Quercetin: a promising virulence inhibitor of Pseudomonas aeruginosa LasB in vitro

With the inappropriate use of antibiotics, antibiotic resistance has emerged as a major dilemma for patients infected with Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Elastase B (LasB), a crucial extracellular virulence factor secreted by P. aeruginosa, has been identified as a key target for antivirulence therapy. Quercetin, a natural flavonoid, exhibits promising potential as an antivirulence agent. We aim to evaluate the impact of quercetin on P. aeruginosa LasB and elucidate the underlying mechanism. Molecular docking and molecular dynamics simulation revealed a rather favorable intermolecular interaction between quercetin and LasB. At the sub-MICs of ≤256 μg/ml, quercetin was found to effectively inhibit the production and activity of LasB elastase, as well as downregulate the transcription level of the lasB gene in both PAO1 and clinical strains of P. aeruginosa. Through correlation analysis, significant positive correlations were shown between the virulence gene lasB and the QS system regulatory genes lasI, lasR, rhlI, and rhlR in clinical strains of P. aeruginosa. Then, we found the lasB gene expression and LasB activity were significantly deficient in PAO1 ΔlasI and ΔlasIΔrhlI mutants. In addition, quercetin significantly downregulated the expression levels of regulated genes lasI, lasR, rhlI, rhlR, pqsA, and pqsR as well as effectively attenuated the synthesis of signaling molecules 3-oxo-C12-HSL and C4-HSL in the QS system of PAO1. Quercetin was also able to compete with the natural ligands OdDHL, BHL, and PQS for binding to the receptor proteins LasR, RhlR, and PqsR, respectively, resulting in the formation of more stabilized complexes. Taken together, quercetin exhibits enormous potential in combating LasB production and activity by disrupting the QS system of P. aeruginosa in vitro, thereby offering an alternative approach for the antivirulence therapy of P. aeruginosa infections. KEY POINTS: • Quercetin diminished the content and activity of LasB elastase of P. aeruginosa. • Quercetin inhibited the QS system activity of P. aeruginosa. • Quercetin acted on LasB based on the QS system.

Comparison of the Watson formula and bioimpedance spectroscopy for measuring body volume and calculating kt/V in patients with peritoneal dialysis

CONCLUSION

There were significant differences between Vwat and Vbis and between Kt/Vwat and Kt/Vbis. Kt/Vwat may underestimate small-solute dialysis adequacy in most cases. Kt/Vbis instead of Kt/Vwat could be accounted for in creating individualized dialysis prescriptions if the patient has no obvious clinical symptoms.

Chronic intermittent ethanol exposure-induced m6A modifications around mRNA stop codons of opioid receptor genes

Chronic alcohol consumption may alter mRNA methylation and expression levels of genes related to addiction and reward in the brain, potentially contributing to alcohol tolerance and dependence. Neuron-like (SH-SY5Y) and non-neuronal (SW620) cells were utilized as models to examine chronic intermittent ethanol (CIE) exposure-induced global m6A RNA methylation changes, as well as m6A mRNA methylation changes around the stop codon of three opioid receptor genes (OPRM1, OPRD1, and OPRK1), which are known to regulate pain, reward, and addiction behaviours. CIE exposure for three weeks significantly increased global RNA methylation levels in both SH-SY5Y (t = 3.98, P = 0.007) and SW620 (t = 2.24, P = 0.067) cells. However, a 3-week CIE exposure resulted in hypomethylation around mRNA stop codon regions of OPRM1 and OPRD1 in both cell lines [OPRM1(SH-SY5Y): t = -5.05, P = 0.0005; OPRM1(SW620): t = -3.19, P = 0.013; OPRD1(SH-SY5Y): t = -13.43, P < 0.00001; OPRD1(SW620): t = -4.00, P = 0.003]. Additionally, mRNA expression levels of OPRM1, OPRD1, and OPRK1 were downregulated (corresponding to mRNA hypomethylation) in both SH-SY5Y and SW620 cells after a 3-week CIE exposure. The present study demonstrated that chronic ethanol exposure altered global RNA methylation levels, as well as mRNA methylation and expression levels of opioid receptor genes in both neuron-like and non-neuronal cells. Our findings suggest a potential epitranscriptomic mechanism by which chronic alcohol consumption remodels the expression of reward-related and alcohol responsive genes in the brain, thus increasing the risk of alcohol use disorder development.Abbreviations: OPRM1: the μ-opioid receptor; OPRD1: the δ-opioid receptor; OPRK1: the κ-opioid receptor; CIE: chronic intermittent ethanol exposure; CIE+WD: chronic intermittent ethanol exposure followed by a 24-hr withdrawal; SH-SY5Y: human neuroblastoma cell Line; SW620: human colon carcinoma cell line; RT-qPCR: reverse transcription followed by quantitative polymerase reaction; MazF-RT-qPCR: MazF digestion followed by RT-qPCR.

Human monoclonal antibody F61 nasal spray effectively protected high-risk populations from SARS-CoV-2 variants during the COVID-19 pandemic from late 2022 to early 2023 in China

Following the national dynamic zero-COVID strategy adjustment, the utilization of broad-spectrum nasal neutralizing antibodies may offer an alternative approach to controlling the outbreak of Omicron variants between late 2022 and early 2023 in China. This study involved an investigator-initiated trial (IIT) to assess the pharmacokinetic, safety and efficacy of the F61 nasal spray. A total of 2,008 participants were randomly assigned to receive F61 nasal spray (24 mg/0.8 mL/dose) or normal saline (0.8 mL/dose) and 1336 completed the follow-up in the IIT. Minimal absorption of F61 antibody into the bloodstream was detected in individuals receiving F61 nasal spray for seven consecutive days. No treatment-emergent adverse reactions of grade 3 severity or higher were reported. In the one-dose cohort, the 7-day cumulative SARS-CoV-2 infection rate was 79.0% in the F61 group and 82.6% in the placebo group, whereas, in the multiple-dose (once daily for 7 consecutive days) cohort, the rates were 6.55% in the F61 group and 23.83% in the placebo group. The laboratory-confirmed efficacy of F61 was 3.78% (-3.74%-10.75%) in the one-dose cohort and 72.19% (57.33%-81.87%) in the multiple-dose cohort. In the real-world study, 60,225 volunteers in four different regions were administered the F61 nasal spray based on the subject's wishes, over 90% efficacy rate was observed against different Omicron variants. The F61 nasal spray, with its favourable safety profile, could be a promising prophylactic monoclonal antibody against SARS-CoV-2 VOCs.

Effects of total coumarins from Pileostegia tomentella on exosomal miRNA expression and angiogenesis in colorectal cancer cells

CONTEXT

Pileostegia tomentella Hand. Mazz (Saxifragaceae) total coumarins (TCPT) show antitumour activity in colorectal cancer (CRC) with unknown mechanism of action. Tumour angiogenesis mediated by exosomes-derived miRNA exhibits the vital regulation of endothelial cell function in metastasis of CRC.

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the effect of TCPT on exosomal miRNA expression and angiogenesis of CRC cells.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

HT-29-derived exosomes were generated from human CRC cells (HT-29) or either treated with TCPT (100 μg/mL) for 24 h, followed by identification by transmission electron microscope, nanoparticle tracking analysis (NTA) and Western blot. Co-culture experiments for human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) and exosomes were performed to detect the uptake of exosomes in HUVECs and its influence on HUVECs cells migration and lumen formation ability. Potential target miRNAs in exosomes were screened out by sequencing technology. Rescue assays of angiogenesis were performed by the transfecting mimics or inhibitors of targeted miRNA into HUVECs.

RESULTS

HT-29-derived exosomes, after TCPT treatment (Exo-TCPT), inhibited the migration and lumen formation of HUVECs, reduced the expression levels of vascular marker (FLT-1, VCAM-1 and VEGFR-2) in HUVECs. Furthermore, the level of miR-375-3p was significantly upregulated in Exo-TCPT. Rescue assays showed that high expression of miR-375-3p in HUVECs inhibited migration and lumen formation abilities, which was consistent with the effects of Exo-TCPT, whereas applying miR-375-3p inhibitors displayed opposite effects.

DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION

TCPT exhibits anti-angiogenesis in CRC, possibly through upregulating exosomal miR-375-3p. Our findings will shed light on new target exosomes miRNA-mediated tumour microenvironment and the therapeutic application of Pileostegia tomentella in CRC.

Safety and efficacy of eltrombopag in patients with aplastic anemia: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials

OBJECTIVE

This article conducts a systematic review of eltrombopag combined with immunosuppressive therapy for the treatment of aplastic anemia (AA), to demonstrate the effectiveness and safety of eltrombopag.

METHODS

PubMed, Cochrane Library, Embase, OVID, Web of Science, China National Knowledge Infrastructure, and Wanfang databases were searched. Studies that met the inclusion criteria were collected, ranging from the establishment of the database to August 2023. Two reviewers performed meta-analyses using the Cochrane systematic review method and RevMan 5.3 software.

