Unraveling the copper-death connection: Decoding COVID-19's immune landscape through advanced bioinformatics and machine learning approaches

This study aims to analyze Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19)-associated copper-death genes using the Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) dataset and machine learning, exploring their immune microenvironment correlation and underlying mechanisms. Utilizing GEO, we analyzed the GSE217948 dataset with control samples. Differential expression analysis identified 16 differentially expressed copper-death genes, and Cell type Identification By Estimating Relative Subsets Of RNA Transcripts (CIBERSORT) quantified immune cell infiltration. Gene classification yielded two copper-death clusters, with Weighted Gene Co-expression Network Analysis (WGCNA) identifying key module genes. Machine learning models (random forest, Support Vector Machine (SVM), Generalized Linear Model (GLM), eXtreme Gradient Boosting (XGBoost)) selected 6 feature genes validated by the GSE213313 dataset. Ferredoxin 1 (FDX1) emerged as the top gene, corroborated by Area Under the Curve (AUC) analysis. Gene Set Enrichment Analysis (GSEA) and Gene Set Variation Analysis (GSVA) revealed enriched pathways in T cell receptor, natural killer cytotoxicity, and Peroxisome Proliferator-Activated Receptor (PPAR). We uncovered differentially expressed copper-death genes and immune infiltration differences, notably CD8 T cells and M0 macrophages. Clustering identified modules with potential implications for COVID-19. Machine learning models effectively predicted COVID-19 risk, with FDX1's pivotal role validated. FDX1's high expression was associated with immune pathways, suggesting its role in COVID-19 pathogenesis. This comprehensive approach elucidated COVID-19-related copper-death genes, their immune context, and risk prediction potential. FDX1's connection to immune pathways offers insights into COVID-19 mechanisms and therapy.

The critical role of tumor microbiome in cancer immunotherapy

In recent years, the microbiome has shown an integral role in cancer immunotherapy and has become a prominent and widely studied topic. A full understanding of the interactions between the tumor microbiome and various immunotherapies offers opportunities for immunotherapy of cancer. This review scrutinizes the composition of the tumor microbiome, the mechanism of microbial immune regulation, the influence of tumor microorganisms on tumor metastasis, and the interaction between tumor microorganisms and immunotherapy. In addition, this review also summarizes the challenges and opportunities of immunotherapy through tumor microbes, as well as the prospects and directions for future related research. In conclusion, the potential of microbial immunotherapy to enhance treatment outcomes for cancer patients should not be underestimated. Through this review, it is hoped that more research on tumor microbial immunotherapy will be done to better solve the treatment problems of cancer patients.

Establishment of a human organoid-based evaluation system for assessing interspecies infection risk of animal-borne coronaviruses

The COVID-19 pandemic presents a major threat to global public health. Several lines of evidence have shown that the Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2), along with two other highly pathogenic coronaviruses, SARS-CoV and Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS-CoV) originated from bats. To prevent and control future coronavirus outbreaks, it is necessary to investigate the interspecies infection and pathogenicity risks of animal-related coronaviruses. Currently used infection models, including in vitro cell lines and in vivo animal models, fail to fully mimic the primary infection in human tissues. Here, we employed organoid technology as a promising new model for studying emerging pathogens and their pathogenic mechanisms. We investigated the key host-virus interaction patterns of five human coronaviruses (SARS-CoV-2 original strain, Omicron BA.1, MERS-CoV, HCoV-229E, and HCoV-OC43) in different human respiratory organoids. Five indicators, including cell tropism, invasion preference, replication activity, host response and virus-induced cell death, were developed to establish a comprehensive evaluation system to predict coronavirus interspecies infection and pathogenicity risks. Using this system, we further examined the pathogenicity and interspecies infection risks of three SARS-related coronaviruses (SARSr-CoV), including WIV1 and rRsSHC014S from bats, and MpCoV-GX from pangolins. Moreover, we found that cannabidiol, a non-psychoactive plant extract, exhibits significant inhibitory effects on various coronaviruses in human lung organoid. Cannabidiol significantly enhanced interferon-stimulated gene expression but reduced levels of inflammatory cytokines. In summary, our study established a reliable comprehensive evaluation system to analyse infection and pathogenicity patterns of zoonotic coronaviruses, which could aid in prevention and control of potentially emerging coronavirus diseases.

Relationship of serum total cholesterol and triglyceride with risk of mortality in maintenance hemodialysis patients: a multicenter prospective cohort study

OBJECTIVE

The relationship between serum total cholesterol (TC) and triglyceride (TG) levels and mortality in maintenance hemodialysis (MHD) patients remains inconsistent. We aimed to explore the individual and combined association of TC and TG levels with the risk of mortality in Chinese MHD patients.

METHODS

1036 MHD patients were enrolled in this multicenter, prospective cohort study. The serum levels of total cholesterol and triglycerides were measured at baseline. The primary outcome was all-cause mortality and secondary outcome was cardiovascular disease (CVD) mortality.

RESULTS

During a median follow-up duration of 4.4 years (IQR= 2.0-7.9 years), 549 (53.0%) patients died, and 297 (28.7%) deaths were attributed to CVD. Compared with patients with TC levels in the first three quartiles (<182.5 mg/dL), a significantly higher risk of all-cause mortality was found in participants with TC in the fourth quartile (hazard ratio [HR], 1.43; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.17-1.76). However, a significantly lower risk of all-cause mortality was observed in participants with TG in the fourth quartile (≥193.9 mg/dL) (HR, 0.78; 95%CI: 0.63-0.98), compared with participants with TG in the first three quartiles. Similar trends were observed in CVD mortality. When analyzed jointly, patients with lower TC (<182.5 mg/dL) and higher TG (≥193.9 mg/dL) levels had the lowest risk of all-cause mortality and CVD mortality.Conclusions: In MHD patients in southern China, higher TC levels were associated with higher risk of mortality, while higher TG levels were related to lower risk of mortality. Patients with lower TC and higher TG levels had the best survival prognosis.

How aromatic dissolved organic matter differs in competitiveness against organic micropollutant adsorption

Activated carbon is employed for the adsorption of organic micropollutants (OMPs) from water, typically present in concentrations ranging from ng L-1 to μg L-1. However, the efficacy of OMP removal is considerably deteriorated due to competitive adsorption from background dissolved organic matter (DOM), present at substantially higher concentrations in mg L-1. Interpreting the characteristics of competitive DOM is crucial in predicting OMP adsorption efficiencies across diverse natural waters. Molecular weight (MW), aromaticity, and polarity influence DOM competitiveness. Although the aromaticity-related metrics, such as UV254, of low MW DOM were proposed to correlate with DOM competitiveness, the method suffers from limitations in understanding the interplay of polarity and aromaticity in determining DOM competitiveness. Here, we elucidate the intricate influence of aromaticity and polarity in low MW DOM competition, spanning from a fraction level to a compound level, by employing direct sample injection liquid chromatography coupled with ultrahigh-resolution Fourier-transform ion cyclotron resonance mass spectrometry. Anion exchange resin pre-treatment eliminated 93% of UV254-active DOM, predominantly aromatic and polar DOM, and only minimally alleviated DOM competition. Molecular characterization revealed that nonpolar molecular formulas (constituting 26% PAC-adsorbable DOM) with medium aromaticity contributed more to the DOM competitiveness. Isomer-level analysis indicated that the competitiveness of highly aromatic LMW DOM compounds was strongly counterbalanced by increased polarity. Strong aromaticity-derived π-π interaction cannot facilitate the competitive adsorption of hydrophilic DOM compounds. Our results underscore the constraints of depending solely on aromaticity-based approaches as the exclusive interpretive measure for DOM competitiveness. In a broader context, this study demonstrates an effect-oriented DOM analysis, elucidating counterbalancing interactions of DOM molecular properties from fraction to compound level.

Fabrication and characterization of alginate-zein core-shell microcapsules for controlled release of buckwheat honey

In this study, extrusion method was employed to fabricate alginate-zein core-shell microcapsules loaded with buckwheat honey by dropping alginate and buckwheat honey mixture solution into a 70.0 % zein ethanol solution(v/v) containing 5.0 % CaCl2 solution (wt%). The microcapsules were constructed by two parts: 1) the formation of hydrophilic beads through the crosslinking of alginate chains with Ca2+; 2) the introduction of alginate beads into the aqueous zein ethanol solution which decreased the ethanol concentration, prompting the precipitation of zein and the deposition of zein nanoparticles onto the surfaces of alginate beads. Comparing with the alginate beads, the prepared microcapsules not only possessed better water-holding capacity, but also achieved controlled release of buckwheat honey. Importantly, the microcapsules significantly retained the antioxidant activity of the buckwheat honey. Therefore, this innovative method for fabricating alginate-zein core-shell microcapsules can suggest a promising approach to broaden the application of buckwheat honey in the food field.

