A pH-triggered N-oxide polyzwitterionic nano-drug loaded system for the anti-tumor immunity activation research.

Triple negative breast cancer (TNBC) has the characteristics of low immune cell infiltration, high expression of tumor programmed death ligand 1 (PD-L1), and abundant cancer stem cells. Systemic toxicity of traditional chemotherapy drugs due to poor drug selectivity, and chemotherapy failure due to tumor drug resistance and other problems, so it is particularly important to find new cancer treatment strategies for TNBC with limited treatment options. Both the anti-tumor natural drugs curcumin and ginsenoside Rg3 can exert anti-tumor effects by inducing immunogenic cell death (ICD) of tumor cells, reducing PD-L1 expression, and reducing cancer stem cells. However, they have the disadvantages of poor water solubility, low bioavailability, and weak anti-tumor effect of single agents. We used vinyl ether bonds to link curcumin (Cur) with N-O type zwitterionic polymers and at the same time encapsulated ginsenoside Rg3 to obtain hyperbranched zwitterionic drug-loaded micelles OPDEA-PGED-5HA@Cur@Rg3 (PPH@CR) with pH response. In vitro cell experiments and in vivo animal experiments have proved that PPH@CR could not only promote the maturation of dendritic cells (DCs) and increase the CD4+ T cells and CD8+ T cells by inducing ICD in tumor cells but also reduce the expression of PD-L1 in tumor tissues, and reduce cancer stem cells and showed better anti-tumor effects and good biological safety compared with free double drugs, which is a promising cancer treatment strategy.

Metagenomic next-generation sequencing promotes diagnosis and treatment of Pneumocystis jirovecii pneumonia in non-HIV infected children: a retrospective study.

BACKGROUND: Metagenomic next-generation sequencing (mNGS) excels in diagnosis of infection pathogens. We aimed to evaluate the performance of mNGS for the diagnosis of Pneumocystis jirovecii pneumonia (PJP) in non-HIV infected children. METHODS: Totally 36 PJP children and 61 non-PJP children admitted to the pediatric intensive care unit from March 2018 to December 2021 were retrospectively enrolled. Clinical features of PJP children were summarized. 1,3-ß-D glucan (BDG) test and bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) mNGS were used for evaluation of PJP diagnostic performance. Antimicrobial management modifications for PJP children after the mNGS results were also reviewed. RESULTS: Pneumocystis jirovecii was detected in all PJP children by mNGS (36/36), and the sensitivity of mNGS was 100% (95% confidence interval [CI]: 90.26-100%). The sensitivity of BDG was 57.58% (95% CI: 39.22-74.52%). Of the 26 (72.2%) PJP patients with mixed infection, twenty-four (66.7%) were detected by BALF-mNGS. Thirteen patients (36.1%) had their antimicrobial management adjusted according to the mNGS results. Thirty-six PJP children included 17 (47.2%) primary immunodeficiency and 19 (52.8%) secondary immunodeficiency, of whom 19 (52.8%) survived and 17 (47.2%) died. Compared to survival subgroup, non-survival subgroup had a higher rate of primary immunodeficiency (64.7% vs. 31.6%, P = 0.047), younger age (7 months vs. 39 months, P = 0.011), lower body weight (8.0 kg vs. 12.0 kg, P = 0.022), and lower T lymphocyte counts. CONCLUSIONS: The mortality rate of PJP in immunosuppressed children without HIV infection is high and early diagnosis is challenging. BALF-mNGS could help identify PJP and guide clinical management.

Granulysin-mediated reduction of PDZRN3 induces Cx43 gap junctions activity exacerbating skin damage in trichloroethylene hypersensitivity syndrome.

