Understanding the molecular mechanism responsible for developing therapeutic radiation-induced radioresistance of rectal cancer and improving the clinical outcomes of radiotherapy - A review

Rectal cancer accounts for the second highest cancer-related mortality, which is predominant in Western civilizations. The treatment for rectal cancers includes surgery, radiotherapy, chemotherapy, and immunotherapy. Radiotherapy, specifically external beam radiation therapy, is the most common way to treat rectal cancer because radiation not only limits cancer progression but also significantly reduces the risk of local recurrence. However, therapeutic radiation-induced radioresistance to rectal cancer cells and toxicity to normal tissues are major drawbacks. Therefore, understanding the mechanistic basis of developing radioresistance during and after radiation therapy would provide crucial insight to improve clinical outcomes of radiation therapy for rectal cancer patients. Studies by various groups have shown that radiotherapy-mediated changes in the tumor microenvironment play a crucial role in developing radioresistance. Therapeutic radiation-induced hypoxia and functional alterations in the stromal cells, specifically tumor-associated macrophage (TAM) and cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAF), play a crucial role in developing radioresistance. In addition, signaling pathways, such as - the PI3K/AKT pathway, Wnt/β-catenin signaling, and the hippo pathway, modulate the radiation responsiveness of cancer cells. Different radiosensitizers, such as small molecules, microRNA, nanomaterials, and natural and chemical sensitizers, are being used to increase the effectiveness of radiotherapy. This review highlights the mechanism responsible for developing radioresistance of rectal cancer following radiotherapy and potential strategies to enhance the effectiveness of radiotherapy for better management of rectal cancer.

Current perspectives and trends of the research on hypertensive nephropathy: a bibliometric analysis from 2000 to 2023

Hypertensive nephropathy continues to be a major cause of end-stage renal disease and poses a significant global health burden. Despite the staggering development of research in hypertensive nephropathy, scientists and clinicians can only seek out useful information through articles and reviews, it remains a hurdle for them to quickly track the trend in this field. This study uses the bibliometric method to identify the evolutionary development and recent hotspots of hypertensive nephropathy. The Web of Science Core Collection database was used to extract publications on hypertensive nephropathy from January 2000 to November 2023. CiteSpace was used to capture the patterns and trends from multi-perspectives, including countries/regions, institutions, keywords, and references. In total, 557 publications on hypertensive nephropathy were eligible for inclusion. China (n = 208, 37.34%) was the most influential contributor among all the countries. Veterans Health Administration (n = 19, 3.41%) was found to be the most productive institution. Keyword bursting till now are renal fibrosis, outcomes, and mechanisms which are predicted to be the potential frontiers and hotspots in the future. The top seven references were listed, and their burst strength was shown. A comprehensive overview of the current status and research frontiers of hypertensive nephropathy has been provided through the bibliometric perspective. Recent advancements and challenges in hypertensive nephropathy have been discussed. These findings can offer informative instructions for researchers and scholars.

Glymphatic system: a gateway for neuroinflammation

The glymphatic system is a relatively recently identified fluid exchange and transport system in the brain. Accumulating evidence indicates that glymphatic function is impaired not only in central nervous system disorders but also in systemic diseases. Systemic diseases can trigger the inflammatory responses in the central nervous system, occasionally leading to sustained inflammation and functional disturbance of the central nervous system. This review summarizes the current knowledge on the association between glymphatic dysfunction and central nervous system inflammation. In addition, we discuss the hypothesis that disease conditions initially associated with peripheral inflammation overwhelm the performance of the glymphatic system, thereby triggering central nervous system dysfunction, chronic neuroinflammation, and neurodegeneration. Future research investigating the role of the glymphatic system in neuroinflammation may offer innovative therapeutic approaches for central nervous system disorders.

Development and validation of a prediction model for all-cause mortality in maintenance dialysis patients: a multicenter retrospective cohort study

BACKGROUND

The mortality risk varies considerably among individual dialysis patients. This study aimed to develop a user-friendly predictive model for predicting all-cause mortality among dialysis patients.

METHODS

Retrospective data regarding dialysis patients were obtained from two hospitals. Patients in training cohort (N = 1421) were recruited from the Fifth Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University, and patients in external validation cohort (N = 429) were recruited from the First Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou University of Traditional Chinese Medicine. The follow-up endpoint event was all-cause death. Variables were selected by LASSO-Cox regression, and the model was constructed by Cox regression, which was presented in the form of nomogram and web-based tool. The discrimination and accuracy of the prediction model were assessed using C-indexes and calibration curves, while the clinical value was assessed by decision curve analysis (DCA).

RESULTS

The best predictors of 1-, 3-, and 5-year all-cause mortality contained nine independent factors, including age, body mass index (BMI), diabetes mellitus (DM), cardiovascular disease (CVD), cancer, urine volume, hemoglobin (HGB), albumin (ALB), and pleural effusion (PE). The 1-, 3-, and 5-year C-indexes in the training set (0.840, 0.866, and 0.846, respectively) and validation set (0.746, 0.783, and 0.741, respectively) were consistent with comparable performance. According to the calibration curve, the nomogram predicted survival accurately matched the actual survival rate. The DCA showed the nomogram got more clinical net benefit in both the training and validation sets.

CONCLUSIONS

The effective and convenient nomogram may help clinicians quantify the risk of mortality in maintenance dialysis patients.

Electrochemiluminescent properties of carbon nitride nanoflowers and their application to the detection of melatonin in foods

Carbon nitride nanoflower materials (CNNFs) modified electrodes were prepared and used as electrochemiluminescence (ECL) sensors for the sensitive detection of melatonin (MT) in food. The luminescence intensity of CNNFs is increased by 4.6 times compared with bulk g-C3N4. In addition, the effect of dissolved oxygen on the material was eliminated, and the stability of ECL intensity of CNNFs was improved. Under the optimal experimental conditions, there is a good linear relationship between the ECL intensity ratio and logCMT in a concentration range of 2.0 × 10-11-1.0 × 10-6 mol/L, and the detection limit is 6.2 × 10-13 mol/L. This experiment has been successfully used for the detection of MT in rice, black rice, oats, apples, bananas, grapes, carrots, tomatoes, cucumbers, bread, and beers. The results are consistent with those obtained by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). Therefore, this sensor is a sensitive and effective method for detecting MT content in food.

Superprotonic conductivity of ketoenamine covalent-organic frameworks grafted by imidazole-based units

The achievement of covalent organic frameworks (COFs) with high stability and exceptional proton conductivity is of tremendous practical importance and challenge. Given this, we hope to prepare the highly stable COFs carrying CN connectors and enhance their proton conductivity via a post-modification approach. Herein, one COF, TpTta, was successfully synthesized by employing 1,3,5-triformylphloroglucinol (Tp) and 4,4',4″-(1,3,5-triazine-2,4,6-triyl)-trianiline (Tta) as starting materials, which has a β-ketoenamine structure bearing a large amount of -NH groups and intramolecular H-bonds. TpTta was then post-modified by inserting imidazole (Im) and histamine (His) molecules, yielding the corresponding COFs, Im@TpTta and His@TpTta, respectively. As a result, their proton conductivities were surveyed under changeable temperatures (30-100 °C) and relative humidities (68-98 %), revealing a degree of temperature and humidity dependence. Impressively, under identical conditions, the optimum proton conductivities of the two post-modified COFs are 1.14 × 10-2 (Im@TpTta) and 3.45 × 10-3 S/cm (His@TpTta), which are significantly greater than that of the pristine COF, TpTta (2.57 × 10-5 S/cm). Finally, their proton conduction mechanisms were hypothesized based on the computed activation energy values, water vapor adsorption values, and structural properties of these COFs. Additionally, the excellent electrochemical stability of the produced COFs was expressed, as well as the prospective application value.

