Omega-3 Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids as a Protective Factor for Myopia.

PURPOSE: Animal models suggest omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) may protect against myopia by modulating choroidal blood perfusion, but clinical evidence is scarce and mixed. We aimed to determine the causality between omega-3 PUFAs and myopia using Mendelian randomization (MR) analysis. DESIGN: Two-sample MR analysis. METHODS: Exposures are genetically predicted 18 fatty acids (FAs) related traits. Spherical equivalent refraction (SER) and axial length were used as measurements of myopia. Genome-wide association study summary data on blood levels of 18 FAs related traits (n=115,006), refractive spherical equivalent (n=351,091), axial length (n=69,945) and choroidal thickness (n=44,823) were sourced from the UK Biobank, the Genetic Epidemiology Research on Adult Health and Aging cohort, and the Consortium for Refractive Error and Myopia Study. We used five MR models and considered results statistically significant if the Bonferroni-corrected P-value was ≤2.78 × 10-3 in at least 3 MR models. The beta represents the change in outcomes (SER in diopter; axial length in mm; choroidal thickness in standard deviation) per standard deviation unit increase in FAs levels. RESULTS: At a Bonferroni-corrected significance, higher levels of omega-3 (Beta, 0.32-0.34), omega-3/total FAs ratio (Beta, 0.31-0.44), docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) (Beta, 0.36-0.46), DHA/total FAs ratio (Beta, 0.37-0.53), PUFAs/total FAs ratio (Beta, 0.07-1.003), and degree of unsaturation (Beta, 0.28-0.44) were associated with a more positive SER, suggesting a lower risk of myopia. Similar trends were observed for axial length albeit with borderline significance (P≤0.035 in ≥2 models). Higher levels of omega-3, DHA, DHA/total FAs ratio, PUFAs/total FAs ratio, PUFAs/monounsaturated FAs ratio, and degree of unsaturation were nominally associated with thicker choroidal thickness (Beta, 0.05-0.13; P≤0.045 in ≥2 models). CONCLUSION: Our multiple MR models suggest a protective effect of omega-3 and DHA on myopia, potentially through modulation of choroidal blood perfusion. Further randomized clinical trials are needed to confirm the effectiveness and determine the optimal dose and duration.

Multimorbidity patterns and the risk of falls among older adults: a community-based study in China.

BACKGROUND: Due to the high prevalence of multimorbidity and realistic health service demands for fall prevention, there is growing interest in the association between multimorbidity and falls. Our study aimed to identify multimorbidity patterns among Chinese older adults and explore the association between multimorbidity patterns and falls. METHODS: Data from 4,579 Chinese community-dwelling older adults was included in this analysis. Information regarding falls and 10 chronic conditions was collected. An exploratory factor analysis was performed to determine multimorbidity patterns. Regression models were fitted to explore the associations of individual chronic disease or multimorbidity patterns with falls. RESULTS: Among 4,579 participants, 368 (8.0%) were defined as fallers, including 92 (2.0%) frequent fallers, and multimorbidity affected 2,503 (54.7%) participants. Older adults with multimorbidity were more likely to be fallers [odds ratio (OR) = 1.3, P = 0.02] and frequent fallers (OR = 1.7, P = 0.04). Three multimorbidity patterns were identified (i.e., cardiovascular-metabolic diseases, psycho-cognitive diseases and organic diseases), and the associations between psycho-cognitive diseases/organic diseases and prevalent falls or frequent falls were found to be significant. CONCLUSIONS: The psycho-cognitive disease pattern and organic disease pattern are significantly associated with falls. Therefore, more attention should be paid to patients with psycho-cognitive diseases and timely, targeted diagnostic and treatment services should be provided in fall prevention.

