Targeting TRPM channels for cerebral ischemia-reperfusion injury.

Transient receptor potential melastatin (TRPM) channels have emerged as potential therapeutic targets for cerebral ischemia-reperfusion (I/R) injury. We highlight recent findings on the involvement of TRPM channels in oxidative stress, mitochondrial dysfunction, inflammation, and calcium overload. We also discuss the challenges and future directions in targeting TRPM channels for cerebral I/R injury.

A novel causative factor of injury: Severe burns related to fires and explosions of lithium-ion batteries of electric motorcycles.

Severe burns related to fires and explosions of lithium-ion batteries of electric motorcycles have not been reported to date. We retrospectively studied 419 patients admitted to our burn intensive care unit from January 2016 to December 2021. Of these 419 patients, 26 (22 male, 4 female; median age, 42 years) had burns related to lithium-ion battery fires and explosions, and all of their injury characteristics were similar to those of traditional flame burns. Lithium-ion battery-related burns were the eighth most common cause of burn injuries among all hospitalized patients. The 26 patients comprised 10 unemployed and 16 employed individuals. Twenty-three patients were injured at home during the battery charging process, and three were injured outdoors (one by a fire while the electric motorcycle was stationary and the others two by a fire while riding the motorcycle). The burn sites were distributed over the whole body; the burn area ranged from 10 % to 100 % of the total body surface area, and the burn depth ranged from superficial second-degree burns to third-degree burns. Twenty-three patients had inhalation injuries, and ten underwent prophylactic tracheostomy and intubation. Multiple operations were required for wound repair. Although convenient, lithium-ion electric motorcycles can also cause severe burns. To prevent these injuries, we must increase public safety awareness and education, develop new battery energy storage systems and battery management systems, and ensure the safety of batteries. Consumers should be aware of the potential dangers of lithium-ion batteries and comply with related security measures.

Neutrophil extracellular traps-inspired DNA hydrogel for wound hemostatic adjuvant.

Severe traumatic bleeding may lead to extremely high mortality rates, and early intervention to stop bleeding plays as a critical role in saving lives. However, rapid hemostasis in deep non-compressible trauma using a highly water-absorbent hydrogel, combined with strong tissue adhesion and bionic procoagulant mechanism, remains a challenge. In this study, a DNA hydrogel (DNAgel) network composed of natural nucleic acids with rapid water absorption, high swelling and instant tissue adhesion is reported, like a band-aid to physically stop bleeding. The excellent swelling behavior and robust mechanical performance, meanwhile, enable the DNAgel band-aid to fill the defect cavity and exert pressure on the bleeding vessels, thereby achieving compression hemostasis for deep tissue bleeding sites. The neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs)-inspired DNAgel network also acts as an artificial DNA scaffold for erythrocytes to adhere and aggregate, and activates platelets, promoting coagulation cascade in a bionic way. The DNAgel achieves lower blood loss than commercial gelatin sponge (GS) in male rat trauma models. In vivo evaluation in a full-thickness skin incision model also demonstrates the ability of DNAgel for promoting wound healing. Overall, the DNAgel band-aid with great hemostatic capacity is a promising candidate for rapid hemostasis and wound healing.

Exercise therapy in the application of sleep disorders.

Sleep disorders often accompany neurological injuries, significantly impacting patient recovery and quality of life.The efficacy and adherence of traditional treatment methods have certain limitations. Exercise has been found to be a highly beneficial treatment method, capable of preventing and alleviating neurological injuries and sleep disorders. This article reviews relevant research findings from both domestic and international sources over the past few decades, systematically summarizing and analyzing the application of exercise therapy in sleep disorders,strategy of exercise intervention program and the potential molecular mechanisms by which exercise therapy improves sleep disorders. Shortcomings in current research and suggestions are presented, providing a reference for future in-depth studies on exercise interventions for sleep disorders.

Application value of MRI-guided wire localization to the non-palpable breast lesions only shown in Breast MRI.

