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Ching-Feng Chiu,1–3 Guan-Ying Lai,4 Chung-Hwan Chen,5–7 Chien-Chao Chiu,8 Shao-Wen Hung,8,9 Chi-Fen Chang10 1Graduate Institute of Metabolism and Obesity Sciences, College of Nutrition, Taipei Medical University, Taipei 11031, Taiwan; 2TMU Research Center of Cancer Translational Medicine, Taipei Medical University, Taipei 11031, Taiwan; 3TMU Research Center of Cancer Translational Medicine, Taipei Medical University, Taipei, Taiwan; 4Master Program for Pharmaceutical Manufacture, China Medical University, Taichung 40402, Taiwan; 5Department of Orthopedics, Kaohsiung Municipal Ta-Tung Hospital, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung 80145, Taiwan; 6Department of Orthopedics, Kaohsiung Medical University Hospital, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung 80708, Taiwan; 7Orthopaedic Research Center, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung 80708, Taiwan; 8Division of Animal Industry, Animal Technology Laboratories, Agricultural Technology Research Institute, Xiangshan, Hsinchu 300, Taiwan; 9Nursing Department, Yuanpei University, Xiangshan, Hsinchu 300, Taiwan; 10Department of Anatomy, School of Medicine, China Medical University, Taichung 40402, Taiwan Background: Colorectal cancer is the third leading cause of cancer-related deaths worldwide, and therefore, the development of novel drugs for its prevention and therapy are urgently required. This study aimed to determine the molecular mechanism of 6,7-dihydroxy-2-(4'-hydroxyphenyl)naphthalene (PNAP-6)-induced cytotoxicity in human colorectal cancer (HCT116) cells.Methods: The effects of 2-phenylnaphthalene derivatives on HCT116 cell growth and viability were assessed by MTT assays. The mechanisms involved in the regulation of the extrinsic apoptosis and endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress pathways by PNAP-6 were analyzed by annexin-V/propidium iodide flow cytometric analysis, Hoechst 33342 fluorescent staining, and Western blotting.Results: PNAP-6 was shown to have an IC50 value 15.20 µM. It induced G2/M phase arrest in HCT116 cells, associated with a marked decrease in cyclin B and CDK1 protein expression and increased caspase activation, PARP cleavage, chromatin condensation, and sub-G1 apoptosis. Moreover, we found that the apoptotic effects of PNAP-6 proceeded through extrinsic apoptosis and ER stress pathways, by increasing the expression of Fas protein and ER stress markers, including PERK, ATF4, CHOP, p-IRE1α, and XBP-1s.Conclusion: These results suggest that 2-phenylnaphthalene derivatives, such as PNAP-6, have potential as new treatments for colorectal cancer. Keywords: colorectal cancer, endoplasmic reticulum stress, extrinsic apoptosis pathway, 2-phenylnaphthalenes

One of the most pressing issues in facing emerging and re-emerging respiratory infections is how to bring them under control with current public health measures. Approaches such as the Wells-Riley equation, competing-risks model, and Von Foerster equation are used to prioritize control-measure efforts. Here we formulate how to integrate those three different types of functional relationship to construct easy-to-use and easy-to-interpret critical-control lines that help determine optimally the intervention strategies for containing airborne infections. We show that a combination of assigned effective public health interventions and enhanced engineering control measures would have a high probability for containing airborne infection. We suggest that integrated analysis to enhance modelling the impact of potential control measures against airborne infections presents an opportunity to assess risks and benefits. We demonstrate the approach with examples of optimal control measures to prioritize respiratory infections of severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS), influenza, measles, and chickenpox. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study tests the hypothesis that high hospice enrollment is associated with lower Medicare inpatient mortality. The results show that Medicare inpatient mortality in a state can be explained by hospice enrollment and a host of demographic and market environment variables. An increase in hospice population by 100 individuals is associated with a reduction of 28 inpatient deaths, ceteris paribus. The results suggest, among other things, that opportunities exist for greater expansion of hospice capacity in low-use states to reduce deaths in the expensive hospital setting and improve the quality of end-of-life care for terminally ill patients. Copyright © 2006 Heldref Publications [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

