Genetic estimation of causalities between educational attainment with common digestive tract diseases and the mediating pathways.

BACKGROUND: The association between education, intelligence, and cognition with digestive tract diseases has been established. However, the specific contribution of each factor in the pathogenesis of these diseases are still uncertain. METHOD: This study employed multivariable Mendelian randomization (MR) to assess the independent effects of education, intelligence, and cognition on gastrointestinal conditions in the FinnGen and UK Biobank European-ancestry populations. A two-step MR approach was employed to assess the mediating effects of the association. RESULTS: Meta-analysis of MR estimates from FinnGen and UK Biobank showed that 1- SD (4.2 years) higher education was causally associated with lower risks of gastroesophageal reflux (OR: 0.58; 95% CI: 0.50, 0.66), peptic ulcer (OR: 0.57; 95% CI: 0.47, 0.69), irritable bowel syndrome (OR: 0.70; 95% CI: 0.56, 0.87), diverticular disease (OR: 0.69; 95% CI: 0.61, 0.78), cholelithiasis (OR: 0.68; 95% CI: 0.59, 0.79) and acute pancreatitis (OR: 0.54; 95% CI: 0.41, 0.72), independently of intelligence and cognition. These causal associations were mediating by body mass index (3.7-22.3%), waist-to-hip ratio (8.3-11.9%), body fat percentage (4.1-39.8%), fasting insulin (1.4-5.5%) and major depression (6.0-12.4%). CONCLUSION: Our findings demonstrate a causal and independent association between education and six common digestive tract diseases. Additionally, our study highlights five mediators as crucial targets for preventing digestive tract diseases associated with lower education levels.

"Three-dimensional environment-friendly" amino acid functionalized chitosan: Uranium adsorption performance and mechanism research.

To achieve the goals of "carbon peak and carbon neutrality" and sustainable development, we propose "Three-Dimensional Environment-Friendly" materials to balance the urgent need for the development of clean energy and the reduction of secondary environmental pollution during adsorbent preparation. In this study, three novel chitosan adsorbents (CMNSC-Leu, CMNSC-Pro, CMNSC-Phe) for uranium adsorption were designed on the basis of molecular level and successfully synthesized with three different amino acids (leucine, proline, phenylalanine) through amidation reaction in an aqueous environment using a sustainable green chitosan material. The uranium adsorption capacity of the three adsorbents was evaluated by batch adsorption, selectivity and recyclability studies. The adsorption reaction conformed to the pseudo-second-order model and was a spontaneous endothermic reaction. In particular, the maximum adsorption capacity of CMNSC-Pro for uranium was 462.7 mg·g-1 at C0 = 100 ppm. In addition, CMNSC-Pro showed better selectivity and good reusability. DFT calculation and IRI diagram were applied in this work to analyze the unique structure and adsorption process of CMNSC-Pro from the perspective of structure. Uranium was adsorbed by CMNSC-Pro via coordination, electrostatic interaction, and intraparticle diffusion. This work provided a new idea for the structural design and construction of new high-efficiency biomass adsorbents.

Association between RC/HDL-C ratio and risk of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease in the United States.

Background: The occurrence of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is increasing worldwide. The link between serum remnant cholesterol (RC) to high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) ratio and NAFLD remains unclear. Therefore, we sought to clarify the relationship between the RC/HDL-C ratio and the NAFLD. Methods: Data for our cross-sectional study came from the 2017-2018 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) with 2,269 participants. Associations between RC/HDL-C levels and the prevalence of NAFLD and hepatic fibrosis were evaluated using adjusted multivariate logistic regression analyses. A generalized additive model examined the non-linear relationship between RC/HDL-C and the probability of developing NAFLD. Results: Among 2,269 participants, 893 (39.36%) were diagnosed with NAFLD. In each of the three models, RC/HDL-C and NAFLD had a strong positive statistical relationship: model 1 (OR = 9.294, 95%CI: 6.785, 12.731), model 2 (OR = 7.450, 95%CI: 5.401, 10.278), and model 3 (OR = 2.734, 95%CI: 1.895, 3.944). In addition, the subgroup analysis by gender and BMI suggested that RC/HDL-C showed a positive correlation with NAFLD. The RC/HDL-C ratio was positively correlated with the degree of liver steatosis. There was an inverted U-shaped connection between the prevalence of NAFLD and RC/HDL-C, with an inflection point of 0.619 for all participants and 0.690 for men. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis showed that the predictive value of RC/HDL-C for NAFLD (area under the curve: 0.7139; 95%CI: 0.6923, 0.7354; P < 0.001), was better than traditional lipid parameters. Conclusion: Increased RC/HDL-C levels are independently associated with an increased risk of NAFLD and the severity of liver steatosis in the American population. In addition, the RC/HDL-C ratio can be used as a simple and effective non-invasive biomarker to identify individuals with a high risk of NAFLD.

