Amino polycarboxylic acids-modified abiraterone derivatives as potential injectable anti-prostate cancer agents.

Abiraterone (Abi), an effective cytochrome oxidase P450 C17 (CYP17) inhibitor, inhibits androgen synthesis in testes, adrenal glands, and prostate tumors. However, their low bioavailability and dissolution rate due to their poor solubility and toxic side effects have hindered their clinical applications. In this study, water-soluble and injectable Abi derivatives were developed by introducing amino polycarboxylic acids into Abi, and their antiproliferation effects in vitro, mechanism of action, antitumor activities in vivo, pharmacokinetics, and toxicity were investigated.

Abdominal obesity and CKD: A potential mediating role of serum metabolites in the UK Biobank population.

Background: It is generally known that although a connection between abdominal obesity and chronic kidney disease (CKD) is well-established, there is a lack of systematic research investigating the specific roles of serum metabolites, including lipid metabolites, amino acid metabolites, carbohydrate metabolites and inflammatory substances in explaining this associations.

Methods: We included 118,020 general patients with data of serum metabolites from UK Biobank. We defined abdominal obesity and CKD based on waist circumference and ICD-10 criteria.

Revitalizing liver function in mice with liver failure through transplantation of 3D-bioprinted liver with expanded primary hepatocytes.

The utilization of three-dimensional (3D) bioprinting technology to create a transplantable bioartificial liver emerges as a promising remedy for the scarcity of liver donors. This study outlines our strategy for constructing a 3D-bioprinted liver, using in vitro-expanded primary hepatocytes recognized for their safety and enhanced functional robustness as hepatic cell sources for bioartificial liver construction. In addition, we have developed bioink biomaterials with mechanical and rheological properties, as well as printing capabilities, tailored for 3D bioprinting.

Rapid Self-Assembly Mini-Livers Protect Mice Against Severe Hepatectomy-Induced Liver Failure.

The construction of bioartificial livers, such as liver organoids, offers significant promise for disease modeling, drug development, and regenerative medicine. However, existing methods for generating liver organoids have limitations, including lengthy and complex processes (taking 6-8 weeks or longer), safety concerns associated with pluripotency, limited functionality of pluripotent stem cell-derived hepatocytes, and small, highly variable sizes (typically ≈50-500 µm in diameter). Prolonged culture also leads to the formation of necrotic cores, further restricting size and function.

The correlation between early net fluid balance and the clinical outcomes of patients receiving extracorporeal cardiopulmonary resuscitation.

Objective: To investigate correlation between early net fluid balance and the clinical outcomes of patients receiving extracorporeal cardiopulmonary resuscitation (ECPR).

Methods: Adult patients on ECPR admitted to the Department of Emergency in the First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University from May 2015 to December 2020 were included. Net fluid balance for consecutive 4 days after ECPR was recorded.

Risky working conditions and chronic kidney disease.

Background: Individuals in the workplace are exposed to various environments, tasks, and schedules. Previous studies have indicated a link between occupational exposures and an increased risk of chronic kidney disease (CKD). However, the social conditions of the work environment may also be a crucial contributing factor to CKD.

Two Pairs of New Bisabolane-Type Sesquiterpenoids from Aspergillus sydowii.

Two pairs of new bisabolane-type sesquiterpenoids, (+)-aspersydowin A (7S) [(+)-1], (-)-aspersydowin A (7R) [(-)-1], (+)-aspersydowin B (7S,11S) [(+)-2], (-)-aspersydowin B (7R,11R) [(-)-2], along with six known compounds (1-8) were isolated from the fungus Aspergillus sydowii. Compounds 1 and 2 are enantiomers resolved by the Chiralpak IC, using a hexane- propan-2-ol mobile phase. The structure of 1 and 2 with absolute configuration were assigned tentatively by 1D ( H, C, and DEPT) & 2D (HSQC, H- H COSY, HMBC, and NOESY) NMR data analyses and ECD calculations.

Secondhand smoke, genetic susceptibility, and incident chronic kidney disease in never smokers: A prospective study of a selected population from the UK Biobank.

Introduction: A large number of people around the world are exposed to the risks of passive smoking. This prospective study aimed to examine the association between secondhand smoke exposure, exposure time, and the incidence of chronic kidney disease (CKD) and determine whether this association was influenced by genetic susceptibility.

Methods: The study included 214244 participants of the UK Biobank who were initially free of CKD.

A Novel Paclitaxel Derivative for Triple-Negative Breast Cancer Chemotherapy.

