Preferentially expressed endosperm genes reveal unique activities in wheat endosperm during grain filling.

BACKGROUND: Bread wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) endosperm contains starch and proteins, which determine the final yield, quality, and nutritional value of wheat grain. The preferentially expressed endosperm genes can precisely provide targets in the endosperm for improving wheat grain quality and nutrition using modern bioengineering technologies. However, the genes specifically expressed in developing endosperms remain largely unknown. RESULTS: In this study, 315 preferentially expressed endosperm genes (PEEGs) in the spring wheat landrace, Chinese Spring, were screened using data obtained from an open bioinformatics database, which reveals a unique grain reserve deposition process and special signal transduction in a developing wheat endosperm. Furthermore, transcription and accumulation of storage proteins in the wheat cultivar, XC26 were evaluated. The results revealed that 315 PEEG plays a critical role in storage protein fragment deposition and is a potential candidate for modifying grain quality and nutrition. CONCLUSION: These results provide new insights into endosperm development and candidate genes and promoters for improving wheat grain quality through genetic engineering and plant breeding techniques.

Epidemiological Characteristics of Fracture Among Children Aged 6-17 Years - China, 2019-2021.

What is already known about this topic?: Fractures are a common and serious injury among children. While many studies have utilized clinical data, there is a lack of large-scale community-based research in China. What is added by this report?: This cross-sectional study provides national and regionally representative data on the prevalence of fractures among Chinese children aged 6-17 years (6.93%), with higher rates observed in males than in females (8.13% vs. 5.71%) and in rural areas compared to urban areas (7.22% vs. 6.62%). The most common site of fracture was the upper limbs (4.24%, accounting for 63.0% of fractures). What are the implications for public health practice?: The need to enhance awareness of fracture prevention is critical, particularly for children in rural areas and males in middle childhood. We recommend that local authorities increase investments in educational programs and child safety oversight. Additionally, promoting balanced diets for children, training in proper exercise techniques, and reinforcing participation in outdoor sports are essential.

Investigating the cardiotoxicity of N-n-butyl haloperidol iodide: Inhibition mechanisms on hERG channels.

The human Ether-à-go-go-Related Gene (hERG) encodes a protein responsible for forming the alpha subunit of the IKr channel, which plays a crucial role in cardiac repolarization. The proper functioning of hERG channels is paramount in maintaining a normal cardiac rhythm. Inhibition of these channels can result in the prolongation of the QT interval and potentially life-threatening arrhythmias. Cardiotoxicity is a primary concern in the field of drug development. N-n-Butyl haloperidol iodide (F2), a derivative of haloperidol, has been investigated for its therapeutic potential. However, the impact of this compound on cardiac toxicity, specifically on hERG channels, remains uncertain. This study employs computational and experimental methodologies to examine the inhibitory mechanisms of F2 on hERG channels. Molecular docking and molecular dynamics simulations commonly used techniques in computational biology to predict protein-ligand complexes' binding interactions and stability. In the context of the F2-hERG complex, these methods can provide valuable insights into the potential binding modes and strength of interaction between F2 and the hERG protein. On the other hand, electrophysiological assays are experimental techniques used to characterize the extent and nature of hERG channel inhibition caused by various compounds. By measuring the electrical activity of the hERG channel in response to different stimuli, these assays can provide important information about the functional effects of ligand binding to the channel. The study's key findings indicate that F2 interacts with the hERG channel by forming hydrogen bonding, π-cation interactions, and hydrophobic forces. This interaction leads to the inhibition of hERG currents in a concentration-dependent manner, with an IC50 of 3.75 µM. The results presented in this study demonstrate the potential cardiotoxicity of F2 and underscore the significance of considering hERG channel interactions during its clinical development. This study aims to provide comprehensive insights into the interaction between F2 and hERG, which will may guid us in the safe use of F2 and in the development of new derivatives with high efficiency while low toxicity.

Low-light enhancement method with dual branch feature fusion and learnable regularized attention.

