Expression and Prognosis of Differential Gene Troponin T1 Between Right and Left Colon Cancers.

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is one of the most common digestive tract tumors in humans. At present, many scholars believe that the primary site of the tumor has a direct and profound impact on its curative effect. There are significant differences in the expression of many genes, tumor microenvironment, and prognosis between the left and right colon. However, there is a lack of detailed studies on whether the differentially expressed genes in the left and right colon significantly impact the prognosis of patients with CRC. Troponin T1 (TNNT1) is an important gene that affects the prognosis difference between left and right colon cancer screening from "The Cancer Genome Atlas" database. By analyzing the differential gene expression data and clinical data of the left and right hemicolons in the database, the online prognostic database was used to screen the key molecules that significantly affect the tumor immune microenvironment and patient prognosis and to predict their functions and pathways. Quantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction was used to verify the expression difference of TNNT1 in CRC cell lines SW480 and HCT116, and normal human colorectal epithelial cell line FHC. The relationship between TNNT1 expression in 88 pairs of CRC samples and clinical information and pathologic parameters of patients with CRC was analyzed to judge the impact of TNNT1 expression on patient survival. Database analysis showed that TNNT1 was significantly overexpressed in CRC, and TNNT1 was one of the main differential genes between left colon cancer (LCC) and right colon cancer (RCC). The expression of TNNT1 was significantly increased in RCC, which could lead to poor prognosis of patients. Quantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction indicated that the expression of TNNT1 was significantly up-regulated in CRC cell lines SW480 and HCT116. Eighty-eight immunohistochemistry (IHC) of CRC tissues and adjacent tissues suggested that the expression of TNNT1 in CRC was significantly higher than that in normal adjacent tissues. By analyzing the clinical information and pathologic indicators matched with these clinical samples, we found that high TNNT1 expression in the primary tumor location (right colon) and high N stage (N2, N3) were unfavorable factors affecting the prognosis of patients with CRC. Multivariate Cox regression analysis suggested that high expression of TNNT1 may be an independent risk factor for the prognosis of patients with CRC. As one of the main differential genes between LCC and RCC, TNNT1 is representative to some extent. Its high expression may be one of the reasons why the prognosis of patients with RCC is worse than that of patients with LCC.

Construction of ceRNA network mediated by circRNAs screening from microarray and identification of novel biomarkers for myasthenia gravis.

BACKGROUND: Recent studies have revealed that circRNA can serve as ceRNA to participate in multiple autoimmune diseases. Our study aims to explore the key circRNA as ceRNA and biomarker for MG. METHODS: We used circRNA microarray to explore differentially expressed circRNAs (DECs) from MG and compare with control. Then, we predicted the target miRNA associated with DECs and screened miRNAs by the algorithm of random walk with restart (RWR). Next, we constructed the circRNA-miRNA-mRNA ceRNA regulated network (CMMC) to identify the hub objects. Following, we detected the expression of hub-circRNAs by RT-PCR. We verify has_circ_0004183 (circFRMD4) sponging miR-145-5p regulate cells proliferation using luciferase assay and CCK-8. RESULTS: We found that the expression level of circFRMD4 and has_circ_0035381 (circPIGB) were upregulated and has_circ_0089153(circ NUP214) had the lowest expression level in MG. Finally, we proved circFRMD4 sponging miR-145-5p regulate Jurkat cells proliferation. CircFRMD4 take part in the genesis and development of MG via circFRMD4/miR145-5p axis. CONCLUSIONS: We found that circFRMD4, circPIGB and circNUP214 can be considered as valuable potential novel biomarkers for AchR + MG. CircFRMD4 participate in the development of AchR + MG via targeting binding with miR-145-5p.

Effects of Wuxi CDC WeChat official account article features on user engagement in health promotion.

