Background:The Rufous-backed Bunting,Emberiza jankowskii,is an endangered species that is primarily distributed in Inner Mongolia,China.The main threats to the continued persistence of this species are habitat loss an...Background:The Rufous-backed Bunting,Emberiza jankowskii,is an endangered species that is primarily distributed in Inner Mongolia,China.The main threats to the continued persistence of this species are habitat loss and degradation.However,the impact of population loss on genetic diversity remains unclear.To support future conservation and management efforts,we assessed the genetic diversity and population structure of E.jankowskii using mitochondrial DNA and microsatellites.Methods:Blood samples were collected from 7-8-day-old nestlings in Inner Mongolia,China between May and August of 2012 and 2013.Mitochondrial DNA sequences and microsatellite markers were used to assess the genetic diversity,genetic structure and inbreeding of E.jankowskii.The results of genetic diversity and inbreeding were compared to other avian species.Results:We found an unexpectedly high level of genetic diversity in terms of mitochondrial DNA and microsatellite compared to other avian species.However,there were high levels of gene flow and minimal genetic structuring,among the fragmented breeding populations of E.jankowskii in Inner Mongolia.These findings suggest that E.jankowskii in Inner Mongolia is a metapopulation.Despite the high genetic diversity of E.jankowskii,local populations in each small patch remain at risk of extinction due to habitat loss.In addition,the E.jankowskii population has a high risk of inbreeding.Conclusions:To minimize further loss of genetic diversity of this endangered species,we suggest that the E.jankowskii in Inner Mongolia should be considered as a protected species for management purposes.Conservation efforts should concentrate on E.jankowskii habitat management.This may be most effectively achieved by protecting the current breeding habitats and prohibiting over-grazing.展开更多
BACKGROUND Duodenal mucosal ablation(DMA)using irreversible electroporation(IRE)with a glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonist has been clinically shown to reduce liver lipid deposition in non-alcoholic fatty liver d...BACKGROUND Duodenal mucosal ablation(DMA)using irreversible electroporation(IRE)with a glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonist has been clinically shown to reduce liver lipid deposition in non-alcoholic fatty liver disease(NAFLD).However,the specific metabolic contributions of DMA using IRE in NAFLD remain unclear.AIM To assess the feasibility and effectiveness of DMA using IRE in NAFLD rat models.METHODS Seven-week-old male Sprague-Dawley rats underwent DMA using IRE after 8 weeks on a high-fat diet.Two weeks post-treatment,duodenal and liver tissues and blood samples were collected.We evaluated differences in the duodenal wall structure,liver lipid deposition,enteroendocrine,claudin,and zonula ocludens-1 in the duodenal mucosa.RESULTS DMA using IRE could be safely performed in rats with NAFLD without duodenal bleeding,perforation,or stenosis.The duodenum healed well 2 weeks after DMA and was characterized by slimmer villi,narrower and shallower crypts,and thicker myenterons compared with the sham-control setting.Liver lipid deposition was reduced and serum lipid index parameters were considerably improved in the DMA setting.However,these improvements were independent of food intake and weight loss.In addition,enteroendocrine parameters,such as claudin,and zonula ocludens-1 levels in the duodenal mucosa,differed between the different settings in the DMA group.CONCLUSION By altering enteroendocrine and duodenal permeability,simple DMA using IRE ameliorated liver lipid deposition and improved serum lipid parameters in NAFLD rats.展开更多
BACKGROUND Colony-stimulating factor 3(CSF3)and its receptor(CSF3R)are known to promote gastric cancer(GC)growth and metastasis.However,their effects on the immune microenvironment remain unclear.Our analysis indicate...BACKGROUND Colony-stimulating factor 3(CSF3)and its receptor(CSF3R)are known to promote gastric cancer(GC)growth and metastasis.However,their effects on the immune microenvironment remain unclear.Our analysis indicated a potential link between CSF3R expression and the immunosuppressive receptor leukocyte immunoglobulin-like receptor B2(LILRB2)in GC.We hypothesized that CSF3/CSF3R may regulate LILRB2 and its ligands,angiopoietin-like protein 2(ANGPTL2)and human leukocyte antigen-G(HLA-G),contributing to immunosuppression.AIM To investigate the relationship between CSF3/CSF3R and LILRB2,as well as its ligands ANGPTL2 and HLA-G,in GC.METHODS Transcriptome sequencing data from The Cancer Genome Atlas were analyzed,stratifying patients by CSF3R expression.Differentially expressed genes and immune checkpoints were evaluated.Immunohistochemistry(IHC)was performed on GC tissues.Correlation analyses of CSF3R,LILRB2,ANGPTL2,and HLA-G were conducted using The Cancer Genome Atlas data and IHC results.GC cells were treated with CSF3,and expression levels of LILRB2,ANGPTL2,and HLA-G were measured by quantitative reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction and western blotting.RESULTS Among 122 upregulated genes in high CSF3R expression groups,LILRB2 showed the most significant increase.IHC results indicated high expression of LILRB2(63.0%),ANGPTL2(56.5%),and HLA-G(73.9%)in GC tissues.Strong positive correlations existed between CSF3R and LILRB2,ANGPTL2,and HLA-G mRNA levels(P<0.001).IHC confirmed positive correlations between CSF3R and LILRB2(P<0.001),and HLA-G(P=0.010),but not ANGPTL2(P>0.05).CSF3 increased LILRB2,ANGPTL2,and HLA-G expression in GC cells.Heterogeneous nuclear ribonucleoprotein H1 modulation significantly altered their expression,impacting CSF3’s regulatory effects.CONCLUSION The CSF3/CSF3R pathway may contribute to immunosuppression in GC by upregulating LILRB2 and its ligands,with heterogeneous nuclear ribonucleoprotein H1 playing a regulatory role.展开更多
β-Amyloid(1-42)(Aβ_(42))can induce excessive activation of microglia,resulting in exacerbated neuroinflammation and neuronal damage.Milk fat globule-epidermal growth factor-8(MFG-E8)is known to regulate Aβ_(42)-ind...β-Amyloid(1-42)(Aβ_(42))can induce excessive activation of microglia,resulting in exacerbated neuroinflammation and neuronal damage.Milk fat globule-epidermal growth factor-8(MFG-E8)is known to regulate Aβ_(42)-induced neurotoxicity and inflammatory responses via multiple signaling pathways.However,insufficient secretion of endogenous MFG-E8 may lead to autoimmunity in the central nervous system and the accumulation of apoptotic cells.In this study,we systematically investigated the inhibitory effects and potential mechanisms of exogenously administered milk-derived MFG-E8(M-MFG-E8)on Aβ_(42)-induced inflammation in BV-2 microglia using various techniques,including cell morphology analysis,immunofluorescence staining,ELISA,q RT-PCR,and Western blot assays.The results demonstrated that Aβ_(42)significantly increased the expression levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines tumor necrosis factor-α(TNF-α),interleukin-6(IL-6),and interleukin-1β(IL-1β)in BV-2 microglia,whereas treatment with M-MFG-E8 effectively reversed these inflammatory responses.Furthermore,Aβ_(42)stimulation increased the secretion of pro-inflammatory cytokines(TNF-α,IL-1β)and the expression of the M1 marker cluster of differentiation 86(CD86),while suppressing the anti-inflammatory factors(arginase-1(Arg-1),interleukin-10(IL-10))and the M2 marker cluster of differentiation 206(CD206)in microglia.In contrast,M-MFG-E8 treatment promoted the polarization of microglia from the M1 to the M2 phenotype.Notably,M-MFG-E8 also inhibited the Aβ_(42)-induced upregulation of CD68,whereas M-MFG-E8 alone did not elicit this effect.Finally,our findings suggest that exogenous M-MFG-E8 may exert anti-inflammatory actions through the modulation of the NF-κB and PI3K/Akt pathways,providing new insights into neuronal cell repair and the development of functional foods.展开更多
Type 2 diabetes mellitus(T2DM)is a prevalent metabolic disorder.Despite the availability of numerous pharmacotherapies,a range of adverse reactions,including hypoglycemia,gastrointestinal discomfort,and lactic acidosi...Type 2 diabetes mellitus(T2DM)is a prevalent metabolic disorder.Despite the availability of numerous pharmacotherapies,a range of adverse reactions,including hypoglycemia,gastrointestinal discomfort,and lactic acidosis,limits their patient applicability and long-term application.Therefore,it is necessary to screen novel therapeutic drugs for T2DM treatment that have high efficacy but few adverse effects.AMP-activated protein kinase(AMPK)stands out as one of the most powerful targets for T2DM treatment.It can be activated through energysensing or calcium signaling.Medications that activate AMPK through the energy-sensing mechanism exhibit remarkable potency,but they are accompanied by lactic acidosis,carrying an alarmingly high mortality rate.Interestingly,medications that activate AMPK through calcium signaling,such as gliclazide,seldom induce lactic acidosis.However,the efficacy of gliclazide is much lower than metformin.Therefore,it is necessary to explore targets that activate AMPK via calcium signaling to avoid lactic acidosis while maintaining high potency.Ion channels are the main controller of intracellular calcium flow.Specific agonists and inhibitors targeting ion channels have been reported to activate AMPK.In this review,we will summarize the structure and function of calcium-permeable ion channels and discuss the potential of targeting these calcium channels for T2DM treatment.展开更多
