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Targeting the glucose dependent insulinotropic polypeptide receptor (GIPR) is of growing interest for treating type 2 diabetes and obesity, though the optimal approach remains unclear. Both GIPR agonism and antagonism, respectively, incorporated into drugs like tirzepatide and maridebart cafraglutide, have paradoxically both shown significant weight loss effects in humans. In this study, the metabolic impacts of a GIPR agonist (GIP108) and antagonist (NN-GIPR-Ant) were evaluated in lean and high-fat diet (HFD)-induced obese male mice. We assessed the impacts on food intake, body weight, glucose and insulin tolerance, liver triglyceride levels, bone markers and adipose tissue lipolytic gene expression. In lean mice, neither peptide affected food intake or body weight, but GIP108 improved glucose tolerance. In obese mice, both agents reduced food intake and body weight, with NN-GIPR-Ant producing more sustained appetite suppression. Energy expenditure remained unchanged, as weight loss matched that of pair-fed controls. GIP108 improved glucose tolerance independently of weight loss, whereas NN-GIPR-Ant reduced insulin sensitivity compared to pair-fed controls. Both treatments slightly increased liver triglyceride content compared to their pair-fed controls, and no treatment significantly affected plasma bone marker levels. Finally, NN-GIPR-Ant reduced the expression of adipose tissue lipolytic genes. Our data highlights the distinct metabolic effects of GIPR agonism and antagonism, offering insights for their future application in personalised metabolic disease treatments. Further human studies are needed to understand the long-term metabolic impacts of these therapies. Show less

Conventional nanocarriers are readily cleared by macrophages in the liver, with only a minimal fraction reaching hepatocytes. This limitation has been effectively overcome in clinically approved lipid nanoparticles (LNPs) through the incorporation of ionizable lipids. Inspired by this property, we explored whether incorporating ionizable lipids into the lipid bilayer membrane of mesoporous silica nanoparticles (silicasomes) could similarly enhance their hepatic cellular uptake. We developed ionizable silicasomes (I-silicasomes) and systematically compared them with ionizable liposomes (I-liposomes), as well as their conventional counterparts (C-silicasomes and C-liposomes). Surprisingly, I-silicasomes did not enhance hepatocyte uptake Show less

Apolipoprotein B (APOB), a structural component of low-density lipoproteins (LDL), has historically been associated with peripheral lipid transport and cardiovascular disease. Recent studies have revealed a link between APOB and Alzheimer's disease (AD), with increased cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) APOB levels correlating with tau pathology. Although APOB is known to be locally expressed in the brain, albeit at very low levels, its function in the central nervous system and contribution to neurodegenerative processes remains poorly understood. To investigate the effects of chronic APOB overexpression on brain molecular homeostasis, we used a transgenic mouse model expressing human APOB-100 and integrated findings with human cohort data to assess its functional relevance to AD pathology. Human APOB transgenic (hAPOB) and wild-type mice were aged to 6 and 12 months. Frontal cortices were analyzed using RNA sequencing and mass spectrometry-based proteomics. Differentially expressed genes and proteins were analyzed via pathway enrichment and cell type deconvolution. Findings were contrasted to post-mortem proteomic alterations observed in brain tissue (ROSMAP) and in the CSF (ADNI). hAPOB overexpression in mice induced a robust and persistent upregulation of innate immune genes, particularly those associated with type I interferon responses (Irf7, Ifit1, Oas2), in both young and old transgenic mice. Reduced microglial and endothelial cell signatures were observed through cell type deconvolution, which suggests immune activation without proliferation and possible blood-brain barrier damage. Proteomic analyses showed differentially expressed proteins associated with oxidative stress and dendritic remodeling. Proteins dysregulated in mice-such as CTSD, CRK, and SULT4A1-also showed altered expression in AD human brain and CSF. Remarkably, these proteins are dysregulated in the opposite direction in humans than in mice, unveiling a complex downstream regulation of APOB overexpression. Chronic hAPOB overexpression drives sustained neuroinflammatory and oxidative responses, potentially mimicking viral-like immune activation in the brain. The proteins dysregulated in hAPOB transgenic mice brains were also dysregulated in humans on opposite side of the APOB level spectrum. Nevertheless, this result shows a consistency across species on hAPOB-driven downstream effects. Some of these proteins were also shown to associate with key features of AD pathology, namely Aβ, Tau and pTau. Our findings support a novel role for APOB in modulating brain immune homeostasis and neurodegenerative processes, offering a mechanistic link between vascular risk and Alzheimer's disease. Show less

