Response and adaptation mechanisms of Apostichopus japonicus to single and combined anthropogenic stresses of polystyrene microplastics or cadmium.

Microplastics (MPs) have become pervasive in marine ecosystems, exerting detrimental effects on marine life. The concurrent presence and interaction of MPs and heavy metals in aquatic environments could engender more insidious toxicological impacts. This study aimed to elucidate the potential impacts and underlying mechanisms of polystyrene microplastics (PS-MPs), cadmium (Cd), and their combined stress (MPs-Cd) on sea cucumbers (Apostichopus japonicus). It focused on the growth, Cd bioaccumulation, oxidative stress responses, immunoenzymatic activities, and metabolic profiles, specifically considering PS-MPs sizes preferentially ingested by these organisms. The high-dose MPs (MH) treatment group exhibited an increase in cadmium bioavailability within the sea cucumbers. Exposure to PS-MPs or Cd triggered the activation of antioxidant defenses and immune responses. PS-MPs and Cd exhibited a synergistic effect on lysozyme (LZM) activity. A total of 149, 316, 211, 197, 215, 619, 434, and 602 differentially expressed metabolites were identified, distinguishing the low-dose MPs (ML), high-dose MPs (MH), low-dose Cd (LCd), low-dose MPs and low-dose Cd (MLLCd), high-dose MPs and low-dose Cd (MHLCd), high-dose Cd (HCd), low-dose MPs and high-dose Cd (MLHCd), high-dose MPs and high-dose Cd (MHHCd) groups, respectively. Metabolomic analyses revealed disruptions in lipid metabolism, nervous system function, signal transduction, and transport and catabolism pathways following exposure to PS-MPs, Cd, and MPs-Cd. Correlation analyses among key differentially expressed metabolites (DEMs) underscored the interregulation among these metabolic pathways. These results offer new perspectives on the distinct and synergistic toxicological impacts of microplastics and cadmium on aquatic species, highlighting the complex interplay between environmental contaminants and their effects on marine life.

Effect of non-surgical periodontal therapy on risk markers of cardiovascular disease: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is the leading cause of mortality in the world. Patients with periodontitis have a higher risk of CVD, although a causal relationship between these conditions remains unclear. Non-surgical periodontal therapy (NSPT) is able to control inflammation at local and systemic levels. This study aimed to analyze the effect of NSPT on CVD risk markers. METHODS: Four electronic databases were searched from their inception to April 1, 2023, to identify and select articles without any language restrictions. Eleven CVD-related markers (e.g., C-reactive protein [CRP], Interleukin-6 [IL-6]) were selected. Meta-analyses were performed using random and fixed effect models. The differences were expressed as weighted mean differences (WMD) and 95% confidence interval (95% CI). RESULTS: From 1353 studies, twenty-one randomized controlled clinical trials were included in the meta-analysis. Results showed a significant decrease in CRP, IL-6, and systolic blood pressure (SBP) after NSPT. CONCLUSION: Moderate certainty evidence shows that NSPT has a positive effect on the reduction of IL-6 and SBP in patients with periodontitis, while low certainty evidence shows that NSPT is effective for reduction of CRP. Moderate certainty evidence showed that NSPT did not show a positive effect on low-density lipoprotein (LDL), high-density lipoprotein (HDL), total cholesterol (TC) and triglycerides (TG), and low certainty evidence showed that NSPT did not show a positive effect on Interleukin-1ß (IL-1ß), tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), diastolic blood pressure (DBP), and flow-mediated dilatation (FMD). PROTOCOL REGISTRATION: The protocol was registered in the PROSPERO (International Prospective Register of Systematic Reviews), number CRD42022377565.

Regulating donor configuration to develop AIE-active type I photosensitizers for lipid droplet imaging and high-performance photodynamic therapy under hypoxia.