Lower indoor spatial frequency increases the risk of myopia in children.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Animal models have shown that the absence of high-frequency visual information can precipitate the onset of myopia, but this relationship remains unclear in humans. This study aims to explore the association between the spatial frequency content of the visual environment and myopia in children. METHODS: Images from the rooms of children and their frequently visited outdoor areas were taken by their parents and collected by the researcher through questionnaires. The spatial frequency was quantified using Matlab. Cycloplegic refraction was used to measure the spherical equivalent (SE), and IOL Master was used to measure axial length (AL) and corneal radius (CR). AL/CR ratio was calculated. RESULTS: The study included 566 children with an average age of (8.04±1.47) years, of which 270 were girls (47.7%), and the average SE was (0.70±1.21) D. Image analysis revealed that indoor spatial frequency slope was lower than that of the outdoor environment (-1.43±0.18 vs -1.11±0.23, p<0.001). There were 79 myopic individuals (14.0%). Images from indoor content of myopic children had a lower spatial frequency slope than non-myopic children (-1.47±0.16 vs 1.43±0.18, p=0.03) while there was no significant difference in outdoor spatial frequency slope. Regression analysis indicated that the indoor spatial frequency slope was positively associated with SE value (ß=0.60, p=0.02) and inversely related to myopia (OR=0.24, p<0.05). CONCLUSION: The spatial frequency of the outdoor environment is significantly higher than that of the indoor environment. Indoor spatial frequency is related to children's refractive status, with lower indoor spatial frequency being associated with a higher degree of myopia.

IgT-mediated mucosal immunity and microbiota dynamics in snakehead (Channa argus) post Aeromonas veronii TH0426 and Aeromonas hydrophila TPS infection: implications for aquaculture disease management.

The aquaculture sector, vital to global food security, grapples with bacterial pathogens compromising fish health and industry sustainability. This investigation probes mucosal immune responses and gut microbiota dynamics in snakehead (Channa argus) post-Aeromonas infection, a prevalent aquaculture challenge. Employing infection models, we delineated the integral role of immunoglobulin T (IgT) in mucosal immunity and its interaction with gut microbiota. Fish from a local farm, maintained under controlled conditions, were infected with Aeromonas veronii TH0426 and Aeromonas hydrophila TPS. Post-infection, daily monitoring and sample collection at specified intervals were conducted for comprehensive analysis. Histopathology, quantitative PCR, immunofluorescence, and microbiota profiling revealed significant immune and microbial changes, particularly at day 7. Intestinal IgT, IgM, and pIgR gene expression surged, indicative of a robust response. Immunofluorescence microscopy confirmed increased IgT+ and pIgR+ cell infiltration in the epithelium. Post-infection dysbiosis, with altered bacterial composition, was partially offset by elevated IgT levels. These insights underscore IgT's crucial function in mucosal defense and suggest potential for probiotic and vaccine strategies to enhance aquaculture disease resilience.

Improved mapping of heavy metals in agricultural soils using machine learning augmented with spatial regionalization indices.

The accurate spatial mapping of heavy metal levels in agricultural soils is crucial for environmental management and food security. However, the inherent limitations of traditional interpolation methods and emerging machine-learning techniques restrict their spatial prediction accuracy. This study aimed to refine the spatial prediction of heavy metal distributions in Guangxi, China, by integrating machine learning models and spatial regionalization indices (SRIs). The results demonstrated that random forest (RF) models incorporating SRIs outperformed artificial neural network and support vector regression models, achieving R2 values exceeding 0.96 for eight heavy metals on the test data. Hierarchical clustering for feature selection further improved the model performance. The optimized RF models accurately predicted the heavy metal distributions in agricultural soils across the province, revealing higher levels in the central-western regions and lower levels in the north and south. Notably, the models identified that 25.78 % of agricultural soils constitute hotspots with multiple co-occurring heavy metals, and over 6.41 million people are exposed to excessive soil heavy metal levels. Our findings provide valuable insights for the development of targeted strategies for soil pollution control and agricultural soil management to safeguard food security and public health.

Gold Nanocluster-Based Self-Assembly Fluorescence Microbeads for Sensor Array Discrimination of Multicomponent Metal Ions.

