Association between polymorphisms and atopic dermatitis susceptibility: A systematic review and meta-analysis

AIM

Atopic dermatitis (AD) is a chronic pruritic inflammatory skin disease that is closely linked to genetic factors. Previous studies have revealed numerous single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) that been related to susceptibility to AD; however, the results are conflicting. Therefore, a meta-analysis was conducted to assess the associations of these polymorphisms and AD risk.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

PubMed, Web of Science, Embase, Cochrane Library, and China National Knowledge Infrastructure databases were retrieved to identify eligible studies, with selected polymorphisms being reported in a minimum of three separate studies. The Newcastle-Ottawa Scale (NOS) was used to evaluate study quality. Review Manager 5.3 and STATA 14.0 were used to perform the meta-analysis.

RESULTS

After screening, 64 studies involving 13 genes (24 SNPs) were selected for inclusion in the meta-analysis. Nine SNPs were positively correlated with AD susceptibility [filaggrin (FLG) R501X, FLG 2282del4, chromosome 11q13.5 rs7927894, interleukin (IL)-17A rs2275913, IL-18 -137 G/C, Toll-like receptor 2 (TLR2) rs5743708, TLR2 A-16934 T, serine protease inhibitor Kazal type-5 (SPINK5) Asn368Ser, interferon-γ (IFN-γ) T874A] and one was negatively associated with AD susceptibility (IL-4 -1098 T/G). The 14 remaining SNPs were not significantly associated with AD susceptibility.

CONCLUSIONS

Nine SNPs that may be risk factors and one SNP that may be a protective factor for AD were identified, providing a reference for AD prediction, prevention, and therapy.

Honeycomb-inspired ZIF-sealed interface enhances osseointegration via anti-infection and osteoimmunomodulation

Implant-associated infections (IAIs) pose a significant threat to orthopedic surgeries. Bacteria colonizing the surface of implants disrupt bone formation-related cells and interfere with the osteoimmune system, resulting in an impaired immune microenvironment and osteogenesis disorders. Inspired by nature, a zeolitic imidazolate framework (ZIF)-sealed smart drug delivery system on Ti substrates (ZSTG) was developed for the "natural-artificial dual-enzyme intervention (NADEI)" strategy to address these challenges. The subtle sealing design of ZIF-8 on the TiO2 nanotubes ensured glucose oxidase (GOx) activity and prevented its premature leakage. In the acidic infection microenvironment, the degradation of ZIF-8 triggered the rapid release of GOx, which converted glucose into H2O2 for disinfection. The Zn2+ released from degraded ZIF-8, as a DNase mimic, can hydrolyze extracellular DNA, which further enhances H2O2-induced disinfection and prevents biofilm formation. Importantly, Zn2+-mediated M2 macrophage polarization significantly improved the impaired osteoimmune microenvironment, accelerating bone repair. Transcriptomics revealed that ZSTG effectively suppressed the inflammatory cascade induced by lipopolysaccharide while promoting cell proliferation, homeostasis maintenance, and bone repair. In vitro and in vivo results confirmed the superior anti-infective, osteoimmunomodulatory, and osteointegrative capacities of the ZSTG-mediated NADEI strategy. Overall, this smart bionic platform has significant potential for future clinical applications to treat IAIs.

Microbial regulation of plant secondary metabolites: Impact, mechanisms and prospects

Plant secondary metabolites possess a wide range of pharmacological activities and play crucial biological roles. They serve as both a defense response during pathogen attack and a valuable drug resource. The role of microorganisms in the regulation of plant secondary metabolism has been widely recognized. The addition of specific microorganisms can increase the synthesis of secondary metabolites, and their beneficial effects depend on environmental factors and plant-related microorganisms. This article summarizes the impact and regulatory mechanisms of different microorganisms on the main secondary metabolic products of plants. We emphasize the mechanisms by which microorganisms regulate hormone levels, nutrient absorption, the supply of precursor substances, and enzyme and gene expression to promote the accumulation of plant secondary metabolites. In addition, the possible negative feedback regulation of microorganisms is discussed. The identification of additional unknown microbes and other driving factors affecting plant secondary metabolism is essential. The prospects for further analysis of medicinal plant genomes and the establishment of a genetic operation system for plant secondary metabolism research are proposed. This study provides new ideas for the use of microbial resources for biological synthesis research and the improvement of crop anti-inverse traits for the use of microbial resources.

Subcortical structure alteration in patients with drug-induced parkinsonism: Evidence from neuroimaging

Parkinson's Disease (PD) and Drug-induced parkinsonism (DIP) are the most common subtypes of parkinsonism, yet no studies have reported that the subcortical volume alterations in DIP patients. This study aimed to identify specific alterations of subcortical structures volume in DIP patients, and investigate association between the subcortical structure modifications and clinical symptoms. We recruited 27 PD patients, 25 DIP patients and 30 healthy controls (HCs). The clinical symptom-related parameters (Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale, UPDRS) were evaluated. Structural imaging was performed on a 3.0 T scanner, and volumes of subcortical structures were obtained using FreeSurfer software. Analysis of covariance (ANCOVA) and partial correlation analysis were performed. DIP group had significantly smaller volume of the thalamus, pallidum, hippocampus and amygdala compared to HCs. ROC curve analysis demonstrated that the highest area under curve (AUC) value was in the right pallidum (AUC = 0.831) for evaluating the diagnostic efficacy in DIP from HCs. Moreover, the volumes of the putamen, hippocampus and amygdala were negatively correlated with UPDRSII in the DIP patients. The volume of the amygdala was negatively correlated with UPDRSIII. The present study provides novel information regarding neuroanatomical alteration of subcortical nuclei in DIP patients, suggesting that these methods might provide the basis for early diagnosis and differential diagnosis of DIP.

Global impact of enhanced-efficiency fertilizers on vegetable productivity and reactive nitrogen losses

Vegetables are the most consumed non-staple food globally, and their production is crucial for dietary diversity and public health. Use of enhanced-efficiency fertilizers (EEFs) in vegetable production could improve vegetable yield and quality while reducing reactive nitrogen (Nr) losses. However, different management and environmental factors has significantly distinctive impacts on the effectiveness of EEFs. In this study, a worldwide meta-analysis based on the data collected from 144 studies was performed to assess the impacts of EEF (nitrification inhibitor [NI] and polymer-coated urea [PCU]) application on vegetable yield, nitrogen (N) uptake, nitrogen use efficiency (NUE), vegetable quality and Nr losses (nitrous oxide [N2O] emissions, ammonia [NH3] volatilization, and nitrate [NO3-] leaching). The effects of the applied EEFs on vegetable yields and N2O emissions were assessed with different management practices (cultivation system, vegetable type and N application rate) and environmental conditions (climatic conditions and soil properties). Compared to conventional fertilizers, EEFs significantly improved vegetable yield (7.5-8.1 %) and quality (vitamin C increased by 10.7-13.6 %, soluble sugar increased by 9.3-10.9 %, and nitrate content reduced by 17.2-25.1 %). Meanwhile, the application of EEFs demonstrated a great potential for Nr loss reduction (N2O emissions reduced by 40.5 %, NO3- leaching reduced by 45.8 %) without compromising vegetable yield. The NI was most effective in reducing N2O emissions (40.5 %), but it significantly increased NH3 volatilization (32.4 %). While PCU not only significantly reduced N2O emissions (24.4 %) and NO3- leaching (28.7 %), but also significantly reduced NH3 volatilization (74.5 %). And N application rate, soil pH, and soil organic carbon (SOC) were the main factors affecting the yield and environmental effects of EEFs. Moreover, the yield-enhancing effect of NI and PCU were better at low soil N availability and SOC, respectively. Thus, it is important to adopt the appropriate EEF application strategy targeting specific environmental conditions and implement it at the optimal N application rate.

