, caspase-3, and cell apoptosis were investigated by injecting amidation-modified apelin-13 through the tail vein. Result. In in vitro experiments, amidation-modified apelin-13 can significantly reduce the growth viability of adipocytes and the expression of Bcl-2, increase the expression of caspase-3, and promote the apoptosis of adipocytes. Animal experiments also show that apelin-13 modified by amidation can adjust the abnormal biochemical indicators of DOI rats, decrease the expression of Bcl-2 in adipose tissue, increase the expression of caspase-3, and promote the apoptosis of adipocytes. Conclusion. Amidation of apelin-13 can promote fat cell apoptosis and reduce the incidence of obesity. The mechanism may be accomplished by inhibiting Bcl-2 and caspase-3 factors. This study helps us understand the effect of apelin-13 on fat cell apoptosis and hopes to provide a basis for the development of antiobesity drugs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With the adjustment of human diet and lifestyle changes, the prevalence of obesity is increasing year by year. Obesity is closely related to the excessive accumulation of white adipose tissue (WAT), which can synthesize and secrete a variety of adipokines. Apelin is a biologically active peptide in the adipokines family. Past studies have shown that apelin plays an important regulatory role in the pathogenesis and pathophysiology of diseases such as the cardiovascular system, respiratory system, digestive system, nervous system, and endocrine system. Apelin is also closely related to diabetes and obesity. Therefore, we anticipate that apelin-13 has an effect on lipometabolism and intend to explore the effect of apelin-13 on lipometabolism at the cellular and animal levels. In in vitro experiments, amidation-modified apelin-13 can significantly reduce the lipid content; TG content; and the expression of PPARγ, perilipin mRNA, and protein in adipocytes. Animal experiments also show that amidation modification apelin-13 can improve the abnormal biochemical indicators of diet-induced obesity (DOI) rats and can reduce the average diameter of adipocytes in adipose tissue, the concentration of glycerol, and the expression of PPARγ and perilipin mRNA and protein. Our results show that apelin-13 can affect the metabolism of adipose tissue, inhibit adipogenic differentiation of adipocytes, promote lipolysis, and thereby improve obesity. The mechanism may be regulating the expression of PPARγ to inhibit adipogenic differentiation and regulating the expression of perilipin to promote lipolysis. This study helps us understand the role of apelin-13 in adipose tissue and provide a basis for the elucidation of the regulation mechanism of lipometabolism and the development of antiobesity drugs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective. To explore the role of circIFITM1 and its potential molecular mechanism in colon cancer. Methods. The circIFITM1 in human samples and cell lines of colon cancer was measured via RT-PCR. The cyclicity of circIFITM1 was confirmed by agarose gel electrophoresis and Sanger sequencing, and the stability of circIFITM1 was confirmed by actinomycin D assay. The proliferative and invasive ability was detected by the CCK-8 assay and Transwell assay, respectively. RNA pull-down assay confirmed a combination of circIFITM1 and miRNA. Dual-luciferase reporter gene was used to detect the direct relationship between miRNA and the target gene. Results. circIFITM1 originated from the maternal gene IFITM1and had high stability. It was resistant to processing by actinomycin D. Upregulating circIFITM1 facilitated the proliferation and invasion of Lovo cells, while interfering with circIFITM1 expression inhibited them. circIFITM1 interacted with miR-802, and miR-802 targeted the 3 ′ UTR of FOXP1. The overexpression of circIFITM1 downregulated miR-802 and upregulated FOXP1. Conclusion. circIFITM1 facilitates the proliferative and invasive abilities via miR-802/FOXP1 in Lovo cells. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The impact resistance capacity of structures can be affected by the formation of cracks. To address the issue of repeated impacts on structures with initial cracks, a relationship was established between cracks and the energy dissipation of stiffened plates based on rigid–plastic theory. A simplified analytical method was proposed to predict the large plastic deformation of stiffened plates with initial cracks. To verify the accuracy of the analytical method, repeated impact experiments and numerical simulations were conducted. The influences of crack length and position on the dynamic responses of stiffened plates were explored. The experimental, numerical, and analytical results were in good agreement. The research results showed that the permanent deformations of stiffened plates increases approximately linearly with increasing crack length on the outer plate. However, the influence of stiffener cracks on the permanent deformation of stiffened plates depends on whether the stiffener fractures. The influence of cracks on the load-carrying capacity of the structure is more pronounced when the crack is located in the stiffener. • A simplified analytical method was proposed for predicting the plastic deformation of stiffened plates with cracks. • Repeated impact experiments were conducted to assess the dynamic responses of stiffened plates with initial cracks. • The analytical results were in good agreement with the experimental and numerical results. • The influences of crack length and position on the dynamic responses of stiffened plates with cracks were investigated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Lung cancer is one of the most common solid tumors worldwide and the leading cause of cancer-related deaths, causing a devastating impact on human health. The clinical prognosis of lung cancer is usually restricted by delayed diagnosis and resistance to anticancer therapies. MicroRNAs, a range of small endogenous noncoding RNAs 22 nucleotides in length, have emerged as one of