[Efficacy of therapeutic hypothermia on mild neonatal hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy: a prospective randomized controlled study]. / æ–°ç”Ÿå„¿è½»åº¦ç¼ºæ°§ç¼ºè¡€æ€§è„‘ç— äºšä½Žæ¸©æ²»ç–—æ•ˆæžœçš„å‰çž»æ€§éšæœºå¯¹ç §ç ”ç©¶.

OBJECTIVES: To investigate the efficacy of therapeutic hypothermia on mild neonatal hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy (HIE). METHODS: A prospective study was performed on 153 neonates with mild HIE who were born from September 2019 to September 2023. These neonates were randomly divided into two groups: therapeutic hypothermia (n=77) and non-therapeutic hypothermia group (n=76). The short-term clinical efficacy of the two groups were compared. Barkovich scoring system was used to analyze the severity of brain injury shown on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) between the two groups. RESULTS: There were no significant differences in gestational age, gender, birth weight, mode of birth, and Apgar score between the therapeutic hypothermia and non-therapeutic hypothermia groups (P>0.05). There were no significant differences in the incidence rates of sepsis, arrhythmia, persistent pulmonary hypertension and pulmonary hemorrhage and the duration of mechanical ventilation within the first 72 hours after birth between the two groups. The therapeutic hypothermia group had longer prothrombin time within the first 72 hours after birth and a longer hospital stay (P<0.05). Compared with the non-therapeutic hypothermia group, the therapeutic hypothermia group had lower incidence rates of MRI abnormalities (30% vs 57%), moderate to severe brain injury on MRI (5% vs 28%), and watershed injury (27% vs 51%) (P<0.05), as well as lower medium watershed injury score (0 vs 1) (P<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Therapeutic hypothermia can reduce the incidence rates of MRI abnormalities and watershed injury, without obvious adverse effects, in neonates with mild HIE, suggesting that therapeutic hypothermia may be beneficial in neuroprotection in these neonates.

Eicosapentaenoic acid supplementation alleviates pruritus, enhances skin moisture, and mitigates depression in maintenance hemodialysis patients.

Background: The objective of this study is to investigate the effects of oral supplementation with eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) on circulating inflammatory factors, cardiometabolic parameters, skin moisturization, and the consequent symptoms of pruritus and depression in maintenance hemodialysis patients. Materials and methods: A total of 60 maintenance hemodialysis patients with severe pruritus symptoms completed this randomized, placebo-controlled study. Subjects of treatment group (n = 30) were instructed to consume 1000 mg fish oil (>900 mg EPA) and subjects of placebo group (n = 30) were instructed to consume 1000 mg soybean oil twice daily for 3 months. 5-D pruritus scoring, the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) scale, skin moisture, serum creatinine, inflammatory factors, and cardiometabolic parameters were examined at baseline, and at the first, second, and third month post-supplementation. Results: A significantly decreased pruritus level was observed in the treatment group, whereas an opposite result was observed in the placebo group. Increased skin moisture levels on both the face and arms were observed in the treatment group, but not in the placebo group. Supplementation of EPA significantly decreased serum CRP and IL-6 levels. Significant decreases in total cholesterol (CHO), and triglycerides (TG) levels were observed; however, a decrease in high-density lipoprotein (HDL) level was observed in the treatment group. There was no change in plasma creatinine (CR) observed in both groups. A significantly decreased BDI score was observed, whereas the opposite result was observed in the placebo group. A correlational study showed that the severity of pruritus was significantly associated with skin moisture and serum CRP. The severity of pruritus was also positively correlated with the BDI score. Conclusion: Supplementation of EPA may provide multiple benefits including alleviating pruritus symptoms, addressing skin dryness, and mitigating depression in maintenance hemodialysis patients.

Alveolar epithelial cells mitigate neutrophilic inflammation in lung injury through regulating mitochondrial fatty acid oxidation.

