Search

Docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), a major component of fish oil, suppresses the formation and growth of aberrant crypt foci induced by 1,2-dimethylhydrazine and azoxymethane. In the present study we examined the effects of intragastric gavage administration of DHA on the yield of rat colonic aberrant crypt foci due to treatment with a heterocyclic amine, 2-amino-1-methyl-6-phenylimidazo[4,5-b]pyridine (PhIP), which induces colon cancer in male F344 rats and is considered to be a possible human colon carcinogen. Male F344 rats were given a standard diet (AIN-76A) and received 10 doses of PhIP (75 mg/kg body wt, by intragastric intubation, on days 1-5 and 8-12) with or without intragastric application of 1 ml DHA 4 h prior to each carcinogen treatment, followed by further DHA dosing. The numbers of PhIP-induced aberrant crypt foci per colon after 4 and 12 weeks DHA administration were significantly reduced to 47 and 38% respectively of the values obtained when PhIP alone was used. The mean number of aberrant crypts per focus was also decreased by DHA treatment. At week 4 the PhIP-DNA adduct levels in the colon of rats from the PhIP+DHA group were approximately two thirds of the PhIP group value. The results thus suggest that DHA exerts a preventive effect on PhIP-induced colon carcinogenesis. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

The effects of intragastric gavage administration of docosahexaenoic acid (DNA) , a major component of fish oil, on azoxymethane (AOM)-induced colon carcinogenesis in rats was investigated. Male F344 rats were treated with 15 mg/kg body wt of AOM once a week, for two weeks. The animals were given either 1 ml of DHA or water intragastrically 5 times a week, starting the day before the first carcinogen treatment. The numbers of AOM-induced aberrant crypt foci in the rats given DHA were 76% and 62% of the control values, at 4 and 12 weeks, respectively. After 36 weeks of DHA treatment, colon tumors were counted and examined histologically. The blood plasma levels of prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) and polyunsaturated fatty acids were also quantified. The incidences of colon cancer did not differ, being 96% and 92% in the AOM and AOM+DHA groups, respectively. Colon cancer multiplicity was, however, significantly decreased by the DHA treatment; 3.65 +/- 2.18 in the AOM group and 2.41 +/- 1.58 in the AOM+DHA group (P <0.01). Notably, the numbers of moderately differentiated adenocarcinomas in the middle and distal colon in the DHA-treated group were lower than in the AOM group. The levels of PGE2 and arachidonic acid in the blood plasma of DHA-treated rats were also significantly lower than in the AOM group. These results suggest that DHA exerts its inhibitory effect on colon carcinogenesis by modulating lipid metabolism and inhibiting the arachidonic cascade. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Simulations of dusty plasmas were performed using GRAPE-6, a special-purpose computer designed for gravitational N-body problems. The collective behavior of dust particles, which are injected into the plasma, was studied by means of three-dimensional computer simulations. As an example of a dusty plasma simulation, experiments on Coulomb crystals in plasmas are simulated. Formation of a quasi-two-dimensional Coulomb crystal has been observed under typical laboratory conditions. Another example was to simulate movement of dust particles in plasmas under microgravity conditions. Fully three-dimensional spherical structures of dust clouds have been observed. For the simulation of a dusty plasma in microgravity with 3×104 particles, GRAPE-6 can perform the whole operation 1000 times faster than by using a Pentium 4 1.6 GHz processor. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present investigation explores into the influence of dietary nutrients, particularly alpha-linolenic acid (ALA), a plant-derived omega-3 fatty acid abundant in perilla seed oil (PSO), on the development of colitis-associated colorectal cancer (CRC). The study employs a mouse model to scrutinize the effects of ALA-rich PSO in the context of inflammation-driven CRC. Perilla seeds were subjected to oil extraction, and the nutritional composition of the obtained oil was analysed. Male ICR mice, initiated at four weeks of age, were subjected to diets comprising 5%, 10%, or 20% PSO, 10% fish oil, or 5% soybean oil. All groups, with the exception of the control group (5% soybean oil), underwent induction with azoxymethane (AOM) and dextran sulphate sodium (DSS) to instigate CRC. Disease development, colon samples, preneoplastic lesions, dysplasia, and biomarkers were meticulously evaluated. Furthermore, gut microbiota composition was elucidated through 16S rRNA sequencing. The analysis revealed that PSO contained 61.32% ALA and 783.90 mg/kg tocopherols. Mice subjected to diets comprising 5% soybean or 10% fish oil exhibited higher tumour incidence, burden, multiplicity, and aberrant crypt counts. Remarkably, these parameters were significantly reduced in mice fed a 5% PSO diet. Additionally, 5% PSO-fed mice displayed reduced proliferative and pro-inflammatory markers