Chitosan microporous foam filled 3D printed polylactic acid-pearl macroporous scaffold: Dual-scale porous structure, biological and mechanical properties.

A bone scaffold with well-designed porous structure and material composition is essential for bone regeneration as it supports various biological functions. In this study, a dual-scale porous polylactic acid-pearl/chitosan (PLA-P/CS) scaffold was developed by integrating 3D printing and conventional techniques. An interconnected macroporous PLA-P scaffold with pore sizes ranging from 680-800 μm was fabricated using FDM 3D printing.

Testosterone Exacerbates the Formation of Liver Cancer Induced by Environmental N-Nitrosamines Exposure: Potential Mechanisms and Implications for Human Health.

Background: Humans are frequently exposed to N-nitrosamines through various sources, including diet, cigarette smoking, contaminated water, the atmosphere, and endogenous nitrosation. Exposure to these carcinogens may also contribute to the gender-specific incidence of liver cancer, which is significantly higher in males than in females, possibly due to the influence of endogenous hormones such as testosterone. However, the effect of testosterone on N-nitrosamine-induced liver cancer and its underlying mechanism remains unclear.

Improving Classification Performance in Dendritic Neuron Models through Practical Initialization Strategies.

A dendritic neuron model (DNM) is a deep neural network model with a unique dendritic tree structure and activation function. Effective initialization of its model parameters is crucial for its learning performance. This work proposes a novel initialization method specifically designed to improve the performance of DNM in classifying high-dimensional data, notable for its simplicity, speed, and straightforward implementation.

ATF3-CBS signaling axis coordinates ferroptosis and tumorigenesis in colorectal cancer.

The induction of ferroptosis is promising for cancer therapy. However, the mechanisms enabling cancer cells to evade ferroptosis, particularly in low-cystine environments, remain elusive. Our study delves into the intricate regulatory mechanisms of Activating transcription factor 3 (ATF3) on Cystathionine β-synthase (CBS) under cystine deprivation stress, conferring resistance to ferroptosis in colorectal cancer (CRC) cells.

Study on the modulating effect of halogen atom substitution on the detection range of water content detection probes in organic solvents.

Fluorescence probes based on the variations of aggregation state (Aggregation-Induced Emission (AIE) and Aggregation-Caused Quenching (ACQ)) have received widespread attention due to their simplicity, efficiency and intuitiveness. However, typical probes are highly sensitive to changes in polarity and slight variations in the external environment can cause a complete change in the aggregation state. With the aim of expanding the detection range of the molecular probe, this work adopts a different design strategy from adjusting the molecular backbone but regulates the fluorescence behavior of the Schiff base molecular backbone by introducing different halogen atoms.

Monocyte subtype expression patterns in septic patients with diabetes are distinct from patterns observed in obese patients.

Background: Sepsis causes a high rate of mortality and long-term morbidity, associated with an imbalance of innate immunity against infections and inflammation. Obesity and diabetes increase the risk for disease severity. Monocyte dysfunction plays a major role and justify further investigations.

Associations of maternal ambient temperature exposures during pregnancy with the placental weight, volume and PFR: A birth cohort study in Guangzhou, China.

Background: The placenta performs crucial functions to ensure normal fetal development. Experimental studies have indicated associations between exposure to elevated temperatures during pregnancy and reduction in placental weight and volume. However, epidemiological studies in humans are lacking.

Associations of maternal ozone exposures during pregnancy with maternal blood pressure and risk of hypertensive disorders of pregnancy: A birth cohort study in Guangzhou, China.

Although studies have assessed the associations of maternal exposure to ozone (O) during pregnancy with blood pressure and the risk of hypertensive disorders of pregnancy (HDP), the results were inconsistent. Furthermore, no studies have been conducted in China where the ambient O concentration continuedly increased. The present study aimed to estimate the effects of maternal exposure to O during pregnancy on the HDP risk, systolic blood pressure (SBP), diastolic blood pressure (DBP) and pulse pressure (PP).

Association between maternal antimony exposure and risk of gestational diabetes mellitus: A birth cohort study.

Background: A small number of epidemiological studies have suggested the association of antimony (Sb) exposure with type 2 diabetes risk. However, little is known about the relationship between Sb exposure during pregnancy and risk of gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM).

Objectives: To investigate the associations of urinary Sb concentrations with GDM risk and blood glucose levels in pregnant women.

Effects of prenatal exposure to air particulate matter on the risk of preterm birth and roles of maternal and cord blood LINE-1 methylation: A birth cohort study in Guangzhou, China.

Background: Epidemiological studies have found that increased risk of preterm birth (PTB) is associated with higher prenatal exposure to PM and PM, but few studies have been conducted to assess the impacts of extremely fine particulate matter (PM) which may have more toxic effects than other types of ambient particulate air pollution (PM). Several studies have separately investigated the associations between DNA methylation and PTB risk and PM. Maternal LINE-1 methylation level negatively correlated with prenatal exposure to PM and risk of PTB.

The Involvement of -Catenin/COX-2/VEGF Axis in NMDA-Caused Retinopathy.