Protein aggregation caused by pasteurization processing affects the foam performance of liquid egg white

Pasteurization is necessary during the production of liquid egg whites (LEW), but the thermal effects in pasteurization could cause an unavoidable loss of foaming properties of LEW. This study intended to investigate the mechanism of pasteurization processing affects the foam performance of LEW. The foaming capacity (FC) of LEW deteriorated significantly (ΔFCmax = 72.33 %) and foaming stability (FS) increased slightly (ΔFSmax = 3.64 %) under different temperature-time combinations of pasteurization conditions (P < 0.05). The increased turbidity and the decreased solubility together with the decreased absolute value of Zeta potential indicated the generation of thermally induced aggregates and the instability of the protein particles, Rheological characterization demonstrated improved viscoelasticity in pasteurization liquid egg whites (PLEW), explaining enhanced FS. The study revealed that loss in foaming properties of PLEW resulted from thermal-induced protein structural changes and aggregation, particularly affecting FC. This provided a theoretical reference for the production and processing of LEW products.

A sensitivity-enhanced plasmonic sensing platform modified with Co(OH)2 nanosheets

In the detection of biomolecules, surface plasmon resonance (SPR) sensors require high sensitivity. In this study, we propose a sensitivity-enhanced functionalized plasmonic interface based on Ag-TiO2-Co(OH)2 nanosheets structure. Compared to unmodified SPR sensors, the sensitivity of the sensor decorated with TiO2 and Co(OH)2 nanosheets is increased by 130.84%, reaching 5764.27 nm/RIU. This enhancement is attributed to the high refractive index of the coating, as well as the high specific surface area and abundant active sites provided by the synthesized Co(OH)2 nanosheets with a multi-grooved structure. Additionally, employing a double-antibody sandwich method, the antibody-functionalized plasmonic interface enables specific detection of human serum albumin (HSA). The linear response of this sensor was in the wide range of 0.4-150 μM, and the LOD reached 154.89 nM(KD is approximately 1.73 × 10-6 M). This novel SPR sensor offers a new strategy for biochemical sensing and provides a highly sensitive platform for immunoassays.

Gabapentinoids for the treatment of stroke

ABSTRACT

Gabapentinoid drugs (pregabalin and gabapentin) have been successfully used in the treatment of neuropathic pain and in focal seizure prevention. Recent research has demonstrated their potent activities in modulating neurotransmitter release in neuronal tissue, oxidative stress, and inflammation, which matches the mechanism of action via voltage-gated calcium channels. In this review, we briefly elaborate on the medicinal history and ligand-binding sites of gabapentinoids. We systematically summarize the preclinical and clinical research on gabapentinoids in stroke, including ischemic stroke, intracerebral hemorrhage, subarachnoid hemorrhage, seizures after stroke, cortical spreading depolarization after stroke, pain after stroke, and nerve regeneration after stroke. This review also discusses the potential targets of gabapentinoids in stroke; however, the existing results are still uncertain regarding the effect of gabapentinoids on stroke and related diseases. Further preclinical and clinical trials are needed to test the therapeutic potential of gabapentinoids in stroke. Therefore, gabapentinoids have both opportunities and challenges in the treatment of stroke.

Characterization and safety assessment of bamboo shoot shell cellulose nanofiber: Prepared by acidolysis combined with dynamic high-pressure microfluidization

The preparation of cellulose nanofiber (CNF) using traditional methods is currently facing challenges due to concerns regarding environmental pollution and safety. Herein, a novel CNF was obtained from bamboo shoot shell (BSS) by low-concentration acid and dynamic high-pressure microfluidization (DHPM) treatment. The resulting CNF was then characterized, followed by in vitro and in vivo safety assessments. Compared to insoluble dietary fiber (IDF), the diameters of HIDF (IDF after low-concentration acid hydrolysis) and CNF were significantly decreased to 167.13 nm and 70.97 nm, respectively. Meanwhile, HIDF and CNF showed a higher crystallinity index (71.32 % and 74.35 %). Structural analysis results indicated the successful removal of lignin and hemicellulose of HIDF and CNF, with CNF demonstrating improved thermostability. In vitro, a high dose of CNF (1500 μg/mL) did not show any signs of cytotoxicity on Caco-2 cells. In vivo, no death was observed in the experimental mice, and there was no significant difference between CNF (1000 mg/kg·bw) and control group in hematological index and histopathological analysis. Overall, this study presents an environmentally friendly method for preparing CNF from BSS while providing evidence regarding its safety through in vitro and in vivo assessments, laying the foundation for its potential application in food.

Effect of sodium alginate block type on the physicochemical properties and curcumin release behavior of quaternized chitosan-oxidized sodium alginate Schiff base hydrogels

Controlling bioactive ingredients release by modulating the 3D network structure of cross-linked hydrogels is important for functional food development. Hereby, oxidized sodium alginate (OSA) with varying aldehyde contents was formed by periodate oxidation of sodium alginate (SA) with different β-d-mannuronic acid (M) and α-l-guluronic acid (G) ratios (M/G = 1:2, 1:1, and 2:1) and its structure was characterized. Moreover, hydrogels were prepared via Schiff base and electrostatic interactions between quaternized chitosan (QCS) and OSA. The properties of hydrogels such as microstructure, thermal stability, swelling and controlled release were investigated. The results showed that OSA with M/G = 1:2 had the highest content of aldehyde groups, and the hydrogel formed by it and QCS had higher thermal stability and a denser network structure with the lowest equilibrium swelling rate, which could better control the release of curcumin. Additionally, it had good self-healing and can recover rapidly after the rupture of its network structure.

Fine mapping of leaf delayed virescence gene dv4 in Triticum aestivum

Wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) is one of the most important crops worldwide, and its yield affects national food security. Wheat leaves are key photosynthetic organs where carbohydrates are synthesized for grain yield. Leaf colour mutants are ideal germplasm resources for molecular genetic studies of wheat chloroplast development, chlorophyll synthesis and photosynthesis. We obtained a wheat mutant delayed virescence 4 (dv4) from cultivar Guomai 301. The leaves of mutant dv4 were pale yellow at the seedling stage, golden yellow at the turning green stage, and they started to turn green at the jointing stage. Genetic analysis demonstrated that the yellow-leaf phenotype was controlled by a single recessive gene named as dv4. Gene dv4 was fine mapped in a 1.46 Mb region on chromosome 7DS by SSR and dCAPS marker assays. Three putative candidate genes were identified in this region. Because no leaf colour genes have been reported on wheat chromosome arm 7DS previously, dv4 is a novel leaf colour gene. The result facilitates map-based cloning of dv4 and provides information for the construction of a high-photosynthetic efficiency ideotype for improving wheat yield.

Multi modality fusion transformer with spatio-temporal feature aggregation module for psychiatric disorder diagnosis

Bipolar disorder (BD) is characterized by recurrent episodes of depression and mild mania. In this paper, to address the common issue of insufficient accuracy in existing methods and meet the requirements of clinical diagnosis, we propose a framework called Spatio-temporal Feature Fusion Transformer (STF2Former). It improves on our previous work - MFFormer by introducing a Spatio-temporal Feature Aggregation Module (STFAM) to learn the temporal and spatial features of rs-fMRI data. It promotes intra-modality attention and information fusion across different modalities. Specifically, this method decouples the temporal and spatial dimensions and designs two feature extraction modules for extracting temporal and spatial information separately. Extensive experiments demonstrate the effectiveness of our proposed STFAM in extracting features from rs-fMRI, and prove that our STF2Former can significantly outperform MFFormer and achieve much better results among other state-of-the-art methods.

Effect of high-molecular-weight glutenin subunits silencing on dough aggregation characteristics

The qualities of wheat dough are influenced by the high-molecular-weight glutenin subunits (HMW-GS), a critical component of wheat gluten protein. However, it is still unknown how HMW-GS silencing affects the aggregation characteristics of dough. Two groups of near-isogenic wheat were used to study the effects of HMW-GS silencing on dough aggregation characteristics, dough texture characteristics, and dough microstructure. It was observed that the content of gliadin in LH-11 strain significantly increased compared to the wild-type (WT). Additionally, the amount of glutenin macropolymer and the glutenin/gliadin both decreased. The aggregation characteristics and rheological characteristics of the dough in LH-11 strain were significantly reduced, and the content of β-sheet in the dough was significantly reduced. The HMW-GS silencing resulted in a reduction in the aggregation of the gluten network in the dough, which related to the alteration of the secondary and microstructure of the gluten.

