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Background This study investigated the clinical effectiveness of Korean medicine (KM) treatment for shoulder impingement syndrome (SIS). Methods There were 61 patients who were diagnosed with SIS in the Jaseng hospital network of KM (7 hospitals located in Korea: Gangnam, Daejeon, Bucheon, Haeundae, Bundang, Ulsan, and Gwangju) between January 1st, 2015 and December 31st, 2020 who were retrospectively reviewed. The patients were grouped according to complications, intake of analgesics, duration of illness preadmission, and treatment. Treatments consisted of herbal medicine, acupuncture, cupping, Chuna, pharmacopuncture, bee venom pharmacopuncture, medicinal steaming, Daoyin exercises, and physical therapy. By comparing the Numeric Rating Scale (NRS), Shoulder Pain and Disability Index, and European Quality of Life 5-Dimensions questionnaire scores, the effectiveness of integrated KM treatment was evaluated. Results There were 14 males and 47 females. For inpatients diagnosed with SIS, the mean NRS score decreased from 5.78 ± 1.33 to 3.40 ± 1.43 (p < 0.001). The mean Shoulder Pain and Disability Index score decreased from 53.87 ± 14.76 to 38.56 ± 18.87 (p < 0.001), and the mean European Quality of Life 5-Dimensions questionnaire increased from 0.67 ± 0.13 to 0.76 ± 0.09 (p < 0.001) after KM treatment. Medicinal steaming (0.398; p < 0.001), acupuncture (0.290), cupping (0.288), bee venom pharmacopuncture (0.282), and Daoyin exercises (0.262; p < 0.05) had a positive correlation with improved changes in the NRS score. Conclusion Conclusion: Treatment with integrated KM treatment improved the pain, range of motion, shoulder function, and quality of life of patients with SIS.

Abstract This study aimed to investigate the regulatory mechanisms that influenced autophagy in Steroid-induced necrosis of the femoral head (SONFH) by constructing a competing endogenous RNA (ceRNA) network. Blood sample data from the SONFH patients were obtained from the Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) database under the accession number GSE123568. Autophagy-related genes were identified from the Human Autophagy Database (HADb). Differential analysis and weighted gene co-expression network analysis (WGCNA) were performed on the GSE123568 dataset to screen for core genes and validation was performed with the validation set. Based on the GEO dataset (GSE74089), we performed differential lncRNA analysis. Meanwhile, we utilized three databases, namely miRDB, TargetScan, and StarBase, to predict the miRNAs of target genes and corresponding lncRNAs. Cytoscape software was used to construct and visualize the ceRNA networks. We also employed reverse transcription-quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) to quantify their expression levels. A total of 1692 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were identified in the GSE123568 dataset. By intersecting with the HADb database, 47 autophagy-related genes were identified from these DEGs. Furthermore, we found the significant correlation between RNF144B and 37 autophagy genes. Importantly, we established a regulatory axis involving TUG1, hsa-miR-31-5p, and RNF144B., and both TUG1 and RNF144B were upregulated, while hsa-miR-31-5p was downregulated in the SONFH cell model. A TUG1-hsa-miR-31-5p-RNF144B axis was related to autophagy genes, which potentially provided insights into the RNA interactions triggering autophagy in SONFH.

Wetlands are among the most productive ecosystems and play crucial roles in relation to biodiversity conservation and various ecosystem services. However, rapid urbanization and environmental changes have led to the loss of a significant number of wetlands, making it imperative to understand the driving forces behind wetland changes. This study employed Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modeling (PLS-SEM) and the Patch-generating Land Use Simulation (PLUS) model to investigate the influences of natural factors and urbanization on wetland distribution. Based on the driving factors, simulations were conducted for three scenarios—Natural Increase Scenario (NIS), Economic Development Scenario (EDS), and Wetland Protection Scenario (WPS)—projecting the wetland distribution in the Sanjiang Plain until 2050. Results indicate that from 1990 to 2020, the wetland area increased by 9,548.58 km2, with paddy fields increasing by 12,995.73 km2 and marsh wetlands decreasing by 1,031.9 km2. The factors driving wetland distribution varied across different periods. Between 1990 and 2000, topography and urbanization significantly influenced wetland distribution, whereas climate factors became gradually more significant between 2010 and 2020. Furthermore, in addition to exerting direct impacts on wetland distribution, urbanization and climate factors can indirectly affect wetland distribution by influencing topography and soil. Future development scenarios indicate an inevitable increase in paddy field areas and decrease in wetland areas. This framework provides an effective approach for exploring regional wetland changes and supporting regional wetland conservation and future sustainable development.

