Dual-Phase Glass Ceramics Containing ZnGa2O4:Cr3+ and NaYF4:Yb3+,Er3+ Nanocrystals for Dual-Mode Optical Thermometry.

Currently, developing luminescent materials for dual-mode optical thermometry has been becoming a rising topic, and concurrent temperature-sensitive optical parameters hold the key. Still, it is a serious challenge, since distinct activators are generally needed and energy transfer (ET) processes among activators inevitably occur, further leading to severe luminescence quenching. Herein, a spatial separation strategy is proposed for designing dual-phase glass ceramics (GCs) containing ZnGa2O4:Cr3+ and NaYF4:Yb3+,Er3+ nanocrystals (NCs) for dual-mode optical thermometry, in order to integrate diversified activators into one. Structural, morphological, and optical characterizations are examined to verify the partition of Cr3+ into ZnGa2O4 and Er3+ into the NaYF4 lattice in the dual-phase GC. Benefiting from such a spatial separation strategy, the adverse ET processes between Cr3+ and Er3+ could be cut off in the dual-phase GC, contributing to downshifting (DS) and upconversion (UC) luminescence. Furthermore, dual-mode optical thermometry is performed based on the lifetime of Cr3+ and fluorescence intensity ratio (FIR) of Er3+, with high relative sensitivities of 0.95% K-1@450 K and 1.24% K-1@303 K, respectively. It is evidenced that the dual-phase GC holds great potential for dual-mode optical thermometry, and this work also offers a prospective pathway for expanding the practical applications of GC luminescent materials.

Discriminative analysis of aroma profiles in diverse cigar products varieties through integrated sensory evaluation, GC-IMS and E-nose.

Cigars, treasured for their rich aromatic profiles, occupy a notable segment in the global consumer market. The objective of this study was to characterize the volatile aroma compounds that shape the flavor profiles of six distinct varieties of Great Wall cigars, contributing to the understanding of cigar aroma analysis. Utilizing HS-GC-IMS and sensory evaluation, the study discerned the aroma profiles of GJ No. 6 (GJ), Animal from the Chinese zodiac (SX), Range Rover No. 3 Classic (JD), Miracle 132 (QJ), Sheng Shi No. 5 (SS), and Red 132 (HS) cigars. The analysis uncovered a spectrum of characteristic aromas, including tobacco, creaminess, cocoa, leather, baking, herbaceous, leathery, woodsy, and fruity notes. A total of 88 compounds were identified, categorized into 11 chemical classes, with their quantities varying among the cigars in a descending order of QJ, JD, GJ, SS, HS, and SX. 24 compounds, such as 2-heptanone, n-butanol, 2,6-dimethylpyrazine and 2-furfuryl methyl sulfide were considered as key differential components. The volatile components were effectively differentiated using principal component analysis (PCA), orthogonal partial least squares-discriminant analysis (OPLS-DA), and cluster analysis, revealing correlations between sensory attributes, key components, and electronic nose (E-nose). This research introduces a novel method for analyzing volatile aroma components in cigars, offering insights to enhance cigar quality and to foster the development of new products with unique aroma profiles.

Persistent PTSD symptoms are associated with plasma metabolic alterations relevant to long-term health: A metabolome-wide investigation in women.

