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Osteoarthritis (OA) is a chronic joint disease affecting millions of adults worldwide, characterized by degeneration of articular cartilage. Many environmental risk factors contribute to OA development. Benzophenone-3 (BP-3), a commonly used ultraviolet filter in personal care products, has been positively associated with OA risk. However, it remains unclear whether and how BP-3 induces toxic effects on articular chondrocytes and promote OA development. This study aims to investigate the damage of BP-3 at environmentally relevant concentrations to human chondrocytes, as well as potential mechanisms linking BP-3 with injury of chondrocytes. Notably, BP-3 significantly inhibited cell viability, induced apoptosis, and up-regulated matrix metalloproteinase (MMP) 1 and 13 which mediated cartilage degradation in C28/I2 human normal chondrocytes. Moreover, the function of mitochondria was impaired and oxidative stress occurred in BP-3 exposure groups, evidenced by elevation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation, reduction of mitochondrial membrane potential, decrease of ATP production and inhibition of mitochondrial respiratory chain complex I, II, III and IV. Meanwhile, BP-3 caused mitochondrial cristae vague and formation of autophagosomes. PTEN induced putative kinase 1/E3 ubiquitin protein ligase (PINK1/Parkin) pathway was also activated by BP-3. Addition of autophagy inhibitor, 3-Methyladenine (3-MA), suppressed PINK1/Parkin-mediated mitophagy, but increased BP-3-induced expression of MMP1 and 13, as well as exacerbated BP-3-induced apoptosis, suggesting mitophagy may exert a chondroprotective effect and partially alleviate apoptosis induced by this compound. In brief, BP-3 exposure may increase OA risk via inducing apoptosis and increasing breakdown of extracellular matrix in chondrocytes, and mitochondrial dysfunction and mitophagy may play a crucial role in the mechanisms of BP-3-induced toxicity to articular chondrocytes.

ObjectivePrevious studies have suggested a potential association between gut microbiota and the development of alcohol-related liver disease (ALD). However, the causal relationship between gut microbiota and ALD, as well as the role of inflammatory cytokines as mediators, remains unclear. This study aims to explore the causal relationship between gut microbiota and ALD using Mendelian randomization (MR) methods, and to analyze the mediating role of inflammatory cytokines.MethodsGut microbiota, 91 inflammatory cytokines, and ALD were identified from summary data of large-scale genome-wide association studies (GWAS). MR was employed to investigate the causal relationship between gut microbiota, cytokines, and ALD, with the inverse variance-weighted method (IVW) as the primary statistical approach. Additionally, we examined whether inflammatory cytokines act as mediating factors in the pathway from gut microbiota to ALD.ResultsThe IVW results confirmed two positive and one negative causal effect between genetic liability in the gut microbiota and ALD. Escherichia coli (P= 0.003) was identified as a protective factor for ALD, while Roseburia hominis (P=0.023) and Family Porphyromonadaceae (P=0.038) were identified as risk factors for ALD. Furthermore, there were five positive and two negative causal effects between inflammatory cytokines and ALD, with CUB domain-containing protein 1 (P= 0.035), Macrophage colony-stimulating factor 1 (P=0.047), Cystatin D (P = 0.035), Fractalkine (P=0.000000038), Monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (P=0.004) positively associated with ALD onset. CD40L receptor (P= 0.044) and Leukemia inhibitory factor (P = 0.024) exhibited protective effects against ALD. Mediation MR analysis indicated that CUB domain-containing protein 1 (mediation proportion=1.6%, P=0.035), Cystatin D (mediation proportion=1.5%, P=0.012), and Monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (mediation proportion=3.3%, P=0.005) mediated the causal effect of Roseburia hominis on ALD.ConclusionIn conclusion, our study supports a causal relationship among gut microbiota, inflammatory cytokines and ALD, with inflammatory cytokines potentially acting as mediating factors in the pathway from gut microbiota to ALD.

BackgroundPrevious research has demonstrated an association between gut microbiota and immune status with the development of several diseases. However, whether these factors contribute to polyps remains unclear. This study aims to use Mendelian randomization (MR) to investigate the causal relationship between gut microbiota and 4 types of polyps (nasal, gallbladder, colon, and gastric polyps), as well as to analyze the mediating role of immune traits.MethodsThis study utilized large-scale GWAS meta-analyses of gut microbiota (MiBioGen Consortium), 731 immune traits, and 4 types of polyps (one from the FinnGen Consortium and three from the NBDC Human Database). Univariate MR with the inverse variance weighted (IVW) estimation method was employed as the primary analytical approach. A two-step MR analysis was performed to identify potential mediating immune traits. Additionally, multivariable MR approach based on Bayesian model averaging (MR-BMA) was employed to further prioritize gut microbiota and immune traits associated with polyp development.ResultsBased on IVW method in univariate MR analysis, we identified 39 gut microbial taxa and 135 immune traits significantly causally associated with at least one type of polyp. For nasal polyps, 13 microbial taxa and 61 immune traits were causally associated. After false discovery rate (FDR) correction, CD3 on Central Memory CD8+ T cells and CD3 on CD4 regulatory T cells remained significant. MR-BMA identified 4 gut microbial taxa and 4 immune traits as high priority. For gallbladder polyps, 9 microbial taxa and 30 immune traits were causally associated. MR-BMA identified 8 microbial taxa and 6 immune traits as higher importance. For colon polyps, 6 microbial taxa and 21 immune traits were causally associated. MR-BMA identified 4 microbial taxa and 3 immune traits as higher importance. For gastric polyps, 12 microbial taxa and 33 immune traits were causally associated. Actinobacteria remained significant after FDR correction, and MR-BMA identified 7 gut microbial taxa and 6 immune traits as high priority. We identified 16 causal pathways with mediator directions consistent with the direction of gut microbiome-polyp association. Of these, 6 pathways were associated with the mechanism of nasal polyps, 1 with gallbladder polyps, 2 with colon polyps, and 7 with gastric polyps.ConclusionsOur findings shed light on the causal relationships between gut microbiota, immune traits, and polyp development, underscoring the crucial roles of gut microbiota and immune status in polypogenesis. Furthermore, these findings suggest potential applications in polyp prevention, early screening, and the development of effective strategies to reduce polyp risk.