Restricted by the lighting conditions, the images captured at night tend to suffer from color aberration, noise, and other unfavorable factors, making it difficult for subsequent vision-based applications. To solve this problem, we propose a two-stage size-controllable low-light enhancement method, named Dual Fusion Enhancement Net (DFEN). The whole algorithm is built on a double U-Net structure, implementing brightness adjustment and detail revision respectively. A dual branch feature fusion module is adopted to enhance its ability of feature extraction and aggregation. We also design a learnable regularized attention module to balance the enhancement effect on different regions. Besides, we introduce a cosine training strategy to smooth the transition of the training target from the brightness adjustment stage to the detail revision stage during the training process. The proposed DFEN is tested on several low-light datasets, and the experimental results demonstrate that the algorithm achieves superior enhancement results with the similar parameters. It is worth noting that the lightest DFEN model reaches 11 FPS for image size of 1224×1024 in an RTX 3090 GPU.

Dynamically blocking leakage current in molecular tunneling junctions.

Molecular tunneling junctions based on self-assembled monolayers (SAMs) have demonstrated rectifying characteristics at the nanoscale that can hardly be achieved using traditional approaches. However, defects in SAMs result in high leakage when applying bias. The poor performance of molecular diodes compared to silicon or thin-film devices limits their further development. In this study, we show that incorporating "mixed backbones" with flexible-rigid structures into molecular junctions can dynamically block tunneling currents, which is difficult to realize using non-molecular technology. Our idea is achieved by the interaction between interfacial dipole moments and electric field, triggering structured packing in SAMs. Efficient blocking of leakage by more than an order of magnitude leads to a significant enhancement of the rectification ratio to the initial value. The rearrangement of supramolecular structures has also been verified through electrochemistry and electroluminescence measurements. Moreover, the enhanced rectification is extended to various challenging environments, including endurance measurements, bending of electrodes, and rough electrodes, thus demonstrating the feasibility of the dynamic behavior of molecules for practical electronic applications.

[Research progress of traditional Chinese medicine in regulating autophagy for intervening in diabetic cardiomyopathy].

Diabetic cardiomyopathy(DCM) is a chronic complication of diabetes mellitus that leads to cardiac damage in the later stages of the disease, and its pathogenesis is complex, involving metabolic disorders brought about by a variety of aberrant alterations such as endoplasmic reticulum stress, oxidative stress, inflammation, and apoptosis, defects in cardiomyocyte Ca~(2+) transporter, and myocardial fibrosis. Currently, there is a lack of specific diagnosis and treatment in the clinic. Autophagy is a highly conserved scavenging mechanism that removes proteins, damaged organelles or foreign contaminants and converts them into energy and amino acids to maintain the stability of the intracellular environment. Inhibition of autophagy can cause harmful metabolites to accumulate in the cell, while over-activation of autophagy can disrupt normal cellular structures and cause cell death. Prolonged high glucose levels disrupt cardiomyocyte autophagy levels and exacerbate the development of DCM. The protective or detrimental effects of autophagy on cells ring true with the traditional Chinese medicine theory of healthy Qi and pathogenic Qi. Autophagy in the physiological state of the removal of intracellular substances and the generation of substances beneficial to the survival of cells is the inhibition of pathogenic Qi to help the performance of healthy Qi, so the organism is healthy. In the early stages of the disease, when autophagy is impaired and incapable of removing waste substances, pathogenic Qi is prevalent; In the later stages of the disease, excessive activation of autophagy can destroy normal cells, leading to a weakening of healthy Qi. Traditional Chinese medicine has the advantage of targeting multiple sites and pathways. Studies in recent years have confirmed that traditional Chinese medicine monomers or formulas can target autophagy, promote the restoration of autophagy levels, maintain mitochondrial and endoplasmic reticulum homeostasis, and reduce oxidative stress, endoplasmic reticulum stress, inflammation, and apoptosis in order to prevent and control DCM. This study provides a review of the relationship between autophagy and DCM and the intervention of traditional Chinese medicine in autophagy for the treatment of DCM, with a view to providing new clinical ideas and methods for the treatment of DCM with traditional Chinese medicine.

