Effects of dissolved organic matter on the environmental behavior and toxicity of metal nanomaterials: A review.

Metal nanomaterials (MNMs) have been released into the environment during their usage in various products, and their environmental behaviors directly impact their toxicity. Numerous environmental factors potentially affect the behaviors and toxicity of MNMs with dissolved organic matter (DOM) playing the most essential role. Abundant facts showing contradictory results about the effects of DOM on MNMs, herein the occurrence of DOM on the environmental process change of MNMs such as dissolution, dispersion, aggregation, and surface transformation were summarized. We also reviewed the effects of MNMs on organisms and their mechanisms in the environment such as acute toxicity, oxidative stress, oxidative damage, growth inhibition, photosynthesis, reproductive toxicity, and malformation. The presence of DOM had the potential to reduce or enhance the toxicity of MNMs by altering the reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation, dissolution, stability, and electrostatic repulsion of MNMs. Furthermore, we summarized the factors that affected different toxicity including specific organisms, DOM concentration, DOM types, light conditions, detection time, and production methods of MNMs. However, the more detailed mechanism of interaction between DOM and MNMs needs further investigation.

Long-term causal effects estimation via latent surrogates representation learning.

Estimating long-term causal effects based on short-term surrogates is a significant but challenging problem in many real-world applications such as marketing and medicine. Most existing methods estimate causal effects in an idealistic and simplistic manner - disregarding unobserved surrogates and treating all short-term outcomes as surrogates. However, such methods are not well-suited to real-world scenarios where the partially observed surrogates are mixed with the proxies of unobserved surrogates among short-term outcomes. To address this issue, we develop our flexible method called LASER to estimate long-term causal effects in a more realistic situation where the surrogates are either observed or have observed proxies. In LASER, we employ an identifiable variational autoencoder to learn the latent surrogate representation by using all the surrogate candidates without the need to distinguish observed surrogates or proxies of unobserved surrogates. With the learned representation, we further devise a theoretically guaranteed and unbiased estimation of long-term causal effects. Extensive experimental results on the real-world and semi-synthetic datasets demonstrate the effectiveness of our proposed method.

Morphology, morphogenesis and molecular phylogeny of a new soil ciliate, Lamtostyla paravitiphila nov. spec. (Ciliophora, Hypotrichia).

The morphology and morphogenesis of Lamtostyla paravitiphila nov. spec., a novel soil hypotrichous ciliate collected from eastern China, were investigated based on live observations and protargol-stained specimens. The new species is morphologically characterized as follows: seven to twelve macronuclear nodules, cortical granules absent, 19-26 adoral membranelles, three or four frontoventral cirri, the amphisiellid median cirral row extends to about mid-body and composed of 12-18 cirri, two or three transverse cirri, 27-39 left and 30-41 right marginal cirri, three almost bipolar dorsal kineties. Morphogenetically, it is characterized by the initial formation of six frontal-ventral-transverse cirral anlagen as primary primordia. Notably, the amphisiellid median cirral row and the posterior frontoventral cirrus (or cirri) contribute to the development of the frontal-ventral-transverse cirral anlagen, while the buccal cirrus may not participate in this process. Phylogenetic analyses based on small subunit ribosomal DNA sequence data indicate that the Lamtostyla species with available molecular data do not form a monophyletic group.

