Liver Function Biomarkers and Lung Cancer Risk: A Prospective Cohort Study in the UK Biobank.

Background: As the primary organ of metabolism and detoxification, the liver may contribute to the pathogenesis of lung cancer. We aimed to illuminate the intricate link between liver function biomarkers and lung cancer risk, as well as delineate the role of smoking behavior within this association.

Methods: We investigated the associations of seven liver function biomarkers levels (alkaline phosphatase [ALP], alanine transaminase [ALT], total bilirubin [TBIL], albumin [ALB], gamma-glutamyltransferase [GGT], aspartate transaminase [AST], and total protein [TP]) with lung cancer risk across the UK Biobank (N = 337 499) through restricted cubic splines and Cox proportional hazards models.

Natural potential difference induced functional optimization mechanism for Zn-based multimetal bone implants.

Zn-based biodegradable metals (BMs) are regarded as revolutionary biomaterials for bone implants. However, their clinical application is limited by insufficient mechanical properties, delayed degradation, and overdose-induced Zn toxicity. Herein, innovative multi-material additive manufacturing (MMAM) is deployed to construct a Zn/titanium (Ti) hetero-structured composite.

Temperature-responsive regulation of the polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon-degrading mesophilic bacterium US6-1 with a temperature adaptation system.

Survivability and tolerance of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH)-degrading bacteria in harsh environments, especially under varying temperatures, are a bottleneck for the effective application of bioremediation. In this study, a temperature adaptation system (TAS) was constructed by combining a customized thermotolerant system with a customized cold-resistant system to realize the temperature-responsive regulation of the PAH-degrading mesophilic bacterium s US6-1. The innovative dual-pronged TAS strategy enabled the chassis strain to effectively tackle conditions under varying temperatures, ensuring robust biological activities across a broadened temperature spectrum and exhibiting the potential to realize the high-efficiency PAH degradation of US6-1 in bioremediation.

Understanding the complex macrophage landscape in MASLD.

Metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) represents a spectrum of disease states ranging from simple steatosis to metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis (MASH), which can eventually lead to the development of cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma. Macrophages have long been implicated in driving the progression from steatosis to end-stage disease, yet we still know relatively little about the precise involvement of these cells in MASLD progression and/or regression. Rather, there are a considerable number of conflicting reports regarding the precise roles of these cells.

Andrographolide sensitizes glioma to temozolomide by inhibiting DKK1 expression.

Background: Temozolomide (TMZ) is the first-line chemotherapeutic drug for gliomas treatment. However, the clinical efficacy of TMZ in glioma patients was very limited. Therefore, it is urgently needed to discover a novel approach to increase the sensitivity of glioma cells to TMZ.

The natural sesquiterpene lactone inulicin suppresses the production of pro-inflammatory mediators via inhibiting NF-κB and AP-1 pathways in LPS-activated macrophages.

Objective: Inulicin is a sesquiterpene lactone in Inulae Flos which is clinically used for the treatment of inflammatory diseases, such as cough, sputum production, and vomiting. This study aimed to demonstrate the anti-inflammatory activity and the underlying mechanism of inulicin by using lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced and models.

Methods: LPS-stimulated RAW264.

Retrotransposon-mediated disruption of a chitin synthase gene confers insect resistance to Bacillus thuringiensis Vip3Aa toxin.

The vegetative insecticidal protein Vip3Aa from Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) has been produced by transgenic crops to counter pest resistance to the widely used crystalline (Cry) insecticidal proteins from Bt. To proactively manage pest resistance, there is an urgent need to better understand the genetic basis of resistance to Vip3Aa, which has been largely unknown. We discovered that retrotransposon-mediated alternative splicing of a midgut-specific chitin synthase gene was associated with 5,560-fold resistance to Vip3Aa in a laboratory-selected strain of the fall armyworm, a globally important crop pest.

Effects of crayfish shell powder and bamboo-derived biochar on nitrogen conversion, bacterial community and nitrogen functional genes during pig manure composting.

This study investigated the effects of crayfish shell powder (CSP) and bamboo-derived biochar (BDB) on nitrogen metabolism, bacterial community and nitrogen functional genes during pig manure composting. Four treatments were established: CP (with no additives), TP1 (5 % BDB), TP2 (5 % CSP) and TP3 (2.5 % BDB + 2.

