The causal association between COVID-19 and herpes simplex virus: a Mendelian randomization study.

Introduction: The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has emerged as a main global public health challenge. Additionally, herpes simplex virus type-1 (HSV-1) and type 2 (HSV-2) are widespread viruses that can cause orolabial herpes and genital herpes. Several clinical case reports have declared a possible association between the two, however, the causal relationship between them has not been clarified. Methods: This study utilized a Mendelian randomization (MR) approach for causality assessment between COVID-19 infection and HSV infection based on the latest public health data and Genome-Wide Association Study (GWAS) data. Multiple causal estimation methods, such as IVW, weighted median, simple mode, and weighted mode, were employed to validate the causal relation between COVID-19 infection and HSV infection, with COVID-19 infection, COVID-19 hospitalization, and severe COVID-19 as exposures, and HSV1/2 infection as the outcome. A reverse MR analysis was subsequently performed. Results: MR analysis exhibited that COVID-19 infection was relevant to a reduced risk of HSV1 infection (p=7.603239e-152, OR=0.5690, 95%CI=0.5455-0.5935, IVW). Regarding the effect of COVID-19 infection on HSV2, MR analysis suggested that COVID-19 infection was correlated with an augmented risk of HSV2 infection (p=6.46735e-11, OR=1.1137, 95%CI=1.0782-1.1502, IVW). The reverse MR analysis did not demonstrate a reverse causal relationship between HSV and COVID-19. Discussion: Altogether, COVID-19 infection might cause a decreased risk of HSV1 infection and an elevated risk of HSV2 infection.

Correlations between gut microbiota and lichen planus: a two-sample Mendelian randomization study.

Purpose: Several existing studies have revealed that the occurrence of lichen planus (LP) is relevant to the gut microbiota, and the causal relationship between gut microbiota and LP was analyzed using the Mendelian randomization (MR) method. Methods: Through the two-sample MR method, single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) relevant to gut microbiota were selected as instrument variables (IVs) to evaluate the causal association between gut microbiota and the risk of LP. Results: According to the selection criteria of inverse-variance weighted (IVW), six bacterial genera were found to be significantly linked to the initiation of LP; The IVW results suggested that Oxalobacteraceae, Victivallaceae, and Actinobacteria could restrain the initiation of LP, showing protective effects against LP. Desulfovibrio, Veillonella, and Ruminococcus gauvreauii groups were demonstrated to have casual correlations with the onset of LP. Conclusion: The relationship between gut microbiota and LP was not a single positive or inverse relationship. Investigation of the causal relationship of these gut microbiota with LP could further provide evidence for the intestine-skin axis theory. However, the specific mechanism of microorganisms affecting the skin remains to be clarified. In this paper, the protective effects and mechanisms of Oxalobacteraceae, Victivallaceae, and Actinobacteria on LP require further exploration.

Two coordination polymers constructed by 5-[(4-carboxyphenoxy)methyl]benzene-1,3-dicarboxylic acid and 2,2'-bipyridine: syntheses, structures and luminescence properties.

Coordination polymers (CPs) have attracted increasing interest in recent years. In this work, two new CPs, namely poly[[aquabis(2,2'-bipyridine-κ2N,N'){µ3-5-[(4-carboxylatophenoxy)methyl]benzene-1,3-dicarboxylato-κ4O1,O1':O3:O5}(µ-formato-κ3O:O,O')dicadmium(II)] monohydrate], {[Cd2(C16H9O7)(HCO2)(C10H8N2)2(H2O)]·H2O}n (1), and poly[[(2,2'-bipyridine-κ2N,N'){µ3-5-[(4-carboxylphenoxy)methyl]benzene-1,3-dicarboxylato-κ4O1,O1':O3:O5}manganese(II)] sesquihydrate], {[Mn(C16H10O7)(C10H8N2)]·1.5H2O}n (2), have been prepared using the tricarboxylic acid 5-[(4-carboxyphenoxy)methyl]benzene-1,3-dicarboxylic acid and 2,2'-bipyridine under hydrothermal conditions. CP 1 displays a two-dimensional layer structure which is further extended into a three-dimensional (3D) supramolecular structure via intermolecular π-π interactions, while CP 2 shows a different 3D supramolecular structure extended from one-dimensional ladder chains by intermolecular π-π interactions. In addition, the solid-state luminescence spectra of 1 and 2 were studied at room temperature.

Synthesis of Y2O2S:Eu3+, Mg2+, Ti4+ hollow microspheres via homogeneous precipitation route.

A phosphorescent material in the form of Y2O2S:Eu3+, Mg2+, Ti4+ hollow microspheres was prepared by homogeneous precipitation using monodispersed carbon spheres as hard templates. Y2O3:Eu3+ hollow microspheres were first synthesized to serve as the precursor. Y2O2S:Eu3+, Mg2+, Ti4+ powders were obtained by calcinating the precursor in a CS2 atmosphere. The crystal structure, morphology and optical properties of the composites were characterized. X-ray diffraction measurements confirmed the purity of the Y2O2S phase. Electron microscopy observations revealed that the Y2O2S:Eu3+, Mg2+, Ti4+ particles inherited the hollow spherical shape from the precursor after being calcined in a CS2 atmosphere and that they had a diameter of 350-450 nm and a wall thickness of about 50-80 nm. After ultraviolet radiation at 265 or 325 nm for 5 min, the particles emitted strong red long-lifetime phosphorescence originating from Eu3+ ions. This phosphorescence is associated with the trapping of charge carriers by Ti4+ and Mg2+ ions.