Substantial effects of photochemical reaction losses of volatile organic compounds(VOCs)on factor profiles can be investigated by comparing the differences between daytime and nighttime dispersion-normalized VOC data ...Substantial effects of photochemical reaction losses of volatile organic compounds(VOCs)on factor profiles can be investigated by comparing the differences between daytime and nighttime dispersion-normalized VOC data resolved profiles.Hourly speciated VOC data measured in Shijiazhuang,China from May to September 2021 were used to conduct study.The mean VOC concentration in the daytime and at nighttime were 32.8 and 36.0 ppbv,respectively.Alkanes and aromatics concentrations in the daytime(12.9 and 3.08 ppbv)were lower than nighttime(15.5 and 3.63 ppbv),whereas that of alkenes showed the opposite tendency.The concentration differences between daytime and nighttime for alkynes and halogenated hydrocarbonswere uniformly small.The reactivities of the dominant species in factor profiles for gasoline emissions,natural gas and diesel vehicles,and liquefied petroleum gas were relatively low and their profiles were less affected by photochemical losses.Photochemical losses produced a substantial impact on the profiles of solvent use,petrochemical industry emissions,combustion sources,and biogenic emissions where the dominant species in these factor profiles had high reactivities.Although the profile of biogenic emissions was substantially affected by photochemical loss of isoprene,the low emissions at nighttime also had an important impact on its profile.Chemical losses of highly active VOC species substantially reduced their concentrations in apportioned factor profiles.This study results were consistent with the analytical results obtained through initial concentration estimation,suggesting that the initial concentration estimation could be the most effective currently availablemethod for the source analyses of active VOCs although with uncertainty.展开更多
CircRNAs,widely found throughout the human bodies,play a crucial role in regulating various biological processes and are closely linked to complex human diseases.Investigating potential associations between circRNAs a...CircRNAs,widely found throughout the human bodies,play a crucial role in regulating various biological processes and are closely linked to complex human diseases.Investigating potential associations between circRNAs and diseases can enhance our understanding of diseases and provide new strategies and tools for early diagnosis,treatment,and disease prevention.However,existing models have limitations in accurately capturing similarities,handling the sparse and noise attributes of association networks,and fully leveraging bioinformatical aspects from multiple viewpoints.To address these issues,this study introduces a new non-negative matrix factorization-based framework called NMFMSN.First,we incorporate circRNA sequence data and disease semantic information to compute circRNA and disease similarity,respectively.Given the sparse known associations between circRNAs and diseases,we reconstruct the network to complete more associations by imputing missing links based on neighboring circRNA and disease interactions.Finally,we integrate these two similarity networks into a non-negative matrix factorization framework to identify potential circRNA-disease associations.Upon conducting 5-fold cross-validation and leave-one-out cross-validation,the AUC values for NMFMSN reach 0.9712 and 0.9768,respectively,outperforming the currently most advanced models.Case studies on lung cancer and hepatocellular carcinoma show that NMFMSN is a good way to predict new associations between circRNAs and diseases.展开更多
Fine particulatematter(PM_(2.5))samples were collected in two neighboring cities,Beijing and Baoding,China.High-concentration events of PM_(2.5) in which the average mass concentration exceeded 75μg/m^(3) were freque...Fine particulatematter(PM_(2.5))samples were collected in two neighboring cities,Beijing and Baoding,China.High-concentration events of PM_(2.5) in which the average mass concentration exceeded 75μg/m^(3) were frequently observed during the heating season.Dispersion Normalized Positive Matrix Factorization was applied for the source apportionment of PM_(2.5) as minimize the dilution effects of meteorology and better reflect the source strengths in these two cities.Secondary nitrate had the highest contribution for Beijing(37.3%),and residential heating/biomass burning was the largest for Baoding(27.1%).Secondary nitrate,mobile,biomass burning,district heating,oil combustion,aged sea salt sources showed significant differences between the heating and non-heating seasons in Beijing for same period(2019.01.10–2019.08.22)(Mann-Whitney Rank Sum Test P<0.05).In case of Baoding,soil,residential heating/biomass burning,incinerator,coal combustion,oil combustion sources showed significant differences.The results of Pearson correlation analysis for the common sources between the two cities showed that long-range transported sources and some sources with seasonal patterns such as oil combustion and soil had high correlation coefficients.Conditional Bivariate Probability Function(CBPF)was used to identify the inflow directions for the sources,and joint-PSCF(Potential Source Contribution Function)was performed to determine the common potential source areas for sources affecting both cities.These models facilitated a more precise verification of city-specific influences on PM_(2.5) sources.The results of this study will aid in prioritizing air pollution mitigation strategies during the heating season and strengthening air quality management to reduce the impact of downwind neighboring cities.展开更多
This study aimed to investigate the pollution characteristics, source apportionment, and health risks associated with trace metal(loid)s(TMs) in the major agricultural producing areas in Chongqing, China. We analyzed ...This study aimed to investigate the pollution characteristics, source apportionment, and health risks associated with trace metal(loid)s(TMs) in the major agricultural producing areas in Chongqing, China. We analyzed the source apportionment and assessed the health risk of TMs in agricultural soils by using positive matrix factorization(PMF) model and health risk assessment(HRA) model based on Monte Carlo simulation. Meanwhile, we combined PMF and HRA models to explore the health risks of TMs in agricultural soils by different pollution sources to determine the priority control factors. Results showed that the average contents of cadmium(Cd), arsenic (As), lead(Pb), chromium(Cr), copper(Cu), nickel(Ni), and zinc(Zn) in the soil were found to be 0.26, 5.93, 27.14, 61.32, 23.81, 32.45, and 78.65 mg/kg, respectively. Spatial analysis and source apportionment analysis revealed that urban and industrial sources, agricultural sources, and natural sources accounted for 33.0%, 27.7%, and 39.3% of TM accumulation in the soil, respectively. In the HRA model based on Monte Carlo simulation, noncarcinogenic risks were deemed negligible(hazard index <1), the carcinogenic risks were at acceptable level(10^(-6)<total carcinogenic risk ≤ 10^(-4)), with higher risks observed for children compared to adults. The relationship between TMs, their sources, and health risks indicated that urban and industrial sources were primarily associated with As, contributing to 75.1% of carcinogenic risks and 55.7% of non-carcinogenic risks, making them the primary control factors. Meanwhile, agricultural sources were primarily linked to Cd and Pb, contributing to 13.1% of carcinogenic risks and 21.8% of non-carcinogenic risks, designating them as secondary control factors.展开更多
BACKGROUND Frey syndrome,also known as ototemporal nerve syndrome or gustatory sweating syndrome,is one of the most common complications of parotid gland surgery.This condition is characterized by abnormal sensations ...BACKGROUND Frey syndrome,also known as ototemporal nerve syndrome or gustatory sweating syndrome,is one of the most common complications of parotid gland surgery.This condition is characterized by abnormal sensations in the facial skin accompanied by episodes of flushing and sweating triggered by cognitive processes,visual stimuli,or eating.AIM To investigate the preventive effect of acellular dermal matrix(ADM)on Frey syndrome after parotid tumor resection and analyzed the effects of Frey syndrome across various surgical methods and other factors involved in parotid tumor resection.METHODS Retrospective data from 82 patients were analyzed to assess the correlation between sex,age,resection sample size,operation time,operation mode,ADM usage,and occurrence of postoperative Frey syndrome.RESULTS Among the 82 patients,the incidence of Frey syndrome was 56.1%.There were no significant differences in sex,age,or operation time between the two groups(P>0.05).However,there was a significant difference between ADM implantation and occurrence of Frey syndrome(P<0.05).ADM application could reduce the variation in the incidence of Frey syndrome across different operation modes.CONCLUSION ADM can effectively prevent Frey syndrome and delay its onset.展开更多
