Ulinastatin attenuates renal fibrosis by regulating AMPK/HIF-1α signaling pathway-mediated glycolysis.

Renal fibrosis is a common outcome of chronic kidney diseases and glycolysis drives the development of renal fibrosis in damaged kidneys. Ulinastatin (UTI) is a broad-spectrum protease inhibitor with anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties with anti-fibrosis effects. In this study, we aimed to verify whether UTI could exert anti-renal fibrosis effects by inhibiting glycolysis and explored the potential mechanisms.

Pt Nanoparticles on Multi-Walled Carbon Nanotubes with High CO Tolerance for Methanol Electrooxidation.

Anode catalysts are important for direct methanol fuel cells (DMFCs) of energy conversion. Herein, we report a novel strategy by ethylene glycol-based deep eutectic solvents (EG-DESs) for the fabrication of a multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs)-supported Pt nanoparticles catalyst (referred to as Pt/CNTs-EG-DES). The Pt/CNTs-EG-DES catalyst provides an increased electrochemically active surface area (ECSA) and shows remarkably improved electrocatalytic performance towards methanol oxidation reaction compared to Pt/CNTs-W (fabricated in water) and commercial Pt/C catalysts.

Application of omics technologies in studies on antitumor effects of Traditional Chinese Medicine.

Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) is considered to be one of the most comprehensive and influential form of traditional medicine. It plays an important role in clinical treatment and adjuvant therapy for cancer. However, the complex composition of TCM presents challenges to the comprehensive and systematic understanding of its antitumor mechanisms, which hinders further development of TCM with antitumor effects.

n-hexane extract suppressed breast cancer progression through induction of G0/G1 phase arrest and apoptotic cell death by inhibiting the Cyclin D1/CDK4-Rb signaling pathway.

Background: Breast cancer (BC) is one of the most frequently observed malignancies globally, yet drug development for BC has been encountering escalating challenges. is derived from the dried resin of (T. Nees) Engl.

Mn-doped CeO derived from Ce-MOF porous nanoribbons as highly active catalysts for the synthesis of dimethyl carbonate from CO and methanol.

It is desirable but challenging to develop highly-efficient catalysts for the direct synthesis of dimethyl carbonate (DMC) from methanol and CO. The vacancy-mediated incorporation of heteroatom into surface reconstruction is an efficient method of defect engineering for enhancing the catalytic properties. In this work, manganese-doped cerium oxide porous nanoribbons (Mn/CeO-BTC) were prepared derived from a Ce-BTC by a sacrificial template approach.

Boswellia carterii n-hexane extract suppresses breast cancer growth via induction of ferroptosis by downregulated GPX4 and upregulated transferrin.

Breast cancer (BC) remains a significant health concern for women globally, prompting the relentless pursuit of novel therapeutic modalities. As a traditional Chinese medicine, Boswellia carterii has been extensively used to treat various cancers, such as BC. However, the anti-BC effect and underlying mechanism of Boswellia carterii remain largely unclear.

Whole-body water mass and kidney function: a Mendelian randomization study.

Background: The morbidity and mortality of chronic kidney disease (CKD) are increasing worldwide, making it a serious public health problem. Although a potential correlation between body water content and CKD progression has been suggested, the presence of a causal association remains uncertain. This study aimed to determine the causal effect of body water content on kidney function.

Parental Psychological Control and Adolescent Academic Achievement: The Mediating Role of Achievement Goal Orientation.

This study examined the multiple mediating roles of achievement goal orientation between three parental psychological control (PPC) strategies and adolescents' academic achievement. The study sample consisted of 2613 Chinese middle school adolescents (52.6% boys) who were followed for one and a half years; they completed questionnaires on PPC (including love withdrawal, guilt induction, and authority assertion), achievement goal orientation (involving the mastery approach, the performance approach, and performance-avoidance goals), and academic achievement.

Prediction of immunotherapy response in idiopathic membranous nephropathy using deep learning-pathological and clinical factors.

