Globular adiponectin induces esophageal adenocarcinoma cell pyroptosis via the miR-378a-3p/UHRF1 axis.

Background: Antiapoptosis is a major factor in the resistance of tumor cells to chemotherapy and radiotherapy. Thus, activation of cell pyroptosis may be an effective option to deal with antiapoptotic cancers such as esophageal adenocarcinoma (EAC).

Methods: Differential expression of ubiquitin-like versus PHD and ring finger structural domain 1 (UHRF1) in EAC and near normal tissues was analyzed, as well as the prognostic impact on survival in EAC.

Self-assembled molecular network with waterwheel-like architecture: experimental and theoretical evaluation toward electron transport capabilities for optoelectronic devices.

In recent times, self-assembled electron transport materials for optoelectronic devices, both solar cells and organic light-emitting diodes (OLEDs), have been gaining much interest as they help in fabricating high-efficiency devices. However, designing organic small molecular materials with star-shaped self-assembled networks is a challenge. To achieve this sort of target, we chose triazine and benzene-1,3,5-tricarbonyl cores for developing such architecture, and we developed four molecular systems, TCpCN, TCmCN, TmCN, and TpCN.

Tuning the Liquid Crystallinity and Electroluminescence via Sulfonation of S-Annulated Perylene Tetraester.

This study presents a comparative analysis of S-annulated perylene tetraester (PTE-S) and its sulfone (PTE-SO) analogue. This sulfone modification reduced melting point and stabilized a room temperature columnar rectangular (Col) phase in contrast to its parent PTE-S which showed a crystalline behaviour at room temperature. This molecular design also leads to red-shifted absorbance and emission in comparison to PTE-S, along with a tuning of photoluminescence from sky blue to green, achieving an impressive quantum yield of 85 %.

The lncRNA lnc-TSI antagonizes sorafenib resistance in hepatocellular carcinoma via downregulating miR-4726-5p expression and upregulating KCNMA1 expression.

Acquired drug resistance is a main reason for limiting the application of sorafenib in HCC treatment. This study aimed to explore the role and mechanisms of a novel long non-coding RNA (lncRNA), lnc-TSI, in sorafenib resistance of HCC. The interaction between lnc-TSI and miR-4726-5p, and miR-4726-5p and KCNMA1 were predicted using bioinformatic tools.

Rationally heteroarylated pyridines as hole transport materials for OLEDs.

The advancement in developing highly efficient hole transport materials for OLED devices has been a challenge over the past several years. For an efficient OLED device, there should be an efficient promotion of charge carriers from each electrode and effective confinement of triplet excitons in the emissive layer of the phosphorescent OLED (PhOLED). Thus, the development of stable and high triplet energy hole transport materials is in urgent demand for high-performing PhOLED devices.

Dynamic immune and exosome transcriptomic responses in patients undergoing psychostimulant methamphetamine withdrawal.

Methamphetamine (METH) addiction and withdrawal cause serious harm to both the immune system and nervous system. However, the pathogenesis remains largely unknown. Herein, we investigated the peripheral cytokines and exosomal transcriptome regulatory networks in the patients with METH use disorders (MUDs) undergoing withdrawal.

Multi-omics study reveals associations among neurotransmitter, extracellular vesicle-derived microRNA and psychiatric comorbidities during heroin and methamphetamine withdrawal.

Despite decades of research in the field of substance withdrawal, molecular biomarkers and related mechanistic study have generally been lacking. In addition to known neurotransmitters, circulating miRNAs are found in small vesicles known as exosomes within blood that have diagnostic potential and are known to contribute to psychiatric disorders. The aim of this work was to characterize the changes in neurotransmitter and exosomal miRNA profiles during heroin and methamphetamine withdrawal using a cross-sectional study design, and to determine their associations to psychiatric comorbidities in a large group of patients with substance use disorders (SUDs).

MicroRNA-1297 participates in the repair of intestinal barrier injury in patients with HIV/AIDS via negative regulation of PLCβ1.

To explore the role of the miRNA-1297/phospholipase Cβ1 (PLCβ1) axis in intestinal barrier injury. Abnormally expressed miR-1297 and its target gene PLCβ1 as well as their transcriptome sequencing were confirmed by bioinformatics analysis. Next, the intestinal barrier injury was induced by lipopolysaccharide (LPS) in the CCCHIE-2 cells.

Metformin modulates microbiota-derived inosine and ameliorates methamphetamine-induced anxiety and depression-like withdrawal symptoms in mice.