Abstract Background Previous studies on whole grain consumption had inconsistent findings and lacked quantitative assessments of evidence quality. Therefore, we aimed to summarize updated findings using the Burden of Proof analysis (BPRF) to investigate the relationship of whole grain consumption on type 2 diabetes (T2D), colorectal cancer (CRC), stroke, and ischemic heart disease (IHD). Methods We conducted a literature search in the Medline and Web of Science up to June 12, 2023, to identify related cohort studies and systematic reviews. The mean RR (relative risk) curve and uncertainty intervals (UIs), BPRF function, risk-outcome score (ROS), and the theoretical minimum risk exposure level (TMREL) were estimated to evaluate the level of four risk-outcome pairs. Results In total, 27 prospective cohorts were included in our analysis. Consuming whole grain at the range of TMREL (118.5–148.1 g per day) was associated with lower risks: T2D (declined by 37.3%, 95% UI: 5.8 to 59.5), CRC (declined by 17.3%, 6.5 to 27.7), stroke (declined by 21.8%, 7.3 to 35.1), and IHD (declined by 36.9%, 7.1 to 58.0). For all outcomes except stroke, we observed a non-linear, monotonic decrease as whole grain consumption increased; For stroke, it followed a J-shaped curve (the greatest decline in the risk of stroke at consuming 100 g whole grain for a day). The relationships between whole grain consumption and four diseases are all two-star pairs (ROS: 0.087, 0.068, 0.062, 0.095 for T2D, CRC, stroke, and IHD, respectively). Conclusion Consuming 100 g of whole grains per day offers broad protective benefits. However, exceeding this threshold may diminish the protective effects against stroke. Our findings endorse replacing refined grains with whole grains as the main source of daily carbohydrates. Registry and registry number for systematic reviews or meta-analyses We have registered our research in PROSPERO, and the identifier of our meta-analyses is CRD42023447345.

Abstract Background Hylurgus ligniperda, a major international forestry quarantine pest, was recently found to have invaded and posed a serious threat to the Pinus forests of the Jiaodong Peninsula in China. Continuous monitoring and vigilance of the early population is imperative, and rapid molecular detection technology is urgently needed. We focused on developing a single-gene-based species-specific PCR (SS-PCR) method. Results We sequenced and assembled the mitochondrial genome of H. ligniperda to identify suitable target genes. We identified three closely related species for detecting the specificity of SS-PCR through phylogenetic analysis based on 13 protein-coding genes (PCGs). Subsequently, we analyzed the evolution of 13 PCGs and selected four mitochondrial genes to represent slow-evolving gene (COI) and faster-evolving genes (e.g. ND2, ND4, and ND5), respectively. We developed four species-specific primers targeting COI, ND2, ND4, and ND5 to rapidly identify H. ligniperda. The results showed that the four species-specific primers exhibited excellent specificity and sensitivity in the PCR assays, with consistent performance across a broader range of species. This method demonstrates the ability to identify beetles promptly, even during their larval stage. The entire detection process can be completed within 2–3 h. Conclusions This method is suitable for large-scale species detection in laboratory settings. Moreover, the selection of target genes in the SS-PCR method is not affected by the evolutionary rate. SS-PCR can be widely implemented at port and forestry workstations, significantly enhancing early management strategies and quarantine measures against H. ligniperda. This approach will help prevent the spread of the pest and effectively preserve the resources of Chinese pine forests.

Abstract Extracting balanced geostrophic motions (BM) from sea surface height (SSH) observations obtained by wide‐swath altimetry holds great significance in enhancing our understanding of oceanic dynamic processes at submesoscale wavelength. However, SSH observations derived from wide‐swath altimetry are characterized by high spatial resolution while relatively low temporal resolution, thereby posing challenges to extract the BM from a single SSH snapshot. To address this issue, this paper proposes a deep learning model called the BM‐UBM Network, which takes an instantaneous SSH snapshot as input and outputs the projection corresponding to the BM. Training experiments are conducted both in the Gulf Stream and South China Sea, and three metrics are considered to diagnose model's outputs. The favorable results highlight the potential capability of the BM‐UBM Network to process SSH measurements obtained by wide‐swath altimetry.

Abstract Myofibrillogenesis regulator‐1 (MR‐1) is a multifunctional protein involved in the development of various human tumors. The study is the first to report the promoting effect of MR‐1 on the development and metastasis of non‐small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). MR‐1 is upregulated in NSCLC and positively associated with poor prognosis. The overexpression of MR‐1 promotes the metastasis of NSCLC cells by stabilizing the expression of Notch3‐ICD (NICD3) in the cytoplasm through enrichment analysis, in vitro and in vivo experimental researches. And Notch3 signaling can upregulate many genes related to metastasis. The stabilizing effect of MR‐1 on NICD3 is achieved through the mono‐ubiquitin lysosomal pathway and the specific E3 ubiquitin ligase is Itchy homolog (ITCH). There is a certain interaction between MR‐1 and NICD3. Elevated MR‐1 can affect the level of ITCH phosphorylation, reduce its E3 enzyme activity, and thus lead to reduce the ubiquitination and degradation of NICD3. Interference with the interaction between MR‐1 and NICD3 can increase the degradation of NICD3 and impair the metastatic ability of NSCLC cells, which is a previously overlooked treatment option in NSCLC. In summary, interference with the interaction between MR‐1 and NICD3 in the progression of lung cancer may be a promising therapeutic target.

