The Hypoglycemic and Renal Protection Properties of Crocin Oxidative Stress-Regulated NF-κB Signaling in db/db Mice.

Background: As the main ingredient of . (Iridaceae) extract, crocin- I (CR) has been reported to show various pharmacological activities. The aim of this study was to investigate the hypoglycemic and renal protection properties of CR in db/db mice.

Transcriptomic evidence that insulin signalling pathway regulates the ageing of subterranean termite castes.

Insulin is a protein hormone that controls the metabolism of sugar, fat and protein via signal transduction in cells, influencing growth and developmental processes such as reproduction and ageing. From nematodes to fruit flies, rodents and other animals, glucose signalling mechanisms are highly conserved. Reproductive termites (queens and kings) exhibit an extraordinarily long lifespan relative to non-reproductive individuals such as workers, despite being generated from the same genome, thus providing a unique model for the investigation of longevity.

JUMPm: A Tool for Large-Scale Identification of Metabolites in Untargeted Metabolomics.

Metabolomics is increasingly important for biomedical research, but large-scale metabolite identification in untargeted metabolomics is still challenging. Here, we present Jumbo Mass spectrometry-based Program of Metabolomics (JUMPm) software, a streamlined software tool for identifying potential metabolite formulas and structures in mass spectrometry. During database search, the false discovery rate is evaluated by a target-decoy strategy, where the decoys are produced by breaking the octet rule of chemistry.

Multistage CT features of coronavirus disease 2019.

Objectives: To determine imaging features of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) in different stages, and to provide foundations for early diagnosis and treatment.

Methods: CT image data of 187 COVID-19 patients were analyzed in the period of hospitalization. CT scanning was performed on admission and repeated every 3 days.

Swallow tail sign on susceptibility map-weighted imaging (SMWI) for disease diagnosing and severity evaluating in parkinsonism.

Background: Loss of swallow tail sign (STS) on iron-sensitive magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) has been recognized as an imaging feature in parkinsonism (PS).

Purpose: To investigate the diagnostic and differential diagnostic value of STS scale on susceptibility map-weighted imaging (SMWI) in PS, including Parkinson's disease (PD), progressive supranuclear palsy syndrome (PSP), and multiple system atrophy (MSA), and to evaluate its correlation with disease severity.

Material And Methods: Ninety-nine patients (55 PD, 29 PSP, and 15 MSA) and 47 healthy controls (HC) were prospectively recruited and scanned using quantitative susceptibility mapping (QSM).

Research on Color Space Perceptions and Restorative Effects of Blue Space Based on Color Psychology: Examination of the Yijie District of Dujiangyan City as an Example.

An increasing number of studies have demonstrated that blue space can promote the recovery of the human body, as does green space. However, the influence of blue space on the color space has been studied much less. Based on research on color psychology and healthy cities, the current study takes Yijie District of Dujiangyan City as the research object.

The synthesis of interface-modulated ultrathin Ni(ii) MOF/g-CN heterojunctions as efficient photocatalysts for CO reduction.

It is highly desirable to improve charge separation and to provide catalytic functions for the efficient photocatalytic CO2 reduction reaction (CO2RR) on g-C3N4 (CN). Here, dimension-matched ultrathin NiMOF/CN heterojunctions have been successfully constructed by the in situ growth of NiMOF nanosheets on hydroxylated and 1,4-aminobenzoic acid (AA) functionalized CN nanosheets, respectively, with ultrasonic assistance. The resultant NiMOF/CN heterojunctions exhibited excellent photocatalytic activities for the CO2RR to produce CO and CH4, especially NiMOF/CN-AA, which had photoactivity 18 times higher than that of bare CN.

Isolation and purification of acidic polysaccharides from Agaricus blazei Murill and evaluation of their lipid-lowering mechanism.

Polysaccharides are important active constituents of Agaricus blazei Morrill. In the present study, WABM-A was isolated from WABM using DEAE-cellulose, and subsequently purified using sepharose CL-6B to obtain the acidic polysaccharide WABM-A-b. WABM-A-b is mainly composed of Glc dextran, with a molecular weight of 10 KDa and β-1,6-D-Glcp as its main chain.

