Emission and optical characteristics of brown carbon in size-segregated particles from three types of Chinese ships

Brown carbon (BrC) is one of the important light absorption substances that have high light absorption ability under short wavelength light. However, limit studies have focused on the BrC emission from ships. In this study, size-segregated particulate matters (PM) were collected from three different types of ships, light absorption characteristics and size distribution of methanol-soluble BrC and water-soluble BrC in PM from ship exhausts were investigated. Results showed that four-stroke low-power diesel fishing boat (4-LDF) had the highest mass concentrations of methanol-soluble organic carbon (MSOC) and water-soluble organic carbon (WSOC), followed by 2-stroke high-power heavy-fuel-oil vessel (2-HHV), and four-stroke high-power marine-diesel vessel (4-HMV). While 2-HHV had obviously higher light absorption coefficients of methanol-soluble BrC (Abs365,M) and water-soluble BrC (Abs365,W) in unit weight of PM than the other two types of ships. The tested ships presented comparable or higher absorption efficiency of BrC in water extracts (MAE365,W) compared with other BrC emission sources. Majority of BrC was concentrated in fine particles, and the particle size distributions of both Abs365,M and Abs365,W showed bimodal patterns, peaking at 0.43-0.65 µm and 4.7-5.8 µm, respectively. However, different particle size distributions were found for MAE365,M between diesel and heavy fuel oil ships. Besides, different wavelength dependence in particles with different size were also detected. Ship exhaust could be confirmed as a non-ignorable BrC emission source, and complex influencing factor could affect the light absorption characteristics of ship emissions. Particle size should also be considered when light absorption ability of BrC was evaluated.

Renin imprinted Poly(methyldopa) for biomarker detection and disease therapy

Conventional molecularly imprinted polymers (MIPs) perform their functions principally depended on their three dimensional (3D) imprinted cavities (recognition sites) of templates. Here, retaining the function of recognition sites resulted from the imprinting of template molecules, the role of functional monomers is explored and expanded. Briefly, a class of dual-functional renin imprinted poly(methyldopa) (RMIP) is prepared, consisting of a drug-type function monomer (methyldopa, clinical high blood pressure drug) and a corresponding disease biomarker (renin, biomarker for high blood pressure disease). To boost target-to-receptor binding ratio and sensitivity, the microstructure of recognition sites is beforehand calculated and designed by Density Functional Theory calculations, and the whole interfacial structure, property and thickness of RMIP film is regulated by adjusting the polymerization techniques. The dual-functional applications of RMIP for biomarker detection and disease therapy in vivo is explored. Such RMIP-based biosensors achieves highly sensitive biomarker detection, where the LODs reaches down to 1.31 × 10-6 and 1.26 × 10-6 ng mL-1 for electrochemical and chemical polymers, respectively, and the application for disease therapy in vivo has been verified where displays the obviously decreased blood pressure values of mice. No acute and long-term toxicity is found from the pathological slices, declaring the promising clinical application potential of such engineered RMIP nanostructure.

An electrochemical biosensor based on DNA tetrahedron nanoprobe for sensitive and selective detection of doxorubicin

Doxorubicin (DOX) is a clinical chemotherapeutic drug and patients usually suffer from dose-dependent cytotoxic and side effects during chemotherapy process with DOX. Therefore, developing a reliable strategy for DOX analysis in biological samples for dosage guidance during chemotherapy process is of great significance. Herein, a sensitive and selective electrochemical biosensor for DOX detection was designed based on gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) and DNA tetrahedron (TDN) nanoprobe bifunctional glassy carbon electrode that could detect DOX in human serum and cell lysate samples. AuNPs not only could enhance electron transfer efficiency and detection sensitivity, but also could improve the biocompatibility of electrode. TDN nanoprobes were employed as specific DOX bind sites that could bind abundant DOX through intercalative characteristics to contribute to sensitive and selective detection. Under the optimal conditions, the proposed TDN nanoprobes-based DOX biosensor exhibited a wide linear range that ranged from 1.0 nM to 50 μM and a low detection limit that was 0.3 nM. Moreover, the proposed DOX biosensor displayed nice selectivity, reproducibility and stability, and was successfully applied for DOX detection in human serum and cell lysate samples. These promising results maybe pave a way for DOX dosage guidance and therapeutic efficacy optimization in clinic.

Radiofrequency regulation of the sphenopalatine ganglion in managing herpes zoster ophthalmicus neuralgia: A case series

INTRODUCTION

Trigeminal herpes zoster, which comprises 10% to 20% of cases of herpes zoster, often leads to severe pain in the ophthalmic branches. Current treatments, including drug therapy and minimally invasive interventions, have limitations; accordingly, there is a need to explore alternative approaches. This study aimed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of computerized tomography (CT)-guided pulsed radiofrequency of the sphenopalatine ganglion in patients with intractable trigeminal herpetic pain.

PATIENT CONCERNS

Three patients with intractable trigeminal ophthalmic zoster neuralgia were studied. All patients complained of bursts of headache, which occurred at least 10 times a day, usually in the periorbital and frontal regions. Conventional treatments, including oral medications and radiofrequency therapy targeting the trigeminal-semilunar ganglion and supraorbital nerve, could not sufficiently provide relief.

DIAGNOSIS

Two patients were diagnosed with herpes zoster in the ocular branch of the trigeminal nerve with conjunctivitis, while one patient was diagnosed with postherpetic neuralgia in the ocular branch of the trigeminal nerve.

INTERVENTIONS

This study employed a novel approach that involved CT-guided radiofrequency regulation of the pterygopalatine fossa sphenopalatine ganglion.

OUTCOMES

In all three patients, pain relief was achieved within 1 to 3 days after treatment. During the follow-up, one patient had pain recurrence; however, its severity was ≈ 40% lower than the pretreatment pain severity. The second patient had sustained and effective pain relief. However, the pain of the third patient worsened again after 2 months. The average follow-up duration was 3 months. None of the enrolled patients showed treatment-related adverse reactions or complications.

CONCLUSION

Our findings indicated that CT-guided radiofrequency regulation of the pterygopalatine fossa sphenopalatine ganglion was a safe and effective intervention for pain in patients with trigeminal ophthalmic zoster neuralgia, suggesting that it may be a therapeutic option if other treatments fail.

Development and Application of a High-Precision Portable Digital Compass System for Improving Combined Navigation Performance

There are not many high-precision, portable digital compass solutions available right now that can enhance combined navigation systems' overall functionality. Additionally, there is a dearth of writing about these products. This is why a tunnel magnetoresistance (TMR) sensor-based high-precision portable digital compass system is designed. First, the least-squares method is used to compensate for compass inaccuracy once the ellipsoid fitting method has corrected manufacturing and installation errors in the digital compass system. Second, the digital compass's direction angle data is utilized to offset the combined navigation system's mistake. The final objective is to create a high-performing portable TMR digital compass system that will enhance the accuracy and stability of the combined navigation system (abbreviated as CNS). According to the experimental results, the digital compass's azimuth accuracy was 4.1824° before error compensation and 0.4580° after it was applied. The combined navigation system's path is now more accurate overall and is closer to the reference route than it was before the digital compass was added. Furthermore, compared to the combined navigation route without the digital compass, the combined navigation route with the digital compass included is more stable while traveling through the tunnel. It is evident that the digital compass system's design can raise the integrated navigation system's accuracy and stability. The integrated navigation system's overall performance may be somewhat enhanced by this approach.

Undifferentiated Carcinoma of Esophagus with SMARCA4 Deletion Expressing Synaptophysin: A Potential Diagnostic Pitfall

Undifferentiated carcinoma of the esophagus is an entity that is included in WHO classification of digestive systems fifth edition (2018). The definition of this entity is a malignant esophageal epithelial tumor that lacks definite microscopic features of squamous, glandular, or neuroendocrine differentiation. It is a challenging diagnosis to make due to lack of diagnostic criteria. We report a case from a 45 years old man with a mass in the lower third of esophagus. Biopsy showed an epitheloid neoplasm with sheet like growth pattern and no glandular formation. The tumor cells had prominent nucleoli and indistinct cell borders. There were occasional rhabdoid cells. By immunostains, tumor cells were focally positive for pankeratin, keratin 7, synaptophysin, negative for CDX2 and p40, INSM1, chromogranin, and CD56. Background intestinal metaplasia (Barrett esophagus) was present. Next generation sequencing of the tumor revealed SMARCA4 deep deletion. The tumor showed loss of SMARCA4 by immunostain. This case demonstrates that undifferentiated carcinoma of the esophagus with SMARCA4 deletion can express synaptophysin. Awareness of this entity is important for the correct classification of this tumor.

Associations of dietary iron intake with cardiovascular disease risk and dyslipidemia among Chinese adults

BACKGROUND

Whether iron intake can affect cardiovascular disease (CVD) and dyslipidemia is controversial. However, few studies have focused on reducing the risk of CVD in people at risk for dyslipidemia. This study explored the linear relationship and possible nonlinear relationship between CVD and dyslipidemia.

METHODS

Dietary data were obtained from the China Health and Nutrition Survey between 2004 and 2015. The survey included 8173 participants older than 18 years. CVD risk was estimated by the Framingham risk score (FRS). Logistic regression analysis was used to determine whether iron intake affects CVD incidence and lipid profiles. The nonlinear association was tested with restricted cubic splines (RCSs).

