Study protocol for the Healthy Family Program on population blood pressure: a multicenter, parallel group, cluster randomized, controlled trial in rural China.

Background: We aim to determine the effectiveness of a community-based, health instructor led, multifaceted family intervention, as compared with usual care, on blood pressure (BP) management among Chinese rural residents, with or without hypertension.

Methods/design: The Healthy Family Program is a cluster randomized controlled trial being undertaken in 80 villages (each with approximately 100 residents) with a target to enroll a total of 8000 older adults (aged 40-80 years). Villages were randomly assigned in a 1:1 ratio to either an intervention group to receive multifaceted strategies or a control group to continue with usual standard of care.

(+)/(-)-Corydecumbenpines A and B, two pairs of dimeric phthalide-benzophenanthridine alkaloids with cytotoxicity from Corydalis decumbens.

Four pairs of previously undescribed enantiomers, including two pairs of dimeric phthalide-benzophenanthridine alkaloid and two pairs phthalides derivatives, corydecumbenpines A-D, were isolated from the rhizomes of Corydalis decumbens. Their planar structures were elucidated by extensive spectroscopic analysis including UV, IR, HRESIMS, 1D and 2D NMR. Optically pure compounds were obtained by chiral chromatography and their absolute configurations were determined by single-crystal X-ray crystallography and comparison of experimental and calculated ECD spectra.

Chimeric Cytokine Receptor TGF-β RⅡ/IL-21R Improves CAR-NK Cell Function by Reversing the Immunosuppressive Tumor Microenvironment of Gastric Cancer.

Gastric cancer remains a significant global health burden, characterized by regional variations in incidence and poor survival prospects in advanced stages. Natural killer (NK) cells play a crucial role in the body's anti-cancer defense, and chimeric antigen receptor (CAR)-NK cell therapy is gaining attention as a cutting-edge and promising treatment method. This study aims to tackle the challenge of TGF-β-mediated tumor immune evasion within the immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment by designing a novel chimeric cytokine receptor TRII/21R, which consists of extracellular domains of TGF-β receptor II (TRII) and transmembrane and intracellular domains of IL-21 receptor (21R) and can convert the immunosuppressive signal from TGF-β in the tumor microenvironment (TME) into an NK cell activation signal through the IL-21R-STAT3 pathway.

Nerve growth factor loaded hypotonic eye drops for corneal nerve repair.

Neurotrophic keratopathy is a degenerative disease caused by corneal nerve damage, leading to corneal ulceration. Recombinant human nerve growth factor (rhNGF) was approved for neurotrophic keratitis therapy; however, the excipients of the eye drops are not optimized for its controlled release. To this aim, we introduce the hypotonic hydrogel PF127 as an excipient for rhNGF in eye drops.

Engineering biocompatible carbon dots nano-enzymes hydrogel for efficient antioxidative and anti-inflammatory treatment of dry eye disease.

Dry eye disease (DED) is a complex and multifactorial ocular surface disease. Reactive oxygen species (ROS) are of pivotal importance in the inflammatory processes and biological dysfunction associated with DED. In this study, an injectable hydrogel, designated as OHACDgel, was created by combining oxidized HA-containing aldehyde groups (OHA) and gelation (gel) via dynamic covalent linkages of the hydrazine bonds, is employed as the carrier, while polyethylene imine-functionalized carbon dots (PEI-CD) can form dynamic chemical bonds with the hydrogel, thus prolonging the retention time of the ocular.

Identification, molecular characterization and expression patterns of Cathepsin L in Yesso scallop (Patinopecten yessoensis) shell-infested by Polydora.

Patinopecten yessoensis (Yesso scallop), one of the most important aquaculture molluscs in China, has recently suffered severe Polydora disease, causing economic losses. Cathepsin L (CatL), a cysteine protease, has important functions in immune responses in vertebrates and invertebrates. However, little is known regarding the structure and function of CatL in scallops.

Involvement of a central amygdaloid nucleus-lateral habenular nucleus pathway in the processing of formalin-induced pain.

The central amygdaloid nucleus (CeA) and the lateral habenular nucleus (LHb) are essential nuclei playing modulatory roles in encoding noxious stimuli. Their interaction has recently been demonstrated in chronic pain-induced depression. However, little is known about the CeA-LHb pathway in a formalin-induced pain model.

Associations between morphometric similarity network and brain gene expression in type 2 diabetes mellitus.

Abnormal functional and structural connectivity of brain networks is commonly observed in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and accompanied bycognitive impairment. In this study, we revealed differences in brain structure in T2DM using a Morphometric Similarity Network (MSN) method, which quantifies structural similarities between brain regions. The associations between T2DM-associated changes in morphometric similarity (MS) and gene expression were analyzed to explore the molecular and cellular mechanism underlying MS changes in T2DM.

Dissociable effects of perceived control on reward-related neural dynamics under risk and ambiguity.

Perceived control plays a crucial role in risk-taking behavior, but its neural effect on reward dynamics in risky and ambiguous decision making remains unclear. Here, we addressed this issue by measuring participants' (N = 40) EEG activity while they were performing a wheel-of-fortune task. Participants either made choices themselves (a high control condition) or followed the computer's choice (a low control condition) under risky or ambiguous decision contexts.

Fiber Length Distribution Characterizes the Brain Network Maturation during Early School-age.

Environmental and social changes during early school age have a profound impact on brain development. However, it remains unclear how the brains of typically-developing children adjust white matter to optimize network topology during this period. This study aims to propose the fiber length distribution as a novel nodal metric to capture the continuous maturation of brain network.

Non-coding RNAs and regulatory networks involved in the Ameson portunus (Microsporidia)-Portunus trituberculatus interaction.

