Bioaccessibility and human health risks of arsenic from geological origin in lateritic red soil on construction land.

Current human health risk assessments of soil arsenic (As) contamination rarely consider bioaccessibility (IVBA), which may overestimate the health risks of soil As. The IVBA of As (As-IVBA) may differ among various soil types. This investigation of As-IVBA focused As from geological origin in a typical subtropical soil, lateritic red soil, and its risk control values. The study used the SBRC gastric phase in vitro digestion method and As speciation sequential extraction based upon phosphorus speciation extraction method. Two construction land sites (CH and HD sites) in the Pearl River Delta region were surveyed. The results revealed a high content of residual As (including scorodite, mansfieldite, orpiment, realgar, and aluminum arsenite) in the lateritic red soils at both sites (CH: 84.9%, HD: 91.7%). The content of adsorbed aluminum arsenate (CH: 3.24%, HD: 0.228%), adsorbed ferrum arsenate (CH: 8.55%, HD: 5.01%), and calcium arsenate (CH: 7.33%, HD: 3.01%) were found to be low. The bioaccessible As content was significantly positively correlated with the As content in adsorbed aluminum arsenate, adsorbed ferrum arsenate, and calcium arsenate. A small portion of these sequential extractable As speciation could be absorbed by the human body (CH: 14.9%, HD: 3.16%), posing a certain health risk. Adsorbed aluminum arsenate had the highest IVBA, followed by calcium arsenate, and adsorbed ferrum arsenate had the lowest IVBA. The aforementioned speciation characteristics of As from geological origin in lateritic red soil contributed to its lower IVBA compared to other soils. The oxidation state of As did not significantly affect As-IVBA. Based on As-IVBA, the carcinogenic and non-carcinogenic risks of soil As in the CH and HD sites decreased greatly in human health risk assessment. The results suggest that As-IVBA in lateritic red soil should be considered when assessing human health risks on construction land.

Effect of Day 3 cell number on the live birth rate of vitrified-warmed Day 5 single blastocyst transfer in young women.

BACKGROUND: Previous studies have reported inconsistent results regarding blastocyst selection with a high day 3 (D3) cell number and the eventual pregnancy outcomes. Thus, in this study, the relationship between the D3 cell number and clinical outcomes of day 5 single blastocyst transfer (SBT) in vitrified-warmed transfer cycles was investigated. METHODS: Our retrospective study included 1144 day 5 SBT in vitrified-warmed cycles between February 2016 and February 2021. All cycles were the first vitrified-warmed cycles, and the female patients were less than 35 years of age. Based on the D3 cell number, the cycles were divided into four groups, as follows: group A (3-7 cells, n = 130); group B (8-9 cells, n = 621); group C (10-12 cells, n = 328); and group D (13-16 cells, n = 65). The differences in the live birth rate (LBR), clinical pregnancy rate, and miscarriage rate were examined among the four groups. RESULTS: The LBR and clinical pregnancy rate increased with the D3 cell number (P < 0.01). No significant difference was found in the miscarriage rate among the groups (P = 0.055). After adjusting for confounding factors, the LBR was significantly higher in groups C (odds ratio [OR] = 1.477, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.124-1.941, P = 0.005) and D (OR = 2.000, 95% CI: 1.166-3.429, P = 0.012) than in group B. CONCLUSIONS: A high D3 cell number (> 9 cells) was associated with a high LBR in the vitrified-warmed day 5 SBT cycles of patients < 35 years of age. The cell number of D3 embryos can be an important reference indicator for blastocyst selection. Among blastocysts with the same morphological score, those with > 9 cells on D3 can be preferentially selected for transplantation.

Sociodemographic, clinical and treatment characteristics of current rapid-cycling bipolar disorder: a multicenter Chinese study.