RESULTS

For males, higher total iron intake [the fifth quintile (Q) vs. Q1 odds ratio (OR): 0.335, 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.248-0.453], heme iron intake (OR: 0.679, 95% CI: 0.492-0.937) and non-heme iron intake (OR: 0.362, 95% CI: 0.266-0.492) reduced CVD incidence. Heme iron intake increased high low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) (OR: 1.786, 95% CI: 1.226-2.602), high total cholesterol (TC) (OR: 2.404, 95% CI: 1.575-3.669), high triglyceride (TG) (OR: 1.895, 95% CI: 1.423-2.523), and low apolipoprotein A1/apolipoprotein B (ApoA-1/ApoB) risk (OR: 1.514, 95% CI: 1.178-1.945). Moderate non-heme iron intake reduced high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) incidence (Q5 vs. Q1 OR: 0.704, 95% CI: 0.507-0.979). For females, higher total iron intake (Q5 vs. Q1 OR: 0.362, 95% CI: 0.266-0.492) and non-heme iron intake (OR: 0.347, 95% CI: 0.154-0.781) reduced CVD incidence. Heme iron intake increased high LDL-C (OR: 1.587, 95% CI: 1.160-2.170) and high TC incidence (OR: 1.655, 95% CI: 1.187-2.309).

CONCLUSIONS

Men, especially those at risk of developing dyslipidemia, should consume non-heme rather than heme iron to reduce CVD incidence. For women, increased heme iron intake did not reduce CVD incidence. Therefore, women should minimize their heme iron intake to prevent dyslipidemia.

Palmitoylation of hIFITM1 inhibits JEV infection and contributes to BBB stabilization

Human brain microvascular endothelial cells (hBMECs) are the main component cells of the blood-brain barrier (BBB) and play a crucial role in responding to viral infections to prevent the central nervous system (CNS) from viral invasion. Interferon-inducible transmembrane protein 1 (IFITM1) is a multifunctional membrane protein downstream of type-I interferon. In this study, we discovered that hIFITM1 expression was highly upregulated in hBMECs during Japanese encephalitis virus (JEV) infection. Depletion of hIFITM1 with CRISPR/Cas9 in hBMECs enhanced JEV replication, while overexpression of hIFITM1 restricted the viruses. Additionally, overexpression of hIFITM1 promoted the monolayer formation of hBMECs with a better integrity and a higher transendothelial electrical resistance (TEER), and reduced the penetration of JEV across the BBB. However, the function of hIFITM1 is governed by palmitoylation. Mutations of palmitoylation residues in conserved CD225 domain of hIFITM1 impaired its antiviral capacity. Moreover, mutants retained hIFITM1 in the cytoplasm and lessened its interaction with tight junction protein Occludin. Taken together, palmitoylation of hIFITM1 is essential for its antiviral activity in hBMECs, and more notably, for the maintenance of BBB homeostasis.

Predicting Hematoma Expansion and Prognosis in Cerebral Contusions: A Radiomics-Clinical Approach

Hemorrhagic progression of contusion (HPC) often occurs early in cerebral contusions (CC) patients, significantly impacting their prognosis. It is vital to promptly assess HPC and predict outcomes for effective tailored interventions, thereby enhancing prognosis in CC patients. We utilized the Attention-3DUNet neural network to semi-automatically segment hematomas from computed tomography (CT) images of 452 CC patients, incorporating 695 hematomas. Subsequently, 1502 radiomic features were extracted from 358 hematomas in 261 patients. After a selection process, these features were used to calculate the radiomic signature (Radscore). The Radscore, along with clinical features such as medical history, physical examinations, laboratory results, and radiological findings, was employed to develop predictive models. For prognosis (discharge Glasgow Outcome Scale score), radiomic features of each hematoma were augmented and fused for correlation. We employed various machine learning methodologies to create both a combined model, integrating radiomics and clinical features, and a clinical-only model. Nomograms based on logistic regression were constructed to visually represent the predictive procedure, and external validation was performed on 170 patients from three additional centers. The results showed that for HPC, the combined model, incorporating hemoglobin levels, Rotterdam CT score of 3, multi-hematoma fuzzy sign, concurrent subdural hemorrhage, international normalized ratio, and Radscore, achieved area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC) values of 0.848 and 0.836 in the test and external validation cohorts, respectively. The clinical model predicting prognosis, utilizing age, Abbreviated Injury Scale for the head, Glasgow Coma Scale Motor component, Glasgow Coma Scale Verbal component, albumin, and Radscore, attained AUC values of 0.846 and 0.803 in the test and external validation cohorts, respectively. Selected radiomic features indicated that irregularly shaped and highly heterogeneous hematomas increased the likelihood of HPC, while larger weighted axial lengths and lower densities of hematomas were associated with a higher risk of poor prognosis. Predictive models that combine radiomic and clinical features exhibit robust performance in forecasting HPC and the risk of poor prognosis in CC patients. Radiomic features complement clinical features in predicting HPC, although their ability to enhance the predictive accuracy of the clinical model for adverse prognosis is limited.

Association between the surgical approach and prognosis of spontaneous supratentorial deep intracerebral hemorrhage

The association between surgical approach and prognosis in patients with spontaneous supratentorial deep intracerebral hemorrhage is unclear. We aimed to explore the association between surgical approach and prognosis in these patients. A retrospective cohort of 311 patients from 3 centers who were treated with surgery 24 h after ictus was recruited. The surgical procedure involved removing the intracerebral hematoma using an aspirator through either the cortical approach or Sylvian fissure approach, assisted by an endoscope or microscope. The primary outcome was the one-year modified Rankin scale (mRS) score. The association between the surgical approach and the one-year mRS score was explored by using ordinal logistic regression and binary logistic regression. Baseline characteristics were balanced by propensity score matching and inverse propensity score weighting. In the adjusted analysis, compared with the cortex approach group, the Sylvian fissure approach group had better one-year mRS scores when analyzed as an ordinal variable (3.00 [2.00-4.00] vs. 4.00 [3.00-5.00]; adjusted odds ratio, 3.15; 95% CI, 1.78-5.58; p < 0.001) and a dichotomous variable (74.14% vs. 49.01%; adjusted odds ratio, 6.61; 95% CI, 2.75-15.88; p < 0.001). Surgical approach was not significantly associated with rebleeding (p = 0.88) or three-month mortality (p = 0.81). In univariate analysis after propensity score matching, there were significant differences in one-year mRS score between the two groups (p < 0.001), and there were no significant differences in rebleeding (Fisher's exact test, p > 0.999) or three-month mortality (Fisher's exact test, p > 0.999). Inverse probability weighted regression analysis showed better one-year mRS scores when analyzed as an ordinal variable (adjusted odds ratio, 3.03; 95% CI, 2.17-4.17; p < 0.001) and a dichotomous variable (adjusted odds ratio, 3.11; 95% CI, 2.16-4.77; p < 0.001) in the Sylvian fissure approach group; the surgical approach was not significantly associated with rebleeding (p = 0.50) or three-month mortality (p = 0.60). In the surgical treatment of patients with spontaneous supratentorial deep intracerebral hemorrhage, the Sylvian fissure approach may lead to a better functional outcome compared with the cortex approach. Future prospective studies are warranted to confirm this finding.

Identification of important modules and biomarkers in diabetic cardiomyopathy based on WGCNA and LASSO analysis

Background

Diabetic cardiomyopathy (DCM) lacks specific and sensitive biomarkers, and its diagnosis remains a challenge. Therefore, there is an urgent need to develop useful biomarkers to help diagnose and evaluate the prognosis of DCM. This study aims to find specific diagnostic markers for diabetic cardiomyopathy.

Methods

Two datasets (GSE106180 and GSE161827) from the GEO database were integrated to identify differentially expressed genes (DEGs) between control and type 2 diabetic cardiomyopathy. We assessed the infiltration of immune cells and used weighted coexpression network analysis (WGCNA) to construct the gene coexpression network. Then we performed a clustering analysis. Finally, a diagnostic model was built by the least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO).

Results

A total of 3066 DEGs in the GSE106180 and GSE161827 datasets. There were differences in immune cell infiltration. According to gene significance (GS) > 0.2 and module membership (MM) > 0.8, 41 yellow Module genes and 1474 turquoise Module genes were selected. Hub genes were mainly related to the "proteasomal protein catabolic process", "mitochondrial matrix" and "protein processing in endoplasmic reticulum" pathways. LASSO was used to construct a diagnostic model composed of OXCT1, CACNA2D2, BCL7B, EGLN3, GABARAP, and ACADSB and verified it in the GSE163060 and GSE175988 datasets with AUCs of 0.9333 (95% CI: 0.7801-1) and 0.96 (95% CI: 0.8861-1), respectively. H9C2 cells were verified, and the results were similar to the bioinformatics analysis.

Conclusion

We constructed a diagnostic model of DCM, and OXCT1, CACNA2D2, BCL7B, EGLN3, GABARAP, and ACADSB were potential biomarkers, which may provide new insights for improving the ability of early diagnosis and treatment of diabetic cardiomyopathy.

Role and molecular mechanism of APOBEC3B in the development and progression of gastric cancer

Gastric cancer is a common malignant tumor with a high mortality rate. Abnormal APOBEC3B (apolipoprotein B mRNA-editing enzyme catalytic polypeptide-like 3B) expression increases tumor susceptibility. However, the exact molecular mechanism of APOBEC3B expression in the development of gastric cancer is still unknown. We investigated the effect of APOBEC3B on the malignant biological behavior of gastric cancer cells and discussed the role of APOBEC3B in the development and progression of gastric cancer. APOBEC3B protein levels were measured in 161 gastric cancer samples using western blotting and immunohistochemistry. Both in vitro and in vivo assays were performed, and molecules were analyzed using bioinformatics analysis and western blotting. APOBEC3B was overexpressed in gastric cancer. Moreover, APOBEC3B significantly enhanced cell proliferation in vitro and tumorigenicity in vivo. Regarding the underlying mechanism, APOBEC3B promoted the proliferation of gastric cancer cells by upregulating P53, MCM2 (minichromosome maintenance protein 2), and cyclin D1. Our results suggest that APOBEC3B is involved in cancer progression, providing a new theoretical basis for the prevention and treatment of gastric cancer.

