Mechanical forces in the tumor microenvironment: roles, pathways, and therapeutic approaches.

Tumors often exhibit greater stiffness compared to normal tissues, primarily due to increased deposition within the tumor stroma. Collagen, proteoglycans, laminin, and fibronectin are key components of the extracellular matrix (ECM), interacting to facilitate ECM assembly. Enhanced fiber density and cross-linking within the ECM result in elevated matrix stiffness and interstitial fluid pressure, subjecting tumors to significant physical stress during growth.

Effects of phosphatidylethanolamine on intramuscular fat deposition and key gene identification by transcriptome sequencing in broiler chickens.

High-intensity breeding of broilers has increased meat yield while reducing meat quality. Properly enhancing intramuscular fat (IMF) content is an effective strategy to improve chicken meat quality and boost consumer preference. Given that the role of phosphatidylethanolamine (PE) in chicken IMF metabolism remains unclear, we investigated the effects of PE on the meat quality, as well as the differentiation and gene expression regulation of chicken intramuscular adipocytes (IMAs).

Advances in the Pathogenesis and Treatment Strategies for Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus.

Type 1 diabetes (T1D) is a complex autoimmune disorder distinguished by the infiltration of immune cells into pancreatic islets, primarily resulting in damage to pancreatic β-cells. Despite extensive research, the precise pathogenesis of T1D remains elusive, with its etiology linked to a complex interplay of genetic, immune, and environmental factors. While genetic predispositions, such as HLA and other susceptibility genes, are necessary, they do not fully account for disease development.

Research progresses and hotspots on glucose metabolic reprogramming in breast cancer: a bibliometric analysis over the past two decades.

Background: Abnormal energy metabolism is a prominent characteristic of cancers. Increasing evidence has suggested the involvement of glucose metabolism reprogramming in the progression of breast cancer (BC). This article aims to provide a comprehensive overview of glucose metabolism reprogramming in BC through a bibliometric analysis.

Role of programmed cell death in mammalian ovarian follicular atresia.

Programmed cell death (PCD) is a fundamental process in the development process of organisms, including apoptosis, autophagy, ferroptosis, and pyroptosis. In mammalian ovaries, 99 % of follicles undergo atresia, while only 1 % mature and ovulate, which limits the reproductive efficiency of mammals. The PCD process is closely related to the regulation of follicle development and atresia.

Trehalose Alleviates D-Galactose-Induced Aging-Related Granulosa Cell Death in Ovaries.

Ovarian dysfunction caused by aging restricts female reproductive capacity and is accompanied by oxidative stress and impaired autophagy. Recent studies have shown that trehalose (Tre) can activate autophagy and have antioxidant effects. However, whether Tre can be used to attenuate ovarian aging remains unclear.

Disrupting endogenous retroelements with a reverse transcriptase inhibitor alleviates DSS-induced colitis in mice.

Endogenous retroelements play vital roles in sustaining immune homeostasis. Activation of endogenous retroelements can trigger cGAS/STING pathway and downstream pro-inflammatory cytokine production. M1 macrophages, which can be induced by pro-inflammatory cytokines, are involved in the development of colitis.

Curcumin protects porcine granulosa cells and mouse ovary against reproductive toxicity of aflatoxin B1 via PI3K/AKT signaling pathway.

Aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) is a widespread food contaminant with toxic effects on female reproductive system. This concerns the human public health and the development of the livestock industry. Effective and feasible measures against reproductive toxicity of AFB1 are also unknown.

Effects of Moisture Content on the Radiative Properties and Energy-Saving Performance of Silica Aerogel Windows.

The thermal insulation performance of windows is crucial for energy-efficient buildings. Windows are typically the weakest part of the building envelope, regarding thermal insulation. Due to its excellent thermal insulation and high transparency, silica aerogel shows great promise as a window material.

Two-dimensional bilayer ice in coexistence with three-dimensional ice without confinement.

Icing plays an important role in various physical-chemical process. Although the formation of two-dimensional ice requires nanoscale confinement, two-dimensional bilayer ice in coexistence with three-dimensional ice without confinement remains poorly understood. Here, a critical value of a surface energy parameter is identified to characterize the liquid-solid interface interaction, above which two-dimensional and three-dimensional coexisting ice can surprisingly form on the surface.

Deswelling Mechanisms of PNIPAM Grafted in Nanochannels: A Molecular Dynamics Simulation Study.

Porous thermosensitive hydrogels exhibit a more flexible strategy for freshwater capture compared to conventional hydrogels. This study employs molecular dynamics (MD) simulation to investigate the deswelling behavior of poly(-isopropylacrylamide) (PNIPAM) grafted within the nanochannel, aiming to elucidate the deswelling elimination process at various temperatures. Notably, a distinct phase separation is observed at specific temperatures above the lower solution temperature (LCST).

Overexpression of tocopherol biosynthesis genes in guayule (Parthenium argentatum) reduces rubber, resin and argentatins content in stem and leaf tissues.

Natural rubber produced in stems of the guayule plant (Parthenium argentatum) is susceptible to post-harvest degradation from microbial or thermo-oxidative processes, especially once stems are chipped. As a result, the time from harvest to extraction must be minimized to recover high quality rubber, especially in warm summer months. Tocopherols are natural antioxidants produced in plants through the shikimate and methyl-erythtiol-4-phosphate (MEP) pathways.

Does cannabis elevate cancer risk? : Evidence from Mendelian randomization.

Background: Cannabis use is increasing annually but the relationship between cannabis use and cancer incidence is not uniform because of confounding factors. We aimed to assess the effect of cannabis use on cancer risk using a two-sample Mendelian randomization (MR) approach.

