Small mammals and associated infections in China: a systematic review and spatial modelling analysis.

Background: As natural reservoirs of diverse pathogens, small mammals are considered a key interface for guarding public health due to their wide geographic distribution, high density and frequent interaction with humans.

Methods: All formally recorded natural occurrences of small mammals (Order: Rodentia, Eulipotyphla, Lagomorpha, and Scandentia) and their associated microbial infections in China were searched in the English and Chinese literature spanning from 1950 to 2021 and geolocated. Machine learning models were applied to determine ecological drivers for the distributions of 45 major small mammal species and two common rodent-borne diseases (RBDs), and model-predicted potential risk locations were mapped.

Making waves: Harnessing anammox bacteria coupled with dissimilatory nitrate reduction to ammonium for sustainable wastewater management.

Anaerobic ammonia oxidation (anammox) which converts nitrite and ammonium to dinitrogen gas is an energy-efficient nitrogen removal process. One of the bottlenecks for anammox application in wastewater treatment is the stable supply of nitrite for anammox bacteria. Dissimilatory nitrate reduction to ammonium (DNRA) is a process that converts nitrate to nitrite and then to ammonium.

Identification of novel ferroptosis-related biomarkers associated with the oxidative stress pathways in ischemic cardiomyopathy.

Background: Ferroptosis is a cell death process that depends on iron and reactive oxygen species. It significantly contributes to cardiovascular diseases. However, its exact role in ischemic cardiomyopathy (ICM) is still unclear.

Baseline fibroblast growth factor 23 predicts incident heart failure and cardiovascular mortality in patients with chronic kidney disease: A 3-year follow-up study.

Background: Heart failure (HF) is a significant cause of death among patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD). Emerging data suggest a crucial role of fibroblast growth factor 23 (FGF23) in the pathogenesis of HF in CKD patients. The present study aimed to investigate whether the serum intact FGF23 (iFGF23) level is elevated when ejection fraction (EF) is preserved and to evaluate its predictive value for incident HF and cardiac mortality in CKD patients with preserved EF.

Dietary patterns and cardiovascular diseases among Chinese high-risk population aged 35 years and older: A 6-year cohort study.

This study aims to investigate the dietary patterns of Chinese individuals aged 35 years and older who are at high risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD) and to explore the correlation between these dietary patterns and the risk of CVD. A total of 28,747 high-risk participants in China PEACE in Zhejiang Province from 2014 to 2019 were included in the analysis Dietary data were obtained using the Food Frequency Questionnaire, and dietary patterns were extracted through factor analysis. Cox regression was used to examine the relationship between the dietary patterns and CVD risk in the high-risk groups.

A pectic polysaccharide from Murray alleviates dextran sulfate sodium-induced colitis in mice.

Inflammatory bowel disorders (IBD) can lead to severe complications like perforation, bleeding, and colon cancer, posing life-threatening risks. Murray ( Murr.), rich in polysaccharides, has been utilized in traditional diets for thousands of years.

Electrocatalytic CO Reduction in Acids: A Groundbreaking Approach to Converting CO into Fuels and Feedstocks.

The electrocatalytic carbon dioxide reduction reaction (CORR) at industrial-level current densities provides a sustainable approach to converting CO into value-added fuels and feedstocks using renewable electricity. However, the CORR conducted typically in alkaline and neutral electrolytes encounters some challenges due to the inevitable reaction between CO and OH ions, which undermines CO utilization and leads to poor operational stability. Acidic media present a viable alternative by reducing (bi)carbonate production, thereby enhancing the carbon efficiency and stability in CORR.

Advances in Nanoengineered Terahertz Technology: Generation, Modulation, and Bio-Applications.

Recent advancements in nanotechnology have revolutionized terahertz (THz) technology. By enabling the creation of compact, efficient devices through nanoscale structures, such as nano-thick heterostructures, metasurfaces, and hybrid systems, these innovations offer unprecedented control over THz wave generation and modulation. This has led to substantial enhancements in THz spectroscopy, imaging, and especially bio-applications, providing higher resolution and sensitivity.

The whole-genome dissection of root system architecture provides new insights for the genetic improvement of alfalfa ( L.).

Appropriate root system architecture (RSA) can improve alfalfa yield, yet its genetic basis remains largely unexplored. This study evaluated six RSA traits in 171 alfalfa genotypes grown under controlled greenhouse conditions. We also analyzed five yield-related traits in normal and drought stress environments and found a significant correlation (0.