Changes in TNF-α, IL-33, and MIP-1α before and after artificial liver support treatment and their prognostic value.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effect of ALST (artificial liver support treatment) on inflammatory factors and prognosis in patients with ACLF (acute-on-chronic liver failure). METHODS: Data of ACLF patients admitted to the No. 2 People's Hospital of Lanzhou from June 2020 to January 2023 were retrospectively analyzed. Patients were compared before and after ALST in terms of ALT (Alanine Aminotransferase), AST (Aspartate Aminotransferase), TBil (Total Bilirubin), Cr (Creatinine), INR (International Normalized Ratio), MELD (Model for End-Stage Liver Disease) scores, as well as TNF-α (Tumor Necrosis Factor-α), IL-33 (Interleukin-33), and MIP-1α (Macrophage Inflammatory Protein-1 α) levels. The ROC (receiver operating characteristic) curve was used to analyze the efficacy of the above indicators in predicting 90-day mortality in patients. RESULTS: After the treatment, the levels of ALT, AST, TBil, Cr, INR, and MELD score were significantly lower than those before treatment (all P<0.001). Also, the levels of TNF-α, IL-33, and MIP-1α were substantially lower than those before treatment (all P<0.001). TNF-α, IL-33, and MIP-1α were positively correlated with MELD score before and after the treatment (all P<0.01). TNF-α, IL-33, MIP-1α, and MELD score were significantly higher in the death group than in the survival group (all P<0.01). The ROC curves showed that MELD (AUC=0.857), TNF-α (AUC=0.836), IL-33 (AUC=0.749), and MIP-1α (AUC=0.746) had high efficacy in predicting patients' 90-day mortality. CONCLUSION: ALST can significantly reduce TNF-α, IL-33, and MIP-1α levels in patients with ACLF, and postoperative TNF-α, IL-33, and MIP-1α levels have a high predictive value for patients' prognosis.

Methylation enables the use of fluorine-free ether electrolytes in high-voltage lithium metal batteries.

Lithium metal batteries represent a promising technology for next-generation energy storage, but they still suffer from poor cycle life due to lithium dendrite formation and cathode cracking. Fluorinated solvents can improve battery longevity by improving LiF content in the solid-electrolyte interphase; however, the high cost and environmental concerns of fluorinated solvents limit battery viability. Here we designed a series of fluorine-free solvents through the methylation of 1,2-dimethoxyethane, which promotes inorganic LiF-rich interphase formation through anion reduction and achieves high oxidation stability. The anion-derived LiF interphases suppress lithium dendrite growth on the lithium anode and minimize cathode cracking under high-voltage operation. The Li+-solvent structure is investigated through in situ techniques and simulations to draw correlations between the interphase compositions and electrochemical performances. The methylation strategy provides an alternative pathway for electrolyte engineering towards high-voltage electrolytes while reducing dependence on expensive fluorinated solvents.

hUC-MSCs therapy for Crohn's disease: efficacy in TNBS-induced colitis in rats and pilot clinical study.

BACKGROUND: The use of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) has recently emerged as a promising new therapeutic strategy for many diseases including perianal fistulizing Crohn's disease (CD). Whether hUC-MSCs can promote the healing of luminal ulcer in CD has not been studied so far. METHODS: The model of TNBS-induced colitis in rats was used to confirm the efficacy of hUC-MSCs in the treatment of CD. Then, seventeen CD patients refractory to or unsuitable for currently available therapies were enrolled and received once submucosal local injection through colonoscopy combined with once intravenous drip on the next day. All patients received a 24-week follow-up. Clinical and laboratory assessments were monitored at baseline, week 4, 8, 12, and 24. Endoscopic evaluations were conducted at baseline and week 12. Mucosal specimens were obtained at the margin of lesions by endoscopy biopsies and used for RNA sequencing. Two hUC-MSCs co-culture systems were established in vitro, one with the mucosa specimens and the other with M1 macrophages induced from THP1. The expressions of genes representing inflammation (TNFα, IL-6, and IL-1ß) and intestinal barrier function (ZO1, CLAUDIN1, and CDH1) were tested by RT-PCR. FINDINGS: hUC-MSCs treatment increased body weight and decreased disease activity index (DAI), colon macroscopic damage index (CMDI), and histopathological score (HPS) of rats with TNBS-induced colitis. The results of the clinical study also showed that this mode of hUC-MSCs application was associated with regression of intestinal ulceration. Eight patients (47%) got endoscopic responses (SES-CD improvement of ≥50% from baseline) and three patients (17.65%) got mucosal healing (SES-CD is zero), with a parallel improvement of clinical and laboratory parameters without serious adverse events. RNA sequencing showed hUC-MSCs therapy was associated with an upregulation of transcripts linked to intestinal epithelial barrier integrity and a downregulation of inflammatory signaling pathways in the intestinal mucosa, especially the TNF signaling pathway, IL-17 signaling pathway, and TLR signaling pathway. RNA expression of intestinal epithelial tight junction protein (ZO1, CLAUDIN1, and CDH1), and the RNA expression of major intestinal inflammatory factors in CD (IL-1ß, IL-6, and TNFα, p < 0.001 for all) were improved significantly. Moreover, hUC-MSCs could attenuate the polarization of M1 macrophage induced from THP1, thereby decreasing the mRNA expression of IL-1ß, IL-6, and TNFα significantly (p < 0.05 for all). TSG-6 expression was evaluated in hUC-MSCs culture supernatant after treatment with TNFα, IFNγ, and LPS for 48 h. And hUC-MSCs could inhibit the phosphorylation of JAK/STAT1 in the intestinal mucosa of CD patients. INTERPRETATION: hUC-MSCs transplantation alleviated TNBS-induced colitis in rats. In this pilot clinical study, preliminary data suggested that this approach to administering hUC-MSCs might have potential for clinical efficacy and manageable safety in treating refractory CD, potentially providing hope for better outcomes. No serious adverse events were observed. FUNDING: This work was funded by General Program of National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant No. 82270639), the Scientific research project of Shanghai Municipal Health Committee (Grant No. 202240001), Specialty Feature Construction Project of Shanghai Pudong New Area Health Commission (Grant No. PWZzb2022-05), Shanghai East Hospital Youth Research and Cultivation Foundation program (Grant No. DFPY2022015), Peak Disciplines (Type IV) of Institutions of Higher Learning in Shanghai, Technology Development Project of Pudong Science, Technology and Economic Commission of Shanghai (Grant No. PKJ2021-Y08), Key Disciplines Group Construction Project of Shanghai Pudong New Area Health Commission (Grant No. PWZxq2022-06), Medical discipline Construction Project of Pudong Health Committee of Shanghai (Grant No. PWYgf2021-02) and National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant No. 82300604).