Type I photodynamic therapy is considered to be a more promising cancer treatment than type II photodynamic therapy due to its non-oxygen-dependent characteristics. In this work, three D-A structure N,N'-dihydrophenazine (DHP)-based photosensitizers DP-CNPY, SMP-CNPY and DMP-CNPY were designed and synthesized by introducing different numbers of methyl groups in the backbone neighbor of DHP as the donor and combined with the typical strong electron acceptor 2-(pyridin-4-yl)acetonitrile. Among the three photosensitizers, SMP-CNPY with one methyl modification showed the best type I ROS (O2-˙, ˙OH) generation capacity and AIE performance. By encapsulation, SMP-CNPY was fabricated into nanoparticles, and SMP-CNPY NPs exhibited lipid droplet targeting ability with near-infrared (NIR) emission. Cell experiments have proved that SMP-CNPY NPs can effectively kill different kinds of cancer cells under normal oxygen conditions. Even under hypoxic and extreme hypoxic conditions, SMP-CNPY NPs can still produce ROS and kill cancer cells. This work holds significant potential in the field of type I AIE-active photosensitizers and provides a new strategy for overcoming the hypoxic dilemma in the malignant tumor microenvironment.

Evaluation of the chronic toxicity of bisphenol A and bisphenol AF to sea cucumber Apostichopus japonicus after long-term single and combined exposure at environmental relevant concentration.

Bisphenols are emerging endocrine disrupting pollutant, and several studies have reported that they are already ubiquitous in various environmental matrices and intend to deposit in sediment. The primary sources of bisphenols are river and sewage discharge. Sea cucumber (Apostichopus japonicus), a typical deposit feeder, is one of the most important commercial marine species in Aisa. However, the effects of the bisphenol A (BPA) and its analogues bisphenol AF (BPAF) on sea cucumber was unclear. In this study, we carried out field survey in major sea cucumber farming areas in northern China, with the aim of determining which bisphenol analogue is the major bisphenol contamination in this aquaculture area. The results showed that the presence of BPAF was detected in four sampling sites (Dalian, Tangshan, Laizhou, and Longpan). The mean level of BPAF in Laizhou sediment samples was the highest which reached to 9.007 ± 4.702 µ g/kg. Among the seawater samples, the BPAF only have been detected in the samples collected at Longpan. (0.011 ± 0.003 µ g/L). Furthermore, we conducted an experiment to evaluate the single and combined toxicity of BPA and BPAF on sea cucumbers. The concentrations were informed by the findings based on the results of field research. (0.1, 1.0, and 10 µ g/L). After exposure, the body weight gain, and specific growth rate showed no significant changes (P > 0.05). We observed the histological alterations in respiratory tree of treated sea cucumbers including the fusion and detachment of lining epithelial tissue, and increase of lumen space. However, the catalase (CAT), malondialdehyde (MDA), and glutathione (GSH) activity was not significantly changed (P > 0.05). We evaluated the effects of BPA and BPAF through calculating the integrated biomarker response index (IBR), and the results indicated that the toxicity of combined treatment was higher than single treatment. Additionally, BPAF exposure to A. japonicus was more toxic than BPA.

Dietary steroids promote body weight growth and induce gametogenesis by increasing the expressions of genes related to cell proliferation of sea cucumber (Apostichopus japonicus).

Steroids play a vital role in animal survival, promoting growth and development when administered appropriate concentration exogenously. However, it remains unclear whether steroids can induce gonadal development and the underlying mechanism. This study assessed sea cucumber weights post-culturing, employing paraffin sections and RNA sequencing (RNA-seq) to explore gonadal changes and gene expression in response to exogenous steroid addition. Testosterone and cholesterol, dissolved in absolute ethanol, were incorporated into sea cucumber diets. After 30 days, testosterone and cholesterol significantly increased sea cucumber weights, with the total weight of experimental groups surpassing the control. The testosterone-fed group exhibited significantly higher eviscerated weight than the control group. In addition, dietary steroids influenced gonad morphology and upregulated genes related to cell proliferation，such as RPL35, PC, eLF-1, MPC2, ADCY10 and CYP2C18. Thees upregulated differentially expressed genes were significantly enriched in the organic system, metabolism, genetic information and environmental information categories. These findings imply that steroids may contribute to the growth and the process of genetic information translation and protein synthesis essential for gonadal development and gametogenesis.

NLRP10 promotes AGEs-induced NLRP1 and NLRP3 inflammasome activation via ROS/MAPK/NF-κB signaling in human periodontal ligament cells.

