Retracing the path of evolution: polymorphisms of codon 363 shape the fitness of .

, the etiologic agent of plague, is a genetically monomorphic pathogen. By screening 1085 published genomes, we identified an unusual mutation hotspot within codon 363 of the aspartate ammonia-lyase gene with at least six alleles in the population. Our investigation delves into the significance of the polymorphism at the codon 363 and its impact on the fitness of strains.

Anti atherosclerosis effect and mechanism of a novel curcumin analogue CACN136: regulating macrophage M1/M2 polarization and lipid metabolism.

Introduction: Curcumin has been found to inhibit atherosclerosis. However, its poor stability and low activity severely limit its further application. To overcome the shortcomings of curcumin, our team successfully designed a novel curcumin analog, CACN136.

The P2X7 receptor in depression: Novel insights and therapeutic implications.

Major depressive disorder (MDD) is a heterogeneous mental disorder involving multiple pathogenic mechanisms. Current first-line antidepressant medications suffer from slow onset of action, limited effectiveness, and high side effects, necessitating the search for new therapeutic targets. Targeting cytokines or receptors is increasingly recognized in innovative depression treatment protocols.

Opportunities for the treatment of atherosclerosis: Selectins.

Despite the widespread availability of selectins for tumor therapy, their contribution to atherosclerosis has long been under-emphasized due to their "cofactor's" status and technological limitations. However, advances in immunohistology, glycomics, and related technologies require us to reassess their relationship. Thus, this review identifies pivotal translational opportunities from the intricate mechanisms and explores the clinical promise of selectins in the diagnosis and treatment of atherosclerosis based on the latest clinical research.

Novel chlorine-containing curcumin analogue CAK06 promotes neuroprotection and rapid antidepressant through Nrf2-induced anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects.

Currently, conventional antidepressants are often limited by poor efficacy and delayed onset, and there is an urgent need for the development of rapid acting antidepressant alternatives. The aim of this study was to develop novel antidepressants with a rapid onset of action by inhibiting inflammation and oxidative stress. A series of chlorine-containing curcumin analogues were designed and synthesized.

Effective-Component Compatibility of Bufei Yishen Formula (ECC-BYF) III Inhibits Mucus Hypersecretion by BEAS-2B Cells via miR-146a-5p-Mediated Regulation of the EGFR/MEK/ERK Pathway.

Purpose: To explore the role of the miR-146a-5p-mediated regulation of the EGFR/MEK/ERK pathway in the effect of effective-component compatibility of Bufei Yishen Formula III (ECC-BYF III) on ameliorating mucus hypersecretion by bronchial epithelial cells (BEAS-2B cells).

Methods: BEAS-2B cells exposed to cigarette smoke extract (CSE) were used to establish a mucus hypersecretion model of BEAS-2B cells. The optimal intervention concentration of ECC-BYF III was screened by CCK-8, qRT-PCR and ELISA, the effects of ECC-BYF III on MUC5AC, MUC5B, IL-4, IL-8, TNF-α, IL-1α, miR-146a-5p and EGFR/MEK/ERK pathway expression were assessed.

Smoking cessation improves health status of patients with chronic diseases: evidence from a longitudinal study of older adults in China.

Background: Smoking is a well-documented risk factor for numerous chronic diseases, and cessation is correlated with enhanced health outcomes. Nonetheless, the precise effects of smoking cessation on the health status of older adults with chronic conditions in China have not been thoroughly quantified.

Objective: This study aims to quantitatively assess the correlations between smoking cessation and enhancements in the health outcomes of elderly Chinese individuals with chronic diseases.

Identifying subgroups of ypN1 breast cancer patients who may exempt from axillary lymph node dissection after neoadjuvant chemotherapy: insights from a large cohort study.

Background: In patients with breast cancer staged ypN1 after neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC), there is limited evidence-based guidance regarding exemption from axillary lymph node dissection (ALND).

Methods: This study analyzed ypN1 breast cancer patients post-NAC from the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results databases. Patients were categorized into the breast-conserving surgery (BCS) group and the total mastectomy (TM) group, and further divided by the number of positive lymph nodes (LNs).

Development of the Curcumin Analog CA7 Liposome and Its Evaluation for Efficacy Against Cervical Cancer in vitro and in vivo.

Objective: The objective of this study was to develop liposomes (LP) containing a curcumin (CU) analog CA7 to enhance its pharmacokinetic profile and anti-cervical cancer (CC) effects.

Methods: Single-factor and Box-Behnken experiments were conducted to optimize the formulation of CA7-loaded liposomes (CA7-LP). The in vitro release, stability, biocompatibility, and pharmacokinetic of CA7-LP were evaluated.

Preparation and anti-colon cancer effect of a novel curcumin analogue (CA8): and evaluation.

Chemotherapy remains the first choice of treatment for colon cancer despite the inevitable adverse effects. Curcumin (CU) possesses antitumor activity but has poor aqueous solubility, low bioavailability, and weak activity. To address this, nine novel monocarbonyl CU analogues were designed, synthesized, and evaluated in the present study.

Citral: A potent inhibitor of advanced glycation end products.

Advanced glycation end products (AGEs), which are produced during food processing, pose health risks to humans. This study found that citral (Cit) effectively inhibited the formation of both fluorescent and non-fluorescent AGEs in the bovine serum albumin (BSA)-glucose (Glc) system. Cit achieved an average inhibition rate of over 80 % for fluorescent AGEs and reduced the levels of N-ε-carboxymethyllysine (CML) and N-ε-carboxyethyllysine (CEL) by up to 45.