Background: Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is characterized by severe distress and associated with cardiometabolic diseases. Studies in military and clinical populations suggest dysregulated metabolomic processes may be a key mechanism. Prior work identified and validated a metabolite-based distress score (MDS) linked with depression and anxiety and subsequent cardiometabolic diseases. Here, we assessed whether PTSD shares metabolic alterations with depression and anxiety and also if additional metabolites are related to PTSD. Methods: We leveraged plasma metabolomics data from three subsamples nested within the Nurses' Health Study II, including 2835 women with 2950 blood samples collected across three timepoints (1996-2014) and 339 known metabolites consistently assayed by mass spectrometry-based techniques. Trauma and PTSD exposures were assessed in 2008 and characterized as follows: lifetime trauma without PTSD, lifetime PTSD in remission, and persistent PTSD symptoms. Associations between the exposures and the MDS or individual metabolites were estimated within each subsample adjusting for potential confounders and combined in random-effects meta-analyses. Results: Persistent PTSD symptoms were associated with higher levels of the previously developed MDS for depression and anxiety. Out of 339 metabolites, we identified nine metabolites (primarily elevated glycerophospholipids) associated with persistent symptoms (false discovery rate<0.05). No metabolite associations were found with the other PTSD-related exposures. Conclusions: As the first large-scale, population-based metabolomics analysis of PTSD, our study highlighted shared and distinct metabolic differences linked to PTSD versus depression or anxiety. We identified novel metabolite markers associated with PTSD symptom persistence, suggesting further connections with metabolic dysregulation that may have downstream consequences for health.

Study of the Immune Infiltration and Sonic Hedgehog Expression Mechanism in Synovial Tissue of Rheumatoid Arthritis-Related Interstitial Lung Disease under Machine Learning CIBERSORT Algorithm.

Rheumatoid arthritis-related interstitial lung disease (RA-ILD) is one of the common complications in patients with RA, which affects their quality of life. The CIBERSORT algorithm is widely employed to determine the proportion of immune cells (ICs) in diseased tissues, while the Sonic Hedgehog (Shh) signaling pathway, as an imperative regulatory factor, has also attracted attention in the pathology of RA-ILD. This work was to explore the mechanisms of RA-ILD immune infiltration and synovial tissue (ST) Shh expression based on the CIBERSORT algorithm. The differential genes of RA-ILD were subjected to pathway enrichment analysis using R language. The content and proportion of 22 types of ICs in RA-ILD lung tissues were analyzed using machine learning-based CIBERSORT algorithm. Meanwhile, immunoblotting was employed to detect and analyze the expression of Shh, Smoothened (Smo), and bone morphogenetic proteins (BMPs) proteins in ST samples from RA-ILD and Ctrl groups (RA patients without ILD). The hub target genes in the protein network associated with RA-ILD include BSG, CCL2, CTLA4, FGFBP1, GLI1, HHIP, HLA-DRB1, IFNAR1, IL17A, IL23A, IL-6, INPP4A, LILRB1, MUC5B, PADI4, PPM1A, PTCH1, PTPN22, RSPO4, Shh, SMO, STAT4, SUFU, TAOK2, TIMP2, and TWSG1, which are involved in multiple pathways, such as B cell regulation, transcription factors of the Shh pathway, and ST immune tolerance-related pathways. In the immunological analysis of RA-ILD using the CIBERSORT algorithm, HLA (r = - 0.26), PTPN22 (r = - 0.36), STAT4 (r = - 0.18), IL-6 (r = - 0.17), CTLA4 (r = - 0.27), and PADI4 (r = - 0.21) were all found to exhibit negative correlations with CD4+T cells (P < 0.05). Monocytes were found to be more abundant in RA-ILD patients' serum versus the Ctrl group. Shh, Smo, and BMP expressions were drastically lower in the RA-ILD group versus Ctrl group (P < 0.05). Significant immune cell infiltration was observed in the lung tissues of RA-ILD patients. Further analysis utilizing the CIBERSORT algorithm revealed alterations in the proportions of different IC subtypes, indicating their association with disease severity and prognosis. Moreover, there was a significant decrease in the expression levels of Shh, Smo, and BMP. These findings underscore the importance of immune cells in the pathophysiology of RA-ILD and suggest a potential involvement of the Shh signaling pathway in the pathogenesis of RA-ILD.

Experimentally derived partitioning coefficients of carbamazepine and sulfadiazine in landfill refuse-leachate phase: Effects of refuse and leachate properties.

