Research Progress Research Articles

Role of protein arginine methyltransferase 1 in obesity-related metabolic disorders: Research progress and implications.

Obesity has become a major global problem that significantly confers an increased risk of developing life-threatening complications, including type 2 diabetes mellitus, fatty liver disease and cardiovascular diseases. Protein arginine methyltransferases (PRMTs) are enzymes that catalyse the methylation of target proteins. They are ubiquitous in eukaryotes and regulate transcription, splicing, cell metabolism and RNA biology. As a key, epigenetically modified enzyme, protein arginine methyltransferase 1 (PRMT1) is involved in obesity-related metabolic processes, such as lipid metabolism, the insulin signalling pathway, energy balance and inflammation, and plays an important role in the pathology of obesity-related metabolic disorders. This review summarizes recent research on the role of PRMT1 in obesity-related metabolic disorders. The primary objective was to comprehensively elucidate the functional role and regulatory mechanisms of PRMT1. Moreover, this study attempts to review the pathogenesis of PRMT1-mediated obesity-related metabolic disorders, thereby offering pivotal information for further studies and clinical treatment.

Ceria nanoparticles: biomedical applications and toxicity.

Ceria nanoparticles (CeO2 NPs) have become popular materials in biomedical and industrial fields due to their potential applications in anti-oxidation, cancer therapy, photocatalytic degradation of pollutants, sensors, etc. Many methods, including gas phase, solid phase, liquid phase, and the newly proposed green synthesis method, have been reported for the synthesis of CeO2 NPs. Due to the wide application of CeO2 NPs, concerns about their adverse impacts on human health have been raised. This review covers recent studies on the biomedical applications of CeO2 NPs, including their use in the treatment of various diseases (e.‍g., Alzheimer's disease, ischemic stroke, retinal damage, chronic inflammation, and cancer). CeO2 NP toxicity is discussed in terms of the different systems of the human body (e.‍g., cytotoxicity, genotoxicity, respiratory toxicity, neurotoxicity, and hepatotoxicity). This comprehensive review covers both fundamental discoveries and exploratory progress in CeO2 NP research that may lead to practical developments in the future.

Research progress of MicroRNA and its signaling pathways in gastric cancer.

Research progress of MicroRNA and its signaling pathways in gastric cancer.

Older Adults’ Adoption of Technology-Mediated Mobility Solutions: A Review and Agenda

ABSTRACT Mobility is important to older adults’ independent living. However, not all older adults’ experience mobility seamlessly; instead, they often encounter challenges in mobility. The advent of technology has led to the development of technology-mediated mobility solutions. Many studies have been conducted to examine older adults’ adoption of technology-mediated mobility solutions. Yet, no study, to date, has attempted to systematically review the progress of research in the field, thereby depriving researchers of an overview of older adults’ adoption of technology-mediated mobility solutions, which may be useful for early career researchers to gain entry insights and established researchers to gain an updated understanding of the field. To address this gap, this study systematically reviews the literature on older adults’ adoption of technology-mediated mobility solutions, encompassing the progress of research in the field, as well as the antecedents and consequences of adopting technology-mediated mobility solutions among older adults. In doing so, this study delivers seminal state-of-the-art insights on a comprehensive encapsulation of antecedents (i.e. ethical considerations, social influences, personal factors, usability elements, and environmental conditions) and consequences (i.e. quality of life) of older adults’ adoption of technology-mediated mobility solutions, as well as directions to stimulate future research in the field.

Research progress in the treatment of inflammatory bowel disease with natural polysaccharides and related structure-activity relationships.

