Enhanced hyaline cartilage formation and continuous osteochondral regeneration via 3D-Printed heterogeneous hydrogel with multi-crosslinking inks

The unique gradient structure and complex composition of osteochondral tissue pose significant challenges in defect regeneration. Restoration of tissue heterogeneity while maintaining hyaline cartilage components has been a difficulty of an osteochondral tissue graft. A novel class of multi-crosslinked polysaccharide-based three-dimensional (3D) printing inks, including decellularized natural cartilage (dNC) and nano-hydroxyapatite, was designed to create a gradient scaffold with a robust interface-binding force. Herein, we report combining a dual-nozzle cross-printing technology and a gradient crosslinking method to create the scaffolds, demonstrating stable mechanical properties and heterogeneous bilayer structures. Biofunctional assessments revealed the remarkable regenerative effects of the scaffold, manifesting three orders of magnitude of mRNA upregulation during chondrogenesis and the formation of pure hyaline cartilage. Transcriptomics of the regeneration site in vivo and scaffold cell interaction tests in vitro showed that printed porous multilayer scaffolds could form the correct tissue structure for cell migration. More importantly, polysaccharides with dNC provided a hydrophilic microenvironment. The microenvironment is crucial in osteochondral regeneration because it could guide the regenerated cartilage to ensure the hyaline phenotype.

Type II collagen scaffolds repair critical-sized osteochondral defects under induced conditions of osteoarthritis in rat knee joints via inhibiting TGF-β-Smad1/5/8 signaling pathway

The bidirectional relationship between osteochondral defects (OCD) and osteoarthritis (OA), with each condition exacerbating the other, makes OCD regeneration in the presence of OA challenging. Type II collagen (Col2) is important in OCD regeneration and the management of OA, but its potential applications in cartilage tissue engineering are significantly limited. This study investigated the regeneration capacity of Col2 scaffolds in critical-sized OCDs under surgically induced OA conditions and explored the underlying mechanisms that promoted OCD regeneration. Furthermore, the repair potential of Col2 scaffolds was validated in over critical-sized OCD models. After 90 days or 150 days since scaffold implantation, complete healing was observed histologically in critical-sized OCD, evidenced by the excellent integration with surrounding native tissues. The newly formed tissue biochemically resembled adjacent natural tissue and exhibited comparable biomechanical properties. The regenerated OA tissue demonstrated lower expression of genes associated with cartilage degradation than native OA tissue but comparable expression of genes related to osteochondral anabolism compared with normal tissue. Additionally, transcriptome and proteome analysis revealed the hindrance of TGF-β-Smad1/5/8 in regenerated OA tissue. In conclusion, the engrafting of Col2 scaffolds led to the successful regeneration of critical-sized OCDs under surgically induced OA conditions by inhibiting the TGF-β-Smad1/5/8 signaling pathway.

Harnessing Nanomedicine for Cartilage Repair: Design Considerations and Recent Advances in Biomaterials

Cartilage injuries are escalating worldwide, particularly in aging society. Given its limited self-healing ability, the repair and regeneration of damaged articular cartilage remain formidable challenges. To address this issue, nanomaterials are leveraged to achieve desirable repair outcomes by enhancing mechanical properties, optimizing drug loading and bioavailability, enabling site-specific and targeted delivery, and orchestrating cell activities at the nanoscale. This review presents a comprehensive survey of recent research in nanomedicine for cartilage repair, with a primary focus on biomaterial design considerations and recent advances. The review commences with an introductory overview of the intricate cartilage microenvironment and further delves into key biomaterial design parameters crucial for treating cartilage damage, including microstructure, surface charge, and active targeting. The focal point of this review lies in recent advances in nano drug delivery systems and nanotechnology-enabled 3D matrices for cartilage repair. We discuss the compositions and properties of these nanomaterials and elucidate how these materials impact the regeneration of damaged cartilage. This review underscores the pivotal role of nanotechnology in improving the efficacy of biomaterials utilized for the treatment of cartilage damage.

Forward and Inverse Energy Cascade in Fluid Turbulence Adhere to Kolmogorov's Refined Similarity Hypothesis

We study fluctuations of the local energy cascade rate Φ_{ℓ} in turbulent flows at scales (ℓ) in the inertial range. According to the Kolmogorov refined similarity hypothesis (KRSH), relevant statistical properties of Φ_{ℓ} should depend on ε_{ℓ}, the viscous dissipation rate locally averaged over a sphere of size ℓ, rather than on the global average dissipation. However, the validity of KRSH applied to Φ_{ℓ} has not yet been tested from data. Conditional averages such as ⟨Φ_{ℓ}|ε_{ℓ}⟩ as well as of higher-order moments are measured from direct numerical simulations data, and results clearly adhere to the predictions from KRSH. Remarkably, the same is true when considering forward (Φ_{ℓ}>0) and inverse (Φ_{ℓ}<0) cascade events separately. Measured ratios of forward and inverse cascade probability densities conditioned on ε_{ℓ} also confirm the applicability of the KRSH to analysis of the fluctuation relation from nonequilibrium thermodynamics.

Organo-Ptii Complexes for Potent Photodynamic Inactivation of Multi-Drug Resistant Bacteria and the Influence of Configuration

PtII based organometallic photosensitizers (PSs) have emerged as novel potent photodynamic inactivation (PDI) reagents through their enhanced intersystem crossing (ISC) processes. Currently, few PtII PSs have been investigated as antibacterial materials, with relatively poor performances reported and with structure-activity relationships not well described. Herein, a pair of configurational isomers are reported of Bis-BODIPY (4,4-difluoro-boradizaindacene) embedded PtII PSs. The cis-isomer (cis-BBP) displayed enhanced 1O2 generation and better bacterial membrane anchoring capability as compared to the trans-isomer (trans-BBP). The effective PDI concentrations (efficiency > 99.9%) for cis-BBP in Acinetobacter baumannii (multi-drug resistant (MDR)) and Staphylococcus aureus are 400 nM (12 J cm-2) and 100 nM (18 J cm-2), respectively; corresponding concentrations and light doses for trans-BBP in the two bacteria are 2.50 µM (30 J cm-2) and 1.50 µM (18 J cm-2), respectively. The 50% and 90% minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC50 and MIC90) ratio of trans-BBP to cis-BBP is 22.22 and 24.02 in A. baumannii (MDR); 21.29 and 22.36 in methicillin resistant S. aureus (MRSA), respectively. Furthermore, cis-BBP displays superior in vivo antibacterial performance, with acceptable dark and photoinduced cytotoxicity. These results demonstrate cis-BBP is a robust light-assisted antibacterial reagent at sub-micromolecular concentrations. More importantly, configuration of PtII PSs should be an important issue to be considered in further PDI reagents design.