Proteomic analysis of milk fat globule membrane proteins in mature human milk of women with and without gestational diabetes mellitus

Milk fat globule membrane proteins (MFGMP) in human milks have positive effects on infant's health. As gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) causes variations in MFGMP, it is essential to understand the effects of GDMon MFGMP. This study aims to investigate and compare the MFGMP (>3 months postpartum) of GDM and non-GDM (NGDM) women using four-dimensional-data-independent-acquisition proteomics technology. Principal component analysis shows significant differences in the MFGMP of GDM and NGDM women. A total of 4747 MFGMP were identified in maturehuman milk of GDM and NGDM women. Among these proteins, 174 differentially expressed proteins (DEPs) were identified in MFGM of GDM and NGDM women. Albumin (FC = 7.96) and transthyretin (FC = 2.57) which are related to insulin resistance and involved in thyroid hormone synthesis, are significantly up-regulated in MFGMP of GDM mothers indicating insulin resistance, imbalance of glucose homeostasis and poor glucose metabolism might persist in postpartum period.

Novel fluorescence strategy based on G-quadruplex structure-switching aptamer for enrofloxacin detection in food and environmental samples

Enrofloxacin (ENR) is widely used in the prevention and treatment of animal infectious diseases, so it is necessary to strengthen the residue detection of this drug in animal-derived food and water environments. In this work, for the first time, we engineered assembly a split ENR aptamer into the G-quadruplex (G4) region to form a new aptamer (G4-ENRA) that provides a more sensitive signal-reporting function while retaining target-specific recognition ability of the aptamer. This rational design effectively overcomes the issue of difficulty in identification probe development. Under the optimized conditions, a response range of 0.05-20 µM and limit of detection of 26.7 nM were obtained by directly detecting fluorescence signals, displaying a comparative advantage over the previously reported methods. Moreover, this method demonstrated satisfactory performance for the ENR detection in various real food and environmental samples, with the detection recoveries ranging from 95.87 % to 104.36 %, illustrating promising applicability prospects.

Arsenic-enhanced plant growth in As-hyperaccumulator Pteris vittata: Metabolomic investigations and molecular mechanisms

The first-known As-hyperaccumulator Pteris vittata is efficient in As uptake and translocation, which can be used for phytoremediation of As-contaminated soils. However, the underlying mechanisms of As-enhanced plant growth are unknown. We used untargeted metabolomics to investigate the potential metabolites and associated metabolic pathways regulating As-enhanced plant growth in P. vittata. After 60 days of growth in an MS-agar medium containing 15 mg kg-1 As, P. vittata biomass was 33-34 % greater than the no-As control. Similarly, the As contents in P. vittata roots and fronds were 272 and 1300 mg kg-1, considerably greater than the no-As control. Univariate and multivariate analyses based on electrospray ionization indicate that As exposure changed the expression of 1604 and 1248 metabolites in positive and negative modes. By comparing with the no-As control, As exposure significantly changed the expression of 14 metabolites including abscisic acid, d-glucose, raffinose, stachyose, chitobiose, xylitol, gibberellic acids, castasterone, citric acid, riboflavin-5-phosphate, ubiquinone, ubiquinol, UDP-glucose, and GDP-glucose. These metabolites are involved in phytohormone synthesis, energy metabolism, and sugar metabolism and may all potentially contribute to regulating As-enhanced plant growth in P. vittata. Our data provide clues to understanding the metabolic regulations of As-enhanced plant growth in P. vittata, which helps to enhance its phytoremediation efficiency of As-contaminated soils.

Determination of amino acid metabolic diseases from dried blood spots with a rapid extraction method coupled with nanoelectrospray ionization mass spectrometry

In this work, a rapid extraction method of methanol/water (95:5 v/v) with 0.1% formic acid was developed for extraction of amino acids from dried blood spots (DBS) for inherited metabolic diseases (IMDs). The combination of this extraction procedure with nanoelectrospray ionization mass spectrometry (nESI-MS) was used for the rapid analysis of amino acids. This approach with eliminating the chromatographic separation required only 2 min for the extraction of amino acids from DBS, which simplified the configuration and improved the timeliness. Dependence of the sensitivity on the operating parameters was systematically investigated. The LOD of 91.2-262.5 nmol/L and LOQ of 304-875 nmol/L which were lower than the cut-off values were obtained for amino acids within DBS. The accuracy was determined to be 93.82%-103.07% and the precision was determined to be less than 8.30%. The effectiveness of this method was also compared with the gold standard method (e.g., LC-MS/MS). The desalination mechanism was explored with interference mainly originated from the blood. These findings indicated that the rapid extraction procedure coupled with nESI-MS is capable of screening indicators for IMDs in complex biological samples.

One-step online analysis of antibiotics in highly saline seawater by nano-based slug-flow microextraction

The transition to mass spectrometry (MS) in the analysis of antibiotics in the marine environment is highly desirable, particularly in the enhancement of sensitivity for high-salinity (3.5 wt%) seawater samples. However, the persistence of complex operational procedures poses substantial challenges to this transition. In this study, a rapid method for the online analysis of antibiotics in seawater samples via nano-electrospray ionization (nESI) MS based on slug-flow microextraction (SFME) has been proposed. Comparisons with other methods, complex laboratory setups for sample processing are now seamlessly integrated into a single online step, completing the entire process, including desalination and detection, SFME-nESI-MS provides faster results in less than 2 min while maintaining sensitivity comparable to that of other detection methods. Using SFME-nESI, six antibiotics in high-salinity (3.5 wt%) seawater samples have been determined in both positive and negative ion modes. The proposed method successfully detected clarithromycin, ofloxacin, and sulfadimidine in seawater within a linear range of 1-1000 ng mL-1 and limit of detection (LOD) of 0.23, 0.06, and 0.28 ng mL-1, respectively. The method recovery was from 92.8% to 107.3%, and the relative standard deviation was less than 7.5%. In addition, the response intensity of SFME-nESI-treated high-salinity (3.5 wt%) samples surpassed that of untreated medium-salinity (0.35 wt%) samples by two to five orders of magnitude. This advancement provides an exceptionally simplified protocol for the online rapid, highly sensitive, and quantitative determination of antibiotics in high-salinity (3.5 wt%) seawater.

LOC644656 promotes cisplatin resistance in cervical cancer by recruiting ZNF143 and activating the transcription of E6-AP

Cisplatin resistance remains a persistent challenge in cervical cancer (CC) treatment. Molecular biomarkers have garnered attention for their association with cisplatin resistance in various diseases. Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) exert significant influence on CC development. This study explores the role of LOC644656 in regulating cisplatin resistance in CC. Parental and cisplatin-resistant CC cells underwent cisplatin treatment. Functional assays assessed cell proliferation and apoptosis under different conditions. RNA pull-down with mass spectrometry, along with literature review, elucidated the interaction between LOC644656, ZNF143, and E6-AP. Mechanistic assays analyzed the relationship between different factors. RT-qPCR and western blot quantified RNA and protein levels, respectively. In vivo models validated E6-AP's function. Results revealed LOC644656 overexpression in cisplatin-resistant CC cells, exacerbating cell growth. LOC644656 recruited ZNF143 to activate E6-AP transcription, promoting cisplatin resistance in CC. In conclusion, LOC644656 positively modulates E6-AP expression via ZNF143-mediated transcriptional activation, contributing to cisplatin resistance in CC.

