Full life cycle green preparation of collagen-based food packaging films using Halocynthia roretzi as raw material.

The extraction of collagen for packaging films typically requires a time-consuming process and the use of substantial chemicals. Herein, we present a full life cycle green preparation method for rapidly producing collagen-based food packaging films using Halocynthia roretzi (HR), a collagen-rich marine organism, as raw material. We first prepared the micro/nano-sized collagen fibers from HR tissue by utilizing urea and sonication as effective hydrogen-bond breakers. Subsequently, the collagen fiber was rapidly fabricated into a film through vacuum filtration. The resulting collagen fiber film (CFF) exhibited a uniform and dense surface, along with good tensile properties, water resistance, and biodegradability. In addition, the deposition of chitosan (CS) on the surface of CFF resulted in a remarkable preservation effect for both strawberries and pork. This full life cycle preparation method for collagen-based films provides a promising and innovative approach to the sustainable preparation of food packaging films.

The branching patterns and termination points of the facial artery: a cadaveric anatomical study.

BACKGROUND: The facial artery is an important blood vessel responsible for supplying the anterior face. Understanding the branching patterns of the facial artery plays a crucial role in various medical specialties such as plastic surgery, dermatology, and oncology. This knowledge contributes to improving the success rate of facial reconstruction and aesthetic procedures. However, debate continues regarding the classification of facial artery branching patterns in the existing literature. METHODS: We conducted a comprehensive anatomical study, in which we dissected 102 facial arteries from 52 embalmed and formaldehyde-fixed Vietnamese cadavers at the Anatomy Department, University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam. RESULTS: Our investigation revealed eight distinct termination points and identified 35 combinations of branching patterns, including seven arterial branching patterns. These termination points included the inferior labial artery, superior labial artery, inferior alar artery, lateral nasal artery, angular artery typical, angular artery running along the lower border of the orbicularis oculi muscle, forehead branch, duplex, and short course (hypoplastic). Notably, the branching patterns of the facial artery displayed marked asymmetry between the left and right sides within the same cadaver. CONCLUSION: The considerable variation observed in the branching pattern and termination points of the facial artery makes it challenging to establish a definitive classification system for this vessel. Therefore, it is imperative to develop an anatomical map summarizing the major measurements and geometric features of the facial artery. Surgeons and medical professionals involved in facial surgery and procedures must consider the detailed anatomy and relative positioning of the facial artery to minimize the risk of unexpected complications.

Sequestration of Labile Organic Matter by Secondary Fe Minerals from Chemodenitrification: Insight into Mineral Protection Mechanisms.

Labile organic matter (OM) immobilized by secondary iron (Fe) minerals from chemodenitrification may be an effective way to immobilize organic carbon (OC). However, the underlying mechanisms of coupled chemodenitrification and OC sequestration are poorly understood. Here, OM immobilization by secondary Fe minerals from chemodenitrification was investigated at different C/Fe ratios. Kinetics of Fe(II) oxidation and nitrite reduction rates decreased with increasing C/Fe ratios. Despite efficient sequestration, the immobilization efficiency of OM by secondary minerals varied with the C/Fe ratios. Higher C/Fe ratios were conducive to the formation of ferrihydrite and lepidocrocite, with defects and nanopores. Three contributions, including inner-core Fe-O and edge- and corner-shared Fe-Fe interactions, constituted the local coordination environment of mineral-organic composites. Microscopic analysis at the molecular scale uncovered that labile OM was more likely to combine with secondary minerals with poor crystallinity to enhance its stability, and OM distributed within nanopores and defects had a higher oxidation state. After chemodenitrification, high molecular weight substances and substances high in unsaturation or O/C ratios including phenols, polycyclic aromatics, and carboxylic compounds exhibited a stronger affinity to Fe minerals in the treatments with lower C/Fe ratios. Collectively, labile OM immobilization can occur during chemodenitrification. The findings on OM sequestration coupled with chemodenitrification have significant implications for understanding the long-term cycling of Fe, C, and N, providing a potential strategy for OM immobilization in anoxic soils and sediments.

Association between quality of life and burden of cancer caregivers: An example in a low and middle income country.

