Uncovering the underlying mechanism of yuanhuacine against colorectal cancer by transcriptomics and experimental investigations.

Background: Colorectal cancer (CRC) holds the third position in terms of incidence and ranks behind lung cancer in terms of mortality worldwide. Yuanhuacine, one of the main active ingredients of genkwa flos, has demonstrated promising application prospects in the field of cancer treatment. However, its underlying mechanism against CRC has not been fully clarified.

Astragali Radix-Curcumae Rhizoma normalizes tumor blood vessels by HIF-1α to anti-tumor metastasis in colon cancer.

Background: Abnormal tumor blood vessels can significantly promote the malignant progression of tumors, prompting researchers to focus on drugs that normalize these vessels for clinical treatment. The combination of the Qi-tonifying drug Astragali Radix and the blood-activating drug Curcumae Rhizoma, referred to as AC, exhibited significant anti-tumor metastasis effects. However, the association between the anti-tumor metastasis effect of AC and its potential role in regulating tumor vascular remodeling warrants further exploration.

Research on the preparation of soy protein isolate and whey protein isolate composite nanoparticles and their characteristics in high internal phase Pickering emulsions.

This study investigated the role of thermal drive in the formation of soy protein isolate and whey protein isolate (SPI-WPI) complexes, as well as the stability effect of SPI-WPI complexes on high internal phase Pickering emulsions (HIPPEs). The shift in the peaks in the infrared spectrum and the change in fluorescence intensity indicated the interaction between these two proteins, which implies that SPI-WPI is not two dispersed groups of particles. Maximum emulsification activity (10.

Bio-orthogonal-labeled exosomes reveals specific distribution in vivo and provides potential application in ARDS therapy.

Exosomes derived from specific cells may be useful for targeted drug delivery, but tracking them in vivo is essential for their clinical application. However, their small size and complex structure challenge the development of exosome-tracking techniques, and traditional labeling methods are limited by weak affinity and potential toxicity. To address these issues, here we developed a novel bio-orthogonal labeling strategy based on phosphatidylinositol derivatives to fluorescently label exosomes from various human and mouse cell types.

Association of Reversible Frailty with All-Cause Mortality Risk in Community-Dwelling Older Adults and Analysis of Factors Affecting Frailty Reversal in Older Adults.

Objectives: Although frailty can increase the risk of premature death, whether reversal of frailty reduces the risk of premature death and what factors contribute to the reversal of frailty have not been thoroughly investigated. This study aimed to investigate the link between frailty reversal and all-cause mortality and the factors affecting frailty reversal.

Design: A combination of the nested case-control study and the prospective cohort study.

CHOP aggravates hepatocyte apoptosis upon endoplasmic reticulum stress by down-regulating autophagy.

Background: Endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress-associated apoptosis is involved in various liver diseases, including liver fibrosis, nonalcoholic fatty liver disease, and cirrhosis. Hepatocytes respond to ER stress by eliciting unfolded protein response (UPR) and enhancing autophagy. Autophagy is a pivotal mechanism for sustaining normal ER function, through degradation of damaged ER fragments and removal of abnormal protein aggregates in the ER lumen.

Icariside II inhibits Epithelial-Mesenchymal transition in metastatic osteosarcoma by antagonizing the miR-194/215 cluster via PGK1.

Osteosarcoma, the most prevalent malignant bone tumor in adolescents, is characterized by its aggressiveness and tendency to metastasize. Despite the advancements in treatment that have improved survival rates for localized cases, metastatic osteosarcoma remains challenging to treat due to the limited efficacy of current therapies and the severe side effects of chemotherapy. Epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) is a key factor in osteosarcoma metastasis, and the miR-194/215 cluster, which is upregulated in osteosarcoma, promotes this process.

Modeling electron competition and pH factor interactions improve cognitions of nitrite accumulation during denitrification.

Electron competition (EC) and pH stress are two key factors influencing NO production during denitrification, but their dominance and interactions in the full pH range are poorly understood. In this study, we propose a concise Electron Competition Inhibition (ECI) model to clarify the contribution of EC and pH stress to NO production by characterizing the denitrifying kinetics in batch tests. The model exhibits good fitting results on NO accumulation across a wide NO/NO ratio range from 0 to 9, demonstrating its excellent ability in describing the EC effect and determining rate constants for NO and NO reductions.

AaHR78 mediates the effects of 20E on growth and reproduction in Aedes aegypti.

Nuclear receptors are critical components of various physiological pathways, significantly influencing insect signal transduction. Although the role of HR78 in tracheal and nervous system development has been well-studied, its function during transformation and reproduction remains underexplored. This study characterizes the nuclear receptor gene AaHR78 in Aedes aegypti, which possesses distinct sequence features, including a DNA-binding domain and a ligand-binding domain.

Clamworm bioturbation reduces mercury methylation through alteration of methylator composition in sediment.

Coastal sediment has been recognized as a hotspot of mercury (Hg) methylation and acts as an important reservoir for Hg-methylating microbes. The bioturbation behaviors of benthic organisms can significantly influence sediment properties and potentially affect the mobility and availability of contaminants within the sediment. However, the effects of bioturbation on Hg speciation and disposition in sediment have not been well addressed.

Diosgenin alleviates lipid accumulation in NAFLD through the pathways of ferroptosis defensive and executive system.

Background: The most prevalent liver condition globally is non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), for which no approved therapies currently exist. Diosgenin, an important component in plants from the Leguminosae, Dioscoreaceae, and Solanaceae families, has demonstrated considerable anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects. Nonetheless, the specific mechanism by which it may act in managing NAFLD remains unclear.

