O-GlcNAcylation of CEP44 Promotes Its Droplet Formation and Regulates Its Localization.

The centrosomal protein of 44 kDa (CEP44) is essential for centriole duplication, centrosome cohesion, and spindle integrity. It localizes to the proximal end of centrioles and associates with spindle microtubules. Liquid-liquid phase separation (LLPS) is a process by which biomolecules undergo demixing into distinct liquid-like phases, facilitating the formation of cellular condensates such as the centrosome.

ENKD1 Modulates Skin Elasticity Through Microtubule Stability Regulation.

Skin elasticity is critical for maintaining skin function, yet the molecular mechanisms governing this process remain incompletely understood. Herein, we identify enkurin domain-containing protein 1 (ENKD1) as a key regulator of skin elasticity by modulating microtubule stability in basal keratinocytes. In Enkd1 knockout mice, impaired migration of basal keratinocytes results in reduced epidermal elasticity compared to wild-type controls.

The aggregate index of systemic inflammation is positively correlated with the risk of all-cause mortality in sepsis-associated acute kidney injury.

Sepsis is a major health problem worldwide, and sepsis-associated acute kidney injury (SA-AKI) patients usually experience severe conditions, high mortality, and long length of stay. The predictive value of aggregate index of systemic inflammation (AISI) in the prognosis of several diseases has been documented. This study intends to investigate the association between AISI and mortality in SA-AKI.

Hippocampal Proteomics Reveals the Novel Molecular Profiling of Postnatal Lead (Pb) Exposure on Autism-like Behaviors.

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a multifactorial neurodevelopmental disorder, with lead (Pb) exposure increasingly linked to its risk. However, the molecular mechanisms linking Pb to ASD remain poorly understood. This study established a postnatal Pb-exposed mouse model and employed the three-chamber social test and the marble-burying test to assess ASD-like behavioral phenotypes.

Homocysteine(HCY), a novel biomarker for predicting irreversible transmural intestinal necrosis in patients with adhesive small bowel obstruction: results from a prospective observational study.

Background: Whether elevated homocysteine level is causally associated with small bowel necrosis remains unestablished. We conducted a prospective observational study to analyze the value of serum homocysteine (HCY) in predicting irreversible transmural intestinal necrosis (ITIN) of adhesive small bowel obstruction (ASBO).

Methods: This prospective observational study was performed between Feb 2023 and Feb 2025 in patients with adhesive small bowel obstruction.

Modular Design of T Cell Nanoengagers for Tumor Immunotherapy via Genetically Engineered Lipid-Tagged Antibody Fragments.

T cell engagers, which bind tumor-associated antigens and T cell specific molecules, represent a promising class of immunotherapies for enhancing targeted immune responses. Here, a "plug-and-display" platform is introduced for engineering T cell nanoengagers by anchoring antibody fragments into lipid-based nanoparticles. This approach utilizes a genetically engineered lipoprotein fused with single-chain variable fragments (scFv) and nanobodies, which spontaneously integrate into lipid bilayer of the nanoparticles, achieving a high surface density of at least 0.

Coordination of IFT20 With Other IFT Components Is Required for Ciliogenesis.

Background: Primary cilia are organelles formed on the cell surface. They can act as cellular antennae to sense signals and play important roles in various biological processes. Abnormalities in primary cilia lead to a variety of diseases collectively known as ciliopathies.

QCM biosensor based on silver aggregates and DNA ligase for ultrasensitive detection of BRAF-V600E single mutant gene in melanoma.

The detection of BRAF-V600E gene mutations plays a pivotal role in the diagnosis, prediction, and therapeutic intervention of melanoma. In this work, a quartz crystal microbalance (QCM) biosensor was developed to detect the BRAF-V600E point mutation. The gold electrode of the QCM was incubated with a thiol (-SH) modified capture probe, subsequently treated with polyethylene glycol (PEG) to obstruct nonspecific binding sites on the electrode.

Assembly of Genetically Engineered Ionizable Protein Nanocage-based Nanozymes for Intracellular Superoxide Scavenging.

