Rbm8a regulates neurogenesis and reduces Alzheimer's disease-associated pathology in the dentate gyrus of 5×FAD mice

Alzheimer’s disease is a prevalent and debilitating neurodegenerative condition that profoundly affects a patient’s daily functioning with progressive cognitive decline,which can be partly attributed to impaired hippocampal neurogenesis.Neurogenesis in the hippocampal dentate gyrus is likely to persist throughout life but declines with aging,especially in Alzheimer’s disease.Recent evidence indicated that RNA-binding protein 8A(Rbm8a)promotes the proliferation of neural progenitor cells,with lower expression levels observed in Alzheimer’s disease patients compared with healthy people.This study investigated the hypothesis that Rbm8a overexpression may enhance neurogenesis by promoting the proliferation of neural progenitor cells to improve memory impairment in Alzheimer’s disease.Therefore,Rbm8a overexpression was induced in the dentate gyrus of 5×FAD mice to validate this hypothesis.Elevated Rbm8a levels in the dentate gyrus triggered neurogenesis and abated pathological phenotypes(such as plaque formation,gliosis reaction,and dystrophic neurites),leading to ameliorated memory performance in 5×FAD mice.RNA sequencing data further substantiated these findings,showing the enrichment of differentially expressed genes involved in biological processes including neurogenesis,cell proliferation,and amyloid protein formation.In conclusion,overexpressing Rbm8a in the dentate gyrus of 5×FAD mouse brains improved cognitive function by ameliorating amyloid-beta-associated pathological phenotypes and enhancing neurogenesis.

Does ash dieback affect the reproductive ecology of Fraxinus excelsior L.?

Forest tree species reproduction is a key factor in maintaining the genetic diversity of future generations and the stability of forest ecosystems.The ongoing ash dieback disease could affect the reproductive ecology of Fraxinus excelsior L.and have a major impact on the quantity and quality of pollen and seeds.In this study,we investigated pollen production and viability of pollen and seeds of ash trees with different health status from 2018 to 2022.Inflorescences were collected from 105 trees(pollen production),pollen from 125 trees(pollen viability),and seeds from 53 trees(seed quality)in two seed orchards and in one floodplain forest in southern Germany.Not all parameters were examined at every site every year.The average pollen production per tree was estimated at 471.2±647.9 billion pollen grains.In addition,we found that a high number of inflorescences did not equate to high pollen production per inflorescence.Pollen production of healthy and diseased trees did not differ significantly,although only 47%of severely diseased male trees(vs.72%for healthy trees)produced flowers.With regards to pollen viability,the TTC test showed an average viability of 73%±17%.Overall,there was a slight tendency for diseased trees to have less viable pollen.However,a significant difference could only be calculated for trees in the floodplain forest.The percentage of germinable seeds in 2018 was 38%in the floodplain forest and 57%in one of the seed orchards.The percentage of viable seeds(TTC test)ranged from 17 to 22%in the orchards in 2020.Non-viable seeds were usually heavily infested by insects.In general,seed quality was not significantly different between healthy and diseased trees.Our results indicate that ash dieback affects flower formation and pollen viability but not pollen production or seed quality.Nevertheless,the fact that hardly any flowering was observed,especially for trees that were seriously affected,suggests a negative effect of ash dieback on reproductive performance.Thus,severely diseased trees will transfer their genes to a smaller extent to the next generation.

Impact of letters to the editor and publications in 2023

A letter to the editor constitutes a short communication addressing a range of topics pertinent to the readership of a journal(Dkhar,2018).This format offers several benefits,such as timeliness,accessibility,innovation,and conciseness,thereby serving as an effective means to disseminate cuttingedge scientific ideas.Over the past five years,there has been a considerable increase in the number of letters published,representing the highest growth rate(approximately 20%)observed in the last three decades(Figure 1A).In the field of academic publishing,letters to the editor are typically more concise than typical research papers.

