The emerging role of mtDNA release in sepsis: Current evidence and potential therapeutic targets.

Sepsis is a systemic inflammatory reaction caused by infection, and severe sepsis can develop into septic shock, eventually leading to multiorgan dysfunction and even death. In recent years, studies have shown that mitochondrial damage is closely related to the occurrence and development of sepsis. Recent years have seen a surge in concern over mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA), as anomalies in this material can lead to cellular dysfunction, disruption of aerobic respiration, and even death of the cell. In this review, we discuss the latest findings on the mechanisms of mitochondrial damage and the molecular mechanisms controlling mitochondrial mtDNA release. We also explored the connection between mtDNA misplacement and inflammatory activation. Additionally, we propose potential therapeutic targets of mtDNA for sepsis treatment.

A critical role for the nuclear protein Akirin in larval development in Henosepilachna vigintioctopunctata.

Akirin is a nuclear protein that controls development in vertebrates and invertebrates. The function of Akirin has not been assessed in any Coleopteran insects. We found that high levels of akirin transcripts in Henosepilachna vigintioctopunctata, a serious Coleopteran potato defoliator (hereafter Hvakirin), were present at prepupal, pupal and adult stages, especially in larval foregut and fat body. RNA interference (RNAi) targeting Hvakirin impaired larval development. The Hvakirin RNAi larvae arrested development at the final larval instar stage. They remained as stunted larvae, gradually blackened and finally died. Moreover, the remodelling of gut and fat body was inhibited in the Hvakirin depleted larvae. Two layers of cuticles, old and newly formed, were noted in the dsegfp-injected animals. In contrast, only a layer of cuticle was found in the dsakirin-injected beetles, indicating the arrest of larval development. Furthermore, the expression of three transforming growth factor-ß cascade genes (Hvsmox, Hvmyo and Hvbabo), a 20-hydroxyecdysone (20E) receptor gene (HvEcR) and six 20E response genes (HvHR3, HvHR4, HvE75, HvBrC, HvE93 and Hvftz-f1) was significantly repressed, consistent with decreased 20E signalling. Conversely, the transcription of a juvenile hormone (JH) biosynthesis gene (Hvjhamt), a JH receptor gene (HvMet) and two JH response genes (HvKr-h1 and HvHairy) was greatly enhanced. Our findings suggest a critical role of Akirin in larval development in H. vigintioctopunctata.

Enhancing Iron(III) Oxide Photoelectrochemical Water Splitting Performance Using Defect Engineering and Heterostructure Construction.

Fe2O3 is a promising semiconductor for photoelectrochemical (PEC) water decomposition. However, severe charge recombination problems limit its applications. In this study, a F-Fe2O3-x/MoS2 nanorod array photoanode was designed and prepared to facilitate charge separation. Detailed characterization and experimental results showed that F doping in Fe2O3 regulated the electronic structure to improve the conductivity of Fe2O3 and induced abundant oxygen vacancies to increase the carrier concentration and promote charge separation in bulk. In addition, the internal electric field between F-Fe2O3-x and MoS2 facilitated the qualitative transfer of the photogenerated charge, thus inhibiting their recombination. The synergistic effect between the oxygen vacancy and F-Fe2O3-x/MoS2 heterojunction significantly enhanced the PEC performance of Fe2O3. This study provides a universal strategy for designing other photoanode materials with high-efficiency charge separation.

Silver/Antimony-Base Multifunctional Double Perovskite with H/F Substitution Enhance Properties.

Two-dimensional double perovskites have experienced rapid development due to their outstanding optoelectronic properties and diverse structural characteristics. However, the synthesis of high-performance multifunctional compounds and the regulation of their properties still lack relevant examples. Herein, we synthesized two multifunctional compounds, (C6H14N)4AgSbBr8 (1) and (F2-C6H12N)4AgSbBr8 (2), which exhibit high solid-state phase transition temperature, bistable dielectric constant switching, second harmonic generation (SHG), and bright emission. Through H/F substitution, the transition temperature increases and achieves a smaller band gap attributed to reduced interlayer spacing. Furthermore, we investigated the broad emission mechanism of the compounds through first-principles calculation and variable-temperature fluorescence, confirming the presence of the STE1 emission. Our work provides insight into the further development of multifunctional compounds and chemical modification that enhances compound properties.

