A plant virus manipulates the long-winged morph of insect vectors.

Wing dimorphism of insect vectors is a determining factor for viral long-distance dispersal and large-area epidemics. Although plant viruses affect the wing plasticity of insect vectors, the potential underlying molecular mechanisms have seldom been investigated. Here, we found that a planthopper-vectored rice virus, rice stripe virus (RSV), specifically induces a long-winged morph in male insects. The analysis of field populations demonstrated that the long-winged ratios of male insects are closely associated with RSV infection regardless of viral titers. A planthopper-specific and testis-highly expressed gene, Encounter, was fortuitously found to play a key role in the RSV-induced long-winged morph. Encounter resembles malate dehydrogenase in the sequence, but it does not have corresponding enzymatic activity. Encounter is upregulated to affect male wing dimorphism at early larval stages. Encounter is closely connected with the insulin/insulin-like growth factor signaling pathway as a downstream factor of Akt, of which the transcriptional level is activated in response to RSV infection, resulting in the elevated expression of Encounter. In addition, an RSV-derived small interfering RNA directly targets Encounter to enhance its expression. Our study reveals an unreported mechanism underlying the direct regulation by a plant virus of wing dimorphism in its insect vectors, providing the potential way for interrupting viral dispersal.

Integrated analysis reveals FLI1 regulates the tumor immune microenvironment via its cell-type-specific expression and transcriptional regulation of distinct target genes of immune cells in breast cancer.

BACKGROUND: Immunotherapy is a practical therapeutic approach in breast cancer (BRCA), and the role of FLI1 in immune regulation has gradually been unveiled. However, the specific role of FLI1 in BRCA was conflicted; thus, additional convincing evidence is needed. METHODS: We explored the upstream regulation of FLI1 expression via summary data-based Mendelian randomization (SMR) analysis and ncRNA network construction centering on FLI1 using BRCA genome-wide association study (GWAS) summary data with expression quantitative trait loci (eQTLs) and DNA methylation quantitative trait loci (mQTLs) from the blood and a series of in silico analyses, respectively. We illuminated the downstream function of FLI1 in immune regulation by integrating a series of analyses of single-cell RNA sequence data (scRNA-seq). RESULTS: We verified a causal pathway from FLI1 methylation to FLI1 gene expression to BRCA onset and demonstrated that FLI1 was downregulated in BRCA. FLI1, a transcription factor, served as myeloid and T cells' communication regulator by targeting immune-related ligands and receptor transcription in BRCA tissues. We constructed a ceRNA network centering on FLI1 that consisted of three LncRNAs (CKMT2-AS1, PSMA3-AS1, and DIO3OS) and a miRNA (hsa-miR-324-5p), and the expression of FLI1 was positively related to a series of immune-related markers, including immune cell infiltration, biomarkers of immune cells, and immune checkpoints. CONCLUSION: Low-methylation-induced or ncRNA-mediated downregulation of FLI1 is associated with poor prognosis, and FLI1 might regulate the tumor immune microenvironment via a cell-type-specific target genes manner in BRCA.

The predictive value of the neutrophil/platelet ratio on in-hospital adverse events and long-term prognosis in patients with coronary artery disease after percutaneous coronary intervention and its possible internal mechanism.

