Search

Guang Zeng,1,* Yong-Zhi Jin,1,* Yi Huang,1 Jun-Sheng Hu,1 Meng-Fan Li,2 Ming Tian,3 Jun Lu,4 Rong Huang1 1Department of General Surgery, Putuo Hospital Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, 200062, People’s Republic of China; 2Department of General Surgery, LiQun Hospital, Shanghai, 200333, People’s Republic of China; 3Department of Burn, Ruijin Hospital, Shanghai Jiaotong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 200025, People’s Republic of China; 4Department of Endocrinology, Putuo Hospital Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, 200062, People’s Republic of China*These authors contributed equally to this workCorrespondence: Jun Lu; Rong Huang, Email lujundoctor@163.com; huangrongsci@163.comBackground: The pathological damage mechanism of type 2 diabetes (T2D) and macroangiopathy is extremely complex, and T2D and arteriosclerosis obliterans have different biological behaviors and clinical features. To explore the mechanism of lower extremity arteriosclerosis occlusion (LEAOD) in T2D patients, we utilized RNA-seq to identify unique gene expression signatures of T2D and LEAOD through transcriptomic analysis.Methods: We obtained blood samples and performed RNA sequencing from four patients with T2D, five of whom had LEAOD. Another six age- and gender-matched blood samples from healthy volunteers were used for control. By exploring the general and specific differential expression analysis after transcriptome sequencing, specific gene expression patterns of T2D and LEAOD were verified.Results: Transcriptome analysis found differentially expressed genes in T2D, and T2D + LEAOD (vs normal) separately, of which 35/486 (T2D/T2D + LEAOD) were up-regulated and 1290/2970 (T2D/T2D + LEAOD) were down-regulated. A strong overlap of 571 genes across T2D, LEAOD, and coexisting conditions was mainly involved in extracellular exosomes and the transcription process. By exploring the sex difference gene expression features between T2D, T2D + LEAOD, and healthy controls, we noticed that sex chromosome-associated genes do not participate in the sexual dimorphism gene expression profiles of T2D and LEAOD. Protein–Protein Interaction Network analysis and drug target prediction provided the drug candidates to treat T2D and LEAOD.Conclusion: This study provides some evidence at the transcript level to uncover the association of T2D with LEAOD. The screened hub genes and predicted target drugs may be therapeutic targets.Keywords: type 2 diabetes mellitus, lower extremity arterial disease, gene expression profile, hub gene

Yu-Jie Wang,1,&ast; Chun-Hua Jin,2,&ast; Jiang-Feng Ke,1 Jun-Wei Wang,1 Yi-Lin Ma,1 Jun-Xi Lu,1 Mei-Fang Li,3 Lian-Xi Li1 1Department of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Shanghai Sixth People’s Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai Clinical Center for Diabetes, Shanghai Diabetes Institute, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Diabetes Mellitus, Shanghai Key Clinical Center for Metabolic Disease, Shanghai, People’s Republic of China; 2Department of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Shanghai Songjiang District Central Hospital, Songjiang Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine (Preparatory Stage), Shanghai, People’s Republic of China; 3Department of Emergency, Shanghai Sixth People’s Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, People’s Republic of China&ast;These authors contributed equally to this workCorrespondence: Mei-Fang Li, Department of Emergency, Shanghai Sixth People’s Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, 600 Yishan Road, Shanghai, 200233, People’s Republic of China, Tel +86 18930170426, Email 15821955054@126.com Lian-Xi Li, Department of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Shanghai Sixth People’s Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai Clinical Center for Diabetes, Shanghai Diabetes Institute, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Diabetes Mellitus, Shanghai Key Clinical Center for Metabolic Disease, 600 Yishan Road, Shanghai, 200233, People’s Republic of China, Tel +86 21 64369181x58337, Email lilx@sjtu.edu.cnPurpose: The association between serum osteocalcin (OCN) levels and metabolic dysfunction-associated fatty liver disease (MAFLD) is still controversial. Moreover, few studies have explored their relationship in type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) patients so far. The present study aimed to investigate the association of serum OCN levels with MAFLD in Chinese T2DM patients.Methods: This cross-sectional, real-world study included 1889 Chinese T2DM inpatients. MAFLD was diagnosed by abdominal ultrasonography. Participants were divided into four groups according to serum OCN quartiles, among which the clinical characteristics were compared. The association of serum OCN levels with the presence of MAFLD was also analyzed in subjects.Results: After controlling for sex, age, and diabetes duration, the prevalence of MAFLD significantly decreased across the serum OCN quartiles (55.3%, 52.0%, 48.6%, and 42.1% for the first, second, third, and fourth quartiles, respectively, P < 0.001 for trend). A fully adjusted multiple logistic regression analysis showed that serum OCN levels were independently and negatively associated with the presence of MAFLD in T2DM patients (odds ratio, 0.832; 95% confidence interval, 0.719– 0.962; P = 0.013). Furthermore, there were significant decreases in HOMA-IR (P = 0.001 for trend) and C-reactive protein (P < 0.001 for trend) levels across the serum OCN quartiles after controlling for sex, age, and diabetes duration.Conclusion: Serum OCN levels were independently and negatively associated with the presence of MAFLD in Chinese T2DM patients, partially due to the improvement of insulin resistance and inflammation mediated by OCN. Serum OCN may be used as a biomarker to assess the risk of MAFLD in T2DM patients.Keywords: diabetes mellitus, type 2, metabolic dysfunction-associated fatty liver disease, osteocalcin, insulin resistance, inflammation

