[A survey on the implementation of cardiovascular surgery for congenital heart disease in China between 2017 and 2021]

Objective: To investigate the inplementation of cardiovascular surgery for congenital heart disease (CHD) in China. Methods: A cross-sectional study was carried out. The CHD cardiovascular surgery data collected by the Chinese Society of Extracorporeal Circulation from 2017 to 2021 in 31 provinces (autonomous regions/municipalities) of China were retrospectively reviewed, the implementation of CHD cardiovascular surgery in different provinces, regions, general/specialized hospitals, and different age groups (whether≤18 years old) were summarized, and the correlation analysis between the number of surgeries carried out in each province/region and the gross regional product and the number of the regional population was performed. Results: Between 2017 and 2021, the annual volume of CHD cardiovascular surgery was 77 120, 77 634, 81 161, 62 663 and 71 492, respectively, showing a decreasing trend. Meanwhile, the proportion of CHD patients aged≤18 years who underwent cardiovascular surgery also showed a downward trend, from 79.8% (61 557/77 120) in 2017 to 58.6% (41 871/71 492) in 2021 (P=0.027). The number of surgical cases varied greatly among different provinces, including 4 provinces with≥5 000 cases and 9 provinces with 2 000-5 000 cases. In the five years, the number of CHD cardiovascular surgeries in Central and East China was the largest, accounting for 41.1%-45.5% of the total surgical cases. The proportion of CHD surgery cases≤18 years old was the highest in Southwest China (69.7%-87.4%) and the lowest in Northeast China (28.2%-68.9%). Except for 2021, the number of cases carried out by each region between 2017 and 2020 was correlated with the gross regional product (r=0.929, 0.929, 0.893 and 0.964, respectively, all P<0.05) and the population (r=0.821, 0.893, 0.821 and 0.857, respectively, all P<0.05). Hospitals that performed more than 100 operations (20.5%±1.2% of the total number of hospitals) completed 86.2%±1.2% of the total number of operations in China during the 5-year period. In 2017 and 2021, the number of CHD cardiovascular surgeries preformed in children's/women's and children's specialized hospitals accounted for 24.3% (18 772/77 120) and 23.8% (17 012/71 492) of the total number of cases in China, respectively. Conclusions: From 2017 to 2021, the number of cardiovascular surgery for CHD decreases slightly, but the proportion of surgery for adult CHD patients increases significantly.There is a strong correlation between the number of CHD operations in each region and their economic development status. The scale of CHD cardiovascular surgery performed in children's hospitals/women's and children's hospitals accounts for about a quarter of the total volume in China.

Efficacy and safety of robotic versus laparoscopic liver resection for hepatocellular carcinoma: a propensity score-matched retrospective cohort study

BACKGROUND

Evidence concerning long-term outcome of robotic liver resection (RLR) and laparoscopic liver resection (LLR) for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) patients is scarce.

METHODS

This study enrolled all patients who underwent RLR and LLR for resectable HCC between July 2016 and July 2021. Propensity score matching (PSM) was employed to create a 1:3 match between the RLR and LLR groups. A comprehensive collection and analysis of patient data regarding efficacy and safety have been conducted, along with the evaluation of the learning curve for RLR.

RESULTS

Following PSM, a total of 341 patients were included, with 97 in the RLR group and 244 in the LLR group. RLR group demonstrated a significantly longer operative time (median [IQR], 210 [152.0-298.0] min vs. 183.5 [132.3-263.5] min; p = 0.04), with no significant differences in other perioperative and short-term postoperative outcomes. Overall survival (OS) was similar between the two groups (p = 0.43), but RLR group exhibited improved recurrence-free survival (RFS) (median of 65 months vs. 56 months, p = 0.006). The estimated 5-year OS for RLR and LLR were 74.8% (95% CI: 65.4-85.6%) and 80.7% (95% CI: 74.0-88.1%), respectively. The estimated 5-year RFS for RLR and LLR were 58.6% (95% CI: 48.6-70.6%) and 38.3% (95% CI: 26.4-55.9%), respectively. In the multivariate Cox regression analysis, RLR (HR: 0.586, 95% CI (0.393-0.874), p = 0.008) emerged as an independent predictor of reducing recurrence rates and enhanced RFS. The operative learning curve indicates that approximately after the 11th case, the learning curve of RLR stabilized and entered a proficient phase.

CONCLUSIONS

OS was comparable between RLR and LLR, and while RFS was improved in the RLR group. RLR demonstrates oncological effectiveness and safety for resectable HCC.

