Anti-aging mechanism and effect of treatment with raw and wine-steamed Polygonatum sibiricum on D-galactose-induced aging in mice by inhibiting oxidative stress and modulating gut microbiota.

Background: Polygonatum sibiricum (PS) is a traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) first recorded in Mingyi Bielu. The book documents that PS can nourish five internal organs, be taken for a long time, relax the body and prolong lifespan. Presently, PS is widely used in TCM to prevent premature graying of hair. Based on TCM theory and clinical trials, the wine steaming processed product from PS provides a better effect. However, no published study has elucidated the anti-aging mechanism. Purpose: The study aim was to investigate the anti-aging mechanism of PS and its wine steaming processed product in mice, specifically focusing on the effect of D-galactose (D-gal) surrounding the intestinal flora and the Kelch-like ECH-associated protein 1-nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2-antioxidant response elements (Keap1/Nrf2/ARE) pathway. Methods: The chemical components in Raw PS (RPS) and Wine-steamed PS (WPS) were identified by ultra-performance liquid chromatography-hybrid quadrupole-Orbitrap high-resolution mass spectrometry (UPLC-Q-Orbitrap HRMS). An aging model using Kunming mice was established through intraperitoneally injected D-gal. Concentrations of RPS and WPS at 5, 10, or 15 g/kg/day levels were administered intragastrically, respectively. The body weight, liver and spleen indexes, superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GSH-PX), and malondialdehyde (MDA) activities in serum and brain tissue were recorded. Hematoxylin and eosin (HE) stained brain tissue was histopathologically examined. The expressions of Keap1, Nrf2 and heme oxygenase 1 (HO-1) in the brain tissue at the mRNA and protein levels were respectively detected by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and western blot (WB). Moreover, an Illumina Hiseq platform was used for 16S ribosomal RNA (16S rRNA) high-throughput sequencing to evaluate the proportions of intestinal flora in aging mice. Results: The proportions of saccharides, flavonoids, and triterpene acids were different between RPS and WPS. In the aging model mice, WPS outperformed RPS in improving body weight and mental state by increasing the spleen index, SOD and GSH-PX activities, decreasing the liver index and MDA activities, and restoring the histopathological morphology in D-gal-induced aging mice. At the mRNA levels, RPS and WPS significantly reduced the expression of Keap1 and increased the expressions of Nrf2 and HO-1. The trend in protein expressions was similar to that of the mRNA results, and WPS had a stronger effect than RPS. Fecal microbiota analysis showed that RPS and WPS restored intestinal microbiota proportions to normal levels. Conclusion: The results demonstrated that PS and its WPS had a positive effect in relieving oxidative stress in aging mice. WPS outperformed RPS, which might be related to the activation of the Keap1/Nrf2/ARE pathway and regulation of intestinal flora.

Mitochondrial ACSS1-K635 acetylation knock-in mice exhibit altered metabolism, cell senescence, and nonalcoholic fatty liver disease.

Acetyl-CoA synthetase short-chain family member 1 (ACSS1) uses acetate to generate mitochondrial acetyl-CoA and is regulated by deacetylation by sirtuin 3. We generated an ACSS1-acetylation (Ac) mimic mouse, where lysine-635 was mutated to glutamine (K635Q). Male Acss1K635Q/K635Q mice were smaller with higher metabolic rate and blood acetate and decreased liver/serum ATP and lactate levels. After a 48-hour fast, Acss1K635Q/K635Q mice presented hypothermia and liver aberrations, including enlargement, discoloration, lipid droplet accumulation, and microsteatosis, consistent with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). RNA sequencing analysis suggested dysregulation of fatty acid metabolism, cellular senescence, and hepatic steatosis networks, consistent with NAFLD. Fasted Acss1K635Q/K635Q mouse livers showed increased fatty acid synthase (FASN) and stearoyl-CoA desaturase 1 (SCD1), both associated with NAFLD, and increased carbohydrate response element-binding protein binding to Fasn and Scd1 enhancer regions. Last, liver lipidomics showed elevated ceramide, lysophosphatidylethanolamine, and lysophosphatidylcholine, all associated with NAFLD. Thus, we propose that ACSS1-K635-Ac dysregulation leads to aberrant lipid metabolism, cellular senescence, and NAFLD.

