Deactivation of the mitochondrial pyruvate dehydrogenase complex (PDC) is important for the metabolic switching of cancer cell from oxidative phosphorylation to aerobic glycolysis. Studies examining PDC activity regulation have mainly focused on the phosphorylation of pyruvate dehydrogenase (E1), leaving other post-translational modifications largely unexplored. Here, we demonstrate that the acetylation of Lys 488 of pyruvate dehydrogenase complex component X (PDHX) commonly occurs in hepatocellular carcinoma, disrupting PDC assembly and contributing to lactate-driven epigenetic control of gene expression. PDHX, an E3-binding protein in the PDC, is acetylated by the p300 at Lys 488, impeding the interaction between PDHX and dihydrolipoyl transacetylase (E2), thereby disrupting PDC assembly to inhibit its activation. PDC disruption results in the conversion of most glucose to lactate, contributing to the aerobic glycolysis and H3K56 lactylation-mediated gene expression, facilitating tumor progression. These findings highlight a previously unrecognized role of PDHX acetylation in regulating PDC assembly and activity, linking PDHX Lys 488 acetylation and histone lactylation during hepatocellular carcinoma progression and providing a potential biomarker and therapeutic target for further development.
Humans ; Acetylation ; Carcinoma, Hepatocellular/genetics* ; Liver Neoplasms/genetics* ; Pyruvate Dehydrogenase Complex/genetics* ; Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic ; Animals ; Mice ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Protein Processing, Post-Translational ; Histones/metabolism* ; Disease Progression

Gut microbiota,implicated in obesity,insulin resistance,depression,and cardiovascular risk,can be modulated by probiotics to mitigate cardiovascular disease risk.Vascular calcification(VC),a regulated process involving mineral deposits in vessels and valves,is a significant risk factor.Diet profoundly impacts both gut micro-biota and VC,influencing cardiovascular health via microbial metabolites.While the link between gut microbiota and VC is established,the precise dietary effects on vascular health remain unclear.This article reviews mecha-nisms through which dietary patterns shape gut microbiota and metabolites,influence VC and highlights directions for future research on VC diagnosis and treatment.

Coronary heart disease(CHD)is one of the most prevalent cardiovascular diseases in China,with a continuously growing patient population,presenting numerous challenges for personalized and precise treatment.Artificial intelligence(AI),leveraging its advantages in processing and analyzing medical data,integrates clinical information,imaging examinations,and various omics analyses to provide clinicians with accurate diag-nostic and treatment recommendations.AI plays a crucial role in risk prediction,diagnostic optimization,and the development of personalized treatment strategies.This article explores the applications of AI in the diagnosis and treatment of CHD,analyzing its contributions and challenges in risk prediction,diagnostic optimization,and treatment decision-making,while also envisioning its future developmental in the field of cardiovascular medicine.

ObjectiveTo analyze the status of and family-related factors associated with extracurricular screen time (ST) among the primary and middle school students in a district of Shanghai, and to provide a scientific basis for the development of targeted intervention measures. MethodsA total of 819 students and their parents from one primary school and one middle school were selected by stratified cluster sampling method from November to December 2022 in a district of Shanghai. A questionnaire survey was conducted to investigate the total extracurricular ST and entertainment ST during school days, weekends and summer and winter vacation, as well as the underlying family-related factors. Taking daily total extracurricular ST>2 h as excessive extracurricular ST and daily extracurricular entertainment ST>1 h as excessive extracurricular entertainment ST. ResultsAmong the 795 valid questionnaires, the proportions of excessive extracurricular ST during school day, weekend and summer and winter vacation were 10.9%, 42.1% and 51.1%, respectively, and the proportions of excessive extracurricular entertainment ST were 16.2%, 63.0% and 71.3%, respectively. The proportion of excessive extracurricular ST on weekend and summer and winter vacation was higher for middle school students than for primary school students, and the proportion of excessive extracurricular ST was higher for the students whose father’s educational level was high school and below than for those whose father’s educational level was junior college and above (both P<0.05). Multivariate logistic regression analysis after controlling confounding factors showed that the students with poor parent-child relationships (aOR=1.40‒1.96) and parental daily ST>2 h (aOR=1.83‒3.85) were more likely to have an excessive total extracurricular ST and entertainment ST. ConclusionThe proportion of excessive extracurricular ST for the primary and middle school students in Shanghai is relative high during weekend and summer and winter vacation, especially for entertainment purposes. Improving parent-child relationships and reducing parental excessive ST may be important intervention measures.

