Removal of 6-methylquinoline from shale gas wastewater using electrochemical carbon nanotubes filter.

6-Methylquinoline (6-MQ) is identified as a high-concentration organic compound pervasive in shale gas wastewater (SGW) and poses a significant risk of environmental pollution. In response, this study aimed to address these challenges by introducing an innovative electrochemical membrane constructed with multi-walled carbon nanotubes (CNTs) for the removal of 6-MQ. The investigation systematically explored the impact of voltage, initial pollutant concentration, and salinity on the performance of the electrochemical CNTs filter. It was found a positive correlation between removal efficiency and increasing voltage and salinity levels. Conversely, as the initial concentration of pollutants increased, the efficiency showed a diminishing trend. The electrochemical CNTs filter exhibited remarkable efficacy in both adsorption removal and electrochemical oxidation of 6-MQ. Notably, the CNTs membrane exhibited robust adsorption capabilities, evidenced by the sustained adsorption of 6-MQ for over 33 h. Furthermore, applying an electrochemical oxidation voltage of 3 V consistently maintained a removal rate exceeding 34.0% due to both direct and indirect oxidation, underscoring the sustained efficacy of the electrochemical membranes. Besides, real wastewater experiments, while displaying a reduction in removal efficiency compared to synthetic wastewater experiments, emphasized the substantial potential of the electrochemical CNTs filter for practical applications. This study underscores the significant promise of electrochemical membranes in addressing low molecular weight contaminants in SGW, contributing valuable insights for advancing SGW treatment strategies.

Associations between maternal exposure to multiple metals and metalloids and blood pressure in preschool children: A mixture-based approach.

BACKGROUND: Exposure to metals during pregnancy can potentially influence blood pressure (BP) in children, but few studies have examined the mixed effects of prenatal metal exposure on childhood BP. We aimed to assess the individual and combined effects of prenatal metal and metalloid exposure on BP in preschool children. METHODS: A total of 217 mother-child pairs were selected from the Zhuang Birth Cohort in Guangxi, China. The maternal plasma concentrations of 20 metals [e.g. lead (Pb), rubidium (Rb), cesium (Cs), and zinc (Zn)] in early pregnancy were measured by inductively coupled plasmamass spectrometry. Childhood BP was measured in August 2021. The effects of prenatal metal exposure on childhood BP were explored by generalized linear models, restricted cubic spline and Bayesian kernel machine regression (BKMR) models. RESULTS: In total children, each unit increase in the log10-transformed maternal Rb concentration was associated with a 10.82-mmHg decrease (95% CI: -19.40, -2.24) in childhood diastolic BP (DBP), and each unit increase in the log10-transformed maternal Cs and Zn concentrations was associated with a 9.67-mmHg (95% CI: -16.72, -2.61) and 4.37-mmHg (95% CI: -8.68, -0.062) decrease in childhood pulse pressure (PP), respectively. The log10-transformed Rb and Cs concentrations were linearly related to DBP (P nonlinear=0.603) and PP (P nonlinear=0.962), respectively. Furthermore, an inverse association was observed between the log10-transformed Cs concentration and PP (ß =-12.18; 95% CI: -22.82, -1.54) in girls, and between the log10-transformed Rb concentration and DBP (ß =-12.54; 95% CI: -23.87, -1.21) in boys, while there was an increasing association between the log10-transformed Pb concentration and DBP there was an increasing in boys (ß =6.06; 95% CI: 0.36, 11.77). Additionally, a U-shaped relationship was observed between the log10-transformed Pb concentration and SBP (P nonlinear=0.015) and DBP (P nonlinear=0.041) in boys. Although there was no statistically signiffcant difference, there was an inverse trend in the combined effect of maternal metal mixture exposure on childhood BP among both the total children and girls in BKMR. CONCLUSIONS: Prenatal exposure to both individual and mixtures of metals and metalloids influences BP in preschool children, potentially leading to nonlinear and sex-specific effects.

Ring-Opening Coupling of Cyclopropanol with 1,2,3-Triazole for the Synthesis of Fused Triazoles.

