Backbone cyclization of Salmonella typhimurium diaminopropionate ammonia-lyase to enhance the activity and stability

Diaminopropionate ammonia-lyase transforms D and L isomers of 2,3-diaminopropionate to pyruvate and ammonia. It catalyzes D- and l-serine less effectively. L-2,3-diaminopropionate is a precursor in the biosynthesis of oxalyl diaminopropionate as a neurotoxin in certain legume species. In this work, we cyclized the diaminopropionate ammonia-lyase from Salmonella typhimurium in vitro using the redox-responsive split intein, and identified that backbone cyclization afforded the enzyme with the improved activity, thermal stability and resistance to the exopeptidase proteolysis, different from effects of the incorporated sequence recognized by tobacco vein mottling virus protease at C-terminus. Using analyses of three fluorescent dyes including 8-anilino-1-naphthalenesulfonic acid, N-phenyl-1-naphthylamine, and thioflavin T, the same amounts of the cyclic protein displayed less fluorescence than those of the linear protein upon the heat treatment. The cyclic enzyme displayed the enhanced activity in Escherichia coli cells using the designed novel reporter. In this system, d-serine was added to the culture and transported into the cytoplasm. It was transformed by pre-overexpression of the diaminopropionate ammonia-lyase, and untransformed d-serine was oxidized by the coproduced human d-amino acid oxidase to generate hydrogen peroxide. This oxidant is monitored by the HyPer indicator. The current results presented that the cyclized enzyme could be applied as a better candidate to block the neurotoxin biosynthesis in certain plant species.

Optimized carbonization of coffee shell via response surface methodology: A circular economy approach for environmental remediation

The disposal of coffee shell waste on farmland, is a common practice that can causing the environmental and waste valuable resources. Carbonization has been identified as an effective method for transforming coffee shells into useful products that mitigate environmental pollution. Through the response surface methodology, the carbonization conditions of the coffee shells were optimized and its potential as a biochar-based slow-release urea fertilizer was explored. Experiments were conducted on coffee shell performance under varying carbonization conditions such as temperature (600-1000 °C), time (1-5 h), and heating rate (5-20 °C/min). The results indicated that the ideal urea adsorption was 56.3 mg/g, achieved under carbonization conditions of 2.83 h, 809 °C, and 15.3 °C/min. The optimal nutrient release rate within seven days was 45.4% under carbonization conditions of 3.19 h, 813 °C, and 15.0 °C/min. The infrared spectroscopy analysis indicates that carbonization conditions influenced the absorption peak intensity of coffee shell biochar, while the functional group types remain unchanged. The biochar exhibits diverse functional groups and abundant pores, making it a promising candidate for use as a biochar-based fertilizer material. Overall, the findings demonstrate an effective waste management approach that significantly reduces environmental pollutants while remediating pollution.

Selection and application of highly specific Salmonella typhimurium aptamers against matrix interference

In practical applications, the structure and performance of aptamers can be influenced by the presence of sample matrices, which interferes with the specific binding between the aptamer and its target. In this work, to obtain aptamer chains resistant to matrix interference, four typical food matrices were introduced as negative selection targets and selection environments in the process of selecting aptamers for Salmonella typhimurium using the systematic evolution of ligands by exponential enrichment (SELEX) technology. As a result, some highly specific candidate aptamers for Salmonella typhimurium (BB-34, BB-37, ROU-8, ROU-9, ROU-14, ROU-24, DAN-3, NAI-12, and NAI-21) were successfully obtained. Based on the characterization results of secondary structure, affinity, and specificity of these candidate aptamers, ROU-24 selected in the pork matrix and BB-34 selected in the binding buffer were chosen to develop label-free fluorescence aptasensors for the sensitive and rapid detection of the Salmonella typhimurium and verify the performance against matrix interference. The ROU-24-based aptasensor demonstrated a larger linear range and better specificity compared to the BB-34-based aptasensor. Meanwhile, the recovery rate of the ROU-24-based aptasensor in real sample detection (ranging from 94.2% to 110.7%) was significantly higher than that of the BB-34-based aptasensor. These results illustrated that the negative selection of food matrices induced in SELEX could enhance specific binding between the aptamer and its target and the performance against matrix interference. Overall, the label-free fluorescence aptasensors were developed and successfully validated in different foodstuffs, demonstrating a theoretical and practical basis for the study of aptamers against matrix interference.

Magnetic resonance guided adaptive post prostatectomy radiotherapy: Accumulated dose comparison of different workflows

PURPOSE

The aim of this study was to assess the use of magnetic resonance guided adaptive radiotherapy (MRgART) in the post-prostatectomy setting; comparing dose accumulation for our initial seven patients treated with fully adaptive workflow on the Unity MR-Linac (MRL) and with non-adaptive plans generated offline. Additionally, we analyzed toxicity in patients receiving treatment.

METHODS

Seven patients were treated with MRgART. The prescription was 70-72 Gy in 35-36 fractions. Patients were treated with an adapt to shape (ATS) technique. For each clinically delivered plan, a non-adaptive plan based upon the reference plan was generated and compared to the associated clinically delivered plan. A total of 468 plans were analyzed. Concordance Index of target and Organs at Risk (OARs) for each fraction with reference contours was analyzed. Acute toxicity was then assessed at six-months following completion of treatment with Common Terminology for Adverse Events (CTCAE) Toxicity Criteria.

RESULTS

A total of 246 fractions were clinically delivered to seven patients; 234 fractions were delivered via MRgART and 12 fractions delivered via a traditional linear accelerator due to machine issues. Pre-treatment reference plans met CTV and OAR criteria. PTV coverage satisfaction was higher in the clinically delivered adaptive plans than non-adaptive comparison plans; 42.93% versus 7.27% respectively. Six-month CTCAE genitourinary and gastrointestinal toxicity was absent in most patients, and mild-to-moderate in a minority of patients (Grade 1 GU toxicity in one patient and Grade 2 GI toxicity in one patient).

CONCLUSIONS

Daily MRgART treatment consistently met planning criteria. Target volume variability in prostate bed treatment can be mitigated by using MRgART and deliver satisfactory coverage of CTV whilst minimizing dose to adjacent OARs and reducing toxicity.

Intestinal adipocytes transdifferentiate into myofibroblast-like cells and contribute to fibrosis in Crohn's disease

BACKGROUND AND AIMS

Intestinal fibrotic stenosis is a major reason for surgery in Crohn's disease [CD], but the mechanism is unknown. Thus, we asked whether intestinal adipocytes contribute to intestinal fibrosis. Adipocytes were found to transdifferentiate into myofibroblasts and confirmed to be involved in mesenteric fibrosis in our recent study. Here, we investigated the role and possible mechanisms of intestinal adipocytes in intestinal fibrosis in CD.

METHODS

The intestinal tissue of patients with CD with or without fibrotic stenosis [CDS or CDN] and normal intestinal tissue from individuals without CD were obtained to assess alterations in submucosal adipocytes in CDS and whether these cells transdifferentiated into myofibroblasts and participated in the fibrotic process. Human primary adipocytes and adipose organoids were used to evaluate whether adipocytes could be induced to transdifferentiate into myofibroblasts and to investigate the fibrotic behaviour of adipocytes. LPS/TLR4/TGF-β signalling was also studied to explore the underlying mechanism.