BACKGROUND: Rapid cycling bipolar disorder (RCBD), characterized by four or more episodes per year, is a complex subtype of bipolar disorder (BD) with poorly understood characteristics. METHOD: This multicenter, observational, longitudinal cohort study enrolled 520 BD patients across seven psychiatric institutions in China from January 2013 to January 2014. Participants were divided into RCBD and non-RCBD (NRCBD) groups based on the frequency of mood episodes in the preceding year. Data collection utilized a standardized form, supplemented by a medical record review, focusing on sociodemographic, clinical, and treatment characteristics. Statistical analysis involved independent samples t-tests, Kruskal-Wallis H tests, Chi-square or Fisher's exact tests, with Bonferroni correction applied to account for multiple comparisons, and multivariable logistic regression to identify characteristics associated with RCBD. RESULTS: Among the BD cohort, 9.4% were identified as current RCBD. Compared to NRCBD, RCBD patients had a shorter duration from the first psychiatric consultation to the diagnosis of BD, a reduced duration of their longest period of euthymia, a lower proportion of lifetime hospitalization history due to BD, and less use of electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) within the last 12 months. Additionally, they presented higher baseline scores on the Mood Disorder Questionnaire (MDQ) and the Brief 16-item Quick Inventory of Depressive Symptomatology Self-Report (QIDS-SR16). However, after applying the Bonferroni correction, these differences were not statistically significant. Multivariable logistic regression analysis identified three factors that were independently associated with RCBD: time from first psychiatric consultation to BD diagnosis (Odds Ratio [OR] = 0.512, P = 0.0416), lifetime hospitalization history due to BD (OR = 0.516, P = 0.0476), and ECT treatment within the past 12 months (OR = 0.293, P = 0.0472). CONCLUSION: This study revealed that the duration from first psychiatric consultation to BD diagnosis, lifetime hospitalization history due to BD, and ECT treatment in the past year were associated with RCBD. Recognizing these factors could contribute to enhance the early identification and clinical outcomes of RCBD. Trial Registration Number Registry ClinicalTrials.gov NCT01770704. Date of Registration: First posted on January 18, 2013.

Ginseng polysaccharide components attenuate obesity and liver lipid accumulation by regulating fecal microbiota and hepatic lysine degradation.

The increasing incidence of obesity has led to widespread attention in the exploration of natural ingredients. Ginseng polysaccharides (PGP), the main components from Panax ginseng, have been reported potential effect to attenuate obesity and regulate lipid metabolism. In this study, we found that PGP inhibited the high-fat diet (HFD)-induced weight gain, fat ratio and fat tissue weight after 8-week administration. Serum and liver lipid analysis showed that PGP decreased the levels of triglyceride and total cholesterol, which was mediated by the inhibition of key genes for fatty acid and cholesterol metabolisms. Metabolomics studies showed that the inhibitory effect of PGP on liver lipid accumulation was significantly correlated with its regulation of citric acid cycle and lysine degradation. PGP regulated the expression of genes related to lysine degradation in both liver tissue and hepatocytes. In addition, PGP reshaped the composition of fecal microbiota at the genus and species levels in obese mice. Spearman's correlation analysis demonstrated that Staphylococcus sciuri, Staphylococcus lentus, and Pseudoflavonifractor sp. An85 may be the potential targets that PGP maintains the abundance of l-lysine against obesity. It concluded that PGP can attenuate obesity and liver lipid accumulation by regulating fecal microbiota and hepatic lysine degradation.

Urolithin A Hijacks ERK1/2-ULK1 Cascade to Improve CD8+ T Cell Fitness for Antitumor Immunity.

According to the latest evidence, the microbial metabolite Urolithin A (UA), known for its role in promoting cellular health, modulates CD8+ T cell-mediated antitumor activity. However, the direct target protein of UA and its underlying mechanism remains unclear. Here, this research identifies ERK1/2 as the specific target crucial for UA-mediated CD8+ T cell activation. Even at low doses, UA markedly enhances the persistence and effector functions of primary CD8+ cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTLs) and human chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T cells both in vitro and in vivo. Mechanistically, UA interacts directly with ERK1/2 kinases, enhancing their activation and subsequently facilitating T cell activation by engaging ULK1. The UA-ERK1/2-ULK1 axis promotes autophagic flux in CD8+ CTLs, enhancing cellular metabolism and maintaining reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels, as evidenced by increased oxygen consumption and extracellular acidification rates. UA-treated CD8+ CTLs also display elevated ATP levels and enhanced spare respiratory capacity. Overall, UA activates ERK1/2, inducing autophagy and metabolic adaptation, showcasing its potential in tumor immunotherapy and interventions for diseases involving ERKs.