Research progress of organic fluorescent probes for lung cancer related biomarker detection and bioimaging application

As one of the major public health problems, cancers seriously threaten the human health. Among them, lung cancer is considered to be one of the most life-threatening malignancies. Therefore, developing early diagnosis technology and timely treatment for lung cancer is urgent. Recent research has witnessed that measuring changes of biomarkers expressed in lung cancer has practical significance. Meanwhile, we note that bioimaging with organic fluorescent probes plays an important role for its high sensitivity, real-time analysis and simplicity of operation. In the past years, kinds of organic fluorescent probes targeting lung cancer related biomarker have been developed. Herein, we summarize the research progress of organic fluorescent probes for the detection of lung cancer related biomarkers in this review, along with their design principle, luminescence mechanism and bioimaging application. Additionally, we put forward some challenges and future prospects from our perspective.

A new insight into Cd exposure-induced hemocyte reduction in Lymantria dispar larvae: Involvement of the ROS-ATF6-ER stress-apoptosis pathway

Hemocytes are important targets for heavy metal-induced immunotoxicity in insects. This study aimed to investigate the mechanism by which cadmium (Cd) exposure affects the hemocyte count in Lymantria dispar larvae. The results showed that the number of larval hemocytes was significantly decreased under Cd exposure, accompanied by a significant increase in the apoptosis rate and the expression of Caspase-3. The endoplasmic reticulum (ER) of hemocytes in the Cd-treated group showed irregular swelling. Expression levels of ER stress indicator genes (CHOP, Bip1, Bip2, Bip3, and Bip4) were significantly higher in the Cd-treated group. Among the three pathways that potentially mediate ER stress, only the key genes in the ATF6 pathway (ATF6, S1P-1, S1P-2, and WFS1) exhibited differential responses to Cd exposure. Cd exposure significantly increased the levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and the expression of oxidative stress-related genes (CNCC, P38, and ATF2) in hemocytes. Studies using inhibitors confirmed that apoptosis mediated the decrease in hemocyte count, ER stress mediated apoptosis, ATF6 pathway mediated ER stress, and ROS or oxidative stress mediated ER stress through the activation of the ATF6 pathway. Taken together, the ROS-ATF6-ER stress-apoptosis pathway is responsible for the reduction in the hemocyte count of Cd-treated L. dispar larvae.

Sensitivity and consistency of long- and short-read metagenomics and epicPCR for the detection of antibiotic resistance genes and their bacterial hosts in wastewater

Wastewater surveillance is a powerful tool to assess the risks associated with antibiotic resistance in communities. One challenge is selecting which analytical tool to deploy to measure risk indicators, such as antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) and their respective bacterial hosts. Although metagenomics is frequently used for analyzing ARGs, few studies have compared the performance of long-read and short-read metagenomics in identifying which bacteria harbor ARGs in wastewater. Furthermore, for ARG host detection, untargeted metagenomics has not been compared to targeted methods such as epicPCR. Here, we 1) evaluated long-read and short-read metagenomics as well as epicPCR for detecting ARG hosts in wastewater, and 2) investigated the host range of ARGs across the wastewater treatment plant (WWTP) to evaluate host proliferation. Results highlighted long-read revealed a wider range of ARG hosts compared to short-read metagenomics. Nonetheless, the ARG host range detected by long-read metagenomics only represented a subset of the hosts detected by epicPCR. The ARG-host linkages across the influent and effluent of the WWTP were characterized. Results showed the ARG-host phylum linkages were relatively consistent across the WWTP, whereas new ARG-host species linkages appeared in the WWTP effluent. The ARG-host linkages of several clinically relevant species found in the effluent were identified.

Camrelizumab, chemotherapy and apatinib in the neoadjuvant treatment of resectable oesophageal squamous cell carcinoma: a single-arm phase 2 trial

Background

In resectable oesophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC), the efficacy of camrelizumab combined with chemotherapy and apatinib followed by minimally invasive oesophagectomy is not clear. We aimed to fill this knowledge gap.

Methods

This investigator-initiated, single-arm, prospective, phase 2 trial was performed at the Second Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang University, China. Patients (aged 18-75 years) who were histologically or cytologically diagnosed with ESCC were deemed suitable to participate in this trial. Patients received 2-3 cycles of neoadjuvant therapy with camrelizumab, nedaplatin, albumin paclitaxel, and apatinib; each cycle was repeated every 14 days. Surgery occurred 4-6 weeks after the last neoadjuvant treatment cycle. The primary outcome was the pathological complete response (PCR) rate of the tumour and lymph nodes. The changes in the peripheral blood immunoprofile among patients without PCR (ie, non-PCR [NPCR]) and with PCR were assessed by mass cytometry. This study was registered with ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT04666090.

Findings

42 patients were enrolled between November 23, 2020 and December 31, 2022. The disease control rate was 100.0% (95% CI, 91.6-100%), and the objective response rate was 83.3% (95% CI, 68.6-93.0%). Six (14.3%) patients experienced grade 3 adverse events. The most common were white blood cell count decrease (31.0%), alopecia (81.0%), asthenia (38.1%), and reactive cutaneous capillary endothelial proliferation (35.7%). 41 patients received minimally invasive oesophagectomy; all 41patients achieved R0 resection, and 18 (43.9%, 95% CI, 28.5-60.3%) patients achieved PCR. The median follow-up was 23 months and the 2-year survival rate was 85.9%. T-cell subsets in both the PCR and NPCR groups exhibited consistency in response to neoadjuvant therapy. In contrast, some of natural killer (NK) cells (NK-C03, NK-C11), B cells (B-C06) and monocytes (M-C05), exhibited significant differences between the PCR and NPCR groups before neoadjuvant therapy. M-C06 had a significant difference in the PCR group and NPCR group after neoadjuvant therapy. NK-C12 and B-C15 showed significant differences both before and after neoadjuvant therapy.

Interpretation

The application of camrelizumab, chemotherapy and apatinib in the neoadjuvant setting for locally advanced ESCC has shown promising antitumour activity and an acceptable safety profile in this single-arm study. In the neoadjuvant setting, NK cell, B cell, and monocyte subsets exhibited greater predictive power for immunotherapy responsiveness than T-cell subsets. Longer follow-up to assess survival outcomes and a phase 3 randomised trial are needed to further evaluate the proposed treatment.

Funding

The China Anti-Cancer Association and the "Leading Goose" Research and Development Project of Zhejiang Province.

Evaluation of the potentials of rice varieties and water management practices for reducing human health risks associated with polluted river water irrigated rice in Bangladesh

The consumption of arsenic and trace-metal-contaminated rice is a human health concern worldwide, particularly in Bangladesh. In this study, the effects of rice varieties and water management practices on the concentrations of arsenic and trace metals in rice grains were investigated to reduce human health risks related to rice consumption. In addition, the performance of risk reduction using the optimum combination of rice variety and water management practices was quantitatively assessed using Monte Carlo simulation, in which non-carcinogenic and carcinogenic risk distributions under the status quo and the optimum combination were compared. The experimental results revealed that Dular and BRRI dhan45 (rice varieties) cultivated under alternate wetting and drying (AWD) and continuous flooding (CF) conditions showed the lowest hazard quotient (HQ) values for copper, cadmium, and arsenic and the lowest target cancer risk (TR) for arsenic. In Dular and BRRI dhan45 (AWD and CF) varieties, the proportion of the population for which HQs exceeded 1.0 (the reference value) tended to decrease (except for arsenic), compared with populations for which the rice varieties and water management practices were not specified. These results suggest that the use of optimum combinations of rice varieties and water management practices could reduce non-carcinogenic and carcinogenic risks associated with arsenic and trace metals uptake via rice grain consumption by the Bangladeshi people.

Histone deacetylase-mediated silencing of PSTPIP2 expression contributes to aristolochic acid nephropathy-induced PANoptosis

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

Aristolochic acid nephropathy (AAN) is a progressive kidney disease caused by using herbal medicines. Currently, no therapies are available to treat or prevent aristolochic acid nephropathy. Histone deacetylase (HDAC) plays a crucial role in the development and progression of renal disease. We tested whether HDAC inhibitors could prevent aristolochic acid nephropathy and determined the underlying mechanism.