The neutrophil-to-platelet ratio (NPR) is considered to be an indicator of inflammatory status. The value of the NPR in predicting in-hospital adverse events (AEs) and long-term prognosis after percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) in coronary artery disease (CAD) patients has not yet been reported. Meanwhile, the mechanisms behind its predictive value for long-term prognosis remain unreported as well. The study retrospectively enrolled 7284 consecutive patients with CAD undergoing PCI from January 2012 to December 2018. Multivariable logistic regression analysis, multivariable Cox regression analysis, Kaplan‒Meier (KM) curve analysis, restricted cubic spline (RCS) curve analysis, and sensitivity analysis were used in the study. All-cause death was the endpoint of the study. According to the median value of the NPR, the patients were divided into two groups: the high group (NPR ≥ 0.02, n = 3736) and the low group (NPR < 0.02, n = 3548). Multivariate logistic regression analysis demonstrated that a high NPR was a risk factor for in-hospital AEs [odds ratio (OR) = 1.602, 95% CI 1.347-1.909, p = 0.001]. During a mean follow-up period of 3.01 ± 1.49 years, the multivariate Cox regression analysis showed that a high NPR affected the long-term prognosis of patients (HR 1.22, 95% CI 1.03-1.45, p = 0.025) and cardiac death (HR 1.49, 95% CI 1.14-1.95, p = 0.003). The subgroup analysis showed that the NPR was affected by age and sex. The mediation analysis identified that the effect of the NPR on long-term outcomes is partially mediated by serum creatinine (Scr) and triglycerides. The NPR may be a convenient indicator of in-hospital AEs and poor long-term and cardiac outcomes in CAD patients. It might have impacted prognosis through effects on kidney function and lipid metabolism.

Role of osteokines in atherosclerosis.

Despite their diverse physiologies and roles, the heart, skeletal muscles, and smooth muscles all derive from a common embryonic source as bones. Moreover, bone tissue, skeletal and smooth muscles, and the heart share conserved signaling pathways. The maintenance of skeletal health is precisely regulated by osteocytes, osteoblasts, and osteoclasts through coordinated secretion of bone-derived factors known as osteokines. Increasing evidence suggests the involvement of osteokines in regulating atherosclerotic vascular disease. Therefore, this review aims to examine the evidence for the role of osteokines in atherosclerosis development and progression comprehensively. Specifically discussed are extensively studied osteokines in atherosclerosis such as osteocalcin, osteopontin, osteoprotegerin, and fibroblast growth factor 23. Additionally, we highlighted the effects of exercise on modulating these key regulators derived from bone tissue metabolism. We believe that gaining an enhanced understanding of how osteocalcin contributes to the process of atherosclerosis will enable us to develop targeted and comprehensive therapeutic strategies against diseases associated with its progression.

The WRKY gene family in the halophyte Limonium bicolor: identification, expression analysis, and regulation of salt stress tolerance.

KEY MESSAGE: 63 L. bicolor WRKY genes were identified and their informatics was analyzed. The results suggested that the LbWRKY genes involved in the development and salt secretion of salt glands in L. bicolor. Salt stress, as a universal abiotic stress, severely inhibits the growth and development of plants. WRKY transcription factors play a vital role in plant growth and development, as well as in response to various stresses. Nevertheless, little is known of systematic genome-wide analysis of the WRKY genes in Limonium bicolor, a model recretohalophyte. In this study, 63 L. bicolor WRKY genes were identified (LbWRKY1-63), which were unevenly distributed across seven chromosomes and one scaffold. Based on the structural and phylogenetic characteristics, 63 LbWRKYs are divided into three main groups. Cis-elements in the LbWRKY promoters were related to growth and development, phytohormone responses, and stress responses. Colinearity analysis showed strong colinearity between LbWRKYs and GmWRKYs from soybean (Glycine max). Therefore, LbWRKY genes maybe have similar functions to GmWRKY genes. Expression analysis showed that 28 LbWRKY genes are highly expressed in roots, 9 in stems, 26 in leaves, and 12 in flowers and most LbWRKY genes responded to NaCl, ABA, and PEG6000. Silencing LbWRKY10 reduced salt gland density and salt secretion ability of leaves, and the salt tolerance of the species. Consistent with this, genes associated with salt gland development were markedly down-regulated in the LbWRKY10-silenced lines. Our findings suggested that the LbWRKY genes involved in the development and salt secretion of salt glands in L. bicolor. Our research provides new insights into the functions of the WRKY family in halophytes.

Grouped-seq for integrated phenotypic and transcriptomic screening of patient-derived tumor organoids.

