Orychophragmus violaceus and/or chicory forage affects performance, egg quality, sensory evaluation and antioxidative properties in native laying hens

Orychophragmus violaceus (OV) and chicory (Cichorium intybus L., CC) can be used as fresh or dry forage for animals. To determine whether OV and/or CC have beneficial effects on performance and egg quality, a total of 1212 28-wk-old Beijing You Chicken (BYC) laying hens with similar performance were randomly allocated to 4 groups with 3 replicate pens per group, and 101 birds per pen. The birds were fed a basal diet (control), the basal diet + OV (3.507 kg/d/pen), the basal diet + CC (2.525 kg/d/pen), and the basal diet + OV + CC (OVC, 1.7535 kg/d/pen OV + 1.2625 kg/d/pen CC) for 3 wks after one wk of adaptation. The results showed that egg-laying rate was not affected by OV, CC and OVC (p > 0.05), but weekly average egg mass was significantly increased by OV and CC (p < 0.05). The feed egg ratio in the CC group (2.82) was significantly lower than that in the other three groups (p < 0.05). The eggshell thickness (EST), albumen height (AH) and Haugh unit (HU) were decreased by OV and CC (p < 0.05); while yolk color (YC) was increased in the CC and OVC groups (p < 0.05). Egg grade was decreased by OV (p < 0.05). Sensory evaluation showed that there was a trend for increased YC in OV, CC and OVC (p = 0.089). Serum total protein was significantly lower in OV group than those in the control and CC group (p < 0.05); serum albumin content was significantly decreased in OV, CC and OVC groups (p = 0.006). Serum glutathione peroxidase activity in CC and OVC groups was significantly higher than that in the control group (p < 0.05). In conclusion, the present study suggests that CC had a better effect on the performance of the native laying hens than OV. The OV and CC affected egg quality, while YC was increased in CC and OVC groups. The OVC improved YC and serum antioxidative properties of native laying hens without affecting the performance.

The azole biocide climbazole induces oxidative stress, inflammation, and apoptosis in fish gut

Climbazole is an azole biocide that has been widely used in formulations of personal care products. Climbazole can cause developmental toxicity and endocrine disruption as well as gut disturbance in aquatic organisms. However, the mechanisms behind gut toxicity induced by climbazole still remain largely unclear in fish. Here, we evaluate the gut effects by exposing grass carp (Ctenopharyngodon idella) to climbazole at levels ranging from 0.2 to 20 μg/L for 42 days by evaluating gene transcription and expression, biochemical analyses, correlation network analysis, and molecular docking. Results showed that climbazole exposure increased cyp1a mRNA expression and ROS level in the three treatment groups. Climbazole also inhibited Nrf2 and Keap1 transcripts as well as proteins, and suppressed the transcript levels of their subordinate antioxidant molecules (cat, sod, and ho-1), increasing oxidative stress. Additionally, climbazole enhanced NF-κB and iκBα transcripts and proteins, and the transcripts of NF-κB downstream pro-inflammatory factors (tnfα, and il-1β/6/8), leading to inflammation. Climbazole increased pro-apoptosis-related genes (fadd, bad1, and caspase3), and decreased anti-apoptosis-associated genes (bcl2, and bcl-xl), suggesting a direct reaction to apoptosis. The molecular docking data showed that climbazole could form stable hydrogen bonds with CYP1A. Mechanistically, our findings suggested that climbazole can induce inflammation and oxidative stress through CYP450s/ROS/Nrf2/NF-κB pathways, resulting in cell apoptosis in the gut of grass carp.

EPAC inhibitor suppresses angiogenesis and tumor growth of triple-negative breast cancer

AIMS

Exchange protein directly activated by cAMP 1 (EPAC1), a major isoform of guanine nucleotide exchange factors, is highly expressed in vascular endothelia cells and regulates angiogenesis in the retina. High intratumor microvascular densities (MVD) resulting from angiogenesis is responsible for breast cancer development. Downregulation of EPAC1 in tumor cell reduces triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC)-induced angiogenesis. However, whether Epac1 expressed in vascular endothelial cells contributes to angiogenesis and tumor development of TNBC remains elusive.

MAIN METHODS

We employed NY0123, a previously identified potent EPAC inhibitor, to explore the anti-angiogenic biological role of EPAC1 in vitro and in vivo through vascular endothelial cells, rat aortic ring, Matrigel plug, and chick embryo chorioallantoic membrane (CAM) and yolk sac membrane (YSM) assays, as well as the in vivo xenograft tumor models of TNBC in both chick embryo and mice.

KEY FINDINGS

Inhibiting EPAC1 in vascular endothelial cells by NY0123 significantly suppresses angiogenesis and tumor growth of TNBC. In addition, NY0123 possesses a better inhibitory efficacy than ESI-09, a reported specific EPAC inhibitor tool compound. Importantly, inhibiting EPAC1 in vascular endothelia cells regulates the typical angiogenic signaling network, which is associated with not only vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF)/vascular endothelial growth factor receptor-2 (VEGFR2) signaling, but also PI3K/AKT, MEK/ERK and Notch pathway.

CONCLUSIONS

Our findings support that EPAC1 may serve as an effective anti-angiogenic therapeutic target of TNBC, and EPAC inhibitor NY0123 has the therapeutic potential to be developed for the treatment of TNBC.

Cathepsin K inhibition alleviates periodontal bone resorption by promoting type H vessel formation through PDGF-BB/PDGFR-β axis

OBJECTIVES

To explore the effects of cathepsin K (CTSK) inhibition on type H vessel formation and alveolar bone resorption within periodontitis.

METHODS

Conditioned media derived from preosteoclasts pretreated with the CTSK inhibitor odanacatib (ODN), ODN supplemented small interfering RNA targeting PDGF-BB (si-PDGF-BB), or PBS were prepared, to assess their proangiogenic effects on endothelial cells (HUVECs). A series of angiogenic-related assays were conducted to evaluate HUVEC proliferation, migration, and tube formation abilities in vitro. In addition, qRT-PCR and Western blot assays were employed to examine the expression levels of genes/proteins related to PDGF-BB/PDGFR-β axis components. A mouse periodontitis model was established to evaluate the effects of CTSK inhibition on type H vessel formation.

RESULTS

CTSK inhibition promoted PDGF-BB secretion from preosteoclasts and proliferation, migration, and tube formation activities of HUVECs in vitro. However, the conditioned medium from preosteoclasts pretreated by si-PDGF-BB impaired the angiogenic activities of HUVECs. This promoted angiogenesis function by CTSK inhibition may be mediated by the PDGF-BB/PDGFR-β axis. Functionally, in vivo studies demonstrated that CTSK inhibition significantly accelerated type H vessel formation and alleviated bone loss within periodontitis.

CONCLUSION

CTSK inhibition promotes type H vessel formation and attenuates alveolar bone resorption within periodontitis via PDGF-BB/PDGFR-β axis.

An azole fungicide climbazole damages the gut-brain axis in the grass carp

Azole antifungal climbazole has frequently been detected in aquatic environments and shows various effects in fish. However, the underlying mechanism of toxicity through the gut-brain axis of climbazole is unclear. Here, we investigated the effects of climbazole at environmental concentrations on the microbiota-intestine-brain axis in grass carp via histopathological observation, gene expression and biochemical analyses, and high-throughput sequencing of the 16 S rRNA. Results showed that exposure to 0.2 to 20 μg/L climbazole for 42 days significantly disrupted gut microbiota and caused brain neurotoxicity in grass carp. In this study, there was an alteration in the phylum and genus compositions in the gut microbiota following climbazole treatment, including reducing Fusobacteria (e.g., Cetobacterium) and increasing Actinobacteria (e.g., Nocardia). Climbazole disrupted intestinal microbial abundance, leading to increased levels of lipopolysaccharide and tumor necrosis factor-alpha in the gut, serum, and brain. They passed through the impaired intestinal barrier into the circulation and caused the destruction of the blood-brain barrier through the gut-brain axis, allowing them into the brain. In the brain, climbazole activated the nuclear factor kappaB pathway to increase inflammation, and suppressed the E2-related factor 2 pathway to produce oxidative damage, resulting in apoptosis, which promoted neuroinflammation and neuronal death. Besides, our results suggested that this neurotoxicity was caused by the breakdown of the microbiota-gut-brain axis, mediated by reduced concentrations of dopamine, short chain fatty acids, and intestinal microbial activity induced by climbazole.

