The prevalence of depression, a common mental disorder in clinical practice, has been continuously increasing in recent years, with its intricate etiology and pathogenesis incompletely understood. Mic Show more
The prevalence of depression, a common mental disorder in clinical practice, has been continuously increasing in recent years, with its intricate etiology and pathogenesis incompletely understood. MicroRNA (miRNA), a highly conserved and widely distributed genetic regulatory factor in eukaryotic organisms, plays a crucial role in the pathophysiology of depression. miR-132, a miRNA molecule specifically enriched in the central nervous system, has emerged as a significant focus in the study of depression. miR-132 is involved in the pathogenesis by modulating critical processes such as dendritic spine remodeling and synaptic efficacy. Current research confirms that the expression profile of miR-132 in peripheral blood and brain tissue samples from animal models of depression shows significant abnormal fluctuations, and its expression level is dose-dependently associated with disease severity, progression, and treatment response. Therefore, this article focuses on a few key elements, including brain-derived neurotrophic factor, neuroinflammatory cascade reactions, neurogenesis, and plasticity, to comprehensively examine the potential role of miR-132 expression in the onset and progression of depression. This review also aims to provide a theoretical foundation for future in-depth research and clinical applications in the field of depression therapy. Show less
Stroke is a leading cause of mortality and disability globally, with post-stroke depression and post-stroke anxiety being common and significant complications that hinder recovery and adversely affect Show more
Stroke is a leading cause of mortality and disability globally, with post-stroke depression and post-stroke anxiety being common and significant complications that hinder recovery and adversely affect quality of life. Although these conditions frequently co-occur, their heterogeneity remains poorly understood. This study integrates the Health Ecology Model (HEM) and employs Latent Profile Analysis (LPA) to identify distinct psychological profiles of depression and anxiety among patients with acute ischemic stroke (AIS), as well as to investigate their multilevel determinants. Patients with AIS from a tertiary hospital in Guangdong Province, China, from January to November 2024 were included. Within one week of stroke onset, the data of sociodemographic, clinical characteristics, swallowing function, stroke severity, activities of daily living, resilience and social support were collected according to the HEM guidelines. The Patient Health Questionnaire-9 and the Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7 were used to assess the depression and anxiety symptoms of the patients three months after stroke onset. LPA was employed to identify distinct psychological profiles, and variables with a A total of 551 patients with AIS were included in the study, 49 were lost to follow-up or withdrew, resulting in a final analytic sample of 502 participants (91.11%). Three distinct psychological profiles were identified: no depression-anxiety (67.93%), high-risk depression-anxiety (21.12%) and major depression-anxiety (10.95%). In the multivariate analysis, the results indicated that occupation (OR = 0.61, 95% CI [0.40-0.93]), National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS, OR = 1.60, 95% CI [1.06-2.42]), Barthel Index (BI, OR = 1.67, 95% CI [1.27-2.19]) and hypertension (OR = 2.37, 95% CI [1.29-4.35]) were independent predictors of the high-risk depression-anxiety profile, while NIHSS (OR = 2.33, 95% CI [1.42-3.85]), BI (OR = 2.65, 95% CI [1.62-4.35]) and resilience (OR = 0.92, 95% CI [0.87-0.98]) were significantly associated with the major depression-anxiety profile. This study reveals significant heterogeneity in psychological distress among AIS survivors. Key predictors of post-stroke emotional comorbidity include occupation, hypertension, stroke severity, activities of daily living and low resilience. Early identification of high-risk individuals can significantly enhance screening and intervention strategies, particularly by focusing on symptoms such as anhedonia and nervousness. Future research should focus on longitudinal designs and objective biomarkers to better understand the mechanisms behind post-stroke emotional comorbidity. Show less
Liver and lung are the most common metastatic sites in colorectal cancer (CRC), where the tumor microenvironment (TME) plays a crucial role in the progression and metastasis of CRC. Understanding the Show more
Liver and lung are the most common metastatic sites in colorectal cancer (CRC), where the tumor microenvironment (TME) plays a crucial role in the progression and metastasis of CRC. Understanding the interactions between various types of cells in the TME can suggest innovative therapeutic strategies. Using single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-Seq) and clinical samples, fibroblast growth factor-19 (FGF19, rodent FGF15) is found to mediate a significant interaction between CRC cells and cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs), activating the hepatic stellate cells (HSCs)-to-CAFs differentiation. In various CRC metastatic mouse models, it is shown that FGF15 has a more pronounced effect on liver metastasis compared to pulmonary metastasis. More importantly, the differentially expressed genes (DEGs) are also identified from the RNA-Seq dataset upon the activation of HSCs by FGF19 and compared the DEGs in matched primary and metastatic mRNA samples from patients with CRC liver metastasis (CRCLM), it is found that the ANGPTL4 gene is significantly associated with HSCs activation. Different mouse models also demonstrated the impact of the FGF19/ANGPTL4 axis on the severity of CRCLM. Importantly, disruption of this axis significantly inhibits CRCLM in vivo. This study is among the first to demonstrate the impact of the FGF19/ANGPTL4 axis on CRCLM, offering a novel therapeutic strategy. Show less