Benefiting from easy visualization and simultaneous detection of multiple targets, fluorescence microbeads are commonly used as fluorescence-sensing elements to detect pollutants in the environment. However, the application of fluorescence microbead-based sensor arrays is still limited because fluorescence dyes always suffer from self-quenching, photobleaching, and spectral overlap. Herein, three kinds of gold nanoclusters (Au NCs) were assembled with polystyrene microspheres (PS NPs) by electrostatic interaction to prepare fluorescence microbeads (PS-Au NCs), developing a sensor array for the simultaneous analysis of multiple metal ions. In this work, different PS-Au NCs showed an enhancing or quenching fluorescence response to various metal ions, owing to distinct binding capacities. Combined with the recognition algorithm from linear discriminant analysis (LDA) and hierarchical cluster analysis (HCA), this sensor assay could realize single-component and multicomponent qualitative detection for 8 kinds of heavy metal ions (HMIs) including Cu2+, Co2+, Pb2+, Hg2+, and Ce3+. Particularly, the large surface area of PS NPs could provide a direct reaction microenvironment to improve the efficiency of the detection process. Meanwhile, the fluorescence property of Au NCs could also be enhanced by a partially effective aggregation-induced emission (AIE) effect to give better fluorescence signal output. Under optimal conditions, 8 kinds of heavy metals and their multicomponent mixtures could be identified at concentrations as low as 0.62 µM. Meanwhile, the analytical performance of this sensor assay in water samples was also verified, meeting the requirement of actual analysis. This study provides a great potential and practical example of single-batch, multicomponent identification for HMIs.

Lattice Strain in High Entropy Oxides Promote CO2 Photomethanation.

Lattice strain is widely investigated to improve the performance of heterogeneous catalysts, however, the effect of lattice strain is under-explored in high-entropy oxide based photocatalyst. In this study, noble-metal-free (CoCrMnFeNi)Ox with lattice strain is synthesized using a temperature-controlled, template-free and salt-assisted strategy. In the presence of lattice strain, an intensive internal electric field is formed in (CoCrMnFeNi)Ox, promoting the separation of photoinduced charge carriers. The size of the (CoCrMnFeNi)Ox can be tuned by varying the calcination temperature. Specifically, (CoCrMnFeNi)Ox prepared at a higher temperature possesses a smaller grain size exposing more active sites, resulting in an enhanced CO2 photomethanation performance. This work provides valuable insights for the rational design of the photocatalysts and highlights the promising role of high-entropy oxides in heterogeneous photocatalysis.

RN486, a Bruton's Tyrosine Kinase inhibitor, antagonizes multidrug resistance in ABCG2-overexpressing cancer cells.

Background and Objectives: Overcoming ATP-binding cassette subfamily G member 2 (ABCG2)-mediated multidrug resistance (MDR) has attracted the attention of scientists because one of the critical factors resulting in MDR in cancer is the overexpression of ABCG2. RN486, a Bruton's Tyrosine Kinase (BTK) inhibitor, was discovered to potentially reverse ABCB1-mediated MDR. However, there is still uncertainty about whether RN486 has a reversal off-target impact on ABCG2-mediated MDR. Methods: MTT assay was used to detect the reversal effect of RN486 on ABCG2-overexpressing cancer cells. The ABCG2 expression level and subcellular localization were examined by Western blotting and immunofluorescence. Drug accumulation and eflux assay and ATPase assay were performed to analyze the ABCG2 transporter function and ATPase activity. Molecular modeling predicted the binding between RN486 and ABCG2 protein. Results: Non-toxic concentrations of RN486 remarkably increased the sensitivity of ABCG2-overexpressing cancer cells to conventional anticancer drugs mitoxantrone and topotecan. The reversal mechanistic studies showed that RN486 elevated the drug accumulation because of reducing the eflux of ABCG2 substrate drug in ABCG2-overexpressing cancer cells. In addition, the inhibitory efect of RN486 on ABCG2-associated ATPase activity was also verified. Molecular docking study implied a strong binding afinity between RN486 and ABCG2 transporter. Meanwhile, the ABCG2 subcellular localization was not altered by the treatment of RN486, but the expression level of ABCG2 was down-regulated. Conclusions: Our studies propose that RN486 can antagonize ABCG2-mediated MDR in cancer cells via down-regulating the expression level of ABCG2 protein, reducing ATPase activity of ABCG2 transporter, and inhibiting the transporting function. RN486 could be potentially used in conjunction with chemotherapy to alleviate MDR mediated by ABCG2 in cancer.