Patient-derived tumor organoids (PDOs) have emerged as a reliable in vitro model for drug discovery. However, RNA sequencing-based analysis of PDOs treated with drugs has not been realized in a high-throughput format due to the limited quantity of organoids. Here, we translated a newly developed pooled RNA-seq methodology onto a superhydrophobic microwell array chip to realize an assay of genome-wide RNA output unified with phenotypic data (Grouped-seq). Over 10-fold reduction of sample and reagent consumption together with a new ligation-based barcode synthesis method lowers the cost to ∼$2 per RNA-seq sample. Patient-derived colorectal cancer (CRC) organoids with a number of 10 organoids per microwell were treated with four anti-CRC drugs across eight doses and analyzed by the Grouped-seq. Using a phenotype-assisted pathway enrichment analysis (PAPEA) method, the mechanism of actions of the drugs were correctly derived, illustrating the great potential of Grouped-seq for pharmacological screening with tumor organoids.

Association between sleep behaviors and stroke in Southwest China: a prospective cohort study.

BACKGROUND: Sleep can function as a potential modifiable risk factor in the control and prevention of stroke. Geography significantly influences sleep patterns. The association of sleep with stroke in population of Southwest China has not so far been investigated. METHODS: A total of 55,001 residents aged from 30 to 79 years in Southwest China were included in this study, obtaining their complete information of baseline survey and follow-up in China Kadoorie Biobank (CKB). Sleep-evaluating score was constructed on the basis of short/long sleep duration, insomnia, and snoring. The multivariate Cox proportional hazards regression was used to analyze the association between sleep behaviors and stroke. RESULTS: During 11.15 years of follow-up, 3410 stroke cases (572.78 cases/100,000 person-years) were documented. There exists no association of sleep-evaluating score with the risk of stroke in the total population. Male-predisposing association between sleep-evaluating score and risk of stroke was observed (for total stroke, HR = 1.52, 95% CI: 1.03-2.23; for hemorrhagic stroke, HR = 2.31, 95% CI: 1.22-4.34), with anisotropism in male residents with overweight and obesity (HR = 1.93, 95% CI: 1.03-3.63), and those without hypertension (HR = 1.76, 95% CI: 1.01-3.07) in the baseline survey. CONCLUSIONS: There exists the male-predisposing association between sleep-evaluating score and the risk of stroke in Southwest China. Improving sleep is required for reducing the risk of stroke.

Development and Validation of a Nomogram for Predicting Nutritional Risk Based on Frailty Scores in Older Stroke Patients.

BACKGROUND: In older stroke patients with frailty, nutritional deficiencies can amplify their susceptibility, delay recovery, and deteriorate prognosis. A precise predictive model is crucial to assess their nutritional risk, enabling targeted interventions for improved clinical outcomes. OBJECTIVE: To develop and externally validate a nutritional risk prediction model integrating general demographics, physical parameters, psychological indicators, and biochemical markers. The aim is to facilitate the early identification of older stroke patients requiring nutritional intervention. METHODS: This was a multicenter cross-sectional study. A total of 570 stroke patients were included, 434 as the modeling set and 136 as the external validation set. The least absolute shrinkage selection operator (LASSO) regression analysis was used to select the predictor variables. Internal validation was performed using Bootstrap resampling (1000 iterations). The nomogram was constructed based on the results of logistic regression. The performance assessment relied on the receiver operating characteristic curve (ROC), Hosmer--Lemeshow test, calibration curves, Brier score, and decision curve analysis (DCA). RESULTS: The predictive nomogram encompassed seven pivotal variables: Activities of Daily Living (ADL), NIHSS score, diabetes, Body Mass Index (BMI), grip strength, serum albumin levels, and depression. Together, these variables comprehensively evaluate the overall health and nutritional status of elderly stroke patients, facilitating accurate assessment of their nutritional risk. The model exhibited excellent accuracy in both the development and external validation sets, evidenced by AUC values of 0.934 and 0.887, respectively. Such performance highlights its efficacy in pinpointing elderly stroke patients who require nutritional intervention. Moreover, the model showed robust goodness of fit and practical applicability, providing essential clinical insights to improve recovery and prognosis for patients prone to malnutrition. CONCLUSIONS: Elderly individuals recovering from stroke often experience significant nutritional deficiencies. The nomogram we devised accurately assesses this risk by combining physiological, psychological, and biochemical metrics. It equips healthcare providers with the means to actively screen for and manage the nutritional care of these patients. This tool is instrumental in swiftly identifying those in urgent need of targeted nutritional support, which is essential for optimizing their recovery and managing their nutrition more effectively.

