Hydrogen sulfide reduces oxidative stress in Huntington's disease via Nrf2.

JOURNAL/nrgr/04.03/01300535-202506000-00028/figure1/v/2024-08-05T133530Z/r/image-tiff The pathophysiology of Huntington's disease involves high levels of the neurotoxin quinolinic acid. Quinolinic acid accumulation results in oxidative stress, which leads to neurotoxicity. However, the molecular and cellular mechanisms by which quinolinic acid contributes to Huntington's disease pathology remain unknown. In this study, we established in vitro and in vivo models of Huntington's disease by administering quinolinic acid to the PC12 neuronal cell line and the striatum of mice, respectively. We observed a decrease in the levels of hydrogen sulfide in both PC12 cells and mouse serum, which was accompanied by down-regulation of cystathionine ß-synthase, an enzyme responsible for hydrogen sulfide production. However, treatment with NaHS (a hydrogen sulfide donor) increased hydrogen sulfide levels in the neurons and in mouse serum, as well as cystathionine ß-synthase expression in the neurons and the mouse striatum, while also improving oxidative imbalance and mitochondrial dysfunction in PC12 cells and the mouse striatum. These beneficial effects correlated with upregulation of nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 expression. Finally, treatment with the nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 inhibitor ML385 reversed the beneficial impact of exogenous hydrogen sulfide on quinolinic acid-induced oxidative stress. Taken together, our findings show that hydrogen sulfide reduces oxidative stress in Huntington's disease by activating nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2, suggesting that hydrogen sulfide is a novel neuroprotective drug candidate for treating patients with Huntington's disease.

TLR3 activation enhances antitumor effects of sorafenib in hepatocellular carcinoma by activating NK cell functions through ERK and NF-κB pathways.

Background Sorafenib is a standard therapeutic agent for advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). However, its efficacy is moderate, as the survival of patients is prolonged for only a few months, and the response rate is low. The mechanism of low efficacy remains unclear. In this study, we investigated the effect of Toll-like receptor 3 (TLR3) on the effects of sorafenib on HCC. Methods Polyinosinic-polycytidylic acid [poly(I: C)] was used as a double-stranded RNA analog and TLR3 agonist in subsequent experiments. After orthotopic implantation of HCC tumors in BALBc nu/nu or C57BL/6 mice, survival time, tumor growth, and metastasis in the abdomen and lungs were analyzed. Flow cytometry and cytotoxicity assays were used to analyze NK cells isolated from the spleen or peripheral blood. ELISA was used to detect the expression of plasma interferon (IFN)-γ and monocyte chemoattractant protein (MCP)-1. In addition, the expression of phosphorylated-extracellular regulated kinase 1/2 (pERK1/2), phosphorylated-protein kinase B (pAKT), ERK1/2 and AKT was analyzed by Western blotting. Results Sorafenib reduced the number and activity of NK cells in tumor-bearing mice and simultaneously decreased the levels of MCP-1 and IFN-γ in the plasma. The combination of sorafenib and poly(I: C) synergistically inhibited tumor growth and metastasis in tumor xenograft mice and prolonged survival. Poly(I: C) not only exerts a direct inhibitory effect on tumor growth and metastasis by targeting the TLR3 receptor on tumor cells but also facilitates the proliferation and activation of NK cells, indirectly impeding tumor progression. Mechanistically, poly(I: C) decreased the sorafenib-induced inhibition of ERK phosphorylation and increased the phosphorylation of IκB in NK cells, thereby enhancing NK cell function. Conclusion Activation of TLR3 can enhance the antitumor effect of sorafenib on HCC. The combination of a TLR3 activator and sorafenib may be a new strategy for the treatment of HCC.

Anti-bacteria, anti-biofilm, and anti-virulence activity of the synthetic compound MTEBT-3 against carbapenem-resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae strains ST3984.

