Targeting Programmed Cell Death as an Innovative Strategy Against Atherosclerosis: Potential of Natural Compound Supplements.

Atherosclerosis (AS) is the primary pathological basis of various cardiovascular diseases. Its pathogenesis involves multiple processes, including inflammatory responses, lipid metabolism disorders, and cell death. Recently, programmed cell death (PCD), comprising apoptosis, autophagy, pyroptosis, necroptosis, and ferroptosis, has attracted considerable attention as a potential therapeutic target in AS progression.

Polymer microbubbles as universal platform to accelerate polymer mechanochemistry.

The flow-induced activation of mechanophores embedded in linear polymers by ultrasound (US) suffers from slow mechanochemical conversions at the commonly used frequency of 20 kHz and in many cases remains ineffective with higher MHz frequencies. Here, we present polymeric microbubbles (PMBs) as a platform that accelerates the mechanochemical activation of several mechanophores under both 20 kHz and MHz irradiation. MHz irradiation generated by biocompatible high-intensity focused US (HIFU).

Immune in myocardial ischemia/reperfusion injury: potential mechanisms and therapeutic strategies.

Myocardial infarction (MI), which is characterized by high morbidity and mortality, is a serious threat to human life and health, and timely reperfusion therapy to save ischemic myocardium is currently the most effective intervention. Although reperfusion therapy effectively restores coronary blood flow and maximally limits the infarct size, it triggers additional cell death and tissue damage, which is known as myocardial ischemia/reperfusion injury (MIRI). Multiple immune cells are present in the reperfusion area, executing specific functions and engaging in crosstalk during diverse stages, constituting a complex immune microenvironment involved in tissue repair and regeneration after MIRI.

Accelerated Mechanophore Activation and Drug Release in Network Core-Structured Star Polymers Using High-Intensity Focused Ultrasound.

The ultrasound (US)-induced activation of mechanophores embedded in linear polymers (LPs) is the most widely employed technique to realize chemical function by polymer mechanochemistry. However, the commonly used US frequency in this context is around 20 kHz, producing strong inertial cavitation limiting biomedical applicability. Herein, 20 kHz US and 1.

Simulation and verification of a slim X-ray density logging tool.

With advancements in oil and gas exploration, the design and measurement methods of X-ray density logging tools have gained significant attention as a new generation of controllable sources. Using an existing ultra-slim gamma tool as an example, this work shows how the tool could be re-designed by replacing the gamma source with an X-ray source. The key aspects of this study include: 1) Simulating the production of X-ray with different energies; 2) Studying the optimum spacing of X-ray logging tool by considering the factors of detection efficiency, density measurement sensitivity, and depth of investigation; 3) Performing X-ray density measurements using multivariable forward and inversion methods and comparing the results with gamma density logging.

Exploration of ferroptosis and necroptosis-related genes and potential molecular mechanisms in psoriasis and atherosclerosis.

Objective: Ferroptosis and necroptosis are two recently identified forms of non-apoptotic cell death. Their dysregulation plays a critical role in the development and progression of Psoriasis (PsD) and Atherosclerosis (AS). This study explores shared Ferroptosis and necroptosis-related genes and elucidates their molecular mechanisms in PsD and AS through the analysis of public databases.

Pyroptosis: A spoiler of peaceful coexistence between cells in degenerative bone and joint diseases.

Background: As people age, degenerative bone and joint diseases (DBJDs) become more prevalent. When middle-aged and elderly people are diagnosed with one or more disorders such as osteoporosis (OP), osteoarthritis (OA), and intervertebral disc degeneration (IVDD), it often signals the onset of prolonged pain and reduced functionality. Chronic inflammation has been identified as the underlying cause of various degenerative diseases, including DBJDs.

Polymer Mechanochemistry in Microbubbles.

Polymer mechanochemistry is a promising technology to convert mechanical energy into chemical functionality by breaking covalent and supramolecular bonds site-selectively. Yet, the mechanochemical reaction rates of covalent bonds in typically used ultrasonication setups lead to reasonable conversions only after comparably long sonication times. This can be accelerated by either increasing the reactivity of the mechanoresponsive moiety or by modifying the encompassing polymer topology.

Research progress of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) in targeting inflammation and lipid metabolism disorder for arteriosclerosis intervention: A review.

Atherosclerosis (AS) is a chronic disease caused by inflammation and lipid deposition. Immune cells are extensively activated in the lesions, producing excessive pro-inflammatory cytokines, which accompany the entire pathological process of AS. In addition, the accumulation of lipid-mediated lipoproteins under the arterial intima is a crucial event in the development of AS, leading to vascular inflammation.

A study on characteristics of background gamma spectrum from LaCl detector in pulsed neutron logging.

The scintillator detectors such as LaCl(Ce) play an important role in some fields of scientific research, environment, safeguards, medicine, security and industry due to its superior energy resolution and exceptional luminescence properties, etc. However, Cl element in a LaCl crystal produces uncertainty of determining oil saturation in pulsed neutron logging because of the background spectrum caused by secondary gamma ray from the reaction of Cl nuclei with the neutron. In this paper, we employed Monte Carlo method to simulate secondary gamma ray generated LaCl crystal induced by thermal neutron with different borehole and formation conditions and establish a reference spectrum of Cl element.

Mild construction of robust FeS-based electrode for pH-universal hydrogen evolution at industrial current density.

The development of fast and mild preparation of transition metal electrocatalysts for efficient and ultra-stable water electrolysis in wide pH range electrolytes is essential for hydrogen energy supply. Herein, ultrathin and metastable FeS nanolayer self-supported on 3D porous iron foam (IF) substrate is fabricated via one-step mild sulfurization etching for only 2 h to obtain FeS@IF electrode, which achieves efficient and long-term hydrogen evolution in alkaline simulated seawater (1.0 M KOH + 0.