Zhi-Yong He,1,2,* Mei-Fang Li,1,2,* Jing-Hui Lin,1,2 Dong Lin,1,2 Ren-Jang Lin3 1Department of Thoracic Medical Oncology, Fujian Cancer Hospital, Fujian Medical University Cancer Hospital, Fuzhou 350014, Fujian Province, People’s Republic of China; 2Fujian Provincial Key Laboratory of Translation Cancer Medicine, Fuzhou 350014, Fujian Province, People’s Republic of China; 3Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Beckman Research Institute of the City of Hope, Duarte, CA 91010, USA *These authors contributed equally to this work Background: Non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is a global public health problem, and brain is a common metastatic site in advanced NSCLC. Currently, whole-brain radiotherapy (WBRT) remains a major treatment for brain metastases, while EGFR-tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI) is the standard treatment for advanced NSCLC harboring EGFR mutations, which is also effective for brain metastases. However, whether EGFR-TKIs plus radiotherapy is superior to EGFR-TKIs alone for the treatment of advanced EGFR-mutant NSCLS with brain metastases remains controversial. This study aimed to compare the efficacy of concurrent EGFR-TKIs and WBRT vs EGFR-TKI alone in a retrospective cohort of advanced EGFR-mutant NSCLS with brain metastases.Patients and methods: The medical records of 104 treatment-naïve, advanced EGFR-mutant NSCLC patients with brain metastases were retrospectively reviewed, and there were 56 patients undergoing concurrent EGFR-TKI and WBRT, and 48 patients given EGFR-TKI alone, including 20 cases with salvage WBRT upon brain metastasis progression. The survival prognosis was compared between the two cohorts.Results: The baseline clinicopathologic factors were balanced between the two cohorts. After a median follow-up of 23 months, 35.6% of the study subjects survived. Concurrent EGFR-TKI and WBRT significantly improved the median intracranial PFS (iPFS) compared with EGFR-TKI alone (17.7 vs 11.0 months, P=0.015); however, no significant difference was seen in median overall survival between the two cohorts (28.1 vs 24.0 months, P=0.756). In addition, the median iPFS was found to significantly vary in the number of brain metastases (≤3 vs>3 metastases: 18.0 vs 12.5 months, P=0.044). Subgroup analysis showed that concurrent EGFR-TKI and WBRT improved median iPFS compared with EGFR-TKI alone in patients with more than three brain metastases (P=0.001); however, no significant difference was observed between the two regimens in patients with three or less brain metastases (P=0.526).Conclusion: Our data demonstrate that concurrent EGFR-TKI and WBRT achieves longer iPFS than EGFR-TKI alone in advanced EGFR-mutant NSCLC with brain metastases. In advanced EGFR-mutant NSCLC with three or less brain metastases, EGFR-TKI alone may be an option as a first-line therapy. Keywords: non-small-cell lung cancer, brain metastasis, epidermal growth factor receptor, tyrosine kinase inhibitor, whole-brain radiotherapy

Ming-Feng Li,1,2,* Henry WC Leung,3,* Agnes LF Chan,4 Shyh-Yau Wang2,* 1Department of Medical Imaging, Buddhist Tzu-Chi General Hospital, Hualien, Taiwan; 2Department of Radiology, An-Nan Hospital, China Medical University, Tainan, Taiwan; 3Department of Radiation Oncology, An-Nan Hospital, China Medical University, Tainan, Taiwan; 4Department of Pharmacy, An-Nan Hospital, China Medical University, Tainan, Taiwan *These authors contributed equally to this work Purpose: We assessed the efficacy and safety of different modalities using the network meta-analysis for inoperable hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) with portal vein invasion. The interested modalities included stereotactic body radiotherapy (SBRT) combined with transarterial chemoembolization (TACE), three-dimensional radiotherapy (3D-RT) combined with hepatic arterial infusion chemotherapy (HAIC) or TACE, TACE plus sorafenib, and use of SBRT, HAIC, sorafenib, and TACE alone. Methods: PubMed and Cochrane Library electronic databases were systematically searched for eligible studies published up to June 2017. We used network meta-analysis to compare the disease control rate (DCR) and severe adverse events for the eight interested regimens included in this analysis. Study quality was assessed following the Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development and Evaluations method. Results: Fifteen studies published between 2010 and 2016 involving a total of 2,359 patients were enrolled in this network meta-analysis. With indirect comparison of DCR and overall safety, the pooled results showed that RT plus HAIC was the most effective regimen in treating advanced HCC with portal vein tumor thrombosis, followed by RT plus TACE. HAIC alone and sorafenib combined with HAIC appeared least effective intervention regimens. The incidence of treatment-related adverse events of grade 3 or 4 occurred less in the patients who received SBRT alone compared with other interested regimens. Conclusion: 3D-RT combined with HAIC or TACE showed more favorable treatment responses compared with other regimens in advanced HCC patients with portal vein tumor thrombosis. Keywords: SBRT, HAIC, 3D-RT plus HAIC, sorafenib, network meta-analysis, PVTT

Rui Yang,1,* Qiusha Tang,1,* Fengqin Miao,1 Yanli An,2 Mengfei Li,1 Yong Han,1 Xihui Wang,1 Juan Wang,3 Peidang Liu,1 Rong Chen41School of Medicine, Southeast University, 2Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Molecular and Functional Imaging, Department of Radiology, Zhongda Hospital, Nanjing, 3Department of Infectious Disease, The Third People’s Hospital of Nantong, Nangtong; 4Department of Oncology, Zhongda Hospital, Nangjing, Jiangsu Province, People’s Republic of China*These authors contributed equally to this workPurpose: To explore the thermoresistance and expression of heat-shock protein 90 (HSP90) in magnetic hyperthermia-treated human liver cancer stem-like cells (LCSCs) and the effects of a heat-shock protein HSP90 inhibitor 17-allylamino-17-demethoxgeldanamycin (17-AAG) on hepatocellular carcinoma-burdened nude mice.Methods: CD90+ LCSCs were isolated by magnetic-activated cell sorting from BEL-7404. Spheroid formation, proliferation, differentiation, drug resistance, and tumor formation assays were performed to identify stem cell characteristics. CD90-targeted thermosensitive magnetoliposomes (TMs)-encapsulated 17-AAG (CD90@17-AAG/TMs) was prepared by reverse-phase evaporation and its characteristics were studied. Heat tolerance in CD90+ LCSCs and the effect of CD90@17-AAG/TMs-mediated heat sensitivity were examined in vitro and in vivo.Results: CD90+ LCSCs showed significant stem cell-like properties. The 17-AAG/TMs were successfully prepared and were spherical in shape with an average size of 128.9±7.7 nm. When exposed to magnetic hyperthermia, HSP90 was up-regulated in CD90+ LCSCs. CD90@17-AAG/TMs inhibited the activity of HSP90 and increased the sensitivity of CD90+ LCSCs to magnetic hyperthermia.Conclusion: The inhibition of HSP90 could sensitize CD90+ LCSCs to magnetic hyperthermia and enhance its anti-tumor effects in vitro and in vivo.Keywords: thermoresistance, CD90+ LCSCs, magnetic hyperthermia, 17-AAG