Aqueous Inflammation and Ischemia-Related Biomarkers in Neovascular Glaucoma with Stable Iris Neovascularization.

: To characterize the aqueous levels of inflammation and ischemia-related biomarkers in a spectrum of retinal ischemic conditions, including neovascular glaucoma (NVG) with stable iris neovascularization after pan retinal photocoagulation (PRP) and anti-VEGF treatment. : Aqueous samples were collected from 139 eyes including NVG (n = 12), stable NVG (n = 26), CRVO (n = 11), NPDR (n = 18), PACG (n = 18), PDR (n = 25), BRVO (n = 7) and cataract (n = 22). The levels of VEGF-A, IL-8 and EPO were measured with ELISA.

Ethyl-p-methoxycinnamate enhances oct4 expression and reinforces pluripotency through the NF-κB signaling pathway.

Pluripotent stem cells are have therapeutic applications in regenerative medicine and drug discovery. However, the differentiation of stem cells in vitro hinders their large-scale production and clinical applications. The maintenance of cell pluripotency relies on a complex network of transcription factors; of these, octamer-binding transcription factor-4 (Oct4) plays a key role.

G3BP1 Is a Tunable Switch that Triggers Phase Separation to Assemble Stress Granules.

The mechanisms underlying ribonucleoprotein (RNP) granule assembly, including the basis for establishing and maintaining RNP granules with distinct composition, are unknown. One prominent type of RNP granule is the stress granule (SG), a dynamic and reversible cytoplasmic assembly formed in eukaryotic cells in response to stress. Here, we show that SGs assemble through liquid-liquid phase separation (LLPS) arising from interactions distributed unevenly across a core protein-RNA interaction network.

Ryanodine receptor-targeting small molecule fluorescent probes enables non-isotopic labeling and efficient drug screening for green insecticides.

Ryanodine receptors (RyRs) are calcium release channels located on endoplasmic reticulum (ER) membrane, which play important role in excitation-contraction coupling in muscular response. Flubendiamide represents a novel chemical family of green insecticides which selectively activate invertebrate RyR by interacting with the receptor distinct from the ryanodine binding site and has almost no effect on mammalian ryanodine receptors. Traditional methods to screen RyR modulators involve either radio-labeled RyR substrates or calcium signal-based indirect approaches.

Evaluation of the Optimal Position for Vedolizumab in the Japanese Treatment Paradigm for Ulcerative Colitis Using Markov Modeling.

Background: This analysis assessed the optimal position of vedolizumab for Japanese patients with ulcerative colitis.

Methods: A Markov model was used to evaluate the performance of 4 treatment algorithms of vedolizumab position: after azathioprine (Algorithm 1); after tacrolimus/cytapheresis (Algorithm 2); after a first anti-tumor necrosis factor alpha (anti-TNFα) (Algorithm 3); and after a second anti-TNFα before colectomy (Algorithm 4).

Results: Algorithm 1 was the dominant strategy, with an incremental benefit over the other algorithms of 0.

Nomogram for Individualized Prediction of Hepatocellular Carcinoma with Portal Vein Tumor Thrombosis on Conservative Treatment.

Background: Portal vein tumor thrombosis (PVTT) is one of the major predictive factors for patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). The objective of this study was to establish a prognostic nomogram for identifying individual survival outcomes in patients with HCC and PVTT on conservative treatment based on specific factors.

Methods: Two hundred and ten patients with HCC and PVTT on conservative treatment in Beijing Ditan Hospital between June 2008 and May 2017 were studied retrospectively as a derivation cohort.

Investigation of stress wave and damage morphology growth generated by laser-induced damage on rear surface of fused silica.

In this study, stress wave and damage morphology on the rear surface of silica during laser induced damage with cumulative UV pump shots is investigated. Time resolved imaging system, along with stress induced birefringence detecting, is used to demonstrate the development of stress wave. The properties of three types of stress waves, namely, compressive wave (P-wave), shear wave (S-wave), and Rayleigh wave (R-wave) are recorded and studied during the damage process.

Advanced lung adenocarcinoma with coexistent HER2 mutation and amplification and response to afatinib: a case report.

