Efficacy of antihypertensive treatment for target organ protection in patients with masked hypertension (ANTI-MASK): a multicentre, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial.

Background: Masked hypertension is associated with target organ damage (TOD) and adverse health outcomes, but whether antihypertensive treatment improves TOD in patients with masked hypertension is unproven. Methods: In this multicentre, randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial at 15 Chinese hospitals, untreated outpatients aged 30-70 years with an office blood pressure (BP) of <140/<90 mm Hg and 24-h, daytime or nighttime ambulatory BP of ≥130/≥80, ≥135/≥85, or ≥120/≥70 mm Hg were enrolled. Patients had ≥1 sign of TOD: electrocardiographic left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH), brachial-ankle pulse wave velocity (baPWV) ≥1400 cm/s, or urinary albumin-to-creatinine ratio (ACR) ≥3.5 mg/mmol in women and ≥2.5 mg/mmol in men. Exclusion criteria included secondary hypertension, diabetic nephropathy, serum creatinine ≥176.8 µmol/L, and cardiovascular disease within 6 months of screening. After stratification for centre, sex and the presence of nighttime hypertension, eligible patients were randomly assigned (1:1) to receive antihypertensive treatment or placebo. Patients and investigators were masked to group assignment. Active treatment consisted of allisartan starting at 80 mg/day, to be increased to 160 mg/day at month 2, and to be combined with amlodipine 2.5 mg/day at month 4, if the ambulatory BP remained uncontrolled. Matching placebos were used likewise in the control group. The primary endpoint was the improvement of TOD, defined as normalisation of baPWV, ACR or LVH or a ≥20% reduction in baPWV or ACR over the 48-week follow-up. The intention-to-treat analysis included all randomised patients, the per-protocol analysis patients who fully adhered to the protocol, and the safety analysis all patients who received at least one dose of the study medication. This study is registered with ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT02893358. Findings: Between February 14, 2017, and October 31, 2020, 320 patients (43.1% women; mean age ± SD 53.7 ± 9.7 years) were enrolled. Baseline office and 24-h BP averaged 130 ± 6.0/81 ± 5.9 mm Hg and 136 ± 8.6/84 ± 6.1 mm Hg, and the prevalence of elevated baPWV, ACR and LVH were 97.5%, 12.5%, and 7.8%, respectively. The 24-h BP decreased on average (±SE) by 10.1 ± 0.9/6.4 ± 0.5 mm Hg in 153 patients on active treatment and by 1.3 ± 0.9/1.0 ± 0.5 mm Hg in 167 patients on placebo. Improvement of TOD occurred in 79 patients randomised to active treatment and in 49 patients on placebo: 51.6% (95% CI 43.7%, 59.5%) versus 29.3% (22.1, 36.5%; p < 0.0001). Per-protocol and subgroup analyses were confirmatory. Adverse events were generally mild and occurred in 38 (25.3%) and 43 (26.4%) patients randomised to active treatment and placebo, respectively (p = 0.83). Interpretation: Our results suggest that antihypertensive treatment improves TOD in patients with masked hypertension, highlighting the need of treatment. However, the long-term benefit in preventing cardiovascular complications still needs to be established. Funding: Salubris China.

Association between chemotherapy for surgically treated rectal cancer and second primary endometrial cancer.

To examine the potential correlation between chemotherapy and the risk of individual of second primary endometrial cancer (SEC) in patients with rectal cancer (RC) and assess survival outcomes. The study employed the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results database (SEER) as the primary data source, it encompasses a substantial cohort of patients diagnosed with RC between 1975 and 2018. This study involved a total of 30,847 individuals diagnosed with RC, of whom 168 individuals (5.45‰) experienced SEC. Among them, 107 patients (3.47‰) received chemotherapy treatment, while 61 patients (1.98‰) did not receive chemotherapy. The analysis of the overall occurrence of SEC revealed a significant association between SEC and chemotherapy treatment. Univariate and multivariate analyses confirmed a significant association between chemotherapy treatment and an increased risk of developing SEC in RC patients. Upon implementation of a dynamic analysis on the variables of relative risk and standardized incidence ratios, the results revealed that the likelihood of SEC escalated in tandem with advancing age. The examination of patients who developed SEC after receiving and not receiving chemotherapy revealed no substantial disparities in the 10-year overall survival (OS) and (cancer-specific survival) CSS rates. The results were the same after propensity score matching. Nevertheless, a notable discrepancy emerged when comparing the OS and CSS rates at 10 years between patients afflicted with SEC subsequent to chemotherapy and those afflicted with primary endometrial cancer, and the result was the same situation in the no-chemotherapy group. The use of chemotherapy in RC patients has been associated with an increased probability of developing specific SEC. Therefore, it is imperative to prioritize efforts aimed at reducing chemotherapy-related SEC occurrences and improving the prognosis of affected individuals.

