Soluble epoxide hydrolase:a next-generation drug target for Alzheimer's disease and related dementias

Alzheimer's disease(AD)and Alzheimer's diseaserelated dementias(ADRD)represent a significant public health challenge,with projections indicating a substantial increase in affected individuals due to the aging global population.From the World Health Organization,AD/ADRD has affected more than 55 million individuals worldwide,with an additional 10 million cases diagnosed each year.

Data-driven drug repositioning using olfactory omics profiles:challenges and perspectives in neurodegeneration

Data-driven drug repositioning using olfactory omics profiles-challenges and perspectives in neurodegeneration:Neurodegenerative diseases are characterized by progressive degeneration and loss of neuronal function in the central nervous system.These diseases are often characterized as proteinopathies,which are disorders primarily driven by the aggregation or misfolding of specific amyloid proteins within cells,leading to their dysfunction and eventual death.Despite the gain-of-function hypothesis related to the aggregation of these proteins,recently,an alternative hypothesis regarding the loss-of-function of the soluble monomeric proteins during the process of aggregation into amyloids is gaining currency.This last event is called proteinopenia and refers to conditions characterized by a deficiency or decrease in the levels of specific soluble proteins in the body(Ezzat et al.,2023).It has been demonstrated that levels of soluble proteins involved in neurodegenerative diseases are decreased.

Current status of drug therapy for chronic hepatitis B

In this editorial,we comment on the article by Meng et al.Chronic hepatitis B(CHB)is a significant global health problem,particularly in developing countries.Hepatitis B virus(HBV)infection is one of the most important risk factors for cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma.Prevention and treatment of HBV are key measures to reduce complications.At present,drug therapy can effectively control virus replication and slow disease progression,but completely eliminating the virus remains a challenge.Anti-HBV treatment is a long-term process,and there are many kinds of antiviral drugs with different mechanisms of action,it is essential to evaluate the safety and efficacy of these drugs to reduce side effects and improve patients’compliance.We will summarize the current status of CHB drug treatment,hoping to provide a reference for the selection of clinical antiviral drugs.

Recognition and quality mapping of traditional herbal drugs:way forward towards artificial intelligence

The use of traditional herbal drugs derived from natural sources is on the rise due to their minimal side effects and numerous health benefits.However,a major limitation is the lack of standardized knowledge for identifying and mapping the quality of these herbal medicines.This article aims to provide practical insights into the application of artificial intelligence for quality-based commercialization of raw herbal drugs.It focuses on feature extraction methods,image processing techniques,and the preparation of herbal images for compatibility with machine learning models.The article discusses commonly used image processing tools such as normalization,slicing,cropping,and augmentation to prepare images for artificial intelligence-based models.It also provides an overview of global herbal image databases and the models employed for herbal plant/drug identification.Readers will gain a comprehensive understanding of the potential application of various machine learning models,including artificial neural networks and convolutional neural networks.The article delves into suitable validation parameters like true positive rates,accuracy,precision,and more for the development of artificial intelligence-based identification and authentication techniques for herbal drugs.This article offers valuable insights and a conclusive platform for the further exploration of artificial intelligence in the field of herbal drugs,paving the way for smarter identification and authentication methods.

Research advancements in nanoparticles and cell-based drug delivery systems for the targeted killing of cancer cells

Nanotechnology in cancer therapy has significantly advanced treatment precision,effectiveness,and safety,improving patient outcomes and personalized care.Engineered smart nanoparticles and cell-based therapies are designed to target tumor cells,precisely sensing the tumor microenvironment(TME)and sparing normal cells.These nanoparticles enhance drug accumulation in tumors by solubilizing insoluble compounds or preventing their degradation,and they can also overcome therapy resistance and deliver multiple drugs simultaneously.Despite these benefits,challenges remain in patient-specific responses and regulatory approvals for cell-based or nanoparticle therapies.Cell-based drug delivery systems(DDSs)that primarily utilize the immune-recognition principle between ligands and receptors have shown promise in selectively targeting and destroying cancer cells.This review aims to provide a comprehensive overview of various nanoparticle and cell-based drug delivery system types used in cancer research.It covers approved and experimental nanoparticle therapies,including liposomes,micelles,protein-based and polymeric nanoparticles,as well as cell-based DDSs like macrophages,T-lymphocytes,dendritic cells,viruses,bacterial ghosts,minicells,SimCells,and outer membrane vesicles(OMVs).The review also explains the role of TME and its impact on developing smart DDSs in combination therapies and integrating nanoparticles with cell-based systems for targeting cancer cells.By detailing DDSs at different stages of development,from laboratory research to clinical trials and approved treatments,this review provides the latest insights and a collection of valuable citations of the innovative strategies that can be improved for the precise treatment of cancer.

