The paradoxical effects of high involvement work practices on employees and service outcomes: a trichromatic perspective.

This research delves into the complex impact of High Involvement Work Practices (HIWPs) on various facets of employee well-being and service outcomes within the framework of the trichromatic service conception. Utilizing the Job Demands-Resources (JD-R) model, the study uncovers the dual, both beneficial and detrimental, effects of HIWPs on service performance, work-family conflict, subjective well-being, and work-family enrichment. Examining the conflicting paths of job demands (workload) and job resources (customer orientation), the analysis incorporates the moderating influence of a strategic contextual factor-supervisor support. Data was collected through self-administered questionnaires from 475 respondents in Pakistani banks, and the analysis employed moderated mediation analysis using SPSS, AMOS, and the PROCESS Macro. All proposed hypotheses received support. The results indicate that HIWPs enhance service performance by promoting customer orientation but concurrently escalate workload, leading to adverse consequences for subjective well-being and work-family conflict. The study underscores the importance of implementing HIWPs under supportive leadership to maximize positive outcomes and mitigate negative consequences. Ultimately, this approach enables employees to effectively serve customers, maintain a healthy work-family balance, and contribute to the long-term growth and sustainability of organizations.

Effect-directed analysis of androgenic compounds from sewage sludges in China.

The safety of municipal sewage sludge has raised great concerns because of the accumulation of large-scale endocrine disrupting chemicals in the sludge during wastewater treatment. The presence of contaminants in sludge can cause secondary pollution owing to inappropriate disposal mechanisms, posing potential risks to the environment and human health. Effect-directed analysis (EDA), involving an androgen receptor (AR) reporter gene bioassay, fractionation, and suspect and nontarget chemical analysis, were applied to identify causal AR agonists in sludge; 20 of the 30 sludge extracts exhibited significant androgenic activity. Among these, the extracts from Yinchuan, Kunming, and Shijiazhuang, which held the most polluted AR agonistic activities were prepared for extensive EDA, with the dihydrotestosterone (DHT)-equivalency of 2.5 - 4.5 ng DHT/g of sludge. Seven androgens, namely boldione, androstenedione, testosterone, megestrol, progesterone, and testosterone isocaproate, were identified in these strongest sludges together, along with testosterone cypionate, first reported in sludge media. These identified androgens together accounted for 55 %, 87 %, and 52 % of the effects on the sludge from Yinchuan, Shijiazhuang, and Kunming, respectively. This study elucidates the causative androgenic compounds in sewage sludge and provides a valuable reference for monitoring and managing androgens in wastewater treatment.

AhR Agonistic Components in Urban Particulate Matter Regulate Astrocytic Activation and Function.

Exposure to atmospheric particulate matter (PM) has been found to accelerate the onset of neurological disorders via the induction of detrimental neuroinflammatory responses. To reveal how astrocytes respond to urban atmospheric PM stimulation, a commercially available standard reference material (SRM1648a) was tested in this study on the activation of rat cortical astrocytes. The results showed that SRM1648a stimulation induced both A1 and A2 phenotypes in astrocytes, as characterized by the exposure concentration-dependent increases in Fkbp5, Sphk1, S100a10, and Il6 mRNA levels. Studying the functional alterations of astrocytes indicated that the neurotrophic factors of Gdnf and Ngf were transcriptionally upregulated due to astrocytic A2-type activation. SRM1648a also promoted autonomous motility of astrocytes and elevated the expressions of chemokines. The aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR) agonistic components, such as polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), were recognized to greatly contribute to SRM1648a-induced effects on astrocytes, which was confirmed by the attenuation of PM-disturbed astrocytic effects via AhR blockage. This study, for the first time, uncovered the direct regulation of urban atmospheric PM on astrocytic activation and function and traced the containing bioactive components (e.g., PAHs) with AhR agonistic activity. The findings provided new knowledge on understanding the ambiguous neurological disturbance from ambient fine PM pollution.

Health Literacy Needs of Acute Pancreatitis Patients During the Diagnosis and Treatment Process Under the Lens of the Timing It Right Theory: A Qualitative Study.

