Exendin-4 Prevents oxLDL-Induced upregulation of TREM2 and attenuates foam cell formation and inflammation in Macrophages.

Atherosclerosis (AS), a chronic inflammatory disease and a leading cause of cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. Macrophage-mediated lipid uptake and inflammation are central to plaque formation. TREM2, an immunoreceptor expressed in macrophages, has been reported to regulate lipid metabolism and inflammation, yet its role in atherosclerosis remains controversial.

In vitro formation and growth of glycogen: experimental verification of theoretical predictions.

Glycogen is a complex branched glucose polymer that serves as energy reservoir in animals and some bacteria; it has also been synthesized in vitro. It comprises small β particles linked in large aggregates termed α particles. Theory, based on the evolutionary processes which cause these particles to be formed, suggests that if all ingredients for in vitro particle synthesis were added to a suspension of α particles, then these will grow to a steady-state size distribution, after which new particles will be formed.

Spin-Active Polarons Induced Nucleophilic Substitution on Fluorographene for In Situ Fabricating Distinctively 2D-Based Bifunctional Nanocomposites.

Nucleophilic substitution reaction (SR) plays a crucial role in traditional organic chemistry, and its extension into two dimensional (2D) materials has recently created a series of functional materials and advanced applications. However, the traditional SR process is usually indiscriminately copied into existing 2D reaction systems, which tremendously restricts the development of special 2D functional materials and sophisticated applications. In this work, a brand-new spin-active polarons-induced SR process in typical 2D fluorographene (FG) is proposed, where nucleophiles preferentially attack particular oxygen groups for functional grafting, simultaneously inducing the generation of spin-active polarons and subsequently rapid defluorination on the FG nanosheet.

Clinical characteristics of dyslipidemia in patients with primary biliary cholangitis: a single-center experience in China.

Aims: Dyslipidemia is frequently observed among individuals diagnosed with primary biliary cholangitis (PBC), though its specific characteristics remain incompletely defined. This study aimed to examine the lipid profile patterns and medical features of dyslipidemia in people suffering from PBC.

Methods: Following the classification criteria proposed by the National Lipid Association, dyslipidemia is classified on the basis of abnormal plasma concentrations of high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), total cholesterol (TC), triglycerides (TG), and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C).

Comparison of SPECT/CT, AEEG, and 3D-pCASL in people with epilepsy.

Objective: To analyze the clinical value of single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT)/computed tomography (CT), ambulatory electroencephalogram (AEEG) and three-dimensional pseudo-continuous arterial spin labeling (3D-pCASL) in people with epilepsy (PWE).

Methods: The study included 98 PWE who were treated in The General Hospital of Ningxia Medical University from December 2021 to September 2023. The positive detection rates and characteristics of SPECT/CT, AEEG and 3D-pCASL were compared.

A single-center retrospective study on clinical features and outcomes of perimesencephalic non-aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage patients.

Perimesencephalic non-aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage (pmSAH) is a subtype of subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) where the bleeding source remains unclear. It is generally associated with a benign clinical course compared to other SAH types. This study retrospectively analyzed 198 pmSAH patients admitted between January 2019 and December 2023, along with 137 non-perimesencephalic non-aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage (npmSAH) and 198 aneurysmal SAH patients as controls.

Epidemiological characteristics and transmission dynamics of epidemic Japanese encephalitis in China: A modeling study.

Objectives: In recent decades, China has experienced successive epidemics of seasonal Japanese encephalitis (JE), with the Japanese encephalitis virus (JEV) particularly spreading continuously in rural and suburban areas.

Methods: Nationwide data on 9061 JE cases, mosquito abundance from 89 surveillance sites, and population movement between 337 cities during 2013-19 were obtained. Seasonal multivariate linear regression models including time trends and reconciliation terms representing annual and semiannual cycles were fitted to the weekly time series of JE cases, and the amplitude and peak time of the cycles were estimated.

Assessment of Fish Community Structure and Invasion Risk in Xinglin Bay, China.

