A Facile Ratiometric Fluorescent Biosensor Using Blue-emitting Carbon Dots and Acriflavine for Quantitative Detection of DNA.

Carbon dots (CDs)-based ratiometric fluorescence strategies have attracted considerable attention. In this study, we developed a facile ratiometric fluorescent biosensor for DNA detection by utilizing the blue-emitting carbon dots (BCDs) as the fluorophore and acriflavine (AF), a fluorescent biological stain reagent, as both the response and recognition molecules. When AF was added, the fluorescence of BCDs decreased effectively and accompanied by a hypsochromic shift from 448 to 425 nm, whereas the fluorescence of AF at about 500 nm appeared due to the synergistic effect of Förster resonance energy transfer (FRET) and the inner filter effect (IFE) between the BCDs and AF.

regulation of cardiac fibroblast proliferation via the TGF-β/Smad pathway in an model of atrial fibrillation.

Background: Atrial fibrillation (AF) is closely associated with atrial fibrosis and is primarily driven by cardiac fibroblast-mediated extracellular matrix (ECM) production. Tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinases-1 (), a key ECM regulator, has been implicated in cardiovascular fibrosis, but its role in AF remains unclear. This study examined the function of in the angiotensin II (ang II)-induced activation of rat cardiac fibroblasts.

Epigenetic regulation in spinal muscular atrophy: emerging areas and future directions.

Spinal Muscular Atrophy (SMA) is a neuromuscular disorder precipitated by mutations or deletions in the Survival Motor Neuron 1 (SMN1) gene. Although the SMN2 gene partially compensates for SMN1 functional deficiency, its expression is regulated by complex epigenetic and environmental factors. This review comprehensively elucidates the regulatory mechanisms through which epigenetic modifications-encompassing DNA methylation, histone modifications, and non-coding RNAs-modulate SMN2 gene expression and impact SMA pathogenesis and progression.

Isolated tumor cell clusters (ITC) in lymph nodes and PD-L1 expression on tumor-associated immune cells are prognostic factors for microsatellite instable-high gastric cancers.

Background: Microsatellite instable-high (MSI-H) gastric cancer (GC) represents a distinct subgroup. However, controversy exists regarding the role of MSI in GCs, and the factors leading to internal prognostic differences among MSI-H GCs are rarely studied.

Methods: We identified 53 MSI-H cases from 941 consecutive GCs and conducted a detailed investigation of the clinical significance, clinicopathological correlations, and prognostic indicators of MSI-H GCs.

Prenatal Bisphenol B Exposure Induces Adult Male Offspring Reproductive Dysfunction via ERα Inhibition-Triggered MHC I-Mediated Testicular Immunological Responses.

As an emerging endocrine-disrupting agent and structural analog of bisphenol A (BPA), bisphenol B (BPB) raises significant concerns due to its potential to induce male reproductive toxicity. Despite its presence in maternal bodily fluids, the effects of BPB exposure on the reproductive system and its mechanisms in adult male offspring are poorly understood. By establishing a maternal BPB exposure model in mice, we found that the exposure reduced the relative weights of seminal vesicles and preputial glands, decreased the thickness of the seminiferous epithelium, enlarged the lumen area of seminiferous tubules, and lowered testosterone concentration and synthesis, as well as sperm count in 10-week-old male offspring.

Cepharanthine Loaded TCPP-MOF Triggers Pyroptosis Through TSPO Inhibition for Hepatocellular Carcinoma Sonodynamic-Chemotherapy.

Pyroptosis is the critical approach for the induction of robust cancer cell death and activation of the immune microenvironment, which often results from mitochondrial damage. Herein, a combination strategy of sonodynamic-chemotherapy is designed to achieve an anti-heptocellular (HCC) effect, wherein the cepharanthine (Cep), a kind of functional phytomedicine, is loaded into the Tris(chlorisopropyl)Phosphate (TCPP) Metal-organic framework (MOF). The Cep@TCPP-MOF is successfully developed, as characterized by techniques such as transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and dynamic light scattering (DLC).

Long-term in vivo monitoring of transplanted mesenchymal stromal cells in colitis mice with magnetic particle imaging.

Background: The successful development of mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs)-based therapeutic strategies in inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) hinges on the ability to assess the influence of the administration route, while also tracking the cells' in vivo location, distribution, and long-term viability. Moreover, understanding the biological fate of these cells-particularly their activation, differentiation, and interaction within the host environment-is crucial to optimising their therapeutic potential.