A radical ring-opening arylation of cyclopropanol with 1,2,3-triazole has been achieved. This synthetic protocol provides straightforward access to a wide range of structurally diverse and chiral 4,5,6,7-tetrahydro[1,2,3]triazolo[1,5-a]pyridines with high efficiency from readily available chiral cyclopropanols.

Safety and efficacy of anlotinib combined with taxane and lobaplatin in neoadjuvant treatment of clinical stage II/III triple-negative breast cancer in China (the neoALTAL trial): a single-arm, phase 2 trial.

Background: Anlotinib is a new type of tyrosine kinase inhibitor that targets vascular endothelial growth factor receptors 1/2/3, platelet-derived growth factor receptors α/ß, and fibroblast growth factor receptors 1-4 and c-Kit, with a broad spectrum of inhibitory effects on tumor angiogenesis and growth. It has been proven effective in HER2-negative metastatic breast cancer, but its efficacy in early-stage triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) is unknown. This phase 2 study aims to evaluate the efficacy and safety of adding anlotinib to neoadjuvant chemotherapy in patients with TNBC. Methods: Patients with clinical stage II/III TNBC were treated with 5 cycles of anlotinib (12 mg, d1-14, q3w) plus 6 cycles of taxanes (docetaxel 75 mg/m2 ,d1, q3w or nab-paclitaxel 125 mg/m2, d1 and d8, q3w) and lobaplatin (30 mg/m2, d1, q3w), followed by surgery. The primary endpoint was pathological complete response (pCR; ypT0/is ypN0) and the secondary endpoints include breast pCR (bpCR), axillary pCR (apCR), residual cancer burden (RCB), objective response rate (ORR), survival, and safety. Exploratory endpoints were efficacy biomarkers based on Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center Immunohistochemical (FUSCC IHC) classification for TNBC and next-generation sequencing (NGS) of DNA from tumor tissue and blood samples of patients with 425-gene panel. This trial is registered with www.chictr.org.cn (ChiCTR2100043027). Findings: From Jan 2021 to Aug 2022, 48 patients were assessed and 45 were enrolled. All patients received at least one dose of study treatment and underwent surgery. The median age was 48.5 years (SD: 8.7), 71% were nodal involved, and 20% had stage III. In the intention-to-treat population, 26 out of 45 patients achieved pCR (57.8%; 90% CI, 44.5%-70.3%), and 39 achieved residual cancer burden class 0-I (86.7%; 95% CI, 73.2%-94.9%). The bpCR and apCR rate were 64.4% (29/45) and 71.9% (23/32), respectively. No recurrence or metastasis occurred during the short-term follow-up. Based on the FUSCC IHC-based subtypes, the pCR rates were 68.8% (11/16) for immunomodulatory subtype, 58.3% (7/12) for basal-like immune-suppressed subtype and 33.3% (4/12) for luminal androgen receptor subtype, respectively. NGS revealed that the pCR were 77% (10/13) and 50% (14/28) in MYC-amplified and wild-type patients, respectively, and 78% (7/9) and 53% (17/32) in gBRCA1/2-mutated and wild-type patients, respectively. The median follow-up time of the study was 14.9 months (95% CI: 13.5-16.3 months). There was no disease progression or death during neoadjuvant therapy. No deaths occurred during postoperative follow-up. In the safety population (N = 45), Grade 3 or 4 treatment emergent adverse events occurred in 29 patients (64%), and the most common events were neutropenia (38%), leukopenia (27%), thrombocytopenia (25%), anemia (13%), and hypertension (13%), respectively. Interpretation: The addition of anlotinib to neoadjuvant chemotherapy showed manageable toxicity and encouraging antitumor activity for patients with clinical stage II/III TNBC. Funding: Chongqing Talents Project, Chongqing Key Project of Technology Innovation and Application Development and Chongqing Outstanding Youth Natural Science Foundation.

Machine vision model for detection of foreign substances at the bottom of empty large volume parenteral.

