Two C-terminal isoforms of Aplysia tachykinin-related peptide receptors exhibit phosphorylation-dependent and independent desensitization mechanisms.

Diversity, a hallmark of G protein-coupled receptor (GPCR) signaling, partly stems from alternative splicing of a single gene generating more than one isoform for a receptor. Additionally, receptor responses to ligands can be attenuated by desensitization upon prolonged or repeated ligand exposure. Both phenomena have been demonstrated and exemplified by the deuterostome tachykinin (TK) signaling system, although the role of phosphorylation in desensitization remains a subject of debate. Here, we describe the signaling system for tachykinin-related peptides (TKRPs) in a protostome, mollusk Aplysia. We cloned the Aplysia TKRP precursor, which encodes three TKRPs (apTKRP-1, apTKRP-2a, and apTKRP-2b) containing the FXGXR-amide motif. In situ hybridization and immunohistochemistry showed predominant expression of TKRP mRNA and peptide in the cerebral ganglia. TKRPs and their post-translational modifications were observed in extracts of CNS ganglia using mass spectrometry. We identified two Aplysia TKRP receptors (TKRPRs), named apTKRPR-A and apTKRPR-B. These receptors are two isoforms generated through alternative splicing of the same gene and differ only in their intracellular C-termini. Structure-activity relationship analysis of apTKRP-2b revealed that both C-terminal amidation and conserved residues of the ligand are critical for receptor activation. C-terminal truncates and mutants of apTKRPRs suggested that there is a C-terminal phosphorylation-independent desensitization for both receptors. Moreover, apTKRPR-B also exhibits phosphorylation-dependent desensitization through the phosphorylation of C-terminal Ser/Thr residues. This comprehensive characterization of the Aplysia TKRP signaling system underscores the evolutionary conservation of the TKRP and TK signaling systems, while highlighting the intricacies of receptor regulation through alternative splicing and differential desensitization mechanisms.

Can pre-exercise photobiomodulation improve muscle endurance and promote recovery from muscle strength and injuries in people with different activity levels? A meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.

Photobiomodulation therapy (PBMT) was introduced as an ergogenic aid for sport performance in healthy individuals is still controversial. The main aim of this study is to assess the potential enhancements in muscle endurance and recovery from muscle strength and injuries mediated by PBMT among individuals exhibiting diverse activity levels. Randomized controlled trials (RCT) of PBMT interventions for healthy people (both trained and untrained individuals) exercising were searched (up to January 16, 2024) in four electronic databases: Web of Science, PubMed, Scopus and Embase. Primary outcome measures included muscle endurance, muscle strength and creatine kinase (CK) levels; secondary outcome measure included Lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) levels. Subgroup analyses based on physical activity levels were conducted for each outcome measure. Thirty-four RCTs were included based on the article inclusion and exclusion criteria. Statistical results showed that PBMT significantly improved muscle endurance (standardized mean difference [SMD] = 0.31, 95%CI 0.11, 0.51, p < 0.01), indicating a moderate effect size. It also facilitated the recovery of muscle strength (SMD = 0.24, 95%CI 0.10, 0.39, p < 0.01) and CK (mean difference [MD] = -77.56, 95%CI -112.67, -42.44, p < 0.01), indicating moderate and large effect sizes, respectively. Furthermore, pre-application of PBMT significantly improved muscle endurance, recovery of muscle strength and injuries in physically inactive individuals and athletes (p < 0.05), while there was no significant benefit for physically active individuals. Pre-application of PBMT improves muscle endurance and promotes recovery from muscle strength and injury (includes CK and LDH) in athletes and sedentary populations, indicating moderate to large effect sizes, but is ineffective in physically active populations. This may be due to the fact that physically active people engage in more resistance training, which leads to a decrease in the proportion of red muscle fibres, thus affecting photobiomodulation.

Cordycepin Enhances the Therapeutic Efficacy of Doxorubicin in Treating Triple-Negative Breast Cancer.

Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) is a subtype of breast cancer with high mortality and poor prognosis. Meanwhile, doxorubicin, a chemotherapeutic agent for triple-negative breast cancer, has poor sensitivity. The objective of this study was to examine the effect of cordycepin on doxorubicin sensitivity and efficacy in the TNBC xenograft model and explore the relevant molecular pathways. The combination of the drugs in nude mice carrying MDA-MB-231 xenografts significantly reduced the volume, size, and weight of xenografts and improved the tumor inhibition rate. The drug combination was significantly more effective than cordycepin or doxorubicin alone, reflecting the fact that cordycepin enhanced the anti-tumor effects of doxorubicin in MDA-MB-231 xenografts. At the same time, the monitoring of several biological parameters failed to detect any obvious side effects associated with this treatment. After predicting the importance of the TNF pathway in inhibiting tumor growth using network pharmacology methods, we verified the expression of TNF pathway targets via immunohistochemistry and quantitative PCR. Furthermore, a TNF-α inhibitor was able to abrogate the beneficial effects of cordycepin and doxorubicin treatment in MDA-MB-231 cells. This clearly indicates the role of TNF-α, or related molecules, in mediating the therapeutic benefits of the combined treatment in animals carrying TNBC xenografts. The observations reported here may present a new direction for the clinical treatment of TNBC.

The value of urinary exosomal lncRNA SNHG16 as a diagnostic biomarker for bladder cancer.

OBJECTIVE: To detect the expression level of urinary exosomal lncRNA SNHG16 in patients with bladder cancer and healthy individuals and explore its clinical application value in the diagnosis of bladder cancer. METHODS: Urine samples were collected from 42 patients with bladder cancer and 42 healthy volunteers who visited Lu'an Hospital of Anhui Medical University and the Second Hospital of Tianjin Medical University from January 2020 to December 2022. The expression levels of lncRNA SNHG16 in urinary exosomes of the two groups were detected by RT‒qPCR, and their correlation with clinical pathological parameters of bladder cancer patients was analysed. An Receiver Operating Characteristic(ROC) curve was drawn to analyse the diagnostic value of urinary exosomal lncRNA SNHG16 for bladder cancer and compared with urinary cytology. RESULTS: The expression of urinary exosomal lncRNA SNHG16 in patients with bladder cancer was significantly higher (P < 0.05), and the expression level had no correlation with the age, sex, pathological T stage, pathological grade, or tumour size of bladder cancer patients (P > 0.05). The Area Under Curve(AUC) of urinary exosomal lncRNA SNHG16 in diagnosing bladder cancer was 0.791, which was superior to that of urinary cytology (AUC = 0.597). CONCLUSION: Urinary exosomal lncRNA SNHG16 with high expression can serve as a potential diagnostic biological marker for bladder cancer.

An electrical stimulation intervention protocol to prevent disuse atrophy and muscle strength decline: an experimental study in rat.

BACKGROUND: Skeletal muscle is negatively impacted by conditions such as spaceflight or prolonged bed rest, resulting in a dramatic decline in muscle mass, maximum contractile force, and muscular endurance. Electrical stimulation (ES) is an essential tool in neurophysiotherapy and an effective means of preventing skeletal muscle atrophy and dysfunction. Historically, ES treatment protocols have used either low or high frequency electrical stimulation (LFES/HFES). However, our study tests the use of a combination of different frequencies in a single electrical stimulation intervention in order to determine a more effective protocol for improving both skeletal muscle strength and endurance. METHODS: An adult male SD rat model of muscle atrophy was established through 4 weeks of tail suspension (TS). To investigate the effects of different frequency combinations, the experimental animals were treated with low (20 Hz) or high (100 Hz) frequency before TS for 6 weeks, and during TS for 4weeks. The maximum contraction force and fatigue resistance of skeletal muscle were then assessed before the animals were sacrificed. The muscle mass, fiber cross-sectional area (CSA), fiber type and related protein expression were examined and analyzed to gain insights into the mechanisms by which the ES intervention protocol used in this study regulates muscle strength and endurance. RESULTS: After 4 weeks of unloading, the soleus muscle mass and fiber CSA decreased by 39% and 58% respectively, while the number of glycolytic muscle fibers increased by 21%. The gastrocnemius muscle fibers showed a 51% decrease in CSA, with a 44% decrease in single contractility and a 39% decrease in fatigue resistance. The number of glycolytic muscle fibers in the gastrocnemius also increased by 29%. However, the application of HFES either prior to or during unloading showed an improvement in muscle mass, fiber CSA, and oxidative muscle fibers. In the pre-unloading group, the soleus muscle mass increased by 62%, while the number of oxidative muscle fibers increased by 18%. In the during unloading group, the soleus muscle mass increased by 29% and the number of oxidative muscle fibers increased by 15%. In the gastrocnemius, the pre-unloading group showed a 38% increase in single contractile force and a 19% increase in fatigue resistance, while in the during unloading group, a 21% increase in single contractile force and a 29% increase in fatigue resistance was observed, along with a 37% and 26% increase in the number of oxidative muscle fibers, respectively. The combination of HFES before unloading and LFES during unloading resulted in a significant elevation of the soleus mass by 49% and CSA by 90%, with a 40% increase in the number of oxidative muscle fibers in the gastrocnemius. This combination also resulted in a 66% increase in single contractility and a 38% increase in fatigue resistance. CONCLUSION: Our results indicated that using HFES before unloading can reduce the harmful effects of muscle unloading on the soleus and gastrocnemius muscles. Furthermore, we found that combining HFES before unloading with LFES during unloading was more effective in preventing muscle atrophy in the soleus and preserving the contractile function of the gastrocnemius muscle.