EXPERIMENTAL APPROACH

HDACs expression in the aristolochic acid nephropathy model was examined. The activation of PANoptosis of mouse kidney and renal tubular epithelial cell were assessed after exposure to HDAC1 and HDAC2 blockade. Kidney-specific knock-in of proline-serine-threonine-phosphatase-interacting protein 2 (PSTPIP2) mice were used to investigate whether PSTPIP2 affected the production of PANoptosome.

KEY RESULTS

Aristolochic acid upregulated the expression of HDAC1 and HDAC2 in the kidneys. Notably, the HDAC1 and HDAC2 specific inhibitor, romidepsin (FK228, depsipeptide), suppressed aristolochic acid-induced kidney injury, epithelial cell pyroptosis, apoptosis and necroptosis (PANoptosis). Moreover, romidepsin upregulated PSTPIP2 in renal tubular epithelial cells, which was enhanced by aristolochic acid treatment. Conditional knock-in of PSTPIP2 in the kidney protected against aristolochic acid nephropathy. In contrast, the knockdown of PSTPIP2 expression in PSTPIP2-knock-in mice restored kidney damage and PANoptosis. PSTPIP2 function was determined in vitro using PSTPIP2 knockdown or overexpression in mouse renal tubular epithelial cells (mTECs). Additionally, PSTPIP2 was found to regulate caspase 8 in aristolochic acid nephropathy.

CONCLUSION AND IMPLICATIONS

HDAC-mediated silencing of PSTPIP2 may contribute to aristolochic acid nephropathy. Hence, HDAC1 and HDAC2 specific inhibitors or PSTPIP2 could be valuable therapeutic agents for preventing aristolochic acid nephropathy.

Stimuli-responsive incremental DNA machine auto-catalyzed CRISPR-Cas12a feedback amplification permits ultrasensitive molecular diagnosis of esophageal cancer-related microRNA

Development of new diagnostic methods is essential for disease diagnosis and treatment. In this work, we present a stimuli-responsive incremental DNA machine auto-catalyzed CRISPR-Cas12a (SRI-DNA machine/CRISPR-Cas12a) feedback amplification for ultrasensitive molecular detection of miRNA-21, which is an important biomarker related closely to the initiation and development of cancers, such as esophageal cancer. Strategically, the powerful SRI-DNA machine and efficient trans-cleavage activity of the CRISPR-Cas12a system are ingeniously integrated via a rationally designed probe termed as stem-elongated functional hairpin probe (SEF-HP). The SRI-DNA machine begins with the target miRNA, the trigger of the reaction, binding complementarily to the SEF-HP, followed by autonomously performed mechanical strand replication, cleavage, and displacement circuit at multiple sites. This conversion process led to the amplified generation of numerous DNA activators that are complementary with CRISPR RNA (CrRNA). Once formed the DNA activator/CrRNA heteroduplex, the trans-cleavage activity of the CRISPR-Cas12a was activated to nonspecific cleavage of single-stranded areas of a reporter probe for fluorescence emission. Under optimal conditions, the target miRNA can be detected with a wide linear range and an excellent specificity. As a proof-of-concept, this SRI-DNA machine/CRISPR-Cas12a feedback amplification system is adaptable and scalable to higher-order artificial amplification circuits for biomarkers detection, highlighting its promising potential in early diagnosis and disease treatment.

Correcting for measurement error under meta-analysis of z-transformed correlations

This study mainly concerns correction for measurement error using the meta-analysis of Fisher's z-transformed correlations. The disattenuation formula of Spearman (American Journal of Psychology, 15, 1904, 72) is used to correct for individual raw correlations in primary studies. The corrected raw correlations are then used to obtain the corrected z-transformed correlations. What remains little studied, however, is how to best correct for within-study sampling error variances of corrected z-transformed correlations. We focused on three within-study sampling error variance estimators corrected for measurement error that were proposed in earlier studies and is proposed in the current study: (1) the formula given by Hedges (Test validity, Lawrence Erlbaum, 1988) assuming a linear relationship between corrected and uncorrected z-transformed correlations (linear correction), (2) one derived by the first-order delta method based on the average of corrected z-transformed correlations (stabilized first-order correction), and (3) one derived by the second-order delta method based on the average of corrected z-transformed correlations (stabilized second-order correction). Via a simulation study, we compared performance of these estimators and the sampling error variance estimator uncorrected for measurement error in terms of estimation and inference accuracy of the mean correlation as well as the homogeneity test of effect sizes. In obtaining the corrected z-transformed correlations and within-study sampling error variances, coefficient alpha was used as a common reliability coefficient estimate. The results showed that in terms of the estimated mean correlation, sampling error variances with linear correction, the stabilized first-order and second-order corrections, and no correction performed similarly in general. Furthermore, in terms of the homogeneity test, given a relatively large average sample size and normal true scores, the stabilized first-order and second-order corrections had type I error rates that were generally controlled as well as or better than the other estimators. Overall, stabilized first-order and second-order corrections are recommended when true scores are normal, reliabilities are acceptable, the number of items per psychological scale is relatively large, and the average sample size is relatively large.

Transcriptomic analysis identifies the neuropeptide cortistatin (CORT) as an inhibitor of temozolomide (TMZ) resistance by suppressing the NF-κB-MGMT signaling axis in human glioma

Glioma is a common tumor originating in the brain that has a high mortality rate. Temozolomide (TMZ) is the first-line treatment for high-grade gliomas. However, a large proportion of gliomas are resistant to TMZ, posing a great challenge to their treatment. In the study, the specific functions and mechanism(s) by which cortistatin (CORT) regulates TMZ resistance and glioma progression were evaluated. The decreased expression of CORT was detected in glioma tissues, and highly expressed CORT was associated with a better survival rate in patients with glioma. CORT overexpression notably decreased the capacity of glioma cells to proliferate and migrate in vitro and to form tumors in vivo. CORT overexpression also markedly suppressed the viability and enhanced the apoptosis of TMZ-resistant U251 cells by regulating MGMT, p21, and Puma expression. Importantly, CORT overexpression reduced the resistance of gliomas to TMZ in vivo. CORT expression was negatively correlated with MGMT expression in both glioma tissues and cells, and it was found that CORT inhibited NF-κB pathway activation in glioma cells, thereby inhibiting MGMT expression. In conclusion, CORT regulates glioma cell growth, migration, apoptosis, and TMZ resistance by weakening the activity of NF-κB/p65 and thereby regulating MGMT expression. The CORT/NF-κB/MGMT axis might be regarded as a molecular mechanism contributing to the resistance of glioma to TMZ. Our data also suggest that CORT regulates the viability and metastatic potential of glioma cells, independent of its effects on TMZ resistance, providing evidence of novel therapeutic targets for glioma that should be evaluated in further studies.

Burden and trend of dietary risk-related colorectal cancer in China and its provinces: findings from the Global Burden of Disease Study 2019

OBJECTIVES

The objective of this experiment was to evaluate the spatial pattern and temporal trend of colorectal cancer (CRC) burden attributed to dietary risk factors in China from 1990 to 2019 using data from the Global Burden of Diseases, Injuries, and Risk Factors study (GBD) 2019.

METHODS

Numbers and age-standardised rates of deaths, disability-adjusted life years (DALYs) and corresponding average annual percentage change (AAPC) were determined. The joinpoint regression analysis was used to assess the temporal trends of CRC deaths and DALYs from 1990 to 2019.

RESULTS

In China, the number of diet-attributable CRC deaths and DALYs in 2019 were 90.41 (95% uncertainty interval: 65.69, 114.67) and 2234.06 (1609.96, 2831.24) per-1000 population, marking 2.05% and 1.68% annual increases since 1990, respectively. The region with the highest increase in age-standardised rates (ASRs) of diet-related CRC deaths and DALYs was in Taiwan with an AAPC of 2.00% (1.51, 2.48), whereas the highest decline in ASRs of CRC deaths and DALYs was observed in Hong Kong with an AAPC of -0.63% (-0.90, -0.35) (all P < 0.05). Nationally, men suffered higher CRC deaths and DALY burdens attributable to dietary risks than did women. Regarding the specific diet group, diets low in calcium, milk, and whole grains contributed to CRC deaths and DALYs the most.

CONCLUSIONS

Diet is an important contributor to increasing CRC burden in China. Necessary measures should be taken to kerb the growing burden attributed to dietary factors, particularly in males and in regions with middle Socio-demographic Index or lower.

