Anti-vasodilator-stimulated phosphoprotein (VASP) antibodies are associated with neuropsychiatric disorders in systemic lupus erythematosus.

Background: Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is a complex autoimmune disease characterized by multi-organ involvement and the presence of autoantibodies, pathogenic factors that can serve as diagnostic biomarkers. The current research has been focusing on exploring specific autoantigens with clinical relevance for SLE subtypes. In line with this objective, this study investigated potential antigenic targets associated with specific phenotypes in SLE by leveraging an omics-based approach combined with immunoassay techniques. Methods: A transcriptomic analysis was conducted in a cohort of 70 SLE patients to identify genes significantly correlated to the relevant phenotype. Epitope mapping and sequence analysis techniques were used to predict autoantigens, and the corresponding antibodies were subsequently quantified by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and validated by Western blot. Results: Transcriptomic data analysis revealed a group of hub genes exhibiting a significant correlation with the neuropsychiatric phenotype and a positive relationship with platelets. Subsequent epitope prediction for the corresponding proteins highlighted vasodilator-stimulated phosphoprotein (VASP) as a potential autoantigen. Moreover, ELISA and immunoblotting confirmed that the anti-VASP antibody present in the serum was significantly elevated in SLE patients with neuropsychiatric involvement and positively associated with demyelination. Conclusion: VASP harbors autoantigenic epitopes associated with neuropsychiatric phenotype, especially the demyelination symptom in SLE, and its antibodies may serve as promising biomarkers in this disease.

Integrin A5B1-mediated endocytosis of polystyrene nanoplastics: Implications for human lung disease and therapeutic targets.

The extensive use of plastic products has exacerbated micro/nanoplastic (MPs/NPs) pollution in the atmosphere, increasing the incidence of respiratory diseases and lung cancer. This study investigates the uptake and cytotoxicity mechanisms of polystyrene (PS) NPs in human lung epithelial cells. Transcriptional analysis revealed significant changes in cell adhesion pathways following PS-NPs exposure. Integrin α5ß1-mediated endocytosis was identified as a key promoter of PS-NPs entry into lung epithelial cells. Overexpression of integrin α5ß1 enhanced PS-NPs internalization, exacerbating mitochondrial Ca2+ dysfunction and depolarization, which induced reactive oxygen species (ROS) production. Mitochondrial dysfunction triggered by PS-NPs led to oxidative damage, inflammation, DNA damage, and necrosis, contributing to lung diseases. This study elucidates the molecular mechanism by which integrin α5ß1 facilitates PS-NPs internalization and enhances its cytotoxicity, offering new insights into potential therapeutic targets for microplastic-induced lung diseases.

Long-Term Outcomes of Diastasis Recti Abdominis in Postpartum Women: A Retrospective Cohort Study.

INTRODUCTION AND HYPOTHESIS: The objective was to investigate whether diastasis recti abdominis (DRA) can cause adverse outcomes for different long-term postpartum women. METHODS: We recruited 437 long-term postpartum women at five different time points (3, 5, 10, 20, and 30 years postpartum respectively). Inter-recti distance (IRD) and linea alba or umbilical hernia were measured by ultrasound. Strength of abdominal muscle was measured by a manual muscle test. Low back pain (LBP), urinary incontinence (UI) and quality of life (QOL) were measured by questionnaires including the Oswestry Disability Index, the International Consultation on Incontinence Questionnaire-Urinary Incontinence Short Form, 36-Item Short Form Health Survey respectively. RESULTS: Women with DRA experienced more severe LBP, and poorer QOL only 10 years postpartum according to the diagnostic criterion of IRD > 2cm. However, when the diagnostic criterion was raised to IRD > 3cm, women with DRA reported weaker abdominal muscle strength, more severe LBP 3, 5, and 10 years postpartum, poorer QOL 3, 5, 10, and 20 years postpartum, and higher incidence of linea alba or umbilical hernia 5 and 20 years postpartum. CONCLUSIONS: When using IRD > 2cm as the diagnostic criterion, the impact of DRA is minimal. However, when utilizing IRD > 3cm as the diagnostic criterion, DRA is associated with increased linea alba or umbilical hernia, weakened abdominal muscle strength, increased LBP, and decreased QOL. Most of the effects are particularly evident within 3-10 years postpartum, but becomes insignificant 20 and 30 years postpartum. Therefore, it is necessary to consider whether the diagnostic criterion of DRA need to be improved.