STUDY OBJECTIVE: There is a high prevalence of unmet substance abuse treatment need among adult hospital emergency department (ED) patients. We examine the association between this unmet need and excess utilization of health services and estimate costs. METHODS: A statewide, 2-stage, probability sample survey was conducted in 7 Tennessee general hospital EDs from June 1996 to January 1997. Toxicologic screening augmented in-person interviews. Main outcome measures were ED case disposition; frequency of physician office visits, ED visits, and hospitalizations in the past 12 months; and costs of excess service utilization. Covariates in the multivariate model were substance abuse treatment need status, age, sex, main reason for ED visit, perceived previous health status, history of tobacco use, and health care coverage. Unmet substance abuse treatment need was assessed using 13 overlapping criteria that incorporated use, dependence, denial, and treatment history. Target substances included ethanol and selected illegal and prescription drugs but not nicotine. RESULTS: Compared with patients without substance abuse treatment need (n=1,073), patients with unmet need (n=415) were 81% more likely to be admitted to the hospital during their current ED visit (odds ratio [OR] 1.81; 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.27 to 2.64) and 46% more likely to have reported making at least 1 ED visit in the previous 12 months (OR 1.46; 95% CI 1.12 to 1.84). Their utilization patterns accounted for an estimated 777.2 million US dollars in extra hospital charges for Tennessee in 2000 dollars, representing an additional 1,568 US dollars per ED patient with unmet substance abuse treatment need. CONCLUSION: ED patients with unmet substance abuse treatment need generated much higher hospital and ED charges than patients without such need. Given potential savings from avoidable health care costs, the future burden of substance-associated ED visits and hospitalizations may be reduced through programs that screen and, as appropriate, provide brief interventions or treatment options to these patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

OBJECTIVE: To determine if premature discharge from the US Air Force was associated with the smoking status of recruits. DESIGN AND SETTING: A total of 29 044 US Air Force personnel recruited from August 1995 to August 1996 were administered baseline behavioural risk assessment surveys during basic military training. They were tracked over a 12 month period to determine those who were prematurely discharged. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Excess training costs as a result of premature discharge. RESULTS: In this 12 month period, 14.0% of those entering the US Air Force were discharged at a one year follow up. In both univariate and multivariate models, the best single predictor of early discharge was smoking status. Overall, 11.8% of non-smokers versus 19.4% of smokers were prematurely discharged (relative risk 1.795). CONCLUSIONS: Using US Department of Defense data on the cost of military training, recruits who smoke in the US Air Force are associated with $18 million per year in excess training costs. Applied to all service branches, smoking status, which represents a constellation of underlying behaviours and attitudes that can contribute to early discharge, is associated with over $130 million per year in excess training costs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Every year, volunteers contribute billions of dollars worth of time to the healthcare industry. Despite their contributions, however, little is known about who these volunteers are, what they do, why they volunteer, as well as the costs and benefits they bring to institutions. This article examines these and other characteristics of the healthcare volunteer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Wearable ultrasound has been widely developed for long-term, continuous imaging without the need for bulky system manipulation and repeated manual locating. To potentially lead to more accurate and reliable imaging monitoring, this work presents the design, fabrication, and evaluation of a novel high-frequency wearable ultrasound array belt (WUAB) for small animal echocardiography. The fabrication process involved precise dicing technology for a λ-pitch design. The 20 MHz WUAB consists of two matching layers, piezoelectric composite with 128 channels, customized flexible circuit substrate, acoustic backing layer, and customized belt structure with designed end tip and insertion point for wearability. The resulting WUAB demonstrates sensitivity of -5.69 ± 2.5 dB and fractional bandwidth of 57 ± 5 %. In vivo experiments on rat model showed expected echocardiography and B-mode images of rat heart. These results represent significant promise for future longitudinal studies in small animals and real-time physiological monitoring.

Objective: Injection laryngoplasty (IL) with hyaluronic acid (HA) is an effective treatment for patients with glottic insufficiency. The duration of HA maintenance in the vocal fold remains unknown. In this study, transcutaneous laryngeal ultrasound (TLUS) was used to evaluate the absorption and migration of HA after IL. Subsequent management might be provided based on the TLUS finding., Methods: Patients diagnosed with unilateral vocal fold paralysis (UVFP) or vocal fold atrophy were recruited. All patients underwent IL with HA in an office-based setting along with TLUS to monitor the status of HA. The schedule of TLUS included assessments before and after IL until non-visualization., Results: The study population comprised 38 women and 17 men. Of the patients, 54.1% underwent IL for UVFP, whereas 45.9% underwent IL for vocal fold atrophy. Multivariate Cox regression analysis for factors affecting HA absorption revealed that the cause of injection was the most important independent predictor (hazard ratio [HR], 2.15; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.03-4.46; p = 0.040). The duration of HA maintenance was significantly longer in patients with UVFP than in those with vocal fold atrophy (8.77 vs. 4.70 months, HR, 2.33; 95% CI, 5.47-8.18; p = 0.002)., Conclusion: TLUS is an objective assessment method for patients undergoing IL with HA. Subsequent tailor-made management could be offered based on the TLUS findings during follow-up. For patients at high risk of upper respiratory tract infection or who are intolerant to flexible nasopharyngoscopy, TLUS can be used as an alternative tool to evaluate the condition of the glottis after IL with HA., Level of Evidence: 4 Laryngoscope, 134:4682-4687, 2024., (© 2024 The Author(s). The Laryngoscope published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of The American Laryngological, Rhinological and Otological Society, Inc.)

