The Response of Hormones, Reactive Oxygen Species and Nitric Oxide in the Polyethylene-Glycol-Promoted, Salt-Alkali-Stress-Induced Embryo Germination of Sorbus pohuashanensis.

Polyethylene glycol can abrogate plant seed dormancy and alleviate salt-alkali stress damage to plants, but its role in embryonic dormancy abrogation and germination in Sorbus pohuashanensis is not yet clear. The mechanism by which polyethylene glycol promotes the release of embryonic dormancy may be related to the synthesis and metabolism of endogenous hormones, reactive oxygen species and reactive nitrogen. In this article, germination in indoor culture dishes was used, and the most suitable conditions for treating S. pohuashanensis embryos, with polyethylene glycol (PEG) and sodium carbonate (Na2CO3), were selected. Germination was observed and recorded, and related physiological indicators such as endogenous hormones, reactive oxygen species and reactive nitrogen were measured and analyzed to elucidate the mechanism of polyethylene glycol in alleviating salt-alkali stress in S. pohuashanensis embryos. The results showed that soaking seeds in 5% PEG for 5 days is the best condition to promote germination, which can increase the germination rate of embryos under salt-alkali stress by 1-2 times and improve indicators such as germination speed and the germination index. Polyethylene glycol led to an increase in gibberellin (GA), indole-3-acetic acid (IAA), ethylene (ETH), cytokinin (CTK), nitric oxide (NO), soluble protein and soluble sugar in the embryos under salt-alkali stress; increased activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD), peroxidase (POD), catalase (CAT), nitrate reductase (NR) and nitric oxide synthase (NOS) in the embryos; a reduction in the accumulation of abscisic acid (ABA), hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) and malondialdehyde (MDA). Therefore, it is suggested that the inhibitory effect of polyethylene glycol on the salt-alkali-stress-induced germination of S. pohuashanensis embryos is closely related to the response of endogenous hormones, reactive oxygen species and nitric oxide signalling.

Relationships among oral hygiene behavior, toothache, and depressive symptoms in Chinese older adults.

OBJECTIVES: The study aims to investigate the relationships among oral hygiene behavior, toothache, and depression among Chinese older adults. METHODS: We used data came from the 2018 wave of Chinese Longitudinal Healthy Longevity Survey (CLHLS). The Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale was used to evaluate depression. Binary logistic regression was performed to analyze the relationships among oral hygiene behavior, toothache, and depression. RESULTS: A total of 12,172 older adults were included in the study, of whom 27.2% had depression. Compared with those who did not brush their teeth daily, those who brushed their teeth at least once daily exhibited lower odds of having depressive symptoms (odds ratio [OR] = 0.86, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 0.77-0.97 versus OR = 0.81, 95% CI = 0.71-0.93). Compared with those who did not have toothache, those who had toothache over the past 6 months exhibited higher odds of having depression (OR = 1.49, 95% CI = 1.33-1.68). Living arrangement had a significant effect on the correlation between toothache and depression (p = 0.049), who lived alone and had toothache exhibited higher odds of having depressive symptoms. CONCLUSIONS: Oral hygiene behavior and toothache are associated with depression. Taking effective measures to maintain a daily toothbrushing pattern and reduce the occurrence of toothache may mitigate the risk of depression among older adults, especially among those living alone. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: The present study reports that the potential relationship between different oral hygiene behavior, toothache, and depressive symptoms.

Application of virtual technology to maximize esthetics and function in the restoration of anterior traumatic dental injuries.

The restoration of multiple teeth with traumatic injury in the esthetic zone is complex. For the present patient, an intraoral scanner, a facial scanner, a jaw motion analyzer, and cone beam computed tomography were applied to collect patient data and establish a virtual dental patient. The virtual technology increased the accuracy of tooth- and implant-supported crowns in both appearance and occlusion.

Comparison of case-based learning combined with Rain Classroom teaching and traditional method in complete denture course for undergraduate interns.

