Accelerated Photocatalytic Carbon Dioxide Reduction and Water Oxidation under Spatial Synergy.

Photocatalytic conversion of CO2 and H2 O into fuels and oxygen is a highly promising solution for carbon-neutral recycling. Traditionally, researchers have studied CO2 reduction and H2 O oxidation separately, overlooking potential synergistic interplay between these processes. This study introduces an innovative approach, spatial synergy, which encourages synergistic progress by bringing the two half-reactions into atomic proximity. To facilitate this, we developed a defective ZnIn2 S4 -supported single-atom Cu catalyst (Cu-SA/D-ZIS), which demonstrates remarkable catalytic performance with CO2 reduction rates of 112.5 µmol g-1 h-1 and water oxidation rates of 52.3 µmol g-1 h-1 , exhibiting a six-fold enhancement over D-ZIS. The structural characterization results indicated that the trapping effect of vacancy associates on single-atom copper led to the formation of an unsaturated coordination structure, Cu-S3 , consequently giving rise to the CuZn 'VS ⋅⋅VZn " defect complexes. FT-IR studies coupled with theoretical calculations reveal the spatially synergistic CO2 reduction and water oxidation on CuZn 'VS ⋅⋅VZn ", where the breakage of O-H in water oxidation is synchronized with the formation of *COOH, significantly lowering the energy barrier. Notably, this study introduces and, for the first time, substantiates the spatial synergy effect in CO2 reduction and H2 O oxidation through a combination of experimental and theoretical analyses, providing a fresh insight in optimizing photocatalytic system.

Evaluating the occurrence of increased postoperative cardiac enzymes in patients with coronary atherosclerotic obstruction.

Percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty (PTCA) has been accepted as the elective treatment in many patients with coronary atherosclerotic obstruction. A slight increase in cardiac markers after the percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) has been commonly reported. Some researchers have suggested that it predicts mortality and long-term complications. This study aimed to evaluate the occurrence of increased postoperative cardiac enzymes and determine the relationship between such an increase and clinical angiographic and technical variables. For this purpose, the descriptive study was performed in Hospital's cardiac ward from 2020-to 2021. One hundred twenty-two patients with stable coronary artery disease were studied for elective PTCA implanted with successful and uncomplicated stenting. Blood samples were taken from all patients to measure cardiac markers 20 hours after surgery. The normal range was CTnI ≤ 2ng/ml and CKMB ≤ 24 IU/L. Plasma levels of myocardial infarction and their relationship with clinical variables (including age, sex, risk factors for coronary artery disease, the severity of symptoms based on ccs class and previous history of acute coronary syndromes), angiographic including (lesion type, severity of stenosis) or related to the operation (operation on one or two vessels and direct stenting versus PTCA + stenting) were recorded in a questionnaire and observation sheets. The collected data were processed using descriptive statistics, frequency distribution tables, Chi-square, and student t-tests. Abnormal values of myocardial infarction were observed in 46.72% (57 patients). An increase in CTnI was observed in 39 patients (31.96%) and an increase in CKMB was seen in 31 patients (25.40%). Although the rise in CTnI exceeded the CKMB, the difference between the two was not statistically significant. The increased CTnI was significantly higher in older people, and the increase in CKMB was significantly higher in hypertensive individuals (p = 0.01). Based on the findings of this study, there is an increase in enzymes after successful and uncomplicated PCI selection. Increased CTnI occurs more frequently than CKMB. There is no relationship between enzyme enhancement and other clinical, angiographic, and technical variables.

Efficacy of felodipine and enalapril in the treatment of essential hypertension with coronary artery disease and the effect on levels of Salusin-ß, Apelin, and PON1 gene expression in patients.