Contrastive learning is a significant research direction in the field of deep learning.However,existing data augmentation methods often lead to issues such as semantic drift in generated views while the complexity of ...Contrastive learning is a significant research direction in the field of deep learning.However,existing data augmentation methods often lead to issues such as semantic drift in generated views while the complexity of model pre-training limits further improvement in the performance of existing methods.To address these challenges,we propose the Efficient Clustering Network based on Matrix Factorization(ECN-MF).Specifically,we design a batched low-rank Singular Value Decomposition(SVD)algorithm for data augmentation to eliminate redundant information and uncover major patterns of variation and key information in the data.Additionally,we design a Mutual Information-Enhanced Clustering Module(MI-ECM)to accelerate the training process by leveraging a simple architecture to bring samples from the same cluster closer while pushing samples from other clusters apart.Extensive experiments on six datasets demonstrate that ECN-MF exhibits more effective performance compared to state-of-the-art algorithms.展开更多
Spinal and bulbar muscular atrophy is a neurodegenerative disease caused by extended CAG trinucleotide repeats in the androgen receptor gene,which encodes a ligand-dependent transcription facto r.The mutant androgen r...Spinal and bulbar muscular atrophy is a neurodegenerative disease caused by extended CAG trinucleotide repeats in the androgen receptor gene,which encodes a ligand-dependent transcription facto r.The mutant androgen receptor protein,characterized by polyglutamine expansion,is prone to misfolding and forms aggregates in both the nucleus and cytoplasm in the brain in spinal and bulbar muscular atrophy patients.These aggregates alter protein-protein interactions and compromise transcriptional activity.In this study,we reported that in both cultured N2a cells and mouse brain,mutant androgen receptor with polyglutamine expansion causes reduced expression of mesencephalic astrocyte-de rived neurotrophic factor.Overexpressio n of mesencephalic astrocyte-derived neurotrophic factor amelio rated the neurotoxicity of mutant androgen receptor through the inhibition of mutant androgen receptor aggregation.Conversely.knocking down endogenous mesencephalic astrocyte-derived neurotrophic factor in the mouse brain exacerbated neuronal damage and mutant androgen receptor aggregation.Our findings suggest that inhibition of mesencephalic astrocyte-derived neurotrophic factor expression by mutant androgen receptor is a potential mechanism underlying neurodegeneration in spinal and bulbar muscular atrophy.展开更多
The tragedy of Vila Socó epitomizes the socio-environmental repercussions of rapid industrialization in Cubatão. Beginning in the 1940s with the construction of the Anchieta highway, the city experienced an ...The tragedy of Vila Socó epitomizes the socio-environmental repercussions of rapid industrialization in Cubatão. Beginning in the 1940s with the construction of the Anchieta highway, the city experienced an influx of migrants drawn by burgeoning industries, leading to unplanned urban growth and the emergence of vulnerable communities like Vila Socó. This article examines the interconnected factors—such as demographic shifts, inadequate planning, and regulatory oversight—that culminated in the devastating fire of 1984, claiming numerous lives and highlighting systemic failures. Utilizing the Haddon Matrix, this study dissects the Vila Socó incident, emphasizing the roles of human error, infrastructure integrity, and socio-economic disparities in disaster causation. By contextualizing the tragedy within Cubatão’s industrial trajectory, it underscores the urgent need for comprehensive risk assessment and proactive mitigation strategies in rapidly developing regions globally. Beyond its immediate focus, this work offers broader insights into the dynamics of industrial disasters and their socio-economic implications. As pipelines continue to play a vital role in global energy infrastructure, the lessons drawn from Vila Socó’s tragedy resonate deeply, emphasizing the imperative of robust safety protocols and accountable governance to prevent similar catastrophes in the future.展开更多
BACKGROUND At present,the influencing factors of social function in patients with residual depressive symptoms are still unclear.Residual depressive symptoms are highly harmful,leading to low mood in patients,affectin...BACKGROUND At present,the influencing factors of social function in patients with residual depressive symptoms are still unclear.Residual depressive symptoms are highly harmful,leading to low mood in patients,affecting work and interpersonal communication,increasing the risk of recurrence,and adding to the burden on families.Studying the influencing factors of their social function is of great significance.AIM To explore the social function score and its influencing factors in patients with residual depressive symptoms.METHODS This observational study surveyed patients with residual depressive symptoms(case group)and healthy patients undergoing physical examinations(control group).Participants were admitted between January 2022 and December 2023.Social functioning was assessed using the Sheehan Disability Scale(SDS),and scores were compared between groups.Factors influencing SDS scores in patients with residual depressive symptoms were analyzed by applying multiple linear regression while using the receiver operating characteristic curve,and these RESULTS The SDS scores of the 158 patients with depressive symptoms were 11.48±3.26.Compared with the control group,the SDS scores and all items in the case group were higher.SDS scores were higher in patients with relapse,discon-tinuous medication,drug therapy alone,severe somatic symptoms,obvious residual symptoms,and anxiety scores≥8.Disease history,medication compliance,therapy method,and residual symptoms correlated positively with SDS scores(r=0.354,0.414,0.602,and 0.456,respectively).Independent influencing factors included disease history,medication compliance,therapy method,somatic symptoms,residual symptoms,and anxiety scores(P<0.05).The areas under the curve for predicting social functional impairment using these factors were 0.713,0.559,0.684,0.729,0.668,and 0.628,respectively,with sensitivities of 79.2%,61.8%,76.8%,81.7%,63.6%,and 65.5%and specificities of 83.3%,87.5%,82.6%,83.3%,86.7%,and 92.1%,respectively.CONCLUSION The social function scores of patients with residual symptoms of depression are high.They are affected by disease history,medication compliance,therapy method,degree of somatic symptoms,residual symptoms,and anxiety.展开更多