BACKGROUND: Complete denture, as an important restoration method for edentulism, is difficult to study for beginners, especially in linking the theory with clinical practice. OBJECTIVE: This study was aimed to compare the teaching effects between case-based learning combined with Rain Classroom teaching and traditional lecture method in the clinical course of complete denture prosthesis for undergraduate interns. METHODS: In a course called "Problems and treatment strategies of complete denture after wearing", interns were divided into two groups: one for traditional lecture-based teaching with PowerPoint slideshow (the control group, n = 28); and the other for case-based learning combined with Rain Classroom teaching, which published information before class, discussed specific clinic cases in class and got real-time interns' feedback via WeChat (the test group, n = 22). Both groups received the same exam and questionnaire survey after class. The Q&A participation of interns in class, theoretical test scores and questionnaire survey responses were used to evaluate the teaching effects. An independent sample t-test and the chi-square test or Fisher's exact test were used for statistical analysis in this study. RESULTS: The Q&A participation of interns in the test group was much better than that of the control group. The average score on the theoretical test after class in the test group (72.14 ± 12.24) was significantly higher than that in the control group (61.29 ± 20.12) (P < 0.05). In the test group, 94.54% (21/22) of the interns preferred the new teaching mode. CONCLUSION: Case-based learning combined with Rain Classroom teaching is helpful to enliven the classroom atmosphere, inspire studying enthusiasm, and achieve a good learning effect in both theory and clinical practice related to complete denture prosthesis.

Durability of infiltrated resin application on white spot lesions after different challenges: An ex vivo study.

STATEMENT OF PROBLEM: Infiltrated resin has been widely used as a minimally invasive approach to masking white spot lesions and reinforcing demineralized enamel. Recent evidence confirms its satisfactory effect in the short term, but studies focusing on its long-term performance are lacking. PURPOSE: The purpose of this ex vivo study was to evaluate the durability of infiltrated resin on white spot lesions after pH cycling and long-term thermocycling, staining, and toothbrushing. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Four axial surfaces of 25 extracted human molars were sectioned and fabricated as specimens. The enamel surface of each specimen was prepared in 3 areas: sound enamel, demineralized enamel (white spot lesions), and demineralized enamel treated by infiltrated resin. Then, 4 specimens of each molar were allocated to different challenges simulating a 10-year follow-up: pH cycling, thermocycling, staining, and toothbrushing. The surface roughness, microhardness, and CIELab color values were measured before and after different treatments. A scanning electron microscope (SEM) was used to observe representative specimens. Linear mixed models were used to evaluate the effect of different treatments on microhardness, roughness, and color differences (ΔE) (α=.05). RESULTS: Resin infiltration reduced the surface roughness and increased the microhardness of demineralized lesions, (P<.001) but the values of sound enamel at baseline were not reached. The pH cycling led to the greatest roughness values (515.6 ±56.9 nm) on resin-infiltrated lesions, followed by thermocycling (450.7 ±64.7 nm), toothbrushing (291.2 ±43.5 nm), and staining (183.6 ±49.3 nm) (all P<.001). Only pH cycling significantly decreased the microhardness of resin-infiltrated lesions (81.6 ±14.8 HV 0.2) after progressive demineralization (P<.001). No clinically identified differences were found between resin-infiltrated white spot lesions and sound enamel (ΔE=3.4 ±2.0) at baseline. However, resin-infiltrated lesions demonstrated significantly greater discoloration after pH cycling (ΔE=8.0 ±4.5, P<.001), thermocycling (ΔE=5.4 ±2.0, P=.014), and staining treatments (ΔE=10.4 ±3.2, P<.001) than sound enamel. CONCLUSIONS: Infiltrated resin application reduced surface roughness, improved microhardness, and masked white spot lesions immediately. However, it could not reestablish the characteristics of sound enamel completely and resist chemical and mechanical challenges over time.

Alcohol drinking and risks of total and site-specific cancers in China: A 10-year prospective study of 0.5 million adults.

