A cross-tissue transcriptome-wide association study identifies new key genes in ischemic stroke.

Background: Ischemic stroke (IS) is an important disease causing death and disability worldwide, and further investigation of IS-related genes through genome-wide association study (GWAS) data is valuable.

Methods: The study included GWAS data from 62,100 IS patients of European origin and 1,234,808 controls in a cross-tissue transcriptome association study (TWAS). A joint analysis was first performed by the Unified Test for Molecular Markers (UTMOST) and FUSION methods.

Identification and characterization of ClAPRR2, a key candidate gene controlling watermelon stripe color.

The stripe color of watermelon is a vital commercial trait and is the focus of attention of consumers and researchers. However, the genetic determinants of watermelon stripe color are incompletely understood. Based on the results of preliminary localization studies, we constructed a large-capacity F generation population (710 plants) using light-green striped ZXG1555 and green-striped Cream of Saskatchewan (COS) watermelon strains as parental lines for fine mapping.

A novel peptide CP29L, selected from the phage displayed cyclic random heptapeptide library, demonstrates its potent inhibitory effects to liver cancer HCCLM3 cells by targeting FOXM1.

FOXM1 is the "Achilles' heel" of cancers and hence the potential therapeutic target for anticancer drug discovery. In this work, we selected high affinity peptides against the protein of human DNA binding domain of FOXM1 (FOXM1-DBD) from the disulfide-constrained, phage displayed random cyclic heptapeptide library Ph.D.

Tetrahydroberberrubine improves hyperlipidemia by activating the AMPK/SREBP2/PCSK9/LDL receptor signaling pathway.

Hyperlipidemia is a major risk factor for hypertension, coronary heart disease, diabetes and stroke, triggering an intensified research efforts into its prevention and treatment. Tetrahydroberberrubine (THBru) is a derivative of berberine (BBR) that has been shown to have higher bioavailability and lower toxicity compared to its parent compound. However, its impact on hyperlipidemia has not been fully explored.

Association between daily sesame consumption and the risk of sarcopenia in elderly adults: the TCLSIH cohort study.

Background: Sarcopenia is an age-related, progressive, and systemic skeletal muscle disorder that can lead to numerous adverse outcomes. Animal studies have shown that sesame can enhance skeletal muscle blood flow and improve physical performance. However, no studies have yet explored the association between sesame consumption and the incidence of sarcopenia in the general population.

High-order network degree revealed shared and distinct features among schizophrenia, bipolar disorder and ADHD.

Schizophrenia (SCHZ), bipolar disorder (BD), and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) share clinical symptoms and risk genes, but the shared and distinct neural dynamic mechanisms remain inadequately understood. Degree is a fundamental and important graph measure in network neuroscience, and we here extended the degree to hierarchical levels based on eigenmodes and compared the resting-state brain networks of three disorders and healthy controls (HC). First, compared to HC, SCHZ and BD patients exhibited substantially overlapped abnormalities in brain networks, wherein BD patients displayed more significant alterations.

Esketamine alleviates LPS-induced depression-like behavior by activating Nrf2-mediated anti-inflammatory response in adolescent mice.

Background: The mechanisms underlying esketamine's therapeutic effects remain elusive. The study aimed to explore the impact of single esketamine treatment on LPS-induced adolescent depressive-like behaviors and the role of Nrf2 regulated neuroinflammatory response in esketamine-produced rapid antidepressant efficacy.

Methods: Adolescent male C57BL/6J mice were randomly assigned to three groups: control, LPS, and LPS + esketamine (15 mg/kg, i.

IGSF8 impairs migration and invasion of trophoblast cells and angiogenesis in preeclampsia.

Insufficient trophoblast cell infiltration is implicated in the progression of preeclampsia (PE). The immunoglobulin superfamily member 8 (IGSF8) has been shown to promote cell migration, invasion, and epithelial mesenchymal transition (EMT). However, the specific impact of IGSF8 on trophoblast cells in PE has not been definitively demonstrated.

Local structural-functional coupling with counterfactual explanations for epilepsy prediction.