Heme oxygenase 1 (HO1) regulates autophagy and apoptosis via the PI3K/AKT/mTOR signaling pathway of yak Sertoli cells

Successful male reproduction depends on healthy testes. Autophagy has been confirmed to be active during many cellular events associated with the testes. It is not only crucial for testicular spermatogenesis but is also an essential regulatory mechanism for Sertoli cell (SCs) ectoplasmic specialization integrity and normal function of the blood-testis-barrier. Hypoxic stress induces oxidative damage, apoptosis, and autophagy, negatively affecting the male reproductive system. Cryptorchidism is a common condition associated with infertility. Recent studies have demonstrated that hypoxia-induced miRNAs and their transcription factors are highly expressed in the testicular tissue of infertile patients. Heme oxygenase 1 (HO1) is a heat-shock protein family member associated with cellular antioxidant defense and anti-apoptotic functions. The present study found that the HO1 mRNA and protein are up-regulated in yak cryptorchidism compared to normal testes. Next, we investigated the expression of HO1 in the SCs exposed to hypoxic stress and characterized the expression of key molecules involved in autophagy and apoptosis. The results showed that hypoxic stress induced the upregulation of autophagy of SCs. The down-regulation of HO1 using siRNA increases autophagy and decreases apoptosis, while the over-expression of HO1 attenuates autophagy and increases apoptosis. Furthermore, HO1 regulates autophagy and apoptosis via the PI3K/AKT/mTOR signaling pathway. These results will be helpful for further understanding the regulatory mechanisms of HO1 in yak cryptorchidism.

Characterization and Antioxidant and Antibacterial Activities of Carboxymethylated Tamarind Seed Polysaccharide Composite Films Incorporated with ε-Polylysine and Their Application in Fresh-Cut Green Bell Pepper Preservation

Traditional petroleum-based food-packaging materials have poor permeability, limited active packaging properties, and difficulty in biodegradation, limiting their application. We developed a carboxymethylated tamarind seed polysaccharide composite film incorporated with ε-polylysine (CTPε) for better application in fresh-cut agricultural products. The CTPε films exhibit excellent water vapor barrier properties, but the mechanical properties are slightly reduced. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and X-ray diffraction spectra indicate the formation of hydrogen bonds between ε-PL and CTP, leading to their internal reorganization and dense network structure. With the increase of ε-PL concentration, composite films showed notable inhibition of postharvest pathogenic fungi and bacteria, a significant enhancement of 2,2'- azino-bis (3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) radical-scavenging activity, and gradual improvement of wettability performance. Cytotoxicity experiments confirmed the favorable biocompatibility when ε-PL was added at 0.3% (CTPε2). In fresh-cut bell pepper preservation experiments, the CTPε2 coating effectively delayed weight loss and malondialdehyde increase preserved the hardness, color, and nutrients of fresh-cut peppers and prolonged the shelf life of the fresh-cut peppers, as compared with the control group. Therefore, CTPε composite films are expected to be a valuable packaging material for extending the shelf life of freshly cut agricultural products.

Sensitivity of Botrytis cinerea from Vineyards to Boscalid, Isofetamid, and Pydiflumetofen in Shandong Province, China

Succinate dehydrogenase inhibitor (SDHI) fungicides are the most commonly and effectively used class of fungicides for controlling gray mold. Among them, only boscalid has been registered in China for controlling grape gray mold, whereas isofetamid and pydiflumetofen are two new SDHI fungicides that have demonstrated high efficacy against various fungal diseases. However, the sensitivity of Botrytis cinerea isolates from vineyards in China to these three fungicides is currently unknown. In this study, the sensitivity of 55 B. cinerea isolates from vineyards to boscalid, isofetamid, and pydiflumetofen was determined, with the effective concentrations for inhibiting 50% of spore germination (EC50) values ranging from 1.10 to 393, 0.0300 to 42.0, and 0.0990 to 25.5 μg ml-1, respectively. The resistance frequencies for boscalid, isofetamid, and pydiflumetofen were 60.0, 7.2, and 12.8%, respectively. Three mutations (H272R, H272Y, and P225F) were detected in the SdhB subunit, with H272R being the most prevalent (75.7%), followed by H272Y (16.2%) and P225F (8.1%). All three mutations are associated with resistance to boscalid, and of them, H272R mutants exhibited high resistance. Only P225F and H272Y mutants exhibited resistance to isofetamid and pydiflumetofen, respectively. A weakly positive cross-resistance relationship was observed between boscalid and pydiflumetofen (r = 0.38, P < 0.05). Additionally, the H272R mutants showed no significant fitness costs, whereas the remaining mutants exhibited reduced mycelial growth (P225F) and sporulation (H272Y and P225F). These results suggest that isofetamid and pydiflumetofen are effective fungicides against B. cinerea in vineyards, but appropriate rotation strategies must be implemented to reduce the selection of existing SDHI-resistant isolates.

In Vivo Toxicology of Metabolizable Atomically Precise Au25 Clusters at Ultrahigh Doses

Ultrasmall Au25(MPA)18 clusters show great potential in biocatalysts and bioimaging due to their well-defined, tunable structure and properties. Hence, in vivo pharmacokinetics and toxicity of Au nanoclusters (Au NCs) are very important for clinical translation, especially at high dosages. Herein, the in vivo hematological, tissue, and neurological effects following exposure to Au NCs (300 and 500 mg kg-1) were investigated, in which the concentration is 10 times higher than in therapeutic use. The biochemical and hematological parameters of the injected Au NCs were within normal limits, even at the ultrahigh level of 500 mg kg-1. Meanwhile, no histopathological changes were observed in the Au NC group, and immunofluorescence staining showed no obvious lesions in the major organs. Furthermore, real-time near-infrared-II (NIR-II) imaging showed that most of the Au25(MPA)18 and Au24Zn1(MPA)18 can be metabolized via the kidney. The results demonstrated that Au NCs exhibit good biosafety by evaluating the manifestation of toxic effects on major organs at ultrahigh doses, providing reliable data for their application in biomedicine.

Viperin inhibits interferon-γ production to promote Mycobacterium tuberculosis survival by disrupting TBK1-IKKε-IRF3-axis and JAK-STAT signaling

OBJECTIVES AND DESIGN

As an interferon-inducible protein, Viperin has broad-spectrum antiviral effects and regulation of host immune responses. We aim to investigate how Viperin regulates interferon-γ (IFN-γ) production in macrophages to control Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb) infection.

METHODS

We use Viperin deficient bone-marrow-derived macrophage (BMDM) to investigate the effects and machines of Viperin on Mtb infection.

RESULTS

Viperin inhibited IFN-γ production in macrophages and in the lung of mice to promote Mtb survival. Further insight into the mechanisms of Viperin-mediated regulation of IFN-γ production revealed the role of TANK-binding kinase 1 (TBK1), the TAK1-dependent inhibition of NF-kappa B kinase-epsilon (IKKε), and interferon regulatory factor 3 (IRF3). Inhibition of the TBK1-IKKε-IRF3 axis restored IFN-γ production reduced by Viperin knockout in BMDM and suppressed intracellular Mtb survival. Moreover, Viperin deficiency activated the Janus kinase (JAK)-signal transducer and activator of transcription (STAT) signaling pathway, which promoted IFN-γ production and inhibited Mtb infection in BMDM. Additionally, a combination of the anti-TB drug INH treatment in the absence of Viperin resulted in further IFN-γ production and anti-TB effect.

CONCLUSIONS

This study highlights the involvement of TBK1-IKKε-IRF3 axis and JAK-STAT signaling pathways in Viperin-suppressed IFN-γ production in Mtb infected macrophages, and identifies a novel mechanism of Viperin on negatively regulating host immune response to Mtb infection.