To address the significant degradation of Space-Time Adaptive Processing(STAP)performance when the array elements have mutual coupling and gain/phase errors,a STAP algorithm with adaptive calibration for the above two...To address the significant degradation of Space-Time Adaptive Processing(STAP)performance when the array elements have mutual coupling and gain/phase errors,a STAP algorithm with adaptive calibration for the above two array errors is proposed in this article.First,based on a defined error matrix that simultaneously considers both array mutual coupling and gain/phase errors,a STAP signal model including these errors is given.Then,utilizing the defined signal model,it is demonstrated that the estimation of the defined error matrix can be formulized as a standard convex optimization problem with the low-rank structure of the clutter covariance matrix and the subspace projection theory.Once the defined error matrix is estimated by solving the convex optimization problem,it is illustrated that a STAP method with adaptive calibration of the mutual coupling and gain/phase errors is coined.Analyses also show that the proposed adaptive calibration algorithm only needs one training sample to construct the adaptive weight vector.Therefore,it can achieve a good detection performance even with severe non-homogeneous clutter environments.Finally,the simulation experiments verify the effectiveness of the proposed algorithm and the correctness of the analytical results.展开更多
Developing effective heterostructure strategies to mitigate the shuttling effect and accelerate lithium polysulfide(Li PS)conversion remains a critical challenge in lithium–sulfur(Li–S)batteries.Here,we report the f...Developing effective heterostructure strategies to mitigate the shuttling effect and accelerate lithium polysulfide(Li PS)conversion remains a critical challenge in lithium–sulfur(Li–S)batteries.Here,we report the first carbon–free VO_(2)–VS_(2)heterostructure material synthesized via in situ sulfurization,applied as a modifier on a commercial polypropylene(PP)separator(denoted as VO_(2)–VS_(2)@PP).The as–prepared VO_(2)–VS_(2)nanorods synergistically combine the high absorptivity of VO_(2)with the efficient catalytic properties of VS_(2),simultaneously enhancing Li PS anchoring and promoting its conversion.We systematically investigate the influence of material composition on battery performance,leveraging these functional attributes,Li–S cells incorporating VO_(2)–VS_(2)@PP exhibit exceptional cycle stability(over 500cycles at 1C),impressive rate performance(807 m Ah.g^(–1)at 5C),desirable reversibility(49.9%capacity retention after 300 cycles at 5C)and exceptional pouch cell performance(3.65 m Ah.cm^(–2)after 50 stable cycles at 0.1C).This study underscores the potential of tailored heterostructures in realizing high–performance Li–S batteries,offering new insights for next–generation energy storage solutions.展开更多
As a novel material,high-entropy compounds have attracted extensive attention in the field of lithium–sulfur battery host materials due to their diverse elemental composition with a wide range of properties.The abili...As a novel material,high-entropy compounds have attracted extensive attention in the field of lithium–sulfur battery host materials due to their diverse elemental composition with a wide range of properties.The ability to effectively mitigate the shuttle effect of lithium polysulfides and catalyze the bidirectional conversion of Li_(2)S_(2)/Li_(2)S is crucial to enhance the overall performance of the battery.In this study,a unique sulfur host nanosized highentropy material comprising selenium-doped HEO(AlCrFeCoNi)_(3)O_(4-x)-Se_(x)is fabricated using an in situ thermal reduction and selenylation method.In the high-entropy compounds,the introduction of Se causes that the generation of oxygen vacancies during the lattice distortion serves as ion transfer pathway and the formation of M-Se bonds provides a high adsorption capability for LiPSs.Moreover,the polymetallic cooperative high-entropy nanoparticles also provide numerous active sites favoring redox kinetics of the sulfur electrode.The resulting selenium-doped HEO(AlCrFeCoNi)_(3)O_(4-x)-Se_(x)not only enhances discharge capacity but also maintains excellent capacity cycling stability.As a result,the HEO-Se/S composite exhibits a specific capacity of 1233.9 mAh g^(-1)at 0.1C and experiences minimal capacity fading at a rate of 0.038%per cycle over 500 cycles at 0.2C,while host materials with sulfur loading of 4.33 mg cm^(-2)and E/S ratio of 5.88μL mg^(-1)exhibit excellent capacity retention after 100 cycles at 0.2C.This work offers new insights into synthesizing high-entropy nanomaterials for improving the electrochemical performance of Li–S batteries.展开更多
BACKGROUND Depression and anxiety are prevalent psychological challenges among patients with adolescent idiopathic scoliosis(AIS),affecting individuals across both sex and age groups.AIM To explore the network structu...BACKGROUND Depression and anxiety are prevalent psychological challenges among patients with adolescent idiopathic scoliosis(AIS),affecting individuals across both sex and age groups.AIM To explore the network structure of depression and anxiety symptoms,with a focus on identifying differences at the symptom level between sex and age subgroups.METHODS A total of 1955 participants diagnosed with AIS aged 10-18 years were assessed using the Patient Health Questionnaire Depression Scale(PHO-9)and the Generalized Anxiety Disorder Scale(GAD-7),and 765 patients exhibiting PHQ-9 or GAD-7 scores ≥ 5 were enrolled in our study. Network analysis and network comparison tests were utilized toconstruct and compare the depression-anxiety symptoms networks among sex and age subgroups.RESULTSThe results revealed GAD3 “Excessive worry” and PHQ2 “Sad mood” were the most significant central symptomsin all subgroups, while “Sad mood” had higher strength than “Excessive worry” in the lower age group. In thenetwork comparisons, the female network exhibited tighter connectivity, especially on GAD6 “Irritability” andGAD2 “Uncontrollable worry”, while only PHQ3 “Sleep” and PHQ9 “Suicidal ideation” had differences at thelocal level in the lower age group.CONCLUSIONSeveral interventions targeting excessive worry and sad mood could reduce the risk of depression and anxietysymptoms in the AIS population. Furthermore, specific anxiety symptoms in females, along with sleep disturbancesand suicidal ideation in the lower age group, should be addressed at an early stage to prevent significantdisruptions in mental health trajectories.展开更多
The poor degradability and limited recyclability of epoxy resins are key challenges hindering the efficient recycling of ex-service wind turbine blades(EWTBs).Herein,we proposed a selective degradation strategy for di...The poor degradability and limited recyclability of epoxy resins are key challenges hindering the efficient recycling of ex-service wind turbine blades(EWTBs).Herein,we proposed a selective degradation strategy for direct recycling and high-value recovery of epoxy resins by introducing degradable Schiff base groups into the molecular structure and utilizing the resulting oligomers as curing agents.To realize this strategy,a series of Schiff base compounds were synthesized using bio-based vanillin and diamines and subsequently functionalized with epichlorohydrin to yield bio-based epoxy resins.The cured epoxy resins demonstrated remarkable improvements in the mechanical properties of diglycidyl ether of bisphenol-A(DGEBA),with an increases of 44.49%in the tensile strength of 38.55%,bending strength,and impact strength of 71.20%.The introduction of dynamic Schiff base bonds enabled the selective degradation of the vanillin-2,2-bis[4-(4-aminophenoxy)phenyl]propane-based epoxy resin(VBEP)/DGEBA copolymer,producing 84.20% oligomers that can be directly recycled and reused.Replacing 30 wt% of the curing agent with the oligomer increased the tensile strength of the cured sample to 75.40 MPa,surpassing that of the cured DGEBA.Under simulated acid rain and seawater exposure,the copolymer exhibited a service life of 27 years at 40℃,significantly exceeding the currently reported service life of 20 years.This study presents a sustainable strategy for the direct recycling and high-value reuse of epoxy resin,offering a promising solution for EWTBs.展开更多