Background: The incidence and recurrence rate of acute pancreatitis (AP) continues to increase worldwide. The risk of AP attack and recurrence is closely related to the patient's health literacy. Previous studies have shown that AP patients had low levels of health literacy. Understanding patients' experience in AP's diagnosis and treatment process and their health literacy needs might significantly improve their health status. Objective: This study aims to understand the experience of acute pancreatitis (AP) patients in the diagnostic and treatment process and explore their health literacy needs at various phases of this process. Methods: This study utilized a qualitative approach based on Timing It Right theory. A purposive sampling strategy was employed to select 31 participants diagnosed with AP at various phases of the diagnosis and treatment process. These patients were selected from the Pancreatitis Treatment Centers of two tertiary hospitals in Eastern China. Subsequently, semi-structured in-depth interviews were conducted with the selected participants. The qualitative data was analyzed using the Colaizzi's method. Results: The themes of AP patients' experiences and health literacy needs at various phases of the diagnosis and treatment process were presented as follows. 1. Diagnosis phase: inability to obtain disease information, psychological support seeking, and change unhealthy lifestyle; 2. Hospitalization phase: disease treatment information needs and medical professionals' healthcare. 3. Discharge Preparation phase: fear of recurrence, individualized healthy lifestyle instruction. 4. Home Recovery phase: self-management, continuous healthcare needs, and family support. Conclusion: AP patients' HL needs and health-related problems vary during the diagnosis and treatment process. Medical professionals should comprehend AP patients' changing needs and individual differences, provide continuous healthcare, and involve families in patient management. These factors support patients' long-term self-management and preserve their overall health.

Fabrication, characterization and emulsifying properties of myofibrillar protein-chitosan complexes in acidic conditions.

Polysaccharides are employed to modify proteins, forming complexes that enhance the functional properties of proteins, such as emulsification and stability. In this study, myofibrillar protein (MP)-chitosan (CS) complexes were formed between CS and MP under acidic conditions (pH 3.0-6.0). Results showed that CS can improve the solubility and emulsifying properties of MP, and the MP-CS complexes at pH 3.0 and 6.0 had better emulsifying properties. Concurrently, the particle size results indicated that better the emulsifying properties of the complex, the smaller the particle size. Consequently, the characteristics of the MP-CS complexes (at pH 3.0 and 6.0) were investigated. Our analysis using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy revealed that the amide I band of MP was blue-shifted with the addition of CS, signifying a decrease in hydrogen bonding within MP. The endogenous fluorescence spectra showcased that the hydrophobicity surrounding the tryptophan residues in the protein changed, leading to enhanced polarity. Thermogravimetric analysis and differential scanning calorimetry further confirmed that the addition of CS improved the thermal stability of MP. These findings provide valuable insights into the interactions between MP and CS. Furthermore, the MP-CS complex can be leveraged to create a Pickering emulsion system for the efficient delivery of bioactive substances.

A novel mussel-inspired desensitizer based on radial mesoporous bioactive nanoglass for the treatment of dentin exposure: An in vitro study.

OBJECTIVES: The dentin exposure always leads to dentin hypersensitivity and the acid-resistant/abrasion-resistant stability of current therapeutic approaches remain unsatisfatory. Inspired by the excellent self-polymerization/adherence activity of mussels and the superior mineralization ability of bioactive glass, a novel radial mesoporous bioactive nanoglass coated with polydopamine (RMBG@PDA) was developed for prevention and management of dentin hypersensitivity. METHODS: Radial mesoporous bioactive nanoglass (RMBG) was synthesized by the sol-gel process combined with the cetylpyridine bromide template self-assembly technique. RMBG@PDA was synthesized by a self-polymerization process involving dopamine and RMBG in an alkaline environment. Then, the nanoscale morphology, chemical structure, crystalline phase and Zeta potential of RMBG and RMBG@PDA were characterized. Subsequently, the ion release ability, bioactivity, and cytotoxicity of RMBG and RMBG@PDA in vitro were investigated. Moreover, an in vitro experimental model of dentin hypersensitivity was constructed to evaluate the effectiveness of RMBG@PDA on dentinal tubule occlusion, including resistances against acid and abrasion. Finally, the Young's modulus and nanohardness of acid-etched dentin were also detected after RMBG@PDA treatment. RESULTS: RMBG@PDA showed a typical nanoscale morphology and noncrystalline structure. The use of RMBG@PDA on the dentin surface could effectively occlude dentinal tubules, reduce dentin permeability and achieve excellent acid- and abrasion-resistant stability. Furthermore, RMBG@PDA with excellent cytocompatibility held the capability to recover the Young's modulus and nanohardness of acid-etched dentin. CONCLUSION: The application of RMBG@PDA with superior dentin tubule occlusion ability and acid/abrasion-resistant stability can provide a therapeutic strategy for the prevention and the management of dentin hypersensitivity.

