Search

Electrolytes with anion‐dominated solvation are promising candidates to achieve dendrite‐free and high‐voltage potassium metal batteries. However, it's challenging to form anion‐reinforced solvates at low salt concentrations. Herein, we construct an anion‐reinforced solvation structure at a moderate concentration of 1.5 M with weakly coordinated cosolvent ethylene glycol dibutyl ether. The unique solvation structure accelerates the desolvation of K+, strengthens the oxidative stability to 4.94 V and facilitates the formation of inorganic‐rich and stable electrode‐electrolyte interface. These enable stable plating/stripping of K metal anode over 2200 h, high capacity retention of 83.0 % after 150 cycles with a high cut‐off voltage of 4.5 V in K0.67MnO2//K cells, and even 91.5 % after 30 cycles under 4.7 V. This work provides insight into weakly coordinated cosolvent and opens new avenues for designing ether‐based high‐voltage electrolytes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Percutaneous repair is an alternative to open surgical repair of the Achilles tendon with comparable, functional results and low re‐rupture and infection rates; however, sural nerve injury is a known complication. The purpose of this study is to design a new surgical procedure, the minimally invasive peritendinous submembrane access technique (MIS‐PSAT). It offers optimal results, with excellent functional outcomes, and with minimal soft tissue complications and sural nerve injury. Methods: This retrospective study included 249 patients with acute closed Achilles tendon ruptures treated at our institution between 2009 and 2019. All patients underwent MIS‐PSAT at our institution and were followed up for 8–48 months. Functional evaluation was based on the Achilles tendon total rupture score (ATRS) and the American Orthopedic Foot and Ankle Society Ankle‐Hindfoot Scale (AOFAS‐AHS), associated with local complications and isokinetic tests. Results: None of the patients had infection, necrosis, or sural nerve injury. Re‐rupture occurred in two cases. The average times to return to work and sports was 10.4 and 31.6 weeks, respectively. The average ATRS and AOFAS‐AHS scores were 90.2 and 95.7, respectively, with an excellent rate of 99.5%. Isokinetic tests showed that ankle function on the affected side was comparable with that on the healthy side (p > 0.05). Conclusion: The MIS‐PSAT for acute Achilles tendon rupture is easy to perform with few complications. Importantly, the surgical technique reduces the risk of sural nerve injuries. Patients have high postoperative satisfaction, low re‐rupture rates, and muscle strength, and endurance can be restored to levels similar to those on the healthy side. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Sui people living in Guizhou province have a unique ethnic culture and population history due to their long‐time isolation from other populations. To investigate the genetic structure of Sui populations in different regions of Guizhou, we genotyped 89 individuals from four Sui populations using genome‐wide single nucleotide polymorphisms arrays. We analyzed the data using principal component analysis, ADMIXTURE analysis, f‐statistics, qpWave/qpAdm, TreeMix analysis, fineSTRUCTURE, and GLOBETROTTER. We found that Sui populations in Guizhou were genetically homogeneous and had a close genetic affinity with Tai‐Kadai‐speaking populations, Hmong‐Mien‐speaking Hmong, and some ancient populations from southern China. The Sui populations could be modeled as an admixture of 33.5%–37.9% of Yellow River Basin farmer‐related ancestry and 62.1%–66.5% of Southeast Asian‐related ancestry, indicating that the southward expansion of northern East Asian‐related ancestry influenced the formation of the Tai‐Kadai‐speaking Sui people. Future publications of more ancient genomics in southern China could effectively provide further insight into the demographic history and population structure of the Sui people. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Melanoma, a frequently encountered cutaneous malignancy characterized by a poor prognosis, persists in presenting formidable challenges despite the advancement in molecularly targeted drugs designed to improve survival rates significantly. Unfortunately, as more therapeutic choices have developed over time, the gradual emergence of drug resistance has become a notable impediment to the effectiveness of these therapeutic interventions. The hepatocyte growth factor (HGF)/c‐met signaling pathway has attracted considerable attention, associated with drug resistance stemming from multiple potential mutations within the c‐met gene. The activation of the HGF/c‐met pathway operates in an autocrine manner in melanoma. Notably, a key player in the regulatory orchestration of HGF/c‐met activation is the long non‐coding RNA MEG3. Methods: Melanoma tissues were collected to measure MEG3 expression. In vitro validation was performed on MEG3 to prove its oncogenic roles. Bioinformatic analyses were conducted on the TCGA database to build the MEG3‐related score. The immune characteristics and mutation features of the MEG3‐related score were explored. Results: We revealed a negative correlation between HGF and MEG3. In melanoma cells, HGF inhibited MEG3 expression by augmenting the methylation of the MEG3 promoter. Significantly, MEG3 exhibits a suppressive impact on the proliferation and migration of melanoma cells, concurrently inhibiting c‐met expression. Moreover, a predictive model centered around MEG3 demonstrates notable efficacy in forecasting critical prognostic indicators, immunological profiles, and mutation statuses among melanoma patients. Conclusions: The present study highlights the potential of MEG3 as a pivotal regulator of c‐met, establishing it as a promising candidate for targeted drug development in the ongoing pursuit of effective therapeutic interventions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Due to the poor stability and adverse effects of chemotherapy drugs, such as gemcitabine, the current effectiveness of traditional chemotherapy is minimal. Some patients also show a low response rate to immunotherapy. Therefore, a novel material PD‐L1‐GEMs is designed and synthesized with targeted specificity. PD‐L1‐GEMs specifically bind to bladder cancer cells. Free gemcitabine cleaved by a phosphatase enters bladder cancer cells through the macropinocytosis pathway and induces cytotoxicity. PD‐L1‐GEMs show good stability, binding specificity, and significant inhibitory effects in vitro. Two bladder tumor models (subcutaneous model and in situ model) show inhibition of growth and progression in PD‐L1‐GEMs treatment, as well as good biosafety in vivo. The PD‐L1 aptamer blocks the binding of PD‐L1 on the tumor cell surface to PD‐1 on T lymphocytes, restoring their immune function, inducing cytokine production and aggregation, and exerting an immune killing role on bladder cancer cells. PD‐L1‐GEMs represent a successful chemotherapy–immunotherapy strategy for bladder cancer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: The outbreak of coronavirus disease (COVID‐19) coincided with the season of influenza A pneumonia, a common respiratory infectious disease. Therefore, this study compared ultrasonography and computed tomography (CT) for the diagnosis of the two diseases. Methods: Patients with COVID‐19 or influenza A infection hospitalized at our hospital were included. The patients were examined by ultrasonography every day. The CT examination results within 1 day before and after the day of the highest ultrasonography score were selected as the controls. The similarities and differences between the ultrasonography and CT results in the two groups were compared. Results: There was no difference between the ultrasonography and CT scores (P =.307) for COVID‐19, while there was a difference between ultrasonography and CT scores for influenza A pneumonia (P =.024). The ultrasonography score for COVID‐19 was higher than that for influenza A pneumonia (P =.000), but there was no difference between the CT scores (P =.830). For both diseases, there was no difference in ultrasonography and CT scores between the left and right lungs; there were differences between the CT scores of the upper and middle lobes, as well as between the upper and lower lobes of the lungs; however, there was no difference between the lower and middle lobes of the lungs. Conclusion: Ultrasonography is equivalent to the gold standard CT for diagnosing and monitoring the progression