Anthraquinone-based polymer modified BiVO4 photoanode with strong electron-withdrawing functional groups for boasting photoelectrochemical water oxidation

The photoelectrochemical (PEC) performance ofBiVO4 is limited by sluggish water oxidation kinetics and severe carrier recombination. Herein, a novel high-performance BiVO4/NiFe-NOAQ photoanode is prepared by a simple one-step hydrothermal method, using BiVO4 and 1-Nitroanthraquinone (NOAQ) as raw materials. The BiVO4/NiFe-NOAQ photoanode has an excellent photocurrent density of 5.675 mA cm-2 at 1.23 VRHE, which is 3.35 times higher than that of the pure BiVO4 (1.693 mA cm-2) photoanode. The BiVO4/NiFe-NOAQ shows a significant improvement in charge separation efficiency (86.12 %) and charge injection efficiency (87.86 %). The improvement is ascribable to the NiFe-NOAQ form a type II heterojunction with BiVO4 to inhibit carrier recombination. More importantly, the kinetic isotope experiment suggests that the proton-coupled electron transfer (PCET) process can enhance the charge transfer of BiVO4/NiFe-NOAQ. The contact angle measurements show that modifying functional groups enhanced the hydrophilicity of BiVO4/NiFe-NOAQ, which can further accelerate the PCET process. The XPS and PL results as well as the tauc plot indicate that the strong electron-withdrawing ability of -NO2 which can promote the extension of π conjugation, results in more π electron delocalization and produces more efficient active sites, thus achieving efficient photoelectrochemical water oxidation.

A novel injectable thermo/photo dual-crosslinking hydrogel based on modified chitosan for fast sealing open globe injury

Open globe injuries (OGIs) demand immediate attention to prevent further complications and improve vision prognosis. Herein, we developed a thermo/photo dual-crosslinking injectable hydrogel, HBC_m_Arg, for rapidly sealing OGIs in emergency ophthalmic cases. HBC_m_Arg was prepared with arginine and methacrylic anhydride modified hydroxybutyl chitosan (HBC). HBC_m_Arg was initially in liquid form at 25 °C, enabling easy injection at the injury site. After reaching the ocular surface temperature, it underwent reversible heat-induced gelation to achieve in situ transformation. Further, HBC_m_Arg was capable of rapid photocrosslinking under UV light, forming a dual network structure to bolster mechanical strength, thereby facilitating effective OGI closure. Biocompatibility assessments, including in vitro studies with three ocular cell types and in vivo experiments on rabbit eyes, confirmed the safety profile of HBC_m_Arg. Ex vivo and in vivo burst pressure tests demonstrated the hydrogel's ability to promptly restore intraocular pressure and withstand elevated pressures, underscoring its potential for OGI stabilization. Additionally, the suitable degradation of HBC_m_Arg within ocular tissues, coupled with its stability in ex vivo assessments, presented a delicate balance between stability and biodegradability. In conclusion, HBC_m_Arg holds promise for improving emergency ophthalmic care by providing a rapid, effective, and safe way to seal OGIs in critical situations.

Racial/ethnic disparities in exposure to e-cigarette advertising among U.S. youth

OBJECTIVES

This study aims to assess exposure to e-cigarette advertising across multiple marketing channels among U.S. youth and to examine whether racial/ethnic disparities exist in exposure to e-cigarette advertisements.

STUDY DESIGN

This is a cross-sectional study.

METHODS

Cross-sectional data were drawn from a longitudinal survey of participants recruited from two nationally representative panels (NORC's AmeriSpeak® and GfK's KnowledgePanel). A total of 2043 youth aged 13-17 completed the initial 2018 survey, and 2013 youth completed the follow-up survey in 2019 (including a replenishment sample of 690 youth). Outcome variables were self-reported e-cigarette advertisement exposure in the past three months through various sources, such as television, point of sale, and online/social media. Generalized estimating equation models were used to estimate the adjusted odds ratios (AOR) of the association between racial/ethnic identity and e-cigarette advertisement exposure.

RESULTS

The prevalence of reported exposure to e-cigarette advertisements through any channel was 79.8% (95% CI: 77.1-82.2) in 2018 and 74.9% (95% CI: 72.5-77.1) in 2019, respectively. Point of sale was the most common source of e-cigarette advertisement exposure in both years. Non-Hispanic Black and non-Hispanic Asian youth were more likely to report exposure to e-cigarette advertisements through television (AOR = 2.07, 95% CI: 1.44-2.99 and AOR = 2.11, 95% CI: 1.17-3.82, respectively) and online/social media (AOR = 1.61; 95% CI: 1.11-2.33 and AOR = 1.99, 95% CI: 1.10-3.59, respectively) channels compared with non-Hispanic White youth.

CONCLUSIONS

A substantial proportion of U.S. youth reported exposure to e-cigarette advertising through a variety of marketing channels. Significant racial/ethnic disparities existed, with non-Hispanic Black and Asian youth reporting more marketing exposure than their non-Hispanic White counterparts.

A prospective cohort study exploring the impact of tonsillectomy on feeding difficulties in children

OBJECTIVES

Paediatric feeding difficulties are common, affecting up to 25% of otherwise healthy children, symptoms include food refusal, gagging, choking, and excessive mealtime duration. These symptoms are commonly described in pre-operative discussions about tonsillectomy. This prospective study explores the impact of tonsillectomy on paediatric feeding difficulties.

DESIGN

This prospective cohort study invited caregivers of children undergoing tonsillectomy to complete a PediEAT questionnaire about their children's feeding behaviours, pre and post-operatively. The study was completed in two phases with 9 questions administered in phase 1 and three additional questions added for phase 2. A free text comments box was also provided. Responses were graded from 0 to 5, where 0 is 'never a problem' and 5 is 'always a problem' with eating behaviours.

SETTING

The study was conducted at our institution, a tertiary paediatric ENT unit.

PARTICIPANTS

Children aged between 6 months - 7 years undergoing tonsillectomy for any indication were invited to participate.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES

Changes to the Pedi-EAT scores pre and post operatively were the main outcome measure.

RESULTS

102 participants were recruited between January 2020 and January 2022. The mean age of participants was 4.1 years, 87% had a concurrent adenoidectomy. The mean time to completion of post-operative questionnaire was 23 weeks after surgery. 9 of the 12 questions showed a statistically significant improvement in post-operative scores using a paired student t-test (p < 0.05). The most significant improvements related to 'gets tired from eating and is not able to finish' (1.49 pre-op, 0.91 post op, p < 0.01) and 'eats food that needs to be chewed' (1.4 pre-op, 0.72 post-op, p < 0.01). 13% of participants only underwent tonsillectomy and this group also showed a statistically significant improvement in fatigue during eating (p < 0.05).

CONCLUSION

Symptoms of fatigue during eating and avoidance of food requiring mastication are most likely to improve following tonsillectomy in children.

Retraction: Strontium-doped gelatin scaffolds promote M2 macrophage switch and angiogenesis through modulating the polarization of neutrophils

Retraction of 'Strontium-doped gelatin scaffolds promote M2 macrophage switch and angiogenesis through modulating the polarization of neutrophils' by Tao Li et al., Biomater. Sci., 2021, 9, 2931-2946, https://doi.org/10.1039/D0BM02126A.

Small RNA SmsR1 modulates acidogenicity and cariogenic virulence by affecting protein acetylation in Streptococcus mutans

Post-transcriptional regulation by small RNAs and post-translational modifications (PTM) such as lysine acetylation play fundamental roles in physiological circuits, offering rapid responses to environmental signals with low energy consumption. Yet, the interplay between these regulatory systems remains underexplored. Here, we unveil the cross-talk between sRNAs and lysine acetylation in Streptococcus mutans, a primary cariogenic pathogen known for its potent acidogenic virulence. Through systematic overexpression of sRNAs in S. mutans, we identified sRNA SmsR1 as a critical player in modulating acidogenicity, a key cariogenic virulence feature in S. mutans. Furthermore, combined with the analysis of predicted target mRNA and transcriptome results, potential target genes were identified and experimentally verified. A direct interaction between SmsR1 and 5'-UTR region of pdhC gene was determined by in vitro binding assays. Importantly, we found that overexpression of SmsR1 reduced the expression of pdhC mRNA and increased the intracellular concentration of acetyl-CoA, resulting in global changes in protein acetylation levels. This was verified by acetyl-proteomics in S. mutans, along with an increase in acetylation level and decreased activity of LDH. Our study unravels a novel regulatory paradigm where sRNA bridges post-transcriptional regulation with post-translational modification, underscoring bacterial adeptness in fine-tuning responses to environmental stress.

