Rap1a regulates CUMS-induced neuroinflammation and cognitive dysfunction and emotional abnormalities in mice.

Rap1a is a member of the Ras family of proteins and first came into view as an immune modulator of cells, playing roles in both innate and adaptive immunity. It is widely distributed in various tissue cells and is closely related to multiple biological functions of cells, including immunity, proliferation, differentiation, adhesion, and angiogenesis. Homocysteine (HCY) is a sulfur-containing non-essential amino acid that does not participate in protein synthesis.

Microstructure Design of Metal Selenides for Sodium-Ion Battery Anodes.

The advancement of sodium-ion batteries (SIBs) as next-generation energy storage systems is critically dependent on developing high-performance anode materials. Metal selenides have garnered significant attention as promising anode candidates due to their high theoretical capacities, yet their practical application is hampered by intrinsic issues such as large volume expansion, poor electrical conductivity, and structural pulverization during cycling. Engineering the microstructure of metal selenides offers a powerful avenue to overcome these limitations and unlock their full electrochemical potential.

MOF-enabled magnetic-fluorescent sensors for on-site organophosphorus/carbamate pesticide detection in fruits and vegetables.

Metal organic frameworks (MOFs), with their ultrahigh surface area and tunable pore architectures, have emerged as transformative materials for pesticide residue detection. Herein, we engineered a multifunctional magnetic-fluorescent nanoprobe (FeO@RhB@ZIF90@AChE) for organophosphorus (OPs) and carbamate (CMs) pesticides detection via a one-pot synthesis strategy. Leveraging the pore confinement effect of ZIF90, the platform enhances enzyme-substrate affinity while enabling a cascade signal transduction to produce quantifiable fluorescence inversely proportional to pesticide concentrations.

Rational design of a cost-effective IRES-stem-loop translation system independent of cap and poly(A) tail.

In vitro mRNA transcription requires a 5' cap and a 3' poly(A) tail to enable protein expression in eukaryotic cells-features critical to the success of mRNA vaccines and gene therapies. However, these modifications add complexity and cost to industrial-scale production. We here developed a novel RNA construct that replaces the 5' cap and untranslated region (UTR) with the internal ribosome entry site (IRES) from encephalomyocarditis virus (EMCV), and substitutes the 3' poly(A) tail with a replication-dependent histone stem-loop (SL) structure.

Homocysteine induced N-methyldeoxyadenosine modification perturbation elicits mitochondria dysfunction contributes to the impairment of learning and memory ability caused by early life stress in rats.

Mitochondrial dysfunction is the key pathological mechanism of cognitive decline, and homocysteine (Hcy) plays a vital role in modulating mitochondrial homeostasis. However, the regulating mechanism and intervention targets of Hcy-induced mitochondrial damage involved in brain impairment remain unclear. Herein, it is found that elevated Hcy levels lead to the increasement of METTL4 expression and augmentation of N-methyldeoxyadenosine (6 mA) modification in mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) induced by maternal separation (MS) stress.

Homocysteine Mediates Cognitive Inflexibility Induced by Stress via Targeting PIN1.

Background: Increasing evidence shows that HCY plays an important role in stress-induced cognitive dysfunction, and HCY significantly promotes the decline of cognitive function. Stress has been reported to cause elevated HCY in the hippocampus of mice. Cognitive flexibility refers to the ability of individuals to quickly adjust their neurobehavioral strategies to different situations or to solve different tasks.

Whole Transcriptome Sequencing Analyzes the Interactions of mRNAs and ncRNAs in Cholangiocarcinoma.

Background: Cholangiocarcinoma is a common hepatic malignant tumor with an unfavorable prognosis. Therefore, we systematically evaluated the transcriptomic landscape of CHOL by whole transcriptome sequencing technology in this study and constructed a ceRNA network associated with CHOL.

