Can cadmium-contaminated rice be used to produce food additive sodium erythorbate?

Cadmium (Cd) in rice is a significant concern for its quality and safety. Currently, there is a crucial need to develop cost-effective and efficient ways to remove Cd or re-utilize Cd-contaminated rice. The food additive sodium erythorbate is produced via 2-ketogluconic acid (2KGA) fermentation by Pseudomonas plecoglossicida and lactonization using starch-rich raw materials, such as rice. We aimed to determine whether cadmium-contaminated rice can be used to produce sodium erythorbate. To achieve this aim, the migration of cadmium during the production of sodium erythorbate from Cd-contaminated rice was studied. Five rice varieties with different Cd contents from 0.10 to 0.68 mg/kg were used as raw materials. The results indicated the presence of Cd in rice and CaCO3 did not have a notable impact on the fermentation performance of 2KGA. The acidification of 2KGA fermentation broth, the addition of K4Fe(CN)6·3H2O and ZnSO4, and 2KGA purification using cation exchange effectively removed >98% of the Cd in the fermentation broth, but the 2KGA yield remained high at approximately 94%. The sodium erythorbate synthesized from Cd-contaminated rice was of high quality and free from Cd, meeting the requirements of the Chinese National Standard, GB 1886.28-2016. The study provided a safe and effective strategy for comprehensively utilizing Cd-contaminated rice to produce high value-added food additive.

Lepidium meyenii (Maca) polysaccharides mitigate liver toxicity of aflatoxin B1 through activation of NRF-2/GPX and AhR/STAT3 signaling pathways.

Aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) can induce serious liver toxicity in human. While completely avoiding AFB1 exposure is difficult, dietary intake of natural products may be leveraged to mitigate its adverse health effects. The roots of Lepidium meyenii (Maca) is rich in beneficial polysaccharides. Here we first evaluated dietary safety of MPs and then investigated MPs mitigating effects on the liver toxicity of AFB1. A 28-day sub-acute administration of Maca polysaccharides (MPs) demonstrated to be safe in mice at dose 0.2-1.2 g/kg.bw/day that significantly elevated mice stamina. Also, no toxicity was observed in human PC12 cells treated with MPs 25-100 µg/mL which successfully alleviated cobalt-caused cell apoptosis by ∼20%. In terms of anti-AFB1 hepatoxicity function, MPs 0.4-1.6 g/kg.bw/day significantly alleviated liver tissue damage, lipid accumulation, ROS damage, NF-κB p65, secretion of cytokines such as IL-6 and TNF-α in AFB1-treated mice. Flow cytometry found that MPs treatment recovered the elevation of F4/80 in the primary macrophages of AFB1-treated mice. At molecular level, MPs treatment activated liver NRF-2/GPX/SOD anti-oxidant system. In human macrophage model, MPs restored the inflammatory AhR/STAT3 pathway and mRNA expressions of Tnf-a, Inos, Arg-1 disrupted by AFB1. Our findings not only add to the current understanding on the toxicity mechanism of AFB1, but also provide references to the development of dietary intervention strategy using MPs.

ETHYLENE RESPONSE FACTOR6, A Central Regulator of Plant Growth in Response to Stress.

ETHYLENE RESPONSE FACTOR6 (ERF6) has emerged as a central player in stress-induced plant growth inhibition. It orchestrates complex pathways that enable plants to acclimate and thrive in challenging environments. In response to various abiotic and biotic stresses, ERF6 is promptly activated through both ethylene-dependent and -independent pathways, and contributes to enhanced stress tolerance mechanisms by activating a broad spectrum of genes at various developmental stages. Despite the crucial role of ERF6, there is currently a lack of published comprehensive insights into its function in plant growth and stress response. In this respect, based on the tight connection between ethylene and ERF6, we review the latest research findings on how ethylene regulates stress responses and the mechanisms involved. In addition, we summarize the trends and advances in ERF6-mediated plant performance under optimal and stressful conditions. Finally, we also highlight key questions and suggest potential paths to unravel the ERF6 regulon in future research.

The genetic basis of leaf hair development in upland cotton (Gossypium hirsutum).

