Ultra-Small Copper-Based Multienzyme-Like Nanoparticles Protect Against Hepatic Ischemia-Reperfusion Injury Through Scavenging Reactive Oxygen Species in Mice.

Hepatic ischemia-reperfusion injury (IRI) is a severe complication that occurs in the process of liver transplantation, hepatectomy, and other end-stage liver disease surgery, often resulting in the failure of surgery operation and even patient death. Currently, there is no effective way to prevent hepatic IRI clinically. Here, it is reported that the ultra-small copper-based multienzyme-like nanoparticles with catalase-like (CAT-like) and superoxide dismutase-like (SOD-like) catalytic activities significantly scavenge the surge-generated endogenous reactive oxygen species (ROS) and effectively protects hepatic IRI. Density functional theory calculations confirm that the nanoparticles efficiently scavenge ROS through their synergistic effects of the ultra-small copper SOD-like activity and manganese dioxides CAT-like activity. Furthermore, the results show that the biocompatible CMP NPs significantly protected hepatocytes from IRI in vitro and in vivo. Importantly, their therapeutic effect is much stronger than that of N-acetylcysteamine acid (NAC), an FDA-approved antioxidative drug. Finally, it is demonstrated that the protective effects of CMP NPs on hepatic IRI are related to suppressing inflammation and hepatocytic apoptosis and maintaining endothelial functions through scavenging ROS in liver tissues. The study can provide insight into the development of next-generation nanomedicines for scavenging ROS.

Correlated topological flat bands in rhombohedral graphite.

Flat bands and nontrivial topological physics are two important topics of condensed matter physics. With a unique stacking configuration analogous to the Su-Schrieffer-Heeger model, rhombohedral graphite (RG) is a potential candidate for realizing both flat bands and nontrivial topological physics. Here, we report experimental evidence of topological flat bands (TFBs) on the surface of bulk RG, which are topologically protected by bulk helical Dirac nodal lines via the bulk-boundary correspondence. Moreover, upon in situ electron doping, the surface TFBs show a splitting with exotic doping evolution, with an order-of-magnitude increase in the bandwidth of the lower split band, and pinning of the upper band near the Fermi level. These experimental observations together with Hartree-Fock calculations suggest that correlation effects are important in this system. Our results demonstrate RG as a platform for investigating the rich interplay between nontrivial band topology, correlation effects, and interaction-driven symmetry-broken states.

Recent Developments in the Non-Pharmacological Management of Children's Behavior Based on Distraction Techniques: A Concise Review.

Oral diseases and conditions affect children's oral health and negatively influence their overall health. Early detection and intervention are important in mitigating these negative consequences. However, dental fear and anxiety (DFA) regarding dental procedures often hinder children from seeking necessary dental care. Non-pharmacological behavior management strategies, such as distraction techniques, are commonly adopted to manage children's behaviors. Distraction techniques have been developed rapidly in recent years and are widely accepted by both health professionals and parents due to their noninvasive and low-cost nature. This concise review aims to summarize current distraction techniques applied during dental treatments, especially for children. The most commonly reported techniques for children are audio distraction, audio-visual distraction, tactile distraction, olfactory distraction, and gustatory distraction. Audio distraction techniques involving music and storytelling help children relax. Audio-visual distraction techniques help to divert children's attention from the dental treatment. Tactile stimuli can reduce the transmission of pain signals. Olfactory stimuli can help children feel comfortable and relaxed. Gustatory distraction involving sweet substances can create a positive environment. These distraction techniques effectively reduce DFA in children and improve their satisfaction with dental procedures. As technology continues to develop, further research is needed to provide more robust, evidence-based guidance for dentists using distraction techniques.

Photoinduced 1,5-HAT-enabled 1,7-hydrosulfonylation of allylic ethers and amides.