ABSTRACTSoil erosion exacerbates land degradation, which has a detrimental impact on terrestrial ecosystems all over the world. The purpose of this study is to forecast future soil erosion in the Tumen River Basin (TRB) on the border between China and North Korea under changing land-use and climate conditions from 2030 to 2050 using the revised universal soil loss equation (RUSLE). Precipitation changes during the study period were examined under three shared socioeconomic pathway (SSP) scenarios. Future land use was simulated using a patch-generating land-use simulation (PLUS) model. As the scenario worsens, regions requiring sustained attention in the TRB are expected to rise steadily from 4% (1337 km2) in 2017 to 7.3% (2440 km2) in 2050. Under SSP5-8.5, soil erosion will reach 24.45 t ha−1yr−1 in 2050, which is 6 t ha−1yr−1 more than current soil loss. According to the land cover simulation, 2.7% (∼925 km2) of forest area is anticipated to be lost by 2050, with the majority of that area converted to built-up, cropland, and grassland areas increasing by 0.5%, 1.3%, and 0.8%, respectively. This study is expected to enhance the spatial perception of soil erosion at different scales and provide scientific basis for soil and water management.

We propose a structure utilizing a double-layer aluminum ring resonator embedded in a dielectric layer of metamaterial to demonstrate the appearances of unidirectional reflectionlessness, asymmetric reflection, and asymmetric transmission for the incident linear and circular polarizations. A significant feature of this structure is that it allows multiple functions to be implemented in the same structure without changing any structure parameters. For the vertical incident x- and y-polarizations, not only significant unidirectional reflectionlessness and asymmetric reflection effects are verified but also the strong linear to circular polarization conversions are illustrated in both transmission and reflection modes. For the vertical incidences of right-handed and left-handed circular polarizations, unidirectional reflectionlessness and asymmetric reflection are also demonstrated in detail. In addition, when linearly or circularly polarized waves are incident obliquely, the structure exhibits a stable asymmetric transmission phenomenon within a wide incident angle range. Furthermore, it also supports the occurrences of unidirectional reflectionlessness and asymmetric reflection stably within wide ranges of incident angle, resonator spacing, and rotation angle of the upper aluminum ring.

The diversity of cyclodextrins and their derivatives is increasing with continuous research. In addition to monomolecular cyclodextrins with different branched chains, cyclodextrin-based polymers have emerged. The aim of this review is to summarize these innovations, with a special focus on the study of applications of cyclodextrins and their derivatives in nano-delivery systems. The areas covered include nanospheres, nano-sponges, nanogels, cyclodextrin metal–organic frameworks, liposomes, and emulsions, providing a comprehensive and in-depth understanding of the design and development of nano-delivery systems.

Ecological safety evaluation is a key tool that reflects changes in the quality of the ecological environment and provides a scientific basis for land use policies and ecological environment construction. This study used the Changbaishan region as the study area, selected 23 indicators from natural and socioeconomic aspects, adopted the Driving Force-Pressure-State-Impact-Response-Management (DPSIRM) model, and used hierarchical analysis and entropy value methods to determine the weights and comprehensively evaluate the ecological security of wetlands. The results showed that the ecological safety value increased from 0.1754 to 0.2933 from 1990–2020 in the Changbai Mountains area, moving the critical safety state to the safety state. The value was lower in the center and higher in the east, north, and southwest. In addition, the wetlands in the north recovered faster. During the study period, the driver, response, and management indices increased, whereas the pressure, state, and impact were relatively stable. The Changbai Mountain region has achieved success in wetland management, education, environmental protection expenditure, ecological compensation, and natural wetland protection; however, rational planning is still needed for urbanization, construction and development, and wetland tourism.

Jilin Province in China borders other countries in Northeast Asia and is a complex ecosystem of transboundary rivers, varying terrains, and climates, which provides vital freshwater resources to the neighboring countries. Water conservation is one of the ecosystem service functions and is of great significance to maintaining sustainable development of water resources and ecological security. In this study, we analyzed the water conservation function and its variations in Jilin Province from 2000 to 2020 using the InVEST model. Furthermore, we examined the dominant factors governing spatial distribution of the changes in water conservation function over the past two decades using geographical detectors. In addition, a multi-scale geographic weighted regression model was adopted to investigate spatial differences and characteristics of individual drivers across different spatial scales. The study revealed a number of findings. First, between 2000 and 2020, average water conservation in Jilin Province increased by 46.12% overall from 87.14 mm/m2 to 127.28 mm/m2. Second, compared with land use change, climate change had a greater influence on water conservation. However, in some areas, the opposite was true, and the combined impact of both factors was more substantial on water conservation than when each acted independently. Third, except for temperature, the correlation between each driving factor and the change in water conservation function exhibited spatial variations, and the characteristics of each factor also varied across different spatial scales. In the study site, variations in water conservation were positively correlated with forest and grass coverage and negatively correlated with cultivated land and urban-rural and industrial-mining land. This study provides new insights for exploring the driving factors of changes in water conservation function and imparts a more appropriate basis for government agencies to make decisions about ecological and environmental protection and optimization of ecosystem management.