Microplastics/nanoplastics in porous media: Key factors controlling their transport and retention behaviors

Till now, microplastics/nano-plastics(M/NPs) have received a lot of attention as emerging contaminant. As a typical but complex porous medium, soil is not only a large reservoir of M/NPs but also a gateway for M/NPs to enter groundwater. Therefore, the review of the factors controlling the transport behavior of M/NPs in porous media can provide important guidance for the risk assessment of M/NPs in soil and groundwater. In this study, the key factors controlling the transport behavior of M/NPs in porous media are systematically divided into three groups: (1) nature of M/NPs affecting M/NPs transport in porous media, (2) nature of flow affecting M/NPs transport in porous media, (3) nature of porous media affecting M/NPs transport. In each group, the specific control factors for M/NPs transport in porous media are discussed in detail. In addition to the above factors, some substances (colloids or pollutants) present in natural porous media (such as soil or sediments) will co-transport with M/NPs and affect its mobility. According to the different properties of co-transported substances, the mechanism of promoting or inhibiting the migration behavior of M/NPs in porous media was discussed. Finally, the limitations and future research directions of M/NPs transport in porous media are pointed out. This review can provide a useful reference for predicting the transport of M/NPs in natural porous media.

Characteristics of sub-micron aerosols above the urban canopy in Beijing during warm seasons

To understand the characteristics of atmospheric pollution above the urban canopy in warm seasons, the characteristics of sub-micron aerosol (PM1) was studied based on high-altitude observations at the Beijing 325 m meteorological tower. The PM1 at 260 m was 34, 29 and 21 μg m-3 in May 2015, June 2015, and June 2017, respectively, indicating a reduction in PM1 pollution above the urban canopy. Meanwhile, an overall decrease was also observed in the concentrations of all PM1 chemical species (excluding Chl and BC) and organic aerosol (OA) factors. Previous instances of heavy haze in Beijing often coincided with high humidity and stagnant weather conditions. However, the heightened pollution episodes in June 2017 were accompanied by high wind speeds and low relative humidity. Compared to May 2015, the contribution of secondary components to PM1 in June 2017 was more prominent, with the total proportion of SNA (sulfate, nitrate, and ammonium) and more-oxidized oxygenated OA (MO-OOA) to PM1 increased by approximately 10 %. Secondary species of NH4NO3, (NH4)2SO4, and MO-OOA, as well as black carbon, collectively contributed the vast majority of aerosol extinction coefficient (bext), with the four species contributing a total of ≥96 % to bext at 260 m. Hydrocarbon-like OA, cooking OA, and less-oxidized oxygenated OA have undergone significant reductions, so continued emphasis on controlling local sources to reduce these three aerosol species and addressing regional sources to further mitigate overall aerosol species is imperative. In lower pollution situation, the diurnal variation of PM was smoother, and its pollution sources were more regionally uniform, which might be attributed to the reduced diversity and complexity in the physical and chemical processes in air pollution.

Appearance, components, pasting, and thermal characteristics of chalky grains of rice varieties with varying protein content

This study investigated two rice varieties, GuichaoII and Jiazao311, with distinct protein content to determine the variation in appearance, components, pasting, and thermal properties of rice with different chalkiness degrees. Grain length, width, head rice weight, and whiteness of both varieties markedly increased as chalkiness increased from 0% to 50%. However, the variation in components, pasting, and thermal characteristics of chalky grain substantially differed between the rice varieties. The protein content of GuichaoII (low protein content) significantly increased with the chalkiness degree, along with a significant increase in onset, peak, and conclusion temperatures and gelatinization enthalpy. In Jiazao311 (high protein content), the chalkiness degree increased with the protein content but decreased with the starch content, along with increased trough, final, setback, and consistency viscosities. Compared to amylose content, protein content had a greater influence on the thermal properties and pasting characteristics of chalky grains of GuichaoII and Jiazao311, respectively.

Nuclear Factor Erythroid 2-Related Factor 2 is Essential for Low-Normobaric Oxygen Treatment-Mediated Blood-Brain Barrier Protection Following Ischemic Stroke

Cerebral ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) injury increases blood-brain barrier (BBB) permeability, leading to hemorrhagic transformation and brain edema. Normobaric oxygen (NBO) is a routine clinical treatment strategy for this condition. However, its neuroprotective effects remain controversial. This study investigated the effect of different NBO concentrations on I/R injury and explores the involvement of the nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) pathway in the underlying mechanism. A mouse middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) model, and an oxygen and glucose deprivation (OGD) model featuring mouse brain microvascular endothelial cells (ECs) called bEnd.3, were used to investigate the effect of NBO on I/R injury. A reactive oxygen species (ROS) inducer and Nrf2-knockdown by RNA were used to explore whether the Nrf2 pathway mediates the effect of NBO on cerebrovascular ECs. In the early stage of MCAO, 40% O2 NBO exposure significantly improved blood perfusion in the ischemic area and effectively relieved BBB permeability, cerebral edema, cerebral injury, and neurological function after MCAO. In the OGD model, 40% O2 NBO exposure significantly reduced apoptosis, inhibited ROS generation, reduced ER stress, upregulated the expression of tight junction proteins, and stabilized the permeability of ECs. Blocking the Nrf2 pathway nullified the protective effect of 40% O2 NBO on ECs after OGD. Finally, our study confirmed that low concentrations of NBO have a neuroprotective effect on I/R by activating the Nrf2 pathway in ECs.

Automated sequential SPME addressing the displacement effect in food samples

The displacement effect can be an issue for the quantitation of analytes with low affinity towards the extraction phase in solid-phase microextraction (SPME) for food samples that have low level of binding matrix or high level of hydrophobic compounds. In this communication, automated sequential SPME-GC-MS strategy was developed for addressing the displacement issue. The SPME thin film with PDMS coating was firstly used for the extraction of hydrophobic components in the sample which cause displacement and then SPME fiber with DVB/CAR/PDMS coating was applied in the second step for the extraction of the remain compounds. This new strategy was investigated by using 10 key food odorants as target analytes and tested in commercial beer samples. The results suggested that sequential SPME can decrease the displacement effect and improve the extraction efficiency for polar analytes.

Maize functional requirements drive the selection of rhizobacteria under long-term fertilization practices

Rhizosphere microbiomes are pivotal for crop fitness, but the principles underlying microbial assembly during root-soil interactions across soils with different nutrient statuses remain elusive. We examined the microbiomes in the rhizosphere and bulk soils of maize plants grown under six long-term (≥ 29 yr) fertilization experiments in three soil types across middle temperate to subtropical zones. The assembly of rhizosphere microbial communities was primarily driven by deterministic processes. Plant selection interacted with soil types and fertilization regimes to shape the structure and function of rhizosphere microbiomes. Predictive functional profiling showed that, to adapt to nutrient-deficient conditions, maize recruited more rhizobacteria involved in nutrient availability from bulk soil, although these functions were performed by different species. Metagenomic analyses confirmed that the number of significantly enriched Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes Orthology functional categories in the rhizosphere microbial community was significantly higher without fertilization than with fertilization. Notably, some key genes involved in carbon, nitrogen, and phosphorus cycling and purine metabolism were dominantly enriched in the rhizosphere soil without fertilizer input. In conclusion, our results show that maize selects microbes at the root-soil interface based on microbial functional traits beneficial to its own performance, rather than selecting particular species.

Efficacy and safety of transarterial chemoembolization combined with lenvatinib and PD-1 inhibitor in the treatment of advanced hepatocellular carcinoma: A meta-analysis

The study aims to evaluate the benefits and potential adverse effects of transarterial chemoembolization (TACE) combined with lenvatinib and programmed cell death 1 (PD-1) protein inhibitors in the treatment of advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). A systematic literature search of several databases for relevant studies, published from inception up to May 2023, was performed. Clinical trials investigating TACE combined with lenvatinib and PD-1 inhibitors compared with other treatment regimens for advanced HCC were included. Data were pooled using fixed- or random-effects models and expressed as hazard ratios (HRs) or risk ratios (RRs) with corresponding 95% confidence interval (CI). Trial sequential analysis was used to determine whether the study results were sufficiently conclusive. Totally thirteen cohort studies comprising 1279 patients were included. The combined use of TACE, lenvatinib, and PD-1 inhibitors significantly improved overall survival (OS), progression-free survival (PFS), objective response rate (ORR), and disease control rate (DCR) compared with other treatment regimens. The incidences of all-grade or grade ≥ 3 adverse events were comparable and did not differ significantly between the two groups. Prognostic factor analysis identified treatment options, portal vein tumor thrombus, extrahepatic metastasis, and Barcelona Clinic Liver Cancer (BCLC) stage as independent prognostic factors for OS. Extrahepatic metastasis, Child-Pugh score, and hepatic vein invasion emerged as independent prognostic factors for PFS. TSA suggested that the available data were adequate for drawing numerical conclusions regarding ORR and DCR. An approach combining TACE, lenvatinib, and PD-1 inhibitors appeared to offer significant improvements in OS, PFS, ORR, and DCR in patients with advanced HCC without significantly increasing the risk for all-grade adverse events.