Diabetes mellitus (DM), characterized by production and accumulation of advanced glycation end products (AGEs), induces and promotes chronic inflammation in tissues, including periodontal tissue. Increasing amount of epidemiological and experimental evidence demonstrated that more extensive inflammatory reaction and bone resorption occurred in periodontal tissues in diabetic patients with periodontitis, which is speculated to be related to NLRP3 inflammasome. NLRP10 is the only NOD-like receptor protein lacking leucine-rich repeats, suggesting that NLRP10 may be a regulatory protein. The aim of this study was to investigate the regulatory role of NLRP10 on NLRP1 and NLRP3 inflammasome in human periodontal ligament cells (HPDLCs) under AGEs treatment. Expression of NLRP10 in HPDLCs stimulated with 100 ug/mL AGEs for 24 h was observed. Detection of TRIM31 is conducted, and in TRIM31-overexpressed HPDLCs, the interaction between NLRP10 with TRIM31 as well as NLRP10 with ubiquitination were explored by immunoprecipitation. Under AGEs stimulation, the activation of reactive oxidative stress (ROS) and inflammatory signaling pathway (NF-κB, MAPK pathway) was detected by biomedical microscope and western blot (WB), respectively. After stimulation with AGEs for 24 h with or without silencing NLRP10, inflammatory cytokines (IL-6 and IL-1ß), NF-κB, MAPK pathway, ROS, and components of inflammasome were assessed. In HPDLCs, we found AGEs induced NLRP10 and inhibited TRIM31. TRIM31 overexpression significantly enhanced interaction between TRIM31 and NLRP10, then induced proteasomal degradation of NLRP10. Moreover, under AGEs stimulation, NLRP10 positively regulates NLRP1, NLRP3 inflammasomes by activating NF-κB, MAPK pathway, and increasing ROS, finally promoting the expression of inflammatory cytokines. Together, we, for the first time, confirmed that NLRP10 could promote inflammatory response induced by AGEs in HPDLCs via activation of NF-κB, and MAPK pathway and increasing ROS.

Metabolic and oxidative stress response of sea cucumber Apostichopus japonicus exposed to acute high concentration of bisphenol AF.

Bisphenols are known as endocrine disruptor that affect the development, and growth of marine creatures, including human. There were plenty of manuscripts evaluated the toxicology of bisphenol A (BPA) and its analogues such as bisphenol F (BPF), bisphenol AF (BPAF), and bisphenol S (BPS), but limits of them studied the effects of bisphenol analogues on echinoderms. In this study, we used metabolomics to investigate the metabolic response of sea cucumber (Apostichopus japonicus) exposed to BPAF, and the activities of glutathione (GSH), catalase (CAT), and superoxide dismutase (SOD) were determined. The results demonstrated alterations in lipid metabolism, glycerophospholipid metabolism, and biosynthesis of amino acids following BPAF treatment. Sea cucumbers upregulated the glycerophospholipid metabolism to repair the destruction of intestine cellular homeostasis. Six metabolites were selected as the potential biomarkers for the exposure of BPAF. This study revealed the metabolic response and oxidative response of sea cucumber arising from BPAF exposure, and provided theoretical support for the risk assessment of bisphenol analogues on economically important echinoderms, such as A. japonicus.

A Turn-On Lipid Droplet-Targeted Near-Infrared Fluorescent Probe with a Large Stokes Shift for Detection of Intracellular Carboxylesterases and Cell Viability Imaging.

Carboxylesterases (CEs) play important physiological roles in the human body and are involved in numerous cellular processes. Monitoring CEs activity has great potential for the rapid diagnosis of malignant tumors and multiple diseases. Herein, we developed a new phenazine-based "turn-on" fluorescent probe DBPpys by introducing 4-bromomethyl-phenyl acetate to DBPpy, which can selectively detect CEs with a low detection limit (9.38 × 10-5 U/mL) and a large Stokes shift (more than 250 nm) in vitro. In addition, DBPpys can also be converted into DBPpy by carboxylesterase in HeLa cells and localized in lipid droplets (LDs), emitting bright near-infrared fluorescence under the irradiation of white light. Moreover, we achieved the detection of cell health status by measuring the intensity of NIR fluorescence after co-incubation of DBPpys with H2O2-pretreated HeLa cells, indicating that DBPpys has great potential applications for assessing CEs activity and cellular health.

Under-loaded operation of an anaerobic-anoxic-aerobic system in dry and wet weather dynamics to prevent overflow pollution: Impacts on process performance and microbial community.

