Precooked state based on protein denaturation kinetics impacts moisture status, protein oxidation and texture of prepared chicken breast.

The quality of meat in prepared dishes deteriorates due to excessive protein denaturation resulting from precooking, freezing, and recooking. This study aimed to link the precooked state with chicken breast's recooked quality. Cooked Value (CV), based on protein denaturation kinetics, was established to indicate the doneness of meat during pre-heating. The effects of CVs after pre-heating on recooked qualities were investigated compared to fully pre-heated samples (control). Mild pre-heating reduced water migration and loss. While full pre-heating inhibited protein oxidation during freezing, intense oxidation during pre-heating led to higher oxidation levels. Surface hydrophobicity analysis revealed that mild pre-heating suppressed aggregation during recooking. These factors contributed to a better texture and microstructure of prepared meat with mild pre-heating. Finally, a potential mechanism of how pre-heating affects final qualities was depicted. This study underlines the need for finely controlling the industrial precooking process to regulate the quality of prepared meat.

The Effects of the AGE Inhibitor Pyridoxamine on Bone in Older Women with Type 2 Diabetes: a Randomized Clinical Trial.

CONTEXT: Type 2 diabetes (T2D) patients have reduced bone turnover and increased fractures. Advanced glycation endproducts (AGEs) impair osteoblasts and are implicated in diabetic fractures. Pyridoxamine (PM) is a vitamin B6 metabolite which inhibits formation of AGEs. OBJECTIVE: We hypothesized that PM treatment in older T2D patients, by inhibiting AGEs, would increase bone formation. DESIGN: Double-blind RCT. SETTING: Academic center. PARTICIPANTS: Older T2D women (n=55). INTERVENTION: Oral PM 200 mg twice daily for one year. MAIN OUTCOMES: The primary outcome was the change in the bone formation marker P1NP. Other outcomes were changes in bone resorption, bone mineral density (BMD), HbA1c and skin autofluorescence (SAF), and in a bone biopsy sub-group, the correlation between bone fluorescent AGEs (fAGEs) and SAF. RESULTS: P1NP increased 23.0% with PM (95% CI: 9, 37; within-group p=0.028) vs. 4.1% with placebo (-9, 17; within-group p=0.576; between-groups p=0.056). BMD increased at the femoral neck (PM: 2.6±5% vs. placebo: -0.9±4%; between-groups p=0.007). Bone resorption markers and SAF did not change. HbA1c decreased (PM: -0.38 ± 0.7% vs. placebo: 0.05 ± 1.7%; between-groups p =0.04). Within the PM group, the HbA1c change correlated inversely with the % P1NP change (r =-0.50, p=0.034). Cortical bone biopsy fAGEs correlated with SAF (r=0.86, p=0.001). Adverse events were similar between groups. CONCLUSION: PM tended to increase P1NP in older T2D women, as well as increasing bone density and reducing HbA1c. Further studies are needed to investigate the potential of PM as a disease mechanism-directed approach to reduce fractures in T2D.

Extended pegRNAs enhance the editing capability of Prime editing.

Genome editing is highly valuable in biomedical research. Despite their versatility, current Prime editing (PE) techniques are limited to short sequence alterations [up to ~44 base pairs (bp)], and exhibit inconsistent or low efficiency across genomic loci, particularly when faced with poly-T sequences. To address these challenges, we developed an extended PE (exPE) technique that can potentially execute any precise genome editing. By harnessing RNA polymerase II (Pol II) promoters to transcribe extended PE guide RNAs (expegRNAs), exPE substantially improves editing efficiency and overcomes the challenges posed by poly-T sequences. Compared with conventional PE, exPE achieves up to a 14-fold increase in the efficiency of base conversions and short insertions, and, remarkably, up to a 259-fold improvement in regions with poly-T sequences. Uniquely, exPE enables seamless insertion of gene-sized DNA fragments into genomes, potentially correcting nearly 90% of human genetic variants, thereby broadening its applications in genetic research and therapy.

The potential treatment of N-acetylcysteine as an antioxidant in the radiation-induced heart disease.