RESULTS

Submucosal adipocytes were reduced in number or even absent in CDS tissue, and the extent of the reduction correlated negatively with the degree of submucosal fibrosis. Interestingly, submucosal adipocytes in CDS tissue transdifferentiated into myofibroblast-like cells and expressed collagenous components, possibly due to stimulation by submucosally translocated bacteria. LPS-stimulated human primary adipocytes and adipose organoids also exhibited transdifferentiation and profibrotic behaviour. Mechanistically, TLR4-mediated TGF-β signalling was associated with the transdifferentiation and profibrotic behaviour of intestinal adipocytes in CDS tissue.

CONCLUSIONS

Intestinal adipocytes transdifferentiate into myofibroblasts and participate in the intestinal fibrosis process in CD, possibly through LPS/TLR4/TGF-β signalling.

A gas-driven capillary based on the synergy of the catalytic and photothermal effect of PB@Au for Salmonella typhimurium detection

Rapid detection method for Salmonella typhimurium is vital to prevent the spread of food-borne diseases. In this work, a gas-driven capillary detection method was established to achieve sensitive and rapid detection of Salmonella typhimurium using the catalytic and photothermal synergy of Prussian blue-nanogold (PB@Au) nanomaterials. The immuno-PB@Au probe attached to the capillary by specific identification of target bacteria catalyzed the H2O2 under laser irradiation, driving the H2O2 liquid column to move (ΔL) by producing gas, and achieving the quantitative detection of Salmonella typhimurium. After detailed optimization of the critical performance parameters of the gas-driven capillary assay, the limit of detection (LOD) after laser irradiation and being catalyzed by PB@Au was calculated to be 37 CFU mL-1 through the determination of different concentrations of target bacteria. Furthermore, the detection performances of the gas-driven capillary method were evaluated in detail, and the recoveries ranging from 92.9 ± 4.7 % to 107.7 ± 4.1 % were achieved using the spiked actual samples with complex matrices, indicating that the established rapid assay can offer promising strategies for the monitoring and controlling of food-borne pathogenic bacteria.

Targeting adenosine A2A receptors for early intervention of retinopathy of prematurity

Retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) continues to pose a significant threat to the vision of numerous children worldwide, primarily owing to the increased survival rates of premature infants. The pathologies of ROP are mainly linked to impaired vascularization as a result of hyperoxia, leading to subsequent neovascularization. Existing treatments, including anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) therapies, have thus far been limited to addressing pathological angiogenesis at advanced ROP stages, inevitably leading to adverse side effects. Intervention to promote physiological angiogenesis during the initial stages could hold the potential to prevent ROP. Adenosine A2A receptors (A2AR) have been identified in various ocular cell types, exhibiting distinct densities and functionally intricate connections with oxygen metabolism. In this review, we discuss experimental evidence that strongly underscores the pivotal role of A2AR in ROP. In particular, A2AR blockade may represent an effective treatment strategy, mitigating retinal vascular loss by reversing hyperoxia-mediated cellular proliferation inhibition and curtailing hypoxia-mediated neovascularization in oxygen-induced retinopathy (OIR). These effects stem from the interplay of endothelium, neuronal and glial cells, and novel molecular pathways (notably promoting TGF-β signaling) at the hyperoxia phase. We propose that pharmacological targeting of A2AR signaling may confer an early intervention for ROP with distinct therapeutic benefits and mechanisms than the anti-VEGF therapy.

Burden of lung cancer attributed to particulate matter pollution in China: an epidemiological study from 1990 to 2019

OBJECTIVES

The aim of this study was to examine the disease burden of lung cancer attributable to particulate matter (PM2.5) pollution in China from 1990 to 2019.

STUDY DESIGN

Data from the Global Burden of Disease Study 2019 were used to estimate the disease burden of tracheal, bronchus and lung cancer attributed to PM2.5 over time in China.

METHODS

Joinpoint regression models were applied to disability-adjusted life years (DALYs) to assess the time trends and estimate the impact of PM2.5 on the overall disease burden of lung cancer. Furthermore, age-period-cohort models were conducted to assess the relationships between lung cancer DALYs attributed to PM2.5 exposure and age, calendar period and birth cohort trends in China from 1990 to 2019.

RESULTS

Lung cancer DALYs attributable to household air pollution from solid fuels decreased with an average annual percent change (AAPC) of 2.9 % per 100,000 population, while those attributable to ambient particular matter pollution (APE) increased (AAPC: -4.7 % per 100,000 population) over the past 30 years. The burden of lung cancer in terms of DALYs in males was higher than in females, and it demonstrated an age-dependent increase. The period and cohort effects also had significant impacts on the DALYs rates of lung cancer attributable to APE, indicating an overall increase in lung cancer DALYs for all age groups in each year.

CONCLUSIONS

This study highlights the need for effective strategies to reduce PM2.5 exposure in China, particularly from outdoor sources. Gender differences and age, period and cohort effects observed in the study provide valuable insights into long-term trends of lung cancer burden attributed to PM2.5.

Development of a SNP-based strain-identified method for Streptococcus thermophilus CICC 6038 and Lactobacillus delbrueckii ssp. bulgaricus CICC 6047 using pan-genomics analysis

The health benefits conferred by probiotics is specific to individual probiotic strains, highlighting the importance of identifying specific strains for research and production purposes. Streptococcus thermophilus CICC 6038 and Lactobacillus delbrueckii ssp. bulgaricus CICC 6047 are exceedingly valuable for commercial use with an excellent mixed-culture fermentation. To differentiate these 2 strains from other S. thermophilus and L. delbrueckii ssp. bulgaricus, a specific, sensitive, accurate, rapid, convenient, and cost-effective method is required. In this study, we conducted a pan-genome analysis of S. thermophilus and L. delbrueckii ssp. bulgaricus to identify species-specific core genes, along with strain-specific single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs). These genes were used to develop suitable PCR primers, and the conformity of sequence length and unique SNPs was confirmed by sequencing for qualitative identification at the strain level. The results demonstrated that SNPs analysis of PCR products derived from these primers could distinguish CICC 6038 and CICC 6047 accurately and reproducibly from the other strains of S. thermophilus and L. delbrueckii ssp. bulgaricus, respectively. The strain-specific PCR method based on SNPs herein is universally applicable for probiotics identification. It offers valuable insights into identifying probiotics at the strain level that is fit-for-purpose in quality control and compliance assessment of commercial dairy products.

Identification and quantification of viable Lacticaseibacillus rhamnosus in probiotics using validated PMA-qPCR method

The identification and quantification of viable bacteria at the species/strain level in compound probiotic products is challenging now. Molecular biology methods, e.g., propidium monoazide (PMA) combination with qPCR, have gained prominence for targeted viable cell counts. This study endeavors to establish a robust PMA-qPCR method for viable Lacticaseibacillus rhamnosus detection and systematically validated key metrics encompassing relative trueness, accuracy, limit of quantification, linear, and range. The inclusivity and exclusivity notably underscored high specificity of the primers for L. rhamnosus, which allowed accurate identification of the target bacteria. Furthermore, the conditions employed for PMA treatment were fully verified by 24 different L. rhamnosus including type strain, commercial strains, etc., confirming its effective discrimination between live and dead bacteria. A standard curve constructed by type strain could apply to commercial strains to convert qPCR Cq values to viable cell numbers. The established PMA-qPCR method was applied to 46 samples including pure cultures, probiotics as food ingredients, and compound probiotic products. Noteworthy is the congruity observed between measured and theoretical values within a 95% confidence interval of the upper and lower limits of agreement, demonstrating the relative trueness of this method. Moreover, accurate results were obtained when viable L. rhamnosus ranging from 103 to 108 CFU/mL. The comprehensive appraisal of PMA-qPCR performances provides potential industrial applications of this new technology in quality control and supervision of probiotic products.

