Intermittent Fasting Ameliorates β-Amyloid Deposition and Cognitive Impairment Accompanied by Decreased Lipid Droplet Aggregation Within Microglia in an Alzheimer's Disease Model.

Scope: Alzheimer's disease (AD) is the most prevalent form of dementia, lack of effective therapeutic interventions. In this study, we investigate the impact of intermittent fasting (IF), an alternative strategy of calorie restriction, on cognitive functions and AD-like pathology in a transgenic mouse model of AD.

Methods And Results: APP/PS1 mice at 6 months were randomly allocated to two dietary groups: one receiving ad libitum (AL) feeding and the other undergoing IF for 1 month.

Twenty years of advances in prediction of nucleic acid-binding residues in protein sequences.

Computational prediction of nucleic acid-binding residues in protein sequences is an active field of research, with over 80 methods that were released in the past 2 decades. We identify and discuss 87 sequence-based predictors that include dozens of recently published methods that are surveyed for the first time. We overview historical progress and examine multiple practical issues that include availability and impact of predictors, key features of their predictive models, and important aspects related to their training and assessment.

Soil microbial carbon use efficiency differs between mycorrhizal trees: insights from substrate stoichiometry and microbial networks.

The role of mycorrhizal associations in controlling forest soil carbon storage remains under debate. This uncertainty is potentially due to an incomplete understanding of their influence on the free-living soil microbiome and its functions. In this study, rhizosphere and non-rhizosphere soils were collected from eight arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) and seven ectomycorrhizal (ECM) tree species in a temperate forest.

Mitigating bias in AI mortality predictions for minority populations: a transfer learning approach.

Background: The COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted the crucial role of artificial intelligence (AI) in predicting mortality and guiding healthcare decisions. However, AI models may perpetuate or exacerbate existing health disparities due to demographic biases, particularly affecting racial and ethnic minorities. The objective of this study is to investigate the demographic biases in AI models predicting COVID-19 mortality and to assess the effectiveness of transfer learning in improving model fairness across diverse demographic groups.

Advances in the relationship of immune checkpoint inhibitors and DNA damage repair.

Cancer immunotherapy, alongside surgery, radiation therapy, and chemotherapy, has emerged as a key treatment modality. Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) represent a promising immunotherapy that plays a critical role in the management of various solid tumors. However, the limited efficacy of ICI monotherapy and the development of primary or secondary resistance to combination therapy remain a challenge.

Reviewing the path to balance: mechanisms and management of hypertension associated with targeting vascular endothelium in cancer therapy.

Contemporary anticancer drugs are often accompanied by varying degrees of cardiovascular toxicity, with hypertension emerging as one of the most prevalent side effects, particularly linked to inhibitors of vascular endothelial growth factor receptor (VEGFR) and tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs). Hypertension induced by cancer therapies contributes to increased cardiovascular mortality in cancer patients and survivors. Given the shared common risk factors and overlapping pathophysiological mechanisms, hypertension is also a prevalent comorbidity in this patient population.

A prediction study on the occurrence risk of heart disease in older hypertensive patients based on machine learning.

Objective: Constructing a predictive model for the occurrence of heart disease in elderly hypertensive individuals, aiming to provide early risk identification.

Methods: A total of 934 participants aged 60 and above from the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study with a 7-year follow-up (2011-2018) were included. Machine learning methods (logistic regression, XGBoost, DNN) were employed to build a model predicting heart disease risk in hypertensive patients.

Design and Synthesis of Phthalocyanine-Sensitized Titanium Dioxide Photocatalysts: A Dual-Pathway Study.

Phthalocyanine-sensitized TiO significantly enhances photocatalytic performance, but the method of phthalocyanine immobilization also plays a crucial role in its performance. In order to investigate the effect of the binding strategy of phthalocyanine and TiO on photocatalytic performance, a dual-pathway study has been conducted. On the one hand, zinc-tetra (-carbonylacrylic) aminephthalocyanine (Pc) was directly grafted onto the surface of FeO@SiO@TiO (FST).