CT venography combined with ultrasound-guided minimally invasive treatment for recurrent varicose veins: a pilot paired-design clinical trial

AIM

To compare 1-year outcomes of computed tomography venography (CTV) combined with ultrasound-guided minimally invasive treatment with ascending phlebography and ultrasound-guided treatment for recurrent varicose veins.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Consecutive patients with unilateral recurrent varicose veins were matched by gender, age, C classification, and degree of obesity, and randomised in a 1:1 ratio to receive either CTV (CTV group) or ascending phlebography (control group) combined with ultrasound-guided minimally invasive treatment. Patients were followed up by clinical and ultrasound examination. Follow-up was scheduled at 1 week, and 3, 6, and 12 months. The primary outcome measure was the Venous Clinical Severity Score (VCSS) at 12 months. Measures of secondary outcome included Chronic Insufficiency Venous International Questionnaire-20 (CIVIQ-20) score, recurrence of varicose vein or ulcer during 12 months, ulcer healing time, detection and location of treated veins.

RESULTS

Eighty patients were enrolled. Median VCSS in the CTV group was lower than it in the control group (p=0.04) and the CIVIQ-20 score was higher than the control group (p=0.02). By 12 months, no symptomatically recurrent varicose veins or ulcers had occurred. The ulcer healing time in CTV group was shorter (p<0.01). A greater number of patients had treated veins detected using CTV than by ascending venography (p=0.01), especially among patients with recurrence reflux veins in the groin, perineum, and vulva (p<0.01).

CONCLUSION

CTV combined with ultrasound may be more helpful than ascending phlebography combined with ultrasound to improve treatment efficacy for recurrent varices. These results should be verified by an future study with more patients and long-term follow-up.

Sub-region based radiomics analysis for prediction of isocitrate dehydrogenase and telomerase reverse transcriptase promoter mutations in diffuse gliomas

AIM

To enhance the prediction of mutation status of isocitrate dehydrogenase (IDH) and telomerase reverse transcriptase (TERT) promoter, which are crucial for glioma prognostication and therapeutic decision-making, via sub-regional radiomics analysis based on multiparametric magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).

MATERIALS AND METHODS

A retrospective study was conducted on 401 participants with adult-type diffuse gliomas. Employing the K-means algorithm, tumours were clustered into two to four subregions. Sub-regional radiomics features were extracted and selected using the Mann-Whitney U-test, Pearson correlation analysis, and least absolute shrinkage and selection operator, forming the basis for predictive models. The performance of model combinations of different sub-regional features and classifiers (including logistic regression, support vector machines, K-nearest neighbour, light gradient boosting machine, and multilayer perceptron) was evaluated using an external test set.

RESULTS

The models demonstrated high predictive performance, with area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC) values ranging from 0.918 to 0.994 in the training set for IDH mutation prediction and from 0.758 to 0.939 for TERT promoter mutation prediction. In the external test sets, the two-cluster radiomics features and the logistic regression model yielded the highest prediction for IDH mutation, resulting in an AUC of 0.905. Additionally, the most effective predictive performance with an AUC of 0.803 was achieved using the four-cluster radiomics features and the support vector machine model, specifically for TERT promoter mutation prediction.

CONCLUSION

The present study underscores the potential of sub-regional radiomics analysis in predicting IDH and TERT promoter mutations in glioma patients. These models have the capacity to refine preoperative glioma diagnosis and contribute to personalised therapeutic interventions for patients.

[Cancer survival analysis in Tianjin, 2010 to 2016]

Objective: Survival analysis of cancers' incidence data in Tianjin from 2010 to 2016 was conducted to provide the basis for formulating and evaluating regional health policies on cancer prevention and treatment. Methods: Registration data in Tianjin were used between January 1, 2010 to December 31, 2016 and patients were followed-up till 31 December, 2021. Life-table method was used to calculate the observed survival rate and Edered Ⅱ was used to calculate the relative survival rate. The data were stratified by year, gender, age group and cancer sites. Difference in survival curves between group was analyzed by Kaplan-Meier method and Log rank test. Joinpoint regression model was used to analyze the trend change. Results: The 5-year relative survival rates of cancer were 41.92% to 53.65% from 2010 to 2016 for residents in Tianjin, with an increasing trend (t=4.81, P=0.005), and the average was 48.56%. The survival rate of females was higher than that of males (57.71%vs. 39.20%), and the survival rate of urban residents was higher than that of rural residents (49.38% vs. 47.24%). The 5-year relative survival rates were 63.14%, 78.39%, 58.25% and 32.67% in 0-14, 15-44, 45-64 and 65 and above age groups, respectively. The median relative survival times of all cancer were 2.34 to 6.00 years from 2010 to 2016 in Tianjin, with an increasing trend (t=3.86, P=0.012). The average of median relative survival times was 4.11 years. The median survival time of females was longer than that of males (11.99 years vs. 2.03 years), and the time of urban residents were longer than that of rural residents (4.60 years vs. 3.43 years). The median relative survival time were 12.07, 11.92 and 1.34 years in 15-44, 45-64 and 65 and above age groups, respectively. Conclusions: The cumulative survival rate of cancer increased significantly from 2010 to 2016 in Tianjin, indicating that the prevention and treatment effect of cancer is obvious. The focus should be on male, rural areas, higher age group, and targeted prevention and treatment measures should be taken to lung, esophagus, liver, gallbladder and pancreatic cancer.

Single Crystal Seed Induced Epitaxial Growth Stabilizes α-FAPbI3 in Perovskite Solar Cells

FAPbI3 stands out as an ideal candidate for the photoabsorbing layer of perovskite solar cells (PSCs), showcasing outstanding photovoltaic properties. Nonetheless, stabilizing photoactive α-FAPbI3 remains a challenge due to the lower formation energy of the competitive photoinactive δ-phase. In this study, we employ tetraethylphosphonium lead tribromide (TEPPbBr3) single crystals as templates for the epitaxial growth of PbI2. The strategic use of TEPPbBr3 optimizes the evolution of intermediates and the crystallization kinetics of perovskites, leading to high-quality and phase-stable α-FAPbI3 films. The TEPPbBr3-modified perovskite exhibits optimized carrier dynamics, yielding a champion efficiency of 25.13% with a small voltage loss of 0.34 V. Furthermore, the target device maintains 90% of its initial PCE under maximum power point (MPP) tracking over 1000 h. This work establishes a promising pathway through single crystal seed based epitaxial growth for achieving satisfactory crystallization regulation and phase stabilization of α-FAPbI3 perovskites toward high-efficiency and stable PSCs.

Effects of wind-driven current and thermal dynamics in a temperate monomictic reservoir: Implications for manganese transport and treatment in water supply systems

Increasing manganese (Mn) concentrations in source water contribute to aesthetic and health-related concerns in drinking water. The challenges with Mn in drinking water primarily arise from elevated Mn concentrations in the water supply reservoir, with the inefficacy of Mn treatment largely attributed to fluctuating Mn levels in the water source. A three-dimensional Mn cycle model in a temperate monomictic reservoir, Tarago Reservoir, and a decision support system reflecting Mn variations in the local water treatment plant have been established in previous research. This study aimed to examine Mn variations from the reservoir to raw water and treated water under the influence of wind conditions during different stages of thermal structure, and discover valuable recommendations for Mn treatment in the local water supply system. We crafted 12 scenarios to scrutinize the impact of varying intensities of offshore and onshore winds on hydrodynamic processes and Mn transport during strong thermal stratification, weak thermal stratification, and turnover. The scenario analysis revealed that, during the gradual weakening of thermal stratification, offshore wind induced a substantial amount of Mn to the upper layers near the water intake point. Conversely, onshore wind hindered the upward transport of Mn. The simulated Mn in the raw water under the 12 scenarios indicated that the timing of turnover in the Tarago Reservoir is the primary concern for Mn treatment in the water treatment plant. Additionally, close attention should be given to the frequency and intensity of offshore winds during the weakening of thermal stratification.