Resveratrol ameliorates intestinal lipid metabolism through the PPAR signaling pathway in high-fat diet-fed red tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus).

Feeding high-fat (HF) diets has been shown to cause hepatic and intestinal impairment in fish species, but the mode of action, especially the pathways involved in the intestine, has not been determined yet. In this study, the effects of resveratrol (RES) supplementation on the intestinal structure, microbial flora, and fat metabolism in red tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) were determined. The results showed RES maintained the structural integrity of the intestine and significantly increased the number of goblet cells in the midgut. RES significantly induced interferon (IL)-1ß, IL-6, IL-10, and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α, serumal and fecal trimetlylamine oxide (TMAO) and lipopolysaccharides (LPS), intestinal acetic acid levels. However, the concentrations of bound bile acids increased in HF-fed red tilapia. Atp5fa1 and Pafah1b3 significantly increased, Pmt and Acss2 significantly decreased, respectively, with RES supplementation, which was alleviated and retained at the same level in the selisistat (EX527) group. While for transcriptome and proteomics results, RES was found to promote fatty acid ß-oxidation and arachidonic acid metabolism associated with the peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor (PPAR) signaling pathway. The next validation experiment showed some genes related to apoptosis and fatty acid metabolism pathways were altered by RES supplementation. Namely, sn6, loc100702698, new_14481, and prkaa1 were upregulated, while ffrs1, ap3s1, and loc100705861 were downregulated. RES significantly increased Planctomycetes and Verrucomicrobia while decreased Moonvirus, Citrobacter, and Pseudomonas. Akkermansia and Fusobacterium significantly increased and Aeromonas significantly decreased. Thus, unsaturated fatty acid biosynthesis significantly increased and carbohydrate/energy metabolism decreased. To conclude, RES enabled the body to complete fatty acid ß-oxidation and arachidonic acid metabolism, whereas the addition of inhibitors increased the expression of the phagosome transcriptome and reduced fatty acid ß-oxidative metabolism.

Improvement Effect of Mitotherapy on the Cognitive Ability of Alzheimer's Disease through NAD+/SIRT1-Mediated Autophagy.

To date, Alzheimer's disease (AD) has grown to be a predominant health challenge that disturbs the elderly population. Studies have shown that mitochondrial dysfunction is one of the most significant features of AD. Transplantation therapy of healthy mitochondria (mitotherapy), as a novel therapeutic strategy to restore mitochondrial function, is proposed to treat the mitochondria-associated disease. Also, the molecular mechanism of mitotherapy remains unclear. Here, we applied the mitotherapy in AD model mice induced by amyloid-ß (Aß) plaque deposition and suggested that autophagy would be an important mechanism of the mitotherapy. After the healthy mitochondria entered the defective neuronal cells damaged by the misfolded Aß protein, autophagy was activated through the NAD+-dependent deacetylase sirtuin 1 (SIRT1) signal. The damaged mitochondria and Aß protein were eliminated by autophagy, which could also decrease the content of radical oxygen species (ROS). Moreover, the levels of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) and extracellular-regulated protein kinases (ERK) phosphorylation increased after mitotherapy, which would be beneficial to repair neuronal function. As a result, the cognitive ability of AD animals was ameliorated in a water maze test after the healthy mitochondria were administrated to the mice. The study indicated that mitotherapy would be an effective approach to AD treatment through the mechanism of autophagy activation.

Development of polymorphic microsatellite markers for Fagus pashanica (Fagaceae) using next-generation sequencing.

Fagus pashanica is an endangered and endemic tree species in China. To understand its genetic diversity and structure for effective conservation, we used next-generation sequencing data to develop a set of microsatellite markers. Twenty-three of the 68 designed loci were successfully amplified. Fifteen polymorphic loci with clear peaks were selected for further analyses in three F. pashanica populations sampled from Nanjiang, Wangcang and Pingwu counties in Sichuan Province, China. The number of alleles per locus ranged from two to 11. The levels of observed and expected heterozygosity ranged from 0.033-0.852 and 0.033-0.787, respectively. All 23 loci were also successfully amplified in F. longipetiolata and F. lucida, and 19 were successfully amplified in F. engleriana. These microsatellite markers will be useful for population genetic studies of F. pashanica and other Fagus species.

Psychometric validation of the fear of progression questionnaire-short form in acute pancreatitis patients.