Aircraft Observation and Simulation of the Supercooled Liquid Water Layer in a Warm Conveyor Belt over North China

This paper studied a snow event over North China on 21 February 2017,using aircraft in-situ data,a Lagrangian analysis tool,and WRF simulations with different microphysical schemes to investigate the supercooled layer of warm conveyor belts(WCBs).Based on the aircraft data,we found a fine vertical structure within clouds in the WCB and highlighted a 1-2 km thin supercooled liquid water layer with a maximum Liquid Water Content(LWC) exceeding0.5 g kg^(-1) during the vertical aircraft observation.Although the main features of thermodynamic profiles were essentially captured by both modeling schemes,the microphysical quantities exhibited large diversity with different microphysics schemes.The conventional Morrison two-moment scheme showed remarkable agreement with in-situ observations,both in terms of the thermodynamic structure and the supercooled liquid water layer.However,the microphysical structure of the WCB clouds,in terms of LWC and IWC,was not apparent in HUJI fast bin scheme.To reduce such uncertainty,future work may focus on improving the representation of microphysics in bin schemes with in-situ data and using similar assumptions for all schemes to isolate the impact of physics.

Thoughts on the system construction of digital Chinese medicine

Digital Chinese medicine refers to a comprehensive system that utilizes unified scientific technologies to fully explore and reproduce human phenomenology, patterns of physical changes, and related human experiences. It encompasses the acquisition, storage, and processing of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) data, information.

Dual-directional regulation of spinal cord injury and the gut microbiota

There is increasing evidence that the gut microbiota affects the incidence and progression of central nervous system diseases via the brain-gut axis.The spinal cord is a vital important part of the central nervous system;however,the underlying association between spinal cord injury and gut interactions remains unknown.Recent studies suggest that patients with spinal cord injury frequently experience intestinal dysfunction and gut dysbiosis.Alterations in the gut microbiota can cause disruption in the intestinal barrier and trigger neurogenic inflammatory responses which may impede recovery after spinal cord injury.This review summarizes existing clinical and basic research on the relationship between the gut microbiota and spinal cord injury.Our research identified three key points.First,the gut microbiota in patients with spinal cord injury presents a key characteristic and gut dysbiosis may profoundly influence multiple organs and systems in patients with spinal cord injury.Second,following spinal cord injury,weakened intestinal peristalsis,prolonged intestinal transport time,and immune dysfunction of the intestine caused by abnormal autonomic nerve function,as well as frequent antibiotic treatment,may induce gut dysbiosis.Third,the gut microbiota and associated metabolites may act on central neurons and affect recovery after spinal cord injury;cytokines and the Toll-like receptor ligand pathways have been identified as crucial mechanisms in the communication between the gut microbiota and central nervous system.Fecal microbiota transplantation,probiotics,dietary interventions,and other therapies have been shown to serve a neuroprotective role in spinal cord injury by modulating the gut microbiota.Therapies targeting the gut microbiota or associated metabolites are a promising approach to promote functional recovery and improve the complications of spinal cord injury.

Water, Sanitation and Hygiene in Lower-Level Health Care Facilities of Dar es Salaam Region in Tanzania: Status towards Achieving the Sustainable Development Goals and Way Forward

Background: Improving Water, Sanitation and Hygiene in health care settings is a critical prerequisite for achieving national health goals and Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The World Health Organization (WHO) has set a target for each United Nations member state to reach by 2030. Each member state is required to reach by 2022, 2025 and 2030 at least 60%, 80% and 100%, respectively of basic level of service of the five elements which are water, sanitation, hygiene, waste management and environmental cleaning. Methods: This study aimed to evaluate and document the current state of basic water, sanitation, and hygiene services in all lower-level health care facilities in the Dar es Salaam region of Tanzania as of July 2022. A cross-sectional study was conducted in 99 public dispensaries in the Dar es Salaam region’s five councils: Ubungo, Kigamboni, Kinondoni and Temeke Municipalities, and Ilala City. The interviewee form and observational checklists were both digitalized using the Kobo tool software. The respondents were health care facility in-charges or nurse in-charges. Data were downloaded, validated, and imported to Stata version 15 for analysis. Results: The basic WASH level per JMP is far below the target in 2022. Each member state by 2022 is required to reach at least 60% of the basic level of service of each element. We found a low coverage of basic WASH in the 99 dispensaries included in this study. The basic WASH coverage was met in only 10 (10.1%) of the dispensaries, while the remaining 89 (89.9%) dispensaries fall on limited WASH services. Conclusion: This study revealed lower coverage of basic WASH services in dispensaries. An urgent need is required to improve the status of WASH in all the dispensaries and facilitate the provision of quality health care services, patient safety and reduce health care associated infections.

