MiR-146a reduces fibrosis after glaucoma filtration surgery in rats.

PURPOSE: To explore the impact of microRNA 146a (miR-146a) and the underlying mechanisms in profibrotic changes following glaucoma filtering surgery (GFS) in rats and stimulation by transforming growth factor (TGF)-ß1 in rat Tenon's capsule fibroblasts. METHODS: Cultured rat Tenon's capsule fibroblasts were treated with TGF-ß1 and analyzed with microarrays for mRNA profiling to validate miR-146a as the target. The Tenon's capsule fibroblasts were then respectively treated with lentivirus-mediated transfection of miR-146a mimic or inhibitor following TGF-ß1 stimulation in vitro, while GFS was performed in rat eyes with respective intraoperative administration of miR-146a, mitomycin C (MMC), or 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) in vivo. Profibrotic genes expression levels (fibronectin, collagen Iα, NF-KB, IL-1ß, TNF-α, SMAD4, and α-smooth muscle actin) were determined through qPCR, Western blotting, immunofluorescence staining and/or histochemical analysis in vitro and in vivo. SMAD4 targeting siRNA was further used to treat the fibroblasts in combination with miR-146a intervention to confirm its role in underlying mechanisms. RESULTS: Upregulation of miR-146a reduced the proliferation rate and profibrotic changes of rat Tenon's capsule fibroblasts induced by TGF-ß1 in vitro, and mitigated subconjunctival fibrosis to extend filtering blebs survival after GFS in vivo, where miR-146a decreased expression levels of NF-KB-SMAD4-related genes, such as fibronectin, collagen Iα, NF-KB, IL-1ß, TNF-α, SMAD4, and α-smooth muscle actin(α-SMA). Additionally, SMAD4 is a key target gene in the process of miR-146a inhibiting fibrosis. CONCLUSIONS: MiR-146a effectively reduced TGF-ß1-induced fibrosis in rat Tenon's capsule fibroblasts in vitro and in vivo, potentially through the NF-KB-SMAD4 signaling pathway. MiR-146a shows promise as a novel therapeutic target for preventing fibrosis and improving the success rate of GFS.

Self-assembly of CuAuTA nanozymes for intelligent detection of ginkgolic acids.

Toxic ginkgolic acids (GAs) are a challenge for Ginkgo biloba-related food. Although a detection method for GAs is available, bulky instruments limit the field testing of GAs. Herein, by assembling gold nanoclusters with copper tannic acid (CuTA), CuAuTA nanocomposites were designed as peroxidase mimics for the colorimetric determination of GAs. Compared with single CuTA, the obtained CuAuTA nanocomposites possessed enhanced peroxidase-like properties. Based on the inhibitory effect of GAs for the catalytic activity of CuAuTA nanozymes, CuAuTA could be utilized for the colorimetric sensing of GAs with a low limit of quantitation of 0.17 µg mL-1. Using a smartphone and the ImageJ software in conjunction, a nanozyme-based intelligent detection platform was developed with a detection limit of 0.86 µg mL-1. This sensing system exhibited good selectivity against other potential interferents. Experimental data demonstrated that GAs might bind to the surface of CuAuTA, blocking the catalytically active sites and resulting in decreased catalytic activity. Our CuAuTA nanozyme-based system could also be applied to detect real ginkgo nut and ginkgo powder samples with recoveries of 93.12-111.6% and relative standard deviations less than 0.3%. Our work may offer a feasible strategy for the determination of GAs and expand the application of nanozymes in food safety detection.

Ginkgo biloba leaf polysaccharide-stabled selenium nanozyme as an efficient glutathione peroxidase mimic for the preservation of bananas and cherry tomatoes.

To develop functional, sustainable and eco-friendly active packaging materials as alternatives to plastic films, we successfully prepared Ginkgo biloba leaf polysaccharide-stabilized selenium nanomaterials (Se-GBLP). Se-GBLP with glutathione peroxidase-like activity could efficiently remove harmful reactive oxygen species. As a functional additive, Se-GBLP was incorporated into degradable chitosan (CS) to fabricate CS/Se-GBLP films. The addition of Se-GBLP improved the mechanical properties, UV-visible light barrier performance, water vapor permeability, and antioxidant activity of the films. Preservation experiments demonstrated CS/Se-GBLP film could maintain quality and prolong the storage time of bananas and cherry tomatoes. It was the first time to use selenium-based nanozyme for fruit preservation. This work offered a cost-effective solution to reduce post-harvest losses, increasing sustainability and profitability. Future research should focus on more factors affecting freshness such as variety, maturity, harvest and storage conditions to improve preservation, as well as on the material's safety concern and environmental impact.

Wolbachia infection status and molecular diversity in the species of tribe Tagiadini Mabille, 1878 (Lepidoptera: Hesperiidae) collected in China.

Wolbachia, one of the most ubiquitous heritable symbionts in lepidopteran insects, can cause mitochondrial introgression in related host species. We recently found mito-nuclear discordance in the Lepidopteran tribe Tagiadini Mabille 1878 from which Wolbachia has not been reported. In this study, we found that 13 of the 46 species of Tagiadini species tested were positive for Wolbachia. Overall, 14% (15/110) of Tagiadini specimens were infected with Wolbachia and nine new STs were found from 15 isolates. A co-phylogenetic comparison, divergence time estimation and Wolbachia recombination analysis revealed that mito-nuclear discordance in Tagiadini species is not mediated by Wolbachia, but Wolbachia acquisition in Tagiadini appears to have occurred mainly through horizontal transmission rather than codivergence.

A Bibliometric Analysis of Uveitis in the Past 20 Years.

PURPOSE: To assess the quantity and quality of global research on uveitis, visualize the research hotspots, and reveal the study trends in uveitis. METHODS: This bibliometric analysis was performed with the data obtained from the Web of Science core collection (WoSCC) database and Scopus. Bibliometrix and VOSviewer were used to analyze and visualize study trends and hotspots. Citespace was used to conduct the cooperation and co-citation network analysis. RESULTS: A total of 5837 and 7195 documents were exported for further analysis in WoSCC and Scopus, respectively. The USA has published the most articles related to uveitis (1627, 27.87%, WoS; 1979, 27.51%, Scopus) and accounted for the most frequency of total citations (42345 times total citations 35 900 times without self-citations in WoSCC database). Most of the papers focusing on uveitis were published in Ocular Immunology and Inflammation (761, 13.04% within WoS; 793, 11.02% within Scopus). Additionally, novel biotherapy is the hotspot of uveitis research which also may be a sustained research interest in the future. CONCLUSIONS: An increasing trend of publications was found in uveitis research. The USA was the leading contributor in this field, and it was the center of cooperation network. Our study provided an overview of uveitis research, which may serve as a valuable reference and guide for stakeholders interested in uveitis.