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Background: Team-based learning (TBL) is a widely recognised pedagogical strategy used in diverse fields and courses. Despite the success of TBL, certain concerns have arisen regarding social loafing within group collaboration contexts; this loafing can reduce the overall effectiveness of learning. Objectives: This study addressed the aforementioned concerns by integrating group awareness (GA) information into each stage of TBL, resulting in a TBL + GA system designed to enhance TBL instruction. During online collaborative learning, GA information provides insights into the activities completed by peers and thus the peers' preparedness and achievement; this knowledge fosters motivation, participation, and reflection. Methods: A quasiexperiment was performed with students from two freshman classes (40 and 41 students, respectively) in a Taiwanese university; the control and experimental classes used the TBL only and TBL + GA systems, respectively. Student learning effort was evaluated in terms of preclass preparation, including the use of learning materials and online test scores. Learning achievement was evaluated by assessing the quality of students' assignments. Student feedback, including peer evaluations and students' perceptions of their TBL experience, was collected and compared for the two classes. Results and Conclusions: The TBL + GA system significantly enhanced the preclass preparation efforts of the participants, mitigating social loafing. This improvement manifested as higher practice engagement and better online assessment scores. The TBL + GA system also improved assignment quality and elicited more constructive and positive peer feedback. Implications: Integrating GA information into each stage of TBL may positively affect the effectiveness of instruction. The proposed TBL + GA system can serve as a practical model for instructors seeking to enhance TBL implementation and foster a more engaging and constructive learning environment.

Abstract The present study leverages the comprehensive data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) to examine the Influencing factors of sarcopenia (SA) and sarcopenic obesity (SO). The investigation is designed to a non-invasive, cost-effective, and convenient method that is applicable to the adult population, enabling the accurate and simultaneous detection of risks associated with SA and SO. Furthermore, this research will evaluate the critical values of effective anthropometric indicators, providing early warning for risk management in self-health care and offering valuable insights for subsequent research and clinical practice. The data pertaining to NHANES participants were meticulously selected from the databases of six cycles, spanning from 2001 to 2004 and 2011 to 2018. Utilizing the diagnostic criteria established by the American Foundation for the National Institutes of Health (FNIH), anthropometric measurement data were extracted to construct composite indices. These indices were then cross-referenced with diagnostic assessments from dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry and bioelectrical impedance analysis to examine the correlations between various metrics and the incidence of diseases. R software (version 4.3.3) was used for analysis, and the primary analytical methods employed included logistic regression, restricted cubic splines (RCS), and the Receiver Operating Characteristic (ROC) curve analysis (AUC). Sarcopenia and sarcopenic obesity are commonly observed in individuals within the middle-aged and elderly demographics. The prevalence of these conditions is higher among middle-aged men of a given age when contrasted with women at the age of 40. All anthropometric indexes demonstrated a positive correlation with the onset of SA and SO, with the association with waist-to-height ratio (WHtR) showcasing a heightened strength subsequent to the adjustment for all covariates. The predictive models of all ROC curves performed commendably, particularly with the body roundness index and WHtR forecasting models exhibiting superior performance, the area under the AUC curve is 0.87 (95 CI% 0.85, 0.88) and 0.86 (95 CI% 0.85, 0.88), respectively. The RCS curve delineated a distinctive J-shaped distribution for each physical index in concurrence with SA and SO, signifying an optimal value at which the incidence of these conditions is minimal; conversely, deviations from this optimal value entailed an escalated risk of disease. Diverse anthropometric index metrics bear a strong correlation with adult onset of sarcopenia and sarcopenic obesity, each displaying commendable predictive capability. Notably, the body roundness index and waist-to-height ratio may harbor heightened potential as indicative anthropometric indexes. Furthermore, the dose-effect relationship analysis inferred that the lowest disease risk is manifested among individuals with specific index profiles, thereby advocating for autonomous health monitoring to promote physical activity and bolster nutrient intake, thus mitigating the risk of sarcopenia and sarcopenic obesity.

