[Treatment of open fracture bone defect of distal femur with antibiotic cement column and bone graft].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the efficacy of antibiotic cement column combined with iliac bone graft in the treatment of open fracture with bone defect of distal femur. METHODS: From October 2014 to March 2021, 16 patients of open fracture bone defect of distal femur were treated with antibiotic bone cement column and iliac bone graft, including 12 males and 4 females. The age ranged from 28 to 68 years old. There were 11 cases of traffic accident injury, 5 cases of falling injury, 3 cases as Gustilo type Ⅰ, 5 cases as type Ⅱ and 8 cases as type ⅢA. AO classification was used:9 cases of C2 type and 7 cases of C3 type. The time from injury to final bone grafting ranged from 4 to 119 days. The length of bone defect ranged from 2 to10 cm. Fractures healing time, complications and knee function Merchan score were recorded. RESULTS: All the 16 patients were followed up from 9 to 29 months. The incisions of 16 patients healed in one stage without postoperative infection, plate fracture, limb shortening and valgus and varus deformity. The healing time randed from 4 to 10 months . Knee joint function according to the Merchant scoring standard, showed that 8 cases were excellent, 4 cases were good, 3 cases were fair, and 1 case was poor. CONCLUSION: The use of antibiotic bone cement column combined with iliac bone graft in the treatment of open and complex bone defects of distal femur is an effective surgical method to prevent infection, assist fracture reduction, increase fixation strength and significantly reduce the amount of bone grafting.

Biomechanical comparative study on external fixators of new configurations in the treatment of Tile C pelvic injury.

To compare the biomechanical properties of several anterior pelvic ring external fixators with two new configurations in the treatment of Tile C pelvic fractures, in order to evaluate the effectiveness of the new configurations and provide a reference for their clinical application. A finite element model of a Tile C pelvic ring injury (unilateral longitudinal sacral fracture and ipsilateral pubic fracture) was constructed. The pelvis was fixed with iliac crest external fixator (IC), anterior inferior iliac spine external fixator (AIIS), combination of IC and AIIS, combination of anterior superior iliac spine external fixator (ASIS) and AIIS, and S1 sacroiliac screw in 5 types of models. The stability indices of the anterior and posterior pelvic rings under vertical longitudinal load, left-right compression load and anterior-posterior shear load were quantified and compared. In the simulated bipedal standing position, the results of the vertical displacement of the midpoint on the upper surface of the sacrum are consistent with the displacement of the posterior rotation angle, and the order from largest to smallest is IC, AIIS, ASIS + AIIS, IC + AIIS and S1 screw. The longitudinal displacement of IC is greater than that of the other models. The displacements of ASIS + AIIS and IC + AIIS are similar and the latter is smaller. In the simulated semi-recumbent position, the vertical displacement and posterior rotation angle displacement of the midpoint on the upper surface of the sacrum are also consistent, ranking from large to small: IC, AIIS, ASIS + AIIS, IC + AIIS and S1 screw. Under the simulated left-right compression load state, the lateral displacements of the highest point of the lateral sacral fracture end are consistent with the highest point of the lateral pubic fracture end, and the order from large to small is S1 screw, IC, AIIS, ASIS + AIIS and IC + AIIS, among which the displacements of S1 screw and IC are larger, and the displacements of ASIS + AIIS and IC + AIIS are similar and smaller than those of other models. The displacements of IC + AIIS are smaller than those of ASIS + AIIS. Under the simulated anterior-posterior shear load condition, the posterior displacements of the highest point of the lateral sacral fracture end and the highest point of the lateral pubic fracture end are also consistent, ranking from large to small: IC, AIIS, ASIS + AIIS, IC + AIIS and S1 screw. Among them, the displacements of IC and AIIS are larger. The displacements of ASIS + AIIS and IC + AIIS are similar and the latter are smaller. For the unstable pelvic injury represented by Tile C pelvic fracture, the biomechanical various stabilities of the combination of IC and AIIS are superior to those of the external fixators of conventional configurations. The biomechanical stabilities of the combination of ASIS and AIIS are also better than those of the external fixators of conventional configurations, and slightly worse than those of the combination of IC and AIIS. Compared with sacroiliac screw and conventional external fixators, the lateral stabilities of IC + AIIS and ASIS + AIIS are particularly prominent.