BACKGROUND Simulated microgravity environment can lead to gastrointestinal motility disturbance.The pathogenesis of gastrointestinal motility disorders is closely related to the stem cell factor(SCF)/c-kit signaling p...BACKGROUND Simulated microgravity environment can lead to gastrointestinal motility disturbance.The pathogenesis of gastrointestinal motility disorders is closely related to the stem cell factor(SCF)/c-kit signaling pathway associated with intestinal flora and Cajal stromal cells.Moreover,intestinal flora can also affect the regulation of SCF/c-kit signaling pathway,thus affecting the expression of Cajal stromal cells.Cajal cells are the pacemakers of gastrointestinal motility.AIM To investigate the effects of Bifidobacterium lactis(B.lactis)BLa80 on the intestinal flora of rats in simulated microgravity and on the gastrointestinal motility-related SCF/c-kit pathway.METHODS The internationally recognized tail suspension animal model was used to simulate the microgravity environment,and 30 rats were randomly divided into control group,tail suspension group and drug administration tail suspension group with 10 rats in each group for a total of 28 days.The tail group was given B.lactis BLa80 by intragastric administration,and the other two groups were given water intragastric administration,the concentration of intragastric administration was 0.1 g/mL,and each rat was 1 mL/day.Hematoxylin&eosin staining was used to observe the histopathological changes in each segment of the intestine of each group,and the expression levels of SCF,c-kit,extracellular signal-regulated kinase(ERK)and p-ERK in the gastric antrum of each group were detected by Western blotting and PCR.The fecal flora and mucosal flora of rats in each group were detected by 16S rRNA.RESULTS Simulated microgravity resulted in severe exfoliation of villi of duodenum,jejunum and ileum in rats,marked damage,increased space between villi,loose arrangement,shortened columnar epithelium of colon,less folds,narrower mucosal thickness,reduced goblet cell number and crypts,and significant improvement after probiotic intervention.Simulated microgravity reduced the expressions of SCF and c-kit,and increased the expressions of ERK and P-ERK in the gastric antrum of rats.However,after probiotic intervention,the expressions of SCF and ckit were increased,while the expressions of ERK and P-ERK were decreased,with statistical significance(P<0.05).In addition,simulated microgravity can reduce the operational taxonomic unit(OTU)of the overall intestinal flora of rats,B.lactis BLa80 can increase the OTU of rats,simulated microgravity can reduce the overall richness and diversity of stool flora of rats,increase the abundance of firmicutes in stool flora of rats,and reduce the abundance of Bacteroides in stool flora of rats,most of which are mainly beneficial bacteria.Simulated microgravity can increase the overall richness and diversity of mucosal flora,increase the abundance of Bacteroides and Desulphurides in the rat mucosal flora,and decrease the abundance of firmicutes,most of which are proteobacteria.After probiotics intervention,the overall Bacteroidetes trend in simulated microgravity rats was increased.CONCLUSION B.lactis BLa80 can ameliorate intestinal mucosal injury,regulate intestinal flora,inhibit ERK expression,and activate the SCF/c-kit signaling pathway,which may have a facilitating effect on gastrointestinal motility in simulated microgravity rats.展开更多
One of the most important problems in complex networks is to identify the influential vertices for understanding and controlling of information diffusion and disease spreading.Most of the current centrality algorithms...One of the most important problems in complex networks is to identify the influential vertices for understanding and controlling of information diffusion and disease spreading.Most of the current centrality algorithms focus on single feature or manually extract the attributes,which occasionally results in the failure to fully capture the vertex’s importance.A new vertex centrality approach based on symmetric nonnegative matrix factorization(SNMF),called VCSNMF,is proposed in this paper.For highlight the characteristics of a network,the adjacency matrix and the degree matrix are fused to represent original data of the network via a weighted linear combination.First,SNMF automatically extracts the latent characteristics of vertices by factorizing the established original data matrix.Then we prove that each vertex’s composite feature which is constructed with one-dimensional factor matrix can be approximated as the term of eigenvector associated with the spectral radius of the network,otherwise obtained by the factor matrix on the hyperspace.Finally,VCSNMF integrates the composite feature and the topological structure to evaluate the performance of vertices.To verify the effectiveness of the VCSNMF criterion,eight existing centrality approaches are used as comparison measures to rank influential vertices in ten real-world networks.The experimental results assert the superiority of the method.展开更多
This paper thoroughly explores the multifaceted factors influencing the efficacy of Chinese medicinals and categorizes them into three main groups:medicinal related factors,patient related factors,and practitioner rel...This paper thoroughly explores the multifaceted factors influencing the efficacy of Chinese medicinals and categorizes them into three main groups:medicinal related factors,patient related factors,and practitioner related factors.Regarding medicinal related factors,the place of origin,growing environment,harvesting time,storage conditions,quality control,dosage form selection,compatibility of medicinals,precise dosing,decoction methods,and administration routes all significantly impact efficacy.The place of origin determines the authenticity of medicinals,the growing environment affects their composition,harvesting time influences potency,improper storage leads to deterioration,quality control forms the foundation of efficacy,dosage forms and compatibility of medicinals affect absorption,dosing and decoction methods require precision,and administration routes should be tailored to individuals.Patient related factors include psychological state,individual differences,background,and disease condition.Psychological state affects treatment compliance,individual differences determine medicine responses,background influences patients’understanding of Chinese medicinals,and disease condition directly reflects efficacy.Practitioner related factors encompass theoretical knowledge,clinical experience,inherited practices,psychological state,and professional ethics.Theoretical knowledge guides medication use,clinical experience enhances efficacy,inherited practices influence prescribing styles,psychological state affects doctor–patient communication,and professional ethics ensure medical quality.These interrelated factors collectively influence the efficacy of Chinese medicinals,emphasizing the need for comprehensive consideration in clinical applications to achieve optimal therapeutic outcomes.展开更多
Spinal cord injury represents a severe form of central nervous system trauma for which effective treatments remain limited.Microglia is the resident immune cells of the central nervous system,play a critical role in s...Spinal cord injury represents a severe form of central nervous system trauma for which effective treatments remain limited.Microglia is the resident immune cells of the central nervous system,play a critical role in spinal cord injury.Previous studies have shown that microglia can promote neuronal survival by phagocytosing dead cells and debris and by releasing neuroprotective and anti-inflammatory factors.However,excessive activation of microglia can lead to persistent inflammation and contribute to the formation of glial scars,which hinder axonal regeneration.Despite this,the precise role and mechanisms of microglia during the acute phase of spinal cord injury remain controversial and poorly understood.To elucidate the role of microglia in spinal cord injury,we employed the colony-stimulating factor 1 receptor inhibitor PLX5622 to deplete microglia.We observed that sustained depletion of microglia resulted in an expansion of the lesion area,downregulation of brain-derived neurotrophic factor,and impaired functional recovery after spinal cord injury.Next,we generated a transgenic mouse line with conditional overexpression of brain-derived neurotrophic factor specifically in microglia.We found that brain-derived neurotrophic factor overexpression in microglia increased angiogenesis and blood flow following spinal cord injury and facilitated the recovery of hindlimb motor function.Additionally,brain-derived neurotrophic factor overexpression in microglia reduced inflammation and neuronal apoptosis during the acute phase of spinal cord injury.Furthermore,through using specific transgenic mouse lines,TMEM119,and the colony-stimulating factor 1 receptor inhibitor PLX73086,we demonstrated that the neuroprotective effects were predominantly due to brain-derived neurotrophic factor overexpression in microglia rather than macrophages.In conclusion,our findings suggest the critical role of microglia in the formation of protective glial scars.Depleting microglia is detrimental to recovery of spinal cord injury,whereas targeting brain-derived neurotrophic factor overexpression in microglia represents a promising and novel therapeutic strategy to enhance motor function recovery in patients with spinal cord injury.展开更多
