Palmitic acid and palmitoylation in cancer: Understanding, insights, and challenges.

Nutrients from dietary foods not only provide energy and building blocks, but also play critical roles in modulating diverse pathophysiological functions. They achieve these, in part, by accelerating cell signaling transduction processes via modulating various types of protein post-translational modifications (PTMs). Notably, accumulating evidence has identified palmitic acid (PA), a major component of high-fat diets, as a significant contributor to various human disorders, including diabetes and cancer.

Trends in Glycemic and Cardiovascular Risks Control in Cantonese Adults in Primary Healthcare Settings: 2018 to 2022.

Background: Glycemic and cardiovascular risks control in patients with type 2 diabetes (T2DM) managed in primary healthcare (PHC) settings remains challenging in urbanizing areas like Guangzhou. This study analyzes 2018-2022 trends to identify care gaps and inform policy.

Methods: We collected and analyzed real-world data (RWD) from 81,709 adults aged 30 years or older with T2DM who voluntarily participated in health examinations across 24 primary healthcare settings in Baiyun district, Guangzhou.

High-protein diets alleviate tumour growth and drug resistance by promoting AKT aggregation and turnover.

Background: Despite the long-standing recommendations of high-protein diets for patients with cancer, the precise mechanisms of this dietary approach in benefiting tumour suppression and enhancing sensitivity to chemotherapy remain elusive.

Objective: To investigate the effect and underlying mechanism of high-protein diets in promoting cancer drug resistance. Characterisation of AKT regulation in this setting will provide new strategies to combat liver cancer.

Changes in primary healthcare workforce burnout during and after the termination of COVID-19 emergency response: A one-and-half-year observational study.

Background: Primary healthcare workforce (PHCW) should be suffered from less burnout after the termination of the COVID-19 response. The current study compared the changes in the three dimensions of burnout in PHCW during and after the response.

Methods: Two convenience-sampling, online, cross-sectional questionnaire studies were conducted in local PHCW.

An Active Control Method for a Lower Limb Rehabilitation Robot with Human Motion Intention Recognition.

This study presents a method for the active control of a follow-up lower extremity exoskeleton rehabilitation robot (LEERR) based on human motion intention recognition. Initially, to effectively support body weight and compensate for the vertical movement of the human center of mass, a vision-driven follow-and-track control strategy is proposed. Subsequently, an algorithm for recognizing human motion intentions based on machine learning is proposed for human-robot collaboration tasks.

A Couple-Based Intervention for Chinese Older Adults With Type 2 Diabetes: A Randomized Clinical Trial.

Importance: Spousal involvement in diabetes care is recommended theoretically, but effectiveness in clinical settings and among diverse populations is unclear.

Objective: To test the effect of a couple-based intervention among Chinese older patients with type 2 diabetes and their spouses.

Design, Setting, And Participants: This multicenter randomized clinical trial comprised 2 arms: a couple-based intervention arm and an individual-based control.

Targeting APT2 improves MAVS palmitoylation and antiviral innate immunity.

Innate immunity serves as the primary defense against viral and microbial infections in humans. The precise influence of cellular metabolites, especially fatty acids, on antiviral innate immunity remains largely elusive. Here, through screening a metabolite library, palmitic acid (PA) has been identified as a key modulator of antiviral infections in human cells.

A natural small molecule alleviates liver fibrosis by targeting apolipoprotein L2.

Liver fibrosis is an urgent clinical problem without effective therapies. Here we conducted a high-content screening on a natural Euphorbiaceae diterpenoid library to identify a potent anti-liver fibrosis lead, 12-deoxyphorbol 13-palmitate (DP). Leveraging a photo-affinity labeling approach, apolipoprotein L2 (APOL2), an endoplasmic reticulum (ER)-rich protein, was identified as the direct target of DP.

Atypical inflammatory kinase IKBKE phosphorylates and inactivates FoxA1 to promote liver tumorigenesis.

Physiologically, FoxA1 plays a key role in liver differentiation and development, and pathologically exhibits an oncogenic role in prostate and breast cancers. However, its role and upstream regulation in liver tumorigenesis remain unclear. Here, we demonstrate that FoxA1 acts as a tumor suppressor in liver cancer.

High-fat diet promotes liver tumorigenesis via palmitoylation and activation of AKT.

