A Pickering emulsion stabilized by Chitosan-g-Poly(N-vinylcaprolactam) microgels: Interface formation, stability and stimuli-responsiveness

Pickering emulsions stabilized by solid particles are more stable and environmentally friendly compared to traditional surfactants. Herein, a series of Chitosan-g-Poly(N-vinylcaprolactam) (CS-g-PNVCL) microgel particles were synthesized via a free radical surfactant-free emulsion copolymerization and the obtained particles were used to stabilize Pickering emulsions. It is found that the ratio (CS/PNVCL = 60 wt%) was optimal to produce Pickering emulsions. The microstructures of Pickering emulsions can maintain for 60 days at room temperature and this long-term stability is attributed to the CS-g-PNVCL microgel particles adsorbed at the oil-water interface. The Pickering emulsions displayed thermo-responsive characteristics when exposed to environmental stimuli. The emulsions became destabilized with an increase in pH and temperature. The droplets turned unstable and irregular due to excessive NaCl concentration, caused by electrostatic repulsion between the microgel particles. This study presents a novel way to form smart and uniform Pickering emulsions with the application potential in food, cosmetics, and drug delivery, etc.

Selective removal of thiosulfate from coke oven gas desulfurization wastewater by catalytic wet air oxidation with manganese-based oxide from spent ternary lithium-ion batteries

Selective and efficient removal of thiosulfates (S2O32-) to recover high-purity and value-added thiocyanate products by fractional crystallization process is a promising route for the resource treatment of coke oven gas desulfurization wastewater. Herein, catalytic wet air oxidation (CWAO), with manganese-based oxide synthesized from spent ternary lithium-ion batteries (MnOx-LIBs), was proposed to selectively remove S2O32- from desulfurization wastewater. 98.0 % of S2O32- is selectively removed by the MnOx-LIBs CWAO system, which was 4.1 times that of the MnOx CWAO system. The synergistic effect among multiple metals from spent LIBs induces the enlarged specific surface area, increased reactive sites and formation of oxygen vacancy, promoting the adsorption and activation of O2, thereby realizing high-efficiency removal of S2O32-. The satisfactory selective removal efficiency can be maintained in the proposed system under complex environmental conditions. Notably, the proposed system is cost-effective and applicable to actual wastewater, in which 81.2 % of S2O32- is selectively removed from coke oven gas desulfurization wastewater. More importantly, compared with the typical processes, the proposed process is simpler and more environmentally-friendly. This work provides an alternative route to selectively remove S2O32- from coke oven gas desulfurization wastewater, expecting to drive the development of resource utilization of coke oven gas desulfurization wastewater.

Compartmentalization into Outer and Inner Shells of Hollow Nanospheres for Antibiosis Based on Chemistry and Physical Damages

There is a substantially ascending demand for nonantibiotic strategies to overcome the resistance of bacterial infections. Here, the discovery of a distinctive antibacterial structure is reported. The novel structure of nanoparticle strategy is proposed for appreciable bacteria killing by the smart design of the delayed addition of crosslinkers into the reaction mixture. [2-(methacryloyloxy)ethyl]trimethylammonium chloride solution (MTCl), a water-soluble ionic liquid (IL), has narrow-size material distribution, good whiteness, and high weather resistance. The quaternary ammonium salt is utilized to efficiently permeate cell membranes through electrostatic interaction, accordingly, boasting a beneficiary of antibacterial properties. More importantly, it allows bacteria to attach the nanomaterials easily, especially the double-shelled nanosphere. In light of the introduction of 9-amino(9-deoxy)ep-quinine (QNNH2) on its inner shell, it blocks the nucleic acid and glucose metabolism in bacteria, which is betterment of the antibacterial activity of double-shelled structure nanoparticle compared to other structure of nanomaterials. This physical/chemical/biological triple antibacterial process eliminates the need for traditional antibiotics, and the fabrication strategies and material properties described here provide insights into the design of antibacterial nanomaterials based on chemical and physical effects.

A Neutrophil Hijacking Nanoplatform Reprograming NETosis for Targeted Microglia Polarizing Mediated Ischemic Stroke Treatment

Precise and efficient regulation of microglia is vital for ischemic stroke therapy and prognosis. The infiltration of neutrophils into the brain provides opportunities for regulatory drugs across the blood-brain barrier, while hindered by neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs) and targeted delivery of intracerebral drugs to microglia. This study reports an efficient neutrophil hijacking nanoplatform (referred to as APTS) for targeted A151 (a telomerase repeat sequence) delivery to microglia without the generation of NETs. In the middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) mouse model, the delivery efficiency to ischemic stroke tissues increases by fourfold. APTS dramatically reduces the formation of NETs by 2.2-fold via reprogramming NETosis to apoptosis in neutrophils via a reactive oxygen species scavenging-mediated citrullinated histone 3 inhibition pathway. Noteworthy, A151 within neutrophils is repackaged into apoptotic bodies following the death pattern reprogramming, which, when engulfed by microglia, polarizes microglia to an anti-inflammatory M2 phenotype. After four times treatment, the cerebral infarction area in the APTS group decreases by 5.1-fold. Thus, APTS provides a feasible, efficient, and practical drug delivery approach for reshaping the immune microenvironment and treating brain disorders in the central nervous system.

A cost-utility study of elective haemorrhoidectomies in Canada

AIM

The aim was to estimate the 10-year cost-utility of haemorrhoidectomy surgery with preference-based measures of health using Canadian health utility measures and costs.

METHODS

Patients undergoing elective haemorrhoidectomies by general and colorectal surgeons in British Columbia, Vancouver, between September 2015 and November 2022, completed preoperatively and postoperatively the EuroQol five-dimension five-level health-related quality of life questionnaire (EQ-5D-5L). Quality-adjusted life years (QALYs) attributable to surgery were calculated by discounting preoperative and postoperative health utility values derived from the EQ-5D-5L. Costs were measured from a health system perspective which incorporated costs of hospital stay and specialists' fees. Results are presented in 2021 Canadian dollars.

RESULTS

Of 94 (47%) patients who completed both the preoperative and postoperative questionnaires, the mean gain in QALYs 10 years after surgery was 1.0609, assuming a 3.5% annual discounting rate. The average cost of the surgery was $3166. The average cost per QALY was $2985 when benefits of the surgery were assumed to accrue for 10 years. The cost per QALY was higher for women ($3821) compared with men ($2485). Participants over the age of 70 had the highest cost per QALY ($8079/QALY).

CONCLUSIONS

Haemorrhoidectomies have been associated with significant gains in health status and are inexpensive relative to the associated gains in quality of life based on patients' perspectives of their improvement in health and well-being.

Biomedical analysis of four fixation systems in treatment of type II traumatic spondylolisthesis of the axis: a finite element analysis

This study aimed to compare the properties and safety of self-designed plates in type II traumatic spondylolisthesis of the axis with those of traditional devices via finite element (FE) analysis. We constructed a hangman's fracture FE model from the occipital bone (C0) level to the C3 level. Then, FE models were constructed for the following four fixation systems: an anterior cervical L-shaped plate with four vertebral screws (4-ACLP), or six screws (6-ACLP), an anterior cervical orion plate (ACOP), and a posterior fixation system. A preloaded compressive force of 50 N and a moment of 1.5 N·m were applied to each model under six working conditions. The mobility of the C2/3 segment decreased significantly in four fixation models. In the Mises stress cloud diagram, 4-ACLP showed a better stress distribution in both the bone graft and fixation system than 6-ACLP and ACOP. The resultant force of 4-ACLP was lower but higher than ACOP in axial force. Additionally, the cage in the 4-ACLP configuration experienced the highest stress in the six working conditions. Hence, this novel self-designed plate has the potential to mitigate the operational difficulties, provide sufficient stability, reduce the risk of plate or screw fractures, and improve bone fusion.

