Addressing unexpected bacterial RNA safety concerns of E. coli produced influenza NP through CpG loaded mutant.

Influenza virus nucleoprotein (NP) is a promising target for universal influenza vaccines due to its conservation and high immunogenicity. Here, we uncovered a previously unknown factor that E. coli-produced NP carries bacterial RNA, which is crucial for its high immunogenicity but may pose safety and consistency concerns due to batch variability.

Up-regulation of miR-490-3p improves learning/memory disability of sevoflurane exposure by relieving neuroinflammation.

Our study focused on the potential mechanism of microRNA-490-3p (miR-490-3p) on learning/memory disability of rats resulting from sevoflurane (Sev). The rat model of cognitive dysfunction was established by infection with miR-490-3p mimic and Sev-exposure. Morris water maze and open field test assay were used for the assessment of cognitive deficits.

The effect of empagliflozin (sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 inhibitor) on osteoporosis and glycemic parameters in patients with type 2 diabetes: a quasi-experimental study.

Objective: Diabetic osteoporosis (DOP) is a metabolic disease that occurs in patients with diabetes due to insufficient insulin secretion. This condition can lead to sensory neuropathy, nephropathy, retinopathy, and hypoglycemic events, which can increase the risk of fractures. This study aimed to assess the effectiveness of Empagliflozin, a sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 (SGLT-2) inhibitor, in treating diabetic osteoporosis (DOP) and preventing fractures.

Blockade of ZFX Alleviates Hypoxia-Induced Pulmonary Vascular Remodeling by Regulating the YAP Signaling.

High expression of the zinc finger X-chromosomal protein (ZFX) correlates with proliferation, aggressiveness, and development in many types of cancers. In the current report, we investigated the efficacy of ZFX in mouse pulmonary artery smooth muscle cells (PASMCs) proliferation during pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH). PASMCs were cultured in hypoxic conditions.

Recombinant bacteriophage T4 displaying key epitopes of the foot-and-mouth disease virus as a novel nanoparticle vaccine.

Foot-and-mouth disease virus (FMDV) is a highly contagious pathogen that has caused significant economic losses in the livestock industry. Peptide vaccines engineered with the protective epitopes of FMDV have provided a safer alternative for disease prevention than the traditional inactivated vaccines. However, the immunogenicity of the peptide is usually poor and therefore an adjuvant is required.

Improved Detection of Fibrotic Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease in Community-Based Referrals.

Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is the leading cause of chronic liver disease with increasing rates globally. Patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus have higher risk of developing NAFLD. Patients with a higher degree of liver fibrosis in NAFLD are at an increased risk for liver-related mortality, but get missed easily during the referral process.

Recurrent syncope due to central venous occlusion in a patient undergoing hemodialysis.

A 66-year-old male patient receiving maintenance hemodialysis with arteriovenous fistula of the right upper limb was admitted to the hospital because of intermittent syncope, dizziness, and distension. Central venography indicated occlusion of the right brachiocephalic vein (RBV), and the contrast agent flowed from the right internal jugular vein into the intracranial vein, then into the contralateral internal jugular vein, and finally returned into the superior vena cava. Percutaneous transluminal angioplasty was performed to dilate the RBV.

ADP Ribosylation Factor 6 Relieves Airway Inflammation and Remodeling by Inhibiting Ovalbumin Induced-Epithelial Mesenchymal Transition in Experimental Asthma, Possibly by Regulating of E2F Transcription Factor 8.

Background: Childhood asthma is a major global health concern. ADP-ribosylation factor 6 (ARF6) is a low-molecular-weight GTPase; however, its role in childhood asthma remains unclear.

Methods: Ovalbumin (OVA)-challenged neonatal mice and transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1)-induced BEAS-2B cells were used as and models of childhood asthma, respectively.

The promising significance of liraglutide combined with dapagliflozin or empagliflozin in the prevention of early diabetic nephropathy.

Objective: To explore the significance of liraglutide combined with dapagliflozin or empagliflozin in the prevention of early diabetic nephropathy (DN) and its effects on renal function indices.

Methods: Three hundred patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) treated in our hospital from April 2019 to April 2020 were retrospectively included and divided into two groups according to different treatment regimens. Among them, 150 patients who received liraglutide alone were included in the single-drug group, and 150 patients treated with liraglutide combined with dapagliflozin or empagliflozin were included in the combination group.

