Ligustilide Suppresses Macrophage-Mediated Intestinal Inflammation and Restores Gut Barrier via EGR1-ADAM17-TNF-α Pathway in Colitis Mice.

Ulcerative colitis is a chronic nonspecific intestinal inflammatory disease, which usually occurs in the rectal and colonic mucosa and submucosa. Ligustilide, a major component derived from (Oliv.) Diels, exerts anti-inflammation effect.

Prevalence and determinants of depression, anxiety, and stress among secondary school students.

Background: By investigating the depression, anxiety and stress status of secondary school students, we further analysed the influencing factors of the changes in depression, anxiety and stress among secondary school students, so as to provide references for subsequent studies and interventions on adolescent mental health.

Methods: This study was a cross-sectional research study conducted in a city in Southwest China. A questionnaire survey was conducted during March-June 2022 among students attending secondary schools within a city.

Molecular Epidemiology of spp. in Aborted Livestock in the Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region, China.

Brucellosis is caused by spp.; it can result in fetal loss and abortion, resulting in economic losses and negative effects on human health. Herein, a cross-sectional study on the epidemiology of spp.

Associations between trajectories of plasma biomarkers for Alzheimer's disease, brain structures, and cognitive function: a prospective cohort study in the UK Biobank.

Plasma amyloid-β(Aβ)42/40 ratio, glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP), neurofilament light (NfL), and phosphorylated tau181(p-tau181) are promising biomarkers for Alzheimer's disease (AD)-related pathology. We aimed to explore the longitudinal trajectories of these biomarkers in association with changes in structural brain markers and cognition, and the impact of cognitive reserve on their associations with cognitive function. This cohort study included 1270 individuals (mean age 59.

One-step carbonization preparation of peanut shell porous carbon and its excellent microwave-absorbing property.

Biomass-derived porous carbon is expected to become a lightweight and efficient microwave-absorbing material. In this paper, peanut shell porous carbon (PSC) materials was successfully prepared by a one-step carbonization method using peanut shells (PS) as raw material and KOH as activator. The prepared PSC samples had excellent microwave absorption performance.

High-throughput profiling of chemical-induced gene expression across 93,644 perturbations.

In this Resource, we present an extensive dataset of chemical-induced gene signatures (CIGS), encompassing expression patterns of 3,407 genes regulating key biological processes in 2 human cell lines exposed to 13,221 compounds across 93,664 perturbations. This dataset encompasses 319,045,108 gene expression events, generated through 2 high-throughput technologies: the previously documented high-throughput sequencing-based high-throughput screening (HTS) and the newly developed highly multiplexed and parallel sequencing (HiMAP-seq). Our results show that HiMAP-seq is comparable to RNA sequencing, but can profile the expression of thousands of genes across thousands of samples in one single test by utilizing a pooled-sample strategy.

Urate-lowering and renal-protective effects of sugarcane polyphenols in hyperuricemia: mechanisms and key components.

Hyperuricemia (HUA) is a metabolic disorder characterized by abnormally elevated levels of uric acid (UA) in the blood, often accompanied by renal damage. The continuous rise in HUA incidence necessitates the development of safe, efficient natural urate-lowering pathways. This study combined network pharmacology prediction with rat model experiments to systematically evaluate the urate-lowering potential of sugarcane polyphenols (SP), a byproduct of the sugarcane sugar industry.

Lung-Derived Small Extracellular Vesicles Containing miR-15a-5p/miR-96-5p Promote Myocardial Fibrosis in Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy via Targeting SMAD7.

Small extracellular vesicles (sEVs) are membrane-bound nanoparticles released by cells for intercellular or inter-tissue communication and play key roles in multiple cardiovascular disorders. However, the mechanisms underlying sEV-mediated myocardial fibrosis in hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) are not well understood. In this study, it is discovered that the levels of miR-15a-5p and miR-96-5p in circulating sEVs (miR-15a-5p/96-5p) are elevated in HCM patients with myocardial fibrosis.