Cytosolic calcium regulates hepatic mitochondrial oxidation, intrahepatic lipolysis, and gluconeogenesis via CAMKII activation.

To examine the roles of mitochondrial calcium Ca2+ ([Ca2+]mt) and cytosolic Ca2+ ([Ca2+]cyt) in the regulation of hepatic mitochondrial fat oxidation, we studied a liver-specific mitochondrial calcium uniporter knockout (MCU KO) mouse model with reduced [Ca2+]mt and increased [Ca2+]cyt content. Despite decreased [Ca2+]mt, deletion of hepatic MCU increased rates of isocitrate dehydrogenase flux, α-ketoglutarate dehydrogenase flux, and succinate dehydrogenase flux in vivo. Rates of [14C16]palmitate oxidation and intrahepatic lipolysis were increased in MCU KO liver slices, which led to decreased hepatic triacylglycerol content. These effects were recapitulated with activation of CAMKII and abrogated with CAMKII knockdown, demonstrating that [Ca2+]cyt activation of CAMKII may be the primary mechanism by which MCU deletion promotes increased hepatic mitochondrial oxidation. Together, these data demonstrate that hepatic mitochondrial oxidation can be dissociated from [Ca2+]mt and reveal a key role for [Ca2+]cyt in the regulation of hepatic fat mitochondrial oxidation, intrahepatic lipolysis, gluconeogenesis, and lipid accumulation.

Comparison between thermal ablation and surgery in low risk papillary thyroid carcinoma: a prospective study.

Objective: To conduct a comparative analysis of the efficacy, safety, and impact on quality of life outcomes between thermal ablation and surgical interventions in patients diagnosed with papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC). Methods: A prospective study was undertaken, enrolling patients with PTC ≤5mm who underwent radiofrequency ablation (RFA), laser ablation (LA), or surgery, for analysis of efficacy and safety outcomes. The Thyroid Cancer-Specific Quality of Life questionnaire was administered to all patients before treatment and at 3, 6, and 12 months post-treatment. Results: A total of 162 eligible patients were included in the study. Major complications were not observed in the RFA and LA groups, while five cases were reported in the surgery group, although no statistically significant differences were observed. Minor complications were documented in two, three, and 14 patients in the RFA, LA, and surgery groups, respectively, with no significant variances noted. Surgical duration and hospitalization time were notably shorter in the thermal ablation groups. At the final follow-up, complete disappearance of nodules was seen in 71.4% of cases treated with RFA and 71.0% of cases managed with LA, with no significant disparities between the groups. Both RFA and LA exhibited similar effects on quality of life, with thermal ablation techniques showing better functional outcomes in comparison to surgery. Across all groups, adverse effects were most pronounced at the 3-month post-treatment mark but gradually reverted to baseline levels in the thermal ablation group, contrasting with the surgery group. Conclusions: For PTC ≤5mm, both RFA and LA exhibited similar cancer control outcomes and superior quality of life on par with surgery, while minimizing complications. These findings underscore the promise of RFA and LA as potential standard treatments for small PTCs, subject to further confirmation in future studies.

Anti-hypertensive effect and potential mechanism of gastrodia-uncaria granules based on network pharmacology and experimental validation.