The aim of this study is to conduct a thorough evaluation of the association between Benzophenone-3 (BP-3) exposure and OA, offering critical insights into the underlying mechanisms involved. The National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) database was utilized to investigate the correlation between BP-3 and osteoarthritis. Proteomic sequencing from clinical sample and the PharmMapper online tool were employed to predict the biological target of BP-3. Cellular molecular assays and transfection studies were performed to verify the prediction from bioinformatics analyses. Through cross-sectional analysis of the NHANES database, we identified BP-3 as a risk factor for OA development. The results of proteomic sequencing showed that Secreted Protein Acidic and Rich in Cysteine (SPARC) was significantly elevated in the area of damage compared to the undamaged area. SPARC was also among the potential biological targets of BP-3 predicted by the online program. Through in vitro cell experiments, we further determined that the toxicological effects of BP-3 may be due to SPARC, which elevates intracellular GPX4 levels, activates the glutathione system, and promotes lipid peroxidation to mitigate ferroptosis. Inhibiting SPARC expression has been shown to reduce inflammation and ferroptosis in OA contexts. This research provides an expansive understanding of BP-3's influence on osteoarthritis development. We have identified SPARC as a potent target for combating chondrocyte ferroptosis in BP-3-associated osteoarthritis.

The climate effects caused by greenhouse gases represented by CO2 are increasingly prominent, and global carbon reduction is urgent. Plasma technology has unique advantages in converting CO2 and it shows good prospects in achieving CO2-resource conversion. This paper reviewed the research results of plasma technology for CO2-resource conversion in recent years, mainly introduced the main process parameters and evaluation indicators of plasma converting CO2, summarized the effects of process parameters, active species and background gases on CO2 conversion, and focused on analyzing the synergistic effect of dielectric barrier dischange (DBD) plasma synergistic catalysis on CO2 conversion. Finally, in view of the problems and challenges faced by plasma synergistic catalysis for CO2-resource conversion, several key research directions in the future were proposed: 1) furtherly reveal the reaction mechanism of plasma converting CO2; 2) systematically explore the synergistic mechanism of plasma and catalyst; 3) from the perspective of practical engineering applications, more attention should be paid on the engineering amplification, safety risks in use, economic benefits of reactors, and so on.

Background: HBV infection is still one of the serious public health problems in the world. NAs as the first line drugs effectively inhibit viral replication, whereas the suppressive effects are much weaker on HBV antigen expression. Chinese patent medicine Liuweiwuling tablet (LWWL) has been used for chronic hepatitis B (CHB) patients for more than 10 years as an adjuvant treatment. Objective. This study aimed to assess the efficacy and safety of LWWL combined with NAs in treating CHB by meta-analysis. Methods. Systematic searches for randomized controlled trials (RCT) were conducted in four databases (up to December 2020) without language restrictions. Data were analyzed using Cochrane RevMan software version 5.3.0 and Stata software version 13.1, and reported as weight mean difference (WMD) or odds ratio (OR) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs). The primary outcomes were negative conversion rate of serum HBV DNA and HBeAg. The secondary outcomes were improvement of liver function including ALT and AST, and adverse drug reactions. The quality of evidence was evaluated according to criteria from the Cochrane risk of bias. Results. A total of 201 potentially relevant publications were identified, and 20 RCTs were eligible for inclusion. For the negative rate of HBV DNA (OR ​= ​2, 95%CI:1.64–2.45, P ＜0.05) and HBeAg (OR ​= ​1.83, 95%CI:1.46–2.30, P＜0.05), there were both statically significant benefit in favor of LWWL combined with NAs. In addition, Meta-analysis also showed that LWWL combined with NAs significantly reduced ALT (WMD ​= ​−17.73, 95%CI: 21.37∼-14.09, P ​

BackgroundArtesunate (ART) has been reported to have an antifibrotic effect in various organs. The underlying mechanism has not been systematically elucidated. We aimed to clarify the effect of ART on liver fibrosis induced by Schistosoma japonicum (S. japonicum) in an experimentally infected rodent model and the potential underlying mechanisms.MethodsThe effect of ART on hepatic stellate cells (HSCs) was assessed using CCK-8 and Annexin V-FITC/PI staining assays. The experimental model of liver fibrosis was established in the Mongolian gerbil model infected with S. japonicum cercariae and then treated with 20 mg/kg or 40 mg/kg ART. The hydroxyproline (Hyp) content, malondialdehyde (MDA) content, superoxide dismutase (SOD) and glutathione peroxidase (GPX) activities in liver tissue were measured and histopathological changes of liver tissues were observed. Whole-transcriptome RNA sequencing (RNA-seq) of the liver tissues was performed. Differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were identified using bioinformatic analysis and verified by quantitative PCR (qPCR) and western blot assay.ResultsART significantly inhibited the proliferation and induce the apoptosis of HSCs in a dose-dependent manner. In vivo, Hyp content decreased significantly in the ART-H group compared to the model (MOD) group and GPX activity was significantly higher in the ART-H group than in the MOD group. Besides, ART treatment significantly reduced collagen production (p ConclusionART is effective against liver fibrosis using Mongolian gerbil model induced by S. japonicum infection. We identified host candidate regulators of schistosomiasis-induced liver fibrosis in response to ART through transcriptomics approach.