Since females grow faster in penaeid shrimp, all-female aquaculture was proposed. Environmental conditions in the Pacific white shrimp did not found to affect genetic sex determination (ZZ/ZW system). The androgenic gland (AG)-secreting insulin-like androgenic gland hormone (IAG) is a key controlling factor in crustacean male differentiation. However, functional sex reversal (neo-male) in penaeid shrimp has not yet been achieved by manipulating the IAG-sexual switch. Therefore, understanding the molecular mechanisms of gonadal differentiation may help build appropriate tools to generate neo-male (ZW) for all-female breeding. This study describes the potential role of the novel penaeid-specific testicular zinc finger protein (pTZFP) in the gonads of Pacific white shrimp. First, pTZFP transcripts show a male-bias expression pattern in undifferentiated gonads, which is then exclusively expressed in the testis and absent or slightly expressed in the ovary and other tissues. Besides, the knockdown of pTZFP in undifferentiated males results in smaller testes but no sex reversal. Immunohistochemical (IHC) staining of proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) further confirmed that the smaller testes in pTZFP-deficient males are due to the lower proliferating activity of spermatogonia. These data reveal that pTZFP may be involved in testicular development but have fewer effects on gonadal differentiation. Moreover, testicular pTZFP transcription levels were not reduced with estradiol-17β (E2) administration or AG excision. Therefore, our data suggest that pTZFP may regulate testicular development through downstream genes regulating spermatogonia proliferation. Moreover, our data provide an appropriate molecular marker for identifying the sex of undifferentiated gonads., (© The Author(s) 2024. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of Society for the Study of Reproduction. All rights reserved. For permissions, please e-mail: journals.permissions@oup.com.)

Competing Interests: The authors declare no conflicts of interest.

Background: Single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) rs1347093 shows statistically significant association with lung cancer risk, but there is no further rs1347093 expression quantitative trait loci (eQTL) effect information. SNP rs1347093 is located in microRNA-216/-217 (miR-216/-217) locus. In addition, miR-216/-217 have pancreas-enriched expressions. In this study, we examined a potential miR-216/-217 promoter region, and investigated the effect of rs1347093-A allele on the miR-216/-217 promoter activity., Methods: Bioinformatics analysis, quantitative real-time PCR, luciferase reporter assay, Western blotting, and cell counting kit-8 (CCK-8) assay were performed., Results: The miR-216/-217 expressions are down-regulated in pancreatic cancer. In pancreatic cancer patients carrying the rs1347093-A allele, miR-216/-217 expressions were more largely suppressed. We identified a potential promoter region in miR-216/-217 locus and further showed that rs1347093-A allele resulted in significantly reduced promoter activity in pancreatic cancer cells, which could be mediated by MEF2C activities. In terms of mechanism in the pathogenesis of pancreatic cancer, miR-216b-5p expression was down-regulated, thereby preventing it from interacting with beclin-1 mRNA while promoting the survival of pancreatic cancer cells., Conclusions: This study may reveal the biological relevance underlying rs1347093-A allele with an increase in pancreatic cancer risk. SNP rs1347093 could be meaningful as a novel biomarker for pancreatic cancer risk., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024. Published by Elsevier B.V.)

