A retrospective study of irreversible electroporation for tumors adjacent to perihepatic important structure.

Background: Irreversible electroporation has been proved as a feasible and safe method against tumor in liver. However, few studies focused on tumors adjacent to perihepatic important structure like vessels, biliary system and gall bladder. These structures limit the effectiveness of conventional treatments. The aim of this article is to analyze the clinical outcomes of patients with hepatic tumors at the special sites who received IRE treatment and provide reliable evidence for broadening the scope of IRE's clinical application. Methods: The clinical information of patients who underwent IRE ablation for tumors adjacent to perihepatic important structure between February 2017 and December 2021 was collected and retrospectively analyzed. All patients underwent contrast-enhanced CT or MRI for further evaluation at the 1-month follow-up and every 3 months thereafter. Post-ablation complications, recurrence, progression-free survival and overall survival were evaluated to analyze the prognosis of IRE ablation adjacent to perihepatic important structure. Categorical variables are presented as numbers followed by percentages. Continuous data are presented as the mean ± deviation. The tumor size and IRE ablation size were evaluated by the maximum diameters. Results: Thirty-two patients who underwent IRE ablation for tumor adjacent to perihepatic important structure were studied in this research. There were 39 lesions in 32 patients treated with IRE ablation. Fourteen of them (35.9%) were located adjacent to the porta hepatis, and 8 of them (20.5%) were located adjacent to the hepatocaval confluence. Subcapsular lesions accounted for 15.4% (6 of 39 lesions). The other 11 lesions were in the para gallbladder (5 of 39 lesions, 12.8%), the caudate lobe (5 of 39 lesions, 12.8%) and the colonic hepatic flexure (1 of 39 lesions, 2.6%). According to the Clavien-Dindo classification system for complications, all relative patients with cancer experienced complications below class III except one patient who developed postoperative hemorrhagic shock and improved after timely treatment. Recurrence in situ was observed in 5 of 32 (15.6%) patients. The median PFS of the patients who received IRE ablation was 384 days, and the median OS was 571 days. Conclusion: IRE ablation is a feasible and safe treatment strategy for tumors adjacent to perihepatic important structure. With improved equipment, optimized therapeutic parameters and long-term clinical trials, IRE will play an increasingly important role in the treatment of tumors in liver.

Creating a blue-light-excitable, ultra-broadband and relatively long-wavelength near-infrared emission in Cr3+-activated garnet by controlling cationic disorder.

A series of garnet-type solid-solution materials, namely NaxCa3-2xGdxIn2Ge3O12:Cr3+ (0 ≤ x ≤ 1.5), were created by introducing cationic disorder into the dodecahedral site, and were found to exhibit a nearly unchanged excitation peak in the blue light region, a wide-range spectral tunability (800-905 nm) and an ultra-broadband spectral coverage (fwhmmax = 205 nm).

TRIM25 activates Wnt/ß-catenin signalling by destabilising MAT2A mRNA to drive thoracic aortic aneurysm development.

This study explored the roles of methionine adenosyltransferase 2A (MAT2A) and tripartite motif containing 25 (TRIM25) in the progression of thoracic aortic aneurysm (TAA). The TAA model was established based on the ß-aminopropionitrile method. The effects of MAT2A on thoracic aortic lesions and molecular levels were analyzed by several pathological staining assays (hematoxylin-eosin, Verhoeff-Van Gieson, TUNEL) and molecular biology experiments (qRT-PCR, Western blot). Angiotensin II (Ang-II) was used to induce injury in vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) in vitro. The effects of MAT2A, shMAT2A, shTRIM25 and/or Wnt inhibitor (IWR-1) on the viability, apoptosis and protein expressions of VSMCs were examined by CCK-8, Annexin V-FITC/PI and Western blot assays. In TAA mice, overexpression of MAT2A alleviated thoracic aortic injury, inhibited the aberrant expressions of aortic contractile proteins and dedifferentiation markers, and blocked the activation of Wnt/ß-catenin pathway. In Ang-II-induced VSMCs, up-regulation of MAT2A increased cellular activity and repressed the expression of ß-catenin protein. TRIM25 knockdown promoted activity of VSMCs, inhibited apoptosis, and blocked the Wnt/ß-catenin pathway activation by binding to MAT2A. IWR-1 partially counteracted the regulatory effects of shMAT2A. Collectively, TRIM25 destabilises the mRNA of MAT2A to activate Wnt/ß-catenin signaling and ultimately exacerbate TAA injury.