Objective To investigate the effect of temperature on cell proliferation and osteogenic differentiation inhibition of preosteoblast induced by hydrogen peroxide(H2 O2).Methods The MC3T3-E1 cells in the logarithmic phase were randomly divided into 0,450,500,550,600,650 μmol·L-1 H2O2 intervention groups and incubated with 0,450,500,550,600,650 μmol·L-1 H2O2 for 2 h,respectively.Other MC3T3-E1 cells in the logarithmic phase were selected and randomly divided into the control group,model group,low-temperature group,and high-temperature group.Cells in the control group were cul-tured in an incubator with 5％CO2 for 24 h at 37 ℃;cells in the model group were incubated with H2O2 for 2 h and cultured in an incubator with 5％CO2 for 24 h at 37 ℃;cells in the low-temperature group were incubated with H2O2 for 2 h and cultured in an incubator with 5％CO2 for 24 h at 32 ℃;cells in the high-temperature group were incubated with H2O2 for 2 h and cultured in an incubator with 5％CO2 for 24 h at 40 ℃.The cell proliferation in all groups was detected by cell counting kit-8.The expression levels of Runt-related transcription factor 2(RUNX2),osteopontin(OPN)and osteocalcin(OC)mRNA were detected by real-time fluorescence quantitave polymerase chain reaction;and the expression levels of RUNX2,OPN and OC protein were detected by Western blot.Results There was no statistically significant difference in cell proliferation among the 0,450 and 500 μmol·L-1 H2O2 intervention groups(P＞0.05);the cell proliferation rate in the 550,600 and 650 μmol·L-1 H2O2 intervention groups was significantly lower than that in the 0,450 and 500 μmol·L-1 H2O2 intervention groups,showing a significant decrease in cell proliferation with the increase of H2O2 concentrations(P＜0.05).In order to ensure that there were enough cells to perform the following experiments,550 μmol·L-1 H2 O2 was chosen.The cell proliferation rate in the model group and the low-temperature group was significantly lower than that in the control group and high-temperature group(P＜0.05);there was no significant difference in the cell proliferation rate between the control group and high-temperature group(P＞0.05).The relative expression of RUNX2 mRNA in the model group and high-temperature group were significantly higher than that in the control group and low-temperature group(P＜0.05);the relative expression of RUNX2 mRNA in the low-temperature group was significantly lower than that in the control group(P＜0.05);there was no significant difference in the relative expression of RUNX2 mRNA between the model group and high-temperature group(P＞0.05).The relative expression of OPN mRNA in the model group,low-temperature group and high-temperature group was significantly higher than that in the control group(P＜0.05);the relative expression of OPN mRNA in the low-temperature group and high-temperature group was significantly higher than that in the model group(P＜0.05);the relative expression of OPN mRNA in the low-tem-perature group was significantly higher than that in the high-temperature group(P＜0.05).The relative expression of OC mRNA in the model group,low-temperature group and high-temperature group was significantly than that in the control group(P＜0.05);the relative expression of OC mRNA in the low-temperature group and high-temperature group was significantly higher than that in the model group(P＜0.05);there was no significant difference in the relative expression of OC mRNA between the low-temperature group and high-temperature group(P＞0.05).The relative expressions of RUNX2,OPN and OC protein the model group,low-temperature group and high-temperature group were significantly lower than those in the control group(P＜0.05);the relative expressions of RUNX2 and OPN protein in the low-temperature group were significantly lower than those in the model group and high-temperature group(P＜0.05);the relative expression of OC protein was significantly lower than that in the high-temperature group(P＜0.05);and there was no siqnificantly difference in the relatiwe experesson of OC protein between the low-temperature group and model group(P＞0.05);the relative expressions of RUNX2,OPN and OC protein in the high-temperature group were significantly higher than those in the model group(P＜0.05).Conclusion The inhibitory effects of H2O2 on cell proliferation and osteogenic differentiation are observed in MC3T3-E1 cells;low-tempera-ture incubation can enhance the inhibition of H2O2 on cell proliferation and osteogenic differentiation in MC3T3-E1 cells,while high-temperature incubation can relieve its inhibitory effect on cell proliferation and osteogenic differentiation.RUNX2,OPN and OC protein might play an important role in cell proliferation and osteogenic differentiation mediated by temperature.

