Ultrasound-responsive microfibers promoted infected wound healing with neuro-vascularization by segmented sonodynamic therapy and electrical stimulation.

Bacteria-infected wounds pose challenges to healing due to persistent infection and associated damage to nerves and vessels. Although sonodynamic therapy can help kill bacteria, it is limited by the residual oxidative stress, resulting in prolonged inflammation. To tackle these barriers, novel 4 octyl itaconate-coated Li-doped ZnO/PLLA piezoelectric composite microfibers are developed, offering a whole-course "targeted" treatment under ultrasound therapy. The inclusion of Li atoms causes the ZnO lattice distortion and increases the band gap, enhancing the piezoelectric and sonocatalytic properties of the composite microfibers, collaborated by an aligned PLLA conformation design. During the infection and inflammation stages, the piezoelectric microfibers exhibit spatiotemporal-dependent therapeutic effects, swiftly eliminating over 94.2 % of S. aureus within 15 min under sonodynamic therapy. Following this phase, the microfibers capture reactive oxygen species and aid macrophage reprogramming, restoring mitochondrial function, achieving homeostasis, and shortening inflammation cycles. As the wound progresses through the healing stages, bioactive Zn2+ and Li + ions are continuously released, improving cell recruitment, and the piezoelectrical stimulation enhances wound recovery with neuro-vascularization. Compared to commercially available dressings, our microfibers accelerate the closure of rat wounds (Φ = 15 mm) without scarring in 12 days. Overall, this "one stone, four birds" wound management strategy presents a promising avenue for infected wound therapy.

Increased peripheral leukocyte aggravates brain injury and leads to poor outcome in stroke patients receiving intravenous thrombolysis: A study based on clinical evidence.

Whether the dynamic development of peripheral inflammation aggravates brain injury and leads to poor outcome in stroke patients receiving intravenous thrombolysis (IVT), remains unclear and warrants further study. In this study, total of 1034 patients with acute ischemic stroke who underwent IVT were enrolled. Serum leukocyte variation (whether increase from baseline to 24 h after IVT), National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS), infarct volume, early neurologic deterioration (END), the unfavorable outcome at 3-month (modified Rankin Scale [mRS] score ≥3) and mortality were recorded. Serum brain injury biomarkers, including Glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP), ubiquitin c-terminal hydrolase L1 (UCH-L1), S100ß, neuron-specific enolase (NSE), were measured to reflect the extent of brain injury. We found that patients with increased serum leukocytes had elevated brain injury biomarkers (GFAP, UCH-L1, and S100ß), larger infarct volume, higher 24 h NIHSS, higher proportion of END, unfavorable outcome and mortality. Furthermore, an increase in serum leukocytes was independently associated with infarct volume, 24 h NIHSS, END, and unfavorable outcome at 3 months, and serum UCH-L1, S100ß, and NSE levels. These results suggest that an increase in serum leukocytes indicates severe brain injury and may be used to predict the outcome of patients with ischemic stroke who undergo IVT.

Unilateral adrenal Castleman's disease: A case report.

Castleman disease (CD) is a heterogeneous hematological condition characterized by distinctive histopathological features. The etiology remains unclear, and clinical symptoms are generally nonspecific. CD can occur in any location containing lymphatic tissue, with the mediastinum being the most common site, while adrenal involvement is rare. Adrenal CD is typically incidentally discovered during physical examination, commonly affecting one side. Imaging studies often make it challenging to differentiate from common adrenal tumors, necessitating pathological confirmation. Surgical intervention is the preferred treatment, and the prognosis is generally favorable. This paper presents a rare case of a left adrenal mass, which was diagnosed as Castleman disease following surgical resection.

Ge-Zhi-Jie-Jiu decoction alleviates alcoholic liver disease through multiple signaling pathways.

