Recycled PET/PA6 Fibers from Waste Textile with Improved Hydrophilicity by In-Situ Reaction-Induced Capacity Enhancement.

Due to the increasing amounts of textile waste, textile to textile recycling is of prime concern. Polyethylene terephthalate (PET) represents the most extensively used type of chemical fiber. Its spinnability suffers from impurities and degradation in the processing, which limits its recycling to new fibers. Here, recycled polyester is blended with a small amount of recycled nylon, and the regenerated fibers, which demonstrated good mechanical properties, were obtained via a melt spinning machine. The mechanical properties, thermal properties, rheological properties, and chemical structure of the modified recycled fibers were investigated. It was found that when compared with rPET-T fibers, the elongation at break of rPET-Ax fibers increased to 17.48%, and the strength at break decreased to 3.79 cN/dtex. The compatibility of PET and PA6 copolymer were enhanced by copolymers produced by in-situ reaction in the processing. Meanwhile, the existence of PA6 increases the crystallization temperature and improves the hydrophilicity of the fibers. This study realized the high-value recycling of waste PET fabric to new fibers, which opens a door for the large utilization of waste textiles.

Gastroprotective effects of Machilus zuihoensis Hayata bark against acidic ethanol-induced gastric ulcer in mice.

Background and aim: In traditional medicine, Machilus zuihoensis Hayata bark (MZ) is used in combination with other medicines to treat gastric cancer, gastric ulcer (GU), and liver and cardiovascular diseases. This study aims to evaluate the gastroprotective effects and possible mechanism(s) of MZ powder against acidic ethanol (AE)-induced GU and its toxicity in mice. Experimental procedure: The gastroprotective effect of MZ powder was analyzed by orally administering MZ for 14 consecutive days before AE-inducing GU. Ulcer index (UI) and protection percentage were calculated, hematoxylin and eosin staining and periodic acid-Schiff staining were performed, and gastric mucus weights were measured. The antioxidative, anti-inflammatory, and anti-apoptotic mechanisms, and possible signaling pathway(s) were studied. Results and conclusion: Pretreatment with MZ (100 and 200 mg/kg) significantly decreased 10 µL/g AE-induced mucosal hemorrhage, edema, inflammation, and UI, resulted in protection percentages of 88.9% and 93.4%, respectively. MZ pretreatment reduced AE-induced oxidative stress by decreasing malondialdehyde level and restoring superoxide dismutase activity. MZ pretreatment demonstrated anti-inflammatory effects by reducing both serum and gastric tumor necrosis factor-α, interleukin (IL)-6, and IL-1ß levels. Furthermore, MZ pretreatment exhibited anti-apoptotic effect by decreasing Bcl-2 associated X protein/B-cell lymphoma 2 ratio. The gastroprotective mechanisms of MZ involved inactivations of nuclear factor kappa-light-chain enhancer of activated B cells (NF-κB) and mitogen activated protein kinase (MAPK) signaling pathways. Otherwise, 200 mg/kg MZ didn't induce liver or kidney toxicity. In conclusion, MZ protects AE-induced GU through mucus secreting, antioxidative, anti-inflammatory, and anti-apoptotic mechanisms, and inhibitions of NF-κB and MAPK signaling pathways.

Jinggangmycin stimulates reproduction and increases CHCs-dependent desiccation tolerance in Drosophila melanogaster.

Jinggangmycin (JGM), an agricultural antibiotic compound, is mainly used against the rice sheath blight (RSB) Rhizoctonia solani. However, its application may lead to unexpected consequences in insects. In this study, the effects of JGM on the physiological parameters of Drosophila melanogaster were investigated. The results showed that 0.005 g/ml JGM exposure increased female daily egg production and extended the oviposition period, while there was no significant effect on reproduction at 0.016 g/ml. At the same time, desiccation tolerance increased in flies fed 0.005 g/ml JGM. The RT-qPCR results revealed that FAS1 and FAS3 expression were upregulated in 0.005 g/ml JGM treated flies. Consistently, the amount of CHCs accumulated on the cuticle surface increased upon JGM treatment at 0.005 g/ml. Moreover, RNAi for FAS3 decreased desiccation tolerance of JGM-treated flies. These results suggest that JGM affects fatty acid biosynthesis, which in turn enhances reproduction and desiccation tolerance in Drosophila.