Kidney is a major metabolic organ of human body. Amino acids are not only the basic components of protein， but also important metabolites in human body. Recent researches have demonstrated that amino acids play an important role in the pathophysiological development of various renal diseases. Through detecting the changes of amino acid spectrum in patients with different renal diseases， amino acid metabonomics may help to make early screening and diagnosis of the disease， guide later treatment and predict clinical outcomes. This review summarized the applications of amino acid metabonomics and discussed the clinical value of amino acid metabonomics in renal diseases.

Team-Based Learning (TBL) has been widely applied in different fields (courses) and has been indicated to be efficient. Meanwhile, many studies have asserted that Group awareness (GA) information, which visually displays peers' learning context and activities, can increase peer participation within an online collaborative learning environment. As the level of preparation by students before class affects their subsequent learning performance in the TBL process, this study incorporates GA information into the preparation stage of TBL process and further develops the online TBL + GA system in order to raise peer preparation level. Furthermore, self-regulated learning (SRL) levels of a student and online learning environment interactively influence learning effectiveness. Accordingly, this study further investigates how the TBL + GA environment influences students with different SRL levels. Two freshman classes were randomly chosen, with one as the control class (using the traditional TBL) and the other as the experimental class using the TBL + GA. Analytical results indicate that although the two classes do not reach significance overall on preparation level, TBL + GA can significantly enhance preparation levels for high-SRL students, but not low-SRL students.

Contribution: This study used a guided reflective thinking mechanism to improve students' acceptance of flipped classrooms while promoting the development of students' will and self-regulated learning strategies to enhance their preclass preparation and participation in classroom activities. Background: Previous research has provided evidence of the impact of flipped classrooms on student learning, but an understanding of the relationship between flipped classrooms, learning strategies, and learning outcomes is limited. Intended Outcome: The learning strategies used by students in the flipped classroom were examined, and the effectiveness of incorporating a guided reflective thinking mechanism into the flipped classroom teaching design of a digital logic (DL) course was evaluated. Application Design: Referring to the strategic learning model, this study integrated the mechanism of guided reflective thinking into the instructional design of a flipped classroom for first-year students in the Department of Electrical Engineering of a junior college in Taiwan. Findings: The results show that the flipped classroom teaching design that guides the reflective thinking mechanism can promote the development of students' strategies to enhance their attitude, motivation, time management, concentration, self-testing, and solving learning difficulties, thereby improving their performance in DL courses. Furthermore, self-testing strategies are the most important predictor of students' performance in DL courses.

ABSTRACT Background Revealing the clinical manifestations and associations of COVID‐19 before and after negative transition remains an area of significant uncertainty. The aim of this study is to investigate the clinical characteristics observed during and after Omicron infection among a specific population, namely healthcare workers (HCWs). Methods From November 4, 2022, to January 15, 2023, HCWs in our hospital were enrolled to document clinical symptoms, prevention, and treatment for COVID‐19 using a structured questionnaire. Results A total of 1101 HCWs were included, with SARS‐CoV‐2 infection detected in 78.20% (861/1101) during the observation period. The median duration for nucleic acid conversion was 8 days. Forty‐three symptoms were identified during SARS‐CoV‐2 infection (11 symptoms per individual). The common symptoms were fever, cough, headache, phlegm production, and fatigue (60.67%–83.29%). These symptoms can be further categorized into five groups: fever type, upper respiratory tract type, influenza type, digestive system type, and systemic type—all showing complex and diverse patterns. Following SARS‐CoV‐2 infection, a total of 19 symptoms were recorded including four newly emerged ones: reduced lung capacity, memory loss, lethargy, and inattention. Importantly, we observed a significant association between gastrointestinal symptoms during the nucleic acid positive phase and subsequent neuropsychiatric manifestations after negative conversion. Interestingly, females experiencing menstruation or pregnancy exhibited a higher risk of infection, while inhaled vaccines and thymosin demonstrated a protective effect against SARS‐CoV‐2 infection. Conclusions The clinical manifestations observed in HCWs during and after Omicron infection displayed intricate patterns, shedding new light on the complex interplay between SARS‐CoV‐2 and humans.