Serum leptin and adiponectin function as indicators of allergic sensitization in pediatric adenotonsillar hypertrophy.

PURPOSE: Obesity is commonly linked to both adenotonsillar hypertrophy (ATH) and allergic disorders, in which the roles of adipokines are not fully illuminated. This study aims to investigate the levels of leptin and adiponectin and their associations with allergic sensitization in pediatric ATH. METHODS: Serum levels of specific immunoglobulin E (IgE), leptin and adiponectin were quantified in 35 controls and 111 ATH children, in which 54 were non-atopic and 57 were atopic. Spearman's correlation analysis and polynomial linear trend test were conducted. The odds ratios and 95% confidence intervals were calculated by binary logistic regression after multivariable adjustment. RESULTS: The serum level of leptin and leptin/adiponectin (L/A) ratio was significantly increased in children with ATH. An increase in leptin level and L/A ratio and a decrease in adiponectin level were observed in atopic children compared with non-atopic children. Among ATH children, the level of adiponectin was negatively while L/A ratio was positively correlated with specific IgE. After multivariable adjustment, leptin was significantly associated with increased risk of atopy to D. pteronyssinus and D. farina, and adiponectin was significantly associated with decreased risk of atopy to willow and mugwort. Leptin was associated with higher odds while adiponectin was associated with lower odds of overall atopy. Besides, significant multiplicative interactions of obesity with leptin and adiponectin on atopy were observed respectively. CONCLUSION: Leptin and adiponectin were both associated with allergic sensitization and function differently in pediatric ATH. Mechanistic studies are needed to elucidate the involvement of adipokines in allergic sensitization of pediatric ATH.

Couples' preconception urinary essential trace elements concentration and spontaneous abortion risk: A nested case-control study in a community population.

BACKGROUND: Previous studies have indicated a correlation between maternal imbalances in essential trace elements during pregnancy and the occurrence of spontaneous abortion (SA). Nonetheless, the impact of these elements from both partners and during the preconception period remains unexplored. OBJECTIVE: This study sought to evaluate the relationship between preconception essential trace elements and spontaneous abortion (SA) based on husband-wife dyads. METHODS: This study selected 390 couples with spontaneous abortion (SA) and 390 matched couples with live births from a preconception cohort of 33,687 couples. Urine samples collected prior to pregnancy were analyzed for ten essential trace elements (Se, Cr, Mo, Cu, Zn, Fe, Mn, V, Co, and Ni) using inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS). RESULTS: Multivariate conditional logistic regression analysis identified that elevated concentrations of Zn (OR = 0.73) and Ni (OR = 0.69) in couples were associated with a reduced risk of SA, whereas elevated levels of Cr (OR = 1.30) and Mn (OR = 1.39) were linked to an increased risk. Restricted cubic spline models suggested a U-shaped association between couples' Cu and Co concentrations and SA. Bayesian Kernel Machine Regression further supported a U-shaped relationship between the mixture of ten elements and SA, showing significant protection at the 50th and 55th percentiles compared to the 10th percentile. Additionally, the effects of Cr, Zn, Mn, and Ni on SA varied when the concentrations of the other nine elements were held constant at their 25th, 50th, and 75th percentiles. Stratified analysis revealed that maternal Cu (OR = 0.43) and Fe (OR = 0.63) reduced the risk of SA when paternal Cu and Fe were in the lower quartile. Conversely, maternal Cu (OR = 2.03) and Fe (OR = 1.77) increased the risk of SA when paternal concentrations were in the higher quartile. Similar patterns were observed for Cr, Mn, Co, and Zn. CONCLUSION: Elevated urinary concentrations of Zn and Ni in couples were associated with a reduced risk of SA, while higher levels of Cr and Mn were linked to an increased risk. Cu, Co, and a mixture of ten essential trace elements exhibited a U-shaped relationship with SA. The impact of certain essential trace elements (Cu, Fe, Cr, Mn, Co, and Zn) on SA in one partner was influenced by their concentrations in the other partner.