[Metagenomic next-generation sequencing-based retrospective investigation of the drug resistance sites of mycoplasma pneumoniae in children]

Objective: To analyze the drug-resistant gene loci of Mycoplasma pneumoniae (MP) using metagenomic next-generation sequencing (mNGS). Methods: From November 2022 to October 2023, 697 clinical samples (including sputum, alveolar lavage fluid and blood) of 686 children with Mycoplasma pneumoniae positive detected by mNGS were retrospectively analyzed. Samples were divided into intensive care unit (ICU) group and non-ICU group, Chi-square test was used to compare groups, and Mann-Kendall trend test was used to analyze the change trend of the detection rate of drug resistance gene loci over time. Results: Of the 697 samples, 164 were from the ICU group and 533 were from the non-ICU group. The detection rate of Mycoplasma pneumoniae resistance gene was 44.3% (309/697), and all detected drug-resistant gene loci of MP were A2063G. The detection rate of Mycoplasma pneumoniae in ICU group was 50.0% (82/164), and the detection rates of Mycoplasma pneumoniae resistance gene loci in sputum, alveolus lavage fluid and blood samples were 75.0% (18/24) and 48.4% (62/128), respectively. The detection rate in sputum was higher than alveolus lavage fluid samples (χ2=5.72,P=0.017). The detection rate of Mycoplasma pneumoniae in non-ICU group was 42.6% (227/533), the detection rate of Mycoplasma pneumoniae resistance gene loci in sputum and alveolar lavage fluid was 40.0% (16/40), 44.3% (201/454), and no detection rate in blood samples (0/12). There was no significant difference in the detection rate of alveolar lavage fluid and sputum (χ2=0.27, P=0.602). From November 2022 to October 2023, the detection rate of submitted samples showed an increasing trend month by month (overall: Z=3.99, ICU inspection group: Z=2.93, non-ICU group: Z=3.01, all P<0.01). Among the bacteria commonly detected with Mycoplasma pneumoniae, Streptococcus pneumoniae accounted for the highest proportion, the detection rate was 15.5% (108/697), and Epstein-Barr virus accounted for the highest proportion of 17.6% (123/697). Conclusions: From November 2022 to October 2023, the detection rate of Mycoplasma pneumoniae drug resistance gene loci showed an increasing trend. The detection rate of drug resistance gene loci in sputum samples of ICU group was higher than alveolus lavage fluid. No new drug resistance site were detected.

Adsorption of phosphate over a novel magnesium-loaded sludge-based biochar

The production of sludge-based biochar to recover phosphorus (P) from wastewater and reuse the recovered phosphorus as agricultural fertilizer is a preferred process. This article mainly studied the removal of phosphate (PO4-P) from aqueous solution by synthesizing sludge-based biochar (MgSBC-0.1) from anaerobic fermentation sludge treated with magnesium (Mg)-loading-modification, and compared it with unmodified sludge-based biochar (SBC). The physicochemical properties, adsorption efficiency, and adsorption mechanism of MgSBC-0.1 were studied. The results showed that the surface area of MgSBC-0.1 synthesized increased by 5.57 times. The material surface contained MgO, Mg(OH)2, and CaO nanoparticles. MgSBC-0.1 can effectively remove phosphate in the initial solution pH range of 3.00-7.00, with a fitted maximum phosphorus adsorption capacity of 379.52 mg·g-1. The adsorption conforms to the pseudo second-order kinetics model and Langmuir isotherm adsorption curve. The characterization of the adsorbed composite material revealed the contribution of phosphorus crystal deposition and electrostatic attraction to phosphorus absorption.

Carbon nanospheres dual spectral-overlapped fluorescence quenching lateral flow immunoassay for rapid diagnosis of toxoplasmosis in humans

Toxoplasmosis is a common zoonotic disease caused by a protozoan parasite Toxoplasma gondii (Tox), approximately infecting one-third of human populations worldwide. This study developed the carbon nanospheres (CNPs) based dual spectral-overlapped fluorescence quenching lateral flow immunoassay (CNPs-FQLFIA) for detection of Tox antibodies (ToxAbs). The CNPs have been effectively coupled with Tox antigen (ToxAg), which can completely overlap the excitation and emission spectra of europium nanospheres (EuNPs) and CdSe/ZnS quantum dots (QDs) in testing strips of CNPs-QDs-FQLFIA or CNPs-EuNPs-FQLFIA. The sensitivity of CNPs-EuNPs-FQLFIA or CNPs-QDs-FQLFIA was 4 or 8 IU/mL under natural light readout, or both 4 IU/mL ToxAbs under ultraviolet (UV) light readout by the naked eyes, respectively. The limit of detection (LOD) of two types of CNPs-FQLFIA was both 1 IU/mL ToxAbs under UV light by a dry fluorescence analyzer, but no cross-reaction was found with other antibodies. The intra-assay coefficient variation (CV) of both CNPs-EuNPs-FQLFIA and CNPs-QDs-FQLFIA was less than 8%, while the inter-assay CV was less than 14%, respectively. The correlation coefficient (R2) of CNPs-EuNPs-FQLFIA or CNPs-QDs-FQLFIA to measure the different concentrations of ToxAbs spiked serum samples was 0.99712 and 0.99896, respectively. The CNPs-FQLFIA presented a characteristics of 94.3% sensitivity, 100% specificity and 98% accuracy for detection of ToxAbs in clinical serum samples. In conclusion, CNPs-FQLFIA with EuNPs or QDs fluorescence reporter was an easy, rapid, sensitive, precise and quantitative assay for detecting Tox antibodies in human blood samples.

A scaled kernel density estimation prior for dynamic borrowing of historical information with application to clinical trial design

Incorporating historical data into a current data analysis can improve estimation of parameters shared across both datasets and increase the power to detect associations of interest while reducing the time and cost of new data collection. Several methods for prior distribution elicitation have been introduced to allow for the data-driven borrowing of historical information within a Bayesian analysis of the current data. We propose scaled Gaussian kernel density estimation (SGKDE) prior distributions as potentially more flexible alternatives. SGKDE priors directly use posterior samples collected from a historical data analysis to approximate probability density functions, whose variances depend on the degree of similarity between the historical and current datasets, which are used as prior distributions in the current data analysis. We compare the performances of the SGKDE priors with some existing approaches using a simulation study. Data from a recently completed phase III clinical trial of a maternal vaccine for respiratory syncytial virus are used to further explore the properties of SGKDE priors when designing a new clinical trial while incorporating historical data. Overall, both studies suggest that the new approach results in improved parameter estimation and power in the current data analysis compared to the considered existing methods.

Rapamycin functionalized carbon Dots: Target-oriented synthesis and suppression of vascular cell senescence

Suppression of vascular cell senescence is of great significance in preventing cardiovascular diseases such as hypertension and atherosclerosis. The oxidative stress damage caused by reactive oxygen species (ROS) can lead to cellular senescence. Rapamycin (Rapa) is well known to suppress cell senescence via mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) pathway. However, poor water solubility and lack of ROS scavenging ability limit the further development of Rapa. To improve the solubility of Rapa and endow with ROS scavenging ability, Rapa functionalized carbon dots (Rapa-CDs) are target-oriented synthesized via free radical polymerization combination with hydrothermal carbonization. Rapa-CDs improve the solubility of Rapa and show ROS scavenging abilities. The solubility of Rapa-CDs with 9.41 g is improved 3.6 × 104 times higher than that of Rapa (2.6 × 10-4 g). The half maximal inhibitory concentration (IC50) of Rapa-CDs toward hydroxyl radical (•OH) and 2,2-Diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl free radical (DPPH•) are 0.18 and 0.17 mg/mL, respectively. Rapa-CDs show anti-oxidative stress effect in HEVECs (Human Umbilical Vein Endothelial Cells) via reducing ROS levels by 87 %. Rapa-CDs alleviate HUVECs senescence by suppressing mTOR overactivation, attenuate the expression of P53, P21 and P16. The study demonstrates the target-oriented synthesis of drugs functionalized CDs with anti-senescence via dual-pathway of anti-oxidative stress and mTOR.

S-scheme towards interfacial charge transfer between POMs and MOFs for efficient visible-light photocatalytic Cr (VI) reduction

The establishment of heterojunctions was considered as an exceptional strategy to obtain high-efficiency charge separation and enhanced photocatalytic performance. Herein, a series of FePMo/MIL-53(Fe) (FeM-53) heterojunctions were successfully constructed through in-situ growth of FePMo onto MIL-53(Fe) surface and their photocatalytic capacity were examined by visible-light-induced Cr(VI) reduction. Interestingly, the as-fabricated composites offered various photocatalytic activities controllably relying on the mass ratio of FePMo to MIL-53(Fe). Particularly, the one with the 10% ratio displayed the highest Cr(VI) reduction rate (100%) within 75 min, which was respectively over 4 and 2 folds higher than pure FePMo and MIL-53(Fe). The boosted photoactivity might be ascribed to the establishment of S-scheme heterojunction with suitable band alignment between FePMo and MIL-53(Fe), which broadened the light absorption range and improved charge separation. Further mechanism investigations implied both •O2- and e- were the key reactive species for Cr(VI) removal. Besides, the composite preserved excellent stability after 4 consecutive tests, and performed well in the presence of organic dyes. Such a S-scheme heterojunction may promise for highly efficient environmental mitigation.