Objective: Whether and how the PI3K-AKT pathway, a central node of metabolic homeostasis, is responsible for high-fat-induced non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) remain a mystery. Characterisation of AKT regulation in this setting will provide new strategies to combat HCC.

Design: Metabolite library screening disclosed that palmitic acid (PA) could activate AKT.

AMPK phosphorylates and stabilises copper transporter 1 to synergise metformin and copper chelator for breast cancer therapy.

Background: Predominant roles of copper and its transporter, copper transporter 1 (CTR1), in tumorigenesis have been explored recently; however, the upstream regulation of CTR1 and combinational intervention of copper chelators in malignancies remain largely unclear.

Methods: CRISPR/Cas9-based kinome screening was used to identify the CTR1 upstream kinases. Immunofluorescence assays were utilised to detect CTR1 localisation.

Gender-Specific Effect of Couple-Based Intervention on Behavioral and Psychological Outcomes of Older Adults with Type 2 Diabetes during the COVID-19 Partial Lockdown in Guangzhou, China.

This study aimed to evaluate the gender-specific effect of a couple-based intervention on the management behaviors and mental well-being of community-dwelling older adults with type 2 diabetes mellitus during the COVID-19 partial lockdown in Guangzhou. Out of 207 participants involved in a prior randomized controlled trial (Trial no. ChiCTR1900027137), 156 (75%) completed the COVID-19 survey.

Expression of Osteopontin and Integrin αvβ3 Receptor in Retina of Diabetic Guinea Pigs with High Myopia.

Introduction: The study aimed to investigate the effect of high myopia on the expression of retinal osteopontin (OPN) and integrin αvβ3 receptor in guinea pigs and determine the relationship between high myopia and diabetic retinopathy (DR).

Methods: Ninety-three-week-old male guinea pigs were randomly divided into four groups that included normal control group (NOR, n = 18), high myopia group (HM, n = 24), diabetes group (DR, n = 24), and diabetes with high myopia group (DR+HM, n = 24). HM was induced by form deprivation (FDHM) in the right eye.

Beyond controlling cell size: functional analyses of S6K in tumorigenesis.

As a substrate and major effector of the mammalian target of rapamycin complex 1 (mTORC1), the biological functions of ribosomal protein S6 kinase (S6K) have been canonically assigned for cell size control by facilitating mRNA transcription, splicing, and protein synthesis. However, accumulating evidence implies that diverse stimuli and upstream regulators modulate S6K kinase activity, leading to the activation of a plethora of downstream substrates for distinct pathobiological functions. Beyond controlling cell size, S6K simultaneously plays crucial roles in directing cell apoptosis, metabolism, and feedback regulation of its upstream signals.

S6K1-mediated phosphorylation of PDK1 impairs AKT kinase activity and oncogenic functions.

Functioning as a master kinase, 3-phosphoinositide-dependent protein kinase 1 (PDK1) plays a fundamental role in phosphorylating and activating protein kinases A, B and C (AGC) family kinases, including AKT. However, upstream regulation of PDK1 remains largely elusive. Here we report that ribosomal protein S6 kinase beta 1 (S6K1), a member of AGC kinases and downstream target of mechanistic target of rapamycin complex 1 (mTORC1), directly phosphorylates PDK1 at its pleckstrin homology (PH) domain, and impairs PDK1 interaction with and activation of AKT.

IKBKE phosphorylates and stabilizes Snail to promote breast cancer invasion and metastasis.

IKBKE, a non-canonical inflammatory kinase, is frequently amplified or activated, and plays predominantly oncogenic roles in human cancers, especially in breast cancer. However, the potential function and underlying mechanism of IKBKE contributing to breast cancer metastasis remain largely elusive. Here, we report that depletion of Ikbke markedly decreases polyoma virus middle T antigen (PyVMT)-induced mouse mammary tumorigenesis and subsequent lung metastasis.

Development and Implementation of Couple-Based Collaborative Management Model of Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus for Community-Dwelling Chinese Older Adults: A Pilot Randomized Trial.