Trichomes, which originate from the epidermal cell of aerial organs, provide plants with defense and secretion functions. Although numerous genes have been implicated in trichome development, the molecular mechanisms underlying trichome cell formation in plants remain incompletely understood. Here, we using genome-wide association study (GWAS) across 1037 diverse accessions in upland cotton (Gossypium hirsutum) to identify three loci associated with leaf pubescence (hair) amount, located on chromosome A06 (LPA1), A08 (LPA2) and A11 (LPA3), respectively. GhHD1, a previously characterized candidate gene, was identified on LPA1 and encodes an HD-Zip transcription factor. For LPA2 and LPA3, we identified two candidate genes, GhGIR1 and GhGIR2, both encoding proteins with WD40 and RING domains that act as inhibitors of leaf hair formation. Expression analysis revealed that GhHD1 was predominantly expressed in hairy accessions, whereas GhGIR1 and GhGIR2 were expressed in hairless accessions. Silencing GhHD1 or overexpressing GhGIR1 in hairy accessions induced in a hairless phenotype, whereas silencing GhGIR2 in hairless accessions resulted in a hairy phenotype. We also demonstrated that GhHD1 interact with both GhGIR1 and GhGIR2, and GhGIR1 can interact with GhGIR2. Further investigation indicated that GhHD1 functions as a transcriptional activator, binding to the promoters of the GhGIR1 and GhGIR2 to active their expression, whereas GhGIR1 and GhGIR2 can suppress the transcriptional activation of GhHD1. Our findings shed light on the intricate regulatory network involving GhHD1, GhGIR1 and GhGIR2 in the initiation and development of plant epidermal hairs in cotton.

Enhanced Vanadium Redox Flow Battery Performance with New Amphoteric Ion Exchange Membranes.

Vanadium redox flow batteries (VRFBs) depend on the separator membrane for their efficiency and cycle life. Herein, two amphoteric ion exchange membranes are synthesized, based on sulfonic acid group-grafted poly(p-terphenyl piperidinium), for VRFBs. Using ether-free poly(p-terphenyl piperidine) (PTP) as the polymer matrix, and sodium 2-bromoethanesulphonate (ES) and 1,4-butane sultone (BS) as grafting agents, We achieve quaternization of PTP through an environmentally friendly process without alkaline catalysts. PTP-ES and PTP-BS membranes exhibit low area resistance, high H+ permeability, and significantly reduced vanadium ion permeability, leading to exceptional ion selectivity, which is 3.06 × 106 S min cm-3 and 4.34 × 106 S min cm-3, respectively, three orders of magnitude higher than that of Nafion115 (0.27 × 104 S min cm-3). The VRFB with PTP-BS achieves a self-discharge duration of 190 h, compared to 86 h for Nafion 115. Additionally, under current densities of 40-160 mA cm-2, PTP-BS shows coulombic efficiencies of 98.1-99.1% and energy efficiencies of 92.0-82.1%, outperforming Nafion 115. The VRFB with PTP-BS also demonstrates excellent cycle stability and discharge capacity retention over 300 cycles at 100 mA cm-2. Therefore, the amphoteric PTP-BS membrane shows remarkable performance, offering significant potential for VRFB applications.

Strategically engineered Au(I) complexes for orchestrated tumor eradication via chemo-phototherapy and induced immunogenic cell death.

Cancer is a significant cause of death around the world, and for many varieties, treatment is not successful. Therefore, there is a need for the development of innovative, efficacious, and precisely targeted treatments. Here, we develop a series of Au(I) complexes (1-4) through rational manipulation of ligand structures, thereby achieving tumor cell specific targeting and orchestrated tumor eradication via chemo-phototherapy and induced immunogenic cell death. A comprehensive exploration based on in vitro and in vivo female mice experimentation shows that complex 4 exhibits proficiency in specific tumor imaging, endoplasmic reticulum targeting, and has robust therapeutic capabilities. Mechanistic elucidation indicates that the anticancer effect derives from the synergistic actions of thioredoxin reductase inhibition, highly efficient reactive oxygen species production and immunogenic cell death. This work presents a report on a robust Au(I) complex integrating three therapeutic modalities within a singular system. The strategy presented in this work provides a valuable reference for the development of high-performance therapeutic agents.

[The involvement and underlying mechanism of the aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR) in the impairment of male mammalian fertility induced by environmental pollutants].

