A controllable Y-shaped DNA structure assisted aptasensor for the simultaneous detection of AFB1 and OTA based on ARGET ATRP.

The development of a simple, rapid, and sensitive technology for the simultaneous detection of mycotoxins is of great significance in ensuring the safety of foods and drugs. Herein, a fluorescence aptasensor with high sensitivity and reproducibility for the simultaneous detection of aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) and ochratoxin A (OTA) was developed. In this sensing system, AFB1 and OTA aptamers were co-immobilized on the surface of magnetic beads (MBs) to form a Y-shaped structure through the principle of complementary base pairing, and were used as recognition probes to specifically capture the target. Activators regenerated by electron transfer for atom transfer radical polymerization (ARGET ATRP) was used as a signal amplification strategy to improve the sensitivity. The initiator modified at the end of an antibody initiates the ARGET ATRP reaction. Different fluorescence signals were designed to achieve the simultaneous detection of OTA and AFB1 with limits of 426.18 and 79.55 fg mL-1 for AFB1 and OTA, respectively. In addition, experiments were conducted on three types of samples, and the recoveries of the two mycotoxins ranged from 87.30% to 109.50%, with relative standard deviations ranging from 0.50% to 4.92% under reproducible conditions. The results suggest that the developed aptasensor is sufficient to meet the different regulatory requirements of the two mycotoxins in food and drug safety and shows great potential.

Ganoderma lucidum spore extract improves sleep disturbances in a rat model of sporadic Alzheimer's disease.

Introduction: Ganoderma lucidum (G. lucidum, Lingzhi) has long been listed as a premium tonic that can be used to improve restlessness, insomnia, and forgetfulness. We previously reported that a rat model of sporadic Alzheimer's disease (sAD) that was induced by an intracerebroventricular injection of streptozotocin (ICV-STZ) showed significant learning and cognitive deficits and sleep disturbances. Treatment with a G. lucidum spore extract with the sporoderm removed (RGLS) prevented learning and memory impairments in sAD model rats. Method: The present study was conducted to further elucidate the preventive action of RGLS on sleep disturbances in sAD rats by EEG analysis, immunofluorescence staining, HPLC-MS/MS and Western blot. Results: Treatment with 720 mg/kg RGLS for 14 days significantly improved the reduction of total sleep time, rapid eye movement (REM) sleep time, and non-REM sleep time in sAD rats. The novelty recognition experiment further confirmed that RGLS prevented cognitive impairments in sAD rats. We also found that RGLS inhibited the nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB)/Nod-like receptor family pyrin domain-containing 3 (NLRP3) inflammatory pathway in the medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC) in sAD rats and ameliorated the lower activity of γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA)-ergic neurons in the parabrachial nucleus (PBN). Discussion: These results suggest that inhibiting the neuroinflammatory response in the mPFC may be a mechanism by which RGLS improves cognitive impairment. Additionally, improvements in PBN-GABAergic activity and the suppression of neuroinflammation in the mPFC in sAD rats might be a critical pathway to explain the preventive effects of RGLS on sleep disturbances in sAD.

Survival benefit from adjuvant TACE combined with Lenvatinib for patients with hepatocellular carcinoma and microvascular invasion after curative hepatectomy.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: The prognosis of patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) undergoing hepatectomy is unsatisfactory, especially for those with microvascular invasion (MVI). This study aimed to determine the impact of adjuvant transcatheter arterial chemoembolization (TACE) and Lenvatinib on the prognosis of patients with HCC and MVI after hepatectomy. METHODS: Patients diagnosed with HCC and MVI were reviewed, and stratified into four groups according to adjuvant TACE and/or Lenvatinib. Multivariate Cox regression analyses are used to determine independent risk factors. RESULTS: 346 patients were included, and divided into four groups (Group I, TACE+ Lenvatinib; Group II, Lenvatinib; Group III, TACE; Group IV, without adjuvant therapy). Multivariable analysis showed that compared to Group IV, Group I had the best effect on improving the overall survival (OS, HR 0.321, 95%CI 0.099-0.406, P = 0.001) and recurrence-free survival (RFS, HR 0.319, 95%CI 0.129-0.372, P = 0.001). Additionally, compared with Group II or Group III, Group I also can significantly improve the OS and RFS. There is no significant difference between Group II and Group III in OS and RFS. CONCLUSION: The combination of TACE and Lenvatinib should be considered for anti-recurrence therapy for patients with HCC and MVI after hepatectomy.

