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Accumulated evidence suggested that gut microbial dysbiosis interplayed with progressive chronic kidney disease (CKD). However, no available therapy is effective in suppressing progressive CKD. Here, using microbiomics in 480 participants including healthy controls and patients with stage 1-5 CKD, we identified an elongation taxonomic chain Bacilli-Lactobacillales-Lactobacillaceae-Lactobacillus-Lactobacillus johnsonii correlated with patients with CKD progression, whose abundance strongly correlated with clinical kidney markers. L. johnsonii abundance reduced with progressive CKD in rats with adenine-induced CKD. L. johnsonii supplementation ameliorated kidney lesion. Serum indole-3-aldehyde (IAld), whose level strongly negatively correlated with creatinine level in CKD rats, decreased in serum of rats induced using unilateral ureteral obstruction (UUO) and 5/6 nephrectomy (NX) as well as late CKD patients. Treatment with IAld dampened kidney lesion through suppressing aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AHR) signal in rats with CKD or UUO, and in cultured 1-hydroxypyrene-induced HK-2 cells. Renoprotective effect of IAld was partially diminished in AHR deficiency mice and HK-2 cells. Our further data showed that treatment with L. johnsonii attenuated kidney lesion by suppressing AHR signal via increasing serum IAld level. Taken together, targeting L. johnsonii might reverse patients with CKD. This study provides a deeper understanding of how microbial-produced tryptophan metabolism affects host disease and discovers potential pathways for prophylactic and therapeutic treatments for CKD patients.

Mild and inexpensive copper‐catalyzed aromatization‐driven ring‐opening amination and oxygenation of spiro dihydroquinazolinones are presented, respectively. These protocols provide facile and atom‐economical access to the aminated and the carbonyl‐containing quinazolin‐4(3H)‐ones in good yields with good functional group compatibility, which are difficult to obtain by conventional methods. Remarkably, a telescoped procedure involving the condensation and the ring‐opening/functionalization for simple cycloalkanone was found to be accessible. Mechanistic studies suggest a radical pathway for this transformation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article in "Current Zoology" discusses the establishment of wild populations of alien lesser bandicoot rats in China. Researchers captured 11 lesser bandicoot rats in Ruili City, Yunnan Province, indicating the presence of a wild population. The rats were identified based on their external morphology, skull measurements, and genetic analysis, showing a close relationship with samples from Myanmar. The study highlights the potential ecological and health risks posed by the invasive species and calls for further investigation and control measures to prevent their spread in China. [Extracted from the article]

Metal-free, photoredox-catalyzed aromatization-driven deconstructive functionalization of spiro-dihydroquinazolinones with α-CF3 alkenes is presented. The readily available spiro-dihydroquinazolinones reacted efficiently with α-CF3 alkenes during photocatalysis to give the gem-difluoroallylated and the CF3-containing quinazolin-4(3H)-ones in good yields with excellent chemoselectivity. The selectivity depends on the electron effect of substituents in α-CF3 alkenes. A wide range of four-, five-, six-, seven-, eight- and twelve-membered spiro-dihydroquinazolinones were compatible with this transformation. The protocol is also characterized by the mild and redox-neutral reaction conditions, good functional group compatibility and excellent atom economy. Mechanistic studies revealed that the reaction proceeds via a radical pathway. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The ability to recognize and differentiate between conspecifics and heterospecifics as well as their signals is critical for the coexistence of closely related species. In the genus Rattus , species are morphologically similar and multiple species often coexist. Here, we investigated the interspecific recognition and signal differentiation of two sympatric rat species, the brown rat (Rattus norvegicus , RN) and the Asian house rat (Rattus tanezumi , RT). In a two-way choice test, both RN and RT females showed a preference for conspecific male rats to heterospecific ones. RT females showed a significant preference for accessible urine of males of same species to those of other species, but not for the inaccessible urine. On the other hand, there were significant differences in the structural characteristics of the ultrasonic vocalization emitted by males of these two rat species. Sodium dodecyl sulphate‒polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS‒PAGE) and isoelectric focusing electrophoresis unveiled that major urinary proteins (MUPs) in voided urine were more highly expressed in RN males versus RT males. The interspecific differences of urinary volatile compounds were also discussed. In conclusion, female rats had the ability to distinguish between males of either species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A photoredox-catalyzed alkylarylation of activated alkenes via a radical C–C bond cleavage/Truce–Smiles rearrangement cascade is developed. The protocol features mild and redox-neutral conditions, broad substrate scope and excellent functional group compatibility, providing a facile and efficient approach to the long-chain distal keto-amides with all-carbon quaternary centers at the alpha position. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between the quality of life (QoL) and self‐efficacy in older adults with benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), as well as the factors affecting their QoL. Previous research has shown that self‐efficacy is one of the factors affecting the QoL of individuals. Diminished self‐efficacy can impair cognitive and behavioural function, while heightened self‐efficacy can drive changes in treatment acceptance behaviour and, subsequently, physical and mental health. Although past research has investigated QoL among patients with BPH, no known studies have investigated the impact of self‐efficacy on QoL, specifically among the Chinese aged population who may have a different disease status. The study followed a cross‐sectional design and included 372 older adults with BPH. The Chinese version of the Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia QoL Scale (BPH‐QLS), the Chinese version of the Self‐rated Abilities for Health Practices Scale (SRAHP) and General Survey Questionnaire were used. One‐way ANOVA and multiple regression analysis were employed to identify factors influencing QoL and evaluate the relationship between self‐efficacy and QoL. The results indicated a positive correlation between QoL and self‐efficacy. Educational level, sexual intercourse, disease duration, marital status, monthly family income and self‐efficacy were identified as factors influencing QoL in older adults with BPH. Multiple linear regression analysis revealed that self‐efficacy for health responsibility had the most significant impact on QoL scores. To enhance QoL in older adults with BPH, active measures are needed. Future studies should focus on intervention programmes that target self‐efficacy, which is a modifiable factor with significant potential for improvement. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]