Introduction: Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)-guided wire localization can be applied to assist to remove suspected breast lesions accurately. This study aimed to evaluate the clinical application value of this technique in Chinese women. Methods: A total of 126 patients (131 lesions) who had underwent such technique in our hospital from April 2017 to June 2023 were enrolled. 1.5T MRI system and a wire localization device were used. Image characteristics, clinical features and postoperative pathology were collected and analyzed. Results: All of 126 patients (131 lesions) were successfully localized by MRI and excised for biopsy. There were 39 malignant lesions (29.77%) and 92 benign lesions (70.23%). There was no significant correlation between the morphology of DCE-MRI and the ratio of malignant lesions (P=0.763), while there was a statistical correlation between the BPE, TIC curve and the malignancy rate (P<0.05). All the lesions were assessed according to BI-RADS category of MRI (C4A=77, C4B=40, C4C=12, C5=2). The malignancy rates were as follows: 16.88% for 4A lesions (13/77), 37.50% for 4B lesions (15/40), 75.00% for 4C lesions (9/12) and 100% for 5 lesions (2/2). There was a significant correlation between the BI-RADS category and the incidence of benign-to-malignant lesions (P<0.001). Conclusion: MRI-guided wire localization can assist to remove suspected breast lesions early, safely and accurately. This technique makes up for the deficiency of X-ray and ultrasound, improves the accuracy of diagnosis and resection therapy in intraductal carcinoma and early invasive carcinoma, and helps to improve the the prognosis of breast cancer.

Global patterns of human-wildlife spatial associations and implications for differentiating conservation strategies.

Understanding the global patterns of human and wildlife spatial associations is essential for pragmatic conservation implementation, yet analytical foundations and indicator-based assessments that would further this understanding are lacking. We integrated the global distributions of 30,664 terrestrial vertebrates and human pressures to map human-nature index (HNI) categories that indicate the extent and intensity of human-wildlife interactions. Along the 2 dimensions of biodiversity and human activity, the HNI allowed placement of terrestrial areas worldwide in one of 4 HNI categories: anthropic (human-dominated areas), wildlife-dominated (little human influence and rich in wildlife), co-occurring (substantial presence of humans and wildlife), and harsh-environment (limited presence of humans and wildlife) areas. The HNI varied considerably among taxonomic groups, and the leading driver of HNI was global climate patterns. Co-occurring regions were the most prevalent (35.9%), and wildlife-dominated and anthropic regions encompassed 26.45% and 6.50% of land area, respectively. Our results highlight the necessity for customizing conservation strategies to regions based on human-wildlife spatial associations and the distribution of existing protected area networks. Human activity and biodiversity should be integrated for complementary strategies to support conservation toward ambitious and pragmatic 30×30 goals.

Patrones globales de las asociaciones espaciales entre humanos y fauna y las implicaciones para la diferenciación de las estrategias de conservación Resumen Es esencial entender los patrones globales de asociaciones entre humanos y fauna para la implementación pragmática de la conservación. Aun así, son muy pocos los fundamentos analíticos y las evaluaciones basadas en indicadores que incrementarían este conocimiento. Integramos la distribución global de 30,664 vertebrados terrestres y presiones humanas para mapear las categorías del índice de naturaleza humana (INH) que indican la extensión e intensidad de las interacciones humano­fauna. El INH permitió la colocación de áreas terrestres en todo el mundo en las dos dimensiones de la biodiversidad y las actividades humanas dentro de una de las cuatro categorías del INH: áreas antrópicas (dominadas por humanos), dominadas por fauna (poca influencia humana y rica en fauna), co­ocurrentes (presencia sustancial de humanos y fauna) y de ambiente severo (presencia limitada de humanos y fauna). El INH varió considerablemente entre los taxones, y el factor principal fueron los patrones climáticos mundiales. Las regiones co­ocurrentes fueron las más frecuentes (35.9%) las regiones antrópicas y dominadas por fauna englobaron el 26.45% y 6.50% del área terrestre respectivamente. Nuestros resultados enfatizan la necesidad de personalizar las estrategias de conservación acorde a la región con base en las asociaciones espaciales entre humanos y fauna y la distribución de las redes existentes de áreas protegidas. La actividad humana y la biodiversidad deberían estar integradas para las estrategias complementarias para respaldar a la conservación hacia los objetivos ambiciosos y pragmáticos de 30 para el 30.