Evaluation of Binding and Neutralizing Antibodies for Inactivated SARS-CoV-2 Vaccine Immunization.

The circulating severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) variant presents an ongoing challenge for surveillance and detection. It is important to establish an assay for SARS-CoV-2 antibodies in vaccinated individuals. Numerous studies have demonstrated that binding antibodies (such as S-IgG and N-IgG) and neutralizing antibodies (Nabs) can be detected in vaccinated individuals. However, it is still unclear how to evaluate the consistency and correlation between binding antibodies and Nabs induced by inactivated SARS-CoV-2 vaccines. In this study, serum samples from humans, rhesus macaques, and hamsters immunized with inactivated SARS-CoV-2 vaccines were analyzed for S-IgG, N-IgG, and Nabs. The results showed that the titer and seroconversion rate of S-IgG were significantly higher than those of N-IgG. The correlation between S-IgG and Nabs was higher compared to that of N-IgG. Based on this analysis, we further investigated the titer thresholds of S-IgG and N-IgG in predicting the seroconversion of Nabs. According to the threshold, we can quickly determine the positive and negative effects of the SARS-CoV-2 variant neutralizing antibody in individuals. These findings suggest that the S-IgG antibody is a better supplement to and confirmation of SARS-CoV-2 vaccine immunization.

[Role of NLRP3 inflammasome in prevention and treatment of cognitive impairment-related diseases and traditional Chinese medicine intervention: a review].

Alzheimer's disease(AD), vascular dementia(VD), and traumatic brain injury(TBI) are more common cognitive impairment diseases characterized by high disability and mortality rates, imposing a heavy burden on individuals and their families. Although AD, VD, and TBI have different specific mechanisms, their pathogenesis is closely related to the nucleotide-binding oligome-rization domain-like receptor protein 3(NLRP3). The NLRP3 inflammasome is involved in neuroinflammatory responses, mediating microglial polarization, regulating the reduction of amyloid ß-protein(Aß) deposition, neurofibrillary tangles(NFTs) formation, autophagy regulation, and maintaining brain homeostasis, and synaptic stability, thereby contributing to the development of AD, VD, and TBI. Previous studies have shown that traditional Chinese medicine(TCM) can alleviate neuroinflammation, promote microglial polarization towards the M2 phenotype, reduce Aß deposition and NFTs formation, regulate autophagy, and maintain brain homeostasis by intervening in NLRP3 inflammasome, hence exerting a role in preventing and treating cognitive impairment-related diseases, reducing psychological and economic pressure on patients, and improving their quality of life. Therefore, this article elucidated the role of NLRP3 inflammasome in AD, VS, and TBI, and provided a detailed summary of the latest research results on TCM intervention in NLRP3 inflammasome for the prevention and treatment of these diseases, aiming to inherit the essence of TCM and provide references and foundations for clinical prevention and treatment of cognitive impairment-related diseases with TCM. Meanwhile, this also offers insights and directions for further research in TCM for the prevention and treatment of cognitive impairment-related diseases.

Optical Fiber Surface Plasmon Resonance Sensor for Glyceryl Tributyrate Detection Based on the PAA/CS Composite Hydrogel Embedding Protease Method.

Glycerol tributyrate as a low-density lipoprotein plays a crucial role in drug development and food safety. In this work, a novel high-stability fiber optic sensor for glyceryl tributyrate based on the poly(acrylic acid) (PAA) and chitosan (CS) composite hydrogel embedding method is first proposed. Compared with traditional functionalization, the lipase in a polymer network structure used in this article can not only avoid chemical reactions that cause damage to the enzyme structure but also avoid the instability of ionic bonds and physical adsorption. Therefore, the PAA/CS hydrogel method proposed in this article can effectively retain enzyme structure. First, the impact of different layers (one to five layers) of PAA/CS on pH sensing performance was explored, and it was determined that layers 1-3 could be used for subsequent sensing experiments. Within the linear detection range of 0.5-10 mM, the detection sensitivities of the one to three layers of the biosensor are divided into 0.65, 0.95, and 1.51 nm/mM, respectively, with the three layers having the best effect. When the number of coating layers is three, the detection limit of the sensor is 0.47 mM, meeting the millimole level detection standard for anticancer requirement. Furthermore, the stability and selectivity of the sensor (in the presence of hemoglobin, urea, cholesterol, acetylcholine, and glucose) were analyzed. The three-layer sensor is used for sample detection. At concentrations of 1-10 mM, the absolute value of the recovery percentage (%) is 82-99%, which can accurately detect samples. The sensor proposed in this paper has the advantages of low sample consumption, high sensitivity, simple structure, and label-free measurement. The enzyme-embedding method provides a new route for rapid and reliable glyceryl tributyrate detection, which has potential applications in food safety as well as the development of anticancer drugs.