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE: Alcoholic liver disease (ALD) is a growing public health concern caused by excessive alcohol consumption, but effective treatments are limited. Ge-Zhi-Jie-Jiu decoction (JJY) is a modified traditional Chinese herbal remedy that aims to alleviate ALD. This formula contains various components such as Ge Hua, Ge Gen, Zhi Ju Zi, and other medicinal-food herbs. However, the specific pharmacotherapeutic compounds of JJY and its pharmacological mechanisms remain unclear. AIM OF THE STUDY: This study aimed to elucidate the molecular mechanism and pharmacodynamic basis of JJY in treating ALD. MATERIALS AND METHODS: UPLC-Q-Orbitrap HRMS, HPLC fingerprinting, and LC-MS techniques were used for the composition identification and quality control of JJY. The pharmacological components and molecular mechanisms of JJY in anti-ALD were then predicted using network pharmacology and molecular docking approaches. Ultimately, an acute alcoholic liver injury mouse model was developed, and the potential mechanisms were verified by hematoxylin-eosin (H&E), Oil Red O, and TUNEL staining, real-time fluorescence quantitative PCR (RT-qPCR), Western blot (WB) and molecular docking analysis. RESULTS: The results showed that the main components of JJY are organic acids, flavonoids, and isoflavonoids, in which puerarin, daidzein, glycitein, ononin, quercetin, and tectorigenin can be used as the indicator components of JJY. In addition, JJY might ameliorate ALD through several pathways, including potentially promoting alcohol metabolism via alcohol-metabolizing enzymes, and possibly inhibiting oxidative stress, inflammation and apoptosis via the Nrf2/Keap1/HO-1 and MAPK signaling pathways. Furthermore, JJY may also alleviated hepatic lipid accumulation through the PPARα signaling pathway. CONCLUSIONS: JJY has significant anti-ALD efficacy with multiple mechanisms. This study offers a solid experimental foundation for JJY's development as a medicine with anti-ALD characteristics and elucidates its probable active components.

Responses of biomarkers, joint effect and drilosphere bacterial communities to antimony (III and/or V) contamination.

Contamination of soils with antimony (Sb) is becoming increasingly severe and widespread, and the associated ecological risks cannot be ignored. To evaluate how different Sb forms affected the earthworm Eisenia fetida in soil, the biomarker response index (BRI), effect addition index (EAI), and microbial diversity were characterized after single and joint application of Sb(III) and Sb(V). The results showed that Sb(III) was better enriched by earthworms than Sb(V). The metallothionein (MT) content in earthworms increased under Sb stress, and the superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), and glutathione S-transferase (GST) activities also showed an increasing trend, suggesting waken-up antioxidant capacity. Severe alterations for health status were observed under combined treatment. Additionally, the EAI indicated that Sb(III) and Sb(V) had synergistic and antagonistic effects at low and high concentrations, respectively. The bacterial populations in the drilosphere (gut and burrow lining) appeared to be more susceptible to Sb contamination than in the non-drilosphere, their specific microecology may be an important factor in soil Sb migration and transformation. The abundance of Actinobacteria exhibited a significant decrease with increasing concentrations of single Sb(III) and Sb(V), while the abundance of Bacteroidia increased. The correlation heatmap showed that Sphingobacterium faecium was highly tolerant to Sb. These results provide not only an important basis for the ecological risk assessment of Sb in the soil environment but also new insights into the altered drilosphere bacterial communities under Sb stress.

Exploring the molecular and immune landscape of cellular senescence in lung adenocarcinoma.

Introduction: The connection between aging and cancer is complex. Previous research has highlighted the association between the aging process of lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD) cells and the immune response, yet there remains a gap in confirming this through single-cell data validation. Here, we aim to develop a novel aging-related prognostic model for LUAD, and verify the alterations in the genome and immune microenvironment linked to cellular senescence. Methods: We integrated a comprehensive collection of senescence genes from the GenAge and CellAge databases and employed the least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO) Cox analysis to construct and validate a novel prognostic model for LUAD. This model was then utilized to examine the relationship between aging, tumor somatic mutations, and immune cell infiltration. Additionally, we explored the heterogeneity of senescence and intercellular communication within the LUAD tumor microenvironment (TME) through single-cell transcriptomic data analysis. Results: By exploring the expression profiles of 586 cellular senescence-related genes in 428 LUAD patients, we constructed an aging-related genes (ARGs) risk model included 10 ARGs and validated it as an independent prognostic predictor for LUAD patients. Notably, patients with low aging scores (LAS group) exhibited better survival, lower tumor mutation burden (TMB), lower somatic mutation frequency, lower tumor proliferation rate, and an immune activated phenotype compared to patients with high aging scores (HAS group). While the HAS group was enriched in tumor cells and showed a lower infiltration of CD8-CCR7, CD8- CXCL13, CD8-GNLY, FCGR3A NK cells, XCL1 NK cells, plasma cell (PC) and other immune subsets. Furthermore, the SPP1 and TENASCIN pathways, associated with tumor immune escape and tumor progression, were also enriched in the HAS group. Additionally, our study also indicated that senescence levels were heterogeneous in the LUAD tumor microenvironment (TME), especially with tumor cells in the LAS group showing higher age scores compared to those in the HAS group. Conclusions: Collectively, our findings underscore that ARRS through ARGs serves as a robust biomarker for the prognosis in LUAD.