Background: Owing to individual heterogeneity, patients with idiopathic membranous nephropathy (IMN) exhibit varying sensitivities to immunotherapy. This study aimed to establish and validate a model incorporating pathological and clinical features using deep learning training to evaluate the response of patients with IMN to immunosuppressive therapy.

Methods: The 291 patients were randomly categorized into training (n = 219) and validation (n = 72) cohorts.

The interactions between traditional Chinese medicine and gut microbiota in cancers: Current status and future perspectives.

The gut microbiota, known as the "forgotten organ" and "human second genome," comprises a complex microecosystem. It significantly influences the development of various tumors, including colorectal, liver, stomach, breast, and lung cancers, through both direct and indirect mechanisms. These mechanisms include the "gut-liver" axis, the "lung-intestine" axis, and interactions with the immune system.

Targeting cell death pathways in intestinal ischemia-reperfusion injury: a comprehensive review.

Intestinal ischemia-reperfusion (I/R) is a multifaceted pathological process, and there is a lack of clear treatment for intestinal I/R injury. During intestinal I/R, oxidative stress and inflammation triggered by cells can trigger a variety of cell death mechanisms, including apoptosis, autophagy, pyroptosis, ferroptosis, and necrosis. These cell death processes can send a danger signal for the body to be damaged and prevent intestinal I/R injury.

MiR-431 promotes cardiomyocyte proliferation by targeting FBXO32 expression.

Background: The induction of cardiomyocyte (CM) proliferation is a promising approach for cardiac regeneration following myocardial injury. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) have been reported to regulate CM proliferation. In particular, miR-431 expression decreases during cardiac development, according to Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) microarray data.

Interfering with the AKT/mTOR/STAT3/ID1 signaling axis with usenamine A restrains the proliferative and invasive potential of human hepatocellular carcinoma cells.

Background: Usenamine A, a novel natural compound initially isolated from the lichen Usnea longissima, has exhibited promising efficacy against hepatoma in prior investigation. Nevertheless, the underlying mechanisms responsible for its antihepatoma effects remain unclear. Furthermore, the role of the AKT/mechanistic target of the rapamycin (mTOR)/signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3)/inhibitor of differentiation/DNA binding 1 (ID1) signaling axis in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), and the potential anti-HCC effects of drugs targeting this pathway are not well understood.

Forests or trees? The effect of generating solutions to distant analogies on global-local processing.

The present research was designed to examine the effect of solving distant analogies on global-local processing. In two experiments, participants generated solutions to near analogies (near condition), or distant analogies (distant condition), and then they were required to either complete the Kimchi-Palmer task (Experiment 1) or the Navon letter task (Experiment 2). The experimental results showed that participants who generated solutions to distant analogies scored higher on the Kimchi-Palmer task and had faster reaction times to global letters.

A review on the research progress of traditional Chinese medicine with anti-cancer effect targeting ferroptosis.

Ferroptosis is a non-apoptotic form of regulated cell death characterized by iron-dependent lipid peroxidation. It can be triggered by various mechanisms, including the glutathione peroxidase 4 (GPX4)-glutathione (GSH) axis, iron metabolism, lipid metabolism, the GTP cyclohydrolase 1 (GCH1)-tetrahydrobiopterin (BH4) pathway, and the ferroptosis suppressor protein 1 (FSP1)-coenzyme Q10 axis. The redox balance is disrupted when ferroptosis occurs in cells, which is fatal to cancer cells.

Anemia and frailty in the aging population: implications of dietary fiber intake (findings of the US NHANES from 2007-2018).

Background: Frailty has long been seen as an indicator of reduced physical functions in the elderly, which may be caused by a variety of chronic illnesses or cancerous tumors. Dietary fiber was connected with anemia and frailty, whereas it was uncertain if dietary fiber consumption modifies the impact of anemia on frailty in elderly adults.

Methods: We performed a secondary analysis using older adults aged 60 years and over from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) 2007-2018 cycles.

