Development of a novel three-dimensional injection guide for trigeminal ganglia.

BACKGROUND: Trigeminal ganglion (TG) plays an important role in the process of orthodontic pain. It's necessary to design an accurate, precise and minimally invasive trigeminal ganglion injection guide plate to study TG. METHODS: Micro-CT was used to obtain the Dicom format data, and three-dimensional (3D) software (mimics and magics23.03) was used to reconstruct 3D head models. Design and modifications of the TG injection guide plate were performed in Magic 23.03 software, and the guide plate was produced by a 3D stereolithography printer. X-ray, micro-CT, Evans blue, and virus transduction were used to demonstrate the accuracy of the guide-assisted injection. Pain levels were evaluated after using the injection guide by a bite force test and Von Frey test. RESULTS: X-ray and micro-CT tests confirmed that the injection needle reached the bilateral trigeminal ganglia fossa. The Evans blue test and virus transduction proved that the injected drug could be accurately injected into the bilateral trigeminal ganglion and the lentivirus could be successfully transfected. The percentage of accurate injection was 10/10 (bilateral trigeminal ganglia). Orofacial pain induced by the trigeminal ganglion injection was mild and returned to baseline within seven days. CONCLUSION: The injection guide described in this study is viable and reliable for the delivery of drugs and virus transduction into the trigeminal ganglia.

The Impact of NLRP3 Inflammasome on Osteoblasts and Osteogenic Differentiation: A Literature Review.

Osteoblasts (OBs), which are a crucial type of bone cells, derive from bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs). Accumulating evidence suggests inflammatory cytokines can inhibit the differentiation and proliferation of OBs, as well as interfere with their ability to synthesize bone matrix, under inflammatory conditions. NLRP3 inflammasome is closely associated with cellular pyroptosis, which can lead to excessive release of pro-inflammatory cytokines, causing tissue damage and inflammatory responses, however, the comprehensive roles of NLRP3 inflammasome in OBs and their differentiation have not been fully elucidated, making targeting NLRP3 inflammasome approaches to treat diseases related to OBs uncertain. In this review, we provide a summary of NLRP3 inflammasome activation and its impact on OBs. We highlight the significant roles of NLRP3 inflammasome in regulating OBs differentiation and function. Furthermore, current available strategies to affect OBs function and osteogenic differentiation targeting NLRP3 inflammasome are listed and analyzed. Finally, through the prospective discussion, we seek to provide novel insights into the crucial role of NLRP3 inflammasome in diseases related to OBs and offer valuable information for devising treatment strategies.

A prospective and randomized study comparing ultrasound-guided real time injection to conventional blind injection of botulinum neurotoxin for glabellar wrinkles.

BACKGROUND: Botulinum neurotoxin injections are the most frequently performed cosmetic procedures, but conventional blind injection for glabellar wrinkles remains to have some limitations. AIMS: We intend to directly inject botulinum neurotoxin into the glabella complex guided by real time ultrasound. We aim to propose a more efficient and safer botulinum neurotoxin injection strategy for glabellar wrinkles. METHODS: A total of 40 subjects with moderate to severe glabellar lines were enrolled in this study to receive botulinum neurotoxin injection, either through ultrasound-guided real time injection or conventional blind injection. Facial Wrinkle Scale (ranging from 0 = none to 3 = severe) and inter-brow distance (from 3D scanned face images) were used to evaluate the glabellar wrinkles improvement. Paired t test and two-sample t test were performed to analyze the within-group and between-group differences. RESULTS: The wrinkle score reduction was significant (p < 0.0001) immediately after the injection in ultrasound-guided injection group, but not in blind injection group (p = 0.163). Ultrasound-guided injection also showed a higher performance of wrinkle score reduction and more effective inter-brow distance increase over blind injection at Day 0 (p < 0.0001), Day 1 (p < 0.0001), Day 21 (p < 0.01) and Day 35 (p < 0.01) after initial treatment. CONCLUSIONS: The results of the study confirmed that botulinum neurotoxin injection for glabellar wrinkles under ultrasound guidance achieves quicker onset of action and better final outcomes compared to conventional blind injection.