Effects of low hydraulic loading rate (HLR) in dry weather and high HLR in wet weather on pollutant removal, microbial community, and sludge properties of a full-scale wastewater treatment plant (WWTP) were extensively studied to explore the risk of under-loaded operation for overflow pollution control. Long-term low HLR operation had an insignificant effect on the pollutant removal performance of the full-scale WWTP, and the system could withstand high-load shocks in wet weather. Low HLR resulted in higher oxygen and nitrate uptake rate due to the storage mechanism under the alternating feast/famine condition, and lower nitrifying rate. Low HLR operation enlarged particle size, deteriorated floc aggregation and sludge settleability, and reduced sludge viscosity due to the overgrowth of filamentous bacteria and inhibition of floc-forming bacteria. The remarkable increase in Thuricola and the contract morphology of Vorticella in microfauna observation confirmed the risk of flocs disintegration in low HLR operation.

The Role of SDF-1α-CXCR4/CXCR7 in Migration of Human Periodontal Ligament Stem Cells.

Background and Objectives: Regenerative endodontic procedures (REPs) are a research hotspot in the endodontic field. One of the biggest problems of REPs is that it is difficult to realize regeneration of pulp-dentin complex and functional reconstruction. The reason is still not clear. We hypothesize that the migration may be different in different dental stem cells. Periodontal ligament stem cells (PDLSCs) may migrate faster than stem cells of apical papilla (SCAPs), differentiating into cementum-like tissue, bone-like tissue and periodontal ligament-like tissue and, finally affecting the outcomes of REPs. Hence, this study aimed to explore the mechanism that regulates the migration of PDLSCs. Methods and Results: After isolating and culturing PDLSCs and SCAPs from human third molars, we compared the migration of PDLSCs and SCAPs. Then we investigated the role of SDF-1α-CXCR4/CXCR7 axis in PDLSC migration. We further investigated the impact of Porphyromonas gingivalis (P. gingivalis) lipopolysaccharide (LPS) on PDLSC migration and the potential mechanism. PDLSCs showed better migration under both noninflammatory and inflammatory conditions than SCAPs. SDF-1α can promote the migration of PDLSCs by elevating the expression of CXCR4 and CXCR7, increasing the interaction between them, promoting expression of ß-arrestin1 and activating the ERK signaling pathway. P. gingivalis LPS can promote the migration of PDLSCs toward SDF-1α through increasing the expression of CXCR4 via the NF-κB signaling pathway, promoting the expression of ß-arrestin1, and activating the ERK signaling pathway. Conclusions: This study helped elucidate the potential reason for the difficulty in forming pulp-dentin complex.

Effects of a High-Fat Diet on Intestinal and Gonadal Metabolism in Female and Male Sea Cucumber Apostichopus japonicus.

Parental nutrient reserves are directly related to reproductive performance in sea cucumbers. This study focused on the lipid requirements of male and female sea cucumbers Apostichopus japonicus during the reproductive stage and analyzed their physiological responses to a high-fat diet (HFD). The intestinal lipid metabolites and microbiome profile changed significantly in animals fed with the HFD, as given by an upregulation of metabolites related to lipid metabolism and an increase in the predominance of Proteobacteria in the microbiome, respectively. The metabolic responses of male and female sea cucumbers to the HFD differed, which in turn could have triggered sex-related differences in the intestinal microbiome. These results suggest that the lipid content in diets can be differentially adjusted for male and female sea cucumbers to improve nutrition and promote reproduction. This data contributes to a better understanding of the reproductive biology and sex differences of sea cucumbers.

Structural characterization and anti-oxidation activity evaluation of pectin from Lonicera japonica Thunb.

Pectins are nutrient components of plants and are widely used in the food industry. In this study, one major pectin fraction (WLJP-A0.2b) with Mw of 40.6 kDa was purified from Lonicera japonica Thunb. The structural feature and antioxidant activity of it was investigated. Monosaccharide composition, Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) spectra, enzymatic hydrolysis, and nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectra analysis indicated that WLJP-A0.2b consisted of rhamnogalacturonan I (RG-I), rhamnogalacturonan II (RG-II), and homogalacturonan (HG) domains, with mass ratio of 0.4:1.0:2.1. The RG-I domain contained highly branched α-L-1,5-arabinan, ß-D-1,4-galactan and type II arabinogalactan (AG-II) side chains. The HG domain was released in the form of un-esterified and partly methyl-esterified and/or acetyl-esterified oligogalacturonides with degree of polymerization 1-8 after degradation by endo-polygalacturonase. Radical scavenging assays indicated that WLJP-A0.2b exhibited antioxidant activity through the synergistic effects of different pectin domains. Oligogalacturonides, especially de-esterified oligogalacturonides, showed better antioxidant activities than RG-II and RG-I domains. Moreover, de-esterified oligogalacturonides remarkably reduced H2O2-induced reactive oxygen species production in HEK-293T cells. These results provide useful information for screening of natural antioxidants from Lonicera japonica Thunb. and application of pectin in functional food field.