A Practical Method for Synthesizing Iptacopan

Iptacopan, the first orally available small-molecule complement factor B inhibitor, was developed by Novartis AG of Switzerland. Iptacopan for the treatment of PNH was just approved by the FDA in December 2023. Other indications for treatment are still in phase III clinical trials. Iptacopan is a small-molecule inhibitor targeting complement factor B, showing positive therapeutic effects in the treatment of PNH, C3 glomerulonephritis, and other diseases. Although Iptacopan is already on the market, there has been no detailed synthesis process or specific parameter report on the intermediates during the synthesis of its compounds except for the original research patent. In this study, a practical synthesis route for Iptacopan was obtained through incremental improvement while a biosynthesis method for ketoreductase was used for the synthesis of the pivotal intermediate 12. Moreover, by screening the existing enzyme library of our research group on the basis of random as well as site-directed mutagenesis methods, an enzyme (M8) proven to be of high optical purity with a high yield for biocatalectic reduction was obtained. This enzyme was used to prepare the compound benzyl (2S,4S)-4-hydroxy-2-(4-(methoxycarbonyl)-phenyl)-piperidine-1-carboxylate) white powder (36.8 g HPLC purity: 98%, ee value: 99%). In the synthesis of intermediate 15, the reaction was improved from two-step to one-step, which indicated that the risk of chiral allosterism was reduced while the scale was expanded. Finally, Iptacopan was synthesized in a seven-step reaction with a total yield of 29%. Since three chiral intermediate impurities were synthesized directionally, this paper lays a solid foundation for the future of pharmaceutical manufacturing.

Emerging trends of invasive yeast infections and azole resistance in Beijing intensive care units

BACKGROUND

Invasive fungal infections pose a substantial threat to patients in healthcare settings globally. Recent changes in the prevalence of fungal species and challenges in conducting reference antifungal susceptibility testing emphasize the importance of monitoring fungi and their antifungal resistance.

METHODS

A two-phase surveillance project was conducted in Beijing, China, involving 37 centres across 12 districts, from January 2012 to December 2013 and from January 2016 to December 2017.

FINDINGS

We found that the proportion of Candida albicans in intensive care units (ICUs) during 2016-2017 exhibited a significant decline compared with the 2012-2013 period, although it remained the most predominant pathogen. In contrast, the prevalence of Nakaseomyces glabratus (formerly Candida glabrata) and Candida tropicalis notably increased during the two-phase surveillance. The high prevalence of C. tropicalis and its resistance to azole drugs posed a serious threat to patients in ICUs. The pathogens causing invasive fungal infections in Beijing were relatively sensitive to echinocandins. While C. albicans continued to exhibit susceptibility to azoles, the resistance and growth rates of C. tropicalis towards azoles were particularly prominent. Concerns were raised due to the emergence of multiple, short-term isolates of Clavispora lusitaniae and Candida parapsilosis complex in neonatal ICUs, given their similarity in antifungal susceptibilities. Such occurrences point towards the potential for transmission and persisting presence of these pathogens within the ICU environment.

CONCLUSIONS

Our study complements existing data on the epidemiology of invasive fungal infections. It is imperative to exercise cautious medication management for ICU patients in Beijing, paying particular attention to azole resistance in C. tropicalis.

Metabolism, Disposition, Excretion, and Potential Transporter Inhibition of 7-16, an Improving 5-HT2A Receptor Antagonist and Inverse Agonist for Parkinson's Disease

Compound 7-16 was designed and synthesized in our previous study and was identified as a more potential selective 5-HT2A receptor antagonist and inverse agonist for treating Parkinson's disease psychosis (PDP). Then, the metabolism, disposition, and excretion properties of 7-16 and its potential inhibition on transporters were investigated in this study to highlight advancements in the understanding of its therapeutic mechanisms. The results indicate that a total of 10 metabolites of 7-16/[14C]7-16 were identified and determined in five species of liver microsomes and in rats using UPLC-Q Exactive high-resolution mass spectrometry combined with radioanalysis. Metabolites formed in human liver microsomes could be covered by animal species. 7-16 is mainly metabolized through mono-oxidation (M470-2) and N-demethylation (M440), and the CYP3A4 isozyme was responsible for both metabolic reactions. Based on the excretion data in bile and urine, the absorption rate of 7-16 was at least 74.7%. 7-16 had weak inhibition on P-glycoprotein and no effect on the transport activity of OATP1B1, OATP1B3, OAT1, OAT3, and OCT2 transporters. The comprehensive pharmacokinetic properties indicate that 7-16 deserves further development as a new treatment drug for PDP.