the most important players in cancer initiation and progression in recent decades. Current evidence reveals pivotal roles of microRNAs in regulating cell proliferation, migration, invasion and metastasis in lung cancer. An increasing number of preclinical and clinical studies have also explored the potential of microRNAs as promising biomarkers and new therapeutic targets for lung cancer. The current review summarizes the most recent progress on the functional mechanisms of microRNAs involved in lung cancer development and progression and further discusses the clinical application of miRNAs as putative therapeutic targets for molecular diagnosis and prognostic prediction in lung cancer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Resveratrol is a natural active ingredient found in plants, which is a polyphenolic compound and has a variety of pharmaceutical uses. Resveratrol-loaded TEMPO-oxidized cellulose aerogel (RLTA) was prepared using a freeze-drying method, employing high speed homogenization followed by rapid freezing with liquid nitrogen. RLTAs were designed at varying drug–cellulose aerogel ratios (1:2, 2:3, 3:2, and 2:1). It could be seen via scanning electron microscopy (SEM) that Res integrated into TEMPO-oxidized cellulose (TC) at different ratios, which changed its aggregation state and turned it into a short rod-like structure. Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectra confirmed that the RLTAs had the characteristic peaks of TC and Res. In addition, X-ray diffraction (XRD) demonstrated that the grain size of RLTA was obviously smaller than that of pure Res. RLTAs also had excellent stability in both simulated gastric fluid and phosphate buffer solution. The drug release rate was initially completed within 5 h under a loading rate of 30.7 wt%. The results of an MTT assay showed the low toxicity and good biocompatibility of the RLTAs. TC aerogel could be a promising drug carrier that may be widely used in designing and preparing novel biomedicine. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Non-small cell lung cancer is one of the most common types of malignances worldwide and the main cause of cancer-related deaths. Current treatment for NSCLC is based on surgical resection, chemotherapy, radiotherapy, and targeted therapy, with poor therapeutic effectiveness. In recent years, immune checkpoint inhibitors have applied in NSCLC treatment. A large number of experimental studies have shown that immune checkpoint inhibitors are safer and more effective than traditional therapeutic modalities and have allowed for the development of better guidance in the clinical treatment of advanced NSCLC patients. In this review, we describe clinical trials using ICI immunotherapies for NSCLC treatment, the available data on clinical efficacy, and the emerging evidence regarding biomarkers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aimed to investigate the idarubicin loading method, compatible stability with contrast agent, release profiles, and morphological properties of 50–150, 100–300, and 300–500 μm CalliSpheres®. The amounts of idarubicin added, loading medium, loading condition, and drug concentration were investigated as factors influencing drug loading efficiency. The drug loading rate was negatively correlated with the amount drug added and diameter of CalliSpheres® and positively correlated with the drug concentration. Compared to loading in purified water and incubation at room temperature, 5% glucose, heating, and ultrasound could accelerate drug loading. The idarubicin loading efficiency was above 95% after 10 min for all three CalliSpheres® with the optimized method of adding 20 mg of idarubicin at a concentration of 2 mg/mL and incubating at room temperature. The drug leak rate was under 1% within 8 h after mixing with iopamidol. Drug release tests indicated the sustained-release performance of CalliSpheres®, and the time to reach 75% of the release plateau level was 8, 26, and 51 min for 50–150, 100–300, and 300–500 μm CalliSpheres®, respectively. After idarubicin loading, the diameters increased by 12%, 36%, and 38% for 50–150, 100–300, and 300–500 μm CalliSpheres®, respectively, and the surface of CalliSpheres® was observed to become smoother than that before drug loading. All three CalliSpheres® presented satisfactory loading efficiency with the optimized method, as well as proper compatible stability and sustained release performance. Among them, 100–300 μm CalliSpheres® are recommended. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Resveratrol (RSV) is a natural flavonoid polyphenol compound extracted from the plants which shows various biological activities. However, the clinical application of RSV is limited by its poor aqueous solubility, rapid metabolism and poor bioavailability. In this study, resveratrol-loaded solid lipid nanoparticles (RSV- SLNs) was design as a nano-antioxidant against the physical fatigue. The resultant RSV-SLNs were characterized by photon correlation spectroscopy (PCS), transmission electron micrographs (TEM), zeta potential, differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and Raman spectroscopy pattern. Furthermore, the in vivo anti-fatigue effect assays showed that RSV-SLNs prolonged the mice exhausted time and running distance. The biochemical parameters of blood related to fatigue suggested that RSV-SLNs have potential applications to improve the antioxidant defense of the mice after extensive exercise and confer anti-fatigue capability. Furthermore, the molecular mechanisms of antioxidant by RSV-SLNs supplementation was investigated through the analysis of silent information regulator 2 homolog 1 (SIRT1) protein expression, which demonstrated that it could downregulate the expression of SIRT1 and increase autophagy markers, microtubule-associated protein 1 light chain 3-II (LC3-II) and sequestosome-1 (SQSTM1/p62). These results reveal that the RSV-SLNs may have great potential used as a novel anti-fatigue sports nutritional supplement. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]