Quantification of ectopic fat storage in the liver and pancreas using six-point Dixon MRI and its association with insulin sensitivity and ß-cell function in patients with central obesity.

OBJECTIVES: To assess the association of ectopic fat deposition in the liver and pancreas quantified by Dixon magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) with insulin sensitivity and ß-cell function in patients with central obesity. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A cross-sectional study of 143 patients with central obesity with normal glucose tolerance (NGT), prediabetes (PreD), and untreated type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) was conducted between December 2019 and March 2022. All participants underwent routine medical history taking, anthropometric measurements, and laboratory tests, including a standard glucose tolerance test to quantify insulin sensitivity and ß-cell function. The fat content in the liver and pancreas was measured with MRI using the six-point Dixon technique. RESULTS: Patients with T2DM and PreD had a higher liver fat fraction (LFF) than those with NGT, while those with T2DM had a higher pancreatic fat fraction (PFF) than those with PreD and NGT. LFF was positively correlated with homeostatic model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR), while PFF was negatively correlated with homeostatic model assessment of insulin secretion (HOMA-ß). Furthermore, using a structured equation model, we found LFF and PFF to be positively associated with glycosylated hemoglobin via HOMA-IR and HOMA-ß, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: In patients with central obesity, the effects of LFF and PFF on glucose metabolism. were associated with HOMA-IR and HOMA-ß, respectively. Ectopic fat storage in the liver and pancreas quantified by MR Dixon imaging potentially plays a notable role in the onset ofT2DM. CLINICAL RELEVANCE STATEMENT: We highlight the potential role of ectopic fat deposition in the liver and pancreas in the development of type 2 diabetes in patients with central obesity, providing valuable insights into the pathogenesis of the disease and potential targets for intervention. KEY POINTS: • Ectopic fat deposition in the liver and pancreas is associated with T2DM. • T2DM and prediabetes patients had higher liver and pancreatic fat fractions than normal individuals. • The results provide valuable insights into pathogenesis of T2DM and potential targets for intervention.

Transcriptional level of inflammation markers associates with short-term brain structural changes in first-episode schizophrenia.

BACKGROUND: Inflammation has been implicated in the pathology of schizophrenia and may cause neuronal cell death and dendrite loss. Neuroimaging studies have highlighted longitudinal brain structural changes in patients with schizophrenia, yet it is unclear whether this is related to inflammation. We aim to address this question, by relating brain structural changes with the transcriptional profile of inflammation markers in the early stage of schizophrenia. METHODS: Thirty-eight patients with first-episode schizophrenia and 51 healthy controls were included. High-resolution T1-weighted magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and clinical assessments were performed at baseline and 2 ~ 6 months follow-up for all subjects. Changes in the brain structure were analyzed using surface-based morphological analysis and correlated with the expression of immune cells-related gene sets of interest reported by previous reviews. Transcriptional data were retrieved from the Allen Human Brain Atlas. Furthermore, we examined the brain structural changes and peripheral inflammation markers in association with behavioral symptoms and cognitive functioning in patients. RESULTS: Patients exhibited accelerated cortical thickness decrease in the left frontal cortices, less decrease or an increase in the superior parietal lobule and right lateral occipital lobe, and increased volume in the bilateral pallidum, compared with controls. Changes in cortical thickness correlated with the transcriptional level of monocyte across cortical regions in patients (r = 0.54, p < 0.01), but not in controls (r = - 0.05, p = 0.76). In addition, cortical thickness change in the left superior parietal lobule positively correlated with changes in digital span-backward test scores in patients. CONCLUSIONS: Patients with schizophrenia exhibit regional-specific cortical thickness changes in the prefrontal and parietooccipital cortices, which is related to their cognitive impairment. Inflammation may be an important factor contributing to cortical thinning in first-episode schizophrenia. Our findings suggest that the immunity-brain-behavior association may play a crucial role in the pathogenesis of schizophrenia.