Perceived communication efficacy and unmet needs for chemotherapy-associated symptom management in patients with lung and colorectal cancer: a cross-sectional study.

BACKGROUND: Understanding cancer patients' unmet needs for chemotherapy-related symptom management will assist clinicians in developing tailored intervention programs. Little is known about the association between perceived communication efficacy and unmet care needs for symptom management in patients with lung and colorectal cancer. OBJECTIVES: To examine the unmet care needs for symptom management of patients with lung and colorectal cancer and their association with perceived communication efficacy. METHODS: A cross-sectional survey was conducted in a tertiary hospital in China from July to November 2020. A convenience sample of 203 patients with lung and colorectal cancer undergoing chemotherapy completed survey questionnaires, including the MD Anderson Symptom Inventory Scale and the Perceived Efficacy in Patient‒Physician Interactions Scale. RESULTS: Approximately 43% of participants had at least one symptom with unmet needs. Fatigue was reported as the symptom with the highest occurrence (66%), the highest demand for supportive care (36%), and the highest prevalence of unmet needs (19%). Low levels of perceived communication efficacy independently predicted participants' unmet needs for symptom management (ß=-0.13, p = 0.011). CONCLUSIONS: This study highlights the necessity of introducing clinical assessment tools and guidelines to address fatigue and other chemotherapy-induced symptoms in patients with lung and colorectal cancer. Clinical programs designed to actively engage cancer patients to voice their needs and strengthen their communication efficacy are also warranted.

Assessment of Non-Invasive Ventilation Combined with Naloxone for the Management of Acute Respiratory Failure in Patients with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease.

Background: Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) poses a significant global health burden. Finding effective interventions for COPD is crucial to alleviating this health burden and enhancing patient outcomes and quality of life. Objective: This study aimed to evaluate the therapeutic efficacy of the combination of non-invasive ventilation and naloxone in the management of acute respiratory failure among patients with COPD. Methods: A retrospective analysis was conducted on the clinical data of 102 COPD patients experiencing acute respiratory failure who were treated at our hospital between October 2020 and October 2022. Patients were categorized into an observation group (receiving non-invasive ventilation combined with naloxone) and a control group (receiving non-invasive ventilation alone). Parameters such as lung function, blood gas levels, endocrine hormone concentrations, treatment efficacy, and patient prognosis were carefully recorded and compared. Results: The observation group demonstrated enhanced lung function, optimized endocrine hormone levels, and improved blood gas parameters compared to the control group. Following treatment, the observation group exhibited significant reductions in plasma renin activity (PRA), angiotensin II (AngII), aldosterone (ALD), and norepinephrine (NE) levels. The total effective rate was notably higher in the observation group. This group also presented higher scores for Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation II (APACHE II) and Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease Assessment Test (CAT). Conclusions: The combination of non-invasive ventilation with naloxone emerged as a significantly effective strategy in managing acute respiratory failure in COPD patients. This approach led to improvements in lung function, endocrine hormone levels, and blood gas parameters and highlights its potential as an impactful treatment strategy for COPD patients experiencing acute respiratory failure.

Analysis of Abnormal Expression of MiR-320b in Serum of Patients with Hypertension and its Clinical Value.