Catechin-Functionalized Cationic Lipopolymer Based Multicomponent Nanomicelles for Lung-Targeting Delivery

Catechins from green tea are one of the most effective natural compounds for cancer chemoprevention and have attracted extensive research. Cancer cell-selective apoptosis-inducing properties of catechins depend on efficient intracellular delivery. However, the low bioavailability limits the application of catechins. Herein, a nano-scaled micellar composite composed of catechin-functionalized cationic lipopolymer and serum albumin is constructed. Cationic liposomes tend to accumulate in the pulmonary microvasculature due to electrostatic effects and are able to deliver the micellar system intracellularly, thus improving the bioavailability of catechins. Albumin in the system acts as a biocompatible anti-plasma absorbent, forming complexes with positively charged lipopolymer under electrostatic interactions, contributing to prolonged in vivo retention. The physicochemical properties of the nano-micellar complexes are characterized, and the antitumor properties of catechin-functionalized materials are confirmed by reactive oxygen species (ROS), caspase-3, and cell apoptosis measurements. The role of each functional module, cationic polymeric liposome, and albumin is revealed by cell penetration, in vivo animal assays, etc. This multicomponent micellar nanocomposite has the potential to become an effective vehicle for the treatment of lung diseases such as pneumonia, lung tumors, sepsis-induced lung injury, etc. This study also demonstrates that it is a great strategy to create a delivery system that is both tissue-targeted and biologically active by combining cationic liposomes with the native bioactive compound catechins.

Dual cross-linked COL1/HAp bionic gradient scaffolds containing human amniotic mesenchymal stem cells promote rotator cuff tendon-bone interface healing

The tendon-bone interface heals through scar tissue, while the lack of a natural interface gradient structure and collagen fibre alignment leads to the occurrence of retearing. Therefore, the promotion of tendon healing has become the focus of regenerative medicine. The purpose of this study was to develop a gradient COL1/ hydroxyapatite (HAp) biomaterial loaded with human amniotic mesenchymal stem cells (hAMSCs). The performance of common cross-linking agents, Genipin, 1-ethyl-3-(3-dimethylaminopropyl) carbodiimide/N-hydroxysuccinimide (EDC/NHS), and dual cross-linked materials were compared to select the best cross-linking mechanism to optimize the biological and mechanical properties of the scaffold. The optimal COL1/HAp-loaded with hAMSCs were implanted into the tendon-bone rotator cuff interfaces in rats and the effect on the tendon-bone healing was assessed by micro-CT, histological analysis, and biomechanical properties. The results showed that Genipin and EDC/NHS dual cross-linked COL1/HAp had good biological activity and mechanical properties and promoted the proliferation and differentiation of hAMSCs. Animal experiments showed that the group using a scaffold loaded with hAMSCs had excellent continuity and orientation of collagen fibers, increased fibrocartilage and bone formation, and significantly higher biomechanical functions than the control group at the interface at 12 weeks post operation. This study demonstrated that dual cross-linked gradient COL1/HAp-loaded hAMSCs could promote interface healing, thereby providing a feasible strategy for tendon-bone interface regeneration.

Recent progress and prospect of graphitic carbon nitride-based photocatalytic materials for inactivation of Microcystis aeruginosa

The proliferation of harmful algal blooms is a global concern due to the risk they pose to the environment and human health. Algal toxins which are hazardous compounds produced by dangerous algae, can potentially kill humans. Researchers have been drawn to photocatalysis because of its clean and energy-saving properties. Graphite carbon nitride (g-C3N4) photocatalysts have been extensively studied for their ability to eliminate algae. These photocatalysts have attracted notice because of their cost-effectiveness, appropriate electronic structure, and exceptional chemical stability. This paper reviews the progress of photocatalytic inactivation of harmful algae by g-C3N4-based materials in recent years. A brief overview is given of a number of the modification techniques on g-C3N4-based photocatalytic materials, as well as the process of inactivating algal cells and destroying their toxins. Additionally, it provides a theoretical framework for future research on the eradication of algae using g-C3N4-based photocatalytic materials.

Construction of a Decellularized Multicomponent Extracellular Matrix Interpenetrating Network Scaffold by Gelatin Microporous Hydrogel 3D Cell Culture System

Interface tissue repair requires the construction of biomaterials with integrated structures of multiple protein types. Hydrogels that modulate internal porous structures provide a 3D microenvironment for encapsulated cells, making them promise for interface tissue repair. Currently, reduction of intrinsic immunogenicity and increase of bioactive extracellular matrix (ECM) secretion are issues to be considered in these materials. In this study, gelatin methacrylate (GelMA) hydrogel is used to encapsulate chondrocytes and construct a phase transition 3D cell culture system (PTCC) by utilizing the thermosensitivity of gelatin microspheres to create micropores within the hydrogel. The types of bioactive extracellular matrix protein formation by chondrocytes encapsulated in hydrogels are investigated in vitro. After 28 days of culture, GelMA PTCC forms an extracellular matrix predominantly composed of collagen type II, collagen type I, and fibronectin. After decellularization, the protein types and mechanical properties are well preserved, fabricating a decellularized tissue-engineered extracellular matrix and GelMA hydrogel interpenetrating network hydrogel (dECM-GelMA IPN) consisting of GelMA hydrogel as the first-level network and the ECM secreted by chondrocytes as the second-level network. This material has the potential to mediate the repair and regeneration of tendon-bone interface tissues with multiple protein types.

Locus Coeruleus-Dorsolateral Septum Projections Modulate Depression-Like Behaviors via BDNF But Not Norepinephrine

Locus coeruleus (LC) dysfunction is involved in the pathophysiology of depression; however, the neural circuits and specific molecular mechanisms responsible for this dysfunction remain unclear. Here, it is shown that activation of tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) neurons in the LC alleviates depression-like behaviors in susceptible mice. The dorsolateral septum (dLS) is the most physiologically relevant output from the LC under stress. Stimulation of the LCTH -dLSSST innervation with optogenetic and chemogenetic tools bidirectionally can regulate depression-like behaviors in both male and female mice. Mechanistically, it is found that brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), but not norepinephrine, is required for the circuit to produce antidepressant-like effects. Genetic overexpression of BDNF in the circuit or supplementation with BDNF protein in the dLS is sufficient to produce antidepressant-like effects. Furthermore, viral knockdown of BDNF in this circuit abolishes the antidepressant-like effect of ketamine, but not fluoxetine. Collectively, these findings underscore the notable antidepressant-like role of the LCTH -dLSSST pathway in depression via BDNF-TrkB signaling.