Postamplifying Cas12a Activation through Hybridization Chain Reaction-Triggered Fluorescent Nanocluster Formation for Ultrasensitive Nucleic Acid Detection

CRISPR/Cas12a-based biosensing is advancing rapidly; however, achieving sensitive and cost-effective reporting of Cas12a activation remains a challenge. In response, we have developed a label-free system capable of postamplifying Cas12a activation by integrating hybridization chain reaction (HCR) and DNA-copper nanoclusters (DNA-CuNCs). The trans-cleavage of Cas12a triggers a silenced HCR, leading to the in situ assembly of fluorescent DNA-CuNCs, allowing for the turn-on reporting of Cas12a activation. Without preamplification, this assay can detect DNA with a detection limit of 5 fM. Furthermore, when coupled with preamplification, the system achieves exceptional sensitivity, detecting the monkeypox virus (MPXV) plasmid at 1 copy in human serum. In a MPXV pseudovirus-based validation test, the obtained results are in agreement with those obtained by qPCR, reinforcing the robustness of this method. Our study represents the first effort to manipulate DNA-CuNC formation on HCR for highly sensitive and cost-effective reporting of Cas12a, resulting in an efficient synthetic biology-enabled sensing platform for biosafety applications.

Chickpea-Derived Modified Antimicrobial Peptides KTA and KTR Inactivate Staphylococcus aureus via Disrupting Cell Membrane and Interfering with Peptidoglycan Synthesis

The widespread bacterial contamination caused by foodborne pathogens has continuously driven the development of advanced and potent food antimicrobial agents. In this study, two novel antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) named KTA and KTR were obtained by modifying a natural AMP, Leg2, from chickpea storage protein legumin hydrolysates. They were further predicted to be stable hydrophobic cationic AMPs of α-helical structure with no hemolytic toxicity by several online servers. Moreover, the AMPs exerted superior antibacterial activity against two representative Staphylococcus aureus strains thanks to the increased hydrophobicity and positive charge, with minimum inhibition concentration value (4.74-7.41 μM) significantly lower than that of Leg2 (>1158.70 μM). Further, this study sought to elucidate the specific antimicrobial mechanism against Gram-positive bacteria. It was found that the electrostatic interactions of the AMPs with peptidoglycan were vital for peptide activity in combating Gram-positive bacteria. Subsequently, the cell membrane of S. aureus cells was irreversibly disrupted by increasing permeability and impairing membrane components, which led to the massive release of intracellular substances and eventual cell death. Overall, this work demonstrated that KTA and KTR were active against Gram-positive bacteria via peptidoglycan targeting and membrane-disruptive mechanisms and paved the way for expanding their application potential to alleviate food contamination.

Genomic and transcriptomic analysis of breast cancer identifies novel signatures associated with response to neoadjuvant chemotherapy

BACKGROUND

Neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC) has become a standard treatment strategy for breast cancer (BC). However, owing to the high heterogeneity of these tumors, it is unclear which patient population most likely benefit from NAC. Multi-omics offer an improved approach to uncovering genomic and transcriptomic changes before and after NAC in BC and to identifying molecular features associated with NAC sensitivity.

METHODS

We performed whole-exome and RNA sequencing on 233 samples (including matched pre- and post-treatment tumors) from 50 BC patients with rigorously defined responses to NAC and analyzed changes in the multi-omics landscape. Molecular features associated with NAC response were identified and validated in a larger internal, and two external validation cohorts, as well as in vitro experiments.

RESULTS

The most frequently altered genes were TP53, TTN, and MUC16 in both pre- and post-treatment tumors. In comparison with pre-treatment tumors, there was a significant decrease in C > A transversion mutations in post-treatment tumors (P = 0.020). NAC significantly decreased the mutation rate (P = 0.006) of the DNA repair pathway and gene expression levels (FDR = 0.007) in this pathway. NAC also significantly changed the expression level of immune checkpoint genes and the abundance of tumor-infiltrating immune and stroma cells, including B cells, activated dendritic cells, γδT cells, M2 macrophages and endothelial cells. Furthermore, there was a higher rate of C > T substitutions in NAC nonresponsive tumors than responsive ones, especially when the substitution site was flanked by C and G. Importantly, there was a unique amplified region at 8p11.23 (containing ADGRA2 and ADRB3) and a deleted region at 3p13 (harboring FOXP1) in NAC nonresponsive and responsive tumors, respectively. Particularly, the CDKAL1 missense variant P409L (p.Pro409Leu, c.1226C > T) decreased BC cell sensitivity to docetaxel, and ADGRA2 or ADRB3 gene amplifications were associated with worse NAC response and poor prognosis in BC patients.

CONCLUSIONS

Our study has revealed genomic and transcriptomic landscape changes following NAC in BC, and identified novel biomarkers (CDKAL1P409L, ADGRA2 and ADRB3) underlying chemotherapy resistance and poor prognosis, which could guide the development of personalized treatments for BC.

Ultrasonically functionalized chitosan-gallic acid films inactivate Staphylococcus aureus through envelope-disruption under UVA light exposure

The significant threat of foodborne pathogens contamination has continuously promoted the development of efficient antimicrobial food packaging materials. Here, an antimicrobial film was prepared with gallic acid-grafted-chitosan (CS/GA) that obtained by a two-step ultrasound method. The resultant films exhibited good transparency, improved UV barrier performance, and enhanced mechanical strength. Specifically, with the grafting of 1.2 % GA, the UV blocking ability of CS/GA film at 400 nm was significantly increased by 19.7 % and the tensile strength was nearly two times higher than that of CS film. Moreover, the CS/GA films exhibited an inspiring photoactivated bactericidal ability under 400 nm UVA light irradiation that eradicated almost 99.9 % of Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) cells within 60 min. To gain more insights into the antibacterial mechanism, the treated S. aureus cells were further investigated by visualizing bacterial ultrastructure and analyzing membrane properties. The results pointed to the peptidoglycan layer as the primary action target when bacteria come into contact with CS/GA films. Afterward, the intracellular oxidative lesions, disrupted bacterial integrity, and disordered membrane functional properties collectively resulted in eventual cell death. The findings revealed the unique peptidoglycan targeting and membrane disruptive mechanisms of CS/GA films, confirming the application values in controlling foodborne pathogens.

Electroacupuncture for post-stroke urinary incontinence: a systematic review and meta-analysis with trial sequential analysis

Background

The evidence for the effectiveness of electroacupuncture (EA) for post-stroke urinary incontinence (PSUI) patients remains unclear. Therefore, the purpose of this systematic review and meta-analysis was to assess the efficacy of EA for PSUI.