NMDA, a molecule that is capable of producing the loss of retinal ganglia cells (RGCs), has been widely studied; however, the detailed mechanism is not yet clarified. Previously, Wnt/-catenin signaling has been suggested to be involved in the NMDA-induced retinopathy. In addition, previous investigations in our group demonstrated the presence of a Wnt/-catenin/COX-2 axis in dorsal root ganglions (DRGs).

Returning ex-patriot Chinese to Guangdong, China, increase the risk for local transmission of Zika virus.

Objectives: Fast expansion and linkage to microcephaly and Guillain Barre syndrome have made Zika virus (ZIKV) track attention of global health authority concerns. The epidemiology, virological characteristics and genetic evolution of introduced ZIKV to Guangdong, China, were investigated.

Methods: Analyses of the epidemiological characteristics and genetic diversity of ZIKV isolates were performed.

Evaluation of a real-time impedance analysis platform on fungal infection.

End-point assays of in vitro cell proliferation and death have been employed to study the mechanisms of fungal pathogenesis and have shown the responses of host cells at individual time points. A new cell analysis technology has been developed that allows for the continuous measurement and quantification of cell activities, thus enabling the dynamic assessment of electrical impedance when various pathogens are cultured in vitro. In this study, this system was evaluated to determine the response of the cell line RAW264.

Inapparent Streptococcus agalactiae infection in adult/commercial tilapia.

We report on inapparent infections in adult/commercial tilapia in major tilapia fish farms in Guangdong. A total of 146 suspected isolates were confirmed to be S. agalactiae using an API 20 Strep system and specific PCR amplification.

Identification and characterization of Clonorchis sinensis cathepsin B proteases in the pathogenesis of clonorchiasis.

Background: Human clonorchiasis is a prevailing food-borne disease caused by Clonorchis sinensis infection. Functional characterizations of key molecules from C. sinensis could facilitate the intervention of C.

Oral delivery of Bacillus subtilis spore expressing enolase of Clonorchis sinensis in rat model: induce systemic and local mucosal immune responses and has no side effect on liver function.

Caused by the consumption of raw or undercooked freshwater fish containing infective metacercariae of Clonorchis sinensis, human clonorchiasis remains a major public health problem in China. In previous study, we had expressed enolase from C. sinensis (CsENO) on the surface of Bacillus subtilis spore and the recombinant spore induced a pronounced protection in terms of reduced worm burden and eggs per gram feces, suggesting B.

Effects of thyroxine and donepezil on hippocampal acetylcholine content, acetylcholinesterase activity, synaptotagmin-1 and SNAP-25 expression in hypothyroid adult rats.

A growing number of studies have revealed that neurocognitive impairment, induced by adult-onset hypothyroidism, may not be fully restored by traditional hormone substitution therapies, including thyroxine (T4). The present study has investigated the effect of T4 and donepezil (DON; an acetylcholinesterase (AChE) inhibitor) treatment on the hypothyroidism-induced alterations of acetylcholine (ACh) content and AChE activity. Furthermore, we examined synaptotagmin-1 (syt-1) and SNAP-25 expression in the hippocampus of adult rats.

Sequence analysis and molecular characterization of Clonorchis sinensis hexokinase, an unusual trimeric 50-kDa glucose-6-phosphate-sensitive allosteric enzyme.

Clonorchiasis, which is induced by the infection of Clonorchis sinensis (C. sinensis), is highly associated with cholangiocarcinoma. Because the available examination, treatment and interrupting transmission provide limited opportunities to prevent infection, it is urgent to develop integrated strategies to prevent and control clonorchiasis.

The serological diagnosis of human clonorchiasis by time-resolved fluoroimmunoassay based on GST2-specific IgG4 detection.

Due to its delayed fluorescence of a lanthanide chelate, high accuracy and low background the broad linear range, long fluorescent life-time and large Stoke's shift of europium chelates, the time-resolved fluorescence has been developed for higher sensitive immunoassay. In this article, a simple, sensitive and specific method-time-resolved fluoroimmunoassay (TRFIA) was adopted for immunoassay of clonorchiasis, and recombinant glutathione transferases 2 of Clonorchis sinensis (rCsGST2) was used as a diagnostic antigen. To evaluate this novel assay for clinical applications, 409 serum samples were investigated.

A simple and improved method for extraction of phospholipids from hemoglobin solutions.

This study introduced a liquid-liquid extraction method designed for complete recovery of phospholipids from protein-rich samples, such as hemoglobin (Hb) solutions. In order to minimize protein denaturation and maximize lipid extraction from protein-rich samples, isopropanol was used as the major organic extraction solvent. In a wide range of the volume ratio of isopropanol to Hb solution at low temperatures, such extraction system resulted in limited protein precipitation and did not cause heme pigment contamination.

Variations in dominant antigen determinants of glutaraldehyde polymerized human, bovine and porcine hemoglobin.

In this study, immunogenicity of human hemoglobin (hHb), bovine hemoglobin (bHb), porcine hemoglobin (pHb) and their glutaradehyde polymerized derivatives (hPolyHb, bPolyHb and bPolyHb, respectively) were compared. The nature of the dominant antigen determinants of the chemically polymerized proteins was studied. Glutaraldehyde chemical reaction enhanced the immunogenicity of the hemoglobin derivatives.