The combined effect of carbon starvation and exogenous riboflavin accelerated the Pseudomonas aeruginosa-induced nickel corrosion

The primary objective of this study is to elucidate the synergistic effect of an exogenous redox mediator and carbon starvation on the microbiologically influenced corrosion (MIC) of metal nickel (Ni) by nitrate reducing Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Carbon source (CS) starvation markedly accelerates Ni MIC by P. aeruginosa. Moreover, the addition of exogenous riboflavin significantly decreases the corrosion resistance of Ni. The MIC rate of Ni (based on corrosion loss volume) is ranked as: 10 % CS level + riboflavin > 100 % CS level + riboflavin > 10 % CS level > 100 % CS level. Notably, starved P. aeruginosa biofilm demonstrates greater aggressiveness in contributing to the initiation of surface pitting on Ni. Under CS deficiency (10 % CS level) in the presence of riboflavin, the deepest Ni pits reach a maximum depth of 11.2 μm, and the corrosion current density (icorr) peak at approximately 1.35 × 10-5 A·cm-2, representing a 2.6-fold increase compared to the full-strength media (5.25 × 10-6 A·cm-2). For the 10 % CS and 100 % CS media, the addition of exogenous riboflavin increases the Ni MIC rate by 3.5-fold and 2.9-fold, respectively. Riboflavin has been found to significantly accelerate corrosion, with its augmentation effect on Ni MIC increasing as the CS level decreases. Overall, riboflavin promotes electron transfer from Ni to P. aeruginosa, thus accelerating Ni MIC.

Mechanism Research of PZD Inhibiting Lung Cancer Cell Proliferation, Invasion, and Migration Based on Network Pharmacology

BACKGROUND

A classic Chinese medicine decoction, Pinellia ternata (Thunb.) Breit-Zingiber officinale Roscoe (Ban-Xia and Sheng-Jiang in Chinese) decoction (PZD), has shown significant therapeutic effects on lung cancer.

OBJECTIVE

This study aimed to explore and elucidate the mechanism of action of PZD on lung cancer using network pharmacology methods.

METHODS

Active compounds were selected according to the ADME parameters recorded in the TCMSP database. Potential pathways related to genes were identified through GO and KEGG analysis. The compound target network was constructed by using Cytoscape 3.7.1 software, and the core common targets were obtained by protein-protein interaction (PPI) network analysis. Batch molecular docking of small molecule compounds and target proteins was carried out by using the AutoDock Vina program. Different concentrations of PZD water extracts (10, 20, 40, 80, and 160 μg/mL) were used on lung cancer cells. Moreover, MTT and Transwell experiments were conducted to validate the prominent therapeutic effects of PZD on lung cancer cell H1299.

RESULTS

A total of 381 components in PZD were screened, of which 16 were selected as bioactive compounds. The compound-target network consisting of 16 compounds and 79 common core targets was constructed. MTT experiment showed that the PZD extract could inhibit the cell proliferation of NCI-H1299 cells, and the IC50 was calculated as 97.34 ± 6.14 μg/mL. Transwell and wound-healing experiments showed that the PZD could significantly decrease cell migration and invasion at concentrations of 80 and 160 μg/mL, respectively. The in vitro experiments confirmed that PZD had significant therapeutic effects on lung cancer cells, mainly through the PI3K/AKT signaling pathway.

CONCLUSION

PZD could inhibit the cell proliferation, migration, and invasion of NCI-H1299 cells partially through the PI3K/AKT signaling pathway. These findings suggested that PZD might be a potential treatment strategy for lung cancer patients.

Performance Analysis of Ferronickel Slag-Ordinary Portland Cement Pervious Concrete

It is unknown whether Ferronickel slag (FNS)-ordinary Portland cement (OPC)-based pervious concrete (FOPC) is feasible. To this end, a feasibility study was conducted on FOPC. Firstly, a detailed microscopic examination of the FNS powder was conducted, encompassing analyses of its particle size distribution, SEM, EDS, and chemical composition. These analyses aimed to establish the suitability of a composite of FNS and OPC as a composite cementitious material. Subsequent experimentation focused on evaluating the compressive strength of the composite paste material with varying mixed proportions, revealing a slight reduction in strength as the FNS substitution rate increased. Furthermore, the study designed eighteen different mix proportions of FOPC to investigate the key physical properties, including porosity, density, compressive strength, and the coefficient of permeability. Findings indicated that increases in the cementitious material proportion correlate with enhanced concrete strength, where the ratio of cementitious to aggregate increased by 6.7% and 16.5%, and the strength of FOPC increased by 10-13% and 30-50%, respectively. Conversely, a rise in the FNS substitution rate led to a reduction in compressive strength across different mix ratios. Additionally, the ratio of paste material to aggregate was found to significantly influence the permeability coefficient. These comprehensive performance evaluations suggest that incorporating FNS into OPC for pervious concrete applications is a feasible approach, offering valuable insights for the promotion of waste reuse and the advancement of energy conservation and emissions reduction efforts.

Blood-Brain Barrier Penetrating Nanovehicles for Interfering with Mitochondrial Electron Flow in Glioblastoma

Glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) is the most aggressive and lethal form of human brain tumors. Dismantling the suppressed immune microenvironment is an effective therapeutic strategy against GBM; however, GBM does not respond to exogenous immunotherapeutic agents due to low immunogenicity. Manipulating the mitochondrial electron transport chain (ETC) elevates the immunogenicity of GBM, rendering previously immune-evasive tumors highly susceptible to immune surveillance, thereby enhancing tumor immune responsiveness and subsequently activating both innate and adaptive immunity. Here, we report a nanomedicine-based immunotherapeutic approach that targets the mitochondria in GBM cells by utilizing a Trojan-inspired nanovector (ABBPN) that can cross the blood-brain barrier. We propose that the synthetic photosensitizer IrPS can alter mitochondrial electron flow and concurrently interfere with mitochondrial antioxidative mechanisms by delivering si-OGG1 to GBM cells. Our synthesized ABBPN coloaded with IrPS and si-OGG1 (ISA) disrupts mitochondrial electron flow, which inhibits ATP production and induces mitochondrial DNA oxidation, thereby recruiting immune cells and endogenously activating intracranial antitumor immune responses. The results of our study indicate that strategies targeting the mitochondrial ETC have the potential to treat tumors with limited immunogenicity.

Molecular Basis for SPINDOC-Spindlin1 Engagement and Its Role in Transcriptional Attenuation

Spindlin1 is a histone reader with three Tudor-like domains and its transcriptional co-activator activity could be attenuated by SPINDOC. The first two Tudors are involved in histone methylation readout, while the function of Tudor 3 is largely unknown. Here our structural and binding studies revealed an engagement mode of SPINDOC-Spindlin1, in which a hydrophobic motif of SPINDOC, DOCpep3, stably interacts with Spindlin1 Tudor 3, and two neighboring K/R-rich motifs, DOCpep1 and DOCpep2, bind to the acidic surface of Spindlin1 Tudor 2. Although DOCpep3-Spindlin1 engagement is compatible with histone readout, an extended SPINDOC fragment containing the K/R-rich region attenuates histone or TCF4 binding by Spindlin1 due to introduced competition. This inhibitory effect is more pronounced for weaker binding targets but not for strong ones such as H3 "K4me3-K9me3" bivalent mark. Further ChIP-seq and RT-qPCR indicated that SPINDOC could promote genomic relocation of Spindlin1, thus modulate downstream gene transcription. Collectively, we revealed multivalent engagement between SPINDOC and Spindlin1, in which a hydrophobic motif acts as the primary binding site for stable SPINDOC-Spindlin1 association, while K/R-rich region modulates the target selectivity of Spindlin1 via competitive inhibition, therefore attenuating the transcriptional co-activator activity of Spindlin1.

Urinary Exosomal miR-17-5p Accelerates Bladder Cancer Invasion by Repressing its Target Gene ARID4B and Regulating the Immune Microenvironment

BACKGROUND

Urothelial bladder cancer (BCa) is a common malignant tumor of the urinary system. It has been identified that exosomal miRNAs contribute to the development of BCa. However, its significance and mechanism in the malignant biological behavior of BCa remain unclear. In this study, the influence of exosomal miRNAs on BCa progression was investigated.

METHODS

High-throughput sequencing was conducted to analyze the microRNA-expression profile in urinary exosomes to screen out the key miRNA of muscle-invasive bladder cancer (MIBC). Then, candidate miRNA expression was verified and validated in urinary exosomes and tissue samples. To address the potential role of the candidate miRNA, we overexpressed and knocked down the candidate miRNA and explored its activity in BCa cell lines. Furthermore, the target gene of the selected miRNA was predicted and validated.

RESULTS

The expression profile of miRNAs revealed increased expression of miR-17-5p in MIBC urinary exosomes, and this was later confirmed in urinary exosomes and tissue samples. Cell function studies revealed that exosomal miR-17-5p significantly promoted the growth and invasion of BCa cells. Bioinformatics and luciferase experiments demonstrated that the ARID4B mRNA 3' UTR might be the binding site for miR-17-5p. Low ARID4B levels were linked to high-grade BCa patients and were associated with a better prognosis.

CONCLUSION

Elevated miR-17-5p contributes to BCa progression by targeting ARID4B and influencing the immune system. Based on these findings, miR-17-5p has the potential to be a new therapeutic target for the treatment of BCa.