A validated LC-MS/MS method for determination of six Anti-SARS-CoV-2 drugs in plasma and its application for a pharmacokinetic study in rats

Antiviral treatment for COVID-19 is considered an effective tool in reducing the rate of severe cases and deaths. As of June 2023, a total of six small molecule antiviral drugs have been conditionally approved for marketing by the National Medical Products Administration (NMPA) within China. In this study, a method of HPLC-MS/MS was established and validated for the determination of six small molecule antiviral drugs in plasma using Lamivudine as an internal standard. The chromatographic separation was performed using gradient elution with an ACE 3 C18-PFP column (3.0 mm × 150 mm, 3 μm), and the mobile phase consisted of deionized water and acetonitrile/water (90:10, v/v), both with 10 mmol/L of ammonium acetate and 0.1 % ammonium hydroxide added. Quantitative analysis of the six small molecule drugs was carried out through selective reaction monitoring based on the positive ion spray ionization mode. The method exhibited excellent precision, accuracy, recovery, and linearity, and it was used to determine the pharmacokinetic characteristics in rats. Our work not only established a bioanalytical method for six small molecule antiviral drugs but also provided scientific references for clinical pharmacokinetic studies.

The efficacy and safety of corticotomy and periodontally accelerated osteogenic orthodontic interventions in tooth movement: an updated meta-analysis

BACKGROUND

The surgically facilitated orthodontic strategy has been a promising strategy for orthodontic treatment recently. Therefore, the present meta-analysis was conducted to assess the available scientific evidence regarding the clinical outcomes, including the potential detrimental effects associated with these surgical procedures, with the aim of providing much more evidence-based information for clinical practice.

METHODS

An electronic search of three databases (PubMed, Cochrane, and Embase) and a manual search of relevant articles published up to May 2023 were carried out. Clinical trials (≥ 10 subjects) that utilized surgically facilitated orthodontic strategies with clinical and/or radiographic outcomes were included. Meta-analyses and sub-group analyses were performed to analyze the standardized mean difference (SMD) or weighted mean difference (WMD), and confidence interval (CI) for the recorded variables.

RESULTS

Nineteen studies published from Oct 2012 to May 2023 met the inclusion criteria. Based on the analysis outcomes, corticotomy treatment significantly decreased the alignment duration (WMD: -1.08 months; 95% CI = -1.65, -0.51 months, P = 0.0002), and accelerated the canine movement (WMD: 0.72 mm; 95% CI = 0.63, 0.81 mm, P < 0.00001) compared to the traditional orthodontic group. The periodontally accelerated osteogenic orthodontic (PAOO) strategy markedly reduced the total treatment duration (SMD: -1.98; 95% CI = -2.59, -1.37, P < 0.00001) and increased the bone thickness (SMD:1.07; 95% CI = 0.74, 1.41, P < 0.00001) compared to traditional orthodontic treatment.

CONCLUSION

The present study suggests that facilitated orthodontic treatment in terms of corticotomy and PAOO strategy may represent attractive and effective therapeutic strategy for orthodontic patients.

Regulation mechanism of hydrazine and hydroxylamine in nitrogen removal processes: A Comprehensive review

As the new fashioned nitrogen removal process, short-cut nitrification and denitrification (SHARON) process, anaerobic ammonium oxidation (anammox) process, completely autotrophic nitrogen removal over nitrite (CANON) process, partial nitrification and anammox (PN/A) process and partial denitrification and anammox (PD/A) process entered into the public eye due to its advantages of high nitrogen removal efficiency (NRE) and low energy consumption. However, the above process also be limited by long-term start-up time, unstable operation, complicated process regulation and so on. As intermediates or by-metabolites of functional microorganisms in above processes, hydroxylamine (NH2OH) and hydrazine (N2H4) improved NRE of the above processes by promoting functional enzyme activity, accelerating electron transport efficiency and regulating distribution of microbial communities. Therefore, this review discussed effects of NH2OH and N2H4 on stability and NRE of above processes, analyzed regulatory mechanism from functional enzyme activity, electron transport efficiency and microbial community distribution. Finally, the challenges and limitations for nitric oxide (NO) and nitrous oxide (N2O) produced from regulation of NH2OH and N2H4 are discussed. In additional, perspectives on future trends in technology development are proposed.

Plastic pollution from takeaway food industry in China

China's takeaway food industry is growing rapidly, and bringing unprecedented demand for plastic packaging, which results in serious plastic pollution and increasing emissions of plasticizers of phthalate esters (PAEs) and greenhouse gases (GHGs). This study assesses the current and future situation of plastic usage for takeaway food packaging in China, and also analyzes the PAEs and GHG emissions brought by these plastics under different scenarios. From 2010 to 2020, the plastic usage grew from 2.92 to 101 × 104 tons, and brought 112-3845 kg PAEs and 43.6-1438 kt CO2e GHG emissions. Their distribution exhibited a clear 'two-line' pattern: higher features mostly located in Beijing-Guangzhou and Beijing-Shanghai railways. The socio-economic factors model performed better than the growth rate model for plastic usage prediction from 2021 to 2060. It is predicted that 40.6 Mt. plastic would be consumed in 2060, and they will bring 155 tons PAEs and 37.0 Mt. CO2e GHGs. At that time, biodegradable plastic replaced or plastic cycling cannot significantly contribute to national carbon reduction, unless using a temperature change of 2 °C scenario. Our work improves the understanding of PAEs and GHG emission from plastic pollution, and provides insight into long-term dynamics in the plastics management of takeaway food industry.

Submonolayer biolasers for ultrasensitive biomarker detection

Biomarker detection is key to identifying health risks. However, designing sensitive and single-use biosensors for early diagnosis remains a major challenge. Here, we report submonolayer lasers on optical fibers as ultrasensitive and disposable biosensors. Telecom optical fibers serve as distributed optical microcavities with high Q-factor, great repeatability, and ultralow cost, which enables whispering-gallery laser emission to detect biomarkers. It is found that the sensing performance strongly depends on the number of gain molecules. The submonolayer lasers obtained a six-order-of-magnitude improvement in the lower limit of detection (LOD) when compared to saturated monolayer lasers. We further achieve an ultrasensitive immunoassay for a Parkinson's disease biomarker, alpha-synuclein (α-syn), with a lower LOD of 0.32 pM in serum, which is three orders of magnitude lower than the α-syn concentration in the serum of Parkinson's disease patients. Our demonstration of submonolayer biolaser offers great potentials in high-throughput clinical diagnosis with ultimate sensitivity.

