The Molecular Basis of Multiple Morphological Abnormalities of Sperm Flagella and Its Impact on Clinical Practice.

Multiple morphological abnormalities of the sperm flagella (MMAF) is a specific form of severe flagellar or ciliary deficiency syndrome. MMAF is characterized by primary infertility with abnormal morphology in the flagella of spermatozoa, presenting with short, absent, bent, coiled, and irregular flagella. As a rare disease first named in 2014, studies in recent years have shed light on the molecular defects of MMAF that comprise the structure and biological function of the sperm flagella.

M2 macrophage infusion ameliorates diabetic glomerulopathy the JAK2/STAT3 pathway in db/db mice.

To explore the therapeutic effects of M2 macrophages in diabetic nephropathy (DN) and their mechanism. We infused M2 macrophages stimulated with IL-4 into 10-week-old db/db mice once a week for 4 weeks through the tail vein as M2 group. Then we investigated the role of M2 macrophages in alleviating the infammation of DN and explored the mechanism.

An artificial intelligence-based model for predicting reproductive toxicity of bisphenol analogues mixtures to the rotifer Brachionus calyciflorus.

The joint toxicity effects of mixtures, particularly reproductive toxicity, one of the main causes of aquatic ecosystem degradation, are often overlooked as it is impractical to test all mixtures. This study developed and evaluated the following models to predict the concentration response curve concerning the joint reproductive toxicity of mixtures of three bisphenol analogues (BPA, BPF, BPAF) on the rotifer Brachionus calyciflorus: concentration addition (CA), independent action (IA), and two deep neural network (DNN) models. One applied mixture molecular descriptors as input variables (DNN-QSAR), while the other applied the ratios of chemicals in the mixtures (DNN-Ratio).

The first compound heterozygous mutations in SLC12A3 and PDX1 genes: a unique presentation of Gitelman syndrome with distinct insulin resistance and familial diabetes insights.

Background: Gitelman Syndrome (GS) patients frequently exhibit disrupted glucose metabolism, attributed to hypokalemia, hypomagnesemia and heightened aldosterone. This study delved into the genetic underpinnings linked to insulin resistance and diabetes in a GS patient, contextualized within his family history.

Methods: The hydrochlorothiazide and furosemide loading test were performed to ascertain the presence of GS.

The phenotype and related gene expressions of macrophages in adipose tissue of T2D mice following MSCs infusion.

Background: Infusion of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) induces polarization of M2 macrophages in adipose tissue of type 2 diabetes (T2D) mice. Studies have shown that M2 macrophages were divided into four sub-phenotypes (M2a, M2b, M2c and M2d) with different functions, and manuscripts have also confirmed that macrophages co-cultured with MSCs were not matched with known four phenotype macrophages. Therefore, our study explored the phenotype and related gene expressions of macrophages in the adipose tissue of T2D mice with/without MSCs infusion.

Efficient and Modular Biofunctionalization of Thiophene-Based Conjugated Polymers through Embedded Latent Disulfide.

Biofunctionalized conjugated polymers (i.e., carrying enzymes, antibodies, and nucleic acids) are of great interest for many biological applications, yet efficient biofunctionalization of conjugated polymers under biocompatible conditions is challenging.

NOD-like Receptor Signaling Pathway in Gastrointestinal Inflammatory Diseases and Cancers.

Nucleotide-binding and oligomerization domain (NOD)-like receptors (NLRs) are intracellular proteins with a central role in innate and adaptive immunity. As a member of pattern recognition receptors (PRRs), NLRs sense specific pathogen-associated molecular patterns, trigger numerous signaling pathways and lead to the secretion of various cytokines. In recent years, cumulative studies have revealed the significant impacts of NLRs in gastrointestinal (GI) inflammatory diseases and cancers.

Two machine learning approaches for predicting cyanobacteria abundance in aquaculture ponds.

Cyanobacteria blooms in aquaculture ponds harm the harvesting of aquatic animals and threaten human health. Therefore, it is crucial to identify key drivers and develop methods to predict cyanobacteria blooms in aquaculture water management. In this study, we analyzed monitoring data from 331 aquaculture ponds in central China and developed two machine learning models - the least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO) regression model and the random forest (RF) model - to predict cyanobacterial abundance by identifying the key drivers.