Empty large volume parenteral (LVP) bottle has irregular shape and narrow opening, and its detection accuracy of the foreign substances at the bottom is higher than that of ordinary packaging bottles. The current traditional detection method for the bottom of LVP bottles is to directly use manual visual inspection, which involves high labor intensity and is prone to visual fatigue and quality fluctuations, resulting in limited applicability for the detection of the bottom of LVP bottles. A geometric constraint-based detection model (GCBDM) has been proposed, which combines the imaging model and the shape characteristics of the bottle to construct a constraint model of the imaging parameters, according to the detection accuracy and the field of view. Then, the imaging model is designed and optimized for the detection. Further, the generalized GCBDM has been adopted to different bottle bottom detection scenarios, such as cough syrup and capsule medicine bottles by changing the target parameters of the model. The GCBDM, on the one hand, can avoid the information at the bottom being blocked by the narrow opening in the imaging optical path. On the other hand, by calculating the maximum position deviation between the center of visual inspection and the center of the bottom, it can provide the basis for the accuracy design of the transmission mechanism in the inspection, thus further ensuring the stability of the detection.

Efficacy and Perioperative Safety of Robot-Assisted Minimally Invasive Esophagectomy for Esophageal Cancer.

Background: Esophageal cancer (EC) remains a significant global health concern. Minimally invasive surgical techniques, including robot-assisted approaches, have emerged as promising options for improving outcomes and patient recovery in EC management. Objective: This study aims to evaluate the clinical utility of robot-assisted minimally invasive esophagectomy (RAMIE) in the treatment of EC. Methods: A total of 160 EC patients undergoing treatment at our hospital were included in this study. Patients were randomly assigned to either the research group, receiving RAMIE, or the control group, undergoing thoracoscopic minimally invasive esophagectomy (MIE). Surgical outcomes, postoperative recovery, complication rates, and changes in inflammatory factors (IFs) such as malondialdehyde (MDA), superoxide dismutase (SOD), and glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) levels were compared between the two groups. Additionally, prognostic survival and EC recurrence rates were assessed at a 1-year follow-up. Results: The research group demonstrated longer operative times, a higher number of dissected lymph nodes, reduced intraoperative bleeding, and quicker postoperative recovery compared to the control group, with significantly fewer complications (P < .05). Furthermore, the research group exhibited lower levels of postoperative IFs and MDA, along with higher levels of SOD and GSH-Px, compared to the control group (P < .05). There was no significant difference between the two groups in terms of prognostic survival and EC recurrence rates (P > .05). Conclusion: RAMIE demonstrates superior efficacy in enhancing therapeutic outcomes and accelerating postoperative recovery in patients with EC, thus establishing its value in EC treatment protocols. RAMIE is suggested as a valuable therapeutic option and warrants clinical adoption for EC management.

Synthesis, Characterization, and Properties of a Novel Hyperbranched Polymers with Polyacrylamide Side Chains.

A novel hyperbranched polymer with polyacrylamide side chains (HAPAM) was synthesized by aqueous solution polymerization using acrylic acid, acrylamide, 2-acrylamido-2-methyl-1-propanesulfonic acid, hydrophobic monomer of dimethyl octadecyl ammonium chloride, and the homemade skeleton monomer of modified-M2.0 as raw materials and (NH4)2S2O8-NaHSO3 as initiator. The molecular structure, functional groups, and surface morphology of HAPAM were characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, nuclear magnetic resonance hydrogen spectroscopy, and scanning electron microscopy. It was found that the performance of HAPAM solution was higher than that of ordinary polyacrylamide solution in terms of thickening ability, shearing resistance, thermal endurance, salt-resistance, resistance-coefficient and residual-resistance-coefficient, ability to reduce interfacial tension between polymer solution and crude oil, and oil-displacement-efficiency. In particular, the enhanced oil recovery of the HAPAM solution was 13.03%, and the improvement of shearing resistance and immunity to chromatographic separation were simultaneously achieved by the HAPAM solution. These results indicate that the successful synthesis of the novel HAPAM opens a promising strategy for developing new high-performance oil-displacing polymers.

Unveiling the next generation of MRI contrast agents: current insights and perspectives on ferumoxytol-enhanced MRI.

Contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging (CE-MRI) is a pivotal tool for global disease diagnosis and management. Since its clinical availability in 2009, the off-label use of ferumoxytol for ferumoxytol-enhanced MRI (FE-MRI) has significantly reshaped CE-MRI practices. Unlike MRI that is enhanced by gadolinium-based contrast agents, FE-MRI offers advantages such as reduced contrast agent dosage, extended imaging windows, no nephrotoxicity, higher MRI time efficiency and the capability for molecular imaging. As a leading superparamagnetic iron oxide contrast agent, ferumoxytol is heralded as the next generation of contrast agents. This review delineates the pivotal clinical applications and inherent technical superiority of FE-MRI, providing an avant-garde medical-engineering interdisciplinary lens, thus bridging the gap between clinical demands and engineering innovations. Concurrently, we spotlight the emerging imaging themes and new technical breakthroughs. Lastly, we share our own insights on the potential trajectory of FE-MRI, shedding light on its future within the medical imaging realm.

Long-term dietary exposure to 2,2',4,4'-tetrabromodiphenyl ether (BDE-47) reduced feeding in common carp (Cyprinus carpio): Via the JAK-STAT signaling pathway.

Polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) are widely present in water ecosystems where they pose a significant threat to aquatic life, but our knowledge about how PBDEs affect feeding is limited. Therefore, this study explored the effects of continuous dietary exposure to 2,2',4,4'-tetrabromodiphenyl ether (BDE-47) (40 and 4000 ng/g) on the feeding in common carp (Cyprinus carpio) and the underlying mechanism. BDE-47 significantly decreased the food intake of carp. Transcriptome analysis of brain tissue showed that BDE-47 mainly affected the nervous, immune, and endocrine systems. Further examination of the expression levels of appetite factors in the brain revealed that BDE-47 caused dysregulation of appetite factors expressions such as agrp, pomc, cart, etc. In addition, the JAK-STAT signaling pathway was activated under BDE-47 exposure. It can be concluded from these findings that BDE-47 activated the JAK-STAT signaling pathway, causing imbalanced expression of appetite factors, leading to disordered feeding behavior and decreased food intake in carp. These results provide an important reference for a more comprehensive understanding of the hazards posed by BDE-47 on animal feeding and the associated mechanisms.

Chemistry matters: A side-by-side comparison of two chemically distinct methacryloylated dECM bioresins for vat photopolymerization.

Decellularized extracellular matrix (dECM) is an excellent natural source for 3D bioprinting materials due to its inherent cell compatibility. In vat photopolymerization, the use of dECM-based bioresins is just emerging, and extensive research is needed to fully exploit their potential. In this study, two distinct methacryloyl-functionalized, photocrosslinkable dECM-based bioresins were prepared from digested porcine liver dECM through functionalization with glycidyl methacrylate (GMA) or conventional methacrylic anhydride (MA) under mild conditions for systematic comparison. Although the chemical modifications did not significantly affect the structural integrity of the dECM proteins, mammalian cells encapsulated in the respective hydrogels performed differently in long-term culture. In either case, photocrosslinking during 3D (bio)printing resulted in transparent, highly swollen, and soft hydrogels with good shape fidelity, excellent biomimetic properties and tunable mechanical properties (~ 0.2-2.5 kPa). Interestingly, at a similar degree of functionalization (DOF ~ 81.5-83.5 %), the dECM-GMA resin showed faster photocrosslinking kinetics in photorheology resulting in lower final stiffness and faster enzymatic biodegradation compared to the dECM-MA gels, yet comparable network homogeneity as assessed via Brillouin imaging. While human hepatic HepaRG cells exhibited comparable cell viability directly after 3D bioprinting within both materials, cell proliferation and spreading were clearly enhanced in the softer dECM-GMA hydrogels at a comparable degree of crosslinking. These differences were attributed to the additional hydrophilicity introduced to dECM via methacryloylation through GMA compared to MA. Due to its excellent printability and cytocompatibility, the functional porcine liver dECM-GMA biomaterial enables the advanced biofabrication of soft 3D tissue analogs using vat photopolymerization-based bioprinting.

Heterosynaptic plasticity of the visuo-auditory projection requires cholecystokinin released from entorhinal cortex afferents.