Circulating miR-130a-3p is elevated in patients with cerebral atherosclerosis and predicts 2-year risk of cerebrovascular events.

BACKGROUND: Cerebral atherosclerosis (AS) leads to high risk of cerebrovascular events. This study aims to evaluate the diagnostic performance of serum microRNA-130a-3p (miR-130a-3p) in cerebral AS patients, and construct a logistic risk model for 2-year cerebrovascular events on the basis of the prognostic potential of miR-130a-3p. METHODS: Serum samples were collected from 74 cerebral AS patients and 62 control individuals, and miR-130a-3p expression was investigated using reverse transcription quantitative PCR. Risk factors related with cerebral AS were assessed using a logistic regression analysis, and the receiver operating characteristic analysis was performed to evaluate the diagnostic value of miR-130a-3p. The relationship between miR-130a-3p and cerebrovascular events was analyzed using a Kaplan-Meier method, and a logistic risk model was constructed for 2-year cerebrovascular events. RESULTS: Cerebral AS patients had elevated serum miR-130a-3p compared with controls (P < 0.001). Serum miR-130a-3p had diagnostic value (AUC = 0.899), and could significantly improve the diagnostic accuracy of total cholesterol (TC) and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) in cerebral AS patients (AUC = 0.992). High serum miR-130a-3p was independently related with high probability of cerebrovascular events (HR = 1.993, 95% CI = 1.205-2.897, P = 0.006), and a logistic risk model was constructed based on serum miR-130a-3p, hs-CRP, TC and LDL-C. CONCLUSION: All the findings indicated that high serum miR-130a-3p had diagnostic potential to screen cerebral AS, and predicted the probability of cerebrovascular events after AS. The logistic risk model based on miR-130a-3p may provide an efficient method to predict 2-year cerebrovascular events in AS patients.

Shaping outcome of ProTaper NEXT for root canal preparation in mandibular incisors: a micro-CT study.

BACKGROUND: Relatively high incidence of single canals with oval or round shape were observed in human mandibular incisors. In order to investigate the influence of the root canal morphology on root canal preparation, the shaping outcome of ProTaper NEXT in oval and round canals of mandibular incisors were evaluated by using micro-computed tomography (micro-CT) analysis. METHODS: This experiment was approved by the School Medical Ethics Committee. The sample size calculation was conducted using G*Power software. Intact mandibular incisors with a single canal were selected. Oval canals (2 < aspect ratio (AR) ≤ 4) and round canals (AR ≤ 2) were pair-matched according to canal length, and assigned to two experimental groups (13 per group). ProTaper NEXT was used for root canal preparation for both groups. Untouched canal wall (UCW), root canal morphological parameters and three-dimensional (3D) dentin thickness were evaluated in the entire root canal and each canal third after micro-CT scanning. STATISTICAL ANALYSIS: Data were collected and analyzed with Mann-Whitney test and Friedman test using SPSS statistics software 25 (P < 0.05). Additionally, correlations of UCW area with canal morphological parameters were also investigated. RESULTS: After root canal preparation, no significant difference was observed in all analyzed parameters in the apical third between oval and round canal groups (P > 0.05). In the coronal two thirds of the canal, the post-operative structure model index (SMI), form factor and roundness were significantly increased, while the AR was significantly decreased in both groups (P < 0.05). In addition, in the coronal two thirds, significantly more UCW and higher UCWΔ% was observed in oval canal group (P < 0.05). Furthermore, UCW correlated very strongly to canal major diameter (0.924) and initial volume (0.938), and strongly to canal form factor (- 0.724), minor diameter (0.799) and canal area (0.882). Proximal dentin wall was associated with significantly thinner pre-operative dentin thickness and higher amount of dentin removal after root canal preparation in both oval and round canal groups. CONCLUSIONS: (1) Both types of canals were more conical after root canal preparation, but oval root canals tend to leave more UCW area than round canals in the coronal two thirds of mandibular incisors, which contributes to the challenge for endodontic infection control. (2) Root canal preparation usually results in excessive dentin removal in the proximal dentin wall comparing with buccal and lingual walls in both types of canals of mandibular incisors.

