Promoting diabetic oral mucosa wound healing with a light-responsive hydrogel adaptive to the microenvironment.

In diabetic patients, compromised angiogenesis due to endothelial dysfunction leads to delayed intraoral wound healing. However, the moist and dynamic environment of the oral cavity impedes the use of normal wound dressings. Sulfated chitosan (SCS) is a promising biomaterial that promoting angiogenesis. Here, a light-responsive hydrogel combined with SCS explored intraoral wound healing. We designed a SCS-modified hydrogel combined with alginate Methacryloyl (AlgMA) and acrylamide (AM) and demonstrated efficient wet adhesion and mechanical properties suitable for the wet and dynamic oral environment. In vitro, the SAA hydrogel improved the tube formation of human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) under high-glucose conditions. Further investigations revealed that the SAA hydrogel can regulate HUVEC-macrophage interactions, leading to a shift in macrophage polarization from M1 to M2, thereby fostering an environment conducive to angiogenesis under high-glucose condition. The results demonstrated the substantial therapeutic impact of the SAA hydrogel on diabetic oral defect repair by effectively enhancing the local blood supply and angiogenesis.

Surgical outcomes for patients with rectosigmoid hirschsprung disease who underwent transanal endorectal pull-through after 1 year of age.

PURPOSE: This study aimed to compare the differences in postoperative complications and long-term bowel function outcomes between patients with rectosigmoid Hirschsprung disease (HD) who underwent transanal endorectal pull-through (TEPT) beyond infancy (age> 1 year of age) and those during infancy (≤ 1 year of age). METHODS: All patients with rectosigmoid HD at Beijing Children's Hospital between January 2011 and December 2020 were analyzed retrospectively. They were divided into two groups based on age at TEPT: group A was defined as patients who performed TEPT beyond infancy (age>1 year of age), and group B as patients who performed TEPT during infancy (age ≤ 1 year of age). Clinical details were collected from medical records. Bowel function outcomes were assessed by the Rintala questionnaire (age ≥ 4 years). RESULTS: A total of 339 patients were included: 216 (63.7%) who operated with TEPT beyond infancy (group A) and 123 (36.3%) during infancy (group B). Regarding postoperative complications, all patients suffering anastomosis leakage following TEPT (7/216, 3.2%) occurred in group A, and the rate of anastomosis leakage in group A was significantly higher than in group B (3.2% vs. 0.0%, p = 0.044). 228 patients (228/327, 69.7%) completed the Rintala questionnaire. There was no significant difference in long-term bowel function outcomes between the two groups. CONCLUSION: Compared with patients who performed TEPT during infancy, those beyond infancy are more likely to suffer anastomosis leakage. however, the long-term bowel function outcomes seem comparable. TYPE OF STUDY: A retrospective single-center study. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: III.

The role of p21 in cellular senescence and aging-related diseases.

During the aging process or disease progression, normal cells and tissues in the body undergo various stresses, leading to cell damage and the need for repair, adaptation, apoptosis, or defense responses. Cellular senescence is a key player in this process, influencing the rate of aging and disease progression. It can be triggered by different stress factors, resulting in irreversible cell cycle arrest and functional decline. Senescent cells often show high expression of cell cycle factors such as p21 and p16, which are involved in cell cycle arrest. p16 has long been recognized as a significant marker of aging. Recent evidence suggests that p21high cells and p16high cells represent distinct cell populations in terms of cell type, tissue location, accumulation kinetics, and physiological functions. This article focuses on recent advancements in understanding p21-dependent cellular senescence. It starts by providing an overview of the role of p21 in 3 primary cellular senescence phenotypes where it plays a crucial role. It then delves into the pathogenesis of diseases closely linked to p21-dependent cellular senescence, particularly metabolic disorders and cardiovascular diseases. The article also discusses progress in p21-related animal models and outlines strategies for utilizing p21 to intervene in cellular senescence by delaying aging, eliminating senescent cells, and rejuvenating senescent cells. This review systematically examines the pathogenesis of p21-dependent cellular senescence, emphasizing its importance in studying aging heterogeneity and developing new senolytic therapies. It aims to stimulate future research on leveraging p21 to enhance the characteristics of senescent cells, allowing more precise methods for eliminating harmful senescent cells at the right time, thereby delaying aging and potentially achieving rejuvenation.

