Molecularly Tunable Heterostructured Co-polymers Containing Electron-deficient and -rich Moieties for Visible-light and Sacrificial-agent-free H2O2 Photosynthesis

As an alternative to hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) production by complex anthraquinone oxidation process, photosynthesis of H2O2 from water and oxygen without sacrificial agents is highly demanded. Herein, a covalently connected molecular heterostructure is synthesized via sequential C-H arylation and Knoevenagel polymerization reactions for visible-light and sacrificial-agent-free H2O2 synthesis. The subsequent copolymerization of the electron-deficient benzodithiophene-4,8-dione  and the electron-rich biphenyl (B) and p-phenylenediacetonitrile (CN) not only expands the π-conjugated domain but also increases the molecular dipole moment, which largely promotes the separation and transfer of the photoinduced charge carriers. The optimal heterostructured BTDB-CN0.2 manifested an impressive photocatalytic H2O2 production rate of 1920 μmol g-1 h-1, which is 2.2 and 11.6 times that of BTDB and BTDCN. As revealed by the femtosecond transient absorption (fs-TA) and theoretical calculations, the linkage serves as a channel for the rapid transfer of photogenerated charge carriers, enhancing the photocatalytic efficiency. Further, in situ diffuse reflectance infrared Fourier transform spectroscopy (DRIFTS) uncovers that the oxygen reduction reaction occurs through the step one-electron pathway and the mutual conversion between C=O and C-OH with the anchoring of H+ during the catalysis favored the formation of H2O2. This work provides a novel perspective for the design of efficient organic photocatalysts.

Enhancing photocatalytic H2O2 production with Au co-catalysts through electronic structure modification

Gold-based co-catalysts are a promising class of materials with potential applications in photocatalytic H2O2 production. However, current approaches with Au co-catalysts show limited H2O2 production due to intrinsically weak O2 adsorption at the Au site. We report an approach to strengthen O2 adsorption at Au sites, and to improve H2O2 production, through the formation of electron-deficient Auδ+ sites by modifying the electronic structure. In this case, we report the synthesis of TiO2/MoSx-Au, following selective deposition of Au onto a MoSx surface which is then further anchored onto TiO2. We further show that the catalyst achieves a significantly increased H2O2 production rate of 30.44 mmol g-1 h-1 in O2-saturated solution containing ethanol. Density functional theory calculations and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy analysis reveal that the MoSx mediator induces the formation of electron-deficient Auδ+ sites thereby decreasing the antibonding-orbital occupancy of Au-Oads and subsequently enhancing O2 adsorption. This strategy may be useful for rationally designing the electronic structure of catalyst surfaces to facilitate artificial photosynthesis.

COF/In2 S3 S-Scheme Photocatalyst with Enhanced Light Absorption and H2 O2 -Production Activity and fs-TA Investigation

Photocatalytic hydrogen peroxide (H2 O2 ) synthesis from water and O2 is an economical, eco-friendly, and sustainable route for H2 O2 production. However, single-component photocatalysts are subjected to limited light-harvesting range, fast carrier recombination, and weak redox power. To promote photogenerated carrier separation and enhance redox abilities, an organic/inorganic S-scheme photocatalyst is fabricated by in situ growing In2 S3 nanosheets on a covalent organic framwork (COF) substrate for efficient H2 O2 production in pure water. Interestingly, compared to unitary COF and In2 S3 , the COF/In2 S3 S-scheme photocatalysts exhibit significantly larger light-harvesting range and stronger visible-light absorption. Partial density of state calculation, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, and femtosecond transient absorption spectroscopy reveal that the coordination between In2 S3 and COF induces the formation of mid-gap hybrid energy levels, leading to smaller energy gaps and broadened absorption. Combining electron spin resonance spectroscopy, radical-trapping experiments, and isotope labeling experiments, three pathways for H2 O2 formation are identified. Benefited from expanded light-absorption range, enhanced carrier separation, strong redox power, and multichannel H2 O2 formation, the optimal composite shows an impressive H2 O2 -production rate of 5713.2 µmol g-1 h-1 in pure water. This work exemplifies an effective strategy to ameliorate COF-based photocatalysts by building S-scheme heterojunctions and provides molecular-level insights into their impact on energy level modulation.

Mixed-state ptychography for quantitative optical properties measurement of vector beam

Recent advances in ptychography have extended to anisotropic specimens, but vectorial reconstruction of probes owing to polarization aliasing remains a challenge. A polarization-sensitive ptychography that enables full optical property measurement of vector light is proposed. An optimized reconstruction strategy, first calibrating the propagation direction and then performing faithful retrieval, is established. This method avoids multiple image acquisitions with various polarizer configurations and significantly improves the measurement accuracy by correlating the intensity and position of different polarization components. The capability of the proposed method to quantify anisotropic parameters of optical materials and polarization properties of vector probe is demonstrated by experiment.

Achievement of Target Gain Larger than Unity in an Inertial Fusion Experiment

On December 5, 2022, an indirect drive fusion implosion on the National Ignition Facility (NIF) achieved a target gain G_{target} of 1.5. This is the first laboratory demonstration of exceeding "scientific breakeven" (or G_{target}>1) where 2.05 MJ of 351 nm laser light produced 3.1 MJ of total fusion yield, a result which significantly exceeds the Lawson criterion for fusion ignition as reported in a previous NIF implosion [H. Abu-Shawareb et al. (Indirect Drive ICF Collaboration), Phys. Rev. Lett. 129, 075001 (2022)PRLTAO0031-900710.1103/PhysRevLett.129.075001]. This achievement is the culmination of more than five decades of research and gives proof that laboratory fusion, based on fundamental physics principles, is possible. This Letter reports on the target, laser, design, and experimental advancements that led to this result.

A comparative study of multi and single post labeling delay pseudocontinuous arterial spin labeling in patients with carotid artery stenosis

PURPOSE

Arterial Spin Labeling (ASL) allows for the non-invasive visualization of brain perfusion to detect abnormalities. In unilateral carotid artery stenosis, one hemisphere is less supplied with blood which results in a lower cerebral blood flow (CBF) compared to the healthy side. ASL can be performed time-resolved using multiple post labeling delay (PLD) times after labeling or static with a single delay, the latter allowing for a faster and more robust acquisition while bearing the risk of a falsely set delay resulting in unusable images. The purpose of this study is to compare the performance of multi-PLD and single-PLD ASL in patients with unilateral carotid artery stenosis both as means of diagnosis and therapeutic follow-up examination.

METHODS

ASL perfusion data of 17 patients with known unilateral carotid artery stenosis was used to compare the diagnostic performance of the multi-PLD and single-PLD approach. Comparisons were made based on the CBF values and the added benefit of arrival time maps showing slower blood flow in multi-PLD ASL which might be overlooked in the individual delay images both before and after therapy.