Protective effects of intravitreal administration of mesenchymal stem cell-derived exosomes in an experimental model of optic nerve injury.

Traumatic optic neuropathy results in the loss of retinal ganglion cells (RGCs), leading to unavoidable visual impairment. However, there is no effective therapy by far. Accumulated studies support the perception that mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) secrete exosomes that serve as a protective paracrine factor. The study aimed to explore and evaluate the potential therapeutic effects of intravitreal transplantation of MSC-derived exosomes (MSC-exos) in an experimental model of optic nerve crush (ONC). Exosomes were isolated from rat MSCs and characterized by transmission electron microscope and western blotting. At the onset of ONC, a single intravitreal injection of exosomes or PBS was administered to the rats. At day 30, hematoxylin and eosin staining, immunohistochemistry, and ßIII-tubulin staining were performed to evaluate the survival of RGCs. Moreover, TUNEL assay was used to examine the apoptosis of RGCs. Inflammation-relevant factors were identified via quantitative polymerase chain reaction. The expression levels of cell apoptosis-related molecules and key members of the PI3K/AKT signaling pathway were determined via western blot analysis. We found that MSC-exos exhibited typical characteristic morphologies (cup-shaped) and sizes (peak size of 93 nm). Furthermore, they exhibited substantial expression of the exosome markers CD63 and TSG101, but lacked the expression of the cellular marker GM130. Treatment with intravitreal MSC-exos notably promoted the survival of RGCs in ONC rats. The level of pro-inflammatory cytokines, including TNF-α, IL-1ß, IL-6, IL-8, and MCP-1, were reduced, whereas those of the anti-inflammatory factor IL-10 were increased. Moreover, the apoptosis induced by ONC was decreased by the administration of MSC-exos via upregulation of the Bcl-2/Bax ratio and downregulation of caspase-3 activity. Furthermore, MSC-exos significantly stimulated AKT phosphorylation, whereas LY294002 restored the apoptosis-preventing effects of MSC-exos. The results of our results demonstrated that intravitreal administration of MSC-exos ameliorates ONC-induced injury in a rat model. These findings might aid in the development of effective exosome-based therapeutic strategies for the treatment of optic nerve degeneration.

High-power and single-mode VCSEL arrays with single-polarized outputs by using package-induced tensile strain.

In this work, we demonstrate a novel high-power vertical-cavity surface-emitting laser (VCSEL) array with highly single-mode (SM) and single-polarized output performance without significantly increasing the intra-cavity loss and threshold current (Ith). By combining a low-loss zinc-diffusion aperture with an electroplated copper substrate, we can obtain a highly SM output (side mode suppression ratio >50dB) with a very narrow divergence angle (1/e2:∼10∘) under high output power (3.1 W; 1% duty cycle) and sustain a single polarization state, with a polarization suppression ratio of around 9 dB, under the full range of bias currents. Compared to the reference device without the copper substrate, the demonstrated array can not only switch the output optical spectra from quasi-SM to highly SM but also maintain a close threshold current value (Ith: 0.8 versus 0.7 mA per unit device) and slope efficiency. The enhancement in fundamental mode selectivity of our VCSEL structure can be attributed to the single-polarized lasing mode induced by tensile strain, which is caused by the electroplated copper substrate, as verified by the double-crystal x-ray measurement results.