Type 2 alveolar epithelial (AT2) cells of the lung are fundamental in regulating alveolar inflammation in response to injury. Impaired mitochondrial long-chain fatty acid ß-oxidation (mtLCFAO) in AT2 cells is assumed to aggravate alveolar inflammation in acute lung injury (ALI), yet the importance of mtLCFAO to AT2 cell function needs to be defined. Here we show that expression of carnitine palmitoyltransferase 1a (CPT1a), a mtLCFAO rate limiting enzyme, in AT2 cells is significantly decreased in acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). In mice, Cpt1a deletion in AT2 cells impairs mtLCFAO without reducing ATP production and alters surfactant phospholipid abundance in the alveoli. Impairing mtLCFAO in AT2 cells via deleting either Cpt1a or Acadl (acyl-CoA dehydrogenase long chain) restricts alveolar inflammation in ALI by hindering the production of the neutrophilic chemokine CXCL2 from AT2 cells. This study thus highlights mtLCFAO as immunometabolism to injury in AT2 cells and suggests impaired mtLCFAO in AT2 cells as an anti-inflammatory response in ARDS.

Association between yogurt and dietary supplements containing probiotic consumption with sleep disturbance in US adults: Results from NHANES, 2009-2018.

Purpose: Sleep disorders are common globally. Probiotics may improve human microbial diversity, offering potential benefits for sleep disturbances by enhancing sleep quality and reducing disorders. We aimed to use a population-based study to investigate the association between yogurt (a probiotic food) and probiotic consumption with sleep disturbances in US adults. Methods: A total of 49,693 adults from the 2009-2018 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) were included in the analyses. Sleep disorders and sleep duration were assessed according to the Sleep Disorders Questionnaire. The Dietary Questionnaire evaluated yogurt and dietary supplements containing probiotic consumption. After adjusting for confounding factors, weighted multivariable logistic regression and subgroup analyses were used to assess the association between yogurt and probiotic consumption and sleep status. Results: Of the study cohort, 3535 (14.24 %) participants consumed yogurt and/or dietary supplements containing probiotics. The prevalence of sleep disorders was 16.22 %. Only 53.51 % of the participants achieved the recommended amount of sleep (7-9 h), with 6.10 % and 33.48 % having excessive and insufficient sleep duration, respectively. Weighted Logistic regression models indicated a significant association of probiotic intake with a decreased risk of sleep disturbances compared with those without yogurt or probiotic consumption after adjustments. (For sleep disorders: OR: 0.96, 95 % CI 0.94-0.98, P < 0.001; for sleep duration: OR: 0.98, 95 % CI 0.96-1.00, P = 0.081) Moreover, the effect size of the probiotic intake on sleep was especially significant in sex, race, and BMI subgroups. Conclusion: The present study first indicated that yogurt and probiotic consumption were associated with a reduced risk of sleep disturbances in US adults, particularly among males, whites, and those with a normal BMI. Incorporating yogurt or probiotics into the diet could serve as a public health strategy for improving sleep disturbances, though further investigation into the underlying mechanisms is needed.

Supplementation with Bifidobacterium animalis subsp. lactis MH-022 for remission of motor impairments in a 6-OHDA-induced Parkinson's disease rat model by reducing inflammation, reshaping the gut microbiome, and fostering specific microbial taxa.

Inflammation significantly influences the degeneration of dopaminergic neurons in Parkinson's disease (PD), which is potentially intensified by associated gut dysbiosis. The therapeutic potential of probiotics, due to their antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and gut microbiota modulatory properties, is explored herein as a means to improve gut health and influence the gut-brain-microbiota axis in the context of PD. In this study, we investigated the role and possible mechanism of Bifidobacterium animalis subsp. lactis MH-022 (B. lactis MH-022) supplementation in a 6-hydroxydopamine (6-OHDA)-induced rat model of PD. Findings demonstrated that B. lactis MH-022 supplementation markedly ameliorated motor deficits, preserved dopaminergic neurons, enhanced the antioxidant capacity, and mitigated inflammation through restoring mitochondrial function. Furthermore, B. lactis MH-022 supplementation significantly altered the gut microbiota composition, augmenting the production of short-chain fatty acids and promoting the proliferation of beneficial bacterial taxa, thereby reinforcing their anti-inflammatory properties. Correlation analyses established strong associations between specific bacterial taxa and improvements in motor function, antioxidant levels, and reductions in inflammation markers. These insights emphasize the therapeutic potential of B. lactis MH-022 in modulating diverse aspects of PD, particularly highlighting its role in reducing inflammation, restoring mitochondrial function, enhancing antioxidant capacity, and reshaping the gut microbiota. This multifaceted approach underscores the probiotic's potential in reducing neuroinflammation and protecting dopaminergic neurons, thus offering a promising avenue for PD treatment.