Effects of berberine hydrochloride on antioxidant response and gut microflora in the Charybdis japonica infected with Aeromonas hydrophila.

This study used berberine hydrochloride to treat the Asian paddle crab, Charybdis japonica infected with the Gram-negative bacterium Aeromonas hydrophila at concentrations of 0, 100, 200 and 300 mg/L. The effect of berberine hydrochloride on the survival rate and gut microbiota of C. japonica was investigated. Berberine hydrochloride improved the stability of the intestinal flora, with an increase in the abundance of probiotic species and a decrease in the abundance of both pathogenic bacteria after treatment with high concentrations of berberine hydrochloride. Berberine hydrochloride altered peroxidase activity (POD), malondialdehyde (MDA), and lipid peroxidation (LPO) in the intestinal tract compared to the control. Berberine hydrochloride could modulate the energy released from the enzyme activities of hexokinase (HK), phosphofructokinase (PFK), and pyruvate kinase (PK) in the intestinal tract of C. japonica infected with A. hydrophila. Zona occludens 1 (ZO-1), Zinc finger E-box binding homeobox 1 (ZEB1), occludin and signal transducer, and activator of transcription5b (STAT5b) expression were also increased, which improved intestinal barrier function. The results of this study provide new insights into the role of berberine hydrochloride in intestinal immune mechanisms and oxidative stress in crustaceans.

Sarmentosin alleviates doxorubicin-induced cardiotoxicity and ferroptosis via the p62-Keap1-Nrf2 pathway.

Doxorubicin (Dox) is extensively used as an antitumor agent, but its severe cardiotoxicity significantly limits its clinical use. Current treatments for Dox-induced cardiotoxicity are inadequate, necessitating alternative solutions. This study evaluated the effects of sarmentosin, a compound from Sedum sarmentosum, on Dox-induced cardiotoxicity and dysfunction. Sarmentosin was administered as a pretreatment to both mice and H9c2 cells before Dox exposure. Subsequently, markers of Dox-induced cardiotoxicity and ferroptosis in serum and cell supernatants were measured. Western blot analysis was utilized to detect levels of ferroptosis, oxidative stress, and autophagy proteins. Additionally, echocardiography, hematoxylin-eosin staining, ROS detection, and immunofluorescence techniques were employed to support our findings. Results demonstrated that sarmentosin significantly inhibited iron accumulation, lipid peroxidation, and oxidative stress, thereby reducing Dox-induced ferroptosis and cardiotoxicity in C57BL/6 mice and H9c2 cells. The mechanism involved the activation of autophagy and the Nrf2 signaling pathway. These findings suggest that sarmentosin may prevent Dox-induced cardiotoxicity by mitigating ferroptosis. The study underscores the potential of compounds like sarmentosin in treating Dox-induced cardiotoxicity.

Polystyrene microplastics induce molecular toxicity in Simocephalus vetulus: A transcriptome and intestinal microorganism analysis.

The global prevalence and accumulation of plastic waste is leading to pollution levels that cause significant damage to ecosystems and ecological security. Exposure to two concentrations (1 and 5 mg/L) of 500 nm polystyrene (PS)-nanoplastics (NPs) for 14 d was evaluated in Simocephalus vetulus using transcriptome and 16 s rRNA sequencing analyses. PS-NP exposure resulted in stress-induced antioxidant defense, disturbed energy metabolism, and affected the FoxO signaling pathway, causing neurotoxicity. The expression of Cyclin D1 (CCND), glucose-6-phosphatase (G6PC) and phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase (PCK) genes was decreased compared to the control, whereas the expression of caspase3 (CASP3), caspase7 (CASP7), Superoxide dismutase (SOD), Heat shock protein 70 (HSP70), MPV17, and Glutathione S-transferase (GST) genes was increased, thus, suggesting that NP ingestion triggered oxidative stress and disrupted energy metabolism.. PS-NPs were present in the digestive tract of S. vetulus after 14 days of exposure. In addition, the abundance of the Proteobacteria and opportunistic pathogens was elevated after PS-NPs exposure. The diversity and homeostasis of the S. vetulus gut microbiota were disrupted and the stability of intestinal barrier function was impaired. Multiomic analyses highlighted the molecular toxicity and microbial changes in S. vetulus after exposure to NPs, providing an overview of how plastic pollution affects freshwater organisms and ecosystems.

