Spontaneous oscillation in collective microswimmers: Insights from a chiral self-propelled rod model.

Active systems exhibit fascinating self-organized structures and rich motility patterns, yet the underlying mechanisms governing their emergence and characteristics remain elusive. Here, we develop a chiral self-propelled rod (CSPR) model with mechanical contact-induced quorum sensing to investigate the spatiotemporal dynamics of dense bacteria populations. Our findings show that the CSPR model showcases spontaneous nonequilibrium oscillatory clustering of active systems.

Host lipid metabolism influences the variation in resistance of Pekin ducks to duck hepatitis A virus genotype 3.

Duck viral hepatitis (DVH) is a common and serious acute infectious disease that has a significantly impact on the duck farming industry. Duck hepatitis A virus type 3 (DHAV-3) is the major causative agent of DVH in East Asia. Host factor indicators of resistance to DHAV-3 in Pekin ducks were investigated using resistant (Z7R) and susceptible (Z7S) duck lines.

Chenodeoxycholic acid fortified diet drives ovarian steroidogenesis to improve embryo implantation through enhancing uterine receptivity via progesterone receptor signaling pathway in rats.

Infertility is a worldwide reproductive health problem influenced by the embryo implantation efficiency. We previously revealed that dietary chenodeoxycholic acid (CDCA) positively influence the early embryo implantation. But how CDCA regulate embryo implantation is largely unexplored.

Deciphering the complex mechanics of atherosclerotic plaques: A hybrid hierarchical theory-microrheology approach.

Understanding the viscoelastic properties of atherosclerotic plaques at rupture-prone scales is crucial for assessing their vulnerability. Here, we develop a Hybrid Hierarchical theory-Microrheology (HHM) approach, enabling the analysis of multiscale mechanical variations and distribution changes in regional tissue viscoelasticity within plaques across different spatial scales. We disclose a universal two-stage power-law rheology in plaques, characterized by distinct power-law exponents (α and α), which serve as mechanical indexes for plaque components and assessing mechanical gradients.

Scaling-law mechanical marker for liver fibrosis diagnosis and drug screening through machine learning.

Studies of cell and tissue mechanics have shown that significant changes in cell and tissue mechanics during lesions and cancers are observed, which provides new mechanical markers for disease diagnosis based on machine learning. However, due to the lack of effective mechanic markers, only elastic modulus and iconographic features are currently used as markers, which greatly limits the application of cell and tissue mechanics in disease diagnosis. Here, we develop a liver pathological state classifier through a support vector machine method, based on high dimensional viscoelastic mechanical data.

Heterogeneous stiffness of the bone marrow microenvironment regulates the fate decision of haematopoietic stem and progenitor cells.

The bone marrow (BM) niches are the complex microenvironments that surround cells, providing various external stimuli to regulate a range of haematopoietic stem cell (HSC) behaviours. Recently, it has been proposed that the fate decision of HSCs is often correlated with significantly altered biophysical signals of BM niches. To thoroughly elucidate the effect of mechanical microenvironments on cell fates, we constructed 2D and 3D cell culture hydrogels using polyacrylamide to replicate the mechanical properties of heterogeneous sub-niches, including the inherent rigidity of marrow adipose tissue (2 kPa), perivascular tissue (8 kPa) and endosteum region (35 kPa) in BM.

Enhancing liver fibrosis diagnosis and treatment assessment: a novel biomechanical markers-based machine learning approach.

Accurate diagnosis and treatment assessment of liver fibrosis face significant challenges, including inherent limitations in current techniques like sampling errors and inter-observer variability. Addressing this, our study introduces a novel machine learning (ML) framework, which integrates light gradient boosting machine and multivariate imputation by chained equations to enhance liver status assessment using biomechanical markers. Building upon our previously established multiscale mechanical characteristics in fibrotic and treated livers, this framework employs Gaussian Bayesian optimization for post-imputation, significantly improving classification performance.

Mechanical guidance to self-organization and pattern formation of stem cells.

