Sedative and hypnotic effects of icariin through the GABAergic system pathway.

Background: Icariin (ICA) is a bioactive monomer derived from Epimedium. The aim of this study was to evaluate the sedative-hypnotic effect of ICA and to investigate its mechanism.

Methods: C57BL/6J mice were injected intraperitoneally with a suspension of PCPA (300 mg/kg) for two consecutive days to establish an insomnia model.

Multifunctional NO supramolecular nanomedicine for thrombus risk reduction and intimal hyperplasia inhibition.

Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) are the foremost cause of mortality worldwide, with incidence and mortality rates persistently climbing despite extensive research efforts. Innovative therapeutic approaches are still needed to extend patients' lives and preserve their health. In the present study, novel supramolecular nanomedicine with both nitric oxide (NO) and antioxidant releasing ability was developed to enhance therapeutic efficacy against vascular injuries.

The mechanism of different orexin/hypocretin neuronal projections in wakefulness and sleep.

Since the discovery of orexin/hypocretin, numerous studies have accumulated evidence demonstrating its key role in various aspects of neuromodulation, including addiction, motivation, and arousal. This paper focuses on the projection of orexin neurons to specific target brain regions through distinct neural pathways to regulate sleep and arousal. We provide a detailed discussion of the projection mechanisms of orexin neurons to downstream neurons, particularly emphasizing their activation of monoaminergic and cholinergic neurons associated with arousal.

GABA and its receptors' mechanisms in the treatment of insomnia.

Insomnia has now become a major health problem of global concern, with about 1/3 of the population suffering from sleep problems, a proportion that is still rising year by year. Most of the therapeutic drugs for insomnia currently used in clinical practice are not developed in a targeted manner, but are discovered by chance, and have unavoidable side effects such as addiction. Finding a safer and more effective therapeutic drug has become an urgent need for current research.

Simultaneous inhibition of heat shock proteins and autophagy enhances radiofrequency ablation of hepatocellular carcinoma.

Radiofrequency ablation (RFA) is a commonly used minimally invasive treatment for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). However, incomplete radiofrequency ablation (iRFA) promotes tumor progression and metastasis. There is an urgent need to develop innovative strategies to enhance the efficacy of iRFA.

Tumor microenvironment-modulated nanoparticles with cascade energy transfer as internal light sources for photodynamic therapy of deep-seated tumors.

Photodynamic therapy (PDT) is an appealing modality for cancer treatments. However, the limited tissue penetration depth of external-excitation light makes PDT impossible in treating deep-seated tumors. Meanwhile, tumor hypoxia and intracellular reductive microenvironment restrain the generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS).

Cepharanthine inhibits migration, invasion, and EMT of bladder cancer cells by activating the Rap1 signaling pathway in vitro.

Background: Cepharanthine, a bioactive constituent of , is known for its potent anti-tumor properties. Nevertheless, the precise impact of this substance on bladder cancer remains poorly comprehended. The aim of this study was to demonstrate the effect and mechanism of cepharanthine on the metastasis of human bladder cancer cells.

Nurturing gut health: role of m6A RNA methylation in upholding the intestinal barrier.

The intestinal lumen acts as a critical interface connecting the external environment with the body's internal state. It's essential to prevent the passage of harmful antigens and bacteria while facilitating nutrient and water absorption. The intestinal barriers encompass microbial, mechanical, immunological, and chemical elements, working together to maintain intestinal balance.

Identification of PANoptosis-related subtypes, construction of a prognosis signature, and tumor microenvironment landscape of hepatocellular carcinoma using bioinformatic analysis and experimental verification.

Background: Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is one of the most lethal malignancies worldwide. PANoptosis is a recently unveiled programmed cell death pathway, Nonetheless, the precise implications of PANoptosis within the context of HCC remain incompletely elucidated.

Methods: We conducted a comprehensive bioinformatics analysis to evaluate both the expression and mutation patterns of PANoptosis-related genes (PRGs).

Sorafenib-Encapsulated Liposomes to Activate Hypoxia-Sensitive Tirapazamine for Synergistic Chemotherapy of Hepatocellular Carcinoma.

