All-natural-molecule, bioluminescent photodynamic therapy results in complete tumor regression and prevents metastasis.

Self-luminescent photodynamic therapy (PDT) has gained attention owing to its potential to enable effective phototherapy without the bottleneck of shallow light penetration into tissues. However, the biosafety concerns and low cytotoxic effect of self-luminescent reagents in vivo have been problems. Here, we demonstrate efficacious bioluminescence (BL)-PDT by using bioluminescence resonance energy transfer (BRET) conjugates of a clinically approved photosensitizer, Chlorin e6, and a luciferase, Renilla reniformis; both derived from biocompatible, natural molecules.

Integrated network pharmacology and molecular docking analyses of the mechanisms underlying the antihypertensive effects of lotusine.

Hypertension is a modifiable cardiovascular risk factor and cause of death worldwide. Lotusine, an alkaloid extracted from a plant used in traditional Chinese Medicine, has shown anti-hypertensive effects. However, its therapeutic efficacy requires further investigation.

Arrhythmias Beyond Atrial Fibrillation Detection Using Smartwatches: A Systematic Review.

Background: Over the past few years, smartwatches have become increasingly popular in the monitoring of arrhythmias. Although the detection of atrial fibrillation with smartwatches has been the subject of various articles, there is no comprehensive research on the detection of arrhythmias other than atrial fibrillation. In this study, we included individual cases from the literature to identify the characteristics of patients with smartwatch-detected arrhythmias other than atrial fibrillation.

Noncoding RNA Regulation of Hormonal and Metabolic Systems in the Fruit Fly .

The importance of RNAs is commonly recognised thanks to protein-coding RNAs, whereas non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs) were conventionally regarded as 'junk'. In the last decade, ncRNAs' significance and roles are becoming noticeable in various biological activities, including those in hormonal and metabolic regulation. Among the ncRNAs: microRNA (miRNA) is a small RNA transcript with ~20 nucleotides in length; long non-coding RNA (lncRNA) is an RNA transcript with >200 nucleotides; and circular RNA (circRNA) is derived from back-splicing of pre-mRNA.

Small RNAs in Cnidaria: A review.

As fundamental components of RNA silencing, small RNA (sRNA) molecules ranging from 20 to 32 nucleotides in length have been found as potent regulators of gene expression and genome stability in many biological processes of eukaryotes. Three major small RNAs are active in animals, including the microRNA (miRNA), short interfering RNA (siRNA), and PIWI-interacting RNA (piRNA). Cnidarians, the sister group to bilaterians, are at a critical phylogenetic node to better model eukaryotic small RNA pathway evolution.

Efficacy and safety of lenalidomide in HIV-associated cryptococcal meningitis patients with persistent intracranial inflammation: an open-label, single-arm, prospective interventional study.

Background: Patients with human immunodeficiency virus-associated cryptococcal meningitis (HIV-CM) have persistent intracranial inflammation despite negative cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) fungal cultures after optimal treatment for CM, which could be devastating for the central nervous system. However, a definitive treatment strategy for persistent intracranial inflammation despite optimal antifungal therapies is undefined.

Methods: We identified 14 HIV-CM patients with persistent intracranial inflammation and conducted a 24-week, prospective, interventional study.

Results From a Randomized, Open-Label, Crossover Study Evaluating the Effect of the Aldosterone Synthase Inhibitor Baxdrostat on the Pharmacokinetics of Metformin in Healthy Human Subjects.

Background: Due to the high comorbidity of diabetes and hypertension, co-administration of metformin with anti-hypertensive drugs is likely. Baxdrostat is an aldosterone synthase inhibitor in development for the potential treatment of hypertension. In vitro data indicated that baxdrostat inhibits the multidrug and toxin extrusion 1 (MATE1) and MATE2-K renal transporters.

Serum testosterone and sex hormone-binding globulin are inversely associated with leucocyte telomere length in men: a cross-sectional analysis of the UK Biobank study.

Objective: Older men on an average have lower testosterone concentrations, compared with younger men, and more age-related comorbidities. Whether lower testosterone concentrations contribute to biological ageing remains unclear. Shorter telomeres are a marker for biological age.

Metformin use and hospital attendance-related resources utilization among diabetic patients with prostate cancer on androgen deprivation therapy: A population-based cohort study.