Alcohol drinking is associated with increased risks of several site-specific cancers, but its role in many other cancers remains inconclusive. Evidence is more limited from China, where cancer rates, drinking patterns and alcohol tolerability differ importantly from Western populations. The prospective China Kadoorie Biobank recruited >512 000 adults aged 30 to 79 years from 10 diverse areas during 2004 to 2008, recording alcohol consumption patterns by a standardised questionnaire. Self-reported alcohol consumption was estimated as grams of pure alcohol per week based on beverage type, amount consumed per occasion and drinking frequency. After 10 years of follow-up, 26 961 individuals developed cancer. Cox regression was used to estimate adjusted hazard ratios (HRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) relating alcohol consumption to incidence of site-specific cancers. Overall, 33% (n = 69 734) of men drank alcohol regularly (ie, ≥weekly) at baseline. Among male current regular drinkers, alcohol intake showed positive dose-response associations with risks of cancers in the oesophagus (655 events; HR = 1.98 [95%CI 1.79-2.18], per 280 g/wk), mouth and throat (236; 1.74 [1.48-2.05]), liver (573; 1.52 [1.31-1.76]), colon-rectum (575; 1.19 [1.00-1.43]), gallbladder (107; 1.60 [1.16-2.22]) and lung (1017; 1.25 [1.10-1.42]), similarly among never- and ever-regular smokers. After adjustment for total alcohol intake, there were greater risks of oesophageal cancer in daily drinkers than nondaily drinkers and of liver cancer when drinking without meals. The risks of oesophageal cancer and lung cancer were greater in men reporting flushing after drinking than not. In this male population, alcohol drinking accounted for 7% of cancer cases. Among women, only 2% drank regularly, with no clear associations between alcohol consumption and cancer risk. Among Chinese men, alcohol drinking is associated with increased risks of cancer at multiple sites, with certain drinking patterns (eg, daily, drinking without meals) and low alcohol tolerance further exacerbating the risks.

The genomic architectures of tumour-adjacent tissues, plasma and saliva reveal evolutionary underpinnings of relapse in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma.

BACKGROUND: Head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) is characterised by a dismal prognosis; nonetheless, limited studies have unveiled the mechanisms underlying HNSCC relapse. METHODS: Next-generation sequencing was performed to identify the somatic mutations in 188 matched samples, including primary tumours, tumour-adjacent tissues (TATs), pre- and post-operative plasma, saliva and peripheral blood lymphocytes (PBLs) from 27 patients. The evolutionary relationship between TATs and tumours were analysed. The dynamic changes of tumour- and TAT-specific mutations in liquid biopsies were monitored together with survival analysis. RESULTS: Alterations were detected in 27 out of 27 and 19 out of 26 tumours and TATs, respectively. TP53 was the most prevalently mutated gene in TATs. Some TATs shared mutations with primary tumours, while some other TATs were evolutionarily unrelated to tumours. Notably, TP53 mutations in TATs are stringently associated with premalignant transformation and are indicative of worse survival (hazard ratio = 14.01). TAT-specific mutations were also detected in pre- and/or post-operative liquid biopsies and were indicative of disease relapse. CONCLUSIONS: TATs might undergo the processes of premalignant transformation, tumorigenesis and eventually relapse by either inheriting tumorigenic mutations from ancestral clones where the tumour originated or gaining private mutations independent of primary tumours. Detection of tumour- and/or TAT-specific genetic alterations in post-operative biopsies shows profound potential in prognostic use.

Associations of toothbrushing behaviour with risks of vascular and nonvascular diseases in Chinese adults.

Accumulating evidence has shown that poor oral hygiene is associated with increased risk of cardiometabolic diseases in Western populations. However, its relevance about the relationships in Chinese adults remains unclear. The China Kadoorie Biobank enrolled 512 715 adults aged 30-79 years in China during 2004-2008. Cox regression was used to estimate adjusted hazard ratios (HRs) for each disease associated with measures of oral hygiene. Overall 9.3% of the participants reported rarely or never brushing teeth at baseline. Participants who rarely or never brushed teeth had adjusted HR of 1.12 (95% CI: 1.09, 1.15) for MVE, with similar HRs for stroke (1.08, 1.05-1.12), intracerebral haemorrhage (1.18, 1.11-1.26) and pulmonary heart disease (1.22, 1.13-1.32) compared with those who brushed teeth regularly. Those who did not brush teeth also had increased risk of cancer (1.09, 1.04-1.14), chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) (1.12, 1.05-1.20), liver cirrhosis (1.25, 1.09-1.44) and all-cause death (1.25, 1.21-1.28) but not type 2 diabetes (0.94, 0.86-1.03) and chronic kidney disease (0.98, 0.81-1.18). Among Chinese adults, we found that poor oral hygiene is associated with higher risks of major vascular disease, cancer, COPD, liver cirrhosis and all-cause deaths, but not type 2 diabetes and chronic kidney disease.