Dazomet fumigation modification of the soil microorganism community and promotion of Panax notoginseng growth.

Introduction: Panax notoginseng, a medicinal herb in China, is attacked by several pathogens during its cultivation. Dazomet (DZ) is a soil fumigant that is effective in controlling soil-borne pathogens, but its long-term effects on P. notoginseng growth and soil properties are unknown. Methods: We conducted field experiments over two consecutive years to assess the impact of three concentrations of DZ fumigation (35 kg/666.7 m2, 40 kg/666.7 m2, and 45 kg/666.7 m2) on soil physicochemical properties, microbial diversity, and P. notoginseng growth. Correlation analyses were performed between microbial community changes and soil properties, and functional predictions for soil microorganisms were conducted. Results: DZ fumigation increased total nitrogen, total phosphorus, total potassium, available phosphorus, available potassium, and ammonia nitrogen levels in the soil. DZ fumigation promoted the nutrient accumulation and improvement of agronomic traits of P. notoginseng, resulted in a 2.83-3.81X yield increase, with the highest total saponin content increasing by 24.06%. And the 40 kg/666.7 m2 treatment had the most favorable impact on P. notoginseng growth and saponin accumulation. After DZ fumigation, there was a decrease in the relative abundance of pathogenic fungi such as Fusarium, Plectosphaerella, and Ilyonectria, while beneficial bacteria such as Ramlibacter, Burkholderia, and Rhodanobacteria increased. The effects of fumigation on soil microorganisms and soil physicochemical properties persisted for 18 months post-fumigation. DZ fumigation enhanced the relative abundance of bacteria involved in the biosynthesis of secondary metabolites and arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi, reduced the relative abundance of plant-animal pathogenic fungi, reduced the occurrence of soil-borne diseases. Conclusion: In conclusion, DZ fumigation enhanced soil physicochemical properties, increased the proportion of beneficial bacteria in the soil, and rebalanced soil microorganism populations, consequently improving the growth environment of P. notoginseng and enhancing its growth, yield, and quality. This study offers a theoretical foundation for DZ fumigation as a potential solution to the continuous cropping issue in perennial medicinal plants such as P. notoginseng.

Investigating medication adherence among Taiwanese patient with hypertension, hyperlipidemia, and diabetes: A pilot study using the Chinese version of a Two-Part Medication Nonadherence Scale and the NHI MediCloud system.

BACKGROUND: This pilot study aimed to investigate medication nonadherence among Taiwanese patients with diabetes, hypertension, and hyperlipidemia using the Chinese version of the Two-Part Medication Nonadherence Scale (C-TPMNS) and the National Health Insurance (NHI) Medicloud system. The study revealed insights into the factors contributing to nonadherence and the implications for improving patient adherence to medications for chronic conditions. However, the small sample size limits the generalizability of the findings. Additionally, the study identified the need for further research with larger and more diverse samples to validate the preliminary findings. METHODS: The study conducted surveys individuals in central Taiwan who received three-high medications and those who returned expired medications from chain pharmacies. A structured questionnaire including the C-TPMNS was administered, and additional data on medical history and HbA1c, LDL, and blood pressure levels were collected from the NHI Medicloud system. Data analysis was performed using multiple ordered logistic regression and Wald test methods. Setting interpretation cutoff point to determine medication nonadherence. RESULTS: The study found that 25.8% of participants were non-adherent to prescribed medications. Non-adherent individuals had significantly higher systolic blood pressure (SBP ≥ 140 mmHg) than adherent participants. Non-adherence was also associated with factors such as lower education, single status, living alone, abnormal glucose postprandial concentration, and triglyceride levels. The C-TPMNS demonstrated good reliability (Cronbach's alpha = 0.816) and validity (area under the ROC curve = 0.72). CONCLUSION: The study highlighted the complexity of medication nonadherence with diverse determinants and emphasized the importance of tailored interventions. The findings underscored the need for region-specific research to comprehensively address medication nonadherence, especially focusing on adherence to medications for hypertension, hyperlipidemia, and diabetes. The study also identified the need for larger, more diverse studies to validate and expand upon the initial findings and emphasized the importance of pharmacist interventions and patient empowerment in managing chronic conditions and improving overall health outcomes.