Background: Radiation-induced heart disease (RIHD) is a serious complication of thoracic tumor radiotherapy that substantially affects the quality of life of cancer patients. Oxidative stress plays a pivotal role in the occurrence and progression of RIHD, which prompted our investigation of an innovative approach for treating RIHD using antioxidant therapy. Methods: We used 8-week-old male Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats as experimental animals and H9C2 cells as experimental cells. N-acetylcysteine (NAC) was used as an antioxidant to treat H9C2 cells after X-ray irradiation in this study. In the present study, the extent of cardiomyocyte damage caused by X-ray exposure was determined, alterations in oxidation/antioxidation levels were assessed, and changes in the expression of genes related to mitochondria were examined. The degree of myocardial tissue and cell injury was also determined. Dihydroethidium (DHE) staining, reactive oxygen species (ROS) assays, and glutathione (GSH) and manganese superoxide dismutase (Mn-SOD) assays were used to assess cell oxidation/antioxidation. Flow cytometry was used to determine the mitochondrial membrane potential and mitochondrial permeability transition pore (mPTP) opening. High-throughput transcriptome sequencing and bioinformatics analysis were used to elucidate the expression of mitochondria-related genes in myocardial tissue induced by X-ray exposure. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was used to verify the expression of differentially expressed genes. Results: X-ray irradiation damaged myocardial tissue and cells, resulting in an imbalance of oxidative and antioxidant substances and mitochondrial damage. NAC treatment increased cell counting kit-8 (CCK-8) levels (P=0.02) and decreased lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) release (P=0.02) in cardiomyocytes. It also reduced the level of ROS (P=0.002) and increased the levels of GSH (P=0.04) and Mn-SOD (P=0.01). The mitochondrial membrane potential was restored (P<0.001), and mPTP opening was inhibited (P<0.001). Transcriptome sequencing and subsequent validation analyses revealed a decrease in the expression of mitochondria-related genes in myocardial tissue induced by X-ray exposure, but antioxidant therapy did not reverse the related DNA damage. Conclusions: Antioxidants mitigated radiation-induced myocardial damage to a certain degree, but these agents did not reverse the associated DNA damage. These findings provide a new direction for future investigations by our research group, including exploring the treatment of RIHD-related DNA damage.

Unraveling the role of peanut protein in baijiu-peanut pairing flavor complexity: A focus on ethanol-induced denaturation.

Food processing, cooking, and consumption introduce various factors that affect food flavor, distinguishing it from its objective composition. This study focuses on liquor-accompanying food pairing, investigating the interaction between baijiu aroma compounds and peanut proteins, and the effect of ethanol on it. Peanut globulins significantly inhibited the release of baijiu aroma compounds through hydrogen bonding (2.63-3.23 Å), hydrophobic interactions, and covalent reactions (-2.85 to -5.64 kcal/mol), resulting in flavor modification. In the presence of ethanol, peanut globulins adopt a more compact and aggregated structure, reducing their affinity for binding aroma compounds. Surprisingly, this structural change promotes a salting-out effect, significantly promoting the release of aldehydes, phenols, and aromatic compounds, enhancing the grassy, floral, and sweet aroma of baijiu. This finding improves the understanding of alcohol pairing and proposes a novel strategy for enhancing the overall flavor profile of baijiu by modifying accompanying food choices.

Evaluating the efficacy and safety of different neoadjuvant immunotherapy combinations in locally advanced HNSCC: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background: Immune checkpoint inhibitors have demonstrated promising therapeutic outcomes in recurrent/metastatic (R/M) Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma (HNSCC), prompting numerous clinical trials to investigate the safety and efficacy of this approach in neoadjuvant therapy. This systematic review aims to consolidate and analyze the findings from various clinical trials combining neoadjuvant immunotherapy for HNSCC, with the goal of identifying the most effective neoadjuvant immunotherapy regimen. Methods: The system conducted searches across electronic databases including PubMed, Embase, the Cochrane Library and Web of science from their inception to July 1, 2024. The primary focus was on evaluating efficacy (particularly pathological complete response (pCR), major pathological response (MPR), and overall response rate (ORR)) and safety (primarily assessed by grade 3-4 treatment-related adverse reactions). Results: A total of 1943 patients from 32 studies were analyzed. Combining neoadjuvant immunotherapy with chemotherapy or radiotherapy demonstrated superiority over neoadjuvant immunotherapy alone in terms of the MPR rate, while showing no statistically significant difference in the pCR rate. Furthermore, the combination of neoadjuvant immunotherapy with chemotherapy or radiotherapy exhibited a lower CR rate compared to neoadjuvant immunotherapy with radiotherapy alone, but a higher PR rate and SD rate. Apart from the neoadjuvant immunotherapy group in isolation, there were no statistically significant differences in grade ≥3 treatment-related adverse events (TRAEs) and immune-related adverse events (irAEs) among the other three combination therapy groups. Conclusion: This systematic review and meta-analysis indicate that patients with locally advanced HNSCC might benefit from neoadjuvant immunotherapy, particularly when used in conjunction with chemotherapy or radiotherapy. Nonetheless, additional data is required to definitively confirm its efficacy. Systematic Review Registration: https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/PROSPERO/display_record.php?RecordID=553753, identifier CRD42024553753.

