NAMPT Is A Novel Inhibitor of Vascular Calcification in Chronic Kidney Disease.

Background: Vascular calcification is very common in patients with chronic kidney disease and contributes to the increased risk of cardiovascular events. NAMPT (nicotinamide phosphoribosyltransferase), the rate-limiting enzyme in the salvage pathway of nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide, has been shown to exert an antiaging effect on vascular smooth muscle cells. However, whether NAMPT is involved in the regulation of vascular calcification remains unclear.

Observation of Coherent Perfect Acoustic Absorption at an Exceptional Point.

Non-Hermitian systems have recently shown new possibilities to manipulate wave scattering by exploiting loss, yet coherent perfect absorption at an exceptional point (CPA EP) remains elusive in acoustics. Here, we demonstrate it based on a two-channel waveguide with compact lossy resonators. We realize imbalanced losses crucial for CPA EP by using active components to independently modulate the non-Hermiticity.

Machine Learning for Design and Full Chain Research of High-Entropy Na-Ion Cathodes.

How to proficiently and accurately explore the vast compositional space of materials and accelerate the development of new materials with outstanding properties, especially structurally complex high-entropy oxides (HEOs), remains a challenge in materials science. To address this, a state-of-the-art hybrid flow machine learning (HFML) framework is proposed, which combines ensemble learning, unsupervised learning, and Bayesian optimization, enabling efficient discovery of hidden patterns and comprehensive exploration of the component space. Based on the proposed HFML, a new HEO cathode material is screened out from over 2 million candidates for sodium-ion batteries (NaLiNiCuFeCoMnTiO), which shows excellent cycling stability (capacity retention of 83.

Acupuncture for induction of labor in uncomplicated term pregnancies and the role of the acupoint selection: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Introduction: Acupuncture is increasingly used for inducing labor; however, its effects on labor progression and birth outcomes remain inconclusive, and differences in acupuncture techniques are not fully considered by previous reviews. This study aims to evaluate the effects of acupuncture for induction of labor (AC-IOL) after 37 weeks of gestation on labor progression and birth outcomes, with a particular focus on comparing the combined stimulation of local and distant (L-D) acupoints with the selective use of either local or distant acupoints.

Material And Methods: Following PRISMA 2020 guidelines, we searched PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, and three Chinese databases for randomized controlled trials (RCTs) evaluating AC-IOL in uncomplicated pregnancies.

Comparative analysis of antioxidant activity and accelerated collagen expression of human skin fibroblasts with gelatin hydrolysates from different sources.

Gelatin hydrolysates have been extensively used as nutraceutical agents, exhibiting significant biological activity. This study aimed to compare the antioxidant activity and enhancement of collagen expression in human skin fibroblast (HDF-α) cells treated with gelatin hydrolysates from different sources. Results indicate that the gelatin hydrolysates exhibited remarkable DPPH·, ABTS· and OH· scavenging capabilities.

Achieving Diagnostic Excellence in Prenatal Diagnosis Through Patient-Reported Measures Comment on "Achieving Diagnostic Excellence: Roadmaps to Develop and Use Patient-Reported Measures With an Equity Lens".

McDonald and colleagues' work "Achieving Diagnostic Excellence: Roadmaps to Develop and Use Patient-Reported Measures With an Equity Lens" emphasizes the critical role of patient-reported measures (PRMs) in achieving diagnostic excellence, with a focus on equity. PRMs capture patients' experiences, symptoms, and concerns throughout the diagnostic process, enhancing accuracy and addressing uncertainties. In contexts like maternity care, PRMs have been applied to reveal and reduce communication gaps and alleviate anxiety, offering crucial support for improving diagnostic experiences and outcomes.

Integrating Fluorogenic DNAzymes with Photonic Crystals for Bacterial Detection on a Microfluidic Biochip.

Conventional bacterial detection relies on culture-based methods and nucleic acid amplification. These multistep procedures increase complexity, processing time, and cost, limiting their utility in point-of-care (POC) diagnostics. To address this, we developed fluorogenic DNAzymes (FDz) for rapid bacterial detection on a photonic-crystal-assisted microfluidic biochip (PC-μchip).

"TFEB-HNRNPA2B1": A positive feedback loop facilitating metastasis in hepatocellular carcinoma cells.