In recent decades, there has been a consistent decline in semen quality across the globe, with environmental pollution emerging as the predominant factor. Persistent organic pollutants (POPs) have garnered considerable attention due to their potent biological toxicity and resistance to natural degradation. Within this class of pollutants, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and halogenated aromatic hydrocarbons (HAHs) have been identified as detrimental agents that can disrupt cellular physiological functions by activating aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR). However, the precise role of AhR in the adverse effects of environmental pollutants on male mammalian fertility remains incompletely understood. This article provides a comprehensive review of the impact of various environmental pollutants, specifically PAHs such as benzo[a]pyrene, 3-methylcholanthrene, and 7,12-dimethylbenzo[a]anthracene, HAHs including 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxins, polychlorinated biphenyls, polybrominated diphenyl ethers, and the pollutant complex PM2.5, as well as cigarette smoke condensates, on male mammalian reproductive function. Additionally, this review focuses on the role of the AhR in mediating these effects. The objective of this review is to elucidate the involvement of AhR in the regulation of male mammalian fertility, thereby offering insights for prospective investigations into the interplay between AhR and male reproductive function, as well as the etiology of idiopathic male infertility in clinic.

[Analysis of Thalassemia Gene Mutation Types and Ethnic Distribution Characteristics in Hechi Area, Guangxi].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the genotype, mutation type, and ethnic distribution characteristics of thalassemia in the population of Hechi area, Guangxi, and to provide a reference basis for prevention and control of thalassemia and eugenic counseling in the region. METHODS: Gap-polymerase chain reaction (gap-PCR) and reverse dot blot (RDB) were used for genetic testing on suspected thalassemia persons, and the results were analyzed. RESULTS: Among 29 136 samples, a total of 17 016 (58.40%) positive samples for thalassemia genes were detected, with a higher detection rate in males than in females (χ2=49.917，P < 0.001). The detection rates of thalassemia genes were significant different among Zhuang, Han, Yao, Mulao, and Maonan ethnic groups (χ2=546.121, P < 0.001). The α-thalassemia genotypes were mainly --SEA /αα (16.67%), -α3.7/αα (8.90%), α CSα/αα (6.00%). Additionally, four rare genotypes were detected, including -- THAI/αα (47 cases), HKαα/αα (2 cases), --SEA /-α 21.9 (2 cases), and -- THAI/αCSα (1 case). The ß-thalassemia genotypes were mainly ß CD17/ßN (7.49%), ßCD41-42/ßN (6.70%), ßCD71-72/ßN (0.44%). 108 cases of moderate and severe ß-thalassemia were detected, of which 81 cases had a history of blood transfusion, the transfusion frequency of 60 cases was more than 10 times/year, and 10 cases received bone marrow transplantation. CONCLUSION: Thalassemia in Hechi area is predominantly deletion type --SEA /αα, the detection rate of thalassemia in ethnic minorities is higher than that in Han population. In this area, moderate and severe ß-thalassemia have certain incidence, these patients mostly need regular blood transfusion and iron removal treatment, and very few patients have received bone marrow transplantation. This study provides a certain reference basis for prevention and control of thalassemia and eugenic counseling in the region.

Strigolactone-gibberellin crosstalk mediated by a distant silencer fine-tunes plant height in upland cotton.

Optimal plant height is crucial in modern agriculture, influencing lodging resistance and facilitating mechanized crop production. Upland cotton (Gossypium hirsutum) is the most important fiber crop globally; however, the genetic basis underlying plant height remains largely unexplored. In this study, we conducted a genome-wide association study to identify a major locus controlling plant height (PH1) in upland cotton. This locus encodes gibberellin 2-oxidase 1A (GhPH1) and features a 1133-bp structural variation (PAVPH1) located approximately 16 kb upstream. The presence or absence of PAVPH1 influences the expression of GhPH1, thereby affecting plant height. Further analysis revealed that a gibberellin-regulating transcription factor (GhGARF) recognizes and binds to a specific CATTTG motif in both the GhPH1 promoter and PAVPH1. This interaction downregulates GhPH1, indicating that PAVPH1 functions as a distant upstream silencer. Intriguingly, we found that DWARF53 (D53), a key repressor of the strigolactone (SL) signaling pathway, directly interacts with GhGARF to inhibit its binding to targets. Moreover, we identified a previously unrecognized gibberellin-SL crosstalk mechanism mediated by the GhD53-GhGARF-GhPH1/PAVPH1 module, which is crucial for regulating plant height in upland cotton. These findings shed light on the genetic basis and gene interaction network underlying plant height, providing valuable insights for the development of semi-dwarf cotton varieties through precise modulation of GhPH1 expression.

