SLC29A1 and SLC29A2 are human nicotinamide cell membrane transporters.

Nicotinamide (NAM), a main precursor of NAD+, is essential for cellular fuel respiration, energy production, and other cellular processes. Transporters for other precursors of NAD+ such as nicotinic acid and nicotinamide mononucleotide (NMN) have been identified, but the cellular transporter of nicotinamide has not been elucidated. Here, we demonstrate that equilibrative nucleoside transporter 1 and 2 (ENT1 and 2, encoded by SLC29A1 and 2) drive cellular nicotinamide uptake and establish nicotinamide metabolism homeostasis.

Superior energy storage capacity of polymer-based bilayer composites by introducing 2D ferroelectric micro-sheets.

Dielectric polymer capacitors suffer from low discharged energy density and efficiency due to their low breakdown strength, small dielectric constant and large electric hysteresis. Herein, a synergistic enhancement strategy is proposed to significantly increase both breakdown strength and dielectric constant while suppressing hysteresis, through introducing 2-dimensional bismuth layer-structured NaBiTiO micro-sheets and designing a unique bilayer structure. Excitingly, an ultra-high discharged energy density of 25.

Advancements in Diagnosis and Treatment of Cardiac Sarcomas: A Comprehensive Review.

Cardiac sarcomas are rare, aggressive malignancies originating from various cardiac cell types, presenting significant challenges in both diagnosis and treatment. This comprehensive review explores recent advancements in diagnosis and treatment of cardiac angiosarcoma, fibrosarcoma, leiomyosarcoma, and rhabdomyosarcoma. And we briefly discuss the exceedingly rare occurrence of cardiac osteosarcoma and present our perspectives on its treatment.

Prospective Investigation Unravels Plasma Proteomic Links to Dementia.

Investigating plasma proteomic signatures of dementia offers insights into its pathology, aids biomarker discovery, supports disease monitoring, and informs drug development. Here, we analyzed data from 48,367 UK Biobank participants with proteomic profiling. Using Cox and generalized linear models, we examined the longitudinal associations between proteomic signatures and dementia-related phenotypes.

Clinical exome sequencing for carrier screening in assisted reproductive technology and sperm donation.

Purpose: To assess the efficacy of clinical exome sequencing (CES) in individuals involved in assisted reproductive technology (ART) or sperm donor programs, with a specific focus on its impact on clinical decision-making.

Methods: A total of 3991 individuals without a family history of genetic disorders underwent CES targeting 5595 genes at a reproductive center between December 2022 and April 2024. The cohort comprised 217 sperm donors, 232 female recipients, and 1771 couples (3542 patients) undergoing ART with their own gametes.

Elective thoracoscopic surgery for congenital lung malformations: what age to operate?

Purpose: This study aimed to evaluate the characteristics of congenital lung malformations (CLMs) in patients from infancy to adulthood, and to determine the optimal timing for thoracoscopic surgery.

Methods: All patients with CLMs who underwent thoracoscopic surgery between 2017 and 2023 were retrospectively reviewed. The patients were divided into five age groups: 1-6 months, 6-12 months, 1-4 years, 4-16 years, and >16 years.

Roles of anoikis in hepatocellular carcinoma: mechanisms and therapeutic potential.

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), the most common primary liver cancer, is a highly aggressive malignancy with limited viable therapeutic options. For early HCC, resection surgery is currently the most effective treatment. However, in advanced stages, resection alone does not sufficiently address the disease, so finding a method with a better prognosis is necessary.

The link between ferroptosis and autophagy in myocardial ischemia/reperfusion injury: new directions for therapy.

Myocardial ischemia/reperfusion (I/R)-induced cell death, such as autophagy and ferroptosis, is a major contributor to cardiac injury. Regulating cell death may be key to mitigating myocardial ischemia/reperfusion injury (MI/RI). Autophagy is a crucial physiological process involving cellular self-digestion and compensation, responsible for degrading excess or malfunctioning long-lived proteins and organelles.