Psychoactive substances: novel molecular insights and therapeutic potential for Alzheimer's disease.

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a major neurodegenerative disorder that causes severe cognitive decline and poses a significant burden on global health systems. Despite extensive research, effective treatments to stop neurodegeneration or promote neuronal regeneration in AD remain elusive. Psychoactive substances as modulators of neurophysiological functions, have received increased attention in research.

Biochar and hydroxyapatite enhance both phytoextraction and phytostabilization of a heavily Cd-polluted soil using sweet sorghum.

Sweet sorghum has a high tolerance to toxic metals, but its response to soil amendments in Cd-polluted soils remains underexplored. Here, we compared the effects of biochar and hydroxyapatite (HAP) at different doses (0, 0.5%, and 1%, w/w) on the growth, mineral nutrition, stress tolerance, and phytoremediation efficiency of sweet sorghum grown in an agricultural soil heavily polluted by Cd (20.

Distribution of Methylene Tetrahydrofolate Reductase Gene Polymorphisms in Women of Childbearing Age in Tai'an.

The objective was to explore the distribution characteristics of methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase 677C > T and 1298A > C gene polymorphisms among women of childbearing age in the Tai'an area. A total of 243 women of childbearing age, the age ranged from 20 to 46 years, with a mean age of 31.0 ± 5.

MAPK/ERK signaling pathway in rheumatoid arthritis: mechanisms and therapeutic potential.

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a multifaced autoimmune disorder characterized by chronic joint inflammation, leading to progressive disability and significantly impacting patients' quality of life. Despite advances in treatment, finding a cure or preventing disease progression remains a major clinical challenge, underscoring the urgent need for novel therapeutic strategies. Among various pathways involved in the pathophysiology of RA, the mitogen-activated protein kinases/extracellular regulated protein kinases (MAPK/ERK) pathway is of particular importance.

High-performance ZrNiSn-based half-Heusler thermoelectrics with hierarchical architectures enabled by reactive sintering.

Half-Heusler compounds are promising thermoelectric materials for high-temperature applications, yet their performance is limited by high lattice thermal conductivity. Here, we present an alternative approach to synthesize ZrNiSn-based half-Heusler compounds with hierarchical architectures across multiple length scales. By utilizing short-duration mechanical alloying to produce nonequilibrium precursors, followed by reactive sintering, we enable precise control over phase composition and microstructural features.

Ultralow Lattice Thermal Conductivity of Zintl-Phase CaAgSb Induced by Interface and Superlattice Scattering.

Zintl phases attract extensive attention due to the characteristic of "electron-crystal, phonon glass". In this work, an ultralow lattice thermal conductivity ≈0.59 W m K at 300 K and ≈0.

Effect of Sugarcane Polyphenol Extract on α-Amylase Inhibition and Mechanism Exploration.

Although α-amylase is crucial for postprandial glucose control, existing inhibitors present various side effects, necessitating the exploration of natural alternatives. The ability of sugarcane polyphenol (SP) to inhibit α-amylase remains unclear. This study assessed the inhibitory activity of SP via in vitro assays, circular dichroism (CD), fluorescence quenching, and stability analysis, while the mechanism of action was elucidated using molecular docking and molecular dynamics (MD).

Human Schlafen 14 Cleavage of Short Double-Stranded RNAs Underpins its Antiviral Activity.

The Schlafen (SLFN) genes are induced by interferons, underscoring their roles in the immune response and viral replication inhibition. SLFN14, a member of SLFN family, is associated with multiple human diseases; however, neither its functions nor its disease mechanisms are fully understood. Herein, human SLFN14 biochemically is characterized, demonstrating that it specifically cleaves RNAs containing short duplex regions, such as hairpin RNAs and tRNAs, but does not have ATPase or helicase activity.

Three-dimensional spatial plasticizing effect of star-shaped plasticizer for high-performance crosslinked solid polymer electrolyte.