Intratumoral T-cell composition predicts epcoritamab-based treatment efficacy in B-cell non-Hodgkin lymphomas.

Leveraging endogenous tumor-resident T-cells for immunotherapy using bispecific antibodies (BsAb) targeting CD20 and CD3 has emerged as a promising therapeutic strategy for patients with B-cell non-Hodgkin lymphomas. However, features associated with treatment response or resistance are unknown. To this end, we analyzed data from patients treated with epcoritamab-containing regimens in the EPCORE NHL-2 trial (NCT04663347). We observed downregulation of CD20 expression on B-cells following treatment initiation both in progressing patients and in patients achieving durable complete responses (CR), suggesting that CD20 downregulation does not universally predict resistance to BsAb-based therapy. Single-cell immune profiling of tumor biopsies obtained following one cycle of therapy revealed substantial clonal expansion of cytotoxic CD4+ and CD8+ T-cells in patients achieving CR, and an expansion of follicular helper and regulatory CD4+ T-cells in patients whose disease progressed. These results identify distinct tumor-resident T-cell profiles associated with response or resistance to BsAb therapy.

A Self-Cascade Penetrating Brain Tumor Immunotherapy Mediated by Near-Infrared II Cell Membrane-Disrupting Nanoflakes via Detained Dendritic Cells.

Immunotherapy can potentially suppress the highly aggressive glioblastoma (GBM) by promoting T lymphocyte infiltration. Nevertheless, the immune privilege phenomenon, coupled with the generally low immunogenicity of vaccines, frequently hampers the presence of lymphocytes within brain tumors, particularly in brain tumors. In this study, the membrane-disrupted polymer-wrapped CuS nanoflakes that can penetrate delivery to deep brain tumors via releasing the cell-cell interactions, facilitating the near-infrared II (NIR II) photothermal therapy, and detaining dendritic cells for a self-cascading immunotherapy are developed. By convection-enhanced delivery, membrane-disrupted amphiphilic polymer micelles (poly(methoxypoly(ethylene glycol)-benzoic imine-octadecane, mPEG-b-C18) with CuS nanoflakes enhances tumor permeability and resides in deep brain tumors. Under low-power NIR II irradiation (0.8 W/cm2), the intense heat generated by well-distributed CuS nanoflakes actuates the thermolytic efficacy, facilitating cell apoptosis and the subsequent antigen release. Then, the positively charged polymer after hydrolysis of the benzoic-imine bond serves as an antigen depot, detaining autologous tumor-associated antigens and presenting them to dendritic cells, ensuring sustained immune stimulation. This self-cascading penetrative immunotherapy amplifies the immune response to postoperative brain tumors but also enhances survival outcomes through effective brain immunotherapy.

Hemispherical Retina Emulated by Plasmonic Optoelectronic Memristors with All-Optical Modulation for Neuromorphic Stereo Vision.

Binocular stereo vision relies on imaging disparity between two hemispherical retinas, which is essential to acquire image information in three dimensional environment. Therefore, retinomorphic electronics with structural and functional similarities to biological eyes are always highly desired to develop stereo vision perception system. In this work, a hemispherical optoelectronic memristor array based on Ag-TiO2 nanoclusters/sodium alginate film is developed to realize binocular stereo vision. All-optical modulation induced by plasmonic thermal effect and optical excitation in Ag-TiO2 nanoclusters is exploited to realize in-pixel image sensing and storage. Wide field of view (FOV) and spatial angle detection are experimentally demonstrated owing to the device arrangement and incident-angle-dependent characteristics in hemispherical geometry. Furthermore, depth perception and motion detection based on binocular disparity have been realized by constructing two retinomorphic memristive arrays. The results demonstrated in this work provide a promising strategy to develop all-optically controlled memristor and promote the future development of binocular vision system with in-sensor architecture.

lncRNA AGAP11 Suppresses Lung Adenocarcinoma Progression by miR-494-3p and Predicts Prognosis.

Lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD) is a subtype of lung cancer that occurs frequently and results in high mortality and morbidity, comprising almost 50% of all cases with the disease. Previously, long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) was evidenced to be helpful in the diagnosis and prognosis of LUAD. lncRNA AGAP11 was identified as a dysregulated lncRNA in LUAD. Whether AGAP11 is linked to the progression and prognosis of LUAD has not been known. The purpose was to probe the action of AGAP11 in the LUAD progression together with its intrinsic mechanism, with a view to supplying a perspective biomarker and therapeutic target for LUAD. AGAP11 expression in LUAD was analyzed by searching in the GEPIA database and conducting RT-qPCR. The significance of AGAP11 for the prognosis of LUAD was assessed by statistical analyses. The targeting relationship between AGAP11 and miR-494-3p was corroborated with Dual-luciferase reporter assay. The role of AGAP11 on cellular processes in LUAD cells was evaluated by CCK-8 and Transwell assays. AGAP11 was markedly down-regulated in LUAD and tightly correlated with TNM stage, lymph node metastasis, and tumor differentiation degree of patients. Down-regulation of AGAP11 was found to predict a dismal prognosis of LUAD. AGAP11 negatively modulated miR-494-3p expression by interacting with it. The growth, migration, and invasion of LUAD cells could be impaired by AGAP11 overexpression, which would be attenuated by the enhanced miR-494-3p expression. AGAP11 acted as a predictor for prognosis and curbed LUAD progression through modulating miR-494-3p.

Cost-effectiveness evaluation of mass-rearing Cadra cautella (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae) based on harvest theory for sustainable alternative prey production.

Cadra cautella (Walker) (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae) is a pest in barn, and its eggs are often utilized as an alternative prey or as hosts for mass production of insect predators and parasitoids. To aid in developing a mass-rearing system for C. castella, the suitability of using an artificial diet based on brown rice flour and whole brown rice was compared using the age-stage, 2-sex life table. Compared with those reared on brown rice, the insects reared on an artificial diet had a shorter preadult period (32.08 vs 37.38 d), higher fecundity (468.14 vs 356.20 eggs/female), greater intrinsic rate of increase (0.1509 vs 0.1145 d-1), and higher net reproductive rate (199.28 vs 103.52 offspring). Small populations were required to rear the moth on an artificial diet to achieve the same daily production of C. cautella. Still, the food expense was only 60.2% of that of C. cautella reared on brown rice. Approximately 99.44% of the eggs in each rearing procedure could be supplied as alternative prey for predators, with the remainder served to maintain the colonies for subsequent batches. Only eggs laid within 6 d would be utilized to ensure the high quality of alternative prey for the mass production of predacious bugs. Additionally, a multifunctional device was designed for moth rearing and egg collection, reducing labor input and minimizing health risks for workers coping with inhaled scales. To encourage the production of natural enemies, a cost-effective diet for maintaining a sustainable colony, and a system for daily egg-harvesting of alternative prey were proposed.

Field deployment of Wolbachia-infected Aedes aegypti using uncrewed aerial vehicle.

Over the past 50 years, there has been a marked increase in diseases like dengue fever, chikungunya, and Zika. The World Mosquito Program (WMP) has developed an approach that, instead of attempting to eliminate vector species, introduces Wolbachia into native Aedes aegypti populations through the release of Wolbachia-infected mosquitoes. Using this approach, a randomized controlled study recently demonstrated a 77% reduction in dengue across a treatment area within Yogyakarta, Indonesia. Existing release methods use the ground-based release of mosquito eggs or adults that are labor-intensive, are logistically challenging to scale up, and can be restrictive in areas where staff safety is a concern. To overcome these limitations, we developed a fully automated mosquito dosing release system that released smaller cohorts of mosquitoes over a wide area and integrated it into an uncrewed aerial vehicle. We established the effectiveness of this system using an aerial mark, release, and recapture approach. We then demonstrated that using only the aerial release method, we can establish Wolbachia infection in a naive Ae. aegypti population. In both cases, the use of aerial releases demonstrated comparable outcomes to ground-based releases without the required labor or risk. These two trials demonstrated the feasibility of using an aerial release approach for large-scale mosquito releases.

