Infection with multi‑drug resistant organisms in patients with limb fractures: Analysis of risk factors and pathogens

Infection with multi-drug resistant organisms (MDROs) has emerged as a global problem in medical institutions. Overuse of antibiotics is the main cause of drug resistance. Notably, the incidence of infection with MDROs increases in patients with limb fractures who have undergone invasive surgery. The present study aimed to analyze the risk factors for postoperative MDROs infection in a cohort of patients with limb fractures. A retrospective study was performed on the data of patients with fractures between January 2020 and August 2022. Postoperative surgical site infection occurred in 114 patients in total, of which 47 were infected with MDROs. Univariate logistic regression analysis and multivariate binary logistic regression were used to confirm the associations between independent risk factors and MDRO infection. A total of 155 bacteria were collected from patients with MDROs infection and patients with non-MDROs infection, of which 66.5% were gram-positive bacteria and 33.5% were gram-negative. Staphylococcus aureus accounted for 26.5% of the 155 pathogens. MDROs, such as methicillin-resistant S. aureus and extended-spectrum β-lactamases-positive gram-negative bacillus, were detected after antibiotic treatment. Univariate analysis indicated that the number of antibiotics administered, being bedridden, repeat infection, operative time and repeated operation were different in the two groups. In addition, univariate logistic analysis indicated that being bedridden (OR, 3.98; P=0.001), administration of >2 antibiotics (OR, 2.42; P=0.026), an operative time of >3 h (OR, 3.37; P=0.003), repeated infection (OR, 3.08; P=0.009) and repetition of procedures (OR, 2.25; P=0.039) were individual risk factors for MDRO infection. Multivariate analysis showed that being bedridden (OR, 2.66; P=0.037), repeated infection (OR, 4.00; P=0.005) and an operative time of >3 h (OR, 2.28; P=0.023) were risk factors of MDRO infection. In conclusion, constrained antibiotic use, shortened operative time and increased activity duration can effectively prevent surgical-site infection with MDROs in patients with fractures.

In situ studies on defect formation dynamics in flash-sintered TiO2

Flash-sintered (FS) ceramics have shown promising mechanical deformability at room temperature compared to conventional sintered ceramics. One major contributing factor to plasticity is high-density defects, such as dislocations, stacking faults and point defects, resulted presumably from the high electrical field during flash sintering. However, such direct experiemtnal evidence for defect formation and evolution under the electric field remains lacking. Here we performed in situ biasing experiments in FS and conventionally sintered (CS) polycrystalline TiO2 in a transmission electron microscope (TEM) to compare the defect evolution dynamics. In situ TEM studies revealed the coalescence of point defects under the electrical field in both FS and CS TiO2 and the subsequent formation of stacking faults, which are often referred to as Wadsley defects. Surprisingly, under the electrical field, the average fault growth rate in the FS samples is 10 times as much as that in the CS TiO2. Furthermore, the Magnéli phase, a 3D oxygen-deficient phase formed by the aggregation of Wadsley defects, is observed in the FS samples, but not in the CS samples. The present study provides new insights into defect dynamics in FS ceramics.

Development of a prediction model for the risk of 30-day unplanned readmission in older patients with heart failure: A multicenter retrospective study

BACKGROUND AND AIM

Heart failure (HF) imposes significant global health costs due to its high incidence, readmission, and mortality rate. Accurate assessment of readmission risk and precise interventions have become important measures to improve health for patients with HF. Therefore, this study aimed to develop a machine learning (ML) model to predict 30-day unplanned readmissions in older patients with HF.

METHODS AND RESULTS

This study collected data on hospitalized older patients with HF from the medical data platform of Chongqing Medical University from January 1, 2012, to December 31, 2021. A total of 5 candidate algorithms were selected from 15 ML algorithms with excellent performance, which was evaluated by area under the operating characteristic curve (AUC) and accuracy. Then, the 5 candidate algorithms were hyperparameter tuned by 5-fold cross-validation grid search, and performance was evaluated by AUC, accuracy, sensitivity, specificity, and recall. Finally, an optimal ML model was constructed, and the predictive results were explained using the SHapley Additive exPlanations (SHAP) framework. A total of 14,843 older patients with HF were consecutively enrolled. CatBoost model was selected as the best prediction model, and AUC was 0.732, with 0.712 accuracy, 0.619 sensitivity, and 0.722 specificity. NT.proBNP, length of stay (LOS), triglycerides, blood phosphorus, blood potassium, and lactate dehydrogenase had the greatest effect on 30-day unplanned readmission in older patients with HF, according to SHAP results.

CONCLUSIONS

The study developed a CatBoost model to predict the risk of unplanned 30-day special-cause readmission in older patients with HF, which showed more significant performance compared with the traditional logistic regression model.

EGCG attenuated acute myocardial infarction by inhibiting ferroptosis via miR-450b-5p/ACSL4 axis

BACKGROUND

Epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG) has multiple biological effects such as anti-tumor multiple drug resistance, antioxidation and anti-inflammatory properties. Ferroptosis is the main driving factor of ischemic heart injury, thus inhibiting ferroptosis may prove to be an effective treatment strategy for cardiovascular diseases. However, the role of EGCG on ferroptosis in ischemic myocardium and underlying mechanisms remain uncertain.

PURPOSE

This study was aimed to investigate the effects and potential mechanisms of EGCG on myocardial ischemic-induced ferroptosis both in vitro and in vivo.

METHODS

Cardiomyocyte hypoxia model and mouse acute myocardial infarction (AMI) model were established in vitro and in vivo. MiR-450b-5p and ACSL4 silencing or overexpression plasmids were transfected, with or without EGCG pretreatment. Cell viability was determined by the CCK-8 assay. Hematoxylin and eosin (HE) staining and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) were used to evaluate the morphologic alterations. TTC staining was used to observe the infarction area, and echocardiography was adopted to appraise the heart function. Using flow cytometry, the presence of reactive oxygen species (ROS) was assessed. The content of cardiac troponin I (cTn I), glutathione (GSH), malondialdehyde (MDA), divalent iron ions (Fe2+) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) were detected using reagent kits. A luciferase activity assay was performed to assess the binding ability of miR-450b-5p to ACSL4. Expressions of related genes and proteins were measured by RT-qPCR and western blotting respectively.