OBJECTIVE: To identify the characteristics of subscribers to assess users' needs and analyze the features of articles published on Wuxi CDC WeChat official account (WOA) to evaluate the effectiveness of health education dissemination and guide future communication strategies. METHODS: Collect data from the WeChat official account (WOA) of the Wuxi Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to identify factors affecting the effectiveness of health education dissemination as measured by shares and 100% reading completion rate between January 1, 2022, and December 31, 2022. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was utilized to identify influencing features of articles associated with health education dissemination. RESULTS: By the end of 2022, our account had accumulated 891,170 subscribers, of which, 523,576 were females (58.75%), 349,856 were males (39.3%), mainly located in third-tier cities (82.59%). Age distribution peaked in the 26-35 and 36-45 age groups (43.63% and 30.6%, respectively). A total of 170 articles were included in the analysis. Multivariate logistic regression analysis revealed that articles with a lower word count (OR = 0.999, 95% CI = 0.998 ~ 1), lower picture count (OR = 0.892, 95% CI = 0.828 ~ 0.962), dominated headlines (OR = 2.454, 95% CI = 1.234 ~ 4.879) and thematically focused on Nutrition and food-borne diseases (OR = 5.728, 95% CI = 1.778 ~ 18.458) demonstrated higher engagement, as measured by shares and 100% completion rates. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings suggest that future content should prioritize conciseness, optimize images, and align with subscriber interests, particularly in nutrition and food hygiene. Additionally, maintaining informative yet engaging content formats remains crucial for maximizing reach and impact.

LncPCD: a manually curated database of experimentally supported associations between lncRNA-mediated programmed cell death and diseases.

Programmed cell death (PCD) refers to controlled cell death that is conducted to keep the internal environment stable. Long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) participate in the progression of PCD in a variety of diseases. However, no specialized online repository is available to collect and store the associations between lncRNA-mediated PCD and diseases. Here, we developed LncPCD, a comprehensive database that provides information on experimentally supported associations of lncRNA-mediated PCD with diseases. The current version of LncPCD documents 6666 associations between five common types of PCD (apoptosis, autophagy, ferroptosis, necroptosis and pyroptosis) and 1222 lncRNAs in 331 diseases. We also manually curated a wealth of information: (1) 7 important lncRNA regulatory mechanisms, (2) 310 PCD-associated cell types in three species, (3) detailed information on lncRNA subcellular locations and (4) clinical applications for lncRNA-mediated PCD in diseases. Additionally, 10 single-cell sequencing datasets were integrated into LncPCD to characterize the dynamics of lncRNAs in diseases. Overall, LncPCD is an extremely useful resource for understanding the functions and mechanisms of lncRNA-mediated PCD in diseases. Database URL:  http://spare4.hospital.studio:9000/lncPCD/Home.jsp.

SIRT3 attenuates coronary atherosclerosis in diabetic patients by regulating endothelial cell function.

BACKGROUND: This study aimed to explore the relationship between the Sirtuin 3 (SIRT3) gene and endothelial cell dysfunction, contributing to the progression of coronary atherosclerosis driven by hyperglycemia. METHODS: We measured serum SIRT3 levels using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay in 95 patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) who underwent diagnostic coronary angiography. The patients were divided into two groups according to the presence (n = 45) or absence (n = 50) of coronary artery disease (CAD). Human aortic endothelial cells (HAECs) grown in vitro in a medium with various concentrations of glucose (5.5, 11, 16.5, 22, 27.5, 33, and 38.5 mM) for 24 h were assessed for protein expression of SIRT3, peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor alpha (PPAR-α), endothelial nitric oxide (NO) synthase (eNOS), and inducible NO synthase (iNOS) using Western blot analysis. HAECs were subjected to SIRT3 overexpression or inhibition through SIRT3 adenovirus and siRNA transfection. RESULTS: Serum SIRT3 levels were significantly lower in T2DM patients with CAD than in those without CAD (p = 0.048). The in vitro results showed that HG significantly increased SIRT3, PPAR-α, and eNOS protein expression in a concentration-dependent manner. Moreover, iNOS expression was decreased in HAECs in response to HG. Reduced PPAR-α and eNOS levels and increased iNOS levels were observed in SIRT3 silenced HAECs cells. In contrast, SIRT3 overexpression significantly improved PPAR-α and eNOS expression and suppressed iNOS expression. CONCLUSION: SIRT3 was associated with the progression of atherosclerosis in T2DM patients through upregulation of PPAR-α and eNOS and downregulation of iNOS, which are involved in endothelial dysfunction under hyperglycemic conditions.

