Progress in the application of epimedium and its major bioactive components in the treatment of orthopedic diseases.

Epimedium brevicornu (Yin Yang Huo), a widely used traditional Chinese medicinal ingredient, has garnered significant attention for its role in treating orthopedic diseases such as osteoporosis. Our work through network pharmacology and bioinformatics analysis, we identified that out of 27 major active components in Epimedium brevicornu, 8 key components have therapeutic effects on 11 types of diseases related to orthopedic conditions. The disease-target association analysis indicated that Osteoarthritis, Osteoporosis, Muscle Spasm and Myopathy have relatively clear targets for disease treatment.

What is Cardiometabolic HFpEF and How Can We Study it Preclinically?

Cardiometabolic heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) has emerged as a distinct and dominant endotype of HFpEF. Driven by prevalent comorbidities, its incidence and prevalence are projected to continue to rise amid the current global pandemic of obesity and metabolic disease. Recognizing the characteristic clinical and molecular features of cardiometabolic HFpEF is paramount for developing an efficacious therapeutic arsenal and improving clinical outcomes, challenges in which success to date has been modest.

Pan-cancer Analyses Refine the Single-Cell Portrait of Tumor-Infiltrating Dendritic Cells.

Dendritic cells (DCs) are pivotal orchestrators of anti-tumor immunity. DC-based anti-tumor treatments are being actively developed, but effective clinical responses have not yet been achieved. Further exploration of DC heterogeneity in the tumor microenvironment (TME) and across cancer types could provide insights for developing DC-based immunotherapies.

A Bidirectional Mendelian Randomization Study of Causal Relationships Between Migraine and White-Matter Structural Connectivity.

Objective: This study aims to investigate the potential causal relationship between migraine and white matter (WM) structural connectivity using genetic data and the Mendelian randomization (MR) analyses method.

Methods: Genome-wide association study (GWAS) summary statistics for migraine (48,975 cases/540,381 controls) and 206 WM structural connectivity related imaging-derived phenotypes (IDPs) (26,333 samples) were collected. Based on instrumental variables (IVs) selected from the GWAS summary statistics, the bidirectional two-sample MR analyses were conducted to infer bidirectional causal associations between migraine and WM structural connectivity.

Acupuncture for migraine: a literature review of neuroimaging studies.

Background: Acupuncture is effective for migraine treatment with minimal side effects. Neuroimaging techniques have been extensively used to explore the central mechanisms of acupuncture for migraine. This review aims to summarize neuroimaging study of acupuncture for migraine, providing a valuable reference and foundation for future clinical and mechanistic research.

Strategies for climate-resilient global wind and solar power systems.

Climate change may amplify the frequency and severity of supply-demand mismatches in future power systems with high shares of wind and solar energy. Here we use a dispatch optimization model to assess potential increases in hourly costs associated with the climate-intensified gaps under fixed, high penetrations of wind and solar energy generation. We further explore various strategies to enhance system resilience in the face of future climate change.

Endothelial SIRT3 deficiency predisposes brown adipose tissue to whitening in diet-induced obesity.

Endothelial dysfunction and vascular rarefaction are supposed to be secondary to metabolic diseases, while recent evidence has revealed the primary roles of endothelium in initiating and accelerating metabolic disorders. Here, the effects and underlying mechanisms of endothelial SIRT3 in modulating the whitening of BAT during obesity progression were explored. Therefore, mice with global or BAT regional endothelium-specific Sirt3 knockout were constructed and fed with high-fat diet (HFD).

Modified Roux-en-Y gastric bypass surgery avoids complications in mice.

Background: Roux-en-Y gastric bypass（RYGB）surgery delivers an improvement in obesity and obesity-related risks. However, due to the limited operational space in the abdominal cavity of mice, the technical complexity of RYGB surgery and the postoperative complications hinder its mechanism research. The aim was to develop a device that makes it easier to anastomose the esophagus to the jejunum.

