Single von Willebrand factor C-domain protein-2 confers immune defense against bacterial infections in the silkworm, Bombyx mori.

Single-domain von Willebrand factor type C proteins (SVWCs), primarily found in arthropods, responds to infections caused by various pathogens. Three SVWCs have been identified in the silkworm and BmSVWC2 might play a crucial role in the immune system. However, the regulatory mechanism of BmSVWC2 remains largely unknown.

Serpin-4 Negatively Regulates Prophenoloxidase Activation and Antimicrobial Peptide Synthesis in the Silkworm, .

The prophenoloxidase (PPO) activation and Toll antimicrobial peptide synthesis pathways are two critical immune responses in the insect immune system. The activation of these pathways is mediated by the cascade of serine proteases, which is negatively regulated by serpins. In this study, we identified a typical serpin, BmSerpin-4, in silkworms, whose expression was dramatically up-regulated in the fat body and hemocytes after bacterial infections.

Hepatic Anti-Oxidative Genes and Are Epigenetically Modulated by RORγ/NRF2 in Alphacoronavirus-Exposed Piglets.

As a member of alpha-coronaviruses, PEDV could lead to severe diarrhea and dehydration in newborn piglets. Given that lipid peroxides in the liver are key mediators of cell proliferation and death, the role and regulation of endogenous lipid peroxide metabolism in response to coronavirus infection need to be illuminated. The enzymatic activities of SOD, CAT, mitochondrial complex-I, complex-III, and complex-V, along with the glutathione and ATP contents, were significantly decreased in the liver of PEDV piglets.

Lactoferrin Relieves Deoxynivalenol-Induced Oxidative Stress and Inflammatory Response by Modulating the Nrf2/MAPK Pathways in the Liver.

Deoxynivalenol (DON), one of the most common mycotoxins contaminating food and feed, has been shown to induce hepatotoxicity. Lactoferrin (LF) enriched in human milk is a critical functional food component and performs the hepatoprotection function. Here, we aimed to explore whether dietary LF supplementation can protect from DON-induced hepatotoxicity and uncover the underlying mechanism in mice and alpha mouse liver 12 (AML12) hepatocytes.

Lactoferrin Attenuates Intestinal Barrier Dysfunction and Inflammation by Modulating the MAPK Pathway and Gut Microbes in Mice.

Background: Deoxynivalenol (DON) is a major mycotoxin present in staple foods (particularly in cereal products) that induces intestinal inflammation and disrupts intestinal integrity. Lactoferrin (LF) is a multifunctional protein that contributes to maintaining intestinal homeostasis and improving host health. However, the protective effects of LF on DON-induced intestinal dysfunction remain unclear.

Extracting medication changes in clinical narratives using pre-trained language models.

An accurate and detailed account of patient medications, including medication changes within the patient timeline, is essential for healthcare providers to provide appropriate patient care. Healthcare providers or the patients themselves may initiate changes to patient medication. Medication changes take many forms, including prescribed medication and associated dosage modification.

Molecular Detection and Genotyping of in Beef Cattle in Shanxi Province, North China.

Enterocytozoon bieneusi is an intracellular pathogen that can parasitize humans and a variety of animals. The infection of E. bieneusi in most hosts is asymptomatic, but in immunocompromised individuals, it can lead to serious complications such as acute diarrhea, dehydration, and even death.

Molecular Detection and Genotyping of in Pigs in Shanxi Province, North China.

is a common opportunistic intestinal pathogen that can cause acute diarrhea in immunosuppressed humans and animals. Though has been widely detected in pigs around the world, little is known of its prevalence and genotype distribution in pigs in Shanxi province, north China. In this study, a total of 362 fecal samples were collected from pigs in three representative counties in north, south, and central Shanxi province, China.

Nuclear Receptor RORα/γ: Exciting Modulators in Metabolic Syndrome and Related Disorders.

Under the influences of modern lifestyle, metabolic syndromes (MetS), including insulin resistance, obesity, and fatty liver, featuring a worldwide chronic disease, greatly raise the risk of type 2 diabetes, heart disease, and stroke. However, its pathogenesis is still unclear, and there are limited drugs with strong clinical efficacy and specificity. Given the close connection between impaired lipid metabolism and MetS onset, modulating the lipid metabolic genes may provide potential prospects in the development of MetS therapeutics.

Copper-catalyzed C2 alkenylation of pyridine--oxides with alkynes.

A general and expedient method to construct the scaffolds of 2-alkenylpyridines, through copper-catalyzed C2 alkenylation of pyridine--oxides with alkynes, has been disclosed. This protocol shows operational simplicity, good functional group compatibility and broad substrate scope.

Sirtuin 7 Regulates Nitric Oxide Production and Apoptosis to Promote Mycobacterial Clearance in Macrophages.

The host immune system plays a pivotal role in the containment of (Mtb) infection, and host-directed therapy (HDT) is emerging as an effective strategy to treat tuberculosis (TB), especially drug-resistant TB. Previous studies revealed that expression of sirtuin 7 (SIRT7), a nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD)-dependent deacetylase, was downregulated in macrophages after Mycobacterial infection. Inhibition of SIRT7 with the pan-sirtuin family inhibitor nicotinamide (NAM), or by silencing SIRT7 expression, promoted intracellular growth of Mtb and restricted the generation of nitric oxide (NO).

Design, synthesis, biological evaluation and molecular dynamics simulation studies of imidazolidine-2,4-dione derivatives as novel PTP1B inhibitors.