Multifunctional antibacterial hydrogels for chronic wound management.

Chronic wounds have gradually evolved into a global health challenge, comprising long-term non-healing wounds, local tissue necrosis, and even amputation in severe cases. Accordingly, chronic wounds place a considerable psychological and economic burden on patients and society. Chronic wounds have multifaceted pathogenesis involving excessive inflammation, insufficient angiogenesis, and elevated reactive oxygen species levels, with bacterial infection playing a crucial role. Hydrogels, renowned for their excellent biocompatibility, moisture retention, swelling properties, and oxygen permeability, have emerged as promising wound repair dressings. However, hydrogels with singular functions fall short of addressing the complex requirements associated with chronic wound healing. Hence, current research emphasises the development of multifunctional antibacterial hydrogels. This article reviews chronic wound characteristics and the properties and classification of antibacterial hydrogels, as well as their potential application in chronic wound management.

Applying the multiple object juggling task to measure the attention of athletes: Evidence from female soccer.

The purpose of this study is to investigate whether the presentation of targets can affect the performance of multiple object tracking and whether the difference between female soccer players and female college students is regulated by the presentation of targets. We enlisted a group of 20 Chinese female soccer players and another group of 20 non-players to complete a multiple object juggling (MOJ) task. The mean age was 20.24 ±â€…1.61 years in the athletes group and 21.35 ±â€…1.93 years in the non-athletes group. Accuracy was analyzed to examine the disparity between soccer players and non-players, as well as the disparity between 3 presentation conditions for targets (fixed, added, and dynamic). Regarding the MOJ task, female soccer players did not outperform non-players (F = 1.84, 95% CI [-1.14 to 6.02], P = .27). The performance of tracking in fixed conditions was superior to that in added and dynamic conditions (MD = 10.33%, 95% CI [4.93 to 15.71], P < .001; MD = 9.82%, 95% CI [4.43 to 15.21], P < .001). The tracking accuracy of female soccer players was significantly higher than non-players in dynamic condition (F = 7.26, 95% CI [2.19 to 14.59], P = .01). According to the findings, experts who specialize in team sports tend to exhibit a greater attention advantage in areas that are pertinent to their field of expertise. For future studies, it will be necessary to employ MOT conditions that are more representative of sport-specific characteristics to strengthen the task ecological validity.

PGC-1α activation ameliorates cancer-induced bone pain via inhibiting apoptosis of GABAergic interneurons.

Cancer-induced bone pain (CIBP) stands out as one of the most challenging issues in clinical practice due to its intricate and not fully elucidated pathophysiological mechanisms. Existing evidence has pointed toward the significance of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ coactivator-1α (PGC-1α) down-regulation in contributing to pain behaviors in various rodent models of neuropathic pain. In our current study, we aimed to investigate the role of PGC-1α in CIBP. Our results unveiled a reduction in PGC-1α expression within the spinal cord of CIBP rats, particularly in GABAergic interneurons. Notably, intrathecal administration of the PGC-1α activator ZLN005 suppressed the loss of spinal GABAergic interneurons. This suppression was achieved by inhibiting caspase-3-mediated apoptosis, ultimately leading to the alleviation of mechanical allodynia in CIBP rats. Further exploration into the mechanism revealed that PGC-1α activation played a pivotal role in mitigating ATP depletion and reactive oxygen species accumulation linked to mitochondrial dysfunction. This was achieved through the restoration of mitochondrial biogenesis and the activation of the SIRT3-SOD2 pathway. Impressively, the observed effects were prominently reversed upon the application of SR18292, a specific PGC-1α inhibitor. In conclusion, our findings strongly suggest that PGC-1α activation acts as a potent inhibitor of apoptosis in spinal GABAergic interneurons. This inhibition is mediated by the improvement of mitochondrial function, facilitated in part through the enhancement of mitochondrial biogenesis and the activation of the SIRT3-SOD2 pathway. The results of our study shed light on potential therapeutic avenues for addressing CIBP.