Microbiome-induced Increases and Decreases in Bone Matrix Strength can be Initiated After Skeletal Maturity.

Recent studies in mice have indicated that the gut microbiome can regulate bone tissue strength. However, prior work involved modifications to the gut microbiome in growing animals and it is unclear if the same changes in the microbiome, applied later in life, would change matrix strength. Here we changed the composition of the gut microbiome before and/or after skeletal maturity (16 weeks of age) using oral antibiotics (ampicillin + neomycin). Male and female mice (n = 143 total, n = 12-17/group/sex) were allocated into five study groups:1) Unaltered, 2) Continuous (dosing 4-24 weeks of age), 3) Delayed (dosing only 16-24 weeks of age), 4) Initial (dosing 4-16 weeks of age, suspended at 16 weeks), and 5) Reconstituted (dosing from 4-16 weeks following by fecal microbiota transplant from Unaltered donors). Animals were euthanized at 24 weeks of age. In males, bone matrix strength in the femur was 25-35% less than expected by geometry in mice from the Continuous (P=.001), Delayed (P=.005), and Initial (P=.040) groups as compared to Unaltered. Reconstitution of the gut microbiota led to a bone matrix strength similar to Unaltered animals (P=.929). In females, microbiome-induced changes in bone matrix strength followed the same trend as males but were not significantly different, demonstrating a sex-dependent response of bone matrix to the gut microbiota. Minor differences in chemical composition of bone matrix were observed with Raman spectroscopy. Our findings indicate that microbiome-induced impairment of bone matrix in males can be initiated and/or reversed after skeletal maturity. The portion of the femoral cortical bone formed after skeletal maturity (16 weeks) was small; suggesting that microbiome-induced changes in bone matrix occurred without osteoblast/osteoclast turnover through a yet unidentified mechanism. These findings provide evidence that the mechanical properties of bone matrix can be altered in the adult skeleton.

This study looked at how changes in the gut microbiome affect bone strength in adult mice. The gut microbiome of male and female mice was altered either before or after skeletal maturity. In male mice, those with altered microbiomes had weaker bones (a 25-35% reduction). Alterations to the gut microbiome after skeletal maturity had the same effect as lifelong changes, and restoration of an altered gut microbiome after skeletal maturity reversed the effect. Female mice showed a similar trend, but the changes were not statistically significant. The study concluded that changes in the gut microbiome can weaken bone strength in adult male mice in as short as two months, but this effect can be reversed by restoring the microbiome. These changes seem to occur without removal and replacement of bone tissue using the common bone remodeling processes, suggesting an unknown mechanism. This research provides new evidence that gut bacteria can affect bone strength suggesting the possibility that the microbiome can influence bone fragility.

Sonothrombolysis Using Microfluidically Produced Microbubbles in a Murine Model of Deep Vein Thrombosis.

The need for safe and effective methods to manage deep vein thrombosis (DVT), given the risks associated with anticoagulants and thrombolytic agents, motivated research into innovative approaches to resolve blood clots. In response to this challenge, sonothrombolysis is being explored as a technique that combines microbubbles, ultrasound, and thrombolytic agents to facilitate the aggressive dissolution of thrombi. Prior studies have indicated that relatively large microbubbles accelerate the dissolution process, either in an in vitro or an arterial model. However, sonothrombolysis using large microbubbles must be evaluated in venous thromboembolism diseases, where blood flow velocity is not comparable. In this study, the efficacy of sonothrombolysis was validated in a murine model of pre-existing DVT. During therapy, microfluidically produced microbubbles of 18 µm diameter and recombinant tissue plasminogen activator (rt-PA) were administered through a tail vein catheter for 30 min, while ultrasound was applied to the abdominal region of the mice. Three-dimensional ultrasound scans were performed before and after therapy for quantification. The residual volume of the thrombi was 20% in animals post sonothrombolysis versus 52% without therapy ( p = 0.012 < 0.05 ), indicating a significant reduction in DVT volume. Histological analysis of tissue sections confirmed a reduction in DVT volume post-therapy. Therefore, large microbubbles generated from a microfluidic device show promise in ultrasound-assisted therapy to address concerns related to venous thromboembolism.

