Piezo1 and its inhibitors: Overview and perspectives.

The cation channel Piezo1, a crucial mechanotransducer found in various organs and tissues, has gained considerable attention as a therapeutic target in recent years. Following this trend, several Piezo1 inhibitors have been discovered and studied for potential pharmacological properties. This review provides an overview of the structural and functional importance of Piezo1, as well as discussing the biological activities of Piezo1 inhibitors based on their mechanism of action. The compounds addressed include the toxin GsMTx4, Aß peptides, certain fatty acids, ruthenium red and gadolinium, Dooku1, as well as the natural products tubeimoside I, salvianolic acid B, jatrorrhzine, and escin. The findings revealed that misexpression of Piezo1 can be associated with a number of chronic diseases, including hypertension, cancer, and hemolytic anemia. Consequently, inhibiting Piezo1 and the subsequent calcium influx can have beneficial effects on various pathological processes, as shown by many in vitro and in vivo studies. However, the development of Piezo1 inhibitors is still in its beginnings, with many opportunities and challenges remaining to be explored.

Uncovering the lack of awareness of sand mining impacts on riverbank erosion among Mekong Delta residents: insights from a comprehensive survey.

Global sand demand due to infrastructure construction has intensified sand mining activities in many rivers, with current rates of sand extraction exceeding natural replenishment. This has created many environmental problems, particularly concerning riverbank stability, which adversely affects the livelihoods of people in the Vietnamese Mekong Delta (VMD). However, sand mining's social impacts in the region remain inadequately understood. Here we assess locals' perception of sand mining activities in the VMD and its impacts on riverbank erosion. Residents living along the Bassac River, a hotspot of sand mining, were interviewed. Our results showed that while sand mining is perceived as destructive to the environment, few were aware of its role in worsening riverbank erosion. Only residents directly affected by riverbank collapse were aware of the implications of sand mining and its negative effect on bank stability, as they seem to have actively sought clarification. Our findings highlight the need for greater awareness and understanding among the locals regarding sand mining's impact on riverbank stability.

Synergistic effects in the gas sensitivity of polypyrrole/single wall carbon nanotube composites.

Polypyrrole/single wall carbon nanotube composites were synthesized by in-situ chemical polymerization using pyrrole (PPy) as precursor and single wall carbon nanotubes (SWNTs) as additive component. Electron microscope images reveal that SWNTs component acts as nucleation sites for PPy growth in the form of spherical and cylindrical core-shell structures. The SWNTs/PPy core-shell results in thin n-p junctions which modify the PPy bandgap and reduce the work function of electrons. As a result of the strong coupling, Raman and IR spectra show that the PPy undergoes a transition from polaron to bipolaron state, i.e., indicating an increase in the conductivity. In the UV-Vis spectra, the 340 nm adsorption band (π*-π transition) exhibits a red shift, while the 460 nm adsorption band (bipolaron transition) experiences a blue shift indicating a change in electronic structure and a relocation of polaron levels in the band gap of PPy. The modification in PPy electronic structure brings in a synergistic effect in sensing feature. Upon exposure to oxygen (an oxidizing agent) and NH(3) gas (a reducing agent), the PPy/SWNTs nanocomposite shows an enhancement in sensitivity exceeding ten folds in comparison with those of PPy or SWNTs.