Accelerated infected wound healing by probiotic-based living microneedles with long-acting antibacterial effect.

Delays in infected wound healing are usually a result of bacterial infection and local inflammation, which imposes a significant and often underappreciated burden on patients and society. Current therapies for chronic wound infection generally suffer from limited drug permeability and frequent drug administration, owing to the existence of a wound biofilm that acts as a barrier restricting the entry of various antibacterial drugs. Here, we report the design of a biocompatible probiotic-based microneedle (MN) patch that can rapidly deliver beneficial bacteria to wound tissues with improved delivery efficiency. The probiotic is capable of continuously producing antimicrobial substances by metabolizing introduced glycerol, thereby facilitating infected wound healing through long-acting antibacterial and anti-inflammatory effects. Additionally, the beneficial bacteria can remain highly viable (>80 %) inside MNs for as long as 60 days at 4 °C. In a mouse model of Staphylococcus aureus-infected wounds, a single administration of the MN patch exhibited superior antimicrobial efficiency and wound healing performance in comparison with the control groups, indicating great potential for accelerating infected wound closure. Further development of live probiotic-based MN patches may enable patients to better manage chronically infected wounds.

Anterior segment features in neovascular glaucoma: An ultrasound biomicroscopy study.

PURPOSES: To investigate the features of the anterior segment structures in neovascular glaucoma (NVG) and analyze its differences from primary angle-closure glaucoma (PACG). METHODS: This study included patients who were first diagnosed with monocular NVG and PACG at the Affiliated Eye Hospital of Nanchang University during August 2019 to June 2022. Ultrasound biomicroscopy (UBM) was used to measure the anterior segment parameters of those eyes, including anterior chamber depth (ACD), anterior chamber width (ACW), anterior chamber area (ACA), iris area (IA), maximum iris thickness (ITMAX), middle iris thickness (ITMID), iris curvature (IC), lens vault (LV), angle opening distance (AOD500), trabecular iris angle (TIA500), trabecular-iris space area (TISA500) and peripheral anterior synechia (PAS) length. RESULTS: In this study, paired samples t-test showed that IA [1.170(0.324) mm2], ITMAX [0.368(0.079) mm], ITMID [0.280(0.062) mm] and IC [0.147(0.037) mm] of NVG were smaller than F-NVG [2.058(0.195) mm2, 0.611(0.045) mm, 0.415(0.049) mm and 0.272(0.077) mm], the AOD500, TIA500, and TISA500 of NVG were also smaller than F-NVG. Independent samples t-test showed that ACD [2.349(0.350) mm] and ACA [16.326(3.547) mm2] of NVG were larger than PACG [1.971(0.240) mm, 12.030(1.860) mm2], but the IA [1.170(0.324) mm2], ITMAX [0.368(0.079) mm], ITMID [0.280(0.062) mm], IC [0.147(0.037) mm] and LV [0.436(0.172 mm)] were smaller than PACG [1.740(0.294) mm2, 0.548(0.084) mm, 0.404(0.065) mm, 0.283(0.060) mm and 0.737(0.196) mm]. Among the 16 patients with 360° angle-closure NVG, the PAS length was 0.834 (0.326) mm, which exceeded the Schwalbe line. CONCLUSION: In NVG, the iris is atrophied, thinned, and straight, while the ACD is normal or slightly shallow. In 360° angle-closure NVG, the PAS length exceeds the Schwalbe line, presenting a pseudo angle phenomenon and a hockey stick sign. Notably, the anterior segment structure morphology of NVG exhibit differences from those of PACG.