Extensive studies have identified potential adverse effects on semen quality of obesity, based on body mass index, but the association between body fat distribution, a more relevant indicator for obesity, and semen qu...Extensive studies have identified potential adverse effects on semen quality of obesity, based on body mass index, but the association between body fat distribution, a more relevant indicator for obesity, and semen quality remains less clear. We conducted a longitudinal study of 4304 sperm donors from the Guangdong Provincial Human Sperm Bank (Guangzhou, China) during 2017–2021. A body composition analyzer was used to measure total and local body fat percentage for each participant. Generalized estimating equations were employed to assess the association between body fat percentage and sperm count, motility, and morphology. We estimated that each 10% increase in total body fat percentage (estimated change [95% confidence interval, 95% CI]) was significantly associated with a 0.18 × 106 (0.09 × 106–0.27 × 106) ml and 12.21 × 106 (4.52 × 106–19.91 × 106) reduction in semen volume and total sperm count, respectively. Categorical analyses and exposure-response curves showed that the association of body fat distribution with semen volume and total sperm count was stronger at higher body fat percentages. In addition, the association still held among normal weight and overweight participants. We observed similar associations for upper limb, trunk, and lower limb body fact distributions. In conclusion, we found that a higher body fat distribution was significantly associated with lower semen quality (especially semen volume) even in men with a normal weight. These findings provide useful clues in exploring body fat as a risk factor for semen quality decline and add to evidence for improving semen quality for those who are expected to conceive.展开更多
Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease(NAFLD)has emerged as a predominant contributor to chronic liver disorders and hepatocellular carcinoma,representing a significant global health burden.Mounting evidence has implicated...Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease(NAFLD)has emerged as a predominant contributor to chronic liver disorders and hepatocellular carcinoma,representing a significant global health burden.Mounting evidence has implicated obesity,metabolic syndrome,oxidative stress,and insulin resistance(IR)as central drivers of NAFLD pathogenesis.Despite the absence of approved pharmacological therapies or clearly defined molecular targets,flavonoids have garnered increasing attention for their therapeutic potential.As key bioactive molecules,flavonoids may modulate critical gene networks implicated in the progression of NAFLD.In addition to mitigating lipid accumulation induced by IR,these compounds exert multifaceted regulatory effects by modulating proteasome activity,intracellular signaling cascades,gene transcription,and inflammatory processes that contribute to hepatic lipid dysregulation.展开更多
Aqueous zinc-ion batteries(AZIBs)have hugely latent advantages in large-scale energy storage due to its innate safety,reasonable price,and sustainability.However,most AZIB cathode materials suffer from short cycling l...Aqueous zinc-ion batteries(AZIBs)have hugely latent advantages in large-scale energy storage due to its innate safety,reasonable price,and sustainability.However,most AZIB cathode materials suffer from short cycling life and poor rate performance.Herein,a bipolar donor-acceptor(D-A)conjugated microporous polymer(PTZ-BDTB),consisting of electron-withdrawing benzo[1,2-b:4,5-b']dithiophene-4,8-dio ne(BDTB)units and electron-donating phenothiazine(PTZ)units,is developed as the cathode material of aqueous zinc dual-ion batteries(AZDIBs).The D-A type structure design could reduce the band gap,thus promoting electron transfer in the polymer framework.Therefore,the PTZ-BDTB cathode in a30 mol/kg(m)ZnCl_(2)water-in-salt electrolyte exhibits a high reversible capacity of 202 mA h g^(-1)at0.05 A g^(-1)with excellent rate performance(109 mA h g^(-1)at 15 A g^(-1)),which is far superior to its counterpart polymers PPTZ and PB-BDTB.Impressively,PTZ-BDTB shows ultra-stable cycle performance with capacity retention ratios of 76.2%after 460 cycles at 0.05 A g^(-1)and 96%after 27000 cycles at 5 A g^(-1).PTZBDTB also exhibits a low self-discharge ability with capacity retention about 76.4%after resting the battery for 28 days.These results demonstrate that D-A type structural design is a promising strategy for constructing high performance cathode materials for AZDIBs.展开更多
Background:Dengue fever,an acute insect-borne infectious disease caused by the dengue virus(DENV),poses a great challenge to global public health.Hepatic involve-ment is the most common complication of severe dengue a...Background:Dengue fever,an acute insect-borne infectious disease caused by the dengue virus(DENV),poses a great challenge to global public health.Hepatic involve-ment is the most common complication of severe dengue and is closely related to the occurrence and development of disease.However,the features of adaptive immune responses associated with liver injury in severe dengue are not clear.Methods:We used single-cell sequencing to examine the liver tissues of mild or se-vere dengue mice model to analyze the changes in immune response of T cells in the liver after dengue virus infection,and the immune interaction between macrophages and T cells.Flow cytometry was used to detect T cells and macrophages in mouse liver and blood to verify the single-cell sequencing results.Results:Our result showed CTLs were significantly activated in the severe liver injury group but the immune function-related signal pathway was down-regulated.The rea-son may be that the excessive immune response in the severe group at the late stage of DENV infection induces the polarization of macrophages into M2 type,and the macrophages then inhibit T cell immunity through the TGF-βsignaling pathway.In ad-dition,the increased proportion of Treg cells suggested that Th17/Treg homeostasis was disrupted in the livers of severe liver injury mice.Conclusions:In this study,single-cell sequencing and flow cytometry revealed the characteristic changes of T cell immune response and the role of macrophages in the liver of severe dengue fever mice.Our study provides a better understanding of the pathogenesis of liver injury in dengue fever patients.展开更多
Objective: To investigate the effects of different concentrations of β-glucan on the repair of damaged vaginal mucosa, the expression of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), and the inflammatory factor-6 (IL-6)...Objective: To investigate the effects of different concentrations of β-glucan on the repair of damaged vaginal mucosa, the expression of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), and the inflammatory factor-6 (IL-6) in vaginal tissues. Methods: Thirty-six adult female specific pathogen free (SPF)-grade Wistar rats were randomly divided into 3 phase groups with 12 rats each. Vaginal inflammation rat models were established by injecting phenol gel into the vagina of each rat at a dose of 0.1 ml/100g body weight. After modeling, rats were divided into 4 groups based on different concentrations of the test agent. The control group was injected with 0.5 ml of saline, experimental group A was injected with 0.375 ml saline 0.125 ml β-glucan, experimental group B was injected with 0.25 ml saline 0.25 ml β-glucan, and experimental group C was injected with 0.50 ml β-glucan. The injection sites were selected at the 3 o’clock and 9 o’clock positions of the vagina. Rats were sacrificed at 7-, 14-, and 28-days post-injection, and tissue samples were collected from the injection sites and prepared for histological analysis. New blood vessels and fibroblast numbers in the tissues were observed after Hematoxylin-eosin (HE) staining. The expression levels of VEGF and IL-6 in the tissues were measured using quantificational reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR). Results: Histological examination of vaginal tissue specimens at 7-, 14-, and 28-days post-injection showed that on day 7, there were no significant changes in the experimental groups compared to the control group. However, on days 14 and 28, the experimental groups showed more new blood vessels, macrophages, and fibroblasts with increased activity compared to the control group. The expression levels of VEGF in vaginal tissues were elevated on days 14 and 28 in the experimental groups. The comparison of IL-6 levels in vaginal tissues on day 28 showed that serum IL-6 levels returned to normal, and there was no statistically significant difference between the experimental and control groups. Conclusion: In the 3 experimental phases, the increase in VEGF levels in vaginal tissues on day 14 post-injection was more pronounced with higher concentrations of β-glucan, and IL-6 levels returned to normal on day 28. β-Glucan can enhance VEGF levels in damaged vaginal tissues, promote the repair of damaged vaginal tissues, and higher concentrations of β-glucan have a better effect.展开更多
Objective:To investigate the effect and mechanism of miRNA-24 on the proliferation,migration and tube formation of vascular endothelial cells.Methods:Human umbilical vein endothelial cells(HUVECs)were assigned into co...Objective:To investigate the effect and mechanism of miRNA-24 on the proliferation,migration and tube formation of vascular endothelial cells.Methods:Human umbilical vein endothelial cells(HUVECs)were assigned into control,microRNA(miR)-24 overexpression and anti-miR-24 groups.The proliferation and migration abilities of HUVECs were detected by methyl thiazolyl tetrazolium(MTT)assay and scratch wound healing assay,respectively.The ability of HUVECs to form tubular structures was evaluated by a tube formation assay.The mRNA and protein expressions of vascular endothelial growth factor(VEGF)and transcription factor Sp1 were determined by RT-PCR,immunocytochemistry and western blotting,respectively.Results:The miR-24 overexpression group exhibited decreased cell proliferation and migration,and expressions of VEGF and Sp1 compared with the control group(P <0.01).No tube-like network structure was formed in the miR-24 overexpression group.However,inhibition of miR-24 in HUVECs markedly increased cell proliferation and migration,enhanced tube formation and expressions of VEGF and Sp1(P<0.05 or P<0.01).Conclusion:MiR-24 suppressed the proliferation,migration and tube formation of HUVECs,and the mechanism might be related to the down-regulation of VEGF expression.Sp1 might participate in this regulation process.展开更多
