Exploring the correlation and mechanism of natural killer cell cytotoxic sensitivity against gastric cancer.

Background: Human natural killer (NK) cells have attracted widespread attention as a potential adoptive cell therapy (ACT). However, the therapeutic effects of NK cell infusion in patients with solid tumors are limited. There is an urgent need to explore a suitable new treatment plan to overcome weaknesses and support the superior therapeutic activity of NK cells.

[Effect of auricular acupuncture combined with intermittent catheterization on urethral sphincter overactivity in the patients with neurogenic bladder after spinal cord injury].

Objectives: To observe the clinical efficacy of auricular acupuncture combined with intermittent catheterization on urethral sphincter overactivity in patients with neurogenic bladder (NB) after spinal cord injury (SCI).

Methods: A total of 90 patients with SCI were randomly divided into an auricular acupuncture group, an intermittent catheterization group and a combined treatment group, 30 cases in each group. All the patients in the three groups received the basic rehabilitation nursing and normal rehabilitation training.

Identification of CCNB1 as a biomarker for cellular senescence in hepatocellular carcinoma: a bioinformatics and experimental validation study.

Background: Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), originating in the liver and often asymptomatic in early stages, frequently metastasises and recures post-surgery. Currently, reliable diagnostic biomarkers and therapeutic targets for HCC are lacking. This study investigates the influence of cellular senescence on HCC, employing bioinformatics analysis and in vitro experiments to identify potential biomarkers.

Assessment of Tanshinone IIA Derivatives for Cardioprotection in Myocardial Ischemic Injury.

Tanshinone ⅡA (TSA), a component of traditional Chinese medicine, effectively protects against myocardial injury. However, its clinical application is limited by poor water solubility and a short half-life. In this study, we report on four TSA derivatives designed and synthesized by our research group.

[Research progress on the mechanisms of acupuncture in improving neurogenic bladder after spinal cord injury].

The neurogenic bladder is a common manifestation of spinal cord injury. The occurrence and development of neurogenic bladder involves a variety of complex pathological mechanisms, including destruction of the structure and function of the detrusor muscles in the bladder tissue, abnormal excitatory conduction of bladder interstitial cells of Cajal, overactivation of the afferent C-fibers of the bladder, and loss of spinal cord neurons. It has been found that acupuncture is effective in the treatment of neurogenic bladder, and its underlying mechanisms are related to its functions in activating the bladder autophagy signaling pathway, modulating the expression of bladder fibroblasts molecules, regulating expression of proteins related to the contractile function of the detrusor muscles, stimulating excitatory conduction channel proteins on the Cajal interstitial cells of bladder, activating afferent C fibers within the bladder regulating spinal neuron regeneration, promoting the production of apoptotic factors in the spinal cord and bladder.

Mechanisms of against hepatocellular carcinoma elucidated by network pharmacology and experimental validation.

Objective: The medicinal plant () Benn exerts an inhibitory effect on the growth of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) cells via an unknown mechanism. This study explored the targets and signaling pathways underlying the mechanism of against HCC.

Methods: Targets of active compounds were identified using the HERB database, and the HCC targets were found with the GeneCards database.

[Progress of researches on acupuncture treatment of spinal cord injury by promoting axonal regeneration].

Based on the growth factor theory, external inhibition theory, and neuronal intrinsic theory, we, in this paper, summed up the potential mechanisms of acupuncture in the treatment of spinal cord injury (SCI) by promoting the axonal regeneration in recent years. Acupuncture can promote the repairment of SCI by (1) regulating the expressions of spinal cord growth factors (such as nerve growth factor, brain derived neurotrophic factor, neurotrophin-3, glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor, ciliary neurotrophic factor, insulin-like growth factor, etc.) to support neuronal survival and axon growth; (2) inhibiting the expression of spinal cord myelin growth inhibitor Nogo protein and oligodendrocyte myelin glycoprotein (OMgp), requlating axon guide molecules Sema3A and Wnt family, etc.