Influence of CaO on the thermal kinetics and formation mechanism of high value-added products during waste tire pyrolysis.

There is a lack of detailed research on the production of isoprene and D-limonene by solid base-catalysed thermal depolymerization of waste tires (WTs). This work aimed to investigate the thermal decomposition characteristics, reaction kinetics, high value-added products production and potential mechanisms during WT pyrolysis in the presence of calcium oxide (CaO) via Thermogravimetry-Fourier Transform Infrared spectrometer (TG-FTIR) and Pyrolyzer-Gas Chromatography/Mass spectrometry (Py-GC/MS). The results obtained from TG indicated that CaO accelerated depolymerization in terms of reducing the reaction temperature, which is also reflected in the kinetic parameters. It can be found that the content of D-limonene increased by 13.76% and that of isoprene increased by 37.57%, which were attributed to differences in the depolymerization mechanisms in the presence of CaO. Furthermore, CaO had a profound impact on desulfurization by reducing benzothiazole, sulfoacid, and thiophene. The potential catalytic mechanisms of isoprene and D-limonene production and desulfurization were also proposed. This work deepens the understanding of the catalytic pyrolysis of WT under CaO and unambiguously demonstrates the great potential of CaO in enhancing isoprene and D-limonene production, providing new insight for the cleaner production of high value-added products from WT.

The Curcumin Analog Da0324 Inhibits the Proliferation of Gastric Cancer Cells via HOTAIRM1/miR-29b-1-5p/PHLPP1 Axis.

Background: Our previous study has shown that Da0324, a curcumin analog, exhibited significantly improved stability and antitumor activity. However, the molecular mechanisms of action of Da0324 remain poorly understood. Long non-coding RNA (lncRNA) has been shown to play a key role in tumor progression. Here, we aim to investigate the molecular mechanisms underlying the anti-cancer activity of Da0324 by regulating the lncRNA HOTAIRM1. Methods: Gastric cancer cell lines were treated with Da0324 and/or transfected with lentiviral vector expressing HOTAIRM1 shRNA, and/or miR-29b-1-5p mimics and/or small interference RNA (siRNA) against PHLPP1, or HOTAIRM1 siRNA or lentiviral vector expressing HOTAIRM1, as needed. The expression of HOTAIRM1, miR-29b-1-5p and PHLPP1 in GC cells was determined by Real-Time PCR. Cell growth was examined by CCK-8 assay and colony formation assay in vitro. The targeted relationship between HOTAIRM1 and miR-29b-1-5p was verified by luciferase reporter gene assay. PHLPP1 protein expression was examined by Western blotting. Results: Da0324 increased the expression of HOTAIRM1 in GC cells. HOTAIRM1 expression was significantly down-regulated in GC tissues, and the low expression of HOTAIRM1 was associated with the shorter survival rate of GC patients based on the TCGA database. Knockdown of HOTAIRM1 promoted GC cell proliferation whereas overexpression of HOTAIRM1 inhibited GC cell proliferation as demonstrated by CCK-8 and colony formation assays. Moreover, knockdown of HOTAIRM1 reversed the Da0324-mediated growth inhibition of GC cells. Furthermore, HOTAIRM1 acted as a sponge for miR-29b-1-5p and PHLPP1 is regulated by the HOTAIRM1/miR-29b-1-5p axis in GC cells. Overexpression of miR-29b-1-5p or knockdown of PHLPP1 reversed the ability of Da0324 to inhibit the growth of GC cells. Conclusions: Our data suggest that Da0324 exerts antitumor activity by regulating HOTAIRM1/miR-29b-1-5p/PHLPP1 axis in GC cells, and provide new insights into the anti-cancer mechanism of Da0324.