of COVID‐19. Because of its convenience, ultrasonography has important application value. Furthermore, the diagnostic value of ultrasonography for COVID‐19 is higher than that for influenza A pneumonia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Different treatment methods have been developed for acute Achilles tendon rupture (ATR), including conservative treatment, minimally invasive or transdermal surgery, and open surgery, and there is no consensus about which method is superior. It is important to clarify the presence of Achilles tendon (AT) degeneration, the rupture site, and the rupture shape before surgery to determine whether minimally invasive or open surgery should be selected, thereby reducing the re‐rupture rate following acute ATR. The aim of this study was to investigate the diagnostic value of MRI in identifying the presence of AT degeneration, the rupture site, and the rupture shape for acute closed ATR. Methods: From January 2016 to December 2019, patients with acute closed ATR who had undergone repair surgery were retrospectively enrolled. All patients received MRI examination, and the distance between the insertion site and broken end and the rupture shape (types I, II, and III) were independently determined by two observers. Then, the stump of the AT was exposed during the operation. The rupture site and rupture shape were recorded and compared and analyzed with the MRI results. Consistency analyses (using Cohen's kappa coefficient or intraclass correlation coefficient‐ICC) and calculation of diagnostic performance indexes were, respectively, conducted to evaluate the diagnostic value of the MRI. Results: This study included 47 consecutive patients with acute ATR, with an average age of 38.4 years. Among them, 40 were male, and seven were female. The intraoperative exploration demonstrated a total of 34 (72.3%), 10 (21.3%), and three (6.4%) patients with type I, II, and III ruptures, respectively. The average distance between the insertion site and the proximal broken end measured intraoperatively was 4.07 ± 1.57 cm. High or excellent consistencies were found for ATR classifications (kappa: 0.739–0.770, p < 0.001) and rupture sites (ICC: 0.962–0.979, p < 0.001) between two observers and between observers 1 and 2 and intraoperative findings. Tendinopathy was identified in 22 patients by MRI and confirmed during surgery. Conclusions: MRI scanning of acute closed ATR can help determine whether there is degeneration of the AT, as well as the location and shape of the rupture, which can guide the selection of the optimal operation method for orthopedic surgeons. Therefore, it is necessary to take preoperative MRI scans for patients with acute Achilles tendon ruptures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The epidemic of Mpox virus (MPXV) from May 2022 was once declared as a Public Health Emergency of International Concern by the World Health Organization. Vaccines play an important role in prevention of infectious diseases, and mRNA vaccine technology was proved to be a safe and effective platform with successful application in defense of coronavirus disease 2019. In this study, based on A29L, M1R, A35R, and B6R of MPXV, we developed two MPXV mRNA vaccine candidates, designated as MPXfus and MPXmix. The MPXfus was one‐component, in which these four antigen proteins were linked in tandem by flexible linker and encoded by an individual mRNA as a fusion protein. The MPXmix was multicomponent containing four mRNA, and each mRNA encoded one antigen protein respectively. Mice were immunized with equal quality of MPXfus or MPXmix, delivered by lipid nanoparticles for evaluation and comparison of the immune responses induced by these two MPXV vaccine candidates. Results of immune response analyses indicated that both MPXfus and MPXmix could elicit high‐level of antigen‐specific antibodies and robust cellular immune response in mice. Moreover, results of virus neutralization assays suggested that sera from MPXfus‐ or MPXmix‐immunized mice possessed high neutralizing activities against vaccinia virus. In addition, titers of antigen‐specific antibody, levels of cellular immune response, and activities of neutralizing antibody against vaccinia virus induced by MPXfus and MPXmix presented no significant difference. In summary, this study provides valuable insights for further clinical development of one‐component and multicomponent mRNA vaccine candidates for the prevention of MPXV and other orthomyxoviruses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Proteolysis targeting chimera (PROTAC) is an emerging pharmacological modality with innovated post‐translational protein degradation capabilities. However, off‐target induced unintended tissue effects and intrinsic "hook effect" hinder PROTAC biotechnology to be maturely developed. Herein, an intracellular fabricated nano proteolysis targeting chimeras (Nano‐PROTACs) modality with a center‐spoke degradation network for achieving efficient dose‐dependent protein degradation in tumor is reported. The PROTAC precursors are triggered by higher GSH concentrations inside tumor cells, which subsequently in situ self‐assemble into Nano‐PROTACs through intermolecular hydrogen bond interactions. The fibrous Nano‐PROTACs can form effective polynary complexes and E3 ligases degradation network with multi‐binding sites, achieving dose‐dependent protein degradation with "anti‐hook effect". The generality and efficacy of Nano‐PROTACs are validated by degrading variable protein of interest (POI) such as epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) and androgen receptor (AR) in a wide‐range dose‐dependent manner with a 95 % degradation rate and long‐lasting potency up to 72 h in vitro. Significantly, Nano‐PROTACs achieve in vivo dose‐dependent protein degradation up to 79 % and tumor growth inhibition in A549 and LNCap xenograft mice models, respectively. Taking advantages of in situ self‐assembly strategy, the Nano‐PROTACs provide a generalizable platform to promote precise clinical translational application of PROTAC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: By comparing with the control group, we evaluated the usefulness of contrast‐enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) combined with elastography for the assessment of muscle invasion by bladder cancer (MIBC) in a Sprague–Dawley (SD) rat model. Methods: In the experimental group, 40 SD rats developed in situ bladder cancer (BLCA) in response to N‐methyl‐N‐nitrosourea treatment, whereas 40 SD rats were included in the control group for comparison. We compared PI, Emean, microvessel density (MVD), and collagen fiber content (CFC) between the two groups. In the experimental group, Bland–Altman test was used to assess the relationships between various parameters. The largest Youden value was used as the cut‐off point, and binomial logistic regression analysis was performed to analyze the PI and Emean. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis was performed to determine the diagnostic power of parameters, individually and in combination. Results: The PI, Emean, MVD, and CFC were significantly lower in the control group than in the experimental group (P <.05). The PI, Emean, MVD, and CFC were significantly higher for MIBC than for non‐muscle‐invasive bladder cancer (P <.05). There were significant correlations between PI and MVD, and between Emean and CFC. The diagnostic efficiency analysis showed PI had the highest sensitivity, CFC had the highest specificity, and PI + Emean had the highest diagnostic efficacy. Conclusion: CEUS and elastography can distinguish lesions from normal tissue. PI, MVD, Emean, and CFC were useful for the detection of BLCA myometrial invasion. The comprehensive utilization of PI and Emean improved diagnostic accuracy and have clinical application. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A novel approach is presented here to solve the problem of motion occlusion and motion edge blurring in the existing scene flow estimation. First instance segmentation and superpixels are combined to segment the target and other regions in fusion segmentation. The pixels in each block are then redistributed by the optical flow to ensure the motion of pixels in the subblocks is consistent. Moreover, the 3D motion of subblocks with sufficient pixels is estimated by the energy function, and the others are considered outliers. Finally, the Driving and the KITTI benchmarks are used to evaluate the proposed method. The results demonstrated that the fusion of segmentation and redistribution is positive for the estimation, and this method outperforms the other state‐of‐the‐art methods both qualitatively and quantitatively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Improving the investment efficiency of renewable energy (RE) firms is one of the critical measures for energy low‐carbon transformation and mitigating climate change. To investigate the impact of climate change (greenhouse gas emissions, extreme temperatures, and extreme weather events) on the investment efficiency of RE firms, the present study applied a fixed effect regression model by using the panel data of China's 205 listed non‐hydro RE firms during 2008–2019. The influencing mechanism and the heterogeneity among RE firms are also explored. The results show that (1) CO2 emissions and extreme weather events significantly improve the investment efficiency of RE firms, whereas extreme temperatures' effect is significantly negative. (2) CO2 emissions can promote the investment efficiency of wind and solar firms with environmental responsibility through reducing agency problems and information asymmetry. (3) RE policies play an active role between climate change and investment efficiency of wind and solar energy firms, but the promotion effect is not significant for biomass energy firms. (4) The joint effect of climate change and RE policies on investment efficiency are more prominent for wind and solar energy firms in a low‐marketized environment and state‐owned firms. These results suggest that wind and solar firms should seize market investment opportunities when facing climate change. Besides, policymakers should strengthen market‐oriented construction and improve the completeness of RE policies in low‐marketization areas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Energy shortage and global warming caused by the extensive use of fossil fuels are urgent problems to be solved at present. Photoreduction of CO2 is considered to be a feasible solution. The ternary composite catalyst g‐C3N4/Ti3C2/MoSe2 was synthesized by hydrothermal method, and its physical and chemical properties were studied by an array of characterization and tests. In addition, the photocatalytic performance of this series of catalysts under full spectrum irradiation was also tested. It is found that the CTM‐5 sample has the best photocatalytic activity, and the yields of CO and CH4 are 29.87 and 17.94 μmol g−1 h−1, respectively. This can be ascribed to the favorable optical absorption performance of the composite catalyst in the full spectrum and the establishment of S‐scheme charge transfer channel. The formation of heterojunctions can effectively promote charge transfer. The addition of Ti3C2 materials provides plentiful active sites for CO2 reaction, and its superior electrical conductivity is also favorable for the migration of photogenerated electrons. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, the decoding problem for multiple Bose–Chaudhuri–Hocquenghem (BCH)‐Goppa codes over the same finite field is investigated. A new iterative decoding algorithm is proposed based on the quotient difference (qd)‐type discrete hungry Lotka–Volterra equation over finite fields. Compared with certain existing algorithms, the proposed algorithm manifests its advantage in computational complexity. A few of examples are presented to demonstrate its efficiency. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Formononetin (FMN) is a phytoestrogen that belongs to the isoflavone family. It has antioxidant and anti‐inflammatory effects, as well as, many other biological activities. Existing evidence has aroused interest in its ability to protect against osteoarthritis (OA) and promote bone remodeling. To date, research on this topic has not been thorough and many issues remain controversial. Therefore, the purpose of our study was to explore the protective effect of FMN against knee injury and clarify the possible molecular mechanisms. We found that FMN inhibited osteoclast formation induced by receptor activator of NF‐κB ligand (RANKL). Inhibition of the phosphorylation and nuclear translocation of p65 in the NF‐κB signaling pathway plays a role in this effect. Similarly, during the inflammatory response of primary knee cartilage cells activated by IL‐1β, FMN inhibited the NF‐κB signaling pathway and the phosphorylation of the ERK and JNK proteins in the MAPK signaling pathway to suppress the inflammatory response. In addition, in vivo experiments showed that both low‐ and high‐dose FMN had a clear protective effect against knee injury in the DMM (destabilization of the medial meniscus) model, and the therapeutic effect of high‐dose FMN was stronger. In conclusion, these studies provide evidence of the protective effect of FMN against knee injury. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To analyze changes in the detection of parainfluenza virus (PIV) in children hospitalized with acute respiratory tract infection (ARTI) during 2014–2022 in Hubei Province, and explore the impact of the universal two‐child policy and the public health measures against COVID‐19 epidemic on the prevalence of PIV in China. The study was conducted at the Maternal and Child Health Hospital of Hubei Province. Children aged <18 years with ARTI admitted from January 2014 to June 2022 were enrolled. The infection of PIV was confirmed by the direct immunofluorescence method in nasopharyngeal specimens. Adjusted logistic regression models were used to analyze the influence of the universal two‐child policy implementation and public health measurements against COVID‐19 on PIV detection. Totally 75 128 inpatients meeting the criteria were enrolled in this study from January 2014 to June 2022 with an overall PIV positive rate of 5.5%. The epidemic seasons of PIV prevalence lagged substantially in 2020. A statistically significant higher positive rate of PIV was observed in 2017–2019 compared to that in 2014–2015 (6.12% vs 2.89%, risk ratio = 2.12, p < 0.001) after the implementation of the universal two‐child policy in 2016. A steep decline occurred in PIV positive rate during the COVID‐19 epidemic in 2020 (0.92% vs 6.92%, p < 0.001) and it rebounded during the regular epidemic prevention and control period in 2021–2022 (6.35%, p = 0.104). In Hubei Province, the implementation of the universal two‐child policy might have led to an increase of PIV prevalence, and public health measures during the COVID‐19 epidemic might have influenced the fluctuation in PIV detection since 2020. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The prevalence of anxiety and other psychological disorders has increased during the COVID‐19 pandemic, especially among the elderly. Anxiety and metabolic syndrome (MetS) may aggravate each other. This study further clarified the correlation between the two. Methods: Adopting a convenience sampling method, this study investigated 162 elderly people over 65 years of age in Fangzhuang Community, Beijing. All participants provided baseline data on sex, age, lifestyle, and health status. The Hamilton Anxiety Scale (HAMA) was used to assess anxiety. Blood samples, abdominal circumference, and blood pressure were used to diagnose MetS. The elderly were divided into MetS and control groups according to the diagnosis of MetS. Differences in anxiety between the two groups were analysed and further stratified by age and gender. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was used to analyse the possible risk factors for MetS. Results: Compared with the control group, anxiety scores of the MetS group were statistically higher (Z = 4.78, P < 0.001). There was a significant correlation between anxiety levels and MetS (r = 0.353, P < 0.001). Multivariate logistic regression revealed that anxiety (possible anxiety vs no anxiety: odds ratio [OR] = 2.982, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.295–6.969; definite anxiety vs no anxiety: OR = 14.573, 95%CI 3.675–57.788; P < 0.001) and BMI (OR = 1.504, 95% CI 1.275–1.774; P < 0.001) were possible risk factors for MetS. Conclusion: The elderly with MetS had higher anxiety scores. Anxiety may be a potential risk factor for MetS, which provides a new perspective on anxiety and MetS. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Patients with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) are at a significantly higher risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD) compared to HIV‐negative people. Left heart dysfunction is the most common cardiac complication in people living with HIV/acquired immune deficiency syndrome (PLWHA), and diastolic dysfunction is an important predictor of cardiovascular events. The aims of this study were (1) to detect changes in left cardiac structure and function in antiretroviral therapy (ART)‐naive PLWHA using echocardiography; and (2) to investigate the risk factors for the development of left ventricular diastolic dysfunction (LVDD) in ART‐naive PLWHA. Methods: We retrospectively included 105 ART‐naïve PLWHA and included 90 healthy subjects as controls to compare the differences in left heart structure and function between the two groups. Univariate and multifactorial logistic regression were employed to explore the risk factors of the development of LVDD in ART‐naive PLWHA. Results: The left ventricular end‐diastolic internal diameter (LVEDD), left ventricular mass index (LVMI), and left atrial volume index (LAVI) were significantly greater in PLWHA than in controls (p <.05). The E/A ratio, lateral e′ velocity, and mitral deceleration time were significantly lower in PLWHA than in controls (p <.05). Average E/e′ ratio was significantly higher in PLWHA than in controls (p <.05). Left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) and left ventricular fractional shortening (LVFS) were not significantly different between PLWHA and controls (p >.05). Multifactorial logistic regression analysis showed that age, body mass index (BMI), and CD4+ count <200 cells/μL were independent risk factors for LVDD in ART‐naive PLWHA (OR = 1.781, 1.228, 3.683, p <.05). Conclusions: Left ventricular systolic function did not differ between PLWHA and controls, and left ventricular diastolic function was lower in PLWHA than in controls. Age, BMI, and CD4+ count were independent factors affecting LVDD in ART‐naive PLWHA. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: Extruded rice flour with different feed moisture content (FMC, 14%, 16%, 18%, 20%, 22%) were obtained by a twin‐screw with two co‐rotating screws of 65 mm diameter at 120 kg h−1 feed rate and 120 rad min−1 screw speed. The results showed that the higher the FMC, the smoother the extrudate surface, the lighter the colour, and the lower the radial expansion; the water absorption index increased whereas the water solubility index was in opposite as FMC increased. The bound water was the major fraction in extruded rice flour and with FMC increasing, a shift to a long relaxation time of the peak of T21 could be found accompanied by the signal intensity enhancement. Extrusion did not alter the chemical structure of starch but turned crystal type from A to V. The rice flour possessed better digestibility after extrusion, but higher FMC mitigated the digestion by improving the branching of the starch structure and weakening the degradation of the protein. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND: Tea polyphenols have been reported to have the effect of lowering uric acid. However, there are few studies on the inhibitory effects and molecular mechanisms of specific catechins on the urate‐metabolizing enzyme xanthine oxidase (XO). In this research, multiple spectroscopic methods and computer simulations were used to determine the inhibitory ability and mechanisms of epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG) and gallocatechin gallate (GCG) on XO. RESULTS: Herein, EGCG and GCG reversibly inhibited XO activity in a mixed manner, with IC50 values of 40.50 ± 0.32 and 33.60 ± 0.53 μmol L−1, and also decreased the superoxide anion radical (O2−) of the catalytic system by reducing the XO molecule and inhibiting the formation of uric acid. The combination of EGCG or GCG with allopurinol showed synergistic inhibition on XO. The binding of EGCG or GCG to XO with moderate affinity formed a stable complex by hydrogen bonds and van der Waals forces. The presence of EGCG and GCG made the structure of XO more stable and compact. The two inhibitors bound to the vicinity of flavin adenine dinucleotide (FAD) in XO, hindering the entry of substrate; thus the activity of XO was suppressed. CONCLUSION: Both EGCG and GCG are excellent natural XO inhibitors, and inhibited the activity of XO by occupying the channel of the substrate to enter the active center and interfering with the dual substrate reaction catalyzed by XO. These findings provide a scientific basis for the application of catechins in dietary supplements and medicines with lowering uric acid effects. © 2022 Society of Chemical Industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: This research was to study the effects of different die temperatures (125, 135, 145, 155, 165 °C) on the physicochemical, rheological, structural properties and in vitro digestion characteristics of extruded rice flour. In this work, the moisture content of feed rice flour was controlled at 18% (w/w, on a dry basis). A twin‐screw with 65 mm diameter was used. Feed rate and screw speed were set at 120 kg h−1 and 120 rad min−1 respectively to control variables. The results indicated that the water solubility index improved but the water absorption index reduced at a higher temperature. The total starch content reduced as the temperature increased, but the amylose content was insusceptible to the temperature. Average particle size significantly decreased after extrusion due to the damage of starch granules. The water dispersion system of the extruded rice flour possessed more liquid characteristics than that of raw rice flour. Steady shear analysis revealed that the flow was in a shear thinning behaviour, and apparent viscosity was improved by extrusion but negatively related to extrusion temperature. Crystal type of starch turned from A to V after extrusion. The interaction among rice flour components was mainly non‐covalent and could be enhanced by extrusion. The ratio of 1047/1022 cm−1 reflected that the ordered structure was destroyed by extrusion, which was further confirmed by the differential scanning calorimeter result. In addition, the digestibility of extruded rice flour was improved. The in vitro digestibility of protein increased from 75.77% to 86.44% and resistant starch content significantly decreased as extrusion temperature increased. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: An unexplained pneumonia occurred in Wuhan, China in December 2019, later identified and named coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID‐19). This study aimed to compare the ultrasonographic features of the lung between patients with COVID‐19 in Wuhan (the primary region) and those in Beijing (the secondary region) and to find the value of applying ultrasound in COVID‐19. Methods: A total of 248 COVID‐19 cases were collected, including long‐term residents in Wuhan (138), those who had a short‐term stay in Wuhan (72), and those who had never visited Wuhan (38). Ultrasound examination was performed daily; the highest lung ultrasound score (LUS) was the first comparison point, while the LUS of the fifth day thereafter was the second comparison point. The differences between overall treatment and ultrasonography of left and right lungs among groups were compared. Results: The severity decreased significantly after treatment. The scores of the groups with long‐term residence and short‐term stay in Wuhan were higher than those of the group that had never been to Wuhan. Conclusion: Ultrasonography is effective for dynamic monitoring of COVID‐19. The ultrasonographic features of patients in the Wuhan area indicated relatively severe disease. Thus, Wuhan was the main affected area of china. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND: Ferulic acid (FA), a phenolic acid widely occurring in nature, has attracted extensive attention because of its biological activity. Ovalbumin (OVA) is a commonly used carrier protein. The mechanism of FA binding with OVA was investigated by utilizing a variety of spectral analyses, accompanied by computer simulation. RESULTS: It was discovered that the fluorescence quenching mechanism of OVA by FA was a static mode as a result of the formation of an FA−OVA complex, which was verified by the concentration distributions and pure spectrum of the constituents decomposed from the high overlap spectrum signals using multivariate curve resolution–alternate least squares algorithm. Hydrogen bonds and Van der Waals forces drove the formation of FA–OVA complex with a binding constant of 1.69 × 104 L mol−1. The presence of FA induced the loose structure of OVA with an attenuation of α‐helix content and improved the thermal stability of OVA. Computer docking indicated that FA interacted with the amino acid residues Arg84, Asn88, Leu101 and Ser103 of OVA through hydrogen bonds. Molecular dynamics simulation proved that the combination of FA with OVA boosted the conformational stability of OVA and hydrogen bonds brought a crucial part in stabilizing the structure of the complex. CONCLUSIONS: The study may supply the theoretical basis for the design of FA transport system using OVA as carrier protein to improve the instability and low bioavailability of FA. © 2021 Society of Chemical Industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sensitive and accurate analysis of low‐concentration of tumor‐derived exosomes (Exos) in biofluids is essential for noninvasive cancer diagnosis but is still challenging due to the lack of high‐sensitive methods with low‐cost and easy‐operation. Herein, exploiting target Exos as a three‐dimensional (3D) track for the first time, we developed a self‐serviced‐track DNA walker (STDW) for wash‐free detection of tumor Exos using exosomal glycoprotein, which was enabled by split aptamer‐recognition‐initiated autonomous running powered by a catalytic hairpin assembly (CHA). Benefiting from high selectivity and sensitivity of the STDW assay, direct detection of tumor Exos in cell culture medium and serum could also be realized. Furthermore, this method exhibited high accuracy in clinical sample analysis, offering the potential for early cancer diagnosis and postoperative response prediction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Intravesical administration of first‐line drugs has shown failure in the treatment of bladder cancer owing to the poor tumor retention time of chemotherapeutics. Herein, we report an intracellular hydrolytic condensation (IHC) system to construct long‐term retentive nano‐drug depots in situ, wherein sustained drug release results in highly efficient suppression of bladder cancer. Briefly, the designed doxorubicin (Dox)‐silane conjugates self‐assemble into silane‐based prodrug nanoparticles, which condense into silicon particle‐based nano‐drug depots inside tumor cells. Significantly, we demonstrate that the IHC system possesses highly potent antitumor efficacy, which leads to the regression and eradication of large established tumors and simultaneously extends the overall survival of air pouch bladder cancer mice compared with that of mice treated with Dox. The concept of intracellular hydrolytic condensation can be extended via conjugating other chemotherapeutic drugs, which may facilitate rational design of novel nanomedicines for augmentation of chemotherapy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Early diagnosis of cervical cancer is essential for a good prognosis. Terahertz wave detection technology is a nondestructive and label‐free physical detection technology, which can detect and monitor the cancer cells in real time, especially for patients with deep or inaccessible tumors. In this study, a single‐cell‐layer microfluidic device was developed. After replacing the optical clearing agent, the characteristics of H8, HeLa and SiHa cell lines in adherent and suspended states were detected. Additionally, the absorption increased with increasing cell density. For the mixed suspension cell samples, principal component analysis–support vector machine method was used to identify benign and malignant cell component. After living cells formaldehyde, changes in cell membrane permeability were evaluated to identify the cell survival status (i.e., dead or living) based on terahertz spectroscopy amplitude differences. Therefore, extending the terahertz spectrum detection to the molecular level can characterize the life essence of cells and tissues. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Graphite carbon nitride (g‐C3N4), as a non‐metallic photocatalyst, possesses special band structure, excellent stability and unique surface properties, which has become a focus of attention for photocatalytic application. However, pure g‐C3N4 is subject to the limit of visible light response, small specific surface area and rapid recombination of photogenerated carriers, which leads to its low photocatalytic efficiency. Due to the unique electronic structure, various quantum dots (QDs) can be applied to modify g‐C3N4 to improve the photocatalytic activity. Thus, we highlight these QDs modified g‐C3N4‐based composites by emphasizing their synthesis, their physicochemical properties as well as their photocatalytic applications in CO2 reduction, hydrogen production and pollutants degradation in this review. At last, critical summaries and some perspectives on the challenges and directions in this research field are also presented. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The aim of the study was to define the clinical significance of circulating tumor cells (CTCs)/circulating tumor endothelial cells (CTECs) and their subtypes in small cell lung cancer (SCLC) patients. Methods: CTCs/CTECs and their subtypes were determined using SE‐iFISH technology in 33 SCLC patients before initial treatment (B1), after two cycles of chemotherapy (B2), at the completion of chemotherapy (B3), and disease progression (B4). The correlations with clinical characteristics, progression‐free survival (PFS), and overall survival (OS) were analyzed. Results: CTCs and CTECs were detected in 96.6% and 65.5% of patients, respectively. Patients had higher levels of CTCs compared with CTECs in circulation (p < 0.05). Extensive‐stage SCLC patients tended to have higher CTEC counts (p = 0.035), and the detection of CTC‐white blood cell (CTC‐WBC) clusters was associated with a worse response to treatment (p = 0.030). Patients with CTC‐WBC clusters at B1 (17.3 vs. 22.6 months, p = 0.041) and B2 (19.9 vs. 25.2 months, p = 0.018) had significantly shorter OS than those with no detection. Additionally, their presence was revealed as independent predictors for a worse OS in multivariable analyses (B1: HR 9.3, 95% CI: 1.4–48, p = 0.0079; B2: HR 4.4, 95% CI: 1.1–18, p = 0.041). A high CTC level at B4 was an adverse prognostic factor for SCLC patients (PFS: 8.7 vs. 22.5 months, p = 0.0026; OS: 19 months vs. not reached, p = 0.0086). CTC clusters and CTECs also showed prognostic values. Conclusions: The presence of CTC‐WBC clusters at baseline and after two‐cycle chemotherapy and the total CTC counts at the completion of chemotherapy are strong predictors for the prognostic survival of SCLC patients receiving first‐line treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Extensive‐stage small cell lung cancer (ES‐SCLC) is deemed as a fatal malignancy with a poor prognosis. Although immunotherapy has gradually played an important role in the treatment of ES‐SCLC since 2018, ES‐SCLC treatment data and patient outcome before 2018, when chemotherapy served as a fundamental therapeutic strategy, is still meaningful as a summary of the situation regarding previous medical treatment and is a baseline for comparative data. In addition, the prognostic factors of ES‐SCLC have failed to reach a consensus until now. Therefore, this study aimed to evaluate survival and identify the prognostic factors in an ES‐SCLC population. Methods: We retrospectively collected the detailed medical records of 358 patients with ES‐SCLC from January 1, 2011 to December 31, 2018 in a Chinese top‐level cancer hospital. The prognostic factors were evaluated by Cox univariate and multivariate analysis. Results: The median overall survival (OS) of ES‐SCLC patients (N = 358) was 14.0 months, the one‐ and two‐year OS rates were 56.2% and 21.7%, respectively. Moreover, we identified two demographic characters (age ≥ 70, smoking index ≥ 400), one tumor burden factor (bone multimetastasis), two tumor biomarkers (cyfra211, CA125) and two laboratory indexes (decreased Na, PLR < 76) as independent prognostic factors for OS in this patient population. Progression‐free survival (PFS) data of 238 patients was obtained for further analysis, and the median PFS was 6.2 months, and six‐month and one‐year PFS rates were 51.7% and 14.3%, respectively. Elevated cyfra211, decreased Hb and Na were identified as independent prognostic factors for PFS. Conclusions: This study provides real‐world evidence of the survival and prognosis of ES‐SCLC patients which will enable better evaluation and clinical decision‐making in the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Host specificity of phytophagous insects plays a critical role in