RESULTS

This meta-analysis enrolled 5 studies with a total of 542 AA patients, including 274 in the experimental group and 268 in the control group. Meta-analyses were performed for efficacy and adverse reactions. The endpoint of effects included 6-month complete response (CR), 6-month partial response (PR), and 6-month overall response (OR). Eltrombopag combined with immunotherapy showed significant improvements in 6-month CR (OR: 2.20; 95% CI;1.54-3.12; P < 0.0001) and 6-month OR (OR = 3.66, 95% CI 2.39-5.61, P < 0.001)compared to immunosuppressive therapy for AA patients. In terms of safety, eltrombopag combined with immunosuppressive therapy showed significantly increased pigment deposition and abnormal liver function compared to immunosuppressive therapy alone.

CONCLUSION

Compared to immunosuppressive therapy alone, eltrombopag combined with immunosuppressive therapy showed significant improvements in 6-month CR and 6-month OR. However, it also resulted in increased pigment deposition and abnormal liver function in terms of safety.

Single-cell RNA sequencing analysis of the retina under acute high intraocular pressure

JOURNAL/nrgr/04.03/01300535-202419110-00032/figure1/v/2024-03-08T184507Z/r/image-tiff High intraocular pressure causes retinal ganglion cell injury in primary and secondary glaucoma diseases, yet the molecular landscape characteristics of retinal cells under high intraocular pressure remain unknown. Rat models of acute hypertension ocular pressure were established by injection of cross-linked hyaluronic acid hydrogel (Healaflow®). Single-cell RNA sequencing was then used to describe the cellular composition and molecular profile of the retina following high intraocular pressure. Our results identified a total of 12 cell types, namely retinal pigment epithelial cells, rod-photoreceptor cells, bipolar cells, Müller cells, microglia, cone-photoreceptor cells, retinal ganglion cells, endothelial cells, retinal progenitor cells, oligodendrocytes, pericytes, and fibroblasts. The single-cell RNA sequencing analysis of the retina under acute high intraocular pressure revealed obvious changes in the proportions of various retinal cells, with ganglion cells decreased by 23%. Hematoxylin and eosin staining and TUNEL staining confirmed the damage to retinal ganglion cells under high intraocular pressure. We extracted data from retinal ganglion cells and analyzed the retinal ganglion cell cluster with the most distinct expression. We found upregulation of the B3gat2 gene, which is associated with neuronal migration and adhesion, and downregulation of the Tsc22d gene, which participates in inhibition of inflammation. This study is the first to reveal molecular changes and intercellular interactions in the retina under high intraocular pressure. These data contribute to understanding of the molecular mechanism of retinal injury induced by high intraocular pressure and will benefit the development of novel therapies.

Enhanced antibacterial activity of bovine milk exosome-based drug formulation against bacterial pathogens

Milk is not only a source of nutrients, but also contains exosomes (Exo) that can serve as a vehicle for drug delivery. Here, we obtained bovine milk Exo using three efficient methods, demonstrating high quality for commercial production. The optimized Exo displayed a size of 105.2 nm and an entrapment efficiency of 88.4 %. The Exo has been functionalized with a combination therapy comprising isobavachalcone (IS) and polymyxin B (PB), referred to as IP-Exo. The antibacterial efficacy of IP-Exo was significantly enhanced, enabling the elimination of 99 % of multidrug-resistant (MDR) bacterial pathogens in 4 h. Furthermore, scanning electron microscopy images demonstrated that the drug combination led to the complete dismantling of the bacterial structure. IP-Exo showed nearly 100 % microbial inhibition in fresh orange juice and accelerated wound healing in mouse models. Collectively, IP-Exo provides excellent potential for application within the food industry and animal husbandry as a defense against bacterial pathogens.

A simple and reliable interenzyme distance regulation strategy based on a DNA quadrangular prism scaffold for ultrasensitive ochratoxin A detection

Developing sensitive and accurate Ochratoxin A (OTA) detection methods is essential for food safety. Herein, a simple and reliable strategy for regulating interenzyme distance based on a rigid DNA quadrangular prism as a scaffold was proposed to establish a new electrochemical biosensor for ultrasensitive detection of OTA. The interenzyme distances were precisely adjusted by changing the sequences of the hybridized portions of hairpins SH1 and SH2 to the DNA quadrangular prism, avoiding the complexity and instability of the previous DNA scaffold-based enzyme spacing adjustment strategies. The electrochemical biosensor constructed at the optimal interenzyme distance (10.4 nm) achieved sensitive detection of OTA in a dynamic concentration range from 10 fg/mL to 250 ng/mL with a detection limit of 3.1 fg/mL. In addition, the biosensor was applied to quantify OTA in real samples, exhibiting great application potential in food safety.

Associations between levels of physical literacy and adherence to the 24-h movement guidelines among university students: A cross-sectional study

Objectives

Emerging evidence indicates that the composition of movement behaviours within a 24-h period is associated with multiple health benefits across the lifespan. A concept that emphasises an individual's active lifestyle is physical literacy (PL), yet empirical research exploring the potential associations between PL and 24-h movement guidelines remains scarce. This study aimed to evaluate the associations between levels of PL and adherence to the guidelines among Chinese university students.

Study design

A cross-sectional study.

Methods

Seven hundred and ninety-eight university students (390 male, 19.2 ± 1.2 years) completed all the measurements. Levels of PL and participants' adherence to guidelines including physical activity, sedentary behaviour and sleep were self-reported through Perceived Physical Literacy Instrument, International Physical Activity Questionnaire and Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index, respectively. Two-way ANOVA was conducted to determine the associations between the number of guidelines met (0, 1, 2, or 3) and levels of PL.

Results

The results demonstrate that 36.5% (n = 291) of the participants met all the three guidelines, while 4.1% (n = 33) met none. Further analysis indicated that meeting physical activity or sedentary behaviour guidelines was associated with significantly higher total PL scores, and scores in the sub-domains of Confidence and Physical Competence and Motivation.

Conclusions

The findings provide evidence that young adults who obtained higher PL scores may meet more guidelines during a 24-h period. Future studies should incorporate accelerometer-based physical activity measurements and investigate the causal relationship between PL and adherence to the movement guidelines.

Comparing massa medicata fermentata before and after charred in terms of digestive promoting effect via metabolomics and microbiome analysis

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

Massa Medicata Fermentata, a fermented Chinese medicine, is produced by the fermentation of six traditional Chinese medicines. Liu Shenqu (LSQ) and charred Liu Shenqu (CLSQ) have been used for strengthening the spleen and enhancing digestion for over a thousand years, and CLSQ is commonly used in clinical practice. However, it is unclear whether there is a difference in the spleen strengthening and digestion effects between LSQ and CLSQ, as well as their mechanisms of action.

AIM OF STUDY

This study aims to compare the effects of LSQ and CLSQ on the digestive function of functional dyspepsia (FD) rats and reveal their mechanisms of action.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

SPF grade SD rats were randomly divided into 6 groups: control group, model group, Liu Shenqu decoction low-dosage (LSQ LD) group, Liu Shenqu decoction high-dosage (LSQ HD) group, charred Liu Shenqu decoction low-dosage (CLSQ LD) group, and charred Liu Shenqu decoction high-dosage (CLSQ HD) group. Rats were injected intraperitoneally with reserpine to create an FD model and then treated by intragastric administration. During this period, record the weight and food intake of the animals. After 18 days of treatment, specimens of the gastric antrum, spleen, and duodenum of rats were taken for pathological staining and immunohistochemical detection of Ghrelin protein expression. Enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was used to determine the concentration of relevant gastrointestinal hormones in serum. The 16 S rDNA sequencing method was used to evaluate the effect of cecal contents on the structure of the gut microbiota in experimental rats. Plasma metabolomics analysis was performed using ultra high performance liquid chromatography coupled with quadrupole time of flight mass spectrometry (UPLC-QTOF-MS) to further reveal their mechanism of action.

RESULTS

LSQ and CLSQ improved the pathological tissue histological structure of FD rats and increased the levels of MTL and GAS hormones in serum and the levels of ghrelin in the gastric antrum, spleen, and duodenum, while reducing VIP, CCK, and SP hormone levels. The above results showed that the therapeutic efficacy of CLSQ is better than that of LSQ. Futhermore, the mechanism of action of LSQ and CLSQ were revealed. The 16 S rDNA sequencing results showed that both LSQ and CLSQ can improve the composition and diversity of the gut microbiota. And metabolomic analysis demonstrated that 20 metabolites changed after LSQ treatment, and 16 metabolites underwent continuous changes after CLSQ treatment. Further analysis revealed that LSQ mainly intervened in the metabolic pathways of glycerol phospholipid metabolism and arginine and proline metabolism, but CLSQ mainly intervened in the metabolic pathways of ether lipid metabolism, sphingolipid metabolism, and glycerophospholipid metabolism.

CONCLUSIONS

Both LSQ and CLSQ can improve functional dyspepsia in FD rats, but CLSQ has a stronger improvement effect on FD. Although their mechanisms of action are all related to regulating gastrointestinal hormone secretion, significantly improving intestinal microbiota disorders, and improving multiple metabolic pathways, but the specific gut microbiota and metabolic pathways they regulate are different.

Therapeutic potential of traditional Chinese medicine in the prevention and treatment of digestive inflammatory cancer transformation: Portulaca oleracea L. as a promising drug

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) has been used for centuries to treat various types of inflammation and tumors of the digestive system. Portulaca oleracea L. (POL), has been used in TCM for thousands of years. The chemical composition of POL is variable and includes flavonoids, alkaloids, terpenoids and organic acids and other classes of natural compounds. Many of these compounds exhibit powerful anti-inflammatory and anti-cancer-transforming effects in the digestive system.