In fishes and aquatic-stage amphibians, mechanosensory neuromasts are arranged in characteristic lines in the skin of the head and trunk, with afferent innervation from anterior or posterior lateral line nerves. In electroreceptive non-teleost jawed fishes and amphibians, fields of electrosensory ampullary organs flank some or all of the cranial neuromast lines, innervated by the anterior lateral line nerve. Like the mechanosensory hair cells found in neuromasts and the inner ear, electroreceptor cells in ampullary organs across vertebrates form specialised ribbon synapses with afferent nerve terminals. Ribbon synapses in hair cells are distinct from other glutamatergic synapses, including the ribbon synapses in photoreceptors: In hair cells, synaptic vesicles are loaded with glutamate by vGlut3 and otoferlin is the Ca Show less

To determine the prevalence of CHD7, FGFR1 and ANOS1 variants and the impacts of their splicing variants on mis-splicing in patients with congenital hypogonadotropic hypogonadism (CHH). Based on the whole-exome sequencing data from 280 CHH probands, we identified 15 potential splice-site variants in CHD7, ANOS1 and FGFR1 by using in silico software. The functional consequences of these variants were analyzed by the minigene assay or RT-PCR analyses of RNA taken from the peripheral lymphocytes. Detailed phenotyping was performed in the CHH patients harboring deleterious variants and their available family members. 11 out of 15 potential splice-site variants were demonstrated to cause mis-splicing, resulting in loss of function through deletion, insertion or frameshift of amino acids in the proteins. Most patients with deleterious splice-site variants in CHD7, ANOS1, FGFR1 presented with gene-specific non-reproductive phenotypes, confirming the pathogenic contribution of these variants to CHH. Our study indicated that splice-site variants in CHD7, ANOS1, FGFR1 underlie the genetic basis of ~3.9% of CHH patients, warranting the inclusion of potential splice-site variants for genetic diagnosis and counseling of CHH. Show less

Complex PTSD (CPTSD) is often associated with prolonged or repeated trauma exposure and the experience of intimate partner and childhood abuse. CPTSD includes the criteria for PTSD (re-experiencing, avoidance, and sense of threat) in addition to three criteria for self-organization disturbances (affective dysregulation, negative self-concept, and relational disturbance). This study aimed to assess profiles of CPTSD symptoms and their association with psychiatric distress among people with co-occurring Serious Mental Illness (SMI; schizophrenia/schizoaffective, bipolar, and treatment-refractory major depression). Treatment-seeking participants ( A model with three classes best fit the data with the most parsimonious interpretation: 26.7% ( The results demonstrate the heterogeneity in symptom presentation across the PTSD classes and that, despite similar diagnoses, individuals may present with varying symptom patterns. This emphasizes the importance of studying CPTSD in subpopulations of persons with SMI. Show less

Anger is prevalent in chronic pain (CP), often co-occurring with heightened distress and disability. The complexity of the anger construct manifests in heterogeneity of how anger is experienced, expressed, and regulated. Nevertheless, most work does not consider the inter-relationships between multiple dimensions of anger, limiting understanding of how anger might differentially contribute to pain outcomes. Here, various anger metrics and latent profile analysis (LPA) were utilized to identify disparate anger profiles in people with CP. Whether these profiles associated cross-sectionally and longitudinally with pain outcomes was subsequently examined. Data was collected from 735 treatment-seeking adult patients with CP of varied etiologies, of which 242 also completed follow-up assessments about 5 months after baseline. Anger measures included state and trait anger, anger expression (anger-in, anger-out), anger control (control-in, control-out), and perceived injustice. Pain outcomes included pain- intensity, distribution, interference, and behavior, and physical function. LPA identified four distinct anger profiles characterized by the combination of varying levels (low, medium, high) of anger and of perceived injustice. These profiles significantly associated with pain outcomes at both baseline and follow-up, above and beyond anxiety and depression. Profiles with medium-to-high levels of both anger (state, trait, and expression) and perceived injustice predicted the worst pain outcomes, suggesting that injustice-based profiling should be prioritized for anger-related stratification of risk in CP. The mechanistic and prognostic value of these anger profiles suggests that early assessment could enhance long-term treatment planning and advance personalized pain care, further emphasizing the need for tailored, anger-focused, patient-specific interventions. PERSPECTIVES: This study demonstrates that multidimensional anger profiles, particularly those marked by higher perceived injustice, are linked to more severe and persistent high impact chronic pain. Identifying these profiles may facilitate early clinical screening for at-risk patients, personalized emotion-focused interventions, and potentially prevent progression to high-impact chronic pain and long-term disability. Show less