RESULTS

Both the multi-PLD and the single-PLD data could identify the side of the stenosis with hemispheric differences in each approach (p < 0.001) and depict the normalization of CBF after therapy (p > 0.05). There were no differences between the individual methods (p > 0.05).

CONCLUSION

In this work, we could show that multi-PLD ASL in patients with unilateral carotid artery stenosis is beneficial as it provides both CBF and arrival time maps, however when only a single-PLD acquisition is available, this appears sufficient in a clinical setting to investigate the presence of a unilateral stenosis.

Uric acid is negatively associated with cognition in the first- episode of schizophrenia

BACKGROUND

We explored the relationship between levels of serum uric acid (UA) and cognitive impairment in people with schizophrenia to order to better protect and improve cognitive function in such patients.

METHODS

A uricase method evaluated serum UA levels in 82 individuals with first-episode schizophrenia and in 39 healthy controls. The Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale (BPRS) and the event-related potential P300 were used to assess the patient's psychiatric symptoms and cognitive functioning. The link between serum UA levels, BPRS scores, and P300 was investigated.

RESULTS

Prior to treatment, serum UA levels and latency N3 in the study group were significantly higher than in the control group, whereas the amplitude P3 was considerably lower. After therapy, the study group's BPRS scores, serum UA levels, latency N3, and amplitude P3 were lower than before treatment. According to correlation analysis, serum UA levels in the pre-treatment study group significantly positively correlated with BPRS score and latency N3 but not amplitude P3. After therapy, serum UA levels were no longer substantially related to the BPRS score or amplitude P3 but strongly and positively correlated with latency N3.

CONCLUSIONS

First-episode schizophrenia patients have higher serum UA levels than the general population which partly reflects poor cognitive performance. Improving patients' cognitive function may be facilitated by lowering serum UA levels.

Liproxstatin-1 alleviates cartilage degradation by inhibiting chondrocyte ferroptosis in the temporomandibular joint

BGROUND INFORMATION

Ferroptosis contributes to temporomandibular joint osteoarthritis (TMJOA) lesion development and is still poorly understood.

RESULTS

In this study, we used different TMJOA animal models to examine whether ferroptosis was related to disease onset in TMJOA induced by monosodium iodoacetate (MIA), IL-1β, occlusion disorder (OD), and unilateral anterior crossbite (UAC). Immunohistochemical staining and Western blot analysis were used to detect ferroptosis- and cartilage degradation-related protein expression. Our results revealed reduced levels of the ferroptosis-related protein GPX4 in the cartilage layer, but the levels of ACSL4 and P53 were increased in the condyle. Injection of the ferroptosis inhibitor liproxstatin-1 (Lip-1) effectively decreased ACSL4, P53 and TRF expression. In vitro, IL-1β reduced cartilage extracellular matrix expression in mandibular condylar chondrocytes (MCCs). Lip-1 maintained the morphology and function of mitochondria and ameliorated the exacerbation of lipid peroxidation and reactive oxygen species (ROS) production induced by IL-1β.

CONCLUSION

These results suggest that chondrocyte ferroptosis plays an important role in the development and progression of TMJOA.

SIGNIFICANCE

Inhibiting condylar chondrocyte ferroptosis could be a promising therapeutic strategy for TMJOA.

Effect of a Nursing Health Education Model Based on the Rosenthal Effect on Posttraumatic Growth of Patients with a First Accidental Fracture

Objective

To investigate the effect of a nursing health education model based on the Rosenthal effect on the posttraumatic growth of patients with a first accidental fracture.

Methods

We recruited 212 patients with a first accidental fracture from February 2021 to February 2022; the patients were divided into a control group (n = 106) and an Rosenthal Group (n = 106). The control group received daily care during hospitalization, and the Rosenthal Group received treatment based on a Rosenthal effect health education model. We compared the 2 groups before and after treatment using the Chinese Posttraumatic Growth Inventory (C-PTGI), the Connor-Davidson Resilience Scale (CD-RISC), the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), a Visual Analog Scale (VAS) to assess pain, the 36-item Short Form Health Survey (SF-36) to assess quality of life, the Hamilton Anxiety Scale (HAMA), and the Hamilton Depression Scale (HAMD).

Results

The psychological resilience of both groups of patients improved after treatment, as assessed by C-PTGI and CD-RISC (all P < .05), and the Rosenthal Group improved more than the control group after treatment (all P < .05). The sleep quality and pain scores, as measured by PSQI and VAS, improved for both groups of patients after treatment, and the Rosenthal group improved more than the control group after treatment (all P < .05). The quality of life, as assessed by SF-36, of both groups of patients was similar before treatment (all P > .05) and improved significantly after treatment (all P < .05). The patients' depression and anxiety, as assessed by HAMA and HAMD, improved in both groups after treatment (all P < .05), and the Rosenthal group improved more than the control group after treatment (all P < .05).

Conclusion

The Rosenthal effect nursing health education model promotes the posttraumatic psychological growth of patients with a first accidental fracture and enhances their psychological resilience, showing that the Rosenthal effect has important health benefits and can be promoted for clinical application to adjust a patient's psychological state.

Outcome and associated factors of high-risk human papillomavirus infection without cervical lesions

OBJECTIVE

To study the outcome of human papillomavirus (HPV) infection in women with cervical pathology results of non-cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN) or cervical cancer and positive high-risk HPV test, as well as analyze the associated risk factors affecting the outcome of infection.

METHODS

To investigate the outcome of high-risk (HR)-HPV infection in the female genital tract and analyze the associated risk factors affecting their outcome, a total of 196 women with positive HR-HPV test results and non-CIN or cervical cancer cervical pathology results were selected for follow-up at the Cervical Disease Clinic of the Obstetrics and Gynecology Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine from January 2017 to March 2020. The follow-up interval was every 6 months, and both cervical cytology (TCT) and HR-HPV testing were performed at each follow-up visit. If the cervical cytology results were normal upon recheck and the HR-HPV test was negative, the woman was considered to be cleared of the HPV infection and was entered into the routine cervical screening population. When the repeat HR-HPV test remained positive after 6 months, the woman was defined as having a persistent HR-HPV infection. If HR-HPV persisted but the TCT results were normal, follow-up was continued. If HR-HPV persisted and the TCT results were abnormal, a colposcopy-guided biopsy was performed immediately. In this situation, if the histological results were still non-CIN or cervical cancer, the follow-up was continued. If the histological results confirmed the development of CIN or invasive cancer, then enter another study follow-up to further track its development and outcome, and the woman commenced the treatment process. The HPV infection clearance time was analyzed by the Kaplan-Meier method, and the comparison of the HPV clearance rate and infection clearance time between each of the different groups was performed using aχ2 test or Fisher's exact test, as appropriate. After the univariate analysis, several significant factors were included in the Cox model and independent risk factors were analyzed.

