Eco-friendly chitosan microspheres as a novel one-step sorbent for the rapid purification and determination of pesticides and veterinary drug multi-residues in aquatic products with HPLC-MS/MS.

A modified QuEChERS method was developed to determine multi-class pesticide and veterinary residues in aquatic products. Chitosan microspheres were conveniently synthesized and utilized as the cleanup adsorbent in the QuEChERS procedure, showcasing rapid filtration one-step pretreatment ability for the determination of drug multi-residues in aquatic products. Compared to conventional synthetic sorbents, chitosan microspheres not only have good purification performance, but also have renewable and degradable properties. This novel sorbent worked well in the simultaneous determination of 95 pesticides and veterinary drug residues in aquatic products after being combined with an improved one-step vortex oscillating cleanup method. We achieved recoveries ranging from 64.0% to 115.9% for target drugs in shrimp and fish matrix. The limits of detection and quantification were 0.5-1.0 and 1.0-2.0 µg kg-1, respectively. Notably, hydrocortisone was detected with considerable frequency and concentration in the tested samples, underscoring the necessity for stringent monitoring of this compound in aquatic products.

CREB3L1 deficiency impairs odontoblastic differentiation and molar dentin deposition partially through the TMEM30B.

Odontoblasts are primarily responsible for synthesizing and secreting extracellular matrix proteins, which are crucial for dentinogenesis. Our previous single-cell profile and RNAscope for odontoblast lineage revealed that cyclic adenosine monophosphate responsive element-binding protein 3 like 1 (Creb3l1) was specifically enriched in the terminal differentiated odontoblasts. In this study, deletion of Creb3l1 in the Wnt1+ lineage led to insufficient root elongation and dentin deposition. Assay for transposase-accessible chromatin with high-throughput sequencing (ATAC-seq) and RNA sequencing were performed to revealed that in CREB3L1-deficient mouse dental papilla cells (mDPCs), the genes near the closed chromatin regions were mainly associated with mesenchymal development and the downregulated genes were primarily related to biological processes including cell differentiation, protein biosynthesis and transport, all of which were evidenced by a diminished ability of odontoblastic differentiation, a significant reduction in intracellular proteins, and an even greater decline in extracellular supernatant proteins. Dentin matrix protein 1 (Dmp1), dentin sialophosphoprotein (Dspp), and transmembrane protein 30B (Tmem30b) were identified as direct transcriptional regulatory targets. TMEM30B was intensively expressed in the differentiated odontoblasts, and exhibited a significant decline in both CREB3L1-deficient odontoblasts in vivo and in vitro. Deletion of Tmem30b impaired the ability of odontoblastic differentiation, protein synthesis, and protein secretion in mDPCs. Moreover, overexpressing TMEM30B in CREB3L1-deficient mDPCs partially rescued the extracellular proteins secretion. Collectively, our findings suggest that CREB3L1 participates in dentinogenesis and facilitates odontoblastic differentiation by directly enhancing the transcription of Dmp1, Dspp, and other differentiation-related genes and indirectly promoting protein secretion partially via TMEM30B.

Lineage-specific pathogenicity, immune evasion, and virological features of SARS-CoV-2 BA.2.86/JN.1 and EG.5.1/HK.3.

SARS-CoV-2 JN.1 with an additional L455S mutation on spike when compared with its parental variant BA.2.86 has outcompeted all earlier variants to become the dominant circulating variant. Recent studies investigated the immune resistance of SARS-CoV-2 JN.1 but additional factors are speculated to contribute to its global dominance, which remain elusive until today. Here, we find that SARS-CoV-2 JN.1 has a higher infectivity than BA.2.86 in differentiated primary human nasal epithelial cells (hNECs). Mechanistically, we demonstrate that the gained infectivity of SARS-CoV-2 JN.1 over BA.2.86 associates with increased entry efficiency conferred by L455S and better spike cleavage in hNECs. Structurally, S455 altered the mode of binding of JN.1 spike protein to ACE2 when compared to BA.2.86 spike at ACE2H34, and modified the internal structure of JN.1 spike protein by increasing the number of hydrogen bonds with neighboring residues. These findings indicate that a single mutation (L455S) enhances virus entry in hNECs and increases immune evasiveness, which contribute to the robust transmissibility of SARS-CoV-2 JN.1. We further evaluate the in vitro and in vivo virological characteristics between SARS-CoV-2 BA.2.86/JN.1 and EG.5.1/HK.3, and identify key lineage-specific features of the two Omicron sublineages that contribute to our understanding on Omicron antigenicity, transmissibility, and pathogenicity.

