Ferric Nitrate as a Bifunctional Catalyst for Dehydration and Oxidative Cleavage-Esterification of Tertiary Alcohols.

The selective oxidative cleavage and functionalization of C(OH)-C bonds in tertiary alcohols harbor immense feasibility in organic synthesis and enable the production of high value-added chemicals from renewable biomass. However, it remains a challenge, owing to the inherent kinetic inertness and thermodynamic stability of C(OH)-C bonds and the lack of C-H. Taking the huge potential and challenge of C(OH)-C bond activation and functionalization into consideration, herein, we show the first example of an inexpensive bifunctional ferric nitrate catalyst for catalytic direct oxidation of structurally distinct tertiary alcohols to esters with environmentally benign molecular oxygen as an oxidant and MeOH as a solvent, without the assistance of any additives.

Prediction of esophageal fistula in radiotherapy/chemoradiotherapy for patients with advanced esophageal cancer by a clinical-deep learning radiomics model : Prediction of esophageal fistula in radiotherapy/chemoradiotherapy patients.

Background: Esophageal fistula (EF), a rare and potentially fatal complication, can be better managed with predictive models for personalized treatment plans in esophageal cancers. We aim to develop a clinical-deep learning radiomics model for effectively predicting the occurrence of EF.

Methods: The study involved esophageal cancer patients undergoing radiotherapy or chemoradiotherapy.

Exhaustive Hydrodefluorination or Deuterodefluorination of Trifluoromethylarenes via Metal-Free Photoredox Catalysis.

Perfluoroalkyl compounds are persistent environmental pollutants due to their chemical and thermal stability. Hydrodefluorination is one of the most promising strategies for the disposal of fluorine-containing compounds, which has attracted much attention from a broad spectrum of scientific communities. Herein, we disclose a metal-free, visible-light-promoted protocol for the exhaustive hydrodefluorination of a wide variety of trifluoromethylarenes with up to 95% yields.

Response to febuxostat according to clinical subtypes of hyperuricemia: a prospective cohort study in primary gout.

Background: While xanthine oxidase inhibitors target uric acid production, renal urate underexcretion is the predominant subtypes in gout. This study was to compare treatment response to the XOI febuxostat in a gout cohort according to clinical subtypes of hyperuricemia.

Methods: A prospective cohort study was conducted to compare the efficacy and safety of febuxostat (initially 20 mg daily, escalating to 40 mg daily if not at target) in 644 gout patients with the three major clinical subtypes for 12 weeks.

Predicting response to CCRT for esophageal squamous carcinoma by a radiomics-clinical SHAP model.

Background: Radical concurrent chemoradiotherapy (CCRT) is frequently used as the first-line treatment for patients with locally advanced esophageal cancer. Unfortunately, some patients respond poorly. To predict response to radical concurrent chemoradiotherapy in pre-treatment patients with esophageal squamous carcinoma (ESCC), and compare the predicting efficacies of radiomics features of primary tumor with or without regional lymph nodes, we developed a radiomics-clinical model based on the positioning CT images.

VASN promotes colorectal cancer progression by activating the YAP/TAZ and AKT signaling pathways via YAP.

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is one of the most common gastrointestinal malignancies. Vasorin (VASN) has been reported to be critical in tumor development and angiogenesis. However, VASN has not been reported in CRC, and its role is unclear.

Association of obesity, triglyceride-glucose and its derivatives index with risk of hyperuricemia among college students in Qingdao, China.

Objective: To analyze and compare the associations of hyperuricemia (HUA) with obesity, triglyceride-glucose (TyG), and its derivatives in college students. To provide early guidance on risk predictors of HUA in college students.

Methods: This study was a cross-sectional survey including 23,411 participants (age: 17-20 years).

PD-L1/PD-L1 signalling promotes colorectal cancer cell migration ability through RAS/MEK/ERK.