PURPOSE: The rise of carbapenem-resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae (CRKP) has led to increased morbidity and mortality in clinical patients, highlighting the urgent need for effective antibacterial agents. METHODS: We obtained a synthetic compound, MTEBT-3, using hydrophobic triphenylamine as the skeleton and hydrophilic ammonium salts. We determined the MIC of MTEBT-3 using the macro-broth susceptibility testing method. We isolated a clinical CRKP strain ST3984 and performed synergistic antibiotic sensitivity tests, time-kill assays, and resistance evolution studies. Biofilm formation under sub-MIC conditions was evaluated using crystal violet staining and CLSM. Additionally, biofilm proteins and polysaccharides were quantified. We assessed the bactericidal mechanism of MTEBT-3 by examining the integrity of CRKP bacterial cell membranes and analyzing the transcription of virulence-regulating genes via quantitative real-time PCR. RESULTS: MTEBT-3 exhibited broad-spectrum antibacterial activity with a low resistance rate, achieving an MIC of 8 µg/mL. The compound displayed additive effects with meropenem and imipenem and synergistic effects with tigecycline. It maintained its efficacy over multiple bacterial generations, with no significant increase in resistance observed. Under sub-MIC conditions, the biomass of biofilms was significantly reduced, and the levels of proteins and polysaccharides within the biofilms were markedly lowered in a concentration-dependent manner. The bactericidal mechanism of MTEBT-3 involved disrupting the integrity of CRKP bacterial cell membranes, leading to increased permeability. Quantitative real-time PCR results showed that MTEBT-3 effectively suppressed the expression of key virulence genes, including fimH, wbbM, rmpA, and rmpA2, which are associated with biofilm formation and bacterial adhesion. CONCLUSION: The significant antimicrobial activity of MTEBT-3 against clinically isolated CRKP, along with its synergistic or additive effects with commonly used antibiotics, positions it as a promising candidate for treatment. Its ability to disrupt biofilm formation and reduce virulence factor expression further underscores its potential in managing CRKP infections.

The Impact of Sample Quantity, Traceability Scale, and Shelf Life on the Determination of the Near-Infrared Origin Traceability of Mung Beans.

This study aims to address the gap in understanding of the impact of the sample quantity, traceability range, and shelf life on the accuracy of mung bean origin traceability models based on near-infrared spectroscopy. Mung beans from Baicheng City, Jilin Province, Dorbod Mongol Autonomous, Tailai County, Heilongjiang Province, and Sishui County, Shandong Province, China, were used. Through near-infrared spectral acquisition (12,000-4000 cm-1) and preprocessing (Standardization, Savitzky-Golay, Standard Normal Variate, and Multiplicative Scatter Correction) of the mung bean samples, the total cumulative variance contribution rate of the first three principal components was determined to be 98.16% by using principal component analysis, and the overall discriminatory correctness of its four origins combined with the K-nearest neighbor method was 98.67%. We further investigated how varying sample quantities, traceability ranges, and shelf lives influenced the discrimination accuracy. Our results indicated a 4% increase in the overall correct discrimination rate. Specifically, larger traceability ranges (Tailai-Sishui) improved the accuracy by over 2%, and multiple shelf lives (90-180-270-360 d) enhanced the accuracy by 7.85%. These findings underscore the critical role of sample quantity and diversity in traceability studies, suggesting that broader traceability ranges and comprehensive sample collections across different shelf lives can significantly improve the accuracy of origin discrimination models.

Antithermal-Quenching All-Inorganic Perovskite Crystals with Green Ultralong Persistent Luminescence for Advanced Anticounterfeiting Applications.

Long persistent luminescence (PersL) materials have revolutionized many fields of optoelectronics and photonics due to their applications in anticounterfeiting, information encryption, and in vivo bioimaging. Here, we reported a novel PersL crystal prepared by the heterovalent doping of Sb3+ into perovskite tetragonal phase RbCdCl3, comparing with the pristine non-perovskite orthorhombic phase analogue without PersL property. Surprisingly, under the UV light irradiation, the title crystals concurrently exhibit green ultralong PersL (>2400 s), high photoluminescence quantum yield (49.1%), and antithermal quenching in the range from 148 to 328 K. It was revealed by experimental results and theoretical analyses that green ultralong PersL and antithermal quenching of perovskite-phase RbCdCl3/Sb3+ crystals originate from the electron transition between the 5s2 level of the dopant Sb3+ and the electronic defect-induced trap states. Enlightened by the excellent optical properties, the tetragonal perovskite-phase RbCdCl3/Sb3+ PersL materials show promising application prospects in anticounterfeiting and encryption of information.

Integrated Analysis of Transcriptome and Metabolome Provides Insights into Flavonoid Biosynthesis of Blueberry Leaves in Response to Drought Stress.