Safflower is an important oilseed crop that has been used in traditional Chinese medicine for thousands of years because of the clinically valuable flavonoid glycosides in its flower petals.However,the biosynthesis an...Safflower is an important oilseed crop that has been used in traditional Chinese medicine for thousands of years because of the clinically valuable flavonoid glycosides in its flower petals.However,the biosynthesis and molecular regulation of these compounds are still elusive due to the lack of a high-quality reference genome and scarce identification of key biosynthetic pathway genes in a medicinal safflower variety.Here we leveraged an integrative multi-omics strategy by combining genomic,comparative genomics,and tissue-specific transcriptome profiling with biochemical analysis to identify uridine diphosphate glycosyltransferases(UGTs)for flavonoid glycoside biosynthesis in safflower.We assembled and annotated a high-quality reference genome of a medicinal safflower variety,‘Yunhong3’.A comprehensive comparative genomic analysis indicated that an evolutionary whole-genome triplication event occurring in safflower contributed to gene amplification of the flavonoid biosynthetic pathway.By combining comparative transcriptome profiling with enzymatic reactions,we identified 11 novel UGTs that could catalyze the conversion of naringenin chalcone and phloretin to the corresponding O-glycosides.Moreover,we outlined the molecular pathway of hydroxysafflor yellow A(HSYA)biosynthesis featured by 17 newly identified UGTs with promising catalytic activity,laying the foundation for the synthetic production of HSYA.Our study reports systemic genome and gene expression information for flavonoid glycoside biosynthesis in medicinal safflower and provides insights into mechanisms regulating HSYA biosynthesis,which would facilitate the genetic improvement and synthetic bioengineering design for producing clinically valuable flavonoid glycosides in safflower.展开更多
AIM: To investigate the effect of compound Danshen injection on lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced rat mesenteric microcirculatory dysfunctions and the underlying possible mechanism by an inverted intravital microscope ...AIM: To investigate the effect of compound Danshen injection on lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced rat mesenteric microcirculatory dysfunctions and the underlying possible mechanism by an inverted intravital microscope and high-speed video camera system. METHODS: LPS was continuously infused through the jugular artery of male Wistar rats at the dose of 2 mg/kg per hour. Changes in mesenteric microcirculation,such as diameters of arterioles and venules,velocity of RBCs in venules,leukocyte rolling,adhesion and emigration,free radicals released from post-capillary venules,FITC- albumin leakage and mast cell degranulation,were observed through an inverted intravital microscope assisted with CCD camera and SIT camera. Meanwhile,the expression of adhesion molecules CD11b/CD18 and the production of free radical in neutrophils,and the expression of intercellular adhesion molecule 1 (ICAM-1) in human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) were quantified by flow cytometry (FACS) in vitro. RESULTS: The continuous infusion with LPS resulted in a number of responses in microcirculation,including a significant increase in the positive region of venulestained with Monastral blue B,rolling and adhesion of leukocytes,production of oxygen radical in venular wall,albumin efflux and enhanced mast cell degranulation in vivo,all of which,except for the leukocyte rolling,were attenuated by the treatment with compound Danshen injection. Experiments performed in vitro further revealed that the expression of CD11b/CD18 and the production of oxygen free radical in neutrophils,and the expression of ICAM-1 in HUVECs were increased by exposure to LPS,and they were attenuated by compound Danshen injection. CONCLUSION: These results suggest that compound Danshen injection is an efficient drug with multi-targeting potential for improving the microcirculatory disturbance.展开更多
Urban environments lie at the confluence of social,cultural,and economic activities and have unique biophysical characteristics due to continued infrastructure development that generally replaces natural landscapes wi...Urban environments lie at the confluence of social,cultural,and economic activities and have unique biophysical characteristics due to continued infrastructure development that generally replaces natural landscapes with built-up structures.The vast majority of studies on urban perturbation of local weather and climate have been centered on the urban heat island(UHI)effect,referring to the higher temperature in cities compared to their natural surroundings.Besides the UHI effect and heat waves,urbanization also impacts atmospheric moisture,wind,boundary layer structure,cloud formation,dispersion of air pollutants,precipitation,and storms.In this review article,we first introduce the datasets and methods used in studying urban areas and their impacts through both observation and modeling and then summarize the scientific insights on the impact of urbanization on various aspects of regional climate and extreme weather based on more than 500 studies.We also highlight the major research gaps and challenges in our understanding of the impacts of urbanization and provide our perspective and recommendations for future research priorities and directions.展开更多
Regulatory T(Treg)cells,a subtype of immunosuppressive CD4^+T cells,are vital for maintaining immune homeostasis in healthy people.Forkhead box protein P3(FOXP3),a member of the forkhead-wingedhelix family,is the pivo...Regulatory T(Treg)cells,a subtype of immunosuppressive CD4^+T cells,are vital for maintaining immune homeostasis in healthy people.Forkhead box protein P3(FOXP3),a member of the forkhead-wingedhelix family,is the pivotal transcriptional factor of Treg cells.The expression,post-translational modifications,and protein complex of FOXP3 present a great impact on the functional stability and immune plasticity of Treg cells in vivo.In particular,the mutation of FOXP3 can result in immune dysregulation,polyendocrinopathy,enteropathy,X-linked(IPEX)syndrome,which is a rare genetic disease mostly diagnosed in early childhood and can soon be fatal.IPEX syndrome is related to several manifestations,including dermatitis,enteropathy,type 1 diabetes,thyroiditis,and so on.Here,we summarize some recent findings on FOXP3 regulation and Treg cell function.We also review the current knowledge about the underlying mechanism of FOXP3 mutant-induced IPEX syndrome and some latest clinical prospects.At last,this review offers a novel insight into the role played by the FOXP3 complex in potential therapeutic applications in IPEX syndrome.展开更多
基金financed by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(Grant Nos.31601856 and 31670398)。
文摘Background:The Rufous-backed Bunting,Emberiza jankowskii,is an endangered species that is primarily distributed in Inner Mongolia,China.The main threats to the continued persistence of this species are habitat loss and degradation.However,the impact of population loss on genetic diversity remains unclear.To support future conservation and management efforts,we assessed the genetic diversity and population structure of E.jankowskii using mitochondrial DNA and microsatellites.Methods:Blood samples were collected from 7-8-day-old nestlings in Inner Mongolia,China between May and August of 2012 and 2013.Mitochondrial DNA sequences and microsatellite markers were used to assess the genetic diversity,genetic structure and inbreeding of E.jankowskii.The results of genetic diversity and inbreeding were compared to other avian species.Results:We found an unexpectedly high level of genetic diversity in terms of mitochondrial DNA and microsatellite compared to other avian species.However,there were high levels of gene flow and minimal genetic structuring,among the fragmented breeding populations of E.jankowskii in Inner Mongolia.These findings suggest that E.jankowskii in Inner Mongolia is a metapopulation.Despite the high genetic diversity of E.jankowskii,local populations in each small patch remain at risk of extinction due to habitat loss.In addition,the E.jankowskii population has a high risk of inbreeding.Conclusions:To minimize further loss of genetic diversity of this endangered species,we suggest that the E.jankowskii in Inner Mongolia should be considered as a protected species for management purposes.Conservation efforts should concentrate on E.jankowskii habitat management.This may be most effectively achieved by protecting the current breeding habitats and prohibiting over-grazing.
