Nucleolar protein PEXF controls ribosomal RNA synthesis and pluripotency exit.

Maintenance and exit from pluripotency of embryonic stem cells (ESCs) are controlled by highly coordinated processes of protein synthesis and ribosome biogenesis (RiBi). ESCs are characterized by low rates of global protein synthesis and high levels of RiBi. Transient reduction of RiBi is a characteristic molecular event during the exit from pluripotency, of which the regulatory mechanism is unclear.

Effect of a health management model based on the three-tier prevention and control system for cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases: a prospective cohort study in rural Central China (CENTRAL-HMM).

Background: Cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases (CVDs) present a significant challenge in the realm of chronic disease management in China. The objective of this study is to assess the efficacy of a health management model rooted in a three-tier prevention and control system for CVDs.

Methods: From August 2020 to September 2020, this study enrolled 2033 CVDs patients from 105 villages across three townships in central China.

Association between postoperative intravenous methylprednisolone and surgical site infection in posterior lumbar fusion surgery: a retrospective single-center study.

Purpose: To investigate the association between intravenous methylprednisolone administration and the risk of surgical site infection (SSI) following posterior lumbar fusion (PLF) surgery.

Methods: This retrospective, single-center study analyzed data from 800 adult patients who underwent elective PLF surgery at our institution. Patients were classified according to postoperative intravenous methylprednisolone administration.

A multicenter, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial to evaluate the effect of Tongmai Yangxin pill on ventricular remodeling in acute anterior STEMI patients after primary PCI.

Background: Acute ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) is a severe form of coronary heart disease and a leading cause of mortality and morbidity. This can mainly be ascribed to adverse ventricular remodeling (VR). However, the efficacy of existing treatment strategies for STEMI is not entirely satisfactory.

An anti-senescence hydrogel with pH-responsive drug release for mitigating intervertebral disc degeneration and low back pain.

Oxidative stress and aging lead to progressive senescence of nucleus pulposus (NP) cells, resulting in intervertebral disc (IVD) degeneration (IVDD). In some cases, degenerative IVD can further cause low back pain (LBP). Several studies have confirmed that delaying and rejuvenating the senescence of NP cells can attenuate IVDD.

Berberine Inhibits Ferroptosis and Stabilizes Atherosclerotic Plaque through NRF2/SLC7A11/GPX4 Pathway.

Objective: To investigate potential mechanisms of anti-atherosclerosis by berberine (BBR) using ApoE mice.

Methods: Eight 8-week-old C57BL/6J mice were used as a blank control group (normal), and 56 8-week-old AopE mice were fed a high-fat diet for 12 weeks, according to a completely random method, and were divided into the model group, BBR low-dose group (50 mg/kg, BBRL), BBR medium-dose group (100 mg/kg, BBRM), BBR high-dose group (150 mg/kg, BBRH), BBR+nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (NRF2) inhibitor group (100 mg/kg BBR+30 mg/kg ML385, BBRM+ML385), NRF2 inhibitor group (30 mg/kg, ML385), and positive control group (2.5 mg/kg, atorvastatin), 8 in each group.

Association of modic changes and postoperative surgical site infection after posterior lumbar spinal fusion.

Purpose: Postoperative surgical site infection is one of the most serious complications following spine surgery. Previous studies have reported Modic changes (MC) represent a subclinical infection. This study aims to investigate the relation between Modic changes and surgical site infection after posterior lumbar fusion surgery.

Intermittent administration of PTH for the treatment of inflammatory bone loss does not enhance entheseal pathological new bone formation.

Objective: To investigate the effect of intermittent parathyroid hormone (iPTH) administration on pathological new bone formation during treatment of ankylosing spondylitis-related osteoporosis.

Methods: Animal models with pathological bone formation caused by hypothetical AS pathogenesis received treatment with iPTH. We determined the effects of iPTH on bone loss and the formation of pathological new bone with micro-computed tomography (micro-CT) and histological examination.

Pain behavior and phenotype in a modified anterior lumbar disc puncture mouse model.

Background: An experimental study was performed to improve the anterior approach model of intervertebral disc degeneration (IVDD).

Objective: The aims of this study were to investigate the anterior approach model of IVDD for the cause of death, phenotypes, and underlying mechanisms of low back pain in mice.

Method: In this study, we conducted an anterior puncture procedure on a cohort of 300 C57BL/6J mice that were 8 weeks old.