Rui Yang,1 YanLi An,2 FengQin Miao,1 MengFei Li,1 PeiDang Liu,1 QiuSha Tang1 1School of Medicine, Southeast University, 2Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Molecular and Functional Imaging, Department of Radiology, Zhongda Hospital, Nanjing, Jiangsu Province, People’s Republic of China Background: This study aimed to generate targeted folic acid-conjugated, doxorubicin-loaded, magnetic iron oxide bovine serum albumin nanospheres (FA-DOX-BSA MNPs) that lower the side effects and improve the therapeutic effect of antitumor drugs when combined with hyperthermia and targeting therapy. A new nanodrug using magnetic nanospheres for heating and addition of the folate receptor with cancer cell specificity was prepared. The characteristics of these nanospheres and their antitumor effects in nasopharyngeal carcinoma were explored. Methods: FA-DOX-BSA MNPs comprising encapsulated magnetic iron oxide nanoparticles were prepared using a desolvation cross-linking method. Activated folic acid (N-hydroxysuccinimide ester of folic acid) was conjugated to the surface of albumin nanospheres via amino groups.Results: Folic acid was successfully expressed on the surface of the nanospheres. Electron microscopy revealed that the FA-DOX-BSA MNPs were nearly spherical and uniform in size, with an average diameter of 180 nm. The nanomaterial could deliver doxorubicin at clinically relevant doses with an entrapment efficiency of 80%. An increasing temperature test revealed that incorporation of magnetic iron oxide into nanospheres could achieve a satisfactory heat treatment temperature at a significantly lower dose when placed in a high-frequency alternating magnetic field. FA-DOX-BSA MNPs showed greater inhibition of tumors than in the absence of folic acid in vitro and in vivo. Compared with chemotherapy alone, hyperthermia combined with chemotherapy was more effective against tumor cells.Conclusion: Folic acid-conjugated bovine serum albumin nanospheres composed of mixed doxorubicin and magnetic iron oxide cores can enable controlled and targeted delivery of anticancer drugs and may offer a promising alternative to targeted doxorubicin therapy for nasopharyngeal carcinoma. Keywords: doxorubicin, bovine serum albumin, folic acid, KB cells

OBJECTIVES: Acute epiglottitis in adult is a potentially life-threatening condition that may be underdiagnosed. The present study reports the clinical features, management and patient outcomes in an acute hospital in Hong Kong over a seven-year period. METHOD: All adult patients aged 18 years or above admitted to Tuen Mun Hospital between July 1999 and June 2006 with the diagnosis of acute epiglottitis were included in this retrospective study. The diagnosis of acute epiglottitis was established by direct visualisation of inflamed epiglottis during laryngoscopic examination. RESULTS: 106 patients were identified. A total of 21 patients (20%) had co-morbidities, with diabetes mellitus (11%) being the most common. Five patients had a history of nasopharyngeal carcinoma and three patients had a previous history of acute epiglottitis. The majority (94%) of patients presented with sore throat as their major complaint. Blood cultures were collected from 15 patients and all were negative. A combination of cefotaxime and metronidazole was the most common empirical antibiotic regimen prescribed. Seven patients required active airway intervention (six with endotracheal intubation and one failed intubation with emergency tracheostomy performed). No mortality was reported. CONCLUSION: Acute epiglottitis in adults is not a rare entity and vigilance for this condition is needed. In general, the prognosis is good with antimicrobial therapy, close monitoring and selective airway intervention. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND: Necrotising fasciitis and sepsis caused by the infection of vibrio is a rare but dangerous clinical emergency, with a mortality of 50-100%. Early diagnosis and surgical treatment may improve the prognosis significantly. However, valid emergency operation indications are scarce and need to be explored, which will be helpful for the early recognition and selection of operational procedures in patients with vibrio necrotising fasciitis. METHODS: We retrospectively analysed the patients with vibrio necrotising fasciitis admitted to the emergency department of our hospital from July 2000 to June 2009. The surgical treatment strategy was summarised in order to provide clinical evidence for surgical treatment of vibrio necrotising fasciitis. RESULTS: A total of 19 cases of vibrio necrotising fasciitis were selected in our study. All the patients were living along the coast, and 68.4% had a history of chronic liver disease, 78.9% had a history of ethanol abuse, 52.6% had fever, 89.5% were complicated with septic shock and 31.6% progressed to multiple-organ dysfunction syndrome. Rapidly progressive local swelling and pain as well as skin superficial venous stasis were the early presentations of vibrio necrotising fasciitis, while skin ecchymosis, blisters or blood blisters, necrosis and subcutaneous crepitation were the presentations of the advanced stage. Seventeen patients received emergency incision and drainage, subcutaneous vein thrombosis, subcutaneous tissue necrosis, muscle and full-thickness necrosis observed in the operation, and necrotising fasciitis was confirmed by exploration or pathologic examination. Selective debridement and skin graft was performed to repair the wound after operation, and amputation was performed on two patients to close the wound. The average length of stay was 21.3 days (1-82 days), and eight patients died, with mortality being 42.1%. CONCLUSION: Rapidly progressive local damage and acute deterioration of the patients are the most distinctive clinical manifestations of vibrio necrotising fasciitis. Recognition of the signs of local skin and tissue damage in early stage is crucial for early diagnosis and surgical intervention. Emergency incision and drainage, combined with selective debridement and skin graft, could improve the prognosis of the patients, and preserve the integrity of the patient's limbs as much as possible. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Interferon-inducible double-stranded RNA-dependent protein kinase (PKR) is one of the key antiviral arms in the innate immune system. The activated PKR performs its antiviral function by inhibiting protein translation and inducing apoptosis. In our previous study, we identified grass carp TARBP2 as an inhibitor of PKR activity, thereby suppressing cell apoptosis. This study aimed to explore the effects of grass carp TARBP2 on PKR activity and cell apoptosis. Grass carp TARBP2 comprises two N-terminal dsRBDs and a C-terminal C4 domain. Subcellular localization analysis conducted in CIK cells revealed that TARBP2-FL (full-length TARBP2), TARBP2-Δ1 (lack of the first dsRBD), and TARBP2-Δ2 (lack of the second dsRBD) are predominantly located in the cytoplasm, while TARBP2-Δ3 (lack of the two dsRBDs) is distributed both in the nucleus and cytoplasm. Colocalization and immunoprecipitation assays confirmed the interaction of TARBP2-FL, TARBP2-Δ1, and TARBP2-Δ2 with PKR, while TARBP2-Δ3 showed no binding. Furthermore, our findings suggested that the inhibitory effect of TARBP2-Δ1 or TARBP2-Δ2 on the PKR-eIF2α pathway is depressed compared to TARBP2-FL. In cell apoptosis assays, it was observed that TARBP2-FL inhibits PKR-mediated cell apoptosis. TARBP2-Δ1 or TARBP2-Δ2 exhibits decreased inhibition to PKR-mediated cell apoptosis, whereas TARBP2-Δ3 nearly completely loses this inhibitory effect. These findings highlight the critical importance of two dsRBDs of TARBP2 in interaction with PKR, as well as in the inhibition of PKR activity, resulting in the suppression of cell apoptosis triggered by prolonged PKR activation., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Introduction: Patients with advanced-stage or intermediate-stage hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) unsuitable for transarterial chemoembolization (TACE) had poor prognoses. Recent advancements in hepatic arterial infusion chemotherapy (HAIC) and immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) have demonstrated higher tumor response rates, which improved overall survival (OS). HAIC achieves an OS rate of approximately 14.5-15.3 months with a 39.1-42.5% tumor response rate. In comparison, ICIs have a 12-14 month OS rate with a 26-33% tumor response rate. Given these promising responses, this study evaluates the efficacy of conversion therapy with curative intent following HAIC or ICIs, focusing on survival outcomes., Methods: We retrospectively analyzed 80 patients with advanced or TACE-unsuitable intermediate HCC. Patients completed two HAIC or four ICI cycles, followed by Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors (RECIST) criteria imaging. Based on demographics, cirrhosis status, Barcelona Clinic Liver Cancer classification (BCLC) stage, treatment responses, and treatment modality, survival impacts were analyzed. OS was compared between HAIC and immunotherapy groups. The effect of conversion therapy with curative intent on survival outcomes was analyzed using a Cox regression model., Results: Among the 80 patients, 26 achieved positive response (CR/PR) with HAIC or ICIs, and 9 of them subsequently underwent conversion therapy with curative intent. Key prognostic factors included Child-Pugh stage B vs. A (HR=2.21, p=0.041), BCLC stage C vs. B (HR=4.38, p=0.011), and elevated AFP levels (HR=5.02, p&lt;0.001). Positive responders saw substantial survival benefits (HR=0.26, p=0.001). Patients undergoing conversion therapy exhibited significantly enhanced survival. Median OS was 13.58 months with standard therapy, while the curative intent surgery group did not reach the median OS (p=0.002). For CR/PR patients, 48-month survival was 75.0% for the curative surgery group versus 38.0% for standard treatment., Conclusion: Conversion therapy with curative intent following HAIC or ICIs might enhances survival in patients with advanced or TACE-unsuitable intermediate-stage HCC., (S. Karger AG, Basel.)