Autonomous ultrasound scanning robotic system based on human posture recognition and image servo control: an application for cardiac imaging

In traditional cardiac ultrasound diagnostics, the process of planning scanning paths and adjusting the ultrasound window relies solely on the experience and intuition of the physician, a method that not only affects the efficiency and quality of cardiac imaging but also increases the workload for physicians. To overcome these challenges, this study introduces a robotic system designed for autonomous cardiac ultrasound scanning, with the goal of advancing both the degree of automation and the quality of imaging in cardiac ultrasound examinations. The system achieves autonomous functionality through two key stages: initially, in the autonomous path planning stage, it utilizes a camera posture adjustment method based on the human body's central region and its planar normal vectors to achieve automatic adjustment of the camera's positioning angle; precise segmentation of the human body point cloud is accomplished through efficient point cloud processing techniques, and precise localization of the region of interest (ROI) based on keypoints of the human body. Furthermore, by applying isometric path slicing and B-spline curve fitting techniques, it independently plans the scanning path and the initial position of the probe. Subsequently, in the autonomous scanning stage, an innovative servo control strategy based on cardiac image edge correction is introduced to optimize the quality of the cardiac ultrasound window, integrating position compensation through admittance control to enhance the stability of autonomous cardiac ultrasound imaging, thereby obtaining a detailed view of the heart's structure and function. A series of experimental validations on human and cardiac models have assessed the system's effectiveness and precision in the correction of camera pose, planning of scanning paths, and control of cardiac ultrasound imaging quality, demonstrating its significant potential for clinical ultrasound scanning applications.

Independent and combined effects of smoking, drinking and depression on periodontal disease

BACKGROUND

Periodontitis is a complex chronic inflammatory disease that is particularly associated with health-related conditions such as smoking, excessive drinking and depression. This research aimed to investigate the interaction between these lifestyles factors on periodontitis risk.

METHODS

This study included participants who participated in the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey in the United States between 2009 and 2014. They had completed oral health-periodontal examination, Smoking-Cigarette Use Questionnaire, Alcohol Use Questionnaire, and Patient Health Questionnaire. Periodontal clinical attachment loss (CAL) of 3 mm or more and Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9) of 10 scores or more were used to identify periodontitis and depression, respectively. Daily alcohol consumption in the past year was classified into three levels: low (1 drink or less), moderate (between 1 and 3 drinks), and heavy drinking (4 drinks or more), while smoking was defined as having smoked at least 100 cigarettes in one's lifetime. Then, the logistic regression combined with interaction models were used to analyze the independent and combined effects of smoking, drinking and depression on periodontitis risk.

RESULTS

The results indicated a statistically significant multiplicative interaction between smoking and depression in relation to the development of periodontitis, both in the overall population (P = 0.03) and among male participants (P = 0.03). Furthermore, among individuals experiencing depression, smoking was found to significantly increase the prevalence of periodontitis by 129% in the younger age group compared to non-smokers (odds ratio [OR]: 2.29; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.10 to 4.76). However, the interaction between smoking and alcohol consumption was only significant among females (P < 0.05). There was a dose-dependent relationship between drinking frequency and smoking on periodontitis prevalence. In the smoking population, occasional drinking (OR: 1.70; 95% CI: 1.22 to 2.37) and regular drinking (OR: 2.28; 95% CI: 1.68 to 3.11) significantly increased the prevalence of periodontitis compared to individuals without these two factors.

CONCLUSION

These results suggested that there were interactive effects between smoking, drinking and depression on periodontitis risk and policies aimed at healthy behaviours and mental health may be beneficial for our oral health.

[Analysis of active components of Acorus tatarinowii extracts and its activity against dust mites]

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the activity of Acorus tatarinowii extracts against dust mites, and to isolate and characterize active ingredient of A. tatarinowii extracts.

METHODS

The essential oil components were extracted from A. tatarinowii rhizome powder by rotary evaporation with methanol as solvents, followed by petroleum ether extraction and rotary evaporation. The essential oil was mixed with Tween-80 at a ratio of 1:1 and diluted into concentrations of 1.000 00%, 0.500 00%, 0.250 00%, 0.125 00%, 0.062 50% and 0.031 25%, while diluted Tween-80 served as controls. A. tatarinowii essential oil at each concentration (200 μL) was transferred evenly to filter papers containing 100 adult mites, with each test repeated in triplicate, and controls were assigned for each concentration. Following treatment at 25 °C and 75% relative humidity for 24 h, the mean corrected mortality of mites was calculated. The essential oil components were separated by silica gel column chromatography, and the essential oil was prepared in the positive column of medium pressure; and then, each component was collected. Silica gel column chromatography was run with the mobile phase that consisted of petroleum ether solution containing 10% ethyl acetate and pure ethyl acetate, detection wavelength of 254 nm, positive silica gel column as the chromatography column, and room temperature as the column temperature. Each component of the purified A. tatarinowii essential oil was diluted into 1.000 00% for acaricidal tests. The components with less than 100% acaricidal activity were discarded, and the remaining components were diluted into 50% of the previous-round tests for subsequent acaricidal tests. The components with acaricidal activity were subjected to high-performance liquid chromatography, liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry and pulsed-Fourier transform nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy. The structure of active monomer compounds was determined by standard spectral library retrieval and literature review.