RESULTS

EGCG attenuated AMI-induced ferroptosis and improved myocardial ischemia injury, which was associated with reducing iron deposition and cTn I, inhibition of lipid peroxidation, decreasing TFR1 and ACSL4, and upregulating SLC7A11, FTH1 and GPX4. Meanwhile, EGCG pretreatment increased miR-450b-5p expression in ischemic myocardium. Further researches discovered that knockdown of miR-450b-5p partially compromised EGCG-generated protective effect in hypoxia HL-1 cells, while combination with miR-450b-5p mimic could strengthen the potency of EGCG on ischemic myocardium. The dual-luciferase test demonstrated that miR-450b-5p has binding to ACSL4. Furthermore, silencing of ACSL4 synergistically increased the cardioprotective effect of EGCG. More significantly, EGCG treatment regulated the ferroptosis-related proteins expression via miR-450b-5p/ACSL4 axis.

CONCLUSION

In summary, the present study evidently demonstrated that EGCG attenuates myocardial ischemia injury by targeting ferroptosis. Our work revealed the role of miR-450b-5p/ACSL4 axis in AMI for the first time. Further, it also elucidated the molecular mechanisms of EGCG on inhibiting ferroptosis greatly depend on the miR-450b-5p/ACSL4 axis, suggesting that EGCG may act as a novel anti-ferroptosis agent and exert a therapeutic role in AMI.

Tunable Chirality-Dependent Nonlinear Electrical Responses in 2D Tellurium

Tellurium (Te) is an elemental semiconductor with a simple chiral crystal structure. Te in a two-dimensional (2D) form synthesized by a solution-based method shows excellent electrical, optical, and thermal properties. In this work, the chirality of hydrothermally grown 2D Te is identified and analyzed by hot sulfuric acid etching and high-angle tilted high-resolution scanning transmission electron microscopy. The gate-tunable nonlinear electrical responses, including the nonreciprocal electrical transport in the longitudinal direction and the nonlinear planar Hall effect in the transverse direction, are observed in 2D Te under a magnetic field. Moreover, the nonlinear electrical responses have opposite signs in left- and right-handed 2D Te due to the opposite spin polarizations ensured by the chiral symmetry. The fundamental relationship between the spin-orbit coupling and the crystal symmetry in two enantiomers provides a viable platform for realizing chirality-based electronic devices by introducing the degree of freedom of chirality into electron transport.

Comparison of CrN Coatings Prepared Using High-Power Impulse Magnetron Sputtering and Direct Current Magnetron Sputtering

Chromium Nitride (CrN) coatings have widespread utilization across numerous industrial applications, primarily attributed to their excellent properties. Among the different methods for CrN coating synthesis, direct current magnetron sputtering (DCMS) has been the dominant technique applied. Nonetheless, with the expanded applications of CrN coatings, the need for enhanced mechanical performance is concurrently escalating. High-power impulse magnetron sputtering (HiPIMS), an innovative coating deposition approach developed over the past three decades, is gaining recognition for its capability of yielding coatings with superior mechanical attributes, thereby drawing significant research interest. Considering that the mechanical performance of a coating is fundamentally governed by its microstructural properties, a comprehensive review of CrN coatings fabricated through both techniques is presented. This review of recent literature aims to embark on an insightful comparison between DCMS and HiPIMS, followed by an examination of the microstructure of CrN coatings fabricated via both techniques. Furthermore, the exploration of the underlying factors contributing to the disparities in mechanical properties observed in CrN coatings is revealed. An assessment of the advantages and potential shortcomings of HiPIMS is discussed, offering insight into CrN coating fabrication.

Predicting delayed methotrexate elimination in pediatric acute lymphoblastic leukemia patients: an innovative web-based machine learning tool developed through a multicenter, retrospective analysis

BACKGROUND

High-dose methotrexate (HD-MTX) is a potent chemotherapeutic agent used to treat pediatric acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL). HD-MTX is known for cause delayed elimination and drug-related adverse events. Therefore, close monitoring of delayed MTX elimination in ALL patients is essential.

OBJECTIVE

This study aimed to identify the risk factors associated with delayed MTX elimination and to develop a predictive tool for its occurrence.

METHODS

Patients who received MTX chemotherapy during hospitalization were selected for inclusion in our study. Univariate and least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO) methods were used to screen for relevant features. Then four machine learning (ML) algorithms were used to construct prediction model in different sampling method. Furthermore, the performance of the model was evaluated using several indicators. Finally, the optimal model was deployed on a web page to create a visual prediction tool.

RESULTS

The study included 329 patients with delayed MTX elimination and 1400 patients without delayed MTX elimination who met the inclusion criteria. Univariate and LASSO regression analysis identified eleven predictors, including age, weight, creatinine, uric acid, total bilirubin, albumin, white blood cell count, hemoglobin, prothrombin time, immunological classification, and co-medication with omeprazole. The XGBoost algorithm with SMOTE exhibited AUROC of 0.897, AUPR of 0.729, sensitivity of 0.808, specificity of 0.847, outperforming the other models. And had AUROC of 0.788 in external validation.

CONCLUSION

The XGBoost algorithm provides superior performance in predicting the delayed elimination of MTX. We have created a prediction tool to assist medical professionals in predicting MTX metabolic delay.

Mouse nerve growth factor suppresses neuronal apoptosis in valproic acid-induced autism spectrum disorder rats by regulating the phosphoinositide-3-kinase/serine/threonine kinase signaling pathway

BACKGROUND

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a group of neurodevelopmental disorders characterized by deficits in social communication and restrictive behaviors. Mouse nerve growth factor (mNGF), a neurotrophic factor, is critical for neuronal growth and survival, and the mNGF treatment is considered a promising therapy for neurodegeneration. In light of this, we aimed to evaluate the effect of mNGF on neurological function in ASD.

METHODS

An ASD rat model was established by intraperitoneal injection of valproic acid (VPA). Social behavior, learning, and memory of the rats were measured. TdT-mediated dUTP Nick-end labeling and Nissl assays were performed to detect neuronal apoptosis and survival in the hippocampus and prefrontal cortex. Apoptosis-related proteins and oxidative stress markers were detected.

RESULTS

mNGF improved locomotor activity, exploratory behavior, social interaction, and spatial learning and memory in VPA-induced ASD rats. In the hippocampus and prefrontal cortex, mNGF suppressed neuronal apoptosis, increased the number of neurons, superoxide dismutase, and glutathione levels, and decreased reactive oxygen species, nitric oxide, TNF-α, and IL-1β levels compared with the VPA group. In addition, mNGF increased the levels of Bcl-2, p-phosphoinositide-3-kinase (PI3K), and p-serine/threonine kinase (Akt), and decreased the levels of Bax and cleaved caspase-3, while the PI3K inhibitor LY294002 reversed these effects.