RESULTS

A total of 163 women were enrolled in this study. The median age was 40.0 years (22-67 years) and the median follow-up time was 11.5 months (6-31 months). The spontaneous clearance rate of HR-HPV infection was 51.5%, and the median time to viral clearance was 14.5 months. Age and the initial viral load were high risk factors affecting the spontaneous clearance of HR-HPV infection. The factors significantly associated with HPV clearance rate and time to HPV clearance consisted of menopause and full-term delivery (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

In women with normal or low-grade lesions on the cell smear, the spontaneous clearance rate of HR-HPV infection was 51.5% and the time to clearance was 14.5 months. Age and the initial viral load were independent associated factors affecting the spontaneous clearance of HR-HPV infection in the female genital tract. These findings suggest that non-young women or those with high viral loads have a higher rate of persistent HR-HPV infection. Thus, intensive screening should be recommended.

[Tumor Mechanomedicine]

Malignant tumors represent a significant health challenge, critically impacting human well-being. Historically, the focus has been on leveraging the biochemical cues of tumors for both diagnosis and treatment. While valuable, this strategy does not capture the full complexity of tumor diagnosis and management. Recently, the integration of biomechanics and mechanobiology with oncology has highlighted the importance of mechanical cues, which have emerged as new hallmarks of tumors, opening potential novel routes for cancer diagnosis and therapeutic interventions. Despite the advances, a thorough literature review suggests a pronounced gap in our understanding of the mechanical properties of tumors. The clinical community has not yet completely recognized the diagnostic and therapeutic relevance of the mechanical cues of tumors. To bridge this knowledge gap, we propose and introduce the paradigm of "Tumor Mechanomedicine". We provide a comprehensive overview of the multi-scale mechanical characteristics of tumors, exploring their influence on tumor biology, from the aspects of tumor biomechanics, tumor mechanobiology, tumor mechanodiagnostics, and tumor mechanotherapeutics. By elucidating the diagnostic and therapeutic potential of these mechanical cues, we aim to furnish the oncology community with fresh insights, paving the way for innovative solutions to persistent clinical conundrums.

Dietary lysozyme improves growth performance and intestinal barrier function of weaned piglets

Lysozyme (LZ) is a purely natural, nonpolluting and nonspecific immune factor, which has beneficial effects on the healthy development of animals. In this study, the influences of LZ on the growth performance and intestinal barrier of weaned piglets were studied. A total of 48 weaned piglets (Landrace × Yorkshire, 22 d old) were randomly divided into a control group (basal diet) and a LZ group (0.1% LZ diet) for 19 d. The results showed that LZ could significantly improve the average daily gain (ADG, P < 0.05) and average daily feed intake (ADFI, P < 0.05). LZ also improved the intestinal morphology and significantly increased the expression of occludin in the jejunum (P < 0.05). In addition, LZ down-regulated the expression of interleukin-1β (IL-1β, P < 0.05) and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α, P < 0.05), and inhibited the expression of the genes in the nuclear factor-k-gene binding (NF-κB, P < 0.05) signaling pathway. More importantly, the analysis of intestinal flora showed LZ increased the abundance of Firmicutes (P < 0.05) and the ratio of Firmicutes to Bacteroidota (P = 0.09) at the phylum level, and increased the abundance of Clostridium_sensu_stricto_1 (P < 0.05) and reduced the abundance of Olsenella and Prevotella (P < 0.05) at the genus level. In short, this study proved that LZ could effectively improve the growth performance, relieve inflammation and improve the intestinal barrier function of weaned piglets. These findings provided an important theoretical basis for the application of LZ in pig production.

Garlic essential oil supplementation modulates colonic microbiota compositions and regulates immune response in weaned piglets

The objective of this study was to investigate the colonic microbiome compositions and immune response and reveal their correlations in weaned piglets fed with garlic essential oil (GEO). Twelve 21-day-old crossbred piglets with the same parity and similar weight (BW = 7.07 ± 0.37 Kg) were randomly divided into control and experimental groups based on BW and sex, which fed either a basal diet (CON group), or a basal diet supplemented with 1.5 g/kg GEO (GEO group). UHPLC-QE-MS showed the main component of GEO were belonged to carbohydrates, organic acid, flavonoids, phenylpropanoids and terpenoids. GEO decreased serum IL-1β, IL-8 content and the down-regulated mRNA expression of IFN-γ, TLR2 in jejunal mucosa but increased serum IgG, IL-4 content and up-regulated the mRNA expression of IL-4, IL-1β, TNF-α in ileal mucosa. What's more, the metagenomic analysis demonstrated that GEO increased the abundance of Bacteroidetes, Euryarchaeota and Spirochaetes, while decreased the abundance of Firmicutes and Actinobacteria at Phylum level and Selenomonas_boris, Selenomonadaceae_bacterium_DSM_108025, Clostridiales_bacterium and Phascolarctobacterium_succinatutens at species level. Notably, the main function pathway of virulence factor (VFDB) enriched in GEO group were Fibronection-binding protein, Zn++ metallophrotease and Capsular polysaccharide, while the main function pathway of VFDB enriched in CON group were heme biosynthesis, Lap and FeoAB. Spearman correlation analysis indicated the Spirochaetes had a positive association with IL-6 and IL-4. Acinobacteria was positively correlated with IL-1β, while negative with the IL-6; In addition, Euryarchaeota had a positive correlation with IL-4, but a negative correlation with IL-1β; Tenericutes was negative with IL-8; Phascolarcolarctobacterium_succinatutens and was negative with IL-6; Ruminococcaceae_bacterium was negative with TNF-α. While Selenomonadaceae_bacterium_DSM_108025 had a positive correlation with IL-8. In conclusion, our results uncovered that immune regulation effects of GEO may be associated with the microbiome compositions in response to GEO.

[Role and prospect of regenerative medicine in early treatment of combat trauma]

The regenerative medicine has made great breakthrough in the repair of combat trauma, showing broad prospects, while the method of regenerative medicine applied in the early treatment of combat trauma is not yet clear. The early treatment of combat trauma includes strict control of bleeding, a large amount of blood transfusion, alleviation of acidosis, and correction of hypothermia and improvement of coagulation dysfunction, etc. This paper focuses on the bio-engineered blood, research and development of homeostatic materials, control of inflammation/infection, regulation of immunity, protection of important organs, establishment of military medical model, research and development of biosensors and drugs, and preventive application of stem cell bank in regenerative and tissue engineering in defense medicine to summarize the role of regenerative medicine in the early treatment of combat trauma, hoping to improve the overall treatment level of combat trauma.