Fermentation characteristics and postacidification of yogurt by Streptococcus thermophilus CICC 6038 and Lactobacillus delbrueckii ssp. bulgaricus CICC 6047 at optimal inoculum ratio

This study aimed to investigate the symbiosis between Streptococcus thermophilus CICC 6038 and Lactobacillus delbrueckii ssp. bulgaricus CICC 6047. In addition, the effect of their different inoculum ratios was determined, and comparison experiments of fermentation characteristics and storage stability of milk fermented by their monocultures and cocultures at optimal inoculum ratio were performed. We found the time to obtain pH 4.6 and ΔpH during storage varied among 6 inoculum ratios (1:1, 2:1, 10:1, 19:1, 50:1, 100:1). By the statistical model to evaluate the optimal ratio, the ratio of 19:1 was selected, which exhibited high acidification rate and low postacidification with pH values remaining between 4.2 and 4.4 after a 50-d storage. Among the 3 groups included in our analyses (i.e., the monocultures of S. thermophilus CICC 6038 [St] and Lb. bulgaricus CICC 6047 [Lb] and their cocultures [St+Lb] at 19:1), the coculture group showed higher acidification activity, improved rheological properties, richer typical volatile compounds, more desirable sensor quality after the fermentation process than the other 2 groups. However, the continuous accumulation of acetic acid during storage showed that acetic acid was more highly correlated with postacidification than d-lactic acid for the Lb group and St+Lb group. Our study emphasized the importance of selecting an appropriate bacterial consortium at the optimal inoculum ratio to achieve favorable fermentation performance and enhanced postacidification stability during storage.

Catalytic hydrothermal liquefaction of alkali lignin for monophenols production over homologous biochar-supported copper catalysts in water

Constructing an advanced catalytic system for the purposeful liquefaction of lignin into chemicals has presented a significant prospect for sustainable development. In this work, the catalytic process of mesoporous homologous biochar (HBC) derived from alkali lignin supported copper catalysts (Cu/HBC) was reported for catalytic liquefaction of alkali lignin to monophenols. The characterization results revealed HBC promoted the formation of metal-support strong interaction and the generation of oxygen vacancies, enhancing the acid sites of Cu/HBC. Under the optimal conditions (0.2 g alkali lignin, 280 °C, 0.05 g Cu/HBC, 6 h, 18 mL water), the monophenol yield reached 75.01 ± 0.76 mg/g, and the bio-oil yield was 57.98 ± 1.76%. The copious mesopores, high surface area, and rich acidic sites were responsible for the high activity of Cu/HBC, which significantly outperformed the controlled catalysts, such as HBC, commercial activated carbon (AC), and reported Ni/AC, Ni/MCM-41, etc. In four consecutive runs, the catalytic performance of Cu/HBC was only reduced by 3.65% per cycle. Interestingly, catechol was selectively produced with Cu/HBC, which provided an effective strategy for the conversion of G/S-type lignin to catechyl phenolics (C-type). These findings indicate that the Cu/HBC will be a promising substitution of noble metal-supported catalysts for conversion biomass into high value-added phenolics.

Backbone Cyclization of Flavin Mononucleotide-Based Fluorescent Protein Increases Fluorescence and Stability

Flavin mononucleotide-binding proteins or domains emit cyan-green fluorescence under aerobic and anaerobic conditions, but relatively low fluorescence and less thermostability limit their application as reporters. In this work, we incorporated the codon-optimized fluorescent protein from Chlamydomonas reinhardtii with two different linkers independently into the redox-responsive split intein construct, overexpressed the precursors in hyperoxic Escherichia coli SHuffle T7 strain, and cyclized the target proteins in vitro in the presence of the reducing agent. Compared with the purified linear protein, the cyclic protein with the short linker displayed enhanced fluorescence. In contrast, cyclized protein with incorporation of the long linker including the myc-tag and human rhinovirus 3C protease cleavable sequence emitted slightly increased fluorescence compared with the protein linearized with the protease cleavage. The cyclic protein with the short linker also exhibited increased thermal stability and exopeptidase resistance. Moreover, induction of the target proteins in an oxygen-deficient culture rendered fluorescent E. coli BL21 (DE3) cells brighter than those overexpressing the linear construct. Thus, the cyclic reporter can hopefully be used in certain thermophilic anaerobes.

Use of the selected metal-dependent enzymes for exploring applicability of human annexin A1 as a purification tag

Several fusion tags have been developed for non-chromatographic fusion protein purification. Previously, we identified that human annexin A1 as a novel N-terminal purification tag was used for purifying the fusion proteins produced in Escherichia coli through precipitation in 10 mM Ca2+ buffer, and redissolution of the precipitate in 15 mM EDTA buffer. In this work, we selected four metal-dependent enzymes including E. coli 5-aminolevulinate dehydratase, yeast 3-hydroxyanthranilate 3,4-dioxygenase, maize serine racemase and copper amine oxidase for investigating the annexin A1 tag applicability. Fusion of the His6-tag or the enzyme changed the behavior of precipitation-redissolution. The relatively high recovery yields of three tagged enzymes with the improved purities were obtained through two rounds of purification, whereas low recovery yield of the annexin A1 tagged maize amine oxidase was prepared. The added EDTA displayed different abilities to redissolve the fusion proteins precipitates in two precipitation-redissolution cycles. It inactivated three enzymes and obviously inhibited the activity of the fused maize serine racemase. Based on current findings, we believe that four enzymes could be applied for evaluating applicability of the proteins or peptides as affinity tags for chromatographic purification in a calcium dependent manner.

Radiogenomic analysis of cellular tumor-stroma heterogeneity as a prognostic predictor in breast cancer

BACKGROUND

The tumor microenvironment and intercellular communication between solid tumors and the surrounding stroma play crucial roles in cancer initiation, progression, and prognosis. Radiomics provides clinically relevant information from radiological images; however, its biological implications in uncovering tumor pathophysiology driven by cellular heterogeneity between the tumor and stroma are largely unknown. We aimed to identify radiogenomic signatures of cellular tumor-stroma heterogeneity (TSH) to improve breast cancer management and prognosis analysis.

METHODS

This retrospective multicohort study included five datasets. Cell subpopulations were estimated using bulk gene expression data, and the relative difference in cell subpopulations between the tumor and stroma was used as a biomarker to categorize patients into good- and poor-survival groups. A radiogenomic signature-based model utilizing dynamic contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging (DCE-MRI) was developed to target TSH, and its clinical significance in relation to survival outcomes was independently validated.

RESULTS

The final cohorts of 1330 women were included for cellular TSH biomarker identification (n = 112, mean age, 57.3 years ± 14.6) and validation (n = 886, mean age, 58.9 years ± 13.1), radiogenomic signature of TSH identification (n = 91, mean age, 55.5 years ± 11.4), and prognostic (n = 241) assessments. The cytotoxic lymphocyte biomarker differentiated patients into good- and poor-survival groups (p < 0.0001) and was independently validated (p = 0.014). The good survival group exhibited denser cell interconnections. The radiogenomic signature of TSH was identified and showed a positive association with overall survival (p = 0.038) and recurrence-free survival (p = 3 × 10-4).

CONCLUSION

Radiogenomic signatures provide insights into prognostic factors that reflect the imbalanced tumor-stroma environment, thereby presenting breast cancer-specific biological implications and prognostic significance.