Prior research has consistently demonstrated that higher levels of digital health literacy contribute positively to improved mental health outcomes and overall quality of life among patients. Neverthe Show more
Prior research has consistently demonstrated that higher levels of digital health literacy contribute positively to improved mental health outcomes and overall quality of life among patients. Nevertheless, the interplay between digital health literacy and the experience of perceived stigma-particularly among burn patients-remains underexplored, and the potential heterogeneity within this relationship has not been adequately addressed. This cross-sectional study, conducted from June to July 2025, recruited 534 burn patients (mean age 31.05 ± 9.52 years; 61.0% male) from three tertiary hospitals in Sichuan Province, China. Participants completed validated scales assessing digital health literacy, social support, appearance anxiety, perceived stigma, and demographics. Data were analyzed using Pearson correlations, latent profile analysis (LPA) with fit indices, univariate analyses (chi-square tests and Digital health literacy was negatively correlated with perceived stigma ( This study confirms heterogeneity in digital health literacy and perceived stigma among burn patients, with social support and appearance anxiety as key influencers. Findings support targeted interventions to enhance digital health literacy and reduce perceived stigma, advancing precision psychological care for burn survivors. Show less
This study aimed to explore the molecular pathological mechanisms of the liver in metabolic disease-susceptible transgenic pigs via multiomics analysis. The triple-transgenic (PNPLA3 The TG2 pigs pres Show more
This study aimed to explore the molecular pathological mechanisms of the liver in metabolic disease-susceptible transgenic pigs via multiomics analysis. The triple-transgenic (PNPLA3 The TG2 pigs presented mild metaflammation and insulin resistance (IR) which was similar to WT12 pigs. Compared with the other three groups, the TG12 pigs presented severe hepatocyte ballooning, fat deposition, and portal area fibrosis. The transcriptome data suggested that the TG2 pigs presented upregulated gene expression in the extracellular matrix (ECM). The TG12 pigs presented more severe metaflammation and exhibited imbalanced glycolipid metabolism. Interestingly, genes such as ETNPPL, GABBR2, and BMP8B might be key regulatory targets for liver injury. The metabolome and lipidome suggested that long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (LCPUFAs) and phospholipids with corresponding LCPUFAs were remodelled. Importantly, bis(monoacylglycerol) phosphates (BMPs) and sulfatides (SLs) could be the key regulatory metabolites in liver injury. ETNPPL, GABBR2, and BMP8B might be potential therapeutic targets for liver injury. BMPs and SLs might be biomarkers for the diagnosis and treatment of liver diseases. Show less
Excessive inflammation in sepsis causes microvascular dysfunction associated with organ dysfunction and high mortality. The present studies aimed to examine the therapeutic potential of linagliptin, a Show more
Excessive inflammation in sepsis causes microvascular dysfunction associated with organ dysfunction and high mortality. The present studies aimed to examine the therapeutic potential of linagliptin, a dipeptidyl peptidase-4 (DPP-4) inhibitor in a clinically relevant polymicrobial sepsis model in mice. Sepsis was induced by cecal ligation and puncture (CLP). Mice were grouped into: Sham control+vehicle; Group 2: CLP+vehicle; Group 3: CLP+dexamethasone (10 mg/kg, s.c.) given 6 h after CLP; Group 4: CLP+linagliptin (1 mg/kg, s.c.) given 6 h after CLP. The experiment was terminated 24 hours after CLP in two experimental sets. Seven-day survival following CLP was determined in a third experimental set. Treatment with linagliptin inhibited DPP-4 activity, increased the levels of active forms of endogenous gastric inhibitory polypeptide and glucagon-like peptide-1, without affecting the blood glucose levels in CLP mice. Compared to vehicle treatment, administration of linagliptin reduced sepsis-induced tissue hyper permeability as evidenced by a reduction in vascular Evans blue leakage, prevented edema formation in the lung, heart, liver and kidney. Furthermore, linagliptin or dexamethasone reduced sepsis-induced proinflammatory cytokine and chemokine production, such as IL-1β, IL-2, IL-10, IL-23, IL-27, VCAM-1, eotaxin, MDC, MCSF1, GCP-2, and NGAL. Importantly, administration of linagliptin improved the 7-day survival rate following CLP in mice. RNA sequencing in lung and heart revealed that linagliptin attenuated key inflammatory pathways including TNF alpha (via NFκB) and IL6/JAK/STAT3 signaling and activated interferon signaling in the heart. Linagliptin treatment can attenuate the inflammatory response, protect against severe sepsis-induced vascular hyperpermeability, reduce multiorgan injury, and most importantly, improve the survival. Show less
Atherosclerosis (AS), a chronic inflammatory disease linked to oxidative stress and lipid imbalance, remains a major cardiovascular threat. Traditional herbs Salvia miltiorrhiza and Carthamus tinctori Show more