Methods and analysis

Eight English and Chinese databases were searched from their inception until 1 August 2023 to collect randomized controlled trials (RCTs) that investigated the effect of EA on PSUI. Two reviewers independently selected studies that met the eligibility criteria, extracted the necessary data, and assessed the risk of bias for included studies using Cochrane Handbook version 5.1.0. Meta-analysis was performed using Review Manager software (version 5.4.1). Publication bias detection was conducted using STATA (version 16.0). Sequential analysis was performed using TSA 0.9.5.10 Beta. The Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development, and Evaluation System (GRADE) was used for assessing the certainty of evidence.

Results

We included 15 RCTs involving a total of 1,414 patients. The narrative analysis revealed that compared with sham EA, genuine EA exhibited greater efficacy in reducing occurrences of 24-h urinary incontinence while also enhancing maximum cystometric capacity (MCC). Moreover, this effect remained significant even during the 3-month follow-up period. Fourteen studies were encompassed within the quantitative analysis. In contrast to active interventions, EA did not yield an improvement in the responder rate (RR 1.53, 95% CI 0.61 to 3.80, p = 0.36). When compared with basic treatments, the combination of EA with them led to a reduction in 24-h urinary incontinence occurrences (MD -0.56, 95% CI -0.60 to -0.52, p < 0.00001), an improvement in MCC (MD 43.23, 95% CI 28.86 to 57.60, p < 0.00001), and a decrease in residual urine volume (RUV; MD -19.99, 95% CI -29.75 to -10.23, p < 0.0001). However, it did not lead to an increase in the responder rate (RR 1.39, 95% CI 0.88 to 2.20, p = 0.16). In comparison to basic treatments combined with active interventions, the amalgamation of EA and them led to an increase in the responder rate (RR 1.24, 95% CI 1.14 to 1.35, p < 0.00001), a reduction in 24-h urinary incontinence occurrences (MD -2.90, 95% CI -5.26 to -0.55, p = 0.02), a decrease in International Consultation on Incontinence Questionnaire-Short Form scores, and an improvement in both MCC (MD 42.11, 95% CI 23.26 to 60.96, p < 0.0001) and RUV (MD 42.11, 95% CI 23.26 to 60.96, p < 0.0001). Furthermore, all reported adverse effects associated with EA were mild. The trial sequential analysis suggested that a sufficient sample size was available to yield results. However, the level of evidence was predominantly assessed as low or very low.

Conclusion

Electroacupuncture improved post-stroke urinary incontinence with no serious adverse effects. Caution is warranted due to methodological issues, and more high-quality studies are required to confirm its efficacy and safety.Systematic Review Registration:https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/prospero/display_record.php?ID=CRD42023449599, Identifier CRD42023449599.

Highly Dispersed FeAg-MCM41 Catalyst for Medium-Temperature Hydrogen Sulfide Oxidation in Coke Oven Gas

The traditional hydrolysis-cooling-adsorption process for coke oven gas (COG) desulfurization urgently needs to be improved because of its complex nature and high energy consumption. One promising alternative for replacing the last two steps is selective catalytic oxidation. However, most catalysts used in selective catalytic oxidation require a high temperature to achieve effective desulfurization. Herein, a robust 30Fe-MCM41 catalyst is developed for direct desulfurization at medium temperatures after hydrolysis. This catalyst exhibits excellent stability for over 300 h and a high breakthrough sulfur capacity (2327.6 mgS gcat-1). Introducing Ag into the 30Fe-MCM41 (30Fe5Ag-MCM41) catalyst further enhances the H2S removal efficiency and sulfur selectivity at 120 °C. Its outstanding performance can be attributed to the synergistic effect of Fe-Ag clusters. During H2S selective oxidation, Fe serves as the active site for H2S adsorption and dissociation, while Ag functions as the catalyst promoter, increasing Fe dispersion, reducing the oxidation capacity of the catalyst, improving the desorption capacity of sulfur, and facilitating the reaction between active oxygen species and [HS]. This process provides a potential route for enhancing COG desulfurization.

Method validation for detection of afidopyropen and M440I007 in tea

BACKGROUND

Afidopyropen is a novel biorational insecticide for controlling piercing pests with great potential for application in tea gardens that can form the metabolite M440I007 when utilized for crops. However, because of a lack of analytical method for afidopyropen and M440I007 in tea, there is no means of monitoring the residues. Therefore, method development, validation and simultaneous determination of afidopyropen and M440I007 in fresh tea leaves, dried tea and tea infusion is of prime significance.

RESULTS

A TPT cartridge-based method was developed for the solid phase extraction of afidopyropen and M440I007 from tea matrices. Extraction and clean-up conditions, including the composition, volume and temperature of elutions, were optimized to achieve the best results. Both targets were extracted using water and acetonitrile, with a water:acetonitrile (v/v) ratio of 4:10 for fresh leaves and 8:10 for dried tea, which were then cleaned and analyzed using ultraperformance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry. Both analytes demonstrated excellent linearity with a correlation coefficient above 0.998. The optimized analytical method offered limits of quantifications of 0.005, 0.005 and 0.002 mg kg-1 (converted to dried tea) in fresh tea shoots, dried tea and tea infusion for both targets, respectively. Average recoveries of afidopyropen and M440I007 ranged from 79.0% to 101.5%, with relative standard deviations ≤ 14.7%.

CONCLUSION

The results showed that the method of determination for these insecticides in tea matrices was practical and efficient. © 2023 Society of Chemical Industry.

Synergistic and Long-Lasting Wound Dressings Promote Multidrug-Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus-Infected Wound Healing

Background

Multidrug-resistant staphylococcus aureus infected wounds can lead to nonhealing, systemic infections, and even death. Although advanced dressings are effective in protecting, disinfecting, and maintaining moist microenvironments, they often have limitations such as single functionality, inadequate drug release, poor biosafety, or high rates of drug resistance.

Methods

Here, a novel wound dressing comprising glycyrrhizic acid (GA) and tryptophan-sorbitol carbon quantum dots (WS-CQDs) was developed, which exhibit synergistic and long-lasting antibacterial and anti-inflammatory effects. We investigated the characterization, mechanical properties, synergistic antibacterial effects, sustained-release properties, and cytotoxicity of GA/WS-CQDs hydrogels in vitro. Additionally, we performed transcriptome sequence analysis to elucidate the antibacterial mechanism. Furthermore, we evaluated the biosafety, anti-inflammatory effects, and wound healing ability of GA/WS-CQDs dressings using an in vivo mouse model of methicillin-resistant staphylococcus aureus (MRSA)-infected wounds.

Results

The prepared GA/WS-CQDs hydrogels demonstrated superior anti-MRSA effects compared to common antibiotics in vitro. Furthermore, the sustained release of WS-CQDs from GA/WS-CQDs hydrogels lasted for up to 60 h, with a cumulative release of exceeding 90%. The sustained-released WS-CQDs exhibited excellent anti-MRSA effects, with low drug resistance attributed to DNA damage and inhibition of bacterial biofilm formation. Notably, in vivo experiments showed that GA/WS-CQDs dressings reduced the expression of inflammatory factors (TNF-α, IL-1β, and IL-6) and significantly promoted the healing of MRSA-infected wounds with almost no systemic toxicity. Importantly, the dressings did not require replacement during the treatment process.