RESULTS

A. tatarinowii essential oil at concentrations of 1.000 00%, 0.500 00%, 0.250 00% and 0.125 00% killed all dust mites, and the corrected mortality was all 100%. Exposure to A. tatarinowii extracts at an effective concentration of 0.062 50% for 24 hours resulted in 94.33% mortality of dust mites. Six components (A to F) were separated using gel column chromatography, and components D and E both showed a 100% acaricidal activity against dust mites at a concentration of 0.50000%. In addition, Component D was identified as isoeugenol methyl ether, and Component E as β-asarinol.

CONCLUSIONS

The extract of A. tatarinowii essential oil has acaricidal activity, and the isoeugenol methyl ether shows a remarkable acaricidal activity against dust mites.

Novel selective agents for the degradation of AR/AR-V7 to treat advanced prostate cancer

The androgen receptor AR antagonists, such as enzalutamide and apalutamide, are efficient therapeutics for the treatment of prostate cancer (PCa). Even though they are effective at first, resistance to both drugs occurs frequently. Resistance is mainly driven by aberrations of the AR signaling pathway including AR gene amplification and the expression of AR splice variants (e.g. AR-V7). This highlights the urgent need for alternative therapeutic strategies. Here, a total of 24 compounds were synthesized and biologically evaluated to disclose compound 20i, exhibiting potent AR antagonistic activities (IC50 = 172.85 ± 21.33 nM), promising AR/AR-V7 protein degradation potency, and dual targeting site of probably AR (ligand-binding domain, LBD and N-terminal domain, NTD). It potently inhibits cell growth with IC50 values of 4.87 ± 0.52 and 2.07 ± 0.34 μM in the LNCaP and 22RV1 cell lines, respectively, and exhibited effective tumor growth inhibition (TGI = 50.9 %) in the 22RV1 xenograft study. These data suggest that 20i has the potential for development as an AR/AR-V7 inhibitor with degradation ability to treat advanced prostate cancer.

Pain and self-pressure relief in adolescents with cerebral palsy

Adolescents with CP classified as Gross Motor Functional Classification System Level V attend school up to 8 h daily with limited ability to self-reposition. Despite pain reported within this population, perceived pain and self-pressure relief during prolonged classroom sitting is unknown. A case series design was used with a convenience sample of six students (13-18 years) with CP. Pain assessments were taken every 30 min for 5 h. Self-relief assessments using the SensiMATTM were recorded while students were in their wheelchairs. One student self-reported pain and three students proxy reported pain movements. All students had unrelieved pressure or did not self-relieve pressure for at least 1.5 consecutive hours. Four students increased their self-pressure relief movements after 3.5 h. This study provided preliminary data regarding perceived pain and self-pressure relief during prolonged sitting and demonstrated that the SensiMATTM can capture pressure relief movements in sitting of students with severe CP. Although there was no trend of reported pain, students may either be moving enough, as demonstrated by recorded pressure relief movements, to independently relieve pressure and pain, or current pain assessments may not be sensitive enough for those with the most severe disabilities.

Hippocampal circAnk3 Deficiency Causes Anxiety-like Behaviors and Social Deficits by Regulating the miR-7080-3p/IQGAP1 Pathway in Mice

BACKGROUND

Circular RNAs are highly enriched in the synapses of the mammalian brain and play important roles in neurological function by acting as molecular sponges of microRNAs. circAnk3 is derived from the 11th intron of the ankyrin-3 gene, Ank3, a strong genetic risk factor for neuropsychiatric disorders; however, the function of circAnk3 remains elusive. In this study, we investigated the function of circAnk3 and its downstream regulatory network for target genes in the hippocampus of mice.

METHODS

The DNA sequence from which circAnk3 is generated was modified using CRISPR/Cas9 (clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats/Cas9) technology, and neurobehavioral tests (anxiety and depression-like behaviors, social behaviors) were performed in circAnk3+/- mice. A series of molecular and biochemical assays were used to investigate the function of circAnk3 as a microRNA sponge and its downstream regulatory network for target genes.

RESULTS

circAnk3+/- mice exhibited both anxiety-like behaviors and social deficits. circAnk3 was predominantly located in the cytoplasm of neuronal cells and functioned as a miR-7080-3p sponge to regulate the expression of Iqgap1. Inhibition of miR-7080-3p or restoration of Iqgap1 in the hippocampus ameliorated the behavioral deficits of circAnk3+/- mice. Furthermore, circAnk3 deficiency decreased the expression of the NMDA receptor subunit GluN2a and impaired the structural plasticity of dendritic synapses in the hippocampus.

CONCLUSIONS

Our results reveal an important role of the circAnk3/miR-7080-3p/IQGAP1 axis in maintaining the structural plasticity of hippocampal synapses. circAnk3 might offer new insights into the involvement of circular RNAs in neuropsychiatric disorders.