Atherosclerosis (AS), a chronic inflammatory disease linked to oxidative stress and lipid imbalance, remains a major cardiovascular threat. Traditional herbs Salvia miltiorrhiza and Carthamus tinctorius exhibit multi-target anti-AS potential, yet their compositional complexity limits clinical translation. This study aimed to systematically identify core anti-AS components from these herbs and enhance their anti-AS efficacy via machine learning-aided screening and nanotechnology-driven codelivery. We initially pioneered a machine learning-aided hybrid strategy integrating network pharmacology and quantitative activity relationship (QSAR) modeling to identify four core anti-AS polyphenols (i.e., salvianic acid A, salvianolic acid B, protocatechuic acid, and hydroxysafflor yellow A). Subsequently, a quaternary metal-phenolic network (SSPH-MPN) was engineered for plaque-targeted codelivery, optimized via the median-effect principle for achieving a synergistic effect based on ROS scavenging efficacy. The optimized SSPH-MPN was characterized by a series of studies, including molecular dynamics simulations, UV, DLS, TEM, FTIR, XPS, and ICP-MS. The anti-AS effect of the optimized SSPH-MPN was evaluated by monitoring oxidative status (ROS levels, antioxidant enzymes SOD, GSH-Px, MDA, T-AOC), inflammatory markers (IL-1β, IL-6, TNF-α), lipid metabolism (DiI-oxLDL uptake, cholesterol efflux, blood lipid levels, lipid accumulation), and plaque areas. The results demonstrated that the optimized SSPH-MPN showed great efficiency in inhibiting lipid uptake and accumulation, and mediating cholesterol efflux in RAW 264.7 cells, and exhibited improved lipid metabolism, attenuated oxidative stress and inflammation, thus acquired diminished plaque area in apoE Show less
Previous researches have indicated the oncogenic effect of circCOL1A2 in several cancers, such as tongue squamous cell carcinoma, gastric cancer, and colorectal cancer. Regrettably, the functions and Show more
Previous researches have indicated the oncogenic effect of circCOL1A2 in several cancers, such as tongue squamous cell carcinoma, gastric cancer, and colorectal cancer. Regrettably, the functions and mechanisms of circCOL1A2 in lung cancer, a disease with the highest global incidence and mortality rates and with 85 % of cases classified as non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), remain largely unexplored. Hsa_circ₀₀₈₁₁₁₁ (circCOL1A2) was identified from GSE236879 dataset of Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) database. Its expression was validated in 37 paired samples of cancerous and adjacent normal tissues from NSCLC patients, as well as in cell lines. The function of hsa_circ₀₀₈₁₁₁₁ was analyzed using CCK-8, Matrigel transwell, Western blot, and immunofluorescence assays in vitro, and by conducting subcutaneous xenograft experiments in mouse. The underlying mechanisms were explored using bioinformatics analysis, RNA pull-down experiments, and RNA immunoprecipitation. High expression of hsa_circ₀₀₈₁₁₁₁ was observed in NSCLC tissues and cell lines. This was positively correlated with the TNM stage and lymph node metastasis of NSCLC patients. Hsa_circ₀₀₈₁₁₁₁ overexpression promoted the proliferation, invasion, and epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) of NSCLC cells. Conversely, its downregulation showed the opposite effects. In vivo studies revealed that silencing hsa_circ₀₀₈₁₁₁₁ inhibited tumor growth, EMT, and MMP9 expression in tumor tissues. Mechanically, hsa_circ₀₀₈₁₁₁₁ enhanced Slug mRNA stability by interacting with the RNA-binding protein IGF2BP2. Taken together, hsa_circ₀₀₈₁₁₁₁ is an oncogenic circRNA that promotes NSCLC malignancy by regulating IGF2BP2-mediated Slug mRNA stability. Hsa_circ₀₀₈₁₁₁₁ has the potential to be a diagnostic and therapeutic target for NSCLC. Show less
This study aims to investigate the roles of the EXT1 and FGFR3 genes in the development of osteochondromas, focusing specifically on their potential interactions in chondrocyte proliferation, differen Show more
This study aims to investigate the roles of the EXT1 and FGFR3 genes in the development of osteochondromas, focusing specifically on their potential interactions in chondrocyte proliferation, differentiation, and tumor formation. In vitro, the ATDC5 chondroprogenitor cell line was used to examine the effects of inactivation of both EXT1 and FGFR3. In vivo, a mouse model with dual gene knockout of Ext1 and Fgfr3 was constructed to further explore these genes' roles in tumor formation by observing the incidence and distribution patterns of osteochondromas. The in vitro experiments demonstrated that ATDC5 cells with reduced expression of EXT1 and FGFR3 genes exhibited enhanced chondrogenic differentiation. In vivo, Fgfr3 The EXT1 and FGFR3 genes play crucial regulatory roles in the development of osteochondromas. Deficiencies in Ext1 and Fgfr3 can induce the formation of osteochondromas. Show less
To identify latent profiles of demoralization among older adults with disabilities, analyze their influencing factors, and examine their associations with active aging. From February to July 2025, a c Show more
To identify latent profiles of demoralization among older adults with disabilities, analyze their influencing factors, and examine their associations with active aging. From February to July 2025, a convenience sample of 411 older adults with disabilities was recruited from a tertiary hospital in Anhui Province, China. Data were collected using a general information questionnaire, the Chinese version of the Demoralization Scale, and the Active Aging Scale. Latent profile analysis (LPA) was performed based on demoralization subscale scores. Univariate and multinominal analyses were employed to investigate the influencing factors, and the Kruskal-Wallis The prevalence of demoralization syndrome was 49.1%. LPA identified three distinct profiles: the Well-Adapted Group (53.3%), the Disheartened-Helpless Group (23.8%), and the Fully Demoralized Group (22.9%). The Kruskal-Wallis Nearly half of the older adults with disabilities experienced demoralization, with heterogeneous subgroups identified. The active aging status of demoralized subgroups requires urgent attention. These findings suggest the need for targeted interventions tailored to the characteristics of each profile to improve mental health and promote active aging in this population. Show less