Evolution and Interplay of Lithium Metal Interphase Components Revealed by Experimental and Theoretical Studies.

Lithium metal batteries (LMB) have high energy densities and are crucial for clean energy solutions. The characterization of the lithium metal interphase is fundamentally and practically important but technically challenging. Taking advantage of synchrotron X-ray, which has the unique capability of analyzing crystalline/amorphous phases quantitatively with statistical significance, we study the composition and dynamics of the LMB interphase for a newly developed important LMB electrolyte that is based on fluorinated ether. Pair distribution function analysis revealed the sequential roles of the anion and solvent in interphase formation during cycling. The relative ratio between Li2O and LiF first increases and then decreases during cycling, suggesting suppressed Li2O formation in both initial and long extended cycles. Theoretical studies revealed that in initial cycles, this is due to the energy barriers in many-electron transfer. In long extended cycles, the anion decomposition product Li2O encourages solvent decomposition by facilitating solvent adsorption on Li2O which is followed by concurrent depletion of both. This work highlights the important role of Li2O in transitioning from an anion-derived interphase to a solvent-derived one.

Ecotoxicity and trophic transfer of metallic nanomaterials in aquatic ecosystems.

Metallic nanomaterials (MNMs) possess unique properties that have led to their widespread application in fields such as electronics and medicine. However, concerns about their interactions with environmental factors and potential toxicity to aquatic life have emerged. There is growing evidence suggesting MNMs can have detrimental effects on aquatic ecosystems, and are potential for bioaccumulation and biomagnification in the food chain, posing risks to higher trophic levels and potentially humans. While many studies have focused on the general ecotoxicity of MNMs, fewer have delved into their trophic transfer within aquatic food chains. This review highlights the ecotoxicological effects of MNMs on aquatic systems via waterborne exposure or dietary exposure, emphasizing their accumulation and transformation across the food web. Biomagnification factor (BMF), the ratio of the contaminant concentration in predator to that in prey, was used to evaluate the biomagnification due to the complex nature of aquatic food chains. However, most current studies have BMF values of less than 1 indicating no biomagnification. Factors influencing MNM toxicity in aquatic environments include nanomaterial properties, ion variations, light, dissolved oxygen, and pH. The multifaceted interactions of these variables with MNM toxicity remain to be fully elucidated. We conclude with recommendations for future research directions to mitigate the adverse effects of MNMs in aquatic ecosystems and advocate for a cautious approach to the production and application of MNMs.