Satellite cells are an important cellular model for studying muscle growth and development and mammalian locomotion-related molecular mechanisms. In this study, we investigated the effects of voltage, pulse duration, and DNA dosage on horse skeletal muscle satellite cells’ electroporation transfection efficiency using the eukaryotic expression plasmid Td Tomato-C1 (5.5 kb) encoding the red fluorescent protein gene mainly based on fluorescence-positive cell rate and cell survival rate. By comparison of different voltages, pulse durations, and DNA doses, horse skeletal muscle satellite cells have nearly 80% transfection efficiency under the condition of voltage 120 V, DNA dosage 7 µg/ml, and pulse duration 30 ms. This optimized electroporation condition would facilitate the application of horse skeletal muscle satellite cells in genetic studies of muscle function and related diseases.

BackgroundTicks are widely distributed throughout China and are the second most prevalent pathogen vectors in the world, following only mosquitoes. Tick bites can lead to Lyme disease, forest encephalitis, and other illnesses that may result in death under severe circumstances. Materials and methods: Ticks collected from March 2021 to May 2023 were pooled and used in metatranscriptomic analyses to gain insight into the diversity and distribution of tick-borne viruses in Inner Mongolia. Next-generation sequencing (NGS) outcomes were validated, and viral prevalence across distinct tick species was determined through the application of polymerase chain reaction (PCR) paired with Sanger sequencing.ResultsA total of 20 RNA viruses belonging to at least 8 families, including Chuviridae, Flaviviridae, Solemoviridae, Nairoviridae, Partitiviridae, Phenuiviridae, Rhabdoviridae, and Totiviridae, and to unclassified families were identified by NGS. Five of the identified RNA viruses (Nuomin virus, Yezo virus, tick-borne encephalitis virus, Alongshan virus, and Beiji nairovirus) are considered human pathogens. A potential human pathogen, Mukawa virus, was also among the identified viruses. Ixodes persulcatus carried a significantly greater number of viral species than did Dermacentor nuttalli, Hyalomma marginatum, and Haemaphysalis concinna. The prevalence of coinfection with multiple viruses differed in I. persulcatus from Hinggan League and Hulun Buir, and Beiji nairovirus was the codominant virus species.ConclusionsThere is a remarkable diversity of RNA viruses harboured by ticks in Inner Mongolia, with variations observed in the distribution of these tick-borne viruses across different regions and tick hosts.

Abstract Objective To determine the performance of intravoxel incoherent motion (IVIM) parameters and the extracellular volume fraction (ECV) in distinguishing between different subtypes of lung cancer and predicting lymph node metastasis (LNM) status in patients with non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Methods One hundred sixteen patients with lung cancer were prospectively recruited. IVIM, native, and postcontrast T1 mapping examinations were performed, and the T1 values were measured to calculate the ECV. The differences in IVIM parameters and ECV were compared between NSCLC and small-cell lung cancer (SCLC), adenocarcinoma (Adeno-Ca) and squamous cell carcinoma (SCC), and NSCLC without and with LNM. The assessment of each parameter’s diagnostic performance was based on the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC). Results The apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC), true diffusion coefficient (D), and ECV values in SCLC were considerably lower compared with NSCLC (all p 0.887). The D value in SCC was substantially lower compared with Adeno-Ca (p 0.708). Conclusion IVIM parameters and ECV can serve as non-invasive biomarkers for assisting in the pathological classification and LNM status assessment of lung cancer patients. Critical relevance statement IVIM parameters and ECV demonstrated remarkable potential in distinguishing pulmonary carcinoma subtypes and predicting LNM status in NSCLC. Key Points Lung cancer is prevalent and differentiating subtype and invasiveness determine the treatment course. True diffusion coefficient and ECV showed promise for subtyping and determining lymph node status. These parameters could serve as non-invasive biomarkers to help determine personalized treatment strategies. Graphical Abstract

