MT-100, a human Tie2-agonistic antibody, improves penile neurovasculature in diabetic mice via the novel target Srpx2.

Diabetes is an incurable, chronic disease that can lead to many complications, including angiopathy, peripheral neuropathy, and erectile dysfunction (ED). The angiopoietin-Tie2 signaling pathway plays a critical role in blood vessel development, formation, remodeling, and peripheral nerve regeneration. Therefore, strategies for activating the Tie2 signaling pathway have been developed as potential therapies for neurovascular diseases.

Associations of genetic variation and mRNA expression of PDGF/PDGFRB pathway genes with coronary artery disease in the Chinese population.

Platelet-derived growth factors (PDGFs) and receptors (PDGFR) play a key role in the process of coronary atherosclerosis. We aimed to investigate the association of genetic variations and mRNA expressions of PDGF/PDGFRB pathway genes with coronary artery disease (CAD). In this case-control study (3139 CAD vs.

capD deletion in the Elizabethkingia miricola capsular locus leads to capsule production deficiency and reduced virulence.

Elizabethkingia miricola is a multidrug-resistant pathogen that can cause life-threatening infections in immunocompromised humans and outbreaks in amphibians. However, the specific virulence factors of this microorganism have not been described. In this study, we identified the polysaccharide biosynthesis protein-encoding gene capD, which is located in the conserved region of the Wzy-dependent capsule synthesis gene cluster in the E.

Mendelian randomization reveals that abnormal lipid metabolism mediates the causal relationship between body mass index and keratoconus.

Previous studies suggest that a high body mass index (BMI) may be a risk factor for keratoconus (KC), but the causal relationship remains unclear. This study used Mendelian randomization (MR) to investigate this connection and explore the mediating role of circulating serum metabolites and inflammatory factors in this association. Two-sample MR analysis was conducted to assess the relationship between BMI and KC.

Endoplasmic reticulum stress response pathway-mediated cell death in ovarian cancer.

The endoplasmic reticulum (ER) is one of the largest organelles, and Endoplasmic Reticulum Stress Response Pathway is a series of responses triggered by the homeostatic imbalance of the ER and the state in which unfolded or misfolded proteins accumulate in the ER, which can trigger cell death. Cell death plays a crucial role in the development of diseases such as gynecological oncology. Herein, we review the current research on the response and ovarian cancer, discussing the key sensors (IRE1, PERK, ATF6), and the conditions under which it occurs (Ca homeostasis disruption, hypoxia, others).

Density modification of DNAPL using self-demulsifying colloidal biliquid aphron: Kinetics, mechanisms and influencing factors.

Density-modification remediation of dense nonaqueous phase liquid (DNAPL) using colloidal biliquid aphron (CBLA) is an efficient means of enhancing flushing and avoiding the risk of downward migration of DNAPL. However, the use of demulsifier is currently necessary for CBLA to achieve density modification. This leads to issues such as low modification efficiency and the risk of secondary contamination.

Genetic variants and mRNA expression of and with hypertension: A combination of case-control study and cohort study.

Hypertension (HT) is a major risk factor for cardiovascular diseases. Krüppel-like factors (KLFs) are important transcription factors in eukaryotes. Studies have reported that KLF4 and KLF5 are correlated with several cardiovascular diseases, whereas population studies for associations between HT and KLF4 or KLF5 have been rarely reported.

Unravelling sorghum functional genomics and molecular breeding: past achievements and future prospects.

Sorghum, renowned for its substantial biomass production and remarkable tolerance to various stresses, possesses extensive gene resources and phenotypic variations. A comprehensive understanding of the genetic basis underlying complex agronomic traits is essential for unlocking the potential of sorghum in addressing food and feed security and utilizing marginal lands. In this context, we provide an overview of the major trends in genomic resource studies focusing on key agronomic traits over the past decade, accompanied by a summary of functional genomic platforms.

Exploring the causal relationship between body mass index and keratoconus: a Mendelian randomization study.

Background: Despite reports suggesting a link between obesity and keratoconus, the causal relationship is not fully understood.

Methods: We used genome-wide association study (GWAS) data from public databases for a two-sample Mendelian randomization analysis to investigate the causal link between body mass index (BMI) and keratoconus. The primary method was inverse variance weighted (IVW), complemented by different analytical techniques and sensitivity analyses to ensure result robustness.

Heparin-binding epidermal growth factor-like growth factor improves erectile function in streptozotocin-induced diabetic mice.

Background: Heparin-binding epidermal growth factor-like growth factor (HB-EGF) serves as a pro-angiogenic factor; however, there is to our knowledge currently no reported research on the relationship between HB-EGF and diabetic erectile dysfunction (ED).

Aim: In this study we aimed to determine whether HB-EGF can improve the erectile function of streptozotocin-induced diabetic mice and to explore the related mechanisms.

Methods: Eight-week-old male C57BL/6 mice were used for diabetes induction.

Does a high peritoneal cancer index lead to a worse prognosis of patients with advanced ovarian cancer?: a systematic review and meta-analysis based on the latest evidence.

Background: The newest clinical evidence that the relationship between the peritoneal cancer index (PCI) and the postoperative prognosis of advanced ovarian cancer patients remains controversial, and there are no large-sample and multicenter studies to clarify this matter. Therefore, in this paper, we used meta-analysis to systematically assess the postoperative prognostic value of PCI in subjects with advanced ovarian cancer to provide individualized treatment plans and thus improve the prognosis of patients.

