Ellagic acid ameliorates atherosclerosis by inhibiting PCSK9 through the modulation of FoxO3 and HNF1α.

Introduction: Proprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin type 9 (PCSK9) hinders the clearance of low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) by promoting the degradation of the low-density lipoprotein receptor (LDLR), leading to the accumulation of LDL-C and thus becoming an important cause of atherosclerosis. Ellagic acid, a naturally occurring polyphenol widely present in fruits, vegetables, and nuts, has attracted significant attention due to its potential role in the prevention and treatment of cardiovascular diseases. However, the molecular mechanisms by which ellagic acid alleviates atherosclerosis by inhibiting PCSK9 are not fully understood.

Photosynthesis and senescence gene expression drive yield improvements in early season rice under long-term method of fertilization.

This study investigated the effects of long-term method of fertilization on growth and yield formation in early-season rice. Based on a 42-year field experiment initiated in 1981, three treatments: chemical N, P, and K (NPK), a double dose of chemical NPK (HNPK), and a combination of chemical and organic fertilizers (NPKM) were selected for comparison. Measurements included rice yield, yield components, tiller dynamic, dry matter accumulation, chlorophyll content (SPAD values), and transcriptome analysis of leaves at full heading stage in 2022.

Self-Generating Zwitterionic Polyurethane Foam for Solar-Driven Water Evaporation in Complex Environments.

Solar-driven water evaporation has attracted increasing attention as an environmentally friendly method of water purification/desalination. However, the presence of biofouling and oil-fouling agents in natural water induces channel plugging and significantly decreases its efficiency. In this study, a self-generating zwitterionic polyurethane foam (ZPF) is fabricated by grafting a silylated hydrolysis-induced zwitterionic telomer (Si-HIZ), further spraying TiN/PDMS on the top as a solar evaporation device.

Dual-mode DNA nano-stage biosensing platform for efficient detection of uracil-DNA glycosylase activity in cells.

Analyzing uracil-DNA glycosylase (UDG) activity is essential for understanding DNA repair mechanisms in disease progression and treatment. This study presents a dual-mode DNA nano-stage biosensing platform integrating electrochemiluminescence (ECL) and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) for highly sensitive and specific UDG detection. A DNA-prism-modified electrode immobilizes UDG-responsive elements, forming a stable and efficient detection interface.

Pd-Catalyzed Decarboxylative Negishi Coupling of Zinc Aryl Carboxylates with Arylthianthrenium Salts.

We report a Pd-catalyzed decarboxylative Negishi coupling reaction for efficient biaryl synthesis from various zinc aryl carboxylates, including polyfluorobenzoates and heteroaryl carboxylates, using DMF as the solvent. This mild reaction exhibits a broad substrate scope and enables late-stage functionalization of bioactive molecules. Mechanistic studies show that DMF-assisted zinc catalyzes decarboxylation of polyfluorinated aryl carboxylates to generate arylzinc reagents in situ, which then undergo Negishi coupling catalyzed by palladium with arylthianthrenium salts to form biaryl compounds.

Associations of Grandparenting Dimensions/Styles with Mental Health in Children and Adolescents: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

In recent decades, grandparents' increased involvement in child-rearing around the world has accelerated research on grandparenting. However, findings have remained inconsistent, and no reviews have examined how grandparenting dimensions and styles affect child and adolescent mental health. In our systematic review and meta-analysis, we synthesized evidence on the relationship between dimensions and styles of grandparenting and children's and adolescents' mental health.

Alpha-2 receptor mediates the endogenous antagonistic regulation of itch and pain via descending noradrenaline pathway from the locus coeruleus.

Pain and itch are sensations that are regulated antagonistically; painful stimulation suppresses itch, while the inhibition of pain enhances itch. However, the central neural circuit underlying this antagonistic regulation remains elusive. The noradrenaline (NA) pathway from the locus coeruleus (LC) to the spinal cord (SC) constitutes an important component of endogenous descending pain inhibitory system.

Efficacy and Safety of Atezolizumab in Chinese Patients With Advanced Thymic Carcinoma: A Multicenter, Single-Arm Phase 2 Study.