[IL-1ß inhibits macrophage M2 polarization by down-regulating CD200 expression in human umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cells].

Objective To investigate the regulation of IL-1ß on the expression of CD200 in human umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cells (hUC-MSCs), its role in macrophage polarization and the underlying mechanism. Methods hUC-MSCs were isolated and cultured in serum-free medium. Morphological observation and the expressions of CD73, CD90, CD105, CD14, CD34, CD45 and HLA-DR were detected by flow cytometry to confirm the properties of mesenchymal stem cells. hUC-MSCs were treated with IL-1ß at the final concentration of 20 ng/mL for 24 hours. The proportion of CD200 positive cells was measured by flow cytometry. Real-time quantitative PCR and Western blot analysis were used to detect CD200 mRNA and protein expression levels. hUC-MSCs infected with CD200 overexpression (OE-CD200) and its negative control (OE-NC) lectin virus were treated with IL-1ß and co-cultured with PMA-activated THP-1 macrophages. The proportion of CD11c and CD206 positive cells was measured by flow cytometry. hUC-MSCs were treated with IL-1ß in combination with PD98059, and the expression of MAPK signaling pathway-related proteins and its effect on CD200 expression were detected by Western blot analysis. Results IL-1ß significantly down-regulated the expression of CD200 protein and the proportion of CD200 positive cells. Overexpression of CD200 significantly up-regulated the expression of CD200 in hUC-MSCs, and increased the proportion of CD206-positive macrophages. IL-1ß activated the ERK1/2 signaling pathway in hUC-MSCs, and PD98059 up-regulated the expression of CD200 protein in hUC-MSCs treated with IL-1ß. Conclusion IL-1ß inhibits the expression of CD200 by activating ERK1/2 signaling pathway, and reduces the immunosuppressive effect of hUC-MSCs on regulating the M2-type polarization of macrophages.

Recent advances in the potential effects of natural products from traditional Chinese medicine against respiratory diseases targeting ferroptosis.

Respiratory diseases, marked by structural changes in the airways and lung tissues, can lead to reduced respiratory function and, in severe cases, respiratory failure. The side effects of current treatments, such as hormone therapy, drugs, and radiotherapy, highlight the need for new therapeutic strategies. Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) offers a promising alternative, leveraging its ability to target multiple pathways and mechanisms. Active compounds from Chinese herbs and other natural sources exhibit anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, antitumor, and immunomodulatory effects, making them valuable in preventing and treating respiratory conditions. Ferroptosis, a unique form of programmed cell death (PCD) distinct from apoptosis, necrosis, and others, has emerged as a key area of interest. However, comprehensive reviews on how natural products influence ferroptosis in respiratory diseases are lacking. This review will explore the therapeutic potential and mechanisms of natural products from TCM in modulating ferroptosis for respiratory diseases like acute lung injury (ALI), asthma, pulmonary fibrosis (PF), chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), lung ischemia-reperfusion injury (LIRI), pulmonary hypertension (PH), and lung cancer, aiming to provide new insights for research and clinical application in TCM for respiratory health.

Hepatotoxic effects of chronic exposure to environmentally relevant concentrations of Di-(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP) on crucian carp: Insights from multi-omics analyses.

Di-(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP) is an extensively used phthalate esters (PAEs) that raise growing ecotoxicological concerns due to detrimental effects on living organisms and ecosystems. This study performed hepatotoxic investigations on crucian carp under chronic low-dosage (CLD) exposure to DEHP at environmentally relevant concentrations (20-500 µg/L). The results demonstrated that the CLD exposure induced irreversible damage to the liver tissue. Multi-omics (transcriptomics and metabolomics) analyses revealed the predominant toxicological mechanisms underlying DEHP-induced hepatotoxicity by inhibiting energy production pathways and the up-regulation of the purine metabolism. Disruption of metabolic pathways led to excessive reactive oxygen species (ROS) production and subsequent oxidative stress. The adverse metabolic effects were exacerbated by an interplay between oxidative stress and endoplasmic reticulum stress. This study not only provides new mechanistic insights into the ecotoxicological effects of DEHP under chronic low-dosage exposure, but also suggests a potential strategy for further ecological risk assessment of PAEs.