Trichloroethylene (TCE)-induced hypersensitivity syndrome (THS) has been a concern for many researchers in the field of environmental and occupational health. Currently, there is no specific treatment for THS, leaving patients to contend with severe infections arising from extensive skin lesions, consequently leading to serious adverse effects. However, the pathogenesis of severe skin damage in THS remains unclear. This study aims to investigate the specific danger signals and mechanisms underlying skin damage in THS through in vivo and in vitro experiments. We identified that cell supernatant containing 15 kDa granulysin (GNLY), released from activated CD3-CD56+NK cells or CD3+CD56+NKT cells in PBMC induced by TCE or its metabolite, promoted apoptosis in HaCaT cells. The apoptosis level decreased upon neutralization of GNLY in the supernatant by a GNLY-neutralizing antibody in HaCaT cells. Subcutaneous injection of recombinant 15 kDa GNLY exacerbated skin damage in the THS mouse model and better mimicked patients' disease states. Recombinant 15 kDa GNLY could directly induce cellular communication disorders, inflammation, and apoptosis in HaCaT cells. In addition to its cytotoxic effects, GNLY released from TCE-activated NK cells and NKT cells or synthesized GNLY alone could induce aberrant expression of the E3 ubiquitin ligase PDZRN3, causing dysregulation of the ubiquitination of the cell itself. Consequently, this resulted in the persistent opening of gap junctions composed of connexin43, thereby intensifying cellular inflammation and apoptosis through the "bystander effect". This study provides experimental evidence elucidating the mechanisms of THS skin damage and offers a novel theoretical foundation for the development of effective therapies targeting severe dermatitis induced by chemicals or drugs.

Optical frequency comb assisted reconfigurable broadband spread spectrum signal generation.

A photonic-assisted scheme for spread spectrum communication signals generation is proposed and demonstrated in this article. The spreading sequence and the baseband data codes are modulated on the photonic link by electro-optic modulators, and the spread spectrum process is completed through stream processing on the analog microwave photonic link. By combining optical frequency comb and injection locking technologies, the carrier frequency of the communication signals can be tuned over an ultra-broadband range of 3-39 GHz. In the proof-of-concept experiments, spread spectrum signals at 3 GHz and 6 GHz are obtained with a spread factor of 31. The analysis results indicate that the generated signals possess excellent reconfiguration, anti-interference, and anti-interception properties. Overall, our proposed scheme offers a flexible photonic architecture with significant potential in the application of ultra-broadband covert communication systems.

Deep-learning-assisted linearization for the broadband photonic scanning channelized receiver.

An autoencoder-residual (AE-Res) network is designated to assist the linearization of the wideband photonic scanning channelized receiver. It is capable of adaptively suppressing spurious distortions over multiple octaves of signal bandwidth, obviating the need for calculating the multifactorial nonlinear transfer functions. Proof-of-concept experiments indicate that the improvement of the third-order spur-free dynamic range (SFDR2/3) is 17.44 dB. Moreover, the results for real wireless communication signals demonstrate that the improvement of the spurious suppression ratio (SSR) is 39.69 dB and the reduction of the noise floor is ∼10 dB.

Utility evaluation of HLA-B*13:01 screening in preventing trichloroethylene-induced hypersensitivity syndrome in a prospective cohort study.

OBJECTIVES: Trichloroethylene (TCE) -induced hypersensitivity syndrome (TIHS) is a potentially life-threatening disease. Several genetic susceptibility biomarkers have been found to be associated with TIHS, and this systematic prospective study has been conducted to evaluate the utility of these genetic susceptibility biomarkers in preventing the disease. METHODS: The newly hired TCE-exposed workers were recruited from March 2009 to October 2010. HLA-B*13:01 genotyping and 3-month follow-up procedure were conducted. All workers were monitored for adverse reaction by telephone interview every week. The workers with early symptoms of TIHS were asked to go to the hospital immediately for further examination, diagnosis and treatment. The medical expense record data of patients with TIHS were collected for cost-effectiveness analysis in 2018. RESULTS: Among 1651 workers, 158 (9.57%) were found to carry the HLA-B*13:01 allele and 16 (0.97%) were diagnosed with TIHS. HLA-B*13:01 allele was significantly associated with an increased TIHS risk (relative risk=28.4, 95% CI 9.2 to 86.8). As a risk predictor of TIHS, HLA-B*13:01 testing had a sensitivity of 75%, a specificity of 91.1% and an area under curve of 0.83 (95% CI 0.705 to 0.955), the positive and negative predictive values were 7.6% and 99.7%, respectively. The incidence of TIHS was significantly decreased in HLA-B*13:01 non-carriers (0.27%) compared with all workers (0.97%, p=0.014). Cost-effectiveness analysis showed that HLA-B*13:01 screening could produce an economic saving of $4604 per TIHS avoided. CONCLUSIONS: Prospective HLA-B*13:01 screening may significantly reduce the incidence of TIHS and could be a cost effective option for preventing the disease in TCE-exposed workers.