A national, multicenter, retrospective study of Castleman disease in China implementing CDCN criteria.

Background: Castleman disease (CD) is a group of rare and heterogenous lymphoproliferative disorders including unicentric CD (UCD), human herpesvirus-8(HHV-8)-associated multicentric CD (HHV8-MCD), and HHV-8-negative/idiopathic multicentric CD (iMCD). Knowledge of CD mainly comes from case series or retrospective studies, but the inclusion criteria of these studies vary because the Castleman Disease Collaborative Network (CDCN) diagnostic criteria for iMCD and UCD were not available until 2017 and 2020, respectively. Further, these criteria and guidelines have not been systematically evaluated. Methods: In this national, multicenter, retrospective study implementing CDCN criteria, we enrolled 1634 CD patients (UCD, n = 903; MCD, n = 731) from 2000 to 2021 at 40 Chinese institutions to depict clinical features, treatment options, and prognostic factors of CD. Findings: Among UCD, there were 162 (17.9%) patients with an MCD-like inflammatory state. Among MCD, there were 12 HHV8-MCD patients and 719 HHV-8-negative MCD patients, which included 139 asymptomatic MCD (aMCD) and 580 iMCD meeting clinical criteria. Of 580 iMCD patients, 41 (7.1%) met iMCD-TAFRO criteria, the others were iMCD-NOS. iMCD-NOS were further divided into iMCD-IPL (n = 97) and iMCD-NOS without IPL (n = 442). Among iMCD patients with first-line treatment data, a trend from pulse combination chemotherapy toward continuous treatment was observed. Survival analysis revealed significant differences between subtypes and severe iMCD (HR = 3.747; 95% CI: 2.112-6.649, p < 0.001) had worse outcome. Interpretation: This study depicts a broad picture of CD, treatment options and survival information in China and validates the association between the CDCN's definition of severe iMCD and worse outcomes, requiring more intensive treatment. Fundings: Beijing Municipal Commission of Science and Technology, CAMS Innovation Fund and National High Level Hospital Clinical Research Funding.

Transcriptomics and magnetic resonance imaging in major psychiatric disorders.

Major psychiatric disorders create a significant public health burden, and mental disorders such as major depressive disorder, bipolar disorder, and schizophrenia are major contributors to the national disease burden. The search for biomarkers has been a leading endeavor in the field of biological psychiatry in recent decades. And the application of cross-scale and multi-omics approaches combining genes and imaging in major psychiatric studies has facilitated the elucidation of gene-related pathogenesis and the exploration of potential biomarkers. In this article, we summarize the results of using combined transcriptomics and magnetic resonance imaging to understand structural and functional brain changes associated with major psychiatric disorders in the last decade, demonstrating the neurobiological mechanisms of genetically related structural and functional brain alterations in multiple directions, and providing new avenues for the development of quantifiable objective biomarkers, as well as clinical diagnostic and prognostic indicators.

Cell lineage analysis reveals signal tracing and compartment characterisation in Drosophila haltere.

Insect halteres, as specialised hind wings, play an important role during aerial manoeuvres. In Drosophila, halteres and wings are homologous appendages with different morphology. Previous studies have focused on the metamorphosis of halteres, while current knowledge about its cell lineage and regional compartmentalization is still limited. In this study, we performed cell-lineage tracing of canonical landmark signals in halteres and present a simple model for haltere development. Cell lineage tracing in wings was used as a reference. The nub showed wing-like expressions in halteres, whereas hth and pnr exhibited different expressions in adult wings and halteres. The lineage tracing revealed that the pouch region gives rise to end-bulb, and hinge cells contribute to proximal haltere formation. Moreover, we demonstrated that twi-expressing cells participate in the cell population of the distal end-bulb. Haematoxylin and eosin staining indicated that muscle cells were present at the distal end-bulb. These results indicated that adult halteres displayed unique cell lineage patterns and the muscle cells are important components of end-bulbs.