Breaking Highly Ordered PtPbBi Intermetallic with Disordered Amorphous Phase for Boosting Electrocatalytic Hydrogen Evolution and Alcohol Oxidation

Constructing amorphous/intermetallic (A/IMC) heterophase structures by breaking the highly ordered IMC phase with disordered amorphous phase is an effective way to improve the electrocatalytic performance of noble metal-based IMC electrocatalysts because of the optimized electronic structure and abundant heterophase boundaries as active sites. In this study, we report the synthesis of ultrathin A/IMC PtPbBi nanosheets (NSs) for boosting hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) and alcohol oxidation reactions. The resulting A/IMC PtPbBi NSs exhibit a remarkably low overpotential of only 25 mV at 10 mA cm-2 for the HER in an acidic electrolyte, together with outstanding stability for 100 h. In addition, the PtPbBi NSs show high mass activities for methanol oxidation reaction (MOR) and ethanol oxidation reaction (EOR), which are 13.2 and 14.5 times higher than those of commercial Pt/C, respectively. Density functional theory calculations demonstrate that the synergistic effect of amorphous/intermetallic components and multimetallic composition facilitate the electron transfer from the catalyst to key intermediates, thus improving the catalytic activity of MOR. This work establishes a novel pathway for the synthesis of heterophase two-dimensional nanomaterials with high electrocatalytic performance across a wide range of electrochemical applications.

Application value of intraoperative electrophysiological monitoring in cerebral eloquent area glioma surgery: a retrospective cohort study

INTRODUCTION

Surgery for gliomas involving eloquent areas is a very challenging microsurgical procedure. Maximizing both the extent of resection (EOR) and preservation of neurological function have always been the focus of attention. Intraoperative neurophysiological monitoring (IONM) is widely used in this kind of surgery. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of IONM in eloquent area glioma surgery.

METHODS

Sixty-eight glioma patients who underwent surgical treatment from 2014 to 2019 were included in this retrospective cohort study, which focused on eloquent areas. Clinical indicators and IONM data were analysed preoperatively, two weeks after surgery, and at the final follow-up. Logistic regression, Cox regression, and Kaplan‒Meier analyses were performed, and nomograms were then established for predicting prognosis. The diagnostic value of the IONM indicator was evaluated by the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve.

RESULTS

IONM had no effect on the postoperative outcomes, including EOR, intraoperative bleeding volume, duration of surgery, length of hospital stay, and neurological function status. However, at the three-month follow-up, the percentage of patients who had deteriorated function in the monitored group was significantly lower than that in the unmonitored group (23.3% vs. 52.6%; P < 0.05). Logistic regression analysis showed that IONM was a significant factor in long-term neurological function (OR = 0.23, 95% CI (0.07-0.70). In the survival analysis, long-term neurological deterioration indicated worsened overall survival (OS) and progression-free survival (PFS). A prognostic nomogram was established through Cox regression model analysis, which could predict the probability 3-year survival rate. The concordance index was 0.761 (95% CI 0.734-0.788). The sensitivity and specificity of IONM evoked potential (SSEP and TCeMEP) were 0.875 and 0.909, respectively. In the ROC curve analysis, the area under the curve (AUC) for the SSEP and TCeMEP curves was 0.892 (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

The application of IONM could improve long-term neurological function, which is closely related to prognosis and can be used as an independent prognostic factor. IONM is practical and widely available for predicting postoperative functional deficits in patients with eloquent area glioma.

Effect of internal phase particle size on properties of site mixed emulsion explosive at plateau environment

To study the effect of internal particle size on the microstructure properties and thermal decomposition characteristics of site mixed emulsion explosive at different altitudes. Site mixed emulsion explosive was prepared with different shear rate. The particle size, viscosity, sensitized bubbles, detonation velocity and peak pressure of the emulsion explosive were tested after stored at different simulated altitudes. The thermal decomposition characteristics of emulsion matrix prepared at three different rotational speeds were measured by thermogravimetric analyzer and kinetic analysis was performed by non-isothermal model Kissinger-Akah-Sunose (KAS) method. The results show that with the increase in altitude, the internal phase size showed a trend of first increasing and then decreasing, and the number of sensitized bubbles within the emulsion explosive decreases. At an altitude of 0 m, the detonation velocity and peak overpressure of the emulsion explosive prepared by 1600 r min-1 increased 4.78% and 29.09%, respectively compared with 1200 r min-1, and at an altitude of 4500 m, the detonation velocity increased 11.87%, the peak overpressure increased 43.98%. The thermal decomposition activation energy of the emulsion matrix at 1600 r min-1 increased 13.14% compared to 1200 r min-1. It shows that in the production of site mixed emulsion explosive at high altitude, reducing the particle size of the internal phase of emulsion explosives in a certain range can effectively improve the performance of emulsion explosives.

Endothelial DR6 in blood-brain barrier malfunction in Alzheimer's disease

The impairment of the blood-brain barrier (BBB) has been increasingly recognised as a critical element in the early pathogenesis of Alzheimer's disease (AD), prompting a focus on brain endothelial cells (BECs), which serve as the primary constituents of the BBB. Death receptor 6 (DR6) is highly expressed in brain vasculature and acts downstream of the Wnt/β-catenin pathway to promote BBB formation during development. Here, we found that brain endothelial DR6 levels were significantly reduced in a murine model of AD (APPswe/PS1dE9 mice) at the onset of amyloid-β (Aβ) accumulation. Toxic Aβ25-35 oligomer treatment recapitulated the reduced DR6 in cultured BECs. We further showed that suppressing DR6 resulted in BBB malfunction in the presence of Aβ25-35 oligomers. In contrast, overexpressing DR6 increased the level of BBB functional proteins through the activation of the Wnt/β-catenin and JNK pathways. More importantly, DR6 overexpression in BECs was sufficient to rescue BBB dysfunction in vitro. In conclusion, our findings provide new insight into the role of endothelial DR6 in AD pathogenesis, highlighting its potential as a therapeutic target to tackle BBB dysfunction in early-stage AD progression.

An innovative MGM-BPNN-ARIMA model for China's energy consumption structure forecasting from the perspective of compositional data

Effective forecasting of energy consumption structure is vital for China to reach its "dual carbon" objective. However, little attention has been paid to existing studies on the holistic nature and internal properties of energy consumption structure. Therefore, this paper incorporates the theory of compositional data into the study of energy consumption structure, which not only takes into account the specificity of the internal features of the structure, but also digs deeper into the relative information. Meanwhile, based on the minimization theory of squares of the Aitchison distance in the compositional data, a combined model based on the three single models, namely the metabolism grey model (MGM), back-propagation neural network (BPNN) model, and autoregressive integrated moving average (ARIMA) model, is structured in this paper. The forecast results of the energy consumption structure in 2023-2040 indicate that the future energy consumption structure of China will evolve towards a more diversified pattern, but the proportion of natural gas and non-fossil energy has yet to meet the policy goals set by the government. This paper not only suggests that compositional data from joint prediction models have a high applicability value in the energy sector, but also has some theoretical significance for adapting and improving the energy consumption structure in China.

Diaporchalasins A-E, New Cytochalasins from the Endophytic Fungus Diaporthe sp. BMX12 Isolated from Aquilaria sinensis

Five new cytochalasins, diaporchalasins A-E (1-5), together with 14 known congeners (6-19) were isolated from the endophytic fungus Diaporthe sp. BMX12, which was isolated from the branches of Aquilaria sinensis. The structures of the new compounds were elucidated by extensive spectroscopic analyses including high-resolution electron spray ionization mass spectrometry (HRESIMS) and nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR). Their absolute configurations were assigned by theoretical electronic circular dichroism (ECD) calculations. Compounds 11 and 12 featuring a keto carbonyl at C-21 displayed cytotoxicity toward K562, BEL-7402, SGC-7901, A549, and HeLa cell lines with IC50 values ranging from 4.4 to 47.4 μM.

