Postnatal cardiac function in mammals is closely associated with cardiomyocyte proliferation and hypertrophy. However, the molecular mechanisms regulating cardiomyocyte proliferation and hypertrophy h Show more
Postnatal cardiac function in mammals is closely associated with cardiomyocyte proliferation and hypertrophy. However, the molecular mechanisms regulating cardiomyocyte proliferation and hypertrophy have not yet been fully elucidated. Therefore, phenotypic measurements and transcriptomic sequencing were performed on myocardial tissues from 7-day-old (P7) and 3-month-old (3m) female C57BL/6 mice to investigate changes in cardiomyocytes during growth and development and to identify key genes regulating myocardial growth and development. In comparison to 7-day-old mice, 3-month-old mice exhibited a significant increase in heart weight ( Show less
Lipoprotein lipase (LPL) is critical for clearance of circulating triglycerides and for tissue fatty acid supply. LPL is primarily synthesized and secreted by adipocytes into the interstitium and must Show more
Lipoprotein lipase (LPL) is critical for clearance of circulating triglycerides and for tissue fatty acid supply. LPL is primarily synthesized and secreted by adipocytes into the interstitium and must traffic from there to the abluminal/basolateral side of capillary endothelial cells. There, LPL binds glycosylphosphatidylinositol-anchored protein 1, GPIHBP1, which stabilizes the protein and facilitates its movement across the endothelial cells to the luminal side where it functions in hydrolysis of lipoprotein triglycerides. Importance of LPL traffic is supported by findings that rare mutations in GPIHBP1 cause hypertriglyceridemia. However our understanding of how LPL is secreted by adipocytes and traffics to endothelial cells is incomplete. Here we examined the possibility that secretion and traffic of adipocyte LPL might involve generation of small extracellular vesicles (sEVs/exosomes) which often mediate cell-cell communication. Proteomic analysis of sEVs secreted by adipocytes showed them enriched in LPL. To study LPL secretion and transfer we generated human derived pre-adipocytes (HPA) that stably express tagged LPL (FLAG and His epitopes). LPL pulldown and sEV isolation from HPA conditioned media documented that greater than 70% of secreted LPL is present in sEVs. The mechanism for LPL secretion in sEVs was found to involve the ESCRT-independent neutral sphingomyelinase 2 (nSMase2) pathway, as treatment with the nSMase2 inhibitor GW4869 reduced secretion by 80%. The above observations were reproduced using highly sensitive nanoparticle flow cytometry. The sEV associated LPL has lipolytic activity and it is released by heparin addition indicating it is on the sEV surface. In addition, using human derived microvascular endothelial cells with stable lentiviral expression of GPIHBP1 we show that LPL positive sEVs transfer LPL to these cells, but not to control cells without GPIHBP1. Our findings suggest that sEV formation by nSMase2 controls adipocyte LPL secretion and traffic, that sEVs protect LPL activity and facilitate LPL transfer to GPIHBP1 on endothelial cells. Show less
Reverse Potts shunt is a promising yet high-risk therapy for pediatric pulmonary arterial hypertension. Postoperative hemodynamics is critically influenced by shunt configuration but is difficult to p Show more
Reverse Potts shunt is a promising yet high-risk therapy for pediatric pulmonary arterial hypertension. Postoperative hemodynamics is critically influenced by shunt configuration but is difficult to predict. This study aimed to quantify the effects of shunt size and location on hemodynamics to guide surgical planning. Based on a patient-specific model, four postoperative models with two different shunt locations [left pulmonary artery (LPA)-descending aorta (DAO) and pulmonary artery bifurcation-aortic arch] and three conduit sizes (4, 5, and 6 mm) were created. The direct Potts shunt model was created by a direct side-to-side anastomosis between the LPA and DAO with a 6-mm circular opening. Quantitative parameters including the shunt ratio (SR), which was defined as the percentage of the shunt flow rates to the total pulmonary inflow rate, lower limb oxygen saturation, and pressure were analyzed. Increasing the shunt size from 4 mm to 6 mm elevated the SR from 6.01% to 9.80%, concurrently reducing lower limb oxygen saturation from 89.57% to 86.52%. When taking 11,000 Pa as the threshold, this increased SR resulted in a reduction of the high-pressure area from 17.32% of the total pulmonary artery area to almost zero. Meanwhile, the high-pressure area on the aorta expanded from 8.72% of the total aortic area to 14.94%. These results indicated a reduction in the right ventricular afterload and an increase in the left ventricular afterload. Notably, a 6-mm shunt at the pulmonary artery bifurcation yielded a significantly larger SR than at the LPA (9.80% vs. 2.68%), which is attributed to a higher pressure gradient at the pulmonary artery bifurcation (1,201 Pa vs. 162 Pa). The shunt location had a greater impact on the SR than shunt size within the 4 mm-6 mm range in this specific case. A 6-mm shunt at the pulmonary artery bifurcation yielded a significantly larger SR than at the LPA, which is attributed to the higher preoperative pressure gradient at the bifurcation site. Left heart function is as critical as right heart function in maintaining pressure balance and determining outcomes, as the shunt flow increases the left ventricular afterload. Show less
Sow colostrum is rich in lactoferrin (LF), which can be orally administered to protect piglets from porcine epidemic diarrhea virus (PEDV) infection, thereby reducing piglet mortality. Previous study Show more
