Search

The fatty acid desaturase 1 (FADS1), also known as delta‐5 desaturase (D5D), is one of the rate‐limiting enzymes involved in the desaturation and elongation cascade of polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) to generate long‐chain PUFAs (LC‐PUFAs). Reduced function of D5D and decreased hepatic FADS1 expression, as well as low levels of LC‐PUFAs, were associated with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease. However, the causal role of D5D in hepatic lipid homeostasis remains unclear. In this study, we hypothesized that down‐regulation of FADS1 increases susceptibility to hepatic lipid accumulation. We used in vitro and in vivo models to test this hypothesis and to delineate the molecular mechanisms mediating the effect of reduced FADS1 function. Our study demonstrated that FADS1 knockdown significantly reduced cellular levels of LC‐PUFAs and increased lipid accumulation and lipid droplet formation in HepG2 cells. The lipid accumulation was associated with significant alterations in multiple pathways involved in lipid homeostasis, especially fatty acid oxidation. These effects were demonstrated to be mediated by the reduced function of the peroxisome proliferator–activated receptor alpha (PPARα)–fibroblast growth factor 21 (FGF21) axis, which can be reversed by treatment with docosahexaenoic acid, PPARα agonist, or FGF21. In vivo, FADS1‐knockout mice fed with high‐fat diet developed increased hepatic steatosis as compared with their wild‐type littermates. Molecular analyses of the mouse liver tissue largely corroborated the observations in vitro, especially along with reduced protein expression of PPARα and FGF21. Conclusion: Collectively, these results suggest that dysregulation in FADS1 alters liver lipid homeostasis in the liver by down‐regulating the PPARα‐FGF21 signaling axis.

AbstractIn this study, a numerical model is established to study the forced and mixed convection heat transfer in the laminar region for horizontal mini tube with different diameters (1.2 mm to 3.0 mm) under the uniform wall heat flux boundary condition. The Reynolds number is set from 100 to 2,000 and the uniform wall heat flux boundary condition is set at 10 and 20 kW/m2. The model is verified with well-established correlation to guarantee good accuracy. The existence of mixed convection is examined by (1) the ratio between the heat transfer coefficients at the top and the bottom of the tube, and (2) the temperature contour plot. Based on the simulation results, the existence of buoyancy superimposed on the main flow is strongly related to the tube diameter, the dimensionless location, the Reynolds number, and the heat flux applied. Under the same heating condition, for small diameter tube with insufficient length, buoyancy effect can never establish. The existing flow regime maps for macro tube were used to predict the forced and mixed convection regimes from the simulated mini tube results and discrepancy was found. A new flow regime map is hence developed for mini tubes, and it classified the simulation results with good accuracy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: The Gothenburg Trismus Questionnaire (GTQ) is a comprehensive scale for screening and assessing trismus in head and neck (H&N) cancer and temporomandibular joint disorders (TMD) patients. This study aimed to translate and cross‐culturally adapt the GTQ in China, and to test its measurement invariance. Methods: This study comprised 278 H&N cancer, 245 TMD, and 507 control patients. Internal consistency and test–retest reliability were tested to assess the GTQ's reliability. The validity was evaluated through composite reliability (CR), average variance extracted (AVE), and correlation tests. Multi‐group confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) was used to investigate the GTQ's measurement invariance across clinical status and gender. T tests were employed to compare score differences across clinical status and gender. Results: The Chinese version of GTQ scale shows excellent internal consistency and test–retest reliability. The CR, AVE, and correlation values demonstrate the good validity of GTQ. The multi‐group CFA supported configural invariance across clinical status but not metric invariance, while it supported strict invariance across gender. Additionally, t tests revealed that patients with H&N cancer and TMD scored higher than the control group, while males scored higher than females. Conclusions: The Chinese version of GTQ serves as an effective tool for screening and assessing trismus. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: To evaluate physicians' awareness and knowledge towards pediatric nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and their attitude toward change in nomenclature from NAFLD to metabolic dysfunction‐associated fatty liver disease (MAFLD) or metabolic dysfunction‐associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) in China. Methods: The questionnaire survey contained five parts (characteristics of the participants, epidemiology, diagnosis, management of NAFLD, and attitudes toward the nomenclature of MAFLD/MASLD). The participants included 53 hepatologists, 88 gastroenterologists (GEs), 74 endocrinologists (ENDOs), 61 primary care physicians (PCPs), and 157 pediatricians across 31 municipalities, provinces and autonomous regions of China's mainland. Results: Hepatologists saw the largest number of pediatric NAFLD patients annually (median 9 [range 1–20]), with the lowest number by PCPs (even notwithstanding one patient annually). The primary sources of pediatric NAFLD knowledge were acquired via guidelines. Hepatologists had the highest total knowledge score among all five types of physicians. Approximately one‐third of nonspecialists (ENDOs and PCPs) considered liver biopsy necessary for pediatric NAFLD patients, and this percentage increased to half in specialists (hepatologists and GEs). For nonspecialists, the major barriers to the management of pediatric NAFLD were poor patient adherence to lifestyle modifications and lacking confidence in managing NAFLD. Above 90% physicians agreed to change the nomenclature NAFLD to MAFLD; however, they were not sure whether it could reduce the economic burden. Conclusions: Despite the epidemic of pediatric NAFLD in China, a significant knowledge gap remains in the identification, diagnosis, and treatment of pediatric NAFLD, particularly among frontline workers such as pediatricians and PCPs. More education programs should be carried out in the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Proper membrane physiology requires maintenance of a narrow range of physicochemical properties, which must be buffered from external perturbations. Here, authors report lipidomic remodeling to preserve membrane physical properties upon exogenous polyunsaturated fatty acids exposure.