Hypertension has become a major contributor to the morbidity and mortality of cardiovascular diseases worldwide. Despite the evidence of the anti-hypertensive effect of gastrodia-uncaria granules (GUG) in hypertensive patients, little is known about its potential therapeutic targets as well as the underlying mechanism. GUG components were sourced from TCMSP and HERB, with bioactive ingredients screened. Hypertension-related targets were gathered from DisGeNET, OMIM, GeneCards, CTD, and GEO. The STRING database constructed a protein-protein interaction network, visualized by Cytoscape 3.7.1. Core targets were analyzed via GO and KEGG using R package ClusterProfiler. Molecular docking with AutodockVina 1.2.2 revealed favorable binding affinities. In vivo studies on hypertensive mice and rats validated network pharmacology findings. GUG yielded 228 active ingredients and 1190 targets, intersecting with 373 hypertension-related genes. PPI network analysis identified five core genes: AKT1, TNF-α, GAPDH, IL-6, and ALB. Top enriched GO terms and KEGG pathways associated with the anti-hypertensive properties of GUG were documented. Molecular docking indicated stable binding of core components to targets. In vivo study showed that GUG could improve vascular relaxation, alleviate vascular remodeling, and lower blood pressure in hypertensive animal models possibly through inhibiting inflammatory factors such as AKT1, mTOR, and CCND1. Integrated network pharmacology and in vivo experiment showed that GUG may exert anti-hypertensive effects by inhibiting inflammation response, which provides some clues for understanding the effect and mechanisms of GUG in the treatment of hypertension.

A data-driven analysis on the mediation effect of compartment models between control measures and COVID-19 epidemics.

By collecting various control policies taken by 127 countries/territories during the first wave of COVID-19 pandemic until July 2nd, 2020, we evaluate their impacts on the epidemic dynamics quantitatively through a combination of the multiple linear regression, neural-network-based nonlinear regression and sensitivity analysis. Remarkable differences in the public health policies are observed across these countries, which affect the spreading rate and infected population size to a great extent. Several key dynamical features, like the normalized cumulative numbers of confirmed/cured/death cases on the 100th day and the half time, show statistically significant linear correlations with the control measures, which thereby confirms their dramatic impacts. Most importantly, we perform the mediation analysis on the SEIR-QD model, a representative of general compartment models, by using the structure equation modeling for multiple mediators operating in parallel. This, to the best of our knowledge, is the first of its kind in the field of epidemiology. The infection rate and the protection rate of the SEIR-QD model are confirmed to exhibit a statistically significant mediation effect between the control measures and dynamical features of epidemics. The mediation effect along the pathway from control measures in Category 2 to four dynamical features through the infection rate, highlights the crucial role of nucleic acid testing and suspected cases tracing in containing the spread of the epidemic. Our data-driven analysis offers a deeper insight into the inherent correlations between the effectiveness of public health policies and the dynamic features of COVID-19 epidemics.

Two Doses of Zn Induced Different Microbiota Profiles and Dietary Zinc Supplementation Affects the Intestinal Microbial Profile, Intestinal Microarchitecture and Immune Response in Pigeons.

We aimed to explore the effects of two different doses of Zn on the fecal microbiota in pigeons and the correlation between these effects and intestinal immune status. Zn doses affected pigeon growth performance, and pigeons in the T60 (60 mg/kg Zn) and T90 (90 mg/kg Zn) groups exhibited higher villus height and crypt depth in duodenum and ileum compared to the control group, respectively. Supplementation with Zn increased the expression of the IL8, CD798, TJP and NKTR genes (p < 0.05), while enhancing serum immunoglobulin (Ig) G, IgM, and IgA concentrations compared to the control pigeons (p < 0.05). T60 treatment reduced relative Actinobacteriota abundance, while Lactobacillus spp. abundance was highest in the T90 group compared to the two other groups. The core functional genera significantly associated with immune indices in these pigeons were Rhodococcus erythropolis and Lactobacillus ponti. Our findings will help facilitate the application of dietary Zn intake in pig production.

Developing the Additive Systems of Stand Basal Area Model for Broad-Leaved Mixed Forests.

Stand basal area (SBA) is an important variable in the prediction of forest growth and harvest yield. However, achieving the additivity of SBA models for multiple tree species in the complex structure of broad-leaved mixed forests is an urgent scientific issue in the study of accurately predicting the SBA of mixed forests. This study used data from 58 sample plots (30 m × 30 m) for Populus davidiana × Betula platyphylla broad-leaved mixed forests to construct the SBA basic model based on nonlinear least squares regression (NLS). Adjustment in proportion (AP) and nonlinear seemingly unrelated regression (NSUR) were used to construct a multi-species additive basal area prediction model. The results identified the Richards model (M6) and Korf model (M1) as optimal for predicting the SBA of P. davidiana and B. platyphylla, respectively. The SBA models incorporate site quality, stand density index, and age at 1.3 m above ground level, which improves the prediction accuracy of basal area. Compared to AP, NSUR is an effective method for addressing the additivity of basal area in multi-species mixed forests. The results of this study can provide a scientific basis for optimizing stand structure and accurately predicting SBA in multi-species mixed forests.