Multi-Dimensional Multiplexed Metasurface Holography by Inverse Design

Multi-dimensional multiplexed metasurface holography extends holographic information capacity and promises revolutionary advancements for vivid imaging, information storage, and encryption. However, achieving multifunctional metasurface holography by forward design method is still difficult because it relies heavily on Jones matrix engineering, which places high demands on physical knowledge and processing technology. To break these limitations and simplify the design process, here, an end-to-end inverse design framework is proposed. By directly linking the metasurface to the reconstructed images and employing a loss function to guide the update of metasurface, the calculation of hologram can be omitted; thus, greatly simplifying the design process. In addition, the requirements on the completeness of meta-library can also be significantly reduced, allowing multi-channel hologram to be achieved using meta-atoms with only two degrees of freedom, which is very friendly to processing. By exploiting the proposed method, metasurface hologram containing up to 12 channels of multi-wavelength, multi-plane, and multi-polarization is designed and experimentally demonstrated, which exhibits the state-of-the-art information multiplexing capacity of the metasurface composed of simple meta-atoms. This method is conducive to promoting the intelligent design of multifunctional meta-devices, and it is expected to eventually accelerate the application of meta-devices in colorful display, imaging, storage and other fields.

[Staged and segmented two hybrid surgeries for total repair of Debakey type Ⅰ aortic dissection: a series of 10 cases]

Objective: To examine the efficacy and experience of staged and segmented two hybrid surgeries for total repair of Debakey type Ⅰ aortic dissection (TIAD). Methods: This study was a retrospective case series. The clinic data of 10 patients with acute TIAD who were admitted to the Department of Cardiac Surgery, Second Hospital of Lanzhou University or the First People's Hospital of Lanzhou, between January 2016 and August 2022, were retrospectively studied. Ten patients underwent hybrid surgeries in two hospitalizations (stages), including 7 males and 3 females with an age of (60±7) years (range: 49 to 71 years). In stage 1, the first type Ⅱ hybrid arch repair was performed to treat the ascending, total arch, and descending thoracic aorta for acute TIAD without circulatory arrest. In stage 2, the second hybrid surgery including infrarenal abdominal aorta replacement, visceral arteries bypass and endovascular thoracoabdominal aortic repair was performed to treat residual thoracoabdominal aortic dissection after the first hybrid operation (segmented). Basic data, preoperative concomitant diseases, high-risk factors, surgical approaches and postoperative complications of all important organs, as well as CT imaging were analyzed. Results: There was no death in the 20 hybrid surgical procedures. In stage 1 type Ⅱ hybrid surgery, 4 cases underwent reconstruction of the aortic sinutubular junction, while Bentall and David surgery was performed for 3 cases, respectively. A patient received coronary artery bypass grafting. Then all patients were sequentially treated with arch debranching and thoracic aortic endovascular repair. Postoperative complications included renal insufficiency (4/10), hemofiltration (1/10), hypoxemia (4/10), neurologic event (1/10) and type Ⅱ endoleak (1/10). Complete false lumen thrombosis occurred in 9/10 of the patients. All complications recovered successfully at discharge and the average hospital stay was (21±4) days (range: 16 to 28 days) in the first hospitalization. At stage 2, the second hybrid surgery was successfully performed in all patients. No paraplegia, hepatic or renal insufficiency, or endoleak occurred. However, branch graft embolism of the left renal artery was found in one patient 3 days after laparotomy, as well as of superior mesenteric artery in another. Superior mesenteric artery occlusion was successfully treated by endovascular recanalization. Complete false lumen thrombosis occurred in all patients. Although all patients had different degrees of intestinal dysfunction, they were gradually relieved at discharge, and the average hospital stay was (19±2)days (range:16 to 21 days) in the second hospitalization. During follow-up, CT angiography showed aortic remodeling in all patients. Conclusion: Staged and segmented two hybrid surgeries are safe and feasible for total repair of Debakey type Ⅰ aortic dissection and are associated with acceptable early and midterm outcomes.

PICK1 modulates glycolysis and angiogenesis of hypoxic endothelial cells by regulating iron homeostasis