The Male Reproductive Toxicity Caused by 2-Naphthylamine Was Related to Testicular Immunity Disorders.

2-naphthylamine (NAP) was classified as a group I carcinogen associated with bladder cancer. The daily exposure is mostly from cigarette and E-cigarette smoke. NAP can lead to testicular atrophy and interstitial tissue hyperplasia; however, the outcomes of NAP treatment on spermatogenesis and the associated mechanisms have not been reported. The study aimed to investigate the effect of NAP on spermatogenesis and sperm physiologic functions after being persistently exposed to NAP at 5, 20, and 40 mg/kg for 35 days. We found that sperm motility, progressive motility, sperm average path velocity, and straight-line velocity declined remarkably in the NAP (40 mg/kg) treated group, and the sperm deformation rate rose upon NAP administration. The testis immunity- and lipid metabolism-associated processes were enriched from RNA-sequence profiling. Plvap, Ccr7, Foxn1, Trim29, Sirpb1c, Cfd, and Lpar4 involved in testis immunity and Pnliprp1 that inhibit triglyceride and cholesterol absorption were confirmed to rise dramatically in the NAP-exposed group. The increased total cholesterol and CD68 levels were observed in the testis from the NAP-exposed group. Gpx5, serving as an antioxidant in sperm plasma, and Semg1, which contributes to sperm progressive motility, were both down-regulated. We concluded that the short-term exposure to NAP caused reproductive toxicity, primarily due to the inflammatory abnormality in the testis.

Trust in Acquaintances, Strangers and Institutions among Individuals of Different Socioeconomic Statuses during Public Health Emergencies: The Moderation of Family Structure and Policy Perception.

Trust plays a crucial role in effectively responding to public health emergencies. Drawing on COVID-19 survey data conducted in Hubei, China, during August 2020 with a sample size of 5494, this study investigated the influence of individuals' socioeconomic status on trust in acquaintances, strangers and institutions, and how this relationship is moderated by epidemic prevention, policy perception and family structure. The findings showed that individuals with higher socioeconomic status tend to have higher levels of trust. Those with higher income but being married demonstrate higher trust. When perceiving epidemic prevention policies as stringent, those with higher income display increased trust in acquaintances and institutions; similarly, those with lower education levels exhibit heightened trust in acquaintances and strangers. Individuals working in social organizations express higher trust in strangers; however, their trust is compromised under stringent epidemic prevention policies due to potentially heavier work burdens.

Lymphatic plastic bronchitis and primary chylothorax: A study based on computed tomography lymphangiography.

BACKGROUND: This study presents an evaluation of the computed tomography lymphangiography (CTL) features of lymphatic plastic bronchitis (PB) and primary chylothorax to improve the diagnostic accuracy for these two diseases. AIM: To improve the diagnosis of lymphatic PB or primary chylothorax, a retrospective analysis of the clinical features and CTL characteristics of 71 patients diagnosed with lymphatic PB or primary chylothorax was performed. METHODS: The clinical and CTL data of 71 patients (20 with lymphatic PB, 41 with primary chylothorax, and 10 with lymphatic PB with primary chylothorax) were collected retrospectively. CTL was performed in all patients. The clinical manifestations, CTL findings, and conventional chest CT findings of the three groups of patients were compared. The chi-square test or Fisher's exact test was used to compare the differences among the three groups. A difference was considered to be statistically significant when P < 0.05. RESULTS: (1) The percentages of abnormal contrast medium deposits on CTL in the three groups were as follows: Thoracic duct outlet in 14 (70.0%), 33 (80.5%) and 8 (80.0%) patients; peritracheal region in 18 (90.0%), 15 (36.6%) and 8 (80.0%) patients; pleura in 6 (30.0%), 33 (80.5%) and 9 (90.0%) patients; pericardium in 6 (30.0%), 6 (14.6%) and 4 (40.0%) patients; and hilum in 16 (80.0%), 11 (26.8%) and 7 (70.0%) patients; and (2) the abnormalities on conventional chest CT in the three groups were as follows: Ground-glass opacity in 19 (95.0%), 18 (43.9%) and 8 (80.0%) patients; atelectasis in 4 (20.0%), 26 (63.4%) and 7 (70.0%) patients; interlobular septal thickening in 12 (60.0%), 11 (26.8%) and 3 (30.0%) patients; bronchovascular bundle thickening in 14 (70.0%), 6 (14.6%) and 4 (40.0%) patients; localized mediastinal changes in 14 (70.0%), 14 (34.1%), and 7 (70.0%) patients; diffuse mediastinal changes in 6 (30.0%), 5 (12.2%), and 3 (30.0%) patients; cystic lesions in the axilla in 2 (10.0%), 6 (14.6%), and 2 (20.0%) patients; and cystic lesions in the chest wall in 0 (0%), 2 (4.9%), and 2 (4.9%) patients. CONCLUSION: CTL is well suited to clarify the characteristics of lymphatic PB and primary chylothorax. This method is an excellent tool for diagnosing these two diseases.