This study aimed to analyze the effect of felodipine combined with enalapril in the treatment of patients with essential hypertension and coronary artery disease. Also, the effect of these medicines was evaluated on the peripheral blood Salusin-ß, Apelin levels, and PON1 gene expression. For this purpose, 110 patients with essential hypertension combined with coronary heart disease, admitted to the hospital from January 2019 to January 2021, were selected and randomly divided into two groups. The control group was given felodipine treatment alone, and the study group was treated with combined application of felodipine and enalapril. The treatment effect, peripheral blood Salusin-ß, Apelin, PON1 gene expression, and the safety of medication were compared between the two groups. The results showed that the post-treatment systolic blood pressure in the study group was 119.77 ± 5.23 mm Hg and diastolic blood pressure was 86.84 ± 5.42 mm Hg, both of which were significantly lower than those in the control group (127.81 ± 6.92 mm Hg and 95.13 ± 6.08 mm Hg), with statistically significant differences (p<0.05). The effective rates of the study group and the control group were 92.73% and 74.54% respectively, with statistically significant differences (P<0.05). The post-treatment peripheral blood Salusin-ßlevel in the study group was 3.77±0.53mmol/L, and Apelin was 1.94±0.58µg/L, with statistically significant differences compared to the control group (P<0.05). The PON1 gene expression in the study group was higher than those in the control group after treatment (P<0.05). Also, the results showed that there was no statistical difference in adverse reactions between the two groups (P>0.05). According to these results, the combination of felodipine and enalapril in patients with essential hypertension combined with coronary artery disease can effectively lower the patients' blood pressure and improve their peripheral blood Salusin-ß, Apelin levels, and PON1 gene expression, thus enhancing the patients' therapeutic effect with few adverse effects and high safety.

Dexmedetomidine Attenuates Total Body Radiation-Induced Acute Liver Injury in Mice Through the Nrf2/HO-1 Pathway.

BACKGROUND: The purpose of this study was to investigate the protective effects of dexmedetomidine (DEX) on total body radiation-induced acute liver injury in mice and to explore the possible mechanisms. METHODS: A total of 40 mice were randomly divided into the Control group (Group C), Dexmedetomidine group (Group Dex), Radiation group (Group R), and Group R+Dex. Mice in Group Dex and Group R+Dex were intraperitoneally injected with 10 µg/mL Dex at 50 mg/kg. Both Group C and Group R received normal saline instead of Dex. Mice were treated via continuous administration for 10 days and injection once a day (pre-administration for 3 days and 7 days after radiation). One hour after administration on the third day, the mice in Group R and R+Dex received total body radiation with a total dose of 6 Gy at a rate of 2 Gy/min. Group C received sham radiation. Levels of aspartate aminotransferase (AST), serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT), and liver levels of tumor necrosis factor (TNF-α), interleukin-1ß (IL-1ß), reactive oxygen species (ROS), superoxide dismutase (SOD), malondialdehyde (MDA) were measured. HE staining was employed to evaluate the pathological changes in liver tissues, and the expressions of Nrf2 and HO-1 proteins in the liver were measured by western blot. RESULTS: Compared with group C, serum levels of AST and ALT, liver TNF-α, IL-1ß, MDA, and ROS levels increased, and SOD decreased in Group R. Group R mice had higher liver injury scores, and the protein expressions of Nrf2 and HO-1 proteins were lower (p ＜ 0.05). Compared with Group R, the levels of AST, ALT, TNF-α, IL-1ß, MDA, and ROS decreased, SOD increased, liver injury scores were lower, and the expressions of Nrf2 and HO-1 proteins were higher in the Group R+Dex group (all p ＜ 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Dex exhibits a protective effect on reducing acute radiation-induced liver injury and oxidative stress, and the mechanism may be associated with the activation of Nrf2/HO-1 pathways.

Photocatalytic C-C Coupling from Carbon Dioxide Reduction on Copper Oxide with Mixed-Valence Copper(I)/Copper(II).

To realize the evolution of C2+ hydrocarbons like C2H4 from CO2 reduction in photocatalytic systems remains a great challenge, owing to the gap between the relatively lower efficiency of multielectron transfer in photocatalysis and the sluggish kinetics of C-C coupling. Herein, with Cu-doped zeolitic imidazolate framework-8 (ZIF-8) as a precursor, a hybrid photocatalyst (CuOX@p-ZnO) with CuOX uniformly dispersed among polycrystalline ZnO was synthesized. Upon illumination, the catalyst exhibited the ability to reduce CO2 to C2H4 with a 32.9% selectivity, and the evolution rate was 2.7 µmol·g-1·h-1 with water as a hole scavenger and as high as 22.3 µmol·g-1·h-1 in the presence of triethylamine as a sacrificial agent, all of which have rarely been achieved in photocatalytic systems. The X-ray absorption fine structure spectra coupled with in situ FT-IR studies reveal that, in the original catalyst, Cu mainly existed in the form of CuO, while a unique Cu+ surface layer upon the CuO matrix was formed during the photocatalytic reaction, and this surface Cu+ site is the active site to anchor the in situ generated CO and further perform C-C coupling to form C2H4. The C-C coupling intermediate *OC-COH was experimentally identified by in situ FT-IR studies for the first time during photocatalytic CO2 reduction. Moreover, theoretical calculations further showed the critical role of such Cu+ sites in strengthening the binding of *CO and stabilizing the C-C coupling intermediate. This work uncovers a new paradigm to achieve the reduction of CO2 to C2+ hydrocarbons in a photocatalytic system.