Mortality risk and burden of aortic aneurysm and dissection attributable to low temperatures: A nationwide case-crossover analysis in Brazil, a predominantly tropical country.

BACKGROUND: Low temperatures are adverse contributors to cardiovascular diseases, but the associations between short-term exposure to cold and the risk of death from aortic dissection and aneurysm remain unclear, particularly in tropical regions. OBJECTIVE: This study was conducted based on 123,951 records of deaths caused by aortic dissection and aneurysms extracted from the national Mortality Information System in Brazil between 2000 and 2019. METHODS: Relative risks and 95 % confidence intervals (CI) for the aortic-related deaths associated with low ambient temperatures were estimated using the conditional logistic model combined with the distributed lag nonlinear model. Subgroup analyses were performed by age group, sex, race, education level, and residential region. Furthermore, this study calculated the number and fraction of aortic-related deaths attributed to temperatures below the temperature threshold to quantify the cold-related mortality burden of aortic diseases. RESULTS: During the study period, aortic-related deaths and mortality rates in Brazil exhibited a steady increase, rising from 4419 (2.66/100,000) in 2000 to 8152 (3.88/100,000) in 2019. Under the identified temperature threshold (26 °C), per 1 °C decrease in daily mean temperature was associated with a 4.77 % (95 % CI: 4.35, 5.19) increase in mortality risk of aortic-related diseases over lag 0-3 days. Females, individuals aged 50 years or older, Asian and Black race, and northern residents were more susceptible to low temperatures. Low temperatures were responsible for 19.10 % (95 % CI: 17.71, 20.45) of aortic-related deaths in Brazil. CONCLUSION: This study highlights that low temperatures were associated with an increased risk of aortic-related deaths, with a remarkable burden even in this predominantly tropical country.

Unveiling the power of MYB transcription factors: Master regulators of multi-stress responses and development in cotton.

Plants, being immobile, are subject to environmental stresses more than other creatures, necessitating highly effective stress tolerance systems. Transcription factors (TFs) play a crucial role in the adaptation mechanism as they can be activated by diverse signals and ultimately control the expression of stress-responsive genes. One of the most prominent plant TFs family is MYB (myeloblastosis), which is involved in secondary metabolites, developmental mechanisms, biological processes, cellular architecture, metabolic pathways, and stress responses. Extensive research has been conducted on the involvement of MYB TFs in crops, while their role in cotton remains largely unexplored. We also utilized genome-wide data to discover potential 440 MYB genes and investigated their plausible roles in abiotic and biotic stress conditions, as well as in different tissues across diverse transcriptome databases. This review primarily summarized the structure and classification of MYB TFs biotic and abiotic stress tolerance and their role in secondary metabolism in different crops, especially in cotton. However, it intends to identify gaps in current knowledge and emphasize the need for further research to enhance our understanding of MYB roles in plants.

A novel plant growth regulator B2 mediates drought resistance by regulating reactive oxygen species, phytohormone signaling, phenylpropanoid biosynthesis, and starch metabolism pathways in Carex breviculmis.

Drought is one of the most common environmental stressors that severely threatens plant growth, development, and productivity. B2 (2,4-dichloroformamide cyclopropane acid), a novel plant growth regulator, plays an essential role in drought adaptation, significantly enhancing the tolerance of Carex breviculmis seedlings. Its beneficial effects include improved ornamental value, sustained chlorophyll content, increased leaf dry weight, elevated relative water content, and enhanced root activity under drought conditions. B2 also directly scavenges hydrogen peroxide and superoxide anion contents while indirectly enhancing the activities of antioxidant enzymes (superoxide dismutase, peroxidase, catalase, and ascorbate peroxidase) to detoxify reactive oxygen species (ROS) oxidative damage. Transcriptome analysis demonstrated that B2 activates drought-responsive transcription factors (AP2/ERF-ERF, WRKY, and mTERF), leading to significant upregulation of genes associated with phenylpropanoid biosynthesis (HCT, POD, and COMT). Additionally, these transcription factors were found to suppress the degradation of starch. B2 regulates phytohormone signaling related-genes, leading to an increase in abscisic acid contents in drought-stressed plants. Collectively, these findings offer new insights into the intricate mechanisms underlying C. breviculmis' resistance to drought damage, highlighting the potential application of B2 for future turfgrass establishment and management with enhanced drought tolerance.