Pharmaceuticals have been detected at high concentrations in landfill leachate and refuse, which may pose potential long-term environmental impacts. The interaction of pharmaceuticals between leachate and refuse contributes to their retention through in situ sorption, thereby mitigating this impact. However, limited efforts have been made to describe the distribution characteristics of pharmaceuticals in the refuse-leachate phase. In this study, two refuse and three leachate samples were used to obtain partitioning coefficients (Kd) for two typical pharmaceuticals, carbamazepine (CBZ) and sulfadiazine (SD), with campus soil as a comparison. Landfill refuse exhibited higher Kd values (12.36 ± 0.90 and 19.76 ± 1.96 mL/g for CBZ and 1.90 ± 0.34 and 6.27 ± 0.58 mL/g for SD in two samples, respectively) than campus soil (3.73 ± 1.31 mL/g for CBZ and 0.81 ± 0.26 mL/g for SD), influenced by refuse properties such as higher organic matter (OM) content and specific surface area (SSA). The influence of leachate pH on Kd values depended on the electrostatic interaction between the species of target pollutants and negatively charged refuse. The effect of humic acid (HA) was related to its binding with target pollutants in solution and its competition with them for sorption sites. Electrostatic repulsion, hydrogen bonding and π-π interaction were the proposed mechanisms in SD sorption on refuse, while hydrogen bonding participated in the sorption of CBZ. The results will help aid the understanding of the distribution of pharmaceuticals in the refuse-leachate system and improve corresponding management strategies.

Electron bifurcation and fluoride efflux systems implicated in defluorination of perfluorinated unsaturated carboxylic acids by Acetobacterium spp.

Enzymatic cleavage of C─F bonds in per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) is largely unknown but avidly sought to promote systems biology for PFAS bioremediation. Here, we report the reductive defluorination of α, ß-unsaturated per- and polyfluorocarboxylic acids by Acetobacterium spp. The microbial defluorination products were structurally confirmed and showed regiospecificity and stereospecificity, consistent with their formation by enzymatic reactions. A comparison of defluorination activities among several Acetobacterium species indicated that a functional fluoride exporter was required for the detoxification of the released fluoride. Results from both in vivo inhibition tests and in silico enzyme modeling suggested the involvement of enzymes of the flavin-based electron-bifurcating caffeate reduction pathway [caffeoyl-CoA reductase (CarABCDE)] in the reductive defluorination. This is a report on specific microorganisms carrying out enzymatic reductive defluorination of PFAS, which could be linked to electron-bifurcating reductases that are environmentally widespread.

The emerging roles of hydrogen sulfide in ferroptosis.

SIGNIFICANCE: Ferroptosis, a form of regulated cell death characterized by a large amount of lipid peroxidation-mediated membrane damage, joins the evolution of multisystem diseases. For instance, neurodegenerative diseases, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and acute respiratory distress syndrome, osteoporosis and osteoarthritis, and so on. Since being identified as the third gasotransmitter in living organisms, the intricate role of hydrogen sulfide (H2S) in ferroptosis has emerged at the forefront of research. RECENT ADVANCES: The discovery of novel targets in the relevant metabolic pathways, including transferrin receptor 1, cystine/glutamate antiporter, and others, coupled with the exploration of new signaling pathways, particularly the p53 signaling pathway and the nitric oxide / nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 signaling pathway, and so on. Many diseases such as emphysema and airway inflammation, myocardial diseases, endothelial dysfunction in aging arteries, and traumatic brain injury have recently been found to be alleviated directly by H2S inhibition of ferroptosis. Safe, effective, and tolerable novel H2S donors have been developed and have shown promising results in phase I clinical trials. CRITICAL ISSUES: Complicated crosstalk between ferroptosis signaling pathway and oncogenic factors results in the risk of cancer when inhibiting ferroptosis. Notably, targeted delivery of H2S is still a challenging task. FUTURE DIRECTIONS: Discovering more reliable and stable novel H2S donors and achieving their targeted delivery will enable further clinical trials for diseases associated with ferroptosis inhibition by H2S, determining their safety, efficacy, and tolerance.