Profile of the gut microbiota of Pacific white shrimp under industrial indoor farming system.

The gut microbial communities interact with the host immunity and physiological functions. In this study, we investigated the bacterial composition in Litopenaeus vannamei shrimp's gut and rearing water under different host (developmental stage: juvenile and adult; health status: healthy and diseased) and environmental factors (temperature 25 °C and 28 °C; and light intensity: low and high). The PCoA analysis showed that all water samples were clustered together in a quarter, whereas the gut samples spread among three quarters. In terms of functional bacteria, gut samples of adult shrimp, healthy adult shrimp, adult shrimp raised at 28 °C, and juvenile shrimp under high light intensity exhibited a higher abundance of Vibrionaceae compared to each other opposite group. Gut samples of juvenile shrimp, infected adult shrimp, juvenile shrimp with low light intensity, and adult shrimp with a water temperature of 25 °C showed a higher abundance of Pseudoaltromonadaceae bacteria compared to each other opposite group. Gut samples of juvenile shrimp, healthy adult shrimp, adult shrimp raised at a water temperature of 28 °C, and juvenile shrimp with high light intensity showed the higher abundance of Firmicutes/Bacteroidota ratio compared to each other opposite group. Our results showed that L. vannamei juveniles are more sensitive to bacterial infections; besides, water temperature of 28 °C and high light intensity groups were both important conditions improving the shrimp gut bacterial composition under industrial indoor farming systems. KEY POINTS: • Bacteria diversity was higher among shrimp intestinal microbiota compared to the rearing water. • Shrimp juveniles are more sensitive to bacterial infection compared to adults. • Water temperature of 28 °C and high light intensity are recommended conditions for white shrimp aquaculture.

Efficacy of Bleomycin-Lauromacrogol Foam in Pediatric Macrocystic Lymphatic Malformations With and Without Intracapsular Hemorrhage.

BACKGROUND: Sclerotherapy is purportedly less effective in patients with hemorrhagic than with non-hemorrhagic lymphatic malformations (LMs). We aimed to compare the efficacy of bleomycin-lauromacrogol foam (BLF) sclerotherapy in the treatment of macrocystic LMs with and without intralesional hemorrhage. METHODS: Fifty-five children with macrocystic LMs admitted to the Pediatric Surgery Department were retrospectively included. The patients were allocated into a hemorrhage group (23 cases) or a non-hemorrhage group (32 cases) based on the occurrence of an intracapsular hemorrhage. The diagnosis was confirmed by physical examination, color ultrasound, magnetic resonance imaging, and puncture findings. BLF was injected into the capsule after draining the cystic fluid under color ultrasound guidance. Patients whose lesions were unchanged or showed minor change after 1 month were treated again using the same method. Changes in lesion size and the number of treatments were recorded. Effectiveness was classified as excellent (volume reduction ≥90%), good (50%≤volume reduction<90%), or poor (volume reduction <50%). RESULTS: In the hemorrhage group, 17, 6, and 0 patients' outcomes were classified as excellent, good, and poor, respectively. The overall efficacy rate was 100%. In the non-hemorrhage group, 23, 7, and 2 patients' outcomes were classified as excellent, good, and poor, respectively. The overall efficacy rate was 93.8%. There was no significant difference in efficacy rate between groups (P = 0.767). CONCLUSIONS: BLF is an effective and safe treatment for macrocystic LMs with bleeding. The results were similar in patients with and without bleeding. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Treatment, Level III.

Two-Dimensional Biodegradable Black Phosphorus Nanosheets Promote Large Full-Thickness Wound Healing through In Situ Regeneration Therapy.