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease(COPD)has become a common chronic disease in the adult in recent years,and more attention has been gradually paid to its prevention and treatment.This paper reviewed the clinical studies about the effect of traditional Chinese medicine(TCM)exercise therapy on COPD,and indicated that TCM exercise therapy can improve the rehabilitation of COPD patients.TCM exercise therapies,such as Tai Chi,Wuqinxi,Baduanjin,and Liuzijue,have been shown to significantly improve lung function,inflammation levels,and exercise capacity in COPD patients in recent studies.Tai Chi significantly improves patient's respiratory problems although lung function indices are not changed.Liuzijue enhances the strength and endurance of respiratory muscles and limbs.Baduanjin helps to improve patient's cognitive and emotional states.Overall,TCM exercise therapy provides an effective rehabilitation option for COPD patients.However,more clinical controlled trials are needed to further confirm their effectiveness and to develop appropriate rehabilitation programs for COPD patients.

Objective:Hidden hunger remains a severe public health problem that affects millions of people worldwide.In China,challenges related to dietary imbalance and hidden hunger persist.Micronutrient inadequacy deserves more attention among adolescents,given its vital role in their growth and development;however,this problem appears to have been largely ignored.High school students,in particular,are often at a high risk of hidden hunger but have limited assessment tools available.Therefore,this study aims to revise the hidden hunger assessment scale for high school students(HHAS-HSS)in China and assess its reliability and validity.Methods:Based on a literature review,expert consultation,pre-experiment,and formal survey,a hidden hunger assessment scale was revised for high school students.The formal survey involved 9 336 high school students in 11 of the 16 cities in Anhui Province,China,and 9038 valid questionnaires were collected and included in the analysis.The item analysis,internal consistency reliability,test-retest reliability,content validity,exploratory factor analysis,and confirmatory factor analysis of the HHAS-HSS were examined.Results:The HHAS-HSS included a total of 4 dimensions and 12 items:"vegetables and food diversity"(three items),"fruits and dairy products"(three items),"micronutrient-dense foods"(four items),and"health condition and eating habits"(two items).The results showed a Cronbach's alpha of 0.758,a split-half reliability of 0.829,and a test-retest reliability of 0.793,indicating good internal consistency.Using the Bartlett's test and Kaiser-Meyer-Olkin test(KMO)to test the exploratory factor analysis presented a four-factor model of the HHAS-HSS,the KMO value was 0.820(P＜0.001),which indicated the possibility for factor confirmatory factor analysis.Using the maximum variance rotation method,four factors were obtained,and the cumulative variance explained rate was 57.974％.Confirmatory factor analysis also supported the division of the scale into four dimensions,and the fitting indices were x2=1417.656,x2/df=29.534,goodness-of-fit index=0.974,adjusted goodnesss-of-fit index=0.958,parsimonious goodness-of-fit index=0.600,normed fit index=0.938,incremental fit index=0.940,Tucker-Lewis index=0.917,comparative fit index=0.939,and root mean square error of approximation=0.056.Except for x2/df,all the indices reached the fitting standard,and the above results showed that the construct validity of the scale reached an acceptable level.Conclusions:The HHAS-HSS has good validity and reliability for Chinese high school students.It is a convenient self-report measure of hidden hunger risk.

Some Chinese herbs have been used to prevent and treat diseases, and are also used as common food ingredients. These Chinese herbs are potential resource for research and development of new drugs. Leek roots is a typical medicine of food and medicine continuum. It has a long history of medicinal applications and edible food in China. In this paper, the origin, biological active components, pharmacological action and clinical application of leek roots were introduced. We hope that this review will contribute to the development of leek roots for pharmaceutical research and clinical applications, as well as related health products.

Oxidative Phosphorylation ; Acetylglucosamine ; Uridine Diphosphate N-Acetylglucosamine/metabolism*

Recording the highly diverse and dynamic activities in large populations of neurons in behaving animals is crucial for a better understanding of how the brain works. To meet this challenge, extensive efforts have been devoted to developing functional fluorescent indicators and optical imaging techniques to optically monitor neural activity. Indeed, optical imaging potentially has extremely high throughput due to its non-invasive access to large brain regions and capability to sample neurons at high density, but the readout speed, such as the scanning speed in two-photon scanning microscopy, is often limited by various practical considerations. Among different imaging methods, light field microscopy features a highly parallelized 3D fluorescence imaging scheme and therefore promises a novel and faster strategy for functional imaging of neural activity. Here, we briefly review the working principles of various types of light field microscopes and their recent developments and applications in neuroscience studies. We also discuss strategies and considerations of optimizing light field microscopy for different experimental purposes, with illustrative examples in imaging zebrafish and mouse brains.
Animals ; Mice ; Microscopy/methods* ; Zebrafish ; Neurons/physiology* ; Brain/physiology* ; Neurosciences