Programmed death ligand 1 (PD-L1) is widely known as an immune checkpoint, and immunotherapy through the inhibition of checkpoint molecules has become an important component in the successful treatment of tumours via programmed death 1 (PD-1)/PD-L1 signalling pathways. However, its biological functions and expression profile in colorectal cancer (CRC) are elusive. We previously found that PD-L1 can bind to PD-L1 and cause cell detachment.

Single-cell analysis of transcription factor regulatory networks reveals molecular basis for subtype-specific dysregulation in acute myeloid leukemia.

Highly heterogeneous acute myeloid leukemia (AML) exhibits dysregulated transcriptional programs. Transcription factor (TF) regulatory networks underlying AML subtypes have not been elucidated at single-cell resolution. Here, we comprehensively mapped malignancy-related TFs activated in different AML subtypes by analyzing single-cell RNA sequencing data from AMLs and healthy donors.

Geometry transformation of ionic surfactants and adsorption behavior on water/-decane-interface: calculation by molecular dynamics simulation and DFT study.

Understanding the effect of surfactant structure on their ability to modify interfacial properties is of great scientific and industrial interest. In this work, we have synthesized four amide based ionic surfactants under acidic or basic conditions, including CTHA·HCl, CTEA·HCl, CTHANa and CTEANa. Experiments have proved that the anionic surfactant with polyethylene oxide groups (CTEANa) had the lowest surface tension on the water/-decane interface.

Advances in measuring DNA methylation.

DNA methylation is one of the most important components of epigenetics, which plays essential roles in maintaining genome stability and regulating gene expression. In recent years, DNA methylation measuring methods have been continuously optimized. Combined with next generation sequencing technologies, these approaches have enabled the detection of genome-wide cytosine methylation at single-base resolution.

Overexpression of PD-L1 causes germ cells to slough from mouse seminiferous tubules via the PD-L1/PD-L1 interaction.

Spermatogenesis is a cyclical process in which different generations of spermatids undergo a series of developmental steps at a fixed time and finally produce spermatids. Here, we report that overexpression of PD-L1 (B7 homolog1) in the testis causes sperm developmental disorders and infertility in male mice, with severe malformation and sloughing during spermatid development, characterized by disorganized and collapsed seminiferous epithelium structure. PD-L1 needs to be simultaneously expressed on Sertoli cells and spermatogonia to cause spermatogenesis failure.

Secondary hypogonadism following hand, foot, and mouth disease in an adult: a case report and review of literature.

Background: Previous reports have described hypogonadism associated with virus infection such as hantavirus, human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) or severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-COV-2). However, to our best knowledge there has been no case report of secondary hypogonadism following hand, foot, and mouth disease (HFMD).

Case Presentation: A previously healthy 28-year-old man with no history of major physical and psychological trauma, presented with bilateral gynecomastia and erectile dysfunction 2 weeks after HFMD.

Prognostic Value of CD9 in Solid Tumor: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Numerous clinical studies investigated how low expression of CD9 predicts poor prognosis of solid tumor. However, the results were inconclusive. This present meta-analysis was therefore performed to determine the prognostic value of CD9 expression in solid tumors.

Regioselective Radical Borylation of α,β-Unsaturated Esters and Related Compounds by Visible Light Irradiation with an Organic Photocatalyst.

Radical hydroboration reactions have only recently been reported and are still rare. Here we describe a photoredox radical hydroboration of α,β-unsaturated esters, amides, ketones, and nitriles with NHC-boranes that uses only an organocatalyst and visible light. The conditions are mild, the substrate scope is broad, and the α/β regioselectivity is high.

The efficacy and safety of citrate mixture vs sodium bicarbonate on urine alkalization in Chinese primary gout patients with benzbromarone: a prospective, randomized controlled study.

Objectives: To compare the efficacy and safety of citrate mixture and sodium bicarbonate on urine alkalization in gout patients under benzbromarone treatment.

Methods: A prospective, randomized, parallel controlled trial was conducted among 200 gout patients in the dedicated gout clinic of the Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University. The participants were randomly divided into two groups (1:1), sodium bicarbonate group (3 g/day) and citrate mixture group (7 g/day).