Free Radical Scavenging Effect and Immunomodulatory Activity of Total Saponins Extract of Ginseng Fibrous Roots.

Ginseng (Panax ginseng C.A. Mey) is known for its rich saponin compounds and tonic effects. To better utilize the medicinal value of ginseng, this study investigated the extraction process, components, free radical scavenging ability, and immunomodulatory activity of total saponins of ginseng fibrous roots. The response surface methodology was employed to optimize the extraction process of total saponins, and Q-Orbitrap high-resolution liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS) was used to identify the chemical constituents in the total saponins extract of ginseng fibrous roots (GRS). The results showed that the optimal extraction process was achieved with an ethanol concentration of 68%, a material-solvent ratio of 1:25 mL/g, and an extraction time of 20 min, yielding a total saponin content of 6.34% under these conditions. The extract contained four terpenoid compounds and four polyphenolic compounds. GRS exhibited considerable scavenging activity against DPPH and ABTS radicals, with IC50 values of 0.893 and 0.210 mg/mL, respectively. Moreover, GRS restored immune suppression in mice by increasing white blood cell, red blood cell, and neutrophil counts, and improving the lymphocyte. It also promoted immune system recovery, as evidenced by elevated serum levels of IL-2, IFN-γ, TNF-α, and IL-1ß in mice. GRS is a natural compound with promising potential for developing antioxidants and immunomodulatory foods.

Flexible cellulose nanofiber aerogel with enhanced porous structure and its applications in copper(II) removal.

In order to achieve an aerogel with both rigid pore structures and desired flexibility, stiff carboxyl-functionalized cellulose nanofiber (CNFs) were introduced into a flexible polyvinyl alcohol-polyethyleneimine (PVA-PEI) crosslinking network, with 4-formylphenylboronic acid (4FPBA) bridging within the PVA-PEI network to enable dynamic boroxine and imine bond formation. The strong covalent bonds and hydrogen connections between CNF and the crosslinking network enhanced the wet stability of the aerogel while also contributed to its thermal stability. Importantly, the harmonious coordination between the stiff CNF and the flexible polymer chains not only facilitated aerogel flexibility but also enhanced its increased specific surface area by improving pore structure. Moreover, the inclusion of CNF enhanced the adsorption capacity of the aerogel, rendering it effective for removing heavy metal ions. The specific surface area and adsorption capacity for copper ions of the aerogel increased significantly with a 3 wt% addition CNF suspension, reaching 19.74 m2 g-1 and 60.28 mg g-1, respectively. These values represent a remarkable increase of 590.21 % and 213.96 %, respectively, compared to the blank aerogel. The CNF-enhanced aerogel in this study, characterized by its well-defined pore structures, and desired flexibility, demonstrates versatile applicability across multiple domains, including environmental protection, thermal insulation, electrode fabrication, and beyond.

Polydopamine-Anchored Cellulose Nanofiber Flexible Aerogel with High Charge Transfer as a Substrate for Conductive Materials.

In order to obtain a flexible aerogel substrate for conductive materials used in the electrode, polydopamine-anchored cellulose nanofiber (PDA@CNF) was introduced into a polyethylene imine-poly(vinyl alcohol) (PEI-PVA) cross-linking network which used 4-formylphenylboronic acid (4FPBA) as bridge. The incorporation of rigid CNF as a structural scaffold effectively improved the pore architecture of the aerogel, potentially providing substantial advantages for the infiltration and deposition of conductive materials. Additionally, the outstanding stability and flexibility exhibited by the aerogel in aqueous solutions suggest its significant potential for applications in flexible electrodes. Furthermore, electrochemical experiments showed that the rapid pathway formed between PDA and PEI could enhance the charge-transfer rate within the aerogel substrate. It is anticipated that such an enhancement would significantly benefit the electrochemical attributes of the electrode. Inspired by mussels, our introduced PDA-anchored rigid CNF into flexible polymer networks to fabricate aerogel substrates for electrode materials. This study would contribute to the development and utilization of flexible electrodes while reducing carbon footprint in energy production and conversion processes.

Effects of Lactobacillus-fermented low-protein diets on the growth performance, nitrogen excretion, fecal microbiota and metabolomic profiles of finishing pigs.