Iron accumulation, which is controlled by transferrin receptor 1 (TfR1), modulates hypoxia-inducible factor-1α (HIF-1α) activation and angiogenesis of hypoxic endothelial cells. The study examined the role of protein interacting with C-kinase 1 (PICK1), a scaffold protein containing PDZ domain, in regulating glycolysis and angiogenesis of hypoxic vascular endothelial cells through its potential effect on TfR1, which features a supersecondary structure that interacts with the PDZ domain. Iron chelator deferoxamine and TfR1 siRNA were employed to assess the impact of iron accumulation on angiogenesis, while the effects of PICK1 siRNA and overexpressing lentivirus on TfR1-mediated iron accumulation were also investigated in hypoxic human umbilical vein vascular endothelial cells (HUVECs). The study found that 72-h hypoxia impaired the proliferation, migration, and tube formation of HUVECs, and reduced the upregulation of vascular endothelial growth factor, HIF-1α, 6-phosphofructo-2-kinase/fructose-2,6-bisphosphatase 3, and PICK1, while increasing the expression of TfR1 as compared to 24-h hypoxia. Administration of deferoxamine or TfR1 siRNA reversed these effects and led to increased glycolysis, ATP content, and phosphofructokinase activity, along with increased PICK1 expression. PICK1 overexpression improved glycolysis, enhanced angiogenic capacity, and attenuated TfR1 protein upregulation in hypoxic HUVECs, with higher expression of angiogenic markers, which could be significantly reversed by the PDZ domain inhibitor. PICK1 knockdown exerted opposite effects. The study concluded that PICK1 modulated intracellular iron homeostasis, thereby promoting glycolysis and angiogenesis of HUVECs in response to prolonged hypoxia, at least in part, by regulating TfR1 expression.

Cryo-storage of porcine hides at the industrial scale for tissue engineering and regenerative medicine application

BACKGROUND

The industrial scale cryo-storage of raw tissue materials requires a robust, low-cost and easy-to-operate method that can facilitate the down-stream process.

OBJECTIVE

The study was aimed to develop the multifunctional protective solutions (MPS) for transportation at ambient conditions and also subsequent cryo-storage below -20 degree C of raw porcine hides for tissue engineering and regenerative medicine.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Protective solutions with antimicrobial activity and proteinase-inhibiting activity were developed and tested for its efficacy in preserving the extracellular matrix of porcine dermis from microbial spoilage, proteolytic degradation, freeze damage and excessive dehydration during shipping and cryo-storage. The MPSs contained phosphate-buffered saline with ethylene diamine tetra acetic acid (EDTA) added as chelator and proteinase inhibitor, as well as glycerol or maltodextrin (M180) as cryoprotectants.

RESULTS

MPSs prepared with EDTA and glycerol or M180 had significant antimicrobial activity and proteinase-inhibiting activity during the period of shipping and handling. Glycerol and M180 prevented eutectic salt precipitation and excessive freeze dehydration upon cryo-storage of porcine hides. Without glycerol or M180, hides could be freeze-dehydrated to the low hydration at ~0.4 g/g dw, and formed irreversible plications after freezing. A critical hydration (0.8~0.9 g/g dw) was observed for the extracellular matrix of porcine dermis, and dehydration to a lower level could impose enormous stress and potential damage. The soaking of porcine hides in MPSs decreased water content as glycerol and M180 entered into dermis. Upon equilibration, the glycerol content in the tissue was about 94% of the incubating glycerol solution, but the M180 content in the tissue was only about 50% of the incubating M180 solution, indicating that M180 did not get into the entire aqueous domain within dermis. MPSs reduced ice formation and increased the unfrozen water content of porcine raw hides upon cryo-storage.

CONCLUSION

MPSs prepared with EDTA and glycerol or M180 have antimicrobial activity and proteinase-inhibiting activity, which can be used for transportation and cryo-storage of raw hides at the industrial scale. Glycerol at 7.5% w/v and M180 at 20% w/v were sufficient to prevent freeze damage and excessive freeze dehydration. Doi.org/10.54680/fr24310110312.

Bioinspired, surfactant-free, dual-layer asymmetric structures based on polysaccharides, gelatin, and tannic acid for potential applications in biomedicine

The formation of dual-layer asymmetric porous structures in surfactant-based systems is significantly influenced by emulsions. Surfactants self-assemble to alter the conformational arrangement of polysaccharides, while gravity disrupts the initial uniformity of the established equilibrium droplet concentration gradient in the emulsion, thus achieving delamination. Specifically, high-speed rotation and non-instantaneous freezing allow the gelatin solution to form two different states of foam layers. The integrated dual-layer asymmetric porous structure, composed of polysaccharides and tannic acid, is constructed with gelatin as a skeleton and surfactant. This innovative approach eliminates the need to consider the toxicity of chemically synthesized surfactants and expands the concept of gelatin utilization. This intriguing structure exhibits a variety of desirable characteristics within 30 days (e.g., tailorable performance, ultrarapid antioxidant activity, efficient antibacterial activity, low differential blood clotting index, and good hemocompatibility and cytocompatibility), suggesting its potential as a valuable reference for applying hierarchical porous structures, thereby offering more formulation flexibility for biomaterials with adjustable properties.

[Trends in Oncomelania hupensis distribution in Wuhan City from 2003 to 2022 based on the Joinpoint regression model]

OBJECTIVE

To analyze the trends in Oncomelania hupensis distribution in Wuhan City, Hubei Province from 2003 to 2022, so as to provide insights into precision schistosomiasis control.