Application of propofol-remifentanil intravenous general anesthesia combined with regional block in pediatric ophthalmic surgery.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study is to observe the anesthetic effect and safety of intravenous anesthesia without muscle relaxant with propofol-remifentanil combined with regional block under laryngeal mask airway in pediatric ophthalmologic surgery. METHODS: A total of 90 undergoing ophthalmic surgery were anesthetized with general anesthesia using the laryngeal mask airway without muscle relaxant. They were randomly divided into two groups: 45 children who received propofol-remifentanil intravenous anesthesia combined with regional block (LG group), and 45 children who received total intravenous anesthesia (G group). The peri-operative circulatory indicators, awakening time after general anesthesia, postoperative analgesic effect and the incidence of anesthesia-related adverse events were respectively compared between the two groups. RESULTS: All the children successfully underwent the surgical procedure. The awakening time after general anesthesia and removal time of laryngeal mask were significantly shorter in the LG group than in the G group (P < 0.05). There was no statistically significant difference in the heart rates in the perioperative period between the two groups (P > 0.05). There was no statistically significant difference in the incidence of intraoperative physical response, respiratory depression, postoperative nausea and vomiting (PONV) and emergence agitation (EA) between the two groups (P > 0.05). The pain score at the postoperative hour 2 was lower in the LG group than in the G group (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: Propofol-remifentanil intravenous anesthesia combined with long-acting local anesthetic regional block anesthesia, combined with laryngeal mask ventilation technology without muscle relaxants, can be safely used in pediatric eye surgery to achieve rapid and smooth recovery from general anesthesia and better postoperative analgesia. This anesthesia scheme can improve the comfort and safety of children in perioperative period, and has a certain clinical popularization value.

Recycled PET/PA6 Fibers from Waste Textile with Improved Hydrophilicity by In-Situ Reaction-Induced Capacity Enhancement.

Due to the increasing amounts of textile waste, textile to textile recycling is of prime concern. Polyethylene terephthalate (PET) represents the most extensively used type of chemical fiber. Its spinnability suffers from impurities and degradation in the processing, which limits its recycling to new fibers. Here, recycled polyester is blended with a small amount of recycled nylon, and the regenerated fibers, which demonstrated good mechanical properties, were obtained via a melt spinning machine. The mechanical properties, thermal properties, rheological properties, and chemical structure of the modified recycled fibers were investigated. It was found that when compared with rPET-T fibers, the elongation at break of rPET-Ax fibers increased to 17.48%, and the strength at break decreased to 3.79 cN/dtex. The compatibility of PET and PA6 copolymer were enhanced by copolymers produced by in-situ reaction in the processing. Meanwhile, the existence of PA6 increases the crystallization temperature and improves the hydrophilicity of the fibers. This study realized the high-value recycling of waste PET fabric to new fibers, which opens a door for the large utilization of waste textiles.