Protein tyrosine phosphatase 1B (PTP1B) is a member of the phosphotyrosine phosphatase family and plays an important role in the signal transduction of diabetes. Inhibition of PTP1B activity can increase insulin sensitivity and reduce blood sugar levels. Therefore, it is urgent to find compounds with novel structures that can inhibit PTP1B.

Risk factors for radiation induced lymphopenia in patients with breast cancer receiving adjuvant radiotherapy.

Background: This study aimed to investigate radiation-induced lymphopenia and its potential risk factors in patients with breast cancer receiving adjuvant radiotherapy.

Methods: Breast cancer patients received adjuvant radiotherapy (RT) at our hospital with peripheral lymphocyte counts (PLC) at pre-and immediately after RT (post-RT) were eligible. The primary endpoints were any grade of lymphopenia post-RT and nadir-PLC/pre-PLC <0.

Chemotherapy is a risk factor of lymphopenia before adjuvant radiotherapy in breast cancer.

Background: Lymphopenia can decrease immune function of the host and is a known risk factor for poor prognosis in malignant tumors. Radiation induced lymphopenia was common in patients with breast cancer and was also reported to have a negative effect on long-term outcome.

Aims: Lymphopenia may be associated with baseline immune status before radiotherapy (RT).

Exploring Dual Agonists for PPARα/γ Receptors using Pharmacophore Modeling, Docking Analysis and Molecule Dynamics Simulation.

Background: The Peroxisome Proliferator-Activated Receptors (PPARs) are ligandactivated transcription factors belonging to the nuclear receptor family. The roles of PPARα in fatty acid oxidation and PPARγ in adipocyte differentiation and lipid storage have been widely characterized. Compounds with dual PPARα/γ activity have been proposed, combining the benefits of insulin sensitization and lipid lowering into one drug, allowing a single drug to reduce hyperglycemia and hyperlipidemia while preventing the development of cardiovascular complications.

Influence of Operating Parameters on Chlorine Release and Pollutant Emission Characteristics of a 130 t/h BCFB Combustion System.

A 130 t/h biomass circulating fluidized bed (BCFB) boiler combustion system model, considering the chloride release and pollutant emissions during the biomass combustion, was established using the Modelica language. The effects of the biomass feed amount, limestone amount, excess air coefficients, and different ratios of primary and secondary air on the boiler furnace temperature and flue gas composition (O, CO, SO, HCl, and KCl) were investigated. Upon the biomass feed amount step change, the variation ranges of NO and KCl concentrations were very large, which were 18.

A non-invasive model for predicting liver fibrosis in HBeAg-positive patients with normal or slightly elevated alanine aminotransferase.

Early and accurate diagnosis of liver fibrosis is necessary for HBeAg-positive chronic hepatitis B (CHB) patients with normal or slightly increased alanine aminotransferase (ALT), Liver biopsy and many non-invasive predicting markers have several application restrictions in grass-roots hospitals. We aimed to construct a non-invasive model based on routinely serum markers to predict liver fibrosis for this population.A total of 363 CHB patients with HBeAg-positive, ALT ≤2-fold the upper limit of normal and liver biopsy data were randomly divided into training (n = 266) and validation groups (n = 97).

Uncoupling growth and succinic acid production in an industrial Saccharomyces cerevisiae strain.

This study explores the relation between biomass-specific succinic acid (SA) production rate and specific growth rate of an engineered industrial strain of Saccharomyces cerevisiae, with the aim to investigate the extent to which growth and product formation can be uncoupled. Ammonium-limited aerobic chemostat and retentostat cultures were grown at different specific growth rates under industrially relevant conditions, that is, at a culture pH of 3 and with sparging of a 1:1 CO -air mixture. Biomass-specific SA production rates decreased asymptotically with decreasing growth rate.

The mental state and risk factors of Chinese medical staff and medical students in early stages of the COVID-19 epidemic.

Objective: This study aimed to investigate the mental state of medical staff and medical students in the early stages of the SARS-CoV-2 outbreak, as well as analyze the risk factors of serious mental illness (SMI), so as to provide a scientific basis for further psychological intervention and management.

Method: A cross-sectional survey was conducted from February 2-7, 2020. The Kessler 6 Psychological Distress Scale and a general information questionnaire were administered on-line to a convenience sample of 548 medical staff and medical students in China.

Coping style, social support and psychological distress in the general Chinese population in the early stages of the COVID-19 epidemic.

Background: The purpose of this study was to investigate the psychological status of the general population in mainland China during the outbreak of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), and to explore the factors influencing psychological distress, in order to provide the basis for further psychological intervention programs.

Methods: We administered three questionnaires on-line to a convenience sample of the general population from different regions of mainland China from February 1 to February 4, 2020. We used the Mandarin versions of the six-item Kessler psychological distress scale (K6), the Simplified Coping Style Questionnaire (SCSQ), and the Social Support Rating Scale (SSRS).

The psychological distress and coping styles in the early stages of the 2019 coronavirus disease (COVID-19) epidemic in the general mainland Chinese population: A web-based survey.

As the epidemic outbreak of 2019 coronavirus disease (COVID-19), general population may experience psychological distress. Evidence has suggested that negative coping styles may be related to subsequent mental illness. Therefore, we investigate the general population's psychological distress and coping styles in the early stages of the COVID-19 outbreak.

Circular RNA MAN2B2 promotes cell proliferation of hepatocellular carcinoma cells via the miRNA-217/MAPK1 axis.

The increasing incidence of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a major challenge worldwide. In the past few years, an increasing number of studies have suggested that circular RNAs (circRNAs) play an important role in the development of human tumors, including HCC, but our understanding of their function is still limited. In this study, we investigated differences in the expression of circRNA MAN2B2 (circMAN2B2) in hepatocellular tissues and paired normal tissues.