Development and Characterization of PCL Electrospun Membrane-Coated Bletilla striata Polysaccharide-Based Gastroretentive Drug Delivery System.

The purpose of this study was to investigate the potential of Bletilla striata polysaccharide (BSP, a natural glucomannan material) for the development of a gastroretentive drug delivery system for the first time. Novel BSP-based porous wafer was prepared for levofloxacin hydrochloride (LFH) delivery by combining floating, swelling, and mucoadhesion mechanisms. The influences of BSP and ethyl cellulose (EC) on drug release and mucoadhesive strength were studied by 32 factorial design. The optimized matrix was coated with polycaprolactone (PCL) electrospun membrane by electrospinning and heat treatment technology. The optimized formula (F6, coated) exhibited Q4 h of 41.20 ± 1.90%, Q8 h of 76.49 ± 1.69%, and mucoadhesive strength of 86.11 ± 1.33 gf, and its drug release profile most closely resembled the Korsmeyer-Peppas model with anomalous diffusion driving mechanism. F6 (coated) also presented excellent buoyancy, preferred swelling characteristic due to the porous structure formed by freeze-drying. Meanwhile, the internal morphology, physical state, drug-excipient compatibility, and thermal behavior were recorded. The negligible cytotoxicity of F6 (coated) was observed in human gastric epithelial cell cultures. In the in vitro antimicrobial experiment, the prepared wafer exhibited obvious bacterial inhibition zone, and due to its longer gastric retention, the wafer also performed a more effective Helicobacter pylori clearance than free LFH in vivo. Graphical abstract.

Directed Bmp4 expression in neural crest cells generates a genetic model for the rare human bony syngnathia birth defect.

Congenital bony syngnathia, a rare but severe human birth defect, is characterized by bony fusion of the mandible to the maxilla. However, the genetic mechanisms underlying this birth defect are poorly understood, largely due to limitation of available animal models. Here we present evidence that transgenic expression of Bmp4 in neural crest cells causes a series of craniofacial malformations in mice, including a bony fusion between the maxilla and hypoplastic mandible, resembling the bony syngnathia syndrome in humans. In addition, the anterior portion of the palatal shelves emerged from the mandibular arch instead of the maxilla in the mutants. Gene expression assays showed an altered expression of several facial patterning genes, including Hand2, Dlx2, Msx1, Barx1, Foxc2 and Fgf8, in the maxillary and mandibular processes of the mutants, indicating mis-patterned cranial neural crest (CNC) derived cells in the facial region. However, despite of formation of cleft palate and ectopic cartilage, forced expression of a constitutively active form of BMP receptor-Ia (caBmprIa) in CNC lineage did not produce the syngnathia phenotype, suggesting a non-cell autonomous effect of the augmented BMP4 signaling. Our studies demonstrate that aberrant BMP4-mediated signaling in CNC cells leads to mis-patterned facial skeleton and congenital bony syngnathia, and suggest an implication of mutations in BMP signaling pathway in human bony syngnathia.

[Reconstruction of inferior alveolar nerve canal based on shape feature].

It is difficult to distinguish the inferior alveolar nerve (IAN) from other tissues inside the IAN canal due to their similar CT values in the X image which are smaller than that of the bones. The direct reconstruction, therefore, is difficult to achieve the effects. The traditional clinical treatments mainly rely on doctors' manually drawing the X images so that some subjective results could not be avoided. This paper proposes the partition reconstruction of IAN canal based on shape features. According to the anatomical features of the IAN canal, we divided the image into three parts and treated the three parts differently. For the first, the directly part of the mandibular, we used Shape-driven Level-set Algorithm Restrained by Local Information (BSLARLI) segment IAN canal. For the second part, the mandibular body, we used Space B-spline curve fitting IAN canal's center, then along the center curve established the cross section. And for the third part, the mental foramen, we used an adaptive threshold Canny algorithm to extract IAN canal's edge to find center curve, and then along it established the cross section similarly. Finally we used the Visualization Toolkit (VTK) to reconstruct the CT data as mentioned above. The VTK reconstruction result by setting a different opacity and color values of tissues CT data can perspectively display the INA canal clearly. The reconstruction result by using this method is smoother than that using the segmentation results and the anatomical structure of mental foramen position is similar to the real tissues, so it provides an effective method for locating the spatial position of the IAN canal for implant surgeries.