Planting halophytes increases the rhizosphere ecosystem multifunctionality via reducing soil salinity.

Soil salinization poses a significant global challenge, exerting adverse effects on both agriculture and ecosystems. Planting halophytes has the potential ability to improve saline-alkali land and enhance ecosystem multifunctionality (EMF). However, it remains unclear which halophytes are effective in improving saline-alkali land and what impact they have on the rhizosphere microbial communities and EMF. In this study, we evaluated the Na+ absorption capability of five halophytes (Grubovia dasyphylla, Halogeton glomeratus, Suaeda salsa, Bassia scoparia, and Reaumuria songarica) and assessed their rhizosphere microbial communities and EMF. The results showed that S. salsa possessed the highest shoot (3.13 mmol g-1) and root (0.92 mmol g-1) Na+ content, and its soil Na+ absorption, along with B. scoparia, was significantly higher than that of other plants. The soil pH, salinity, and Na+ content of the halophyte rhizospheres decreased by 6.21%, 23.49%, and 64.29%, respectively, when compared to the bulk soil. Extracellular enzymes in the halophyte rhizosphere soil, including α-glucosidase, ß-glucosidase, ß-1,4-N-acetyl-glucosaminidase, neutral phosphatase, and alkaline phosphatase, increased by 70.1%, 78.4%, 38.5%, 79.1%, and 64.9%, respectively. Furthermore, the halophyte rhizosphere exhibited higher network complexity of bacteria and fungi and EMF than bulk soil. The relative abundance of the dominant phyla Proteobacteria, Firmicutes, and Ascomycota in the halophyte rhizosphere soil increased by 9.4%, 8.3%, and 22.25%, respectively, and showed higher microbial network complexity compared to the bulk soil. Additionally, keystone taxa, including Muricauda, Nocardioides, and Pontibacter, were identified with notable effects on EMF. This study confirmed that euhalophytes are the best choice for saline-alkali land restoration. These findings provided a theoretical basis for the sustainable use of saline-alkali cultivated land.

Cold Snare Polypectomy With or Without Submucosal Injection for Endoscopic Resection of Colorectal Polyps: A Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: The impact of submucosal injection during cold snare polypectomy (CSP) remains uncertain. We conducted an evidence-based comparison of conventional CSP (C-CSP) and CSP with submucosal injection (SI-CSP) for colorectal polyp resection. METHODS: PubMed, Embase, and the Cochrane Library databases were searched for randomized controlled trials (RCTs) comparing C-CSP with SI-CSP. Major outcomes included the rates of complete resection, en bloc resection, polyp retrieval, and adverse events, as well as the duration of polypectomy. Data were analyzed by using a random-effects model. RESULTS: A total of seven RCTs were included. Complete resection rates for all polyps (RR 0.98; 95% CI 0.93-1.03), polyps ≤ 10 mm (RR 0.99; 95% CI 0.96-1.02) and polyps > 10 mm (RR 0.92; 95% CI 0.69-1.12) were not substantially different between C-CSP and SI-CSP groups. En bloc resection rate (RR 0.93; 95% CI 0.79-1.09) and polyp retrieval rate (RR 1.00; 95% CI 0.99-1.01) were also not significantly different between the two groups. The SI-CSP group required a prolonged polypectomy time than the C-CSP group (SMD - 0.89; 95% CI -1.29 to -0.49). Adverse events were rare in both groups. CONCLUSIONS: SI-CSP is not an optimal substitute for CSP in the resection of colorectal polyps, particularly diminutive and small polyps.

Molecular characterization of the cytochrome P450 enzyme CYP18A1 in Henosepilachna vigintioctopunctata.