Deciphering denitrification drivers in a high‑nitrogen estuary: Insights from stable isotope analysis and microbial molecular techniques.

Coastal estuaries are increasingly impacted by anthropogenic nitrogen inputs, disrupting nitrogen cycling and posing significant threats to ecosystem health. This study investigates nitrogen sources and transformation processes in the Jiulong River Estuary (JRE), a highly eutrophic subtropical estuary in Southeast China. By analyzing and comparing samples from groundwater, surface water, and sediment, this study reveals distinct nitrogen transformation dynamics across interconnected environmental compartments.

Unraveling the cytotoxicity and cellular pharmacokinetic of mPEG-NH polymers by UHPLC-MS/MS.

Methoxy-polyethylene glycol amine (mPEG-NH₂), an important pharmaceutical excipient, has been extensively utilized in the field of biomedicine. To advance the development of mPEG-NH₂-related drug delivery systems, it is crucial to understand the safety profile and cellular pharmacokinetic behavior of mPEG-NH₂ polymers. In this study, a straightforward analytical assay based on ultra-high performance liquid chromatography and tandem mass spectrometry (UHPLC-MS/MS) for quantifying mPEG-NH₂ in biological matrices was established and validated.

Heterogeneous variations on historical of mercury, dioxins, and CO emissions from medical waste incineration process in China: Emission inventory, driving factors, and the impact of COVID-19.

Medical waste incineration (MWI) is one of the important sources of carbon dioxide (CO₂) and hazardous air pollutants (HAPs), threatening the triple planetary environmental crisis of climate change, biodiversity loss, and environmental pollution. Utilizing the EMEP/EEA air pollutant emission inventory and the IPCC 2006 guidelines, this study develops a comprehensive inventory of anthropogenic mercury (Hg), dioxins (PCDD/Fs), and CO₂ emissions from the MWI process in China among 2014-2023, employing a bottom-up approach at the plant level. The findings indicate that national MWI emissions of Hg, PCDD/Fs, and CO₂ increased by 1.

Garcinol promotes wound healing in diabetic mice by regulating inflammation and NLRP3 inflammasome-mediated pyroptosis via the PI3K/Akt/NF-κB pathway.

Diabetic wounds, characterized by chronic inflammation and impaired angiogenesis, often lead to severe complications such as persistent infections and an elevated risk of amputation, significantly affecting a patient's quality of life. Garcinol, a polyisoprenylated benzophenone derived from the rind of Garcinia indica, exhibits potent anti-inflammatory, angiogenic, and antioxidant effects in various disease models. However, its potential to enhance diabetic wound healing remains unclear.

Shikonin Derivative Suppresses Colorectal Cancer Cells Growth via Reactive Oxygen Species-Mediated Mitochondrial Apoptosis and PI3K/AKT Pathway.

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is one of the deadliest cancers globally, ranking as the third most prevalent and second most lethal malignancy worldwide. The standard treatment for CRC typically involves a combination of surgery, radiotherapy, and chemotherapy. Despite advancements in CRC treatment, the prognosis remains unsatisfactory, primarily due to unclear mechanisms underlying tumorigenesis and the aggression of CRC.

2,2,6,6-tetramethylpiperidin-1-oxyl: a new potential targeted ligand based on lipid peroxidation for targeted drug delivery.

The side effects of chemotherapy drugs have prompted the development of targeted therapies. Distinctive abundance of lipid peroxidation (LPO) in tumour cells represents a potential target for drug delivery. However, LPO-based targeted ligands remain under-exploited.

Gastric hypoplasia in mice lacking fibroblast growth factor 9.

Background: Fibroblast Growth Factor 9 (Fgf9) and its paralog Fgf20 are expressed in the developing stomach. We investigate the role of these growth factors during gastric development, using combinations of null alleles.

Results: Analysis of expression databases showed that Fgf9 is expressed in gastric endoderm and surrounding mesoderm such as the mesothelium as early as E8.

High-Throughput and Stain-Free Morphological Analysis of Sperm Using Optofluidic Time-Stretch Imaging Flow Cytometry.

The incidence of male infertility has kept increasing year by year, severely affecting the sustainability of society. Sperm morphological analysis plays an important role in assessing sperm fertility. However, current sperm morphological analysis is usually performed using microscopic images of stained sperm, which requires complex staining operations, making it difficult to achieve a comprehensive and efficient diagnosis.

Microwave processing effect on salt reduction and saltiness enhancement in muscle foods: A review.

Muscle foods are key ingredients in food manufacturing and catering. Sodium in muscle foods mainly comes from salt, which plays various roles, such as a preservative, a flavor enhancer and water retention agent, but excessive intake is a global health issue. Therefore, salt reduction and salty taste enhancement in muscle foods have become a serious topic.

Effect of dense phase carbon dioxide on the digestive properties of shrimp surimi gels: Insight from digestive kinetic.

Understanding the protein digestion rate and the release of nutrients in the gastrointestinal tract is critical to designing novel food products with enhanced functionalities. The digestion characteristics of untreated shrimp surimi and surimi gels induced by water-bath heating (WB) and different dense phase carbon dioxide (DPCD) treatment (L, M, and H crosslink degree) groups were studied. With the increasing crosslink, the protein digestibility increased and the average particle size decreased.

Tracing the geographical origin of Chinese green tea based on fluorescent sensor array combined with multi-way chemometrics analyses.

Fluorescent sensor arrays are becoming a hot topic in many fields because they can simultaneously detect multiple targets in complex research systems. However, most researches have only collected two-dimensional fluorescence spectral data from fluorescent sensor array interacting with target analytes. In contrast, three-dimensional fluorescence spectra can provide richer information than two-dimensional fluorescence spectra.