The self-organization of stem cells (SCs) constitutes the fundamental basis of the development of biological organs and structures. SC-driven patterns are essential for tissue engineering, yet unguided SCs tend to form chaotic patterns, impeding progress in biomedical engineering. Here, we show that simple geometric constraints can be used as an effective mechanical modulation approach that promotes the development of controlled self-organization and pattern formation of SCs.

Maternal Malic Acid May Ameliorate Oxidative Stress and Inflammation in Sows through Modulating Gut Microbiota and Host Metabolic Profiles during Late Pregnancy.

Sows suffer oxidative stress and inflammation induced by metabolic burden during late pregnancy, which negatively regulates reproductive and lactating performances. We previously found that L-malic acid (MA) alleviated oxidative stress and inflammation and improved reproductive performances in sows. However, the mechanism underlying the MA's positive effects remains unexplored.

Predictive Value of Machine Learning for Platinum Chemotherapy Responses in Ovarian Cancer: Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Background: Machine learning is a potentially effective method for predicting the response to platinum-based treatment for ovarian cancer. However, the predictive performance of various machine learning methods and variables is still a matter of controversy and debate.

Objective: This study aims to systematically review relevant literature on the predictive value of machine learning for platinum-based chemotherapy responses in patients with ovarian cancer.

Viscoelastic Multiscale Mechanical Indexes for Assessing Liver Fibrosis and Treatment Outcomes.

Understanding liver tissue mechanics, particularly in the context of liver pathologies like fibrosis, cirrhosis, and carcinoma, holds pivotal significance for assessing disease severity and prognosis. Although the static mechanical properties of livers have been gradually studied, the intricacies of their dynamic mechanics remain enigmatic. Here, we characterize the dynamic creep responses of healthy, fibrotic, and mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs)-treated fibrotic lives.

New Mechanical Markers for Tracking the Progression of Myocardial Infarction.

The mechanical properties of soft tissues can often be strongly correlated with the progression of various diseases, such as myocardial infarction (MI). However, the dynamic mechanical properties of cardiac tissues during MI progression remain poorly understood. Herein, we investigate the rheological responses of cardiac tissues at different stages of MI (i.

Bioactive Spinal Cord Scaffold Releasing Neurotrophic Exosomes to Promote Centralis Neuroplasticity.

Spinal cord injury (SCI), one of the most serious injuries of the central nervous system, causes physical functional dysfunction and even paralysis in millions of patients. As a matter of necessity, redressing the neuroleptic pathologic microenvironment to a neurotrophic microenvironment is essential in order to alleviate this dilemma and facilitate the recovery of the spinal cord. Herein, based on cell-sheet technology, two functional cell types─uninduced and neural-induced stem cells from human exfoliated deciduous teeth─were formed into a composite membrane that subsequently self-assembled to form a bioactive scaffold with a spinal-cord-like structure, called a spinal cord assembly (SCA).

for the treatment of malignant tumors of the female reproductive system: A review of traditional Chinese medicinal uses, phytochemistry, pharmacokinetics, and pharmacodynamics.

is an important food product and traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) derived from the dried and mature seeds of var. (Roman.) Stapf.

Temporal changes in cyclinD-CDK4/CDK6 and cyclinE-CDK2 pathways: implications for the mechanism of deficient decidualization in an immune-based mouse model of unexplained recurrent spontaneous abortion.

Background: Deficient endometrial decidualization has been associated with URSA. However, the underlying mechanism is poorly understood. This study aimed to investigate the temporal cytokine changes and the involvement of CyclinD-CDK4/6 and CyclinE-CDK2 pathways in the regulation of the G1 phase of the cell cycle during decidualization in a murine model of URSA.

Bushen Jieyu Tiaochong Formula reduces apoptosis of granulosa cells via the PERK-ATF4-CHOP signaling pathway in a rat model of polycystic ovary syndrome with chronic stress.

Ethnopharmacological Relevance: Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a common and complex endocrine disorder that is also an important cause of infertility. Adverse psychological stress can aggravate the occurrence and development of PCOS. Bushen Jieyu Tiaochong Formula (BJTF), a prescription of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), has been used in the treatment of PCOS and shown to be effective in reducing negative emotion.