A revamped rat reference genome improves the discovery of genetic diversity in laboratory rats

The seventh iteration of the reference genome assembly for Rattus norvegicus-mRatBN7.2-corrects numerous misplaced segments and reduces base-level errors by approximately 9-fold and increases contiguity by 290-fold compared with its predecessor. Gene annotations are now more complete, improving the mapping precision of genomic, transcriptomic, and proteomics datasets. We jointly analyzed 163 short-read whole-genome sequencing datasets representing 120 laboratory rat strains and substrains using mRatBN7.2. We defined ∼20.0 million sequence variations, of which 18,700 are predicted to potentially impact the function of 6,677 genes. We also generated a new rat genetic map from 1,893 heterogeneous stock rats and annotated transcription start sites and alternative polyadenylation sites. The mRatBN7.2 assembly, along with the extensive analysis of genomic variations among rat strains, enhances our understanding of the rat genome, providing researchers with an expanded resource for studies involving rats.

Fundamental, mechanism and development of hydration lubrication: From bio-inspiration to artificial manufacturing

Friction and lubrication are ubiquitous in all kinds of movements and play a vital role in the smooth operation of production machinery. Water is indispensable both in the lubrication systems of natural organisms and in hydration lubrication systems. There exists a high degree of similarity between these systems, which has driven the development of hydration lubrication from biomimetic to artificial manufacturing. In particular, significant advancements have been made in the understanding of the mechanisms of hydration lubrication over the past 30 years. This enhanced understanding has further stimulated the exploration of biomimetic inspiration from natural hydration lubrication systems, to develop novel artificial hydration lubrication systems that are cost-effective, easily transportable, and possess excellent capability. This review summarizes the recent experimental and theoretical advances in the understanding of hydration-lubrication processes. The entire paper is divided into three parts. Firstly, surface interactions relevant to hydration lubrication are discussed, encompassing topics such as hydrogen bonding, hydration layer, electric double layer force, hydration force, and Stribeck curve. The second part begins with an introduction to articular cartilage in biomaterial lubrication, discussing its compositional structure and lubrication mechanisms. Subsequently, three major categories of bio-inspired artificial manufacturing lubricating material systems are presented, including hydrogels, polymer brushes (e.g., neutral, positive, negative and zwitterionic brushes), hydration lubricant additives (e.g., nano-particles, polymers, ionic liquids), and their related lubrication mechanism is also described. Finally, the challenges and perspectives for hydration lubrication research and materials development are presented.

STUB1 exacerbates calcium oxalate-induced kidney injury by modulating reactive oxygen species-mediated cellular autophagy via regulating CFTR ubiquitination

The formation of calcium oxalate (CaOx) crystals in the kidneys leads to renal epithelial damage and the progression of crystalline nephropathy. This study investigated the role of STIP1 homology and U-box protein 1 (STUB1), an E3 ubiquitin ligase, and cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR), a chloride channel, in CaOx-related renal damage and autophagy regulation. HK-2 cells were treated with various doses of CaOx monohydrate (COM) to simulate kidney injury in vitro. Cell viability, reactive oxygen species (ROS) production, and apoptosis were assessed. The regulation of CFTR ubiquitination by STUB1 was confirmed by immunoprecipitation. An in vivo model was established by injecting mice with glyoxylate. COM treatment dose-dependently decreased cell viability, increased TNF-α and ROS production, and induced apoptotic cell death in HK-2 cells. COM-treated cells also showed decreased CFTR protein expression. CFTR overexpression improved cell viability and reduced ROS production in COM-stimulated HK-2 cells. Bioinformatics analysis predicted CFTR's ubiquitination binding site for STUB1. Further analysis confirmed the role of STUB1 as a ubiquitin ligase in CFTR degradation. Knockdown of STUB1 upregulated CFTR expression, while STUB1 overexpression had the opposite effect. Knockdown of CFTR reversed the impact of STUB1 deficiency on autophagy. The in vivo experiments showed that CFTR overexpression attenuated kidney tissue damage and CaOx deposition in mice. STUB1-mediated CFTR ubiquitination plays a crucial role in mitigating calcium oxalate-related renal damage by regulating autophagy. Targeting the STUB1/CFTR axis may hold therapeutic potential for treating kidney injury associated with calcium oxalate deposition.

Multifunctional Cellulose Nanocrystals Electrolyte Additive Enable Ultrahigh-Rate and Dendrite-Free Zn Anodes for Rechargeable Aqueous Zinc Batteries

The design of aqueous zinc (Zn) chemistry energy storage with high rate-capability and long serving life is a great challenge due to its inhospitable coordination environment and dismal interfacial chemistry. To bridge this big gap, herein, we build a highly reversible aqueous Zn battery by taking advantages of the biomass-derived cellulose nanocrystals (CNCs) electrolyte additive with unique physical and chemical characteristics simultaneously. The CNCs additive not only serves as fast ion carriers for enhancing Zn2+ transport kinetics but regulates the coordination environment and interface chemistry to form dynamic and self-repairing protective interphase, resulting in building ultra-stable Zn anodes under extreme conditions. As a result, the engineered electrolyte system achieves a superior average coulombic efficiency of 97.27 % under 140 mA cm-2, and steady charge-discharge for 982 h under 50 mA cm-2, 50 mAh cm-2, which proposes a universal pathway to challenge aqueous Zn chemistry in green, sustainable, and large-scale applications.

Revealing the influence of exogenously inoculated Bacillus spp. on the microbiota and metabolic potential of medium-temperature Daqu: A meta-omics analysis

To determine the unique contribution of the bioturbation to the properties of the medium-temperature Daqu, we investigated the differences in microbiota and metabolic composition using the meta-omics approach. Bioturbation increased the amounts of microbial specie and influenced the contribution of the core microbiota to the metabolome. Specifically, inoculated synthetic microbiota (MQB) enhanced the abundance of Bacillus amyloliquefaciens, while Bacillus licheniformis (MQH) increased the abundance of the two Aspergillus species and four species level of lactic acid bacteria. These changes of the microbial profiles significantly increased the potentials of carbohydrate metabolism, amino acid metabolism, and biosynthesis of ester compounds. Consequently, both patterns significantly increased the content of volatile compounds and free amino acids, which were 27.61% and 21.57% (MQB), as well as 15.14% and 17.83% (MQH), respectively. In addition, the contents of lactic acid in MQB and MQH decreased by 65.42% and 42.99%, respectively, closely related to the up- or down-regulation of the expression of their corresponding functional enzyme genes. These results suggested that bioturbation drove the assembly of the core microbiota, rather than becoming critical functional species. Overall, our study provides new insights into the functional role of exogenous isolates in the Daqu microecosystem.

Fabric-like rhodium-nickel-tungsten oxide nanosheets for highly-efficient electrocatalytic H2 generation in an alkaline electrolyte

Transition-metal based oxides with custom-designed phases are effective oxygen evolution reaction (OER) electrocatalysts. However, their applications in water splitting are limited because of insufficient catalytic performance in hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) in alkaline media. In this work, we engineer fabric-like rhodium-nickel-tungsten oxide nanosheets (Rh2O3-NiWO4) on plasma-treated nickel foam (PNF) with a one-step hydrothermal approach for potential applications as industry-grade HER electrocatalysts. Benefiting from rich active sites exposed on the heterostructure, low hydrogen binding energy on Rh, and enhanced charge delivery rates, Rh2O3-NiWO4/PNF catalyst exhibits superior HER activity than that achieved by a commercially available Pt/C catalyst. This is evidenced by the fact that the overpotentials of Rh2O3-NiWO4/PNF for delivering current densities of 10 (j10) and 1000 (j1000) mA cm-2 in 1.0 M KOH are merely 19 and 293 mV, respectively. Meanwhile, the small Tafel slope (18 mV dec-1) of the optimized catalyst manifests the fast HER kinetics. In addition, Rh2O3-NiWO4/PNF exhibits ultra-stable HER performance, and the current density (j100) only decrease 7.69 % after 100 h chronoamperometric curves (I-t) test. The present work provides a new approach for designing high-performance, low-cost 2D electrocatalysts for H2 production and other clean energy-related applications.

Association between neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio and outcomes in hospitalized patients with left ventricular thrombus

BACKGROUND

Left ventricular thrombus (LVT) is a severe cardiovascular complication occurring in approximately 10% of patients with acute anterior ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction. This study aimed to evaluate the association between neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) and in-hospital major adverse cardiovascular and cerebrovascular events (MACCE) in patients with LVT.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

This multicenter retrospective study was conducted between January 2000 and June 2022 in hospitalized patients with LVT. The outcome included in-hospital MACCE. The association between NLR and in-hospital MACCE was measured by odds ratios (ORs). The restricted cubic spline model was used for dose-response analysis.

