National natural science foundation of China funding patterns and policy implications for obstetrics and gynecology research: a decade of trends (2011-2020).

Background: The National Natural Science Foundation of China (NSFC) plays a pivotal role in supporting basic medical research and shaping national funding priorities. As clinical and scientific demands in obstetrics and gynecology grow, particularly in areas closely tied to pharmacological interventions and maternal-fetal health, understanding funding patterns is essential for guiding research strategy and health policy. This study aimed to evaluate NSFC funding trends in obstetrics and gynecology from 2011 to 2020 and examine their alignment with research output and policy-relevant themes.

Early thelarche, reproductive hormones, and MRI-based breast density: a prospective study in China.

Background: The age of thelarche in girls has declined globally. While earlier menarche has been linked to higher breast density - a known risk factor for breast cancer - the association between earlier thelarche and breast density remains unclear.

Methods: 114 Girls presenting with idiopathic central precocious puberty without medication (ICPP), early thelarche (ET), and normal age at thelarche (NT) were recruited from pediatric endocrine clinics of three hospitals during the year of 2020-2021 in Hefei, Anhui Province, China and were followed up for 3-5 years.

Mechanical finger sensory stimulation effects on brain function in post-stroke patients: A resting-state fMRI study.

Background And Purpose: Stroke, as a common neurological disorder, often leads to varying degrees of upper limb motor dysfunction in patients. Mechanical digit sensory stimulation (MDSS), an emerging sensory intervention approach, has demonstrated potential in clinical settings for promoting motor function recovery. However, its underlying neural brain network mechanisms remain unclear.

A Facile Method for Screening DPP IV Inhibitors in Living Cell System Based on Enzyme Activity Probe.

Dipeptidyl peptidase IV (DPP IV), one of the most essential peptidase, is widely distributed in various organs and tissues of the human body, which affects protein stability by acting on peptide bonds at the end of peptide chains and is further involved in physiological processes such as cellular metabolism and signaling. Recent studies have shown that DPP IV is not only involved in normal physiological processes but also closely related to various pathological processes, making it an important target for the treatment of metabolic diseases. Deciphering the relevance of DPP IV to human diseases and screening the inhibitors of DPP IV requires reliable tools, which can sense the function of this key enzyme in complex biological samples.

Moderating effects of reduced morning and evening questionnaire scores on the association between urinary phthalate metabolites and inflammatory cytokines among Chinese young adults: A human biomonitoring study.

Although previous findings have suggested that phthalate exposure was related to inflammation in young adults, little is known about whether chronotype, measured by the reduced Morning and Evening Questionnaire (rMEQ), reflects a moderating or mediating effect of phthalate exposure on inflammation. To address these gaps, this study examined the correlation of phthalate metabolites with inflammatory cytokines in Chinese young adults and explored the moderating effects of rMEQ scores in this association. From April to May 2019, 1179 young adults were recruited from 2 universities in Hefei and Shangrao cities.

The research of dapagliflozin on cognitive function in middle-aged and older patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus and mild cognitive impairment: a 36-week prospective parallel control study.

Sodium-glucose co-transporter 2 inhibitors have demonstrated potential for improving cognitive function in preclinical studies; however, robust clinical evidence supporting this effect in humans remains limited. We conducted a prospective trial to assess the effect of dapagliflozin on cognitive function in middle-aged and older patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and mild cognitive impairment (MCI). Ninety participants were randomly assigned to either the dapagliflozin or control group for 36 weeks.

Discovery and evaluation of a novel selective fluorescent substrate for CYP3A4 based on sulfoxidation characteristics.

This study for the first time reports the design and application of a novel type of selective fluorescent substrate NESF for cytochrome P450 3A4 (CYP3A4) based on sulfoxidation reaction. NESF has been successfully applied for imaging endogenous CYP3A4 in living cells and for high-throughput screening of CYP3A4 inhibitors.

Recent progress of proline endopeptidase ligands and their effects on protein-protein interactions.

