Heilongjiang Academy of Sciences

BackgroundMyocardial fibrosis, characterized by excessive collagen deposition and fibroblast activation, is a pivotal pathological process driving heart failure after myocardial infarction (MI). Our prior research revealed that Brahma-related gene 1 (BRG1) expression is elevated after MI and exacerbated cardiac electrophysiological remodeling; however, its precise role and molecular mechanism in post-MI fibrosis remain undefined.MethodsBRG1 expression was assessed in a mouse MI model and in TGF-β1-stimulated cardiac fibroblasts (CFs). Gain- and loss-of-function studies were performed using adenoviral vectors, siRNA, and plasmids in vitro and in vivo. Cardiac function and fibrosis were evaluated by echocardiography and histology. The molecular mechanism was dissected through co-immunoprecipitation (Co-IP), dual-luciferase reporter assays, chromatin immunoprecipitation (ChIP), and functional rescue experiments targeting the PP2A/Smad3 axis.ResultsBRG1 was upregulated in fibrotic mouse hearts post-MI and in activated CFs. In vivo, BRG1 knockdown via AAV9-shRNA improved cardiac function, reduced infarct size, and attenuated fibrosis. In vitro, BRG1 promoted CFs proliferation, migration, and collagen production. Mechanistically, TGF-β1 enhanced the interaction between BRG1 and the transcription factor ZEB1. This complex transcriptionally repressed Ppp2r1a, the gene encoding the PP2A structural subunit Aα, leading to diminished PP2A activity. Consequently, Smad3 phosphorylation and nuclear translocation were enhanced, amplifying the pro-fibrotic TGF-β/Smad3 cascade. Crucially, ZEB1 knockdown or PP2A inhibition (okadaic acid) could respectively block or rescue the fibrotic effects of BRG1. Finally, BRG1 knockdown similarly suppressed fibrotic activation in human CFs.ConclusionOur study defines a novel BRG1/ZEB1/PP2A transcriptional axis as a key driver of myocardial fibrosis and suggests BRG1 as a potential therapeutic target for mitigating fibrotic remodeling after MI.

The rapid development of the chemical industry has produced a large amount of industrial wastewater, posing a huge threat to the ecological environment and human health. Efficient treatment of sewage is an urgent problem to be solved at present. The combination of efficient nanoparticle catalysts and economical wastewater treatment technologies is an important method to solve water pollution problems. However, nanoparticles have the disadvantages of easy agglomeration, poor stability and difficulty in recovery, which reduces their catalytic performance. Fe3O4 magnetic catalyst, because of its structural characteristics of polyimide composite material and its magnetic field reaction characteristics of inorganic nanoparticles, makes the nanocomposite able to disperse and treat rapidly under the influence of an external magnetic field and can be reused. This paper provides a review of the preparation methods and their applications of Fe3O4 magnetic catalysts in recent years, and analyzes and prospects the application and existing problems of future research development.

BackgroundGlobally, increasing numbers of adolescents use digital devices for learning, and this educational screen exposure may alter behavioral patterns and be associated with the rising prevalence of adolescent overweight. Limited research has examined the interrelationships among educational screen exposure, adolescent overweight, physical activity, and sleep quality. This study aims to assess the impact of educational screen exposure on adolescent overweight prevalence and to identify related mediating risk behaviors.MethodsData on 41,157 adolescents from 16 cities in China were from the Database of Youth Health. Body mass and height were measured to estimate body mass index. Physical activity and sleep quality data were collected using a self-administered questionnaire. We drew data from two waves (2015 and 2017) of adolescent health surveys, which coincided with China’s online education policy since 2015. The implementation of this policy resulted in a substantial increase in adolescents’ educational screen exposure, with the intensity of the policy implementation influenced by local Internet infrastructure. We allocated adolescents into exposure and control groups based on the local Internet penetration rate. Leveraging this policy-driven natural experiment, a difference-in-differences approach was then applied to compare changes in overweight prevalence, physical activity, and sleep quality before and after the policy implementation between these two groups.ResultsThe increase in overweight prevalence of adolescents in the exposure group from 2015 to 2017 was 3.1% greater than those in the control group (Coef. 0.03, 95% CI: 0.01 to 0.05, p < 0.01). The exposure group showed significant reductions in physical activity frequency (Coef. -0.49, 95% CI: -0.52 to -0.45) and sleep quality (Coef. -0.06, 95% CI: -0.09 to -0.02). Mediation analyses suggested that reduced physical activity and sleep quality were plausible mediating variables linking educational screen exposure and overweight prevalence. Male adolescents experienced a greater increase in overweight associated with educational screen exposure compared to their peers (Coef. 0.026, 95% CI: 0.01 to 0.04).ConclusionsEducational screen exposure may contribute to increased overweight in adolescents by reducing physical exercise and impairing sleep quality. Educators, guardians, and policymakers should consider effective measures to minimize the adverse impacts of educational screen exposure by promoting physical activities among adolescents.Supplementary InformationThe online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12889-026-26600-4.

