De novo-designed amphiphilic α-helical peptide Z2 exhibits broad-spectrum antimicrobial, anti-biofilm, and anti-inflammatory efficacy in acute Pseudomonas aeruginosa pneumonia.

Antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) show considerable promise in combating bacterial infections due to their broad-spectrum efficacy, unique mechanisms of action, and resistance capabilities. In this study, we de novo designed a series of α-helical AMPs (Z1-Z6) with enhanced antimicrobial activity, anti-biofilm, and anti-inflammatory effects. The design incorporated isoleucine with long alkyl side chains and carefully balanced the positive charge and hydrophobicity.

GPR50 regulates neuronal development as a mitophagy receptor.

Neurons rely heavily on high mitochondrial metabolism to provide sufficient energy for proper development. However, it remains unclear how neurons maintain high oxidative phosphorylation (OXPHOS) during development. Mitophagy plays a pivotal role in maintaining mitochondrial quality and quantity.

[Systematic review and Meta-analysis of efficacy and safety of Shufeng Jiedu Capsules in treatment of influenza].

This study aims to systematically review the efficacy and safety of Shufeng Jiedu Capsules in the treatment of influenza. The randomized controlled trial(RCT) of Shufeng Jiedu Capsules alone or in combination with conventional western medicine for treating influenza were retrieved from PubMed, EMbase, Cochrane Library, Web of Science, SinoMed, CNKI, VIP, Wanfang, and ClinicalTrails.gov.

Empagliflozin ameliorates atherosclerosis via regulating the intestinal flora.

Background And Aims: Sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 inhibitor (SGLT2i) has been reported to attenuate atherosclerosis. Further, it has been suggested that intestinal flora influences atherosclerosis progression. Herein we aimed to investigate whether SGLT2i can alleviate atherosclerosis through intestinal flora.

Validation of the THINC-It Tool for Assessment of Cognitive Impairment in Patients with Bipolar Depression.

Background: Cognitive impairment is one of the core features of bipolar depression. A unified, reliable, and valid assessment tool is key to screening and assessing cognitive impairment. The THINC-Integrated Tool (THINC-it) is a simple and quick battery for screening cognitive impairment in patients with major depressive disorder.

A Spiro Phosphamide Catalyzed Enantioselective Proton Transfer of Ylides in a Free Carbene Insertion into N-H Bonds.

Free carbene readily causes multiple side reactions due to its high energy, thus its asymmetric transformation is very difficult. We present here our findings of high-pK Brønsted acid catalysts that enable free carbene insertion into N-H bonds of amines to prepare chiral α-amino acid derivatives with high enantioselectivity. Under irradiation with visible light, diazo compounds produce high-energy free carbenes that are captured by amines to form free ylide intermediates, and then the newly designed high-pK Brønsted acids, chiral spiro phosphamides, promote the proton transfer of ylides to afford the products.

Quality evaluation of cultured meat with plant protein scaffold.

Cultured meat technology is a promising new technology to solve the negative problems brought by traditional animal husbandry. Cultured meat should be further developed to appear on consumers' tables as alternative protein product. Therefore, this study used food grade peanut wire-drawing protein as scaffold to culture smooth muscle cells (SMCs) in vitro to obtain cultured meat productions containing both animal protein and plant protein.

[Application and significance of mixed methods research in traditional Chinese medicine and narrative medicine].

Since narrative medicine was introduced in China, it has been widely used in medical education and clinical practice. The research on narrative medicine in China is especially characterized by its combination with traditional Chinese medicine(TCM). At present, the research on narrative medicine in China is still in the stage of small-scale practicing and theory advocating.

Circular RNA WHSC1 exerts oncogenic properties by regulating miR-7/TAB2 in lung cancer.

Circular RNA is a newly discovered member of non-coding RNA (ncRNA) and regulates the target gene by acting as a micro-RNA sponge. It plays vital roles in various diseases. However, the functions of circular RNA in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) remain still unclear.

Microwave Ablation Compared With Laser Ablation for Treating Benign Thyroid Nodules in a Propensity-Score Matching Study.

The efficacy and safety of percutaneous ultrasound-guided microwave and laser ablation (MWA and LA, respectively), for treating benign thyroid nodules (BTNs), were retrospectively compared. Patients ( = 318) underwent ablation of 328 BTNs. Confounding bias was reduced by propensity-score matching, and finally the MWA and LA groups each comprised 160 nodules.

[Characteristics and Source Analysis of Carbonaceous Components of PM During Autumn in the Northern Suburb of Nanjing].

In this study, PM samples were collected from October to November of 2015 in the northern suburb of Nanjing. The mass concentrations of organic carbon (OC), elemental carbon (EC), and levoglucosan in the samples were analyzed by thermal optical transmittance (TOT) and ion chromatography. The average concentrations of OC and EC were respectively (11.

Pneumopericardium as a rare complication after esophagopericardial fistula.

Pneumopericardium is a rare clinical entity which is often complicated by trauma. Pneumoperdicardium resulting after esophagopericardial fistula is much rarer. We present a case of pneumopericardium as the complication of esophagopericardial fistula in a 53-year-old man.