Unveiling the role of pore characteristics in sludge dewatering: Visualization by Nano-CT and micromodel study

The solid-liquid separation is an indispensable and primary link in the process of sludge treatment and disposal. The past research was focused primarily on the technique explorations of sludge dewatering and always disregarded the internal pore structure and water migration behavior in sludge. In this work, the real three-dimensional pore structure of sludge was obtained by Nano-CT. Based on this, a pore-scale heterogeneous sludge micromodel was firstly presented, and the water flooding experiment was carried out to visualize the water migration behavior. The results showed that the sludge structure transformed from sheet-like floc to microsphere particles, and then agglomerated into large globular granules during anaerobic ammonia oxidation. And the equivalent pore size increases from 342 μm to 617 μm, improving the sludge dewaterability characterized by capillary suction time (CST). The most significant implication of this work was revealing the critical role of invalid connected pore in sludge dewatering. Such pore was not contributed to fluid flow but the circulating vortex in it even induced energy dissipation, thus deteriorated the sludge dewaterability. This work may be helpful to understand the critical role of pore characteristic in water migration and shed light on the new dewatering techniques from the perspective of regulating sludge structure.

Prognostic value of dynamic changes of pre- and post-operative tumor markers in colorectal cancer

BACKGROUND

Colorectal cancer (CRC) prognosis assessment is vital for personalized treatment plans. This study investigates the prognostic value of dynamic changes of tumor markers CEA, CA19-9, CA125, and AFP before and after surgery and constructs prediction models based on these indicators.

METHODS

A retrospective clinical study of 2599 CRC patients who underwent radical surgery was conducted. Patients were randomly divided into training (70%) and validation (30%) datasets. Univariate and multivariate Cox regression analyses identified independent prognostic factors, and nomograms were constructed.

RESULTS

A total of 2599 CRC patients were included in the study. Patients were divided into training (70%, n = 1819) and validation (30%, n = 780) sets. Univariate and multivariate Cox regression analyses identified age, total number of resected lymph nodes, T stage, N stage, the preoperative and postoperative changes in the levels of CEA, CA19-9, and CA125 as independent prognostic factors. When their postoperative levels are normal, patients with elevated preoperative levels have significantly worse overall survival. However, when the postoperative levels of CEA/CA19-9/CA125 are elevated, whether their preoperative levels are elevated or not has no significance for prognosis. Two nomogram models were developed, and Model I, which included CEA, CA19-9, and CA125 groups, demonstrated the best performance in both training and validation sets.

CONCLUSION

This study highlights the significant predictive value of dynamic changes in tumor markers CEA, CA19-9, and CA125 before and after CRC surgery. Incorporating these markers into a nomogram prediction model improves prognostic accuracy, enabling clinicians to better assess patients' conditions and develop personalized treatment plans.

Probing Tissue Viscoelasticity With STL Ultrasound Shearwave Spectroscopy Using Cole-Cole Diagrams

OBJECTIVE

Viscoelasticity is mapped by dispersion in shearwave elastography. Incomplete spectral information of shearwaves is therefore used to estimate mechanical stiffness. We propose capturing the "full-waveform-information" of the shear wave spectra to better resolve complex shear modulus μ* (ω). Approach is validated on phantom models, animal tissues, and feasibility demonstrated on human post-delivery placenta.

METHODS

We captured robust estimates of μ* in ex-vivo livers subjected to water bath ablation, glutaraldehyde exposure and in the placenta.

RESULTS

Complex modulus at 200 Hz is more reflective of tissue stiffness than cross-correlation estimate. Bias increased in phantoms with higher gelatin (G) (0.65: 6% G) and oil (O) (0.58: 6% G and 40% O) concentration, compared to elastic phantoms with low stiffness (0.33: 3% G). Actual tissues also reported higher bias in cross-correlation estimate (rabbit liver: 0.61, porcine liver: 2.20, and human placenta: 0.63). Stiffness is sensitive to ablation temperature, where the overall modulus changed from 3.02 KPa at 16 °C to 2.75 KPa at 56 °C in water bath. With exposure to Glutaraldehyde, the overall modulus increased from 2.37 to 9.03 KPa. Reconstruction errors in the loss modulus decreased by 68% with the power law compared to a Maxwell model in porcine livers with Cole-Cole inverse fitting.

CONCLUSION

Omitting Shear wave attenuation leads to bias. Reconstruction of rheological response with a model is sensitive to its architecture and also the framework.

SIGNIFICANCE

We use "full spectral information" in ultrasound shear wave elastography to better map μ*(ω) changes in viscoelastic tissues.

IAS-FET: An intelligent assistant system and an online platform for enhancing successful rate of in-vitro fertilization embryo transfer technology based on clinical features

BACKGROUND

Among all of the assisted reproductive technology (ART) methods, in vitro fertilization-embryo transfer (IVF-ET) holds a prominent position as a key solution for overcoming infertility. However, its success rate hovers at a modest 30% to 70%. Adding to the challenge is the absence of effective models and clinical tools capable of predicting the outcome of IVF-ET before embryo formation. Our study is dedicated to filling this critical gap by aiming to predict IVF-ET outcomes and ultimately enhance the success rate of this transformative procedure.

METHODS

In this retrospective study, infertile patients who received artificial assisted pregnancy treatment at Gansu Provincial Maternity and Child-care Hospital in China were enrolled from 2016 to 2020. Individual's clinical information were studied by cascade XGBoost method to build an intelligent assisted system for predicting the outcome of IVF-ET, called IAS-FET. The cascade XGBoost model was trained using clinical information from 2292 couples and externally tested using clinical information from 573 couples. In addition, several schemes which will be of help for patients to adjust their physical condition to improve their success rate on ART were suggested by IAS-FET.

RESULTS

The outcome of IVF-ET can be predicted by the built IAS-FET method with the area under curve (AUC) value of 0.8759 on the external test set. Besides, this IAS-FET method can provide several schemes to improve the successful rate of IVF-ET outcomes. The built tool for IAS-FET is addressed as a free platform online at http://www.cppdd.cn/ART for the convenient usage of users.

CONCLUSIONS

It suggested the significant influence of personal clinical features for the success of ART. The proposed system IAS-FET based on the top 27 factors could be a promising tool to predict the outcome of ART and propose a plan for the patient's physical adjustment. With the help of IAS-FET, patients can take informed steps towards increasing their chances of a successful outcome on their journey to parenthood.

Geometry, mechanics and actuation of intrinsically curved folds

We combine theory and experiments to explore the kinematics and actuation of intrinsically curved folds (ICFs) in otherwise developable shells. Unlike origami folds, ICFs are not bending isometries of flat sheets, but arise via non-isometric processes (growth/moulding) or by joining sheets along curved boundaries. Experimentally, we implement both, first making joined ICFs from paper, then fabricating flat liquid crystal elastomer (LCE) sheets that morph into ICFs upon heating/swelling via programmed metric changes. Theoretically, an ICF's intrinsic geometry is defined by the geodesic curvatures on either side, κgi. Given these, and a target 3D fold-line, one can construct the entire surface isometrically, and compute the bending energy. This construction shows ICFs are bending mechanisms, with a continuous family of isometries trading fold angle against fold-line curvature. In ICFs with symmetric κgi, straightening the fold-line culminates in a fully-folded flat state that is deployable but weak, while asymmetric ICFs ultimately lock with a mechanically strong finite-angle. When unloaded, freely-hinged ICFs simply adopt the (thickness t independent) isometry that minimizes the bend energy. In contrast, in LCE ICFs a competition between flank and ridge selects a ridge curvature that, unusually, scales as t-1/7. Finally, we demonstrate how multiple ICFs can be combined in one LCE sheet, to create a versatile intrinsically curved gripper that lifts a heavy weight.

Ferroptosis and Pyroptosis in Epilepsy

Epilepsy is sudden, recurrent, and transient central nervous system dysfunction caused by abnormal discharge of neurons in the brain. Ferroptosis and pyroptosis are newly discovered ways of programmed cell death. One of the characteristics of ferroptosis is the oxidative stress generated by lipid peroxides. Similarly, pyroptosis has unique pro-inflammatory properties. As both oxidative stress and neuroinflammation are significant contributors to the pathogenesis of epilepsy, increasing evidence shows that ferroptosis and pyroptosis are closely related to epilepsy. This article reviews the current comprehension of ferroptosis and pyroptosis and elucidates potential mechanisms by which ferroptosis and pyroptosis may contribute to epilepsy. In addition, we also highlight the possible interactions between ferroptosis and pyroptosis because they reportedly coexist in many diseases, and increasing studies have demonstrated the convergence of pathways between the two. This is of great significance for explaining the occurrence and development of epilepsy and provides a new therapeutic perspective for the treatment of epilepsy.

Solution blow spun bilayer chitosan/polylactic acid nanofibrous patch with antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties for accelerating acne healing

The quercetin (QC) loaded chitosan (CS) nanofibrous patch (CSQC) was designed and fabricated successfully by solution blow spinning (SBS). And it was employed to explore a functional double-layer nanofibrous patch (CSQC/PLA) with polylactic acid (PLA) for overcoming the resistance of acne-causing bacteria to antibiotics and local cutaneous irritation. The nanofibrous patch possessed a fluffy bilayer structure with good air permeability, which may be befitted from the SBS method. The 10 % QC loaded CSQC0.10/PLA had sustained release ability of QC for 24 h. A high free radical clearance rate (91.18 ± 2.26 %) and robust antibacterial activity against P. acnes (94.4 %) were achieved for CSQC0.10/PLA with excellent biocompatibility. Meanwhile, E. coli and S. aureus were also suppressed with 99.4 % and 99.2 %, respectively. Moreover, the expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines (IL-6 and TNF-α) was significantly reduced, conducive to acne healing. Therefore, the CSQC0.10/PLA bilayer nanofibrous patch designed here may shed some light on developing multifunctional materials for treating acne infectious wounds.