ß-1,6-Glucan From Pleurotus eryngii Modulates the Immunity and Gut Microbiota.

Polysaccharides from Pleurotus eryngii exhibit a variety of biological activities. Here, we obtained a homogeneous branched ß-1,6-glucan (APEP-A-b) from the fruiting bodies of P. eryngii and investigated its effect on immunity and gut microbiota. Our results showed that APEP-A-b significantly increases splenic lymphocyte proliferation, NK cell activity and phagocytic capacity of peritoneal cavity phagocytes. Furthermore, we found that the proportion of CD4+ and CD8+ T cells in lamina propria are significantly increased upon APEP-A-b treatment. Additionally, APEP-A-b supplementation demonstrated pronounced changes in microbiota reflected in promotion of relative abundances of species in the Lachnospiraceae and Rikenellaceae families. Consistently, APEP-A-b significantly increased the concentration of acetic and butyric acid in cecum contents. Overall, our results suggest that ß-1,6-glucan from P. eryngii might enhance immunity by modulating microbiota. These results are important for the processing and product development of P. eryngii derived polysaccharides.

Comparative Effects of Concentrated Growth Factors on the Biological Characteristics of Periodontal Ligament Cells and Stem Cells from Apical Papilla.

INTRODUCTION: During cell-free regenerative endodontic therapy, both stem cells from apical papilla (SCAPs) and periodontal ligament cells (PDLCs) are possible cell sources because of their proximity. Nonetheless, the regenerative ability of PDLCs and SCAPs under the induction of concentrated growth factors (CGFs) remains unclear. METHODS: PDLCs and SCAPs were treated with various concentrations of CGF-conditioned medium (CCM). The effects of CCM with or without Porphyromonas gingivalis lipopolysaccharide (LPS) on cell migration, odonto/osteogenic differentiation, and the expression of inflammatory cytokines were assessed. Dentin matrix transplants composed of PDLCs or SCAPs cell sheets coupled with CGF were put subcutaneously in immunocompromised mice for 8 weeks to explore their regenerative characteristics in vivo. RESULTS: CCM dose dependently enhanced the migration, proliferation, and odonto/osteogenic differentiation of PDLCs and SCAPs. CCM alleviated LPS-inhibited odonto/osteogenic differentiation of PDLCs and SCAPs as well as the LPS-induced up-regulation of inflammatory cytokines. In vivo, the newly regenerated tissue and microvessels formed by PDLCs and SCAPs were significantly increased under the induction of CGF. SCAPs mainly regenerated pulp/dentinlike tissues and a large number of microvessels, whereas PDLCs mainly formed bone/cementumlike structures. CONCLUSIONS: Overall, PDLCs excelled in cell proliferation, migration, and osteogenic differentiation, whereas SCAPs outperformed PDLCs in terms of angiogenic and odontogenic differentiation. The biological differences between PDLCs and SCAPs provided a possible theoretical basis for the formation of bone/cementum/periodontal ligament-like tissues after cell-free regenerative endodontic therapy.

Increased Levels of Serum Neuregulin 1 Associated with Cognitive Impairment in Vascular Dementia.