Rapid identification of Brucella sepsis/osteomyelitis in a 6-year old febrile patient with matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry directly from positive blood culture: a case report.

BACKGROUND: Brucella is high-consequence pathogen and one of the most common seen laboratory- acquired infection pathogens. Quick and accurate detection of the pathogen will be of great important to reducing laboratory- acquired infection. Traditional biomedical reaction based method is time consumption, and mass spectrometry based method greatly reduces time consumption in pathogen identification. In the case presented here, we shared our experience in identification of Brucella directly from positive blood culture with mass spectrometry based method. CASE PRESENTATION: The patient is a 6-year boy with a history of three weeks fever accompanied with sweating and a pain at right patella. The patient also has a history of thalassemia and blood transfusion was performed previously admitted to our hospital. Two bottles of marrow culture and one bottle of blood culture were positive, and direct mass spectrometry from positive culture material revealed Brucella infection within 1 h. CONCLUSION: Clinical characters and laboratory findings of the patient presented here might help clinician in non-endemic region to made suspected brucellosis diagnose. Our experience in rapid identification of Brucella from positive blood culture with MALDI-TOF SP could help preventing laboratory-acquired infection of Brucella.

Malignant ureteral obstruction: experience and comparative analysis of metallic versus ordinary polymer ureteral stents.

BACKGROUND: To study the outcome and experience of using metallic stents in treating patients with malignant ureteral obstruction (MUO). METHODS: Seventy-six patients with MUO were assigned to the metallic stent group (MSG) or the ordinary polymer stent group (OPSG) according to the different materials. The success rate of the operation, duration of operation, patency rate serum creatinine values ,postoperative complications and QOL scores were compared between the two groups. RESULTS: In the OPSG and MSG, the success rates of the operation were 95.5% and 96.9%, respectively, and the durations of the operation were 20.6 ± 2.2 min and 50.9 ± 10.3 min (P < 0.01), respectively. There was no significant difference between the groups in serum creatinine values at 3 days after the operation (P > 0.05); however, the creatinine values at 3 days after the operation decreased significantly compared with those before the operation (P < 0.01). In the OPSG, there was no significant difference in creatinine values between 3 days and 6 months after operation, while the creatinine values 1 year after operation were increased significantly compared to those at 3 days after the operation (P < 0.05). In the MSG, there was no significant difference among creatinine values at different intervals (P > 0.05). The total rate of post-procedural complication was lower in the MSG than that in the OPSG(P < 0.05). There was no significant difference in the QOL score between the two groups before the operation (P > 0.05); however, the QOL scores at 6 months and 1 year after the operation were higher in the MSG than that in the OPSG(P < 0.05). In the MSG, there was no significant difference in the QOL score between preoperation and 6 months after surgery. Similarly, there was also no difference in the QOL score between 6 months after surgery and 1 year after surgery(P > 0.05). On the contrary, the differences of QOL score in the OPSG group were much significant between disparate time intervals (P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: For patients with MUO who require long-term retention of the stent, metallic stents with longer indwelling time are superior to ordinary polymeric stents.

Safety and efficacy of low fluence, high repetition rate versus high fluence, low repetition rate 810-nm diode laser for axillary hair removal in Chinese women.