基金Supported by the National Key Research and Development Program,No.2023YFF0713700 and No.2023YFF0713705Common Technology R&D Platform of Shaanxi Province,No.2023GXJS-01-1-2the Cyrus Tang Foundation Chung Ying Young Scholars Program.
文摘BACKGROUND Duodenal mucosal ablation(DMA)using irreversible electroporation(IRE)with a glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonist has been clinically shown to reduce liver lipid deposition in non-alcoholic fatty liver disease(NAFLD).However,the specific metabolic contributions of DMA using IRE in NAFLD remain unclear.AIM To assess the feasibility and effectiveness of DMA using IRE in NAFLD rat models.METHODS Seven-week-old male Sprague-Dawley rats underwent DMA using IRE after 8 weeks on a high-fat diet.Two weeks post-treatment,duodenal and liver tissues and blood samples were collected.We evaluated differences in the duodenal wall structure,liver lipid deposition,enteroendocrine,claudin,and zonula ocludens-1 in the duodenal mucosa.RESULTS DMA using IRE could be safely performed in rats with NAFLD without duodenal bleeding,perforation,or stenosis.The duodenum healed well 2 weeks after DMA and was characterized by slimmer villi,narrower and shallower crypts,and thicker myenterons compared with the sham-control setting.Liver lipid deposition was reduced and serum lipid index parameters were considerably improved in the DMA setting.However,these improvements were independent of food intake and weight loss.In addition,enteroendocrine parameters,such as claudin,and zonula ocludens-1 levels in the duodenal mucosa,differed between the different settings in the DMA group.CONCLUSION By altering enteroendocrine and duodenal permeability,simple DMA using IRE ameliorated liver lipid deposition and improved serum lipid parameters in NAFLD rats.
基金Supported by Hebei Province Medical Science Research Project Plan,No.20230755.
文摘BACKGROUND Colony-stimulating factor 3(CSF3)and its receptor(CSF3R)are known to promote gastric cancer(GC)growth and metastasis.However,their effects on the immune microenvironment remain unclear.Our analysis indicated a potential link between CSF3R expression and the immunosuppressive receptor leukocyte immunoglobulin-like receptor B2(LILRB2)in GC.We hypothesized that CSF3/CSF3R may regulate LILRB2 and its ligands,angiopoietin-like protein 2(ANGPTL2)and human leukocyte antigen-G(HLA-G),contributing to immunosuppression.AIM To investigate the relationship between CSF3/CSF3R and LILRB2,as well as its ligands ANGPTL2 and HLA-G,in GC.METHODS Transcriptome sequencing data from The Cancer Genome Atlas were analyzed,stratifying patients by CSF3R expression.Differentially expressed genes and immune checkpoints were evaluated.Immunohistochemistry(IHC)was performed on GC tissues.Correlation analyses of CSF3R,LILRB2,ANGPTL2,and HLA-G were conducted using The Cancer Genome Atlas data and IHC results.GC cells were treated with CSF3,and expression levels of LILRB2,ANGPTL2,and HLA-G were measured by quantitative reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction and western blotting.RESULTS Among 122 upregulated genes in high CSF3R expression groups,LILRB2 showed the most significant increase.IHC results indicated high expression of LILRB2(63.0%),ANGPTL2(56.5%),and HLA-G(73.9%)in GC tissues.Strong positive correlations existed between CSF3R and LILRB2,ANGPTL2,and HLA-G mRNA levels(P<0.001).IHC confirmed positive correlations between CSF3R and LILRB2(P<0.001),and HLA-G(P=0.010),but not ANGPTL2(P>0.05).CSF3 increased LILRB2,ANGPTL2,and HLA-G expression in GC cells.Heterogeneous nuclear ribonucleoprotein H1 modulation significantly altered their expression,impacting CSF3’s regulatory effects.CONCLUSION The CSF3/CSF3R pathway may contribute to immunosuppression in GC by upregulating LILRB2 and its ligands,with heterogeneous nuclear ribonucleoprotein H1 playing a regulatory role.
基金the financial support received from the Science and Technology Planning Project of Sichuan Province(Jiebangguashuai Project)(2023YFN0101)。
文摘β-Amyloid(1-42)(Aβ_(42))can induce excessive activation of microglia,resulting in exacerbated neuroinflammation and neuronal damage.Milk fat globule-epidermal growth factor-8(MFG-E8)is known to regulate Aβ_(42)-induced neurotoxicity and inflammatory responses via multiple signaling pathways.However,insufficient secretion of endogenous MFG-E8 may lead to autoimmunity in the central nervous system and the accumulation of apoptotic cells.In this study,we systematically investigated the inhibitory effects and potential mechanisms of exogenously administered milk-derived MFG-E8(M-MFG-E8)on Aβ_(42)-induced inflammation in BV-2 microglia using various techniques,including cell morphology analysis,immunofluorescence staining,ELISA,q RT-PCR,and Western blot assays.The results demonstrated that Aβ_(42)significantly increased the expression levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines tumor necrosis factor-α(TNF-α),interleukin-6(IL-6),and interleukin-1β(IL-1β)in BV-2 microglia,whereas treatment with M-MFG-E8 effectively reversed these inflammatory responses.Furthermore,Aβ_(42)stimulation increased the secretion of pro-inflammatory cytokines(TNF-α,IL-1β)and the expression of the M1 marker cluster of differentiation 86(CD86),while suppressing the anti-inflammatory factors(arginase-1(Arg-1),interleukin-10(IL-10))and the M2 marker cluster of differentiation 206(CD206)in microglia.In contrast,M-MFG-E8 treatment promoted the polarization of microglia from the M1 to the M2 phenotype.Notably,M-MFG-E8 also inhibited the Aβ_(42)-induced upregulation of CD68,whereas M-MFG-E8 alone did not elicit this effect.Finally,our findings suggest that exogenous M-MFG-E8 may exert anti-inflammatory actions through the modulation of the NF-κB and PI3K/Akt pathways,providing new insights into neuronal cell repair and the development of functional foods.