Bioactive secondary metabolites isolated from the branches and leaves of Pittosporum pulchrum Gagnep.

Five new compounds, including two sesquiterpenoid glycosides (1 and 2), two monoterpenoid glycosides (3 and 4), and a quinovose ester (5), together with four known compounds (6-9) were isolated from branches and leaves of Pittosporum pulchrum Gagnep. Their structures were established by 1D and 2D NMR, HR-ESI-MS, IR and UV spectral analyses. This is the first time to investigate the chemical constituents of P. pulchrum. Subsequently, the anti-inflammatory and antioxidant activities of different solvent fractions of ethanol extract and isolated compounds were evaluated. Dichloromethane and ethyl acetate fractions dramatically inhibited the production of NO in a concentration-dependent manner in LPS-induced RAW264.7 cells. Ethyl acetate and n-butanol fractions showed excellent DPPH radical scavenging activities with IC50 values of 24.31 µg/mL and 27.81 µg/mL, respectively. Compounds 7 and 8 might be potential natural antioxidants with IC50 values of 16.13 µM and 24.81 µM, respectively.

The impact of 25-hydroxyvitamin D and calcium on risk of age-related macular degeneration: a Mendelian randomization study.

BACKGROUND: The relationships between 25-hydroxyvitamin D [25(OH)D] and calcium and age-related macular degeneration (AMD) are unclear. OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to investigate the causal role of 25(OH)D concentrations, calcium concentrations, and dietary supplements use of vitamin D and calcium on risk of AMD and its subtypes. METHODS: Independent genetic variants associated with 25(OH)D and calcium concentrations were used as instrumental variables in published genome-wide association studies (GWASs) of European ancestry. The bidirectional 2-sample Mendelian randomization (MR) analyses were performed using summary-level data from the UK Biobank and FinnGen datasets. Sensitivity analyses were conducted to ensure the robustness of the MR results. The meta-analyses were conducted using both fixed-effect and random-effect models to provide comprehensive and reliable estimates. RESULTS: A standard deviation increase in calcium concentrations was linked to a 14%, 17%, and 13% reduction in the likelihood of developing AMD (95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.77, 0.97), wet AMD (95% CI: 0.73, 0.95), and dry AMD (95% CI: 0.75, 1.00), respectively. No significant causal relationships were detected between genetically predicted 25(OH)D concentrations and AMD and its subtypes (all P > 0.05). The combined analyses showed that higher calcium concentrations were associated with a reduced risk of overall AMD, with an odds ratio of 0.89 (95% CI: 0.81, 0.98). CONCLUSIONS: This study provides evidence supporting the causal relationship between calcium concentrations and risk of AMD and its subtypes, which may have important implications for the prevention, monitoring, and treatment of AMD.

X-Paste improves wound healing in diabetes via NF-E2-related factor/HO-1 signaling pathway.

BACKGROUND: Diabetic foot ulcers (DFU), as severe complications of diabetes mellitus (DM), significantly compromise patient health and carry risks of amputation and mortality. AIM: To offer new insights into the occurrence and development of DFU, focusing on the therapeutic mechanisms of X-Paste (XP) of wound healing in diabetic mice. METHODS: Employing traditional Chinese medicine ointment preparation methods, XP combines various medicinal ingredients. High-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) identified XP's main components. Using streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetic, we aimed to investigate whether XP participated in the process of diabetic wound healing. RNA-sequencing analyzed gene expression differences between XP-treated and control groups. Molecular docking clarified XP's treatment mechanisms for diabetic wound healing. Human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) were used to investigate the effects of Andrographolide (Andro) on cell viability, reactive oxygen species generation, apoptosis, proliferation, and metastasis in vitro following exposure to high glucose (HG), while NF-E2-related factor-2 (Nrf2) knockdown elucidated Andro's molecular mechanisms. RESULTS: XP notably enhanced wound healing in mice, expediting the healing process. RNA-sequencing revealed Nrf2 upregulation in DM tissues following XP treatment. HPLC identified 21 primary XP components, with Andro exhibiting strong Nrf2 binding. Andro mitigated HG-induced HUVECs proliferation, metastasis, angiogenic injury, and inflammation inhibition. Andro alleviates HG-induced HUVECs damage through Nrf2/HO-1 pathway activation, with Nrf2 knockdown reducing Andro's proliferative and endothelial protective effects. CONCLUSION: XP significantly promotes wound healing in STZ-induced diabetic models. As XP's key component, Andro activates the Nrf2/HO-1 signaling pathway, enhancing cell proliferation, tubule formation, and inflammation reduction.