Methods: First, whole transcriptome sequencing between the tumor tissues of CHOL and adjacent cancer tissues adjacent to the tumors from six patients with CHOL was performed.

Lactobacillus acidophilus extracellular vesicles-coated UiO-66-NH@siRNA nanoparticles for ulcerative colitis targeted gene therapy and gut microbiota modulation.

Ulcerative colitis (UC) is a complex and chronic inflammatory bowel disease whose pathogenesis involves genetic and environmental factors, which poses a challenge for treatment. Here, we have designed an innovative integrated therapeutic strategy using Lactobacillus acidophilus extracellular vesicles (EVs) to encapsulate UiO-66-NH nanoparticles bounded with TNF-α siRNA (EVs@UiO-66-NH@siRNA) for UC treatment. This system shows superior affinity to inflammation-related cells due to the Lactobacillus acidophilus EVs can maintain immune homeostasis by regulating the secretion of cytokines in vitro.

Recycling Defunct Lithium-Ion Battery Cathodes to Quaternary Layered Double Hydroxides for Efficient Oxygen Evolution Reaction.

With the wide-application of batteries (LIBs) correlated industries, continuous accumulation of wasted LIBs occurs, which causes environment issues and exhaustion of metal resources. Therefore, it is of vital importance to develop practical and efficient techniques to reuse the materials in wasted LIBs. In this work, a novel approach is proposed to reuse scrapped Li(CoNiMn)O and LiFePO cathodes by converting them into oxygen evolution reaction (OER) electrocatalysts through simple leaching and co-precipitation steps.

Rutin ameliorates stress-induced blood‒brain barrier dysfunction and cognitive decline via the endothelial HDAC1‒Claudin-5 axis.

Background: Emerging evidence suggests that chronic stress compromises blood‒brain barrier (BBB) integrity by disrupting brain microvascular endothelial cells (BMECs), contributing to the development of cognitive impairments. Thus, targeting the BBB is expected to be a promising treatment strategy. The biological function of rutin has been investigated in neurological disorders; however, its regulatory role in stress-induced BBB damage and cognitive decline and the underlying mechanisms remain elusive.

Depletion of MGO or Its Derivatives Ameliorate CUMS-Induced Neuroinflammation.

Advanced glycation end products (AGEs) are a series of structurally complex and harmful compounds formed through the reaction between the carbonyl group of reducing sugars (such as glucose and fructose) and the free amino groups of proteins, lipids, or nucleic acids. Excessive accumulation of AGEs in the body can trigger oxidative stress, induce inflammatory responses, and contribute to the development of diabetes, atherosclerosis, and neurological disorders. Within the category of dicarbonyl compounds, methylglyoxal (MGO)-a byproduct resulting from glucose degradation-serves as a pivotal precursor in the formation of AGEs and the induction of neurotoxicity.

Tumor-derived exosomal LINC01812 induces M2 macrophage polarization to promote perineural invasion in cholangiocarcinoma.

M2 macrophages play a critical role in the tumor microenvironment of invasive solid tumors. They are closely associated with perineural invasion (PNI) and are often linked to poor prognosis. In this context, tumor-derived exosomes serve as important mediators of intercellular communication.

Integrated analysis of single-cell and bulk RNA sequencing identifies APOC1 as a biomarker and therapeutic target for G0/G1 cell cycle arrest in cholangiocarcinoma.

Cholangiocarcinoma is characterized by its high malignancy, frequent recurrence and insensitivity to conventional radiotherapy and chemotherapy. This resistance may be associated with the presence of cells in the G0/G1 arrest phase within the cancer. Cancer cells in the G0/G1 phase are resistant to therapies targeting actively dividing cells, allowing them to evade conventional adjuvant treatments and survive.

Targeting the NLRP3 inflammasome abrogates cardiotoxicity of immune checkpoint blockers.

Background: Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) have revolutionized the treatment of many malignant tumors. However, ICI-induced hyper-immune activation causes cardiotoxicity. Traditional treatments such as glucocorticoids and immunosuppressants have limited effectiveness and may even accelerate tumor growth.