The role of the Piezo1 channel in osteoblasts under cyclic stretching: A study on osteogenic and osteoclast factors.

OBJECTIVES: Orthodontic tooth movement is a mechanobiological reaction induced by appropriate forces, including bone remodeling. The mechanosensitive Piezo channels have been shown to contribute to bone remodeling. However, information about the pathways through which Piezo channels affects osteoblasts remains limited. Thus, we aimed to investigate the influence of Piezo1 on the osteogenic and osteoclast factors in osteoblasts under mechanical load. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Cyclic stretch (CS) experiments on MC3T3-E1 were conducted using a BioDynamic mechanical stretching device. The Piezo1 channel blocker GsMTx4 and the Piezo1 channel agonist Yoda1 were used 12 h before the application of CS. MC3T3-E1 cells were then subjected to 15% CS, and the expression of Piezo1, Piezo2, BMP-2, OCN, Runx2, RANKL, p-p65/p65, and ALP was measured using quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction, western blot, alkaline phosphatase staining, and immunofluorescence staining. RESULTS: CS of 15% induced the highest expression of Piezo channel and osteoblast factors. Yoda1 significantly increased the CS-upregulated expression of Piezo1 and ALP activity but not Piezo2 and RANKL. GsMTx4 downregulated the CS-upregulated expression of Piezo1, Piezo2, Runx2, OCN, p-65/65, and ALP activity but could not completely reduce CS-upregulated BMP-2. CONCLUSIONS: The appropriate force is more suitable for promoting osteogenic differentiation in MC3T3-E1. The Piezo1 channel participates in osteogenic differentiation of osteoblasts through its influence on the expression of osteogenic factors like BMP-2, Runx2, and OCN and is involved in regulating osteoclasts by influencing phosphorylated p65. These results provide a foundation for further exploration of osteoblast function in orthodontic tooth movement.

Effect of varying auxiliaries on maxillary incisor torque control with clear aligners: A finite element analysis.

INTRODUCTION: This study aimed to evaluate the effects of varying auxiliaries on tooth movement and stress distribution when maxillary central incisors were torqued 1° with a clear aligner through finite element analysis. METHODS: Three-dimensional finite element models, including maxillary alveolar bone, periodontal ligament, dentition, and clear aligner, were constructed. According to the auxiliaries designed on the maxillary central incisor, 5 models were created: (1) without auxiliaries (control model), (2) with the power ridge, (3) with the semi-ellipsoid attachment, (4) with the horizontal rectangular attachment, and (5) with the horizontal cylinder attachment. The tooth movement and periodontal ligament stress distribution after a palatal root torque of 1° were analyzed for each of the 5 models. RESULTS: With 1° torque predicted, the maxillary central incisor without auxiliaries showed a tendency of labial tipping, mesial tipping, and intrusion. The rotation center moved occlusally in the power ridge model. The labiolingual inclination variation increased in the semi-ellipsoid attachment model but decreased in the power ridge model. The maxillary central incisor is twisted in the distal direction in the power ridge model. The maxillary central incisor of the horizontal rectangular attachment and the horizontal cylinder attachment model behaved similarly to the control model. Periodontal stresses were concentrated in the cervical and apical areas. The maximum von Mises stresses were 11.6, 12.4, 3.81, 1.14, and 11.0 kPa in the 5 models. The semi-ellipsoid attachment model exhibited a more uniform stress distribution than the other models. CONCLUSIONS: Semi-ellipsoid attachment performed better efficacy on labiolingual inclination, and power ridge performed better efficacy on root control. However, a distal twist of maxillary incisors could be generated by the power ridge.

Semi or fully automatic tooth segmentation in CBCT images: a review.

Cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) is widely employed in modern dentistry, and tooth segmentation constitutes an integral part of the digital workflow based on these imaging data. Previous methodologies rely heavily on manual segmentation and are time-consuming and labor-intensive in clinical practice. Recently, with advancements in computer vision technology, scholars have conducted in-depth research, proposing various fast and accurate tooth segmentation methods. In this review, we review 55 articles in this field and discuss the effectiveness, advantages, and disadvantages of each approach. In addition to simple classification and discussion, this review aims to reveal how tooth segmentation methods can be improved by the application and refinement of existing image segmentation algorithms to solve problems such as irregular morphology and fuzzy boundaries of teeth. It is assumed that with the optimization of these methods, manual operation will be reduced, and greater accuracy and robustness in tooth segmentation will be achieved. Finally, we highlight the challenges that still exist in this field and provide prospects for future directions.

Protozoan-Derived Cytokine-Transgenic Macrophages Reverse Hepatic Fibrosis.

Macrophage therapy for liver fibrosis is on the cusp of meaningful clinical utility. Due to the heterogeneities of macrophages, it is urgent to develop safer macrophages with a more stable and defined phenotype for the treatment of liver fibrosis. Herein, a new macrophage-based immunotherapy using macrophages stably expressing a pivotal cytokine from Toxoplasma gondii, a parasite that infects ≈ 2 billion people is developed. It is found that Toxoplasma gondii macrophage migration inhibitory factor-transgenic macrophage (Mφtgmif) shows stable fibrinolysis and strong chemotactic capacity. Mφtgmif effectively ameliorates liver fibrosis and deactivates aHSCs by recruiting Ly6Chi macrophages via paracrine CCL2 and polarizing them into the restorative Ly6Clo macrophage through the secretion of CX3CL1. Remarkably, Mφtgmif exhibits even higher chemotactic potential, lower grade of inflammation, and better therapeutic effects than LPS/IFN-γ-treated macrophages, making macrophage-based immune therapy more efficient and safer. Mechanistically, TgMIF promotes CCL2 expression by activating the ERK/HMGB1/NF-κB pathway, and this event is associated with recruiting endogenous macrophages into the fibrosis liver. The findings do not merely identify viable immunotherapy for liver fibrosis but also suggest a therapeutic strategy based on the evolutionarily designed immunomodulator to treat human diseases by modifying the immune microenvironment.

Regulating Crystal Orientation via Ligand Anchoring Enables Efficient Wide-Bandgap Perovskite Solar Cells and Tandems.

Wide-bandgap (WBG) perovskite solar cells have attracted considerable interest for their potential applications in tandem solar cells. However, the predominant obstacles impeding their widespread adoption are substantial open-circuit voltage (VOC ) deficit and severe photo-induced halide segregation. To tackle these challenges, a crystal orientation regulation strategy by introducing dodecyl-benzene-sulfonic-acid as an additive in perovskite precursors is proposed. This method significantly promotes the desired crystal orientation, passivates defects, and mitigates photo-induced halide phase segregation in perovskite films, leading to substantially reduced nonradiative recombination, minimized VOC deficits, and enhanced operational stability of the devices. The resulting 1.66 eV bandgap methylamine-free perovskite solar cells achieve a remarkable power conversion efficiency (PCE) of 22.40% (certified at 21.97%), with the smallest VOC deficit recorded at 0.39 V. Furthermore, the fabricated semitransparent WBG devices exhibit a competitive PCE of 20.13%. Consequently, four-terminal tandem cells comprising WBG perovskite top cells and 1.25 eV bandgap perovskite bottom cells showcase an impressive PCE of 28.06% (stabilized 27.92%), demonstrating great potential for efficient multijunction tandem solar cell applications.

Bibliometric research on analysis of links between periodontitis and cardiovascular diseases.