OBJECTIVE: Limited knowledge on burden and quality of life (QoL) among cancer caregivers is available in low and middle income countries. This study aims to investigate the QoL, levels of burden, and their associations among Vietnamese cancer caregivers. METHODS: This study was conducted across three hospitals in Vietnam. 348 caregivers were recruited from January to June 2021. Data were collected by using socio-demographic questionnaires, the Zarit Burden Interview scale, and Caregiver Qol Cancer. The association between QoL and burden was analyzed by using multivariate linear regression. RESULTS: Older age (p = 0.03), employed (p = 0.01), and care more than 40 h (p = 0.007) were associated with a higher burden, respectively. QoL of financial concern had the lowest score (mean = 48.03, SD = 28.87), compared to the other subscale. Caregivers who had pre-existing health conditions, unstable work, spent more than 40 h per week, and took care dependent cancer patients were associated with a lower overall QoL score. Comparing to caregivers of no burden, those of mild burden had a lower QoL score by 10.70; while those of mild severe burden had the worse QoL (lower by 23.80 scores). CONCLUSIONS: Perceptional burden among caregivers is associated with QoL. Further policies are recommended to protect cancer caregivers, to alleviate the caregiving burden, and thus to improve the overall QoL.

Identification of anti-fibrotic and pro-apoptotic bioactive compounds from Ganoderma formosanum and their possible mechanisms in modulating TGF-ß1-induced lung fibrosis.

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE: The Compendium of Materia Medica and the Classic of Materia Medica, the two most prominent records of traditional Chinese medicine, documented the therapeutic benefits of Ganoderma sinense particularly in addressing pulmonary-related ailments. Ganoderma formosanum, an indigenous subspecies of G. sinense from Taiwan, has demonstrated the same therapeutic properties. AIM OF THE STUDY: The aim of this study is to identify bioactive compounds and evaluate the potential of G. formosanum extracts as a novel treatment to alleviate pulmonary fibrosis (PF). Using an in-house drug screening platform, two-stage screening was performed to determine their anti-fibrotic efficacy. METHODS AND MATERIALS: G. formosanum was fractionated into four partitions by solvents of different polarities. To determine their antifibrotic and pro-apoptotic properties, the fractions were analyzed using two TGF-ß1-induced pulmonary fibrosis cell models (NIH-3T3) and human pulmonary fibroblast cell lines, immunoblot, qRT-PCR, and annexin V assays. Subsequently, transcriptomic analysis was conducted to validate the findings and explore possible molecular pathways. The identification of potential bioactive compounds was achieved through UHPLC-MS/MS analysis, while molecular interaction study was investigated by multiple ligands docking and molecular dynamic simulations. RESULTS: The ethyl acetate fraction (EAF) extracted from G. formosanum demonstrated substantial anti-fibrotic and pro-apoptotic effects on TGF-ß1-induced fibrotic models. Moreover, the EAF exhibited no discernible cytotoxicity. Untargeted UHPLC-MS/MS analysis identified potential bioactive compounds in EAF, including stearic acid, palmitic acid, and pentadecanoic acid. Multiple ligands docking and molecular dynamic simulations further confirmed that those bioactive compounds possess the ability to inhibit TGF-ß receptor 1. CONCLUSION: Potential bioactive compounds in G. formosanum were successfully extracted and identified in the EAF, whose anti-fibrotic and pro-apoptotic properties could potentially modulate pulmonary fibrosis. This finding not only highlights the EAF's potential as a promising therapeutic candidate to treat pulmonary fibrosis, but it also elucidates how Ganoderma confers pulmonary health benefits as described in the ancient texts.

[Application of optical genome mapping technology for the detection of chromosomal structural variations].

OBJECTIVE: To assess the value of optical genome mapping (OGM) for the detection of chromosomal structural abnormalities including ring chromosomes, balanced translocations, and insertional translocations. METHODS: Clinical data of four patients who underwent pre-implantation genetic testing concurrently with OGM and chromosomal microarray analysis at the Center of Reproductive Medicine of the Sixth Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University from January to October 2022 due to chromosomal structural abnormalities were selected as the study subjects. Some of the results were verified by multi-color fluorescence in situ hybridization. RESULTS: The OGM has successfully detected a balanced translocation and fine mapped the breakpoints in a patient. Among two patients with insertional translocations, OGM has provided more refined breakpoint locations than karyotyping analysis in a patient who had chromosome 3 inserted into chromosome 6 and determined the direction of the inserted fragment. However, OGM has failed to detect the chromosomal abnormality in a patient with chromosome 8 inserted into the Y chromosome. It has also failed to detect circular signals in a patient with ring chromosome mosaicism. CONCLUSION: OGM has successfully detected chromosomal structural variations in the four patients and provided assistance for their diagnosis.