Day 2 versus day 3 embryo transfer in patients with in vitro fertilization and only one zygote with two pronuclei.

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to compare the pregnancy outcomes of Day 2 (D2) fresh embryo transfer and D3 fresh embryo transfer in women with only one zygote with two pronuclei (2PN). METHODS: Data on 432 in vitro fertilization-embryo transfer cycles with only one 2PN zygote from January 2016 to January 2022 were retrospectively collected. A total of 302 fresh embryo transfers on D2 (n = 193) and D3 (n = 109) were analyzed, and pregnancy outcomes were compared. RESULTS: The patients' characteristics were not different between D2 and D3 embryo transfer. There were no significant differences in the rates of clinical pregnancy, early abortion, or live birth between D2 and D3 embryo transfer. A multivariate logistic regression model controlling for age, the fertilization method, the number of oocytes harvested, and the number of high-quality embryos transferred showed that the live birth rate was similar between D2 and D3 embryo transfer. CONCLUSION: In in vitro fertilization-embryo transfer cycles with only one 2PN zygote, D2 fresh embryo transfer may provide similar pregnancy outcomes to those of D3 embryo transfer. D2 embryo transfer may be an option because of the risk of cycle cancellation due to the absence of viable embryos on D3.

Chitosan-based injectable hydrogel with multifunction for wound healing: A critical review.

Different types of clinical wounds are difficult to treat while infected by bacteria. Wound repair involves multiple cellular and molecular interactions, which is a complicated process. However, wound repair often suffers from abnormal cellular functions or pathways that result in unavoidable side effects, so there is an urgent need for a material that can heal wounds quickly and with few side effects. Based on these needs, hydrogels with injectable properties have been confirmed to be able to undergo self-healing, which provides favorable conditions for wound healing. Notably, as a biopolymer with excellent easy-to-modify properties from a wide range of natural sources, chitosan can be used to prepare injectable hydrogel with multifunction for wound healing because of its outstanding flowability and injectability. Especially, chitosan-based hydrogels with marked biocompatibility, non-toxicity, and bio-adhesion properties are ideal for facilitating wound healing. In this review, the characteristics and healing mechanisms of different wounds are briefly summarized. In addition, the preparation and characterization of injectable chitosan hydrogels in recent years are classified. Additionally, the bioactive properties of this type of hydrogel in vitro and in vivo are demonstrated, and future trend in wound healing is prospected.

Investigating the Impact of Disrupting the Glutamine Metabolism Pathway on Ammonia Excretion in Crucian Carp (Carassius auratus) under Carbonate Alkaline Stress Using Metabolomics Techniques.

With the gradual decline in freshwater resources, the space available for freshwater aquaculture is diminishing and the need to maximize saline water for aquaculture is increasing. This study aimed to elucidate the impact mechanisms of the disruption of the glutamate pathway on serum metabolism and ammonia excretion in crucian carp (Carassius auratus) under carbonate alkaline stress. A freshwater control group (C group), a 20 mmol/L NaHCO3 stress group (L group), and a 40 mmol/L NaHCO3 stress group (H group) were established. After 30 days of exposure, methionine sulfoximine (MSO) was injected to block the glutamate pathway metabolism, and the groups post-blocking were labeled as MC, ML, and MH. Ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography coupled with the quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry (UPLC-Q-TOF/MS) metabolomics technique was employed to detect changes in the composition and content of crucian carp serum metabolites. Significant differential metabolites were identified, and related metabolic pathways were analyzed. The results revealed that, following the glutamate pathway blockade, a total of 228 differential metabolites (DMs) were identified in the three treatment groups. An enrichment analysis indicated significant involvement in glycerophospholipid metabolism, arachidonic acid metabolism, sphingolipid metabolism, purine metabolism, arginine and proline biosynthesis, pantothenate and CoA biosynthesis, glutathione metabolism, and fatty acid degradation, among other metabolic pathways. The results showed that ROS imbalances and L-arginine accumulation in crucian carp after the glutamate pathway blockade led to an increase in oxidative stress and inflammatory responses in vivo, which may cause damage to the structure and function of cell membranes. Crucian carp improves the body's antioxidant capacity and regulates cellular homeostasis by activating glutathione metabolism and increasing the concentration of phosphatidylcholine (PC) analogs. Additionally, challenges such as aggravated ammonia excretion obstruction and disrupted energy metabolism were observed in crucian carp, with the upregulation of purine metabolism alleviating ammonia toxicity and maintaining energy homeostasis through pantothenate and CoA biosynthesis as well as fatty acid degradation. This study elucidated the metabolic changes in crucian carp under carbonate alkaline stress after a glutamate pathway blockade at the cellular metabolism level and screened out the key metabolic pathways, which provide a scientific basis for further in-depth studies on the ammonia excretion of freshwater scleractinian fishes under saline and alkaline habitats at a later stage.

