The Potential of the Probiotic Isolate SS18-50 to Prevent Colitis in Mice.

The objective of this study was to investigate the effect of the () SS18-50 (an isolate with favorable probiotic properties following space traveling) on dextran sulfate sodium (DSS)-induced colitis in mice. Male ICR mice were randomly assigned to one of six groups: a control group, a model group, and four intervention groups comprising the isolate (SS18-50-L and SS18-50-H) and the wild type (GS18-L and GS18-H) strains. The model group and the intervention groups were administered a 3.

Retinoic Acid Regulates Allergic Inflammation via Limiting Mast Cell Activation.

BackgroundAllergic diseases have become one of the major public health problems to be addressed in the world today. As a tissue resident cell, mast cells are crucial in the pathogenesis of allergic diseases. Vitamin A is an important fat-soluble vitamin with immunomodulatory functions.

Spermidine synthase promotes liver cancer progression in a paracrine manner by altering the macrophage immunometabolic state.

Purpose: Understanding the molecular mechanisms of adaptive regulation in the tumor microenvironment is crucial for precision therapy in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). We hypothesized that cargo proteins carried by extracellular vesicles (EVs) released in a hypoxic microenvironment might promote HCC progression by remodeling tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs).

Methods: EV protein analysis by label-free proteomics mass spectrometry of HCC cell lines of different tumor grades was performed.

Novel peptides with calcium-binding capacity from antler bone hydrolysate, its bioactivity on MC3T3-E1 cells, and the possible chelating mode.

In this study, peptide-calcium chelate was screened from antler bone hydrolysate, and its bioactivity on MC3T3-E1 cells and its chelating mechanism were investigated. In vitro experiments showed that peptide-calcium chelate promoted the differentiation and mineralization of MC3T3-E1 cells. Subsequently, three novel calcium-chelating peptides were obtained from antler bone hydrolysate using hydroxyapatite chromatography (HAC), Sephadex G-25 gel filtration chromatography, and reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography (RP-HPLC).

Identification of Novel Proteins Mediating Causal Association Between Smoking and Essential Hypertension: A Mendelian Randomization Study.

Background: Smoking is a factor for hypertension. We aim to reveal novel plasma proteins mediating the relationship of smoking with hypertension and identify potential drug targets for hypertension on the basis of Mendelian randomization design.

Methods And Results: Data for smoking were selected from the largest genome-wide association study meta-analysis performed by the Genome-Wide Association Study and Sequencing Consortium of Alcohol and Nicotine Use.

Oleanolic acid attenuates obesity through modulating the lipid metabolism in high-fat diet-fed mice.

As a natural pentacyclic triterpenoid, oleanolic acid has hepatoprotective, anti-inflammatory, and antioxidant activities. This work performed the in vitro experiments and animal assay to explore whether oleanolic acid alleviates lipid accumulation induced by high-fat diet by mediating PPARγ. Oil red O staining showed that oleanolic acid can reduce lipid accumulation in HepG2 cells, which were treated with oleic acid and palmitic acid.

Leveraging single-cell RNA-seq for uncovering naïve B cells associated with better prognosis of hepatocellular carcinoma.

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a typical highly heterogeneous solid tumor with high morbidity and mortality worldwide, especially in China; however, the immune microenvironment of HCC has not been clarified so far. Here, we employed single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) on diethylnitrosamine (DEN)-induced mouse HCC model to dissect the immune cell dynamics during tumorigenesis. Our findings reveal distinct immune profiles in both precancerous and cancerous lesions, indicating early tumor-associated immunological alterations.

CRISPR technology in human diseases.

Gene editing is a growing gene engineering technique that allows accurate editing of a broad spectrum of gene-regulated diseases to achieve curative treatment and also has the potential to be used as an adjunct to the conventional treatment of diseases. Gene editing technology, mainly based on clustered regularly interspaced palindromic repeats (CRISPR)-CRISPR-associated protein systems, which is capable of generating genetic modifications in somatic cells, provides a promising new strategy for gene therapy for a wide range of human diseases. Currently, gene editing technology shows great application prospects in a variety of human diseases, not only in therapeutic potential but also in the construction of animal models of human diseases.

Tissue-engineered tracheal implants: Advancements, challenges, and clinical considerations.

Restoration of extensive tracheal damage remains a significant challenge in respiratory medicine, particularly in instances stemming from conditions like infection, congenital anomalies, or stenosis. The trachea, an essential element of the lower respiratory tract, constitutes a fibrocartilaginous tube spanning approximately 10-12 cm in length. It is characterized by 18 ± 2 tracheal cartilages distributed anterolaterally with the dynamic trachealis muscle located posteriorly.

Gene editing therapy for cardiovascular diseases.

The development of gene editing tools has been a significant area of research in the life sciences for nearly 30 years. These tools have been widely utilized in disease detection and mechanism research. In the new century, they have shown potential in addressing various scientific challenges and saving lives through gene editing therapies, particularly in combating cardiovascular disease (CVD).

Identification of NR3C2 as a functional diagnostic and prognostic biomarker and potential therapeutic target in non-small cell lung cancer.

Background: Non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), including the lung squamous cell carcinoma (LUSC) and lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD) subtypes, is a malignant tumor type with a poor 5-year survival rate. The identification of new powerful diagnostic biomarkers, prognostic biomarkers, and potential therapeutic targets in NSCLC is urgently required.

