Comparative analysis of Craib and its potential substitutes based on metabolites and pharmacodynamic effect.

Background: Craib (), a traditional treatment for rheumatoid arthritis (RA), faces resource scarcity, leading to the emergence of potential substitutes in the market. Although these potential substitutes have shown properties that alleviate RA-symptoms, their therapeutic equivalence to still requires systematic validation.

Purpose: This study aims to identify suitable potential substitutes for and elucidate their therapeutic mechanisms for RA by conducting comparative analyses of metabolites and pharmacology among these potential substitutes.

Enhanced thermoelectric performance of (TaMo)SiTe/polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) organic-inorganic flexible thermoelectric composite films.

Recently, one-dimensional van der Waals crystalline TaSiTe has been reported as a promising component to form flexible organic/inorganic thermoelectric films due to their unique structure and excellent electronic transport properties. However, TaSiTe based flexible composite films carefully tuned by elemental doping have not been studied yet. In this study, we systematically synthesized (TaMo)SiTe whiskers, and a series of (TaMo)SiTe/PVDF composite films with varying Mo doping concentrations were also prepared.

Cinnamaldehyde Alleviates Salmonellosis in Chicks by Regulating Gut Health.

Due to the high mortality rate in chicks caused by pullorum disease (PD) and the drawbacks of antibiotic resistance, the poultry industry is increasingly interested in using natural herbal antimicrobial agents as alternatives, with cinnamaldehyde (CA) being a focus due to its multitarget and synergistic effects. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of oral administration of CA on restoring intestinal physical integrity, intestinal microbial barrier, and intestinal metabolism in a laboratory model of () infection in chicks. Thirty-six chicks were divided into six groups.

Discovery of Enantiopure ()-Methoprene Derivatives as Potent Biochemical Pesticide Candidates.

()-Methoprene has been widely applied as a powerful biochemical pesticide to control disease vectors and other pestiferous arthropods of economic importance. As a juvenile hormone analogue, many products based on ()-methoprene are developed and commercialized in the USA, Europe, and elsewhere. However, the agricultural use of ()-methoprene and its analogues remains underexplored.

Aortic Stiffness Measured by Carotid Femoral-Pulse Wave Velocity at Different Stages of Normal Glucose, Prediabetes, and Diabetes Mellitus: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Background: To explore aortic stiffness measured by carotid femoral-pulse wave velocity (cf-PWV) at different stages of normal glucose, prediabetes, and diabetes mellitus (DM).

Methods: The literature comparing aortic stiffness (AS) with cf-PWV between DM and non-DM samples was systematically retrieved from Pubmed, Ovid Medline, Web of Science, Embase, Scopus, CNKI, and Wanfang databases. The Newcastle-Ottawa Scale was used to assess the quality of the literature.

Period measurement of a periodic structure by using a heterodyne grating interferometer.

This paper proposes an alternative method for grating period measurement based on heterodyne grating interferometry. The optical configurations for measuring the period of reflection/transmission gratings were demonstrated, and four commercially available gratings were used to evaluate the effectiveness of the proposed method. Based on the phase-lock technique, the grating period could be obtained immediately through the phase wrapped/unwrapped process.

Land use carbon emissions estimation and carbon emissions control strategy effect scenario simulation in Zhejiang province.

Carbon emission control is an important aspect of regional sustainable development. However, there are few studies on predicting the impact of different socio-economic development strategies on carbon emissions under the premise of established government policy objectives, and then evaluating the degree of achievement of policy objectives. In order to research the effect of social and economic development strategies on carbon emissions, remote sensing land use data of Zhejiang Province from 2000 to 2020 were utilized in this paper to quantify carbon emissions, combined with Kaya identity and LMDI decomposition method, and multi-scenario carbon emissions simulation and prediction were carried out under the STIRPAT model framework.

Structural insights into ligand recognition and subtype selectivity of the human melanocortin-3 and melanocortin-5 receptors.

Members of the melanocortin receptor (MCR) family that recognize different melanocortin peptides mediate a broad spectrum of cellular processes including energy homeostasis, inflammation and skin pigmentation through five MCR subtypes (MC1R-MC5R). The structural basis of subtype selectivity of the endogenous agonist γ-MSH and non-selectivity of agonist α-MSH remains elusive, as the two agonists are highly similar with a conserved HFRW motif. Here, we report three cryo-electron microscopy structures of MC3R-G in complex with γ-MSH and MC5R-G in the presence of α-MSH or a potent synthetic agonist PG-901.

against gastric cancer: a network pharmacology, molecular docking and cell experiment study.

Background: () is a traditional Chinese medicine that has been used for thousands of years to treat stomach ailments. To identify the main active compounds and explore the mechanisms underlying the therapeutic effect of against gastric cancer (GC) by network pharmacology, molecular docking analysis and cell experiment.

Methods: Based on a review of the literature and previous experiments conducted by our research group, the active compounds of were obtained.

Self-assembly formation of CuI hybrid micron phosphors with tunable emission for multifunctional applications.

Low-cost and eco-friendly CuI hybrid compounds with various structures have recently attracted increasing attention due to their excellent optical properties and promising phosphor applications. However, the poor solubility and solution processability of bulk powders with agglomerated particle limited their practical applications greatly. In this work, we reported the self-assembly formation of CuI hybrid micron phosphors via the aqueous PVP micelle-assisted assembly route.

GLP-1 mimetics as a potential therapy for nonalcoholic steatohepatitis.

Nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH), as a severe form of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), is characterized by liver steatosis, inflammation, hepatocellular injury and different degrees of fibrosis. The pathogenesis of NASH is complex and multifactorial, obesity and type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) have been implicated as major risk factors. Glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor (GLP-1R) is one of the most successful drug targets of T2DM and obesity, and its peptidic ligands have been proposed as potential therapeutic agents for NASH.

