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European Journal of Clinical... Dec 2023There are contradictory effects regarding the effect of NAD+ precursor on blood pressure and inflammation. In order to obtain a better viewpoint from them, this study... (Review)
Review
BACKGROUND
There are contradictory effects regarding the effect of NAD+ precursor on blood pressure and inflammation. In order to obtain a better viewpoint from them, this study aimed to comprehensively investigate the effects of NAD+ precursor supplementation on blood pressure, C-reactive protein (CRP) and carotid intima-media thickness (CIMT).
METHODS
PubMed/MEDLINE, Web of Science, SCOPUS and Embase databases were searched using standard keywords to identify all controlled trials investigating the effects of NAD+ precursor on blood pressure, CRP and CIMT. Pooled weighted mean difference (WMD) and 95% confidence intervals (95% CI) were achieved by random-effects model analysis for the best estimation of outcomes.
RESULTS
Twenty-nine articles (with 8664 participants) were included in this article. Results from meta-analyses of RCTs from random-effects models indicated a significant reduction in systolic (SBP) (weighted mean difference (WMD): -2.54 mmHg, p < .001) and diastolic blood pressure (DBP) (WMD: -2.15 mmHg, p < .001), as well as in CRP (WMD: -.93 mg/L, 95% CI -1.47 to -.40, p < .001) concentrations and CIMT (WMD: -.01 mm, 95% CI -.02 to -.00, p = .005) with the NAD+ precursors supplementation compared with the control group. In addition, a greater effect of supplementation with NAD+ precursors in reducing blood pressure (BP) were observed with the highest dose (≥2 g) and duration of the intervention (>12 weeks), as well as with NA supplementation when compared to NE.
CONCLUSIONS
Overall, these findings suggest that NAD+ precursor supplementation might have a beneficial effect on cardiovascular risk factors such as BP, CRP concentration and CIMT.
Topics: Humans; Blood Pressure; C-Reactive Protein; Carotid Intima-Media Thickness; NAD; Dietary Supplements; Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic
PubMed: 37593976
DOI: 10.1111/eci.14078 -
Frontiers in Chemistry 2023Aerogels are remarkable nanoporous materials with unique properties such as low density, high porosity, high specific surface area, and interconnected pore networks. In... (Review)
Review
Aerogels are remarkable nanoporous materials with unique properties such as low density, high porosity, high specific surface area, and interconnected pore networks. In addition, their ability to be synthesized from various precursors such as inorganics, organics, or hybrid, and the tunability of their properties make them very attractive for many applications such as adsorption, thermal insulation, catalysts, tissue engineering, and drug delivery. The physical and chemical properties and pore structure of aerogels are crucial in determining their application areas. Moreover, it is possible to tailor the aerogel properties to meet the specific requirements of each application. This review presents a comprehensive review of synthesis conditions and process parameters in tailoring aerogel properties. The effective parameters from the dissolution of the precursor step to the supercritical drying step, including the carbonization process for carbon aerogels, are investigated from the studies reported in the literature.
PubMed: 37937209
DOI: 10.3389/fchem.2023.1294520 -
Results and Problems in Cell... 2024Osteoclasts are multinucleated bone-resorbing cells derived from the monocyte/macrophage lineage. The macrophage colony-stimulating factor/receptor activator of nuclear... (Review)
Review
Osteoclasts are multinucleated bone-resorbing cells derived from the monocyte/macrophage lineage. The macrophage colony-stimulating factor/receptor activator of nuclear factor κB ligand (M-CSF/RANKL) signaling network governs the differentiation of precursor cells into fusion-competent mononucleated cells. Repetitive fusion of fusion-competent cells produces multinucleated osteoclasts. Osteoclasts are believed to die via apoptosis after bone resorption. However, recent studies have found that osteoclastogenesis in vivo proceeds by replacing the old nucleus of existing osteoclasts with a single newly differentiated mononucleated cell. Thus, the formation of new osteoclasts is minimal. Furthermore, the sizes of osteoclasts can change via cell fusion and fission in response to external conditions. On the other hand, osteoclastogenesis in vitro involves various levels of heterogeneity, including osteoclast precursors, mode of fusion, and properties of the differentiated osteoclasts. To better understand the origin of these heterogeneities and the plasticity of osteoclasts, we examine several processes of osteoclastogenesis in this review. Candidate mechanisms that create heterogeneity involve asymmetric cell division, osteoclast niche, self-organization, and mode of fusion and fission. Elucidation of the plasticity or fluctuation of the M-CSF/RANKL network should be an important topic for future researches.