Association of Householder Smoking With Poverty and the Mediating Effect of NCDs in Relatively Underdeveloped Regions in China.

Background: Studies have not provided clear enough evidence on the direct association between cigarette smoking and poverty. This study aims to assess the association of householder smoking with near-poverty households, and the potential mediating effect of NCDs.

Methods: A cross-sectional survey was conducted from November 2019 to October 2020 in relatively underdeveloped regions in China.

Liquiritigenin enhances cyclic adenosine monophosphate production to mitigate inflammation in dendritic cells.

Objective: This study aims to dissect the mechanism of traditional Chinese medicinal herbs against asthma; we chose to first focus on the main chemical components of licorice to investigate their contribution to asthmatic inflammation inhibition.

Methods: Production of cellular nucleotide molecules such as cAMP, cGMP, and cGAMP was examined by using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Enzyme-encoding genes were tested using quantitative real-time PCR and protein level was detected by Western blotting analysis.

The Influence of Bosentan on MicroRNA-27a/PPARγ/ET-1 Signaling Pathway in Pulmonary Artery Hypertension.

Pulmonary artery hypertension (PAH) is a common and serious disease which is characterized by pulmonary vascular remodeling. Bosentan (BST) is the first approved oral targeted drug of endothelin-1 (ET-1) receptor antagonists for the treatment of PAH. MicroRNA-27a (miR-27a) and peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ (PPARγ) were found to be related to the pathogenesis of PAH.

Natural Compound α-PGG and Its Synthetic Derivative 6Cl-TGQ Alter Insulin Secretion: Evidence for Diminishing Glucose Uptake as a Mechanism.

Purpose: Previously we showed that natural compound α-penta-galloyl-glucose (α-PGG) and its synthetic derivative 6-chloro-6-deoxy-1,2,3,4-tetra-O-galloyl-α-D-glucopyranose (6Cl-TGQ) act to improve insulin signaling in adipocytes by increasing glucose transport. In this study, we investigated the mechanism of actions of α-PGG and 6Cl-TGQ on insulin secretion.

Methods: Mouse islets and/or INS-1832/13 beta-cells were used to test the effects of our compounds on glucose-stimulated insulin secretion (GSIS), intracellular calcium [Ca] using fura-2AM, glucose transport activity via a radioactive glucose uptake assay, intracellular ATP/ADP, and extracellular acidification (ECAR) and mitochondrial oxygen consumption rates (OCAR) using Seahorse metabolic analysis.

Fine Needle Aspiration of Thyroid Nodules Using the Bethesda System for Reporting Thyroid Cytopathology: An Institutional Experience in a Rural Setting.

Fine needle aspiration (FNA) remains the first-line diagnostic in management of thyroid nodules and reduces unnecessary surgeries. However, it is still challenging since cytological results are not always straightforward. This study aimed to examine the results of thyroid FNA using the Bethesda system for reporting thyroid cytopathology (TBSRTC) to establish the level of accuracy of FNA procedures in a rural practice setting.

B Cell-Activating Factor as a New Potential Marker in Inflammatory Bowel Disease.

Background: B cell-activating factor (BAFF) has been proposed to be a regulator of B cell and T cell immune responses and be associated with inflammatory processes in autoimmunity and B cell malignancies. No study has reported the role of BAFF in inflammatory bowel disease (IBD).

Aims: The purpose of this study was to investigate expression and concentrations of BAFF in IBD and determine its value to discriminate patients with IBD.

Expression of peptide fragments from proADM and involvement of mitogen-activated protein kinase signaling pathways in pulmonary remodeling induced by high pulmonary blood flow.

Pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) is a life-threatening disease characterized by progressive pulmonary arterial remodeling and right ventricular failure. Despite recent advances in pathophysiological mechanism exploration and new therapeutic approaches, PAH remains a challenging condition. In this study, we investigated the roles of the peptide fragments from proadrenomedullin (proADM) such as adrenomedullin (ADM), adrenotensin (ADT), and proadrenomedullin N-terminal 20 peptide (PAMP) during pulmonary remodeling caused by high pulmonary blood flow, and probed the possible involvement of mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) signal transduction pathways.