Bacterial and fungal community structures in Hulun Lake are regulated by both stochastic processes and environmental factors

Microorganisms are a crucial component of lake ecosystems and significant contributors to biogeochemical cycles. However, the understanding of how primary microorganism groups (e.g., bacteria and fungi) are distributed and constructed within different lake habitats is lacking. We investigated the bacterial and fungal communities of Hulun Lake using high-throughput sequencing techniques targeting 16S rRNA and Internal Transcribed Spacer 2 genes, including a range of ecological and statistical methodologies. Our findings reveal that environmental factors have high spatial and temporal variability. The composition and community structures vary significantly depending on differences in habitats. Variance partitioning analysis showed that environmental and geographical factors accounted for <20% of the community variation. Canonical correlation analysis showed that among the environmental factors, temperature, pH, and dissolved oxygen had strong control over microbial communities. However, the microbial communities (bacterial and fungal) were primarily controlled by the dispersal limitations of stochastic processes. This study offers fresh perspectives regarding the maintenance mechanism of bacterial and fungal biodiversity in lake ecosystems, especially regarding the responses of microbial communities under identical environmental stress.IMPORTANCELake ecosystems are an important part of the freshwater ecosystem. Lake microorganisms play an important role in material circulation and energy flow owing to their unique enzymatic and metabolic capacity. In this study, we observed that bacterial and fungal communities varied widely in the water and sediments of Hulun Lake. The primary factor affecting their formation was identified as dispersal limitation during stochastic processes. Environmental and geographical factors accounted for <20% of the variation in bacterial and fungal communities, with pH, temperature, and dissolved oxygen being important environmental factors. Our findings provide new insights into the responses of bacteria and fungi to the environment, shed light on the ecological processes of community building, and deepen our understanding of lake ecosystems. The results of this study provide a reference for lake management and conservation, particularly with respect to monitoring and understanding microbial communities in response to environmental changes.

Odorant Receptor BdorOR49b Mediates Oviposition and Attraction Behavior of Bactrocera dorsalis to Benzothiazole

The ability to recognize a host plant is crucial for insects to meet their nutritional needs and locate suitable sites for laying eggs. Bactrocera dorsalis is a highly destructive pest in fruit crops. Benzothiazole has been found to induce oviposition behavior in the gravid B. dorsalis. However, the ecological roles and the olfactory receptor responsible for benzothiazole are not yet fully understood. In this study, we found that adults were attracted to benzothiazole, which was an effective oviposition stimulant. In vitro experiments showed that BdorOR49b was narrowly tuned to benzothiazole. The electroantennogram results showed that knocking out BdorOR49b significantly reduced the antennal electrophysiological response to benzothiazole. Compared with wild-type flies, the attractiveness of benzothiazole to BdorOR49b knockout adult was significantly attenuated, and mutant females exhibited a severe decrease in oviposition behavior. Altogether, our work provides valuable insights into chemical communications and potential strategies for the control of this pest.

Effects of sleep deprivation on anxiety-depressive-like behavior and neuroinflammation

BACKGROUND

Depression is defined by a persistent low mood and disruptions in sleep patterns, with the WHO forecasting that major depression will rank as the third most prevalent contributor to the global burden of disease by the year 2030. Sleep deprivation serves as a stressor that triggers inflammation within the central nervous system, a process known as neuroinflammation. This inflammatory response plays a crucial role in the development of depression by upregulating the expression of inflammatory mediators that contribute to symptoms such as anxiety, hopelessness, and loss of pleasure.

METHODS

In this study, sleep deprivation was utilized as a method to induce anxiety and depressive-like behaviors in mice. The behavioral changes in the mice were then evaluated using the EZM, EPM, TST, FST, and SPT. H&E staining and Nissl staining was used to detect morphological changes in the medial prefrontal cortical (mPFC) regions. Elisa to assess serum CORT levels. Detection of mRNA levels and protein expression of clock genes, high mobility genome box-1 (Hmgb1), silent message regulator 6 (Sirt6), and pro-inflammatory factors by RT-qPCR, Western blotting, and immunofluorescence techniques.

RESULTS

Sleep deprivation resulted in decreased exploration of unfamiliar territory, increased time spent in a state of despair, and lower sucrose water intake in mice. Additionally, sleep deprivation led to increased secretion of serum CORT and upregulation of clock genes, IL6, IL1β, TNFα, Cox-2, iNOS, Sirt6, and Hmgb1. Sleep.

CONCLUSIONS

Sleep deprivation induces anxiety-depressive-like behaviors and neuroinflammation in the brain. Transcription of clock genes and activation of the Sirt6/Hmgb1 pathway may contribute to inflammatory responses in the mPFC.

Postbiotic properties of exopolysaccharide produced by Levilactobacillus brevis M-10 isolated from natural fermented sour porridge through in vitro simulated digestion and fermentation

The simulated digestion and fermentation characteristics in vitro of exopolysaccharide (EPS) of Levilactobacillus brevis M-10 were studied to evaluate its postbiotic properties. The simulated digestion results showed that EPS could not be degraded in saliva but could be very slightly degraded in gastric juice and could be degraded in intestinal juice. The results of simulated fermentation demonstrated that EPS could lower the intestine pH and be utilized by gut microbes to produce short-chain fatty acids such as propionic acid and butyric acid. Meanwhile, EPS significantly raised the diversity of human gut microbiota, and the relative abundances of Phascolarctobacterium were significantly increased, whereas Fusobacterium and Morganella significantly decreased. In conclusion, EPS from L. brevis M-10 was a good postbiotic as inulin. This was the first report about EPS as the postbiotic of L. brevis M-10 screened from broomcorn millet sour porridge in northwestern Shanxi Province, China.

Catalytic Asymmetric Synthesis of Vicinal Quaternary Stereocenters Enabled by Alkylation of α,α-Disubstituted Aldehydes with 3-Bromooxindoles

An organocatalytic enantioselective alkylation of α,α-disubstituted aldehydes with 3-bromooxindoles is reported. Enantioenriched oxindoles with vicinal quaternary stereocenters are accessed by an asymmetric conjugate addition process of branched aldehydes with o-azaxylylene intermediates (indol-2-ones). Key to the success of highly diastereo- and enantioselective transformations is the combined use of a triphenylsilyl-protected β-amino alcohol catalyst derived from the spiropyrrolidine scaffold and 3,5-dinitrobenzoic acid. This study also presents a rare example of aldehyde alkylation with the formation of consecutive quaternary stereocenters.

Visualized Tracking and Multidimensional Assessing of Mitochondria-Associated Pyroptosis in Cancer Cells by a Small-Molecule Fluorescent Probe

Pyroptosis is closely related to the development and treatment of various cancers; thus, comprehensive studies of the correlations between pyroptosis and its inductive or inhibitive factors can provide new ideas for the intervention and diagnosis of tumors. The dysfunction of mitochondria may induce pyroptosis in cancer cells, which can be reflected by the fluctuations of the microenvironmental parameters in mitochondria as well as the changes of mitochondrial DNA level and morphology, etc. To precisely track and assess the mitochondria-associated pyroptosis process, simultaneous visualization of changes in multiphysiological parameters in mitochondria is highly desirable. In this work, we reported a nonreaction-based, multifunctional small-molecule fluorescent probe Mito-DK with the capability of crosstalk-free response to polarity and mtDNA as well as mitochondrial morphology. Accurate assessment of mitochondria-associated pyroptosis induced by palmitic acid/H2O2 was achieved through monitoring changes in mitochondrial multiple parameters with the help of Mito-DK. In particular, the pyroptosis-inducing ability of an antibiotic doxorubicin and the pyroptosis-inhibiting capacity of an anticancer agent puerarin were evaluated by Mito-DK. These results provide new perspectives for visualizing mitochondria-associated pyroptosis and offer new approaches for screening pyroptosis-related anticancer agents.

Phototrophic Nitrogen Fixation, a Neglected Biogeochemical Process in Mine Tailings?

Biological nitrogen fixation (BNF) has important ecological significance in mine tailing by contributing to the initial accumulation of nitrogen. In addition to chemolithotrophic and heterotrophic BNF, light may also fuel BNF in oligotrophic mine tailings. However, knowledge regarding the occurrence and ecological significance of this biogeochemical process in mine tailings remains ambiguous. The current study observed phototrophic BNF in enrichment cultures established from three primary successional stages (i.e., original tailings, biological crusts, and pioneer plants) of tailings. Notably, phototrophic BNF in tailings may be more active at vegetation stages (i.e., biological crusts and pioneering plants) than in bare tailings. DNA-stable isotope probing identified Roseomonas species as potential aerobic anoxygenic phototrophs responsible for phototrophic BNF. Furthermore, metagenomic binning as well as genome mining revealed that Roseomonas spp. contained essential genes involved in nitrogen fixation, anoxygenic photosynthesis, and carbon fixation, suggesting their genetic potential to mediate phototrophic BNF. A causal inference framework equipped with the structural causal model suggested that the enrichment of putative phototrophic diazotrophic Roseomonas may contribute to an elevated total nitrogen content during primary succession in these mine tailings. Collectively, our findings suggest that phototrophic diazotrophs may play important roles in nutrient accumulation and hold the potential to facilitate ecological succession in tailings.