Adenosine triphosphate (ATP) is the principal energy currency of all living cells. Metabolically impaired obligate intracellular parasites, such as the human pathogens Chlamydia trachomatis and Rickettsia prowazekii, can acquire ATP from their host cells through a unique ATP/adenosine diphosphate (ADP) translocator, which mediates the import of ATP into and the export of ADP and phosphate out of the parasite cells, thus allowing the exploitation of the energy reserves of host cells (also known as energy parasitism). This type of ATP/ADP translocator also exists in the obligate intracellular endosymbionts of protists and the plastids of plants and algae and has been implicated to play an important role in endosymbiosis.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFThe development of biomaterials capable of on-demand delivery holds significant promise for wound therapy. Current research is centered on refining design precision and enhancing structural functionality to achieve effective controlled release of active agents, thereby facilitating wound healing. In this study, a coaxial microfluidic electrospray technique is employed to fabricate microcapsules comprising a black phosphorus (BP)-laden alginate shell and a gelatin methacrylate (GelMA) core.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFAims/hypothesis: Brown adipose tissue (BAT) consumes excess energy through heat production by uncoupling protein 1 (UCP1) to regulate the metabolic profile, but the UCP1-independent mechanisms of BAT, such as in endocrine function, are largely unknown. Our previous study showed that BAT-derived neuregulin 4 (NRG4) displays anti-atherosclerotic properties. Thus, we hypothesised that BAT could regulate diabetic nephropathy, a diabetic microvascular complication, via NRG4.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFLiubao tea (LBT) with longer storage year is believed to have better sensory quality. The aroma characteristics and fungal community succession during the storage process of LBT were studied using LBT stored for 2-15 years as materials. The results showed that the aroma characteristics of LBT showed significant changes in 3 stages.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFFront Cell Infect Microbiol
February 2025
Introduction: Leishmaniasis, a protozoan disease caused by infection by , is a critical issue in Asia, South America, East Africa, and North Africa. With 12 million cases globally, leishmaniasis is one of the most serious neglected tropical diseases worldwide. Direct identification of infected tissues is currently the primary method of diagnosis; however, the low sensitivity and inconvenience of microscopic examination in detecting amastigotes, parasitic manifestations of , leads to the possibility of misdiagnosis, delayed diagnosis, and underdiagnosis.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground: Despite the growing body of literature on the effects of bariatric surgery on sleep structure and quality in obese patients, there remains a paucity of comprehensive assessments. The objective of this study was to systematically analyze the changes in sleep structure and quality after bariatric surgery in obese patients.
Methods: By searching the three major databases, PubMed, Embase, and Cochrane, eligible studies that provided indicators of Epworth sleepiness scale (ESS) or Pittsburgh sleep quality index (PSQI) outcomes after bariatric surgery will be included in the final analysis.
Background And Objective: Cystic lung cancer (CLC) presents diagnostic and treatment challenges due to its complex imaging features and unclear molecular mechanisms. Although surgery and standard chemotherapy are frequently used, there is limited information on targeted therapy and other precision treatments. It is crucial to comprehensively understand the molecular mechanisms and explore precision treatments based on targeted therapy.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFHighly conformal and mechanically robust curvy electronics that seamlessly adapt to sophisticated and unpredictable 3D geometries provide breakthrough solutions in advanced fields such as health monitoring, wireless energy transmission, and human-computer interface. Nevertheless, existing material choices along with manufacturing techniques substantially impede these electronics from achieving their full potential. This study presents a mask-free and straightforward direct writing and transfer (DW&T) technique that employs a polytetrafluoroethylene film as a temporary substrate, utilizing the phase transition of printed electrodes between hydrogel and dry states to enable cost-effective fabrication of conformally adhering conductive microelectrode patterns on nearly all 3D surfaces.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground: Lysophosphatidic acid (LPA), a simple bioactive lysophospholipid, has been reported to regulate bone homeostasis and bone remodeling. This study aimed to elucidate the function and intrinsic mechanism of LPA in osseointegration in murine models.
Method: We constructed immediate implant models in murine maxillae.
Dysfunction or dysregulation of deubiquitination is closely related to the initiation and development of multiple cancers. Targeted regulation of deubiquitination has been recognized as an important strategy in tumor therapy. However, the mechanism by which drugs regulate deubiquitinase is not clear.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFRecreational use of nitrous oxide (NO) has risen dramatically over the past decades. This study aimed to examine its rewarding effect and the underlying mechanisms. The exposure of mice to a subanesthetic concentration (20%) of NO for 30 min for 4 consecutive days paired with NO in the morning and paired with the air in the afternoon produced apparent rewarding behavior in the conditioned place preference (CPP) paradigm.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFLong-term exposure to ultraviolet radiation compromises skin structural integrity and results in disruption of normal physiological functions. Stem cells have gained attention in anti-photoaging, while controlling the tissue mechanical microenvironment of cell delivery sites is crucial for regulating cell fate and achieving optimal therapeutic performances. Here, we introduce a mechanically regulated human recombinant collagen (RHC) microcarrier generated through microfluidics, which is capable of modulating stem cell differentiation to treat photoaged skin.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFPonicidin has demonstrated effectiveness against HCC by promoting mitochondria apoptosis and generating ROS through the stabilization of the Keap1-PGAM5 complex. However, ROS can exhibit both tumor-promoting and tumor-suppressing activities in cancers, and exhibit different effects depending on its source-mtROS vs non-mtROS. Additionally, since ROS from different sources possesses distinct functions, mitochondria-targeted antioxidants, and non-targeted antioxidants may have entirely different effects on cancer progression.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground: Blending controlled-release nitrogen fertilizer (CRNF) with ordinary nitrogen fertilizer (ONF) is a strategic approach to improve winter wheat nutrient management. This blend provides nitrogen (N) to winter wheat in a balanced and consistent manner, ensuring long-term growth, reducing nutrient loss due to leaching or volatilization, and increasing N use efficiency (NUE).