Recent advances in the role of hydrogen sulfide in age-related diseases.

In recent years, the impact of age-related diseases on human health has become increasingly severe, and developing effective drugs to deal with these diseases has become an urgent task. Considering the essential regulatory role of hydrogen sulfide (H2S) in these diseases, it is regarded as a promising target for treatment. H2S is a novel gaseous transmitter involved in many critical physiological activities, including anti-oxidation, anti-inflammation, and angiogenesis. H2S also regulates cell activities such as cell proliferation, migration, invasion, apoptosis, and autophagy. These regulatory effects of H2S contribute to relieving and treating age-related diseases. In this review, we mainly focus on the pathogenesis and treatment prospects of H2S in regulating age-related diseases.

Gene Editing of the Endogenous Cryptic 3' Splice Site Corrects the RNA Splicing Defect in the ß654-Thalassemia Mouse Model.

ß654-thalassemia is caused by a point mutation in the second intron (IVS-II) of the ß-globin gene that activates a cryptic 3' splice site, leading to incorrect RNA splicing. Our previous study demonstrated that when direct deletion of the ß654 mutation sequence or the cryptic 3' splice site in the IVS-II occurs, correct splicing of ß-globin mRNA can be restored. Herein, we conducted an in-depth analysis to explore a more precise gene-editing method for treating ß654-thalassemia. A single-base substitution of the cryptic 3' acceptor splice site was introduced in the genome of a ß654-thalassemia mouse model using clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats (CRISPR)-CRISPR-associated protein 9(Cas9)-mediated homology-directed repair (HDR). All of the HDR-edited mice allow the detection of correctly spliced ß-globin mRNA. Pathological changes were improved compared with the nonedited ß654 mice. This resulted in a more than twofold increase in the survival rate beyond the weaning age of the mice carrying the ß654 allele. The therapeutic effects of this gene-editing strategy showed that the typical ß-thalassemia phenotype can be improved in a dose-dependent manner when the frequency of HDR is over 20%. Our research provides a unique and effective method for correcting the splicing defect by gene editing the reactive splicing acceptor site in a ß654 mouse model.

Role of hydrogen sulfide in dermatological diseases.

Hydrogen sulfide (H2S), together with carbon monoxide (CO) and nitric oxide (NO), is recognized as a vital gasotransmitter. H2S is biosynthesized by enzymatic pathways in the skin and exerts significant physiological effects on a variety of biological processes, such as apoptosis, modulation of inflammation, cellular proliferation, and regulation of vasodilation. As a major health problem, dermatological diseases affect a large proportion of the population every day. It is urgent to design and develop effective drugs to deal with dermatological diseases. Dermatological diseases can arise from a multitude of etiologies, including neoplastic growth, infectious agents, and inflammatory processes. The abnormal metabolism of H2S is associated with many dermatological diseases, such as melanoma, fibrotic diseases, and psoriasis, suggesting its therapeutic potential in the treatment of these diseases. In addition, therapies based on H2S donors are being developed to treat some of these conditions. In the review, we discuss recent advances in the function of H2S in normal skin, the role of altering H2S metabolism in dermatological diseases, and the therapeutic potential of diverse H2S donors for the treatment of dermatological diseases.

Effects of different drying methods on physicochemical, textural, flavor, and sensory characteristics of yak jerky.

The work aimed to study the effect of four drying methods, namely constant temperature hot air drying (HD), microwave drying (MD), hot air microwave drying (HMD), and gradient hot air drying (GHD), on quality characteristics of dried yak meat. The analyses of physicochemical, textural, flavor, and sensory characteristics were carried out based on these four drying methods. The results revealed that microwave dried yak jerky exhibited better color and received the highest sensory score. Hardness of samples were affected by the drying methods, which showed significant differences. There were 21 free amino acids (FAAs) detected in dried yak samples. The samples treated by microwave drying showed the highest total free amino acid content (73.30 mg/100 g) and the EUC value was significantly higher than other methods, indicating the sample displayed greater flavor. A total of 153 volatile compounds were identified in dried yak meat samples, primarily including aldehydes, ketones, and esters. Moreover, the sensory evaluation indicated that the drying methods could significantly affect on color, flavor, and overall acceptability of different samples. Microwave drying samples scored higher than other drying methods. Overall, considering aspects of quality, time savings, and energy efficiency, microwave drying of yak jerky emerges as a more satisfactory option. This study could provide important theoretical support for the application of drying methods to improve the quality of yak jerky and enhance production efficiency.