Nomogram for predicting the risk of central lymph node metastasis in papillary thyroid microcarcinoma: a combination of sonographic findings and clinical factors.

Background: A considerable controversy over performing thyroidectomy and central lymph node dissection in patients with papillary thyroid microcarcinoma (PTMC) remained. However, accurate prediction of central lymph node metastasis (CLNM) is crucial for surgical extent and proper management. The aim of this study was to develop and validate a practical nomogram for predicting CLNM in patients with PTMC. Methods: A total of 1,029 patients with PTMC who underwent thyroidectomy and central lymph node dissection at Tangdu Hospital (the Second Affiliated Hospital of Air Force Medical University) and Xijing Hospital (the First Affiliated Hospital of Air Force Medical University) were selected. Seven hundred and nine patients were assigned to the training set and 320 patients to the validation set. Data encompassing demographic characteristics, ultrasonography results, and biochemical indicators were obtained. Stepwise backward selection and multiple logistic regression were used to screen the variables and establish the nomogram. Concordance index (C-index), receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis, and decision curve analysis (DCA) were employed to evaluate the nomogram's distinguishability, accuracy, and clinical utility. Results: Young age, multifocality, bigger tumor, presence of microcalcification, aspect ratio (height divided by width) ≥1, loss of fatty hilum, high free thyroxine (FT4), and lower anti-thyroid peroxidase antibody (TPOAb) were significantly associated with CLNM. The nomogram showed strong predictive capacity, with a C-index and accuracy of 0.784 and 0.713 in the training set and 0.779 and 0.703 in the external validation set, respectively. DCA indicated that the nomogram demonstrated strong clinical applicability. Conclusions: We established a reliable, cost-effective, reproducible, and noninvasive nomogram for predicting CLNM in patients with PTMC. This tool could be a valuable guidance for deciding on management in PTMC.

Rapid fluorescent nucleic acid sensing with ultra-thin gold nanosheets.

Fluorescently labeled DNA oligonucleotides and gold nanospheres have been frequently utilized in biosensors, providing efficient nucleic acid detection. Nevertheless, the restricted loading capacity of gold nanospheres undermines overall sensitivity. In this study, we employed four-atom-thick ultrathin gold nanosheets (AuNSs), utilizing a "pre-mix model" for rapid target nucleic acid detection. In this approach, fluorescently labeled DNA probes were pre-incubated with the target nucleic acid, followed by the addition of AuNSs for probe adsorption and fluorescence quenching. With the developed method, we efficiently and rapidly detected the SARS-CoV-2 N gene sequence within 30 min, involving a brief 15-min target pre-incubation and a subsequent 15-min adsorption of free probes and fluorescence quenching by AuNSs. This method exhibited heightened sensitivity compared to gold nanospheres, boasting a limit of detection (LOD) of 0.808 nM. Furthermore, exceptional recovery was achieved in simulated biological samples. The study introduces an effective strategy for nucleic acid sensing characterized by rapidity, heightened sensitivity, ease of operation, and robustness. These findings encourage further development of rapid biomarker sensing methods employing 2D nanomaterials.