Layer-Tunable Nonlinear Optical Characteristics and Photocarrier Dynamics of 2D PdSe in Broadband Spectra.

Layered 2D transition metal dichalcogenides (TMDCs) exhibited fascinating nonlinear optical (NLO) properties for constructing varied promising optoelectronics. However, exploring the desired 2D materials with both superior nonlinear absorption and ultrafast response in broadband spectra remain the key challenges to harvest their greatest potential. Here, based on synthesizing 2D PdSe films with the controlled layer number, the authors systematically demonstrated the broadband giant NLO performance and ultrafast excited carrier dynamics of this emerging material under femtosecond visible-to-near-infrared laser-pulse excitation (400-1550 nm).

Design and fabrication of a downlight luminaire with a dual frusto-conical reflector.

A design method and corresponding fabrication procedures are proposed for a dual frusto-conical reflector of a downlight luminaire. The profile of the dual frusto-conical reflector consists of two flat-slant reflective surfaces with slightly different slopes. The optimum dual frusto-conical reflector can be obtained with the proposed design method.

Ligand recognition and G-protein coupling selectivity of cholecystokinin A receptor.

Cholecystokinin A receptor (CCKR) belongs to family A G-protein-coupled receptors and regulates nutrient homeostasis upon stimulation by cholecystokinin (CCK). It is an attractive drug target for gastrointestinal and metabolic diseases. One distinguishing feature of CCKR is its ability to interact with a sulfated ligand and to couple with divergent G-protein subtypes, including G, G and G.

Molecular basis for kinin selectivity and activation of the human bradykinin receptors.

Bradykinin and kallidin are endogenous kinin peptide hormones that belong to the kallikrein-kinin system and are essential to the regulation of blood pressure, inflammation, coagulation and pain control. Des-Arg-kallidin, the carboxy-terminal des-Arg metabolite of kallidin, and bradykinin selectively activate two G protein-coupled receptors, type 1 and type 2 bradykinin receptors (B1R and B2R), respectively. The hyperactivation of bradykinin receptors, termed 'bradykinin storm', is associated with pulmonary edema in COVID-19 patients, suggesting that bradykinin receptors are important targets for COVID-19 intervention.

Molecular insights into differentiated ligand recognition of the human parathyroid hormone receptor 2.

The parathyroid hormone receptor 2 (PTH2R) is a class B1 G protein-coupled receptor (GPCR) involved in the regulation of calcium transport, nociception mediation, and wound healing. Naturally occurring mutations in PTH2R were reported to cause hereditary diseases, including syndromic short stature. Here, we report the cryogenic electron microscopy structure of PTH2R bound to its endogenous ligand, tuberoinfundibular peptide (TIP39), and a heterotrimeric G protein at a global resolution of 2.

Molecular insights into ago-allosteric modulation of the human glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor.

The glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor is a validated drug target for metabolic disorders. Ago-allosteric modulators are capable of acting both as agonists on their own and as efficacy enhancers of orthosteric ligands. However, the molecular details of ago-allosterism remain elusive.

Venlafaxine Inhibits the Apoptosis of SHSY-5Y Cells Through Active Wnt/β-Catenin Signaling Pathway.

Objective: This study aimed to explore the mechanism of venlafaxine in regulating the apoptosis of SHSY-5Y cells induced by hypoxia.

Methods: The CoCl2-induced neuronal hypoxia model was established based on SHSY-5Y cells. The morphology and related protein expression of SHSY-5Y cells were detected by qPCR, ELISA and Western blot.

Characterization of a naturally occurring mutation V368M in the human glucagon receptor and its association with metabolic disorders.

Glucagon is a peptide hormone secreted by islet α cells. It plays crucial roles in glucose homeostasis and metabolism by activating its cognate glucagon receptor (GCGR). A naturally occurring deleterious mutation V368M in the human GCGR leads to reduced ligand binding and down-regulation of glucagon signaling.

Factors associated with loss to follow-up of outpatients with depression in general hospitals.

Objective: We aimed to understand the reasons behind outpatient loss to follow-up and the views of Chinese patients with depression regarding disease diagnosis and antidepressant therapy.

Methods: Consecutive outpatients with newly diagnosed depressive disorder between September 2012 and August 2013 at the Shanghai First People's Hospital (a tertiary hospital) were categorized into follow-up and lost-to-follow-up groups. We collected information on demographics, the Hamilton depression (HAMD) scale, Self-Rating Depression Scale (SDS), Self-Rating Anxiety Scale, and Symptom Checklist-90.

Treatment Effect of Antipsychotics in Combination with Horticultural Therapy on Patients with Schizophrenia: A Randomized, Double-blind, Placebo-controlled Study.

Background: As a newly developed treatment method for schizophrenia, horticultural therapy is gaining more attention. However, there is as of now little research investigating this topic as well as a general lack of studies adopting into standard treatment plans.

Aims: Investigate treatment effect of horticultural therapy on patients with schizophrenia and its possibility of standardized application in psychiatric hospitals.

Hierarchical mesoporous silica nanoparticles for tailorable drug release.

In order to modulate the drug release profiles, the hierarchical mesoporous silica nanoparticles (HMSNs) are fabricated by a two-step synthetic process. The HMSNs exhibit uniform spherical morphology with nanoscaled size, well mono-dispersed size distribution, and smooth surface. Because of the hierarchical pore structures with different mesoporous sizes and morphologies (partial open and partial blocked pores), the HMSNs can release the loaded drug in a controlled manner.