The Shear-Accelerated II-I Phase Transition of Isotactic Poly(1-Butene).

The II-I phase transition of isotactic poly(1-butene) (iPBu) leads to improved mechanical performance. However, this will take several weeks and increase storage and processing costs. In this work, shear forces are introduced into the supercooled iPBu melt, and the effects of isothermal crystallization temperature (Tc) and shear temperature (Tshear) on crystallization and phase transition are explored. Shear-induced transcrystalline morphology of Form II with a significantly shortened crystallization induction period can be observed at relatively high Tc (105 °C). Besides, the shear-induced Form II can transit to Form I faster than the unsheared one. In addition, the phase transition rate increases as the Tshear decreases, with the fastest rate occurring at Tshear of 120 °C. The half transition time (t1/2) is measured as 6.3 h when Tc = 105 °C, Tshear = 120 °C, which is much shorter than the 20.7 h required for unsheared samples. The accelerated phase transition of iPBu can be attributed to the stretching of molecular chains, resulting from shear treatment. This study provides a quantitative analysis of the influence of the shear treatment and the Tshear on the II-I phase transition rate. It also presents a cost-effective and straightforward approach for expediting the phase transition process.

The value of the dermal rim sign on nonenhanced magnetic resonance imaging for predicting dermal backflow in patients with primary lower extremity lymphedema.

PURPOSE: The dermal rim sign (DRS) on nonenhanced magnetic resonance imaging has been shown to predict dermal backflow (DBF) in patients with secondary upper limb lymphedema. However, whether the DRS has the same effects on primary lower extremity lymphedema (PLEL) has not been clearly reported. Therefore, this study aimed to explore whether the DRS can be used to diagnose DBF on lymphoscintigraphy in patients with PLEL. METHODS: A total of 94 patients who were diagnosed with PLEL were recruited for this retrospective study from January 2022 to December 2023. All the patients were divided into two groups according to the lymphoscintigraphy findings: no DBF and DBF. The magnetic resonance imaging data of the two groups were recorded and statistically compared for the following indicators: range of lymphedema involvement (left, right, whole lower limbs, only thigh, only calf and ankle), signs of lymphedema (notable thickening of skin, parallel line sign, grid sign, honeycomb sign, band sign, lymph lake sign, crescent sign, DRS), and lymphedema measurement (skin thickness, band width). The DRS is characterized by notable thickening of the skin plus the grid sign and/or honeycomb sign, plus the band sign. RESULTS: The following statistically significant differences in the following indicators were found between the two groups (P < .05): notable skin thickening, parallel line sign, grid sign, honeycomb sign, band sign, DRS, skin thickness, and band width. The sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy for predicting for DBF with the DRS was 82%, 64%, and 77%, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: This study confirmed good consistency between the DRS and DBF from the perspective of imaging. This tool is suitable for children, adolescents, and patients with contraindications to lymphoscintigraphy. The DRS has important value in assessing the severity of PLEL. The DRS is suggested for the clinical use of combined surgical treatment of PLEL.

Analysis of the complete genome sequence of Paenibacillus sp. lzh-N1 reveals its antagonistic ability.

BACKGROUND: Plant diseases caused by pathogenic fungi are devastating. However, commonly used fungicides are harmful to the environment, and some are becoming ineffective due to fungal resistance. Therefore, eco-friendly biological methods to control pathogenic fungi are urgently needed. RESULTS: In this study, a strain, Paenibacillus sp. lzh-N1, that could inhibit the growth of the pathogenic fungus Mycosphaerella sentina (Fr) Schrorter was isolated from the rhizosphere soil of pear trees, and the complete genome sequence of the strain was obtained, annotated, and analyzed to reveal the genetic foundation of its antagonistic ability. The entire genome of this strain contained a circular chromosome of 5,641,488 bp with a GC content of 45.50%. The results of species identification show that the strain belongs to the same species as P. polymyxa Sb3-1 and P. polymyxa CJX518. Sixteen secondary metabolic biosynthetic gene clusters were predicted by antiSMASH, including those of the antifungal peptides fusaricidin B and paenilarvins. In addition, biofilm formation-related genes containing two potential gene clusters for cyclic lactone autoinducer, a gene encoding S-ribosylhomocysteine lyase (LuxS), and three genes encoding exopolysaccharide biosynthesis protein were identified. CONCLUSIONS: Antifungal peptides and glucanase biosynthesized by Paenibacillus sp. lzh-N1 may be responsible for its antagonistic effect. Moreover, quorum sensing systems may influence the biocontrol activity of this strain directly or indirectly.