To report the preliminary result of empiric embolization for angiographycally-negative lower gastrointestinal bleeding (LGIB) by using the pharmaco-induced vasospasm technique with or without the adjunctive use of intra-arterial multi-detector computed tomography (MDCT). 23 LGIB patients with positive MDCT findings but negative angiographic results underwent empiric pharmaco-induced vasospasm therapy. The presumed bleeding artery was semi-selectively catheterized, and a segment of bowel was temporarily spasmed with bolus injection of epinephrine and immediately followed by 4-h' vasopressin infusion. The rebleeding, primary and overall clinical success rates were reported. MDCT showed 19 bleeders in the SMA territory and 4 bleeders in the IMA territory. Early rebleeding was found in 6 patients (26.1%): 2 local rebleeding, 3 from new-foci bleeding and 1 uncertain. Of the 10 small bowel bleeding patients, only 1 out of the 7 who underwent intra-arterial MDCT showed rebleeding, whereas 2 out of the 3 without intra-arterial MDCT rebled. No patients exhibited procedure-related major complications, including bowel ischemia and cardiopulmonary distress. The overall clinical success rate was 91.3% (21/23) with a 30-day mortality rate of 26.1% (2 of the 6 patients had early rebleeding). Empiric pharmaco-induced vasospasm therapy, when localized with/without adjunctive intra-arterial MDCT, seems to be a safe and effective method to treat angiographically-negative LGIB patients., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

Acidic hydrotropes exhibit effective performance in fractionating the constituents of lignocellulosic biomass owing to their amphiphilic characteristics. However, the requirement for excessively high concentrations may lead to the condensation and aggregation of lignin. In this case, bamboo was extracted with 70 % (w/v) tetrahydrofurfuryl alcohol (THFA) aqueous solution containing 5-20 % (w/v) p-toluenesulfonic acid (pTsOH) at 90-120 °C for 1-4 h. Results indicated that 91 % of lignin was efficiently removed from bamboo, with subsequent recovery of 73.5 % achieved through extraction with 10 % pTsOH at 110 °C for 4 h. Furthermore, the resulting lignin exhibited a relative content of β-O-4 bonds of 64.1 %, displayed a light color (L*: 70.48), boasted a purity of 99.64 %, and possessed a moderate molecular weight. These attributes position it as a valuable candidate in functional material production. The aqueous solution provides an ideal medium for efficient extraction of uncondensed, light-colored lignin, thereby furnishing insights for advancing the utilization., 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 B.V. All rights reserved.)

Competing Interests: The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

Based on the x-ray absorption edges of different elements, we simultaneously image and distinguish the composition of three differently shaped components of an object by using energy-resolved x-ray absorption ghost imaging (GI). The initial x-ray beam is spatially modulated by a series of Hadamard matrix masks, and the object is composed of three pieces of Mo, Ag, and Sn foil in the shape of a triangle, square, and circle, respectively. The transmitted x-ray intensity is measured by an energy-resolved single-pixel detector with a spectral resolution better than 0.8 keV. Through correlation of the transmission spectra with the corresponding Hadamard patterns, the spectral image of the sample is reconstructed, with a spatial resolution of 108 µm. Our experiment demonstrates a practical application of spectral ghost imaging, which has important potential for the noninvasive analysis of material composition and distribution in biology, medical science, and many other fields.

Purpose: Arteriovenous fistulas (AVF) is the preferred type of hemodialysis access, but when an arteriovenous anastomosis (AVA) calcifies, surgical revision of the AVF may be required. We report a technique to create percutaneous artery-to-vein intervascular neo-fistulas for re-anastomosis of AVA and evaluate its safety and efficacy., Materials and Methods: 9 patients who failed either guidewire navigation or conventional balloon dilation for calcified AVA stenosis/occlusion underwent a salvage procedure of their dialysis shunt by the percutaneous creation of a new arteriovenous fistula. Needle puncture of the adjacent supplying artery and outflow vein under ultrasonographic and/or fluoroscopic guidance was performed and followed by balloon dilation, with or without stent graft placement. The detailed techniques, technical success, primary neo-fistula patency, primary and secondary access patency rates were reported herein., Results: Technical success was achieved in 100% of the 9 patients treated (7 neo-fistulas with stents and 2 neo-fistulas without stent placement). The median primary neo-fistula and access patencies were 15 and 5 months, respectively. The primary neo-fistula patency rates at 6, 12, and 18 months were 72.9%, 54.7% and 27.9%, respectively, with secondary neo-fistula and access patency rates of 72.9%, 72.9% and 72.9%, respectively. One delayed complication of pseudoaneurysm formation occurred, which was managed by the successful endovascular deployment of a stent graft on an out-patient basis., Conclusion: Percutaneous artery-to-vein intervascular neo-fistula creation is feasible for re-anastomosing calcified AVA, with low adverse effects and acceptable primary neo-fistula and secondary access patency., (© 2024. Springer Science+Business Media, LLC, part of Springer Nature and the Cardiovascular and Interventional Radiological Society of Europe (CIRSE).)

