Wnt5a alleviates the symptoms of PCOS by modulating PI3K/AKT/mTOR pathway-mediated autophagy in granulosa cells.

Objective: Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a metabolic and endocrine disease that entails dysregulated ovulation, hyperandrogenism, and polycystic ovaries. While Wnt5a has been suggested to play key roles in follicular development and female fertility under normal conditions, its functions in the context of PCOS have yet to be established. This study was thus designed to explore the impact of Wnt5a on ovarian granulosa cell autophagy in PCOS, providing in vitro evidence in support of its role in this setting.

Differences in brain activation and connectivity during unaffected hand exercise in subacute and convalescent stroke patients.

Patients experiencing severe hemiplegia following a stroke struggle to rehabilitate their affected limbs. Cross-education (CE) training emerges as a promising rehabilitation method due to its safety, simplicity, low risk, and ability to effectively improve muscle strength in the affected limb. However, controversy surrounds the neural mechanisms and clinical applications of CE.

PFOS and PFOSA induce oxidative stress-mediated cardiac defects in zebrafish via PPARγ and AHR pathways, respectively.

Perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) and its precursor, perfluorooctane sulfonamide (PFOSA), are widespread in the environment. Evidence suggests a strong link between maternal exposure to PFOS/PFOSA and congenital heart diseases in the offspring, but the underlying mechanisms remain unclear. We hypothesized that PFOS and PFOSA induce cardiac defects through the peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma (PPARγ) and aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AHR) pathways, respectively.

Structure and Spectral Properties of Er-Doped Bismuth Telluride Near-Infrared Laser Glasses.

TeO-BiO-BO-ZnO laser glasses doped with Er were synthesized through an optimized melt-quenching method. The absorption spectra at 808 nm LD pumping were studied. Various spectral tests and data analyses indicate that the maximum fluorescence emission intensity can be obtained when the Er doping concentration reaches 2%.

Effector PsAvh113 Targets Transcription Factors in .

is a type of pathogenic oomycete that causes root stem rot (PRSR), which can seriously affect the soybean yield and quality. To subvert immunity, secretes a large quantity of effectors. However, the molecular mechanisms regulated by most effectors, and their host targets remain unexplored.

A Nomogram Based on Conventional and Contrast-Enhanced Ultrasound for Pre-operative Prediction of Nipple-Areola Complex Involvement in Breast Cancer: A Prospective Study.

Objective: Accurately predicting nipple-areola complex (NAC) involvement in breast cancer is essential for identifying eligible patients for a nipple-sparing mastectomy. This study was aimed at developing a pre-operative nomogram for NAC involvement in breast cancer using conventional ultrasound (US) and contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS).

Methods: All patients with primary breast cancer confirmed by pre-operative biopsy underwent US and CEUS examinations.

Aberrant single-subject morphological cerebellar connectome in chronic insomnia.

Background: To systematically investigate the topological organisation of morphological networks of the cerebellum using structural MRI and examine their clinical relevance in chronic insomnia (CI).

Methods: One hundred and one patients with CI and 102 healthy controls (HCs) were recruited in this study. Individual morphological networks of the cerebellum were constructed based on regional grey matter volume, and topologically characterised using weighted graph theory-based network approaches.

Relationship between birth weight and ambient temperature during pregnancy in a cross-sectional study of the residents of Suzhou, China.

Objective: The association between birth weight and ambient temperature during pregnancy remains inconclusive, and data from Chinese populations are scarce. We conducted a cross-sectional study to investigate the association between birth weight and ambient temperature during pregnancy among the residents of Suzhou Industrial Park, Suzhou, China.

Methods: Information regarding 10,903 infants born between January 2018 and December 2018 who were born at the hospitals in Suzhou Industrial Park, Jiangsu province was obtained via public birth records.

Integrated serum pharmacochemistry and metabolomics reveal potential effective components and mechanisms of Shengjiang Xiexin decoction in the treatment of infection.