Source leaves are regulated by sink strengths through non-coding RNAs and alternative polyadenylation in cucumber (Cucumis sativus L.).

BACKGROUND: The yield of major crops is generally limited by sink capacity and source strength. Cucumber is a typical raffinose family oligosaccharides (RFOs)-transporting crop. Non-coding RNAs and alternative polyadenylation (APA) play important roles in the regulation of growth process in plants. However, their roles on the sink‒source regulation have not been demonstrated in RFOs-translocating species. RESULTS: Here, whole-transcriptome sequencing was applied to compare the leaves of cucumber under different sink strength, that is, no fruit-carrying leaves (NFNLs) and fruit-carrying leaves (FNLs) at 12th node from the bottom. The results show that 1101 differentially expressed (DE) mRNAs, 79 DE long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) and 23 DE miRNAs were identified, which were enriched in photosynthesis, energy production and conversion, plant hormone signal transduction, starch and carbohydrate metabolism and protein synthesis pathways. Potential co-expression networks like, DE lncRNAs-DE mRNAs/ DE miRNAs-DE mRNAs, and competing endogenous RNA (ceRNA) regulation models (DE lncRNAs-DE miRNAs-DE mRNAs) associated with sink‒source allocation, were constructed. Furthermore, 37 and 48 DE genes, which enriched in MAPK signaling and plant hormone signal transduction pathway, exist differentially APA, and SPS (CsaV3_2G033300), GBSS1 (CsaV3_5G001560), ERS1 (CsaV3_7G029600), PNO1 (CsaV3_3G003950) and Myb (CsaV3_3G022290) may be regulated by both ncRNAs and APA between FNLs and NFNLs, speculating that ncRNAs and APA are involved in the regulation of gene expression of cucumber sink‒source carbon partitioning. CONCLUSIONS: These results reveal a comprehensive network among mRNAs, ncRNAs, and APA in cucumber sink-source relationships. Our findings also provide valuable information for further research on the molecular mechanism of ncRNA and APA to enhance cucumber yield.

Multifunctional coating with hydrophobicity, antibacterial and flame-retardant properties on cotton fabrics by layer-by-layer self-assembly curing of phytic acid and a tyrosine-derived hyperbranched benzoxazine.

The inherent hydrophilicity and biocompatibility of cotton fabrics facilitated bacterial proliferation and safety concerns, limiting their applications. To address these issues, tyrosine-derived polyetherimide, bis(3-aminopropyl)-terminated poly(dimethylsiloxane), and paraformaldehyde were used to synthesize hyperbranched benzoxazine THB-BOZs-PDMS with potent antibacterial and antibiofilm activity. The protonated amino groups of benzoxazine facilitated electrostatic interactions with negatively charged bacteria, and hydrophobic interactions disrupted the cell membrane, leading to bacteria death. Notably, phytic acid interacts with benzoxazines through intermolecular forces, with its phosphoric acid groups facilitating the curing of benzoxazines, thereby imparting flame-retardant properties to the material. Consequently, a multifunctional coating was developed via LBL self-assembly and in-situ curing of benzoxazines and phytic acid on the fabric surfaces. The successful deposition of the coating was confirmed through compositional analysis and morphological characterization. After 4 cycles of LBL modification, the fabrics TBP + PA-CF-4 displayed outstanding antibacterial efficacy, bacterial anti-adhesion properties, and heat resistance. Furthermore, TBP + PA-CF-4 exhibited notable washing and mechanical durability, attributed to the stability conferred by in-situ cured of layers. Compared with other reported modified fabrics, TBP + PA-CF-4 displayed more comprehensive overall performances. These multifunctional fabrics provided a sustainable approach for advancing personal protective materials and public decoration, particularly suited for use in high-humidity environments or military settings.