Reproductive organ dysfunction and gene expression after orally administration of ZnO nanoparticles in murine.

ZnO nanoparticles (NPs) are among the most manufactured nanoparticles in the consumer products, industries, and researches. An increasing body of evidence indicated that ZnO NPs show toxicological effects in vivo. Sex differences in the toxicity of ZnO NPs are not clear, thus the aim of this study was to investigate the effects of ZnO NPs on the female and male reproductive organs (uterus, ovary and testes). ZnO NPs were orally administered to female and male mice at dosages level of 0 and 100 mg/kg body weight. The biological material was sampled 3 days after tube feeding. The results demonstrated that Zinc contents were accumulated in the reproductive organs of treated mice. Furthermore, ZnO NPs administration induced significant decrease in the testes weight, an imbalance of hematological and serum biochemical parameters in male mice. The histopathological examinations showed that structural disorder and the appearance of cell apoptosis and death in the ZnO NPs-exposed mice. Additionally, the RT-qPCR data indicated ZnO NPs can activate mitochondrial-mediated signaling pathway and induce caspase depend damage that ultimately injured the uterus. In the ovary, ZnO NPs induce cell apoptosis in Shh pathway activated ovary cells, and affect the synthesis of steroidogenesis. In the testes, ZnO NPs effectively changed the expression level of genes related to oxidant stress, detox/metabolic process, and apoptosis. It was found that ZnO NPs caused more serious reproductive toxicity in the male mice than female mice. Overall, these findings indicated that ZnO NPs could induce exposure-related risks to reproductive health, especially in those who are at the occupational level.

Low-dose aspirin reduces hypoxia-induced sFlt1 release via the JNK/AP-1 pathway in human trophoblast and endothelial cells.

Pre-eclampsia (PE) is a serious hypertensive disorder of pregnancy that remains a leading cause of perinatal and maternal morbidity and mortality worldwide. Placental ischemia/hypoxia and the secretion of soluble fms-like tyrosine kinase 1 (sFlt1) into maternal circulation are involved in the pathogenesis of PE. Although low-dose aspirin (LDA) has beneficial effects on the prevention of PE, the exact mechanisms of action of LDA, particularly on placental dysfunction, and sFlt1 release, have not been well investigated. This study aimed to determine whether LDA exists the protective effects on placental trophoblast and endothelial functions and prevents PE-associated sFlt1 release. First, we observed that LDA mitigated hypoxia-induced trophoblast apoptosis, showed positive effects on trophoblast cells migration and invasion activity, and increased the tube-forming activity of human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs). In addition, LDA decreased hypoxia-induced sFlt1 production, and the c-Jun NH2 -terminal kinase/activator protein-1 (JNK/AP-1) pathway was shown to mediate the induction of sFlt1. Moreover, the transcription factor AP-1 was confirmed to regulate the Flt1 gene expression by directly binding to the Flt1 promoter in luciferase assays. The result of chromatin immunoprecipitation assays further demonstrated that LDA could directly decrease the expression of the transcription factor AP-1, and thus decrease sFlt1 production. Finally, the effects of LDA on sFlt1 production were proved in human placental explants. Taken together, our data show the protective effects of LDA against trophoblast and endothelial cell dysfunction and reveal that the LDA-mediated inhibition of sFlt1 via the JNK/AP-1 pathway may be a potential cellular/molecular mechanism for the prevention of PE.

A Series of Endohedral Metallo-BN Fullerene Superatomic Structures.