Sow colostrum is rich in lactoferrin (LF), which can be orally administered to protect piglets from porcine epidemic diarrhea virus (PEDV) infection, thereby reducing piglet mortality. Previous study has shown that sows fed with recombinant B. subtilis expressing 4,4-diaponeurosporene (B.S-Dia) have significantly higher LF levels in their colostrum compared to sows fed with B. subtilis. This suggests that 4,4-diaponeurosporene (DNP) produced by B.S-Dia may influence LF content in sow colostrum. In this study, we first extracted DNP expressed by the recombinant probiotic using acetone-hexane extraction. Flow cytometry, RT-qPCR, and ELISA analyses demonstrated that DNP promoted dendritic cell (DCs) maturation and increased the expression of IL-1β and IL-27. We then established a method for isolating neutrophils from sow colostrum and set up a co-culture system of neutrophils and DCs to investigate factors regulating LF secretion. The results indicated that DCs secretions enhanced LF expression in neutrophils. Finally, the application of IL-27 inhibitors confirmed that IL-27 produced by DCs upregulates LF secretion in neutrophils. These findings elucidate the mechanism by which DNP promotes LF production in colostrum and provide a theoretical foundation for using B.S-Dia to prevent and control PEDV infection in piglets. Show less
Hair follicle stem cells (HFSCs) are resident stem cells within hair follicles (HFs) that possess self-renewal and differentiation capacities, serving as a critical model for regenerative medicine res Show more
Hair follicle stem cells (HFSCs) are resident stem cells within hair follicles (HFs) that possess self-renewal and differentiation capacities, serving as a critical model for regenerative medicine research. Their dynamic interaction with dermal papilla cells (DPCs) plays a decisive role in HF development and cycling. Show less
Patients with schizophrenia (SCZ) face multiple health challenges due to the complication of chronic diseases and psychiatric disorders. Among these, cardiovascular comorbidities are the leading cause Show more
Patients with schizophrenia (SCZ) face multiple health challenges due to the complication of chronic diseases and psychiatric disorders. Among these, cardiovascular comorbidities are the leading cause of their life expectancy being 15-20 years shorter than that of the general population. Identifying comorbidity patterns and uncovering differences in immune and metabolic function are crucial steps toward improving prevention and management strategies. A retrospective cross-sectional study was conducted using electronic medical records of inpatients discharged between 2015 and 2024 from a municipal psychiatric hospital in China. The study included patients diagnosed with Schizophrenia, Schizotypal, and Delusional Disorders (SSDs) (ICD-10: F20-F29). Comorbidity patterns were identified through latent class analysis (LCA) based on the 20 most common comorbid conditions among SSD patients. To investigate differences in peripheral blood metabolic and immune function, linear regression or generalized linear models were applied to 44 laboratory test indicators collected during the acute episode. The Benjamini-Hochberg method was used for p-value correction, and the false discovery rate (FDR) was calculated, with statistical significance set at FDR < 0.05. Among 3,697 inpatients with SSDs, four distinct comorbidity clusters were identified: SSDs only (Class 1), High-Risk Metabolic Multisystem Disorders (Class 2, n = 39), Low-Risk Metabolic Multisystem Disorders (Class 3, n = 573), and Sleep Disorders (Class 4, n = 205). Compared to Class 1, Class 2 exhibited significantly elevated levels of apolipoprotein A (ApoA; β = 90.62), apolipoprotein B (ApoB; β = 0.181), mean platelet volume (MPV; β = 0.994), red cell distribution width-coefficient of variation (RDW-CV; β = 1.182), antistreptolysin O (ASO; β = 276.80), and absolute lymphocyte count (ALC; β = 0.306), along with reduced apolipoprotein AI (ApoAI; β = -0.173) and hematocrit (HCT; β = -35.13). Class 3 showed moderate increases in low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C; β = 0.113), MPV (β = 0.267), white blood cell count (WBC; β = 0.476), and absolute neutrophil count (ANC; β = 0.272), with decreased HCT (β = -9.81). Class 4 was characterized by elevated aggregate index of systemic inflammation (AISI; β = 81.07), neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR; β = 0.465), and systemic inflammation response index (SIRI; β = 0.346), indicating a heightened inflammatory state. The comorbidity patterns of patients with SCZ can be distinctly classified. During the acute episode, those with comorbid metabolic disorders exhibit a higher risk of cardiovascular diseases and immune system abnormalities, while patients with comorbid sleep disorders present a pronounced systemic inflammatory state and immune dysfunction. This study provides a basis for the chronic disease management and anti-inflammatory treatment, while also offering objective biomarker insights for transdiagnostic research. Show less
Here, we identified a type of hypothetical T7SS effector in This alternative strategy facilitates effectors' delivery, even for fragmented substrates, highlighting its importance in ensuring the funct Show more
Here, we identified a type of hypothetical T7SS effector in This alternative strategy facilitates effectors' delivery, even for fragmented substrates, highlighting its importance in ensuring the functionality of T7SS. Show less
Obesity is a major public health crisis associated with high mortality rates. Previous genome-wide association studies (GWAS) investigating body mass index (BMI) have largely relied on imputed data fr Show more
Obesity is a major public health crisis associated with high mortality rates. Previous genome-wide association studies (GWAS) investigating body mass index (BMI) have largely relied on imputed data from European individuals. This study leveraged whole-genome sequencing (WGS) data from 88,873 participants from the Trans-Omics for Precision Medicine (TOPMed) Program, of which 51% were of non-European population groups. We discovered 18 BMI-associated signals (P < 5 × 10 Show less
The treatment of multidrug-resistant tuberculosis (MDR-TB) is characterized by a prolonged duration and complex medication regimens, often resulting in a substantial medication-related burden that neg Show more
