Optimal transcorneal electrical stimulation parameters for preserving photoreceptors in a mouse model of retinitis pigmentosa

JOURNAL/nrgr/04.03/01300535-202419110-00034/figure1/v/2024-03-08T184507Z/r/image-tiff Retinitis pigmentosa is a hereditary retinal disease that affects rod and cone photoreceptors, leading to progressive photoreceptor loss. Previous research supports the beneficial effect of electrical stimulation on photoreceptor survival. This study aims to identify the most effective electrical stimulation parameters and functional advantages of transcorneal electrical stimulation (tcES) in mice affected by inherited retinal degeneration. Additionally, the study seeked to analyze the electric field that reaches the retina in both eyes in mice and post-mortem humans. In this study, we recorded waveforms and voltages directed to the retina during transcorneal electrical stimulation in C57BL/6J mice using an intraocular needle probe with rectangular, sine, and ramp waveforms. To investigate the functional effects of electrical stimulation on photoreceptors, we used human retinal explant cultures and rhodopsin knockout (Rho-/-) mice, demonstrating progressive photoreceptor degeneration with age. Human retinal explants isolated from the donors' eyes were then subjected to electrical stimulation and cultured for 48 hours to simulate the neurodegenerative environment in vitro. Photoreceptor density was evaluated by rhodopsin immunolabeling. In vivo Rho-/- mice were subjected to two 5-day series of daily transcorneal electrical stimulation using rectangular and ramp waveforms. Retinal function and visual perception of mice were evaluated by electroretinography and optomotor response (OMR), respectively. Immunolabeling was used to assess the morphological and biochemical changes of the photoreceptor and bipolar cells in mouse retinas. Oscilloscope recordings indicated effective delivery of rectangular, sine, and ramp waveforms to the retina by transcorneal electrical stimulation, of which the ramp waveform required the lowest voltage. Evaluation of the total conductive resistance of the post-mortem human compared to the mouse eyes indicated higher cornea-to-retina resistance in human eyes. The temperature recordings during and after electrical stimulation indicated no significant temperature change in vivo and only a subtle temperature increase in vitro (~0.5-1.5°C). Electrical stimulation increased photoreceptor survival in human retinal explant cultures, particularly at the ramp waveform. Transcorneal electrical stimulation (rectangular + ramp) waveforms significantly improved the survival and function of S and M-cones and enhanced visual acuity based on the optomotor response results. Histology and immunolabeling demonstrated increased photoreceptor survival, improved outer nuclear layer thickness, and increased bipolar cell sprouting in Rho-/- mice. These results indicate that transcorneal electrical stimulation effectively delivers the electrical field to the retina, improves photoreceptor survival in both human and mouse retinas, and increases visual function in Rho-/- mice. Combined rectangular and ramp waveform stimulation can promote photoreceptor survival in a minimally invasive fashion.

Large Fermi surface in pristine kagome metal CsV3Sb5 and enhanced quasiparticle effective masses

The kagome metal CsV[Formula: see text]Sb[Formula: see text] is an ideal platform to study the interplay between topology and electron correlation. To understand the fermiology of CsV[Formula: see text]Sb[Formula: see text], intensive quantum oscillation (QO) studies at ambient pressure have been conducted. However, due to the Fermi surface reconstruction by the complicated charge density wave (CDW) order, the QO spectrum is exceedingly complex, hindering a complete understanding of the fermiology. Here, we directly map the Fermi surface of the pristine CsV[Formula: see text]Sb[Formula: see text] by measuring Shubnikov-de Haas QOs up to 29 T under pressure, where the CDW order is completely suppressed. The QO spectrum of the pristine CsV[Formula: see text]Sb[Formula: see text] is significantly simpler than the one in the CDW phase, and the detected oscillation frequencies agree well with our density functional theory calculations. In particular, a frequency as large as 8,200 T is detected. Pressure-dependent QO studies further reveal a weak but noticeable enhancement of the quasiparticle effective masses on approaching the critical pressure where the CDW order disappears, hinting at the presence of quantum fluctuations. Our high-pressure QO results reveal the large, unreconstructed Fermi surface of CsV[Formula: see text]Sb[Formula: see text], paving the way to understanding the parent state of this intriguing metal in which the electrons can be organized into different ordered states.

Effect of vinegar supplementation on patients with esophageal lesions lightly stained with Lugol’s iodine solution: Prospective single-centre trial

BACKGROUND

Esophageal chromoendoscopy with iodine solution is important for detecting early esophageal cancer. The effect of routine treatment for lesions lightly stained with Lugol’s iodine solution is limited, and the addition of natural substances to a regular diet is becoming increasingly common. Vinegar has antitumor effects as reported in previous studies.

AIM

To evaluate whether vinegar supplementation could improve the prognosis of patients with lightly stained esophageal lesions.

METHODS

This prospective single-centre trial included consecutive patients with lightly stained lesions between June 2020 and April 2022. Patients in the experimental group received increased amounts of vinegar for 6 months. The primary outcome of the study was the clinical therapeutic effect. Complications related to vinegar ingestion and adverse events were also recorded in detail.

RESULTS

A total of 166 patients were included in the final analysis. There was no significant difference in the baseline data between the two groups. Intention-to-treat (ITT) analysis demonstrated that the rates at which endoscopic characteristics improved were 33.72% in the experimental group and 20.00% in the conventional group (P = 0.007); and the rates at which biopsy pathology improved were 19.77% and 8.75%, respectively (P = 0.011). Additional vinegar consumption had a statistically protective effect on the rate at which endoscopic characteristics improved [hazard ratio (HR) _ITT = 2.183, 95%CI: 1.183-4.028; HR_{per-protocol (PP)} = 2.307, 95%CI: 1.202-4.426] and biopsy pathology improved (HR_ITT = 2.931, 95%CI: 1.212-7.089; HR_PP = 3.320, 95%CI: 1.295-8.507). No statistically significant effect of increased vinegar consumption on preventing high-grade intraepithelial neoplasia or early cancer was observed (HR_ITT = 0.382, 95%CI: 0.079-1.846; HR_PP = 0.382, 95%CI: 0.079-1.846). The subgroup analyses indicated that the overall therapeutic improvement of endoscopic characteristics and biopsy pathology seemed more obvious in older (age > 60) male patients with small lesions (lesion size ≤ 0.5 cm). Three patients in the experimental group reported acid regurgitation and heartburn. No adverse event during gastroscopy were recorded during follow-up.

CONCLUSION

A moderately increased ingestion of vinegar could not directly reduce the risk of esophageal cancer in the mucosa dysplasia population, but it improved the endoscopic characteristics and ameliorated the biopsy pathology to a certain extent. Further research is needed to verify the effect of nutritional intervention on precancerous esophageal lesions.

Micelles regulated thin film nanocomposite membrane with enhanced nanofiltration performance

The desalination performance of thin film nanocomposite (TFN) membranes is significantly influenced by the nature of nanofillers and the structure of the polyamide (PA) layer. Herein, a micelles regulated interfacial polymerization (MRIP) strategy is reported for the preparation of TFN membranes with enhanced nanofiltration (NF) performance. Specially, stable and ultrafine micelles, synthesized from the poly(ethylene oxide)-b-poly(4-vinyl pyridine)-b-polystyrene (PEO-PVP-PS) triblock copolymers, were utilized as regulators in the aqueous phase during the interfacial polymerization (IP) process. TFN membranes were fabricated with varying concentrations of micelles to improve their properties and performances. The structure of the PA layer was further regulated by modulating the content of trimesoyl chloride (TMC), which significantly enhances the performance of the TFN membrane with micelles. Attributable to the homogeneously dispersed micelles and the modified PA layer, the optimized membrane denoted as TFN-2-0.3 exhibits an improved separation performance of 20.7 L m-2h-1 bar-1 and 99.3 % Na2SO4 rejection, demonstrating nearly twice the permeance and 2.7 % higher rejection than that of the original control membrane, respectively. The mechanism of this MRIP strategy was investigated through the diffusion experiments of piperazine (PIP) and interfacial tension tests. The incorporated micelles effectively lower the interfacial tension, promote the diffusion of PIP and accelerate the IP reaction, resulting in a denser and thinner PA layer. Collectively, these findings demonstrate that TFN membranes with micelles exhibit increased roughness, enhanced hydrophilicity, superior rejection to divalent salts, and better acid-base resistance, highlighting their potential applications in the design of TFN membranes.