Hydrophilic/hydrophobic modified microchip for detecting multiple gene doping candidates using CRISPR-Cas12a and RPA.

With significant advancements in understanding gene functions and therapy, the potential misuse of gene technologies, particularly in the context of sports through gene doping (GD), has come to the forefront. This raises concerns regarding the need for point-of-care testing of various GD candidates to counter illicit practices in sports. However, current GD detection techniques, such as PCR, lack the portability required for on-site multiplexed detection. In this study, we introduce an integrated microfluidics-based chip for multiplexed gene doping detection, termed MGD-Chip. Through the strategic design of hydrophilic and hydrophobic channels, MGD-Chip enables the RPA and CRISPR-Cas12a assays to be sequentially performed on the device, ensuring minimal interference and cross-contamination. Six potential GD candidates were selected and successfully tested simultaneously on the platform within 1 h. Demonstrating exceptional specificity, the platform achieved a detection sensitivity of 0.1 nM for unamplified target plasmids and 1 aM for amplified ones. Validation using mouse models established by injecting IGFI and EPO transgenes confirmed the platform's efficacy in detecting gene doping in real samples. This technology, capable of detecting multiple targets using portable elements, holds promise for real-time GD detection at sports events, offering a rapid, highly sensitive, and user-friendly solution to uphold the integrity of sports competitions.

Phospholipase-mediated phosphate recycling during plant leaf senescence.

BACKGROUND: Phosphorus is a macronutrient necessary for plant growth and development and its availability and efficient use affect crop yields. Leaves are the largest tissue that uses phosphorus in plants, and membrane phospholipids are the main source of cellular phosphorus usage. RESULTS: Here we identify a key process for plant cellular phosphorus recycling mediated by membrane phospholipid hydrolysis during leaf senescence. Our results indicate that over 90% of lipid phosphorus, accounting for more than one-third of total cellular phosphorus, is recycled from senescent leaves before falling off the plants. Nonspecific phospholipase C4 (NPC4) and phospholipase Dζ2 (PLDζ2) are highly induced during leaf senescence, and knockouts of PLDζ2 and NPC4 decrease the loss of membrane phospholipids and delay leaf senescence. Conversely, overexpression of PLDζ2 and NPC4 accelerates the loss of phospholipids and leaf senescence, promoting phosphorus remobilization from senescent leaves to young tissues and plant growth. We also show that this phosphorus recycling process in senescent leaves mediated by membrane phospholipid hydrolysis is conserved in plants. CONCLUSIONS: These results indicate that PLDζ2- and NPC4-mediated membrane phospholipid hydrolysis promotes phosphorus remobilization from senescent leaves to growing tissues and that the phospholipid hydrolysis-mediated phosphorus recycling improves phosphorus use efficiency in plants.

A dual-signaling surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy ratiometric strategy for ultrasensitive Hg2+ detection based on Au@Ag/COF composites.

Heavy metal ion pollution poses significant risks to human health and ecological systems, and its monitoring is important. A sensitive and accurate surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) detection assay for Hg2+ was developed using Au@Ag/COF substrates and Y-shaped DNA labeled with two Raman reporters. The Au@Ag NPs in the COF produced robust and uniform E-fields, improving their detection reproducibility. The Y-shaped DNA design increased sensitivity with a low detection limit of 5.0 × 10-16 M by bringing the Raman reporter closer to the substrate surface. Additionally, the use of two Raman reporters allowed for a ratiometric method, improving detection accuracy by detecting both "signal-off" and "signal-on" signals. This selective sensor exhibited excellent recovery in river water, tap water, and milk samples, showcasing its robust biosensing capability for the detection of Hg2+ and its potential for sensing other heavy-metal ions in food and environmental applications.