[Acute heart failure with altered ejection fraction : Electrocardiographic signs with mortality at the Abidjan cardiology institute]

INTRODUCTION

Heart failure with impaired ejection fraction (HFIEF) represents the end-stage of most cardiac diseases, and is responsible for a high mortality rate. In order to identify patients at risk, numerous clinical and paraclinical prognostic factors have been proposed. The electrocardiogram (ECG), easy to perform and inexpensive, retains a powerful role in the prognostic evaluation of heart failure patients. The aim was to evaluate ECG signs associated with mortality in a retrospective cohort of patients with ICFEA.

METHODOLOGY

The study was observational and analytical based on retrospective data collected from patients benefiting from a primary hospitalization for ICFEA at the Abidjan Heart Institute from January 2018 to July 2020.

RESULTS

Of the 370 patients included, 197 had died by August 1, 2020, representing an overall mortality of 53%. Mortality progressed gradually up to one year, then remained unchanged up to 30 months. In multivariate Cox regression including ECG variables only, the presence of intra-ventricular conduction disorders (OR: 1.80; 95% CI [1.01-3.25]), microvoltage (OR: 1.82; 95% CI [1.05-16]), and pathological Q waves (OR: 1.70; 95% CI [1.02-2.83]), were significantly associated with overall mortality. When ECG variables and clinical, paraclinical and therapeutic demographic variables were included, only the presence of pathological Q waves (OR:1.74; 95% CI [1.01-3.01]) persisted as a risk factor for mortality. Hypertension and treatment of heart failure, in particular ACEI/ARII, beta-blockers and ARM, were protective factors. The presence of Q waves was associated with a significant reduction in survival, based on curves obtained using the Kaplan-Meier model.

CONCLUSION

ICFEA is responsible for high mortality, mainly in the year following the 1st hospitalization for cardiac decompensation. The presence of pathological Q waves is the only electrocardiographic sign that remains statistically associated with a poor prognosis, after adjustment.

Buprenorphine and methadone differentially alter early brain development in human cortical organoids

Buprenorphine (BUP) and methadone (MTD) are used for medication-assisted treatment (MAT) in opioid use disorder. Although both medications show improved maternal and neonatal outcomes compared with illicit opioid use during pregnancy, BUP has exhibited more favorable outcomes to newborns than MTD. The underlying cellular and molecular mechanisms for the difference between BUP and MTD are largely unknown. Here, we examined the growth and neuronal activity in human cortical organoids (hCOs) exposed to BUP or MTD. We found that the growth of hCOs was significantly restricted in the MTD-treated but not in the BUP-treated hCOs and BUP attenuated the growth-restriction effect of MTD in hCOs. Furthermore, a κ-receptor agonist restricted while an antagonist alleviated the growth-restriction effect of MTD in hCOs. Since BUP is not only a μ-agonist but a κ-antagonist, the prevention of this growth-restriction by BUP is likely due to its κ-receptor-antagonism. In addition, using multielectrode array (MEA) technique, we discovered that both BUP and MTD inhibited neuronal activity in hCOs but BUP showed suppressive effects only at higher concentrations. Furthermore, κ-receptor antagonist nBNI did not prevent the MTD-induced suppression of neuronal activity in hCOs but the NMDA-antagonism of MTD (that BUP lacks) plays a role in the inhibition of neuronal activity. We conclude that, although both MTD and BUP are μ-opioid agonists, a) the additional κ-receptor antagonism of BUP mitigates the MTD-induced growth restriction during neurodevelopment and b) the lack of NMDA antagonism of BUP (in contrast to MTD) induces much less suppressive effect on neural network communications.

A machine learning strategy-incorporated BiFeO3/Ti3C2 MXene electrochemical platform for simple, rapid detection of Pb2+ with high sensitivity

The electrochemical technique has been increasingly used for the detection of heavy metal ions in the water system. However, the process for determining the optimum experimental conditions was cumbersome, time-consuming, and unsynchronized, resulting in unsatisfactory detection efficiency. Herein, a new machine learning (ML) strategy combined with BiFeO3/Ti3C2 MXene (BiFeO3/MXene) was used to fabricate a simple but efficient electrochemical Pb2+ sensor. The interconnected BiFeO3/MXene composites prepared by a hydrothermal method possessed an interconnected conductive framework, abundant active sites, and a large surface area, which gave them excellent electronic conductivity and high accumulation of Pb2+. Meanwhile, ML methods such as back-propagation artificial neural network (BPANN) and genetic algorithm (GA) combined with orthogonal experimental design (OED) were used to optimize sensor parameters such as the pH of the supporting electrolyte, the BiFeO3/MXene content, deposition potential, and deposition time. Compared with OED and the one factor at a time (OFAT) methods, the OED-ML method greatly simplified the experimental procedures and improved the electrochemical detection performance. The developed sensor showed superior detection performance for Pb2+ with a detection limit of 0.0001 μg L-1 using the OED-ML method, which was much lower than that of the OED and OFAT methods (0.0003 μg L-1). In addition, the sensor showed good repeatability, reproducibility, stability, and interference capability. The feasibility of the method was verified by detecting Pb2+ in lake samples with recoveries ranging from 98.79% to 101.3%. To our knowledge, the ML strategy was introduced for the first time in an electrochemical sensor for Pb2+ detection, which proved the feasibility and practicality of ML.

Cartilage Tissue Engineering in Practice: Preclinical Trials, Clinical Applications, and Prospects

Articular cartilage defects significantly compromise the quality of life in the global population. Although many strategies are needed to repair articular cartilage, including microfracture, autologous osteochondral transplantation, and osteochondral allograft, the therapeutic effects remain suboptimal. In recent years, with the development of cartilage tissue engineering, scientists have continuously improved the formulations of therapeutic cells, biomaterial-based scaffolds, and biological factors, which have opened new avenues for better therapeutics of cartilage lesions. This review focuses on advances in cartilage tissue engineering, particularly in preclinical trials and clinical applications, prospects, and challenges.