Seed germination is a critical developmental stage exhibiting high vulnerability to salt stress. The role of MYB transcription factors (TFs) in mediating this process in Cannabis sativa L. remains largely unexplored. In this study, we performed a genome-wide analysis and identified 115 CsMYB genes, which were phylogenetically classified into 12 distinct subgroups. In silico promoter analysis revealed a significant enrichment of abscisic acid (ABA)- and methyl jasmonate (MeJA)-responsive cis-elements, suggesting their potential linkage to phytohormone signaling pathways under stress conditions. To investigate their expression during salt stress, we profiled a subset of candidate CsMYB genes during seed germination under 150 mM NaCl treatment based on RNA-seq screening at 24 h post-imbibition (hpi) under salt stress. These candidates exhibited distinct temporal expression profiles: CsMYB33 and CsMYB44 were transiently induced at the early stage (12 h post-imbibition), while CsMYB14, CsMYB78, and CsMYB79 showed sustained upregulation from 24 h to 5 days. In contrast, CsMYB58 and CsMYB110 were downregulated. Synteny analysis indicated a closer evolutionary relationship between CsMYBs and their Arabidopsis thaliana orthologs compared to those in monocots. Protein-protein interaction predictions, based on orthology, further implicated these CsMYBs within putative ABA signaling and reactive oxygen species (ROS) homeostasis networks. Collectively, our findings provide a systematic genomic identification and genomic characterization of the CsMYB family and propose a model for the potential multi-phase involvement of selected CsMYBs in the salt stress response during seed germination. This work establishes a foundational resource and identifies key candidate genes for future functional validation aimed at enhancing salt tolerance in C. sativa.

Thrombotic diseases remain a major global health concern with high morbidity and mortality. Four biomarkers (TAT, t-PAIC, TM, PIC) enable real-time monitoring of coagulation, addressing limitations of traditional diagnostics. Herein, we developed a multiplex electrochemical immunosensor for the simultaneous detection of these biomarkers. The sensing platform is constructed on a glassy carbon electrode modified with gold nanoparticles and laser-induced graphene (AuNPs-LIG), which enhances conductivity and signal output. A "One-for-Four" strategy was employed using four distinct redox probes (AQ, OAP, MB, PPD), each conjugated to a specific antibody via amidation and anchored to functionalized carbon nanotubes (Au@CNTs), forming a multichannel signal amplification system with high sensitivity. The immunosensor exhibited excellent linearity (10-100 ng/mL, R2 > 0.98) and low detection limits: 3.99 ng/mL (TAT), 5.25 ng/mL (t-PAIC), 2.51 ng/mL (TM), and 4.20 ng/mL (PIC). It also demonstrated high selectivity, reproducibility and long-term stability. Recovery in human plasma ranged from 84.1% to 112.21%, indicating strong applicability to complex clinical samples. This work presents a robust, portable POCT platform with great potential for early diagnosis and dynamic monitoring of thrombotic diseases.