Guide for phenotype-specific profiling of DNA G-quadruplex-regulated genes.

DNA G-quadruplex (G4) is a non-canonical four-stranded secondary structure that has been shown to play a role in epigenetic modulation of gene expression. Here, we present a primer on phenotype-specific profiling of DNA G-quadruplex-regulated genes. We provide guidance on in silico exploration of G4-related genes and phenotypes, and in vitro and in vivo validation of the relationship between G4 and phenotype.

Serglycin secreted by late-stage nucleus pulposus cells is a biomarker of intervertebral disc degeneration.

Intervertebral disc degeneration is a natural process during aging and a leading cause of lower back pain. Here, we generate a comprehensive atlas of nucleus pulposus cells using single-cell RNA-seq analysis of human nucleus pulposus tissues (three males and four females, age 41.14 ± 18.

Efficacy of scraping therapy on blood pressure and sleep quality in stage I and II essential hypertension: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background: Scraping therapy is widely used in treating stage I and II essential hypertension in China. However, there has been no systematic evaluation of the efficacy of scraping therapy on blood pressure and sleep quality in stage I and II essential hypertension.

Search Strategy: Seven electronic databases (PubMed, Scopus, Cochrane Library, Web of Science, EBSCO, China National Knowledge Infrastructure and Wanfang Data electronic databases) were searched from inception to December 2022.

N-Type Small Molecule Electron Transport Layers with Excellent Surface Energy and Moisture Resistance Siloxane for Non-Fullerene Organic Solar Cells.

Electron transport layers (ETLs) generally contain polar groups for enhancing performance and reducing the work function. Nevertheless, the polar group with high surface energy may cause inferior interfacial compatibility, which challenges the ETLs to balance stability and performance. Here, two conjugated small molecules of ETLs with low surface energy siloxane, namely PDI-Si and PDIN-Si, are synthesized.

Review of the Mechanical Properties and Numerical Simulation of Composite Solid Propellants.

Investigating the constitutive relationship and the damage failure mechanism of solid propellants is of significance for improving the safety, storage period and use efficiency of solid rocket motors. This paper focuses on the complex mechanical response behavior of composite solid propellants under loads and introduces experimental research on quasi-static and dynamic mechanical properties. Limited by the accuracy of instruments and testing methods, the research progress of macroscopic constitutive models, mesoscopic mechanical models and microscopic molecular models is summarized from the perspective of numerical simulations based on model scale and modeling methods.

Recent Advances of Benzodithiophene-Based Donor Materials for Organic Solar Cells.

Recently, the power conversion efficiency (PCE) of organic solar cells (OSCs) has increased dramatically, making a big step toward the industrial application of OSCs. Among numerous OSCs, benzodithiophene (BDT)-based OSCs stand out in achieving efficient PCE. Notably, single-junction OSCs using BDT-based polymers as donor materials have completed a PCE of over 19%, indicating a dramatic potential for preparing high-performance large-scale OSCs.

A Hierarchical Theory for the Tensile Stiffness of Non-Buckling Fractal-Inspired Interconnects.

The design of non-buckling interconnects with thick sections has gained important applications in stretchable inorganic electronics due to their simultaneous achievement of high stretchability, low resistance, and low heat generation. However, at the same time, such a design sharply increased the tensile stiffness, which is detrimental to the conformal fit and skin comfort. Introducing the fractal design into the non-buckling interconnects is a promising approach to greatly reduce the tensile stiffness while maintaining other excellent performances.

Simultaneous Enhancement of the Luminescence Intensity and Stability of Deep-Red CsPbI Perovskite Quantum Dots Achieved by a Doping Strategy.

The phase instability of CsPbI perovskite quantum dots (PQDs) restricts their practical applications due to the easy conversion from the luminescent cubic phase to the non-luminescent orthorhombic phase. The elemental doping route has been regarded as one of the most effective strategies to achieve high-quality PQDs-based phosphors. Herein, a stoichiometric amount of nickel chloride (NiCl) has been effectively doped into the CsPbI lattice.

Experimental and Simulation Study of the Fracture Instability Behavior in Polypropylene Fiber-Reinforced Concrete.