Reversal of T-cell exhaustion: Mechanisms and synergistic approaches.

T cells suffer from long-term antigen stimulation and insufficient energy supply, leading to a decline in their effector functions, memory capabilities, and proliferative capacity, ultimately resulting in T cell exhaustion and an inability to perform normal immune functions in the tumor microenvironment. Therefore, exploring how to restore these exhausted T cells to a state with effector functions is of great significance. Exhausted T cells exhibit a spectrum of molecular alterations, such as heightened expression of inhibitory receptors, shifts in transcription factor profiles, and modifications across epigenetic, metabolic, and transcriptional landscapes. This review provides a comprehensive overview of various strategies to reverse T cell exhaustion, including immune checkpoint blockade, and explores the potential synergistic effects of combining multiple approaches to reverse T cell exhaustion. It offers new insights and methods for achieving more durable and effective reversal of T cell exhaustion.

Mesenteric and omental lymphatic malformations in children: seven-year surgical experience from two centers in China.

PURPOSE: To compare the clinical characteristics, surgical management and prognosis of mesenteric lymphatic malformations (ML) and omental lymphatic malformations (OL) in children. METHODS: This retrospective study included 148 ML patients and 53 OL patients who underwent surgical treatment at two centers between January 2016 and December 2022. Details about the patients' clinical characteristics, cyst characteristics, preoperative complications, surgical methods, and prognosis were retrieved and compared. RESULTS: No significant differences in sex ratio, prenatal diagnosis, or age of diagnosis were noted between ML and OL patients. Vomiting was more common in ML patients than in OL patients (46.6% vs. 22.6%, P = 0.002), but OL patients were more likely to be misdiagnosed (35.8% vs. 18.9%, P = 0.012). The size of the cysts in OL patients was significantly larger than that in ML patients (14.0 [4.0-30.0] vs. 10.0 [2.0-50.0] cm, P<0.001), and cysts with turbid fluid were more common in OL patients (38.0% vs. 20.6%, P<0.001). More OL patients than ML patients had preoperative hemorrhage or infection of cysts (41.5% vs. 31.8%, P<0.016). Cyst excision was performed in 137 (92.6%) ML patients and 51 (96.2%) OL patients, and the incidence of postoperative complications was lower (12.6% vs. 4.2%, P = 0.165) among OL patients. The main postoperative complications included adhesive ileus and recurrence of cysts. Additionally, more OL patients than ML patients were treated with laparoscopic surgery (69.8% vs. 39.2%, P<0.001). CONCLUSIONS: There were differences in clinical characteristics, cyst characteristics and preoperative complications between ML and OL patients. Cyst excision was the most common surgical method that was used to treat both ML and OL patients, and laparoscopic surgery could be a feasible surgical approach for treating OL patients with a good prognosis. TRIAL REGISTRATION: Retrospectively registered.

A Multi-Interface Structure of Graphdiyne/Cobalt Oxides for Chlorine Production.

A challenge facing the chlor-alkali process is the lack of electrocatalyst with high activity and selectivity for the efficient industrial production of chlorine. Herein the authors report a new electrocatalyst that can generate multi-interface structure by in situ growth of graphdiyne on the surface of cobalt oxides (GDY/Co3O4), which shows great potential in highly selective and efficient chlorine production. This result is due to the strong electron transfer and high density charge transport between GDY and Co3O4 and the interconversion of the mixed valence states of the Co atoms itself. These intrinsic characteristics efficiently enhance the conductivity of the catalyst, facilitate the reaction kinetics, and improve the overall catalytic selectivity and activity. Besides, the protective effect of the formed GDY layer is remarkable endowing the catalyst with excellent stability. The catalyst can selectively produce chlorine in low-concentration of NaCl aqueous solution at room temperature and pressure with the highest Faraday efficiency of 80.67% and an active chlorine yield rate of 184.40 mg h-1 cm-2, as well as superior long-term stability.