Effects of and on the Gut Microbiota and Serum Metabolites of Mice with Antibiotic-Associated Diarrhea.

Antibiotic-associated diarrhea (AAD) refers to diarrhea caused by gut microbiota disorders after the use of antibiotics, which seriously threatens the health of humans and animals. Therefore, it is necessary to find an effective therapy to treat AAD. This research aimed to explore the effects of H-6 ( H-6) and J-1 () on alleviating antibiotic-associated diarrhea induced by lincomycin hydrochloride (LH) in mice.

Statin-induced Mitochondrial Priming Sensitizes Multiple Myeloma Cells to BCL2 and MCL-1 Inhibitors.

Unlabelled: The BCL2 inhibitor venetoclax promotes apoptosis in blood cancer cells and is approved for treatment of chronic lymphocytic leukemia and acute myeloid leukemia. However, multiple myeloma cells are frequently more dependent on MCL-1 for survival, conferring resistance to venetoclax. Here we report that mevalonate pathway inhibition with statins can overcome resistance to venetoclax in multiple myeloma cell lines and primary cells.

Studying Macrophages in the Murine Steatotic Liver Using Flow Cytometry and Confocal Microscopy.

The study of macrophage functions in the context of metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) and metabolic dysfunction associated steatohepatitis (MASH) has been hampered by the fact that until recently all macrophages in the liver were thought to be Kupffer cells, the resident macrophages of the liver. With the advent of single-cell technologies, it is now clear that the steatotic liver harbors many distinct populations of macrophages, likely each with their own unique functions as well as subsets of monocytes and dendritic cells which can be difficult to discriminate from one another. Here, we detail the protocols we utilize to (i) induce MASLD/MASH in mice, (ii) isolate cells from the steatotic liver, and (iii) describe reliable gating strategies, which can be used to identify the different subsets of myeloid cells.

Farnesoid X receptor represses human sulfotransferase 1A3 expression through direct binding to the promoter.

Human sulfotransferases 1A3 (SULT1A3) has received particular interest, due to their functions of catalyzing the sulfonation of numerous phenolic substrates, including bioactive endogenous molecules and therapeutic agents. However, the regulation of SULT1A3 expression and the underlying mechanism remain unclear. Here, we aimed to investigate the regulation effects of bile acid-activated farnesoid X receptor (FXR) on SULT1A3 expression, and to shed light on the mechanism thereof.

RUFY3 regulates endolysosomes perinuclear positioning, antigen presentation and migration in activated phagocytes.

Endo-lysosomes transport along microtubules and clustering in the perinuclear area are two necessary steps for microbes to activate specialized phagocyte functions. We report that RUN and FYVE domain-containing protein 3 (RUFY3) exists as two alternative isoforms distinguishable by the presence of a C-terminal FYVE domain and by their affinity for phosphatidylinositol 3-phosphate on endosomal membranes. The FYVE domain-bearing isoform (iRUFY3) is preferentially expressed in primary immune cells and up-regulated upon activation by microbes and Interferons.

Hesperetin attenuates cognitive dysfunction via SIRT6/NLRP3 pathway in scopolamine-induced mice.

Neuroinflammation is a critical feature in the pathogenesis of neurodegenerative disorders such as Alzheimer's disease (AD). Hesperetin can exert anti-inflammatory, antioxidant and other neuroprotective effects. In this study, the scopolamine (SCOP)-induced cognitive dysfunction in mice model was used to evaluate the neuroprotective effects of hesperetin.

Impacts of adding FeSO and biochar on nitrogen loss, bacterial community and related functional genes during cattle manure composting.

This study investigated the impacts of adding FeSO and biochar to cattle manure and rice straw composts on functional genes controlling nitrogen loss, bacterial community, nitrification, and denitrification. Four treatments were established, including a control group (CP), and CP mixtures that included 4% biochar (TG1), 4% FeSO (TG2), or 2% FeSO and 2% biochar (TG3). Compared to CP, TG1-3 had a lower total nitrogen loss rate, and TG3 resulted in reduced NH (52.

Bupleurum chinense exerts a mild antipyretic effect on LPS-induced pyrexia rats involving inhibition of peripheral TNF-α production.

Ethnopharmacological Relevance: Bupleuri Radix, the dried roots of Bupleurum chinense DC. (BC) or Bupleurum scorzonerifolium Willd., is one of the most frequently used traditional Chinese medicines.