S-Scheme Heterojunction Photocatalysts for H2O2 Production

Photocatalysis opens a new door to H₂O₂ formation via a low-cost, clean, mild, and sustainable process, which holds great promise for the next generation of massive H₂O₂ production. However, fast photogenerated electron-hole recombination and slow reaction kinetics are the main obstacles for its practical application. An effective solution is to construct the step-scheme (S-scheme) heterojunction, which remarkably promotes carrier separation and boosts the redox power for efficient photocatalytic H₂O₂ production. Considering the superiority of S-scheme heterojunctions, this Perspective summarizes the recent advances of S-scheme photocatalysts for H₂O₂ production, including photocatalysts for building S-scheme heterojunctions, H₂O₂-production performance, and S-scheme photocatalytic mechanisms. Lastly, some prospects are given to motivate future research in this promising field, other promising strategies are provided to further improve H₂O₂ yields, and future research directions are suggested.

Exome-wide screening identifies novel rare risk variants for bone mineral density

Bone mineral density (BMD) is an independent risk factor of osteoporosis-related fractures. We performed gene-based burden tests to assess the association between rare variants and BMD, and identified several BMD candidate genes.

PURPOSE

BMD is highly heritable and a major predictor of osteoporotic fractures, but its genetic basis remains unclear. We aimed to identify rare risk variants contributing to BMD.

METHODS

Utilizing the newly released UK Biobank 200,643 exome dataset, we conducted a gene-based exome-wide association study in males and females, respectively. First, 100,639 males and 117,338 females with BMD values were included in the polygenic risk scores (PRS) analysis. Among individuals with lower 30% PRS, cases were individuals with top 10% BMD, and individuals with bottom 10% BMD were the controls. Considering the effects of vitamin D (VD), individuals with the highest 30% VD concentration were selected for VD-BMD analysis. After quality control, 741 males and 697 females were included in the BMD analysis, and 717 males and 708 females were included in the VD-BMD analysis. The variants were annotated by ANNOVAR software, then BMD and VD-BMD qualified variants were imported into the SKAT R-package to perform gene-based burden tests, respectively.

RESULTS

The gene-based burden test of the exonic variants identified genome-wide candidate associations in ANKRD18A (P = 1.60 × 10^-5, P_{Bonferroni adjust} = 2.11 × 10^-3), C22orf31 (P = 3.49 × 10^-4, P_{Bonferroni adjust} = 3.17 × 10^-2), and SPATC1L (P = 1.09 × 10^-5, P_{Bonferroni adjust} = 8.80 × 10^-3). For VD-BMD analysis, three genes were associated with BMD, such as NIPAL1 (P = 1.06 × 10^-3, P_{Bonferroni adjust} = 3.91 × 10^-2).

CONCLUSIONS

Our study suggested that rare variants contribute to BMD, providing new sights for broadening the genetic structure of BMD.

Investigation of changes in proteomes of beef exudate and meat quality attributes during wet-aging

This study was performed to evaluate the effects of wet-aging (3, 7, 14, 21, and 28 d at 2 °C) on beef (longissimus lumborum muscles) exudate proteome and meat quality changes. The pH, purge loss, and tenderness of beef increased with aging (P < 0.05), while color and lipid oxidative stabilities decreased, especially when long-term (14 and 21 d) aged meat were repackaged and displayed under retail condition (P < 0.05). Nineteen proteins changed significantly with aging (FDR < 0.05), in which most of them progressively accumulated in exudates over aging periods. Combined with partial least squares discriminant analysis, 16 proteins (including 9 structural proteins, 3 metabolic enzymes, 1 heat shock protein, 2 binding proteins, and KBTBD10 protein) were screened as characteristic proteins that could be used for potential meat quality indication. These findings offered novel insight into the utilization of exudates for meat quality assessment.

Low-Temperature-Processed Monolayer Inverse Opal SnO2 Scaffold for Efficient Perovskite Solar Cells

Organic-inorganic halide perovskite solar cells (PSCs) have attracted tremendous attention in the photovoltaic field due to their excellent optical properties and simple fabrication process. However, the recombination of photogenerated electron-hole pairs at the interface severely affects the power conversion efficiency (PCE) of the PSCs. Herein, a monolayer of inverse opal SnO₂ (IO-SnO₂ ) is synthesized via a template-assisted method and used as a scaffold for perovskite layer (PSK). The porous IO-SnO₂ scaffold increases the contact area and shortens the transport distance between the electron transport layer (ETL) and PSK. Ultraviolet photoelectron spectroscopy and Kelvin probe force microscopy results indicate that the built-in electric field is enhanced with IO-SnO₂ scaffold, strengthening the driving force for charge separation. Femtosecond transient absorption spectroscopy measurements reveal that the IO-SnO₂ scaffold facilitates interfacial electron transfer from PSK to ETL. Based on the above superiorities, the IO-SnO₂ -based PSCs exhibit boosted PCE and device stability compared with the pristine PSCs. This work provides insights into the development of novel scaffold layers for high-performance PSCs.

Maternal catalase supplementation regulates fatty acid metabolism and antioxidant ability of lactating sows and their offspring

Introduction and methods

As a crucial antioxidant enzyme, catalase (CAT) could destroy the cellular hydrogen peroxide to mitigate oxidative stress. The current study aimed to investigate the effects of maternal CAT supplementation from late gestation to day 14 of lactation on antioxidant ability and fatty acids metabolism with regard to the sow-piglet-axis. On day 95 of gestation, forty sows were divided into control (CON) group (fed a basal diet) and CAT group (fed a basal diet supplemented with 660 mg/kg CAT), the feeding experiment ended on day 14 of lactation.

Results

The lactating sows in the CAT group produced more milk, and had higher antioxidant enzymes activity including POD and GSH-Px (P < 0.05), lower content of serum LDL as well as plasmic C18:3n3 content (P < 0.05). Additionally, maternal CAT supplementation improved offspring's body weight at day 14 of nursing period and ADG (P < 0.05), and regulated the antioxidant ability as evidenced by decreased related enzymes activity such as T-AOC and CAT and changed genes expression level. It significantly affected lipid metabolism of suckling piglets manifested by increasing the serum ALT, CHOL, and LDL (P < 0.05) level and modulating plasma medium- and long-chain fatty acids (MCFAs and LCFAs), as well as regulating the genes expression involved in lipid metabolism.

Conclusion

Maternal CAT supplementation could regulate the fatty acid composition and enhance the antioxidant ability of sows and offspring during the lactating period and further promote the growth of suckling piglets. These findings might provide a reference value for the utilization of CAT as supplement for mother from late pregnancy to lactation period to promote the fatty acid metabolism of offspring.