RESULTS

A total of 197 LVT patients from four centers were included for analysis in this study. MACCE occurred in 13.7% (27/197) of the patients. After adjusting for estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR), D-dimer, and age, the OR for MACCE comparing first to the third tertile of NLR was 13.93 [95% confidence interval: 2.37-81.77, P = 0.004, P-trend = 0.008]. When further adjusting for etiology and heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF), the association remained statistically significant. Spline regression models showed an increasing trend in the incidence of MACCEs with NLR both in crude and adjusted models. Subgroup analyses showed that a high NLR may be correlated with poorer outcomes for LVT patients older than 65 years, or with hypertension, dyslipidemia, low ejection fraction, liver, and renal dysfunctions.

CONCLUSION

In conclusion, these findings suggested that higher NLR may be associated with an increased risk of in-hospital MACCE in patients with LVT.

ATR limits Rad18-mediated PCNA monoubiquitination to preserve replication fork and telomerase-independent telomere stability

Upon replication fork stalling, the RPA-coated single-stranded DNA (ssDNA) formed behind the fork activates the ataxia telangiectasia-mutated and Rad3-related (ATR) kinase, concomitantly initiating Rad18-dependent monoubiquitination of PCNA. However, whether crosstalk exists between these two events and the underlying physiological implications of this interplay remain elusive. In this study, we demonstrate that during replication stress, ATR phosphorylates human Rad18 at Ser403, an adjacent residue to a previously unidentified PIP motif (PCNA-interacting peptide) within Rad18. This phosphorylation event disrupts the interaction between Rad18 and PCNA, thereby restricting the extent of Rad18-mediated PCNA monoubiquitination. Consequently, excessive accumulation of the tumor suppressor protein SLX4, now characterized as a novel reader of ubiquitinated PCNA, at stalled forks is prevented, contributing to the prevention of stalled fork collapse. We further establish that ATR preserves telomere stability in alternative lengthening of telomere (ALT) cells by restricting Rad18-mediated PCNA monoubiquitination and excessive SLX4 accumulation at telomeres. These findings shed light on the complex interplay between ATR activation, Rad18-dependent PCNA monoubiquitination, and SLX4-associated stalled fork processing, emphasizing the critical role of ATR in preserving replication fork stability and facilitating telomerase-independent telomere maintenance.

Effect of femtosecond laser process parameters on the thermal denaturation degree of skin tissue

The influence of femtosecond laser parameters on the degree of thermal denaturation was studied experimentally. The relationship between the degree of thermal denaturation and the characteristic parameters of skin microstructure and the secondary structure of skin tissue proteins in characterizing the degree of thermal damage was analyzed. The results showed the interaction of laser power, laser power, and scanning speed had a significant effect on the degree of thermal denaturation; greater degrees of thermal denaturation were associated with larger second-order moments of the texture angle of the skin microtissue and smaller entropy values and contrast, indicating a greater degree of thermal damage; and higher peak temperature, the lower peak intensity of Raman spectra, decrease in the percentage area of α-helix fitted curves and increase in the percentage area of β-sheet and β-turn fitted curves indicate that the protein is denatured to a large extent that means thermal damage is large.

CGRP attenuates pulmonary vascular remodeling by inhibiting the cGAS-STING-NFκB pathway in pulmonary arterial hypertension

BACKGROUND

Hyperproliferation, inflammation, and mitochondrial abnormalities in pulmonary artery smooth muscle cells (PASMCs) underlie the pathological mechanisms of vascular remodeling in pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH). Cytoplasmic mtDNA activates the cGAS-STING-NFκB pathway and secretes pro-inflammatory cytokines that may be involved in the pathogenesis of PAH. Calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) acts as a vasodilator to regulate patterns of cellular energy metabolism and has vasodilatory and anti-inflammatory effects.

METHODS

The role of the cGAS-STING-NFκB signaling pathway in PAH vascular remodeling and the regulation of CGRP in the cGAS-STING-NFκB signaling pathway were investigated by echocardiography, morphology, histology, enzyme immunoassay, and fluorometry.

RESULTS

Monocrotaline (MCT) could promote right heart hypertrophy, pulmonary artery intima thickening, and inflammatory cell infiltration in rats. Cinnamaldehyde (CA)-induced CGRP release alleviates MCT-induced vascular remodeling in PAH. CGRP reduces PDGF-BB-induced proliferation, and migration, and downregulates smooth muscle cell phenotypic proteins. In vivo and in vitro experiments confirm that the mitochondria of PASMCs were damaged during PAH, and the superoxide and mtDNA produced by injured mitochondria activate the cGAS-STING-NFκB pathway to promote PAH process, while CGRP could play an anti-PAH role by protecting the mitochondria and inhibiting the cGAS-STING-NFκB pathway through PKA.

CONCLUSION

This study identifies that CGRP attenuates cGAS-STING-NFκB axis-mediated vascular remodeling in PAH through PKA.

SIRT3 alleviates high glucose-induced chondrocyte injury through the promotion of autophagy and suppression of apoptosis in osteoarthritis progression

A growing amount of epidemiological evidence proposes diabetes mellitus (DM) to be an independent risk factor for osteoarthritis (OA). Sirtuin 3 (SIRT3), which is mainly located in mitochondria, belongs to the family of nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD+)-dependent protein deacetylases and is involved in the physiological and pathological processes of cell regulation. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of SIRT3 on diabetic OA and underlying mechanisms in the prevention of type 2 DM (T2DM)-induced articular cartilage damage. High-fat and high-sugar diets combined with streptozotocin (STZ) injection were used for establishing an experimental T2DM rat model. The destabilization of medial meniscus (DMM) surgery was applied to induce the rat OA model. Primary rat chondrocytes were cultivated with a concentration of gradient glucose. Treatment with intra-articular injection of SIRT3 overexpression lentivirus was achieved in vivo, and intervention with SIRT3 knockdown was performed using siRNA transfection in vitro. High glucose content was found to activate inflammatory response, facilitate apoptosis, downregulate autophagy, and exacerbate mitochondrial dysfunction in a dose-dependent manner in rat chondrocytes, which can be deteriorated by SIRT3 knockdown. In addition, articular cartilage damage was found to be more severe in T2DM-OA rats than in DMM-induced OA rats, which can be mitigated by the intra-articular injection of SIRT3 overexpression lentivirus. Targeting SIRT3 is a potential therapeutic strategy for the alleviation of diabetic OA.

Understanding the effect of spatially separated Cu and acid sites in zeolite catalysts on oxidation of methane

Unraveling the effect of spatially separated bifunctional sites on catalytic reactions is significant yet challenging. In this report, we investigate the role of spatial separation on the oxidation of methane in a series of Cu-exchanged aluminosilicate zeolites. Regulation of the bifunctional sites is done either through studying a physical mixture of Cu-exchanged zeolites and acidic zeolites or by systematically varying the Cu and acid density within a family of zeolite materials. We show that separated Cu and acid sites are beneficial for the formation of hydrocarbons while high-density Cu sites, which are closer together, facilitate the production of CO2. By contrast, a balance of the spatial separation of Cu and acid sites shows more favorable formation of methanol. This work will further guide approaches to methane oxidation to methanol and open an avenue for promoting hydrocarbon synthesis using methanol as an intermediate.

Identification and characterization of the critical genes encoding Cd-induced enhancement of SOD isozymes activities in Zhe-Maidong (Ophiopogon japonicus)

Superoxide dismutase (SOD) protects plants from abiotic stress-induced reactive oxygen species (ROS) damage. Here, the effects of cadmium (Cd) exposure on ROS accumulation and SOD isozymes, as well as the identification of significant SOD isozyme genes, were investigated under different Cd stress treatments to Zhe-Maidong (Ophiopogon japonicus). The exposure to Cd stress resulted in a notable elevation in the SOD activity in roots. Cu/ZnSODa and Cu/ZnSODb were the most critical SOD isozymes in response to Cd stress, as indicated by the detection results for SOD isozymes. A total of 22 OjSOD genes were identified and classified into three subgroups, including 10 OjCu/ZnSODs, 6 OjMnSODs, and 6 OjFeSODs, based on the analysis of conserved motif and phylogenetic tree. Cu/ZnSOD-15, Cu/ZnSOD-18, Cu/ZnSOD-20, and Cu/ZnSOD-22 were the main genes that control the increase in SOD activity under Cd stress, as revealed via quantitative PCR and transcriptome analysis. Additionally, under various heavy metal stress (Cu2+, Fe2+, Zn2+, Mn2+), Cu/ZnSOD-15, Cu/ZnSOD-18, and Cu/ZnSOD-22 gene expression were significantly upregulated, indicating that these three genes play a critical part in resisting heavy metal stress. The molecular docking experiments performed on the interaction between oxygen ion (O2•-) and OjSOD protein have revealed that the critical amino acid residues involved in the binding of Cu/ZnSOD-22 to the substrate were Pro135, Ile136, Ile140, and Arg144. Our findings provide a solid foundation for additional functional investigations on the OjSOD genes, as well as suggestions for improving genetic breeding and agricultural management strategies to increase Cd resistance in O. japonicus.