Postovulatory Aging of Mouse Oocytes Impairs Offspring Behavior by Causing Oxidative Stress and Damaging Mitochondria.

Information on long-term effects of postovulatory oocyte aging (POA) on offspring is limited. Whether POA affects offspring by causing oxidative stress (OS) and mitochondrial damage is unknown. Here, in vivo-aged (IVA) mouse oocytes were collected 9 h after ovulation, while in vitro-aged (ITA) oocytes were obtained by culturing freshly ovulated oocytes for 9 h in media with low, moderate, or high antioxidant potential. Oocytes were fertilized in vitro and blastocysts transferred to produce F1 offspring. F1 mice were mated with naturally bred mice to generate F2 offspring. Both IVA and the ITA groups in low antioxidant medium showed significantly increased anxiety-like behavior and impaired spatial and fear learning/memory and hippocampal expression of anxiolytic and learning/memory-beneficial genes in both male and female F1 offspring. Furthermore, the aging in both groups increased OS and impaired mitochondrial function in oocytes, blastocysts, and hippocampus of F1 offspring; however, it did not affect the behavior of F2 offspring. It is concluded that POA caused OS and damaged mitochondria in aged oocytes, leading to defects in anxiety-like behavior and learning/memory of F1 offspring. Thus, POA is a crucial factor that causes psychological problems in offspring, and antioxidant measures may be taken to ameliorate the detrimental effects of POA on offspring.

OsEIL2 balances rice immune responses against (hemi)biotrophic and necrotrophic pathogens via the salicylic acid and jasmonic acid synergism.

Plants typically activate distinct defense pathways against various pathogens. Heightened resistance to one pathogen often coincides with increased susceptibility to another pathogen. However, the underlying molecular basis of this antagonistic response remains unclear. Here, we demonstrate that mutants defective in the transcription factor ETHYLENE-INSENSITIVE 3-LIKE 2 (OsEIL2) exhibited enhanced resistance to the biotrophic bacterial pathogen Xanthomonas oryzae pv oryzae and to the hemibiotrophic fungal pathogen Magnaporthe oryzae, but enhanced susceptibility to the necrotrophic fungal pathogen Rhizoctonia solani. Furthermore, necrotroph-induced OsEIL2 binds to the promoter of OsWRKY67 with high affinity, leading to the upregulation of salicylic acid (SA)/jasmonic acid (JA) pathway genes and increased SA/JA levels, ultimately resulting in enhanced resistance. However, biotroph- and hemibiotroph-induced OsEIL2 targets OsERF083, resulting in the inhibition of SA/JA pathway genes and decreased SA/JA levels, ultimately leading to reduced resistance. Our findings unveil a previously uncharacterized defense mechanism wherein two distinct transcriptional regulatory modules differentially mediate immunity against pathogens with different lifestyles through the transcriptional reprogramming of phytohormone pathway genes.

Ocular A-to-I RNA editing signatures associated with SARS-CoV-2 infection.

Ophthalmic manifestations have recently been observed in acute and post-acute complications of COVID-19 caused by SARS-CoV-2 infection. Our precious study has shown that host RNA editing is linked to RNA viral infection, yet ocular adenosine to inosine (A-to-I) RNA editing during SARS-CoV-2 infection remains uninvestigated in COVID-19. Herein we used an epitranscriptomic pipeline to analyze 37 samples and investigate A-to-I editing associated with SARS-CoV-2 infection, in five ocular tissue types including the conjunctiva, limbus, cornea, sclera, and retinal organoids. Our results revealed dramatically altered A-to-I RNA editing across the five ocular tissues. Notably, the transcriptome-wide average level of RNA editing was increased in the cornea but generally decreased in the other four ocular tissues. Functional enrichment analysis showed that differential RNA editing (DRE) was mainly in genes related to ubiquitin-dependent protein catabolic process, transcriptional regulation, and RNA splicing. In addition to tissue-specific RNA editing found in each tissue, common RNA editing was observed across different tissues, especially in the innate antiviral immune gene MAVS and the E3 ubiquitin-protein ligase MDM2. Analysis in retinal organoids further revealed highly dynamic RNA editing alterations over time during SARS-CoV-2 infection. Our study thus suggested the potential role played by RNA editing in ophthalmic manifestations of COVID-19, and highlighted its potential transcriptome impact, especially on innate immunity.