Shengjiang Xiexin Decoction (SXD) is a widely recognized formula in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) for treating diarrhea and is commonly used in clinical practice. infection (CDI) is a type of antibiotic-associated diarrhea with a rising incidence rate that has severe consequences for humans. Recent clinical applications have found significant efficacy in using SXD as an adjunct to CDI treatment.

Cerebral Hemodynamic Changes during Unaffected Handgrip Exercises in Stroke Patients: An fNIRS Study.

This study aimed to assess the effect of the altered strength of the sound limb on the hemodynamics in the affected brain of stroke patients. We recruited 20 stroke patients to detect changes in the HbO concentrations in the bilateral prefrontal cortex (PFC), sensorimotor cortex (SMC), and occipital lobe (OL). We performed functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS) to detect changes in oxyhemoglobin (HbO) concentrations in regions of interest (ROIs) in the bilateral cerebral hemispheres of stroke patients while they performed 20%, 50%, and 80% maximal voluntary contraction (MVC) levels of handgrip tasks with the unaffected hands.

Polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) in household dust: A systematic review on spatio-temporal distribution, sources, and health risk assessment.

Much attention has been paid on polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) in household dust due to their ubiquitous occurrences in the environment. Based on the data from 59 articles sampled from 2005 to 2020, we investigated the spatio-temporal distribution, sources, and health risk of 8 PBDE homologues in household dusts worldwide. BDE-209 is the predominant PBDE in household dusts, followed by BDE-99 and BDE-47.

Influence of Extrusion Temperature on Properties of Graphene Oxide-Carbon Fiber/Epoxy Composite Prepared by Vacuum Infiltration Hot-Press-Forming Experimental System.

Graphene oxide-carbon fiber/epoxy (GO-CF/EP) composites with extrusion temperatures of 30, 40, 50, 60 and 70 °C were prepared by a vacuum infiltration hot-press-forming experimental system (VIHPS). The effects of extrusion temperature on the microstructure, fracture mechanism and mechanical properties of GO-CF/EP composites were investigated. It was found that the best mechanical property of composites and infiltration effect of the matrix in the fiber gap were obtained at the temperature of 50 °C, and the bending strength of the composite reached 728 MPa.

Inorganic nanomaterials for intelligent photothermal antibacterial applications.

Antibiotics are currently the main therapeutic agent for bacterial infections, but they have led to bacterial resistance, which has become a worldwide problem that needs to be addressed. The emergence of inorganic nanomaterials provides a new opportunity for the prevention and treatment of bacterial infection. With the continuous development of nanoscience, more and more inorganic nanomaterials have been used to treat bacterial infections.

Micro Ribonucleic Acid 27a Aggravates Ferroptosis During Early Ischemic Stroke of Rats Through Nuclear Factor Erythroid-2-Related Factor 2.

Ischaemic stroke (IS) is characterized by high morbidity, disability and mortality and lacks effective solutions. MiRNA-27a has been implicated in ferroptosis, but evidence that miRNA-27a regulates ferroptosis in ischaemic stroke is lacking. Nrf2 could reduce brain tissue injury in ischaemic stroke and resist ferroptosis.

Effect of Four Groups of GO-CF/EP Composites with Ideal Infiltration Structure and Different Layering Ways on Damping Properties.

In this paper, four groups of graphene oxide and carbon fiber hybrid-reinforced resin matrix (GO-CF/EP) composites with different layering ways were prepared by a vacuum infiltration hot pressing system (VIHPS). The damping properties of the specimens with different layering ways were tested by the force hammer method, and the micromorphology of the specimens was photographed by scanning electron microscope. The experimental results showed that the damping properties of GO-CF/EP composites gradually increased with the increase in the number of Y-direction layers.

Effect of Fiber Mass Fraction on Microstructure and Properties of 2D CF-GO/EP Composite Prepared by VIHPS.