Unraveling the Role of Ubiquitin-Conjugating Enzyme UBE2T in Tumorigenesis: A Comprehensive Review.

Ubiquitin-conjugating enzyme E2 T (UBE2T) is a crucial E2 enzyme in the ubiquitin-proteasome system (UPS), playing a significant role in the ubiquitination of proteins and influencing a wide range of cellular processes, including proliferation, differentiation, apoptosis, invasion, and metabolism. Its overexpression has been implicated in various malignancies, such as lung adenocarcinoma, gastric cancer, pancreatic cancer, liver cancer, and ovarian cancer, where it correlates strongly with disease progression. UBE2T facilitates tumorigenesis and malignant behaviors by mediating essential functions such as DNA repair, apoptosis, cell cycle regulation, and the activation of oncogenic signaling pathways.

Dynamic Peptide Nanoframework-Guided Protein Coassembly: Advancing Adhesion Performance with Hierarchical Structures.

Hierarchical structures are essential in natural adhesion systems. Replicating these in synthetic adhesives is challenging due to intricate molecular mechanisms and multiscale processes. Here, we report three phosphorylated peptides featuring a hydrophobic self-assembly motif linked to a hydrophilic phosphorylated sequence (pSGSS), forming peptide fibril nanoframeworks.

Correction: Camptothecin-based prodrug nanomedicines for cancer therapy.

Correction for 'Camptothecin-based prodrug nanomedicines for cancer therapy' by Renshuai Zhang , , 2023, , 17658-17697, https://doi.org/10.1039/D3NR04147F.

Rnf40 Exacerbates Hypertension-Induced Cerebrovascular Endothelial Barrier Dysfunction by Ubiquitination and Degradation of Parkin.

Aims: We aimed to investigate the role of Rnf40 in hypertension-induced cerebrovascular endothelial barrier dysfunction and cognitive impairment.

Methods: We employed microarray data analysis and integrated bioinformatics databases to identify a novel E3 ligase, Rnf40, that targets Parkin. To understand the role of RNF40 in hypertension-induced cerebrovascular endothelial cell damage, we used pAAV-hFLT1-MCS-EGFP-3×Flag-mir30shRnf40 to establish an Rnf40-deficient model in spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHRs).

CYP24A1 Binding to FUS Maintains Tumor Properties by Regulating the miR-200c/ZEB1/EMT Axis.

The active vitamin D-degrading enzyme (CYP24A1) is commonly overexpressed in various types of cancer, which is associated with poor prognosis in cancer patients. Recent studies highlight the antagonism of CYP24A1 toward the anticancer role of active vitamin D. However, the impact of CYP24A1 on tumorigenesis and its underlying mechanisms largely remains unexplored.

Continuous Cropping of Patchouli Alleviate Soil Properties, Enzyme Activities, and Bacterial Community Structures.

(Patchouli), an essential medicinal plant in the family, faces significant challenges under continuous cropping (CC) obstacles. This study examined the rhizospheric soil bacterial communities of patchouli under four different CC years, zero (CK), one (T1), two (T2), and three (T3) years through high-throughput 16S rRNA gene amplicon sequencing. Results showed long-term CC led to significant soil properties and enzyme activity shifts.

Unveiling soil-borne antibiotic resistome and their associated risks: A comparative study of antibiotic and non-antibiotic pharmaceutical factories.

Antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) and antibiotic-resistant bacteria (ARB) are extensively documented within antibiotic pharmaceutical factories. Notably, non-antibiotic pharmaceuticals also represent a significant portion of the pharmaceuticals market. However, the comparative analyses of soil-borne ARG profiles and associated risks in different categories of pharmaceutical factories remain limited.

Detection of Mycobacterium tuberculosis DNA in intraocular fluid of 11 suspected tuberculous uveitis patients by multiplex PCR.

Background: This study aims to detect Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex (MTBC) DNA in intraocular fluid from clinically suspected tuberculous uveitis patients using multiplex polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and investigate the diagnostic utility of multiplex PCR for tuberculous uveitis.