Herein, we report a photoinduced 1,7-hydrosulfonylation of allylic ethers and amides via a sequential Pd-mediated 1,5-HAT process and Pd-catalyzed allylic nucleophilic attack of arylsulfonates. This rationally designed synthetic protocol allows for facile construction of a series of structurally novel allylic sulfonated scaffolds, and features mild conditions, cheap and readily available raw materials and functional group compatibility.

Dietary patterns and periodontitis: A systematic review.

The systematic review aimed to investigate the associations between index-based dietary patterns and the risk and severity of periodontitis. Four public databases were searched for relevant published articles. Two independent researchers conducted the study selection, quality assessment, and data extraction. Methodological quality of the selected studies was evaluated using Joanna Briggs Institute Checklists. The review was registered with PROSPERO (CRD42023395049). Twenty-five studies were eligible for this review, including 23 cross-sectional studies and two prospective cohort studies. The most utilized dietary indices were the Healthy Eating Index (HEI), the Mediterranean Diet Score (MDS), and the Dietary Inflammatory Index (DII). The results indicated a positive association between higher diet quality (i.e., higher HEI and MDSs and lower DII scores) and healthier periodontal status. Subgroup meta-analysis for four studies utilizing HEI and CDC/AAP case definition indicates the protective effect of higher HEI scores on the risk of periodontitis (OR [95% CI] = 0.77[0.68, 0.88]) with statistical significance (Z = 3.91 [p < 0.0001]). Dietary assessment was conducted by validated food frequency questionnaires (FFQ) in 52% of the studies and 24-h dietary recalls in 36% of the studies. One study utilized a validated 15-item questionnaire to measure patients' adherence to the Mediterranean Diet (QueMD). The quality assessment showed that all studies were of high quality. High HEI and MDSs and low DII scores were associated with a low risk of periodontitis and better periodontal conditions. The standardized and repeatable diet guidelines might be provided for preventing periodontitis. Future prospective studies and clinical trials are needed to confirm this causal association.

Comparison of Different Intraoral Scanners With Prefabricated Aid on Accuracy and Framework Passive Fit of Digital Complete-Arch Implant Impression: An In Vitro Study.

OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to compare the accuracy of digital complete-arch implant impressions with prefabricated aids using three intraoral scanners (IOSs) and explore the correlation between virtual deviation measurement and physical framework misfit. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Four edentulous maxillary master models with four and six parallel and angular implants were fabricated and scanned by a laboratory scanner as reference scans. Ten scans of each master model were acquired using three IOSs (IOS-T, IOS-M, and IOS-A) with and without prefabricated aids. Trueness and precision of root mean square (RMS) errors were measured. Ten aluminum alloy frameworks were fabricated, and the misfit was measured with a micro-computed tomography scan with one screw tightened. RESULTS: Trueness and precision showed significant improvement when prefabricated aids were used for all three IOSs (p < 0.010). Median (interquartile range) RMS errors of trueness reduced from 67.5 (30.4) to 61.8 (30.3) µm, from 100.6 (35.4) to 45.9 (15.1) µm, and from 52.7 (33.2) to 41.1 (22.5) µm for scanner IOS-T, IOS-M, and IOS-A, respectively (p < 0.010). The precision of IOS-A and IOS-M was significantly better than IOS-T when using prefabricated aid (p < 0.001). RMS errors and the maximum marginal misfit of the framework were significantly correlated (p < 0.001, R2 = 0.845). CONCLUSIONS: With the prefabricated aids, the accuracy of IOSs enhanced significantly in digital complete-arch implant impressions. Three IOSs showed different levels of improvement in accuracy. Virtual RMS errors <62.2 µm could be the clinically acceptable threshold (150 µm) for framework passive fit.

Photoredox-Catalyzed Phosphine-Mediated Successive Deoxygenation of Sulfonyl Oxime Salts Enables Anti-Markovnikov Hydrothiolation of Alkenes.