This study investigated the effects of Lactobacillus-fermented low-protein diet on the growth performance, nitrogen balance, fecal microbiota, and metabolomic profiles of finishing pigs. A total of 90 finishing pigs were assigned to one of three dietary treatments including a normal protein diet (CON) as well as two experimental diets in which a low-protein diet supplemented with 0 (LP) or 1% Lactobacillus-fermented low-protein feed (FLP). In comparison with CON, the LP and FLP significantly increased average daily gain (P = 0.044), significantly decreased feed to gain ratio (P = 0.021), fecal nitrogen (P < 0.01), urine nitrogen (P < 0.01), and total nitrogen (P < 0.01), respectively. The LP group exhibited increased abundances of unclassified_f_Selenomonadaceae, Coprococcus, Faecalibacterium, and Butyricicoccus, while the abundances of Verrucomicrobiae, Verrucomicrobiales, Akkermansiaceae, and Akkermansia were enriched in the FLP group. Low-protein diet-induced metabolic changes were enriched in sesquiterpenoid and triterpenoid biosynthesis and Lactobacillus-fermented low-protein feed-induced metabolic changes were enriched in phenylpropanoid biosynthesis and arginine biosynthesis. Overall, low-protein diet and Lactobacillus-fermented low-protein diet improved the growth performance and reduce nitrogen excretion, possibly via altering the fecal microbiota and metabolites in the finishing pigs. The present study provides novel ideas regarding the application of the low-protein diet and Lactobacillus-fermented low-protein diet in swine production.

Chemical speciation and environmental risk assessment of heavy metals in ash from smouldering combustion of oily sludge.

Smouldering combustion of oily sludge (OS) was carried out to learn the characteristics of heavy metals (HMs) in ash products. Ash collected from four different height layers of the column reactor was analysed for the chemical speciation and environmental risk of six HMs, including Cr, Ni, Cu, Zn, As, and Pb. The results showed that after smouldering combustion, only 21.3-32.2 % of the total HMs was remained in the ash products. The retention of HMs in ash was closely relevant to the carbonaceous destruction efficiency of OS. Smouldering combustion led to the decrease of HMs in acid-soluble/exchangeable fraction from 21.5-49.3 to 0.8-19.8% and oxidizable fraction from 22.6-49.6 to 5.3-21.3, and the increase of reducible fraction from 13.6-38.0 to 30.5-89.1% and residue fraction from 7.8-27.3 to 24.1-63.6%. Upward migration of HMs during smouldering was evidenced by their occurrence in the top clean sand layer, which was dominated in acid-soluble/exchangeable and reducible fractions, accounting for 89.7-99.1% in total. Toxicity extraction and environmental risk studies indicated that smouldering combustion would effectively reduce the toxicity and pollution risk of HMs; however, attention should be paid to the disposal of the top sand layer after smouldering operation due to its high pollution risk of HMs according to the evaluation of Risk assessment code.

Progress in Electronic, Energy, Biomedical and Environmental Applications of Boron Nitride and MoS2 Nanostructures.

In this review, we examine recent progress using boron nitride (BN) and molybdenum disulfide (MoS2) nanostructures for electronic, energy, biomedical, and environmental applications. The scope of coverage includes zero-, one-, and two-dimensional nanostructures such as BN nanosheets, BN nanotubes, BN quantum dots, MoS2 nanosheets, and MoS2 quantum dots. These materials have sizable bandgaps, differentiating them from other metallic nanostructures or small-bandgap materials. We observed two interesting trends: (1) an increase in applications that use heterogeneous materials by combining BN and MoS2 nanostructures with other nanomaterials, and (2) strong research interest in environmental applications. Last, we encourage researchers to study how to remove nanomaterials from air, soil, and water contaminated with nanomaterials. As nanotechnology proceeds into various applications, environmental contamination is inevitable and must be addressed. Otherwise, nanomaterials will go into our food chain much like microplastics.

Maternal Malic Acid May Ameliorate Oxidative Stress and Inflammation in Sows through Modulating Gut Microbiota and Host Metabolic Profiles during Late Pregnancy.