First-Principles Studies on Transition Metal Doped Mo2B2 as Anode Material for Li-Ion Batteries.

New two-dimensional (2D) transition-metal borides have attracted considerable interest in research on electrode materials for Li-ion batteries (LIBs) owing to their promising properties. In this study, 2D molybdenum boride (Mo2 B2 ) with and without transition metal (TM, TM=Mn, Fe, Co, Ni, Ru, and Pt) atom doping was investigated. Our results indicated that all TM-doped Mo2 B2 samples exhibited excellent electronic conductivity, similar to the intrinsic 2D Mo2 B2 metal behavior, which is highly beneficial for application in LIBs. Moreover, we found that the diffusion energy barriers of Li along paths 1 and 2 for all TM-doped Mo2 B2 samples are smaller than 0.30 and 0.24 eV of the pristine Mo2 B2 . In particular, for 2D Co-doped Mo2 B2 , the diffusion energy barriers of Li along paths 1 and 2 are reduced to 0.14 and 0.11 eV, respectively, making them the lowest Li diffusion barriers in both paths 1 and 2. This indicates that TM doping can improve the electrochemical performance of 2D Mo2 B2 and that Co-doped Mo2 B2 is a promising electrode material for LIBs. Our work not only identifies electrode materials with promising electrochemical performance but also provides guidance for the design of high-performance electrode materials for LIBs.

Clickable Polymerization-Induced Emission Luminogens Toward Color-Tunable Modification of Non-Traditional Intrinsic Luminescent Polymers.

Non-traditional intrinsic luminescent (NTIL) polymer is an emerging field, and its color-tunable modification is highly desirable but still rarely investigated. Here, a click chemistry approach for the color-tunable modifications of NTIL polymers by introducing clickable polymerization-induced emission luminogen (PIEgen), is demonstrated. Through Cu-catalyzed azide-alkyne cycloaddition click chemistry, a series of PIEgens is successful prepared, which is further polymerized via reversible addition-fragmentation chain transfer (RAFT) polymerization. Interestingly, after clickable modification, these monomers are nonemissive in both solution and aggregation states; while, the corresponding polymers exhibit intriguing aggregation-induced emission (AIE) characteristics, confirming their PIEgen characteristics. By varying alkynyl substitutions, color-tunable NTIL polymers are achieved with emission wavelength varying from 448 to 498 nm, revealing a series of PIEgens and verifying the importance of modification of NTIL polymers. Further luminescence energy transfer application is carried out as well. This work therefore designs a series of clickable PIEgens and opens a new avenue for the modification of NTIL polymers via click chemistry, which may cause inspirations to the research fields including luminescent polymer, NTIL, click chemistry, AIE and modification.

Broadband nonlinear optical response and sub-picosecond carrier dynamics in graphene-SnSe2 van der Waals heterostructures.

The van der Waals (vdWs) heterostructures, with vertical layer stacking structure of various two-dimensional (2D) materials, maintain the reliable photonic characteristics while compensating the shortcomings of the participating individual components. In this work, we combine the less-studied multilayer tin selenide (SnSe2) thin film with one of the traditional 2D materials, graphene, to fabricate the graphene-based vdWs optical switching element (Gr-SnSe2) with superior broadband nonlinear optical response. The transient absorption spectroscopy (TAS) measurement results verify that graphene acts as the recombination channel for the photogenerated carrier in the Gr-SnSe2 sample, and the fast recovery time can be reduced to hundreds of femtoseconds which is beneficial for the optical modulation process. The optical switching properties are characterized by the I-scan measurements, exhibiting a saturable energy intensity of 2.82 mJ·cm-2 (0.425 µJ·cm-2) and a modulation depth of 15.6% (22.5%) at the wavelength of 1030 nm (1980nm). Through integrating Gr-SnSe2 with a cladding waveguide, high-performance picosecond Q-switched operation in the near-infrared (NIR) and mid-infrared (MIR) spectral regions are both achieved. This work experimentally demonstrates the great potential of graphene-based vdWs heterostructures for applications in broadband ultrafast photonics.