Evaluation of Monomer-containing Isocyanate Groups on Stabilizing Demineralized Dentin Matrix Against Bond Interface Degradation.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the effect of urethane methacrylate precursor (UMP) on the enzymatic resistance of demineralized dentin (DD) matrices. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Experimental treatments containing 0 (control), 1, and 5 mmol/L UMP dissolved in an acetone (Ace) solution were formulated. Dentin matrix specimens were demineralized in vitro and immersed in the experimental treatments for 1 h. The treated specimens were then stored in 0.1 mg/mL collagenase solution for 24 h, after which their dry mass loss and hydroxyproline (HYP) release were assessed. The swelling ratios of specimens in each group were also evaluated. The interaction between UMP and the dentin matrix was observed using field-emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM). Endogenous enzyme activity in dentin was evaluated using confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM). RESULTS: Compared with the other treatment groups, treatment with 1 mM and 5 mM UMP-Ace significantly decreased the dry mass loss, HYP release and swelling ratio of the DD matrix (p < 0.05). FE-SEM and CLSM observations showed that treatment with UMP-Ace protected the structure of the dentin matrix and decreased porosity within the dentin-collagen network. CONCLUSION: Treatment with 1 mM and 5 mM UMP-Ace protects DD matrix against collagenase degradation and may be clinically useful for improving the durability of the hybrid layer.

[Research progress of traditional Chinese medicines and active ingredients targeting M1/M2 macrophage polarization balance in intervening obese with type 2 diabetes].

Type 2 diabetes(T2DM) is a metabolic disorder marked by glucose toxicity, lipotoxicity, insulin resistance, and other pathological manifestations, representing a pressing global health concern. Obesity stands out as a pivotal risk factor for T2DM development. When combined with T2DM, obesity exacerbates insulin resistance and metabolic abnormalities. The disturbance in the inflammatory microenvironmental balance between adipose and pancreatic islet tissue emerges as a significant contributor to obese with T2DM development. Macrophages play a crucial role in maintaining immune homeostasis and responding to inflammation in adipose and pancreatic islet tissue. Individuals with obese with T2DM exhibit an imbalanced M1/M2 macrophage polarization, contributing to the progression of glycolipid metabolism abnormalities. Hence, restoring the equilibrium of macrophage polarization becomes imperative for obese with T2DM treatment. Scientific researchers have demonstrated that traditional Chinese medicine(TCM) therapies can effectively modulate macrophage polarization, offering a viable approach for treating obese with T2DM. In light of the existing evidence, this study systematically reviewed the research progress of TCM targeting the balance of M1/M2 macrophage polarization to ameliorate obese with T2DM, so as to furnish evidence supporting the clinical diagnosis and treatment of obese with T2DM with TCM while also contributing to the exploration of the biological basis of obese with T2DM.

High expression of circulating exosomal PD-L1 contributes to immune escape of hepatocellular carcinoma and immune clearance of chronic hepatitis B.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the expression of programmed death ligand-1 (PD-L1) in circulating exosomes, and to define the role of exosomal PD-L1 in promoting immune escape mechanism during chronic hepatitis B infection (CHB) and related liver diseases. METHODS: The levels of PD-L1 expressed in exosomes were detected by ELISA. CD8+T cells were sorted and cytotoxicity test was assessed by flow cytometry. PD-L1 protein expression in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and normal adjacent tissues were detected by immunohistochemistry. RESULTS: Circulating exosomal PD-L1 levels were significantly higher in patients with CHB and HCC than in healthy controls (F =7.46, P=0.001). Levels of CD107a on CD8+T cells in patients with CHB receiving PD-L1 blocking antibody were significantly lower than in patients receiving isotype blocking antibody (t = 4.96, P < 0.01). Levels of TNF-α in cell culture supernatants of the PD-L1 blocking antibody group were significantly higher than in the isotype blocking antibody group (t =5.92, P < 0.01). Compared with patients receiving isotype blocking antibody, levels of CD107a on CD8+T cells significantly increased in patients with HCC receiving anti-PD-L1 antibody (t = 3.51, P<0.05). Compared with adjacent tissues, the levels of PD-L1 protein expression in HCC tissues were slightly higher; however, no significant difference between the two groups was observed. CONCLUSIONS: PD-L1 blockade in exosomes might promote the cytotoxic function of CD8+T cells and inhibit immune evasion during progression of HCC. Blocking PD-L1 in exosomes reduced the cytotoxic function of CD8+T cells in patients with CHB while enhancing the production of proinflammatory cytokines.