The structural-functional brain connections coupling (SC-FC coupling) describes the relationship between white matter structural connections and the corresponding functional activation or functional connections. It has been widely used to identify brain disorders. However, the existing research on SC-FC coupling focuses on global and regional scales, and few studies have investigated the impact of brain disorders on this relationship from the perspective of multi-brain region cooperation (i.

Advances in bacterial glycoprotein engineering: A critical review of current technologies, emerging challenges, and future directions.

Protein glycosylation, which involves the addition of carbohydrate chains to amino acid side chains, imparts essential properties to proteins, offering immense potential in synthetic biology applications. Despite its importance, natural glycosylation pathways present several limitations, highlighting the need for new tools to better understand glycan structures, recognition, metabolism, and biosynthesis, and to facilitate the production of biologically relevant glycoproteins. The field of bacterial glycoengineering has gained significant attention due to the ongoing discovery and study of bacterial glycosylation systems.

Targeted Mitochondrial Function for Cardiac Fibrosis: an Epigenetic Perspective.

Mitochondria, commonly referred to as "energy factories"of cells, play a crucial role in the function and survival of cardiomyocytes. However, as research on cardiac fibrosis has advanced, mitochondrial dysfunction(including changes in energy metabolism, calcium ion imbalance, increased oxidative stress, and apoptosis)is now recognized as a significant pathophysiological pathway involved in cardiac remodeling and progression, which also negatively affects the function and structure of the heart. In recent years, research focusing on targeting mitochondria has gained significant attention, offering new approaches for treating cardiac fibrosis.

Single-nucleus transcriptome profiling provides insights into the pathophysiology of adhesive arachnoiditis.

Adhesive arachnoiditis (AA) is a rare form of chronic degenerative pathology associated with persistent inflammation in the arachnoid matter of the spinal cord. Despite the existing knowledge, the detailed pathological mechanisms underlying AA are not fully understood. This study aimed to elucidate through comprehensive single nuclei RNA sequencing (snRNA-seq) to delineate the transcriptomic landscape of AA.

Biodegradable microplastics adsorb more Cd than conventional microplastic and biofilms enhance their adsorption.

Biodegradable polylactic acid (PLA) mulch has been developed to replace conventional polyethylene (PE) mulch in agriculture to reduce plastic pollution and the accumulation of microplastics (MPs) in soil. Cadmium (Cd) is a significant soil contaminant, and can be adsorbed by MPs. It is increasingly recognised that in the natural environment biofilms can develop on MPs and that this can affect their adsorption properties.

Small molecule-driven LKB1 deacetylation is responsible for the inhibition of hepatic lipid response in NAFLD.

Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is a progressive condition characterized by ectopic fat accumulation in the liver, for which no FAD-approved drugs currently exist. Emerging evidence highlights the role of liver kinase B1 (LKB1), a key metabolic regulator, has been proposed in NAFLD, particularly in response to excessive nutrient levels. However, few agents have been identified that can prevent the progression of nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) by targeting LKB1 deacetylation.

Clinical value of CEUS with tumor marker monitoring in evaluating the prognosis of HCC after MWA.

Purpose: This study aims to evaluate the prognostic value of contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) combined with tumour markers in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) undergoing microwave ablation (MWA).

Methods: MWA patients with HCC were divided into good prognosis (n = 75) and poor prognosis (n = 69) groups. The levels of alpha-fetoprotein (AFP), carbohydrate antigen (CA19-9), and carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) before and after MWA were analysed using an independent sample t-test.

Biotic factors shape the structure and dynamics of denitrifying communities within cyanobacterial aggregates.

Eutrophication caused by human activities has severely impacted freshwater ecosystems, leading to harmful cyanobacterial blooms that threaten water quality and ecosystem stability. During blooms, denitrification is a key process for nitrogen removal, which can occur both in the sediment and in the waterbody mediated by cyanobacterial aggregate (CA)-associated microorganisms. In this study, the structure, dynamics and assembly mechanisms of CA-associated nirK-, nirS-, and nosZ-encoding denitrifying communities were investigated in the eutrophic Lake Taihu across the bloom season.