基金Supported by Calygene Biotechnology Inc.,No.XT[2016]008@。
文摘Type 2 diabetes mellitus(T2DM)is a prevalent metabolic disorder.Despite the availability of numerous pharmacotherapies,a range of adverse reactions,including hypoglycemia,gastrointestinal discomfort,and lactic acidosis,limits their patient applicability and long-term application.Therefore,it is necessary to screen novel therapeutic drugs for T2DM treatment that have high efficacy but few adverse effects.AMP-activated protein kinase(AMPK)stands out as one of the most powerful targets for T2DM treatment.It can be activated through energysensing or calcium signaling.Medications that activate AMPK through the energy-sensing mechanism exhibit remarkable potency,but they are accompanied by lactic acidosis,carrying an alarmingly high mortality rate.Interestingly,medications that activate AMPK through calcium signaling,such as gliclazide,seldom induce lactic acidosis.However,the efficacy of gliclazide is much lower than metformin.Therefore,it is necessary to explore targets that activate AMPK via calcium signaling to avoid lactic acidosis while maintaining high potency.Ion channels are the main controller of intracellular calcium flow.Specific agonists and inhibitors targeting ion channels have been reported to activate AMPK.In this review,we will summarize the structure and function of calcium-permeable ion channels and discuss the potential of targeting these calcium channels for T2DM treatment.
基金co-supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(No.12374431)。
文摘To address the significant degradation of Space-Time Adaptive Processing(STAP)performance when the array elements have mutual coupling and gain/phase errors,a STAP algorithm with adaptive calibration for the above two array errors is proposed in this article.First,based on a defined error matrix that simultaneously considers both array mutual coupling and gain/phase errors,a STAP signal model including these errors is given.Then,utilizing the defined signal model,it is demonstrated that the estimation of the defined error matrix can be formulized as a standard convex optimization problem with the low-rank structure of the clutter covariance matrix and the subspace projection theory.Once the defined error matrix is estimated by solving the convex optimization problem,it is illustrated that a STAP method with adaptive calibration of the mutual coupling and gain/phase errors is coined.Analyses also show that the proposed adaptive calibration algorithm only needs one training sample to construct the adaptive weight vector.Therefore,it can achieve a good detection performance even with severe non-homogeneous clutter environments.Finally,the simulation experiments verify the effectiveness of the proposed algorithm and the correctness of the analytical results.
基金financially supported by Jilin province science and technology department(No.20230402059GH)Changchun Science and Technology Bureau(No.23YQ11)+4 种基金Jilin Province Science and Technology Department major science and technology project(Nos.20220301004GX and 20220301005GX)Key Subject Construction of Physical Chemistry of Northeast Normal University(No.2412022XK004)the National Natural Science Foundation of China(No.22102020)the Swedish Foundation for International Cooperation in Research and Higher Education(No.KO2017-7351)Swedish Energy Agency(No.P2020-90216)。
文摘Developing effective heterostructure strategies to mitigate the shuttling effect and accelerate lithium polysulfide(Li PS)conversion remains a critical challenge in lithium–sulfur(Li–S)batteries.Here,we report the first carbon–free VO_(2)–VS_(2)heterostructure material synthesized via in situ sulfurization,applied as a modifier on a commercial polypropylene(PP)separator(denoted as VO_(2)–VS_(2)@PP).The as–prepared VO_(2)–VS_(2)nanorods synergistically combine the high absorptivity of VO_(2)with the efficient catalytic properties of VS_(2),simultaneously enhancing Li PS anchoring and promoting its conversion.We systematically investigate the influence of material composition on battery performance,leveraging these functional attributes,Li–S cells incorporating VO_(2)–VS_(2)@PP exhibit exceptional cycle stability(over 500cycles at 1C),impressive rate performance(807 m Ah.g^(–1)at 5C),desirable reversibility(49.9%capacity retention after 300 cycles at 5C)and exceptional pouch cell performance(3.65 m Ah.cm^(–2)after 50 stable cycles at 0.1C).This study underscores the potential of tailored heterostructures in realizing high–performance Li–S batteries,offering new insights for next–generation energy storage solutions.
基金supported by Jilin Province Science and Technology Development Project(Nos.20250102158JC,20240302035GX)
文摘As a novel material,high-entropy compounds have attracted extensive attention in the field of lithium–sulfur battery host materials due to their diverse elemental composition with a wide range of properties.The ability to effectively mitigate the shuttle effect of lithium polysulfides and catalyze the bidirectional conversion of Li_(2)S_(2)/Li_(2)S is crucial to enhance the overall performance of the battery.In this study,a unique sulfur host nanosized highentropy material comprising selenium-doped HEO(AlCrFeCoNi)_(3)O_(4-x)-Se_(x)is fabricated using an in situ thermal reduction and selenylation method.In the high-entropy compounds,the introduction of Se causes that the generation of oxygen vacancies during the lattice distortion serves as ion transfer pathway and the formation of M-Se bonds provides a high adsorption capability for LiPSs.Moreover,the polymetallic cooperative high-entropy nanoparticles also provide numerous active sites favoring redox kinetics of the sulfur electrode.The resulting selenium-doped HEO(AlCrFeCoNi)_(3)O_(4-x)-Se_(x)not only enhances discharge capacity but also maintains excellent capacity cycling stability.As a result,the HEO-Se/S composite exhibits a specific capacity of 1233.9 mAh g^(-1)at 0.1C and experiences minimal capacity fading at a rate of 0.038%per cycle over 500 cycles at 0.2C,while host materials with sulfur loading of 4.33 mg cm^(-2)and E/S ratio of 5.88μL mg^(-1)exhibit excellent capacity retention after 100 cycles at 0.2C.This work offers new insights into synthesizing high-entropy nanomaterials for improving the electrochemical performance of Li–S batteries.
基金Supported by The Sanming Project of Medicine in Shenzhen,No.SZSM202211003Shenzhen-Hong Kong Jointly Funded Project,Shenzhen Science and Technology Program,No.SGDX20230116093645007+1 种基金Shenzhen Second People's Hospital Clinical Project,No.20243357003Shenzhen Medical Research Fund,No.B2303005.
文摘BACKGROUND Depression and anxiety are prevalent psychological challenges among patients with adolescent idiopathic scoliosis(AIS),affecting individuals across both sex and age groups.AIM To explore the network structure of depression and anxiety symptoms,with a focus on identifying differences at the symptom level between sex and age subgroups.METHODS A total of 1955 participants diagnosed with AIS aged 10-18 years were assessed using the Patient Health Questionnaire Depression Scale(PHO-9)and the Generalized Anxiety Disorder Scale(GAD-7),and 765 patients exhibiting PHQ-9 or GAD-7 scores ≥ 5 were enrolled in our study. Network analysis and network comparison tests were utilized toconstruct and compare the depression-anxiety symptoms networks among sex and age subgroups.RESULTSThe results revealed GAD3 “Excessive worry” and PHQ2 “Sad mood” were the most significant central symptomsin all subgroups, while “Sad mood” had higher strength than “Excessive worry” in the lower age group. In thenetwork comparisons, the female network exhibited tighter connectivity, especially on GAD6 “Irritability” andGAD2 “Uncontrollable worry”, while only PHQ3 “Sleep” and PHQ9 “Suicidal ideation” had differences at thelocal level in the lower age group.CONCLUSIONSeveral interventions targeting excessive worry and sad mood could reduce the risk of depression and anxietysymptoms in the AIS population. Furthermore, specific anxiety symptoms in females, along with sleep disturbancesand suicidal ideation in the lower age group, should be addressed at an early stage to prevent significantdisruptions in mental health trajectories.