A total of 32 fish species were detected in Xinglin Bay using a combination of environmental DNA metabarcoding (eDNA) and traditional morphological survey methods (TSM), covering eight orders, fifteen families, and twenty-six genera. The dominant order was Perciformes, accounting for 43.75% of the total species.

Inter-evaluator bias and applicability of feline body condition score from visual assessment.

Body Condition Score (BCS) is an effective tool for assessing body weight and fat mass, as well as diagnosing obesity and abnormal weight loss. A method for visual assessment of BCS in cats would be useful to expand access for feline health and research. The goal of this study is to determine whether BCS can be accurately assessed solely from photographs of cats, and to measure inter-evaluator bias in visually assessed BCS.

Laser-Induced 3D Graphene Enabled Polymer Composites with Improved Mechanical and Electrical Properties Toward Multifunctional Performance.

Conductive graphene-based composites are attracting substantial interest due to their excellent mechanical and electrical properties for potential applications in electronics. Typically, such composites are fabricated by infiltrating the 3D graphene framework with the polymer matrix. However, the production of 3D graphene foams is limited by the challenges in preparing graphene dispersions, while 3D printing presents a significant breakthrough in the fabrication of desired 3D graphene-based structures.

Lycium barbarum polysaccharides alleviate experimental autoimmune prostatitis by putrescine/TRAF/JAK/STAT-mediated Th17 differentiation.

Background: Due to its often refractory nature, chronic prostatitis (CP) is a prevalent disorder that notably impacts the quality of life of 20-40-year-old men worldwide. Lycium barbarum polysaccharides (LBPs) have a broad spectrum of biological activities, such as immune modulation and the ability to reduce blood glucose and lipid levels. However, whether they modulate the gut microbiota and metabolites to exert their anti-inflammatory effects remains to be explored.

A highly fluorinated functionalized magnetic covalent organic framework for high-efficient extraction of aflatoxins from diverse food matrices.

Aflatoxins, carcinogenic mycotoxins, pose a global threat to food safety. Rapid, sensitivity and reliable quantitative detection of trace aflatoxins in diverse food matrices is critical for safeguarding public health but remains challenging. To address this, rational design of adsorbents with abundant specific binding sites offers a promising solution.

Structural and deleterious burdens and their effects on yield traits in foxtail millet domestication.

Crop domestication typically accumulates structural and deleterious variants through genetic bottlenecks and selection hitchhiking. However, the structural and deleterious variant burden has not been investigated in the foxtail millet (). Integrating comparative genomics, pangenomics, population genetics, and quantitative genetics, we identified 6,713 gene gains and 2,802 losses during domestication, affecting flowering time and developmental processes.

Manufacturing Process Analysis and Tea Chemical Component Characterization on Ann Tea Quality Formation.

Ann tea is a traditional Chinese dark tea produced in Anhui Province, and it is beloved by consumers for its pleasant flavor and health attribute. Here, the detailed manufacturing process was investigated, and samples from key processing steps were chemical characterized. During the manufacturing process, about 15% of catechins and monosaccharide were significantly reduced and transformed to polymers, such as theanine-glucose, procyanidin dimer, and theasinensins.

Optimal Pore Structure in Mesoporous MOFs for Selective Separation of Natural Bioactive Astaxanthin With Record Adsorption Capacity.

Separation of easily degradable bioactive compound of astaxanthin (AXT) from nature source with low content and several interfering carotenoid analogues is particularly challenge. Here, four mesoporous metal-organic frameworks (meso-MOFs) is reported with different pore chemistry and pore geometry of cage-type and channel-type feature for AXT adsorption and separation. The maximal adsorption capacities of AXT by cage-type PCN-777 and MIL-101-NH are higher than channel-type PCN-222 and NU-1000, and their adsorption capacities (40-469.

Docosahexaenoic acid mitigates experimental autoimmune prostatitis by inhibiting Th17 cell differentiation via the PPARγ/NF-κB/IL-17A pathway.