in colon tissues, coupled with an alleviation of AOM/DSS-induced gut dysbiosis. Notably, PSO demonstrated inhibitory effects on colitis-associated CRC in the AOM/DSS mice model, achieved through the suppression of proliferative and pro-inflammatory protein levels, and mitigation of gut dysbiosis, with discernible efficacy observed at a 5% dietary concentration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, SnO wrap on SnS was prepared and incorporated into carbon fiber/expanded graphite (CF/EG) cementitious composites by the coating process. The effects of different SnO wrap on SnS coating ratios and contents on the microstructures of CF/EG cementitious composites were investigated and discussed, and the thermoelectric properties of SnO wrap on SnS CF/EG cementitious composites were systematically investigated in the temperature range of 35–70 °C. The results show that the coating ratio and content of SnO wrap on SnS have a significant effect on the thermoelectric properties of CF/EG cementitious composites. It is noteworthy that when the SnO wrap on SnS is 2:1, the thermoelectric properties of its cementitious composites are greatly improved. For example, when it is added at 1.0 wt%, the conductivity is 2.27 S/cm, the Seebeck coefficient is 41.90 µV/°C and the power factor is 0.38 µW·m−1K−2. The addition of SnO wrap on SnS to CF/EG cementitious materials generates a large number of interfaces, and the presence of high-density interfaces hinders the motion of carriers, which leads to the scattering of carriers at the interfaces and enhances the Seebeck effect in cementitious composites. Therefore, SnO wrap on SnS has great potential for thermoelectric applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Xenograft kidney transplantation has been receiving increasing attention. The purpose of this study is to use bibliometric analysis to identify papers in this research field and explore their current status and development trends. Using the data in the Web of Science core database from Clarivate Analytics as the object of study, we used 'TS = Kidney OR Renal AND xenotransplantation' as the search term to find all literature from 1980 to 2 November 2022. In total, 1005 articles were included. The United States has the highest number of publications and has made significant contributions in this field. Harvard University was at the forefront of this study. Professor Cooper has published 114 articles in this field. Xenotransplantation has the largest number of relevant articles. Transplantation was the most cited journal. High-frequency keywords illustrated the current state of development and future trends in xenotransplantation. The use of transgenic pigs and the development of coordinated co-stimulatory blockers have greatly facilitated progress in xenotransplantation research. We found that 'co-stimulation blockade', 'xenograft survival', 'pluripotent stem cell', 'translational research', and 'genetic engineering' were likely to be the focus of attention in the coming years. This study screened global publications related to xenogeneic kidney transplantation; analyzed their literature metrology characteristics; identified the most cited articles in the research field; understood the current situation, hot spots, and trends of global research; and provided future development directions for researchers and practitioners. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The extreme environment shapes fungi in deep-sea sediments with novel metabolic capabilities. The ubiquity of fungi in deep-sea habitats supports their significant roles in these ecosystems. However, there is limited research on the metabolic activities and adaptive mechanisms of filamentous fungi in deep-sea ecosystems. In this study, we investigated the biological activities, including antibacterial, antitumor and nematicidal activity of Purpureocillium lilacinum FDZ8Y1, isolated from sediments of the Mariana Trench. A key feature of P. lilacinum FDZ8Y1 was its tolerance to high hydrostatic pressure (HHP), up to 110 MPa. We showed that HHP affected its vegetative growth, development, and production of secondary metabolites, indicating the potential for discovering novel natural products from hadal fungi. Whole-genome sequencing of P. lilacinum FDZ8Y1 revealed the metabolic potential of this piezotolerant fungus in carbon (carbohydrate metabolism), nitrogen (assimilatory nitrate reduction and protein degradation) and sulfur cycling processes (assimilatory sulfate reduction). Transcriptomic analysis under elevated HHP showed that P. lilacinum FDZ8Y1 may activate several metabolic pathways and stress proteins to cope with HHP, including fatty acid metabolism, the antioxidant defense system, the biosynthetic pathway for secondary metabolites, extracellular enzymes and membrane transporters. This study provides valuable insights into the metabolic potential and adaptation mechanisms of hadal fungi to the challenging conditions of the hadal environment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The ferroelectric switching behavior of a metal–ferroelectric AlScN–HfO2 interlayer–metal (MFIM) capacitor was investigated at variable temperatures and compared with an MFM capacitor. Although the MFIM capacitor demonstrated an inferior remnant polarization (2Pr value of 74 µC/cm2), it exhibited a reduced leakage current (×1/100) and higher breakdown field. The MFIM showed a stable change in 2Pr from room temperature to 200 °C and an enhanced endurance of ~104 cycles at 200 °C; moreover, the leakage current was less degraded after the cycling tests. Thus, the ferroelectric AlScN with a thin HfO2 interlayer can enhance the reliability of ferroelectric switching. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Arabidopsis thaliana LEAFY COTYLEDON1 (LEC1) gene is shown to have numerous diverse functions in plant development, including the regulation of embryo morphogenesis and maturation, hypocotyl elongation, flowering transition, etc. However, the functions of LEC1 orthologs in different plant species have not been extensively studied. In this study, we obtained a line of Medicago truncatula, a model leguminous plant, carrying the loss-of-function mutation in the MtLEC1 (MtNF-YB10) gene, orthologous to LEC1, using the Clustered Regularly Interspaced Short Palindromic Repeats/CRISPR-associated proteins (CRISPR/Cas9) genome editing system. Edited plants with loss of MtNF-YB10 function did not demonstrate any severe abnormalities during their normal growth and gave viable seeds, but their capability for somatic embryogenesis in vitro was dramatically reduced. The T1 progeny of unedited plants with a Cas9-gRNA cassette insertion was also analyzed based on the suggestion that editing could occur during seed formation. However, no edited plants were found in the T1 generation. These results suggest divergent functions of LEC1 orthologs and make it possible to investigate potential specific MtNF-YB10 functions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Lentil (Lens culinaris Medikus) is a nutrient-rich, cool-season food legume that is high in protein, prebiotic carbohydrates, vitamins, and minerals. It is a staple food in many parts of the world, but crop performance is threatened by climate change, where increased temperatures and less predictable precipitation can reduce yield and nutritional quality. One mechanism that many plant species use to mitigate heat and drought stress is the production of disaccharides, oligosaccharides and sugar alcohols, collectively referred to as low molecular weight carbohydrates (LMWCs). Recent evidence indicates that lentil may also employ this mechanism – especially raffinose family oligosaccharides and sugar alcohols – and that these may be suitable targets for genomic-assisted breeding to improve crop tolerance to heat and drought stress. While the genes responsible for LMWC biosynthesis in lentil have not been fully elucidated, single nucleotide polymorphisms and putative genes underlying biosynthesis of LMWCs have been identified. Yet, more work is needed to confirm gene identity, function, and response to abiotic stress. This review i) summarizes the diverse evidence for how LMWCs are utilized to improve abiotic stress tolerance, ii) highlights current knowledge of genes that control LMWC biosynthesis in lentil, and iii) explores how LMWCs can be targeted using diverse genomic resources and markers to accelerate lentil breeding efforts for improved stress tolerance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In IEC-61850-based digital substations, the protection IED's performance is dependent on merging unit's vendor implementation, communication networks, and measurement circuit's health conditions. As the process bus Sampled Value(SV) enables the availability of all sensor data on a communication network, this paper proposes a Backup Subscription scheme (BSS) for a transformer differential protection (87T, PDIF) function. BSS utilizes sensor data in digital substations to achieve a flexible protection scheme using a dynamic subscription feature. Thus, in case of failure of one sensor, differential protection would be maintained. The paper presents the implementation and verification of a prototyped scheme using a Hardware-in-the-loop simulation test bed. The main result is that BSS integration into differential protection ensures its dependability and security. Moreover, delay compensation and seamless switching feature increases the availability of differential protection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A growing body of biomedical literature suggests a bidirectional regulatory relationship between cardiac calcium (Ca2+)-regulating proteins and reactive oxygen species (ROS) that is integral to the pathogenesis of various cardiac disorders via oxidative stress (OS) signaling. To address the challenge of finding hidden connections within the growing volume of biomedical research, we developed a data science pipeline for efficient data extraction, transformation, and loading. Employing the CaseOLAP (Context-Aware Semantic Analytic Processing) algorithm, our pipeline quantifies interactions between 128 human cardiomyocyte Ca2+-regulating proteins and eight cardiovascular disease (CVD) categories. Our machine-learning analysis of CaseOLAP scores reveals that the molecular interfaces of Ca2+-regulating proteins