Synergistic Brilliance: Engineered Bacteria and Nanomedicine Unite in Cancer Therapy.

Engineered bacteria are widely used in cancer treatment because live facultative/obligate anaerobes can selectively proliferate at tumor sites and reach hypoxic regions, thereby causing nutritional competition, enhancing immune responses, and producing anticancer microbial agents in situ to suppress tumor growth. Despite the unique advantages of bacteria-based cancer biotherapy, the insufficient treatment efficiency limits its application in the complete ablation of malignant tumors. The combination of nanomedicine and engineered bacteria has attracted increasing attention owing to their striking synergistic effects in cancer treatment. Engineered bacteria that function as natural vehicles can effectively deliver nanomedicines to tumor sites. Moreover, bacteria provide an opportunity to enhance nanomedicines by modulating the TME and producing substrates to support nanomedicine-mediated anticancer reactions. Nanomedicine exhibits excellent optical, magnetic, acoustic, and catalytic properties, and plays an important role in promoting bacteria-mediated biotherapies. The synergistic anticancer effects of engineered bacteria and nanomedicines in cancer therapy are comprehensively summarized in this review. Attention is paid not only to the fabrication of nanobiohybrid composites, but also to the interpromotion mechanism between engineered bacteria and nanomedicine in cancer therapy. Additionally, recent advances in engineered bacteria-synergized multimodal cancer therapies are highlighted.

Long non-coding RNA Linc00657 up-regulates Skp2 to promote the progression of cervical cancer through lipid reprogramming and regulation of immune microenvironment.

More and more evidence shows that long non-coding RNA (lncRNA) plays an important role in the biological behavior of many kinds of malignant tumors, but the specific function of lncRNA Linc00657 in cervical cancer is still unknown. The purpose of this study is to explore the effect of Linc00657 on the malignant progression of cervical cancer and its potential mechanism. In two kinds of cervical cancer cell lines and normal cervical epithelial cells, qRT-PCR showed increased expression of Linc00657 in cervical cancer cells. Through MTT, clone formation test, flow cytometry, wound healing test and Transwell test, it has been found that overexpression of Linc00657 could promote the proliferation,migration and invasion of cervical cancer cells，and inhibit apoptosis. Through the StarBase database, it was found that there may be a mutual regulatory relationship between Linc00657 and Skp2, and Skp2 may be the downstream target of Linc00657. QRT-PCR detection confirmed that the expression of Skp2 was increased in cervical cancer cells with overexpression of Linc00657. TIMER2 database found that Skp2 was associated with lipid metabolic enzymes and immune cell infiltration. It was found that Linc00657 knockdown inhibited tumor growth and metastasis and inhibited the expression of Skp2 in vivo. In short, our research shows that Linc00657 has carcinogenic properties in cervical cancer, and LINC00657 promotes the occurrence of cervical cancer by up-regulating the expression of Skp2. We predict that Linc00657/mir30s/Skp2 axis plays a role in the malignant progression of cervical cancer. In addition, Skp2 may participate in cancer immune response and promote lymph node metastasis of cervical cancer through lipid reprogramming. These findings also provide promising targets for the diagnosis and treatment of cervical cancer.

Beta-Cell Tipe1 Orchestrates Insulin Secretion and Cell Proliferation by Promoting Gαs/cAMP Signaling via USP5.