Superatoms are crucial in the assembly of functional and optoelectronic materials. This study investigates the endohedral metallo-boron nitride [boron nitride (BN)] fullerenes U@B12N12, Cm@B12N12, and U@B16N16 in theory. Our findings confirm that U@B12N12, Cm@B12N12, and U@B16N16 are superatoms and their electronic configurations are 1P61S21D101F142P62S22D102F123P6, 1P61S21D101F141G161H162S22P62D102F12, and 1P61S21D101F142P62S22D102F14, respectively. Notably, the orbital energy levels in these superatoms exhibit a flipping phenomenon, deviating from those of previous superatom studies. Further, the orbital composition analyses reveal that superatomic orbitals 1S, 1P, 1D, and 1F mainly originate from BN cages, whereas the 2S, 2P, 2D, 2F, and 3P superatomic orbitals arise from hybridizations between BN cage orbitals and the 7s, 7p, 6d, and 5f orbitals of actinide atoms. And the energy gap of endohedral metallo-BN fullerene superatoms is reduced by introducing actinide atoms. Additionally, the analyses of ionization potentials and electron affinities show that U@B12N12, Cm@B12N12, and U@B16N16 have lower ionization potentials and higher electron affinities, suggesting decreased stability compared to that of pure BN cages. This instability may be linked to the observed flipping of the superatomic orbital energy levels. These insights introduce new members to the superatom family and offer new building blocks for the design of nanoscale materials with tailored properties.

Study on the Biological Characteristics of Dark Septate Endophytes under Drought and Cadmium Stress and Their Effects on Regulating the Stress Resistance of Astragalus membranaceus.

Astragalus membranaceus is a famous traditional medicinal plant. However, drought and cadmium (Cd) pollution are the main abiotic stress factors that affect plant growth and yield and the ability to improve the host's stress resistance through the use of beneficial endophytic fungi. To evaluate the tolerance of dark septate endophytes (DSE) to various abiotic stresses, 10 DSE strains [Microsphaeropsis cytisi (Mc), Alternaria alstroemeriae (Aa), Stagonosporopsis lupini (Sl), Neocamarosporium phragmitis (Np), Paraphoma chlamydocopiosa (Pc), Macrophomina phaseolina (Mp'), Papulaspora equi (Pe), Alternaria tellustris (At), Macrophomina pseudophaseolina (Mp), and Paraphoma radicina (Pr)] were investigated under different drought and Cd stressors in vitro by using solid-plate cultures and liquid-shaker cultures in the current study. The experiments involved using varying concentrations of PEG (0, 9, 18, and 27%) and Cd2+ (0, 25, 50, and 100 mg/L) to simulate different stress conditions on DSE. Additionally, the effect of DSE (Np and At) on the growth of A. membranaceus at different field water capacities (70% and 40%) and at different CdCl2 concentrations (0, 5, 10, and 15 mg Cd/kg) in soil was studied. The results demonstrated that the colony growth rates of Aa, Np, Pc, Mp', and Mp were the first to reach the maximum diameter at a PEG concentration of 18%. Aa, Np, and At remained growth-active at 100 mg Cd/L. In addition, Aa, Np, and At were selected for drought and Cd stress tests. The results of the drought-combined-with-Cd-stress solid culture indicated that the growth rate of Np was significantly superior to that of the other strains. In the liquid culture condition, the biomasses of Np and Aa were the highest, with biomasses of 1.39 g and 1.23 g under the concentration of 18% + 25 mg Cd/L, and At had the highest biomass of 1.71 g at 18% + 50 mg Cd/L concentration, respectively. The CAT and POD activities of Np reached their peak levels at concentrations of 27% + 50 mg Cd/L and 27% + 25 mg Cd/L, respectively. Compared to the control, these levels indicated increases of 416.97% and 573.12%, respectively. Aa, Np, and At positively influenced SOD activity. The glutathione (GSH) contents of Aa, Np, and At were increased under different combined stressors of drought and Cd. The structural-equation-modeling (SEM) analysis revealed that Aa positively influenced biomass and negatively affected Cd content, while Np and At positively influenced Cd content. Under the stress of 40% field-water capacity and the synergistic stress of 40% field-water capacity and 5 mg Cd/kg soil, Np and At significantly increased root weight of A. membranaceus. This study provides guidance for the establishment of agricultural planting systems and has good development and utilization value.

Achieving Almost 100% Selectivity in Photocatalytic CO2 Reduction to Methane via In-Situ Atmosphere Regulation Strategy.