Abstract Background Breast cancer is a leading cause of cancer-related death for women in the USA. Thus, there is an increasing need to investigate novel prognostic markers and therapeutic methods. Inflammation raises challenges in treating and preventing the spread of breast cancer. Specifically, the nuclear factor kappa b (NFκB) pathway contributes to cancer progression by stimulating proliferation and preventing apoptosis. One target gene of this pathway is PTGS2, which encodes for cyclooxygenase 2 (COX-2) and is upregulated in 40% of human breast carcinomas. COX-2 is an enzyme involved in the production of prostaglandins, which mediate inflammation. Here, we investigate the effect of Singleminded-2s (SIM2s), a transcriptional tumor suppressor that is implicated in inhibition of tumor growth and metastasis, in regulating NFκB signaling and COX-2. Methods For in vitro experiments, reporter luciferase assays were utilized in MCF7 cells to investigate promoter activity of NFκB and SIM2. Real-time PCR, immunoblotting, immunohistochemistry, and chromatin immunoprecipitation assays were performed in SUM159 and MCF7 cells. For in vivo experiments, MCF10DCIS.COM cells stably expressing SIM2s-FLAG or shPTGS2 were injected into SCID mice and subsequent tumors harvested for immunostaining and analysis. Results Our results reveal that SIM2 attenuates the activation of NFκB as measured using NFκB-luciferase reporter assay. Furthermore, immunostaining of lysates from breast cancer cells overexpressing SIM2s showed reduction in various NFκB signaling proteins, as well as pAkt, whereas knockdown of SIM2 revealed increases in NFκB signaling proteins and pAkt. Additionally, we show that NFκB signaling can act in a reciprocal manner to decrease expression of SIM2s. Likewise, suppressing NFκB translocation in DCIS.COM cells increased SIM2s expression. We also found that NFκB/p65 represses SIM2 in a dose-dependent manner, and when NFκB is suppressed, the effect on the SIM2 is negated. Additionally, our ChIP analysis confirms that NFκB/p65 binds directly to SIM2 promoter site and that the NFκB sites in the SIM2 promoter are required for NFκB-mediated suppression of SIM2s. Finally, overexpression of SIM2s decreases PTGS2 in vitro, and COX-2 staining in vivo while decreasing PTGS2 and/or COX-2 activity results in re-expression of SIM2. Conclusion Our findings identify a novel role for SIM2s in NFκB signaling and COX-2 expression.

Background: Microsurgical bone reconstruction is challenging in cases of anterior maxillary defects because of the presence of residual teeth. The study analyzed the method and feasibility of using vascularized bone flaps to reconstruct anterior maxillary defects. Methods: We retrospectively analyzed 15 patients treated at the Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Peking University School, and Hospital of Stomatology between November 2017 and January 2023. Results: A total of 14 patients were successfully reconstructed using the digital technique: 6 deep circumflex iliac artery (DCIA) flaps and 8 fibular free flaps. Palatal and buccal pedicle paths were used in 4 and 10 cases, respectively, for vascular anastomosis. The implant coverage rates of the DCIA and fibular free flaps were 87.2% and 92.6%, respectively (p > 0.05). Conclusion: Anterior maxillary defects reconstructed with the DCIA and fibular free flaps are reliable methods. Furthermore, the palatal and buccal paths are recommended for vascular anastomosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As a renewable resource, Glycyrrhiza uralensis residue is rich in a variety of active substances, such as flavonoids, polysaccharides and wood fibers. Extracting Glycyrrhiza uralensis residue can fully explore and utilize the active ingredients in residue, increasing the potential added value of the medicinal residue. The active substances extracted from Glycyrrhiza uralensis residue are beneficial to improve the growth performance and reproductive level of animals and enhance antioxidant capacity and immunity of animals. Glycyrrhiza uralensis extract has a certain anti-inflammatory effect. The article reviews the extraction methods of various active ingredients in Glycyrrhiza uralensis residue and their applications in animal production, in order to provide a reference for promoting the reuse of Glycyrrhiza uralensis resources and improving the efficiency of animal production. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and Purpose The management of older aneurysmal subarachnoid haemorrhage (aSAH) cases is a clinical challenge. This study aimed to analyse the survival and functional outcomes in older aSAH patients (age ≥ 70 years) to provide evidence for making treatment decisions for such patients. Methods We performed a 2-year follow-up analysis of the Chinese Multi-Centre Cerebral Aneurysm Database for older patients suffering from aSAH from 2017 to 2020. A survival analysis was used to investigate the mean survival and hazard ratios for death. Binary logarithmic regression was performed to investigate the odds ratio for independent survival and dependent survival. Results A total of 1,136 consecutive older patients with aSAH were assessed in this study, and 944 patients (83.1%) were followed up. The overall mean survival was 37.79 ± 1.04 months. A total of 380 (40.25%) patients died within 2 years after aSAH. In survival analysis, the predictors of mortality were older age, intracerebral haemorrhage (ICH) history, Hunt-Hess (H-H) grade, World Federation of Neurosurgical Societies (WFNS) grade and operative treatment decreased the risk of mortality compared to conservative treatment. In binary logarithmic regression, the predictors of dependent survival were hypertension, diabetes, WFNS grade. Conclusions The risk for 2-year mortality after aSAH increases markedly with older age, ICH history, H-H grade and WFNS grade. Risk factors for 2-year dependent survival were associated with hypertension, diabetes and WFNS grade in older patients with aSAH. Operative treatment markedly decreased mortality but did not significantly decrease the morbidity of dependent survival compared to conservative treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]