[Pay attention to the infectious complications in the clinical application of biological agents]

Biological agents have been widely used in the treatment of many clinical diseases by targeting specific immune cells or cytokines. In the course of clinical use, biological agents can lead to secondary immune deficiency, which increases the risk of infection. At present, there are no evidence-based guidelines or management opinions on the differences of infections caused by various biological agents, how to identify infectious complications in the course of treatment with different biological agents at an early stage, and how to take effective and targeted prevention. This paper summarizes the infection complications and their characteristics that need to be paid attention to in the clinical introduction of biological agents, aiming to help clinicians make reasonable decisions for infection complications in the process of using biological agents, reduce the incidence of infection, and improve the success rate of diagnosis and treatment.

Browning of Mesenteric White Adipose Tissue in Crohn's Disease: A New Pathological Change and Therapeutic Target

BACKROUND

Hypertrophic mesenteric adipose tissue [htMAT] is a distinctive hallmark of Crohn's disease [CD], and it affects enteritis via inflammatory adipokine secretion by dysfunctional white adipocytes. White adipocytes can become beige adipocytes, which are characterized by active lipid consumption and favourable endocrine function, via white adipocyte browning. Our study aimed to determine whether white adipocyte browning occurs in htMAT and its role in CD.

METHODS

White adipocyte browning was examined in MAT samples from CD patients and controls. Human MAT explants and primary mesenteric adipocytes were cultured for in vitro experiments. Mice with 2,4,6-trinitrobenzenesulphonic acid solution [TNBS]-induced colitis were used for in vivo studies. A β3-adrenergic receptor agonist [CL316,243] was used to induce white adipocyte browning, and IL-4/STAT6 signalling was analysed to explore the mechanism underlying the anti-inflammatory activity of beige adipocytes.

RESULTS

White adipocyte browning was observed in htMAT from CD patients, as shown by the appearance of uncoupling protein 1 [UCP1]-positive multilocular [beige] adipocytes with lipid-depleting activity and anti-inflammatory endocrine profiles. Both human MAT and primary mesenteric adipocytes from CD patients and controls could be induced to undergo browning, which increased their lipid-depleting and anti-inflammatory activities in vitro. Inducing MAT browning ameliorated mesenteric hypertrophy and inflammation as well as colitis in TNBS-treated mice in vivo. The anti-inflammatory activity of beige adipocytes was at least partially related to STAT6 signalling activation via the autocrine and paracrine effects of IL-4.

CONCLUSION

White adipocyte browning is a newly identified pathological change in htMAT of CD patients and a possible therapeutic target.

[Doublecortin-like kinase 1 activates Hippo pathway to promote migration, invasion and proliferation of pancreatic cancer cells]

Objective: To explore the mechanism of Doublecortin-like kinase 1 (DCLK1) in promoting cell migration, invasion and proliferation in pancreatic cancer. Methods: The correlation between DCLK1 and Hippo pathway was analyzed using TCGA and GTEx databases and confirmed by fluorescence staining of pancreatic cancer tissue microarrays. At the cellular level, immunofluorescence staining of cell crawls and western blot assays were performed to clarify whether DCLK1 regulates yes associated protein1 (YAP1), a downstream effector of the Hippo pathway. Reverse transcription-quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) was used to analyze the expressions of YAP1 binding transcription factor TEA-DNA binding proteins (TEAD) and downstream malignant behavior-promoting molecules CYR61, EDN1, AREG, and CTGF. Transwell test of the DCLK1-overexpressing cells treated with the Hippo pathway inhibitor Verteporfin was used to examine whether the malignant behavior-promoting ability was blocked. Analysis of changes in the proliferation index of experimental cells used real-time label-free cells. Results: TCGA combined with GTEx data analysis showed that the expressions of DCLK1 and YAP1 molecules in pancreatic cancer tissues were significantly higher than those in adjacent tissues (P<0.05). Moreover, DCLK1was positively correlated with the expressions of many effectors in the Hippo pathway, including LATS1 (r=0.53, P<0.001), LATS2 (r=0.34, P<0.001), MOB1B (r=0.40, P<0.001). In addition, the tissue microarray of pancreatic cancer patients was stained with multicolor fluorescence, indicated that the high expression of DCLK1 in pancreatic cancer patients was accompanied by the up-regulated expression of YAP1. The expression of DCLK1 in pancreatic cancer cell lines was analyzed by the CCLE database. The results showed that the expression of DCLK1 in AsPC-1 and PANC-1 cells was low. Thus, we overexpressed DCLK1 in AsPC-1 and PANC-1 cell lines and found that DCLK1 overexpression in pancreatic cancer cell lines promoted YAP1 expression and accessible to the nucleus. In addition, DCLK1 up-regulated the expression of YAP1 binding transcription factor TEAD and increased the mRNA expression levels of downstream malignant behavior-promoting molecules. Finally, Verteporfin, an inhibitor of the Hippo pathway, could antagonize the cell's malignant behavior-promoting ability mediated by high expression of DCLK1. We found that the number of migrated cells with DCLK1 overexpressing AsPC-1 group was 68.33±7.09, which was significantly higher than 22.00±4.58 of DCLK1 overexpressing cells treated with Verteporfin (P<0.05). Similarly, the migration number of PANC-1 cells overexpressing DCLK1 was 65.66±8.73, which was significantly higher than 37.00±6.00 of the control group and 32.33±9.61 of Hippo pathway inhibitor-treated group (P<0.05). Meanwhile, the number of invasive cells in the DCLK1-overexpressed group was significantly higher than that in the DCLK1 wild-type group cells, while the Verteporfin-treated DCLK1-overexpressed cells showed a significant decrease. In addition, we monitored the cell proliferation index using the real-time cellular analysis (RTCA) assay, and the proliferation index of DCLK1-overexpressed AsPC-1 cells was 0.66±0.04, which was significantly higher than 0.38±0.01 of DCLK1 wild-type AsPC-1 cells (P<0.05) as well as 0.05±0.03 of DCLK1-overexpressed AsPC1 cells treated with Verteporfin (P<0.05). PANC-1 cells showed the same pattern, with a proliferation index of 0.77±0.04 for DCLK1-overexpressed PANC-1 cells, significantly higher than DCLK1-overexpressed PANC1 cells after Verteporfin treatment (0.14±0.05, P<0.05). Conclusion: The expression of DCLK1 is remarkably associated with the Hippo pathway, it promotes the migration, invasion, and proliferation of pancreatic cancer cells by activating the Hippo pathway.

Optimal operation mode selection of sponge city PPP projects using IFSS-prospect theory and VIKOR approach: a case study in China

The construction of sponge city (SC) public private partnership (PPP) projects is considered to be a feasible measure to solve the "water problems" in China. To ensure the success of SC PPP projects, how to select an appropriate operation mode for SC PPP projects is an urgent problem to be solved. In this paper, first, the evaluation index system of operation mode is established from the aspects of project characteristics, government capabilities, project benefits, project implementation, and cooperative partnership. Second, the DEMATEL method and entropy method are introduced to overcome the drawbacks of a single method, and the combination weights are calculated by game theory. Finally, the decision-making model based on intuitionistic fuzzy soft set (IFSS)-prospect theory and VIKOR approach is constructed to select operation mode for SC PPP projects. In this paper, the framework is applied to select an operation mode for the Qingshan demonstration zone project, and its feasibility and effectiveness are verified through sensitivity analysis and comparative analysis. The results show that BOT is the optimal operation mode for SC PPP projects, and government capabilities and project implementation are critical factors to be considered when selecting an operation mode. This study can provide guidance to the government in the OMS of SC PPP projects and improve the sustainability of the projects.