The development of a dietary nutrient density educational tool and the investigation of its acceptance by Chinese residents from Henan province.

OBJECTIVES: Helping residents select nutrient-dense foods is a strategy to improve their diet quality. However, communication based on the nutrient-dense foods as a positive attribute has not been widely used in nutritional education. This study aimed to develop an educational tool based on the picture and guidance of "Chinese food guide pagoda (2022) ", extend it with the concept of nutrient density, and investigate its acceptance by Chinese residents from Henan province. METHODS: Three examples (one-day diet with high, medium, and low nutrient-rich food (NRF) 9.2 score, an indicator for evaluating dietary nutrient density) were designed for developing a dietary nutrient density educational tool. A self-designed questionnaire was conducted to investigate the acceptance of the "dietary nutrient density educational tool" among college students from Henan province on the basis of the theory of planned behavior. RESULTS: Among the three one-day diets used in the tool, with the decrease in the NRF9.2 score, the energy intake increased from 1686 kcal to 2363 kcal, the dietary fat-to-energy ratio increased from 28 to 42%, and the mean adequacy ratio (MAR) decreased from 0.97 to 0.87. A total of 851 college students completed the acceptance questionnaire. The average score of the acceptance was 4.07, with a total score of 5. This study showed that resident's intention to use the tool was correlated with family residence, perceptual behavior control, and subjective norms. These three factors accounted for 83.5% of the variation in behavior intention. CONCLUSION: To encourage residents choosing healthier foods, a dietary nutrient density educational tool was developed to expanding the current instructional tool-the Chinese food guide pagoda (2022). The acceptance questionnaire survey revealed that residents had good acceptance of the tool, and family residence, perceptual behavior control, subjective norms may strongly contribute to their acceptance and the intention to use of the tool.

Treatment and management of duodenal gangliocytic paraganglioma: A case report.

Gangliocytic paraganglioma (GP) is a rare neuroendocrine tumor primarily found in the duodenum, most commonly in the second and third sections of the duodenum. Diagnosis of GP is based on its distinctive histopathological characteristics, which include three types of tumor cells in varying proportions: i) Epithelioid, ii) spindle-like and iii) ganglion-shaped cells. The distribution of the three tumor cell components varies from case to case and a patient may be easily misdiagnosed if one of the components is predominant. Endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD) or surgical resection is the ideal treatment for duodenal GP (DGP); however, biotherapy, nuclide therapy, chemotherapy, targeted therapy and immunotherapy can be selected individually for patients with postoperative recurrence, metastasis or not suitable for surgery. In the present study, a male patient with DGP experienced recurrence after ESD surgery, and so received octreotide (Novartis; 30 mg/28 days) for 12 consecutive cycles. The patient had no further symptoms of gastrointestinal bleeding and no new lesions or metastases were observed after 47 months of follow-up.

Utilizing a optimized method for evaluating vapor recovery equipment control efficiency and estimating evaporative VOC emissions from urban oil depots via an extensive survey.

As an important intermediary between upstream refineries and downstream urban gas stations, volatile organic compound (VOC) emissions from urban oil depots were often disregarded, underestimating their environmental and health implications. An extensive investigation of urban depots' fuel composition and operational dynamics was conducted nationwide. We developed a novel approach that integrates theoretical models with easily measurable operational data from the depots to evaluate the efficiency of post-treatment devices in actual situations. Even in well-managed oil depots, the actual control efficiency of vapor recovery units fluctuates between 63 % and 85 %, depending on the concentration of hydrocarbon vapors in the intake of the device. The national emission factors for gasoline, diesel, and aviation kerosene at a national level were 6.64 ± 1.16, 2.07 ± 0.42, and 6.17 ± 1.05 tons per 10,000 tons, respectively. In 2019, China's urban oil depots emitted 165 thousand tons of VOC. Enhancing control strategies by optimizing the physical and chemical parameters of refined oil, improving storage capacity and turnover efficiency, and upgrading storage tanks had the potential to reduce emissions by more than 60 %. However, a 30 % failure rate in these systems could negate the benefits of these improved strategies.

Etiological stratification and prognostic assessment of haemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis by machine learning on onco-mNGS data and clinical data.