Benzo(a)pyrene exposure during pregnancy leads to germ cell apoptosis in male mice offspring via affecting histone modifications and oxidative stress levels.

Infertility has gradually become a global health concern, and evidence suggests that exposure to environmental endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs) represent one of the key causes of infertility. Benzo(a)pyrene (BaP) is a typical EDC that is widespread in the environment. Previous studies have detected BaP in human urine, semen, cervical mucus, oocytes and follicular fluid, resulting in reduced fertility and irreversible reproductive damage. However, the mechanisms underlying the effects of gestational BaP exposure on offspring fertility in male mice have not been fully explored. In this study, pregnant mice were administered BaP at doses of 0, 5, 10 and 20 mg/kg/day via gavage from Days 7.5 to 12.5 of gestation. The results revealed that BaP exposure during pregnancy disrupted the structural integrity of testicular tissue, causing a disorganized arrangement of spermatogenic cells, compromised sperm quality, elevated levels of histone modifications and increased apoptosis in the testicular tissue of F1 male mice. Furthermore, oxidative stress was also increased in the testicular tissue of F1 male mice. BaP activated the AhR/ERα signaling pathway, affected H3K4me3 expression and induced apoptosis in testicular tissue. AhR and Cyp1a1 were overexpressed, and the expression of key molecules in the antioxidant pathway, including Keap1 and Nrf2, was reduced. The combined effects of these molecules led to apoptosis in testicular tissues, damaging and compromising sperm quality. This impairment in testicular cells further contributed to compromised testicular tissues, ultimately impacting the reproductive health of F1 male mice.

Physiological Responses and Salt Tolerance Evaluation of Different Varieties of Bougainvillea under Salt Stress.

Soil salinization significantly impacts the ecological environment and agricultural production, posing a threat to plant growth. Currently, there are over 400 varieties of Bougainvillea with horticultural value internationally. However, research on the differences in salt tolerance among Bougainvillea varieties is still insufficient. Therefore, this study aims to investigate the physiological responses and tolerance differences of various Bougainvillea varieties under different concentrations of salt stress, reveal the effects of salt stress on their growth and physiology, and study the adaptation mechanisms of these varieties related to salt stress. The experimental materials consisted of five varieties of Bougainvillea. Based on the actual salinity concentrations in natural saline-alkali soils, we used a pot-controlled salt method for the experiment, with four treatment concentrations set: 0.0% (w/v) (CK), 0.2% (w/v), 0.4% (w/v), and 0.6% (w/v). After the Bougainvillea plants grew stably, salt stress was applied and the growth, physiology, and salt tolerance of the one-year-old plants were systematically measured and assessed. The key findings were as follows: Salt stress inhibited the growth and biomass of the five varieties of Bougainvillea; the 'Dayezi' variety showed severe salt damage, while the 'Shuihong' variety exhibited minimal response. As the salt concentration and duration of salt stress increase, the trends of the changes in antioxidant enzyme activity and osmotic regulation systems in the leaves of the five Bougainvillea species differ. Membrane permeability and the production of membrane oxidative products showed an upward trend with stress severity. The salt tolerance of the five varieties of Bougainvillea was comprehensively evaluated through principal component analysis. It was found that the 'Shuihong' variety exhibited the highest salt tolerance, followed by the 'Lvyehuanghua', 'Xiaoyezi', 'Tazi', and 'Dayezi' varieties. Therefore, Bougainvillea 'Shuihong', 'Lvyehuanghua', and 'Xiaoyezi' are recommended for extensive cultivation in saline-alkali areas. The investigation focuses primarily on how Bougainvillea varieties respond to salt stress from the perspectives of growth and physiological levels. Future research could explore the molecular mechanisms behind the responses to and tolerance of different Bougainvillea varieties as to salt stress, providing a more comprehensive understanding and basis for practical applications.