Autocrine effect of Zn²⁺ on the glucose-stimulated insulin secretion.

It is well known that zinc (Zn(2+)) is required for the process of insulin biosynthesis and the maturation of insulin secretory granules in pancreatic beta (β)-cells, and that changes in Zn(2+) levels in the pancreas have been found to be associated with diabetes. Glucose-stimulation causes a rapid co-secretion of Zn(2+) and insulin with similar kinetics. However, we do not know whether Zn(2+) regulates insulin availability and secretion.

Diet is critical for prolonged glycemic control after short-term insulin treatment in high-fat diet-induced type 2 diabetic male mice.

Background: Clinical studies suggest that short-term insulin treatment in new-onset type 2 diabetes (T2DM) can promote prolonged glycemic control. The purpose of this study was to establish an animal model to examine such a "legacy" effect of early insulin therapy (EIT) in long-term glycemic control in new-onset T2DM. The objective of the study was to investigate the role of diet following onset of diabetes in the favorable outcomes of EIT.

Enhanced cardiac Akt/protein kinase B signaling contributes to pathological cardiac hypertrophy in part by impairing mitochondrial function via transcriptional repression of mitochondrion-targeted nuclear genes.

Sustained Akt activation induces cardiac hypertrophy (LVH), which may lead to heart failure. This study tested the hypothesis that Akt activation contributes to mitochondrial dysfunction in pathological LVH. Akt activation induced LVH and progressive repression of mitochondrial fatty acid oxidation (FAO) pathways.

Role of the extracellular signal-regulated kinase 1/2 signaling pathway in the process of thrombin-promoting airway remodeling in ovalbumin-allergic rats.

Context: Although it is recognized that thrombin plays a key role in airway remodeling during chronic asthma. In a previous study, we have proved that thrombin promotes airway remodeling via PAR-1 in OVA-allergic rats, but little is known about intracellular signaling pathway involved in the event.

Objective: In this study, we intend to explore the impact of pERK1/2 signaling pathway on the process of thrombin-induced airway remodeling in OVA-allergic rats.

Influence of sulfur fumigation on the chemical constituents and antioxidant activity of buds of Lonicera japonica.

Lonicera japonica flos is widely used as a pharmaceutical resource and a commonly-employed ingredient in healthy food, soft beverages and cosmetics in China. Sometimes, sulfur fumigation is used during post-harvest handling. In this study, a comprehensive comparison of the chemical profile between sun-dried and sulfur-fumigated samples was conducted by HPLC fingerprints and simultaneous quantification of nine constituents, including secologanic acid, along with another eight usually-analyzed markers.

[Investigation on formation mechanism of secologanic acid sulfonates in sulfur-fumigated buds of Lonicera japonica].

To investigate formation mechanism of secologanic acid sulfonates in sulfur-fumigated buds of Lonicera japonica, secologanic acid was enriched and purified from the sun-dried buds of L. japonica by various column chromatography on macroporus resin HPD-100, silica gel and ODS. The stimulation experiments of sulfur-fumigation process were carried out using secologanic acid reacted with SO2 in the aqueous solution.

Thrombin promotes airway remodeling via protease-activated receptor-1 and transforming growth factor-β1 in ovalbumin-allergic rats.

Background: Protease-activated receptor-1 (PAR-1) is widely distributed in platelets and involved in coagulation cascade activated by thrombin. In this study, we intend to explore the role of PAR-1 in the process of thrombin-inducing transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1) to promote airway remodeling in ovalbumin (OVA)-allergic rats.

Materials And Methods: A rat model of chronic asthma was set up by systemic sensitization and repeated challenge to OVA.

The effect of recombinant stromal cell-derived factor-1 treatment on hypoxic-ischemic brain injury in neonatal mice.

Background: Stromal cell-derived factor-1 (SDF-1) plays a critical role in adult brain injury repair including neurogenesis and vasculogenesis. However, the effects of recombinant SDF-1(rSDF-1) treatment on hypoxic-ischemic (HI) brain injury in neonatal mice are not clear.

Materials And Methods: Seven-day-old (P7) C57BL/6J mice were divided into sham group, control group, and rSDF-1 group.