Gentiopicroside Alleviates Atherosclerosis by Suppressing Reactive Oxygen Species-Dependent NLRP3 Inflammasome Activation in Vascular Endothelial Cells via SIRT1/Nrf2 Pathway.

Objective: To evaluate the protective effects of gentiopicroside (GPS) against reactive oxygen species (ROS)-induced NOD-like receptor family, pyrin domain containing 3 (NLRP3) inflammasome activation in endothelial cells, aiming to reduce atherosclerosis.

Methods: Eight-week-old male ApoE-deficient mice were randomly divided into 2 groups (n=10 per group): the vehicle group and the GPS treatment group. Both groups were fed a high-fat diet for 16 weeks.

Redesigning Berberines and Sanguinarines to Target Soluble Epoxide Hydrolase for Enhanced Anti-Inflammatory Efficacy.

Amino-berberine has remained underexplored due to limited biological evaluation and total synthesis approaches. In inflammation therapy, soluble Epoxide Hydrolase (sEH) is a promising target, yet natural scaffolds remain underutilized. Our study advances the field by redesigning natural compounds─berberine and sanguinarine─with strategic urea modifications and hydrogenated frameworks, creating novel sEH inhibitors with enhanced efficacy.

Roles of the tumor microenvironment in the resistance to programmed cell death protein 1 inhibitors in patients with gastric cancer.

Despite the continuous developments and advancements in the treatment of gastric cancer (GC), which is one of the most prevalent types of cancer in China, the overall survival is still poor for most patients with advanced GC. In recent years, with the progress in tumor immunology research, attention has shifted toward immunotherapy as a therapeutic approach for GC. Programmed cell death protein 1 (PD-1) inhibitors, as novel immunosuppressive medications, have been widely utilized in the treatment of GC.

Neuronal double-stranded DNA accumulation induced by DNase II deficiency drives tau phosphorylation and neurodegeneration.

Background: Deoxyribonuclease 2 (DNase II) plays a key role in clearing cytoplasmic double-stranded DNA (dsDNA). Deficiency of DNase II leads to DNA accumulation in the cytoplasm. Persistent dsDNA in neurons is an early pathological hallmark of senescence and neurodegenerative diseases including Alzheimer's disease (AD).

Mouse serum albumin induces neuronal apoptosis and tauopathies.

The elderly frequently present impaired blood-brain barrier which is closely associated with various neurodegenerative diseases. However, how the albumin, the most abundant protein in the plasma, leaking through the disrupted BBB, contributes to the neuropathology remains poorly understood. We here demonstrated that mouse serum albumin-activated microglia induced astrocytes to A1 phenotype to remarkably increase levels of Elovl1, an astrocytic synthase for very long-chain saturated fatty acids, significantly promoting VLSFAs secretion and causing neuronal lippoapoptosis through endoplasmic reticulum stress response pathway.

Thrombomodulin reduces α-synuclein generation and ameliorates neuropathology in a mouse model of Parkinson's disease.

The neurotoxic α-synuclein (α-syn) oligomers play an important role in the occurrence and development of Parkinson's disease (PD), but the factors affecting α-syn generation and neurotoxicity remain unclear. We here first found that thrombomodulin (TM) significantly decreased in the plasma of PD patients and brains of A53T α-syn mice, and the increased TM in primary neurons reduced α-syn generation by inhibiting transcription factor p-c-jun production through Erk1/2 signaling pathway. Moreover, TM decreased α-syn neurotoxicity by reducing the levels of oxidative stress and inhibiting PAR1-p53-Bax signaling pathway.

Construction of ecological network based on MSPA-Conefor-MCR at the county scale: A case study in Yanqing District, Beijing, China.

The acceleration of urbanization and the frequent occurrence of natural disasters have led to increasingly fragmented habitats and decreased ecological connectivity, which in turn hinder rural sustainable development. Constructing ecological networks is a key direction in the spatial planning. By strengthening source protection, corridor construction, and ecological control, it can effectively alleviate the contradiction between regional ecological and economic development imbalance and promote biodiversity enhancement.

Frequency controlled beam scanning characteristic realized using a compact slow wave transmission line.

