Role of necroptosis in spinal cord injury and its therapeutic implications

Spinal cord injury(SCI),a complex neurological disorder,triggers a series of devastating neuropathological events such as ischemia,oxidative stress,inflammatory events,neuronal apoptosis,and motor dysfunction.However,the classical necrosome,which consists of receptor-interacting protein(RIP)1,RIP3,and mixed-lineage kinase domain-like protein,is believed to control a novel type of programmed cell death called necroptosis,through tumour necrosis factor-alpha/tumour necrosis factor receptor-1 signalling or other stimuli.Several studies reported that necroptosis plays an important role in neural cell damage,release of intracellular pro-inflammatory factors,lysosomal dysfunction and endoplasmic reticulum stress.Recent research indicates that necroptosis is crucial to the pathophysiology of a number of neurological disorders and SCIs.In our review,we summarize the potential role of programmed cell death regulated by necroptosis in SCI based on its molecular and pathophysiological mechanisms.We also summarize the targets of several necroptosis pathways,which provide a more reliable reference for the treatment of SCI.

Therapeutic targets and signal transduction mechanisms of medicinal plant formula Gancao Xiexin decoction against ulcerative colitis:A network pharmacological study

Background:Ulcerative colitis(UC)is a chronic disease that often presents with abdominal pain,diarrhea,hematochezia,and significant morbidity.Gancao Xiexin decoction(GXD),a traditional Chinese medicine,has been applied for the clinical treatment of UC,while its action mechanisms are unclear.Methods:The active ingredients and their targets of GXD,and UC-related targets,were derived from public databases.Protein-protein interaction,Gene Ontology(GO),and the Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes(KEGG)were used to analyze the important active compounds,key targets,and signaling pathways.Then,molecular docking and animal experiments were performed to verify the findings.A total of 213 active compounds and 89 common targets of GXD for UC were obtained.Results:The hub gene network showed ALB,AKT1,IL6,TNF,VEGFA,TP53,CXCL8,MAPK1,PTGS2,and IL1βmay be potential targets of GXD against UC.GO and KEGG pathway enrichment analyses suggested that the action of GXD against UC was mainly related to response to oxygen levels,lipopolysaccharide,and molecule of bacterial origin,etc.,and achieved by advanced glycation endproducts/receptors for advanced glycation endproducts signaling pathway in diabetic complications,hypoxia-inducible factor(HIF)-1 signaling pathway,interleukin-17/HIF-1 signaling pathway,TNF signaling pathway,etc.Molecular docking results showed that the GXD had good potency of action with the hub target.In vivo experiments showed that GXD significantly alleviated the symptoms of UC and down-regulated the expression of inflammatory factors,nuclear factor-κB and signal transducer and activator of transcription 3.Conclusions:The anti-UC action of GXD is mainly attributed to its anti-oxidative stress,antiinflammatory,and immunomodulatory functions.

Preface of special issue for the 70th anniversary of USTB

From 1952 to 2022,the University of Science and Technology Beijing(USTB)has gone through an incredible journey of 70 years.From its beginning as the Beijing Institute of Iron and Steel Technology,China’s first higher institute of mining and metallurgy disciplines,to its selection as one of China’s key universities of“Project 211”,and then as a national“Double First-Class”(the World First-Class University and First-Class Academic Discipline Construction)university,USTB has developed into a multidisciplinary research-orientated university with distinctive characteristics.

Providing insight into exchange coupling within nanomagnetism:mechanism,micromagnetic simulation,synthesis and biomedical application

Exchange coupling within nanomagnetism is a rapidly evolving field with significant implications for that plays a crucial role in the development of magnetic nanomaterials.Manipulating exchange coupling interaction enables the magnetic systems to overcome limitations associated with size-dependent magnetic behavior within nano scale,thereby improving their magnetic properties and providing for superior performance in biomedical applications compared with single-phase magnetic materials.Understanding the underlying mechanism of exchange coupling and its impact on macroscopic magnetic properties is crucial for the design and application of such magnetic materials.This review provides an overview of recent advances in interfacial exchange coupling among different magnetic modalities-ferromagnetism,ferrimagnetism,and antiferromagnetism-based on core-shell magnetic nanoparticles(MNPs).Additionally,this review discusses micromagnetic simulations to gain insights into the relationship between the microscopic magnetic structure(size,shape,composition,and exchange coupling)and the resulting macroscopic properties.The controlled synthesis of MNPs is summarized,including one-step method and two-step method.The precise manipulation of interfacial characteristics is of great importance,albeit challenging,as it allows for the finetuning of magnetic properties tailored for specific applications.The review also explores potential applications of coreshell MNPs in magnetic resonance imaging,hyperthermia therapy,targeted drug delivery,and advanced neuromodulation.

Investigation of COVID-19 infection in patients with polymyalgia rheumatica during the predominance of the omicron variant

Background::Polymyalgia rheumatica (PMR) is an inflammatory disease that affects the older adult population. The aim of this study was to investigate the risk and prognosis associated with the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) infection among patients diagnosed with PMR during the predominance of the Omicron variant.Methods::In this retrospective study, we included a cohort of patients with PMR who met the 2012 European League Against Rheumatism/American College of Rheumatology classification criteria or the 1982 PMR diagnostic criteria and tracked their progress over time. The diagnosis of COVID-19 was based on the clinical manifestations and laboratory tests. We collected demographic information, PMR disease activity, treatment data, and clinical data related to COVID-19.Results::In total, 101 patients diagnosed with PMR were enrolled. Most patients with PMR exhibited low disease activity. Of the total cohort, 81 patients (80.2%) were categorized as individuals diagnosed with COVID-19, while the remaining 20 (19.8%) were not diagnosed with COVID-19. Among the patients with PMR diagnosed with COVID-19, 65 (80.2%) exhibited the presence of the COVID-19 antigen, while 16 (19.8%) tested positive for COVID-19 RNA. Most COVID-19 patients with PMR were classified as having mild disease (72, 88.9%). Two cases were identified within the confirmed infected group, resulting in a recurrence rate of 2.5% (2/81). Conversely, no relapses were observed in the non-infected group (0/20). In our multivariate logistic regression analysis, we found that pre-COVID-19 PMR disease activity was an independent risk factor for COVID-19 infection (odds ratio = 30.00, 95% confidence interval: 2.137-421.117, p = 0.012). Conclusion::The increased susceptibility to COVID-19 may be influenced by the pre-existing disease activity of PMR.

Damage propagation and strength prediction of a single-lap interference-fit laminate structure

Experimental and finite element research was conducted on the bolted interference fit of a single-lap laminated structure to reveal the damage propagation mechanism and strength change law. A typical single-lap statically loading experiment was performed, and a finite element damage prediction model was built based on intralaminar progress damage theory. The model was programmed with a user subroutine and an interlaminar cohesive zone method. The deformation and damage propagation of the specimen were analyzed, and the failure mechanism of intralaminar and interlaminar damage during loading was discussed. The effect of secondary bending moment on load translation and damage distribution was revealed. The experimental and simulated load–displacement curves were compared to validate the developed model’s reliability, and the ultimate bearing strengths under different fit percentages were predicted. An optimal percentage was also recommended.