Inadequate ß-cell mass and insulin secretion are essential for the development of type 2 diabetes (T2D). TNF-α-induced protein 8-like 1 (Tipe1) plays a crucial role in multiple diseases, however, a specific role in T2D pathogenesis remains largely unexplored. Herein, Tipe1 as a key regulator in T2D, contributing to the maintenance of ß cell homeostasis is identified. The results show that the ß-cell-specific knockout of Tipe1 (termed Ins2-Tipe1BKO) aggravated diabetic phenotypes in db/db mice or in mice with high-fat diet-induced diabetes. Notably, Tipe1 improves ß cell mass and function, a process that depends on Gαs, the α subunit of the G-stimulating protein. Mechanistically, Tipe1 inhibited the K48-linked ubiquitination degradation of Gαs by recruiting the deubiquitinase USP5. Consequently, Gαs or cAMP agonists almost completely restored the dysfunction of ß cells observed in Ins2-Tipe1BKO mice. The findings characterize Tipe1 as a regulator of ß cell function through the Gαs/cAMP pathway, suggesting that Tipe1 may emerge as a novel target for T2D intervention.

The association between prepregnancy dietary fatty acids and risk of gestational diabetes mellitus: A prospective cohort study.

BACKGROUND & AIMS: Epidemiologic studies have examined the association between dietary fatty acids and type 2 diabetes risk in general populations. Evidence regarding their associations with gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) risk remains limited. This study aimed to evaluate prepregnancy fatty acids intake in relation to GDM risk. METHODS: 3,725 pregnant women from the Xi'an Birth Cohort Study who were free of previous GDM or pre-existing chronic diseases were included. Dietary intake of total fat and individual fatty acids (including saturated fatty acids [SFA], monounsaturated fatty acids [MUFA], polyunsaturated fatty acids [PUFA], and trans fatty acids) during the year preceding pregnancy was assessed by a validated food-frequency questionnaire before 16 weeks of gestation. GDM was confirmed based on the 75-g oral glucose tolerance test. Log-binomial or modified Poisson regression models were applied to estimate the relative risks (RRs) and 95 % confidence intervals (95%CIs) of GDM for fatty acids intake. Generalized linear regression was adopted for blood glucose levels with fatty acids intake. RESULTS: 644 (17.3 %) incident GDM cases were confirmed in our study. Participants in the highest intake of total fat substituting for carbohydrates had a 33 % reduced risk of GDM than those in the lowest intake (RR:0.67; 95%CI:0.55,0.81). For individual fatty acids, only PUFA intake was associated with a lower risk of GDM, with RR comparing extreme tertiles of 0.61 (95%CI:0.49,0.76). Each 2 % increase in energy from total fat and PUFA replacing carbohydrates decreased the risk of GDM by 6 % (95%CI:3 %,9 %) and 15 % (95%CI:9 %,21 %), respectively. Similar inverse associations with intake of total fat and PUFA were observed for blood glucose levels. Further analyses of SFA substitution showed that replacement of 2 % energy from SFA with PUFA and MUFA was associated with 26 % (RR:0.74; 95%CI:0.62,0.88) and 30 % (RR:0.70; 95%CI:0.50, 0.98) decreased risk of GDM, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Greater intake of total fat and PUFA before pregnancy was associated with lower risk of GDM when replacing carbohydrates. Substitution SFA with PUFA and MUFA was also inversely associated with GDM risk. These findings support the important role of optimal dietary fatty acids composition in the prevention of GDM.

Production of bagasse fly ash-derived CO2 adsorbent by physical activation and by nitrogen-functionalization using hydrothermal treatment.

The high cost of commercial CO2 capture material is one of the issues hindering the widespread adaptation of the technology. This study explored efficient ways of utilizing waste material in the form of bagasse fly ash (BFA) as CO2 adsorbent through thermochemical preparations of physical activation, and hydrothermal carbonization (HTC). The activation of BFA using flue gas was able to produce an adsorbent with good CO2 adsorption capacity, with similar results to the CO2 activation. The second approach using co-HTC of BFA with chicken manure (CM) optimized using Box-Behnken design of experiment was able to produce an adsorbent with CO2 adsorption capacity nearly on-par with commercial adsorbents. It was also found that the model was able to accurately predict the experiment outcome when verified with the additional experiments. Material characterizations showed that the increase of the CO2 adsorption capacity of the adsorbent might have been achieved through the formation of secondary amines deposited on the BFA. The results of this study showed that the utilization of waste in the form of BFA and CM could contribute to the advancement of circular and low-cost CO2 capture medium from waste materials, which could increase the adaptation and involvement of sugar industry and poultry farm.

