Probiotics combined with prebiotics alleviated seasonal allergic rhinitis by altering the composition and metabolic function of intestinal microbiota: a prospective, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial.

Background: Numerous studies have established that probiotics or prebiotics can relieve the symptoms of allergic rhinitis (AR), but their mechanism of action remain underexplored. This study aimed to observe the clinical efficacy of probiotics combined with prebiotics in seasonal AR patients and explore their underlying mechanisms.

Methods: We conducted a prospective, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial.

Optimization of ultrasound-mediated DNA transfer for bacteria and preservation of frozen competent cells.

Unlabelled: The transformation of DNA into cells is the basis of molecular biology. Commonly employed techniques include heat shock transformation, electro-transformation, conjugation, transduction, and protoplast fusion. Recently, ultrasonic transformation technology has been developed to transfer DNA into competent cells.

Comparison of lncRNA Expression in the Uterus between Periods of Embryo Implantation and Labor in Mice.

Uterine function during pregnancy is regulated mainly by progesterone (P4) and estrogen (E2). Serum P4 levels are known to fluctuate significantly over the course of pregnancy, especially during embryo implantation and labor. In this study, pregnant mice at E0.

Superelongation of Liquid Metal.

The ability to control interfacial tension electrochemically is uniquely available for liquid metals (LMs), in particular gallium-based LM alloys. This imparts them with excellent locomotion and deformation capabilities and enables diverse applications. However, electrochemical oxidation of LM is a highly dynamic process, which often induces Marangoni instabilities that make it almost impossible to elongate LM and manipulate its morphology directly and precisely on a 2D plane without the assistance of other patterning methods.

Programmable Digital Liquid Metal Droplets in Reconfigurable Magnetic Fields.

Gallium-based liquid metals exhibit excellent locomotion and deformation capabilities under external stimuli and has potential in developing intelligent robots. Programing the locomotion and morphology of the Liquid metal (LM) to endow it with functionalities and intelligence as robots is charming but remains challenging. In this study, we develop a programmable digital LM (PDLM) control platform that can realize versatile locomotion and morphological manipulation of magnetic LM (MLM) droplets using arrays of electromagnets.

SETD7 promotes TNF-α-induced proliferation and migration of airway smooth muscle cells in vitro through enhancing NF-κB/CD38 signaling.

The inflammation-induced the excessive proliferation and migration of airway smooth muscle (ASM) cells in the airway wall contribute to airway remodeling in asthma pathogenesis. SET domain-containing lysine methyltransferase 7 (SETD7) has emerged as one of the key regulators of inflammation. Yet, the function of SETD7 in regulating inflammation-induced ASM cell proliferation and invasion remains unclear.

Serum cystatin C as a potential biomarker for the evaluation COPD.

Background: Imbalance between protease-antiprotease plays an important role in the pathogenesis of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Cystatin C in circulating blood is a cysteine protease inhibitor and contributes to elastolysis and tissue destruction.

Objectives: The aims of the present study were to investigate whether cystatin C was a promising biomarker for the evaluation and follow-up of patients with COPD.

Combination therapy with losartan and pioglitazone additively reduces renal oxidative and nitrative stress induced by chronic high fat, sucrose, and sodium intake.

We recently showed that combination therapy with losartan and pioglitazone provided synergistic effects compared with monotherapy in improving lesions of renal structure and function in Sprague-Dawley rats fed with a high-fat, high-sodium diet and 20% sucrose solution. This study was designed to explore the underlying mechanisms of additive renoprotection provided by combination therapy. Losartan, pioglitazone, and their combination were orally administered for 8 weeks.

Losartan and pioglitazone ameliorate nephropathy in experimental metabolic syndrome rats.

It is well known that metabolic syndrome (MS) is a risk factor for proteinuria and chronic kidney disease. Losartan (angiotensin II receptor blocker, ARB) and pioglitazone (peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-γ, PPARγ agonist) have been shown to confer renoprotection. However, to date, whether or not an ARB and a PPARγ agonist have synergistic renoprotective effects remains controversial.

Role of adenylate and guanylate cyclases in beta1-, beta2-, and beta3-adrenoceptor-mediated relaxation of internal anal sphincter smooth muscle.

The purpose of the present study was to ascertain the role of adenylate (AC) versus guanylate cyclase (GC) signaling pathways in the internal anal sphincter (IAS) smooth muscle relaxation by beta(1)-, beta(2)-, and beta(3)-adrenoceptor (AR) activation by xamoterol, procaterol, and disodium 5-[(2R)-2-(3-chlorophenyl)-2-hydroxy-ethyl]amino)propyl]-1,3-benzodioxole-2,2-dicarboxylate (CL 316243), respectively. The above-mentioned agonists produced concentration-dependent relaxation of the smooth muscle strips. Both the selective G(i/o)alpha and G(s)alpha antagonists 8,8'-(carbonylbis(imino-3,1-phenylene))bis-(1,3,5-naphthalene trisulfonic acid) (NF 023) and 4,4',4",4"'-(carbonylbis(imino-5,1,3-benzenetriylbis(carbonylimino)))tetrakis-benzene-1,3-disulfonic acid (NF 449), respectively, inhibited the relaxation induced by procaterol.