Methods: This study explores the use of magnetic particle imaging (MPI) with superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles (SPIONs) to track MSCs in colitis mice.

Catheter ablation versus medical rate control for persistent atrial fibrillation in older heart failure patients with reduced ejection fraction.

Background: Patients with heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF) and atrial fibrillation are mostly elderly patients, and persistent atrial fibrillation (PerAF) with multiple comorbidities tends to have a worse clinical prognosis. However, there is a lack of randomised trial to investigate the impact of catheter ablation (CA) on outcomes in older PerAF combined with HFrEF.

Objective: This study aims to compare the effects of CA versus medical rate control (MRC) on severity indicators of HFrEF.

Structural Optimization of Pyrazole Compounds as Hsp90 Regulators with Enhanced Antitumor Activity.

Targeting Hsp90 is an effective strategy for cancer therapy. TAS-116 has been approved for the treatment of gastrointestinal stromal tumors. Our previous studies identified a series of pyrazole derivatives as covalent Hsp90 inhibitors that allosterically disrupt the Hsp90-Cdc37 interaction.

Activation of sigma 1 receptor attenuates doxorubicin-induced cardiotoxicity by alleviating oxidative stress, mitochondria dysfunction, ER stress-related apoptosis, and autophagy impairment.

The cardiotoxic effects of doxorubicin (DOX) are a significant clinical challenge. This study explored the mechanisms underlying the cardioprotective effects of fluvoxamine (FLU) in DOX-induced cardiotoxicity. In vitro and in vivo models of DOX-induced cardiotoxicity were established using H9c2 cardiomyocytes and BALB/c mice, respectively.

Identification and Characterization of LINE and SINE Retrotransposons in the African Hedgehog (, ) and Their Association with 3D Genome Organization and Gene Expression.

Background: The African hedgehog () exhibits specialized skin differentiation leading to spine formation, yet its regulatory mechanisms remain unclear. Transposable elements (TEs), particularly LINEs (long interspersed nuclear elements) and SINEs (short interspersed nuclear elements), are known to influence genome organization and gene regulation.

Objectives: Given the high proportion of SINEs in the hedgehog genome, this study aims to characterize the distribution, evolutionary dynamics, and potential regulatory roles of LINEs and SINEs, focusing on their associations with chromatin architecture, DNA methylation, and gene expression.

Universal membranization of synthetic coacervates and biomolecular condensates towards ultrastability and spontaneous emulsification.

Membranization of membraneless coacervates and condensates is emerging as a promising strategy to resolve their inherent susceptibility to fusion, ripening and environmental variations. Yet current membranization agents by design are largely limited to a subclass or a specific kind of coacervate or condensate systems. Here we develop a library of condensate-amphiphilic block polymers that can efficiently form a polymeric layer on the droplet interface for a wide spectrum of synthetic coacervates and biomolecular condensates.

Genetically-encoded markers for confocal visualization of single dense core vesicles.

Neuronal dense core vesicles (DCVs) store and release a diverse array of neuromodulators, trophic factors, and bioamines. The analysis of single DCVs has largely been possible only using electron microscopy, which makes understanding cargo segregation and DCV heterogeneity difficult. To address these limitations, we develop genetically encoded markers for DCVs that can be used in combination with standard immunohistochemistry and expansion microscopy to enable single-vesicle resolution with confocal microscopy in Drosophila.

Integrated computational analysis of molecular mechanisms underlying perfluorooctane sulfonic acid induced thyroid toxicity.

Perfluorooctane sulfonic acid (PFOS), a persistent organic pollutant, significantly disrupts thyroid function. This study presented an integrated computational approach, combining network toxicology, molecular docking, and molecular dynamics simulations to systematically elucidate the molecular mechanisms underlying PFOS induced thyroid toxicity. Through integrated analysis of the Comparative Toxicogenomics Database (CTD), GeneCards, and Online Mendelian Inheritance in Man (OMIM) databases, we identified 205 potential thyroid toxicity-related targets.

Haloalkane dehalogenases other than LinB can contribute to the γ-hexachlorocyclohexane utilization.

