Single-cell profiling reveals Müller glia coordinate retinal intercellular communication during light/dark adaptation via thyroid hormone signaling.

Light adaptation enables the vertebrate visual system to operate over a wide range of ambient illumination. Regulation of phototransduction in photoreceptors is considered a major mechanism underlying light adaptation. However, various types of neurons and glial cells exist in the retina, and whether and how all retinal cells interact to adapt to light/dark conditions at the cellular and molecular levels requires systematic investigation. Therefore, we utilized single-cell RNA sequencing to dissect retinal cell-type-specific transcriptomes during light/dark adaptation in mice. The results demonstrated that, in addition to photoreceptors, other retinal cell types also showed dynamic molecular changes and specifically enriched signaling pathways under light/dark adaptation. Importantly, Müller glial cells (MGs) were identified as hub cells for intercellular interactions, displaying complex cell‒cell communication with other retinal cells. Furthermore, light increased the transcription of the deiodinase Dio2 in MGs, which converted thyroxine (T4) to active triiodothyronine (T3). Subsequently, light increased T3 levels and regulated mitochondrial respiration in retinal cells in response to light conditions. As cones specifically express the thyroid hormone receptor Thrb, they responded to the increase in T3 by adjusting light responsiveness. Loss of the expression of Dio2 specifically in MGs decreased the light responsive ability of cones. These results suggest that retinal cells display global transcriptional changes under light/dark adaptation and that MGs coordinate intercellular communication during light/dark adaptation via thyroid hormone signaling.

Elastic and compressible Al2O3/ZrO2/La2O3 nanofibrous membranes for firefighting protective clothing.

Developing ceramic nanofibrous membranes for the thermal insulation layer of firefighting protective clothing is vital. However, previous ceramic nanofibrous membranes were brittle and easy to break during service in high-temperature environments. The lack of elastic and compressible properties has limited the high-end applications of ceramic nanofibrous membranes. In this work, elastic and compressible Al2O3/ZrO2/La2O3 nanofibrous membranes were fabricated via sol-gel electrospinning and calcination in air at different temperatures. The as-fabricated Al2O3/ZrO2/La2O3 nanofibrous membranes can maintain excellent elasticity and compressibility in the temperature ranging from -196 to 1400 °C. Moreover, they have low thermal conductivity and high working temperatures. These favorable characteristics make the Al2O3/ZrO2/La2O3 nanofibrous membranes a promising candidate for the thermal insulation layer of firefighting protective clothing.

Association of sleep duration with chronic constipation among adult men and women: Findings from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (2005-2010).

Background: Previous studies suggested that unhealthy sleep patterns were closely associated with gastrointestinal diseases, but the impact of unhealthy sleep duration on chronic constipation has not been well studied until now. In this study, we aim to explore the association between sleep duration and constipation among males and females. Methods: We utilized the US National Health and Nutrition Examination Surveys data from 2005 to 2010, and adults (≥20 years old) who completed the sleep and bowel health questionnaires were enrolled in this observational study. Sleep duration was categorized into four groups: very short sleep (<5 h/night), short sleep (5-6 h/night), normal sleep (7-8 h/night), and long sleep (≥9 h/night). Chronic constipation was defined as Bristol Stool Scale Type 1(separate hard lumps, like nuts) or Type 2(sausage-like but lumpy). Controlling demographic, lifestyle, and dietary factors, the logistic regression model in Generalized Linear Model (GLM) function was used to estimate the correlation of sleep duration with constipation among men and women. Results: Of the 11,785 individuals (51.2% males and 48.8% females), 4.3% of men and 10.2% of women had constipation, respectively. More than half of patients with constipation did not adopt the recommended sleep duration. Compared with normal individuals, male participants with constipation had a higher proportion of shorter sleep duration (41.0 vs. 32.3% in the short sleep group and 6.3 vs. 4.7% in the very short sleep group), and female individuals with constipation had a higher proportion of long sleep duration (12.7 vs. 8.2%). After covariates adjustment, men with short sleep duration (5-6 h/night) correlated with increased odds for constipation (OR:1.54, 95%CI:1.05-2.25), and women with long sleep duration (≥9 h/night) linked to the higher constipation risk (OR:1.58, 95%CI:1.10-2.29). Excessive sleep duration in males or insufficient sleep duration in females was neither linked to increased nor decreased constipation risk. Conclusions: In this observational study of a nationally representative sample of adults, we demonstrate a differential impact of unhealthy sleep duration on constipation among men and women. Short sleep duration poses a higher risk of constipation in men, and excessive sleep duration correlates with higher constipation risk in women.

A single-cell transcriptome atlas of the aging human and macaque retina.