CONCLUSION

These data suggest that mNGF suppressed neuronal apoptosis and ameliorated the abnormal behaviors in VPA-induced ASD rats, in part, by activating the PI3K/Akt signaling pathway.

Functional preference of the left inferior parietal lobule to second language reading

Additional neural substance for reading in a second language has been reported by prior studies. However, to date, there has been little investigation into whether and how the brain's adaptation to a second language is induced by specific linguistic tasks or is a general effect during reading in a new language. To address this issue, our study investigated Chinese children learning English as a second language by combining cross-sectional and longitudinal Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging (fMRI) studies. We compared brain activation across four reading tasks, orthographic tasks and phonological tasks in Chinese (the first language, L1) and English (the second language, L2). By comparing the activation pattern across languages, we observed greater activation in the left inferior parietal lobule (LIPL) in English compared to Chinese, suggesting a functional preference of the LIPL to L2. In addition, greater correlation between LIPL-related FC and L2 was mainly observed in the phonological task, indicating that LIPL could be associated with phonological processing. Moreover, a proportion of the children were enrolled in an 8-week phonological-based reading-training program. We observed significant functional plasticity of the LIPL elicited by this training program only in the English phonological task and not in the orthographic task, further substantiating that the additional requirements of the LIPL in L2 are mainly associated with phonological processing. The findings provide new insights into understanding the functional contribution of the LIPL to reading in a second language.

Probing Polar-π Interactions Between Tetrazoles and Aromatic Rings

The heterocyclic tetrazole, a well-established bioisosteric replacement of carboxylic acid, plays an important role in medicinal chemistry. To deepen the functional understanding of tetrazoles in chemical sciences, it is essential to investigate the noncovalent interactions between the tetrazole ring and aromatic rings. Here, we report synthetic, spectroscopic, structural and quantum chemical analyses on specially designed 2-arylphenyl-1H-tetrazoles to study the underlying noncovalent interactions between the tetrazole ring and the neighboring aromatic ring possessing substituents at para/meta position. pKa values and proton affinities of 2-arylphenyl-1H-tetrazoles correlate well with Hammett sigma values of para-substituents at the flanking aromatic ring. Molecular orbital and energy decomposition analyses revealed that through-space NH-π interactions and π-π interactions contribute to the trend of pKa values and proton affinities of 2-arylphenyl-1Htetrazoles. The electrostatic interaction between tetrazole/tetrazolide interacting with the aromatic rings appears responsible for the observed acidity trends. These results will be helpful for the rational design of tetrazole-based drugs and materials.

A robust thorium-organic framework as a bifunctional platform for iodine adsorption and Cr(VI) sensitization

Simple synthetic modulation based on thorium nitrate and tris((4-carboxyl)phenylduryl)amine (H₃TCBPA) gives rise to a new thorium-based metal-organic framework, Th-TCBPA, which features excellent hydrolytic and thermal stabilities. Incorporating electron-rich TCBPA^3- linkers not only endows Th-TCBPA with high adsorption capacity toward radioiodine vapor, but also makes it a luminescence sensor for the highly sensitive and selective detection of Cr(VI) anions.

TCHis mitigate oxidative stress and improve abnormal behavior in a prenatal valproic acid-exposed rat model of autism

Objective Troxerutin is known for its anti-inflammatory and antioxidative effects in nerve impairment. The purpose of this study is to investigate the effect of troxerutin and cerebroprotein hydrolysate injections (TCHis) on prenatal valproic acid (VPA)-exposed rats. Methods The VPA was administered to pregnant rats on gestational day 12.5 to induce a model of autism. The offsprings were given the treatment of TCHis on postnatal day (PND) 21-50. On PND 43-50, the behavioral analysis of offsprings was performed after the treatment of TCHis for 1 h. On PND 50, the offsprings were harvested and the brains were collected. The hippocampus and prefrontal cortex were isolated for relevant biochemical detections. Results The administration of TCHis increased the pain sensitivity and improved abnormal social behaviors in prenatal VPA-exposed rats. Prenatal expose of VPA induced neuronal loss and apoptosis, enhanced reactive oxygen species (ROS) production, and promoted oxidative stress in hippocampus and prefrontal cortex, while these effects were reversed by the postnatal treatment of TCHis. In addition, postnatal administration of TCHis ameliorated mitochondrial function in hippocampus and prefrontal cortex of prenatal VPA-exposed rats. Conclusion This study concluded that postnatal treatment of TCHis reduced oxidative stress and ameliorated abnormal behavior in a prenatal VPA-induced rat model of autism.

Through-Space Stabilization of an Imidazolium Cation by Aromatic Rings

Imidazole-based compounds are widely found in natural products, synthetic molecules, and biomolecules. Noncovalent interactions between the imidazole ring and other functional groups play an important role in determining the function of diverse molecules. However, there is a limited understanding of the underlying noncovalent interactions between imidazoles and aromatic systems. In this work, we report physical-organic chemistry studies on 2-(2,6-diarylphenyl)-1H-imidazoles and their protonated forms to investigate the noncovalent interactions between the central imidazole ring and two flanking aromatic rings possessing substituents at the para/meta position. Hammett analysis revealed that pK_a values and proton affinities correlate well with Hammett σ values of para-substituents at the flanking rings. Additional quantitative Kohn-Sham molecular orbital and energy decomposition analyses reveal that through-space π-π interactions and NH-π interactions contribute to the intramolecular stabilization of the imidazolium cation. The results are important because they clearly demonstrate that the imidazolium cation forms energetically favorable noncovalent interactions with aromatic rings via the through-space effect, a knowledge that can be used in rational drug and catalyst design.