The cGAS-STING-YY1 axis accelerates progression of neurodegeneration in a mouse model of Parkinson's disease via LCN2-dependent astrocyte senescence

Recent studies provide clues that astrocyte senescence is correlated with Parkinson's disease (PD) progression, while little is known about the molecular basis for astrocyte senescence in PD. Here, we found that cyclic GMP-AMP synthase (cGAS)/stimulator of interferon genes (STING) was upregulated in senescent astrocytes of PD and aged mice. Strikingly, deletion of astrocytic cGAS significantly prevented senescence of astrocytes and neurodegeneration. Furthermore, we identified LCN2 as the effector of cGAS-STING signal by RNA-Seq analysis. Genetic manipulation of LCN2 expression proved the regulation of cGAS-STING-LCN2 axis in astrocyte senescence. Additionally, YY1 was discovered as the transcription factor of LCN2 by chromatin immunoprecipitation. Binding of STING to YY1 impedes nuclear translocation of YY1. Herein, we determine the involvement of the cGAS-STING-YY1-LCN2 signaling cascade in the control of astrocyte senescence and PD progression. Together, this work fills the gap in our understanding of astrocyte senescence, and provides potential targets for delaying PD progression.

[Comparison of incubation periods of infections of Omicron variants BA.2 and BF.7 in Beijing]

Objective: To understand the incubation periods of infections of Omicron variants BA.2 and BF.7 in two COVID-19 epidemics and related factors in Beijing and provide basic parameters for the establishment of 2019-nCoV dynamic transmission model. Methods: The COVID-19 cases with specific exposure time and onset time in the Omicron variant BA.2 infection epidemic in April 2022 and in the Omicron variant BF.7 infection epidemic in October 2022 in Beijing were included in the analysis. The rank-sum test was conducted to estimate the differences in the incubation period between two types of infections. The incubation period distribution of the Omicron variant infection was fitted by using Weibull, Gamma and lognormal distributions. Multivariate analysis of variance was conducted to assess the effects of age, sex, variant type and vaccination status on the incubation periods. Results: A total of 64 cases of variant BA.2 infection and 58 cases of variant BF.7 infection were included. The M(Q1,Q3) of the incubation period was 3.00 (3.00, 4.00) days for BA.2 infection and 3.00 (2.00, 3.25) days for BF.7 infection. The lognormal distribution was the best fit. Multivariate analysis of variance showed that there were some differences in the incubation periods between two types of infections of Omicron variants, and the incubation period of variant BF.7 infection was shorter than that of variant BA.2 infection. Conclusion: Omicron variant BF.7 infection had shorter incubation period compared with Omicron variant BA.2 infection.

CircEPS15, as a sponge of MIR24-3p ameliorates neuronal damage in Parkinson disease through boosting PINK1-PRKN-mediated mitophagy

Despite growing evidence that has declared the importance of circRNAs in neurodegenerative diseases, the clinical significance of circRNAs in dopaminergic (DA) neuronal degeneration in the pathogenesis of Parkinson disease (PD) remains unclear. Here, we performed rRNA-depleted RNA sequencing and detected more than 10,000 circRNAs in the plasma samples of PD patients. In consideration of ROC and the correlation between Hohen-Yahr stage (H-Y stage) and Unified Parkinson Disease Rating Scale-motor score (UPDRS) of 40 PD patients, circEPS15 was selected for further research. Low expression of circEPS15 was found in PD patients and there was a negative positive correlation between the circEPS15 level and severity of PD motor symptoms, while overexpression of circEPS15 protected DA neurons against neurotoxin-induced PD-like neurodegeneration in vitro and in vivo. Mechanistically, circEPS15 acted as a MIR24-3p sponge to promote the stable expression of target gene PINK1, thus enhancing PINK1-PRKN-dependent mitophagy to eliminate damaged mitochondria and maintain mitochondrial homeostasis. Thus, circEPS15 rescued DA neuronal degeneration through the MIR24-3p-PINK1 axis-mediated improvement of mitochondrial function. This study reveals that circEPS15 exerts a critical role in participating in PD pathogenesis, and may give us an insight into the novel avenue to develop potential biomarkers and therapeutic targets for PD.Abbreviations: AAV: adeno-associated virus; DA: dopaminergic; FISH: fluorescence in situ hybridizations; HPLC: high-performance liquid chromatography; H-Y stage: Hohen-Yahr stage; LDH: lactate dehydrogenase; MMP: mitochondrial membrane potential; MPTP/p: 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine/probenecid; NC: negative control; PD: Parkinson disease; PINK1: PTEN induced kinase 1; PBS: phosphate-buffered saline; ROS: reactive oxygen species; SNpc: substantia nigra pars compacta; TEM: transmission electron microscopy; UPDRS: Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale-motor score.

Nanofiber Composite Reinforced Organohydrogels for Multifunctional and Wearable Electronics

Composite organohydrogels have been widely used in wearable electronics. However, it remains a great challenge to develop mechanically robust and multifunctional composite organohydrogels with good dispersion of nanofillers and strong interfacial interactions. Here, multifunctional nanofiber composite reinforced organohydrogels (NCROs) are prepared. The NCRO with a sandwich-like structure possesses excellent multi-level interfacial bonding. Simultaneously, the synergistic strengthening and toughening mechanism at three different length scales endow the NCRO with outstanding mechanical properties with a tensile strength (up to 7.38 ± 0.24 MPa), fracture strain (up to 941 ± 17%), toughness (up to 31.59 ± 1.53 MJ m-3) and fracture energy (up to 5.41 ± 0.63 kJ m-2). Moreover, the NCRO can be used for high performance electromagnetic interference shielding and strain sensing due to its high conductivity and excellent environmental tolerance such as anti-freezing performance. Remarkably, owing to the organohydrogel stabilized conductive network, the NCRO exhibits superior long-term sensing stability and durability compared to the nanofiber composite itself. This work provides new ideas for the design of high-strength, tough, stretchable, anti-freezing and conductive organohydrogels with potential applications in multifunctional and wearable electronics.

GSDMD in peripheral myeloid cells regulates microglial immune training and neuroinflammation in Parkinson's disease

Peripheral bacterial infections without impaired blood-brain barrier integrity have been attributed to the pathogenesis of Parkinson's disease (PD). Peripheral infection promotes innate immune training in microglia and exacerbates neuroinflammation. However, how changes in the peripheral environment mediate microglial training and exacerbation of infection-related PD is unknown. In this study, we demonstrate that GSDMD activation was enhanced in the spleen but not in the CNS of mice primed with low-dose LPS. GSDMD in peripheral myeloid cells promoted microglial immune training, thus exacerbating neuroinflammation and neurodegeneration during PD in an IL-1R-dependent manner. Furthermore, pharmacological inhibition of GSDMD alleviated the symptoms of PD in experimental PD models. Collectively, these findings demonstrate that GSDMD-induced pyroptosis in myeloid cells initiates neuroinflammation by regulating microglial training during infection-related PD. Based on these findings, GSDMD may serve as a therapeutic target for patients with PD.