Stable and easy-to-handle sodium salts of sulfonyl oximes were first identified to proceed via visible-light-driven phophine-mediated successive deoxygenation to realize the anti-Markovnikov hydrothiolation of alkenes, which could serve as an odorless sulfur source. Mechanistic studies revealed that the key thiyl radical intermediate could be generated in situ from the sulfonyl oxime anion via a phosphine-mediated fragmentation and a sequential deoxygenation process. Notably, a wide range of alkenes, including acrylamides, acrylates, vinyl ketones, vinyl sulfones, and acrylonitriles, are competent substrates for this protocol, which is highly beneficial for the construction of structurally diversified organosulfur compounds.

Biological aging mediates the association between periodontitis and cardiovascular disease: results from a national population study and Mendelian randomization analysis.

BACKGROUND: The relationship between periodontitis and cardiovascular disease (CVD) has been extensively studied, but the role of biological aging in this relationship remains poorly understood. This study is dedicated to investigating the effect of periodontitis on the incidence of CVD and to elucidating the potential mediating role of biological aging. Furthermore, this study will seek to elucidate the causal association between periodontitis, CVD, and biological aging. METHODS: We included 3269 participants from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (2009-2014) with diagnostic information on periodontitis and composite CVD events. Biological aging was evaluated by utilizing both the Klemera-Doubal method's calculated biological age (KDMAge) and phenotypic age (PhenoAge). Logistic regression, restricted cubic spline (RCS) analysis, and subgroup analysis were used for data analysis. Mediation analysis was employed to explore the mediating role of biological aging. Subsequently, Mendelian randomization (MR) analyses were performed using genome-wide association study databases to explore potential causal relationships between periodontitis, CVD, and biological aging. RESULTS: Periodontitis was associated with a higher risk of CVD. Participants with periodontitis were found to have increased levels of biological aging, and elevated levels of biological aging were associated with increased CVD risk. Mediation analyses showed a partial mediating effect of biological aging (PhenoAge: 44.6%; KDMAge: 22.9%) between periodontitis and CVD risk. MR analysis showed that periodontitis played a causal role in increasing the risk of small vessel stroke, while myocardial infarction was found to increase the risk of periodontitis. In addition, reverse MR analysis showed that phenotypic aging can increase the risk of periodontitis, and there is a two-way causal relationship between CVD and biological aging. CONCLUSIONS: Periodontitis is associated with an increased CVD risk, partially mediated by biological aging, with a complex causal interrelationship. Targeted interventions for periodontal health may slow the biological aging processes and reduce CVD risk.

Self-Assemblies of Carboxylic Acid Derivatives with Different Symmetry: Adjusting by Solvent and Guest Molecules.

In this research, the self-assembly behaviors of two different symmetry carboxylic acid derivatives (H3BTE and H4BTE) regulated by solvent and guest molecule (coronene, COR) were explored at the liquid/solid interface by scanning tunneling microscopy, and the formation mechanism was investigated by density functional theory. In 1-phenyloctane, only H3BTE molecules dissolved with extremely low concentration and self-assembled into a honeycomb structure and a new strip structure, while H4BTE could not. In 1-heptanoic acid, H3BTE and H4BTE were easily dissolved, in which H3BTE formed a regular row structure and H4BTE formed a tetragonal structure, respectively. The host-guest interaction was investigated by introducing the COR molecules into their self-assembly structures, and due to the different symmetry, H3BTE and H4BTE displayed different accommodation behavior.

Healthy lifestyles ameliorate an increased risk of periodontitis associated with polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons.