Conclusion

These findings emphasize the high suitability of GA/WS-CQDs dressings for MRSA-infected wound healing and their potential for clinical translation.

Super Antibacterial Capacity and Cell Envelope-Disruptive Mechanism of Ultrasonically Grafted N-Halamine PBAT/PBF Films against Escherichia coli

Antibacterial materials are urgently needed to combat bacterial contamination, growth, or attachment on contact surfaces, as bacterial infections remain a public health crisis worldwide. Here, a novel ultrasound-assisted method is utilized for the first time to fabricate oxidative chlorine-loaded AH@PBAT/PBF-Cl films with more superior grafting efficiency and rechargeable antibacterial effect than those from conventional techniques. The films remarkably inactivate 99.9999% Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus cells, inducing noticeable cell deformations and mechanical instability. The specific antibacterial mechanism against E. coli used as a model organism is unveiled using several cell envelope structural and functional analyses combined with proteomics, peptidoglycomics, and fluorescence probe techniques. Film treatment partially neutralizes the bacterial surface charge, induces oxidative stress and cytoskeleton deformity, alters membrane properties, and disrupts the expression of key proteins involved in the synthesis and transport of the lipopolysaccharide and peptidoglycan, indicating the cell envelope as the primary target. The films specifically target lipopolysaccharides, resulting in structural impairment of the polysaccharide and lipid A components, and inhibit peptidoglycan precursor synthesis. Together, these lead to metabolic disorders, membrane dysfunction, structural collapse, and eventual death. Given the films' antibacterial effects via the disruption of key cell envelope components, they can potentially combat a wide range of bacteria. These findings lay a theoretical basis for developing efficient antibacterial materials for food safety or biomedical applications.

[Study on F9 gene expression downregulation and its clinical value in hepatocellular carcinoma]

Objective: To analyze the expression levels of the F9 gene and F9 protein in hepatocellular carcinoma by combining multiple gene chip data, real-time fluorescence quantitative PCR (RT qPCR), and immunohistochemistry. Additionally, explore their correlation with the occurrence and development of hepatocellular carcinoma, as well as with various clinical indicators and prognosis. Methods: The mRNA microarray dataset from the GEO database was analyzed to identify the F9 gene with significant expression differences associated with hepatocellular carcinoma. Liver cancer and adjacent tissues were collected from 18 cases of hepatocellular carcinoma. RT-qPCR method was used to detect the F9 gene expression level. Immunohistochemistry was used to detect the F9 protein level. Combined with the TCGA database information, the correlation between F9 gene expression level and prognostic and clinicopathological parameters was analyzed. The biological function of F9 co-expressed genes associated with hepatocellular carcinoma was analyzed by the Gene Ontology (GO) and the Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG). Statistical analysis was performed using Graphpad Prism software. Results: Meta-analysis results showed that the expression of the F9 gene was lower in HCC tissues than in non-cancerous tissues. Immunohistochemistry results were basically consistent with those of RT-qPCR. The data obtained from TCGA showed that the F9 gene had lower expression values in stages III-IV, T3-T4, and patients with vascular invasion. A total of 127 genes were selected for bioinformatics analysis as co-expressed genes of F9, which were highly enriched in redox processes and metabolic pathways. Conclusion: This study validates that the F9 gene and F9 protein are lower in HCC. The down-regulation of the F9 gene predicts adverse outcomes, which may provide a new therapeutic target for HCC.

The metabolism and dissipation behavior of tolfenpyrad in tea: A comprehensive risk assessment from field to cup

The metabolites of pesticides usually require rational risk assessment. In the present study, the metabolites of tolfenpyrad (TFP) in tea plants were identified using UPLC-QToF/MS analysis, and the transfer of TFP and its metabolites from tea bushes to consumption was studied for a comprehensive risk assessment. Four metabolites, PT-CA, PT-OH, OH-T-CA, and CA-T-CA, were identified, and PT-CA and PT-OH were detected along with dissipation of the parent TFP under field conditions. During processing, 3.11-50.00 % of TFP was further eliminated. Both PT-CA and PT-OH presented a downward trend (7.97-57.89 %) during green tea processing but an upward trend (34.48-124.17 %) during black tea manufacturing. The leaching rate (LR) of PT-CA (63.04-101.03 %) from dry tea to infusion was much higher than that of TFP (3.06-6.14 %). As PT-OH was no longer detected in tea infusions after 1 d of TFP application, TFP and PT-CA were taken into account in the comprehensive risk assessment. The risk quotient (RQ) assessment indicated a negligible health risk, but PT-CA posed a greater potential risk than TFP to tea consumers. Therefore, this study provides guidance for rational TFP application and suggests the sum of TFP and PT-CA residues as the maximum residual limit (MRL) in tea.

Response of soil erodibility of permanent gully heads to revegetation along a vegetation zone gradient in the loess-table and gully region of the Chinese Loess Plateau

Revegetation has been proven to significantly affect soil erodibility of gully heads, and climate conditions are expected to affect soil erodibility by determining the vegetation characteristic. However, there are crucial scientific/knowledge gaps regarding the change in the response of soil erodibility of gully heads to revegetation along a vegetation zone gradient. Therefore, we selected the gully heads with different restoration years along a vegetation zone gradient encompassing the steppe zone (SZ), forest-steppe zone (FSZ), and forest zone (FZ) on the Chinese Loess Plateau to clarify the variation in soil erodibility of gully head and its response to soil and vegetation properties from SZ to FZ. Furtherly, we systematically and comprehensively reveal driving factors of changes in soil erodibility in three vegetation zones. Results showed that: (1) Vegetation and soil properties were affected positively by revegetation and differed significantly in three vegetation zones. (2) Soil erodibility of gully heads in SZ was significantly higher than in FSZ and FZ, by 3.3 % and 6.7 % on average, respectively, and it showed a significantly different decrease with restoration years in three vegetation zones. (3) Standardized major axis analysis proved that the sensitivity of response soil erodibility to vegetation characteristics and soil characteristics presented a significant difference as the revegetation proceeded. Vegetation roots were the primary driver in SZ, but soil organic matter content dominated the change in soil erodibility in FSZ and FZ. (4) Structural equation modeling indicated that climate conditions played an indirect role in regulating soil erodibility of gully heads by mediating vegetation characteristics. This study offers essential insights for assessing the ecological functions of revegetation in the gully heads of the Chinese Loess Plateau under different climatic scenarios.

Correction: Sheng et al. Antibacterial and Angiogenic Poly(ionic liquid) Hydrogels. Gels 2022, 8, 476

In the original publication [...].

Revegetation-induced changes in vegetation diversity improve soil properties of gully heads

Revegetation is among the most efficient methods to improve gully headcut erosion. However, the influencing mechanism of revegetation on the soil properties of the gully head (GHSP) is still unclear. Thus, this study hypothesized that the variations in the GHSP were influenced by vegetation diversity during nature revegetation, and the influence pathways were mainly root traits, aboveground dry biomass (ADB), and vegetation coverage (VC). We studied six grassland communities of the gully head with different natural revegetation ages. The findings showed that the GHSP were improved during 22-year revegetation. The interaction effect of vegetation diversity, roots, aboveground dry biomass, and vegetation coverage on the GHSP was 43 %. In addition, vegetation diversity significantly explained >70.3 % of the changes in the root traits, ADB, and VC of the gully head (P < 0.05). Therefore, we combined vegetation diversity, roots, ADB, and VC to establish the path model to explain the GHSP changes, and the goodness of fit of the model was 82.3 %. The results showed that the model explained 96.1 % of the variation in the GHSP, and the vegetation diversity of the gully head affected the GHSP through roots, ADB, and VC. Therefore, during nature revegetation, vegetation diversity dominates the improvement of the GHSP, which has important significance for designing an optimal vegetation restoration strategy to control gully erosion.