A cluster of type I interferon-regulated genes associates with disease activity and prognosis in patients with IgA nephropathy

The exact pathogenesis of IgA nephropathy (IgAN) is complex and so far, not well defined. Since it has been shown that microbial infections could induce high levels of type I interferon (IFN-I) and there is an evident link between mucosal infection and gross hematuria in IgAN, we hypothesized that IFN-I may play a role in the pathogenic process. In this study, we investigated the type I interferon status in IgAN based on the expression of 17 IFN-regulated genes (IRGs) in whole blood from 59 IgAN patients in a cross-sectional study, of which 34 patients followed longitudinally. Analysis of the IFN-score showed that there was a significant elevated IFN-score in the IgAN patients compared with healthy controls (n = 28, p = 9.80 × 10-3), and we observed an elevated IFN-score in the group with less tubular atrophy/interstitial fibrosis (p = 1.07 × 10-2) and with a lower proportion of mesangial hypercellularity (p = 1.23 × 10-2). In the longitudinal analysis, Cox regression analysis revealed that a higher IFN level was associated with a better renal outcome in IgAN after adjustments for gender and age (hazard ratio, 0.90; 95 % confidence interval, 0.81 to 0.97; p = 4.20 × 10-2). In conclusion, our finding suggested that IFN score may represent a novel type of biomarker in IgAN, which requires further exploration on its mechanism and therapeutic targeting.

Purity control of simulated moving bed based on advanced fuzzy controller

Simulated moving bed (SMB) technology is considered one of the most successful techniques in chromatographic separation. However, due to the nonlinearity caused by discrete events and sensitivity to numerous separation performance parameters, purity control in SMB systems has been a challenging issue. Fuzzy controllers are increasingly popular in industrial environments due to their simplicity and effectiveness in handling nonlinearity. However, traditional fuzzy controllers used in industry often overlook considerations of error acceleration, resulting in slight deviations from target values under steady-state conditions and oscillatory behavior when system parameters change. This study proposes an advanced fuzzy controller, where in a series of experiments, the purity control targets for component B are set at 94% and 96%, and for component A are set at 96% and 96%, respectively. Experimental results indicate that the advanced fuzzy controller achieves higher precision, with an average deviation of around 0.1%, for both components B and A. Importantly, under variations in adsorbent parameter(from 0.01 to 0.03), feed concentration(from 4.5 to 5.2), and switching time(from 178 to 182), the experimental results demonstrate smoother control with the advanced controller, particularly when oscillations occur with conventional fuzzy controllers due to switching time variations, indicating robust control with the advanced fuzzy controller.

C3aR in the medial prefrontal cortex modulates the susceptibility to LPS-induced depressive-like behaviors through glutamatergic neuronal excitability

Complement activation and prefrontal cortical dysfunction both contribute to the pathogenesis of major depressive disorder (MDD), but their interplay in MDD is unclear. We here studied the role of complement C3a receptor (C3aR) in the medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC) and its influence on depressive-like behaviors induced by systematic lipopolysaccharides (LPS) administration. C3aR knockout (KO) or intra-mPFC C3aR antagonism confers resilience, whereas C3aR expression in mPFC neurons makes KO mice susceptible to LPS-induced depressive-like behaviors. Importantly, the excitation and inhibition of mPFC neurons have opposing effects on depressive-like behaviors, aligning with increased and decreased excitability by C3aR deletion and activation in cortical neurons. In particular, inhibiting mPFC glutamatergic (mPFCGlu) neurons, the main neuronal subpopulation expresses C3aR, induces depressive-like behaviors in saline-treated WT and KO mice, but not in LPS-treated KO mice. Compared to hypoexcitable mPFCGlu neurons in LPS-treated WT mice, C3aR-null mPFCGlu neurons display hyperexcitability upon LPS treatment, and enhanced excitation of mPFCGlu neurons is anti-depressant, suggesting a protective role of C3aR deficiency in these circumstances. In conclusion, C3aR modulates susceptibility to LPS-induced depressive-like behaviors through mPFCGlu neuronal excitability. This study identifies C3aR as a pivotal intersection of complement activation, mPFC dysfunction, and depression and a promising therapeutic target for MDD.

Effect of the substitution of butter by double cross-linked egg yolk granules/sodium alginate emulsion gel on properties of baking dough during frozen storage

In this study, double cross-linked egg yolk granules (EYGs)/sodium alginate (SA) emulsion gel was constructed and used as butter substitute. The water binding capacity, rheology properties and microstructure of EYGs/SA emulsion gel showed that the network structure tended to be complete when the concentration of SA reached 1% (m/v). SA stabilized the EYGs/SA droplets and enhanced the spatial network structure of emulsion gel. After substitution for butter, the network structure of EYGs/SA emulsion gel with more water bounded and the polyhydroxy structure of SA molecules endowed dough with more water retention capacity. Meanwhile, the destruction of the microstructure of the replaced dough with EYGs/SA emulsion gel was significantly inhibited compared with the un-substituted dough after freezing. The baking ability results showed a satisfactory baking effect after substitution. Overall, this study provides a new avenue in the field of fat replacement and the application of EYGs/SA emulsion gels.

Quality assessment of Red Yeast Rice by fingerprint and fingerprint-effect relationship combined with antioxidant activity

Red Yeast Rice (RYR) is an important functional food ingredient that plays a critical role in promoting dietary guidance and maintaining health. To ensure its quality, four key compounds were quantified, and both HPLC fingerprint and electrochemical fingerprint (ECFP) were applied to assess quality. Additionally, 2,2'-azino-bis (3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) (ABTS+•) scavenging test and ECFP were applied to assay the total antioxidant activity, with ascorbic acid as the positive control. The results showed that the holistic quality of samples was divided into 4 grades based on HPLC fingerprint analysis by the comprehensive linear quantitative fingerprint method. Additionally, the area of the total peak (Atp) in ECFP was found to be linearly correlated with the antioxidant activity (R > 0.99). A further fingerprint-efficacy relationship analysis determined the significant contributions to the antioxidant activity of peaks 20-Daidzein, 21-Glycitein, and 24-Genistein. Overall, this study suggested a comprehensive and reliable approach to the quality assessment of RYR.