Methods: Literature on the correlation between PCI and the postoperative prognosis in subjects with advanced OC undergoing cytoreductive surgery (CRS) was searched in the Cochrane Library, Pubmed, Embase, and Web of Science from the database inception to April 20, 2023.

Multicenter Validation of lncRNA and Target mRNA Diagnostic and Prognostic Biomarkers of Acute Ischemic Stroke From Peripheral Blood Leukocytes.

Background: Long noncoding RNA (lncRNA) and mRNA profiles in leukocytes have shown potential as biomarkers for acute ischemic stroke (AIS). This study aimed to identify altered lncRNA and target mRNA profiles in peripheral blood leukocytes as biomarkers and to assess the diagnostic value and association with AIS prognosis.

Methods And Results: Differentially expressed lncRNAs (DElncRNAs) and differentially expressed target mRNAs (DEmRNAs) were screened by RNA sequencing in the discovery set, which consisted of 10 patients with AIS and 20 controls.

Argonaute 2 restored erectile function and corpus cavernosum mitochondrial function by reducing apoptosis in a mouse model of cavernous nerve injury.

Purpose: To determine whether the overexpression of the Argonaute RNA-induced silencing complex catalytic component 2 (Ago2) improves erectile function in mice after cavernous nerve injury (CNI).

Materials And Methods: Lentiviruses containing open reading frame (ORF) mouse clone (Ago2 O/E) were used to overexpress Ago2, and lentiviruses ORF negative control particles (NC) were used as a negative control. Three days before preparing the CNI model, we injected lentiviruses into the penises of 8-week-old male C57BL/6 mice.

Enhancing sorption kinetics by oriented and single crystalline array-structured ZSM-5 film on monoliths.

To enhance the reaction kinetics without sacrificing activity in porous materials, one potential solution is to utilize the anisotropic distribution of pores and channels besides enriching active centers at the reactive surfaces. Herein, by designing a unique distribution of oriented pores and single crystalline array structures in the presence of abundant acid sites as demonstrated in the ZSM-5 nanorod arrays grown on monoliths, both enhanced dynamics and improved capacity are exhibited simultaneously in propene capture at low temperature within a short duration. Meanwhile, the ZSM-5 array also helps mitigate the long-chain HCs and coking formation due to the enhanced diffusion of reactants in and reaction products out of the array structures.

A literature review on signaling pathways of cervical cancer cell death-apoptosis induced by Traditional Chinese Medicine.

Ethnopharmacological Relevance: Cervical cancer (CC) is a potentially lethal disorder that can have serious consequences for a woman's health. Because early symptoms are typically only present in the middle to late stages of the disease, clinical diagnosis and treatment can be challenging. Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) has been shown to have unique benefits in terms of alleviating cancer clinical symptoms, lowering the risk of recurrence after surgery, and reducing toxic side effects and medication resistance after radiation therapy.

Exploring the role of Chinese herbal medicine in the long-term management of postoperative ovarian endometriotic cysts: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background: Ovarian endometriotic cysts (OEC) represent the primary manifestation of endometriosis, constituting a hormonally dependent inflammatory disorder in gynecology. It significantly affects the quality of life and reproductive health of women. It is worth noting that traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), especially Chinese herbal medicine (CHM), has been widely applied in mainland China due to its unique therapeutic system and commendable clinical efficacy, bringing new hope for preventing and managing OEC.

Coordination of water use strategies and leaf economic traits in coexisting exotic and native woody species from evergreen and deciduous broadleaf forests.

The leaf economics spectrum (LES) describes the covariation of traits relevant for carbon and nutrient economy in different plant species. However, much less is known about the correlation of LES with leaf water economy, not only because some woody species do not follow the rules, but also because they are rarely tested on the widespread, non-native, fast-growing trees. We hypothesized that fast-growing exotic species that spread on the fast side of the LES coordinate their water-use strategies (WUS) to maintain rapid growth, and that the pattern of coordination differs between evergreen and deciduous forests.

Maize auxin response factor ZmARF1 confers multiple abiotic stresses resistances in transgenic Arabidopsis.

Prolonged exposure to abiotic stresses causes oxidative stress, which affects plant development and survival. In this research, the overexpression of ZmARF1 improved tolerance to low Pi, drought and salinity stresses. The transgenic plants manifested tolerance to low Pi by their superior root phenotypic traits: root length, root tips, root surface area, and root volume, compared to wide-type (WT) plants.

Autistic adults in China and the Netherlands: Proxy-reported community integration and life satisfaction.

Even though there are about 10 million Chinese autistic individuals, we know little about autistic adults in China. This study examined how well young autistic adults in China integrate into their communities (such as having a job, living independently and having friends) and how satisfied they are with their lives as reported by their caregivers. We compared them to autistic adults with similar characteristics (such as high support needs) from the Netherlands.

Broad-band-enhanced plasmonic random laser in silver nanostar arrays.

As a novel optical device, the plasmonic random laser has unique working principle and emission characteristics. However, the simultaneous enhancement of absorption and emission by plasmons is still a problem. In this paper, we propose a broad-band-enhanced plasmonic random laser.

Semaglutide ameliorates cardiac remodeling in male mice by optimizing energy substrate utilization through the Creb5/NR4a1 axis.

Semaglutide, a glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonist, is clinically used as a glucose-lowering and weight loss medication due to its effects on energy metabolism. In heart failure, energy production is impaired due to altered mitochondrial function and increased glycolysis. However, the impact of semaglutide on cardiomyocyte metabolism under pressure overload remains unclear.