Bis-substituted amino acid functionalized chitosan aerogels: High uranium adsorption capacity and antibacterial properties.

Based on the goal of "carbon neutralization and carbon peaking", it is still challenging to develop a high adsorption performance and environmentally friendly material for uranium extraction. We proposed a new idea of "Three-Dimensional Environmental-Friendly". A series of amino acid bis-substituted chitosan aerogels (C-1, C-2, C-3, C-4 and C-5) were prepared by ice template method and selective substitution reaction in water environment. Among them, C-3 adsorbent has the antibacterial properties of gram-positive bacteria, gram-negative bacteria and marine bacteria, which is more suitable for uranium adsorption in complex environments. Also, C-3 adsorbent solves the shortcomings of poor adsorption property and easy to cause secondary pollution during modification of traditional chitosan materials. The selectivity and adsorption capacity of uranium are further improved by the unique functional groups of serine residues. At pH = 7, the maximum adsorption capacity reaches 606.32 mg/g. In addition, C-3 adsorbent have excellent selectivity and stability. The synergistic effect of coordination, electrostatic interaction and intraparticle diffusion between C-3 adsorbent and uranium may be the key to its high adsorption performance. The high performance of chitosan adsorbent provides a new idea for the design and application of green and efficient uranium adsorption materials.

A colloidal gold immunochromatographic method for rapid screening of imidacloprid residues in Chinese herbal medicines.

An imidacloprid colloidal gold immunochromatographic strip was developed in this work, and systematic analytical conditions were deeply investigated. The test strips were used for rapid screening of imidacloprid residues in Chinese herbal medicines. The performance of the colloidal gold test strips was investigated by using five selected Chinese herbal medicines (malt, Coix seed, lotus seed, dried ginger and honeysuckle). As a result, the developed imidacloprid colloidal gold immunochromatographic test strips could be used for rapid screening of imidacloprid residues in 60 kinds of different herbs (including 26 kinds of root/rhizome medicines, 20 kinds of seed/fruit/pericarp medicines, 11 kinds of flower/leaf/whole herb medicines, and 3 kinds of bark/aboveground issues of herb medicines), and the cut-off value was 50 µg/kg. The development of this method can achieve the goal of on-site, rapid and low-cost screening of imidacloprid residues in different herbs, which is of great significance for the quality assurance of herbs.

Unveiling the Contamination Patterns of Neonicotinoid Insecticides: Detection, Distribution, and Risk Assessment in Panax notoginseng across Plant Parts.

This study analyzed neonicotinoid insecticides (NEOs) and metabolite (m-NEOs) residues in 136 Panax notoginseng samples via ultra-performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry. Imidacloprid was the most detected NEO (88.24% of samples), ranging from 1.50 to 2850 µg/kg. To the best of our knowledge, some novel NEOs were detected in P. notoginseng for the first time. NEO clustering patterns varied among plant parts, with higher contamination in leaves and flowers. Fourteen NEO/m-NEOs, including cycloxaprid and acetamiprid, showed site-specific behavior, indicating the possibility of using multiple NEOs simultaneously during planting, resulting in formation of distinct metabolites in different plant parts. Transfer rates in decoction and infusion ranged from 10.06 to 32.33%, reducing residues postprocessing. Dietary risk assessment showed low hazard quotients (HQa: 7.05 × 10-7 to 2.09 × 10-2; HQc: 3.74 × 10-7 to 2.38 × 10-3), but risk-ranking scores indicated potential hazards with imidacloprid and acetamiprid in flowers and leaves. The findings are expected to promote safety assessment and distribution research of NEOs in plants.

Impact of volume indices in bioelectrical impedance measurement on the assessment of cardiac function indices by echocardiography in hemodialysis patients.