A state-of-art review on the redox activity of persistent free radicals in biochar

Biochar-bound persistent free radicals (biochar-PFRs) attract much attention because they can directly or indirectly mediate the transformation of contaminants in large-scale wastewater treatment processes. Despite this, a comprehensive top-down understanding of the redox activity of biochar-PFRs, particularly consumption and regeneration mechanisms, as well as challenges in redox activity assessment, is still lacking. To tackle this challenge, this review outlines the identification and determination methods of biochar-PFRs, which serve as a prerequisite for assessing the redox activity of biochar-PFRs. Recent developments concerning biochar-PFRs are discussed, with a main emphasis on the reaction mechanisms (both non-free radical and free radical pathways) and their effectiveness in removing contaminants. Importantly, the review delves into the mechanism of biochar-PFRs regeneration, triggered by metal cations, reactive oxygen species, and ultraviolet radiations. Furthermore, this review thoroughly explores the dilemma in appraising the redox activity of biochar-PFRs. Components with unpaired electrons (particular defects and metal ions) interfere with biochar-PFRs signals in electron paramagnetic resonance spectra. Scavengers and extractants of biochar-PFRs also inevitably modify the active ingredients of biochar. Based on these analyses, a practical strategy is proposed to precisely determine the redox activity of biochar-PFRs. Finally, the review concludes by presenting current gaps in knowledge and offering suggestions for future research. This comprehensive examination aims to provide new and significant insights into the redox activity of biochar-PFRs.

Polysaccharides from Dendrobium officinale delay diabetic kidney disease interstitial fibrosis through LncRNA XIST/TGF-β1

PURPOSE

Renal interstitial fibrosis is a pathological manifestation of the progression of diabetic kidney disease (DKD). Dendrobium officinale polysaccharides (DOP), one of the major active components of Dendrobium officinale, have hypoglycemic and hypolipidemic effects and are used clinically to treat diabetes. However, the role of DOP in delaying DKD progression remains unclear. This study aimed to explore the potential mechanisms by which DOP delays DKD renal interstitial fibrosis.

METHODS

Using db/db mice as a model of DKD, we administered DOP by gavage and observed its therapeutic effectiveness. Employing ASO technology, we knocked down lncRNA XIST expression in kidney tissues and detected the expression of lncRNA XIST, TGF-β1, and renal interstitial fibrosis-related molecules.

RESULTS

DOP was primarily composed of monosaccharides, with 91.57% glucose and 1.41% mannose, forming a spheroid-like structure. It has a high polydispersity index with an Mw/Mn of 6.146, and the polysaccharides are mainly connected by 4-Man(p) and 4-Glc(p) linkages. In the kidneys of db/db mice, lncRNA XIST and TGF-β1 are highly expressed; however, their expression is significantly reduced after gastric infusion with DOP, and upon knockdown of lncRNA XIST, it might delay the progression of renal interstitial fibrosis in DKD.

CONCLUSION

DOP may delay the progression of DKD renal interstitial fibrosis through the regulation of the LncRNA XIST/TGF-β1 related fibrotic pathway. This provides a new perspective for clinical strategies to delay the progression of DKD renal interstitial fibrosis.

4-Fluorobenzyl cyanide, a sterically-hindered solvent expediting interfacial kinetics in lithium-ion batteries

The electrochemical performance of lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) is plagued by sluggish interfacial kinetics. Fortunately, the Li+ solvation structure bridges the bulk electrolyte and interfacial chemistry, providing a pathway for promoting electrochemical kinetics in LIBs. Herein, we improve the interfacial kinetics by tuning the Li+ coordination chemistry based on solvent molecular engineering. Specifically, 4-fluorobenzyl cyanide (FBCN), featuring steric hindrance and a weak Lewis basic center, is designed to construct a bulky coordination structure with Li+, weakening ion-dipole interaction (Li+-solvents) but promoting coulombic attraction (Li+-anions) at a normal Li salt concentration. This sterically-controlled solvation chemistry reduces the interfacial barrier and thus contributes to improved rate performance, as demonstrated practically in LiFePO4//graphite pouch cells. This study provides fresh insights into solvent steric control and coordination chemistry engineering, opening a new avenue for enhancing electrochemical kinetics in LIBs.

Seasonal and Spatial Fluctuations of Reactive Oxygen Species in Riparian Soils and Their Contributions on Organic Carbon Mineralization

Reactive oxygen species (ROS) are ubiquitous in the natural environment and play a pivotal role in biogeochemical processes. However, the spatiotemporal distribution and production mechanisms of ROS in riparian soil remain unknown. Herein, we performed uninterrupted monitoring to investigate the variation of ROS at different soil sites of the Weihe River riparian zone throughout the year. Fluorescence imaging and quantitative analysis clearly showed the production and spatiotemporal variation of ROS in riparian soils. The concentration of superoxide (O2•-) was 300% higher in summer and autumn compared to that in other seasons, while the highest concentrations of 539.7 and 20.12 μmol kg-1 were observed in winter for hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) and hydroxyl radicals (•OH), respectively. Spatially, ROS production in riparian soils gradually decreased along with the stream. The results of the structural equation and random forest model indicated that meteorological conditions and soil physicochemical properties were primary drivers mediating the seasonal and spatial variations in ROS production, respectively. The generated •OH significantly induced the abiotic mineralization of organic carbon, contributing to 17.5-26.4% of CO2 efflux. The obtained information highlighted riparian zones as pervasive yet previously underestimated hotspots for ROS production, which may have non-negligible implications for carbon turnover and other elemental cycles in riparian soils.

Prototype Learning for Medical Time Series Classification via Human-Machine Collaboration

Deep neural networks must address the dual challenge of delivering high-accuracy predictions and providing user-friendly explanations. While deep models are widely used in the field of time series modeling, deciphering the core principles that govern the models' outputs remains a significant challenge. This is crucial for fostering the development of trusted models and facilitating domain expert validation, thereby empowering users and domain experts to utilize them confidently in high-risk decision-making contexts (e.g., decision-support systems in healthcare). In this work, we put forward a deep prototype learning model that supports interpretable and manipulable modeling and classification of medical time series (i.e., ECG signal). Specifically, we first optimize the representation of single heartbeat data by employing a bidirectional long short-term memory and attention mechanism, and then construct prototypes during the training phase. The final classification outcomes (i.e., normal sinus rhythm, atrial fibrillation, and other rhythm) are determined by comparing the input with the obtained prototypes. Moreover, the proposed model presents a human-machine collaboration mechanism, allowing domain experts to refine the prototypes by integrating their expertise to further enhance the model's performance (contrary to the human-in-the-loop paradigm, where humans primarily act as supervisors or correctors, intervening when required, our approach focuses on a human-machine collaboration, wherein both parties engage as partners, enabling more fluid and integrated interactions). The experimental outcomes presented herein delineate that, within the realm of binary classification tasks-specifically distinguishing between normal sinus rhythm and atrial fibrillation-our proposed model, albeit registering marginally lower performance in comparison to certain established baseline models such as Convolutional Neural Networks (CNNs) and bidirectional long short-term memory with attention mechanisms (Bi-LSTMAttns), evidently surpasses other contemporary state-of-the-art prototype baseline models. Moreover, it demonstrates significantly enhanced performance relative to these prototype baseline models in the context of triple classification tasks, which encompass normal sinus rhythm, atrial fibrillation, and other rhythm classifications. The proposed model manifests a commendable prediction accuracy of 0.8414, coupled with macro precision, recall, and F1-score metrics of 0.8449, 0.8224, and 0.8235, respectively, achieving both high classification accuracy as well as good interpretability.

[Effect of intestinal nitrate on growth of Klebsiella pneumoniae and its regulatory mechanism]

OBJECTIVE

To explore the effect of intestinal nitrates on the growth of Klebsiella pneumoniae and its regulatory mechanisms.

METHODS

K. pneumoniae strains with nitrate reductase narG and narZ single or double gene knockout or with NarXL gene knockout were constructed and observed for both aerobic and anaerobic growth in the presence of KNO3 using an automated bacterial growth analyzer and a spectrophotometer, respectively. The mRNA expressions of narG and narZ in K. pneumoniae in anaerobic cultures in the presence of KNO3 and the effect of the binary regulatory system NarXL on their expresisons were detected using qRT-PCR. Electrophoretic mobility shift assays (EMSA) and MST analysis were performed to explore the specific regulatory mechanisms of NarXL in sensing and utilizing nitrates. Competitive experiments were conducted to examine anaerobic growth advantages of narG and narZ gene knockout strains of K. pneumoniae in the presence of KNO3.