Controlling nonlinear collapse of ellipticity and orientation of a co-variant vector optical field

A vector optical field with inhomogeneous spatial polarization distribution offers what we believe to be a new paradigm to form controllable filaments. However, it is challenging to steer multiple performances (e.g. number, orientation, and interval) of filaments in transparent nonlinear media at one time. Herein, we theoretically self-design and generate a kind of believed to be novel ellipticity and orientation co-variant vector optical field to interact with Kerr medium to solve this issue. The collapsing behaviors of such a new hybrid vector optical field reveal that, by judiciously adjusting the inherent topological charge and initial phase of incident optical field, we are able to give access to stable collapsing filamentation with tunable numbers, orientations and interval. Additionally, the collapsing patterns presented are immune nearly to the extra random noise. The relevant mechanism behind the collapse of the vector optical field is elucidated as well. The findings in this work may have huge potential in optical signal processing, laser machining, and other related applications.

A novel iterative detection method based on a lattice reduction-aided algorithm for MIMO OFDM systems

The lattice reduction-aided algorithm has received broad attention from researchers since it operates as a maximum likelihood receiver with better system performance for multiple-input multiple-output orthogonal frequency division multiplexing systems and contains a full diversity. A novel iterative detection algorithm canceling parallel iterations that employ the lattice reduction-aided approach is proposed. Soft information is exchanged through the detector itself. Its iteration occurs inside the detector, which reduces much of the exchange cost between the multiple-input multiple-output orthogonal frequency division multiplexing detector and the turbo decoder. Since the parallel interference cancellation algorithm is constrained by the accuracy of the initial value of the detection, it is easy to form error propagation after several iterations. Due to the lattice reduction-aided algorithm, its performance is approximated with the maximum likelihood algorithm. Therefore, the lattice reduction-aided algorithm is introduced into the parallel interference cancellation algorithm to make its detection algorithm more accurate and overcome the effect of error propagation in the manuscript. Simulation results indicate that the proposed algorithm leads to an improvement of 0.8-2 dB when the bit error rate is set to 10-4 when compared to other algorithms.

A Lateral Flow Assay Based on Streptavidin-biotin Amplification System with Recombinase Polymerase Amplification for Rapid and Quantitative Detection of Salmonella enteritidis

Salmonella constitutes a prevalent alimentary pathogen, instigating zoonotic afflictions. Consequently, the prompt discernment of Salmonella in sustenance is of cardinal significance. Lateral flow assays utilizing colorimetric methodologies adequately fulfill the prerequisites of point-of-care diagnostics, however, their detection threshold remains elevated, generally permitting only qualitative discernment, an impediment to the preliminary screening of nascent pathogens. In response to this conundrum, we propose a lateral flow diagnostic predicated upon a streptavidin-biotin amplification system with recombinase polymerase amplification engineered for the expeditious and quantitative discernment of Salmonella enteritidis. Trace nucleic acids within a sample undergo exponential amplification via recombinase polymerase amplification to a level discernable, constituting the initial signal amplification. Subsequently, along the test line (T-line) of the lateral flow strip, the chromatic signal undergoes augmentation by securing a greater quantity of AuNPs through the magnification capacity of the streptavidin-biotin mechanism, affecting the second signal amplification. Quantitative results are procured via smartphone capture and transferred to computer software for precise calculation of the targeted quantity. The lateral flow strip exhibits a LOD at 19.41 CFU/mL for cultured S. enteritidis. The RSD of three varying concentrations were respectively 3.74 %, 5.96 %, and 4.25 %.

Small extracellular vesicles-mediated cellular interactions between tumor cells and tumor-associated macrophages: Implication for immunotherapy

The tumor microenvironment consists of cancer cells and various stromal cells, including macrophages, which exhibit diverse phenotypes with either pro-inflammatory (M1) or anti-inflammatory (M2) effects. The interaction between cancer cells and macrophages plays a crucial role in tumor progression. Small extracellular vesicles (sEVs), which facilitate intercellular communication, are known to play a vital role in this process. This review provides a comprehensive summary of how sEVs derived from cancer cells, containing miRNAs, lncRNAs, proteins, and lipids, can influence macrophage polarization. Additionally, we discuss the impact of macrophage-secreted sEVs on tumor malignant transformation, including effects on proliferation, metastasis, angiogenesis, chemoresistance, and immune escape. Furthermore, we address the therapeutic advancements and current challenges associated with macrophage-associated sEVs, along with potential solutions.

Neuroprotection by tetramethylpyrazine and its synthesized analogues for central nervous system diseases: a review

BACKGROUND

Due to the global increase in aging populations and changes in modern lifestyles, the prevalence of neurodegenerative diseases, cerebrovascular disorders, neuropsychiatrcic conditions, and related ailments is rising, placing an increasing burden on the global public health system.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

All studies on tetramethylpyrazine (TMP) and its derivatives were obtained from reputable sources such as PubMed, Elsevier, Library Genesis, and Google Scholar. Comprehensive data on TMP and its derivatives was meticulously compiled.

RESULTS

This comprehensive analysis explains the neuroprotective effects demonstrated by TMP and its derivatives in diseases of the central nervous system. These compounds exert their influence on various targets and signaling pathways, playing crucial roles in the development of various central nervous system diseases. Their multifaceted mechanisms include inhibiting oxidative damage, inflammation, cell apoptosis, calcium overload, glutamate excitotoxicity, and acetylcholinesterase activity.

CONCLUSION

This review provides a brief summary of the most recent advancements in research on TMP and its derivatives in the context of central nervous system diseases. It involves synthesizing analogs of TMP and evaluating their effectiveness in models of central nervous system diseases. The ultimate goal is to facilitate the practical application of TMP and its derivatives in the future treatment of central nervous system diseases.

Rational design of viscoelastic hydrogels for periodontal ligament remodeling and repair

The periodontal ligament (PDL) is a distinctive yet critical connective tissue vital for maintaining the integrity and functionality of tooth-supporting structures. However, PDL repair poses significant challenges due to the complexity of its mechanical microenvironment encompassing hard-soft-hard tissues, with the viscoelastic properties of the PDL being of particular interest. This review delves into the significant role of viscoelastic hydrogels in PDL regeneration, underscoring their utility in simulating biomimetic three-dimensional microenvironments. We review the intricate relationship between PDL and viscoelastic mechanical properties, emphasizing the role of tissue viscoelasticity in maintaining mechanical functionality. Moreover, we summarize the techniques for characterizing PDL's viscoelastic behavior. From a chemical bonding perspective, we explore various crosslinking methods and characteristics of viscoelastic hydrogels, along with engineering strategies to construct viscoelastic cell microenvironments. We present a detailed analysis of the influence of the viscoelastic microenvironment on cellular mechanobiological behavior and fate. Furthermore, we review the applications of diverse viscoelastic hydrogels in PDL repair and address current challenges in the field of viscoelastic tissue repair. Lastly, we propose future directions for the development of innovative hydrogels that will facilitate not only PDL but also systemic ligament tissue repair. STATEMENT OF SIGNIFICANCE.

Effects of empagliflozin on progression of chronic kidney disease: a prespecified secondary analysis from the empa-kidney trial

BACKGROUND

Sodium-glucose co-transporter-2 (SGLT2) inhibitors reduce progression of chronic kidney disease and the risk of cardiovascular morbidity and mortality in a wide range of patients. However, their effects on kidney disease progression in some patients with chronic kidney disease are unclear because few clinical kidney outcomes occurred among such patients in the completed trials. In particular, some guidelines stratify their level of recommendation about who should be treated with SGLT2 inhibitors based on diabetes status and albuminuria. We aimed to assess the effects of empagliflozin on progression of chronic kidney disease both overall and among specific types of participants in the EMPA-KIDNEY trial.

METHODS

EMPA-KIDNEY, a randomised, controlled, phase 3 trial, was conducted at 241 centres in eight countries (Canada, China, Germany, Italy, Japan, Malaysia, the UK, and the USA), and included individuals aged 18 years or older with an estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) of 20 to less than 45 mL/min per 1·73 m2, or with an eGFR of 45 to less than 90 mL/min per 1·73 m2 with a urinary albumin-to-creatinine ratio (uACR) of 200 mg/g or higher. We explored the effects of 10 mg oral empagliflozin once daily versus placebo on the annualised rate of change in estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR slope), a tertiary outcome. We studied the acute slope (from randomisation to 2 months) and chronic slope (from 2 months onwards) separately, using shared parameter models to estimate the latter. Analyses were done in all randomly assigned participants by intention to treat. EMPA-KIDNEY is registered at ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT03594110.