The rice E3 ubiquitin ligase-transcription factor module targets two trypsin inhibitors to enhance broad-spectrum disease resistance.

Broad-spectrum disease resistance (BSR) is crucial for controlling plant diseases and relies on immune signals that are subject to transcriptional and post-translational regulation. How plants integrate and coordinate these signals remains unclear. We show here that the rice really interesting new gene (RING)-type E3 ubiquitin ligase OsRING113 targets APIP5, a negative regulator of plant immunity and programmed cell death (PCD), for 26S proteasomal degradation. The osring113 mutants in Nipponbare exhibited decreased BSR, while the overexpressing OsRING113 plants showed enhanced BSR against Magnaporthe oryzae (M. oryzae) and Xanthomonas oryzae pv. oryzae (Xoo). Furthermore, APIP5 directly suppressed the transcription of the Bowman-Birk trypsin inhibitor genes OsBBTI5 and AvrPiz-t-interacting protein 4 (APIP4). Overexpression of these two genes, which are partially required for APIP5-mediated PCD and disease resistance, conferred BSR. OsBBTI5 and APIP4 associated with and stabilized the pathogenesis-related protein OsPR1aL, which promotes M. oryzae resistance. Our results identify an immune module with integrated and coordinated hierarchical regulations that confer BSR in plants.

Pt-S Bond-Enabled Temperature-Dependent Phosphorescence in S-Heteroaryl Tetradentate Pt(S

This study presents the rare examples of S-heteroaryl tetradentate Pt(S^C^N^O) luminescent complexes (PtSZ and PtSZtBu) containing a Pt-S bond. The presence of the Pt-S bond allows the novel Pt(S^C^N^O) complexes to exhibit temperature-dependent phosphorescent emission behavior. The PtSZtBu exhibits dual-emission phenomena and biexponential transient decay spectra above 250 K, indicating the presence of two minimal excited states in the potential energy surface (PES) of the T1 state. Through complementary experimental and computational studies, we have identified changes in orbital composition between Pt(dxy)-S(px) and Pt(dyz)-S(pz) in excited states with increasing temperature. This results in two energy minima, enabling the excited states to decay selectively and radiatively at different temperatures. Consequently, this leads to remarkable steady-state and transient emission spectra changes. Our work not only provides valuable insights for the development of novel Pt-S bond-based tetradentate Pt(II) complexes but also enhances our understanding of the distinctive properties governed by the Pt-S bond.

[Percutaneous pedicle screw anchored vertebral augmentation for the treatment of Kümmell disease without neurological symptoms].