RESULTS

The presence of KNO3 in anaerobic conditions, but not in aerobic conditions, promoted bacterial growth more effectively in the wild-type K. pneumoniae strain than in the narXL gene knockout strain. In anaerobic conditions, the narXL gene knockout strain showed significantly lowered mRNA expressions of narG and narZ (P < 0.0001). EMSA and MST experiments demonstrated that the NarXL regulator could directly bind to narG and narZ promoter regions. The wild-type K. pneumoniae strain in anaerobic cultures showed significantly increased expressions of narG and narZ mRNAs in the presence of KNO3 (P < 0.01), and narG gene knockout resulted in significantly attenuated anaerobic growth and competitive growth abilities of K. pneumoniae in the presence of KNO3 (P < 0.01).

CONCLUSION

The binary regulatory system NarXL of K. pneumoniae can sense changes in intestinal nitrate concentration and directly regulate the expression of nitrate reductase genes narG and narZ to promote bacterial growth.

Two-Dimensional Electrolyte Design: Broadening the Horizons of Functional Electrolytes in Lithium Batteries

ConspectusSince their commercialization in the 1990s, lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) have been increasingly used in applications such as portable electronics, electric vehicles, and large-scale energy storage. The increasing use of LIBs in modern society has necessitated superior-performance LIB development, including electrochemical reversibility, interfacial stability, efficient kinetics, environmental adaptability, and intrinsic safety, which is difficult to simultaneously achieve in commercialized electrolytes. Current electrolyte systems contain a solution with Li salts (e.g., LiPF6) and solvents (e.g., ethylene carbonate and dimethyl carbonate), in which the latter dissolves Li salts and strongly interacts with Li+ (lithiophilic feature). Only lithiophilic agents can be functionally modified (e.g., additives and solvents), altering the bulk and interfacial behaviors of Li+ solvates. However, such approaches alter pristine Li+ solvation and electrochemical processes, making it difficult to strike a balance between the electrochemical performance and other desired electrolyte functions. This common electrolyte design in lithiophilic solvents shows strong coupling among formulation, coordination, electrochemistry, and electrolyte function. The invention of lithiophobic cosolvents (e.g., multifluorinated ether and fluoroaromatic hydrocarbons) has expanded the electrolyte design space to lithiophilic (interacts with Li+) and lithiophobic (interacts with solvents but not with Li+) dimensions. Functional modifications switch to lithiophobic cosolvents, affording superior properties (carried by lithiophobic cosolvents) with little impact on primary Li+ solvation (dictated by lithiophilic solvents). This electrolyte engineering technique based on lithiophobic cosolvents is the 2D electrolyte (TDE) principle, which decouples formulation, coordination, electrochemistry, and function. The molecular-scale understanding of TDEs is expected to accelerate electrolyte innovations in next-generation LIBs.This Account provides insights into recent advancements in electrolytes for superior LIBs from the perspective of lithiophobic agents (i.e., lithiophobic additives and cosolvents), establishing a generalized TDE principle for functional electrolyte design. In bulk electrolytes, a microsolvating competition emerges because of cosolvent-induced dipole-dipole and ion-dipole interactions, forming a loose solvation shell and a kinetically favorable electrolyte. At the electrode/electrolyte interface, the lithiophobic cosolvent affords reliable passivation and efficient desolvation, with interfacial compatibility and electrochemical reversibility even under harsh conditions. Based on this unique coordination chemistry, functional electrolytes are formulated without significantly sacrificing their electrochemical performance. First, lithiophobic cosolvents are used to tune Li+-solvent affinity and anion mobility, promoting Li+ diffusion and electrochemical kinetics of the electrolyte to benefit high-rate and low-temperature applications. Second, the lithiophobic cosolvent undergoes less thermally induced decomposition and constructs a thermally stable interphase in TDEs, affording electrolytes with high-temperature adaptability and cycling stability. Third, the lithiophobic cosolvent modifies the local Li+-solvent-anion topography, controlling electrolyte electrochemical reversibility to afford numerous promising solvents that cannot be used in common electrolyte design. Finally, the lithiophobic cosolvent mitigates detrimental crosstalk between flame retardants and carbonate solvents, improving the intrinsic electrolyte safety without compromising electrochemical performance, which broadens the horizons of electrolyte design by optimizing versatile cosolvents and solvents, inspiring new ideas in liquid electrochemistry in other battery systems.

[Dynamic observation on capillarization of liver sinusoidal endothelial cells induced by Echinococcus multilocularis infection]

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the capillarization of liver sinusoidal endothelial cells (LSECs) and its association with hepatic fibrosis during the development of alveolar echinococcosis, so as to provide the basis for unraveling the mechanisms underlying the role of LSEC in the development and prognosis of hepatic injuries and hepatic fibrosis caused by alveolar echinococcosis.

METHODS

Forty C57BL/6 mice at ages of 6 to 8 weeks were randomly divided into a control group and 1-, 2- and 4-week infection groups, of 10 mice in each group. Each mouse in the infection groups was intraperitoneally injected with 2 000 Echinococcus multilocularis protoscoleces, while each mouse in the control group was given an equal volume of phosphate-buffered saline using the same method. All mice were sacrificed 1, 2 and 4 weeks post-infection and mouse livers were collected. The pathological changes of livers were observed using hematoxylin-eosin (HE) staining, and hepatic fibrosis was evaluated through semi-quantitative analysis of Masson's trichrome staining-positive areas. The activation of hepatic stellate cells (HSCs) and extracellular matrix (ECM) deposition were examined using immunohistochemical staining of α-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA) and collagen type I alpha 1 (COL1A1), and the fenestrations on the surface of LSECs were observed using scanning electron microscopy. Primary LSECs were isolated from mouse livers, and the mRNA expression of LSEC marker genes Stabilin-1, Stabilin-2, Ehd3, CD209b, GATA4 and Maf was quantified using real-time fluorescence quantitative PCR (qPCR) assay.

RESULTS

Destruction of local liver lobular structure was observed in mice 2 weeks post-infection with E. multilocularis protoscoleces, and hydatid cysts, which were surrounded by granulomatous tissues, were found in mouse livers 4 weeks post-infection. Semi-quantitative analysis of Masson's trichrome staining showed a significant difference in the proportion of collagen fiber contents in mouse livers among the four groups (F = 26.060, P < 0.001), and a higher proportion of collagen fiber contents was detected in mouse livers in the 4-week infection group [(11.29 ± 2.58)%] than in the control group (P < 0.001). Immunohistochemical staining revealed activation of a few HSCs and ECM deposition in mouse livers 1 and 2 weeks post-infection, and abundant brown-yellow stained α-SMA and COL1A1 were deposited in the lesion areas in mouse livers 4 weeks post-infection, which spread to surrounding tissues. Semi-quantitative analysis revealed significant differences in α-SMA (F = 7.667, P < 0.05) and COL1A1 expression (F = 6.530, P < 0.05) in mouse levers among the four groups, with higher α-SMA [(7.13 ± 3.68)%] and COL1A1 expression [(13.18 ± 7.20)%] quantified in mouse livers in the 4-week infection group than in the control group (both P values < 0.05). Scanning electron microscopy revealed significant differences in the fenestration frequency (F = 37.730, P < 0.001) and porosity (F = 16.010, P < 0.001) on the surface of mouse LSECs among the four groups, and reduced fenestration frequency and porosity were observed in the 1-[(1.22 ± 0.48)/μm2 and [(3.05 ± 0.91)%] and 2-week infection groups [(3.47 ± 0.10)/μm2 and (7.57 ± 0.23)%] groups than in the control group (all P values < 0.001). There was a significant difference in the average fenestration diameter on the surface of mouse LSECs among the four groups (F = 15.330, P < 0.001), and larger average fenestration diameters were measured in the 1-[(180.80 ± 16.42) nm] and 2-week infection groups [(161.70 ± 3.85) nm] than in the control group (both P values < 0.05). In addition, there were significant differences among the four groups in terms of Stabilin-1 (F = 153.100, P < 0.001), Stabilin-2 (F = 57.010, P < 0.001), Ehd3 (F = 31.700, P < 0.001), CD209b (F = 177.400, P < 0.001), GATA4 (F = 17.740, P < 0.001), and Maf mRNA expression (F = 72.710, P < 0.001), and reduced mRNA expression of Stabilin-1, Stabilin-2, Ehd3, CD209b, GATA4 and Maf genes was quantified in three infection groups than in the control group (all P values < 0.001).

CONCLUSIONS

E. multilocularis infections may induce capillarization of LSECs in mice, and result in a reduction in the expression of functional and phenotypic marker genes of LSECs, and capillarization of LSECs occurs earlier than activation of HSC and development of hepatic fibrosis.