BACKGROUND One of the main characteristics of oral squamous cell carcinoma(OSCC)is that it metastasizes to cervical lymph nodes frequently with a high degree of local invasiveness.A primary feature of malignant tumors...BACKGROUND One of the main characteristics of oral squamous cell carcinoma(OSCC)is that it metastasizes to cervical lymph nodes frequently with a high degree of local invasiveness.A primary feature of malignant tumors is their penetration of neighboring tissues,such as lymphatic and blood arteries,due to the tumor cells'capacity to break down the extracellular matrix(ECM).Matrix metalloproteinases(MMPs)constitute a family of proteolytic enzymes that facilitate tissue remodeling and the degradation of the ECM.MMP-9 and MMP-13 belong to the group of extracellular matrix degrading enzymes and their expression has been studied in OSCC because of their specific functions.MMP-13,a collagenase family member,is thought to play an essential role in the MMP activation cascade by breaking down the fibrillar collagens,whereas MMP-9 is thought to accelerate the growth of tumors.Elevated MMP-13 expression has been associated with tumor behavior and patient prognosis in a number of malignant cases.AIM To assess the immunohistochemical expression of MMP-9 and MMP-13 in OSCC.METHODS A total of 40 cases with histologically confirmed OSCC by incisional biopsy were included in this cross-sectional retrospective study.The protocols for both MMP-9 and MMP-13 immunohistochemical staining were performed according to the manufacturer’s recommendations along with the normal gingival epithelium as a positive control.All the observations were recorded and Pearson’sχ²test with Fisher exact test was used for statistical analysis.RESULTS Our study showed no significant correlation between MMP-9 and MMP-13 staining intensity and tumor size.The majority of the patients were in advanced TNM stages(III and IV),and showed intense expression of MMP-9 and MMP-13.CONCLUSION The present study suggests that both MMP-9 and MMP-13 play an important and independent role in OSCC progression and invasiveness.Intense expression of MMP-9 and MMP-13,irrespective of histological grade of OSCC,correlates well with TNM stage.Consequently,it is evident that MMP-9 and MMP-13 are important for the invasiveness and progression of tumors.The findings may facilitate the development of new approaches for evaluating lymph node metastases and interventional therapy techniques,hence enhancing the prognosis of patients diagnosed with OSCC.展开更多
Retinal aging has been recognized as a significant risk factor for various retinal disorders,including diabetic retinopathy,age-related macular degeneration,and glaucoma,following a growing understanding of the molecu...Retinal aging has been recognized as a significant risk factor for various retinal disorders,including diabetic retinopathy,age-related macular degeneration,and glaucoma,following a growing understanding of the molecular underpinnings of their development.This comprehensive review explores the mechanisms of retinal aging and investigates potential neuroprotective approaches,focusing on the activation of transcription factor EB.Recent meta-analyses have demonstrated promising outcomes of transcription factor EB-targeted strategies,such as exercise,calorie restriction,rapamycin,and metformin,in patients and animal models of these common retinal diseases.The review critically assesses the role of transcription factor EB in retinal biology during aging,its neuroprotective effects,and its therapeutic potential for retinal disorders.The impact of transcription factor EB on retinal aging is cell-specific,influencing metabolic reprogramming and energy homeostasis in retinal neurons through the regulation of mitochondrial quality control and nutrient-sensing pathways.In vascular endothelial cells,transcription factor EB controls important processes,including endothelial cell proliferation,endothelial tube formation,and nitric oxide levels,thereby influencing the inner blood-retinal barrier,angiogenesis,and retinal microvasculature.Additionally,transcription factor EB affects vascular smooth muscle cells,inhibiting vascular calcification and atherogenesis.In retinal pigment epithelial cells,transcription factor EB modulates functions such as autophagy,lysosomal dynamics,and clearance of the aging pigment lipofuscin,thereby promoting photoreceptor survival and regulating vascular endothelial growth factor A expression involved in neovascularization.These cell-specific functions of transcription factor EB significantly impact retinal aging mechanisms encompassing proteostasis,neuronal synapse plasticity,energy metabolism,microvasculature,and inflammation,ultimately offering protection against retinal aging and diseases.The review emphasizes transcription factor EB as a potential therapeutic target for retinal diseases.Therefore,it is imperative to obtain well-controlled direct experimental evidence to confirm the efficacy of transcription factor EB modulation in retinal diseases while minimizing its risk of adverse effects.展开更多
The brain's extracellular matrix(ECM),which is comprised of protein and glycosaminoglycan(GAG)scaffolds,constitutes 20%-40% of the human brain and is considered one of the largest influencers on brain cell functio...The brain's extracellular matrix(ECM),which is comprised of protein and glycosaminoglycan(GAG)scaffolds,constitutes 20%-40% of the human brain and is considered one of the largest influencers on brain cell functioning(Soles et al.,2023).Synthesized by neural and glial cells,the brain's ECM regulates a myriad of homeostatic cellular processes,including neuronal plasticity and firing(Miyata et al.,2012),cation buffering(Moraws ki et al.,2015),and glia-neuron interactions(Anderson et al.,2016).Considering the diversity of functions,dynamic remodeling of the brain's ECM indicates that this understudied medium is an active participant in both normal physiology and neurological diseases.展开更多
Increased matrix stiffness of nucleus pulposus(NP)tissue is a main feature of intervertebral disc degeneration(IVDD)and affects various functions of nucleus pulposus cells(NPCs).Glycolysis is the main energy source fo...Increased matrix stiffness of nucleus pulposus(NP)tissue is a main feature of intervertebral disc degeneration(IVDD)and affects various functions of nucleus pulposus cells(NPCs).Glycolysis is the main energy source for NPC survival,but the effects and underlying mechanisms of increased extracellular matrix(ECM)stiffness on NPC glycolysis remain unknown.In this study,hydrogels with different stiffness were established to mimic the mechanical environment of NPCs.Notably,increased matrix stiffness in degenerated NP tissues from IVDD patients was accompanied with impaired glycolysis,and NPCs cultured on rigid substrates exhibited a reduction in glycolysis.展开更多
Quantum dot(QD)-based infrared photodetector is a promising technology that can implement current monitoring,imaging and optical communication in the infrared region. However, the photodetection performance of self-po...Quantum dot(QD)-based infrared photodetector is a promising technology that can implement current monitoring,imaging and optical communication in the infrared region. However, the photodetection performance of self-powered QD devices is still limited by their unfavorable charge carrier dynamics due to their intrinsically discrete charge carrier transport process. Herein, we strategically constructed semiconducting matrix in QD film to achieve efficient charge transfer and extraction.The p-type semiconducting CuSCN was selected as energy-aligned matrix to match the n-type colloidal PbS QDs that was used as proof-of-concept. Note that the PbS QD/CuSCN matrix not only enables efficient charge carrier separation and transfer at nano-interfaces but also provides continuous charge carrier transport pathways that are different from the hoping process in neat QD film, resulting in improved charge mobility and derived collection efficiency. As a result, the target structure delivers high specific detectivity of 4.38 × 10^(12)Jones and responsivity of 782 mA/W at 808 nm, which is superior than that of the PbS QD-only photodetector(4.66 × 10^(11)Jones and 338 mA/W). This work provides a new structure candidate for efficient colloidal QD based optoelectronic devices.展开更多
基金supported by the National Key R&D Program of China(No.2023YFC3705801)the National Natural Science Foundation of China(No.42177085).