This study investigated the fracture characteristics of plain concrete and polypropylene fiber-reinforced concrete (PFRC) using pre-notched three-point bending beam tests with the digital speckle correlation method (DSCM). Then, the fracture instability behavior of the two types of beams was simulated in finite elements based on the plastic damage model and the cohesion model, for which the applicability was assessed. Furthermore, the stability of the Big Gang Mountain Dam made from plain concrete or PFRC subjected to the earth-quake loading was simulated with the plastic damage model.

Acetylshikonin promoting PI3K/Akt pathway and inhibiting SOX4 expression to delay intervertebral disc degeneration and low back pain.

This study investigated the molecular mechanism by which acetylshikonin inhibits SOX4 expression via the PI3K/Akt pathway to delay intervertebral disc degeneration (IVDD) and low back pain (LBP). Bulk RNA-seq, RT-qPCR, Western blot analysis, immunohistochemical staining, small interfering RNA (siSOX4), lentivirus (lentiv-SOX4 ), and imaging techniques were used to assess SOX4 expression and validate its upstream regulatory pathway. Acetylshikonin and siSOX4 were injected into the IVD to measure IVDD.

Parameter Determination of the 2S2P1D Model and Havriliak-Negami Model Based on the Genetic Algorithm and Levenberg-Marquardt Optimization Algorithm.

This study utilizes the genetic algorithm (GA) and Levenberg-Marquardt (L-M) algorithm to optimize the parameter acquisition process for two commonly used viscoelastic models: 2S2P1D and Havriliak-Negami (H-N). The effects of the various combinations of the optimization algorithms on the accuracy of the parameter acquisition in these two constitutive equations are investigated. Furthermore, the applicability of the GA among different viscoelastic constitutive models is analyzed and summarized.

The mechanism of oxytocin and its receptors in regulating cells in bone metabolism.

Oxytocin (OT) is a neuropeptide known to affect social behavior and cognition. The epigenetic modification of the oxytocin receptor (OTR) via DNA methylation stimulates parturition and breast milk secretion and inhibits craniopharyngioma, breast cancer, and ovarian cancer growth significantly as well as directly regulates bone metabolism in their peripheral form rather than the central form. OT and OTR can be expressed on bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs), osteoblasts (OB), osteoclasts (OC), osteocytes, chondrocytes, and adipocytes.

Clinical atlas of rectal cancer highlights the barriers and insufficient interventions underlying the unfavorable outcomes in older patients.

Background: Aging confers an increased risk of developing cancer, and the global burden of cancer is cumulating as human longevity increases. Providing adequate care for old patients with rectal cancer is challenging and complex.

Method: A total of 428 and 44,788 patients diagnosed with non-metastatic rectal cancer from a referral tertiary care center (SYSU cohort) and the Surveillance Epidemiology and End Results database (SEER cohort) were included.

Multifunctional Photoelectrochemical Biosensor Based on ZnInS/ZnS QDs@Au-Ag-Reversed Photocurrent of Cu-Metal-Organic Framework Coupled with CRISPR/Cas-12a-Shearing for Assay of Dual Targets.

False positives and negatives in bioanalytical assays remain a persistent problem. Herein, a multifunctional photoelectrochemical (PEC) biosensor based on ZnInS (ZIS)/ZnS quantum dots (QDs)@Au-Ag-reversed photocurrent of Cu-metal-organic framework (MOF) coupled with CRISPR/Cas-12a-shearing was innovatively developed for assay of dual targets. First, Cu-MOF as a good PEC material shows cathodic photocurrent.

Versatile FeMoOv nanozyme bipolar electrode electrochemiluminescence biosensing and imaging platform for detection of HO and PSA.

In this work, a unique FeMoOv nanozyme-bipolar electrode (NM-BPE) electrochemiluminescence (ECL) biosensing and imaging platform was proposed for the first time to realize sensitive detection of target hydrogen peroxide (HO) and prostate specific antigen (PSA). Considering the advantage that the cathode and anode poles of the bipolar electrode (BPE) can be modified respectively, this work was carried out using anode equipped with ECL reagent bipyridine ruthenium (Ru(bpy)), and cathode equipped with the Fe-doped molybdenum oxide/Au nanoparticles (FeMoOv/AuNPs) with excellent peroxidase (POD) and catalase (CAT)-like activity. Because FeMoOv/AuNPs show efficient enzyme catalysis effect and can greatly promote the decomposition of HO, thus the electron transfer rate in the NM-BPE system would be much accelerated to enhance the ECL signal of Ru(bpy).