[A case of intramuscular injection of methomyl poisoning]

Methomyl is a carbamate insecticide widely used in pesticides. Most of the poisoning methods are through digestive tract, respiratory tract and skin contact. At present, there is no report of poisoning caused by intramuscular injection. A case of poisoning caused by intramuscular injection of methomyl was analyzed retrospectively. About 4 minutes later, cholinergic crisis and central inhibition occurred. Venovenous-Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation (VV-ECMO) and atropine were given quickly. Finally, the patient was successfully rescued and had a good prognosis. After intramuscular injection of methomyl, cholinergic crisis can occur rapidly, and the onset rate is significantly faster than that of digestive tract, respiratory tract and skin contact.

Microbiome-metabolome analysis reveals alterations in the composition and metabolism of caecal microbiota and metabolites with dietary Enteromorpha polysaccharide and Yeast glycoprotein in chickens

The intestinal microbiome is responsible for the fermentation of complex carbohydrates and orchestrates the immune system through gut microbiota-derived metabolites. In our previous study, we reported that supplementation of Enteromorpha polysaccharide (EP) and yeast glycoprotein (YG) in combination synergistically improved antioxidant activities, serum lipid profile, and fatty acid metabolism in chicken. However, the mechanism of action of these polysaccharides remains elusive. The present study used an integrated 16S-rRNA sequencing technology and untargeted metabolomics technique to reveal the mechanism of action of EP+YG supplementation in broiler chickens fed basal diet or diets supplemented with EP+YG (200mg/kg EP + 200mg/kg YG). The results showed that EP+YG supplementation altered the overall structure of caecal microbiota as evidenced by β diversities analysis. Besides, EP+YG supplementation changed the microbiota composition by altering the community profile at the phylum and genus levels. Furthermore, Spearman correlation analysis indicated a significant correlation between altered microbiota genera vs serum cytokine levels and microbiota genera vs volatile fatty acids production. Predicted functional analysis showed that EP+YG supplementation significantly enriched amino acid metabolism, nucleotide metabolism, glycan biosynthesis and metabolism, energy metabolism, and carbohydrate metabolism. Metabolomics analysis confirmed that EP+YG supplementation modulates a myriad of caecal metabolites by increasing some metabolites, including pyruvic acid, pyridoxine, spermidine, spermine, and dopamine, and decreasing metabolites related to lipid metabolisms such as malonic acid, oleic acid, and docosahexaenoic acid. The quantitative enrichment analysis results further showed that glycolysis/gluconeogenesis, citric acid cycle, tyrosine metabolism, glycine, serine, and threonine metabolism, and cysteine and methionine metabolism were the most important enriched pathways identified with enrichment ratio >11, whereas, fatty acid biosynthesis and biosynthesis of unsaturated fatty acids pathways were suppressed. Together, the 16S-rRNA and untargeted metabolomics results uncovered that EP+YG supplementation modulates intestinal microbiota and their metabolites, thereby influencing the important metabolism pathways, suggesting a potential feed additive.

Lawson Criterion for Ignition Exceeded in an Inertial Fusion Experiment

For more than half a century, researchers around the world have been engaged in attempts to achieve fusion ignition as a proof of principle of various fusion concepts. Following the Lawson criterion, an ignited plasma is one where the fusion heating power is high enough to overcome all the physical processes that cool the fusion plasma, creating a positive thermodynamic feedback loop with rapidly increasing temperature. In inertially confined fusion, ignition is a state where the fusion plasma can begin "burn propagation" into surrounding cold fuel, enabling the possibility of high energy gain. While "scientific breakeven" (i.e., unity target gain) has not yet been achieved (here target gain is 0.72, 1.37 MJ of fusion for 1.92 MJ of laser energy), this Letter reports the first controlled fusion experiment, using laser indirect drive, on the National Ignition Facility to produce capsule gain (here 5.8) and reach ignition by nine different formulations of the Lawson criterion.

Adsorption performance of tetracycline on NiFe layered double hydroxide hollow microspheres synthesized with silica as the template

Tetracycline (TC) has poor degradability and hepatotoxicity which will increase the burden on the aquatic environment when discharged into lakes in large quantities. LDH materials are often used as adsorbents because of their superior surface area and controllability of morphology. Herein, NiFe LDH hollow microspheres (NFHMS) were synthesized by a facile hydrothermal method. The removal of tetracycline by the as-prepared material in an aquatic environment was systematically investigated through comprehensive characterizations. The NFHMS sample presents a larger specific surface area than the two control samples, which contributes to its higher adsorption performance. The adsorption mechanisms of TC on NFHMS is mainly electrostatic adsorption. The fitting results of experimental data coincide well with pseudo-second-order and Weber-Morris models through kinetic simulation. Moreover, the Langmuir model is verified to be more suitable than the Freundlich model in elucidating molecular surface adsorption, and the maximum adsorption capacity of NFHMS obtained from the Langmuir model is 90.9 mg g^-1. Higher temperature is beneficial to improve the adsorption performance, and the adsorption process is spontaneous and endothermic. The initial pH of the solution will affect the adsorption capacity, and the partial neutral condition is more favorable. In addition, NFHMS sample exhibits good stability in cyclic tests. Therefore, NFHMS material is expected to be a very promising adsorbent for treating tetracycline in wastewater.

Physicochemical and Digestible Properties of Parboiled Black Rice With Different Amylose Contents

The varieties of black rice with different amylose contents (waxy; medium-amylose: 16.03%; high-amylose: 27.14%) were parboiled and then evaluated for physicochemical and digestible properties. The color, crystalline structure, and swelling property of parboiled rice were analyzed, and the water molecular mobility, texture, and starch digestibility of cooked parboiled rice were determined. The color of black rice was only slightly changed after the parboiling treatment. The crystalline structures of waxy and medium-amylose rice were severely damaged by the parboiling treatment, while the highly crystalline structure was retained in parboiled high-amylose rice. During heating in water, parboiled high-amylose rice had a lower water absorption ratio (WAR) and volume expansion ratio (VER) than the other two varieties. After cooking, parboiled high-amylose rice had higher water molecular mobility and harder texture compared with the other two varieties. Cooked parboiled high-amylose rice contained higher content of resistant starch than cooked parboiled waxy and medium-amylose rice.