Artificial photosynthesis, harnessing solar energy to convert CO2 into hydrocarbons, presents a promising solution for climate change and energy scarcity. However, photocatalytic CO2 reduction often terminates at the CO stage due to limited electron transfer capacity, hindering the formation of higher-energy hydrocarbons such as CH4. This study introduces, for the first time, an in-situ atmosphere regulation strategy, refined from molecular imprinting methodologies, using dynamically reacting molecules to precisely engineer photocatalytic surface sites for selective *CO adsorption and hydrogenation in CO2-to-CH4 conversion. Specifically, the single-atom Cu catalyst (Cu-SA-CO) is prepared by anchoring single-atom Cu onto defective TiO2 substrates (Cu-SA-CO) under a CO reduction atmosphere. Under illumination, the catalyst exhibited outstanding CH4 selectivity (almost 100%) and productivity (58.5 µmol g-1 h-1). Mechanistic investigations reveal that the coordination environment of the Cu single atoms is significantly affected by dynamically reacting molecules (CO and *CHxO) during synthesis, leading to a Ti-Cu-O structure. The structure, with the synergistic interaction between Cu single atoms and oxygen defects, significantly enhances *CO adsorption and hydrogenation, thereby promoting the formation of methane. This work pioneers the use of dynamically reactive molecules as imprinted templates to tune photocatalytic CO2 reduction selectivity, providing a novel avenue for designing efficient photocatalysts.

ARDS and aging: TYMS emerges as a promising biomarker and therapeutic target.

Background: Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome (ARDS) is a common condition in the intensive care unit (ICU) with a high mortality rate, yet the diagnosis rate remains low. Recent studies have increasingly highlighted the role of aging in the occurrence and progression of ARDS. This study is committed to investigating the pathogenic mechanisms of cellular and genetic changes in elderly ARDS patients, providing theoretical support for the precise treatment of ARDS. Methods: Gene expression profiles for control and ARDS samples were obtained from the Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) database, while aging-related genes (ARGs) were sourced from the Human Aging Genomic Resources (HAGR) database. Differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were subjected to functional enrichment analysis to understand their roles in ARDS and aging. The Weighted Gene Co-expression Network Analysis (WGCNA) and machine learning pinpointed key modules and marker genes, with ROC curves illustrating their significance. The expression of four ARDS-ARDEGs was validated in lung samples from aged mice with ARDS using qRT-PCR. Gene set enrichment analysis (GSEA) investigated the signaling pathways and immune cell infiltration associated with TYMS expression. Single-nucleus RNA sequencing (snRNA-Seq) explored gene-level differences among cells to investigate intercellular communication during ARDS onset and progression. Results: ARDEGs are involved in cellular responses to DNA damage stimuli, inflammatory reactions, and cellular senescence pathways. The MEmagenta module exhibited a significant correlation with elderly ARDS patients. The LASSO, RRF, and XGBoost algorithms were employed to screen for signature genes, including CKAP2, P2RY14, RBP2, and TYMS. Further validation emphasized the potential role of TYMS in the onset and progression of ARDS. Immune cell infiltration indicated differential proportion and correlations with TYMS expression. SnRNA-Seq and cell-cell communication analysis revealed that TYMS is highly expressed in endothelial cells, and the SEMA3 signaling pathway primarily mediates cell communication between endothelial cells and other cells. Conclusion: Endothelial cell damage associated with aging could contribute to ARDS progression by triggering inflammation. TYMS emerges as a promising diagnostic biomarker and potential therapeutic target for ARDS.