Proline endopeptidase (PREP), as a serine protease, plays a crucial role in human physiology and pathology, and is intricately linked to the genesis and progression of a spectrum of illnesses. The fluorescent substrates currently used for PREP lack ideal specificity and are unable to specifically detect PREP activity under physiological conditions. This limitation, to some extent, hinders the in-depth investigation of its physiological and pathophysiological functions.

Discovery of cardiovascular drugs as effective inhibitors of human carboxylesterase.

Carboxylesterases serve as principal Phase I metabolic enzymes that critically regulate the metabolism, efficacy, and safety profiles of ester-based pharmaceuticals in humans. This study investigated 23 clinically relevant cardiovascular agents to assess their inhibitory potential against human carboxylesterase isoforms hCES1A and hCES2A. The findings demonstrated that hypolipidemic agents simvastatin (C-16) and lovastatin (C-17), along with antithrombotic compounds prasugrel (C-22) and clopidogrel (C-23), exhibited potent inhibition against hCES1A, with the lowest IC value observed at 0.

Discovery of Hypoglycemic and Cardiovascular Drugs as Effective Inhibitors on Human Pancreatic Lipase.

Obesity is closely related to the occurrence and development of many diseases, such as diabetes, hypertension, and hyperlipidemia. As an important digestive enzyme, human pancreatic lipase (hPL) is involved in the metabolism and absorption of dietary fat and is a key target of overweight and obesity. Therefore, the inhibition of hPL enzyme is a feasible strategy for the prevention and treatment of obesity.

Species differences in microsomal metabolism of hydroxychloroquine.

Hydroxychloroquine (HCQ), a medication renowned for its anti-malarial and anti-autoimmune properties, is susceptible to drug-drug interactions (DDIs), particularly those involving cytochrome P450 enzymes (CYPs). The pharmacokinetic and metabolic profiles of HCQ across species are not well-characterized. In this study, we conducted a comparative analysis of HCQ metabolism and pharmacokinetics in human liver microsomes and those from various preclinical animal models.

Effect of moderate hyperbilirubinemia on an infant's brain: a quantitative susceptibility mapping and H-MRS study.

Objective: The effects of moderate neonatal hyperbilirubinemia (NHB) remain unknown. The aim of this work was to investigate whether moderate NHB has an impact on an infant's brain and explore the relationship between brain magnetic susceptibility, brain metabolites, and biochemical tests in moderate NHB using quantitative susceptibility mapping (QSM) and magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS).

Materials And Methods: In total, 28 term babies with moderate levels of blood bilirubin were enrolled in the NHB group, and 16 term infants were enrolled in the control group.

Discovery of lignans as the effective inhibitors of CES1A alleviate lipid droplets formation.

ER carboxylesterase 1A (CES1A) is an important metabolic enzyme involved in lipid metabolism. Targeting the CES1A is a promising approach for diseases associated with disorders of lipid metabolism therapy. In this study, screening of 26 natural lignans, three of them were found displaying potent inhibition on CES1A and high specificity over other serine hydrolases.

Discovery of tri(indolyl)methanes as potent and selective inhibitors against human carboxylesterase 2.

Human carboxylesterase 2A (CES2A) plays a crucial role in the hydrolysis and metabolic activation of esters and amides. There is increasing evidence that development of CES2A inhibitors to modulate the hydrolysis of ester drugs will increase the potency of these drugs or reduce their side effects. In this study, three sets of indole analogues (4a-j, 5a-k, 6a-e) were designed and synthesized.

Moderating effects of insomnia on the association between urinary phthalate metabolites and depressive symptoms in Chinese college students: focus on gender differences.

Objectives: To investigate the rates of depressive symptoms in college students, explore the relationship between urinary phthalate metabolites and depressive symptoms and their gender differences, and further explore the moderating role of insomnia in this association.

Methods: A total of 1 179 college students were recruited from 2 universities in Hefei and Shangrao cities from April to May 2019. The depressive symptoms and insomnia of college students were investigated by the Patient Health Questionnaire 9 and Insomnia Severity Index.

[Association between inflammatory markers and the change of depressive symptoms in college students].

Objective: To analyze the associations between levels of inflammatory markers and the change of depressive symptoms in college students.