Mammalian scent glands mediate species-specific chemical communication, yet the mechanistic basis for convergent musk production remain incompletely understood. Forest musk deer and muskrat have indep Show more
Mammalian scent glands mediate species-specific chemical communication, yet the mechanistic basis for convergent musk production remain incompletely understood. Forest musk deer and muskrat have independently evolved specialized musk-secreting glands, representing a striking case of convergent evolution. Through an integrated multi-omics approach, this study identified cyclopentadecanone as a shared key metabolic precursor in musk from both forest musk deer and muskrat, although downstream metabolite profiles diverged between the two lineages. Single-cell RNA sequencing revealed that these specialized apocrine glands possessed unique secretory architecture and exhibited transcriptional profiles associated with periodic musk production, distinct from those in conventional apocrine glands. Convergent features were evident at the cellular level, where acinar, ductal, and basal epithelial subtypes showed parallel molecular signatures across both taxa. Notably, acinar cells in both species expressed common genes involved in fatty acid and glycerolipid metabolism (e.g., Show less
Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) is a hereditary disease of the myocardium characterized by asymmetric hypertrophy (mainly the left ventricle) not caused by pressure or volume load. Most cases of HCM Show more
Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) is a hereditary disease of the myocardium characterized by asymmetric hypertrophy (mainly the left ventricle) not caused by pressure or volume load. Most cases of HCM are caused by genetic mutations, particularly in the gene encoding cardiac myosin, such as Show less
Yunqi Xie, Haochen Wang, Yajie Zhang+5 more · 2025 · Food and chemical toxicology : an international journal published for the British Industrial Biological Research Association · Elsevier · added 2026-04-24
Smoking is harmful to health. Cigarette smoke (CS) contains a variety of toxic substances. Studies have found that nicotine, tar, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, etc. in CS can pass through the bloo Show more
Smoking is harmful to health. Cigarette smoke (CS) contains a variety of toxic substances. Studies have found that nicotine, tar, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, etc. in CS can pass through the blood-brain barrier and enter the brain to exert their effects. Moreover, some existing studies have pointed out that CS exposure is closely related to the accelerated pathology of Alzheimer's disease (AD). Transgenic mice with the five familial AD mutations (5xFAD), which are 1-month-old, were used for chronic CS exposure for 100 days. Subsequently, cognitive function and behavioral changes were evaluated through morris water maze and new object recognition tests. The acceleration of pathological changes due to CS exposure was assessed by HE, Tunel and Aβ immunohistochemical staining. Differential expression proteins and metabolites were screened through hippocampal proteomics and metabolomics analyses. Finally, the expression levels of key proteins were verified by Western blot. Compared with unexposed 5xFAD mice, the behavioral results of mice showed that FAD mice after CS exposure exhibited poorer cognitive abilities, with longer latencies in the Morris water maze, and decreased time spent and entries in the target quadrant. The results of pathological sections indicated that the total nuclei density in the DG and CA3 regions of the hippocampus of 5xFAD mice decreased significantly after chronic CS exposure, the number of TUNEL-positive cells increased, and the expression of Aβ42 increased. Multi - omics analysis revealed that CS exposure up - regulated the expression of 46 proteins and down - regulated the expression of 80 proteins in the hippocampus of 5xFAD mice, and caused changes in 92 metabolites. Analysis of the correlation between differential proteins and differential metabolites revealed six key cross-node proteins: Kng1, Hbb-b1, Fabp3, Apoa1, Ilk, and Apoa4. CS exposure may accelerate pathological changes and cognitive impairment in 5xFAD mice by affecting energy metabolism through the PPAR signaling pathway. Show less
Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) combined with antiangiogenic agents have become a standard strategy for advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). There remains an urgent need for effective biomarke Show more
Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) combined with antiangiogenic agents have become a standard strategy for advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). There remains an urgent need for effective biomarkers to guide treatment, with C-reactive protein and alpha-fetoprotein in immunotherapy (CRAFITY) scores and cytokine levels representing promising candidates. We aimed to assess the efficacy, safety, and potential biomarkers of anlotinib plus TQB2450 in patients with advanced HCC. This study was a single-arm, phase Ib trial. Twenty-five patients with advanced HCC were enrolled. Patients received an intravenous infusion of TQB2450 (1200 mg, on Day 1) and oral administration of anlotinib (initiated at 10 mg, once a day, from Day 1 to Day 14), which was repeated every 3 weeks. Blood was collected at baseline for serum cytokine analysis. After a median follow-up of 41.80 months, the median progression-free survival (mPFS) was 5.49 months, and the median overall survival (mOS) was 8.94 months. Treatment-related adverse events (TRAEs) occurred in 22 patients, with grade ⩾3 TRAEs observed in 12 patients. Patients who achieved clinical benefit (CB) had higher baseline serum brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) levels than non-CB patients (median, 227.97 vs 129.26 pg/ml, Anlotinib plus TQB2450 demonstrated promising efficacy with manageable safety in advanced HCC. Elevated serum BDNF levels might serve as a potential positive prognostic marker and, together with ECOG score, may help complement the CRAFITY score in identifying subgroups that could benefit from ICIs and antiangiogenic therapy. Show less