Large full-thickness skin lesions have been one of the most challenging clinical problems in plastic surgery repair and reconstruction. To achieve in situ skin regeneration and perfect clinical outcomes, we must address two significant obstacles: angiogenesis deficiency and inflammatory dysfunction. Recently, black phosphorus has shown great promise in wound healing. However, few studies have explored the bio-effects of BP to promote in situ skin regeneration based on its nanoproperties. Here, to investigate whether black phosphorus nanosheets have positive bio-effects on in situ skin repair, we verified black phosphorus nanosheets' positive effects on angiogenic and anti-inflammatory abilities in vitro. Next, the in vivo evaluation performed on the rat large full-thickness excisional wound splinting model more comprehensively showed that the positive bio-effects of black phosphorus nanosheets are multilevel in wound healing, which can effectively enhance anti-inflammatory ability, angiogenesis, collagen deposition, and skin re-epithelialization. Then, multiomics analysis was performed to explore further the mechanism of black phosphorus nanosheets' regulation of endothelial cells in depth. Molecular mechanistically, black phosphorus nanosheets activated the JAK-STAT-OAS signaling pathway to promote cellular function and mitochondrial energy metabolism in endothelial cells. This study can provide a theoretical basis for applying two-dimensional black phosphorus nanosheets as nanomedicine to achieve in situ tissue regeneration in complex human pathological microenvironments, guiding the subsequent optimization of black phosphorus.

Matrix metalloproteinases as attractive therapeutic targets for chronic pain: A narrative review.

Chronic pain constitutes an abnormal pain state that detrimentally affects the quality of life, daily activities, occupational performance, and stability of mood. Despite the prevalence of chronic pain, effective drugs with potent abirritation and minimal side effects remain elusive. Substantial studies have revealed aberrant activation of the matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) in multiple chronic pain models. Additionally, emerging evidence has demonstrated that the downregulation of MMPs can alleviate chronic pain in diverse animal models, underscoring the unique and crucial role of MMPs in different stages and types of chronic pain. This review delves into the mechanistic insights and roles of MMPs in modulating chronic pain. The aberrant activation of MMPs has been linked to neuropathic pain through mechanisms involving myelin abnormalities in peripheral nerve and spinal dorsal horn (SDH), hyperexcitability of dorsal root ganglion (DRG) neurons, activation of N-methyl-d-aspartate receptors (NMDAR) and Ca2+-dependent signals, glial cell activation, and proinflammatory cytokines release. Different MMPs also contribute significantly to inflammatory pain and cancer pain. Furthermore, we summarized the substantial therapeutic potential of MMP pharmacological inhibitors across different types of chronic pain. Overall, our findings underscore the promising therapeutic prospects of MMPs targeting for managing chronic pain.

Interleukin-17: A Putative Novel Pharmacological Target for Pathological Pain.

Pathological pain imposes a huge burden on the economy and the lives of patients. At present, drugs used for the treatment of pathological pain have only modest efficacy and are also plagued by adverse effects and risk for misuse and abuse. Therefore, understanding the mechanisms of pathological pain is essential for the development of novel analgesics. Several lines of evidence indicate that interleukin-17 (IL-17) is upregulated in rodent models of pathological pain in the periphery and central nervous system. Besides, the administration of IL-17 antibody alleviated pathological pain. Moreover, IL-17 administration led to mechanical allodynia which was alleviated by the IL-17 antibody. In this review, we summarized and discussed the therapeutic potential of targeting IL-17 for pathological pain. The upregulation of IL-17 promoted the development of pathological pain by promoting neuroinflammation, enhancing the excitability of dorsal root ganglion neurons, and promoting the communication of glial cells and neurons in the spinal cord. In general, the existing research shows that IL-17 is an attractive therapeutic target for pathologic pain, but the underlying mechanisms still need to be investigated.

Targeting the JAK2/STAT3 signaling pathway for chronic pain.