OBJECTIVE: To explore the clinical effect of percutaneous pedicle screw anchored vertebral augmentation(PPSAVA) in the treatment of asymptomatic Kümmell disease without neurological symptoms. METHODS: The clinical data of 20 patients with Kümmell disease without neurological symptoms treated with PPSAVA in our hospital from January 2019 to December 2021 were analyzed retrospectively, including 5 males and 15 females, aged 56 to 88 (74.95±9.93) years old. and the course of disease was 7 to 60 days with an average of (21.35±14.46) days. All patients were treated with PPSAVA. The time of operation, the amount of bone cement injected and the leakage of bone cement were recorded. The visual analogue scale(VAS), Oswestry disability index(ODI), vertebral body angle(VBA), anterior edge height and midline height of vertebral body were compared among the before operation, 3 days after operation and during the final follow-up. The loosening and displacement of bone cement were observed during the final follow-up. RESULTS: All the 20 patients completed the operation successfully. The operation time was 30 to 56 min with an average of (41.15±7.65) min, and the amount of bone cement injection was 6.0 to 12.0 ml with an average of (9.30±1.49) ml. Bone cement leakage occurred in 6 cases and there were no obvious clinical symptoms. The follow-up time was 6 to 12 months with an average of (8.43±2.82) months. The VBA, anterior edge height and midline height of of injured vertebral body were significantly improved 3 days after operation and the final follow-up(P<0.05), and the VBA, anterior edge height and midline height of of injured vertebral body were lost in different degrees at the final follow-up (P<0.05). The VAS and ODI at 3 days after operation and at the final follow-up were significantly lower than those at preoperatively(P<0.05), but the VAS score and ODI at the final follow-up were not significantly different from those at 3 d after operation(P>0.05). At the last follow-up, no patients showed loosening or displacement of bone cement. CONCLUSION: PPSAVA is highly effective in treating Kümmell disease without neurological symptoms, improving patients' pain and functional impairment, and reducing the risk of cement loosening and displacement postoperatively.

Atomic Design of Copper Active Sites in Pristine Metal-Organic Coordination Compounds for Electrocatalytic Carbon Dioxide Reduction.

Electrocatalytic carbon dioxide reduction reaction (CO2RR) has emerged as a promising and sustainable approach to cut carbon emissions by converting greenhouse gas CO2 to value-added chemicals and fuels. Metal-organic coordination compounds, especially the copper (Cu)-based coordination compounds, which feature well-defined crystalline structures and designable metal active sites, have attracted much research attention in electrocatalytic CO2RR. Herein, the recent advances of electrochemical CO2RR on pristine Cu-based coordination compounds with different types of Cu active sites are reviewed. First, the general reaction pathways of electrocatalytic CO2RR on Cu-based coordination compounds are briefly introduced. Then the highly efficient conversion of CO2 on various kinds of Cu active sites (e.g., single-Cu site, dimeric-Cu site, multi-Cu site, and heterometallic site) is systematically discussed, along with the corresponding catalytic reaction mechanisms. Finally, some existing challenges and potential opportunities for this research direction are provided to guide the rational design of metal-organic coordination compounds for their practical application in electrochemical CO2RR.

Immune checkpoint inhibitors and anti-vascular endothelial growth factor antibody/tyrosine kinase inhibitors with or without transarterial chemoembolization as first-line treatment for advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (CHANCE2201): a target trial emulation study.

Background: The role of transarterial chemoembolization (TACE) in the treatment of advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is unconfirmed. This study aimed to assess the efficacy and safety of immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) plus anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (anti-VEGF) antibody/tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) with or without TACE as first-line treatment for advanced HCC. Methods: This nationwide, multicenter, retrospective cohort study included advanced HCC patients receiving either TACE with ICIs plus anti-VEGF antibody/TKIs (TACE-ICI-VEGF) or only ICIs plus anti-VEGF antibody/TKIs (ICI-VEGF) from January 2018 to December 2022. The study design followed the target trial emulation framework with stabilized inverse probability of treatment weighting (sIPTW) to minimize biases. The primary outcome was overall survival (OS). Secondary outcomes included progression-free survival (PFS), objective response rate (ORR), and safety. The study is registered with ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT05332821. Findings: Among 1244 patients included in the analysis, 802 (64.5%) patients received TACE-ICI-VEGF treatment, and 442 (35.5%) patients received ICI-VEGF treatment. The median follow-up time was 21.1 months and 20.6 months, respectively. Post-application of sIPTW, baseline characteristics were well-balanced between the two groups. TACE-ICI-VEGF group exhibited a significantly improved median OS (22.6 months [95% CI: 21.2-23.9] vs 15.9 months [14.9-17.8]; P < 0.0001; adjusted hazard ratio [aHR] 0.63 [95% CI: 0.53-0.75]). Median PFS was also longer in TACE-ICI-VEGF group (9.9 months [9.1-10.6] vs 7.4 months [6.7-8.5]; P < 0.0001; aHR 0.74 [0.65-0.85]) per Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumours (RECIST) version 1.1. A higher ORR was observed in TACE-ICI-VEGF group, by either RECIST v1.1 or modified RECIST (41.2% vs 22.9%, P < 0.0001; 47.3% vs 29.7%, P < 0.0001). Grade ≥3 adverse events occurred in 178 patients (22.2%) in TACE-ICI-VEGF group and 80 patients (18.1%) in ICI-VEGF group. Interpretation: This multicenter study supports the use of TACE combined with ICIs and anti-VEGF antibody/TKIs as first-line treatment for advanced HCC, demonstrating an acceptable safety profile. Funding: National Natural Science Foundation of China, National Key Research and Development Program of China, Jiangsu Provincial Medical Innovation Center, Collaborative Innovation Center of Radiation Medicine of Jiangsu Higher Education Institutions, and Nanjing Life Health Science and Technology Project.