Liposomes as versatile agents for the management of traumatic and nontraumatic central nervous system disorders:drug stability,targeting efficiency,and safety

Various nanoparticle-based drug delivery systems for the treatment of neurological disorders have been widely studied.However,their inability to cross the blood–brain barrier hampers the clinical translation of these therapeutic strategies.Liposomes are nanoparticles composed of lipid bilayers,which can effectively encapsulate drugs and improve drug delivery across the blood–brain barrier and into brain tissue through their targeting and permeability.Therefore,they can potentially treat traumatic and nontraumatic central nervous system diseases.In this review,we outlined the common properties and preparation methods of liposomes,including thin-film hydration,reverse-phase evaporation,solvent injection techniques,detergent removal methods,and microfluidics techniques.Afterwards,we comprehensively discussed the current applications of liposomes in central nervous system diseases,such as Alzheimer's disease,Parkinson's disease,Huntington's disease,amyotrophic lateral sclerosis,traumatic brain injury,spinal cord injury,and brain tumors.Most studies related to liposomes are still in the laboratory stage and have not yet entered clinical trials.Additionally,their application as drug delivery systems in clinical practice faces challenges such as drug stability,targeting efficiency,and safety.Therefore,we proposed development strategies related to liposomes to further promote their development in neurological disease research.

Characterization of Reverse Thermo-sensitive Genic Male Sterile Lines in Cold Regions of China

Yannong S, a reverse thermo-sensitive genic male sterile （TGMS） line, is sterile at high temperature and fertile at low temperature. In the present study, the fertility of Yannong S and the japonica reverse TGMS lines derived from it was in- vestigated in Harbin, Heilongjiang from 2013 to 2015. The results showed that Yan- nong S was completely male sterile in July and August （the hottest months of the year in Harbin）, and the seed setting rate of bagged panicles was 0. We also in- ferred that the critical temperature for inducing the sterility of Yannong S was higher than 28 ℃. Most of the japonica reverse TGMS lines derived from Yannong S were completely aborted in July and August, with a seed setting rate of 0. It can be con- cluded that the reverse TGMS lines derived from Yannong S are genetically stable lines that have a long period of sterility in cold regions, so they may be the ideal genetic materials for the development and in-situ seed production of japonica hybrid rice.

Research Advances in Molecular Mechanism of Thermo-sensitive Genic Male Sterility in Plants

Thermo-sensitive genic male sterile （TGMS） lines have specific superiority in heterosis utilization of crops. So far, thermo-sensitive genic male sterile lines have been found in many plants and are widely used in two-line hybrid breeding. With the rapid development of molecular biology, the molecular nature of thermo-sensitive genic male sterility has been revealed, which lays the foundation for further devel- opment and utilization of thermo-sensitive genic male sterile lines. In this study, the molecular mechanisms of fertility conversion of plant thermo-sensitive genic male sterile lines were reviewed from gene molecular mapping and gene differential ex- pression, and the mechanisms of gene differential expression in thermo-sensitive genic male sterile lines were further discussed.

Thermo-sensitive polymer nanospheres as a smart plugging agent for shale gas drilling operations

Emulsifier-free poly（methyl methacrylate-styrene） [P（MMA-St）] nanospheres with an average particle size of 100 nm were synthesized in an isopropyl alcoholwater medium by a solvothermal method. Then, through radical graft copolymerization of thermo-sensitive mono- mer N-isopropylacrylamide （NIPAm） and hydrophilic monomer acrylic acid （AA） onto the surface of P（MMA- St） nanospheres at 80 ℃, a series of thermo-sensitive polymer nanospheres, named SD-SEAL with different lower critical solution temperatures （LCST）, were prepared by adjusting the mole ratio of NIPAm to AA. The products were characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, transmission electron microscopy, thermogravimetric analysis, particle size distribution, and specific surface area analysis. The temperature-sensitive behavior was studied by light transmittance tests, while the sealing performance was investigated by pressure transmission tests with Lungmachi Formation shales. The experimental results showed that the synthesized nanoparticles are sensitive to temperature and had apparent LCST values which increased with an increase in hydrophilic monomer AA. When the temperature was higher than its LCST value, SD- SEAL played a dual role of physical plugging and chemical inhibition, slowed down pressure transmission, and reduced shale permeability remarkably. The plugged layer of shale was changed to being hydrophobic, which greatly improved the shale stability

Plant Temperature and Its Simulation Model of Thermo-Sensitive Genic Male Sterile Rice