Population coding for figure-ground texture segregation in macaque V1 and V4.

Object recognition often involves the brain segregating objects from their surroundings. Neurophysiological studies of figure-ground texture segregation have yielded inconsistent results, particularly on whether V1 neurons can perform figure-ground texture segregation or just detect texture borders. To address this issue from a population perspective, we utilized two-photon calcium imaging to simultaneously record the responses of large samples of V1 and V4 neurons to figure-ground texture stimuli in awake, fixating macaques. The average response changes indicate that V1 neurons mainly detect texture borders, while V4 neurons are involved in figure-ground segregation. However, population analysis (SVM decoding of PCA-transformed neuronal responses) reveal that V1 neurons not only detect figure-ground borders, but also contribute to figure-ground texture segregation, although requiring substantially more principal components than V4 neurons to reach a 75 % decoding accuracy. Individually, V1/V4 neurons showing larger (negative/positive) figure-ground response differences contribute more to figure-ground segregation. But for V1 neurons, the contribution becomes significant only when many principal components are considered. We conclude that V1 neurons participate in figure-ground segregation primarily by defining the figure borders, and the poorly structured figure-ground information V1 neurons carry could be further utilized by V4 neurons to accomplish figure-ground segregation.

[Analysis of preoperative assessment of glandular mass in gynecomastia].

Objective: To investigate the effectiveness of axillary single-site laparoscopic subcutaneous mastectomy in treatment of gynecomastia (GYN) and the assessment method of glandular mass before operation. Methods: A clinical data of 65 GYN patients admitted between August 2023 and February 2024 and matched the selection criteria was retrospectively analyzed. The patients were (30.8±7.9) years old, with a body mass index (BMI) of 27.3 (24.9, 29.8) kg/m 2. According to Simon's grading criteria, the GYN was classified as gade Ⅰ in 8 cases, grade Ⅱa in 32 cases, grade Ⅱb in 21 cases, and grade Ⅲ in 4 cases. All patients underwent bilateral axillary single-site laparoscopic subcutaneous mastectomy. The operation time, intraoperative blood loss, postoperative bilateral extubation time, total length of hospital stay, and the occurrence of related complications were recorded. The cosmetic outcome score was assessed by questionnaire at 2 months after operation. Preoperative BMI, lying/standing sternal notch to nipple (SN-N), and lying/standing nipple to nipple (N-N) were measured. The differences in SN-N between standing and lying positions (ΔSN-N) and in N-N between lying and standing positions (ΔN-N) were calculated. The intraoperative resected glandular mass was recorded. The glandular mass-related indicators (BMI, ΔSN-N, ΔN-N) were compared between Simon grades. Spearman's correlation analysis and multiple linear regression analysis of glandular mass with BMI and ΔSN-N, ΔN-N and Simon grading (grades Ⅰ, Ⅱa, Ⅱb, and Ⅲ were assigned values of 1, 2, 3, and 4, respectively) of the corresponding side. Results: All operations were successfully completed with the operation time of 75.0 (60.0, 90.0) minutes, the intraoperative blood loss of 12.0 (11.0, 13.0) mL, and the bilateral extubation time of 1.5 (1.5, 1.5) days after operation. The total length of hospital stay was 3.0 (3.0, 3.0) days. Three cases of subcutaneous hematoma in the chest wall and 1 case of nipple areola numbness and discomfort occurred after operation, while the rest of the patients had no complication, such as postoperative haemorrhage, effusion, infection, and nipple areola necrosis. The subjective cosmetic scores were all 15 at 2 months after operation, which was very satisfactory. The differences in ΔSN-N of right side between Simon grade Ⅰ and grades Ⅱa, Ⅱb, Ⅲ and in ΔSN-N of left side between Simon grade Ⅰ and grades Ⅱb, Ⅲ were significant ( P<0.05), while the differences between the remaining grades were not significant ( P>0.05). The differences in ΔN-N between Simon grade Ⅱa and gradeⅡb and in BMI between Simon grade Ⅱb and grade Ⅲ were not significant ( P>0.05), while the differences between the remaining grades were significant ( P<0.05). The glandular masses of left and right breasts in 65 patients were 69.0 (52.1, 104.0) g and 73.0 (56.0, 94.0) g, respectively; and the difference between left and right breasts was not significant ( Z=-0.622, P=0.534). The data of the right breast was selected for correlation analysis. Correlation analysis showed that the right glandular mass was positive correlated with BMI and Simon grading, ΔSN-N, and ΔN-N ( P<0.05). Multiple linear regression analysis showed that Simon grading had a positive predictive effect on glandular mass, and the regression equation was as follows: right glandular mass=5.541+32.115×Simon grading ( R 2 =0.354, P<0.001). Conclusion: Axillary single-site laparoscopic subcutaneous mastectomy is an ideal surgical procedure for the treatment of GYN. BMI and Simon grading are closely related to GYN glandular mass, and have certain reference value for preoperative glandular mass assessment.