文摘Substantial effects of photochemical reaction losses of volatile organic compounds(VOCs)on factor profiles can be investigated by comparing the differences between daytime and nighttime dispersion-normalized VOC data resolved profiles.Hourly speciated VOC data measured in Shijiazhuang,China from May to September 2021 were used to conduct study.The mean VOC concentration in the daytime and at nighttime were 32.8 and 36.0 ppbv,respectively.Alkanes and aromatics concentrations in the daytime(12.9 and 3.08 ppbv)were lower than nighttime(15.5 and 3.63 ppbv),whereas that of alkenes showed the opposite tendency.The concentration differences between daytime and nighttime for alkynes and halogenated hydrocarbonswere uniformly small.The reactivities of the dominant species in factor profiles for gasoline emissions,natural gas and diesel vehicles,and liquefied petroleum gas were relatively low and their profiles were less affected by photochemical losses.Photochemical losses produced a substantial impact on the profiles of solvent use,petrochemical industry emissions,combustion sources,and biogenic emissions where the dominant species in these factor profiles had high reactivities.Although the profile of biogenic emissions was substantially affected by photochemical loss of isoprene,the low emissions at nighttime also had an important impact on its profile.Chemical losses of highly active VOC species substantially reduced their concentrations in apportioned factor profiles.This study results were consistent with the analytical results obtained through initial concentration estimation,suggesting that the initial concentration estimation could be the most effective currently availablemethod for the source analyses of active VOCs although with uncertainty.
基金the Gansu Province Industrial Support Plan(No.2023CYZC-25)Natural Science Foundation of Gansu Province(No.23JRRA770)the National Natural Science Foundation of China(No.62162040)。
文摘CircRNAs,widely found throughout the human bodies,play a crucial role in regulating various biological processes and are closely linked to complex human diseases.Investigating potential associations between circRNAs and diseases can enhance our understanding of diseases and provide new strategies and tools for early diagnosis,treatment,and disease prevention.However,existing models have limitations in accurately capturing similarities,handling the sparse and noise attributes of association networks,and fully leveraging bioinformatical aspects from multiple viewpoints.To address these issues,this study introduces a new non-negative matrix factorization-based framework called NMFMSN.First,we incorporate circRNA sequence data and disease semantic information to compute circRNA and disease similarity,respectively.Given the sparse known associations between circRNAs and diseases,we reconstruct the network to complete more associations by imputing missing links based on neighboring circRNA and disease interactions.Finally,we integrate these two similarity networks into a non-negative matrix factorization framework to identify potential circRNA-disease associations.Upon conducting 5-fold cross-validation and leave-one-out cross-validation,the AUC values for NMFMSN reach 0.9712 and 0.9768,respectively,outperforming the currently most advanced models.Case studies on lung cancer and hepatocellular carcinoma show that NMFMSN is a good way to predict new associations between circRNAs and diseases.
基金supported by the National Institute of Environmental Research(NIER)funded by the Ministry of Environment(No.NIER-2019-04-02-039)supported by Particulate Matter Management Specialized Graduate Program through the Korea Environmental Industry&Technology Institute(KEITI)funded by the Ministry of Environment(MOE).
文摘Fine particulatematter(PM_(2.5))samples were collected in two neighboring cities,Beijing and Baoding,China.High-concentration events of PM_(2.5) in which the average mass concentration exceeded 75μg/m^(3) were frequently observed during the heating season.Dispersion Normalized Positive Matrix Factorization was applied for the source apportionment of PM_(2.5) as minimize the dilution effects of meteorology and better reflect the source strengths in these two cities.Secondary nitrate had the highest contribution for Beijing(37.3%),and residential heating/biomass burning was the largest for Baoding(27.1%).Secondary nitrate,mobile,biomass burning,district heating,oil combustion,aged sea salt sources showed significant differences between the heating and non-heating seasons in Beijing for same period(2019.01.10–2019.08.22)(Mann-Whitney Rank Sum Test P<0.05).In case of Baoding,soil,residential heating/biomass burning,incinerator,coal combustion,oil combustion sources showed significant differences.The results of Pearson correlation analysis for the common sources between the two cities showed that long-range transported sources and some sources with seasonal patterns such as oil combustion and soil had high correlation coefficients.Conditional Bivariate Probability Function(CBPF)was used to identify the inflow directions for the sources,and joint-PSCF(Potential Source Contribution Function)was performed to determine the common potential source areas for sources affecting both cities.These models facilitated a more precise verification of city-specific influences on PM_(2.5) sources.The results of this study will aid in prioritizing air pollution mitigation strategies during the heating season and strengthening air quality management to reduce the impact of downwind neighboring cities.
基金supported by Project of Chongqing Science and Technology Bureau (cstc2022jxjl0005)。
文摘This study aimed to investigate the pollution characteristics, source apportionment, and health risks associated with trace metal(loid)s(TMs) in the major agricultural producing areas in Chongqing, China. We analyzed the source apportionment and assessed the health risk of TMs in agricultural soils by using positive matrix factorization(PMF) model and health risk assessment(HRA) model based on Monte Carlo simulation. Meanwhile, we combined PMF and HRA models to explore the health risks of TMs in agricultural soils by different pollution sources to determine the priority control factors. Results showed that the average contents of cadmium(Cd), arsenic (As), lead(Pb), chromium(Cr), copper(Cu), nickel(Ni), and zinc(Zn) in the soil were found to be 0.26, 5.93, 27.14, 61.32, 23.81, 32.45, and 78.65 mg/kg, respectively. Spatial analysis and source apportionment analysis revealed that urban and industrial sources, agricultural sources, and natural sources accounted for 33.0%, 27.7%, and 39.3% of TM accumulation in the soil, respectively. In the HRA model based on Monte Carlo simulation, noncarcinogenic risks were deemed negligible(hazard index <1), the carcinogenic risks were at acceptable level(10^(-6)<total carcinogenic risk ≤ 10^(-4)), with higher risks observed for children compared to adults. The relationship between TMs, their sources, and health risks indicated that urban and industrial sources were primarily associated with As, contributing to 75.1% of carcinogenic risks and 55.7% of non-carcinogenic risks, making them the primary control factors. Meanwhile, agricultural sources were primarily linked to Cd and Pb, contributing to 13.1% of carcinogenic risks and 21.8% of non-carcinogenic risks, designating them as secondary control factors.