Catalytic Kinetics Regulation for Enhanced Electrochemical Nitrogen Oxidation by Ru-Nanoclusters-Coupled Mn3 O4 Catalysts Decorated with Atomically Dispersed Ru Atoms.

Electrochemical N2 oxidation reaction (NOR), using water and N2 in the atmosphere, represents a sustainable approach for nitric production to replace the conventional industrial synthesis with high energy consumption and greenhouse gas emission. Meanwhile, owing to chemical inertness of N2 and sluggish kinetics for 10-electron transfer, emerging electrocatalysts remain largely underexplored. Herein, Ru-nanoclusters-coupled Mn3 O4 catalysts decorated with atomically dispersed Ru atoms (Ru-Mn3 O4 ) are designed and explored as an advanced electrocatalyst for ambient N2 oxidation, with an excellent Faraday efficiency (28.87%) and a remarkable NO3 - yield (35.34 µg h-1 mg-1 cat. ), respectively. Experiments and density functional theory calculations reveal that the outstanding activity is ascribed to the coexistence of Ru clusters and single-atom Ru. The synergistic effect between the Ru clusters and Mn3 O4 can effectively activate the chemically inert N2 , lowering the kinetic barrier for the vital breakage of N≡N. The intensive *OH supply and enhanced conductivity are used to regulate the catalytic kinetics for optimized performance. This work provides brand-new ideas for the rational design of electrocatalysts in complicated electrocatalytic reactions with multiple dynamics-different steps.

Long-term carbon black inhalation induced the inflammation and autophagy of cerebellum in rats.

Carbon black (CB) has been demonstrated to have adverse effects on the lung tissue. Few studies explored the effects of CB on the cerebellum, widely recognized to contribute to gait and balance coordination and timing in the motor domain. Some studies have reported that inflammatory response and damaged autophagy are important mechanisms of CB toxicity and can be repaired after the recovery. The present study aimed to determine whether long-term CB exposure could induce the inflammation and damaged autophagy of the cerebellum. The rats were randomly divided into four groups. The control group received the filtered air for 90 days; the carbon black (CB) group received CB particles for 90 days; the recovery (R) group received CB for 90 days and recovered for another 14 days; the recovery control (RC) group received filtered air for 104 days. The purpose of the R group was to test whether neuroinflammation and autophagy could be repaired after short-term recovery. The western blot and immunohistochemistry revealed that long-term CB exposure induced augmented level of pro-inflammatory cytokines (Interleukin-1ß, IL-1ß; Interleukin-6, IL-6; and Tumor Necrosis Factor-α, TNF-α) and anti-inflammatory cytokine (Interleukin-10, IL-10). The autophagic markers (Beclin1 and LC3) were increased in both CB group and R group. These findings clearly demonstrated that long-term CB exposure induced inflammation and autophagy in the cerebellum, which were not obviously improved after short-term recovery.

Downregulation of LINC01021 by curcumin analog Da0324 inhibits gastric cancer progression through activation of P53.

Curcumin is a safe, cost-effective natural agent with multiple targets that displays therapeutic potential in cancer. Recently, we reported a novel curcumin analog, Da0324, which exhibited significantly improved stability and anti-cancer activity. However, the molecular mechanism underlying the anti-cancer activity of Da0324 remains largely unknown. Long non-coding RNAs have been shown to play important roles in cancer development and progression and may be potential targets for cancer therapy. Here, we showed that Da0324 treatment down-regulated the expression of LINC01021 in gastric cancer cells. Da0324 treatment or knockdown of LINC01021 by antisense oligos significantly inhibited gastric cancer cell growth, and also up-regulated P53 expression and down-regulated Bcl-2 expression in vitro and in vivo. Furthermore, Da0324 treatment or knockdown of LINC01021 in gastric cancer cells suppressed cell migration, invasion and epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT), as well as induced apoptosis and autophagy. In addition, overexpression of LINC01021 promoted growth and EMT, inhibited P53 expression and increased Bcl-2 expression in gastric cancer cells. Finally, overexpression of LINC01021 reversed the anti-cancer effect of Da0324. Our findings indicate a novel anti-cancer mechanism for Da0324, and that LINC01021 might be a potential therapeutic target for the treatment of gastric cancer.