Paclitaxel-triethylenetetramine hexaacetic acid conjugate (PTX-TTHA), a novel semi-synthetic taxane, is designed to improve the water solubility and cosolvent toxicity of paclitaxel in several aminopolycarboxylic acid groups. In this study, the in vitro and in vivo antitumor effects and mechanisms of PTX-TTHA against triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) and its intravenous toxicity were evaluated. Results showed the water solubility of PTX-TTHA was greater than 5 mg/mL, which was about 7140-fold higher than that of paclitaxel (<0.

An indole diketopiperazine alkaloid and a bisabolane sesquiterpenoid with unprecedented skeletons from .

Fumitryprostatin A (1), the first example of an indole diketopiperazine alkaloid with a tricyclic 5/6/5 skeleton characterized by a dipyrrolo[1,2-:1',2'-]pyrazine-5,10-dione ring system decorated with a prenylated indole moiety, and fuminoid A (2), a sesquiterpenoid with a bicyclo[3.2.1]octane ring featuring a novel carbon skeleton the transformation of the methyl, were isolated from the fungus along with six known diketopiperazine alkaloids.

Effects of Shengmai Yin on pulmonary and cardiac function in coronavirus disease 2019 convalescent patients with cardiopulmonary symptoms: a randomized, double blind, multicenter control trial.

Objective:: To evaluate the efficacy and safety of Shengmai Yin (生脉饮, SMY) on visual analogue scale (VAS) for cardiopulmonary symptoms in coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) convalescent patients.

Methods:: In this randomized, double blind and multicenter controlled trial, a total of 200 COVID-19 convalescent patients who with cardiopulmonary symptoms were enrolled from three medical centers in Hubei, China. These patients were randomized divided into trial group and the control group, 100 patients in each one, SMY and its placebo were applied to respectively, for two weeks.

Effectiveness and safety of Jinshuibao capsules in treatment of residual cardiopulmonary symptoms in convalescent patients of coronavirus disease 2019: a pilot randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial.

Objective:: To evaluate the effectiveness and safety of Jinshuibao capsules (金水宝胶囊), a Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), in the treatment of residual cardiopulmonary symptoms in convalescent corona virus disease 2019 (COVID-19) patients.

Methods:: A total of 200 participants with COVID-19 in convalescence phase were randomly assigned into two groups at a 1:1 ratio in this multicenter randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial. One group received Jinshuibao capsules, and the other received placebo.

Renal fat fraction is significantly associated with the risk of chronic kidney disease in patients with type 2 diabetes.

Backgrounds: Ectopic fat deposition is closely related to chronic kidney disease (CKD). Currently, there are few population studies that have been conducted to determine the relationship between renal parenchyma fat deposition and the risk of CKD among patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). Therefore, we employed magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to detect renal parenchyma fat content in individuals with T2DM, expressed as renal fat fraction (FF), to explore whether renal FF is an important risk factor for CKD in patients with T2DM.

Microbacterium kunmingensis sp. nov., an attached bacterium of Microcystis aeruginosa.

A Gram-stain positive, aerobic, rod-shaped actinobacterial strain designated as JXJ CY 27-2 was isolated from the culture of Microcystis aeruginosa FACHB-905 (Maf) collected from Lake Kunming, southwest China. The isolate was catalase positive, oxidase negative, and able to grow at 10.0-44.

PIM1 promotes hepatic conversion by suppressing reprogramming-induced ferroptosis and cell cycle arrest.

Protein kinase-mediated phosphorylation plays a critical role in many biological processes. However, the identification of key regulatory kinases is still a great challenge. Here, we develop a trans-omics-based method, central kinase inference, to predict potentially key kinases by integrating quantitative transcriptomic and phosphoproteomic data.

Synthesis and antibacterial activity evaluation of N (7) position-modified balofloxacins.

A series of small-molecule fluoroquinolones were synthesized, characterized by HRMS and NMR spectroscopy, and screened for their antibacterial activity against MRSA, , and as model G/G pathogens. Compounds , , and were more potent than the reference drug balofloxacin against MRSA and (MIC values of 0.0195 and 0.

Kinsenoside alleviates inflammation and fibrosis in experimental NASH mice by suppressing the NF-κB/NLRP3 signaling pathway.

Background: Non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) has replaced viral hepatitis as the main driver of the rising morbidity and mortality associated with cirrhosis and liver cancer worldwide, while no FDA-approved therapies are currently known. Kinsenoside (KD), naturally isolated from Anoectochilus roxburghii, possesses multiple biological activities, including lipolysis, anti-inflammation, and hepatoprotection. However, the effects of KD on NASH remain unclear.