Bryostatin-1 attenuates intestinal ischemia/reperfusion-induced intestinal barrier dysfunction, inflammation, and oxidative stress via activation of Nrf2/HO-1 signaling

Bryostatin-1 (Bryo-1) exerts antioxidative stress effects in multiple diseases, and we confirmed that it improves intestinal barrier dysfunction in experimental colitis. Nevertheless, there are few reports on its action on intestinal ischemia/reperfusion (I/R). In this study, we mainly explored the effect of Bryo-1 on intestinal I/R injury and determined the mechanism. C57BL/6J mice underwent temporary superior mesenteric artery (SMA) obturation to induce I/R, on the contrary, Caco-2 cells suffered to oxygen and glucose deprivation/reperfusion (OGD/R) to establish the in vitro model. RAW264.7 cells were stimulated with LPS to induce macrophage inflammation. The drug gradient experiment was used to demonstrate in vivo and in vitro models. Bryo-1 ameliorated the intestinal I/R-induced injury of multiple organs and epithelial cells. It also alleviated intestinal I/R-induced barrier disruption of intestines according to the histology, intestinal permeability, intestinal bacterial translocation rates, and tight junction protein expression results. Bryo-1 significantly inhibited oxidative stress damages and inflammation, which may contribute to the restoration of intestinal barrier function. Further, Bryo-1 significantly activated Nrf2/HO-1 signaling in vivo. However, the deletion of Nrf2 in Caco-2 and RAW264.7 cells attenuated the protective functions of Bryo-1 and significantly abolished the anti-inflammatory effect of Bryo-1 on LPS-induced macrophage inflammation. Bryo-1 protects intestines against I/R-induced injury. It is associated with intestinal barrier protection, as well as inhibition of inflammation and oxidative stress partly through Nrf2/HO-1 signaling.

Construction of a fecal immune-related protein-based biomarker panel for colorectal cancer diagnosis: a multicenter study

Purpose

To explore fecal immune-related proteins that can be used for colorectal cancer (CRC) diagnosis.

Patients and methods

Three independent cohorts were used in present study. In the discovery cohort, which included 14 CRC patients and 6 healthy controls (HCs), label-free proteomics was applied to identify immune-related proteins in stool that could be used for CRC diagnosis. Exploring potential links between gut microbes and immune-related proteins by 16S rRNA sequencing. The abundance of fecal immune-associated proteins was verified by ELISA in two independent validation cohorts and a biomarker panel was constructed that could be used for CRC diagnosis. The validation cohort I included 192 CRC patients and 151 HCs from 6 different hospitals. The validation cohort II included 141 CRC patients, 82 colorectal adenoma (CRA) patients, and 87 HCs from another hospital. Finally, the expression of biomarkers in cancer tissues was verified by immunohistochemistry (IHC).

Results

In the discovery study, 436 plausible fecal proteins were identified. And among 67 differential fecal proteins (|log2 fold change| > 1, P< 0.01) that could be used for CRC diagnosis, 16 immune-related proteins with diagnostic value were identified. The 16S rRNA sequencing results showed a positive correlation between immune-related proteins and the abundance of oncogenic bacteria. In the validation cohort I, a biomarker panel consisting of five fecal immune-related proteins (CAT, LTF, MMP9, RBP4, and SERPINA3) was constructed based on the least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO) and multivariate logistic regression. The biomarker panel was found to be superior to hemoglobin in the diagnosis of CRC in both validation cohort I and validation cohort II. The IHC result showed that protein expression levels of these five immune-related proteins were significantly higher in CRC tissue than in normal colorectal tissue.

Conclusion

A novel biomarker panel consisting of fecal immune-related proteins can be used for the diagnosis of CRC.

Low-temperature highly selective water delignification based on geopolymer materials

Delignification pretreatment is the main source of high cost and high pollution in biomass processing. This paper reports on a simple cheap geopolymers-based highly selective and efficient pretreatment process for delignification under low-temperature water-cooking without discharging black liquor. The geopolymer with a SiO₂/Al₂O₃ ratio of 4.4 showed the largest number of acidic sites and highest catalytic activity. Under mild reaction conditions (m_Geopolymer/m_Fiber =1/4, 90 min and 90 °C), the delignification rates of woody (eucalyptus) and herbaceous (bagasse) biomass increased by up to 38.90% and 62.20%, respectively. Moreover, the low-alkali black liquor produced by the new water delignification process facilitates subsequent water treatment, eliminating the need for alkali recovery. This study confirms the immense application prospects of geopolymers for the highly selective delignification of most biomass fibre. This study will develop a low-temperature water-cooking process for the delignification of papermaking or biomass processing without wastewater discharge.

Use of the redox-dependent intein system for enhancing production of the cyclic green fluorescent protein

To expand the reported redox-dependent intein system application, in this work, we used the split intein variant with highly trans-splicing efficiency and minimal extein dependence to cyclize the green fluorescent protein variant reporter in vitro. The CPG residues were introduced adjacent to the intein's catalytic cysteine for reversible formation of a disulfide bond to retard the trans-splicing reaction under the oxidative environment. The cyclized reporter protein in Escherichia coli cells was easily prepared by organic extraction and identified by the exopeptidase digestion. The amounts of extracted cyclized protein reporter in BL21 (DE3) cells were higher than those in hyperoxic SHuffle T7 coexpression system for facilitating the disulfide bond formation. The double His6-tagged precursor was purified for in vitro cyclization of the protein for 3 h. Compared with the purified linear counterpart, the cyclic reporter showed about twofold increase in fluorescence intensity, exhibited thermal and hydrolytic stability, and displayed better folding efficiency in BL21 (DE3) cells at the elevated temperature. Taken together, the developed redox-dependent intein system will be used for producing other cyclic disulfide-free proteins. The cyclic reporter is a potential candidate applied in certain thermophilic aerobes.

3D porous N-doped lignosulfonate/graphene oxide aerogel for efficient solar steam generation and desalination

Solar-driven interfacial evaporation has been considered one of the most promising approaches to tackle the issue of water scarcity. The salt resistance and water transport capacity of solar evaporation materials are essential to evaluate desalination performance. Herein, a 3D-porous N-doped lignosulfonate/graphene oxide (GO) aerogel (NLGA) was facilely prepared by a one-step hydrothermal method. By introducing ethylenediamine (EDA) as a nitrogen source, the wettability and water transport capacity of the aerogel were enhanced; by introducing lignosulfonate (LS), its porous structure was regulated, and its light absorption capability was significantly improved. The obtained aerogel exhibited an outstanding evaporation rate (1.57 kg m^-2 h^-1) and efficiency (95.2 %) under 1 sun illumination, which is significantly better than some reported foam-based solar evaporators. In addition, NLGA maintained a stable evaporation rate over long-term cyclic evaporation without visible salt accumulation on the surface. The good salt rejection performance is due to the rich-pore structure and superhydrophilicity of NGLA, which provides sufficient water supply to dissolve the salts during water evaporation. NLGA has enormous potential as a solar evaporator based on its excellent performance in solar vapor generation.

In situ doping lignin-derived carbon quantum dots on magnetic hydrotalcite for enhanced degradation of Congo Red over a wide pH range and simultaneous removal of heavy metal ions

A new N, S-CQDs@Fe₃O₄@HTC composite was prepared by loading N, S carbon quantum dots (N, S-CQDs) derived from lignin on magnetic hydrotalcite (HTC) via an in-situ growth method. The characterization results showed that the catalyst had a mesoporous structure. These pores facilitate the diffusion and mass transfer of pollutant molecules inside the catalyst, allowing them to approach the active site smoothly. The catalyst performed well in the UV degradation of Congo red (CR) over a wide pH range (3-11), with efficiencies over 95.43 % in all cases. Even at a high NaCl content (100 g/L), the catalyst showed extraordinary CR degradation (99.30 %). ESR analysis and free radical quenching experiments demonstrated that OH and O₂^- were the main active species governing CR degradation. Besides, the composite had outstanding removal efficiency for Cu²⁺ (99.90 %) and Cd²⁺ (85.08 %) simultaneously due to the electrostatic attraction between the HTC and metal ions. Moreover, the N, S-CQDs@Fe₃O₄@HTC had excellent stability and recyclability during five cycles, making it free of secondary contamination. This work provides a new environment-friendly catalyst for the simultaneous removal of multiple pollutants and a waste-to-waste strategy for the value-added utilization of lignin.