METHODS

Data pertaining to O. hupensis snail survey in Wuhan City from 2003 to 2022 were collected. The trends in the proportion of areas with snail habitats, actual area with snail habitats, mean density of living snails and prevalence of Schistosoma japonicum infection in snails were evaluated in schistosomiasis-endemic areas of Wuhan City from 2003 to 2022 with the slope of trend curve (β), annual percent change (APC) and average annual percent change (AAPC) using a Joinpoint regression model.

RESULTS

During the period from 2003 through 2022, there were two turning points for the proportion of areas with snail habitats in Wuhan City in 2005 and 2015, with a rise during the period from 2003 to 2005 (β1 = 5.93, t = 1.280, P > 0.05), a decline from 2005 to 2015 (β2 = -0.88, t = -2.074, P > 0.05) and a rise from 2015 to 2022 (β3 = 1.46, t = -2.356, P < 0.05). During the period from 2003 through 2022, there were two turning points for the proportion of areas with snail habitats in islet endemic areas of Wuhan City in 2006 and 2015, with no significant differences in the trends from 2003 to 2006 (β1 = 4.64, t = 1.888, P > 0.05) or from 2006 to 2015 (β2 = -1.45, t = -2.143, P > 0.05), and with a tendency towards a rise from 2015 to 2022 (β3 = 2.04, t = -3.100, P < 0.05). During the period from 2003 through 2022, there were two turning points for the proportion of areas with snail habitats in inner embankment endemic areas of Wuhan City in 2012 and 2020, with a tendency towards a decline from 2003 to 2012 (β1 = -0.39, t = -4.608, P < 0.05) and with no significant differences in the trends from 2012 to 2020 (β2 = 0.03, t = 0.245, P > 0.05) and from 2020 to 2022 (β3 = 1.38, t = 1.479, P > 0.05). During the period from 2003 to 2022, the actual area with snail habitats all appeared a tendency towards a decline in Wuhan City, and in islet and inner embankment endemic areas of Wuhan City from 2003 to 2022 (AAPC = -2.39%, -5.75% and -2.35%, all P values < 0.05). The mean density of living snails reduced from 0.087 snails/0.1 m2 in 2003 to 0.027 snails/0.1 m2 in 2022 in Wuhan City, with a significant difference in the tendency towards the decline (APC = AAPC = -11.47%, P < 0.05). The annual mean decline rate of the mean density of living snails was 17.36% in outside embankment endemic areas of Wuhan City from 2003 to 2022 (APC = AAPC = -17.36%, P < 0.05), and there was no significant difference in the trends in the mean density of living snails in islet endemic areas of Wuhan City from 2003 to 2022 (APC = AAPC = -0.97%, P > 0.05). In addition, the prevalence of S. japonicum infection in snails appeared a tendency towards a decline in Wuhan City from 2003 to 2022 (APC = AAPC = -12.45%, P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

The proportion of areas with snail habitats, actual area with snail habitats, mean density of living snails and prevalence of S. japonicum infection in snails all appeared a tendency towards a decline in Wuhan City from 2003 to 2022. Intensified snail control, modification of snail habitats, shrinking of areas with snails and implementation of grazing prohibition in snail-infested settings are required, in order to facilitate the progress towards schistosomiasis elimination in Wuhan City.

Sulfatase-Induced In Situ Formulation of Antineoplastic Supra-PROTACs

Proteolysis targeting chimera (PROTAC) technology is an innovative strategy for cancer therapy, which, however, suffers from poor targeting delivery and limited capability for protein of interest (POI) degradation. Here, we report a strategy for the in situ formulation of antineoplastic Supra-PROTACs via intracellular sulfatase-responsive assembly of peptides. Coassembling a sulfated peptide with two ligands binding to ubiquitin VHL and Bcl-xL leads to the formation of a pro-Supra-PROTAC, in which the ratio of the two ligands is rationally optimized based on their protein binding affinity. The resulting pro-Supra-PROTAC precisely undergoes enzyme-responsive assembly into nanofibrous Supra-PROTACs in cancer cells overexpressing sulfatase. Mechanistic studies reveal that the pro-Supra-PROTACs selectively cause apparent cytotoxicity to cancer cells through the degradation of Bcl-xL and the activation of caspase-dependent apoptosis, during which the rationally optimized ligand ratio improves the bioactivity for POI degradation and cell death. In vivo studies show that in situ formulation enhanced the tumor accumulation and retention of the pro-Supra-PROTACs, as well as the capability for inhibiting tumor growth with excellent biosafety when coadministrating with chemodrugs. Our findings provide a new approach for enzyme-regulated assembly of peptides in living cells and the development of PROTACs with high targeting delivering and POI degradation efficiency.