Haloalkane dehalogenases (HLDs) convert halogenated compounds to corresponding alcohols by a simple hydrolytic mechanism. Although many bacterial strains possess HLDs or HLD homologues, LinB is the only HLD known to be involved in the utilization of γ-hexachlorocyclohexane (γ-HCH), a man-made chlorinated pesticide. In this study, to gain insight into the functional evolution of HLDs toward γ-HCH utilization, the linB gene in γ-HCH-degrading Sphingobium japonicum strain UT26 was replaced by 7 other HLD or HLD homologous genes, including 3 putative ancestral enzymes.

Understanding the protein conformation transition within polymer hydrogels using a near-infrared water spectroscopy probe.

For understanding the behavior of the active substance in vivo, the near-infrared (NIR) spectral variations of ovalbumin (OVA) loaded in poly(N, N-dimethyl acrylamide) (PDMAA) hydrogel with temperature were investigated. Analyzing the spectra with improved resolution by continuous wavelet transform (CWT), the absorption variation of the peak at 4851 cm arising from the α-helix of OVA with temperature was studied. The results show that a sharp decrease occurs at a lower temperature in PDMAA hydrogel, indicating that the unfolding of OVA in PDMAA hydrogel is facilitated.

Genetically-encoded markers for confocal visualization of single dense core vesicles.

Neuronal dense core vesicles (DCVs) store and release a diverse array of neuromodulators, trophic factors and bioamines. The analysis of single DCVs has largely been possible only using electron microscopy, which makes understanding cargo segregation and DCV heterogeneity difficult. To address these limitations, we developed genetically-encoded markers for DCVs that can be used in combination with standard immunohistochemistry and expansion microscopy, to enable single-vesicle resolution with confocal microscopy.

Combination therapy of dexamethasone, rituximab, and cyclosporine for adults with primary immune thrombocytopenia: a prospective observational study.

Background: To assess the effectiveness of the combination of dexamethasone, rituximab, and cyclosporine in treating adults with primary immune thrombocytopenia (ITP).

Research Design And Methods: This prospective study enrolled consecutive adult patients diagnosed with ITP at the 967th Hospital of the Chinese People's Liberation Army Joint Service Support Force Hospital between November 2019 and February 2023.

Results: Twenty-eight patients (13 males, median age 43.

Cepharanthine-mediated endoplasmic reticulum stress inhibits Notch1 via binding GRP78 for suppressing hepatocellular carcinoma metastasis.

Background: The metastasis of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) leads to a poor prognosis, wherein the activation of Notch1 is an essential contributor. Cepharanthine (Cep) has been identified for its effective antiviral function and versatile intracellular targets. Our previous study has only reported the anti-cancer efficacy of Cep in lung cancer, without an in-depth exploration.

Genetically-encoded markers for confocal visualization of single dense core vesicles.

Neuronal dense core vesicles (DCVs) store and release a diverse array of neuromodulators, trophic factors and bioamines. The analysis of single DCVs has largely been possible only using electron microscopy, which makes understanding cargo segregation and DCV heterogeneity difficult. To address these limitations, we developed genetically-encoded markers for DCVs that can be used in combination with standard immunohistochemistry and expansion microscopy, to enable single-vesicle resolution with confocal microscopy.

affects myocardial function through TGF-β/Smad axis and pirfenidone.

Cardiac arrhythmias are often linked to the overactivity of cardiac fibroblasts (CFs). Investigating the impact of poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase 9 (PARP9) on Angiotensin II (Ang II)-induced fibroblast activation and the therapeutic effects of pirfenidone (PFD) offers valuable insights into cardiac arrhythmias. This study utilized weighted gene co-expression network analysis (WGCNA), differential gene expression (DEG) analysis, protein-protein interaction (PPI), and receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis on the GSE42955 dataset to identify the hub gene with a significant diagnostic value.

Realgar-indigo naturalis formula for the treatment of patients with relapsed and arsenic trioxide-resistant acute promyelocytic leukemia: A case series.

Introduction: There is currently no standard treatment for relapsed and arsenic trioxide (ATO)-resistant acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL). Here, we report a case series of realgar-indigo naturalis formula (RIF) for the successful treatment of patients with relapsed and ATO-resistant APL.

Case Presentation: Two patients in the first relapse and one in the second relapse failed to achieve hematologic complete remission (HCR) when reinduced by ATO; the other five patients progressed to relapse during ATO-based regimens for post-remission therapy.