Dietary Choline Intake Is Beneficial for Cognitive Function and Delays Cognitive Decline: A 22-Year Large-Scale Prospective Cohort Study from China Health and Nutrition Survey.

Pre-clinical studies have discovered the neuroprotective function and the benefit for cognitive function of choline. However, it remains unclear whether these benefits observed in animal studies also work in humans. The aims of this study are to examine the effects of dietary choline intake on cognitive function and cognitive decline during ageing in middle-aged and elderly Chinese. We included 1887 subjects aged 55~79 years with 6696 observations from the China Health and Nutrition Survey cohort study. The subjects were followed up for 6 to 21 years, with an average of 12.2 years. A dietary survey was conducted over 3 consecutive days with a 24 h recall, using household weight-recording methods. Based on the China Food Composition, data from USDA, and published literature, the dietary choline intake was calculated as the sum of free choline, phosphocholine, phosphatidylcholine, sphingomyelin, and glycerophosphocholine. Cognitive function was assessed using a subset of the Telephone Interview for Cognitive Status-modified (TICS-m) items. In order to eliminate the different weight of scores in each domain, the scores were converted by dividing by the maximum score in each domain, which ranged from 0 to 3 points. Higher cognitive scores represented better cognition. We used two-level mixed effect models to estimate the effects of dietary choline intake on cognitive score and cognitive decline rate in males and females, respectively. The average dietary choline intake was 161.1 mg/d for the baseline. After adjusting for confounders, the dietary choline intake was significantly associated with higher cognitive score in both males and females. The cognitive score in the highest quartile group of dietary choline was 0.085 for males and 0.077 for females-higher than those in the lowest quartile group (p < 0.01 for males, p < 0.05 for females). For every 10-year increase in age, the cognitive score decreased by 0.266 for males and 0.283 for females. The cognitive score decline rate of the third quartile group of dietary choline was 0.125/10 years lower than that of the lowest quartile group in females (p < 0.05). Dietary choline intake not only improves cognitive function, but also postpones cognitive decline during the aging process. The findings of this study highlight the neuroprotective benefit of choline in the middle-aged and elderly Chinese population, especially among females.

Simultaneous determination of icotinib, osimertinib, aumolertinib, and anlotinib in human plasma for therapeutic drug monitoring by UPLC-MS/MS.

Epidermal growth factor receptor tyrosine kinase inhibitors (EGFR-TKIs) such as icotinib, osimertinib, and aumolertinib have emerged as promising treatment options for EGFR mutated Non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients. Additionally, anlotinib, an anti-angiogenic agent targeting VEGFR, FGFR, and PDGFR, has been used in combination with EGFR-TKIs in NSCLC cases. A method utilizing ultrahigh performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (UPLC-MS/MS) was developed and validated for quantifying icotinib, osimertinib, aumolertinib and anlotinib simultaneously in clinical TDM. The chromatographic separation was performed using a Kinetex C18 column (100 mm × 2.1 mm) and an elution gradient of ammonium acetate in water acidified with 0.1 % formic acid and in acetonitrile. The assay was validated over a linear range of 4-2000 ng/mL for icotinib, 2-1000 ng/mL for osimertinib, 1-500 ng/mL for aumolertinib, and 0.8-400 ng/mL for anlotinib, following the guidelines on bioanalytical methods by FDA. The quantification method exhibited satisfactory performance in terms of selectivity, accuracy (from 91.3 % to 107 %), precision (intra- and inter-day coeffficients of variation ranged from 0.944 % to 7.48 %), linearity, recovery (from 86.0 % to 91.9 %), matrix effect (IS-normalized matrix factors were from 96.7 % to 102 %), and stability. Overall, the method proved to be sensitive, reliable, and straightforward, enabling successful simultaneous determination of blood concentrations of icotinib, osimertinib, aumolertinib, and anlotinib in patients. The validity of the method has been confirmed across various instruments.

[Focal therapy for prostate cancer: Progress in research].