Both protein and non-protein components in extracellular vesicles of human seminal plasma improve human sperm function via CatSper-mediated calcium signaling.

STUDY QUESTION: What is the significance and mechanism of human seminal plasma extracellular vesicles (EVs) in regulating human sperm functions? SUMMARY ANSWER: EV increases the intracellular Ca2+ concentrations [Ca2+]i via extracellular Ca2+ influx by activating CatSper channels, and subsequently modulate human sperm motility, especially hyperactivated motility, which is attributed to both protein and non-protein components in EV. WHAT IS KNOWN ALREADY: EVs are functional regulators of human sperm function, and EV cargoes from normal and asthenozoospermic seminal plasma are different. Pre-fusion of EV with sperm in the acidic and non-physiological sucrose buffer solution could elevate [Ca2+]i in human sperm. CatSper, a principle Ca2+ channel in human sperm, is responsible for the [Ca2+]i regulation when sperm respond to diverse extracellular stimuli. However, the role of CatSper in EV-evoked calcium signaling and its potential physiological significance remain unclear. STUDY DESIGN, SIZE, DURATION: EV isolated from the seminal plasma of normal and asthenozoospermic semen were utilized to investigate the mechanism by which EV regulates calcium signal in human sperm, including the involvement of CatSper and the responsible cargoes in EV. In addition, the clinical application potential of EV and EV protein-derived peptides were also evaluated. This is a laboratory study that went on for more than 5 years and involved more than 200 separate experiments. PARTICIPANTS/MATERIALS, SETTING, METHODS: Semen donors were recruited in accordance with the Institutional Ethics Committee on human subjects of the Affiliated Hospital of Nantong University and Jiangxi Maternal and Child Health Hospital. The Flow NanoAnalyzer, western blotting, and transmission electron microscope were used to systematically characterize seminal plasma EV. Sperm [Ca2+]i responses were examined by fluorimetric measurement. The whole-cell patch-clamp technique was performed to record CatSper currents. Sperm motility parameters were assessed by computer-assisted sperm analysis. Sperm hyperactivation was also evaluated by examining their penetration ability in viscous methylcellulose media. Protein and non-protein components in EV were analyzed by liquid chromatography-mass spectrum. The levels of prostaglandins, reactive oxygen species, malonaldehyde, and DNA integrity were detected by commercial kits. MAIN RESULTS AND THE ROLE OF CHANCE: EV increased [Ca2+]i via an extracellular Ca2+ influx, which could be suppressed by a CatSper inhibitor. Also, EV potentiated CatSper currents in human sperm. Furthermore, the EV-in [Ca2+]i increase and CatSper currents were absent in a CatSper-deficient sperm, confirming the crucial role of CatSper in EV induced Ca2+ signaling in human sperm. Both proteins and non-protein components of EV contributed to the increase of [Ca2+]i, which were important for the effects of EV on human sperm. Consequently, EV and its cargos promoted sperm hyperactivated motility. In addition, seminal plasma EV protein-derived peptides, such as NAT1-derived peptide (N-P) and THBS-1-derived peptide (T-P), could activate the sperm calcium signal and enhance sperm function. Interestingly, EV derived from asthenozoospermic semen caused a lower increase of [Ca2+]i than that isolated from normal seminal plasma (N-EV), and N-EV significantly improved sperm motility and function in both asthenozoospermic samples and frozen-thawed sperm. LARGE SCALE DATA: N/A. LIMITATIONS, REASONS FOR CAUTION: This was an in vitro study and caution must be taken when extrapolating the physiological relevance to in vivo regulation of sperm. WIDER IMPLICATIONS OF THE FINDINGS: Our findings demonstrate that the CatSper-mediated-Ca2+ signaling is involved in EV-modulated sperm function under near physiological conditions, and EV and their derivates are a novel CatSper and sperm function regulators with potential for clinical application. They may be developed to improve sperm motility resulting from low [Ca2+]i response and/or freezing and thawing. STUDY FUNDING/COMPETING INTEREST(S): This research was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (32271167), the Social Development Project of Jiangsu Province (BE2022765), the Nantong Social and People's Livelihood Science and Technology Plan (MS22022087), the Basic Science Research Program of Nantong (JC22022086), and the Jiangsu Innovation and Entrepreneurship Talent Plan (JSSCRC2021543). The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Versatile Polymerization-Induced Emission Polymers from Barbier Polymerization of Cinnamic Esters with Tunable Emission.