Targeted Assembly of Ultrathin NiO/MoS2 Electrodes for Electrocatalytic Hydrogen Evolution in Alkaline Electrolyte.

The development of non-noble metal catalysts for hydrogen revolution in alkaline media is highly desirable, but remains a great challenge. Herein, synergetic ultrathin NiO/MoS2 catalysts were prepared to improve the sluggish water dissociation step for HER in alkaline conditions. With traditional electrode assembly methods, MoS2:NiO-3:1 exhibited the best catalytic performance; an overpotential of 158 mV was required to achieve a current density of 10 mA/cm2. Further, a synergetic ultrathin NiO/MoS2/nickel foam (NF) electrode was assembled by electrophoretic deposition (EPD) and post-processing reactions. The electrode displayed higher electrocatalytic ability and stability, and an overpotential of only 121 mV was needed to achieve a current density of 10 mA/cm2. The improvement was ascribed to the better catalytic environment, rather than a larger active surface area, a higher density of exposed active sites or other factors. DFT calculations indicated that the hybrid NiO/MoS2 heterostuctured interface is advantageous for the enhanced water dissociation step and the corresponding lower kinetic energy barrier-from 1.53 to 0.81 eV.

Boosting electrocatalytic reduction of nitrogen to ammonia under ambient conditions by alloy engineering.

Electrochemical reduction of nitrogen to ammonia under ambient conditions is regarded as a potential approach to tackle the energy-intensive Haber-Bosch process. However, it usually suffers from extremely low ammonia yield and faradaic efficiency due to the lack of highly active and selective electrocatalysts. Herein, fusiform-like ruthenium-copper alloy nanosheets (RuCu-FNs) were prepared by alloy engineering and utilized for the electrocatalytic NRR under ambient conditions. A high FE of 7.2% and an NH3 yield rate of 53.6 µg h-1 mgcat-1 were achieved at -0.1 V vs. RHE, which were better than those of the corresponding non-metallic catalyst and most alloy catalysts. The superior performance was ascribed to the differentiated second catalytic site for achieving both effectively adsorptive activation of chemically inert N2 and intermediate desorption from the catalyst surface. The source of NH3 was also identified with isotopic labeling via a self-developed simple and economic pathway. We provided a feasible pathway for the rational design of electrocatalysts for artificial N2 fixation.

Association of internal exposure to polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons with inflammation and oxidative stress in prediabetic and healthy individuals.

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are key air pollutants that may contribute to the risk of numerous diseases by inducing inflammation and oxidative stress. Individuals with metabolic disorders may be more susceptible to PAH-induced inflammation and oxidative stress. To test this hypothesis, we designed a panel study involving 60 patients with pre-type 2 diabetes (pre-T2D) and 60 reference participants, and conducted up to seven repeated clinical examinations. Urinary metabolites of PAHs (i.e., OH-PAHs), measured as indicators of total PAH exposure, showed significant associations with markers of respiratory and systemic inflammation, including exhaled nitric oxide, interleukin (IL)-6 in exhaled breath condensate, and blood IL-2 and IL-8 levels and leucocyte count. The most significant effect was on urinary malondiadehyde (MDA), a marker of lipid peroxidation; a onefold increase of OH-PAHs was associated with 9.2-46.0% elevation in MDA in pre-T2D participants and 9.8-31.2% increase in healthy references. Pre-T2D participants showed greater increase in MDA, suggesting that metabolic disorder enhanced the oxidative damage induced by PAH exposure. This study revealed the association between PAH exposure and markers of inflammation and oxidative stress, and the enhanced responses of pre-T2D patients suggested that individuals with metabolic disorders were more susceptible to the adverse health effects of PAH exposure.

