Molecular insights into sperm head shaping and its role in human male fertility.

Background: Sperm head shaping, controlled by the acrosome-acroplaxome-manchette complex, represents a significant morphological change during spermiogenesis and involves numerous proteins expressed in a spatially and temporally specific manner. Defects in sperm head shaping frequently lead to teratozoospermia concomitant with oligozoospermia and asthenozoospermia, but the pathogenic mechanism underlying sperm head shaping, and its role in male infertility, remain poorly understood.

Objective And Rationale: This review aims to summarize the mechanism underlying sperm head shaping, reveal the relationship between gene defects associated with sperm head shaping and male infertility in humans and mice, and explore potential clinical improvements in ICSI treatment.

Asymmetric Synthesis of 3-Substituted Isoindolinones by Direct Alkylation of Chiral --Butylsulfinyl-isoindolinones.

A straightforward, versatile, and efficient method for the asymmetric synthesis of 3-substituted isoindolinones is described. In this method, a series of ()-2-(-butylsulfinyl)-isoindolin-1-ones were synthesized from the corresponding methyl 2-formylbenzoates in two steps with overall yields of 71-78%. Deprotonation of these compounds using LDA and the subsequent alkylation of the resulting carbanions with various alkylating agents afforded a series of 3-substituted isoindolinones in excellent yields and high diastereomeric ratios.

Fueling the development of elderly care services in China with digital technology: A provincial panel data analysis.

Background: The global demographic shift towards an aging population presents significant challenges to elderly care cervices, which encompass the range of services designed to meet the health and social needs of older adults. Particularly in China, the aging society's diverse needs are often met with service inadequacies and inefficient resource allocation within the elderly care cervices framework.

Objective: This study aims to investigate the transformative potential of digital technology, which includes innovations such as e-commerce, cloud computing, and artificial intelligence, on elderly care cervices in China.

Biomimetic Square Pyramidal N-Fe-N Single Sites with Optimized Electron Distribution for the Efficient Oxygen Reduction Reaction.

Single atom iron-nitrogen-carbon (Fe-N-C) catalysts with a planar Fe─N structure are widely investigated as potential alternatives to platinum-based materials for oxygen reduction reaction (ORR), while they still suffer from the imperfect adsorption and activation of reaction intermediates, limiting their reduction efficiency. Herein, a Fe single-atom catalyst with a biomimetic square pyramidal N-Fe-N site supported by honeycomb-like porous carbon (SA-FeN/HPC) is successfully prepared by a supramolecular confinement-pyrolysis strategy. Theoretical calculations unveil that the introduction of spatially axial N ligands effectively regulates the charge redistribution around the planar Fe─N active centers and confers Fe active moieties with appropriate adsorption strength for intermediates, thereby resulting in accelerated ORR kinetics.

Constructing a 3D co-culture synovial tissue model for rheumatoid arthritis research.

The development and exploration of highly effective drugs for rheumatoid arthritis remains an urgent necessity. However, current disease research models are no longer sufficient to meet the rapid development of high-throughput drug screening. In this study, bacterial cellulose simulating the structure of extracellular matrix was used as a 3D culture platform, and THP-1-derived M1 macrophages, representing the inflammatory component, human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs), simulating the vascular component, and rheumatoid arthritis fibroblast-like synoviocytes (RA-FLSs), embodying the synovial pathology, were co-cultured to simulate the pathological microenvironment in RA synovial tissues, and synovial organoids were constructed.

Strong Electron-Withdrawing Effect Activates Metal-Free Carboxylate Anion into Efficient Active Sites for Electrocatalytic Acetylene Semihydrogenation.

The exploration of novel and high-performance organo-electrocatalysts with well-defined active sites is vital for understanding catalytic mechanisms and replacing metal-based catalysts, but remains a formidable challenge. Here, we report metal-free trifluoroacetate as a new organo-electrocatalyst, where the strong electron-withdrawing trifluoromethyl (-CF) group intrinsically transforms the neighboring carboxylate anions (-COO) into highly efficient active sites for electrocatalytic acetylene semihydrogenation. The electrophilic acetylene molecule bonds to the negatively charged O sites of the carboxylate anion via the σ-configuration.

Lactylation of HDAC1 Confers Resistance to Ferroptosis in Colorectal Cancer.

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is highly resistant to ferroptosis, which hinders the application of anti-ferroptosis therapy. Through drug screening, it is found that histone deacetylase inhibitor (HDACi) significantly sensitized CRC to ferroptosis. The combination of HDACi and ferroptosis inducers synergically suppresses CRC growth both in vivo and in vitro.

The Application of Benziodazole-Type ONO-I(III) Compound as a Nitrating Reagent for Nitration of Phenols and Anilines.

A benziodazole-type ONO-I(III) compound was used as a nitrating reagent to react with a series of electron-rich arenes including substituted phenols and anilines, affording the corresponding nitration products under mild conditions. Mechanistically, ONO-I(III) compound generates the reactive nitrogen dioxide (NO) species, which enables the nitration of phenols and anilines.

Review of pretreatment and analytical methods for environmental endocrine disruptors: Phthalates.

Phthalates, known as phthalate esters (PAEs), are among the most ubiquitous pervasive env7ironmental endocrine disruptors (EEDs), extensively utilized globally in various facets of modern life due to their irreplaceable role as plasticizers. The exponential production and utilization of plastic goods have substantially escalated plastic waste accumulation. Consequently, PAEs have infiltrated the environment, contaminating food and drinking water reservoirs, posing notable threats to human health.

Risk assessment of potentially toxic elements, microplastics, and microorganisms in groundwater around municipal solid waste landfill.