Abstract Background This retrospective cohort study aims to compare the effectiveness and safety of warfarin, rivaroxaban, and dabigatran in atrial fibrillation (AF) patients with different CHA2DS2-VASc scores in northern China. Methods A retrospective cohort study was performed to evaluate anticoagulation in AF patients at the second affiliated hospital of Harbin Medical University from September 2018 to August 2019. Patients included in this study (n = 806) received warfarin (n = 300), or rivaroxaban (n = 203), or dabigatran (n = 303). Baseline characteristics and follow-up data including adherence, bleeding events and ischemic stroke (IS) events were collected. Results Patients receiving rivaroxaban (73.9%) or dabigatran (73.6%) showed better adherence than those receiving warfarin (56.7%). Compared with warfarin-treated patients, dabigatran-treated patients had lower incidence of bleeding events (10.9% vs 19.3%, χ2 = 8.385, P = 0.004) and rivaroxaban-treated patients had lower incidence of major adverse cardiovascular events (7.4% vs 13.7%, χ2 = 4.822, P = 0.028). We classified patients into three groups based on CHA2DS2-VASc score (0–1, 2–3, ≥ 4). In dabigatran intervention, incidence of bleeding events was higher in patients with score 0–1 (20.0%) than those with score 2–3 (7.9%, χ2 = 5.772, P = 0.016) or score ≥ 4 (8.6%, χ2 = 4.682, P = 0.030). Patients with score 0–1 in warfarin or rivaroxaban therapy had a similar but not significant increase of bleeding compared with patients with score 2–3 or score ≥ 4, respectively. During the follow-up, 33 of 806 patients experienced IS and more than half (19, 57.6%) were patients with score ≥ 4. Comparing patients with score 0–1 and 2–3, the latter had an significant reduction of IS in patients prescribed warfarin and non-significant reduction in rivaroxaban and dabigatran therapy. Conclusion Compared with warfarin therapy, patients with different CHA2DS2-VASc scores receiving either rivaroxaban or dabigatran were associated with higher persistence. AF patients with score ≥ 4 were more likely to experience IS events while hemorrhagic tendency preferred patients with low score 0–1.

Introduction: Atopic dermatitis (AD) is a common chronic, recurrent, and non-infectious inflammatory skin disease. Dupilumab is a human monoclonal antibody with clinical efficacy in severe AD and has a good safety profile. Case Presentation: We hereby describe a previously unreported case of multisystem Langerhans cell histiocytosis (MS-LCH) that is associated with a history of AD treatment using dupilumab. Conclusion: A single case of MS-LCH with a history of dupilumab treatment for AD was described for the first time. This case highlights that given its susceptibility to skin involvement, LCH needs to be considered as a differential diagnosis for skin lesions that are not improved by established therapies.

Abstract The tumor microenvironment (TME) plays a pivotal role in the onset, progression, and treatment response of cancer. Among the various components of the TME, cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) are key regulators of both immune and non-immune cellular functions. Leveraging single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA) data, we have uncovered previously hidden and promising roles within this specific CAF subgroup, paving the way for its clinical application. However, several critical questions persist, primarily stemming from the heterogeneous nature of CAFs and the use of different fibroblast markers in various sample analyses, causing confusion and hindrance in their clinical implementation. In this groundbreaking study, we have systematically screened multiple databases to identify the most robust marker for distinguishing CAFs in lung cancer, with a particular focus on their potential use in early diagnosis, staging, and treatment response evaluation. Our investigation revealed that COL1A1, COL1A2, FAP, and PDGFRA are effective markers for characterizing CAF subgroups in most lung adenocarcinoma datasets. Through comprehensive analysis of treatment responses, we determined that COL1A1 stands out as the most effective indicator among all CAF markers. COL1A1 not only deciphers the TME signatures related to CAFs but also demonstrates a highly sensitive and specific correlation with treatment responses and multiple survival outcomes. For the first time, we have unveiled the distinct roles played by clusters of CAF markers in differentiating various TME groups. Our findings confirm the sensitive and unique contributions of CAFs to the responses of multiple lung cancer therapies. These insights significantly enhance our understanding of TME functions and drive the translational application of extensive scRNA sequence results. COL1A1 emerges as the most sensitive and specific marker for defining CAF subgroups in scRNA analysis. The CAF ratios represented by COL1A1 can potentially serve as a reliable predictor of treatment responses in clinical practice, thus providing valuable insights into the influential roles of TME components. This research marks a crucial step forward in revolutionizing our approach to cancer diagnosis and treatment.