The effects of ovomucoid (OVM), a by-product of egg white, and its hydrolysates on adipocyte differentiation and lipid accumulation were investigated. The OVM hydrolyzed using Alcalase® and pepsin was named AH and PH, respectively. Sodium dodecyl sulphate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis analysis revealed significant changes in molecular weight of both hydrolysates, with AH showing a higher degree of hydrolysis. AH exhibited a more pronounced inhibitory effect on fat accumulation than PH. In in vitro experiments, AH and PH suppressed lipid accumulation during 3T3-L1 adipocyte differentiation, with AH inhibiting lipid accumulation most effectively. Oil red O staining and triglyceride measurements revealed lipid reduction in AH-treated cells, indicating that AH plays a major role in preventing lipid accumulation in adipocytes. In addition, AH inhibited the expression of lipid transcription factors (CCAAT/enhancer-binding protein alpha (C/EBP-α), peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma (PPAR-γ), and sterol regulatory element-binding proteins (SREBP-1c)), adipogenesis-related factors (fatty acid synthase (FAS) and ACC1), insulin-related factors (insulin receptor substrate (IRS2) and protein kinase B (AKT2)), and lipolysis-related factors (glycerol-3-phosphate acyltransferase (GPAT), CD36, and lipoprotein lipase (LPL)) in a concentration-dependent manner. Specifically, the effect of AH was most pronounced in the early stages of adipocyte differentiation, where it activated AMPK early to associate energy homeostasis and downregulate genes important for cell cycle and lipid formation. This study suggests that OVM hydrolysates prepared using Alcalase® may contribute to the development of new strategies for the obesity treatment market. Show less

Dietary bile acids (BAs) have been shown to affect food intake in chicks; however, the underlying central mechanisms remain unclear. This study investigated the effects of taurochenodeoxycholic acid (TCDCA), sodium taurocholate (STC), chenodeoxycholic acid (CDCA), taurocholic acid (TCA), hyodeoxycholic acid (HDCA), allocholic acid (ACA), and a mixed BA (MBA; 4.6% hyodicolate, 72.6% hyodeoxycholate, and 18.3% chenodeoxycholate) on feed intake and hypothalamic mRNA expression of appetite-related neuropeptides in chicks. To determine the effects, intracerebroventricular (ICV) injections of three doses (0.25, 0.5, and 1 μg) of each BA were administered to 5-day-old layer-type chicks, and feed intake was recorded at 30, 60, and 120 minutes post-injection. Quantitative PCR was used to determine the hypothalamic mRNA expression of neuropeptide Y (NPY) and its receptors, agouti-related peptide (AgRP), pro-opiomelanocortin (POMC), and melanocortin receptors. Results showed that feed intake decreased after ICV administration of CDCA, CA, HDCA, MBA, and STC, whereas ACA and TCDCA increased intake (P < 0.05). TCDCA upregulated NPY5R, while CDCA downregulated NPY4R (P < 0.05). STC and CA increased POMC and MC4R expression and reduced AgRP (P < 0.05), whereas HDCA decreased AgRP (P < 0.05). ACA reduced MC4R expression, and MBA downregulated both NPY4R and NPY5R (P < 0.05). The result suggests that both orexigenic and anorexigenic neuropeptide genes are involved in the effects of BAs. The effect of BAs acts in a dose-dependent manner in the hypothalamus to influence feed intake. Show less

In this work, we conducted a study on the analysis of monosodium glutamate (MSG) in broths by the induced fluorescence derivatization (IFD) method. The method was based on the derivatization of naturally non-fluorescent MSG to form a fluorescent structure when reacting with orthophthalaldehyde (OPA). The chemical reaction parameters were optimized in an aqueous medium. The calibration curve was subsequently established under optimal conditions, and its linearity was assessed using variance analysis, which indicated a significant regression. The low LOD (0.006 ng mL Show less

Exercise training improves endothelial function and reduces vascular inflammation. However, whether aerobic exercise training-induced secretion of irisin, a myokine cleaved from fibronectin type III domain-containing protein 5 ( Show less

To date, despite the new lipid-lowering drugs, some subjects do not reach LDL-cholesterol and/or lipoprotein(a) [Lp(a)] goals and lipoprotein apheresis (LA) plays a role in atherosclerosis prevention. The aim of this study is to paint a portrait of the current LA activity in Italy, collecting data via an electronic survey. Forty-seven centers were contacted, data from 142 patients (male 67%) were obtained from 15 sites. Two sites had discontinued LA treatment. In the active sites, a median of 17 [14-26] LA treatment/patient per year was performed; 7/13 sites used more than one LA system, with venous vascular access used in 87% of cases. High Lp(a) plasma concentrations (> 60 mg/dL or ≥ 145 nmol/L) were recorded in 73/142 patients; 14/36 homozygous familial hypercholesterolemia patients were on lomitapide or evinacumab therapy. The PORTRAIT survey would like to promote a network to better manage the patients on chronic LA. Show less