Effects of adding low-dose esketamine to sufentanil and propofol sedation during cervical conization: a single-centre, randomized controlled trial

BACKGROUND

Cervical conization is a brief but painful procedure that can be performed under sufficient sedation with propofol and opioids. However, this sedation approach comes with a high risk of sedation-related adverse events (SRAEs). Esketamine, an N-methyl-d-aspartate (NMDA) receptor antagonist, causes less cardiorespiratory depression than opioids. The aim of this study was to assess the efficacy and safety of adding a low dose of esketamine to propofol and sufentanil sedation as an opioid-reduced regimen.

METHODS

A total of 122 consecutive patients with ASA I-II, body mass index < 30, and STOP-BANG score < 3 who underwent cervical conization were enrolled and randomly divided into Group S and Group ES. Using a closed-loop target-controlled infusion (TCI) pump with a target bispectral index (BIS) value of 60 ± 5, patients in Group S were sedated with 0.2 mcg·kg-1 sufentanil and propofol, while patients in Group ES were sedated with 0.15 mg·kg-1 esketamine, 0.1 mcg·kg-1 sufentanil and propofol. The primary outcome was the incidence and severity of SRAEs, while the secondary outcomes included effectiveness of sedation, awakening time, psychotomimetic side effects, postoperative pain, postoperative nausea and vomiting, and patient and gynaecologist satisfaction.

RESULTS

Data from 120 patients were analysed. The incidence of composite SRAEs was significantly higher in Group S than in Group ES (85.0% vs. 56.7%, P < 0.05). Furthermore, the severity of SRAEs was higher in Group S than in Group ES (P < 0.001). There were no significant differences in the effectiveness of sedation, awakening time, psychotomimetic side effects, postoperative pain, postoperative nausea and vomiting, or patient and gynaecologist satisfaction between the two groups.

CONCLUSION

Adding low-dose esketamine to propofol and sufentanil sedation reduces the incidence and severity of SRAEs in patients undergoing cervical conization, with equal sedation efficacy, recovery quality, and no additional psychomimetic side effects.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

ChiCTR2000040457 , 28/11/2020.

Nav1.7 as a chondrocyte regulator and therapeutic target for osteoarthritis

Osteoarthritis (OA) is the most common joint disease. Currently there are no effective methods that simultaneously prevent joint degeneration and reduce pain1. Although limited evidence suggests the existence of voltage-gated sodium channels (VGSCs) in chondrocytes2, their expression and function in chondrocytes and in OA remain essentially unknown. Here we identify Nav1.7 as an OA-associated VGSC and demonstrate that human OA chondrocytes express functional Nav1.7 channels, with a density of 0.1 to 0.15 channels per µm2 and 350 to 525 channels per cell. Serial genetic ablation of Nav1.7 in multiple mouse models demonstrates that Nav1.7 expressed in dorsal root ganglia neurons is involved in pain, whereas Nav1.7 in chondrocytes regulates OA progression. Pharmacological blockade of Nav1.7 with selective or clinically used pan-Nav channel blockers significantly ameliorates the progression of structural joint damage, and reduces OA pain behaviour. Mechanistically, Nav1.7 blockers regulate intracellular Ca2+ signalling and the chondrocyte secretome, which in turn affects chondrocyte biology and OA progression. Identification of Nav1.7 as a novel chondrocyte-expressed, OA-associated channel uncovers a dual target for the development of disease-modifying and non-opioid pain relief treatment for OA.

Vagus nerve stimulation attenuates septic shock-induced cardiac injury in rats

This research aimed to evaluate whether vagus nerve stimulation (VNS) could effectively prevent septic shock-induced cardiac injury in rats and investigate the potential mechanisms. Female Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into the Sham group (sham cecal ligation and puncture [CLP] plus vagal nerve trunk separation), the Vehicle group (CLP plus vagal nerve trunk separation), and the VNS groups (CLP plus vagal nerve trunk separation plus VNS). The left ventricular function was analyzed by echocardiography. Histologic examinations of the cardiac tissues were performed through hematoxylin and eosin staining and TUNEL staining. The Vehicle group had worse cardiac function, higher levels of cardiac injury markers, and enhanced myocardial apoptosis than the Sham group. The rats in the VNS groups had enhanced cardiac function, lower levels of cardiac injury markers, and inhibited myocardial apoptosis than those in the Vehicle group. Elevated interleukin-1beta and tumor necrosis factor-alpha-levels and activated nuclear factor kappa B (NF-kappa-B) signal in septic shock rats were inhibited by the performance of VNS. This study suggests that VNS contributes to the reduction of myocardial apoptosis and improvement of left ventricular function to attenuate septic shock-induced cardiac injury in rats. The performance of VNS inhibits the inflammatory responses in heart tissues via the regulation of NF-kappa-B signal.

Characteristics of intermediate volatility organic compounds emitted from inland vessels with different influential factors and implication of reduction emissions

Ships could emit an abundance intermediate volatility organic compounds (IVOCs). In recent years, many studies on the emission characteristics of IVOCs have focused on the burning of heavy fuel oil by ocean-going ships; however, few have focused on inland vessels which have a more significant impact on air quality and human health owing to their closer proximity to cities than ocean-going ships. In this study, the IVOC emission factors (EFIVOCs) of three inland vessels were determined using a dilution sampling system considering different influencing factors (ship age and operating conditions). The results showed that the EFIVOCs values ranged from 869.9 to 7607 mg/kg fuel, with an average of 4128 ± 2703 mg/kg fuel. In addition, the age of the vessel was found to have a dramatic effect on emissions with the average EFIVOCs of inland vessels aged >10 years was 4300 ± 4319, 5769, and 6484 ± 1586 mg/kg fuel under cruising, idling, and maneuvering conditions, respectively, while that of vessels <10 years old was 1180 ± 328.3 mg/kg fuel when maneuvering. The percentages of emission factors for unresolved complex mixture (UCM), normal alkanes (n-alkanes), branched alkanes (b-alkanes), and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) from inland vessels were 82.1 ± 2.6 %, 5.2 ± 0.9 %, 10.6 ± 2.0 % and 2.0 ± 0.6 % of the total IVOCs, respectively. The secondary organic aerosols (SOA) production of inland vessels was estimated to be 1212 ± 801.7 mg/kg fuel, which was substantially higher than those of diesel vehicles, non-road construction machinery, and gasoline vehicles reported by other researches. Moreover, based on the ship movement and measured EFIVOCs data, the IVOCs emission inventory of inland vessels in Jiangsu Province and China in 2016 was 4.2 ± 2.8 and 32.0 ± 21.0 Gg respectively, which was comparable to those from diesel vehicle emissions.

How to enhance the ability of mesenchymal stem cells to alleviate intervertebral disc degeneration

Intervertebral disc (ID) degeneration (IDD) is one of the main causes of chronic low back pain, and degenerative lesions are usually caused by an imbalance between catabolic and anabolic processes in the ID. The environment in which the ID is located is harsh, with almost no vascular distribution within the disc, and the nutrient supply relies mainly on the diffusion of oxygen and nutrients from the blood vessels located under the endplate. The stability of its internal environment also plays an important role in preventing IDD. The main feature of disc degeneration is a decrease in the number of cells. Mesenchymal stem cells have been used in the treatment of disc lesions due to their ability to differentiate into nucleus pulposus cells in a nonspecific anti-inflammatory manner. The main purpose is to promote their regeneration. The current aim of stem cell therapy is to replace the aged and metamorphosed cells in the ID and to increase the content of the extracellular matrix. The treatment of disc degeneration with stem cells has achieved good efficacy, and the current challenge is how to improve this efficacy. Here, we reviewed current treatments for disc degeneration and summarize studies on stem cell vesicles, enhancement of therapeutic effects when stem cells are mixed with related substances, and improvements in the efficacy of stem cell therapy by adjuvants under adverse conditions. We reviewed the new approaches and ideas for stem cell treatment of disc degeneration in order to contribute to the development of new therapeutic approaches to meet current challenges.

[The clinical application value of brain 18F-FDG PET/CT in the diagnostics of Parkinsonian syndromes]

Objective: To analyze the PET/CT imaging features of fluoride 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose (18F-FDG) in patients with various types of Parkinson's syndrome (PS), and to establish a "diagnostic tree" model of 18F-FDG PET/CT for PS. Methods: Data of patients with Parkinson's disease (PD), patients with multiple system atrophy cerebellar type (MSA-C), and patients with multiple system atrophy Parkinson's type (MSA-P)admitted to the Neurology Department of Huashan Hospital affiliated to Fudan University from January 2019 to December 2021. 18F-FDG PET/CT examination was conducted in all patients. Clinical and follow-up data was collected to determine clinical diagnosis. The specific patterns of brain glucose metabolism in patients with various types of Parkinsonism were observed and their utility in the differential diagnosis of the disease was analyzed. 18F-FDG PET/CT imaging"diagnostic tree"model was established and its value in the differential diagnosis of Parkinsonism was verified. Results: A total of 320 patients, 187 males and 133 females, aged (62±9) years, were enrolled in our study, including 80 PD, 90 PSP, 114 MSA-C and 36 MSA-P patients. The differential diagnostic features of cerebral glucose metabolism of Parkinsonism were as follows: the metabolism of putamen increased in PD patients, the metabolism of caudate nucleus, thalamus, midbrain, and frontal lobe decreased in PSP patients, the metabolism of cerebellum decreased in MSA-C patients, and the metabolism of putamen and cerebellum decreased in MSA-P patients. The sensitivity and specificity of the"diagnostic tree"model are 88.75% and 91.25% for PD diagnosis, 54.44% and 96.96% for PSP diagnosis, 87.72% and 86.41% for MSA-C diagnosis, and 55.56% and 91.55% for MSA-P diagnosis, respectively. It could correctly classify 75%(240/320) of patients. Conclusions: Characteristic metabolism patterns of brain in 18F-FDG PET/CT imaging is significant for the differential diagnosis of PD, PSP, MSA-C and MSA-P. The"diagnostic tree"model is valuable for clinical diagnosis.