Identification and functional characterization of a superoxide dismutase (CuZnSOD) from Pinctada fucata martensii.

Copper/zinc superoxide dismutase (Cu/Zn-SOD) can effectively eliminate reactive oxygen species (ROS)，avoid damage from O2 to the body, and maintain O2 balance. In this study, multi-step high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), combined with Mass Spectrometry (MS), was used to isolate and identify Cu/Zn-SOD from the serum of Pinctada fucata martensii (P. f. martensii) and was designated as PmECSOD. With a length of 1864 bp and an open reading frame (ORF) of 1422 bp, the cDNA encodes a 473 amino acid protein. The PmECSOD transcript was detected in multiple tissues by quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR), with its highest expression level being in the gills. Additionally, the temporal expression of PmECSOD mRNA in the hemolymph was highest at 48 h after in vivo stimulation with Escherichia coli and Micrococcus luteus. The results from this study provide a valuable base for further exploration of molluscan innate immunity and immune response.

A novel technique of percutaneous transhepatic treatment of biliary-enteric anastomotic occlusive strictures with compliant balloon-occluded distal cholangiography and large-bore catheter: a retrospective case series.

Background: Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) or percutaneous transhepatic biliary balloon dilatation (PTBD) is a challenge in resolving biliary-enteric anastomotic occlusive strictures (BEAOS) and/or coexisting stones. The biliary-enteric anastomosis (BEA) often cannot be seen because of the surgically altered gastrointestinal anatomy. Here, a technique that combined percutaneous compliant-occluded distal cholangiography and the maintenance of a large-bore catheter is described to resolve this issue. Methods: A retrospective review of 10 patients who presented with BEAOS with/without coexisting stones who were treated with percutaneous compliant balloon-occluded distal cholangiography, bile duct stone removal, and the maintenance of a large-bore catheter between February 2017 and January 2021 was performed. Treatment response, laboratory examinations, including hepatic function tests, routine blood tests, and blood electrolytes, complications, and imaging data were evaluated. Paired t-tests were used to investigate the difference of laboratory examinations before and after the procedure. Results: All 10 cases were technically successful. A total of 9 stones in 6 patients were successfully removed by the compliant balloon. All catheters were removed after the patency of the stricture was confirmed by percutaneous transhepatic cholangiography (PTHC) 6 months later. No severe adverse events occurred during the perioperative period. There were 2 patients who experienced episodes of cholangitis during the follow-up period (mean, 17 months; range, 4-24 months), and neither BEAOS nor bile duct stones recurred within 2 years after the procedure. White blood cells (WBC), total bilirubin (TB), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), and aspartate aminotransferase (AST) were (6.0±1.4)×109/L and (6.0±1.6)×109/L (P=0.91), 31.4±15.7 and 29.6±10.3 µmol/L (P=0.74), 50.8±20.0 and 85.8±67.0 U/L (P=0.16), and 42.6±15.2 and 71.8±44.9 U/L (P=0.09) pre and postintervention, respectively. Conclusions: Percutaneous transhepatic compliant balloon-occluded distal cholangiography and the maintenance of a large-bore catheter probably provide an effective and safe alternative method for resolving BEAOS and/or coexisting stones.

Calcitonin gene-related peptide: a possible biomarker in migraine patients with patent foramen ovale.