Deciphering the Plastomic Code of Chinese Hog-Peanut (Amphicarpaea edgeworthii Benth., Leguminosae): Comparative Genomics and Evolutionary Insights within the Phaseoleae Tribe.

The classification and phylogenetic relationships within the Phaseoleae tribe (Leguminosae) have consistently posed challenges to botanists. This study addresses these taxonomic intricacies, with a specific focus on the Glycininae subtribe, by conducting a comprehensive analysis of the highly conserved plastome in Amphicarpaea edgeworthii Benth., a critical species within this subtribe. Through meticulous genomic sequencing, we identified a plastome size of 148,650 bp, composed of 128 genes, including 84 protein-coding genes, 36 tRNA genes, and 8 rRNA genes. Comparative genomic analysis across seven Glycininae species illuminated a universally conserved circular and quadripartite structure, with nine genes exhibiting notable nucleotide diversity, signifying a remarkable genomic variability. Phylogenetic reconstruction of 35 Phaseoleae species underscores the affinity of Amphicarpaea with Glycine, placing Apios as a sister lineage to all other Phaseoleae species, excluding Clitorinae and Diocleinae subtribes. Intriguingly, Apios, Butea, Erythrina, and Spatholobus, traditionally clumped together in the Erythrininae subtribe, display paraphyletic divergence, thereby contesting their taxonomic coherence. The pronounced structural differences in the quadripartite boundary genes among taxa with unresolved subtribal affiliations demand a reevaluation of Erythrininae's taxonomic classification, potentially refining the phylogenetic contours of the tribe.

Potassium levels and the risk of all-cause and cardiovascular mortality among patients with cardiovascular diseases: a meta-analysis of cohort studies.

BACKGROUND: Abnormal blood potassium levels are associated with an increased risk of cardiometabolic diseases and mortality in the general population; however, evidence regarding the association between dyskalemia and mortality among patients with cardiovascular disease (CVD) remains inconclusive. This study aimed to evaluate the association of potassium levels with all-cause and cardiovascular mortality among patients with CVD. METHODS: PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, and Cochrane Library databases were searched up to August 2023 to identify relevant cohort studies among patients with CVD, such as myocardial infarction, stroke, and heart failure. Abnormal potassium levels were considered as hypokalemia or hyperkalemia. The primary outcomes were all-cause mortality based on follow-up length (including in-hospital, short-term and long-term mortality) and cardiovascular mortality. The methodological quality of included studies was assessed by using the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale. The pooled relative risks (RRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated using random-effects models. Restricted cubic splines were applied to explore the dose-response relationship. RESULTS: Thirty-one cohort studies involving 227,645 participants with an average age of 68.3 years were included in the meta-analysis, all of which achieved moderate to high quality. Hyperkalemia was significantly associated with an approximately 3.0-fold increased risk of all-cause in-hospital mortality (RR:2.78,95CI%:1.92,4.03), 1.8-fold of all-cause short-term mortality (RR:1.80, 95CI%:1.44,2.27), 1.3-fold of all-cause long-term mortality (RR:1.33, 95CI%:1.19,1.48) and 1.2-fold of cardiovascular mortality (RR:1.19, 95CI%:1.04,1.36). Similar positive associations were also observed between hypokalemia and risk of all-cause mortality and cardiovascular mortality. The RRs of all-cause in-hospital, short-term, long-term mortality and cardiovascular mortality with hyperkalemia were attenuated to 2.21 (95CI%:1.60,3.06), 1.46(95CI%:1.25,1.71), 1.23 (95CI%:1.09,1.39) and 1.13 (95CI%:1.00,1.27) when treating hypokalemia together with normokalemia as the reference group. A U-shaped association was observed between potassium levels and mortality, with the lowest risk at around 4.2 mmol/L. CONCLUSIONS: Both hypokalemia and hyperkalemia were positively associated with the risk of mortality in patients with CVD. Our results support the importance of potassium homeostasis for improving the CVD management. REGISTRATION: PROSPERO, CRD42022324337.