Mechanisms of removing terdizolamide phosphate from water by the activation of potassium peroxymonosulfate with CeFeO biochar.

Terdizolamide phosphate (TZD), a second-generation oxazolidinone antibiotic with a long half-cycle, poses a potential threat to ecosystems and humans if present in water over an extended duration. Magnetic biochar (CF-biochar) loaded with CeFeO was firstly synthesized by microwave ablation-anaerobic carbonization using corn straw as raw material and Ce(NO) and Fe(NO) as modifiers. These modifiers were used as activators for peroxymonosulfate (PMS) and adsorbents for removing TZD.

Identification and characterization of GRAS genes in passion fruit (Passiflora edulis Sims) revealed their roles in development regulation and stress response.

Twenty-nine GRAS genes were identified in passion fruit, the N-terminal regions and 3D (three-dimensional) structures were closely related with their tissue-specific expression patterns. Candidate PeGRASs for enhancing stress resistance were identified. Passion fruit (Passiflora edulis Sims) is a tropical fruit crop with significant edible and ornamental value, but its growth and development are highly sensitive to environmental conditions.

The TCP transcription factor TAC8 positively regulates the tiller angle in rice (Oryza sativa L.).

The tiller angle, one of the critical factors that determine the rice plant type, is closely related to rice yield. An appropriate rice tiller angle can improve rice photosynthetic efficiency and increase yields. In this study, we identified a transcription factor, TILLRE ANGLE CONTROL 8 (TAC8), that is highly expressed in the rice tiller base and positively regulates the tiller angle by regulating cell length and endogenous auxin content; TAC8 encodes a TEOSINTE BRANCHED1/CYCLOIDEA/PCF transcriptional activator that is highly expressed in the nucleus.

Effects of fluconazole and amphotericin B in the control of cryptococcal pneumonia in vivo.

Cryptococcal pneumonia is a severe fungal infection of the respiratory system, predominantly caused by Cryptococcus neoformans. Its incidence is increasing, driven by evolving pathogen dynamics and heightened susceptibility among patient populations. This investigation aimed to assess the combined therapeutic efficacy of Fluconazole and Amphotericin B for cryptococcal pneumonia and to explore the roles of miR-15b and TGF-β1 in modulating treatment response.

Efficient secretory expression, purification, and characterization of lipase in Pseudomonas aeruginosa M18, with multifunctional applications in diagnostics.

Lipase (EC 3.1.1.

Cholangioscope-Assisted Endoscopic Retrograde Appendicitis Therapy in the Management of Chronic Abdominal Pain Related to the Appendix: A Single-Center Retrospective Study.

Background: The diagnosis and treatment of chronic abdominal pain related to the appendix have always been challenging. In the past, an appendectomy was the main approach for suspected chronic abdominal pain related to the appendix, but there was an associated risk of negative appendectomy. In recent years, cholangioscope-assisted endoscopic retrograde appendicitis therapy (ERAT) has been used to view the appendiceal cavity directly for flushing, stone removal, biopsy, and other operations, thereby achieving precise treatment.

Sexually Explicit Media Exposure, Sexual Violence Victimization, and Sexual Risk Behaviors Among HIV-Positive Men Who Have Sex with Men with New Drug Abuse in Jinan, China.

Abuse of new drugs, such as Rush poppers, methamphetamine, Magu, Ketamine, and Ecstasy, is common among men who have sex with men (MSM) in China, leading to increased risks of sexually explicit media consumption, sexual violence, and sexual risk behaviors. This study aimed to explore the prevalence and relationships of these behaviors among MSM with new drug abuse. A cross-sectional study was conducted from January to June 2021, involving 453 MSM in Jinan, China.

Negative Reactions to Positive Gender Stereotypes: Different Levels of Positivity Elicit Similar Negative Reactions.

Positive stereotypes may elicit targets' negative reactions, but it is not well understood whether targets react differently to various levels of such stereotypes. Two studies examined targets' negative reactions to various levels of positive gender stereotypes. Chinese students were recruited as participants (N = 1204), who were randomly assigned to the somewhat, moderately, or extremely positive gender stereotype conditions or the control condition.