Effect of endoscopic therapy and drug therapy on prognosis and rebleeding in patients with esophagogastric variceal bleeding

Esophagogastric variceal bleeding (EVB) is one of the common digestive system emergencies with poor prognosis and high rate of rebleeding after treatment. To explore the effects of endoscopic therapy and drug therapy on the prognosis and rebleeding of patients with EVB, and then select better treatment methods to effectively improve the prognosis. From January 2013 to December 2022, 965 patients with EVB who were hospitalized in gastroenterology Department of the 940 Hospital of Joint Logistic Support Forces of PLA were retrospectively analyzed. Patients were divided into endoscopic treatment group (ET, n = 586) and drug treatment group (DT, n = 379). Propensity score matching (PSM) analysis was performed in both groups, and the general information, efficacy and length of hospital stay were recorded. The patients were followed up for 3 months after bleeding control to determine whether rebleeding occurred. There were 286 cases in each group after PSM. Compared with DT group, ET had higher treatment success rate (P < 0.001), lower rebleeding rate (P < 0.001), lower mortality rate within 3 months, and no significant difference in total hospital stay (P > 0.05). Compared with drug therapy, endoscopic treatment of EVB has short-term efficacy advantages, and can effectively reduce the incidence of rebleeding and mortality within 3 months.

Oncogenic Roles of Laminin Subunit Gamma-2 in Intrahepatic Cholangiocarcinoma via Promoting EGFR Translation

Intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (iCCA) is a highly lethal biliary epithelial cancer in the liver. Here, Laminin subunit gamma-2 (LAMC2) with important oncogenic roles in iCCA is discovered. In a total of 231 cholangiocarcinoma patients (82% of iCCA patients) across four independent cohorts, LAMC2 is significantly more abundant in iCCA tumor tissue compared to normal bile duct and non-tumor liver. Among 26.3% of iCCA patients, LAMC2 gene is amplified, contributing to its over-expression. Functionally, silencing LAMC2 significantly blocks tumor formation in orthotopic iCCA mouse models. Mechanistically, it promotes EGFR protein translation via interacting with nascent unglycosylated EGFR in the endoplasmic reticulum (ER), resulting in activated EGFR signaling. LAMC2-mediated EGFR translation also depends on its interaction with the ER chaperone BiP via their C-terminus. Together LAMC2 and BiP generate a binding "pocket" of nascent EGFR and facilitate EGFR translation. Consistently, LAMC2-high iCCA patients have poor prognosis in two iCCA cohorts. LAMC2-high iCCA cells are highly sensitive to EGFR tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) treatment both in vitro and in vivo. Together, these data demonstrate LAMC2 as an oncogenic player in iCCA by promoting EGFR translation and an indicator to identify iCCA patients who may benefit from available EGFR-targeted TKIs therapies.

Adherence to the atrial fibrillation better care pathway and its associated factors among rural patients with atrial fibrillation in China: A cross-sectional study

BACKGROUND

The atrial fibrillation better care (ABC) pathway is an effective strategy for the integrated management of atrial fibrillation (AF). Current data on adherence to the ABC pathway among rural patients with AF in China are limited.

OBJECTIVES

To investigated adherence to the ABC pathway and its associated factors among rural patients with AF in China.

METHODS

In the cross-sectional study, we recruited 870 rural patients with AF from July 2022 to July 2023 in China. AF-related sociodemographic and clinical data was collected.

RESULTS

Among the 870 rural patients with AF, 437 (50.23 %) were male, 714 (82.07 %) were ≥65 years old. The level of adherence to ABC pathway was extremely low (5.75 %), and its associated factors included patients ≥75 years (compared with those <65 years, OR=0.165, 95 %CI: 0.065-0.417, P < 0.001), junior middle school and senior middle school education or above (compared with primary school education or below, OR=3.441, 95 %CI: 1.144-10.351, P = 0.028; OR=11.438, 95 %CI: 3.758-34.814, P < 0.001), average monthly household income per capita 1000-3000 RMB and >3000 RMB (compared with <1000 RMB, OR=3.993, 95 %CI: 1.343-11.877, P = 0.013; OR=4.474, 95 %CI: 1.478-13.541, P = 0.008), persistent AF (compared with paroxysmal AF, OR=0.062, 95 %CI: 0.008-0.466, P = 0.007) and multimorbidity (OR=0.356, 95 %CI: 0.163-0.781, P = 0.010).

CONCLUSIONS

There is an urgent need to develop targeted interventions and national policies to improve the adherence to the ABC pathway of rural AF patients in China.

UNVEILING THE PROTECTIVE MECHANISMS OF PUERARIN AGAINST ACUTE LUNG INJURY: A COMPREHENSIVE EXPLORATION OF THE ROLES AND MECHANISMS OF MST1/ERS SIGNALING

OBJECTIVES

Puerarin, the principal active constituent extracted from Pueraria, is believed to confer protection against sepsis-induced lung injury. The study aimed to elucidate the role and mechanism of Mst1/ERS in puerarin-mediated protection against acute lung injury (ALI).

METHODS

Monolayer vascular endothelial cell permeability was assessed by gauging the paracellular flow of FITC-dextran 40,000 (FD40). ELISA was employed for the quantification of inflammatory cytokines. Identification of target proteins was conducted through Western blotting. Histological alterations and apoptosis were scrutinized using H&E staining and TUNEL staining, respectively. The ultrastructure of the endoplasmic reticulum was observed via transmission electron microscopy.

RESULTS

Puerarin significantly protected mice from LPS-induced ALI, reducing lung interstitial width, neutrophil and lymphocyte infiltration, pulmonary interstitial and alveolar edema, and lung apoptosis. Puerarin treatment also markedly attenuated levels of TNF-α and IL-1β in both alveolar lavage fluid and serum. Furthermore, puerarin significantly attenuated LPS-induced increases in Mst1, GRP78, CHOP, and Caspase12 protein expression and blunted LPS-induced decrease in ZO-1 protein expression in lung tissues. Puerarin obviously reduced endoplasmic reticulum expansion and vesiculation. Similarly, puerarin significantly mitigated the LPS-induced reduction in HUVEC cell viability and ZO-1 expression. Puerarin also attenuated LPS-induced increase in apoptosis, TNF-α and IL-1β, FD40 flux, and Mst1, GRP78, CHOP, and Caspase12 expression in HUVEC cells. Nevertheless, the inhibitory impact of puerarin on vascular endothelial cell injury, lung injury, and endoplasmic reticulum stress (ERS) was diminished by Mst1 overexpression.

CONCLUSION

These findings demonstrated that the Mst1/ERS signaling pathway played a pivotal role in the development of LPS-induced vascular endothelial cell dysfunction and ALI. Puerarin exhibited the ability to attenuate LPS-induced vascular endothelial cell dysfunction and ALI by inhibiting the Mst1/ERS signaling pathway.

FUS reads histone H3K36me3 to regulate alternative polyadenylation

Complex organisms generate differential gene expression through the same set of DNA sequences in distinct cells. The communication between chromatin and RNA regulates cellular behavior in tissues. However, little is known about how chromatin, especially histone modifications, regulates RNA polyadenylation. In this study, we found that FUS was recruited to chromatin by H3K36me3 at gene bodies. The H3K36me3 recognition of FUS was mediated by the proline residues in the ZNF domain. After these proline residues were mutated or H3K36me3 was abolished, FUS dissociated from chromatin and bound more to RNA, resulting in an increase in polyadenylation sites far from stop codons genome-wide. A proline mutation corresponding to a mutation in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis contributed to the hyperactivation of mitochondria and hyperdifferentiation in mouse embryonic stem cells. These findings reveal that FUS is an H3K36me3 reader protein that links chromatin-mediated alternative polyadenylation to human disease.

Total neoadjuvant therapy for locally advanced rectal cancer: a three-group propensity score matched study

PURPOSE

Total neoadjuvant therapy (TNT) has emerged as a therapeutic approach for locally advanced rectal cancer (LARC). However, the optimal chemotherapy cycles within TNT remain uncertain. This study aimed to evaluate and compare the prognostic efficacy of varying cycles of chemotherapy during TNT for LARC.