Enteromorpha polysaccharide and yeast glycoprotein mixture improves growth, antioxidant activity, serum lipid profile and regulates lipid metabolism in broiler chickens

This study aimed to analyze the growth performance, antioxidant activity, serum lipid profile, meat quality, and lipid metabolism of broiler chickens fed mixtures containing Enteromorpha polysaccharide (EP) and yeast glycoprotein (YG). A total of 400 one-day-old broiler chickens were randomly divided into 4 treatment groups of 10 replicates with 10 birds each replicate. The dietary treatments consisted of the control group (fed basal diet), and diets supplemented with Enteromorpha polysaccharide (EP; 400 mg/kg), yeast glycoprotein (YG;400 mg/kg), and EP+YG (200 mg/kg EP + 200 mg/kg YG). Compared with the control group, EP+YG supplementation enhanced growth performance and significantly reduced (P < 0.05) serum total triglyceride (TG), cholesterol (CHOL), and low-density lipoprotein LDL levels, and increased high-density lipoprotein (HDL) levels. Besides, birds fed EP+YG supplemented diet exhibited higher (P < 0.05) serum catalase (CAT), total antioxidant capacity, superoxide dismutase (SOD), and lower malonaldehyde (MDA) activities, and upregulated expressions of related genes, such as nuclear factor-erythroid factor 2-related factor 2 (NRF2), SOD1, and glutathione peroxidase 4 (GPX4) in the liver and intestinal tissues than the control group. Interestingly, higher (P < 0.05) serum SOD and lower MDA contents were observed in the EP+YG group than in either EP or YG group, suggesting a synergetic effect. Breast meat from EP+YG supplemented group had significantly higher redness value (a*), and lower pH24, total saturated fatty acid profiles, C14:0, C16:0, C18:0 fatty acid, atherogenic index, and thrombogenicity index than meat from the control group (P < 0.05). Furthermore, the mRNA expressions of fatty acid synthesis genes were downregulated (P < 0.05), whereas lipid β-oxidation-related genes were upregulated (P < 0.05) in the liver of the EP+YG supplemented group than in the control group. Overall, our data suggest that dietary EP+YG inclusion may have a synergistic effect, and therefore improve growth performance, regulate serum biochemical indexes, enhance antioxidant activity, and modulate lipid metabolism in broilers, indicating that it is a potential feed additive for chickens.

Synthesis of MgNiCo LDH hollow structure derived from ZIF-67 as superb adsorbent for Congo red

Adsorption materials with large specific surface area and porous structures exert a beneficial impact on improving the adsorption performance. In this work, MgNiCo LDH hollow structure (MNC HS) is fabricated through a simple one-step solvothermal method using ZIF-67 as the sacrificial template. Electron microscopy shows that the MNC HS retains the dodecahedral shape of ZIF-67. The as-prepared sample exhibits efficient adsorption for Congo red (CR) in water, which is due to the hierarchical structure and large specific surface area that provides more adsorption sites and electrostatic interaction. The CR adsorption process fits the pseudo-second-order model better by kinetics simulation; while Langmuir model is more accurate than Freundlich model in describing the adsorption isotherms of CR. The maximum adsorption capacity calculated by the Langmuir model can reach 1194.7 mg g^-1, which is much higher than that of the sample MgNiCo LDH (MNC) synthesized by conventional methods. The cycle tests also show that the as-prepared adsorbent has good stability and recycling ability.

[Two cases of acute chlorfenapyr poisoning and literature review]

In recent years, chlorfenapyr poisoning has gradually increased in clinical practice, but the case fatality rate remains high. At present, the research on its poisoning mechanism and clinical characteristics is limited, and there is no effective treatment. In order to summarize the clinical characteristics of chlorfenapyr poisoning, in order to guide the clinical treatment, this article reported 2 cases of acute chlorfenayr poisoning and 21 cases of literature review, and summarized the clinical characteristics of chlorfenapyr poisoning.Most of the symptoms of gastrointestinal symptoms, profuse sweating, high fever, and changes in consciousness after chlorfenapyr poisoning, and delayed exacerbations are common, which can involve multiple organ systems such as the central nervous system, providing a basis for clinical diagnosis and treatment.

A Unique Core–Shell Structured, Glycol Chitosan-Based Nanoparticle Achieves Cancer-Selective Gene Delivery with Reduced Off-Target Effects

The inherent instability of nucleic acids within serum and the tumor microenvironment necessitates a suitable vehicle for non-viral gene delivery to malignant lesions. A specificity-conferring mechanism is also often needed to mitigate off-target toxicity. In the present study, we report a stable and efficient redox-sensitive nanoparticle system with a unique core–shell structure as a DNA carrier for cancer theranostics. Thiolated polyethylenimine (PEI-SH) is complexed with DNA through electrostatic interactions to form the core, and glycol chitosan-modified with succinimidyl 3-(2-pyridyldithio)propionate (GCS-PDP) is grafted on the surface through a thiolate-disulfide interchange reaction to form the shell. The resulting nanoparticles, GCS-PDP/PEI-SH/DNA nanoparticles (GNPs), exhibit high colloid stability in a simulated physiological environment and redox-responsive DNA release. GNPs not only show a high and redox-responsive cellular uptake, high transfection efficiency, and low cytotoxicity in vitro, but also exhibit selective tumor targeting, with minimal toxicity, in vivo, upon systemic administration. Such a performance positions GNPs as viable candidates for molecular-genetic imaging and theranostic applications.

A transchromosomic rat model with human chromosome 21 shows robust Down syndrome features

Progress in earlier detection and clinical management has increased life expectancy and quality of life in people with Down syndrome (DS). However, no drug has been approved to help individuals with DS live independently and fully. Although rat models could support more robust physiological, behavioral, and toxicology analysis than mouse models during preclinical validation, no DS rat model is available as a result of technical challenges. We developed a transchromosomic rat model of DS, TcHSA21rat, which contains a freely segregating, EGFP-inserted, human chromosome 21 (HSA21) with >93% of its protein-coding genes. RNA-seq of neonatal forebrains demonstrates that TcHSA21rat expresses HSA21 genes and has an imbalance in global gene expression. Using EGFP as a marker for trisomic cells, flow cytometry analyses of peripheral blood cells from 361 adult TcHSA21rat animals show that 81% of animals retain HSA21 in >80% of cells, the criterion for a "Down syndrome karyotype" in people. TcHSA21rat exhibits learning and memory deficits and shows increased anxiety and hyperactivity. TcHSA21rat recapitulates well-characterized DS brain morphology, including smaller brain volume and reduced cerebellar size. In addition, the rat model shows reduced cerebellar foliation, which is not observed in DS mouse models. Moreover, TcHSA21rat exhibits anomalies in craniofacial morphology, heart development, husbandry, and stature. TcHSA21rat is a robust DS animal model that can facilitate DS basic research and provide a unique tool for preclinical validation to accelerate DS drug development.

A Comparative Study on the Accuracy and Efficacy Between Dalton and CINtec® PLUS p16/Ki-67 Dual Stain in Triaging HPV-Positive Women

Background

CINtec^® PLUS p16/Ki-67 dual-stained cytology (DS) is an alternative test to cytology in triaging human papillomavirus (HPV)-positive women. Dalton p16/Ki-67 Dual Stain kit employs the similar immunocytochemical detection and operating procedures with CINtec^® PLUS, but its accuracy and efficacy in triaging HPV-positive women need to be evaluated.