In insects, the expression of 20E response genes that initiate metamorphosis is triggered by a pulse of 20-hydroxyecdysone (20E). The 20E pulse is generated through two processes: synthesis, which increases its level, and inactivation, which decreases its titer. CYP18A1 functions as an ecdysteroid 26-hydroxylase and plays a role in 20E removal in several representative insects. However, applying 20E degradation activity of CYP18A1 to other insects remains a significant challenge. In this study, we discovered high levels of Hvcyp18a1 during the larval and late pupal stages, particularly in the larval epidermis and fat body of Henosepilachna vigintioctopunctata, a damaging Coleopteran pest of potatoes. RNA interference (RNAi) targeting Hvcyp18a1 disrupted the pupation. Approximately 75% of the Hvcyp18a1 RNAi larvae experienced developmental arrest and remained as stunted prepupae. Subsequently, they gradually turned black and eventually died. Among the Hvcyp18a1-depleted animals that successfully pupated, around half became malformed pupae with swollen elytra and hindwings. The emerged adults from these deformed pupae appeared misshapen, with shriveled elytra and hindwings, and were wrapped in the pupal exuviae. Furthermore, RNAi of Hvcyp18a1 increased the expression of a 20E receptor gene (HvEcR) and four 20E response transcripts (HvE75, HvHR3, HvBrC, and HvαFTZ-F1), while decreased the transcription of HvßFTZ-F1. Our findings confirm the vital role of CYP18A1 in the pupation, potentially involved in the degradation of 20E in H. vigintioctopunctata.

Corneal densitometry in Chinese adults with healthy corneas: associations with sex, age, ocular metrics, and optical characteristics.

BACKGROUND: Standardized corneal densitometry (CD) values in large samples of healthy Chinese individuals are scarce. Therefore, we aimed to determine the standard CD values using a Scheimpflug camera in healthy corneas, investigate the correlations of sex, age, and ocular parameters with corneal density, and explore the impact of corneal density on the forward scattering and optical quality of the eye. METHODS: This retrospective observational study involved 990 healthy Chinese individuals, including 494 males and 496 females (mean age: 23.88 ± 6.90 years). The CD values at various depths and radial areas of 0-12 mm were measured using a Scheimpflug camera. Densitometric measurements were expressed in standardized grayscale units (GSU). The optical scatter index (OSI), modulation transfer function cutoff values (MTFcutoff), and Strehl's ratio (SR) were also determined using an optical quality analysis system. RESULTS: The average CD within a 12 mm diameter area was 16.26 ± 1.35 GSU. The highest and lowest optical densities at different depths were observed in the anterior (21.41 ± 2.16 GSU) and posterior (12.00 ± 1.01 GSU) layers, respectively (P < 0.001). Similarly, the maximum and minimum optical densities at different radial areas were observed in the 10-12 mm (14.09 ± 0.93 GSU) and 2-6 mm (25.93 ± 4.77 GSU) circles, respectively (P < 0.001). There was no significant difference in the average CD within a 12 mm diameter area between males and females (P > 0.05). However, upon adjusting for age, central corneal thickness (CCT), corneal curvature, white-to-white (WTW) corneal diameter, and axial length, females exhibited a greater average CD within the 12 mm diameter and in the 6-10 mm and 10-12 mm circles than males. Age-related changes in CD were evident, except in the 2-6 mm circle. CCT, corneal curvature, WTW corneal diameter, and partial depth correlated with CD in the radial area, and CD in different areas correlated with the OSI, MTFcutoff, and SR (P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: This study provides the normative CD measurement data of Chinese adults with healthy corneas, emphasizing the significance of sex, age, CCT, corneal curvature, and WTW corneal diameter in CD evaluation. Notably, elevated CD can lead to increased forward scattering within the eye, thereby affecting the optical quality.

Establishment and pathophysiological evaluation of a novel model of acute compartment syndrome in rats.