Progression of Gastrointestinal Injury During Antiplatelet Therapy After Percutaneous Coronary Intervention: A Secondary Analysis of the OPT-PEACE Randomized Clinical Trial

Importance

Gastrointestinal injury progression induced by antiplatelet therapy in patients after percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) has not been well studied.

Objective

To assess the association of aspirin, clopidogrel, and their combination with gastrointestinal injury progression among patients without high bleeding risk after PCI.

Design, Setting, and Participants

This secondary analysis assessed data from the Optimal Antiplatelet Therapy for Prevention of Gastrointestinal Injury Evaluated by ANKON Magnetically Controlled Capsule Endoscopy (OPT-PEACE) double-masked, placebo-controlled, multicenter randomized clinical trial. The OPT-PEACE trial was conducted at 28 centers in China, and recruitment took place from July 13, 2017, to July 13, 2019. The trial included patients with stable coronary artery disease or acute coronary syndromes without ST-segment elevation after PCI. Statistical analysis was conducted from September 13, 2022, to January 23, 2023.

Interventions

Patients underwent magnetically controlled capsule endoscopy (MCE) at baseline and after 6 months of dual antiplatelet therapy (DAPT) with aspirin (100 mg/d) plus clopidogrel (75 mg/d). Those with no evidence of gastrointestinal ulcers or bleeding (ie, the intention-to-treat [ITT] cohort) were randomized (1:1:1) to aspirin (100 mg/d) plus matching placebo (aspirin alone), clopidogrel (75 mg/d) plus matching placebo (clopidogrel alone), or DAPT for an additional 6 months. A third MCE was performed 12 months after PCI.

Main Outcomes and Measures

The primary outcome was the rate of gastric injury progression as assessed with the results of the 3 MCEs (at baseline, 6 months, and 12 months) in the modified intention-to-treat (mITT) population. The key secondary outcome was the rate of small-intestinal injury progression. Gastric or small-intestinal injury progression was defined as a quantitative increase in erosions or ulcers between the second and third MCEs (at 6 and 12 months, respectively).

Results

This study included the 394 patients in the mITT cohort. Their mean (SD) age was 56.9 (8.7) years, and most were men (296 [75.1%]). A total of 132 patients were randomized to aspirin alone, 132 to clopidogrel alone, and 130 to DAPT. Gastric injury progression occurred in 49 aspirin users (37.1%), 64 clopidogrel users (48.5%), and 69 DAPT users (53.1%) (P = .02), reflecting a lower rate of gastric injury progression among aspirin users vs DAPT users (risk ratio [RR], 0.70 [95% CI, 0.49-0.99]; P = .009). No significant difference was observed between clopidogrel alone and DAPT (48.5% vs 53.1%; P = .46) or between aspirin alone and clopidogrel alone (37.1% vs 48.5%; P = .06). A total of 51 aspirin users (38.6%), 65 clopidogrel users (49.2%), and 71 DAPT users (54.6%) (P = .03) developed progressive small-intestinal injury, reflecting a lower rate of small-intestinal injury among aspirin users vs DAPT users (RR, 0.71 [95% CI, 0.50-0.99]; P = .01). No difference was observed between patients treated with clopidogrel vs DAPT (49.2% vs 54.6%; P = .38) or with aspirin vs clopidogrel (38.6% vs 49.2%; P = .08).

Conclusions and Relevance

In this secondary analysis of a randomized clinical trial, ongoing use of aspirin, clopidogrel, or their combination between 6 and 12 months after PCI was associated with progressive gastric and small-intestinal injury in a substantial proportion of patients, more so with DAPT than with monotherapy. Clopidogrel was at least as likely as aspirin to induce gastrointestinal injury progression. Future research is warranted to determine what impact the findings from MCEs would have on decision-making of antiplatelet therapy.

Trial Registration

ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT03198741.

Research Note: A recombinant duck-derived H6N2 subtype avian influenza virus can replicate and shed in young chickens and cause disease

The H6N2 subtype avian influenza virus (AIV) is commonly detected in the migratory waterfowl reservoirs. Previously, H6N2 AIV was believed to be nonpathogenic to young chickens and could not infect or shed in their respiratory tract under experimental conditions. However, in present study, a highly recombinant strain of duck-derived H6N2 AIV was discovered and isolated for pathogenicity tests. The results revealed that H6N2 could induce seroconversion in chickens and high morbidity of over 86.7%, along with evident upper respiratory tract hemorrhage. Moreover, 5 substitutions were detected in the upper respiratory tract shedding reisolated virus, with a high viral load in the target organs of infected chickens. In contrast, ducks failed to exhibit any symptoms, pathological lesions, or viral shedding, while demonstrated seroconversion and high viral load in the livers. These findings indicate that H6N2 AIV could also show pathogenicity to chickens under experimental conditions, thereby effectively replicating and shedding in chickens. Therefore, the study provides further elucidations on the pathogenicity of H6N2 AIV.

Evolution of prevalent H9N2 subtype of avian influenza virus during 2019 to 2022 for the development of a control strategy in China

The H9N2 subtype of avian influenza virus (H9N2 AIV) has caused significant losses in chicken flocks throughout China. At present, consensus has been reached that field isolates of H9N2 underwent antigenic drift to evolve into distinct groups with significant antigenic divergence from the commercially available vaccines in China. This project continues to monitor the evolution characteristics of H9N2 hemagglutinin (HA) genes in China over the past 3 yr. The results showed that the current circling H9N2 viruses were diversified into h9.4.2.5 subclade, which was genetically distant from commonly used commercial vaccine strains. Compared with vaccine strains or 2014 strains, more than 42.1% of the variable antigenic sites in recent 3 yr' strains have shown significant changes and these stacked changes have caused significant differences in antigenicity. We constructed a recombinant vaccine strain rCQY-GHHA, which uses A/Chicken/China/SichuanCQY/2014 as the framework and A/Chicken/China/SichuanGH/2020 strain, which meets the recent viral antigenic characteristics, as the HA gene donor. The recombinant strain was prepared as an oil-adjuvant inactivated vaccine following an industrial process. The results of the immune protection experiment showed that the rCQY-GHHA vaccine was better than the commercial vaccine strain SS in reducing the morbidity, pathological lesion, virus shedding, and viral load. These results provide a reference for the control of H9N2 AIV in China.

Type I/type III IFN and related factors regulate JEV infection and BBB endothelial integrity

BACKGROUND

Japanese encephalitis virus (JEV) remains a predominant cause of Japanese encephalitis (JE) globally. Its infection is usually accompanied by disrupted blood‒brain barrier (BBB) integrity and central nervous system (CNS) inflammation in a poorly understood pathogenesis. Productive JEV infection in brain microvascular endothelial cells (BMECs) is considered the initial event of the virus in penetrating the BBB. Type I/III IFN and related factors have been described as negative regulators in CNS inflammation, whereas their role in JE remains ambiguous.

METHODS

RNA-sequencing profiling (RNA-seq), real-time quantitative PCR, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, and Western blotting analysis were performed to analyze the gene and protein expression changes between mock- and JEV-infected hBMECs. Bioinformatic tools were used to cluster altered signaling pathway members during JEV infection. The shRNA-mediated immune factor-knockdown hBMECs and the in vitro transwell BBB model were utilized to explore the interrelation between immune factors, as well as between immune factors and BBB endothelial integrity.

RESULTS

RNA-Seq data of JEV-infected hBMECs identified 417, 1256, and 2748 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) at 12, 36, and 72 h post-infection (hpi), respectively. The altered genes clustered into distinct pathways in gene ontology (GO) terms and KEGG pathway enrichment analysis, including host antiviral immune defense and endothelial cell leakage. Further investigation revealed that pattern-recognition receptors (PRRs, including TLR3, RIG-I, and MDA5) sensed JEV and initiated IRF/IFN signaling. IFNs triggered the expression of interferon-induced proteins with tetratricopeptide repeats (IFITs) via the JAK/STAT pathway. Distinct PRRs exert different functions in barrier homeostasis, while treatment with IFN (IFN-β and IFN-λ1) in hBMECs stabilizes the endothelial barrier by alleviating exogenous destruction. Despite the complex interrelationship, IFITs are considered nonessential in the IFN-mediated maintenance of hBMEC barrier integrity.

CONCLUSIONS

This research provided the first comprehensive description of the molecular mechanisms of host‒pathogen interplay in hBMECs responding to JEV invasion, in which type I/III IFN and related factors strongly correlated with regulating the hBMEC barrier and restricting JEV infection. This might help with developing an attractive therapeutic strategy in JE.

Bilateral thigh pyomyositis in an otherwise healthy middle-aged woman: A case report

BACKGROUND

Pyomyositis generally occurs in otherwise healthy young men. Because this condition is unusual among otherwise healthy women in temperate climates, we present the following case.

CASE SUMMARY

An otherwise healthy 43-year-old woman presented with bilateral pain in her lower extremities and fever. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) findings were indicative of myositis with a possible abscess. We initiated empirical antibiotic therapy with ceftriaxone. However, the swelling and pain in her legs persisted even after 7 d of treatment. Contrast MRI revealed multiple pockets of pus in the vastus lateralis and gluteal muscles. We performed needle aspiration of these abscesses with ultrasound guidance and local anesthesia. Upon culturing, the purulent material was positive for Staphylococcus aureus. We diagnosed her with S. aureus-induced pyomyositis of the vastus lateralis muscle and gluteus region. Based on the antibiotic sensitivity report, ceftriaxone was administered for an additional 7 d. By day 15 post-drainage, the patient was able to start walking. Oral antibiotic therapy was continued for 1 wk following her discharge from hospital, after which her symptoms resolved completely.

CONCLUSION

Pyomyositis may present with muscle pain, swelling, and fever. Ultrasound-guided percutaneous puncture and drainage may enable timely diagnosis and treatment.