BACKGROUND: High-fluence diode lasers with contact cooling have emerged as the gold standard to remove unwanted hair. Lowering the energy should result in less pain and could theoretically affect the efficacy of the therapy. OBJECTIVE: To compare the safety and efficacy of a low fluence high repetition rate 810-nm diode laser to those of a high fluence, low repetition rate diode laser for permanent axillary hair removal in Chinese women. METHODS: Ninety-two Chinese women received four axillae laser hair removal treatments at 4-week intervals using the low fluence, high repetition rate 810-nm diode laser in super hair removal (SHR) mode on one side and the high fluence, low repetition rate diode laser in hair removal (HR) mode on the other side. Hair counts were done at each follow-up visit and 6-month follow-up after the final laser treatment using a "Hi Quality Hair Analysis Program System"; the immediate pain score after each treatment session was recorded by a visual analog scale. RESULTS: The overall median reduction of hair was 90.2% with the 810-nm diode laser in SHR mode and 87% with the same laser in HR mode at 6-month follow-up. The median pain scores in SHR mode and in HR mode were 2.75 and 6.75, respectively. CONCLUSION: Low fluence, high repetition rate diode laser can efficiently remove unwanted hair but also significantly improve tolerability and reduce adverse events during the course of treatment.

Draft genome sequence of ectomycorrhizal edible mushroom Phlebopus portentosus strain YAF023.

Phlebopus portentosus is a favorite ectomycorrhizal edible mushroom in tropical China. Here, we present a draft genome sequence of P. portentosus strain YAF023. The genome resource will support subsequent research into the relationship between ectomycorrhizal fungi and trees.

The relationships between emerging adults self-efficacy and motivation levels and physical activity: a cross-sectional study based on the self-determination theory.

Objectives: The study aims to examine the associations between exercise self-efficacy, motivation, physical activity, and body composition among emerging adults. Design: Cross-sectional. Methods: A convenience sample of 147 emerging adults participated in the Releasing Weight (RELEW) project. The InBody720 analyzer was used to measure body composition, and the International Physical Activity Questionnaire-Short, the Shortened Physical Activity Self-Efficacy Scale, and the Treatment Self-Regulation Questionnaire were used to measure self-reported physical activity, self-efficacy, and motivation. Structural Equation Modeling was used to exam the complex relationships among multiple variables. in this study. The Partial least squares structural equation modeling analysis with bootstrapping in Smart PLS 3 was employed to explore the path coefficients and t-values for the relationships that were thought to exist. Significance was determined using a threshold of p < 0.05. Results: The mean age of 147 participants was 18.5 ± 1.87, of whom 51.7% were female, recruited for this study. Exercise self-efficacy has a significant positive correlation with exercise motivation (r = 0.220, p = 0.008) and physical activity (r = 0.279, p < 0.001). Exercise motivation does not demonstrate significant associations with physical activity (r = 0.094, p = 0.298). Utilizing SEM, the model explained 9.2% of exercise self-efficacy, 11.8% of physical activity, and 68.3% of body composition variance. Mediation analysis revealed that exercise self-efficacy partially mediated the relationship between exercise motivation and physical activity (ß = 0.106, t = 2.538, p < 0.05), and physical activity partially mediated the relationship between exercise self-efficacy and body composition (ß = -0.296, t = 4.280, p < 0.001). Conclusion: This study sheds light on the complex relationships among motivation, self-efficacy, physical activity and body composition during emerging adulthood. Our results highlight the mediating role of self-efficacy and its impact on physical activity behaviors, offering valuable insights for targeted interventions and policy development to improve health outcomes in this demographic.

Association between maternal lipid profiles and vitamin D status in second trimester and risk of LGA or SGA: a retrospective study.

Background: Accumulating evidence has linked dyslipidemia during pregnancy to the risk of delivering infants born either large for gestational age (LGA) or small for gestational age (SGA). However, the effects of the vitamin D status on these relationships require further investigation. This study investigated whether the relationship between lipid profiles and the risk of LGA or SGA was influenced by vitamin D levels during the second trimester. Methods: Maternal lipid profile levels, including total cholesterol (TC), triglyceride (TG), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), and vitamin D levels, were measured in a cohort of 6,499 pregnant women during the second trimester. Multivariate regression models and subgroup analyses were employed to evaluate the potential associations between maternal lipid profiles, vitamin D levels, and the risk of LGA or SGA. Results: The prevalence of SGA infants was 9.8% (n=635), whereas that of LGA infants was 6.9% (n=447). Maternal TG levels were found to be positively associated with the risk of LGA (odds ratio [OR] = 1.41, 95% confidence interval [CI]:1.17-1.70), whereas a negative association was observed between maternal TG, TC, LDL-C levels, and risk of SGA. Additionally, mothers with higher HDL-C levels were less likely to give birth to an LGA infant (OR=0.58, 95% CI:0.39-0.85). Importantly, associations between TG, TC, LDL-c, and SGA as well as between TG and LGA were primarily observed among pregnant women with insufficient vitamin D levels. As for HDL-C, the risk of LGA was lower in mothers with sufficient vitamin D (OR = 0.42, 95% CI:0.18-0.98) compared to those with insufficient vitamin D (OR = 0.65, 95% CI:0.42-0.99). Conclusion: Vitamin D status during the second trimester exerts a modifying effect on the association between lipid profiles and the risk of LGA and SGA infants.

