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The oriental armyworm Mythimna separata (Walker) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) can feed on the leaves of many crops, resulting in vast areas of damage and severe losses. Therefore, this insect has become a significant agricultural pest in north Asia. In this study, we fed 3 rd instar larvae with artificial diets containing different concentrations of chlorogenic acid and found a significant lethal effect and the mortality increased with increasing chlorogenic acid concentration. Next, we measured the sublethal effect of chlorogenic acid at LC 20 on the growth and development of M. separata larvae. The durations of the 4 th and 5 th instar were longer than those of the control group (prolonged by 0.8 and 0.6 days, respectively), and the 6 th instar was shorter (by 1.1 days). The total survival rate, pupation rate, eclosion rate, sex ratio, and oviposition amount in the LC 20 chlorogenic acid-treated group were significantly lower than those in the control group. Furthermore, transcriptome analysis of 3 rd instar larvae fed various concentrations of chlorogenic acid revealed that several MsCYP450 genes were significantly up-regulated, and this finding was further validated by qRT-PCR. In addition, various concentrations of chlorogenic acid and different treatment times significantly affected the enzyme activity of CYP450 in 3 rd instar larvae. Importantly, dietary ingestion of dsMsCYP450 significantly reduced the mRNA level of MsCYP450 genes and increased mortality in the presence of chlorogenic acid. Our results revealed that MsCYP6B6 , MsCYP321A7 , and MsCYP6B7-like play an essential role in the detoxification of chlorogenic acid by M. separata . This study provides evidence of control effect by botanical insecticide chlorogenic acid on M. separata , and potential detoxification mechanism mediated by P450 of botanical insecticide in arthropods.

Purpose In acute pancreatitis (AP), disease activity is defined as the reversible manifestation of the disease. The aim of this study was to develop a nomogram for predicting disease activity in AP based on multiparametric magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) radiomics. Methods This retrospective study included 310 patients with first-episode AP from two medical centers in China. Patients from the first medical center were randomly divided into a training cohort ( n  = 122) and an internal validation cohort ( n  = 123) in a 5:5 ratio. Patients from the second medical center were used as the external independent validation cohort ( n  = 65). Radiomics features were extracted from multiparametric MRI images based on pancreatic parenchymal regions. The least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO) was used for feature screening, logistic regression was used to establish radiomic feature, and statistically significant laboratory parameters were incorporated to construct the nomogram. The area under the receiver operator characteristic curve assessed the predictive performance of the nomogram. Furthermore, decision curve analysis (DCA) was used to assess the clinical utility of the nomogram, and the disease activity was validated against follow-up clinical outcomes (e.g., organ failure progression, ICU admission) and imaging-confirmed changes within one-week after MRI. Results The AUCs of the radiomic signature were 0.808 (training cohort), 0.789 (internal validation cohort), and 0.783 (external validation cohort). Radiomic signature, extrapancreatic inflammation on MRI (EPIM) scores, and WBC count were identified as independent risk factors for the activity of AP and were therefore included in the nomogram. The AUC of the nomogram were 0.881 (training cohort), 0.922 (internal validation cohort) and 0.912 (external validation cohort). Additionally, the nomogram model obtained the greatest net benefit, according to the results of decision curves Based on the follow-up results, we also found that AP patients with higher disease activity were more likely to experience exacerbations. Conclusions This nomogram can accurately predict the activity of AP patients, thus providing objective monitoring of the patient’s course and potentially improving patient prognosis.

Researchers show that a macromolecular system that is designed to be insulated against collisional energy scattering, infrared absorption can excite photoisomerization by multiphoton intramolecular energy transfer. Findings suggest a strategy for harvesting low-energy photons to effect chemical transformations.

The epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) has an important role in the hyperplastic growth of tumor. Similar to tumor growth, rheumatoid arthritis (RA) synovium is hyperplastic, invasive, and expresses EGFR and its ligands. Activation of EGFR signaling is responsible for synovial fibroblast proliferation in RA. Furthermore, in addition to its role in proliferation, EGFR and its ligands can induce cytokine production of synovial fibroblasts during the pathogenesis of RA. Agents that target EGFR have yielded promising results in animal experiments involving RA, pharmacologic modulations targeting EGFR, or its ligands may give rise to new therapeutic approaches for RA. In this review article, we will discuss the biological features of EGFR and summarize recent advances regarding the role of EGFR in the pathogenesis and treatment of RA.

Background In recent years, the incidence of acute pancreatitis (AP) in the older people has been increasing. Some reports indicate that AP in the older people, is clinically more severe and systemic complications more frequent, leading to higher mortality compared to younger individuals. The clinical and CT/MRI features of senile AP are insufficient and the results are inconsistent. The purpose of this study was to investigate the clinical features, CT/MRI imaging characteristics, and prognosis of AP in older people based on age stratification. Methods We collected clinical and imaging (CT/MRI) data from 449 older people with AP and categorized them into three age groups: aged 65 ~ 74 (young old, group 1), 75 ~ 84 (middle old, group 2), and ≥ 85 years (oldest old, group 3). Their clinical presentation, imaging characteristics, and clinical outcome endpoints were identified and compared. Results The average age was 73 (69,78) years, with 259 (57.7%) being female. On CT/MRI, Group 3 had the highest prevalence of local complications and the probability of acute peripancreatic fluid collection (APFC). Group 3 had the highest SIRS, BISAP, and APACHE-Ⅱ scores. Group 3 had the highest prevalence of coronary heart disease, organ failure (OF), severe pancreatitis (SAP), and the highest mortality rate. OF, SAP, and APFC were independent risk factors for mortality ( p  < 0.05). Conclusions Different age subgroups in older people with AP have different CT/MRI imaging and clinical features and prognoses. Group 3 had a higher prevalence of local complications and APFC, higher clinical scores, more severe clinical progression, and worse clinical prognosis.