Effectiveness of traditional herbal Kampo medicine Goreisan on chronic subdural hematoma recurrence: a meta-analysis.

Objectives: Our objective was to compare the effectiveness of Traditional Chinese herbal Kampo medicine Goreisan in improving recurrence in patients with chronic subdural hematoma (CSDH). Methods: Eligible randomized controlled trials prospective trials, and retrospective cohort studies were systematically identified through searches of PubMed, Cochrane Library, and CNKI from inception to March 2024. Following the application of predetermined inclusion and exclusion criteria to screen the available studies, main outcome measures were rigorously extracted. RevMan v5.4 software was utilized to evaluate the overall recurrence rate, employing a random-effects model to calculate pooled odds ratios with the Mantel-Haenszel estimation method. Inter-study heterogeneity was assessed using the Cochran Q (Chi-square) test and I2 statistics. Funnel plots were used to evaluate publication bias. Results: Among the 48 articles initially screened for citation, eight were ultimately selected for inclusion in the study. The results of our network meta-analysis indicate that patients with newly diagnosed Chronic subdural hematoma experienced a significantly reduced recurrence rate when treated with Goreisan compared to standard neurosurgical treatment (OR: 0.72; 95% CI 0.61-0.86; p = 0.00003). There was no statistically significant difference in the incidence rates of complications, including general fatigue, allergic reactions, hepatic dysfunction, and interstitial pneumonia (OR: 7.21; 95% CI 0.37-141.29; p = 0.19). Conclusion: Traditional medicine Goreisan was effective in reducing CDSH recurrence rates. For clinical treatment, it provides a high level of evidence-based medicine. It is also necessary to conduct multicenter randomized controlled trials with dose adjustments to determine whether Goreisan interventions improve neurological function or prognosis.

Systematic review assessing the effects of amendments on acidic soils pH in tea plantations.

Soil acidification has emerged as a critical limiting factor for the sustainable development of the tea industry. In this article, a comprehensive review of 63 original research articles focusing on the impact of amendments on the pH in tea plantations soil was conducted. Through meta-analysis, the effect of applying soil amendments to increase the pH of tea plantation soil and its influencing factors were investigated. The results revealed that lime had a significant impact, increasing the pH by 18% in tea plantation soil, while rapeseed cake had a minimal (2%) effect. It was observed that as the quantity of amendments and pH levels increased, so did their impact on the pH of tea plantation soil. Subgroup analysis within biochar showed varying effects, depending on soil pH, with an 11% increase in acidic soil. Among these amendments, biochar produced at pyrolysis temperature ranging from 501-600 °C and derived from animal waste demonstrated significant effect on increasing soil pH in tea plantations by 9% and 12%, respectively. This study offers valuable insights into improving and ensuring the health and sustainability of tea plantations.

Niobium carbide MXenzyme-Driven comprehensive cholesterol regulation for photoacoustic image-guided and anti-inflammatory photothermal ablation in atherosclerosis.

Foam cells play a pivotal role in the progression of atherosclerosis progression by triggering inflammation within arterial walls. They release inflammatory molecules that attract additional immune cells, leading to further macrophage recruitment and plaque development. In this study, we develop an osteopontin (OPN) antibody-conjugated niobium carbide (Nb2C-aOPN) MXenzyme designed to selectively target and mildly ablate foam cells while reducing inflammation in the plaque microenvironment. This approach utilizes photonic hyperthermia to decrease plaque size by enhancing cholesterol regulation through both passive cholesterol outflow and positive cholesterol efflux. Nb2C-aOPN MXenzyme exhibits multiple enzyme-mimicking properties, including catalase, superoxide dismutase, peroxidase and glutathione peroxidase, and acts as a scavenger for reactive oxygen and nitrogen species. The inhibition of reactive oxygen and nitrogen species synergizes with photothermal ablation to promote positive cholesterol efflux, leading to reduced macrophage recruitment and a shift in macrophage phenotype from M1 to M2. This integrative strategy on cholesterol regulation and anti-inflammation highlights the potential of multifunctional 2D MXenzyme-based nanomedicine in advancing atherosclerotic regression.