Methods: Secondary data analyses were performed on pooled data based on Genome-Wide Association Study (GWAS), selecting data from the ICC and UK-Biobank and 23andMeInc lifetime cannabis use and cannabis use disorder related to the substance use disorders working group from the Psychiatric Genomics Consortium, then selecting highly correlated SNPs as instrumental variables.

Evaluation of the oral bioaccessibility of legacy and emerging brominated flame retardants in indoor dust.

Indoor dust is the main source of human exposure to brominated flame retardants (BFRs). In this study, in vitro colon-extended physiologically-based extraction test (CE-PBET) with Tenax as a sorptive sink was applied to evaluate the oral bioaccessibility of twenty-two polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) and seven novel BFRs (NBFRs) via indoor dust ingestion. The mean bioaccessibilities of two NBFRs pentabromotoluene (PBT) and 1,2-Bis(2,4,6-tribromophenoxy) ethane (BTBPE) were first proposed, reaching 36.

The relationship between antidepressants and breast cancer: evidence from Mendelian randomization.

Background: The use of antidepressants has increased over the years, but the relationship between antidepressant use and the risk of breast cancer is not uniform because of confounding factors. We aimed to assess the effect of antidepressants on breast cancer risk using a two-sample Mendelian randomization (MR) approach.stet METHODS: Secondary data analysis was performed on pooled data from genome-wide association studies based on single-nucleotide polymorphisms that were highly correlated with antidepressants, SSRI drugs, and serotonin and prolactin levels were selected as instrumental variables to evaluate the association between antidepressants and SSRI drugs and prolactin levels with breast cancer and ER+/ER- breast cancer.

Adjunctive effect of compound Kushen injection for cancer: An overview of systematic reviews.

Ethnopharmacological Relevance: Compound Kushen (Sophora flavescens Aiton) Injection (CKI) is a Chinese herbal injection made from extracts of Kushen and Baituling (Heterosmilax japonica Kunth), containing matrine (MAT), oxymatrine (OMT) and other alkaloids with significant anti-tumor activity, and is widely used as an adjuvant treatment for cancer in China.

Aim Of The Study: The existing systematic reviews/meta-analyses (SRs/MAs) were re-evaluated to provide a reference for the clinical application of CKI.

Materials And Methods: SRs/MAs of CKI adjuvant therapy for cancer-related diseases were searched in four English language databases: PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, and Cochrane Library, all from the time of database construction to October 2022.

Effects of Traditional Chinese Medicine Injections for Anthracyclines-induced Cardiotoxicity: An Overview of Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses.

Introduction: Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) injections, as a relatively safe and low-cost treatment, have been widely used in the prevention and treatment of anthracyclines-induced cardiotoxicity in China. However, the quality of the relevant systematic reviews and meta-analyses published in recent years is uneven, so that the effectiveness and safety of TCM injections in preventing and treating anthracyclines-induced cardiotoxicity remain to be discussed. A systematic overview is therefore needed to provide a more advanced evidentiary reference for clinical practice.

Porcine endogenous retrovirus: classification, molecular structure, regulation, function, and potential risk in xenotransplantation.

Xenotransplantation with porcine organs has been recognized as a promising solution to alleviate the shortage of organs for human transplantation. Porcine endogenous retrovirus (PERV), whose proviral DNAs are integrated in the genome of all pig breeds, is a main microbiological risk for xenotransplantation. Over the last decades, some advances on PERVs' studies have been achieved.

Quercetin alleviates Mycoplasma gallisepticum-induced inflammatory damage and oxidative stress through inhibition of TLR2/MyD88/NF-κB pathway in vivo and in vitro.

Chronic respiratory disease (CRD) caused by Mycoplasma gallisepticum (MG) in chickens leads to enormous economic damage to the poultry industry yearly. The active components and mechanism of action of the traditional herbal remedy Ephedra houttuynia powder (EHP), which had been approved for clinical treatment against MG infection in China, remain unknown. In this study, the active components of EHP against MG were screened using a network pharmacological method, additionally, we studied the mechanism of action of the screened results (quercetin (QUE)).

Zinc deficiency compromises the maturational competence of porcine oocyte by inducing mitophagy and apoptosis.

Zinc, an essential trace mineral, plays a pivotal role in cell proliferation, maintenance of redox homeostasis, apoptosis, and aging. Serum zinc concentrations are reduced in patients with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). However, the underlying mechanism of the effects of zinc deficiency on the female reproductive system, especially oocyte quality, has not been fully elucidated.

Mechanobiology Platform Realized Using Photomechanical Mxene Nanocomposites: Bilayer Photoactuator Design and In Vitro Mechanical Forces Stimulation.

Mechanotransduction is the process by which cells convert external forces and physical constraints into biochemical signals that control several aspects of cellular behavior. A number of approaches have been proposed to investigate the mechanisms of mechanotransduction; however, it remains a great challenge to develop a platform for dynamic multivariate mechanical stimulation of single cells and small colonies of cells. In this study, we combined polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) and PDMS/Mxene nanoplatelets (MNPs) to construct a soft bilayer nanocomposite for extracellular mechanical stimulation.

Polypharmacology-based approach for screening TCM against coinfection of and .

Natural products and their unique polypharmacology offer significant advantages for finding novel therapeutics particularly for the treatment of complex diseases. Meanwhile, Traditional Chinese Medicine exerts overall clinical benefits through a multi-component and multi-target approach. In this study, we used the previously established co-infection model of and as a representative of complex diseases.

Exposure to phenanthrene affects oocyte meiosis by inducing mitochondrial dysfunction and endoplasmic reticulum stress.

Objectives: Phenanthrene (PHE) is one of the most abundant polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), which is a widespread environmental contaminant. Various studies showed that PHE has adverse impacts on animals and human health. It has been shown that PHE exposure induced follicular atresia and endocrine dyscrasia in female mice.