Transcriptome analysis highlights the role of ferroptosis in palmitic acid-induced endothelial dysfunction.

Background: Palmitic acid (PA) has a lipotoxic effect on blood vessels, leading to endothelial dysfunction and cell death. The underlying mechanisms are not yet fully understood.

Aim: We sought to investigate the effects of PA on endothelial cells, with an emphasis on ferroptosis.

Icariside Ⅱ Attenuates Palmitic Acid-Induced Endothelial Dysfunction Through SRPK1-Akt-eNOS Signaling Pathway.

Endothelial dysfunction is commonly accompanied by a reduced capacity for nitric oxide (NO) production and decreased NO sensitivity, playing a central role in numerous vascular diseases. Saturated free fatty acids are known to reduce NO production and then induce endothelial dysfunction. Alternative splicing participates in the regulation of cellular and tissular homeostasis and is highly regulated by serine-arginine protein kinase (SRPK1).

Extracellular vesicles derived from human Sertoli cells: characterizations, proteomic analysis, and miRNA profiling.

Background: Extracellular vesicles (EVs) contain thousands of proteins and nucleic acids, playing an important role in cell-cell communications. Sertoli cells have been essential in the testis as a "nurse cell". However, EVs derived from human Sertoli cells (HSerCs) have not been well investigated.

Transcriptomic Changes of Astrocytes in the Brain of Rats with Subacute METH Exposure.

Objectives: To study the transcriptomic changes of astrocytes in the brain of rats exposed to methamphetamine (METH) and its possible mechanism in neurotoxicity.

Methods: The rats were intraperitoneally injected with METH (15 mg/kg) every 12 h for 8 times in total to establish the subacute rat model of METH. After the model was successfully established, the striatum was extracted, and astrocytes were separated by the magnetic bead method.

Proteomic analysis and miRNA profiling of human testicular endothelial cell-derived exosomes: the potential effects on spermatogenesis.

Testicular endothelial cells have been found to play an important role in spermatogenesis and fertility, but their mechanism is obscure. Exosomes released by various cells are recognized as cell-cell communication mediators during the initiation and progression of many diseases. Therefore, the current study aimed to investigate the protein and miRNA components of human testicular endothelial cell-derived exosomes (HTEC-Exos) and to explore their potential effects on spermatogenesis.

Skimmed Bovine Milk-Derived Extracellular Vesicles Isolated "Salting-Out": Characterizations and Potential Functions as Nanocarriers.

Bovine milk-derived extracellular vesicles (BM-EVs) are recognized as promising nanoscale delivery vectors owing to their large availability. However, few isolation methods can achieve high purity and yield simultaneously. Therefore, we developed a novel and cost-effective procedure to separate BM-EVs "salting-out.

Fatal poisoning by accidental ingestion of the "heartbreak grass" (Gelsemium elegans) verified by toxicological and medico-legal analyses.

We present a case of fatal poisoning from accidental ingestion of Gelsemium elegans (G. elegans), a rarely toxic plant. A 41-year-old man was found dead, at his home, 6 h after drinking homemade herbal liqueur during lunch.

Risk Factors for Testicular Atrophy in Children With Testicular Torsion Following Emergent Orchiopexy.

To analyze the risk factors for testicular atrophy (TA) in children with testicular torsion (TT) following emergent orchiopexy. Clinical data of patients with TT undergoing orchiopexy were retrospectively reviewed, including age at surgery, affected side, delayed surgery (12-24 h and more than 24 h), echogenicity of testicular parenchyma on ultrasonography (ETPU), testicular blood flow on Color Doppler ultrasonography (CDUS), surgical findings (intraoperative blood supply, the degree of torsion, and surgical approaches), and follow-up. The primary outcome was the rate of TA after orchiopexy.

An enzyme free fluorescence resonance transfer strategy based on hybrid chain reaction and triplex DNA for Vibrio parahaemolyticus.

