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Tickborne intracellular bacterial pathogens including Anaplasma, Coxiella burnetti, Ehrlichia, and Rickettsia cause emerging infectious diseases worldwide. PCR was used to amplify the genes of these pathogens in Haemaphysalis flava ticks collected from hedgehogs in Central China. Among 125 samples including 20 egg batches, 24 engorged females, and 81 molted male and female adult ticks, the DNA sequences and phylogenetic analysis showed that the minimum infection rate of the ticks was 4% (5/125) for A. bovis, 3.2% (4/125) for C. burnetti, 9.6%, (12/125) for E. ewingii, and 5.6% for Rickettsia including R.japonica (3.2%, 4/125) and R. raoultii (2.4%, 3/125), respectively. The prevalence of these pathogens was significantly higher in dead engorged females (83.3%, 20/24) than in eggs (5%, 1/20) and molted ticks (8.6%, 7/81). Our study indicated that H. flava ticks could be infected with multiple species of tickborne pathogens including Anaplasma, C. burnetti, Ehrlichia, and Rickettsia in Central China, and the prevalence of these pathogens was reduced during transovarial and transstadial transmission in ticks, suggesting that ticks may not be real reservoirs but only vectors for these tickborne pathogens.

We identified Candidatus Borrelia fainii, a human pathogenic bacterium causing New World relapsing fever in a Myotis bat in eastern China. This finding expands knowledge about the geographic distribution of Borrelia spp. and the potential for infection with New World relapsing fever in China.

研究了2 种咪唑类离子液体（ILs）—氯化1-丁基-3-甲基咪唑（[Bmim][Cl]）和1-丁基-3-甲基咪唑双三氟甲磺酰亚胺盐（[Bmim][（CF3SO2）2N]）在16种土壤上的吸附/脱附规律，探讨了土壤理化性质对于吸附/脱附行为的影响。研究发现，[Bmim][Cl]和[Bmim][（CF3SO2）2N]的土壤吸附系数与土壤阳离子交换量（CEC）呈正相关性，相关系数（R2）分别为0.842 9和0.835 3（P<0.05），表明土壤主要通过静电作用来吸附ILs，而与土壤总有机碳含量（TOC%）的R2 值仅分别为0.003 5和0.073 0（P< 0.01），说明ILs 与土壤有机质的疏水结合作用为相对次要。ILs 阴离子基团对吸附行为有一定的影响，但并不明显。ILs 吸附/脱附的迟滞系数（HI）均小于1,可能与（ILs）在土壤粘土/有机质上的不可逆结合有关。其中，CEC 和[Bmim][Cl]和[Bmim][（CF3SO2）2N]的HI之间存在较大的相关性（R2分别为0.772 9，0.781 5，P<0.01），说明CEC 对迟滞行为有着不可忽视的影响。 Effects of soil characteristics on sorption-desorption of 1-butyl-3-methyl-imidazolium-based ionic liquids([Bmim][Cl] and [Bmim][(CF3SO2)2N])by sixteen natural soils were studied. The value of sorption coefficient Kd of [Bmim][Cl] and [Bmim][(CF3SO2)2N] ranged from 2.5 to 15.9 L·kg-1 and 2.9 to 16.4 L·kg-1, respectively. The high positive correlation could be observed between the soil CEC and the Kd of [Bmim][Cl] and [Bmim][(CF3SO2)2N](R2=0.842 9 and 0.835 3, P<0.05, respectively). In contrast, TOC exhibited the weak correlati

Sterol O -acyltransferase 1 (SOAT1) is an endoplasmic reticulum (ER) resident, multi-transmembrane enzyme that belongs to the membrane-bound O -acyltransferase (MBOAT) family. It catalyzes the esterification of cholesterol to generate cholesteryl esters for cholesterol storage. SOAT1 is a target to treat several human diseases. However, its structure and mechanism remain elusive since its discovery. Here, we report the structure of human SOAT1 (hSOAT1) determined by cryo-EM. hSOAT1 is a tetramer consisted of a dimer of dimer. The structure of hSOAT1 dimer at 3.5 Å resolution reveals that a small molecule inhibitor CI-976 binds inside the catalytic chamber and blocks the accessibility of the active site residues H460, N421 and W420. Our results pave the way for future mechanistic study and rational drug design targeting hSOAT1 and other mammalian MBOAT family members. Sterol O -acyltransferase 1 (SOAT1, also named ACAT1) is an endoplasmic reticulum resident enzyme which catalyzes the esterification of cholesterol to generate cholesteryl esters. Here, authors report cryo-EM structures of human SOAT1 which reveal the binding site of the competitive inhibitor CI-976.