Topics: Humans; Osteoclasts; Macrophage Colony-Stimulating Factor; Bone Resorption; Cell Differentiation; Signal Transduction
PubMed: 37996681
DOI: 10.1007/978-3-031-37936-9_12 -
Materials (Basel, Switzerland) Nov 2023In this review, we systematically reviewed the recent advances in the development of ultrafine shape memory alloys with unique shape memory effects and superelastic... (Review)
Review
In this review, we systematically reviewed the recent advances in the development of ultrafine shape memory alloys with unique shape memory effects and superelastic behavior using amorphous metallic materials. Its scientific contribution involves defining and expanding the range of fabrication methods for single-phase ultrafine/nanocrystalline alloys with multicomponent systems. In multicomponent amorphous alloys, the crystallization mechanism depends on the alloy composition and is a selectable factor in the alloy designing method, considering the thermodynamic and physical parameters of constituent elements. The crystallization kinetics can be controlled by modulating the annealing condition in a supercooled liquid state with consideration of the crystalline temperature of the amorphous alloys. The phase stability of austenite and martensite phases in ultrafine shape memory alloys developed from amorphous precursors is determined according to alloy composition and grain size, which strongly influence the shape memory effect and superelastic behavior. A methodological framework is subsequently suggested to develop the ultrafine shape memory alloys based on the systematic alloy designing method, which can be considered an important strategy for developing novel ultrafine/nanocrystalline shape memory alloys with excellent shape memory and superelastic effects.
PubMed: 38068071
DOI: 10.3390/ma16237327 -
Chemical Science Dec 2023Arynes hold immense potential as reactive intermediates in organic synthesis as they engage in a diverse range of mechanistically distinct chemical reactions. However,...
Arynes hold immense potential as reactive intermediates in organic synthesis as they engage in a diverse range of mechanistically distinct chemical reactions. However, the poor functional group compatibility of generating arynes or their precursors has stymied their widespread use. Here, we show that generating arynes by deprotonation of an arene and elimination of an "onium" leaving group is mild, efficient and broad in scope. This is achieved by using aryl(TMP)iodonium salts (TMP = 2,4,6-trimethoxyphenyl) as the aryne precursor and potassium phosphate as the base, and a range of arynophiles are compatible. Additionally, we have performed the first quantitative analysis of functional group compatibility for several methods to generate arynes, including the method developed here and the current state of the art. Finally, we show that a range of "sensitive" functional groups such as Lewis and Brønsted acids and electrophiles are compatible under our conditions.
PubMed: 38075642
DOI: 10.1039/d3sc05429b -
Angewandte Chemie (International Ed. in... Jun 2024Understanding the properties of the precursor can provide deeper insight into the crystallization and nucleation mechanisms of perovskites, which is vital for the...
Understanding the properties of the precursor can provide deeper insight into the crystallization and nucleation mechanisms of perovskites, which is vital for the solution-process device performance. In this work, we conducted a detailed investigation into the photophysics properties of all-inorganic perovskite (CsPbBr₃) precursors in a broad concentration and various solvents. The precursor gradually transformed from the solution state into the colloidal state and exhibited aggregation-induced emission (AIE) character as the concentration increased. The aggregative luminescence from the precursors originates from the polybromide plumbous that is formed through the coordination of solvent molecules to the lead metal center. Two adducts with monodentate (PbBr₂⋅solvent) and bidentate (PbB₂⋅2solvent) ligands can be obtained based on the coordination capability, accompanied by a red and green emission with photoluminescence peak at 610 and 565 nm, respectively. Furthermore, the aggregative luminescence intensity and color could be regulated by changing the solvent and precursor ratio. Besides, we discussed the difference between the molecular aggregate in the organic system and the ionic aggregate in the inorganic system. The fluorescence that is sensitive to Pb²⁺ coordination reported here could be applied to screen perovskite additives and judge the precursor aging.
PubMed: 38853460
DOI: 10.1002/anie.202408586 -
Immunology Dec 2023Rheumatoid arthritis is a chronic and systemic inflammatory disease that affects approximately 1% of the world's population and is characterised by joint inflammation,...
Rheumatoid arthritis is a chronic and systemic inflammatory disease that affects approximately 1% of the world's population and is characterised by joint inflammation, the destruction of articular cartilage and bone, and many potentially life-threatening extraarticular manifestations. B lymphocytes play a central role in the pathology of rheumatoid arthritis as the precursors of autoantibody secreting plasma cells, as highly potent antigen-presenting cells, and as a source of various inflammatory cytokines, however, the effects of rheumatoid arthritis on B lymphocyte development remain poorly understood. Here, we analyse B lymphocyte development in murine models of rheumatoid arthritis, quantifying all the subsets of B cell precursors in the bone marrow and splenic B cells using flow cytometry. We demonstrate a severe reduction in pre-B cells and immature B cells in the bone marrow of mice with active disease, despite no major effects on the mature naïve B cell numbers. The loss of B cell precursors in the bone marrow of the affected mice was associated with a highly significant reduction in the proportion of Ki67 cells, indicating impaired cell proliferation, while the viability of the B cell precursors was not significantly affected. We also observed some mobilisation of the B cell precursor cells into the mouse spleen, demonstrated with flow cytometry and pre-B colony forming units assays. In summary, the current work demonstrates a severe dysregulation in B lymphocyte development in murine rheumatoid arthritis, with possible implications for B cell repertoire formation, tolerance induction, and disease mechanisms.
