Synthesis and Properties of Photocurable Polymers Derived from the Polyesters of Glycerol and Aliphatic Dicarboxylic Acids.

The rapid development of 3D printing technology and the emerging applications of shape memory elastomer have greatly stimulated the research of photocurable polymers. In this work, glycerol (Gly) was polycondensed with sebacic, dodecanedioic, or tetradecanedioic acids to provide precursor polyesters with hydroxyl or carboxyl terminal groups, which were further chemically functionalized by acryloyl chloride to introduce sufficient, photocurable, and unsaturated double bonds. The chemical structures of the acrylated polyesters were characterized by FT IR and NMR spectroscopies. The photoinitiated crosslinking behavior of the acrylated polyesters under ultraviolet irradiation without the addition of any photoinitiator was investigated. The results showed that the precursor polyesters that had a greater number of terminated hydroxyls and a less branched structure obtained a relatively high acetylation degree. A longer chain of aliphatic dicarboxylic acids (ADCAs) and higher ADCA proportion lead to a relatively lower photopolymerization rate of acrylated polyesters. However, the photocured elastomers with a higher ADCA proportion or longer-chain ADCAs resulted in better mechanical properties and a lower degradation rate. The glass transition temperature (Tg) of the elastomer increased with the alkyl chain length of the ADCAs, and a higher Gly proportion resulted in a lower Tg of the elastomer due to its higher crosslinking density. Thermal gravimetric analysis (TGA) showed that the chain length of the ADCAs and the molar ratio of Gly to ADCAs had less of an effect on the thermal stability of the elastomer. As the physicochemical properties can be adjusted by choosing the alkyl chain length of the ADCAs, as well as changing the ratio of Gly:ADCA, the photocurable polyesters are expected to be applied in multiple fields.

Prevalence and bidirectional association of sleep quality and gut health among Chinese midwives: a large population, multi-center cross-sectional study.

Background: Shift work can disrupt sleep quality and gut health. Nurses and midwives constitute approximately half of the global healthcare shift-working workforce. Our previous study revealed that most midwives were experiencing suboptimal health conditions, characterized by poor sleep quality and a high prevalence of gastrointestinal diseases. The gut-brain axis theory highlights the potential interplay between sleep quality and gut health. However, limited research focuses on this relationship among midwives. Methods: A cross-sectional survey included 2041 midwives from 87 Chinese hospitals between March and October 2023. Participants completed standardized questionnaires assessing sleep quality, gut health, depression, anxiety, and work stress. Binary logistic regression analyzed factors associated with poor sleep, and multiple linear regression examined the influence of sleep quality on gut health. Results: Over 60% of midwives reported poor sleep, with many experiencing gastrointestinal disorders. We observed a bidirectional relationship between sleep quality and gut health among midwives. After multivariable adjustments, midwives with higher gut health scores were more likely to experience poor sleep quality (odds ratio = 1.042, 95% confidence interval = 1.03-1.054). Conversely, midwives with higher sleep quality scores were also more likely to have poor gut health (ß = 0.222, 95% confidence interval = 0.529-0.797). These associations remained robust across sensitivity analyses. Furthermore, depression, anxiety, and work stress significantly affected both sleep quality and gut health among midwives. Conclusion: This study enhances our understanding of the intricate relationship between sleep quality and gut health among midwives. Poor gut health was associated with a higher risk of poor sleep, and vice versa. To improve the overall wellbeing of midwives, the findings emphasize the importance of addressing poor sleep quality and promoting gut health through maintaining a healthy diet, lifestyle, and good mental health. Further studies are needed to confirm our findings and clarify the underlying mechanisms.

Adversarial infrared blocks: A multi-view black-box attack to thermal infrared detectors in physical world.

