Metabolic signaling of ceramides through the FPR2 receptor inhibits adipocyte thermogenesis.

Ceramides play a central role in human health and disease, yet their role as systemic signaling molecules remain poorly understood. In this work, we identify FPR2 as a membrane receptor that specifically binds long-chain ceramides (C14-C20). In brown and beige adipocytes, C16:0 ceramide binding to FPR2 inhibits thermogenesis via G-cyclic AMP signaling pathways, an effect that is reversed in the absence of FPR2.

Low-dose bisphenol AF exerts slight effects on glycolipid metabolism but causes metabolic disorders under the stress of Western diet in mice.

High doses of bisphenol AF (BPAF), a widely used chemical in many products, has been reported to exert adverse effects on lipid or glucose metabolism, but whether low-dose exposure, especially in combination with a high-sugar, high-fat diet (Western diet, WD), has unacceptable effects remains unexplored. Here, we investigated the effects of postnatal exposure to 50 μg/kg/d (low) BPAF on glycolipid homeostasis in mice receiving administration through drinking water under the WD stress after weaning or not, in comparison with the effects 5000 (high) BPAF without stress. After approximately 8-week exposure, blood tests of glucose metabolism revealed that high-dose BPAF caused insulin resistance and elevated insulin levels in a normal diet (ND)-fed mice; low-dose BPAF exerted slight effects in ND-fed mice but caused significant glucose metabolic impairment under the WD stress.

Diversities of African swine fever virus host-virus dynamics revealed by single-cell profiling.

African swine fever virus (ASFV) causes epidemics with high mortality; however, effective vaccines and therapies remain missing. Here, we depict a temporal single-cell landscape of primary porcine alveolar macrophages (PAMs) exposed to three different virulent ASFV strains . We found that attenuated and low-virulence ASFV strains tend to exhibit higher viral loads than highly virulent strain, which may result from upregulated RNA polymerase subunit genes expression.

Small extracellular vesicles derived from miRNA-486 overexpressed dental pulp stem cells mitigate high altitude pulmonary edema through PTEN/PI3K/AKT/eNOS pathway.

High altitude pulmonary edema (HAPE) is a life-threatening, non-cardiogenic pulmonary edema characterized by rapid onset and high mortality. Extracellular vesicles of mesenchymal stem cells are used in the treatment of a variety of lung diseases, but their use in HAPE remains underreported. This study explores the therapeutic potential of miRNA-486 modified extracellular vesicles from dental pulp stem cells (sEV) against HAPE, aiming to decipher the associated molecular mechanisms.

Therapeutic inhibition of PHF21B attenuates pathological cardiac hypertrophy by inhibiting the BMP4/GSK3β/β-catenin axis.

Background: Pathological cardiac hypertrophy is a hallmark of various cardiovascular diseases, unfortunately, effective targeted therapies are still lacking. This study aims to verify the role of plant-homeodomain finger protein21b (PHF21B) in pathological cardiac hypertrophy.

Methods: Angiotensin-II (Ang II) induced cardiomyocyte hypertrophy in vitro, and short hairpin (sh) RNA-mediated PHF21B silencing was used to assess its role in hypertrophic growth.

Neutrophil-macrophage hybrid membrane-coated prussian blue nanozyme for ulcerative colitis treatment and mechanistic insights.

Background: Ulcerative colitis (UC) is a chronic and recurrent digestive tract disease that can lead to significant morbidity and mortality. The pathogenesis of UC is intricately associated with the presence of reactive oxygen species (ROS). Prussian blue (PB), an inorganic nanozyme with potent antioxidant properties, has been extensively applied in the treatment of various inflammatory conditions and tumors.

Exploring undergraduate medical students and faculty perspectives on blended learning: a qualitative study in China.

Objectives: This study aimed to explore the views and expectations of medical students and faculty members on blended learning following university-wide teaching reforms, focusing on its influence on self-directed learning (SDL) and educational effectiveness.

Design: A qualitative study employing grounded theory methodology with semistructured individual and group interviews.

Setting: A tertiary medical university after institution-wide educational reforms.

Development of a Novel four-gene Model for Monitoring the Progression from Metabolic Dysfunction-associated Steatotic Liver Disease to Hepatocellular Carcinoma in Males.

The pathogenesis of metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease-associated hepatocellular carcinoma (MASLD-HCC) is complex and exhibits sex-specific differences. Effective methods for monitoring MASLD progression to HCC are lacking. Transcriptomic data from liver tissue samples sourced from multiple public databases were integrated.

Knowledge of COVID-19 and the psychological status of parents: a retrospective survey in Wuhan, Hubei.

Objective: During the COVID-19 pandemic, many parents faced heightened stress, anxiety and depression due to the local and global COVID-19 mitigation measures and lockdowns.

Design: This is a cross-sectional study.

Setting: This study used stratified whole-cluster sampling to randomly select three elementary schools within Ezhou City.

Tetraspanin CD81 serves as a functional entry factor for porcine circovirus type 2 infection.

Porcine circovirus type 2 (PCV2) is the primary causative agent of porcine circovirus-associated disease, clinically resulting in immunosuppression and co-infections with other pathogens in infected pigs. The mechanism of PCV2 infection remains unclear. In this study, we firstly found that the tetraspanin CD81 in PK-15 cells interacts with PCV2 Cap protein by using virus overlay protein-binding assay combined with mass spectrometry.