N-carbamylglutamate (NCG) is an activator of arginine biosynthesis, but its specific role in crustaceans remains poorly understood. This study aimed to investigate the effects of NCG on arginine biosynthesis capacity, metabolism, digestion, and the gene expression of the mTOR signaling pathway in Eriocheir sinensis. In Experiment 1, hepatopancreas was cultured in vitro with NCG medium (0, 65, 75, and 85 mg/L NCG). In Experiment 2, crabs were fed either regular feed or NCG feed (content: 302.96 ± 4.07 mg/kg) for 14 days. In Experiment 1, NCG significantly upregulated pyrroline-5-carboxylate synthase (p5cs) gene expression (P < 0.05), an enzyme that is related to arginine biosynthesis. Similarly, dietary NCG upregulated p5cs expression and significantly increased the activities of carbamoyl-phosphate synthase-1 (CPS-1) and P5CS in the hepatopancreas and intestine (P < 0.05). Metabolomics analysis indicated that NCG altered the metabolic profile of the hepatopancreas, promoting cholesterol metabolism, and arginine and proline metabolism. In the intestine, trypsin and α-amylase activities were significantly elevated (P < 0.05). NCG also altered the composition of intestinal microflora, with an increase in Proteobacteria and in the ratio of Firmicutes to Bacteroidota. Additionally, NCG increased the content of signaling molecule nitric oxide (NO) and upregulated the expression of genes in the mTOR signaling pathway (P < 0.05). In conclusion, NCG supplementation enhanced arginine biosynthesis capacity, stimulated intestinal enzymatic activities, and upregulated mTOR signaling pathway gene expression in Eriocheir sinensis, indicating the potential for improved metabolism and digestion. Show less

The rising global prevalence of obesity and its impact on health and economy make finding available safe treatment an urgent need. Ketogenic diet represents trendy dietary intervention, while underlying molecular mechanisms remains unclear. Twenty-four male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomized into three groups: Control (maintained on conventional chow diet for 24 weeks), HFD (fed High-fat diet (HFD) for 24 weeks), keto (fed HFD for 12 weeks, then ketogenic diet for additional 12 weeks). Effect of ketogenic diet on serum metabolomics using Ultra Performance Liquid Chromatography coupled with Liquid Chromatography on both positive and negative modes; hepatic tissue using histopathological examination, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), Real time Polymerase Chain Reaction, proteome array detection; intestinal tissue using histopathological examination, ELISA and adipose tissue using histopathological examination were evaluated. The ketogenic diet reduced rat weight, food intake, epididymal fat mass, and blood glucose level compared to HFD group. Furthermore, it resulted in a decrease in serum methionine, linolenic acid, Lyso Phosphatidylcholine (PC) (15.0:0.0), Lyso PC (18.0:0.0) with hepatic repression of fibroblast growth factor 21 (FGF21), and type II cell surface protein/ Dipeptidyl peptidase 4, Intercellular Adhesion Molecule 1, Insulin growth factor-1, Lipocalin-2, Serpin E1, tissue inhibitor of matrix metalloproteinase-1, receptor for advanced glycation end products and induction of Farnesoid X receptor (FXR), hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) which leads to hepatic antioxidant effects and histopathological amelioration. In addition, the ketogenic diet caused intestinal induction of melanocortin-4 receptors/ glucagon-like peptide 1 pathway, which causes intestinal antioxidant effects and histopathological amelioration. Thus, ketogenic diet stated potential anti-obesity effect that mitigates HFD-induced organ damage through the modulation of key metabolic and signaling networks. Show less

Heart function depends on cardiomyocyte contractile apparatus and proper sarcomere protein expression. Variants in sarcomere genes cause inherited forms of cardiomyopathy and arrhythmias, including atrial fibrillation. Recently, a sarcomere component, myosin-binding protein-H like (MyBP-HL), was identified. MyBP-HL is mainly expressed in cardiac atria and is homologous to the last three C-terminal domains of cardiac myosin-binding protein-C (cMyBP-C). The MYBPHL R255X nonsense variant has been linked to atrial enlargement, dilated cardiomyopathy, and arrhythmias. Similar nonsense mutations in MYBPC3 are linked to hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, with these mutations preventing myofilament incorporation and the degradation of the truncated protein. However, the allele frequency of the MYBPHL R255X variant is too high in the human population to be pathogenic. We sought to determine whether MYBPHL nonsense variants impact on MyBP-HL sarcomere integration and degradation of the truncated protein, and whether the MyBPHL nonsense variants lead to changes in cardiomyocyte calcium dynamics and contractility. We mimicked human MYBPHL nonsense variants in the mouse Mybphl cDNA sequence and tested their sarcomere incorporation. We demonstrated that full-length MyBP-HL overexpression showed the expected C-zone sarcomere incorporation. Nonsense variants showed defective sarcomere incorporation. We demonstrated that full-length MyBP-HL and MyBP-HL nonsense variants were degraded by both proteasome and calpain mechanisms. We did not observe changes in calcium transients. In addition, we observed changes in contraction kinetics, including sarcomere shortening. Together, these data support the hypothesis that MYBPHL nonsense variants are functionally similar. Show less