Late Recurrence of Colorectal Carcinoma in Patients with Malignant Polyp and Risk Factors

Malignant polyps are polypoid lesions that appear benign endoscopically but harbor invasive adenocarcinoma microscopically. Patient with diagnosis of malignant polyp can be managed by surgical resection or endoscopic surveillance. Current literature on long term recurrence is sparse. A total of 76 patients with malignant polyp and follow-up period of over one year are included. Of these, 28 patients underwent endoscopic polypectomy followed by surveillance (group 1). Forty-eight patients underwent segmental colectomy (group 2). In group 1, three patients developed local recurrent pT3 adenocarcinoma (5.9 to 9.7 years) and one patient developed liver metastasis (7.3 years). One patient presented with malignant polyp in another segment of colon (4.0 years). Two of the malignant polyps with local recurrence do not have commonly reported high-risk features, including tumor ≤ 1 mm from resection margin, presence of lymphovascular invasion and high grade tumor, they had invasion depth of >4 mm and harbored a TP53 missense mutation. In group 2, during the follow-up period (1.0-21.8 years, median 9.3 years), none of the patients developed local recurrence. In this study, surveillance group had a local late recurrence rate of 10.7% versus no local recurrence in surgical resection group (0%). Our study shows that depth of invasion of over 4 mm in malignant polyp is a risk factor for late local recurrence if managed by endoscopic surveillance. Further study is needed to explore whether certain molecular alterations, such as TP53 mutation, is a risk factor for late recurrence.

Circ_0020123, a New Circular RNA Biomarker for Deep Vein Thrombosis in Pregnant Women

BACKGROUND

Deep vein thrombosis (DVT) commonly occurs among vascular diseases globally, for which circular RNAs (circRNAs) are becoming a promising option by mediating functions of human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs). Therefore, this study focuses on whether circ_0020123 plays a role in HUVECs.

METHODS

Pregnant women with DVT (n = 39) and without DVT (n = 39) were selected as the observation group and control group, respectively. Circ_0020123 expression in serum of pregnant women with DVT was assessed by RT-qPCR. The risk factors of DVT in pregnant women were analyzed by single factor logistic regression. HUVECs were treated with oxidized low-density lipoprotein (ox-LDL) to construct an in vitro model. Cell proliferation, tube formation ability, migration, and apoptosis were determined by cell counting kit-8, tube formation assay, Transwell assay, and flow cytometry. The levels of oxidative stress, inflammatory factors, endothelin-1 (ET-1), and von Willebrand factor (VWF) in cell supernatant were detected.

RESULTS

The mode of delivery (cesarean delivery), postpartum hemorrhage (yes), puerperal bedtime (> 72 hours), and increased circ_0020123 were independent risk factors for DVT in pregnant women. Knockdown of circ_0020123 promoted HUVEC proliferation and angiogenesis in vitro.

CONCLUSIONS

Clinical analysis of risk factors for DVT in pregnant women and positive measures for prevention can effectively avoid the formation of DVT. Circ_0020123 is a new circRNA biomarker for DVT in pregnant women.

miR-146b-5p promotes duck Tembusu virus replication by targeting RPS14

Duck Tembusu virus (DTMUV), belonging to the Flaviviridae family, is a major virus that affects duck health in China. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) play an important role in viral replication. However, little is known about the function of miRNAs during DTMUV infection. Here, the host miR-146b-5p was found to regulate DTMUV replication. When DTMUV infected duck embryo fibroblasts (DEFs), the expression levels of miR-146b-5p increased significantly over time. Moreover, the viral RNA copies, E protein expression levels and virus titers were all upregulated when miR-146b-5p was overexpressed in DEFs. The opposite results were also observed upon knockdown of miR-146b-5p in DEFs. To explore the mechanism by which miR-146b-5p promoted DTMUV replication, mass spectrometry, and RNA pull-down assays were employed. Ribosomal protein S14 (RPS14), a component of 40S ribosomal proteins, was identified to interact with miR-146b-5p. In addition, the relative mRNA expression levels of RPS14 gene were negatively modulated by miR-146b-5p. Subsequently, it was found that overexpression of RPS14 could decrease the replication of DTMUV, and the reverse results were also detected by knockdown of RPS14. In conclusion, this study revealed that miR-146b-5p promoted DTMUV replication by targeting RPS14, which provides a new mechanism by which DTMUV evades host defenses and a new direction for further antiviral strategies development.

Surgical treatment of traumatic frontal hematoma: comparison of the endoscopic supraorbital approach with frontotemporal approach

Background

The objective of this study was to compare the efficacy, safety, and outcomes of the endoscopic supraorbital approach and frontotemporal approach for the treatment of traumatic frontal hematoma, with the aim of demonstrating the feasibility of the endoscopic supraorbital approach.

Methods

A total of 24 cases underwent hematoma evacuation, including 10 cases using the endoscopic supraorbital approach and 14 cases using the frontotemporal approach. Baseline demographic data, hematoma clearance rate, blood loss, postoperative complications, and 6-month outcomes were retrospectively analyzed.

Results

Both approaches effectively evacuated the hematoma, with hematoma clearance rates of 90.97 ± 10.23% in the endoscopic supraorbital group and 85.29 ± 16.15% in the frontotemporal approach group (p > 0.05). The supraorbital approach group demonstrated significantly shorter operation times compared to the frontotemporal approach group (116.50 ± 28.19 min vs. 193.29 ± 72.55 min, p < 0.05), as well as significantly less blood loss (55.00 ± 33.08 mL vs. 685.71 ± 840.20 mL, p < 0.05). There was no significant difference in the rate of postoperative complications between the two groups, and the majority of patients achieved favorable outcomes with a Glasgow Outcome Scale score of 4 or 5 in both groups.

Conclusion

Compared to the frontotemporal approach, the endoscopic supraorbital approach offers advantages such as shorter operation times, reduced blood loss, similar treatment effects, and comparable complication rates. Therefore, the endoscopic supraorbital approach may serve as a viable alternative for the treatment of traumatic frontal hematoma.

Structural Design of MEMS Acceleration Sensor Based on PZT Plate Capacitance Detection

The problem that the fuze overload signal sticks and is not easily identified by the counting layer during the high-speed intrusion of the projectile is an important factor affecting the explosion of the projectile in the specified layer. A three-pole plate dual-capacitance acceleration sensor based on the capacitive sensor principle is constructed in this paper. The modal simulation of the sensor structure is carried out using COMSOL 6.1 simulation software, the structural parameters of the sensor are derived from the mechanical properties of the model, and finally the physical sensor is processed and fabricated using the derived structural parameters. The mechanical impact characteristics of the model under different overloads were investigated using ANSYS/LS-DYNA, and the numerical simulation of the projectile intrusion into the three-layer concrete slab was carried out using LS-DYNA. Under different overload conditions, the sensor was tested using the Machette's hammer test and the output signal of the sensor was obtained. The output signal was analyzed. Finally, a sensor with self-powered output, high output voltage amplitude, and low spurious interference was obtained. The results show that the ceramic capacitive sensor has a reasonable structure, can reliably receive vibration signals, and has certain engineering applications in the intrusion meter layer.

Genomic traits of multidrug resistant enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli isolates from diarrheic pigs

Diarrhea caused by enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli (ETEC) infections poses a significant challenge in global pig farming. To address this issue, the study was conducted to identify and characterize 19 ETEC isolates from fecal samples of diarrheic pigs sourced from large-scale farms in Sichuan Province, China. Whole-genome sequencing and bioinformatic analysis were utilized for identification and characterization. The isolates exhibited substantial resistance to cefotaxime, ceftriaxone, chloramphenicol, ciprofloxacin, gentamicin, ampicillin, tetracycline, florfenicol, and sulfadiazine, but were highly susceptible to amikacin, imipenem, and cefoxitin. Genetic diversity among the isolates was observed, with serotypes O22:H10, O163orOX21:H4, and O105:H8 being dominant. Further analysis revealed 53 resistance genes and 13 categories of 195 virulence factors. Of concern was the presence of tet(X4) in some isolates, indicating potential public health risks. The ETEC isolates demonstrated the ability to produce either heat-stable enterotoxin (ST) alone or both heat-labile enterotoxin (LT) and ST simultaneously, involving various virulence genes. Notably, STa were linked to human disease. Additionally, the presence of 4 hybrid ETEC/STEC isolates harboring Shiga-like toxin-related virulence factors, namely stx2a, stx2b, and stx2e-ONT-2771, was identified. IncF plasmids carrying multiple antimicrobial resistance genes were prevalent, and a hybrid ETEC/STEC plasmid was detected, highlighting the role of plasmids in hybrid pathotype emergence. These findings emphasized the multidrug resistance and pathogenicity of porcine-origin ETEC strains and the potential risk of epidemics through horizontal transmission of drug resistance, which is crucial for effective control strategies and interventions to mitigate the impact on animal and human health.

Esophageal carcinoma with SMARCA4 mutation: Unique diagnostic challenges

Esophageal carcinoma with SMARCA4 deficiency or dysfunction is a recently recognized entity. This study describes the clinicopathologic features of four cases of esophageal carcinoma with SMARCA4 mutation, three with deep deletion and one with missense mutation. Patients include 3 males and 1 female, with an age range of 45-68 years old. Histologically, the neoplasms showed frequent mitotic activity, large nucleus and prominent nucleoli. Glandular differentiation was variable from not identifiable to approximately 20% in the biopsy material. Percentage of rhabdoid morphology was also variable from not identifiable to 20% of the biopsy material. For these cases, one case was diagnosed SMARCA4 deficient esophageal carcinoma based on the biopsy of a retroperitoneal lymph node showing loss of BRG1 by immunostain, and next generation sequencing confirmed deep deletion of SMARCA4. The other three cases had diagnosis of undifferentiated carcinoma or poorly differentiated carcinoma, and the SMARCA4 deep deletion or mutation was discovered by next generation sequencing. Molecular analysis showed TP53 mutation in all the three cases with SMARCA4 deep deletion. Two of the patients deceased 72 and 78 days after diagnosis, and the other two patients showed limited or no treatment response to chemotherapy. In conclusion, esophageal carcinoma with SMARCA4 mutation may pose significant diagnostic challenge for surgical pathologists due to its variable morphology and immunoprofile, and accurate classification of this entity requires recognition of the spectrum of morphology and utilization of BRG1 immunostain and next generating sequencing.