Long-term cadmium exposure induces epithelial-mesenchymal transition in breast cancer cells by activating CYP1B1-mediated glutamine metabolic reprogramming in BT474 cells and MMTV-Erbb2 mice

Cadmium (Cd) exposure is known to enhance breast cancer (BC) progression. Cd promotes epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) in BC cells, facilitating BC cell aggressiveness and invasion, but the underlying molecular mechanisms are unclear. Hence, transgenic MMTV-Erbb2 mice (6 weeks) were orally administered Cd (3.6 mg/L, approximately equal to 19.64 μΜ) for 23 weeks, and BC cells (BT474 cells) were exposed to Cd (0, 0.1, 1 or 10 μΜ) for 72 h to investigate the effect of Cd exposure on EMT in BC cells. Chronic Cd exposure dramatically expedited tumor metastasis to multiple organs; decreased E-cadherin density; and increased Vimentin, N-cadherin, ZEB1, and Twist density in the tumor tissues of MMTV-Erbb2 mice. Notably, transcriptomic analysis of BC tumors revealed cytochrome P450 1B1 (CYP1B1) as a key factor that regulates EMT progression in Cd-treated MMTV-Erbb2 mice. Moreover, Cd increased CYP1B1 expression in MMTV-Erbb2 mouse BC tumors and in BT474 cells, and CYP1B1 inhibition decreased Cd-induced BC cell malignancy and EMT in BT474 cells. Importantly, the promotion of EMT by CYP1B1 in Cd-treated BC cells was presumably controlled by glutamine metabolism. This study offers novel perspectives into the effect of environmental Cd exposure on driving BC progression and metastasis, and this study provides important guidance for comprehensively assessing the ecological and health risks of Cd.

A Comparison of In Vitro Measurement and Ultrasound for Peripherally Inserted Central Catheter Placement in Premature Infants: A Before-and-After Self-Controlled Prospective Study

Background This study aimed to investigate the effectiveness of ultrasonography (US) and in vitro measurement (IVM) methods in localizing peripherally inserted central catheters (PICCs) in premature infants and analyze the relevant factors affecting the accuracy of IVM. Methodology The study employs a prospective before-and-after self-controlled clinical trial design. A total of 210 premature infants who underwent PICC catheterization were compared. We assessed the rate of catheter tip placement, consistency, and stability and analyzed the relevant factors. Results The study enrolled a total of 202 premature infants after eight infants dropped out. The one-time positioning rates of the PICC catheter tip using US and IVM were 100% and 73.8%, respectively. Concerning IVM, 53 (26.2%) patients did not reach the optimal position, with 24 (11.8%) patients having a shallow position and 29 (14.3%) having a deep position. The consistency of the two methods was 0.782 (p < 0.05). The degree of dispersion of US was 0.2 (0.0-0.4) cm, which was significantly smaller than IVM at 1.5 (0.0-1.8) cm. Gestational age less than 32 weeks (odds ratio (OR) = 6.64, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 1.43-30.81), weight less than 1,500 g (OR = 5.85, 95% CI = 2.11-16.20), body length less than 40 cm (OR = 15.36, 95% CI = 4.47-52.72), mechanical ventilation (OR = 5.13, 95% CI = 1.77-14.83), abdominal distension (OR = 78.18, 95% CI = 10.62-575.22), and bloating (OR = 8.81, 95% CI = 1.42-47.00) were risk factors that affected the accuracy of IVM. Conclusions Gestational age, weight, length, mechanical ventilation, abdominal distension, and swelling can lead to deviations with IVM. US can directly view the tip of the catheter, which is more accurate. Additionally, it is recommended to reduce the length of the catheter by 1.3 cm when using IVM to achieve the best-estimated placement length.

Distribution characteristics of antibiotic resistance genes and microbial diversity in the inshore aquaculture area of Wenchang, Hainan, China

The rapid development of marine aquaculture has led to the increased use and release of antibiotics into the marine environment, consequently contributing to the emergence of antibiotic resistance. Information on antibiotic resistance in nearshore marine aquaculture areas remains limited, and research on the microbial composition and potential hosts of antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) in marine aquaculture areas is scarce. This study used SmartChip real-time fluorescent quantitative PCR and qPCR to quantitatively analyze 44 ARGs and 10 mobile genetic elements (MGEs) genes in 12 sampling points in the nearshore aquaculture area of Wenchang. High-throughput sequencing of 16S rRNA was used to study microbial diversity in the study area, to clarify the correlation between ARGs, MGEs, and microbial diversity, and to determine the possible sources and potential hosts of ARGs. The results showed that a total of 37 ARGs and 8 MGEs were detected in the study area. The detection rate of 9 ARGs (aac(6')-Ib(aka aacA4)-02, catA1, cmlA, cfr, sul1, sul2, sulA/folP-01, tetC, tetX) was 100 %. The absolute abundance of ARGs in the 12 sampling points ranged from 2.75 × 107 to 3.79 × 1010 copies·L-1, and the absolute abundance of MGEs was 1.30 × 105 to 2.54 × 107 copies·L-1, which was relatively high compared to other research areas. ARGs and MGEs were significantly correlated, indicating that MGEs play an important role as a mediator in the spread of ARGs. At the phylum level, Proteobacteria and Cyanobacteria were the dominant bacteria in the study area, with HIMB11 and unidentifiedChloroplast being the dominant levels, respectively. Network analysis of ARGs and microorganisms (genus level) revealed that Cognatishimia, Thalassobius, Aestuariicoccus, Thalassotalea, and Vibrio were significantly correlated with multiple ARGs and were the main potential hosts of ARGs in the nearshore waters of Wenchang.

Combined toxicity of trifloxystrobin and fluopyram to zebrafish embryos and the effect on bone development

Trifloxystrobin (TRI) is a methacrylate fungicide, and fluopyram (FLU) is a new pyridylethylbenzamide fungicide and nematicide. Both are often detected in water bodies and may be highly toxic to many aquatic organisms. Unfortunately, the aquatic biological risks of single FLU or a mixture of trifloxystrobin and fluopyram have not been reported. In this study, zebrafish was selected as the test organism to investigate the combined toxicity of trifloxystrobin and fluopyram to zebrafish. After zebrafish embryos exposed to three pesticide solutions, Alcian-blue staining, Alizarin-red staining and quantitative PCR (qPCR) were performed. The results indicated that 96h-LC50 of TRI was 0.159 mg·L-1 to zebrafish embryo, which was highly toxic. The 96h-LC50 of FLU to zebrafish embryos was 4.375 mg·L-1, being moderately toxic. The joint toxicity to zebrafish embryos(FLU at 96h-LC50 and TRI at 96h-LC50 in a 1:1 weight ratio to form a series of concentration treatment groups) was antagonistic. Both trifloxystrobin and fluopyram also inhibited the skeletal development of zebrafish and showed to be antagonistic. The results of qPCR indicated upregulations of different genes upon three different treatments. TRI mainly induced Smads up-expression, which may affect the BMP-smads pathway. FLU mainly induced an up-expression of extracellular BMP ligands and type I receptor (Bmpr-1a), which may affect the BMP ligand receptor pathway. The 1:1 mixture (weight ratio) of trifloxystrobin and fluopyram induced a reduction of the genes of extracellular BMP ligand (Smads) and type I receptor (Bmpr1ba), which may down-regulate BMP signaling and thus attenuating cartilage hyperproliferation, hypertrophy and mineralization. The results warren an interest in further studying the effect of the two fungicides in a mixture on zebrafish.

Retraction Note: MiR-221 inhibits proliferation of pancreatic cancer cells via down regulation of SOCS3

The article "MiR-221 inhibits proliferation of pancreatic cancer cells via down regulation of SOCS3", by J. Xie, J.-T. Wen, X.-J. Xue, K.-P. Zhang, X.-Z. Wang, H.-H. Cheng, published in Eur Rev Med Pharmacol Sci 2018; 22 (7): 1914-1921-DOI: 10.26355/eurrev_201804_14714-PMID: 29687843 has been retracted by the Editor in Chief for misconduct and data fabrication. An investigation conducted by the National Health Commission of the People's Republic of China, determined that the information and images presented in the paper have been manipulated, pieced together, and subjected to various fraudulent alterations. Consequently, the Editor in Chief mistrusts the results presented and has decided to withdraw the articles. The corresponding authors did not respond to journal correspondence about the investigation and retraction of this article. This article has been withdrawn. The Publisher apologizes for any inconvenience this may cause. https://www.europeanreview.org/article/14714.