Promoting the Aging Process and Enhancing the Production of Antioxidant Components of Garlic through Pulsed Electric Field Treatments.

Shortening the aging duration and enhancing the functional components of garlic present significant technical challenges that need to be addressed. Thus, this study aimed to evaluate the potential role of pulsed electric field (PEF) treatment, a novel nonthermal food processing method, in promoting and enhancing the functional attributes of aged garlic. Our results showed that 2-4 kV/cm PEF pretreatment increased S-allyl cysteine (SAC), total polyphenol (TPC), and flavonoid contents (TFC) compared with un-pretreated garlic during aging. The browning and texture-softening were also significantly improved during processing time, though the latter showed no significant difference from the eighth day to the end of the aging process. The principal component analysis results showed that PEF positively affects the SAC and TFC formations without adverse effects. Among the PEF pretreatments, 3 kV/cm is the most effective in enhancing functional component production compared with the other PEF pretreatments. Therefore, PEF pretreatment is a time-saving process that promotes and enhances the functionality of aged garlic.

FLRT3 and TGF-ß/SMAD4 signalling: Impacts on apoptosis, autophagy and ion channels in supraventricular tachycardia.

To explore the underlying molecular mechanisms of supraventricular tachycardia (SVT), this study aimed to analyse the complex relationship between FLRT3 and TGF-ß/SMAD4 signalling pathway, which affects Na+ and K+ channels in cardiomyocytes. Bioinformatics analysis was performed on 85 SVT samples and 15 healthy controls to screen overlapping genes from the key module and differentially expressed genes (DEGs). Expression profiling of overlapping genes, coupled with Receiver Operating Characteristic (ROC) curve analyses, identified FLRT3 as a hub gene. In vitro studies utilizing Ang II-stimulated H9C2 cardiomyocytes were undertaken to elucidate the consequences of FLRT3 silencing on cardiomyocyte apoptosis and autophagic processes. Utilizing a combination of techniques such as quantitative reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR), western blotting (WB), flow cytometry, dual-luciferase reporter assays and chromatin immunoprecipitation polymerase chain reaction (ChIP-PCR) assays were conducted to decipher the intricate interactions between FLRT3, the TGF-ß/SMAD4 signalling cascade and ion channel gene expression. Six genes (AADAC, DSC3, FLRT3, SYT4, PRR9 and SERTM1) demonstrated reduced expression in SVT samples, each possessing significant clinical diagnostic potential. In H9C2 cardiomyocytes, FLRT3 silencing mitigated Ang II-induced apoptosis and modulated autophagy. With increasing TGF-ß concentration, there was a dose-responsive decline in FLRT3 and SCN5A expression, while both KCNIP2 and KCND2 expressions were augmented. Moreover, a direct interaction between FLRT3 and SMAD4 was observed, and inhibition of SMAD4 expression resulted in increased FLRT3 expression. Our results demonstrated that the TGF-ß/SMAD4 signalling pathway plays a critical role by regulating FLRT3 expression, with potential implications for ion channel function in SVT.

Urine cadmium and urolithiasis: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Exposure to cadmium may increase risk of urolithiasis, but the results remain inconclusive. This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to access the association between cadmium exposure and urolithiasis. We searched Medline/PubMed, Embase, Web of Science Core Collection, and Cochrane Central for studies. The primary outcome was the incidence of urolithiasis compared to reference groups. We used relative risk as the summary effect measure. This meta-analysis included eight observational studies and divided into 39 study populations. Among 63,051 subjects, 5018 (7.96%) individuals had urolithiasis. The results indicated that people with an increment of 0.1 µg/g creatinine in urinary cadmium had a 2% increased risk of urolithiasis (pooled relative risk [RR], 1.02; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.01-1.03) and there is no difference in the risk of urolithiasis in high and low cadmium exposure levels. Meanwhile, people with an increment of 0.1 µg/L in urinary cadmium had a 4% increased risk of urolithiasis (pooled RR, 1.04; 95% CI, 1.02-1.07). Our findings also showed similar associations in both sex, different region (Sweden, China, and Thailand), general and occupational population. The results indicate that cadmium exposure was significantly associated with an elevated risk of urolithiasis. Therefore, it is imperative to take steps to minimize cadmium exposure.