FINDINGS

Between May 15, 2019, and April 16, 2021, 6609 participants were randomly assigned and then followed up for a median of 2·0 years (IQR 1·5-2·4). Prespecified subgroups of eGFR included 2282 (34·5%) participants with an eGFR of less than 30 mL/min per 1·73 m2, 2928 (44·3%) with an eGFR of 30 to less than 45 mL/min per 1·73 m2, and 1399 (21·2%) with an eGFR 45 mL/min per 1·73 m2 or higher. Prespecified subgroups of uACR included 1328 (20·1%) with a uACR of less than 30 mg/g, 1864 (28·2%) with a uACR of 30 to 300 mg/g, and 3417 (51·7%) with a uACR of more than 300 mg/g. Overall, allocation to empagliflozin caused an acute 2·12 mL/min per 1·73 m2 (95% CI 1·83-2·41) reduction in eGFR, equivalent to a 6% (5-6) dip in the first 2 months. After this, it halved the chronic slope from -2·75 to -1·37 mL/min per 1·73 m2 per year (relative difference 50%, 95% CI 42-58). The absolute and relative benefits of empagliflozin on the magnitude of the chronic slope varied significantly depending on diabetes status and baseline levels of eGFR and uACR. In particular, the absolute difference in chronic slopes was lower in patients with lower baseline uACR, but because this group progressed more slowly than those with higher uACR, this translated to a larger relative difference in chronic slopes in this group (86% [36-136] reduction in the chronic slope among those with baseline uACR <30 mg/g compared with a 29% [19-38] reduction for those with baseline uACR ≥2000 mg/g; ptrend<0·0001).

INTERPRETATION

Empagliflozin slowed the rate of progression of chronic kidney disease among all types of participant in the EMPA-KIDNEY trial, including those with little albuminuria. Albuminuria alone should not be used to determine whether to treat with an SGLT2 inhibitor.

FUNDING

Boehringer Ingelheim and Eli Lilly.

The association between social class and aggression: A meta-analytic review

RATIONALE

Substantial evidence links social class with aggression. Despite lower social class being recognized as a risk factor for high levels of aggression, the findings of this association have been inconsistent. Some studies have indeed illustrated that a social class level is inversely associated with aggression, while other studies have demonstrated positive or null associations.

OBJECTIVE

To clarify previously inconsistent findings, this meta-analysis assesses the overall magnitude of this relationship and examines the potential moderators.

METHODS

A total of 268 studies met the inclusion criteria, and we used 546 effect sizes in 357 independent samples from these studies. A random-effects meta-analytic model was employed and several moderator analyses were conducted.

RESULTS

Overall, social class shared a small but significant negative relationship with aggression (r = -0.092). Moderator analyses suggested that study-level (e.g., type of study, and national differences), sample-level (e.g., age), class-level (e.g., type, assessment, and source of social class), and aggression-level (e.g., type of aggression) characteristics accounted for heterogeneity in the relationship. Additional analyses also revealed the robustness of these effects with little evidence of publication bias.

CONCLUSIONS

Living in disadvantaged socioecological environments, lower-class individuals may exhibit more aggression to adapt to threats. Moreover, the relationship between social class and aggression is not fixed and can change with specific contexts, and aggression is not an essential feature of a particular social group. This research hopes to inspire future studies to explore the association between social class and aggression more thoroughly. Additionally, it provides insights into how to reduce aggression among lower-class individuals.

Mechanochemical coupling of MGF mediates periodontal regeneration

Clinical evidence shows that the mechanical stimulation obtained from occlusion could enhance periodontal ligament (PDL) remodeling. Mechano-growth factor (MGF) is a growth factor produced specifically following mechanical stimulus Here, we aim to investigate the mechanical enhancement potential and mechanism of the MGF in PDL regeneration. In vivo study found that MGF produced from the PDL under occlusion force could strongly enhance PDL remodeling. In vitro experiments and mathematical modeling further confirmed the mechanical enhancement effect of MGF for PDLSC differentiation toward fibroblasts. A mechanochemical coupling effect of MGF mediated the enhancement of mechanical effect, which was modulated by Fyn-FAK kinases signaling and subsequent MAPK pathway. Finally, enhanced PDL regeneration under the mechanochemical coupling of MGF and occlusal force was verified in vivo. There exists an additive mechanical effect of MGF mediated by Fyn-FAK crosstalk and subsequent ERK1/2 and p38 phosphorylation, which could be developed as an MGF-centered adjuvant treatment to optimize PDL remodeling, especially for patients with weakened bite force or destroyed periodontium.

Learning curve of junior surgeons in robot-assisted pedicle screw placement: a comparative cohort study

OBJECTIVE

Robot-assisted technology has been gradually applied to pedicle screw placement in spinal surgery. This study was designed to detailedly evaluate the learning curve of junior surgeons in robot-assisted spine surgery.

METHODS

From December 2020 to February 2022, 199 patients requiring surgical treatment with posterior pedicle screw fixation were prospectively recruited into the study. The patients were randomized to the robot-assisted group (the RA group) or the conventional freehand group (the CF group). Under the senior specialist's supervision, pedicle screws were placed by two junior fellows without prior experience. Cumulative summation (CUSUM) analysis was performed on the learning curve of pedicle screw placement for performing quantitative assessment based on the time of screw insertion.

RESULTS

In total, 769 and 788 pedicle screws were placed in the RA and CF groups. Compared with the CF group, the learning duration in the RA group was shorter in the upper thoracic region (57 vs. 70 screws), but longer in the lower thoracic (62 vs. 58 screws) and the lumbosacral region (56 vs. 48 screws). The slope of learning curve was lower in the RA group than in the CF group. The screw accuracy in the RA group was superior to that in the CF group, especially in upper thoracic region (89.4% vs. 76.7%, P < 0.001). This disparity of accuracy became wider in deformity cases. In the upper thoracic region, the mean placement time was 5.34 ± 1.96 min in the RA group and 5.52 ± 2.43 min in the CF groups, while in the lower thoracic and lumbosacral regions, the CF group's mean placement times were statistically shorter. Three screw-related neural complications occurred in the CF group.

CONCLUSION

Robot-assisted technique has its advantages in the upper thoracic region and deformity cases, which is easier and safer to insert pedicle screws. The robot-assisted technique allowed a short learning curve for junior surgeons and exhibited consistently excellent results even in the early application period.

Impact of primary kidney disease on the effects of empagliflozin in patients with chronic kidney disease: secondary analyses of the EMPA-KIDNEY trial

BACKGROUND

The EMPA-KIDNEY trial showed that empagliflozin reduced the risk of the primary composite outcome of kidney disease progression or cardiovascular death in patients with chronic kidney disease mainly through slowing progression. We aimed to assess how effects of empagliflozin might differ by primary kidney disease across its broad population.

METHODS

EMPA-KIDNEY, a randomised, controlled, phase 3 trial, was conducted at 241 centres in eight countries (Canada, China, Germany, Italy, Japan, Malaysia, the UK, and the USA). Patients were eligible if their estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) was 20 to less than 45 mL/min per 1·73 m2, or 45 to less than 90 mL/min per 1·73 m2 with a urinary albumin-to-creatinine ratio (uACR) of 200 mg/g or higher at screening. They were randomly assigned (1:1) to 10 mg oral empagliflozin once daily or matching placebo. Effects on kidney disease progression (defined as a sustained ≥40% eGFR decline from randomisation, end-stage kidney disease, a sustained eGFR below 10 mL/min per 1·73 m2, or death from kidney failure) were assessed using prespecified Cox models, and eGFR slope analyses used shared parameter models. Subgroup comparisons were performed by including relevant interaction terms in models. EMPA-KIDNEY is registered with ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT03594110.

FINDINGS

Between May 15, 2019, and April 16, 2021, 6609 participants were randomly assigned and followed up for a median of 2·0 years (IQR 1·5-2·4). Prespecified subgroupings by primary kidney disease included 2057 (31·1%) participants with diabetic kidney disease, 1669 (25·3%) with glomerular disease, 1445 (21·9%) with hypertensive or renovascular disease, and 1438 (21·8%) with other or unknown causes. Kidney disease progression occurred in 384 (11·6%) of 3304 patients in the empagliflozin group and 504 (15·2%) of 3305 patients in the placebo group (hazard ratio 0·71 [95% CI 0·62-0·81]), with no evidence that the relative effect size varied significantly by primary kidney disease (pheterogeneity=0·62). The between-group difference in chronic eGFR slopes (ie, from 2 months to final follow-up) was 1·37 mL/min per 1·73 m2 per year (95% CI 1·16-1·59), representing a 50% (42-58) reduction in the rate of chronic eGFR decline. This relative effect of empagliflozin on chronic eGFR slope was similar in analyses by different primary kidney diseases, including in explorations by type of glomerular disease and diabetes (p values for heterogeneity all >0·1).

INTERPRETATION

In a broad range of patients with chronic kidney disease at risk of progression, including a wide range of non-diabetic causes of chronic kidney disease, empagliflozin reduced risk of kidney disease progression. Relative effect sizes were broadly similar irrespective of the cause of primary kidney disease, suggesting that SGLT2 inhibitors should be part of a standard of care to minimise risk of kidney failure in chronic kidney disease.

FUNDING

Boehringer Ingelheim, Eli Lilly, and UK Medical Research Council.

Prognostic value of normal levels of preoperative tumor markers in colorectal cancer

Carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA), carbohydrate antigen 19-9 (CA19-9), carbohydrate antigen 125 (CA125), and alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) are widely used tumor markers for colorectal cancer (CRC), but their clinical significance is unknown when the levels of these tumor markers were within the normal range. This retrospective study included 2145 CRC patients. The entire cohort was randomly divided into training and validation datasets. The optimal cut-off values of tumor markers were calculated using X-tile software, and univariate and multivariate analyses were performed to assess its association with overall survival (OS). The nomogram model was constructed and validated. The entire cohort was randomly divided into a training dataset (1502 cases, 70%) and a validation dataset (643 cases,30%). Calculated from the training dataset, the optimal cut-off value was 2.9 ng/mL for CEA, 10.1 ng/mL for CA19-9, 13.4 U/mL for CA125, and 1.8 ng/mL for AFP, respectively. Multivariate analysis revealed that age, tumor location, T stage, N stage, preoperative CA19-9, and CA125 levels were independent prognostic predictors. Even within the normal range, CRC patients with relatively high levels of CA19-9 or CA125 worse OS compared to those with relatively low levels. Then, based on the independent prognostic predictors from multivariate analysis, two models with/without (model I/II) CA19-9 and CA125 were built, model I showed better prediction and reliability than model II. Within the normal range, relatively high levels of preoperative CA19-9 and CA125 were significantly associated with poor OS in CRC patients. The nomogram based on CA19-9 and CA125 levels showed improved predictive accuracy ability for CRC.