Sepsis is associated with high morbidity and high mortality and has strongly motivated intense studies into its mechanisms. Antibiotics, aimed to eradicate bacteria, have some impact on the immune sys Show more
Sepsis is associated with high morbidity and high mortality and has strongly motivated intense studies into its mechanisms. Antibiotics, aimed to eradicate bacteria, have some impact on the immune system due to anti-inflammatory properties. Tigecycline, an antibiotic of the glycylcycline class, is commonly used for severe infections. This study aimed to investigate tigecycline's mechanism on the inflammatory response of sepsis to find new targets for sepsis treatment. The objective included (i) to observe the changes in inflammatory factors in LPS (lipopolysaccharide) induced septic mice after tigecycline administration, (ii) to detect the effect of tigecycline on macrophages NF-κB (nuclear factor kappa B) signalling. For LPS-induced sepsis in mice and intervention with tigecycline, mice were first injected with tigecycline (6.5 mg/kg) via tail vein followed by LPS (15 mg/kg). Luminex analysis was performed on 16 mediators. NF-κB signalling pathway antibody chip detected the expression of target sites in macrophages of the LPS group and tigecycline + LPS group. Tigecycline has inhibitory effects on LPS-induced inflammatory response in septic mice, decreasing the concentrations of IL (interleukin)-6, IL-27, TNF-α (tumour necrosis factor-α), TNF RII, IFN-γ (interferon-gamma), CCL5/RANTES (CC Motif Chemokine Ligand) while increasing IL-6Rα, IL-10, and TWEAK (TNF-related weak inducer of apoptosis). Tigecycline downregulated phosphorylation levels of key sites JNK (c-Jun N-terminal kinase)1/2/3, p-p65 (s468) and p-p105/p50 (s907) in NF-κB signalling. Tigecycline may inhibit the excessive immune response induced by LPS in sepsis, which may cause a potential protective effect on the host through immune regulation. Show less
Sijie Gu, Haoran Feng, Xiaomei Li+10 more · 2025 · Molecular therapy : the journal of the American Society of Gene Therapy · Elsevier · added 2026-04-24
Preventing the progression from acute kidney injury (AKI) to chronic kidney disease (CKD) remains a considerable clinical challenge. In this study, we elucidate the role of WNT5A in accelerating the A Show more
Preventing the progression from acute kidney injury (AKI) to chronic kidney disease (CKD) remains a considerable clinical challenge. In this study, we elucidate the role of WNT5A in accelerating the AKI-to-CKD transition and its underlying mechanisms. Renal biopsies from patients with AKI showed marked upregulation of WNT5A and its receptor, CD146, in proximal tubules, with higher expression in patients with CKD progression. In murine AKI models, Wnt5a knockdown attenuated CKD progression. Conversely, proximal tubular overexpression of Wnt5a exacerbated renal fibrosis in ischemia-reperfusion injury (IRI) mice, which was alleviated by Box5, a specific WNT5A antagonist. In vitro, WNT5A overexpression in transforming growth factor β (TGF-β)-stimulated HK-2 cells promoted CD146 upregulation, activated JNK phosphorylation, and enhanced SNAI1 expression. The genetic silencing of WNT5A/CD146 and JNK inhibition suppresses SNAI1 expression and attenuates fibrotic responses. Mechanistically, JNK-mediated c-JUN phosphorylation promoted its interaction with KLF5 at the SNAI1 promoter, driving renal fibrosis. Elevated serum levels of soluble CD146 correlated with renal function in patients with AKI and were higher in patients exhibiting CKD progression. Inhibition of WNT5A could serve as a therapeutic target for delaying renal fibrosis in AKI progression. Show less
Hereditary multiple exostoses (HME) is an autosomal dominant skeletal disorder primarily linked with mutations in Exostosin-1 (EXT1) and Exostosin-2 (EXT2) genes. However, not all HME cases can be exp Show more
Hereditary multiple exostoses (HME) is an autosomal dominant skeletal disorder primarily linked with mutations in Exostosin-1 (EXT1) and Exostosin-2 (EXT2) genes. However, not all HME cases can be explained by these mutations, and its pathogenic mechanisms are not fully understood. Herein, utilizing whole-exome sequencing and genetic screening with a family trio design, we identify two novel rare mutations co-segregating with HME in a Chinese family, including a nonsense mutation (c.204G>A, p.Trp68*) in EXT1 and a missense mutation (c.893T>G, p.Phe298Cys) in FUT7. Functional assays reveal that the FUT7 mutation affects the cellular localization of FUT7 protein and regulates cell proliferation. Notably, the simultaneous loss of fut7 and ext1 in a zebrafish model results in severe chondrodysplasia, indicating a functional link between FUT7 and EXT1 in chondrocyte regulation. Additionally, we unveil that FUT7 p.Phe298Cys reduces EXT1 expression through IL6/STAT3/SLUG axis at the transcription level and through ubiquitination-related proteasomal degradation at the protein level. Together, our findings not only identify novel germline mutations in FUT7 and EXT1 genes, but also highlight the critical interaction between these genes, suggesting a potential 'second-hit' mechanism over EXT1 mutations in HME pathogenesis. This insight enhances our understanding of the mechanisms underlying HME and opens new avenues for potential therapeutic interventions. Show less