Nitrogen and phosphorus change the early natural vegetation restoration in degraded Phaeozems of gullies

The influence of nutrients during natural vegetation restoration (NVR) in complicated landscapes and hydrologic conditions has often been debated. This study aimed to clarify how nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) runoff influences plant biomass and biodiversity during early restoration stages in gullies. In this study, the influence of runoff containing N, P, and N + P on the biomass and diversity of ten predominant herbaceous species was simulated in two degraded Phaeozems of gullies by under controlled conditions for two years. Increasing N in runoff increased the biomass in both low-degradation Phaeozems (LDP) and high-degradation Phaeozems (HDP), and N input could increase the competitive ability of No-Gramineae (NG) and constrain G biomass in the second year. N and P increased the biomass by increasing the species abundance and individual mass but not the diversity. N input typically decreased biodiversity, while P input influenced the dynamics of biodiversity was nonmonotonic increased or decreased. Compared with sole N input, additional P accelerated the competition of NG, restrained G mass, and decreased the total biomass in LDP, while increasing the total biomass in HDP in the first year. However, additional P input did not change the N effects on biodiversity in the first year, while high P input improved the herbaceous diversity in the second year of gullies. Generally, N in runoff was the key factor influencing NVR, especially for biomass in early NVR stages. The P dose and the ratio of N:P in the runoff were the main determinants of P mediation on the N effect on NVR.

Evaluation of the effects of long-term natural and artificial restoration on vegetation characteristics, soil properties and their coupling coordinations

Vegetation restoration is the most important factor to restrain soil and water loss in the Chinese Loess Plateau, and its effect is long-term. Among them, the coupling and coordination relationship between vegetation and soil is the key to the smooth implementation of ecological restoration and the project of returning farmland to forest and grassland. However, people have neglected whether the choice of vegetation restoration method is suitable for the development of ecological environment in this region, and whether vegetation and soil coexist harmoniously. In this paper, the typical watersheds with similar terrain environment but different vegetation restoration methods were selected as the research objects, which were Dongzhuanggou (natural restoration, NR) and Yangjiagou (artificial restoration, AR). Through vegetation investigation and soil physical property experiment, the comprehensive evaluation function was used to quantify the impact of restoration methods on vegetation characteristics and soil properties, and the vegetation-soil coupling model was used to explore the coordinated development of vegetation and soil under different restoration methods. The results showed that there were significant differences between the two restoration methods in terms of vegetation characteristics (P < 0.05). The vegetation diversity indices of NR were 1.59-4.81 times that of AR. For root characteristic indices, NR was 1.05-2.25 times that of AR. For soil physical properties, there was no significant difference between the two restoration methods (P > 0.05). The comprehensive evaluation function of vegetation (VCE) and soil (SCE) under NR were 0.74 and 0.42, respectively, while those under AR were 0.55 and 0.63, respectively. The comprehensive function showed that the vegetation population performance under NR was slightly better than that under AR, while the soil restoration effect was opposite. Under the two restoration methods, the vegetation-soil coupling relationship was barely coordinated (NR: 0.53; AR: 0.54), and both were the intermediate coordinated development mode. The vegetation diversity, tending level and soil management level should be improved simultaneously during the process of vegetation restoration on the Chinese Loess Plateau.

Single-Atom Nanocatalytic Therapy for Suppression of Neuroinflammation by Inducing Autophagy of Abnormal Mitochondria

Catalysts have achieved efficacy in scavenging reactive oxygen species (ROS) to eliminate neuroinflammation, but it ignores the essential fact of blocking the source of ROS regeneration. Here, we report the single-atom catalysts (SACs) Pt/CeO₂, which can effectively catalyze the breakdown of existing ROS and induce mitochondrial membrane potential (Δψm) depolarization by interfering with the α-glycerophosphate shuttle pathway and malate-aspartate shuttle pathway, indirectly triggering the self-clearance of dysfunctional mitochondria and thus eradicating the source of ROS generation. In a therapeutic model of Parkinson's disease (PD), Pt/CeO₂ wrapped by neutrophil-like (HL-60) cell membranes and modified by rabies virus glycoprotein (RVG29) effectively crosses the blood-brain barrier (BBB), enters dopaminergic neurons entering the neuroinflammatory region breaking down existing ROS and inducing mitophagy by electrostatic adsorption targeting mitochondria to prevent ROS regeneration after catalyst discharge. This strategy of efficiently eliminating ROS at the lesion and fundamentally blocking the source of ROS production can address both symptoms and root causes and provides a mechanism of explanation and action target for the treatment of inflammation-related diseases.

Inhibitory mechanisms of promising antimicrobials from plant byproducts: A review

Plant byproducts and waste present enormous environmental challenges and an opportunity for valorization and industrial application. Due to consumer demands for natural compounds, the evident paucity of novel antimicrobial agents against foodborne pathogens, and the urgent need to improve the arsenal against infectious diseases and antimicrobial resistance (AMR), plant byproduct compounds have attracted significant research interest. Emerging research highlighted their promising antimicrobial activity, yet the inhibitory mechanisms remain largely unexplored. Therefore, this review summarizes the overall research on the antimicrobial activity and inhibitory mechanisms of plant byproduct compounds. A total of 315 natural antimicrobials from plant byproducts, totaling 1338 minimum inhibitory concentrations (MIC) (in μg/mL) against a broad spectrum of bacteria, were identified, and a particular emphasis was given to compounds with high or good antimicrobial activity (typically <100 μg/mL MIC). Moreover, the antimicrobial mechanisms, particularly against bacterial pathogens, were discussed in-depth, summarizing the latest research on using natural compounds to combat pathogenic microorganisms and AMR. Furthermore, safety concerns, relevant legislation, consumer perspective, and current gaps in the valorization of plant byproducts-derived compounds were comprehensively discussed. This comprehensive review covering up-to-date information on antimicrobial activity and mechanisms represents a powerful tool for screening and selecting the most promising plant byproduct compounds and sources for developing novel antimicrobial agents.

Ultrasound-induced cell disintegration and its ultrastructure characterization for the valorisation of Chlorella pyrenoidosa protein

Chlorella pyrenoidosa (CP) has great potential for feeding future demands in food, environment, energy, and pharmaceuticals. To achieve this goal, the exploitation of emerging efficient technique such as ultrasound-assisted extraction (UAE) for CP nutrient enrichment is crucial. Here, UAE is deployed for high-efficient CP protein (CPP) valorisation. Compared to conventional solvent extraction (CSE), remarkable mass transfer enhancements with 9-time protein yields and 3-time extraction rate are achieved by ultrasonic cavitation in UAE, indicating UAE can drastically shift intracellular nutrients including proteins and pigments to solvent. Cell morphology and ultrastructure show the different responses of cell wall and membrane, indicating that the cell membrane may play a role in the extraction process, based on which the extremely-low efficiency of CSE and high efficiency of UAE are highlighted. This study provides a solution for future food crisis by extracting CPP and may open a new discussion field in ultrasonic extraction.