Overexpression of c-myc via increased transcription or decreased protein degradation is common to many cancer etiologies. c-myc protein degradation is mediated by ubiquitin-dependent degradation, and this ubiquitylation is regulated by several E3 ligases. The primary regulator is Fbxw7, which binds to a phospho-degron within c-myc. Here, we identify a new E3 ligase for c-myc, Fbxl8 (F-box and Leucine Rich Repeat Protein 8), as an adaptor component of the SCF (Skp1-Cullin1-F-box protein) ubiquitin ligase complex, for selective c-myc degradation. SCFFbxl8 binds and ubiquitylates c-myc, independent of phosphorylation, revealing that it regulates a pool of c-myc distinct from SCFFbxw7. Loss of Fbxl8 increases c-myc protein levels, protein stability, and cell division, while overexpression of Fbxl8 reduces c-myc protein levels. Concurrent loss of Fbxl8 and Fbxw7 triggers a robust increase in c-myc protein levels consistent with targeting distinct pools of c-myc. This work highlights new mechanisms regulating c-myc degradation.

Immediate burn wound care is a critical factor influencing the outcomes of burn treatment. In this study, we developed a spray-type alginate hydrogel dressing that promotes wound healing, reduces pain, and increases the convenience of use in a burn treatment emergency. We investigated the efficiency of newly developed spray-type alginate hydrogel dressing on the wound healing process. We investigated the efficacy of the alginate hydrogel dressing for wound healing in 30 Sprague Dawley rats. Four deep, round second-degree burn wounds (diameter, 1.5 cm) were created bilaterally on the dorsum of the rat’s trunk; the rats were divided into four groups, in which different dressing materials were applied as follows: group A, gauze (control); group B, Mepilex™ (control); group C, 2.25% alginate hydrogel; and group D, 2.5% alginate hydrogel. The gross findings of each group were compared by tracing the remaining wound and performing visual and histological observations and biochemical analysis for proteins associated with wound healing at each time period. In burn wounds, groups C and D showed significantly higher contraction, epithelialization, and healing rates. Histologically, groups C and D showed an improved arrangement of collagen fibers and a thick epithelial layer 14 days after initial wound formation. Group C showed higher CD31, TGF-β, and fibronectin expression in Western blot analyses after day 14. This study suggests that the spray-type alginate hydrogel dressing is an effective material for initial burn wound care.

Norepinephrine (NE) modulates synaptic transmission and long-term plasticity through distinct subtype adrenergic receptor (AR)-mediated-intracellular signaling cascades. However, the role of NE modulates glutamatergic long-term potentiation (LTP) in the hypothalamic paraventricular nucleus (PVN) magnocellular neuroendocrine cells (MNCs) is unclear. We here investigate the effect of NE on high frequency stimulation (HFS)-induced glutamatergic LTP in rat hypothalamic PVN MNCs in vitro, by whole-cell patch-clamp recording, biocytin staining and pharmacological methods. Delivery of HFS induced glutamatergic LTP with a decrease in N2/N1 ratio in the PVN MNCs, which was enhanced by application of NE (100 nM). HFS-induced LTP was abolished by the blockade of N-methyl-D-aspartate receptors (NMDAR) with D-APV, but it was rescued by the application of NE. NE failed to rescue HFS-induced LTP of MNCs in the presence of a selective β1-AR antagonist, CGP 20712. However, application of β1-AR agonist, dobutamine HCl rescued HFS-induced LTP of MNCs in the absence of NMDAR activity. In the absence of NMDAR activity, NE failed to rescue HFS-induced MNC LTP when protein kinase A (PKA) was inhibited by extracellular applying KT5720 or intracellular administration of PKI. These results indicate that NE activates β1-AR and triggers HFS to induce a novel glutamatergic LTP of hypothalamic PVN NMCs via the postsynaptic PKA signaling pathway in vitro in rats. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Deyeuxia angustifolia acts as an indicator of the changes in wetland ecosystems and plays an important ecological role in their functions. Previous studies have shown that the Tumen River Basin is of wide global interest as a transboundary basin area with abundant wetland ecological resources. Despite the implementation of wetland conservation measures in recent years, the distribution area of D. angustifolia in this basin has been reduced due to climate change and anthropogenic activities. Therefore, we used MaxEnt and geographic information system to model a suitable habitat for this species, simulated changes in the habitat, and applied Jackknife to assess the influencing environmental variables. The Jackknife tests showed that slope orientation, solar radiation in September, and total nitrogen were the dominant environmental factors affecting the potential distribution of D. angustifolia. Compared to the current distribution, the total area of land highly and moderately suitable for this species will decrease in the 2050’s and 2070’s, respectively, under two representative concentration paths (RCPs), shifting the centroid of its suitable area and direction of wetland degradation to the northeast. Our study of the projected potential distribution of D. angustifolia in the basin under future climate change could provide important information for its conservation, management, sustainable use, and early warning to prevent its extinction.