A Tumor-Targeting Metal-Organic Nanoparticle Constructed by Dynamic Combinatorial Chemistry toward Accurately Redressing Carcinogenic Wnt Cascade.

Targeted and immunological therapy have revolutionized the malignancy treatment, but is suffering from the dose-limiting side effects and inadequate responsiveness. The emerging nanoscale infinite coordination polymers provide a feasible strategy for tumor targeting and immune sensitization. Herein, a "one-pot" self-assembled strategy based on dynamic combinatorial chemistry (DCC) principle is designed to construct a tumor-targeting metal-organic nanoparticle (MOICP) through a spontaneous co-assembling among three metal-organic coordination polymers tuned by a Wnt-inhibitor carnosic acid (CA).

Genetic aetiology of primary adrenal insufficiency in Chinese children.

Background: Primary adrenal insufficiency (PAI) is life-threatening, and a definitive aetiological diagnosis is essential for management and prognostication. We conducted this study to investigate the genetic aetiologies of PAI in South China and explore their clinical features.

Methods: Seventy children were enrolled in this cross-sectional study.

Mesenchymal Stem Cells in Preclinical Infertility Cytotherapy: A Retrospective Review.

Infertility is a global reproductive disorder which is caused by a variety of complex diseases. Infertility affects the individual, family, and community through physical, psychological, social and economic consequences. The results from recent preclinical studies regarding stem cell-based therapies are promising.

[Effect of electroacupuncture combined with pill on sex hormone and Th2 cytokines in patients of decreased ovarian reserve function with liver-kidney deficiency].

Objective: To observe the effect of electroacupuncture (EA) combined with pill on clinical symptoms, levels of serum sex hormone and Th2 cytokines in patients of decreased ovarian reserve function (DOR) with liver-kidney deficiency, and to compare the efficacy between EA combined with pill and pill alone.

Methods: Sixty patients with DOR were randomly divided into an observation group (30 cases, 2 cases dropped off) and a control group (30 cases, 1 case dropped off). The patients in the control group were treated with pill, 1 pill each time, 3 times a day.

Long non-coding RNA MINCR aggravates colon cancer via regulating miR-708-5p-mediated Wnt/β-catenin pathway.

Background: Increasing evidence has found that the dysregulation of long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) may be important indicators in tumorigenesis. MYC-induced long non-coding RNA (MINCR) has been found to be related with some cancers, such as non-small cell lung cancer and gallbladder cancer. Besides, MINCR has potentially prognostic value for colon cancer (CC) patients' prognosis, yet its function and molecular mechanism in CC are not explored.

GDF5 Promotes White Adipose Tissue Thermogenesis via p38 MAPK Signaling Pathway.

Growth differentiation factor 5 (GDF5) was reported to regulate brown adipogenesis; however, its effects on insulin sensitivity, full metabolic syndrome spectrum, and the thermogenesis in subcutaneous white adipose tissue (sWAT) have not been elucidated yet. We thus generated fatty acid-binding protein 4 (Fabp4)-GDF5 transgenic (TG) mice and showed that GDF5 TG mice developed a relative lean phenotype on a high-fat diet (HFD) and showed increased insulin sensitivity. Over expression of GDF5 in adipose tissues greatly promoted the thermogenic process in sWAT after cold or β3-agonist treatment.

AFM Characterization of the Internal Mammary Artery as a Novel Target for Arterial Stiffening.

Using the atomic force microscopy- (AFM-) PeakForce quantitative nanomechanical mapping (QNM) technique, we have previously shown that the adventitia of the human internal mammary artery (IMA), tested under dehydrated conditions, is altered in patients with a high degree of arterial stiffening. In this study, we explored the nanoscale elastic modulus of the tunica media of the IMA in hydrated and dehydrated conditions from the patients with low and high arterial stiffening, as assessed by carotid-femoral pulse wave velocity (PWV). In both hydrated and dehydrated conditions, the medial layer was significantly stiffer in the high PWV group.