Thermal infrared detectors have a vast array of potential applications in pedestrian detection and autonomous driving, and their safety performance is of great concern. Recent works use bulb plate, "QR" suit, and infrared patches as physical perturbations to perform white-box attacks on thermal infrared detectors, which are effective but not practical for real-world scenarios. Some researchers have tried to utilize hot and cold blocks as physical perturbations for black-box attacks on thermal infrared detectors. However, this attempts has not yielded robust and multi-view physical attacks, indicating limitations in the approach. To overcome the limitations of existing approaches, we introduce a novel black-box physical attack method, called adversarial infrared blocks (AdvIB). By optimizing the physical parameters of the infrared blocks and deploying them to pedestrians from multiple views, including the front, side, and back, AdvIB can execute robust and multi-view attacks on thermal infrared detectors. Our physical tests show that the proposed method achieves a success rate of over 80% under most distance and view conditions, validating its effectiveness. For stealthiness, our method involves attaching the adversarial infrared block to the inside of clothing, enhancing its stealthiness. Additionally, we perform comprehensive experiments and compare the experimental results with baseline to verify the robustness of our method. In summary, AdvIB allows for potent multi-view black-box attacks, profoundly influencing ethical considerations in today's society. Potential consequences, including disasters from technology misuse and attackers' legal liability, highlight crucial ethical and security issues associated with AdvIB. Considering these concerns, we urge heightened attention to the proposed AdvIB. Our code can be accessed from the following link: https://github.com/ChengYinHu/AdvIB.git.

Bovine milk ß-casein: Structure, properties, isolation, and targeted application of isolated products.

ß-Casein, an important protein found in bovine milk, has significant potential for application in the food, pharmaceutical, and other related industries. This review first introduces the composition, structure, and functional properties of ß-casein. It then reviews the techniques for isolating ß-casein. Chemical and enzymatic isolation methods result in inactivity of ß-casein and other components in the milk, and it is difficult to control the production conditions, limiting the utilization range of products. Physical technology not only achieves high product purity and activity but also effectively preserves the biological activity of the components. The isolated ß-casein needs to be utilized effectively and efficiently for various purity products in order to achieve optimal targeted application. Bovine ß-casein, which has a purity higher than or close to that of breast ß-casein, can be used in infant formulas. This is achieved by modifying its structure through dephosphorylation, resulting in a formula that closely mimics the composition of breast milk. Bovine ß-casein, which is lower in purity than breast ß-casein, can be maximized for the preparation of functional peptides and for use as natural carriers. The remaining byproducts can be utilized as food ingredients, emulsifiers, and carriers for encapsulating and delivering active substances. Thus, realizing the intensive processing and utilization of bovine ß-casein isolation. This review can promote the industrial production process of ß-casein, which is beneficial for the sustainable development of ß-casein as a food and material. It also provides valuable insights for the development of other active substances in milk.

Bioorthogonal labeling and profiling of N6-isopentenyladenosine (i6A) modified RNA.

Chemical modifications in RNAs play crucial roles in diversifying their structures and regulating numerous biochemical processes. Since the 1990s, several hydrophobic prenyl-modifications have been discovered in various RNAs. Prenyl groups serve as precursors for terpenes and many other biological molecules. The processes of prenylation in different macromolecules have been extensively studied. We introduce here a novel chemical biology toolkit that not only labels i6A, a prenyl-modified RNA residue, by leveraging the unique reactivity of the prenyl group, but also provides a general strategy to incorporate fluorescence functionalities into RNAs for molecular tracking purposes. Our findings revealed that iodine-mediated cyclization reactions of the prenyl group occur rapidly, transforming i6A from a hydrogen-bond acceptor to a donor. Based on this reactivity, we developed an Iodine-Mediated Cyclization and Reverse Transcription (IMCRT) tRNA-seq method, which can profile all nine endogenous tRNAs containing i6A residues in Saccharomyces cerevisiae with single-base resolution. Furthermore, under stress conditions, we observed a decline in i6A levels in budding yeast, accompanied by significant decrease of mutation rate at A37 position. Thus, the IMCRT tRNA-seq method not only permits semi-quantification of i6A levels in tRNAs but also holds potential for transcriptome-wide detection and analysis of various RNA species containing i6A modifications.

Post-abortion needs-based education via the WeChat platform to lessen fear and encourage effective contraception: a post-abortion care service intervention-controlled trial.