AIM OF STUDY

In this review, we focus on the potential therapeutic role of POL in NASH, gastritis and colitis and their associated cancers, with a focus on the pharmacological properties and potential mechanisms of action of the main natural active compounds in POL.

METHODS

The information and data on Portulaca oleracea L. and its main active ingredients were collated from various resources like ethnobotanical textbooks and literature databases such as CNKI, VIP (Chinese literature), PubMed, Science Direct, Elsevier and Google Scholar (English literatures), Wiley, Springer, Tailor and Francis, Scopus, Inflibnet.

RESULTS

Kaempferol, luteolin, myricetin, quercetin, genistein, EPA, DHA, and melatonin were found to improve NASH and NASH-HCC, while kaempferol, apigenin, luteolin, and quercetin played a therapeutic role in gastritis and gastric cancer. Apigenin, luteolin, myricetin, quercetin, genistein, lupeol, vitamin C and melatonin were found to have therapeutic effects in the treatment of colitis and its associated cancers. The discovery of the beneficial effects of these natural active compounds in POL supports the idea that POL could be a promising novel candidate for the treatment and prevention of inflammation-related cancers of the digestive system.

CONCLUSION

The discovery of the beneficial effects of these natural active compounds in POL supports the idea that POL could be a promising novel candidate for the treatment and prevention of inflammation-related cancers of the digestive system. However, clinical data describing the mode of action of the naturally active compounds of POL are still lacking. In addition, pharmacokinetic data for POL compounds, such as changes in drug dose and absorption rates, cannot be extrapolated from animal models and need to be measured in patients in clinical trials. On the one hand, a systematic meta-analysis of the existing publications on TCM containing POL still needs to be carried out. On the other hand, studies on the hepatic and renal toxicity of POL are also needed. Additionally, well-designed preclinical and clinical studies to validate the therapeutic effects of TCM need to be performed, thus hopefully providing a basis for the validation of the clinical benefits of POL.

MD simulation to comprehend polygalacturonase inactivation mechanism during thermal and non-thermal effects of infrared processing

Food quality is greatly impacted by traditional heat methods for polygalacturonase (PG) inactivation; therefore, it's imperative to develop a novel infrared (IR) inactivation approach and identify its mechanism. Utilizing molecular dynamics (MD) simulation, this study verified the PG's activity, structure, active sites, and substrate channel under the single thermal and non-thermal effects of IR. PG activity was significantly reduced by IR, and structure was unfolded by increasing random coils (65.62 %) and decreasing β-sheets (29.11 %). MD data indicated that the relative locations of PG's active sites were altered by both IR effects, and the enzyme-substrate channel was shortened (10.53 % at 18 μm and 15.79 % at 80 °C). The thermal effect of IR on the inactivation of PG was significantly more pronounced than its non-thermal effect. This study unveiled the mechanism by which the infrared disrupted PG's activity, active sites, and substrate channels; thus, it expanded the infrared technique's efficacy in enzyme control.

Left ventricular global longitudinal strain using a novel fully automated method: A head-to-head comparison with a manual layer-specific strain and establishment of normal reference ranges

BACKGROUND

A novel automated method for measuring left ventricular (LV) global longitudinal strain (GLS) along the endocardium has advantages in terms of its rapid application and excellent reproducibility. However, it remains unclear whether the available normal range for conventional GLS using the manual method is applicable to the automated GLS method. This study aimed to compare automated GLS head-to-head with manual layer-specific GLS, and to identify whether a specialized normal reference range for automated GLS is needed and explore the main determinants.

METHODS

In total, 1683 healthy volunteers (men, 43%; age, 18-80 years) were prospectively enrolled from 55 collaborating laboratories. LV GLS was measured using both manual layer-specific and automated methods.

RESULTS

Automated GLS was higher than endocardial, mid-myocardial, and epicardial GLS. Women had a higher automated GLS than men. GLS had no significant age dependency in men, but first increased and then decreased with age in women. Accordingly, sex- and age-specific normal ranges for automated GLS were proposed. Moreover, GLS appeared to have different burdens in relation to dominant determinants between the sexes. GLS in men showed no dominant determinants; however, GLS in women correlated with age, body mass index, and heart rate.

CONCLUSIONS

Using the novel automated method, was LV GLS higher than when using the manual GLS method. The normal ranges of automated GLS stratified according to sex and age were provided, with dominant determinants showing sex disparities that require full consideration in clinical practice.

Self-powered biosensing platform for Highly sensitive detection of soluble CD44 protein

In this study, a self-powered biosensor based on an enzymatic biofuel cell was proposed for the first time for the ultrasensitive detection of soluble CD44 protein. The as-prepared biosensor was composed of the co-exist aptamer and glucose oxidase bioanode and bilirubin oxidase modified biocathode. Initially, the electron transfer from bioanode to biocathode was hindered due to the presence of the aptamer with high insulation, generating a low open-circuit voltage (EOCV). Once the target CD44 protein was present, it was recognized and captured by the aptamer at the bioanode, thus the interaction between the target CD44 protein and the immobilized aptamer caused the structural change at the surface of the electrode, which facilitated the transfer of electrons. The EOCV showed a good linear relationship with the logarithm of the CD44 protein concentrations in the range of 0.5-1000 ng mL-1 and the detection limit was 0.052 ng mL-1 (S/N = 3). The sensing platform showed excellent anti-interference performance and outstanding stability that maintained over 97% of original EOCV after 15 days. In addition, the relative standard deviation (1.40-1.96%) and recovery (100.23-101.31%) obtained from detecting CD44 protein in real-life blood samples without special pre-treatment indicated that the constructed biosensor had great potential for early cancer diagnosis.

Eu3+-based InP/ZnS quantum dot fluorescence platform for multi-color and sensitive visualization of tetracycline

A turn-on type ratiometric fluorescence sensing system of blue quantum dot Eu-MPA-InP/ZnS was established for multi-color visualization determination of tetracycline (TC). Mercaptopropionic acid (MPA)-capped InP/ZnS quantum dots (MPA-InP/ZnS QDs) both modify the hydrophilicity of InP/ZnS QDs and serve as a scaffold for coordinating of Eu3+ ions. The blue fluorescence of Eu-MPA-InP/ZnS at 478 nm is reduced by the TC through the inner filter effect (IFE) under a single excitation wavelength of 365 nm. Rich colour gradients and a highly discriminative colour change were features of this multicolour response to TC, which allowed visual quantification of TC in a dose-dependent manner. Furthermore, by cross-linking Eu-MPA-InP/ZnS with agarose (Aga.), a mouldable Eu-MPA-InP/ZnS@Aga 96-well gel sensing device was designed to serve as a handheld sensor for on-site detection of TC. This probe expands the use of InP QDs in analytical sensing and has been effectively applied to the visual detection of tetracycline in milk and the environment.

Juan-tong-yin potentially impacts endometriosis pathophysiology by enhancing autophagy of endometrial stromal cells via unfolded protein reaction-triggered endoplasmic reticulum stress

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

Endometriosis (EMs) is characterized by inflammatory lesions, dysmenorrhea, infertility, and chronic pelvic pain. Single-target medications often fail to provide systemic therapeutic results owing to the complex mechanism underlying endometriosis. Although traditional Chinese medicines-such as Juan-Tong-Yin (JTY)-have shown promising results, their mechanisms of action remain largely unknown.

AIM OF THE STUDY

To elucidate the therapeutic mechanism of JTY in EMs, focusing on endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress-induced autophagy.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The major components of JTY were detected using high-performance liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (HPLC-MS). The potential mechanism of JTY in EMs treatment was predicted using network pharmacological analysis. Finally, the pathogenesis of EMs was validated in a clinical case-control study and the molecular mechanism of JTY was validated in vitro using endometrial stromal cells (ESCs).

RESULTS

In total, 241 compounds were analyzed and identified from JTY using UPLC-MS. Network pharmacology revealed 288 targets between the JTY components and EMs. Results of the Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) and Gene Ontology (GO) analyses indicated that regulating autophagy, migration, apoptosis, and inflammation were the key mechanisms of JTY in treating EMs. Meanwhile, we found that protein kinase R-like endoplasmic reticulum kinase (PERK), Beclin-1, and microtubule-associated protein light chain 3 B (LC3B) expressions were lower in endometria of patients with EMs than in those with normal eutopic endometria (p < 0.05). Additionally, during in vitro experiments, treatment with 20% JTY-containing serum significantly suppressed ESC proliferation, achieving optimal effects after 48 h. Electron microscopy revealed significantly increased autophagy flux in the JTY group compared with the control group. Moreover, JTY treatment significantly reduced the migratory and invasive abilities of ESCs and upregulated protein expression of PERK, eukaryotic initiation factor 2α (eIF2α)/phospho-eukaryotic initiation factor 2α (p-eIF2α), activating Transcription Factor-4 (ATF4), Beclin-1, and LC3BII/I, while subsequently downregulating NOD-like receptor thermal protein domain associated protein 3 (NLRP3) and interleukin 18 (IL-18) expression. However, administration of GSK2656157-a highly selective PERK inhibitor-reversed these changes.