Background: Metformin exhibits therapeutic potential in behavioural deficits induced by methamphetamine (METH) in rats. Emerging studies suggest gut microbiota may impact psychiatric symptoms, but there is no direct evidence supporting metformin's participation in the pathophysiology of withdrawal symptoms via modulation of gut microbiota.

Methods: In order to define the functional impacts of gut microbiota and metformin to the behavioural deficits during METH withdrawal, we utilized a combination of fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT), high-throughput sequencing, and untargeted metabolomics technologies.

Quercetin Mitigates Methamphetamine-Induced Anxiety-Like Behavior Through Ameliorating Mitochondrial Dysfunction and Neuroinflammation.

Methamphetamine (MA) abuse results in neurotoxic outcomes, including increased anxiety and depression. Studies have reported an association between MA exposure and anxiety, nonetheless, the underlying mechanism remains elusive. In the present study, we developed a mouse model of anxiety-like behavior induced by MA administration.

Psychiatric Comorbidities and Liver Injury Are Associated With Unbalanced Plasma Bile Acid Profile During Methamphetamine Withdrawal.

Background: The pathogenesis of methamphetamine usedisorders (MUDs) remains largely unknown; however, bile acids may play arole as potential mediators of liver injury and psychiatric comorbidities.The aim of this study was to characterize bile acid (BA) profiles in plasmaof patients with MUDs undergoing withdrawal.

Methods: Liver functions and psychiatric symptoms wereevaluated in a retrospective cohort (30 MUDs versus 30 control subjects) andan exploratory cohort (30 MUDs including 10 subjects each at the 7-day,3-month, and 12-month withdrawal stages versus 10 control subjects).

Integration of Molecular Inflammatory Interactome Analyses Reveals Dynamics of Circulating Cytokines and Extracellular Vesicle Long Non-Coding RNAs and mRNAs in Heroin Addicts During Acute and Protracted Withdrawal.

Heroin addiction and withdrawal influence multiple physiological functions, including immune responses, but the mechanism remains largely elusive. The objective of this study was to investigate the molecular inflammatory interactome, particularly the cytokines and transcriptome regulatory network in heroin addicts undergoing withdrawal, compared to healthy controls (HCs). Twenty-seven cytokines were simultaneously assessed in 41 heroin addicts, including 20 at the acute withdrawal (AW) stage and 21 at the protracted withdrawal (PW) stage, and 38 age- and gender-matched HCs.

Plasma metabolites changes in male heroin addicts during acute and protracted withdrawal.

Background: Heroin addiction and withdrawal have been associated with an increased risk for infectious diseases and psychological complications. However, the changes of metabolites in heroin addicts during withdrawal remain largely unknown.

Methods: A total of 50 participants including 20 heroin addicts with acute abstinence stage, 15 with protracted abstinence stage and 15 healthy controls, were recruited.

Prognostic plasma exosomal microRNA biomarkers in patients with substance use disorders presenting comorbid with anxiety and depression.

Psychiatric disorders such as anxiety and depression precipitated by substance use occurred during both use and withdrawal. Exosomes play significant roles in biological functions and regulate numerous physiological and pathological processes in various diseases, in particular substance use disorders (SUDs) and other psychiatric disorders. To better understand the role of exosomal miRNAs in the pathology of symptoms of anxiety and depression in patients with SUDs, we first isolated circulating exosomes from heroin-dependent patients (HDPs) and methamphetamine-dependent patients (MDPs) and identified exosomal miRNAs that were differentially expressed between patients and healthy controls (HCs).

Intestinal mRNA expression profile and bioinformatics analysis in a methamphetamine-induced mouse model of inflammatory bowel disease.

Background: Methamphetamine use has become a serious global public health problem and puts increasing burdens on healthcare services. Abdominal complications caused by methamphetamine use are uncommon and often go ignored by clinicians. The exact intestinal pathological alterations and transcriptomic responses associated with methamphetamine use are not well understood.

Transcriptome sequencing analysis reveals unique and shared antitumor effects of three statins in pancreatic cancer.

Statins, a class of commonly prescribed cholesterol‑lowering medications, have been revealed to influence the risk of multiple types of cancer. However, the antitumor effects of statins on pancreatic cancer and their differential efficacy among a variety of statins are not currently well‑defined. The aim of the present study was therefore to identify and compare the genes and related biological pathways that were affected by each individual statin on pancreatic cancer.

Methamphetamine-induced alterations in intestinal mucosal barrier function occur via the microRNA-181c/ TNF-α/tight junction axis.