Surface heterojunction based on n-type low-dimensional perovskite film for highly efficient perovskite tandem solar cells

Enhancing the quality of junctions is crucial for optimizing carrier extraction and suppressing recombination in semiconductor devices. In recent years, metal halide perovskite has emerged as the most promising next-generation material for optoelectronic devices. However, the construction of high-quality perovskite junctions, as well as characterization and understanding of their carrier polarity and density, remains a challenge. In this study, using combined electrical and spectroscopic characterization techniques, we investigate the doping characteristics of perovskite films by remote molecules, which is corroborated by our theoretical simulations indicating Schottky defects consisting of double ions as effective charge dopants. Through a post-treatment process involving a combination of biammonium and monoammonium molecules, we create a surface layer of n-type low-dimensional perovskite. This surface layer forms a heterojunction with the underlying 3D perovskite film, resulting in a favorable doping profile that enhances carrier extraction. The fabricated device exhibits an outstanding open-circuit voltage (VOC) up to 1.34 V and achieves a certified efficiency of 19.31% for single-junction wide-bandgap (1.77 eV) perovskite solar cells, together with significantly enhanced operational stability, thanks to the improved separation of carriers. Furthermore, we demonstrate the potential of this wide-bandgap device by achieving a certified efficiency of 27.04% and a VOC of 2.12 V in a perovskite/perovskite tandem solar cell configuration.

External Electrons Directly Stimulate Escherichia coli for Enhancing Biological Hydrogen Production

External electric field has the potential to influence metabolic processes such as biological hydrogen production in microorganisms. Based on this concept, we designed and constructed an electroactive hybrid system for microbial biohydrogen production under an electric field comprised of polydopamine (PDA)-modified Escherichia coli (E. coli) and Ni foam (NF). In this system, electrons generated from NF directly migrate into E. coli cells to promote highly efficient biocatalytic hydrogen production. Compared to that generated in the absence of electric field stimulation, biohydrogen production by the PDA-modified E. coli-based system is significantly enhanced. This investigation has demonstrated the mechanism for electron transfer in a biohybrid system and gives insight into precise basis for the enhancement of hydrogen production by using the multifield coupling technology.

Novel Pyrazole-4-Carboxamide Derivatives Containing Oxime Ether Group as Potential SDHIs to Control Rhizoctonia solani

In the search for novel succinate dehydrogenase inhibitor (SDHI) fungicides to control Rhizoctonia solani, thirty-five novel pyrazole-4-carboxamides bearing either an oxime ether or an oxime ester group were designed and prepared based on the strategy of molecular hybridization, and their antifungal activities against five plant pathogenic fungi were also investigated. The results indicated that the majority of the compounds containing oxime ether demonstrated outstanding in vitro antifungal activity against R. solani, and some compounds also displayed pronounced antifungal activities against Sclerotinia sclerotiorum and Botrytis cinerea. Particularly, compound 5e exhibited the most promising antifungal activity against R. solani with an EC50 value of 0.039 μg/mL, which was about 20-fold better than that of boscalid (EC50 = 0.799 μg/mL) and 4-fold more potent than fluxapyroxad (EC50 = 0.131 μg/mL). Moreover, the results of the detached leaf assay showed that compound 5e could suppress the growth of R. solani in rice leaves with significant protective efficacies (86.8%) at 100 μg/mL, superior to boscalid (68.1%) and fluxapyroxad (80.6%), indicating promising application prospects. In addition, the succinate dehydrogenase (SDH) enzymatic inhibition assay revealed that compound 5e generated remarkable SDH inhibition (IC50 = 2.04 μM), which was obviously more potent than those of boscalid (IC50 = 7.92 μM) and fluxapyroxad (IC50 = 6.15 μM). Furthermore, SEM analysis showed that compound 5e caused a remarkable disruption to the characteristic structure and morphology of R. solani hyphae, resulting in significant damage. The molecular docking analysis demonstrated that compound 5e could fit into the identical binding pocket of SDH through hydrogen bond interactions as well as fluxapyroxad, indicating that they had a similar antifungal mechanism. The density functional theory and electrostatic potential calculations provided useful information regarding electron distribution and electron transfer, which contributed to understanding the structural features and antifungal mechanism of the lead compound. These findings suggested that compound 5e could be a promising candidate for SDHI fungicides to control R. solani, warranting further investigation.

The bone marrow lipidomics of mice reveal sex-related differences

Osteoporosis is a common skeletal disorder characterized by an imbalance between bone resorption and formation, exhibiting a higher prevalence in women compared with men. While previous studies have primarily focused on genomics and genetics in osteoporosis susceptibility, there is a lack of systematic exploration of sex-specific differences in lipid levels in mouse bone marrow. Multiple reaction monitoring-based liquid chromatography-trandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) was used to quantify lipidomic profiles in bone marrow samples from three female mice and three male mice. The LC-MS/MS technique based on the multiple reaction monitoring method identified and quantified 184 lipids from 15 lipid classes. The contents of most lipids in the bone marrow cells of female mice were higher than those in male mice, including four polyunsaturated fatty acids, three phospholipids and four sphingolipids. Among all the lipid molecules, lactosylceramide (d18:0/16:0) showed the highest fold change in female mice, while its precursor lipid, glucosylceramide, was the most up-regulated in male mice. This study, focusing on bone marrow lipidomics, elucidates significant sexual dimorphism in lipid levels within bone marrow cells. It provides novel evidence supporting the higher prevalence of osteoporosis in women and enhances our understanding of the connection between sex-specific lipid levels and the risk of osteoporosis.

Acoustothermal transfection for cell therapy

Transfected stem cells and T cells are promising in personalized cell therapy and immunotherapy against various diseases. However, existing transfection techniques face a fundamental trade-off between transfection efficiency and cell viability; achieving both simultaneously remains a substantial challenge. This study presents an acoustothermal transfection method that leverages acoustic and thermal effects on cells to enhance the permeability of both the cell membrane and nuclear envelope to achieve safe, efficient, and high-throughput transfection of primary T cells and stem cells. With this method, two types of plasmids were simultaneously delivered into the nuclei of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) with efficiencies of 89.6 ± 1.2%. CXCR4-transfected MSCs could efficiently target cerebral ischemia sites in vivo and reduce the infarct volume in mice. Our acoustothermal transfection method addresses a key bottleneck in balancing the transfection efficiency and cell viability, which can become a powerful tool in the future for cellular and gene therapies.

Broadband Room-Temperature Photodetection via InBiTe3 Nanosheet

Broadband room-temperature photodetection has become a pressing need as application requirements for communication, imaging, spectroscopy, and sensing have evolved. Topological insulators (TIs) have narrow bandgap structures with a wide absorption spectral response range, which should meet the requirements of broadband detection. However, owing to their high carrier concentration and low carrier mobility resulting in poor noise equivalent power (NEP), they are generally considered unsuitable for photodetection. Here, InBiTe3 alloy nanosheet formed by doping In2Te3 into Bi2Te3(≈ 1:1) is utilized, effectively improving carrier mobility by over ten times while maintaining a narrow bandgap structure, to fabricate a broadband photodetector covering a wide response range from visible to millimeter wave (MMW). Under the synergistic multi-mechanism of the photoelectric effect in the visible-infrared region and the electromagnetic-induced potential well (EIW) effect in Terahertz band, the performance of NEP = 75 pW Hz-1/2 and response time τ ≈100 µs in visible to infrared band and the performance of NEP = 6.7 × 10-3 pW Hz-1/2, τ ≈8 µs in Terahertz region are achieved. The results demonstrate the promising prospects of topological insulator alloy (like InBiTe3) nanosheet in optoelectronic detection applications and provide a direction for the research into high-performance broadband photoelectric detectors via TIs.