Depressive symptoms in adolescence and adult educational and employment outcomes: a structured life course analysis.

BACKGROUND: Depression is a common mental health disorder that often starts during adolescence, with potentially important future consequences including 'Not in Education, Employment or Training' (NEET) status. METHODS: We took a structured life course modeling approach to examine how depressive symptoms during adolescence might be associated with later NEET status, using a high-quality longitudinal data resource. We considered four plausible life course models: (1) an early adolescent sensitive period model where depressive symptoms in early adolescence are more associated with later NEET status relative to exposure at other stages; (2) a mid adolescent sensitive period model where depressive symptoms during the transition from compulsory education to adult life might be more deleterious regarding NEET status; (3) a late adolescent sensitive period model, meaning that depressive symptoms around the time when most adults have completed their education and started their careers are the most strongly associated with NEET status; and (4) an accumulation of risk model which highlights the importance of chronicity of symptoms. RESULTS: Our analysis sample included participants with full information on NEET status (N = 3951), and the results supported the accumulation of risk model, showing that the odds of NEET increase by 1.015 (95% CI 1.012-1.019) for an increase of 1 unit in depression at any age between 11 and 24 years. CONCLUSIONS: Given the adverse implications of NEET status, our results emphasize the importance of supporting mental health during adolescence and early adulthood, as well as considering specific needs of young people with re-occurring depressed mood.

Exploring the impact of hydrogen sulfide on hematologic malignancies: A review.

Hydrogen sulfide (H2S) is one of the three most crucial gaseous messengers in the body. The discovery of H2S donors, coupled with its endogenous synthesis capability, has sparked hope for the treatment of hematologic malignancies. In the last decade, the investigation into the impact of H2S has expanded, particularly within the fields of cardiovascular function, inflammation, infection, and neuromodulation. Hematologic malignancies refer to a diverse group of cancers originating from abnormal proliferation and differentiation of blood-forming cells, including leukemia, lymphoma, and myeloma. In this review, we delve deeply into the complex interrelation between H2S and hematologic malignancies. In addition, we comprehensively elucidate the intricate molecular mechanisms by which both H2S and its donors intricately modulate the progression of tumor growth. Furthermore, we systematically examine their impact on pivotal aspects, encompassing the proliferation, invasion, and migration capacities of hematologic malignancies. Therefore, this review may contribute novel insights to our understanding of the prospective therapeutic significance of H2S and its donors within the realm of hematologic malignancies.

Umami Altering Salivary Proteome: A Study across a Sensitivity Spectrum on Subjects.

This study delved into the relationship between umami taste sensitivity (UTS) and variations in the salivary proteome among 12 healthy nonsmokers utilizing 4D data-independent acquisition-based proteomics. By assessing UTS through monosodium l-glutamate (MSG) detection thresholds, we discovered notable differences: individuals with high UTS detected umami at significantly lower MSG concentrations (0.20 ± 0.12 mM) compared to their low UTS counterparts (2.51 ± 1.21 mM). Both groups showed an upregulation of the S100A1 protein under MSG stimulation, indicating a potent biochemical response to umami stimuli. The high UTS group exhibited enhanced metabolic pathways including those for amino acid, lipid, and organic acid biosynthesis, essential for maintaining taste receptor functionality and enhancing signal transduction. This group also demonstrated increased activity in cytochrome P450 enzymes and ribonucleoprotein complexes, suggesting a readiness to manage metabolic challenges and optimize umami perception. In contrast, the low UTS group showed adaptive mechanisms, possibly through modulation of receptor availability and function, with an upregulation of structural and ribosomal proteins that may support taste receptor production and turnover. These findings suggest that varying biological mechanisms underpin differences in umami perception, which could significantly influence dietary preferences and nutritional outcomes, highlighting the intricate interplay of genetic, physiological, and metabolic factors in taste sensitivity.