Objective: Current shear wave elastography methods primarily focus on 2D imaging. To explore mechanical properties of biological tissues in 3D, a four-dimensional (4D, x, y, z, t) ultrasound shear wave elastography is required. However, 4D ultrasound shear wave elastography is still challenging due to the limitation of the hardware of standard ultrasound acquisition systems. In this study, we introduce a novel method to achieve 4D shear wave elastography, named sequential-based excitation shear wave elastography (SE-SWE). This method can achieve 4D elastography implemented by a 1024-element 2D array with a standard ultrasound 256-channel system., Methods: The SE-SWE method employs sequential excitation to generate shear waves, and utilizes a 2D array, dividing it into four sub-sections, to capture shear waves across multiple planes. This process involves sequentially exciting each sub-section to capture shear waves, followed by compounding the acquired data from these subsections., Results: The phantom studies showed strong concordance between the shear wave speeds (SWS) measured by SE-SWE and expected values, confirming the accuracy of this method and potential to differentiate tissues by stiffness. In ex vivo chicken breast experiments, SE-SWE effectively distinguished between orientations relative to muscle fibers, highlighting its ability to capture the anisotropic properties of tissues., Conclusion: The SE-SWE method advances shear wave elastography significantly by using a 2D array divided into four subsections and sequential excitation, achieving high-resolution volumetric imaging at 1.6mm resolution., Significance: The SE-SWE method offers a straightforward and effective approach for 3D shear volume imaging of tissue biological properties.

Introduction: Alzheimer's disease (AD), the most prevalent neurodegenerative disorder globally, has emerged as a significant health concern. Recently it has been revealed that extracellular vesicles (EVs) play a critical role in AD pathogenesis and progression. Their stability and presence in various biofluids, such as blood, offer a minimally invasive window for monitoring AD-related changes., Methods: We analyzed plasma EV-derived messenger RNA (mRNA) from 82 human subjects, including individuals with AD, mild cognitive impairment (MCI), and healthy controls. With next-generation sequencing, we profiled differentially expressed genes (DEGs), identifying those associated with AD., Results: Based on DEGs identified in both the MCI and AD groups, a diagnostic model was established based on machine learning, demonstrating an average diagnostic accuracy of over 98% and showed a strong correlation with different AD stages., Discussion: mRNA derived from plasma EVs shows significant promise as a non-invasive biomarker for the early detection and continuous monitoring of AD., Highlights: The study conducted next-generation sequencing (NGS) of mRNA derived from human plasma extracellular vesicles (EVs) to assess Alzheimer's disease (AD).Profiling of plasma EV-derived mRNA shows a significantly enriched AD pathway, indicating its potential for AD-related studies.The AD-prediction model achieved a receiver-operating characteristic area under the curve (ROC-AUC) of more than 0.98, with strong correlation to the established Clinical Dementia Rating (CDR)., Competing Interests: Le Hoang Phu Pham, Ching‐Fang Chang, Katherine Tuchez, and Yuchao Chen are employees of WellSIM Biomedical Technologies, Inc., with pending patent applications (63/609,346). Fei Liu has no conflicts of interest to disclose. Author disclosures are available in the Supporting Information., (© 2024 WellSIM Biomedical Technologies, Inc. Alzheimer's & Dementia: Diagnosis, Assessment & Disease Monitoring published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of Alzheimer's Association.)

Recent advancements have elucidated the multifaceted roles of the Schlafen (SLFN) family, including SLFN5, SLFN11, SLFN12, SLFN13, and SLFN14, which are implicated in immunological responses. However, little is known about the roles of this gene family in relation to malignancy development. The current study aimed to explore the diagnostic and prognostic potential of Schlafen family genes in colorectal adenocarcinoma (COAD) through bioinformatics analysis. Leveraging advanced bioinformatics tools of bulk RNA-sequencing and single-cell sequencing, we conducted in-depth analyses of gene expressions, functional enrichment, and survival patterns of patients with colorectal cancer compared to normal tissue. Among Schlafen family genes, the transcription levels of SLFN5 in COAD tissues were significantly elevated and correlated with poor survival outcomes. Furthermore, SLFN5 regulated the immune response via Janus kinase (JAK)/signal transduction and activator of transcription (STAT)/interferon (IFN)-alpha/beta signaling. These chemokines in inflammation are associated with diabetes and metabolism, suggesting their involvement in altered cellular energetics for COAD progress. In addition, an immune cell deconvolution analysis indicated a correlation between SLFN5 expression and immune-related cell populations, such as regulatory T cells (Tregs). These findings highlighted the potential clinical significance of SLFN5 in COAD and provided insights into its involvement in the tumor microenvironment and immune regulation. Meanwhile, the drug discovery data of SFLN5 with potential targeted small molecules suggested its therapeutic potential for COAD. Collectively, the current research demonstrated that SFLN5 play crucial roles in tumor development and serve as a prospective biomarker for COAD., Competing Interests: Competing Interests: The authors have declared that no competing interest exists., (© The author(s).)