Structural valve degeneration (SVD) is the leading cause of late bioprosthetic valve failure. Lipoprotein(a) [Lp(a)] contributes to native aortic valve calcification, but its role in SVD is unclear. We investigated whether elevated Lp(a) is associated with SVD after bioprosthetic aortic valve replacement (AVR) and whether this differs between stenotic and regurgitant phenotypes. We studied 174 bioprosthetic AVR patients with available Lp(a) levels over a median echocardiographic follow-up of 7.3 years (1372 studies). SVD was defined by VARC-3 criteria, and associations were analysed with Fine-Gray competing risk models. Lp(a) was evaluated categorically (≤ or > 125 nmol/L) and continuously using spline modelling. During follow-up, 40 patients developed SVD (22 stenotic, 9 mixed, and 9 regurgitant). The 15-year cumulative incidence was 51% with a median onset at 14.8 years. Elevated Lp(a) was associated with a higher risk of overall SVD (62% vs. 47%; SHR 2.06, 95% CI 1.09-3.91; P = 0.026) and specifically with stenotic/mixed phenotypes (SHR 2.57, 95% CI 1.26-5.23; P = 0.009). No association was observed with regurgitant phenotypes (SHR 0.85, 95% CI 0.19-3.92; P = 0.84). After multivariable adjustment, elevated Lp(a) remained an independent predictor of stenotic/mixed SVD (adjusted SHR 3.00, 95% CI 1.48-6.07; P = 0.002). Spline modelling showed a linear dose-response, with each 25 nmol/L increase in Lp(a) conferring 13% higher risk. Elevated Lp(a) is independently associated with long-term risk of stenotic/mixed SVD. These findings highlight Lp(a) as a promising biomarker of prosthetic valve vulnerability and support investigation of emerging Lp(a)-lowering therapies to improve valve durability. Show less

BackgroundLogopenic primary progressive aphasia (LPA) is often associated with Alzheimer's disease (AD) pathology. However, few studies have compared cortical atrophy patterns in LPA and AD and their association with cognitive performance.ObjectiveTo identify atrophy patterns specific to LPA and determine whether those patterns relate to deficits in specific cognitive domains.MethodsElectronic health records from 2014-2024 were retrospectively reviewed to identify patients with LPA who had undergone MRI and neuropsychological (NP) examinations. Patients with LPA (n = 26) were matched in terms of age, sex, education, and symptom duration to patients with amnestic mild cognitive impairment (aMCI; n = 13). Logistic regression was used to assess group differences in MRI measures of cortical volume and thickness. Cluster analysis was used to identify patterns of atrophy that were associated with specific cognitive domains.ResultsThe LPA group performed significantly worse than the aMCI group on NP measures assessing verbal learning, attention/working memory, language, and executive functioning (p < 0.05). Compared to the aMCI group, the LPA group demonstrated both smaller and thinner cortex in the left lateral aspect of the superior temporal gyrus, superior temporal sulcus, and fusiform gyrus (p < 0.05), with the left superior temporal sulcus providing the most accurate measure of discrimination. Severity of language related cognitive deficits was not associated with a specific cluster in the LPA group.ConclusionsPatients with LPA demonstrate specific patterns of cortical atrophy that are distinguishable from atrophy due to aMCI and may be useful for diagnostic purposes. Show less

The global prevalence and incidence of metabolic dysfunction-associated fatty liver disease (MAFLD), including its progressive form metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis (MASH), are steadily rising, making them the most common chronic liver diseases worldwide. However, therapeutic options for MAFLD are currently limited. Glucolipid dysregulation drives MAFLD pathogenesis through intertwined glucose metabolic imbalance and lipid accumulation. Patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) are particularly prone to developing MASH and are at a higher risk of progressing to cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma. The coexistence of MAFLD and T2DM correlates with clinical prognosis and elevates the risk of extrahepatic complications. Given the close association between MAFLD and T2DM, glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1RAs), which have been approved for the treatment of T2DM and obesity, were the first to be investigated in patients with MAFLD/MASH. Recently, beyond GLP-1RAs, novel combination agents integrating glucose-dependent insulinotropic peptide receptor (GIPR) and/or glucagon receptor (GCR) agonists have also been explored. A large number of phase II randomized clinical trials have demonstrated significant improvements in body weight, insulin resistance, and liver parameters. Thus, GLP-1RAs and dual/triple agonists are promising for MAFLD/MASH, especially in those with obesity or T2DM. This study explores mechanisms and clinical evidence of incretin-based therapies for MAFLD by targeting its core pathogenesis-glucolipid disorders. With growing evidence, it also forecasts the broad clinical prospects on MAFLD treatment. Show less