Total Transanal Endorectal Pull-through Versus Laparoscopic-Assisted Approach in Children with Rectosigmoid Hirschsprung's Disease: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Objective: To compare the clinical outcomes between total transanal endorectal pull-through (TTEPT) and laparoscopic-assisted transanal endorectal pull-through (LTEPT) in children with rectosigmoid Hirschsprung's disease. Methods: A retrospective study was conducted to compare patients with rectosigmoid Hirschsprung's disease who underwent TTEPT or LTEPT at Beijing Children's Hospital between January 2016 and June 2021. Clinical details were collected from medical records. Patients' parents completed the Krickenbeck questionnaire to evaluate the long-term bowel function (age >4 years) by telephone. A literature search was conducted by using the National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI) PubMed database. We combined data from our data with eligible articles and performed a meta-analysis. Result: From our data, there was no difference in the incidence of postoperative complications or long-term bowel function between the patients undergoing TTEPT and LTEPT. A meta-analysis, including five published articles and our data, was performed with a total of 414 patients (n = 236 with TTEPT and n = 178 with LTEPT). For postoperative complications, there were no significant differences between TTEPT and LTEPT for the incidence of HAEC (odds ratio [OR], 0.90; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.45-1.80; P = .77) or anastomotic leak (OR, 2.52; 95% CI, 0.40-15.80; P = .32). Regarding bowel function outcomes, the incidence of soiling (OR, 1.77; 95% CI, 0.84-3.71; P = .13) and constipation (OR, 1.20; 95% CI, 0.54-2.64; P = .66) were also similar for the two approaches. Conclusion: There was no significant difference in postoperative complications and bowel functional outcomes in patients with rectosigmoid HD undergoing TTEPT or LTEPT. Levels of Evidence: III.

Therapeutic and fluorescence evaluation of 20% 5-aminolevulinic acid-mediated photodynamic therapy in actinic keratosis.

BACKGROUND: Actinic keratosis (AK) is a precancerous lesion that occurs in areas that are chronically exposed to sunlight and has the potential to develop into invasive cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma (cSCC). We investigated the efficacy of 20 % 5-aminolevulinic acid-photodynamic therapy (ALA-PDT) with LED red light for the treatment of AK in Chinese patients by examining changes in dermoscopic features, histopathology and fluorescence after treatment. METHODS: Twenty-eight patients with fourty-six AK lesions from March 2022 to September 2023 were treated with 20 % ALA, and 3 h later, they were irradiated with LED red light (80-100 mW/cm2) for 20 min. A session of 20 % ALA-PDT was performed once a week for three consecutive weeks, and the dermoscopic, histopathological, fluorescent and photoaging outcomes were measured one week after the treatment. RESULTS: One week after ALA-PDT, complete remission (CR) was reached in 53.6 % of patients. The CR of Grade I AK lesions was 100 %, that of Grade II lesions was 71.4 %, and that of Grade III lesions was 38.1 %. There was a significant improvement in the dermoscopic features, epidermal thickness and fluorescence of the AK lesions. The presence of red fluorescence decreased, and there was an association between CR and post-PDT fluorescence intensity. ALA-PDT also exhibited efficacy in treating photoaging, including fine lines, sallowness, mottled pigmentation, erythema, and telangiectasias, and improved the global score for photoaging. There were no serious adverse effects during or after ALA-PDT, and 82.1 % of the patients were satisfied with the treatment. CONCLUSION: AK lesions can be safely and effectively treated with 20 % ALA-PDT with LED red light, which also alleviates photoaging in Chinese patients, including those with multiple AKs. This study highlights the possibility that fluorescence could be used to diagnose AK with peripheral field cancerization and evaluate the efficacy of ALA-PDT.

Development of an immune-related diagnostic predictive model for oral lichen planus.