Activating a Semiconductor-Liquid Junction via Laser-Derived Dual Interfacial Layers for Boosted Photoelectrochemical Water Splitting

The semiconductor-liquid junction (SCLJ), the dominant place in photoelectrochemical (PEC) catalysis, determines the interfacial activity and stability of photoelectrodes, whcih directly affects the viability of PEC hydrogen generation. Though efforts dedicated in past decades, a challenge remains regarding creating a synchronously active and stable SCLJ, owing to the technical hurdles of simultaneously overlaying the two advantages. The present work demonstrates that creating an SCLJ with a unique configuration of the dual interfacial layers can yield BiVO₄ photoanodes with synchronously boosted photoelectrochemical activity and operational stability, with values located at the top in the records of such photoelectrodes. The bespoke dual interfacial layers, accessed via grafting laser-generated carbon dots with phenolic hydroxyl groups (LGCDs-PHGs), are experimentally verified effective, not only in generating the uniform layer of LGCDs with covalent anchoring for inhibited photocorrosion, but also in activating, respectively, the charge separation and transfer in each layer for boosted charge-carrier kinetics, resulting in FeNiOOH-LGCDs-PHGs-MBVO photoanodes with a dual configuration with the photocurrent density of 6.08 mA cm^-2 @ 1.23 V_RHE , and operational stability up to 120 h @ 1.23 V_RHE . Further work exploring LGCDs-PHGs from catecholic molecules warrants the proposed strategy as being a universal alternative for addressing the interfacial charge-carrier kinetics and operational stability of semiconductor photoelectrodes.

Probing Noncovalent Interactions in [3,3]Metaparacyclophanes

Arene-arene interactions are fundamentally important in molecular recognition. To precisely probe arene-arene interactions in cyclophanes, we designed and synthesized (2,6-phenol)paracyclophanes and (2,6-aniline)paracyclophanes that possess two aromatic rings in close proximity. Fine-tuning the aromatic character of one aromatic ring by fluorine substituents enables investigations on the intramolecular interactions between the electron-rich phenol and aniline with tetra-H- and tetra-F-substituted benzene. pK_a measurements revealed that the tetra-F-template increases the acidity of the phenol (ΔpK_a = 0.55). X-ray crystallography and computational analyses demonstrated that all [3,3]metaparacyclophanes adopt cofacial parallel conformations, implying the presence of π-π stacking interactions. Advanced quantum chemical analyses furthermore revealed that both electrostatic interactions and orbital interactions provide the key contribution to the structure and stability of [3,3]metaparacyclophanes.

Rifaximin Ameliorates Non-alcoholic Steatohepatitis in Mice Through Regulating gut Microbiome-Related Bile Acids

Non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) is the progressive stage of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). The non-absorbable antibiotic rifaximin has been used for treatment of irritable bowel syndrome, traveling diarrhea, and hepatic encephalopathy, but the efficacy of rifaximin in NASH patients remains controversial. This study investigated the effects and underlying mechanisms of rifaximin treatment in mice with methionine and choline deficient (MCD) diet-induced NASH. We found that rifaximin greatly ameliorated hepatic steatosis, lobular inflammation, and fibrogenesis in MCD-fed mice. Bacterial 16S rRNA sequencing revealed that the gut microbiome was significantly altered in MCD-fed mice. Rifaximin treatment enriched 13 amplicon sequence variants (ASVs) belonging to the groups Muribaculaceae, Parabacteroides, Coriobacteriaceae_UCG-002, uncultured Oscillospiraceae, Dubosiella, Rikenellaceae_RC9_gut_group, Mucispirillum, and uncultured Desulfovibrionaceae. However, rifaximin treatment also reduced seven ASVs in the groups Aerococcus, Oscillospiraceae, uncultured Ruminococcaceae, Bilophila, Muribaculaceae, Helicobacter, and Alistipes in MCD-fed mice. Bile acid-targeted metabolomic analysis indicated that the MCD diet resulted in accumulation of primary bile acids and deoxycholic acid (DCA) in the ileum. Rifaximin delivery reduced DCA levels in MCD-fed mice. Correlation analysis further showed that DCA levels were associated with differentially abundant ASVs modulated by rifaximin. In conclusion, rifaximin may ameliorate NASH by decreasing ileal DCA through alteration of the gut microbiome in MCD-fed mice. Rifaximin treatment may therefore be a promising approach for NASH therapy in humans.

Probing the Lewis Acidity of Boronic Acids through Interactions with Arene Substituents

Boronic acids are Lewis acids that exist in equilibrium with boronate forms in aqueous solution. Here we experimentally and computationally investigated the Lewis acidity of 2,6‐diarylphenylboronic acids; specially designed phenylboronic acids that possess two flanking aromatic rings with tunable aromatic character. Hammett analysis of 2,6‐diarylphenylboronic acids reveals that their Lewis acidity remains unchanged upon the introduction of EWG/EDG at the distant para position of the flanking aromatic rings. Structural and computational studies demonstrate that polar‐π interactions and solvation effects contribute to the stabilization of boronic acids and boronate forms by aromatic rings. Our physical‐organic chemistry work highlights that boronic acids and boronates can be stabilized by aromatic systems, leading to an important molecular knowledge for rational design and development of boronic acid‐based catalysts and inhibitors of biomedically important proteins.

γ-Difluorolysine as a 19F NMR probe for histone lysine methyltransferases and acetyltransferases

Histone lysine methylation and acetylation are important posttranslational modifications that regulate gene expression in humans. Due to the interplay of these two modifications, new chemical methods to study lysine posttranslational modifications are highly desired. Here, we report the use of γ-difluorolysine as a lysine mimic and 19F NMR probe for examinations of histone methylation and acetylation.

Mutations in chronic myelomonocytic leukemia and their prognostic relevance

Chronic myelomonocytic leukemia (CMML) is a hematologic malignancy that overlaps with myeloproliferative neoplasms (MPN) and myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS) and tends to transform into acute myeloid leukemia (AML). Among cases of CMML, > 90% have gene mutations, primarily involving TET2 (~ 60%), ASXL1 (~ 40%), SRSF2 (~ 50%), and the RAS pathways (~ 30%). These gene mutations are associated with both the clinical phenotypes and the prognosis of CMML, special CMML variants and pre-phases of CMML. Cytogenetic abnormalities and the size of genome are also associated with prognosis. Meanwhile, cases with ASXL1, DNMT3A, NRAS, SETBP1, CBL and RUNX1 mutations may have inferior prognoses, but only ASXL1 mutations were confirmed to be independent predictors of the patient outcome and were included in three prognostic models. Novel treatment targets related to the various gene mutations are emerging. Therefore, this review provides new insights to explore the correlations among gene mutations, clinical phenotypes, prognosis, and novel drugs in CMML.

Do Sulfonamides Interact with Aromatic Rings?