Declining Pulmonary Function in Populations with Long-term Exposure to Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons-Enriched PM2.5.

This study assesses the effects of long-term exposure to ambient air pollutants on inflammatory response and lung function. We selected 390 male coke oven workers with exposure to polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and fine particulate matter (PM2.5) and 115 control workers. The average duration in the exposed group was 9.10 years. The total amount of PAHs was more enriched in PM2.5 which collected from the coke oven workshops compared with the control areas. Correspondingly, the internal PAHs exposure indicated by urinary 1-hydroxypyrene (1-OHP) in the exposure group increased 25.7-fold compared to that of the control group. Moreover, the increasing level of urinary 1-OHP was associated with the decrease of forced expiratory volume in 1 s to forced vital capacity ratio (FEV1/FVC). In non-current smokers of exposure group, inverse correlation of 1-OHP with FEV1/FVC was also found. Particularly, an exposure duration-dependent decline in FEV1/FVC and mean forced expiratory flow between 25% and 75% of forced vital capacity (FEF25-75%) indicated that small airways were functionally obstructed. Furthermore, the increasing serum high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) was correlated with the decline in pulmonary function in all subjects. These findings provide a clue that long-term exposure to PAHs-enriched PM2.5 impairs pulmonary function in occupational population.

FOUR Score Predicts Early Outcome in Patients After Traumatic Brain Injury.

BACKGROUND: The aim of the study was to determine whether the Full Outline of UnResponsiveness (FOUR) score, which includes eyes opening (E), motor function (M), brainstem reflex (B), and respiratory pattern (R), can be used as an alternate method to the Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) in predicting intensive care unit (ICU) mortality in traumatic brain injury (TBI) patients. METHODS: From January 2015 to June 2015, patients with isolated TBI admitted to the ICU were enrolled. Three advanced practice nurses administered the FOUR score, GCS, Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation II (APACHE II), and Therapeutic Intervention Scoring System (TISS) concurrently from ICU admissions. The endpoint of observation was mortality when the patients left the ICU. Data are presented as frequency with percentages, mean with standard deviation, or median with interquartile range. Each measurement tool used area under the receiver operating characteristic curve to compare the predictive power between these four tools. In addition, the difference between survival and death was estimated using the Wilcoxon rank sum test. RESULTS: From 55 TBI patients, males (72.73 %) were represented more than females, the mean age was 63.1 ± 17.9, and 19 of 55 observations (35 %) had a maximum FOUR score of 16. The overall mortality rate was 14.6 %. The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve was 74.47 % for the FOUR score, 74.73 % for the GCS, 81.78 % for the APACHE II, and 53.32 % for the TISS. The FOUR score has similar predictive power of mortality compared to the GCS and APACHE II. Each of the parameters-E, M, B, and R-of the FOUR score showed a significant difference between mortality and survival group, while the verbal and eye-opening components of the GCS did not. CONCLUSION: Having similar predictive power of mortality compared to the GCS and APACHE II, the FOUR score can be used as an alternative in the prediction of early mortality in TBI patients in the ICU.

[Application of benchmark dose method in reproduction/developmental toxicity screening test].