The Gut Microbiota Affects Anti-TNF Responsiveness by Activating the NAD Salvage Pathway in Ulcerative Colitis.

Approximately 50% of the patients with ulcerative colitis (UC) are primarily nonresponsive to anti-tumor necrosis factor (TNF) therapy or lose their responsiveness over time. The gut microbiota plays an important role in the resistance of UC to anti-TNF therapy; however, the underlying mechanism remains unknown. Here, it is found that the transplantation of gut fecal microbiota from patients with UC alters the diversity of the gut microbiota in dextran sulfate sodium-induced colitis mice and may affect the therapeutic responsiveness of mice to infliximab.

Thiostrepton suppresses colorectal cancer progression through reactive oxygen species related endoplasmic reticulum stress.

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the second leading cause of cancer-related deaths worldwide. Due to the poor therapeutic efficacy of CRC treatments and poor prognosis of the disease, effective treatment strategies are urgently needed. As long-term proteotoxic stress is a major cause of cell death, agents that induce proteotoxic stress offer a promising strategy for cancer intervention.

Cation-Modulated Ni/NiN Compound Heterojunctions as Highly Efficient Bifunctional Electrocatalysts for Water Splitting.

The exploration and rational design of high-performance, durable, and non-precious-metal bifunctional oxygen electrocatalysts are highly desired for the large-scale application of overall water splitting. Herein, an effective and straightforward coupling approach was developed to fabricate high-performance bifunctional OER/HER electrocatalysts based on core-shell nanostructure comprising a Ni/NiN core and a NiFe(OH) shell. The as-prepared Ni/NiN@NiFe(OH)-4 catalyst exhibited low overpotentials of 57 and 243 mV at 10 mA cm for the HER and OER in 1.

Construction of a risk prediction model of diquat poisoning based on clinical indicators.

This study aims to explore the clinical characteristics and prognostic factors in patients with diquat (DQ) poisoning and to develop a clinical risk assessment model to improve diagnosis and treatment strategies. Data from 60 patients with DQ poisoning, including basic characteristics, poisoning severity, and inflammatory response indicators, were collected. The plasma concentration of DQ was measured using liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry.

Nutritional Inequality and Co-Morbid Chronic Disease Among Breast Cancer Survivors in China.

Background/objectives: Breast cancer survivors often face an elevated risk of developing co-morbid chronic diseases, which may be exacerbated by nutritional inequalities. This study aimed to comprehensively assess the associations between nutrition literacy, dietary quality, and the risk of co-morbidity in breast cancer survivors in China.

Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted among cancer survivors enrolled in the Shanghai Cancer Rehabilitation Club from March to July 2023.

Herbal placebo response in clinical trials on irritable bowel syndrome: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Aim Of The Study: To systematically evaluate the herbal placebo response in randomized controlled trials (RCTs) of herbal medicine on irritable bowel syndrome (IBS).

Materials And Methods: We searched for RCTs with herbal placebo groups for IBS in PubMed, EMBASE, the Cochrane Library, the China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI), the Wan Fang database and Sinomed database from 31 January 1994 to November 2023, and the quality of the literature was evaluated by the Cochrane risk of bias assessment criteria. The primary outcome indicators were response rate, abdominal pain and stool improvement rate, which were analyzed by single-group rate meta-analysis.

Multifunctional nanocomposites utilizing ruthenium (II) complex/manganese (IV) dioxide nanoparticle for synergistic reinforcing radioimmunotherapy.

Radiotherapy (RT) stands as a frontline treatment modality in clinical breast oncology, yet challenges like ROS reduction, high toxicity, non-selectivity, and hypoxia hinder efficacy. Additionally, RT administered at different doses can induce varying degrees of radioimmunotherapy. High doses of radiation (>10 Gy) may result in immune suppression, while moderate doses (4-10 Gy), although capable of mitigating the immune suppression caused by high-dose radiation, are often insufficient in effectively killing tumor cells.

Association between prognostic nutritional index and mortality risk in patients with community-acquired pneumonia: a retrospective study.

Background: The prognostic nutritional index (PNI), reflecting the body's immune-nutritional status, has been established as a correlate of prognosis across various diseases. However, its significance in community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) remains unclear. This study investigated the relationship between PNI and clinical outcomes in CAP patients.

Cerebral cortex changes in FD, IBS, and GERD: A Mendelian randomization study.

Background: Prospective and cross-sectional studies have reported an association between functional gastrointestinal disorders and anxiety and depression. However, the causal relationship remains uncertain. To clarify this, we utilized Mendelian randomization (MR) to assess the causal effects of common gastrointestinal disorders on cortical structures.

Research progress of natural product-conjugated platinum and gold complexes as potential antitumor agents.

Cancer is widely recognized as a serious disease that poses a significant threat to human life and health. The distinctive chemical properties and pronounced antiproliferative activity of platinum drugs are considered to be responsible for their remarkable efficacy in clinical applications. However, undesirable side effects and resistance have severely hampered the treatment of various types of cancer with platinum-based drugs.