Background: Androgen deprivation therapy (ADT), used increasingly in the treatment of prostate cancer (PCa), negatively influences glycemic control in diabetes and is associated with an increased risk of diabetes complications where hospitalization commonly ensues. Metformin could decrease the metabolic consequences of ADT and enhance its effect. This study examined the association of metformin use with healthcare resources utilization among diabetic, PCa patients receiving ADT.

Tuning the Local Coordination of CoPS between NiAs- and MnP-Type Structures to Catalyze Lithium-Sulfur Batteries.

The slow conversion and rapid shuttling of polysulfides remain major challenges that hinder the practical application of lithium-sulfur (Li-S) batteries. Efficient catalysts are needed to accelerate the conversion and suppress the shuttling. However, the lack of a rational understanding of catalysis poses obstacles to the design of catalysts, thereby limiting the rapid development of Li-S batteries.

A pleiotropic QTL increased economic water use efficiency in bread wheat ( L.).

Wheat is one of the most important food crops in the world and drought can severely impact on wheat productivity. The identification and deployment of genes for improved water use efficiency (WUE) can help alleviate yield loss under water limitation. In this study, a high-density genetic linkage map of wheat recombinant inbred lines (Ningchun 4 x Ningchun 27) containing 8751 specific locus amplified fragment (SLAF) tags (including 14757 SNPs), with a total map distance of 1685 cM and an average inter-marker map distance of 0.

Stigma receptors control intraspecies and interspecies barriers in Brassicaceae.

Flowering plants have evolved numerous intraspecific and interspecific prezygotic reproductive barriers to prevent production of unfavourable offspring. Within a species, self-incompatibility (SI) is a widely utilized mechanism that rejects self-pollen to avoid inbreeding depression. Interspecific barriers restrain breeding between species and often follow the SI × self-compatible (SC) rule, that is, interspecific pollen is unilaterally incompatible (UI) on SI pistils but unilaterally compatible (UC) on SC pistils.

Chemotherapy refusal and subsequent survival in healthy older women with high genomic risk estrogen receptor-positive breast cancer.

Background: Patients with estrogen receptor (ER)-positive, HER2-negative breast cancer (BC), and high-risk 21-gene recurrence score (RS) results benefit from chemotherapy. We evaluated chemotherapy refusal and survival in healthy older women with high-RS, ER-positive BC.

Methods: Retrospective review of the National Cancer Database (2010-2017) identified women ≥ 65 years of age, with ER-positive, HER2-negative, high-RS (≥ 26) BC.

Anti-Inflammatory Effects of the 35kDa Hyaluronic Acid Fragment (B-HA/HA35).

Background: Hyaluronic acid (HA) and HA fragments interact with a variety of human body receptors and are involved in the regulation of various physiological functions and leukocyte trafficking in the body. Accordingly, the development of an injectable HA fragment with good tissue permeability, the identification of its indications, and molecular mechanisms are of great significance for its clinical application. The previous studies showed that the clinical effects of injectable 35kDa B-HA result from B-HA binding to multiple receptors in different cells, tissues, and organs.

Epidemiological profile of malnutrition status and spatial distribution of children and adolescents living with HIV/AIDS in Tanzania.

Objectives: To determine the prevalence of malnutrition status, analyse the association between malnutrition status and individual-level factors, and explore the spatial variation among children and adolescents living with HIV/AIDS in Tanzania.

Methods: The study is based on large-scale baseline routine data from the National AIDS Control Programme on people living with HIV from January 2016 to December 2021 in mainland Tanzania. 70,102 children and adolescents aged 5-19 years receiving active antiretroviral therapy were included in the analysis.

PM induces the abnormal lipid metabolism and leads to atherosclerosis via Notch signaling pathway in rats.

PM can affect the lipid metabolism and cause atherosclerosis. Abnormal lipid metabolism is a sever risk factor of atherosclerosis and the underlying molecular mechanism still remains unclear. In this study, GPL16956 Agilent-045997 Arraystar human lncRNA microarray V3 (Probe Name Version) platform was used to detect the different genes of lipid metabolism between the normal arterial intima and advanced atherosclerotic plaque, which were downloaded from GEO database.

HbA1c Variability and Cardiovascular Events in Patients with Prostate Cancer Receiving Androgen Deprivation Therapy.

Background: Androgen deprivation therapy (ADT) worsens glycaemic control and cardiovascular outcomes. The prognostic value of visit-to-visit HbA1c variability (VVHV) has been unexplored in prostate cancer (PCa) patients receiving ADT.

Objective: To explore the effect of ADT on VVHV and the cardiovascular prognostic value of VVHV.