Methods: Primers targeting three specific genes (MPB64, CYP141, and IS6110) within the MTBC genome were designed. Multiplex PCR was conducted using DNA from the H37Rv strain as well as DNA extracted from fluids of confirmed tuberculosis patients to assess primer specificity and method feasibility.

Factors affecting posaconazole plasma concentrations: a meta-analysis and systematic review.

Background: Posaconazole is a potent antifungal agent widely used to manage invasive fungal infections, especially in immunocompromised individuals. Achieving optimal therapeutic concentrations of posaconazole can be challenging due to interpatient variability, the availability of multiple formulations, and various dosing strategies.

Methods: We conducted a systematic search of PubMed, EMBASE, and the Cochrane Library to identify studies evaluating factors that influence blood concentrations of posaconazole.

A recurrent sigma pi sigma neural network.

In this paper, a novel recurrent sigma‒sigma neural network (RSPSNN) that contains the same advantages as the higher-order and recurrent neural networks is proposed. The batch gradient algorithm is used to train the RSPSNN to search for the optimal weights based on the minimal mean squared error (MSE). To substantiate the unique equilibrium state of the RSPSNN, the characteristic of stability convergence is proven, which is one of the most significant indices for reflecting the effectiveness and overcoming the instability problem in the training of this network.

Construction of Nanohydroxyapatite/Poly(sodium lipoate)-Based Bioactive Hydrogels for Cranial Bone Regeneration.

Persistent oxidative stress following bone defects significantly impedes the repair of bone tissue. Designing an antioxidative hydrogel with a suitable mechanical strength can help alter the local microenvironment and promote bone defect healing. In this work, α-lipoic acid (LA), a natural antioxidant small molecule, was chemically cross-linked with lipoic acid-functionalized poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG, = 6k or 10k) in sodium bicarbonate solution, to prepare LA-PEG hydrogels (LP, = 6k or 10k).

Fast-Charging Solid-State Li Batteries: Materials, Strategies, and Prospects.

The ability to rapidly charge batteries is crucial for widespread electrification across a number of key sectors, including transportation, grid storage, and portable electronics. Nevertheless, conventional Li-ion batteries with organic liquid electrolytes face significant technical challenges in achieving rapid charging rates without sacrificing electrochemical efficiency and safety. Solid-state batteries (SSBs) offer intrinsic stability and safety over their liquid counterparts, which can potentially bring exciting opportunities for fast charging applications.

Bile acids as a key target: traditional Chinese medicine for precision management of insulin resistance in type 2 diabetes mellitus through the gut microbiota-bile acids axis.

Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is a chronic metabolic disease caused by insulin resistance (IR) and insufficient insulin secretion. Its characteristic pathophysiological processes involve the interaction of multiple mechanisms. In recent years, globally, the prevalence of T2DM has shown a sharp rise due to profound changes in socio-economic structure, the persistent influence of environmental factors, and the complex role of genetic background.

Solar driven enhanced adsorption of radioactive Cs and Sr from nuclear wastewater by chitosan-based aerogel embedded with prussian blue analog.

The rational use of solar energy to achieve photothermal conversion is an attractive strategy to promote the efficient removal of radioactive Cs and Sr from nuclear wastewater. Herein, a photothermal adsorbent of composite aerogel with three-dimensional porous structure is fabricated by integrating prussian blue analogues (PBAs) and straw biochar into the chitosan (CS) and waste leather scrap hydrolysate (WLSH) aerogel matrix (CS/WLSH/C/PBAs). The local heating effect generated by CS/WLSH/C/PBAs aerogel induce to generate steam, accelerating the enrichment of Cs and Sr in the solution, which increase their interaction with the CS/WLSH/C/PBAs and improves their adsorption rates and capacities.

Effects of fully immersive virtual reality training on cognitive function in patients with mild cognitive impairment: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background: Mild cognitive impairment (MCI) is a prodromal stage of dementia. There is no specific medication to slow the progression of MCI. Recent studies have confirmed the positive effects of virtual reality (VR).