Multi-omics analysis reveals the mechanism for galactose metabolism in mutant IMAU20551Y.

() is a species widely used in the dairy industry to accelerate the acidification rate and improve the texture and flavour characteristics of dairy products. However, most have galactose-negative (Gal) phenotypes, which can lead to accumulation of free galactose in fermented dairy products. In a previous study, a mutant of IMAU20551Y was obtained by N-methyl-N'-nitro-N-nitrosoguanidine (NTG) mutagenesis in which key enzymes related to galactose metabolism were significantly changed compared with the wild type.

Mechanisms of exopolysaccharide synthesis by Streptococcus thermophilus IMAU20246 determined by the carbon source.

Our study characterized exopolysaccharide production by Streptococcus thermophilus IMAU20246 with lactose, glucose, galactose, or sucrose as sole carbon sources, and conducted comparative transcriptomics to unravel EPS synthesis mechanisms. The yield, molecular weight, monosaccharide composition and structure of EPSs were significantly affected by carbon sources. The yield of EPSs was highest (617 ± 5.

Characterization of hepatocarcinoma cells: lymphatic metastasis potential through enhanced production, expression, and secretion along the VEGF-C/D-VEGFR-3/NRP-2 axis.

Objectives: In vitro and in vivo analyses were conducted to examine the correlations between the production, expression, and secretion of the VEGF-C/D-VEGFR-3/NRP-2 axis and various levels of lymphatic metastatic potential in murine hepatocellular carcinoma cells.

Methods: Quantitative real-time PCR, western blotting, cytoimmunofluorescence, immunohistochemistry, and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay were employed to assess the expression and secretion of the VEGF-C/D-VEGFR-3/NRP-2 axis at the gene, protein, cytological, and histological levels.

Results: In both in vitro and in vivo experiments, the ligands VEGF-C/D and receptors VEGFR-3/NRP-2 were primarily localized in the cytoplasm or cell membrane of hepatocarcinoma F/P cells with high/low lymphatic metastatic potentials, and in normal hepatocytes, respectively.

Meriones unguiculatus serves as a spontaneous primary aldosteronism rodent model.

Background: Primary aldosteronism (PA) is the most common form of endocrine hypertension. The available animal models of PA rely on gene manipulation, thus fail to duplicate the general pathological process of PA in humans. Meriones unguiculatus (MU) has been reported to possess a large size of adrenal gland and an elevated ability to save water.

The Value of Diffusion Kurtosis Imaging to Assess Liver and Kidney Recovery after Mesenchymal Stem Cell Intervention in CCl4-Induced Cirrhotic Rats.

Introduction: The aim of the study was to investigate the potential of diffusion kurtosis imaging (DKI) in monitoring the improvement of liver and kidney injury in cirrhotic rats after bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cell (BMSCs) treatment.

Methods: Thirty rats were induced with liver cirrhosis via subcutaneous injection of carbon tetrachloride. Six rats were randomly selected for DKI scanning and subsequently euthanized for biochemical and histological analysis.

The 2023 report of the synergetic roadmap on carbon neutrality and clean air for China: Carbon reduction, pollution mitigation, greening, and growth.

The response to climate change and air pollution control demonstrates strong synergy across scientific mechanisms, targets, strategies, and governance systems. This report, based on a monitoring indicator system for coordinated governance of air pollution and climate change, employs an interdisciplinary approach combining natural and social sciences. It establishes 20 indicators across five key areas: air pollution and climate change, governance systems and practices, structural transformation and technologies, atmospheric components and emission reduction pathways, and health impacts and co-benefits.

Roux-en-Y gastric bypass alleviates kidney inflammation and improves kidney function in mice by activating TLCA/TGR5 pathway.

Diabetic kidney disease (DKD) is a severe diabetic microvascular complication featured by chronic low-grade inflammation. Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (RYGB) surgery has gained importance as a safe and effective surgery to treat DKD. Bile acids significantly change after RYGB, which brings a series of metabolic benefits, but the relationship with the improvement of DKD is unclear.