Influence of cytokines on early death and coagulopathy in newly diagnosed patients with acute promyelocytic leukemia

Introduction

Acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL) is a subtype of acute myeloid leukemia (AML) with a better prognosis. But early death (ED) rate remains high. APL patients are simultaneously accompanied by coagulopathy and hyperinflammation at the onset. It is not known what effects cytokines have on ED and coagulopathy in these patients. Therefore, the purposes of this study are to explore the clinical differences between APL and other types of AML, the link between cytokines and coagulopathy in newly diagnosed APL, and their roles in the ED for APL.

Methods

This study retrospectively collected the information of 496 adult patients with AML (age ≥14 years at admission) newly diagnosed in the First People's Hospital of Yunnan Province between January 2017 to February 2022, including 115 APL patients. The difference of clinical manifestations between two groups [APL and AML (non-APL)] was statistically analyzed. Then, the factors affecting ED in APL patients were screened, and the possible pathways of their influence on ED were further analyzed.

Results

The results indicate APL at the onset have a younger age and higher incidence of ED and DIC than other types of AML. Intracranial hemorrhage (ICH), age, and PLT count are found to be independent factors for ED in newly APL, among which ICH is the main cause of ED, accounting for 61.54% (8/13). The levels of cytokines in newly APL are generally higher than that in AML (non-APL), and those in the group of ED for APL were widely more than the control group. IL-17A and TNF-β are directly related to the ED in newly APL, especially IL-17A, which also affects ICH in these patients. Moreover, the increase of IL-17A and TNF-β cause the prolongation of PT in APL patients, which reflected the exogenous coagulation pathway. However, they have no effect on APTT prolongation and FIB reduction. Thus, it is speculated that IL-17A leads to early cerebral hemorrhage death in newly APL by inducing tissue factor (TF) overexpression to initiate exogenous coagulation and further leading to excessive depletion of clotting factors and prolongation of PT.

Conclusions

In conclusion, compared with other types of AML, APL patients have a younger age of onset and high inflammatory state, and are more likely to develop into DIC and die early. Age, and PLT count at diagnosis are independent factors for ED of APL, especially ICH. IL-17A is confirmed to be an independent risk factor for ED and ICH of newly APL. Hence, IL-17A may serve as a predictor of ED in newly diagnosed APL patients, and controlling its expression probably reduce ED in these patients.

In situ preparation of highly graphitized N-doped biochar geopolymer composites for efficient catalytic degradation of tetracycline in water by H2O2

Advanced oxidation processes (AOPs) hold great prospects for the treatment of antibiotic wastewater. N-doped biochar (NB) has received increasing attention as a catalyst for AOPs because of its green nature, abundant biomass resources, and low cost. However, NB catalysts are complicated to prepare and difficult to recover, limiting their practical application. In this study, an N-doped biochar geopolymer composite (NBGC) was synthesized via in situ doping, simultaneous carbonization, and activation (ISCA) of lignin and urea in the porous geopolymer flake, without additional activators. The ISCA process used a low-cost geopolymer flake that not only served as a carrier to immobilize NB and facilitate the recovery, but also applied its inherent strong alkalinity to activate NB. The composite catalyst obtained at 600 °C (NBGC-600) exhibited excellent activity in activating H₂O₂ to degrade tetracycline (∼100%, 50 mg/L). The EPR results indicated that NBGC-600 had a strong ability to activate and decompose H₂O₂ to •OH, which could be attributed to its rich persistent radicals, graphitized N and CO groups, as well as the high degree of graphitization of biochar. The degradation pathway and intermediates of tetracycline in the NBGC-600-H₂O₂ system were also discussed according to the HPLC-MS results. Moreover, NBGC-600 had excellent reusability and showed great potential for continuous treatment of tetracycline in water. This work paves a new way for the synthesis of cost-effective N-doped biochar composite catalysts for AOPs.

Sotetsuflavone ameliorates Crohn's disease-like colitis by inhibiting M1 macrophage-induced intestinal barrier damage via JNK and MAPK signalling

OBJECTIVES

Intestinal inflammation and intestinal barrier dysfunction are two important pathological changes in Crohn's disease (CD). Sotetsuflavone (SF) is a natural monomeric herbal compound with anti-inflammatory and cytoprotective effects that is mostly nontoxic. The effect of SF on CD-like spontaneous colitis was investigated in this study.

METHODS

Il-10^-/- mice were used as a CD model and were administered different doses of SF. Lipopolysaccharide (LPS) plus IFN-γ-induced macrophages (RAW264.7) and a coculture system (RAW264.7 and organoids) were used in vitro. The protective effects of SF against CD-like colitis and macrophage differentiation and the mechanisms were evaluated.

RESULTS

SF treatment markedly improved spontaneous colitis in the CD model, as shown by the following evidence: reductions in the DAI, macroscopic scores (3.63 ± 1.30), colonic tissue inflammatory scores (2 ± 0.76) and proinflammatory factor levels and the attenuation of colon shortening (8 ± 0.93 cm) and weight loss (1.75 ± 1.83 g). Decreased intestinal permeability and intestinal bacterial translocation rates provided evidence of the protective effect of SF on intestinal barrier function. We also found that SF suppressed M1 macrophage-induced inflammatory responses. In the coculture system of mouse colonic organoids and RAW264.7 cells, SF significantly ameliorated M1 macrophage-induced intestinal epithelial damage. In addition, SF inhibited JNK and MAPK (p38) signalling in both Il-10^-/- mice and LPS plus IFN-γ-induced macrophages (RAW264.7).

CONCLUSIONS

The protective effects of SF against CD-like colitis may be achieved partially by inhibiting M1 macrophage-induced intestinal barrier damage via JNK and p38 signalling. SF may have therapeutic potential for treating CD, especially considering its safety.

Biomass-based materials for solar-powered seawater evaporation

Clean and safe water is crucial to maintaining human life on earth. Solar-powered seawater desalination (SSD) is a promising and feasible way to use solar energy resources to overcome water scarcity. Among all the candidate materials for solar seawater evaporators, biomass-based materials stand out thanks to their excellent inherent natural structure, ease of preparation, low cost, and abundant resources. In this article, we review biomass-based materials, from angiosperms, algae, and fungi to animal materials and other atypical biomass materials, proposed for solar-powered seawater evaporation in the shape of the nanofluid, membrane, gels, composite sponge structures, composites Janus structures and other composites. The approaches for improving biomass-based solar seawater evaporators (BSSE) performance are emphasized, including optical absorption regulation, system thermal management optimization, adequate water supply, salt resistance, and effective steam condensate recovery. In the end, the opportunities and challenges of biomass-based materials for SSD are illustrated.