Isolation, functional evaluation, and fermentation process optimization of probiotic Bacillus coagulans

Bacillus coagulans is a probiotic agent widely used in various industries. In this study, we isolated a novel strain of B. coagulans, X26, from soil and characterized its properties. X26 exhibited superior enzyme, acid, and biomass yields when compared with other bacterial probiotics and an antibiotic. Moreover, X26 significantly improved the body weight of rats, highlighting its potential for industrial development as a supplement for animals. To optimize the fermentation process of this bacterium, we adopted the response surface design. When X26 was cultured in a medium with 16.5 g/L maltose, 25.00 g/L yeast extract, and 3.5 g/L K2HPO4, the optimal yield was predicted to be 5.1 × 109 CFU/mL. Consistent with the prediction, the yield of X26 in a 500-mL flask culture was (5.12 ± 0.01) × 109 CFU/mL, and in a 30-L fermenter was (5.11 ± 0.02) × 109 CFU/mL, accounting for a 9.9-fold higher field than that with a basal medium before optimization. We further optimized the fermentation process in the 30-L and a 10-T fermenter, generating yields of (7.8 ± 0.2) × 109 CFU/mL (spore rate: 96.54%) and (8.7 ± 0.1) × 109 CFU/mL (spore rate: 97.93%), respectively. These yields and spore rates were achieved at 45-55°C, the typical fermentation temperature of B. coagulans. Our findings indicate that B. coagulans X26 is a promising probiotic with considerable potential for cost-effective industrial fermentation.

Experience of verbal violence among Chinese nursing students in clinical practice: a qualitative study

BACKGROUND

Workplace violence is prevalent in the nursing profession, and as a relatively junior link of the professional hierarchy, nursing students are not immune to it. Among these, verbal violence may have more serious consequences for the victims than physical violence, but the literature on verbal violence among nursing students in Chinese clinical settings is limited.

AIMS

To explore the verbal violence experience among Chinese nursing students in clinical practice, and the strategies used by nursing students to cope with violence.

DESIGN

A descriptive qualitative study.

METHODS

From January 2022 to June 2022, semi-structured interviews were conducted with 21 nursing students in clinical practice by purposive snowball sampling. Nvivo12 software and inductive content analysis were used for data analysis. This paper followed the COREQ (Consolidated criteria for Reporting Qualitative Research) guidance.

RESULTS

Through data analysis, three themes were defined:(1) Multiform verbal violence; (2) Hurting and impacting and (3) Struggling or Coping. The findings indicated that nursing students were subjected to multiple forms of verbal violence in clinical practice, not only from patients and caregivers, but also from peers such as clinical tutors and doctors, which not only harmed students' personal health and well-being, but may also contribute to the nursing industry's future loss of human resources. Seeking emotional support from others and forcing themselves to grow up were the most commonly used coping strategies.

CONCLUSION

Nursing educators and nursing managers need to pay attention to verbal violence in the clinical environment, and actively develop the ability of nursing students to deal with uncivilized behavior. Establishing relevant courses and training such as communication, resilience, and violence prevention, establishing a stricter clinical mentor appointment system, and teaching assessment system may be strategies to help nursing students better perform clinical practice.

Climbazole causes cell apoptosis and lipidosis in the liver of grass carp

Climbazole, an azole, is widely used in personal care products, pharmaceuticals, and pesticides and is frequently detected in surface water. Climbazole has showed endocrine-disrupting effects. However, the effects of climbazole in fish are still largely unclear. In this study, grass carp (Ctenopharyngodon idella) and liver cell lines (L8824 cells) were treated with climbazole at concentrations ranging from 0.2 to 20 μg/L for 42 days in vivo and 24 h in vitro to evaluate the effects on the liver, respectively. Pathological, biochemical, and gene transcription and expression analyses were conducted to examine the hepatotoxicity. Our results showed that climbazole significantly decreased the hepatosomatic index, caused cell apoptosis in vivo and in vitro, and finally accumulated lipids in the liver. Beside, climbazole increased ROS levels, reduced Nrf2 and Keap1 mRNA and protein levels, and further decreased transcription of Nrf2-dependent downstream antioxidant enzyme genes, causing oxidative stress. Moreover, climbazole increased transcription and protein levels of apoptosis-related genes. Finally, climbazole damaged mitochondrial function and structure, disrupted liver lipid metabolism. Overall, climbazole caused hepatotoxicity, leading to a high ecological risk for aquatic organisms.

Promotion of nitrogen removal in a denitrification process elevated by zero-valent iron under low carbon-to-nitrogen ratio

The nitrogen removal efficiency and distribution of microbial community in a denitrification process aided by zero-valent iron (ZVI) under low carbon-to-nitrogen ratio (C/N) were assessed in this study. Experimental results demonstrated that the nitrogen removal efficiency (TNRE) increased to 96.4 ± 2.72% and 63.3 ± 4.02% after continuous addition of ZVI with molar ratio of ZVI to nitrate (NO3--N) (ZVI/N) of 6 at C/N of 3 and 2, respectively, which was 4% and 7.7% higher than the blank one. Meanwhile, extracellular polymeric substance (EPS) could be used as electron transfer medium and endogenous carbon source for denitrification system and also the production of which increased by 28.43% and 53.10% under ZVI stimulation compared to the control group. Finally, a symbiotic system composed by autotrophic and heterotrophic denitrification bacteria was formed by aid of ZVI. This study proposed new insights into denitrification process improved by ZVI.

Screening and prioritization of organic chemicals in a large river basin by suspect and non-target analysis

Many organic chemicals are present in aquatic environments, but how to screen and prioritize these chemicals has always been a difficult task. Here we investigated organic chemicals in the West River Basin by using a developed non-target identification workflow. A total of 957 chemicals were tentatively identified, with 96 assigned as high confidence levels by matching with reference standards, MassBank spectral library, and using CompTox Chemistry Dashboard database as the compound library for MetFrag. More pesticides and their transformation products (e.g., metolachlor ESA, acetochlor ESA, deethylatrazine, and hydroxyatrazine) were detected in the wet season due to the increasing usage. High detection of pharmaceutical and personal care products and their transformation products in the tributaries was linked to rural farming and human activities. Irbesartan that is used to treat high blood pressure was recognized in the river and positive correlations between some detected chemicals and irbesartan were observed, indicating a domestic wastewater source. Ecological risks of the identified chemicals were calculated by toxicological prioritization ranking schemes, and 24 chemicals showed high ToxPi scores in the river. The results from this study show the presence of a large number of emerging organic chemicals in our waterways, and demonstrated conceptual schemes for integrating risk assessment into a non-target screening workflow.

Rhizosphere effects of moso bamboo and dominant tree species of secondary broadleaved forest on soil organic carbon mineralization

The rhizosphere effect of plants affects soil organic carbon (SOC) mineralization. It is still unclear for the mechanism by which the rhizosphere effect of dominant plants in secondary broadleaved forest habitats invaded by moso bamboo affects SOC mineralization. Taking broadleaved tree species (Quercus glauca and Cunninghamia lanceolata) and moso bamboo, dominating respectively in uninvaded secondary broadleaved forest and bamboo forest formed after the invasion as test materials, we investigated rhizosphere effect of plants on the SOC mineralization in laboratory incubation experiments. The results showed that carbon mineralization rates of Phyllostachys edulis (PE), Quercus glauca (QG) and Cunninghamia lanceolata (CL) rhizosphere soils were 20%, 26%, and 21% higher than bulk soils, respectively. Carbon mineralization of bulk soils of QG and CL was 22% and 26% higher, while that of rhizosphere soils was 14% and 11% higher than PE, respectively. The contents of water-soluble organic carbon and organic carbon in rhizosphere soils of the three species were significantly higher than those of bulk soil, and the abundance of rhizosphere soil bacteria was higher than that of non-rhizosphere. The contents of microbial biomass carbon, water-soluble organic carbon, and total nitrogen were important factors influencing carbon mineralization in rhizosphere, while water-soluble organic carbon and microbial metabolic quotient were important factors influencing carbon mineralization in non-rhizosphere. On the whole, the rhizosphere effect increased total SOC mineralization, driving by changes in microbial biomass carbon, water-soluble organic carbon, and total nitrogen content. The results could provide a theoretical basis for plant-soil interaction on soil carbon cycling in bamboo invasion habitats.