Molecular insights into linkages among free-floating macrophyte-derived organic matter, the fate of antibiotic residues, and antibiotic resistance genes

Macrophyte rhizospheric dissolved organic matter (ROM) served as widespread abiotic components in aquatic ecosystems, and its effects on antibiotic residues and antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) could not be ignored. However, specific influencing mechanisms for ROM on the fate of antibiotic residues and expression of ARGs still remained unclear. Herein, laboratory hydroponic experiments for water lettuce (Pistia stratiotes) were carried out to explore mutual interactions among ROM, sulfamethoxazole (SMX), bacterial community, and ARGs expression. Results showed ROM directly affect SMX concentrations through the binding process, while CO and N-H groups were main binding sites for ROM. Dynamic changes of ROM molecular composition diversified the DOM pool due to microbe-mediated oxidoreduction, with enrichment of heteroatoms (N, S, P) and decreased aromaticity. Microbial community analysis showed SMX pressure significantly stimulated the succession of bacterial structure in both bulk water and rhizospheric biofilms. Furthermore, network analysis further confirmed ROM bio-labile compositions as energy sources and electron shuttles directly influenced microbial structure, thereby facilitating proliferation of antibiotic resistant bacteria (Methylotenera, Sphingobium, Az spirillum) and ARGs (sul1, sul2, intl1). This investigation will provide scientific supports for the control of antibiotic residues and corresponding ARGs in aquatic ecosystems.

Doped Cu0 and sulfidation induced transition from R-O• to •OH in peracetic acid activation by sulfidated nano zero-valent iron-copper

Peracetic acid (PAA) has emerged as a new effective oxidant for various contaminants degradation through advanced oxidation process (AOP). In this study, sulfidated nano zero-valent iron-copper (S-nZVIC) with low Cu doping and sulfidation was synthesized for PAA activation, resulting in more efficient degradation of sulfamethoxazole (SMX, 20 μM) and other contaminants using a low dose of catalyst (0.05 g/L) and oxidant (100 μM). The characterization results suggested that S-nZVIC presented a more uniform size and distribution with fewer metal oxides, as the agglomeration and oxidation were inhibited. More significantly, doped Cu0 and sulfidation significantly enhanced the generation and contribution of •OH but decreased that of R-O• in S-nZVIC/PAA/SMX system compared with that of nZVIC and S-nZVI, accounting for the relatively high degradation efficiency of 97.7% in S-nZVIC/PAA/SMX system compared with 85.7% and 78.9% in nZVIC/PAA/SMX and S-nZVI/PAA/SMX system, respectively. The mechanisms underlying these changes were that (i) doped Cu° could promote the regeneration of Fe(Ⅱ) for strengthened PAA activation through mediating Fe(Ⅱ)/Fe(Ⅲ) cycle by Cu(Ⅰ)/Cu(Ⅱ) cycle; (ii) S species might consume part of R-O•, resulting in a decreased contribution of R-O• in SMX degradation; (iii) sulfidation increased the electrical conductivity, thus facilitating the electron transfer from S-nZVIC to PAA. Consequently, the dominant reactive oxygen species transited from R-O• to •OH to degrade SMX more efficiently. The degradation pathways, intermediate products and toxicity were further analyzed through density functional theory (DFT) calculations, liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS) and T.E.S.T software analysis, which proved the environmental friendliness of this process. In addition, S-nZVIC exhibited high stability, recyclability and degradation efficiency over a wide pH range (3.0∼9.0). This work provides a new insight into the rational design and modification of nano zero-valent metals for efficient wastewater treatment through adjusting the dominant reactive oxygen species (ROS) into the more active free radicals.

Seasonal characterization of chemical and optical properties of water-soluble organic aerosol in Beijing

Water-soluble organic aerosol (WSOA) plays a crucial role in altering radiative forcing and impacting human health. However, our understanding of the seasonal variations of WSOA in Chinese megacities after the three-year clean air action plan is limited. In this study, we analyzed PM2.5 filter samples collected over one year (2020-2021) in Beijing to characterize the seasonal changes in the chemical and optical properties of WSOA using an offline aerosol mass spectrometer along with spectroscopy techniques. The mean mass concentration of WSOA during the observation period was 8.84 ± 7.12 μg m-3, constituting approximately 64-67 % of OA. Our results indicate the contribution of secondary OA (SOA) increased by 13-28 % due to a substantial reduction in primary emissions after the clean air action plan. The composition of WSOA exhibited pronounced seasonal variations, with a predominant contribution from less oxidized SOA in summer (61 %) and primary OA originating from coal combustion and biomass burning during the heating season (34 %). The mass absorption efficiency of WSOA at 365 nm in winter was nearly twice that in summer, suggesting that WSOA from primary emissions possesses a stronger light-absorbing capability than SOA. On average, water-soluble brown carbon accounted for 33-48 % of total brown carbon absorption. Fluorescence analysis revealed humic-like substances as the most significant fluorescence component of WSOA, constituting 82 %. Furthermore, both absorption and fluorescence chromophores were associated with nitrogen-containing compounds, highlighting the role of nitrogen-containing species in influencing the optical properties of WSOA. The results are important for chemical transport models to accurately simulate the WSOA and its climate effects.

Climate-related naturally occurring epimutation and their roles in plant adaptation in A. thaliana

DNA methylation has been proposed to be an important mechanism that allows plants to respond to their environments sometimes entirely uncoupled from genetic variation. To understand the genetic basis, biological functions and climatic relationships of DNA methylation at a population scale in Arabidopsis thaliana, we performed a genome-wide association analysis with high-quality single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs), and found that ~56% on average, especially in the CHH sequence context (71%), of the differentially methylated regions (DMRs) are not tagged by SNPs. Among them, a total of 3235 DMRs are significantly associated with gene expressions and potentially heritable. 655 of the 3235 DMRs are associated with climatic variables, and we experimentally verified one of them, HEI10 (HUMAN ENHANCER OF CELL INVASION NO.10). Such epigenetic loci could be subjected to natural selection thereby affecting plant adaptation, and would be expected to be an indicator of accessions at risk. We therefore incorporated these climate-related DMRs into a gradient forest model, and found that the natural A. thaliana accessions in Southern Europe that may be most at risk under future climate change. Our findings highlight the importance of integrating DNA methylation that is independent of genetic variations, and climatic data to predict plants' vulnerability to future climate change.

Reactivity Switch of Platinum with Gallium: From Reverse Water Gas Shift to Methanol Synthesis

The development of efficient catalysts for the hydrogenation of CO2 to methanol using "green" H2 is foreseen to be a key step to close the carbon cycle. In this study, we show that small and narrowly distributed alloyed PtGa nanoparticles supported on silica, prepared via a surface organometallic chemistry (SOMC) approach, display notable activity for the hydrogenation of CO2 to methanol, reaching a 7.2 molCH3OH h-1 molPt-1 methanol formation rate with a 54% intrinsic CH3OH selectivity. This reactivity sharply contrasts with what is expected for Pt, which favors the reverse water gas shift reaction, albeit with poor activity (2.6 molCO2 h-1 molPt-1). In situ XAS studies indicate that ca. 50% of Ga is reduced to Ga0 yielding alloyed PtGa nanoparticles, while the remaining 50% persist as isolated GaIII sites. The PtGa catalyst slightly dealloys under CO2 hydrogenation conditions and displays redox dynamics with PtGa-GaOx interfaces responsible for promoting both the CO2 hydrogenation activity and methanol selectivity. Further tailoring the catalyst interface by using a carbon support in place of silica enables to improve the methanol formation rate by a factor of ∼5.