The entorhinal cortex is involved in establishing enduring visuo-auditory associative memory in the neocortex. Here we explored the mechanisms underlying this synaptic plasticity related to projections from the visual and entorhinal cortices to the auditory cortex in mice using optogenetics of dual pathways. High-frequency laser stimulation (HFS laser) of the visuo-auditory projection did not induce long-term potentiation. However, after pairing with sound stimulus, the visuo-auditory inputs were potentiated following either infusion of cholecystokinin (CCK) or HFS laser of the entorhino-auditory CCK-expressing projection. Combining retrograde tracing and RNAscope in situ hybridization, we show that Cck expression is higher in entorhinal cortex neurons projecting to the auditory cortex than in those originating from the visual cortex. In the presence of CCK, potentiation in the neocortex occurred when the presynaptic input arrived 200 ms before postsynaptic firing, even after just five trials of pairing. Behaviorally, inactivation of the CCK+ projection from the entorhinal cortex to the auditory cortex blocked the formation of visuo-auditory associative memory. Our results indicate that neocortical visuo-auditory association is formed through heterosynaptic plasticity, which depends on release of CCK in the neocortex mostly from entorhinal afferents.

The role of liver enzymes in the association between ozone exposure and diabetes risk: a cross-sectional study of Zhuang adults in China.

Background: Growing evidence has demonstrated the role of ambient air pollutants in driving diabetes incidence. However, epidemiological evidence linking ozone (O3) exposure to diabetes risk has been scarcely studied in Zhuang adults in China. We aimed to investigate the associations of long-term exposure to O3 with diabetes prevalence and fasting plasma glucose (FPG) and estimate the mediating role of liver enzymes in Zhuang adults. Methods: We recruited 13 843 ethnic minority adults during 2018-2019 based on a cross-sectional study covering nine districts/counties in Guangxi. Generalized linear mixed models were implemented to estimate the relationships between O3 exposure and diabetes prevalence and FPG. Mediation effect models were constructed to investigate the roles of liver enzymes in the associations of O3 exposure with diabetes prevalence and FPG. Subgroup analyses were conducted to identify potential effect modifications. Results: Long-term exposure to O3 was positively associated with diabetes prevalence and FPG levels in Zhuang adults, with an excess risk of 7.32% (95% confidence interval [CI]: 2.56%, 12.30%) and an increase of 0.047 mmol L-1 (95% CI: 0.032, 0.063) for diabetes prevalence and FPG levels, respectively, for each interquartile range (IQR, 1.18 µg m-3) increment in O3 concentrations. Alanine aminotransferase (ALT) significantly mediated 8.10% and 29.89% of the associations of O3 with FPG and diabetes prevalence, respectively, and the corresponding mediation proportions of alkaline phosphatase (ALP) were 8.48% and 30.00%. Greater adverse effects were observed in females, obese subjects, people with a low education level, rural residents, non-clean fuel users, and people with a history of stroke and hypertension in the associations of O3 exposure with diabetes prevalence and/or FPG levels (all P values for interaction < 0.05). Conclusion: Long-term exposure to O3 is related to an increased risk of diabetes, which is partially mediated by liver enzymes in Chinese Zhuang adults. Promoting clean air policies and reducing exposure to environmental pollutants should be a priority for public health policies geared toward preventing diabetes.

Revisiting the Effect of Leptin on Alzheimer's Disease and Parkinson's Disease: the Role of Insulin Sensitivity.

CONTEXT: Studies have indicated a link between leptin, Alzheimer's disease (AD), and Parkinson's disease (PD). However, the causal relationship among them remains not well established due to confounders and reverse causation. OBJECTIVE: This Mendelian randomization (MR) study was performed to evaluate the impact and potential mechanism of leptin and its soluble receptor on AD and PD. METHODS: Utilizing genome-wide association studies summary-level data, a comprehensive MR was conducted to assess the causal effect of leptin and soluble leptin receptor (sLEPR) on AD and PD. Additionally, we also explored the role of body mass index (BMI) and insulin sensitivity index (ISI) in it using the multivariable MR. The primary analysis was performed using the inverse-variance weighted method. RESULTS: Pooled estimates showed that genetically proxied higher leptin levels was significantly associated with a decreased risk of AD (OR=0.838, 95%CI=0.741-0.948, P=0.005), but not PD. In contrast, no significant associations were observed between sLEPR levels, AD, and PD. Moreover, the effect of leptin on AD was attenuated to null after adjustment of ISI (OR=0.879, 95%CI=0.758-1.018, P=0.086), but not BMI. There was no causal impact of AD and PD on circulating levels of leptin and sLEPR, indicating the absence of reverse causation. Sensitivity analyses confirmed the robustness of these associations, with no obvious pleiotropy and heterogeneity. CONCLUSION: The study offers evidence supporting a potential protective effect of leptin in AD, but not PD, via the enhancement of insulin sensitivity. Our findings underscore the distinct roles of leptin in AD and PD.

