A novel dual-responsive colorimetric/fluorescent probe for the detection of N2H4 and ClO- and its application in environmental analysis and bioimaging.

Hydrazine (N2H4) and hypochlorite (ClO-) are both reactive chemical substances extensively utilized across various industrial domains. Excessive hydrazine (N2H4) and hypochlorite (ClO-) can pose significant risks to the environment, ecosystems, and human health. In order to assess and control the environmental hazard caused by N2H4 and ClO-, there is an imperative need for efficient methods capable of rapid and precise detection of these contaminants. This paper introduces a novel dual-responsive colorimetric/fluorescent probe (MDT) for the detection of N2H4 and ClO- in environmental and biological samples. The probe exhibits turn-on fluorescent responses to N2H4 or ClO- with low detection limits (N2H4: 8 nM; ClO-: 15 nM), large Stokes shifts (N2H4: 175 nm; ClO-: 203 nm), short response time (N2H4: 4 min; ClO-: 5 s) and broad pH range (5-10). In practical applications, MDT has been successfully employed in detecting N2H4 and ClO- in water and soil samples from diverse locations. Test strips loaded with MDT offer a visual and convenient means to track N2H4 vapor and quantify N2H4 and ClO- concentrations in solutions. Finally, MDT has been utilized for sensing N2H4 and ClO- in Arabidopsis thaliana roots and living zebrafish. This study presents a promising tool for monitoring N2H4 and ClO- in the environment and living organisms.

OER catalytic performance of a composite catalyst comprising multi-layer thin flake Co3O4 and PPy nanofibers.

The oxygen evolution reaction (OER) plays a crucial role in energy conversion and storage processes, highlighting the significance of searching for efficient and stable OER catalysts. In this study, we have developed a composite catalyst, PPy@Co3O4, with outstanding catalytic performance for the OER. The catalyst was constructed by integrating multi-layer thin flake Co3O4 with attached PPy nanofibers, utilizing the rich active sites of Co3O4 and the flexibility and tunability of PPy nanofibers to optimize the catalyst structure. Through comprehensive characterization and performance evaluation, our results demonstrate that the PPy@Co3O4 (0.1 : 1) catalyst exhibits remarkable OER catalytic activity and stability. This research provides new strategies and insights for the development of efficient and stable OER catalysts, holding promising prospects for energy conversion and storage applications in relevant fields.

Comprehensive Exploration of Tumor Microenvironment Modulation Based on the ESTIMATE Algorithm in Bladder Urothelial Carcinoma Microenvironment.

Recently, the tumor microenvironment (TME) has been reported to be closely related to the tumor initiation, progression, and prognosis. Bladder urothelial carcinoma (BLCA), one of the most common subtypes of bladder cancer worldwide, has been associated with increased morbidity and mortality in the past decade. However, whether the TME status of BLCA contributes to the prediction of BLCA prognosis still remains uncertain. In this study, the ESTIMATE algorithms were used to estimate the division of immune and stromal components in 406 BLCA samples downloaded from The Cancer Genome Atlas database (TCGA). Based on the comparison between ESTIMATE scores, the differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were selected. Using the univariate Cox regression analysis, prognosis-related DEGs were further identified (p < 0.05). The LASSO regression analysis was then used to screen 11 genes that were highly related to the TME of BLCA to generate a novel prognostic gene signature. The following survival analyses showed that this signature could effectively predict the prognosis of BLCA. The clinical value of this signature was further verified in an external cohort obtained from the First Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University (n = 120). Based on the stage-correlation analysis and differential expression analysis, IGF1 and MMP9 were identified as the hub genes in the signature. Additionally, using CIBERSORT algorithms, we found that both IGF1 and MMP9 were significantly associated with immune infiltration. Collectively, a novel TME-related prognostic signature contributes to accurately predict the prognosis of BLCA.

Signature Construction and Molecular Subtype Identification Based on Pyroptosis-Related Genes for Better Prediction of Prognosis in Hepatocellular Carcinoma.

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is one of the most common malignancies worldwide. However, there is a lack of adequate means of treatment prognostication for HCC. Pyroptosis is a newly discovered way of programmed cell death. However, the prognostic role of pyroptosis in HCC has not been thoroughly investigated. Here, we generated a novel prognostic signature to evaluate the prognostic value of pyroptosis-related genes (PRGs) using the data from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) database. The accuracy of the signature was validated using survival analysis through the International Cancer Genome Consortium cohort (n = 231) and the First Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University cohort (n = 180). Compared with other clinical factors, the risk score of the signature was found to be associated with better patient outcomes. The enrichment analysis identified multiple pathways related with pyroptosis in HCC. Furthermore, drug sensitivity testing identified six potential chemotherapeutic agents to provide possible treatment avenues. Interestingly, patients with low risk were confirmed to be associated with lower tumor mutation burden (TMB). However, patients at high risk were found to have a higher count of immune cells. Consensus clustering was performed to identify two main molecular subtypes (named clusters A and B) based on the signature. It was found that compared with cluster B, better survival outcomes and lower TMB were observed in cluster A. In conclusion, signature construction and molecular subtype identification of PRGs could be used to predict the prognosis of HCC, which may provide a specific reference for the development of novel biomarkers for HCC treatment.

Pinostilbene hydrate suppresses hepatic stellate cell activation via inhibition of miR-17-5p-mediated Wnt/ß-catenin pathway.

BACKGROUND: In the development of liver fibrosis, activated hepatic stellate cells (HSCs) contribute to the synthesis and deposition of extracellular matrix (ECM) proteins. HSC activation is considered as a central driver of liver fibrosis. Recently, microRNAs (miRNAs) have been reported to act as key regulators in HSC activation. PURPOSE: Pinostilbene hydrate (PSH), a methylated derivative of resveratrol, has demonstrated anti-inflammatory, antioxidant and anti-tumour activities. However, the effects of PSH on HSC activation remain unclear. METHODS: The effects of PSH on HSC activation were examined. Moreover, the roles of WNT inhibitory factor 1 (WIF1) and miR-17-5p in the effects of PSH on HSC activation were examined. RESULTS: PSH induced a significant reduction in HSC proliferation. PSH also effectively inhibited HSC activation, with reduced α-SMA and collagen expression. Notably, it was found that Wnt/ß-catenin signalling was involved in the effects of PSH on HSC activation. PSH resulted in Wnt/ß-catenin signalling inactivation, with a reduction in TCF activity as well as ß-catenin nuclear translocation. Further studies showed that PSH inhibited Wnt/ß-catenin signalling via regulation of WIF1 and miR-17-5p. Reduced HSC activation caused by PSH could be restored by loss of WIF1 or miR-17-5p mimics. Luciferase reporter assays further confirmed that WIF1 was a target of miR-17-5p. CONCLUSION: PSH has a significant protective effect against HSC activation. In addition, we demonstrate that PSH enhances WIF1 expression and inhibits Wnt/ß-catenin signalling via miR-17-5p, contributing to the suppression of HSC activation.