Gene expression patterns and DNA methylation of neuron and pancreatic ß-cell developments in zebrafish embryos treated with bisphenol F and AF.

Bisphenol F (BPF) and bisphenol AF (BPAF) are structural analogues of bisphenol A (BPA) that are used in the manufacture of a myriad of BPA-free products; however, there is a paucity of information regarding their developmental effects. The present study investigates the effects of BPF and BPAF on neurodevelopment and pancreatic ß-cell differentiation via altering DNA methylation and gene expression patterns using the zebrafish model. BPF and BPAF induced behavioral perturbations: increased average speed, increased maximum acceleration, increased mania time and decreased static time, in 0.3 and 1.0 µM groups in zebrafish embryos. Glucose level was significantly increased in 1.0 µM BPF (28 %); while a monotonic increase of 29 %, 55 %, and 74 % were observed in 0.1, 0.3, and 1.0 µM BPAF, respectively. Consistent with a decreased insulin mRNA level, the expression of two critical transcription factors (pdx-1 and foxa2) essential for the development and functioning of beta-cells decreased following the bisphenols exposure. In addition, embryonic exposure to BPF and BPAF upregulated the transcription of developmental genes (vegfa, wnt8a, and mstn1) and neuron-related genes (mbp, elavl3, gap43, gfap). Also, the expressions of DNA methyltransferases (dnmt1, dnmt3, dnmt4, dnmt5, dnmt6, dnmt7, and dnmt8) were significantly aberrant compared with the control group. The Bisulfite PCR results indicate increased DNA methylation at promoter regions of pdx-1 in BPF (8.2 %) and BPAF (7.6 %); α1-tubulin in BPF (5.3 %) and in BPAF (4.1 %), congruous with the increased dnmt1 and dnmt3 transcription, at early stage of zebrafish development. The present study indicates that zebrafish embryonic exposure to BPF and BPAF elicits islet dysfunction and neuron perturbations resulting in increased DNA methylation levels.

Unveiling the barriers of Cd translocation from soil to rice: Insights from continuous flooding.