Release characteristics and toxicity assessment of micro/nanoplastics from food-grade nonwoven bags

Micro/nanoplastic (M/NP) contamination in food has become a global concern. Food-grade polypropylene (PP) nonwoven bags, which are widely used to filter food residues, are considered environmentally friendly and nontoxic. However, the emergence of M/NPs has forced us to re-examine the use of nonwoven bags in cooking as plastic contact with hot water leads to M/NP release. To evaluate the release characteristics of M/NPs, three food-grade PP nonwoven bags of different sizes were boiled in 500 mL water for 1 h. Micro-Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and Raman spectrometer confirmed that the leachates were released from the nonwoven bags. After boiling once, a food-grade nonwoven bag can release 0.12-0.33 million MPs (>1 μm) and 17.6-30.6 billion NPs (<1 μm), equivalent to a mass of 2.25 - 6.47 mg. Number of M/NPs released is independent of nonwoven bag size; however, it decreases with increasing cooking times. M/NPs are primarily produced from easily breakable PP fibers, and they are not released into the water at once. Adult zebrafish (Danio rerio) were cultured in filtered distilled water without released M/NPs and in water containing 14.4 ± 0.8 mg L^-1 released M/NPs for 2 and 14 days, respectively. To evaluate the toxicity of the released M/NPs on the gills and liver of zebrafish, several oxidative stress biomarkers (i.e., reactive oxygen species, glutathione, superoxide dismutase, catalase, and malonaldehyde) were measured. The ingestion of the released M/NPs by zebrafish induces oxidative stress in the gills and liver, depending on the exposure time. Food-grade plastics, such as nonwoven bags, should be used with caution in daily cooking because they release large amounts of M/NPs when heated, which can threaten human health.

Open source board based acoustofluidic transwells for reversible disruption of the blood-brain barrier for therapeutic delivery

BACKGROUND

Blood-brain barrier (BBB) is a crucial but dynamic structure that functions as a gatekeeper for the central nervous system (CNS). Managing sufficient substances across the BBB is a major challenge, especially in the development of therapeutics for CNS disorders.

METHODS

To achieve an efficient, fast and safe strategy for BBB opening, an acoustofluidic transwell (AFT) was developed for reversible disruption of the BBB. The proposed AFT was consisted of a transwell insert where the BBB model was established, and a surface acoustic wave (SAW) transducer realized using open-source electronics based on printed circuit board techniques.

RESULTS

In the AFT device, the SAW produced acousto-mechanical stimulations to the BBB model resulting in decreased transendothelial electrical resistance in a dose dependent manner, indicating the disruption of the BBB. Moreover, SAW stimulation enhanced transendothelial permeability to sodium fluorescein and FITC-dextran with various molecular weight in the AFT device. Further study indicated BBB opening was mainly attributed to the apparent stretching of intercellular spaces. An in vivo study using a zebrafish model demonstrated SAW exposure promoted penetration of sodium fluorescein to the CNS.

CONCLUSIONS

In summary, AFT effectively disrupts the BBB under the SAW stimulation, which is promising as a new drug delivery methodology for neurodegenerative diseases.

Synergistic effect of eravacycline combined with fluconazole against resistant Candida albicans in vitro and in vivo

BACKGROUND

The limited availability of antifungal drugs for candidiasis and the persistent problem of drug resistance, necessitates the urgent development of new antifungal drugs and alternative treatment options.

RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS

This study examined the synergistic antifungal activity of the combination of eravacycline (ERV) and fluconazole (FLC) both in vitro by microdilution checkerboard assay and in vivo by Galleria mellonella model. The underlying synergistic mechanisms of this drug combination was investigated using RNA-sequencing and qPCR.

RESULTS

ERV (2 μg/mL) + FLC (0.25-0.5 μg/mL) had strong synergistic antifungal activity against resistant Candida albicans (C. albicans) in vitro, as evidenced by a fractional inhibitory concentration index of 0.0044-0.0088. In vivo experiments in Galleria mellonella larvae infected with resistant C. albicans revealed that ERV (2 μg/larva) + FLC (1 μg/larva) improved survival rates and reduced fungal burden. The results of RNA-sequencing and qPCR showed that the mechanism of synergistic inhibition on resistant C. albicans was related to the inhibition of DNA replication and cell meiosis.

CONCLUSIONS

These results indicate that the combination of ERV and FLC effectively inhibits resistant C. albicans both in vitro and in vivo and lay the foundation for a potential novel treatment option for candidiasis.

Progress of Nonmetallic Electrocatalysts for Oxygen Reduction Reactions

As a key role in hindering the large-scale application of fuel cells, oxygen reduction reaction has always been a hot issue and nodus. Aiming to explore state-of-art electrocatalysts, this paper reviews the latest development of nonmetallic catalysts in oxygen reduction reactions, including single atoms doped with carbon materials such as N, B, P or S and multi-doped carbon materials. Afterward, the remaining challenges and research directions of carbon-based nonmetallic catalysts are prospected.

Removal of pristine and aged microplastics from water by magnetic biochar: Adsorption and magnetization

Adsorption is an efficient and eco-friendly removal technique for small pristine microplastics in water. However, small pristine microplastics are not representative of those large microplastics in natural water with different aging levels. Whether the adsorption technique is effective in removing large aged microplastics from water remained unknown. To this end, the removal efficiency of large polyamide (PA) microplastics with different aging time by magnetic corncob biochar (MCCBC) was evaluated under different experimental conditions. After treated by heated-activated potassium persulfate, the physicochemical properties of PA have changed dramatically, as evidenced by rough surface, decreased particle size and crystallinity, and increased oxygen-containing functional groups, which enhanced with aging time. These changes promoted the combination of aged PA and MCCBC, thereby resulting in a higher removal efficiency of aged PA (~97 %) than that of pristine ones (~25 %). It is supposed that the adsorption process was a result of complexation, hydrophobic interaction, and electrostatic interaction. Increased ionic strength inhibited the removal of both pristine and aged PA, and neutral pH conditions favored PA removal. Furthermore, particle size played a great role in the removal of aged PA microplastics. When the particle size of aged PA was smaller than 75 μm, their removal efficiency was significantly increased (p < 0.01). The small PA microplastics were removed by adsorption, whereas the large ones were removed by magnetization. These research findings highlight magnetic biochar as promising technique for removing environmental microplastics.

Modulation of stem cell fate in intestinal homeostasis, injury and repair

The mammalian intestinal epithelium constitutes the largest barrier against the external environment and makes flexible responses to various types of stimuli. Epithelial cells are fast-renewed to counteract constant damage and disrupted barrier function to maintain their integrity. The homeostatic repair and regeneration of the intestinal epithelium are governed by the Lgr5⁺ intestinal stem cells (ISCs) located at the base of crypts, which fuel rapid renewal and give rise to the different epithelial cell types. Protracted biological and physicochemical stress may challenge epithelial integrity and the function of ISCs. The field of ISCs is thus of interest for complete mucosal healing, given its relevance to diseases of intestinal injury and inflammation such as inflammatory bowel diseases. Here, we review the current understanding of the signals and mechanisms that control homeostasis and regeneration of the intestinal epithelium. We focus on recent insights into the intrinsic and extrinsic elements involved in the process of intestinal homeostasis, injury, and repair, which fine-tune the balance between self-renewal and cell fate specification in ISCs. Deciphering the regulatory machinery that modulates stem cell fate would aid in the development of novel therapeutics that facilitate mucosal healing and restore epithelial barrier function.

The S2 Subunit of Infectious Bronchitis Virus Affects Abl2-Mediated Syncytium Formation

The S2 subunit serves a crucial role in infectious bronchitis virus (IBV) infection, particularly in facilitating membrane fusion. Using reverse genetic techniques, mutant strains of the S2 locus exhibited substantially different syncytium-forming abilities in chick embryonic kidney cells. To determine the precise formation mechanism of syncytium, we demonstrated the co-ordinated role of Abl2 and its mediated cytoskeletal regulatory pathway within the S2 subunit. Using a combination of fluorescence quantification, RNA silencing, and protein profiling techniques, the functional role of S2 subunits in IBV-infected cells was exhaustively determined. Our findings imply that Abl2 is not the primary cytoskeletal regulator, the viral S2 component is involved in indirect regulation, and the three different viral strains activate various cytoskeletal regulatory pathways through Abl2. CRK, CRKL, ABI1, NCKAP1, and ENAH also play a role in cytoskeleton regulation. Our research provides a point of reference for the development of an intracellular regulatory network for the S2 subunit and a foundation for the rational design of antiviral drug targets against Abl2.

