Assessment of the causal relationship between gut microbiota and cardiovascular diseases: a bidirectional Mendelian randomization analysis.

Background: Previous studies have shown an association between gut microbiota and cardiovascular diseases (CVDs). However, the underlying causal relationship remains unclear. This study aims to elucidate the causal relationship between gut microbiota and CVDs and to explore the pathogenic role of gut microbiota in CVDs.

Roles of Kdm6a and Kdm6b in regulation of mammalian neural regeneration.

Epigenetic regulation of neuronal transcriptomic landscape is emerging to be a key coordinator of mammalian neural regeneration. Here we investigated roles of two histone 3 lysine 27 (H3K27) demethylases Kdm6a/b in controlling neuroprotection and axon regeneration. Deleting either Kdm6a or Kdm6b led to enhanced sensory axon regeneration in PNS, whereas in the CNS only deleting Kdm6a in retinal ganglion cells (RGCs) significantly enhanced optic nerve regeneration.

Astrocyte-derived SerpinA3N promotes neuroinflammation and epileptic seizures by activating the NF-κB signaling pathway in mice with temporal lobe epilepsy.

Impaired activation and regulation of the extinction of inflammatory cells and molecules in injured neuronal tissues are key factors in the development of epilepsy. SerpinA3N is mainly associated with the acute phase response and inflammatory response. In our current study, transcriptomics analysis, proteomics analysis, and Western blotting showed that the expression level of Serpin clade A member 3N (SerpinA3N) is significantly increased in the hippocampus of mice with kainic acid (KA)-induced temporal lobe epilepsy, and this molecule is mainly expressed in astrocytes.

Effectiveness, Policy, and User Acceptance of COVID-19 Contact-Tracing Apps in the Post-COVID-19 Pandemic Era: Experience and Comparative Study.

Background: In the post-COVID-19 pandemic era, many countries have launched apps to trace contacts of COVID-19 infections. Each contact-tracing app (CTA) faces a variety of issues owing to different national policies or technologies for tracing contacts.

Objective: In this study, we aimed to investigate all the CTAs used to trace contacts in various countries worldwide, including the technology used by each CTA, the availability of knowledge about the CTA from official websites, the interoperability of CTAs in various countries, and the infection detection rates and policies of the specific country that launched the CTA, and to summarize the current problems of the apps based on the information collected.

Electrode-Electrolyte Interfacial Chemistry Modulation for Ultra-High Rate Sodium-Ion Batteries.

Sodium-ion batteries capable of operating at rate and temperature extremes are highly desirable, but elusive due to the dynamics and thermodynamics limitations. Herein, a strategy of electrode-electrolyte interfacial chemistry modulation is proposed. The commercial hard carbon demonstrates superior rate performance with 212 mAh g at an ultra-high current density of 5 A g in the electrolyte with weak ion solvation/desolvation, which is much higher than those in common electrolytes (nearly no capacity in carbonate-based electrolytes).

8-(Methyltosylaminoethynyl)-1-naphthyl (MTAEN) Glycosides: Potent Donors in Glycosides Synthesis.

With 8-(methyltosylaminoethynyl)-1-naphthyl (MTAEN) glycoside as donors, a novel and efficient glycosylation protocol has been established. The MTAEN glycosylation protocol exhibits the merits of shelf-stable donors, mild catalytic promotion conditions, considerably extended substrate scope encompassing both free alcohols, silylated alcohols, nucleobases, primary amides, and -type nucleophile acceptors, and applicability to various one-pot strategies for highly efficient synthesis of oligosaccharides, such as orthogonal one-pot, single-catalyst one-pot, and acceptor reactivity-controlled one-pot strategies.

Emerging Roles of Coronavirus in Autoimmune Diseases.

Virus infection can alter immune regulatory activity, and thus may be involved in the occurrence of autoimmune diseases. Recently, the pandemic of COVID-19 has posed a huge threat to public health and emerging evidence suggests that coronavirus may be implicated in the development and pathogenesis of autoimmune diseases. However, how coronavirus infection impacts the risk of autoimmune disease remains largely unknown.

circRNA_141539 can serve as an oncogenic factor in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma by sponging miR-4469 and activating CDK3 gene.

The abnormal expression and regulation of circular RNA (circRNA) is involved in the occurrence and development of a variety of tumors. The current study aimed to determine the role of circRNA_141539 in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC). CircRNA_141539 expression in ESCC was detected via circRNA chip analysis and verified via reverse transcription-quantitative PCR.

An Optimized Metagenomic Approach for Virome Detection of Clinical Pharyngeal Samples With Respiratory Infection.

Respiratory virus infections are one of the major causes of acute respiratory disease or exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). However, next-generation sequencing has not been used for routine viral detection in clinical respiratory samples owing to its sophisticated technology. Here, several pharyngeal samples with COPD were collected to enrich viral particles using an optimized method (M3), which involved M1 with centrifugation, filtration, and concentration, M2 (magnetic beads) combined with mixed nuclease digestion, and M4 with no pretreatment as a control.

Dual-Participation Protecting Group Solves the Anomeric Stereocontrol Problems in Glycosylation Reactions.