The risk of chronic inflammatory diseases has been linked to exposure to polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). However, limited data are available regarding their impact on periodontitis. This study aims to explore the association between PAHs and periodontitis while also evaluating the potential modifying effects of healthy lifestyles. We included 17,031 participants from the US National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES, 2001-2004 and 2009-2014). A meta-analysis-based environment-wide association study (EWAS) was adopted to identify environmental chemicals for the mean probing pocket depth (PPD) and the mean attachment loss (AL). PAHs were further evaluated concerning the cross-sectional association with Mod/Sev periodontitis using multivariable logistic regression models. Moreover, healthy lifestyle scores were estimated to assess their modifying effect on the PAH-periodontitis association. EWAS analysis identified several urinary PAH metabolites as significant risk factors for the mean PPD and AL (false discovery rate <0.05, Q > 0.05). Periodontitis severity was positively associated with eight individual and total PAH concentrations. Stratifying the participants in terms of healthy lifestyle scores did not reveal any association in the healthy group. Moreover, the association weakened in never-smokers and individuals with sufficient physical activity and normal weight. PAH exposure was a risk factor for periodontitis. A healthier lifestyle was observed to offset the risk potentials of PAHs for periodontitis. Smoking cessation, physical activity, and weight loss might be recommended as a healthy lifestyle strategy for ameliorating PAH-related periodontitis.

CD38 deficiency prevents diabetic nephropathy by inhibiting lipid accumulation and oxidative stress through activation of the SIRT3 pathway.

Diabetic nephropathy (DN) is one of the most common complications of diabetes. Our previous study showed that CD38 knockout (CD38KO) mice had protective effects on many diseases. However, the roles and mechanisms of CD38 in DN remain unknown. Here, DN mice were generated by HFD feeding plus streptozotocin (STZ) injection in male CD38KO and CD38flox mice. Mesangial cells (SV40 MES 13 cells) were used to mimic the injury of DN with palmitic acid (PA) treatment in vitro. Our results showed that CD38 expression was significantly increased in kidney of diabetic CD38flox mice and SV40 MES 13 cells treated with PA. CD38KO mice were significantly resistant to diabetes-induced renal injury. Moreover, CD38 deficiency markedly decreased HFD/STZ-induced lipid accumulation, fibrosis and oxidative stress in kidney tissue. In contrast, overexpression of CD38 aggravated PA-induced lipid accumulation and oxidative stress. CD38 deficiency increased expression of SIRT3, while overexpression of CD38 decreased its expression. More importantly, 3-TYP, an inhibitor of SIRT3, significantly enhanced PA-induced lipid accumulation and oxidative stress in CD38 overexpressing cell lines. In conclusion, our results demonstrated that CD38 deficiency prevented DN by inhibiting lipid accumulation and oxidative stress through activation of the SIRT3 pathway.

Improved Hysteroscopic Resection of Endometrial Polyps Using 6-Fr Micro-Scissors and Forceps.

Endometrial polyps commonly contribute to female infertility, and hysteroscopic resection is the established surgical approach for their treatment. Numerous resection methods are available, with the most used and cost-effective options being cold resection employing micro-scissors or hot resection using an electric loop. However, both methods involve sharp resection, posing a challenge in achieving complete polyp removal while avoiding damage to the uterine endometrium. To address this issue, this study proposes an innovative approach: the combined use of the 6 Fr micro-scissors and forceps under hysteroscopy. The method entails utilizing 6 Fr micro-scissors to initially remove large polyps, followed by using 6 Fr micro-forceps to extract the remaining polyp tissue expeditiously and bluntly near the basal layer of the endometrium. This approach not only prevents surgical damage to the basal layer of the endometrium but also mitigates the risk of residual polyps resulting from incomplete resection. This method is particularly suitable for women with fertility requirements, offering additional considerations for the selection of treatment options for endometrial polyp resection.

Role and mechanism of endoplasmic reticulum stress and NLRP3 inflammasome in acute kidney injury. / å† è´¨ç½‘åº”æ¿€å’ŒNLRP3ç‚Žç—‡å°ä½“åœ¨æ€¥æ€§è‚¾æŸä¼¤ä¸­çš„ä½œç”¨åŠå ¶æœºåˆ¶.