Inhibition of Glycolysis Alleviates Chronic Unpredictable Mild Stress Induced Neuroinflammation and Depression-like Behavior.

Background: Growing evidence suggests that glucose metabolism plays a crucial role in activated immune cells, significantly contributing to the occurrence and development of neuroinflammation and depression-like behaviors. Chronic stress has been reported to induce microglia activation and disturbances in glucose metabolism in the hippocampus.

Aims: This study aims to investigate how chronic stress-mediated glycolysis promotes neuroinflammation and to assess the therapeutic potential of the glycolysis inhibitor, 2-deoxy-D-glucose (2-DG), in a model of chronic stress-induced neuroinflammation and depression-like behavior.

Establishment a nomogram model for preoperative prediction of the risk of cholangiocarcinoma with microvascular invasion.

Objectives: The research aimed to create and verify a nomogram model that can predict the likelihood of cholangiocarcinoma with microvascular invasion (MVI).

Methods: The clinical data of 476 patients with surgically confirmed cholangiocarcinoma were collected retrospectively. This included 240 cases of intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (iCCA), 85 cases of perihilar cholangiocarcinoma (pCCA), and 151 cases of extrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (eCCA).

Chronic stress disturbed the metabolism of homocysteine in mouse hippocampus and prefrontal cortex.

Stress is an independent risk factor for cognitive impairment, with elevated plasma homocysteine (HCY) levels playing a crucial role in stress-induced cognitive decline. While the rise in plasma HCY levels is linked to abnormal peripheral catabolism, the impact of stress on HCY catabolism in the brain remains unclear. This study investigated the effect of stress on HCY metabolism in the brain by analyzing HCY and its metabolic enzymes in the hippocampus and prefrontal cortex.

Functional Ginger-Derived Extracellular Vesicles-Coated ZIF-8 Containing TNF-α siRNA for Ulcerative Colitis Therapy by Modulating Gut Microbiota.

Tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) plays a causal role in the pathogenesis of ulcerative colitis (UC), and anti-TNF-α siRNA shows great promise in UC therapy. However, delivering siRNA with site-targeted stability and therapeutic efficacy is still challenging due to the complex and dynamic intestinal microenvironment. Here, based on the functional plant-derived ginger extracellular vesicles (EVs) and porous ZIF-8 nanoparticles, we propose a novel TNF-α siRNA delivery strategy (EVs@ZIF-8@siRNA) for UC targeted therapy.

Bioderived Nanoparticles for Cardiac Repair.

Biobased therapy represents a promising strategy for myocardial repair. However, the limitations of using live cells, including the risk of immunogenicity of allogeneic cells and inconsistent therapeutic efficacy of autologous cells together with low stability, result in an unsatisfactory clinical outcomes. Therefore, cell-free strategies for cardiac tissue repair have been proposed as alternative strategies.

GLUT1-mediated microglial proinflammatory activation contributes to the development of stress-induced spatial learning and memory dysfunction in mice.

Background: Stress is a recognized risk factor for cognitive decline, which triggers neuroinflammation involving microglial activation. However, the specific mechanism for microglial activation under stress and affects learning and memory remains unclear.

Methods: The chronic stress mouse model was utilized to explore the relationship between microglial activation and spatial memory impairment.

Non-insulin-based insulin resistance indexes in predicting atrial fibrillation recurrence following ablation: a retrospective study.

Background: Insulin resistance (IR) is involved in the pathophysiological processes of arrhythmias. Increasing evidence suggests triglyceride and glucose (TyG) index, metabolic score for insulin resistance (METS-IR), triglyceride glucose-body mass index (TyG-BMI), and triglyceride to high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (TG/HDL-C) ratio are simple and reliable surrogates for IR. Although they have been associated with atrial fibrillation (AF), evidence supporting this is limited.