Direct lithium extraction from spent batteries for efficient lithium recycling

The flourishing expansion of the lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) market has led to a surge in the demand for lithium resources. Developing efficient recycling technologies for imminent large-scale retired LIBs can significantly facilitate the sustainable utilization of lithium resources. Here, we successfully extract active lithium from spent LIBs through a simple, efficient, and low-energy-consumption chemical leaching process at room temperature, using a solution comprised of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and ether solvents. The mechanism of lithium extraction is elucidated by clarifying the relationship between the redox potential and extraction efficiency. More importantly, the reclaimed active lithium is directly employed to fabricate LiFePO4 cathode with performance comparable to commercial materials. When implemented in 56 Ah prismatic cells, the cells deliver stable cycling properties with a capacity retention of ∼90% after 1200 cycles. Compared with the other strategies, this technical approach shows superior economic benefits and practical promise. It is anticipated that this method may redefine the recycling paradigm for retired LIBs and drive the sustainable development of industries.

[Multi-modal physiological time-frequency feature extraction network for accurate sleep stage classification]

Sleep stage classification is essential for clinical disease diagnosis and sleep quality assessment. Most of the existing methods for sleep stage classification are based on single-channel or single-modal signal, and extract features using a single-branch, deep convolutional network, which not only hinders the capture of the diversity features related to sleep and increase the computational cost, but also has a certain impact on the accuracy of sleep stage classification. To solve this problem, this paper proposes an end-to-end multi-modal physiological time-frequency feature extraction network (MTFF-Net) for accurate sleep stage classification. First, multi-modal physiological signal containing electroencephalogram (EEG), electrocardiogram (ECG), electrooculogram (EOG) and electromyogram (EMG) are converted into two-dimensional time-frequency images containing time-frequency features by using short time Fourier transform (STFT). Then, the time-frequency feature extraction network combining multi-scale EEG compact convolution network (Ms-EEGNet) and bidirectional gated recurrent units (Bi-GRU) network is used to obtain multi-scale spectral features related to sleep feature waveforms and time series features related to sleep stage transition. According to the American Academy of Sleep Medicine (AASM) EEG sleep stage classification criterion, the model achieved 84.3% accuracy in the five-classification task on the third subgroup of the Institute of Systems and Robotics of the University of Coimbra Sleep Dataset (ISRUC-S3), with 83.1% macro F1 score value and 79.8% Cohen's Kappa coefficient. The experimental results show that the proposed model achieves higher classification accuracy and promotes the application of deep learning algorithms in assisting clinical decision-making.

Enhancing Electrode Performance through Triple Distribution Modulation of Active Material, Conductive Agent, and Porosity

The increasing demand for large-scale energy storage propels the development of lithium-ion batteries with high energy and high power density. Low tortuosity electrodes with aligned straight channels have proved to be effective in building such batteries. However, manufacturing such low tortuosity electrodes in large scale remains extremely challenging. In contrast, high-performance electrodes with customized gradients of materials and porosity are possible to be made by industrial roll-to-roll coating process. Yet, the desired design of gradients combining materials and porosity is unclear for high-performance gradient electrodes. Here, triple gradient LiFePO4 electrodes (TGE) are fabricated featuring distribution modulation of active material, conductive agent, and porosity by combining suction filtration with the phase inversion method. The effects and mechanism of active material, conductive agent, and porosity distribution on electrode performance are analyzed by experiments. It is found that the electrode with a gradual increase of active material content from current collector to separator coupled with the distribution of conductive agent and porosity in the opposite direction, demonstrates the best rate capability, the fastest electrochemical reaction kinetics, and the highest utilization of active material. This work provides valuable insights into the design of gradient electrodes with high performance and high potential in application.

The combination treatment of oncolytic adenovirus H101 with nivolumab for refractory advanced hepatocellular carcinoma: an open-label, single-arm, pilot study

BACKGROUND

H101, an innovative oncolytic adenovirus, has shown potential in modifying the tumor microenvironment from immunologically 'cold' to 'hot'. When combined with nivolumab, a programmed cell death protein 1 inhibitor, this synergy may offer substantial therapeutic benefits beyond the capabilities of each agent alone.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

In this pilot study, we assessed the efficacy and safety of combining H101 with nivolumab in advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) patients who failed prior systemic therapy. The participants received initial oncolytic virus (OV) pretreatment with intratumoral H101 injections (5.0 × 1011 vp/0.5 ml/vial, two vials per lesion) on days 1 and 3. Combination therapy started on day 8, with H101 administered every 2 or 4 weeks and nivolumab (240 mg) injections every 2 weeks. Treatment continued up to 12 months or until disease progression, intolerable toxicity, consent withdrawal, or study conclusion. The primary endpoint was the objective response rate (ORR).

RESULTS

Between March 2020 and March 2022, 18 of 21 screened patients were assessable, showing an ORR of 11.1% [two cases of partial response (PR) and five cases of stable disease], with extrahepatic injections often leading to favorable outcomes. The disease control rate stood at 38.9%, with a 6-month survival rate of 88.9%. Median progression-free survival was 2.69 months, and overall survival (OS) was 15.04 months. Common adverse events included low-grade fever (100%) and pain related to centesis (33.3%), and no grade 3/4 events were reported. Significantly, local H101 injection showed potential in reversing immune checkpoint inhibitor resistance, evidenced by over 2.5 years of extended OS in PR cases with low α-fetoprotein. Additionally, decreasing neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio during OV pretreatment may predict positive outcomes.

CONCLUSIONS

This study demonstrates the potential efficacy of combining H101 with nivolumab in treating refractory advanced HCC, with well-tolerated toxicities.

Amivantamab plus chemotherapy with and without lazertinib in EGFR-mutant advanced NSCLC after disease progression on osimertinib: primary results from the phase III MARIPOSA-2 study

BACKGROUND

Amivantamab plus carboplatin-pemetrexed (chemotherapy) with and without lazertinib demonstrated antitumor activity in patients with refractory epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR)-mutated advanced non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) in phase I studies. These combinations were evaluated in a global phase III trial.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

A total of 657 patients with EGFR-mutated (exon 19 deletions or L858R) locally advanced or metastatic NSCLC after disease progression on osimertinib were randomized 2 : 2 : 1 to receive amivantamab-lazertinib-chemotherapy, chemotherapy, or amivantamab-chemotherapy. The dual primary endpoints were progression-free survival (PFS) of amivantamab-chemotherapy and amivantamab-lazertinib-chemotherapy versus chemotherapy. During the study, hematologic toxicities observed in the amivantamab-lazertinib-chemotherapy arm necessitated a regimen change to start lazertinib after carboplatin completion.

RESULTS

All baseline characteristics were well balanced across the three arms, including by history of brain metastases and prior brain radiation. PFS was significantly longer for amivantamab-chemotherapy and amivantamab-lazertinib-chemotherapy versus chemotherapy [hazard ratio (HR) for disease progression or death 0.48 and 0.44, respectively; P < 0.001 for both; median of 6.3 and 8.3 versus 4.2 months, respectively]. Consistent PFS results were seen by investigator assessment (HR for disease progression or death 0.41 and 0.38 for amivantamab-chemotherapy and amivantamab-lazertinib-chemotherapy, respectively; P < 0.001 for both; median of 8.2 and 8.3 versus 4.2 months, respectively). Objective response rate was significantly higher for amivantamab-chemotherapy and amivantamab-lazertinib-chemotherapy versus chemotherapy (64% and 63% versus 36%, respectively; P < 0.001 for both). Median intracranial PFS was 12.5 and 12.8 versus 8.3 months for amivantamab-chemotherapy and amivantamab-lazertinib-chemotherapy versus chemotherapy (HR for intracranial disease progression or death 0.55 and 0.58, respectively). Predominant adverse events (AEs) in the amivantamab-containing regimens were hematologic, EGFR-, and MET-related toxicities. Amivantamab-chemotherapy had lower rates of hematologic AEs than amivantamab-lazertinib-chemotherapy.

CONCLUSIONS

Amivantamab-chemotherapy and amivantamab-lazertinib-chemotherapy improved PFS and intracranial PFS versus chemotherapy in a population with limited options after disease progression on osimertinib. Longer follow-up is needed for the modified amivantamab-lazertinib-chemotherapy regimen.

