Search

Dioscin has been used as a treatment for Hashimoto’s thyroiditis (HT) in China. However, the molecular mechanisms governing the modes of action of dioscin have not been elucidated. In this study, flow cytometry and Western blotting were used to identify the proportions of CD4+CD25+ regulatory T (Treg) cells and the expression of forkhead box P3 (Foxp3) and SUMO-specific protease 1 (SENP1) in HT patients’ peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs). A pTg-induced rat model of HT was established by injection of 100 μg pTg. Then, the model rats were randomly divided into three groups (n = 5): control (NC), model (HT) and dioscin treatment. After oral administration of dioscin each day for two weeks, CD4+CD25+Foxp3+ Treg cells were analysed by flow cytometry, and the protein expression levels of SENP1, Foxp3, SUMO-1 and SUMO-2/3 were measured by Western blotting. Co-immunoprecipitation (Co-IP) was used to identify the SUMOylation of interferon regulatory factor 4 (IRF4). The results showed that the proportions of CD4+CD25+ Treg cells and the expression of Foxp3 were significantly decreased in HT patients, but the expression of SENP1 was enhanced compared to healthy controls (HCs). However, compared to the pTg-induced HT rat group, the expression of Foxp3, SUMO-1, and SUMO-2/3 and the proportions of CD4+CD25+Foxp3+ Treg cells were increased, whereas the expression of SENP1 was decreased, in the dioscin-treated group. Furthermore, the SUMOylation of IRF4 was increased after SENP1 was knocked down. The results of our study indicate that dioscin can promote the differentiation of the CD4+CD25+Foxp3+ Treg cells and subsequently upregulate the SUMOylation of IRF4 by downregulating SENP1 expression.

In view of the problem that the general electronic instrument and equipment used for transient parameters testing can not work normally under the influence of strong electromagnetic interference, an overload testing device which can effectively shield the strong electromagnetic interference is designed. The shell structure of the testing device is made of multilayer metal materials with good electromagnetic shielding performance, and the internal structure is filled with polyurethane filling technology. The internal circuit system combines low-power design and data acquisition and storage technology to complete the acquisition and recording of overload parameters during the whole flight process. In the actual firing test of electromagnetic railgun, the test device reliably recorded the overload data of the projectile. The result of the experiment shows that the shell structure of the test device has effective electromagnetic shielding for strong electromagnetic fields，and the internal circuit system has successfully acquired the transient overload parameters of the projectile.

CMV causes mostly asymptomatic but lifelong infection. Primary infection or reactivation in immunocompromised individuals can be life-threatening. CMV viremia often occurs in solid organ transplant recipients and associates with decreased graft survival and higher mortality. Furthering understanding of impaired immunity that allows CMV reactivation is critical to guiding antiviral therapy and examining the effect of CMV on solid organ transplant outcomes. This study characterized longitudinal immune responses to CMV in 31 kidney transplant recipients with CMV viremia and matched, nonviremic recipients. Recipients were sampled 3 and 12 months after transplant, with additional samples 1 week and 1 month after viremia. PBMCs were stained for NK and T cell markers. PBMC transcriptomes were characterized by RNA-Seq. Plasma proteins were quantified by Luminex. CD8+ T cell transcriptomes were characterized by single-cell RNA-Seq. Before viremia, patients had high levels of IL-15 with concurrent expansion of immature CD56bright NK cells. After viremia, mature CD56dim NK cells and CD28-CD8+ T cells upregulating inhibitory and NK-associated receptors were expanded. Memory NK cells and NK-like CD28-CD8+ T cells were associated with control of viremia. These findings suggest that signatures of innate activation may be prognostic for CMV reactivation after transplant, while CD8+ T cell functionality is critical for effective control of CMV.

The integration of advanced materials and signaling cascade strategies is a promising and highly relevant topic for enhancing the performance of bioanalysis. In this study, a three-stage cascade amplification electrochemical bioanalysis (TCAE-bioanalysis) was developed and evaluated for the detection of zearalenone (ZEN). This method couples immunoreaction with a glucose–Fenton–hydroquinone (HQ) system on bimetallic–ZIF (B-ZIF)@CNP nanocomposites. The B-ZIF@CNP-modified gold electrode (AuE) was prepared, offering high conductivity and an excellent reaction interface. The immunoreaction introduced glucose oxidase (GOx) into the glucose–Fenton–HQ system, generating an abundant electron signal. The method achieved an ultrasensitive limit of detection (LOD) as low as 0.87 pg/mL, with an IC50 value of 30.8 pg/mL, representing a 229-fold enhancement in sensitivity compared to ELISA using the same monoclonal antibody (McAb). The specificity, reliability, and practicality of this approach were thoroughly demonstrated for agricultural product samples. Additionally, the TCAE-bioanalysis offers several advantages, including simplified preparation for advanced B-ZIF@CNP, a convenient detection system, and the use of common and environmentally friendly reagents. This study presents a comprehensive approach to improving electrochemical bioanalysis and may also expand the application of signaling cascades and environmentally friendly techniques in other biosensing or diagnostic contexts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In many noise scenarios, it is necessary to ensure ventilation and noise suppression. In this paper, a ventilated acoustic metamaterial labyrinth plate (VAMLP), formed by an array of labyrinth cells (LCs), is presented. Each labyrinth cell contains four labyrinth waveguide units (WUs). Based on the impedance series principle, an analytical model of the WU was developed and validated by a numerical model and impedance-tube experiments to determine the sound transmission loss of the WU and the LC. The mechanism of the influence of thermo-viscous loss was quantitatively analyzed, and it was clarified that the VAMLP produced sound absorption due to thermo-viscous loss. The change law of impedance at the entrance of the waveguide was analyzed, revealing the noise-reduction mechanism of the labyrinth unit. Combining a BP network and an improved sparrow search algorithm (ISSA), a BP–ISSA optimization model is proposed to optimize the ventilation capacity of the labyrinth cells. The BP-network model can accurately predict the resonance frequency from the structural parameters to form the fitness function. The ISSA optimization model was constructed using the fitness function as the constraint of an equation. Finally, the combination of structural parameters with optimal ventilation capacity was obtained for a given noise frequency. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: This study aims to explore the changes in dynamic overlapping communities in the brains of schizophrenia (SZ) patients and further investigate the dynamic restructuring patterns of overlapping communities in SZ patients. Materials and Methods: A total of 43 SZ patients and 49 normal controls (NC) were selected for resting-state functional MRI (rs-fMRI) scans. Dynamic functional connectivity analysis was conducted separately on SZ patients and NC using rs-fMRI and Jackknife Correlation techniques to construct dynamic brain network models. Based on these models, a dynamic overlapping community detection method was utilized to explore the abnormal overlapping community structure in SZ patients using evaluation metrics such as the structural stability of overlapping communities, nodes' functional diversity, and activity level of overlapping communities. Results: The stability of communities in SZ patients showed a decreasing trend. The changes in the overlapping community structure of SZ patients may be related to a decrease in the diversity of overlapping node functions. Additionally, compared to the NC group, the activity level of overlapping communities of SZ patients was significantly reduced. Conclusion: The structure or organization of the brain functional network in SZ patients is abnormal or disrupted, and the activity of the brain network in information processing and transmission is weakened in SZ patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]