Aromatic rings form energetically favorable interactions with many polar groups in chemical and biological systems. Recent molecular studies have shown that sulfonamides can chelate metal ions and form hydrogen bonds, however, it is presently not established whether the polar sulfonamide functionality also interacts with aromatic rings. Here, synthetic, spectroscopic, structural, and quantum chemical analyses on 2,6-diarylbenzenesulfonamides are reported, in which two flanking aromatic rings are positioned close to the central sulfonamide moiety. Fine-tuning the aromatic character by substituents on the flanking rings leads to linear trends in acidity and proton affinity of sulfonamides. This physical-organic chemistry study demonstrates that aromatic rings have a capacity to stabilize sulfonamides via through-space NH-π interactions. These results have implications in rational drug design targeting electron-rich aromatic rings in proteins.

Self-Assembled BaTiO3-AuxAg1-x Low-Loss Hybrid Plasmonic Metamaterials with an Ordered "Nano-Domino-like" Microstructure

Metallic plasmonic hybrid nanostructures have attracted enormous research interest due to the combined physical properties coming from different material components and the broad range of applications in nanophotonic and electronic devices. However, the high loss and narrow range of property tunability of the metallic hybrid materials have limited their practical applications. Here, a metallic alloy-based self-assembled plasmonic hybrid nanostructure, i.e., a BaTiO₃-Au_xAg_1-x (BTO) vertically aligned nanocomposite, has been integrated by a templated growth method for low-loss plasmonic systems. Comprehensive microstructural characterizations including high-resolution scanning transmission electron microscopy (HRSTEM), energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS), and three-dimensional (3D) electron tomography demonstrate the formation of an ordered "nano-domino-like" morphology with Au_0.4Ag_0.6 nanopillars as cylindrical cores and BTO as square shells. By comparing with the BTO-Au hybrid thin film, the BTO-Au_0.4Ag_0.6 alloyed film exhibits much broader plasmon resonance, hyperbolic dispersion, low-loss, and thermally robust features in the UV-vis-NIR wavelength region. This study provides a feasible platform for a complex alloyed plasmonic hybrid material design with low-loss and highly tunable optical properties toward all-optical integrated devices.

The Role of Bone Morphogenetic Protein 9 in Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease in Mice

Background and Aims: It’s reported that bone morphogenetic protein 9 (BMP9) played an important role in lipid and glucose metabolism, but the role of BMP9 in nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is unclear. Here, we evaluated the therapeutic efficacy of recombined BMP9 in NAFLD mice and investigated the potential mechanism.

Methods: The effects of recombinant BMP9 on NAFLD were assessed in HFD-induced NAFLD mice. C57BL/6 mice were administrated with high-fat diet (HFD) for 12 weeks. In the last 4 weeks, mice were treated with PBS or recombined BMP9 once daily. Insulin sensitivity was evaluated by glucose tolerance test (GTT) and insulin tolerance test (ITT) at the end of the 12th week. Then NAFLD related indicators were assessed by a variety of biological methods, including histology, western blotting, real-time PCR, RNA-seq and assay for transposase-accessible chromatin using sequencing (ATAC-seq) analyses.

Results: BMP9 reduced obesity, improved glucose metabolism, alleviated hepatic steatosis and decreased liver macrophages infiltration in HFD mice. RNA-seq showed that Cers6, Cidea, Fabp4 involved in lipid and glucose metabolism and Fos, Ccl2, Tlr1 involved in inflammatory response downregulated significantly after BMP9 treatment in HFD mouse liver. ATAC-seq showed that chromatin accessibility on promoters of Cers6, Fabp4, Ccl2 and Fos decreased after BMP9 treatment in HFD mouse liver. KEGG pathway analysis of dysregulated genes in RNA-seq and integration of RNA-seq and ATAC-seq showed that TNF signaling pathway and Toll-like receptor signaling pathway decreased in BMP9 treated HFD mouse liver.

Conclusion: Our data revealed that BMP9 might alleviate NAFLD via improving glucose and lipid metabolism, decreasing inflammatory response and reshaping chromatin accessibility in HFD mouse liver. BMP9 downregulate genes related to lipid metabolism, glucose metabolism and inflammation expression, at least partially via decreasing promoter chromatin accessibility of Cers6, Fabp4, Fos and Tlr1. BMP9 may also reduce the expression of liver Ccl2, thereby changing the number or composition of liver macrophages, and ultimately reducing liver inflammation. The effect of BMP9 on NAFLD might be all-round, and not limit to lipid and glucose metabolism. Therefore, the underlying mechanism needs to be studied in detail further.

Nitride-Oxide-Metal Heterostructure with Self-Assembled Core-Shell Nanopillar Arrays: Effect of Ordering on Magneto-Optical Properties

Magneto-optical (MO) coupling incorporates photon-induced change of magnetic polarization that can be adopted in ultrafast switching, optical isolators, mode convertors, and optical data storage components for advanced optical integrated circuits. However, integrating plasmonic, magnetic, and dielectric properties in one single material system poses challenges since one natural material can hardly possess all these functionalities. Here, co-deposition of a three-phase heterostructure composed of a durable conductive nitride matrix with embedded core-shell vertically aligned nanopillars, is demonstrated. The unique coupling between ferromagnetic NiO core and atomically sharp plasmonic Au shell enables strong MO activity out-of-plane at room temperature. Further, a template growth process is applied, which significantly enhances the ordering of the nanopillar array. The ordered nanostructure offers two schemes of spin polarization which result in stronger antisymmetry of Kerr rotation. The presented complex hybrid metamaterial platform with strong magnetic and optical anisotropies is promising for tunable and modulated all-optical-based nanodevices.

Cardiovascular disease in patients with COVID-19: evidence from cardiovascular pathology to treatment

The coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) caused by the novel coronavirus severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) has rapidly developed into a global pneumonia pandemic. Cardiovascular disease is the major comorbidity of COVID-19 patients and is closely related to the severity of COVID-19. SARS-CoV-2 infection can directly or indirectly cause a series of cardiac complications, including acute myocardial injury and myocarditis, heart failure and cardiac arrest, arrhythmia, acute myocardial infarction, cardiogenic shock, Takotsubo cardiomyopathy, and coagulation abnormalities. Intensive research on the SARS-CoV-2-associated cardiovascular complications is urgently needed to elucidate its exact mechanism and to identify potential drug targets, which will help to formulate effective prevention and treatment strategies. Hence, this review will summarize recent progress regarding the effects of COVID-19 on the cardiovascular system and describe the underlying mechanism of cardiovascular injury caused by SARS-CoV-2.