OBJECTIVE: Our study aims to investigate post-abortion needs-based education via the WeChat platform for women who had intended abortion in the first trimester, whether they are using effective contraception or becoming pregnant again. DESIGN: This single hospital intervention-controlled trial used a nearly 1:1 allocation ratio. Women who had intended abortions were randomly assigned to a Wechat group (needs-based education) and a control group (Traditional education). The women's ability to use effective contraception was the main result. Whether they unknowingly became pregnant again was the second result. Another result was patient anxiousness. Before and after education, women filled out questionnaires to assess their contraception methods and anxiety. METHODS: Based on the theoretical framework of contraceptions of IBL (inquiry-based learning), post-abortion women were included in WeChat groups. We use WeChat Group Announcement, regularly sending health education information, one-on-one answers to questions, and consultation methods to explore the possibilities and advantages of WeChat health education for women after abortion. A knowledge paradigm for post-abortion health education was established: From November 2021 until December 2021, 180 women who had an unintended pregnancy and undergone an induced or medical abortion were recruited, their progress was tracked for four months, and the PAC service team monitored the women's speech, discussed and classified the speech entries and summarized the common post-abortion needs in 8 aspects. At least 2 research group members routinely extracted records and categorized the outcomes. RESULTS: Before education, there were no appreciable variations between the two groups regarding sociodemographic characteristics, obstetrical conditions, abortion rates, or methods of contraception (P > 0.05). Following education, the WeChat group had a greater rate of effective contraception (63.0%) than the control group (28.6%), and their SAS score dropped statistically more than that of the control group (P < 0.05). Following the education, there were no unwanted pregnancies in the WeChat group, whereas there were 2 in the traditional PAC group. Only 5 participants in the WeChat group and 32 in the conventional PAC group reported mild anxiety after the education.

Toxic epidermal necrolysis complicated with respiratory failure in children: A case report.

Stevens-Johnson syndrome or toxic epidermal necrolysis (TEN) is a severe skin and mucosal reaction that develops rapidly and has a high mortality rate. Its early identification and proper treatment are crucial to lowering the risk of death. Severe TEN can also lead to acute respiratory failure. This study probed the effect of early treatment on chronic airway damage in children with TEN complicated by respiratory failure. Three children diagnosed with TEN complicated by respiratory failure received interventions including high-dose glucocorticoids, gamma-globulin pulse therapy, and plasma exchange. One patient experienced recurrent lung infections, developed secondary chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and eventually succumbed to respiratory failure despite skin improvement. The other two patients showed improvement after receiving combination treatment with a tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) inhibitor. However, they also had concurrent chronic airway disease during the follow-up period. The exact mechanism underlying TEN remains uncertain. Children with TEN complicated by respiratory failure continue to experience chronic airway damage even after standard treatment. In future, multi-center clinical studies are warranted to investigate the impact of TNF-α inhibitors in children with TEN. Assessing the effectiveness and safety of targeted medications for TEN will provide more evidence regarding the prognosis of this disease.

Materiobiomodulated ROS Therapy for De Novo Hair Growth.

Hair loss is characterized by the inability of hair follicles (HFs) to enter the telogen-anagen transition (TAT) and lack of de novo HFs. Current pharmaceutical therapies and surgical modalities have been largely limited to regulating hair regrowth efficiently without side effects and lacking treatment compliance. Here, this work proposes a materiobiomodulation therapy (MBMT), wherein polydopamine (PDA) nanoparticles with redox activity can be modulated to have a stoichiometric ROS (H2 O2 ) donating ability. These nanoparticles can intracellularly deliver ROS with high-efficiency via the clathrin-dependent endocytosis process. Utilizing homozygote transgenic HyPerion (a genetically-encoded H2 O2 biosensor) mice, this work also achieves in vivo dynamic monitoring of intracellular H2 O2 elevation induced by ROS donators. Subcutaneous administration with ROS donators results in rapid onset of TAT and subsequent hair regrowth with a specific ROS "hormesis effect." Mechanistically, ROS activate ß-catenin-dependent Wnt signaling, upregulating hair follicle stem cell expression. This work further develops a microneedles patch for transdermal ROS delivery, demonstrating long-term, low-dose ROS release. Unlike photobiomodulation therapy (PBMT), MBMT requires no external stimuli, providing a convenient and efficient approach for clinical hair loss treatment. This material-HF communication implicates new avenues in HF-related diseases, achieving targeted ROS delivery with minimal side effects.

Study on the host-guest interactions between tetramethyl cucurbit[6]uril and 2-heterocyclic-substituted benzimidazoles.