Combination therapy with the synergistic effect is an effective way in cancer chemotherapy. Herein, an antiangiogenic sorafenib (SOR) and hypoxia-activated prodrug tirapazamine (TPZ)-coencapsulated liposome (Lip) is prepared for chemotherapy of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). SOR is a multi-target tyrosine kinase inhibitor that can inhibit tumor cell proliferation and angiogenesis.

Functions and mechanisms of adenosine and its receptors in sleep regulation.

Sleep is a natural and recurring state of life. Long-term insomnia can lead to physical and mental fatigue, inattention, memory loss, anxiety, depression and other symptoms, imposing immense public health and economic burden worldwide. The sleep and awakening regulation system is composed of many nerve nuclei and neurotransmitters in the brain, and it forms a neural network that interacts and restricts each other to regulate the occurrence and maintenance of sleep-wake.

Photo-Triggered Cascade Therapy: A NIR-II AIE Luminogen Collaborating with Nitric Oxide Facilitates Efficient Collagen Depletion for Boosting Pancreatic Cancer Phototheranostics.

The dense extracellular matrix (ECM) in the pancreatic cancer severely hampers the penetration of nanodrugs, which causes inferior therapeutic efficacy. To address this issue, a multifunctional liposome, namely, Lip-DTI/NO, integrating a type-I photosensitizer DTITBT with glutathione (GSH) or heat-responsive nitric oxide (NO) donor S-nitroso-N-acetyl-D-penicillamine (SNAP) is constructed to deplete the tumor ECM, leading to enhanced drug delivery and consequently improved phototherapy. The loaded DTITBT possesses multiple functions including NIR-II fluorescence imaging, efficient superoxide radical (O ) generation and excellent photothermal conversion efficiency, making it feasible for precisely pinpointing the tumor in the phototherapy process.

Lonidamine liposomes to enhance photodynamic and photothermal therapy of hepatocellular carcinoma by inhibiting glycolysis.

Phototherapy, including photodynamic therapy (PDT) and photothermal therapy (PTT), has great promise in the treatment of cancer. However, there are many obstacles that can restrict the therapeutic efficacy of phototherapy. The hypoxic tumor microenvironment can restrict the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in PDT.

Diagnostic Value of CD34 and CD117 Immunohistochemistry and Megakaryocyte Morphology in Myelodysplastic Syndromes: A Retrospective Case-control Study.

This study evaluated the diagnostic value of CD34 and CD117 immunohistochemistry(IHC) and megakaryocyte morphology in Myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS). In this study, CD34-positive individual cells (Type I) and small clusters (Type II) were observed in most cases (91.2%).

Solid-State Schikorr Reaction from Ferrous Chloride to Magnetite with Hydrogen Evolution as the Kinetic Bottleneck.

The selective formation of meta-stable FeO from ferrous sources by suppressing its oxidative conversion to the most stable hematite (α-FeO) is challenging under oxidative conditions for solid-state synthesis. In this work, we investigated the conversion of iron(II) chloride (FeCl) to magnetite (FeO) under inert atmosphere in the presence of steam, and the obtained oxides were analyzed by atomic-resolution TEM, Fe Mössbauer spectroscopy, and the Verwey transition temperature (). The reaction proceeded in two steps, with HO as the oxide source in the initial step and as an oxidant in the second step.

Apatinib Inhibits Bladder Cancer through Suppression of the VEGFR2- PI3K-AKT Signaling Pathway as Revealed by Network Pharmacology and Experimental Verification.

Aims: This study aimed to evaluate the underlying pharmacological mechanisms of Apatinib anti-bladder cancer via network pharmacology and experimental verification.

Methods: Network pharmacology was used to screen the possible signaling pathways of Apatinib in bladder cancer, and the most likely pathway was selected for in vitro validation. CCK-8 and colony formation assay were used to detect the effect of Apatinib on the proliferation of bladder cancer cells.

Downregulation of zinc finger protein 71 in laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma tissues and its potential molecular mechanism and clinical significance: a study based on immunohistochemistry staining and data mining.

Background: The molecular mechanism of laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma (LSCC) is not completely clear, which leads to poor prognosis and treatment difficulties for LSCC patients. To date, no study has reported the exact expression level of zinc finger protein 71 (ZNF71) and its molecular mechanism in LSCC.