First comprehensive assessment of dietary chlorinated paraffins intake and exposure risk for the rural population of the Tibetan Plateau, China

Knowledge regarding the occurrence of short-chain and medium-chain chlorinated paraffins (SCCPs and MCCPs) in foodstuffs and their dietary exposure risks for rural Tibetan residents remains largely unknown. Herein, we collected main foodstuffs (including highland barley, vegetables, Tibetan butter, mutton, and yak beef) across the rural Tibetan Plateau and characterized the CP profiles and concentrations. The highest SCCPs concentrations were detected in Tibetan butter (geometric mean (GM): 240.6 ng/g wet weight (ww)), followed by vegetables (59.4 ng/g ww), mutton (51.4 ng/g ww), highland barley (46.3 ng/g ww), and yak beef (31.7 ng/g ww). For MCCPs, the highest concentrations were also detected in Tibetan butter (319.5 ng/g ww), followed by mutton (181.9 ng/g ww), vegetables (127.0 ng/g ww), yak beef (71.2 ng/g ww), and highland barley (30.3 ng/g ww). The predominant congener profiles of SCCPs were C13Cl7-8 in mutton and yak beef, C10Cl7-8 in Tibetan butter, and C10-11Cl6-7 in highland barley and vegetables. The predominant congener profiles of MCCPs were C14Cl7-9 in all sample types. Combined with our previous results of free-range chicken eggs, the median estimated daily intakes (EDIs) of SCCPs and MCCPs via diet for Tibetan rural adults and children was estimated to be 728.8 and 1853.9 ng/kg bw/day and 2565.6 and 5952.8 ng/kg bw/day, respectively. In the worst scenario, MCCPs might induce potential health risks for rural Tibetan population. To our knowledge, this is the first systematic dietary exposure research of SCCPs and MCCPs in the remote rural areas.

Stable Super-Resolution Imaging of Cell Membrane Nanoscale Subcompartment Dynamics with a Buffering Cyanine Dye

Super-resolution fluorescence imaging is a crucial method for visualizing the dynamics of the cell membrane involved in various physiological and pathological processes. This requires bright fluorescent dyes with excellent photostability and labeling stability to enable long-term imaging. In this context, we introduce a buffering-strategy-based cyanine dye, SA-Cy5, designed to identify and label carbonic anhydrase IX (CA IX) located in the cell membrane. The unique feature of SA-Cy5 lies in its ability to overcome photobleaching. When the dye on the cell membrane undergoes photobleaching, it is rapidly replaced by an intact probe from the buffer pool outside the cell membrane. This dynamic replacement ensures that the fluorescence intensity on the cell membrane remains stable over time. Under the super-resolution structured illumination microscopy (SIM), the cell membrane can be continuously imaged for 60 min with a time resolution of 20 s. This extended imaging period allows for the observation of substructural dynamics of the cell membrane, including the growth and fusion of filamentous pseudopodia and the fusion of vesicles. Additionally, this buffering strategy introduces a novel approach to address the issue of poor photostability associated with the cyanine dyes.

Bone marrow CD8+ Trm cells induced by IL-15 and CD16+ monocytes contribute to HSPC destruction in human severe aplastic anemia

Idiopathic severe aplastic anemia (SAA) is a disease of bone marrow failure caused by T-cell-induced destruction of hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells (HSPCs), however the mechanism remains unclear. We performed single-cell RNA sequencing of PBMCs and BMMCs from SAA patients and healthy donors and identified a CD8+ T cell subset with a tissue residency phenotype (Trm) in bone marrow that exhibit high IFN-γ and FasL expression and have a higher ability to induce apoptosis in HSPCs in vitro through FasL expression. CD8+ Trm cells were induced by IL-15 presented by IL-15Rα on monocytes, especially CD16+ monocytes, which were increased in SAA patients. CD16+ monocytes contributed to IL-15-induced CD38+CXCR6+ pre-Trm differentiation into CD8+ Trm cells, which can be inhibited by the CD38 inhibitor 78c. Our results demonstrate that IL-15-induced CD8+ Trm cells are pathogenic cells that mediate HSPC destruction in SAA patients and are therapeutic targets for future treatments.

Electrochemical nitrogen reduction reaction on anchored SnS2 nanosheets with TM2 dimers

The design of efficient, high-stability nitrogen fixation catalysts remains a great challenge to achieve electrochemical nitrogen reduction reaction (NRR) under ambient conditions. Herein, the high-throughput first-principles calculations are performed to obtain potential electrochemical NRR catalysts from transition metal (TM) dimers anchored on SnS2 nanosheets. The selected W2/SnS2 behaves as a promising NRR candidate possessing -0.27 V limiting potential and 0.81 eV maximum kinetic potential, and it exhibits the adsorption advantages of *N2 over other small molecules (*H2O, *O, *OH, *H). More importantly, the moderate d orbital valence electron number and electronegativity of TM atom could obtain better NRR activity, and a new descriptor φ considering the effects of coordination environments and adsorbates is proposed to achieve the fast pre-screening among various candidates. This work presents practical insights into the fast screening of TM2/SnS2 candidates for efficient nitrogen fixation and further streamlining the design of electrochemical NRR catalysts.

A widely conserved protein Rof inhibits transcription termination factor Rho and promotes Salmonella virulence program

Transcription is crucial for the expression of genetic information and its efficient and accurate termination is required for all living organisms. Rho-dependent termination could rapidly terminate unwanted premature RNAs and play important roles in bacterial adaptation to changing environments. Although Rho has been discovered for about five decades, the regulation mechanisms of Rho-dependent termination are still not fully elucidated. Here we report that Rof is a conserved antiterminator and determine the cryogenic electron microscopy structure of Rho-Rof antitermination complex. Rof binds to the open-ring Rho hexamer and inhibits the initiation of Rho-dependent termination. Rof's N-terminal α-helix undergoes conformational changes upon binding with Rho, and is key in facilitating Rof-Rho interactions. Rof binds to Rho's primary binding site (PBS) and excludes Rho from binding with PBS ligand RNA at the initiation step. Further in vivo analyses in Salmonella Typhimurium show that Rof is required for virulence gene expression and host cell invasion, unveiling a physiological function of Rof and transcription termination in bacterial pathogenesis.

Association between six different types of anthropometric indices and arterial stiffness measured by brachial-ankle pulse wave velocity in hypertensive Chinese adults

Background

The associations of body fat parameters with arterial stiffness measured by brachial-ankle pulse wave velocity in hypertensive patients were scarce.

Methods

This cross-sectional study analyzed 4322 hypertensive adults. The correlations between the anthropometric indexes (body mass index [BMI], waist circumference, waist-tohip ratio [WHR], waist-to-height ratio [WHtR], a body shape index [ABSI], body round index [BRI]) and ba-PWV values were analyzed using multivariable linear regression model.

Results

In both sex categories, linear regression models showed that BMI levels were inversely related to baPWV (adjusted-β per SD increase in male: -0.51, 95% CI -0.66 to -0.36, P < 0.001; female: -0.50, 95% CI -0.63 to -0.37, P < 0.001). Waist circumference positively correlated with baPWV only in male hypertensive individuals. BaPWV positively correlated to WHR or WHtR levels (adjusted-β per SD increase: 0.32, 95% CI 0.21 to 0.43, P < 0.001; 0.64, 95% CI 0.47 to 0.82, P < 0.001; respectively), ABSI (adjusted-β per SD increase for ABSI × 100: 0.27, 95% CI 0.18 to 0.36, P < 0.001) and BRI (adjusted-β per SD increase: 0.64, 95% CI 0.46 to 0.81, P < 0.001) levels. The relationship between anthropometric indices and arterial stiffness based on baPWV values were also consistent. ABSI had the highest predictive power of arterial stiffness (area under the curve, 0.594; P < 0.001).

Conclusion

In Chinese adults with hypertension, BMI was inversely related to baPWV, while WHR, WHtR, ABSI and BRI were positively related. Waist circumference positively correlated with baPWV only in male hypertensive individuals.

Improved charge extraction in inverted perovskite solar cells with dual-site-binding ligands

Inverted (pin) perovskite solar cells (PSCs) afford improved operating stability in comparison to their nip counterparts but have lagged in power conversion efficiency (PCE). The energetic losses responsible for this PCE deficit in pin PSCs occur primarily at the interfaces between the perovskite and the charge-transport layers. Additive and surface treatments that use passivating ligands usually bind to a single active binding site: This dense packing of electrically resistive passivants perpendicular to the surface may limit the fill factor in pin PSCs. We identified ligands that bind two neighboring lead(II) ion (Pb2+) defect sites in a planar ligand orientation on the perovskite. We fabricated pin PSCs and report a certified quasi-steady state PCE of 26.15 and 24.74% for 0.05- and 1.04-square centimeter illuminated areas, respectively. The devices retain 95% of their initial PCE after 1200 hours of continuous 1 sun maximum power point operation at 65°C.