the maintenance of plant diversity. However, a lack of approaches to identify the larvae of phytophagous insects, which usually have similar morphology, can lead to misinterpretation of their host ranges.Acorn weevils are seed‐exploiting parasites of Fagaceae species, a dominant plant group in subtropical evergreen broad‐leaved forests (EBLFs). Therefore, variation in their host specificity may profoundly influence plant diversity in this ecosystem.Here, we collected larvae of acorn weevils from 36 655 seeds of Fagaceae species in EBLFs in southeastern China and performed multiple operational taxonomic unit (OTU) delimitation analyses using one mitochondrial (COI) and two nuclear (ArgK and EF1‐α) genes to reveal species composition of acorn weevils and assess the variation in host specificity among OTUs.We analysed the DNA barcoding sequences from 478 larvae and 4 adults of acorn weevils sampled from 17 common Fagaceae species (five genera) and detected 11 OTUs. Moreover, host range varied drastically among different OTUs, with Curculio bimaculatus being the most generalised.Our results revealed high diversity of acorn weevils and that strong variation in host specificity can even exist among OTUs in the same genus, addressing the need to distinguish different Curculio species before conducting forest management in EBLFs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: Post‐translational modification of proteins mediated by SIZ1, a small ubiquitin‐like modifier (SUMO) E3 ligase, regulates multiple biological processes in plants. However, its role in the regulation of lateral root formation remains unclear. Here, we demonstrate that the apple SUMO E3 ligase MdSIZ1 promotes lateral root formation.Using a yeast‐two‐hybrid (Y2H) system, the auxin response factor MdARF8 was screened out as a protein–protein interaction partner of the SUMO‐conjugating E2 enzyme MdSCE1, indicating that MdARF8 may be a substrate for MdSIZ1. The interaction between MdARF8 and MdSCE1 was confirmed by pull‐down, Y2H and Co‐immunoprecipitation assays.MdSIZ1 enhanced the conjugating enzyme activity of MdSCE1 to form a MdSCE1–MdSIZ1–MdARF8 complex, thereby facilitating SUMO modification. We identified two arginine substitution mutations at K342 and K380 in MdARF8 that blocked MdSIZ1‐mediated SUMOylation, indicating that K342 and K380 are the principal SUMOylation sites of the MdARF8 protein. Moreover, MdARF8 promoted lateral root formation in transgenic apple plants, and the phenotype of reduced lateral roots in the Arabidopsis siz1‐2 mutant was restored in siz1‐2/MdARF8 complementary plants.Our findings reveal an important role for sumoylation in the regulation of lateral root formation in plants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

β‐Elemene (1‐methyl‐1‐vinyl‐2,4‐diisopropenyl‐cyclohexane), a natural sesquiterpene‐derived curcumae radix, exhibits a variety of pharmacologic properties including anticancer. However, the molecular action of β‐elemene in chemical‐induced skin carcinogenesis remains unclear. Therefore, the present study executes to investigate a possible effect of β‐elemene in the 7,12‐dimethylbenz(a)anthracene (DMBA)/12‐O‐tetradecanoylphorbol‐13‐acetate (TPA)‐promoted skin tumor model. The experimental mice were subjected to execute two‐stage skin carcinogenesis and it has been initiated by the addition of DMBA on the dorsal portion of the mouse skin. One week after, for chemical carcinogen of mice, topical exposure of DMBA has been induced following with TPA (5 nmol) in acetone (200 μL) given weekly twice for 20 weeks respectively. After completion of the experimental period, we noticed that 100% of tumor incidence, histopathological changes, decreased lipid peroxidation (LPO), and decreased antioxidant levels in DMBA/TPA‐promoted skin carcinogenesis. Furthermore, enhanced activity of inflammatory protein markers (nuclear factor [NF]‐κB, tumor necrosis factor‐α, interleukin‐6, cyclooxygenase‐2, and nitric oxide synthase) and cell‐proliferative messenger RNA markers (PCNA, cyclin D1), and increased antiapoptotic protein Bcl‐2; decreased proapoptotic protein marker events Bax and caspase 3 and 9 expressions were noticed in DMBA/TPA promoted skin tissue. In this study, we noticed that β‐elemene noticeably reversed the histopathological changes and antioxidant levels in tumor‐bearing mice. Conversely, β‐elemene effectively inhibits inflammation, cell proliferation events, and enhances proapoptotic factors, by suppression of NF‐κB transcriptional activation in DMBA/TPA animals. Thus, we concluded that β‐elemene prevents DMBA/TPA promoted skin carcinogenesis through its antioxidant and abate inflammation markers and cell‐proliferative markers also activating proapoptotic molecules. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

It is well established that inflammation in the body promotes organism aging, and recent studies have attributed a similar effect to senescent cells. Considering that certain pro‐inflammatory cytokines can induce cellular senescence, systematically evaluating the effects of pro‐inflammatory cytokines in cellular senescence is an important and urgent scientific problem, especially given the ongoing surge in aging human populations. Treating IMR90 cells and HUVECs with pro‐inflammatory cytokines identified six factors able to efficiently induce cellular senescence. Of these senescence‐inducing cytokines, the activity of five (namely IL‐1β, IL‐13, MCP‐2, MIP‐3α, and SDF‐1α) was significantly inhibited by treatment with cetuximab (an antibody targeting epidermal growth factor receptor [EGFR]), gefitinib (a small molecule inhibitor of EGFR), and EGFR knockdown. In addition, treatment with one of the senescence‐inducing cytokines, SDF‐1α, significantly increased the phosphorylation levels of EGFR, as well as Erk1/2. These results suggested that pro‐inflammatory cytokines induce cellular senescence by activating EGFR signaling. Next, we found that EGF treatment could also induce cellular senescence of IMR90 cells and HUVECs. Mechanically, EGF induced cellular senescence via excessive activation of Ras and the Ras‐BRaf‐Erk1/2 signaling axis. Moreover, EGFR activation induced IMR90 cells to secrete certain senescence‐associated secretory phenotype factors (IL‐8 and MMP‐3). In summary, we report that certain pro‐inflammatory cytokines induce cellular senescence through activation of the EGFR‐Ras signaling pathway. Our study thus offers new insight into a long‐ignored mechanism by which EGFR could regulate cellular senescence and suggests that growth signals themselves may catalyze aging under certain conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The use of herbal medicines dates back a long way in history. Herbal medicines have been widely used all over the world since ancient times and have been recognized by physicians and patients for their good therapeutic value as they have fewer adverse effects than modern medicines. Recently, researchers have used gold nanoparticles synthesized by plants in the prevention, control, and treatment of infectious disorders and cutaneous wounds. The aims of this study were to synthesize gold nanoparticles from aqueous extract of Allium saralicum R.M. Fritsch (AuNPs) and assess their therapeutic capacities. The nanoparticles were characterized by UV–visible spectroscopy (UV–Vis), Fourier‐transform infrared (FT‐IR) spectroscopy, X‐ray diffraction (XRD), field emission scanning electron microscopy (FE‐SEM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). FT‐IR results offered polysaccharides and protein in A. saralicum were the sources of reducing power, reducing gold ions to AuNPs. According to XRD analysis, the crystal size of the nanoparticles was 41.6 nm. TEM and FE‐SEM images exhibited average diameters of 45 nm for the biosynthesized nanoparticles. The synthesized AuNPs had great cell viability on HUVECs line and showed this method was nontoxic. The 2,2‐diphenyl‐1‐picrylhydrazyl free radical scavenging test indicated similar antioxidant potentials for A. saralicum, AuNPs, and butylated hydroxytoluene. To determine the antifungal and antibacterial properties of HAuCl4, A. saralicum, and AuNPs, agar diffusion tests were used. The aim of the application both HAuCl4 and A. saralicum in microbial tests was to investigate the synergism effects between them. The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC), minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC), and minimum fungicidal concentration (MFC) were specified by macro‐broth dilution