A Curcumin-Modified Coordination Polymers with ROS Scavenging and Macrophage Phenotype Regulating Properties for Efficient Ulcerative Colitis Treatment

Overexpression of classically activated macrophages (M1) subtypes and assessed reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels are often observed in patients with ulcerative colitis. At present, the treatment system of these two problems has yet to be established. Here, the chemotherapy drug curcumin (CCM) is decorated with Prussian blue analogs in a straightforward and cost-saving manner. Modified CCM can be released in inflammatory tissue (acidic environment), eventually causing M1 macrophages to transform into M2 macrophages and inhibiting pro-inflammatory factors. Co(III) and Fe(II) have abundant valence variations, and the lower REDOX potential in CCM-CoFe PBA enables ROS clearance through multi-nanomase activity. In addition, CCM-CoFe PBA effectively alleviated the symptoms of UC mice induced by DSS and inhibited the progression of the disease. Therefore, the present material may be used as a new therapeutic agent for UC.

[Cardiovascular risk assessment among patients with hypertension based on SCORE2 and SCORE-OP algorithms in black Africans]

BACKGROUND

Hypertension is a major risk factor for cardiovascular events. The cardiovascular risk assessment is performed using specific algorithms, particularly SCORE2 and SCORE2-OP developed by the European Society of Cardiology.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Prospective cohort study from February 1, 2022, to July 31, 2022, enrolling 410 hypertensive patients. Epidemiological, paraclinical, therapeutic, and follow-up data were analyzed. Cardiovascular risk stratification of patients was performed using SCORE2 and SCORE2-OP algorithms. We compared the initial and 6-month cardiovascular risks.

RESULTS

The mean age of the patients was 60.88 ± 12.35 years with a female predominance (sex ratio = 0.66). In addition to hypertension, dyslipidemia (45.4%) was the most frequently associated risk factor. A high proportion of patients were classified as high (48.6%) and very high (46.3%) cardiovascular risk, with a significant difference between men and women. Reassessment of cardiovascular risk after 6 months of treatment found significant differences compared with the initial cardiovascular risk (p < 0.001). The rate of patients at low to moderate cardiovascular risk (49.5%) increased substantially, whereas the proportion of patients at very high risk decreased (6.8%).

CONCLUSION

Our study conducted at Abidjan Heart Institute in a young population of patients with hypertension revealed a severe cardiovascular risk profile. Almost half of the patients are classified at very high cardiovascular risk, based on the SCORE2 and SCORE2-OP. The widespread use of these new algorithms for risk stratification should lead to more aggressive management and prevention strategies for hypertension and associated risk factors.

Modification of TiO2 by Er3+ and rGO enhancing visible photocatalytic degradation of arsanilic acid

As a typical wide band gap photocatalyst, titania (TiO₂) cannot use the visible light and has fast recombination rate of photogenerated electron-hole pairs. Simultaneous introduction of erbium ion (Er³⁺) and graphene oxide (rGO) into TiO₂ might overcome these two drawbacks. In this study, Er³⁺ and rGO were co-doped on TiO₂ to synthesize Er³⁺-rGO/TiO₂ photocatalyst through a two-step sol-gel method. Based on the UV-visible diffuse reflectance spectra and photoluminescence spectrum, the introduction of Er³⁺ and rGO increased the visible light absorption efficiency and enhanced the migration of photogenerated electron. Pure TiO₂ has almost no photocatalytic activity for arsanilic acid (p-ASA) degradation under visible light irradiation. However, while doping with 2.0 mol% Er³⁺ and 10.0 mol% rGO, the p-ASA could be completely degraded within 50 min by the Er³⁺-rGO/TiO₂ photocatalyst under visible light irradiation, and most of produced inorganic arsenic was in situ removed by adsorption from the solution. The reactive oxygen species (ROS) reacting with p-ASA was determined and superoxide radical (O₂^•-) and singlet oxygen (¹O₂) were the dominant ROS for the oxidation of p-ASA and arsenite. This work provides an approach of introducing Er³⁺ and rGO to enhance the visible light photocatalytic efficiency of TiO₂.

Intelligent analysis of carbendazim in agricultural products based on a ZSHPC/MWCNT/SPE portable nanosensor combined with machine learning methods

A nano-ZnS-decorated hierarchically porous carbon (ZSHPC) was mixed with MWCNTs to obtain ZSHPC/MWCNT nanocomposites. Then, ZSHPC/MWCNTs were used to modify a screen-printed electrode, and a portable electrochemical detection system combined with machine learning methods was used to investigate carbendazim (CBZ) residues in rice and tea. The electrochemical performance of the constructed electrode showed that the electrode had good electrocatalytic ability, large effective surface area, strong stability and anti-interference ability. Support Vector Machine (SVM), Least Square Support Vector Machine (LS-SVM) and Back Propagation-Artificial Neural Network (BP-ANN) were used to establish the prediction model for CBZ residues in rice and tea, and the traditional linear regression was developed. The investigated results showed that the LS-SVM model had the best prediction performance and the lowest prediction error compared with the traditional linear regression, BP-ANN and SVM models. The R², RMSE, and MAE for the training set samples were 0.9969, 0.3605 and 0.2968, respectively. The R², RMSE, MAE and RPD for the prediction set samples were 0.9924, 0.6190, 0.5360 and 10.3097, respectively. The average recovery range of CBZ in tea and rice was 98.77-109.32% and that of RSD was 0.47-2.58%, indicating that the rapid analysis of CBZ pesticide residues in agricultural products based on a portable electrochemical detection system combined with machine learning was feasible.

An Instant Underwater Tissue Adhesive Composed of Catechin-Chondroitin Sulfate and Cholesterol-Polyethyleneimine

Due to the safety issue and poor underwater adhesion of current commercially available bioadhesives, they are hard to apply to in vivo physiological environments and more diverse medical use conditions. In this study, a novel and facile bioadhesive for underwater medical applications are designed based on the coacervation of electrostatic interactions and hydrophobic interactions, with the introduction of catechin as a provider of catechol moieties for adhesion to surrounding tissues. The orange-colored bio-adhesive, named PcC, is generated within seconds by mixing catechin-modified chondroitin sulfate and cholesterol chloroformate-modified polyethyleneimine with agitation. In vitro mechanical measurements prove that this novel PcC bio-adhesive is superior in underwater adhesion performance when applied to cartilage. Animal experiments in a rat mastectomy model and rat cartilage graft implantation model demonstrate its potential for diverse medical purposes, such as closing surgical incisions, reducing the formation of seroma, and tissue adhesive applied in orthopedic or cartilage surgery.

