Visible-Light Photocatalyzed Skeletal Rearrangement Enables the Synthesis of Highly Functionalized Xanthenes with Antitumor Activity.

Highly functionalized xanthenes possess an impressive range of bioactivities and daunting synthetic challenge due to their unique ring systems and stereocenters. Here, we report an unprecedented ketyl radicals-induced skeletal rearrangement reaction of spirodihydrobenzofurans, enabled by zero-valent iron as reducing agents via photoredox catalysis, facilitating the facile preparation of various highly functionalized xanthenes. The features of this protocol include high chemo- and regioselectivity, exceptionally mild conditions, a broad substrate scope, scalability to gram-scale quantities, and consistent delivery of good to excellent yields.

Advanced machine learning unveils CD8 + T cell genetic markers enhancing prognosis and immunotherapy efficacy in breast cancer.

Background: Breast cancer (BC) is the most common cancer in women and poses a significant health burden, especially in China. Despite advances in diagnosis and treatment, patient variability and limited early detection contribute to poor outcomes. This study examines the role of CD8 + T cells in the tumor microenvironment to identify new biomarkers that improve prognosis and guide treatment strategies.

Deletion of the foxO1 gene reduces hypoxia tolerance in zebrafish embryos by influencing erythropoiesis.

FoxO1 (Forkhead box O1) belongs to the evolutionarily conserved FoxO subfamily and is involved in diverse physiologic processes, including apoptosis, cell cycle, DNA damage repair, oxidative stress and cell differentiation. FoxO1 plays an important role in regulating the hypoxia microenvironment such as cancers, but its role in hypoxia adaptation remains unclear in animals. To understand the function of foxO1 in hypoxia response, we constructed foxO1a and foxO1b mutant zebrafish using CRISPR/Cas9 technology.

Preoperative prediction of macrotrabecular-massive hepatocellular carcinoma through dynamic contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging-based radiomics.

Background: Macrotrabecular-massive hepatocellular carcinoma (MTM-HCC) is closely related to aggressive phenotype, gene mutation, carcinogenic pathway, and immunohistochemical markers and is a strong independent predictor of early recurrence and poor prognosis. With the development of imaging technology, successful applications of contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) have been reported in identifying the MTM-HCC subtype. Radiomics, as an objective and beneficial method for tumour evaluation, is used to convert medical images into high-throughput quantification features that greatly push the development of precision medicine.

A new sesquiterpene synthase catalyzing the formation of (R)-β-bisabolene from medicinal plant Colquhounia coccinea var. mollis and its anti-adipogenic and antibacterial activities.

The sesquiterpene β-bisabolene possessing R and S configurations is commonly found in plant essential oils with antimicrobial and antioxidant activities. Here, we report the cloning and functional characterization of a (R)-β-bisabolene synthase gene (CcTPS2) from a Lamiaceae medicinal plant Colquhounia coccinea var. mollis.

Performance of contrast-enhanced ultrasound for lymph node metastasis in papillary thyroid carcinoma: a meta-analysis.

Background: Papillary thyroid carcinoma is the most common thyroid carcinoma worldwide. Papillary thyroid carcinoma metastasis to the cervical region increases the probability of local or regional recurrence and the requirement for further surgery. Contrast-enhanced ultrasound has been suggested as a possible adjunct diagnostic technique for evaluating papillary thyroid carcinoma metastatic lymph nodes in several studies.

Characterization of myogenic regulatory factors, myod and myf5 from Megalobrama amblycephala and the effect of lipopolysaccharide on satellite cells in skeletal muscle.

Myod and Myf5 are muscle-specific basic helix-loop-helix (bHLH) transcription factors that play essential roles in regulating skeletal muscle development and growth. In order to investigate potential function of myod and myf5 of Megalobrama amblycephala, an economically important freshwater fish species, in the present study, we characterized the sequences and expression profiles of M. amblycephala myod and myf5.

The Novel Function of Unsymmetrical Chiral CCN Pincer Nickel Complexes as Chemotherapeutic Agents Targeting Prostate Cancer Cells.

We report that the pincer nickel complexes display prostate cancer antitumor properties through inhibition of cell proliferation. Notably, they display better antitumor properties than cisplatin. Mechanistic studies reveal that these pincer nickel complexes trigger cell apoptosis, most likely due to cell cycle arrest.

Gigahertz femtosecond laser-by a novel asymmetric one-dimensional photonic crystal saturable absorber device with defect layer.