Biomolecular condensates, membrane-less assemblies formed by phase separation, are implicated in neurodegenerative disease, but their role in Alzheimer's disease (AD) remains unclear. Here, we report Show more
Biomolecular condensates, membrane-less assemblies formed by phase separation, are implicated in neurodegenerative disease, but their role in Alzheimer's disease (AD) remains unclear. Here, we report that in the brain of AD patients and animal models, an elevation of poly(C)-binding protein 2 (PCBP2) correlates with biomolecular condensation that involves phase separation. These condensates sequester large numbers of mitochondrial and mRNA-binding proteins, leading to the outside impairment of mitochondrial morphology and function, and BACE1 mRNA decay relative to amyloid deposition. We then identify a small molecule CN-0928 that inhibits the condensates by reducing PCBP2 protein level and mitigates AD pathology and cognitive decline, in which CN-0928 binding to a target protein integrator complex subunit 1 (INTS1) allows to regulate PCBP2 expression. Our findings place PCBP2 condensates as a key player that cooperates the seemingly disparate but important pathways, and show pharmacological modulation of PCBP2 as an effective approach for treating AD. Show less
GLP-1 has become a prime target for medical treatment due to its significant therapeutic efficacy. However, the activation mechanisms of class B1 GPCRs, including glucagon-like peptides (GLP-1) and gl Show more
GLP-1 has become a prime target for medical treatment due to its significant therapeutic efficacy. However, the activation mechanisms of class B1 GPCRs, including glucagon-like peptides (GLP-1) and glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide (GIP), remain poorly understood. This study focuses on understanding the activation mechanisms of the GLP-1 receptor (GLP-1R) by investigating its conformational changes from activated/inactivated to inactivated/activated states. By analyzing the dynamic conformational changes of the receptor during activation, a closure-open transition in the extracellular domain (ECD) and a movement trend of the transmembrane helices are observed, which indicates a similarity to the activation mechanism of class A GPCRs. Furthermore, the binding characteristics of a dual agonist Tirzepatide (LY3298176) is studied in detail and it is revealed that the conserved residues contribute in a similar fashion toward binding to both GLP-1R and GIPR. Mutations in non-conserved residues in Tirzepatide affect the binding affinity, with C-terminal mutations weakening the binding affinity toward GLP-1R, while N-terminal mutations enhancing the affinity to GIPR, resulting in a biased binding mode. These findings enriched our fundamental understanding of GLP-1R/GIPR activation and provided theoretical guidance for the design and development of future peptide-based agonists and offer insights into the optimization of other dual or multi-target agonists. Show less
Subjective cognitive decline (SCD) serves as an initial symptom of preclinical Alzheimer's disease (AD). The accumulation of amyloid-beta (Aβ) is acknowledged as a critical risk factor for the eventua Show more
Subjective cognitive decline (SCD) serves as an initial symptom of preclinical Alzheimer's disease (AD). The accumulation of amyloid-beta (Aβ) is acknowledged as a critical risk factor for the eventual progression to mild cognitive impairment or dementia in individuals with SCD, highlighting the necessity for early detection and intervention. Previous studies have identified the retina and choriocapillaris as potential biomarkers for AD; however, these investigations have not thoroughly examined large and medium-sized choroidal vessels. Ultra-wide swept-source optical coherence tomography angiography (SS-OCTA), an innovative noninvasive imaging modality, facilitates rapid and precise quantitative assessment of retinal and choroidal boundaries and vasculature through dynamic scanning, encompassing large and medium-sized choroidal vessels. This study aims to characterize the outer retinal and choroidal vasculature and structure in individuals with SCD, examine the correlation between altered choroidal vasculature parameters and amyloid burden, and the presence of the apolipoprotein E (APOE) ε4 allele in SCD participants, to identify potential ocular biomarkers for high-risk SCD screening. In this study, 57 individuals with SCD and 45 matched normal controls were enrolled. Ultra-wide SS-OCTA was employed to assess the thickness of the outer retina and choroid and the blood flow within the choriocapillaris and large, medium-sized choroidal vessels. Show less
The development of BACE-1 (β-site amyloid precursor protein cleaving enzyme 1) inhibitors is a crucial focus in exploring early treatments for Alzheimer's disease (AD). Recently, graph neural networks Show more
The development of BACE-1 (β-site amyloid precursor protein cleaving enzyme 1) inhibitors is a crucial focus in exploring early treatments for Alzheimer's disease (AD). Recently, graph neural networks (GNNs) have demonstrated significant advantages in predicting molecular activity. However, their reliance on graph structures alone often neglects explicit sequence-level semantic information. To address this limitation, we proposed a Graph and multi-level Sequence Fusion Learning (GSFL) model for predicting the molecular activity of BACE-1 inhibitors. Firstly, molecular graph structures generated from SMILES strings were encoded using GNNs with an atomic-level characteristic attention mechanism. Next, substrings at functional group, ion level, and atomic level substrings were extracted from SMILES strings and encoded using a BiLSTM-Transformer framework equipped with a hierarchical attention mechanism. Finally, these features were fused to predict the activity of BACE-1 inhibitors. A dataset of 1548 compounds with BACE-1 activity measurements was curated from the ChEMBL database. In the classification experiment, the model achieved an accuracy of 0.941 on the training set and 0.877 on the test set. For the test set, it delivered a sensitivity of 0.852, a specificity of 0.894, a MCC of 0.744, an F1-score of 0.872, a PRC of 0.869, and an AUC of 0.915. Compared to traditional computer-aided drug design methods and other machine learning algorithms, the proposed model can effectively improve the accuracy of the molecular activity prediction of BACE-1 inhibitors and has a potential application value. Show less
