Atherosclerosis is a progressive, chronic inflammation in arterial walls. Long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) participate in inflammation, but the exact mechanism in atherosclerosis is unclear. Our ...microarray analyses revealed that the levels of lncRNA-FA2H-2 were significantly decreased by oxidized low-density lipoprotein (OX-LDL). Bioinformatics analyses indicated that mixed lineage kinase domain-like protein (MLKL) might be regulated by lncRNA-FA2H-2. In vitro experiments showed that lncRNA-FA2H-2 interacted with the promoter of the MLKL gene, downregulated MLKL expression, and the binding sites between -750 and 471 were necessary for lncRNA-FA2H-2 responsiveness to MLKL. Silencing lncRNA-FA2H-2 and overexpression of MLKL could activate inflammation and inhibited autophagy flux. Both lncRNA-FA2H-2 knockdown and overexpression of MLKL could significantly aggravate inflammatory responses induced by OX-LDL. We found that the 3-methyladenine (3-MA) and Atg7-shRNA enhanced inflammatory responses induced by knockdown of lncRNA-FA2H-2 and overexpression of MLKL. We demonstrated that the effects of MLKL on autophagy might be associated with a mechanistic target of rapamycin (mTOR)-dependent signaling pathways. In vivo experiments with apoE knockout mice fed a western diet demonstrated that LncRNA-FA2H-2 knockdown decreased microtubule-associated expression of microtubule-associated protein 1 light chain 3 II and lysosome-associated membrane protein 1, but increased expression of sequestosome 1 (p62), MLKL, vascular cell adhesion molecule-1, monocyte chemoattractant protein-1, and interleukin-6 in atherosclerotic lesions. Our findings indicated that the lncRNA-FA2H-2-MLKL pathway is essential for regulation of autophagy and inflammation, and suggested that lncRNA-FA2H-2 and MLKL could act as potential therapeutic targets to ameliorate atherosclerosis-related diseases.
Long-distance entanglement distribution is essential for both foundational tests of quantum physics and scalable quantum networks. Owing to channel loss, however, the previously achieved distance was ...limited to ~100 kilometers. Here we demonstrate satellite-based distribution of entangled photon pairs to two locations separated by 1203 kilometers on Earth, through two satellite-to-ground downlinks with a summed length varying from 1600 to 2400 kilometers. We observed a survival of two-photon entanglement and a violation of Bell inequality by 2.37 ± 0.09 under strict Einstein locality conditions. The obtained effective link efficiency is orders of magnitude higher than that of the direct bidirectional transmission of the two photons through telecommunication fibers.
Background Single-agent chemotherapy using methotrexate or actinomycin D is the first-line treatment for patients with low-risk gestational trophoblastic neoplasia. Various methotrexate-based and ...actinomycin D-based single-agent regimens can be used. However, there is insufficient evidence to determine the superior regimen. To guide doctors in selecting a single-agent chemotherapy regimen for patients with low-risk gestational trophoblastic neoplasia, we will compare two regimens. Methods We will conduct a multicentre, randomized, prospective clinical trial. Selected low-risk gestational trophoblastic neoplasia patients (FIGO score 0-4) will be randomized 1:1 to a biweekly single-dose actinomycin D group or a multiday methotrexate therapy group. The actinomycin D group will receive IV pulse actinomycin D (1.25 mg/m.sup.2) every 14 days, and the methotrexate group will receive methotrexate (50 mg) intramuscularly on days 1, 3, 5, and 7 (4 doses per cycle) and leucovorin (15 mg) intramuscularly on days 2, 4, 6, and 8. This process will be repeated every 14 days. The primary endpoints will include the complete remission rate by single-agent therapy and the overall complete remission rate. The secondary endpoints will include the duration needed to achieve complete remission after single-agent chemotherapy, number of courses needed to achieve complete remission after single-agent chemotherapy, incidence and severity of adverse effects, effects on menstrual conditions and ovarian function based on the anti-Mullerian hormone level, and patient-reported quality of life. Discussion Previous clinical trials comparing biweekly single-dose actinomycin D with multiday methotrexate therapy for treating low-risk gestational trophoblastic neoplasia patients failed to meet the expected case number. Through this multicentre study, the complete remission ratio and efficacy difference between biweekly single-dose actinomycin D and multiday methotrexate therapy will be obtained. This study will also provide the basis for formulating a preferred regimen for treating patients with low-risk gestational trophoblastic neoplasia. Trial registration ClinicalTrials.gov: NCT04562558, Registered on 13 September 2020 (Protocol version 2020-9-24, version 1.0). Keywords: Gestational trophoblastic neoplasia, Actinomycin D, Methotrexate, Low risk
