Bone morphogenetic proteins, DNA methylation, and gut microbiota interaction in lumbar disc degeneration: A multi-omics Mendelian randomization study.

Background: Lumbar disc degeneration (LDD) is a ubiquitous finding in low back pain. Many different etiology factors may explain the LDD process, such as bone morphogenetic proteins (BMPs), DNA methylation, and gut microbiota. Until recently the mechanisms underlying the LDD process have been elusive.

Therapeutic potential of cannabidiol (CBD) in anxiety disorders: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Cannabidiol (CBD), as one of the phytocannabinoids, has a wide range of therapeutic properties for various neuropsychiatric disorders due to central nervous system effects. These therapeutic properties demonstrated by preclinical and clinical studies encompass more than just anticonvulsant, anti-arthritic, analgesic, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, antitumor, antiemetic, antipsychotic and neuroprotective effects. It has been hypothesized that CBD holds potential in the treatment of various neuropsychiatric and anxiety disorders.

Enhancing Strategy of the Small-Polaron Conductivity in LaCrO: First-Principles Calculations and Experimental Validation.

LaCrO (LCO) has promising applications as a p-type conductive material in the fields of transparent conducting oxes, high-temperature sensors, and magnetohydrodynamic power generators. However, the easy volatility of the Cr element, along with the issues of low electrical conductivity caused by the small-polaron conduction mechanism and wide band gap, has hindered the widespread application of LCO. In this work, based on band engineering and defect engineering, we screened doping schemes through first-principles calculations that can reduce Cr volatility by enhancing the Cr-O bond energy.

Solvent-polarity dependence of ultrafast excited-state dynamics of -4-nitrostilbene.

Ultrafast excited-state dynamics of the simplest nitrostilbenes, namely -4-nitrostilbene (-NSB), was studied in solvents of various polarities with ultrafast broadband time-resolved fluorescence and transient absorption spectroscopies, and by quantum-chemical computations. The results revealed that the initially excited S(ππ*) state deactivation dynamics is strongly influenced by the solvent polarity. Specifically, the -NSB S-state lifetime decreases by three orders of magnitude from ∼60 ps in high-polarity solvents to ∼60 fs in nonpolar solvents.

NPF transporters in synaptic-like vesicles control delivery of iron and copper to seeds.

Accumulation of iron in seeds is essential for both plant reproduction and human nutrition. Transport of iron to seeds requires the chelator nicotianamine (NA) to prevent its precipitation in the plant vascular tissues. However, how NA is transported to the apoplast for forming metal-NA complexes remains unknown.

Retracted Article: Application of 3D printing technology in orthopedic medical implant - Spinal surgery as an example.

Additive manufacturing has been used in complex spinal surgical planning since the 1990s and is now increasingly utilized to produce surgical guides, templates, and more recently customized implants. Surgeons report beneficial impacts using additively manufactured biomodels as pre-operative planning aids as it generally provides a better representation of the patient's anatomy than on-screen viewing of computed tomography (CT) or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Furthermore, it has proven to be very beneficial in surgical training and in explaining complex deformity and surgical plans to patients/parents.

Plant abiotic stress response and nutrient use efficiency.

Abiotic stresses and soil nutrient limitations are major environmental conditions that reduce plant growth, productivity and quality. Plants have evolved mechanisms to perceive these environmental challenges, transmit the stress signals within cells as well as between cells and tissues, and make appropriate adjustments in their growth and development in order to survive and reproduce. In recent years, significant progress has been made on many fronts of the stress signaling research, particularly in understanding the downstream signaling events that culminate at the activation of stress- and nutrient limitation-responsive genes, cellular ion homeostasis, and growth adjustment.

Retraction: Application of 3D printing technology in orthopedic medical implant - Spinal surgery as an example.

[This retracts the article on p. 168 in vol. 5, PMID: 32782982.

Sleep facilitates consolidation of positive emotional memory in healthy older adults.

Evidence has demonstrated that sleep-related memory consolidation declines in ageing. However, little is known about age-related changes to sleep-related emotional memory consolidation, especially when considering the positivity effect observed in older adults. In the present study, we sought to explore whether there is a positive emotional bias in sleep-related memory consolidation among healthy older adults.

IL-13 may be involved in the development of CAD via different mechanisms under different conditions in a Chinese Han population.

Interleukin-13 (IL-13) has important functions in atherosclerosis, but its role in coronary artery disease (CAD) is unclear. Here, we studied the genetic role of IL-13 in CAD in a Chinese Han population using tag SNPs covering the whole IL13 gene (i.e.

Antitumor and Immunomodulatory Effects of Polysaccharides from Broken-Spore of Ganoderma lucidum.

The antitumor and immunomodulatory activity of broken-spore of Ganodermalucidum polysaccharides (Gl-BSP) were investigated in vivo and in vitro. It was showed that Gl-BSP (50, 100, and 200 mg kg(-1)) exhibited antitumor effect against Sarcoma 180 (S180) in BALB/c mice. The Gl-BSP was not cytotoxicity in S180 cells and PG cells (human lung carcinoma cell) in vitro.

Neurological soft signs in persons with amnestic mild cognitive impairment and the relationships to neuropsychological functions.

Background: Neurological abnormalities have been reported in people with amnestic mild cognitive impairment (aMCI). The current study aimed to examine the prevalence of neurological soft signs (NSS) in this clinical group and to examine the relationship of NSS to other neuropsychological performances.

Methods: Twenty-nine people with aMCI and 28 cognitively healthy elderly people were recruited for the present study.

[The pharmacological study of Ganoderma spores and their active components].

Recently, the pharmacological study of Ganoderma spores and active components has become a focus of attention in the world. The present review is based on the auctorial research on Ganoderma spores. It involves pharmacological effects of Ganoderma spores and its active components, including immunomodulating effect, antitumor activity and its mechanism in vivo and in vitro, liver-protective effect, gastric ulcer preventing effect, serum glucose and blood fat depressing effects, anti-hypoxia and scavenging free redical, etc.

[Comparison of the immunomodulatory effects of spore polysaccharides and broken spore polysaccharides isolated from Ganoderma lucidum on murine splenic lymphocytes and peritoneal macrophages in vitro].

Objective: To compare the immunomodulatory effects of spore polysaccharides (Gl-SP) and broken spore polysaccharides (Gl-BSP) isolated from Ganoderma lucidum(Leyss et Fr.) Karst. on murine splenic lymphocytes and peritoneal macrophages in vitro.