Effect of low-level laser therapy on orthodontic dental alignment: a systematic review and meta-analysis

The aim of this study is to systematically summarize the available evidence regarding low-level laser therapy (LLLT) speed-up effect on dental alignment in comprehensive orthodontic treatment. An extensive electronic search was conducted in PubMed, ScienceDirect, Cochrane, Web of Science, and Scopus up to February 20, 2023. The Cochrane risk of bias tool and the Newcastle-Ottawa Quality Assessment Form were used by two authors independently to assess the risk of bias (RoB). Statistical analysis was performed by Review Manager 5.3. The eight eligible trials were reviewed and included in qualitative synthesis. Four studies reported the overall time of leveling and alignment (OLAT, days), enabling a synthesizing of the data. The meta-analysis results showed that LLLT significantly reduced the overall time of leveling and alignment compared to control group (MD=-30.36, 95% CI range -41.50 to -19.22, P<0.0001), with moderate heterogeneity (χ2=4.10, P=0.25, I2=27%). Based on the data available, statistically significant evidence with moderate risk of bias suggests that LLLT may have a positive effect on accelerating dental alignment. However, due to the differences in intervention strategy and evaluating method, the conclusions should be interpreted with caution.

Evaluation the role of soluble microbial products for denitrification sludge characteristic under starvation stress

Physiological changes with the assist role of soluble microbial products (SMP) of preserved denitrifying sludge (DS) undergoing long-term stress of starvation under different storage temperature is extremely important. In this study, SMP extracted from DS were added into DS in starvation condition under room temperature (15-20 °C), 4 °C and -20 °C with three different bio-augmentation phases of 10, 15 and 30 days. Experimental results showed that added SMP in room temperature was optimal for preservation of DS under starvation stress with optimized dosage of 2.0 mL mL^-1 sludge and bio-augmentation phase of 10 d. SMP was more effective in maintaining the specific denitrification activity of DS, and it was nearly boosted to 94.1 % of control one due to assist of 2 times SMP addition with 10 days interval of each. Under assist of SMP, extracellular polymeric substances (EPS) secretion was enhanced as the defense layer to withstand starvation stress, and the protein may be utilized as an alternative substrate to gain energy, accelerate electron transport and transfer during denitrification process. This investigation revealed the feasibility of SMP as an economical and robust strategy for preservation of DS.

CYD0281, a Bcl-2 BH4 domain antagonist, inhibits tumor angiogenesis and breast cancer tumor growth

BACKGROUND

B-cell lymphoma 2 (Bcl-2) family proteins are key regulators of apoptosis, which possess four conserved Bcl-2 homologies (BH) domains. Among the BH domains, the BH3 domain is considered as a potent 'death domain' while the BH4 domain is required for anti-apoptotic activity. Bcl-2 can be converted to a pro-apoptotic molecule through the removal or mutation of the BH4 domain. Bcl-2 is considered as an inducer of angiogenesis, which can promote tumor vascular network formation and further afford nutrients and oxygen to promote tumor progression. However, whether disrupting the function of the BH4 domain to convert Bcl-2 into a pro-apoptotic molecule could make Bcl-2 possess the potential for anti-angiogenic therapy remains to be defined.

METHODS

CYD0281 was designed and synthesized according to the lead structure of BDA-366, and its function on inducing a conformational change of Bcl-2 was further evaluated via immunoprecipitation (IP) and immunofluorescence (IF) assays. Moreover, the function of CYD0281 on apoptosis of endothelial cells was analyzed via cell viability, flow cytometry, and western blotting assays. Additionally, the role of CYD0281 on angiogenesis in vitro was determined via endothelial cell migration and tube formation assays and rat aortic ring assay. Chick embryo chorioallantoic membrane (CAM) and yolk sac membrane (YSM) models, breast cancer cell xenograft tumor on CAM and in mouse models as well as the Matrigel plug angiogenesis assay were used to explore the effects of CYD0281 on angiogenesis in vivo.

RESULTS

We identified a novel potent small-molecule Bcl-2-BH4 domain antagonist, CYD0281, which exhibited significant anti-angiogenic effects both in vitro and in vivo, and further inhibited breast cancer tumor growth. CYD0281 was found to induce conformational changes in Bcl-2 through the exposure of the BH3 domain and convert Bcl-2 from an anti-apoptotic molecule into a cell death inducer, thereby resulting in the apoptosis of vascular endothelial cells.

CONCLUSIONS

This study has revealed CYD0281 as a novel Bcl-2-BH4 antagonist that induces conformational changes of Bcl-2 to convert to a pro-apoptotic molecule. Our findings indicate that CYD0281 plays a crucial role in anti-angiogenesis and may be further developed as a potential anti-tumor drug candidate for breast cancer. This work also provides a potential anti-angiogenic strategy for breast cancer treatment.

Evidence for Band Renormalizations in Strong-Coupling Superconducting Alkali-Fulleride Films

There has been a long-standing debate about the mechanism of the unusual superconductivity in alkali-intercalated fullerides. In this Letter, using high-resolution angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy, we systematically investigate the electronic structures of superconducting K_{3}C_{60} thin films. We observe a dispersive energy band crossing the Fermi level with the occupied bandwidth of about 130 meV. The measured band structure shows prominent quasiparticle kinks and a replica band involving the Jahn-Teller active phonon modes, which reflects strong electron-phonon coupling in the system. The electron-phonon coupling constant is estimated to be about 1.2, which dominates the quasiparticle mass renormalization. Moreover, we observe an isotropic nodeless superconducting gap beyond the mean-field estimation (2Δ/k_{B}T_{c}≈5). Both the large electron-phonon coupling constant and large reduced superconducting gap suggest a strong-coupling superconductivity in K_{3}C_{60}, while the electronic correlation effect is suggested by the observation of a waterfall-like band dispersion and the small bandwidth compared with the effective Coulomb interaction. Our results not only directly visualize the crucial band structure but also provide important insights into the mechanism of the unusual superconductivity of fulleride compounds.

Role of galectin-3 in cardiac dysfunction induced by subarachnoid hemorrhage

Subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) is a severe acute cerebrovascular event that not only impairs the central nervous system but also negatively affects various other organs, including the heart. The underlying mechanisms, however, remain unclear. In this study, we discovered that mice with SAH exhibited significant cardiac injuries, such as extended QT and QTc intervals, cardiac fibrosis, and reduced cardiac ejection fractions. This phenomenon was accompanied by increased galectin-3 expression in the cardiac ventricle and can be reversed by galectin-3 inhibitor TD139. Interestingly, we also observed increased co-expression of galectin-3 in macrophage within the heart tissue of SAH mice. Additionally, when macrophage activation was suppressed using the beta-blocker propranolol, cardiac function improved, and galectin-3 expression in the cardiac tissue decreased. Collectively, our findings offer new insights into the role of galectin-3 in SAH-related cardiac dysfunction and suggest a macrophage-galectin-3 axis as a potential therapeutic strategy.

Environmental emissions and pollution characteristics of mosquitocides for the control of dengue fever in a typical urban area

Mosquitocides are frequently used to control the spread of dengue fever in tropical and sub-tropic urban regions worldwide, resulting in their discharge into the environment via rainfall runoff, causing adverse effects on ecological health. This study quantitatively evaluated mosquitocide emissions and environmental pollution in a typical urban district in China affected by the dengue fever epidemic, using a method combining market surveys, monitoring campaigns and SWMM (storm water management model) modelling tools. During the assessment period, the total mosquitocide usage in the urban district reached 6334 kg, with an estimated load of 56.55 g entering the receiving environment via rainfall runoff, 91.04 % of which occurred in the rainy season. Monitoring results indicated that the initial 0.5-1 h was the main period of mosquitocide wash off into the receiving water. Environmental mosquitocide pollution levels were found to be affected by the mosquitocide type and the time interval between mosquitocide application and precipitation events. The measured environmental concentrations of mosquitocides in this study were generally higher than those areas unaffected by the dengue fever epidemic. The modelled mosquitocide concentrations were in accordance with monitoring results. The finding of this study are important for assessing the environmental impact of dengue fever control activities, while also providing valuable baseline data for the effective environmental management of mosquitocides.