Effectiveness and safety of augmentative plating technique in managing nonunion following intramedullary nailing of long bones in the lower extremity: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

PURPOSE: To methodically assess the effectiveness of augmentative plating (AP) and exchange nailing (EN) in managing nonunion following intramedullary nailing for long bone fractures of the lower extremity. METHODS: PubMed, EMBASE, Web of Science, and the Cochrane Library were searched to gather clinical studies regarding the use of AP and EN techniques in the treatment of nonunion following intramedullary nailing of lower extremity long bones. The search was conducted up until May 2023. The original studies underwent an independent assessment of their quality, a process conducted utilizing the Newcastle-Ottawa scale. Data were retrieved from these studies, and meta-analysis was executed utilizing Review Manager 5.3. RESULTS: This meta-analysis included 8 studies involving 661 participants, with 305 in the AP group and 356 in the EN group. The results of the meta-analysis demonstrated that the AP group exhibited a higher rate of union (odds ratio: 8.61, 95% confidence intervals (CI): 4.12 - 17.99, p < 0.001), shorter union time (standardized mean difference (SMD): -1.08, 95 % CI: -1.79 - -0.37, p = 0.003), reduced duration of the surgical procedure (SMD: -0.56, 95 % CI: -0.93 - -0.19, p = 0.003), less bleeding (SMD: -1.5, 95 % CI: -2.81 - -0.18), p = 0.03), and a lower incidence of complications (relative risk: -0.17, 95 % CI: -0.27 - -0.06, p = 0.001). In the subgroup analysis, the time for union in the AP group in nonisthmal and isthmal nonunion of lower extremity long bones was shorter compared to the EN group (nonisthmal SMD: -1.94, 95 % CI: -3.28 - -0.61, p < 0.001; isthmal SMD: -1.08, 95 % CI: -1.64 - -0.52, p = 0.002). CONCLUSION: In the treatment of nonunion in diaphyseal fractures of the long bones in the lower extremity, the AP approach is superior to EN, both intraoperatively (with reduced duration of the surgical procedure and diminished blood loss) and postoperatively (with an elevated union rate, shorter union time, and lower incidence of complications). Specifically, in the management of nonunion of lower extremity long bones with non-isthmal and isthmal intramedullary nails, AP demonstrated shorter union time in comparison to EN.

Advanced Smart Biomaterials for Regenerative Medicine and Drug Delivery Based on Phosphoramidite Chemistry: From Oligonucleotides to Precision Polymers.