Takifugu rubripes is a highly valued cultured fish in Asia, while pathogen infections can result in severe diseases and lead to substantial economic losses. Toll-like receptors (TLRs), as pattern recognition receptors, play a crucial role on recognition pathogens and initiation innate immune response. However, the immunological properties of teleost-specific TLR23 remain largely unknown. In this study, we investigated the biological functions of TLR23 (TrTLR23) from T. rubripes, found that TrTLR23 existed in various organs. Following bacterial pathogen challenge, the expression levels of TrTLR23 were significantly increased in immune related organs. TrTLR23 located on the cellular membrane and specifically recognized pathogenic microorganism. Co-immunoprecipitation and antibody blocking analysis revealed that TrTLR23 recruited myeloid differentiation primary response protein (MyD88), thereby mediating the activation of the ERK signaling pathway. Furthermore, in vivo showed that, when TrTLR23 is overexpressed in T. rubripes, bacterial replication in fish tissues is significantly inhibited. Consistently, when TrTLR23 expression in T. rubripes is knocked down, bacterial replication is significantly enhanced. In conclusion, these findings suggested that TrTLR23 played a critical role on mediation TLR23-MyD88-ERK axis against bacterial infection. This study revealed that TLR23 involved in the innate immune mechanism, and provided the foundation for development disease control strategies in teleost., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare no competing interests., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Acute myeloid leukaemia (AML) is a common and highly aggressive haematological malignancy in adults. Senescence-associated secretory phenotype (SASP) plays important roles in tumorigenesis and progression of tumour. However, the prognostic value of SASP in patients with AML has not been clarified. The present study aims to explore the prognostic value of SASP and develop a prognostic risk signature for AML. The RNA-sequencing data was collected from the TCGA, GTEx and TARGET databases. Subsequently, differentially expressed gene analysis, univariate Cox regression and LASSO regression were applied to identified prognostic SASP-related genes and construct a prognostic risk-scoring model. The risk score of each patient were calculated and patients were divided into high- or low-risk groups by the median risk score. This novel prognostic signature included 11 genes: G6PD, CDK4, RPS6KA1, UBC, H2BC12, KIR2DL4, HSF1, IFIT3, PIM1, RUNX3 and TRIM21. The patients with AML in the high-risk group had shorter OS, demonstrating that the risk score acted as a prognostic predictor, which was validated in the TAGET-AML dataset. Univariate and multivariate analysis revealed the risk score was an independent prognostic factor in patients with AML. Furthermore, the present study revealed that the risk score was associated with immune landscape, immune checkpoint gene expression and chemotherapeutic efficacy. In the present study, we constructed and validated a unique SASP-related prognostic model to assess therapeutic effect and prognosis in patients with AML, which might contribute to understanding the role of SASP in AML and guiding the treatment for AML., (© 2024 The Author(s). Journal of Cellular and Molecular Medicine published by Foundation for Cellular and Molecular Medicine and John Wiley & Sons Ltd.)

A new lignan phyllanins A ( 1 ) and a lignan phyllanins B ( 2 ) for which the absolute configuration was determined for the first time, along with four known lignans ( 3 - 6 ) were isolated from the branch and leaf extracts of Phyllanthodendron dunnianum . Their planar structures were mainly determined by a combination of 1D and 2D NMR, HRESIMS spectral analyses, and the absolute configurations of the compounds 1 and 2 were established by DFT GIAO 13 C NMR and electronic circular dichroism (ECD) calculations. In addition, all these six lignans were firstly tested for the antibacterial activities against MRSA, Staphylococcus aureus , Enterococcus faecalis , Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Escherichia coli . Among these compounds, 2 and 5 showed potential antibacterial activities against MRSA and S. aureus with MIC values of 4 and 8 µg/mL, respectively.

A novel, to the best of our knowledge, cross-spectral optical computing imaging experiment has been achieved through a single exposure of a charge-coupled device. The experimental setup integrates single-pixel imaging (SPI) with ghost imaging (GI) through a photoelectric conversion circuit and a synchronous modulation system. The experimental process involves modulation in one wavelength band (in SPI) and demodulation using the GI algorithm in another. Significantly, our approach utilizes optical computing demodulation, a departure from the conventional electronic demodulation in GI (SPI), which involves the convolution between the bucket optical signals and the modulated patterns on the digital micromirror device. A proof-of-concept cross-band imaging experiment from near-infrared to visible light has been carried out. The results highlight the system's ability to capture images at up to 20 frames per second using near-infrared illumination, which are then reconstructed in the visible light spectrum. This success not only validates the feasibility of our approach but also expands the potential applications in the SPI or GI fields, particularly in scenarios where two-dimensional detector arrays are either unavailable or prohibitively expensive in certain electromagnetic spectra such as x-ray and terahertz.

Sinopodophylli Fructus is a traditional medicine used by the Tibetan people. It is known for its ability to regulate menstruation and promote blood circulation. Presently, bioactive constituents that have been isolated and identified from Sinopodophylli Fructus mainly include 15 lignans(e.g., podophyllotoxin, deoxypodophyllotoxin, and 4'-demethylpodophyllotoxin) and 20 flavonoids(e.g., quercetin, kaempferol, and rutin). These components exhibit pharmacological effects such as anticancer, antibacterial, and lipid-lowering activities. Additionally, Sinopodophylli Fructus contains other components such as proteins, fatty acids, polysaccharides, vitamins, amino acids, and trace elements. According to the relevant literature reports in China and abroad, this article reviewed the chemical constituents and pharmacological effects of Sinopodophylli Fructus, aiming to provide references for the development and rational clinical application of this medicinal resource.

Chemical constituents from the ethanol extract of Picrorhiza scrophulariiflora were isolated and purified by column chromatography. Their structures were identified by HR-MS, 1D and 2D-NMR, and their cytotoxicity was assessed by CCK-8 assay. Four compounds were isolated and identified as follows: 2β-D-glucosyloxy-3β,16α,20β-trihydroxy-9-methyl-19-norlanosterol-5,25-diene-22-one(1), 2β-D-glucosyloxy-3β,16α,20β-trihydroxy-9-methyl-19-norlanosta-5,24-diene-22-one(2), 25-acetoxy-2β-glucosyloxy-3β,16α,20β-trihydroxy-9-methyl-19-norlanosta-5-ene-22-one(3) and 25-acetoxy-2β-glucosyloxy-3β,16α,20β-trihydroxy-9-methyl-19-norlanosta-5,23-(E)-diene-22-one(4). Compound 1 represents a new cucurbitane glycoside. The half inhibitory concentrations of the 4 compounds exceeded 100 μmol·L~(-1) against four tumor cell lines, indicating no significant cytotoxicity.