BACKGROUND: Serum CGRP has been found to increase during migraine attack. However, whether CGRP can identify MA with PFO subtypes in MA remains unknown. This study aimed to investigate the differential expression of calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) between migraine (MA) patients with and without patent foramen ovale (PFO), and to evaluate the predictive value of CGRP for MA with PFO. METHODS: A total of 153 patients with MA, 51 patients with PFO and 102 patients without. Venous blood was drawn and HIT-6 score was calculated during the onset of MA, and blood routine, inflammatory indexes and serum CGRP were detected. The differences in serum markers and HIT-6 scores were compared between the two groups, and the risk factors of MA with PFO were determined by univariate and multivariate logistics regression. Furthermore, the correlation between CGRP level with right-to-left shunt (RLS) grades and headache impact test-6 (HIT-6) score in MA patients with PFO were assessed. Independent risk factors were screened out by multivariate Logistic regression analysis. We used the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve to analyze the diagnostic value of these risk factors in MA complicated with PFO. RESULTS: The serum CGRP level and HIT-6 scores in the MA with PFO group were significantly higher than those in the MA group (P < 0.001). Multivariate regression analysis showed that CGRP was an independent risk factor for MA with PFO (OR = 1.698, 95% CI = 1.325-2.179, P < 0.001). CGRP values ​​increased with the increase of RLS grade(Spearmen rho = 0.703, P < 0.001). Furthermore, a positive correlation between CGRP and HIT-6 scores was found (Spearmen rho = 0.227; P = 0.016). ROC curve showed that the optimal cut-off value for diagnosing MA with PFO was 79 pg/mL, the area under the curve (AUC) for predicting MA with PFO was 0.845, with 72.55% sensitivity and 78.43% specificity. CONCLUSIONS: MA patients with PFO have higher serum CGRP level. elevated CGRP concentration was associated with higher RLS grade and increased HIT-6 score. Higher serum CGRP level has certain clinical value in predicting PFO in MA patients. TRIAL REGISTRATION: This study was approved by the Ethics Committee of Zhuhai Hospital of Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine (Ethics batch number: 20,201,215,005).

Spem2, a novel testis-enriched gene, is required for spermiogenesis and fertilization in mice.

Spermiogenesis is considered to be crucial for the production of haploid spermatozoa with normal morphology, structure and function, but the mechanisms underlying this process remain largely unclear. Here, we demonstrate that SPEM family member 2 (Spem2), as a novel testis-enriched gene, is essential for spermiogenesis and male fertility. Spem2 is predominantly expressed in the haploid male germ cells and is highly conserved across mammals. Mice deficient for Spem2 develop male infertility associated with spermiogenesis impairment. Specifically, the insufficient sperm individualization, failure of excess cytoplasm shedding, and defects in acrosome formation are evident in Spem2-null sperm. Sperm counts and motility are also significantly reduced compared to controls. In vivo fertilization assays have shown that Spem2-null sperm are unable to fertilize oocytes, possibly due to their impaired ability to migrate from the uterus into the oviduct. However, the infertility of Spem2-/- males cannot be rescued by in vitro fertilization, suggesting that defective sperm-egg interaction may also be a contributing factor. Furthermore, SPEM2 is detected to interact with ZPBP, PRSS21, PRSS54, PRSS55, ADAM2 and ADAM3 and is also required for their processing and maturation in epididymal sperm. Our findings establish SPEM2 as an essential regulator of spermiogenesis and fertilization in mice, possibly in mammals including humans. Understanding the molecular role of SPEM2 could provide new insights into future therapeutic treatment of human male infertility and development of non-hormonal male contraceptives.

Phosphoproteomics changes due to allograft-induced stress responses of Pinctada fucata martensii.