This study presents an efficient synthesis pathway for etrasimod, starting from (+)- cis -4-acetoxy-2-cyclopenten-1-ol, yielding 5.6% overall with 98% enantiomeric excess. The crucial intermediate, (4 R )-anilinocyclopent-2-enone, was derived from the ( S )-alcohol/isocyanate adduct through a concerted, Al 2 O 3 -promoted decarboxylative rearrangement, which inverted the configuration. A tetracyclic fused lactam was formed via a one-pot acylation-Michael addition, followed by keto α-arylation. Subsequent removal of the oxo group facilitated the synthesis of cyclopenta[ b ]indol-3-ylacetic acid through a series of reactions, including methanolysis, indoline oxidation, and hydrolysis.

A sex change phenomenon was reported in some free-living, non-sessile coral species of the Family Fungiidae. However, there are no reports describing sex change in sessile colonial species. Timing and cellular processes of sex change are also unclear in corals. Here, we report sex change of the colonial coral, Fimbriaphyllia ancora, and its cellular process. Of 26 colonies monitored at Nanwan Bay, southern Taiwan, about 70% changed their sex every year after annual spawning for least 3-4 consecutive years, i.e., colonies that were male two years ago became female last year, and male again this year. The remaining 30% were permanently male or female. Sex-change and non-sex-change colonies grew in close proximity or even side-by-side. No significant differences were found in colony size between sex-change and non-sex-change colonies. Histological analysis showed that, in female-to-male sex change, small oocytes were present up to 3 months in some gonads after spawning and disappeared by 5 months. This suggests that sex change occurred 4-5 months after spawning. In contrast, in male-to-female sex change, oocytes appeared weeks after sperm release and in most gonads by 3 months, suggesting that male-to-female sex change occurred 0-3 months after sperm release., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

The aberrant fibrillization of huntingtin exon 1 (Httex1) characterized by an expanded polyglutamine (polyQ) tract is a defining feature of Huntington's disease, a neurodegenerative disorder. Recent investigations underscore the involvement of a small EDRK-rich factor 1a (SERF1a) in promoting Httex1 fibrillization through interactions with its N terminus. By establishing an integrated approach with size-exclusion-column-based small- and wide-angle X-ray scattering (SEC-SWAXS), NMR, and molecular simulations using Rosetta, the analysis here reveals a tight binding of two NT17 fragments of Httex1 (comprising the initial 17 amino acids at the N terminus) to the N-terminal region of SERF1a. In contrast, examination of the complex structure of SERF1a with a coiled NT17-polyQ peptide (33 amino acids in total) indicates sparse contacts of the NT17 and polyQ segments with the N-terminal side of SERF1a. Furthermore, the integrated SEC-SWAXS and molecular-simulation analysis suggests that the coiled NT17 segment can transform into a helical conformation when associated with a polyQ segment exhibiting high helical content. Intriguingly, NT17-polyQ peptides with enhanced secondary structures display diminished interactions with SERF1a. This insight into the conformation-dependent binding of NT17 provides clues to a catalytic association mechanism underlying SERF1a's facilitation of Httext1 fibrillization., (open access.)

Lung cancer in women is a modern epidemic and represents a global health crisis. Cigarette smoking remains the most important risk factor for lung cancer in all patients and, among women globally, rates of smoking continue to increase. Although some data exist supporting sex-based differences across the continuum of lung cancer, there is currently a dearth of research exploring the differences in risk, biology, and treatment outcomes in women. Consequently, the American Cancer Society National Lung Cancer Roundtable recognizes the urgent need to promote awareness and future research that will close the knowledge gaps regarding lung cancer in women. To this end, the American Cancer Society National Lung Cancer Roundtable Task Group on Lung Cancer in Women convened a summit undertaking the following to: (1) summarize existing evidence and identify knowledge gaps surrounding the epidemiology, risk factors, biologic differences, and outcomes of lung cancer in women; (2) develop and prioritize research topics and questions that address research gaps and advance knowledge to improve quality of care of lung cancer in women; and (3) propose strategies for future research. PLAIN LANGUAGE SUMMARY: Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer mortality in women, and, despite comparatively lower exposures to occupational and environmental carcinogens compared with men, disproportionately higher lung cancer rates in women who ever smoked and women who never smoked call for increased awareness and research that will close the knowledge gaps regarding lung cancer in women., (© 2024 The Author(s). Cancer published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of American Cancer Society.)