文摘BACKGROUND Frey syndrome,also known as ototemporal nerve syndrome or gustatory sweating syndrome,is one of the most common complications of parotid gland surgery.This condition is characterized by abnormal sensations in the facial skin accompanied by episodes of flushing and sweating triggered by cognitive processes,visual stimuli,or eating.AIM To investigate the preventive effect of acellular dermal matrix(ADM)on Frey syndrome after parotid tumor resection and analyzed the effects of Frey syndrome across various surgical methods and other factors involved in parotid tumor resection.METHODS Retrospective data from 82 patients were analyzed to assess the correlation between sex,age,resection sample size,operation time,operation mode,ADM usage,and occurrence of postoperative Frey syndrome.RESULTS Among the 82 patients,the incidence of Frey syndrome was 56.1%.There were no significant differences in sex,age,or operation time between the two groups(P>0.05).However,there was a significant difference between ADM implantation and occurrence of Frey syndrome(P<0.05).ADM application could reduce the variation in the incidence of Frey syndrome across different operation modes.CONCLUSION ADM can effectively prevent Frey syndrome and delay its onset.
基金supported by the Key Research and Development Program of Hainan Province(Grant Nos.ZDYF2023GXJS163,ZDYF2024GXJS014)National Natural Science Foundation of China(NSFC)(Grant Nos.62162022,62162024)+3 种基金the Major Science and Technology Project of Hainan Province(Grant No.ZDKJ2020012)Hainan Provincial Natural Science Foundation of China(Grant No.620MS021)Youth Foundation Project of Hainan Natural Science Foundation(621QN211)Innovative Research Project for Graduate Students in Hainan Province(Grant Nos.Qhys2023-96,Qhys2023-95).
文摘Contrastive learning is a significant research direction in the field of deep learning.However,existing data augmentation methods often lead to issues such as semantic drift in generated views while the complexity of model pre-training limits further improvement in the performance of existing methods.To address these challenges,we propose the Efficient Clustering Network based on Matrix Factorization(ECN-MF).Specifically,we design a batched low-rank Singular Value Decomposition(SVD)algorithm for data augmentation to eliminate redundant information and uncover major patterns of variation and key information in the data.Additionally,we design a Mutual Information-Enhanced Clustering Module(MI-ECM)to accelerate the training process by leveraging a simple architecture to bring samples from the same cluster closer while pushing samples from other clusters apart.Extensive experiments on six datasets demonstrate that ECN-MF exhibits more effective performance compared to state-of-the-art algorithms.
基金supported by the National Key R&D Program of China,No.2021YFA0805200(to SY)the National Natural Science Foundation of China,No.31970954(to SY)two grants from the Department of Science and Technology of Guangdong Province,Nos.2021ZT09Y007,2020B121201006(both to XJL)。
文摘Spinal and bulbar muscular atrophy is a neurodegenerative disease caused by extended CAG trinucleotide repeats in the androgen receptor gene,which encodes a ligand-dependent transcription facto r.The mutant androgen receptor protein,characterized by polyglutamine expansion,is prone to misfolding and forms aggregates in both the nucleus and cytoplasm in the brain in spinal and bulbar muscular atrophy patients.These aggregates alter protein-protein interactions and compromise transcriptional activity.In this study,we reported that in both cultured N2a cells and mouse brain,mutant androgen receptor with polyglutamine expansion causes reduced expression of mesencephalic astrocyte-de rived neurotrophic factor.Overexpressio n of mesencephalic astrocyte-derived neurotrophic factor amelio rated the neurotoxicity of mutant androgen receptor through the inhibition of mutant androgen receptor aggregation.Conversely.knocking down endogenous mesencephalic astrocyte-derived neurotrophic factor in the mouse brain exacerbated neuronal damage and mutant androgen receptor aggregation.Our findings suggest that inhibition of mesencephalic astrocyte-derived neurotrophic factor expression by mutant androgen receptor is a potential mechanism underlying neurodegeneration in spinal and bulbar muscular atrophy.
文摘The tragedy of Vila Socó epitomizes the socio-environmental repercussions of rapid industrialization in Cubatão. Beginning in the 1940s with the construction of the Anchieta highway, the city experienced an influx of migrants drawn by burgeoning industries, leading to unplanned urban growth and the emergence of vulnerable communities like Vila Socó. This article examines the interconnected factors—such as demographic shifts, inadequate planning, and regulatory oversight—that culminated in the devastating fire of 1984, claiming numerous lives and highlighting systemic failures. Utilizing the Haddon Matrix, this study dissects the Vila Socó incident, emphasizing the roles of human error, infrastructure integrity, and socio-economic disparities in disaster causation. By contextualizing the tragedy within Cubatão’s industrial trajectory, it underscores the urgent need for comprehensive risk assessment and proactive mitigation strategies in rapidly developing regions globally. Beyond its immediate focus, this work offers broader insights into the dynamics of industrial disasters and their socio-economic implications. As pipelines continue to play a vital role in global energy infrastructure, the lessons drawn from Vila Socó’s tragedy resonate deeply, emphasizing the imperative of robust safety protocols and accountable governance to prevent similar catastrophes in the future.
文摘BACKGROUND At present,the influencing factors of social function in patients with residual depressive symptoms are still unclear.Residual depressive symptoms are highly harmful,leading to low mood in patients,affecting work and interpersonal communication,increasing the risk of recurrence,and adding to the burden on families.Studying the influencing factors of their social function is of great significance.AIM To explore the social function score and its influencing factors in patients with residual depressive symptoms.METHODS This observational study surveyed patients with residual depressive symptoms(case group)and healthy patients undergoing physical examinations(control group).Participants were admitted between January 2022 and December 2023.Social functioning was assessed using the Sheehan Disability Scale(SDS),and scores were compared between groups.Factors influencing SDS scores in patients with residual depressive symptoms were analyzed by applying multiple linear regression while using the receiver operating characteristic curve,and these RESULTS The SDS scores of the 158 patients with depressive symptoms were 11.48±3.26.Compared with the control group,the SDS scores and all items in the case group were higher.SDS scores were higher in patients with relapse,discon-tinuous medication,drug therapy alone,severe somatic symptoms,obvious residual symptoms,and anxiety scores≥8.Disease history,medication compliance,therapy method,and residual symptoms correlated positively with SDS scores(r=0.354,0.414,0.602,and 0.456,respectively).Independent influencing factors included disease history,medication compliance,therapy method,somatic symptoms,residual symptoms,and anxiety scores(P<0.05).The areas under the curve for predicting social functional impairment using these factors were 0.713,0.559,0.684,0.729,0.668,and 0.628,respectively,with sensitivities of 79.2%,61.8%,76.8%,81.7%,63.6%,and 65.5%and specificities of 83.3%,87.5%,82.6%,83.3%,86.7%,and 92.1%,respectively.CONCLUSION The social function scores of patients with residual symptoms of depression are high.They are affected by disease history,medication compliance,therapy method,degree of somatic symptoms,residual symptoms,and anxiety.