The role of 6-phosphogluconate dehydrogenase in vascular smooth muscle cell phenotypic switching and angioplasty-induced intimal hyperplasia.

Background: Restenosis poses a significant challenge for individuals afflicted with peripheral artery diseases, often leading to considerable morbidity and necessitating repeated interventions. The primary culprit behind the pathogenesis of restenosis is intimal hyperplasia (IH), in which the hyperproliferative and migratory vascular smooth muscle cell (VSMC) accumulate excessively in the tunica intima. 6-Phosphogluconate dehydrogenase (6PGD), sometimes referred to as PGD, is one of the critical enzymes in pentose phosphate pathway (PPP). In this study, we sought to probe whether 6PGD is aberrantly regulated in IH and contributes to VSMC phenotypic switching. Methods: We used clinical specimens of diseased human coronary arteries with IH lesions and observed robust upregulation of 6PGD at protein level in both the medial and intimal layers in comparison with healthy arterial segments. Results: 6PGD activity and protein expression were profoundly stimulated upon platelet-derived growth factor-induced VSMC phenotypic switching. Using gain-of-function (dCas9-mediated transcriptional activation) and loss-of-function (small interfering RNA-mediated) silencing, we were able to demonstrate the pathogenic role of 6PGD in driving VSMC hyperproliferation, migration, dedifferentiation, and inflammation. Finally, we conducted a rat model of balloon angioplasty in the common carotid artery, with Pluronic hydrogel-assisted perivascular delivery of Physcion, a selective 6PGD inhibitor with poor systemic bioavailability, and observed effective mitigation of IH. Conclusions: We contend that aberrant 6PGD expression and activity-indicative of a metabolic shift toward pentose phosphate pathway-could serve as a new disease-driving mechanism and, hence, an actionable target for the development of effective new therapies for IH and restenosis after endovascular interventions.

Percutaneous Thrombectomy using a Computer Assisted Aspiration Device for Deep Vein Thrombosis.

PURPOSE: To demonstrate the safety and effectiveness of a computer-assisted large bore thrombectomy (CA-LBT) device aspiration thrombectomy device for treatment of deep vein thrombosis (DVT). MATERIALS AND METHODS: A single institutional retrospective review was performed to include 16 consecutive patients (median age 51.1 years, range 19-77; 5 men and 11 women) who underwent percutaneous thrombectomy using a 16 Fr CA-LBT device (Lightning Flash Aspiration System,Penumbra Inc., Alameda, California, USA) for DVT (12 iliofemoral with or without caval extension [75.0%], 3 axillosubclavian [18.8%], and 1 caval [6.3%) between January 2023 and August 2023. RESULTS: Thrombectomy was performed via the popliteal (n=10, 62.5%), femoral (n=3, 18.8%), saphenous (n=1, 6.3%), brachial (n=1, 6.3%), femoral and brachial (n=1, 6.3%) veins, with a median fluoroscopy time of 17 min (range 7.2-61min) and contrast agent volume of 110 ml (30-175 ml). Restoration of anterograde flow was achieved in all cases (100%, 16/16). Thirteen patients (81.2%) received venoplasty after thrombectomy for residual stenosis. Stents were placed in seven patients (43.8%). With a median clinical follow-up of 77 days (range 3-278 days), symptom improvement was achieved among 13/15 (86.7%) patients that initially presented with DVT associated symptoms. In 14 patients with imaging follow-up, patency was confirmed in 12 patients (85.7%). Of the two patients with complete thrombosis on follow-up imaging (14.3%), one patient was successfully treated with repeated thrombectomy using Flash technology, while the other patient was treated with systemic anticoagulation. CONCLUSIONS: Aspiration thrombectomy with this 16 Fr CA-LBT device may be a feasible option for treatment of proximal or large volume DVT.

S100A9-TLR4 axis aggravates dry eye through the blockage of autophagy.