Objectives: While extensive research has focused on patient outcomes in skilled nursing facilities, a critical gap remains in understanding factors influencing their managerial performance, particularly occupancy rates. This study examines the occupancy rates of skilled nursing facilities and assesses the significance of two important drivers of managerial performance that have not received sufficient attention-the influence of payer mix and total profit margin. Specifically, we focused on the role played by a nursing home's financial performance (as assessed by profit margin) in influencing the relationship between payer mix and occupancy rate among skilled nursing facilities., Methods: Data were extracted from the 2019 to 2020 Joint Annual Report of Nursing Homes for a sample of 612 skilled nursing facilities in Tennessee, USA. Regression analysis was performed by fitting a generalized estimating equation of occupancy rate., Results: Compared to skilled nursing facilities in the lowest quartile of profit margin, for example, those in the highest quartile had approximately 18 percentage points higher occupancy rates per unit increase in resident days of care covered by traditional Medicare (β = 0.18, p  = 0.0028). Similarly, skilled nursing facilities in the second highest quartile of profit margin had a higher occupancy rate by approximately 23 percentage points per unit increase in Medicare Advantage (β = 0.23, p  = 0.0375) when compared to those in the lowest quartile of profit margin., Conclusions: Skilled nursing facilities with stronger financial performance generally have higher occupancy rates, particularly notable in relation to an upswing in payer sources such as traditional Medicare and Medicare Advantage, when compared to skilled nursing facilities with weaker profitability. Given the increasingly larger role of Medicare in long-term care funding, policymakers and nursing home managers may find it useful to consider our findings when evaluating opportunities to enhance managerial performance of skilled nursing facilities., Competing Interests: The author(s) declared no potential conflicts of interest with respect to the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article., (© The Author(s) 2024.)

Production of sustainable aviation fuels (SAFs) can significantly reduce the aviation industry's carbon footprint. Current pathways that produce SAFs in significant volumes from ethanol and fatty acids can be costly, have a relatively high carbon intensity (CI), and impose sustainability challenges. There is a need for a diversified approach to reduce costs and utilize more sustainable feedstocks effectively. Here, we map out catalytic synthesis routes to convert furanics derived from the (hemi)cellulosic biomass to alkanes and cycloalkanes using automated network generation with RING and semiempirical thermochemistry calculations. We find >100 energy-dense C 8 -C 16 alkane and cycloalkane SAF candidates over 300 synthesis routes; the top three are 2-methyl heptane, ethyl cyclohexane, and propyl cyclohexane, although these are relatively short. The shortest, least endothermic process chemistry involves C-C coupling, oxygen removal, and hydrogen addition, with dehydracyclization of the heterocyclic oxygens in the furan ring being the most endothermic step. The global warming potential due to hydrogen use and byproduct CO 2 is typically 0.7-1 kg CO 2 /kg SAF product; the least CO 2 emitting routes entail making larger molecules with fewer ketonization, hydrogenation, and hydrodeoxygenation steps. The large number of SAF candidates highlights the rich potential of furanics as a source of SAF molecules. However, the structural dissimilarity between reactants and target products precludes pathways with fewer than six synthetic steps, thus necessitating intensified processes, integrating multiple reaction steps in multifunctional catalytic reactors., Competing Interests: The authors declare no competing financial interest., (© 2024 The Authors. Published by American Chemical Society.)

Non-CpG methylation is associated with several cellular processes, especially neuronal development and cancer, while its effect on DNA structure remains unclear. We have determined the crystal structures of DNA duplexes containing -CGCCG- regions as CCG repeat motifs that comprise a non-CpG site with or without cytosine methylation. Crystal structure analyses have revealed that the mC:G base-pair can simultaneously form two alternative conformations arising from non-CpG methylation, including a unique water-mediated cis Watson-Crick/Hoogsteen, (w)cWH, and Watson-Crick (WC) geometries, with partial occupancies of 0.1 and 0.9, respectively. NMR studies showed that an alternative conformation of methylated mC:G base-pair at non-CpG step exhibits characteristics of cWH with a syn-guanosine conformation in solution. DNA duplexes complexed with the DNA binding drug echinomycin result in increased occupancy of the (w)cWH geometry in the methylated base-pair (from 0.1 to 0.3). Our structural results demonstrated that cytosine methylation at a non-CpG step leads to an anti→syntransition of its complementary guanosine residue toward the (w)cWH geometry as a partial population of WC, in both drug-bound and naked mC:G base pairs. This particular geometry is specific to non-CpG methylated dinucleotide sites in B-form DNA. Overall, the current study provides new insights into DNA conformation during epigenetic regulation., (© The Author(s) 2024. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of Nucleic Acids Research.)