Background: Periodontitis (PD) and cardiovascular diseases (CVD) rank among the most prevalent pathologies worldwide, and their correlation has been a subject of prolonged investigation. Numerous studies suggest shared etiological factors; however, a definitive causal connection remains unestablished. The objective of this study was to employ bibliometric and visual analyses in order to comprehensively examine the overarching characteristics, focal areas of research, and prospective trends pertaining to the PD-CVD relationship. Methods: We sourced articles, reviews, and online publications on PD- and CVD- research from the Web of Science Core Collection (WoSCC) spanning from January 1, 1993, to May 15, 2023. A triad of analytical tools (R-Bibliometrix, VOSviewer 1.6.19, and CiteSpace 6.2.R3) were utilized to facilitate collaboration network analysis, co-citation analysis, co-occurrence analysis, and citation burst detection. Results: Out of the 1,116 publications that fulfilled the eligibility criteria in the WoSCC database, the comprehensive characteristics analysis divulged a sustained growth trend in publication frequency. In the cluster analysis of reference co-citation and keyword co-occurrence, prominent themes such as "periodontitis", "cardiovascular diseases", "inflammation", "Porphyromonas gingivalis", and "atherosclerosis" consistently emerged. Contemporary topics such as "peri-implantitis," "COVID-19", "cardiovascular risk factors," and "endocarditis" were pinpointed as burgeoning research hotspots. Conclusion: Based on this bibliometric study, in the field of association studies between PD and CVD, the etiologic mechanisms of both diseases have been intensively studied in the last three decades. Periodontal pathogens might serve as potential initiating factors linking PD and CVD. Inflammation may constitute a significant etiological factor shared by both diseases. Several emerging topics, such as COVID-19 and peri-implantitis, exhibit promising potential. This exhaustive overview casts light on pivotal research arenas, augmenting the field's understanding and stimulating further scholarly investigations.

Efficacy of upper-incisor torque control with clear aligners: a retrospective study using cone-beam computed tomography.

OBJECTIVES: The objectives of this retrospective clinical study were to evaluate the efficacy of clear aligners on upper-incisor torque control, with the expectation of providing guidance for clinics. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Pretreatment (T0) and posttreatment (T1) cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) scans of 47 patients with a nonextraction treatment using clear aligners were obtained and 120 upper-incisors with torque ≥5° were selected. Voxel-based superimpositions were performed using Dolphin imaging software and achieved movements were then measured. Difference between achieved and predicted movement (DAPM) and the efficiency for upper-incisor torque were used to evaluate the torque control efficacy. RESULTS: The achieved torque movement with clear aligners was lower than predicted significantly, as the mean efficiency was 46.81±33.95%. Additionally, the achieved incisor movement of the crown and root differed significantly from the predicted movement, especially root movement. CONCLUSIONS: Clear aligners struggle to control upper-incisor torque, particularly root movement. In that case, overcorrection is necessary to prevent torque loss. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Clear aligners remain a limitation on torque control and overcorrection should be considered.

Coordination of Polyketide Release and Multiple Detoxification Pathways for Tolerable Production of Fungal Mycotoxins.

Efficient biosynthesis of microbial bioactive natural products (NPs) is beneficial for the survival of producers, while self-protection is necessary to avoid self-harm resulting from over-accumulation of NPs. The underlying mechanisms for the effective but tolerable production of bioactive NPs are not well understood. Herein, in the biosynthesis of two fungal polyketide mycotoxins aurovertin E (1) and asteltoxin, we show that the cyclases in the gene clusters promote the release of the polyketide backbone, and reveal that a signal peptide is crucial for their subcellular localization and full activity. Meanwhile, the fungus adopts enzymatic acetylation as the major detoxification pathway of 1. If intermediates are over-produced, the non-enzymatic shunt pathways work as salvage pathways to avoid excessive accumulation of the toxic metabolites for self-protection. These findings provided new insight into the interplay of efficient backbone release and multiple detoxification strategies for the production of fungal bioactive NPs.

Complex Interplay and Catalytic Versatility of Tailoring Enzymes for Efficient and Selective Biosynthesis of Fungal Mycotoxins.