Solid polymer electrolyte (SPE) among the most promising candidates for lithium metal battery (LMB) due to ease of processing and excellent electrode compatibility. However, balancing ionic conductivity and mechanical strength remains a key challenge. To address this, we designed and synthesized a star-shaped plasticizer using a straightforward thiol-acrylate photopolymerization process to enhance the overall performance of crosslinked SPEs.

Culture-Negative Peritonitis and the Latest Diagnostic Techniques.

Background: Peritonitis is a common and serious complication of peritoneal dialysis that results in considerable morbidity, mortality, and increased healthcare costs. A positive culture-based microorganism test is one of the main criteria for the diagnosis of peritonitis. However, the rates of positive bacterial culture remain quite low.

Switching between type I/II photosensitization processes for of an unconventional dye as modulated by the tumor microenvironment for inducing immunogenic death.

In this work, an unconventional Se-substituted hemicyanine dye (HCySe-O-NO) decorated with a -nitrophenyl moiety as a recognition site was investigated. Its type I/II photosensitization processes could be regulated by the tumor microenvironment, alleviating the oxygen dependence of conventional photodynamic therapy (PDT) for the treatment of solid tumors. Upon being exposed to 760-nm-wavelength laser irradiation, cancer cells treated with HCySe-O-NO exhibited the phenomenon of pyroptosis, resulting in an amplification of cellular immunogenic death (ICD), and hence demonstrating the potential value of this dye for photoimmunotherapy.

The alteration of IL-17 signaling pathway in bipolar disorder: a preliminary study with transcriptomic perspective.

Objective: Bipolar Disorder (BD) is a complex psychiatric condition influenced by genetic and environmental factors. This study aims to explore global mRNA expression in Peripheral blood white cells (PBMC) of BD patients.

Methods: We analyzed whole-genome gene expression profiles from PBMC of 12 BD states-manic (BD-M), 12 BD states-depressive (BD-D), and 12 matched healthy controls (HC) using microarrays.

Research on intrinsic capacity as a predictor of falls and disability in community-dwelling elderly.

Background: With aging, a decline in intrinsic capacity can lead to functional impairments, thereby increasing the risk of adverse health outcomes.

Objectives: This study aims to explore the prediction of intrinsic capacity decline on adverse health outcomes, such as falls and disability, over the course of 1 year. By addressing the gap in longitudinal research on community populations in China, the study seeks to deepen the local understanding of healthy aging theory, providing theoretical support for the development of elderly health intervention strategies tailored to Chinese contexts.

Gene signature-guided isolation identifies cucurbitacins as STAT3 inhibitors from Picria fel-terrae Lour.

Background: The transcription activator factor signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3) diseases, such as triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC), making the need to identify new inhibitors crucial for effective treatment. In this regard, plants used in traditional Chinese medicine, including Picria fel-terrae Lour. (PFL), represent a rich source of bioactive compounds for identifying STAT3 inhibitors.

Practical AI application in psychiatry: historical review and future directions.

The integration of artificial intelligence (AI) in mental healthcare holds promise for enhancing diagnostic precision, treatment efficacy, and personalized care. Despite AI's potential to analyze vast datasets and identify subtle patterns, its clinical adoption in psychiatry remains limited. This review critically examines the emerging role of AI in psychiatry, elucidating its utility, challenges, and implications for clinical practice.

Antioxidant Peptides from the Fruit Source of the Oil Crop Ameliorate FFA-Induced Oxidative Stress Injury: Based on Nrf2/Keap1 Pathway and Molecular Dynamics Simulations.

In this study, we systematically investigated the mechanisms of the antioxidation and anti-lipid accumulation effects of antioxidant peptides from on a free fatty acid (FFA)-induced NAFLD model of HepG2 cells. The NAFLD cell model was constructed by inducing the HepG2 hepatocellular carcinoma cell line with 0.5 mmol/L FFAs, and AQRDAGLL, QEGPFVR, and DVPPPRGPL were given to the culture to study their lipid-lowering and antioxidant activities on NAFLD cells.