The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of dietary fatty acids (FA) saturation and lysophospholipids supplementation on growth, meat quality, oxidative stability, FA profiles, and lipi Show more
The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of dietary fatty acids (FA) saturation and lysophospholipids supplementation on growth, meat quality, oxidative stability, FA profiles, and lipid metabolism of finishing beef bulls. Thirty-two Angus bulls (initial body weight: 623 ± 22.6 kg; 21 ± 0.5 months of age) were used. The experiment was a completely randomized block design with a 2 × 2 factorial arrangement of treatments: 2 diets with FA of different degree of unsaturation [high saturated FA diet (HSFA) vs. high unsaturated FA diet (HUFA)] combined with (0.075%, dry matter basis) and without lysophospholipids supplementation. The bulls were fed a high-concentrate diet (forage to concentrate, 15:85) for 104 d including a 14-d adaptation period and a 90-d data and sample collection period. No interactions were observed between dietary FA and lysophospholipids supplementation for growth and meat quality parameters. A greater dietary ratio of unsaturated FA (UFA) to saturated FA (SFA) from 1:2 to 1:1 led to lower DM intake and backfat thickness, but did not affect growth performance and other carcass traits. Compared with HSFA, bulls fed HUFA had greater shear force in Longissimus thoracis (LT) muscle, but had lower intramuscular fat (IMF) content and SOD content in LT muscle. Compared with HUFA, feeding the HSFA diet up-regulated expression of ACC, FAS, PPARγ, and SCD1, but down-regulated expression of CPT1B. Compared with feeding HSFA, the HUFA diet led to greater concentrations of c9-C18:1 and other monounsaturated FA in LT muscle. Feeding HUFA also led to lower plasma concentrations of cholesterol, but there were no interactions between FA and lysophospholipids detected. Feeding lysophospholipids improved growth and feed conversion ratio and altered meat quality by increasing muscle pH Results indicated that supplementing a high-concentrate diet with lysophospholipids to beef bulls can enhance growth rate, feed efficiency, meat quality, and beneficial FA. Increasing the dietary ratio of UFA to SFA reduced DM intake and backfat thickness without compromising growth, suggesting potential improvements in feed efficiency. Show less
Lifestyle improvement may help reverse prediabetes. Indicators such as Life's Essential 8 (LE8) and biological aging measures (phenotypic age, cardiovascular biological age) partially reflect metaboli Show more
Lifestyle improvement may help reverse prediabetes. Indicators such as Life's Essential 8 (LE8) and biological aging measures (phenotypic age, cardiovascular biological age) partially reflect metabolic status in prediabetes, but their predictive value for cardiovascular mortality and stroke in this population remains unclear. We analyzed data from 74,678 White participants with prediabetes in the UK Biobank, defined by either HbA1c (5.7-6.4%) or fasting glucose (6.1-6.9 mmol/L). Follow-up continued until October 10, 2023. Cox regression was used to examine associations between LE8, phenotypic age (PhenoAge), cardiovascular biological age (CBA), and outcomes of cardiovascular (CVD) mortality and stroke. Restricted cubic spline (RCS) models identified biological age risk thresholds. Mediation analysis assessed whether proteins such as CST3, EFEMP1, FES, IGFBP2, IGFBP6, LPA, PCSK9, and TIMP1 mediated these effects. Over a median follow-up of 13.4 years, 2263 participants died from CVD causes. Each 1-year increase in CBA or PhenoAge was associated with a ~ 10% higher risk of CVD mortality (CBA aHR = 1.10; PhenoAge aHR = 1.09; both P < 0.001), while each 1-point increase in LE8 score was linked to a 3% lower risk (HR = 0.97, P < 0.001). The risk biological ages for these two indicators were also identified: PhenoAge ≥ 58.52 years and CBA ≥ 62.42 years. Similar trends were observed for stroke. Mediation analysis revealed that CST3, TIMP1, IGFBP2, and IGFBP6 contributed to the biological pathways between aging/lifestyle and CVD outcomes. The combined LE8 and PhenoAge model showed the strongest predictive performance for CVD mortality (AUC = 0.716) and stroke (AUC = 0.638) over 15 years. LE8 combined with phenotypic age provides prognostic value for CVD outcomes in prediabetes. These findings highlight the potential of lifestyle modification and delayed biological aging in reversing prediabetes and underscore comorbidity-related proteins as promising therapeutic targets. Show less
Hyperlipidemia is a common metabolic disorder and a risk factor for cardiovascular disease. The traditional medicine herb, Hippophae rhamnoides L., known as sea buckthorn, has anti-obesity and lipid-l Show more