Transformation and migration of Hg in a polluted alkaline paddy soil during flooding and drainage processes.

Mercury (Hg) contamination in paddy soils poses a health risk to rice consumers and the environmental behavior of Hg determines its toxicity. Thus, the variations of Hg speciation are worthy of exploring. In this study, microcosm and pot experiments were conducted to elucidate Hg transformation, methylation, bioaccumulation, and risk coupled with biogeochemical cycling of key elements in a Hg-polluted alkaline paddy soil. In microcosm and pot experiments, organic- and sulfide-bound and residual Hg accounted for more than 98% of total Hg, and total contents of dissolved, exchangeable, specifically adsorbed, and fulvic acid-bound Hg were less than 2% of total Hg, indicating a low mobility and environmental risk of Hg. The decrease of pH aroused from Fe(III), SO42-, and NO3- reduction promoted Hg mobility, whereas the increase of pH caused by Fe(II), S2-, and NH4+ oxidation reduced available Hg contents. Moreover, Fe-bearing minerals reduction and organic matter consumption promoted Hg mobility, whereas the produced HgS and Fe(II) oxidation increased Hg stability. During flooding, a fraction of inorganic Hg (IHg) could be transported into methylmercury (MeHg), and during drainage, MeHg would be converted back into IHg. After planting rice in an alkaline paddy soil, available Hg was below 0.3 mg kg-1. During rice growth, a portion of available Hg transport from paddy soil to rice, promoting Hg accumulation in rice grains. After rice ripening, IHg levels in rice tissues followed the trend: root > leaf > stem > grain, and IHg content in rice grain exceed 0.02 mg kg-1, but MeHg content in rice grain meets daily intake limit (37.45 µg kg-1). These results provide a basis for assessing the environmental risks and developing remediation strategies for Hg-contaminated redox-changing paddy fields as well as guaranteeing the safe production of rice grains.

4D-Printed Elution-Peak-Guided Dual-Responsive Monolithic Packing for the Solid-Phase Extraction of Metal Ions.

Four-dimensional printing (4DP) technologies are revolutionizing the fabrication of stimuli-responsive devices. To advance the analytical performance of conventional solid-phase extraction (SPE) devices using 4DP technology, in this study, we employed N-isopropylacrylamide (NIPAM)-incorporated photocurable resins and digital light processing three-dimensional printing to fabricate an SPE column with a [H+]/temperature dual-responsive monolithic packing stacked as interlacing cuboids to extract Mn, Co, Ni, Cu, Zn, Cd, and Pb ions. When these metal ions were eluted using 0.5% HNO3 solution as the eluent at a temperature below the lower critical solution temperature of polyNIPAM, the monolithic packing swelled owing to its hydrophilic/hydrophobic transition and electrostatic repulsion among the protonated units of polyNIPAM. These effects resulted in smaller interstitial volumes among these interlacing cuboids and improvements in the elution peak profiles of the metal ions, which, in turn, demonstrated the reduced method detection limits (MDLs; range, 0.2-7.2 ng L-1) during analysis using inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry. We studied the effects of optimizing the elution peak profiles of the metal ions on the analytical performance of this method and validated its reliability and applicability by analyzing the metal ions in reference materials (CASS-4, SLRS-5, 1643f, and Seronorm Trace Elements Urine L-2) and performing spike analyses of seawater, groundwater, river water, and human urine samples. Our results suggest that this 4D-printed elution-peak-guided dual-responsive monolithic packing enables lower MDLs when packed in an SPE column to facilitate the analyses of the metal ions in complex real samples.

Evaluation of the amelioration effect of Ganoderma formosanum extract on delaying PM2.5 damage to lung macrophages.