CONCLUSION

JTY ameliorates EMs by activating PERK associated with unfolded protein reaction, enhancing cell ER stress and autophagy, improving the inflammatory microenvironment, and decreasing the migration and invasion of ESCs.

Efficient peroxymonosulfate activation by nanoscale zerovalent iron for removal of sulfadiazine and sulfadiazine resistance bacteria: Sulfidated modification or not

Whether it's necessary to extra chemical synthesis steps to modify nZVI in peroxymonosulfate (PMS) activation process are worth to further investigation. The 56 mg/L nZVI/153.65 mg/L PMS and 56 mg/L sulfidated nZVI (S-nZVI) (S/Fe molar ratio = 1:5)/153.65 mg/L PMS) processes could effectively attain 97.7% (with kobs of 3.7817 min-1) and 97.0% (with kobs of 3.4966 min-1) of the degradation of 20 mg/L sulfadiazine (SDZ) in 1 min, respectively. The nZVI/PMS system could quickly achieve 85.5% degradation of 20 mg/L SDZ in 1 min and effectively inactivate 99.99% of coexisting Pseudomonas. HLS-6 (5.81-log) in 30 min. Electron paramagnetic resonance tests and radical quenching experiments determined SO4•-, HO•, 1O2 and O2•- were responsible for SDZ degradation. The nZVI/PMS system could still achieve the satisfactory degradation efficiency of SDZ under the influence of humic acid (exceeded 96.1%), common anions (exceeded 67.3%), synthetic wastewater effluent (exceeded 90.7%) and real wastewater effluent (exceeded 78.7%). The high degradation efficiency of tetracycline (exceeded 98.9%) and five common disinfectants (exceeded 96.3%) confirmed the applicability of the two systems for pollutants removal. It's no necessary to extra chemical synthesis steps to modify nZVI for PMS activation to remove both chemical and biological pollutants.

Fatty acid desaturase 1/2 (FADS1 and FADS2), fatty acid desaturase indices, and their relationships with metabolic syndrome in female adults with first-episode schizophrenia after antipsychotic medications

OBJECTIVE

Although antipsychotics constitute the best treatment for patients with schizophrenia, this treatment class carries a high risk of metabolic disarrangements thus developing metabolic syndrome (MetS). Altered fatty acid (FA) composition and desaturase indices have been associated with several metabolic diseases, including MetS. Herein, we determined fatty acid desaturase 1 (FADS1) and FADS2 gene expressions, serum delta-5 desaturase (D5D) and D6D indices in female adults with first-episode schizophrenia after olanzapine medication, as well as their relationship with the incidence of MetS.

METHODS

This study prospectively recruited 120 female patients with first-episode schizophrenia who completed 6-month olanzapine medication. Among these female patients, 31 patients developed MetS and 89 patients did not.

RESULTS

The mRNA expression levels of FADS1 and FADS2 in patients were analyzed according to the presence of MetS and evaluation times with results of two-way ANOVAs (FADS1: PMetS = 0.0006, Ptime = 0.004, Pinteraction = 0.010; FADS2: PMetS = 0.012, Ptime < 0.0001, Pinteraction = 0.001). The D5D and D6D indices in patients were analyzed according to the presence of MetS and evaluation times with results of two-way ANOVAs (D5D: PMetS = 0.002, Ptime = 0.009, Pinteraction = 0.014; D6D: PMetS = 0.011, Ptime = 0.006, Pinteraction = 0.0001). The SCD-16 and SCD-18 indices in patients were analyzed according to the presence of MetS and evaluation times (SCD-16: PMetS = 0.005, Ptime = 0.009, Pinteraction = 0.016; SCD-18: PMetS = 0.037, Ptime = 0.382, Pinteraction = 0.163). The following multiple comparisons test showed the MetS exhibited reduced FADS1 mRNA expression and D5D index, increased FADS2 mRNA expression and D6D index, concomitant with an enhanced SCD-16 index, compared to the non-MetS did not after 6-month olanzapine medication.

CONCLUSION

The study suggests changes of FADS1, FADS2 expressions, and fatty acid desaturase indices including D5D, D6D, and SCD-16 may be associated with the development of MetS in female adults with first-episode schizophrenia after olanzapine medication.

Extending the Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation (GRADE) in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM): The GRADE-TCM

AIM

To extend and form the "Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation in Traditional Chinese Medicine" (GRADE-TCM).

METHODS

Methodologies were systematically reviewed and analyzed concerning evidence-based TCM guidelines worldwide. A survey questionnaire was developed based on the literature review and open-end expert interviews. Then, we performed expert consensus, discussion meeting, opinion collection, external examination, and the GRADE-TCM was formed eventually.

RESULTS

265 Chinese and English TCM guidelines were included and analyzed. Five experts completed the open-end interviews. Ten methodological entries were summarized, screened and selected. One round of consensus was conducted, including a total of 22 experts and 220 valid questionnaire entries, concerning 1) selection of the GRADE, 2) GRADE-TCM upgrading criteria, 3) GRADE-TCM evaluation standard, 4) principles of consensus and recommendation, and 5) presentation of the GRADE-TCM and recommendation. Finally, consensus was reached on the above 10 entries, and the results were of high importance (with voting percentages ranging from 50 % to 81.82 % for "very important" rating) and strong reliability (with the Cr ranging from 0.93 to 0.99). Expert discussion meeting (with 40 experts), opinion collection (in two online platforms) and external examination (with 14 third-party experts) were conducted, and the GRADE-TCM was established eventually.

CONCLUSION

GRADE-TCM provides a new extended evidence-based evaluation standard for TCM guidelines. In GRADE-TCM, international evidence-based norms, characteristics of TCM intervention, and inheritance of TCM culture were combined organically and followed. This is helpful for localization of the GRADE in TCM and internationalization of TCM guidelines.

Arsenic exposure and pulmonary function decline: Potential mediating role of TRAIL in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease patients

BACKGROUND

Environmental arsenic (As) exposure is strongly related to the progression of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Pulmonary epithelial cells apoptosis is implicated in the pathophysiological mechanisms of COPD. However, the role of tumor necrosis factor-related apoptosis-inducing ligand (TRAIL), one biomarker of apoptosis, remains unclear in As-mediated pulmonary function alternations in COPD patients.

METHODS

This study included 239 COPD patients. The serum level of tumor necrosis factor-related apoptosis-inducing ligand (TRAIL) was measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The blood As level was determined through inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS).

RESULTS

Blood As levels exhibited a negative and dose-dependent correlation with pulmonary function. Per unit elevation of blood arsenic concentrations was related to reductions of 0.339 L in FEV1, 0.311 L in FVC, 1.171% in FEV1/FVC%, and 7.999% in FEV1% in COPD subjects. Additionally, a positive dose-response correlation of blood As with serum TRAIL was found in COPD subjects. Additionally, the level of serum TRAIL was negatively linked to lung function. Elevated TRAIL significantly mediated As-induced decreases of 11.05%, 13.35%, and 31.78% in FVC, FEV1, and FEV1%, respectively among the COPD patients.

CONCLUSION

Blood As level is positively correlated with pulmonary function decline and serum TRAIL increase in individuals with COPD. Our findings suggest that elevated TRAIL levels may serve as a mediating mechanism through which As contributes to declining lung function in COPD patients.

A preliminary study on identification of the blood donor in a body fluid mixture using a novel compound genetic marker blood-specific methylation-microhaplotype

Blood-containing mixtures are frequently encountered at crime scenes involving violence and murder. However, the presence of blood, and the association of blood with a specific donor within these mixtures present significant challenges in forensic analysis. In light of these challenges, this study sought to address these issues by leveraging blood-specific methylation sites and closely linked microhaplotype sites, proposing a novel composite genetic marker known as "blood-specific methylation-microhaplotype". This marker was designed to the detection of blood and the determination of blood donor within blood-containing mixtures. According to the selection criteria mentioned in the Materials and Methods section, we selected 10 blood-specific methylation-microhaplotype loci for inclusion in this study. Among these loci, eight exhibited blood-specific hypomethylation, while the remaining two displayed blood-specific hypermethylation. Based on data obtained from 124 individual samples in our study, the combined discrimination power (CPD) of these 10 successfully sequenced loci was 0.999999298. The sample allele methylation rate (Ram) was obtained from massive parallel sequencing (MPS), which was defined as the proportion of methylated reads to the total clustered reads that were genotyped to a specific allele. To develop an allele type classification model capable of identifying the presence of blood and the blood donor, we used the Random Forest algorithm. This model was trained and evaluated using the Ram distribution of individual samples and the Ram distribution of simulated shared alleles. Subsequently, we applied the developed allele type classification model to predict alleles within actual mixtures, trying to exclude non-blood-specific alleles, ultimately allowing us to identify the presence of blood and the blood donor in the blood-containing mixtures. Our findings demonstrate that these blood-specific methylation-microhaplotype loci have the capability to not only detect the presence of blood but also accurately associate blood with the true donor in blood-containing mixtures with the mixing ratios of 1:29, 1:19, 1:9, 1:4, 1:2, 2:1, 7:1, 8:1, 31:1 and 36:1 (blood:non-blood) by DNA mixture interpretation methods. In addition, the presence of blood and the true blood donor could be identified in a mixture containing four body fluids (blood:vaginal fluid:semen:saliva = 1:1:1:1). It is important to note that while these loci exhibit great potential, the impact of allele dropouts and alleles misidentification must be considered when interpreting the results. This is a preliminary study utilising blood-specific methylation-microhaplotype as a complementary tool to other well-established genetic markers (STR, SNP, microhaplotype, etc.) for the analysis in blood-containing mixtures.