Over decades of development, while phosphoramidite chemistry has been known as the leading method in commercial synthesis of oligonucleotides, it has also revolutionized the fabrication of sequence-defined polymers (SDPs), offering novel functional materials in polymer science and clinical medicine. This review has introduced the evolution of phosphoramidite chemistry, emphasizing its development from the synthesis of oligonucleotides to the creation of universal SDPs, which have unlocked the potential for designing programmable smart biomaterials with applications in diverse areas including data storage, regenerative medicine and drug delivery. The key methodologies, functions, biomedical applications, and future challenges in SDPs, have also been summarized in this review, underscoring the significance of breakthroughs in precisely synthesized materials.

Sulfonamide disinfection byproducts exhibited severe toxicity to human commensal bacteria.

Many antibiotic disinfection byproducts have been detected but their toxicity has not been evaluated adequately. In this report, the chlorination reaction kinetics of five common sulfamides (SAs), reaction intermediates and their toxicity were investigated. Chlorination of sulfapyridine (SPD), sulfamethazine (SMT), sulfathiazole (STZ), and sulfisoxazole (SIZ) followed the second-order kinetics, and were degraded completely within 10 min. A large number of reaction intermediates were deteced by LC-MS, among which a total of 16 intermediates were detected for the first time. Toxicity of the five SAs chlorination solutions was evaluated separately by examining their effects on the growth rate of S. salivarius K12, a commensal bacterium in the human digestive system. After 30 min chlorination, solutions of SMT, STZ and sulfadiazine (SDZ) each exhibited severe toxicity by inhibiting the bacteria growth completely, whereas the inhibition was only 50 % and 20  % by SIZ and SPD respectively. Based on the comparison between toxicity test results and mass spectra, three SA chlorination intermediates, m/z 187.2 (C10H10N4), m/z 287.2 (C9H7N3O4S2) and m/z 215 (C7H10N4O2S/C12H14N4) were proposed to be the primary toxicants in the chlorination products. Our study demonstrated the power of combined approach of chemical analysis and toxicity testing in identifying toxic disinfection byproducts, and highlighted the ne ed for more research on the toxicity evaluation and risk assessment of antibiotic disinfection byproducts.

Enhancing simultaneous nitrogen and phosphorus availability through biochar addition during Chinese medicinal herbal residues composting: Synergism of microbes and humus.

The disposal of Chinese medicinal herbal residues (CMHRs) derived from Chinese medicine extraction poses a significant environmental challenge. Aerobic composting presents a sustainable treatment method, yet optimizing nutrient conversion remains a critical concern. This study investigated the effect and mechanism of biochar addition on nitrogen and phosphorus transformation to enhance the efficacy and quality of compost products. The findings reveal that incorporating biochar considerably enhanced the process of nutrient conversion. Specifically, biochar addition promoted the retention of bioavailable organic nitrogen and reduced nitrogen loss by 28.1 %. Meanwhile, adding biochar inhibited the conversion of available phosphorus to non-available phosphorus while enhancing its conversion to moderately available phosphorus, thereby preserving phosphorus availability post-composting. Furthermore, the inclusion of biochar altered microbial community structure and fostered organic matter retention and humus formation, ultimately affecting the modification of nitrogen and phosphorus forms. Structural equation modeling revealed that microbial community had a more pronounced impact on bioavailable organic nitrogen, while humic acid exerted a more significant effect on phosphorus availability. This research provides a viable approach and foundation for regulating the levels of nitrogen and phosphorus nutrients during composting, serving as a valuable reference for the development of sustainable utilization technologies pertaining to CMHRs.

A high-throughput differential scanning fluorimetry method for rapid detection of thermal stability and iron saturation in lactoferrin.