INTRODUCTION: Cardiovascular events resulting from volume overload are a primary cause of mortality in hemodialysis patients. Bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA) is significantly valuable for assessing the volume status of hemodialysis (HD) patients. In this article, we explore the correlation between the volume index measured by BIA and the cardiac function index assessed by echocardiography (ECG) in HD patients. METHODS: Between April and November 2018, we conducted a cross-sectional study involving randomly selected 126 maintenance HD patients. Comprehensive data on medical history and laboratory test results were collected. Subsequently, we investigated the correlation between volume indices measured by BIA and cardiac function parameters by ECG. RESULTS: We discovered a significant correlation between the volume indices measured by BIA and various parameter of cardiac function. The Left Ventricular Hypertrophy (LVH) group exhibited higher levels of the percentage of Extracellular Water (ECW%) and the percentage of Total Body Water (TBW%) compared to the Non-LVH group. Extracellular Water (ECW) and Third Interstitial Fluid Volume (TSFV) were identified as independent risk factors for Left Ventricular Mass (LVM), and both demonstrated a high predictive value for LVM. ECW% emerged as an independent risk factor for the Left Ventricular Mass Index (LVMI), with a high predictive value for LVMI. CONCLUSION: ECW and TSFV were found to be positively associated with cardiac function parameters in HD patients.

Association between protein-to-energy ratio and overweight/obesity in children and adolescents in the United States: a cross-sectional study based on NHANES.

Background: The dietary protein proportion may be crucial in triggering overweight and obesity among children and adolescents. Methods: Cross-sectional data from 4,336 children and adolescents who participated in the National Health and Nutrition Survey (NHANES) between 2011 and March 2020 were analyzed. Multivariate logistic regression was used to calculate odds ratio (OR) and 95% confidence interval (CI). Restricted cubic splines assessed the nonlinear relationships between dietary protein intake and the prevalence of overweight and obesity. Results: Adjusted logistic regression models showed that each 1% increase in dietary protein proportion was associated with a 4% higher risk of overweight and obesity (OR = 1.04, 95% CI: 1.01-1.07). A nonlinear relationship was noted in children aged 6-11 years (P < 0.05), as demonstrated by restricted cubic spline analysis. After dividing dietary protein intake into quartiles, the highest quartile had an adjusted OR of 2.07 (95% CI: 1.35, 3.16, P = 0.001) compared to the lowest, among children aged 6-11 years. Conclusion: Dietary protein intake is positively linked to overweight and obesity in American children, irrespective of individual characteristics and total energy consumption.

Analysis of the Variation in Antioxidant Activity and Chemical Composition upon the Repeated Thermal Treatment of the By-Product of the Red Ginseng Manufacturing Process.

Steamed ginseng water (SGW) is a by-product of the repeated thermal processing of red ginseng, which is characterized by a high bioactive content, better skin care activity, and a large output. However, its value has been ignored, resulting in environmental pollution and resource waste. In this study, UHPLC-Q-Exactive-MS/MS liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry and multivariate statistical analysis were conducted to characterize the compositional features of the repeated thermal-treated SGW. The antioxidant activity (DPPH, ABTS, FRAP, and OH) and chemical composition (total sugars, total saponins, and reducing and non-reducing sugars) were comprehensively evaluated based on the entropy weighting method. Four comparison groups (groups 1 and 3, groups 1 and 5, groups 1 and 7, and groups 1 and 9) were screened for 37 important common difference markers using OPLS-DA analysis. The entropy weight method was used to analyze the weights of the indicators; the seventh SGW sample was reported to have a significant weight. The results of this study suggest that heat treatment time and frequency can be an important indicator value for the quality control of SGW cycling operations, which have great potential in antioxidant products.

Bound polyphenols in insoluble dietary fiber of navel orange peel modulate LPS-induced intestinal-like co-culture inflammation through CSF2-mediated NF-κB/JAK-STAT pathway.