Population-scale skeletal muscle single-nucleus multi-omic profiling reveals extensive context specific genetic regulation

Skeletal muscle, the largest human organ by weight, is relevant to several polygenic metabolic traits and diseases including type 2 diabetes (T2D). Identifying genetic mechanisms underlying these traits requires pinpointing the relevant cell types, regulatory elements, target genes, and causal variants. Here, we used genetic multiplexing to generate population-scale single nucleus (sn) chromatin accessibility (snATAC-seq) and transcriptome (snRNA-seq) maps across 287 frozen human skeletal muscle biopsies representing 456,880 nuclei. We identified 13 cell types that collectively represented 983,155 ATAC summits. We integrated genetic variation to discover 6,866 expression quantitative trait loci (eQTL) and 100,928 chromatin accessibility QTL (caQTL) (5% FDR) across the five most abundant cell types, cataloging caQTL peaks that atlas-level snATAC maps often miss. We identified 1,973 eGenes colocalized with caQTL and used mediation analyses to construct causal directional maps for chromatin accessibility and gene expression. 3,378 genome-wide association study (GWAS) signals across 43 relevant traits colocalized with sn-e/caQTL, 52% in a cell-specific manner. 77% of GWAS signals colocalized with caQTL and not eQTL, highlighting the critical importance of population-scale chromatin profiling for GWAS functional studies. GWAS-caQTL colocalization showed distinct cell-specific regulatory paradigms. For example, a C2CD4A/B T2D GWAS signal colocalized with caQTL in muscle fibers and multiple chromatin loop models nominated VPS13C, a glucose uptake gene. Sequence of the caQTL peak overlapping caSNP rs7163757 showed allelic regulatory activity differences in a human myocyte cell line massively parallel reporter assay. These results illuminate the genetic regulatory architecture of human skeletal muscle at high-resolution epigenomic, transcriptomic, and cell state scales and serve as a template for population-scale multi-omic mapping in complex tissues and traits.

Surface Instability in a Nematic Elastomer

Liquid crystal elastomers (LCEs) are soft phase-changing solids that exhibit large reversible contractions upon heating, Goldstone-like soft modes, and resultant microstructural instabilities. We heat a planar LCE slab to isotropic, clamp the lower surface, then cool back to nematic. Clamping prevents macroscopic elongation, producing compression and microstructure. We see that the free surface destabilizes, adopting topography with amplitude and wavelength similar to thickness. To understand the instability, we numerically compute the microstructural relaxation of a "nonideal" LCE energy. Linear stability reveals a Biot-like scale-free instability, but with oblique wave vector. However, simulation and experiment show that, unlike classic elastic creasing, instability culminates in a crosshatch without cusps or hysteresis, and is constructed entirely from low-stress soft modes.

Single-cell analysis unveils activation of mast cells in colorectal cancer microenvironment

The role of mast cells (MCs) in colorectal cancer (CRC) remains unclear, and a comprehensive single-cell study on CRC MCs has not been conducted. This study used a multi-omics approach, integrating single-cell sequencing, spatial transcriptomics, and bulk tissue sequencing data to investigate the heterogeneity and impact of MCs in CRC. Five MC signature genes (TPSAB1, TPSB2, CPA3, HPGDS, and MS4A2) were identified, and their average expression was used as a marker of MCs. The MC density was found to be lower in CRC compared to normal tissue, but MCs in CRC demonstrated distinct activation features. Activated MCs were defined by high expression of receptors and MC mediators, while resting MCs had low expression. Most genes, including the five MC signature genes, were expressed at higher levels in activated MCs. The MC signature was linked to a better prognosis in both CRC and pan-cancer patient cohorts. Elevated KITLG expression was observed in fibroblasts and endothelial cells in CRC samples compared to normal tissue, and co-localization of MCs with these cell types was revealed by spatial transcriptome analysis. In conclusion, this study finds decreased MC density in CRC compared to normal tissue, but highlights a shift in MC phenotype from CMA1high resting cells to activated TPSAB1high, CPA3high, and KIThigh cells. The elevated KITLG expression in the tumor microenvironment's fibroblasts and endothelial cells may activate MCs through the KITLG-KIT axis, potentially suppressing tumor progression.

Validation of the novel GLAS algorithm as an aid in the detection of liver fibrosis and cirrhosis based on GP73, LG2m, age, and sex

BACKGROUND

Diagnosis of liver disease at earlier stages can improve outcomes and reduce the risk of progression to malignancy. Liver biopsy is the gold standard for diagnosis of liver disease, but is invasive and sample acquisition errors are common. Serum biomarkers for liver function and fibrosis, combined with patient factors, may allow for noninvasive detection of liver disease. In this pilot study, we tested and validated the performance of an algorithm that combines GP73 and LG2m serum biomarkers with age and sex (GLAS) to differentiate between patients with liver disease and healthy individuals in two independent cohorts.

METHODS

To develop the algorithm, prototype immunoassays were used to measure GP73 and LG2m in residual serum samples collected between 2003 and 2016 from patients with staged fibrosis and cirrhosis of viral or non-viral etiology (n = 260) and healthy subjects (n = 133). The performance of five predictive models using combinations of age, sex, GP73, and/or LG2m from the development cohort were tested. Residual samples from a separate cohort with liver disease (fibrosis, cirrhosis, or chronic liver disease; n = 395) and healthy subjects (n = 106) were used to validate the best performing model.

RESULTS

GP73 and LG2m concentrations were higher in patients with liver disease than healthy controls and higher in those with cirrhosis than fibrosis in both the development and validation cohorts. The best performing model included both GP73 and LG2m plus age and sex (GLAS algorithm), which had an AUC of 0.92 (95% CI: 0.90-0.95), a sensitivity of 88.8%, and a specificity of 75.9%. In the validation cohort, the GLAS algorithm had an estimated an AUC of 0.93 (95% CI: 0.90-0.95), a sensitivity of 91.1%, and a specificity of 80.2%. In both cohorts, the GLAS algorithm had high predictive probability for distinguishing between patients with liver disease versus healthy controls.

CONCLUSIONS

GP73 and LG2m serum biomarkers, when combined with age and sex (GLAS algorithm), showed high sensitivity and specificity for detection of liver disease in two independent cohorts. The GLAS algorithm will need to be validated and refined in larger cohorts and tested in longitudinal studies for differentiating between stable versus advancing liver disease over time.

Dissecting the promotional effect of zinc on cadmium translocation from roots to shoots in rice

It is often expected that Zn decreases Cd accumulation in plants due to competition for the same transporters. Here, we found that increasing Zn supply markedly increased the root-to-shoot translocation of Cd in rice. RNA sequencing showed that high Zn up-regulated expression of genes involved in glutathione biosynthesis and metabolism and the Zn/Cd transporter gene OsHMA2, but down-regulated expression of genes related to Zn uptake. Knockout of the iron or Zn transporter genes OsIRT1, OsIRT2, or OsZIP9 did not affect the Zn promotional effect on Cd translocation. Knockout of the manganese/Cd transporter gene OsNRAMP5 greatly reduced Cd uptake but did not affect the Zn promotional effect. Variation in the tonoplast transporter gene OsHMA3 affected Cd translocation but did not change the Zn promotional effect. Knockout of the Zn/Cd transporter gene OsHMA2 not only decreased Cd and Zn translocation, but also abolished the Zn promotional effect. Increased expression of OsHMA2 under high Zn conditions supports the hypothesis that this transporter participates in the promotional effect of Zn on Cd translocation. The results also show that OsIRT1, OsIRT2, and OsZIP9 made only small contributions to Cd uptake under low Zn conditions but not under high Zn conditions, whereas the dominant role of OsNRAMP5 in Cd uptake diminished under low Zn conditions.

A nomogram was developed using clinicopathological features to predict postoperative liver metastasis in patients with colorectal cancer

PURPOSE

The objective of this study is to examine the risk factors that contribute to the development of liver metastasis (LM) in patients who have suffered radical resection for colorectal cancer (CRC), and to establish a nomogram model that can be used to predict the occurrence of the LM.

METHODS

The present study enrolled 1377 patients diagnosed with CRC between January 2010 and July 2021. The datasets were allocated to training (n = 965) and validation (n = 412) sets in a randomly stratified manner. The study utilized univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses to establish a nomogram for predicting LM in patients with CRC.

RESULTS

Multivariate analysis revealed that T stage, N stage, number of harvested lymph nodes (LNH), mismatch repair (MMR) status, neutrophil count, monocyte count, postoperative carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) levels, postoperative cancer antigen 125 (CA125) levels, and postoperative carbohydrate antigen 19-9 (CA19-9) levels were independent predictive factors for LM after radical resection. These factors were then utilized to construct a comprehensive nomogram for predicting LM. The nomogram demonstrated great discrimination, with an area under the curve (AUC) of 0.782 for the training set and 0.768 for the validation set. Additionally, the nomogram exhibited excellent calibration and significant clinical benefit as confirmed by the calibration curves and the decision curve analysis, respectively.