This research focused on how upregulation of S100A9 contributed to the pathogenesis of the dry eye disease (DED) and whether S100A9 served as a promising therapeutic target in DED. Public single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) data of a lacrimal gland excision (LGE) murine DED model was analyzed. LGE model was established and expression of protein was measured through immunofluorescence and Western blot. DED-related signs were evaluated through tear secretion and fluorescent staining. TUNEL was performed to detect the level of cell death. Briefly, S100A9 was recognized as a highly variable gene in the DED group. LGE model was successfully established, and S100A9 showed a time-dependent increase in the corneal epithelia. Autophagic blockage was predicted by the scRNA-seq data in DED, and further verified by decrease of LC3B-II/LC3B-I and increase of SQSTM1 and p-mTOR/mTOR, while S100A9 inhibitor paquinimod (PAQ) reversed the changes. PAQ also downregulated TLR4, and inhibition of TLR4 also alleviated autophagic blockage in DED. Finally, signs of DED, chronic corneal inflammation and cell death got a remission after either inhibition of S100A9 or TLR4. In general, we deduced a S100A9-TLR4-Autophagic blockage pathway in the pathogenesis of DED.

Lignin-based vitrimer containing dynamic borate ester bonds with intrinsic photoconversion and excellent photothermal remoldability.

The development of photoresponsive shape memory materials based on the photothermal conversion properties of lignin and the low activation energy of the dynamic covalent borate bond is of great importance. In this paper, a kind of lignin-based vitrimer polymer (LBP) containing dynamic boronic ester bonds was prepared by a "sulfhydryl-epoxy" click reaction and etherification reaction. The results show that the rigid segment EP-EL (lignin-based epoxy resin) and BDB (2,2'-(1,4-phenylene)-bis-[4-mercapto-1,3,2-dioxaneborane]) with benzene ring structure can impart tensile strength (20.8 MPa) to the LBP, while the flexible segment PEG imparts good elongation at break (15 %). The dynamic binding and dissociation exchange mechanism of the boronic ester bonds enables LBP to exhibit thermal remodelling properties (up to 36.2 %) and water-assisted self-healing properties at room temperature (up to 49.0 %). In addition, LBP exhibits excellent thermal and light-responsive shape memory properties due to its own photothermal conversion performance (photothermal conversion efficiency up to 18.2 %) and the dynamic boronic ester bond thermal activation bond exchange mechanism. The insulating properties of LBP make it suitable for use in high temperature protection circuit devices and light-responsive circuit devices. This study provides new insights into the design and application of Vitrimer and photoresponsive shape memory polymers, and also offers a new avenue for high-value utilization of lignin.

Transcranial Temporal Interference Stimulation of the Right Globus Pallidus in Parkinson's Disease.

BACKGROUND: Invasive deep brain stimulation (DBS) has been shown to be effective in treating patients with Parkinson's disease (PD), yet its clinical use is limited to patients at the advanced stage of the disease. Transcranial temporal interference stimulation (tTIS) may be a novel nonneurosurgical and safer alternative, yet its therapeutic potential remains unexplored. OBJECTIVE: This pilot study aims to examine the feasibility and safety of tTIS targeting the right globus pallidus internus (GPi) for motor symptoms in patients with PD. METHODS: Twelve participants with mild PD completed this randomized, double-blind, and sham-controlled experiment. Each of them received either 20-minute or sham tTIS of the right GPi. Before and immediately after the stimulation, participants completed the Movement Disorder Society-Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale (MDS-UPDRS-III) in the "medication-on" state to assess the motor symptoms. The blinding efficacy and side effects were also assessed. RESULTS: tTIS was well tolerated by participants, with only mild, transient adverse effects reported. tTIS significantly reduced MDS-UPDRS-III scores by 6.64 points (14.7%), particularly in bradykinesia (23.5%) and tremor (15.3%). The left side showed more significant alleviation in motor symptoms, particularly bradykinesia, compared to the right side. Participants with severer bradykinesia and tremor before stimulation experienced greater improvement after tTIS. CONCLUSION: This pilot study suggests that the tTIS, as a novel noninvasive DBS approach, is feasible and safe for alleviating motor symptoms in mild PD, especially bradykinesia and tremor. Future larger-scale and more definitive studies are needed to confirm the benefits. © 2024 The Author(s). Movement Disorders published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of International Parkinson and Movement Disorder Society.

A Rare Case of High-Altitude Polycythemia Complicated by Spontaneous Splenic Rupture.