This study elucidated the regulatory role of the TFEB-HNRNPA2B1 feedback loop in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) metastasis, a highly prevalent and aggressive liver cancer subtype. The findings demonstrated that transcription factor EB (TFEB), a master regulator of lysosomal biogenesis, was significantly upregulated in HCC tissues, particularly in advanced-stage tumors and lymph node metastatic lesions. Functional studies revealed that TFEB overexpression enhanced metastatic potential in HCC cell lines, whereas its genetic knockdown substantially suppressed metastatic capacity.

TRIM16 Mediates K63-Linked Ubiquitination of DAB2 to Facilitate Vascular Calcification.

Background: Vascular calcification is highly prevalent in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD), and the underlying mechanisms remain elusive. Several studies have indicated an important role of protein ubiquitination in vascular calcification. However, the role of E3 ubiquitin ligases in vascular calcification remains poorly understood.

GDF11 Alleviates Vascular Calcification in VitD-Overloaded Mice Through Inhibition of Inflammatory NF-κB Signal.

Vascular calcification, an age-associated disorder, is a highly regulated biological process similar to bone formation. Growth differentiation factor 11 (GDF11), a secreted member of the transforming growth factor beta (TGF-β) superfamily, has been shown to act as an anti-aging factor in the brain, heart, skin, and skeletal muscle. Nevertheless, whether GDF11 affects vascular calcification and the underlying mechanisms remain unclear.

The metabolite alpha-ketoglutarate inhibits vascular calcification partially through modulation of the TET2/NLRP3 inflammasome signaling pathway.

Introduction: Vascular calcification is prevalent in chronic kidney disease (CKD), but existing medical treatments fail to achieve satisfactory therapeutic effects. Vascular calcification is now recognized as an active multifactorial process involving diverse mechanisms. Alpha-ketoglutarate (AKG), an intermediate in tricarboxylic acid cycle, has been demonstrated to extend lifespan and ameliorate age-related osteoporosis.

Molar Ratio-Dependent Crystallization in Coamorphous Celecoxib-Carbamazepine Systems: The Interplay of Thermodynamics and Kinetics.

Coamorphous drug delivery systems have emerged as a promising formulation strategy to enhance the solubility, oral bioavailability, and physical stability of poorly water-soluble drugs. The molar ratio of components in coamorphous systems plays a critical role in determining their physical stability. In this study, we investigated the crystallization behavior of coamorphous celecoxib-carbamazepine (CEL-CBZ) systems at different molar ratios.

Electrochemically Promoted Synthesis of -Sulfonyl Sulfinimidate Esters and Sulfilimines from Sulfonamides, Thiophenols, Thioethers, and Alcohols.

In this work, we report an electrochemical method for the straightforward preparation of scarcely accessible sulfinimidate esters from readily available sulfonamides, thiophenols, and alcohols. Mechanistic experiments show that sulfur oxidation at the anodic surface generates an electrophilic intermediate, which subsequently undergoes nucleophilic substitution. Moreover, sulfilimines can be obtained in moderate-to-excellent yields when thioethers are used as the S-donor instead of thiophenols via a dehydrogenateive imination process.

Deacetylation of ANXA2 by SIRT2 desensitizes hepatocellular carcinoma cells to donafenib via promoting protective autophagy.

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is one of the most lethal forms of cancer globally. HCC cells frequently undergo macroautophagy, also known as autophagy, which can lead to tumor progression and chemotherapy resistance. Annexin A2 (ANXA2) has been identified as a potential therapeutic target in HCC and is involved in the regulation of autophagic process.

In Situ Synthesized Cobalt Nanocrystal via Bipyridine Ligand Cobaltic Borate Annealing Method for High-performance Zinc-air Battery.

A "butterfly-like" metal templated borate, [Co(bpy)(CO)]·[BO(OH)]·py (1, bpy = 2,2'-bipyridine, py = pyridine), was synthesized via a solvothermal method. For the first time, the coordination of Co ions with (CO) ions in borate systems was observed. Notably, upon pyrolyzing precursor compound 1, high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM) revealed a catalyst with a carbon-supported Co nanocrystal structure, which significantly enhanced the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) performance, achieving a half-wave potential comparable to that of Pt/C.