Ameson portunus, the causative agent of "toothpaste disease" in Portunus trituberculatus and "slurry-like syndrome" in Scylla paramamosain, has resulted in considerable economic losses in the marine crab aquaculture industry in China. Practical control strategies are yet unavailable. Non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs) are crucial components of gene regulation of intracellular parasites, however, their roles in regulating the microsporidia-host interaction remain limited.

Role of fibrinogen-like 2 (FGL2) proteins in implantation: Potential implications and mechanism.

Fibrinogen-like (Fgl2) protein belongs to fibrinogen super family, which catalyzes the conversion of prothrombin to thrombin and is involved in the coagulation process. There are two different forms of functional Fgl2 protein: membrane associated Fgl2 (mFgl2) and soluble Fgl2 (sFgl2). mFgl2, as a type II transmembrane protein with property with prothrombinase activity from its N-terminal fragment, was extensively secreted or expressed by inflammatory macrophages, dendritic cells, Th1 cells and endothelial cells.

Alström syndrome: A rare cause of dilated cardiomyopathy in five Chinese children.

Backgroud: The ALMS1 gene is predominantly localized to cilia, particularly in the photoreceptor cells of the retina, auditory neurons, kidneys, and other ciliated structures. Pathogenic mutations in this gene cause Alstrom syndrome (AS), which is characterized by dilated cardiomyopathy, retinal degeneration, neurodeafness, and centripetal obesity. However, the genetic mechanism of the ALMS1 gene remains unclear.

Chryxanthone A, an extracted substance from endophytic fungal Aspergillus versicolor, produces anti-oxidant neuroprotection possibly via the action on mTOR/CREB axis.

Background: Neurons are susceptible to oxidative stress due to the elevated reactive oxygen species (ROS) production and the limited antioxidant defense mechanisms. Therefore, it is possible to treat oxidative stress-related neurological disorders via the inhibition of oxidative stress. Chryxanthone A is an extracted substance derived from the endophytic fungal Aspergillus versicolor, with an atypical dihydropyran ring.

Aldose reductase has a function in salt tolerance of wheat.

Aldose reductase (ALR) is closely related to the plant's response to abiotic stresses. Previous transcriptome data from the salt-tolerant Tritipyrum Y1805 indicated that an ALR-related gene was highly upregulated under salt stress. The gene, TtALR1, was successfully cloned from Y1805, with a coding sequence length of 960 bp.

RGFP966 inhibits palmitic acid induced VSMCs phenotypic transition by targeting ATGL.

Background: The phenotypic switch of vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) underlies the pathology of many cardiovascular diseases. Histone deacetylase 3 (HDAC3) is reported to upregulate in several cardiovascular diseases. RGFP966 is a highly selective HDAC3 inhibitor.

Co-overexpression of Atoh1, Pou4f3, and Gfi1 enhances the transdifferentiation of supporting cells into hair cells in the neonatal mouse utricle.

Hair cells (HCs) are essential for vestibular function, and irreversible damage to vestibular HCs in mammals is closely associated with vertigo. The stimulation of HC regeneration through exogenous gene delivery represents an ideal therapeutic approach for restoring vestibular function. Overexpression of Atoh1, Pou4f3, and Gfi1 (collectively referred to as APG) has demonstrated efficacy in promoting HC regeneration in the cochlea.

Phase separation of EEF1E1 promotes tumor stemness via PTEN/AKT-mediated DNA repair in hepatocellular carcinoma.

This study aimed to investigate the associations of liquid-liquid phase separation (LLPS) and tumor stemness in hepatocellular carcinomas (HCC). LLPS-related genes were extracted from DrLLPS, LLPSDB and PhaSepDB databases. Stemness index (mRNAsi) was calculated based on the data from TCGA and Progenitor Cell Biology Consortium.

Synergistic Enhancement of Radio-immunotherapy Efficacy by IL-15 via Macrophage Activation and Memory T Cell Response.

Successful immunotherapy requires systemic activation of the immune system. Radio-immunotherapy has a synergistic effect, enhancing this activation, but still faces many challenges, requiring methods to further improve its efficacy. Interleukin 15 (IL-15) is considered a potential therapeutic agent because of its broad immunoregulatory activity.

Comprehensive transcriptome analysis reveals lncRNA-mRNA interactions and immune response mechanisms in Mytilus coruscus upon Vibrio alginolyticus infection.

Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) play diverse biological roles within cells. Despite not encoding proteins, they are crucial in regulating gene expression, chromatin structure and function, cell differentiation and development, and the occurrence of diseases. Vibrio alginolyticus (V.

Prevalence and network structure of depression, anxiety and adverse doctor-patient relationship risks among patients with physical diseases: A cross-sectional study.

Background: Mental health issues among patients with physical diseases are increasingly common. This study investigated the prevalence of depression, anxiety, and adverse doctor-patient relationship risks (ADRR) among patients with physical diseases, and the central and bridge symptoms of this network structure.

Methods: A total of 14,344 patients with physical diseases enrolled in this survey.

Current Antiviral Therapies and Promising Drug Candidates against Respiratory Syncytial Virus Infection.

Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is one of the most common viruses leading to lower respiratory tract infections (LRTIs) in children and elderly individuals worldwide. Although significant progress in the prevention and treatment of RSV infection was made in 2023, with two anti-RSV vaccines and one monoclonal antibody approved by the FDA, there is still a lack of postinfection therapeutic drugs in clinical practice, especially for the pediatric population. In recent years, with an increasing understanding of the pathogenic mechanisms of RSV, drugs and drug candidates, have shown great potential for clinical application.