Clinical diagnostic value of methylated SEPT9 combined with NLR, PLR and LMR in colorectal cancer.

PURPOSE: This study aimed to investigate clinical diagnostic values of mSEPT9 combined with NLR, PLR and LMR in CRC. METHODS: 329 subjects composed of 120 CRC patients, 105 polyps patients and 104 healthy participants were prospectively recruited. Clinicopathologic features were collected and analyzed. Plasma samples were collected for mSEPT9, NLR, PLR and LMR test. The sensitivity, specificity and AUC of each biomarker separately or in combination were estimated by the ROC curve. RESULTS: The levels of NLR, PLR and the PDR of mSEPT9 in CRC patients were significantly higher than those in non-CRC subjects, while LMR was the opposite. The PDR of mSEPT9 in CRC patients was significantly correlated with age, tumor size, tumor stage and M stage. ROC curve analysis demonstrated moderate diagnostic values of mSEPT9, NLR, PLR and LMR in CRC patients with AUC of 0.78 (Se = 0.68, and Sp = 0.89), 0.78 (Se = 0.68, and Sp = 0.83), 0.80 (Se = 0.68, and Sp = 0.81), and 0.77 (Se = 0.72, and Sp = 0.73), respectively. Moreover, combination of these four biomarkers dramatically enhanced the diagnostic accuracy of CRC (AUC = 0.92, Se = 0.90, and Sp = 0.87), especially for CRC patients with large tumors (AUC = 0.95) or distal metastasis (AUC = 0.95). CONCLUSION: mSEPT9, NLR, PLR and LMR showed the potential to be reliable biomarkers for the diagnosis of CRC. And the combined application of these biomarkers further improved the diagnostic accuracy of CRC significantly.

Triaxial-mechanical and permeability properties of coal body under varying CO2 pressures.

The sequestration of CO2 in coal seams has become an effective way to curb greenhouse-gas emissions. Coal mechanics and permeability properties are key factors affecting the safe sequestration of CO2 in coal seams, and both are significantly affected by the CO2 injection pressure. In this study, triaxial compression-permeability tests were conducted on coal under varying CO2 and limited confining pressures using a measurement system to determine the coupled mechanical properties and adsorption permeability of coal. The effects of CO2 pressure on the mechanical properties and evolution of coal permeability were investigated. A three-dimensional statistical damage constitutive model of coal that considers CO2 adsorption damage was established. The results showed that the stress-strain curve of the coal was divided into four stages. During the first two stages, the amplitudes of the permeability changes were small, whereas at the peak stress point, a permeability "jump" phenomenon occurred, after which an increase in stress resulted in a slower amplitude increase in permeability. The CO2 pressure had an evident damage-deterioration effect on the mechanical properties of the coal samples, and the primary failure characteristic was shearing damage. The higher the CO2 pressure, the higher the degree of internal fragmentation and fracture network complexity of the coal body. During the triaxial compression-permeability experiment, the normalized permeability of the coal samples tended to increase slowly, followed by a rapid increase and back to a slow increase. However, with increasing CO2 pressure, the initial permeability of the coal samples decreased, whereas the normalized permeability increased sharply. The rationality and accuracy of the constitutive model were verified by comparing the established constitutive model and test stress-strain curves of the coal samples. The results of this study can provide theoretical references for CO2 geological storage and facilitate the selection of appropriate CO2 injection pressures.

Fresnel lens three-dimensionally printed on the facet of a single mode fiber for trapping, manipulation, and spectrum.