Trends in Respiratory Infectious Pathogens in Children Under the Age of 14 - Xiamen City, Fujian Province, China, 2017-2023.

What is already known about this topic?: Respiratory infections pose a significant burden on public health. Despite recent outbreaks occurring in various locations, there is limited information available on the prevalence trends of multiple common respiratory pathogens in China beyond 2022. What is added by this report?: A retrospective analysis was conducted on respiratory pathogen infections in a Xiamen hospital over a seven-year period. The analysis revealed fluctuating trends, with the number of infections for certain viruses initially decreasing after 2019, only to rebound to previous or higher levels. Recently, there has been an observed collective increase in positive cases for certain pathogens. What are the implications for public health practice?: The study improves understanding of respiratory pathogens, primarily in Xiamen, with potential implications for the improvement of strategies for the prevention and management of respiratory infectious diseases.

Nutrient Composition and Flavor Profile of Crucian Carp Soup Utilizing Fish Residues through Comminution and Pressure-Conduction Treatment.

In conventional fish soup processing, valuable aquatic resources like fish skins, bones, and scales are often squandered. This study was aimed at investigating if comminution combined with pressure-conduction treatment has the potential to enhance the reutilization of cooking residues. The different blending ratios of original soup (OS), made from the initial cooking of fish, and residue soup (RS), produced from processed leftover fish parts, were alternatively investigated to satisfy the new product development. Comminution combined with pressure-conduction treatment significantly increased the nutrient contents of calcium, soluble proteins and total solids in crucian carp soup (p < 0.05). With the increase in RS ratio, the decomposition of inosine monophosphate (IMP) and free amino acids was accelerated, but the accumulation of aromatic compounds was promoted simultaneously. In addition, the Maillard reaction may lead to a reduction in aldehydes, causing a diminution in the characteristic flavor of fish soup, while the formation of 1-octen-3-ol can enhance the earthiness of the fish soup. The electronic tongue test results and the sensory results showed that the blend ratio of OS and RS at 7:3 had a more significant umami and fish aroma (p < 0.05). Under this condition, the mixed soup has better nutritional values and flavor characteristics.

[Urinary protein and renal pathological features in children with immunoglobulin A vasculitis with nephritis and hypercoagulability]. / 儿童IgAè¡€ç®¡ç‚Žè‚¾ç‚Žä¼´é«˜å‡çŠ¶æ€çš„å°¿è›‹ç™½å’Œè‚¾è„ç— ç†ç‰¹å¾åˆ†æž.

OBJECTIVES: To study the association of hypercoagulability with urinary protein and renal pathological damage in children with immunoglobulin A vasculitis with nephritis (IgAVN). METHODS: Based on the results of coagulation function, 349 children with IgAVN were divided into a hypercoagulability group consisting of 52 children and a non-hypercoagulability group consisting of 297 children. Urinary protein and renal pathological features were compared between the two groups, and the factors influencing the formation of hypercoagulability in children with IgAVN were analyzed. RESULTS: Compared with the non-hypercoagulability group, the hypercoagulability group had significantly higher levels of urinary erythrocyte count, 24-hour urinary protein, urinary protein/creatinine, urinary immunoglobulin G/creatinine, and urinary N-acetyl-ß-D-glucosaminidase (P<0.05). The hypercoagulability group also had a significantly higher proportion of children with a renal pathological grade of III-IV, diffuse mesangial proliferation, capillary endothelial cell proliferation, or >25% crescent formation (P<0.05). The multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that capillary endothelial cell proliferation and glomerular crescent formation >25% were associated with the formation of hypercoagulability in children with IgAVN (P<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: The renal injury in IgAVN children with hypercoagulability is more severe, with greater than 25% crescent formation and increased proliferation of glomerular endothelial cells being important contributing factors that exacerbate the hypercoagulable state in IgAVN.

