BACKGROUND: Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is associated with common pathophysiological processes, such as inflammation and fibrosis, in both the heart and the kidney. However, the underlying molecular mechanisms that drive these processes are not yet fully understood. Therefore, this study focused on the molecular mechanism of heart and kidney injury in CKD. METHODS: We generated an microRNA (miR)-26a knockout (KO) mouse model to investigate the role of miR-26a in angiotensin (Ang)-II-induced cardiac and renal injury. We performed Ang-II modeling in wild type (WT) mice and miR-26a KO mice, with six mice in each group. In addition, Ang-II-treated AC16 cells and HK2 cells were used as in vitro models of cardiac and renal injury in the context of CKD. Histological staining, immunohistochemistry, quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR), and Western blotting were applied to study the regulation of miR-26a on Ang-II-induced cardiac and renal injury. Immunofluorescence reporter assays were used to detect downstream genes of miR-26a, and immunoprecipitation was employed to identify the interacting protein of LIM and senescent cell antigen-like domain 1 (LIMS1). We also used an adeno-associated virus (AAV) to supplement LIMS1 and explored the specific regulatory mechanism of miR-26a on Ang-II-induced cardiac and renal injury. Dunnett's multiple comparison and t -test were used to analyze the data. RESULTS: Compared with the control mice, miR-26a expression was significantly downregulated in both the kidney and the heart after Ang-II infusion. Our study identified LIMS1 as a novel target gene of miR-26a in both heart and kidney tissues. Downregulation of miR-26a activated the LIMS1/integrin-linked kinase (ILK) signaling pathway in the heart and kidney, which represents a common molecular mechanism underlying inflammation and fibrosis in heart and kidney tissues during CKD. Furthermore, knockout of miR-26a worsened inflammation and fibrosis in the heart and kidney by inhibiting the LIMS1/ILK signaling pathway; on the contrary, supplementation with exogenous miR-26a reversed all these changes. CONCLUSIONS Our findings suggest that miR-26a could be a promising therapeutic target for the treatment of cardiorenal injury in CKD. This is attributed to its ability to regulate the LIMS1/ILK signaling pathway, which represents a common molecular mechanism in both heart and kidney tissues.
Animals ; MicroRNAs/metabolism* ; Angiotensin II/toxicity* ; Mice ; Renal Insufficiency, Chronic/chemically induced* ; Mice, Knockout ; Disease Models, Animal ; Male ; Signal Transduction/genetics* ; LIM Domain Proteins/genetics* ; Mice, Inbred C57BL ; Cell Line ; Humans

This study aims to explore the scientific connotation of sinking Rehmanniae Radix has the best quality and compare the quality between floating and sinking fresh Rehmanniae Radix samples. Ultra-performance liquid chromatography tandem quadrupole electrostatic field Orbitrap high-resolution mass spectrometry(UHPLC-Q-Orbitrap HRMS) was employed to detect the chemical components in floating and sinking fresh Rehmanniae Radix samples. The fingerprint of fresh Rehmanniae Radix was established by high performance liquid chromatography(HPLC), and four index components were determined simultaneously. The cluster analysis, principal component analysis(PCA), and orthogonal partial least squares-discriminant analysis(OPLS-DA) were conducted to compare the quality of floating and sinking fresh Rehmanniae Radix samples. An evaporative light-scattering detector was used to compare the content of five sugars. The extract yield and drying rate were determined, and the quality connotation of sinking Rehmanniae Radix has the best quality was explained by multiple indicators. A total of 41 components were preliminarily identified from fresh Rehmanniae Radix by UHPLC-Q-Orbitrap HRMS, including 7 iridoid glycosides, 9 phenylethanol glycosides, 6 amino acids, 4 sugars, 3 phenolic acids, 5 nucleosides, 3 organic acids, 1 ionone, 1 furan, 1 coumarin, and 1 phenylpropanoid. The results showed that the main chemical components were consistent between floating and sinking fresh Rehmanniae Radix. Nine common peaks were identified in the fingerprints of 15 batches of floating and sinking fresh Rehmanniae Radix samples, and the similarity of fingerprints was greater than 0.9. The cluster analysis, PCA, and OPLS-DA classified floating and sinking fresh Rehmanniae Radix sasmples into two categories, indicating differences in the quality between them. The total content of catalpol, rehmannioside D, ajugol, and verbascoside in sinking fresh Rehmanniae Radix samples was higher than that in floating samples of the same batch and specification, and the main differential component was catalpol. The total content of fructose, glucose, sucrose, raffinose, and stachyose in sinking fresh Rehmanniae Radix samples was higher than that in floating samples of the same batch and specification, and the main differential component was stachyose. The extract yield and drying rate of the sinking samples were higher than those of floating samples. This study preliminarily showed that floating and sinking fresh Rehmanniae Radix samples had the same components but great differences in the content of medicinal substance basis. The total content of four glycosides and five sugars, extract yield, and drying rate of sinking fresh Rehmanniae Radix samples is higher than that of floating samples of the same batch and specification. These findings, to a certain extent, explains the scientificity of sinking Rehmanniae Radix has the best quality recorded in ancient books and provide a reference for the quality control and clinical application of fresh Rehmanniae Radix.
Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid/methods* ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal/chemistry* ; Rehmannia/chemistry* ; Chemometrics ; Mass Spectrometry/methods* ; Quality Control ; Principal Component Analysis ; Plant Extracts