Protein phosphorylation modifications are post-translational modifications (PTMs) that play important roles in signal transduction and immune regulation. Implanting a spherical nucleus into a recipient shellfish is critical in marine pearl aquaculture. Protein phosphorylation may be important in the immune responses of Pinctada fucata martensii after nucleus implantation, but their involvement in regulation remains unclear. Here, phosphoproteomics of P. f. martensii gill tissues was conducted 12 h after nuclear implantation using label-free data-independent acquisition (DIA) with LC-MS/MS. Among the 4024 phosphorylated peptides with quantitative information, 181 were up-regulated and 148 were down-regulated. Functional enrichment analysis of these differentially expressed phosphorylated proteins (DEPPs) revealed significant enrichment in functions related to membrane trafficking, exosomes, cytoskeleton, and signal transduction mechanisms. Further, 16 conserved motifs were identified among the DEPPs, including the RSphP, SphP, RSphA, RSphE, PTphP, and ATphP motifs that were significantly conserved, and which may be related to specific kinase recognition. Parallel response monitoring (PRM) analysis validated the abundances of 12 DEPPs from the proteomics, indicating that the phosphoproteomics analyses were robust. 12 DEPPs were selected from the proteomics results through Quantitative real-time PCR (qPCR) technology, and verification analysis was conducted at the gene level. The study suggests that kinases such as MAPKs, Akt, and CK2 may regulate the phosphorylation of related proteins following nuclear implantation. Furthermore, the important signaling pathways of Rap 1, IL-17A, and NF-κB, which are influenced by phosphorylated or dephosphorylated proteins, are found to be involved in this response. Overall, this study revealed the protein phosphorylation responses after nucleus implantation in P. f. martensii, helping to elucidate the characteristics and mechanisms of immune regulation responses in P. f. martensii, in addition to promoting a further understanding of protein phosphorylation modification functions in P. f. martensii.

A new magnetic state selection method in high-performance optically detected compact cesium beam clocks.

We perform a new scheme of magnetic state selection in optically detected compact cesium beam clocks. Unlike the conventional method, we select atoms in the ground state |F = 4, mF ≠ -4⟩ by pointing the atomic collimator to the convex pole of the magnet realizing the two-wire magnetic field and detect atoms in |F = 3⟩ after interacting with the microwave field using a distributed feedback laser. The fluorescence background is greatly reduced as the inherent residual atoms |F = 4, mF = -4⟩ are avoided in this reversed scheme. The velocity distribution is narrowed, and the most probable velocity is decreased, since atomic trajectories are close to the weak-field region. We also investigate the relationship between the position of the atomic collimator and the distributions of the atomic beam, which is consistent with the Monte Carlo-based simulation model. By applying the reversed scheme and setting the deviated position of the collimator to 1.3 mm, the signal contrast is improved from 0.7 to 3, and the short-term frequency stability reaches 3.0 × 10-12 τ-1/2, nearly three times better than that of the high-performance version of Microsemi 5071A.

Defence mechanisms of Pinctada fucata martensii to Vibrio parahaemolyticus infection: Insights from proteomics and metabolomics.

Survival of pearl oysters is not only challenged by coastal pollution, but also pathogen infection that may eventually incur substantial economic losses in the pearl farming industry. Yet, whether pearl oysters can defend themselves against pathogen infection through molecular mechanisms remains largely unexplored. By using iTRAQ proteomic and metabolomic analyses, we analysed the proteins and metabolites in the serum of pearl oysters (Pinctada fucata martensii) when stimulated by pathogenic bacteria (Vibrio parahaemolyticus). Proteomic results found that a total of 2,242 proteins were identified in the experimental (i.e., Vibrio-stimulated) and control groups, where 166 of them were differentially expressed (120 upregulated and 46 downregulated in the experimental group). Regarding the immune response enrichment results, the pathway of signal transduction was significantly enriched, such as cytoskeleton and calcium signalling pathways. Proteins, including cathepsin L, heat shock protein 20, myosin and astacin-like protein, also contributed to the immune response of oysters. Pathogen stimulation also altered the metabolite profile of oysters, where 49 metabolites associated with metabolism of energy, fatty acids and amino acids were found. Integrated analysis suggests that the oysters could respond to pathogen infection by coordinating multiple cellular processes. Thus, the proteins and metabolites identified herein not only represent valuable genetic resources for developing molecular biomarkers and genetic breeding research, but also open new avenues for studies on the molecular defence mechanisms of pearl oysters to pathogen infection.