Cellulose-rich straws of corn and rice were torrefied under carbon dioxide, and the fuel characteristics and combustion performance of the obtained biochar were investigated. A high severity resulted in surface collapse, greater pore volume, elimination of oxygen, elevated calorific value, and improved hydrophobicity in biochar. Following carbon dioxide torrefaction, the cellulose content in solid biochar experienced a slight decrease when the temperature was raised to 220 °C for longer residence durations. At 300 °C, the cellulose content in the biochar was nearly eliminated, while the relative proportion of non-sugar organic matter in corn stover and rice straw increased to 87.40 % and 77.27 %, respectively. The maximum calorific values for biochar from corn and rice straws were 22.38 ± 0.03 MJ/kg and 18.72 ± 0.05 MJ/kg. The comprehensive combustion indexes of rice and corn straw samples decreased to 1.06 × 10 -7 and 1.31 × 10 -7 after torrefaction at 300 °C, respectively. In addition, the initial decomposition temperatures increased by 38 °C and 45 °C, while the ultimate combustion temperatures rose by 13 °C and 16 °C for corn and rice straws, respectively. These results imply an extended combustion timeframe for the torrefied samples., 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 B.V. All rights reserved.)

Chemical investigation of an EtOAc extract of the endophytic fungus Pseudocercospora sp. TSS-1 led to the isolation of three new polyketide derivatives, including one benzophenon derivative ( 1 ), two spirocyclic polyketides ( 4 and 5 ), along with four known compounds ( 2 , 3 , 6 and 7 ). Their structures and the absolute configurations were characterized by means of NMR, HRESIMS, 13 C NMR and theoretical electronic circular dichroism calculations. Furthermore, all compounds were evaluated for their antibacterial activity against four microbial pathogens ( Staphylococcus aureus , Enterococcus faecalis , Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Escherichia coli ), and compounds 1 , 2 , 3 and 5 displayed significant selective antibacterial activity against S. aureus with MIC values ranging from 3.9 to 7.8 µg/mL.

Two new chromone derivatives ( 1 and 2 ), and two known compounds ( 3 and 4 ) were isolated from the rhizosphere soil fungus Ilyonectria robusta . Their planar structures and absolute configurations were determined by extensive spectroscopic analysis and electronic circular dichroism (ECD) calculations. Additionally, all the isolated compounds were evaluated for their antibacterial activity against Staphylococcus aureus , Enterococcus faecalis , Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Escherichia coli , but no obvious activity was observed at a concentration of 128 μg/mL.

In this study, we used traditional laboratory methods, bioinformatics, and cellular models to screen novel ACE inhibitory (ACEI) peptides with strong ACEI activity, moderate absorption rates, and multiple targets from bovine colostrum immunoglobulin G (IgG). The purified fraction of the compound proteinase hydrolysate of IgG showed good ACEI activity. After nano-UPLC-MS/MS identification and in silico analysis, eight peptides were synthesized and verified. Among them, SFYPDY, TSFYPDY, FSWF, WYQQVPGSGL, and GVHTFP were identified as ACEI peptides, as they exhibited strong ACEI activity (with IC 50 values of 104.7, 80.0, 121.2, 39.8, and 86.3 μM, respectively). They displayed good stability in an in vitro simulated gastrointestinal digestion assay. In a Caco-2 monolayer model, SFYPDY, FSWF, and WYQQVPGSGL exhibited better absorption rates and lower IC 50 values than the other peptides and were thereby identified as novel ACEI peptides. Subsequently, in a H 2 O 2 -induced endothelial dysfunction (ED) model based on HUVECs, SFYPDY, FSWF, and WYQQVPGSGL regulated ED by reducing apoptosis and ROS accumulation while upregulating NOS3 mRNA expression. Network pharmacology analysis and RT-qPCR confirmed that they regulated multiple targets. Overall, our results suggest that SFYPDY, FSWF, and WYQQVPGSGL can serve as novel multitarget ACEI peptides.

In this study, five strains of lactic acid bacteria (LAB) with excellent cholesterol-lowering ability were screened from fermented foods. The gastrointestinal stress resistance, intestinal adhesion, and bacteriostasis abilities were evaluated to obtain the best LAB. And then, high-cholesterol HepG2 cell model was further prepared to explore the cholesterol-lowering mechanism of the LAB. Finally, pH-sensitive hydrogel prepared by Millettia speciosa Champ. carboxymethyl cellulose and Millettia speciosa Champ. cellulose was first applied to the microencapsulation of LAB. As a result, Lactobacillus paracasei BY2 (LP-BY2) exhibited higher cholesterol-lowering activity, intestinal adhesion, and bacteriostasis abilities compared with other LAB. Furthermore, it was found that LP-BY2 could reduce the cholesterol level by regulating the expression of key genes that involved in cholesterol synthesis (HMGCR and SREBP-2), uptake (LDLR), and outflow (LXR-α, ABCA1, ABCG5, ABCG8, and CYP7A1) in liver. At the same time, microencapsulation significantly enhanced the survival rate and cholesterol-lowering ability of LP-BY2 after gastrointestinal digestion. This study will provide an available reference for the application of Lactobacillus in prevention and treatment of hypercholesterolemia., (© 2022. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Science+Business Media, LLC, part of Springer Nature.)

Background: Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) with major portal vein invasion (MPVI) presents very poor outcomes. Hepatic artery infusion chemotherapy (HAIC) and radiation therapy (RT) have both been found to be effective for advanced HCC. In this retrospective study, we compared the therapeutic outcomes of our "new" HAIC regimen with and without concurrent RT, before and after propensity score matching (PSM) in treating HCC patients with MPVI., Methods: One hundred forty patients with MPVI received HAIC alone and 35 patients underwent concurrent HAIC and RT during a 16-year period. The left subclavian artery was adopted as the entry site for a temporary catheter placement for a 5-day chemoinfusion. The Modified Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors (mRECIST) was adopted to assess the objective response rate (ORR). The Kaplan-Meier curve was used to calculate progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) between the two groups. Univariate and multivariate analyses by Cox regression model were used to assess hazard ratios., Results: Of the 140 patients with Child-Pugh A liver function, the median OS was 17.0 months. In the initial cohort, higher ORR and PFS were found in the concurrent RT group than in the HAIC alone group (80% vs 66.4% and 9 vs 8 months, respectively) but shorter OS (10.5 vs 14.5 months, p = 0.039) was observed. After PSM, the OS was 10 and 15 months ( p = 0.012), respectively. Multivariable Cox regression analysis revealed that the significant factors for adjusting hazard ratios for OS were Child-Pugh classification, alpha fetal protein (AFP) level, and hepatic vein invasion., Conclusion: HAIC is an effective treatment for advanced HCC patients with MPVI. Concurrent HAIC and full-dose RT were associated with worse clinical outcomes., Competing Interests: Conflicts of interest: The authors declare that they have no conflicts of interest related to the subject matter or materials discussed in this article., (Copyright © 2023, the Chinese Medical Association.)