Introduction: Hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis (HLH) is a rare, complicated and life threatening hyperinflammatory syndrome that maybe triggered by various infectious agents, malignancies and rheumatologic disorders. Early diagnosis and identification of the cause is essential to initiate appropriate treatment and improve the quality of life and survival of patients. The recently developed Onco-mNGS technology can be successfully used for simultaneous detection of infections and tumors. Methods: In the present study, 92 patients with clinically confirmed HLH were etiologically subtyped for infection, tumor and autoimmunity based on CNV and microbial data generated by Onco-mNGS technology, and a predictive model was developed and validated for the differential diagnosis of the underlying disease leading to secondary HLH. Furthermore, the treatment outcomes of patients with HLH triggered by EBV infection and non-EBV infection were evaluated, respectively. Results: The current study demonstrated that the novel Onco-mNGS can identify the infection and malignancy- related triggers among patients with secondary HLH. A random forest classification model based on CNV profile, infectious pathogen spectrum and blood microbial community was developed to better identify the different HLH subtypes and determine the underlying triggers. The prognosis for treatment of HLH patients is not only associated with CNV, but also with the presence of pathogens and non- pathogens in peripheral blood. Higher CNV burden along with frequent deletions on chromosome 19, higher pathogen burden and lower non-pathogenic microbes were prognosis factors that significantly related with unfavorable treatment outcomes. Discussion: Our study provided comprehensive knowledge in the triggers and prognostic predictors of patients with secondary HLH, which may help early diagnosis and appropriate targeted therapy, thus improving the survival and prognosis of the patients.

Morusin, a novel inhibitor of ACLY, induces mitochondrial apoptosis in hepatocellular carcinoma cells through ROS-mediated mitophagy.

OBJECTIVE: Morusin (Mor), a prenylated flavonoid isolated from the root bark of Morus alba L., exhibits potent anti-tumour effects; however, the molecular target of Mor is still not entirely clear. This study aimed to elucidate the mechanism of Mor against hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and identify potential molecular targets. METHODS: Mitochondrial function was assessed by measuring the mitochondrial membrane potential, mitochondrial ultrastructure, oxygen consumption, and ATP levels. Mor-induced mitophagy was confirmed using western blotting, immunofluorescence, and fluorescent probes. Transcriptomics, flow cytometry, western blotting, qRT-PCR and biochemical assays were used to reveal the molecular mechanisms and targets of Mor against HCC. We further validated the interaction between Mor and the target proteins using molecular docking and biolayer interferometry (BLI). The inhibitory effect of Mor in vivo was evaluated using a Hep3B murine xenograft model. RESULTS: Mor significantly reduced the ATP citrate lyase (ACLY) expression and inhibited ACLY activity in HCC cells. BLI analysis demonstrated a direct interaction between Mor and the ACLY active domain. Mor-induced ACLY inhibition led to ROS accumulation in HCC cells, which caused mitochondrial damage, triggered PINK1/Parkin-mediated mitophagy, and ultimately induced mitochondrial apoptosis. We further verified that ROS is crucial in the apoptotic action of Mor through experiments regarding an ROS scavenger. Mor also significantly inhibited tumour xenograft growth in vivo. In addition, analysis of human liver cancer clinical samples revealed elevated ACLY levels positively correlated with histologic grade. CONCLUSION: Collectively, our findings highlight Mor as a potent bioactive inhibitor of ACLY and a promising candidate for HCC therapy.

The Side-Release Method Measures the High-Pressure Sound Velocity of Iron Using Line-Spatially Resolved DISAR.

The study of high-pressure sound velocity is an important part of shock wave physics, and the study of ultra-high pressure sound velocity of iron is of great significance to many research fields such as geophysics, solid state physics, and crystallography. At present, the measurement of sound velocity is usually carried out by the catch-up sparse wave method and windowed VISAR technology, which is complex in structure and not highly adaptable. In particular, for the ultra-high pressure sonic velocity measurement of metals, it is limited by the loading platform and window materials and cannot realize the high temperature and high-pressure environment of the earth's inner core. In this paper, the sound velocity measurement of iron under high temperature and high-pressure environment (78 GPa) is realized based on the two-stage light gas cannon experimental platform. The side-side sparse wave method was used to establish a coupling model of high-spatially resolved optical group and fiber bundle. A multiplexed all-fiber laser interferometry velocity measurement system (DISAR) was built, and the spatial resolution was better than 20 µm. In this paper, we will provide a feasible route for a method for measuring the high spatiotemporal resolution velocity.