[Efficacy and safety of daptomycin in the treatment of gram-positive infective endocarditis: a meta-analysis]

Objective: To assess the efficacy and safety of daptomycin in the treatment of gram-positive infective endocarditis (IE) systematically. Methods: China Biology Medicine Database (CBM), China National Knowledge Internet (CNKI), Wanfang Data, VIP Database, PubMed, Embase, the Cochrane Library, and Web of Science were searched from the time of establishing databases to April 2022 to obtain relevant controlled and uncontrolled studies of daptomycin for gram-positive infective endocarditis, using key search terms ("daptomycin","gram-positive bacterial infections","endocarditis"). We performed literature screening according to inclusion/exclusion criteria, data extraction, and quality assessment, and performed random-effects meta-analyses for pooled results data using R software. Results: A total of 11 studies (including 13 articles) were included. The findings in the three controlled studies showed that in the treatment of staphylococcus aureus endocarditis, there was no statistically significant differences in in-hospital death risk (RR=0.66, 95%CI: 0.24-1.84, P=0.427) and 6-month death risk (RR=1.27, 95%CI: 0.75-2.14, P=0.374) for daptomycin versus anti-staphylococcal penicillin or vancomycin; in the treatment of enterococcal endocarditis, there was no statistically significant difference in death risk (both P>0.05) for daptomycin versus ampicillin combined with ceftriaxone (RR=0.39, 95%CI: 0.06-2.49) and ampicillin or vancomycin plus or minus gentamicin (RR=0.42, 95%CI: 0.05-3.36); and for daptomycin versus ampicillin or vancomycin combined with an aminoglycoside antibiotic, the differences in in-hospital death risk (RR=0.80, 95%CI: 0.11-5.83) and 6-month death risk (RR=0.47, 95%CI: 0.07-3.21) were not statistically significant(both P>0.05). In a cost-effectiveness study, daptomycin as first-line treatment could save the medical cost of 4 037 pounds per patient compared with vancomycin over a longer period of patient treatment. The results of the meta-analysis of uncontrolled studies showed that the mean clinical success rate of daptomycin for left-side endocarditis was 77% (95%CI: 70% to 83%; I²=28%), for MSSA-infective right-side endocarditis was 87% (95%CI: 73%-95%), and for MRSA-infective right-side endocarditis was 78% (95%CI: 38%-95%; I²=49%); while the mortality rate [mean mortality rate for left-side endocarditis was 13% (95%CI: 11%-17%; I²=0); the mortality rate for right-side endocarditis was reported in only 2 studies, 3% and 27%, respectively] or the rate of daptomycin-related adverse events (4%) was within the acceptable ranges for clinical practice. Conclusions: The death risk in the treatment of infective endocarditis with dattomycin is comparable to that of other antibiotics, and the clinical success rate is higher. Some efficacy may be achieved with daptomycin while other treatments are not effective in treating IE.

Detection of human annexin A1 as the novel N-terminal tag for separation and purification handle

BACKGROUND

Several fusion tags for separation handle have been developed, but the fused tag for simply and cheaply separating the target protein is still lacking.

RESULTS

Separation conditions for the human annexin A1 (hanA1) tagged emerald green fluorescent protein (EmGFP) in Escherichia coli were optimized via precipitation with calcium chloride (CaCl₂) and resolubilization with ethylenediamine tetraacetic acid disodium salt (EDTA-Na₂). The HanA1-EmGFP absorbing with other three affinity matrix was detected, only it was strongly bound to heparin Sepharose. The separation efficiency of the HanA1-EmGFP was comparable with purification efficiency of the His6-tagged HanA1-EmGFP via metal ion affinity chromatography. Three fluorescent proteins for the EmGFP, mCherry red fluorescent protein and flavin-binding cyan-green fluorescent protein LOV from Chlamydomonas reinhardtii were used for naked-eye detection of the separation and purification processes, and two colored proteins including a red protein for a Vitreoscilla hemoglobin (Vhb), and a brown protein for maize sirohydrochlorin ferrochelatase (mSF) were used for visualizing the separation process. The added EDTA-Na₂ disrupted the Fe-S cluster in the mSF, but it showed little impact on heme in Vhb.

CONCLUSIONS

The selected five colored proteins were efficient for detecting the applicability of the highly selective hanA1 for fusion separation and purification handle. The fused hanA1 tag will be potentially used for simple and cheap affinity separation of the target proteins in industry and diagnosis.

Aberrant Mesenteric Adipose Extracellular Matrix Remodelling is Involved in Adipocyte Dysfunction in Crohn's Disease: The Role of TLR-4-mediated Macrophages

BACKGROUND AND AIMS

Hypertrophic mesenteric adipose tissue [htMAT] is involved in the disease progression of Crohn's disease [CD] through expressing proinflammatory adipokines from dysfunctional adipocytes by unknown mechanism. Adipocyte function is affected by dynamic adipose tissue extracellular matrix [ECM] remodelling that is mainly mediated by macrophages, and our study aimed to reveal whether aberrant ECM remodelling was present in CD-htMAT and its effects on adipocyte dysfunction, as well as the mechanism.

METHODS

ECM remodelling was examined in MAT samples from CD patients and controls. Mice with dinitrobenzene sulphonic acid [DNBS]-induced colitis were used in vivo study, and lipopolysaccharide [LPS]-induced remodelling behaviour in macrophages was examined in vitro. Macrophages or TLR4 inhibition were used to analyse ECM remodelling mechanisms and their effects on adipocyte function.

RESULTS

Aberrant ECM remodelling: was observed in CD-htMAT, which was characterised by a widened and deformed ECM structure accompanied by dysregulated matrix synthesis and degradation; served as a reservoir for inflammatory factors/cells dominated by macrophages; and was involved in adipocyte dysfunction. In addition, macrophages were the main source of ECM remodelling regulatory factors with activation of Toll-like receptor 4 [TLR4] in htMAT. In vivo, macrophage depletion or TLR4 inhibition largely attenuated mesenteric ECM remodelling while improving mesenteric adipocyte dysfunction during chronic enteritis. In vitro, antagonizing TLR4 significantly inhibited LPS-induced macrophage ECM remodelling behavior.

CONCLUSIONS

The aberrant ECM remodelling in CD-htMAT contributed to mesenteric adipocyte dysfunction, which may be caused at least partly by TLR4-mediated macrophage remodelling behavior. Inhibiting ECM remodelling may be a potential therapeutic strategy for CD.

Disruption of CD73-Derived and Equilibrative Nucleoside Transporter 1-Mediated Adenosine Signaling Exacerbates Oxygen-Induced Retinopathy

Retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) is characterized by pathologic angiogenesis in retina, and remains a leading cause of blindness in children. Although enhanced extracellular adenosine is markedly increased in response to retinal hypoxia, adenosine acting at the A1 and A2A receptors has the opposite effect on pathologic angiogenesis. Herein, the oxygen-induced retinopathy (OIR) model of ROP was used to demonstrate that pharmacologic and genetic inactivation of CD73 (the key 5'-ectonucleotidase for extracellular generation of adenosine) did not affect normal retinal vasculature development but exacerbated intravitreal neovascularization at postnatal day (P) 17 and delayed revascularization at P21 of OIR. This exacerbated damage to retinal vessels by CD73 inactivation was associated with increased cellular apoptosis and microglial activation but decreased astrocyte function at P17 of OIR. Furthermore, pharmacologic blockade of equilibrative nucleoside transporter 1/2 (ENT1/2; bidirectional transport for controlling the balance of intracellular and extracellular adenosine) by 6-nitrobenzylthioinosine aggravated pathologic angiogenesis at P17 of OIR. Pharmacologic blockade of ENT1/2 and genetic inactivation of CD73 also aggravated avascular areas at the hyperoxia phase (P12) of OIR. Thus, disruption of CD73-derived extracellular adenosine or ENT1/2-mediated transport of adenosine flux across membrane aggravated the damage to retinal vessels. These findings support the role of adenosine as an endogenous protective regulator that limits oxygen-induced retinopathy. Thus, enhancing extracellular adenosine signaling represents a novel neuroprotection strategy for ROP by targeting CD73 and ENT1/2 activities.