Blueberries (Vaccinium spp.) are extremely sensitive to drought stress. Flavonoids are crucial secondary metabolites that possess the ability to withstand drought stress. Therefore, improving the drought resistance of blueberries by increasing the flavonoid content is crucial for the development of the blueberry industry. To explore the underlying molecular mechanism of blueberry in adaptation to drought stress, we performed an integrated analysis of the metabolome and transcriptome of blueberry leaves under drought stress. We found that the most enriched drought-responsive genes are mainly involved in flavonoid biosynthesis and plant hormone signal transduction pathways based on transcriptome data and the main drought-responsive metabolites come from the flavonoid class based on metabolome data. The UDP-glucose flavonoid 3-O-glucosyl transferase (UFGT), flavonol synthase (FLS), and anthocyanidin reductase (ANR-2) genes may be the key genes for the accumulation of anthocyanins, flavonols, and flavans in response to drought stress in blueberry leaves, respectively. Delphinidin 3-glucoside and delphinidin-3-O-glucoside chloride may be the most important drought-responsive flavonoid metabolites. VcMYB1, VcMYBPA1, MYBPA1.2, and MYBPA2.1 might be responsible for drought-induced flavonoid biosynthesis and VcMYB14, MYB14, MYB102, and MYB108 may be responsible for blueberry leaf drought tolerance. ABA responsive elements binding factor (ABF) genes, MYB genes, bHLH genes, and flavonoid biosynthetic genes might form a regulatory network to regulate drought-induced accumulation of flavonoid metabolites in blueberry leaves. Our study provides a useful reference for breeding drought-resistant blueberry varieties.

Laparoscopic lateral suspension with mesh for severe anterior and apical pelvic organ prolapse: an observational cohort study for safety and efficacy at 2-year follow-up.

PURPOSE: This study aimed to investigate the clinical safety and efficacy of laparoscopic lateral suspension (LLS) with mesh in the treatment of severe anterior and apical pelvic organ prolapse (POP) Chinese women with a 2-year follow-up. METHODS: We conducted an observational cohort study. Sixty patients who presented apical (uterovaginal or vault) and anterior prolapse at stage 3 or higher were enrolled. The LLS surgical procedure was performed in accordance with Dubuisson standard operation. The objective and subjective cures as well as the surgery-related complications were evaluated. The POP-related questionnaires were used to evaluate the quality of life before operation and at 24 months after operation follow-up. RESULTS: Objective cure rates at 2 years of follow-up were 88.3% for the anterior compartment, 100% for the apical compartment and 93.3% for the posterior compartment. The subjective cure rate reached to 93.3%. There were statistically significant lower scores of the pelvic floor impact questionnaire-7 (PFIQ-7) and the pelvic floor distress inventory-short form-20 (PFDI-20) for all women after surgery and they exhibited similar scores of the pelvic organ prolapsed-urinary incontinence sexual questionnaire-12 (PISQ-12) (P = 0.317). And no significant difference was demonstrated in international consultation on the incontinent questionnaire short form (ICI-Q-SF) (P = 0.551). No major complications associated with LLS were observed in our study. CONCLUSION: We consider that LLS with mesh operation is safe, feasible and effective to correct severe apical and anterior POP after 2-year follow-up.

Real-world perioperative treatment patterns and burden of recurrent disease in patients with high-risk endometrial cancer: a SEER-Medicare study.

OBJECTIVES: To elucidate unmet needs in high-risk endometrial cancer (EC), this study described perioperative treatment patterns in Medicare beneficiaries with high-risk EC and quantified the impact of disease recurrence on clinical and economic outcomes among patients receiving adjuvant therapy. METHODS: Patients aged ≥66 years with high-risk EC (stage I/II EC of non-endometrioid histology or stage III/IVA EC of any histology) receiving hysterectomy with bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy from SEER-Medicare data (2007-2019) were identified; perioperative treatment patterns were described. Post-operative treatment patterns were described among patients receiving adjuvant therapy; overall survival (OS), all-cause and EC-related healthcare resource utilization and costs were evaluated from recurrence date (using a claims-based algorithm developed with clinical input) for recurrent patients and from a frequency-matched date for non-recurrent patients. RESULTS: Of 2,279 patients receiving EC surgery, 3.1% received neoadjuvant therapy and 55.3% received adjuvant therapy. Among 1,199 patients receiving adjuvant therapy, systemic adjuvant therapy with radiation (38.9%) was most common. Median OS was 1.4 years among 378 (31.5%) recurrent patients identified over a median follow-up of 3.7 years. Recurrent patients had significantly higher per-patient-year rates of all-cause outpatient visits (37.7 vs. 22.6), EC-related outpatient visits (14.5 vs. 3.0), and all-cause hospitalizations (1.3 vs. 0.4) than non-recurrent patients, and an excess of $84,562 and $62,128 in all-cause and EC-related annual costs, predominantly driven by hospitalizations. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings highlight the considerable clinical and economic burden experienced by patients with high-risk EC experiencing recurrence and emphasize the unmet need for novel therapies in early settings to mitigate this burden.