Characterizing hazardous substances of shale gas wastewater from the upper Yangtze River: A focus on heavy metals and organic compounds.

In the last decade, rapid shale gas exploration in upper Yangtze River ecological zone in China has led to increasing concerns about the environmental impact of shale gas wastewater (SGW). However, our understanding of the types of potential hazardous substances of SGW remains limited. In this study, eight SGW samples from three shale gas regions in upper Yangtze River: the Sichuan Basin, the Guizhou Plateau, and the Three Gorges Area were collected, and their general water quality, trace metals, and organic compounds were comprehensively analyzed. Our in-depth analysis detected 55 kinds of trace heavy metals, with 24 exceeding detection limits. Most of them were of the concentration below 100 µg/L. Concentrations of primary pollutants, including Cd, Cr, As, Pb, and Ni, remained below Integrated Wastewater Discharge Standard (GB 8978-1996), indicating minimal environmental risk. The organic analysis identified 45 to 104 kinds of volatile and semi-volatile organic compounds in SGW samples from different regions. SGW samples from the Sichuan Basin exhibited a balanced proportion of aliphatic and aromatic compounds, with oxygen and nitrogen-substituted heteroatomic compounds prevailing, while SGW samples from the Guizhou Plateau and the Three Gorges Area were dominated by aromatic compounds, particularly hydrocarbons. Several organic substances exhibited high response strengths across multiple SGW samples, including isoquinoline, dibenzylamine, 2,4-di-tert-butylphenol, 1,2,3,4-tetrahydro-naphthalene, and 1,2,3,4-tetrahydro-6-methyl-naphthalene. The Globally Harmonized System (GHS) of Classification and Labelling of Chemicals classified most high-response organics as high acute and chronic aquatic hazards. Our findings indicate that high salinity and a variety of high-risk organic pollutants, rather than heavy metals, are the primary pollutants in SGW, underscoring the urgency of safety management of SGW.

Active oxygen generation induced by the glucose sensor TaHXK7-1A decreased the drought resistance of transgenic Arabidopsis and wheat (Triticum aestivum L.).

Improving wheat drought resistance is of great significance for grain production and food security. Hexokinases (HXKs) play a role in sugar signal transduction and are involved in abiotic stress responses in wheat. To clarify the relationship between HXKs and drought stress in wheat, we used the rice active oxygen induction gene OsHXK1 as a reference sequence and the homologously cloned wheat TaHXK7-1A gene. TaHXK7-1A was localized in the nucleus and cell membrane. Under drought stress, over-expression of TaHXK7-1A increased the contents of O2·ï¼ and malondialdehyde (MDA) and significantly up-regulated the respiratory burst oxidative homologue (RBOHs) genes in transgenic Arabidopsis. In addition, the over-expression of TaHXK7-1A inhibited the growth of Arabidopsis seedlings and increased ROS accumulation under 6 % exogenous glucose treatment. Gene silencing of TaHXK7-1 decreased the contents of O2·ï¼ and MDA in wheat leaves under drought stress, and the RBOHs was significantly down-regulated, which improved the drought resistance of wheat. The results of yeast one-hybrid, EMSA, and dual-luciferase assays showed that TabHLH148-5A bound to the E-box motif of the TaHXK7-1A promoter and inhibited the expression of TaHXK7-1A. In addition, yeast two-hybrid and luciferase complementation imaging assays showed that TaHXK7-1A interacted with TaGRF3-4A. These results indicate that the glucose sensor TaHXK7-1A was negatively regulated by TabHLH148-5A, interacted with TaGRF3-4A, and negatively regulated wheat drought resistance by regulating RBOHs expression and inducing ROS production, thus providing a theoretical basis for revealing the molecular mechanism of wheat drought resistance.

