Measurement error correction methods for the effects of ambient air pollution on mortality and morbidity using the UK Biobank cohort: the MELONS study.

Epidemiological cohort studies associating long-term exposure to ambient air pollution with health outcomes most often do not account for individually assigned exposure measurement error. Here, we implemented Cox proportional hazards models to explore the relationships between NO, PM and ozone exposures with the incidence of natural-cause mortality and several morbidity outcomes in 61,797 London-dwelling respondents of the UK Biobank cohort. Data from an existing personal monitoring campaign was used as an external validation dataset to estimate measurement error structures between "true" personal exposure and several surrogate (measured and modelled) estimates of assigned exposure, allowing for the application of two health effect estimate correction methodologies: regression calibration (RCAL) and simulation extrapolation (SIMEX).

Molecular targets and mechanisms of cortex mori for lung cancer treatment: a network pharmacology study, molecular docking and and experimental validation.

Introduction: The cortex mori comes from the white endothelium of the young root of Morus alba L., and its medical value was first described in Shen Nong Ben Cao Jing (Classic on Materia Medical of Shennong). It was originally intended to purge lung, relieve asthma and reduce swelling.

PCM1 orchestrates centrosomal and flagellar protein transport to promote sperm maturation.

Centriolar satellites facilitate the delivery of proteins required for centrosome assembly and function, and rely on the nucleation of the scaffold protein pericentriolar material 1 (PCM1). During sperm maturation, centrosomes undergo remodeling to facilitate neckpiece formation and flagellogenesis. However, the role and mechanism of PCM1 in centrosome remodeling and sperm maturation remain to be elucidated.

A sensitive soma-localized red fluorescent calcium indicator for in vivo imaging of neuronal populations at single-cell resolution.

Recent advancements in genetically encoded calcium indicators, particularly those based on green fluorescent proteins, have optimized their performance for monitoring neuronal activities in a variety of model organisms. However, progress in developing red-shifted GECIs, despite their advantages over green indicators, has been slower, resulting in fewer options for end users. In this study, we explored topological inversion and soma-targeting strategies, which are complementary to conventional mutagenesis, to re-engineer a red genetically encoded calcium indicator, FRCaMP, for enhanced in vivo performance.

Hepatitis B Virus Disrupts the Blood-Testis Barrier via the Induction of mTOR-Dependent Autophagy in Sertoli Cells.

Hepatitis B virus (HBV) is one of the most serious public health threats worldwide. HBV is not only able to pass through the blood-testis barrier (BTB); It can also cause impairment of male fertility. However, the mechanisms involved in this process remain unknown.

Estimating exposure to pollutants generated from indoor and outdoor sources within vulnerable populations using personal air quality monitors: A London case study.

Personal exposure to air pollution can originate from indoor or outdoor sources, depending on location and activity. This study aimed to quantify personal exposure from each source separately, allowing comparison of the associated epidemiological estimates from each source type. We utilised 12,901 participant-day personal measurements of exposure to multiple pollutants collected from 344 London dwelling participants of four panel studies conducted between 2015 and 2019.

Screening of Vibrational Spectroscopic Voltage Indicator by Stimulated Raman Scattering Microscopy.

Genetically encoded voltage indicators (GEVIs) have significantly advanced voltage imaging, offering spatial details at cellular and subcellular levels not easily accessible with electrophysiology. In addition to fluorescence imaging, certain chemical bond vibrations are sensitive to membrane potential changes, presenting an alternative imaging strategy; however, challenges in signal sensitivity and membrane specificity highlight the need to develop vibrational spectroscopic GEVIs (vGEVIs) in mammalian cells. To address this need, a vGEVI screening approach is developed that employs hyperspectral stimulated Raman scattering (hSRS) imaging synchronized with an induced transmembrane voltage (ITV) stimulation, revealing unique spectroscopic signatures of sensors expressed on membranes.

Engineering of Genetically Encoded Bright Near-Infrared Fluorescent Voltage Indicator.