A near-infrared fluorescent probe for imaging peroxynitrite levels in paw edema mice and drug evaluation.

A near-infrared fluorescent probe (TX-P) for detecting peroxynitrite is constructed. The probe has a near-infrared emission (725 nm), large Stokes shift (125 nm) and excellent sensitivity and selectivity. In addition, TX-P can be used to visualize ONOO- in living cells, image ONOO- in paw edema mice and evaluate anti-inflammatory drugs.

A Tumor-Targeting Dual-Modal imaging probe for nitroreductase in vivo.

Nitroreductase (NTR) overexpression often occurs in tumors, highlighting the significance of effective NTR detection. Despite the utilization of various optical methods for this purpose, the absence of an efficient tumor-targeting optical probe for NTR detection remains a challenge. In this research, a novel tumor-targeting probe (Cy-Bio-NO2) is developed to perform dual-modal NTR detection using near-infrared fluorescence and photoacoustic techniques. This probe exhibits exceptional sensitivity and selectivity to NTR. Upon the reaction with NTR, Cy-Bio-NO2 demonstrates a distinct fluorescence "off-on" response at 800 nm, with an impressive detection limit of 12 ng/mL. Furthermore, the probe shows on-off photoacoustic signal with NTR. Cy-Bio-NO2 has been successfully employed for dual-modal NTR detection in living cells, specifically targeting biotin receptor-positive cancer cells for imaging purposes. Notably, this probe effectively detects tumor hypoxia through dual-modal imaging in tumor-bearing mice. The strategy of biotin incorporation markedly enhances the probe's tumor-targeting capability, facilitating its engagement in dual-modal imaging at tumor sites. This imaging capacity holds substantial promise as an accurate tool for cancer diagnosis.

Causal association of immune cells and endometriosis: a Mendelian randomization study.

Objective: To investigate the causal effect of immune cells on endometriosis (EMS), we performed a Mendelian randomization analysis. Methods: Mendelian randomization (MR) uses genetic variants as instrumental variables to investigate the causal effects of exposures on outcomes in observational data. In this study, we conducted a thorough two-sample MR analysis to investigate the causal relationship between 731 immune cells and endometriosis. We used complementary Mendelian randomization (MR) methods, including weighted median estimator (WME) and inverse variance weighted (IVW), and performed sensitivity analyses to assess the robustness of our results. Results: Four immune phenotypes have been found to be significantly associated with the risk of developing EMS: B cell %lymphocyte (WME: OR: 1.074, p = 0.027 and IVW: OR: 1.058, p = 0.008), CD14 on Mo MDSC (WME: OR: 1.056, p =0.021 and IVW: OR: 1.047, p = 0.021), CD14+ CD16- monocyte %monocyte (WME: OR: 0.947, p = 0.024 and IVW: OR: 0.958, p = 0.011), CD25 on unsw mem (WME: OR: 1.055, p = 0.030 and IVW: OR: 1.048, p = 0.003). Sensitivity analyses confirmed the main findings, demonstrating consistency across analyses. Conclusions: Our MR analysis provides compelling evidence for a direct causal link between immune cells and EMS, thereby advancing our understanding of the disease. It also provides new avenues and opportunities for the development of immunomodulatory therapeutic strategies in the future.

Molecular engineering of thiophene- and pyrrole-fused core arylamine systems: Tuning redox properties, NIR spectral responsiveness and bacterial imaging applications.

The thiophene- and pyrrole-fused heterocyclic compounds have garnered significant interest for their distinctive electron-rich characteristics and notable optoelectronic properties. However, the construction of high-performance systems within this class is of great challenge. Herein, we develop a series of novel dithieno[3,2-b:2',3'-d] pyrrole (DTP) and tetrathieno[3,2-b:2',3'-d] pyrrole (TTP) bridged arylamine compounds (DTP-C4, DTP-C12, DTP-C4-Fc, TTP-C4-OMe, TTP-C4, and TTP-C12) with varying carbon chain lengths. The pertinent experimental results reveal that this series of compounds undergo completely reversible multistep redox processes. Notably, TTP-bridged compounds TTP-C4 and TTP-C12 exhibit impressive multistep near-infrared (NIR) absorption alterations with notable color changes and electroluminescent behaviors, which are mainly attributed to the charge transfer transitions from terminal arylamine units to central bridges, as supported by theoretical calculations. Additionally, compound DTP-C4 demonstrates the ability to visually identify gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria. Therefore, this work suggests the promising electroresponsive nature of compounds TTP-C4 and TTP-C12, positioning them as excellent materials for various applications. It also provides a facile approach to constructing high-performance multifunctional luminescent materials, particularly those with strong and long-wavelength NIR absorption capabilities.