Probabilistic health risk assessment of primary aromatic amines in polyamide cooking utensils in China by Monte Carlo simulation.

The migration of primary aromatic amines (PAAs) from food contact materials raises significant public health concerns. In this study, the migration levels of 26 PAAs were analyzed in 242 nylon cooking utensils using ultra-performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry. A total of 18 PAAs were detected, of which 14 were quantified, with 4,4'-diaminodiphenylmethane (4,4'-MDA) and aniline being the most prevalent ones. The compliance rates for nylon kitchenware were similar under both legislation of European Commission (76.9%) and Chinese legislation (77.9%). Probabilistic non-carcinogenic and carcinogenic risk assessment were conducted using Monte Carlo simulation, with read-across approach applied to fill the gap of toxicity data. The hazard quotients for 18 PAAs were calculated, revealing that 17 PAAs (excluding 4,4'-MDA) had acceptable hazard quotients (<1). Lifetime cancer risks for 17 PAAs were determined, with 15 PAAs (excluding benzidine and 4,4'-MDA) showing acceptable cancer risks (<10-4). The study suggests that the non-carcinogenic and carcinogenic health risks posed by PAAs migrating from FCMs can be effectively mitigated by promptly identifying non-compliant products and reducing exposure to high-risk PAAs such as 4,4'-MDA and benzidine. Enhancing the understanding of PAA hazard characterization and implementing measures to minimize health risks associated with PAA migration from FCMs is hence recommended.

WWOX-related epileptic encephalopathy caused by a novel mutation in the WWOX gene: a case report.

Background: WWOX-related epileptic encephalopathy is an autosomal recessive disorder caused by mutations in the WW-containing oxidoreductase gene, characterized by the onset of refractory seizures in infants. Early-onset epilepsy, electroencephalography abnormalities, and developmental delay or degeneration are the main clinical manifestations. Early death can occur in severe cases. In the present study, a novel variant in WWOX was detected in a patient with epilepsy and his healthy parents. Case presentation: A 5-month-old boy presented with epilepsy. The main manifestations were intractable seizures, mental and motor retardation and hearing impairment. Subsequent genetic testing revealed the presence of an epilepsy-associated novel mutation: c.991C>A (amino acid change: p.Ser304Tyr) in the WWOX gene. Variants were inherited from parents with healthy phenotypes. Finally, a patient died at 6 months of age. Conclusion: The discovery of novel variants has enriched the existing database of WWOX gene variants and may expand the range of clinical options for treating WWOX-related disorders.

Mesenchymal stromal cells deliver H2S-enhanced Nrf2 via extracellular vesicles to mediate mitochondrial homeostasis for repairing hypoxia-ischemia brain damage.

Mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs) are considered a therapeutic approach for neurological diseases via extracellular vesicles (EVs). Modified EVs contain active components with enhanced therapeutic potential. In this study, we aimed to explore the role and underlying mechanism of EVs from MSCs preconditioned by NaHS (an Hydrogen sulfide donor) (H2S-EVs) in hypoxia-ischemia (HI) brain damage. Our results showed that H2S-EVs treatment via the non-invasive intranasal route in HI mice was able to reduce oxidative stress and mitochondrial dysfunction compared to EVs treatment. Mechanistic studies demonstrated that NaHS promoted nuclear factor erythroid-2 related factor 2 (Nrf2) expression in the cytoplasm by inducing Parkinson disease protein 7 (PARK7)-dependent disintegration of Nrf2/Keap-1 complex in MSCs. In particular, the free Nrf2 was loaded into the EVs as a result of its KFERQ motif being recognized by 70-kDa heat shock proteins and lysosomal-associated membrane protein 2A. Subsequently, H2S-EVs were internalized into neurons in the ipsilateral hemisphere, thus delivering abundant Nrf2 to accumulate in the mitochondria and remodeling mitochondrial function following H2S-EVs treatment in HI mice. Moreover, Nrf2 knockdown in MSCs remarkably impaired H2S-EVs-mediated therapeutic effects on HI mice. In brief, the present study for the first time demonstrated that H2S-modified MSCs significantly accumulated higher Nrf2 in EVs via upregulating PARK7 expression, revealing the mechanism through which antioxidant protein Nrf2 delivered by H2S-EVs protect against mitochondrial dysfunction in HI brain damage.