Oral lichen planus (OLP) was a chronic inflammatory disease of unknown etiology with a 1.4% chance of progressing to malignancy. However, it has been suggested in several studies that immune system disorders played a dominant role in the onset and progression of OLP. Therefore, this experiment aimed to develop a diagnostic prediction model for OLP based on immunopathogenesis to achieve early diagnosis and treatment and prevent cancer. In this study, 2 publicly available OLP datasets from the gene expression omnibus database were filtered. In the experimental group (GSE52130), the level of immune cell infiltration was assessed using MCPcounter and ssGSEA algorithms. Subsequently, differential expression analysis and gene set enrichment analysis were performed between the OLP and control groups. The resulting differentially expressed genes were intersected with immunologically relevant genes provided on the immunology database and analysis portal database (ImmPort) website to obtain differentially expressed immunologically relevant genes (DEIRGs). Furthermore, the gene ontology and kyoto encyclopedia of genes and genomes analyses were carried out. Finally, protein-protein interaction network and least absolute shrinkage and selection operator regression analyses constructed a model for OLP. Receiver operating characteristic curves for the experimental and validation datasets (GSE38616) were plotted separately to validate the model's credibility. In addition, real-time quantitative PCR experiment was performed to verify the expression level of the diagnostic genes. Immune cell infiltration analysis revealed a more significant degree of inflammatory infiltration in the OLP group compared to the control group. In addition, the gene set enrichment analysis results were mainly associated with keratinization, antibacterial and immune responses, etc. A total of 774 differentially expressed genes was obtained according to the screening criteria, of which 65 were differentially expressed immunologically relevant genes. Ultimately, an immune-related diagnostic prediction model for OLP, which was composed of 5 hub genes (BST2, RNASEL, PI3, DEFB4A, CX3CL1), was identified. The verification results showed that the model has good diagnostic ability. There was a significant correlation between the 5 hub diagnostic biomarkers and immune infiltrating cells. The development of this model gave a novel insight into the early diagnosis of OLP.

Risk factors for therapy failure after incision and drainage alone for perianal abscesses in children.

Background: It is well known that recurrent perianal abscesses (PAs) and fistula-in-ano (FIA) are the main causes of therapy failure following incision and drainage (I&D) for PAs. But few studies have focused on the risk factors for therapy failure after I&D for PAs in children. In this study, we retrospectively examine the risk factors for therapy failure after I&D for PAs in children in a pediatric tertiary care institution. Methods: A retrospective review of all outpatient children with PA treated by I&D at Beijing Children's Hospital between January 2021 and December 2022 was performed. A follow-up was conducted in October 2023. Patients with other predisposing factors for perianal infection, such as inflammatory bowel disease, hematologic tumor, and anorectal surgery, were excluded from this study. Logistic regression yielding odds ratios (ORs) was used to assess the significance of variables for therapy failure. Results: Of 160 children initially identified, follow-up was available for 146, with a total of 172 treatments. A total of 91% of children were male. The median (interquartile range) age at I&D was 2 (1, 15) months. The median follow-up duration was 20 (14, 25) months. Therapy failure occurred in 25 (15%) treatments performed for the prevention of recurrence of PA and in 35 (20%) treatments for the prevention of development of FIA. In the univariate analysis, a history of PA (P = 0.001), history of I&D (P = 0.014), and multilocal occurrence (P = 0.003) were associated with therapy failure. A sitz bath after I&D (P = 0.016) and regular cleaning of the wound after I&D (P = 0.024) were associated with therapy success. In the multivariate analysis, a history of PA (P = 0.015, OR = 3.374) and multilocal occurrence (P = 0.012, OR = 4.649) were independently associated with therapy failure. Regular cleaning of the wound (P = 0.017, OR = 0.341) and sitz bath (P = 0.001, OR = 0.128) after I&D were independently associated with therapy success. Conclusions: A history of PA and multilocal occurrence were predictor factors for therapy failure before I&D. Regular cleaning of the wound and sitz bath after I&D were protective factors for therapy success. Therefore, regular cleaning of the wound and sitz bath after I&D should be emphasized in all children with PAs, especially in those with a history of PA and multilocal occurrence.

STAT3-Mediated Ferroptosis is Involved in Sepsis-Associated Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome.