Methods: In-house immunohistochemistry (IHC) staining (33 LSCC samples and 29 non-LSCC samples) was utilized in analyzing the protein expression level of ZNF71 in LSCC.

Network-based Pharmacology and Validation Reveal that Galangin Induces Apoptosis in Bladder Cancer Cells by Promoting the P53 Signaling Pathway.

Background: Galangin is one of the flavonoids in Alpinia officinarum. It has various anti-tumor activities, but its anti-bladder cancer effect is unclear.

Objective: To investigate the mechanism of action of galangin against bladder cancer using a network pharmacology approach.

A mitochondria-targeted supramolecular nanoplatform for peroxynitrite-potentiated oxidative therapy of orthotopic hepatoma.

Oxidative therapy, which generates reactive oxygen species (ROS) via intracellular enzymatic reactions to achieve tumor ablation, is considered as an emerging approach to cancer treatment. Herein, nitric oxide (NO)-combined oxidative therapy is reported by integrating glutathione (GSH)-sensitive NO donor and pH-sensitive cinnamaldehyde (CA) prodrug into a mitochondria-targeted drug nanocarrier, which is prepared by the host-guest interaction between α-cyclodextrin (α-CD) and polyethylene glycol (PEG). After internalized by cancer cells, CA can be released in acidic endo/lysosome and finally induce ROS generation in mitochondria for oxidative therapy.

Downregulation of zinc finger protein 71 expression in oral squamous cell carcinoma tissues and its underlying molecular mechanism.

Background: Patients with oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) have poor prognoses due to a limited understanding of the pathogenesis of OSCC. Zinc finger protein (ZNF) is the largest transcription factor family in the human genome and exert diverse and important functions. Nevertheless, the exact expression status and molecular mechanism of ZNF71 have not been described in OSCC.

Ferroelectricity and Piezoelectricity in 2D Van der Waals CuInPS Ferroelectric Tunnel Junctions.

CuInP2S6 (CIPS) is a novel two-dimensional (2D) van der Waals (vdW) ferroelectric layered material with a Curie temperature of ~315 K, making it promising for great potential applications in electronic and photoelectric devices. Herein, the ferroelectric and electric properties of CIPS at different thicknesses are carefully evaluated by scanning probe microscopy techniques. Some defects in some local regions due to Cu deficiency lead to a CuInP2S6-InPS (CIPS-IPS) paraelectric phase coexisting with the CIPS ferroelectric phase.

Phytochemicals targeting Toll-like receptors 4 (TLR4) in inflammatory bowel disease.

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is a collective term for inflammatory diseases including Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis. Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4) is thought to play a key role in the pathogenesis of IBD. Inhibition of TLR4 has been recognized as an effective target for the treatment of IBD.

Downregulation of the Coiled-Coil Domain Containing 80 and Its Perspective Mechanisms in Ovarian Carcinoma: A Comprehensive Study.

Introduction: We aimed to explore the downregulation of the coiled-coil domain containing 80 () and its underlying molecular mechanisms in ovarian carcinoma (OVCA). . Immunohistochemical staining was performed to confirm the expression status of protein.

A Comprehensive Evaluation of miR-144-3p Expression and Its Targets in Laryngeal Squamous Cell Carcinoma.

Laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma (LSCC) is an aggressive type of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) with a relatively high rate of morbidity and mortality. An altered miR-144-3p level in LSCC with a small number of patients has been previously reported. However, the clinical implication of miR-144-3p and its involved mechanism underlying this disease is not clearly elucidated.

Laryngeal Squamous Cell Carcinoma: Potential Molecular Mechanism and Prognostic Signature Based on Immune-Related Genes.

BACKGROUND Immune-related genes (IRGs) are closely related to the incidence and progression of tumors, potentially indicating that IRGs play an important role in laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma (LSCC). MATERIAL AND METHODS An RNA sequencing dataset containing 123 samples was collected from The Cancer Genome Atlas. Based on immune-related differentially expressed genes (IRDEGs), a potential molecular mechanism of LSCC was explored through analysis of information in the Gene Ontology (GO) resource and the Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG), and protein-protein interactions (PPIs).