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) comprises a group of highly prevalent and chronic inflammatory intestinal tract diseases caused by multiple factors. Despite extensive research into the causes of the disease, IBD's pathogenic mechanisms remain unclear. Moreover, side effects of current IBD therapies restrict their long-term clinical use. In contrast, natural polysaccharides exert beneficial anti-IBD effects and offer advantages over current anti-IBD drugs, including enhanced safety and straightforward isolation from abundant and reliable sources, and thus may serve as components of functional foods and health products for use in IBD prevention and treatment. However, few reviews have explored natural polysaccharides with anti-IBD activities or the relationship between polysaccharide conformation and anti-IBD biological activity. Therefore, this review aims to summarize anti-IBD activities and potential clinical applications of polysaccharides isolated from plant, animal, microorganismal, and algal sources, while also exploring the relationship between polysaccharide conformation and anti-IBD bioactivity for the first time. Furthermore, potential mechanisms underlying polysaccharide anti-IBD effects are summarized, including intestinal microbiota modulation, intestinal inflammation alleviation, and intestinal barrier protection from IBD-induced damage. Ultimately, this review provides a theoretical foundation and valuable insights to guide the development of natural polysaccharide-containing functional foods and nutraceuticals for use as dietary IBD therapies.

Research progress on the prevention and treatment of chemotherapy-induced ovarian damage.

Chemotherapy is a main treatment option for malignant tumors, but it may cause various adverse effects, including dysfunction of female endocrine and fertility. Chemotherapy-induced ovarian damage has been concerned, apart from ovarian preservation, the prevention and treatment of ovarian dysfunction are widely studied. In this article, the mechanisms of ovarian injury caused by chemotherapy, including the apoptosis of follicle and supporting cells, follicle "burn out", ovarian stromal and microvascular damage; and influencing factors, including age at diagnosis and initial low pre-treatment anti-Müllerian hormone levels, toxicity, dose and regimen of chemotherapy drugs are reviewed based on the latest research results and clinical practice. The article also discusses measures and frontier therapies for prevention and treatment of ovarian injury, including the application of gonadotropin releasing hormone agonists or antagonists, tyrosine kinase inhibitors, antioxidants, sphingosine-1-phosphate, ceramide-1-phosphate, mammalian target of rapamycin inhibitors, granulocyte-colony stimulating factor, stem cell therapy and artificial ovary, etc.

Research progress on gravity heat pipe technology to prevent spontaneous combustion in coal storage piles

Research progress on gravity heat pipe technology to prevent spontaneous combustion in coal storage piles

Cardiovascular and physiological risk factors in women at midlife and beyond.

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is the leading cause of death in women. After menopause, sex-specific and gender-specific factors may play an important role in increasing CVD risk, with changes in sex hormones, body fat distribution, lipid and metabolic profile, and structural and functional vascular modifications. Premature and early-onset menopause are detrimental to cardiovascular health due to the early cessation of the protective effect of endogenous estrogen. An independent association of menopause with an increased risk of CVD has been documented in early menopause (<45 years). Sex-related differences are relevant in pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics; different enzyme formations, drug compatibility, efficacy, and side effects vary for different sexes. Despite some progress in sex and gender research in CVD, disparities remain. Menopausal hormone therapy (MHT) is available at midlife for symptoms of menopause and may impact CVD risk. Taken early, MHT may reduce CVD morbimortality. However, this is balanced againts the risk of increased thrombosis. This paper reviews physiologic changes that contribute to cardiovascular risk in postmenopausal women and discusses clinical implications. Specifically, it explores the atheroprotective effects of estrogen and menopausal hormone therapy and the associations between menopause with lipid levels, hypertension, body composition, and diabetes for women at midlife and beyond.

The progress of clinical research on the detection of 1,5-anhydroglucitol in diabetes and its complications

1,5-Anhydroglucitol (1,5-AG) is sensitive to short-term glucose fluctuations and postprandial hyperglycemia, which has great potential in the clinical application of diabetes as a nontraditional blood glucose monitoring indicator. A large number of studies have found that 1,5-AG can be used to screen for diabetes, manage diabetes, and predict the perils of diabetes complications (diabetic nephropathy, diabetic cardiovascular disease, diabetic retinopathy, diabetic pregnancy complications, diabetic peripheral neuropathy, etc.). Additionally, 1,5-AG and β cells are also associated with each other. As a noninvasive blood glucose monitoring indicator, salivary 1,5-AG has much more benefit for clinical application; however, it cannot be ignored that its detection methods are not perfect. Thus, a considerable stack of research is still needed to establish an accurate and simple enzyme assay for the detection of salivary 1,5-AG. More clinical studies will also be required in the future to confirm the normal reference range of 1,5-AG and its role in diabetes complications to further enhance the blood glucose monitoring system for diabetes.