BACKGROUND: Researches have used intra-compartmental infusion and ballon tourniquest to create high intra-compartmental pressure in animal models of Acute Compartment Syndrome (ACS). However, due to the large differences in the modeling methods and the evaluation criteria of ACS, further researches of its pathophysiology and pathogenesis are hindered. Currently, there is no ideal animal model for ACS and this study aimed to establish a reproducible, clinically relevant animal model. METHODS: Blunt trauma and fracture were caused by the free falling of weights (0.5 kg, 1 kg, 2 kg) from a height of 40 cm onto the lower legs of rats, and the application of pressures of 100 mmHg, 200 mmHg, 300 mmHg and 400 mmHg to the lower limbs of rats using a modified pressurizing device for 6 h. The intra-compartmental pressure (ICP) and the pressure change (ΔP) of rats with single and combined injury were continuously recorded, and the pathophysiology of the rats was assessed based on serum biochemistry, histological and hemodynamic changes. RESULTS: The ΔP caused by single injury method of different weights falling onto the lower leg did not meet the diagnosis criteria for ACS (< 30 mmHg). On the other hand, a combined injury method of a falling weight of 1.0 kg and the use of a pressurizing device with pressure of 300 mmHg or 400 mmHg for 6 h resulted in the desired ACS diagnosis criteria with a ΔP value of less than 30 mmHg. The serum analytes, histological damage score, and fibrosis level of the combined injury group were significantly increased compared with control group, while the blood flow was significantly decreased compared with control group. CONCLUSION: We successfully established a new preclinical ACS-like rat model, by the compression of the lower leg of rats with 300 mmHg pressure for 6 h and blunt trauma by 1.0 kg weight falling.

The Cd resistant mechanism of Proteus mirabilis Ch8 through immobilizing and detoxifying.

Cadmium (Cd) pollution is a serious global environmental problem, which requires a global concern and practical solutions. Microbial remediation has received widespread attention owing to advantages, such as environmental friendliness and soil amelioration. However, Cd toxicity also severely deteriorates the remediation performance of functional microorganisms. Analyzing the mechanism of bacterial resistance to Cd stress will be beneficial for the application of Cd remediation. In this study, the bacteria strain, up to 1400 mg/L Cd resistance, was employed and identified as Proteus mirabilis Ch8 (Ch8) through whole genome sequence analyses. The results indicated that the multiple pathways of immobilizing and detoxifying Cd maintained the growth of Ch8 under Cd stress, which also possessed high Cd extracellular adsorption. Firstly, the changes in surface morphology and functional groups of Ch8 cells were observed under different Cd conditions through SEM-EDS and FTIR analyses. Under 100 mg/L Cd, Ch8 cells exhibited aggregation and less flagella; the Cd biosorption of Ch8 was predominately by secreting exopolysaccharides (EPS) and no significant change of functional groups. Under 500 mg/L Cd, Ch8 were present irregular polymers on the cell surface, some cells with wrapping around; the Cd biosorption capacity exhibited outstanding effects (38.80 mg/g), which was mainly immobilizing Cd by secreting and interacting with EPS. Then, Ch8 also significantly enhanced the antioxidant enzyme activity and the antioxidant substance content under different Cd conditions. The activities of SOD and CAT, GSH content of Ch8 under 500 mg/L Cd were significantly increased by 245.47%, 179.52%, and 241.81%, compared to normal condition. Additionally, Ch8 significantly induced the expression of Acr A and Tol C (the resistance-nodulation-division (RND) efflux pump), and some antioxidant genes (SodB, SodC, and Tpx) to reduce Cd damage. In particular, the markedly higher expression levels of SodB under Cd stress. The mechanism of Ch8 lays a foundation for its application in solving soil remediation.

Behavioral events and functional analysis of bursicon signal during adult eclosion in the 28-spotted larger potato ladybird.