Preparation of a novel type I feline coronavirus virus-like particle vaccine and its immunogenicity in mice and cats.

Feline coronavirus (FCoV) infection is a leading cause of death in cats. In this study, we produced FCoV-I virus-like particles (VLPs) containing E, M, N, and S proteins using a baculovirus expression system and mixed VLPs with the adjuvants MF59 and CpG 55.2 to prepare an VLP/MF59/CpG vaccine. After immunization of mice with the vaccine, IgG specific antibodies titers against S and N proteins increased to 1:12,800, and IFN-γ+ and IL-4+ splenocytes were significantly increased. Following immunization of FCoV-negative cats, the S protein antibodies in immunized cats (5/5) increased significantly, with a peak of 1:12,800. Notably, after booster vaccination in FCoV-positive cats, a significant reduction in viral load was observed in the feces of partial cats (4/5), and the FCoV-I negative conversion was found in two immunized cats (2/5). Therefore, the VLP/MF59/CpG vaccine is a promising candidate vaccine to prevent the FCoV infection.

Gradual effects of gradient concentrations of perfluorooctane sulfonate on the antioxidant ability and gut microbiota of red claw crayfish (Cherax quadricarinatus).

Perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) is a typical persistent organic pollutant that is characterized by environmental persistence, bioaccumulation, and toxicity. In this study, we investigated the gut microbial response of the red claw crayfish Cherax quadricarinatus after 28 days of exposure to 0 ng/L, 1 ng/L, 10 µg/L, or 10 mg/L of PFOS as a stressor. We measured oxidative stress-related enzyme activities and expression of molecules related to detoxification mechanisms to evaluate the toxic effects of PFOS. We found that PFOS disturbed microbial homeostasis in the gut of C. quadricarinatus, resulting in increased abundance of the pathogen Shewanella and decreased abundance of the beneficial bacterium Lactobacillus. The latter especially disturbed amino acid transport and carbohydrate transport. We also found that the activities of glutathione S-transferase and glutathione peroxidase were positively correlated with the expression levels of cytochrome P450 genes (GST1-1, GSTP, GSTK1, HPGDS, UGT5), which are products of PFOS-induced oxidative stress and play an antioxidant role in the body. The results of this study provided valuable ecotoxicological data to better understand the biological fate and effects of PFOS in C. quadricarinatus.

Metabolomics and microbiome co-analysis reveals altered innate immune responses in Charybdis japonica following Aeromonas hydrophila infection.

A comprehensive bioinformatics analysis was conducted to elucidate the innate immune response of Charybdis japonica following exposure to Aeromonas hydrophila. This study integrated metabolomics, 16S rRNA sequencing, and enzymatic activity data to dissect the immune mechanisms activated in response to infection. Infection with A. hydrophila resulted in an increased abundance of beneficial intestinal genera such as Photobacterium spp., Rhodobacter spp., Polaribacter spp., Psychrilyobacter spp., and Mesoflavibacter spp. These probiotics appear to suppress A. hydrophila colonization by competitively dominating the intestinal microbiota. Key metabolic pathways affected included fatty acid biosynthesis, galactose metabolism, and nitrogen metabolism, highlighting their role in the crab's intestinal response. Enzymatic analysis revealed a decrease in activities of hexokinase, phosphofructokinase, and pyruvate kinase, which are essential for energy homeostasis and ATP production necessary for stress responses. Additionally, reductions were observed in the activities of acetyl-CoA carboxylase and fatty acid synthase. Gene expression analysis showed downregulation in Peroxiredoxin 1 (PRDX1), Peroxiredoxin 2 (PRDX2), glutathione-S-transferase (GST), catalase (CAT), and glutathione (GSH), with concurrent increases in malondialdehyde (MDA) levels, indicating severe oxidative stress. This study provides insights into the molecular strategies employed by marine crabs to counteract bacterial invasions in their natural habitat.