Prostate cancer (PCa) is currently the second most common malignancy in men worldwide，and its incidence rate is on the rise. Most cases of PCa are treated by radical prostatectomy, but with the development of medical imaging and innovation in therapeutic theories and technology, focal therapy has shown better application prospects in the treatment of PCa. Compared with radical prostatectomy, focal therapy yields satisfactory results in terms of effectiveness and reduction of complications in addition to avoidance of overtreatment and treatment-related financial burden. This article reviews the strategies of focal therapy for PCa, including cryoablation, high-intensity focused ultrasound, irreversible electroporation, and photodynamic therapy, with an analysis of the clinical trials in recent years.

Synthesis, biological activities and mechanistic studies of C20-ketone pachysandra alkaloids as anti-hepatocellular carcinoma agents.

The pachysandra alkaloids found in Sarcococca ruscifolia demonstrate notable anti-hepatocellular carcinoma activity. Despite their efficacy, the structural diversity of these compounds remains limited, and their precise antitumor mechanism is still unclear. In pursuit of identifying novel lead compounds with high efficacy and low toxicity for combating hepatocellular carcinoma, twenty-three compounds of C20-ketone pachysandra alkaloid derivatives were designed and synthesized by using 3-dimethylamine pachysandra alkaloids as scaffolds. Subsequent in vitro anticancer activity experiments showed that synthetic pachysandra alkaloids had a stronger effect on HepG2 cells than did their natural counterparts, with low toxicity and high selectivity. The most potent derivative, 6k, had an IC50 value of 0.75 µM, demonstrating 25.7-fold greater anticancer activity than sarcovagine D against HepG2 cells. Through network pharmacology and molecular docking analysis, it was revealed that synthetic pachysandra alkaloids may exert their effects by inhibiting the JAK2/STAT3 pathway, thereby preventing the proliferation of liver cancer cells. Further research through scratch tests, immunofluorescence experiments, and Western blot analysis revealed that compound 6k effectively inhibited the migration of HepG2 cells and induced mitochondria-mediated intrinsic apoptosis of HepG2 cells by regulating the JAK2/STAT3 signaling pathway. The aforementioned results indicate that compound 6k could be developed as a potential candidate for the treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma.

A CARE-compliant article: A case report of retroperitoneal endometrial stromal sarcoma with multiple pulmonary metastases and literature review.

RATIONALE: Endometrial stromal sarcoma is an extremely rare mesenchymal neoplasm occurring in the extrauterine. Retroperitoneal endometrial stromal sarcoma with multiple pulmonary metastases, in particular, is extremely rare. PATIENT CONCERNS: Forty-seven-year-old woman (gravida 3, para 2), was referred to our institution with complaints of fever. DIAGNOSES: Ultrasound and computed tomographic imaging of the abdomen identified the presence of masses in the pelvic region. Additionally, computed tomographic scans and X-ray evaluations of the thorax detected dispersed masses in both the lungs and pelvic area. Histopathological analysis of the pelvic region indicated the presence of low-grade endometrial stromal sarcoma. A computed tomography-guided pneumocentesis was conducted to further characterize the pulmonary lesions, confirming the diagnosis of low-grade endometrial stromal sarcoma. INTERVENTIONS: The patient underwent tumor resection, subsequent treatment with Medroxyprogesterone acetate for 6 months, received microwave ablation for multiple lung metastases, PARP1 inhibitor for 4 courses, and has been undergoing chemotherapy (epirubicin/ifosfamide) up to the present time. OUTCOMES: Partial remission was obtained after the above treatment and this patient is now still alive maintaining for 3 years. LESSONS: The identification and management of this disease remain a significant challenge due to its low prevalence. Further research involving a larger number of cases is necessary to ensure consistency in diagnosis and to establish effective treatment guidelines.

Efficient Electroreduction of Low Nitrate Concentration via Nitrate Self-Enrichment and Active Hydrogen Inducement on the Ce(IV)-Co3O4 Cathode.