Mycotoxins have substantial impacts on agricultural production and food preservation. Some have high similarities in bioactivity but subtle differences on structures from various fungal producers. Understanding of their complex cross-biosynthesis will provide new insights into enzyme functions and food safety. Here, based on structurally related mycotoxins, such as aurovertins, asteltoxin, and citreoviridin, we showed that methyltransferase (MT)-catalyzed methylation is required for efficient oxidation and polyketide stability. MTs have broad interactions with polyketide synthases and flavin-containing monooxygenases (FMOs), while MT AstB is required for FMO AstC functionality in vivo. FMOs have common catalysis on pyrone-polyene intermediates but different catalytic specificity and efficiency on oxidative intermediates for the selective production of more toxic and complex mycotoxins. Thus, the subtle protein interaction and elaborate versatile catalysis of biosynthetic enzymes contribute to the efficient and selective biosynthesis of these structure-related mycotoxins and provide the basis to re-evaluate and control mycotoxins for agricultural and food safety.

Prevalence of Oral Exostoses in Northern China During the Past Six Millennia-From a Sex and Age Perspective.

This study is intended to investigate oral exostoses of 5 sample populations, spanning over 6000 years, from the same region of Northern China, to determine the significance of sex and age on the development of oral exostoses during each time period. The samples analyzed were 306 dry jaws from human skeletons, which were excavated from 4 archeological sites: Banpo (6700-5600 y BP), Shaolingyuan (3000 y BP), Shanren (2200 y BP), and Chang'an (1000-1300 y BP), as well as the modern Xi'an district. The sex and the age of the samples at death were estimated. The degree of buccal exostosis (BE), torus mandibularis (TM), and torus palatinus (TP) and the TP shape were recorded. The results showed BEs in the Banpo and Chang'an regions, TMs in the Banpo region were more often diagnosed in males than in females. Conversely, females in Shaolingyuan showed a higher prevalence and severity of TM than that in males. The occurrence of BEs in the Shanren and Xi'an regions, TMs in the Banpo, Chang'an, and Xi'an regions, as well as TPs in the Banpo region significantly increased with age at death. In conclusion, sex differences and increasing trends with age in relation to oral exostoses were found in samples from Northern China during the past six millennia.

Nano-Drug Delivery Systems in Oral Cancer Therapy: Recent Developments and Prospective.

Oral cancer (OC), characterized by malignant tumors in the mouth, is one of the most prevalent malignancies worldwide. Chemotherapy is a commonly used treatment for OC; however, it often leads to severe side effects on human bodies. In recent years, nanotechnology has emerged as a promising solution for managing OC using nanomaterials and nanoparticles (NPs). Nano-drug delivery systems (nano-DDSs) that employ various NPs as nanocarriers have been extensively developed to enhance current OC therapies by achieving controlled drug release and targeted drug delivery. Through searching and analyzing relevant research literature, it was found that certain nano-DDSs can improve the therapeutic effect of drugs by enhancing drug accumulation in tumor tissues. Furthermore, they can achieve targeted delivery and controlled release of drugs through adjustments in particle size, surface functionalization, and drug encapsulation technology of nano-DDSs. The application of nano-DDSs provides a new tool and strategy for OC therapy, offering personalized treatment options for OC patients by enhancing drug delivery, reducing toxic side effects, and improving therapeutic outcomes. However, the use of nano-DDSs in OC therapy still faces challenges such as toxicity, precise targeting, biodegradability, and satisfying drug-release kinetics. Overall, this review evaluates the potential and limitations of different nano-DDSs in OC therapy, focusing on their components, mechanisms of action, and laboratory therapeutic effects, aiming to provide insights into understanding, designing, and developing more effective and safer nano-DDSs. Future studies should focus on addressing these issues to further advance the application and development of nano-DDSs in OC therapy.

A Tremendous Reorganization Journey for the 3D Chromatin Structure from Gametes to Embryos.