Objective Osteoarthritis (OA) and asthma are two common chronic diseases with increasing incidence and prevalence, whereas there has been rare evidence to suggest the relationship between OA and asthma. This study aimed to analyze the causal relationship between OA and asthma. Methods Existing studies of the relationship between asthma and OA published till July 18, 2023, were identified from PubMed and Web of Science databases for meta-analysis. Subsequently, the causal relationship of all and site-specific OA with asthma was explored through a bidirectional two-sample Mendelian randomization (MR) analysis. Results A total of four eligible studies were included in the meta-analysis. In these studies, 80,550 participants were recruited, of whom 13,781 patients had OA. The asthma group had a significantly higher prevalence of OA than the control group (odds ratio (OR) = 2.08; 95% confidence intervals (CI): 1.42–3.03). However, MR analysis did not support a causal relationship between asthma and all OA and site-specific OA: knee and hip OA (OR = 1.03; 95% CI: 0.98–1.09), knee OA (OR = 1.02; 95% CI:0.96–1.08), and hip OA (OR = 1.04; 95% CI: 0.97–1.12). No causal relationship between OA and asthma was found through reverse MR analysis. Conclusions This meta-analysis suggests that patients with asthma are likely to have a greater prevalence of OA. However, the result of MR analysis reveals that asthma does not have a causal relationship to all OA or site-specific OA.

Purpose The prognostic role of TET2 and/or ASXL1 mutations which are common gene mutations in chronic myelomonocytic leukemia (CMML) remains controversial. Therefore, we conducted this meta-analysis to evaluate the prognostic efficacy of ASXL1 and TET2 mutations in CMML population.Methods PubMed, Cochrane and Embase for relevant research were employed to identify 16 studies. Overall survival rate (OS) with hazard ratios (HRs) was used for analysis, and each individual HR was applied to calculate the combined HR.Results The total HR of OS was 0.74, 95% CI = 0.61 - 0.91, P = 0.005, compared with CMML patients without TET2 mutations (TET2MT), and the total HR of OS was 1.56, 95% CI = 1.34 - 1.80, P = 0.000, compared with CMML patients without ASXL1 mutation (ASXL1WT), indicating that TET2MT and ASXL1WT were favorable for prognosis of CMML. According to whether the gene is mutated or not, the acute transformation rate of disease and mortality rate were further considered for assessment. Compared with the CMML patients with TET2MT and ASXL1WT, the HR of patients with in both TET2MT and ASXL1MT was 1.51 (95% CI = 1.14 - 1.99; P = 0.004), the HR of patients with neither TET2MT nor ASXL1MT was 1.49 (95%CI = 1.12 - 1.98; P = 0.007), and the HR of TET2WT and ASXL1MT patients was 1.88 (95%CI = 1.21 - 2.94; P = 0.005).Conclusion Presence of TET2MT and ASXL1WT genotype was the most beneficial for the survival of CMML patients.

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is a progressive metabolic disease characterized by hepatic steatosis, inflammation, and fibrosis that seriously endangers global public health. Epidemiological studies have shown that the incidence of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease in postmenopausal women has significantly increased. Studies have shown that estrogen deficiency is the main reason for this situation, and supplementing estrogen has become a new direction for preventing the occurrence of postmenopausal fatty liver. However, although classical estrogen replacement therapy can reduce the incidence of postmenopausal NAFLD, it has the risk of increasing stroke and cardiovascular diseases, so it is not suitable for the treatment of postmenopausal NAFLD. More and more recent studies have provided evidence that phytoestrogens are a promising method for the treatment of postmenopausal NAFLD. However, the mechanism of phytoestrogens in preventing and treating postmenopausal NAFLD is still unclear. This paper summarizes the clinical and basic research evidence of phytoestrogens and reviews the potential therapeutic effects of phytoestrogens in postmenopausal NAFLD from six angles: enhancing lipid metabolism in liver and adipose tissue, enhancing glucose metabolism, reducing oxidative stress, reducing the inflammatory response, regulating intestinal flora, and blocking liver fibrosis (Graphical Abstract).

Copper is an essential trace element that acts as a cofactor in various enzyme active sites in the human body. It participates in numerous life activities, including lipid metabolism, energy metabolism, and neurotransmitter synthesis. The proposal of “Cuproptosis” has made copper metabolism-related pathways a research hotspot in the field of tumor therapy, which has attracted great attention. This review discusses the biological processes of copper uptake, transport, and storage in human cells. It highlights the mechanisms by which copper metabolism affects hepatocellular carcinogenesis and metastasis, including autophagy, apoptosis, vascular invasion, cuproptosis, and ferroptosis. Additionally, it summarizes the current clinical applications of copper metabolism-related drugs in antitumor therapy.

Percutaneous transhepatic papillary balloon drainage (PTPBD) is a newly emerging interventional treatment modality for choledocholithiasis in China. Compared with other treatments, it has some advantages. Traditional Chinese medicine has been proven to have certain advantages in the treatment of choledocholithiasis, with reliable efficacy, few side effects, and a low recurrence rate. To standardize the clinical practice of choledocholithiasis, facilitate the application of PTPBD, and improve the diagnosis and treatment of integrative medicine, the Chinese College of Interventionalists organized multidisciplinary experts to discuss and formulate this consensus. This consensus aims to regulate the patient selection and technical process of PTPBD and the diagnosis and treatment scheme of integrative medicine.