We examined whether wake-time movement composition was associated with weight loss maintenance among individuals who experienced clinically meaningful weight loss (> 5% of initial weight) using compositional data analysis. This was a secondary analysis from a behavioral weight loss maintenance intervention on weight regain over 12 months following clinically meaningful 3-month weight loss. Body weight was assessed at baseline, after weight loss (3 months), and at end of intervention (15 months). Wake-time behaviors (sedentary time [ST], light physical activity [LPA], and moderate-to-vigorous PA [MVPA]) were assessed at two time points during the maintenance intervention using accelerometry. Compositional data analysis was used to examine associations between wake-time movement composition and weight regain (kg). Among 153 individuals (80.4% female, 69.9% White), wake-time movement composition was related to weight regain (p = 0.001). MVPA was negatively associated with weight regain (p's < 0.05). Reallocating 10 min/day from ST or LPA to MVPA was associated with less weight regain (ST: -0.32 kg [-0.53, -0.12]; LPA: -0.37 kg [-0.59, -0.15]). Individuals who maintained clinically meaningful weight loss and those who did not differed in wake-time movement composition, driven by MVPA (36.1 vs. 24.3 min/day). The composition of wake-time behaviors, specifically MVPA, reduces weight regain after clinically meaningful weight loss in a behavioral weight loss maintenance intervention. ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT01664715. Show less

G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) recognize ligands on the cell surface, initiating intracellular signaling pathways that control a variety of biological processes, from neurotransmission and hormone regulation to light detection and smell. As entryways into these pathways, GPCRs are key pharmacological targets, with 30% of FDA-approved drugs targeting them. High-throughput GPCR-based sensors in yeast are proven platforms for the identification of novel GPCR ligands. Most human GPCRs (hGPCRs), however, led to small increases in the signal after activation, hindering the development of high-throughput (HT) assays. To streamline the generation of HT assays for biomedically important hGPCRs, here we analyze five fluorescent reporters in the context of hGPCR-based sensors. Using the serotonin receptor 4 (HTR4)-based sensor as a testbed, we identify YPet, a yellow fluorescent protein previously evolved for improved intracellular fluorescence, as the optimal fluorescent reporter when using flow cytometry, fluorescence-activated cell sorting, or a fluorescent plate reader. YPet increases the dynamic range of hGPCR-based sensors in general, enabling the engineering of HTR4-, MC4R- S1PR2-, HTR1A-, and Mel1A-based sensors with vastly higher increases in signal than previously engineered sensors. YPet even allowed the construction of a functional HTR1D-based sensor, a sensor that had been difficult for the field to construct. Finally, the fast maturation of YPet reduces the time to readout from 4 h to 30 min, unlocking point-of-care diagnostic applications previously inaccessible to hGPCR-based sensors in yeast. Looking ahead, the identification of YPet as the optimal fluorescent reporter for yeast hGPCR-based sensors opens the door to the standardized generation of hGPCR high-throughput assays in this host, and sets the stage for ultrahigh-throughput single-cell experiments toward the identification of new ligands for known GPCRs, GPCR deorphanization, and GPCR engineering to bind designer ligands. Show less