uniquely associate with cardiac arrhythmias and diseases of the cardiac conduction system, distinguishing them from other CVDs. Additionally, a knowledge graph analysis identified 59 of the 128 Ca2+-regulating proteins as involved in OS-related cardiac diseases, with cardiomyopathy emerging as the predominant category. By leveraging a link prediction algorithm, our research illuminates the interactions between Ca2+-regulating proteins, OS, and CVDs. The insights gained from our study provide a deeper understanding of the molecular interplay between cardiac ROS and Ca2+-regulating proteins in the context of CVDs. Such an understanding is essential for the innovation and development of targeted therapeutic strategies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Thermoelectric materials' unique merits attract considerable attention. Among those merits, the straight transformation between heat and electricity makes this material potential. The energy of the human body is released in the form of heat, which can be transformed into effective electricity by wearable thermoelectric materials. The nanotechnology‐based materials improve thermoelectric properties and heat absorption abilities for nanostructures will help maintain good electrical conductivity and reduce thermal conductivity. Poly(3,4‐ethylenedioxythiophene) (PEDOT) is extensively investigated for its high conductivity, flexibility, good transparency, and so on. This article reviews its mechanism and describes the preparation techniques and thermoelectric properties of nanotechnology‐based PEDOT, inorganic semiconductor composite, and low‐dimensional metal composite thermoelectric materials. The recent research progress on PEDOT‐based thermoelectric materials, the application of wearable low‐dimensional PEDOT‐based thermoelectric materials, and methods to improve the thermoelectric performance of PEDOT‐based composite materials, device design, and commercialization are specifically discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background/Aim: Salmonella typhimurium A1-R has been shown to target and inhibit many types of cancers in mouse models without continuous infection of normal tissue. The objective of the present study was to determine the effective dose of orally-administered Salmonella typhimurium A1-R, expressing-green fluorescent protein (GFP), on an HT1080 human-fibrosarcoma nude-mouse model. Materials and Methods: The HT1080-human- fibrosarcoma nude-mouse models were randomized into the following three groups: G1: untreated control; G2: Oral Salmonella typhimurium A1-R (5x107 colony forming units [CFU]/body, twice a week, 2 weeks); G3: Oral Salmonella typhimurium A1-R (3.3x108 CFU/body, twice a week, 2 weeks). Each group comprised five mice. Body weight and tumor volume were measured twice a week. The number of colonies of Salmonella typhimurium A1-R-GFP in excised tumors and excised livers in groups G2 and G3 were determined on day 3, day 7 and 14 by growth on agar plates. Tukey-Kramer analysis was used to examine the relationships between variables. Statistically-significant results are defined as those with p≤0.05. Results: Salmonella typhimurium A1-R was administered orally at a dose of 3.3x108 CFU, which successfully regressed the HT1080 tumor in nude mice. However, this effect was not observed at a lower dose of 5x107 CFU. After administering Salmonella typhimurium A1-R at 3.3x108 CFU, tumors and liver tissues were harvested, homogenized, and cultured on days 3, 7 and 14. Resulting GFP-expressing Salmonella typhimurium A1-R colonies were then counted. The number of GFP-bacterial colonies derived from excised tumors at intervals of 3, 7, and 14 days increased over time post-administration of oral GFP-Salmonella typhimurium. Conversely, the number of GFP-Salmonella typhimurium A1-R colonies that could be grown from excised livers decreased over time, following oral administration of GFP-Salmonella typhimurium. Additionally, the GFP-bacterial colonies grown from the excised tumors were significantly larger than those grown from the excised livers. Conclusion: The present study showed that an aggressive fibrosarcoma could be regressed by orallyadministered Salmonella typhimurium A1-R which accurately targeted tumors without continuous growth in normal organs. The present results suggested the potential of orally-administered Salmonella typhimurium A1-R as a probiotic to treat aggressive soft-tissue sarcoma. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rice phosphatidylcholine transfer protein (PCTP), which contains a steroidogenic acute regulatory protein-related lipid transfer (START) domain, responds to bacterial blight disease. Overexpression of OsPCTP quantitatively enhances resistance to pathogen in rice, whereas depletion of it has the opposite effect. Further analysis showed that OsPCTP physically interacts with OsAPX8, a ROS scavenging enzyme, and influences ascorbate peroxidase enzymatic activity in vivo. In addition, the expression of pathogenesis-related genes PR1a, PR1b and PR10 were significantly induced in OsPCTP-OE plants compared with that in wild-type plants ZH11. Taken together, these results suggested that OsPCTP mediates bacterial blight resistance in rice through regulating the ROS defense pathway. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The permeation of cryoprotectants into insect embryos is critical for successful cryopreservation. However, the permeability of silkworm embryos to cryoprotectants and the effects of cryopreservation remain poorly studied. In this study, we evaluated the permeability and toxicity of four cryoprotective agents (CPAs) as well as the vitrification effect on the viability of silkworm embryos. Among the four CPAs, propylene glycol (PG) showed the best permeability. Ethylene glycol (EG) and PG were the least toxic CPAs, but glycerol (GLY) and dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) were more toxic. Moreover, we examined several factors including the kind and the concentration of CPAs, exposure time, embryonic stage, and silkworm strains. Embryos at the earlier phases of stage 25 were more tolerant to vitrification using EG. We found that over 21% of embryos treated with EG at the early 2 phase of stage 25: 163 h after egg laying (AEL) developed and progressed to serosa ingestion after vitrification and rewarming. The result was the same in other strains as well. Our results are valuable for the development of new cryopreservation protocols of silkworm embryos. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hydrogen electrocatalytic reactions, including the hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) and the hydrogen oxidation reaction (HOR), play a crucial role in a wide range of energy conversion and storage technologies. However, the HER and HOR display anomalous non-Nernstian pH dependent kinetics, showing two to three orders of magnitude sluggish kinetics in alkaline media compared to that in acidic media. Fundamental understanding of the origins of the intrinsic pH effect has attracted substantial interest from the electrocatalysis community. More critically, a fundamental molecular level understanding of this effect is still debatable, but is essential for developing active, stable, and affordable fuel cells and water electrolysis technologies. Against this backdrop, in this review, we provide a comprehensive overview of the intrinsic pH effect on hydrogen electrocatalysis, covering the experimental observations, underlying principles, and strategies for catalyst design. We discuss the strengths and shortcomings of various activity descriptors, including hydrogen binding energy (HBE) theory, bifunctional theory, potential of zero free charge (pzfc) theory, 2B theory and other theories, across different electrolytes and catalyst surfaces, and outline their interrelations where possible. Additionally, we highlight the design principles and research progress in improving the alkaline HER/HOR kinetics by catalyst design and electrolyte optimization employing the aforementioned theories. Finally, the remaining controversies about the pH effects on HER/HOR kinetics as well as the challenges and possible research directions in this field are also put forward. This review aims to provide researchers with a comprehensive understanding of the intrinsic pH effect and inspire the development of more cost-effective and durable alkaline water electrolyzers (AWEs) and anion exchange membrane fuel cells (AMFCs) for a sustainable energy future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Nocardia is emerging as a common and easily neglected cause of both healthcare- and occupation-associated infections worldwide, however, human vaccines for Nocardia prevention are not yet available. In this study, we aimed to evaluate the immunoprotective effect of the NFA47630 protein, a secreted protein abundant in the N. farcinica IFM10152 supernatant. Methods: Conservation and characteristics of nfa47630 were analyzed by PCR and bioinformatics. Then recombinant NFA47630 protein was cloned, expressed and purified for further antigenicity analysis. Subsequently, the ability to activate innate immunity was evaluated by examining the phosphorylation status of the MAPK signaling pathway and cytokine levels. Finally, the protective effect was evaluated on rNFA47630-immunized mice. Results: nfa47630 was conserved in N. farcinica strains with good antigenicity. The rNFA47630 protein was expressed under the optimal conditions of 0.2 mM IPTG, 28 °C, and it can be recognized by anti-N. farcinica and anti-N. cyriacigeorgica sera, but not anti-N. asteroids, anti-N. brasiliensis, anti-N. nova and anti-Mycobacterium bovis sera. It can upregulate the phosphorylation status of ERK, JNK, P38 and the cytokine levels of TNF-α, IL-10, IL-12, and IFN-γ. In addition, mice immunized with rNFA47630 protein exhibited higher antibody titers, greater bacterial clearance ability, milder organ infection, and higher survival rates than PBS-immunized mice. Conclusions: Our data demonstrate that NFA47630 is a potential vaccine candidate for defending against N. farcinica infection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Herein, to design a high-performance layered oxide cathode, Na0.66Ca0.05[Ni0.25Li0.11Mn0.64]O1.95F0.05 (doped-NNM) was designed and investigated via a site-selective substitution strategy, in which