Cucurbit[n]urils (Q[n]s) are a class of supramolecular host compounds with hydrophilic carbonyl ports and hydrophobic cavities, which can selectively form host-guest inclusion complexes with guest molecules to change the properties of guest molecules. In this paper, tetramethyl cucurbit[6]uril (TMeQ[6]) was used as the host and three 2-heterocyclic substituted benzimidazole derivatives as the guests, and their modes of interaction were investigated using X-ray crystallography, 1H NMR spectrometry, and other analytical techniques. The results showed that TMeQ[6] formed a 1 : 1 host-guest inclusion complex with three guest molecules, and the binding process between them was mainly enthalpy-driven. The X-ray diffraction analysis indicated that the main driving forces for the formation of these three inclusion complexes included hydrogen bonding interactions and ion dipole interactions. There are two modes of interaction between G3 and TMeQ[6] in the liquid phase, indicating that the benzimidazole ring and heterocyclic substituents on the guest molecule compete with the cavity of TMeQ[6]. Besides, the addition of TMeQ[6] significantly enhanced the fluorescence of these guests and slightly improved their solubility.

Contrast-enhanced CT radiomics features to preoperatively identify differences between tumor and proximal tumor-adjacent and tumor-distant tissues of resectable esophageal squamous cell carcinoma.

BACKGROUND: Esophagectomy is the main treatment for esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC), and patients with histopathologically negative margins still have a relatively higher recurrence rate. Contrast-enhanced CT (CECT) radiomics might noninvasively obtain potential information about the internal heterogeneity of ESCC and its adjacent tissues. This study aimed to develop CECT radiomics models to preoperatively identify the differences between tumor and proximal tumor-adjacent and tumor-distant tissues in ESCC to potentially reduce tumor recurrence. METHODS: A total of 529 consecutive patients with ESCC from Centers A (n = 447) and B (n = 82) undergoing preoperative CECT were retrospectively enrolled in this study. Radiomics features of the tumor, proximal tumor-adjacent (PTA) and proximal tumor-distant (PTD) tissues were individually extracted by delineating the corresponding region of interest (ROI) on CECT and applying the 3D-Slicer radiomics module. Patients with pairwise tissues (ESCC vs. PTA, ESCC vs. PTD, and PTA vs. PTD) from Center A were randomly assigned to the training cohort (TC, n = 313) and internal validation cohort (IVC, n = 134). Univariate analysis and the least absolute shrinkage and selection operator were used to select the core radiomics features, and logistic regression was performed to develop radiomics models to differentiate individual pairwise tissues in TC, validated in IVC and the external validation cohort (EVC) from Center B. Diagnostic performance was assessed using area under the receiver operating characteristics curve (AUC) and accuracy. RESULTS: With the chosen 20, 19 and 5 core radiomics features in TC, 3 individual radiomics models were developed, which exhibited excellent ability to differentiate the tumor from PTA tissue (AUC: 0.965; accuracy: 0.965), the tumor from PTD tissue (AUC: 0.991; accuracy: 0.958), and PTA from PTD tissue (AUC: 0.870; accuracy: 0.848), respectively. In IVC and EVC, the models also showed good performance in differentiating the tumor from PTA tissue (AUCs: 0.956 and 0.962; accuracy: 0.956 and 0.937), the tumor from PTD tissue (AUCs: 0.990 and 0.974; accuracy: 0.952 and 0.970), and PTA from PTD tissue (AUCs: 0.806 and 0.786; accuracy: 0.760 and 0.786), respectively. CONCLUSION: CECT radiomics models could differentiate the tumor from PTA tissue, the tumor from PTD tissue, and PTA from PTD tissue in ESCC.

Risk factors and glycaemic control in small-for-gestational-age infants born to mothers with gestational diabetes mellitus: a case-control study using propensity score matching based on a large population.

BACKGROUND: Small for gestational age (SGA) poses a significant concern for newborns, being linked to neonatal complications and potential metabolic disorders in adulthood, especially when born to mothers with gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM), elevating their risk of complications and mortality. However, the pregnancy risk factors and glycaemic control associated with SGA infants born to mothers with GDM remain unclear. AIM: To identify the pregnancy risk factors and glycaemic control associated with SGA infants born to mothers with GDM. METHOD: This case-control study was conducted among 1910 women with GDM in China. Data were collected by the integrated electronic medical record system. Using 1:4 propensity score matching analysis, we adjusted for gestational age as confounder. Univariate and multivariate analyses were performed to identify risk factors. RESULTS: Risk factors for SGA born to mothers with GDM included a history of low birth weight, gestational hypertension, oligohydramnios, short maternal height, underweight pre-pregnancy body mass index and inadequate weight growth. While SGA was protected by weakly positive ketonuria levels in the first trimester, multiparous, anaemia and previous uterine scar were protective factors for SGA. Moreover, 2-hour postprandial glucose and haemoglobin A1c in the second trimester, as well as the 0-hour and 2-hour 75 g oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) were linked to risk of SGA. CONCLUSIONS: SGA infants are the result of multifactorial interactions among GDM pregnant women. Notably, glycaemic control levels were associated with SGA. There is a need for enhanced perinatal monitoring and antenatal care to reduce SGA.