The 2,2-dimethyl-2-(-nitrophenyl)acetyl (DMNPA) group permits, via robust neighboring group participation (NGP) or long distance participation (LDP) effects, the stereocontrolled 1,2-, 1,2-, as well as β-2,6-dideoxy glycosidic bond generation, while suppressing the undesired orthoester byproduct formation. The robust stereocontrol capability of the DMNPA is due to the dual-participation effect from both the ester functionality and the nitro group, verified by control reactions and DFT calculations and further corroborated by X-ray spectroscopy.

The 2,2-Dimethyl-2-(-nitrophenyl)acetyl (DMNPA) Group: A Novel Protecting Group in Carbohydrate Chemistry.

The 2,2-dimethyl-2-(-nitrophenyl)acetyl (DMNPA) group was introduced to synthetic carbohydrate chemistry as a protecting group (PG) for the first time. Benefiting from a unique chemical structure and novel deprotection conditions, the DMNPA group can be cleaved rapidly and mutually orthogonal to other PGs. Orchestrated application of the DMNPA group with other PGs led to the highly efficient synthesis of the glycan of thornasterside A.

Bacillamidins A⁻G from a Marine-Derived .

Seven long-chain amides, including five previously undescribed bacillamidins A⁻E (⁻) and two previously reported synthetic analogs, bacillamidins F () and G (), were isolated from extracts of the marine-derived strain RJA1515. The structures of the new compounds were established by extensive analysis of 1D and 2D nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) data as well as high resolution mass spectrometry (HRMS), and the absolute configurations of the stereogenic carbons of ⁻ were established by comparison of the calculated and the experimental electronic circular dichroism (ECD) spectra. The cytotoxic and antimicrobial activities of ⁻ were evaluated.

A new isoflavanone from Ficus tikoua Bur.

A new isoflavanone compound, ficustikounone A (1), together with 22 known flavones, was isolated from Ficus tikoua Bur. The structures of these isolates were determined by UV, ECD, HRESIMS, 1D and 2D spectral analyses.

HPLC-ESI-MS/MS analysis of phenolics and in vitro antioxidant activity of Epilobium angustifolium L.

The aerial parts of Epilobium plants are widely used as folk medicine and food around the world. The present study was aimed to investigate the antioxidant activities and active chemical constituents from Epilobium angustifolium L. The results revealed that the EtOAc extract, rich in phenolic compounds and flavonoids (16.

Two new compounds from a marine-derived Streptomyces sp.

Two new long-chain unsaturated compounds, (2E, 6E)-10-methoxy-3,7-dimethyl-10-oxodeca-2,6-dienoic acid (1) and (2E, 6E)-3,7,11-trimethyldodeca-2,6-dienedioic acid (2), together with seven known compounds were isolated from a marine-derived Streptomyces sp. Their structures were determined by spectroscopic methods, including 2D NMR techniques. Compounds 1 and 2 were investigated for their antibacterial activities.

A new diphenyl ether derivative from Mirabilis himalaica.

One new compound, himalain A (1), together with 12 known compounds were isolated from Mirabilis himalaica. Their structures were determined by spectroscopic methods, including 2D NMR techniques, and the absolute configuration of the 1,2-diol moiety in 1 was defined through Riguera's method. All isolated compounds were tested for their cytotoxic and antibacterial activities.

Laparoscopic Cholecystectomy in Patients With History of Gastrectomy.

Background And Objectives: Patients with previous gastrectomy have an increased incidence of gallstones and gallbladder morbidity requiring surgery. We investigated the possible risk factors that contribute to severe gallbladder disease in patients with previous gastrectomy and the role of laparoscopic cholecystectomy (LC) in the treatment of these patients.

Methods: In this retrospective study, we reviewed a database of patients who underwent LC in our hospital during the period January 1, 2010, through May 1, 2015.

Renchangianins F and G: two new sesquiterpenoids from Kadsura renchangiana.

Phytochemical investigation on the stems of Kadsura renchangiana led to the isolation of two new sesquiterpenoids, renchangianins F and G (1 and 2). Their structures were elucidated by spectroscopic methods, including 2D NMR techniques. The in vitro cytotoxic activities of the isolates were studied against HepG2, A549, and LN229 cancer cell lines.

[Chamerilactone A: one new isocoumarin isolated from Chamerion angustifolium].

A new isocoumarin, chamerilactone A(1) was isolated from the ethanol extract of Chamerion angustifolium with normal phase silica column chromatography, Sephadex LH-20, MCI CHP-20 and semi- preparative HPLC methods. Its structure and stereochemistry were elucidated by spectroscopic methods, including 2D-NMR and optical rotation techniques.

[Renchangianin E: a new dibenzocyclooctadiene lignan from Kadsura renchangiana].

A new dibenzocyclooctadiene lignan, renchangianin E (1) was isolated from the stems of Kadsura renchangiana. Its structure and stereochemistry were elucidated by spectroscopic methods, including 2D-NMR techniques.

[Influences of compound whole grain on oxidative stress to hyperlipidemia population].

Objective: To explore the influence of compound whole grain complex antioxidant chain on oxidative stress to the hyperlipidemia population.

Methods: From March 2008 to March 2009, 418 hyperlipemia residents (45 to 75 years of age) of Han group were screened from 3 main districts in Nanjing, according to the community, blood lipids and oxidative indicators, stratified into intervention and control group by quasi-experimental design. The intervention group (212 individuals) were provided with compound whole grain and health education while only health education was provided for the control group (206 individuals).