Three-stage niobium mineralization at Bayan Obo, China.

The Chinese Bayan Obo deposit is a world-class rare earth element (REE) deposit with considerable niobium (Nb) and iron (Fe) resources. A complete genetic understanding on all metals is fundamental for establishing genetic models at Bayan Obo. With extensive research being focused on REE enrichment, the timing and controls of Nb enrichment remain unresolved at Bayan Obo, which is mainly due to the challenges in dating, i.e. multistage thermal events, fine-grained minerals with complex textures and the rare occurrence of uranium-enriched minerals with mature dating methods. Based on robust geological and petrographic frameworks, here we conducted ion probe uranium-lead (U-Pb) dating of ferrocolumbite to unravel the timing, hence the genesis of Nb mineralization. Three types of hydrothermal ferrocolumbites-key Nb-bearing minerals-are identified based on their textures and mineral assemblages. They yield U-Pb ages of 1312 ± 47 Ma (n = 99), 438 ± 7 Ma (n = 93), and 268 ± 5 Ma (n = 19), respectively. In line with deposit geology, we tentatively link the first, second and third stage Nb mineralization to Mesoproterozoic carbonatite magmatism, ubiquitous early Paleozoic hydrothermal activity, and Permian granitic magmatism, respectively. While quantifying the contribution of metal endowment from each stage requires further investigation, our new dates highlight that multi-stage mineralization is critical for Nb enrichment at Bayan Obo, which may also have implications for the enrichment mechanism of Nb in REE deposits in general.

Bimetallic Au and Pd Nanoparticles Modified WO3 Nanosheets for Enhancing the Sensitivity and Selectivity of Formaldehyde Assessment in Aquatic Products.

Formaldehyde, a common illegal additive in aquatic products, poses a threat to people's health and lives. In this study, a novel metal oxide semiconductor gas sensor based on AuPd-modified WO3 nanosheets (NSs) had been developed for the highly efficient detection of formaldehyde. WO3 NS modified with 2.0% AuPd nanoparticles showed a higher response (Ra/Rg = 94.2) to 50 ppm of formaldehyde at 210 °C, which was 36 times more than the pristine WO3 NS. In addition, the AuPd/WO3 gas sensor had a relatively short response/recovery time of 10 s/9 s for 50 ppm of formaldehyde at 210 °C, with good immunity to other interfering gases and good stability for formaldehyde. The excellent gas-sensitive performance was attributed to the chemical sensitization of Au, the electronic sensitization of Pd, and the synergistic effect of bimetallic AuPd, which facilitated the recognition and response of formaldehyde molecules. Additionally, the high sensitivity and broad application prospect of the 2.0% AuPd/WO3 NS composite-based sensor in real sample detection were also confirmed by using the above sensor for the detection of formaldehyde in aquatic products such as squid and shrimp.

Intervention mechanism of marine-based chito-oligosaccharide on acute liver injury induced by AFB1 in rats.

Aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) is extremely hepatotoxic, a causative agent of liver cancer, and can cause symptoms of acute or chronic liver damage. Chito-oligosaccharides (COS), obtained from the degradation of chitosan derived from shrimp and crab shells, is a natural antioxidant substance and its antitumor properties have been widely studied, but less research has been done on the prevention of AFB1-induced acute liver injury. In this study, rats were acutely exposed to 1 mg/kg BW AFB1 and simultaneously gavaged with different doses of COS for 8 days. The results showed that COS attenuated the hepatic histopathological changes and reduced serum biochemical indices (ALT, AST, ALP, and TBIL) in rats. It significantly inhibited MDA content and promoted SOD and GSH-Px activity production. Moreover, it also improved hepatocyte apoptosis. Furthermore, AFB1-vs-HCOS differential genes were enriched with 622 GO entries, and 380 were Biological Processes, 170 were Molecular Functions, 72 were Cellular Components. Differentially expressed genes (DEGs) analyzed by KEGG enrichment were more enriched in pathways, such as metabolism, PPAR signaling pathway, and peroxisome. Q-PCR technique verified that Lama5, Egr1, Cyp2b1, and Gadd45g in DEGs were associated with oxidative stress damage and apoptosis. In conclusion, COS intervention reduces the effect of AFB1 on hepatic genes and thus reduces the changes in hepatic gene function.