Plant temperature （Tp） and its relations to the microclimate of rice colony and irrigation water were studied using a thermo-sensitive genic male sterile （TGMS） rice line, Pei＇ai 64S. Significant differences in the daily change of temperature were detected between Tp and air temperature at the height of 150 cm （TA）. From 8：00 to 20：00, Tp was lower than TA, but they were similar during 21：00 to next 7：00. The maximum Tp occurred one hour earlier than the maximum TA, though they both reached the minimum at 6：00. Tp fluctuated less than TA. At the same height, during 6：00-13：00, Tp was higher than air temperature （Ta）, and Tp reached the maximum one hour earlier than Ta. During the rest time on sunny day, Tp was close to or even a little lower than Ta. On overcast day, Tp was higher than Ta in the whole day, and both maximized at the same time. In addition, Tp was regulated by solar radiation, cloudage and wind speed in daytime, and by irrigation water at night. The present study indicated that a TA of 29.6℃ was the critical point, at which Tp was increased or decreased by irrigation water. Tp and the difference between water and air temperatures showed a conic relation. Tp fluctuation was also regulated by the absorption or reflection of solar radiation by leaves during daytime and release of heat energy during nighttime. By analysis on correlation and regression simulation, two models of Tp were established.

Mechanism of Sterility and Breeding Strategies for Photoperiod/Thermo-Sensitive Genic Male Sterile Rice

To understand the male sterility mechanism of photoperiod/thermo-sensitive genic male sterile [P（T）GMS] lines in rice, the research progress on genetics of photoperiod and/or temperature sensitive genic male sterility in rice was reviewed. A new idea was proposed to explain the sterility mechanism of P（T）GMS rice. The fertility transition from sterile to fertile is the result of cooperative regulation of major-effect sterile genes with photoperiod and/or temperature sensitive genes, but not the so-called pgms gene in P（T）GMS rice. The minor-effect genes, which exhibit accumulative effect on sterility, are the important factors for the critical temperature of sterility transition. The more minor-effect genes the sterile line holds, the lower the critical temperature of sterility transition is. The critical temperature of sterility transition will be invariable if all the minor-effect genes are homozygous. The strategies for breeding P（T）GMS rice were also proposed. The selective indices of critical photoperiod and temperature for sterility transition should be set according to varietal type and ecological region. Imposing selection pressure is a key technology for breeding P（T）GMS rice with lower critical temperature for sterility, and improving the comprehensive performance of the whole traits and combining ability is vital for breeding P（T）GMS rice lines.

Molecular Markers and Candidate Genes for Thermo-Sensitive Genic Male Sterile in Rice

The discovery of thermo-sensitive genic male sterility(TGMS) has led to development of a simple and highly efficient two-line breeding system. In this study, genetic analysis was conducted using three F_2 populations derived from crosses between IR68301 S, an indica TGMS rice line, and IR14632(tropical japonica), Supanburi 91062(indica) and IR67966-188-2-2-1(tropical japonica), respectively.Approximately 1:3 ratio between sterile and normal pollen of F_2 plants from the three populations revealed that TGMS is controlled by a single recessive gene. Bulked segregant analysis using simple sequence repeat(SSR) and insertion-deletion(InDel) markers were used to identify markers linked to the tms gene. The linkage analysis based on the three populations indicated that the tms locus was located on chromosome 2 covering the same area. Using IR68301S × IR14632 F_2 population, the results showed that the tms locus was located between SSR marker RM12676 and InDel marker 2gAP0050058. The genetic distance from the tms gene to these two flanking markers were 1.10 and 0.82 cM, respectively.InDel marker 2gAP004045 located between these two markers showed complete co-segregation with the TGMS phenotype. In addition, InDel marker vf0206114052 showed 2.94 cM linked to the tms gene using F_2 populations of IR68301S × Supanburi 91062. These markers are useful tool for developing new TGMS lines by marker-assisted selection. There were ten genes located between the two flanking markers RM12676 and 2gAP0050058. Using quantitative real-time PCR for expression analysis, 7 of the 10 genes showed expression in panicles, and response to temperatures. These genes could be the candidate gene controlling TGMS in IR68301S.