The treatment of multidrug-resistant tuberculosis (MDR-TB) is characterized by a prolonged duration and complex medication regimens, often resulting in a substantial medication-related burden that negatively impacts patients' adherence and quality of life. However, research on the heterogeneity of medication-related burden among MDR-TB patients and its influencing factors remains limited. This study aimed to identify latent profiles of medication-related burden among MDR-TB patients and examine differences in burden characteristics across these profiles, thereby providing evidence for tailored intervention strategies. A convenience sampling method was employed to recruit MDR-TB patients diagnosed at a tertiary infectious disease hospital in Chengdu between December 2024 and May 2025. Data were collected using a general information questionnaire, the Living with Medicines Questionnaire (LMQ), and the Health Literacy Management Scale (HeLMS). Latent profile analysis (LPA) was conducted to identify distinct profiles of medication-related burden, and multivariate logistic regression was used to explore associated factors for each profile. A total of 214 valid responses were analyzed. The LPA identified two distinct profiles of medication-related burden: C1 - "Low-Burden (Attitude & Practice-Dominated)" (44%) and C2 - "High-Burden (Daily Interference-Dominated)" (56%). Absence of side effects, not employing a caregiver, and higher levels of health literacy were positively associated with membership in the C1 group ( Medication-related burden among MDR-TB patients exhibits clear heterogeneity. Healthcare professionals should adopt stratified management and personalized interventions based on the identified influencing factors to alleviate the burden of medication in this population. Show less
The melanocortin system centrally regulates energy homeostasis, with key components such as melanocortin-4 receptor (MC4R) and adenylyl cyclase 3 (ADCY3) in neuronal primary cilia. Mutations in
Heart failure (HF) is a serious cardiovascular condition resulting from abnormalities in multiple biological processes, affecting over 64 million people worldwide. We sought to expand our understandin Show more
Heart failure (HF) is a serious cardiovascular condition resulting from abnormalities in multiple biological processes, affecting over 64 million people worldwide. We sought to expand our understanding of the genetic basis of HF and more specific NICM subtype in the East Asian populations and evaluate the biological pathways underlying subclinical left ventricular dysfunction. We conducted a meta-analysis of genome-wide association studies (GWAS) for all-cause HF in the East Asian populations (N cases ~ 13,385) and a more precise definition of nonischemic cardiomyopathy (NICM) subtype in multi-ancestry populations (N cases~3,603). We identified a low-frequency East-Asian enriched coding variant near MYBPC3 and a NICM specific locus. Follow up analyses demonstrated male-specific HF association at the MYBPC3 locus, and highlighted SVIL as a candidate causal gene for NICM. Moreover, we demonstrated that SVIL deficiency aggravated cardiomyocyte hypertrophy, apoptosis and impaired cell viability in phenylephrine (PE)-treated H9C2 cells. In addition, the gene expression level of B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP) which was deemed as a hallmark for HF was further elevated by SVIL silencing in PE-stimulated H9C2 cells. RNA-sequencing analysis of H9C2 cells revealed that the function of SVIL might be mediated through pathways relevant to regulation and differentiation of heart muscle. These results enhance our understanding of the genetic architecture of HF in the East Asian populations, and provide important insight into the biological pathways underlying NICM and sex-specific relevance of the MYBPC3 locus that warrants further replication in another datasets. Show less
Calcific aortic stenosis (CAS) is frequently accompanied by systemic comorbidities, but their causal relationships and shared genetic architecture remain poorly defined. We aimed to map the multisyste Show more
Calcific aortic stenosis (CAS) is frequently accompanied by systemic comorbidities, but their causal relationships and shared genetic architecture remain poorly defined. We aimed to map the multisystem comorbidity network of CAS and clarify underlying genetic mechanisms. In 467 484 participants from the UK Biobank, observational and polygenic phenome-wide association studies evaluated associations between CAS and 1571 phenotypes, integrating disease-trajectory analyses to visualise temporal patterns. Associations replicated across observational and polygenic analyses were tested using two-sample Mendelian randomisation (MR) based on 22 CAS-related variants from FinnGen. Polygenic risk score (PRS) analyses excluding specific genes assessed their contributions, particularly LPA and plasma lipoprotein(a) (Lp(a)) levels. CAS was associated with higher risks of 42 cardiovascular and non-cardiovascular conditions, most prominently metabolic, endocrine, haematological and respiratory disorders. Temporal analyses showed that circulatory and metabolic diseases typically precede other comorbidities in CAS trajectories. MR findings were consistent with causal effects of CAS on multiple cardiovascular diseases, iron-deficiency anaemia, mental disorders and pleural effusion. When LPA variants were removed from the CAS PRS or plasma Lp(a) concentration was adjusted for, most associations lost significance, indicating a shared LPA/Lp(a)-mediated genetic pathway. CAS is embedded within a broad multisystem comorbidity network, driven largely by genetic variation at LPA and elevated Lp(a). These findings highlight pleiotropic mechanisms linking valvular calcification with systemic disease and support LPA-targeted therapies as a promising avenue for reducing the multisystem burden of CAS. Show less
Polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) including omega-3 and omega-6 are obtained from diet and can be measured objectively in plasma or red blood cells (RBCs) membrane biomarkers, representing different Show more
Polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) including omega-3 and omega-6 are obtained from diet and can be measured objectively in plasma or red blood cells (RBCs) membrane biomarkers, representing different dietary exposure windows. In vivo conversion of omega-3 and omega-6 PUFAs from short- to long-chain counterparts occurs via a shared metabolic pathway involving fatty acid desaturases and elongase. This analysis leveraged genome-wide association study (GWAS) summary statistics for RBC and plasma PUFAs, along with expression quantitative trait loci (eQTL) to estimate tissue-specific genetically predicted gene expression effects for delta-5 desaturase (FADS1), delta-6 desaturase (FADS2), and elongase (ELOVL2) on changes in RBC and plasma biomarkers. Using colocalization, we identified shared variants associated with both increased gene expression and changes in RBC PUFA levels in relevant PUFA metabolism tissues (i.e., adipose, liver, muscle, and whole blood). We observed differences in RBC versus plasma PUFA levels for genetically predicted increase in FADS1 and FADS2 gene expression, primarily for omega-6 PUFAs linoleic acid (LA) and arachidonic acid (AA). The colocalization analysis identified rs102275 to be significantly associated with a 0.69% increase in total RBC membrane-bound LA levels (p = 5.4 × 10 Show less
Lipolysis of triglyceride-rich lipoproteins by peripheral lipoprotein lipase (LPL) plays an essential role in maintaining systemic cholesterol/lipid homeostasis. Human genetic studies have unequivocal Show more
Lipolysis of triglyceride-rich lipoproteins by peripheral lipoprotein lipase (LPL) plays an essential role in maintaining systemic cholesterol/lipid homeostasis. Human genetic studies have unequivocally demonstrated that activation of LPL pathway reduces risks for both coronary artery disease (CAD) and type 2 diabetes (T2D). Although sterol regulatory element-binding protein 2 (SREBP2) is well established as the master transcription factor that regulates the hepatic biosynthesis of both cholesterol and fatty acids, whether and how its activity in liver interacts with peripheral LPL pathway remains unknown. Here, it is demonstrated that acute liver-specific depletion of SREBP2 results in divergent effects on the regulation of peripheral LPL activity in mice, depending on the presence or absence of low-density lipoprotein receptors (LDLR). SREBP2 deficiency drastically elevates peripheral LPL activity through downregulation of plasma angiopoietin-related protein 3 (ANGPTL3) levels in LDLR-deficient mice. Moreover, in addition to SREBP2's transcriptional regulation of ANGPTL3, it is found that SREBP2 promotes proteasome-based degradation of ANGPTL3 in the presence of LDLR. Remarkably, acute depletion of hepatic SREBP2 protects against hypercholesterolemia and atherosclerosis, in which atherosclerotic lesions are reduced by 45% compared to control littermates. Taken together, these findings outline a liver-peripheral crosstalk mediated by SREBP2-ANGPTL3-LPL axis and suggest that SREBP2 inhibition can be an effective strategy to tackle homozygous familial hypercholesterolemia (HoFH). Show less
Aging-related lipid metabolic disorder is related to oxidative stress. Selenium (Se)-enriched Cardamine violifolia (SEC) is known for its excellent antioxidant function. The objective of this study wa Show more
Aging-related lipid metabolic disorder is related to oxidative stress. Selenium (Se)-enriched Cardamine violifolia (SEC) is known for its excellent antioxidant function. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of SEC on antioxidant capacity and lipid metabolism in the liver of aged laying hens. A total of 450 sixty-five-wk-old Roman laying hens were randomly divided into 5 treatments: a basal diet (without Se supplementation, CON) and basal diets supplemented with 0.3 mg/kg Se from sodium selenite (SS), 0.3 mg/kg Se from Se-enriched yeast (SEY), 0.3 mg/kg Se from SEC (SEC), or 0.3 mg/kg Se from SEC and 0.3 mg/kg Se from SEY (SEC + SEY). The experiment lasted for 8 wk. The results showed that dietary SEC + SEY supplementation decreased (P < 0.05) triglyceride (in the plasma and liver) and total cholesterol levels (in the plasma), and increased (P < 0.05) HDL-C concentration in plasma compared to CON diet. Compared with CON diet, SEC and/or SEY supplementation decreased (P < 0.05) the mRNA expression of hepatic ACC, FAS and HMGCR, and increased (P < 0.05) PPARα, VTG-II, Apo-VLDL II and ApoB expression. Dietary SEC + SEY and SEY supplementation increased (P < 0.05) Se content in egg yolk and breast muscle compared to CON diet. Dietary SEC, SEY or SEC + SEY supplementation increased (P < 0.05) the activity of antioxidant enzymes (GSH-PX, T-AOC and T-SOD) in the plasma and liver and decreased (P < 0.05) MDA content in the plasma compared to CON diet. Dietary Se supplementation promoted (P < 0.05) mRNA expression of Nrf2 in the liver. In contrast, dietary SEY and SEC supplementation resulted in a decrease (P < 0.05) of hepatic Keap1 mRNA expression compared to CON diet. Dietary SEC + SEY and/or SEC supplementation increased (P < 0.05) mRNA expression of Selenof, GPX1 and GPX4 in the liver compared with CON diet. In conclusion, dietary SEC (0.3 mg/kg Se) or SEC (0.3 mg/kg Se) + SEY (0.3 mg/kg Se) improved the antioxidant capacity and the lipid metabolism in the liver of aged laying hens, which might be associated with regulating Nrf2/Keap1 signaling pathway. Show less
Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder associated with impairments in memory and executive functions. Despite significant advancements in identifying genetic risk factors Show more
Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder associated with impairments in memory and executive functions. Despite significant advancements in identifying genetic risk factors, the high cost and limited accessibility of genetic testing remain major barriers. In this work, we propose a cost-effective screening approach that leverages EEG recordings and psychometric test scores to predict an individual's genetic risk for AD. Our Convolutional Neural Network (CNN) model shows promising performance: it achieved an F1 score of 72.21% in distinguishing APOE-ϵ4/PICALM GG non-carriers (N) from APOE-ϵ4 carriers with the risky PICALM GG alleles (A+P+). It reached an F1 score of 60.78% for differentiating non-carriers (N) from APOE-ϵ4 carriers without the risky alleles (A+P-), and 65.12% when separating A+P- from A+P+. To enhance interpretability, we employ Grad-CAM, which reveals that EEG features contribute more significantly to gene prediction than psychometric measures. Notably, our model also identifies three key psychometric tests, MINI COPE (which assesses emotional coping skills), the California Verbal Learning Test (CVLT), and NEO Neuroticism, as associated with higher AD risk, consistent with prior research. Moreover, our results align with earlier findings reporting increased theta-band power among high-risk individuals. Finally, Higuchi Fractal Dimension (HFD) features drove most of the EEG-based prediction capability, as shown through our ablation study. This study highlights the potential of integrating neurophysiological and cognitive assessments to develop accessible and reliable screening tools for AD genetic risk, enabling earlier diagnoses. The code has been released at https://github.com/ Shyamal-Dharia/EEG-Psycho-Genes-AD. Show less
Acetylcholinesterase (AChE) inhibitors are crucial for the symptomatic management of Alzheimer's disease (AD), with natural products-particularly botanical sources like Yellow Gastrodia elata (YGE)-se Show more
Acetylcholinesterase (AChE) inhibitors are crucial for the symptomatic management of Alzheimer's disease (AD), with natural products-particularly botanical sources like Yellow Gastrodia elata (YGE)-serving as promising reservoirs of such inhibitors. Nevertheless, comprehensive screening and mechanistic characterization of their inhibitory potential remain limited. This study sought to identify potent AChE inhibitors from YGE, investigate their mechanisms of action, and assess their therapeutic prospects for AD. Methodologically, an integrated approach was employed, combining ultrafiltration-liquid chromatography (UF-LC) for rapid inhibitor screening, molecular docking and dynamics simulations for mechanistic insight, two-stage high-speed countercurrent chromatography for compound isolation, enzyme kinetics to delineate inhibition modalities, and network pharmacology to uncover relevant AD-related targets. The findings identified seven active constituents with notable AChE inhibition, among which parishins A and G were obtained at high purity (98.26% and 97.26%, respectively) and exhibited mixed-type inhibition with low IC Show less
The Kirgiz, a Turkic-speaking ethnic group with a rich nomadic heritage, represent a pivotal population for understanding human migration and adaptation in Central Asia. However, their genetic origins Show more
The Kirgiz, a Turkic-speaking ethnic group with a rich nomadic heritage, represent a pivotal population for understanding human migration and adaptation in Central Asia. However, their genetic origins and admixture history remain largely unexplored. Here, we present the first comprehensive genomic study of Kirgiz populations from Xinjiang, China (XJ.KGZ, n = 36) and their counterparts in Kyrgyzstan (KRG), integrating genome-wide data of 2,406 global individuals. Our analyses reveal four primary ancestry components in XJ.KGZ: East Asian (41.7%), Siberian (25.6%), West Eurasian (25.2%), and South Asian (7.6%). Despite close genetic affinity (FST = 0.13%), XJ.KGZ and KRG diverged ∼447 years ago, with limited gene flow post-split. A two-wave admixture model elucidates their demographic history: an initial East-West Eurasian mixture ∼2,225 years ago, likely reflecting west-east contacts during the period of the Warring States and the Qin Dynasty, followed by secondary admixture events (∼875 to 425 years ago) linked to historical migrations under Mongol and post-Mongol rule. Local adaptation signatures implicate genes critical for cellular tight junction (e.g. PATJ), pathogen invasion (e.g. OR14I1), and cardiac functions (e.g. RYR2) with allele frequency deviations suggesting ancestry-specific selection. While no classical high-altitude adaptation genes (e.g. EPAS1) showed selection signals, RYR2 and C10orf67-implicated in hypoxia response in Tibetan fauna-displayed Western ancestry bias, hinting at convergent adaptation mechanisms. This study advances our understanding of the genetic makeup and admixture history of the Kirgiz people and provides novel insights into human dispersal in Central Asia. Show less
Apolipoprotein A-V (APOA5) is a critical regulator of circulating triglyceride (TG) levels. Its deletion leads to elevated plasma TG concentrations by altering the metabolism of VLDL particles in vivo Show more
Apolipoprotein A-V (APOA5) is a critical regulator of circulating triglyceride (TG) levels. Its deletion leads to elevated plasma TG concentrations by altering the metabolism of VLDL particles in vivo. One way APOA5 exerts its effects is through the modulation of LPL activity, specifically by disrupting inhibitory interactions between LPL and angiopoietin-like proteins (ANGPTLs). However, the impact of APOA5 on VLDL composition and its potential to alter VLDL metabolism in other ways remains poorly understood. To address this, we investigated the influence of APOA5 on the VLDL proteome, LPL activation, and hepatic remnant uptake. Using VLDL from Apoa5 KO and WT mice, we found no evidence that APOA5 directly enhances LPL activity in purified or plasma systems. However, VLDL from Apoa5 KO mice was cleared significantly more slowly by cultured hepatocytes. VLDL proteomics experiments from two independent laboratories identified altered contents of 23 proteins involved in lipoprotein metabolism, inflammation, and immune response in Apoa5 KO VLDL, including reductions in APOE and serum amyloid A1. Remarkably, reintroduction of recombinant mouse APOA5 to the KO plasma partially restored the WT VLDL proteome, including APOE, and normalized VLDL uptake by hepatocytes without altering LPL lipolysis. These findings reveal that APOA5 influences hepatic clearance of VLDL remnants by modulating particle composition, particularly APOE content. This study expands the functional scope of APOA5 in TG metabolism and underscores its role in VLDL remodeling and remnant clearance, offering new insights with implications for understanding hypertriglyceridemia and its roles in inflammation and immune response. Show less