Co-exposure of butyl benzyl phthalate and TiO2 nanomaterials (anatase) in Metaphire guillelmi: Gut health implications by transcriptomics.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, an abundance of plastic face masks has been consumed and disposed of in the environment. In addition, substantial amounts of plastic mulch film have been used in intensive agriculture with low recovery. Butyl benzyl phthalate (BBP) and TiO2 nanomaterials (nTiO2) are widely applied in plastic products, leading to the inevitable release of BBP and nTiO2 into the soil system. However, the impact of co-exposure of BBP and nTiO2 at low concentrations on earthworms remains understudied. In the present study, transcriptomics was applied to reveal the effects of individual BBP and nTiO2 exposures at a concentration of 1 mg kg-1, along with the combined exposure of BBP and nTiO2 (1 mg kg-1 BBP + 1 mg kg-1 nTiO2 (anatase)) on Metaphire guillelmi. The result showed that BBP and nTiO2 exposures have the potential to induce neurodegeneration through glutamate accumulation, tau protein, and oxidative stress in the endoplasmic reticulum and mitochondria, as well as metabolism dysfunction. The present study contributes to our understanding of the toxic mechanisms of emerging contaminants at environmentally relevant levels and prompts consideration of the management of BBP and nTiO2 within the soil ecosystems.

Konjac glucomannan-assisted fabrication of stable emulsion-based oleogels constructed with pea protein isolate and its application in surimi gels.

Konjac glucomannan (KGM) is widely used as a stabilizer for the structuring of highly unsaturated oils. This study aimed to investigate the changes in structure and functional properties of soybean oil - based oleogels (emulsion template method) prepared with different amounts of KGM-modified pea isolate protein (PPI). The findings revealed that the oleogels formed three - dimensional networks through van der Waals interactions and hydrogen bonding between the stretched PPI and KGM. As the amount of KGM increased, the oil droplets were more uniformly dispersed within the continuous PPI - KGM rigid network, especially when the ratio of PPI to KGM was 4:1. This formulation also showed the highest thixotropy (73.2 %) and the best oil binding capacity (94 %). Cryo - SEM revealed that the oleogel - prepared surimi gels successfully enclosed oil droplets in a dense matrix through a dual stabilization mechanism. Additionally, the incorporation of oleogels significantly improved the textural properties of surimi in comparison to directly adding oil.

High voltage electrolytes for lithium-ion batteries with micro-sized silicon anodes.

Micro-sized silicon anodes can significantly increase the energy density of lithium-ion batteries with low cost. However, the large silicon volume changes during cycling cause cracks for both organic-inorganic interphases and silicon particles. The liquid electrolytes further penetrate the cracked silicon particles and reform the interphases, resulting in huge electrode swelling and quick capacity decay. Here we resolve these challenges by designing a high-voltage electrolyte that forms silicon-phobic interphases with weak bonding to lithium-silicon alloys. The designed electrolyte enables micro-sized silicon anodes (5 µm, 4.1 mAh cm-2) to achieve a Coulombic efficiency of 99.8% and capacity of 2175 mAh g-1 for >250 cycles and enable 100 mAh LiNi0.8Co0.15Al0.05O2 pouch full cells to deliver a high capacity of 172 mAh g-1 for 120 cycles with Coulombic efficiency of >99.9%. The high-voltage electrolytes that are capable of forming silicon-phobic interphases pave new ways for the commercialization of lithium-ion batteries using micro-sized silicon anodes.

Rapid and sensitive detection of nucleic acids using an RAA-CRISPR/Cas12b one-pot detection assay (Rcod).