[Analysis on Contamination Characteristics, Pollution Source Identification and Ecological Risk Assessment of Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons of Groundwater in a Large Coking Plant Site of Province]

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), as a highly toxic persistent organic pollutant, are commonly found in soil and water environments. In recent years, the pollution of PAHs in groundwater has attracted wide attention from scientists. To study the pollution characteristics and sources of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon in groundwater of the coking site, 16 PAHs priorly controlled by the US EPA were analyzed and discussed. In this study, we identified the contamination characteristics of PAHs in groundwater, analyzed the pollution sources of PAHs, and evaluated the ecological risk of PAHs in the coking site by combining statistical techniques, the positive matrix factorization (PMF) model, and risk quotient (RQ) methods. The results indicated that the total detection rate of PAHs in groundwater of the coking plant was 46.7%. The concentrations of PAHs in groundwater of the coking plant ranged from below the detection limit to 444.9 μg·L^-1, with the average value of 1.88 μg·L^-1. The concentration of PAHs in the groundwater of different production workshops was significantly different. The most polluted workshop was in the tar-refining area, and the concentration of 16 PAHs was 444.9 μg·L^-1. Based on the PMF model, we identified the two primary contamination sources of PAHs in groundwater of the coking plant:① oil combustion and ② coal and biomass combustion and oil leakage. The contribution ratios of the two sources to PAHs of groundwater were 38.6% and 61.4%, respectively. The results of the ecological risk assessment indicated that Σ₁₆PAHs in groundwater of the coking plant had high ecological risk, and the ecological risk of single PAHs in 53.4% of the groundwater sampling site was at a high ecological risk level. In conclusion, it is urgent to carry out the treatment and restoration of the groundwater environment in the coking plant site.

Pneumocystis jirovecii diagnosed by next-generation sequencing of bronchoscopic alveolar lavage fluid: A case report and review of literature

BACKGROUND

The advent of molecular targeted agents and immune checkpoint inhibitors has greatly improved the treatment of advanced renal cell carcinoma (RCC), thus significantly improving patient survival. The incidence of rare drug-related adverse events has gained increased attention.

CASE SUMMARY

We report a patient with advanced RCC treated with multiple lines of molecular targeted agents and immune checkpoint inhibitors, who developed a pulmonary infection after treatment with everolimus in combination with lenvatinib. Determining the pathogenic organism was difficult, but it was eventually identified as Pneumocystis jirovecii by next-generation sequencing (NGS) of bronchoscopic alveolar lavage fluid (BALF) and successfully treated with trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole.

CONCLUSION

Rare pulmonary infections caused by molecular targeted agents are not uncommon in clinical practice, but their diagnosis is difficult. Evaluating BALF with NGS is a good method for rapid diagnosis of such infections.

Cystic Fibrosis Transmembrane Conductance Regulator Attenuates Oxidative Stress-Induced Injury in Diabetic Retinopathy Rats

PURPOSE

To investigate the effects of cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) on oxidative stress-induced injury of diabetic retinopathy (DR) rats.

METHODS

DR rat model was constructed treated with Ad-CFTR. Hematoxylin and Eosin (HE) staining was applied for testing the thickness of each layer of retinal tissues. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was used to determine levels of serum inflammatory cytokines and contents of oxidative stress related genes in rats. Terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase (TdT)-mediated dUTP nick-end labeling (TUNEL) staining was used to detect retinal cell apoptosis, and western blotting to measure the expression of MAPK/NF-κB pathway-related proteins in retinal tissues.

RESULTS

Our experiment revealed the remarkable decrease of CFTR protein in retinal tissues of DR rats. DR rats had decreased body weight and increased blood glucose level, with decreased thickness of total retinal thickness (TRT), outer nuclear layer and outer plexiform layer (ONL + OPL), inner nuclear layer (INL), and inner plexiform layer (IPL). Besides, DR rats were apparently up-regulated in the expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines, with increased malondial dehyde (MDA), p-ERK1/2/ERK1/2 and p-JNK1/2/JNK1/2 expressions, decreased superoxide dismutase (SOD) and glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) activity in retinal tissues, as well as up-regulated p65 protein in nucleus and down-regulated p65 protein in cytoplasm. DR rats treated with Ad-CFTR were effectively improved regarding the above parameters except body weight and blood glucose.

CONCLUSIONS

CFTR can inhibit MAPK/NF-κB signaling pathway to ameliorate inflammatory response and oxidative stress-induced injury of DR rats, thereby reducing retinal cell apoptosis and playing a protective role in retina.

Dietary metabolizable energy and crude protein levels affect pectoral muscle composition and gut microbiota in native growing chickens

The experiment aimed to study effects of dietary metabolizable energy (ME) and crude protein (CP) levels alone and in interaction on performance, pectoral muscle composition and gut microbiota in native growing chickens. A total of 648 10-wks-old Beijing-You Chicken (BYC) female chickens were randomly allocated to 9 groups with 6 replicates per group and 12 chickens per replicate, and the chickens were fed with a 3 × 3 factorial diets (3 levels of dietary ME: 11.31 MJ/kg, 11.51 MJ/kg, 11.71 MJ/kg; and 3 levels of dietary CP: 14%, 15%, 16%). The results showed that dietary ME and CP levels didn't affect average feed intake (AFI), body weight gain, feed gain ratio (P > 0.05), but ME level significantly affected the AFI (P < 0.05); mortality rate of 11.31 MJ/kg group was the highest (P < 0.05). Dietary ME, CP levels, and the interaction significantly affected pectoral CP and crude fat (CF) content of the growing chickens (P < 0.01). Dietary CP level had opposite effects on pectoral CP and CF content (P < 0.01). The 16% CP increased the pectoral CF content, which may have a negative impact on meat flavor. Dietary ME level affected 11 types of pectoral free amino acids (FAA) contents, including aspartic acid, L-threonine (P < 0.05), also amino acid classification, for example, total amino acid (TAA) and essential amino acid (EAA) content (P < 0.05). The 11.51 MJ/kg group had the highest TAA, EAA, delicious amino acid (DAA) content and EAA percentage (P < 0.05), while 11.31 MJ/kg group had the lowest bitter amino acid (BAA) content and BAA percentage and the highest fresh and sweet amino acid (FSAA) percentage (P < 0.05). Dietary CP level significantly affected glutamine and tyrosine content (P < 0.05). The interaction of dietary ME and CP level affected C20:3n6 content, saturated fatty acid (SFA), and unsaturated fatty acid (UFA) percentage (P < 0.05). The CP level significantly affected SFA percentage (P < 0.05). The 16% CP level increased the diversity of gut microbiota, but at the same time increased the relative abundance of Proteobacteria (P < 0.05), which is a sign of microbiota disorder. The increase of dietary ME level resulted in a gradual decrease in the diversity and relative abundance of gut microbiota. In conclusion, the present study suggested that the medium dietary ME (11.51 MJ/kg) and low CP (14-15%) levels can be helpful for enhancing pectoral muscle composition, increase meat quality such as flavor and nutritional value, and benefit for gut microbiota in native growing chickens.