Studies have found that miRNAs can participate in the progression of hypertension by affecting the function of endothelial cells and inflammatory response. This study was to investigate the clinical value of miR-320b in patients with hypertension and its potential effect on Angiotensin (Ang) II-induced endothelial cells. Real-time quantitative PCR (RT-qPCR) was used to detect the differential expression of miR-320b in all subjects, and the diagnostic value of miR-320b in hypertension was further evaluated by the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve. Ang II-induced human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) were established as a model of hypertension injury. The possible downstream target gene AKT serine/threonine kinase 3 (AKT) of miR-320b was predicted through TargetScan, and the interaction between miR-320b and AKT3 was verified by luciferase reporter gene. The results showed that serum miR-320b was reduced in patients with hypertension compared with healthy people (P < 0.001). With the increase of hypertension grade, the serum miR-320b level of patients gradually decreased (P < 0.001). ROC analysis showed that miR-320b had the ability to distinguish patients from healthy people. Cell analysis proved that Ang II induced the decrease of HUVECs viability and the activation of apoptosis and inflammation, while overexpression of miR-320b inhibited Ang II-induced apoptosis and inflammation and promoted cell growth (P < 0.05). Luciferase reporter gene showed that AKT3 was the downstream target gene of miR-320b. In summary, this study suggests that miR-320b alleviates Ang II-induced apoptosis, inflammation and the inhibition of cell viability by targeting AKT3 expression, and may be involved in the pathogenesis of hypertension.

The Clinical Intervention Effects of Evidence-based Nursing Measures in General Anesthesia Patients in the Postoperative Recovery Period.

Objective: This work investigated the clinical intervention effect of evidence-based nursing (EBN) measures for patients in the recovery stage after general anesthesia (GA), aiming to provide a nursing reference for patients in the recovery stage after surgery. Methods: The enrolled participants were 102 patients who underwent surgical treatment in our hospital from December 2021 to December 2022. According to the principle of randomized control, they were enrolled into an observation group (51 cases, Obs group) and a control group (51, cases, Ctrl group), and the general nursing methods and EBN measures were respectively implemented. The incidence of restlessness, complication rate, and nursing satisfaction were compared among patients. The recovery period and visual analog scale (VAS) were evaluated. Results: The eye-opening time, palm-holding time, and extubation time in the Obs group were shorter than those in the Ctrl group (P < .05). The incidence of agitation during convalescence under GA in the Obs group was significantly lower than in the Ctrl group, with a statistically significant difference among both groups (P < .05). Compared to the Ctrl group, the VAS score of patients in the Obs group receiving the EBN was lower at 6 h, 12 h, and 24 h after the surgery (P < .05). The patients in the Obs group presented a substantially lower complication rate and remarkably higher nursing satisfaction (P < .05). Conclusion: The application of EBN measures in patients after GA could effectively shorten the recovery time, lower the incidence of agitation and complication rate during the recovery, and improve nursing satisfaction.

CTSG polymorphisms in Chinese children with type 1 diabetes mellitus.

Cathepsin G (CTSG) plays an important role in the regulation of immune processes. Accumulated studies show that CTSG is involved in the onset and development of type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM). As the genetic background of T1DM varies widely among populations, we aimed to study the relationship between genetic polymorphisms in CTSG and T1DM susceptibility in Chinese populations. A total of 141 patients with T1DM and 200 healthy controls were enrolled in the study. Serum CTSG expression was detected using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Genotyping of two selected single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) (rs2236742 and rs2070697) of CTSG was performed using PCR and Sanger sequencing. CTSG expression in patients with T1DM was significantly higher than in the control group. Alleles C and T of CTSG SNP rs2236742 were increased in T1DM. No significant associations were found for the SNP rs2070697. Our results indicate that the CTSG rs2236742 allele (C/T) is associated with T1DM in Chinese children and may serve as a new biomarker for predicting T1DM susceptibility.

The association between systemic inflammatory response index and contrast-associated acute kidney injury in patients undergoing elective percutaneous coronary intervention.

