Modifiable factors mediating the effects of educational attainment on gestational diabetes mellitus: A two-step Mendelian randomization study.

Background: Although there is currently a wealth of evidence to indicate that maternal educational attainment is associated with gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM), the specific modifiable risk factors that mediate the causal relationship between these two variables have yet to be identified.

Aim: To identify the specific modifiable risk factors that mediate the causal relationship between the level of maternal education and GDM.

Methods: Mendelian randomization (MR) was conducted using data from genome-wide association studies of European populations.

Evidence and possible mechanism of and its bioactive compounds for hepatocellular carcinoma treatment.

Background: Traditional Chinese medicines have been reported to have outstanding effects in the treating of hepatocellular carcinoma. () has demonstrated anti-tumor, anti-angiogenic, and anti-inflammatory properties. Baicalein, wogonin, and baicalin are the main pharmacologically bioactive compounds of .

Wogonin inhibits hepatoma cell proliferation by targeting miR-27b-5p/YWHAZ axis.

Wogonin (5,7-dihydroxy-8-methoxyflavone), a natural flavonoid compound in herbal plants, can suppress growth in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). However, the microRNA (miRNA) expression profiles that are influenced by wogonin have not been thoroughly described. To explore the novel miRNAs and the biological mechanism underlying the effect of wogonin on HCC cells.

XinLi formula, a traditional Chinese decoction, alleviates chronic heart failure via regulating the interaction of AGTR1 and AQP1.

Background: XinLi formula (XLF) is a traditional Chinese medicine used in clinical practice to treat chronic heart failure (CHF) in humans, with remarkable curative effect. However, the mechanism remains unknown.

Purpose: The goal of the current investigation was to determine how XLF affected CHF in a rat model of the condition brought on by ligation of the left anterior descending coronary artery, and to investigate the underlying mechanism.

Intron losses and gains in the nematodes.

Background: The evolution of spliceosomal introns has been widely studied among various eukaryotic groups. Researchers nearly reached the consensuses on the pattern and the mechanisms of intron losses and gains across eukaryotes. However, according to previous studies that analyzed a few genes or genomes, Nematoda seems to be an eccentric group.

Intron gain by tandem genomic duplication: a novel case in a potato gene encoding RNA-dependent RNA polymerase.

The origin and subsequent accumulation of spliceosomal introns are prominent events in the evolution of eukaryotic gene structure. However, the mechanisms underlying intron gain remain unclear because there are few proven cases of recently gained introns. In an RNA-dependent RNA polymerase (RdRp) gene, we found that a tandem duplication occurred after the divergence of potato and its wild relatives among other Solanum plants.

Evaluation of the mechanisms of intron loss and gain in the social amoebae Dictyostelium.

Background: Spliceosomal introns are a common feature of eukaryotic genomes. To approach a comprehensive understanding of intron evolution on Earth, studies should look beyond repeatedly studied groups such as animals, plants, and fungi. The slime mold Dictyostelium belongs to a supergroup of eukaryotes not covered in previous studies.

Imprecise intron losses are less frequent than precise intron losses but are not rare in plants.

Unlabelled: In this study, we identified 19 intron losses, including 11 precise intron losses (PILs), six imprecise intron losses (IILs), one de-exonization, and one exon deletion in tomato and potato, and 17 IILs in Arabidopsis thaliana. Comparative analysis of related genomes confirmed that all of the IILs have been fixed during evolution. Consistent with previous studies, our results indicate that PILs are a major type of intron loss.

Comparison of the anti-ulcer activity between the crude and bran-processed Atractylodes lancea in the rat model of gastric ulcer induced by acetic acid.

Ethnopharmacological Relevance: The rhizome of Atractylodes lancea (AL, Compositae, Chinese name: Cangzhu; Japanese name: Sou-ju-tsu) has been used traditionally for the treatment of various diseases such as digestive disorders, rheumatic diseases, and influenza in China, Korea and Japan. The crude AL and AL bran-processed are both listed in the Chinese Pharmacopoeia. However, the differences between the effects of the crude and AL bran-processed on gastric ulcer were poorly understood, and the mechanisms for the treatment of gastric ulcer were not clear.

Rational design of carbon and TiO2 assembly materials: covered or strewn, which is better for photocatalysis?

The rational design of carbonaceous hybrid nanostructures is very important for obtaining high photoactivity. TiO2 particles strewn with an optimal quantity of carbon nanodots have a much higher photoactivity than that of TiO2 covered with a carbon layer, showing the importance of carbon morphology in the photocatalysis of carbonaceous hybrid nanostructures.