Promotion of aromatic amino acids of extracellular polymeric substance targeted transformation via sulfite mediated iron redox cycling in sludge solid-liquid separation.

Highly hydrophilic extracellular polymeric substance (EPS) with gel-like structure seriously plagues the development of sludge deep dewatering. Oxysulfur radicals-based oxidation driven by iron-bearing mineral proposes a promising strategy for effective EPS decomposition. However, the transformation and involved interaction mechanisms of aromatic proteins are still controversial due to the complex EPS structure. Herein, sulfite mediated siderite (denoted as Fe(II)/S(IV)) was developed for targeted transformation aromatic amino acids in EPS oxidation to strengthen sludge solid-liquid separation. The enhanced sludge dewaterability were benefited from the Fe(II)/S(IV) bonded interaction assisted by Fe3+/Fe2+ as redox interface that facilitating the release of intracellular bound water via diminish the hydrophily and bind strength with solid protons. The amide region nitrogen of aromatic amino acids (especially tyrosine and tryptophan) originating from EPS presented looser structure and lower spatial site resistance, which were attributed to the exposure of hydrophobic sites in amino groups after Fe(II)/S(IV) treatment. Furthermore, the effective decline of aromatic amino acids in inner layer-EPS (loosely bound EPS and tightly bound EPS) was directed from Fe-N targeted interaction by triggering a series of sulfate-based radical chain reactions. The good correlation between electron transfer amount (R2 = 0.926) and Fe-N (R2 = 0.925) with bonding interaction demonstrated that the complexation of aromatic amino acids with Fe sites on siderite/sulfite via Fe-N bonds, accounting for efficient sludge solid-liquid separation. This study deepens the understanding of sludge organic matter targeted transformation and provides a tactic for iron-based conditioning of sludge.

Identification of lysine lactylation (kla)-related lncRNA signatures using XGBoost to predict prognosis and immune microenvironment in breast cancer patients.

Breast cancer (BC) stands as a predominant global malignancy, significantly contributing to female mortality. Recently uncovered, histone lysine lactylation (kla) has assumed a crucial role in cancer progression. However, the correlation with lncRNAs remains ambiguous. Scrutinizing lncRNAs associated with Kla not only improves clinical breast cancer management but also establishes a groundwork for antitumor drug development. We procured breast tissue samples, encompassing both normal and cancerous specimens, from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) database. Utilizing Cox regression and XGBoost methods, we developed a prognostic model using identified kla-related lncRNAs. The model's predictive efficacy underwent validation across training, testing, and the overall cohort. Functional analysis concerning kla-related lncRNAs ensued. We identified and screened 8 kla-related lncRNAs to formulate the risk model. Pathway analysis disclosed the connection between immune-related pathways and the risk model of kla-related lncRNAs. Significantly, the risk scores exhibited a correlation with both immune cell infiltration and immune function, indicating a clear association. Noteworthy is the observation that patients with elevated risk scores demonstrated an increased tumor mutation burden (TMB) and decreased tumor immune dysfunction and exclusion (TIDE) scores, suggesting heightened responses to immune checkpoint blockade. Our study uncovers a potential link between Kla-related lncRNAs and BC, providing innovative therapeutic guidelines for BC management.

Microglia mediate memory dysfunction via excitatory synaptic elimination in a fracture surgery mouse model.

Cognitive impairment is a common issue among human patients undergoing surgery, yet the neural mechanism causing this impairment remains unidentified. Surgical procedures often lead to glial cell activation and neuronal hypoexcitability, both of which are known to contribute to postoperative cognitive dysfunction (POCD). However, the role of neuron-glia crosstalk in the pathology of POCD is still unclear. Through integrated transcriptomics and proteomics analyses, we found that the complement cascades and microglial phagocytotic signaling pathways are activated in a mouse model of POCD. Following surgery, there is a significant increase in the presence of complement C3, but not C1q, in conjunction with presynaptic elements. This triggers a reduction in excitatory synapses, a decline in excitatory synaptic transmission, and subsequent memory deficits in the mouse model. By genetically knockout out C3ar1 or inhibiting p-STAT3 signaling, we successfully prevented neuronal hypoexcitability and alleviated cognitive impairment in the mouse model. Therefore, targeting the C3aR and downstream p-STAT3 signaling pathways could serve as potential therapeutic approaches for mitigating POCD.