Inflammatory Factor IL1α Induces Aberrant Astrocyte Proliferation in Spinal Cord Injury Through the Grin2c/Ca2+/CaMK2b Pathway.

Spinal cord injury (SCI) is one of the most devastating traumas, and the aberrant proliferation of astrocytes usually causes neurological deficits. However, the mechanism underlying astrocyte over-proliferation after SCI is unclear. Grin2c (glutamate ionotropic receptor type 2c) plays an essential role in cell proliferation. Our bioinformatic analysis indicated that Grin2c and Ca2+ transport functions were inhibited in astrocytes after SCI. Suppression of Grin2c stimulated astrocyte proliferation by inhibiting the Ca2+/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase 2b (CaMK2b) pathway in vitro. By screening different inflammatory factors, interleukin 1α (IL1α) was further found to inhibit Grin2c/Ca2+/CaMK2b and enhance astrocyte proliferation in an oxidative damage model. Blockade of IL1α using neutralizing antibody resulted in increased Grin2c expression and the inhibition of astrocyte proliferation post-SCI. Overall, this study suggests that IL1α promotes astrocyte proliferation by suppressing the Grin2c/Ca2+/CaMK2b pathway after SCI, revealing a novel pathological mechanism of astrocyte proliferation, and may provide potential targets for SCI repair.

Hearing characteristics and otoradiological abnormalities in three patients with novel pathogenic variants of KMT2D-related Kabuki syndrome.

BACKGROUND: Kabuki syndrome 1 (KS1; OMIM:147920), which is characterized by distinctive dysmorphic facial features (such as arched eyebrows, long palpebral fissures with eversion of the lower lid, and large protuberant ears), intellectual disability, short stature, and dermatoglyphic and skeletal abnormalities, is brought on by pathogenic variants in KMT2D (OMIM:602113). In this work, three individuals with novel pathogenic KMT2D gene variants had their longitudinal audiological manifestations and ear structural characteristics outlined. METHODS: The longitudinal audiological data from neonatal hearing screening and a battery of several hearing tests were evaluated. The battery of hearing tests included tympanometry, distortion product otoacoustic emission (DPOAE), click-evoked air-conduction auditory brain-stem response (AC-ABR), click-evoked bone-conduction auditory brain-stem response (BC-ABR), narrow band CE-chirp auditory steady-state response (NB CE-chirp ASSR), and pure-tone audiometry (PTA). Phenotype identification and whole exome sequencing (WES) were performed on recruited individuals. RESULTS: All three patients (two females and on male; last evaluations at 14 months, 11 months, and 5.7 years, respectively) failed the newborn hearing screening, and the audiological follow-up data revealed mild to profound fluctuating hearing loss, which was directly influenced by the incidence and severity of otitis media with effusion (OME). When OME occurred, the AC-ABR thresholds increased from 30-75 dBnHL to 45-90 dBnHL. The threshold for the BC-ABR and BC-PTA was between 25 and 50 dBnHL, indicating mild to moderate sensorineural hearing loss (SNHL). The high-resolution computed tomography (HRCT) pictures indicated that all three patients had middle and inner ear abnormalities. Middle ear anomalies showed as diminished mastoid gasification and ossicle dysplasia. Cochlear dysplasia, a dilated vestibule, fusion of the vestibule with the horizontal semicircular canals, and a short and thick horizontal semicircular canal were visible on images of the inner ear. This study recruited three individuals with three novel pathogenic variants (c.5104C>T, c.10205delA, and c.12840delC) of KMT2D who were identified at ages 27 days, 2 months, and 5.5 years. CONCLUSIONS: Hearing characteristics of three individuals with three novel pathogenic variants of KMT2D range from mild to profound fluctuating hearing loss with mild to moderate SNHL. HRCT scans showed that all three individuals had anatomical middle and inner ear abnormalities. KS 1 patients must get clinical therapy for OME, frequent auditory monitoring, and prompt intervention.