Nanozymes play a pivotal role in mitigating excessive oxidative stress, however, determining their specific enzyme-mimicking activities for intracellular free radical scavenging is challenging due to endo-lysosomal entrapment. In this study, we employ a genetic engineering strategy to generate ionizable ferritin nanocages (iFTn), enabling their escape from endo-lysosomes and entry into the cytoplasm. Specifically, ionizable repeated Histidine-Histidine-Glutamic acid (9HE) sequences are genetically incorporated into the outer surface of human heavy chain FTn, followed by the assembly of various chain-like nanostructures via a two-armed polyethylene glycol (PEG).

Severe weight loss during PD-1 treatment is a risk sign of poor prognosis for advanced GC patients.

Objective: To verify whether severe weight loss is a reasonable risk sign for the effect of PD-1 treatment in advanced gastric cancer (GC) patients.

Methods: 127 metastatic or recurrent GC patients treated with PD-1 inhibitors in Xuzhou Central Hospital were involved in this study. Two cohorts with different variables were built; one was used to reveal the relationship between body weight loss and overall survival (OS), and the other was used to find which body composition contributed to the weight loss.

Sensitive detection of HSP70 using a current-amplified biosensor based on antibody-loaded PS-AuNPs@Cys/Au modified ITO chip.

A biosensing electrochemical platform for heat shock protein 70 (HSP70) has been developed by integrating a three-electrode indium tin oxide (ITO) on a chip. The platform includes modifications to the reference electrode and working electrode for the detection of HSP70. The new platform is constructed by assembly of HSP70 antibody on PS-AuNPs@Cys/Au indium tin oxide (ITO) electrode to create a high HSP70 sensitive surface.

Dynein Light Intermediate Chains Exhibit Different Arginine Methylation Patterns.

Background: The motor protein dynein is integral to retrograde transport along microtubules and interacts with numerous cargoes through the recruitment of cargo-specific adaptor proteins. This interaction is mediated by dynein light intermediate chain subunits LIC1 (DYNC1LI1) and LIC2 (DYNC1LI2), which govern the adaptor binding and are present in distinct dynein complexes with overlapping and unique functions.

Methods: Using bioinformatics, we analyzed the C-terminal domains (CTDs) of LIC1 and LIC2, revealing similar structural features but diverse post-translational modifications (PTMs).

INPP5E Regulates the Distribution of Phospholipids on Cilia in RPE1 Cells.

Background: Primary cilia are static microtubule-based structures protruding from the cell surface and present on most vertebrate cells. The appropriate localization of phospholipids is essential for cilia formation and stability. INPP5E is a cilia-localized inositol 5-phosphatase; its deletion alters the phosphoinositide composition in the ciliary membrane, disrupting ciliary function.

Dissecting the mechanism of atlastin-mediated homotypic membrane fusion at the single-molecule level.

Homotypic membrane fusion of the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) is mediated by dynamin-like GTPase atlastin (ATL). This fundamental process relies on GTP-dependent domain rearrangements in the N-terminal region of ATL (ATL), including the GTPase domain and three-helix bundle (3HB). However, its conformational dynamics during the GTPase cycle remain elusive.

Self-Assembly of Heterogeneous Ferritin Nanocages for Tumor Uptake and Penetration.

Well-defined nanostructures are crucial for precisely understanding nano-bio interactions. However, nanoparticles (NPs) fabricated through conventional synthesis approaches often lack poor controllability and reproducibility. Herein, a synthetic biology-based strategy is introduced to fabricate uniformly reproducible protein-based NPs, achieving precise control over heterogeneous components of the NPs.

Aberrant gut microbiota and fecal metabolites in patients with coal-burning endemic fluorosis in Guizhou, China.

Chronic exposure to excessive environmental fluoride has caused fluorosis to become a major public health problem worldwide. Although studies on stress pathways, signaling pathways, and apoptosis induced by fluoride have provided an in-depth understanding of the mechanism of this disease, its exact pathogenesis remains unclear. We hypothesized that the human gut microbiota and metabolome are associated with the pathogenesis of this disease.

Insights into membrane association of the SMP domain of extended synaptotagmin.

The Synaptotagmin-like Mitochondrial-lipid-binding Protein (SMP) domain is a newly identified lipid transfer module present in proteins that regulate lipid homeostasis at membrane contact sites (MCSs). However, how the SMP domain associates with the membrane to extract and unload lipids is unclear. Here, we performed in vitro DNA brick-assisted lipid transfer assays and in silico molecular dynamics simulations to investigate the molecular basis of the membrane association by the SMP domain of extended synaptotagmin (E-Syt), which tethers the tubular endoplasmic reticulum (ER) to the plasma membrane (PM).