Abstract Background According to traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), drugs supplementing the vital energy, Qi, can eliminate tumors by restoring host immunity. The objective of this study is to investigate the underlying immune mechanisms of anti‐tumor activity associated with Qi‐supplementing herbs, specifically the paired use of Huangqi and Danggui. Methods Analysis of compatibility regularity was conducted to screen the combination of Qi‐supplementing TCMs. Using the MTT assay and a transplanted tumor mice model, the anti‐tumor effects of combination TCMs were investigated in vitro and in vivo. High content analysis and flow cytometry were then used to evaluate cellular immunity, followed by network pharmacology and molecular docking to dissect the significant active compounds and potential mechanisms. Finally, the anti‐tumor activity and the mechanism of the active ingredients were verified by molecular experiments. Results There is an optimal combination of Huangqi and Danggui that, administered as an aqueous extract, can activate immunity to suppress tumor and is more effective than each drug on its own in vitro and in vivo. Based on network pharmacology analysis, PIK3R1 is the core target for the anti‐tumor immunity activity of combined Huangqi and Danggui. Molecular docking analysis shows 6 components of the combined Danggui and Huangqi extract (quercetin, jaranol, isorhamnetin, kaempferol, calycosin, and suchilactone) that bind to PIK3R1. Jaranol is the most important component against breast cancer. The suchilactone/jaranol combination and, especially, the suchilactone/kaempferol combination are key for immunity enhancement and the anti‐tumor effects of the extract. Conclusions The combination of Huangqi and Danggui can activate immunity to suppress breast cancer and is more effective than the individual drugs alone.

Aim: Methotrexate (MTX) is a commonly used chemotherapy drug, yet its late neurotoxic side effects are gaining attention. The aim of the study was to evaluate the role of miR-155 in the pathogenesis of MTX-induced cognitive impairment, mainly focused on the interplay of blood-brain barrier (BBB) integrity and MTX toxicity. Main methods: We use young rat model mimicking children leukemia treatment protocol, focusing on the systemic MTX effect on the central nervous system by intraperitoneal (IP) MTX injection. The cognitive function was evaluated by Morris Water Maze test and the BBB integrity was accessed by cortex permeability test. Tight junction proteins expression were also examined. Finally, we tested whether anti-miR155 pretreatment can reversed the MTX effect. Key findings: We found increased plasma miR-155 expression at 24 hr after IP MTX treatment. Besides, IP MTX resulted in impaired learning acquisition, which can be reversed by anti-miR155 treatment. Furthermore, brain cortex permeability and tight junction proteins were changed by IP MTX. miR-155 revealed its protective role in the current study for the development of MTX-induced cognitive impairment. Significance: IP MTX can induce significant cognitive impairment, which is related to the disruption of BBB integrity. miR-155 plays a vital role in the regulation of MTX-induced cognitive impairment, mainly through the maintenance of BBB integrity.

ObjectivesThis review aimed to assess the safety and efficacy of SARS-CoV-2 vaccines in patients with chronic liver disease (CLD).MethodsCochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, PubMed, Embase, and Web of Science were searched from 2020 to 2024. Data was extracted following Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Review and Meta-Analyses guidelines. The random-effects model (when I2 ≥ 50%) or fixed effect model (I2 < 50%) was used.Results29 studies were included in this review. Compared to healthy controls (HCs), patients with CLD had a higher incidence of mild adverse events (RR = 1.60, p < 0.001), while the incidence of severe adverse events was similar (RR = 1.08, p = 0.92). Seropositivity rates of three antibodies in patients were lower than in HCs [neutralizing antibody (RR = 0.86, p = 0.002), anti-spike antibody (RR = 0.97, p = 0.06) and anti-receptor binding domain antibody (RR = 0.95, p = 0.04)]. Compared to unvaccinated patients, vaccinated patients had lower rates of SARS-CoV-2 infection, hospitalization and death (p ≤ 0.05).ConclusionSARS-CoV-2 vaccines showed good safety and efficacy in CLD patients, but antibody response appeared to be decreased. Therefore, SARS-CoV-2 vaccines and booster doses should be given priority in this vulnerable population.