Network pharmacology and molecular docking reveal the immunomodulatory mechanism of rhubarb peony decoction for the treatment of ulcerative colitis and irritable bowel syndrome

Background: Ulcerative colitis (UC) and irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) share various similarities in clinical symptoms, pathogenesis, and treatment. UC concurrent IBS tends toward more severe symptoms and worse prognosis, and promising feasible therapies for the overlapping symptoms remains a challenge. Rhubarb peony decoction (RPD) is a well-known traditional Chinese medicine that has been widely applied in treating UC. RPD may exert extensive therapeutic effects on both IBS and UC. However, the common mechanism of its treatment remains unclear. We aimed to assess the potential pharmacological mechanism of RPD in the treatment of overlapping IBS and UC. Methods: The active components and targets of RPD were retrieved from ETCM, TCMSP, BATMAN-TCM, and TCM databases. The disease targets were screened by searching the DrugBank, OMIM, TTD, and PharmGKB databases. PPI network analysis was performed and visualized via the STRING platform and Cytoscape software. GO and KEGG enrichment analyses of the hub genes of RPD were predicted to elucidate the potential molecular mechanism. Subsequently, molecular docking was carried out to verify the combination of active compounds with core targets. Results: By integrating all targets of RPD and disease, a total of 31 bioactive ingredients were identified including quercetin, kaempferol, aloe-emodin, beta-sitosterol, and (+)-catechin, etc. JUN, TP53, MAPK1, RELA, MYC, and ESR1 were explored as potential therapeutic targets among 126 common drug-disease-related targets. They were enriched in the AGE-RAGE signaling pathway in diabetic complications, as well as the NF-kappa B signaling pathway and MAPK signaling pathway. Additionally, some active ingredients were identified as candidates for binding to the hub targets via molecular docking, further suggesting their anti-inflammatory and antioxidative properties. Conclusion: RPD may exert the overall treatment effect for UC and IBS overlap syndrome via the biological mechanism of "multi-ingredients, multi-targets, and multi-pathways" on inflammation, oxidative stress, immune, oncogenicity, and gut microbiota dysbiosis.

[Comparison of diagnostic performance of Clear Cell Likelihood Score v1.0 and v2.0 for clear renal cell carcinoma]

OBJECTIVE

To compare the performance of Clear Cell Likelihood Score (ccLS) v1.0 and v2.0 in diagnosing clear cell renal cell carcinoma (ccRCC) from small renal masses (SRM).

METHODS

We retrospectively analyzed the clinical data and MR images of patients with pathologically confirmed solid SRM from the First Medical Center of the Chinese PLA General Hospital between January 1, 2018, and December 31, 2021, and from Beijing Friendship Hospital of Capital Medical University and Peking University First Hospital between January 1, 2019 and May 17, 2021. Six abdominal radiologists were trained for use of the ccLS algorithm and scored independently using ccLS v1.0 and ccLS v2.0. Random- effects logistic regression modeling was used to generate plot receiver operating characteristic curves (ROC) to evaluate the diagnostic performance of ccLS v1.0 and ccLS v2.0 for ccRCC, and the area under curve (AUC) of these two scoring systems were compared using the DeLong's test. Weighted Kappa test was used to evaluate the interobserver agreement of the ccLS score, and differences in the weighted Kappa coefficients was compared using the Gwet consistency coefficient.

RESULTS

In total, 691 patients (491 males, 200 females; mean age, 54 ± 12 years) with 700 renal masses were included in this study. The pooled accuracy, sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value (PPV), and negative predictive value (NPV) of ccLS v1.0 for diagnosing ccRCC were 77.1%, 76.8%, 77.7%, 90.2%, and 55.7%, as compared with 80.9%, 79.3%, 85.1%, 93.4%, 60.6% with ccLS v2.0, respectively. The AUC of ccLS v2.0 was significantly higher than that of ccLS v1.0 for diagnosis of ccRCC (0.897 vs 0.859; P < 0.01). The interobserver agreement did not differ significantly between ccLS v1.0 and ccLS v2.0 (0.56 vs 0.60; P > 0.05).

CONCLUSION

ccLS v2.0 has better performance for diagnosing ccRCC than ccLS v1.0 and can be considered for use to assist radiologists with their routine diagnostic tasks.

Aged polyamide microplastics enhance the adsorption of trimethoprim in soil environments

Microplastics (MPs) in the environment typically age. However, the influence of aged MPs on the adsorption of antibiotics in soil remains unknown. In this study, the adsorption behavior of trimethoprim (TMP) on soil and soil containing aged polyamide (PA) was investigated using batch and stirred flow chamber experiments. The adsorption of TMP on the tested soil with and without PA was fast, with the k_a values ranging from 50.5 to 55.6 L (mg min)^-1. The adsorption of TMP on aged PA was more than 20 times larger than that on the tested soil, which resulted in an "enrichment effect." Furthermore, aged PA altered the pH of the reaction system, thereby enhancing the adsorption of TMP. Consequently, the K_d values of TMP for soil, soil containing 5%, and 10% aged PA were 5.64, 12.38, and 23.65 L kg^-1, respectively. The effect of aged PA on the adsorption of TMP on soil depended on pH values. However, TMP adsorption on soil containing 10% aged PA was constantly higher (p < 0.01) than that on soil with NaCl concentrations ranging from 0 to 50 mmol L^-1. These findings provide new insights into the effect of environmental MPs on the fate and transport of antibiotics in soil environments.

RNF123 Mediates Ubiquitination and Degradation of SOCS1 To Regulate Type I Interferon Production during Duck Tembusu Virus Infection

Many RING domain E3 ubiquitin ligases play critical roles in fine-tuning the innate immune response, yet little is known about their regulatory role in flavivirus-induced innate immunity. In previous studies, we found that the suppressor of cytokine signaling 1 (SOCS1) protein mainly undergoes lysine 48 (K48)-linked ubiquitination. However, the E3 ubiquitin ligase that promotes the K48-linked ubiquitination of SOCS1 is unknown. In the present study, we found that RING finger protein 123 (RNF123) binds to the SH2 domain of SOCS1 through its RING domain and facilitates the K48-linked ubiquitination of the K114 and K137 residues of SOCS1. Further studies found that RNF123 promoted the proteasomal degradation of SOCS1 and promoted Toll-like receptor 3 (TLR3)- and interferon (IFN) regulatory factor 7 (IRF7)-mediated type I IFN production during duck Tembusu virus (DTMUV) infection through SOCS1, ultimately inhibiting DTMUV replication. Overall, these findings demonstrate a novel mechanism by which RNF123 regulates type I IFN signaling during DTMUV infection by targeting SOCS1 degradation. IMPORTANCE In recent years, posttranslational modification (PTM) has gradually become a research hot spot in the field of innate immunity regulation, and ubiquitination is one of the critical PTMs. DTMUV has seriously endangered the development of the waterfowl industry in Southeast Asian countries since its outbreak in 2009. Previous studies have shown that SOCS1 is modified by K48-linked ubiquitination during DTMUV infection, but E3 ubiquitin ligase catalyzing the ubiquitination of SOCS1 has not been reported. Here, we identify for the first time that RNF123 acts as an E3 ubiquitin ligase that regulates TLR3- and IRF7-induced type I IFN signaling during DTMUV infection by targeting the K48-linked ubiquitination of the K114 and K137 residues of SOCS1 and the proteasomal degradation of SOCS1.

Design and Application of Thymol Electrochemical Sensor Based on the PtNPs-CPOFs-MWCNTs Composite

In this study, the preparation of covalent polyoxometalate organic frameworks (CPOFs) is introduced using the idea of polyoxometalate and covalent organic frameworks. Firstly, the prepared polyoxometalate was functionalized with an amine group (NH₂-POM-NH₂), and then the CPOFs were prepared by a solvothermal Schiff base reaction with NH₂-POM-NH₂ and 2,4,6-trihydroxybenzene-1,3,5-tricarbaldehyde (Tp) as monomers. After the incorporation of PtNPs and MWCNTs into the CPOFs material, the PtNPs-CPOFs-MWCNTs nanocomposites, which possess excellent catalytic activity and electrical conductivity, were formed and utilized as new electrode materials for the electrochemical thymol sensors. The obtained PtNPs-CPOFs-MWCNTs composite exhibits excellent activity toward thymol, which is attributable to its large special surface area, good conductivity and the synergistic catalysis of each component. Under optimal experimental conditions, the sensor presented a good electrochemical response to thymol. The sensor shows two good linear relationships between the current and thymol concentration in the range of 2-65 μM (R² = 0.996) and 65-810 μM (R² = 0.997), with the corresponding sensitivity of 72.7 μA mM^-1 and 30.5 μA mM^-1, respectively. Additionally, the limit of detection (LOD) was calculated to be 0.2 μM (S/N = 3). At the same time, the prepared thymol electrochemical sensor revealed superior stability and selectivity. The constructed PtNPs-CPOFs-MWCNT electrochemical sensor is the first example of thymol detection.

Chinese medicine formula 'Baipuhuang Keli' inhibits triple-negative breast cancer by hindering DNA damage repair via MAPK/ERK pathway

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

Baipuhuang Keli (BPH, constituted by Bai Tou Weng (Pulsatilla chinensis (Bunge) Regel), Pu Gong Ying (Taraxacum mongolicum Hand.-Mazz.), Huang Qin (Scutellaria baicalensis Georgi), Huang Bo (Phellodendron amurense Rupr.)) is a Chinese herbal formula with clearing heat and cooling blood, and removing toxin effects, which is suit for the case of breast cancer.

AIM OF THE STUDY

Here, we aim to explore the effects of BPH on triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) and its potential mechanisms.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

In this study, cell viability assay, colony formation assay, soft agar assay, cell proliferation curve assay, and EdU assay were employed to determine the anti-proliferation effect induced by BPH. Cell cycle distribution was detected by flow cytometry. DNA damage in cells treated with BPH was indicated by comet assay, immunofluorescence, and Western Blot. Both the 4T1 orthotopic tumor model and the MDA-MB-231 subcutaneous tumor model were used to assess in vivo effect of BPH (312.5, and 625 mg/kg). The protein expression levels of the DNA damage response (DDR) pathway and the MAPK/ERK pathway were detected by Western Blot.

RESULTS

Our results indicated that TNBC cells were more sensitive to BPH than mammary epithelial cells. Cell proliferation of TNBC cells was significantly inhibited by BPH in a dose-dependent manner. Moreover, BPH induced DNA damage in TNBC cells in a concentration and time-dependent manner. DDR of TNBC cells was inhibited by BPH. MAPK/ERK pathway was inhibited in cells treated with BPH, and DNA damage can be reversed while EGF was added to activate MAPK/ERK pathway. The 4T1 orthotopic tumor model and the MDA-MB-231 subcutaneous tumor model further confirmed that BPH inhibited TNBC proliferation via inhibition of DDR and MAPK/ERK pathway in vivo.