Abstract Background Ubiquitination is a basic post-translational modification of intracellular proteins and can be reversed enzymatically by DUBs (deubiquitinating enzymes). More than 90 DUBs have been identified. Among them, the deubiquitinating enzyme YOD1, a member of the ovarian tumor domain protease (OTUs) subfamily, is involved in the regulation of endoplasmic reticulum (ER)-related degradation pathways. In fact, it is reported that YOD1 is an important proliferation and metastasis-inducing gene, which can stimulate the characteristics of cancer stem cells and maintain circulating tumor cells (CTC). However, the expression level, prognostic effect and biological functional mechanism of YOD1 in pancreatic cancer are still unclear. Results In the GEO and TCGA databases, YOD1 mRNA expression is significantly up regulated in a variety of human pancreatic cancer tissues. Survival analysis showed that the up regulation of YOD1 can predict poor prognosis of pancreatic cancer. Cox analysis showed that high YOD1 expression is an independent prognostic factor of pancreatic cancer. ROC analysis shows that YOD1 has significant diagnostic value. The immunohistochemistry (IHC) results showed that the protein expression level of YOD1 in pancreatic cancer tissue was higher than that in neighboring non-pancreatic cancer tissues (P

Pancreatic adenocarcinoma (PAAD) is one of the most lethal malignancies. Although gemcitabine (GEM) is a standard treatment for PAAD, resistance limits its application and therapy. Secoemestrin C (Sec C) is a natural compound from the endophytic fungus Emericella, and its anticancer activity has not been investigated since it was isolated. Our research is the first to indicate that Sec C is a broad-spectrum anticancer agent and could exhibit potently similar anticancer activity both in GEM-resistant and GEM-sensitive PAAD cells. Interestingly, Sec C exerted a rapid growth-inhibiting effect (80% death at 6 h), which might be beneficial for patients who need rapid tumor shrinkage before surgery. Liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry and N-acetyl-l-cysteine (NAC) reverse assays show that Sec C sulfates cysteines to disrupt disulfide-bonds formation in endoplasmic reticulum (ER) proteins to cause protein misfolding, leading to ER stress and disorder of lipid biosynthesis. Microarray data and subsequent assays show that ER stress-mediated ER-associated degradation (ERAD) ubiquitinates and downregulates YAP to enhance ER stress via destruction complex (YAP–Axin–GSK–βTrCP), which also elucidates a unique degrading style for YAP. Potent anticancer activity in GEM-resistant cells and low toxicity make Sec C a promising anti-PAAD candidate.

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) has now become the leading chronic liver disease worldwide with lifestyle changes. This may lead to NAFLD becoming the leading cause of end-stage liver disease in the future. To date, there are still no effective therapeutic drugs for NAFLD. An in-depth exploration of the pathogenesis of NAFLD can help to provide a basis for new therapeutic agents or strategies. As the most important immune cells of the liver, macrophages play an important role in the occurrence and development of liver inflammation and are expected to become effective targets for NAFLD treatment. Programmed cell death (PCD) of macrophages plays a regulatory role in phenotypic transformation, and there is also a certain connection between different types of PCD. However, how PCD regulates macrophage polarization has still not been systematically elucidated. Based on the role of lipid metabolic reprogramming in macrophage polarization, PCD may alter the phenotype by regulating lipid metabolism. We reviewed the effects of macrophages on inflammation in NAFLD and changes in their lipid metabolism, as well as the relationship between different types of PCD and lipid metabolism in macrophages. Furthermore, interactions between different types of PCD and potential therapeutic agents targeting of macrophages PCD are also explored.

Background: The incidence of Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is increasing year by year. Researches showed that Chinese patent medicines (CPMs) had achieved good efficacy in the treatment of Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease. However, the debate on optimum Chinese patent medicine (CPM) persists. Therefore, we conducted a network meta-analysis to objectively compare the efficacy of different Chinese patent medicines in the treatment of Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease.Methods: PubMed, Embase, Cochrane Library, Web of Science, China National Knowledge Infrastructure, Wanfang Database, China Science and Technology Journal Database, and Chinese Biomedical Literature Database were used as databases for RCT researches retrieval. The retrieval time was from establishment of the database to July 2022. After effective data was extracted, Review Manager 5.4 and Cochrane Collaboration System Evaluator’s Manual were used to assess bias risk. STATA 16.0 based on frequency theory was used for the network meta-analysis.Results: Totally 39 studies were included, involving 13 Chinese patent medicines, including 4049 patients, of which 42 patients were lost. In terms of improving clinical efficiency rate, Zhibitai capsule was most likely the best choice of Chinese patent medicine for Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease. Liuwei Wuling tablet had the best effect in reducing serum ALT and AST; Gandan Shukang capsule had the best effect in reducing serum GGT; Qianggan capsule had the best effect in reducing serum TG; Dangfei Liganning capsule had the best effect in reducing serum TC. None of the included studies had serious adverse reactions.Conclusion: For patients with Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease in this NMA, Zhibitai capsule, Liuwei Wuling tablet, Gandan Shukang capsule, Qianggan capsule, Dangfei Liganning capsule might be noteworthy. Due to the uclear risk bias, better designed double-blind, multi center and large sample RCTs are needed which resolve the problems of blinding, selective reporting and allocation concealment.Systematic Review Registration:https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/prospero/, identifier CRD42022341240.