Immune checkpoint inhibitor related myositis: an observational, retrospective, pharmacovigilance study.

BACKGROUND: Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) show promise in cancer treatment, but recent cases highlight myositis as a serious complication. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS: We did a retrospective study on drug safety using FAERS data up to Q3 2022, focusing on immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) and myositis. We used IC and ROR to assess the association. Logistic regression in R 3.2.5 helped identify factors linked to fatal outcomes. RESULTS: We identified 558 cases of ICIs-associated myositis. Our study found a significant link between ICIs and myositis (ROR 15.54 [14.23-16.96], IC 3.79 [3.66-3.92], see Figure 1). Notably, myositis was more common in patients on ICI combination therapy compared to monotherapy (ROR 1.72 [1.39-2.11], IC 0.63 [0.30-0.93]). Age increased the risk of ICI-associated myositis and was also a factor in fatality (p = 0.011). Common accompanying adverse events included myocarditis (21.33%), severe myasthenia gravis (16.49%), and malignant neoplasm progression (8.06%). Fatal cases were more common when myositis was accompanied by myocarditis, severe myasthenia gravis, or malignant neoplasm progression. CONCLUSIONS: Clinicians must note the risk of ICI-associated myositis, especially dangerous in older patients or when combined with other issues like myocarditis or severe myasthenia gravis.

Dielectrophoretic characterization and selection of non-spherical flagellate algae in parallel channels with right-angle bipolar electrodes.

Non-spherical flagellate algae play an increasingly significant role in handling problematic issues as versatile biological micro/nanorobots and resources of valuable bioproducts. However, the commensalism of flagellate algae with distinct structures and constituents causes considerable difficulties in their further biological utilization. Therefore, it is imperative to develop a novel method to realize high-efficiency selection of non-spherical flagellate algae in a non-invasive manner. Enthused by these, we proposed a novel method to accomplish the selection of flagellate algae based on the numerical and experimental investigation of dielectrophoretic characterizations of flagellate algae. Firstly, an arbitrary Lagrangian-Eulerian method was utilized to study the electro-orientation and dielectrophoretic assembly process of spindle-shaped and ellipsoid-shaped cells in a uniform electric field. Secondly, we studied the equilibrium state of spherical, ellipsoid-shaped, and spindle-shaped cells under positive DEP forces actuated by right-angle bipolar electrodes. Thirdly, we investigated the dielectrophoretic assembly and escape processes of the non-spherical flagellate algae in continuous flow to explore their influences on the selection. Fourthly, freshwater flagellate algae (Euglena, H. pluvialis, and C. reinhardtii) and marine ones (Euglena, Dunaliella salina, and Platymonas) were separated to validate the feasibility and adaptability of this method. Finally, this approach was engineered in the selection of Euglena cells with high viability and motility. This method presents immense prospects in the selection of pure non-spherical flagellate algae with high motility for chronic wound healing, bio-micromotor construction, and decontamination with advantages of no sheath, strong reliability, and shape-insensitivity.

Two-Dimensional Lanthanide Metal-Organic Framework Heterostructures for Noninvasively Photoresponsive High-Security Photonic Barcodes.

Stimuli-responsive micro/nanoscale photonic barcodes show great capacity for encryption and anticounterfeiting technologies due to multiple authentications, yet their application is commonly restricted by invasive stimuli. Herein, we report noninvasive light-stimulated high-security photonic barcodes based on spatially assembled photoresponsive two-dimensional (2D) 1,3,5-benzenetribenzoate (BTB)@Ln-MOF host-guest heterostructures. The photoluminescence (PL) spectra information on BTB@Ln-MOF heterostructures could be precisely controlled by the different wavelengths of ultraviolet (UV) light trigger. By using the PL properties and 2D heterostructures as cryptographic primitives, spatially resolved smart photonic barcodes based on both spectral and graphical coding are realized in BTB@Ln-MOF host-guest materials. These results will pave an avenue for the development of smart stimuli-responsive photonic barcodes for anticounterfeiting applications.