Serum homocysteine is a valuable marker for predicting aggravation of infection in intestinal obstruction patients.

The aim of this study was to investigate the expression of serum homocysteine (HCY), procalcitonin (PCT), and C-reactive protein (CRP) in abdominal infectious disease and analyze their relationship with the degree of abdominal infection. We conducted a retrospective study involving 157 patients with abdominal infections at Xuzhou Central Hospital between January 2016 and October 2019. The patients were composed of intestinal obstruction (73 cases), appendicitis (45 cases), perforation of the digestive tract (25 cases), and cholecystitis (14 cases).

Galangin induces the osteogenic differentiation of human amniotic mesenchymal stem cells via the JAK2/STAT3 signaling pathway.

The regulation of stem cell directional differentiation is a core research topic in regenerative medicine, and modulating the fate of stem cells is a promising strategy for precise intervention through the utilization of naturally small molecule compounds. The present study aimed to explore the potential pro-osteogenic differentiation effect of galangin, a flavonoid derived from Alpinia officinarum, on human amniotic mesenchymal stem cells (hAMSCs) and the underlying molecular mechanism. The results showed that galangin had no cytotoxicity towards hAMSCs when the concentration was less than 50 μM.

Evaluation of fertilization capability of frozen-thawed completely immotile spermatozoa collected from a white bengal tiger after interspecific ICSI with bovine oocytes.

The objective of this study was to evaluate the fertilization capability of White Bengal Tiger frozen-thawed completely immotile spermatozoa after interspecific intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) with bovine oocytes. The fertilization status of presumptive zygotes was assessed 18 h after ICSI by immunofluorescence staining and confocal microscopy. The fertilization rate was 34.

Protective effects of Ligularia fischeri root extracts against ulcerative colitis in mice through activation of Bcl-2/Bax signalings.

Background: Ulcerative colitis (UC) is a chronic inflammatory bowel disease characterized by high levels of proinflammatory cytokines and epithelial barrier dysfunction. The root of Ligularia fischeri (Ledeb.) Turcz.

Hyaluronic acid ameliorates the proliferative ability of human amniotic epithelial cells through activation of TGF-β/BMP signaling.

Human amniotic epithelial cells (hAECs) are a useful and noncontroversial source of stem cells for cell therapy and regenerative medicine, but their limited proliferative ability hinders the acquisition of adequate quantities of cells for clinical use due to not expressing telomerase in hAECs. Our previous study showed that hyaluronic acid (HA), an important component of the extracellular matrix, promoted the proliferation of human amniotic mesenchymal stem cells. Herein, we hypothesize that HA might improve the proliferative capability of hAECs.

[Application of immunosuppressants in patients with autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease after kidney transplantation].

Objective: To investigate the optimal dose range of immunosuppressants in patients with autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease (ADPKD) after renal transplantation.

Methods: A cohort of 68 patients with ADPKD who received their first renal transplantation between March, 2000 and January, 2018 in our institute were retrospectively analyzed, with 68 non-ADPKD renal transplant recipients matched for gender, age and date of transplant as the control group. We analyzed the differences in patient and renal survival rates, postoperative complications and concentrations of immunosuppressive agents between the two groups at different time points within 1 year after kidney transplantation.

gene enhances hyaluronic acid-mediated chondrogenic differentiation in human amniotic mesenchymal stem cells via the activation of Sox9/ERK/smad signals.

This study aimed to elucidate the molecular mechanisms, whereby hyaluronic acid, a main extracellular matrix component of articular cartilage, promotes the chondrogenic differentiation of human amniotic mesenchymal stem cells (hAMSCs). Our previous findings indicated that hyaluronic acid combined with hAMSCs showed a marked therapeutic effect against rat osteoarthritis. In the present study, hyaluronic acid markedly enhanced the expression of chondrocyte-specific markers including , and Sox9 in hAMSCs, with strong synergistic effects on chondrogenic differentiation, in combination with the commonly used inducer, transforming growth factor β3 (TGF-β3).