Associations of prenatal exposure to per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances and fetal sex hormones in the Guangxi Zhuang Birth Cohort Study: Greater effect of long-chain PFAS.

Fetal sex hormone homeostasis disruption could lead to reproductive and developmental abnormalities. However, previous studies have reported inconsistent findings regarding the association of maternal per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) exposure with fetal sex hormone levels. A total of 277 mother-infant pairs from the Guangxi Zhuang Birth Cohort Study between 2015 and 2019 were selected. We quantified nine PFAS in maternal serum in early pregnancy, and detected three sex hormones, namely, estradiol (E2), progesterone (P4) and testosterone (TT), in cord blood. The generalized linear model (GLM) and Bayesian kernel machine regression (BKMR) model were used for single- and multiple-exposure analyses, respectively. In the GLM, there was no significant association between an individual PFAS and any hormone level or the E2/TT ratio, but a negative association between perfluorododecanoic acid (PFDoA) exposure and P4 levels in female infants was observed after stratification by sex. In the BKMR, a mixture of nine PFAS was positively associated with E2 levels and the E2/TT ratio, with the same main contributors, i.e., perfluoroundecanoic acid (PFUnA). And PFAS mixtures were not associated with P4 or TT levels. After stratification by infant sex, positive associations of PFAS mixtures with E2 levels and the E2/TT ratio were observed only in male infants, with the same main contributors, i.e., PFUnA. There was a positive association between PFAS mixtures and P4 levels in male infants, in which PFUnA was the main contributor; but a reverse association between PFAS mixtures and P4 levels in female infants, in which PFDoA was the main contributor. This study suggested that prenatal exposure to PFAS mixtures is associated with fetal sex hormones, and long-chain PFAS may play an important role in this association. Furthermore, sex differences in the association of maternal PFAS exposure with E2 and P4 levels need additional attention.

The significance of HAUS1 and its relationship with immune microenvironment in hepatocellular carcinoma.

Background: HAUS Augmin-like complex subunit 1(HAUS1), as a controlling gene, which affected the production of spindle was firstly discovered in Drosophila cells. Although HAUS1 has been intensively studied, but its significance and relationship with the immune microenvironment in Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) remain unclear. Materials and Methods: All data of HCC in this paper were obtained from The Cancer Genome Atlas(TCGA), Genotype-Tissue Expression (GTEx), Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) and the Human Protein Atlas(HPA) database. The role and potential value of HAUS1 in the tumorigenesis and development of HCC were studied by applying plenty of bioinformatics analysis methods. Knocked down the expression of HAUS1 through siRNA and further investigated the function of HAUS1 in HCC Results: HAUS1 was highly expressed in HCC, which led to a poor prognosis. ROC curve analysis showed that HAUS1 had a excellent diagnostic value. It was also associated with clinical stage, pathological grade and AFP of HCC. Univariate and multivariate COX regression analysis showed that HAUS1 was an independent prognostic factor for HCC patients. HAUS1 was associated with immune cells infiltrate and immune checkpoints in HCC, and it could generate significative therapeutic results when combined with anti-CTLA4 and anti-CD274 treatment. In vitro experiments, HAUS1 was found to promote the proliferation, invasion and metastasis, participated in cell cycle regulation and inhibited apoptosis of HCC. Conclusion: These results suggested that HAUS1 might serve as a potential therapeutic target, as well as a diagnostic, prognostic, and survival biomarker for HCC.

Genome-wide identification, phylogeny and expression analysis of the R2R3-MYB gene family in quinoa (Chenopodium quinoa) under abiotic stress.