Chronic cadmium exposure triggered ferroptosis by perturbing the STEAP3-mediated glutathione redox balance linked to altered metabolomic signatures in humans

Cadmium (Cd), a predominant environmental pollutant, is a canonical toxicant that acts on the kidneys. However, the nephrotoxic effect and underlying mechanism activated by chronic exposure to Cd remain unclear. In the present study, male mice (C57BL/6J, 8 weeks) were treated with 0.6 mg/L cadmium chloride (CdCl2) administered orally for 6 months, and tubular epithelial cells (TCMK-1 cells) were treated with low-dose (1, 2, and 3 μM) CdCl2 for 72 h (h). Our study results revealed that environmental Cd exposure triggered ferroptosis and renal dysfunction. Spatially resolved metabolomics enabled delineation of metabolic profiles and visualization of the disruption to glutathione homeostasis related to ferroptosis in mouse kidneys. Multiomics analysis revealed that chronic Cd exposure induced glutathione redox imbalance that depended on STEAP3-driven lysosomal iron overload. In particular, glutathione metabolic reprogramming linked to ferroptosis emerged as a metabolic hallmark in the blood of Cd-exposed workers. In conclusion, this study provides the first evidence indicating that chronic Cd exposure triggers ferroptosis and renal dysfunction that depend on STEAP3-mediated glutathione redox imbalance, greatly increasing our understanding of the metabolic reprogramming induced by Cd exposure in the kidneys and providing novel clues linking chronic Cd exposure to nephrotoxicity.

Corrigendum: Preclinical profiles of SKB264, a novel anti-TROP2 antibody conjugated to topoisomerase inhibitor, demonstrated promising antitumor efficacy compared to IMMU-132

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2022.951589.].

Analysis of the mechanism of Sophorae Flavescentis Radix in the treatment of intractable itching based on network pharmacology and molecular docking

OBJECTIVE

Sophorae Flavescentis Radix (Kuh-seng, SFR), a Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), is widely used alone or within a TCM formula to treat pruritus, especially histamine-independent intractable itching. In the previous study, potential antipruritic active components of the SFR were screened based on cell membrane immobilized chromatography (CMIC), revealing oxymatrine (OMT) as an antipruritic agent. However, the low oral bioavailability (OB) of OMT cannot explain the antipruritic effect of SFR when administered orally in clinic. In this study, we investigated the antipruritic effects and underlying mechanisms of orally administered SFR.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

A network pharmacology and molecular docking were employed to screen the active components of SFR and predict their binding to disease-related target proteins, while the potential mechanisms were explored with Gene Ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) analysis. The binding energy between components and target proteins was calculated by molecular docking.

RESULTS

The SFR-components-targets-intractable itching Protein-Protein Interactions (PPI) network was established, and 22 active components and 42 targets were screened. The GO enrichment analysis showed that the key target genes of SFR were related to nuclear receptors, transcription factors, and steroid hormone receptors. The results of the KEGG enrichment pathway analysis include Hepatitis B, epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) tyrosine kinase inhibitor resistance, advanced glycation end product (AGE)-receptor for AGE (RAGE) signaling pathway in diabetic complications, etc. Molecular docking showed that three key target proteins in the network, the vascular endothelial growth factor A (VEGFA), epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) and caspase-3 (CASP3), have higher binding activities with inermine, phaseolin and kushenol O, respectively; the binding energy of each pair is stronger than that of the target protein-corresponding inhibitors.

CONCLUSIONS

The complexity of the SFR-components-targets-intractable itching network demonstrated the holistic treatment effect of SFR on intractable itching. The partial coherence between results screened by CMIC in the previous study and network pharmacology demonstrated the potential of network pharmacology in active component screening. Inermine screened from both CMIC and network pharmacology is a VEGFA inhibitor, which possibly accounts for the antipruritic effect of orally administered SFR.

Optimizing milling and sintering parameters for mild synthesis of highly conductive Li5.5PS4.5Cl1.5 solid electrolyte

The Li5.5PS4.5Cl1.5 electrolyte gains significant attention due to its ultrahigh ionic conductivity and cost-effectiveness in halogen-rich lithium argyrodite solid electrolytes. The conventional synthetic method for obtaining the electrolyte involves mechanical milling followed by post-annealing. However, these synthesis methods typically involve high milling speeds, elevated temperatures, and prolonged durations, resulting in both high energy consumption and potential damage to the electrolyte. In this study, we successfully obtained Li5.5PS4.5Cl1.5 with a high conductivity of 7.92 mS cm-1 using a milling speed of 400 rpm and annealing at 400 °C for 5 hours. When incorporated into a Li4Ti5O12-based all-solid-state battery, this electrolyte demonstrates stable cycling performance across varying temperatures.

Imidacloprid-induced stress affects the growth of pepper plants by disrupting rhizosphere-plant microbial and metabolite composition

Overusing imidacloprid (IMI) has been found to impede secondary metabolism and hinder plant growth. The impact of IMI stress on the interaction between metabolites, rhizosphere, and plant-microbe dispersion through various pathways in pepper plants has not been extensively studied. This study investigated the effects of IMI on plant signaling components, secondary metabolic pathways, and microbial communities in the rhizosphere and phyllosphere. Here, the distribution of IMI and its metabolites (6-chloronicotinic acid, IMI-desnitro, 5-hydroxy-IMI, IMI-urea, and IMI-olefin) was primarily observed in the pepper plant leaves. A rise in IMI concentration had a more significant inhibitive effect on the metabolism of pepper leaves than on pepper roots. The findings of non-target metabolomics indicated that IMI exposure primarily suppresses secondary metabolism in pepper plants, encompassing flavones, phenolic acids, and phytohormones. Notably, the IMI treatment disrupted the equilibrium between plants and microbes by decreasing the population of microorganisms such as Vicinamibacteria, Verrucomicrobiae, Gemmatimonadetes, and Gammaproteobacteria in the phyllosphere, as well as Vicinamibacteria, Gemmatimonadetes, Gammaproteobacteria, and Alphaproteobacteria in the rhizosphere of pepper plants. The study demonstrates that overexposure to IMI harms microbial composition and metabolite distribution in the rhizosphere soil and pepper seedlings, inhibiting plant growth.

Spatially isolating Li+ reduction from Li deposition via a Li22Sn5 alloy protective layer for advanced Li metal anodes

A Li alloy based artificial coating layer can improve the cyclic performance of Li metal anodes. However, the protective mechanism is not well clarified due to multiple components of the artificial layer and complicated interface in liquid electrolytes. Herein, a single-component Li22Sn5 alloy layer buffered Li anode is paired with a solid-state polymer electrolyte, where a metallic Sn film is sputtered onto the Li anode and the subsequent alloying reaction leads to the formation of a Li22Sn5 phase. During the striping/plating process, the thickness and composition of the Li-Sn alloy passivation layer remain unchanged. Meanwhile, Li+ ions are reduced on the top surface of the Li22Sn5 layer, then the reduced Li atoms immediately pass through the alloy layer, and finally dense Li deposition occurs beneath the protective layer, realizing spatial isolation of the electrochemical reduction of Li+ from Li nucleation/growth. This unique protection mechanism can principally avoid the formation of Li dendrites and efficiently mitigate irreversible reactions between the Li anode and the polymer electrolyte. The synergistic effects lead to a clean and flat surface of the protected Li electrode, enabling a prolonged cycle lifetime over 1300 h at 25 °C at 0.1 mA cm-2 and 0.1 mA h cm-2 in a configuration of symmetrical cells.

Environmental cadmium exposure facilitates mammary tumorigenesis via reprogramming gut microbiota-mediated glutamine metabolism in MMTV-Erbb2 mice

Cadmium (Cd) is a heavy metal that has been widely reported to be linked to the onset and progression of breast cancer (BC). However, the mechanism of Cd-induced mammary tumorigenesis remains elusive. In our study, a transgenic mouse model that spontaneously develops tumors through overexpression of wild-type Erbb2 (MMTV-Erbb2) was constructed to investigate the effects of Cd exposure on BC tumorigenesis. The results showed that oral exposure to 3.6 mg/L Cd for 23 weeks dramatically accelerated tumor appearance and growth, increased Ki67 density and enhanced focal necrosis and neovascularization in the tumor tissue of MMTV-Erbb2 mice. Notably, Cd exposure enhanced glutamine (Gln) metabolism in tumor tissue, and 6-diazo-5-oxo-l-norleucine (DON), a Gln metabolism antagonist, inhibited Cd-induced breast carcinogenesis. Then our metagenomic sequencing and mass spectrometry-based metabolomics confirmed that Cd exposure disturbed gut microbiota homeostasis, especially Helicobacter and Campylobacter abundance remodeling, which altered the gut metabolic homeostasis of Gln. Moreover, intratumoral Gln metabolism profoundly increased under Cd-elevated gut permeability. Importantly, depletion of microbiota with an antibiotic cocktail (AbX) treatment led to a significant delay in the appearance of palpable tumors, inhibition of tumor growth, decrease in tumor weight, reduction in Ki67 expression and low-grade pathology in Cd-exposed MMTV-Erbb2 mice. Also, transplantation of Cd-modulated microbiota decreased tumor latency, accelerated tumor growth, increased tumor weight, upregulated Ki67 expression and exacerbated neovascularization as well as focal necrosis in MMTV-Erbb2 mice. In summary, Cd exposure induced gut microbiota dysbiosis, elevated gut permeability and increased intratumoral Gln metabolism, leading to the promotion of mammary tumorigenesis. This study provides novel insights into environmental Cd exposure-mediated carcinogenesis.