Development of a laser-based angle-resolved-photoemission spectrometer with sub-micrometer spatial resolution and high-efficiency spin detection

Angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy with sub-micrometer spatial resolution (μ-ARPES), has become a powerful tool for studying quantum materials. To achieve sub-micrometer or even nanometer-scale spatial resolution, it is important to focus the incident light beam (usually from synchrotron radiation) using x-ray optics, such as the zone plate or ellipsoidal capillary mirrors. Recently, we developed a laser-based μ-ARPES with spin-resolution (LMS-ARPES). The 177 nm laser beam is achieved by frequency-doubling a 355 nm beam using a KBBF crystal and subsequently focused using an optical lens with a focal length of about 16 mm. By characterizing the focused spot size using different methods and performing spatial-scanning photoemission measurement, we confirm the sub-micron spatial resolution of the system. Compared with the μ-ARPES facilities based on the synchrotron radiation, our LMS-ARPES system is not only more economical and convenient, but also with higher photon flux (>5 × 10¹³ photons/s), thus enabling the high-resolution and high-statistics measurements. Moreover, the system is equipped with a two-dimensional spin detector based on exchange scattering at a surface-passivated iron film grown on a W(100) substrate. We investigate the spin structure of the prototype topological insulator Bi₂Se₃ and reveal a high spin-polarization rate, confirming its spin-momentum locking property. This lab-based LMS-ARPES will be a powerful research tool for studying the local fine electronic structures of different condensed matter systems, including topological quantum materials, mesoscopic materials and structures, and phase-separated materials.

Unsymmetrically Chlorinated Non-Fused Electron Acceptor Leads to High-Efficiency and Stable Organic Solar Cells

Searching the cost-effective organic semiconductors is strongly needed in order to facilitate the practice of organic solar cells (OSCs), yet to be fulfilled. Herein, we have succeeded in developing two non-fused ring electron acceptors (NFREAs), leading to the highest efficiency of 16.2 % for the NFREA derived OSCs. These OSCs exhibit the superior operational stabilities under one sun equivalent illumination without ultraviolet (UV) filtration. It is revealed that the modulation of halogen substituents on aromatic side chains, as the new structural tool to tune the intermolecular interaction and optoelectronic properties of acceptors, not only promotes the interlocked tic-tac-toe frame of three-dimensional stacks in solid, but also improves charge dynamics of acceptors to enable high-performance and stable OSCs.

[Application of microneedle-assisted percutaneous drug delivery system in treatment of rheumatoid arthritis:a review]

Rheumatoid arthritis(RA) is a chronic degenerative joint disease characterized by inflammation. Due to the complex causes, no specific therapy is available. Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory agents and corticosteroids are often used(long-term, oral/injection) to interfere with related pathways for reducing inflammatory response and delaying the progression of RA, which, however, induce many side effects. Microneedle, an emerging transdermal drug delivery system, is painless and less invasive and improves drug permeability. Thus, it is widely used in the treatment of RA and is expected to be a new strategy in clinical treatment. This paper summarized the application of microneedles in the treatment of RA, providing a reference for the development of new microneedles and the expansion of its clinical application.

[Progress in intestinal adaptation after enterectomy]

Intestinal adaptation is a spontaneous compensation of the remanent bowel after extensive enterectomy, which improves the absorption capacity of the remanent bowel to energy, fluid and other nutrients. Intestinal adaptation mainly occurs within 2 years after enterectomy, including morphological changes, hyperfunction and hyperphagia. Intestinal adaptation is the key factor for patients with short bowel syndrome to weaning off parenteral nutrition dependence and mainly influenced by length of remanent bowel, type of surgery and colon continuity. In addition, multiple factors including enteral feeding, glucagon-like peptide 2 (GLP-2), growth hormone, gut microbiota and its metabolites regulate intestinal adaptation via multi-biological pathways, such as proliferation and differentiation of stem cell, apoptosis, angiogenesis, nutrients transport related protein expression, gut endocrine etc. Phase III clinical trials have verified the safety and efficacy of teduglutide (long-acting GLP-2) and somatropin (recombinant human growth hormone) in improving intestinal adaptation, and both have been approved for clinical use. We aim to review the current knowledge about characteristics, mechanism, evaluation methods, key factors, clinical strategies of intestinal adaptation.

[Comparison of clinical features of JAK2V617F gene mutation and non-mutation in patients with Budd-Chiari syndrome]

Objective: To investigate the clinical features of JAK2V617F gene mutation and non-mutation in patients with Budd-Chiari syndrome (BCS). Methods: 17 and 127 BCS cases with JAK2V617F gene mutation (mutation group) and non-gene mutation (non-mutation group) who were continuously treated with interventional therapy between January 2016 to December 2020 in the Affiliated Hospital of Xuzhou Medical University were selected as the research object for a comparative study. The hospitalization and follow-up data of the two groups were analyzed retrospectively, and the deadline for follow-up was June 2021. Quantitative data group differences were analyzed using the independent sample t-test and Wilcoxon rank sum test. Qualitative data group differences were analyzed with χ² test or Fisher's exact test. Mann-Whitney U test was used to analyze the differences between groups in rank data. Kaplan-Meier method was used to calculate the patient survival and recurrence rate. Results: Age [(35.41±17.10) years vs. (50.09±14.16) years, t=3.915, P<0.001], time of onset (median duration: 3 months vs. 12 months), and the cumulative survival rate (65.5% vs 95.1%; χ²=5.21, P=0.022) were lower in mutation than non-mutation group. Aaspartate aminotransferase, alanine aminotransferase, prothrombin time, Child-Pugh score, Rotterdam score, Model for End-stage Liver Disease score, hepatic vein thrombosis incidence, and the cumulative recurrence rate after intervention were higher in mutation than non-mutation group. The above all indexes had statistically significant differences (P<0.05) between the groups. Conclusion: Younger age, acute onset, severe liver injury, high incidence of hepatic vein thrombosis, and poor prognosis are the features of patients with BCS with JAK2V617F gene mutation than non-mutation.

Decoding the response of complete autotrophic nitrogen removal over nitrite (CANON) performance and microbial succession to hydrazine and hydroxylamine: Linking performance to mechanism

The influence of hydrazine (N₂H₄) and hydroxylamine (NH₂OH) on performance and microbial community structures of complete autotrophic nitrogen removal over nitrite (CANON) process were assessed in this study. Experimental results demonstrated that CANON process was successfully started up and got total nitrogen removal efficiency (TNRE) of 53.6 % ± 9.8 % and 56.4 % ± 6.5 % under 1.0 and 0.5 mg L^-1 N₂H₄ and NH₂OH, respectively. N₂H₄ and NH₂OH promoted activity of ammonia-oxidizing bacteria (AOB) and anaerobic ammonium oxidation bacteria (AnAOB), and inhibited activity of nitrite-oxidizing bacteria (NOB). Meanwhile, the stable operation of CANON process could be maintained without N₂H₄ auxiliary. While, performance assisted by NH₂OH was fluctuated without NH₂OH addition, suggesting that both N₂H₄ and NH₂OH had a persistent and reversible inhibition on NOB. This study reveals new insights into influence of N₂H₄ and NH₂OH on CANON performance.

Efficacy and safety of decitabine combined with HAAG (homoharringtonine, aclarubicin, low-dose cytarabine and G-CSF) for newly diagnosed acute myeloid leukemia

The 7 + 3 regimen is the front-line induction chemotherapy in patients with newly diagnosed acute myeloid leukemia, with a response rate of 60-80%. But it’s not suitable for all patients especially old/unfit patients because of a higher treatment related toxicity. Therefore, safer and more effective induction therapies are required. In this retrospective study, 50 patients with newly diagnosed acute myeloid leukemia received decitabine combined with HAAG (homoharringtonine, aclarubicin, low-dose cytarabine and G-CSF) as induction chemotherapy. Complete remission (CR) rate was 96% (48/50) and overall response rate was 100%. Of note, All 7 patients harboring FLT3-ITD mutation achieved CR. The median overall survival (OS) was 40.0 months (range 2.0, 58.0). The OS at 1, 3, and 5 years were 75.3%, 54.2%, and 49.3%. The median relapse free survival (RFS) was 38.0 months (range 2.0, 58.0). The RFS at 1, 3, and 5 years were 67.3%, 48.9%, and 45.1%. The OS and RFS of patients who received hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) were significantly higher than those who did not undergo HSCT (p=0.017; 0.016). The incidence of grade 3-4 neutropenia and thrombocytopenia was 84% and 88%. Meanwhile, the incidence of grade 3-4 infection and bleeding was only 16% and 6%. There was no early death. In conclusion, DAC+HAAG regimen is effective and well-tolerated as induction therapy in patients with newly diagnosed AML.