Factors Associated with Symptom Stabilization that Allow for Successful Transition from Once-Monthly Paliperidone Palmitate to Three-Monthly Paliperidone Palmitate: A Post Hoc Analysis Examined Clinical Characteristics in Chinese Patients with Schizophrenia.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Identifying key factors for a successful transition from once-monthly paliperidone palmitate (PP1M) to three-monthly paliperidone palmitate (PP3M) is crucial for improving treatment outcomes, enhancing patient adherence, and reducing relapse risk in patients with schizophrenia. Providing region-specific insights for evidence-based clinical decisions can aid clinicians in optimizing transition strategies for Chinese patients with schizophrenia. Therefore, the objective of this post hoc analysis of a double-blind parallel-group multicenter phase 3 study (NCT01515423) was to identify factors related to the disease stabilization that may allow for a successful transition from PP1M to PP3M in the treatment of Chinese patients with schizophrenia. METHODS: Adults (18-70 years) diagnosed with schizophrenia using the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, fourth edition text revision, for over 1 year and with a baseline Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS) total score between 70 and 120 were entered into an open-label (OL) phase receiving PP1M for 17 weeks. After the 17-week OL phase, patients who met the criteria necessary for stabilization were randomized (1:1) to PP1M (fixed-dose, 50, 75, 100, or 150 mg eq.) or PP3M (fixed-dose, 175, 263, 350, or 525 mg eq.) in a 48-week double-blind phase. Stabilization was defined as a PANSS total score < 70, PANSS item (P1, P2, P3, P6, P7, G8, G14) scores ≤ 4, and a reduction in Clinical Global Impression Severity (CGI-S) score of ≥ 1 from OL baseline. This post hoc analysis evaluated changes and trends in symptom severity using PANSS, changes in mental states using CGI-S, and changes in personal and social functioning using Personal and Social Performance (PSP) scores from baseline to the endpoint of the OL phase in patients who either met or did not meet the stabilization criteria (stabilized versus non-stabilized group). Comparison of changes and trends in the clinical scores between the stabilized group and non-stabilized group were conducted using linear mixed model and Mann-Kendall trend analysis, respectively. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses were conducted to explore factors associated with stabilization status for transition. RESULTS: Of 296 patients enrolled, 210 achieved disease stabilization (106 patients and 104 patients were randomized to PP1M and PP3M, respectively). Significant downward trends in the PANSS and CGI-S scores were detected in the stabilized patients (n = 210, ZPANSS = -2.21, p = 0.028; ZCGI-S = -2.21, p = 0.028) but not in the non-stabilized patients (n = 86). No significant trends in the PSP scores were observed in either group. The factors significantly associated with disease stabilization were the CGI-S score at baseline [odds ratio (OR) = 0.22, 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.09, 0.5), reduction of the PANSS score at week 13 (OR = 1.11, 95% CI: 1.06, 1.17), and reduction of CGI-S score at week 13 (OR = 2.27, 95% CI: 1.03, 5.02). CONCLUSION: A lower CGI-S total score at baseline and greater reductions in PANSS and CGI-S scores at week 13 were associated with patients achieving disease stabilization, that may allow for a successful transition. Evidence from this study indicates that better disease condition at baseline, early functional improvement and symptomatic relief were the key factors associated with disease stabilization. The findings may guide clinicians to identify suitable patients for transition from PP1M to PP3M and further optimize the use of PP3M in China. CLINICAL TRIALS REGISTRATION: EudraCT number: 2011-004889-15 and ClinicalTrials.gov (identifier: NCT01515423) for the original double-blind randomized study.

Global phosphoproteomic analysis reveals diverse functions of serine/threonine/tyrosine phosphorylation in the model cyanobacterium Synechococcus sp. strain PCC 7002.

Increasing evidence shows that protein phosphorylation on serine (Ser), threonine (Thr), and tyrosine (Tyr) residues is one of the major post-translational modifications in the bacteria, involved in regulating a myriad of physiological processes. Cyanobacteria are one of the largest groups of bacteria and are the only prokaryotes capable of oxygenic photosynthesis. Many cyanobacteria strains contain unusually high numbers of protein kinases and phosphatases with specificity on Ser, Thr, and Tyr residues. However, only a few dozen phosphorylation sites in cyanobacteria are known, presenting a major obstacle for further understanding the regulatory roles of reversible phosphorylation in this group of bacteria. In this study, we carried out a global and site-specific phosphoproteomic analysis on the model cyanobacterium Synechococcus sp. PCC 7002. In total, 280 phosphopeptides and 410 phosphorylation sites from 245 Synechococcus sp. PCC 7002 proteins were identified through the combined use of protein/peptide prefractionation, TiO2 enrichment, and LC-MS/MS analysis. The identified phosphoproteins were functionally categorized into an interaction map and found to be involved in various biological processes such as two-component signaling pathway and photosynthesis. Our data provide the first global survey of phosphorylation in cyanobacteria by using a phosphoproteomic approach and suggest a wide-ranging regulatory scope of this modification. The provided data set may help reveal the physiological functions underlying Ser/Thr/Tyr phosphorylation and facilitate the elucidation of the entire signaling networks in cyanobacteria.

Fluoride as an inducible DNA cross-linking agent for new antitumor prodrug.

Two new small compounds, which undergo fluoride-mediated self rearrangement, produce active DNA alkylating agent nitrogen mustard leading to DNA damage and finally cell death, providing potential antitumor prodrugs.