Fabrication and Performance Evaluation of Gelatin/Sodium Alginate Hydrogel-Based Macrophage and MSC Cell-Encapsulated Paracrine System with Potential Application in Wound Healing

A gelatin/sodium alginate-based hydrogel microsphere has been fabricated after reaction condition optimization. Macrophages (RAW246.7) and adipose mesenchymal stem cells (ADSC) have been subsequently encapsulated in the microsphere in order to construct a 3D paracrine system for wound healing treatment. The synthesized microsphere displayed neglectable cytotoxicity toward both encapsulated cells until 10 days of incubation, indicating promising biocompatibility of the microsphere. A qRT-PCR and ELISA experiment revealed positive regulation of cytokines (Arg-1, IL-6, IL-8, IL-10, bFGF, HGF, VEGF, TLR-1, and CXCL13) expression regarding macrophage phenotype transformation and anti-inflammatory performance both inside the microsphere and in the microenvironment of established in vitro inflammatory model. Additionally, positive tendency of cytokine expression benefit wound healing was more pronounced in a fabricated 3D paracrine system than that of a 2D paracrine system. Furthermore, the 3D paracrine system exhibited more efficiently in the wound healing rate compared to the 2D paracrine system in an in vitro model. These results suggested the current paracrine system could be potentially used as a robust wound healing dressing.

A Bifunctional TPE based Fluorescent Sensor for Liquid Viscosity and Amyloid β

A bifunctional TPE based fluorescent sensor (TPE-Q) for both liquid viscosity and Amyloidβ (Aβ) have been synthesized straight-forwardly by introduction of ethylene glycol chain and quaternary ammonium to classical tetraphenyl...

Design strategies for adhesive hydrogels with natural antibacterial agents as wound dressings: Status and trends

The wound healing process is usually susceptible to different bacterial infections due to the complex physiological environment, which significantly impairs wound healing. The topical application of antibiotics is not desirable for wound healing because the excessive use of antibiotics might cause bacteria to develop resistance and even the production of super bacteria, posing significant harm to human well-being. Wound dressings based on adhesive, biocompatible, and multi-functional hydrogels with natural antibacterial agents have been widely recognized as effective wound treatments. Hydrogels, which are three-dimensional (3D) polymer networks cross-linked through physical interactions or covalent bonds, are promising for topical antibacterial applications because of their excellent adhesion, antibacterial properties, and biocompatibility. To further improve the healing performance of hydrogels, various modification methods have been developed with superior biocompatibility, antibacterial activity, mechanical properties, and wound repair capabilities. This review summarizes hundreds of typical studies on various ingredients, preparation methods, antibacterial mechanisms, and internal antibacterial factors to understand adhesive hydrogels with natural antibacterial agents for wound dressings. Additionally, we provide prospects for adhesive and antibacterial hydrogels in biomedical applications and clinical research.

Spatio-temporal monitoring of marsh vegetation phenology and its response to hydro-meteorological factors using CCDC algorithm with optical and SAR images: In case of Honghe National Nature Reserve, China

Vegetation phenology is a sensitive indicator which can comprehensively reflect the response of wetland vegetation to external environment changes. However, the time-series monitoring wetland vegetation phenological changes and clarifying its response to hydrology and meteorology still face great challenges. To fill these research gaps, this paper proposed a novel time-series approach for monitoring phenological change of marsh vegetation in Honghe National Nature Reserve (HNNR), Northeast China, using continuous change detection and classification (CCDC) algorithm and Landsat and Sentinel-1 SAR images from 1985 to 2021. We evaluated the spatio-temporal response relationship of phenological characteristics to hydro-meteorological factors by combining CCDC algorithm with partial least squares regression (PLSR). Finally, this study further explored the intra-annual loss and restoration of marsh vegetation in response to hydro-meteorological factors using the transfer entropy (TE) and CCDC-MLSR model constructed by CCDC and Multiple Linear Stepwise Regression (MLSR) algorithms. We found that the bimodal trajectory of phenology reflects two growth processes of marsh vegetation in one year, and high-frequency and high-amplitude loss occurred in shallow-water and deep-water marsh vegetation from April to October, resulting in the loss area within the year was significantly greater than the recovery area. We confirmed that the CCDC algorithm could track the evolution trajectory of time-series phenology of marsh vegetation. We further revealed that precipitation, temperature and frequency of water-level changes are the main driving factors for the spatio-temporal phenological evolution of different marsh vegetation. This study verified the effect of alternative changes of hydrology and climate on loss and recovery of marsh vegetation in each growth stage. The results of this study provide a scientific basis for wetland protection, ecological restoration, and sustainable development.

Prognostic and diagnostic impact of new pathophysiology-based categorization of type 1 and type 2 myocardial infarction: data from the French RICO survey

Background

A new classification of type 1 and 2 myocardial infarction (MI) derived from the fourth universal definition of MI (UDMI) has been recently proposed, based on pathophysiology of coronary artery disease (CAD),. We assessed the impact of this new MI categorization on epidemiology and outcomes.

Methods

Retrospective study including all consecutive patients hospitalized for an acute MI in a multicenter database (RICO). MI was defined according to current UDMI. Rates and outcomes of T1MI and T2MI were addressed according to the new classification.

Results

Among the 4573 patients included on our study, 3710 patients (81.1%) were initially diagnosed with T1M1 and 863 (18.9%) with T2MI. After reclassification, 96 T2MI patients were moved into the T1MI category. Out of the remaining 767 patients with T2MI, 567 underwent coronary angiography, and were adjudicated as type 2A MI (68.6%) with obstructive CAD, and type 2B MI (31.4%) without obstructive CAD.

When compared with T1MI and T2BMI, T2AMI patients had worse in-hospital outcomes, including heart failure (p&lt;0.001), recurrent infarction (p&lt;0.048) and mechanical complications such as mitral insufficiency (p=0.001). The 3 groups (T1AMI, T2AMI and T2BMI) had similar all-cause and cardiovascular death rates, with a trend for a higher all-cause mortality in T2AMI patients.

Kaplan-Meier one-year survival curves showed higher all-cause and cardiovascular causes mortality in T2AMI patients compared to T1MI and T2BMI (p&lt;0.001). In multivariate Cox regression, type of MI was independent predictor of death.

Conclusion

Our large observational multicenter study shows major disparities in mortality according to type of MI and support the relevance of the new MI classification to improve risk classification. Our findings may will help identifying specific phenotypes and considering personalized diagnostic and management strategies.