OBJECTIVE: To estimate the benchmark dose( BMD) of the reproduction /developmental toxicity screening test in rats and compare with the non-observed adverse effect level( NOAEL). METHODS: A total of 120 SD rats were divided into 4 groups and feed with nitrile compound at 0, 12. 5, 50, 200 mg/kg BW for females and 0, 10, 40, 150 mg/kg BW for males, respectively. Rats were orally dosed with the substance for a period of 54 days. The toxic signs, body weight, food consumption, organ weight, organ weight coefficient and pathological lesion of genital organs of parent rats, and the number of live and dead births, litter weight and abnormalities were observed. The results was analyzed and estimated by benchmark dose method by software of BMDS 2. 6. The lower confidence limit on the benchmark dose( BMDL) can be obtained to calculate the reference dose. RESULTS: After 1, 2, 5 and 6 week administration, the daily food consumption of female rats in high-dose group(( 16. 39 ± 0. 75), ( 16. 57 ± 0. 24), ( 43. 65 ± 1. 94) and( 31. 18 ± 6. 93) g), decreased significantly, compared with control group(( 20. 79 ± 0. 11), ( 18. 30 ± 0. 87), ( 46. 20 ± 1. 90) and( 43. 57 ± 10. 67) g)( P < 0. 01). The body weight of 20 days pregnant rats in high-dose group(( 353. 67 ±29. 73) g), significantly decreased, compared with control group(( 389. 83 ± 29. 46) g)( P < 0. 01). The litter weight of live pups at day 0(( 64. 97 ± 37. 75) g) and day 4( 108. 66 ± 62. 67) g) in high-dose group decreased obviously, compared with control group(( 94. 39 ± 23. 00) g, ( 156. 37 ± 29. 06) g)( P < 0. 05). The implantation loss rates increased in medium and high-dose groups( 19. 6% and 47. 0%) with significant difference, compared with control group( 5. 7%)( P < 0. 01). The key toxic effect was implantation loss and NOAEL of the chemical was 12. 5 mg/kg BW. The BMDL was 17. 8mg/kg BW, from the nested data of implantation loss. CONCLUSION: In the reproduction /developmental toxicity screening test, the reference dose obtained from BMD method is17. 8 mg/kg BW.

NuRD blocks reprogramming of mouse somatic cells into pluripotent stem cells.

Reprogramming of somatic cells into induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) by overexpression of a defined set of transcription factors requires epigenetic changes in pluripotency genes. Nuclear reprogramming is an inefficient process and the molecular mechanisms that reset the epigenetic state during iPSC generation are largely unknown. Here, we show that downregulation of the nucleosome remodeling and deacetylation (NuRD) complex is required for efficient reprogramming. Overexpression of Mbd3, a subunit of NuRD, inhibits induction of iPSCs by establishing heterochromatic features and silencing embryonic stem cell-specific marker genes, including Oct4 and Nanog. Depletion of Mbd3, on the other hand, improves reprogramming efficiency and facilitates the formation of pluripotent stem cells that are capable of generating viable chimeric mice, even in the absence of c-Myc or Sox2. The results establish Mbd3/NuRD as an important epigenetic regulator that restricts the expression of key pluripotency genes, suggesting that drug-induced downregulation of Mbd3/NuRD may be a powerful means to improve the efficiency and fidelity of reprogramming.

Reduced pulmonary function and increased pro-inflammatory cytokines in nanoscale carbon black-exposed workers.