Multiplexed sensing of biomolecules with optically detected magnetic resonance of nitrogen-vacancy centers in diamond.

In the past decade, a great effort has been devoted to develop new biosensor platforms for the detection of a wide range of analytes. Among the various approaches, magneto-DNA assay platforms have received extended interest for high sensitive and specific detection of targets with a simultaneous manipulation capacity. Here, using nitrogen-vacancy quantum centers in diamond as transducers for magnetic nanotags (MNTs), a hydrogel-based, multiplexed magneto-DNA assay is presented.

A new algorithm for evaluating reservoir density based on X-ray logging technology.

Rock density is an important parameter to provide critical information for evaluating both conventional and unconventional reservoirs. During the drilling process, it's a huge challenge to eliminating the negative effects of irregular mud cake formed in drilling fluid deposition to evaluating reservoir information accurately. However, the calibration of density measurement by correction charts would usually generate large errors, and the parameters that need to be corrected are often unpredictable.

Activation of the Catalytic Activity of Thrombin for Fibrin Formation by Ultrasound.

The regulation of enzyme activity is a method to control biological function. We report two systems enabling the ultrasound-induced activation of thrombin, which is vital for secondary hemostasis. First, we designed polyaptamers, which can specifically bind to thrombin, inhibiting its catalytic activity.

DNA hybridization as a general method to enhance the cellular uptake of nanostructures.

The biomedical application of nanoparticles (NPs) for diagnosis and therapy is considerably stalled by their inefficient cellular internalization. Many strategies to overcome this obstacle have been developed but are not generally applicable to different NP systems, consequently underlining the need for a universal method that enhances NP entry into cells. Here we describe a method to increase NP cellular uptake via strand hybridization between DNA-functionalized NPs and cells that bear the respective complementary sequence incorporated into the membrane.

Four-Dimensional Deoxyribonucleic Acid-Gold Nanoparticle Assemblies.

Organization of gold nanoobjects by oligonucleotides has resulted in many three-dimensional colloidal assemblies with diverse size, shape, and complexity; nonetheless, autonomous and temporal control during formation remains challenging. In contrast, living systems temporally and spatially self-regulate formation of functional structures by internally orchestrating assembly and disassembly kinetics of dissipative biomacromolecular networks. We present a novel approach for fabricating four-dimensional gold nanostructures by adding an additional dimension: time.

lncRNA-XIST protects the hypoxia-induced cardiomyocyte injury through regulating the miR-125b-hexokianse 2 axis.

Ischemic injury in the heart is associated with low oxygen, leading to the damage of cardiomyocytes. The lncRNA-XIST is known to involve in post-ischemia myocardial remodeling. However, the roles and mechanism of XIST in the hypoxia-induced cardiomyocyte are still under investigation.

Total Synthesis of the Flavonoid Natural Product Houttuynoid A.

The first total synthesis of the antiviral flavonoid houttuynoid A (1) has been achieved from aryl ketone 6 and benzofuran aldehyde 5 in nine linear steps. The C-C-C structure of the flavonoid was synthesized by an I-catalyzed oxa-Michael addition of a chalcone intermediate, generated by the Claisen-Schmidt condensation of 5 and 6. This work provides a method for the synthesis of houttuynoids and provides a reference for the synthesis of the remaining members of the houttuynoid family.

Anti-biofilm effect of novel thiazole acid analogs against Pseudomonas aeruginosa through IQS pathways.

IQS has been proven to be a new quorum sensing (QS) system against bacterial biofilm formation, which is activated in the common phosphate-limiting environment of infected tissues taking over the central las system. Up to now, numerous biofilm inhibitors which function by affecting traditional QS system have been reported. However, no compound has been reported to exert anti-biofilm activity through IQS system.

A two-photon excitable and ratiometric fluorogenic nitric oxide photoreleaser and its biological applications.

We report for the first time the development of a two-photon excitable NO photoreleaser, CNNO, for ratiometric imaging and tracking of NO release in live cells. CNNO exhibits the merits of spatiotemporal control in both the site-specific NO release in the selected cell culture region and the controllable vasodilation of mouse aorta ex vivo.

New molecular insights into the tyrosyl-tRNA synthase inhibitors: CoMFA, CoMSIA analyses and molecular docking studies.

Drug resistance caused by excessive and indiscriminate antibiotic usage has become a serious public health problem. The need of finding new antibacterial drugs is more urgent than ever before. Tyrosyl-tRNA synthase was proved to be a potent target in combating drug-resistant bacteria.

Simultaneous Fluorescence and Chemiluminescence Turned on by Aggregation-Induced Emission for Real-Time Monitoring of Endogenous Superoxide Anion in Live Cells.

Biological sensors with simultaneous turn-on signals of fluorescence (FL) and chemiluminescence (CL) triggered by one single species are supposed to integrate spatiotemporally resolved FL imaging with dynamic CL sensing into one luminescent assay. Efficiently increased accuracy can be expected based on complementary information simultaneously obtained from two independent modes, which is crucial in disease detection and diagnosis. However, very few examples can be found to date because of the key challenges in the rational design of sensing structures.

The moderating role of dark soy sauce to acrylamide-induced oxidative stress and neurophysiological perturbations in rats.

To evaluate the protective effects of dark soy sauce (DSS) against acrylamide (ACR)-induced neurotoxicity in rats, 60 adult Sprague Dawley female rats were given DSS (0.5 ml/kg body weight/day) before, after, and during ACR treatment (10 mg/kg body weight/day) for 8 weeks in total. Treatment only with ACR resulted in a significant increase in lipid peroxidation level, lactate dehydrogenase, and serum creatine kinase activity, but a significant decrease in superoxide dismutase activity in brain homogenate.