Highly Selective Novel Heme Oxygenase-1 Hits Found by DNA-Encoded Library Machine Learning beyond the DEL Chemical Space.

DNA-encoded library (DEL) technology, especially when combined with machine learning (ML), is a powerful method to discover novel inhibitors. DEL-ML can expand a larger chemical space and boost cost-effectiveness during hit finding. Heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1), a heme-degrading enzyme, is linked to diseases such as cancer and neurodegenerative disorders. The discovery of five series of new scaffold HO-1 hits is reported here, using a DEL-ML workflow, which emphasizes the model's uncertainty quantification and domain of applicability. This model exhibits a strong extrapolation ability, identifying new structures beyond the DEL chemical space. About 37% of predicted molecules showed a binding affinity of K D < 20 µM, with the strongest being 141 nM, amd 14 of those molecules displayed >100-fold selectivity for HO-1 over heme oxygenase-2 (HO-2). These molecules also showed structural novelty compared to existing HO-1 inhibitors. Docking simulations provided insights into possible selectivity rationale.

Interventions to improve illness-related communication between cancer patients and their minor children: A systematic review.

BACKGROUND: Parental cancer conditions significantly impact the physical, social, and emotional well-being of minor children. Effective illness-related communication is crucial for both parents and their children to mitigate these effects. OBJECTIVE: To systematically summarize the characteristics and effectiveness of interventions aimed at improving illness-related communication between parents with cancer and their minor children. DESIGN: A systematic review. DATA SOURCES: Six databases (CINAHL, Web of Science, PubMed, Embase, the Cochrane Library, and PsycINFO) were searched for articles published in English between 2000 and 2023. METHODS: A three-step review process was employed to select articles. Two reviewers independently screened titles and abstracts, reviewed full texts to include studies aimed at facilitating illness-related communication between parents with cancer and their minor children under the age of 18, and assessed study quality using the Joanna Briggs Institute critical appraisal checklist. RESULTS: The search yielded 9409 articles, of which 21 met the inclusion criteria, 4 were randomized controlled trials and 17 were quasi-experimental studies. These studies involved 213 families, 149 parents, and 192 minor children. The interventions were categorized as family-centered, parent-centered, or children-centered and emphasized disease knowledge, communication skills, emotional management, and future planning in illness-related communication. The synthesized results indicate that family-centered interventions show unique advantages in improving family life; parent-centered interventions bring benefits in enhancing parenting quality, parents' self-efficacy in coping with cancer, and children's social behavior; and children-centered interventions exhibit a significant impact on the psychological well-being of children. CONCLUSION: Parent-centered interventions demonstrated significant potential in promoting illness-related communication, particularly by emphasizing the patient's parental role, enhancing intrinsic motivation to sustain communication, and recognizing that patients themselves may be more suitable targets for clinical oncology practice. High-quality research is recommended to enrich the content of parent-centered interventions and encourage the measurement of intervention effects on communication as well as the mechanism of action. REGISTRATION NUMBER: The review protocol was registered in PROSPERO under the number CRD42023478107.

Helicobacter pylori induces GBA1 demethylation to inhibit ferroptosis in gastric cancer.

This research investigates potential therapeutic targets for gastric cancer, focusing on ferroptosis-related genes. Gastric cancer is known for its lower survival rates, necessitating new treatment strategies. This study employed Mendelian randomization to identify ferroptosis-related genes and methylation sites in gastric cancer, examining correlations between Helicobacter pylori infection, GBA1 gene expression, and promoter methylation with single-cell datasets and the TCGA-STAD database. We used Helicobacter pylori-infected gastric cancer cell models and used next-generation sequencing to monitor methylation changes pre- and post-infection. GBA1 expression levels were assessed via qRT-PCR and Western blot both before and after infection. The effect of Helicobacter pylori on GC cell proliferation was analyzed using CCK-8 and EdU assays after knocking down the GBA1 gene. The association between Helicobacter pylori infection and ferroptosis, including its reversibility after GBA1 knockdown, was evaluated using FerrOrange, GSH, MDA, and C11-BODIPY assays. Mass spectrometry measured the impact of Helicobacter pylori and GBA1 knockdown on lipid metabolism. An in vivo subcutaneous tumor-bearing model was also established to confirm these findings. Mendelian randomization analysis revealed that high GBA1 expression and reduced methylation levels of its promoter are risk factors for gastric cancer. Single-cell sequencing and TCGA-STAD datasets indicated a positive correlation between Helicobacter pylori infection and GBA1 expression, with a concurrent negative correlation between GBA1 promoter methylation and GBA1 expression. In gastric cancer cell lines, Helicobacter pylori infection was observed to enhance GBA1 expression and decrease methylation levels at its promoter. Additionally, Helicobacter pylori promoted GC cell proliferation, an effect mitigated by knocking down GBA1. Infection also reduced lipid peroxidation, increased glutathione levels, and impeded ferroptosis in GC cells; however, these effects were reversed following GBA1 knockdown. Changes in sphingolipid metabolism induced by I were detected in GC cell lines. In vivo experiments using a subcutaneous tumor-bearing model demonstrated that Helicobacter pylori infection fosters tumorigenesis in GC cells. Our study demonstrates that Helicobacter pylori infection triggers demethylation and upregulation of GBA1, subsequently inhibiting ferroptosis in gastric cancer cells. These findings suggest that targeting the GBA1 pathway may offer a novel therapeutic approach for managing gastric cancer.