Electrocatalytic hydrogenation of acetonitrile to ethylamine in acid

Electrochemical hydrogenation of acetonitrile based on well-developed proton exchange membrane electrolyzers holds great promise for practical production of ethylamine. However, the local acidic condition of proton exchange membrane results in severe competitive proton reduction reaction and poor selection toward acetonitrile hydrogenation. Herein, we conduct a systematic study to screen various metallic catalysts and discover Pd/C exhibits a 43.8% ethylamine Faradaic efficiency at the current density of 200 mA cm-2 with a specific production rate of 2912.5 mmol g-1 h-1, which is about an order of magnitude higher than the other screened metal catalysts. Operando characterizations indicate the in-situ formed PdHx is the active centers for catalytic reaction and the adsorption strength of the *MeCH2NH2 intermediate dictates the catalytic selectivity. More importantly, the theoretical analysis reveals a classic d-band mediated volcano curve to describe the relation between the electronic structures of catalysts and activity, which could provide valuable insights for designing more effective catalysts for electrochemical hydrogenation reactions and beyond.

Observation of Iron with Eight Coordination in Iron Trifluoride under High Pressure

The chemistry of hypercoordination has been a subject of fundamental interest, especially for understanding structures that challenge conventional wisdom. The small ionic radii of Fe ions typically result in coordination numbers of 4 or 6 in stable Fe-bearing ionic compounds. While 8-coordinated Fe has been observed in highly compressed oxides, the pursuit of hypercoordinated Fe still faces significant challenges due to the complexity of synthesizing the anticipated compound with another suitable anion. Through first-principles simulation and advanced crystal structure prediction methods, we predict that an orthorhombic phase of FeF3 with exclusively 8-coordinated Fe is energetically stable above 18 GPa-a pressure more feasibly achieved compared to oxides. Inspired by this theoretical result, we conducted extensive experiments using a laser-heated diamond anvil cell technique to investigate the crystal structures of FeF3 at high-pressure conditions. We successfully synthesized the predicted orthorhombic phase of FeF3 at 46 GPa, as confirmed by in situ experimental X-ray diffraction data. This work establishes a new ionic compound featuring rare 8-coordinated Fe in a simple binary Fe-bearing system and paves the way for discovering Fe hypercoordination in similar systems.

Aging of polypropylene plastic and impacts on microbial community structure in constructed wetlands

The COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in a substantial surge in the usage of disposable plastic masks, generating a significant volume of waste and contributing to environmental pollution. Wetland ecosystems function as crucial repositories for terrestrial pollutants and are highly effective in retaining disposable masks composed mainly of PP material. These masks can endure extended periods in wetlands, experiencing natural degradation that may have potential implications on wetland ecosystems. Our findings demonstrate the natural aging process of disposable masks, resulting in the generation of microplastics (MPs) ranging in diameter from 10 to 30 μm over a 180-day timeframe. Examination of 16S rDNA data unveiled temporal fluctuations in microbial diversity in the wetland ecosystem. Initially, microbial diversity displayed a modest incline, which was succeeded by a subsequent decrease. With the progressive accumulation of plastic within the wetland, an ongoing decline in microbial diversity linked to nitrogen transformation was observed. This study provides valuable insights into the retention of disposable masks by wetlands amidst the COVID-19 pandemic, along with their consequential effects on wetland ecosystems, specifically pertaining to nitrogen cycling. It underscores the urgency of augmenting the safeguarding measures for wetland ecosystems.

Characterization and validation of fatty acid metabolism-related genes predicting prognosis, immune infiltration, and drug sensitivity in endometrial cancer

Endometrial cancer is considered to be the second most common tumor of the female reproductive system, and patients diagnosed with advanced endometrial cancer have a poor prognosis. The influence of fatty acid metabolism in the prognosis of patients with endometrial cancer remains unclear. We constructed a prognostic risk model using transcriptome sequencing data of endometrial cancer and clinical information of patients from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) database via least absolute shrinkage and selection operator regression analysis. The tumor immune microenvironment was analyzed using the CIBERSORT algorithm, followed by functional analysis and immunotherapy efficacy prediction by gene set variation analysis. The role of model genes in regulating endometrial cancer in vitro was verified by CCK-8, colony formation, wound healing, and transabdominal invasion assays, and verified in vivo by subcutaneous tumor transplantation in nude mice. A prognostic model containing 14 genes was constructed and validated in 3 cohorts and clinical samples. The results showed differences in the infiltration of immune cells between the high-risk and low-risk groups, and that the high-risk group may respond better to immunotherapy. Experiments in vitro confirmed that knockdown of epoxide hydrolase 2 (EPHX2) and acyl-CoA oxidase like (ACOXL) had an inhibitory effect on EC cells, as did overexpression of hematopoietic prostaglandin D synthase (HPGDS). The same results were obtained in experiments in vivo. Prognostic models related to fatty acid metabolism can be used for the risk assessment of endometrial cancer patients. Experiments in vitro and in vivo confirmed that the key genes HPGDS, EPHX2, and ACOXL in the prognostic model may affect the development of endometrial cancer.