Cognitive impairments in major depressive disorder (MDD) affect patients' social functioning, with underlying mechanisms involving gut microbiota and inflammatory factors remaining unclear. The study Show more
Cognitive impairments in major depressive disorder (MDD) affect patients' social functioning, with underlying mechanisms involving gut microbiota and inflammatory factors remaining unclear. The study analyzed cognitive function, gut microbiota changes, and inflammatory factor levels in 39 unmedicated MDD patients and 41 healthy controls, employing correlation and moderation effect analysis. MDD patients scored lower than controls in cognitive functions like information processing speed, attention/vigilance, verbal learning, visual learning and social cognition. They showed reduced gut microbiota diversity and increased levels of inflammatory markers (TNF-α, IL-1, IL-6, IL-17, IL-27, IL-33). Sellimonas abundance correlated negatively with attention/vigilance, moderated by TNF-α, IL-27, and IL-33. This relationship was stronger at lower inflammation levels. MDD patients exhibit multi-domain cognitive dysfunction alongside pro-inflammatory states and disrupted gut microbiota. The abundance of Sellimonas significantly predicts attention/vigilance deficits. Inflammatory factors modulate the impact of gut microbiota on cognitive function, suggesting chronic low-grade inflammation as a key risk factor for cognitive impairment in MDD. Show less
End-stage renal disease (ESRD) is associated with high morbidity and mortality. Identifying patients with stage 4 chronic kidney disease (CKD) at risk of short-term progression to ESRD remains challen Show more
End-stage renal disease (ESRD) is associated with high morbidity and mortality. Identifying patients with stage 4 chronic kidney disease (CKD) at risk of short-term progression to ESRD remains challenging. Accurate prediction can improve advanced care planning and patient outcomes. This study aimed to develop and validate a machine learning (ML) model for predicting progression within 25 weeks (approximately six months) of ESRD in patients with stage 4 CKD. Electronic health records (EHRs) of patients with stage 4 CKD were analyzed. Nine ML models including Ridge regression (Ridge), random forest (RF), and eXtreme Gradient Boosting (XGBoost) were used to predict short-term progression to ESRD within 25 weeks. The models were trained and externally validated using the data of 346 and 105 patients. Of the 451 patients with stage 4 CKD, 219 developed ESRD. Among the evaluated models, XGBoost demonstrated the best overall performance. In the internal validation, it achieved an area under the curve (AUC) of 0.93, an accuracy of 0.90, and an F1 score of 0.89. In the external validation, XGBoost maintained the highest AUC (0.85), accuracy (0.79), and F1 score (0.79), along with the highest average precision (0.89) and a low log-loss (0.48), indicating strong discriminative ability and good generalizability. The top predictive features included high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, Alb, Cys C, ApoB, FGB, Bun, Neutrophil, and Total cholesterol. This study demonstrated the feasibility of ML for assessing ESRD prognosis based on easily accessible clinical features. XGBoost demonstrated superior performance in both internal and external validation, suggesting its potential for future patient screening. Show less
Accelerated population aging and rising incidence of bone defects have intensified the need for advanced bone regeneration strategies. While tissue-engineered scaffolds fabricated via 3D printing offe Show more
Accelerated population aging and rising incidence of bone defects have intensified the need for advanced bone regeneration strategies. While tissue-engineered scaffolds fabricated via 3D printing offer promising alternatives to conventional grafts, most techniques fail to replicate the multi-scale fibrous architecture of native bone extracellular matrix, limiting their biofunctionality. To address this, we developed a hybrid manufacturing strategy integrating low-temperature thermally induced phase separation with extrusion-based 3D printing of polylactic acid (PLA) scaffolds. By optimizing solvent ratios (THF: DMF = 3:1) and freezing temperatures (-196 °C-4 °C), we produced scaffolds with tunable micro-nano fibrous surfaces and macroporous structures. Key findings revealed that scaffolds processed at -196 °C (PLA-196) exhibited the highest porosity (pore size: 6.01 ± 2.06 μm), superior hydrophilicity, and enhanced compressive modulus. These scaffolds significantly promoted BMSC adhesion, proliferation, and osteogenic differentiation via activation of Show less
Vascular calcification (VC) significantly increases the incidence and mortality of many diseases. The causal relationships of dyslipidaemia and lipid-lowering drug use with VC severity remain unclear. Show more