SCOPE: Particulate matter (PM) contains toxic organic matter and heavy metals that enter the entire body through blood flow and may cause mortality. Ganoderma formosanum mycelium, a valuable traditional Chinese medicine that has been used since ancient times, contains various active ingredients that can effectively impede inflammatory responses on murine alveolar macrophages induced by PM particles. METHODS AND RESULTS: An experimental study assessing the effect of G. formosanum mycelium extract's water fraction (WA) on PM-exposed murine alveolar macrophages using ROS measurement shows that WA reduces intracellular ROS by 12% and increases cell viability by 16% when induced by PM particles. According to RNA-Sequencing, western blotting, and real-time qPCR are conducted to analyze the metabolic pathway. The WA reduces the protein ratio in p-NF-κB/NF-κB by 18% and decreases the expression of inflammatory genes, including IL-1ß by 38%, IL-6 by 29%, and TNF-α by 19%. Finally, the identification of seven types of anti-inflammatory compounds in the WA fraction is achieved through UHPLC-ESI-Orbitrap-Elite-MS/MS analysis. These compounds include anti-inflammatory compounds, namely thiamine, adenosine 5'-monophosphate, pipecolic acid, L-pyroglutamic acid, acetyl-L-carnitine, D-mannitol, and L-malic acid. CONCLUSIONS: The study suggests that the WA has the potential to alleviate the PM -induced damage in alveolar macrophages, demonstrating its anti-inflammatory properties.

Dual green hemostatic sponges constructed by collagen fibers disintegrated from Halocynthia roretzi by a shortcut method.

Recently, biomacromolecules have received considerable attention in hemostatic materials. Collagen, an ideal candidate for hemostatic sponges due to its involvement in the clotting process, has been facing challenges in extraction from raw materials, which is time-consuming, expensive, and limited by cultural and religious restrictions associated with traditional livestock and poultry sources. To address these issues, this study explored a new shortcut method that using wild Halocynthia roretzi (HR), a marine fouling organism, as a raw material for developing HR collagen fiber sponge (HRCFs), which employed urea to disrupt hydrogen bonds between collagen fiber aggregates. This method simplifies traditional complex manufacturing processes while utilized marine waste, thus achieving dual green in terms of raw materials and manufacturing processes. FTIR results confirmed that the natural triple-helical structure of collagen was preserved. HRCFs exhibit a blood absorption ratio of 2000-3500 %, attributed to their microporous structure, as demonstrated by kinetic studies following a capillary model. Remarkably, the cytotoxicity and hemolysis ratio of HRCFs are negligible. Furthermore, during in vivo hemostasis tests using rabbit ear and kidney models, HRCFs significantly reduce blood loss and shorten hemostasis time compared to commercial gelatin sponge and gauze, benefiting from the capillary effect and collagen's coagulation activity. This study provides new insights into the design of collagen-based hemostatic biomaterials, especially in terms of both raw material and green manufacturing processes.

Production of bacterial cellulose (BC)/nisin composite with enhanced antibacterial and mechanical properties through co-cultivation of Komagataeibacter xylinum and Lactococcus lactis subsp. lactis.

By employing co-cultivation technique on Komagataeibacter xylinum and Lactococcus lactis subsp. lactis, bacterial cellulose (BC)/nisin films with improved antibacterial activity and mechanical properties were successfully produced. The findings demonstrated that increased nisin production is associated with an upregulation of gene expression. Furthermore, results from Scanning electronic microscopy (SEM), Fourier transform infrared (FTIR), X-ray diffraction (XRD), and Thermogravimetric analysis (TG) confirmed the integration of nisin within BC. While being biocompatible with human cells, the BC/nisin composites exhibited antimicrobial activity. Moreover, mechanical property analyses showed a noticeable improvement in Young's modulus, tensile strength, and elongation at break by 161, 271, and 195 %, respectively. Additionally, the nisin content in fermentation broth was improved by 170 % after co-culture, accompanied by an 8 % increase in pH as well as 10 % decrease in lactate concentration. Real-time reverse transcription PCR analysis revealed an upregulation of 11 nisin-related genes after co-cultivation, with the highest increase in nisA (5.76-fold). To our knowledge, this is the first study which demonstrates that an increase in secondary metabolites after co-culturing is modulated by gene expression. This research offers a cost-effective approach for BC composite production and presents a technique to enhance metabolite concentration through the regulation of relevant genes.

Effects of zero-valent iron added in the flooding or drainage process on cadmium immobilization in an acid paddy soil.