The Protective Effects of Flavonoids from Scutellaria Baicalensis Georgi Stems and Leaves on Oligodendrocyte Damage Induced by Aβ1-42

Aim: This study aimed to investigate the protective effects of flavonoids from the stem and leaves of Scutellaria baicalensis Georgi (SSFs) against Aβ1-42-induced oligodendrocytes (OL) damage. Methods: Immunofluorescence was used for the detection of myelin-associated glycoprotein (MAG), a characteristic protein of rat oligodendrocytes (OLN-93 cells). To evaluate the potential protective effects of SSFs on OLN-93 cells injured by Aβ1-42, an injury model was established by subjecting OLN-93 cells to Aβ1-42 exposed. Cell morphology was examined using an inverted microscope, while cell viability was assessed using the colorimetric method of 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT). Additionally, lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) was measured using the pyruvic acid reduction assay. The Ginkgo biloba leaf extract (GBE) injection was used as a positive control. Results: A total of >95% of the MAG immunofluorescence-positive cells were identified as oligodendrocytes. Gradually increasing concentrations of SSFs impaired the cells, and the maximum nondetrimental dose for OLN-93 cells was 75 mg/L. This study assessed the effects of SSFs on OLN-93 cells damaged by Aβ1-42. The results indicated that SSFs significantly improved OLN-93 cell morphological abnormal changes, increased the OLN-93 cell survival rate, and reduced LDH release. Conclusion: SSFs can alleviate Aβ1-42-induced damage of OL.

Pathologically successful conversion hepatectomy for advanced giant hepatocellular carcinoma after multidisciplinary therapy:A case report and review of literature

BACKGROUND Hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC)is one of the leading causes of death due to its complexity,heterogeneity,rapid metastasis and easy recurrence after surgical resection.We demonstrated that combination therapy with transcatheter arterial chemoembolization(TACE),hepatic arterial infusion chemotherapy(HAIC),Epclusa,Lenvatinib and Sintilimab is useful for patients with advanced HCC.CASE SUMMARY A 69-year-old man who was infected with hepatitis C virus(HCV)30 years previously was admitted to the hospital with abdominal pain.Enhanced computed tomography(CT)revealed a low-density mass in the right lobe of the liver,with a volume of 12.9 cm×9.4 cm×15 cm,and the mass exhibited a“fast-in/fast-out”pattern,with extensive filling defect areas in the right branch of the portal vein and an alpha-fetoprotein level as high as 657 ng/mL.Therefore,he was judged to have advanced HCC.During treatment,the patient received three months of Epclusa,three TACE treatments,two HAIC treatments,three courses of sintilimab,and twenty-one months of lenvatinib.In the third month of treatment,the patient developed severe side effects and had to stop immunotherapy,and the Lenvatinib dose had to be halved.Postoperative pathological diagnosis indicated a complete response.The patient recovered well after the operation,and no tumor recurrence was found.CONCLUSION Multidisciplinary conversion therapy for advanced enormous HCC caused by HCV infection has a significant effect.Individualized drug adjustments should be made during any treatment according to the patient's tolerance to treatment.

Identification and Validation of Novel Biomarkers Related to the Calcium Metabolism Pathway in Hypertension Patients Based on Comprehensive Bioinformatics Methods