Methods

A total of 717 HPV-positive specimens of cervical exfoliated cells were included. Cytology, Dalton, and CINtec^® PLUS were subsequently performed, and two DS tests were separately completed in each of the same specimens. The results of two DS tests were head-to-head compared, and their efficacies to identify high-grade cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN) were evaluated, using histopathology of biopsy as the golden standard.

Results

The overall positive rate of two DS tests were 28.31% for Dalton and 33.89% for CINtec^® PLUS (p < 0.05); both rose with the increased severity of histopathological and cytological abnormalities. Compared to CINtec^® PLUS, the positive rate of Dalton was significantly lower in the normal histopathology group (p < 0.05) and lower, but not significantly, in mild abnormal histopathology and cytology NILM and LSIL groups. Two DS tests showed a good consistency (Kappa value, 0.63; 95% CI, 0.557–0.688), with 100% of consistency in the cytology HSIL group. Inconsistency occurred mainly in the cytology NILM and LSIL groups, with more Dalton negative but CINtec^® PLUS positive. Compared to CINtec^® PLUS, Dalton showed similar sensitivity (94.59% vs. 91.89%), but significantly higher specificity (75.29% vs. 69.26%, p = 0.013) and accuracy (76.29% vs. 70.43%, p = 0.012), with a larger area under the curve (AUC) of 0.849 (95% CI, 0.800–0.899) for identifying CIN3+. The similar results were observed when identifying CIN2+.

Conclusions

Dalton presents the lower false positive rate and better efficacy in identifying high-grade CIN than CINtec^® PLUS, suggesting that Dalton may be superior to CINtec^® PLUS and an alternative technique for triaging primary HPV-positive women in cervical cancer screening.

Understanding the Complex Interactions between Coffee, Tea Intake and Neurologically Relevant Tissues Proteins in the Development of Anxiety and Depression

OBJECTIVES

Coffee and tea intake might be associated with psychiatry diseases. However, it is unclear whether the effect of coffee/tea on anxiety and depression depending on the different types of proteins.

DESIGN

This was a cross-sectional study.

SETTING

Our datasets were downloaded from online.

PARTICIPANTS

Phenotypic and genotypic data for coffee intake(N=376,196) and tea intake (N=376,078) were derived from UK Biobank. GWAS data of proteins (N=1,537) from neurologically relevant tissues (brain, cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and plasma) were obtained from a recently published study.

MEASUREMENTS

Multivariate linear analysis was then used to evaluate the potential interaction effect between coffee/tea intake and proteins polygenetic risk score (PRS) on the risks of anxiety and depression controlling for age, sex, Townsend deprivation index (TDI), smoke, drinking and education level.

RESULTS

34 coffee intake-proteins interactions and 15 tea intake-proteins interactions were observed in anxiety individuals, such as coffee intake-c-Jun interaction (β=0.0169, P=4.131×10-3), coffee intake-Fas interaction (β=-0.0190, P=8.132×10-4), tea intake-sL-Selectin interaction (β=0.0112, P=5.412×10-3) and tea intake-IL-1F6 (β=0.0083, P=4.471×10-2). 25 coffee intake-proteins and 14 tea intake-proteins interactions were observed in depression individuals, including coffee intake- IL-1 sRI (β=0.0171, P=4.888×10-3) and coffee intake-NXPH1 interaction (β=0.0156, P=9.819×10-3), tea intake-COLEC12 interaction (β=0.0127, P=3.280×10-3), and tea intake-Layilin interaction (β=0.0117, P=7.926×10-3).

CONCLUSIONS

Our results suggested the important role of multiple proteins in neurologically relevant tissues in the associations between coffee/tea intake and psychiatry diseases, providing entry points to explore the mechanisms underlying anxiety and depression.

Core-Shell Structured C@SiO2 Hollow Spheres Decorated with Nickel Nanoparticles as Anode Materials for Lithium-Ion Batteries

Silicon oxide is regarded as a promising anode material for lithium-ion batteries owing to high theoretical capacity, abundant reserve, and environmental friendliness. Large volumetric variations during the discharging/charging and intrinsically poor electrical conductivity, however, severely hinder its application. Herein, a core-shell structured composite is constructed by hollow carbon spheres and SiO₂ nanosheets decorated with nickel nanoparticles (Ni-SiO₂ /C HS). Hollow carbon spheres, as mesoporous cores, not only significantly facilitate the electron transfer but also prominently enhance the mechanical robustness of anode materials, which separately improves the rate performance and the cyclic durability. Besides, ultrathin SiO₂ nanosheets, as hierarchical shells, provide abundant electrochemical active surface for capacity increment. Moreover, nickel nanoparticles boost the transport capacity of electrons in SiO₂ nanosheets. Such a unique architecture of Ni-SiO₂ /C HS guarantees an enhanced discharge capacity (712 mAh g^-1 at 0.1 A g^-1 ) and prolonged cyclic durability (352 mAh g^-1 at 1.0 A g^-1 after 500 cycles). The present work offers a possibility for silica-based anode materials in the application of next-generation lithium-ion batteries.

[Preparation and roles of sliver-loaded viscous hydrogel in healing of full-thickness skin defect wounds with bacterial colonization in mice]