Methods: The UCSC Xena, UALCAN, and GEO databases were used to screen and analyze differentially expressed genes, regulatory modes, and genetic/epigenetic alterations in NSCLC.

Impaired Cardiac AMPK (5'-Adenosine Monophosphate-Activated Protein Kinase) and Ca-Handling, and Action Potential Duration Heterogeneity in Ibrutinib-Induced Ventricular Arrhythmia Vulnerability.

Background: We recently demonstrated that acute administration of ibrutinib, a Bruton's tyrosine kinase inhibitor used in chemotherapy for blood malignancies, increases ventricular arrhythmia (VA) vulnerability. A pathway of ibrutinib-induced vulnerability to VA that can be modulated for cardioprotection remains unclear.

Methods And Results: The effects of ibrutinib on cardiac electrical activity and Ca dynamics were investigated in Langendorff-perfused hearts using optical mapping.

Primary pulmonary monophasic synovial sarcoma initially presenting with bloody pleural effusion: A case report and literature review.

Key Clinical Message: Primary pulmonary synovial sarcoma (PPSS) can originate from blood vessels of the bronchial wall, lung interstitium, and interstitial components, and accounts for 0.1%-0.5% of all primary lung malignancies, the most common symptoms are chest pain, cough, dyspnea, and hemoptysis.

Right ventricular volume and function by three-dimensional echocardiography: results of the echocardiographic measurements in normal Chinese adults (EMINCA) II.

Three-dimensional (3D) echocardiography is an emerging technique for assessing right ventricular (RV) volume and function, but 3D-RV normal values from a large Chinese population are still lacking. The aim of the present study was to establish normal values of 3D-RV volume and function in healthy Chinese volunteers. A total of 1117 Han Chinese volunteers from 28 laboratories in 20 provinces of China were enrolled, and 3D-RV images of 747 volunteers with optimal image quality were ultimately analyzed by a core laboratory.

Anti-aging effects of icariin and the underlying mechanisms: A mini-review.

Aging is an extremely intricate and progressive phenomenon that is implicated in many physiological and pathological conditions. Icariin (ICA) is the main active ingredient of Epimedium and has exhibited multiple bioactivities, such as anti-tumor, neuroprotective, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and anti-aging properties. ICA could extend healthspan in both invertebrate and vertebrate models.

Baseline Uric Acid Levels and Intravenous Thrombolysis Outcomes in Patients With Acute Ischemic Stroke: A Prospective Cohort Study.

Background: The study aimed to investigate the relationship between uric acid (UA) levels and functional outcomes at 3 months in patients with acute ischemic stroke (AIS) who underwent intravenous thrombolysis (IVT).

Methods And Results: This prospective cohort study included 1001 consecutive patients with AIS who underwent IVT. The correlation between UA levels and post-IVT AIS outcomes was examined.

Design of N-N ylide bond-based high energy density materials: a theoretical survey.

The generally encountered contradiction between large energy content and stability poses great difficulty in designing nitrogen-rich high-energy-density materials. Although N-N ylide bonds have been classified as the fourth type of homonuclear N-N bonds (besides >N-N<, -N[double bond, length as m-dash]N-, and N[triple bond, length as m-dash]N), accessible energetic molecules with N-N ylide bonds have rarely been explored. In this study, 225 molecules with six types of novel structures containing N-N ylide bonds were designed using density functional theory and CBS-QB3 methods.

Immunoglobulin G4-related disease: Multiple organ occupation on CT.

One case involved a 61-year-old woman who was admitted to hospital with liver occupation, subsequently found multiple organ occupation, and was eventually pathologically identified as having immunoglobulin G4-related disease.

Circular RNA MAP2K2-modified immunosuppressive dendritic cells for preventing alloimmune rejection in organ transplantation.

Long-term patient and graft survival has been achieved in organ transplantation but at the expense of toxic side effects that are associated with long-term use of nonspecific immunosuppressive drugs. Discovering new regulators of dendritic cells is the key for development of an ideal treatment to prevent immune rejection. We hypothesized that knockdown of circMAP2K2 induces immunosuppressive DCs and that treatment with circMAP2K2 silenced-DCs can prevent alloimmune rejection.

Mechanisms and therapeutic strategies of extracellular vesicles in cardiovascular diseases.

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) significantly impacts global society since it is the leading cause of death and disability worldwide, and extracellular vesicle (EV)-based therapies have been extensively investigated. EV delivery is involved in mediating the progression of CVDs and has great potential to be biomarker and therapeutic molecular carrier. Besides, EVs from stem cells and cardiac cells can effectively protect the heart from various pathologic conditions, and then serve as an alternative treatment for CVDs.

A case of hemophagocytic syndrome secondary to B-cell lymphoma.

In this report we highlight a case of HPS secondary to B-cell lymphoma, aiming to facilitate the early recognition and treatment of HPS in its classic presentation by clinicians.

Super-stiff guidewire or loach guidewire during percutaneous nephrolithotomy?

Objectives: The objectives of this work are to compare the outcomes between loach guidewire and super-stiff guidewire during percutaneous nephrolithotomy (PCNL) and find potential indications of different guidewires.

Patients And Methods: We retrospectively reviewed our institutional PCNL database from 2017 to 2021. Patients who underwent PCNL guided by loach guidewire were assigned to group A (489 patients); patients who received super-stiff guidewire were assigned to group B (269 patients).