Wang, Bowen, Mengjia Peng,, Liheng Jiang,, Fei Fang,, Juan Wang,, Yan Li,, Ruichen Zhao,, and Yuliang Wang,. A Rare Case of High-Altitude Polycythemia Complicated by Spontaneous Splenic Rupture. High Alt Med Biol. 25:247-250, 2024.-High-altitude polycythemia, a condition characterized by an increase in red blood cellRBC mass, can occur after prolonged exposure to high altitudes. While several studies have explored the complications associated with high-altitude polycythemia, there is currently no literature available on spontaneous spleen rupture caused by high-altitude polycythemia. Here, we reported a case of acute abdominal pain and hemodynamic instability in a 36-year-old male who had been residing at high altitude for 6 years, without any recent history of trauma. Computed tomography imaging revealed significant fluid accumulation in the abdomen, and a tear of the splenic capsule was identified during the following laparotomy. Subsequent evaluations confirmed the presence of polycythemia secondary to prolonged high-altitude exposure as the underlying etiology. This case served as an important reminder that high-altitude polycythemia could lead to serious complications, such as spontaneous spleen rupture. Clinicians should be aware of this potential complication and consider it in the differential diagnosis of patients presenting with abdominal pain and hemodynamic instability in this population.

Effective removal of Cu(II) from water by three-dimensional composite microspheres based on chitosan/sodium alginate/silicon dioxide: Adsorption performance and mechanism.

Chitosan (CS) is commonly used as an adsorbent for removing Cu(II) from water, but it has drawbacks such as solubility in dilute acid, difficulty in recycling in powder form, and short service life. This study utilized sodium alginate (SA) as a gel carrier to encapsulate CS, combined with silicon dioxide (SiO2) to improve mechanical stability. The preparation of CS/SA/SiO2 (SSC1.0) involved physical blending, CaCl2 cross-linking, and freeze-drying. Characterization methods such as SEM-EDS, FTIR, BET, and XRD were used to analyze the structural composition of SSC1.0. The material exhibited a folded surface, porous internal cross-section, nitrogen/oxygen-containing functional groups, and thermal stability in high temperatures and various aqueous environments. The adsorption performance of SSC1.0 on Cu(II) was evaluated under different conditions, showing a maximum adsorption capacity of 47.50 mg/g. The material maintained a removal rate above 70 % after 5 cycles. SSC1.0 also showed the highest removal rate of Cu(II) when applied to mine wastewater treatment. Adsorption modeling indicated that the process was driven by chemical reactions and was spontaneous and heat-absorbing.'

Decoupling the air sensitivity of Na-layered oxides.

Air sensitivity remains a substantial barrier to the commercialization of sodium (Na)-layered oxides (NLOs). This problem has puzzled the community for decades because of the complexity of interactions between air components and their impact on both bulk and surfaces of NLOs. We show here that water vapor plays a pivotal role in initiating destructive acid and oxidative degradations of NLOs only when coupled with carbon dioxide or oxygen, respectively. Quantification analysis revealed that reducing the defined cation competition coefficient (η), which integrates the effects of ionic potential and sodium content, and increasing the particle size can enhance the resistance to acid attack, whereas using high-potential redox couples can eliminate oxidative degradation. These findings elucidate the underlying air deterioration mechanisms and rationalize the design of air-stable NLOs.

Developing a machine learning-based instrument for subjective well-being assessment on Weibo and its psychological significance: An evaluative and interpretive research.

Demystifying machine learning (ML) approaches through the synergy of psychology and artificial intelligence can achieve a balance between predictive and explanatory power in model development while enhancing rigor in validation and reporting standards. Accordingly, this study aimed to bridge this research gap by developing a subjective well-being (SWB) prediction model on Weibo, serving as a psychological assessment instrument and explaining the model construction based on psychological knowledge. The model establishment involved the collection of SWB scores and posts from 1,427 valid Weibo users. Multiple machine learning algorithms were employed to train the model and fine-tune its parameters. The optimal model was selected by comparing its criterion validity and split-half reliability performance. Furthermore, SHAP values were calculated to rank the importance of features, which were then used for model interpretation. The criterion validity for the three dimensions of SWB ranged from 0.50 to 0.52 (P < 0.001), and the split-half reliability ranged from 0.94 to 0.96 (P < 0.001). The identified relevant features were related to four main aspects: cultural values, emotions, morality, and time and space. This study expands the application scope of SWB-related psychological theories from a data-driven perspective and provides a theoretical reference for further well-being prediction.