High repetition frequency (HRF) ultrashort pulse fiber laser has been widely used in laser cold processing. The technical solutions such as short cavity length fiber laser have been proposed to achieve HRF ultrashort pulse output recently. However, the application of material-based saturable absorbers in this field has been astricted due to the low modulation depth, low damage resistance threshold, and high saturation fluence.

Economic evaluation of the introduction of rotavirus vaccine in Hong Kong.

Background: Rotavirus is a common cause of severe gastroenteritis in young children in Hong Kong (HK) with a high economic burden. This study aimed to evaluate the cost-effectiveness of introducing rotavirus vaccination into the HK Government's Childhood Immunisation Programme (CIP) and to include the potential protective effect of the vaccine against seizures.

Methods: A decision-support model was customised to estimate the potential impact, cost-effectiveness and benefit-risk of rotavirus vaccination in children below 5 years over the period 2020-2029 in HK.

Comparison of effects of dsRNA and siRNA RNA interference on insulin-like androgenic gland gene (IAG) in red swamp crayfish Procambarus clarkii.

RNA interference (RNAi), which employs double-strand RNA (dsRNA) or small interference RNA (siRNA), is a popular reverse genetic manipulation tool to study gene function. Presently, there is few reports on the implementation of RNAi on the insulin-like androgenic gland gene (IAG) in red swamp crayfish Procambarus clarkii. In this study, the effective sequence of siRNA and optimal injection dose were determined, and the effects of RNAi using dsRNA, siRNA, and long-term RNAi were investigated.

Birth weight and prematurity with lung function at ~17.5 years: "Children of 1997" birth cohort.

We aimed to determine if prematurity and lower birth weight are associated with poorer lung function in a non-western developed setting with less marked confounding by socioeconomic position. Using multivariable linear regression in Hong Kong's "Children of 1997" birth cohort, adjusted associations of prematurity and birth weight with forced expiratory volume in 1 second (FEV), forced vital capacity (FVC), and forced expiratory flow at 25-75% of the pulmonary volume (FEF) at ~17.5 years were assessed.

The effect of liver enzymes on adiposity: a Mendelian randomization study.

Poorer liver function is positively associated with diabetes in Mendelian randomization (MR) studies. Observationally, adiposity is associated with poorer liver function. To clarify the etiology, we assessed the association of liver enzymes with adiposity observationally and using two-sample MR for validation.

Bioinformatic identification of key candidate genes and pathways in axon regeneration after spinal cord injury in zebrafish.

Zebrafish and human genomes are highly homologous; however, despite this genomic similarity, adult zebrafish can achieve neuronal proliferation, regeneration and functional restoration within 6-8 weeks after spinal cord injury, whereas humans cannot. To analyze differentially expressed zebrafish genes between axon-regenerated neurons and axon-non-regenerated neurons after spinal cord injury, and to explore the key genes and pathways of axonal regeneration after spinal cord injury, microarray GSE56842 was analyzed using the online tool, GEO2R, in the Gene Expression Omnibus database. Gene ontology and protein-protein interaction networks were used to analyze the identified differentially expressed genes.

Re-thinking Alzheimer's disease therapeutic targets using gene-based tests.

Background: Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a devastating condition with no known effective drug treatments. Existing drugs only alleviate symptoms. Given repeated expensive drug failures, we assessed systematically whether approved and investigational AD drugs are targeting products of genes strongly associated with AD and whether these genes are targeted by existing drugs for other indications which could be re-purposed.

[Analysis of Atmospheric Particulate Matter Pollution Characteristics by LIDAR in Beijing During Spring Festival, 2016].

Real-time aerosol extinction retrieved by Micro-pulse LIDAR and concentrations of PM and PM in Beijing were analyzed to investigate the air quality during the Spring Festival. The results showed that fireworks on the New Year's Eve resulted in a sharp increase in particulate matter concentrations in a short time. The maximum concentration of PM at Guanyuan station was 639.

The Roles of 27 Genera of Human Gut Microbiota in Ischemic Heart Disease, Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus, and Their Risk Factors: A Mendelian Randomization Study.

Manipulation of the gut microbiota presents a new opportunity to combat chronic diseases. Randomized controlled trials of probiotics suggest some associations with adiposity, lipids, and insulin resistance, but to our knowledge no trials with "hard" outcomes have been conducted. We used separate-sample Mendelian randomization to obtain estimates of the associations of 27 genera of gut microbiota with ischemic heart disease, type 2 diabetes mellitus, adiposity, lipid levels, and insulin resistance, based on summary data from CARDIoGRAAMplusC4D and other consortia.