Chronic pain is a notable health concern because of its prevalence, persistence, and associated mental stress. Drugs targeting chronic pain with potent abirritation, and minimal side effects remain unidentified. Substantial evidence indicates that the Janus Kinase 2 (JAK2)/signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3) signaling pathway plays a distinct and critical role in different stages of chronic pain. Aberrant activation of the JAK2/STAT3 signaling pathway is evident in multiple chronic pain models. Moreover, an increasing number of studies have demonstrated that the downregulation of JAK2/STAT3 can attenuate chronic pain in different animal models. In this review, we investigated the mechanism and role of the JAK2/STAT3 signaling pathway in modulating chronic pain. The aberrant activation of JAK2/STAT3 can trigger chronic pain by interacting with microglia and astrocytes, releasing proinflammatory cytokines, inhibiting anti-inflammatory cytokines, and regulating synaptic plasticity. We also retrospectively reviewed current reports on JAK2/STAT3 pharmacological inhibitors that demonstrated their significant therapeutic potential in different types of chronic pain. In summary, our results provide strong evidence that the JAK2/STAT3 signaling pathway is a promising therapeutic target for chronic pain.

The effectiveness of using giant panda as a surrogate for protecting sympatric species.

The use of umbrella species to promote biodiversity conservation is practiced worldwide. The giant panda (Ailuropoda melanoleuca) an iconic species for world wildlife conservation, that inhabits regions with significant biodiversity. Given that the functions at wildlife of different trophic levels and in different body size groups are different within the ecosystem, it is unknown whether those groups of wildlife co-occurring with giant pandas are each likewise protected. To examine the umbrella effect of giant pandas on sympatric species, we used an extensive dataset of wildlife from more than 78% of giant panda habitats. We analysed the changes in distribution for four wildlife categories (large carnivores, large herbivores, medium carnivores and medium herbivores) using a generalized linear mixed model, and the underlying driving factors using binomial logistic regression models. Changes in forests in giant panda habitats were evaluated using Fragstats. The results have shown that the counts of herbivores and medium carnivores increased significantly during the decade. However, those of large carnivores significantly declined. Forest cover and nature reserves showed significant and positive effects on wildlife in 2001 and 2011, while the human population had significant and negative impacts on the herbivores and carnivores. Our results have also suggested that there has been a slight alleviation in forest fragmentation in areas unaffected by earthquakes. We concluded that the umbrella strategy of using the giant panda as an umbrella species achieved partial success by promoting the recovery of herbivores and medium carnivores. Meanwhile, this has indicated that the strategy was not sufficient for large carnivores, and therefore not enough for local ecosystems, given the critical role of large carnivores. We have suggested integrating habitat patches, controlling human disturbance, and preparing for potential human-wildlife conflict management in the Giant Panda National Park to restore large carnivore populations and maintain ecosystem functioning.

Exploring the oral-gut microbiota during thyroid cancer: Factors affecting the thyroid functions and cancer development.

Thyroid cancer (TC) is categorized into papillary, follicular, medullary, and anaplastic. The TC is increasing in several countries, including China, the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada, France, Australia, Germany, Japan, Spain, and Italy. Thus, this review comprehensively covers the factors that affect thyroid gland function, TC types, risk factors, and symptoms. Lifestyle factors (such as nutrient consumption and smoking) and pollutants (such as chemicals and heavy metals) increased the thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) levels which are directly related to TC prevalence. The conventional and recent TC treatments are also highlighted. The role of the oral and gut microbiota as well as the application of probiotics on TC are also discussed. The variations in the composition of oral and gut microbes influence the thyroid function indirectly through alteration in metabolites (such as short-chain fatty acids) that are eminent for cellular energy metabolism. Maintenance of healthy gut and oral microbiota can help in regulating thyroid function by regulating iodine uptake. Oral or gut microbial dysbiosis can be considered as an early diagnosis factor or TC marker. High TSH during TC can increase the oral microbial diversity while disrupting the high ratio of Firmicutes and Bacteroidetes in the gut. Supplementation of probiotics as an adjuvant in TC treatment is beneficial. However, needs more extensive research to explore the direct effect of probiotics on thyroid function.

Male spiny frogs enter the underwater battlefield with loose skin exhibiting enhanced penetration of capillaries into the epidermis.