Nuclear translocation of metabolic enzyme PKM2 participates in high glucose-promoted HCC metastasis by strengthening immunosuppressive environment

Although some cohort studies have indicated a close association between diabetes and HCC, the underlying mechanism about the contribution of diabetes to HCC progression remains largely unknown. In the study, we applied a novel HCC model in SD rat with diabetes and a series of high glucose-stimulated cell experiments to explore the effect of a high glucose environment on HCC metastasis and its relevant mechanism. Our results uncovered a novel regulatory mechanism by which nuclear translocation of metabolic enzyme PKM2 mediated high glucose-promoted HCC metastasis. Specifically, high glucose-increased PKM2 nuclear translocation downregulates chemerin expression through the redox protein TRX1, and then strengthens immunosuppressive environment to promote HCC metastasis. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report to elucidate the great contribution of a high glucose environment to HCC metastasis from a new perspective of enhancing the immunosuppressive microenvironment. Simultaneously, this work also highlights a previously unidentified non-metabolic role of PKM2 and opens a novel avenue for cross research and intervention for individuals with HCC and comorbid diabetes.

Recent development of oral vaccines (Review)

Oral immunization can elicit an effective immune response and immune tolerance to specific antigens. When compared with the traditional injection route, delivering antigens via the gastrointestinal mucosa offers superior immune effects and compliance, as well as simplicity and convenience, making it a more optimal route for immunization. At present, various oral vaccine delivery systems exist. Certain modified bacteria, such as Salmonella, Escherichia coli and particularly Lactobacillus, are considered promising carriers for oral vaccines. These carriers can significantly enhance immunization efficiency by actively replicating in the intestinal tract following oral administration. The present review provided a discussion of the main mechanisms of oral immunity and the research progress made in the field of oral vaccines. Additionally, it introduced the advantages and disadvantages of the currently more commonly administered injectable COVID-19 vaccines, alongside the latest advancements in this area. Furthermore, recent developments in oral vaccines are summarized, and their potential benefits and side effects are discussed.

Interventions to promote the implementation of pressure injury prevention measures in nursing homes: A scoping review

AIMS

To identify studies and the content of the interventions that have facilitated the implementation of pressure injury (PI) prevention measures in nursing home settings.

DESIGN AND METHOD

A scoping review methodology was employed. The author has carried out the following steps successively: Identified this scoping review's questions, retrieved potentially relevant studies, selected relevant studies, charted the data, summarised the results, and consulted with stakeholders from nursing homes in China.

DATA SOURCES

Six electronic databases and three resources of grey literature-PubMed, CINAHL, Web of Science Core Collection, Embase, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, Psych INFO, Open Grey, MedNar, ProQuest Dissertations, and Theses Full Texts were searched from January 2002 through May 2022.

RESULTS

Forty articles were included, among which the primary interventions were quality improvement, training and education, evidence-based practice, device-assisted PI prophylaxis, nursing protocols, and clinical decision support systems. Twenty-three outcome indicators were summarised in 40 articles, which included 10 outcome indicators, seven process indicators, and six structural indicators. Furthermore, only five articles reported barriers in the process of implementing interventions.

CONCLUSION

The common interventions to promote the implementation of PI prevention measures in nursing homes are quality improvement, training, and education. Relatively limited research has been conducted on evidence-based practice, clinical decision support systems, device-assisted PI prophylaxis, and nursing protocols. In addition, there is a paucity of studies examining the impediments to implementing these measures and devising targeted solutions. Therefore, it is recommended that future studies include analysis and reporting of barriers and facilitators as part of the article to improve the sustainability of the intervention.

IMPACT

This article reminds nursing home managers that they should realise the importance of implementation strategies between the best evidence of PI prevention and clinical practice. Also, this review provides the types, contents, and outcome indicators of these strategies for managers of nursing homes to consider what types of interventions to implement in their organisations.

TRIAL AND PROTOCOL REGISTRATION

The protocol of this scoping review was published as an open-access article in June 2022 (Yang et al., 2022).

Posterior open wound healing in immediate implant placement using reactive soft tissue versus absorbable collagen sponge: a retrospective cohort study

The soft and hard tissue healing of open wounds in immediate implant placement are yet to be explored. The aim of this study was to compare the clinical outcomes of open wound healing using reactive soft tissue (RST) and absorbable collagen sponge (ACS). Forty implants placed immediately in posterior sockets were included; autologous RST was used in 20 and ACS substitute was used in 20. Soft tissue healing was primarily assessed through a novel scoring system and the evaluation of gingival recession. The horizontal bone width (HBW) and interproximal marginal bone level (MBL) were measured on radiographs to observe the hard tissue healing. No significant difference in total soft tissue healing score was observed at 2 weeks postoperatively. Notably, the ACS group showed better tissue colour (P = 0.016) but worse fibrous repair (P = 0.043) scores than the RST group. Gingival recession levels were comparable in the two groups, both before tooth extraction and after placement of the restoration. Regarding hard tissue, HBW and MBL changes showed no intergroup differences. Within the limitations of this study, both RST and ACS seemed effective for open wound closure, achieving ideal soft and hard tissue healing in immediate implant placement.

Forebrain excitatory neuron-specific loss of Brpf1 attenuates excitatory synaptic transmission and impairs spatial and fear memory

Bromodomain and plant homeodomain (PHD) finger containing protein 1 (Brpf1) is an activator and scaffold protein of a multiunit complex that includes other components involving lysine acetyltransferase (KAT) 6A/6B/7. Brpf1, KAT6A, and KAT6B mutations were identified as the causal genes of neurodevelopmental disorders leading to intellectual disability. Our previous work revealed strong and specific expression of Brpf1 in both the postnatal and adult forebrain, especially the hippocampus, which has essential roles in learning and memory. Here, we hypothesized that Brpf1 plays critical roles in the function of forebrain excitatory neurons, and that its deficiency leads to learning and memory deficits. To test this, we knocked out Brpf1 in forebrain excitatory neurons using CaMKIIa-Cre. We found that Brpf1 deficiency reduced the frequency of miniature excitatory postsynaptic currents and downregulated the expression of genes Pcdhgb1, Slc16a7, Robo3, and Rho, which are related to neural development, synapse function, and memory, thereby damaging spatial and fear memory in mice. These findings help explain the mechanisms of intellectual impairment in patients with BRPF1 mutation.

Discovery of Selective and Potent ATR Degrader for Exploration its Kinase-Independent Functions in Acute Myeloid Leukemia Cells

ATR has emerged as a promising target for anti-cancer drug development. Several potent ATR inhibitors are currently undergoing various stages of clinical trials, but none have yet received FDA approval due to unclear regulatory mechanisms. In this study, we discovered a potent and selective ATR degrader. Its kinase-independent regulatory functions in acute myeloid leukemia (AML) cells were elucidated using this proteolysis-targeting chimera (PROTAC) molecule as a probe. The ATR degrader, 8 i, exhibited significantly different cellular phenotypes compared to the ATR kinase inhibitor 1. Mechanistic studies revealed that ATR deletion led to breakdown in the nuclear envelope, causing genome instability and extensive DNA damage. This would increase the expression of p53 and triggered immediately p53-mediated apoptosis signaling pathway, which was earlier and more effective than ATR kinase inhibition. Based on these findings, the in vivo anti-proliferative effects of ATR degrader 8 i were assessed using xenograft models. The degrader significantly inhibited the growth of AML cells in vivo, unlike the ATR inhibitor. These results suggest that the marked anti-AML activity is regulated by the kinase-independent functions of the ATR protein. Consequently, developing potent and selective ATR degraders could be a promising strategy for treating AML.

Organic Fluorophores with Large Stokes Shift for the Visualization of Rapid Protein and Nucleic Acid Assays

Organic small-molecule fluorophores, characterized by flexible chemical structure and adjustable optical performance, have shown tremendous potential in biosensing. However, classical organic fluorophore motifs feature large overlap between excitation and emission spectra, leading to the requirement of advanced optical set up to filter desired signal, which limits their application in scenarios with simple settings. Here, a series of wavelength-tunable small-molecule fluorescent dyes (PTs) bearing simple organic moieties have been developed, which exhibit Stokes shift up to 262 nm, molar extinction coefficients ranged 30,000-100,000 M-1 cm-1, with quantum yields up to 54.8 %. Furthermore, these dyes were formulated into fluorescent nanoparticles (PT-NPs), and applied in lateral flow assay (LFA). Consequently, limit of detection for SARS-CoV-2 nucleocapsid protein reached 20 fM with naked eye, a 100-fold improvement in sensitivity compared to the pM detection level for colloidal gold-based LFA. Besides, combined with loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP), the LFA system achieved the visualization of single copy level nucleic acid detection for monkeypox (Mpox).