METHODS

Patients diagnosed with LARC (T3-4N0M0/T1-4N1-2M0), who underwent TNT or chemoradiotherapy followed by total mesorectal excision (TME) between 2015 and 2020, were retrospective included. Patients were categorized into three groups based on their neoadjuvant strategy: CRT (long-course chemoradiotherapy), STNT (long-course CRT with one to three cycles of chemotherapy), and LTNT (long-course CRT with four or more cycles of chemotherapy). Propensity score matching (PSM) based on gender, age, body mass index, tumor distance from the anal verge, clinical T stage, clinical N stage, and mesorectal fascia status was employed to reduce confounding bias. Primary endpoints were disease-free survival (DFS) and metastasis-free survival (MFS).

RESULTS

The study comprised 372 patients, with 73 patients in each group after PSM. Compared with CRT, both STNT and LTNT demonstrated improved DFS (5-year rate: 59.7% vs. 77.8% vs. 76.5%, p = 0.027) and MFS (5-year rate: 65.1% vs. 81.3% vs. 81.4%, p = 0.030). There was no difference in DFS or MFS between STNT and LTNT. These favorable outcomes were consistent among subgroups defined by tumor distance from the anal verge ≥ 5 cm, clinical T3 stage, clinical N positive status, or involved mesorectal fascia.

CONCLUSION

Compared to CRT, both STNT and LTNT demonstrated improved DFS and MFS outcomes. Notably, survival outcomes were similar between STNT and LTNT, suggesting that chemotherapy cycles in TNT may not significantly impact survival.

USP5 promotes tumorigenesis by activating Hedgehog/Gli1 signaling pathway in osteosarcoma

Changes in protein ubiquitination have been linked to cancer. Deubiquitinating enzymes (DUBs) counteract E3 ligase activities and have emerged as promising targets for cancer treatment. Ubiquitin-specific peptidase 5 (USP5) is a member of the DUBs family and has been implicated in promoting tumorigenesis in numerous cancers. However, the clinical significance and biological function of USP5 in osteosarcoma (OS) remains unclear. Here, we found elevated USP5 expression in OS tissues compared with normal bone tissues. Furthermore, we observed significant associations of elevated USP5 levels with increased mortality and more malignant phenotypes in OS patients. Moreover, our results revealed that USP5 could facilitate metastasis and cell progression in OS by activating the hedgehog (Hh) signaling pathway using cultured cells and animal tumor models. Mechanistically, USP5 appeared to stabilize and deubiquitinate Gli1, a key mediator of the Hh signaling pathway. Additionally, the oncogenic effect of USP5 in OS was dependent on Gli1 stability. Our findings support the model where USP5 contributes to OS pathogenesis by activating the Hh/Gli1 signaling pathway, making USP5 a potential diagnostic and therapeutic target for OS.

Enhanced detection of acrylamide using a versatile solid-state upconversion sensor through spectral and visual analysis

Acrylamide (AM) generally forms in high-temperature processes and has been classified as a potential carcinogen. In this study, we put forward a maneuverable solid-state luminescence sensor using polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) as the matrix coupled with upconversion nanoparticles as the indicator. The core-shell upconversion nanoparticles emitting cyan light were uniformly encapsulated in PDMS. Then it was further modified with complementary DNA of AM aptamer. The nanocrystalline fluorescein isothiocyanate isomer (FITC), coupled with AM aptamer, was attached to the surface of PDMS. FITC effectively quenched the upconversion luminescence through fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET). The introduction of AM resulted in preferentially bound to aptamer caused the separation of the quencher and the donor, and led to luminescence recovery. The developed sensor was applied for both spectral and visual monitoring, demonstrating a detection limit (LOD) of 1.00 nM and 1.07 nM, respectively. Importantly, in the actual foodstuffs detection, there is no obvious difference between the results of this study and the standard method, which indicates the developed method has good accuracy. Therefore, this solid-state sensor has the potential for on-site detection using a smartphone device and an Android application.

Adaptive responses of erythritol-producing Yarrowia lipolytica to thermal stress after evolution

Elucidation of the thermotolerance mechanism of erythritol-producing Yarrowia lipolytica is of great significance to breed robust industrial strains and reduce cost. This study aimed to breed thermotolerant Y. lipolytica and investigate the mechanism underlying the thermotolerant phenotype. Yarrowia lipolytica HT34, Yarrowia lipolytica HT36, and Yarrowia lipolytica HT385 that were capable of growing at 34 °C, 36 °C, and 38.5 °C, respectively, were obtained within 150 days (352 generations) by adaptive laboratory evolution (ALE) integrated with 60Co-γ radiation and ultraviolet ray radiation. Comparative genomics analysis showed that genes involved in signal transduction, transcription, and translation regulation were mutated during adaptive evolution. Further, we demonstrated that thermal stress increased the expression of genes related to DNA replication and repair, ceramide and steroid synthesis, and the degradation of branched amino acid (BCAA) and free fatty acid (FFA), while inhibiting the expression of genes involved in glycolysis and the citrate cycle. Erythritol production in thermotolerant strains was remarkably inhibited, which might result from the differential expression of genes involved in erythritol metabolism. Exogenous addition of BCAA and soybean oil promoted the growth of HT385, highlighting the importance of BCAA and FFA in thermal stress response. Additionally, overexpression of 11 out of the 18 upregulated genes individually enabled Yarrowia lipolytica CA20 to grow at 34 °C, of which genes A000121, A003183, and A005690 had a better effect. Collectively, this study provides novel insights into the adaptation mechanism of Y. lipolytica to thermal stress, which will be conducive to the construction of thermotolerant erythritol-producing strains. KEY POINTS: • ALE combined with mutagenesis is efficient for breeding thermotolerant Y. lipolytica • Genes encoding global regulators are mutated during thermal adaptive evolution • Ceramide and BCAA are critical molecules for cells to tolerate thermal stress.

Effects of oil and heating on the physicochemical and microstructural properties of gluten-starch dough

Oil has crucial applications for improving the quality of some wheat products during dough formation and heat-processing. Herein, the influence of oil modification and thermal-mechanical treatment on dough prepared mainly with wheat starch and gluten was investigated. Oils with different structures addition reduced the hardness but improved the tensile strength of dough and inhibited starch retrogradation. Oil also reduced the disulfide bond, hydrogen bond and hydrophobic interactions whilst changed the rheology of dough. The X-ray diffraction patterns were characterised by new weak peaks at approximately 12.9°, and 19.8°, indicating that thermal-mechanical treatment promoted the formation of V-type complexes. Oil modification impaired dough short-range ordered structure, but prevented part starch granule crystallinity degradation caused by thermal-mechanical treatment. Scanning electron microscopy revealed oil modification and thermal-mechanical treatment synergistically affected starch-gluten agglomeration. Our findings contributed to elucidate the influence of oil modification and thermal-mechanical treatment on dough functionality.

Engineering the synthesis of unsaturated fatty acids by introducing desaturase improved the stress tolerance of yeast

BACKGROUND

Yeast is often used to build cell factories to produce various chemicals or nutrient substances, which means the yeast has to encounter stressful environments. Previous research reported that unsaturated fatty acids were closely related to yeast stress resistance. Engineering unsaturated fatty acids may be a viable strategy for enhancing the stress resistance of cells.

RESULTS

In this study, two desaturase genes, OLE1 and FAD2 from Z. rouxii, were overexpressed in S. cerevisiae to determine how unsaturated fatty acids affect cellular stress tolerance of cells. After cloning and plasmid recombination, the recombinant S. cerevisiae cells were constructed. Analysis of membrane fatty acid contents revealed that the recombinant S. cerevisiae with overexpression of OLE1 and FAD2 genes contained higher levels of fatty acids C16:1 (2.77 times), C18:1 (1.51 times) and C18:2 (4.15 times) than the wild-type S. cerevisiae pY15TEF1. In addition, recombinant S. cerevisiae cells were more resistant to multiple stresses, and exhibited improved membrane functionality, including membrane fluidity and integrity.

CONCLUSION

These findings demonstrated that strengthening the expression of desaturases was beneficial to stress tolerance. Overall, this study may provide a suitable means to build a cell factory of industrial yeast cells with high tolerance during biological manufacturing. © 2023 Society of Chemical Industry.