MOFs-Based Materials with Confined Space: Opportunities and Challenges for Energy and Catalytic Conversion.

Metal-Organic Frameworks (MOFs) are a very promising material in the fields of energy and catalysis due to their rich active sites, tunable pore size, structural adaptability, and high specific surface area. The concepts of "carbon peak" and "carbon neutrality" have opened up huge development opportunities in the fields of energy storage, energy conversion, and catalysis, and have made significant progress and breakthroughs. In recent years, people have shown great interest in the development of MOFs materials and their applications in the above research fields. This review introduces the design strategies and latest progress of MOFs are included based on their structures such as core-shell, yolk-shell, multi-shelled, sandwich structures, unique crystal surface exposures, and MOF-derived nanomaterials in detail. This work comprehensively and systematically reviews the applications of MOF-based materials in energy and catalysis and reviews the research progress of MOF materials for atmospheric water harvesting, seawater uranium extraction, and triboelectric nanogenerators. Finally, this review looks forward to the challenges and opportunities of controlling the synthesis of MOFs through low-cost, improved conductivity, high-temperature heat resistance, and integration with machine learning. This review provides useful references for promoting the application of MOFs-based materials in the aforementioned fields.

When Structured Light Encounters Liquid Crystals

AbstractStructured light refers to the light field tailored by various degrees of freedom including intensity, phase, and polarization states in both spatial and temporal domains, which may greatly vitalize the technologies in both optics, such as the next‐generation optical communication as well as subwavelength imaging and the materials science in both fabrication and characterization. The structured characteristics of the structure light need materials also with structured optical properties that can generate or manipulate structured light in a straightforward way, which can be well satisfied by liquid crystals, a soft mater that can self‐assemble into tunable ordered structures through external stimuli. This review summarizes the research progress of the liquid crystal‐based devices used in structured light generations and modulations, including the well‐established techniques in the market, like the spatial light modulator, q‐plate and the liquid crystal integrated optical metasurfaces. Especially, light‐matter interactions are discussed from the topological view of both the structured light and the liquid crystal structures. Such a perfect matching in topology makes the liquid crystal a promising star together with structured light in future optic and photonic technologies.

Nickel–Nitrogen–Carbon (Ni–N–C) Electrocatalysts Toward CO2 electroreduction to CO: Advances, Optimizations, Challenges, and Prospects

Electrocatalytic reduction of CO2 into high energy‐density fuels and value‐added chemicals under mild conditions can promote the sustainable cycle of carbon and decrease current energy and environmental problems. Constructing electrocatalyst with high activity, selectivity, stability, and low cost is really matter to realize industrial application of electrocatalytic CO2 reduction (ECR). Metal–nitrogen–carbon (M–N–C), especially Ni–N–C, display excellent performance, such as nearly 100% CO selectivity, high current density, outstanding tolerance, etc., which is considered to possess broad application prospects. Based on the current research status, starting from the mechanism of ECR and the existence form of Ni active species, the latest research progress of Ni–N–C electrocatalysts in CO2 electroreduction is systematically summarized. An overview is emphatically interpreted on the regulatory strategies for activity optimization over Ni–N–C, including N coordination modulation, vacancy defects construction, morphology design, surface modification, heteroatom activation, and bimetallic cooperation. Finally, some urgent problems and future prospects on designing Ni–N–C catalysts for ECR are discussed. This review aims to provide the guidance for the design and development of Ni–N–C catalysts with practical application.

Bioinspired Plateau–Rayleigh Instability on Fibers: From Droplets Manipulation to Continuous Liquid Films