CD155 as an emerging target in tumor immunotherapy

CD155 is an immunoglobulin-like protein overexpressed in almost all the tumor cells, which not only promotes proliferation, adhesion, invasion, and migration of tumor cells, but also regulates immune responses by interacting with TIGIT, CD226 or CD96 receptors expressed on several immune cells, thereby modulating the functionality of these cellular subsets. As a novel immune checkpoint, the inhibition of CD155/TIGIT, either as a standalone treatment or in conjunction with other immune checkpoint inhibitors, has demonstrated efficacy in managing advanced solid malignancies. In this review, we summarize the intricate relationship between on tumor surface CD155 and its receptors, with further discussion on how they regulate the occurrence of tumor immune escape. In addition, novel therapeutic strategies and clinical trials targeting CD155 and its receptors are summarized, providing a strong rationale and way forward for the development of next-generation immunotherapies.

Review in anaerobic digestion of food waste

Due to the special property of food waste (FW), anaerobic digestion of food waste is facing many challenges like foaming, acidification, ammonia nitrogen and (NH4+-N) inhibition which resulted in a low biogas yield. A better understanding on the problems exiting in the FW anaerobic digestion would enhance the bio-energy recovery and increase the stable operation. Meanwhile, to overcome the bottle necks, pretreatment, co-digestion and additives is proposed as well as the solutions to improve biogas yield in FW digestion system. At last, future research directions regarding FW anaerobic digestion were proposed.

Effect of liver cancer on the accumulation and hepatobiliary transport of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances

In this study, we examined the distribution of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) in liver and bile tissues from the patients with liver cancer (n = 202) and healthy controls (n = 30), and calculated the hepatobiliary transport efficiency (TB-L) of PFASs. Among 21 PFASs, 13 PFASs were frequently detected in the liver (median: 8.80-16.3 ng/g) and bile (median: 11.03-14.26 ng/mL) samples. PFAS concentrations in liver were positively correlated with age, with higher levels of PFASs in the older. Variance analysis showed that gender and BMI (Body Mass Index) have an important impact on the distribution of PFASs. A U-shaped trend in TB-L of PFASs with the increasing of carbon chain length was found for the first time, and the TB-L of most PFASs in the control was higher than that of those in cases (p < 0.05), suggesting that hepatic injury would affect their transport. PFASs were positively associated with liver injury biomarkers, including γ-glutamyl transferase (GGT), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), and total bilirubin (TB) levels (p < 0.05). This is the first study on examining the hepatobiliary transport characteristics of PFASs, which may help understand the connection between PFAS accumulation and liver cancer risk.

Triple-negative breast cancer survival prediction using artificial intelligence through integrated analysis of tertiary lymphoid structures and tumor budding

BACKGROUND

Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) is a highly heterogeneous and clinically aggressive disease. Accumulating evidence indicates that tertiary lymphoid structures (TLSs) and tumor budding (TB) are significantly correlated with the outcomes of patients who have TNBC, but no integrated TLS-TB profile has been established to predict their survival. The objective of this study was to investigate the relationship between the TLS/TB ratio and clinical outcomes of patients with TNBC using artificial intelligence (AI)-based analysis.

METHODS

The infiltration levels of TLSs and TB were evaluated using hematoxylin and eosin staining, immunohistochemistry staining, and AI-based analysis. Various cellular subtypes within TLS were determined by multiplex immunofluorescence. Subsequently, the authors established a nomogram model, conducted calibration curve analyses, and performed decision curve analyses using R software.

RESULTS

In both the training and validation cohorts, the antitumor/protumor model established by the authors demonstrated a positive correlation between the TLS/TB index and the overall survival (OS) and relapse-free survival (RFS) of patients with TNBC. Notably, patients who had a high percentage of CD8-positive T cells, CD45RO-positive T cells, or CD20-positive B cells within the TLSs experienced improved OS and RFS. Furthermore, the authors developed a comprehensive TLS-TB profile nomogram based on the TLS/TB index. This novel model outperformed the classical tumor-lymph node-metastasis staging system in predicting the OS and RFS of patients with TNBC.

CONCLUSIONS

A novel strategy for predicting the prognosis of patients with TNBC was established through integrated AI-based analysis and a machine-learning workflow. The TLS/TB index was identified as an independent prognostic factor for TNBC. This nomogram-based TLS-TB profile would help improve the accuracy of predicting the prognosis of patients who have TNBC.

Cuscuta chinensis flavonoids alleviate ovarian damage in offspring female mice induced by BPA exposure during pregnancy by regulating the central carbon metabolism pathway

Pregnancy is a sensitive window period for bisphenol A (BPA) exposure. BPA can pass through the placenta and cause reproductive damage in offspring female mice. Even BPA that is not metabolized during lactation can be passed through milk. Cuscuta chinensis flavonoids (CCFs) can alleviate reproductive damage caused by BPA, but the mechanism of action is unclear. To investigate the potential mitigating impact of CCFs on ovarian damage resulting from BPA exposure during pregnancy, we administered BPA and CCFs to pregnant mice during the gestational period spanning from 0.5 to 17.5 days. Aseptic collection of serum and ovaries from female mice was conducted on postnatal day 21 (PND21). Serum hormone levels and tissue receptor levels were quantified utilizing ELISA and PCR, while ovaries underwent sequencing and analysis through transcriptomics and metabolomics techniques. Additionally, the assessment of ovarian oxidative stress levels was carried out as part of the comprehensive analysis. The results showed that CCFs administration mitigated the adverse effects induced by BPA exposure on ovarian index, hormone levels, receptor expression, and mRNA expression levels in female offspring mice. The joint analysis of transcriptome and metabolome revealed 48 enriched pathways in positive ion mode and 44 enriched pathways in negative ion mode. Among them, the central carbon metabolism pathway is significantly regulated by BPA and CCFs. The screened sequencing results were verified through qPCR and biochemical kits. In this study, CCFs may participate in the central carbon metabolism pathway by reducing the expression of Kit proto-oncogene (Kit), hexokinase 1 gene (Hk1) and pyruvate kinase M (Pkm) mRNA and increasing the expression of h-ras proto-oncogene (Hras), sirtuin 3 (Sirt3), sirtuin 6 (Sirt6) and TP53 induced glycolysis regulatory phosphatase gene (Tigar) mRNA, thereby resisting the effects of BPA on the body. At the same time, the metabolic levels of D-Fructose 1,6-bisphosphate and L-Asparagine tend to be stable. Moreover, CCFs demonstrated a capacity to diminish the BPA-induced escalation in reactive oxygen species (ROS) and malondialdehyde (MDA). Simultaneously, it exhibited the ability to elevate levels of glutathione (GSH) and catalase (CAT), thereby effectively preventing peroxidation. In summary, CCFs alleviate BPA-induced ovarian damage in offspring female mice by regulating the central carbon metabolism pathway. This study will improve the information on BPA reproductive damage antagonist drugs and provide a theoretical basis for protecting animal reproductive health.

Discovery of Novel Aryl Triazolone Dihydropyridines (ATDPs) Targeting Highly Conserved Residue W229 as Promising HIV-1 NNRTIs

NNRTI is an important component of the highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART), but the rapid emergence of drug resistance and poor pharmacokinetics limited their clinical application. Herein, a series of novel aryl triazolone dihydropyridines (ATDPs) were designed by structure-guided design with the aim of improving drug resistance profiles and pharmacokinetic profiles. Compound 10n (EC50 = 0.009-17.7 μM) exhibited the most active potency, being superior to or comparable to that of doravirine (DOR) against the whole tested viral panel. Molecular docking was performed to clarify the reason for its higher resistance profiles. Moreover, 10n demonstrated excellent pharmacokinetic profile (T1/2 = 5.09 h, F = 108.96%) compared that of DOR (T1/2 = 4.4 h, F = 57%). Additionally, 10n was also verified to have no in vivo acute or subacute toxicity (LD50 > 2000 mg/kg), suggesting that 10n is worth further investigation as a novel oral NNRTIs for HIV-1 therapy.

Thermal-Rectified Gradient Porous Polymeric Film for Solar-Thermal Regulatory Cooling

Solar-thermal regulation concerning thermal insulation and solar modulation is pivotal for cooling textiles and smart buildings. Nevertheless, a contradiction arises in balancing the demand to prevent external heat infiltration with the efficient dissipation of excess heat from enclosed spaces. Here, a concentration-gradient polymerization strategy is presented for fabricating a gradient porous polymeric film comprising interconnected polymeric microspheres. This method involves establishing an electric field-driven gradient distribution of charged crosslinkers in the precursor solution, followed by subsequent polymerization and freeze-drying processes. The resulting porous film exhibits a significant porosity gradient along its thickness, leading to exceptional unidirectional thermal insulation capabilities with a thermal rectification factor of 21%. The gradient porous film, with its thermal rectification properties, effectively reconciles the conflicting demands of diverse thermal conductivity for cooling unheated and spontaneously heated enclosed spaces. Consequently, the gradient porous film demonstrates remarkable enhancements in solar-thermal management, achieving temperature reductions of 3.0 and 4.1 °C for unheated and spontaneously heated enclosed spaces, respectively, compared to uniform porous films. The developed gradient-structured porous film thus holds promise for the development of thermal-rectified materials tailored to regulate solar-thermal conditions within enclosed environments. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.