CONCLUSION

This nomogram has the potential to support clinicians in identifying high-risk patients who may develop LM post-surgery. Clinicians can devise personalized treatment and follow-up plans, ultimately leading to an improved prognosis for patients.

CT-based radiomics nomogram for the preoperative prediction of microsatellite instability and clinical outcomes in colorectal cancer: a multicentre study

AIM

To develop and validate a computed tomography (CT)-based radiomics nomogram for preoperative prediction of microsatellite instability (MSI) status and clinical outcomes in colorectal cancer (CRC) patients.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

This retrospective study enrolled 497 CRC patients from three centres. Least absolute shrinkage and selection operator regression was utilised for feature selection and constructing the radiomics signature. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses were employed to identify significant clinical variables. The radiomics nomogram was constructed by integrating the radiomics signature and the identified clinical variables. The performance of the nomogram was evaluated through receiver operating characteristic curves, calibration curves, and decision curve analysis. Kaplan-Meier analysis was performed to investigate the prognostic value of the nomogram.

RESULTS

The radiomics signature comprised 10 radiomics features associated with MSI status. The nomogram, integrating the radiomics signature and independent predictors (age, location, and thickness), demonstrated favourable calibration and discrimination, achieving areas under the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves (AUCs) of 0.89 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.83-0.95), 0.87 (95% CI: 0.79-0.95), 0.88 (95% CI: 0.81-0.96), and 0.86 (95% CI: 0.78-0.93) in the training cohort, internal validation cohort, and two external validation cohorts, respectively. The nomogram exhibited superior performance compared to the clinical model (p<0.05). Additionally, survival analysis demonstrated that the nomogram successfully stratified stage II CRC patients based on prognosis (hazard ratio [HR]: 0.357, p=0.022).

CONCLUSION

The radiomics nomogram demonstrated promising performance in predicting MSI status and stratifying the prognosis of patients with CRC.

OsMADS5 interacts with OsSPL14/17 to inhibit rice root elongation by restricting cell proliferation of root meristem under ammonium supply

Nitrogen (N) is a vital major nutrient for rice (Oryza sativa). Rice responds to different applications of N by altering its root morphology, including root elongation. Although ammonium (NH 4 + ) is the primary source of N for rice,NH 4 + is toxic to rice roots and inhibits root elongation. However, the precise molecular mechanism thatNH 4 + -inhibited root elongation of rice is not well understood. Here, we identified a rice T-DNA insert mutant of OsMADS5 with a longer seminal root (SR) under sufficient N conditions. Reverse-transcription quantitative PCR analysis revealed that the expression level of OsMADS5 was increased underNH 4 + compared withNO 3 - supply. UnderNH 4 + conditions, knocking out OsMADS5 (cas9) produced a longer SR, phenocopying osmads5, while there was no significant difference in SR length between wild-type and cas9 underNO 3 - supply. Moreover, OsMADS5-overexpression plants displayed the opposite SR phenotype. Further study demonstrated that enhancement of OsMADS5 byNH 4 + supply inhibited rice SR elongation, likely by reducing root meristem activity of root tip, with the involvement of OsCYCB1;1. We also found that OsMADS5 interacted with OsSPL14 and OsSPL17 (OsSPL14/17) to repress their transcriptional activation by attenuating DNA binding ability. Moreover, loss of OsSPL14/17 function in osmads5 eliminated its stimulative effect on SR elongation underNH 4 + conditions, implying OsSPL14/17 may function downstream of OsMADS5 to mediate rice SR elongation underNH 4 + supply. Overall, our results indicate the existence of a novel modulatory pathway in which enhancement of OsMADS5 byNH 4 + supply represses the transcriptional activities of OsSPL14/17 to restrict SR elongation of rice.

Radiofrequency Thermocoagulation Through the Foramen Rotundum Versus the Foramen Ovale for V2 Primary Trigeminal Neuralgia: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis

BACKGROUND

Percutaneous radiofrequency thermocoagulation (RFT) through the foramen rotundum (FR) is a new approach for the treatment of V2 trigeminal neuralgia (TN). Some studies have shown the novel method seems to have advantages over traditional RFT through the foramen ovale (FO). The optimal interventional surgical strategy for isolated V2 TN remains controversial.

OBJECTIVES

The purpose of our study was to perform a systematic review and meta-analysis to evaluate the clinical results of RFT through the FR and the traditional FO puncture approach.

STUDY DESIGN

A systematic review of randomized controlled trials for thermocoagulation through the foramen rotundum versus the foramen ovale for V2 primary trigeminal neuralgia.

METHODS

Randomized controlled trials or nonrandomized controlled trials published from January 2000 through October 2022 that compared RFT through the FR and the FO for V2 primary TN were found through a comprehensive search in 3 electronic databases (PubMed, EMBASE, Cochrane library). A total of 3 studies (105 patients) were included in this systematic review and meta-analysis.

RESULTS

The results indicate that there are no statistically significant differences between the FR group and the FO group in terms of postoperative immediate effect rate (postoperative one week) (P > 0.1; standardized mean difference [SMD] =  0.67 [0.26- 1.71]) and recurrence rate (P > 0.1; SMD = 0.67 [0.26 - 1.71]). The long-term effect rate (postoperative one year) was significantly higher in the FR group (P < 0.05; SMD = 0.12 [0.01 - 0.22]). The FO group had a significantly higher total complication rate compared with the FR group (P < 0.01; SMD = 0.12 [0.03 - 0.53]).

LIMITATIONS

The limitations of this systematic review and meta-analysis include the small range of study populations. Heterogeneity caused by inconsistent follow-up time, outcome measurements, and RF parameters are other limitations.

CONCLUSION

In conclusion, RFT of the maxillary nerve through the FR for the treatment of primary V2 TN had a better long-term effect rate and fewer complications in comparison with thermocoagulation of the Gasserian ganglion through the FO. No differences were found between both interventions in terms of immediate effect rate and recurrence rate.

Inter-patient ECG heartbeat classification for arrhythmia classification: a new approach of multi-layer perceptron with weight capsule and sequence-to-sequence combination

Objective: The objective of this research is to construct a method to alleviate the problem of sample imbalance in classification, especially for arrhythmia classification. This approach can improve the performance of the model without using data enhancement. Methods: In this study, we have developed a new Multi-layer Perceptron (MLP) block and have used a Weight Capsule (WCapsule) network with MLP combined with sequence-to-sequence (Seq2Seq) network to classify arrhythmias. Our work is based on the MIT-BIH arrhythmia database, the original electrocardiogram (ECG) data is classified according to the criteria recommended by the American Association for Medical Instrumentation (AAMI). Also, our method's performance is further evaluated. Results: The proposed model is evaluated using the inter-patient paradigm. Our proposed method shows an accuracy (ACC) of 99.88% under sample imbalance. For Class N, sensitivity (SEN) is 99.79%, positive predictive value (PPV) is 99.90%, and specificity (SPEC) is 99.19%. For Class S, SEN is 97.66%, PPV is 96.14%, and SPEC is 99.85%. For Class V, SEN is 99.97%, PPV is 99.07%, and SPEC is 99.94%. For Class F, SEN is 97.94%, PPV is 98.70%, and SPEC is 99.99%. When using only half of the training sample, our method shows that the SEN of Class N and V is 0.97% and 5.27% higher than the traditional machine learning algorithm. Conclusion: The proposed method combines MLP, weight capsule network with Seq2seq network, effectively addresses the problem of sample imbalance in arrhythmia classification, and produces good performance. Our method also shows promising potential in less samples.

Characteristics and mechanisms of large-scale old landslides and landslide dams in the Loess Plateau-A case study from Daning County, Shanxi Province, China

Giant landslides and dammed lakes occurred frequently during the prehistoric period; however, their mechanisms often remain an open issue because they are complex. This study used field investigations to observe four old landslides and three landslide dams in Daning County, Shanxi Province, China. Remote sensing images captured during different periods were used to compare the landforms of landslides, landslide dams, and their surrounding environments in detail. Subsequently, their shapes, scales, spatial distributions, and positional relationships were determined. The ages of 14C obtained from the paleolandslide dam lake (PDL) deposits were 3742 ± 95, 4115 ± 121, 6544 ± 91, 7814 ± 109 cal a BP. The 14C ages of the deposits under the sliding surfaces of the old landslides were 2748 ± 27, 4470 ± 54, and 8245 ± 79 cal a BP. Based on the actual physical geographical conditions and geomorphological characteristics of the region, combined with the above age data, that the following conclusions were made: (i) During the Holocene, from 2700 to 8200 years ago, heavy rainfall was the main reason for the occurrence of landslides and landslide dams in the region. (ii) Under the condition of heavy rainfall, the slopes with angles >60° in the Loess Plateau are prone to form landslide masses, and the size of the landslide is related to rainfall intensity. A landslide dam was easily formed when the sliding direction was perpendicular to the direction of the valley. It is difficult to form landslide dams when the sliding direction is almost consistent with the downward direction of the valley. (iii) The formation mechanism of old landslides shows that collapse or sliding may occur suddenly in loess geological masses under an external rainfall scenario. Moreover, the process of landslide dams is related to the geomorphic forms of the original valley.