Human Breast Milk Exosomal miRNAs are Influenced by Premature Delivery and Affect Neurodevelopment.

SCOPE: This study investigates the exosomal microRNA (miRNA) profiles of term and preterm breast milk, including the most abundant and differentially expressed (DE) miRNAs, and their impact on neurodevelopment in infants. METHODS AND RESULTS: Mature milk is collected from the mothers of term and preterm infants. Using high-throughput sequencing and subsequent data analysis, exosomal miRNA profiles of term and preterm human breast milk (HBM) are acquired and it is found that the let-7 and miR-148 families are the most abundant miRNAs. Additionally, 23 upregulated and 15 downregulated miRNAs are identified. MiR-3168 is the most upregulated miRNA in preterm HBM exosome, exhibiting targeting activity toward multiple genes involved in the SMAD and MAPK signaling pathways and playing a crucial role in early neurodevelopment. Additionally, the effects of miR-3168 on neurodevelopment is confirmed and it is determined that it is an essential factor in the differentiation of neural stem cells (NSCs). CONCLUSION: This study demonstrates that miRNA expression in breast milk exosomes can be influenced by preterm delivery, thereby potentially impacting neurodevelopment in preterm infants.

Hydroxysafflor yellow A induced ferroptosis of Osteosarcoma cancer cells by HIF-1α/HK2 and SLC7A11 pathway.

Osteosarcoma is a very serious primary bone cancer with a high death rate and a dismal prognosis. Since there is no permanent therapy for this condition, it is necessary to develop a cure. Therefore, this investigation was carried out to assess the impacts and biological functions of hydroxysafflor yellow A (HYSA) in osteosarcoma cell lines (MG63). In this investigational study, MG63 cells were utilized. Microarray experiments, quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR), immunofluorescent staining, extracellular acidification rate (ECAR), oxygen consumption rate (OCR), glucose consumption, lactate production, and ATP levels, proliferation assay, 5-Ethynyl-2'-deoxyuridine (EDU) staining, and Western blot were performed. In MG63 cells, HYSA lowered cell proliferation and metastasis rates, suppressed EDU cell number, and enhanced caspase-3/9 activity levels. HYSA reduced the Warburg effect and induced ferroptosis (FPT) in MG63 cells. Inhibiting ferroptosis diminished HYSA's anti-cancer activities in MG63 cells. The stimulation of the HIF-1α/SLC7A11 pathway decreased HYSA's anti-cancer activities in MG63 cells. HIF-1α is one target spot for HYSA in a model of osteosarcoma cancer (OC). HYSA altered HIF-1α's thermophoretic activity; following binding with HYSA, HIF-1α's melting point increased from ~55°C to ~60°C. HYSA significantly enhanced the thermal stability of exogenous WT HIF-1α while not affecting Mut HIF-1α, suggesting that ARG-311, GLY-312, GLN-347, and GLN-387 may be involved in the interaction between HIF-1α and HYSA. Conclusively, our study revealed that HYSA induced FPT and reduced the Warburg effect of OC through mitochondrial damage by HIF-1α/HK2/SLC7A11 pathway. HYSA is a possible therapeutic option for OC or other cancers.

Differences of Typical Wuyi Rock Tea in Taste and Nonvolatiles Profile Revealed by Multisensory Analysis and LC-MS-Based Metabolomics.

