Characterization of DNA Methylation Episignatures for Radon-Induced Lung Cancer.

Radon (Rn) exposure has a strong association with lung cancer risk and is influenced by epigenetic modifications. To investigate the characterization of DNA methylation (DNAm) episignatures for radon-induced lung cancer, we detected the specific changes in DNAm in blood and lung tissues using reduced representation bisulfite sequencing (RRBS). We identified the differentially methylated regions (DMRs) induced by radon exposure.

Comprehensive high-throughput sequencing analysis and verification of miRNAs isolated from bronchial epithelial cells undergoing radiation-induced epithelial-mesenchymal transition.

Radiation-induced pulmonary fibrosis (RIPF) constitutes a significant complication in radiotherapy for various cancers, often severely limiting its efficacy. Recent studies suggest that epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) plays a vital role in the pathogenesis of RIPF. Elucidating the involvement of microRNAs (miRNAs) in EMT could provide valuable insights into the mechanisms underlying RIPF and potentially reveal therapeutic targets.

Kaempferol improves mitochondrial homeostasis via mitochondrial dynamics and mitophagy in diabetic kidney disease.

Mitochondrial homeostasis imbalance plays an important role in the development of diabetic kidney disease (DKD). Kaempferol is a key bioactive compound widely present in the rhizomes of Kaempferia L. and vegetables.

ShenQi ShenKang Granule Alleviates Chronic Kidney Disease by Inhibiting the PI3K/AKT/mTOR Pathway and Restoring Autophagy Flux and Mitochondrial Integrity.

Purpose: This study investigates the effect of Shenqi Shenkang granule (SQSKG) on chronic kidney disease (CKD), focusing on regulating the PI3K/AKT/mTOR pathway, autophagy, and mitochondrial homeostasis.

Methods: The compounds and targets of SQSKG on CKD were identified by network pharmacology and validated by molecular docking. LC-MS/MS was used to verify the compounds screened by network pharmacology.

Genetically predicted circulating immune cells and cytokines reveal the causal role of immune factors on female infertility: a two-sample mendelian randomization study.

Objectives: Previous studies suggested that immune factors may play critical roles in female infertility, but their causal links remain unclear. To address this gap, this study employs the Mendelian randomization (MR) to delineate the causal association between circulating immune factors and female infertility.

Methods: This study employed summary-level data from three genome-wide association studies (GWAS) encompassing 731 peripheral immune cell signatures, 41 circulating cytokines, and five female infertility phenotypes to reveal the causal relationship between immune factors and female infertility.

Advanced paternal age exacerbates neuroinflammation in offspring via m6A modification-mediated intergenerational inheritance.

Background: The trend of postponing childbearing age is prevalent worldwide. Advanced paternal age (APA) is associated with adverse pregnancy outcomes and offspring health. However, the underlying mechanism by which paternal aging affects the risk of offspring neuropsychiatric disorders is unclear.

Low-dose ionizing radiation-induced RET/PTC1 rearrangement via the non-homologous end joining pathway to drive thyroid cancer.

Thyroid cancer incidence increases worldwide annually, primarily due to factors such as ionizing radiation (IR), iodine intake, and genetics. Papillary carcinoma of the thyroid (PTC) accounts for about 80% of thyroid cancer cases. RET/PTC1 (coiled-coil domain containing 6 [CCDC6]-rearranged during transfection) rearrangement is a distinctive feature in over 70% of thyroid cancers who exposed to low doses of IR in Chernobyl and Hiroshima‒Nagasaki atomic bombings.

TNKS1BP1 mediates AECII senescence and radiation induced lung injury through suppressing EEF2 degradation.

Background: Although recent studies provide mechanistic understanding to the pathogenesis of radiation induced lung injury (RILI), rare therapeutics show definitive promise for treating this disease. Type II alveolar epithelial cells (AECII) injury in various manner results in an inflammation response to initiate RILI.

Results: Here, we reported that radiation (IR) up-regulated the TNKS1BP1, causing progressive accumulation of the cellular senescence by up-regulating EEF2 in AECII and lung tissue of RILI mice.

Molybdenum-Modified Titanium Dioxide Nanotube Arrays as an Efficient Electrode for the Electroreduction of Nitrate to Ammonia.

Electrochemical nitrate reduction (NORR) has been recognized as a promising strategy for sustainable ammonia (NH) production due to its environmental friendliness and economical nature. However, the NORR reaction involves an eight-electron coupled proton transfer process with many by-products and low Faraday efficiency. In this work, a molybdenum oxide (MoO)-decorated titanium dioxide nanotube on Ti foil (Mo/TiO) was prepared by means of an electrodeposition and calcination process.

Effects of exposure to multiple metallic elements in the first trimester of pregnancy on the risk of preterm birth.

Exposure to certain heavy metals has been demonstrated to be associated with a higher risk of preterm birth (PTB). However, studies focused on the effects of other metal mixtures were limited. A nested case‒control study enrolling 94 PTB cases and 282 controls was conducted.

DNA-PKcs/AKT1 inhibits epithelial-mesenchymal transition during radiation-induced pulmonary fibrosis by inducing ubiquitination and degradation of Twist1.

Introduction: Radiation-induced pulmonary fibrosis (RIPF) is a chronic, progressive, irreversible lung interstitial disease that develops after radiotherapy. Although several previous studies have focused on the mechanism of epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) in lung epithelial cells, the essential factors involved in this process remain poorly understood. The DNA-dependent protein kinase catalytic subunit (DNA-PKcs) exhibits strong repair capacity when cells undergo radiation-induced damage; whether DNA-PKcs regulates EMT during RIPF remains unclear.