Background: Hypertension is a universal risk factor for cardiovascular diseases and is thus the leading cause of death worldwide. The identification of novel prognostic and pathogenesis biomarkers plays a key role in disease management. Methods: The GSE145854 and GSE164494 datasets were downloaded from the Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) database and used for screening and validating hypertension signature genes, respectively. Gene Ontology (GO) enrichment analysis was performed on the differentially expressed genes (DEGs) related to calcium ion metabolism in patients with hypertension. The core genes related to immune infiltration were analyzed and screened, and the activity of the signature genes and related pathways was quantified using gene set enrichment analysis (GSEA). The infiltration of immune cells in the blood samples was analyzed, and the DEGs that were abnormally expressed in the clinical blood samples of patients with hypertension were verified via RT-qPCR. Results: A total of 176 DEGs were screened. GO showed that DEGs was involved in the regulation of calcium ion metabolism in biological processes (BP), actin mediated cell contraction, negative regulation of cell movement, and calcium ion transmembrane transport, and in the regulation of protease activity in molecular functions (MF). KEGG analysis revealed that the DEGs were involved mainly in the cGMP-PKG signaling pathway, ubiquitin-protein transferase, tight junction-associated proteins, and the regulation of myocardial cells. MF analysis revealed the immune infiltration function of the cells. RT-qPCR revealed that the expression of Cacna1d, Serpine1, Slc8a3, and Trpc4 was up regulated in hypertension, the expression of Myoz2 and Slc25a23 was down regulated. Conclusion: Cacna1d, Serpine1, Slc8a3, Trpc4, Myoz2 and Slc25a23 may be involved in the regulation of calcium metabolism pathways and play key roles in hypertension. These differentially expressed calcium metabolism-related genes may serve as prognostic markers of hypertension.

Identification and Validation of Vascular-Associated Biomarkers for the Prognosis and Potential Pathogenesis of Hypertension Using Comprehensive Bioinformatics Methods

Background: Hypertension, also known as increased blood pressure, is a phenomenon in which blood flows in blood vessels and causes persistently higher-than-normal pressure on the vessel wall. The identification of novel prognostic and pathogenesis biomarkers plays a key role in the management of hypertension. Methods: The GSE7483 and GSE75815 datasets from the gene expression omnibus (GEO) database were used to identify the genes associated with hypertension that were differentially expressed genes (DEGs). The functional role of the DEGs was elucidated by gene body (GO) enrichment analysis. In addition, we performed an immune infiltration assay and GSEA on the DEGs of hypertensive patients and verified the expression of novel DEGs in the blood of hypertensive patients by RT-qPCR. Results: A total of 267 DEGs were identified from the GEO database. GO analysis revealed that these genes were associated mainly with biological processes such as fibroblast proliferation, cell structural organization, extracellular matrix organization, vasculature development regulation, and angiogenesis. We identified five possible biomarkers, Ecm1, Sparc, Sphk1, Thbsl, and Mecp2, which correlate with vascular development and angiogenesis characteristic of hypertension by bioinformatics, and explored the clinical expression levels of these genes by RT-qPCR, and found that Sparc, Sphk1, and Thbs1 showed significant up-regulation, in agreement with the results of the bioinformatics analysis. Conclusion: Our study suggested that Sparc, Sphk1 and Thbs1 may be potential novel biomarkers for the diagnosis, treatment and prognosis of hypertension and that they are involved in the regulation of vascular development and angiogenesis in hypertension.

Preliminary Palynostratigraphic Data on the Middle Albian-Lower Cenomanian of the Tarfaya Basin, Southwest Morocco

The Tarfaya-Laayoune-Boujdour basin is of great interest to oil exploration;on this aspect, there has been exploration by the Moroccan National Office of Hydrocarbons and Mining, which has shown indices of oil and/or gas recorded in most wells drilled in the Moroccan Atlantic margin. FD-1 well, object of this study, is one of these wells located in the offshore Tarfaya-Laayoune-Boujdour basin. A palynological examination of the processed samples revealed the existence of organic palynomorphs, well conserved and rich in dinoflagellate cysts. The latter are composed of worldwide marker taxa of high stratigraphic resolutions. Thus, the middle upper Albian (3408 - 3408.5 m) is determined by the presence of Cribroperidinium tensiftense, Tehamadinium coummia, Spiniferella cornuta, Chichaouadinium vestitum, Dinopterygium alatum and Litosphaeridium arundum. The upper Albian (3406.5 - 3408 m) is characterized by the FOs of marker taxa: Cyclonephelium chabaca, Cribroperidinium auctificum and Chichaouadinium vestitum. Lastly, the upper Albian-lower Cenomanian transition is defined between 3404 m and 3406.50 m, as suggested by the FOs of Chichaouadinium boydii, Dinopterygium tuberculatum, Sepispinula ancorifera, Litosphaeridium conispinum, Prolixosphaeridium conulum and Xenascus ceratioides.