Methyl 6-O-cinnamoyl-α-d-glucopyranoside Ameliorates Acute Liver Injury by Inhibiting Oxidative Stress Through the Activation of Nrf2 Signaling Pathway.

Excessive stimulation of hepatotoxins and drugs often lead to acute liver injury, while treatment strategies for acute liver injury have been limited. Methyl 6-O-cinnamoyl-α-d-glucopyranoside (MCGP) is a structure modified compound from cinnamic acid, a key chemical found in plants with significant antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and antidiabetic effects. In this study, we investigated the effects and underlying mechanisms of MCGP on acetaminophen (APAP)- or carbon tetrachloride (CCl)-induced acute liver injury.

Improving the Physicochemical and Biopharmaceutical Properties of Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients Derived from Traditional Chinese Medicine through Cocrystal Engineering.

Active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs) extracted and isolated from traditional Chinese medicines (TCMs) are of interest for drug development due to their wide range of biological activities. However, the overwhelming majority of APIs in TCMs (T-APIs), including flavonoids, terpenoids, alkaloids and phenolic acids, are limited by their poor physicochemical and biopharmaceutical properties, such as solubility, dissolution performance, stability and tabletability for drug development. Cocrystallization of these T-APIs with coformers offers unique advantages to modulate physicochemical properties of these drugs without compromising the therapeutic benefits by non-covalent interactions.

Methoxypolyethylene Glycol-Substituted Zinc Phthalocyanines for Multiple Tumor-Selective Fluorescence Imaging and Photodynamic Therapy.

Highly tumor-tissue-selective drugs are a prerequisite for accurate diagnosis and efficient photodynamic therapy (PDT) of tumors, but the currently used fluorescent dyes and photosensitizers generally lack the ability for high accumulation and precise localization in tumor tissues. Here we report that monomethoxy polyethylene glycol (MPEG)-modified zinc phthalocyanine (ZnPc) can be selectively accumulated in multiple tumor tissues, and that the selectivity is controlled by the chain length of MPEG. MPEG-monosubstituted ZnPcs with different chain lengths were synthesized, among which the shorter chain (mw < 2k)-modified ZnPc did not show tumor tissue selectivity, while MPEG2k-5k-substituted ZnPc could be rapidly and selectively accumulated in H22 tumor tissues in mice after intravenous injection.

Curcumin protects BEAS‑2B cells from PM‑induced oxidative stress and inflammation by activating NRF2/antioxidant response element pathways.

Fine particulate matter (PM) with an average aerodynamic diameter of <2.5 µm can cause severe lung injury. Oxidative stress and inflammation are considered the main outcomes of PM exposure.

Reversible Patterning Cross-Linked, Humidity-Responsive Polymer Films with Programmatically and Accurately Controlled Deformation.

A series of novel humidity-responsive and photosensitive polymer films (PCA-PAA-PEG) are prepared. These films can be patterning cross-linked by the photodimerization of coumarin pendant groups. The humidity-induced deformation can be well controlled by the pattern because of the different modulus and hydrophilicity between cross-linked and un-cross-linked segments.

Association Between Dietary Fiber Intake and Non-alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease in Adults.

Evidence on the association of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), a public health concern, with dietary fiber intake is inconsistent. To investigate the relationship between dietary fiber intake from different sources and NAFLD risk in US adults. Data were collected from the 2007-2014 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey.

Tanshinone IIA Suppresses Glioma Cell Proliferation, Migration and Invasion Both in vitro and in vivo Partially Through miR-16-5p/Talin-1 (TLN1) Axis.

Background: Tanshinone IIA (TIIA) is one of the active constituents derived from the rhizome of Danshen, a traditional Chinese herbal. Recently, microRNAs (miRNAs) have been suggested to be associated with the anticancer role of TIIA. However, it remains vague of the interaction between miRNAs and TIIA in glioma, a common aggressive brain tumor in humans.

Smartphone Apps for Pregnant Women: The Gap Between the Quality of Current Apps and Patients' Needs.

To explore the gap between women's needs for pregnancy related apps and to evaluate the quality of the top 10 downloaded pregnancy related apps, we designed a cross-sectional study to survey 153 pregnant women. This study showed pregnant women had high requirement against the quality of knowledge content, functions, interface and basic characteristics of apps. The top 10 popular apps showed a range of drawbacks and were far from satisfying the needs of pregnant women.