Characterizations and identification of the candidate gene of rice thermo-sensitive genic male sterile gene tms5 by mapping

Previous study indicated that the thermo-sensitive genic malesterile(TGMS) gene in rice was regulated by temperature.TGMS rice plays an important role in hybrid rice production,because the application of the TGMS system in two-line breeding is laborsaving,timesaving,simple,inexpensive,efficient,and eliminating the limitations of the cytoplasmic male sterility(CMS) system.'AnnongS' is the first discovered and deeply studied TGMS rice lines in China.'AnnongS-1' and 'Y58S',two derivatives of TGMS line AnnongS,were both controlled by a single recessive gene named tms5,which was genetically mapped on chromosome 2.In this study,three populations('AnnongS-1' × 'Nanjing11','Y58S' × 'Q611',and 'Y58S' × 'Guanghui122') were developed and used for the molecular fine mapping of the tms5 gene.By analyzing recombination events in the sterile individuals using a total of 125 probes covering the tms5 region,the tms5 gene was physically mapped to a 19-kb DNA fragment between two markers 4039-1 and 4039-2,which were located on the BAC clone AP004039.After the construction of the physical map between two markers 4039-1 and 4039-2,a member(ONAC023) of the NAC(NAM-ATAF-CUC-related) gene family was identified as the candidate gene of the tms5 gene.

Characterization and fine mapping of RTMS10, a semi-dominant reverse thermo-sensitive genic male sterile locus in rice

The discovery and application of environment-sensitive genic male sterile(EGMS) rice germplasm provide an easy method for hybrid rice breeding and have made great contributions to hybrid rice production. Typically, the photoperiod-and thermosensitive GMS(P/TGMS) lines utilized in two-line hybrid systems are male sterile under long day or/and high temperature but fertile under short day or/and low temperature conditions. However, Yannong S(Yn S), a reverse TGMS(rTGMS) line, is sterile under low temperature(<29℃) and fertile under high temperature(>29.5℃). Here, we report a genetic study on the rTGMS trait in Yn S. Interestingly, the F1 plants of the cross between Yn S and a cultivar, L422, were male sterile at 22℃ and completely fertile at 27℃. Moreover, the segregation ratio of fertile and sterile individuals in Yn S/L422 F2 populations changed from 1:3.05 to 2.95:1 when the ambient temperature increased, showing that the rTGMS trait exhibits semidominance in Yn S. We further found a locus on chromosome 10, termed RTMS10, which controls the rTGMS trait in Yn S. We then finely mapped RTMS10 to a ~68 kb interval between markers ID13116 and ID1318 by Yn S/L422 BC6 F2 populations. A near iso-genic line(NIL) NL1 from the BC6 F3 generation was developed and the pollen of NL1 became abnormal from the meiosis stage under low temperature. In summary, we identified an rTGMS locus, RTMS10, and provided co-segregated markers, which could help to accelerate molecular breeding of rTGMS lines and better understand the rTGMS trait in rice.

Marker-Assisted Breeding of Thermo-Sensitive Genic Male Sterile Line 1892S for Disease Resistance and Submergence Tolerance

Rice line 1892S is an elite thermo-sensitive genic male sterile(TGMS)line for two-line hybrid rice production.However,1892S is susceptible to rice blast,bacterial blight and submergence.Here we reported the introduction of blast resistance(R)gene Pi9,bacterial blight R gene Xa21 and submergence tolerance gene Sub1A into 1892S genetic background through backcrossing and marker-assisted selection.The improved TGMS line 31892S and its hybrids conferred disease resistance to rice blast and bacterial blight,and showed submergence tolerance for over 14 d without significant loss of viability.The sterility-fertility conversion of 31892S was similar to that of 1892S.31892S and its derived hybrid rice had similar agronomic traits and grain quality with 1892S and the control hybrid rice,respectively.The newly developed 31892S provided an improved TGMS line for two-line hybrid rice production with disease resistance to rice blast and bacterial blight,and submergence tolerance with no yield penalty or change in grain quality.

Genetic Analysis and Mapping of a Thermo-sensitive White Stripe-Leaf Mutant at Seedling Stage in Rice(Oryza sativa)

A thermo-sensitive white stripe-leaf mutant （tws） was selected from the M2 progeny of a japonica variety, Jiahua 1, treated by ^60 Co γ-radiation. In comparison with the wild type parent, the mutant displayed a phenotype of white stripe on the 3rd and 4th leaves, but began to turn normal green on the 5th leaf when grown at low temperatures （20℃ and 24℃）. Furthermore, the content of total chlorophyll showed an obvious decrease in the leaves with white stripe. These results suggest that the expression of the mutant trait was thermo-sensitive and correlated with the leaf age of seedlings. The genetic analysis indicated that the mutant trait was controlled by a single recessive nuclear gene, designated as tws. In addition, by using SSR markers and an F2 segregating population derived from the cross between the tws mutant and 9311, tws was mapped between the markers MM3907 and MM3928 with a physical distance of 86 kb on dce chromosome 4.