文摘BACKGROUND Simulated microgravity environment can lead to gastrointestinal motility disturbance.The pathogenesis of gastrointestinal motility disorders is closely related to the stem cell factor(SCF)/c-kit signaling pathway associated with intestinal flora and Cajal stromal cells.Moreover,intestinal flora can also affect the regulation of SCF/c-kit signaling pathway,thus affecting the expression of Cajal stromal cells.Cajal cells are the pacemakers of gastrointestinal motility.AIM To investigate the effects of Bifidobacterium lactis(B.lactis)BLa80 on the intestinal flora of rats in simulated microgravity and on the gastrointestinal motility-related SCF/c-kit pathway.METHODS The internationally recognized tail suspension animal model was used to simulate the microgravity environment,and 30 rats were randomly divided into control group,tail suspension group and drug administration tail suspension group with 10 rats in each group for a total of 28 days.The tail group was given B.lactis BLa80 by intragastric administration,and the other two groups were given water intragastric administration,the concentration of intragastric administration was 0.1 g/mL,and each rat was 1 mL/day.Hematoxylin&eosin staining was used to observe the histopathological changes in each segment of the intestine of each group,and the expression levels of SCF,c-kit,extracellular signal-regulated kinase(ERK)and p-ERK in the gastric antrum of each group were detected by Western blotting and PCR.The fecal flora and mucosal flora of rats in each group were detected by 16S rRNA.RESULTS Simulated microgravity resulted in severe exfoliation of villi of duodenum,jejunum and ileum in rats,marked damage,increased space between villi,loose arrangement,shortened columnar epithelium of colon,less folds,narrower mucosal thickness,reduced goblet cell number and crypts,and significant improvement after probiotic intervention.Simulated microgravity reduced the expressions of SCF and c-kit,and increased the expressions of ERK and P-ERK in the gastric antrum of rats.However,after probiotic intervention,the expressions of SCF and ckit were increased,while the expressions of ERK and P-ERK were decreased,with statistical significance(P<0.05).In addition,simulated microgravity can reduce the operational taxonomic unit(OTU)of the overall intestinal flora of rats,B.lactis BLa80 can increase the OTU of rats,simulated microgravity can reduce the overall richness and diversity of stool flora of rats,increase the abundance of firmicutes in stool flora of rats,and reduce the abundance of Bacteroides in stool flora of rats,most of which are mainly beneficial bacteria.Simulated microgravity can increase the overall richness and diversity of mucosal flora,increase the abundance of Bacteroides and Desulphurides in the rat mucosal flora,and decrease the abundance of firmicutes,most of which are proteobacteria.After probiotics intervention,the overall Bacteroidetes trend in simulated microgravity rats was increased.CONCLUSION B.lactis BLa80 can ameliorate intestinal mucosal injury,regulate intestinal flora,inhibit ERK expression,and activate the SCF/c-kit signaling pathway,which may have a facilitating effect on gastrointestinal motility in simulated microgravity rats.
基金the National Natural Science Foundation of China(Nos.11361033 and 11861045)。
文摘One of the most important problems in complex networks is to identify the influential vertices for understanding and controlling of information diffusion and disease spreading.Most of the current centrality algorithms focus on single feature or manually extract the attributes,which occasionally results in the failure to fully capture the vertex’s importance.A new vertex centrality approach based on symmetric nonnegative matrix factorization(SNMF),called VCSNMF,is proposed in this paper.For highlight the characteristics of a network,the adjacency matrix and the degree matrix are fused to represent original data of the network via a weighted linear combination.First,SNMF automatically extracts the latent characteristics of vertices by factorizing the established original data matrix.Then we prove that each vertex’s composite feature which is constructed with one-dimensional factor matrix can be approximated as the term of eigenvector associated with the spectral radius of the network,otherwise obtained by the factor matrix on the hyperspace.Finally,VCSNMF integrates the composite feature and the topological structure to evaluate the performance of vertices.To verify the effectiveness of the VCSNMF criterion,eight existing centrality approaches are used as comparison measures to rank influential vertices in ten real-world networks.The experimental results assert the superiority of the method.
文摘This paper thoroughly explores the multifaceted factors influencing the efficacy of Chinese medicinals and categorizes them into three main groups:medicinal related factors,patient related factors,and practitioner related factors.Regarding medicinal related factors,the place of origin,growing environment,harvesting time,storage conditions,quality control,dosage form selection,compatibility of medicinals,precise dosing,decoction methods,and administration routes all significantly impact efficacy.The place of origin determines the authenticity of medicinals,the growing environment affects their composition,harvesting time influences potency,improper storage leads to deterioration,quality control forms the foundation of efficacy,dosage forms and compatibility of medicinals affect absorption,dosing and decoction methods require precision,and administration routes should be tailored to individuals.Patient related factors include psychological state,individual differences,background,and disease condition.Psychological state affects treatment compliance,individual differences determine medicine responses,background influences patients’understanding of Chinese medicinals,and disease condition directly reflects efficacy.Practitioner related factors encompass theoretical knowledge,clinical experience,inherited practices,psychological state,and professional ethics.Theoretical knowledge guides medication use,clinical experience enhances efficacy,inherited practices influence prescribing styles,psychological state affects doctor–patient communication,and professional ethics ensure medical quality.These interrelated factors collectively influence the efficacy of Chinese medicinals,emphasizing the need for comprehensive consideration in clinical applications to achieve optimal therapeutic outcomes.
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China,Nos.82072165 and 82272256(both to XM)the Key Project of Xiangyang Central Hospital,No.2023YZ03(to RM)。
文摘Spinal cord injury represents a severe form of central nervous system trauma for which effective treatments remain limited.Microglia is the resident immune cells of the central nervous system,play a critical role in spinal cord injury.Previous studies have shown that microglia can promote neuronal survival by phagocytosing dead cells and debris and by releasing neuroprotective and anti-inflammatory factors.However,excessive activation of microglia can lead to persistent inflammation and contribute to the formation of glial scars,which hinder axonal regeneration.Despite this,the precise role and mechanisms of microglia during the acute phase of spinal cord injury remain controversial and poorly understood.To elucidate the role of microglia in spinal cord injury,we employed the colony-stimulating factor 1 receptor inhibitor PLX5622 to deplete microglia.We observed that sustained depletion of microglia resulted in an expansion of the lesion area,downregulation of brain-derived neurotrophic factor,and impaired functional recovery after spinal cord injury.Next,we generated a transgenic mouse line with conditional overexpression of brain-derived neurotrophic factor specifically in microglia.We found that brain-derived neurotrophic factor overexpression in microglia increased angiogenesis and blood flow following spinal cord injury and facilitated the recovery of hindlimb motor function.Additionally,brain-derived neurotrophic factor overexpression in microglia reduced inflammation and neuronal apoptosis during the acute phase of spinal cord injury.Furthermore,through using specific transgenic mouse lines,TMEM119,and the colony-stimulating factor 1 receptor inhibitor PLX73086,we demonstrated that the neuroprotective effects were predominantly due to brain-derived neurotrophic factor overexpression in microglia rather than macrophages.In conclusion,our findings suggest the critical role of microglia in the formation of protective glial scars.Depleting microglia is detrimental to recovery of spinal cord injury,whereas targeting brain-derived neurotrophic factor overexpression in microglia represents a promising and novel therapeutic strategy to enhance motor function recovery in patients with spinal cord injury.