To accommodate growth, insects must periodically shed their exoskeletons. In Manduca sexta, Drosophila melanogaster and Tribolium castaneum, Bursicon (Burs)/ Partner of bursicon (Pburs)-LGR2 signal is an indispensable component for the proper execution of ecdysis behavior during adult eclosion. Nevertheless, the behavioral events and the roles of bursicon signaling in other insects deserve further exploration. In the current paper, we found that the pupal-adult ecdysis in Henosepilachna vigintioctomaculata could be divided into three distinct stages, preecdysis, ecdysis and postecdysis. Preecdysis behavioral sequences included abdomen twitches, dorsal-ventral contractions and air filling that function to loosen the old cuticle. Ecdysis events began with anterior-posterior contractions that gradually split the old integument along the dorsal body midline, followed by freeing of legs and mouthparts, and culminated in detachment from pupal cuticle. Postecdysis behavioral processes contained three actions: perch selection and stretching of elytra and hindwings. RNA interference for HvBurs, HvPburs or Hvrk (encoding LGR2) strongly impaired wing expansion actions, and slightly influenced preecdysis and ecdysis behaviors. The RNAi beetles failed to extend their elytra and hindwings. In addition, injected with dsrk also caused kinked femurs and tibia. Our findings establish that bursicon pathway is involved in regulation of adult eclosion behavior, especially wing expansion motor programs. Given that wings facilitate food foraging, courtship, predator avoidance, dispersal and migration, our results provide a potential target for controlling H. vigintioctomaculata.

Synthesis, Structural Characterization, and Biological Activities of 1,3,4- Thiadiazole Derivatives Containing Sulfonylpiperazine Structures.

To develop novel bacterial biofilm inhibiting agents, a series of 1,3,4-thiadiazole derivatives containing sulfonylpiperazine structures were designed, synthesized, and characterized using 1H nuclear magnetic resonance (1H NMR), 13C nuclear magnetic resonance (13C NMR), and high-resolution mass spectrometry. Meanwhile, their biological activities were evaluated, and the ensuing structure-activity relationships were discussed. The bioassay results showed the substantial antimicrobial efficacy exhibited by most of the compounds. Among them, compound A24 demonstrated a strong efficacy with an EC50 value of 7.8 µg/mL in vitro against the Xanthomonas oryzae pv. oryzicola (Xoc) pathogen, surpassing commercial agents thiodiazole copper (31.8 µg/mL) and bismerthiazol (43.3 µg/mL). Mechanistic investigations into its anti-Xoc properties revealed that compound A24 operates by increasing the permeability of bacterial cell membranes, inhibiting biofilm formation and cell motility, and inducing morphological changes in bacterial cells. Importantly, in vivo tests showed its excellent protective and curative effects on rice bacterial leaf streak. Besides, molecular docking showed that the hydrophobic effect and hydrogen-bond interactions are key factors between the binding of A24 and AvrRxo1-ORF1. Therefore, these results suggest the utilization of 1,3,4-thiadiazole derivatives containing sulfonylpiperazine structures as a bacterial biofilm inhibiting agent, warranting further exploration in the realm of agrochemical development.

IRF4 induces M1 macrophage polarization and aggravates ulcerative colitis progression by the Bcl6-dependent STAT3 pathway.

Ulcerative colitis (UC) is an idiopathic chronic intestinal inflammation. An increasing body of evidence shows that macrophages play an important role in the pathogenesis of UC. Interferon regulatory factor 4 (IRF4) is crucial for the development of autoimmune diseases via regulating immune cells. This research was designed to explore the function of IRF4 in UC and its association with macrophage polarization. The in vitro model of UC was established by stimulating colonic epithelial cells with tumor necrosis factor α (TNF-α). A mouse model of UC was constructed by injecting C57BL/6 mice with dextran sulfate sodium salt. Flow cytometry was used to assess percentage of CD11b+ CD86+ and CD11b+ CD206+ cells in bone marrow macrophages. Occult blood tests were used to detect hematochezia. Hematoxylin and eosin staining assay was used to assess colon pathological changes. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was used to detect concentrations of inflammatory cytokines. The interaction of IRF4 and B-cell lymphoma 6 (Bcl6) was confirmed using GST pull-down and coimmunoprecipitation assays. Our findings revealed that IRF4 promoted cell apoptosis and stimulated M1 macrophage polarization in vitro. Furthermore, IRF4 aggravated symptoms of the mouse model of UC and aggravated M1 macrophage polarization in vivo. IRF4 negatively regulated Bcl6 expression. Downregulation of Bcl6 promoted apoptosis and M1 macrophage polarization in the presence of IRF4 in vitro and in vivo. Moreover, Bcl6 positively mediated the Janus kinase 2 (JAK2)/signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3) signaling pathway. In conclusion, IRF4 aggravated UC progression through promoting M1 macrophage polarization via Bcl6/JAK2/STAT3 pathway. These findings suggested that IRF4 might be a good target to competitively inhibit or to treat with UC.