Immunomodulation of MiRNA-223-based nanoplatform for targeted therapy in retinopathy of prematurity

Retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) is characterized by pathological angiogenesis and associated inflammation in the retina and is the leading cause of childhood blindness. MiRNA-223 (miR-223) drives microglial polarization toward the anti-inflammatory phenotype and offers a therapeutic approach to suppress inflammation and consequently pathological neovascularization. However, miRNA-based therapy is hindered by the low stability and non-specific cell-targeting ability of delivery systems. In the present study, we developed folic acid-chitosan (FA-CS)-modified mesoporous silica nanoparticles (PMSN) loaded with miR-223 to regulate retinal microglial polarization. The FA-CS/PMSN/miR-223 nanoparticles exhibited high stability and loading efficiency, achieved targeted delivery, and successfully escaped from lysosomes. In cultured microglial cells, treatment with FA-CS/PMSN/miR-223 nanoparticles upregulated the anti-inflammatory gene YM1/2 and IL-4RA, and downregulated the proinflammatory genes iNOS, IL-1β, and IL-6. Notably, in a mouse oxygen-induced retinopathy model of ROP, intravitreally injected FA-CS/PMSN/miR-223 nanoparticles (1 μg) decreased the retinal neovascular area by 52.6%. This protective effect was associated with the reduced and increased levels of pro-inflammatory (M1) and anti-inflammatory (M2) cytokines, respectively. Collectively, these findings demonstrate that FA-CS/PMSN/miR-223 nanoparticles provide an effective therapeutic strategy for the treatment of ROP by modulating the miR-223-mediated microglial polarization to the M2 phenotype.

The role of booster vaccination and ongoing viral evolution in seasonal circulation of SARS-CoV-2

Periodic resurgences of COVID-19 in the coming years can be expected, while public health interventions may be able to reduce their intensity. We used a transmission model to assess how the use of booster doses and non-pharmaceutical interventions (NPIs) amid ongoing pathogen evolution might influence future transmission waves. We find that incidence is likely to increase as NPIs relax, with a second seasonally driven surge expected in autumn 2022. However, booster doses can greatly reduce the intensity of both waves and reduce cumulative deaths by 20% between 7 January 2022 and 7 January 2023. Reintroducing NPIs during the autumn as incidence begins to increase again could also be impactful. Combining boosters and NPIs results in a 30% decrease in cumulative deaths, with potential for greater impacts if variant-adapted boosters are used. Reintroducing these NPIs in autumn 2022 as transmission rates increase provides similar benefits to sustaining NPIs indefinitely (307 000 deaths with indefinite NPIs and boosters compared with 304 000 deaths with transient NPIs and boosters). If novel variants with increased transmissibility or immune escape emerge, deaths will be higher, but vaccination and NPIs are expected to remain effective tools to decrease both cumulative and peak health system burden, providing proportionally similar relative impacts.

Synchronous catalytic depolymerization of alkaline lignin to monophenols with in situ-converted hierarchical zeolite for bio-polyurethane production

Catalytic depolymerization of lignin to high-value chemicals is crucial to the comprehensive achievement of sustainable and economic concerns. Herein, we propose a green, practical, and economic strategy for the synchronous catalytic depolymerization of lignin based on in situ conversion of geopolymer precursor to hierarchical zeolite, using water as a mild solvent and without external H₂, additives, co-catalysts or co-solvents. The in situ-converted hierarchical analcime (ANA) zeolite outperformed previously reported representative catalysts, such as PTA/MCM-41 and CuAlMgO_x in lignin depolymerization with a high monophenol yield (95.61 ± 7.89 mg/g). The synergetic effect of the micro-mesoporous structure and enhanced acidic sites of the ANA played a vital role in regulating the monomer composition and the yield of monophenols. The obtained monophenols are rich in -OH groups and can be utilized as a substitute for petroleum resources, such as ethylene glycol or glycerin for the synthesis of bio-polyurethane foams (bio-PUFs). This work expands the scope of using biomass in a sustainable manner to make high-value chemicals and biomaterials.

727 BOOSTING BONE HEALTH: IMPROVING JUNIOR DOCTORS’ CONFIDENCE IN ASSESSING AND MANAGING FRAGILITY FRACTURES

Introduction

Fragility fractures are a major disease burden in the UK. With an ageing population and number of fragility fractures predicted to double in 50 years, prevention in this high-risk population needs to be addressed. This audit aimed to examine the assessment of fracture risk in patients presenting with fragility fractures and improve awareness amongst trainee doctors through education.

Methods

A retrospective study was conducted on patients over 65 years admitted with fragility fractures, excluding neck of femur, from January to March 2021 (n = 51). Data was collected on Fracture Risk Assessment Tool (FRAX) scores, dual energy X-ray absorptiometry (DEXA) scans, and risk factors including body mass index (BMI), previous fragility fracture, smoking, alcohol intake, and serum calcium and vitamin D. A teaching seminar for junior doctors was delivered to increase confidence in assessing and managing fragility fractures.

Results

The mean age of patients was 79, with most common presentations being proximal humerus, distal femur and ankle fractures. 46% of patients had a previous fragility fracture. Smoking and alcohol history were documented in 72% and 60% of patients respectively, and 29% had BMIs calculated. 68% had calcium and 45% had vitamin D checked. DEXA scans occurred in 12%, all of whom had osteopenia or osteoporosis. Over half of patients were already on bone protection and 28% were subsequently started on bisphosphonates. A teaching session was delivered to junior doctors (n = 10), leading to improved confidence in assessing fracture risk by 30%, and improved confidence in managing fragility fractures by 35%. Knowledge of FRAX score increased from 62% to 100%.

Conclusion

A significant proportion of the over-65 population are likely to present with fragility fractures. Improving awareness and confidence amongst junior doctors can lead to identification of risk factors and help better prevent and manage fragility fractures in this high-risk population.

Evaluation on the implementation effect of public participation in the decision-making of NIMBY facilities

The construction of NIMBY (Not in my backyard) facilities has caused many conflicts but is struggling to reduce it in China. With the background of public participation in social governance in the future, effective public participation is extremely helpful to solve this issue. Promoting public participation and scientifically evaluating the implementation effect of public participation are urgent problems to be solved at present. This study aims to analysis the factors hindering public participation and improve the implementation effect. Therefore, an evaluation system with 16 factors is established based on literature review and questionnaire survey, namely the basis of participation, participation process, external support, and cost-effectiveness. Interactions among the 16 factors are further evaluated by expert opinions. The objective and subjective weights of indicators are determined and combined by introducing Decision-Making Trial and Evaluation Laboratory (DEMATEL) and entropy weight method (EWM). Considering the uncertainty and randomness of subjective judgment, cloud model is introduced to evaluate the implementation effect of public participation. Finally, this framework is applied to evaluate the project of Jiu Feng waste-to-energy (WTE) plant in Hangzhou, China, which verifies the applicability of the evaluation framework for the implementation effect of public participation in NIMBY facilities. The results indicate that the implementation of public participation is between "average" and "good", with significant room for improvement in the involvement of NGOs and the influence of public opinion on decision-making. Additionally, the participation process has a significant impact on the whole system. The framework can provide government departments with guidance in implementing public participation.