BACKGROUND: The systemic inflammatory response index (SIRI), served as a novel inflammatory biomarker, is the synthesis of neutrophils, monocytes and lymphocytes. AIMS: We hypothesized that SIRI has predictive value for contrast-associated acute kidney injury (CA-AKI) and long-term mortality in patients undergoing elective percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). METHODS: We retrospectively observed 5685 patients undergoing elective PCI from January 2012 to December 2018. Venous blood samples were collected to obtain the experimental data on the day of admission or the morning of the next day. SIRI = neutrophil count × monocyte count/lymphocyte count. CA-AKI was defined as an increase of 50% or 0.3 mg/dl in SCr from baseline within 48 h after contrast exposure. RESULTS: The incidence of CA-AKI was 6.1% (n = 352). The best cutoff value of SIRI for predicting CA-AKI was 1.39, with a sensitivity of 52.3% and a specificity of 67.3%. [AUC: 0.620, 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.590-0.651, p < 0.001]. After adjusting for potential confounders, multivariate analysis showed that the high SIRI group (SIRI > 1.39) was a strong independent predictor of CA-AKI in patients undergoing elective PCI compared with the low SIRI group (SIRI ≤ 1.39) (odds ratio = 1.642, 95% CI: 1.274-2.116, p < 0.001). Additionally, COX regression analysis showed that SIRI > 1.39 was significantly associated with long-term mortality at a median follow-up of 2.8 years. [Hazard ratio (HR)=1.448, 95%CI: 1.188-1.765; p < 0.001]. Besides, Kaplan-Meier survival curve also indicated that the cumulative rate of mortality was considerably higher in the high SIRI group. CONCLUSIONS: High levels of SIRI are independent predictors of CA-AKI and long-term mortality in patients undergoing elective PCI.

IGF1 and CXCR4 Respectively Related With Inhibited M1 Macrophage Polarization in Keloids.

PURPOSE: The pathophysiology of keloid remains unclear. Exploring the immune heterogeneity and new biomarkers of keloids can help design new therapeutic targets for keloid treatments and prevention. METHODS: The authors performed single-cell RNA sequencing analysis and bulk data differential gene expression analysis of public datasets(GSE92566 and GSE163973). They used Gene Ontology (GO), Gene Set Enrichment Analysis (GSEA), and immune infiltration analysis to identify the function of the differential expressed genes. Besides, the authors performed qt-PCR on keloid tissue and adjacent normal tissues from 3 patients for further verification. RESULTS: M2 macrophage increased in keloid samples than M1 macrophage. The authors identified 2 potential novel biomarkers of keloid, IGF1 and CXCR4, which could inhibit M1 macrophage polarization. The potential mechanism could be inhibiting immune responses and anti-inflammatory activities through INF signaling and E2F targeting. The differential expression of the 2 genes was verified by clinical samples. CONCLUSIONS: The authors identified 2 immune signaling molecules associated with keloid formation (IGF1 and CXCR4) and analyzed their potential pathogenic mechanisms.

High Reactivity of Dimethyl Ether Activated by Zeolite Ferrierite within a Fer Cage: A Prediction Study.

The zeolite-catalyzed conversion of DME into chemicals is considered environmentally friendly in industry. The periodic density functional theory, statistical thermodynamics, and the transition state theory are used to study some possible parallel reactions about the hydrogen-bonded DME over zeolite ferrierite. The following are the key findings: (1) the charge separation probably leads to the conversion of a hydrogen-bonded DME into a dimethyl oxonium ion (i.e., DMO+ or (CH3)2OH+) with a positive charge of about 0.804 e; (2) the methylation of DME, CH3OH, H2O, and CO by DMO+ at the T2O6 site of zeolite ferrierite shows the different activated internal energy (∆E≠) ranging from 18.47 to 30.06 kcal/mol, implying the strong methylation ability of DMO+; (3) H-abstraction by DMO+ is about 3.94-15.53 or 6.57-18.16 kcal/mol higher than DMO+ methylation in the activation internal energy; (4) six DMO+-mediated reactions are more likely to occur due to the lower barriers, compared to the experimental barrier (i.e., 39.87 kcal/mol) for methyl acetate synthesis; (5) active intermediates, such as (CH3)3O+, (CH3)2OH+, CH3CO+, CH3OH2+, and CH2=OH+, are expected to appear; (6) DMO+ is slightly weaker than the well-known surface methoxy species (ZO-CH3) in methylation; and (7) the methylated activity declines in the order of DME, CH3OH, H2O, and CO, with corresponding rate constants at 463.15 K of about 3.4 × 104, 1.1 × 102, 0.18, and 8.2 × 10-2 s-1, respectively.