Zero-valent iron (ZVI) is a promising material for the remediation of Cd-contaminated paddy soils. However, the effects of ZVI added during flooding or drainage processes on cadmium (Cd) retention remain unclear. Herein, Cd-contaminated paddy soil was incubated for 40 days of flooding and then for 15 days of drainage, and the underlying mechanisms of Cd immobilization coupled with Fe/S/N redox processes were investigated. The addition of ZVI to the flooding process was more conducive to Cd immobilization. Less potential available Cd was detected by adding ZVI before flooding, which may be due to the increase in paddy soil pH and newly formed secondary Fe minerals. Moreover, the reductive dissolution of Fe minerals promoted the release of soil colloids, thereby increasing significantly the surface sites and causing Cd immobilization. Additionally, the addition of ZVI before flooding played a vital role in Cd retention after soil drainage. In contrast, the addition of ZVI in the drainage phase was not conducive to Cd retention, which might be due to the rapid decrease in soil pH that inhibited Cd adsorption and further immobilization on soil surfaces. The findings of this study demonstrated that Cd availability in paddy soil was largely reduced by adding ZVI during the flooding period and provide a novel insight into the mechanisms of ZVI remediation in Cd-contaminated paddy soils.

Fe(II) Oxidation Shaped Functional Genes and Bacteria Involved in Denitrification and Dissimilatory Nitrate Reduction to Ammonium from Different Paddy Soils.

Microbial nitrate reduction can drive Fe(II) oxidation in anoxic environments, affecting the nitrous oxide emission and ammonium availability. The nitrate-reducing Fe(II) oxidation usually causes severe cell encrustation via chemodenitrification and potentially inhibits bacterial activity due to the blocking effect of secondary minerals. However, it remains unclear how Fe(II) oxidation and subsequent cell encrustation affect the functional genes and bacteria for denitrification and dissimilatory nitrate reduction to ammonium (DNRA). Here, bacteria were enriched from different paddy soils with and without Fe(II) under nitrate-reducing conditions. Fe(II) addition decelerated nitrate reduction and increased NO2- accumulation, due to the rapid Fe(II) oxidation and cell encrustation in the periplasm and on the cell surface. The N2O accumulation was lower in the treatment with Fe(II) and nitrate than that in the treatment with nitrate only, although the proportions of N2O and NH4+ to the reduced NO3- were low (3.25% ∼ 6.51%) at the end of incubation regardless of Fe(II) addition. The dominant bacteria varied from soils under nitrate-reducing conditions, while Fe(II) addition shaped a similar microbial community, including Dechloromonas, Azospira, and Pseudomonas. Fe(II) addition increased the relative abundance of napAB, nirS, norBC, nosZ, and nirBD genes but decreased that of narG and nrfA, suggesting that Fe(II) oxidation favored denitrification in the periplasm and NO2--to-NH4+ reduction in the cytoplasm. Dechloromonas dominated the NO2--to-N2O reduction, while Thauera mediated the periplasmic nitrate reduction and cytoplasmic NO2--to-NH4+ during Fe(II) oxidation. However, Thauera showed much lower abundance than the dominant genera, resulting in slow nitrate reduction and limited NH4+ production. These findings provide new insights into the response of denitrification and DNRA bacteria to Fe(II) oxidation and cell encrustation in anoxic environments.

Cardiac events after using clarithromycin for anti-Helicobacter pylori therapy in patients with coronary artery disease.

Clarithromycin is an antibiotic commonly used to treat Helicobacter pylori infections. The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) advises caution before prescribing clarithromycin to patients with cardiac diseases. This study aimed to evaluate cardiac events after anti-H pylori treatment in patients with coronary artery disease. A retrospective 5-year study was conducted on outpatients who received anti-H pylori therapy. Among the 7855 patients receiving therapy, 228 patients (2.9%) underwent angiography with coronary artery disease before therapy, and 193 patients received clarithromycin. Clarithromycin users seemed not to be at risk for cardiac events as compared with non-clarithromycin users at 3 months (4.7% vs 2.9%, P = .63) and 1 year (10.9% vs 5.7%, P = .35). Neither life-threatening dysrhythmia nor cardiac death was noted. The risk factors for cardiac events within 3 months after therapy were smoker (OR:5.38, 95% CI:1.39-20.78), and events within 1 year were smoker (OR:3.8, 95% CI:1.41-10.22), and diabetes mellitus (OR:5.68, 95% CI:1.9-16.98). Among patients with coronary artery disease who received anti-H pylori therapy, short-term cardiac events did not increase in clarithromycin users but should be considered in diabetic and smoking patients.