CONCLUSIONS

Collectively, we proved that BPH is a potential anticancer Chinese herbal formula for TNBC in the manner of in vitro and in vivo experiments.

[The characteristics and correlations of vaginal flora in women with cervical lesions]

Objective: To explore the characteristics and correlations of vaginal flora in women with cervical lesions. Methods: A total of 132 women, including 41 women diagnosed with normal cervical (NC), 39 patients with low-grade cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN 1), 37 patients with high-grade cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN 2/3) and 15 patients with cervical squamous cell carcinoma (SCC), who came from the gynecological clinic of Second Hospital of Shanxi Medical University during January 2018 to June 2018, were enrolled in this study according to the inclusive and exclusive criteria strictly. The vaginal flora was detected by 16S rDNA sequencing technology. Co-occurrence network analysis was used to investigate the Spearman correlations between different genera of bacteria. Results: The dominant bacteria in NC, CIN 1 and CIN 2/3 groups were Lactobacillus [constituent ratios 79.4% (1 869 598/2 354 098), 63.6% (1 536 466/2 415 100) and 58.3% (1 342 896/2 301 536), respectively], while Peptophilus [20.4% (246 072/1 205 154) ] was the dominant bacteria in SCC group. With the aggravation of cervical lesions, the diversity of vaginal flora gradually increased (Shannon index: F=6.39, P=0.001; Simpson index: F=3.95, P=0.012). During the cervical lesion progress, the ratio of Lactobacillus gradually decreased, the ratio of other anaerobes such as Peptophilus, Sneathia, Prevotella and etc. gradually increased, and the differential bacteria (LDA score >3.5) gradually evolved from Lactobacillus to other anaerobes. The top 10 relative abundance bacteria, spearman correlation coefficient>0.4 and P<0.05 were selected. Co-occurrence network analysis showed that Prevotella, Peptophilus, Porphyrinomonas, Anaerococcus, Sneathia, Atopobium, Gardnerella and Streptococcus were positively correlated in different stages of cervical lesions, while Lactobacillus was negatively correlated with the above anaerobes. It was found that the relationship between vaginal floras in CIN 1 group was the most complex and only Peptophilus was significantly negatively correlated with Lactobacillus in SCC group. Conclusions: The increased diversity and changed correlations between vaginal floras are closely related to cervical lesions. Peptophilus is of great significance in the diagnosis, prediction and early warning of cervical carcinogenesis.

The molecular mechanism of Drosophila restricting telomeric transposons

Linear chromosomes of eukaryotes are protected by a DNA-protein-RNA structure called telomere. Remarkably and unlike those of most organisms studied, Drosophila telomeric DNA is not composed of a group of short repeats, but three classes of retrotransposons at the chromosome ends. Telomeric transposons in Drosophila on the other hand serves the function of elongating the host chromosomes yet prevent little harm to the host genome as their insertion sites are strictly limited to the telomere. How the Drosophila host achieves such precise regulation is still unclear. The currently known genome-wide repression of transposon expression includes piRNA pathway and the heterochromatin pathway involving H3K9me3. Recent studies have found that Drosophila telomere capping proteins are involved in the specific regulation of telomeric retrotransposons. In this review, we discuss the specific functions of telomere capping proteins in regulating telomeric transposons. By studying how the Drosophila host interacts and regulates telomeric transposons, we hope to shed lights on universal principles in guiding their co-evolution.

Exosomal USP13 derived from microvascular endothelial cells regulates immune microenvironment and improves functional recovery after spinal cord injury by stabilizing IκBα

Spinal cord injury (SCI) can result in irreversible sensory and motor disability with no effective treatment currently. After SCI, infiltrated macrophages accumulate in epicenter through destructed blood-spinal cord barrier (BSCB). Further, great majority of macrophages are preferentially polarized to M1 phenotype, with only a few transient M2 phenotype. The purpose of this study was to explore roles of vascular endothelial cells in microglia/macrophages polarization and the underlying mechanism. Lipopolysaccharide (LPS) was used to pretreat BV2 microglia and RAW264.7 macrophages followed by administration of conditioned medium from microvascular endothelial cell line bEnd.3 cells (ECM). Analyses were then performed to determine the effects of exosomes on microglia/macrophages polarization and mitochondrial function. The findings demonstrated that administration of ECM shifted microglia/macrophages towards M2 polarization, ameliorated mitochondrial impairment, and reduced reactive oxygen species (ROS) production in vitro. Notably, administration of GW4869, an exosomal secretion inhibitor, significantly reversed these observed benefits. Further results revealed that exosomes derived from bEnd.3 cells (Exos) promote motor rehabilitation and M2 polarization of microglia/macrophages in vivo. Ubiquitin-specific protease 13 (USP13) was shown to be significantly enriched in BV2 microglia treated with Exos. USP13 binds to, deubiquitinates and stabilizes the NF-κB inhibitor alpha (IκBα), thus regulating microglia/macrophages polarization. Administration of the selective IκBα inhibitor betulinic acid (BA) inhibited the beneficial effect of Exos in vivo. These findings uncovered the potential mechanism underlying the communications between vascular endothelial cells and microglia/macrophages after SCI. In addition, this study indicates exosomes might be a promising therapeutic strategy for SCI treatment.

Zika virus replication on endothelial cells and invasion into the central nervous system by inhibiting interferon β translation

The blood-brain barrier (BBB) is one of the tightest physical barriers to prevent pathogens from invading the central nervous system (CNS). However, the mechanism by which Zika virus (ZIKV) crossing the BBB remains unresolved. We found ZIKV induced high morbidity and mortality in newborn mice, accompanied by inflammatory injury on CNS. ZIKV was found to replicate primarily in the cortex and hippocampus in neonatal mouse brains. An in vitro model revealed that ZIKV had no impact on hBMECs permeability but led to endothelial activation, as shown by the enhancement of adhesion molecules expression and F-actin redistribution. ZIKV replication in hBMECs might be associated with the suppression of IFN-β translation via inhibiting RPS6 phosphorylation. On the other hand, ZIKV infection induced IFN-stimulated genes (ISGs), activated the mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) signaling pathway, and promoted chemokine secretion. This study provides an understanding of virus replication and transmigration across the BBB during ZIKV infection.

USP1/UAF1-Stabilized METTL3 Promotes Reactive Astrogliosis and Improves Functional Recovery after Spinal Cord Injury through m6A Modification of YAP1 mRNA

RNA N6-methyladenosine (m6A) modification is involved in diverse biological processes. However, its role in spinal cord injury (SCI) is poorly understood. The m6A level increases in injured spinal cord, and METTL3, which is the core subunit of methyltransferase complex, is upregulated in reactive astrocytes and further stabilized by the USP1/UAF1 complex after SCI. The USP1/UAF1 complex specifically binds to and subsequently removes K48-linked ubiquitination of the METTL3 protein to maintain its stability after SCI. Moreover, conditional knockout of astrocytic METTL3 in both sexes of mice significantly suppressed reactive astrogliosis after SCI, thus resulting in widespread infiltration of inflammatory cells, aggravated neuronal loss, hampered axonal regeneration, and impaired functional recovery. Mechanistically, the YAP1 transcript was identified as a potential target of METTL3 in astrocytes. METTL3 could selectively methylate the 3'-UTR region of the YAP1 transcript, which subsequently maintains its stability in an IGF2BP2-dependent manner. In vivo, YAP1 overexpression by adeno-associated virus injection remarkably contributed to reactive astrogliosis and partly reversed the detrimental effects of METTL3 knockout on functional recovery after SCI. Furthermore, we found that the methyltransferase activity of METTL3 plays an essential role in reactive astrogliosis and motor repair, whereas METTL3 mutant without methyltransferase function failed to promote functional recovery after SCI. Our study reveals the previously unreported role of METTL3-mediated m6A modification in SCI and might provide a potential therapy for SCI.SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT Spinal cord injury is a devastating trauma of the CNS involving motor and sensory impairments. However, epigenetic modification in spinal cord injury is still unclear. Here, we propose an m6A regulation effect of astrocytic METTL3 following spinal cord injury, and we further characterize its underlying mechanism, which might provide promising strategies for spinal cord injury treatment.

The conserved L1089 in the S2 subunit of avian infectious bronchitis virus determines viral kidney tropism by disrupting virus-cell fusion

The virulence of avian gamma-coronavirus infectious bronchitis viruses (IBV) for the kidney has led to high mortality in dominant-genotype isolations, but the key sites of viral protein that determine kidney tropism are still not fully clear. In this study, the amino acid sequences of the S2 subunit of IBVs with opposing adaptivity to chicken embryonic kidney cells (CEKs) were aligned to identify putative sites associated with differences in viral adaptability. The S2 gene and the putative sites of the non-adapted CN strain were introduced into the CEKs-adapted SczyC30 strain to rescue seven mutants. Analysis of growth characteristics showed that the replacement of the entire S2 subunit and the L1089I substitution in the S2 subunit entirely abolished the proliferation of recombinant IBV in CEKs as well as in primary chicken oviduct epithelial cells. Pathogenicity assays also support the decisive role of this L1089 for viral nephrotropism, and this non-nephrotropic L1089I substitution significantly attenuates pathogenicity. Analysis of the putative cause of proliferation inhibition in CEKs suggests that the L1089I substitution affects neither virus attachment nor endocytosis, but instead fails to form double-membrane vesicles to initiate the viral replication and translation. Position 1089 of the IBV S2 subunit is conservative and predicted to lie in heptad repeat 2 domains. It is therefore reasonable to conclude that the L1089I substitution alters the nephrotropism of parent strain by affecting virus-cell fusion. These findings provide crucial insights into the adaptive mechanisms of IBV and have applications in the development of vaccines and drugs against IB.