Introduction: Fear of progression (FoP) is associated with the quality of life and behavioral change in acute pancreatitis (AP) patients, but lack of assessment tools. Aim: This study aimed to develop and evaluate the psychometric properties of the Fear of Progression Questionnaire-Short Form in AP patients (AP-FoP-Q-SF). Methods: Internal consistency, factorial structure, convergent validity, and criterion validity of AP-FoP-Q-SF were assessed. A receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis was performed to identify the cutoff value for high FoP. Associations between patient variables and FoP were evaluated using multiple logistic regression. Wilcox rank sum test was used to analyses the costs and length of hospital stay of the patients with high FoP. Results: The two-factor structure showed a good fit. Internal consistency was acceptable (Cronbach's α = 0.771). The cutoff of 26 identified 35.3% of patients with high FoP. High FoP scores were associated with age (OR = 0.96, 95%CI: 0.94-0.98), recurrence times (OR = 1.22, 95%CI: 1.02-1.45) and anxiety (OR = 1.27, 95%CI: 1.16-1.40). Patients with high FoP spent more cost and time in the hospital. Conclusions: The AP-FoP-Q-SF is a good FoP tool for AP patients in China. Implications for practice: Clinicians can use the AP-FoP-Q-SF to assess FoP and take promotion programs to avoid worse effects.

Improved antioxidant properties of pork patties by replacing fat with resveratrol-loaded MP-CS complex stabilized pickering emulsion.

The characterization and antioxidant ability of Res-loaded MP-CS stabilized Pickering emulsion, and its effects of fat reduction (25%, 50%, 75%, and 100%) in meat patties on pH, color, texture, cooking yield and antioxidant activity were investigated. Fat substitute using emulsion had no significant effect on pH and cooking yield. The addition of emulsion increased L* value and reduced a* value. a* value of meat patties with resveratrol added were higher than those without resveratrol group. Hardness and chewiness of meat patties with 25% and 100% fat replacement was lower than 50% and 75% fat replacement. The addition of emulsion could improve the network structure of meat patties and enhance oxidative stability. Oxidative stability of meat patties was improved by Res-loaded MP-CS stabilized Pickering emulsion. The results showed that MP-CS stabilized Pickering emulsion had great potential to be used as fat substitute for developing low-fat meat products, and the addition of resveratrol can improve the antioxidant ability of substitute fat meat products.

Alginate-based edible coating with oregano essential oil/ß-cyclodextrin inclusion complex for chicken breast preservation.

A sodium alginate (SA) edible coating containing oregano essential oil (OEO)/ß-cyclodextrin (ß-CD) inclusion complexes (SA/OEO-MP coating) was developed to extend the shelf life of fresh chicken breast during refrigeration storage. First, OEO was inserted into the hydrophobic interior of ß-CD to form an inclusion complex (OEO-MP) that maintained its excellent antioxidant and antibacterial activities. The formed OEO-MP was characterized using fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), X-ray diffraction (XRD), and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). In addition, thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) results demonstrated that ß-CD could improve the thermal stability of OEO. The encapsulation efficiency reached 71.6 %, and OEO was released continuously from the OEO-MP. The lipid oxidation, total viable count (TVC) and sensory properties of chicken breasts were regularly monitored when OEO-MP was incorporated into the SA coating for chicken breast preservation. Compared with the uncoated group, the SA/OEO-MP-coated groups showed significantly reduced increases in pH, thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS), total volatile base nitrogen (TVB-N), and TVC, especially in the SA/OEO-MP1 group. In summary, the SA/OEO-MP coating could preserve the chicken breast by reducing lipid oxidation and inhibiting the proliferation of microorganisms. It would be developed as a prospective edible packaging for chicken preservation.

Effect of chitosan-gelatine edible coating containing nano-encapsulated clove ethanol extract on cold storage of chilled pork.

Meat safety and quality are the main concerns of consumers in the present food market. Chitosan-gelatin edible coatings containing nano-encapsulated clove ethanol extracts (CNPs), designated as CHI-GEL-CNPs, on the quality preservation of chilled pork were studied. Results showed that the mean particle diameters of CNPs were 346.15 ± 37.30 nm. Nano-modification improved the antibacterial activity of free clove ethanol extract. The increasing rate order of TVB-N and TBARS was CHI-GEL-CNPs < CHI-GEL-Clove < CHI-GEL < CHI < CON group. The CHI-GEL-CNPs coating inhibited the elevation of pH and total viable count (TVC) of chilled pork. The TVB-N and TVC values demonstrated that the CHI-GEL-CNPs coating effectively extended the shelf life of chilled pork up to 13 days. In addition, the sensory properties of CHI-GEL-CNPs chilled pork loins were superior to that of control samples. Therefore, the developed CHI-GEL-CNPs coatings have great promise as a nanocomposite for meat preservation.