Role of PPAR-related genes in chronic heart failure: evidence from large populations.

BACKGROUND: The role of PPAR signaling and its associated genes in the pathogenesis and progression of chronic heart failure (CHF) remains elusive. METHODS: We accessed the gene expression profile and relevant baseline information of CHF samples from the Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) database, specifically from the GSE57338 project. RESULTS: From GSE57338 project, we derived the expression value of 126 PPAR-related genes. A protein-protein interaction network was then established to illustrate potential protein interactions. ClueGO analysis results revealed that these genes predominantly participate in functions such as export across plasma membrane, regulation of lipid metabolic process, fatty acid metabolism, circulatory system vascular processes, alcohol metabolism, triglyceride metabolism and regulation of lipid localization and response to nutrient. Using the cytohubba plug-in in Cytoscape, we pinpointed ACADM, PPARG and CPT2 as potential central molecules in HF pathogenesis and progression. Subsequent Gene Ontology and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes analysis delved into the potential biological role of these three genes in CHF. Immune infiltration analysis suggested that the infiltration level of neutrophils and M2 macrophages might be notably influenced by these genes, thereby playing a role in the CHF mechanism. CONCLUSIONS: Our research provides a comprehensive insight into the significance of PPAR associated genes in CHF development. Notably, the genes ACADM, PPARG and CPT2 emerged as potential targets for clinical interventions.

Association between Asbestos Exposure and the Incidence of Kidney Cancer: a Weight-of-Evidence Evaluation and Meta-analysis.

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: Occupational asbestos exposure has been extensively linked to various cancers, with ongoing debates regarding its association with kidney cancer. This study aims to investigate the correlation between occupational asbestos exposure and kidney cancer incidence. Additionally, potential influencing factors are analyzed to enhance the comprehension of the relationship between asbestos exposure and kidney cancer. RECENT FINDING: While asbestos has established strong associations with malignant mesothelioma and lung cancer, its connection to other malignancies such as gastric, colorectal, and kidney cancers remains under scrutiny. The current study presents mixed opinions on the relationship between asbestos exposure and kidney cancer. Our analysis revealed a potential association between asbestos exposure and the incidence of kidney cancer. Notably, among different types of asbestos, exposure to amphibole appeared to be particularly linked to a higher incident risk of kidney cancer.

Biocompatible and antibacterial poly(lactic acid)/cellulose nanofiber­silver nanoparticle biocomposites prepared via Pickering emulsion method.

Developing biocompatible and antibacterial materials with biodegradable polymers is an ideal strategy to improve public health problems and plastic pollution simultaneously. In the present study, novel biocompatible and antibacterial poly (L-lactic acid) (PLLA, coded as P)/TEMPO-oxidized cellulose nanofiber (TOCNF, coded as T)­silver nanoparticle (AgNP, coded as A) films were first developed. The core/shell PT Pickering emulsion was prepared by sonication treatment. The TOCNF shells with -COO-Na+ groups (∼1.5 mmol/g cellulose) were used as the support to in situ synthesize and immobilize AgNPs on the PT emulsion droplets. Silver nitrate (AgNO3) (1.5, 3.0, 4.5, and 6.0 mmol/g cellulose) was added to the PT emulsions. Then, ion-exchange reaction and hydrothermal reduction were conducted to form PTA (PTA1-PTA4) emulsions. After centrifugation to remove the excess Ag+, filtration, oven-drying, and hot-pressing, the PTA composite films were successfully prepared. The PTA3 film contained AgNPs 12.4 ± 2.8 nm in diameter and exhibited the highest antibacterial activities against the E. coli (85.2%) and S. aureus (80.1%) at 37 °C, where the initial bacterial suspension concentrations were approximately 2 × 108 CFU mL-1. Therefore, the biocompatible and antibacterial PTA3 film is a promising candidate for biomedical applications, in particular as an antibacterial bioactive packaging material.