Objective: To prepare the modified hyaluronic acid viscous hydrogel loaded with sliver particles and to explore the roles and mechanism of the hydrogel in healing of full-thickness skin defect wounds with bacterial colonization in mice. Methods: The experimental research method was adopted. Dopamine modified hyaluronic acid (HA-DA) and phenylboric acid modified hyaluronic acid (HA-PBA) were prepared, and their characteristic peaks were detected by Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy. Different mass of acrylamides was added to HA-DA and HA-PBA to prepare the viscous hydrogel with mass fraction of acrylamide in 10%, 15%, and 20%. The gelation of the viscous hydrogel with mass fraction of acrylamide in 20% was observed in the state of tilt and inversion at 37 ℃, and the storage modulus and loss modulus of the above 3 kinds of viscous hydrogels were detected by rotational rheometer. The sliver-loaded viscous hydrogel was prepared by adding nano silver ions to the viscous hydrogel with mass fraction of acrylamide in 20%. The concentration of silver ions released by sliver-loaded viscous hydrogel was measured by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometer, and the cumulative release rate of silver ion was calculated (n=5). The mouse fibroblasts L929 were divided into phosphate buffered saline (PBS) group, viscous hydrogel group, and sliver-loaded viscous hydrogel group, which were dealt correspondingly, and the cell survival was detected by cell counting kit 8 method after 1, 2, and 3 d of culture (n=5). Twenty-four male C57BL/6 mice aged 6-8 weeks were selected, and forty-eight full-thickness skin defect wounds were inflicted and inoculated with the mixture of Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus in the back of the mice, with two wounds in each mouse. The wounds were divided into normal saline group, viscous hydrogel group, and sliver-loaded viscous hydrogel group, which were dealt correspondingly, with 16 wounds in each group, and two wounds in each mouse were divided into different groups. On post injury day (PID) 3, 7, 10, and 14, the wound healing was observed and the wound healing rate was calculated. On PID 3, the colony forming units of Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus in wounds were observed and counted. On PID 14, the epithelized epidermal thickness and the optical density of collagen fiber in wounds were observed and analyzed after hematoxylin eosin staining and Masson staining, respectively. On PID 3, 7, and 10, the expressions of tumor necrosis factor α (TNF-α), transforming growth factor β₁ (TGF-β₁), and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) were detected by immunohistochemistry. The number of wounds in each index detecting at each time point was four. Data were statistically analyzed with analysis of variance for factorial design, one-way analysis of variance, and Bonferroni correction. Results: The characteristic peaks of HA-PBA were detected at the wave numbers of 1 369 and 1 425 cm^-1, indicating that phenylboric acid had been successfully grafted on hyaluronic acid, and the characteristic peaks of HA-DA were detected at the wave numbers of 1 516 and 1 431 cm^-1, indicating that dopamine had been successfully grafted on hyaluronic acid. The viscous hydrogel with mass fraction of acrylamide in 20% maintained the stable and no-flow condition of gelation in the state of tilt and inversion at 37 ℃. The storage modulus and loss modulus of the viscous hydrogel increased with the increase of acrylamide content, the storage modulus and loss modulus of the 3 kinds of viscous hydrogels had no obvious changes with the increase of the oscillation frequency or time, and the storage modulus of the 3 kinds of acrylamide hydrogels were greater than the loss modulus. The release of silver ion in the sliver-loaded viscous hydrogel lasted for 7 days, and the cumulative release rate of silver ion was up to 65%. After 1, 2, and 3 d of culture, the cell survival rates in sliver-loaded viscous hydrogel group were significantly lower than those in PBS group and viscous hydrogel group (P<0.05 or P<0.01), while after 1 d of culture, the cell survival rate in viscous hydrogel group was significantly lower than that in PBS group (P<0.01). With extension of time after injury, the wounds of mice in the 3 groups shrank gradually. On PID 3, 7, 10, and 14, the wound healing rates in sliver-loaded viscous hydrogel group were (53.0±3.6)%, (75.3±6.9)%, (93.3±1.2)%, and (96.7±0.8)%, which were significantly higher than (21.8±6.4)%, (53.9±8.2)%, (72.0±7.8)%, and (92.5±0.4)% in normal saline group (P<0.01). On PID 3 and 14, the wound healing rates in sliver-loaded viscous hydrogel group were significantly higher than (43.5±2.4)% and (94.1±1.5)% in viscous hydrogel group (P<0.05). On PID 3 and 10, the wound healing rates in viscous hydrogel group were significantly higher than those in normal saline group (P<0.01). On PID 3, the colony forming units of two bacteria in wound of sliver-loaded viscous hydrogel group were significantly less than those in normal saline group and viscous hydrogel group (P<0.01), while the colony forming units of two bacteria in wound of viscous hydrogel group were significantly less than those in normal saline group (P<0.05). On PID 14, the wounds were basically epithelialized and the epidermis was thicker, with collagen protein content being increased significantly and more orderly arranged collagen in sliver-loaded viscous hydrogel group compared with those in the other 2 groups. On PID 14, the epidermal thickness in wounds of sliver-loaded viscous hydrogel group was significantly increased compared with that in the other two groups (P<0.05), and the optical density of collagen fiber was significantly increased compared with those in normal saline group (P<0.05). On PID 3, the expressions of TGF-β₁ and VEGF in wounds of sliver-loaded viscous hydrogel group were significantly higher than those in normal saline group (P<0.05 or P<0.01), while the expression of VEGF in wounds of viscous hydrogel group was significantly higher than that in normal saline group (P<0.01). On PID 7, the expression of TGF-β₁ in wounds of sliver-loaded viscous hydrogel group was significantly higher than that in the other 2 groups (P<0.01), and the expression of VEGF was significantly higher than that in normal saline group (P<0.01). On PID 10, the expression of TNF-α in wounds of sliver-loaded viscous hydrogel group was significantly lower than that in normal saline group (P<0.05), the expressions of TGF-β₁ and VEGF in wounds of sliver-loaded viscous hydrogel group were significantly higher than those in normal saline group (P<0.05 or P<0.01), and the expression of VEGF in wounds of sliver-loaded viscous hydrogel group was significantly higher than that in viscous hydrogel group (P<0.05). Conclusions: The sliver-loaded viscous hydrogel prepared in this study has good stability and elasticity, which can continuously release silver ions and help to accelerate the healing of full-thickness defect wounds with bacterial colonization in mice. Besides, the sliver-loaded viscous hydrogel has low biological toxicity and can promote re-epithelialization, collagen deposition as well as angiogenesis of wounds, which may be related to the infiltration and regression of inflammatory cells.

PPARα/γ signaling pathways are involved in Chlamydia pneumoniae-induced foam cell formation via upregulation of SR-A1 and ACAT1 and downregulation of ABCA1/G1

Chlamydia pneumoniae (Cpn) has been reported to be involved in the pathogenesis of early atherosclerosis by inducing macrophage-derived foam cell formation in the presence of low-density lipoprotein (LDL). However, the biochemical mechanisms underlying Cpn-induced foam cell formation are still not fully elucidated. The present study showed that in LDL-treated THP-1-derived macrophages, Cpn not only upregulated the expression of scavenger receptor A1 (SR-A1) and acyl-coenzyme A: cholesterol acyltransferase 1 (ACAT1), but it also downregulated the expression of ATP binding cassette transporters (ABCA1 and ABCG1) at both the mRNA and protein levels. These processes facilitated cholesterol accumulation and promoted macrophage-derived foam cell formation. Treatment with the peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor (PPAR)-γ agonist rosiglitazone or the PPARα agonist fenofibrate decreased the number of foam cells induced by Cpn, while the PPARγ antagonist GW9662, the PPARα antagonist MK886, or PPARα/γ siRNAs enhanced the effect of Cpn on foam cell formation and gene expression of SR-A1, ACAT1, and ABCA1/G1. Moreover, the PPARγ agonist rosiglitazone reversed the downregulation of CD36 by Cpn, while PPARγ siRNA and the PPARγ inhibitor GW9662 further suppressed CD36 expression. However, the PPARα agonist, inhibitor, and siRNA all showed no effect on CD36 expression. In conclusion, the PPARα and PPARγ pathways are both involved in Cpn-induced macrophage-derived foam cell formation by upregulating SR-A1 and ACAT1 and downregulating ABCA1/G1 expression.