Abstract Background Preeclampsia (PE) is a pregnancy-related condition that affects both the infant and the mother. Although the role of various inflammatory molecules in PE has been demonstrated, the importance of pro-inflammatory molecules such as IL-17A, IL-23 is not well understood. In the present investigation, a potential association of common genetic variants in the IL-17A and IL-23A genes with PE was investigated. Methods 115 PE clinically diagnosed patients who registered to the International Peace Maternity and Child Health Hospital were enrolled in this research. One hundred two pregnant women and 147 healthy Chinese women were also included. ELISA was used to measure IL-17A and IL-23 serum levels in all enrolled subjects. Common genetic polymorphisms in IL-17A (rs 2,275,913, rs1974226, and rs1974226), IL-23A (rs11171806), and IL-12B (rs3212227) were genotyped using the PCR-RFLP or TaqMan probe-based method. Results Elevated serum IL-17A levels were found in PE patients compared to pregnant (P

Agrilus mali Matsumura is a wood-boring beetle that aggressively attacks species of the genus Malus, that has recently caused serious damage to the wild apple tree M. sieversii (Lebed.) in the western Tianshan Mountains in Xinjiang. It was first detected there in the early 1990s and spread rapidly, being thus considered a regional invasive pest. To explore the possible outbreak mechanism of the local population and characterize the genetic differentiation of A. mali across different regions of China, we used three mitochondrial genes (COI, COII, and CytB) to investigate the genetic diversity and genetic structure of 17 A. mali populations containing 205 individuals collected from five Chinese provinces. Among them, nine populations were from the western Tianshan Mountains. Ultimately, of the 136 pairwise Fst comparisons, 99 showed high genetic differentiation among overall populations, and Tianshan populations exhibited significant differentiation with most of the non-Tianshan populations. Furthermore, A. mali populations represented relatively abundant haplotypes (54 haplotypes). Nine populations from the Tianshan Mountains showed 32 haplotypes (26 of which were unique), displaying relatively high genetic diversity. Additionally, the Mantel test revealed population genetic differentiation among either overall populations or the Tianshan Mountains populations, likely caused by geographical isolation. Phylogenic relationships showed that all populations clustered into three clades, and Tianshan Mountains populations, including CY, occupied one of the three clades. These results suggest that A. mali in the western Tianshan region has possibly been present in the area for a long period, and may not have been introduced recently. Highly frequent gene flows within Tianshan populations are possibly caused by human activities and may enhance the adaptability of A. mali along the western Tianshan Mountains, leading to periodic outbreaks. These findings enhance our understanding of jewel beetle population genetics and provide valuable information for pest management.

Electromagnetic metasurfaces with excellent electromagnetic wave regulation properties are promising for designing high-performance polarization control devices, while the application prospect of electromagnetic metasurfaces is limited because of the current development situations of the complex structure, low conversion efficiency, and narrow working bandwidth. In this work, we design a type of reflective terahertz metasurface made of a simple structure that can achieve multiple polarization modulation with high efficiency. It is shown that the presented metasurface can realize ultra-broadband, cross-polarization conversion with the relative working bandwidth reaching 94% and a conversion efficiency of over 90%. In addition, the proposed metasurface can also efficiently accomplish different polarization conversion functions, such as linear-to-linear, linear-to-circular, or circular-to-linear polarization conversion in multiple frequency bands. Due to the excellent properties, the designed metasurface can be used as a high-efficiency multi-functional polarization modulation device, and it has important application value in terahertz imaging, communication, biological detection, and other fields.

Biotransformation of the neo-clerodane diterpene, scutebarbatine F (1), by Streptomyces sp. CPCC 205437 was investigated for the first time, which led to the isolation of nine new metabolites, scutebarbatine F1–F9 (2–10). Their structures were determined by extensive high-resolution electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (HRESIMS) and NMR data analyses. The reactions that occurred included hydroxylation, acetylation, and deacetylation. Compounds 2–4 and 8–10 possess 18-OAc fragment, which were the first examples of 13-spiro neo-clerodanes with 18-OAc group. Compounds 7–10 were the first report of 13-spiro neo-clerodanes with 2-OH. Compounds 1–10 were biologically evaluated for the cytotoxic, antiviral, and antibacterial activities. Compounds 5, 7, and 9 exhibited cytotoxic activities against H460 cancer cell line with inhibitory ratios of 46.0, 42.2, and 51.1%, respectively, at 0.3 μM. Compound 5 displayed a significant anti-influenza A virus activity with inhibitory ratio of 54.8% at 20 μM, close to the positive control, ribavirin.

As an organelle, the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) is closely related to protein synthesis and modification. When physiological or pathological stimuli induce disorders of ER function, misfolded proteins trigger ER-phagy, which is beneficial for restoring cell homeostasis or promoting cell apoptosis. As a double-edged sword, ER-phagy actively participates in various stages of development and progression in tumor cells, regulating tumorigenesis and maintaining tumor cell homeostasis. Through the unfolded protein response (UPR), the B cell lymphoma 2 (BCL-2) protein family, the Caspase signaling pathway, and others, ER-phagy plays an initiating role in tumor occurrence, migration, stemness, and proliferation. At the same time, many vital proteins strongly associated with ER-phagy, such as family with sequence similarity 134 member B (FAM134B), translocation protein SEC62 (SEC62), and C/EBP-homologous protein (CHOP), can produce a marked effect in many complex environments, which ultimately lead to entirely different tumor fates. Our article comprehensively focused on introducing the relationship and interaction between ER-phagy and cancers, as well as their molecular mechanism and regulatory pathways. Via these analyses, we tried to clarify the possibility of ER-phagy as a potential target for cancer therapy and provide ideas for further research.

In recent years, the health and economic effects of air pollution have attracted considerable attention, and health and insurance services have been closely related to residents' welfare. However, there are few studies on the influence of pollution on household purchases of insurance. Using data from the 2013 and 2015 China Household Finance Surveys, this study investigates the effect of air pollution on insurance purchases using Logit and Poisson regression models. It is found that air pollution significantly increases the probability of household insurance purchases and the level of premium expenditure, although the impact of air pollution on insurance purchases shows a degree of heterogeneity. Health insurance is more sensitive to air pollution than life insurance and other types of insurance. In areas where NO2 and O3 are the main types of pollutants, air pollution has a greater impact on household insurance purchases.