Remimazolam Suppresses Oxidative Stress and Apoptosis in Cerebral Ischemia/Reperfusion Injury by Regulating AKT/GSK-3β/NRF2 Pathway.

Introduction: The mechanism of remimazolam, a benzodiazepine that activates γ-aminobutyric acid a (GABAa) receptors, in cerebral ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) injury is not well understood. Therefore, we explored whether remimazolam activates protein kinase B (AKT)/glycogen synthase kinase-3β (GSK-3β)/nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (NRF2) to attenuate brain I/R injury in transcerebral I/R-injured rats and transoxygenic glucose deprivation/reperfusion (OGD/R)-injured SY5Y cells.

Material And Methods: Remimazolam was added at the beginning of cell and rat reperfusion, and the PI3K/AKT inhibitor LY294002 was added to inhibit the AKT/GSK-3β/NRF2 pathway 24 h before cellular OGD/R treatment and 30 min before rat brain I/R treatment.

Identification of Lauric Acid as a Potent Sodium Channel Na1.5 Blocker from Compound Chinese Medicine Wenxin Keli.

Purpose: The major cardiac voltage-gated sodium channel Na1.5 (I) is essential for cardiac action potential initiation and subsequent propagation. Compound Chinese medicine Wenxin Keli (WXKL) has been shown to suppress arrhythmias and heart failure.

Effect of Dexmedetomidine on the ED and ED of Sufentanil in Patient-Controlled Intravenous Analgesia After Cesarean Section: A Randomized, Controlled, Double-Blind Trial.

Purpose: To determine the effect of dexmedetomidine on the ED and ED of sufentanil in patient-controlled intravenous analgesia (PCIA) after cesarean section.

Patients And Methods: Parturients who underwent elective cesarean section (n = 80) were randomly assigned to either the sufentanil group (S group) or the dexmedetomidine-sufentanil combination group (DS group). Patients in the S group received a combination of sufentanil, 5 mg of tropisetron, and saline, whereas patients in the DS group were administered 1.

Spinal astrocyte-derived interleukin-17A promotes pain hypersensitivity in bone cancer mice.

Spinal microglia and astrocytes are both involved in neuropathic and inflammatory pain, which may display sexual dimorphism. Here, we demonstrate that the sustained activation of spinal astrocytes and astrocyte-derived interleukin (IL)-17A promotes the progression of mouse bone cancer pain without sex differences. Chemogenetic or pharmacological inhibition of spinal astrocytes effectively ameliorates bone cancer-induced pain-like behaviors.

Emerging interleukin-1 receptor-associated kinase 4 (IRAK4) inhibitors or degraders as therapeutic agents for autoimmune diseases and cancer.

Interleukin-1 receptor-related kinase (IRAK4) is a widely expressed serine/threonine kinase involved in the regulation of innate immunity. IRAK4 plays a pivotal role as a key kinase within the downstream signaling pathway cascades of interleukin-1 receptors (IL-1R) and Toll-like receptors (TLRs). The signaling pathways orchestrated by IRAK4 are integral to inflammatory responses, and its overexpression is implicated in the pathogenesis of inflammatory diseases, autoimmune disorders, and cancer.

Thio-ProTide strategy: A novel HS donor-drug conjugate (DDC) alleviates hepatic injury innate lysosomal targeting.

Hydrogen sulfide (HS) is a gas signaling molecule with versatile bioactivities; however, its exploitation for disease treatment appears challenging. This study describes the design and characterization of a novel type of HS donor-drug conjugate (DDC) based on the thio-ProTide scaffold, an evolution of the ProTide strategy successfully used in drug discovery. The new HS DDCs achieved hepatic co-delivery of HS and an anti-fibrotic drug candidate named hydronidone, which synergistically attenuated liver injury and resulted in more sufficient intracellular drug exposure.

Avenanthramide A potentiates Bim-mediated antineoplastic properties of 5-fluorouracil targeting KDM4C//GSK-3 negative feedback loop in colorectal cancer.

Chemoresistance to 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) is a significant challenge in treating colorectal cancer (CRC). Novel combined regimens to thwart chemoresistance are therefore urgently needed. Herein, we demonstrated that the combination of Avenanthramide A (AVN A) and 5-FU has significant therapeutic advantages against CRC.

