Human umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cells alleviate fatty liver ischemia-reperfusion injury by activating autophagy through upregulation of IFNγ.

Liver ischemia-reperfusion injury (IRI) is an important factor affecting the prognosis of liver transplantation, and extended criteria donors (e.g., steatosis donor livers) are considered to be more sensitive to ischemia-reperfusion injury in liver transplantation. Currently, the application of human umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cells (hMSCs) has great promise in the treatment of various injuries in the liver. This study aimed to investigate the therapeutic role and mechanism of hMSCs in fatty liver IRI. After more than 8 weeks of high-fat chow feeding, we constructed a fatty liver mouse model and established ischemic injury of about 70% of the liver. Six hours after IRI, liver injury was significantly alleviated in hMSCs-treated mice, and the expression levels of liver enzyme, inflammatory factor TNF-α, and apoptotic proteins were significantly lower than those of the control group, which were also significant in pathological sections. Transcriptomics analysis showed that IFNγ was significantly upregulated in the hMSCs group. Mechanistically, IFNγ, which activates the MAPK pathway, is a potent agonist that promotes the occurrence of autophagy in hepatocytes to exert a protective function, which was confirmed by in vitro experiments. In summary, hMSCs treatment could slow down IRI in fatty liver by activating autophagy through upregulation of IFNγ, and this effect was partly direct.

Novel compound heterozygous mutations in LEP responsible for obesity in a Chinese family.

Background: Early childhood obesity poses a significant global public health challenge, necessitating the identification of treatable causes, particularly congenital leptin deficiencies. Serum leptin level measurement aids in diagnosing these rare contributors, guiding effective management. Methods: A Chinese family with early-onset obesity underwent LEP mutational screening via direct sequencing. mRNA expression and protein stability patterns of LEP were separately analyzed using qPCR and bioinformatics. Results: We present a case of a 12.5-year-old girl born to non-obese, non-consanguineous Chinese parents, exhibiting low leptin levels. Leptin gene sequencing revealed novel compound heterozygous mutations in exon 3. RT-PCR analysis showed the mutation didn't affect leptin production. Bioinformatics analysis indicated the variant rendered the leptin protein unstable. Conclusion: Loss-of-function mutations in LEP underlies early-onset obesity in the patient.

Co-culturing microalgae with endophytic bacteria from bamboo for efficient nutrient and heavy metal removal coupling with biogas upgrading.

The construction of dominant algal species and bacterial strains in algal treatment technology was crucial for pollutant removal. In order to enhance the purification capability of microalgae toward heavy metals in water as well as biogas slurry and biogas, symbiotic systems were respectively constructed using Chlorella vulgaris and two different endogenous bacteria (microalgal endophytic bacteria S395-2 and plant endophytic bacteria BEB7). The results demonstrated that the endogenous bacteria (S395-2 and BEB7) effectively promote the growth, biomass yield, photosynthetic activity, and carbonic anhydrase activity of microalgae. Additionally, BEB7 exhibited superior promotion effects on microalgae compared to S395-2. Moreover, the BEB7-microalgae co-cultivation system not only efficiently removed heavy metals from water but also effectively purified the nutrients and CO2 in biogas slurry. The optimal effect was observed when the ratio of BEB7 to microalgae was 10:1. This study has established a solid theoretical foundation for the application of microalgae in pollutant purification. PRACTITIONER POINTS: Endogenous bacteria effectively promoted microalgal performance. The optimal ratio of BEB7 to microalgae was 10:1. Chlorella vulgaris-BEB7 showed the best removal performance.

Effect of different concentrations of gibberellins on attenuation of nutrient and antibiotics from aquaculture wastewater using microalgae-bacteria-fungi consortia system.

This study assessed the effect of gibberellins (GAs) concentrations on antibiotic and nutrient removal using diverse microalgal-bacterial-fungal consortia. Five systems (Chlorella vulgaris, T1; C. vulgaris + S395-2 + Clonostachys rosea, T2; C. vulgaris + S395-2 + Ganoderma lucidum, T3; C. vulgaris + S395-2 + Pleurotus pulmonarius, T4; and C. vulgaris + S395-2, T5) were established, and optimal conditions and effective symbiosis were applied to improve antibiotic and nutrient removal. Consortium growth was T2 > T3 > T5 > T4 > T1, while GA impact ranked 50 mg L-1 > 20 mg L-1 > 80 mg L-1 > 0 mg L-1. After 7 days at 50 mg L-1 GAs, total nitrogen (TN), NH4-N, NO3-N, and total phosphorous (TP) removal reached 85.97 %, 78.08 %, 86.59 %, and 94.39 %, respectively. Florfenicol, oxytetracycline hydrochloride, ofloxacin, and sulfamethoxazole removal efficiencies were 67.77 %, 98.29 %, 90.47 %, and 94.92 %, respectively. These findings highlight GAs' significant role in enhancing antibiotic and nutrient removal.