Background: Ectopic pregnancy (EP) refers to the implantation of the zygote outside the uterine cavity. In clinical practice, the diagnosis of EP relies on a combination of ultrasound findings and serum human chorionic gonadotrophin (hCG) measurements. However, the need for serial hCG measurements increases the risk of tubal rupture and death, underscoring the need to identify biomarkers for the early detection of EP. Methods: The serum concentrations of 21 microRNAs (miRNAs) associated with pregnancy or with known placental expression, as well as serum hCG and progesterone levels were analyzed 36 patients with viable intrauterine pregnancy (VIP), 30 patients with spontaneous abortion (SA), and 34 patients with EP using specific assay kits and reverse transcription PCR. The diagnostic performance of the different serum markers for detecting EP was analyzed by ROC curve analysis. Results: Five miRNAs were differentially expressed between the three groups, of which miR-873 and miR-223 were significantly lower in EP than in VIP and SA patients and did not change significantly according to gestational age, and miR-323 was significantly higher in EP than in VIP and SA. As a single marker, miR-873 had the highest sensitivity for detecting EP at 61.76% (at a fixed specificity of 90%). In comparison, the combination of hCG, progesterone and miR-873 had the highest sensitivity for detecting EP at 79.41% (at a fixed specificity of 90%). Conclusion: Although further validation in large-scale prospective studies is necessary, our results suggest that miR-873 could be a valuable noninvasive and stable biomarker for the early detection of EP.

This study investigated the surface modification of polyimide (PI) film through TiO2 photocatalytic treatment. The effects of TiO2 content, treatment duration, and UV power on the surface topography, surface contact angle, and adhesion strength of the surface-modified PI films were investigated. The results indicated that, after surface modification under the optimal photocatalytic conditions, the surface contact angle of the PI film decreased from 84.4° to 38.8°, and the adhesion strength between the PI film and the electroless copper film reached 0.78 kN/m. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy analysis further demonstrated that carboxyl groups formed on the surface of the PI film after photocatalytic treatment. The surface hydrophilicity and adhesion strength of the surface-modified PI film were enhanced due to the numerous carboxyl groups formed on its surface. Therefore, the photocatalytic treatment is an environmentally friendly and effective method for the surface modification of PI films.

Background/Aims: Adenomyosis is a disease in which ectopic endometrial glands and stromal cells appear in the uterine myometrium. Despite its prevalence, the molecular mechanisms involved in the development of adenomyosis are largely unknown. The aim of this study was to investigate the role of miR-10b and its target genes ZEB1 and PIK3CA in adenomyosis. Methods: 1387 miRNAs in human normal endometrium and ectopic endometrial lesions of adenomyosis using a microarray screen assay. The significant differential expression of 10 miRNAs was confirmed by qRT-PCR. The expression of miR-10b in endometrial epithelial cells isolated from normal endometrium and paired eutopic and ectopic endometrium of adenomyosis was measured by qRT-PCR. Subsequently, the targets of miR-10b were predicted by bioinformatics and confirmed using a luciferase assay, and the mRNA and protein expression of ZEB1 and PIK3CA were assessed in the endometrium or endometrial epithelial cells by qRT-PCR and western blotting or immunohistochemical analysis. Cell migration and cell invasion of endometrial epithelial cells with different treatments by Transwell assays. The expression of p-AKT, Akt and E-cadherin proteins was determined by Western blot analysis. Results: MiR-10b expression was significantly downregulated in both adenomyotic lesions and adenomyotic epithelial cells. MiR-10b overexpression in adenomyotic epithelial cells inhibited cell migration and invasion. We then demonstrated that miR-10b directly targets the 3'-UTRs of ZEB1 and PIK3CA, and downregulates ZEB1 and PIK3CA in adenomyotic epithelial cells, leading to increased E-cadherin expression and decreased Akt phosphorylation. Conclusions: miR-10b directly targets ZEB1 and PIK3CA to curb adenomyotic epithelial cell invasiveness via upregulation of E-Cadherin and inhibition of Akt phosphorylation.

Maoyecha tea, a natural non-caffeine and high-theobromine-containing tea variety, is a special tea resource in southern China. The aims of this study were to analyze the changes in quality components of Maoyecha tea during anaerobic treatment, and to investigate whether or not the extract of gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) present in Maoyecha tea has the sleep-promoting effect. The results showed that GABA content in Maoyecha tea was increased significantly and reached the standard of GABA tea after anaerobic treatment. The contents of free amino acids and alkaloids were also significantly increased whereas polyphenols and water extract were reduced. At the same time, treatment under vacuum accelerated the transformation of catechins. More importantly, the extract of GABA Maoyecha tea was shown to have the sleep-promoting effect. These neuropharmacological properties are possibly and mainly mediated via the GABAergic neurotransmission.

Background/Aims: MicroRNA (miRNA) plays important roles in the development of different cancers. In this study, we investigated the roles and mechanisms of miR-203 in human cervical cancer. Methods: miR-203 expression was detected in cervical cancer tumors and cell lines by qRT-PCR. The methylation status in the promoter region of miR-203 was examined by methylation-specific PCR. The functional effect of miR-203 was determined by both in vitro and in vivo assays. Results: miR-203 was frequently down-regulated in cervical cancer tumors and cell lines. This down-regulation of miR-203 was associated with methylation of the miR-203 promoter. Furthermore, miR-203 down-regulated vascular endothelial growth factor alpha (VEGFA) expression by directly targeting its 3'-untranslated region. Functional assays revealed that miR-203 suppressed cervical cancer cell proliferation, tumor growth, and angiogenesis in nude mice, whereas forced expression of VEGFA rescued this inhibitory effect. Conclusion: Our collective findings indicate that miR-203 functions as a tumor suppressor by targeting VEGFA, resulting in the inhibition of tumor growth and angiogenesis. Thus, miR-203 may be a potential therapeutic target and prognostic marker in cervical cancer.