BACKGROUND: Although major concerns exist regarding the potential consequences of human exposures to nanoscale carbon black (CB) particles, limited human toxicological data is currently available. The purpose of this study was to evaluate if nanoscale CB particles could be responsible, at least partially, for the altered lung function and inflammation observed in CB workers exposed to nanoscale CB particles. METHODS: Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM), and Brunauer-Emmett-Teller were used to characterize CB. Eighty-one CB-exposed male workers and 104 non-exposed male workers were recruited. The pulmonary function test was performed and pro-inflammatory cytokines were evaluated. To further assess the deposition and pulmonary damage induced by CB nanoparticles, male BALB/c mice were exposed to CB for 6 hours per day for 7 or 14 days. The deposition of CB and the pathological changes of the lung tissue in mice were evaluated by paraffin sections and TEM. The cytokines levels in serum and lung tissue of mice were evaluated by ELISA and immunohistochemical staining (IHC). RESULTS: SEM and TEM images showed that the CB particles were 30 to 50 nm in size. In the CB workplace, the concentration of CB was 14.90 mg/m³. Among these CB particles, 50.77% were less than 0.523 micrometer, and 99.55% were less than 2.5 micrometer in aerodynamic diameter. The reduction of lung function parameters including FEV1%, FEV/FVC, MMF%, and PEF% in CB workers was observed, and the IL-1ß, IL-6, IL-8, MIP-1beta, and TNF- alpha had 2.86-, 6.85-, 1.49-, 3.35-, and 4.87-folds increase in serum of CB workers, respectively. In mice exposed to the aerosol CB, particles were deposited in the lung. The alveolar wall thickened and a large amount of inflammatory cells were observed in lung tissues after CB exposure. IL-6 and IL-8 levels were increased in both serum and lung homogenate. CONCLUSIONS: The data strongly suggests that nanoscale CB particles could be responsible for the lung function reduction and pro-inflammatory cytokines secretion in CB workers. These results, therefore, provide the first evidence of a link between human exposure to CB and long-term pulmonary effects.

Epigallocatechin-3-Gallate attenuates lipopolysacharide-induced pneumonia via modification of inflammation, oxidative stress, apoptosis, and autophagy.

BACKGROUND: Pneumonia, the acute inflammation of lung tissue, is multi-factorial in etiology. Hence, continuous studies are conducted to determine the mechanisms involved in the progression of the disease and subsequently suggest effective treatment. The present study attempted to evaluate the effects of Epigallocatechin-3-Gallate (EGCG), an herbal antioxidant, on inflammation, oxidative stress, apoptosis, and autophagy in a rat pneumonia model. METHODS: Forty male Wistar rats, 5 months old and 250-290 g were divided into four groups including control, EGCG, experimental pneumonia (i/p LPS injection, 1 mg/kg), and experimental pneumonia treated with EGCG (i/p, 15 mg/kg, 1 h before and 3 h after LPS instillation). Total cell number in the bronchoalveolar lavage fluid, inflammation (TNF-a, Il-6, IL-1ß, and NO), oxidative stress (Nrf2, HO-1, SOD, CAT, GSH, GPX, MDA, and TAC), apoptosis (BCL-2, BAX, CASP-3 and CASP-9), and autophagy (mTOR, LC3, BECN1) were evaluated. RESULTS: The findings demonstrated that EGCG suppresses the LPS-induced activation of inflammatory pathways by a significant reduction of inflammatory markers (p-value < 0.001). In addition, the upregulation of BCL-2 and downregulation of BAX and caspases revealed that EGCG suppressed LPS-induced apoptosis. Furthermore, ECGC suppressed oxidative injury while promoting autophagy in rats with pneumonia (p-value < 0.05). CONCLUSION: The current study revealed that EGCG could suppress inflammation, oxidative stress, apoptosis, and promote autophagy in experimental pneumonia models of rats suggesting promising therapeutical properties of this compound to be used in pneumonia management.

Pillararene-Based Stimuli-Responsive Supramolecular Delivery Systems for Cancer Therapy.