Surface-Enhanced Raman Scattering Active Core-Shell Ag NPs@Carbon Dots with Enzyme-Mimicking Activities for Label-Free Measurement Cholesterol.

Serological-sensitive testing of cholesterol holds significant value in the fields of healthcare and clinical diagnosis. This study reports on the preparation of peroxidase-mimicking nanozymes through the wrapping of N, S-doped carbon dots (DCDs) on the surface of silver nanoparticles (Ag NPs@DCD). The shell-core structure of Ag NPs@DCD displays peroxidase-mimicking capability, with the potential to catalyze inactive Raman probe molecules into the Raman reporters. Furthermore, a "shell-isolated nanoparticles-enhanced Raman spectroscopy" structure exhibited an enhanced Raman signal of reporter molecules. Ag NPs@DCD were utilized to create a label-free SERS sensing system for high-performance detection of cholesterol in serum samples. These results demonstrate the potential of the novel nanozyme-based SERS approach for clinical diagnosis.

Non-destructive food-quality analysis using near-infrared luminescence from Mg3Gd2Ge3O12:Cr3.

Rapid, non-destructive food-quality analysis using near-infrared (NIR) photoluminescence spectroscopy produced by phosphor-converted light-emitting diodes (pc-LEDs) has fascinating prospects for future food-safety monitoring. However, covering the energy window for organic molecular vibrations of interest in these applications requires NIR-emitting phosphors that are highly energy-efficient with ultra-broadband photoluminescence. This remains a materials design challenge. Here, a Cr3+-substituted garnet phosphor, Mg3Gd2Ge3O12, is found to possess a desired broadband NIR emission (λem = 815 nm, fwhm = 172 nm; 2513 cm-1) covering from 700 nm to 1200 nm with a photoluminescence quantum yield of 60.8% and absorption efficiency of 44.1% (λex = 450 nm). Fabricating a prototype NIR pc-LED device using the title material combined with a 455 nm emitting InGaN LED chip produces a NIR output power of 23.2 mW with photoelectric efficiency of 8.45% under a 100 mA driving current. This NIR light source is then used to demonstrate the quantitative detection of ethanol in solution. These results highlight the feasibility of this material for NIR spectroscopy and validate the prospects of using NIR pc-LEDs in food-quality analysis.

Analysis of polyhalogenated carbazoles and two related compounds in earthworms using a modified QuEChERS method with GC/MS and GC/MS/MS.

A precise analytical method based on QuEChERS has been proposed for the concurrent determination of 11 polyhalogenated carbazoles (PHCZs), benzocarbazole (BZCZ), and 9H-carbazoles (CZ). The quantification was confirmed by gas chromatography using triple quadrupole tandem mass spectrometry (Shimadzu GC-MS/MS-TQ8040) and gas chromatography coupled mass spectrometry (Agilent 7890A-5973 GC-MS). The developed method was validated by testing the following parameters: linearity, instrument limit of detection (LOD), instrument limit of quantification (LOQ), method limit of detection (MLD), method limit of quantification (MLQ), matrix effect (ME), accuracy, and precision. All compounds showed good linearity in the range of 0.005-0.2 µg/mL with correlation coefficients higher than 0.992. The method demonstrated satisfactory recoveries (ranging from 71.21 to 105.04%) for most of the compounds with relative standard deviation precision (RSD) < 10.46%, except 3-BCZ (Recovery = 67.53%, RSD = 2.83%). The values of LOD and LOQ varied from 0.05 to 0.24 ng and 0.14 to 0.92 ng, respectively, while those of MLD and MLQ ranged from 0.02 to 0.12 ng/g wet weight (ww) and 0.07 to 0.45 ng/g ww, respectively. The developed method represents a reliable tool for the routine analysis of PHCZ congeners in invertebrate animals.