Effects of ginkgo flavone aglycone on atherosclerosis based on network pharmacology,molecular docking,and in vitro experiments

Background:Ginkgo flavone aglycones(GA),a Ginkgo(Ginkgo biloba)extract,has been proven to have good biological activity in atherosclerosis(AS)treatment.Moreover,its active compounds and the corresponding mechanism for the treatment of AS remain unclear.Methods:To evaluate and identify the potential pharmacological mechanisms of GA in AS treatment,the program Cytoscape was used to generate network mappings of the GA-AS-potential target gene.GO and KEGG enrichment analyses were performed to further investigate the potential mechanism of AS and the pharmacological properties of GA.A molecular docking approach was utilized to determine the GA components that interact with Akt.In vitro experiments were carried out to identify the anti-atherosclerotic effects of GA by targeting Akt.Results:Network pharmacological research determined that the active components of GA(quercetin,kaempferol,and isorhamnetin)correlated with AS target genes such as AKT1,EGFR,SRC,ESR1,PTGS2,MMP9,KDR,GSK3B,APP,and MMP2,respectively.GO enrichment and KEGG analysis showed that PI3K-Akt signaling may play an important role in GA treatment.Molecular docking experiments indicated that quercetin,kaempferol,and isorhamnetin integrate into the binding pockets of the most potentially beneficial GA-AS target protein(Akt).Consequently,cell experiments were conducted to support the anti-atherosclerotic activity of GA on AS by inhibiting the phosphorylation of AKT1 and its downstream signaling molecules,which regulated the proliferation of HASMCs.Conclusion:Our results detailed GA's active ingredients,potential targets,and molecular basis against AS.GA may exert anti-atherosclerotic effects by suppressing Akt phosphorylation and inhibiting the proliferation of HASMCs.It also proposed a viable approach to determining the scientific foundation and therapeutic mechanism of Chinese herbal medicine extracts in disease therapy.

The wheat sucrose synthase gene TaSus1 is a determinant of grain number per spike

Some haplotypes of the sucrose synthase gene TaSus1 are associated with thousand-grain weight(TGW)in wheat(Triticum aestivum L.).However,no mutations have been identified within the gene to test this association.The effects of TaSus1 on grain number per spike(GNS)also are largely unknown.Our previous genome-wide association study identified TaSus-A1 as a candidate gene controlling fertile spikelet number per spike(FSN).In the present study,we generated two independent mutants for the three TaSus1 homoeologs by CRISPR/Cas9-mediated genome editing.The triple mutants displayed lower FSN,GNS,grain number per spikelet(GNST),and TGW than wild-type plants.In 306 hexaploid wheat accessions,two single-nucleotide polymorphisms in TaSus-A1 contributed differently to GNS.Introgression of the two alleles into a wheat genetic background confirmed their effects.The alleles differed in geographical distribution among the accessions.

Improvement of the nutritional support management system for patients in intensive care units

BACKGROUND Nutritional support for patients hospitalized in the intensive care unit(ICU)is an important part of clinical treatment and care,but there are significant implementation difficulties.AIM To introduce a modified nutritional support management system for ICU patients based on closed-loop information management and psychological counseling.METHODS The division of functions,personnel training,system construction,development of an intelligent decision-making software system,quality control,and improvement of the whole process were carried out to systematically manage nutritional support for ICU patients.RESULTS Following the implementation of the whole process management system,the scores of ICU medical staff’s knowledge,attitudes/beliefs,and practices regarding nutritional support were comprehensively enhanced.The proportion of hospital bed-days of total enteral nutrition(EN)in ICU patients increased from 5.58%to 11.46%,and the proportion of EN plus parenteral nutrition increased from 42.71%to 47.07%.The rate of EN initiation within 48 h of ICU admission increased from 37.50%to 48.28%,and the EN compliance rate within 72 h elevated from 20.59%to 31.72%.After the implementation of the project,the Self-rating Anxiety Scale score decreased from 61.07±9.91 points to 52.03±9.02 points,the Self-rating Depression Scale score reduced from 62.47±10.50 points to 56.34±9.83 points,and the ICU stay decreased from 5.76±2.77 d to 5.10±2.12 d.CONCLUSION The nutritional support management system based on closed-loop information management and psychological counseling achieved remarkable results in clinical applications in ICU patients.