Mortality from all-cause and cause-specific in the elderly: Joint implications of anemia and frailty.

Background: Anemia is prevalent among older adults, and it contributes to the incidence of frailty. In turn, the frail elderly may be deficient in nutrients, including iron, vitamin B-12, and folate, that can be materials for human blood, as a result of their limited nutrient intake, resulting in anemia. Both anemia and frailty are associated with an increased risk of mortality in elderly adults.

MR-guided laser interstitial thermal therapy for drug-resistant lesional epilepsy: a single-center experience.

Background: To describe and report the efficacy and safety of MR-guided laser interstitial thermal therapy (MRgLITT) in the treatment of drug-resistant epilepsy.

Methods: A retrospective review of all MRgLITT procedures in our hospital was performed. All procedures were performed using a surgical laser ablation system.

The Role of Traditional Chinese Medicine in Cancer Immunotherapy: Current Status and Future Directions.

The tumor microenvironment (TME) plays an important role in the development of tumors. Immunoregulatory cells and cytokines facilitate cancer cells to avoid immune surveillance. Overexpression of immune checkpoint molecules such as CTLA-4 and PD-1/PD-L1 inhibits immune function and enables cancer cells to avoid clearance by the immune system.

Generating solutions to far analogies makes individuals tend to categorize information based on thematic relations.

This study aimed to explore whether solving distant analogies makes individuals tend to categorize information based on either taxonomic or thematic relations. In the study, one group of participants solved far analogies (far analogy group), while another group solved near analogies (near analogy group). Then, all participants completed the triad task which is the task of measuring the propensity to classify.

PtCeO Heterojunction Supported on Multiwalled Carbon Nanotubes for Robust Electrocatalytic Oxidation of Methanol.

Herein, we prepared PtCeO heterojunction nanocluster (HJNS) on multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) in deep eutectic solvents (DESs) which is a special class of ionic liquids. The catalyst was then heat-treated at 400 °C in N (refer to PtCeO/CNTs-400). The PtCeO/CNTs-400 catalyst showed remarkably improved electrocatalytic performance towards methanol oxidation reaction (MOR) (839.

Variation in opioid filling after same-day breast surgery in Ontario, Canada: a population-based cohort study.

Background: Postoperative pain management practices in breast surgery are variable, with recent evidence that approaches for minimizing or sparing opioids can be successfully implemented. We describe opioid filling and predictors of higher doses in patients undergoing same-day breast surgery in Ontario, Canada.

Methods: In this retrospective population-based cohort study, we used linked administrative health data to identify patients aged 18 years or older who underwent same-day breast surgery from 2012 to 2020.

A "Special" Solvent to Prepare Alloyed PdNi Nanoclusters on a MWCNT Catalyst for Enhanced Electrocatalytic Oxidation of Formic Acid.

Herein, an electrocatalyst with PdNi nanoclusters, supporting multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) (referred to PdNi/CNTs), was fabricated with deep eutectic solvents (DES), which simultaneously served as reducing agent, dispersant, and solvent. The mass activity of the catalyst for formic acid oxidation reaction (FAOR) was increased nearly four times compared to a Pd/C catalyst. The excellent catalytic activity of PdNi/CNTs was ascribed to the special nanocluster structure and appropriate Ni doping, which changed the electron configuration of Pd to reduce the d-band and to produce a Pd-Ni bond as a new active sites.

[Anti-tumor effect of Huaier extract supernatant on human gastric cancer HGC-27 and MGC-803 cells].

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of Huaier extract supernatant(HES) on the proliferation, apoptosis, autophagy, and migration of human gastric cancer HGC-27 and MGC-803 cells and its molecular mechanisms. The main components in HES were preliminarily analyzed by high-performance liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry(HPLC-MS). Methyl thiazolyl tetrazolium(MTT) assay, colony formation assay, and 5-ethynyl-2'-deoxyuridine(EdU) staining assay were used to explore the effect of HES on the proliferation of human gastric cancer HGC-27 and MGC-803 cells.