Aims: CRNF aims to enhance N application suitability, optimizes soil nutrient dynamics, and its widespread use can boost crop NUE and yield.
Poly(glycolic acid) (PGA) is a rapidly degradable polymer mainly used in medical applications, attributed to its relatively high cost. Reducing its price will boost its utilization in a wider range of application fields, such as gas barriers and shale gas extraction. This article presents a strategy that utilizes recycled PGA as a raw material alongside typical carbon nanomaterials, such as graphene oxide nanosheets (GO) and carbon nanotubes (CNTs), to produce low-cost, fully degradable yarns via electrospinning and twisting techniques.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFSevere trauma frequently leads to nerve damage. Peripheral nerves possess a degree of regenerative ability, and actively promoting their recovery can help restore the sensory and functional capacities of tissues. The neuropeptide calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) is believed to regulate the repair of injured peripheral nerves, with neuronal transient receptor potential vanilloid type 1 (TRPV1) potentially serving as a crucial upstream factor.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFOwing to its high sensitivity, surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) has immense potential for the identification of lung cancer from the variation in volatile biomarkers in the exhaled gas. However, two prevailing factors limit the application of SERS: 1) the adsorption of target molecules into SERS hotspots and 2) the detection specificity in multiple interference environments. To improve the density of the SERS hotspots, 3D Au@Ag-Au particles are prepared in a porous nanoframes (PPFs) based plasmonic structure, which facilitated a richer local electromagnetic field distribution among the Au nanocubic (NC) cores, Au-Ag porous nanoframes, and Au nanoparticles, thereby promoting the adsorption probability of gaseous aldehydes into the hotspots.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFIntroduction: Pyrotinib, a novel pan-HER tyrosine kinase inhibitor, has demonstrated substantial anti-tumor activity in patients with NSCLC harboring HER2 mutations. Nevertheless, the inevitable resistance to pyrotinib necessitates an in-depth understanding of the underlying mechanisms.
Methods: Resistance-associated mutations were identified through genomic sequencing of paired baseline and post-resistance samples from 40 patients.
The exogenous bacterial infection and formation of biofilm on the surface of titanium implants can affect the adhesion, proliferation, and differentiation of cells associated with osteogenesis, ultimately leading to surgical failure. This study focuses on two critical stages for biofilm formation: i) bacterial adhesion and aggregation, ii) growth and proliferation. The titanium with well-organized titania nanotube arrays is first modified by nitrogen dopants, then loaded with CuFeSe nanoparticles to form a p-n heterojunction.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground & Aims: Glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) and fibroblast growth factor 21 (FGF21) are key regulators of glucose and lipid metabolism. In the present study, we assessed the safety and efficacy of a novel GLP-1/FGF21 dual agonist HEC88473 for the treatment of metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) combined with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM).
Methods: This was a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, multiple-ascending-dose phase Ib/IIa trial.
J Agric Food Chem
January 2025
Triterpenoids are the major active constituents of licorice, a well-known traditional medicinal herb. Licorice triterpenoids, represented by glycyrrhizin and glycyrrhetic acid, have a high structural diversity and are excellent lead compounds for the development of potent pharmaceuticals. However, their further application can be limited by insufficient activities, low bioavailability, and the presence of side effects, as well as the inefficiency of traditional plant extraction processes for compound production.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFPurpose: The extracellular matrix (ECM) plays a pivotal role in the initiation and progression of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) by facilitating the proliferation of HCC cells and enabling resistance to Anoikis. ECM also provide structural support that aids in the invasion of HCC cells, thereby influencing the tumor microenvironment. Due to genetic variations and molecular heterogeneity, significant challenges exist in the treatment of HCC, particularly with immunotherapy, which frequently leads to immune tolerance and suboptimal immune responses.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFIntroduction: Diabetic retinopathy (DR) is a common complication of diabetes. Retinal neuronal degeneration is an early event in DR, indicated by the declined electroretinogram (ERG). Dipeptide alanine-glutamine (Ala-Gln) is widely used as a nutritional supplement in the clinic and has anti-inflammatory effects on the gastrointestinal system.
View Article and Find Full Text PDF