Cinnamic ester is a common and abundant chemical substance, which can be extracted from natural plants. Compared with traditional esters, cinnamic ester contains α,ß-unsaturated carbonyl structure with multiple reactive sites, resulting in more abundant reactivities and chemical structures. Here, a versatile polymerization-induced emission (PIE) is successfully demonstrated through Barbier polymerization of cinnamic ester. Attributed to its abundant reactivities of α,ß-unsaturated carbonyl structure, Barbier polymerization of cinnamic esters with different organodihalides gives polyalcohol and polyketone via 1,2-addition and 1,4-addition, respectively, which is also confirmed by small molecular model reactions. Meanwhile, these organodihalides dependant polyalcohol and polyketone exhibit different non-traditional intrinsic luminescence (NTIL) from aggregation-induced emission (AIE) type to aggregation-caused quenching (ACQ) type, where novel PIE luminogens (PIEgens) are revealed. Further potential applications in explosive detection are carried out, where it achieves TNT detection sensitivity at ppm level in solution and ng level on the test paper. This work therefore expands the structure and functionality libraries of monomer, polymer and NTIL, which might cause inspirations to different fields including polymer chemistry, NTIL, AIE and PIE.

High-Pressure Limit and Pressure-Dependent Rate Rules for ß-Scission Reaction Class of Hydroperoxyl Alkyl Hydroperoxyl Radicals (•P(OOH)2) in Normal-Alkyl Cyclohexanes Combustion.

Chemical kinetic studies of the ß-scission reaction class of hydroperoxyl alkyl hydroperoxyl radicals (•P(OOH)2) from normal-alkyl cyclohexanes are carried out systematically through high-level ab initio calculations. Geometry optimizations and frequency calculations for all species involved in the reactions are performed at the B3LYP/CBSB7 level of theory. Electronic single-point energy calculations are calculated at the CBS-QB3 level of theory. Rate constants for the reactions of ß-scission, in the temperature range of 500-1500 K and the pressure range of 0.01-100 atm, are calculated using transition state theory (TST) and Rice-Ramsberger-Kassel-Marcus/Master-Equation (RRKM/ME) theory taking asymmetric Eckart tunneling corrections and the one-dimensional hindered rotor approximation into consideration. The rate rules are obtained by averaging the rate constants of the representative reactions of this class. These rate rules can greatly assist in constructing more accurate low-temperature combustion mechanisms for normal-alkyl cyclohexanes.

Partial hydatidiform mole and coexisting fetus after frozen embryo transplantation: a case report.

Hydatidiform mole and coexisting fetus is a very rare condition of which etiology is still inconclusive. It may occur after assisted reproduction, often leading to the death of normal embryos and other serious complications. We report a case of partial hydatidiform mole and coexisting fetus after frozen embryo transplantation. More than two months after the patient underwent transplantation with two blastocysts (scored 4AB and 4BC), B-ultrasound showed a single live fetus with a large dense dotted strong echo area. The patient was treated with chemotherapy after the termination of pregnancy due to persistently increased human chorionic gonadotropin levels. Many studies have described trophoblast quality as a strong predictor of pregnancy. In the case in question, in addition to partial hydatidiform mole caused by multiple sperm entering the egg, we also speculate that the condition may be related to the poor quality of the trophoblastic ectoderm of the transferred embryo. In the process of assisted reproduction, the transfer of embryos with poor trophoblastic ectoderm in multiple embryo transfers may adversely affect pregnancy outcomes.