Our laboratory previously extracted bound polyphenols (BPP) in insoluble dietary fiber from navel orange peel (NOP-IDF), and the aim of this study was to investigate the anti-inflammatory activity and potential molecular mechanisms of BPP by establishing an LPS-induced intestinal-like Caco-2/RAW264.7 co-culture inflammation model. The results demonstrated that BPP reduced the expression of cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) and inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), as well as the production of pro-inflammatory cytokines, nitric oxide (NO), and reactive oxidative species (ROS) during the inflammatory damage process. Furthermore, BPP alleviated the lipopolysaccharides (LPS)-induced intestinal barrier damage by attenuating the decrease in trans-epithelial electrical resistance (TEER), diamine oxidase (DAO) activity, and intestinal alkaline phosphatase (IAP) activity, as well as the downregulation of ZO-1, Occludin, and Claudin-1 protein expression levels. RNA-seq results on RAW264.7 cells in the co-culture model showed that the NF-κB and JAK-STAT pathways belonged to the most significantly affected signaling pathways in the KEGG analysis, and western blot confirmed that they are essential for the role of BPP in intestinal inflammation. Additionally, overexpression of the granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (CSF2) gene triggered abnormal activation of the NF-κB and JAK-STAT pathways and high-level expression of inflammatory factors, while BPP effectively improved this phenomenon. The above results suggested that BPP could inhibit intestinal inflammatory injury and protect intestinal barrier integrity through CSF2-mediated NF-κB and JAK-STAT pathways.

Recent Development in Intelligent Compaction for Asphalt Pavement Construction: Leveraging Smart Sensors and Machine Learning.

Intelligent compaction (IC) has emerged as a breakthrough technology that utilizes advanced sensing, data transmission, and control systems to optimize asphalt pavement compaction quality and efficiency. However, accurate assessment of compaction status remains challenging under real construction conditions. This paper reviewed recent progress and applications of smart sensors and machine learning (ML) to address existing limitations in IC. The principles and components of various advanced sensors deployed in IC systems were introduced, including SmartRock, fiber Bragg grating, and integrated circuit piezoelectric acceleration sensors. Case studies on utilizing these sensors for particle behavior monitoring, strain measurement, and impact data collection were reviewed. Meanwhile, common ML algorithms including regression, classification, clustering, and artificial neural networks were discussed. Practical examples of applying ML to estimate mechanical properties, evaluate overall compaction quality, and predict soil firmness through supervised and unsupervised models were examined. Results indicated smart sensors have enhanced compaction monitoring capabilities but require robustness improvements. ML provides a data-driven approach to complement traditional empirical methods but necessitates extensive field validation. Potential integration with digital construction technologies such as building information modeling and augmented reality was also explored. In conclusion, leveraging emerging sensing and artificial intelligence presents opportunities to optimize the IC process and address key challenges. However, cooperation across disciplines will be vital to test and refine technologies under real-world conditions. This study serves to advance understanding and highlight priority areas for future research toward the realization of IC's full potential.

Protective Effect of Que Zui Tea on d-Galactose-Induced Oxidative Stress Damage in Mice via Regulating SIRT1/Nrf2 Signaling Pathway.

Que Zui tea (QT) is an important herbal tea in the diet of the 'Yi' people, an ethnic group in China, and it has shown significant antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and hepatoprotective effects in vitro. This study aims to explore the protective effects of the aqueous-ethanol extract (QE) taken from QT against ᴅ-galactose (ᴅ-gal)-induced oxidative stress damage in mice and its potential mechanisms. QE was identified as UHPLC-HRMS/MS for its chemical composition and possible bioactive substances. Thus, QE is rich in phenolic and flavonoid compounds. Twelve compounds were identified, the main components of which were chlorogenic acid, quinic acid, and 6'-O-caffeoylarbutin. Histopathological and biochemical analysis revealed that QE significantly alleviated brain, liver, and kidney damage in ᴅ-gal-treated mice. Moreover, QE remarkably attenuated oxidative stress by activating the Nrf2/HO-1 pathway to increase the expression of antioxidant indexes, including GSH, GSH-Px, CAT, SOD, and T-AOC. In addition, QE administration could inhibit the IL-1ß and IL-6 levels, which suppress the inflammatory response. QE could noticeably alleviate apoptosis by inhibiting the expressions of Caspase-3 and Bax proteins in the brains, livers, and kidneys of mice. The anti-apoptosis mechanism may be related to the upregulation of the SIRT1 protein and the downregulation of the p53 protein induced by QE in the brain, liver, and kidney tissues of mice. Molecular docking analysis demonstrated that the main components of QE, 6'-O-caffeoylarbutin, chlorogenic acid, quinic acid, and robustaside A, had good binding ability with Nrf2 and SIRT1 proteins. The present study indicated that QE could alleviate ᴅ-gal-induced brain, liver and kidney damage in mice by inhibiting the oxidative stress and cell apoptosis; additionally, the potential mechanism may be associated with the SIRT1/Nrf2 signaling pathway.