Birth weight, gestational age and late adolescent liver function using twin status as instrumental variable in a Hong Kong Chinese birth cohort: "Children of 1997".

Birth weight (BW) is inversely associated with diabetes and liver function in Mendelian Randomization studies. Observationally, lower BW is usually also associated with poorer liver function. However, these studies could be confounded by socioeconomic position.

[Protective effect and mechanism of total lignans from Tibetan medicinal Herpetospermum seeds on carbon tetrachloride-induced liver fibrosis in rats].

This experiment was aimed to discuss the protective effect and mechanism of total lignans from Tibetan medicinal Herpetospermum seeds on carbon tetrachloride (CCl4)-induced liver fibrosis in rats. Forty-eight male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into the blank control group (G1), model group (G2), total lignans high, middle and low dose groups (400,200, and 100 mg•kg⁻¹•d⁻¹)(G3/4/5) and the glycyrrhizin positive control group (25 mg•kg⁻¹•d⁻¹)(G6), n=8 in each group. The rats in blank group received normal feeding; the rats in model group, total lignans low, middle and high dose groups and glycyrrhizic group were subcutaneously in jected with 3 mL•kg⁻¹ olive oilsolution containing 40%CCl4 every two or three days for Eight weeks.

The Effect of Birth Weight on Academic Performance: Instrumental Variable Analysis.

Observationally, lower birth weight is usually associated with poorer academic performance; whether this association is causal or the result of confounding is unknown. To investigate this question, we obtained an effect estimate, which can have a causal interpretation under specific assumptions, of birth weight on educational attainment using instrumental variable analysis based on single nucleotide polymorphisms determining birth weight combined with results from the Social Science Genetic Association Consortium study of 126,559 Caucasians. We similarly obtained an estimate of the effect of birth weight on academic performance in 4,067 adolescents from Hong Kong's (Chinese) Children of 1997 birth cohort (1997-2016), using twin status as an instrumental variable.

A Mendelian randomization study of the effect of calcium on coronary artery disease, myocardial infarction and their risk factors.

Meta-analyses of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) suggest calcium could have adverse effects on cardiovascular disease, although these findings are controversial. To clarify, we assessed whether people with genetically higher calcium had a higher risk of coronary artery disease (CAD), myocardial infarction (MI) and their risk factors. We used a two-sample Mendelian randomization study.

Liver Enzymes and Risk of Ischemic Heart Disease and Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus: A Mendelian Randomization Study.

We used Mendelian randomization to estimate the causal effects of the liver enzymes, alanine aminotransferase (ALT), alkaline phosphatase (ALP) and gamma glutamyltransferase (GGT), on diabetes and cardiovascular disease, using genetic variants predicting these liver enzymes at genome wide significance applied to extensively genotyped case-control studies of diabetes (DIAGRAM) and coronary artery disease (CAD)/myocardial infarction (MI) (CARDIoGRAMplusC4D 1000 Genomes). Genetically higher ALT was associated with higher risk of diabetes, odds ratio (OR) 2.99 per 100% change in concentration (95% confidence interval (CI) 1.

Birth weight and risk of ischemic heart disease: A Mendelian randomization study.

Low birth weight is a risk factor for cardiovascular disease. However, the association could be confounded by many factors. We used Mendelian randomization to clarify the role of birth weight in ischemic heart disease (IHD) and lipids.

Effect of l-arginine, asymmetric dimethylarginine, and symmetric dimethylarginine on ischemic heart disease risk: A Mendelian randomization study.

Background: l-arginine is a commonly consumed dietary conditional essential amino acid found in food items and supplements, which is closely related to asymmetric dimethylarginine (ADMA) and symmetric dimethylarginine (SDMA). l-arginine is thought to increase nitric oxide and be cardioprotective, whereas ADMA and SDMA may inhibit nitric oxide synthesis and increase cardiovascular disease risk. Unexpectedly, l-arginine increased mortality in a small trial.

Spironolactone and glucose metabolism, a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.

Diabetes predicts cardiovascular disease (CVD); some drugs are effective for CVD prevention but increase the risk of diabetes. In a systematic review and meta-analysis of placebo-controlled trials, we assessed if spironolactone, a mineralocorticoid receptor antagonist, affected glycemic control. We searched PubMed using ("spironolactone" or "aldactone") and trial and ("glucose" or "diabetes" or "insulin" or "insulin resistance") until January 4, 2016.