Thermal stability and iron saturation of lactoferrin (LF) are of great significance not only for the evaluation of the biological activities of LF but also for the optimization of the isolation and drying process parameters. Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) is a well-established and efficient method for thermal stability and iron saturation detection in LF. However, multiple DSC measurements are typically performed sequentially, thus time-consuming and low throughput. Herein, we introduced the differential scanning fluorimetry (DSF) approach to overcome such limitations. The DSF can monitor LF thermal unfolding with a commonly available real-time PCR instrument and a fluorescent dye (SYPRO orange or Glomelt), and the measured melting temperature of LF is consistent with that determined by DSC. On the basis of that, a new quantification method was established for determination of iron saturation levels using the linear correlation of the degree of ion saturation of LF with DSF measurements. Such DSF method is simple, inexpensive, rapid (<15 min), and high throughput (>96 samples per experiment), and provides a valuable alternative tool for thermal stability detection of LF and other whey proteins.

Behavioral toxicity and neurotoxic mechanisms of PLA-PBAT biodegradable microplastics in zebrafish.

Escalation of ecological concern due to biodegradable plastics has attracted the attention of many contemporary researchers. This study searched to investigate the acute and sub-chronic toxicity of polylactic acid (PLA) and polybutyleneadipate-co-terephthalate (PLA-PBAT) bio-microplastics on 3-month-old zebrafish to elucidate their potential toxic mechanisms. Acute toxicity assessments revealed 96 h-LC50 value of 12.69 mg/L for PLA-PBAT. Sub-chronic exposure of over 21 days revealed deviations in critical behavioral patterns and physiological indicators. In treated groups, weight gain and specific growth rates were significantly lower than those obtained for the control group, such that high doses induced significant reductions in total organ coefficient (p < 0.05). A positive correlation was observed between zebrafish mortality and increased doses. Detailed behavioral evaluations revealed a dose-dependent decrease in the speed and range of swimming, along with modifications in shoaling behavior, anxiety-like responses, and avoidance behaviors. Brain tissues transcriptomic analyses revealed the molecular responses underlying sub-chronic exposure to PLA-PBAT. Totally 702 DEGs and 5 KEGG pathways were significantly identified in low-dose group, with the top 2 significant pathways being ribosome pathway and cytokine-cytokine receptor interaction pathway. Totally 650 DEGs and 5 KEGG pathways were significantly identified in medium-dose group, with the top 2 significant pathways being Herpes simplex virus 1 infection pathway and complement and coagulation cascades pathway. Totally 1778 DEGs and 16 KEGG pathways were significantly identified in high-dose group, with the top 2 significant pathways being metabolism of xenobiotics by cytochrome P450 and drug metabolism - cytochrome P450 pathway. Most significantly enriched pathways are associated with immune responses. The validation of key gene in cytokine-cytokine receptor interaction pathway also confirmed its high correlation with behavioral indicators. These results indicate that PLA-PBAT is likely to cause behavioral abnormalities in zebrafish by triggering immune dysregulation in the brain.

Determining the effects of genetic linkage when using a combination of STR and SNP loci for kinship testing.

The pedigree likelihood ratio (LR) can be used for determining kinship in the forensic kinship testing. LR can be obtained by analyzing the DNA data of Short tandem repeat (STR) and single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) loci. With the advancement of biotechnology, increasing number of genetic markers have been identified, thereby expanding the pedigree range of kinship testing. Moreover, some of the loci are physically closer to each other and genetic linkage between loci is inevitable. LRs can be calculated by accounting for linkage or ignoring linkage (LRlinkage and LRignore, respectively). GeneVisa is a software for kinship testing (www.genevisa.net) and adopts the Lander-Green algorithm to deal with genetic linkage. Herein, we used the simulation program of the software GeneVisa to investigate the effects of genetic linkage on 1st-degree, 2nd-degree, and 3rd-degree kinship testing. We used this software to simulate LRlinkage and LRignore values based on 43 STRs and 134 SNPs in commercial kits by using the allele frequency rate and genetic distance data of the European population. The effects of linkage on LR distribution and LRs of routine cases were investigated by comparing the LRlinkage values with the LRignore values. Our results revealed that the linkage effect on LR distributions is small, but the effect on LRs of routine cases may be large. Moreover, the results indicated that the discriminatory power of genetic markers for kinship testing can be improved by accounting for linkage.