The interactions between corn amylose (CA) and Moringa oleifera seed salt-soluble protein (MOSP) were explored to improve the gel properties of MOSP. With increasing CA content, the MOSP-CA gel network structure was improved but the size of the gel porosity decreased firstly and then increased; the water holding retention (WHR) of MOSP-CA was decreased from approximately 94 % to 85.43 ± 2.54 %. The MOSP-CA-2.5 gel exhibited the best water holding stability (WHS), with a value of 37.1 ± 0.33 %. The MOSP-CA gel hardness increased with CA concentration, and MOSP-CA-2.5 showed relatively optimal cohesiveness, elasticity, adhesiveness, and chewiness. Meanwhile, MOSP-CA-2.5 exhibited gel strength. Incorporation of CA significantly increased the exposure of hydrophobic residues and the concentration-dependent increase in disulfide bonds in MOSP-CA gel. Thus, hydrophobic interactions, hydrogen bonds, and disulfide bonds collectively stabilized the structure of MOSP-CA gel. The findings would broaden the application of MOSP and improve the utilization value of MOSP in various industries.

ObjectivesThis work aims to establish a dataset of ratios between tissue free water tritium (TFWT) and organically bound tritium (OBT) (containing both exchangeable and non-exchangeable OBT) in different types of seafood from Zhejiang province, China, thus to provide references for rapid screening of potential contamination of tritium in biological samples.MethodsFive types of seafood (fish, prawn, mussel, crab and kelp) were collected from Jiaxing, Ningbo, Zhoushan, Taizhou and Wenzhou city in Zhejiang Province in 2022, and measured for TFWT and OBT using tube furnace combustion system and liquid scintillation counting.ResultsThe observed activity concentrations of TFWT and OBT in this study were within the range of 1.01-10.09 Bq/L and 0.51-7.61 Bq/L, respectively. No significant difference in OBT/TFWT ratio was observed among different types of seafood (p > 0.05), among the geographic distribution of the five cities (p > 0.05), nor among the area of coastline, fishing ground and island (p > 0.05). Additionally, there was no significant difference in the OBT/TFWT ratio between seafood from area with and without nuclear power plant operation (p > 0.05). The mean OBT/TFWT ratio of fish, prawn, mussel, crab and kelp was 0.37 ± 0.19, 0.48 ± 0.27, 0.63 ± 0.33, 0.82 ± 0.50, and 0.64 ± 0.37, respectively. The mean and range of OBT/TFWT ratios were 0.59 ± 0.37 and 0.15-2.09 in all seafood collected from the five cities in Zhejiang Province, respectively.ConclusionsOur results indicate that tritium in seafood from coastal cities in Zhejiang Province is at the background level, and the operation of nuclear power plants in the province has no notable impact on the radioactivity levels of tritium in local marine biota. This study filled the gap in OBT/TFWT ratios in seafood, which provides new dataset for rapid detection of tritium contamination in nuclear emergencies.

Objective: Physical activity (PA) and sedentary behavior (SB) include several domains, whether the association of PA and SB with perceived stress is domain-specific is not clear. This study aims to identify associations of physical activity (exercise and housework) and leisure-time sedentary behavior (LTSB) with perceived stress among Chinese adults. Methods: The data were collected from the 2015 China Health and Nutrition Survey (CHNS). Respondents completed multiple questionnaires developed by the CHNS team, from which we extracted and sorted PA and LTSB data. Perceived stress was measured using the 14-item Perceived Stress Scale. PA was measured using a questionnaire covering 7 types of commonly practiced exercises and 4 types of housework activities among Chinese individuals. Consecutive questions were used to inquire about the time spent on each type of PA. The measurement of LTSB was conducted in the same manner. Data analysis involved Chi-square test and logistic regression. Results: 11,471 adults were included, with an average age of 52.3 years, and 48.3 % were male. 69.9 % (8,019) of respondents reported high perceived stress. Following adjustment for age, gender and other factors, perceived stress was lower for adults reporting medium exercise time (1–2 h) compared with excessively (≥2 h) (OR=1.314 [95 %CI 1.071, 1.612], P