Cooperation between IRTKS and deubiquitinase OTUD4 enhances the SETDB1-mediated H3K9 trimethylation that promotes tumor metastasis via suppressing E-cadherin expression

Elevated expression and genetic aberration of IRTKS, also named as BAIAP2L1, have been observed in many tumors, especially in tumor progression. however, the molecular and cellular mechanisms involved in the IRTKS-enhanced tumor progression are obscure. Here we show that higher IRTKS level specifically increases histone H3 lysine 9 trimethylation (H3K9me3) by promoting accumulation of the histone methyltransferase SETDB1. Furthermore, we reveal that IRTKS recruits the deubiquitinase OTUD4 to remove Lys48-linked polyubiquitination at K182/K1050 sites of SETDB1, thus blocking SETDB1 degradation via the ubiquitin-proteasome pathway. Interestingly, the enhanced IRTKS-OTUD4-SETDB1-H3K9me3 axis leads to a general decrease in chromatin accessibility, which inhibits transcription of CDH1 encoding E-cadherin, a key molecule essential for maintaining epithelial cell phenotype, and therefore results in epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) and malignant cell metastasis. Clinically, the elevated IRTKS levels in tumor specimens correlate with SETDB1 levels, but negatively associate with survival time. Our data reveal a novel mechanism for the IRTKS-enhanced tumor progression, where IRTKS cooperates with OTUD4 to enhance SETDB1-mediated H3K9 trimethylation that promotes tumor metastasis via suppressing E-cadherin expression. This study also provides a potential approach to reduce the activity and stability of the known therapeutic target SETDB1 possibly through regulating IRTKS or deubiquitinase OTUD4.

1,3,5-Trifluorobenzene, an electrolyte additive with high thermal stability and superior film-forming properties for lithium-ion batteries

The introduction of 1,3,5-trifluorobenzene (F3B) as an additive for lithium-ion battery electrolytes can produce a LiF-rich solid electrolyte interface (SEI). Meanwhile, F3B has superior thermal stability compared with traditional fluorinated additives and is less likely to produce hydrogen fluoride to damage the cathode.

Control of the antitumour activity and specificity of CAR T cells via organic adapters covalently tethering the CAR to tumour cells

On-target off-tumour toxicity limits the anticancer applicability of chimaeric antigen receptor (CAR) T cells. Here we show that the tumour-targeting specificity and activity of T cells with a CAR consisting of an antibody with a lysine residue that catalytically forms a reversible covalent bond with a 1,3-diketone hapten can be regulated by the concentration of a small-molecule adapter. This adapter selectively binds to the hapten and to a chosen tumour antigen via a small-molecule binder identified via a DNA-encoded library. The adapter therefore controls the formation of a covalent bond between the catalytic antibody and the hapten, as well as the tethering of the CAR T cells to the tumour cells, and hence the cytotoxicity and specificity of the cytotoxic T cells, as we show in vitro and in mice with prostate cancer xenografts. Such small-molecule switches of T-cell cytotoxicity and specificity via an antigen-independent 'universal' CAR may enhance the control and safety profile of CAR-based cellular immunotherapies.

ATM inhibition enhances the efficacy of radiation across distinct molecular subgroups of pediatric high-grade glioma

BACKGROUND

Pediatric high-grade glioma (pHGG) is largely incurable and accounts for most brain tumor-related deaths in children. Radiation is a standard therapy, yet the benefit from this treatment modality is transient, and most children succumb to disease within 2 years. Recent large-scale genomic studies suggest that pHGG has alterations in DNA damage response (DDR) pathways that induce resistance to DNA damaging agents. The aim of this study was to evaluate the therapeutic potential and molecular consequences of combining radiation with selective DDR inhibition in pHGG.

METHODS

We conducted an unbiased screen in pHGG cells that combined radiation with clinical candidates targeting the DDR and identified the ATM inhibitor AZD1390. Subsequently, we profiled AZD1390 + radiation in an extensive panel of early passage pHGG cell lines, mechanistically characterized response to the combination in vitro in sensitive and resistant cells and evaluated the combination in vivo using TP53 wild-type and TP53 mutant orthotopic xenografts.

RESULTS

AZD1390 significantly potentiated radiation across molecular subgroups of pHGG by increasing mutagenic nonhomologous end joining and augmenting genomic instability. In contrast to previous reports, ATM inhibition significantly improved the efficacy of radiation in both TP53 wild-type and TP53 mutant isogenic cell lines and distinct orthotopic xenograft models. Furthermore, we identified a novel mechanism of resistance to AZD1390 + radiation that was marked by an attenuated ATM pathway response which dampened sensitivity to ATM inhibition and induced synthetic lethality with ATR inhibition.

CONCLUSIONS

Our study supports the clinical evaluation of AZD1390 in combination with radiation in pediatric patients with HGG.

Development and validation of a machine learning model to predict prognosis in HIV-negative cryptococcal meningitis patients: a multicenter study

PURPOSE

To predict prognosis in HIV-negative cryptococcal meningitis (CM) patients by developing and validating a machine learning (ML) model.

METHODS

This study involved 523 HIV-negative CM patients diagnosed between January 1, 1998, and August 31, 2022, by neurologists from 3 tertiary Chinese centers. Prognosis was evaluated at 10 weeks after the initiation of antifungal therapy.

RESULTS

The final prediction model for HIV-negative CM patients comprised 8 variables: Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) cryptococcal count, CSF white blood cell (WBC), altered mental status, hearing impairment, CSF chloride levels, CSF opening pressure (OP), aspartate aminotransferase levels at admission, and decreased rate of CSF cryptococcal count within 2 weeks after admission. The areas under the curve (AUCs) in the internal, temporal, and external validation sets were 0.87 (95% CI 0.794-0.944), 0.92 (95% CI 0.795-1.000), and 0.86 (95% CI 0.744-0.975), respectively. An artificial intelligence (AI) model was trained to detect and count cryptococci, and the mean average precision (mAP) was 0.993.

CONCLUSION

A ML model for predicting prognosis in HIV-negative CM patients was built and validated, and the model might provide a reference for personalized treatment of HIV-negative CM patients. The change in the CSF cryptococcal count in the early phase of HIV-negative CM treatment can reflect the prognosis of the disease. In addition, utilizing AI to detect and count CSF cryptococci in HIV-negative CM patients can eliminate the interference of human factors in detecting cryptococci in CSF samples and reduce the workload of the examiner.

Switching Reaction Pathway of Medium-Concentration Ether Electrolytes to Achieve 4.5 V Lithium Metal Batteries

Pursuing high-energy-density lithium metal batteries (LMBs) necessitates the advancement of electrolytes. Despite demonstrating high compatibility with lithium metal anodes (LMAs), ether-based electrolytes face challenges in achieving stable cycling at high voltages. Herein, we propose a strategy to enhance the high-voltage stability of medium-concentration (∼1 M) ether electrolytes by altering the reaction pathway of ether solvents. By employing a 1 M lithium difluoro(oxalato)borate in dimethoxyethane (LiDFOB/DME) electrolyte, we observed that LiDFOB displays a pronounced tendency for decomposition over DME, leading to a modification in the decomposition pathway of DME. This modification facilitates the formation of a stable organic-inorganic hybrid interface. Utilizing such an electrolyte, the Li-LCO cell demonstrates a discharge specific capacity of 146 mAh g-1 (5 C) and maintains retention of 86% over 1000 cycles at 2 C under a 4.5 V cutoff voltage. Additionally, the optimized ether electrolyte demonstrated outstanding cycling performance in Li-LCO full cells under practical conditions.