Fiber optical tweezers (FOTs) provide a functionality for micro-/nanoparticle manipulation with a slim and flexible optical fiber setup. An added in situ spectroscopic functionality can achieve characterization of the trapped particle, potentially useful for endoscopic, in-vivo studies in an inherently heterogeneous environment if the applicator end is all-fiber-built. Here, we demonstrate all-fiber optical tweezers (a-FOTs) for the trapping and in situ spectral measurement of a single, cell-sized microparticle. The key to ensure the simultaneous bifunctionality is a high numerical aperture (NA) Fresnel lens fabricated by two-photon direct laser writing (DLW) corrected by grid-correction methods. We demonstrate trapping and time-resolved, in situ spectroscopy of a single upconversion particle (UCP), a common fluorescent biomarker in biophotonics. The system achieves a 0.5-s time resolution in the in situ spectral measurement of a trapped UCP. The all-fiber designed system preserves the advantages of flexibility and robustness of the fiber, potentially useful for in-vivo biomedical studies such as cell-to-cell interactions, pH and temperature detection, and nucleic acids detection.

Monolayer directional metasurface for all-optical image classifier doublet: publisher's note.

This publisher's note contains a correction to Opt. Lett.49, 2505 (2024)10.1364/OL.520642.

Calcium Hexacyanoferrate Nanozyme Enhances Plant Stress Resistance by Oxidative Stress Alleviation and Heavy Metal Removal.

Oxidative damage, exacerbated by the excessive accumulation of reactive oxygen species (ROS), profoundly inhibits both crop growth and yield. Herein, a biocompatible nanozyme, calcium hexacyanoferrate nanoparticles (CaHCF NPs), targeting ROS is developed, to mitigate oxidative damage and sequestrate heavy metal ions during plant growth. Uniquely, CaHCF NPs feature multifaced enzyme-like activities, involving superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), peroxidase (POD), glutathione peroxidase, thiol peroxidase, and ascorbate peroxidase, which enable them to neutralize excessive ROS. Furthermore, CaHCF NPs promote calcium-cadmium exchange process, diminishing the uptake of heavy metals. Importantly, 120 µg mL-1 of CaHCF NPs alleviate the inhibitory effects of hydrogen peroxide and cadmium chloride on Arabidopsis and tomato. The activities of SOD, POD, and CAT increase by 46.2%, 74.4%, and 48.3%, respectively, meanwhile the glutathione level rises by 72.4% in Arabidopsis under cadmium stress. Moreover, CaHCF NPs boost the expression of genes associated with antioxidation, heavy metal detoxification, nutrient transport, and stress resistance. These findings unveil the significant potential of nanoplatforms equipped with nanozymes in alleviating oxidative stress in plants, which not only regulate crop growth but also substantially ameliorate yield and quality, heralding a new era in agricultural nanotechnology.

Sonosynthetic Cyanobacteria Oxygenation for Self-Enhanced Tumor-Specific Treatment.

Photosynthesis, essential for life on earth, sustains diverse processes by providing nutrition in plants and microorganisms. Especially, photosynthesis is increasingly applied in disease treatments, but its efficacy is substantially limited by the well-known low penetration depth of external light. Here, ultrasound-mediated photosynthesis is reported for enhanced sonodynamic tumor therapy using organic sonoafterglow (ultrasound-induced afterglow) nanoparticles combined with cyanobacteria, demonstrating the proof-of-concept sonosynthesis (sonoafterglow-induced photosynthesis) in cancer therapy. Chlorin e6, a typical small-molecule chlorine, is formulated into nanoparticles to stimulate cyanobacteria for sonosynthesis, which serves three roles, i.e., overcoming the tissue-penetration limitations of external light sources, reducing hypoxia, and acting as a sonosensitizer for in vivo tumor suppression. Furthermore, sonosynthetic oxygenation suppresses the expression of hypoxia-inducible factor 1α, leading to reduced stability of downstream SLC7A11 mRNA, which results in glutathione depletion and inactivation of glutathione peroxidase 4, thereby inducing ferroptosis of cancer cells. This study not only broadens the scope of microbial nanomedicine but also offers a distinct direction for sonosynthesis.