Introduction: There are limited treatment options for thymic carcinoma. This study aimed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of atezolizumab for the treatment of advanced thymic carcinoma after failure with prior systemic therapy.

Patients And Methods: Patients aged ≥ 18 years with advanced thymic carcinoma after failure with prior systemic therapy were enrolled at 10 medical centers in China.

Transarterial Chemoembolization with Radiofrequency Ablation versus Surgical Resection for Small Late-Recurrence Hepatocellular Carcinoma.

Background Radiofrequency ablation (RFA) has comparable clinical outcomes to surgical resection (SR) for treating small recurrent hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). However, whether combined transarterial chemoembolization (TACE) with RFA (hereafter, TACE-RFA) outperforms SR for treating small late-recurrence HCCs remains unknown. Purpose To compare the clinical outcome of TACE-RFA with that of SR in patients with small late-recurrence HCCs.

Influence mechanism of serum free immunoglobulin light chain on pulmonary inflammatory response and serum levels of inflammatory factors in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

Background: The pathogenesis of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is not fully understood. This work aimed to demonstrate the role of serum free light chains (sFLC) in the pulmonary inflammatory response of COPD patients and its relationship with serum inflammatory cytokine (IC) levels.

Methods: Eighty subjects were enrolled, including 40 COPD patients (COPD group) and 40 healthy controls (control group).

Evaluation of Influenza Vaccine Effectiveness from 2021 to 2024: A Guangdong-Based Test-Negative Case-Control Study.

Background: The influenza virus's high mutation rate requires the annual reformulation and administration of the vaccine. Therefore, its vaccine effectiveness (VE) must be evaluated annually.

Aim: Estimate the effectiveness of the influenza vaccine and analyze the impact of age, seasonal variations, and the vaccination to sample collection interval on VE.

Supramolecular Organic Nanofiller: A New Reinforcement Strategy for Dynamic Covalent Polymer Networks Toward Upcycling of Carbon Fiber Composites.

Dynamic covalent polymer networks (DCPN) provide an important solution to the challenging recyclability of thermoset elastomers. However, dynamic bonds exhibit relatively weak bond energies, considerably decreasing the mechanical properties of DCPN. Herein, a novel reinforcement strategy for DCPN involving the in situ formation of supramolecular organic nanofillers through asynchronous polymerization is proposed.

Comparing PD-L1 and PD-1 inhibitors plus bevacizumab combined with hepatic arterial interventional therapies in unresetable hepatocellular carcinoma: A single-center, real-world study.

With the rise of anti-vascular endothelial growth factor antibody and programmed cell death-ligand 1 (PD-L1) regimens, particularly bevacizumab and atezolizumab, as first-line treatments for advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), there is a need to explore PD-L1 and programmed cell death 1 inhibitors in combination therapies for unresectable HCC (uHCC). Integrating systemic therapies with locoregional approaches is also emerging as a potent strategy. This study compares the outcomes of atezolizumab (PD-L1 inhibitor) and sintilimab (programmed cell death 1 inhibitor) with bevacizumab or its biosimilar, combined with hepatic arterial interventional therapies (HAIT) in uHCC patients.

Macrophage Membrane-Cloaked ROS-Responsive Albumin Nanoplatforms for Targeted Delivery of Curcumin to Alleviate Acute Liver Injury.

Developing low-toxicity, high-efficacy, and fast-acting strategies to manage acute liver injury (ALI) is critical due to its rapid progression and potential for severe outcomes. Curcumin (CUR) has shown promise in ALI therapy due to its ability to modulate the inflammatory microenvironment by scavenging reactive oxygen species (ROS). Nevertheless, CUR is highly hydrophobic limiting its bioavailability and effective in vivo transport, which hinders its further application.

Prediction of MASLD using different screening indexes in Chinese type 2 diabetes mellitus.

Background: Formerly known as non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) has now become the most widespread chronic liver disease worldwide. The primary goal of this study is to assess the ability of different indexes (including VAI, TyG, HOMA-IR, BMI, LAP, WHtR, TyG-BMI, TyG-WC, and TyG-WHtR) to predict MASLD in individuals diagnosed with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), particularly within the Chinese population.