In this work, an enzyme-free fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET) strategy was established for rapid and specific detection of the DNA sequence from Vibrio parahaemolyticus (VP) using hybridization chain reaction (HCR) amplification and triplex DNA. The triplex forming oligonucleotide (TFO) was labelled with carboxyfluorescein (FAM) as fluorescence donor, and hairpin sequence H1 was labelled by tetramethylrhodamine (TAMRA) as fluorescence receptor. In the present target VP DNA, the hairpin structure of molecular beacon (MB) was opened, the free end was released and hybridized with H1-TAMRA, and the HCR reaction was triggered by the alternate supplementation of H1-TAMRA and H2 to produce the notch double helix analogue.

Rarely fatal bilateral re-expansion pulmonary edema after inserting a chest tube for unilateral spontaneous pneumothorax: a case report.

We describe a case of a 32-year-old man who died due to bilateral re-expansion pulmonary edema (RPE) following the insertion a chest tube for unilateral spontaneous pneumothorax. Fifteen minutes after inserting the chest tube, the patient with right spontaneous pneumothorax was diagnosed with right re-expansion edema by chest radiograph. Although multiple treatments were administered, the patient died.

Luteolin alleviates methamphetamine-induced neurotoxicity by suppressing PI3K/Akt pathway-modulated apoptosis and autophagy in rats.

Methamphetamine (METH) is a highly addictive stimulant that results in serious and persistent neurotoxic effects. Studies have indicated that luteolin, a flavonoid, may confer neuroprotection against neurotoxicity. Nevertheless, the effects of luteolin on METH-induced neurotoxicity have not been sufficiently verified.

ATF3 mRNA, but not BTG2, as a possible marker for vital reaction of skin contusion.

The detection of vitality of wounds, especially when the wounds are inflicted very close to the time of death, is one of the most challenging issues in forensic pathology. This study investigated expression levels of ATF3 and BTG2 in mouse and human skin wounds. Protein levels examined by western blot showed that there was no significant change in ATF3 and BTG2 between wounded and intact skins.

Anatomy and management of upper moiety vascular variation in children with duplex kidney.

Purpose: To describe the upper pole vascular anatomy of duplex kidney and provide our experience with laparoscopic upper pole partial nephrectomy (LUPPN).

Methods: A retrospective study was performed among patients with duplex kidney who underwent computed tomography angiography at one single institution, some of whom were subsequently treated with LUPPN. According to imaging results and intraoperative findings, the arterial supply to the upper moiety of a duplex system was classified based on number and branching pattern.

Role of CXCR1 and Interleukin-8 in Methamphetamine-Induced Neuronal Apoptosis.

Methamphetamine (METH), an extremely and widely abused illicit drug, can cause serious nervous system damage and social problems. Previous research has shown that METH use causes dopaminergic neuron apoptosis and astrocyte-related neuroinflammation. However, the relationship of astrocytes and neurons in METH-induced neurotoxicity remains unclear.

Retrospective analysis to determine outcomes of patients with bilateral Wilms tumor undergoing nephron sparing surgery: 15-year tertiary single-institution experience.

Purpose: To describe our clinical experience with nephron sparing surgery (NSS) for bilateral Wilms tumor and evaluate the outcomes of patients treated at one of the largest pediatric medical centers in China.

Methods: Medical records of children with bilateral Wilms tumor undergoing NSS in the Children's Hospital of Chongqing Medical University during a 15-year period were retrospectively analyzed. Data collected were composed of age at surgery, tumor response, tumor rupture during resection, final pathologic margins, use of radiation therapy, pathology reports, renal function, and patient survival.

Histological and Biochemical Evaluation of Urethral Scar following Three Different Hypospadias Repairs: An Experimental Study in Rabbits.

Introduction:  Several urethroplasties have been employed in the surgical treatment of hypospadias. Neourethral strictures are among the most common postoperative complications that often require reoperation.

Materials And Methods:  We created a hypospadias model in New Zealand white male rabbits through a hypospadias-like defect and acute repair.

Molecular pathology of cerebral TNF-α, IL-1β, iNOS and Nrf2 in forensic autopsy cases with special regard to deaths due to environmental hazards and intoxication.