Rapid, sensitive and specific methods are crucial for nucleic acid detection. CRISPR/Cas12b has recently been widely used in nucleic acid detection. However, due to its thermophagic property, DNA isothermal recombinase-aided amplification (RAA) and subsequent CRISPR/Cas12b detection require two separate reactions, which is cumbersome and inconvenient and may cause aerosol pollution. In this study, we propose an RAA-CRISPR/Cas12b one-pot detection assay (Rcod) for Bordetella pertussis detection without additional amplification product transfer steps. The time from sample processing to response time was less than 30 min using nucleic acid extraction-free method, and the sensitivity reached 0.2 copies/µL. In this system, Alicyclobacillus acidoterrestris Cas12b protein (AacCas12b) exhibited strong and specific trans-cleavage activity at a constant temperature of 37 °C, while the cis-cleavage activity was weak. This characteristic reduces the interference of AacCas12b with nucleic acids in the system. Compared with real-time PCR, our Rcod system detected B. pertussis in 221 clinical samples with a sensitivity and specificity of 97.96 % and 99.19 %, respectively, with nucleic acid extraction-free method. The rapid, sensitive and specific Rcod system provides ideas for the establishment of CRISPR-based one-step nucleic acid detection and may aid the development of reliable point-of-care nucleic acid tests. IMPORTANCE: Pertussis is an acute respiratory infection caused by B. pertussis that is highly contagious and potentially fatal, and early diagnosis is essential for the treatment of whooping cough. In this study, we found that AacCas12b has high and strongly specific trans-cleavage activity at lower temperatures. A RAA-CRISPR/Cas12b one-step detection platform (Rcod) without interference with amplification was developed. In addition, the combination of Rcod and nucleic acid extraction-free method can quickly and accurately detect the qualitative detection of B. pertussis, and the detection results are visualized, which makes the pathogen nucleic acid detection and analysis process simpler, and provides a new method for the rapid clinical diagnosis of B. pertussis.

Urinary matrix metalloproteinase-7 is a sensitive biomarker to evaluate renal tubular injury in patients with minimal change disease and focal segmental glomerulosclerosis.

Objective: To explore the advantages of urinary matrix metalloproteinase-7 (MMP-7) in evaluating renal tubular injury in minimal change disease (MCD) and focal segmental glomerulosclerosis (FSGS) patients compared with urinary cystatin C (CysC) and retinol-binding protein (RBP). Methods: Serum and urine samples were collected from 20 healthy volunteers, and 40 MCD and 20 FSGS patients. Serum and urinary MMP-7 levels were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Urinary total protein, CysC and RBP levels were measured by automatic specific protein analyzer and compared with urinary creatinine level for calibration. The renal tissue serial sections were stained by MMP-7 immunohistochemistry and periodic acid-Schiff. Results: Under light microscopy, MMP-7 granular weak positive expression was showed sporadically in the cytoplasm of a few renal tubular epithelial cells without obvious morphological changes in MCD patients, and MMP-7-positive expression was observed in the cytoplasm of some renal tubular epithelial cells in FSGS patients. There was no significant difference in serum MMP-7 level among the three groups. Compared with the control group, the urinary MMP-7 level in MCD patients was higher, but urinary CysC and RBP levels were not increased significantly. Compared with the control group and MCD patients, urinary MMP-7, CysC and RBP levels in FSGS patients were upregulated significantly. Conclusions: Urinary MMP-7 could not only evaluate the mild renal tubular epithelial cells injury in MCD patients with massive proteinuria, but also evaluate the continuous renal tubular epithelial cells injury in FSGS patients.

Upregulation of TTK expression is associated with poor prognosis and immune infiltration in endometrial cancer patients.

BACKGROUND: Threonine and tyrosine kinase (TTK) is associated with invasion and metastasis in various tumors. However, the prognostic importance of TTK and its correlation with immune infiltration in endometrial cancer (EC) remain unclear. METHODS: The expression profile of TTK was analyzed using data from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) and the Clinical Proteome Cancer Analysis Consortium (CPTAC). TTK protein and mRNA levels were verified in EC cell lines. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis was used to evaluate the ability of TTK to distinguish between normal and EC tissues. K-M survival analysis was also conducted to evaluate the impact of TTK on survival outcomes. Protein‒protein interaction (PPI) networks associated with TTK were explored using the STRING database. Functional enrichment analysis was performed to elucidate the biological functions of TTK. TTK mRNA expression and immune infiltration correlations were examined using the Tumor Immune Estimation Resource (TIMER) and the Tumor-Immune System Interaction Database (TISIDB). RESULTS: TTK expression was significantly greater in EC tissues than in adjacent normal tissues. Higher TTK mRNA expression was associated with tumor metastasis and advanced TNM stage. The protein and mRNA expression of TTK was significantly greater in tumor cell lines than in normal endometrial cell lines. ROC curve analysis revealed high accuracy (94.862%), sensitivity (95.652%), and specificity (94.894%) of TTK in differentiating EC from normal tissues. K-M survival analysis demonstrated that patients with high TTK expression had worse overall survival (OS) and disease-free survival (DFS) rates. Correlation analysis revealed that TTK mRNA expression was correlated with B cells and neutrophils. CONCLUSION: TTK upregulation is significantly associated with poor survival outcomes and immune infiltration in patients with EC. TTK can serve as a potential biomarker for poor prognosis and a promising immunotherapy target in EC. Further investigation of the role of TTK in EC may provide valuable insights for therapeutic interventions and personalized treatment strategies.