Human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2) mutation and amplification are distinct molecular targets in lung cancer, but the specific targeted therapy for their coexistence is undetermined. Personalized targeted therapy is based on mutation type, with different mutations requiring different treatment. A 64-year-old Chinese woman was diagnosed with advanced lung adenocarcinoma.

A microfluidic electrochemical flow cell capable of rapid on-chip dilution for fast-scan cyclic voltammetry electrode calibration.

Here, we developed a microfluidic electrochemical flow cell for fast-scan cyclic voltammetry which is capable of rapid on-chip dilution for efficient and cost-effective electrode calibration. Fast-scan cyclic voltammetry (FSCV) at carbon-fiber microelectrodes is a robust electroanalytical technique used to measure subsecond changes in neurotransmitter concentration over time. Traditional methods of electrode calibration for FSCV require several milliliters of a standard.

Hypericin attenuates nonalcoholic fatty liver disease and abnormal lipid metabolism via the PKA-mediated AMPK signaling pathway in vitro and in vivo.

Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is the most common liver disease worldwide and constitutes a major risk factor for progression to cirrhosis, liver failure and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). The occurrence of NAFLD is closely associated with abnormal lipid metabolism and implies a high risk of type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease. Therefore, specific and effective drugs for the prevention and treatment of NAFLD are necessary.

Deep Multilayer Brain Proteomics Identifies Molecular Networks in Alzheimer's Disease Progression.

Alzheimer's disease (AD) displays a long asymptomatic stage before dementia. We characterize AD stage-associated molecular networks by profiling 14,513 proteins and 34,173 phosphosites in the human brain with mass spectrometry, highlighting 173 protein changes in 17 pathways. The altered proteins are validated in two independent cohorts, showing partial RNA dependency.

Inhibition of TGF-β Signaling in Gliomas by the Flavonoid Diosmetin Isolated from L.

L, a traditional Kazakh medicine, has good expectorant, anti-cough, and to some degree, anti-asthmatic effects. Diosmetin (3',5,7-trihydroxy-4'-methoxyflavone), a natural flavonoid found in traditional Chinese herbs, is the main flavonoid in L. and has been used in various medicinal products because of its anticancer, antimicrobial, antioxidant, estrogenic, and anti-inflammatory effects.

Enhanced expression of β cell Ca3.1 channels impairs insulin release and glucose homeostasis.

Voltage-gated calcium 3.1 (Ca3.1) channels are absent in healthy mouse β cells and mediate minor T-type Ca currents in healthy rat and human β cells but become evident under diabetic conditions.

IgGs from patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis and diabetes target Caαδ1 subunits impairing islet cell function and survival.

Patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) often show hallmarks of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). However, the causal link between ALS and T2DM has remained a mystery. We now demonstrate that 60% of ALS patients with T2DM (ALS-T2DM) have sera that exaggerated K-induced increases in cytosolic free Ca concentration ([Ca]) in mouse islet cells.

Plasma-treated carbon-fiber microelectrodes for improved purine detection with fast-scan cyclic voltammetry.

Here, we developed N2 and O2 plasma-treated carbon-fiber microelectrodes (CFME) for improved purine detection with fast-scan cyclic voltammetry (FSCV). Plasma treatment affects the topology and functionality of carbon which impacts the electrode-analyte interaction. CFME's are less sensitive to purines compared to catecholamines.

Biochar phosphorus fertilizer effects on soil phosphorus availability.

Biochar is a potential material for making slow-releasing phosphorus (P) fertilizers for the sake of increasing soil P use efficiency and mitigating P losses. However, the long-term effects of P-laden biochars on soil P availability remains unconcerned. In this study, a laboratory-scale 70-days soil incubation experiment was conducted to study the effects of original and P-laden biochars on soil P availability and fractions.

Ag@TiO Nanoprisms with Highly Efficient Near-Infrared Photothermal Conversion for Melanoma Therapy.

Melanoma is a primary reason of death from skin cancer and associated with high lethality. Photothermal therapy (PTT) has been developed into a powerful cancer treatment technique in recent years. Here, we created a low-cost and high-performance PTT agent, Ag@TiO NPs, which possesses a high photothermal conversion efficiency of ≈65 % and strong near-infrared (NIR) absorption about 808 nm.