The skin has multiple functions, and capillaries can penetrate the epidermis to shorten the diffusion path while allowing maintenance of overall epidermal thickness for nonrespiratory roles. However, a method for quantifying the capillary penetration extent is lacking. Such a method may facilitate making comparisons and detecting associations, potentially making the extent a useful variable in biological studies. We quantified the extent as the ratio of the average minimum thickness of epidermis overlying each capillary to the average epidermal thickness along a skin section and then explored its performance in the Emei mustache toad, Leptobrachium boringii, a species in which breeding males with loose skin call and fight each other with maxillary spines underwater. The ratio showed informative associations with other variables, such as perfused capillary density. It displayed small intragroup variation and could be more sensitive than other variables in revealing structural differences in the skin. The ratio estimates were lowest and were correlated with epidermal and stratum compactum thicknesses in breeding males, i.e., a covariation but not reinforcement against stabbing, constituting early evidence consistent with the increased extensibility of loose skin conferring a defensive advantage during combat in amphibians. In addition, our results lead to the hypothesis that high hemoglobin density along subepidermal capillaries favors the maintenance of low blood partial oxygen pressure and hence increases cutaneous oxygen uptake. We also provide evidence supporting the new idea that the cooccurrence of loose skin and underwater calling found in some frogs can be explained by the latter benefiting from a large functional respiratory surface area. Awareness of the usefulness of the ratio may promote its application and the quantification of the penetration. Regarding exchange surface design, these findings for L. boringii imply a case in which looseness increases surface area as well as prevents damage.

Profibrotic COVID-19 subphenotype exhibits enhanced localized ER-dependent HSP47+ expression in cardiac myofibroblasts in situ.

We recently described a subgroup of autopsied COVID-19 subjects (∼40%), termed 'profibrotic phenotype,' who exhibited clusters of myofibroblasts (Mfbs), which were positive for the collagen-specific chaperone heat shock protein 47 (HSP47+) in situ. This report identifies increased, localized (hot spot restricted) expression of αSMA, COLα1, POSTN and FAP supporting the identity of HSP47+ cells as myofibroblasts and characterizing a profibrotic extracellular matrix (ECM) phenotype. Coupled with increased GRP78 in COVID-19 subjects, these data could reflect induction of the unfolded protein response for mitigation of proteostasis (i.e., protein homeostasis) dysfunction in discrete clusters of cells. ECM shifts in selected COVID-19 subjects occur without significant increases in either global trichrome positive staining or myocardial injury based quantitively on standard H&E scoring. Our findings also suggest distinct mechanism(s) for ECM remodeling in the setting of SARS-CoV-2 infection. The ratio of CD163+/CD68+ cells is increased in hot spots of profibrotic hearts compared with either controls or outside of hot spots in COVID-19 subjects. In sum, matrix remodeling of human COVID-19 hearts in situ is characterized by site-restricted profibrotic mediated (e.g., HSP47+ Mfbs, CD163+ Mφs) modifications in ECM (i.e., COLα1, POSTN, FAP), with a strong correlation between COLα1 and HSP47+cells within hot spots. Given the established associations of viral infection (e.g., human immunodeficiency virus; HIV), myocardial fibrosis and sudden cardiac death, early screening tools (e.g., plasma biomarkers, noninvasive cardiac magnetic resonance imaging) for diagnosis, monitoring and treatment of fibrotic ECM remodeling are warranted for COVID-19 high-risk populations.

Radar remote sensing reveals potential underestimation of rainfall erosivity at the global scale.

Rainfall kinetic energy (RKE) constitutes one of the most critical factors that drive rainfall erosivity on surface soil. Direct measurements of RKE are limited, relying instead on the empirical relations between kinetic energy and rainfall intensity (KE-I relation), which have not been well regionalized for data-scarce regions. Here, we present the first global rainfall microphysics-based RKE (RKEMPH) flux retrieved from radar reflectivity at different frequencies. The results suggest that RKEMPH flux outperforms the RKE estimates derived from a widely used empirical KE-I relation (RKEKE-I) validated using ground disdrometers. We found a potentially widespread underestimation of RKEKE-I, which is especially prominent in some low-income countries with ~20% underestimation of RKE and the resultant rainfall erosivity. Given the evidence that these countries are subject to greater rainfall-induced soil erosion, these underestimations would mislead conservation practices for sustainable development of terrestrial ecosystems.