Targeting the ALKBH5-NLRP3 positive feedback loop alleviates cardiomyocyte pyroptosis after myocardial infarction.

Several studies have associated the epitranscriptomic RNA modification of N6-methyladenosine (mA) with cardiovascular diseases; however, how mA modification affects cardiomyocyte pyroptosis after myocardial infarction (MI) remains unknown. Here, we showed that AlkB homolog 5 (ALKBH5), an mA demethylase, is crucial in cardiomyocyte pyroptosis after MI. We used MI rat and mouse models, a cell hypoxia model of rat primary cardiomyocytes (RCMs), and rat embryonic ventricle cell line (H9c2) to explore the functional role of mA modification and ALKBH5 in the heart and cardiomyocytes.

ALKBH5 promotes cardiac fibroblasts pyroptosis after myocardial infarction through Notch1/NLRP3 pathway.

Through bioinformatics screening, we previously found that AlkB homolog 5 (ALKBH5) expression, an mA demethylase, was higher in patients with heart failure than in the normal population. This study aimed to investigate the molecular mechanisms by which ALKBH5 regulates heart failure. We established a myocardial infarction (MI)-induced heart failure model in rats in vivo and an in vitro hypoxia model using rat primary cardiac fibroblasts (RCFs).

Cevanine-type steroidal alkaloids from the bulbs of Fritillaria cirrhosa D. Don.

Eight previously undescribed cevanine-type steroidal alkaloids, cirrhosinones I-N and cirrhosinols A-B, along with five known analogs, were isolated from the bulbs of Fritillaria cirrhosa D. Don. Their structures were elucidated on the basis of comprehensive analysis of HRESIMS, 1D and 2D NMR spectroscopic data, and single-crystal X-ray diffraction analyses.

 (Lamiaceae): A new species from Hunan, China.

This study provides detailed description of a newly-discovered Wen B. Xu, Xiao D. Li & Yan Ling Liu (Lamiaceae) species from Hunan, China.

Effect of blood pressure on mortality in patients with cognitive impairment: a prospective cohort study.

Background: Cognitive impairment is a prevalent condition that substantially elevates mortality rates among the elderly. The impact of hypertension on mortality in older adults with cognitive impairment is a subject of contention. This study aims to examine the influence of hypertension on both all-cause and CVD-specific mortality in elderly individuals experiencing cognitive impairment within a prospective cohort.

Two pyrrole acids isolated from Phyllanthus emblica L. and their bioactivities.

An undescribed pyrrole acid, 1-(4'-methoxy-4'-oxobutyl)-1 H-pyrrole-2,5-dicarboxylic acid (1) and one known pyrrole acid (2) were isolated from the fruits of Phyllanthus emblica. The structures of these compounds were elucidated via the comprehensive analyses of IR, HRESIMS, 1D and 2D spectroscopic data. A series of biological assays revealed that compounds 1 and 2 could inhibit LPS-induced over-production of nitric oxide (NO), interleukin-6 (IL-6), monocyte chemotactic protein 1 (MCP-1) and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) by reducing the phosphorylation of extracellular regulated protein kinases (ERK) and c-Jun N-terminal kinases (JNK) in RAW 264.

Velopharyngeal Function Change after 2-Jaw Orthognathic Surgery in Patients with Cleft: A Study of 162 Consecutive Cases.

Background: Orthognathic surgery (OGS) is a common intervention used to correct midfacial hypoplasia in patients with cleft. Previous studies have reported that Le Fort I maxillary advancement may affect velopharyngeal function, but similar investigations focusing on 2-jaw OGS have not been conducted.

Methods: A total of 162 consecutive patients with cleft lip and palate who underwent 2-jaw OGS between 2015 and 2020 were enrolled.

S100 Calcium-Binding Protein A8 Functions as a Tumor-Promoting Factor in Renal Cell Carcinoma via Activating NF-κB Signaling Pathway.

Background: Renal cell carcinoma (RCC), arising from the renal tubular epithelium, is one of the most common types of genitourinary malignancies. Based on the Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) database (GSE100666), S100 calcium-binding protein A8 (S100A8) was highly expressed in RCC tissues. S100A8, an inflammatory regulatory factor, has emerged as an important mediator associated with the occurrence and development of cancer.

Steroidal alkaloids from the bulbs of Fritillaria unibracteata var. wabuensis and their anti-inflammatory activities.

Fourteen previously undescribed steroidal alkaloids, including six jervine-type, wabujervine A-E and wabujerside A, seven cevanine-type, wabucevanine A-G, and one secolanidin-type, wabusesolanine A, along with thirteen known steroidal alkaloids, were isolated from the bulbs of Fritillaria unibracteata var. wabuensis. On the basis of comprehensive analysis of IR, HRESIMS, 1D and 2D NMR spectroscopic data, and single-crystal X-ray diffraction analyses, their structures were elucidated.

Bioinspired Antimicrobial PLA with Nanocones on the Surface for Rapid Deactivation of Omicron SARS-CoV-2.

Bioinspired bactericidal surfaces are artificial surfaces that mimic the nanotopography of insect wings and are capable of inhibiting microbial growth by a physicomechanical mechanism. The scientific community has considered them an alternative method to design polymers with surfaces that inhibit bacterial biofilm formation, suitable for self-disinfectant medical devices. In this contribution, poly(lactic acid) (PLA) with nanocone patterns was successfully produced by a novel two-step procedure involving copper plasma deposition followed by argon plasma etching.

Efficacy of online training at the International Mental Health Training Center Taiwan (IMHTCT): Pre and during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Study Objectives: The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has resulted in major disruption to regular learning and training for medical staff. The aim of this study was to compare the learning efficacy between on-site training before the COVID-19 pandemic and online training during the pandemic for nurses, psychologists, social workers, and occupational therapists from Southeast Asia.