[Effects of fine particulate matter on bone mass and osteogenic differentiation of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells in mice].

OBJECTIVE: To observe the effects of exposure to fine particulate matter(PM_(2.5)) on bone mass, microstructure, biomechanical properties, and osteogenic differentiation ability of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells(BMSCs) in mice. METHODS: A total of 16 C57BL/6J mice aged 8 weeks were randomly divided into control group(NS group) and PM_(2.5) exposure group(PM group). NS group was given normal saline, PM group was given 14 mg/kg PM_(2.5) suspension, 50 µL, poisoning every 3 day. After 10 weeks, the lungs of mice were taken for HE staining, and the left tibia was taken for Micro CT detection to analyze parameters related to cancellous and cortical bone. The right tibia was taken for HE staining to observe changes in bone trabeculae. Immunohistochemical staining was used to detect type I collagen(Col I), osteoprotegerin(OPG), and nuclear factor-κB receptor activating factor ligand(RANKL) protein expression, tartrate resistant acid phosphatase(TRAP) staining for detection of osteoclasts. Extract primary BMSCs from bilateral femurs, induce osteogenesis, and then perform alkaline phosphatase(ALP) staining to detect ALP activity, alizarin red staining to detect bone mineralization ability, real-time PCR to detect osteocalcin(OCN), ALP, OPG, and RANKL mRNA expression, and biomechanical testing to test the mechanical properties of the femur. RESULTS: Compared with the NS group, the pulmonary alveolar structure of the PM group mice was disrupted and a large number of inflammatory cells gathered. Prompt for successful PM_(2.5) poisoning operation. Micro CT result showed that the bone mineral density(BMD) and bone volume fraction(BV/TV) of the PM group mice were 276.959±15.152 mg/cm~3 and 0.208%±0.009%, respectively. The NS group had 316.709±28.205 mg/cm~3 and 0.236%±0.019%, respectively. The PM group was lower than the NS group(P<0.05), but the trabecular number(Tb. N) There was no statistically significant difference in parameters such as trabecular thickness(Tb. Th) and trabecular separation(Tb. SP)(P>0.05). The HE staining result of the tibia showed that the trabeculae in the NS group were thick, dense, and uniform. The bone trabeculae in the PM group were slender, with a decrease in number, widened spacing, and sparse arrangement. The expression of Col I(0.023±0.009) and OPG(0.036±0.010) in the PM group increased compared to the NS group(0.079±0.007, 0.059±0.012), while the expression of RANKL(0.036±0.006) decreased compared to the NS group(0.022±0.002)(P<0.05); The number of TRAP positive particles increased in the PM group. The experimental result after osteoinduction of BMSCs in mice showed that compared with the NS group, the PM group had a decrease in the number of ALP positive cells and a decrease in the number of calcium nodules. The relative expression of ALP, OCN, and OPG mRNA in the PM group(0.375±0.021, 0.585±0.088, 0.768±0.112) was significantly reduced compared to the NS group(1.001±0.043, 1.006±0.132, 1.002±0.086), while the relative expression of RANKL mRNA(1.278±0.118) was increased compared to the NS group(1.001±0.057)(P<0.05). The biomechanical experimental result showed that the maximum deflection of the NS group was 0.337±0.031 mm, while the maximum deflection of the PM group was 0.258±0.041 mm. Compared with the NS group, the maximum deflection of the PM group decreased significantly(P<0.05), and the maximum stress and maximum load showed a decreasing trend, but the difference was not statistically significant(P>0.05). CONCLUSION: After 10 weeks of exposure to PM_(2.5), it can affect the bone health of mice, and its mechanism may be related to increased osteoclast activity and inhibition of the osteogenic differentiation ability of BMSCs.