Exploring the role of PRDX4 in the development of uterine corpus endometrial carcinoma.

Peroxicedoxin 4 (PRDX4), a member of the peroxicedoxins (PRDXs), has been reported in many cancer-related studies, but its role in uterine corpus endometrial carcinoma (UCEC) is not fully understood. In the present study, we found that PRDX4 was highly expressed in UCEC tissues and cell lines through the combination of bioinformatics analysis and experiments, and elevated PRDX4 levels were associated with poor prognosis. Knockdown of PRDX4 significantly blocked the proliferation and migration of the UCEC cell line Ishikawa and reduced degree of cell confluence. These findings highlight the oncogenic role of PRDX4 in UCEC. In addition, genes that interact with PRDX4 in UCEC were MT-ATP8, PBK, and PDIA6, and we speculated that these genes interacted with each other to promote disease progression in UCEC. Thus, PRDX4 is a potential diagnostic biomarker for UCEC, and targeting PRDX4 may be a potential therapeutic strategy for patients with UCEC.

Skeletal muscle TET3 promotes insulin resistance through destabilisation of PGC-1α.

AIM/HYPOTHESIS: The peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-γ coactivator α (PGC-1α) plays a critical role in the maintenance of glucose, lipid and energy homeostasis by orchestrating metabolic programs in multiple tissues in response to environmental cues. In skeletal muscles, PGC-1α dysregulation has been associated with insulin resistance and type 2 diabetes but the underlying mechanisms have remained elusive. This research aims to understand the role of TET3, a member of the ten-eleven translocation (TET) family dioxygenases, in PGC-1α dysregulation in skeletal muscles in obesity and diabetes. METHODS: TET expression levels in skeletal muscles were analysed in humans with or without type 2 diabetes, as well as in mouse models of high-fat diet (HFD)-induced or genetically induced (ob/ob) obesity/diabetes. Muscle-specific Tet3 knockout (mKD) mice were generated to study TET3's role in muscle insulin sensitivity. Genome-wide expression profiling (RNA-seq) of muscle tissues from wild-type (WT) and mKD mice was performed to mine deeper insights into TET3-mediated regulation of muscle insulin sensitivity. The correlation between PGC-1α and TET3 expression levels was investigated using muscle tissues and in vitro-derived myotubes. PGC-1α phosphorylation and degradation were analysed using in vitro assays. RESULTS: TET3 expression was elevated in skeletal muscles of humans with type 2 diabetes and in HFD-fed and ob/ob mice compared with healthy controls. mKD mice exhibited enhanced glucose tolerance, insulin sensitivity and resilience to HFD-induced insulin resistance. Pathway analysis of RNA-seq identified 'Mitochondrial Function' and 'PPARα Pathway' to be among the top biological processes regulated by TET3. We observed higher PGC-1α levels (~25%) in muscles of mKD mice vs WT mice, and lower PGC-1α protein levels (~25-60%) in HFD-fed or ob/ob mice compared with their control counterparts. In human and murine myotubes, increased PGC-1α levels following TET3 knockdown contributed to improved mitochondrial respiration and insulin sensitivity. TET3 formed a complex with PGC-1α and interfered with its phosphorylation, leading to its destabilisation. CONCLUSIONS/INTERPRETATION: Our results demonstrate an essential role for TET3 in the regulation of skeletal muscle insulin sensitivity and suggest that TET3 may be used as a potential therapeutic target for the metabolic syndrome. DATA AVAILABILITY: Sequences are available from the Gene Expression Omnibus ( https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/geo/ ) with accession number of GSE224042.