A new electric field mill array with each of the mill’s rotor controlled precisely by a GPS module:Equipment and initial results

We have newly designed an electrostatic sensor,called an electric field mill(EFM),to simplify the estimation of the charge position and charge amount transferred by lightning discharges.It is necessary for this remote estimation of the transferred charge to measure electric field changes caused by charge loss at the time of a lightning strike at multiple locations.For multiple-station measurement of electric field changes,not only speed but also phase for exposure and shielding of the sensing plates inside each EFM of the array should be synchronized to maintain the sensitivities of the deployed instruments.Currently,there is no such EFM with specified speed and phase control performance of the rotary part.Thus,we developed a new EFM in which the rotary mechanism was controlled consistently to within 3%error by a GPS module.Five EFMs had been distributed in the Hokuriku area of Japan during the winter season of 2022-2023 for a test observation.Here we describe the design and a simple calibration method for our new EFM array.Data analysis method based on the assumption of a simple monopole charge structure is also summarized.For validation,locations of assumed point charges were compared with three-dimensional lightning mapping data estimated by radio observations in the MF-HF bands.Initial results indicated the validity to estimate transferred charge amounts and positions of winter cloud-to-ground lightning discharges with our new EFM array.

Mercury Levels Assessment in the Population of Aby and Frambo Villages in the Vinicity of Aby Lagoon in Côte d’Ivoire (West Africa)

The Minamata Convention in the aim to protect human life and the environment, seeks to reduce mercury (Hg) by monitoring it concentrations in the environment. Artisanal and Small-scale Gold Mining (ASGM) has been identified as the most important anthropogenic source of human exposure to Hg. In this context, the main goal of this study was to assess the level of mercury in hair of two (2) populations living along two lagoons respectively Aby and Tendo, in Ivory Coast. To reach this goal, hair samples of 138 residents were collected and analyzed by using Cold Vapor Atomic Fluorescence Spectrophotometry (CV-AFS) technique for mercury concentration. Results showed that for the entire population the Hg mean was 2.34 μg/g. Also, they were ranged between 0.15 to 8.53 μg/g and presented substantial differences amongst the villages. In Aby village, we observed the highest Hg concentrations (Mean = 2.62 μg/g). Our findings showed that almost the entire sample group (82%) exceed the USEPA recommended limit, furthermore 56% of them exceed the normal level of WHO and 2% of the respondent has the unhealthy levels of mercury (≥6 μg Hg/g) of hair by WHO standards. Gender differences in hair mercury varies greatly among reports. Lower levels in women’s hair compared to men were reported in the both village. Considering age, the lowest concentrations were observed with children. However, when we take in account the age groups, data suggested that the most exposed sub-population of [18-29] years old is from Aby village in opposite at Frambo village, the same case those who were ≥ 40 years old. It’s convenient to note that, the proportion of Mercury levels would not to be neglected among studied population especially with the resident from Aby village. So, some measures need to be taken at the political level to control mercury contamination.

The Misdirection and Return of Graduate Course Teaching

Graduate course teaching plays an irreplaceable role in knowledge mastery,skill enhancement,and quality cultivation of graduate students.This paper addresses current issues in graduate course teaching,such as ambiguous objectives,formulaic content,formalistic operation,and oversimplified evaluation.It proposes corresponding solutions with the hope of steering graduate course teaching back to its original purpose and realizing its true significance.