Chemical Constituents, Hypolipidemic, and Hypoglycemic Activities of Edgeworthia gardneri Flowers.

The flowers of Edgeworthia gardneri are used as herbal tea and medicine to treat various metabolic diseases including hyperglycemia, hypertension, and hyperlipidemia. This paper investigate the chemical constituents and biological activities of ethanolic extract and its different fractions from E. gardneri flowers. Firstly, the E. gardneri flowers was extracted by ethanol-aqueous solution to obtain crude extract (CE), which was subsequently fractionated by different polar organic solution to yield precipitated crystal (PC), dichloromethane (DCF), ethyl acetate (EAF), n-butanol (n-BuF), and residue water (RWF) fractions. UHPLC-ESI-HRMS/MS analysis resulted in the identification of 25 compounds, and the main compounds were flavonoids and coumarins. The precipitated crystal fraction showed the highest phenolic and flavonoid contents with 344.4 ± 3.38 mg GAE/g extract and 305.86 ± 0.87 mg RE/g extract. The EAF had the strongest antioxidant capacity and inhibitory effect on α-glucosidase and pancreatic lipase with IC50 values of 126.459 ± 7.82 and 23.16 ± 0.79 µg/mL. Besides, both PC and EAF significantly regulated the glucose and lipid metabolism disorders by increasing glucose consumption and reducing TG levels in HepG2 cells. Molecular docking results suggested that kaempferol-3-O-glucoside and tiliroside had good binding ability with enzymes, indicating that they may be potential α-glucosidase and pancreatic lipase inhibitors. Therefore, the E. gardneri flowers could be served as a bioactive agent for the regulation of metabolic disorders.

Zero-valent iron (nZVI) nanoparticles mediate SlERF1 expression to enhance cadmium stress tolerance in tomato.

Cadmium (Cd) pollution threatens plant physiological and biochemical activities and crop production. Significant progress has been made in characterizing how nanoparticles affect Cd stress tolerance; however, the molecular mechanism of nZVI nanoparticles in Cd stress remains largely uncharacterized. Plants treated with nZVI and exposed to Cd had increased antioxidant capacity and reduced Cd accumulation in plant tissues. The nZVI treatment differentially affected the expression of genes involved in plant environmental responses, including those associated with the ERF transcription factor. SlEFR1 was upregulated by Cd stress in nZVI-treated plants when compared with the control and the predicted protein-protein interactions suggested SlERF1 interacts with proteins associated with plant hormone signaling pathway and related to stress. Yeast overexpressing SlEFR1 grew faster after Cd exposure and significantly had higher Cd stress tolerance when compared with empty vector controls. These results suggest that nZVI induces Cd stress tolerance by activating SlERF1 expression to improve plant growth and nutrient accumulation. Our study reveals the molecular mechanism of Cd stress tolerance for improved plant growth and will support new research on overcoming Cd stress and improving vegetable crop production.

Development and validation of a nomogram for radiation-induced hepatic toxicity after intensity modulated radiotherapy for hepatocellular carcinoma: a retrospective study.