Diabetic microenvironment preconditioning of adipose tissue-derived mesenchymal stem cells enhances their anti-diabetic, anti-long-term complications, and anti-inflammatory effects in type 2 diabetic rats.

Background: Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) exert anti-diabetic effects and improve long-term complications via secretory effects that regulate macrophage polarisation and attenuate inflammation. Enhancing the efficacy of MSCs needs to be explored further. The in vitro culture microenvironment influences the secretory profile of MSCs.

Metabolic Score for Insulin Resistance, a novel score to evaluate insulin sensitivity, is associated with the urinary albumin-to-creatinine ratio in Chinese adults: A cross-sectional REACTION study.

Aims/introduction: The Metabolic Score for Insulin Resistance (METS-IR) is a novel non-insulin-based metabolic index used as a substitution marker of insulin resistance. However, whether METS-IR is associated with the urinary albumin-to-creatinine ratio (UACR) is not well known. Therefore, we explored the associations between METS-IR and UACR, and compared the discriminative ability of METS-IR and its components for elevated UACR.

Tuning Organic Electrochemical Transistor (OECT) Transconductance toward Zero Gate Voltage in the Faradaic Mode.

In this work, we investigate material design criteria for low-powered/self-powered and efficient organic electrochemical transistors (OECTs) to be operated in the faradaic mode (detection at the gate electrode occurs via electron transfer events). To rationalize device design principles, we adopt a Marcus-Gerischer perspective for electrochemical processes at both the gate and channel interfaces. This perspective considers density of states (DOS) for the semiconductor channel, the gate electrode, and the electrolyte.

Reversion of early- and late-stage β-cell dedifferentiation by human umbilical cord-derived mesenchymal stem cells in type 2 diabetic mice.

Background Aims: The authors aimed to observe β-cell dedifferentiation in type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and investigate the reversal effect of umbilical cord-derived mesenchymal stem cells (UC-MSCs) on early- and late-stage β-cell dedifferentiation.

Methods: In high-fat diet (HFD)/streptozotocin (STZ)-induced T2DM mice, the authors examined the predominant role of β-cell dedifferentiation over apoptosis in the development of T2DM and observed the reversion of β-cell dedifferentiation by UC-MSCs. Next, the authors used db/db mice to observe the progress of β-cell dedifferentiation from early to late stage, after which UC-MSC infusions of the same amount were performed in the early and late stages of dedifferentiation.

Triglycerides to high-density lipoprotein cholesterol ratio is superior to triglycerides and other lipid ratios as an indicator of increased urinary albumin-to-creatinine ratio in the general population of China: a cross-sectional study.

Background: Dyslipidemia contributes to the pathogenesis of renal dysfunction. Previous research demonstrated that triglycerides (TG), instead of other individual lipid indexes, has a significant link with elevated urinary albumin-to-creatinine ratio (UACR). However, it is unclear whether lipid ratios are superior indicators of increased UACR compared with TG.

Association between Neck Circumference and the Risk of Decreased Estimated Glomerular Filtration Rate in the General Population of China: A Cross-Sectional Study.

Background: The burden of chronic kidney disease is increasing substantially worldwide. Neck circumference (NC), an anthropometric index for upper-body adiposity, has been recognized as an indicator of cardiometabolic diseases. However, the association between NC and renal dysfunction has not been fully disclosed.

Low-Dose Decitabine Assists Human Umbilical Cord-Derived Mesenchymal Stem Cells in Protecting Cells via the Modulation of the Macrophage Phenotype in Type 2 Diabetic Mice.

Background: Progressive -cell dysfunction, a major characteristic of type 2 diabetes (T2D), is closely related to the infiltration of inflammatory macrophages within islets. Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) have been identified to alleviate -cell dysfunction by modulating macrophage phenotype in T2D, but the restoration of -cells by a single MSC infusion is relatively transient. Decitabine (DAC) has been reported to polarize macrophages towards the anti-inflammatory phenotype at low doses.

M1 macrophages accelerate renal glomerular endothelial cell senescence through reactive oxygen species accumulation in streptozotocin-induced diabetic mice.