Understanding the spatiotemporal processes governing Cd behavior at the soil-solution-root interface is crucial for developing effective remediation strategies. This study examined the processes of chemical remediation in Cd-contaminated paddy soil using rhizotrons over the entire rice growth period. One-dimensional profile sampling with a 10 cm resolution revealed that during the initial flooding, paddy soil was strongly stimulated, followed by stabilization of porewater properties. X-ray diffraction of freeze-dried porewater confirmed the generation of submicron-precipitates such as CdS under continuous flooding, resulting in low ion levels of water-soluble Cd (<1 µg/L) and sulfate (<10 mg/L) in porewater. Two-dimensional imaging technologies indicated the maximum iron­manganese plaque (IP) within 20-110 µm of the root surface. Subsequently, monitoring O2 in the rhizosphere with a planar optode by two 100 cm2 membranes for a consecutive month revealed significant circadian O2 variations between the root base and tip. Destructive sampling results showed that acid-soluble Cd in soils, as available Cd, is crucial for Cd uptake by rice roots under continuous flooding. The IP deposited on the root surface, as the barriers of Cd translocation, increased with rice growth and blocked Cd translocation from soil to rice by about 18.11 %-25.43 % at maturity. A Si-Ca-Mg compound amendment reduced available Cd by about 10 % and improved Cd blocking efficiency by about 7.32 % through increasing IP concentration, resulting in the absorption ratio of Cd in the amendment group being half that of the control group. By unveiling the complex Cd interactions at the soil-rice interface, this study lays the groundwork for developing effective agricultural practices to mitigate Cd-contaminated paddy and ensure food safety.

Mechanisms of Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi Increasing Silicon Uptake by Rice.

Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) influence silicon (Si) uptake by plants, but the mechanisms remain unclear. This study investigated the mechanisms of AMF-mediated Si uptake by rice, a model Si-accumulating plant, and explored the tripartite interactions among AMF, Si, and phosphorus (P). AMF inoculation increased shoot Si content by 97% when supplied with silicic acid and by 29% with calcium silicate and upregulated expression of Si transporters Lsi1 and Lsi2 in roots. Supplying Si only to AMF hyphae increased the root Si content by 113%, indicating direct Si uptake by hyphae. Mechanisms of AMF-induced Si uptake were elucidated: 1) direct Si uptake by hyphae, 2) increased silicate dissolution, and 3) upregulation of Si transporters. Silicon application also increased AMF colonization by 28%, and the absence of interactions was observed on P uptake. Altogether, AMF support Si acquisition and Si fosters AMF colonization in rice, whereas the P uptake depends more on AMF than on Si.

Using laparoscope to remove an ectopic intrauterine device in the anterior wall of urinary bladder: A case report.

BACKGROUND: An intrauterine device (IUD) is a contraceptive device placed in the uterine cavity and is a common contraceptive method for Chinese women. However, an IUD may cause complications due to placement time, intrauterine pressure and other factors. Ectopic IUDs are among the most serious complications. Ectopic IUDs are common in the myometrium and periuterine organs, and there are few reports of ectopic IUDs in the urinary bladder, especially in the anterior wall. CASE SUMMARY: A 52-year-old woman was hospitalized due to a urinary bladder foreign body found via abdominal ultrasound and computed tomography (CT) examination. The patient had a 2-year history of recurrent abdominal distension and lower abdominal pain, accompanied by frequent urination, urgency, dysuria and other discomfort. Ultrasound examination revealed foreign bodies in the bladder cavity, with calculus on the surface of the foreign bodies. CT revealed a circular foreign body on the anterior wall of the urinary bladder, suggesting the possibility of an ectopic IUD. After laparoscopic exploration, an annular IUD was found in the anterior wall of urinary bladder, and an oval calculus with a diameter of approximately 2 cm was attached to the surface of the bladder cavity. The IUD and calculus were successfully and completely removed. The patient recovered well after surgery. CONCLUSION: Abdominal ultrasound and CT are effective methods for detecting ectopic IUDs. The IUD is located in the urinary bladder and requires early surgical treatment. The choice of surgical method is determined by comprehensively considering the depth of the IUD in the bladder muscle layer, the situation of complicated calculus, the situation of intravesical inflammation and medical technology and equipment.

Sequential Regulation of Local Reactive Oxygen Species by Ir@Cu/Zn-MOF Nanoparticles for Promoting Infected Wound Healing.