The Effects of Two Kinds of Gargles on Oral Mucositis in Patients After Allogeneic Stem Cell Transplantation.

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to compare the effects of two kinds of gargles (Koushu & Koutai) on oral mucositis (OM) in patients with agranulocytosis. METHODS: One hundred eighty patients who underwent allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation in the Peking University Institute of Hematology were enrolled from March 2018 to January 2019. The subjects were randomly divided into two groups by random number table. The observation group gargled with Koushu gargle, whereas the control group gargled with Koutai gargle. Patients in both groups used 10 to 15 mL of gargles for 2 minutes when awake in the morning, 30 minutes after each meal, and before sleep. The two groups used the same way to gargle except the types of gargle used. The difference of incidence, grade, healing time, and pain grade of oral mucositis were analyzed. RESULTS: The incidence of oral mucositis in the observation group was significantly lower than that in the control group (P < .01).There were no significant difference in grade of OM, healing time, or pain grade between the two groups (P > .05). The effect of the Koushu gargle on the prevention of OM among the patients with agranulocytosis is better than that of the Koutai gargle. The Koushu gargle is better suited than the Koutai gargle as a prevention and treatment option for the patients.

Caffeine intake from foods and beverages and trends among Chinese children and adolescents: 2004-2018.

BACKGROUND: The popularity of caffeinated foods and beverages poses risks of high caffeine exposure among Chinese children and adolescents. Nevertheless, there is a lack of national assessments on their caffeine consumption. OBJECTIVE: To estimate daily caffeine intake and analyze time trends among Chinese children and adolescents. METHODS: The study subjects were participants of the China Health and Nutrition Survey in 2004, 2006, 2009 and 2011, and the National Food and Beverage Consumption Survey in 2014 and 2018. Caffeine content was determined using chromatographic instrument. The Monte Carlo simulation was utilized to estimate daily caffeine intake and the Kruskal-Wallis test was used to analyze differences between population characteristics. To examine yearly trends in caffeine intake from 2004 to 2018, the partial Mann-Kendall test was applied. RESULTS: The median daily caffeine intake of Chinese children and adolescents was 0.17 (95%CI: 0.15-0.20) mg/kg BW/day. Main contributors were tea (55.52%), sodas (19.52%) and tea beverages (10.37%). Approximately 4.68% of individuals consumed caffeine exceeding 2.5 mg/kg BW/day. Higher caffeine intake was observed in adolescents aged 12-17 years, males, and consumers residing in northeastern China. While no significant overall yearly trends in caffeine intake were detected from 2004 to 2018, there was an increase in intake driven by beverage consumption between 2006 and 2014. CONCLUSION: This study provided a national assessment of caffeine consumption among Chinese children and adolescents. Caffeinated beverages like tea, soda, and tea beverages emerged as major contributors to caffeine intake. These findings could contribute to the regulation of caffeine consumption and the promotion of healthy habits among children and adolescents.

Precise Electrocatalysis on Fe-Porphyrin Conjugated Networks Achieves Energy-Efficient Extraction of Uranium.

Electrochemical extraction has the potential to enhance uranium (U) extraction capacity and rates, but thus far, high selectivity and energy efficiency have not been achieved through the design of electrode materials. Herein, a precise electrocatalysis strategy is developed using a Ferrum (Fe) porphyrin-phenanthroline conjugated network (Fe@PDACN) for energy-efficient uranium extraction. The phenanthroline provides specific binding sites for selective enrichment of U(VI) at active sites (Kd = 2.79 × 105 mL g-1 in multi-ion solution). The Fe(II) sites have strong trap-redox activity for U(VI) and act as dynamic electron donors to rapidly mediate electrocatalytic U(VI) extraction through the redox reaction of Fe(0/II)/Fe(III). Moreover, the Fe-porphyrin blocks support sustained electron donation for U(VI) electrocatalysis by pre-storing electrons. These features enable selective uranium capture and a high electroextraction capacity of 24 646.3 mg g-1 from simulated nuclear wastewater in 280 h at a low voltage of -1.5 V. An ultra-high Faraday efficiency of 90.1% is achieved, and the energy cost is 3.22 × 10-2 $ kg-1 U, significantly lower than the previously reported materials. This work provides a highly efficient strategy for uranium extraction from water.