基金financially supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(No.U23A20691)Innovation Group of National Ethnic Affairs Commission of China(No.MZR20006)+2 种基金Fund for Academic Innovation Teams of SouthCentral Minzu University(No.XTZ24012)Fundamental Research Fund for the Central Universities of South-Central Minzu University(Nos.CZD24001 and CZQ25012)Scientific Research Fund of South-Central Minzu University(No.YZY25007)。
文摘The poor degradability and limited recyclability of epoxy resins are key challenges hindering the efficient recycling of ex-service wind turbine blades(EWTBs).Herein,we proposed a selective degradation strategy for direct recycling and high-value recovery of epoxy resins by introducing degradable Schiff base groups into the molecular structure and utilizing the resulting oligomers as curing agents.To realize this strategy,a series of Schiff base compounds were synthesized using bio-based vanillin and diamines and subsequently functionalized with epichlorohydrin to yield bio-based epoxy resins.The cured epoxy resins demonstrated remarkable improvements in the mechanical properties of diglycidyl ether of bisphenol-A(DGEBA),with an increases of 44.49%in the tensile strength of 38.55%,bending strength,and impact strength of 71.20%.The introduction of dynamic Schiff base bonds enabled the selective degradation of the vanillin-2,2-bis[4-(4-aminophenoxy)phenyl]propane-based epoxy resin(VBEP)/DGEBA copolymer,producing 84.20% oligomers that can be directly recycled and reused.Replacing 30 wt% of the curing agent with the oligomer increased the tensile strength of the cured sample to 75.40 MPa,surpassing that of the cured DGEBA.Under simulated acid rain and seawater exposure,the copolymer exhibited a service life of 27 years at 40℃,significantly exceeding the currently reported service life of 20 years.This study presents a sustainable strategy for the direct recycling and high-value reuse of epoxy resin,offering a promising solution for EWTBs.
基金supported by the Guangdong Natural Science Foundation(No.2022A1515011705).
文摘Extensive studies have identified potential adverse effects on semen quality of obesity, based on body mass index, but the association between body fat distribution, a more relevant indicator for obesity, and semen quality remains less clear. We conducted a longitudinal study of 4304 sperm donors from the Guangdong Provincial Human Sperm Bank (Guangzhou, China) during 2017–2021. A body composition analyzer was used to measure total and local body fat percentage for each participant. Generalized estimating equations were employed to assess the association between body fat percentage and sperm count, motility, and morphology. We estimated that each 10% increase in total body fat percentage (estimated change [95% confidence interval, 95% CI]) was significantly associated with a 0.18 × 106 (0.09 × 106–0.27 × 106) ml and 12.21 × 106 (4.52 × 106–19.91 × 106) reduction in semen volume and total sperm count, respectively. Categorical analyses and exposure-response curves showed that the association of body fat distribution with semen volume and total sperm count was stronger at higher body fat percentages. In addition, the association still held among normal weight and overweight participants. We observed similar associations for upper limb, trunk, and lower limb body fact distributions. In conclusion, we found that a higher body fat distribution was significantly associated with lower semen quality (especially semen volume) even in men with a normal weight. These findings provide useful clues in exploring body fat as a risk factor for semen quality decline and add to evidence for improving semen quality for those who are expected to conceive.
基金Chongqing Municipal High-Level Medical Talent Development Project for Middle-Aged and Young ProfessionalsChongqing Health Commission of Traditional Chinese Medicine Research Project(Grant No.2025WSJK175)。
文摘Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease(NAFLD)has emerged as a predominant contributor to chronic liver disorders and hepatocellular carcinoma,representing a significant global health burden.Mounting evidence has implicated obesity,metabolic syndrome,oxidative stress,and insulin resistance(IR)as central drivers of NAFLD pathogenesis.Despite the absence of approved pharmacological therapies or clearly defined molecular targets,flavonoids have garnered increasing attention for their therapeutic potential.As key bioactive molecules,flavonoids may modulate critical gene networks implicated in the progression of NAFLD.In addition to mitigating lipid accumulation induced by IR,these compounds exert multifaceted regulatory effects by modulating proteasome activity,intracellular signaling cascades,gene transcription,and inflammatory processes that contribute to hepatic lipid dysregulation.
基金financial supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(22175110&22375076,52103264)the Hubei Provincial Natural Science Foundation of China(2024AFA031)the Key Research and Development Program of Wuhan(2024010802030157)。
文摘Aqueous zinc-ion batteries(AZIBs)have hugely latent advantages in large-scale energy storage due to its innate safety,reasonable price,and sustainability.However,most AZIB cathode materials suffer from short cycling life and poor rate performance.Herein,a bipolar donor-acceptor(D-A)conjugated microporous polymer(PTZ-BDTB),consisting of electron-withdrawing benzo[1,2-b:4,5-b']dithiophene-4,8-dio ne(BDTB)units and electron-donating phenothiazine(PTZ)units,is developed as the cathode material of aqueous zinc dual-ion batteries(AZDIBs).The D-A type structure design could reduce the band gap,thus promoting electron transfer in the polymer framework.Therefore,the PTZ-BDTB cathode in a30 mol/kg(m)ZnCl_(2)water-in-salt electrolyte exhibits a high reversible capacity of 202 mA h g^(-1)at0.05 A g^(-1)with excellent rate performance(109 mA h g^(-1)at 15 A g^(-1)),which is far superior to its counterpart polymers PPTZ and PB-BDTB.Impressively,PTZ-BDTB shows ultra-stable cycle performance with capacity retention ratios of 76.2%after 460 cycles at 0.05 A g^(-1)and 96%after 27000 cycles at 5 A g^(-1).PTZBDTB also exhibits a low self-discharge ability with capacity retention about 76.4%after resting the battery for 28 days.These results demonstrate that D-A type structural design is a promising strategy for constructing high performance cathode materials for AZDIBs.
基金Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences Initiative for Innovative Medicine,Grant/Award Number:2021-I2M-1-035 and 2022-I2M-1-011。
文摘Background:Dengue fever,an acute insect-borne infectious disease caused by the dengue virus(DENV),poses a great challenge to global public health.Hepatic involve-ment is the most common complication of severe dengue and is closely related to the occurrence and development of disease.However,the features of adaptive immune responses associated with liver injury in severe dengue are not clear.Methods:We used single-cell sequencing to examine the liver tissues of mild or se-vere dengue mice model to analyze the changes in immune response of T cells in the liver after dengue virus infection,and the immune interaction between macrophages and T cells.Flow cytometry was used to detect T cells and macrophages in mouse liver and blood to verify the single-cell sequencing results.Results:Our result showed CTLs were significantly activated in the severe liver injury group but the immune function-related signal pathway was down-regulated.The rea-son may be that the excessive immune response in the severe group at the late stage of DENV infection induces the polarization of macrophages into M2 type,and the macrophages then inhibit T cell immunity through the TGF-βsignaling pathway.In ad-dition,the increased proportion of Treg cells suggested that Th17/Treg homeostasis was disrupted in the livers of severe liver injury mice.Conclusions:In this study,single-cell sequencing and flow cytometry revealed the characteristic changes of T cell immune response and the role of macrophages in the liver of severe dengue fever mice.Our study provides a better understanding of the pathogenesis of liver injury in dengue fever patients.
文摘Objective: To investigate the effects of different concentrations of β-glucan on the repair of damaged vaginal mucosa, the expression of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), and the inflammatory factor-6 (IL-6) in vaginal tissues. Methods: Thirty-six adult female specific pathogen free (SPF)-grade Wistar rats were randomly divided into 3 phase groups with 12 rats each. Vaginal inflammation rat models were established by injecting phenol gel into the vagina of each rat at a dose of 0.1 ml/100g body weight. After modeling, rats were divided into 4 groups based on different concentrations of the test agent. The control group was injected with 0.5 ml of saline, experimental group A was injected with 0.375 ml saline 0.125 ml β-glucan, experimental group B was injected with 0.25 ml saline 0.25 ml β-glucan, and experimental group C was injected with 0.50 ml β-glucan. The injection sites were selected at the 3 o’clock and 9 o’clock positions of the vagina. Rats were sacrificed at 7-, 14-, and 28-days post-injection, and tissue samples were collected from the injection sites and prepared for histological analysis. New blood vessels and fibroblast numbers in the tissues were observed after Hematoxylin-eosin (HE) staining. The expression levels of VEGF and IL-6 in the tissues were measured using quantificational reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR). Results: Histological examination of vaginal tissue specimens at 7-, 14-, and 28-days post-injection showed that on day 7, there were no significant changes in the experimental groups compared to the control group. However, on days 14 and 28, the experimental groups showed more new blood vessels, macrophages, and fibroblasts with increased activity compared to the control group. The expression levels of VEGF in vaginal tissues were elevated on days 14 and 28 in the experimental groups. The comparison of IL-6 levels in vaginal tissues on day 28 showed that serum IL-6 levels returned to normal, and there was no statistically significant difference between the experimental and control groups. Conclusion: In the 3 experimental phases, the increase in VEGF levels in vaginal tissues on day 14 post-injection was more pronounced with higher concentrations of β-glucan, and IL-6 levels returned to normal on day 28. β-Glucan can enhance VEGF levels in damaged vaginal tissues, promote the repair of damaged vaginal tissues, and higher concentrations of β-glucan have a better effect.