Effective doping control in Sm-doped BiFeO3 thin films via deposition temperature

Sm-doped BiFeO₃ (Bi_0.85Sm_0.15FeO₃, or BSFO) thin films were fabricated on (001) SrTiO₃(STO) substrates by pulsed laser deposition (PLD) over a range of deposition temperatures (600 °C, 640 °C and 670 °C). Detailed analysis of their microstructure via X-ray diffraction (XRD) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) shows the deposition temperature dependence of ferroelectric (FE) and antiferroelectric (AFE) phase formation in BSFO. The Sm dopants are clearly detected by high-resolution scanning transmission electron microscopy (HR-STEM) and prove effective in controlling the ferroelectric properties of BSFO. The BSFO (T _dep = 670 °C) presents larger remnant polarization (Pr) than the other two BSFO (T _dep = 600 °C, 640 °C) and pure BiFeO₃ (BFO) thin films. This study paves a simple way for enhancing the ferroelectric properties of BSFO via deposition temperature and further promoting BFO practical applications.

Probing Halogen-π versus CH-π Interactions in Molecular Balance

Molecular balances based on the dibenzobicyclo[3.2.2]nonane template enable probing of the competition between halogen-π and CH-π interactions. Structural, NMR spectroscopic, and computational analyses revealed that the π system can favorably interact both with C-X or C-H functionalities, depending on the size of the functional group.

Reprogramming of miR-181a/DNA methylation patterns contribute to the maternal nicotine exposure-induced fetal programming of cardiac ischemia-sensitive phenotype in postnatal life

Background: E-cigarette and other novel electronic nicotine delivery systems (ENDS) have recently entered the market at a rapid pace. The community desperately needs answers about the health effects of ENDS. The present study tested the hypothesis that perinatal nicotine exposure (PNE) causes a gender-dependent increase in vulnerability of the heart to ischemia-reperfusion (I/R) injury and cardiac dysfunction in male rat offspring via reprogramming of the miRNA-181a (miR-181a)-mediated signaling pathway and that miR-181a antisense could rescue this phenotype. Methods: Nicotine or saline was administered to pregnant rats via subcutaneous osmotic minipumps from gestational day 4 until postnatal day 10. Cardiac function and molecular biological experiments were conducted in ~3- month-old offspring. Results: PNE enhanced I/R-induced cardiac dysfunction and infarction in adult male but not in female offspring, which was associated with miR-181a over-expression in left ventricle tissues. In addition, PNE enhanced offspring cardiac angiotensin receptor (ATR) expressions via specific CpG hypomethylation of AT₁R/AT₂R promoter. Furthermore, PNE attenuated cardiac lncRNA H19 levels, but up-regulated cardiac TGF-β/Smads family proteins and consequently up-regulated autophagy-related protein (Atg-5, beclin-1, LC3 II, p62) expression in the male offspring. Of importance, treatment with miR-181a antisense eliminated the PNE's effect on miR-181a expression/H19 levels and reversed PNE-mediated I/R-induced cardiac infarction and dysfunction in male offspring. Furthermore, miR-181a antisense also attenuated the effect of PNE on AT₁R/AT₂R/TGF-β/Smads/autophagy-related biomarkers in the male offspring. Conclusion: Our data suggest that PNE could induce a reprogramming of cardiac miR-181a expression/DNA methylation pattern, which epigenetically modulates ATR/TGF-β/autophagy signaling pathways, leading to gender-dependent development of ischemia-sensitive phenotype in postnatal life. Furthermore, miR-181a could severe as a potential therapeutic target for rescuing this phenotype.

Bidirectional tuning of phase transition properties in Pt : VO2 nanocomposite thin films

A phase transition material, VO₂, with a semiconductor-to-metal transition (SMT) near 341 K (68 °C) has attracted significant research interest because of drastic changes in its electrical resistivity and optical dielectric properties. To address its application needs at specific temperatures, tunable SMT temperatures are highly desired. In this work, effective transition temperature (T_c) tuning of VO₂ has been demonstrated via a novel Pt : VO₂ nanocomposite design, i.e., uniform Pt nanoparticles (NPs) embedded in the VO₂ matrix. Interestingly, a bidirectional tuning has been achieved, i.e., the transition temperature can be systematically tuned to as low as 329.16 K or as high as 360.74 K, with the average diameter of Pt NPs increasing from 1.56 to 4.26 nm. Optical properties, including transmittance (T%) and dielectric permittivity (ε') were all effectively tuned accordingly. All Pt : VO₂ nanocomposite thin films maintain reasonable SMT properties, i.e. sharp phase transition and narrow width of thermal hysteresis. The bidirectional T_c tuning is attributed to two factors: the reconstruction of the band structure at the Pt : VO₂ interface and the change of the Pt : VO₂ phase boundary density. This demonstration sheds light on phase transition tuning of VO₂ at both room temperature and high temperature, which provides a promising approach for VO₂-based novel electronics and photonics operating under specific temperatures.

Metal-Free Oxide-Nitride Heterostructure as a Tunable Hyperbolic Metamaterial Platform

Metal-free plasmonic metamaterials with wide-range tunable optical properties are highly desired for various components in future integrated optical devices. Designing a ceramic-ceramic hybrid metamaterial has been theoretically proposed as a solution to this critical optical material demand. However, the processing of such all-ceramic metamaterials is challenging due to difficulties in integrating two very dissimilar ceramic phases as one hybrid system. In this work, an oxide-nitride hybrid metamaterial combining two highly dissimilar ceramic phases, i.e., semiconducting weak ferromagnetic NiO nanorods and conductive plasmonic TiN matrix, has been successfully integrated as a unique vertically aligned nanocomposite form. Highly anisotropic optical properties such as hyperbolic dispersions and strong magneto-optical coupling have been demonstrated under room temperature. The novel functionalities presented show the strong potentials of this new ceramic-ceramic hybrid thin film platform and its future applications in next-generation nanophotonics and magneto-optical integrated devices without the lossy metallic components.

Vertically aligned nanocomposite (BaTiO3)0.8 : (La0.7Sr0.3MnO3)0.2 thin films with anisotropic multifunctionalities

A new two-phase BaTiO₃ : La_0.7Sr_0.3MnO₃ nanocomposite system with a molar ratio of 8 : 2 has been grown on single crystal SrTiO₃ (001) substrates using a one-step pulsed laser deposition technique. Vertically aligned nanocomposite thin films with ultra-thin La_0.7Sr_0.3MnO₃ pillars embedded in the BaTiO₃ matrix have been obtained and the geometry of the pillars varies with deposition frequency. The room temperature multiferroic properties, including ferromagnetism and ferroelectricity, have been demonstrated. Anisotropic ferromagnetism and dielectric constants have been observed, which can be tuned by deposition frequencies. The tunable anisotropic optical properties originated from the conducting pillars in the dielectric matrix structure, which cause different electron transport paths. In addition, tunable band gaps have been discovered in the nanocomposites. This multiferroic and anisotropic system has shown its great potentials towards multiferroics and non-linear optics.