Most antimicrobials treat wound infections by an oxidation effect, which is induced by the generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS). However, the potential harm of the prolonged high level of ROS should not be ignored. In this study, we presented a novel cascade-reaction nanoparticle, Ir@Cu/Zn-MOF, to effectively regulate the ROS level throughout the healing progress of the infected wound. The nanoparticles consisted of a copper/zinc-modified metal-organic framework (Cu/Zn-MOF) serving as the external structure and an inner core composed of Ir-PVP NPs, which were achieved through a process known as "bionic mineralization". The released Cu2+ and Zn2+ from the shell structure contributed to the production of ROS, which acted as antimicrobial agents during the initial stage. With the disintegration of the shell, the Ir-PVP NP core was gradually released, exhibiting the property of multiple antioxidant enzyme activities, thereby playing an important role in clearing excessive ROS and alleviating oxidative stress. In a full-layer infected rat wound model, Ir@Cu/Zn-MOF nanoparticles presented exciting performance in promoting wound healing by clearing the bacteria and accelerating neovascularization as well as collagen deposition. This study provided a promising alternative for the repair of infected wounds.

Association between ambient air pollution and dry eye symptoms among Chinese individuals during the COVID-19 pandemic: A national-based study.

PURPOSE: To examine the association between ambient air pollution and dry eye symptoms (DES) during the COVID-19 pandemic and explore whether air pollution had increased the risk of DES to a greater extent than other risk factors. METHODS: A nationwide cross-sectional survey was conducted from June 20, 2022 to August 31, 2022. The Ocular Surface Disease Index-6 (OSDI-6) questionnaire was used to assess the presence of DES. Logistic regression models were employed to analyze the associations between DES and air pollution variables, including air quality index (AQI), fine particulate matter (PM2.5), PM10, sulfur dioxide (SO2), carbon monoxide (CO), nitrogen dioxide (NO2), ozone (O3) and residing near industrial zones. We explored the interactions of air pollutants and other risk factors in the additive models by calculating the synergy index (SI). Standardized regression coefficients were calculated to compare the relative importance of risk factors for DES. RESULTS: A total of 21,909 participants were included in the analysis. Residing near industrial zones was significantly correlated with a higher risk of DES (Odds ratio (OR): 1.57, 95 % confidence interval (CI): 1.38-1.79). No significant associations were found between DES and air pollutants except SO2 (OR: 1.05, 95 % CI: 1.02-1.09, per standard deviation increment in SO2 concentration). The restricted cubic spline analyses revealed a linear concentration-response relationship between SO2 and DES. The interaction analyses suggested synergetic interactions of SO2 with depression and problematic internet use. Among the risk factors, depression, anxiety and problematic Internet use contributed more to the increased risk of DES. CONCLUSION: The association between ambient air pollutants and DES may have been mitigated during the pandemic due to increased time spent indoors. Despite this, our findings support the deleterious health impact of air pollutants. Future urban planning should plan industrial zones further away from residential areas.

Insights into the response of electroactive biofilm with petroleum hydrocarbons degradation ability to quorum sensing signals.

Bioelectrochemical technologies based on electroactive biofilms (EAB) are promising for petroleum hydrocarbons (PHs) remediation as anode can serve as inexhaustible electron acceptor. However, the toxicity of PHs might inhibit the formation and function of EABs. Quorum sensing (QS) is ideal for boosting the performance of EABs, but its potential effects on reshaping microbial composition of EABs in treating PHs are poorly understood. Herein, two AHL signals, C4-HSL and C12-HSL, were employed to promote EABs for PHs degradation. The start-times of AHL-mediated EABs decreased by 18-26%, and maximum current densities increased by 28-63%. Meanwhile, the removal of total PHs increased to over 90%. AHLs facilitate thicker and more compact biofilm as well as higher viability. AHLs enhanced the electroactivity and direct electron transfer capability. The total abundance of PH-degrading bacteria increased from 52.05% to 75.33% and 72.02%, and the proportion of electroactive bacteria increased from 26.14% to 62.72% and 63.30% for MFC-C4 and MFC-C12. Microbial networks became more complex, aggregated, and stable with addition of AHLs. Furthermore, AHL-stimulated EABs showed higher abundance of genes related to PHs degradation. This work advanced our understanding of AHL-mediated QS in maintaining the stable function of microbial communities in the biodegradation process of petroleum hydrocarbons.