OBJECTIVES: To report the development, validation, and findings of the Multi-dimensional Attention Rating Scale (MARS), a self-report tool crafted to evaluate six-dimension attention levels. METHODS: The MARS was developed based on Classical Test Theory (CTT). Totally 202 highly educated healthy adult participants were recruited for reliability and validity tests. Reliability was measured using Cronbach's alpha and test-retest reliability. Structural validity was explored using principal component analysis. Criterion validity was analyzed by correlating MARS scores with the Toronto Hospital Alertness Test (THAT), the Attentional Control Scale (ACS), and the Attention Network Test (ANT). RESULTS: The MARS comprises 12 items spanning six distinct dimensions of attention: focused attention, sustained attention, shifting attention, selective attention, divided attention, and response inhibition.As assessed by six experts, the content validation index (CVI) was 0.95, the Cronbach's alpha for the MARS was 0.78, and the test-retest reliability was 0.81. Four factors were identified (cumulative variance contribution rate 68.79%). The total score of MARS was correlated positively with THAT (r = 0.60, P < 0.01) and ACS (r = 0.78, P < 0.01) and negatively with ANT's reaction time for alerting (r = -0.31, P = 0.049). CONCLUSIONS The MARS can reliably and validly assess six-dimension attention levels in real-world settings and is expected to be a new tool for assessing multi-dimensional attention impairments in different mental disorders.
Humans ; Adult ; Male ; Attention/physiology* ; Female ; Middle Aged ; Reproducibility of Results ; Young Adult ; Psychometrics

Cemental tear is a rare and indetectable condition unless obvious clinical signs present with the involvement of surrounding periodontal and periapical tissues. Due to its clinical manifestations similar to common dental issues, such as vertical root fracture, primary endodontic diseases, and periodontal diseases, as well as the low awareness of cemental tear for clinicians, misdiagnosis often occurs. The critical principle for cemental tear treatment is to remove torn fragments, and overlooking fragments leads to futile therapy, which could deteriorate the conditions of the affected teeth. Therefore, accurate diagnosis and subsequent appropriate interventions are vital for managing cemental tear. Novel diagnostic tools, including cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT), microscopes, and enamel matrix derivatives, have improved early detection and management, enhancing tooth retention. The implementation of standardized diagnostic criteria and treatment protocols, combined with improved clinical awareness among dental professionals, serves to mitigate risks of diagnostic errors and suboptimal therapeutic interventions. This expert consensus reviewed the epidemiology, pathogenesis, potential predisposing factors, clinical manifestations, diagnosis, differential diagnosis, treatment, and prognosis of cemental tear, aiming to provide a clinical guideline and facilitate clinicians to have a better understanding of cemental tear.
Humans ; Dental Cementum/injuries* ; Consensus ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Cone-Beam Computed Tomography ; Tooth Fractures/therapy*

Based on the theory of "one qi circulation" founded by HUANG Yuanyu， the core disease mechanism of colorectal cancer is the innate spleen deficiency and stomach qi failing to bear downward， which leads to the turbidity assemble in large intestine， forming the carcinoma toxin， and ultimately transforms into colorectal cancer. The treatment should base on recovering the circulation of qi， Huangya Decoction （黄芽汤） as the basic formula， the circulation of qi ascending and descending as the base， adjusting ascending and descending together with Xiaqi Decoction （下气汤）， and differentiating the syndrome on yin-yang excess-deficiency； for spleen-kidney yang deficiency syndrome， treated with Tianhun Decoction （天魂汤） to supplement liver， kidney and assist yang； for liver-kidney yin deficiency syndrome， treated wtih Dipo Decoction （地魄汤） to supplement lung， kidney， and assist yang. They jointly prompt one qi circulation to provide the thoughts for the treatment of colorectal cancer by traditional Chinese medicine.