Depression is a heterogeneous psychiatric disorder with limited treatment efficacy, as 30-50% of patients exhibit inadequate responses to conventional monoaminergic antidepressants. Rhein, a bioactive anthraquinone derived from Rheum palmatum, exhibits rapid and sustained antidepressant effects in both acute and chronic social defeat stress (CSDS) mouse models. Using quantitative proteomics on prefrontal cortex (PFC) samples from control, CSDS, Rhein-treated, and imipramine-treated cohorts, we identified differentially expressed proteins that revealed Rhein's multi-target regulatory profile. Functional enrichment and clustering analyses indicated that Rhein predominantly restores dysregulated pathways related to lipid metabolism, ribosomal translation, mitochondrial and endoplasmic reticulum (ER) function, and synaptic plasticity, forming a coherent mechanistic axis underlying its therapeutic effects. Comparative analysis with imipramine-treated mice further highlighted Rhein's distinct capacity to modulate organelle homeostasis and synaptic remodeling with greater breadth. Parallel reaction monitoring (PRM) and Western Blotting validated key proteins involved in mitochondrial functions (BNIP1, PISD, MRPL42, MRPS30, LRBA, IGHM), ER homeostasis (ACBD5, APOA4, RPL14), and synaptic plasticity (HDAC1, FAM3C, SSU72). These molecular findings suggest that Rhein exerts its antidepressant effects by restoring the functional integrity of mitochondria and the ER, thereby reprogramming synaptic plasticity. We inferred that this organelle-centered regulation further reinforces its potent modulation through multiple mechanisms and signaling pathways of synaptic plasticity, enabling Rhein to exert antidepressant effects through a coordinated, multi-layered mechanism. Collectively, our findings provide a systems-level mechanistic framework for Rhein's antidepressant efficacy and support its potential as a multi-pathway natural therapeutic, particularly for metabolic subtypes of depression. Show less

This study aims to identify distinct subgroups of digital resilience among nursing students and examine the factors associated with these subgroups. Digital resilience, the ability to adapt to technological changes and overcome challenges in higher education, is crucial for protecting students' psychological health and improving academic performance. In the context of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and digital transformation in nursing education, this resilience is essential for students to navigate virtual learning and integrate advanced technologies into their practice. A cross-sectional study. This study was conducted in eight universities in China guided by ecological systems theory and nursing students were recruited through convenience sampling. Latent profile analysis (LPA) identified subgroups and logistic regression examined related factors. A total of 331 (81.73 %) participants were included in the final analysis. The average age of participants was 20.41SD0.67 years, with 283 female (85.55 %). Latent profile analysis revealed two subgroups: the "High Digital Resilience Group" (n = 278, 83.99 %) and the "Low Digital Resilience Group" (n = 53, 16.01 %). Participants who were male (OR = 3.47, p = 0.02), had low household income (OR = 0.23, p = 0.01, low professional identity (OR = 0.86, p < 0.001) and low friend support (OR = 0.82, p < 0.001) were more likely to belong to the low digital resilience group. Educators should focus on enhancing students' professional identity and providing social support, especially for those with low digital resilience. The findings provide practical guidance for integrating AI into nursing education to enhance digital resilience. Show less

Deoxynivalenol (DON), a secondary metabolite produced by Fusarium, can widely contaminate foods and feeds, endangering human and animal health. DON can cause anorexia in animals. However, the specific mechanism is unclear. In this study, in vivo and in vitro experiments were conducted in mice and mouse intestinal organoid, respectively. Specific antagonists NPS2143, U73122, Xestospongin C, TPPO, EGTA, and Nitrendipine were selected to inhibit CaSR, PLCβ2, IP3R, TRPM5, extracellular calcium, and L-type VSCCs to explore the effect of the CaSR-TRPM5 signaling axis in DON-induced anorexia and secretion of brain-gut peptide. The results showed that these antagonists attenuated the DON-induced anorexia and secretion of the brain-gut peptides CCK, PYY, GLP-1, and GIP. DON could significantly increase the expression of hypothalamic anorectic genes MC4R, POMC, and CART. Blocking the CaSR-TRPM5 signaling axis could attenuate these changes. The mouse small intestinal organoid can be induced to differentiate into EECs by blocking the Wnt/Notch/Mek pathway. DON-induced brain-gut peptides secretion was attenuated by inhibition of CaSR-TRPM5 signaling axis in mouse intestinal organoid. In summary, DON could act on enteroendocrine cells to induce secretion of brain-gut peptide and activate the hypothalamic anorectic genes to evoke anorexia through the CaSR-TRPM5 signaling axis. Show less

EndMT has emerged as a mechanism of vascular disease onset. Our previous study showed that PM exposure induces EndMT-associated cardiac fibrosis and BACE1-mediated brain endothelial dysfunction. Here we investigated whether BACE1 and EndMT are associated with PM-induced brain endothelial dysfunction and the development of cerebrovascular diseases. The human brain endothelial cells exposed to PM showed that EndMT was regulated by BACE1. The mRNA sequencing analysis revealed that BACE1 overexpression induced EndMT through diverse genes, including GDF15. We found that these BACE1 and GDF15 protein levels were increased in postmortem brain of cognitively impaired individuals with central nervous system (CNS) vasculopathy, vascular dementia (VD), compared with those without VD. In endothelial cells derived from patients with diabetes and db/db mouse brains, an upregulation of BACE1, GDF15, and EndMT-related phenotype was observed, compared with the control. We suggest that upregulation of BACE1 and GDF15 is involved in EndMT, which is responsible for BBB disruption induced by PM or diabetes, a high-risk factor for cerebrovascular disease. This may represent a molecular mechanism that contributes to the development of cerebrovascular disease, serving as a critical link connecting the PM to the onset and progression of VD. Show less