Apolipoprotein E Polymorphism Impacts White Matter Injury Through Microglial Phagocytosis After Experimental Subarachnoid Hemorrhage.

Apolipoprotein E (apoE, protein; APOE, gene), divided into three alleles of E2, E3 and E4 in humans, is associated with the progression of white matter lesion load. However, mechanism evidence has not been reported regarding the APOE genotype in early white matter injury (WMI) under subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) conditions. In the present study, we investigated the effects of APOE gene polymorphisms, by constructing microglial APOE3 and APOE4-specific overexpression, on WMI and underlying mechanisms of microglia phagocytosis in a mice model of SAH. A total of 167 male C57BL/6J mice (weight 22-26 g) were used. SAH and bleeding environment were induced by endovascular perforation in vivo and oxyHb in vitro, respectively. Multi-technology approaches, including immunohistochemistry, high throughput sequencing, gene editing for adeno-associated viruses, and several molecular biotechnologies were used to validate the effects of APOE polymorphisms on microglial phagocytosis and WMI after SAH. Our results revealed that APOE4 significantly aggravated the WMI and decreased neurobehavioral function by impairing microglial phagocytosis after SAH. Indicators negatively associated with microglial phagocytosis increased like CD16, CD86 and the ratio of CD16/CD206, while the indicators positively associated with microglial phagocytosis decreased like Arg-1 and CD206. The increased ROS and aggravating mitochondrial damage demonstrated that the damaging effects of APOE4 in SAH may be associated with microglial oxidative stress-dependent mitochondrial damage. Inhibiting mitochondrial oxidative stress by Mitoquinone (mitoQ) can enhance the phagocytic function of microglia. In conclusion, anti-oxidative stress and phagocytosis protection may serve as promising treatments in the management of SAH.

Understanding the broadband near-infrared luminescence in a highly distorted garnet Ca4HfGe3O12:Cr3+ phosphor.

Broadband near-infrared (NIR) spectroscopy generated from a phosphor-converted light-emitting diode (pc-LED) has multifunctional applications, including food-quality analysis, bio-medical and night-vision, stimulating the demand for developing various NIR phosphors with desired properties. Herein, we selected a highly distorted garnet Ca4HfGe3O12 as the host and explored the near-infrared luminescence of Cr3+. As expected, this material achieved a long-wavelength NIR emission and excellent absorption efficiency based on the effect of Jahn-Teller distortion. The synthesized Ca4HfGe3O12:Cr3+ phosphor exhibits a broadband NIR emission peaking at 840 nm with a full width at half maximum of 150 nm, and the absorption efficiency reaches 48.0%. However, the internal quantum efficiency of the 6 mol% Cr3+-doped sample was measured to be only 35.3% and the integral emission intensity at 373 K kept only 60.1% of the initial intensity. The possible reasons for the unsatisfactory internal quantum efficiency and thermal stability were systematically analyzed, which provided a comprehensive understanding of the relationship between the crystal structure and the luminescent properties of Cr3+-activated garnet-type phosphors. Nevertheless, the as-prepared NIR pc-LED device exhibits a NIR output of 16.52 mW with a NIR photoelectric conversion efficiency of 5.92% driven by 100 mA current, indicating the potential of this material for application in NIR pc-LED.

TRPM4 Drives Cerebral Edema by Switching to Alternative Splicing Isoform After Experimental Traumatic Brain Injury.