An easily recoverable thermo-sensitive polyelectrolyte as draw agent for forward osmosis process

As a potential solution to the crises of energy and resources, forward osmosis(FO) has been limited by the development of draw agents. An ideal draw agent should be able to generate high osmotic pressure and can be easily recovered. In this study, a thermo-sensitive polyelectrolyte of poly(N-isopropylacrylamide-co-acrylic acid)(PNA)is developed as an efficient draw agent, and two easy and simple methods are proposed to effectively recover the polyelectrolytes. After adjusting the pH value of polyelectrolyte solutions to around 6.0, the polyelectrolyte can generate relatively high osmotic pressure, and induce average water fluxes of 2.09 and 2.95 L·m^(-2)·h^(-1) during12 h FO processes when the polyelectrolyte concentrations are 0.20 and 0.38 g·ml^(-1) respectively. After acidifying and heating to 70 °C, the PNA-10 polyelectrolyte can aggregate together because of hydrophobic association and separate from water, so it can be easily recovered by either simple centrifugation or gravitational sedimentation. The recovery ratios of PNA-10 polyelectrolyte in both methods are as high as 89%, and the recovered polyelectrolytes can be reused with almost the same FO performance as fresh ones. The results in this study provide valuable guidance for designing efficient and easily recoverable draw agents for FO processes.

Improving Blast Resistance of a Thermo-Sensitive Genic Male Sterile Rice Line GD-8S by Molecular Marker-Assisted Selection

The broad-spectrum blast resistance gene Pi-1, from donor line BL122, was introduced into a thermo-sensitive genic male sterile rice line GD-8S, which possessed good grain quality but high susceptibility to rice blast, by using backcross breeding and molecular marker-assisted selection. Five elite improved male sterile lines, RGD8S-1, RGD8S-2, RGD8S-3, RGD8S-4 and RGD8S-5, were selected based on the results of molecular marker analysis, spikelet sterility, recovery rate of genetic background and agronomic traits. Thirty-three representative blast isolates collected from Guangdong Province, China were used to inoculate the improved lines and the original line GD-8S artificially. The resistance frequencies of the improved lines ranged from 76.47% to 100%, much higher than that of the original line GD-8S （9.09%）. On the agronomic characters, there were no significant differences between the improved lines and GD-8S except for flag leaf length and panicle number per plant. The improved lines could be used for breeding hybrid rice with high blast resistance.

A bull-heading water control technique of thermo-sensitive temporary plugging agent

Aimed at the disadvantages of secondary damage to oil layers caused by the conventional bull-heading water control technique, a thermo-sensitive temporary plugging agent for water control was synthesized by water solution polymerization and applied in the field with a new secondary temporary plugging technique. The optimization and performance evaluation of thermo-sensitive temporary plugging agent were carried out through laboratory experiments. The optimized formula is as follows:(6%-8%) acrylamide +(0.08%-0.12%) ammonium persulfate +(1.5%-2.0%) sepiolite +(0.5%-0.8%) polyethylene glycol diacrylate. The thermo-sensitive temporary plugging agent is suitable for formation temperatures of 70-90 ?C, it has high temporary plugging strength(5-40 k Pa), controllable degradation time(1-15 d), the apparent viscosity after degradation of less than 100 m Pa?S and the permeability recovery value of simulated cores of more than 95%. Based on the research results, secondary temporary plugging technique was used in a horizontal well in the Jidong Oilfield. After treatment, the well saw a drop of water cut to 27%, and now it has a water cut of 67%, its daily increased oil production was 4.8 t, and the cumulative oil increment was 750 t, demonstrating that the technique worked well in controlling water production and increasing oil production.

Strategies for translating proteomics discoveries into drug discovery for dementia

Tauopathies,diseases characterized by neuropathological aggregates of tau including Alzheimer's disease and subtypes of fro ntotemporal dementia,make up the vast majority of dementia cases.Although there have been recent developments in tauopathy biomarkers and disease-modifying treatments,ongoing progress is required to ensure these are effective,economical,and accessible for the globally ageing population.As such,continued identification of new potential drug targets and biomarkers is critical."Big data"studies,such as proteomics,can generate information on thousands of possible new targets for dementia diagnostics and therapeutics,but currently remain underutilized due to the lack of a clear process by which targets are selected for future drug development.In this review,we discuss current tauopathy biomarkers and therapeutics,and highlight areas in need of improvement,particularly when addressing the needs of frail,comorbid and cognitively impaired populations.We highlight biomarkers which have been developed from proteomic data,and outline possible future directions in this field.We propose new criteria by which potential targets in proteomics studies can be objectively ranked as favorable for drug development,and demonstrate its application to our group's recent tau interactome dataset as an example.