Funding Acknowledgement

Type of funding sources: Public Institution(s). Main funding source(s): Agence Régionale de Santé (ARS) de Bourgogne Franche-ComtéRegional Council of Bourgogne Franche-Comté.

β-Arrestin2-biased Drd2 agonist UNC9995 alleviates astrocyte inflammatory injury via interaction between β-arrestin2 and STAT3 in mouse model of depression

Background

Major depressive disorder (MDD) is a prevalent and devastating psychiatric illness. Unfortunately, the current therapeutic practice, generally depending on the serotonergic system for drug treatment is unsatisfactory and shows intractable side effects. Multiple evidence suggests that dopamine (DA) and dopaminergic signals associated with neuroinflammation are highly involved in the pathophysiology of depression as well as in the mechanism of antidepressant drugs, which is still in the early stage of study and well worthy of investigation.

Methods

We established two chronic stress models, including chronic unpredictable mild stress (CUMS), and chronic social defeat stress (CSDS), to complementarily recapitulate depression-like behaviors. Then, hippocampal tissues were used to detect inflammation-related molecules and signaling pathways. Pathological changes in depressive mouse hippocampal astrocytes were examined by RNA sequencing. After confirming the dopamine receptor 2 (Drd2)/β-arrestin2 signaling changes in the depressive mice brain, we then established the depressive mouse model using the β-arrestin2 knockout mice or administrating the β-arrestin2-biased Drd2 agonist to investigate the roles. Label-free mass spectrometry was used to identify the β-arrestin2-binding proteins as the underlying mechanisms. We modeled neuroinflammation with interleukin-6 (IL-6) and corticosterone treatment and characterized astrocytes using multiple methods including cell viability assay, flow cytometry, and confocal immunofluorescence.

Results

Drd2-biased β-arrestin2 pathway is significantly changed in the progression of depression, and genetic deletion of β-arrestin2 aggravates neuroinflammation and depressive-like phenotypes. Mechanistically, astrocytic β-arrestin2 retains STAT3 in the cytoplasm by structural combination with STAT3, therefore, inhibiting the JAK–STAT3 pathway-mediated inflammatory activation. Furtherly, pharmacological activation of Drd2/β-arrestin2 pathway by UNC9995 abolishes the inflammation-induced loss of astrocytes and ameliorates depressive-like behaviors in mouse model for depression.

Conclusions

Drd2/β-arrestin2 pathway is a potential therapeutic target for depression and β-arrestin2-biased Drd2 agonist UNC9995 is identified as a potential anti-depressant strategy for preventing astrocytic dysfunctions and relieving neuropathological manifestations in mouse model for depression, which provides insights for the therapy of depression.

Supplementary Information

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12974-022-02597-6.

Design Strategy for Vulcanization Accelerator of Diphenylguanidine/Cyclodextrin Inclusion Complex for Natural Rubber Latex Foam with Enhancing Performance

Vulcanization is an essential process to obtain high-performance rubber products. Diphenylguanidine (DPG) is often used as the secondary accelerator in the vulcanization process of natural rubber (NR) latex. However, DPG would make NR latex emulsion exhibit gelation, resulting in the negative vulcanization efficiency. In addition, exposure to DPG might lead to some physiological diseases during the production process of DPG doped NR latex. Hydroxypropyl-β-cyclodextrin (HP-β-CD) with the hydrophobic interior and hydrophilic exterior has the advantages of good water solubility, high bioavailability, reliable stability, and low toxicity. In this study, the inclusion complex of diphenylguanidine-hydroxypropyl-β-cyclodextrin (DPG-HP-β-CD) is prepared by ball milling with a host-guest molar ratio of 1 : 1, which has also been applied to the foaming process of NR latex. The mechanical properties of DPG-HP-β-CD inclusion complex/natural rubber latex foam (DPG-HP-β-CD/NRLF) have been significantly improved, including the tensile strength, elongation at break, hardness, compression set, resilience, and antiaging performance. Further, the usage of DPG has been reduced, leading to the reduction of toxicity and environmental hazards.

Superlarge living hyaline cartilage graft contributed by the scale-changed porous 3D culture system for joint defect repair

It is known that an excellent hyaline cartilage phenotype, an internal microstructure with safe crosslinking and available size flexibility are the key factors of cartilage grafts that allow for clinical application. Living hyaline cartilage grafts (LhCGs) constructed by phase-transfer hydrogel (PTCC) systems were reported to have a hyaline phenotype and bionic microstructure. By employing chondrocytes to secrete matrix in the hydrogel and then removing the material to obtain material-free tissue in vitro, LhCG technology exhibited superior performance in cartilage repair. However, PTCC systems could only produce small-sized LhCGs because of medium delivery limitations, which hinders the clinical application of LhCGs. In this study, we prepared three different noncrosslinked gelatin microspheres with diameters from 200 μm to 500 μm, which replaced the original pore-forming agent. The new PTCC system with the mixed and gradient porous structure was used for the preparation of superlarge LhCGs with a continuous structure and hyaline phenotype. Compared to the original technique, the porous gradient structure promoted nutrient delivery and cartilage matrix secretion. The small size of the microporous structure promoted the rapid formation of matrix junctions. The experimental group with a mixed gradient increased cartilage matrix secretion significantly by more than 50% compared to the that of the control. The LhCG final area reached 7 cm²without obvious matrix stratification in the mixed gradient group. The design of the scale-changed porous PTCC system will make LhCGs more promising for clinical application.

Thermal crosslinking synthesis of ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer supported floating TiO2 photocatalyst: characterization and photocatalytic performance

Floating photocatalyst is of extensive interest due to easy recovery and efficient light harvest. Support materials largely determine the stability of floating photocatalysts and their synthesis complexity. Thus, finding proper floating supports is very important. Herein, ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer (EVA) was investigated as a support to prepare floating TiO₂/EVA using a simple thermal crosslinking procedure. Multiple characterization analyses demonstrated that TiO₂ was anchored onto EVA surface evenly via hydrogen-bond-enhanced physical crosslinking and remained its virgin crystal structure. Photocatalytic experiments showed that the removal efficiency of Rhodamine B (RhB) by floating TiO₂/EVA increased by 33.8% as compared to suspended particle TiO₂. The h⁺ and ·O₂^- played dominant roles in TiO₂/EVA-driven RhB degradation. A 30-day stability test demonstrated that TiO₂/EVA had a high thermal, pH, and photo- stability. The three-run reuse test proved that TiO₂/EVA exhibited satisfactory reusability. This study provides a new option for floating photocatalyst synthesis.