Viral hepatitis increases the risk of cholangiocarcinoma: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background: Whether viral hepatitis increases the risk of cholangiocarcinoma (CCA) has been controversial. The reasons for the differences between previous research results may be related to the differences in sample size, region, living environment and course of disease. A meta-analysis is needed to clarify the correlation between them and select the key population for early screening of CCA. Meta-analysis was used to explore the relationship between viral hepatitis and the risk of CCA, so as to provide evidence for the prevention and treatment of CCA. Methods: We systematically searched EmBase, SinoMed, PubMed, Web of Science China National Knowledge Infrastructure, and Wanfang databases. The quality of the included literature was evaluated using the Newcastle Ottawa Scale. Before merging the effect quantities, the data was first subjected to heterogeneity testing. Heterogeneity testing was evaluated using I2 (the proportion of heterogeneity variation to overall variation). Subgroup analysis was used to identify sources of heterogeneity in this study. The effect odds ratio (OR) of various studies was extracted or calculated for consolidation. Beta's rank correlation, Egger's Law of Return and funnel plot were used to test publication bias. Conduct subgroup analysis based on the regions included in the literature. Results: A total of 2,113 articles were retrieved, and a total of 38 articles were included in the meta-analysis. There are 29 case-control studies and 9 Cohort study, including 333,836 cases and 4,042,509 controls. The combined risk estimate of all studies showed a statistically significant increased risk of CCA, extrahepatitis and intrahepatitis incidence with hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection (OR =1.75, OR =1.49, and OR =2.46, respectively). The combined risk estimate of all studies showed a statistically significant increased risk of CCA, extrahepatitis and intrahepatitis incidence with hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection (OR =1.45, OR =2.00, and OR =2.81, respectively). The research points of HCV and CCA were asymmetric, indicating that there may be publication bias in the study of HCV and CCA. Conclusions: HBV and HCV infection could increase the risk of CCA. Therefore, in clinical practice, attention should be paid to CCA screening and early prevention of HBV and HCV infected patients.

Efficacy and safety of gastroscopic hemostasis in the treatment of acute gastric hemorrhage: A meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: Gastric cancer (GC) is a malignant tumor with a high incidence and mortality rate worldwide for which acute bleeding is a common clinical complication. Gastroscopic hemostasis is an important method for treating acute bleeding in GC; however, its efficacy and safety remain controversial. AIM: To systematically analyze the efficacy and safety of gastroscopic hemostasis for the treatment of acute gastric hemorrhage. METHODS: The PUBMED, Web of Science, Wiley Library, EMBASE, Wanfang, CNKI, and VIP databases were searched for studies related to gastroscopic hemostatic treatment for acute GC published through February 20, 2023. The literature was screened according to the inclusion and exclusion criteria, data were extracted, and literature quality was evaluated. The meta-analysis was performed using RevMan software (version 5.3), while Begg's test for publication bias was performed using Stata 13.0 software. RESULTS: Six randomized controlled trials and two retrospective analyses were retrieved. Five studies had a low, two had an uncertain, and one had a high risk of bias. Compared with the control group, the hemostatic rate of gastroscopic hemostasis was increased [relative risk (RR) = 1.24; 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.08 to 1.43; P = 0.003]; the rate of rebleeding (RR = 0.27; 95%CI: 0.09 to 0.80; P = 0.02), rate of surgery transfer (RR = 0.16; 95%CI: 0.06 to 0.43; P = 0.0003), serum C-reactive protein level [mean difference (MD) = -5.16; 95%CI: -6.11 to 4.21; P < 0.00001], interleukin-6 level (MD = -6.37; 95%CI: -10.33 to -2.42; P = 0.002), and tumor necrosis factor-α level (MD = -2.29; 95%CI: -4.06 to -0.52; P = 0.01) were decreased; and the quality of life improvement rate was increased (RR = 1.95; 95%C I= 1.41-2.71; P < 0.0001). Begg's test revealed no significant publication bias. CONCLUSION: The efficacy and safety of endoscopic hemostasis were higher than those of the control group, suggesting that it is an effective treatment for acute GC hemorrhage.

The Critical Role of microRNA-21 in Non-alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease Pathogenesis.

Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) has received worldwide scientific attention because of its rapidly increasing prevalence, and it has emerged as a serious public health problem in end-stage liver disease. Many factors are involved in the multifactorial development and progression of liver disease by influencing multiple signaling and metabolic pathways. Currently, many studies have demonstrated the critical role of microRNA- 21 (miR-21) in NAFLD pathogenesis. In addition, many studies have found that miR-21 is highly expressed in inflammatory bowel disease, which is associated with intestinal barrier dysfunction and altered gut microbiota. In this paper, we focus on the regulatory role of miR-21 in the progression of NAFLD and its effect on the gut microbiota, summarize the involvement of miR-21 through a variety of signaling pathways and metabolic pathways, as well as discuss some predicted miR-21 target genes and miR-21 pathways for future experimental identification.

An Integrated ddPCR Lab-on-a-Disc Device for Rapid Screening of Infectious Diseases.

Digital droplet PCR (ddPCR) is a powerful amplification technique for absolute quantification of viral nucleic acids. Although commercial ddPCR devices are effective in the lab bench tests, they cannot meet current urgent requirements for on-site and rapid screening for patients. Here, we have developed a portable and fully integrated lab-on-a-disc (LOAD) device for quantitively screening infectious disease agents. Our designed LOAD device has integrated (i) microfluidics chips, (ii) a transparent circulating oil-based heat exchanger, and (iii) an on-disc transmitted-light fluorescent imaging system into one compact and portable box. Thus, droplet generation, PCR thermocycling, and analysis can be achieved in a single LOAD device. This feature is a significant attribute for the current clinical application of disease screening. For this custom-built ddPCR setup, we have first demonstrated the loading and ddPCR amplification ability by using influenza A virus-specific DNA fragments with different concentrations (diluted from the original concentration to 107 times), followed by analyzing the droplets with an external fluorescence microscope as a standard calibration test. The measured DNA concentration is linearly related to the gradient-dilution factor, which validated the precise quantification for the samples. In addition to the calibration tests using DNA fragments, we also employed this ddPCR-LOAD device for clinical samples with different viruses. Infectious samples containing five different viruses, including influenza A virus (IAV), respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), varicella zoster virus (VZV), Zika virus (ZIKV), and adenovirus (ADV), were injected into the device, followed by analyzing the droplets with an external fluorescence microscope with the lowest detected concentration of 20.24 copies/µL. Finally, we demonstrated the proof-of-concept detection of clinical samples of IAV using the on-disc fluorescence imaging system in our fully integrated device, which proves the capability of this device in clinical sample detection. We anticipate that this integrated ddPCR-LOAD device will become a flexible tool for on-site disease detection.

Meta-Resolve of Risk Factors for Nosocomial Infection in Patients Undergoing Thoracic Surgery.

As we all know, various complications may occur after surgery, and postoperative bleeding and infection are the most common in clinical practice. Postoperative infection mainly manifests as abdominal abscess, peritonitis, and fungal infection. Thoracic surgery is a very common clinical operation. It can directly deal with the relevant lesions, so a better curative effect can usually be obtained. However, patients undergoing thoracic surgery are generally more severely ill, with low immune resistance, long duration, and complicated surgical treatment process. Therefore, the probability of nosocomial infection is high, and there are many risk factors for infection. After the occurrence of HAI, it not only increases the suffering and economic burden of patients and the workload of medical staff but also prolongs the hospitalization time of patients, reduces the turnover rate of hospital beds, causes unnecessary economic losses, and affects the social and economic benefits of hospitals. Based on this, this paper proposes to analyze the risk factors of nosocomial infection in patients undergoing thoracic surgery, so as to provide a reference for the prevention or control of nosocomial infection. This paper analyzes the actual situation of nosocomial infection in a city hospital and then uses meta-analysis to determine the factors of nosocomial infection from the perspective of relevant research literature. Meta-analysis results show that patients older than 60 years have twice the risk of postoperative infection compared with patients younger than 60 years.

Magnetic coupling induced by the interaction between endohedral metal borofullerenes.

Superatom-assembled materials have highly tunable magnetic and electronic properties and parameters of clusters. Here, eight superatom dimers composed of two U@B40 motifs have been studied by the density functional theory. Calculation results show that U@B40 dimers exhibit spin antiferromagnetic coupling, spin ferromagnetic coupling and nonmagnetic, that is, the magnetic coupling is induced by the interaction between the U@B40 superatoms. In addition, the monomers in U@B40 dimers still retain the superatomic orbitals, and some of the super atomic orbitals disappear due to the interaction between monomers. The assembly based on U@B40 induced a decrease in the energy gap. This study provides a basis for a deep understanding of controlling the cluster-assembled materials for tailoring their functionalities.