Cellular senescence is a fundamental aging mechanism leading to tissue dysfunction. Accumulation of senescent cells is observed in the context of diabetes, which plays an important role in the pathogenesis of diabetes and its complications. Macrophages, the most prevalent leucocytes found in diabetic kidney, have been implicated in the modulation of cellular senescence; however, their role and mechanism in cellular senescence of diabetic kidney have not been determined.

The Effects of Exenatide Once Weekly (EXQW) and Exenatide Twice a Day (EXBID) on Beta-Cell Function in Type 2 Diabetes: A Systematic Review and Network Meta-Analysis.

Background: In patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and poor glycemic control receiving metformin (MET), glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1 RAs) are recommended as the adjunctive therapy. However, there are only a few studies involving the comparative effects of exenatide twice a day (EXBID) and exenatide once weekly (EXQW) on HOMA-. This meta assessed the comparative effects of EXQW and EXBID on HOMA- among T2DM patients.

Treatment with adipose tissue-derived mesenchymal stem cells exerts anti-diabetic effects, improves long-term complications, and attenuates inflammation in type 2 diabetic rats.

Background: Long-term diabetes-associated complications are the major causes of morbidity and mortality in individuals with diabetes. These diabetic complications are closely linked to immune system activation along with chronic, non-resolving inflammation, but therapies to directly reverse these complications are still not available. Our previous study demonstrated that mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) attenuated chronic inflammation in type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), resulting in improved insulin sensitivity and islet function.

Decitabine assists umbilical cord-derived mesenchymal stem cells in improving glucose homeostasis by modulating macrophage polarization in type 2 diabetic mice.

Background: Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) have emerged as a promising therapy for type 2 diabetes (T2D). Mechanistic researches demonstrate that the anti-diabetic effect of MSCs is partially mediated by eliciting macrophages into an anti-inflammatory phenotype thus alleviating insulin resistance. However, single MSC infusion is insufficient to ameliorate sustained hyperglycemia or normalize blood glucose levels.

Circulating and tumor-infiltrating myeloid-derived suppressor cells in cervical carcinoma patients.

Myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSCs) serve an immunosuppressive role in human tumors. Human Lin human leukocyte antigen-antigen D related (HLA-DR) cluster of differentiation (CD)-11bCD33 MDSCs are closely linked with tumor staging, progression, clinical therapeutic efficacy and prognosis for various types of tumors. The present study employed multiparametric flow cytometry to measure the proportion of LinHLA-DRCD11bCD33 MDSCs in the peripheral blood of 105 cervical cancer patients and 50 healthy subjects.

Dendritic cells loaded with tumor derived exosomes for cancer immunotherapy.

Exosomes are vesicles that can be secreted by many types of cell and released into the extracellular space. Studies have found that tumor derived exosomes (TEXs) can promote tumor growth and metastasis, as well as inhibit immune response through transferring their genetic information to the recipient cells. Given their functions in tumor progression, TEXs are considered as promising biomarkers for early detection of human malignancy.

The protective effects of carboxyhemoglobin during the resuscitation from hemorrhagic shock in rats.

Aim: This study was aimed to explore the effects of carboxyhemoglobin on reperfusion injury in hemorrhagic shock, as well as its action time and related mechanisms.

Results: CO-RBC group showed milder oxidative injury than O2-RBC group. CO reperfusion did not show advantages in functions of kidney and lung during resuscitation.

Co-delivery of tumor-derived exosomes with alpha-galactosylceramide on dendritic cell-based immunotherapy for glioblastoma.

Dendritic cell (DC) vaccine-based immunotherapy for glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) has shown apparent benefit in animal experiments and early-phase clinical trials, but the survival benefit is variable. In this work, we analyzed the mechanism of the potent antitumor immune response induced in vivo by tumor-associated antigen (TAA)-specific DCs with an invariant natural killer T (iNKT) cell adjuvant in orthotopic glioblastoma-bearing rats vaccinated with tumor-derived exosomes and α-galactosylceramide (α-GalCer) -pulsed DCs. Compared with traditional tumor lysate, exosomes were utilized as a more potent antigen to load DCs.