Discovery of 2-Naphthol from the Leaves of Actephila merrilliana as a Natural Nematicide Candidate

To identify natural nematicides that can replace chemical nematicides, 2-naphthol with high activity against Meloidogyne incognita was isolated from Actephila merrilliana. The nematicidal activity of 2-naphthol against M. incognita was 100% at 100 μg/mL with an EC50 value of 38.00 μg/mL. Moreover, 2-naphthol had a significant negative effect on egg incubation. 2-Naphthol effectively inhibited the invasion of M. incognita into crops in both a pot experiment and field trial. In addition, the structure-activity relationship indicated that the naphthalene ring and its β-site hydroxyl group were the key pharmacophores for the nematicidal activity of 2-naphthol. Nematodes were stimulated by 2-naphthol to produce excessive reactive oxygen species, which may be the underlying mechanism of 2-naphthol nematicidal activity. A systemic evaluation of 2-naphthol in tomato plants demonstrated that 2-naphthol remained mainly fixed in the roots after being absorbed by the crop and was not transported to the stems or leaves. Thus, 2-naphthol can be developed as a natural nematicide candidate.

[Analysis of respiratory syncytial virus nonstructural protein 1 amino acid variation and clinical characteristics]

Objective: To investigate the relationship between amino acid variations of respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) nonstructural protein (NS) 1 and the clinical characteristics. Method: A retrospective case review was conducted. From December 2018 to January 2020, a total of 81 cases of hospitalized children who were tested only positive for RSV by RT-PCR or PCR at the Department of Respiratory Medicine, Children's Hospital of Chongqing Medical University were included in the study. The NS1 genes of RSV subtype A and subtype B were amplified by PCR and sequenced. The amino acid sequences were analyzed. The Chi-square test and Mann-Whitney rank sum test were used to compare the clinical characteristics and type Ⅰ interferon levels of children with or without NS1 variation in the variation and non-variation groups. Results: Among 81 cases, there were 58 males and 23 females. There were 11 cases in the variation group, the age of onset was 2.0 (1.0, 11.0) months, included 4 cases of subtype A (variant sites were: 2 cases for Lys33Gln, one case for Gly2Asp, Pro67Ser, Leu137Phe, respectively) and 7 cases of subtype B (variant sites were: two cases for Val121Ile, one case for Tyr30Cys, Val65Met, Asn85Ser, Ser118Asn, Asp124Asn, respectively). These variant sites all appeared at a very low frequency 0.08 (0.04, 0.29) % in the NCBI PROTEIN database. There were 70 cases in non-variation group, the onset age was 3.5 (1.0, 7.0) months. The proportion of dyspnea in the variation group was higher than that in the non-variation group (10/11 vs. 47% (33/70), χ²=7.31, P<0.01). Conclusions: There are some variant sites in nonstructural protein NS1 of RSV. Children may be prone to have dyspnea with NS1 variations.

Space-Confined Guest Synthesis to Fabricate Sn-Monodispersed N-Doped Mesoporous Host toward Anode-Free Na Batteries

Severe issues including volume change and dendrite growth on sodium metal anodes hinder the pursuit of applicable high-energy-density sodium metal batteries. Herein, an in situ reaction approach is developed that takes metal-organic frameworks as nano-reactor and pore-former to produce a mesoporous host comprised of nitrogen-doped carbon fibers embedded with monodispersed Sn clusters (SnNCNFs). The hybrid host shows outstanding sodiophilicity that enables rapid Na infusion and ultralow Na nucleation overpotential of 2 mV. Its porous structure holds a high Na content and guides uniform Na deposition. Such host provides favorable Na plating/stripping with an average Coulombic efficiency of 99.96% over 2000 cycles (at 3 mA cm-2 and 3 mA h cm-2 ). The Na-infused SnNCNF anode delivers extreme Na utilization of 86% in symmetric cells (at 10 mA cm-2 and 10 mA h cm-2 ), outstanding rate capability and cycle life in Na-SnNCNF||Na3 V2 (PO4 )3 full cells (at 1 A g-1 for over 1000 cycles with capacity retention of 92.1%). Furthermore, high-energy/power-density anode-less and anode-free Na cells are achieved. This work presents an effective heteroatom-doping approach for fabricating multifunctional porous carbon materials and developing high-performance metal batteries.

Ultrasound-Guided Cannulation of the Great Saphenous Vein in Neonates: A Randomized Study

OBJECTIVE

This prospective randomized controlled study aimed to compare the ultrasound-guided (USG) technique with the standard single-wall puncture technique for epicutaneo-caval catheter (ECC) placement in neonates.

STUDY DESIGN

A total of 100 neonates were included in this study. All enrolled neonates were randomly divided into two groups (n = 50): the USG group and the control group. The control group underwent standard single-wall puncture for ECC placement procedures, and the USG group underwent USG ECC placement procedures.

RESULTS

The first attempt success rates (62 vs. 38%; p = 0.016) and the total success rates (92 vs. 74%; p = 0.017) were higher in the USG group than in the control group. The procedure time was shorter in the USG group than in the control group: 351.43 (112.95) versus 739.78 seconds (369.13), p < 0.001. The incidence of adverse events was not significantly different between the two groups.

CONCLUSION

Compared with the standard single-wall puncture method, USG cannulation is superior for neonatal ECC placement, with a higher success rate, and decreases the total procedural time.

KEY POINTS

· Establishing ECCs in neonates is challenging and lead to multiple attempts and adverse events.. · Information on the efficiency of USG dynamic needle tip positioning for ECCs in neonates is lacking.. · Compared with the standard puncture method, USG cannulation is superior for neonatal ECC placement..

A pretreatment scheme for plasmid extraction contained sugar, high concentration lysozyme and mild lysozyme removal

To address the issue of low efficiency in extracting plasmid DNA (pDNA) from Lactobacillus plantarum by breaking the cell wall, we proposed an effective pretreatment scheme. This study investigated the impacts of lysozyme concentrations and glucose, as well as centrifugal forces during lysozyme removal in the pretreatment system. The efficiency of pDNA extraction was assessed using non-staining method, acridine orange staining method (AO staining) and agarose gel electrophoresis (AGE). Furthermore, the glucose high lysozyme method was compared to the commercial kit method and the lysozyme removal method using L. plantarum PC518, 9L15, JS193 and Staphylococcus aureus USA300. The results indicated that the pDNA extraction concentrations from the four tested strains were increased by 8.9, 7.2, 8.5 and 3.6 times, respectively, compared to the commercial kit method. Furthermore, they increased by 1.9, 1.5, 1.8, and 1.4 times, respectively, compared to the lysozyme removal method. The maximum average concentration of pDNA extraction (from L. plantarum PC518) reached 590.8 ± 31.9 ng/ul. In conclusion, the incorporation of sugar, high concentration lysozyme and mild lysozyme removal proved to be effective enhancements in improving the efficiency of pDNA extraction from L. plantarum. Using the pretreatment scheme, the concentration of pDNA extraction was significantly increased, approaching levels comparable to pDNA extraction from Gram-negative bacteria.

Application of lung ultrasound in monitoring bronchopulmonary dysplasia and pulmonary arterial pressure in preterm infants

OBJECTIVE

The aim of this study was to evaluate the application value of lung ultrasound in monitoring bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD) and pulmonary artery pressure in premature infants.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

A total of 98 preterm infants diagnosed with BPD in the Fourth Hospital in Shijiazhuang were recruited, and their disease severity was classified as mild (n=32), moderate (n=33), or severe BPD (n=33) based on gestational age and oxygen concentration. Lung ultrasonography of the children was performed. The correlation between lung ventilation scores and disease severity was statistically analyzed, and the discrete optimization results were documented. The pulmonary hypertension indexes of the three groups of children were compared.

RESULTS

Aberrant alterations of the pleural line were observed in all included children, and the B-line rose as the disease progressed. The duration of invasive ventilation, medication, and hospital stay increased with disease exacerbation (p<0.05). The three groups significantly differed in terms of ultrasound pulmonary ventilation scores and clinical severity (p<0.05). Only mild BDP was identified by lung ultrasound on the first day of birth (T1), and severe BDP was detectable during the first and second week (T2-T3) as well as the third and fourth week (T4-T5). Severe BPD was associated with significantly higher levels of pulmonary hypertension indices vs. mild and moderate BPD (p<0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

Pulmonary ultrasonography demonstrates great potential to predict pulmonary hypertension in children and assesses the disease severity. Pulmonary ultrasound allows for dynamical real-time observation of the pulmonary lesions in children with pulmonary hypertension, thereby revealing the severity of pulmonary hypertension in premature children.