Acute kidney injury (AKI) is a common critical condition in clinical practice, characterized by a rapid decline in renal function within a short period. The pathogenesis of AKI is complex and has not been fully elucidated. In recent years, studies have found that the activation of endoplasmic reticulum stress (ERS) and the Nod-like receptor family pyrin domain containing 3 (NLRP3) inflammasome are closely related to the occurrence of AKI. When the kidneys is damaged, the internal environment of the kidney cells is disrupted, leading to the activation of ERS. Excessive ERS can induce apoptosis of renal cells, leading to the occurrence of AKI. Additionally, the NLRP3 inflammasome can mediate the recognition of endogenous and exogenous danger signal molecules by the host, subsequently activating caspase-1, pro-inflammatory cytokines such as IL-1ß and IL-18, inducing inflammatory responses, and promoting apoptosis of renal cells. In animal models of AKI, the upregulation of ERS markers is often accompanied by increased expression levels of NLRP3 inflammasome-related proteins, indicating that ERS can regulate the activation process of the NLRP3 inflammasome. Clarifying the role and mechanism of ERS and NLRP3 inflammasome in AKI is expected to provide new insights for the prevention and treatment of AKI.

Deep Blue CsPbBr3 Quantum Wires with Tailored Shapes.

Low-dimension metal halide perovskites are attractive for bandgap tunable optoelectronic materials. Among them, 1-D CsPbBr3 quantum wires (QWs) are emerging as promising deep-blue luminescent material. However, the growth dynamics of 1-D perovskite QWs are intricate, making the study and control of 1-D QWs highly challenging. In this study, a strategy for controlling both the length and width of the CsPbBr3 QWs was realized. The temperature-dependent isotropic growth mechanism was revealed and employed as the main tool for the oriented growth of 1-D CsPbBr3 QWs for various aspect ratios. Our results pave the way for the controlled synthesis of ultrasmall perovskite nanocrystals.

Transcriptomics Identifies Differentially Expressed Genes Inducing Tuber Formation in Early- and Late-Maturing Potatoes.

The timing of potato tuberization is affected by potato ripeness, environmental factors, and polygene regulation. The accurate control of the transition to tuberization has both scientific and practical production value, but the key factors regulating this transition remain unclear. This study grafted an early-maturing potato variety (Favorita) scion to the late-maturing Qingshu 9 variety and demonstrated that a heterologous early-maturing scion can induce early potato formation on a late-maturing rootstock. The transcriptome of functional leaves and stolons of grafted plants was comprehensively analyzed and 593 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were identified, including 38 transcription factors. Based on gene molecular function analysis and previous reports, we propose that PIF5, bHLH93, CBF3, ERF109, TCP19, and YABBY1 are the key DEGs that induce tuber formation in early- and late-maturing potatoes. The YABBY1 gene was subjected to functional verification. The leaf area of StYABBY1-overexpressing plants was smaller than the wild type and no potato tubercles were formed, while an RNA interference plant line showed no change in leaf area and formed tubers, indicating that StYABBY1 has a role in leaf size regulation and tuber formation.

Investigation of ion association kinetics in Na2SO4-H2O by excess Raman spectroscopy and 2D correlation Raman spectroscopy.

The ion association of salts aqueous solutions have long captivated the attention of researchers within the field of physical chemistry. In this paper, we have performed a comprehensive analysis of ion interactions in sodium sulfate (Na2SO4) aqueous solutions using a combination of high-resolution techniques, including excess (ERS) and two-dimensional correlation (2DCRS) Raman spectroscopy in conjunction with molecular dynamics (MD) calculations. The Raman spectrum shows that two inflection points in the Raman shift of the O-H vibration are observed with the increase in Na2SO4 concentration. Simultaneously, a new peak of the SO42- vibration appears at first inflection point, representing the formation of ion association. Further analysis based on ERS and 2CRS reveals that these two inflection points correspond respectively to the formation of ion pairs (CIPs) and small ion clusters. Importantly, MD simulations confirm the above experimental results. Our study provides evidence for ion association and clustering in aqueous in salt ion aqueous solutions.

Evaluating the prognostic value of tumor deposits in non-metastatic lymph node-positive colon adenocarcinoma using Cox regression and machine learning.