AbstractThe Plateau–Rayleigh instability (PRI) of a liquid column, which always spontaneously breaks into droplets to minimize surface energy, underlies a variety of fascinating phenomena in daily life and industrial applications. Different from the free liquid column, the evolution of the liquid film on a fiber involves solid‐liquid interfaces which allow for regulating the PRI. Recently, natural fibers with certain topologies have witnessed various dynamic liquid behaviors from droplet manipulation to continuous liquid films. Tailoring the topology of local curved liquid film by the structural‐confinement is the key to manipulating liquids, where the asymmetric Laplace pressure generated by the asymmetric/non‐spherical liquid film promotes the liquid motion. In nature, the spider silk collects droplets efficiently by the spindle‐knot structure; while the mulberry silk enables a smooth surface‐coating on dual‐parallel fibers. Drawing inspirations, many artificial structured fibers are developed to precisely regulate liquid behaviors in the form of either separated droplets or continuous liquid films, which have demonstrated applications as fluidic coating, micro‐patterning, and materials fabrication. Here, recent research progress on bioinspired fibrous PRI from the viewpoints of tailoring the Laplace pressure by rationally designing the surface topology, which offers inspiration for liquid manipulation using open fibrous media, is reviewed.

A systematic review of the mechanism of action and potential medicinal value of codonopsis pilosula in diseases

As a traditional Chinese medicinal herb with a long history, Codonopsis pilosula (CP) has attracted much attention from the medical community in recent years. This review summarizes the research progress of CP in the medical field in the past 5 years. By searching and analyzing the literature, and combining with Cytoscape software, we comprehensively examined the role and mechanism of action of CP in individual application, combination drug application, and the role and mechanism of action of codonopsis pilosula’s active ingredients in a variety of diseases. It also analyzes the medicinal use of CP and its application value in medicine. This review found that CP mainly manifests important roles in several diseases, such as cardiovascular system, nervous system, digestive system, immune system, etc., and regulates the development of many diseases mainly through the mechanisms of inflammation regulation, oxidative stress, immunomodulation and apoptosis. Its rich pharmacological activities and diverse medicinal effects endow CP with broad prospects and application values. This review provides valuable reference and guidance for the further development of CP in traditional Chinese medicine.

A review on Fe2O3‐based catalysts for toluene oxidation: catalysts design and optimization with the formation of abundant oxygen vacancies

Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) are typical pollutants with hazards for humans and the environment, and can be efficiently mitigated by catalytic combustion. Fe2O3‐based catalysts are a promising choice due to their low cost and strong redox ability. Several attempts have been made to promote the catalytic performance of Fe2O3 at low temperatures. This review summarizes the research progress on Fe2O3‐based catalysts for the oxidation of toluene, one of the most common and harmful VOC. Firstly, the properties and catalytical performance for Fe2O3‐based catalysts were summarized, and the reaction mechanisms for toluene oxidation on the surface of Fe2O3 were detailed to comprehend the role of oxygen vacancy. Then, the modification for single Fe2O3 catalysts, including synthesis parameters, structure and morphology control, has been introduced to reveal the correlation between physicochemical properties of catalysts and their activity. In addition, composite Fe2O3 catalysts, which can promote catalytic performance significantly due to the synergetic effect between different components, were comprehended. Finally, waste‐derived Fe2O3 catalysts with sustainable merit as converting waste into worth have been discussed. Moreover, the advanced machine learning tools, which are helpful in accelerating catalyst design, configuration optimization and reactivity prediction, have been introduced as an emerging research opportunity for the future.

[Research progress in the diagnosis and treatment of childhood glaucoma].

Childhood glaucoma is a disease that seriously endangers children's visual health. It will accompany the patients throughout their lives and bring a heavy burden to families and society. Most childhood blindness caused by glaucoma is preventable or treatable. Relevant research has made progress in recent years. Based on the new consensus reached by the World Glaucoma Association and the latest medical evidence at home and abroad, this article summarizes the definition, classification, diagnosis, molecular genetics, pathogenesis and comprehensive treatments including drugs and surgery of childhood glaucoma, with a focus on the application of various surgical methods, so as to provide reference for clinical and scientific research and improve the clinical diagnosis and treatment of childhood glaucoma.

Targeting KRASG12D mutation in non-small cell lung cancer: molecular mechanisms and therapeutic potential.