Deaths involved with environmental hazards and intoxication might present with minimal or nonspecific morphological features, which are insufficient to establish a diagnosis. The present study investigated the postmortem brain mRNA and immunohistochemical expressions of tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), interleukin-1β (IL-1β), inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) and nuclear factor erythroid-2-related factor-2 (Nrf2) in forensic cases. Relative mRNA quantification using Taqman real-time PCR assay demonstrated higher expression of IL-1β, TNF-α and iNOS, and lower expression of Nrf2 in methamphetamine intoxication and hyperthermia cases, higher expression of iNOS in phenobarbital intoxication cases, and higher expression of Nrf2 in phenobarbital intoxication and hypothermia cases.

Community quorum sensing signalling and quenching: microbial granular biofilm assembly.

Background: Recent reports exploring the role of gradients of quorum sensing (QS) signals in functional activated sludge have raised the question of whether shared systems of signalling synthesis and degradation, or quorum quenching (QQ), across the community inform of the means by which QS biology regulate floccular and granular biofilm assembly.

Aims: In this study, we aimed to explore the species origin and interactive role of QS and QQ activities in such highly diverse microbial biofilm communities.

Methods: Here, such aims were addressed systematically by a comprehensive multi-pronged RNA-sequencing, microbiological and analytical chemistry experimental approach, using two related but independently evolved floccular and granular sludge communities.

Silver nanowire composite thin films as transparent electrodes for Cu(In,Ga)Se₂/ZnS thin film solar cells.

Solution processed silver nanowire indium-tin oxide nanoparticle (AgNW-ITONP) composite thin films were successfully applied as the transparent electrodes for Cu(In,Ga)Se₂ (CIGS) thin film solar cells with ZnS buffer layers. Properties of the AgNW-ITONP thin film and its effects on performance of CIGS/ZnS thin film solar cells were studied. Compared with the traditional sputtered ITO electrodes, the AgNW-ITONP thin films show comparable optical transmittance and electrical conductivity.

Quantitative analysis of GFAP- and S100 protein-immunopositive astrocytes to investigate the severity of traumatic brain injury.

Previous studies have shown that diffuse cortical astrocyte damage is seen in acute deaths due to brain injury and mechanical asphyxiation. The present study quantitatively investigated the number of astrocytes that showed GFAP- and S100-protein immunopositivity in the cerebral white matter and hippocampus at the sites distant from primary injury with regard to survival time, complication, and the immediate cause of death of brain injury cases. Autopsy cases of brain injury (8-48 h postmortem) comprising acute/subacute deaths (survival time, <3/6 h-3 days; n=27/42) and delayed deaths (survival time >3 days) with/without complications (n=30/22) were examined.

Increasing surface band gap of Cu(In,Ga)Se2 thin films by post depositing an In-Ga-Se thin layer.

We have developed a simple approach to fabricate wide band gap surface layer for Cu(In,Ga)Se2 (CIGS) thin film. The Cu depleted surface layer was reconstructed by an In-Ga-Se post deposition treatment at different temperatures, which was monitored by a light controlling method. A desirable Cu concentration in surface layer has been achieved after depositing a 80 nm thick In-Ga-Se layer at 400°C and the corresponding device performance is remarkably improved compared with device without surface modification.

Effects of Na incorporated at different periods of deposition on Cu(In,Ga)Se2 films.

Sodium was incorporated into Cu(In,Ga)Se(2) (CIGS) thin films by evaporating NaF before the second and third stages and after the third stage of CIGS deposition. The Na-doping dosage was precisely controlled by a light-controlling method based on reflected light signals. X-ray diffraction and scanning electron microscopy results reveal that CIGS crystalline growth and microstructure can be strongly influenced by periods of Na incorporation, which leads to different device performance characteristics.

[The microglia activation characteristics of MA-induced neurotoxicity in the rats striatum].

Objective: To investigate the activation characteristics of microglia (MG) in the rats striatum with MA-induced neurotoxicity.

Methods: Male Wistar rats were divided randomly into control group (n=24) and experimental group (n=24). The rats of experimental group were injected intraperitoneally with MA (15 mg/kg x 8 injections, at 12 hours interval).