[Clinical comparative study on resection and non-resection of the fifth metatarsal to rheumatoid forefoot deformity].

OBJECTIVE: To explore clinical effect of the fifth metatarsal head excision and non-excision in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) forefoot deformity reconstruction. METHODS: Retrospective analysis was performed on 50 patients (76 feet) with moderate to severe forefoot deformity caused by RA treated from May 2015 to January 2019. According to degeneration of the fifth metatarsophalangeal joint,the fifth metatarsal head was retained or excised by wind-like forefoot reconstruction,and divided into the fifth metatarsal head preservation group (preservation group) and the fifth metatarsal head resection group (resection group). Twenty-four female patients in preservation group,aged from 47 to 81 years old with an average of (60.37±8.60) years old;the course of disease ranged from 13 to 22 years with an average of (19.00±3.06) years;body mass index (BMI) ranged from 21 to 28 kg·m-2 with an average of (23.53±2.47) kg·m-2;six patients (6 feet) with moderate hallux valgus deformity and 18 patients (30 feet) with severe hallux valgus deformity;treated with the first metatarsophalangeal joint fusion combined with the second th the fourth metatarsophalangeal joint arthroplasty and the fifth metatarsophalangeal joint cleanup. Twenty-six female patients in resection group were female,aged from 30 to 80 years old with an average of (58.53±13.70) years old;the course of disease ranged from 8 to 25 years with an average of (17.94±3.92) years;BMI raged from 20 to 28 kg·m-2 with an average of (24.60±2.03) kg·m-2;4 patients (4 feet) with moderate bunion valgus deformity and 22 patients (36 feet) with severe bunion valgus deformity;treated by the first metatarsophalangeal joint fusion combined with the second th the fifth metatarsophalangeal joint resection of the metatarsophalangeal head. Operation time and postoperative complications between two groups were observed,hallux valgus angle (HVA),intermetatarsal angles between the first and the second metatarsals (IMAFS),intermetatarsal angles between the first and fifth metatarsals (IMAFF),Japanese Society for Surgery of Foot (JSSF) score before surgery and at the latest follow-up were compared. RESULTS: Fifty patients were followed-up from 14 to 46(25.30±8.83) months in resection group and 12 to 48 with an average of (24.30±11.12) months in preservation group,while no significant difference between two groups (P>0.05). There were no significant difference in operation time and postoperative complications between two groups (P>0.05). JSSF scores,HVA,IMAFS and IMAFF in fesection group were improved from (45.09±3.35) points,(38.90±13.67) °,(12.88±1.72) °,(32.50±2.99) ° before operation to (81.60±3.27) points,(15.40±0.90),(9.06±2.27) °,(22.20±1.98) ° at the latest follow-up (P<0.05);preservation group were improved from (47.09±3.96) points,(43.30±12.65) °,(13.99±3.13) °,(33.20±6.14) ° to (83.10±3.66) points,(15.20±1.54) °,(8.99±1.02) °,(24.70±1.88) °,respectively. There were no significant difference in JSSF score,HVA,IMAFS and IMAFF between two groups before operation and the latest follow-up (P>0.05). At the latest follow-up,there were statistically significant differences in pain and deformity in JSSF scores between two groups (P<0.05). CONCLUSION: Both rheumatoid anterior foot reconstruction and anterior foot reconstruction fifth metatarsophalangeal joint debridement showed significant improvement in clinical efficacy and imaging results. Compared with rheumatoid prefoot reconstruction,the fifth metatarsophalangeal joint reconstruction for the treatment of moderate and severe deformity of rheumatoid prefoot showed better improvement in pain,but worse improvement in deformity. For the moderate to severe deformity of the forefoot caused by rheumatoid disease,patients with mild to moderate degenerative deformity of the articular surface of the fifth metatarsal phalanges may be considered for use.