GYNAECOMASTIA APPEARED THREE DAYS AFTER STARTING METHIMAZOLE

We reported that in a 29-year-old male patient with hyperthyroidism, bilateral breast swelling appeared in three days after starting methimazole and gradually aggravated. Several days later, a small amount of transparent liquid could be squeezed out from bilateral mammary glands. Breast ultrasound confirmed gynaecomastia. The level of testosterone, estradiol and luteinizing hormone increased. After the patient continued taking methimazole for a while, gynaecomastia relieved. Testosterone, luteinizing hormone and thyroid functions restored to normal. The possible mechanisms included increased levels of serum total cholesterol and relatively decreased T3 after initiating methimazole.

[Evolution of epidemiology and management of acute coronary syndromes in Abidjan : A cross-sectional study of 1011 patients.]

BACKGROUND

To assess the evolution of the epidemiology and management of patients hospitalized to Abidjan Heart Institute for acute coronary syndrome (ACS).

METHODS

Cross-sectional study comparing two periods: from January 2002 to December 2009 (period 1) and from January 2010 to December 2016 (period 2), including all patients aged 18 years old, admitted to Intensive Care Unit of Abidjan Heart Institute for ACS.

RESULTS

One thousand eleven (1011) patients were included among the 6784 patients admitted to Intensive Care Unit of Abidjan Heart Institute for a cardiovascular disease. The overall prevalence of ACS was 14.9%. The prevalence in period 2 was significantly higher than in period 1 (22.6% and 7.3% respectively, p < 0.001). Diabetes (33.5%, p < 0.001) significantly, and smoking (30.7%, p = 0.30) had the largest rises from period 1 to period 2. ST-segment Elevation Myocardial Infarction was the main clinical presentation during both periods. The median time to treatment (p = 0.46) and length of hospital stay (p <0.001) decreased during period 2. Percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) was performed in 173 patients (22.6%) during the period 2 and 42 patients (5.5%) underwent primary PCI. The rate of fibrinolysis increased significantly between the two periods (9.5%, p <0.001). In-hospital death increased during period 2 (10.4%, p = 0.07).

CONCLUSION

The burden of ACS and its related mortality have risen alarmingly past years in Côte d'Ivoire. Healthcare policies should help improve the management and outcomes of patients.

Transcription Factor 4 loss-of-function is associated with deficits in progenitor proliferation and cortical neuron content

Transcription Factor 4 (TCF4) has been associated with autism, schizophrenia, and other neuropsychiatric disorders. However, how pathological TCF4 mutations affect the human neural tissue is poorly understood. Here, we derive neural progenitor cells, neurons, and brain organoids from skin fibroblasts obtained from children with Pitt-Hopkins Syndrome carrying clinically relevant mutations in TCF4. We show that neural progenitors bearing these mutations have reduced proliferation and impaired capacity to differentiate into neurons. We identify a mechanism through which TCF4 loss-of-function leads to decreased Wnt signaling and then to diminished expression of SOX genes, culminating in reduced progenitor proliferation in vitro. Moreover, we show reduced cortical neuron content and impaired electrical activity in the patient-derived organoids, phenotypes that were rescued after correction of TCF4 expression or by pharmacological modulation of Wnt signaling. This work delineates pathological mechanisms in neural cells harboring TCF4 mutations and provides a potential target for therapeutic strategies for genetic disorders associated with this gene.

[Relationship between body mass index and sexual development in Chinese children]

Objective: To investigate the relationship between body mass index (BMI) and sexual development in Chinese children. Methods: A nationwide multicenter and population-based large cross-sectional study was conducted in 13 provinces, autonomous regions and municipalities of China from January 2017 to December 2018. Data on sex, age, height, weight were collected, BMI was calculated and sexual characteristics were analyzed. The subjects were divided into four groups based on age, including ages 3-<6 years, 6-<10 years, 10-<15 years and 15-<18 years. Multiple Logistic regression models were used for evaluating the associations of BMI with sexual development in children. Dichotomous Logistic regression was used to compare the differences in the distribution of early and non-early puberty among normal weight, overweight and obese groups. Curves were drawn to analyze the relationship between the percentage of early puberty and BMI distribution in girls and boys at different Tanner stages. Results: A total of 208 179 healthy children (96 471 girls and 111 708 boys) were enrolled in this study. The OR values of B2, B3 and B4+ in overweight girls were 1.72 (95%CI: 1.56-1.89), 3.19 (95%CI: 2.86-3.57), 7.14 (95%CI: 6.33-8.05) and in obese girls were 2.05 (95%CI: 1.88-2.24), 4.98 (95%CI: 4.49-5.53), 11.21 (95%CI: 9.98-12.59), respectively; while the OR values of G2, G3, G4+ in overweight boys were 1.27 (95%CI: 1.17-1.38), 1.52 (95%CI: 1.36-1.70), 1.88 (95%CI: 1.66-2.14) and in obese boys were 1.27 (95%CI: 1.17-1.37), 1.59 (95%CI: 1.43-1.78), and 1.93 (95%CI: 1.70-2.18) (compared with normal weight Tanner 1 group,all P<0.01). Analysis in different age groups found that OR values of obese girls at B2 stage and boys at G2 stage were 2.02 (95%CI: 1.06-3.86) and 2.32 (95%CI:1.05-5.12) in preschool children aged 3-<6 years, respectively (both P<0.05). And in the age group of 6-10 years, overweight girls had a 5.45-fold risk and obese girls had a 12.54-fold risk of B3 stage compared to girls with normal BMI. Compared with normal weight children, the risk of early puberty was 2.67 times higher in overweight girls, 3.63 times higher in obese girls, and 1.22 times higher in overweight boys, 1.35 times higher in obese boys (all P<0.01). Among the children at each Tanner stages, the percentage of early puberty increased with the increase of BMI, from 5.7% (80/1 397), 16.1% (48/299), 13.8% (27/195) to 25.7% (198/769), 65.1% (209/321), 65.4% (157/240) in girls aged 8-<9, 10-<11 and 11-<12 years, and 6.6% (34/513), 18.7% (51/273), 21.6% (57/264) to 13.3% (96/722), 46.4% (140/302), 47.5% (105/221) in boys aged 9-<10, 12-<13 and 13-<14 years, respectively. Conclusions: BMI is positively correlated with sexual development in both Chinese boys and girls, and the correlation is stronger in girls. Obesity is a risk factor for precocious puberty in preschool children aged 3-<6 years, and 6-<10 years of age is a high risk period for early development in obese girls.