Graphene is often used to improve interlaminar fracture toughness of carbon fiber/epoxy resin (CF/EP) composites. It is still a challenge to improve the toughness while maintaining the in-layer properties. In this study, 2D graphene oxide carbon fiber reinforced epoxy resin matrix (2D CF-GO/EP) composites were prepared by a vacuum infiltration hot-press forming experimental system (VIHPS), and three-point flexural and end notch flexural (ENF) tests were carried out.

Discovery of an Inhibitor for the TREK-1 Channel Targeting an Intermediate Transition State of Channel Gating.

Modulators can be designed to stabilize the inactive and active states of ion channels, but whether intermediate (IM) states of channel gating are druggable remains underexplored. In this study, using molecular dynamics simulations of the TWIK-related potassium channel 1 (TREK-1) channel, a two-pore domain potassium channel, we captured an IM state during the transition from the down (inactive) state to the up (active-like) state. The IM state contained a druggable allosteric pocket that was not present in the down or up state.

Ultrasound monitoring of magnet-guided delivery of mesenchymal stem cells labeled with magnetic lipid-polymer hybrid nanobubbles.

Restenosis remains a pressing clinical problem that occurs in patients undergoing revascularization procedures, such as coronary artery bypass surgery and percutaneous transluminal angioplasty. Previous reports have proved that mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) could effectively reduce the restenosis resulting from intimal hyperplasia following vascular injury. However, non-invasive delivery of MSCs and real-time monitoring of their retention at the site of vascular injury still remain a significant challenge.

A New Vacuum Pressure Infiltration CFRP Method and Preparation Experimental Study of Composite.

In order to prepare a carbon-fiber-reinforced polymer composite (CFRP) with ideal microstructure and properties, a new vacuum pressure infiltration CFRP method is proposed based on an analysis of existing CFRP preparation process methods. Research on composite material preparation systems was carried out by using this new method principle. The system mainly includes a fiber pre-forming module, a vacuum heating infiltration module, a hot-press curing molding module, and a data acquisition control module.

A facile method to synthesize strong salt-enhanced hydrogels based on reversible physical interaction.

To overcome the adverse effects of salt on the mechanical properties of hydrogels, a facile double cross-linking method has been proposed to synthesize salt-enhanced tough hydrogels. Herein, a poly(hexafluorobutyl methacrylate-acrylamide) hydrogel [P(AAm-co-HFBMA) hydrogel] is prepared by the copolymerization of acrylamide (AAm) and hexafluorobutyl methacrylate (HFBMA) with N,N'-methylene bisacrylamide (NMBA) as a cross-linking agent in a dimethylformamide (DMF)/aqueous solution; DMF is then replaced by water. The results indicate that the tensile fracture stress of the P(AAm-co-HFBMA) hydrogel (20 mol% HFBMA) is as high as 0.

Influence of Infiltration Pressure on the Microstructure and Properties of 2D-CFRP Prepared by the Vacuum Infiltration Hot Pressing Molding Process.

The critical infiltration pressures of the matrix in a two-dimensional (2D) carbon fiber preform were calculated theoretically, and the calculated values of the static and dynamic models were 0.115 and 0.478 MPa, respectively.

Hydroxyl radical oxidation of cyclic methylsiloxanes D4 ∼ D6 in aqueous phase.

Cyclic methylsiloxanes (CMS) were listed as candidates of substances of very high concerns in 2018 by the REACH. These compounds can enter environmental waters, and potentially cause harmful effects to aquatic organisms and human beings. Until now, reaction mechanisms of these pollutants with hydroxyl radicals (HO) in aqueous phase were unknown.

The use of aggregation-induced emission probe doped silica nanoparticles for the immunoassay of human epididymis protein 4.

A sensitive sandwich immunoassay for the sensing of human epididymis protein 4 (HE4) is developed based on aggregation-induced emission probe doped silica nanoparticles. Fluorescent silica nanoparticles (TSiO) with excellent performance were prepared using a tetraphenylethylene based probe (TPE-C4-4) to produce a controlled aggregation effect, and HE4 was detected using antibody-functionalized fluorescent silica nanoparticles. The fluorescent silica nanoparticles possess good photophysical properties.