A Dual Functional Bioinspired Lubricant for Osteoarthritis Treatment and Potential Prevention

Osteoarthritis (OA), primarily characterized by the deterioration of articular cartilage, is a highly prevalent joint-disabling disease. The pathological onset and progression of OA are closely related to cartilage lubrication dysfunction and synovial inflammation. Synergistic options targeted at restorative lubrication and anti-inflammation are expected to be the most attractive candidates to treat OA and perhaps help prevent it. Herein, a bioinspired lubricant (HA/PA@Lipo) was fabricated by combining anionic hyaluronan-graft-poly(2-acrylamide-2-methylpropanesulfonic acid sodium salt) (HA/PA) with cationic liposomes (Lipo) via electrostatic interaction. HA/PA@Lipo mimicked the lubrication complex located on the outer cartilage surface and was endowed cartilage with excellent cartilage-lubricating performances. After the antioxidant gallic acid (GA) was loaded for dual functionality, HA/PA@Lipo-GA was prepared with added anti-inflammatory properties. HA/PA@Lipo-GA showed favorable biocompatibility with C28/I2 cells, inhibited the production of reactive oxygen, and regulated the expression levels of anabolic genes and proteins. The therapeutic effects of HA/PA@Lipo-GA were evaluated using a sodium iodoacetate-induced OA rat model, and the preventive effects of HA/PA@Lipo-GA were estimated in vivo. The results suggested the robust potential of HA/PA@Lipo-GA with dual functions as a candidate option for OA treatment and prevention.

[Treatment of early capsular blockage syndrome with Nd:YAG laser anterior capsulotomy containing neodymium-doped yttrium aluminum garnet in a case]

A 62-year-old female patient presented with no improvement in vision 10 days after undergoing cataract extraction in the right eye. The unaided visual acuity in the right eye was 0.1, and examination with a slit lamp revealed the presence of the intraocular lens with an increased gap between the intraocular lens and the posterior capsule. Anterior segment optical coherence tomography showed a distance of 3.236 mm between the posterior capsule and the posterior surface of the intraocular lens. Based on the medical history, ocular examination, and auxiliary examinations, a diagnosis of right eye capsular blockage syndrome was made. Nd:YAG laser capsulotomy was performed at the anterior capsule outside the optical zone of the intraocular lens. One week later, the posterior capsule adhered to the posterior surface of the intraocular lens, and there was a significant improvement in vision compared to before the procedure.

Epigenetic Regulation of CYP72A385-Mediated Metabolic Resistance to Novel Auxin Herbicide Florpyrauxifen-benzyl in Echinochloa crus-galli (L.) P. Beauv

Weed's metabolic resistance to herbicides has undermined the sustainability of herbicides and global food security. Notably, we identified an Echinochloa crus-galli (L.) P. Beauv population (R) that evolved resistance to the never-used florpyrauxifen-benzyl, in which florpyrauxifen-benzyl was metabolized faster than the susceptible E. crus-galli population (S). RNA-seq identified potential metabolism-related genes, EcCYP72A385 and EcCYP85A1, whose expression in yeast exhibited the capacity to degrade florpyrauxifen-benzyl. Region-2 in the EcCYP72A385 promoter showed significant demethylation after florpyrauxifen-benzyl treatment in the R population. DNA methyltransferase inhibitors induce EcCYP72A385 overexpression in the S population and endow it with tolerance to florpyrauxifen-benzyl. Moreover, methyltransferase-like 7A (EcMETTL7A) was overexpressed in the S population and specifically bound to the EcCYP72A385 promoter. Transgenic EcCYP72A385 in Arabidopsis and Oryza sativa L. exhibited resistance to florpyrauxifen-benzyl, whereas EcMETTL7A transgenic plants were sensitive. Overall, EcCYP72A385 is the principal functional gene for conferring resistance to florpyrauxifen-benzyl and is regulated by EcMETTL7A in E. crus-galli.

Progressive reduction of nuclear receptor Nr4a1 mediates age-dependent cognitive decline

INTRODUCTION

Cognitive decline progresses with age, and Nr4a1 has been shown to participate in memory functions. However, the relationship between age-related Nr4a1 reduction and cognitive decline is undefined.

METHODS

Nr4a1 expressions were evaluated by quantitative PCR and immunochemical approaches. The cognition of mice was examined by multiple behavioral tests. Patch-clamp experiments were conducted to investigate the synaptic function.

RESULTS

NR4A1 in peripheral blood mononuclear cells decreased with age in humans. In the mouse brain, age-dependent Nr4a1 reduction occurred in the hippocampal CA1. Deleting Nr4a1 in CA1 pyramidal neurons (PyrNs) led to the impairment of cognition and excitatory synaptic function. Mechanistically, Nr4a1 enhanced TrkB expression via binding to its promoter. Blocking TrkB compromised the cognitive amelioration with Nr4a1-overexpression in CA1 PyrNs.

DISCUSSION

Our results elucidate the mechanism of Nr4a1-dependent TrkB regulation in cognition and synaptic function, indicating that Nr4a1 is a target for the treatment of cognitive decline.

HIGHLIGHTS

Nr4a1 is reduced in PBMCs and CA1 PyrNs with aging. Nr4a1 ablation in CA1 PyrNs impaired cognition and excitatory synaptic function. Nr4a1 overexpression in CA1 PyrNs ameliorated cognitive impairment of aged mice. Nr4a1 bound to TrkB promoter to enhance transcription. Blocking TrkB function compromised Nr4a1-induced cognitive improvement.

Membranes with Molecular Gatekeepers for Efficient CO2 Capture and H2 Purification

The urgent need for CO2 capture and hydrogen energy has attracted great attention owing to greenhouse gas emissions and global warming problems. Efficient CO2 capture and H2 purification with membrane technology will reduce greenhouse gas emissions and help reach a carbon-neutral society. Here, 4-sulfocalix[4]arene (SC), which has an intrinsic cavity, was embedded into the Matrimid membrane as a molecular gatekeeper for CO2 capture and H2 purification. The interactions between SC and the Matrimid polymer chains immobilize SC molecules into the interchain gaps of the Matrimid membrane, and the strong hydrogen and ionic bondings were able to form homogeneous mixed-matrix membranes. The incorporation of the SC molecular gatekeeper with exceptional molecular-sieving properties improved the gas separation performance of the mixed-matrix membranes. Compared with that of the Matrimid membrane, the CO2 permeability of the Matrimid-SC-3% membrane increased from 16.75 to 119.78 Barrer, the CO2/N2 selectivity increased from 29.39 to 106.95, and the CO2/CH4 selectivity increased from 29.91 to 140.92. Furthermore, when the permeability of H2 was increased to 172.20 Barrer, the H2/N2 and H2/CH4 selectivities reached approximately 153.75 and 202.59, respectively, which are far superior to those of most existing Matrimid-based materials. The mixed-matrix membranes also exhibited excellent long-term operation stability, with separation performance for several important gas pairs still overtaking the Robeson upper limit after aging for 400 days.

Mechanisms on the removal of gram-negative/positive antibiotic resistant bacteria and inhibition of horizontal gene transfer by ferrate coupled with peroxydisulfate or peroxymonosulfate

The existence of antibiotic resistant bacteria (ARB) and antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) has been a global public environment and health issue. Due to the different cell structures, gram-positive/negative ARB exhibit various inactivation mechanisms in water disinfection. In this study, a gram-negative ARB Escherichia coli DH5α (E. coli DH5α) was used as a horizontal gene transfer (HGT) donor, while a gram-positive ARB Bacillus as a recipient. To develop an efficient and engineering applicable method in water disinfection, ARB and ARGs removal efficiency of Fe(VI) coupled peroxydisulfate (PDS) or peroxymonosulfate (PMS) was compared, wherein hydroxylamine (HA) was added as a reducing agent. The results indicated that Fe(VI)/PMS/HA showed higher disinfection efficiency than Fe(VI)/PDS/HA. When the concentration of each Fe(VI), PMS, HA was 0.48 mM, 5.15 log E. coli DH5α and 3.57 log Bacillus lost cultivability, while the proportion of recovered cells was 0.0017 % and 0.0566 %, respectively, and HGT was blocked. Intracellular tetA was reduced by 2.49 log. Fe(IV) and/or Fe(V) were proved to be the decisive reactive species. Due to the superiority of low cost as well as high efficiency and practicality, Fe(VI)/PMS/HA has significant application potential in ARB, ARGs removal and HGT inhibition, offering a new insight for wastewater treatment.

PfPIN5 promotes style elongation by regulating cell length in Primula forbesii Franch

BACKGROUND AND AIMS

Style dimorphism is one of the polymorphic characteristics of flowers in heterostylous plants, which have two types of flowers: the pin morph, with long styles and shorter anthers, and the thrum morph, with short styles and longer anthers. The formation of dimorphic styles has received attention in the plant world. Previous studies showed that CYP734A50 in Primula determined style length and limited style elongation and that the brassinosteroid metabolic pathway was involved in regulation of style length. However, it is unknown whether there are other factors affecting the style length of Primula.

METHODS

Differentially expressed genes highly expressed in pin morph styles were screened based on Primula forbesii transcriptome data. Virus-induced gene silencing was used to silence these genes, and the style length and anatomical changes were observed 20 days after injection.