Complete degradation of PET waste using a thermophilic microbe-enzyme system.

Enzymatic degradation has been proposed as a suitable solution for addressing PET pollution, but approximately 10 % of PET is left as nonbiodegradable. Microbes can completely degrade PET at the gram level per year. Based on the complementary benefits of microbes and enzymes, a microbe-enzyme system was created to completely degrade PET. Here, a thermophilic microbe-enzyme (TME) system composed of Bacillus thermoamylovorans JQ3 and leaf-branch compost cutinase variant (ICCG) was used to demonstrate the synergistic degradation of PET, enabling 100 % degradation of PET waste at a high PET loading level (360 g/L). Six endogenous PET hydrolases of strain JQ3 were discovered by employing an ester bond hydrolysis function-first genome mining (EGM) strategy and first successfully expressed in E. coli. These hydrolases could release TPA as the final product from PET and preferentially degraded BHET instead of MHET. Of these, carboxylesterase 39_5 and ICCG could degrade PET in a synergistic manner to generate 50 µM of TPA, which was greater than the sum of the individual treatments. Finally, the degradation pathway of the TME system was speculated to include biofilm formation, PET degradation and utilization. The successful implementation of this study rendered a scale-up degradation feasible of PET at a lower cost.

Appropriate timing of treatment contributes to better root development of impacted anterior teeth in children.

INTRODUCTION: This study investigated the effects of different timings of orthodontic treatment on the root development of impacted anterior teeth in children. METHODS: The cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) data of 45 children with impacted anterior teeth were divided into unformed root (UR) group or basically formed root (BFR) group to evaluate root length (RL) and root growth length (RGL) of impacted teeth and contralateral nonimpacted teeth pretreatment and posttreatment. In addition, 22 patients with impacted dilaceration were selected to assess the effects of the crown-root angle and root development stage on RL and RGL. The Student t test, Wilcoxon test, analysis of variance, and multiple linear regression analysis were used for statistical evaluations. RESULTS: The RL of treated impacted teeth pretreatment and posttreatment was significantly shorter than contralateral nonimpacted teeth values (P <0.05). Posttreatment, the RL and RGL of impacted teeth of the UR group were significantly greater than those of the BFR group (P <0.05). The RGL of the dilacerated root in the UR group was considerably higher than in the BFR group (P <0.05). The larger crown-root angle group had a longer posttreatment RL (P <0.05). Multiple linear regression analysis revealed that the Nolla stage of impacted teeth and RL of contralateral teeth pretreatment significantly influenced the RL of impacted teeth posttreatment. CONCLUSIONS: Prompt orthodontic treatment is necessary for children with impacted anterior teeth to release the impacted state and achieve better root development. The root length of a dilacerated tooth continued to develop under treatment, but the crown-root angle partly constrained it.

An overview of microplastic pollution in the environment over the megacity of Shanghai during 2013-2022.