A Simple Organo-Electrocatalysis System for the Chlor-Related Industry.

Consuming a substantial quantum of energy (~165 TW h), the chlor-alkali industry garners considerable scholarly and industrial interest, with the anode reaction involving the oxidation of chloride ions being a paramount determinant of reaction rates. While the dimensionally stable anode (DSA) displays commendable catalytic activity and longevity, they rely on precious metals and exhibit a non-negligible side reaction in sodium hypochlorite (NaClO) production, underscoring the appeal of metal-free alternatives. However, the molecules and systems currently available are characterized by intricate complexity and are not amenable to large-scale production. Herein, we have successfully developed an economical and highly efficient molecular catalyst, demonstrating superior performance compared with the former organic molecules in the chloride ion oxidation process (COP) for the production of both chlorine gas (Cl2) and NaClO. The molecule of 2N only needs 92 mV to reach a current density of 1000 mA cm-2, with a small cost of only 0.002 $ g-1. Furthermore, we propose a novel mechanism underpinned by non-covalent interactions, serving as the foundation for an innovative approach to the design of efficient anodes for the COP.

Peer Stress Spills Over to Family Stress in the Context of Emotion Regulation Difficulties: A Daily Diary Study with Chinese Adolescents.

Conflict in peer and family relationships becomes more common in the adolescent period when compared to previous developmental periods. These typical developmental challenges can be exacerbated in the context of poor emotion regulation skills. Using daily diary data, the current study examined the stress spillover effects of peer and family stress on one another, as well as the moderating role of emotion regulation challenges (i.e., emotional inhibition, dysregulation). A sample of 310 Chinese adolescents (Mage = 13.02 years, SD = 0.76 years, 50.7% boys) completed an initial measure of emotion regulation difficulties, then reported on peer and family stress for 10 consecutive weekdays. Results indicated that there was an overall same-day peer stress spillover effect in which adolescents' peer stress on a given day was negatively associated with later conflictual interactions with their parents. Further, the relation between peer stress and same- and next-day family stress was exacerbated in the context of high levels of emotional inhibition. Family stress did not significantly relate to next-day peer stress, nor was this association moderated by difficulties with emotion regulation. These results highlight the temporal sequence of daily peer-to-family stress spillover. Though emotional inhibition may be culturally adaptive for maintaining interpersonal harmony, it can be maladaptive in managing stress for Chinese adolescents.

The impacts of dietary sphingomyelin supplementation on metabolic parameters of healthy adults: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.