Sows suffer oxidative stress and inflammation induced by metabolic burden during late pregnancy, which negatively regulates reproductive and lactating performances. We previously found that L-malic acid (MA) alleviated oxidative stress and inflammation and improved reproductive performances in sows. However, the mechanism underlying the MA's positive effects remains unexplored. Here, twenty Large White × Landrace sows with similar parity were randomly divided into two groups and fed with a basal diet or a diet supplemented with 2% L-malic acid complex from day 85 of gestation to delivery. The gut microbiome, fecal short-chain fatty acids, and untargeted serum metabolome were determined. Results showed that Firmicutes, Bacteroidota, and Spirochaetota were the top abundant phyla identified in late pregnancy for sows. Maternal MA supplementation modulated the composition but not the richness and diversity of gut microbiota during late pregnancy. Correlation analysis between gut microbiota and antioxidant capacity (or inflammation indicators) revealed that unclassified_f_Ruminococcaceae, unclassified_f_Lachnospiraceae, UCG-002, norank_f_norank_o_RF3, and Lactobacillus might play a role in anti-oxidation, and Lachnospiraceae_XPB1014_group, Lachnospiraceae_NK4A136_group, UCG-002, unclassified_f_Ruminococcaceae, Candidatus_Soleaferrea, norank_f_UCG-010, norank_f_norank_o_RF39, and unclassified_f_Lachnospiraceae might be involved in the anti-inflammatory effect. The improved antioxidant and inflammation status induced by MA might be independent of short chain fatty acid changes. In addition, untargeted metabolomics analysis exhibited different metabolic landscapes of sows in the MA group from in the control group and revealed the contribution of modified amino acid and lipid metabolism to the improved antioxidant capacity and inflammation status. Notably, correlation results of gut microbiota and serum metabolites, as well as serum metabolites and antioxidant capacity (or inflammation indicators), demonstrated that differential metabolism was highly related to the fecal microorganisms and antioxidant or inflammation indicators. Collectively, these data demonstrated that a maternal dietary supply of MA can ameliorate oxidative stress and inflammation in sows through modulating gut microbiota and host metabolic profiles during late pregnancy.

Parity changed fecal microbiota of sows and its correlation with milk long-chain fatty acid profiles.

The goal of this study was to characterize the fecal microbiota profiles of gestating sows, along with the fecal microbiota and milk fatty acid contents of lactating sows and their correlations with reproductive performance at different parities. The results showed that the microbiota of third parity gestating sows contained a greater abundance of Prevotella compared to the other two parity groups, while lactating sows exhibiting higher reproductive performance at fifth parity exhibited a greater abundance of Lactobacillus species. The lactating sows with higher reproductive performance also exhibited higher total monounsaturated fatty acid (MUFA) and higher total polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA) levels relative to sows with lower reproductive performance at all three analyzed parities, especially sows at fifth parity produced the lowest total saturated fatty acid (SFA) levels, and showed the highest C18:1n9c and C18:2n6c concentrations. In correlational analyses, the abundance of Oligella, Lactobacillus, and Corynebacterium was highly positively correlated with C18:1n9c, C18:2n6c, and C20:4n6. Overall, these results provide a rational basis for efforts to improve sow reproductive performance through the provision of precisely regulated nutrition. KEY POINTS: • Clear differences in the fecal microbiota were evident between sows of different parities. • Lactating sows with high reproductive performance showed distinct milk fatty acid profiles.

Crustacean-inspired chitin-based flexible buffer layer with a helical cross-linked network for bamboo fiber/poly(3-hydroxybutyrate) biocomposites.

Marine biological resources, serving as a renewable and sustainable reservoir, holds significant import for the utilization of composite material. Hence, we produced bamboo fiber/poly(3-hydroxybutyrate) (BF/PHB) biocomposites with exceptional performance and economic viability, drawing inspiration from the resilience of crustacean shells. Polyaminoethyl modified chitin (PAECT) was synthesized using the alkali freeze-thaw method and introduced into the interface between BF and PHB to improve interfacial adhesion. The resulting chitin fibers, characterized by their intertwined helical chains, constructed a flexible mesh structure on the BF surface through an electrostatic self-assembly approach. The interwoven PAECT filaments infiltrated the dual-phase structure, acting as a promoter of interfacial compatibility, while the flexible chitin network provided a greater capacity for deformation accommodation. Consequently, both impact and tensile strength of the BF/PHB composites were notably enhanced. Additionally, this flexible layer ameliorated the thermal stability and crystalline properties of the composites. This investigation aimed to leverage the distinctive helical configuration of chitin to facilitate the advancement of bio-reinforced composites.

Ancient dormant virus remnant ERVW-1 drives ferroptosis via degradation of GPX4 and SLC3A2 in schizophrenia.