Acidic conditions are present in degenerated intervertebral discs and are believed to be responsible for matrix breakdown. Acid-sensing ion channel 1a (ASIC1a) is expressed in endplate chondrocytes, and its activation is associated with endplate chondrocyte apoptosis. However, the precise role of ASIC1a in regulating the matrix metabolic activity of endplate chondrocytes in response to extracellular acid remains poorly understood. Aggrecan (ACAN), type II collagen (Co12a1), and matrix metalloproteinase (MMP) expressions were determined using reverse transcription (RT)-PCR and Western blot. ASIC1a was knocked down by transfecting endplate chondrocytes with ASIC1a siRNA. MMP activity and NF-κB transcriptional activity were measured. NF-κB transcriptional activity was assessed by examining cytosolic phosphorylated IκBα and nuclear phosphorylated p65 levels. Extracellular acidic solution (pH 6.0) resulted in a decrease in ACAN and Co12a1 expressions and an increase in MMP-1, MMP-9, and MMP-13 expressions, as well as in MMP activity; while ASIC1a siRNA blocked these effects. In addition, acid-induced increase in cytosolic levels of phosphorylated IκBα and nuclear levels of phosphorylated p65 in endplate chondrocytes were inhibited by ASIC1a siRNA. ASIC1a is involved in matrix metabolism of endplate chondrocytes under extracellular acidic conditions via NF-κB transcriptional activity.

Initially identified as a T cell and mast cell growth factor, interleukin (IL)-9 has long been recognized as an important mediator of asthma. Recently, accumulating results from transgenic mice demonstrated that systemic or lung-specific overexpression of IL-9 caused asthma-associated symptoms. Moreover, anti-mIL-9 antibody (Ab) blocking treatment alleviated disease in animal models of asthma. In light of the large quantity of data from the murine models, MEDI-528, a humanized anti-IL-9 monoclonal Ab has been produced to assess the activity of IL-9 on human asthma. In order to ascertain whether it is a successful translation from bench to bedside, the biological features of IL-9 were evaluated and up-to-date information regarding the role of IL-9 in different experimental murine models and human asthma were summarized.

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is an immune-mediated disease of unknown cause that primarily affects the joints and ultimately leads to joint destruction. In recent years, the potential role of DNA methylation in the development of RA is raising great expectations among clinicians and researchers. DNA methylation influences diverse aspects of the disease and regulates epigenetic silencing of genes and behavior of several cell types, especially fibroblast-like synoviocytes (FLS), the most resident cells in joints. The activation of FLS is generally regarded as a key process in the development of RA that actively results in the promotion of ongoing inflammation and joint damage. It has also been shown that aberrant DNA methylation occurs in the pathogenesis of RA and contributes to the development of the disease. Recently, there has been an impressive increase in studies involving DNA methylation in RA. In this paper, we consider the role of DNA methylation in the development of RA.

Acidic conditions are present in degenerated intervertebral discs and are believed to be responsible for matrix breakdown. Acid-sensing ion channel 1a (ASIC1a) is expressed in endplate chondrocytes, and its activation is associated with endplate chondrocyte apoptosis. However, the precise role of ASIC1a in regulating the matrix metabolic activity of endplate chondrocytes in response to extracellular acid remains poorly understood. Aggrecan (ACAN), type II collagen (Col2a1), and matrix metalloproteinase (MMP) expressions were determined using reverse transcription (RT)-PCR and Western blot. ASIC1a was knocked down by transfecting endplate chondrocytes with ASIC1a siRNA. MMP activity and NF-[kappa]B transcriptional activity were measured. NF-[kappa]B transcriptional activity was assessed by examining cytosolic phosphorylated I[kappa]B[alpha] and nuclear phosphorylated p65 levels. Extracellular acidic solution (pH 6.0) resulted in a decrease in ACAN and Co12a1 expressions and an increase in MMP-1, MMP-9, and MMP-13 expressions, as well as in MMP activity; while ASIC1a siRNA blocked these effects. In addition, acid-induced increase in cytosolic levels of phosphorylated I[kappa]B[alpha] and nuclear levels of phosphorylated p65 in endplate chondrocytes were inhibited by ASIC1a siRNA. ASIC1a is involved in matrix metabolism of endplate chondrocytes under extracellular acidic conditions via NF-[kappa]B transcriptional activity.

In order to improve the join fastness of silent chain, a new silent chain assembly method is proposed. It increases the capability that the silent chain stands against transverse vibration, reduces the meshing noise of silent chain without changing the space size of silent chain, by replacing the installing of outer link plate and pin as a press-fit configuration, and taking wire lock on the joint. The result of extrusion force comparative experiment showed that the extrusion force of outer link plate press-fit configuration was 2.5 times than gasket press-fit configuration. Through the platform contrast test, a noise test of two types of silent chain were made at the same speed, the result showed that the new silent chain drive more smoothly than the traditional one, the average noise level was decreased by 1.5dB. The two test results verified that the new silent chain assembly method is validity.