文摘BACKGROUND One of the main characteristics of oral squamous cell carcinoma(OSCC)is that it metastasizes to cervical lymph nodes frequently with a high degree of local invasiveness.A primary feature of malignant tumors is their penetration of neighboring tissues,such as lymphatic and blood arteries,due to the tumor cells'capacity to break down the extracellular matrix(ECM).Matrix metalloproteinases(MMPs)constitute a family of proteolytic enzymes that facilitate tissue remodeling and the degradation of the ECM.MMP-9 and MMP-13 belong to the group of extracellular matrix degrading enzymes and their expression has been studied in OSCC because of their specific functions.MMP-13,a collagenase family member,is thought to play an essential role in the MMP activation cascade by breaking down the fibrillar collagens,whereas MMP-9 is thought to accelerate the growth of tumors.Elevated MMP-13 expression has been associated with tumor behavior and patient prognosis in a number of malignant cases.AIM To assess the immunohistochemical expression of MMP-9 and MMP-13 in OSCC.METHODS A total of 40 cases with histologically confirmed OSCC by incisional biopsy were included in this cross-sectional retrospective study.The protocols for both MMP-9 and MMP-13 immunohistochemical staining were performed according to the manufacturer’s recommendations along with the normal gingival epithelium as a positive control.All the observations were recorded and Pearson’sχ²test with Fisher exact test was used for statistical analysis.RESULTS Our study showed no significant correlation between MMP-9 and MMP-13 staining intensity and tumor size.The majority of the patients were in advanced TNM stages(III and IV),and showed intense expression of MMP-9 and MMP-13.CONCLUSION The present study suggests that both MMP-9 and MMP-13 play an important and independent role in OSCC progression and invasiveness.Intense expression of MMP-9 and MMP-13,irrespective of histological grade of OSCC,correlates well with TNM stage.Consequently,it is evident that MMP-9 and MMP-13 are important for the invasiveness and progression of tumors.The findings may facilitate the development of new approaches for evaluating lymph node metastases and interventional therapy techniques,hence enhancing the prognosis of patients diagnosed with OSCC.
基金supported by the Start-up Fund for new faculty from the Hong Kong Polytechnic University(PolyU)(A0043215)(to SA)the General Research Fund and Research Impact Fund from the Hong Kong Research Grants Council(15106018,R5032-18)(to DYT)+1 种基金the Research Center for SHARP Vision in PolyU(P0045843)(to SA)the InnoHK scheme from the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government(to DYT).
文摘Retinal aging has been recognized as a significant risk factor for various retinal disorders,including diabetic retinopathy,age-related macular degeneration,and glaucoma,following a growing understanding of the molecular underpinnings of their development.This comprehensive review explores the mechanisms of retinal aging and investigates potential neuroprotective approaches,focusing on the activation of transcription factor EB.Recent meta-analyses have demonstrated promising outcomes of transcription factor EB-targeted strategies,such as exercise,calorie restriction,rapamycin,and metformin,in patients and animal models of these common retinal diseases.The review critically assesses the role of transcription factor EB in retinal biology during aging,its neuroprotective effects,and its therapeutic potential for retinal disorders.The impact of transcription factor EB on retinal aging is cell-specific,influencing metabolic reprogramming and energy homeostasis in retinal neurons through the regulation of mitochondrial quality control and nutrient-sensing pathways.In vascular endothelial cells,transcription factor EB controls important processes,including endothelial cell proliferation,endothelial tube formation,and nitric oxide levels,thereby influencing the inner blood-retinal barrier,angiogenesis,and retinal microvasculature.Additionally,transcription factor EB affects vascular smooth muscle cells,inhibiting vascular calcification and atherogenesis.In retinal pigment epithelial cells,transcription factor EB modulates functions such as autophagy,lysosomal dynamics,and clearance of the aging pigment lipofuscin,thereby promoting photoreceptor survival and regulating vascular endothelial growth factor A expression involved in neovascularization.These cell-specific functions of transcription factor EB significantly impact retinal aging mechanisms encompassing proteostasis,neuronal synapse plasticity,energy metabolism,microvasculature,and inflammation,ultimately offering protection against retinal aging and diseases.The review emphasizes transcription factor EB as a potential therapeutic target for retinal diseases.Therefore,it is imperative to obtain well-controlled direct experimental evidence to confirm the efficacy of transcription factor EB modulation in retinal diseases while minimizing its risk of adverse effects.
基金supported by National Institute on Aging(NIH-NIA)R21 AG074152(to KMA)National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases(NIAID)grant DP2 AI171150(to KMA)Department of Defense(DoD)grant AZ210089(to KMA)。
文摘The brain's extracellular matrix(ECM),which is comprised of protein and glycosaminoglycan(GAG)scaffolds,constitutes 20%-40% of the human brain and is considered one of the largest influencers on brain cell functioning(Soles et al.,2023).Synthesized by neural and glial cells,the brain's ECM regulates a myriad of homeostatic cellular processes,including neuronal plasticity and firing(Miyata et al.,2012),cation buffering(Moraws ki et al.,2015),and glia-neuron interactions(Anderson et al.,2016).Considering the diversity of functions,dynamic remodeling of the brain's ECM indicates that this understudied medium is an active participant in both normal physiology and neurological diseases.
基金supported by the National Nature Science Foundation of China(No.82002345 to J.D and 81902179 to L.S)the Gusu Talent Program(No.Qngg2022008 and GSWS2021027 to J.D)the Preliminary Research Project of the Second Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University(No.SDFEYBS1905 to J.D).
文摘Increased matrix stiffness of nucleus pulposus(NP)tissue is a main feature of intervertebral disc degeneration(IVDD)and affects various functions of nucleus pulposus cells(NPCs).Glycolysis is the main energy source for NPC survival,but the effects and underlying mechanisms of increased extracellular matrix(ECM)stiffness on NPC glycolysis remain unknown.In this study,hydrogels with different stiffness were established to mimic the mechanical environment of NPCs.Notably,increased matrix stiffness in degenerated NP tissues from IVDD patients was accompanied with impaired glycolysis,and NPCs cultured on rigid substrates exhibited a reduction in glycolysis.
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (No. 62204079)the Science and Technology Development Project of Henan Province (Nos.202300410048, 202300410057)+2 种基金the China Postdoctoral Science Foundation (No. 2022M711037)the Intelligence Introduction Plan of Henan Province in 2021 (No. CXJD2021008)Henan University Fund。
文摘Quantum dot(QD)-based infrared photodetector is a promising technology that can implement current monitoring,imaging and optical communication in the infrared region. However, the photodetection performance of self-powered QD devices is still limited by their unfavorable charge carrier dynamics due to their intrinsically discrete charge carrier transport process. Herein, we strategically constructed semiconducting matrix in QD film to achieve efficient charge transfer and extraction.The p-type semiconducting CuSCN was selected as energy-aligned matrix to match the n-type colloidal PbS QDs that was used as proof-of-concept. Note that the PbS QD/CuSCN matrix not only enables efficient charge carrier separation and transfer at nano-interfaces but also provides continuous charge carrier transport pathways that are different from the hoping process in neat QD film, resulting in improved charge mobility and derived collection efficiency. As a result, the target structure delivers high specific detectivity of 4.38 × 10^(12)Jones and responsivity of 782 mA/W at 808 nm, which is superior than that of the PbS QD-only photodetector(4.66 × 10^(11)Jones and 338 mA/W). This work provides a new structure candidate for efficient colloidal QD based optoelectronic devices.