Prothrombotic effects of high uric acid in mice activation of MEF2C-dependent NF-κB pathway by upregulating let-7c.

Serum uric acid is reportedly associated with thrombosis development. However, still unclear is the mechanism of high uric acid in thrombosis with the involvement of let-7c. In an aim to fill this void, we conducted this study by treating mice and human umbilical vein endothelial cells with high uric acid.

Evaluation of febuxostat initiation during an acute gout attack: A prospective, randomized clinical trial.

Objective: Urate-lowering treatment (ULT) is recommended in gout management. However, initiation of ULT during an acute gout flare is still inconclusive. This study aimed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of the ULT febuxostat administered at initiation of an acute gout attack.

CaSR participates in the regulation of vascular tension in the mesentery of hypertensive rats via the PLC‑IP3/AC‑V/cAMP/RAS pathway.

Hypertension is a cardiovascular disease that severely impairs human health; however, its specific etiology and pathogenesis are complex. The present study investigated the effects of the calcium sensing receptor (CaSR) on vascular tone in spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHRs), and clarified the role and mechanism of CaSR in regulating this property with respect to the phospholipase C (PLC)‑inositol 1,4,5‑triphosphate (IP3)/adenylate cyclase‑V(AC‑V)/cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP)/renin‑angiotensin system (RAS) pathway in these animals. CaSR protein expression in the mesenteric artery (MA) of rats and CaSR protein expression in SHRs were significantly reduced.

Baseline urate level and renal function predict outcomes of urate-lowering therapy using low doses of febuxostat and benzbromarone: a prospective, randomized controlled study in a Chinese primary gout cohort.

Background: Low doses of febuxostat or benzbromarone are widely used in Asian countries, but lacking studies to compare the efficacy and safety of the two urate-lowering drugs.

Methods: To compare the efficacy and safety of low-dose febuxostat with low-dose benzbromarone in patients with primary gout, a randomized controlled, open-label trial was performed among male patients with primary gout for urate-lowering therapy (ULT) in a dedicated gout clinic in China. Randomization was carried out by a third-party institution according to random number table.

Calcimimetic R568 reduced the blood pressure and improved aortic remodeling in spontaneously hypertensive rats by inhibiting local renin-angiotensin system activity.

Hypertension is a cardiovascular disease that seriously affects human health. Activation of the calcium-sensing receptor (CaSR) inhibits cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP) formation by increasing [Ca] and subsequently inhibiting renin release. The renin-angiotensin system (RAS) plays an important role in the development of essential hypertension (EH).

Sphingosine 1-phosphate stimulates eyelid closure in the developing rat by stimulating EGFR signaling.

In many mammals, the eyelids migrate over the eye and fuse during embryogenesis to protect the cornea from damage during birth and early life. Loss-of-function mutations affecting the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) signaling pathway cause an eyes-open-at-birth (EOB) phenotype in rodents. We identified an insertional mutation in () in a strain of transgenic rats exhibiting the EOB phenotype.

Bisphenol S Triggers the Migration and Invasion of Pheochromocytoma PC12 Cells via Estrogen-Related Receptor α.

Pheochromocytoma (PCC) is a tumor of the adrenal medulla for which surgical resection is the only therapy approach. Risk factors responsible for the tumorigenesis and progression of PCC are not well illustrated. Our present study revealed that an industrial chemical, bisphenol S (BPS), can promote the migration and invasion of PCC PC12 cells, which was evidenced by the upregulation of fibronectin (FN) and matrix metalloproteinases (MMP-2 and MMP-9).

S1P transporter SPNS2 regulates proper postnatal retinal morphogenesis.

Spinster homolog 2 (SPNS2) is the membrane transporter of sphingosine-1-phosphate (S1P), and it participates in several physiologic processes by activating different S1P receptors (S1PRs). However, its functions in the nervous system remain largely unclear. We explored the important role of SPNS2 in the process of retinal morphogenesis using a spns2-deficient rat model.