Objective: To investigated the safety and efficacy of donor-derived CD19+ or sequential CD19+ CD22+ chimeric antigen receptor T-cell (CAR-T) therapy in patients with B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (B-ALL) after allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (allo-HSCT). Methods: The data of 22 patients with B-ALL who relapsed after allo-HSCT and who underwent donor-derived CAR-T therapy at the Zhujiang Hospital of Southern Medical University and the 920th Hospital of Joint Logistics Support Force of the People's Liberation Army of China from September 2015 to December 2022 were retrospectively analyzed. The primary endpoint was overall survival (OS), and the secondary endpoints were event-free survival (EFS), complete remission (CR) rate, and Grade 3-4 adverse events. Results: A total of 81.82% ( n =18) of the 22 patients achieved minimal residual disease-negative CR after CAR-T infusion. The median follow-up time was 1037 (95% CI 546-1509) days, and the median OS and EFS were 287 (95% CI 132-441) days and 212 (95% CI 120-303) days, respectively. The 6-month OS and EFS rates were 67.90% (95% CI 48.30%-84.50%) and 58.70% (95% CI 37.92%-79.48%), respectively, and the 1-year OS and EFS rates were 41.10% (95% CI 19.15%-63.05%) and 34.30% (95% CI 13.92%-54.68%), respectively. Grade 1-2 cytokine release syndrome occurred in 36.36% ( n =8) of the patients, and grade 3-4 occurred in 13.64% of the patients ( n =3). Grade 2 and 4 graft-versus-host disease occurred in two patients. Conclusion: Donor-derived CAR-T therapy is safe and effective in patients with relapsed B-ALL after allo-HSCT.

Lignin nanoparticles (LNPs) were synthesized using an anti-solvent method and subsequently loaded with manganese dioxide (MnO 2 ) via potassium permanganate treatment, resulting in the formation of MnO 2 @LNPs. An extensive investigation was conducted to elucidate the influence of MnO 2 @LNPs on the decolorization of methyl orange solution. The LNPs were successfully obtained by adjusting the preparation parameters, yielding particles exhibited average sizes ranging from 300 to 600 nm, and the synthesis process exhibited a high yield of up to 87.3% and excellent dispersion characteristics. Notably, LNPs size was reduced by decreasing initial concentration, increasing stirring rate, and adding water. In the acetone-water two-phase system, LNPs self-assembled into spherical particles driven by π-π interactions and hydrogen bond forces. Oxidation modification using potassium permanganate led to the formation of nanoscale MnO 2 , which effectively combined with LNPs. Remarkably, the resulting MnO 2 @LNPs demonstrated a two-fold increase in methyl orange adsorption capacity (227 mg/g) compared to unmodified LNPs. The process followed the Langmuir isotherm model and was exothermic., 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 © 2023 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Hedychium flavum Roxb. 1820 is a perennial herb mainly distributed in China, India, Myanmar and Thailand with ornamental, edible and medicinal value. It is extensively cultivated as a source of aromatic essential oils, ornamental plant, food flavorings and vegetables, and folk medicine. In this study, we sequence the complete chloroplast genome of H. flavum by de novo assembly. The assembled genome has a typical quadripartite circular structure with 163,909 bp in length, containing a large single-copy region (LSC, 88,589 bp), a small single-copy region (SSC, 15,762 bp), and two inverted repeat regions (IRs, 29,779 bp). The cp genome contains 133 genes, including 87 protein-coding genes, 38 tRNA genes and 8 rRNA genes. Phylogenetic analysis based on the complete cp genome shows a close affinity of H. flavum and H. neocarneum with 100% bootstrap support. This study will provide useful genetic resource for further phylogenetic analysis of the genus Hedychium and Zingiberaceae., Competing Interests: No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors., (© 2023 The Author(s). Published by Informa UK Limited, trading as Taylor & Francis Group.)

One new cyclopeptide, cyclo-( L -Trp- L -Phe- L -Phe) ( 1 ), one new 2-pyridone derivative, fusarone A ( 3 ), and one new natural indole derivative, ethyl 3-indoleacetate ( 4 ), along with six known compounds were isolated from the endophytic fungus Fusarium proliferatum T2-10. The planar structures of three new compounds were identified by spectral methods including 1D and 2D NMR techniques, and the absolute configuration of compound 1 was elucidated by Marfey-MS method. In addition, all compounds were evaluated for their cytotoxic and antibacterial activities in vitro . Compound 2 showed remarkable cytotoxic activities against two human hepatoma cell lines SMMC7721 and HepG2 with IC 50 values of 5.89 ± 0.74 and 6.16 ± 0.52 μM, and showed moderate antibacterial activities against Staphylococcus aureus and Enterococcus faecalis with MIC values of 7.81 and 15.62 μg/mL, respectively.

Background and Objectives : Treatment for antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibody-associated vasculitis (AAV) must deal with immunosuppression, as well as infections associated with a compromised immune system, such as tuberculosis (TB). Our aim was to examine the risk of incidental TB after diagnosis of AAV. Materials and Methods : This retrospective population-based cohort study was based on the data from the National Health Insurance Research Database in Taiwan. Patients with newly diagnosed granulomatous polyangiitis or microscopic polyangiitis were identified between 1 January 2000 and 31 December 2012. The primary outcome was risk of incidental TB. Cox proportional hazard models were used to evaluate the association between AAV and incidental TB. Results : A total of 2257 patients with AAV and a propensity-score matched cohort of 9028 patients were studied. Overall, patients with AAV were at a 1.48× higher risk of contracting incidental TB than the patients in the matched cohort (adjusted HR 1.48; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.02-2.15). Note that the highest risk of contracting incidental TB was in the first two years following a diagnosis of AAV, with a nearly 1-fold increase in risk (adjusted HR, 1.91; 95% CI, 1.01-3.60). Female AAV patients were 3.24× more likely than females without AAV to develop TB (adjusted HR 3.24; 95% CI, 1.85-5.67). Conclusions : Patients with AAV exhibit a 48% elevated TB risk, notably, a 91% increase within the first two years postdiagnosis. Female AAV patients face a 3.24 times higher TB risk compared to females without AAV. This study is limited by potential misclassification and overestimation of AAV cases. Clinicians should closely monitor TB risk in AAV patients, especially in females and the initial two years following diagnosis.