Microplastics (MPs) are emerging pollutants that have been globally found in the environment, and have become a focus of intensive management for the Shanghai government in China. Although there are several studies reporting the abundance of microplastics (MPs) in different matrices in Shanghai city, the general data are still limited. This work comprehensively reviews microplastic (MP) pollution in the water, sediment, atmosphere, and soil of Shanghai during 2013-2022. A summary of characteristics such as the abundance, shape, and polymer composition of MPs is presented. Additionally, the pollution trends, traceability, and ecological risks of MPs are analyzed and evaluated. Based on the analytical results, we find that the inland water in Shanghai city is the most contaminated with the highest abundance of MPs at 14.76 × 103 particles/m3 on average, while the abundances of MPs in the external water, inland sediment, external sediment, indoor atmosphere, outdoor atmosphere, inland soil, and external soil are 2.78 × 103 particles/m3, 0.80 × 103 particles/kg, 1.37 × 103 particles/kg, 0.03 × 103 particles/m3, 0.08 × 103 particles/m3, 0.27 × 103 particles/kg, and 0.18 × 103 particles/kg, respectively. Polyethylene and polypropylene are the top two detected polymer compositions of MPs. Results of ecological risk assessment using risk index and pollution load index models indicate that the risks of MPs in the water and sediment of the Yangtze Estuary are high. It is noteworthy that the abundances of MPs at the junction site of Suzhou Creek and the Huangpu River as well as in the Yangtze Estuary exhibited an increasing trend between 2017 and 2019. This work contributes to a comprehensive overview of MPs in the environment of Shanghai city during 2013-2022 and provides important data for local governments to develop urgent strategies for the management of MP pollution. However, more investigations are increasingly needed for better understand the production, migration, ecological risk, and management of MPs in the environment of Shanghai city.

Enzymatic treatment to improve permeability and quality of cherry tomatoes for production of dried products.

BACKGROUND: Cherry tomatoes are nutritious and favored by consumers. Processing them into dried cherry tomatoes can prolong their storage life and improve their flavor. The pretreatment of tomato pericarp is crucial for the subsequent processing. However, the traditional physical and chemical treatments of tomato pericarp generally cause nutrient loss and environmental pollution. RESULTS: In this study, a novel enzymatic method for cherry tomatoes was performed using mixed enzymes containing cutinase, cellulase and pectinase. Results showed that the pericarp permeability of cherry tomatoes was effectively improved due to enzymatic treatment. Changes in the microscopic structure and composition of the cuticle were revealed. After treatment with different concentrations of enzymes, cherry tomatoes exhibited higher pericarp permeability and sensory quality to varying degrees. The lycopene content and total polyphenol content significantly increased 2.4- and 1.45-fold, respectively. In addition, the satisfactory effect of the six-time reuse of enzymes on cherry tomatoes could still reach the same level as the initial effect, which effectively reduced the cost of production. CONCLUSIONS: This study revealed for the first time that a mixed enzymatic treatment consisting of cutinase, pectinase and cellulase could effectively degrade the cuticle, enhance the pericarp permeability and improve the quality of cherry tomatoes, with the advantages of being mildly controllable and environmentally friendly, providing a new strategy for the processing of dried cherry tomatoes. © 2023 Society of Chemical Industry.

Improving Transferability of Universal Adversarial Perturbation With Feature Disruption.

Deep neural networks (DNNs) are shown to be vulnerable to universal adversarial perturbations (UAP), a single quasi-imperceptible perturbation that deceives the DNNs on most input images. The current UAP methods can be divided into data-dependent and data-independent methods. The former exhibits weak transferability in black-box models due to overly relying on model-specific features. The latter shows inferior attack performance in white-box models as it fails to exploit the model's response information to benign images. To address the above issues, this paper proposes a novel universal adversarial attack to generate UAP with strong transferability by disrupting the model-agnostic features (e.g., edges or simple texture), which are invariant to the models. Specifically, we first devise an objective function to weaken the significant channel-wise features and strengthen the less significant channel-wise features, which are partitioned by the designed strategy. Furthermore, the proposed objective function eliminates the dependency on labeled samples, allowing us to utilize out-of-distribution (OOD) data to train UAP. To enhance the attack performance with limited training samples, we exploit the average gradient of the mini-batch input to update the UAP iteratively, which encourages the UAP to capture the local information inside the mini-batch input. In addition, we introduce the momentum term to accumulate the gradient information at each iterative step for the purpose of perceiving the global information over the training set. Finally, extensive experimental results demonstrate that the proposed methods outperform the existing UAP approaches. Additionally, we exhaustively investigate the transferability of the UAP across models, datasets, and tasks.

Adenosine Triphosphate-Activated Cascade Reactor for On-Demand Antibacterial Treatment Through Controlled Hydroxyl Radical Generation.