CYP24A1 affected macrophage polarization through degradation of vitamin D as a candidate biomarker for ovarian cancer prognosis.

Ovarian cancer (OC) is a fatal gynecological malignancy with a poor prognosis in which mitochondria-related genes are involved deeply. In this study, we aim to screen mitochondria-related genes that play a role in OC prognosis and investigate its effects. Through single-cell sequencing technology and bioinformatics analysis, including TCGA ovarian cancer data analysis, gene expression signature analysis (GES), immune infiltration analysis, Gene Ontology (GO) enrichment analysis, Gene Set Enrichment Analysis (GSEA), and Principal Component Analysis (PCA), our findings revealed that CYP24A1 regulated macrophage polarization through vitamin D (VD) degradation and served as a target gene for the second malignant subtype of OC through bioinformatics analyses. For further validation, the expression and function of CYP24A1 in OC cells was investigated. And the expression of CYP24A1 was much higher in carcinoma than in paracancerous tissue, whereas the VD content decreased in the OC cell lines with CYP24A1 overexpression. Moreover, macrophages were polarized towards M1 after the intervention of VD-treated OC cell lines and inhibited the malignant phenotypes of OC. However, the effect could be reversed by overexpressing CYP24A1, resulting in the polarization of M2 macrophages, thereby promoting tumor progression, as verified by constructing xenograft models in vitro. In conclusion, our findings suggested that CYP24A1 induced M2 macrophage polarization through interaction with VD, thus promoting the malignant progression of OC.

Landscape genomics reveals genetic signals of environmental adaptation of African wild eggplants.

Crop wild relatives (CWR) provide a valuable resource for improving crops. They possess desirable traits that confer resilience to various environmental stresses. To fully utilize crop wild relatives in breeding and conservation programs, it is important to understand the genetic basis of their adaptation. Landscape genomics associates environments with genomic variation and allows for examining the genetic basis of adaptation. Our study examined the differences in allele frequency of 15,416 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) generated through genotyping by sequencing approach among 153 accessions of 15 wild eggplant relatives and two cultivated species from Africa, the principal hotspot of these wild relatives. We also explored the correlation between these variations and the bioclimatic and soil conditions at their collection sites, providing a comprehensive understanding of the genetic signals of environmental adaptation in African wild eggplant. Redundancy analysis (RDA) results showed that the environmental variation explained 6% while the geographical distances among the collection sites explained 15% of the genomic variation in the eggplant wild relative populations when controlling for population structure. Our findings indicate that even though environmental factors are not the main driver of selection in eggplant wild relatives, it is influential in shaping the genomic variation over time. The selected environmental variables and candidate SNPs effectively revealed grouping patterns according to the environmental characteristics of sampling sites. Using four genotype-environment association methods, we detected 396 candidate SNPs (2.5% of the initial SNPs) associated with eight environmental factors. Some of these SNPs signal genes involved in pathways that help adapt to environmental stresses such as drought, heat, cold, salinity, pests, and diseases. These candidate SNPs will be useful for marker-assisted improvement and characterizing the germplasm of this crop for developing climate-resilient eggplant varieties. The study provides a model for applying landscape genomics to other crops' wild relatives.

[Role and mechanism of epithelial-mesenchymal transition in a rat model of bronchopulmonary dysplasia induced by hyperoxia exposure]. / 上皮-间å è´¨è½¬åŒ–åœ¨é«˜æ°§è¯±å¯¼å¤§é¼ æ”¯æ°”ç®¡è‚ºå‘è‚²ä¸è‰¯æ¨¡åž‹ä¸­çš„ä½œç”¨åŠæœºåˆ¶ç ”ç©¶.