Cancer poses a significant challenge to global public health, seriously threatening human health and life. Although various therapeutic strategies, such as chemotherapy (CT), radiotherapy, phototherapy, and starvation therapy, are applied to cancer treatment, their limited therapeutic effect, severe side effects, and unsatisfactory drug release behavior need to be carefully considered. Thus, there is an urgent need to develop efficient drug delivery strategies for improving cancer treatment efficacy and realizing on-demand drug delivery. Notably, pillararenes, as an emerging class of supramolecular macrocycles, possess unique properties of highly tunable structures, superior host-guest chemistry, facile modification, and good biocompatibility, which are widely used in cancer therapy to achieve controllable drug release and reduce the toxic side effects on normal tissues under various internal/external stimuli conditions. This review summarizes the recent advance of stimuli-responsive supramolecular delivery systems (SDSs) based on pillararenes for tumor therapy from the perspectives of different assembly methods and hybrid materials, including molecular-scale SDSs, supramolecular nano self-assembly delivery systems, and nanohybrid SDSs. Moreover, the prospects and critical challenges of stimuli-responsive SDSs based on pillararenes for cancer therapy are also discussed.

Unveiling the mechanisms of trichloroethylene hypersensitivity syndrome: Exploring the role of connexin 43 gap junctions in severe skin damage.

Trichloroethylene (TCE), extensively used as an organic solvent in various industrial applications, has been identified as a causative factor in inducing hypersensitivity syndrome (THS). Currently, there is no specific treatment for THS, and most patients experience serious adverse outcomes due to extensive skin damage leading to severe infection. However, the pathogenesis of THS-associated skin damage remains unclear. This study aims to elucidate the mechanism underlying skin damage from the perspective of intercellular communication and gap junctions in THS. Our results verified that hyperactivation of connexin43 gap junctions, caused by the aberrantly elevated expression of connexin43, triggers a bystander effect that promotes apoptosis and inflammation in THS via the TNF-TNFRSF1B and mitochondria-associated pathways. Additionally, we identified the gap junction inhibitor Carbenoxolone disodium (CBX) as a promising agent for the treatment of skin damage in THS. CBX protects against inflammatory cell infiltration in the skin and decreases immune cell imbalance in the peripheral blood of THS mice. Furthermore, CBX reduces connexin43 expression, apoptosis and inflammation in THS mice. The study reveals new insights into the mechanisms underlying TCE-induced skin damage, offering a potential treatment strategy for the development of effective therapies targeting severe dermatitis induced by chemical exposure.

Plasmonic Supramolecular Nanozyme-Based Bio-Cockleburs for Synergistic Therapy of Infected Diabetic Wounds.

Diabetic wounds are a major devastating complication of diabetes due to hyperglycemia, bacterial invasion, and persistent inflammation, and the current antibiotic treatments can lead to the emergence of multidrug-resistant bacteria. Herein, a bimetallic nanozyme-based biomimetic bio-cocklebur (GNR@CeO2@GNPs) is designed and synthesized for diabetic wound management by depositing spiky ceria (CeO2) shells and gold nanoparticles (GNPs) on a gold nanorod (GNR) nanoantenna. The plasmonic-enhanced nanozyme catalysis and self-cascade reaction properties simultaneously boost the two-step enzyme-mimicking catalytic activity of GNR@CeO2@GNPs, leading to a significant improvement in overall therapeutic efficacy rather than mere additive effects. Under the glucose activation and 808 nm laser irradiation, GNR@CeO2@GNPs material captures photons and promotes the transfer of hot electrons from GNR and GNPs into CeO2, realizing a "butterfly effect" of consuming local glucose, overcoming the limited antibacterial efficiency of an individual PTT modality, and providing substantial reactive oxygen species. In vitro and in vivo experiments demonstrate the material's exceptional antibacterial and antibiofilm properties against Gram-negative and Gram-positive bacteria, which can reduce inflammation, promote collagen deposition, and facilitate angiogenesis, thereby accelerating wound healing. This study provides a promising new strategy to develop plasmonic-enhanced nanozymes with a catalytic cascade mode for the antibiotic-free synergistic treatment of infected diabetic wounds.

Dual-modality probe nanodrug delivery systems with ROS-sensitivity for atherosclerosis diagnosis and therapy.