Abiotic natural attenuation of 1,2,3-trichloropropane by natural magnetite under O2 perturbation

1,2,3-Trichloropropane (TCP) is an emerging groundwater pollutant, but there is a lack of reported studies on the abiotic natural attenuation of TCP by iron minerals. Furthermore, perturbation by O2 is common in the shallow subsurface by both natural and artificial processes. In this study, natural magnetite was selected as the reactive iron mineral to investigate its role in the degradation of TCP under O2 perturbation. The results indicated that the mineral structural Fe(II) on magnetite reacted with dissolved oxygen to generate O2-· and HO·. Both O2-· and HO· contributed to TCP degradation, with O2-· playing a more important role. After 56 days of reaction, 66.7% of TCP was completely dechlorinated. This study revealed that higher magnetite concentrations, smaller magnetite particle sizes, and lower initial TCP concentrations favored TCP degradation. The presence of <10 mg/L natural organic matter (NOM) did not affect TCP degradation. These findings significantly advance our understanding of the abiotic natural attenuation mechanisms facilitated by iron minerals under O2 perturbation, providing crucial insights for the study of natural attenuation.

Increased co-expression of ICOS and PD-1 predicts poor overall survival in patients with acute myeloid leukemia

BACKGROUND

Inducible co-stimulatory factor (ICOS) has a dual role: activating cytotoxic T cells against tumors or exacerbating immunosuppression of regulatory T cells (Tregs) to participate in immune evasion. However, the correlation between ICOS and its co-expression with inhibitory immune checkpoints (IICs) and prognosis in acute myeloid leukemia (AML) is little known.

METHODS

The prognostic importance of ICOS and IICs in 62 bone marrow (BM) samples of de novo AML patients from our clinical center (GZFPH) was explored and then the RNA sequencing data of 155 AML patients from the Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) database was used for validation.

RESULTS

In both GZFPH and TCGA cohorts, high expression of ICOS was significantly associated with poor overall survival (OS) in patients with AML (P < 0.05). Importantly, co-expression of ICOS and PD-1, PD-L1, PD-L2, CTLA-4, and LAG-3 predicted poor OS in AML; among them, ICOS/PD-1 was the optimal combination of immune checkpoints (ICs). The co-expression of ICOS and PD-1 was correlated with poor OS in non-acute promyelocytic leukemia (non-APL) patients following chemotherapy. Additionally, ICOS/PD-1 was an independent OS-predicting factor (P < 0.05). Notably, a nomogram model was constructed by combining ICOS/PD-1, age, European Leukemia Net (ELN) risk stratification, and therapy to visually and personalized predict the 1-, 3-, and 5-year OS of patients with non-APL.

CONCLUSION

Increased expression of ICOS predicted poor outcomes, and ICOS/PD-1 was the optimal combination of ICs to predict outcomes in patients with AML, which might be a potential immune biomarker for designing novel AML therapy.

Universal 120-kV Dual-Source Ultra-High Pitch Protocol on the Photon-Counting CT System for Pediatric Abdomen of All Sizes: A Phantom Investigation Comparing With Energy-Integrating CT

OBJECTIVES

The purpose of this study is to determine if a universal 120-kV ultra-high pitch and virtual monoenergetic images (VMIs) protocol on the photon-counting computed tomography (PCCT) system can provide sufficient image quality for pediatric abdominal imaging, regardless of size, compared with protocols using a size-dependent kV and dual-source flash mode on the energy-integrating CT (EICT) system.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

One solid water insert and 3 iodine (2, 5, 10 mg I/mL) inserts were attached or inserted into phantoms of variable sizes, simulating the abdomens of a newborn, 5-year-old, 10-year-old, and adult-sized pediatric patients. Each phantom setting was scanned on an EICT using clinical size-specific kV dual-source protocols with a pitch of 3.0. The scans were performed with fixed scanning parameters, and the CTDIvol values of full dose were 0.30, 0.71, 1.05, and 7.40 mGy for newborn to adult size, respectively. In addition, half dose scans were acquired on EICT. Each phantom was then scanned on a PCCT (Siemens Alpha) using a universal 120-kV protocol with the same full dose and half dose as determined above on the EICT scanner. All other parameters matched to EICT settings. Virtual monoenergetic images were generated from PCCT scans between 40 and 80 keV with a 5-keV interval. Image quality metrics were compared between PCCT VMIs and EICT, including image noise (measured as standard deviation of solid water), contrast-to-noise ratio (CNR) (measured at iodine inserts with solid water as background), and noise power spectrum (measured in uniform phantom regions).

RESULTS

Noise at a PCCT VMI of 70 keV (7.0 ± 0.6 HU for newborn, 14.7 ± 1.6 HU for adult) is comparable (P > 0.05, t test) or significantly lower (P < 0.05, t test) compared with EICT (7.8 ± 0.8 HU for newborn, 15.3 ± 1.5 HU for adult). Iodine CNR from PCCT VMI at 50 keV (50.8 ± 8.4 for newborn, 27.3 ± 2.8 for adult) is comparable (P > 0.05, t test) or significantly higher (P < 0.05, t test) to the corresponding EICT measurements (57.5 ± 6.7 for newborn, 13.8 ± 1.7 for adult). The noise power spectrum curve shape of PCCT VMI is similar to EICT, despite PCCT VMI exhibiting higher noise at low keV levels.

CONCLUSIONS

The universal PCCT 120 kV with ultra-high pitch and postprocessed VMIs demonstrated equivalent or improved performance in noise (70 keV) and iodine CNR (50 keV) for pediatric abdominal CT, compared with size-specific kV images on the EICT.

Proteomic Analysis of Human Saliva via Solid-Phase Microextraction Coupled with Liquid Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry

Proteomics of human saliva samples was achieved for the first time via biocompatible solid-phase microextraction (bio-SPME) devices. Upon introduction of a porogen to a conventional C18 coating, porous C18/polyacrylonitrile (PAN) SPME blades were able to extract peptides up to 3.0 kDa and more peptides than commercial SPME blades. Following Trypsin digestion, salivary proteomic analysis was achieved via SPME-LC-MS/MS. Seven endogenous proteins were consistently identified in all saliva samples via bio-SPME. Taking advantage of this strategy, untargeted peptidomics was applied for the comparison of saliva samples between healthy and SARS-CoV-2 positive individuals. The results showed clear peptidomic differences between the viral and healthy saliva samples. This proof-of-concept study demonstrates the potential of bio-SPME-LC-MS/MS for peptidomics and proteomics in biomedical applications.

A genome-wide association study provides insights into the genetic etiology of 57 essential and non-essential trace elements in humans

Trace elements are important for human health but may exert toxic or adverse effects. Mechanisms of uptake, distribution, metabolism, and excretion are partly under genetic control but have not yet been extensively mapped. Here we report a comprehensive multi-element genome-wide association study of 57 essential and non-essential trace elements. We perform genome-wide association meta-analyses of 14 trace elements in up to 6564 Scandinavian whole blood samples, and genome-wide association studies of 43 trace elements in up to 2819 samples measured only in the Trøndelag Health Study (HUNT). We identify 11 novel genetic loci associated with blood concentrations of arsenic, cadmium, manganese, selenium, and zinc in genome-wide association meta-analyses. In HUNT, several genome-wide significant loci are also indicated for other trace elements. Using two-sample Mendelian randomization, we find several indications of weak to moderate effects on health outcomes, the most precise being a weak harmful effect of increased zinc on prostate cancer. However, independent validation is needed. Our current understanding of trace element-associated genetic variants may help establish consequences of trace elements on human health.

Peptide KN-17-Loaded Supramolecular Hydrogel Induces the Regeneration of the Pulp-Dentin Complex

Regenerating the pulp-dentin complex remains a decisive factor during apexification for immature permanent teeth. Peptide KN-17, which was modified based on the structure of cecropin B, could effectively interfere with bacterial growth and induce the migration of human bone marrow stromal cells (hBMSCs). This study aimed to investigate the effect of KN-17 on the tissue regeneration. To our surprise, KN-17 can significantly stimulate angiogenesis in vitro and in vivo, which may provide a guarantee for apical closure. Herein, a novel peptide/KN-17 coassembled hydrogel is developed via a heating-cooling process. Npx-FFEY/KN-17 supramolecular hydrogel can induce vessel development, stimulate odontogenic differentiation of human dental pulp stem cells (hDPSCs), and exert an antibacterial effect on Enterococcus faecalis (E. faecalis). Furthermore, coronal pulp excised rat molars are supplied with KN-17 or KN-17-loaded hydrogel and transplanted subcutaneously in BALB/c-nu mice. After 4 weeks, the hydrogel Npx-FFEY/KN-17 stimulates the formation of multiple odontoblast-like cells and dentin-like structures. Our findings demonstrate that the KN-17-loaded hydrogel can promote the regeneration of the pulp-dentin complex for continued root development.