The 3D chromatin structure within the nucleus is important for gene expression regulation and correct developmental programs. Recently, the rapid development of low-input chromatin conformation capture technologies has made it possible to study 3D chromatin structures in gametes, zygotes and early embryos in a variety of species, including flies, vertebrates and mammals. There are distinct 3D chromatin structures within the male and female gametes. Following the fertilization of male and female gametes, fertilized eggs undergo drastic epigenetic reprogramming at multi levels, including the 3D chromatin structure, to convert the terminally differentiated gamete state into the totipotent state, which can give rise to an individual. However, to what extent the 3D chromatin structure reorganization is evolutionarily conserved and what the underlying mechanisms are for the tremendous reorganization in early embryos remain elusive. Here, we review the latest findings on the 3D chromatin structure reorganization during embryogenesis, and discuss the convergent and divergent reprogramming patterns and key molecular mechanisms for the 3D chromatin structure reorganization from gametes to embryos in different species. These findings shed light on how the 3D chromatin structure reorganization contribute to embryo development in different species. The findings also indicate the role of the 3D chromatin structure on the acquisition of totipotent developmental potential.

Runx2 and Nell-1 in dental follicle progenitor cells regulate bone remodeling and tooth eruption.

Dental follicles are necessary for tooth eruption, surround the enamel organ and dental papilla, and regulate both the formation and resorption of alveolar bone. Dental follicle progenitor cells (DFPCs), which are stem cells found in dental follicles, differentiate into different kinds of cells that are necessary for tooth formation and eruption. Runt-related transcription factor 2 (Runx2) is a transcription factor that is essential for osteoblasts and osteoclasts differentiation, as well as bone remodeling. Mutation of Runx2 causing cleidocranial dysplasia negatively affects osteogenesis and the osteoclastic ability of dental follicles, resulting in tooth eruption difficulties. Among a variety of cells and molecules, Nel-like molecule type 1 (Nell-1) plays an important role in neural crest-derived tissues and is strongly expressed in dental follicles. Nell-1 was originally identified in pathologically fused and fusing sutures of patients with unilateral coronal synostosis, and it plays indispensable roles in bone remodeling, including roles in osteoblast differentiation, bone formation and regeneration, craniofacial skeleton development, and the differentiation of many kinds of stem cells. Runx2 was proven to directly target the Nell-1 gene and regulate its expression. These studies suggested that Runx2/Nell-1 axis may play an important role in the process of tooth eruption by affecting DFPCs. Studies on short and long regulatory noncoding RNAs have revealed the complexity of RNA-mediated regulation of gene expression at the posttranscriptional level. This ceRNA network participates in the regulation of Runx2 and Nell-1 gene expression in a complex way. However, non-study indicated the potential connection between Runx2 and Nell-1, and further researches are still needed.

Spatial Regulation of Acceptor Units in Olefin-Linked COFs toward Highly Efficient Photocatalytic H2 Evolution.

Covalent organic frameworks (COFs)-based photocatalysts have received growing attention for photocatalytic hydrogen (H2 ) production. One of the big challenges in the field is to find ways to promote energy/electron transfer and exciton dissociation. Addressing this challenge, herein, a series of olefin-linked 2D COFs is fabricated with high crystallinity, porosity, and robustness using a melt polymerization method without adding volatile organic solvents. It is found that regulation of the spatial distances between the acceptor units (triazine and 2, 2'-bipyridine) of COFs to match the charge carrier diffusion length can dramatically promote the exciton dissociation, hence leading to outstanding photocatalytic H2 evolution performance. The COF with the appropriate acceptor distance achieves exceptional photocatalytic H2 evolution with an apparent quantum yield of 56.2% at 475 nm, the second highest value among all COF photocatalysts and 70 times higher than the well-studied polymer carbon nitride. Various experimental and computation studies are then conducted to in-depth unveil the mechanism behind the enhanced performance. This study will provide important guidance for the design of highly efficient organic semiconductor photocatalysts.

Polymer-Modified Liposomes for Drug Delivery: From Fundamentals to Applications.

