Serum trimethylamine N-oxide and its precursors are associated with the occurrence of mild cognition impairment as well as changes in neurocognitive status.

Background: This study aims to examine the association between gut microbe-dependent trimethylamine N-oxide (TMAO) and its precursors (choline, betaine, and carnitine) levels and mild cognition impairment (MCI), alongside changes in the Chinese version of the Montreal Cognitive Assessment-Basic (ΔMoCA-BC) score in rural adults.

Methods: Drawing data from a large-scale epidemiological study conducted in rural areas of Fuxin County, Liaoning Province, China. 1,535 participants free from brain-related ailments were initially surveyed.

Dynamic Changes in Gut Microbiota-Derived Metabolite Trimethylamine-N-Oxide and Risk of Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus: Potential for Dietary Changes in Diabetes Prevention.

Background: A gut-microbial metabolite, trimethylamine N-oxide (TMAO), has been associated with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). Few previous prospective studies have addressed associations between the changes in TMAO and T2DM incidence.

Methods: Data were derived from a longitudinal cohort conducted from 2019 to 2021 in rural areas of Fuxin County, Liaoning Province, China, and 1515 diabetes-free participants aged above 35 years were included.

[Protective effect of active vitamin D on liver fibrosis induced by sodium arsenite in SD rats].

Objective: To explore the protective effect of active vitamin D(VD) on liver fibrosis injury induced by sodium arsenite(NaAsO_2) in SD rats.

Methods: Eighteen healthy newly weaned SD rats, half male and half female, were randomly divided into Control group(gavaged with 10 mL/kg normal saline), NaAsO_2-treated group(gavaged with 10 mg/kg NaAsO_2), Active VD(calcitriol) intervention group(gavaged with 10 mg/kg NaAsO_2 and 1.0 μg/kg calcitriol was given by gavage along with NaAsO_2 administration after 12 weeks), all rats were administered 6 days a week for 36 weeks and weighed every week.

Hyperphosphorylation of EGFR/ERK signaling facilitates long-term arsenite-induced hepatocytes epithelial-mesenchymal transition and liver fibrosis in sprague-dawley rats.

Arsenic is a well known environmental hazardous material, chronic arsenic exposure results in different types of liver damage. Among them, liver fibrosis has become a research hotspot because of its reversibility, while the underlying mechanism is still unclear. Previous studies revealed that EGFR/ERK signaling appears to play an important role in fibrosis diseases.

Hypermethylation of Mig-6 gene promoter region inactivates its function, leading to EGFR/ERK signaling hyperphosphorylation, and is involved in arsenite-induced hepatic stellate cells activation and extracellular matrix deposition.

Arsenic is a widespread naturally contaminant. Previous studies have highlighted the issue of liver fibrosis induced by arsenic exposure, while the exact mechanisms are not yet fully understood. Recent studies suggest that Mig-6/EGFR/ERK signaling appear to play important roles in fibrosis caused by various factors.

Tri-ortho-cresyl phosphate induces autophagy of mouse ovarian granulosa cells.

Tri-ortho-cresyl phosphate (TOCP) has been widely used as plasticizers, plastic softeners and flame-retardants in industry and reported to have male reproductive toxicology. However, it is still unknown whether TOCP affects the female reproductive system and its underlying mechanism. In the present study, we found that TOCP exposure significantly decreased ovarian coefficient, caused disintegration and depletion of the granulosa cells in the ovary tissue and significantly inhibited the level of serum estradiol (E2).

Esophageal cancer in patients under 50: a SEER analysis.

Background: Concomitant with rising rates of esophageal adenocarcinoma, there has been a significant increase of diagnoses among relatively younger individuals. However, most studies that focus on esophageal cancer (EC) in younger patients have had small sample sizes of patients treated at a single institute. The aim of this study was to analyze the clinical characteristics, outcomes and independent prognostic factors for EC in patients under 50-year-old using a large, multi-center dataset.

Adoptive Immunotherapy in Postoperative Non-Small-Cell Lung Cancer: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Background: Adoptive immunotherapy (AI) has been applied in the treatment of non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients, but the value of postoperative AI has been inconclusive largely as a result of the small number of patients included in each study. We performed a systematic review and meta-analysis to address this issue for patients with postoperative NSCLC.

Methods: Pubmed, Embase, Cochrane Library were searched for randomized controlled trials comparing adoptive immunotherapy with control therapies in postoperative NSCLC patients.

Involvement of oxidative stress in tri-ortho-cresyl phosphate-induced autophagy of mouse Leydig TM3 cells in vitro.

Background: As a plasticizer, plastic softener, and flame-retardant, tri-ortho-cresyl phosphate (TOCP) is and has been widely used in industry and reported to have a toxic effect on the male reproductive system in animals besides neurotoxicity and immunotoxicity. We have reported that TOCP inhibits spermatogenesis and induces autophagy of rat spermatogonial stem cells, but it is still unknown whether TOCP induces autophagy of mouse Leydig cells and its potential mechanism.

Methods: Cell viability was observed by MTT assay.

Tri-ortho-cresyl phosphate induces autophagy of rat spermatogonial stem cells.

Tri-ortho-cresyl phosphate (TOCP) has been widely used as plasticizers, plastic softeners, and flame retardants in industry and reported to have a deleterious effect on the male reproductive system in animals besides delayed neurotoxicity. Our preliminary results found that TOCP could disrupt the seminiferous epithelium in the testis and inhibit spermatogenesis, but the precise mechanism is yet to be elucidated. This study shows that TOCP inhibited viability of rat spermatogonial stem cells in a dose-dependent manner.

Self-Assembling Organic Micro-/Nano-Pillars on Gold and Glass Surfaces.

In this work, we report the formation of a family of organic micro-/nano-pillars prepared from surface-assisted self-assembly processes and factors controlling the growth of the pillars. These acids include cyanuric acid (CA), 1,3,5-benzenetricarboxylic acid (TMA), 1,2,4,5-benzenetetracarboxylic acid (TA) and 3,4,9,10-perylenetetracarboxylic acid (PTA). Aqueous solutions mixed with acids and melamine (M) can be fine-tuned to prepare ordered micro-/nano-pillars on substrates, which can be further optimized for their applications.