Integrative Single Cell Atlas Revealed Intratumoral Heterogeneity Generation from an Adaptive Epigenetic Cell State in Human Bladder Urothelial Carcinoma

Intratumor heterogeneity (ITH) of bladder cancer (BLCA) contributes to therapy resistance and immune evasion affecting clinical prognosis. The molecular and cellular mechanisms contributing to BLCA ITH generation remain elusive. It is found that a TM4SF1-positive cancer subpopulation (TPCS) can generate ITH in BLCA, evidenced by integrative single cell atlas analysis. Extensive profiling of the epigenome and transcriptome of all stages of BLCA revealed their evolutionary trajectories. Distinct ancestor cells gave rise to low-grade noninvasive and high-grade invasive BLCA. Epigenome reprograming led to transcriptional heterogeneity in BLCA. During early oncogenesis, epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition generated TPCS. TPCS has stem-cell-like properties and exhibited transcriptional plasticity, priming the development of transcriptionally heterogeneous descendent cell lineages. Moreover, TPCS prevalence in tumor is associated with advanced stage cancer and poor prognosis. The results of this study suggested that bladder cancer interacts with its environment by acquiring a stem cell-like epigenomic landscape, which might generate ITH without additional genetic diversification.

Effects of climate and geochemical properties on the chemical forms of soil Cd, Pb and Cr along a more than 4000 km transect

Soil heavy metal speciation has received much attention for their different ecological and environmental effects. However, the effects of climate and soil geochemical properties on them in uncontaminated soils at macroscale were still unclear. Therefore, a transect more than 4000 km was chosen to study the effects of these factors on soil Cd, Pb and Cr forms. The results revealed that mean annual temperature and precipitation showed significant positive relations with the exchangeable and Fe-Mn oxide bound states of Cd, Pb and Cr, and residual Cr. And humidity and drought indexes were significantly positively correlated with their organic and carbonate bound forms, respectively. As for soil geochemical properties, pH displayed significant negative relationships with exchangeable, Fe-Mn oxide and organic bound Pb and Cr, and exchangeable Cd. Fe2O3 was significantly positively with the exchangeable and Fe-Mn oxide bound Cd, Pb and Cr, and residual Cr. And soil organic matter showed positive relations with organic bound Pb and Cr, and residual Cd and Cr, displayed negative relationships with carbonated bound Pb and Cr. Overall, climate and soil geochemical properties together affect the transformation and transport of heavy metals between different forms in uncontaminated soils.

Cough symptoms in children following COVID-19: a single-center retrospective study

Background

Cough is the most common respiratory symptom in children with mild coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19); however, evidence regarding the duration and severity of COVID-19-related cough is sparse. Herein, we investigated the correlation between cough severity/duration and disease duration in children with allergic diseases following COVID-19.

Methods

This single-center, retrospective case-control study was conducted at the Department of Pediatrics, Peking University Third Hospital, from February 6-13, 2023. Children aged 0-16 completed a questionnaire survey collecting basic information and weekly cough scores for 8 consecutive weeks after COVID-19 in December 2022. The Kaplan-Meier method was used to draw event curves, and the log-rank method was used to compare inter-group differences. Stepwise regression was applied for multivariate analysis of correlations between age, sex, allergic diseases, and the degree and duration of cough following COVID-19.

Results

Overall, 686 children were included, of whom 183 (26.7%) had allergic diseases and 503 (73.3%) did not. Kaplan-Meier analysis identified significant differences between patients with and without allergic disease (log-rank test, P = 0.002) and between patients with no allergic disease and those with one and more than one allergic disease (log-rank test, P = 0.003). Multivariate regression identified a link between the presence of more than one allergic disease and coughing for >4 weeks after infection (P < 0.001). Allergic disease was the primary factor linked to cough symptoms lasting 8 weeks and cough severity (P < 0.001).

Conclusions

Allergic disease contributes to the prolonged duration and severity of coughing in children with mild COVID-19.

Evaluation of monolithic crystal detector with dual-ended readout utilizing multiplexing method

Objective.Monolithic crystal detectors are increasingly being applied in positron emission tomography (PET) devices owing to their excellent depth-of-interaction (DOI) resolution capabilities and high detection efficiency. In this study, we constructed and evaluated a dual-ended readout monolithic crystal detector based on a multiplexing method.Approach.We employed two 12 × 12 silicon photomultiplier (SiPM) arrays for readout, and the signals from the 12 × 12 array were merged into 12 X and 12 Y channels using channel multiplexing. In 2D reconstruction, three methods based on the centre of gravity (COG) were compared, and the concept of thresholds was introduced. Furthermore, a light convolutional neural network (CNN) was employed for testing. To enhance depth localization resolution, we proposed a method by utilizing the mutual information from both ends of the SiPMs. The source width and collimation effect were simulated using GEANT4, and the intrinsic spatial resolution was separated from the measured values.Main results.At an operational voltage of 29 V for the SiPM, an energy resolution of approximately 12.5 % was achieved. By subtracting a 0.8 % threshold from the total energy in every channel, a 2D spatial resolution of approximately 0.90 mm full width at half maximum (FWHM) can be obtained. Furthermore, a higher level of resolution, approximately 0.80 mm FWHM, was achieved using a CNN, with some alleviation of edge effects. With the proposed DOI method, a significant 1.36 mm FWHM average DOI resolution can be achieved. Additionally, it was found that polishing and black coating on the crystal surface yielded smaller edge effects compared to a rough surface with a black coating.Significance.The introduction of a threshold in COG method and a dual-ended readout scheme can lead to excellent spatial resolution for monolithic crystal detectors, which can help to develop PET systems with both high sensitivity and high spatial resolution.

Case report: A successful clinical experience of transplantation of liver and kidney from a donor with myelodysplastic syndromes

With a shortage of organs for transplant, the use of marginal donors can be an effective measure to meet the shortfall. Myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS) are considered an absolute contraindication for organ donation because of the high invasive potential. Currently, organ transplantation from donors with a past history of MDS has not been reported. In this paper, we report the successful clinical experience of one liver transplantation and two kidney transplantations, with organs donated by a 39-year-old patient diagnosed with a past history of MDS following intracranial hemorrhage. Four and a half years after transplantation, the three recipients are all doing well. However, it is still not clear to what extent organs donated by patients with a past history of MDS can be safely transplanted. This report provides support for the careful use of marginal donors. With effective treatment and full peer assessment, livers and kidneys from donors with a past history of MDS may be safely transplanted.

Activation of angiogenin expression in macrophages by lipopolysaccharide via the TLR4/NF-κB pathway in colitis

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is a debilitating condition that can lead to life-threatening complications. Macrophages are crucial in IBD management because they secrete various cytokines and regulate tissue repair. Macrophage-derived angiogenin (ANG) has been shown to be essential for limiting colonic inflammation, but its upstream regulatory pathway and role in macrophages remain unclear. Here we show that ANG expression is up-regulated in macrophages during colitis treatment or upon lipopolysaccharides (LPS) treatment. Mechanistically, LPS activates Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4) to initiate NF-κB translocation from the cytoplasm to the nucleus, where it binds to the ANG promoter and enhances its transcriptional activity, leading to increased ANG expression. Interestingly, our data also reveal that the deletion of ANG in macrophages has no adverse effect on key macrophage functions, such as phagocytosis, chemotaxis, and cell survival. Our findings establish a "LPS-TLR4-NF-κB-ANG" regulatory axis in inflammatory disorders and confirm that ANG controls inflammation in a paracrine manner, highlighting the importance of ANG as a key mediator in the complex network of inflammatory processes.