Renaissance of elemental phosphorus materials: properties, synthesis, and applications in sustainable energy and environment.

The polymorphism of phosphorus-based materials has garnered much research interest, and the variable chemical bonding structures give rise to a variety of micro and nanostructures. Among the different types of materials containing phosphorus, elemental phosphorus materials (EPMs) constitute the foundation for the synthesis of related compounds. EPMs are experiencing a renaissance in the post-graphene era, thanks to recent advancements in the scaling-down of black phosphorus, amorphous red phosphorus, violet phosphorus, and fibrous phosphorus and consequently, diverse classes of low-dimensional sheets, ribbons, and dots of EPMs with intriguing properties have been produced. The nanostructured EPMs featuring tunable bandgaps, moderate carrier mobility, and excellent optical absorption have shown great potential in energy conversion, energy storage, and environmental remediation. It is thus important to have a good understanding of the differences and interrelationships among diverse EPMs, their intrinsic physical and chemical properties, the synthesis of specific structures, and the selection of suitable nanostructures of EPMs for particular applications. In this comprehensive review, we aim to provide an in-depth analysis and discussion of the fundamental physicochemical properties, synthesis, and applications of EPMs in the areas of energy conversion, energy storage, and environmental remediation. Our evaluations are based on recent literature on well-established phosphorus allotropes and theoretical predictions of new EPMs. The objective of this review is to enhance our comprehension of the characteristics of EPMs, keep abreast of recent advances, and provide guidance for future research of EPMs in the fields of chemistry and materials science.

3-tert-Butyl-4-hydroxyanisole perturbs renal lipid metabolism in vitro by targeting androgen receptor-regulated de novo lipogenesis.

The widespread usage of 3-tert-butyl-4-hydroxyanisole (3-BHA) as an anthropogenic antioxidant has caused considerable environmental contamination and frequent detection in diverse human-derived samples. 3-BHA can promote adipogenesis and impair hepatic lipid metabolism, while its effects on renal lipid homeostasis remain to be uncertain. Herein, using the human kidney 2 (HK-2) cell experiments, 3-BHA was found to cause a significant reduction in lipid accumulation of the HK-2 cells in both exposure concentration- and duration-dependent manners. Exposure to 3-BHA lowered the transcriptional expressions of sterol regulatory element-binding protein 1 (SREBP1) and acetyl-CoA carboxylase (ACC), as well as ACC activity, indicating the inhibition in the process of de novo lipogenesis in HK-2 cells. On this basis, the mechanism study suggested that the reduced glucose absorption and accelerated glycolysis were concomitantly involved. The antagonism of 3-BHA on the transactivation of androgen receptor (AR) contributed to the lowered de novo lipogenesis and the consequent intracellular lipid reduction. The metabolomics data further confirmed the imbalance of lipid homeostasis and dysregulation of de novo lipogenesis. The new findings on the impaired renal lipid metabolism induced by 3-BHA warranted proper care about the usage of this chemical as a food additive.

Corrigendum: Prevalence and outcomes of pancreatic enzymes elevation in patients with COVID-19: a meta-analysis and systematic review.

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.3389/fpubh.2022.865855.].

The perturbation of parabens on the neuroendocrine system in zebrafish larvae.

Parabens, as the synthetic preservatives, have caused universal environmental contamination and human exposure. Whether parabens could disturb neuroendocrine system was still ambiguous. In this study, the effects of four commonly-used parabens, i.e. methyl paraben (MeP), ethyl paraben (EtP), propyl paraben (PrP) and butyl paraben (BuP), were tested on the neuroendocrine system of zebrafish larvae by investigating the swimming behavior, the related hormones and biomarkers in the hypothalamic-pituitary-interrenal (HPI) axis. The results showed that all test chemicals significantly reduced the swimming distance and mean velocity of zebrafish larvae. The adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) levels in zebrafish larvae were significantly increased, while the cortisol levels were obviously decreased by paraben exposure. The transcriptional analysis showed that the expressions of the target genes including gr, mr and crhr2 in the HPI axis were mostly down-regulated. The exploration of the initial molecular event showed that parabens could bind with the glucocorticoid receptor (GR) and trigger its transactivation, according to MDA-kb2 luciferase assay and molecular docking analysis. The interaction of parabens with the GR included the hydrogen bond and hydrophobic interaction. The findings herein revealed the potential deleterious effects of parabens on the neuroendocrine system of zebrafish larvae, thus accumulating the in vivo toxicological data on this kind of food preservatives.