Methods: From April to May 2019, 1179 freshmen were selected by cluster random sampling in two universities in Hefei, Anhui Province and Shangrao, Jiangxi Province for baseline survey. General demographic information of college students was collected through questionnaire survey, and the depressive symptoms of college students in the past week were evaluated by the depression subscale in the Depression Anxiety Stress Scale.

Moderating effects of clock genes DNA methylation on the relationship between physical activity trajectories and depressive symptoms among Chinese college students.

Objectives: To explore the 2-year physical activity trajectory of Chinese college students and further examine the longitudinal relationship between physical activity trajectory and depressive symptoms. Furthermore, our study aimed to clarify the potential role of clock genes deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) methylation in the association between physical activity and depressive symptoms.

Method: From April 2019 to May 2021, College Student Behavior and Health Cohort Study was conducted among 1,179 students from two universities in Anhui and Jiangxi provinces.

Discovery of lignans and curcuminoids as the effective inhibitors of pancreatic lipase: structure-activity relationship and inhibitory mechanism.

Pancreatic lipase (PL) is the main enzyme in the digestive system that breaks down triglyceride and promotes its absorption. In this paper, we found that lignans , and , curcuminoids exhibited significant inhibitory potential against PL. The structure-activity relationship (SAR) indicated that benzo-1, 3-dioxole group in the construction of lignans is essential to inhibitory effects against PL, while double bonds at C-7/C-2 position and 4-hydroxyphenyl moiety in the structure of curcuminoids are beneficial for PL inhibition.

Discovery of natural anthraquinones as potent inhibitors against pancreatic lipase: structure-activity relationships and inhibitory mechanism.

Obesity is acknowledged as a significant risk factor for various metabolic diseases, and the inhibition of human pancreatic lipase (hPL) can impede lipid digestion and absorption, thereby offering potential benefits for obesity treatment. Anthraquinones is a kind of natural and synthetic compounds with wide application. In this study, the inhibitory effects of 31 anthraquinones on hPL were evaluated.

Exploring the relationship between depressive symptoms, problematic smartphone use, and cumulative risk factors in nursing students: A cross sectional study.

Background: No single risk factor is decisive in shaping an individual's healthy development. This study aimed to analyze the relationship between depressive symptoms and a cumulative risk index comprising individual, family, and social variables among nursing students.

Methods: We enrolled 1716 Chinese nursing students from three universities in a paperless survey that assessed a range of individual, family, and social risk factors associated with depressive symptoms.

A sensitive fluorescence assay of serum dipeptidyl peptidase IV activity to predict the suitability of its inhibitors in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus.

DPP-IV inhibitors, which are close to the natural hypoglycemic pathway of human physiology and have few side effects, have been extensively employed in the management of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). However, there are currently no specific blood indicators that can indicate or predict a patient's suitability for DPP-IV inhibitors. In this study, based on the self-developed high-specificity fluorescent substrate glycyl-prolyl-N-butyl-4-amino-1, 8-naphthimide (GP-BAN), a detection method of human serum DPP-IV activity was established and optimized.

A Novel Fluorescence-Based Microplate Assay for High-Throughput Screening of hSULT1As Inhibitors.

Human sulfotransferase 1As (hSULT1As) play a crucial role in the metabolic clearance and detoxification of a diverse range of endogenous and exogenous substances, as well as in the bioactivation of some procarcinogens and promutagens. Pharmacological inhibiting hSULT1As activities may enhance the in vivo effects of most hSULT1As drug substrates and offer protective strategies against the hSULT1As-mediated bioactivation of procarcinogens. To date, a fluorescence-based high-throughput assay for the efficient screening of hSULT1As inhibitors has not yet been reported.

Rational design of a near-infrared fluorescent probe for monitoring butyrylcholinesterase activity and its application in development of inhibitors.

Butyrylcholinesterase (BChE) is widely expressed in multiple tissues and has a vital role in several key human disorders, such as Alzheimer's disease and tumorigenesis. However, the role of BChE in human disorders has not been investigated. Thus, to quantitatively detect and visualize dynamical variations in BChE activity is essential for exploring the biological roles of BChE in the progression of a number of human disorders.