SHP-1 ameliorates nonalcoholic steatohepatitis by inhibiting proinflammatory cytokine production

Inflammation is the main contributor for the pathogenesis of nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH). Src homology region 2 domain-containing phosphatase 1 (SHP-1, also known as PTPN6) is regarded as a negative regulator of inflammation, but its role in NASH remains unknown. Here, hepatocyte-specific Ptpn6 knockout mice (Ptpn6^HKO ) and adenovirus vector-mediated ectopic expression of SHP-1 (AdSHP1) were used to evaluate the role of SHP-1 in a methionine- and choline-deficient diet-induced NASH model. Compared with the control littermates, Ptpn6^HKO mice show exacerbated hepatic steatosis, inflammation, and fibrosis. Additionally, administration of AdSHP1 significantly ameliorates steatohepatitis and inhibits the expression of proinflammatory cytokines, including transforming growth factor-β, interleukin-6, and tumor necrosis factor-α. Our data indicate that SHP-1 could be a potential therapeutic target for NASH.

Through-Space Polar-π Interactions in 2,6-Diarylthiophenols

The front cover artwork is provided by Marijn Maas from the group of Prof. Jasmin Mecinović (University of Southern Denmark). The image shows the stabilization of thiols by aromatic rings, as a result of energetically favorable SH-π interactions in a designed small molecule and in proteins. Read the full text of the Article at 10.1002/cphc.202000132.

Through-Space Polar-π Interactions in 2,6-Diarylthiophenols

Molecular recognition between polar groups and aromatic molecules is fundamentally important to rational drug design. Although it has been well established that many polar functionalities interact with electron-rich aromatic residues through energetically favorable polar-π interactions, there is a limited understanding of the association between thiols and aromatic systems. Herein we report physical-organic chemistry studies on 2,6-diarylthiophenols that possess the central thiophenol ring and two flanking aromatic rings with tunable electronic properties caused by substituents at distant para position. Hammett analysis revealed that pK_a values and proton affinities correlate well with Hammett sigma values of substituents. Additional energy decomposition analysis supported the conclusion that both through-space SH-π interactions and S^- -π interactions contribute to intramolecular stabilization of 2,6-diarylthiophenols.

XPD inhibits cell growth and invasion and enhances chemosensitivity in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma by regulating the PI3K/AKT signaling pathway

Esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) is a lethal disease due to its high aggressiveness. The aim of the present study was to investigate the role of xeroderma pigmentosum complementation group D (XPD) in the growth and invasion of ESCC and to elucidate the potential underlying molecular mechanisms. Western blot analysis and RT-qPCR were used to detect the expression level of XPD in ESCC tissue samples and adjacent normal esophageal tissue samples. The pEGFP-N2/XPD plasmid was transfected into human ESCC cell lines (EC9706 and EC109). The proliferation, apoptosis, migration and invasion of EC9706 or EC109 cells were assessed following transfection with the XPD overexpression plasmid. The chemosensitivity of EC9706 or EC109 cells to cisplatin or fluorouracil was evaluated by CCK-8 assay. The expression levels of phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K)/AKT, nuclear factor (NF)-κB, Janus kinase 2 (JAK2)/signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3) and mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) signaling pathway-related genes were detected by RT-qPCR and western blot analysis. The results demonstrated that the expression level of XPD was markedly lower in ESCC tissue samples than in adjacent normal esophageal tissue samples. The pEGFP-N2/XPD plasmid was successfully transfected into EC9706 or EC109 cells, inducing XPD overexpression. A High XPD expression markedly suppressed cell proliferation, migration and invasion, and increased the apoptotic rate of EC9706 and EC109 cells. Furthermore, the overexpression of XPD significantly increased the chemosensitivity of EC9706 and EC109 cells to cisplatin or fluorouracil. Following XPD overexpression, the expression levels of PI3K, p-AKT, c-Myc, Cyclin D1, Bcl-2, vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-9 were markedly downregulated, while the expression level of p21 was markedly upregulated. On the whole, the findings of the present study demonstrate that XPD inhibits the growth and invasion of EC9706 and EC109 cells, whilst also enhancing the chemosensitivity of EC9706 and EC109 cells to cisplatin or fluorouracil by regulating the PI3K/AKT signaling pathway. XPD may thus be an underlying target for ESCC treatment and drug resistance.

Achieving ferromagnetic insulating properties in La0.9Ba0.1MnO3 thin films through nanoengineering

Strongly correlated manganites have a wide range of fascinating magnetic and electronic properties, one example being the coexistence of ferromagnetic and insulating properties in lightly-doped bulk. However, it is difficult to translate bulk properties to films. Here, this problem is overcome by thin film nanoengineering of the test case system, La_0.9Ba_0.1MnO₃ (LBMO). This was achieved by using vertically aligned nanocomposite (VAN) thin films of LBMO + CeO₂ in which CeO₂ nanocolumns form embedded in a LBMO matrix. The CeO₂ columns produce uniform tensile straining of the LBMO. Also light Ce doping of intrinsic cation vacancies in the LBMO occurs. Together, these factors strongly reduced the double exchange coupling and metallicity. Hence, while standard plain reference films showed an insulator-to-metal transition at >200 K, originating from defects and complex structural relaxation, the VAN LBMO films exhibited ferromagnetic insulating properties (while maintaining a T_c of 188 K). This is the first time that a combined strain + doping method is used in a VAN system to realise exemplary properties which cannot be realised in plain films. This work represents an important step in engineering high performance spintronic and multiferroic thin film devices.