The human retina is a complex neural tissue that detects light and sends visual information to the brain. However, the molecular and cellular processes that underlie aging primate retina remain unclear. Here, we provide a comprehensive transcriptomic atlas based on 119 520 single cells of the foveal and peripheral retina of humans and macaques covering different ages. The molecular features of retinal cells differed between the two species, suggesting distinct regional and species specializations of the human and macaque retinae. In addition, human retinal aging occurred in a region- and cell-type-specific manner. Aging of human retina exhibited a foveal to peripheral gradient. MYO9A- rods and a horizontal cell subtype were greatly reduced in aging retina, indicating their vulnerability to aging. Moreover, we generated a dataset showing the cell-type- and region-specific gene expression associated with 55 types of human retinal disease, which provides a foundation to understanding of the molecular and cellular mechanisms underlying human retinal diseases. Such datasets are valuable to understanding of the molecular characteristics of primate retina, as well as molecular regulation of aging progression and related diseases.

Ultrathin Zirconium Hydroxide Nanosheet-Assembled Nanofibrous Membranes for Rapid Degradation of Chemical Warfare Agents.

Organophosphorus-based chemical warfare agents (CWAs) are highly poisonous, and recent attacks using nerve agents have stimulated researchers to develop breakthrough materials for their fast degradation. Zr-based materials have been identified as the most effective catalysts for breaking down CWAs, but in their powdered form, their practical application in personal protective equipment is limited. Herein, a surface-confined strategy for the direct growth of vertically aligned zirconium hydroxide (Zr(OH)4 ) nanosheets with ultrathin and tortuous structures on nanofibers is reported. The freestanding Zr(OH)4 nanosheet-assembled nanofibrous membranes (NANMs) show superior catalytic performance to degrade dimethyl methylphosphonate, a nerve agent simulant, with a half-life of 4 min. In addition, intriguing membrane-type NANMs feature integrated properties of exceptional breathability, prominent flexibility, and robust fatigue resistance over one million buckling loads. This facile strategy provides a novel route to manufacture new classes of nanosheet-supported membranes for chemical-protective materials, in particular for gas filters, protective suits, and clothing.

Generation of nonhuman primate retinitis pigmentosa model by in situ knockout of RHO in rhesus macaque retina.

Retinitis pigmentosa (RP) is a form of inherited retinal degenerative diseases that ultimately involves the macula, which is present in primates but not in the rodents. Therefore, creating nonhuman primate (NHP) models of RP is of critical importance to study its mechanism of pathogenesis and to evaluate potential therapeutic options in the future. Here we applied adeno-associated virus (AAV)-delivered CRISPR/SaCas9 technology to knockout the RHO gene in the retinae of the adult rhesus macaque (Macaca mulatta) to investigate the hypothesis whether non-germline mutation of the RHO gene is sufficient to recapitulate RP. Through a series of studies, we were able to demonstrate successful somatic editing of the RHO gene and reduced RHO protein expression. More importantly, the mutant macaque retinae displayed clinical RP phenotypes, including photoreceptor degeneration, retinal thinning, abnormal rod subcellular structures, and reduced photoresponse. Therefore, we suggest somatic editing of the RHO gene is able to phenocopy RP, and the reduced time span in generating NHP mutant accelerates RP research and expands the utility of NHP model for human disease study.

Facile Fabrication of Marine Algae-Based Robust Superhydrophobic Sponges for Efficient Oil Removal from Water.

Water pollution caused by oil spillages has aroused worldwide attention. Therefore, it is of great significance to develop low-cost, environmentally friendly materials to remove oil contaminants from water. Herein, a "green" superhydrophobic sponge made from marine algae was fabricated by one-step growth of silicone nanofilaments onto a AgNP-decorated alginate sponge via chemical vapor deposition of an azeotrope of (CH3)3SiCl and SiCl4. The reaction of the azeotrope with the alginate sponge was termed "instant", as it took only a few minutes (5 min) at room temperature to achieve superhydrophobicity (152.0°). Such sponges resist high temperatures, UV irradiation, organic solvents, and mechanical abrasion without losing the superhydrophobicity. The sponges absorbed oil droplets within seconds (1.3-7.0 s) with 11.7-17.1 g/g of sorption capacities for oils of different viscous levels (0.56-1775.00 mPa·s). These sponges could retain 90% of the initial oil sorption capacities after 10 consecutive oil sorption/desorption cycles. Benefiting from the superhydrophobicity and superoleophilicity, the sponges also exhibited high efficiency in oil/water mixture separation. Once the oil/water mixture was injected into the sponge, oil drops were retained in inner pores while water was rejected and spouted from the surface. These excellent performances make the resultant sponge a competitive material for oil spill emergency remediation.

A Refined Theory for Characterizing Adhesion of Elastic Coatings on Rigid Substrates Based on Pressurized Blister Test Methods: Closed-Form Solution and Energy Release Rate.