The MYB transcription factor (TF) are among the largest gene families of plants being responsible for several biological processes. The R2R3-MYB gene family are integral player regulating plant primary and secondary metabolism, growth and development, and responses to hormones and stresses. The phylogenetic analysis combined with gene structure analysis and motif determination resulted in division of R2R3-MYB gene family into 27 subgroups. Evidence generated from synteny analyses indicated that CqR2R3-MYBs gene family is featured by tandem and segmental duplication events. On the basis of RNA-Seq data, the expression patterns of different tissues under salt treatment were investigated resulting CqR2R3-MYB genes high expression both in roots and stem of quinoa (Chenopodium quinoa ) plants. More than half of CqR2R3-MYB genes showed expression under salt stress. Based on this result, CqR2R3-MYB s may regulate quinoa plant growth development and resistance to abiotic stresses. These findings provided comprehensive insights on role of CqR2R3-MYBs gene family members in quinoa and candidate MYB gene family members can be further studies on their role for abiotic stress tolerance in crop plants.

Association between blood metals mixture and chronic kidney disease in adults: NHANES 2013-2016.

BACKGROUND: The association between single metal exposure and chronic kidney disease (CKD) has been established. However, there is limited research on the effects of multi-metal mixtures and their potential age-specific associations with kidney injury. This study aimed to examine the relationship between metal mixtures and kidney function in adults, while also exploring the modifying effects of age. METHODS: We included a subset (n = 4250) of a nationally representative adult population in the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) 2013-2016. Kidney function was assessed using the glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) and creatinine albumin ratio (ACR). The individual and combined effects of lead (Pb), cadmium (Cd), mercury, and manganese on kidney injury and the risk of CKD were evaluated. RESULTS: Pb and Cd were found to be positively associated with decreased kidney function. For a one Ln-unit increase in lead and cadmium, the adjusted ORs of CKD were 1.60 (95% CI: 1.35, 1.90) and 1.41 (95% CI:1.12, 1.77), respectively. We also observed an interaction between lead and cadmium for ACR. We also observed the joint effect between Pb and Cd on eGFR, ACR and CKD. Stratified analysis found a higher risk of decreased kidney function among older individuals. The quantile-g calculation model further showed that metal mixture was associated with decreased kidney function and the risk of CKD (OR = 1.53, 95% CI: 1.22, 1.90). And lead and cadmium were the main contributors. And Pb and Cd were the major components that increased the risk of CKD. CONCLUSION: Co-exposure to metal mixture were associated with reduced kidney function in adults, especially in older. Our findings support co-exposure to lead and cadmium as risk factors of CKD in adults.

Salvia miltiorrhiza polysaccharide promotes the health of crayfish (Procambarus clarkii) by promoting hemocyte phagocytosis, protecting hepatopancreas and enhancing intestinal barrier function.

Plant polysaccharides as immunomodulators are considered one of the effective measures to reduce antibiotic therapy in aquaculture. The immunomodulatory function of Salvia miltiorrhiza polysaccharides (SMP) has been demonstrated and begun to be applied in vertebrates, but its potential effect on crustaceans is unclear. In this study, crayfish (Procambarus clarkii) was fed with 0 %, 0.3 %, 0.7 %, 1.1 %, and 1.5 % SMP for 4 weeks to investigate the effects of SMP on hemocytes phagocytosis, hepatopancreatic function, and intestinal barrier function. The results revealed that hemocyte phagocytic activity was increased in all SMP groups. During the process of hemocytes phagocytic recognition and formation of phagosomes and phagolysosomes, the mRNA expression levels of mas, hem, rab3, ctsb, and lamp-1 were up-regulated mainly in the 0.3 % SMP group. During the clearance phase of phagocytosis, respiratory burst activity, ROS level, T-SOD, CAT, GST, and LZM activities were mainly increased in the 1.5 % SMP group. Hepatopancreas AKP and GOT activity were no significant change in all SMP groups. ACP activity was significantly enhanced in the 1.1 % SMP group. The GPT activity of 0.3-0.7 % SMP group was significantly decreased. The 0.7 % SMP group had the highest intestinal fold height. The highest index values of OTUs, Ace, Chao, and Shannon were in the 0.3 % SMP group. The dietary addition of 0.3 % SMP led to a tendency of increased relative abundance of Firmicutes and Bacteroidota at the phylum level, while the relative abundance of Proteobacteria at the phylum level decreased. In conclusion, dietary SMP could promote crayfish health by enhancing phagocytosis, protecting hepatopancreas and enhancing intestinal barrier function. This study contributes to the theoretical foundation for exploring the potential application of plant polysaccharides in crustaceans.