Sepsis represents a severe condition characterized by organ dysfunction resulting from a dysregulated host response to infection. Among the organs affected, the kidneys are particularly vulnerable, with significant functional impairment that markedly elevates mortality rates. Previous researches have highlighted that both inflammatory response dysregulation and metabolic reprogramming are crucial in the onset and progression of sepsis associated acute kidney injury (SA-AKI), making these processes potential targets for innovative therapies. This study aims to elucidate the pathophysiological mechanisms of renal injury in sepsis by perspective of inflammatory response dysregulation, with particular emphasis on pyroptosis, necroptosis, autophagy, and ferroptosis. Furthermore, it will incorporate insights into metabolic reprogramming to provide a detailed analysis of the mechanisms driving SA-AKI and explore potential targeted therapeutic strategies, providing solid theoretical framework for the development of targeted therapies for SA-AKI.

Mitochondria play an essential role in energy metabolism. Oxygen deprivation can poison cells and generate a chain reaction due to the free radical release. In patients with sepsis, the kidneys tend to be the organ primarily affected and the proximal renal tubules are highly susceptible to energy metabolism imbalances. Dynamin-related protein 1 (DRP1) is an essential regulator of mitochondrial fission. Few studies have confirmed the role and mechanism of DRP1 in acute kidney injury (AKI) caused by sepsis. We established animal and cell sepsis-induced AKI (S-AKI) models to keep DRP1 expression high. We found that Mdivi-1, a DRP1 inhibitor, can reduce the activation of the NOD-like receptor pyrin domain-3 (NLRP3) inflammasome-mediated pyroptosis pathway and improve mitochondrial function. Both S-AKI models showed that Mdivi-1 was able to prevent the mitochondrial content release and decrease the expression of NLRP3 inflammasome-related proteins. In addition, silencing NLRP3 gene expression further emphasized the pyroptosis importance in S-AKI occurrence. Our results indicate that the possible mechanism of action of Mdivi-1 is to inhibit mitochondrial fission and protect mitochondrial function, thereby reducing pyroptosis. These data can provide a potential theoretical basis for Mdivi-1 potential use in the S-AKI prevention.

Background and purpose This preliminary study explores the prognostic value of pretreatment peripheral serum apolipoprotein E (ApoE) in patients with non-metastatic nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC). Materials and methods A retrospective collection of pretreatment indicators was conducted for 352 nasopharyngeal carcinoma patients between January 2016 and December 2020. Receiver operating characteristic curve analysis, univariate and multivariate Cox proportional hazards analysis were all utilized to assess the correlation between blood ApoE and overall survival (OS), progression-free survival (PFS), distant metastasis-free survival (DMFS) and local recurrence-free survival (LRFS). Results A higher baseline serum ApoE level (> 71.5 mg/L) was markedly associated with poorer OS (HR = 2.255, 95% CI 1.232–4.125, P  = 0.008) and remained an independent prognostic factor in multivariate Cox regression analysis. Additionally, body mass index (BMI), body surface area (BSA), Epstein-Barr virus (EBV)DNA load, and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) were also identified as independent predictors of nasopharyngeal carcinoma prognosis. Conclusion An elevated pretreatment serum ApoE level is indicative of a poorer prognosis for nasopharyngeal carcinoma patients and is independent of other known prognostic factors. These findings highlight the value of ApoE as a potential biomarker for risk stratification and personalized treatment in nasopharyngeal carcinoma.