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to construct a nomogram to predict radiation-induced hepatic toxicity in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma treated with intensity-modulated radiotherapy. METHODS: This study reviewed the clinical characteristics and dose-volume parameters of 196 patients with hepatocellular carcinoma. Radiation-induced hepatic toxicity was defined as progression of the Child-Pugh score caused by intensity-modulated radiotherapy. Factors relevant to radiation-induced hepatic toxicity were selected using receiver operating characteristic and univariate logistic analysis. A risk assessment model was developed, and its discrimination was validated. RESULTS: Eighty-eight (44.90%) and 28 (14.29%) patients had radiation-induced hepatic toxicity ≥ 1 (Child-Pugh ≥ 1) and radiation-induced hepatic toxicity ≥ 2 (Child-Pugh ≥ 2). Pre-treatment Child-Pugh, body mass index and dose-volume parameters were correlated with radiation-induced hepatic toxicity ≥ 1 using univariate logistic analysis. V15 had the best predictive effectiveness among the dose-volume parameters in both the training (area under the curve: 0.763, 95% confidence interval: 0.683-0.842, P < 0.001) and validation cohorts (area under the curve: 0.759, 95% confidence interval: 0.635-0.883, P < 0.001). The area under the curve values of the model that was constructed by pre-treatment Child-Pugh, body mass index and V15 for radiation-induced hepatic toxicity ≥1 were 0.799 (95% confidence interval: 0.719-0.878, P < 0.001) and 0.775 (95% confidence interval: 0.657-0.894, P < 0.001) in the training and validation cohorts, respectively. Patients with a body mass index ≤ 20.425, Barcelona clinic liver cancer = C, Hepatitis B Virus-positive, Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group = 1-2 and hepatic fibrosis require lower V15 dose limits. CONCLUSIONS: Risk assessment model constructed from Pre-treatment Child-Pugh, V15 and body mass index can guide individualized patient selection of toxicity minimization strategies.

Construction of oxime-functionalized PCN-222 based on the directed molecular structure design for recovering uranium from wastewater.

The directed construction of productive adsorbents is essential to avoid damaging human health from the harmful radioactive and toxic U(VI)-containing wastewater. Herein, a sort of Zr-based metal organic framework (MOF) called PCN-222 was synthesized and oxime functionalized based on directed molecular structure design to synthesize an efficient adsorbent with antimicrobial activity, named PCN-222-OM, for recovering U(VI) from wastewater. PCN-222-OM unfolded splendid adsorption capacity (403.4 mg·g-1) at pH = 6.0 because of abundant holey structure and mighty chelation for oxime groups with U(VI) ions. PCN-222-OM also exhibited outstanding selectivity and reusability during the adsorption. The XPS spectra authenticated the -NH and oxime groups which revealed a momentous function. Concurrently, PCN-222-OM also possessed good antimicrobial activity, antibiofouling activity, and environmental safety; adequately decreased detrimental repercussions about bacteria and Halamphora on adsorption capacity; and met non-toxic and non-hazardous requirements for the application. The splendid antimicrobial activity and antibiofouling activity perhaps arose from the Zr6(µ3-O)4(µ3-OH)4(H2O)4(OH)4 clusters and rich functional groups within PCN-222-OM. Originally proposed PCN-222-OM was one potentially propitious material to recover U(VI) in wastewater on account of outstanding adsorption capacity, antimicrobial activity, antibiofouling activity, and environmental safety, meanwhile providing a newfangled conception on the construction of peculiar efficient adsorbent.

Integration of metabolomics and transcriptomics reveals the regulation mechanism of the phenylpropanoid biosynthesis pathway in insect resistance traits in Solanum habrochaites.

Solanum habrochaites (SH), a wild species closely related to 'Ailsa Craig' (AC), is an important germplasm resource for modern tomato breeding. Trichomes, developed from epidermal cells, have a role in defense against insect attack, and their secretions are of non-negligible value. Here, we found that the glandular heads of type VI trichomes were clearly distinguishable between AC and SH under cryo-scanning electron microscopy, the difference indicating that SH could secrete more anti-insect metabolites than AC. Pest preference experiments showed that aphids and mites preferred to feed near AC compared with SH. Integration analysis of transcriptomics and metabolomics data revealed that the phenylpropanoid biosynthesis pathway was an important secondary metabolic pathway in plants, and SH secreted larger amounts of phenylpropanoids and flavonoids than AC by upregulating the expression of relevant genes in this pathway, and this may contribute to the greater resistance of SH to phytophagous insects. Notably, virus-induced silencing of Sl4CLL6 not only decreased the expression of genes downstream of the phenylpropanoid biosynthesis pathway (SlHCT, SlCAD, and SlCHI), but also reduced resistance to mites in tomato. These findings provided new genetic resources for the synthesis of phenylpropanoid compounds and anti-insect breeding in S. habrochaites and a new theoretical basis for the improvement of important traits in cultivated tomato.