Pre-eclamptic foetal programming predisposes offspring to hepatic steatosis via DNA methylation.

Objectives: Gamete and embryo-foetal origins of adult diseases hypothesis proposes that adulthood chronic disorders are associated with adverse foetal and early life traits. Our study aimed to characterise developmental changes and underlying mechanisms of metabolic disorders in offspring of pre-eclampsia (PE) programmed pregnancy.

Methods: Nω-Nitro-l-arginine methyl ester hydrochloride (L-NAME) induced pre-eclampsia-like C57BL/6J mouse model was used.

Effect of transvaginal Lactobacillus supplementation on reversing lower genital tract dysbiosis and improving perinatal outcomes in PCOS patients after IVF-FET: a study protocol for a multicenter randomized controlled trial.

Background: Significant lower genital tract (LGT) dysbiosis and an associated lower rate of clinical pregnancy after in vitro fertilization-frozen embryo transfer (IVF-FET) among polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) patients have been previously reported by our group. We aimed to assess whether transvaginal Lactobacillus supplementation can reverse LGT dysbiosis and further improve perinatal outcomes in PCOS patients after IVF-FET.

Methods/design: This is a protocol for a multicenter, open-label, randomized controlled trial in China.

Metabolome implies increased fatty acid utilization and histone methylation in the follicles from hyperandrogenic PCOS women.

Well-balanced metabolism is essential for the high-quality of oocytes, and metabolic fluctuations of follicular microenvironment potentially encourage functional changes in follicle cells, ultimately impacting the developmental potential of oocytes. Here, the global metabolomic profiles of follicular fluid from PCOS women with ovarian hyperandrogenism and nonhyperandrogenism were depicted by untargeted metabolome and transcriptome. In parallel, functional methods were employed to evaluate the possible impact of dysregulated metabolites on oocyte and embryo development.

Content analysis of breast milk substitutes marketing on Chinese e-commerce platforms.

China has the largest and fastest-growing breast milk substitutes (BMSs) market and a disproportionately low exclusive breastfeeding rate. Many BMS manufacturers have established Chinese e-commerce stores. This marketing is of concern as it is likely to undermine breastfeeding.

Advanced paternal age increased metabolic risks in mice offspring.

Objectives: The Developmental Origins of Health and Disease Science indicate that chronic diseases in adulthood are associated with prenatal and early-life traits. Our study aimed to explore the metabolic phenotype of offspring from advanced paternal age (APA) and the inherited alterations in sperm.

Methods: 3-month-old (Young father, YF-F0) and 21-month-old male (Old Father, OF-F0) C57BL/6J mice were used to study paternal aging's effect on offspring.

Association of homocysteine with IVF/ICSI outcomes stratified by MTHFR C677T polymorphisms: a prospective cohort study.

Research Question: What is the association between homocysteine (Hcy) and IVF/intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) outcomes, stratified by methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR) C677T polymorphisms?

Design: This prospective cohort study recruited 1011 infertile women undergoing IVF/ICSI treatment for the first time at the International Peace Maternity and Child Health Hospital between June 2015 and March 2018.

Results: The concentration of total serum Hcy was significantly negatively associated with clinical pregnancy and implantation rate. When adjusted for maternal and paternal age and educational level, maternal body mass index, and FSH and oestradiol concentrations, logistic regression analysis showed that women with higher Hcy had a higher risk of unsuccessful pregnancy.

Comorbidities and Quality of Life in Women Undergoing First Surgery for Endometriosis: Differences Between Chinese and Italian Population.

An observational cross-sectional study was conducted in a group (n = 371) of fertile age women with endometriosis, by administering a structured questionnaire, in order to evaluate the incidence of gynecological and systemic comorbidities and the impact on quality of life (QoL) in two different groups of Italian and Chinese patients affected by endometriosis. Chinese (n = 175) and Italian (n = 196) women were compared regarding systemic (inflammatory, autoimmune, and mental) and gynecological comorbidities, pain symptoms, and QoL, by using the Short Form 12 (SF-12). Italian patients resulted younger at the diagnosis and suffered more frequently from severe pain than Chinese ones.

Long-term hormonal treatment reduces repetitive surgery for endometriosis recurrence.

Research Question: How effective is medical hormonal treatment in preventing endometriosis recurrence and in improving women's clinical symptoms and quality of life?

Design: This observational cross-sectional study evaluated the effects of hormonal medical treatment (progestins, gonadotrophin-releasing hormone analogues or continuous oral contraceptives) on endometriosis recurrence, current clinical symptoms and quality of life in three groups of patients: Group A (n = 34), no hormonal treatment either before or after the first endometriosis surgery; Group B (n = 76), on hormonal treatment after the first endometriosis surgery; and Group C (n = 75), on hormonal treatment both before and after the first endometriosis surgery.

Results: Group C patients were characterized by a lower rate of endometriosis reoperation (P = 0.011) and a lower rate of dysmenorrhoea (P = 0.

Epigenetics of Estrogen and Progesterone Receptors in Endometriosis.

Endometriosis is an estrogen-dependent inflammatory gynecological disease. Increased estrogen activity and progesterone resistance are the main hormonal substrate of this disease and are associated with inflammatory response and debilitating symptoms, including pain and infertility. Estrogens and progesterone act via their specific nuclear receptors.

Flavone protects HBE cells from DNA double-strand breaks caused by PM2.5.

Ambient air particulate matter 2.5 (PM2.5) contains many harmful components that can enter the circulatory system and produce reactive oxygen species (ROS) in body.