Selective and efficient removal of emerging contaminants by sponge-like manganese ferrite synthesized using a solvent-free method: Crucial role of the three-dimensional porous structure

Ubiquitous macromolecular natural organic matter (NOM) in wastewater seriously influences the removal of emerging small-molecule contaminants via heterogeneous advanced oxidation processes because this material covers active sites and quenches reactive oxygen species. Here, sponge-like magnetic manganese ferrite (MnFe₂O₄-S) with a three-dimensional hierarchical porous structure was prepared via a facile solvent-free molten method. Compared with the particle-like structure of MnFe₂O₄-P, the sponge-like structure of MnFe₂O₄-S presents an enlarged specific surface area (112.14 m²·g^-1 vs. 58.73 m²·g^-1) and a smaller macropore diameter (68.2-77.2 nm vs. 946.5 nm). Enlarging the specific surface area increases the exposure of active sites, and adjusting the pore size helps sieve NOM and emerging contaminants. These changes are expected to effectively improve the degradation activity and overcome interference. To confirm the superiority of the sponge-like structure, MnFe₂O₄-S was used to activate peroxymonosulfate (PMS) for the degradation of multiple emerging contaminants, and its ability to degrade bisphenol A with and without humic acid (HA) was compared with that of MnFe₂O₄-P. The degradation activity of MnFe₂O₄-S was 1.6 times greater than that of MnFe₂O₄-P. Moreover, 20 mg·L^-1 HA inhibited the degradation activity of MnFe₂O₄-S by only 7.1%, which was much lower than that obtained for MnFe₂O₄-P (53.4%). In addition, the excellent performance was maintained in multiple water matrices. Notably, under lake water matrices, the degradation activity of MnFe₂O₄-P was inhibited by 35.6% while that of MnFe₂O₄-S was hardly inhibited. More importantly, the MnFe₂O₄-S/PMS system was also applicable to the treatment of actual wastewater and 73.0% and 90.1% of total organic carbon and chemical oxygen demand was removed from bio-treated coking wastewater containing non-biodegradable contaminants and NOM. This study provides an alternative route for the green production of high-activity porous spinel ferrites with environmental anti-interference properties.

[The association of intra-aortic balloon pump with prognosis of cardiogenic shock based on Society for Cardiovascular Angiography and Interventions classification]

The study aimed to evaluate whether an intra-aortic balloon pump (IABP) could improve the prognosis of patients with cardiogenic shock (CS) of Stage C (Classic), Stage D (Deteriorating), and Stage E (Extremis) based on Society for Cardiovascular Angiography and Interventions (SCAI) classification. The hospital information database was searched, and the patients who met the diagnostic criteria of CS were included and treated following the same protocol. The association between IABP and the survival of patients at 1 month and 6 months were analyzed separately in SCAI stage C of CS, and stages D and E of CS. The multiple logistic regression models were used to separately evaluate whether IABP was independently associated with increased survival in stage C of CS, and stages D and E of CS. A total of 141 patients with stage C of CS and 267 patients with stages D and E of CS were included. In stage C of CS, IABP was significantly associated with improved survival of patients at 1 month [adjusted OR (95%CI)=0.372 (0.171-0.809), P=0.013] and survival at 6 months [adjusted OR (95%CI)=0.401 (0.190-0.850), P=0.017]. However, when percutaneous coronary intervention or coronary artery bypass grafting (PCI/CABG) was introduced as an adjusted factor, there was a significant association between survival rates and PCI/CABG rather than IABP. In stages D and E of CS, IABP was significantly associated with an improved survival at 1 month [adjusted OR (95%CI)=0.053 (0.012-0.236), P=0.001]. Therefore, IABP could assist patients with stage C of CS in the perioperative period of PCI/CABG and improve survival rates, and IABP might prolong short-term prognosis of patients with stages D and E of CS.

Abstract P4-03-31: Lifestyle factors are associated with breast cancer risk in women biopsied for benign breast diseases in China: 10-year results of a multi-center, hospital-based, case-control study

Objective: Benign breast disease (BBD), especially benign proliferative breast disease (BPBD), is related to increased breast cancer risk. However, few studies have examined whether conventional breast cancer risk factors influence risk of breast cancer among women with BBD. The aim of this study was to evaluate the associations of lifestyle factors with risk of breast cancer among women biopsied for BBD within a multi-center, hospital-based, case-control study in China, in order to provide scientific basis of health guidance for BBD patients and lay the foundation for primary prevention of breast cancer.

Methods: A multi-center, hospital-based, case-control study was conducted. Patients with BPBD (n=608) and patients with non-proliferative breast disease (NPBD) (n=366) were collected from 23 hospitals in 11 provinces during April 2012 to April 2013. A face-to-face survey, baseline data and fasting blood was collected with all study subjects. Serum adiponectin levels were assayed using ELISA. After 10 years, the cumulative incidence rate of breast cancer in the two groups was counted through follow-up. Logistic regression analysis was used to obtain the association between specific factors and risk of breast cancer.

Results: After 10 years’ follow-up, 388 BPBD and 240 NPBD cases were included in the final analysis (Table 1), of which 16 (4.12%) and 3 (1.25%) developed breast cancer, respectively. The cumulative incidence of breast cancer between the two groups was significant difference (P=0.041). Compared with women in the NPBD group, BPBD group were more likely to be central obesity (with higher waist-to-hip ratio (WHR)) (OR 24.98, 95% CI 1.845-336.203, P=0.015) and less likely to have physical activity (OR 0.626, 95% CI 0.416-0.943, P=0.025) and less often to eat carrots (OR 0.616, 95% CI 0.398-0.953, P=0.030) (Table 2). Subgroup analyze indicated that, physical activity, eat carrots and ham sausage, body weight, BMI, waist circumference and WHR were statistical differences in premenopausal BPBD patients, while only physical activity (OR 0.423, 95% CI 0.269-0.665 P &lt; 0.001) was the independent risk factors. Meanwhile, among the factors of Tea consumption, Glycemia, Body weight, BMI, Waist circumference, WHR and HMW/total adiponectin ratio in postmenopausal group, only HMW/total adiponectin ratio (OR 0.041, 95% CI 0.002-0.820 P=0.037) was statistically significant factor. These stratified multivariate logistic regression analysis results are shown in Table 3.

Conclusion: In patients with BBD, physical activity may be the protect factor for breast cancer carcinogenesis in premenopausal women while lower HMW/total adiponectin ratio is a risk factor for postmenopausal women, which can provide direction for primary prevention of breast cancer.

Table 1. Pathological types of all subjects.

Table 2. The results of multivariate Logistic regression analysis.

Table 3. Stratified multivariate Logistic regression analysis by menopause status.