Vascular calcification (VC) significantly increases the incidence and mortality of many diseases. The causal relationships of dyslipidaemia and lipid-lowering drug use with VC severity remain unclear. This study explores the genetic causal associations of different circulating lipids and lipid-lowering drug targets with coronary artery calcification (CAC) and abdominal aortic artery calcification (AAC). We obtained single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) and expression quantitative trait loci (eQTLs) associated with seven circulating lipids and 13 lipid-lowering drug targets from publicly available genome-wide association studies and eQTL databases. Causal associations were investigated by univariable, multivariable, drug-target, and summary data-based Mendelian randomization (MR) analyses. Potential mediation effects of metabolic risk factors were evaluated. MR analysis revealed that genetic proxies for low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), triglycerides (TC) and Lipoprotein (a) (Lp(a)) were causally associated with CAC severity, and apolipoprotein B (apoB) level was causally associated with AAC severity. A significant association was detected between hepatic Lipoprotein(A) (LPA) gene expression and CAC severity. Colocalisation analysis supported the hypothesis that the association between LPA expression and CAC quantity is driven by different causal variant sites within the ±1 Mb flanking region of LPA. Serum calcium and phosphorus had causal associations with CAC severity. Inhibitors targeting LPA might represent CAC drug candidates. Moreover, T2DM, hypercalcemia, and hyperphosphatemia are positively causally associated with CAC severity, while chronic kidney disease and estimated glomerular filtration rate are not. Show less
Selenium (Se) foliar fertilizers enhance crop nutrition and address human selenium deficiency, while improper application may lead to excessive intake and residue accumulation. Our study comprehensive Show more
Selenium (Se) foliar fertilizers enhance crop nutrition and address human selenium deficiency, while improper application may lead to excessive intake and residue accumulation. Our study comprehensively assessed the toxicity and function of novel selenium nanoparticles and traditional sodium selenite fertilizers across cell, zebrafish, and murine models. Both fertilizers enhanced antioxidant pathways at low doses, but selenium nanoparticles exhibited stronger antioxidant and ferroptosis-modulating effects with lower toxicity at a high dose. Sodium selenite increased total and lipid ROS production, leading to decreased viability of cells and increased distortion and mortality of zebrafish. In mice, sodium selenite induced hepatic toxicity and decreased GPX4. Transcriptome analysis revealed that sodium selenite downregulated c-JUN and APOA4, weakening the antioxidant defense, whereas selenium nanoparticles promoted ferroptosis resistance through FGF21. These findings suggest selenium nanoparticles as a safer alternative for Se biofortification, mitigating health risks while supporting food security and environmental sustainability. Show less
As the most common primary malignant bone tumor, further investigation into risk stratification for osteosarcoma (OS) prognosis is of significant clinical importance. Copper is essential for bone meta Show more
As the most common primary malignant bone tumor, further investigation into risk stratification for osteosarcoma (OS) prognosis is of significant clinical importance. Copper is essential for bone metabolism; however, its specific role in OS remains unclear. The expression characteristics of copper metabolism related genes (CORGs) in OS were revealed by single cell sequencing. Prognosis-associated CORGs were identified, and a CORG-related scoring system and risk model were established using bioinformatics approaches, including univariate and multivariate Cox regression analyses and LASSO analysis. We further analyzed immune microenvironment infiltration, molecular subtypes and clinicopathological characteristics. The impact of selected CORG with high-risk coefficient on OS cells was tested by qRT-PCR, western blot, siRNA, colony formation analysis and Transwell in vitro. We successfully developed an OS scoring system related to copper metabolism and validated its independent prognostic value in patients with OS. The potential clinical value of CORG scoring system was analyzed. APOA4 was selected for in vitro experiments and its effect on the proliferation and invasion ability of OS cells was verified. We established a copper metabolism-related scoring system to effectively stratify the risk of OS patients. Our results provide a new basis for the role of copper metabolism in OS and provide new potential targets for the treatment of OS. Show less
Maternal circulating lipid concentrations impact the risk of pregnancy complications and infant health outcomes. The associations between physical activity and circulating lipids during pregnancy rema Show more
Maternal circulating lipid concentrations impact the risk of pregnancy complications and infant health outcomes. The associations between physical activity and circulating lipids during pregnancy remain inadequately understood. A study was conducted from July 2024 to March 2025, involving the recruitment of 520 pregnant women in Wuhan, China. The Pregnancy Physical Activity Questionnaire (PPAQ) scores were evaluated in trimesters. Circulating lipid profiles, including total triglyceride (TG), total cholesterol (TC), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL), high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL), apolipoprotein A1 (APOA1) and apolipoprotein B (APOB) concentrations, were assessed at each trimester. The daily energy expenditure of physical activity (EEPA) during the first, second, and third trimesters was recorded as 11.35, 9.07, and 9.48 metabolic equivalents-hour/day (METs-h/d). The EEPA in the first trimester was significantly greater than that in the second ( This study suggests that increased physical activity during pregnancy is associated with lower lipid levels. Moreover, maternal age appears to have a significant impact on physical activity and the metabolism of circulating lipids during pregnancy. Show less
The precise involvement of Guanine Nucleotide-Binding Protein-Like 3-Like Protein (GNL3L) in lung cancer progression and invasion remains unclear. In this study, we explored the impact and underlying Show more