Methods: This cross-sectional study involved 1,742 patients with T2DM, recruited from the Metabolic Management Centers (MMC) at Suzhou Municipal Hospital.

Transarterial therapy combined with bevacizumab plus immune checkpoint inhibitors as a neoadjuvant therapy for locally advanced HCC.

Background: Transarterial therapy (TAT), bevacizumab (Bev), and immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) have individually exhibited efficacy in treating advanced-stage hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). This study aimed to assess the efficacy and safety of the combination of these three treatments as a neoadjuvant modality in patients with locally advanced HCC.

Methods: The primary endpoint is overall survival (OS).

Global, Regional, and National Burden of Primary Liver Cancer Attributable to Metabolic Risks: An Analysis of the Global Burden of Disease Study 1990-2021.

Introduction: The global burden of metabolic diseases is increasing, but estimates of their impact on primary liver cancer are uncertain. We aimed to assess the global burden of primary liver cancer attributable to metabolic risk factors, including high body mass index (BMI) and high fasting plasma glucose (FPG) levels, between 1990 and 2021.

Methods: The total number and age-standardized rates of deaths and disability-adjusted life years (DALYs) from primary liver cancer attributable to each metabolic risk factor were extracted from the Global Burden of Disease Study 1990-2021.

The F204S mutation in adrenodoxin oxidoreductase drives salinomycin resistance in Eimeria tenella.

Salinomycin is a polyether ionophore widely used for the treatment of coccidiosis in poultry. However, the emergence of coccidia strains resistant to salinomycin presents challenges for control efforts, and the mechanisms underlying this resistance in Eimeria remain inadequately understood. In this study, 78 stable salinomycin-resistant strains were generated through experimental evolution approaches.

Radiofrequency Ablation Versus Stereotactic Body Radiotherapy for Recurrent Small Hepatocellular Carcinoma: A Randomized, Open-Label, Controlled Trial.

Purpose: To assess the efficacy and safety of radiofrequency ablation (RFA) versus stereotactic body radiotherapy (SBRT) in treating recurrent small hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).

Methods: In this trial, patients with recurrent small HCC (single lesion ≤5 cm) were randomly assigned to receive either SBRT or RFA. The primary end point was local progression-free survival (LPFS), and secondary end points were progression-free survival (PFS), overall survival (OS), local control rate, and safety.

Comparison of lenvatinib plus pembrolizumab versus first-line systemic chemotherapy for advanced intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma: a real-world retrospective study.

Background: Systemic chemotherapy (SC) stands the only first-line treatment for advanced intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (iCCA) for the past few decades. Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) have been proved to provide additional benefit in disease control. However, oncological outcome of iCCA remains poor and awaits further improvement with new treatment modalities.

Temperature and plant-available soil phosphorus drive intraspecific variation in plant economic traits of Schima superba across an elevation gradient.

Background And Aims: The whole-plant economics spectrum (PES) describes coordination between organ-level traits that together determine resource use strategies and is relevant for understanding plant responses to environmental change. Whereas coordination between organs has previously been explored across species, it remains unclear whether patterns observed across species hold within species. In addition, the key driving forces underlying this coordination warrant clarification.

Leaf trait networks of subtropical woody plants weaken along an elevation gradient.

The leaf economic spectrum (LES) captures key leaf functional trait relationships, defining a conservative-acquisitive axis of plant resource utilization strategies. Examining the leaf trait network (LTN) is useful for understanding resource utilization strategies but also more broadly, the ecological strategies of plants. However, the relationship between the LES conservation-acquisition axis and LTN correlations across environmental gradients is unclear.

The effect of transition timing of regorafenib on treatment outcomes in unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma: a real-world study.

Background: Regorafenib is the recommended second-line therapy for unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma (uHCC). Our study aimed to assess the effect of transition timing to second-line therapy with regorafenib on treatment outcomes in uHCC patients.

Methods: In this retrospective study, patients were categorized into prompt transition group (PT group) or delayed transition group (DT group) based on the transition timing to second-line therapy with regorafenib following the first or subsequent occurrence of progressive disease during first-line treatment.