Ca2+, Li+ and F− were introduced into the Na, transition-metal and O2− sites, respectively. Neutron diffraction not only revealed a larger super cell (P63 space group) to suitably account for all diffraction peaks instead of the unit cell (P63/mmc space group) via X-ray diffraction, but also confirmed the different distributions of Ca, Li and F ions in triple crystallographic sites. Different roles of Ca, Li and F ions in doped-NNM cathodes were revealed, which are responsible for the excellent high rate-capability (76 mA h g−1 at 10C and 64 mA h g−1 at 15C) and long cycling-life (80.8% capacity retention after 500 cycles). Theoretical calculation not only confirmed an easy Na-ion motion within 2a/2b sites compared with that within 2a/2b sites to 6c sites in the super cell model for the first time, but also demonstrated improved electronic conductivity by reducing the energy band gap after doping, which resulted in fast Na-storage and high-rate performance of doped-NNM. Moreover, a reversible P2-Z phase transition in doped-NNM demonstrated by in situ X-ray diffraction measurement is favorable to enhance structural integrity and increase the cycling life. This study offers a fundamental understanding of the design and optimization of the material structure and electrochemical performance of P2-type sodium-based layered cathode materials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Recently, there has been increasing interest in the possible role of the gut microbiota (GM) in the onset of migraine. Our aim was to verify whether bacterial populations associated with intestinal dysbiosis are found in pediatric patients with migraine. We looked for which metabolic pathways, these bacteria were involved and whether they might be associated with gut inflammation and increased intestinal permeability. Methods: Patients aged between 6 and 17 years were recruited. The GM profiling was performed by the 16S rRNA metataxonomics of faecal samples from 98 patients with migraine and 98 healthy subjects. Alpha and beta diversity analyses and multivariate and univariate analyses were applied to compare the gut microbiota profiles between the two group. To predict functional metabolic pathways, we used phylogenetic analysis of communities. The level of indican in urine was analyzed to investigate the presence of metabolic dysbiosis. To assess gut inflammation, increased intestinal permeability and the mucosal immune activation, we measured the plasmatic levels of lipopolysaccharide, occludin and IgA, respectively. Results: The α-diversity analysis revealed a significant increase of bacterial richness in the migraine group. The β-diversity analysis showed significant differences between the two groups indicating gut dysbiosis in patients with migraine. Thirty-seven metabolic pathways were increased in the migraine group, which includes changes in tryptophan and phenylalanine metabolism. The presence of metabolic dysbiosis was confirmed by the increased level of indican in urine. Increased levels of plasmatic occludin and IgA indicated the presence of intestinal permeability and mucosal immune activation. The plasmatic LPS levels showed a low intestinal inflammation in patients with migraine. Conclusions: Pediatric patients with migraine present GM profiles different from healthy subjects, associated with metabolic pathways important in migraine. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cervical cancer is the 4th leading cause of tumor-related deaths among women, primarily due to high-risk Human Papillomavirus (HPV). The role of Collapsin Response Mediator Protein 4 (CRMP4) in cervical cancer remains poorly understood, despite its variable expression across various cancers. This study aimed to investigate the mechanisms by which CRMP4 regulates cervical cancer cell growth as well as Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition (EMT). Based on transcriptome data from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA), CRMP4 is significantly downregulated in cervical cancer tissues compared to normal tissues. Immunoblot assays revealed lower CRMP4 expression in cervical cancer cell lines. Cell Counting Kit-8 (CCK-8), colony formation and flowcytometry demonstrated that CRMP4 overexpression inhibited cell growth as well as stimulated apoptosis in HeLa as well as SiHa cells. In addition, CRMP4 overexpression increased Epithelial cadherin (E-cadherin) levels and decreased Neural cadherin (N-cadherin) and alpha-Smooth Muscle Actin (α-SMA) levels, indicating EMT suppression. CRMP4 overexpression downregulated the Wnt/β-catenin axis by reducing expressions of β- catenin, Wnt family member 3A (Wnt3a), c-Myc and cyclin D1. In summary, CRMP4 inhibits cervical cancer cell proliferation as well as EMT by mediating the Wnt/β-catenin axis. CRMP4 may therefore be a potential therapeutic target of cervical cancer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Type-2 diabetes affects an increasing percentage of the world's population and its control through dietary management, involving the consumption of health-promoting foods or their derived supplements, is a common strategy. Several mushroom species have been demonstrated to