A novel risk model for predicting early relapse in acute myeloid leukemia patients undergoing allogeneic hematopoietic stem-cell transplantation.

Relapse remains the leading cause of death in acute myeloid leukemia (AML) patients following allogeneic hematopoietic stem-cell transplantation (allo-HSCT), limiting the efficacy of allo-HSCT. Thus, the ability to identify high-risk patients in a manner that permits early intervention has the potential to improve survival outcomes. We retrospectively enrolled 414 younger patients (aged 14-60 years) with AML who received allo-HSCT between January 2014 and May 2020. From June 2020 to June 2021, 110 consecutive patients were included prospectively in the validation cohort. The primary outcome was early relapse (relapse within 1 year). The cumulative incidence of early relapse after allo-HSCT was 11.8%. The overall survival rate for patients who relapsed within 1-year was 4.1% at 3 years after relapse. After multivariable adjustment, statistically significant associations between primary resistance, pre-transplantation measurable residual disease, DNMT3A mutation, or white blood cell count at diagnosis and early relapse were observed. An early relapse prediction model was developed based on these factors and the model performed well. Patients deemed to have a high risk or a low risk of early relapse had early relapse rates of 26.2% and 6.8%, respectively (P < 0.001). The prediction model could be used to help identify patients at risk for early relapse and to guide personalized relapse prevention.

Design, Synthesis, Insecticidal Activities and Molecular Docking of Sulfonamide Derivatives Containing Propargyloxy or Pyridine Groups.

The discovery of new highly active molecules from natural products is a common method to create new pesticides. Celangulin V targeting Mythimna separate (M. separate) midgut V-ATPase  H subunit, has received considerable attention for its excellent insecticidal activity and unique mechanism of action. Therefore, combined with our preliminary work, thirty-seven sulfonamide derivatives bearing propargyloxy or pyridine groups were systematically synthesized to search for insecticidal candidate compounds with low cost and high efficiency on the  H subunit of V-ATPase. Bioactive results showed that compounds A2-A4 and A6-A7 exhibited a better bioactivity with median effective concentration (LC50 ) values (2.78, 3.11, 3.34, 3.54 and 2.48 mg/mL, respectively) against third-instar larvae of M. separate than Celangulin V (LC50 =18.1 mg/mL). Additionally, molecular docking experiments indicated that these molecules may act on the H subunit of V-ATPase. Based on the above results, these compounds provide new ideas for the discovery of insecticides.

Gut microbial signatures and differences in bipolar disorder and schizophrenia of emerging adulthood.

INTRODUCTION: Gut microbial disturbance has been established as potential pathogenesis of mental disorders. However, the signatures and differences regarding patients with schizophrenia (SCH) or bipolar disorder (BD) in emerging adulthood as well as their subtypes have been poorly addressed. METHODS: In the present study, stool samples obtained from 63 emerging adult patients with schizophrenia (SCH), 50 with bipolar disorder (BD), and 40 healthy controls (HC) were analyzed by 16 S rRNA gene sequencing; psychiatric symptoms and psychological, social, and professional functioning were also assessed. RESULTS: We found that gut microbiota composition was remarkably changed in the patients with SCH and BD. Moreover, the distinct gut microbiome signatures and their potential function in bipolar depression (BP-D) and SCH with predominantly negative symptoms (SCH-N) as well as bipolar mania (BP-M) and SCH with predominantly positive symptoms (SCH-P) were also observed. Furthermore, we identified diagnostic potential biomarkers that can distinguish BD from HC (38 genera, AUC = 0.961), SCH from HC (32 genera, AUC = 0.962), and BD from Scheme (13 genera, AUC = 0.823). Potential diagnostic biomarkers that can distinguish BD-D from SCH-N (16 genera, AUC = 0.969) and BD-M from SCH-P (31 genera, AUC = 0.938) were also identified. CONCLUSION: This study provides further understanding of abnormal gut microbiome in emerging adulthood patients with SCH and BD and lay the potential foundation for the development of microbe-based clinical diagnosis for BD and SCH.