KEY RESULTS

PfPIN5 was highly expressed in pin morph styles. When PfPIN5 was silenced, the style length was shortened in pin and long-homostyle plants by shortening the length of style cells. Moreover, silencing CYP734A50 in thrum morph plants increased the expression level of PfPIN5 significantly, and the style length increased. The results indicated that PfPIN5, an auxin efflux transporter gene, contributed to regulation of style elongation in P. forbesii.

CONCLUSIONS

The results implied that the auxin pathway might also be involved in the formation of styles of P. forbesii, providing a new pathway for elucidating the molecular mechanism of style elongation in P. forbesii.

Somatic mutations in FAS pathway increase hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis risk in T- and/or NK-cell lymphoma patients

While significant progress has been made in understanding the genetic basis of primary hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis (HLH), the pathogenesis of secondary HLH, the more prevalent form, remains unclear. Among the various conditions giving rise to secondary HLH, HLH in lymphoma patients (HLH-L) accounts for a substantial proportion. In this study, we investigated the role of somatic mutations in the pathogenesis of HLH-L in a cohort of patients with T- and/or NK-cell lymphoma. We identified a 3-time higher frequency of mutations in FAS pathway in patients with HLH-L. Patients harbouring these mutations had a 5-time increased HLH-L risk. These mutations were independently associated with inferior outcome. Hence, our study demonstrates the association between somatic mutations in FAS pathway and HLH-L. Further studies are warranted on the mechanistic role of these mutations in HLH-L.

[Comparative study on the degradation rate and regulatory effects of two resorbable collagen membranes during the in vivo implantation]

Objective: To explore the differences in the performance and tissue repair promotion effects of small intestinal submucosa membrane (SIS membrane) and Bio-Gide resorbable collagen membrane (Bio-Gide membrane) by performing the subcutaneous implantation models in mice. Methods: For in vivo studies, we stablished membrane implantation models using 6-8 week-old male C57BL/6 mice. The degradation rates were explored through HE staining analysis at different time points (1, 3, 5, 7, 14 and 28 d, 3 mice/group/time point). The influences of the two membranes on local macrophages and neovasculum were evaluated by immunofluorescence detection of F4/80 and CD31, and the mobilization effects of the two membranes on local stem cells were evaluated by immunohistochemical detection of Ki67 and CD146. For in vitro studies, mice periodontal ligament stem cells (mPDLSCs) were co-cultured with these two membrane materials, and the cell morphologies were observed by scanning electron microscopy. In addition, the gene expressions of Ki67, Cxcl1, Ccl1, Tnfa were investigated by real-time fluorescence quantitative PCR (RT-qPCR). Results: The results of in vivo studies showed that by day 28, there was no significant difference in degradation rate between these two membrane materials [SIS degradation rate: (16.84±4.00) %, Bio-Gide degradation rate: (24.07±3.97) %, P=0.090], illustrating that both of them could maintain the barrier effects for more than one month. In addition, there was no significant difference in the infiltration number of local F4/80 positive macrophages between these two groups by the day 3 after implantation [SIS: (20.67±5.69) cells/visual field, Bio-Gide: (25.33±2.52) cells/visual field, P=0.292]. However, compared with the Bio-Gide membrane, SIS membrane significantly promoted local CD31+vascular regeneration [SIS: (4.67±1.15) cells/visual field, Bio-Gide: (1.00±1.00) cells/visual field, P=0.015] and CD146+stem cell recruitment [SIS: (22.33±4.16) cells/visual field, Bio-Gide: (11.33±2.52) cells/visual field, P=0.025]. The RT-qPCR results also showed that SIS membrane promoted the gene expression of Cxcl1 (SIS vs Bio-Gide P<0.001) in mPDLSCs, but had no effect on the gene expression of Tnfa (SIS vs Bio-Gide P=0.885). Conclusions: SIS membrane showed a similar degradation rate compared with Bio-Gide membrane, and there was no significant difference in the effects of these two membranes on local inflammation or macrophages. Therefore, both of these membranes could meet the barrier effects required by guided tissue regeneration.

A facile dual-mode SERS/fluorescence aptasensor for AFB1 detection based on gold nanoparticles and magnetic nanoparticles

Aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) is a virulent metabolite secreted by Aspergillus fungi, impacting crop quality and posing health risks to human. Herein, a dual-mode Raman/fluorescence aptasensor was constructed to detect AFB1. The aptasensor was assembled by gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) and magnetic nanoparticles (MNPs), while the surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) and fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET) effects were both realized. AuNPs were modified with the Raman signal molecule 4-MBA and the complementary chain of AFB1 aptamer (cDNA). MNPs were modified with the fluorescence signal molecule Cy5 and the AFB1 aptamer (AFB1 apt). Through base pairing, AuNPs aggregated on the surface of MNPs, forming a satellite-like nanocomposite, boosting SERS signal via increased "hot spots" but reducing fluorescence signal due to the proximity of AuNPs to Cy5. Upon exposure to AFB1, AFB1 apt specifically bound to AFB1, causing AuNPs detachment from MNPs, weakening the SERS signal while restoring the fluorescence signal. AFB1 concentration displayed a good linear relationship with SERS/fluorescence signal in the range of 0.01 ng/mL-100 ng/mL, with a detection limit as low as 5.81 pg/mL. The use of aptamer assured the high selectivity toward AFB1. Furthermore, the spiked recovery in peanut samples ranged from 91.4 % to 95.6 %, indicating the applicability of real sample detection. Compared to single-signal sensor, this dual-signal sensor exhibited enhanced accuracy, robust anti-interference capability, and increased flexibility, promising for toxin detection in food safety applications.

Milk Extracellular Vesicles: Natural Nanoparticles for Enhancing Oral Drug Delivery against Bacterial Infections

Oral drug delivery is typically preferred as a therapeutic intervention due to the complexities and expenses associated with intravenous administration. However, some drugs are poorly absorbed orally, requiring intravenous administration to bypass the gastrointestinal tract and deliver the drug directly into the bloodstream. Thus, there is an urgent need to develop novel drug delivery platforms to overcome the challenges of oral drug delivery with low solubility, low permeability, oral degradation, and low bioavailability. Advances in extracellular vesicles (EVs) as natural carriers have provided emerging approaches to improve potential therapeutic applications. Milk not only contains traditional nutrients but is also rich in EVs. In this Review, we focus mainly on the purification of milk EVs (mEVs), their safety, and the advantages of mEV-based drug carriers in combatting intestinal infections. Additionally, we summarize several advantages of mEVs over conventional synthetic carriers, such as low immunogenicity, high biocompatibility, and the ability to transfer bioactive molecules between cells. Considering the unmet gaps of mEVs in clinical translation, it is essential to review the cargo loading into mEVs and future perspectives for their use as natural drug carriers for oral delivery. This overview of mEV-based drug carriers for oral delivery sheds light on alternative approaches to treat clinical infections associated with intestinal pathogens and the development of novel oral delivery systems.

Injectable and In Situ Formed Dual-Network Hydrogel Reinforced by Mesoporous Silica Nanoparticles and Loaded with BMP-4 for the Closure and Repair of Skull Defects

Bone defects are a common and challenging orthopedic problem with poor self-healing ability and long treatment cycles. The difficult-to-heal bone defects cause a significant burden of medical expenses on patients. Currently, biomaterials with mechanical stability, long-lasting action, and osteogenic activity are considered as a suitable way to effectively heal bone defects. Here, an injectable double network (DN) hydrogel prepared using physical and chemical cross-linking methods is designed. The first rigid network is constructed using methylpropenylated hyaluronic acid (HAMA), while the addition of chitosan oligosaccharide (COS) forms a second flexible network by physical cross-linking. The mesoporous silica nanoparticles (MSN) loaded with bone morphogenetic protein-4 (BMP-4) were embedded into DN hydrogel, which not only enhanced the mechanical stability of the hydrogel, but also slowly released BMP-4 to achieve long-term skull repair. The designed composite hydrogel showed an excellent compression property and deformation resistance. In vitro studies confirmed that the HAMA/COS/MSN@BMP-4 hydrogel had good biocompatibility and showed great potential in supporting proliferation and osteogenic differentiation of mouse embryo osteoblast precursor (MC3T3-E1) cells. Furthermore, in vivo studies confirmed that the DN hydrogel successfully filled and closed irregular skull defect wounds, effectively promoted bone regeneration, and significantly promoted bone repair compared with the control group. In addition, HAMA/COS/MSN@BMP-4 hydrogel precursor solution can quickly form hydrogel in situ at the wound by ultraviolet light, which can be applied to the closure and repair of wounds of different shapes, which provides the new way for the treatment of bone defects.

[High-quality acceleration of the Chinese national schistosomiasis elimination programme to advance the building of Healthy China]

The goal of achieving elimination of schistosomiasis across all endemic counties in China by 2030 was proposed in the Outline of the Healthy China 2030 Plan. On June 16, 2023, the Action Plan to Accelerate the Elimination of Schistosomiasis in China (2023-2030) was jointly issued by National Disease Control and Prevention Administration and other 10 ministries, which deployed the targets and key tasks of the national schistosomiasis elimination programme in China. This article describes the progress of the national schistosomiasis control programme, analyzes the opportunities to eliminate schistosomiasis, and proposes targeted recommendations to tackle the challenges of schistosomiasis elimination, so as to accelerate the process towards schistosomiasis elimination and facilitate the building of a healthy China.