Effect of Ropivacaine Combined with Nalbuphine on Pain during Anaesthesia Recovery in Patients with Prostatic Hyperplasia Undergoing Transurethral Resection of Prostate.

BACKGROUND: As a frequent disease, prostatic hyperplasia could be treated by transurethral resection of prostate (TURP). However, postoperative pain may affect the prognosis of patients to some extent, so exploring reasonable anaesthetic drugs is an important measure to reduce the recovery period of anaesthesia. This study used the combination of ropivacaine and nalbuphine for intraoperative anaesthesia in patients undergoing TURP to investigate its effect on pain during anaesthesia recovery. METHODS: A retrospective study was conducted on the clinical data of 205 patients with prostatic hyperplasia who underwent TURP in our hospital from June 2020 to December 2022. All patients experienced epidural anaesthesia, and 110 patients who used ropivacaine combined with nalbuphine were included in the study group, whereas 95 patients who used ropivacaine and lidocaine were classified as the control group. The Visual Analogue Scale was used to evaluate the pain conditions of patients. The levels of pain mediators, such as substance P (SP), bradykinin (BK) and histamine (HIS), the stress levels, including cortisol (Cort), adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) and norepinephrine (NE), and the incidence of adverse reactions were compared between the two groups. RESULTS: At T0 (postoperative 30 min), T1 (postoperative 60 min), T2 (postoperative 2 h) and T3 (postoperative 4 h), the study group had significantly lower pain scores (p < 0.01), levels of SP, BK and HIS (p < 0.001), and levels of Cort, ACTH and NE (p < 0.05) than the control group. No statistical difference was observed in the incidences of adverse reactions between the two groups (p > 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: The combination of ropivacaine and nalbuphine has a notable analgesic effect during anaesthesia recovery in patients undergoing TURP. It inhibits the secretion of pain and physical stress indicators and relieves postoperative pain to a large extent.

Effect of negative pressure wound therapy on the incidence of deep surgical site infections after orthopedic surgery: a meta-analysis and systematic review.

OBJECTIVE: This meta-analysis aimed to explore the impact of prophylactic negative pressure wound therapy (NPWT) on the occurrence of deep surgical site infections (SSIs) following orthopedic surgery. METHODS: A systematic search was conducted across Medline, Embase, Cochrane Library, and Web of Science databases for articles concerning NPWT in patients who underwent orthopedic surgery up to May 20, 2024. Using Stata 15.0, the combined odds ratios (ORs) were calculated with either a random-effects model or a fixed-effects model, depending on the heterogeneity values. RESULTS: From a total of 440 publications, studies that utilized NPWT as the experimental group and conventional dressings as the control group were selected to analyze their impact on SSIs. Ultimately, 32 studies met the inclusion criteria. These included 12 randomized controlled trials and 20 cohort studies, involving 7454 patients, with 3533 of whom received NPWT and 3921 of whom were treated with conventional dressings. The results of the meta-analysis demonstrated that the NPWT group had a lower incidence of deep SSIs in orthopedic surgeries than did the control group [OR 0.64, 95% CI (0.52, 0.80), P = 0.0001]. Subgroup analysis indicated a notable difference for trauma surgeries [OR 0.65, 95% CI (0.50, 0.83), P = 0.001], whereas joint surgeries [OR 0.65, 95% CI (0.38, 1.12), P = 0.122] and spine surgeries [OR 0.61, 95% CI (0.27, 1.35), P = 0.221] did not show significant differences. Additionally, when examined separately according to heterogeneity, trauma surgeries exhibited a significant difference [OR 0.50, 95% CI (0.31, 0.80), P = 0.004]. CONCLUSION: The results of our study indicate that the prophylactic use of NPWT reduces the incidence of deep SSIs following orthopedic trauma surgery when compared to the use of conventional dressings. We postulate that the prophylactic application of NPWT in patients at high risk of developing complications from bone trauma may result in improved clinical outcomes and an enhanced patient prognosis.