Low concentrations of nitrate (NO3-) widely exist in wastewater, post-treated wastewater, and natural environments; its further disposal is a challenge but meaningful for its discharge goals. Electroreduction of NO3- is a promising method that allows to eliminate NO3- and even generate higher-value NH3. However, the massive side reaction of hydrogen evolution has raised great obstacles in the electroreduction of low concentrations of NO3-. Herein, we present an efficient electroreduction method for low or even ultralow concentrations of NO3- via NO3- self-enrichment and active hydrogen (H*) inducement on the Ce(IV)-Co3O4 cathode. The key mechanism is that the strong oxytropism of Ce(IV) in Co3O4 resulted in two changes in structures, including loose nanoporous structures with copious dual adsorption sites of Ce-Co showing strong self-enrichment of NO3- and abundant oxygen vacancies (Ovs) inducing substantial H*. Ultimately, the bifunctional role synergistically promoted the selective conversion of NH3 rather than H2. As a result, Ce(IV)-Co3O4 demonstrated a NO3- self-enrichment with a 4.3-fold up-adsorption, a 7.5-fold enhancement of NH3 Faradic efficiency, and a 93.1% diminution of energy consumption when compared to Co3O4, substantially exceeding other reported electroreduction cathodes for NO3- concentrations lower than 100 mg·L-1. This work provides an effective treatment method for low or even ultralow concentrations of NO3-.

Atomically Dispersed Iridium on Polyimide Support for Acidic Oxygen Evolution.

Designing a high-performing iridium (Ir) single-atom catalyst is desired for acidic water electrolysis, which shows enormous potential given its high catalytic activity toward acidic oxygen evolution reaction (OER) with minimum usage of precious Ir metal. However, it still remains a substantial challenge to stabilize the Ir single atoms during the OER operation without sacrificing the activity. Here, we report a high-performing OER catalyst by immobilizing Ir single atoms on a polyimide support, which exhibits a high mass activity on a carbon paper electrode while simultaneously achieving outstanding stability with negligible decay for 360 h. The resulting electrode (denoted as Ir1-PI@CP) reaches a 49.7-fold improvement in mass activity compared to the counterpart electrode prepared without polyimide support. Both our experimental and theoretical results suggest that, owing to the strong metal-support interactions, the polyimide support can enhance the Ir 5d states of Ir single atoms in Ir1-PI@CP, which can tailor the adsorption energies of intermediates and decrease the thermodynamic barrier at the rate-determining step of the OER, but also facilitate the proton-electron-transfer process and improve the reaction kinetics. This work offers an alternative avenue for developing single-atom catalysts with superior activity and durability toward various catalytic systems and beyond.

Evolution of river-aquifer disconnections and the migration and transformation of iron and manganese under non-time-varying/time-varying riverbed permeability.

Changes in the composition, structure, and thickness of riverbed sediments caused by riverbed clogging strongly affect the hydraulic connection, migration and transformation of nutrients between river water and groundwater in groundwater source areas. However, previous studies have not extensively investigated the mechanisms of river-aquifer disconnection and the migration and transformation processes of iron and manganese under non-time-varying and time-varying conditions of riverbed permeability. This study developed a model using the COMSOL Multiphysics platform to characterize the riverbed clogging-groundwater exploitation-disconnection process, considering microbial growth and related biogeochemical processes, and investigated feedbacks between the reactive migration of iron and manganese and physical clogging-groundwater exploitation processes or bioclogging processes. The research findings showed that under non-time-varying conditions of riverbed permeability, the evolution of river-aquifer disconnection was strongly affected by the thickness and permeability coefficient of riverbed sediments. The dissolved oxygen attenuation rate in the disconnection zone decreased by up to 88.8 %. Additionally, the Mn2+ and Fe2+ generation rates in sediment pore water decreased by 65.8 % and 62.7 %, respectively. In contrast, during the riverbed bioclogging process, as the biofilms on the surface of the riverbed sediments developed, the sediment pores gradually clogged, leading to a significant reduction in the porosity and permeability coefficient. Consequently, the hydraulic connection between the river and aquifer transitioned from a saturated connection to a disconnection. However, reduced permeability due to riverbed bioclogging primarily controlled the release of Fe and Mn. When the river-aquifer was in complete disconnection, compared to the saturated connection state, the Mn2+ and Fe2+ generation rates increased by up to 5.8 and 3.8 times, respectively. This study deepens our understanding of the biogeochemical cycling mechanisms of Fe and Mn under riverbed clogging conditions in groundwater source areas and contributes to ensuring a secure and stable water supply in these areas.