A Janus Fe-SnO2 Catalyst that Enables Bifunctional Electrochemical Nitrogen Fixation.

Electrochemical N2 reduction reactions (NRR) and the N2 oxidation reaction (NOR), using H2 O and N2 , are a sustainable approach to N2 fixation. To date, owing to the chemical inertness of nitrogen, emerging electrocatalysts for the electrochemical NRR and NOR at room temperature and atmospheric pressure remain largely underexplored. Herein, a new-type Fe-SnO2 was designed as a Janus electrocatalyst for achieving highly efficient NRR and NOR catalysis. A high NH3 yield of 82.7 µg h-1 mgcat. -1 and a Faraday efficiency (FE) of 20.4 % were obtained for NRR. This catalyst can also serve as an excellent NOR electrocatalyst with a NO3 - yields of 42.9 µg h-1 mgcat. -1 and a FE of 0.84 %. By means of experiments and DFT calculations, it is revealed that the oxygen vacancy-anchored single-atom Fe can effectively adsorb and activate chemical inert N2 molecules, lowering the energy barrier for the vital breakage of N≡N and resulting in the enhanced N2 fixation performance.

Investigation of the chemical components of ambient fine particulate matter (PM2.5) associated with in vitro cellular responses to oxidative stress and inflammation.

Fine particulate matter (PM2.5) poses a significant risk to human health worldwide, by promoting oxidative stress and inflammation; however, the components responsible for these effects have not been fully evaluated. In this study, we investigated the cellular response of a macrophage cell line exposed to PM2.5 extracts in vitro. We obtained a dataset of chemical components of PM2.5 and determined those associated with the generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and secretion of inflammatory cytokines through an orthogonal partial least-squares (OPLS) regression. The results indicated that after water extracts exposure, both ROS and interleukin (IL)-1ß levels were positively correlated with transition metals. In cells exposed to dichloromethane extracts, IL-1ß secretion was significantly correlated with polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs); meanwhile, tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α secretion was negatively associated with secondary nitrated PAHs, suggesting that atmospheric nitration process might modify the biological effects of PM2.5 components. We also performed source apportionment using a positive matrix factorization (PMF) model to explore the relative influence of different sources of components on cells. It was found that components from vehicle emissions promoted both ROS and TNF-α, while IL-1ß secretion was induced mainly by those from coal combustion. This study provides information regarding PM2.5 components having biological effects, and the sources thereof, which could inform effective measures for controlling this type of air pollution.

A narrow-band ultra-bright green phosphor for LED-based applications.

A novel Sr2MgB2O6 (SMBO) green-emitting phosphor co-doped with Ce3+-Tb3+ was synthesized at 950 °C via solid-state reactions, and the ultra-narrow-band green emission of Tb3+ was significantly enhanced almost 20 times via energy transfer from Ce3+ to Tb3+. It was found to have a broad excitation band (250 to 400 nm), and the full width at half-maximum (FWHM) of the dominant green emission band around 544 nm was only about 10 nm. The electronic band gap of the SMBO matrix was calculated by density functional theory (DFT) to be 4.60 eV, and this was well verified by the diffuse reflection spectra results. Furthermore, the composition-optimized phosphor SMBO:0.05Ce3+,0.05Tb3+ exhibits excellent thermal quenching resistance (75.3% intensity at 423 K) and relatively high external quantum efficiency (EQE = 48.92%). Finally, two white light-emitting diode (WLED) packages were fabricated via combining a 365 nm n-UV chip, the optimal sample and commercial blue and red phosphors to assess the application potential of the phosphors. The test results indicate that the obtained WLEDs-1 fabricated with K2SiF6:Mn4+ has an outstanding color rendering index (Ra = 85.7) and Commission Internationale de L'Eclairage (CIE) coordinates (0.3242, 0.3334). Meanwhile, the color gamut can reach 87% of the National Television Standards Committee (NTSC) CIE 1931 color gamut. WLEDs-2 fabricated with red emitting CaAlSiN3:Eu2+ produced warm white light with color coordinates of (0.3792, 0.3810), a high color rendering index of 82.3, and a low correlated color temperature of 4065 K. These results reveal the broad prospects of this phosphor for LED-based applications.