Ferroptosis contributes to diabetes-induced visual pathway neuronal damage via iron accumulation and GPX4 inactivation.

The damage of the diabetic visual pathway is one of the main causes of blindness in diabetic patients. Visual pathways include anatomic parts from the retina to the occipital lobe. This study investigated the involvement of ferroptosis, a planned cell death brought on by the buildup of free iron in cells, in the impairment of visual pathways in diabetes mellitus. Streptozotocin (STZ) was used to construct a diabetic rat model. Pathological and ultrastructural changes of the occipital lobe, retina, and optic nerve were observed by Hematoxylin-Eosin (HE) staining and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The expressions of Neuronal nuclei (NeuN), Glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP), and Glutathione Peroxidase 4 (GPX4) in the occipital lobe and retina were detected by immunofluorescence, and Western Blotting was used to identify the NeuN GFAP and GPX4 expressions in the occipital lobe. Iron content in the occipital lobe and retina was detected by Iron Assay Kit. The success rate of the diabetic rat model was 93.3%. In the diabetic group, the cells of the occipital lobe and retina were arranged disorderly, and the boundaries were unclear. The membrane of the occipital lobe, retina, and optic nerve was broken, some vacuoles were observed, mitochondrial morphology was changed, swelling was observed, and the mitochondrial ridge disappeared. There was a large increase in GFAP expression and iron concentration and a significant decrease in the expression of NeuN, and GPX4 in the retina and occipital lobe. Ferroptosis plays an important role in visual pathway damage in diabetes, and GPX4 regulates this process.

Adsorption of Pb(II) in water by modified chitosan-based microspheres and the study of mechanism.

In this study, a fresh three-dimensional microsphere adsorbent (CATP@SA3) was successfully synthesized by Attapulgite (ATP) and combining Chitosan (CS), incorporating them into a Sodium alginate (SA) solution, and crosslinking them in a CaCl2 solution. Multiple analyses, including XRD, TGA, FTIR, XPS, SEM-EDS, and BET were utilized to comprehensively characterize the structural makeup of CATP@SA3. These analyses revealed the presence of beneficial functional groups like hydroxyl, amino, and carboxyl groups that enhance the adsorption efficiency in adsorption procedures. CATP@SA3 was evaluated by studying different factors, including material ratio, contact time, dosage, solution pH, Pb(II) concentration, temperature, ionic strength, and aqueous environment. Three adsorption models, including kinetic, isotherm, and thermodynamic, were fitted to the experimental data. The findings demonstrated that the maximum Pb(II) adsorption capacity of CATP@SA3 was 1081.36 mg/g, with a removal rate that exceeded 70 % even after 5 cycles of use. Furthermore, correlation adsorption models revealed that the adsorption process of Pb(II) with CATP@SA3 was driven by a chemical predominantly reaction.

Circadian disruption reduces MUC4 expression via the clock molecule BMAL1 during dry eye development.

Circadian disruption, as a result of shiftwork, jet lag, and other lifestyle factors, is a common public health problem associated with a wide range of diseases, such as metabolic disorders, neurodegenerative diseases, and cancer. In the present study, we established a chronic jet lag model using a time shift method every 3 days and assessed the effects of circadian disruption on ocular surface homeostasis. Our results indicated that jet lag increased corneal epithelial defects, cell apoptosis, and proinflammatory cytokine expression. However, the volume of tear secretion and the number of conjunctival goblet cells did not significantly change after 30 days of jet lag. Moreover, further analysis of the pathogenic mechanism using RNA sequencing revealed that jet lag caused corneal transmembrane mucin deficiency, specifically MUC4 deficiency. The crucial role of MUC4 in pathogenic progression was demonstrated by the protection of corneal epithelial cells and the inhibition of inflammatory activation following MUC4 replenishment. Unexpectedly, genetic ablation of BMAL1 in mice caused MUC4 deficiency and dry eye disease. The underlying mechanism was revealed in cultured human corneal epithelial cells in vitro, where BMAL1 silencing reduced MUC4 expression, and BMAL1 overexpression increased MUC4 expression. Furthermore, melatonin, a circadian rhythm restorer, had a therapeutic effect on jet lag-induced dry eye by restoring the expression of BMAL1, which upregulated MUC4. Thus, we generated a novel dry eye mouse model induced by circadian disruption, elucidated the underlying mechanism, and identified a potential clinical treatment.