Background: Hypopharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma (HPSCC) has the poorest prognosis among head and neck cancers. Its treatment may significantly affect breathing, speaking, and swallowing. Induction chemotherapy (ICT) followed by transoral laser microsurgery (TLM) could reduce these adverse effects and achieve good outcomes., Methods: This was a retrospective study of 11 patients with advanced HPSCC. All patients underwent ICT and TLM alongside tailor-made adjuvant therapy based on the pathological features., Results: Adjuvant therapy was done in seven of 11 patients (64%). The 3-year disease-free survival and laryngeal preservation rates were 78% and 91%, respectively. At the last follow-up, 10 of 11 patients (91%) had no tracheostomy or feeding tube., Conclusion: ICT followed by TLM is an appropriate treatment for good tumor control in select patients with advanced HPSCC while preserving laryngeal function., Competing Interests: Conflicts of interest: Dr. Muh-Hwa Yang, an editorial board member at Journal of the Chinese Medical Association , had no role in the peer review process of or decision to publish this article. The other authors declare that they have no conflicts of interest related to the subject matter or materials discussed in this article., (Copyright © 2024, the Chinese Medical Association.)

Compared to Western populations, Chinese and Asians possess distinct genetics, lifestyles, and dietary habits. They tend to have shorter stature, lower Body Mass Index (BMI), and higher body fat percentages than Western populations. The aim of this study was to compare disparities in maternal-fetal outcomes by combining pre-pregnancy BMI and gestational weight gain (GWG) based on distinct US and Chinese guidelines. A total of 2,271 pregnant women who received perinatal care at Fooyin University Hospital from 2016 to 2021 were included. Logistic regression analysis categorized women into twelve groups based on the two criteria to explore the relationships between BMI and GWG, and maternal-fetal outcomes. Among the subjects, only 23.2% and 21.8% women had a normal weight BMI and adequate GWG, based on US and Chinese criteria, respectively. As BMI and GWG increase, the likelihood of developing complications such as gestational diabetes, gestational hypertension or preeclampsia, Cesarean section, and Large for Gestational Age also rises. Conversely, underweight women with excessive GWG exhibited lower risk of preterm birth either by US or Chinese guidelines. Two criteria exhibited similar odds for investigated outcomes, except for gestational hypertension or preeclampsia. Women had more than double the odds of developing gestational hypertension or preeclampsia when using US criteria compared to Chinese criteria. Therefore, it is essential for Asian, especially Chinese women, to be aware of the differences in adverse outcomes such as gestational hypertension or preeclampsia when using US criteria., (© 2024. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Society for Reproductive Investigation.)

Reversible solid oxide cells (rSOCs) have significant potential as efficient energy conversion and storage systems. Nevertheless, the practical application of their conventional air electrodes, such as La 0.8 Sr 0.2 MnO 3-δ (LSM), Ba 0.5 Sr 0.5 Co 0.8 Fe 0.2 O 3-δ (BSCF), and PrBa 0.8 Ca 0.2 Co 2 O 5+δ (PBCC), remains unsatisfactory due to interface delamination during prolonged electrochemical operation. Using micro-focusing X-ray absorption spectroscopy (µ-XAS), a decrease (increase) in the co-valence state from the electrode surface to the electrode/electrolyte interface is observed, leading to the above delamination. Utilizing the one-pot method to incorporate an oxygen-vacancy-enriched CeO 2 electrode into these air electrodes, the uniform distribution of the Co valence state is observed, alleviating the structural delamination. PBCC-CeO 2 electrodes exhibited a degradation rate of 0.095 mV h -1 at 650 °C during a nearly 500-h test as compared with 0.907 mV h -1 observed during the 135-h test for PBCC. Additionally, a remarkable increase in electrolysis current density from 636 to 934 mA cm -2 under 1.3 V and a maximum power density from 912 to 989 mW cm -2 upon incorporating CeO 2 into PBCC is also observed. BSCF-CeO 2 and LSM-CeO 2 also show enhanced electrochemical performance and prolonged stability as compared to BSCF and LSM. This work offers a strategy to mitigate the structural delamination of conventional electrodes to boost the performance of rSOCs., (© 2024 Wiley‐VCH GmbH.)