A neural regulation mechanism of head electroacupuncture on brain network of patients with stroke related sleep disorders.

Objective: To analyze part of the mechanism of electroacupuncture on Sishencong (EX-HN1) for stroke-related sleep disorders (SSD) and post-stroke cognitive impairment (PSCI).

Methods: Using a randomized controlled trial (RCT) design, 72 patients were assigned to the electro-acupuncture (EA) group or the sham acupuncture (SA) group. A healthy control (HC) group was also included.

Unveiling the genetic basis and metabolic rewiring behind the galactose-positive phenotype in a Streptococcus thermophilus mutant.

Streptococcus thermophilus (S. thermophilus) is a widely used starter culture in dairy fermentation, but most strains are galactose-negative and only metabolize glucose from lactose hydrolysis. In this study, we aimed to uncover the mechanisms underlying the acquisition of a stable galactose-positive (Gal) phenotype in a mutant strain of S.

Dietary apigenin ameliorates obesity-related hypertension through TRPV4-dependent vasorelaxation and TRPV4-independent adiponectin secretion.

Background: Obesity-related hypertension is a major cardiovascular risk factor. Apigenin, a natural flavonoid in celery, induces vascular dilation via endothelial transient receptor potential channel vanilla 4 (TRPV4) channels. This study aimed to explore apigenin's potential to alleviate obesity-related hypertension in mice and its underlying mechanisms.

Optimizing air quality and health Co-benefits of mitigation technologies in China: An integrated assessment.

Carbon mitigation technologies lead to air quality improvement and health co-benefits, while the practical effects of the technologies are dependent on the energy composition, technological advancements, and economic development. In China, mitigation technologies such as end-of-pipe treatment, renewable energy adoption, carbon capture and storage (CCS), and sector electrification demonstrate significant promise in meeting carbon reduction targets. However, the optimization of these technologies for maximum co-benefits remains unclear.

Climate change impacts on the extreme power shortage events of wind-solar supply systems worldwide during 1980-2022.

Economic productivity depends on reliable access to electricity, but the extreme shortage events of variable wind-solar systems may be strongly affected by climate change. Here, hourly reanalysis climatological data are leveraged to examine historical trends in defined extreme shortage events worldwide. We find uptrends in extreme shortage events regardless of their frequency, duration, and intensity since 1980.

Selection of a galactose-positive mutant strain of Streptococcus thermophilus and its optimized production as a high-vitality starter culture.

Streptococcus thermophilus is a common starter in yogurt production and plays an important role in the dairy industry. In this study, a galactose-positive (Gal) mutant strain, IMAU20246Y, was produced using the chemical mutagen N-methyl-N'-nitro-N-nitrosoguanidine (NTG) from wild-type S. thermophilus IMAU20246, which is known to have good fermentation characteristics.

Feasibility of Artificial Intelligence Constrained Compressed SENSE Accelerated 3D Isotropic T1 VISTA Sequence For Vessel Wall MR Imaging: Exploring the Potential of Higher Acceleration Factors Compared to Traditional Compressed SENSE.

Rationale And Objectives: Investigate the feasibility of using deep learning-based accelerated 3D T1-weighted volumetric isotropic turbo spin-echo acquisition (VISTA) for vessel wall magnetic resonance imaging (VW-MRI), compared to traditional Compressed SENSE and optimize acceleration factor (AF) to obtain high-quality clinical images.

Methods: 40 patients with atherosclerotic plaques in the intracranial or carotid artery were prospectively enrolled in our study from October 1, 2022 to October 31, 2023 underwent high-resolution vessel wall imaging on a 3.0 T MR system using variable Compressed SENSE (CS) AFs and reconstructed by an optimized artificial intelligence constrained Compressed SENSE (CS-AI).