Background: Studies have shown that sphingomyelin (SM) and its metabolites play signaling roles in the regulation of human health. Endogenous SM is involved in metabolic syndrome (MetS), while dietary SM supplementation may maintain lipid metabolism and prevent or alleviate MetS. Therefore, we hypothesized that dietary SM supplementation is beneficial for human health. Aims: In order to examine the impacts of dietary SM on metabolic indexes in adults without MetS, we performed a meta-analysis to test our hypothesis. Methods: A comprehensive search was performed to retrieve randomized controlled trials that were conducted between 2003 and 2023 to examine the effects of dietary SM supplementation on metabolic parameters in the Cochrane Library, PubMed, Web of Science, Embase, and ClinicalTrials.gov databases. RevMan 5.4 and Stata 14.0 software were used for meta-analysis, a sensitivity analysis, the risk of bias, and the overall quality of the resulted evidence. Results: Eventually, 10 articles were included in this meta-analysis. Dietary SM supplementation did not affect the endline blood SM level. When compared to the control, SM supplementation reduced the blood total cholesterol level [MD: -12.97, 95% CI: (-14.57, -11.38), p < 0.00001], low-density lipoprotein cholesterol level [MD: -6.62, 95% CI: (-10.74, -2.49), p = 0.002], and diastolic blood pressure [MD: -3.31; 95% CI (-4.03, -2.58), p < 0.00001] in adults without MetS. The supplementation also increased high-density lipoprotein level [MD:1.41, 95% CI: (0.94, 1.88), p < 0.00001] and muscle fiber conduction velocity [MD: 95% 1.21 CI (0.53, 1.88), p = 0.0005]. The intake of SM had no effect on the blood phospholipids and lyso-phosphatidylcholine, but slightly decreased phosphatidylcholine, phosphatidylethanolamine, and phosphatidylinositol concentrations. Dietary SM supplementation reduced insulin level [MD: -0.63; 95% CI (-0.96, -0.31), p = 0.0001] and HOMA-IR [MD: -0.23; 95% CI (-0.31, -0.16), p < 0.00001] without affecting blood levels of glucose and inflammatory cytokines. Conclusion: Overall, dietary SM supplementation had a protective effect on blood lipid profiles and insulin level, but had limited impacts on other metabolic parameters in adults without MetS. More clinical trials and basic research are required. Systematic review registration: PROSPERO, identifier CRD42023438460.

Effects of different concentrations and particle sizes of nanoplastics on gut microbiology, metabolism, and immunity in Chiromantes dehaani.

This study investigated the effects of nanoplastics (NPs) of varying particle sizes (75, 500, and 1000 nm) and concentrations (2.5 and 10 mg/L) on the gut health of Chiromantes dehaani. The experimental groups included a control (Cg0), and varying combinations of particle size and concentration. Our results showed that 75 nm NPs were more likely to enhance pathogenic bacterial growth than other sized NPs. Compared with CK, Low NPs concentrations (2.5 mg/L) raised total cholesterol (T-CHO) levels in the gut, while high concentrations significantly decreased both triglyceride (TG) and T-CHO levels (p < 0.05). The enzymatic activities of intestinal lipase and amylase were inhibited by NPs exposure, with greater inhibition at higher NPs concentrations. The 500 nm NPs exhibited a notably higher inhibitory effect than the 75 and 1000 nm NPs (P < 0.05). In terms of apoptosis, NPs exposure led to reduced mRNA expression of Bcl2 and increased expression of Caspase-3, Caspase-8, and Caspase-9, indicating an induction of apoptosis. This effect was more pronounced at higher NPs concentrations, with 75 nm NPs more likely to induce apoptosis in intestinal cells than 500 nm and 1000 nm NPs. Moreover, NPs triggered intestinal inflammatory responses, evidenced by the increased mRNA expression of TNF-ß, TNF-α, IL1ß, IL6, and IL8, and the decreased expression of IL10. High NPs concentrations were more likely to induce intestinal inflammation, with 500 nm NPs imparting the strongest effect. In summary, the study demonstrated that NPs, and particularly those at higher concentrations, disrupted the gut environment of C. dehaani by altering the microflora, reducing microbial diversity, inhibiting digestion and metabolism, inducing apoptosis, and triggering inflammation. Among the sizes of NPs tested, 500 nm NPs had the most significant adverse impact on digestion, metabolism, and inflammation, while 75 nm NPs most strongly induced apoptosis in C. dehaani's intestinal cells.

Micromechanism for Copper-Deficiency Enhanced Stability: A Quasi In Situ TEM Study of Electric-Induced Structural Evolution in Cu2-x(S, Se) Liquid-Like Thermoelectric Materials.