Strain Engineering of Cd0.5 Zn0.5 S Nanocrystal for Efficient Photocatalytic Hydrogen Evolution from Wasted Plastic

The challenge of synthesizing nanocrystal photocatalysts with adjustable lattice strain for effective waste-to-energy conversion is addressed in this study. Cd0.5 Zn0.5 S (CZS) nanocrystals are synthesized by a simple solvothermal method, regulation of the ratio between N, N-dimethylformamide, and water solvent are shown to provoke expansion and contraction, inducing an adjustable lattice strain ranging from -1.2% to 5.6%. With the hydrolyzed wasted plastic as a sacrificial agent, the 5.6% lattice-strain CZS exhibited a robust hydrogen evolution activity of 1.09 mmol m-2  h-1 (13.83 mmol g-1  h-1 ), 4.5 times that of pristine CZS. Characterizations and density functional theory calculation demonstrated that lattice expansion increases the spatial distance between the valence band maximum and conduction band minimum, thus reducing carrier recombination and promoting charge transfer. Additionally, lattice expansion induces surface S vacancies and adsorbed OH groups, further enhancing redox reactions. This study focuses on the synchronous regulation of crystal structure, charge separation/transport, and surface reactions through lattice strain engineering, which providing a reference for the rational design of new photocatalysts for effective waste-to-energy conversion.

Kinetic Process with Anti-Frenkel Disorder in a CsPbI3 Perovskite

Halide perovskites are rich in ionic diffusion phenomena due to their low activation energy. The soft lead iodide lattice can, in theory, endow the system with more complex defect collaborative motions. In this work, we systematically investigated the hopping mechanics of iodide interstitials with respect to various defect behaviors, such as anti-Frenkel disorder creation and annihilation. We found that the existence of iodide vacancies and interstitials can effectively lower the creation barrier of additional anti-Frenkel disorder in the halide perovskite. The free energy barriers for generating additional Frenkel defect pairs vary from 0.25 to 0.43 eV, in the proximity of those of the original iodide defects at 300 K. This finding suggests that the spontaneous creation of a specific level of anti-Frenkel disorder facilitates long-range annihilation and defect hopping processes.

A Near-Infrared Photothermal-Responsive Underwater Adhesive with Tough Adhesion and Antibacterial Properties

Developing tunable underwater adhesives that possess tough adhesion in service and easy detachment when required remains challenging. Herein, a strategy is proposed to design a near infrared (NIR) photothermal-responsive underwater adhesive by incorporating MXene (Ti3 C2 Tx )-based nanoparticles within isocyanate-modified polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) polymer chains. The developed adhesive exhibits long-term and tough adhesion with an underwater adhesion strength reaching 5.478 MPa. Such strong adhesion is mainly attributed to the covalent bonds and hydrogen bonds at the adhesive-substrate interface. By making use of the photothermal-response of MXene-based nanoparticles and the thermal response of PDMS-based chains, the adhesive possesses photothermal-responsive performance, exhibiting sharply diminished adhesion under NIR irradiation. Such NIR-triggered tunable adhesion allows for easy and active detachment of the adhesive when needed. Moreover, the underwater adhesive exhibits photothermal antibacterial property, making it highly desirable for underwater applications. This work enhances the understanding of photothermal-responsive underwater adhesion, enabling the design of tunable underwater adhesives for biomedical and engineering applications.

A DNA-inspired injectable adhesive hydrogel with dual nitric oxide donors to promote angiogenesis for enhanced wound healing

Chronic diabetic wounds are a severe complication of diabetes, often leading to high treatment costs and high amputation rates. Numerous studies have revealed that nitric oxide (NO) therapy is a promising option because it favours wound revascularization. Here, base-paired injectable adhesive hydrogels (CAT) were prepared using adenine- and thymine-modified chitosan (CSA and CST). By further introducing S-nitrosoglutathione (GSNO) and binary l-arginine (bArg), we obtained a NO sustained-release hydrogel (CAT/bArg/GSON) that was more suitable for the treatment of chronic wounds. The results showed that the expression of HIF-1α and VEGF was upregulated in the CAT/bArg/GSON group, and improved blood vessel regeneration was observed, indicating an important role of NO. In addition, the research findings revealed that following treatment with the CAT/bArg/GSON hydrogel, the viability of Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli decreased to 14 ± 2 % and 6 ± 1 %, respectively. Moreover, the wound microenvironment was improved, as evidenced by a 60 ± 1 % clearance of DPPH. In particular, histological examination and immunohistochemical staining results showed that wounds treated with CAT/bArg/GSNO exhibited denser neovascularization, faster epithelial tissue regeneration, and thicker collagen deposition. Overall, this study proposes an effective strategy to prepare injectable hydrogel dressings with dual NO donors. The functionality of CAT/bArg/GSON has been thoroughly demonstrated in research on chronic wound vascular regeneration, indicating that CAT/bArg/GSON could be a potential option for promoting chronic wound healing. STATEMENT OF SIGNIFICANCE: This article prepares a chitosan hydrogel utilizing the principle of complementary base pairing, which offers several advantages, including good adhesion, biocompatibility, and flow properties, making it a good material for wound dressings. Loaded GSNO and bArg can steadily release NO and l-arginine through the degradation of the gel. Then, the released l-arginine not only possesses antioxidant properties but can also continue to generate a small amount of NO under the action of NOS. This design achieves a sustained and stable supply of NO at the wound site, maximizing the angiogenesis-promoting and antibacterial effects of NO. More neovascularization and abundant collagen were observed in the regenerated tissues. This study provides an effective repair hydrogel material for diabetic wound.

Stereoselective synthesis of (R)-(+)-1-(1-naphthyl)ethylamine by ω-amine transaminase immobilized on amino modified multi-walled carbon nanotubes and biocatalyst recycling

Immobilized enzymes exhibit favorable advantages in biocatalysis, such as high operation stability, feasible reusability, and improved organic solvents tolerance. Herein, an immobilized ω-amine transaminase AtATA@MWCNTs-NH2 is successfully prepared using amino modified multi-walled carbon nanotubes as carrier and glutaraldehyde as crosslinker. Under the optimum immobilization conditions, the activity recovery is 78.7%. Compared with purified enzyme AtATA, AtATA@MWCNTs-NH2 possesses superior stability, even in harsh conditions (e.g., high temperature, acidic or alkali environment, and different kind of organic solvents). To simplify the separation and extraction of products, we choose methanol (10%, v/v) as the cosolvent, replacing DMSO (20%, v/v) in our previous work, for the catalytic reaction of AtATA@MWCNTs-NH2. AtATA@MWCNTs-NH2 can be used for stereoselective synthesis (R)-(+)- 1(1-naphthyl)ethylamine ((R)-NEA) for 15 cycles, with the e.e.p (enantiomeric excess) > 99.5%. The catalytic process of AtATA@MWCNTs-NH2 achieves cycle production of (R)-NEA using methanol as cosolvent.

Galectin-7 Induction by EHMT2 Inhibition Enhances Immunity in Microsatellite Stability Colorectal Cancer

BACKGROUND & AIMS

Although immunotherapy shows substantial advancement in colorectal cancer (CRC) with microsatellite instability high, it has limited efficacy for CRC with microsatellite stability (MSS). Identifying combinations that reverse immune suppression and prime MSS tumors for current immunotherapy approaches remains an urgent need.

METHODS

An in vitro CRISPR screen was performed using coculture models of primary tumor cells and autologous immune cells from MSS CRC patients to identify epigenetic targets that could enhance immunotherapy efficacy in MSS tumors.

RESULTS

We revealed EHMT2, a histone methyltransferase, as a potential target for MSS CRC. EHMT2 inhibition transformed the immunosuppressive microenvironment of MSS tumors into an immunomodulatory one by altering cytokine expression, leading to T-cell-mediated cytotoxicity activation and improved responsiveness to anti-PD1 treatment. We observed galectin-7 up-regulation upon EHMT2 inhibition, which converted a "cold" MSS tumor environment into a T-cell-inflamed one. Mechanistically, CHD4 repressed galectin-7 expression by recruiting EHMT2 to form a cotranscriptional silencing complex. Galectin-7 administration enhanced anti-PD1 efficacy in MSS CRC, serving as a potent adjunct cytokine therapy.

CONCLUSIONS

Our findings suggest that targeting the EHMT2/galectin-7 axis could provide a novel combination strategy for immunotherapy in MSS CRC.

Evaluation of subclinical left ventricular myocardial systolic dysfunction in type 2 diabetes mellitus patients with and without diabetes peripheral neuropathy by global myocardial work

AIMS

Speckle-tracking echocardiography can non-invasively estimate myocardial work (MW) to evaluate left ventricular (LV) myocardial systolic function. The present study evaluated whether MW may detect subclinical LV myocardial systolic dysfunction in type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) patients with and without diabetes peripheral neuropathy (DPN).

METHODS

A total of 127 T2DM patients were included in the present study, including 67 T2DM patients with DPN. In addition, 73 sex- and age- matched healthy individuals served as normal controls. The global myocardial work index (GWI), global constructive work (GCW), global waste work (GWW), global positive work (GPW), global negative work (GNW), global work efficiency (GWE) and GCW/GWW were measured and analysed. Furthermore, the differences in MW parameters among normal controls, T2DM patients, and T2DM patients with DPN were analysed. Multiple regression models were built to explore for the independent influencing factors of GWI and GPW values in T2DM patients with DPN. Receiver operating characteristic curve analysis was performed to evaluate the sensitivity and specificity of MW in evaluating subclinical LV myocardial systolic dysfunction in T2DM patients with DPN.