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(No.81373403)
文摘Objective:To investigate the effect and mechanism of miRNA-24 on the proliferation,migration and tube formation of vascular endothelial cells.Methods:Human umbilical vein endothelial cells(HUVECs)were assigned into control,microRNA(miR)-24 overexpression and anti-miR-24 groups.The proliferation and migration abilities of HUVECs were detected by methyl thiazolyl tetrazolium(MTT)assay and scratch wound healing assay,respectively.The ability of HUVECs to form tubular structures was evaluated by a tube formation assay.The mRNA and protein expressions of vascular endothelial growth factor(VEGF)and transcription factor Sp1 were determined by RT-PCR,immunocytochemistry and western blotting,respectively.Results:The miR-24 overexpression group exhibited decreased cell proliferation and migration,and expressions of VEGF and Sp1 compared with the control group(P <0.01).No tube-like network structure was formed in the miR-24 overexpression group.However,inhibition of miR-24 in HUVECs markedly increased cell proliferation and migration,enhanced tube formation and expressions of VEGF and Sp1(P<0.05 or P<0.01).Conclusion:MiR-24 suppressed the proliferation,migration and tube formation of HUVECs,and the mechanism might be related to the down-regulation of VEGF expression.Sp1 might participate in this regulation process.
基金supported by the ability establishment of sustainable use for valuable Chinese medicine resources(Grant No.2060302)the National Key R&D Program of China(Grant No.2018YFA0900603)+1 种基金the National Key R&D Program of China(Grant No.2020YFA0908000)the crosswise task based on DEYUANTANG pharmacy Co.,Ltd.Shanxi,China(Grant No.DYTKY180725).
文摘Safflower is an important oilseed crop that has been used in traditional Chinese medicine for thousands of years because of the clinically valuable flavonoid glycosides in its flower petals.However,the biosynthesis and molecular regulation of these compounds are still elusive due to the lack of a high-quality reference genome and scarce identification of key biosynthetic pathway genes in a medicinal safflower variety.Here we leveraged an integrative multi-omics strategy by combining genomic,comparative genomics,and tissue-specific transcriptome profiling with biochemical analysis to identify uridine diphosphate glycosyltransferases(UGTs)for flavonoid glycoside biosynthesis in safflower.We assembled and annotated a high-quality reference genome of a medicinal safflower variety,‘Yunhong3’.A comprehensive comparative genomic analysis indicated that an evolutionary whole-genome triplication event occurring in safflower contributed to gene amplification of the flavonoid biosynthetic pathway.By combining comparative transcriptome profiling with enzymatic reactions,we identified 11 novel UGTs that could catalyze the conversion of naringenin chalcone and phloretin to the corresponding O-glycosides.Moreover,we outlined the molecular pathway of hydroxysafflor yellow A(HSYA)biosynthesis featured by 17 newly identified UGTs with promising catalytic activity,laying the foundation for the synthetic production of HSYA.Our study reports systemic genome and gene expression information for flavonoid glycoside biosynthesis in medicinal safflower and provides insights into mechanisms regulating HSYA biosynthesis,which would facilitate the genetic improvement and synthetic bioengineering design for producing clinically valuable flavonoid glycosides in safflower.
文摘AIM: To investigate the effect of compound Danshen injection on lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced rat mesenteric microcirculatory dysfunctions and the underlying possible mechanism by an inverted intravital microscope and high-speed video camera system. METHODS: LPS was continuously infused through the jugular artery of male Wistar rats at the dose of 2 mg/kg per hour. Changes in mesenteric microcirculation,such as diameters of arterioles and venules,velocity of RBCs in venules,leukocyte rolling,adhesion and emigration,free radicals released from post-capillary venules,FITC- albumin leakage and mast cell degranulation,were observed through an inverted intravital microscope assisted with CCD camera and SIT camera. Meanwhile,the expression of adhesion molecules CD11b/CD18 and the production of free radical in neutrophils,and the expression of intercellular adhesion molecule 1 (ICAM-1) in human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) were quantified by flow cytometry (FACS) in vitro. RESULTS: The continuous infusion with LPS resulted in a number of responses in microcirculation,including a significant increase in the positive region of venulestained with Monastral blue B,rolling and adhesion of leukocytes,production of oxygen radical in venular wall,albumin efflux and enhanced mast cell degranulation in vivo,all of which,except for the leukocyte rolling,were attenuated by the treatment with compound Danshen injection. Experiments performed in vitro further revealed that the expression of CD11b/CD18 and the production of oxygen free radical in neutrophils,and the expression of ICAM-1 in HUVECs were increased by exposure to LPS,and they were attenuated by compound Danshen injection. CONCLUSION: These results suggest that compound Danshen injection is an efficient drug with multi-targeting potential for improving the microcirculatory disturbance.
基金supported by the US Department of Energy,Office of Science,Biological and Environmental Research program,as part of the Regional and Global Modeling and Analysis(RGMA)program,Multi-sector Dynamics Modeling(MSD)program,and Earth System Model Development(ESMD)program,through the collaborative,multiprogram Integrated Coastal Modeling(ICoM)project,HyperFACETS project,and COMPASS-GLM projectPacific Northwest National Laboratory is operated for the Department of Energy by Battelle Memorial Institute under contract DE-AC05-76RL01830.
文摘Urban environments lie at the confluence of social,cultural,and economic activities and have unique biophysical characteristics due to continued infrastructure development that generally replaces natural landscapes with built-up structures.The vast majority of studies on urban perturbation of local weather and climate have been centered on the urban heat island(UHI)effect,referring to the higher temperature in cities compared to their natural surroundings.Besides the UHI effect and heat waves,urbanization also impacts atmospheric moisture,wind,boundary layer structure,cloud formation,dispersion of air pollutants,precipitation,and storms.In this review article,we first introduce the datasets and methods used in studying urban areas and their impacts through both observation and modeling and then summarize the scientific insights on the impact of urbanization on various aspects of regional climate and extreme weather based on more than 500 studies.We also highlight the major research gaps and challenges in our understanding of the impacts of urbanization and provide our perspective and recommendations for future research priorities and directions.
基金supported by National Natural Science Foundation of China(grants:81830051,31525008,31670911 and 31961133011)Shanghai Academic Research Leader 16XD1403800+1 种基金Shanghai Jiao Tong University(SJTU)-The Chinese University of Hong Kong(CUHK)Joint Research Collaboration Fundthe Fundamental Research Funds for Central Universities.
文摘Regulatory T(Treg)cells,a subtype of immunosuppressive CD4^+T cells,are vital for maintaining immune homeostasis in healthy people.Forkhead box protein P3(FOXP3),a member of the forkhead-wingedhelix family,is the pivotal transcriptional factor of Treg cells.The expression,post-translational modifications,and protein complex of FOXP3 present a great impact on the functional stability and immune plasticity of Treg cells in vivo.In particular,the mutation of FOXP3 can result in immune dysregulation,polyendocrinopathy,enteropathy,X-linked(IPEX)syndrome,which is a rare genetic disease mostly diagnosed in early childhood and can soon be fatal.IPEX syndrome is related to several manifestations,including dermatitis,enteropathy,type 1 diabetes,thyroiditis,and so on.Here,we summarize some recent findings on FOXP3 regulation and Treg cell function.We also review the current knowledge about the underlying mechanism of FOXP3 mutant-induced IPEX syndrome and some latest clinical prospects.At last,this review offers a novel insight into the role played by the FOXP3 complex in potential therapeutic applications in IPEX syndrome.