Genetically encoded voltage indicators (GEVIs) allow for the cell-type-specific real-time imaging of neuronal membrane potential dynamics, which is essential to understanding neuronal information processing at both cellular and circuit levels. Among GEVIs, near-infrared-shifted GEVIs offer faster kinetics, better tissue penetration, and compatibility with optogenetic tools, enabling all-optical electrophysiology in complex biological contexts. In our previous work, we employed the directed molecular evolution of microbial rhodopsin Archaerhodopsin-3 (Arch-3) in mammalian cells to develop a voltage sensor called Archon1.

A Sensitive Soma-localized Red Fluorescent Calcium Indicator for Multi-Modality Imaging of Neuronal Populations In Vivo.

Recent advancements in genetically encoded calcium indicators, particularly those based on green fluorescent proteins, have optimized their performance for monitoring neuronal activities in a variety of model organisms. However, progress in developing red-shifted GECIs, despite their advantages over green indicators, has been slower, resulting in fewer options for end-users. In this study, we explored topological inversion and soma-targeting strategies, which are complementary to conventional mutagenesis, to re-engineer a red genetically encoded calcium indicator, FRCaMP, for enhanced performance.

Improved Efficacy of a Predictive Model for Swallowing-Induced Breakthrough Pain Based on a Redefined Delineation Method in Locally Advanced Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma.

Purpose: The objective of this study was to explore the performance of a predictive model for swallowing-induced breakthrough pain established using a redefined delineation method based on the common occurrence sites of radiation-induced oral mucositis (RIOM) in locally advanced nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC).

Methods And Materials: A total of 208 patients with locally advanced NPC were included in the study cohort, and the test cohort consisted of 88 patients. The oral mucosa structure was contoured using oral cavity contour (OCC), mucosal surface contour (MSC), and oral-pharyngeal mucosa (OPM) methods, and relevant dosimetric parameters were collected.

Using primary and routinely collected data to determine prevalence and patterns of multimorbidity in rural China: a representative cross-sectional study of 6474 Chinese adults.

Background: In China, rising chronic diseases has coincided with the increasing burden of multimorbidity, particularly for vulnerable populations. Limited primary data are available to understand the prevalence and patterns of multimorbidity, especially in resource-limited rural areas. This study aims to conduct robust evaluations of the prevalence and patterns of multimorbidity among rural adults in China, and to compare the differences in prevalence and patterns when using primary data alone versus in combination with routinely collected data.

Cytoplasmic Aggregates of Splicing Factor Proline-Glutamine Rich Disrupt Nucleocytoplasmic Transport and Induce Persistent Stress Granules.

Splicing factor proline-glutamine rich (SFPQ), a multifunctional RNA-binding protein (RBP), shows cytoplasmic colocalisation with stress granule (SG) markers; however, the causative relationship and mechanism underlying this coalescence of SFPQ aggregates and SGs remain unclear. In this study, we demonstrate that SFPQ lacking its nuclear localisation sequence spontaneously forms cytoplasmic aggregates that abnormally incorporate immature RNA and induce persistent SGs. mRNA profiling showed that SFPQ mislocalisation induced extensive changes in RNA processing, with a subset of alternatively spliced transcripts associated with nucleocytoplasmic transport.

Air pollution and respiratory health in patients with COPD: should we focus on indoor or outdoor sources?

Introduction: While associations between ambient air pollution and respiratory health in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) patients are well studied, little is known about individuals' personal exposure to pollution and associated health effects by source.

Aim: To separate measured total personal exposure into indoor-generated and outdoor-generated pollution and use these improved metrics in health models for establishing more reliable associations with exacerbations and respiratory symptoms.

Methods: We enrolled a panel of 76 patients with COPD and continuously measured their personal exposure to particles and gaseous pollutants and location with portable monitors for 134 days on average.

Short-term air pollution and greenness exposures on oxidative stress in urban and peri-urban residents in Beijing: A part of AIRLESS study.

Background: Exposure to air pollution has been associated with increased risks of cardiopulmonary diseases, cancer, and mortality, whereas residing near green spaces may reduce the risks. However, limited research explores their combined effect on oxidative stress.