Sequential administration of delta-tocotrienol ameliorates radiation-induced myelosuppression in mice and non-human primates through inducing G-CSF production

To date only four recombinant growth factors, including Filgrastim (rhG-CSF), have been approved by FDA as radiomitigators to ameliorate hematopoietic acute radiation syndrome (H-ARS). These approved agents are not stable under room-temperature, needing to be stored at 2-8 °C, and would not be feasible in a mass casualty scenario where rapid and cost-effective intervention is crucial. Delta-tocotrienol (δ-T3H), the most potent G-CSF-inducing agent among vitamin E isoforms, exhibited efficiency and selectivity on G-CSF production in comparison with TLR and STING agonists in mice. Five-dose δ-T3H was utilized as the optimal therapeutic regimen due to long-term G-CSF production and the best peripheral blood (PB) recovery of irradiated mice. Comparable with rhG-CSF, sequential administration of δ-T3H post-irradiation improved hematologic recovery and accelerated the regeneration of hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) and hematopoietic progenitor cells (HPCs) in the bone marrow (BM) and spleen of 6.5Gy irradiated mice; and consistently enhanced repopulation of BM-HSCs. In 4.0Gy irradiated nonhuman primates, δ-T3H exhibited comparable efficacy as rhG-CSF to promote PB recovery and colony-formation of BM-HPCs. Altogether, we demonstrated that sequential administration of delta-tocotrienol ameliorates radiation-induced myelosuppression in mice and non-human primates through inducing G-CSF production, indicated δ-T3H as a promising radiomitigator for the management of H-ARS, particularly in a mass casualty scenario.

Dexmedetomidine affects the NOX4/Nrf2 pathway to improve renal antioxidant capacity

OBJECTIVES

The study aimed to investigate the protective effects of dexmedetomidine (DEX) on renal injury caused by acute stress in rats and explore the protective pathways of DEX on rat kidneys in terms of oxidative stress.

METHODS

An acute restraint stress model was utilized, where rats were restrained for 3 hours after a 15-minute swim. Biochemical tests and histopathological sections were conducted to evaluate renal function, along with the measurement of oxidative stress and related pathway proteins.

KEY FINDINGS

The open-field experiments validated the successful establishment of the acute stress model. Acute stress-induced renal injury led to increased NADPH oxidase 4 (NOX4) protein expression and decreased expression levels of nuclear transcription factor 2 (Nrf2), heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1), and NAD(P)H: quinone oxidoreductase 1 (NQO1). Following DEX treatment, there was a significant reduction in renal NOX4 expression. The DEX-treated group exhibited normalized renal biochemical results and less damage observed in pathological sections compared to the acute stress group.

CONCLUSIONS

The findings suggest that DEX treatment during acute stress can impact the NOX4/Nrf2/HO-1/NQO1 signaling pathway and inhibit oxidative stress, thereby preventing acute stress-induced kidney injury. Additionally, DEX shows promise for clinical applications in stress syndromes.

Inherited KDM6AA649T facilitates tumor-immune escape and exacerbates colorectal signet-ring cell carcinoma outcomes

Childhood onset of colorectal signet-ring cell carcinoma (CR-SRCC) is extremely rare and featured as highly malignant with poor prognosis. Here we reported a CR-SRCC case of 11-year-old boy with a novel inherited X-linked KDM6AA694T mutation. The H3K27me3 demethylase KDM6A was frequently mutated in varieties of tumors and acts as a tumor suppressor. In vivo H3K27me3 demethylation assay demonstrated that KDM6AA694T had dampened H3K27me3 demethylase activity. Overexpression of KDM6AA694T in SRCC cell line KATO3 promoted cell proliferation, invasion and migration, which were further confirmed in vivo by constructing orthotopic tumor growth and lung metastasis model. Besides, expression of KDM6AA694T in immune cells suppresses inflammatory macrophage response and effector T cell response. In conclusion, we characterized a novel inherited KDM6AA694T mutant from a childhood-onset SRCC case and demonstrated that the mutant with impaired H3K27me3 demethylase activity could potentiate tumor malignancy and suppress antitumor immunity.

Continuous and Scalable Synthesis of Prussian Blue Analogues with Tunable Structure and Composition in Surfactant-Free Microreactor for Stable Zinc-Ion Storage

We represent a segmented flow surfactant-free microfluidic strategy for continuous synthesis of Prussian blue analogues (PBAs) with high dispersity and high crystallization. Representative zinc hexacyanoferrate (ZnHCF) nanocubes were successfully synthesized in a microfluidic reactor within a few minutes via the cooperation method and possessed lower contents of crystal water and Fe(CN)63- vacancies than that of synthesis in bulk solution. The nucleation and particle growth process can be precisely controlled by the exploration of different flow rates and reaction temperatures during the formation of ZnHCF nanocubes in segmented flow microfluidic reactors. High crystallinity, low crystal water and vacancies in the ZnHCF structure were presented at relatively high temperatures for the crystal growth process. High-quality ZnHCF with a low content of crystal water showed excellent electrochemical activity and stability towards zinc-ion storage. The continuous and scalable synthesis approach can be extended to the fabrication of other PBAs such as NiHCF, CoHCF, MnHCF, and CuHCF with high dispersity without using any surfactants. The controllable construction of PBAs with tunable properties in microfluidic reactors provides a promising direction to minimize the gap between commercial reality and laboratory research.

The therapeutic effectiveness of artificial intelligence-based chatbots in alleviation of depressive and anxiety symptoms in short-course treatments: A systematic review and meta-analysis

BACKGROUND

The emergence of artificial intelligence-based chatbot has revolutionized the field of clinical psychology and psychotherapy, granting individuals unprecedented access to professional assistance, overcoming time constraints and geographical limitations with cost-effective convenience. However, despite its potential, there has been a noticeable gap in the literature regarding their effectiveness in addressing common mental health issues like depression and anxiety. This meta-analysis aims to evaluate the efficacy of AI-based chatbots in treating these conditions.

METHODS

A systematic search was executed across multiple databases, including PubMed, Cochrane Library, Web of Science, PsycINFO, and Embase on April 4th, 2024. The effect size of treatment efficacy was calculated using the standardized mean difference (Hedge's g). Quality assessment measures were implemented to ensure trial's quality.

RESULTS

In our analysis of 18 randomized controlled trials involving 3477 participants, we observed noteworthy improvements in depression (g = -0.26, 95 % CI = -0.34, -0.17) and anxiety (g = -0.19, 95 % CI = -0.29, -0.09) symptoms. The most significant benefits were evident after 8 weeks of treatment. However, at the three-month follow-up, no substantial effects were detected for either condition.

LIMITATIONS

Several limitations should be considered. These include the lack of diversity in the study populations, variations in chatbot design, and the use of different psychotherapeutic approaches. These factors may limit the generalizability of our findings.

CONCLUSION

This meta-analysis highlights the promising role of AI-based chatbot interventions in alleviating depressive and anxiety symptoms among adults. Our results indicate that these interventions can yield substantial improvements over a relatively brief treatment period.

Enhancing quality evaluation in traditional Chinese medicine: Utilizing dual wavelength fusion fingerprint, electrochemical fingerprint, and DSC fingerprint

Developing a reliable and effective quality evaluation system for traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) is both challenging and crucial for its advancement. This study employs fingerprinting techniques to establish precise and comprehensive quality control for TCM, taking Xuezhikang capsules as an example and aiming to facilitate the internationalization of TCM. The "double wavelength absorption coefficient ratio fingerprint" and "Reliability theory" are developed to determine the fingerprint peak purity and fingerprint reliability respectively. Subsequently, the dual-wavelength fusion fingerprint was obtained to avoid the limitations of a single wavelength. In addition, an electrochemical fingerprint (ECFP) was obtained to assess the similarity of electroactive components in the sample, and the Differential Scanning Calorimetry quantized fingerprint (DSC QFP) was introduced for thermal analysis. Fingerprint-efficacy correlations between PL-EC* and dual-wavelength fusion fingerprint (DWFFP) provided valuable insights that there are 76.6 % of the fingerprint compounds exhibited electroactivity. Finally, samples were classified into grades 1∼3 by combining DWFFP, ECFP and DSC QFP through the mean method, meeting the evaluation standard (SL-M > 0.9, PL-M between 80 % and 120 %). This study provides valuable information for ensuring the quality of TCM products, which represents a significant step forward in enhancing the reliability and authenticity of TCM products.