We perform decoy-state quantum key distribution between a low-Earth-orbit satellite and multiple ground stations located in Xinglong, Nanshan, and Graz, which establish satellite-to-ground secure ...keys with ∼kHz rate per passage of the satellite Micius over a ground station. The satellite thus establishes a secure key between itself and, say, Xinglong, and another key between itself and, say, Graz. Then, upon request from the ground command, Micius acts as a trusted relay. It performs bitwise exclusive or operations between the two keys and relays the result to one of the ground stations. That way, a secret key is created between China and Europe at locations separated by 7600 km on Earth. These keys are then used for intercontinental quantum-secured communication. This was, on the one hand, the transmission of images in a one-time pad configuration from China to Austria as well as from Austria to China. Also, a video conference was performed between the Austrian Academy of Sciences and the Chinese Academy of Sciences, which also included a 280 km optical ground connection between Xinglong and Beijing. Our work clearly confirms the Micius satellite as a robust platform for quantum key distribution with different ground stations on Earth, and points towards an efficient solution for an ultralong-distance global quantum network.
Drought stress is one of the main environmental factors limiting plant growth and development. Plants adapt to changing soil moisture by modifying root architecture, inducing stomatal closure, and ...inhibiting shoot growth. The AP2/ERF transcription factor DREB2A plays a key role in maintaining plant growth in response to drought stress, but the molecular mechanism underlying this process remains to be elucidated. Here, it was found that overexpression of MdDREB2A positively regulated nitrogen utilisation by interacting with DRE cis-elements of the MdNIR1 promoter. Meanwhile, MdDREB2A could also directly bind to the promoter of MdSWEET12, which may enhance root development and nitrogen assimilation, ultimately promoting plant growth. Overall, this regulatory mechanism provides an idea for plants in coordinating with drought tolerance and nitrogen assimilation to maintain optimal plant growth and development under drought stress.
Background Chronic inflammatory disorders in atrial fibrillation (AF) contribute to the onset of ischemic stroke. Systemic immune inflammation index (SIII) and system inflammation response index ...(SIRI) are the two novel and convenient measurements that are positively associated with body inflammation. However, little is known regarding the association between SIII/SIRI with the presence of AF among the patients with ischemic stroke. Methods A total of 526 ischemic stroke patients (173 with AF and 353 without AF) were consecutively enrolled in our study from January 2017 to June 2019. SIII and SIRI were measured in both groups. Logistic regression analysis was used to analyse the potential association between SIII/SIRI and the presence of AF. Finally, the correlation between hospitalization expenses, changes in the National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) scores and SIII/SIRI values were measured. Results In patients with ischemic stroke, SIII and SIRI values were significantly higher in AF patients than in non-AF patients (all p < 0.001). Moreover, with increasing quartiles of SIII and SIRI in all patients, the proportion of patients with AF was higher than that of non-AF patients gradually. Logistic regression analyses demonstrated that log-transformed SIII and log-transformed SIRI were independently associated with the presence of AF in patients with ischemic stroke (log-transformed SIII: odds ratio OR: 1.047, 95% confidence interval CI = 0.322-1.105, p = 0.047; log-transformed SIRI: OR: 6.197, 95% CI = 2.196-17.484, p = 0.001). Finally, a positive correlation between hospitalization expenses, changes in the NIHSS scores and SIII/SIRI were found, which were more significant in patients with AF (all p < 0.05). Conclusions Our study suggests SIII and SIRI are convenient and effective measurements for predicting the presence of AF in patients with ischemic stroke. Moreover, they were correlated with increased financial burden and poor short-term prognosis in AF patients presenting with ischemic stroke. Keywords: Atrial fibrillation, Systemic immune inflammation index, Systemic inflammation response index, Ischemic stroke
•Bioactivity-guided approach is a valuable tool for isolating active compounds.•Phenethyl cinnamides and 3,4,5-triCQA show the best α-glucosidase inhibition.•3,4,5-TriCQA and diCQAs are the ...predominant antioxidants.•Caffeoylation of quinic acid and methoxylation of flavonol improve the antioxidant activity.•Methylation and cis structure weak the α-glucosidase inhibition of phenethyl cinnamides.