Loss of ADAMTS5 promotes vascular calcification via versican/integrin β1/FAK signal.

Introduction: Extracellular matrix (ECM) proteases have been closely linked to the pathogenesis of vascular calcification. A disintegrin and metalloprotease with thrombospondin motifs-5 (ADAMTS5) is an ECM-degrading enzyme involved in ECM remodeling. Versican, a critical ECM component in the arteries, can be proteolytically cleaved by ADAMTS5 and activates integrin β1.

STING Facilitates Vascular Calcification via p-STAT1/NLRP3 Signal.

Vascular calcification is an independent predictor of cardiovascular mortality in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD), yet no approved treatment exists. The cGAS-STING signaling participates in various cardiovascular diseases. Notably, DNA damage, an important regulator of vascular calcification, activates the cGAS-STING signaling.

Adaptive nitrogen-containing buckybowl: a versatile receptor for curved and planar aromatic molecules.

Bowl-shaped polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), or buckybowls, are renowned for their unique structures and physicochemical properties, making them promising fragments for functional materials. While well-known examples like corannulene and sumanene demonstrate their potential, synthetic challenges have limited the development of other fullerene fragments. Recent advancements, particularly the incorporation of heteroatoms, have expanded the structural diversity of buckybowls.

Synthesis and Chiroptical Properties of a Saddle-Shaped Quadruple Helicene with a Cyclooctatetrapyrrole Core.

A quadruple helicene with a cyclooctatetrapyrrole core was synthesized via a simple Ullmann reaction. Its single-crystal structure exhibits a saddle shape. The compound shows fluorescence emission with λ = 575 nm and good chiroptical properties, including a dissymmetric absorption factor (||) of 5.

Thrombospondin-1 binds to integrin β3 to inhibit vascular calcification through suppression of NF-κB pathway.

Vascular calcification is an important risk factor related to all-cause mortality of cardiovascular events in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD). Vascular extracellular matrix (ECM) proteins have been demonstrated to regulate vascular calcification. ECM protein thrombospondin 1 (THBS1/TSP-1) plays a critical role in the regulation of vascular diseases.

Visible-Light-Induced Divergent C-H Esterification/Alkylation of Quinoxalin-2(1)-ones with Aldehydes under Mild Conditions.

Herein, we introduce an efficient and straightforward strategy for the selective C-H esterification and alkylation of quinoxalin-2(1)-ones with aldehydes. A key feature of our study is the ability to perform both C-H esterification and alkylation using different types of aldehydes. The reaction system is highly compatible with a range of quinoxalin-2(1)-ones and aldehydes, yielding C3-esterified and C3-alkylated products in moderate-to-good yields.

Molecular HDD logic for encrypted massive data storage.

Organic memories, with small dimension, fast speed and long retention features, are considered as promising candidates for massive data archiving. In order to satisfy the requirements for ultra-low power and high-security information storage, we design a conceptual molecular hard-disk (HDD) logic scheme that is capable to execute in-situ encryption of massive data in pW/bit power-consumption range. Beneficial from the coupled mechanism of counter-balanced redox reaction and local ion drifting, the basic HDD unit consisting of ~200 self-assembled RuLPH molecules in a monolayer (SAM) configuration undergoes unique conductance modulation with continuous, symmetric and low-power switching characteristics.

Evaluating urban climate resilience in the Yangtze River Delta urban agglomeration: A novel method integrating the DPSIR model and Sustainable Development Goals.

The interplay between climate change and socio-economic activities has placed cities at the forefront of climate-related threats. Evaluating and enhancing urban climate resilience are widely regarded as effective strategies for mitigating and adapting to climate change. This study aims to develop a more logical, comprehensive, and replicable urban climate resilience assessment framework to accurately evaluate and enhance urban climate resilience, thereby supporting urban growth and development in climate change.

The cytotoxicity of the haptophyte Chrysochromulina leadbeateri towards the Atlantic salmon gill cell line ASG-10.

Fish-killing harmful algal blooms (HABs) threaten fisheries and aquaculture globally. In May and June 2019, the haptophyte Chrysochromulina leadbeateri formed the most devastating fish-killing algal bloom ever recorded in Northern Norway. Despite the severe impact of HABs on farmed fish, our understanding of their toxic mechanisms is limited.