To mobilize family's positive involvement in improving and sustaining self-management activities of older adults with diabetes, we developed a couple-based collaborative management model (CCMM) for community-dwelling older Chinese. The model was developed stepwise through applying theoretical models, interviewing older couples and community healthcare workers, as well as incorporating expert reviews. A 3-month pilot study was conducted to test the model's feasibility and its treatment effects by linear regression on 18 pairs of older couples aged 60 years+, who were equally divided into a couple-based intervention arm and a patient-only control arm.

Copper Promotes Tumorigenesis by Activating the PDK1-AKT Oncogenic Pathway in a Copper Transporter 1 Dependent Manner.

Copper plays pivotal roles in metabolic homoeostasis, but its potential role in human tumorigenesis is not well defined. Here, it is revealed that copper activates the phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K)-protein kinase B (PKB, also termed AKT) oncogenic signaling pathway to facilitate tumorigenesis. Mechanistically, copper binds 3-phosphoinositide dependent protein kinase 1 (PDK1), in turn promotes PDK1 binding and subsequently activates its downstream substrate AKT to facilitate tumorigenesis.

Dyadic appraisal and coping with illness among older Chinese adults with type 2 diabetes mellitus: a qualitative study.

Introduction: Diabetes management permeates patients' daily routines and interacts with their living context. Less is known about how older Chinese couples view their supportive roles and the allocation of the management responsibility between them.

Objectives: To explore dyadic appraisal, coping and the barriers to diabetes management shared by older Chinese couples.

Functionally analyzing the important roles of hepatocyte nuclear factor 3 (FoxA) in tumorigenesis.

Transcriptional factors (TFs) play a central role in governing gene expression under physiological conditions including the processes of embryonic development, metabolic homeostasis and response to extracellular stimuli. Conceivably, the aberrant dysregulations of TFs would dominantly result in various human disorders including tumorigenesis, diabetes and neurodegenerative diseases. Serving as the most evolutionarily reserved TFs, Fox family TFs have been explored to exert distinct biological functions in neoplastic development, by manipulating diverse gene expression.

Couple-based collaborative management model of type 2 diabetes mellitus for community-dwelling older adults in China: protocol for a hybrid type 1 randomized controlled trial.

Background: China's limited health care resources cannot meet the needs of chronic disease treatment and management of its rapid growing ageing population. The improvement and maintenance of patient's self-management is essential to disease management. Given disease management mainly occurs in the context of family, this study proposes to validate a Couple-based Collaborative Management Model of chronic diseases that integrates health professionals and family supporters; such as to empower the couples with disease management knowledge and skills, and to improve the couples' health and quality of life.

Laxative Effects of Yangyin Tongmi Capsule on a Model of Diphenoxylate-Induced Constipation in Mice.

Constipation is characterized by reduced number of bowel movements, dry stools, and difficult defecation. Yangyin Tongmi capsule (YTC), a traditional Chinese formula, is used in the treatment of constipation, while the underlying mechanisms remain unknown. Herein, this work attempted to prove the effects of YTC on constipation treatment and its possible mechanisms.

20()-Protopanaxadiol Inhibits Angiotensin II-Induced Epithelial- Mesenchymal Transition by Downregulating SIRT1.

20()-Protopanaxadiol (PPD) is one of the major active metabolites in ginseng saponin. Our previous studies revealed a broad spectrum of antitumor effects of PPD. Angiotensin II (Ang II), the biologically active peptide of the renin-angiotensin system (RAS), plays a critical role in the metastasis of various cancers.

Examining income-related inequality in health literacy and health-information seeking among urban population in China.

Background: Health literacy and health-information seeking behaviour (HISB) play vital roles in health outcome improvements. This study examines the extent of income-related inequality in health literacy and health-information seeking as well as the contributions of the main socioeconomic determinants in China.

Methods: We analysed representative data of participants aged over 18 years as well as older adults from the Guangzhou Community Health Survey.

The Risk of Hypertension Doubles Every 10 Years in China: Age, Period, and Birth Cohort Effects on the Prevalence of Hypertension From 2004 to 2013.

Background: Hypertension is a growing problem worldwide and can often result in a variety of negative health outcomes. The aim of this study was to assess the effects of age at diagnosis, calendar period, and birth cohort on the change in the prevalence rate of hypertension in Guangzhou from 2004 to 2013.

Methods: We used data from the Guangzhou Community Health Survey, a population-based study designed by the National Health and Family Planning Commission of the PRC every 5 years.