Inhibition of preadipocyte differentiation and adipogenesis by zinc-α2-glycoprotein treatment in 3T3-L1 cells.

Aims/introduction: Zinc-α2-glycoprotein (ZAG) is associated with the loss of adipose tissue in cancer cachexia, and has recently been proposed to be a candidate factor in the regulation of bodyweight. The aim of the study was to investigate the effects of ZAG on the proliferation and differentiation of 3T3-L1 preadipocytes.

Materials And Methods: 3-(4,5-Dimethylthiazol-2-yl) 2,5-diphenyl tetrazolium bromide (MTT) spectrophotometry, Oil Red O staining, intracellular triglyceride assays, real-time quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction and transient transfection methods were used to explore the action of ZAG.

Effect of long term glucocorticoid treatment on human growth hormone secretion in children and adolescents and the safety and effectiveness of recombinant human growth hormone treatment.

Objective: Long term glucocorticoid (prednisolone) treatment on human growth hormone (hGH) secretion in children and adolescents and to investigate the effectiveness and safety of the recombinant human growth hormone (rhGH) treatment.

Methods: Twelve patients (age: 10.4∓1.

[Effect of bodyweight on the onset of puberty of female children and adolescents].

Objective: To investigate the possible effects and roles of bodyweight on the puberty onset in adolescent girls.

Methods: Totally 288 Chinese female children and adolescent girls aged 5 to 16 were followed up yearly for four consecutive years. The height, bodyweight, fat percentage, sexual characteristics, and the serum levels of leptin and insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) were studied to analyze the influential factors of puberty onset and age of menarche.

Testosterone replacement therapy improves insulin sensitivity and decreases high sensitivity C-reactive protein levels in hypogonadotropic hypogonadal young male patients.

Background: Many clinical studies suggest the inverse relationship between testosterone levels and insulin sensitivity in men, however the causative relationship of these two events is still not determined. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of testosterone replacement therapy (TRT) on insulin sensitivity, body composition, serum lipid profiles and high sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP) in hypogonadotropic hypogonadal (HH) puberty undeveloped male patients.

Methods: In this prospectively designed study, we compared homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR), insulin areas under the curves (AUC) of 3-hour oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) and other metabolic parameters between 26 HH patients and 26 healthy men.

Effect of interleukin-1 beta on growth hormone gene expression and its possible molecular mechanism in rat MtT/S somatotroph cells.

Objective: To elucidate the effect of interleukin-1 beta (IL-1 beta) on human growth hormone (hGH) gene expression in a rat somatotropic pituitary cell line MtT/S.

Methods: Stably transfected MtT/S cells were firstly established by transfecting 484-Luc1 plasmid which contained hGH gene promoter -484 to +30 bp and luciferase reporter gene. The effect of IL-1 beta on hGH gene expression was determined by assaying the luciferase activities.

[Testosterone replacement in hypogonadotropic hypogonadal young male improves insulin sensitivity].

Objective: To evaluate the effect of testosterone replacement therapy in patients with hypogonadotrophic hypogonadism (HH) on insulin sensitivity and high sensitivity C reactive protein (hsCRP).

Methods: 21 males with HH, aged 15 - 30, and 18 age, and BMI-matched healthy males underwent detection of homeostasis model assessment insulin resistance index (HOMA-IR). Second, the values of weight, abdominal circumstance, grips strength, body composition, total testosterone (TT), fast blood glucose and insulin, serum lipid profile, and hsCRP were compared before and after 9-month testosterone replacement therapy in the HH patient group.

Mek and p38 MAPK-dependant pathways are involoved in the positive effect of interleukin-6 on human growth hormone gene expression in rat MtT/S somatotroph cells.

Objective: To investigate the effect of interleukin-6 (IL-6) on the human growth hormone (hGH) gene expression in a rat somatotropic pituitary cell line MtT/S.

Methods: The plasmids containing various lengths of hGH gene 5'-promoter fragments were constructed. Stably transfected MtT/S cells were created by cotransfecting the above plasmids and pcDNA3.

[The survey of puberty timing in healthy boys in Daqing city in northern China].

Objective: To investigate the puberty timing in healthy adolescent boys in Daqing city in northern China.

Methods: A cross-sectional and longitudinal combined survey was performed. On 150 male students aged 6-15.

The regulatory mechanism by which interleukin-6 stimulates GH-gene expression in rat GH3 cells.

The present study was performed to elucidate the effect of interleukin (IL)-6 on the human GH (hGH)-gene expression in GH3 rat pituitary tumor cells using stable transfection of the hGH promoter fused to a luciferase reporter gene. Our results showed that IL-6 (10(2)-10(4) U/ml) stimulated GH secretion and synthesis, and promoted the luciferase expression in stably transfected GH3 cells with the maximal action of 1.99 times above the control by 10(4) U/ml IL-6.

[Hypogonadism may cause insulin resistance in young males].

Objective: To investigate the relationship between hypogonadism and insulin resistance in young male.

Methods: Twenty-one hypogonadism young males aged 15 to 30 years were included in the clinical trial group, and 11 healthy young males of similar age and BMI in the control. Height, weight, serum FSH, LH, total testosterone (TT), nuclear type and bone age were measured for all the subjects.