Facile Preparation of Superhydrophobic PDMS Polymer Films with Good Mechanical Strength Based on a Wear-Resistant and Reusable Template.

In this paper, a new method involving a wear-resistant and reusable template is proposed for the preparation of high-mechanical-strength superhydrophobic polymer film based on wire electrical discharge machining (WEDM). A solid-liquid-contact-angle simulation model was established to obtain surface-texture types and sizes that may achieve superhydrophobicity. The experimental results from template preparation show that there is good agreement between the simulation and experimental results for the contact angle.

Construction and Evaluation of BAL-PTX Co-Loaded Lipid Nanosystem for Promoting the Anti-Lung Cancer Efficacy of Paclitaxel and Reducing the Toxicity of Chemotherapeutic Drugs.

Purpose: The present study aimed to develop a lipid nanoplatform, denoted as "BAL-PTX-LN", co-loaded with chiral baicalin derivatives (BAL) and paclitaxel (PTX) to promote the anti-lung cancer efficacy of paclitaxel and reduce the toxicity of chemotherapeutic drugs.

Methods: BAL-PTX-LN was optimized through central composite design based on a single-factor experiments. BAL-PTX-LN was evaluated by TEM, particle size, encapsulation efficiency, hemolysis rate, release kinetics and stability.

Impact of response to neoadjuvant chemotherapy on surgical modality in patients with T1-2N0-1M0 triple-negative breast cancer.

Purpose: Many T1-2N0-1M0 triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) patients who undergo neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC) do not receive breast-conserving therapy (BCT) due to concerns about non-pCR or lymph node metastasis presence.

Methods: T1-2N0-1M0 TNBC patients who underwent NAC between 2010 and 2017 were collected from the SEER database. Factors affecting surgical modalities were analyzed by multinomial logistic regression.

Preliminary Investigation Into the Antidepressant Effects of a Novel Curcumin Analogue (CACN136) In Vitro and In Vivo.

The aim of this study was to develop a novel antidepressant with high activity. Based on the findings of molecular docking, eight novel curcumin analogues were evaluated in vitro to check for antidepressant efficacy. Among them, CACN136 had the strongest antidepressant effect.

Is neoadjuvant chemotherapy necessary for T2N0-1M0 hormone receptor-positive/HER2-negative breast cancer patients undergoing breast-conserving surgery?

Introduction: For HR-positive/HER2-negative patients who can undergo breast-conserving surgery (BCS) but have a tumor size of 2-5 cm or 1-3 lymph node metastases, neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC) is still controversial.

Methods: Patients with T2N0-1M0 HR-positive/HER2-negative BC who underwent BCS between 2010 and 2017 were selected from the SEER database. Propensity score matching (PSM) was used to minimize the influence of confounding factors.

Heterogeneous bimetallic selenides encapsulated within graphene aerogel as advanced anodes for sodium ion batteries.

Metal selenides are promising anode candidates for sodium ion batteries (SIBs) because of their high theoretical capacity, low cost, and environmental friendship. However, the low rate capability at high current density due to its inherent low electrical conductivity and poor cycle stability caused by inevitable volume variations during cycling frustrate its practical applications. Herein, we have developed a simple metallic-organic frameworks (MOFs)-derived selenide strategy to synthesize a series of heterogeneous bimetallic selenides encapsulated within graphene aerogels (GA) as anodes for SIBs.

Study on the High-Efficiency Preparation of Superhydrophobic Polymer Thin Films by Continuous Micro/Nano Imprinting.

In order to improve the preparation efficiency, quality stability, and large-area preparation of superhydrophobic thin films, a roll-to-roll continuous micro-nano imprinting method for the efficient preparation of superhydrophobic polymer films is proposed. A wear-resistant mold roller with hierarchical microstructure is prepared by wire electrical discharge machining (WEDM). The rheological filling model is constructed for revealing the forming mechanism of superhydrophobic polymer films during continuous micro/nano imprinting.

Synthesis and characterization of core-shell high-nickel cobalt-free layered LiNiMgAlO@LiZrO cathode for high-performance lithium ion batteries.

High-nickel cobalt-free layered cathode is regarded as a highly potential cathode material for the next generation lithium ion batteries (LIBs) because of its high energy density, low cost and environmentally benign. However, the poor cycle performance caused by its intrinsic unstable structure and chemo-mechanical instability frustrates its practical applications. Herein, we have developed a new core-shell high-nickel cobalt-free layered LiNiMgAlO@LiZrO (LZO-NMA9523) cathode for high-performance LIBs.

Numerical Simulation Technologies in Solar-Driven Interfacial Evaporation Processes.

Solar interfacial evaporation technology has the advantages of environmentally conscious and sustainable benefits. Recent research on light absorption, water transportation, and thermal management has improved the evaporation performance of solar interfacial evaporators. However, many studies on photothermal materials and structures only aim to improve performance, neglecting explanations for heat and mass transfer coupling or providing evidence for performance enhancement.

Pharmacological interventions for pediatric obstructive sleep apnea (OSA): Network meta-analysis.

Importance: Pediatric obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is a common disease that can have significant negative impacts on a child's health and development. A comprehensive evaluation of different pharmacologic interventions for the treatment of OSA in children is still lacking.

Objective: This study aims to conduct a comprehensive systematic review and network meta-analysis of pharmacological interventions for the management of obstructive sleep apnea in pediatric population.