Method: The current study derived data from the International Mental Health Training Center Taiwan (IMHTCT) from 2018 to 2020.

Ticagrelor reduces doxorubicin-induced pyroptosis of rat cardiomyocytes by targeting GSK-3β/caspase-1.

Doxorubicin (Dox) is a widely used clinical drug whose cardiotoxicity cannot be ignored. Pyroptosis (inflammatory cell death) has gradually gained attention in the context of Dox-induced cardiotoxicity. In addition to the inhibition of platelet activation by ticagrelor, little is known about its other pharmacological effects.

Bioactive abietane diterpenes and benzofuran neolignans from the resins of Toxicodendron vernicifluum.

Six new compounds (1-6), including two abietane diterpenes (1,2) and four benzofuran neolignans (3-6), along with five known compounds (7-11) were isolated and identified through phytochemical investigation on the resins of Toxicodendron vernicifluum (Toxicodendri Resina). The structures of the new compounds were fully elucidated by their 1D and 2D NMR, HRESIMS, UV, and IR spectroscopic data analyses. The absolute configurations of 1-4 were deduced by comparison of the experimental and calculated electronic circular dichroism (ECD) data.

Discovery of steroidal alkaloid glycosides from the bulbs of Fritillaria unibracteata with anti-inflammatory activities using an in vivo zebrafish model.

Nine undescribed steroidal alkaloid glycosides, unibrasolanosides A-F, unibraverazosides A-B, and unibratomatoside A, were isolated from the bulbs of Fritillaria unibracteata P. K. Hsiao & K.

Delta SARS-CoV-2 inactivation and bactericidal performance of cotton wipes decorated with TiO/Ag nanoparticles like Brazilian heavy-fruited .

The current pandemic of Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) raised several concerns about using conventional textiles for manufacturing personal protective equipment without self-disinfecting properties since the Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) is transmitted mainly by aerosols that can transpose cotton masks. Therefore, developing new cotton fibers with high self-disinfecting ability is essential to avoid a new pandemic due to new SARS-CoV-2 variants. Herein, we developed cotton wipes (CFs) with fibers coated by Ag, TiO, and Ag/TiO hybrid nanoparticles like Brazilian heavy-fruited by a sonochemical approach.

Potential therapeutic strategies for myocardial infarction: the role of Toll-like receptors.

Myocardial infarction (MI) is a life-threatening condition among patients with cardiovascular diseases. MI increases the risk of stroke and heart failure and is a leading cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide. Several genetic and epigenetic factors contribute to the development of MI, suggesting that further understanding of the pathomechanism of MI might help in the early management and treatment of this disease.

GSK-3β-mediated activation of NLRP3 inflammasome leads to pyroptosis and apoptosis of rat cardiomyocytes and fibroblasts.

We previously demonstrated that GSK-3β mediates NLRP3 inflammasome activation and IL-1β production in cardiac fibroblasts (CFs) after myocardial infarction (MI). In this study, we show how GSK-3β-mediated activation of the NLRP3 inflammasome/caspase-1/IL-1β pathway leads to apoptosis and pyroptosis of cardiomyocytes (CMs) and CFs. Administration of lipopolysaccharide (LPS)/ATP to primary newborn rat cardiac fibroblasts (RCFs) led to increase in proteins of NLRP3, apoptosis-associated speck-like protein containing a caspase recruitment domain (ASC), caspase-1, IL-1β, and IL-18.

Steroidal alkaloids and their glycosides from the bulbs of Fritillaria unibracteata.

Seven undescribed steroidal alkaloids, including two jervine-type steroidal alkaloids, fritiunibras A-B (1-2), and five cevanine-type steroidal alkaloid glycosides, fritiunibras C-G (3-7), along with six known cevanine-type steroidal alkaloids and their glycosides (8-13) were isolated from the bulbs of Fritillaria unibracteata Hsiao et K. C. Hsia.

The caspase-1 inhibitor VX765 upregulates connexin 43 expression and improves cell-cell communication after myocardial infarction via suppressing the IL-1β/p38 MAPK pathway.

Connexin 43 (Cx43) is the most important protein in the gap junction channel between cardiomyocytes. Abnormalities of Cx43 change the conduction velocity and direction of cardiomyocytes, leading to reentry and conduction block of the myocardium, thereby causing arrhythmia. It has been shown that IL-1β reduces the expression of Cx43 in astrocytes and cardiomyocytes in vitro.

Saliency-based 3D convolutional neural network for categorising common focal liver lesions on multisequence MRI.

Background: The imaging features of focal liver lesions (FLLs) are diverse and complex. Diagnosing FLLs with imaging alone remains challenging. We developed and validated an interpretable deep learning model for the classification of seven categories of FLLs on multisequence MRI and compared the differential diagnosis between the proposed model and radiologists.

Targeting Glycogen Synthase Kinase 3 Beta Regulates CD47 Expression After Myocardial Infarction in Rats via the NF-κB Signaling Pathway.

The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of the GSK-3β/NF-κB pathway on integrin-associated protein (CD47) expression after myocardial infarction (MI) in rats. An MI Sprague Dawley rat model was established by ligating the left anterior descending coronary artery. The rats were divided into three groups: Sham, MI, and SB + MI (SB216763) groups.

Biodegradable Nanocomposite Microcapsules for Controlled Release of Urea.

Urea is the most used fertilizer around the world as the main source of nitrogen to soil and plants. However, the administration of nitrogen dosage is critical, as its excess can be harmful to the environment. Therefore, the encapsulation of urea to achieve control on its release rates has been considered in several areas.