Positive Lymph Node Status Before and After Neoadjuvant Chemoradiotherapy Improves Prediction of Disease-Free Survival in Esophageal Squamous Cell Carcinoma Patients.

Background: This study proposes a modified lymph node (LN) staging category (BALN) on the basis of the number of positive LNs before (prepN) and after (ypN) neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy (nCRT) to improve prognostic stratification in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC).

Patients And Methods: A total of 381 patients with ESCC who underwent nCRT at three medical centers were retrospectively enrolled. The ypN categories were scored according to the eighth edition of the American Joint Committee of Cancer (AJCC) staging manual.

Ionic liquid-delaminated TiC MXene nanosheets for enhanced electrocatalytic oxidation of tryptophane in normal and breast cancer serum.

A cost-effective strategy is reported utilizing ionic liquid (IL), 1-hexyl-3-methylimidazolium bisulfate ([HMIM] HSO), to delaminate TiC MXene, thereby enhancing its efficiency in electrocatalyzing tryptophan (Trp) oxidation. The positively charged IL effectively intercalates within the negatively charged MXene layers, fostering structural stability through π-π stacking and electrostatic interactions. Consequently, the resulting IL-TiC composite not only maintained the inherent electronic conductivity of TiC but also significantly augmented its electrocatalytic prowess.

Extraction of Anthocyanins with Deep Eutectic Solvents and Chemical Evaluation by High-Performance Liquid Chromatography.

Deep eutectic solvents (DES) and ionic liquids (ILs), specifically natural deep eutectic solvents (NADES), allow for the extraction of natural products using environmentally friendly solvents instead of organic solvents. Here we describe the extraction of anthocyanins from a medicinal plant using NADES prepared either by evaporating method or heating-and-stirring method with the help of ultrasound-assisted extraction (UAE). The NADES extract can be qualified by the high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) method, which can separate the component of NADES with target compounds from medicinal plant.

Role of autophagy in plant growth and adaptation to salt stress.

Under salt stress, autophagy regulates ionic balance, scavenges ROS, and supports nutrient remobilization, thereby alleviating osmotic and oxidative damage. Salt stress is a major environmental challenge that significantly impacts plant growth and agricultural productivity by disrupting nutrient balance, inducing osmotic stress, and causing the accumulation of toxic ions like Na. Autophagy, a key cellular degradation and recycling pathway, plays a critical role in enhancing plant salt tolerance by maintaining cellular homeostasis and mitigating stress-induced damage.

Genome-wide identification of carboxyesterase family members reveals the function of GeCXE9 in the catabolism of parishin A in Gastrodia elata.

GeCXE9 can catalyze the hydrolysis of parishin A via two pathways during the medicinal processing of Gastrodia elata. Gastrodia elata Bl. is used in traditional Chinese medicine for its bioactive compounds, particularly phenols.

High glucose/ChREBP-induced Hif-1α transcriptional activation in CD4 T cells reduces the risk of diabetic kidney disease by inhibiting the Th1 response.

Aims/hypothesis: Diabetic kidney disease (DKD) features intrarenal inflammation, in which T cells play a part. Hypoxia-inducible factor-1α (HIF-1α), a key transcription factor regulating cellular responses to hypoxia, is reportedly involved in the course of inflammation. The role of HIF-1α in DKD has been investigated, but the conclusions are controversial so far.

The Expression of Programmed Cell Death Ligand-1 and its Relationship with Infiltration, Metastasis and Prognosis in Cervical Squamous Cell Carcinoma.

Cervical cancer (CC) represents a major gynecologic health problem. Respecting the role of programmed cell death ligand-1 (PDL-1) in cancer prognosis, we investigated its relationship with cervical squamous cell carcinoma (CSCC) invasion, metastasis and prognosis. A total of 184 CSCC patients were retrospectively selected, with normal paracarcinoma tissues as the Control group.