Wuyi Rock tea, specifically Shuixian and Rougui, exhibits distinct sensory characteristics. In this study, we investigated the sensory and metabolite differences between Shuixian and Rougui. Quantitative description analysis revealed that Rougui exhibited higher intensity in bitter, thick, harsh, and numb tastes, while Shuixian had stronger salty and umami tastes. Nontargeted metabolomics identified 151 compounds with 66 compounds identified as key differential metabolites responsible for metabolic discrimination. Most of the catechins and flavonoids were enriched in Rougui tea, while epigallocatechin-3,3'-di-O-gallate, epigallocatechin-3,5-di-O-gallate, gallocatechin-3,5-di-O-gallate, isovitexin, and theaflavanoside I were enriched in Shuixian tea. Catechins, kaempferol, quercetin, and myricetin derivatives were positively correlated with bitter taste and numb sensation. Sour taste was positively correlated to organic acids. Amino acids potentially contributed to salty and umami tastes. These results provide further insights into the taste characteristics and the relationship between taste attributes and specific metabolites in Wuyi Rock tea.

Dynamic enhancer landscapes in human craniofacial development.

The genetic basis of human facial variation and craniofacial birth defects remains poorly understood. Distant-acting transcriptional enhancers control the fine-tuned spatiotemporal expression of genes during critical stages of craniofacial development. However, a lack of accurate maps of the genomic locations and cell type-resolved activities of craniofacial enhancers prevents their systematic exploration in human genetics studies. Here, we combine histone modification, chromatin accessibility, and gene expression profiling of human craniofacial development with single-cell analyses of the developing mouse face to define the regulatory landscape of facial development at tissue- and single cell-resolution. We provide temporal activity profiles for 14,000 human developmental craniofacial enhancers. We find that 56% of human craniofacial enhancers share chromatin accessibility in the mouse and we provide cell population- and embryonic stage-resolved predictions of their in vivo activity. Taken together, our data provide an expansive resource for genetic and developmental studies of human craniofacial development.

Absorption and translocation of selected pharmaceuticals in Pistia stratiotes: Spatial distribution analysis using matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry.

Phytoremediation can eliminate pharmaceuticals from aquatic environments through absorption; however, understanding of absorption and transport processes in plants remains limited. In this study, a matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry imaging (MALDI-MSI) method was developed to explore the absorption and translocation mechanisms of seven common pharmaceuticals in Pistia stratiotes. Results showed that 2,3-dicyanohydroquinone, an infrequently used matrix, exhibited outstanding performance in MALDI-MSI analysis, producing the highest signal intensity for four of the seven pharmaceuticals. Region of Interest (ROI) analysis revealed that charge speciation of pharmaceuticals significantly influenced their ability to enter vascular bundle. Neutral and positively charged pharmaceuticals easily entered vascular bundle, while negatively charged pharmaceuticals faced difficulty. ROI results for neutral and negatively charged pharmaceuticals exhibited positive correlation with their transfer factor values, indicating that their translocation ability from root to shoot was related to their capacity to enter vascular bundle. However, no correlation was observed for positively charged pharmaceuticals, suggesting that these compounds, upon entering vascular bundle, encountered difficulties in upward translocation through the xylem. This study introduces an innovative approach and offers novel insights into the retention and migration of pharmaceuticals in plant tissues, aiming to enhance the understanding of pharmaceutical accumulation in plants. ENVIRONMENTAL IMPLICATION: Pharmaceuticals in aquatic environment can inflict detrimental effects on both human health and ecosystem. Phytoremediation can remove pharmaceuticals from aquatic environments through absorption. However, our understanding of absorption and transportation of pharmaceuticals in plants remains limited. This study developed a matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry imaging (MALDI-MSI) method for pharmaceuticals in plant roots, and to explore the absorption and translocation mechanisms of pharmaceuticals. The study offers direct evidence of differences in accumulation behavior of pharmaceuticals in plants, providing valuable insights for targeted and effective strategies in using plants for remediating the aquatic ecosystem from pharmaceuticals.