Cu-based liquid-like thermoelectric materials have garnered tremendous attention due to their inherent ultralow lattice thermal conductivity. However, their practical application is hampered by stability issues under a large current or temperature gradient. It has been reported that introduction of copper vacancies can enhance the chemical stability, whereas the micromechanism behind this macroscopic improvement still remains unknown. Here, we have established a quasi in situ TEM method to examine and compare the structural evolution of Cu2-xS0.2Se0.8 (x = 0, 0.05) under external electric fields. It is then found that the preset Cu vacancies could favor the electric-induced formation of a more stable intermediate phase, i.e., the hexagonal CuSe-type structure in the form of either lamellar defects (majorly) or long-range order (minorly), in which ordering of S and Se also occurred. Thereby, copper and chalcogen atoms could largely be solidified into the matrix, and the elemental deposition and evaporation process is mitigated under an electric field.

Rational Design of Bipolar Host and Thermally Activated Delayed Fluorescence Materials in Donor-Acceptor Molecular Architecture: A Theoretical Study.

Donor-acceptor (D-A) molecules have drawn massive attention recently in the design of high-performance materials, but the underlying reasons for the magic abilities of D-A architecture in building very different organic semiconductors are still unclear. Here, based on a series of experimentally bipolar host and thermally activated delayed fluorescence (TADF) molecules with the same donor but different acceptor units, it was found that TADF emitters have more effective charge transfer between donor and acceptor units than bipolar host molecules. More efficient conjugation effects between the donor and acceptor units of host materials were identified from the lower dihedral angles of the D-A structure, smaller and even negative charge transfer amount, shorter charge-transfer length, and larger hole-electron overlap extent. These findings with in-depth insights into different interaction models of donor and acceptor units shed important light on the molecular design of TADF emitters and bipolar materials in a D-A architecture.

Effects of nanoplastics on the gut microbiota of Pacific white shrimp Litopenaeus vannamei.

Nanoplastics (NPs) are an abundant, long-lasting, and widespread type of environmental pollution that is of increasing concern because of the serious threats they might pose to ecosystems and species. Identifying the ecological effects of plastic pollution requires understanding the effects of NPs on aquatic organisms. Here, we used the Pacific white shrimp (Litopenaeus vannamei) as a model species to investigate whether ingestion of polystyrene NPs affects gut microbes and leads to metabolic changes in L. vannamei. The abundance of Proteobacteria increased and that of Bacteroidota decreased after NPs treatment. Specifically, Vibrio spp., photobacterium spp., Xanthomarina spp., and Acinetobacter spp. increased in abundance, whereas Sulfitobacter spp. and Pseudoalteromonas spp. decreased. Histological observations showed that L. vannamei exposed to NP displayed a significantly lower intestinal fold height and damaged intestinal structures compared with the control group. Exposure to NPs also stimulated alkaline phosphatase, lysozyme, and acid phosphatase activity, resulting in an immune response in L. vannamei. In addition, the content of triglycerides, total cholesterol, and glucose were significantly altered after NP exposure. These results provided significant ecotoxicological data that can be used to better understand the biological fate and effects of NPs in L. vannamei.

Organocatalyst Supported by a Single-Atom Support Accelerates both Electrodes used in the Chlor-Alkali Industry via Modification of Non-Covalent Interactions.

Consuming one of the largest amount of electricity, the chlor-alkali industry supplies basic chemicals for society, which mainly consists of two reactions, hydrogen evolution (HER) and chlorine evolution reaction (CER). Till now, the state-of-the-art catalyst applied in this field is still the dimensional stable anode (DSA), which consumes a large amount of noble metal of Ru and Ir. It is thus necessary to develop new types of catalysts. In this study, an organocatalyst anchored on the single-atom support (SAS) is put forward. It exhibits high catalytic efficiency towards both HER and CER with an overpotential of 21 mV and 20 mV at 10 mA cm-2 . With this catalyst on both electrodes, the energy consumption is cut down by 1.2 % compared with the commercial system under industrial conditions. Based on this novel catalyst and the high activity, the mechanism of modifying non-covalent interaction is demonstrated to be reliable for the catalyst's design. This work not only provides efficient catalysts for the chlor-alkali industry but also points out that the SACs can also act as support, providing new twists for the development of SACs and organic molecules in the next step.

Design of three-section microneedle towards low insertion force and high drug delivery amount using the finite element method.