Removal of antibiotics by four microalgae-based systems for swine wastewater treatment under different phytohormone treatment.

This study examined the removal of typical antibiotics from simulated swine wastewater. Microalgae-bacteria/fungi symbioses were constructed using Chlorella ellipsoidea, endophytic bacteria (S395-2), and Clonostachys rosea as biomaterials. The growth, photosynthetic performance, and removal of three types of antibiotics (tetracyclines, sulfonamides, and quinolones) induced by four phytohormones were analyzed in each system. The results showed that all four phytohormones effectively improved the tolerance of symbiotic strains against antibiotic stress; strigolactones (GR24) achieved the best performance. At 10-9 M, GR24 achieved the best removal of antibiotics by C. elliptica + S395-2 + C. rosea symbiosis. The average removals of tetracycline, sulfonamide, and quinolone by this system reached 96.2-99.4 %, 75.2-81.1 %, and 66.8-69.9 %, respectively. The results of this study help to develop appropriate bio enhancement strategies as well as design and operate algal-bacterial-fungal symbiotic processes for the treatment of antibiotics-containing wastewater.

Robot-Assisted Correction of a Supra-Long Tracheal Stenosis Using C-Type Nickel-Titanium Alloy Exterior Stenting and Suspension Fixation Technique: A Case Report.

T-tubes and airway stents are commonly used but have limited effectiveness and frequent complications. A 50-year-old male patient presented with severe tracheal stenosis, affecting an 8.7 cm length of the airway. We employed an innovative approach known as external suspension fixation of tracheal stent using robotic assistance. This method involves surgically attaching the stent to the exterior of the trachea to provide support and stabilize the softened or collapsed tracheal segments. We designed a C-shaped nickel-titanium alloy exterior stent and successfully fixed it using robotic assistance. This intervention effectively restored tracheal function and led to a favorable postoperative recovery. The technique does not affect tracheal membrane function or airway mucociliary clearance. It could potentially be considered as a new option for treating long-segment benign tracheal softening or collapse.

CircZCCHC2 (hsa_circ_0000854) promotes hepatocellular carcinoma progression through modulating miR-936/BTBD7 axis and activating Rho/ROCK2 pathway.

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is one of the most aggressive and refractory cancers due to its high propensity to metastasize and the unavailability of efficacious treatments. Circular RNAs (circRNAs) participate in diverse biological activities in human cancers. Here, we detected the upregulation of a novel circRNA, circZCCHC2 (hsa_circ_0000854), in HCC samples and cells. The upregulation indicated an unfavorable prognosis in HCC patients. CircZCCHC2 accelerated cell growth and metastasis in vitro and tumorigenicity in vivo. Mechanistic investigations revealed that circZCCHC2 regulated BTBD7 expression by sponging miR-936. Moreover, the suppression of malignancy caused by circZCCHC2 knockdown could be sufficiently reversed by miR-936 inhibition. Additionally, the suppressed Rho/ROCK2 pathway conferred by circZCCHC2 knockdown could be restored by inhibiting miR-936 expression. Collectively, our findings reveal that circZCCHC2 plays an oncogenic role of in HCC progression by modulating the miR-936/BTBD7/Rho/ROCK2 pathway.

Comparative analysis of village doctors' relative deprivation: based on two cross-sectional surveys.

BACKGROUND: Village doctors are the main health service providers in China's rural areas. Compared with other rural groups, they will have a sense of relative deprivation, which has an impact on their practice mentality and job stability. This study aims to analyze the changes and causes of relative deprivation among village doctors, so as to improve the stability of them. METHODS: The data were collected from two surveys conducted in Shandong Province in 2015 and 2021. In 2015, 322 village doctors were surveyed and 307 questionnaires were collected, with a recovery rate of 95.3%. In 2021, 394 village doctors were surveyed and 366 questionnaires were collected, with a recovery rate of 92.9%. Descriptive and univariate analysis were used to compare the changes before and after the survey. RESULTS: The scores of vertical deprivation of village doctors increased from 2.77 ± 0.81 in 2015 to 3.04 ± 0.83 in 2021, with a statistically significant difference (P < 0.001). The reference group selected by village doctors changed from village teachers to ordinary villagers. Compared to village teachers, the horizontal deprivation score of village doctors increased from 3.47 ± 0.87 to 3.97 ± 0.77, with a statistically significant difference (P < 0.001). Compared to villagers, only the professional reputation deprivation score increased, from 2.38 ± 0.93 to 2.68 ± 0.76, with a statistically significant difference (P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: As time goes by, village doctors fail to reach the expected level in terms of economic income, social status, professional reputation and living standards, resulting in a sense of relative deprivation. This may have a negative impact on village doctors' work motivation and behavior, and will fail to guarantee the sustainability of the team. We should pay attention to this unbalanced mentality of village doctors.