Liposomes are highly advantageous platforms for drug delivery. To improve the colloidal stability and avoid rapid uptake by the mononuclear phagocytic system of conventional liposomes while controlling the release of encapsulated agents, modification of liposomes with well-designed polymers to modulate the physiological, particularly the interfacial properties of the drug carriers, has been intensively investigated. Briefly, polymers are incorporated into liposomes mainly using "grafting" or "coating", defined according to the configuration of polymers at the surface. Polymer-modified liposomes preserve the advantages of liposomes as drug-delivery carriers and possess specific functionality from the polymers, such as long circulation, precise targeting, and stimulus-responsiveness, thereby resulting in improved pharmacokinetics, biodistribution, toxicity, and therapeutic efficacy. In this review, we summarize the progress in polymer-modified liposomes for drug delivery, focusing on the change in physiological properties of liposomes and factors influencing the overall therapeutic efficacy.

Baicalin clears inflammation by enhancing macrophage efferocytosis via inhibition of RhoA/ROCK signaling pathway and regulating macrophage polarization.

Effective efferocytosis of apoptotic polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMNs) in the initiation and resolution of inflammation iscrucial for preventing progression to chronicinflammatorydisease. Baicalin, a bioactive flavonoid drug, exerts multiple anti-inflammatory effects; however, its underlying mechanism remains to be elucidated. Here, we investigated the role of baicalin in efferocytosis in vitro and in a Porphyromonas gingivalis lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-inducedmurinemodelofpleurisy. We found that the macrophage engulfment of apoptotic PMNs was significantly promoted by baicalin in an inflammatory environment with an effectiveness similar to that of N-acetylcysteine. Meanwhile, the production of reactive oxygen species was significantly blocked in P. gingivalis LPS-stimulated J774A.1 macrophages by baicalin, and the RhoA/ROCK signaling pathway was inhibited in the same way as the ROCK inhibitor, Y-27632. In addition, the M1/M2macrophage ratio and the proinflammatory cytokine TNF-α were downregulated, whereas the anti-inflammatory cytokine IL-10 was upregulated both in vitro and in vivo. Therefore, we propose that baicalin may increase efferocytosis by acting as an antioxidant via a RhoA-dependent pathway and regulate macrophage polarization, thus promoting inflammatory resolution.

Heterogeneous Structure Regulated by Selection Pressure on Bacterial Adhesion Optimized the Viability Stratification Structure of Electroactive Biofilms.

As the core of microbial fuel cells (MFCs), the components and structure of electroactive biofilms (EABs) are essential for MFC performance. Bacterial adhesion plays a vital role in shaping the structure of EABs, but the effect of bacterial adhesion under selection pressure on EABs has not been systematically studied. Here, the response of the composition, structure, and electrochemical performance of EABs to the selective adhesion pressure due to the selective coordination of Fe(III) and Co(II) with thiol and the different affinities for bacteria on hybrid electrodes (Fe1Co, Fe4Co, and Fe10Co) were comprehensively investigated. Compared with carbon cloth (CC), the appropriate selective adhesion pressure of Fe4Co activated the dead inner core of EABs and optimized their viability stratification structure. Both the total viability and the viability of the inner core layer in the Fe4Co EAB (0.67, 0.70 ± 0.01) were higher than those of the CC (0.46, 0.54 ± 0.01), Fe1Co (0.50, 0.48 ± 0.03), and Fe10Co (0.51, 0.51 ± 0.03). Moreover, a higher proportion of proteins was detected in the Fe4Co EAB, enhancing the redox activity of extracellular polymeric substances. Fe4Co enriched Geobacter and stimulated microbial metabolism. Electrochemical analysis revealed that the Fe4Co EAB was the most electroactive EAB, with a maximum power density of 2032.4 mW m-2, which was 1.7, 1.3, and 1.1 times that of the CC (1202.6 mW m-2), Fe1Co (1610.3 mW m-2), and Fe10Co (1824.4 mW m-2) EABs, respectively. Our findings confirmed that highly active EABs could be formed by imposing selection pressure on bacterial adhesion.