Design, synthesis and insecticidal activities of 4-propargyloxybenzene sulfonamide derivatives substituted with amino acids.

Sixty-nine 4-propargyloxybenzene sulfonamide derivatives with different amino acids as amino substituent were synthesized and evaluated for their insecticidal activity against third-instar Mythimna separate. The bioassay results revealed that some derivatives bearing amino acid ester group performed good insecticidal activity against third-instar M.separata, such as the LC50 values of D18 and D19 were 4.28 and 2.96 mg/ml after 48 h, in particular, the LC50 of D16 was 2.38 mg/ml and the activity was improved by 14 times compared to celangulin V (34.48 mg/ml). The above results provided theoretical and experimental basis for the discovery of novel insecticidal active compounds.

Synthesis and insecticidal activities of 4-(propargyloxy) benzenesulfonamide derivatives.

A series of 4-(propargyloxy) benzenesulfonamide derivatives with different substituents on the benzene ring were synthesized and evaluated for their insecticidal activity. Some of the compounds showed good insecticidal activity against Mythimna separata, and the LC50 value of the most active compound B2.5 was 0.235 mg/ml. Ultrastructural changes in the midgut epithelial cells of Mythimna separata were observed using transmission electron microscopy, and severe structural damage was found in microvilli, mitochondria and rough endoplasmic reticulum. It indicates that the possible site of action of these benzenesulfonamides is the cytoplasmic membrane and endomembrane system of the midgut epithelial cells. The above provides a basis for the development of novel insecticidal active compounds with a novel mechanism of action.

Design, synthesis and insecticidal activity of benzenesulfonamide derivatives containing various alkynyl, alkenyl and cyclopropyl groups in para position.

Celangulin V is a natural ß-dihydrofuran sesquiterpene polyester with anti Mythimna separate activity and unique mechanism of action. Further study showed that its target was the H subunit of V-ATPase in the midgut of M. separate. Thus, combined with the previous work, thirty-two benzene sulfonamide derivatives were systematically synthesised to discover efficient and low-budget insecticidal candidates for the H subunit of V-ATPase. Screening results showed that compounds C2, C4, C5, C6 and C8 could significantly cause death of tested third-instar larvae of M. separate, and provided the corresponding LC50 values of 0.844, 0.953, 0.705, 0.599 and 0.887 mg/mL, which were extremely better than Celangulin V (LC50 = 11.5 mg/mL). The docking results indicated that this novel framework might target H subunit of V-ATPase. Given these excellent bioactivity results, this kind of sulfonamide framework could provide a suitable point for exploring highly efficient insecticidal agents.

Comparable outcomes in patients with B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia receiving haploidentical hematopoietic stem cell transplantation: Pretransplant minimal residual disease-negative complete remission following chimeric antigen receptor T-cell therapy versus chemotherapy.