CircRREB1 mediates lipid metabolism related senescent phenotypes in chondrocytes through FASN post-translational modifications

Osteoarthritis is a prevalent age-related disease characterized by dysregulation of extracellular matrix metabolism, lipid metabolism, and upregulation of senescence-associated secretory phenotypes. Herein, we clarify that CircRREB1 is highly expressed in secondary generation chondrocytes and its deficiency can alleviate FASN related senescent phenotypes and osteoarthritis progression. CircRREB1 impedes proteasome-mediated degradation of FASN by inhibiting acetylation-mediated ubiquitination. Meanwhile, CircRREB1 induces RanBP2-mediated SUMOylation of FASN and enhances its protein stability. CircRREB1-FASN axis inhibits FGF18 and FGFR3 mediated PI3K-AKT signal transduction, then increased p21 expression. Intra-articular injection of adenovirus-CircRreb1 reverses the protective effects in CircRreb1 deficiency mice. Further therapeutic interventions could have beneficial effects in identifying CircRREB1 as a potential prognostic and therapeutic target for age-related OA.

Ultrasound scoring system for prenatal diagnosis of placenta accreta spectrum

BACKGROUND

To develop an ultrasound scoring system for placenta accreta spectrum (PAS), evaluate its diagnostic value, and provide a practical approach to prenatal diagnosis of PAS.

METHODS

A total of 532 pregnant women (n = 184 no PAS, n = 120 placenta accreta, n = 189 placenta increta, n = 39 placenta percreta) at high-risk for placenta accreta who delivered in the Third Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University between January 2021 and December 2022 underwent prenatal ultrasound to evaluate placental invasion. An ultrasound scoring system that included placental and cervical morphology and history of cesarean section was created. Each feature was assigned a score of 0 ~ 2, according to severity. Thresholds for the total ultrasound score that discriminated between no PAS, placenta accreta, placenta increta, and placenta percreta were calculated.

RESULTS

Univariate and multivariate regression analysis identified seven indicators of PAS that were included in the ultrasound scoring system, including placental location, placental thickness, presence/absence of the retroplacental space, thickness of the retroplacental myometrium, presence/absence of placental lacunae, retroplacental myometrial blood flow and history of cesarean section. Using the final ultrasound scoring system, no PAS is diagnosed at a total score < 5, placenta accreta or placenta increta is diagnosed at a total score 5-10, and placenta percreta is diagnosed at a total score ≥ 10.

CONCLUSIONS

This study identified seven indicators of PAS and included them in an ultrasound scoring system that has good diagnostic efficacy and clinical utility.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

ChiCTR2300069261 (retrospectively registered on 10/03/2023).

Thrombospondin-2 Couples Pressure-Promoted Chondrogenesis through NF-κB Signaling

BACKGROUND

Our previous studies found that the mechanical stimulation promote chondrogenic differentiation of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs), along with up-regulation of thrombospondin-2 (TSP-2). The aim of this study was to explore the effect of thrombospondin-2 (TSP-2) on the mechanical pressure-stimulated chondrogenic differentiation of BMSCs and the possible role of NF-κB signaling in the mechano-chemical coupling regulation toward chondrogenesis.

METHODS

Rat BMSCs were isolated, cultured and identified. The time-dependent expressions of TSP-2 and Sox9 in BMSCs under a dynamic mechanical pressure of 0-120 kPa at 0.1 Hz for 1 h were tested by qPCR and Western blotting. The role of TSP-2 in chondrogenic differentiation of BMSCs under mechanical pressure was validated by using small interfering RNA. The impact of TSP-2 and mechanical pressure on chondrogenesis were detected and the downstream signaling molecules were explored using Western blotting.

RESULTS

Mechanical pressure stimulation of 0-120 kPa for 1 h significantly upregulated the expression of TSP-2 in BMSCs. The expression of the chondrogenesis markers Sox9, Aggrecan, and Col-II were all upregulated under dynamic mechanical pressure or TSP-2 stimulation. Additional exogenous TSP-2 may potentiate the chondrogenic effect of mechanical stimulation. After knock down TSP-2, the upregulation of Sox9, Aggrecan and Col-II under mechanical pressure was inhibited. The NF-κB signaling pathway responded to both dynamic pressure and TSP-2 stimulation, and the cartilage-promoting effect was blocked by an NF-κB signaling inhibitor.

CONCLUSION

TSP-2 plays an essential role in the chondrogenic differentiation of BMSCs under mechanical pressure. NF-κB signaling is involved in the mechano-chemical coupling of TSP-2 and mechanical pressure for the chondrogenic differentiation of BMSCs.

Multi-Class Classification of Upper Limb Movements With Filter Bank Task-Related Component Analysis

The classification of limb movements can provide with control commands in non-invasive brain-computer interface. Previous studies on the classification of limb movements have focused on the classification of left/right limbs; however, the classification of different types of upper limb movements has often been ignored despite that it provides more active-evoked control commands in the brain-computer interface. Nevertheless, few machine learning method can be used as the state-of-the-art method in the multi-class classification of limb movements. This work focuses on the multi-class classification of upper limb movements and proposes the multi-class filter bank task-related component analysis (mFBTRCA) method, which consists of three steps: spatial filtering, similarity measuring and filter bank selection. The spatial filter, namely the task-related component analysis, is first used to remove noise from EEG signals. The canonical correlation measures the similarity of the spatial-filtered signals and is used for feature extraction. The correlation features are extracted from multiple low-frequency filter banks. The minimum-redundancy maximum-relevance selects the essential features from all the correlation features, and finally, the support vector machine is used to classify the selected features. The proposed method compared against previously used models is evaluated using two datasets. mFBTRCA achieved a classification accuracy of 0.4193 ± 0.0780 (7 classes) and 0.4032 ± 0.0714 (5 classes), respectively, which improves on the best accuracies achieved using the compared methods (0.3590 ± 0.0645 and 0.3159 ± 0.0736, respectively). The proposed method is expected to provide more control commands in the applications of non-invasive brain-computer interfaces.

[Identification, expression and DNA variation analysis of high affinity nitrate transporter NRT2/3 gene family in Sorghum bicolor]

Nitrate is the main form of inorganic nitrogen that crop absorbs, and nitrate transporter 2 (NRT2) is a high affinity transporter using nitrate as a specific substrate. When the available nitrate is limited, the high affinity transport systems are activated and play an important role in the process of nitrate absorption and transport. Most NRT2 cannot transport nitrates alone and require the assistance of a helper protein belonging to nitrate assimilation related family (NAR2) to complete the absorption or transport of nitrates. Crop nitrogen utilization efficiency is affected by environmental conditions, and there are differences between varieties, so it is of great significance to develop varieties with high nitrogen utilization efficiency. Sorghum bicolor has high stress tolerance and is more efficient in soil nitrogen uptake and utilization. The S. bicolor genome database was scanned to systematically analyze the gene structure, chromosomal localization, physicochemical properties, secondary structure and transmembrane domain, signal peptide and subcellular localization, promoter region cis-acting elements, phylogenetic evolution, single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) recognition and annotation, and selection pressure of the gene family members. Through bioinformatics analysis, 5 NRT2 gene members (designated as SbNRT2-1a, SbNRT2-1b, SbNRT2-2, SbNRT2-3, and SbNRT2-4) and 2 NAR2 gene members (designated as SbNRT3-1 and SbNRT3-2) were identified, the number of which was less than that of foxtail millet. SbNRT2/3 were distributed on 3 chromosomes, and could be divided into four subfamilies. The genetic structure of the same subfamilies was highly similar. The average value of SbNRT2/3 hydrophilicity was positive, indicating that they were all hydrophobic proteins, whereas α-helix and random coil accounted for more than 70% of the total secondary structure. Subcellular localization occurred on plasma membrane, where SbNRT2 proteins did not contain signal peptides, but SbNRT3 proteins contained signal peptides. Further analysis revealed that the number of transmembrane domains of the SbNRT2s family members was greater than 10, while that of the SbNRT3s were 2. There was a close collinearity between NRT2/3s of S. bicolor and Zea mays. Protein domains analysis showed the presence of MFS_1 and NAR2 protein domains, which supported executing high affinity nitrate transport. Phylogenetic tree analysis showed that SbNRT2/3 were more closely related to those of Z. mays and Setaria italic. Analysis of gene promoter cis-acting elements indicated that the promoter region of SbNRT2/3 had several plant hormones and stress response elements, which might respond to growth and environmental cues. Gene expression heat map showed that SbNRT2-3 and SbNRT3-1 were induced by nitrate in the root and stem, respectively, and SbNRT2-4 and SbNRT2-3 were induced by low nitrogen in the root and stem. Non-synonymous SNP variants were found in SbNRT2-4 and SbNRT2-1a. Selection pressure analysis showed that the SbNRT2/3 were subject to purification and selection during evolution. The expression of SbNRT2/3 gene and the effect of aphid infection were consistent with the expression analysis results of genes in different tissues, and SbNRT2-1b and SbNRT3-1 were significantly expressed in the roots of aphid lines 5-27sug, and the expression levels of SbNRT2-3, SbNRT2-4 and SbNRT3-2 were significantly reduced in sorghum aphid infested leaves. Overall, genome-wide identification, expression and DNA variation analysis of NRT2/3 gene family of Sorghum bicolor provided a basis for elucidating the high efficiency of sorghum in nitrogen utilization.