Sciaenid fishes are usually associated with large freshwater inputs and are the most important economic fish on the coastal shelf off mainland China. To compare the differences in ecological niche and resource sharing among different populations of Sciaenidae species, we collected samples of Larimichthys polyactis, Collichthys lucidus, Johnius belangerii, Nibea albiflora, and Miichthys miiuy from Zhoushan Archipelago waters from 2019 to 2021 and investigated the carbon and nitrogen isotopic values in muscle tissues, the contribution of each food resource, and trophic niche widths and overlaps. Significant differences were observed in both isotopes in the muscles of the five Sciaenid species. Zooplankton was a key food resource for all Sciaenid species. In addition to zooplankton, J. belangerii, N. albiflora, and M. miiuy also fed on benthos organisms. C. lucidus presented a wide trophic niche width and had extensive habitat use. The trophic niche occupied by N. albiflora and M. miiuy was narrow; they presented a high trophic level, with a high degree of trophic niche overlap. This study showed that sciaenid fishes have overlapping trophic niches due to their common feeding on zooplankton, and differences in body size, migration, habitat, and feeding choices led to the reasonable sharing of resources among the five sciaenid fishes, allowing the coexistence of these species.

Abstract Background The FDA-approved small-molecule drug dasatinib is currently used as a treatment for chronic myeloid leukemia (CML). However, the effects of dasatinib on microglial and/or astrocytic neuroinflammatory responses and its mechanism of action have not been studied in detail. Methods BV2 microglial cells, primary astrocytes, or primary microglial cells were treated with dasatinib (100 or 250 nM) or vehicle (1% DMSO) for 30 min or 2 h followed by lipopolysaccharide (LPS; 200 ng/ml or 1 μg/ml) or PBS for 5.5 h. RT-PCR, real-time PCR; immunocytochemistry; subcellular fractionation; and immunohistochemistry were subsequently conducted to determine the effects of dasatinib on LPS-induced neuroinflammation. In addition, wild-type mice were injected with dasatinib (20 mg/kg, intraperitoneally (i.p.) daily for 4 days or 20 mg/kg, orally administered (p.o.) daily for 4 days or 2 weeks) or vehicle (4% DMSO + 30% polyethylene glycol (PEG) + 5% Tween 80), followed by injection with LPS (10 mg/kg, i.p.) or PBS. Then, immunohistochemistry was performed, and plasma IL-6, IL-1β, and TNF-α levels were analyzed by ELISA. Results Dasatinib regulates LPS-induced proinflammatory cytokine and anti-inflammatory cytokine levels in BV2 microglial cells, primary microglial cells, and primary astrocytes. In BV2 microglial cells, dasatinib regulates LPS-induced proinflammatory cytokine levels by regulating TLR4/AKT and/or TLR4/ERK signaling. In addition, intraperitoneal injection and oral administration of dasatinib suppress LPS-induced microglial/astrocyte activation, proinflammatory cytokine levels (including brain and plasma levels), and neutrophil rolling in the brains of wild-type mice. Conclusions Our results suggest that dasatinib modulates LPS-induced microglial and astrocytic activation, proinflammatory cytokine levels, and neutrophil rolling in the brain.

The R-spondin (RSPO) family of proteins potentiate canonical WNT/β-catenin signaling and may provide a mechanism to fine-tune the strength of canonical WNT signaling. Although several in vitro studies have clearly demonstrated the potentiation of canonical WNT signaling by RSPOs, whether this potentiation actually occurs in normal development and tissue function in vivo still remains poorly understood. Here, we provide clear evidence of the potentiation of canonical WNT signaling by RSPO during mouse facial development by analyzing compound Wnt9b and Rspo2 gene knockout mice and utilizing ex vivo facial explants. Wnt9b;Rspo2 double mutant mice display facial defects and dysregulated gene expression pattern that are significantly more severe than and different from those of Wnt9b or Rspo2 null mutant mice. Furthermore, we found suggestive evidence that the LGR4/5/6 family of the RSPO receptors may play less critical roles in WNT9b:RSPO2 cooperation. Our results suggest that RSPO-induced cooperation is a key mechanism for fine-tuning canonical WNT/β-catenin signaling in mouse facial development.