Abstract Background Oxidative stress is implicated in the pathogenesis of heart failure. Dual oxidase 1 (DUOX1) might be important in heart failure development through its mediating role in oxidative stress. This study was designed to evaluate the potential role of DUOX1 in heart failure. Materials and methods AC16 cells were treated with 2 µmol/L of doxorubicin (DOX) for 12, 24, and 48 h to construct a heart failure model. DUOX1 overexpression and silencing in AC16 cell were established. DUOX1 expression was detected by Quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) and western blot. Pyroptosis and reactive oxygen species (ROS) production were measured by flow cytometry. Results Increased DUOX1 expression levels were observed after DOX treatment for 24 h in AC16 cells. DUOX1 silencing inhibited DOX-induced pyroptosis and ROS production. The release of IL-1β, IL-18, and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), and expression levels of pyroptosis-related proteins were also decreased. DUOX1 overexpression increased pyroptosis, ROS production, IL-1β, IL-18, and LDH release, and pyroptosis-related protein expression. N-acetyl-cysteine (NAC) significantly reversed DUOX1-induced pyroptosis, ROS, and related factors. Conclusion These results suggest that DUOX1-derived genotoxicity could promote heart failure development. In the process, oxidative stress and pyroptosis may be involved in the regulation of DUOX1 in heart failure.

Abstract Depression and obesity are prevalent disorders with significant public health implications. In this study, we used a high-fat diet (HFD)-induced obese mouse model to investigate the mechanism underlying HFD-induced depression-like behaviors. HFD-induced obese mice exhibited depression-like behaviors and a reduction in hippocampus volume, which were reversed by treatment with an indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase (IDO) inhibitor 1-methyltryptophan (1-MT). Interestingly, no changes in IDO levels were observed post-1-MT treatment, suggesting that other mechanisms may be involved in the anti-depressive effect of 1-MT. We further conducted RNA sequencing analysis to clarify the potential underlying mechanism of the anti-depressive effect of 1-MT in HFD-induced depressive mice and found a significant enrichment of shared differential genes in the extracellular matrix (ECM) organization pathway between the 1-MT-treated and untreated HFD-induced depressive mice. Therefore, we hypothesized that changes in ECM play a crucial role in the anti-depressive effect of 1-MT. To this end, we investigated perineuronal nets (PNNs), which are ECM assemblies that preferentially ensheath parvalbumin (PV)-positive interneurons and are involved in many abnormalities. We found that HFD is associated with excessive accumulation of PV-positive neurons and upregulation of PNNs, affecting synaptic transmission in PV-positive neurons and leading to glutamate-gamma-aminobutyric acid imbalances in the hippocampus. The 1-MT effectively reversed these changes, highlighting a PNN-related mechanism by which 1-MT exerts its anti-depressive effect.

Abstract Background To explore the safety and effectiveness of personalized exercise intervention during chemotherapy for lung cancer patients who were relatively weak and with compromised cardiopulmonary function. Methods Thirty‐eight lung cancer patients treated with chemotherapy at Peking University Third Hospital were enrolled in this prospective study. The exercise group (N = 21) received individualized exercise guidance based on personal test results and exercised regularly, while the control group (N = 17) only received exercise education and planed exercise methods according to their own preferences. Both groups underwent three fitness tests and clinical indicator assessments at 0, 6, and 12 weeks after starting the exercise, and the differences in trends of various indicators between the two groups were compared. Results No exercise‐related adverse events occurred during the 12‐week exercise period. After 12 weeks of exercise training, in terms of fitness, the exercise group showed significant improvements in 6‐min walk test (6MWT) (p