Gender- and Age-Related Characterization of Lower Eyelid Morphology: Three-Dimensional Analysis in a Chinese Population.

BACKGROUND: The lower eyelid region is a critical component of the face. It is essential to establish anthropometric reference values for the evaluation of aging, surgical planning and assessment of outcomes in periocular esthetic and rejuvenation procedures. This study aims to provide comprehensive anthropometric data on the Chinese lower eyelid region, into account factors such as sex and age, through three-dimensional imaging analysis. METHOD: Three-dimensional facial images were obtained from 84 healthy Chinese individuals aged between 20-35 and 50-65 years, as well as eight patients aged between 20 and 35 who presented with eyelid bags. A total of 27 landmarks were identified, leading to the generation of corresponding 21 lines, 5 curves, 4 angles, 2 areas and 5 ratios. The measurements were compared among different age groups, genders and young patients with or without eyelid bags. RESULTS: Compared to females, males exhibited a more elongated palpebral fissure, lower tear trough and lid-cheek junction, smaller inner and outer canthus angles, as well as a larger area and proportion of the lower palpebral region. As age progressed, the height and width of the palpebral fissure and inner canthus angle decreased gradually, which was accompanied by sagging of the tear trough and lid-cheek junction, an increase in lower eyelid area and swelling of the lower eyelid. Young patients undergoing eyelid bags demonstrated larger and more swelling lower eyelid which held clinical significance for rejuvenation surgery. CONCLUSION: Males exhibited a higher proportion of the brow-eye unit occupied by the lower eyelid region compared to females. Elderly individuals displayed noticeable drooping of the tear trough and lid-cheek junction, accompanied by swelling in the lower palpebral region. These findings can serve as standard references for esthetic procedures and reconstructive periocular operations. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE IV: This journal requires that authors assign a level of evidence to each article. For a full description of these evidence-based medicine ratings, please refer to Table of Contents or online Instructions to Authors www.springer.com/00266.

The Ideal Chinese Lip: Impact of Lip Contours and Proportions.

BACKGROUND: The lips are one crucial determinant of facial attractiveness. Current studies investigating lip attractiveness were mostly conducted in Caucasians, and the results could not directly apply to Asians. Aside from lip proportions, lip contours play an important role in attractiveness but it is unclear how people perceive different lip contours. The aim of this study was to investigate the aesthetic perception of various lip shapes by Chinese to identify the most attractive lip morphology for women and men, respectively. METHODS: 303 Chinese participants were invited to rate the attractiveness of identical lip images with different contours and proportions in a young female and a young male. Stratified analyses were performed to assess the effect of gender, age and occupation on the preference of lip shapes. RESULTS: The lips that were rated to be most attractive had a flat upper vermilion border, an M-shaped oral fissure and a U-shaped lower vermilion border in both genders. Most respondents considered an upper-to-lower vermilion proportion of 1:1 to be more attractive, regardless of the gender of the lip models, and the lip thickness-to-width proportions of 1:2 and 1:2.5 were perceived most attractive for female and male, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: This study adds to our understanding of how lip contours contribute to attractiveness and that Chinese have distinctive aesthetic preferences for lip morphology, which possibly stem from racial characteristics and cultural differences. With such knowledge, practitioners may better tailor the treatment strategy when performing lip rejuvenation procedures. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE III: This journal requires that authors assign a level of evidence to each article. For a full description of these Evidence-Based Medicine ratings, please refer to the Table of Contents or the online Instructions to Authors www.springer.com/00266 .

A Comprehensive Ultrasound Investigation of Lower Facial and Neck Structure.