Methods: A total of 251 participants with multi-time measurements were included in the longitudinal-designed study.

Deletion of Fbxw7 in oocytes causes follicle loss and premature ovarian insufficiency in mice.

Premature ovarian insufficiency (POI) is one of the important causes of female infertility. Yet the aetiology for POI is still elusive. FBXW7 (F-box with 7 tandem WD) is one of the important components of the Skp1-Cullin1-F-box (SCF) E3 ubiquitin ligase.

Cpne1 deficiency preserves sperm motility under Ca channel blockade.

Calcium ions (Ca) play crucial roles in sperm motility and fertilization. The copine (CPNE) family comprises several Ca-dependent phospholipid-binding proteins. Of these, CPNE1 is extensively expressed in mammalian tissues; however, its precise role in testicular development and spermatogenesis is yet to be fully characterized.

VLDL and LDL Subfractions Enhance the Risk Stratification of Individuals Who Underwent Epstein-Barr Virus-Based Screening for Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma: A Multicenter Cohort Study.

Serological tests for Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) antibodies have been widely conducted for the screening of nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) in endemic areas. Further risk stratification of NPC can be achieved through plasma lipoprotein and metabolic profiles. A total of 297 NPC patients and 149 EBV-positive participants are enrolled from the NCT03919552 and NCT05682703 cohorts for plasma nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) metabolomic analysis.

Nitric oxide-induced lipophagic defects contribute to testosterone deficiency in rats with spinal cord injury.

Introduction: Males with acute spinal cord injury (SCI) frequently exhibit testosterone deficiency and reproductive dysfunction. While such incidence rates are high in chronic patients, the underlying mechanisms remain elusive.

Methods And Results: Herein, we generated a rat SCI model, which recapitulated complications in human males, including low testosterone levels and spermatogenic disorders.

Bright and stable monomeric green fluorescent protein derived from StayGold.

The high brightness and photostability of the green fluorescent protein StayGold make it a particularly attractive probe for long-term live-cell imaging; however, its dimeric nature precludes its application as a fluorescent tag for some proteins. Here, we report the development and crystal structures of a monomeric variant of StayGold, named mBaoJin, which preserves the beneficial properties of its precursor, while serving as a tag for structural proteins and membranes. Systematic benchmarking of mBaoJin against popular green fluorescent proteins and other recently introduced monomeric and pseudomonomeric derivatives of StayGold established mBaoJin as a bright and photostable fluorescent protein, exhibiting rapid maturation and high pH/chemical stability.

Construction and application of nasopharyngeal carcinoma-specific big data platform based on electronic health records.

Objective: To establish a nasopharyngeal carcinoma-specific big data platform based on electronic health records (EHRs) to provide data support for real-world study of nasopharyngeal carcinoma.

Methods: A multidisciplinary expert team was established for this project. Based on industry standards and practical feasibility, the team designed the nasopharyngeal carcinoma data element standards including 14 modules and 640 fields.

Iridium(III) complex induces apoptosis in HeLa cells by regulating mitochondrial and PI3K/AKT signaling pathways: In vitro and in vivo experiments.

Cyclometalated iridium complexes with mitochondrial targeting show great potential as substitutes for platinum-based complexes because of their strong anti-cancer properties. Three novel cyclometalated iridium(III) compounds were synthesized and evaluated in five different cell lines as part of the ongoing systematic investigations of these compounds. The complexes were prepared using 4,7-dichloro-1,10-phenanthroline ligands.

Quantitative assessment of near-infrared fluorescent proteins.

Recent progress in fluorescent protein development has generated a large diversity of near-infrared fluorescent proteins (NIR FPs), which are rapidly becoming popular probes for a variety of imaging applications. However, the diversity of NIR FPs poses a challenge for end-users in choosing the optimal one for a given application. Here we conducted a systematic and quantitative assessment of intracellular brightness, photostability, oligomeric state, chemical stability and cytotoxicity of 22 NIR FPs in cultured mammalian cells and primary mouse neurons and identified a set of top-performing FPs including emiRFP670, miRFP680, miRFP713 and miRFP720, which can cover a majority of imaging applications.