GhiPLATZ17 and GhiPLATZ22, zinc-dependent DNA-binding transcription factors, promote salt tolerance in upland cotton.

KEY MESSAGE: The utilization of transcriptome analysis, functional validation, VIGS, and DAB techniques have provided evidence that GhiPLATZ17 and GhiPLATZ22 play a pivotal role in improving the salt tolerance of upland cotton. PLATZ (Plant AT-rich sequences and zinc-binding proteins) are known to be key regulators in plant growth, development, and response to salt stress. In this study, we comprehensively analyzed the PLATZ family in ten cotton species in response to salinity stress. Gossypium herbaceum boasts 25 distinct PLATZ genes, paralleled by 24 in G. raimondii, 25 in G. arboreum, 46 in G. hirsutum, 48 in G. barbadense, 43 in G. tomentosum, 67 in G. mustelinum, 60 in G. darwinii, 46 in G. ekmanianum, and a total of 53 PLATZ genes attributed to G. stephensii. The PLATZ gene family shed light on the hybridization and allopolyploidy events that occurred during the evolutionary history of allotetraploid cotton. Ka/Ks analysis suggested that the PLATZ gene family underwent intense purifying selection during cotton evolution. Analysis of synteny and gene collinearity revealed a complex pattern of segmental and dispersed duplication events to expand PLATZ genes in cotton. Cis-acting elements and gene expressions revealed that GhiPLATZ exhibited salt stress resistance. Transcriptome analysis, functional validation, virus-induced gene silencing (VIGS), and diaminobenzidine staining (DAB) demonstrated that GhiPLATZ17 and GhiPLATZ22 enhance salt tolerance in upland cotton. The study can potentially advance our understanding of identifying salt-resistant genes in cotton.

Case report: Intrahepatic cholangiectasis with Clonorchis sinensis infection.

Clonorchis sinensis infections persist globally among humans. These pathogens mainly inhabit the intrahepatic biliary system. Most individuals with clonorchiasis exhibit mild symptoms. The absence of distinctive symptoms often results in delayed diagnosis and treatment, potentially leading to chronic infection. We herein report a case of a 29-year-old female presented with a year-long history of abdominal distention and dyspepsia. Imaging revealed intrahepatic bile duct dilatation, intrahepatic bile duct cyst, and associated deposits. One month post-cystectomy, the patient developed massive ascites and a significant increase in eosinophil count. After treatment, multiple worms were observed in the drainage tube. Morphological and DNA metagenomic analyses confirmed the presence of C. sinensis. Clinical manifestations of C. sinensis vary widely. Imaging serves as a valuable diagnostic tool in endemic areas, especially in detecting intrahepatic duct dilation where the flukes reside. In addition to intrahepatic bile duct dilation, abnormal echoes within the bile duct and the presence of floating objects in the gallbladder significantly aid in diagnosis. Clinicians may encounter these parasitic diseases unexpectedly, underscoring the importance of understating such cases in routine practice and contributing to our broader understanding of managing similar cases in clinical settings.

Near-infrared fluorescent probe for the imaging of viscosity in fatty liver mice and valuation of drug efficacy.

Fatty liver disease affects at least 25 percent of the population worldwide and is a severe metabolic syndrome. Viscosity is closely related to fatty liver disease, so it is urgent to develop an effective tool for monitoring viscosity. Herein, a NIR fluorescent probe called MBC-V is developed for imaging viscosity, consisting of dimethylaniline and malonitrile-benzopyran. MBC-V is non-fluorescent in low viscosity solutions due to intramolecular rotation. In high viscosity solution, the intramolecular rotation of MBC-V is suppressed and the fluorescence is triggered. MBC-V has long emission wavelength at 720 nm and large Stokes shift about 160 nm. Moreover, MBC-V can detect changes in cell viscosity in fatty liver cells, and can image the therapeutic effects of drug in fatty liver cells. By taking advantage of NIR emission, MBC-V can be used as an imaging tool for fatty liver disease and a way to evaluate the therapeutic effect of drug for fatty liver disease.