Human endogenous retroviruses (HERVs) are remnants of retroviral infections in human germline cells from millions of years ago. Among these, ERVW-1 (also known as HERV-W-ENV, ERVWE1, or ENVW) encodes the envelope protein of the HERV-W family, which contributes to the pathophysiology of schizophrenia. Additionally, neuropathological studies have revealed cell death and disruption of iron homeostasis in the brains of individuals with schizophrenia. Here, our bioinformatics analysis showed that differentially expressed genes in the human prefrontal cortex RNA microarray dataset (GSE53987) were mainly related to ferroptosis and its associated pathways. Clinical data demonstrated significantly lower expression levels of ferroptosis-related genes, particularly Glutathione peroxidase 4 (GPX4) and solute carrier family 3 member 2 (SLC3A2), in schizophrenia patients compared to normal controls. Further in-depth analyses revealed a significant negative correlation between ERVW-1 expression and the levels of GPX4/SLC3A2 in schizophrenia. Studies indicated that ERVW-1 increased iron levels, malondialdehyde (MDA), and transferrin receptor protein 1 (TFR1) expression while decreasing glutathione (GSH) levels and triggering the loss of mitochondrial membrane potential, suggesting that ERVW-1 can induce ferroptosis. Ongoing research has shown that ERVW-1 reduced the expression of GPX4 and SLC3A2 by inhibiting their promoter activities. Moreover, Ferrostatin-1 (Fer-1), the ferroptosis inhibitor, reversed the iron accumulation and mitochondrial membrane potential loss, as well as restored the expressions of ferroptosis markers GSH, MDA, and TFR1 induced by ERVW-1. In conclusion, ERVW-1 could promote ferroptosis by downregulating the expression of GPX4 and SLC3A2, revealing a novel mechanism by which ERVW-1 contributes to neuronal cell death in schizophrenia.

Advanced Functionalized Materials Based on Layer-by-Layer Assembled Natural Cellulose Nanofiber for Electrodes: A Review.

The depletion of fossil fuel resources and its impact on the environment provide a compelling motivation for the development of sustainable energy sources to meet the increasing demand for energy. Accordingly, research and development of energy storage devices have emerged as a critical area of focus. The electrode materials are critical in the electrochemical performance of energy storage devices, such as energy storage capacity and cycle life. Cellulose nanofiber (CNF) represents an important substrate with potentials in the applications of green electrode materials due to their environmental sustainability and excellent compatibility. By utilizing the layer-by layer (LbL) process, well-defined nanoscale multilayer structure is prepared on a variety of substrates. In recent years, increasing attention has focused on electrode materials produced from LbL process on CNFs to yield electrodes with exceptional properties, such as high specific surface area, outstanding electrical conductivity, superior electrochemical activity, and exceptional mechanical stability. This review provides a comprehensive overview on the development of functional CNF via the LbL approach as electrode materials.

Lysophosphatidic acid triggers inflammation in the liver and white adipose tissue in rat models of 1-acyl-sn-glycerol-3-phosphate acyltransferase 2 deficiency and overnutrition.

AGPAT2 (1-acyl-sn-glycerol-3-phosphate-acyltransferase-2) converts lysophosphatidic acid (LPA) into phosphatidic acid (PA), and mutations of the AGPAT2 gene cause the most common form of congenital generalized lipodystrophy which leads to steatohepatitis. The underlying mechanism by which AGPAT2 deficiency leads to lipodystrophy and steatohepatitis has not been elucidated. We addressed this question using an antisense oligonucleotide (ASO) to knockdown expression of Agpat2 in the liver and white adipose tissue (WAT) of adult male Sprague-Dawley rats. Agpat2 ASO treatment induced lipodystrophy and inflammation in WAT and the liver, which was associated with increased LPA content in both tissues, whereas PA content was unchanged. We found that a controlled-release mitochondrial protonophore (CRMP) prevented LPA accumulation and inflammation in WAT whereas an ASO against glycerol-3-phosphate acyltransferase, mitochondrial (Gpam) prevented LPA content and inflammation in the liver in Agpat2 ASO-treated rats. In addition, we show that overnutrition, due to high sucrose feeding, resulted in increased hepatic LPA content and increased activated macrophage content which were both abrogated with Gpam ASO treatment. Taken together, these data identify LPA as a key mediator of liver and WAT inflammation and lipodystrophy due to AGPAT2 deficiency as well as liver inflammation due to overnutrition and identify LPA as a potential therapeutic target to ameliorate these conditions.