Most acute cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases are caused by atherosclerotic plaque rupture leading to blocked arteries. Targeted nanodelivery systems deliver imaging agents or drugs to target sites for diagnostic imaging or the treatment of various diseases, providing new insights for the detection and treatment of atherosclerosis. Based on the pathological characteristics of atherosclerosis, a hydrogen peroxide-sensitive bimodal probe PPIS@FC with integrated diagnosis and treatment function was designed. Bimodal probes Fe3O4@SiO2-CDs (FC) were prepared by coupling superparamagnetic iron oxide and carbon quantum dots synthesized with citric acid, and self-assembled with hydrogen peroxide stimulus-responsive amphiphilic block polymer PGMA-PEG modified with simvastatin (Sim) and target molecule ISO-1 to obtain drug-loaded micelles PGMA-PEG-ISO-1-Sim@FC (PPIS@FC). PPIS@FC could release Sim and FC in an H2O2-triggered manner, achieving the goal of releasing drugs using the special microenvironment at the plaque. At the same time, in vivo magnetic resonance and fluorescence imaging results proved that PPIS@FC possessed targeting ability, magnetic resonance imaging and fluorescence imaging effects. The results of the FeCl3 and ApoE-/- model showed that PPIS@FC had an excellent therapeutic effect and in vivo safety. Therefore, dual-modality imaging drug delivery systems with ROS response will become a promising strategy for the diagnosis and treatment of atherosclerosis.

Impact of metals exposure on lung function and serum club cell secretory protein among schoolchildren: A mixture and mediation analysis.

Particulate matter (PM) and its harmful components are significant contributors to respiratory diseases and impaired lung function, especially in children. Club cell secretory protein (CC16) is a maker of lung epithelium or club cell injuries. To date, the relationship between metals related with PM and CC16 and lung function impairment has been overlooked in children. We enrolled 603 schoolchildren exposed to different levels of PM in China. We found per doubling increase, urinary thallium, and iron was associated with a 3.42 % (95 % CI: 0.01, 6.72) and 3.09 % (95 % CI: 0.55, 5.56) decrease of serum CC16, respectively, whereas urinary cadmium was associated with a 4.74 % (95 % CI: 1.29, 8.31) increase of serum CC16. The Bayesian kernel machine regression (BKMR) model confirmed these associations and showed a potential synergistic interaction between thallium and cadmium. Urinary metal mixtures were associated with lower CC16 when they were below the 35th percentile compared with their median. Serum CC16 mediated 11.47 % (95 % CI: 0.06, 45.00) of the association between urinary thallium and FEV1/FVC decline. The inverted U-shaped association with CC16 and the mediation role of CC16 on associations with lung function provide insight into the mechanisms underlying lung injury induced by metals related with PM.

Serum C-reactive protein to albumin ratio as a potential risk indicator of pneumonia caused by Chlamydia psittaci: a multicenter retrospective study.

Introduction: The aim of the study was to describe psittacosis pneumonia and to assess the predictive value of the C-reactive protein/albumin ratio in psittacosis pneumonia for severity. Methods: Data on psittacosis pneumonia cases diagnosed using metagenomic sequencing were collected from three hospitals in Shanghai, China from Oct. 2019 to Oct. 2022. Serum levels of C-reactive protein and albumin were measured and the C-reactive protein to albumin ratio (CAR) was calculated. Spearman's correlation analysis, ordered logistic regression analysis, and receiver operating characteristic curve analysis were conducted to examine the correlation and predictive ability of the three indicators on the severity of the disease. Results: A total of 27 patients with psittacosis pneumonia were enrolled, with an average age of 62 years and 70.4% being male. 44.4% of patients had a clear history of contact with poultry or birds. The predominant symptom was fever (100%). Patients treated in the respiratory intensive care unit (RICU) had a higher likelihood of experiencing wheezing (88.9% versus 33.3%, P=0.013) and chest tightness (88.9% vs. 33.3%, P=0.013) than those in the general ward (Non-RICU). The proportion of patients with pleural effusion was significantly higher in the RICU compared to the Non-RICU (88.9% vs. 38.9%, P=0.019). The RICU group had a significantly higher CAR than the Non-RICU group (9.41 vs. 4.05, P=0.017). This result was accompanied by higher intubation and ventilator support (33.3% vs. 0.0%, P=0.029), higher PCT and CRP levels and lower albumin and PaCO2 levels in the RICU than in the Non-RICU. Logistic regression analysis indicated that CAR (OR 1.49; 95% CI 1.07-2.06, P=0.017) was risk factor for prolonged hospitalization (> 14 days). Discussion: Elevated serum CAR levels were found to be associated with a greater risk of severe psittacosis pneumonia. Consequently, it may serve as an uncomplicated and useful diagnostic tool for clinicians to promptly and precisely ascertain the severity of psittacosis pneumonia, ultimately aiding them in devising the most optimal therapeutic plan.