Hyperlipidemia is a common metabolic disorder and a risk factor for cardiovascular disease. The traditional medicine herb, Hippophae rhamnoides L., known as sea buckthorn, has anti-obesity and lipid-lowering effects, while Silybum marianum (L.) Gaertn, known as milk thistle, has hepatoprotective properties and exhibits antioxidant effects. To evaluate the effect of sea buckthorn and milk thistle solid beverage (H-S solid beverage) in alleviating hyperlipidemia in rats and explore the underlying mechanisms by analyzing plasma and liver metabolomics, lipidomics, and liver transcriptomics. A hyperlipidemic rat model was established after 2 weeks of high-fat diet (HFD) feeding in Sprague Dawley rats. The administered doses of H-S solid beverage were 0.30 g/kg/d, 0.15 g/kg/d and 0.075 g/kg/d. Serum biochemical parameter detection, histopathological section analysis, untargeted plasma and liver metabolomics, lipidomics, and liver transcriptomics were performed to determine the therapeutic effects of H-S solid beverage and predict the related pathways in rats with hyperlipidemia. Changes in genes and proteins related to lipid metabolism were detected using real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction and western blotting. Eighty-nine components were identified in H-S solid beverage using ultra-performance liquid chromatography coupled with quadrupole time of flight mass spectrometry, with flavonoids being the major constituents. The H-S solid beverage significantly reduced body weight, liver index, body fat percentage, lipid accumulation, and liver injury in HFD-fed rats. Fatty acids (FA), bile acid, phosphatidyl ethanolamine, phosphatidylcholine, triglyceride, cholesterol ester, diglyceride and phosphatidylinositol levels were significantly altered in the liver and plasma. Moreover, the transcriptomic analysis suggested that H-S solid beverage significantly altered the hepatic gene expression of cholesterol synthesis (Pdk4, Hmgcs1, and Dhcr24), lipogenesis (Scd, Angptl4, and Angptl8), and FA β-oxidation (Cpt1α, Pparδ, Acsl, Pgc-1α, and Pla2g2d). The solid beverage of sea buckthorn and milk thistle was firstly demonstrated to ameliorate HFD-induced hyperlipidemia. The lipid-lowering and hepatoprotective effects of H-S solid beverage significantly regulated cholesterol synthesis and de novo lipogenesis, as well as FA β-oxidation. In summary, this study highlights the potential of H-S solid beverages for the treatment of hyperlipidemia. Show less
Background Myeloid/lymphoid neoplasm with eosinophilia and rearrangement of FGFR1(MLN-FGFR1), also referred to as 8p11 myeloproliferative syndrome (EMS), arises from aberrant FGFR1 gene rearrangement Show more
Background Myeloid/lymphoid neoplasm with eosinophilia and rearrangement of FGFR1(MLN-FGFR1), also referred to as 8p11 myeloproliferative syndrome (EMS), arises from aberrant FGFR1 gene rearrangement in bone marrow hematopoietic stem cells, resulting in the transformation of myeloid/lymphoid cells into neoplastic growths. The clinical and laboratory features of affected individuals are influenced by the specific partner genes. Purpose This article aims to report a case of MLN-FGFR1 involving a novel CNTRL::FGFR1 splicing variant and to discuss its clinicopathological characteristics and treatment challenges. Methods/Results We report a case of MLN-FGFR1 in a 35-year-old male patient presenting with leukocytosis, lymphadenopathy, hepatosplenomegaly, and a mixed population of B lymphoblasts, T lymphoblasts, and monoblasts in the bone marrow and lymph nodes. Comprehensive molecular profiling, including chromosomal karyotyping, fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH), targeted transcriptome sequencing, reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), and Sanger sequencing, identified a novel splicing variant of the CNTRL::FGFR1 fusion, resulting from a t(8;9)(p11;q33) translocation. This novel splicing variant involves an in-frame fusion between exon 38 of CNTRL and exon 11 of FGFR1, retaining the kinase domain of FGFR1 and leading to its constitutive activation. Despite multiple treatment regimens, the patient failed to achieve complete remission (CR). Conclusion The findings highlight the urgent need for targeted therapies, such as FGFR inhibitors, to improve outcomes in patients with FGFR1-rearranged malignancies. Show less
While most patients with stage I non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) remain recurrence-free after resection, some still develop recurrent disease. The surgical curative time window concept, defined as Show more
While most patients with stage I non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) remain recurrence-free after resection, some still develop recurrent disease. The surgical curative time window concept, defined as no recurrence through 5-year follow-up, helps identify potentially cured patients, yet predictive clinicopathologic features in stage I invasive NSCLC need clarification. This study sought to identify such features to enable risk-adapted surveillance. We analyzed a prospectively collected dataset of patients with stage I invasive NSCLC who underwent R0 resection between 2008 and 2015. Cox regression analysis was used to evaluate the association between clinicopathologic features and disease recurrence, aiming to identify independent prognostic factors. A total of 1,817 patients met the inclusion criteria. The 5-year cumulative incidence of recurrence was 14.6%. Female sex, tumor size ≤2 cm, lepidic-predominant adenocarcinoma (LPA) histologic type, presence of a ground-glass opacity (GGO) component, and solid component size ≤10 mm were identified as independent prognostic factors. A risk stratification system was subsequently developed, classifying patients into two groups: a low-risk group (with ≥4 factors; n=341) and an elevated-risk group (with <4 factors; n=1,476). Kaplan-Meier analysis revealed statistically significant differences in recurrence-free survival (RFS), overall survival (OS), and lung cancer-specific survival (LCSS) between the two groups (P<0.001). The low-risk group is considered to represent the population within the surgical curative time window. Patients with stage I invasive NSCLC who meet at least four of the following five criteria-female sex, tumor size ≤2 cm, solid component ≤10 mm, presence of a GGO component, and LPA histologic type-may be considered within the "surgical curative time window" and may therefore qualify for reduced surveillance intensity. Show less