Two immortalized backcross populations (DHBCF1s and JMBCF1s) were developed using a recombinant inbred line (RIL) population crossed with the two parents DH962 and Jimian5 (as the males), respectively. The fiber quality and yield component traits of the two backcross populations were phenotyped at four environments (two locations, two years). One hundred seventy-eight quantitative trait loci (QTL) were detected including 76 for fiber qualities and 102 for yield components, explaining 4.08-17.79% of the phenotypic variation (PV). Among the 178 QTL, 22 stable QTL were detected in more than one environment or population. A stable QTL, qFL-c10-1, was detected in the previous F2 population, a RIL population in 3 environments and the current two BCF1 populations in this study, explaining 5.79-37.09% of the PV. Additionally, 117 and 110 main-effect QTL (M-QTL) and 47 and 191 digenic epistatic QTL (E-QTL) were detected in the DHBCF1s and JMBCF1s populations, respectively. The effect of digenic epistasis played a more important role on lint percentage, fiber length and fiber strength. These results obtained in the present study provided more resources to obtain stable QTL, confirming the authenticity and reliability of the QTL for molecular marker-assisted selection breeding and QTL cloning.

A population of 178 recombinant inbred lines (RILs) was developed using a single seed descendant from a cross between G. hirsutum. acc DH962 and G. hirsutum. cv Jimian5, was used to construct a genetic map and to map QTL for fiber and yield traits. A total of 644 polymorphic loci were used to construct a final genetic map, containing 616 loci and spanning 2016.44 cM, with an average of 3.27 cM between adjacent markers. Statistical analysis revealed that segregation distortion in the intraspecific population was more serious than that in the interspecific population. The RIL population and the two parents were phenotyped under 8 environments (two locations, six years), revealing a total of 134 QTL, including 64 for fiber qualities and 70 for yield components, independently detected in seven environments, explaining 4.40-15.28% of phenotypic variation (PV). Among the 134 QTL, 9 common QTL were detected in more than one environment, and 22 QTL and 19 new QTL were detected in combined analysis (E9). A total of 26 QTL hotspot regions were observed on 13 chromosomes and 2 larger linkage groups, and some QTL clusters related to fiber qualities or yield components were also observed. The results obtained in the present study suggested that to map accurate QTL in crops with larger plant types, such as cotton, phenotyping under multiple environments is necessary to effectively apply the obtained results in molecular marker-assisted selection breeding and QTL cloning.

Ulcerative colitis (UC) impairs the health-related quality of life (HRQOL). The difference in HRQOL between patients with mild and moderately active UC is not well-defined. Few studies have been conducted to explore the factors that influence HRQOL in Chinese patients. Our study aims were to (1) compare HRQOL of mildly active UC patients with moderate patients; (2) explore the factors that influence HRQOL in Chinese patients with UC; and (3) analyze demographic and disease characteristics of UC in China.A total of 110 mild and 114 moderate patients with UC were enrolled. The demographic and disease characteristics were recorded. HRQOL was measured by the Chinese version of the inflammatory bowel disease questionnaire (IBDQ) between mild and moderate patients, male and female patients, and different disease distributions. Stepwise regression analysis was used to assess factors influencing the IBDQ score.Patients with moderate UC had significantly lower IBDQ total scores compared to patients with mild UC (P=0.001). The IBDQ total score had a negative correlation with the Mayo score (r=-0.263, P

A layer-by-layer assemble method was used to fabricate CdS quantum dots (QDs) sensitized electrodes. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS), and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) have been utilized to characterize the samples. The absorption spectra and photovoltaic measurement confirmed that much more effective deposition of QDs in TiO2 matrix and much better power conversion performance were achieved for these multilayer electrodes compared with the ones fabricated by traditional single-layer assembly method.

Optimizing the photocatalytic efficiency of semiconductor materials is capable of being achievable by the effective tuning of the interfacial transport efficiency of photogenerated carriers utilizing crystal facet engineering. This study adopted a liquid deposition routine tackle to generate cubic, truncated octahedral, and octahedral Cu2O crystals with various exposed facets. Afterward, a Cu2O/g-C3N4 heterojunction was constructed exploiting defective g-C3N4 as a carrier. By controlling the exposed facet, the work function difference between Cu2O and g-C3N4 was adjusted, resulting in an enhanced built-in electric field and greater photogenerated carrier transit via the Cu2O/g-C3N4 heterojunction interface. The OCN heterojunction, which is composed of g-C3N4 and octahedral Cu2O with a {111} facet, revealed the highest photocatalytic degradation effectiveness of tetracycline (90.8%), which exceeded the values of pure octahedral Cu2O and g-C3N4 by 1.26 and 1.75 times, respectively, as determined by photocatalytic activity experiments. Z-scheme heterojunction among g-C3N4 and octahedral Cu2O has been verified through UPS, XPS, EIS, and transient photocurrent response analysis, along the direction of the built-in electric field recognized between them. In contrast, OCN displayed the highest photocatalytic activity due to its Z-scheme heterojunction, which evidently promoted the separation efficiency of photogenerated carriers. This research proposes an innovative approach for regulating the exposed facet of semiconductors and augmenting the inherent electric field strength of heterojunctions, culminating in the efficient photocatalytic degradation of tetracycline. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]