On the Rapid Synthesis of Reduced Graphene Oxide via Ultrasound-Promoted Eco-Friendly Reduction Approach and Its Effects on Physicochemical Properties.

The common synthesis approach of reduced graphene oxide (rGO) using toxic reducing agents poses a threat to environmental pollution. This study used banana peel extract as a green reducing agent for the synthesis of rGO. Ultrasonication was assimilated to expedite the synthesis process. For comparison, rGO was also produced by reducing GO with hydrazine treatment under conventional stirring. Both morphological (SEM) and physicochemical (FTIR and XRD) studies have revealed that banana peel extract can reduce GO to rGO, although its reducing effect is much weaker compared to hydrazine. Despite this, the rGO produced using banana peel extract with the assimilation of ultrasonication technique has a greater interlayer spacing than that formed under the conventional stirring method. In terms of electrical properties, the electrical conductance of hydrazine-produced rGO (5.69 × 10-6 S) is higher than the banana peel extract-produced rGO (3.55 × 10-6 S - 4.56 × 10-6 S). Interestingly, it was found that most of the rGO produced by banana peel extract under ultrasound assistance has higher or comparable electrical conductance compared to the rGO produced by banana peel extract under stirring method. This implies the feasibility of using short-period ultrasound to replace conventional stirring in rGO synthesis.

Clinical characteristics and phylogenetic analysis of human enteric adenovirus type 41 (HAdV-F41) from children with gastroenteritis during SARS-CoV-2 pandemic.

Human adenovirus type 41 (HAdV-F41) usually causes pediatrics gastroenteritis. However, it was reported to be associated with the outbreaks of severe acute hepatitis of unknown aetiology (SAHUA) in pediatrics during COVID-19 pandemic. In this study, we investigated the prevalence of enteric HAdV-F41 in 37,920 paediatric gastroenteritis cases from 2017 to 2022 in Guangzhou, China. All children presented were tested negative for SARS-CoV-2 during the "zero-COVID" period. The main clinical symptom of the children was diarrhea (96.5%). No fatalities nor liver abnormal symptoms was found. In 2021, one year since the pandemic of COVID-19, the prevalence of HAdV-F41 abruptly increased from 3.71% to 8.64% (P < 0.001). All of HAdV-F41 circulating worldwide were classified into eight different subtypes (G1-G8) based on the phylogenetic clustering permutation of the four capsid genes of HAdV-F41. G3 was the predominant subtype (56.2%; 77/137). CRV5 isolates from SAHUA cases belong to this subtype, in which N312D and H335D mutations in the short fiber knob were identified in both Guangzhou and CRV5 isolates, presumably changing the virus tropism by directly interacting with the heparin sulfate (HS) receptor. Additionally, a novel recombinant G6 subtype, which is unique and only circulating in China was first identified in this study. This is the first study highlighting the prevalence of HAdV-F41 in paediatric cases of gastroenteritis during COVID-19 pandemic in China. The clinical and viral evolution finding of HAdV-F41 provide insight into the clinical characteristics of children with HAdV-F41 infections as well as the uncertain role of HAdV-F41 in the cause of SAHUA.

SFN promotes renal fibrosis via binding with MYH9 in chronic kidney disease.

Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is a clinical syndrome characterized by persistent renal function decline. Renal fibrosis is the main pathological process in CKD, but an effective treatment does not exist. Stratifin (SFN) is a highly-conserved, multi-function soluble acidic protein. Therefore, this study explored the effects of SFN on renal fibrosis. First, we found that SFN was highly expressed in patients with CKD, as well as in renal fibrosis animal and cell models. Next, transforming growth factor-beta 1 (TGF-ß1) induced injury and fibrosis in human renal tubule epithelial cells, and SFN knockdown reversed these effects. Furthermore, SFN knockdown mitigated unilateral ureteral obstruction (UUO)-induced renal tubular dilatation and renal interstitial fibrosis in mice. Liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry/mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS), co-immunoprecipitation (Co-IP), and immunofluorescence co-localization assays demonstrated that SFN bound the non-muscle myosin-encoding gene, myosin heavy chain 9 (MYH9), in the cytoplasm of renal tubular epithelial cells. MYH9 knockdown also reduced Col-1 and α-SMA expression, which are fibrosis markers. Finally, silencing SFN decreased MYH9 expression, alleviating renal fibrosis. These results suggest that SFN promotes renal fibrosis in CKD by interacting with MYH9. This study may provide potential strategies for the treatment of CKD.