OBJECTIVES: To investigate the role and mechanism of epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) in a rat model of bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD). METHODS: The experiment consisted of two parts. (1) Forty-eight preterm rats were randomly divided into a normoxia group and a hyperoxia group, with 24 rats in each group. The hyperoxia group was exposed to 85% oxygen to establish a BPD model, while the normoxia group was kept in room air at normal pressure. Lung tissue samples were collected on days 1, 4, 7, and 14 of the experiment. (2) Rat type II alveolar epithelial cells (RLE-6TN) were randomly divided into a normoxia group (cultured in air) and a hyperoxia group (cultured in 95% oxygen), and cell samples were collected 12, 24, and 48 hours after hyperoxia exposure. Hematoxylin-eosin staining was used to observe alveolarization in preterm rat lungs, and immunofluorescence was used to detect the co-localization of surfactant protein C (SPC) and α-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA) in preterm rat lung tissue and RLE-6TN cells. Quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction and protein immunoblotting were used to detect the expression levels of EMT-related mRNA and proteins in preterm rat lung tissue and RLE-6TN cells. RESULTS: (1) Compared with the normoxia group, the hyperoxia group showed blocked alveolarization and simplified alveolar structure after 7 days of hyperoxia exposure. Co-localization of SPC and α-SMA was observed in lung tissue, with decreased SPC expression and increased α-SMA expression in the hyperoxia group at 7 and 14 days of hyperoxia exposure compared to the normoxia group. In the hyperoxia group, the mRNA and protein levels of TGF-ß1, α-SMA, and N-cadherin were increased, while the mRNA and protein levels of SPC and E-cadherin were decreased at 7 and 14 days of hyperoxia exposure compared to the normoxia group (P<0.05). (2) SPC and α-SMA was observed in RLE-6TN cells, with decreased SPC expression and increased α-SMA expression in the hyperoxia group at 24 and 48 hours of hyperoxia exposure compared to the normoxia group. Compared to the normoxia group, the mRNA and protein levels of SPC and E-cadherin in the hyperoxia group were decreased, while the mRNA and protein levels of TGF-ß1, α-SMA, and E-cadherin in the hyperoxia group increased at 48 hours of hyperoxia exposure (P<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: EMT disrupts the tight connections between alveolar epithelial cells in a preterm rat model of BPD, leading to simplified alveolar structure and abnormal development, and is involved in the development of BPD. Citation:Chinese Journal of Contemporary Pediatrics, 2024, 26(7): 765-773.

Mapping the CP-Transgene Insert in the Papaya Genome and Developing a Hermaphrodite Transgenic Hybrid with Broad-Spectrum Resistance to Papaya Ringspot Virus.

Papaya ringspot virus (PRSV) limits papaya production worldwide. Previously, we generated transgenic lines of hybrid Tainung No.2 (TN-2) carrying the coat protein (CP) gene of PRSV with broad resistance to PRSV strains. Unfortunately, all of them were female, unacceptable for growers and consumers in practical applications. With our reported flanking sequences and the newly released papaya genomic information, the CP-transgene insert was identified at a non-coding region in chromosome 3 of the papaya genome, and the flanking sequences were verified and extended. The female transgenic line 16-0-1 was first used for backcrossing with the parental Sunrise cultivar six times and then followed by selfing three times. With multi-level molecular markers developed from the PRSV CP transgene and the genomic flanking sequences, the presence and zygosity of the CP transgene were characterized at the seedling stage. Meanwhile, hermaphrodite genotype was identified by a sex-linked marker. With homozygotic transgene and horticultural properties of Sunrise, a selected hermaphrodite individual was propagated by tissue culture (TC) and used as maternal progenitor to cross with non-transgenic parental cultivar Thailand to generate a new hybrid cultivar TN-2 with a hemizygotic CP-transgene. Three selected hermaphrodite individuals of transgenic TN were micropropagated by TC, and they showed broad-spectrum resistance to different PRSV strains from Taiwan, Hawaii, Thailand, and Mexico under greenhouse conditions. The selected clone TN-2 #1, with excellent horticultural traits, also showed complete resistance to PRSV under field conditions. These selected TC clones of hermaphrodite transgenic TN-2 provide a novel cultivation system in Taiwan and elsewhere.

Adaptive Processing Enabled by Sodium Alginate Based Complementary Memristor for Neuromorphic Sensory System.