Selective electroreduction of dinitrogen to ammonia on a molecular iron phthalocyanine/O-MWCNT catalyst under ambient conditions.

Effective catalysts with sufficient activity and selectivity are essential for the nitrogen reduction reaction (NRR). Many fruitful NRR electrocatalysts have been investigated with regard to NH3 production under ambient conditions in recent years. However, well-defined and modifiable molecular catalysts have rarely been reported for the NRR to date. Here, molecular FePc was grafted on an O-MWCNT surface as a NRR electrocatalyst to improve its recyclability. This catalyst displayed high electrocatalytic ability and selectivity, giving a large NH3 yield of 36 µg h-1 mg-1 cat., a FE of 9.73% and a turnover number (TON) of 12.56 after 2 h of electrocatalytic reaction in an acidic electrolyte, superior to most of the reported materials. DFT calculations indicated that the NRR preferentially proceeded along the alternate pathway, the activation of N2 to produce N2H* is the rate-limiting step with a ΔG value of 1.79 eV. Conclusively, we report FePc/O-MWCNT as a low-cost, high-efficiency NRR catalyst that also offers a valuable reference for molecular electrocatalyst research in electrochemical nitrogen reduction.

Hydrophobic Organic Components of Ambient Fine Particulate Matter (PM2.5) Associated with Inflammatory Cellular Response.

Nowadays, knowledge regarding component-specific inflammatory effect of fine particulate matter (PM2.5) is limited. In this study, an omics approach based on time-of-flight mass spectrometry was established to identify the key hydrophobic components of PM2.5 associated with pro-inflammatory cytokines released by macrophages after in vitro exposure. Of 764 compounds, 62 components were robustly screened with firmly identified 37 specific chemicals. In addition to polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and their methylated congeners, novel oxygen- and nitrogen-containing PAHs and, especially, oxygenated PAHs (Oxy-PAHs) were identified. Interleukin (IL)-6 was associated with Oxy-PAHs of 1,8-naphthalic anhydride, xanthone, and benzo[h]quinolone, especially, whereas IL-1ß and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α were associated with most species. Most species were related to IL-1ß, which was significantly higher in the heating season, with a monotonic dose-response pattern mainly for Oxy-PAHs and a U-shaped dose-response pattern for primary species. On the basis of the identified components, four sources of pollution (coal combustion, traffic emissions, biomass burning, and secondary formation, traced by Oxy-PAHs such as 1,8-naphthalic anhydride and quinones) were resolved by the positive matrix factorization model. TNF-α was associated with primary sources, whereas IL-1ß and IL-6 were associated with both primary and secondary sources, suggesting different inflammatory effects between primary and secondary sources when assessing the toxicity-driven disparities of known and unknown PM2.5 components.

Nrf2 protects against diverse PM2.5 components-induced mitochondrial oxidative damage in lung cells.

Nrf2 is an important transcription factor implicated in the oxidative stress response, which has been reported to play an important role in the way by which air pollution particulate matter (PM2.5) induces adverse health effects. This study investigates the mechanism by which Nrf2 exerts its protective effect in PM2.5 induced toxicity in lung cells. Lung cells silenced for Nrf2 (shNrf2) demonstrated diverse susceptibility to various PM extracts; water extracts containing high levels of dissolved metals exhibited higher capacity to generate mitochondrial reactive oxygen species (ROS) and hence increased oxidative stress levels. Organic extracts containing high levels of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) increased mortality and reduced ROS production in the silenced cells. shNrf2 cells exhibited a higher basal mitochondrial respiration rate compared to the control cells. Following exposure to water extracts, the mitochondrial respiration increased, which was not observed with the organic extracts. shNrf2 cells exposed to the organic extracts showed lower mitochondrial membrane potential and lower mtDNA copy number. Nrf2 may act as a signaling mediator for the mitochondria function following PM2.5 exposure.