Highly sensitive ammonia sensor based on a PMMA/PANI microwire structure.

In this paper, a highly sensitive ammonia (N H 3) sensor based on a polymethyl methacrylate/polyaniline (PMMA/PANI) microwire structure is designed and implemented. First, a micron-sized PMMA microwire was fabricated and connected with two tapered single-mode fibers to form a coupling structure; thus, the Mach-Zehnder (MZ) interference was successfully excited due to the good light conductivity of the PMMA. It was demonstrated that the coupling structure behaved with a high refractive index detection sensitivity of 3044 nm/RIU. To make it sensitive to N H 3, the PANI was selected to mix with PMMA and then formed a micron-level PMMA/PANI fiber. The experimental results showed that the PMMA/PANI fiber can selectively sense N H 3 with a high sensitivity of 65.3 pm/ppm. This proposed N H 3 sensor not only solves the problem of sensitive film shedding, but also possesses the advantages of good integration, high sensitivity, good selectivity, and short response time.

Correlation of serum and local CXCL13 levels with disease severity in patients with non-traumatic osteonecrosis of femoral head.

OBJECTIVE: The primary aim of the present study was to explore the potential correlation of serum / local CXCL13 expressions and disease severity in non-traumatic osteonecrosis of the femoral head (NT-ONFH). METHODS: In total, NT-ONFH patients (n = 130) together with healthy controls (HCs, n = 130) were included in this investigation. Radiographic progression was evaluated based on the imaging criteria outlined in the ARCO classification system. To assess the diagnostic value of serum CXCL13 in relation to radiographic progression, Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis was conducted. Serum CXCL13 levels were quantified utilizing ELISA in all participants. Furthermore, local protein/mRNA expressions of CXCL13 were examined employing immunohistochemistry, western blot, as well as RT-PCR techniques. Clinical severity was appraised using the visual analogue scale (VAS), Harris Hip Score (HHS), and Western Ontario as well as McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index (WOMAC). RESULTS: The findings revealed a significant reduction in serum CXCL13 levels among NT-ONFH patients in contrast with HCs. Moreover, both mRNA and protein expressions of CXCL13 were markedly decreased in the necrotic area (NA) than the non-necrotic area (NNA) as well as the healthy femoral head tissues. Additionally, serum CXCL13 levels were substantially lower among patients classified as ARCO stage 4 than those at ARCO stage 3. The concentrations of CXCL13 in stage 3 patients were notably diminished relative to those at ARCO stage 2. Notably, serum CXCL13 levels demonstrated a negative association with ARCO grade. Furthermore, these levels were also inversely linked to VAS scores as well as WOMAC scores while displaying a positive association with HHS scores. The findings of ROC curve suggested that reduced serum CXCL13 levels could be an underlying indicator for ARCO stage. CONCLUSIONS: The reduced levels of either serum CXCL13 or local CXCL13 were intricately linked to disease severity for patients with NT-ONFH.

Clopidogrel Plus Aspirin vs Aspirin Alone in Patients With Acute Mild to Moderate Stroke: The ATAMIS Randomized Clinical Trial.