Exploring novel disease-disease associations based on multi-view fusion network.

Established taxonomy system based on disease symptom and tissue characteristics have provided an important basis for physicians to correctly identify diseases and treat them successfully. However, these classifications tend to be based on phenotypic observations, lacking a molecular biological foundation. Therefore, there is an urgent to integrate multi-dimensional molecular biological information or multi-omics data to redefine disease classification in order to provide a powerful perspective for understanding the molecular structure of diseases. Therefore, we offer a flexible disease classification that integrates the biological process, gene expression, and symptom phenotype of diseases, and propose a disease-disease association network based on multi-view fusion. We applied the fusion approach to 223 diseases and divided them into 24 disease clusters. The contribution of internal and external edges of disease clusters were analyzed. The results of the fusion model were compared with Medical Subject Headings, a traditional and commonly used disease taxonomy. Then, experimental results of model performance comparison show that our approach performs better than other integration methods. As it was observed, the obtained clusters provided more interesting and novel disease-disease associations. This multi-view human disease association network describes relationships between diseases based on multiple molecular levels, thus breaking through the limitation of the disease classification system based on tissues and organs. This approach which motivates clinicians and researchers to reposition the understanding of diseases and explore diagnosis and therapy strategies, extends the existing disease taxonomy. Availability of data and materials: The preprocessed dataset and source code supporting the conclusions of this article are available at GitHub repository https://github.com/yangxiaoxi89/mvHDN.

Disposable Polypropylene Face Masks: A Potential Source of Micro/Nanoparticles and Organic Contaminates in Humans.

We have been effectively protected by disposable propylene face masks during the COVID-19 pandemic; however, they may pose health risks due to the release of fine particles and chemicals. We measured micro/nanoparticles and organic chemicals in disposable medical masks, surgical masks, and (K)N95 respirators. In the breathing-simulation experiment, no notable differences were found in the total number of particles among mask types or between breathing intensities. However, when considering subranges, <2.5 µm particles accounted for ∼90% of the total number of micro/nanoparticles. GC-HRMS-based suspect screening tentatively revealed 79 (semi)volatile organic compounds in masks, with 18 being detected in ≥80% of samples and 44 in ≤20% of samples. Three synthetic phenolic antioxidants were quantified, and AO168 reached a median concentration of 2968 ng/g. By screening particles collected from bulk mask fabrics, we detected 18 chemicals, including four commonly detected in masks, suggesting chemical partition between the particles and the fabric fibers and chemical exposure via particle inhalation. These particles and chemicals are believed to originate from raw materials, intentionally and nonintentionally added substances in mask production, and their transformation products. This study highlights the need to study the long-term health risks associated with mask wearing and raises concerns over mask quality control.

Discovery of the Effects of the Hemiprotonic Phenanthroline-Phenanthroline+ against Trichophyton rubrum by Inducing Fungal Apoptosis.

Trichophyton rubrum (T. rubrum) is the most common causative agent of dermatophytosis worldwide. The development of antifungal drugs will contribute to treating the disease. In this study, we suggest that a hemiprotonic compound phenanthroline-phenanthroline+ (ph-ph+) is active in inhibiting the growth and reproduction of T. rubrum, and the minimum inhibitory concentration and minimum fungicidal concentration values were 2 µg/ml and 8 µg/ml, respectively. In an in vitro onychomycosis model, ph-ph+ killed T. rubrum by inducing apoptosis, which was evaluated by transmission electron microscopy and Annexin V-FITC/propidium iodide staining. Transcriptomic analysis and biochemical assay showed that ph-ph+ elevated iron ion content in T. rubrum cells and reduced glutathione antioxidant system level, leading to an increase in the contents of ROS and malondialdehyde. Therefore, the antifungal mechanism of ph-ph+ would be associated with iron ion-induced cell apoptosis, which is different from other known antifungal drugs. Furthermore, ph-ph+ was prepared into gel for application in guinea pigs with dermatophytosis caused by T. rubrum. The results showed that the ph-ph+ gel eliminated the fungus in the animals without causing skin irritation or other adverse reactions. The study would not only provide a potential compound to treat dermatophytosis, but also suggest that iron ion-induced cell apoptosis might be a new approach to killing fungi.