Combined transcriptome and metabolome analysis reveals the toxic effects of antimony on the earthworm.

Antimony (Sb) poses a significant ecological threat. This study combines biochemical, pathological, transcriptome, and metabolome analyses to assess the short-term (14-day) toxic impact of two Sb levels (25 mg/kg and 125 mg/kg) on earthworms (Eisenia fetida). Higher Sb concentration caused severe intestinal damage, elevated metallothionein (MT) levels, and reduced antioxidant capacity. Metabolome analysis identifies 404 and 1698 significantly differential metabolites in the two groups. Metabolites such as S(-)-cathinone, N-phenyl-1-naphthylamine, serotonin, 4-hydroxymandelonitrile, and 5-fluoropentylindole contributed to the metabolic responses to Sb stress. Transcriptome analysis shows increased chitin synthesis as a protective response, impacting amino sugar and nucleotide sugar metabolism for cell wall synthesis and damage repair. Integrated analysis indicated that 5 metabolite-gene pairs were found in two Sb levels and 11 enriched pathways were related to signal transduction, carbohydrate metabolism, immune system, amino acid metabolism, digestive system, and nervous system. Therefore, the integration of multiomics approaches enhanced our comprehension of the molecular mechanisms underlying the toxicity of Sb in E. fetida.

Polarization-Independent Perfect Absorption in Monolayer Black Phosphorus Metasurfaces at Terahertz Frequencies via Critical Coupling.

Two-dimensional (2D) materials, which possess rich underlying physical properties that can provide the potential for designing more efficient and compact optoelectronic devices, have attracted great interest among scientists. Due to the atomic-scale thickness and the anisotropy of in-plane conductivity, 2D black phosphorus (BP) exhibits a polarization-dependent absorption spectrum with low absorption, which limits its further development in polarization-independent applications such as light absorbers and sensors. In this paper, a polarization-independent perfect absorber in the terahertz band is proposed, which is composed of a patterned BP monolayer deposited on a lossless photonic crystal (PC) slab with a back reflection mirror. The absorption of the patterned BP monolayer can reach 100% at resonant frequencies through the critical coupling mechanism of guided resonance. Moreover, the absorber exhibits polarization-independent absorption characteristics for vertically incident light, which are attributed to the 4-fold rotational symmetry of the PC substrate and the patterned BP monolayer deposited on it. This work opens up the possibility of fabricating optically polarization-independent devices based on single-layer 2D anisotropic materials.

A case report of ureteral endometriosis with severe hydronephrosis.

Ureteral endometriosis accounts for about 5 % of urologic endometriosis, with a peak incidence in the age group of 30-35 years, usually with unilateral onset. Because of its insidious onset, often combined with asymptomatic loss of renal function, and the ineffectiveness of medications, surgery is the gold standard of treatment.Thus, here we report a case of ureteral endometriosis with severe hydronephrosis to raise awareness of this condition.

Enhancement of ε-poly-L-lysine production by Streptomyces albulus FQF-24 with feeding strategies using cassava starch as carbon source.

ε-Poly-L-lysine (ε-PL) is a natural and wide-spectrum antimicrobial additive. In this study, the production of ε-PL by Streptomyces albulus FQF-24 using cassava starch (CS) as carbon source and the effects of different feeding methods were investigated in a fermenter. The initial shake flask experiments demonstrated the efficient production of ε-PL with CS, achieving the ε-PL production of 1.18 g/L. Subsequent investigations in the fermenter identified that the ideal pH was 3.8 during the ε-PL synthesis phase. Under this condition, the production of ε-PL reached 1.35 g/L. When the pH was maintained at 3.8, the investigation of improvement of feeding composition was carried out in a 5 L fermenter. The intermittent feeding containing CS, inorganic and organic nitrogen sources resulted in the maximum ε-PL production and dry cell weight (DCW) reaching 17.17 g/L and 42.73 g/L. Additionally, continuous feeding with the composition of CS, organic and inorganic nitrogen sources, and inorganic salts further increased ε-PL production and DCW to 27.56 g/L and 38.5 g/L. Summarily, the above results indicate that the fermentation using low-cost CS and continuous feeding strategy with whole medium composition can provide a beneficial reference for the efficient production of ε-PL.