Nanozymes have shown promise for antibacterial applications, but their effectiveness is often hindered by low catalytic performances in physiological conditions and uncontrolled production of hydroxyl radicals (·OH). To address these limitations, a comprehensive approach is presented through the development of an adenosine triphosphate (ATP)-activated cascade reactor (GGPcs). The GGPcs reactor synergistically combines the distinct properties of zeolitic imidazolate framework-8 (ZIF-8) and chitosan-integrated hydrogel microsphere. The ZIF-8 allows for the encapsulation of G-quadruplex/hemin DNAzyme to achieve ATP-responsive ·OH generation at neutral pH, while the hydrogel microsphere creates a confinement environment that facilitates glucose oxidation and provides a sufficient supply of H2 O2 . Importantly, the integrated chitosan in the hydrogel microsphere shields ZIF-8 from undesired disruption caused by gluconic acid, ensuring the responsive specificity of ZIF-8 toward ATP. By activating GGPcs with ATP secreted by bacteria, its effectiveness as an antibacterial agent is demonstrated for the on-demand treatment of bacterial infection with minimal side effects. This comprehensive approach has the potential to facilitate the design of advanced nanozyme systems and broaden their biological applications.

CircMIRLET7BHG, upregulated in an m6A-dependent manner, induces the nasal epithelial barrier dysfunction in allergic rhinitis pathogenesis.

OBJECTIVE: Allergic rhinitis (AR) remains a frequent aspiratory allergic inflammatory disorder with a high incidence. Circular RNAs (circRNAs) have been revealed to participate in the pathogenesis of AR. This study investigated the biological function of circMIRLET7BHG (hsa_circ_0008668) in AR progression. METHODS: Ovalbumin (OVA)-exposed human nasal epithelial cell line (HNEpC) and mice were adopted as the in vitro and in vivo models of AR. Immunofluorescence staining was used to determine epithelial tight junction protein expression. Target molecule levels were assessed by RT-qPCR and Western blotting. Localization of circMIRLET7BHG and IGF2BP1 was observed by RNA-FISH and immunofluorescence. Epithelial barrier damage was determined by transepithelial electrical resistance and fluorescein isothiocyanate-dextran (FD4) permeability. Serum concentrations of IgE, sIgE, IFN-γ, IL-4, and IL-5 were detected by ELISA. Apoptosis, pathological changes, and eosinophil infiltration in nasal mucosa tissues were evaluated by TUNEL, H&E, and Sirius red staining, respectively. Molecular mechanism was analyzed by RNA pull-down, RIP, and MeRIP assays. RESULTS: An increased expression of circMIRLET7BHG was found in AR patients and experimental models. Down-regulation of circMIRLET7BHG attenuated OVA-induced allergic symptoms via relieving epithelial thicknesses, eosinophil infiltration, apoptosis, and inflammatory response in mice. Subsequently, circMIRLET7BHG deficiency prevented OVA-induced epithelial barrier dysfunction by reducing epithelial permeability, and inhibiting tight junction proteins. Mechanistically, methyltransferase-like 3 (METTL3) enhanced circMIRLET7BHG expression via m6A methylation, which enhanced ADAM10 mRNA stability via interaction with IGF2BP1. CONCLUSION: METTL3-mediated m6A modification increased circMIRLET7BHG expression that consequently raised ADAM10 mRNA stability via interplay with IGF2BP1, thereby promoting AR by inducing epithelial barrier dysfunction.

From basic to clinical: Anatomy of Denonvilliers' fascia and its application in laparoscopic radical resection of rectal cancer.

The total mesorectal excision (TME) approach has been established as the gold standard for the surgical treatment of middle and lower rectal cancer. This approach is widely accepted to minimize the risk of local recurrence and increase the long-term survival rate of patients undergoing surgery. However, standardized TME causes urogenital dysfunction in more than half of patients, thus lowering the quality of life of patients. Of note, pelvic autonomic nerve damage during TME is the most pivotal cause of postoperative urogenital dysfunction. The anatomy of the Denonvilliers' fascia (DVF) and its application in surgery have been investigated both nationally and internationally. Nevertheless, controversy exists regarding the basic to clinical anatomy of DVF and its application in surgery. Currently, it is a hotspot of concern and research to improve the postoperative quality of life of patients with rectal cancer through the protection of their urinary and reproductive functions after radical resection. Herein, this study systematically describes the anatomy of DVF and its application in surgery, thus providing a reference for the selection of surgical treatment modalities and the enhancement of postoperative quality of life in patients with middle and low rectal cancer.