Lung malignant tumors are a type of cancer with high incidence and mortality rates worldwide. Non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) accounts for over 80% of all lung malignant tumors, and most patients are diagnosed at advanced stages, leading to poor prognosis. Over the past decades, various oncogenic driver alterations associated with lung cancer have been identified, each of which can potentially serve as a therapeutic target. Rat sarcoma (RAS) genes are the most commonly mutated oncogenes in human cancers, with Kirsten rat sarcoma (KRAS) being the most common subtype. The role of KRAS oncogene in NSCLC is still not fully understood, and its impact on prognosis remains controversial. Despite the significant advancements in targeted therapy and immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICI) that have transformed the treatment landscape of advanced NSCLC in recent years, targeting KRAS (both directly and indirectly) remains challenging and is still under intensive research. In recent years, significant progress has been made in the development of targeted drugs targeting the NSCLC KRASG12C mutant subtype. However, research progress on target drugs for the more common KRASG12D subtype has been slow, and currently, no specific drugs have been approved for clinical use, and many questions remain to be answered, such as the mechanisms of resistance in this subtype of NSCLC, how to better utilize combination strategies with multiple treatment modalities, and whether KRASG12D inhibitors offer substantial efficacy in the treatment of advanced NSCLC patients.

Zinc‐Ion Battery Chemistries Enabled by Regulating Electrolyte Solvation Structure

AbstractDesigning next‐generation alternative energy storage devices that feature high safety, low cost, and long operation lifespan is of the utmost importance for future wide range of applications. Aqueous zinc‐ion batteries play a vital part in promoting the development of portability, sustainability, and diversification of rechargeable battery systems. Based on the theory of electrolyte solvation chemistry, deep understanding of interaction between electrolyte components and their impact on the chemical properties has achieved a series of research progress. Analyzing the solvation shell of electrolyte or structure–performance relationship, and establishing more stable and high‐energy battery chemistries are inevitable requirements to suppress the electrolyte–electrode interphase side reaction and realize the functional use of zinc‐ion batteries. In this critical review, the attempt is to overview the current comprehension regarding the electrolyte solvation structure in zinc battery technology. Advanced methodology toward the interactions between zinc cations, solvent molecules, and anions in zinc aqueous electrolytes and the general rules for electrolyte design from the atomic level are summarized. Methods for viable solvation modification are then introduced regarding overcoming the remained challenges for transferring the laboratory results to next‐generation practical applications. Possible research direction with the aim of investigating the ultimate choice for future high‐performance electrolyte solvation construction is also outlined.

[Clinical characteristics and research progress of ocular Merkel cell carcinoma].

Merkel cell carcinoma (MCC) is a rare, aggressive epithelial and neuroendocrine tumor. MCC typically presents as painless nodules or patches rapidly growing in sun-exposed skin areas. Ocular MCC accounts for approximately 2.5% of all cases and may be misdiagnosed as granuloma or basal cell carcinoma. Risk factors for development include advanced age, ultraviolet exposure, male gender, immunosuppression, and Merkel cell polyomavirus infection. Treatment involves wide local excision with adjuvant radiotherapy, chemotherapy is typically reserved for metastatic disease, and immunotherapy and targeted therapy are currently under investigation showing promising early outcomes. This article summarizes the clinical characteristics and research progress of ocular MCC.

Research progress on the detection of foodborne pathogens based on aptamer recognition.

Foodborne diseases caused by bacterial contamination are a serious threat to food safety and human health. The classical plate culture method has the problems of long detection cycle, low sensitivity and specificity, and complicated operation, which cannot meet the growing demand for rapid quantitative detection of pathogenic bacteria. The frequent outbreak of foodborne diseases has put forward higher requirements for rapid and simple detection technology of foodborne pathogens. Aptamer is a kind of oligonucleotide fragment that can recognize targets with the advantages of high affinity and good specificity. The target can be range from proteins, small molecules, cells bacteria, and even viruses. Herein, the latest advances in sensitive and rapid detection of foodborne pathogens based on aptamer recognition was reviewed. Special attention has been paid to the obtained sequences of aptamers to various foodborne pathogens, the optimization of sequences, and the mechanism of aptamer recognition. Then, the research progress of biosensors for the detection of pathogenic bacteria based on aptamer recognition were summarized. Some challenges and prospects for the detection of foodborne pathogens based on aptamer recognition were prospected. In summary, with the further deepening of aptamer research and improvement of detection technology, aptamer-based recognition can meet the needs of rapid, sensitive, and accurate detection in practical applications.