Protective association between dietary phytosterol intake and cardiovascular health: an analysis of the UK Biobank cohort.

: Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) remain a leading cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide, with dietary interventions showing promise in reducing CVD risk factors. Phytosterols (PSs) in plant-based foods may reduce CVD risk by lowering low-density lipoprotein cholesterol. However, the relationship between dietary PS intake and CVD outcomes remains inconclusive.

Association of ultra-processed food intake with severe non-alcoholic fatty liver disease: a prospective study of 143073 UK Biobank participants.

Background: Previous studies indicate a link between non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and unhealthy dietary patterns or nutrient intake. However, it remains unclear whether ultra-processed foods (UPF) contribute to an increased risk of NAFLD. This study aimed to explore how ultra-processed food consumption correlates with severe NAFLD using the UK Biobank data.

TMPRSS2 is a tumor suppressor and its downregulation promotes antitumor immunity and immunotherapy response in lung adenocarcinoma.

Background: TMPRSS2, a key molecule for SARS-CoV-2 invading human host cells, has an association with cancer. However, its association with lung cancer remains insufficiently unexplored.

Methods: In five bulk transcriptomics datasets, one single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) dataset and one proteomics dataset for lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD), we explored associations between TMPRSS2 expression and immune signatures, tumor progression phenotypes, genomic features, and clinical prognosis in LUAD by the bioinformatics approach.

Discovery of a novel class of reversible monoacylglycerol lipase inhibitors for potential treatment of depression.

Biological studies on the endocannabinoid system (ECS) have suggested that monoacylglycerol lipase (MAGL), an essential enzyme responsible for the hydrolysis of 2-arachidonoylglycerol (2-AG), is a novel target for developing antidepressants. A decrease of 2-AG levels in the hippocampus of the brain has been observed in depressive-like models induced by chronic stress. Herein, employing a structure-based approach, we designed and synthesized a new class of (piperazine-1-carbonyl) quinolin-2(1H)-one derivatives as potent, reversible and selective MAGL inhibitors.

Efficacy of growth factor gene-modified stem cells for motor function after spinal cord injury in rodents: a systematic review and meta‑analysis.

The efficacy of growth factor gene-modified stem cells in treating spinal cord injury (SCI) remains unclear. This study aims to evaluate the effectiveness of growth factor gene-modified stem cells in restoring motor function after SCI. Two reviewers searched four databases, including PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, and Scopus, to identify relevant records.

Systems engineering of Escherichia coli for high-level glutarate production from glucose.

Glutarate is a key monomer in polyester and polyamide production. The low efficiency of the current biosynthetic pathways hampers its production by microbial cell factories. Herein, through metabolic simulation, a lysine-overproducing E.

Effect of Yiyuan moxibustion on urodynamics and TRPV4/ATP/P2X5 signal pathway of bladder tissue in rats with neurogenic bladder after sacral cord injury.

Objectives: To observe the effect of Yiyuan moxibustion on urodynamics and the expressions of transient receptor potential vanilloid 4 (TRPV4), adenosine triphosphate (ATP), tyrosine protein kinase KIT (C-Kit) and adenosine triphosphate receptor P2X5 in bladder tissue of rats with detrusor reflex-free neurogenic bladder (NB) after sacral cord injury (SCI), so as to explore its mechanism in promoting the recovery of urination function of NB rats.

Methods: Female SD rats were randomly divided into sham operation, model, Yiyuan moxibustion, Yiyuan moxibustion+inhibitor (combination) and inhibitor groups, with 12 rats in each group. The model of detruser reflex-free NB after sacral SCI was established by modified Hassan Shaker spinal cord transection method.

[Efficacy differences between electroacupuncture and moxibustion for neurogenic bladder after spinal cord injury: a randomized controlled trial].

Objective: To compare the clinical efficacy between electroacupuncture(EA) and moxibustion for neurogenic bladder (NB) after spinal cord injury (SCI).