RESULTS

The GWI, GCW and GPW of T2DM patients with DPN were significantly decreased compared with those of T2DM patients and normal controls (P < 0.001) and showed a significant decreasing trend overall (P trend < 0.001). GWE and GCW/GWW were significantly decreased in T2DM patients with DPN compared with normal controls (P < 0.05). Although GWW was not significantly different among the three groups, it showed an increasing trend (Ptrend = 0.033). High-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) levels were independent influencing factor for decreased GWI (β = 0.21, P = 0.031) and GPW (β = 0.19, P = 0.043) values in T2DM patients with DPN. The combination of the GWI, GCW, GWE, GPW and GCW /GWW had good sensitivity (62.69%) and specificity (89.04%) when evaluating subclinical LV myocardial systolic dysfunction in T2DM patients with DPN.

CONCLUSIONS

Non-invasive evaluation of LV myocardial work can detect subclinical LV myocardial systolic dysfunction in T2DM patients with and without DPN. DPN has additive deleterious effects on LV myocardial systolic function in T2DM patients. The reduction of HDL-C levels may indicate the occurrence of subclinical LV myocardial systolic dysfunction in T2DM patients with DPN.

CPLX2 is a novel tumor suppressor and improves the prognosis in glioma

BACKGROUND

Glioma is a type of malignant cancer that affect the central nervous system. New predictive biomarkers have been investigated in recent years, but the clinical prognosis for glioma remains poor. The function of CPLX2 in glioma and the probable molecular mechanism of tumor suppression were the focus of this investigation.

METHODS

The glioma transcriptome profile was downloaded from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) and Chinese Glioma Genome Atlas (CGGA) databases for analysis of CPLX2 expression in glioma. RT-qPCR was performed to detect the expression of CPLX2 in 68 glioma subjects who have been followed up. Kaplan-Meier survival analyses were conducted to assess the effect of CPLX2 on the prognosis of glioma patients. The knockdown and overexpressed cell lines of CPLX2 were constructed to investigate the impact of CPLX2 on glioma. The cell growth, colony formation, and tumor formation in xenograft were performed.

RESULTS

The expression of CPLX2 was downregulated in glioma and was negatively correlated with the grade of glioma. The higher expression of CPLX2 predicted a longer survival, as indicated by the analysis of Kaplan-Meier survival curves. Overexpressed CPLX2 impaired tumorigenesis in glioma progression both in vivo and in vitro. Knocking down CPLX2 promoted the proliferation of glioma cells. The analysis of GSEA and co-expression analysis revealed that CPLX2 may affect the malignancy of glioma by regulating the hypoxia and inflammation pathways.

CONCLUSIONS

Our data indicated that CPLX2 functions as a tumor suppressor and could be used as a potential prognostic marker in glioma.

Low-temperature CeCoMnOx spinel-type catalysts prepared by oxalate co-precipitation for selective catalytic reduction of NO using NH3: A structure-activity relationship study

CeCoMnOx spinel-type catalysts for the selective catalytic reduction of NO using NH3 (NH3-SCR) are usually prepared by alkaline co-precipitation. In this paper, a series of CeCoMnOx spinel-type catalysts with different calcination temperatures were prepared by acidic oxalate co-precipitation. The physicochemical structures and NH3-SCR activities of the CeCoMnOx spinel-type catalysts prepared by oxalate co-precipitation and conventional ammonia co-precipitation were systematically compared. The results show that the CeCoMnOx spinel-type catalysts prepared by the oxalate precipitation method (CeCoMnOx-C) have larger specific surface area, more mesopores and surface active sites, stronger redox properties and adsorption activation properties than those prepared by the traditional ammonia co-precipitation method at 400 °C (CeCoMnOx-N-400), and thus CeCoMnOx-C have better low-temperature NH3-SCR performance. At the same calcination temperature of 400 °C, the NO conversion of CeCoMnOx-C-400 exceeds 89 % and approaches 100 % within the reaction temperature of 100-125 °C, which is 14.8 %-2.5 % higher than that of CeCoMnOx-N-400 at 100-125 °C. In addition, the enhanced redox and acid cycle matching mechanisms on the CeCoMnOx-C surface, as well as the enhanced monoadsorption Eley-Rideal (E-R) and double adsorption Langmuir-Hinshelwood (L-H) reaction mechanisms, are also derived from XPS and in situ DRIFTS characterization.

The enhanced emotional negativity bias in parents of atypically developing children: Evidence from an event-related potentials study

Parents of atypically developing children such as parents of children with ASD, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, and intellectual disability experience higher levels of parenting stress than parents of typically developing children. However, whether they possess enhanced emotional negativity bias was unclear. In the present study, 28 parents of typically developing children and 29 parents of atypically developing children were recruited. The emotional Stroop task and event-related potentials were adopted to measure their emotional negativity bias, in which participants were required to respond to the borders' color of face pictures. Behaviorally, the impact of parenting stress on emotional negativity bias was not found. At the electrophysiological level, the P2 differential amplitude (negative minus positive) was greater in parents of atypically developing children than in parents of typically developing children, reflecting an enhanced early attentional bias toward negative faces. N2 amplitude for the emotionally negative face was smaller than the positive face in parents of atypically developing children, indicating a too weak attentional control to inhibit distractors. Furthermore, sustained attention to negative faces was observed in parents of atypically developing children, that is, the emotionally negative face elicited greater frontal P3 (300 ~ 500 ms) than the positive faces. These findings revealed that compared to parents of typically developing children, parents of atypically developing children owned an enhanced emotional negativity bias at the early and late stages of information processing.

TLR7 enhancing follicular helper T (Tfh) cells response in C57BL/6 mice infected with Plasmodium yoelii NSM TLR7 mediated Tfh cells in P. yoelii infected mice

Toll-like receptors (TLRs) play an important role in inducing innate and acquired immune responses against infection. However, the effect of Toll-like receptor 7 (TLR7) on follicular helper T (Tfh) cells in mice infected with Plasmodium is still not clear. The results showed that the splenic CD4+ CXCR5+ PD-1+ Tfh cells were accumulated after Plasmodium yoelii NSM infection, the content of splenic Tfh cells was correlated to parasitemia and/or the red blood cells (RBCs) counts in the blood. Moreover, the expression of TLR7 was found higher than TLR2, TLR3 and TLR4 in splenic Tfh cells of the WT mice. TLR7 agonist R848 and the lysate of red blood cells of infected mice (iRBCs) could induce the activation and differentiation of splenic Tfh cells. Knockout of TLR7 leads to a decrease in the proportion of Tfh cells, down-regulated expression of functional molecules CD40L, IFN-γ, IL-21 and IL-10 in Tfh cells; decreased the proportion of plasma cells and antibody production and reduces the expression of STAT3 and Ikzf2 in Tfh cells. Administration of R848 could inhibit parasitemia, enhance splenic Tfh cell activation and increase STAT3 and Ikzf2 expression in Tfh cells. In summary, this study shows that TLR7 could regulate the function of Tfh cells, affecting the immune response in the spleen of Plasmodium yoelii NSM-infected mice.

Adipocyte subpopulations mediate lipolysis and obesity-induced insulin resistance

Studies in humans and mice have determined that distinct subpopulations of adipocytes reside even within individual adipose tissue depots. Previously, our lab defined three white adipocyte subpopulations with stable and unique gene expression profiles, which were termed type 1, 2, and 3 adipocytes, respectively. Our previous studies demonstrated that type 2 adipocytes were highly responsive to the inflammatory cytokine, tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNFα). This study extends these findings to investigate the role of type 2 adipocytes in obesity. We found that treatment with TNFα increased lipolysis specifically in type 2 adipocytes, at least in part, through the reduction of fat-specific protein 27 (FSP27) expression. To assess the physiological role of lipolysis from this adipocyte subpopulation, a type2Ad-hFSP27tg mouse model was generated by overexpressing human FSP27 specifically in type 2 adipocytes. Glucose and insulin tolerance test analysis showed that male type2Ad-hFSP27tg mice on 60% high-fat diet exhibited improved glucose tolerance and insulin sensitivity, with no change in body weight compared to controls. These metabolic changes may, at least in part, be explained by the reduced lipolysis rate in the visceral fat of type2Ad-hFSP27tg mice. Although FSP27 overexpression in primary type 2 adipocytes was sufficient to acutely reduce TNFα-induced apoptosis in vitro, it failed to reduce macrophage infiltration in obesity in vivo. Taken together, these results strongly suggest that type 2 adipocytes contribute to the regulation of lipolysis and could serve as a potential therapeutic target for obesity-associated insulin resistance.