An unignorable human health risk posed by antibiotic resistome and microbiome in urban rivers: Insights from Beijing, China.

Urban rivers are the main water bodies humans frequently come into contact with, so the risks posed are closely monitored. Antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) residues in reclaimed water pose serious risks to human health. There are urgent needs to improve the understanding of distribution of and risks posed by ARGs in urban rivers.

Polystyrene microplastics exhibit toxic effects on the widespread coral symbiotic Cladocopium goreaui.

Within the coral reef habitat, members of the Symbiodiniaceae family stand as pivotal symbionts for reef-building corals. However, the physiological response of Symbiodiniaceae on microplastics are still poorly understood. Research conducted in this investigation assessed the harmful impact of polystyrene microparticles (PS-MPs) on Cladocopium goreaui, a Symbiodiniaceae species with a broad distribution.

Experiments to simulate the salinisation process of loess under a dynamic water cycle.

Addressing loess salinisation is a crucial element in preserving ecological stability and fostering sustainable development in the northwest Loess Plateau. To investigate the impacts of salt solution on the properties of loess, independently designed salt solution-loess dynamic cyclic erosion equipment was used to soak the loess. Then, numerous tests were performed to analyse the variability of the effects of salt solution concentrations (SSC) and type, as well as the duration of soaking time, on these physico-mechanical properties.

LDL-Cholesterol Lowering Agents (Statins and PCSK9 Inhibitors) and the Risk of Intracerebral Hemorrhage: A Network Meta-Analysis.

Background And Purpose: Statin therapy reduces the risk of ischemic stroke; however, certain studies have observed an increased incidence of intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH). Moreover, proprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin type 9(PCSK-9) inhibitors have emerged as a powerful class of lipid-lowering medications, potentially with a lower propensity for causing hemorrhagic events. To investigate this matter further, we conducted a network meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) involving statins and PCSK-9 inhibitors that reported occurrences of ICH.

Xinnaoxin capsule alleviates neuropathological changes and cognitive deficits in Alzheimer's disease mouse model induced by D-galactose and aluminum chloride via reducing neuroinflammation and protecting synaptic proteins.

Ethnopharmacological Relevance: Originally formulated to mitigate high-altitude sickness, Xinnaoxin capsules (XNX) are composed of three traditional Chinese medicines (Rhodiola rosea L., Lycium barbarum L. and Hippophae rhamnoides) with properties of anti-hypoxia, anti-fatigue, and anti-aging.

P2Y12 receptor-independent antiplatelet mechanism of cryptotanshinone: network pharmacology and experimental validation of multi-target signaling pathways.

Ethnopharmacological Relevance: Cryptotanshinone serves as the principal bioactive constituent of Salvia miltiorrhiza Bunge, possesses a wide range of pharmacological activities. Salvia miltiorrhiza Bunge, a long-standing therapeutic agent in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) practice, is renowned for its efficacy in enhancing blood circulation and alleviating blood stasis and infarction, thereby treating cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases.

Aim Of The Study: Platelet activation, when excessive or aberrant, poses a significant risk, catalyzing the onset of various thrombotic disorders.

Dihuang Yinzi Improves Scopolamine-Induced Learning and Memory Impairment by Regulating Plasma Exosome-Derived BDNF.

Ethnopharmacological Relevance: Dihuang Drink (DHD), formulated by Liu Hejian during the Yuan Dynasty, is listed as one of the first ancient classical prescriptions by the National Medical Products Administration of China. It is commonly used for the prevention and treatment of Alzheimer's disease (AD). This study further investigates the therapeutic effects and potential mechanisms of DHD in AD.

Yinchen-Gancao decoction ameliorated NASH in mice by reducing hepatic lipid accumulation, inhibiting hepatic inflammatory and endoplasmic reticulum stress.

Ethnopharmacological Relevance: Nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) poses significant health risks; however, effective treatment options remain scarce. Yinchen-Gancao decoction (YG, a formula composed of Traditional Chinese Medicine Artemisia capillaris Thunb. and Glycyrrhiza uralensis Fisch.