BACKGROUND: The jawline and neck significantly influence facial aesthetics. Botulinum toxin and filler are highly favored as minimally invasive jawline rejuvenation procedures. However, little evidence exists on the age-related skin and superficial fat tissue transformations in healthy individuals to guide targeted interventions. METHODS: A quantitative sonographic assessment was conducted on 51 patients. Total soft tissue thickness (the skin and superficial fat compartments) was measured at eight sites along the jawline and four sites at the neck. Among them, 21 patients received botulinum toxin A (BTX-A) injections for jawline lift. Three-dimensional images and questionaries were obtained before and after the treatment. RESULTS: In this ultrasound study, total superficial soft tissue thickness decreased significantly from the prejowl sulcus to the lateral cheek, with the jowl showing the greatest thickness. Vertically, significant differences in thickness were noted between superior and inferior points, especially at the inferior prejowl sulcus for the middle-aged and the jowl for the elderly group when comparing across age groups. Soft tissue thickness at the neck decreased from zones 1 to 3, consistent in all age groups. BMI and age positively correlated with soft tissue thickness at the jawline and neck. Regarding BTX-A injections, participants described a pain-free injection process, of which 85.7% reported substantial aesthetic improvement and sharpening of the submental-cervical angle. CONCLUSIONS: This study quantified age-related changes in superficial soft tissues at the jawline and neck regions with ultrasound imaging. With aging, soft tissue thickness alters with high region-specificity. Tailoring interventions to the specific alterations within each age group can achieve optimal results with enhanced safety. This study provided a quantitative analysis of skin and superficial fat compartment thicknesses for the young, middle-aged, and elderly groups. This study illustrated how skin and superficial fat compartments change with age in a regionally specific manner for both the jawline and neck regions. This study revealed a positive association between BMI and age with skin and superficial fat tissue thicknesses, especially in areas like the jowl, submental, and neck. This study provided guidance for a safe and effective botulinum toxin. A injection method focusing on the injection depths and regions to achieve optimal jawline rejuvenation outcomes and patient experience. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE IV: This journal requires that authors assign a level of evidence to each article. For a full description of these Evidence-Based Medicine ratings, please refer to the Table of Contents or the online Instructions to Authors www.springer.com/00266 .

RNA Interference-Mediated Suppression of Ecdysone Signaling Inhibits Choriogenesis in Two Coleoptera Species.

During choriogenesis in insects, chorion (eggshell) is formed by surrounding follicular epithelial cells in ovarioles. However, the regulatory endocrine factor(s) activating choriogenesis and the effect of chemical components on eggshell deserve further exploration. In two representative coleopterans, a coccinellid Henosepilachna vigintioctopunctata and a chrysomelid Leptinotarsa decemlineata, genes encoding the 20-hydroxyecdysone (20E) receptor heterodimer, ecdysone receptor (EcR) and ultraspiracle (USP), and two chitin biosynthesis enzymes UDP-N-acetylglucosamine pyrophosphorylase (UAP) and chitin synthase (ChS1), were highly expressed in ovaries of the young females. RNA interference (RNAi)-aided knockdown of either HvEcR or Hvusp in H. vigintioctopunctata inhibited oviposition, suppressed the expression of HvChS1, and lessened the positive signal of Calcofluor staining on the chorions, which suggests the reduction of a chitin-like substance (CLS) deposited on eggshells. Similarly, RNAi of LdEcR or Ldusp in L. decemlineata constrained oviposition, decreased the expression of LdUAP1 and LdChS1, and reduced CLS contents in the resultant ovaries. Knockdown of LdUAP1 or LdChS1 caused similar defective phenotypes, i.e., reduced oviposition and CLS contents in the L. decemlineata ovaries. These results, for the first time, indicate that 20E signaling activates choriogenesis in two coleopteran species. Moreover, our findings suggest the deposition of a CLS on the chorions.

The miR-182-5p/GPX4 Pathway Contributes to Sevoflurane-Induced Ototoxicity via Ferroptosis.