BACKGROUND: The 8th AJCC TNM staging for non-metastatic lymph node-positive colon adenocarcinoma patients(NMLP-CA) stages solely by lymph node status, irrespective of the positivity of tumor deposits (TD). This study uses machine learning and Cox regression to predict the prognostic value of tumor deposits in NMLP-CA. METHODS: Patient data from the SEER registry (2010-2019) was used to develop CSS nomograms based on prognostic factors identified via multivariate Cox regression. Model performance was evaluated by c-index, dynamic calibration, and Schmid score. Shapley additive explanations (SHAP) were used to explain the selected models. RESULTS: The study included 16,548 NMLP-CA patients, randomized 7:3 into training (n = 11,584) and test (n = 4964) sets. Multivariate Cox analysis identified TD, age, marital status, primary site, grade, pT stage, and pN stage as prognostic for cancer-specific survival (CSS). In the test set, the gradient boosting machine (GBM) model achieved the best C-index (0.733) for CSS prediction, while the Cox model and GAMBoost model optimized dynamic calibration(6.473) and Schmid score (0.285), respectively. TD ranked among the top 3 most important features in the models, with increasing predictive significance over time. CONCLUSIONS: Positive tumor deposit status confers worse prognosis in NMLP-CA patients. Tumor deposits may confer higher TNM staging. Furthermore, TD could play a more significant role in the staging system.

High performance molecular iodine optical reference using an unsaturated vapor cell.

We describe a high-performance molecular iodine optical frequency reference that is referenced to the R(56)32-0: a1 hyperfine transition of molecular iodine based on modulation transfer spectroscopy. We design an unsaturated iodine vapor cell with a gas pressure equivalent to the saturation pressure at -17 °C. Using this cell, we developed a compact, frequency-stabilized laser. The iodine cell operates at room temperature and is not actively temperature stabilized. We demonstrate a laser with fractional frequency instability of 1.4 × 10-14 at 1 s and 1.7 × 10-15 at 104 s. To our knowledge, the level of frequency instability at 104 s is comparable to the previously reported best results for an iodine stabilized laser. These results suggest that using an unsaturated iodine vapor cell is a valid approach for the development of long-term, stable iodine-based optical references.

Homeostatic Measure of Insulin Resistance Is Associated With Future Asthma Exacerbations: A 1-Year Prospective Cohort Study.

BACKGROUND: Recent evidence suggests that insulin resistance affects asthma outcomes. However, the effect of the homeostatic measure of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) on airway inflammation and asthma exacerbations (AEs) is poorly understood. OBJECTIVE: To analyze the relationship between HOMA-IR and clinical and inflammatory characteristics in patients with asthma, and the association between HOMA-IR and AEs in the following year. METHODS: A prospective cohort study recruited participants with asthma, who were classified into the HOMA-IRhigh group and HOMA-IRlow group based on the cutoff value of 3.80 for HOMA-IR and were observed within 12 months. We evaluated the clinical and inflammatory features and conducted a 1-year follow-up to study the exacerbations. We used negative binomial regression models to analyze the association between HOMA-IR and AEs. RESULTS: Compared with patients in the HOMA-IRlow group (n = 564), those in the HOMA-IRhigh group (n = 61) had higher levels of body mass index, a higher waist circumference and waist-hip ratio, higher triglycerides, lower cholesterol high-density lipoproteins, more neutrophils in the peripheral blood, and elevated IL-5 levels in the induced sputum. Furthermore, patients in the HOMA-IRhigh group had a significantly increased risk for moderate to severe AEs (adjusted incidence rate ratio [aIRR] = 2.26; 95% CI, 1.38-3.70), severe AEs (aIRR = 2.42; 95% CI, 1.26-4.67), hospitalization (aIRR = 2.54; 95% CI, 1.20-5.38), and emergency visits (aIRR = 3.04; 95% CI, 1.80-8.53). CONCLUSIONS: The homeostatic measure of insulin resistance was associated with asthma-related clinical features and airway inflammation, and was an independent risk factor for future AEs. Therefore, insulin resistance may have important implications for managing asthma as a potential treatable trait.