Methods: One hundred and twenty patients with NB after SCI were randomly divided into an EA group, a moxibustion group, and an intermittent catheterization group, with 40 patients in each group. The patients in the intermittent catheterization group were treated with routine treatment and intermittent catheterization, while the patients in the EA group and the moxibustion group were treated with additional treatments of EA (discontinuous wave, with a frequency of 1.

Genetic diversity and population structure of (Linnaeus, 1767) in Fujian (China) revealed by mtDNA COI sequences.

is a widely distributed and ecologically important stalked barnacle that settles extensively on rocky shores. This species contributes to the structural complexity of intertidal habitats and plays a critical role in the marine ecosystem. This study aimed to reveal the genetic diversity and population structure of by analyzing the mitochondrial cytochrome oxidase I (COI) gene.

Diagnostic value of liver contrast-enhanced ultrasound in early hepatocellular carcinoma: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background: Hepatocellular carcinoma is the sixth most common cancer in the world, and its incidence rate will continue to increase. Contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) is feasible as a rapid examination for early hepatocellular carcinoma diagnosis. However, considering the possible causes of false positives caused by ultrasound, its diagnostic value is still controversial.

Insight into the Molecular Structure, Interaction, and Dynamics of Aqueous Reline Deep Eutectic Solvent: A Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Investigation.

Reline, which is composed of choline chloride (ChCl) and urea, is the first and most widely used deep eutectic solvent (DES) described by Abbot and co-workers. Due to the hygroscopic feature, traces of water are unavoidable, which significantly affect the physicochemical properties of reline. At present, the local structure of molecules and the impact from the presence of water are still the most significant questions in this field.

Discovery of selective covalent cathepsin K inhibitors containing novel 4-cyanopyrimidine warhead based on quantum chemical calculations and binding mode analysis.

Cathepsin K (Cat K), mainly expressed by osteoclasts, plays an important role in bone resorption. Covalent Cat K inhibitors will show great potential in the future treatment of osteoporosis. It has been reported that the selectivity of covalent cathepsin K inhibitors was related to the drug's safety.

Development of indole-2-carbonyl piperazine urea derivatives as selective FAAH inhibitors for efficient treatment of depression and pain.

Fatty acid amide hydrolase (FAAH), aserinehydrolase with significant role in thehydrolysis of endocannabinoids, is a promising therapeutic target for peripheral and central nervous system related disorders, including pain, neuroinflammation and depression. Employing a structure-based approach, a novel series of indole-2-carbonyl piperazine urea derivatives were designed and synthesized as FAAH inhibitors for the treatment of pain-depression comorbidity. Among them, compound 4i emerged as the most potent inhibitor (IC = 0.

Quantitative analysis of polymer-grafted cellulose nanocrystals using a ssNMR method on the basis of cross polarization reciprocity relation.

The quantitative analysis of surface modified CNCs is an essential issue for the research and development of the relating materials. Herein, an improved quantitative ssNMR method of rQCP was employed for analyzing CNCs materials. Firstly, CNCs and three PMMA/CNCs mixtures were chosen to evaluate the performance of rQCP method.

Effectiveness of ultrasound-guided percutaneous transhepatic puncture for the diagnosis of low-level alpha-fetoprotein liver cancer patients.

Background: Globally, liver cancer is the most frequent fatal malignancy. The aim of the present study was to explore the effectiveness of ultrasound (US)-guided percutaneous transhepatic puncture in patients with low-level alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) liver cancer.

Methods: A total of 300 patients with primary liver cancer (PLC) (with AFP level ≤200 ng/mL and who underwent fine-needle aspiration) who were admitted to Central South University Xiangya School of Medicine Affiliated Haikou Hospital from January 2016 to December 2020 were selected to participate in the present study.

Identifying novel factors associated with COVID-19 transmission and fatality using the machine learning approach.

The COVID-19 virus has infected more than 38 million people and resulted in more than one million deaths worldwide as of October 14, 2020. By using the logistic regression model, we identified novel critical factors associated with COVID19 cases, death, and case fatality rates in 154 countries and in the 50 U.S.