CHD4/NuRD maintains demethylation state of rDNA promoters through inhibiting the expression of the rDNA methyltransferase recruiter TIP5.

Despite the well-established fact that NuRD (nucleosome remodeling and histone deacetylase) is incapable of actively demethylating DNA, the complex is surprisingly showed to be required for the establishment of unmethylated state at promoters of ribosomal genes. But the molecular mechanism underlying how NuRD mediates unmethylation at rDNA promoters remains obscure. Here we show that NuRD directly binds to the promoter of rDNA transcription silencer TIP5 (TTF-I interacting protein 5), one of the components of nucleolar remodeling complex NoRC that silences rRNA genes by recruiting DNA methyltransferase to rDNA promoters and increasing DNA methylation. NuRD negatively regulates TIP5 expression, thereby inhibiting rDNA methylation and maintaining demethylation state of rDNA promoters. The deficiency of NuRD components in reprogrammed cells activates TIP5 expression, resulting in the increased fraction of heterochromatic rRNA genes and transcriptional silencing. Thus, NuRD is able to control methylation status of rDNA promoters through crosstalking with NoRC complex.

[Microbial diversity of Pyropia haitanensis phycosphere during cultivation].

OBJECTIVE: Pyropia haitanensis is of great commercial importance and wildly cultivated in Zhejiang and Fujian provinces. To observe the characteristics and changes of phycosphere microbial communities during cultivation can help us monitor the potential pathogens and microbial factors affecting the health of cultivated seaweeds. METHODS: The morphological characteristics and the diversity of phycosphere and surrounding seawater microbes were studied by pure culture method and polymerase chain reaction-denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (PCR-DGGE). Similarity analysis was carried out online with the 16S rDNA (bacteria) and 18S rDNA (fungi) sequences in GenBank. The phycosphere microbial diversity during different growth stages, cultivated areas and periods was studied. RESULTS: Totally 467 bacteria and 55 fungi were isolated during P. haitanensis cultivation. The diversity of fungi was smaller than that of bacteria. The bacteria were classified into 41 genera, belonging to Alphaproteobacteria, Gammaproteobacteria, Actinobacteria, Firmicutes and Bacteroidetes. The dominant bacterial communities were Alphaproteobacteria and Gammaproteobacteria. Most of the fungi were classified into Ascomycota, only one strain belonging to the Basidiomycota, Agaricomycetes. Bacteria of 19 specific genera were isolated from P. haitanensis while 13 specific genera were isolated from the surrounding seawater. Most actinomycetes and fungi were isolated from the conchocelis cultured indoors, which was different from the microbial communities of the thalli in intertidal zone. Within the isolated microbes, we found that some strains had very high similarity with those pathogens such as Cobetia marina (C. marina, P. haitanensis red-rotting disease), Phoma porphyrae (P. yezoensis disease) and saprotrophic fungi Fusarium sp. and Aspergillus sp.. CONCLUSION: The diversity of Pyropia phycoshpere microbes during cultivation was affected by the seaweed morphology, culture time and environmental factors. The strains that shared high similarity with Pyropia pathogens were found in this study, which would cause our great attention to these potential pathogens for Pyropia diseases.