Introduction: Chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T-cell (CAR-T) therapy followed by haploidentical hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (haplo-HSCT) markedly improves the long-term survival of patients with refractory/relapsed (R/R) B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (B-ALL). Methods: We performed a parallel comparison of transplant outcomes in 168 B-ALL patients undergoing haplo-HSCT after achieving minimal residual disease (MRD)-negative complete remission (CR) from CAR-T therapy (n = 28) or chemotherapy (n = 140) between January 2016 and August 2021. We further divided the chemotherapy group into the first CR group (chemo+CR1, n = 118) and a second or more CR group (chemo+≥CR2, n = 22). Results: With a median follow-up period of 31.0 months, the 2-year overall survival (OS), leukemia-free survival (LFS), non-relapse mortality (NRM), and relapse rates in the CAR-T and chemotherapy groups did not differ significantly (OS, 87.9% vs. 71.5 %; LFS, 72.0% vs. 66.8%; NRM, 3.9% vs. 13.7%; relapse, 24.1% vs. 19.4%). Multivariate analysis confirmed that ≥CR2 at transplantation following chemotherapy was an independent risk factor associated with poor OS (hazard ratio (HR) 4.22 [95% CI, 1.34-13.293], p = 0.014) and LFS (HR 2.57 [95% CI, 1.041-6.343], p = 0.041). The probabilities of OS and LFS at 2 years in the CAR-T group were comparable to those in the chemo+CR1 group but significantly higher than those in the chemo+≥CR2 group (OS, 87.9% vs. 37.8%, p = 0.007; LFS, 72.0% vs. 41.7%, p = 0.043). No significant differences in the incidences of NRM were noted among the three groups. Conclusions: Our results demonstrated that patients with R/R B-ALL receiving haplo-HSCT after CAR-T therapy achieved comparable outcomes to patients transplanted post-chemotherapy-based MRD-negative CR1, without increased risk of transplant-related mortality and toxicity.

Association between Ultraviolet B Exposure Levels and Depression in Taiwanese Adults: A Nested Case-Control Study.

Depression is a common mental disorder that affects more than 264 million people worldwide. Anxiety, diabetes, Alzheimer's disease, myocardial infarction, and cancer, among other disorders, are known to increase the risk of depression. Exposure to ultraviolet B (UVB) can cause human serotonin levels to increase. The vitamin D pathway is one mechanism through which ultraviolet light absorbed through the skin can affect mood; however, UVB exposure is known to increase the risk of cancer. In this study, we explored the effects of prolonged exposure to UVB on depression. Data were retrieved from the Taiwan National Health Insurance Research Database for 2008 to 2013. Each patient with depression was matched 1:4 with a comparison patient by sex and age (±5 years); thus, the study included 23,579 patients with depression and 94,316 healthy controls for comparison. The patients had been exposed to UVB for at least 1 year to observe the cumulative effect of UVB exposure. Based on the World Health Organization UV index, we divided the observation period data into five UV levels: low, moderate, high, very high, and extreme. A multivariate Poisson regression model was used to assess the risk of depression according to UVB exposure level, adjusting for sex, age, income, urbanization level, month, and comorbidities. The results revealed that the incidence rate ratio (IRR) for patients with depression was 0.889 for moderate levels (95% CI 0.835-0.947), 1.134 for high levels (95% CI: 1.022-1.260), 1.711 for very high levels (95% CI: 1.505-1.945), and 2.785 for extreme levels (95% CI: 2.439-3.180) when compared to low levels. Moderate levels of UVB lowered the risk of depression, while high levels of UVB gradually increased the risk. We propose that UVB at normal concentrations can effectively improve depression. However, exposure to high concentrations of UVB damage DNA results in physical diseases such as skin cancer, which increase the risk of depression.

Increased Risk of Hypothyroidism in People with Asthma: Evidence from a Real-World Population-Based Study.

BACKGROUND: Non-T2 asthma and hypothyroidism share several inflammatory mechanisms in common. However, large-scale, real-world studies evaluating the association between asthma and hypothyroidism are lacking. The objective of this study was to evaluate the risk for asthma patients of developing hypothyroidism. METHODS: In the retrospective cohort study, people with asthma were recruited from the Longitudinal Health Insurance Database in Taiwan. After excluding ineligible patients with a previous history of hypothyroidism, 1:1 propensity matching was conducted to select a non-asthma control group. Based on the multivariate Cox regression model, the adjusted hazard ratio of asthma patients developing hypothyroidism was calculated. RESULTS: In total, 95,321 asthma patients were selected as the asthma group and the same amount of people without asthma were selected as the control group. The incidence levels of new-onset hypothyroidism in asthma and non-asthma groups were 8.13 and 6.83 per 100,000 people per year, respectively. Compared with the non-asthma group, the adjusted hazard ratio of the asthma group developing hypothyroidism was 1.217 (95% confidence interval, 1.091-1.357). CONCLUSIONS: We found having asthma to be associated with an increased risk of hypothyroidism. Clinicians should be concerned regarding the endocrinological and inflammatory interaction between the two diseases while caring for people with asthma.