Adhesion between coatings and substrates is an important parameter determining the integrity and reliability of film/substrate systems. In this paper, a new and more refined theory for characterizing adhesion between elastic coatings and rigid substrates is developed based on a previously proposed pressurized blister method. A compressed air driven by liquid potential energy is applied to the suspended circular coating film through a circular hole in the substrate, forcing the suspended film to bulge, and then to debond slowly from the edge of the hole as the air pressure intensifies, and finally to form a blister with a certain circular delamination area. The problem from the initially flat coating to the stable blistering film under a prescribed pressure is simplified as a problem of axisymmetric deformation of peripherally fixed and transversely uniformly loaded circular membranes. The adhesion strength depends on the delamination area and is quantified in terms of the energy released on per unit delamination area, the so-called energy release rate. In the present work, the problem of axisymmetric deformation is reformulated with out-of-plane and in-plane equilibrium equations and geometric equations, simultaneously improved, and a new closed-form solution is presented, resulting in the new and more refined adhesion characterization theory.

Solitary metastasis to the skin and colon from gastric cancer after curative gastrectomy and chemotherapy: A case report.

RATIONALE: Gastric cancer usually spread via blood circulation to liver, lung, bone, and kidney after recurrence, but it is extremely rare in clinical practice that gastric carcinoma metastasizes to the skin and colon without metastasis to common sites like liver or lung. PATIENT CONCERNS: A 57-year-old man was admitted to the hospital with altered bowel habit and hematochezia for 2 weeks. DIAGNOSES: The patient was diagnosed with advanced gastric cancer at stage IIIA (pT3N2M0) two and a half years ago. Cutaneous metastasis from gastric cancer was confirmed by cutaneous biopsy 2 years following curative gastrectomy. Unfortunately, colonic metastasis from gastric cancer was found by PET-CT 6 months after the diagnosis of cutaneous metastasis. INTERVENTIONS: The patient was given chemotherapy with docetaxel, cisplatin, and 5-fluorouracil for the skin metastasis. Right hemicolectomy was performed when the malignant tumor of the colon was found, in order to relieve the symptom, and improve the quality of life. OUTCOMES: The patient was treated with chemoradiotherapy in a local hospital, the peritoneal carcinomatosis occurred 5 months after the second operation, and died 9 months after the diagnosis of colonic metastasis. LESSONS: Our case represents a rare condition that solitary cutaneous and colonic metastasis from gastric cancer can occur after surgical resection and systemic chemotherapy. Its unique clinicopathological features can extend our insights on gastric cancer, and it may provide clinicians with some positive clinical experience for identifying and treating this disease.

Enhanced recovery after surgery with laparoscopic radical gastrectomy for stomach carcinomas.

AIM: To study the efficacy of the enhanced recovery after surgery (ERAS) program in laparoscopic radical gastrectomy for stomach carcinomas. METHODS: From June 2010 to December 2012, 61 gastric cancer patients who underwent laparoscopic-assisted radical gastrectomy with D2 lymphadenectomy at First Hospital of Jilin University were enrolled in this randomized controlled trial. (Clinical Trials.gov, registration ID: NCT01955096). The subjects were divided into the ERAS program group and the conventional control group. The clinical characteristics, recovery variables, and complications of patients were analyzed. RESULTS: The time to first ambulation, oral food intake, and time to defecation were significantly shorter in the ERAS group (n = 30), compared to the conventional group (n = 31; P = 0.04, 0.003, and 0.01, respectively). The postoperative hospital stay was less in the ERAS group (6.8 ± 1.1 d) compared to the conventional group (7.7 ± 1.1 d) (P = 0.002). There was no significant difference in postoperative complications between the ERAS (1/30) and conventional care groups (2/31) (P = 1.00). There were no readmissions or mortality during the 30-d follow-up period. CONCLUSION: The ERAS program is associated with a shorter hospital stay in gastric cancer patients undergoing laparoscopic radical gastrectomy. The ERAS protocol is useful in the treatment of gastric cancer.

Combined neuroendocrine carcinoma and adenocarcinoma in the stomach: A case report.

Neuroendocrine carcinoma and adenocarcinoma existing in the stomach simultaneously is extremely rare. This report presents a 65-year-old male patient who was diagnosed with three types of malignant tumors in the stomach, neuroendocrine carcinoma (NEC), moderately differentiated adenocarcinoma and mucinous adenocarcinoma. In addition, the NEC and moderately differentiated adenocarcinoma existed in the same lesion and, therefore, was referred to as a mixed adenocarcinoma - NEC tumor. The patient underwent laparoscopic-assisted D2 radical total gastrectomy, Roux-en-Y esophagus-jejunum anastomosis and received FOLFOX chemotherapy for six cycles 3 weeks after surgery. Follow-up determined that the patient survived and was tumor-free 12 months after surgery. In conclusion, radical surgery combined with chemotherapy can effectively improve the prognosis of patients with these three specific tumor types simultaneously in the stomach.