Childhood overweight/obesity poses a significant public health burden, closely linked to time allocation across various movement behaviors. We aimed to clarify the compositional associations between 24-h time allocation to sleep, sedentary behavior (SB), light physical activity (LPA), and moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) and overweight/obesity risk among children aged 2-6 years. This cross-sectional study enrolled 5372 children aged 2-6 years from Beijing. Isotemporal substitution modeling and weighted quantile sum (WQS) regression were adopted. Among all children (mean age 4.52 years; 49.9 % girls), 26.13 % were overweight or obese. Each additional 5 min of daily SB was associated with a higher odds of overweight/obesity (odds ratio [OR] = 1.10, 95 % confidence interval [CI]: 1.02-1.19, p = 0.02), while each 5-min increment in sleep was linked to reduced odds (OR = 0.91, 95 % CI: 0.84-0.98, p = 0.02). Isotemporal substitution analyses indicated that replacing 5 min of SB with sleep (OR = 0.81, 95 % CI: 0.67-0.97, p = 0.02), LPA (OR = 0.84, 95 % CI: 0.72-0.98, p = 0.03), or MVPA (OR = 0.87, 95 % CI: 0.76-1.01, p = 0.06) was associated with lower overweight/obesity risk. Replacing SB with sleep or physical activities reduced the risk. Further WQS analyses revealed that sleep exerted the strongest weight in the behavioral mixture influencing childhood overweight/obesity. This study provides evidence that theoretical reallocation of sedentary time to sleep or physical activities was associated with a significantly lower risk of overweight/obesity in children aged 2-6 years. Importantly, sleep appears to be the most potent component in the behavioral mixture, reinforcing the importance of holistic, multi-behavioral approaches in early childhood obesity prevention strategies. Show less

The objective of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of scraping without endothelial keratoplasty technique using a novel cell scraper for treating corneal endothelial dysfunction and explore the adjuvant effects of a ROCK inhibitor (ROCKi). Human donor tissues (n = 3) were mounted on an artificial anterior chamber, and one-half of the corneal endothelium was scraped with a novel cell scraper. The tissues were then stained with hematoxylin and eosin (H&E) to assess cell removal. In parallel, central peeling (descemetorhexis) using sharp acute forceps (n = 8) and cell scraping using a novel cell scraper (n = 8) was compared with and without ROCKi to investigate the wound healing response. RT-PCR analysis to assess the endothelial-to-mesenchymal transition using ZEB1 , SNAI1/2 , VIM , and CDH1/2 genes was performed after storage. An ex vivo surgical setup using an artificial anterior chamber demonstrated the feasibility and efficacy of using the cell scraper. Superior wound healing (88%) was observed in the endothelial cell-scraping group compared with Descemet membrane peeling (22%) at day 16. Application of ROCKi expedited wound healing after endothelial scraping (97%) and peeling (40%) compared with their respective controls at day 16. ROCKi treatment promoted endothelial-to-mesenchymal transition; however, with enhanced wound healing after cell scraping, endothelial cells formed a monolayer on native Descemet membrane compared with the peeling method. Scraping without endothelial keratoplasty can be performed effectively using the cell scraper and offers a potential alternative to endothelial keratoplasty, which can be effective in treating bullous keratopathy with healthy peripheral endothelial cells. ROCKi enhances wound healing, supporting further clinical testing and potentially delaying corneal tissue implantation. Show less

We hypothesized that the Hemopexin-Apolipoprotein B product (Hpx·apoB), a composite biomarker integrating lipid dysregulation and oxidative stress pathways, would improve coronary artery disease (CAD) diagnosis and risk stratification. This single-center cross-sectional study included 460 participants (350 CAD patients, 110 non-significant CAD controls). Plasma hemopexin (Hpx) was measured by liquid chromatography - tandem mass spectrometry, and the Hpx·apoB product was calculated. Multivariate logistic regression analyzed its CAD association, while area under the curve (AUC), net reclassification index (NRI), and integrated discrimination improvement (IDI) assessed its incremental predictive value over conventional risk factors and established models (Framingham, SCORE2). The Hpx·apoB product was significantly elevated in CAD patients compared to controls (median [IQR]: 2.35 [1.80-3.15] vs. 1.72 [1.30-2.25] mg The Hpx·apoB biomarker, combining oxidative stress and lipid metabolism, independently predicts CAD presence and severity while improving existing risk models' accuracy, enhancing clinical risk stratification. Show less