Network pharmacology and molecular docking analysis reveal insights into the molecular mechanism of Gualou Qumai Wan in clear cell renal cell carcinoma

Background:To initially clarify the potential therapeutic targets and pharmacological mechanism regarding Gualou Qumai Wan(GQW),a kind of traditional Chinese medicine(TCM),in clear cell renal cell carcinoma(ccRCC)by virtue of the network pharmacology analysis and molecular docking analysis.Methods:The screening of bioactive components and targets of GQW was based on the Traditional Chinese Medicine System Pharmacology(TCMSP)and the UniProt platform served for standardizing their targets.Online Mendelian Inheritance in Man(OMIM),PharmGkb,TTD,DrugBank and GeneCards databases were searched to collect the disease targets of ccRCC.Cytoscape assisted in constructing herb-compound-target(H-C-T)networks.The STRING database was searched for constructing the target protein-protein interaction(PPI)networks,while the R programming language served for analyzing GO functional terms and the KEGG pathways related to potential targets.Analyses of core genes related to survival and tumor microenvironment(TME)were conducted respectively based on the GEPIA2 database and TIMER 2.0 database.Human Protein Atlas(HPA)and The Cancer Genome Atlas(TCGA)helped to obtain core genes’protein expression as well as transcriptome expression level.Autodock Vina software validated the molecular docking regarding GQW components and pivotal targets.Results:The constructed H-C-T networks mainly had 33 compounds and 65 targets.A topological analysis of the PPI network identified that ESR1,AKT1,HIF1A,PTGS2,TP53 and VEGFA serve as core targets in the way GQW affects ccRCC.According to the GO and KEGG pathway enrichment analyses,the effects of GQW are mediated by genes related to hypoxia and oxidative stress as well as the Chemical carcinogenesis-receptor activation and PI3K-Akt signaling pathways.AKT1 shows a close relation to the recruitment of various immune cells and can remarkably affect disease prognosis according to reports.Molecular docking and molecular dynamics simulations showed that diosgenin has higher affinity with core targets.Conclusion:The study makes a comprehensive explanation of the biological activity,potential targets,as well as molecular mechanism regarding GQW against ccRCC,which promisingly assists in revealing the action mechanism of TCM formulae in disease treatment and the respective and scientific basis.

Assessment of Nitrates and Nitrites in Borehole Water from the Southern and the Northern Region of Côte d’Ivoire (West Africa)

This study aimed to evaluate the quality of water from village boreholes by measuring physicochemical parameters such as nitrates, nitrites, and total organic carbon (TOC). Forty-five (45) village pumps from the Southern (Basse Côte) and the Northern (Korhogo) region of Cte d’Ivoire (west Africa) were sampled. Physicochemical parameters such as temperature, pH, conductivity at 25˚C, and turbidity were determined in situ, while nitrite and nitrate were analyzed according to ISO 10304-1 (2007) standard and total organic carbon (TOC) by NF EN 1484 (1997) standard. The results showed that the borehole waters of the Basse Côte and Korhogo analyzed are acidic, with an average temperature of 27.51˚C ± 0.16˚C and 29.95˚C ± 0.51˚C respectively for the Basse Côte and Korhogo regions. The borehole waters of the Basse Côtedo not contain nitrites, while those of Korhogo have average nitrite contents of 0.32 mg/l. The average nitrate rate in the waters of the Basse Côte and Korhogo are 12.08 ± 2.11 mg/l and 11.03 ± 3.18 mg/l respectively. The average TOC concentration of the waters of the Basse Côte is 1.28 ± 0.32 mg/l and that of Korhogo is 0.56 ± 0.09 mg/L. The study showed that the borehole waters of the Basse Côte and Korhogo have average temperatures between 27.4˚C and 29.95˚C with a slightly acidic pH value and acceptable salinity. The TOC concentrations obtained at the different sampling points were all below the French standard (2 mg/L) except for certains pumps of the Basse Côte. The water samples from the Basse Côte were devoid of nitrite. On the other hand, those from Korhogo revealed the presence of nitrite. Also, the borehole waters of the regions of the Basse Côte and Korhogo contain relatively high nitrate contents, presumably due to anthropometric activity. Overall, our study on the quality of drinking water showed that the waters analyzed are in compliance with international standards and safe for consumption.