Abstract FBXO32, a member of the F-box protein family, is known to play both oncogenic and tumor-suppressive roles in different cancers. However, the functions and the molecular mechanisms regulated by FBXO32 in lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD) remain unclear. Here, we report that FBXO32 is overexpressed in LUAD compared with normal lung tissues, and high expression of FBXO32 correlates with poor prognosis in LUAD patients. Firstly, we observed with a series of functional experiments that FBXO32 alters the cell cycle and promotes the invasion and metastasis of LUAD cells. We further corroborate our findings using in vivo mouse models of metastasis and confirmed that FBXO32 positively regulates LUAD tumor metastasis. Using a proteomic-based approach combined with computational analyses, we found a positive correlation between FBXO32 and the PI3K/AKT/mTOR pathway, and identified PTEN as a FBXO32 interactor. More important, FBXO32 binds PTEN via its C-terminal substrate binding domain and we also validated PTEN as a bona fide FBXO32 substrate. Finally, we demonstrated that FBXO32 promotes EMT and regulates the cell cycle by targeting PTEN for proteasomal-dependent degradation. In summary, our study highlights the role of FBXO32 in promoting the PI3K/AKT/mTOR pathway via PTEN degradation, thereby fostering lung adenocarcinoma progression.

Abstract Objective To investigate the risk factors and maternal and fetal outcomes of preeclampsia after pregnancy in patients with primary chronic hypertension. Methods A total of 500 singleton pregnant women with a history of hypertension who were admitted for delivery at our Hospital from March 2015 to May 2022 were retrospectively collected by random sampling and divided into the non-occurrence group (n = 200) and the occurrence group (n = 300) according to whether they were complicated by preeclampsia. Afterward, the general data and the pregnancy-related data of patients were collected for comparison. Results The univariate analysis showed significant differences between the non-occurrence group and the occurrence group in terms of the proportion of preeclampsia history (4.00% VS 24.67%, χ2 = 37.383, P 3 years (18.00% VS 31.67%, χ2 = 11.592, P 3 years (OR = 3.456, 95% CI: 2.157 ∼ 5.161, χ2 = 9.348, P

Abstract Objective The aim of this study was to determine the psychological status of peritoneal dialysis (PD) patients who were blocked during the 2022 Omic Pandemic in Shanghai. Methods This was an observational and cross-sectional study. We selected 172 PD patients from the peritoneal dialysis center of Ruijin Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, during the quarantine of the Omicron pandemic in Shanghai from April to May 2022. General data and biochemical indices were collected. The Kidney Disease Quality of Life (SF-36) questionnaire was used to evaluate the psychological state of the patients during the quarantine. Results According to the assessment of the SF-36 scale, the physiological and psychological health status of PD patients was better than that before quarantine (P 0.05). According to the results of the abstract independent sample T test, when comparing the various dimensions of the SF-36 scale, for the dimensions of physiological function, pain and energy, the PD patients were better than the HD patients were (P

Introduction: Equine chorionic girdle cells can give rise to the endometrial cup, a structure that secretes equine chorionic gonadotropin (eCG). To date, the mechanisms underlying the proliferation, differentiation, invasion, and hormone secretion of equine chorionic girdle cells are not fully understood. During human pregnancy, interleukin-6 (IL-6) is maternally expressed to stimulate the invasion and migration of human syncytiotrophoblast cells and influence the synthesis of human chorionic gonadotropin. Although many previous studies reported the same upregulation of IL-6 during equine placentation, its effects on equine chorionic girdle cells have never been tested. Methods: In this study, we tested the effects of different concentrations of IL-6 on the morphology, differentiation, proliferation, hormone production, invasion, migration, and gene expression profiles of equine chorionic girdle cells. Results: We found that, with respect to morphology and proliferation, IL-6 had no significant effect; with respect to eCG production, 30 ng/mL IL-6 significantly increased the expression of genes related to eCG production, whereas treatment with 70 ng/mL IL-6 downregulated these genes. However, no significant increase in intracellular protein levels or eCG secretion was observed following treatment with any concentration of IL-6. Regarding cell migration and invasion, we found that IL-6 treatment had no significant effect on the migration capability of equine chorionic girdle cells but did enhance the invasion capability of equine chorionic girdle cells and upregulated the expression of the invasion-related genes, Mmp2 and Mmp9. Finally, our transcriptomic study revealed that in equine chorionic girdle cells, IL-6 treatment mainly affected the expression of genes related to the NOD-like receptor signaling pathway and the JAK–STAT signaling pathways, which are involved in immune and inflammatory responses. Conclusions: In summary, this study demonstrates the positive effects of IL-6 on the cytokine secretion and invasive ability of equine chorionic girdle cells.