Fabrication of Polypyrrole Hollow Nanospheres by Hard-Template Method for Supercapacitor Electrode Material.

Conducting polymers like polypyrrole, polyaniline, and polythiophene with nanostructures offers several advantages, such as high conductivity, a conjugated structure, and a large surface area, making them highly desirable for energy storage applications. However, the direct synthesis of conducting polymers with nanostructures poses a challenge. In this study, we employed a hard template method to fabricate polystyrene@polypyrrole (PS@PPy) core-shell nanoparticles. It is important to note that PS itself is a nonconductive material that hinders electron and ion transport, compromising the desired electrochemical properties. To overcome this limitation, the PS cores were removed using organic solvents to create hollow PPy nanospheres. We investigated six different organic solvents (cyclohexane, toluene, tetrahydrofuran, chloroform, acetone, and N,N-dimethylformamide (DMF)) for etching the PS cores. The resulting hollow PPy nanospheres showed various nanostructures, including intact, hollow, buckling, and collapsed structures, depending on the thickness of the PPy shell and the organic solvent used. PPy nanospheres synthesized with DMF demonstrated superior electrochemical properties compared to those prepared with other solvents, attributed to their highly effective PS removal efficiency, increased specific surface area, and improved charge transport efficiency. The specific capacitances of PPy nanospheres treated with DMF were as high as 350 F/g at 1 A/g. And the corresponding symmetric supercapacitor demonstrated a maximum energy density of 40 Wh/kg at a power density of 490 W/kg. These findings provide new insights into the synthesis method and energy storage mechanisms of PPy nanoparticles.

Ultrathin Two-Dimensional Porous Fullerene Membranes for Ultimate Organic Solvent Separation.

Two-dimensional (2D) materials with high chemical stability have attracted intensive interest in membrane design for the separation of organic solvents. As a novel 2D material, polymeric fullerenes (C60)∞ with distinctive properties are very promising for the development of innovative membranes. In this work, we report the construction of a 2D (C60)∞ nanosheet membrane for organic solvent separation. The pathways of the (C60)∞ nanosheet membrane are constructed by sub-1-nm lateral channels and nanoscale in-plane pores created by the depolymerization of the (C60)∞ nanosheets. Attributing to ordered and shortened transport pathways, the ultrathin porous (C60)∞ membrane is superior in organic solvent separation. The hexane, acetone, and methanol fluxes are up to 1146.3±53, 900.4±41, and 879.5±42 kg ⋅ m-2 ⋅ h-1, respectively, which are up to 130 times higher than those of the state-of-the-art membranes with similar dye rejection. Our findings demonstrate the prospect of 2D (C60)∞ as a promising nanofiltration membrane in the separation of organic solvents from macromolecular compounds such as dyes, drugs, hormones, etc.

Clinical efficacy of ultrasound-guided chondroitin polysulfate from bovine trachea combined with fractional CO2 laser in the treatment of scar after burn repair.