Sweet potato (Ipomoea batatas) leaf (SPL) is an underused commercial vegetable with considerable bio-activities. By means of DPPH scavenging ability and α-glucosidase inhibitory oriented isolation, 9 and 7 compounds were isolated and identified, respectively. Among them, trans-N-(p-coumaroyl)tyramine (1), trans-N-feruloyltyramine (2), cis-N-feruloyltyramine (3), 4,5-feruloylcourmaoylquinic acid (8), caffeic acid ethyl ester (10), 7-hydroxy-5-methoxycoumarin (11), 7,3′-dimethylquercetin (13) and indole-3-carboxaldehyde (15), were firstly identified from SPL, and four of them (1, 2, 3 and 10) were firstly identified from genus Ipomoea. Phenethyl cinnamides and 3,4,5-triCQA exhibited the strongest α-glucosidase inhibition, while 3,4,5-triCQA and diCQAs were the dominant antioxidants. Structure-activity relationship revealed that higher caffeoylation of quinic acid and lower methoxylation of flavonols resulted in stronger antioxidant activity, and methylation and cis-configuration structure of phenethyl cinnamides weaken the α-glucosidase inhibition. Aforementioned results could help to explain the antioxidant activity and anti-diabetic activity of SPL, and provide theoretical basis for its further application.
Atherosclerosis is a complex inflammatory disease that involves disrupted cellular cholesterol levels and formation of foam cells. Studies about long noncoding RNA (lncRNA) have revealed its function ...in the development of atherosclerosis, by mediating reverse cholesterol transport and formation of foam cells. In this study, we found that oxidized low‐density lipoprotein (ox‐LDL) markedly decreased lncRNA AC096664.3 in vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) and THP‐1 macrophages. We also found that ox‐LDL reduced ATP‐binding cassette (ABC) G1 through inhibiting lncRNA AC096664.3 in VSMCs. Further experiments showed that the downregulation of lncRNA AC096664.3 reduced ABCG1 expression through inhibiting the expression of peroxisome proliferator–activated receptor‐γ (PPAR‐γ) and that ox‐LDL reduced ABCG1 expression through inhibiting the expression of PPAR‐γ. Furthermore, we discovered that ox‐LDL inhibited ABCG1 via the lncRNA AC096664.3/PPAR‐γ/ABCG1 pathway, which led to an increase in total and free cholesterol in VMSCs. Thus, we confirmed that ox‐LDL induces cholesterol accumulation via the lncRNA AC096664.3/PPAR‐γ/ABCG1 pathway in VSMCs, indicating a promising novel therapy in protecting against atherosclerosis.
Atherosclerosis is a complex inflammatory disease that involves disrupted cellular cholesterol level and formation of foam cells. Studies about long noncoding RNA (lncRNA) reveal its function in the development of atherosclerosis by mediating reverse cholesterol transport and the formation of foam cells. In this study, we confirmed that oxidized low‐density lipoprotein could induce cholesterol accumulation via the lncRNA AC096664.3/peroxisome proliferator–activated receptor‐γ/ATP‐binding cassette G1 pathway in vascular smooth muscle cells, indicating a promising novel therapy in protecting against atherosclerosis.
Yb2SiO5 is a promising material for thermal/environmental barrier coatings (T/EBCs), and its mechanical and thermal properties, which are essential to the coating design and applications, are ...investigated in this work. Yb2SiO5 has relatively high fracture toughness, bending and compressive strength, but low Young's modulus. It is also tolerant to damage, which is underpinned by grain delamination and cleavage along {100}, {001}, and {040} planes. The average linear coefficient of thermal expansion (CTE) is 6.3 × 10−6 K−1 (473–1673 K) and the anisotropic CTEs are: αa = (2.98 ± 0.16) × 10−6 K−1,αb = (6.51 ± 0.19) × 10−6 K−1, and αc = (9.08 ± 0.16) × 10−6 K−1. The thermal conductivities are 2.3 and 1.5 W (m·K)−1 at 300 and 1200 K, respectively. The unique combination of these properties warrants Yb2SiO5 promising for T/EBCs applications.
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