The precise involvement of Guanine Nucleotide-Binding Protein-Like 3-Like Protein (GNL3L) in lung cancer progression and invasion remains unclear. In this study, we explored the impact and underlying mechanisms of GNL3L on the proliferation, migration, and invasion of lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD), and evaluated the therapeutic potential of targeting GNL3L. Inhibition of GNL3L expression led to a notable decrease in the in vitro proliferation, migration, and invasion of A549 and H1299 non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) cells. Meanwhile, GNL3L silencing could significantly reduce the tumor volume of the nude mice and improve the outcomes of tumor-bearing mice in vivo. Additionally, inhibition of GNL3L expression dramatically suppressed NF-κB activation and Slug, MMP2, and MMP9 expression. Overexpression of Slug or treatment of the GNL3L-deficient cells with NF-κB activator can partially restore the growth suppressed by GNL3L deficiency, and combined treatment with Slug overexpression and NF-κB activator could totally restore the suppressed cell growth caused by GNL3L deficiency. Moreover, the overexpression of MMP2 or MMP9 could partially enhance the reduced migration and invasion caused by GNL3L deficiency, and this GNL3L-deficiency-caused suppression of migration and invasion can be totally restored by the overexpression of MMP2 and MMP9 together. These results strongly indicated that GNL3L has the capability to activate the NF-κB and increase Slug, MMP2, and MMP9 expression, which in turn could stimulate the proliferation, migration, and invasion of lung cancer cells. NF-κB activation and Slug, MMP2, and MMP9 expression enhanced by GNL3L, leading to the promotion of proliferation, migration, and invasion of lung cancer cells, indicating the therapeutic implications and potential significance of these pathways in the progression and invasion of NSCLCs that overexpress GNL3L protein. Show less
To identify the connections between lipid biomarkers and the anti-VEGF therapy response in patients with neovascular age-related macular degeneration (nAMD). A bidirectional and multivariable Mendelia Show more
To identify the connections between lipid biomarkers and the anti-VEGF therapy response in patients with neovascular age-related macular degeneration (nAMD). A bidirectional and multivariable Mendelian randomization study. The summary statistics for anti-VEGF nAMD treatment response included a total of 128 responders, 51 nonresponders, and 6 908 005 genetic variants available for analysis. The sample size of lipid biomarkers is 441 016 and 12 321 875 genetic variants available for analysis. Two-sample Mendelian randomization (MR) method was conducted to exhaustively appraise the causalities among 13 lipid biomarkers and the risk of different anti-VEGF treatment responses (including visual acuity [VA] and central retinal thickness [CRT]) for nAMD subtypes. Thirteen lipid biomarkers, VA, and CRT. A positive causal relationship was identified between triglycerides (TGs), apolipoproteins (Apos) E2, ApoE3, total cholesterol (TC), and VA response to anti-VEGF therapy in patients with nAMD, as confirmed by MR-Egger, weighted median, and weighted mode models. The MR-Egger model yielded statistically significant results for TC, ApoA-I, ApoB, and ApoA-V in relation to the CRT response to anti-VEGF treatment in patients with nAMD. In the reverse MR, the MR-Egger model identified significant causal relationships between ApoA-I, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-c), ApoE3, and ApoF and the VA response. However, this was not the case in the weighted median and weighted mode models. In the MR-Egger model, ApoB, LDL-c, ApoE3, and ApoM were identified as significantly influencing the CRT response. In the multisample MR analysis, TC, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, LDL-c, and TG were found to be causally related to VA response, and TC was also identified as being causally related to the CRT response to anti-VEGF therapy in patients with nAMD. This MR study suggests unidirectional causality between TG and ApoE3 and the response to anti-VEGF treatment in patients with nAMD. The author(s) have no proprietary or commercial interest in any materials discussed in this article. Show less
This study aimed to assess the prognostic significance of serum lipoprotein(a) [Lp(a)] levels regarding overall survival (OS) and progression-free survival (PFS) among patients diagnosed with pancreat Show more
This study aimed to assess the prognostic significance of serum lipoprotein(a) [Lp(a)] levels regarding overall survival (OS) and progression-free survival (PFS) among patients diagnosed with pancreatic cancer (PC). A retrospective cohort of 364 pathologically confirmed PC patients treated at the Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University between January 2019 and December 2022 was analyzed. The optimal cutoff for Lp(a) was identified using X-tile software, allowing categorization into high and low Lp(a) groups. To minimize selection bias, propensity score matching (PSM) was utilized. Survival outcomes were compared using Kaplan-Meier curves and log-rank tests. Cox proportional hazards models were applied to identify independent prognostic variables affecting OS and PFS. Patients with high Lp(a) had significantly shorter OS and PFS both before and after PSM (post-PSM OS: 12.28 vs. 27.67 months, P = 0.003; PFS: 7.00 vs. 11.30 months, P = 0.002). Multivariate Cox analysis confirmed high Lp(a) as an independent predictor of poor OS [HR = 2.11 (1.17-3.81), P = 0.013] and PFS [HR = 2.14 (1.20-3.83), P = 0.010]. In the surgical subgroup (n = 215), high Lp(a) was also associated with worse OS (16.43 vs. 35.47 months, P = 0.02) and PFS (8.40 vs. 11.77 months, P = 0.036). Multivariate analysis in this subgroup showed that high Lp(a) remained an independent risk factor for OS [HR = 2.82 (1.36-5.87), P = 0.006] and PFS [HR = 2.01 (1.06-3.86), P = 0.034]. Elevated serum Lp(a) is an independent predictor of reduced OS and PFS in patients with pancreatic cancer. In contrast to conventional lipid profiles, the genetic stability of Lp(a) makes it a reliable baseline prognostic marker. Show less