[Effects of Biochar Application on the Structure and Function of Fungal Community in Continuous Cropping Watermelon Soil].

This study was conducted to clarify the long-term effects of biochar application on the structure and function of the fungal community in continuous cropping watermelon soil. Taking watermelon root soil as the research object, Illumina NovaSeq high-throughput sequencing and FUNGuild platform were used to analyze the differences in soil fungal community composition, diversity, and function after 3-year biochar additions of 7.5, 15.0, and 30.0 t·hm-2 and to explore the correlation between soil environmental factors and fungal community structure under the control of biochar. The results showed that compared to that in the absence of biochar (control), the soil pH, available phosphorus, available potassium, total nitrogen, organic matter, and cation exchange capacity increased, but available nitrogen decreased with biochar addition. High-throughput sequencing results showed that biochar amendment improved the fungal community structure in continuous cropping watermelon soil and increased the richness and diversity of soil fungi. A total of 922 OTU were obtained from all soil samples, and the species annotation results indicated that the dominant fungal groups were Ascomycota, Basidiomycota, Mortierellomycota, Chytridiomycota, and Glomeromycota, with these phyla accounting for 85.70 %-92.45 % of the total sequences.The relative abundance of Ascomycota and Basidiomycota decreased, whereas the abundance of Mortierellomycota and Glomeromycota increased with biochar addition.At the genus level, the application of biochar increased the relative abundance of Mortierella and Rhizophlyctis but decreased the abundance of Fusarium. The Mantel test showed that soil available potassium, available nitrogen, organic matter, and pH were the main environmental factors leading to the shift in the soil fungal community composition.The functional prediction with FUNGuild showed that the many nutrient types among the different treatments were saprotrophic, pathotrophic, and symbiotrophic. The relative abundance of pathotrophs significantly decreased, but the abundance of symbiotrophs significantly increased with the medium and high doses of biochar treatment. In conclusion, the application of biochar changed the soil physicochemical properties, promoted the development of soil fungal community structure and functional groups in a healthy and beneficial direction, and improved the quality of continuous cropping watermelon soil.

L-Cysteine: A promising nutritional supplement for alleviating anxiety disorders.

Anxiety disorders are prevalent chronic psychological disease with complex pathogenic mechanisms. Current anxiolytics have limited efficacy and numerous side effects in many anxiety patients, highlighting the urgent need for new therapies. Recent research has been focusing on nutritional supplements, particularly amino acids, as potential therapies for anxiety disorders. Among these, L-Cysteine plays a crucial role in various biological processes. L-Cysteine exhibits antioxidant properties that can enhance the antioxidant functions of the central nervous system (CNS). Furthermore, metabolites of L-cysteine, such as glutathione and hydrogen sulfide have been shown to alleviate anxiety through distinct molecular mechanisms. Long-term administration of L-Cysteine has anxiolytic, antidepressant, and memory-improving effects. L-Cysteine depletion can lead to increased oxidative stress in the brain. This review delves into the potential mechanisms of L-Cysteine and its main products, glutathione (GSH) and hydrogen sulfide (H2S) in the management of anxiety and related diseases.

[Preparation of Bamboo-based N, P Co-doped Activated Carbon and Its Lanthanum Ion Adsorption Performance].

Using diammonium hydrogen phosphate as an activator and N and P source and and bamboo chips as the carbon source, N, P co-doped activated carbon was prepared by one-step pyrolysis and used to efficiently remove La3+ in aqueous solutions. The effects of activation temperature and pH value on the adsorption performance of La3+ were analyzed, and the activation and adsorption mechanisms were explored using TG-IR, SEM-EDX, pore structure, XPS, and hydrophilicity. The results showed that diammonium hydrogen phosphate easily decomposed at a high temperature to produce ammonia and phosphoric acid, which activated the material and promoted the increase in the specific surface area and pore volume of the activated carbon. As an N and P source, the addition of diammonium hydrogen phosphate successfully achieved the N, P co-doping of activated carbon, and the introduction of N- and P-containing functional groups was the key to enhance the adsorption of La3+. Among them, graphitic nitrogen could provide interactions between La3+-π bonds, and C-P=O and C/P-O-P could provide active sites for the adsorption of La3+ through complexation and electrostatic interaction. The adsorption of La3+ on N, P co-doped activated carbons was endothermic and spontaneous, and the adsorption process conformed to the Langmuir isotherm and secondary kinetic model. Under the process conditions of an activation temperature of 900℃ and pH=6, the adsorption capacity of the N, P co-doped activated carbon was as high as 55.18 mg·g-1, which was 2.53 times higher than that of the undoped sample, and its adsorption selectivity for La3+ in the La3+/Na+and La3+/Ca2+ coexistence systems reached 93.49% and 82.49%, respectively. Additionally, the removal efficiency remained above 54% after five successive adsorption-desorption cycle experiments.