Renal cell carcinoma (RCC) is characterized by high mortality and morbidity rates. Vav guanine nucleotide exchange factors (VAVs), crucial for signal transduction between cell membrane receptors and intracellular mediators, have been implicated in carcinogenesis. However, their potential prognostic value in RCC remains unclear. The impact of 150 common VAV polymorphisms on RCC risk and survival was investigated in a cohort of 630 individuals. Publicly available gene expression datasets were utilized to analyze VAV gene expression in relation to patient outcomes. The VAV3 rs17019888 polymorphism was significantly associated with RCC risk and overall survival after adjusting for false discovery rates. Expression quantitative trait loci analysis revealed that the risk allele of rs17019888 is linked to reduced VAV3 expression. Analysis of 19 kidney cancer gene expression datasets revealed lower VAV3 expression in RCC tissues compared to normal tissues, with higher expression correlating with better prognosis. Gene set enrichment analysis demonstrated that VAV3 negatively regulates the ubiquitin-proteasome system, extracellular matrix and membrane receptors, inflammatory responses, matrix metalloproteinases, and cell cycle pathways. Furthermore, elevated VAV3 expression was associated with increased infiltration of B cells, macrophages, and neutrophils into the RCC tumor microenvironment. Our findings suggest that VAV3 gene variants influence RCC risk and survival, contributing to a favorable prognosis in RCC.

Coriander is a notable medicinal plant known for its diverse properties, including anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, anticancer, analgesic, and anti-diabetic effects. Despite its recognized health benefits, research on its nephroprotective properties is limited. This study aimed to investigate the potential nephroprotective properties of an aqueous extract derived from coriander leaves using an aristolochic acid-intoxicated zebrafish model. To assess kidney abnormalities induced by aristolochic acid (AA), we utilized the transgenic line Tg(wt1b:egfp), which expresses green fluorescent protein (GFP) in the kidney. Our previous report indicated that AA exposure leads to acute renal failure in zebrafish characterized by kidney malformation and impaired renal function. However, pretreatment of coriander extract (CE) can mitigate kidney malformations induced by AA. In addition, CE pretreatment reduces the accumulation of red blood cells in the glomerular region. To verify the nephroprotective effects of CE, we analyzed renal function by measuring the glomerular filtration rate in zebrafish embryos. Results indicate that CE partially mitigates renal function impairment caused by AA exposure, suggesting its potential to attenuate AA-induced renal failure. Mechanistically, pretreatment with CE reduces the expression of proinflammatory and proapoptotic genes induced by AA. This suggests that CE likely alleviates acute renal failure by reducing inflammation and apoptosis. As a result, we regard zebrafish as a valuable model for screening natural compounds that have the potential to alleviate AA-induced nephrotoxicity., (© 2024 Wiley Periodicals LLC.)

Eels are gonochoristic species whose gonadal differentiation initiates at the yellow eel stage and is influenced by environmental factors. We revealed some sex-related genes were sex dimorphically expressed in gonads during gonadal sex differentiation of Japanese eel (Anguilla japonica); however, the expression of sex-related genes in the brain-pituitary during gonadal sex differentiation in eels is still unclear. This study aimed to investigate the sex-related gene expressions in the brain-pituitary and tried to clarify their roles in the brain and gonads during gonadal sex differentiation. Based on our previous histological study, the control eels developed as males, and estradiol-17β (E2) was used for feminization. Our results showed that during testicular differentiation, the brain cyp19a1 transcripts and aromatase proteins were increased significantly; moreover, the cyp19a1, sf-1, foxl2s, and esrs (except gperb) transcripts in the midbrain/pituitary also were increased significantly. Forebrain gnrh1 transcripts increased slightly during gonadal differentiation of both sexes, but the gnrhr1b and gnrhr2 transcripts in the midbrain/pituitary were stable during gonadal differentiation. The expression levels of gths and gh in the midbrain/pituitary were significantly increased during testicular differentiation and were much higher in males than in E2-feminized females. These results implied that endogenous estrogens might play essential roles in the brain/pituitary during testicular differentiation, sf-1, foxl2s, and esrs may have roles in cyp19a1 regulation in the midbrain/pituitary of Japanese eels. For the GnRH-GTH axis, gths, especially fshb, may be regulated by esrs and involved in regulating testicular differentiation and development in Japanese eels., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)