Topics: Mice; Animals; Arthritis, Experimental; Disease Models, Animal; Arthritis, Rheumatoid; B-Lymphocytes; Immune Tolerance
PubMed: 37688495
DOI: 10.1111/imm.13691 -
Philosophical Transactions. Series A,... Jul 2023Over recent years, molecular simulations have provided invaluable insights into the microscopic processes governing the initial stages of crystal nucleation and growth.... (Review)
Review
Over recent years, molecular simulations have provided invaluable insights into the microscopic processes governing the initial stages of crystal nucleation and growth. A key aspect that has been observed in many different systems is the formation of precursors in the supercooled liquid that precedes the emergence of crystalline nuclei. The structural and dynamical properties of these precursors determine to a large extent the nucleation probability as well as the formation of specific polymorphs. This novel microscopic view on nucleation mechanisms has further implications for our understanding of the nucleating ability and polymorph selectivity of nucleating agents, as these appear to be strongly linked to their ability in modifying structural and dynamical characteristics of the supercooled liquid, namely liquid heterogeneity. In this perspective, we highlight recent progress in exploring the connection between liquid heterogeneity and crystallization, including the effects of templates, and the potential impact for controlling crystallization processes. This article is part of a discussion meeting issue 'Supercomputing simulations of advanced materials'.
PubMed: 37211029
DOI: 10.1098/rsta.2022.0249 -
Food & Nutrition Research 2023Niacin is the precursor to pyridine nucleotides NAD (nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide) and NADP (nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate). Niacin (vitamin B) is the... (Review)
Review
Niacin is the precursor to pyridine nucleotides NAD (nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide) and NADP (nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate). Niacin (vitamin B) is the common term for nicotinic acid, nicotinamide and derivatives that exhibit the biological activity of nicotinamide. Furthermore, the indispensable amino acid tryptophan is the substrate for synthesis of NAD. Thus, the requirements and intake of niacin are expressed as niacin equivalents (NE). The focus of interest for niacin over the last decade has primarily been on pharmacological doses of nicotinic acid as a lipid-lowering agent and other NAD precursors as potential enhancers of cellular NAD concentrations. None of these studies, however, makes a useful contribution to understanding dietary requirements in healthy populations. The requirement for niacin is estimated based on the relationship between intake and biochemical indices of niacin status, primarily urinary excretion of nicotinamide metabolites.
PubMed: 38187785
DOI: 10.29219/fnr.v67.10299 -
The Journal of Allergy and Clinical... Jan 2024Basophils are rare but important effector cells in many allergic disorders. Contrary to their early progenitors, the terminal developmental processes of basophils in...
BACKGROUND
Basophils are rare but important effector cells in many allergic disorders. Contrary to their early progenitors, the terminal developmental processes of basophils in which they gain their unique functional properties are unknown.
OBJECTIVE
We sought to identify a novel late-stage basophil precursor and a transcription factor regulating the terminal maturation of basophils.
METHODS
Using flow cytometry, transcriptome analysis, and functional assays, we investigated the identification and functionality of the basophil precursors as well as basophil development. We generated mice with basophil-specific deletion of nuclear factor IL-3 (NFIL3)/E4BP4 and analyzed the functional impairment of NFIL3/E4BP4-deficient basophils in vitro and in vivo using an oxazolone-induced murine model of allergic dermatitis.
RESULTS
We report a new mitotic transitional basophil precursor population (referred to as transitional basophils) that expresses the FcεRIα chain at higher levels than mature basophils. Transitional basophils are less responsive to IgE-linked degranulation but produce more cytokines in response to IL-3, IL-33, or IgE cross-linking than mature basophils. In particular, we found that the expression of NFIL3/E4BP4 gradually rises as cells mature from the basophil progenitor stage. Basophil-specific deletion of NFIL3/E4BP4 reduces the expression of genes necessary for basophil function and impairs IgE receptor signaling, cytokine secretion, and degranulation in the context of murine atopic dermatitis.
CONCLUSIONS
We discovered transitional basophils, a novel late-stage mitotic basophil precursor cell population that exists between basophil progenitors and postmitotic mature basophils. We demonstrated that NFIL3/E4BP4 augments the IgE-mediated functions of basophils, pointing to a potential therapeutic regulator for allergic diseases.
Topics: Animals; Mice; Basophils; Dermatitis, Atopic; Hypersensitivity; Immunoglobulin E; Interleukin-3; Transcription Factors; Basic-Leucine Zipper Transcription Factors
PubMed: 37783432
DOI: 10.1016/j.jaci.2023.09.029