Citation Format: Chao Zheng, Dandan Ma, Linfeng Zhao, Maolin Guo, Shude Cui, Fuguo Tian, Zhimin Fan, Cuizhi Geng, Xuchen Cao, Zhenlin Yang, Xiang Wang, Hong Liang, Shu Wang, Hongchuan Jiang, Xuening Duan, Haibo Wang, Guolou Li, Qitang Wang, Jianguo Zhang, Feng Jin, Jinhai Tang, Liang Li, Shi-Guang Zhu, Wenshu Zuo, Fei Wang, Lixiang Yu, Fei Zhou, Yujuan Xiang, Mingming Guo, Yongjiu Wang, Wenzhong Zhou, Shuya Huang, Zhaohui Li, Yajie Zhou, Lijuan Hou, Xinyi Yang, Xuan Zhang, Liyuan Liu, Zhigang Yu. Lifestyle factors are associated with breast cancer risk in women biopsied for benign breast diseases in China: 10-year results of a multi-center, hospital-based, case-control study [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 2022 San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium; 2022 Dec 6-10; San Antonio, TX. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2023;83(5 Suppl):Abstract nr P4-03-31.

Development of TaqMan-based real-time PCR assay based on the E1 genefor the quantitative detection of the Getah virus

To develop a sensitive, specific, and rapid approach for the detection Getah virus (GETV), a set of primers targeting the conserved region of the E1 gene was created. The TaqMan-based real-time PCR method for GETV detection was developed by optimizing the reaction conditions. The method demonstrated excellent specificity, and amplification did not occur with the causative agents of all prevalent swine viral infections (CSFV, PRRSV, PRV, PEDV, PTV, and JEV), except GETV. Additionally, upon assessing the sensitivity of the method, the minimum detection limit for GETV was found to be 5.94 copies/μL, which is 10 times higher than that of the traditional PCR approach. Further, the intra- and inter-assay variation coefficients were less than 1%, demonstrating good repeatability. Moreover, GETV was found in 10 of the 20 field serum samples using real-time PCR but only in three of the samples using traditional PCR. Consequently, the first GETV TaqMan-based real-time PCR approach based on the E1 gene was developed for GETV pathogenic diagnoses, and this exhibited high specificity, sensitivity, and repeatability. This assay is practical for the pathogenic diagnosis and epidemiology of GETV.

Combating Escherichia coli O157:H7 with Functionalized Chickpea-Derived Antimicrobial Peptides

The rapid dissemination of antibiotic resistance accelerates the desire for new antibacterial agents. Here, a class of antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) is designed by modifying the structural parameters of a natural chickpea-derived AMP-Leg2, termed "functionalized chickpea-derived Leg2 antimicrobial peptides" (FCLAPs). Among the FCLAPs, KTA and KTR show superior antibacterial efficacy against the foodborne pathogen Escherichia coli (E. coli) O157:H7 (with MICs in the range of 2.5-4.7 µmol L^-1 ) and demonstrate satisfactory feasibility in alleviating E. coli O157:H7-induced intestinal infection. Additionally, the low cytotoxicity along with insusceptibility to antimicrobial resistance increases the potential of FCLAPs as appealing antimicrobials. Combining the multi-omics profiling andpeptide-membrane interaction assays, a unique dual-targeting mode of action is characterized. To specify the antibacterial mechanism, microscopical observations, membrane-related physicochemical properties studies, and mass spectrometry assays are further performed. Data indicate that KTA and KTR induce membrane damage by initially targeting the lipopolysaccharide (LPS), thus promoting the peptides to traverse the outer membrane. Subsequently, the peptides intercalate into the peptidoglycan (PGN) layer, blocking its synthesis, and causing a collapse of membrane structure. These findings altogether imply the great potential of KTA and KTR as promising antibacterial candidates in combating the growing threat of E. coli O157:H7.

Deep learning for predicting the risk of immune checkpoint inhibitor-related pneumonitis in lung cancer

AIM

To develop and validate a nomogram model that combines computed tomography (CT)-based radiological factors extracted from deep-learning and clinical factors for the early predictions of immune checkpoint inhibitor-related pneumonitis (ICI-P).

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Forty ICI-P patients and 101 patients without ICI-P were divided randomly into the training (n=113) and test (n=28) sets. The convolution neural network (CNN) algorithm was used to extract the CT-based radiological features of predictable ICI-P and calculated the CT score of each patient. A nomogram model to predict the risk of ICI-P was developed by logistic regression.

RESULTS

CT score was calculated from five radiological features extracted by the residual neural network-50-V2 with feature pyramid networks. Four predictors of ICI-P in the nomogram model included a clinical feature (pre-existing lung diseases), two serum markers (absolute lymphocyte count and lactate dehydrogenase), and a CT score. The area under curve of the nomogram model in the training (0.910 versus 0.871 versus 0.778) and test (0.900 versus 0.856 versus 0.869) sets was better than the radiological and clinical models. The nomogram model showed good consistency and better clinical practicability.

CONCLUSION

The nomogram model that combined CT-based radiological factors and clinical factors can be used as a new non-invasive tool for the early prediction of ICI-P in lung cancer patients after immunotherapy with low cost and low manual input.

Ultrasound-Remote Selected Activation Mitophagy for Precise Treatment of Rheumatoid Arthritis by Two-Dimensional Piezoelectric Nanosheets

Excess reactive oxygen species (ROS) produced by abnormal mitochondria is one of the critical triggers of rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Existing nanocatalytic therapies can only catalyze the breakdown of ROS but cannot address the root cause of ROS production, i.e., abnormal mitochondria. Here, we designed an ultrasound (US) piezoelectric catalytic therapy, which can induce mitophagy in a spatiotemporally controlled manner to treat RA. The prepared two-dimensional piezoelectric nanosheets (NSs) Fe/BiOCl with US catalytic activity can efficiently generate electrons under US stimulation to meet the purpose of consuming H⁺ in the outer mitochondrial membrane and disturbing the H⁺ supply in the mitochondrial matrix. This causes depolarization of the mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP), triggering the autophagy of mitochondria in regions of inflammation to eliminate the source of ROS regeneration. Analysis of cellular and RA model-related experiments showed that piezoelectric US-catalyzed therapy involving Fe/BiOCl NSs alleviated RA by inducing mitophagy. This provides an explanation of the mechanism for piezoelectric US catalytic therapy and suggests promising strategies for biomedical applications of US piezoelectric materials.

Association between Dried Fruit Intake and DNA Methylation: A Multivariable Mendelian Randomization Analysis

OBJECTIVES

Observational studies have reported associations between dried fruit intake and DNA methylation(DNAm). However, inherent flaws in observational study designs make them susceptible to confounding and reverse causality bias. Consequently, it is unclear whether a causal association exists. In the present study, we aimed to investigate the causal associations between dried fruit intake and DNAm.

METHODS

We performed two-sample Mendelian randomization (MR) using the IEU Open GWAS database aggregated data. Forty-three single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) associated with dried fruit intake as instrumental variables (IVs) were selected as exposure. DNAm outcomes include Gran (estimated granulocyte proportions); AgeAccelGrim(GrimAge acceleration); Hannum (Hannum age acceleration); IEAA(Intrinsic epigenetic age acceleration), AgeAccelPheno( PhenoAge acceleration), and DNAmPAIadjAge (DNAm-estimated plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 levels). We used the MR pleiotropy residual sum and outlier test (MRPRESSO) and Radial-MR test to identify any level of multi-effect outliers and assessed the causal effect estimates(after removing outliers). The primary causal effects were estimated using inverse-variance weighted (IVW) method and undertook sensitivity analyses using MR methods robust to horizontal pleiotropy.The direct effects of dried fruit intake on DNAm were estimated using multivariable mendelian randomization (MVMR).