Diagnostic value of serum GDF-15 in patients with pseudomyxoma peritonei.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Pseudomyxoma peritonei (PMP) is a rare malignancy that lacks a highly sensitive and specific biomarker for its diagnosis. Identifying reliable serum markers is crucial for improving the diagnostic accuracy and management of PMP. This study aims to explore the diagnostic value of serum growth differentiation factor 15 (GDF-15) in patients with PMP. MATERIAL AND METHODS: We carried on a 1:1 matched case-control study. 44 patients with PMP hospitalized in Aerospace Center Hospital were recruited as cases, and 44 sex- and age-matched apparently healthy participants were selected as controls. The serum GDF-15 concentrations were tested using an ELISA method. The diagnostic value of GDF-15 in PMP patients was assessed by receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis. RESULTS: The median serum GDF-15 level in PMP patients was 1192.77 (843.03-1879.06) pg/mL, notably higher than that in healthy controls [533.27 (410.46-641.47) pg/mL] (P<0.001). The area under the curve (AUC) of serum GDF-15 for PMP diagnosis was 0.907, the optimal diagnostic threshold value was 644.58 pg/mL, the sensitivity was 93.18 %, and the specificity was 77.27 %. The AUC of GDF-15 combined with carbohydrate antigen 125 (CA125) was larger than that of GDF-15 alone (P=0.027), and the sensitivity and specificity achieved 86.36 % and 95.45 %. GDF-15 levels showed a significant correlation with age (P=0.042), with younger PMP patients exhibiting notably lower concentrations of GDF-15 compared to older patients. CONCLUSION: Serum GDF-15 could become a new marker for the PMP diagnosis. The combination of GDF-15 and CA125 demonstrated superior diagnostic performance for PMP compared to GDF-15 alone, achieving a sensitivity of 86.36% and a specificity of 95.45%.

Solar transpiration-powered lithium extraction and storage.

Lithium mining is energy intensive and environmentally costly. This is because lithium ions are typically present in brines as a minor component mixed with physiochemically similar cations that are difficult to separate. Inspired by nature's ability to selectively extract species in transpiration, we report a solar transpiration-powered lithium extraction and storage (STLES) device that can extract and store lithium from brines using natural sunlight. Specifically, the device uses a hierarchically structured solar transpirational evaporator to create a pressure gradient, which allows for the extraction of lithium from brines through a membrane and its storage in a vascular storage layer. Long-term experiments, various membrane tests, and different size assessments demonstrate the stability, compatibility, and scalability of STLES. This solar-powered mining technology provides an alternative developing pathway toward the sustainable extraction of critical resources.

Performance studies of an ultrafast gamma Cherenkov imaging Screen based on Silica fibers array.

High-energy gamma rays produced in inertial confinement fusion (ICF) experiments are crucial for studying implosion dynamics. These gamma rays, characterized by their extremely short durations, represent the least disturbed products of fusion, preserving vital birth information. To detect such γ-rays, ultrafast radiation detectors with high time resolution are necessary. This study introduces a newly developed Cherenkov optical image screen designed for ultra-fast gamma-ray imaging. Composed of pure quartz fiber material, the imaging screen features a single fiber pixel size of 0.6 mm and a thickness of 3 cm. Theoretical investigations explore the luminous time response and efficiency of the Cherenkov optical imaging screen under gamma-ray irradiation. Experimental validation was conducted using a steady-state gamma-ray source with an average energy of 1.25 MeV. Results demonstrate that the image screen achieves a spatial resolution limit of 0.75 mm. The temporal response exhibits a full width at half maximum of less than 0.4 ns when excited by a high-energy electron beam with a single pulse duration of several picoseconds.

A Preliminary Study Using High-Frequency Ultrasound to Evaluate Vulvar Skin With Lichenoid Vulvar Dermatoses.