Sepsis-induced acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) poses a grave danger to life, resulting from sepsis-induced multi-organ failure. Although ferroptosis, a form of iron-dependent lipid peroxidative cell death, has been associated with sepsis-induced ARDS, the specific mechanisms are not fully understood. In this study, we utilized WGCNA, PPI, friends analysis, and six machine learning techniques (Lasso, SVM, RFB, XGBoost, AdaBoost, and LightGBM) to pinpoint STAT3 as a potential diagnostic marker. A significant increase in monocyte and neutrophil levels was observed in patients with sepsis-induced ARDS, as revealed by immune infiltration analyses, when compared to controls. Moreover, there was a positive correlation between STAT3 expression and the level of infiltration. Single-cell analysis uncovered a notable disparity in B-cell expression between sepsis and sepsis-induced ARDS. Furthermore, in vitro experiments using LPS-treated human bronchial epithelial cells (BEAS-2B) and THP1 cells demonstrated a significant increase in STAT3 phosphorylation expression. Additionally, the inhibition of STAT3 phosphorylation by Stattic effectively prevented LPS-induced ferroptosis in both BEAS-2B and THP1 cells. This indicates that the activation of STAT3 phosphorylation promotes ferroptosis in human bronchial epithelial cells in response to LPS. In summary, this research has discovered and confirmed STAT3 as a potential biomarker for the diagnosis and treatment of sepsis-induced ARDS.

Human Disturbance Increases Health Risks to Golden Snub-Nosed Monkeys and the Transfer Risk of Pathogenic Antibiotic-Resistant Bacteria from Golden Snub-Nosed Monkeys to Humans.

From the perspective of interactions in the human-animal-ecosystem, the study and control of pathogenic bacteria that can cause disease in animals and humans is the core content of "One Health". In order to test the effect of human disturbance (HD) on the health risk of pathogenic antibiotic-resistant bacteria (PARBs) to wild animals and transfer risk of the PARBs from wild animals to humans, golden snub-nosed monkeys (Rhinopithecus roxellana) were used as sentinel animals. Metagenomic analysis was used to analyze the characteristics of PARBs in the gut microbiota of golden snub-nosed monkeys. Then, the total contribution of antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) and virulence factors (VFs) of the PARBs were used to assess the health risk of PARBs to golden snub-nosed monkeys, and the antimicrobial drug resistance and bacterial infectious disease of PARBs were determined to assess the transfer risk of PARBs from golden snub-nosed monkeys to humans. There were 18 and 5 kinds of PARBs in the gut microbiota of golden snub-nosed monkeys under HD (HD group) and wild habitat environments (W group), respectively. The total health risks of PARBs to the W group and the HD group were -28.5 × 10-3 and 125.8 × 10-3, respectively. There were 12 and 16 kinds of KEGG pathways of human diseases in the PARBs of the W group and the HD group, respectively, and the gene numbers of KEGG pathways in the HD group were higher than those in the W group. HD increased the pathogenicity of PARBs to golden snub-nosed monkeys, and the PARBs in golden snub-nosed monkeys exhibited resistance to lincosamide, aminoglycoside, and streptogramin antibiotics. If these PARBs transfer from golden snub-nosed monkeys to humans, then humans may acquire symptoms of pathogens including Tubercle bacillus, Staphylococcus, Streptococcus, Yersinia, Pertussis, and Vibrio cholera.

Graphdiyne-Based Multiscale Catalysts for Ammonia Synthesis.

Graphdiyne, a sp/sp2 -cohybridized two-dimensional all- carbon material, has many unique and fascinating properties of alkyne-rich structures, large π conjugated system, uniform pores, specific unevenly-distributed surface charge, and incomplete charge transfer properties provide promising potential in practical applications including catalysis, energy conversion and storage, intelligent devices, life science, photoelectric, etc. These superior advantages have made graphdiyne one of the hottest research frontiers of chemistry and materials science and produced a series of original and innovative research results in the fundamental and applied research of carbon materials. In recent years, considerable advances have been made toward the development of graphdiyne-based multiscale catalysts for nitrogen fixation and ammonia synthesis at room temperatures and ambient pressures. This review aims to provide a comprehensive update in regard to the synthesis of graphdiyne-based multiscale catalysts and their applications in the synthesis of ammonia. The unique features of graphdiyne are highlighted throughout the review. Finally, it concludes with the discussion of challenges and future perspectives relating to graphdiyne.