High entropy alloys (HEAs) are promising nuclear structural materials due to their excellent irradiation resistance. However, the essential mechanisms of irradiation tolerance in HEAs remain largely inferential and imperfectly understood. This study investigates the evolution of irradiation-induced nano-scale microstructures in Ni, FeNiCr, FeNiCrCoCu and FeNiCrCuAl HEA models by molecular dynamics simulations to elucidate the conundrums. As fewer irradiation-induced Frenkel pair (FP) residuals were found in the FeNiCrCuAl HEA model in comparison with other models, a high resistance of the HEAs to the generation of permanent defects was indicated, while also the associated relatively long thermal spike and slow recrystallization stimulated a high efficiency for the recombination/annihilation of FPs to underscore a superior structural recovery of the HEAs. Under the influence of compositional increases of constituent elements, the effect of severe lattice distortion by energetics modifications was found to stimulate decreased atomic mobility accompanied by inhibited dislocation formation. The evolution of the models' lattices in terms of their capacity to restrict interstitials and repair defects revealed that the self-healing/recovery mechanism that confirmed the highest initial lattice distortion value accompanied by the least lattice re-distortion value in the FeNiCrCuAl HEA model is key to the observed superior irradiation tolerance of the HEA models. Thus, by feasibly enhancing lattice distortion in crystalline materials, notably in HEAs, promising and potentially high irradiation-resistant structural materials can be developed.

We report for the first time the usage of Millettia speciosa Champ cellulose (MSCC) and carboxymethylcellulose (MSCCMC) for the fabrication of 3D-network hydrogel as delivery system for probiotics. The structural features, swelling behavior and pH-responsiveness of MSCC-MSCCMC hydrogels and their encapsulation and controlled-release behavior for Lactobacillus paracasei BY2 (L. paracasei BY2) were mainly studied. Structural analyses demonstrated that MSCC-MSCCMC hydrogels with porous and network structures were successfully synthesized through the crosslinking of -OH groups between MSCC and MSCCMC molecules. An increasing concentration of MSCCMC significantly improved the pH-responsiveness and swelling ability of the MSCC-MSCCMC hydrogel toward neutral solvent. Besides, the encapsulation efficiency (50.38-88.91 %) and release (42.88-92.86 %) of L. paracasei BY2 were positively correlated with the concentration of MSCCMC. The higher the encapsulation efficiency was, the higher the release in the target intestine. However, due to the existence of bile salts, controlled-release behavior decreased the survivor rate and physiological state (degrading cholesterol) of encapsulating L. paracasei BY2. Even so, the number of viable cells encapsulated by hydrogels still reached the minimum effective concentration in the target intestine. This study provides an available reference for the practical application of hydrogels fabricated from the cellulose of the Millettia speciosa Champ plant for probiotic delivery., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare no conflict of interest for this study., (Copyright © 2023 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Objective: To investigate the association between serum unconjugated bilirubin (UCB) within normal limits and chronic kidney disease (CKD) in T2DM patients., Method: This cross-sectional, real-world study was performed in 8661 hospitalised T2DM patients. The subjects were stratified into quintiles based on serum UCB levels. The clinical characteristics and CKD prevalence were compared among the UCB quantile groups. The associations of serum UCB levels and quintiles with CKD were also analysed by binary logistic regression., Results: After controlling for age, sex, and diabetes duration (DD), the CKD prevalence (20.4%, 12.2%, 10.6%, 8.3%, and 6.4% for the first, second, third, fourth, and fifth quintiles, respectively, p < 0.001 for trend) was significantly decreased across the serum UCB quintiles. The fully adjusted regression model showed negative associations of serum UCB levels (OR: 0.660, 95% CI: 0.585-0.744; p < 0.001 for trend) and quintiles (p < 0.001) with the presence of CKD. Compared with the subjects in the lowest UCB quintile, the risk of CKD decreased by 36.2%, 54.3%, 53.8%, and 62.1%, respectively, in those from the second to the highest UCB quintile. Additionally, C-reactive protein (CRP) levels were significantly higher in the subjects with CKD than in those without CKD (p < 0.001), and significantly decreased across the UCB quintiles (p < 0.001 for trend)., Conclusions: Serum UCB levels within the normal range were significantly and negatively linked to CKD in T2DM patients. High-normal UCB may be an independent protective factor for CKD by its antioxidant and the following anti-inflammatory activities through its signalling activity, which was indicated by clearly decreased CRP levels across the UCB quintiles., (© 2023 John Wiley & Sons Ltd.)

A green and effective method is proposed for the pretreatment of eucalyptus by freeze-thaw assisted maleic acid tactic, wherein the effects of freeze-thaw, maleic acid concentration, reaction time, and temperature on the fractionation were examined. Results showed that under optimal conditions (60% maleic acid, 120 °C, and 2 h), a remarkable removal of 74.5% lignin and 95.2% hemicellulose was achieved after freeze-thaw treatment. The resulting cellulose-rich solid residues were further processed with maleic acid to prepare cellulose nanocrystals, which displayed uniform sized rod-like structures and high crystallinity (62.51%). Moreover, maleic acid pretreatment resulted in lignin with low molecular weight (2110-2530) and excellent homogeneity (PDI ≤ 1.86), while maintaining a relatively intact structure. The lignin had high β-O-4 aryl ether bond contents (≥77.5%) and abundant phenolic hydroxyl contents (2.33-3.63 mmol/g). Overall, the process exhibits notable benefits in effectively separating lignocellulose for high valorization., 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 © 2023 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Interleukin 8 (IL8) is a CXC chemokine that plays a crucial role on promoting inflammatory response and immune regulation. In teleost, IL8 can induce the migration and activation of immune cells. However, the biological functions of IL8 are still unknown in Takifugu rubripes. In this study, we examined the biological characteristics of TrIL8 in T. rubripes. TrIL8 is composed of 98 residues and contained a chemokine CXC domain. We found that the TrIL8 expression was detected in diverse organs and significantly increased by Vibrio harveyi or Edwardsiella tarda challenge. The recombinant TrIL8 (rTrIL8) exhibited significantly the binding capacities to 8 tested bacteria. In addition, rTrIL8 could bind to peripheral blood leukocytes (PBL), and increased the expression of immune gene, resistance to bacterial infection, respiratory burst, acid phosphatase activity, chemotactic activity, and phagocytic activity of PBL. In the presence of rTrIL8, T. rubripes was enhanced the resistance to V. harveyi infection. These results indicated that TrIL8 is a chemokine and involved in the activation of immune cells against bacterial infection in teleost., (Copyright © 2023 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)