be endowed with antidiabetic properties, resulting from their ability in improving insulin sensitivity and production, or inhibiting the carbohydrate-hydrolyzing enzymes α-amylase and α-glucosidase. This study aimed to investigate for the first time the hypoglycemic properties of the edible mushroom Leccinum scabrum (Bull.) Gray. Mushroom extracts were prepared through the microwave-assisted extraction (MAE) technique using green solvents with different polarity degrees. The inhibition activity of all the obtained extracts on both α-glucosidase and α-amylase was evaluated and the highest activity was observed for the EtOAc extract which showed an IC50 value about 60-fold lower than the reference compound 1-deoxynojirimycin (DNJ) on α-glucosidase (0.42 ± 0.02 and 25.4 ± 0.6 µg/mL, respectively). As expected on the basis of the literature data concerning both α-glucosidase and α-amylase inhibition, a milder inhibition activity on pancreatic α-amylase was observed. Preliminary in vivo tests on Drosophila melanogaster carried out on the most active obtained extract (EtOAc) confirmed the in vitro observed hypoglycemic activity. Finally, the EtOAc extract metabolic profile was determined through GC-MS and HRMS analyses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The success of composite materials is attributed to the nature of bonding at the nanoscale and the resulting structure-related properties. This study reports on the interaction, electronic, and optical properties of diamond nanothread/polymers (cellulose and epoxy) and boron nitride nanotube/calcium silicate hydrate composites using density functional theory modeling. Our findings indicate that the interaction between the nanothread and polymer is due to van der Waals-type bonding. Minor modifications in the electronic structures and absorption spectra are noticed. Conversely, the boron nitride nanotube–calcium silicate hydrate composite displays an electron-shared type of interaction. The electronic structure and optical absorption spectra of the diamond nanothread and boron nitride nanotube in all configurations studied in the aforementioned composite systems are well maintained. Our findings offer an electronic-level perspective into the bonding characteristics and electronic–optical properties of diamond nanothread/polymer and boron nitride nanotube/calcium silicate hydrate composites for developing next-generation materials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study describes the purification and preparation of tricin (5, 7, 4-trihydroxy-3, 5-dimethoxyflavone) from Carex Meyeriana Kunth via adsorption and desorption using macroporous resins and high-performance liquid chromatography. Six resins were tested to evaluate the static adsorption and desorption capacities. The HPD-300 resin was selected as the adsorption material to enrich tricin because of its suitable adsorption and desorption capacities. Adsorption thermodynamics and kinetics were studied on HPD-300 resin, and the results agreed with the Langmuir model and quasi-second-order kinetics model, respectively. The parameters of the dynamic adsorption and desorption tests were then optimized. The purity of tricin increased from 2.6 mg/g to 45.1 mg/g with a recovery yield of 76.4% after purification using HPD-300 resin. Then, Prep-HPLC was used to further purify tricin. The purity of tricin reached 99.4%, with a recovery yield of 78.0% thereafter. Tricin exerts an inhibitory effect on the proliferation of various tumor cells, including gastric cancer SGC-7901 cells. It significantly suppresses cell colony formation while also altering cell cycle progression metabolism by decreasing the proportion of cells in the G0/G1 phase and increasing the proportion in the S and G2/M phases. Additionally, tricin affects the efficiency of SGC-7901 cell lactate production, ATP content, and glucose uptake. These findings suggest that tricin may impede tumor cell proliferation through its impact on cell cycle progression and energy metabolism. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fenugreek (Trigonella foenum‐graecum) is a widely grown dietary herb in Asia, and its seeds are traditionally used for several diseases, including diabetes. The seeds and leaves possess a variety of compounds that play an important role in regulating their hypoglycemic effect. However, so far, no extensive systematic review exists on its antidiabetic effect, highlighting the molecular mechanisms and isolated compounds. The purpose of this review is to summarize the preclinical and clinical antidiabetic properties of fenugreek and its isolated compounds by focusing on underlying mechanisms. PubMed, Google Scholar, Science Direct, and Scopus databases were searched to retrieve articles until June, 2024. Preclinical studies demonstrated that the antidiabetic effect of fenugreek was mostly associated with enhanced glucose transporter type‐4 (GLUT4) translocation and hexokinase activity, decreased glucose‐6‐phosphatase and fructose‐1,6‐bisphosphatase activities, inhibited α‐amylase and maltase activities, protected β cells, and increased insulin release. Furthermore, few studies have reported its role as a glucagon‐like peptide‐1 (GLP‐1) modulator, 5′‐AMP‐activated kinase (AMPK) activator, and dipeptidyl peptidase‐IV (DPP‐IV) inhibitor. Further clinical trials showed that fenugreek seeds improved blood glucose levels, insulin resistance, insulin sensitivity, and lipid profiles. This study highlights significant evidence of the antidiabetic effect of fenugreek and its isolated compounds; therefore, it could be a potential therapy for diabetes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, we investigated the protective effects of astaxanthin (AST) against oxidative stress induced by the combination of azoxymethane (AOM) and dextran sulfate sodium (DSS) in colitis-associated cancer (CAC) and TNF-α-induced human colorectal cancer cells (SW480), as well as the underlying mechanism. In vitro experiments revealed that astaxanthin reduced reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation and inhibited the expression of Phosphorylated JNK (P-JNK), Phosphorylated ERK (P-ERK), Phosphorylated p65 (P-p65), and the NF-κB downstream protein cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2). In vivo experiments showed that astaxanthin ameliorated AOM/DSS-induced weight loss, shortened the colon length, and caused histomorphological changes. In addition, astaxanthin suppressed cellular inflammation by modulating the MAPK and NF-κB pathways and inhibiting the expression of the proinflammatory cytokines IL-6, IL-1β, and TNF-α. In conclusion, astaxanthin attenuates cellular inflammation and CAC through its antioxidant effects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Functionally Graded Metamaterials (FGMMs) constitute an innovative class of materials within the realm of additive manufacturing (AM), attracting substantial attention from material science and research communities. These materials, characterized by unique designs and gradient properties, are not commonly found in nature but are deliberately engineered through the arrangement of subwavelength structures. The distinct attributes of such materials have propelled them into significant prominence across various industries, including automotive, aerospace, medical, electronics, and agriculture. This review paper aims to present a comprehensive overview of a range of techniques applied in the fabrication, design, theoretical models, and simulation methods related to these materials. It delves into the assessment of such material's performance, specifically focusing on mechanical, thermal, and electromagnetic properties. Moreover, this review addresses advancements, challenges, and potential solutions in the field. Ultimately, it delivers valuable insights to researchers, practitioners, and stakeholders, enhancing their understanding of FGMMs and their significance in the broader context. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study presents the design and implementation of a piezoelectric power harvesting device to capture vibrational energy from pipelines to self-powered IoT devices. The device utilizes key components along with the PPA-1001 piezoelectric sensor, the STM32F103C8T6 microcontroller, and LTC-3588 energy harvesting power supply. Experimental results verified the system's performance in harvesting power within a specific frequency range of 10 Hz to 50 Hz, with the foremost overall performance at 30 Hz. The device generated the highest voltage of 3.3 V, delivering a power output of 2.18 mW, which is sufficient to power low-power electronic devices. The device maintained solid performance across a temperature range of 40 °C to 50 °C, underscoring its robustness in various environmental situations. The findings highlight the capacity of this form of generation to offer a sustainable power source for remote pipeline tracking, contributing to stronger protection and operational efficiency. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Primary electrical disorders (PEDs) are a group of cardiac rhythm abnormalities that occur in the absence of detectable structural heart disease and are a significant cause of sudden cardiac death (SCD). The initiation of cardiac muscle contraction and relaxation is orchestrated by the action potential (AP), generated through ionic changes across the membrane. Mutations in the AP-related gene CACNA2D1 have been identified as a causative factor for PED. Methods: We recruited a Chinese family with a history of arrhythmia. The proband has experienced palpitations and chest tightness for over 40 years, with symptoms worsening over the past year. Whole exome sequencing (WES) was used to determine the genetic etiologies in this family. Results: A novel heterozygous missense mutation (NM_000722.3: c.1685G > C;p.G562A) of CACNA2D1 gene was detected. Genotyping of the proband's parents indicated that the arrhythmia phenotype in the proband was caused by a de novo mutation. Conclusions: WES was utilized to explore the genetic etiology in a family with arrhythmia, leading to the identification of a novel mutation in the CACNA2D1 gene. This study not only expands the mutation spectrum of the CACNA2D1 gene but also contributes to genetic counseling and clinical diagnosis for this family. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]