Cancer associated fibroblast derived SLIT2 drives gastric cancer cell metastasis by activating NEK9

The secretory properties of cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) play predominant roles in shaping a pro-metastatic tumor microenvironment. The present study demonstrated that SLIT2, an axon guidance protein, produced by CAFs and promoted gastric cancer (GC) metastasis in two gastric cancer cell lines (AGS and MKN45) by binding to roundabout guidance receptor 1 (ROBO1). Mass-spectrometry analysis revealed that ROBO1 could interact with NEK9, a serine/threonine kinase. And their mutual binding activities were further enhanced by SLIT2. Domain analysis revealed the kinase domain of NEK9 was critical in its interaction with the intracellular domain (ICD) of ROBO1, and it also directly phosphorylated tripartite motif containing 28 (TRIM28) and cortactin (CTTN) in AGS and MKN45 cells. TRIM28 function as a transcriptional elongation factor, which directly facilitate CTTN activation. In addition, Bioinformatics analysis and experimental validation identified transcriptional regulation of STAT3 and NF-κB p100 by TRIM28, and a synergetic transcription of CTTN by STAT3 and NF-κB p100 was also observed in AGS and MKN45. Therefore, CAF-derived SLIT2 increased the expression and phosphorylation levels of CTTN, which induced cytoskeletal reorganization and GC cells metastasis. A simultaneous increase in the expression levels of NEK9, TRIM28 and CTTN was found in metastatic GC lesions compared with paired non-cancerous tissues and primary cancer lesions via IHC and Multiplex IHC. The analysis of the data from a cohort of patients with GC revealed that increased levels of NEK9, TRIM28 and CTTN were associated with a decreased overall survival rate. On the whole, these findings revealed the connections of CAFs and cancer cells through SLIT2/ROBO1 and inflammatory signaling, and the key molecules involved in this process may serve as potential biomarkers and therapeutic targets for GC.

Effect of Pre-Slaughter Transport Stress on Protein S-Nitrosylation Levels of Pork during Postmortem Aging

This study aimed to investigate the effect of pre-slaughter transport stress on the protein S-nitrosylation levels of pork during 0, 3, and 6 days of aging. Pigs (N = 16) were randomly selected and divided into two treatments: 3 h transport (transport stress, TS) and 3 h transport followed by 3 h resting (control, CON). Results showed that the TS group at 0 and 3 days presented a higher nitric oxide synthase (NOS) activity and neuronal NOS (nNOS) expression than the CON group (P < 0.05). Additionally, nNOS was not only abundantly localized in the membrane but also observed in small amounts in the cytoplasm. The immunoblot of overall S-nitrosylated protein showed that protein S-nitrosylation levels in the TS group were greater than in the CON group during postmortem aging (P < 0.05). This work can deliver novel insights into the mechanism of meat quality changes in response to pre-slaughter stress.

Fucoidan and microtopography on polyvinyl alcohol hydrogels guided axons and enhanced neuritogenesis of pheochromocytoma 12 (PC12) cells

Artificial nerve grafts that support axon growth hold promises in promoting nerve regeneration and function recovery. However, current artificial nerve grafts are insufficient to regenerate axons across long nerve gaps. Specific biochemical and biophysical cues are required to be incorporated to artificial nerve grafts to promote neural cell adhesion and guide neurite outgrowth. Polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) nerve conduit has been clinically approved, but the applicability of PVA nerve conduits is limited to short injuries due to low cell binding. In this study, we explored the incorporation of biochemical cues and topographical cues for promoting neuritogenesis and axon guidance. PVA was conjugated with extracellular matrix proteins and fucoidan, a bioactive sulfate polysaccharide, to improve cell adhesion. Micro-sized topographies, including 1.8 μm convex lenses, 2 μm gratings, and 10 μm gratings were successfully fabricated on PVA by nanofabrication, and the synergistic effects of topography and biochemical molecules on pheochromocytoma 12 (PC12) neuritogenesis and neurite alignment were studied. Conjugated fucoidan promoted the percentage of PC12 with neurite outgrowth from 0 to 2.8% and further increased to 5% by presenting laminin on the surface. Additionally, fucoidan was able to bind nerve growth factor (NGF) on the surface and allow for PC12 to extend neurites in NGF-free media. The incorporation of 2 μm gratings could double the percentage of PC12 with neurite outgrowth and neurite length, and guided the neurites to extend along the grating axis. The work presents a promising strategy to enhance neurite formation and axon guidance, presenting significant value in promoting nerve regeneration.

A generalizable framework to comprehensively predict epigenome, chromatin organization, and transcriptome

Many deep learning approaches have been proposed to predict epigenetic profiles, chromatin organization, and transcription activity. While these approaches achieve satisfactory performance in predicting one modality from another, the learned representations are not generalizable across predictive tasks or across cell types. In this paper, we propose a deep learning approach named EPCOT which employs a pre-training and fine-tuning framework, and is able to accurately and comprehensively predict multiple modalities including epigenome, chromatin organization, transcriptome, and enhancer activity for new cell types, by only requiring cell-type specific chromatin accessibility profiles. Many of these predicted modalities, such as Micro-C and ChIA-PET, are quite expensive to get in practice, and the in silico prediction from EPCOT should be quite helpful. Furthermore, this pre-training and fine-tuning framework allows EPCOT to identify generic representations generalizable across different predictive tasks. Interpreting EPCOT models also provides biological insights including mapping between different genomic modalities, identifying TF sequence binding patterns, and analyzing cell-type specific TF impacts on enhancer activity.

Dehydration-enhanced ion-pore interactions dominate anion transport and selectivity in nanochannels

State-of-the-art ion-selective membranes with ultrahigh precision are of significance for water desalination and energy conservation, but their development is limited by the lack of understanding of the mechanisms of ion transport at the subnanometer scale. Herein, we investigate transport of three typical anions (F-, Cl-, and Br-) under confinement using in situ liquid time-of-flight secondary ion mass spectrometry in combination with transition-state theory. The operando analysis reveals that dehydration and related ion-pore interactions govern anion-selective transport. For strongly hydrated ions [(H2O)nF- and (H2O)nCl-], dehydration enhances ion effective charge and thus the electrostatic interactions with membrane, observed as an increase in decomposed energy from electrostatics, leading to more hindered transport. Contrarily, weakly hydrated ions [(H2O)nBr-] have greater permeability as they allow an intact hydration structure during transport due to their smaller size and the most right-skewed hydration distribution. Our work demonstrates that precisely regulating ion dehydration to maximize the difference in ion-pore interactions could enable the development of ideal ion-selective membranes.

A DDoS Detection Method Based on Feature Engineering and Machine Learning in Software-Defined Networks

Distributed denial-of-service (DDoS) attacks pose a significant cybersecurity threat to software-defined networks (SDNs). This paper proposes a feature-engineering- and machine-learning-based approach to detect DDoS attacks in SDNs. First, the CSE-CIC-IDS2018 dataset was cleaned and normalized, and the optimal feature subset was found using an improved binary grey wolf optimization algorithm. Next, the optimal feature subset was trained and tested in Random Forest (RF), Support Vector Machine (SVM), K-Nearest Neighbor (k-NN), Decision Tree, and XGBoost machine learning algorithms, from which the best classifier was selected for DDoS attack detection and deployed in the SDN controller. The results show that RF performs best when compared across several performance metrics (e.g., accuracy, precision, recall, F1 and AUC values). We also explore the comparison between different models and algorithms. The results show that our proposed method performed the best and can effectively detect and identify DDoS attacks in SDNs, providing a new idea and solution for the security of SDNs.

Exogenous-organic-matter-driven mobilization of groundwater arsenic

The potential release capacity of arsenic (As) from sediment was evaluated under a high level of exogenous organic matter (EOM) with both bioreactive and chemically reactive organic matters (OMs). The OMs were characterized by FI, HIX, BIX, and SUVA₂₅₄ fluorescence indices showing the biological activities were kept at a high level during the experimental period. At the genus level, Fe/Mn/As-reducing bacteria (Geobacter, Pseudomonas, Bacillus, and Clostridium) and bacteria (Paenibacillus, Acidovorax, Delftia, and Sphingomonas) that can participate in metabolic transformation using EOM were identified. The reducing condition occurs which promoted As, Fe, and Mn releases at very high concentrations of OM. However, As release increased during the first 15-20 days, followed by a decline contributed by secondary iron precipitation. The degree of As release may be limited by the reactivity of Fe (hydro)oxides. The EOM infiltration enhances As and Mn releases in aqueous conditions causing the risk of groundwater pollution, which could occur in specific sites such as landfills, petrochemical sites, and managed aquifer recharge projects.

NLRP3 inflammasome inhibition of OP9 cells enhance therapy for inflammatory bowel disease

Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) are becoming more popular in therapy. Therefore, in-depth studies on mesenchymal stem cells in therapy are urgently needed. However, the difficulty in culturing and propagating MSCs in vitro complicates potential studies on MSCs in a murine model. OP9 cells are a stromal cell line from mouse bone marrow, which have similar characteristics and functions to MSCs and can maintain their original characteristics. Because of these properties, OP9 cells have become a suitable substitute for research on MSCs. Previously, we have found that MSCs can cure inflammatory bowel disease in mice. In this study, we aimed to investigate whether OP9 cells can functionally regulate and alleviate inflammatory diseases. We evaluated the therapeutic effect of OP9 cells in the mouse model of inflammatory bowel disease and found OP9 cells were able to ameliorate inflammatory bowel disease. We explored the existence of NLRP3 inflammasome in OP9 cells, and showed better therapeutic effects when the NLRP3 inflammasome was suppressed. Thus, OP9 cell line is similar to MSCs in characteristic and function, and is an ideal substitute for MSCs research. The preliminary exploration of the inflammasome system in OP9 cells lays a theoretical and methodological foundation for further study of MSCs.