SN2 Reaction at the Amide Nitrogen Center Enables Hydrazide Synthesis

Nucleophilic substitutions are fundamentally important transformations in synthetic organic chemistry. Despite the substantial advances in bimolecular nucleophilic substitutions (SN2) at saturated carbon centers, analogous SN2 reaction at the amide nitrogen atom remains extremely limited. Here we report an SN2 substitution method at the amide nitrogen atom with amine nucleophiles for nitrogen-nitrogen (N-N) bond formation that leads to a novel strategy toward biologically and medicinally important hydrazide derivatives. We found the use of sulfonate-leaving groups at the amide nitrogen atom played a pivotal role in the reaction. This new N-N coupling reaction allows the use of O-tosyl hydroxamates as electrophiles and readily available amines, including acyclic aliphatic amines and saturated N-heterocycles as nucleophiles. The reaction features mild conditions, broad substrate scope (>80 examples), excellent functional group tolerability, and scalability. The method is applicable to late-stage modification of various approved drug molecules, thus enabling complex hydrazide scaffold synthesis.

Elucidating the impact of oxygen functional groups on the catalytic activity of M-N4-C catalysts for the oxygen reduction reaction: a density functional theory and machine learning approach

Efforts to enhance the efficiency of electrocatalysts for the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) in energy conversion and storage devices present formidable challenges. In this endeavor, M-N4-C single-atom catalysts (MN4) have emerged as promising candidates due to their precise atomic structure and adaptable electronic properties. However, MN4 catalysts inherently introduce oxygen functional groups (OGs), intricately influencing the catalytic process and complicating the identification of active sites. This study employs advanced density functional theory (DFT) calculations to investigate the profound influence of OGs on ORR catalysis within MN4 catalysts (referred to as OGs@MN4, where M represents Fe or Co). We established the following activity order for the 2eORR: for OGs@CoN4: OH@CoN4 > CoN4 > CHO@CoN4 > C-O-C@CoN4 > COC@CoN4 > COOH@CoN4 > CO@CoN4; for OGs@FeN4: COC@FeN4 > CO@FeN4 > OH@FeN4 > FeN4 > COOH@FeN4 > CHO@FeN4 > C-O-C@FeN4. Multiple oxygen combinations were constructed and found to be the true origin of MN4 activity (for instance, the overpotential of 2OH@CoN4 as low as 0.07 V). Furthermore, we explored the performance of the OGs@MN4 system through charge and d-band center analysis, revealing the limitations of previous electron-withdrawing/donating strategies. Machine learning analysis, including GBR, GPR, and LINER models, effectively guides the prediction of catalyst performance (with an R2 value of 0.93 for predicting ΔG*OOH_vac in the GBR model). The Eg descriptor was identified as the primary factor characterizing ΔG*OOH_vac (accounting for 62.8%; OGs@CoN4: R2 = 0.9077, OGs@FeN4: R2 = 0.7781). This study unveils the significant impact of OGs on MN4 catalysts and pioneers design and synthesis criteria rooted in Eg. These innovative findings provide valuable insights into understanding the origins of catalytic activity and guiding the design of carbon-based single-atom catalysts, appealing to a broad audience interested in energy conversion technologies and materials science.

SmEIL1 transcription factor inhibits tanshinone accumulation in response to ethylene signaling in Salvia miltiorrhiza

Among the bioactive compounds, lipid-soluble tanshinone is present in Salvia miltiorrhiza, a medicinal plant species. While it is known that ethephon has the ability to inhibit the tanshinones biosynthesis in the S. miltiorrhiza hairy root, however the underlying regulatory mechanism remains obscure. In this study, using the transcriptome dataset of the S. miltiorrhiza hairy root induced by ethephon, an ethylene-responsive transcriptional factor EIN3-like 1 (SmEIL1) was identified. The SmEIL1 protein was found to be localized in the nuclei, and confirmed by the transient transformation observed in tobacco leaves. The overexpression of SmEIL1 was able to inhibit the tanshinones accumulation to a large degree, as well as down-regulate tanshinones biosynthetic genes including SmGGPPS1, SmHMGR1, SmHMGS1, SmCPS1, SmKSL1 and SmCYP76AH1. These are well recognized participants in the tanshinones biosynthesis pathway. Further investigation on the SmEIL1 was observed to inhibit the transcription of the CPS1 gene by the Dual-Luciferase (Dual-LUC) and yeast one-hybrid (Y1H) assays. The data in this work will be of value regarding the involvement of EILs in regulating the biosynthesis of tanshinones and lay the foundation for the metabolic engineering of bioactive ingredients in S. miltiorrhiza.

Targeting branched N-glycans and fucosylation sensitizes ovarian tumors to immune checkpoint blockade

Aberrant glycosylation is a crucial strategy employed by cancer cells to evade cellular immunity. However, it's unclear whether homologous recombination (HR) status-dependent glycosylation can be therapeutically explored. Here, we show that the inhibition of branched N-glycans sensitizes HR-proficient, but not HR-deficient, epithelial ovarian cancers (EOCs) to immune checkpoint blockade (ICB). In contrast to fucosylation whose inhibition sensitizes EOCs to anti-PD-L1 immunotherapy regardless of HR-status, we observe an enrichment of branched N-glycans on HR-proficient compared to HR-deficient EOCs. Mechanistically, BRCA1/2 transcriptionally promotes the expression of MGAT5, the enzyme responsible for catalyzing branched N-glycans. The branched N-glycans on HR-proficient tumors augment their resistance to anti-PD-L1 by enhancing its binding with PD-1 on CD8+ T cells. In orthotopic, syngeneic EOC models in female mice, inhibiting branched N-glycans using 2-Deoxy-D-glucose sensitizes HR-proficient, but not HR-deficient EOCs, to anti-PD-L1. These findings indicate branched N-glycans as promising therapeutic targets whose inhibition sensitizes HR-proficient EOCs to ICB by overcoming immune evasion.

Traditional Chinese Exercises for Cardiovascular Diseases: A Bibliometric Analysis

Traditional Chinese exercises (TCEs) have great value in the prevention and effective treatment of cardiovascular diseases (CVD). Our purpose in this study was to summarize present research trends and future directions regarding the link between TCEs and CVD by bibliometrics analysis. We searched the Web of Science Core Collection (WoSCC) for all original articles and reviews on TCEs for CVD published in English before August 7, 2022 using CiteSpace 5.8.R3 and Microsoft Excel 2019 software, and we displayed the results in the form of network maps, line graphs, and tables. We initially obtained 725 articles. Our results showed that the United States was the most influential country in this line of research, with Harvard University the most prolific institution in the field, and, Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine was the most productive journal for these articles. The highest-frequency keywords in this research area were Tai Chi, exercise, blood pressure, quality of life, and older adult. Additionally, important research topics included heart rate variability, quality of life, meta-analysis, Baduanjin exercise, and breathing exercise. In addition, our results revealed that among all the TCEs, Tai Chi, Baduanjin, and Qigong emerged as the most extensively studied. However, it's important to note our exclusive focus on literature published in English may have led to our missing important results. Future investigators should broaden their search to include other databases and languages to present a still more comprehensive overview of this field.

Hydrochemical characteristics and genetic mechanism of porous sandstone geothermal water in northern Jinan, Shandong, China

Porous sandstone geothermal water is an important geothermal resource, which is a low-carbon and clean resource, but lacks systematic research on a regional scale. The northern part of Jinan City is rich in geothermal resources, specifically porous sandstone thermal reservoirs. However, there is still incomplete research on the mechanism of geothermal genesis and the hydrochemical characteristics of geothermal water in porous sandstone. This study aims to address this gap by collecting 21 groundwater samples from northern Jinan and comparing their conventional ion and isotope characteristics to investigate the hydrochemical characteristics during the formation of geothermal water and uncover the genesis mechanism of porous sandstone geothermal water. The results indicate that the geothermal water is classified as Na-Cl type and Na-SO4-Cl type. The hydrochemical characteristics of geothermal water are primarily influenced by water-rock interaction and groundwater mixing. The water source primarily comes from the atmospheric precipitation in the Taiyi mountains, with an altitude of 910.75-1542.2 m.s.a.l.. The estimated temperature of the thermal reservoir ranges from 51 to 78 °C, and the depth of geothermal water circulation is estimated to be between 1316 and 2216 m. Based on the characteristics of the geothermal field, including the "cap rock, water source, heat source, reservoir, and channel," a conceptual model of the porous sandstone geothermal water flow system is proposed. This model offers novel insights into the genesis mechanism of geothermal water under similar geological conditions.