An enterogenic infection occurs when intestinal mucosal disruption is followed by the invasion of intestinal bacteria into the blood and distant organs, which can result in severe diseases or even death. Our previous study using Rhesus monkeys as an in vivo model revealed that methamphetamine (MA) induced intestinal mucosal barrier damage, which poses a high risk of enterogenic infection. However, how methamphetamine causes intestinal mucosal barrier damage remains largely unknown.

Methamphetamine Induces Intestinal Inflammatory Injury via Nod-Like Receptor 3 Protein (NLRP3) Inflammasome Overexpression In Vitro and In Vivo.

BACKGROUND Methamphetamine (METH), a confirmed neurotoxic drug, has also reportedly caused several intestinal inflammatory injury cases. The NLRP3 (Nod-like receptor 3 protein) inflammasome can induce several inflammatory injuries by activating IL-1ß and IL-18 when overexpressed. We designed experiments to determine whether METH can cause intestinal inflammatory injury via NLRP3 inflammasome overexpression.

Draft genome sequence analysis of a high carbapenem-resistant Klebsiella quasipneumoniae subsp. quasipneumoniae strain isolated from an HIV-positive patient with pneumonia.

Objectives: The rapid spread of Klebsiella spp. is recognised as a major threat to public health owing to a rise in the number both of healthcare- and community-acquired infections. Here we report the draft genome sequence of a high carbapenem-resistant Klebsiella quasipneumoniae subsp.

Influence of Ceramic Debris on Osteoblast Behaviors: An In Vivo Study.

Objective: Wear-induced aseptic loosening has been accepted as one of the main reasons for failure of total hip arthroplasty. Ceramic wear debris is generated following prosthesis implantation and plays an important part in the upregulation of inflammatory factors in total hip arthroplasty. The present study investigates the influence of ceramic debris on osteoblasts and inflammatory factors.

Long noncoding RNA XIST regulates the EGF receptor to promote TGF-β1-induced epithelial-mesenchymal transition in pancreatic cancer.

Background: This study focuses on the lncRNA XIST (X inactive-specific transcript), an lncRNA involved in multiple human cancers, and investigates the functional significance of XIST and the molecular mechanisms underlying the epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) in pancreatic cancer (PC).

Methods: Clinical specimens from 25 patients as well as 5 human PC cell lines were analyzed for XIST, YAP, and microRNA(miR)-34a by quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR) and immunohistochemistry. To investigate how XIST influences cell proliferation, invasiveness, and apoptosis in PC, we performed the CCK-8 assays, Transwell assays, and flow cytometry.

Overexpression of CLN3 contributes to tumour progression and predicts poor prognosis in hepatocellular carcinoma.

The aberrant expression of ceroid-lipofuscinosis 3 (CLN3) has been reported in a variety of human malignancies. However, the role of CLN3 in the progression and prognosis of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) remains unknown. In this study, we found that CLN3 was frequently upregulated in HCC clinical samples and HCC-derived cell lines and was significantly correlated with an APF serum level ≥20 μg/L, a tumour size ≥5 cm, multiple tumours, and the absence of encapsulation.

One-stage posterior approach for treating multilevel noncontiguous thoracic and lumbar spinal tuberculosis.

Objectives: Multilevel noncontiguous thoracic and lumbar spinal tuberculosis (MNST) is a relatively rare entity. The objective of this retrospective study was to investigate whether a technique involving a one-stage posterior debridement and decompression, combined with an intervertebral fusion and posterior instrumentation, is effective for treating MNST.

Methods: Thirteen patients, with an average age of 40.

Heroin Abuse Results in Shifted RNA Expression to Neurodegenerative Diseases and Attenuation of TNFα Signaling Pathway.

Repeated administration of heroin results in the induction of physical dependence, which is characterized as a behavioral state of compulsive drug seeking and a high rate of relapse even after periods of abstinence. However, few studies have been dedicated to characterization of the long-term alterations in heroin-dependent patients (HDPs). Herein, we examined the peripheral blood from 810 HDPs versus 500 healthy controls (HCs) according to the inclusion criteria.

Effects of Moisture Content and Loading Profile on Changing Properties of Bone Micro-Biomechanical Characteristics.

BACKGROUND Our study explored the influences of hydration conditions and loading methods on the mechanical properties of cortical bones and cancellous bones. MATERIAL AND METHODS Elastic modulus and hardness of human cortical bones and cancellous bones that contained different moisture levels (20%, 30%, 40%, 50%, and 60%) were measured with nanoindentation with different peak loads and loading rates. Cortical bones with 20% and 60% moisture were tested with 30 nm, 40 nm, and 50 nm peak loads at 6 nm/s, 8 nm/s, and 10 nm/s loading rates, respectively.