Antibiotic pollution in lakes in China: Emission estimation and fate modeling using a temperature-dependent multimedia model

The high use of antibiotics worldwide has poses a serious threat to both human and environmental health. Lakes are served as reservoirs for antibiotics, however, there is a lack of information available on antibiotics emissions and the subsequent pollution. Here, the emission and fate of 34 frequently detected antibiotics were studied in 226 Chinese lakes, via the built emission estimation method and a temperature-dependent multimedia lake model. It has been estimated that totally 5711 tons antibiotic were discharged into the lakes of China in 2019. Antibiotics emissions are due to human activities, with 3800-fold higher emissions in the Eastern China than that in Western China. The antibiotic fate in lakes has been successfully modelled by simulating the lake stratification, freeze-melt cycles and the stable condition throughout the year. Both stratification and freeze-melt cycles can lead to increased antibiotic concentrations in lake water. Deep-water lakes were shown to serve as a highly effective natural storage medium for antibiotics. The reliability of the model was confirmed by published measured concentrations and Monte Carlo method. This is the first study to comprehensively investigate the antibiotic fate in lakes of China, providing valuable guidance for the remediation of contaminated lakes.

Chromosome-level genome assembly and resequencing of camphor tree (Cinnamomum camphora) provides insight into phylogeny and diversification of terpenoid and triglyceride biosynthesis of Cinnamomum

Cinnamomum species attract attentions owing to their scents, medicinal properties, and ambiguous relationship in the phylogenetic tree. Here, we report a high-quality genome assembly of Cinnamomum camphora, based on which two whole-genome duplication (WGD) events were detected in the C. camphora genome: one was shared with Magnoliales, and the other was unique to Lauraceae. Phylogenetic analyses illustrated that Lauraceae species formed a compact sister clade to the eudicots. We then performed whole-genome resequencing on 24 Cinnamomum species native to China, and the results showed that the topology of Cinnamomum species was not entirely consistent with morphological classification. The rise and molecular basis of chemodiversity in Cinnamomum were also fascinating issues. In this study, six chemotypes were classified and six main terpenoids were identified as major contributors of chemodiversity in C. camphora by the principal component analysis. Through in vitro assays and subcellular localization analyses, we identified two key terpene synthase (TPS) genes (CcTPS16 and CcTPS54), the products of which were characterized to catalyze the biosynthesis of two uppermost volatiles (i.e. 1,8-cineole and (iso)nerolidol), respectively, and meditate the generation of two chemotypes by transcriptional regulation and compartmentalization. Additionally, the pathway of medium-chain triglyceride (MCT) biosynthesis in Lauraceae was investigated for the first time. Synteny analysis suggested that the divergent synthesis of MCT and long-chain triglyceride (LCT) in Lauraceae kernels was probably controlled by specific medium-chain fatty acyl-ACP thioesterase (FatB), type-B lysophosphatidic acid acyltransferase (type-B LPAAT), and diacylglycerol acyltransferase 2b (DGAT 2b) isoforms during co-evolution with retentions or deletions in the genome.

[Mechanism of Linderae Radix against gastric cancer based on network pharmacology and in vitro experimental validation]

The present study explored the main active ingredients and the underlying mechanism of Linderae Radix the treatment of gastric cancer by network pharmacology, molecular docking, and in vitro cell experiments. TCMSP, OMIM and GeneCards database were used to obtain the active ingredients of Linderae Radix to predict the related targets of both Linderae Radix and gastric cancer. After screening the common potential action targets, the STRING database was used to construct the PPI network for protein interaction of the two common targets. Enrichment analysis of GO and KEGG by DAVID database. Based on STRING and DAVID platform data, Cytoscape software was used to construct an &quot;active ingredient-target&quot; network and an &quot;active ingredient-target-pathway&quot; network. Molecular docking was performed using the AutoDock Vina to predict the binding of the active components to the key action targets, and finally the key targets and pathways were verified in vitro. According to the prediction results, there were 9 active components, 179 related targets of Radix Linderae, 107 common targets of Linderae Radix and gastric cancer, 693 biological processes, 57 cell compositions, and 129 molecular functions involved in the targets, and 161 signaling pathways involved in tumor antigen p53, hypoxia-indu-cible factor 1, etc. Molecular docking results showed that the core component, jimadone, had high binding activity with TP53. Finally, in an in vitro experiment, the screened radix linderae active ingredient gemmadone is used for preliminarily verifying the core targets and pathways of the human gastric cancer cell SGC-7901, The results showed that germacrone could significantly inhibit the proliferation of gastric cancer cells and induce the apoptosis of SGC-7901 by regulating the expression of p53, Bax, Bcl-2 and other key proteins. In summary, Radix Linderae can control the occurrence and development of gastric cancer through multi-components, multi-targets and multi-pathways, which will provide theoretical basis for further clinical discussion on the mechanism of Radix Linderae in treating gastric cancer.

Clinical utility of immune function based on IFN-γ monitoring of lymphocyte subsets for parvovirus B19 infection in renal recipients

BACKGROUND

There should be a heightened index of suspicion for Parvovirus B19 (PVB19)-related anemia in organ transplant recipients. Thus far, there is no consensus or recommendation for clinical routine monitoring methods of PVB19 recipients to allow tailoring of immunosuppression.

METHODS

We conducted a retrospective study to evaluate the utility of the function (represented by the abilities to secrete IFN-γ) and numbers of lymphocyte subsets in monitoring PVB19 infections in renal recipients posttransplant. The enrolled 109 patients were split into 2 groups according to whether the recipients had an occurrence of PVB19 infection: 37 (33.94%) recipients developed PVB19 infection and 72 (66.06%) immune-stable recipients.

RESULTS

The PVB19 infected group had significantly lower absolute counts and functions of different lymphocyte subsets compared with immune-stable recipients. We showed that the frequencies of IFN-γ + CD4 + T cells, IFN-γ + CD8 + T cells, and IFN-γ + NK cells increased markedly after treatment when compared to the occurrence in patients with timepoint before therapy, especially the percentages of IFN-γ + CD4 + T cells were significantly higher. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis showed that the optimal infection indicator was IFN-γ + NK cells frequency, with an auROC curve of 0.925. Concomitantly, Cox regression analysis indicated that the post-therapy increasing level of IFN-γ secreting function was significantly predictive of recurrent infections (P < 0.001).

CONCLUSIONS

We recommend prospective risk stratification for the high-risk population at risk of early-onset PVB19 infection and its recurrence involves screening strategies of immune-based surveillance with the sensitive IFN-γ + secreting monitoring for antiviral prophylaxis and preemptive therapy goal. Clinical Trial Notation: clinical trial registration number: chiCTR-ROC-17010756.