assay. AuNPs exhibited higher antifungal and antibacterial effects than all standard antibiotics (p ≤ 0.01). The MIC and MBC of AuNPs against all bacteria were in the ranges 1–4 mg/ml and 2–8 mg/ml, respectively. The MIC and MFC of AuNPs against all fungi were in the ranges 1–4 mg/ml and 2–4 mg/ml, respectively. In vivo part, AuNPs ointment group raised significantly (p ≤ 0.01) the wound contracture, vessel, hydroxyl proline, hexuronic acid, fibrocyte, fibroblast, and fibrocytes/fibroblast rate and decreased significantly (p ≤ 0.01) the wound area, total cells, and lymphocyte compared to other groups in rats. The results of FT‐IR, UV–Vis, XRD, TEM, and FE‐SEM analyses confirm that the aqueous extract of A. saralicum leaves can be used to yield gold nanoparticles with a notable amount of remedial effects without any cytotoxicity against HUVECs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The PLASMIC score was recently published to aid in the early identification of thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura (TTP) patients. This study aims to evaluate whether this score is suitable for Chinese suspected TTP patients and find the utility of patients' other characteristics in predicting severe ADAMTS13 deficiency. Methods: We retrospectively studied a Chinese cohort of 38 consecutive hospitalized patients with suspected TTP, ADAMTS13 test results, and other clinical data from September 2016 to May 2018. The predictive power of PLASMIC score in our cohort was evaluated, and patients' other characteristics, especially the high lactate dehydrogenase/the upper limit of normal (LDH/ULN), were studied to determine their distinguishing ability for TTP patients. Results: In this Chinese cohort, 17 patients were diagnosed with TTP according to ADAMTS13 activity results. When dichotomized at intermediate‐high risk (scores 5‐7) vs low risk (scores 0‐4), the PLASMIC score predicted TTP with a sensitivity of 100%, a specificity of 9.52%, and a misdiagnosis rate of 90.48%. And the LDH/ULN alone, or plus platelet count, reticulocyte percentage and indirect bilirubin (IBIL) both had excellent predictive power (area under the curve [AUC] 0.937, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.863‐1.000, P =.000, and AUC 0.994, 95% CI 0.980‐1.000, P =.000, respectively). The model including platelet count, reticulocyte percentage, IBIL, and LDH/ULN ratio had a sensitivity of 100%, a specificity of 95.2%, and a misdiagnosis rate of 4.8%. Conclusions: A modified PLASMIC score plus LDH/ULN ratio might be more suitable for identifying ADAMTS13 deficiency patients, especially for making an earlier diagnosis, guiding the immediate and reasonable plasma exchange, and also avoiding unnecessary allocation of plasma. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND: The suppression of α‐glucosidase activity to retard glucose absorption is an important therapy for type‐2 diabetes. Corosolic acid (CRA) is a potential antidiabetic component in many plant‐based foods and herbs. In this study, the interplay mechanism between α‐glucosidase and corosolic acid was investigated by several methods, including three‐dimensional fluorescence spectra, circular dichroism spectra, and molecular simulation. RESULTS: Corosolic acid significantly inhibited α‐glucosidase reversibly in an uncompetitive manner and its IC50 value was 1.35 × 10−5 mol L−1. A combination of CRA with myricetin exerted a weak synergy against α‐glucosidase. The intrinsic fluorescence of α‐glucosidase was quenched via a static quenching course and the binding constant was 3.47 × 103 L mol−1 at 298 K. The binding of CRA to α‐glucosidase was mainly driven by hydrophobic forces and resulted in a partial extension of the protein polypeptide chain with a loss of α‐helix content. The molecular simulation illustrated that CRA bound to the entrance part of the active center of α‐glucosidase and interacted with the amino acid residues Ser157, Arg442, Phe303, Arg315, Tyr158, and Gln353, which could hinder the release of substrate and catalytic reaction product, eventually suppressing the catalytic activity of α‐glucosidase. CONCLUSIONS: These results may suggest new insights into corosolic acid from food sources as a potential α‐glucosidase inhibitor that could better control diabetes. © 2019 Society of Chemical Industry [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Designer receptors exclusively activated by designer drugs (DREADDs) are extensively used to modulate neuronal activity in rodents, but their use in primates remains limited. An essential need that remains is the demonstration that DREADDs are efficiently expressed on the plasma membrane of primate neurons. To address this issue, electron microscopy immunogold was used to determine the subcellular localization of the AAV vector‐induced DREADDs hM4Di and hM3Dq fused to different tags in various brain areas of rhesus monkeys and mice. When hM4Di was fused to mCherry, the immunogold labelling was mostly confined to the intracellular space, and poorly expressed at the plasma membrane in monkey dendrites. In contrast, the hM4Di‐mCherry labelling was mostly localized to the dendritic plasma membrane in mouse neurons, suggesting species differences in the plasma membrane expression of these exogenous proteins. The lack of hM4Di plasma membrane expression may limit the functional effects of systemic administration of DREADD‐actuators in monkey neurons. Removing the mCherry and fusing of hM4Di with the haemagglutinin (HA) tag resulted in strong neuronal plasma membrane immunogold labelling in both monkeys and mice neurons. Finally, hM3Dq‐mCherry was expressed mostly at the plasma membrane in monkey neurons, indicating that the fusion of mCherry with hM3Dq does not hamper membrane incorporation of this specific DREADD. Our results suggest that the pattern of ultrastructural expression of DREADDs in monkey neurons depends on the DREADD/tag combination. Therefore, a preliminary characterization of plasma membrane expression of specific DREADD/tag combinations is recommended when using chemogenetic approaches in primates. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Small heat shock proteins (sHSPs) are diverse and mainly function as molecular chaperones to protect organisms and cells from various stresses. In this study, hsp18.3, one Tribolium castaneum species‐specific shsp, has been identified. Quantitative real‐time polymerase chain reaction illustrated that Tchsp18.3 is expressed in all developmental stages, and is highly expressed at early pupal and late adult stages, while it is highly expressed in ovary and fat body at the adult period. Moreover, it was up‐regulated 4532 ± 396‐fold in response to enhanced heat stress but not to cold stress; meanwhile the lifespan of adults in ds‐Tchsp18.3 group reduced by 15.8% from control group under starvation. Laval RNA interference (RNAi) of Tchsp18.3 caused 86.1% ± 4.5% arrested pupal eclosion and revealed that Tchsp18.3 played an important role in insect development. In addition, parental RNAi of Tchsp18.3 reduced the oviposition amount by 94.7%. These results suggest that Tchsp18.3 is not only essential for the resistance to heat and starvation stress, but also is critical for normal development and reproduction in T. castaneum. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND 5‐Hydroxymethyl‐2‐furaldehyde (5‐HMF), a by‐product of the Maillard reaction, usually present in fried and baked food, may cause potential harm to the human body. Here, the interaction between 5‐HMF and calf thymus DNA (ctDNA) under physiological buffer (pH 7.4) was studied using multi‐spectroscopic methods combined with multivariate curve resolution–alternating least squares (MCR‐ALS) chemometrics and molecular simulation techniques. RESULTS: The concentration profiles and pure spectra of the three components (5‐HMF, ctDNA and 5‐HMF–ctDNA complex) were extracted from highly overlapping spectra using MCR‐ALS analysis, which verified the formation of 5‐HMF–ctDNA complex. The binding constant being of the order of 103 L mol−1 at four temperatures (292, 298, 304 and 310 K) indicated a weak affinity in the binding of 5‐HMF to ctDNA. The binding interaction was mainly driven by hydrogen bonds and van der Waals forces. Viscosity analysis, melting assay, ionic strength effect and competitive fluorescence studies ascertained that 5‐HMF bound to ctDNA through groove binding, and it tended to bind to guanine–cytosine rich region of ctDNA which was characterized using Fourier transform infrared spectra and molecular docking. Circular dichroism spectral analysis and DNA cleavage assays indicated that the ctDNA conformation was altered from B to A form and 5‐HMF caused DNA damage at higher concentration. CONCLUSIONS: The results suggested that 5‐HMF bound to ctDNA through groove binding and caused DNA damage. This research may contribute to understand the binding mechanism of 5‐HMF to ctDNA and to the assessment of the toxicological effect of 5‐HMF in biological processes. © 2018 Society of Chemical Industry [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND Quinoline yellow (QY), a synthetic colourant widely used in the food industry, has caused extensive concerns because of its potentially harmful effects on human health. In the present work, the interactions between QY and human serum albumin (HSA) were characterized by multiple spectroscopic methods, a chemometric algorithm, and molecular modelling studies. RESULTS: The concentration profiles and pure spectra obtained for the components (QY, HSA and QY–HSA complex) from analyses of the expanded UV‐visible absorption data matrices by multivariate curve resolution alternating least squares confirmed the QY–HSA interaction process. QY quenched the fluorescence of HSA through formation of a QY–HSA complex that was stabilized by moderate affinity. Hydrophobic forces and hydrogen bonding play major roles in the binding of QY to HSA. Site‐specific marker‐induced displacement results suggest that QY binds to subdomain IIA of HSA. This was corroborated by the molecular docking results. Decreases in HSA surface hydrophobicity and free sulfhydryl group content indicate that QY causes a contraction of the peptide strand in HSA, hiding the hydrophobic patches of the protein. Analyses by UV‐visible absorption, circular dichroism, and three‐dimensional fluorescence spectroscopy found that QY causes microenvironmental perturbations around the fluorophores and secondary structure changes in HSA. CONCLUSION: This work shows that QY binds to HSA, affecting its structural and functional properties, and provides new insights into the binding mechanism and a comprehensive understanding of the toxicity of QY to biological processes. © 2018 Society of Chemical Industry [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Objective Materials and methods Results Conclusion The etiology of chronic prostatitis remains unclear; consequently, this disease is associated with recurrence and ineffective clinical therapy. Therefore, there is an urgent need to investigate the underlying pathogenesis of chronic prostatitis in order to develop more efficacious treatments.The previous study found that knocking out of PEBP4 leads to chronic prostatitis in the male mice. This research aimed to identify the role of PEBP4 in prostatitis, determine the molecular pathogenic mechanisms associated with chronic prostatitis, and provide guidelines for the development of new treatment strategies for chronic prostatitis.A PEBP4 exon knockout strain (PEBP4−/−) was established in C57BL/6 mice via the Cre‐loxP system. Hematoxylin‐eosin (H&E) staining was used to investigate histological changes. RNA‐sequencing was used to investigate the gene expression signature of the prostate and the levels of inflammatory cytokines were determined by real‐time polymerase chain reaction (RT‐PCR). The expression of PEBP4 protein in prostate tissue was determined by immunohistochemistry in specimens from patients with BPH and BPH combined with chronic prostatitis. Finally, we used a CRISPR‐Cas9 plasmid to knockout PEBP4 in RWPE‐1 cells; western blotting was subsequently used to measure the level of activation in the NF‐κB signaling pathway after activating with TNF‐α.Hemorrhage and inflammatory cell infiltration were incidentally observed in the seminal vesicles and prostate glands of PEBP4−/− mice after being fed with a normal diet for 1 year. In addition, we found significantly lower (p < 0.001) expression levels of PEBP4 protein in prostate tissues from patients with benign prostate hyperplasia (BPH) and chronic and non‐bacterial prostatitis (CNP) when compared to those with BPH only. The reduced expression of PEBP4 led to a higher risk of prostatitis recurrence in patients after 2 years of follow‐up. Increased levels of NF‐κB and IκB phosphorylation were observed in PEBP4‐knockout RWPE‐1 cells and prostate glands from PEBP4−/− mice.The knockout of PEBP4 in experimental mice led to chronic prostatitis and the reduced expression of PEBP4 in patients with higher risk of chronic and non‐bacterial prostatitis suggested that PEBP4 might act as a protective factor against chronic prostatitis. The knockout of PEBP4 in RWPE‐1 cells led to the increased activation of NF‐κB and IκB, thus indicating that inhibition of PEBP4 faciliated the NF‐κB signaling cascade. Our findings provide a new etiology and therapeutic target for chronic prostatitis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A cheap protic ionic liquid (PIL), 3-(Dimethylamino)-1-propylamine acetate (abbreviated as [DMAPAH][Ac]), is investigated in this work as the activator of N-methyldiethanolamine (MDEA) for fast capture of CO2. The PIL-activated MDEA solutions show excellent performance in absorption rate and capacity (≥2.5 mol·kg−1). A novel absorption mechanism is proposed to account for the phenomenon, where the shuttling role of the PIL is described in detail. Additionally, the enthalpy change ΔHSOL (−45 to −52 kJ·mol−1), the turnover number of the PIL and the regeneration efficiency (>92%) are also measured. All these data show that the PIL-mediated MDEA solutions may be used as a kind of promising absorbents for fast capture of CO2. © 2017 American Institute of Chemical Engineers AIChE J, 63: 209-219, 2018 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Developing absorbents with both high absorption capacity of H2S and large selectivity of H2S/CO2 is very important for natural gas sweetening process. To this end, a class of novel hydrophobic protic ionic liquids (ILs) containing free tertiary amine group as functional site for the absorption of H2S were designed in this work. They were facilely synthesized through a simple neutralization-metathesis methodology by utilizing diamine compounds and bis(trifluoromethylsulfonyl)imide as the building blocks for cation and anion, respectively. Impressively, the solubility of H2S can reach 0.546 mol mol−1 (1 bar) and 0.225 mol mol−1 (0.1 bar), and the selectivity of H2S/CO2 can reach 37.2 (H2S solubility at 1 bar vs. CO2 solubility at 1 bar) and 15.4 (H2S solubility at 0.1 bar vs. CO2 solubility at 1 bar) in the hydrophobic protic ILs at 298.2 K. Comparing the hydrophobic protic ILs with other absorbents justifies their superior performance in the selective absorption of H2S from CO2. © 2016 American Institute of Chemical Engineers AIChE J, 62: 4480-4490, 2016 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Complete solid solutions between Mg2SiO4 and LiMg PO4 are confirmed by the XRD results. The phase constitution of 0.5Mg2SiO4-0.5LiMg PO4 is found to be dependent on firing temperature. The chemical compatibility between Mg2SiO4 and rutile phase at sintering temperature is modified by incorporating LiMg PO4. The microwave dielectric properties of (1− y)(0.5Mg2SiO4-0.5LiMg PO4)- yTiO2 ( y = 0-0.3) composite ceramics have been investigated. The optimized microwave dielectric properties for 0.35Mg2SiO4-0.35LiMgPO4-0.3TiO2 ceramics sintered at 1050°C show low dielectric constant (11.4), high-quality factor (31 800 GHz), and low-temperature coefficient of resonant frequency (−4 ppm/°C). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

d-Mannose is a C-2 epimer of d-glucose, which is a natural monosaccharide. It can be obtained from both plants and microorganisms. Chemical synthesis and biotransformation of d-mannose from d-fructose or d-glucose by using d-mannose isomerases, d-lyxose isomerases, and cellobiose 2-epimerase were intensively studied. d-Mannose is an important component of polysaccharides and glycoproteins. It has been widely used in the food, pharmaceutical, and poultry industries, acting as the source of dietary supplements, starting material for the synthesis of drugs and blocking colonization in animal feeds. d-Mannose is a glyconutrient with high research value in basic science because of its structure and function. This article presents a review of current studies on sources, characteristics, production, and application of d-mannose. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]