OBJECTIVE: Neuregulin 1 (NRG 1) is a member of the epidermal growth factor (EGF) family and is believed to play an important role in neuroplasticity. However, the relationship between NRG 1 and vascular dementia (VaD) is poorly understood. The purpose of this study is to explore the correlation between neuregulin 1 and VaD. Patients and Methods. From October 2018 to September 2020, 93 VaD patients and 79 control populations who attended Liaocheng People's Hospital were included in the study. Baseline characteristics including age, gender, years of education, HDL, LDL, FBG, SBP, and DBP are collected. At the same time, peripheral blood was collected, and the concentration of serum NRG 1 was detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). All research subjects received professional cognitive function assessment. RESULTS: A total of 93 VaD patients and 79 controls were enrolled. There was no significant difference in age, gender, years of education, HDL, LDL, FBG, SBP, and DBP between the two groups (p > 0.05). However, compared with the control group, VaD patients have lower MoCA and higher serum NRG 1 levels, and the difference is statistically significant (p < 0.001). The correlation analysis of MoCA and baseline characteristics showed that the MoCA score in VaD was significantly negatively correlated with serum NRG 1 (r = -0.374, p = 0.036). The results of multivariate regression showed that the MoCA score of VaD patients was only associated with NRG 1 (ß = 0.258, p = 0.012). CONCLUSIONS: The concentration of serum NRG 1 in VaD patients is significantly increased, which may be an independent risk factor for cognitive impairment in VaD patients.

Elevated Levels of Serum Neurofilament Light Chain Associated with Cognitive Impairment in Vascular Dementia.

OBJECTIVE: Vascular dementia (VaD) is a progressive neurodegenerative disease with cognitive decline caused by cerebrovascular factors. Despite the great progress made in the past decade, VaD still lacks effective treatments and peripheral blood biomarkers. In this study, we tested the level of peripheral blood neurofilament light chain (NfL) in VaD patients and explored its relationship with cognitive impairment. METHOD: A total of 176 study subjects including 80 normal controls (NC) and 96 VaD patients were included in our study. Upon admission, we collected clinical and biochemical characteristics of all research subjects. We also evaluate the Montreal cognitive assessment scale (MoCA) scores of all subjects. The serum NfL level was measured by the single-molecule array (Simoa) method. RESULTS: The years of education in the NC group and VaD group were (11.65 ± 3.04) years and (10.53 ± 3.87) years, respectively. Compared with VaD patients, the NC group has a higher level of education (p = 0.037). Furthermore, the results of Simoa indicated that VaD subjects had higher serum NfL levels compared with the NC group [(8.49 ± 2.37) pg/ml vs. (19.26 ± 4.71) pg/ml, p < 0.001]. In terms of other clinical and biochemical characteristics, there was no significant difference between VaD and NC. The Spearman correlation analysis indicated that educational years have a significant positive correlation with MoCA scores (r = 0.238, p = 0.041), while age and serum NfL levels have a significantly negative correlation with MoCA scores (age: r = -0.213, p = 0.040; NfL: r = -0.395, p = 0.027). However, further multiple regression analysis showed that only serum NfL level might serve as an independent risk factor for cognitive decline in VaD (ß = 0.317, p = 0.021). CONCLUSION: The serum NfL levels in VaD subjects are significantly elevated, which may be used as a potential peripheral blood marker for predicting cognitive impairment in patients with VaD.

Mechano-chemical coupling of irrigation enhances endodontic biofilm debridement.

The complexity of the root canal system results in areas where mechanical instrumentation is impossible during endodontic treatment. To disinfect these areas, the effect of irrigation on biofilm debridement is of great significance but has not yet been well explored. Using an in vitro Enterococcus faecalis biofilm model and a biofilm reactor, the present study provides a better understanding of the relative contributions of mechanical and chemical effects of irrigation on biofilm removal, as well as the factors influencing their coupling efficiency. The results clearly demonstrate that, the mechanical effect of irrigation alone does not significantly influence the stability of biofilms. However, the mechanical effect promotes biofilm eradication by coupling with the chemical effect. In addition, both the irrigant concentration and the irrigant-biofilm contact time are among the key factors affecting the mechano-chemical coupling. This knowledge may serve to better direct endodontists in designing irrigation regimes during root canal therapy.

An efficient protocol for the preparation of linear arabino-oligosaccharides.

In this study, we report the development of an efficient protocol in the preparation of linear arabino-oligosaccharides derived from sugar beet arabinan. By optimizing hydrolytic conditions and separation on tandem Bio-Gel P4 columns, we obtained arabino-oligosaccharides with various degrees of polymerization (DP) from 2 to 15. All of these α-1,5-linked arabino-oligosaccharides are highly pure (>95%) as determined by HPAEC, MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry and 13C NMR spectroscopy. Due to their purity, these oligosaccharides can be used as standards to identify other oligosaccharides and as substrates to characterize new arabinan-specific enzymes, as well as for the development of new functional oligosaccharides.