Introduction: One common and very upsetting side effect of burn injuries is scarring, which presents serious difficulties for patients and medical professionals alike. Aim: To assess a new therapeutic approach for treating scars following burn repair procedures in terms of its clinical efficacy. Material and methods: This method administers Hirudoid under ultrasound guidance in addition to fractional CO2 laser treatment. An extensive analysis of the effects of this combination treatment on functional results, patient satisfaction, and scar appearance is being conducted as part of this research. Fractional CO2 laser treatment is utilized for its capacity to stimulate collagen remodelling and decrease scar hypertrophy, while Hirudoid, a topical medicine containing heparinoid, is used to minimize inflammation and enhance tissue healing. Enrolling patients who have had burn repair surgery is the goal of a quasi-experimental study. Conventional scar care methods are performed on the control group, whereas the experimental group is treated with fractional CO2 laser therapy after applying Hirudoid under ultrasound guidance. Throughout the research period, clinical evaluations are carried out on a regular basis. These evaluations cover scar features, pain thresholds, and patient-reported results. Results: The first findings show that the experimental group significantly outperformed the control group in terms of overall look, pigmentation, and scar texture. Functional examinations point to possible improvements in terms of scar flexibility and the range of motion, while patient-reported outcomes show improved satisfaction with the combination therapy. In order to guarantee the combination therapy's viability and tolerance in a clinical context, its side effects and safety profiles are also extensively assessed. In order to improve scar management following burn healing, the study intends to provide important insights into the creation of more patient-friendly and successful therapies. Conclusions: A potential approach to enhancing the clinical results of burn scar treatment is the study of fractional CO2 laser therapy in conjunction with ultrasound-guided Hirudoid. Enhancing scar management tactics via the combination of sophisticated technology and therapy modalities may eventually improve the quality of life for burn injury victims.

Alternative Splicing Landscape of Small Brown Planthopper and Different Response of JNK2 Isoforms to Rice Stripe Virus Infection.

Alternative splicing (AS) is a frequent posttranscriptional regulatory event occurring in response to various endogenous and exogenous stimuli in most eukaryotic organisms. However, little is known about the effects of insect-transmitted viruses on AS events in insect vectors. The present study used third-generation sequencing technology and RNA sequencing (RNA-Seq) to evaluate the AS response in the small brown planthopper Laodelphax striatellus to rice stripe virus (RSV). The full-length transcriptome of L. striatellus was obtained using single-molecule real-time sequencing technology (SMRT). Posttranscriptional regulatory events, including AS, alternative polyadenylation, and fusion transcripts, were analyzed. A total of 28,175 nonredundant transcript isoforms included 24,950 transcripts assigned to 8,500 annotated genes of L. striatellus, and 5,000 of these genes (58.8%) had AS events. RNA-Seq of the gut samples of insects infected by RSV for 8 d identified 3,458 differentially expressed transcripts (DETs); 2,185 of these DETs were transcribed from 1,568 genes that had AS events, indicating that 31.4% of alternatively spliced genes responded to RSV infection of the gut. One of the c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK) genes, JNK2, experienced exon skipping, resulting in three transcript isoforms. These three isoforms differentially responded to RSV infection during development and in various organs. Injection of double-stranded RNAs targeting all or two isoforms indicated that three or at least two JNK2 isoforms facilitated RSV accumulation in planthoppers. These results implied that AS events could participate in the regulation of complex relationships between viruses and insect vectors. IMPORTANCE Alternative splicing (AS) is a regulatory mechanism that occurs after gene transcription. AS events can enrich protein diversity to promote the reactions of the organisms to various endogenous and exogenous stimulations. It is not known how insect vectors exploit AS events to cope with transmitted viruses. The present study used third-generation sequencing technology to obtain the profile of AS events in the small brown planthopper Laodelphax striatellus, which is an efficient vector for rice stripe virus (RSV). The results indicated that 31.4% of alternatively spliced genes responded to RSV infection in the gut of planthoppers. One of the c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK) genes, JNK2, produced three transcript isoforms by AS. These three isoforms showed different responses to RSV infection, and at least two isoforms facilitated viral accumulation in planthoppers. These results implied that AS events could participate in the regulation of complex relationships between viruses and insect vectors.