Intestinal epithelial cell NCoR deficiency ameliorates obesity and metabolic syndrome.

Nuclear receptor corepressor (NCoR1) interacts with various nuclear receptors and regulates the anabolism and catabolism of lipids. An imbalance in lipid/energy homeostasis is also an important factor in obesity and metabolic syndrome development. In this study, we found that the deletion of NCoR1 in intestinal epithelial cells (IECs) mainly activated the nuclear receptor PPAR and attenuated metabolic syndrome by stimulating thermogenesis.

DNMT3A loss drives a HIF-1-dependent synthetic lethality to HDAC6 inhibition in non-small cell lung cancer.

encodes a DNA methyltransferase involved in development, cell differentiation, and gene transcription, which is mutated and aberrant-expressed in cancers. Here, we revealed that loss of promotes malignant phenotypes in lung cancer. Based on the epigenetic inhibitor library synthetic lethal screening, we found that small-molecule HDAC6 inhibitors selectively killed -defective NSCLC cells.

Discovery of a potent PROTAC degrader for RNA demethylase FTO as antileukemic therapy.

The fat mass and obesity-associated protein (FTO) is an RNA demethylase required for catalytic demethylation of -methyladenosine (mA); it is highly expressed and functions as an oncogene in acute myeloid leukemia (AML). Currently, the overarching objective of targeting FTO is to precisely inhibit the catalytic activity. Meanwhile, whether FTO degradation also exerts antileukemic effects remains unknown.

Microneedles as transdermal drug delivery system for enhancing skin disease treatment.

Microneedles (MNs) serve as a revolutionary paradigm in transdermal drug delivery, heralding a viable resolution to the formidable barriers presented by the cutaneous interface. This review examines MNs as an advanced approach to enhancing dermatological pathology management. It explores the complex dermis structure and highlights the limitations of traditional transdermal methods, emphasizing MNs' advantage in bypassing the stratum corneum to deliver drugs directly to the subdermal matrix.

Respiratory delivered vaccines: Current status and perspectives in rational formulation design.

The respiratory tract is susceptible to various infections and can be affected by many serious diseases. Vaccination is one of the most promising ways that prevent infectious diseases and treatment of some diseases such as malignancy. Direct delivery of vaccines to the respiratory tract could mimic the natural process of infection and shorten the delivery path, therefore unique mucosal immunity at the first line might be induced and the efficiency of delivery can be high.

Discovery of a novel exceptionally potent and orally active Nur77 ligand NB1 with a distinct binding mode for cancer therapy.

The orphan nuclear receptor Nur77 is emerging as an attractive target for cancer therapy, and activating Nur77's non-genotypic anticancer function has demonstrated strong therapeutic potential. However, few Nur77 site B ligands have been identified as excellent anticancer compounds. There are no co-crystal structures of effective anticancer agents at Nur77 site B, which greatly limits the development of novel Nur77 site B ligands.

Development of a bacteria-nanosapper for the active delivery of ZIF-8 particles containing therapeutic genes for cancer immune therapy.

Specific tumor-targeted gene delivery remains an unsolved therapeutic issue due to aberrant vascularization in tumor microenvironment (TME). Some bacteria exhibit spontaneous chemotaxis toward the anaerobic and immune-suppressive TME, which makes them ideal natural vehicles for cancer gene therapy. Here, we conjugated ZIF-8 metal-organic frameworks encapsulating eukaryotic murine interleukin 2 () expression plasmid onto the surface of VNP20009, an attenuated strain with well-documented anti-cancer activity, and constructed a TME-targeted delivery system named /ZIF-8@.

Nanoengineered mitochondria enable ocular mitochondrial disease therapy the replacement of dysfunctional mitochondria.

Leber's hereditary optic neuropathy (LHON) is an ocular mitochondrial disease that involves the impairment of mitochondrial complex I, which is an important contributor to blindness among young adults across the globe. However, the disorder has no available cures, since the approved drug idebenone for LHON in Europe relies on bypassing complex I defects rather than fixing them. Herein, mRNA-loaded nanoparticle (mNP)-engineered mitochondria (mNP-Mito) were designed to replace dysfunctional mitochondria with the delivery of exogenous mitochondria, normalizing the function of complex I for treating LHON.