Transformation products of tetracyclines in three typical municipal wastewater treatment plants

Antibiotics in the environment could undergo various processes with formation of transformation products, but little has been known about their occurrence and (eco)toxicological consequences. Here we investigated the occurrence and fate of nine transformation products of four tetracyclines (tetracycline, oxytetracycline, chlortetracycline and doxycycline) in three municipal wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) in Guangzhou, China. The results showed the detection of all the tetracyclines and their transformation products in the WWTPs, with mean concentrations ranging from 17.8 ng/L (anhydrotetracycline) to 49.1 ng/L (oxytetracycline) in influent, 3.03 ng/L (tetracycline) to 6.94 ng/L (4-epi-chlortetracycline) in effluent, and 19.8 ng/g (isochlortetracycline) to 503 ng/g (4-epi-tertracycline) in sludge, respectively. The transformation products of tetracycline, oxytetracycline, chlortetracycline and doxycycline accounted for 73%-83%, 26%-52%, 70%-73% and 69%-74% of total concentrations, respectively. The aqueous removal rates of tetracyclines and their transformation products in the three WWTPs ranged from 18.4% (demethyl-chlortetracycline) to 93.7% (oxytetracycline). Mass balance analysis based on both aqueous and solid phase showed that their removals were mainly attributed to the sludge adsorption. Residual tetracyclines and their transformation products in the effluents would pose no obvious ecological risks to three aquatic organisms (green algae, daphnia and fish). However, 43.5% of sludge samples had high risks from these tetracyclines and transformation products, especially the compounds with poor biodegradability. The results from this study suggest that transformation products should be included in future environmental monitoring and control.

PM2.5 induces pulmonary microvascular injury in COPD via METTL16-mediated m6A modification

Fine particulate matter (PM2.5) exposure is a significant cause of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), but the detailed mechanisms involved in COPD remain unclear. In this study, we established PM2.5-induced COPD rat models and showed that PM2.5 induced pulmonary microvascular injury via accelerating vascular endothelial apoptosis, increasing vascular permeability, and reducing angiogenesis, thereby contributing to COPD development. Moreover, microvascular injury in COPD was validated by measurements of plasma endothelial microparticles (EMPs) and serum VEGF in COPD patients. We then performed m⁶A sequencing, which confirmed that altered N⁶-methyladenosine (m⁶A) modification was induced by PM2.5 exposure. The results of a series of experiments demonstrated that the expression of methyltransferase-like protein 16 (METTL16), an m⁶A regulator, was upregulated in PM2.5-induced COPD rats, while the expression of other regulators did not differ upon PM2.5-induction. To clarify the regulatory effect of METTL16-mediated m⁶A modification induced by PM2.5 on pulmonary microvascular injury, cell apoptosis, permeability, and tube formation, the m⁶A level in METTL16-knockdown pulmonary microvascular endothelial cells (PMVECs) was evaluated, and the target genes of METTL16 were identified from a set of the differentially expressed and m⁶A-methylated genes associated with vascular injury and containing predicted sites of METTL16 methylation. The results showed that Sulfatase 2 (Sulf2) and Cytohesin-1 (Cyth1) containing the predicted METTL16 methylation sites, exhibited higher m⁶A methylation and were downregulated after PM2.5 exposure. Further studies demonstrated that METTL16 may regulate Sulf2 expression via m⁶A modification and thereby contribute to PM2.5-induced microvascular injury. These findings not only provide a better understanding of the role played by m⁶A modification in PM2.5-induced microvascular injury, but also identify a new therapeutic target for COPD.

Hydrogen Sulfide Biology and Its Role in Cancer

Hydrogen sulfide (H₂S) is an endogenous biologically active gas produced in mammalian tissues. It plays a very critical role in many pathophysiological processes in the body. It can be endogenously produced through many enzymes analogous to the cysteine family, while the exogenous source may involve inorganic sulfide salts. H₂S has recently been well investigated with regard to the onset of various carcinogenic diseases such as lung, breast, ovaries, colon cancer, and neurodegenerative disorders. H₂S is considered an oncogenic gas, and a potential therapeutic target for treating and diagnosing cancers, due to its role in mediating the development of tumorigenesis. Here in this review, an in-detail up-to-date explanation of the potential role of H₂S in different malignancies has been reported. The study summarizes the synthesis of H₂S, its roles, signaling routes, expressions, and H₂S release in various malignancies. Considering the critical importance of this active biological molecule, we believe this review in this esteemed journal will highlight the oncogenic role of H₂S in the scientific community.

Hypothetical scenarios estimating and simulating the fate of antibiotics: Implications for antibiotic environmental pollution caused by manure application

The application of animal manure containing antibiotic residues as an organic fertilizer to farmlands, poses a major threat to the health of river basin ecosystems. Waste treatment processes can help reduce antibiotic pollution levels in river basins following manure application, but the overall influence of these processes remains unclear. This study evaluates the impact of manure treatment methods on the emission and subsequent river pollution caused by 14 frequently detected antibiotics in a typical pig breeding area in China, by using hypothetical scenarios method. Three scenarios were constructed based on possible fate pathways of antibiotics, representing in 47.0, 55.3, and 81.6 ton·yr^-1 antibiotic emissions into the river basin. The soil and water assessment tool (SWAT) model successfully simulated the transport of antibiotics from farmland to surface water, with calibration and verification performed using hydrological station monthly data over 8 consecutive years. Field measured concentrations also verified the reliability of the model and were used to determine the most realistic scenario. In basins applied with manure, environmental antibiotic pollution is most affected by the wastewater treatment process and manure applied patterns, followed by changes in streamflow. The antibiotic pollution in manure applied areas showed significant spatial and temporal differences, resulting from the different manure application patterns. The simulated total outflow of antibiotics in the river basin accounted for 18.1% of the inflow, with the loss of target antibiotics by degradation, volatilization and sedimentation deposition in the river basin being 0.23, 0.01 and 33.2 ton·yr^-1, respectively. This study can help to clarify the environmental fate of antibiotics in the basin following manure application, provide guidance for policy makers and help to design the effective corrective interventions for reducing the environmental pollution.

Transcranial Electrical Stimulation for Relief of Peripartum Mental Health Disorders in Women Undergoing Cesarean Section With Combined Spinal-Epidural Anesthesia: A Pilot Randomized Clinical Trial

OBJECTIVE

This study aimed to explore transcranial electrical stimulation (tES) to relieve peripartum anxiety and depressive symptoms in women undergoing cesarean section with combined spinal-epidural anesthesia.

METHODS

This double-blind, randomized, sham-controlled trial was conducted in the Affiliated Hospital of Xuzhou Medical University from March 2021 and May 2021. One hundred and forty-eight full-term parturients giving birth by elective cesarean section were selected, and 126 were included in the intent-to-treat analysis. Parturients were provided standardized anesthesia and randomized to the active-tES (a-tES) group and sham-tES group. Parturients and outcome assessors were blinded to treatment allocation. The primary outcome was the changes in peripartum mental health disorders, including anxiety, assessed by the Pregnancy-Related Anxiety Questionnaire-Revised 2 (PRAQ-R2). Secondary outcomes included peripartum depressive symptoms, assessed by the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS), maternal satisfaction, fatigue level, sleep quality index, and pain score during and after operation. Data were collected before entering the operating room (T0), between post-anesthesia and pre-surgery (T1), before leaving the operating room (T2), and at 24 h post-surgery (T3).

RESULTS

One hundred and twenty-six eligible parturients were enrolled in the two groups: a-tES group (N = 62) and sham-tES group (N = 64). Treatment with tES resulted in significantly lower scores of anxiety compared with sham-tES (T2: P < 0.001; T3: P = 0.001). Moreover, the a-tES groups showed a significant reduction in depression scores (T2: P = 0.003; T3: P = 0.032).

CONCLUSION

In this randomized pilot study, tES treatment is efficacious in alleviating peripartum anxiety and depressive symptoms in women undergoing cesarean section and has been demonstrated to be a novel strategy for improving peripartum mental health disorders.

CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTRATION

[www.chictr.org.cn], identifier [ChiCTR2000040963].