To simplify the design of a beam scanning device, we present a simple and compact structure to realize the frequency scanning characteristic based on a hybrid waveguide consisting of a spoof surface plasmon polariton (SSPP) transmission line and half-mode substrate integrated waveguide (HMSIW). Additionally, the radiation characteristic is implemented using periodically modulated slots. The scanning angle range covers backward to forward directions without an open stop band at the broadside.

Efficient conversion from spoof surface plasmon polaritons to radiation mode.

A direct conversion from spoof surface plasmon polaritons (SSPPs) to radiation mode is proposed. A modified parallel two-wire SSPP transmission line is the key to the conversion, which is composed of traditional unit cells with slots among them. Taking advantages of the slots, the phase velocity of electromagnetic waves is larger than that of light, leading to the radiation.

The Role of α-Synuclein Oligomers in Parkinson's Disease.

α-synuclein (α-syn) is a protein associated with the pathogenesis of Parkinson's disease (PD), the second most common neurodegeneration disease with no effective treatment. However, how α-syn drives the pathology of PD remains elusive. Recent studies suggest that α-syn oligomers are the primary cause of neurotoxicity and play a critical role in PD.

Coronary embolism causing acute inferior wall and ventricular myocardial infarction in a patient with rheumatic valvular heart disease: treatment with thrombus aspiration.

An elderly man with rheumatic valvular heart disease and atrial fibrillation presented with acute myocardial infarction. A coronary angiogram revealed complete occlusion of the right coronary artery (RCA), and we therefore considered that a thrombus might have obstructed the ostium of the RCA. We used a guiding catheter and the syringe of an aspiration device to remove two large dark red thrombi.

The proto-oncogene c-src is involved in primordial follicle activation through the PI3K, PKC and MAPK signaling pathways.

Background: C-src is an evolutionarily conserved proto-oncogene that regulates cell proliferation, differentiation and apoptosis. In our previous studies, we have reported that another proto-oncogene, c-erbB2, plays an important role in primordial follicle activation and development. We also found that c-src was expressed in mammalian ovaries, but its functions in primordial follicle activation remain unclear.

[Preliminary study about the role of c-src in the initiation of primordial follicle in rat ovary].

Objective: To explore the role of c-src on the initiation of primordial follicles.

Methods: 2-days-old female SD rats' ovaries were cultured in Waymouth culture system and were used HE staining and immunohistochemy to observe the number of follicles after 0, 4, 8 days cultured. Use chemically synthesized small interference RNA (siRNA) transfected into ovarian tissue in cultured for RNA interference, and use HE staining and RT-PCR to detect the best siRNA and packaging it by lentiviruses to test the interference effect.

Proto-oncogene c-erbB2 initiates rat primordial follicle growth via PKC and MAPK pathways.

Background: c-erbB2, a proto-oncogene coding epidermal growth factor receptor-like receptor, also as a chemosensitivity/prognosis marker for gynecologic cancer, may be involved in initiation of growth of rat primordial follicles. The aim of the present study is to investigate the role and signal pathway of c-erbB2 in onset of rat primordial follicle development.

Methods: The expression of c-erbB2 mRNA and protein in neonatal ovaries cultured 4 and 8 days with/without epidermal growth factor (EGF) were examined by in situ hybridization, RT-PCR and western blot.

[Role of MAPK and PKC signaling pathways in the regulation of c-erbB₂ in the primordial follicles onset].

Our previous studies showed that the proto-oncogene c-erbB₂ played an important role in primordial follicles growth. The present study was conducted to investigate the role of MAPK and PKC signaling pathways in the primordial follicle onset in neonatal rats, and the relationship between c-erbB₂ and MAPK/PKC signaling pathways. Ovaries collected from 2-day-old Sprague-Dawley rats were cultured in the Waymouth culture system in vitro.

Detection of deoxynivalenol based on a single-chain fragment variable of the antideoxynivalenol antibody.

Immunological detection of low molecular weight toxins, such as deoxynivalenol using single-chain antibody fragment (scFv), is a potentially novel and safe method of diagnosing fungal infection and food contamination. To develop a deoxynivalenol detection procedure based on scFv, deoxynivalenol was first conjugated to horseradish peroxidase (HRP) for immunoassay. Deoxynivalenol was initially activated using N-[p-maleimidophenyl] isocyanate and subsequently conjugated to S-acetyl thioglycolic acid N-hydroxysuccinimide-activated HRP.