Perovskite Transparent Conducting Oxide for the Design of a Transparent, Flexible, and Self-Powered Perovskite Photodetector

Transparent and flexible electronic devices are highly desired to meet the great demand for next-generation devices that are lightweight, flexible, and portable. Transparent conducting oxides (TCOs), such as indium-tin oxide, serve as fundamental components for the design of transparent and flexible electronic devices. However, indium is rare and expensive. Herein, we report the fabrication of low-cost perovskite SrVO₃ TCO films on transparent and flexible mica substrates and further demonstrate their utilization as a TCO electrode for building a transparent, flexible, and self-powered perovskite photodetector. Superior stable optical transparency and electrical conductivity are retained in SrVO₃ after bending up to 10⁵ cycles. Without an external power source, the constructed all-perovskite photodetector exhibits a high responsivity (42.5 mA W^-1), fast response time (3.09/1.23 ms), and an excellent flexibility and bending stability after dozens of cycles of bending at an extreme 90° bending angle. Our results demonstrate that low-cost and structure-compatible transition metal-based perovskite oxides, such as SrVO₃, as TCO electrodes have huge potential for building high-performance transparent, flexible, and portable smart electronics.

Novel layered Bi3MoMTO9 (MT = Mn, Fe, Co and Ni) thin films with tunable multifunctionalities

Bi3MoMTO9 (BMoMTO; MT, transition metals of Mn, Fe, Co and Ni) thin films with a layered supercell structure have been deposited on LaAlO3 (001) substrates by pulsed laser deposition. Microstructural analysis suggests that pillar-like domains with higher transition metal concentration (e.g., Mn, Fe, Co and Ni) are embedded in the Mo-rich matrix with layered supercell structures. The layered supercell structure of the BMoMTO thin films accounts for the anisotropic multifunctionalities such as the magnetic easy axis along the in-plane direction, and the anisotropic optical properties. Ferroelectricity and ferromagnetism have been demonstrated in the thin films at room temperature, which confirms the multiferroic nature of the system. By varying the transition metal MT in the film, the band gaps of the BMoMTO films can be effectively tuned from 2.44 eV to 2.82 eV, while the out-of-plane dielectric constant of the thin films also varies. The newly discovered layered nanocomposite systems present their potential in ferroelectrics, multiferroics and non-linear optics.

Exosomes Derived From Epigallocatechin Gallate-Treated Cardiomyocytes Attenuated Acute Myocardial Infarction by Modulating MicroRNA-30a

Background

Ischemia-derived exosomes can restrict excessive autophagy by transferring microRNA-30a (miR30a) to cells. Reports have confirmed that epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG) alleviates acute myocardial infarction (AMI) by regulating autophagy; however, research evaluating the communication with cardiomyocytes and exosomes is lacking. This study aimed to explore whether exosomes derived from EGCG-treated cardiomyocytes mitigated AMI by adjusting miR30a to inactivate apoptosis and autophagy.

Methods

Exosomes were extracted from cardiomyocytes, cultured either in control or AMI condition, with or without EGCG pretreatment. The exosome characteristics were analyzed by nanoparticle tracking analyses and transmission electron microscopy. The change in miR30a in cells and exosomes was demonstrated by qRT-PCR. H9c2 or stable miR30a knockdown (miR30a^KD) cell lines were incubated with exosomes derived from EGCG-treated cardiomyocytes in vitro or in vivo. The effect of EGCG and exosomes on I/R-induced cardiomyocyte apoptosis and autophagy was assessed.

Results

EGCG improved the activity of cardiomyocytes, and increased average diameter, concentration, miR30a mRNA level, and specific protein expression in AMI-derived exosomes produced by cardiomyocytes. Moreover, the coincubation of AMI cells with EGCG or exosomes derived from EGCG-treated cardiomyocytes attenuated cardiomyocyte apoptosis and autophagy.

Conclusions

The findings showed that EGCG upregulates miR30a, which was efficiently transferred via exosomes between cardiomyocytes, thereby contributing to the suppression of apoptosis and autophagy. By focusing on the cardiomyocyte microenvironment, we identified a new target of EGCG alleviating AMI by regulating apoptosis and autophagy.

Tunable physical properties in BiAl1-x Mn x O3 thin films with novel layered supercell structures

Morphological control in oxide nanocomposites presents enormous opportunities for tailoring the physical properties. Here, we demonstrate the strong tunability of the magnetic and optical properties of Bi-based layered supercell (LSC) multiferroic structures, i.e., BiAl_1-x Mn _x O_3, by varying the Al : Mn molar ratio. The microstructure of the LSC structure evolves from a supercell structure to Al-rich pillars in the supercell structure as the Al molar ratio increases. The LSC structures present excellent multiferroic properties with preferred in-plane magnetic anisotropy, a tunable band gap and anisotropic dielectric permittivity, all attributed to the microstructure evolution and their anisotropic microstructure. Three different strain relaxation mechanisms are identified that are active during thin film growth. This study provides opportunities for microstructure and physical property tuning which can also be explored in other Bi-based LSC materials with tailorable multiferroic and optical properties.

Influenza a virus and Streptococcus pneumonia coinfection potentially promotes bacterial colonization and enhances B lymphocyte depression and reduction

Influenza has frequently been epidemic in recent years. However, the mechanisms of severe pneumonia with postinfluenza Streptococcus pneumoniae (SP) secondary infection have not been fully understood. In this study, we explored the mechanisms of pneumonia in postinfluenza A virus (IAV) infection via a mouse model. Mice were intranasally inoculated with SP three days after IAV inoculation. We then collected samples at three time points to dynamically observe the pathological progression. In IAV infection alone, lymphocyte infiltration and widened alveolar intervals were observed. In the blood, levels of the CD19+, CD19+CD21+ and CD19+CD79β+B lymphocyte subpopulations were reduced, and IFN-γ and IL-10 were elevated. Slight atrophy was seen in the spleen, which was due to splenic B lymphocyteinitiated apoptosis through the mitochondrial pathway. When SP infection occurred after IAV infection, the pulmonary inflammation was significantly aggravated; a fair number of lymphocytes and neutrophils infiltrated simultaneously with exfoliated bronchial epithelial cells, vascular endothelial cells, widened alveolar septum and hemorrhaging. Increasing edema fluid and bacteria accumulated in the alveolar cavity. Decreased CD19+, CD19+CD21+ and CD19+CD79β+B lymphocyte subpopulations and increased interferon gamma (IFN-γ) or interleukin 10 (IL-10) were more prominent compared to those with viral infection alone. Spleen atrophy resulting from coinfection was more obvious because of massive splenic B lymphocyte apoptosis through the mitochondrial pathway compared to viral infection alone. This study shows that although inflammation caused by SP infection alone was temporary, preceding IAV infection provided favorable conditions for SP colonization and multiplication by destroying lung structure and suppressing humoral immunity. Synergistic IAV-SP coinfection is likely to facilitate more SP colonization and promote B lymphocyte-suppression and reduction. Eventually, the pneumonia worsened.