Importance: Dual antiplatelet therapy has been demonstrated to be superior to single antiplatelet in reducing recurrent stroke among patients with transient ischemic attack or minor stroke, but robust evidence for its effect in patients with mild to moderate ischemic stroke is lacking. Objective: To evaluate whether dual antiplatelet therapy is superior to single antiplatelet among patients with mild to moderate ischemic stroke. Design, Setting, and Participants: This was a multicenter, open-label, blinded end point, randomized clinical trial conducted at 66 hospitals in China from December 20, 2016, through August 9, 2022. The date of final follow-up was October 30, 2022. The analysis was reported on March 12, 2023. Of 3065 patients with ischemic stroke, 3000 patients with acute mild to moderate stroke within 48 hours of symptom onset were enrolled, after excluding 65 patients who did not meet eligibility criteria or had no randomization outcome. Interventions: Within 48 hours after symptom onset, patients were randomly assigned to receive clopidogrel plus aspirin (n = 1541) or aspirin alone (n = 1459) in a 1:1 ratio. Main Outcomes and Measures: The primary end point was early neurologic deterioration at 7 days, defined as an increase of 2 or more points in National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) score, but not as a result of cerebral hemorrhage, compared with baseline. The superiority of clopidogrel plus aspirin to aspirin alone was assessed based on a modified intention-to-treat population, which included all randomized participants with at least 1 efficacy evaluation regardless of treatment allocation. Bleeding events were safety end points. Results: Of the 3000 randomized patients, 1942 (64.6%) were men, the mean (SD) age was 65.9 (10.6) years, median (IQR) NIHSS score at admission was 5 (4-6), and 1830 (61.0%) had a stroke of undetermined cause. A total of 2915 patients were included in the modified intention-to-treat analysis. Early neurologic deterioration occurred in 72 of 1502 (4.8%) in the dual antiplatelet therapy group vs 95 of 1413 (6.7%) in the aspirin alone group (risk difference -1.9%; 95% CI, -3.6 to -0.2; P = .03). Similar bleeding events were found between 2 groups. Conclusions and Relevance: Among Chinese patients with acute mild to moderate ischemic stroke, clopidogrel plus aspirin was superior to aspirin alone with regard to reducing early neurologic deterioration at 7 days with similar safety profile. These findings indicate that dual antiplatelet therapy may be a superior choice to aspirin alone in treating patients with acute mild to moderate stroke. Trial Registration: ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT02869009.

Modulation of hemispheric asymmetry in executive control of attention in schizophrenia with atypical antipsychotic treatment: Potential benefits of olanzapine.

Deficits in executive control of attention have been reported in schizophrenia patients, but can be ameliorated by treatment of atypical antipsychotics along with the symptoms. However, it remains unclear whether this effect is related to a modulation of hemispheric asymmetry in executive control by the medicine. In this behavioral study, we employed a lateralized version of the attention network test to examine the hemispheric asymmetry of executive control in schizophrenia patients before and after olanzapine treatment, compared to matched healthy controls. Executive control was measured as a conflict effect, indexed as the response time (RT) difference between incongruent versus congruent flanker conditions, and was compared between stimuli presented in the left and the right visual field (i.e., processed by right versus left hemisphere of the brain). Results showed that pre-treatment schizophrenia patients revealed a right hemisphere superiority in conflict effect (i.e., a smaller effect in the right hemisphere than in the left hemisphere), driven by the incongruent condition. Olanzapine treatment reduced this right hemisphere superiority by improving the efficiency of the left hemisphere in the incongruent condition. These results suggested that olanzapine treatment may improve the efficiency of executive control in the left hemisphere in schizophrenia patients.

Modular intercalary prosthetic reconstruction for malignant and metastatic tumours of the proximal femur.

To illustrate the surgical technique and explore clinical outcomes of the reconstruction for the malignant and metastatic bone tumour of proximal femur with metallic modular intercalary prosthesis. Sixteen patients who underwent modular intercalary prosthetic reconstruction after tumour resection were included from April 2012 and October 2020. Prosthesis and screws parameters, resected bone length and residual bone length, clinical outcomes and survivorship were analyzed. All patients were followed up for an average of 19 months (range 1-74). In our series, 12 patients died of the progression of the primary disease at the final follow-up. The cumulative survivorship since the treatment of proximal femoral metastasis was 78.6% (11 patients) at 6 months and 38.5% (5 patients) at 1 year. The mean MSTS score was 22.25 ± 4.55 among all patients. There were no cases of loosening or breakage of the prostheses, plates or screws, despite the various measurements of prostheses and residual bones. Modular intercalary prosthetic reconstruction was an effective method for malignant tumour of the proximal femur, including the advantages of providing early pain relief, quickly restoring postoperative function, required a short operation time, and preserving the adjacent joints.

Orientation Growth of N-Doped and Iron-Based Metal-Organic Framework and Its Application for Removal of Cr(VI) in Wastewater.