Chronic prostatitis/chronic pelvic pain syndrome (CP/CPPS) is a prevalent urological disorder characterized by urinary symptoms, pelvic pain, and sexual dysfunction. The potential inhibitory effects of docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) in relation to dietary consumption on autoimmune disorders have been acknowledged. Nevertheless, the effect of consuming DHA on CP/CPPS is still uncertain.

Spatiotemporal stability patterns of ecosystem service bundles and their driving factors in Hunan Province, China.

Integrated management of ecosystem services through ecosystem service bundles (ESBs) is increasingly recognized as one of the most promising approaches for optimizing ecosystem services. Understanding the spatiotemporal dynamics of ESBs is critical for developing precise and adaptive regional ecosystem management strategies. However, most existing studies focus on the static identification of ESBs, with limited attention to the long-term stability and underlying drivers.

Targeting the NLRP3 Inflammasome: Pharmacological Mechanisms for the Treatment of Dry Eye Disease.

Dry eye disease (DED) is a multifactorial disorder characterized by tear film instability due to reduced tear secretion, increased evaporation, or the production of poor-quality tears. This imbalance leads to ocular surface inflammation, tissue damage, and aberrant nociception, collectively imposing a substantial burden on patients' quality of life. Emerging evidence highlights the pivotal role of ocular surface inflammation in the pathophysiology of chronic DED.

Age-specific benefits of Vitamin D and its association with mortality.

Background: Vitamin D is a fat-soluble secosteroid that plays essential roles in calcium homeostasis, bone metabolism, and numerous other physiological processes. Vitamin D deficiency has been associated with increased risk of various diseases and mortality. However, population-based studies examining the relationship between vitamin D and mortality across different age groups remain limited.

Lithospermum erythrorhizon polysaccharide alleviates obesity via gut microbiota-mediated reprogramming of bile acid and short-chain fatty acid metabolism.

Lithospermum erythrorhizon, a traditional Chinese medicinal herb and functional food ingredient, contains bioactive soluble polysaccharide with documented anti-obesity and metabolic regulatory properties. However, the precise mechanisms underlying the anti-obesity effects of Lithospermum erythrorhizon polysaccharide (LEP) fraction remain poorly characterized. In this study, diet-induced obese (DIO) mice treated with LEP exhibited significant suppression of body weight gain and hepatic lipid deposition, accompanied by improved liver function and elevated systemic energy expenditure.

Chirality-protected extreme asymmetric acoustic information transport with noise immunity.

Chiral vortex beams with tunable topological charges (TCs) hold promise for high-capacity and multi-channel information transmission. However, asymmetric vortex transport, a crucial feature for enhancing robustness and security, often disrupts channel independence by altering TCs, causing signal distortion. Here, we exploit the radial mode degree of freedom in chiral space to achieve extremely asymmetric transmission with high energy contrast, while preserving chirality and TCs.

Trajectory Tracking Controller for Quadrotor by Continual Reinforcement Learning in Wind-Disturbed Environment.

The extensive deployment of quadrotors in complex environmental missions has revealed a critical challenge: degradation of trajectory tracking accuracy due to time-varying wind disturbances. Conventional model-based controllers struggle to adapt to nonlinear wind field dynamics, while data-driven approaches often suffer from catastrophic forgetting that compromises environmental adaptability. This paper proposes a reinforcement learning framework with continual adaptation capabilities to enhance robust tracking performance for quadrotors operating in dynamic wind fields.

Protective Effects of Luteolin on -Induced Injury: An In Vitro Study with Porcine Vascular Endothelial Cells.

(GPS) is a conditional pathogen that colonizes the upper respiratory tract in pigs and causes Glässer's disease, resulting in high morbidity and mortality in piglets. GPS infection increases the vascular endothelial permeability, but the mechanism has not been fully elucidated. Luteolin (Lut) is a naturally occurring flavonoid found in plants such as vegetables, herbs, and fruits, but its potential to treat the increased vascular endothelial permeability caused by GPS infection has not been evaluated.