Fine Particulate Matter Exposure Levels in Patients with Normal-Tension Glaucoma and Primary Open-Angle Glaucoma: A Population-Based Study from Taiwan.

Patients with NTG or POAG with more than one outpatient or discharge diagnosis from the ophthalmology department were included in the study. These data were merged with the PM2.5 data from the Air Quality Monitoring Network for analysis. This was a case−control study, with 1006 participants in the NTG group and 2533 in the POAG group. To investigate fine particulate matter (PM2.5) exposure levels in patients with normal-tension glaucoma (NTG) and primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG), patient data were obtained from Taiwan's Longitudinal Health Insurance Database 2000 for the 2008 to 2013 period. We used a multivariate logic regression model to assess the risk for each participant. The PM2.5 exposure levels were divided into four groups: <25th percentile (Q1), <617 µg/mm3; 25th to 50th percentile (Q2), 617 to 1297 µg/mm3; 50th to 75th percentile (Q3), 1297 to 2113 µg/mm3; and >75th percentile (Q4), >2113 µg/mm3. The results are expressed in terms of odds ratio (OR) and 95% CI. A multiple logistic regression was used to compare the results of the NTG group with those of the POAG group. Compared with the PM2.5 Q1 level, the OR of the PM2.5 Q2 level was 1.009 (95% CI 0.812−1.254), the PM2.5 Q3 level was 1.241 (95% CI 1.241−1.537, p < 0.05), and the PM2.5 Q4 level was 1.246 (95% CI 1.008−1.539, p < 0.05). Our research reveals that compared with POAG, the risk of developing NTG is more closely related with PM2.5 exposure, and PM2.5 has a concentration−dose effect. It is hoped that in the future, in the clinical judgment of NTG and POAG, the level of PM2.5 in the environment can be taken as a risk factor.

Degradable polymeric nanomaterials with a high solid content and multiple morphologies by polymerization-induced self-assembly.

The preparation of degradable polymeric nanomaterials with a high solid content and multiple morphologies is highly desirable but still challenging. Here, the RAFT dispersion polymerization of styrene and 5,6-benzo-2-methylene-1,3-dioxepane was demonstrated to achieve various morphologies, including spheres, vesicles, worms, and large compound vesicles, with a high solid content through polymerization-induced self-assembly, which opens up a new avenue for the preparation of degradable polymeric nanomaterials.

Recycled Poly(Ethylene Terephthalate) from Waste Textiles with Improved Thermal and Rheological Properties by Chain Extension.

Annual production of textile fibers is continuing to rise and the substantial discharge of undegradable waste polyester fibers can cause serious environmental and even health problems. Thus, the recycling and reuse of recycled poly(ethylene terephthalate) from waste textiles (rPET-F) is highly desirable but still challenging. Here, five chain extenders with a different number of epoxy groups per molecules were used to blend with discarded PET fibers and improve its viscosity and quality loss in the recycling process. The molecule weight, thermal properties, rheological properties and macromolecular architecture of modified r-PET were investigated. It was found that all modified rPET-F samples show higher viscosities and better thermal properties. rPET-F modified by difunctional EXOP molecules show linear structure and improved rheological properties. rPET-F modified by polyfunctional commercial ADR and synthesized copolymers exhibit a long chain branched structure and better crystallization. This study reveals a deeper understanding of the chain extension and opens an avenue for the recycling of PET textiles.