Environmental behaviors and toxic mechanisms of engineered nanomaterials in soil.

Engineered nanomaterials (ENMs) are inevitably released into the environment with the exponential application of nanotechnology. Parts of ENMs eventually accumulate in the soil environment leading to potential adverse effects on soil ecology, crop production, and human health. Therefore, the safety application of ENMs on soil has been widely discussed in recent years. More detailed safety information and potential soil environmental risks are urgently needed. However, most of the studies on the environmental effects of metal-based ENMs have been limited to single-species experiments, ecosystem processes, or abiotic processes. The present review formulated the source and the behaviors of the ENMs in soil, and the potential effects of single and co-exposure ENMs on soil microorganisms, soil fauna, and plants were introduced. The toxicity mechanism of ENMs to soil organisms was also reviewed including oxidative stress, the release of toxic metal ions, and physical contact. Soil properties affect the transport, transformation, and toxicity of ENMs. Toxic mechanisms of ENMs include oxidative stress, ion release, and physical contact. Joint toxic effects occur through adsorption, photodegradation, and loading. Besides, future research should focus on the toxic effects of ENMs at the food chain levels, the effects of ENMs on plant whole-lifecycle, and the co-exposure and long-term toxicity effects. A fast and accurate toxicity evaluation system and model method are urgently needed to solve the current difficulties. It is of great significance for the sustainable development of ENMs to provide the theoretical basis for the ecological risk assessment and environmental management of ENMs.

Ultrasound-Based Radiomics for the Classification of Henoch-Schönlein Purpura Nephritis in Children.

Henoch-Schönlein purpura nephritis (HSPN) is one of the most common kidney diseases in children. The current diagnosis and classification of HSPN depend on pathological biopsy, which is seriously limited by its invasive and high-risk nature. The aim of the study was to explore the potential of radiomics model for evaluating the histopathological classification of HSPN based on the ultrasound (US) images. A total of 440 patients with Henoch-Schönlein purpura nephritis proved by biopsy were analyzed retrospectively. They were grouped according to two histopathological categories: those without glomerular crescent formation (ISKDC grades I-II) and those with glomerular crescent formation (ISKDC grades III-V). The patients were randomly assigned to either a training cohort (n = 308) or a validation cohort (n = 132) with a ratio of 7:3. The sonologist manually drew the regions of interest (ROI) on the ultrasound images of the right kidney including the cortex and medulla. Then, the ultrasound radiomics features were extracted using the Pyradiomics package. The dimensions of radiomics features were reduced by Spearman correlation coefficients and least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO) method. Finally, three radiomics models using k-nearest neighbor (KNN), logistic regression (LR), and support vector machine (SVM) were established, respectively. The predictive performance of such classifiers was assessed with receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve. 105 radiomics features were extracted from derived US images of each patient and 14 features were ultimately selected for the machine learning analysis. Three machine learning models including k-nearest neighbor (KNN), logistic regression (LR), and support vector machine (SVM) were established for HSPN classification. Of the three classifiers, the SVM classifier performed the best in the validation cohort [area under the curve (AUC) =0.870 (95% CI, 0.795-0.944), sensitivity = 0.706, specificity = 0.950]. The US-based radiomics had good predictive value for HSPN classification, which can be served as a noninvasive tool to evaluate the severity of renal pathology and crescentic formation in children with HSPN.