A microneedle has been greatly recognized as one of the most promising devices for novel transdermal drug delivery system due to its capacity of piercing the protective stratum corneum with a minimally invasive and painless manner. During the past two decades, although numerous achievements have been made in the structure and material combination of microneedles, they mostly focus on the pharmacology and functionality of microneedles, and little is reported about how to design the shape of microneedles to reduce insertion force and especially improve penetration efficiency. Using the developed finite element method, we designed three-section microneedles (TSMN) with various sizes and evaluated their maximum insertion force, penetration efficiency, drug delivery amount and strength. The simulation results demonstrate that the well-designed TSMN with shaft width of 60 µm exhibits a lower maximum insertion force of 116.68 mN relative to 167.92 mN of conical microneedle and an effective penetration length of 81.6% relative to 71.38% of conical microneedle. Besides, the optimized TSMN with shaft width of 80 µm shows similar maximum insertion force and 2.3 times the drug delivery amount compared to conical microneedle. These excellent properties are attributed to the optimized design of the shape curve of TSMN sidewall. Such results may provide an inspiration of microneedle design for low insertion force and high penetration efficiency.

Nano-plastics and gastric health: Decoding the cytotoxic mechanisms of polystyrene nano-plastics size.

Gastrointestinal diseases exert a profound impact on global health, leading to millions of healthcare interventions and a significant number of fatalities annually. This, coupled with escalating healthcare expenditures, underscores the need for identifying and addressing potential exacerbating factors. One emerging concern is the pervasive presence of microplastics and nano-plastics in the environment, largely attributed to the indiscriminate usage of disposable plastic items. These nano-plastics, having infiltrated our food chain, pose a potential threat to gastrointestinal health. To understand this better, we co-cultured human gastric fibroblasts (HGF) with polystyrene nano-plastics (PS-NPs) of diverse sizes (80, 500, 650 nm) and meticulously investigated their cellular responses over a 24-hour period. Our findings revealed PS particles were ingested by the cells, with a notable increase in ingestion as the particle size decreased. The cellular death induced by these PS particles, encompassing both apoptosis and necrosis, showcased a clear dependence on both the particle size and its concentration. Notably, the larger PS particles manifested more potent cytotoxic effects. Further analysis indicated a concerning reduction in cellular membrane potential, alongside a marked increase in ROS levels upon PS particles exposure. This suggests a significant disruption of mitochondrial function and heightened oxidative stress. The larger PS particles were especially detrimental in causing mitochondrial dysfunction. In-depth exploration into the PS particles impact on genes linked with the permeability transition pore (PTP) elucidated that these PS particles instigated an internal calcium rush. This surge led to a compromise in the mitochondrial membrane potential, which in tandem with raised ROS levels, further catalyzed DNA damage and initiated cell death pathways. In essence, this study unveils the intricate mechanisms underpinning cell death caused by PS particles in gastric epithelial cells and highlighting the implications of PS particles on gastrointestinal health. The revelations from this research bear significant potential to shape future healthcare strategies and inform pertinent environmental policies.

Accelerating the Hydrogen Production via Modifying the Fermi Surface.

The design of catalysts has attracted a great deal of attention in the field of electrocatalysis. The accurate design of the catalysts can avoid an unnecessary process that occurs during the blind trial. Based on the interaction between different metal species, a metallic compound supported by the carbon nanotube was designed. Among these compounds, RhFeP2CX (R-RhFeP2CX-CNT) was found to be in a rich-electron environment at the Fermi level (denoted as a flat Fermi surface), beneficial to the hydrogen evolution reaction (HER). R-RhFeP2CX-CNT exhibits a small overpotential of 15 mV at the current density of 10 mA·cm-2 in acidic media. Moreover, the mass activity of R-RhFeP2CX-CNT is 21597 A·g-1, which also demonstrates the advance of the active sites on R-RhFeP2CX-CNT. Therefore, R-RhFeP2CX-CNT can be an alternative catalyst applied in practical production, and the strategies of a flat Fermi surface will be a reliable strategy for catalyst designing.