A series of NH2-functionalized nano-sized magnetic metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) were prepared in this study for Cr(VI) removal from wastewater. It was observed that not only the morphological, i.e., orientation growth of N-doped and iron-based metal-organic frameworks, but also the adsorption of magnetic MOFs is largely related to the used amount of ammonium hydroxide in preparation. For example, with increasing amounts of ammonium hydroxide used in preparation, the morphology of magnetic MOFs changed from spherical to cube and triangular cone. Moreover, the maximum adsorption capacity of spherical-magnetic MOFs, cubic-magnetic MOFs and triangular cone-magnetic MOFs could be up to 204.08 mg/g, 232.56 mg/g and 270.27 mg/g, respectively. Under optimal conditions, the adsorption process of magnetic MOFs for Cr(VI) was consistent with the pseudo-second-order rate equation (R2 = 1) and Langmuir isotherm model (R2 > 0.99). Therefore, magnetic MOFs developed in this work offered a viable option for the removal of Cr(VI) from wastewater.

Inhibition of PEDV viral entry upon blocking N-glycan elaboration.

Porcine Epidemic Diarrhea Virus (PEDV) poses a significant threat to the global swine industry, demanding a thorough understanding of its cellular invasion mechanism for effective interventions. This study meticulously investigates the impact of O- and N-linked glycans on PEDV proteins and host cell interaction, shedding light on their influence on the virus's invasion process. Utilizing CRISPR-Cas9 technology to inhibit cell surface O- and N-linked glycan synthesis demonstrated no discernible impact on virus infection. However, progeny PEDV strains lacking these glycans exhibited a minor effect of O-linked glycans on virus infection. Conversely, a notable 40% reduction in infectivity was observed when the virus surface lacked N-linked glycans, emphasizing their pivotal role in facilitating virus recognition and binding to host cells. Additionally, inhibition studies utilizing kifunensine, a natural glycosidase I inhibitor, reaffirmed the significant role of N-linked glycans in virus infection. Inhibiting N-linked glycan synthesis with kifunensine substantially decreased virus entry into cells and potentially influenced spike protein expression. Assessment of the stability and recovery potential of N-linked glycan-deficient strains underscored the critical importance of N-glycans at various stages of the virus lifecycle. In vivo experiments infecting piglets with N-glycan-deficient strains exhibited milder clinical symptoms, reduced virus excretion, and less severe pathological lesions compared to conventional strains. These findings offer promising translational applications, proposing N-glycosylation inhibitors as potential therapeutic interventions against PEDV. The utilization of these inhibitors might mitigate virus invasion and disease transmission, providing avenues for effective antiviral strategies and vaccine development. Nonetheless, further research is warranted to elucidate the precise mechanisms of N-linked glycans in PEDV infection for comprehensive clinical applications.

Angelicin: A leading culprit involved in fructus Psoraleae liver injury via inhibition of VKORC1.

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE: The adverse effects of Fructus Psoraleae (FP), especially liver injury, have attracted wide attention in recent years. AIM OF THE STUDY: To establish a system to explore potential hepatotoxic targets and the chief culprit of liver injury based on clinical experience, network pharmacological method, molecular docking, and in vitro and in vivo experiments. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Clinical applications and adverse reactions to FP were obtained from public literatures. Components absorbed in the blood were selected as candidates to search for potential active targets (PATs) of FP. Subsequently, potential pharmacological core targets (PPCTs) were screened through the "drug targets-disease targets" network. Non-drug active targets (NPATs) were obtained by subtracting the PPCTs from the PATs. The potential hepatotoxic targets (PHTs) of FP were the intersection targets obtained from Venn analysis using NPATs, hepatotoxic targets, and adverse drug reaction (ADR) targets provided by the databases. Then, potential hepatotoxic components and targets were obtained using the "NPATS-component" network relationship. Molecular docking and in vitro and in vivo hepatotoxicity experiments were performed to verify the targets and related components. RESULTS: Overall, 234 NPATs were acquired from our analysis, and 6 targets were identified as PHTs. Results from molecular docking and in vitro and in vivo experiments showed that angelicin is the leading cause of liver injury in FP, and VKORC1 plays an important role. CONCLUSION: The results indicate that six targets, especially VKORC1, are associated with the PHTs of FP, and angelicin is the leading culprit involved in FP liver injury via inhibition of VKORC1.