Microplastics in drinking water: A review on methods, occurrence, sources, and potential risks assessment.

Microplastics in drinking water captured widespread attention following reports of widespread detection around the world. Concerns have been raised about the potential adverse effects of microplastics in drinking water on human health. Given the widespread interest in this research topic, there is an urgent need to compile existing data and assess current knowledge. This paper provides a systematic review of studies on microplastics in drinking water, their evidence, key findings, knowledge gaps, and research needs. The data collected show that microplastics are widespread in drinking water, with large variations in reported concentrations. Standardized methodologies of sampling and analysis are urgently needed. There were more fibrous and fragmented microplastics, with the majority being <10 µm in size and composed of polyester, polyethylene, polypropylene, and polystyrene. Little attention has been paid to the color of microplastics. More research is needed to understand the occurrence and transfer of microplastics throughout the water supply chain and the treatment efficiency of drinking water treatment plants (DWTPs). Methods capable of analyzing microplastics <10 µm and nanoplastics are urgently needed. Potential ecological assessment models for microplastics currently in use need to be improved to take into account the complexity and specificity of microplastics.

Rehabilitation strategies for trismus post oral cancer treatment: Progress in the study of mouth opening exercises.

Oral cancer is a significant public health issue worldwide. Although its treatment methods effectively control tumor growth, they can lead to complications, including Trismus, severely affecting patients' quality of life. The practice standards for mouth opening exercises, a rehabilitative method to prevent and treat Trismus, are not yet clear. Therefore, this article aims to review the research progress of mouth opening exercises in the rehabilitation of Trismus post oral cancer treatment, providing a scientific and effective rehabilitation plan for oral cancer patients to improve their quality of life.

Mechanically Stable and Biocompatible Polymer Brush Coated Dental Materials with Lubricious and Antifouling Properties.

Surface modification plays a crucial role in enhancing the functionality of implanted interventional medical devices, offering added advantages to patients, particularly in terms of lubrication and prevention of undesired adsorption of biomolecules and microorganisms, such as proteins and bacteria, on the material surfaces. Utilizing polymer brushes for surface modification is currently a promising approach to maintaining the inherent properties of materials while introducing new functionalities to surfaces. Here, surface-initiated atom transfer radical polymerization (SI-ATRP) technology to effectively graft anionic, cationic, and neutral polymer brushes from a mixed silane initiating layer is employed. The presence of a polymer brush layer significantly enhances the lubrication performance of the substrates and ensures a consistently low coefficient of friction over thousands of friction cycles in aqueous environments. The antimicrobial efficacy of polymer brushes is evaluated against gram-positive Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) and gram-negative Escherichia coli (E. coli). It is observed that polym er brushes grafted to diverse substrate surfaces displays notable antibacterial properties, effectively inhibiting bacterial attachment. Furthermore, the polymer brush layer shows favorable biocompatibility and anti-inflammatory characteristics, which shows potential applications in dental materials, and other fields such as catheters and food packaging.

A novel PAX9 variant in a Chinese family with non-syndromic oligodontia and genotype-phenotype analysis of PAX9variants.

OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to identifyPAX9variants in non-syndromic tooth agenesis families of China, as well as to analyze the genotype⁃phenotype of non-syndromic tooth agenesis caused by PAX9variants, which can provide a basis for the genetic diagnosis of tooth agenesis. METHODS: We collected the data of 44 patients with non-syndromic oligodontia who underwent treatment at Stomatological Hospital of Hebei Medical University between 2018 and 2023. Whole-exome sequencing was performed on the peripheral blood of the proband and its core family members, and the variants were verified by Sanger sequencing. Pathogenicity analysis and function prediction of the variants were performed using bioinformatics tools. The correlation between the genotype of PAX9 variant and its corresponding phenotype was examined by reviewing 55 publications retrieved from PubMed. The studies involved 232 tooth agenesis patients with PAX9 variants. RESULTS: A novel PAX9 c.447delG (p.Pro150Argfs*62) and a reported PAX9 c.406C>T (p.Gln136*) were identified in two Chinese families. Through bioinformatics analysis and three-dimensional structural modeling, we postulated that the frameshift variant was pathogenic. The outcome was the premature cessation of PAX9 protein, which caused severe structural and functional deficiencies. Summarizing the PAX9 genotype-phenotype relationship revealed that patients carrying the PAX9 variant commonly led to loss of the second molars. CONCLUSIONS: We identified the novel PAX9 c.447delG (p.Pro150Argfs*62) in a Chinese family of non-syndromic oligodontia, expanding the known variant spectrum of PAX9. The most susceptible tooth position for PAX9 variants of tooth agenesis was the second molars and the deciduous molars during the deciduous dentition.

Bioinspired multifunctional injectable hydrogel for hemostasis and infected wound management.

Routine wound management faces significant challenges including rebleeding and bacterial infection that affect millions of people each year. However, conventional wound dressings (e.g., gauze, bandage) are limited to simply cover the injured surfaces and rarely show special functionality to promote the wound recovery. Currently, injectable hydrogels have been widely designed as multifunctional wound dressings to manage the hemostatic and wound healing process. Nevertheless, the integration of multiple functions through simple composition and easy construction is still difficult and hardly achieved. Herein, we reported a bioinspired multifunctional injectable hydrogel (CQCS@gel) consisted of only two components, catechol-functionalized quaternized chitosan (CQCS) and dibenzaldehyde-terminated poly(ethylene glycol) (DB-PEG2000). The building blocks endowed CQCS@gel with tissue-adhesive, antibacterial, antioxidant, self-healing and pH-responsive properties. Based on the in vivo hemostatic study, quick hemostasis for acute tissue injuries such as liver and carotid wounds was realized owing to the rapid gelation rate and strong tissue-adhesiveness of CQCS@gel. Moreover, CQCS@gel remarkably boosted the chronic recovery process of MRSA-infected cutaneous wounds by promoting collagen deposition, hair follicles regeneration and angiogenesis. Overall, this multifunctional injectable hydrogel shows potentials as a universal wound dressing in clinical applications, enabling both hemostasis and infected wound management. STATEMENT OF SIGNIFICANCE: This is the first report showing the multifunctional injectable hydrogel (CQCS@gel) consisted of catechol-functionalized quaternized chitosan and dibenzaldehyde-terminated poly(ethylene glycol). The incorporation of quaternary ammonium groups imparted the CQCS@gel with outstanding contact-active bacterial killing efficiency and the catechol moieties enhanced its tissue adhesive and antioxidant properties. Moreover, the reversible imine crosslinks endowed the CQCS@gel with self-healing and pH-responsive drug release capabilities. These multiple functions were integrated into a single injectable hydrogel system with easy availability and low cost. In vitro and in vivo results showed that the newly designed hydrogel was biocompatible, realized successful sealing hemostasis under multiple bleeding scenarios and enabled accelerated healing of infected skin wounds.

Dental Pulp Stem Cell-Derived Conditioned Medium Alleviates Subarachnoid Hemorrhage-Induced Microcirculation Impairment by Promoting M2 Microglia Polarization and Reducing Astrocyte Swelling.

Aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) can cause severe neurological deficits and high mortality. Early brain edema following SAH contributes to the initiation of microcirculation impairment and may further lead to delayed ischemic neurologic deficit (DIND). This study aimed to investigate whether dental pulp stem cell conditioned medium (DPSC-CM) ameliorates SAH-induced microcirculation impairment and the underlying mechanisms. SAH was induced via intrathecal injection of fresh autologous blood in Wistar male adult rat. DPSC-CM or DPSC-CM + insulin growth factor-1 (IGF-1) antibody was randomly administered by intrathecal route 5 min after SAH induction. To evaluate the underlying mechanisms of DPSC-CM in the treatment of SAH, primary rat astrocyte and microglia co-cultures were challenged with hemolysate or SAH-patient CSF in the presence or absence of DPSC-CM. The results showed that in vivo, DPSC-CM treatment decreased the brain water content, improved microcirculation impairment and enhanced functional recovery at 24 h post-SAH. DPSC-CM treatment also alleviated the expressions of water channel protein aquaporin-4 (AQP4) and pro-inflammatory cytokines, and enhanced the expressions of anti-inflammatory factors in the cortical region. However, all the beneficial effects of DPSC-CM were abrogated after treatment with IGF-1 neutralizing antibody. The in vitro results further showed that DPSC-CM treatment reduced hemolysate/SAH-patient CSF-induced astrocyte swelling and promoted M2 microglia polarization, partially through IGF-1/AKT signaling. The data suggested that DPSC-CM significantly reduced brain edema and rescued microcirculation impairment with concomitant anti-inflammatory benefits after SAH, and may potentially be developed into a novel therapeutic strategy for SAH.

Rational Design of Polymer Conical Nanoswimmers with Upstream Motility.

Utilizing bottom-up controllable molecular assembly, the bio-inspired polyelectrolyte multilayer conical nanoswimmers with gold-nanoshell functionalization on different segments are presented to achieve the optimal upstream propulsion performance. The experimental investigation reveals that the presence of the gold nanoshells on the big openings of the nanoswimmers could not only bestow efficient directional propulsion but could also minimize the impact from the external flow. The gold nanoshells at the big openings of nanoswimmers facilitate the acoustically powered propulsion against a flow velocity of up to 2.00 mm s-1, which is higher than the blood velocity in capillaries and thus provides a proof-of-concept design for upstream nanoswimmers.

A review of analytical methods and models used in atmospheric microplastic research.

Microplastic pollution in the environment has become a source of concern in recent years. The transport and deposition of suspended atmospheric microplastics play an important role in the global linkage of microplastic sources and sinks. In this review, we summarized recent research progress on sampling devices, pretreatments, and identification methods for atmospheric microplastics. The total suspended particles and atmospheric deposition, including dust, rainfall, and snow samples, are the environmental carriers for atmospheric microplastic studies. There are active and passive sampling methods. Pretreatment depends on sample types and identification methods and includes sieving, digestion, density separation, filtration, and drying. The measured features for atmospheric microplastics include particle size distributions, shapes, colors, surface morphology, and polymer compositions, using stereomicroscopes, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy, Raman spectroscopy, and liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry. Laser direct infrared spectroscopy and thermochemical methods coupled with mass spectrometry are potential methods for identifying atmospheric microplastics. Currently, models for estimating the fluxes of atmospheric microplastic emission, transport, and deposition are in the initial stages of development; their implementation will enhance our understanding of the "microplastic cycle" globally based on simulated and observed data.

Effective Electro-Activation Process of Hydrogen Peroxide/Peroxydisulfate Induced by Atomic Hydrogen for Rapid Oxidation of Norfloxacin over the Carbon-Based Pd Nanocatalyst.

Peroxydisulfate (PDS) can be activated by electrochemistry, for which using atom H* as an activator is feasibly favorable in theoretical and experimental applications. Studies have shown that atomic H* can cleave the peroxide bond as a single-electron reducing agent in Na2S2O8 to generate SO4•-, thus achieving the degradation of pollutants. Herein, Pd nanoparticles synthesized by in an in situ solution were dispersed in carbon black and then loaded on carbon felt, called Pd/C@CF, as the cathode for peroxydisulfate activation. This showed an ideal degradation effect on a small electrode (10 mm × 10 mm). Cyclic voltammetry (CV) and linear sweep voltammetry (LSV) tests were taken to verify the significant increase in the yield of the reduction of Na2S2O8 by H*. The degradation experiments and free-radical scavenging experiment confirmed that the atomic H* was the dominant component triggering the activation of PDS to generate SO4•-. A Pd/C@CF composite electrodes have low pH dependence, high stability and recyclability, etc., which has many potential practical applications in wastewater treatment. In addition, H* can also reduce H2O2 to •OH by breaking the peroxide bond, so the removal of pollutants by the same amount of H2O2 and Na2S2O8 under the same conditions is compared, and their application prospects are analyzed and compared.