Fabrication and Characterization of Polylactic Acid Electrospun Wound Dressing Modified with Polyethylene Glycol, Rosmarinic Acid and Graphite Oxide.

Polylactic acid (PLA) is a biodegradable polymer made from natural sources, and its electrospinning (e-spinning) nanofiber membrane doped with antibacterial ingredients is widely used in the field of medical dressings. In this research, 9 wt% of rosmarinic acid (RosA) and 0.04 wt% of graphite oxide (GO) with synergistic antibacterial activity were introduced into the e-spinning PLA precursor solution, and the obtained PLA nanofiber membrane showed good antibacterial properties and wound healing effects. At the same time, a nonionic amphiphilic polymer, polyethylene glycol (PEG), was also introduced into this system to improve the hydrophilicity of the e-spinning membrane for wound healing application. The morphological characterization showed the RosA/GO and PEG did not affect the e-spinning of PLA. The tests of mechanical performance and wettability demonstrated that PEG and RosA/GO incorporated in PLA have migrated easily to the surface of the fiber. The e-spun PLA/PEG/RosA/GO membrane showed good antibacterial activity and promoted initial wound healing quickly, which would be a promising application in wound dressing.

Study on PM diffusion and distribution of trackless rubber-tyred vehicle under different driving conditions in underground coal mining environment.

Particulate matter (PM) is one of the most harmful exhaust pollutants to human health. In this study, the PM diffusion and distribution emitted by trackless rubber-tyred vehicle under different driving conditions in coal mine were analyzed with numerical simulations and field measurements. The results show that when the vehicle velocity was constant, the PM concentration of the trackless rubber-tyred vehicle decreased with increasing distance from the exhaust pipe orifice. In addition, the proportion of PM with a concentration below 10 mg/m3 was the highest owing to the influences of diffusion and airflow dilution. However, when the diffusion distance is less than 3 m, the PM concentration far exceeds the occupational exposure limit (10 mg/m3). In this case, underground personnel should stay away from the area near and along the exhaust pipe as far as possible. With increasing vehicle velocity, the PM concentration gradient at a diffusion distance of 0-6 m showed the most significant slope. Besides, the concentration fluctuation of PM was the largest and relatively high when the diffusion distance was 5-15 m. Therefore, the area 15 m from the exhaust gas pipe opening of the trackless rubber-tyred vehicle should be controlled. In addition, the relative errors between the measured and numerical simulation results were mostly less than 10%, which proved that the numerical simulation results were reliable.

Numerically simulated behavior of diesel particulate matter emitted by hydraulic support transporters.

WC55-Y hydraulic support transporters allow an efficient transport of support equipment in fully mechanized mining faces. However, the diesel particulate matter (DPM) emitted by these transporters seriously pollutes the air environment along mine roadways, endangering the health of coal mine workers. In this paper, we simulated the diffusion dispersion of DPM during the functioning of a WC55-Y hydraulic support transporter (emitting high amounts of exhaust pollutants) by computational fluid dynamics, identifying high DPM concentration zones. While the transporter was driven along a coal auxiliary transportation roadway, the diffusion-dispersion characteristics of DPM changed: DPM reached a long horizontal diffusion distance and a high concentration. We found that to avoid the inhalation of DPM and reduce its potential harm, coal mine workers should keep a distance of at least 21.27 m from the hydraulic support transporter while the vehicle runs along the roadway. Moreover, according to our simulation, the operators responsible for disassembling the hydraulic support transporter should wear protective equipment with good filterability while unloading it. Overall, the findings of this study can be applied to outline new work practice guidelines and design new optimum auxiliary ventilation for reducing underground miner exposure to DPM.