Objective To investigate the impact of exosomal miRNAs derived from endoplasmic reticulum-stressed(ERS)head and neck squamous cell carcinoma(HNSCC)cells on macrophages.Methods This study was reviewed and approved by the Ethics Committee.The expression levels of ERS-associated proteins,including protein kinase R-like endoplasmic reticulum kinase(PERK)and glucose-regulated protein 78(GRP78),in HNSCC tissues and para-tumor tissues were detected by Western blot(WB)and quantitative real-time PCR(RT-qPCR).HN4 human laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma cells were treated with 500 U/mL interferon-γ(IFN-γ)for 48 h to induce ER stress,and exo-somes secreted by ER-stressed HN4 cells were collected and identified.The types of miRNAs in exosomes were identi-fied through bioinformatics analysis,and the target genes of miRNAs were predicted.Macrophages were transfected with miRNA,co cultured with collected exosomes,and the expression of PTEN in macrophages was knocked down.The downstream signaling pathway regulated by exosomal miRNAs was studied by WB and RT-qPCR.Results Compared with that in para-tumor tissues,the expression level of ER stress-associated proteins in HNSCC tissues was increased(P＜0.05).RNA-seq analysis revealed that miR-26a-5p was highly upregulated in ER-stressed HN4 cell-derived exo-somes(P＜0.05).PTEN is the target gene for miR-26a-5p.miR-26a-5p increased the expression level of PD-L1 in mac-rophages and downregulated the expression of PTEN(P＜0.05).Macrophages co cultured with ERS extracellular vesi-cles showed an increase in miR-26a-5p and PD-L1 expression,a decrease in PTEN expression,and an increase in p-AKT expression(P＜0.05).Knock down the expression of PTEN in macrophages and increase the expression of PD-L1(P＜0.01).Conclusion ERS HNSCC cell-derived exosomal miR-26a-5p promotes the expression of PD-L1 in macro-phages through the PTEN/AKT signaling pathway.

Objective:Postdoctoral researchers in Chinese universities commonly face a high risk of mental health issues,such as depression,yet the underlying causes and mechanisms remain unclear.This study aims to explore the influence of childhood socioeconomic status(SES)on depression among postdoctoral researchers and the mediating roles of current subjective SES and perceived stress in this process. Methods:An online survey was conducted among postdoctoral researchers at a university.The survey included a general information questionnaire,the Childhood Socioeconomic Status Scale,the Subjective Socioeconomic Status Scale,the Perceived Stress Scale,and the Patient Health Questionnaire.A total of 505 valid responses were collected.Pearson correlation analysis was used to analyze the data,and the PROCESS macro was employed for chain mediation analysis. Results:Childhood SES was significantly positively correlated with current subjective SES(P<0.05)and significantly negatively correlated with postdoctoral tenure,perceived stress,and depression(all P<0.05).Current subjective SES was significantly negatively correlated with perceived stress and depression(both P<0.05),while perceived stress was significantly positively correlated with depression(P<0.05).The chain mediation effect of childhood SES → current subjective SES → perceived stress → depression was significant(P<0.05). Conclusion:Childhood socioeconomic status can influence depression among postdoctoral researchers through the mediating roles of current subjective socioeconomic status and perceived stress.These findings provide a target for the prevention and intervention of depression in postdoctoral populations and offer a reference for the development of mental health promotion strategies for young university faculty.

Humans ; Waldenstrom Macroglobulinemia ; Prospective Studies

Objective: To analyze the characteristics of scientific papers in the field of global liver diseases published by Chinese scholars that were retracted for diverse reasons from the Retraction Watch database, so as to provide a reference to publishing-related papers. Methods: The Retraction Watch database was retrieved for retracted papers in the field of global liver disease published by Chinese scholars from March 1, 2008 to January 28, 2021. The regional distribution, source journals, reasons for retraction, publication and retraction times, and others were analyzed. Results: A total of 101 retracted papers that were distributed across 21 provinces/cities were retrieved. Zhejiang area (n = 17) had the most retracted papers, followed by Shanghai (n = 14), and Beijing (n = 11). The vast majority were research papers (n = 95). The journal PLoS One had the highest number of retracted papers. In terms of time distribution, 2019 (n = 36) had the most retracted papers. 23 papers, accounting for 8.3% of all retractions, were retracted owing to journal or publisher concerns. Liver cancer (34%), liver transplantation (16%), hepatitis (14%), and others were the main areas of retracted papers. Conclusion: Chinese scholars have a large number of retracted articles in the field of global liver diseases. A journal or publisher chooses to retract a manuscript after investigating and discovering more flawed problems, which, however, require further support, revision, and supervision from the editorial and academic circles.
Humans ; Biomedical Research ; China ; Liver Diseases ; Scientific Misconduct

Electronic tongue is one kind of bionic detection technologies, which can objectively reflect the taste of drugs based on electrochemical principle. In this paper, the development histories of electronic tongue both of potential type and voltammetry type were introduced, including their detection principles and key innovation technologies. In order to comprehensively improve the understanding of electronic tongue, its technological progresses, such as the study of dedicated sensors or biosensors for specific tastes, and the development of miniaturized or hybrid devices, were also discussed in detail. And the challenges and countermeasures in the application of electronic tongue were analyzed to provide some suggestions for its further technology promotion.