Adaptive processing allows sensory systems to autonomically adjust their sensitivity with exposure to a constant sensory stimulus and thus organisms to adapt to environmental variations. Bioinspired electronics with adaptive functions are highly desirable for the development of neuromorphic sensory systems (NSSs). Herein, the functions of desensitization and sensitivity changing with background intensity (i.e., Weber's law), as two fundamental cues of sensory adaptation, are biorealistically demonstrated in an Ag nanowire (NW)-embedded sodium alginate (SA) based complementary memristor. In particular, Weber's law is experimentally emulated in a single complementary memristor. Furthermore, three types of adaptive NSS unit are constructed to realize a multiple perceptual capability that processes the stimuli of illuminance, temperature, and pressure signals. Taking neuromorphic vision as an example, scotopic and photopic adaptation functions are well reproduced for image enhancement against dark and bright backgrounds. Importantly, an NSS system with multisensory integration function is demonstrated by combining light and pressure spikes, where the accuracy of pattern recognition is obviously enhanced relative to that of an individual sense. This work offers a new strategy for developing neuromorphic electronics with adaptive functions and paves the way toward developing a highly efficient NSS.

Human amniotic mesenchymal stem cell-islet organoids enhance the efficiency of islet engraftment in a mouse diabetes model.

AIMS: Despite islet transplantation has proved a great potential to become the standard therapy for type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM), this approach remains limited by ischemia, hypoxia, and poor revascularization in early post-transplant period as well as inflammation and life-long host immune rejection. Here, we investigate the potential and mechanism of human amniotic mesenchymal stem cells (hAMSCs)-islet organoid to improve the efficiency of islet engraftment in immunocompetent T1DM mice. MAIN METHODS: We generated the hAMSC-islet organoid structure through culturing the mixture of hAMSCs and islets on 3-dimensional-agarose microwells. Flow cytometry, whole-body fluorescent imaging, immunofluorescence, Calcein-AM/PI staining, ELISA, and qPCR were used to assess the potential and mechanism of shielding hAMSCs to improve the efficiency of islet transplantation. KEY FINDINGS: Transplant of hAMSC-islet organoids results in remarkably better glycemic control, an enhanced glucose tolerance, and a higher ß cell mass in vivo compared with control islets. Our results show that hAMSCs shielding provides an immune privileged microenvironment for islets and promotes graft revascularization in vivo. In addition, hAMSC-islet organoids show higher viability and reduced dysfunction after exposure to hypoxia and inflammatory cytokines in vitro. Finally, our results show that shielding with hAMSCs leads to the activation of PKA-CREB-IRS2-PI3K and PKA-PDX1 signaling pathways, up-regulation of SIL1 mRNA levels, and down-regulation of MT1 mRNA levels in ß cells, which ultimately promotes the synthesis, folding and secretion of insulin, respectively. SIGNIFICANCE: hAMSC-islet organoids can evidently increase the efficiency of islet engraftment and might develop into a promising alternative for the clinical treatment of T1DM.

Selective catalytic oxidation of DMF over Cu-Ce/H-MOR by modulating the surface active sites.

Selective catalytic oxidation of the hazardous DMF exhaust gas presents a significant challenge in balancing oxidation activity and products selectivity (CO, NOx, N2, etc.). It is found that Cu/H-MOR demonstrates superior performance for DMF oxidation compared to CuO on other supports (γ-Al2O3, HY, ZSM-5) in terms of product selectivity and stability. The geometric and electronic structures of CuO active sites in Cu/H-MOR have been regulated by CeO2 promoter, leading to an increase in the ratio of active CuO (highly dispersed CuO and Cu+ specie). As a result, the oxidation activity and stability of the Cu/H-MOR catalyst were enhanced for DMF selective catalytic oxidation. However, excessive CuO or CeO2 content led to decreased N2 selectivity due to over-high oxidation activity. It is also revealed that Ce3+ species, active CuO species, and surface acid sites play a critical role in internal selective catalytic reduction reaction during DMF oxidation. The 10Cu-Ce/H-MOR (1/4) catalyst exhibited both high oxidation activity and internal selective catalytic reduction activity due to its abundance of active CuO specie as well as Ce3+ species and surface acid sites. Consequently, the 10Cu-Ce/H-MOR (1/4) catalyst demonstrated the widest temperature window for DMF oxidation with high N2 selectivity. These findings emphasize the importance of surface active sites modification for DMF selective catalytic oxidation.