Degradation and enhanced oil recovery potential of Alcanivorax borkumensis through production of bio-enzyme and bio-surfactant

Microbial enhanced oil recovery (EOR) has become the focus of oilfield research due to its low cost, environmental friendliness and sustainability. The degradation and EOR capacity of A. borkumensis through the production of bio-enzyme and bio-surfactant were first investigated in this study. The total protein concentration, acetylcholinesterase, esterase, lipase, alkane hydroxylase activity, surface tension, and emulsification index (EI) were determined at different culture times. The bio-surfactant was identified as glycolipid compound, and the yield was 2.6 ± 0.2 g/L. The nC12 and nC13 of crude oil were completely degraded, and more than 40.0 % of nC14-nC24 was degraded by by A. borkumensis. The results of the microscopic etching model displacement and core flooding experiments showed that emulsification was the main mechanism of EOR. A. borkumensis enhanced the recovery rate by 20.2 %. This study offers novel insights for the development of environmentally friendly and efficient oil fields.

Nogo-B Promotes Endoplasmic Reticulum Stress-Mediated Autophagy in Endothelial Cells of Diabetic Nephropathy

Aims: Endothelial cells are the critical targets of injury in diabetic nephropathy (DN), and endothelial cell lesions contribute to the disease progression. Neurite outgrowth inhibitor B (Nogo-B), an endoplasmic reticulum (ER)-resident protein, plays a pivotal role in vascular remodeling after injury, and maintains the structure and function of the ER. Yet, the role of Nogo-B in the regulation of ER stress and endothelial cell injury remains largely unknown. Herein, we tested the hypothesis that Nogo-B activates ER stress-mediated autophagy and protects endothelial cells in DN. Results: The level of Nogo-B was decreased in glomerular endothelial cells in biopsy specimens from DN patients. In vivo and in vitro studies have shown that silencing Nogo-B activated ER stress signaling, and affected the expression of autophagy-related marker early growth response 1 and microtubule-associated protein light chain 3 (LC3) in endothelial cells in hyperglycemic condition. Conclusion and Innovation: These results denote that Nogo-B contributes to ER stress-mediated autophagy and protects endothelial cells in DN, providing new evidence for understanding the role of ER stress-mediated autophagy in endothelial cells of DN.

Sevoflurane exerts antidepressant-like effects via the BDNF-TrkB pathway

Depression has emerged as the predominant psychiatric affliction affecting individuals. Prior research has substantiated the antidepressant properties exhibited by numerous anesthetics. Sevoflurane, a widely utilized inhalant anesthetic in clinical practice, remains relatively uncharted in terms of its specific antidepressant effects. In this study, we used open field test, forced swimming test and novelty-suppressed feeding test to investigate the anxiety and depression-like behaviors in C57BL/6 mice following the inhalation of sevoflurane. We then used western blotting to scrutinized the expression levels of proteins associated with the brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF)-tryosine receptor kinase B (TrkB) pathway in the hippocampus and prefrontal cortex. To further investigate whether sevoflurane exerts antidepressant-like effects via the BDNF-TrkB pathway, we downregulated TrkB expression by administering siRNA into the lateral ventricle. We found that the inhalation of 2.5 % sevoflurane exerted a significant antidepressant-like effect, accompanied by an elevation in p-TrkB expression levels in the hippocampus and prefrontal cortex. Intriguingly, this antidepressant-like effect was abrogated following the downregulation of TrkB expression through the microinjection of siRNA into the lateral ventricle. In conclusion, this study provides evidence supporting the notion that sevoflurane exerts its antidepressant-like effect via the BDNF-TrkB signaling pathway.

Health Qigong Mawangdui Guidance can improve pelvic floor muscle function and quality of life in females with stress urinary incontinence: A randomized controlled trial pilot study

BACKGROUND

Urinary incontinence (UI) is a great problem of public health, especially for women's quality of life. UI afflicts at least 21.6% of the global population, and more than half of the UI is related to female stress urinary incontinence (SUI). Mawangdui Guidance plays an important role in preventing diseases and maintaining health.

METHODS

Sixty female patients with SUI were randomly divided into a control group (n = 30) and an experimental group (n = 30). Patients in both groups were treated with basic rehabilitation therapy under the guidance of rehabilitation therapists who were trained in Mawangdui Guidance, based on the former, the experimental group was taught to exercise Mawangdui Guidance(including selected movements: "Qishi," "Longdeng," "Chishi," and "Yinyao"), while the control group performed Kegel exercise with a procedure of 20 min, six times per week for 6 weeks. The function was mainly evaluated by the 1 h pad-test, incontinence quality of life questionnaire (I-QOL), and international consultation on incontinence questionnaire urinary incontinence short form (ICI-Q-SF). In addition, evaluation of pelvic floor muscle function was also included in our assessment.

RESULTS

The leakage of urine in the 1 h pad-test was significantly decreased in both two groups after treatment (P < .05), and the urine leakage in the experimental group was significantly less than that in the control group (P < .05). The muscle strength of type I and II muscle fibers of the pelvic floor, intravaginal pressure, and I-QOL score in both two groups were increased after treatment; moreover, the experimental group was more significant than the control group (P <.05). The fatigue degree of type I and type II muscle fibers of the pelvic floor, and the ICI-Q-SF score in both groups were significantly improved after treatment (P < .05); however, there were no differences between these two groups. The total effective rate of the experimental group was 90.00%, and 76.67% in the control group (P <.05).

CONCLUSION

Mawangdui Guidance can effectively improve the function of pelvic floor muscle, improve the ability of urine storage and control, and alleviate the symptoms of female patients with SUI. However, the international research on Mawangdui Guidance is very limited, and more in-depth research is needed.

Genetics of IgA nephrology: risks, mechanisms, and therapeutic targets

IgA nephropathy (IgAN) is a genetically complex multifactorial trait. Over the past decade, population-based genome-wide association studies (GWAS) have identified more than 30 IgAN risk loci, providing novel perspectives on both the epidemiology of the disease and its underlying molecular mechanisms. In addition, the association between IgAN and galactose-deficient IgA1 (Gd-IgA1) presented another avenue for genetic exploration due to the heritability of the elevated serum Gd-IgA1 levels. These endeavors also yielded and enabled refinement of polygenic risk scores, which may help identify specific groups of individuals at significantly increased risks, leading to stratifications of medical treatments. In this review, we aim to explore the existing evidence for genetic causation in IgAN. We summarize the state of genetic research in IgAN and how it has led to the reformulation of the new pathogenesis model and novel therapeutic targets.

Effect of Facet on Local Electron Density of Oxygen Vacancy in Catalysts for Nitrogen Electro-Reduction

Oxygen-vacancy (Ov) engineering is an effective strategy to manipulate the electronic configuration of catalysts for electrochemical nitrogen reduction reaction (eNRR). The influence of the stable facet on the electronic configuration of Ov is widely studied, however, the effect of the reactive facet on the local electron density of Ov is unveiled. In this work, an eNRR electrode R(111)-TiO2/HGO is provided with a high proportion exposed reactive facet (111) of rutile-TiO2 (denoted as R(111)-TiO2) nanocrystals with Ov anchored in hierarchically porous graphite oxide (HGO) nanofilms. The R(111)-TiO2/HGO exhibits excellent eNRR performance with an NH3 yield rate of 20.68 µg h-1 cm-2, which is ≈20 times the control electrode with the most stable facet (110) exposed (R(110)-TiO2/HGO). The experimental data and theoretical simulations reveal that the crystal facet (111) has a positive effect on regulating the local electron density around the oxygen vacancy and the two adjacent Ti-sites, promoting the π-back-donation, minimizing the eNRR barrier, and transforming the rate determination step to *NNH→*NNHH. This work illuminates the effect of crystal facet on the performance of eNRR, and offers a novel strategy to design efficient eNRR catalysts.