BACKGROUND: Lichenoid vulvar dermatoses (LVD) are inflammatory diseases primarily affecting the vulva and anus. This study aims to evaluate the skin changes in patients with LVD using high-frequency ultrasound. METHODS: Forty-five patients with LVD, who attended Henan Provincial People's Hospital from November 2021 to March 2024, were selected. According to the pathological conclusions, patients were divided into two groups: the vulvar lichen sclerosus (VLS) group (n = 24) and the vulvar lichen simplex chronicus (VLSC) group (n = 21). Thirty age- and BMI-matched healthy women were selected as the control group. We assessed the epidermal thickness, subepidermal low echogenic band (SLEB) thickness, dermal thickness, and vascular index (VI) among the three groups. Receiver operating characteristic curve (ROC) analysis was performed to determine the diagnostic efficacy of these ultrasound parameters for LVD. Binary logistic regression was used to investigate risk factors influencing LVD pathology in VLS patients. RESULTS: Epidermal thickness, SLEB thickness, dermal thickness, and VI were increased in the VLS and VLSC groups compared to the control group (p < 0.05). There were no statistically significant differences in ultrasound parameters between the VLS and VLSC groups (p > 0.05). The ROC curves showed that the area under the curve (AUC) value for the dermis (AUC = 0.882) was the largest for VLS, and VI (AUC = 0.917), it was the largest for VLSC. Binary logistic regression indicated that having an allergic disease was a risk factor for VLS between VLS and VLSC groups (OR = 6.797, p = 0.028). CONCLUSION: High-frequency ultrasound can detect thickening of the skin and increasing VI in patients with LVD, which can be helpful in the evaluation and management of LVD.

Schisandrol A Alleviates Allergic Asthma in Mice via Regulating the NF-κB/IκBα and Nrf2/HO-1 Signaling Pathways.

Schisandra chinensis (Turcz) Baill (S. chinensis) is the key traditional Chinese medicine for the treatment of asthma used by ancient and modern medical practitioners. However, the material basis and the main mechanism of its antiasthmatic effect remain unclear. Our preliminary results showed that schisandrol A (SCA), a representative monomer of Schisandra lignans, had the best relaxation effect on tracheal rings in isolated rats. In this research, a mouse asthma model was prepared by combining ovalbumin (OVA) with Al (OH)3 for exploring the antiasthmatic action and the underlying mechanism of SCA. The study results demonstrated that SCA improved the behavior of mice with asthma and pathological changes in their lung tissues and airways, decreased serum immunoglobulin E (IgE) and OVA-IgE levels, interleukin-4 (IL-4), IL-5, IL-13, and eotaxin contents, and leukocytes number in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid. SCA downregulated the gene expressions of keratinocyte-derived protein chemokines and ILs and reduced the expressions of phosphorylated IκB kinase α (p-IKKα) and p-nuclear factor kappa-B (NF-κB) proteins in lung tissues. In addition, it was found that SCA could significantly increase T-superoxide dismutase and catalase activities, decrease malondialdehyde content, and elevate p-IκBα, NF-E2-related-factor 2 (Nrf2), and heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) protein expressions. In summary, SCA treatment resulted in a significant improvement in the allergic bronchial asthma in mice, and its mechanisms may involve the regulation of the NF-κB/IκBα pathway to reduce inflammatory response and the Nrf2/HO-1 pathway to improve the body's antioxidant capacity. These results suggest that SCA is a key component of S. chinensis in exerting antiasthmatic effects.

Effect of Sulfur Modification on Structural and Electrochemical Performance of Pitch-Based Carbon Materials for Lithium/Sodium Ion Batteries.

Coal tar pitch (CTP) has become an ideal choice in the preparation of anode precursors for lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) and sodium-ion batteries (SIBs) because of its abundant carbon content, competitive pricing and adjustable structure properties. In this paper, sulfurized pitch-based carbon (SPC-800) was obtained by allowing CTP to react with sulfur at 350 °C and subsequently achieve carbonization at 800 °C. SPC-800 was more disordered and had a larger layer spacing than carbonized CTP (PC-800). Upon utilization as an anode for LIBs, SPC-800 possessed a higher reversible specific capacity (478.1 mAh g-1 at 0.1 A g-1), while utilization in SIBs displayed a capacity of 220.9 mAh g-1 at 20 mA g-1. This work is an important guide to the design of high-performance anodes suitable for use with both LIBs and SIBs.