Traumatic brain injury (TBI) affects persons of all ages and is recognized as a major cause of death and disability worldwide; it also brings heavy life burden to patients and their families. The treatment of those with secondary injury after TBI is still scarce, however. Alternative splicing (AS) is a crucial post-transcriptional regulatory mechanism associated with various physiological processes, while the contribution of AS in treatment after TBI is poorly illuminated. In this study, we performed and analyzed the transcriptome and proteome datasets of brain tissue at multiple time points in a controlled cortical impact (CCI) mouse model. We found that AS, as an independent change against the transcriptional level, is a novel mechanism linked to cerebral edema after TBI. Bioinformatics analysis further indicated that the transformation of splicing isoforms after TBI was related to cerebral edema. Accordingly, we found that the fourth exon of transient receptor potential channel melastatin 4 (Trpm4) abrogated skipping at 72 h after TBI, resulting in a frameshift of the encoded amino acid and an increase in the proportion of spliced isoforms. Using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), we have shown the numbers of 3nEx isoforms of Trpm4 may be positively correlated with volume of cerebral edema. Thus alternative splicing of Trpm4 becomes a noteworthy mechanism of potential influence on edema. In summary, alternative splicing of Trpm4 may drive cerebral edema after TBI. Trpm4 is a potential therapeutic targeting cerebral edema in patients with TBI.

An efficient and thermally stable near-infrared phosphor derived from the Ln3ScInGa3O12:Cr3+ (Ln = La, Gd, Y, and Lu) garnet family.

A broadband near-infrared (NIR) light source based on a phosphor-converted light-emitting diode (pc-LED) has attracted increasing interest to be used in non-destructive examination, security-monitoring and medical diagnosis fields, which stimulates the exploration of NIR phosphors with high performance. Herein, a series of Cr3+-activated garnet Ln3ScInGa3O12:Cr3+ (Ln = La, Gd, Y, and Lu) phosphors were reported, allowing an emission peak ranging from 726 to 822 nm. Among them, Y3ScInGa3O12:Cr3+ with an optimized Cr3+-doping concentration of 6 mol% exhibits a high internal quantum efficiency (IQE = 83.1%) and excellent absorption efficiency (AE = 44.2%) under 450 nm blue light excitation, enabling an external quantum efficiency as high as 36.7%. Moreover, this material can maintain 93.0% of the initial intensity when heated up to 423 K, implying outstanding thermal stability. Finally, a prototype NIR pc-LED device was fabricated by coating the optimized phosphor on a 455 nm LED chip, which generates a broadband NIR emission with a peak located at 765 nm and a full width at half maximum of 127 nm. The NIR output power and NIR photoelectric conversion efficiency of this device were found to be 38.01 mW and 11.0%, respectively, under 100 mA driving current, demonstrating the feasibility of this material to be applied in NIR pc-LEDs.

PRSS37 deficiency leads to impaired energy metabolism in testis and sperm revealed by DIA-based quantitative proteomic analysis.

Our previous studies have reported that a putative trypsin-like serine protease, PRSS37, is exclusively expressed in testicular germ cells during late spermatogenesis and essential for sperm migration from the uterus into the oviduct and sperm-egg recognition via mediating the interaction between PDILT and ADAM3. In the present study, the global proteome profiles of wild-type (wt) and Prss37-/- mice in testis and sperm were compared employing data independent acquisition (DIA) technology. Overall, 2506 and 459 differentially expressed proteins (DEPs) were identified in Prss37-null testis and sperm, respectively, when compared to control groups. Bioinformatic analyses revealed that most of DEPs were related to energy metabolism. Of note, the DEPs associated with pathways for the catabolism such as glucose via glycolysis, fatty acids via ß-oxidation, and amino acids via oxidative deamination were significantly down-regulated. Meanwhile, the DEPs involved in the tricarboxylic acid cycle (TCA cycle) and oxidative phosphorylation (OXPHOS) were remarkably decreased. The DIA data were further confirmed by a markedly reduction of intermediate metabolites (citrate and fumarate) in TCA cycle and terminal metabolite (ATP) in OXPHOS system after disruption of PRSS37. These outcomes not only provide a more comprehensive understanding of the male fertility of energy metabolism modulated by PRSS37 but also furnish a dynamic proteomic resource for further reproductive biology studies.