The proliferation of antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) and microbial communities in industrial wastewater treatment plant treating N,N-dimethylformamide (DMF) by AAO process

The excessive use of antibiotics has resulted in the contamination of the environment with antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs), posing a significant threat to public health. Wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) are known to be reservoirs of ARGs and considered to be hotspots for horizontal gene transfer (HGT) between bacterial communities. However, most studies focused on the distribution and dissemination of ARGs in hospital and urban WWTPs, and little is known about their fate in industrial WWTPs. In this study, collected the 15 wastewater samples containing N,N-dimethylformamide (DMF) from five stages of the anaerobic anoxic aerobic (AAO) process in an industrial WWTPs. The findings revealed a stepwise decrease in DMF and chemical oxygen demand (COD) content with the progression of treatment. However, the number and abundances of ARGs increase in the effluents of biological treatments. Furthermore, the residues of DMF and the treatment process altered the structure of the bacterial community. The correlation analysis indicated that the shift in bacterial community structures might be the main driver for the dynamics change of ARGs. Interestingly, observed that the AAO process may acted as a microbial source and increased the total abundance of ARGs instead of attenuating it. Additionally, found that non-pathogenic bacteria had higher ARGs abundance than pathogenic bacteria in effluents. The study provides insights into the microbial community structure and the mechanisms that drive the variation in ARGs abundance in industrial WWTPs.

Improving chilling tolerance of peanut seedlings by enhancing antioxidant-modulated ROS scavenging ability, alleviating photosynthetic inhibition, and mobilizing nutrient absorption

Peanut production is threatened by climate change. Damage to seedlings from low temperatures in early spring can limit yield. Plant adaptations to chilling stress remain unclear in peanut seedlings. It is essential to understand how peanut acquires chilling tolerance. We evaluated effects of chilling stress on growth and recovery of peanut seedlings. We compared and analysed biological characteristics, antioxidants, photosynthesis, biochemical and physiological responses, and nutrient absorption at varying levels of chilling. Compared with chilling-sensitive FH18, the reduced impact of chilling stress on chilling-tolerant NH5 was associated with reduced ROS accumulation, higher ascorbate peroxidase activity and soluble sugar content, lower soluble protein content, and smaller reductions in nutrient content during stress. After removal of chilling stress, FH18 had significant accumulation of O2 •- and H2O2, which decreased photosynthesis, nutrient absorption, and transport. ROS-scavenging reduced damage from chilling stress, allowed remobilization of nutrients, improved chilling tolerance, and restored plant functioning after chilling stress removal. These findings provide a reference for targeted research on peanut seedling tolerance to chilling and lay the foundation for bioinformatics-based research on peanut chilling tolerance mechanisms.

Chronological-Programmed Black Phosphorus Hydrogel for Responsive Modulation of the Pathological Microenvironment in Myocardial Infarction

Electroactive hydrogels have garnered extensive interest as a promising approach to myocardial tissue engineering. However, the challenges of spatiotemporal-specific modulation of individual pathological processes and achieving nontoxic bioresorption still remain. Herein, inspired by the entire postinfarct pathological processes, an injectable conductive bioresorbable black phosphorus nanosheets (BPNSs)-loaded hydrogel (BHGD) was developed via reactive oxide species (ROS)-sensitive disulfide-bridge and photomediated cross-linking reaction. Significantly, the chronologically programmed BHGD hydrogel can achieve graded modulation during the inflammatory, proliferative, and maturation phases of myocardial infarction (MI). More details, during early infarction, the BHGD hydrogel can effectively reduce ROS levels in the MI area, inhibit cellular oxidative stress damage, and promote macrophage M2 polarization, creating a favorable environment for damaged myocardium repair. Meanwhile, the ROS-responsive structure can protect BPNSs from degradation and maintain good conductivity under MI microenvironments. Therefore, the BHGD hydrogel possesses tissue-matched modulus and conductivity in the MI area, facilitating cardiomyocyte maturation and electrical signal exchange, compensating for impaired electrical signaling, and promoting vascularization in infarcted areas in the maturation phase. More importantly, all components of the hydrogel degrade into nontoxic substances without adverse effects on vital organs. Overall, the presented BPNS-loaded hydrogel offers an expandable and safe option for clinical treatment of MI.

An injectable sequential dual-crosslinking catechol-functionalized hyaluronic acid hydrogel for enhanced regeneration of full-thickness burn injury

Severe burn injuries with massive dermal loss are often underestimated despite their significant impact on morbidity and mortality. Resembling the natural extracellular matrix (ECM), hyaluronic acid (HA)-based dressings have been extensively explored as suitable candidates for burn wound treatment. However, native HA hydrogel's limitations, such as low mechanical strength, rapid degradation, and uncontrollable drug delivery, hinder its efficacy, especially for full-thickness burns requiring injectable hydrogels with robust antibacterial and angiogenic capabilities. Herein, we present a novel multifunctional sequential dual-curing hydrogel system, combining hyperbranched poly(DMA-DMAPMA-PEGDA) (DDP) polymer with thiolated hyaluronic acid (HA-SH). The DDP copolymer, featuring multi-vinyls and catechol functionalities, facilitates two curing reactions taking place sequentially with HA-SH under physiological conditions, balancing convenient injection with the mechanical strength essential for effective wound management. Furthermore, the resulting DDP/HA hydrogels demonstrate enhanced therapeutic attributes, including intrinsic angiogenic and antimicrobial effects, setting them as promising dressing options for deep burn wound therapy.

Targeting Myeloid Leukemia-1 in Cancer Therapy: Advances and Directions

As a tripartite cell death switch, B-cell lymphoma protein 2 (Bcl-2) family members precisely regulate the endogenous apoptosis pathway in response to various cell signal stresses through protein-protein interactions. Myeloid leukemia-1 (Mcl-1), a key anti-apoptotic Bcl-2 family member, is positioned downstream in the endogenous apoptotic pathway and plays a central role in regulating mitochondrial function. Mcl-1 is highly expressed in a variety of hematological malignancies and solid tumors, contributing to tumorigenesis, poor prognosis, and chemoresistance, making it an attractive target for cancer treatment. This Perspective aims to discuss the mechanism by which Mcl-1 regulates apoptosis and non-apoptotic functions in cancer cells and to outline the discovery and optimization process of potent Mcl-1 modulators. In addition, we summarize the structural characteristics of potent inhibitors that bind to Mcl-1 through multiple co-crystal structures and analyze the cardiotoxicity caused by current Mcl-1 inhibitors, providing prospects for rational targeting of Mcl-1.