RESULTS

Leveraging two-sample MR analysis, we observed statistically significant associations between dried fruit intake with a lower AgeAccelGrim(β=-1.365, 95% confidence intervals [CI] -2.266 to -0.464, PIVW=2.985×10-3) and AgeAccelPheno (β= -1.933, 95% CI -3.068 to -0.798, PIVW=8.371×10-4). By contrast, the effects level on Gran (β=0.008, PIVW=0.430), Hannum(β=-0.430, PIVW=0.357), IEAA(β=-0.184, PIVW=0.700), and DNAmPAIadjAge (β=-1.861, PIVW=0.093) were not statistically significant. MVMR results adjusting for the potential effects of confounders showed that the causal relationship between dried fruit intake and AgeAccelGrim(β= -1.315, 95% CI -2.373 to -0.258, PIVW=1.480×10-2) and AgeAccelPheno(β= -1.595, 95% CI -2.987 to -0.202, PIVW=2.483×10-2) persisted. No significant horizontal polymorphism was found in the sensitivity analysis.

CONCLUSION

Our MR study suggested that increased dried fruit intake is associated with slower AgeAccelGrim and AgeAccelPheno. It can providing a promising avenue for exploring the beneficial effects of dried fruit intake on lifespan extension.

Water-soluble polymers with aggregation-induced emission and ultra-long room temperature phosphorescence

Achieving sky blue fluorescence emission and durable green RTP emission materials under air conditions by free radical polymerization.

The Correlation Between Cardiac Oxidative Stress and Inflammatory Cytokine Response Following Myocardial Infarction

Our study was conducted to investigate the potential correlation between cardiac oxidative stress and inflammatory cytokine response following myocardial infarction. A total of 120 patients harboring acute myocardial infarction who underwent percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) at our hospital were included. Their general clinical data were analyzed, and comparisons were made regarding the levels of inflammatory factors, oxidative stress markers, heart pump function, and cardiac function. The correlation between cardiac oxidative stress and inflammatory cytokine response was assessed using Pearson's linear correlation. Following treatment, significant reductions were seen in the serum levels of cortisol, thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH), B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP), C-reactive protein (CRP), signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3), interleukin-6 (IL-6), interleukin-8 (IL-8), tumor necrosis factor (TNF), and catalase (CAT) compared to pre-treatment levels. Conversely, the levels of growth hormone (GH), superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px), total antioxidant capacity (T-AOC), cardiac output (CO), and cardiac index (CI) were significantly elevated. Serum cortisol (r = 0.481, P = .001), BNP (r = 0.437, P = .001), CRP (r = 0.542, P = .001), STAT3 (r = 0.835, P = .001), TSH (P = .001), IL-8 (r = 0.867, P = .001), TNF-α (r = 0.439, P = .001), and cardiac oxidative stress demonstrated significantly positive correlations (P < .05). Additionally, a significant negative correlation was found between GH (r = -0.654, P = .001) and immune balance (P < .05). This study evaluated the severity of myocardial infarction using indicators such as CO and CI. This study found a significant correlation between cardiac oxidative stress and inflammatory cytokines after myocardial infarction, suggesting their potential as predictors of myocardial infarction severity.

Performance of toluene oxidation on different morphologies of α-MnO2 prepared using manganese-based compound high-selectively recovered from spent lithium-ion batteries

The proper disposals of spent lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) both have a significant impact on the environment and human health. In this work, different morphologies of α-MnO₂ catalysts are synthesized using a manganese-based compound as the precursor which is high-selectively recovered from spent lithium-ion ternary batteries. Different synthesis methods including the co-precipitation method, hydrothermal method, and impregnation method are used to prepare different morphologies of α-MnO₂ catalysts and their catalytic activities of toluene oxidation are investigated. Experimental results show that MnO₂-HM-140 with stacked nanorods synthesized using the hydrothermal method exhibits the best catalytic performance of toluene oxidation (T₉₀ of 226 °C under the WHSV of 60,000 mL g^-1·h^-1), which could be attributed to its better redox ability at low temperature and much more abundant adsorbed oxygen species at low temperature. The adsorption abilities of toluene and the replenish rate of surface lattice oxygen can be enhanced due to the increase of oxygen vacancies on the surface of MnO₂-HM-140. Furthermore, the results of in-situ DRIFTS and TD/GC-MS imply that benzoate species are the main intermediate groups and then the reaction pathway of toluene oxidation on the surface of MnO₂-HM-140 is proposed.

Neutrophil-mediated delivery of the combination of colistin and azithromycin for the treatment of bacterial infection

Novel treatment strategies are in urgent need to deal with the rapid development of antibiotic-resistant superbugs. Combination therapies and targeted drug delivery have been exploited to promote treatment efficacies. In this study, we loaded neutrophils with azithromycin and colistin to combine the advantages of antibiotic combinations, targeted delivery, and immunomodulatory effect of azithromycin to treat infections caused by Gram-negative pathogens. Delivery of colistin into neutrophils was mediated by fusogenic liposome, while azithromycin was directly taken up by neutrophils. Neutrophils loaded with the drugs maintained the abilitity to generate reactive oxygen species and migrate. In vitro assays demonstrated enhanced bactericidal activity against multidrug-resistant pathogens and reduced inflammatory cytokine production by the drug-loaded neutrophils. A single intravenous administration of the drug-loaded neutrophils effectively protected mice from Pseudomonas aeruginosa infection in an acute pneumonia model. This study provides a potential effective therapeutic approach for the treatment of bacterial infections.

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Neutrophils are loaded with colistin and azithromycin in vitro

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The loaded drugs enhance the bactericidal effect and reduce the inflammatory response

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Drug-loaded neutrophils conferred effective protection against bacterial infection

Nitrogen-doped carbonized polymer dots activated by alkalinity of arginine for multicolor multi-platform sensor

Among carbon-based materials, carbon dots (CDs) are popular because of their stable optical properties and good biocompatibility. Their fluorescence properties often are tailored by size, surface modification, or heteroatom doping with multiple precursors. In this paper, the alkalinity of Arginine (Arg) acts as an activator to promote carbonation and increase luminescence efficiency. Meanwhile, Arg acts as a tetrahedron and plays another three roles in preparing amino-modified nitrogen-doped carbonized polymer dots (SA-NCPDs), in which Arg serves as carbon source, nitrogen-doped nitrogen source, and surface modifier. The NCPDs based only on arginine display narrow full width at half maximum (FWHM) of 54 nm. The SA-NCPDs present dual emission distribution in the UV and visible blue regions, respectively. The SA-NCPDs present multicolor emission, especially crimson emission in water under 77 K in different solvents. Besides, SA-NCPDs in different solvents and the prepared polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) composite film have different phosphorescence and long afterglow at 77 K. The excellent biocompatibility and stability of the SA-NCPDs imply it is a potential material in biomedicine. In addition, a multiplatform multicolor ratiometric sensor and visualized colorimetric sensor with high selectivity were constructed successfully for detecting Cu²⁺, H₂O_2, and OPD based on self-absorption.