Non-specific phospholipase C4 hydrolyzes phosphosphingolipids and phosphoglycerolipids and promotes rapeseed growth and yield.

Phosphorus is a major nutrient vital for plant growth and development, with a substantial amount of cellular phosphorus being used for the biosynthesis of membrane phospholipids. Here, we report that NON-SPECIFIC PHOSPHOLIPASE C4 (NPC4) in rapeseed (Brassica napus) releases phosphate from phospholipids to promote growth and seed yield, as plants with altered NPC4 levels showed significant changes in seed production under different phosphate conditions. Clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeat (CRISPR)/CRISPR-associated nuclease 9 (Cas9)-mediated knockout of BnaNPC4 led to elevated accumulation of phospholipids and decreased growth, whereas overexpression (OE) of BnaNPC4 resulted in lower phospholipid contents and increased plant growth and seed production. We demonstrate that BnaNPC4 hydrolyzes phosphosphingolipids and phosphoglycerolipids in vitro, and plants with altered BnaNPC4 function displayed changes in their sphingolipid and glycerolipid contents in roots, with a greater change in glycerolipids than sphingolipids in leaves, particularly under phosphate deficiency conditions. In addition, BnaNPC4-OE plants led to the upregulation of genes involved in lipid metabolism, phosphate release, and phosphate transport and an increase in free inorganic phosphate in leaves. These results indicate that BnaNPC4 hydrolyzes phosphosphingolipids and phosphoglycerolipids in rapeseed to enhance phosphate release from membrane phospholipids and promote growth and seed production.

Studying Hair Growth Cycle and its Effects on Mouse Skin.

Researchers should be aware that hair growth cycle drives prominent molecular, cellular, and morphological changes to the entire skin. Thus, hair growth constitutes a major experimental variable that influences the interpretation of dermatological studies. Hair growth in mice is neither asynchronous nor fully synchronized; rather, it occurs in waves that dynamically propagate across the skin. In consequence, any given area of mouse skin can contain hair follicles in different stages of the cycle in close physical proximity. Furthermore, hair growth waves in mice are initiated by probabilistic events at different time points and across stochastic locations. The consequence of such stochasticity is that precise patterns of hair growth waves differ from mouse to mouse, even in littermates of the same sex. However, such physiological stochasticity is commonly misconstrued as a significant hair growth phenotype in mutant mice or in drug-treated mice. The purpose of this article is to provide a set of guidelines for designing reliably interpretable murine studies on hair growth and to highlight key experimental caveats to be avoided. It also informs on how to account for and minimize the impact of physiological hair cycle differences when designing and interpreting nonhair growth dermatological studies in mice.

A Review of Recent Progress in Drug Doping and Gene Doping Control Analysis.

The illicit utilization of performance-enhancing substances, commonly referred to as doping, not only infringes upon the principles of fair competition within athletic pursuits but also poses significant health hazards to athletes. Doping control analysis has emerged as a conventional approach to ensuring equity and integrity in sports. Over the past few decades, extensive advancements have been made in doping control analysis methods, catering to the escalating need for qualitative and quantitative analysis of numerous banned substances exhibiting diverse chemical and biological characteristics. Progress in science, technology, and instrumentation has facilitated the proliferation of varied techniques for detecting doping. In this comprehensive review, we present a succinct overview of recent research developments within the last ten years pertaining to these doping detection methodologies. We undertake a comparative analysis, evaluating the merits and limitations of each technique, and offer insights into the prospective future advancements in doping detection methods. It is noteworthy that the continual design and synthesis of novel synthetic doping agents have compelled researchers to constantly refine and innovate doping detection methods in order to address the ever-expanding range of covertly employed doping agents. Overall, we remain in a passive position for doping detection and are always on the road to doping control.