A Multifunctional, Tough, Stretchable, and Transparent Curcumin Hydrogel with Potent Antimicrobial, Antioxidative, Anti-inflammatory, and Angiogenesis Capabilities for Diabetic Wound Healing

The treatment of diabetic chronic wounds is still faced with great challenges, mainly due to wound infection, excessive inflammation, and peripheral vascular disease in the wound area. Therefore, it is of great importance to develop a novel multifunctional hydrogel with high efficiency to accelerate diabetic wound healing. Curcumin (Cur), a Chinese herbal, has shown great potential in enhancing the healing of diabetic chronic wounds because of its immunomodulatory and pro-angiogenic properties. However, its low aqueous solubility, poor bioavailability, and chemical instability have limited its clinical applications. To address these current bottlenecks, novel poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA)-chitosan (CS)/sodium alginate (SA)-Cur (PCSA) hydrogels were prepared for the first time, and they demonstrated all of the above intriguing performances by the Michael addition reaction of CS and Cur. PCSA hydrogels show multiple dynamic bonds, which possess strong mechanical properties (tensile stress: ∼0.980 MPa; toughness: ∼258.45 kJ/m3; and compressive strength: ∼7.38 MPa at strain of 80%). These intriguing performances provided an optimal microenvironment for cell migration and proliferation and also promoted the growth of blood vessels, leading to early angiogenesis. Importantly, the experimental results demonstrated that PCSA hydrogels can effectively transform pro-inflammatory M1 macrophages into anti-inflammatory M2 macrophages without the need for additional ingredients in vitro. Benefiting from these characteristics, a full-thickness diabetic wound in a rat model demonstrated that PCSA hydrogels can effectively accelerate wound healing via ROS-scavenging, downregulation of IL-1β, and upregulation of CD31 expression, resulting in angiogenesis and collagen deposition. This strategy not only provides a simple and safe Cur-based hydrogel for diabetic wound healing but also highlights the significant potential for the development of high-performance biomaterials for promoting diabetic wound healing using traditional Chinese medicine.

[Clinical and genetic analysis of a patient with HUPRA syndrome due to missense variants of SARS2 gene and literature review]

Objective: To explore the clinical manifestations and genotype of an infant with hyperuricemia, pulmonary hypertension, renal failure in infancy, and alkalosis syndrome (HUPRAS). Methods: Clinical data of the patient were collected. Peripheral blood samples from the patient and his parents were acquainted for whole exome sequencing. The filtrated variants were verified by Sanger sequencing. The pathogenicity of the variants was predicted by bioinformatic tools. Results: The patient is a male infant of 6 months old, carrying two missense variants in the SARS2 allele: a paternal inherited c.1205G>A (p. Arg402His) and a maternal inherited c.680G>A (p. Arg227Gln). The two variants were in extremely low population frequencies. The pathogenetic prediction tools categorized them as deleterious. Arg402 and Arg227 were highly conserved in evolution. The variants led to changes in the hydrogen bonds and hydrophobicity of seryl-tRNA synthetase encoded by SARS2. Conclusions: c.1205G>A (p. Arg402His) and c.680G>A (p. Arg227Gln) are the possible causative variants of the HUPRA syndrome.

Toward stabilization of formamidinium lead iodide perovskites by defect control and composition engineering

Phase instability poses a serious challenge to the commercialization of formamidinium lead iodide (FAPbI3)-based solar cells and optoelectronic devices. Here, we combine density functional theory and machine learning molecular dynamics simulations, to investigate the mechanism driving the undesired α-δ phase transition of FAPbI3. Prevalent iodine vacancies and interstitials can significantly expedite the structural transition kinetics by inducing robust covalency during transition states. Extrinsically, the detrimental roles of atmospheric moisture and oxygen in degrading the FAPbI3 perovskite phase are also rationalized. Significantly, we discover the compositional design principles by categorizing that A-site engineering primarily governs thermodynamics, whereas B-site doping can effectively manipulate the kinetics of the phase transition in FAPbI3, highlighting lanthanide ions as promising B-site substitutes. A-B mixed doping emerges as an efficient strategy to synergistically stabilize α-FAPbI3, as experimentally demonstrated by substantially higher initial optoelectronic characteristics and significantly enhanced phase stability in Cs-Eu doped FAPbI3 as compared to its Cs-doped counterpart. This study provides scientific guidance for the design and optimization of long-term stable FAPbI3-based solar cells and other optoelectronic devices through defect control and synergetic composition engineering.

Risk Factors for Pneumocystis jirovecii Pneumonia in Children With Systemic Lupus Erythematosus Exposed to Prolonged High-Dose Glucocorticoids

BACKGROUND

Pneumocystis jirovecii pneumonia (PJP) is a life-threatening opportunistic infection in immunocompromised children with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). Prophylaxis against PJP in high-risk children is crucial, but the risk factors for PJP in children with SLE are not adequately characterized. This study sought to identify the risk factors for PJP in long-term glucocorticoid-treated pediatric SLE patients.

METHODS

This study encompassed 71 treatment episodes involving 64 children with prolonged (≥4 weeks) high-dose (≥20 mg/d prednisone) steroid regimens. Fourteen treatment episodes involved the PJP, whereas others did not. Risk factors for PJP were assessed through Cox regression. The predictive value of these factors was evaluated using receiver operating characteristic curves. The incidence of PJP in different risk groups was compared using the Kaplan-Meier method.

RESULTS

The creatinine (hazard ratio, 1.009; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.001-1.017; p = 0.021) and the lowest lymphocyte count (hazard ratio, 0.007; 95% CI, 0.000-0.373; p = 0.014) were independent risk factors for PJP in children with SLE. The receiver operating characteristic curve showed that using creatinine greater than 72.5 μmol/L and the lowest lymphocyte count less than 0.6 × 109/L as risk predictors for PJP resulted in an area under the curve value of 0.934 (95% CI, 0.870-0.997; p < 0.001). The study revealed a significant increase in PJP prevalence (p < 0.001) in children with elevated creatinine levels and low lymphocyte count.

CONCLUSIONS

Elevated levels of creatinine and decreased lymphocyte count are identified as distinct risk factors for PJP in children with SLE who receive prolonged high-dose steroid therapy.

Interface-Engineered NiFe/Ni-S Nanoparticles for Reliable Alkaline Oxygen Production at Industrial Current: A Sulfur Source Confinement Strategy

Using powder-based ink appears to be the most suitable candidate for commercializing the membrane electrode assembly (MEA), while research on the powder-based NPM catalyst for anion exchange membrane water electrolyzer (AEMWE) is currently insufficient, especially at high current density. Herein, a sulfur source (NiFe Layered double hydroxide adsorbedSO 4 2 - ${\mathrm{SO}}_4^{2 - }$ ) confinement strategy is developed to integrate Ni3 S2 onto the surface of amorphous/crystalline NiFe alloy nanoparticles (denoted NiFe/Ni-S), achieving advanced control over the sulfidation process for the formation of metal sulfides. The constructed interface under the sulfur source confinement strategy generates abundant active sites that increase electron transport at the electrode-electrolyte interface and improve ability over an extended period at a high current density. Consequently, the constructed NiFe/Ni-S delivers an ultra-low overpotential of 239 mV at 10 mA cm-2 and 0.66 mAcm ECSA - 2 ${\mathrm{cm}}_{{\mathrm{ECSA}}}^{ - 2}$ under an overpotential of 300 mV. The AEMWE with NiFe/Ni-S anode exhibits a cell voltage of 1.664 V @ 0.5 A cm-2 and a 400 h stability at 1.0 A cm-2 .

Incorporating Electrolyte Correlation Effects into Variational Models of Electrochemical Interfaces

We propose a way for obtaining a classical free energy density functional for electrolytes based on a first-principle many-body partition function. Via a one-loop expansion, we include coulombic correlations beyond the conventional mean-field approximation. To examine electrochemical interfaces, we integrate the electrolyte free energy functional into a hybrid quantum-classical model. This scheme self-consistently couples electronic, ionic, and solvent degrees of freedom and incorporates electrolyte correlation effects. The derived free energy functional causes a correlation-induced enhancement in interfacial counterion density and leads to an overall increase in capacitance. This effect is partially compensated by a reduction of the dielectric permittivity of interfacial water. At larger surface charge densities, ion crowding at the interface stifles these correlation effects. While scientifically intriguing already at planar interfaces, we anticipate these correlation effects to play an essential role for electrolytes in nanoconfinement.