Risk assessment of potential toxic elements (PTEs), microplastics (MPs) and microorganisms in groundwater around landfills is critical. Waste from landfills seeps into groundwater contaminating water quality, threatening groundwater safety, and negatively affecting the ecosystem. This study explored spatial and temporal changes in PTEs, MPs, and microorganisms in the groundwater around a closed landfill.

Enhancing Fruit Resistance against Fungal Pathogens Using a Pathogen-Associated Molecular Pattern PdEIX.

Fruit is an essential part of the human diet, and postharvest fungal diseases are the major cause of fruit postharvest losses worldwide. Pathogen-associated molecular patterns (PAMPs) are important elicitors from microbes, and the recognition between microbial PAMPs and plant receptors leads to PAMP-triggered immunity. Here, we identified a PAMP, PdEIX, that is an important protein elicitor with plant immunity-inducing activity, from the citrus green mold pathogen .

IL-37 Isoform A Prevents Collagen-Induced Arthritis in Mice by Modulating the Th17/Treg Balance via IL1R8 Receptors.

Cytokines play a complex and pivotal role in modulating synovitis in rheumatoid arthritis. Interleukin (IL)-37 is known for its extensive anti-inflammatory properties that set it apart from the majority of other IL-1 family members. However, IL-37a, a member of the IL-37 family, lacks research into rheumatoid arthritis.

BMSC Derived Exosomes Attenuate Apoptosis of Temporomandibular Joint Disc Chondrocytes in TMJOA via PI3K/AKT Pathway.

Bone marrow mesenchymal stem cell-derived exosomes (BMSC-Exos) are crucial means of intercellular communication and can regulate a range of biological processes by reducing inflammation, decreasing apoptosis and promoting tissue repair. We treated temporomandibular joint (TMJ) disc chondrocytes with TNF-α and performed local injection of sodium iodoacetate (MIA) in the TMJ of rats to establish in vitro and in vivo models of TMJ osteoarthritis (TMJOA). BMSC-Exos were isolated and extracted to evaluate their proliferation and trilineage differentiation abilities, and their antiapoptotic and chondroprotective effects were assessed.

Suppression of ferroptosis through the SLC7A11/glutathione/glutathione peroxidase 4 axis contributes to the therapeutic action of the Tangshenning formula on diabetic renal tubular injury.

Background: Tangshenning (TSN) is a safe and effective formula to treat diabetic nephropathy (DN), and clinical studies have demonstrated that its therapeutic effects are related to oxidative stress improvements in patients. Herein, this study aims to explore the potential mechanism of how TSN alleviates diabetic renal tubular injury.

Methods: The ultrahigh pressure liquid chromatography-quadrupole-time of flight mass spectrometry (UPLC-QTOF/MS) was used to identify the chemical composition and serum components of TSN.

miRNASNP-v4: a comprehensive database for miRNA-related SNPs across 17 species.

Single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) within microRNAs (miRNAs) and their target binding sites can influence miRNA biogenesis and target regulation, thereby participating in a variety of diseases and biological processes. Current miRNA-related SNP databases are often species-limited or based on outdated data. Therefore, we updated our miRNASNP database to version 4 by updating data, expanding the species from Homo sapiens to 17 species, and introducing several new features.

Chitosan nanoparticles loaded with royal jelly: Characterization, antioxidant, antibacterial activities and in vitro digestion.

Nano-embedding has appeared as a feasible technology to improve the high-quality utilization of royal jelly (RJ). Therefore, the ionic gelation method was proposed to prepared chitosan nanoparticles loaded with royal jelly (RJNPs) and the characterization and biological activity of RJNPs were evaluated in this study. Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy, differential scanning calorimetry and X-ray diffraction results showed that the methyl and methylene groups of royal jelly combine with the amino groups of chitosan (CS) to become an amorphous polymer.

Jianwei Shoutai Pills alleviates miscarriage by modulating gut microbial production of BAs and NLRP3-inflammasome at the maternal-fetal interface of rats.

Background: Miscarriage has the characteristics of recurrent attacks and complex etiology, so it is gradually attracted the wide attention of scholars in the fields of reproduction. Potential association between gut microbiome (GM) and pregnancy disorders has been investigated. Jianwei Shoutai pills (JWP), as a representative formula, have been proven to have protective effect in both clinical and experimental research in miscarriage.

Identification of cancer stem cell-related genes through single cells and machine learning for predicting prostate cancer prognosis and immunotherapy.

Background: Cancer stem cells (CSCs) are a subset of cells within tumors that possess the unique ability to self-renew and give rise to diverse tumor cells. These cells are crucial in driving tumor metastasis, recurrence, and resistance to treatment. The objective of this study was to pinpoint the essential regulatory genes associated with CSCs in prostate adenocarcinoma (PRAD) and assess their potential significance in the diagnosis, prognosis, and immunotherapy of patients with PRAD.

Electron Reservoir Effect of Adjacent Fe Nanoclusters Boosts Atomic Fe Active Sites on Porous Carbon for the Both Electrocatalytic Oxygen Reduction and CO Reduction Reaction.

Electrochemical oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) and carbon dioxide reduction reaction (CORR) are greatly significant in renewable energy-related devices and carbon-neutral closed cycle, while the development of robust and highly efficient electrocatalysts has remained challenges. Herein, a hybrid electrocatalyst, featuring axial N-coordinated Fe single atom sites on hierarchically N, P-codoped porous carbon support and Fe nanoclusters as electron reservoir (Fe/Fe-NPC), is fabricated via in situ thermal transformation of the precursor of a supramolecular polymer initiated by intermolecular hydrogen bonds co-assembly. The Fe/Fe-NPC catalyst manifests superior oxygen reduction activity with a half-wave potential of 0.