Background Iodine is an essential element for the biosynthesis of thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH). Both excessive and deficient iodine are major risk factors for thyroid diseases, including thyroid dysfunction, thyroid nodules, and thyroid autoimmunity (TAI). This study aimed to elucidate the relationship between iodine status and the prevalence of thyroid diseases through a national cross-sectional epidemiological survey in Jiangxi province (China). Methods This population-based, cross-sectional study enrolled 2636 Chinese local inhabitants who aged over 18 years old from April to August in 2015. Physical examination was performed and biochemical indices, urinary iodine concentration (UIC), and TSH level were measured. The Chi-square test, nonparametric test, and 4 multivariate logistic regression models adjusted for risk factors were applied to analysis. Spearman correlation coefficients were calculated to investigate the relationship between iodine intake level and the prevalence of thyroid diseases. Results The median UIC was 176.4 μg/L, and a significant difference was found in median UIC between men (182.45 μg/L) and women (169.25 μg/L) ( P  = 0.03). Among these study subjects, 14.4%, 44.5%, 26.1%, and 15.0% had deficient, adequate, more than adequate, and excessive iodine concentrations, respectively. The prevalence rates of hyperthyroidism, subclinical hyperthyroidism, hypothyroidism, subclinical hypothyroidism, thyroid nodules, and TAI were 0.91%, 0.57%, 0.34% and 7.89%, 9.45%, and 12.7%, respectively. Significant differences were found in iodine status, waist circumstance, systolic blood pressure (SBP), diastolic blood pressure (DBP), total cholesterol (TC), TSH, thyroid nodules, and TAI between men and women ( P  < 0.05). Compared with those with adequate UIC, subjects with excessive UIC had higher prevalence rates of thyroid dysfunction (odds ratio (OR) = 1.74, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.40–2.54) and thyroid nodules (OR = 3.33, 95%CI 1.32–8.42). In addition, subjects with deficient and excessive UIC were at the higher risk of TAI compared with those with adequate UIC (OR = 1.68, 95%CI: 1.19–2.60; OR = 1.52, 95%CI: 1.04–2.96, respectively). UIC was positively correlated with the prevalence rates of thyroid nodules (r = −0.44, P  < 0.01) and TAI (r = −0.055, P  < 0.01). On the contrary, UIC was negatively correlated with the risk of thyroid dysfunction (r = −0.24, P  > 0.05). Conclusion Adult inhabitants from Jiangxi province in the TIDE study were in the adequate iodine status. Excessive iodine status was noted as a risk factor for thyroid dysfunction and thyroid nodules. In addition, both iodine deficiency and excessive iodine were risk factors for TAI.

When watching someone performs an action, mirror neurons are activated in a way that is very similar to the activation that occurs when actually performing that action. Previous single-sample case studies indicate that hand-action observation training may lead to activation and remodeling of mirror neuron systems, which include important language centers, and may improve language function in aphasia patients. In this randomized-block-design experiment, we recruited 24 aphasia patients from, Zhongda Hospital, Southeast University, China. The patients were divided into three groups where they underwent hand-action observation and repetition, dynamic-object observation and repetition, or conventional speech therapy. Training took place 5 days per week, 35 minutes per day, for 2 weeks. We assessed language function via picture naming tests for objects and actions and the Western Aphasia Battery. Among the participants, one patient, his wife and four healthy student volunteers underwent functional magnetic resonance imaging to analyze changes in brain activation during hand-action observation and dynamic-object observation. Results demonstrated that, compared with dynamic-object observation, hand-action observation led to greater performance with respect to the aphasia quotient and affiliated naming sub-tests and a greater Western Aphasia Battery test score. The overall effect was similar to that of conventional aphasia training, yet hand-action observation had advantages compared with conventional training in terms of vocabulary extraction and spontaneous speech. Thus, hand-action observation appears to more strongly activate the mirror neuron system compared with dynamic-object observation. The activated areas included Broca's area, Wernicke's area, and the supramarginal gyrus. These results suggest that hand-action observation combined with repetition might better improve language function in aphasia patients compared with dynamic-object observation combined with repetition. The therapeutic mechanism of this intervention may be associated with activation of additional mirror neuron systems, and may have implications for the possible repair and remodeling of damaged nerve networks. The study protocol was approved by the Ethical Committee of Nanjing Medical University, China (approval number: 2011-SRFA-086) on March 11, 2011. This trial has been registered in the ISRCTN Registry (ISRCTN84827527).