Our study aimed to investigate the role of ferroptosis in sevoflurane-induced hearing impairment and explore the mechanism of the microRNA-182-5p (miR-182-5p)/Glutathione Peroxidase 4 (GPX4) pathway in sevoflurane-induced ototoxicity. Immunofluorescence staining was performed using myosin 7a and CtBP2. Cell viability was assessed using the CCK-8 kit. Fe2+ concentration was measured using FerroOrange and Mi-to-FerroGreen fluorescent probes. The lipid peroxide level was assessed using BODIPY 581/591 C11 and MitoSOX fluorescent probes. The auditory brainstem response (ABR) test was conducted to evaluate the hearing status. Bioinformatics tools and dual luciferase gene reporter analysis were used to confirm the direct targeting of miR-182-5p on GPX4 mRNA. GPX4 and miR-182-5p expression in cells was assessed by qRT-PCR and Western blot. Ferrostatin-1 (Fer-1) pretreatment significantly improved hearing impairment and damage to ribbon synapses in mice caused by sevoflurane exposure. Immunofluorescence staining revealed that Fer-1 pretreatment reduced intracellular and mitochondrial iron overload, as well as lipid peroxide accumulation. Our findings indicated that miR-182-5p was upregulated in sevoflurane-exposed HEI-OC1 cells, and miR-182-5p regulated GPX4 expression by binding to the 3'UTR of GPX4 mRNA. The inhibition of miR-182-5p attenuated sevoflurane-induced iron overload and lipid peroxide accumulation. Our study elucidated that the miR-182-5p/GPX4 pathway was implicated in sevoflurane-induced ototoxicity by promoting ferroptosis.

Comparative Transcriptome Analysis of Henosepilachna vigintioctomaculata Reveals Critical Pathways during Development.

Henosepilachna vigintioctomaculata is distributed in several Asian countries. The larvae and adults often cause substantial economic losses to Solanaceae crops such as potato, tomato, eggplant, and Chinese boxthorn. Even though a chromosome-level genome has been documented, the expression profiles of genes involved in development are not determined. In this study, we constructed embryonic, larval, pupal, and adult transcriptomes, generated a comprehensive RNA-sequencing dataset including ~52 Gb of clean data, and identified 602,773,686 cleaned reads and 33,269 unigenes. A total of 18,192 unigenes were successfully annotated against NCBI nonredundant protein sequences, Swissprot, Eukaryotic Orthologous Groups, Gene Ontology (GO), or Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) databases. There were 3580, 2040, 5160, 2496, 3008, and 3895 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) between adult/egg, egg/larval, larval/pupal, adult/pupal, egg/pupal, and adult/larval samples, respectively. GO and KEGG analyses of the DEGs highlighted several critical pathways associated with specific developing stages. This is the first comprehensive transcriptomic dataset encompassing all developmental stages in H. vigintioctomaculata. Our data may facilitate the exploitation of gene targets for pest control and can serve as a valuable gene resource for future molecular investigations.

Research on the damage and wound repair of cornea by GO and ZnO.

OBJECTIVE: The widespread use of nanoparticles in recent years has increased the risk of ocular exposure. zinc oxide (ZnO) is widely used in the field of cosmetics because of its unique chemical properties. The application of graphene oxide (GO) as an emerging nanomaterial in the field of eye drops is also gradually emerging. Currently, research on ZnO and GO eye exposure mainly focuses on application or toxicity to optic nerve cells. There's less study on corneal wound healing effects. and the previous research hasn't compared ZnO and GO corneal toxicity. METHODS: We systematically established a complete chain study of in vitro and in vivo experiments and mouse corneal injury model, and comprehensively evaluated the ocular safety and toxicity of ZnO and GO. RESULTS: We found that 50 ug/mL GO and 0.5 ug/mL ZnO can reduce human corneal epithelial cells (HCEpiC) viability in a concentration-dependent manner. Short-term repeated exposure to ZnO can cause sterile inflammation of the cornea with concentration-dependence, while GO have not been significantly altered. 50 ug/mL ZnO could significantly delay the healing of corneal wounds, while GO did not change wound healing. CONCLUSION: The toxic effect of ZnO is higher than that of GO. Inflammatory signal transduction, oxidative stress and apopnano zitosis are involved in the ocular toxicity injury process of nanoparticles. Research can provide a judgement basis for people's eye health and eye protection risk control.