Glucose fluctuations aggravate cardiomyocyte apoptosis by enhancing the interaction between Txnip and Akt.

BACKGROUND: Glucose fluctuations may be involved in the pathophysiological process of cardiomyocyte apoptosis, but the exact mechanism remains elusive. This study focused on exploring the mechanisms related to glucose fluctuation-induced cardiomyocyte apoptosis. METHODS: Diabetic rats established via an injection of streptozotocin were randomized to five groups: the controlled diabetic (CD) group, the uncontrolled diabetic (UD) group, the glucose fluctuated diabetic (GFD) group, the GFD group rats with the injection of 0.9% sodium chloride (NaCl) (GFD + NaCl) and the GFD group rats with the injection of N-acetyl-L-cysteine (NAC) (GFD + NAC). Twelve weeks later, cardiac function and apoptosis related protein expressions were tested. Proteomic analysis was performed to further analyze the differential protein expression pattern of CD and GFD. RESULTS: The left ventricular ejection fraction levels and fractional shortening levels were decreased in the GFD group, compared with those in the CD and UD groups. Positive cells tested by DAB-TUNEL were increased in the GFD group, compared with those in the CD group. The expression of Bcl-2 was decreased, but the expressions of Bax, cleaved caspase-3 and cleaved caspase-9 were increased in response to glucose fluctuations. Compared with CD, there were 527 upregulated and 152 downregulated proteins in GFD group. Txnip was one of the differentially expressed proteins related to oxidative stress response. The Txnip expression was increased in the GFD group, while the Akt phosphorylation level was decreased. The interaction between Txnip and Akt was enhanced when blood glucose fluctuated. Moreover, the application of NAC partially reversed glucose fluctuations-induced cardiomyocyte apoptosis. CONCLUSIONS: Glucose fluctuations lead to cardiomyocyte apoptosis by up-regulating Txnip expression and enhancing Txnip-Akt interaction.

Exposure to Polypropylene Microplastics Causes Cardiomyocyte Apoptosis Through Oxidative Stress and Activation of the MAPK-Nrf2 Signaling Pathway.

Microplastics are a growing concern as pollutants that impact both public health and the environment. However, the toxic effects of polypropylene microplastics (PP-MPs) are not well understood. This study aimed to investigate the effects of PP-MPs on cardiotoxicity and its underlying mechanisms. The cardiotoxicity of exposure to different amounts of PP-MPs were investigated in both ICR mice and H9C2 cells. Our results demonstrated that sub-chronic exposure to 5 and 50 mg/L PP-MPs led to myocardial structural damage, apoptosis, and fibrosis in mice cardiomyocytes. Flow cytometry analysis revealed that PP-MPs could decrease mitochondrial membrane potential and induce apoptosis in H9C2 cells. Western blotting revealed decreased expression of Bcl-2, poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP) and caspase 3 and increased expression of Bax, cleaved-PARP, and cleaved-caspase 3 in PP-MPs-treated cardiac tissue and H9C2 cells. These results confirmed the apoptotic effects induced by PP-MPs. Moreover, PP-MPs treatment triggered oxidative stress, as evidenced by the increased levels of malondialdehyde; reduction in glutathione peroxidase, superoxide dismutase, and catalase activities in mice cardiac tissues; and increased reactive oxygen species levels in H9C2 cells. Finally, western blotting demonstrated that exposure to PP-MPs significantly reduced the expression levels of Nrf2 and p-ERK proteins associated with MAPK-Nrf2 pathway in both cardiac tissue and H9C2 cells. Overall, our findings indicate that PP-MPs can induce cardiomyocyte apoptosis through MAPK-Nrf2 signaling pathway, which is triggered by oxidative stress. This study provides a foundation for determining the effects of PP-MPs on cardiotoxicity and their underlying mechanisms.