Metastasis patterns and prognosis in young gastric cancer patients: A propensity score‑matched SEER database analysis

BACKGROUND

Whether young patients with metastatic gastric cancer (GC) had distinct metastasis patterns and survival outcomes from older patients remains controversial. The aim of the present study was to explore the metastasis patterns and prognostic factors in young patients and evaluate the survival outcome in comparison to their older counterparts.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

We identified patients with metastatic GC in the surveillance, epidemiology, and end results (SEER) database from 2010 to 2015. The patients were divided into two groups based on age at diagnosis: younger (≤40 years old) and older (>40 years old). We employed the chi-squared test to compare the clinicopathological characteristics between the two age groups. Furthermore, we conducted survival analyses using Kaplan-Meier and Cox regression analyses. To balance disparities in baseline characteristics, we employed propensity score matching (PSM).

RESULTS

We identified 5,580 metastatic GC patients from the SEER database, with 237 (4.2%) classified as younger and 5343 (95.8%) as older patients. A total of 237 pairs of patients were generated after adjustment by PSM. Patients in the younger group exhibited a higher proportion of bone-only metastases and a lower proportion of liver-only metastases compared with patients in the older group. Multivariate Cox regression analysis demonstrated that youth was an independent protective factor for overall survival (OS) before and after PSM, but not for gastric cancer-specific survival (GCSS). Among the younger group, patients with liver-only metastasis demonstrated the best prognosis, whereas patients with lung-only metastasis exhibited significantly worse survival outcomes compared with liver-only metastases, even comparable to that of bone metastasis.

CONCLUSIONS

Compared with the older group, the metastatic GC patients in the younger group exhibited more aggressive tumors but better prognoses. The metastasis pattern and its effect on the prognosis of GC varied by age group.

Spartina alterniflora invasion altered phosphorus retention and microbial phosphate solubilization of the Minjiang estuary wetland in southeastern China

Spartina alterniflora invasion is considered a critical event affecting sediment phosphorus (P) availability and stock. However, P retention and microbial phosphate solubilization in the sediments invaded with or without S. alterniflora have not been fully investigated. In this study, a sequential fractionation method and high-throughput sequencing were used to analyze P transformation and the underlying microbial mechanisms in the sediments of no plant (NP) zone, transition (T) zone, and plant (P) zone. Results showed that except for organic phosphate (OP), total phosphate (TP), inorganic phosphate (IP), and available phosphate (AP) all followed a significant decrease trend from the NP site to the T site, and to the P site. The vertical decrease of TP, IP, and AP was also observed with an increase in soil depth. Among the six IP fractions, Fe-P, Oc-P, and Ca10-P were the predominant forms, while the presence of S. alterniflora resulted in an obvious P depletion except for Ca8-P and Al-P. Although S. alterniflora invasion did not significantly alter the alpha diversity of phosphate-solubilizing bacteria (PSB) harboring phoD gene, several PSB belonging to p_Proteobacteria, p_Planctomycetes, and p_Cyanobacteriota showed close correlations with P speciation and IP fractions. Further correlation analysis revealed that the reduced soil pH, soil TN and soil EC, and the increased soil TOC mediated by the invasion of S. alterniflora also significantly correlated to these PSB. Overall, this study elucidates the linkage between PSB and P speciation and provides new insights into understanding P retention and microbial P transformation in the coastal sediment invaded by S. alterniflora.

The MRE11-ATM-SOG1 DNA damage signaling pathway confers rice immunity to Xanthomonas oryzae

Plants are constantly exposed to microbial pathogens in the environment. One branch of innate plant immunity is mediated by cell-membrane-localized receptors, but less is known about associations between DNA damage and plant immune responses. Here, we show that rice (Oryza sativa) mesophyll cells are prone to DNA double-stranded breaks (DSBs) in response to ZJ173, a strain of Xanthomonas oryzae pv. oryzae (Xoo). The DSB signal transducer ataxia telangiectasia mutated (ATM), but not the ATM and Rad3-related branch, confers resistance against Xoo. Mechanistically, the MRE11-ATM module phosphorylates suppressor of gamma response 1 (SOG1), which activates several phenylpropanoid pathway genes and prompts downstream phytoalexin biosynthesis during Xoo infection. Intriguingly, overexpression of the topoisomerase gene TOP6A3 causes a switch from the classic non-homologous end joining (NHEJ) pathway to the alternative NHEJ and homologous recombination pathways at Xoo-induced DSBs. The enhanced ATM signaling of the alternative NHEJ pathway strengthens the SOG1-regulated phenylpropanoid pathway and thereby boosts Xoo-induced phytoalexin biosynthesis in TOP6A3-OE1 overexpression lines. Overall, the MRE11-ATM-SOG1 pathway serves as a prime example of plant-pathogen interactions that occur via host non-specific recognition. The function of TOP6-facilitated ATM signaling in the defense response makes it a promising target for breeding of rice germplasm that exhibits resistance to bacterial blight disease without a growth penalty.

Spontaneous Degradation of the "Forever Chemicals" Perfluoroalkyl and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFASs) on Water Droplet Surfaces

Because of their innate chemical stability, the ubiquitous perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) have been dubbed "forever chemicals" and have attracted considerable attention. However, their stability under environmental conditions has not been widely verified. Herein, perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), a widely used and detected PFAS, was found to be spontaneously degraded in aqueous microdroplets under room temperature and atmospheric pressure conditions. This unexpected fast degradation occurred via a unique multicycle redox reaction of PFOA with interfacial reactive species on the droplet surface. Similar degradation was observed for other PFASs. This study extends the current understanding of the environmental fate and chemistry of PFASs and provides insight into aid in the development of effective methods for removing PFASs.

Flexible Sandwich-Shaped Cellulose Nanocrystals/Silver Nanowires/MXene Films Exhibit Efficient Electromagnetic-Shielding Interference Performance

The electromagnetic pollution problem is becoming increasingly serious due to the speedy advance of electronic communication devices. There are broad application prospects for the development of flexible, wearable composite films with high electromagnetic interference (EMI)-shielding performance. The MX@AC composite films were prepared from MXene, silver nanowires (AgNWs) and cellulose nanocrystals (CNCs) with a sandwich structure. Benefiting from the upper and lower frame structure formed by winding 1D AgNWs and CNC, the tensile strength of the MX@AC was improved to 35 MPa (12.5 wt% CNC content) from 4 MPa (0 wt% CNC content). The high conductivity of MXene and AgNWs resulted in the MX@AC composite film conductivity up to 90,670 S/m, EMI SE for 90 dB, as well as SSE/t up to 7797 dB cm2 g-1. And the MX@AC composite film was tested for practical application, showing that it can effectively isolate electromagnetic waves in practical application.

Halogen doped graphene quantum dots modulate TDP-43 phase separation and aggregation in the nucleus

TDP-43 is implicated in the dynamic formation of nuclear bodies and stress granules through phase separation. In diseased states, it can further condense into pathological aggregates in the nucleus and cytoplasm, contributing to the onset of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. In this study, we evaluate the effect of graphene quantum dots (GQDs) with different functional groups on TDP-43's phase separation and aggregation in various cellular locations. We find that halogen atom-doped GQDs (GQDs-Cl, Cl-GQDs-OH) penetrate the nuclear envelope, inhibiting the assembly of TDP-43 nuclear bodies and stress granules under oxidative stress or hyperosmotic environments, and reduce amyloid aggregates and disease-associated phosphorylation of TDP-43. Mechanistic analysis reveals GQDs-Cl and Cl-GQDs-OH modulate TDP-43 phase separation through hydrophobic and electrostatic interactions. Our findings highlight the potential of GQDs-Cl and Cl-GQDs-OH in modulating nuclear protein condensation and pathological aggregation, offering direction for the innovative design of GQDs to modulate protein phase separation and aggregation.