A highly-sensitive electrochemical sensor based on Ni nanoparticles modified carbon nanotubes/sulfonated reduced graphene oxide for the detection of capsaicinoids in leisure sauced meat products.

Unclear labeling of spiciness degrees on leisure sauced meat products is prone to resulting in customer complaints and commercial disputes. The content of capsaicinoids is the basis for evaluating the spiciness of food. In this work, an electrochemical sensor based on nickel nanoparticles modified carbon nanotubes (Ni-CNTs) and sulfonated reduced graphene oxide (S-rGO) was developed for the rapid detection of capsaicinoids content in leisure sauced meat products. The linear ranges of capsaicins are 0.01-100 µmol/L with ultra-low detection limits of 1 nmol/L. The outstanding performances are primarily due to the synergistic effect between Ni-CNTs and S-rGO. This effect not only created a three-dimensional stacked structure that improved the electrochemically active surface area, but also generated an internal electric field that improved the charge transfer rate. This work provides a basis for standardized evaluation of spiciness.

Host genetics and larval host plant modulate microbiome structure and evolution underlying the intimate insect-microbe-plant interactions in Parnassius species on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau.

Insects harbor a remarkable diversity of gut microbiomes critical for host survival, health, and fitness, but the mechanism of this structured symbiotic community remains poorly known, especially for the insect group consisting of many closely related species that inhabit the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau. Here, we firstly analyzed population-level 16S rRNA microbial dataset, comprising 11 Parnassius species covering 5 subgenera, from 14 populations mostly sampled in mountainous regions across northwestern-to-southeastern China, and meanwhile clarified the relative importance of multiple factors on gut microbial community structure and evolution. Our findings indicated that both host genetics and larval host plant modulated gut microbial diversity and community structure. Moreover, the effect analysis of host genetics and larval diet on gut microbiomes showed that host genetics played a critical role in governing the gut microbial beta diversity and the symbiotic community structure, while larval host plant remarkably influenced the functional evolution of gut microbiomes. These findings of the intimate insect-microbe-plant interactions jointly provide some new insights into the correlation among the host genetic background, larval host plant, the structure and evolution of gut microbiome, as well as the mechanisms of high-altitude adaptation in closely related species of this alpine butterfly group.

Identification and validation of cuproptosis and disulfidptosis related genes in colorectal cancer.

Colorectal cancer, the third most prevalent malignant cancer, is associated with poor prognosis. Recent studies have investigated the mechanisms underlying cuproptosis and disulfidptosis in colorectal cancer. However, whether genes linked to these processes impact the prognosis of colorectal cancer patients through analogous mechanisms remains unclear. In this study, we developed a model of cuproptosis and disulfidptosis in colorectal cancer and concurrently explored the role of the pivotal model gene HSPA8 in colorectal cancer cell lines. Our results revealed a positive correlation between cuproptosis and disulfidptosis, both of which are emerging as protective factors for the prognosis of CRC patients. Consequently, a prognostic model encompassing HSPA8, PDCL3, CBX3, ATP6V1G1, TAF1D, RPL4, and RPL14 was constructed. Notably, the key gene in our model, HSPA8, exhibited heightened expression and was validated as a protective prognostic factor in colorectal cancer, exerting inhibitory effects on colorectal cancer cell proliferation. This study offers novel insights into the interplay between cuproptosis and disulfidptosis. The application of the prognostic model holds promise for more effectively predicting the overall survival of colorectal cancer patients.

[Impact of different angles of pulmonary surfactant administration on bronchopulmonaryplasia and intracranial hemorrhage in preterm infants: a prospective randomized controlled study]. / ä¸åŒè§’åº¦æ³¨å ¥è‚ºè¡¨é¢æ´»æ€§ç‰©è´¨å¯¹æ—©äº§å„¿æ”¯æ°”ç®¡è‚ºå‘è‚²ä¸è‰¯å’Œé¢ å† å‡ºè¡€çš„å½±å“ï¼šä¸€é¡¹å‰çž»æ€§éšæœºå¯¹ç §ç ”ç©¶.

OBJECTIVES: To investigate the effects of different angles of pulmonary surfactant (PS) administration on the incidence of bronchopulmonary dysplasia and intracranial hemorrhage in preterm infants. METHODS: A prospective study was conducted on 146 preterm infants (gestational age <32 weeks) admitted to the Department of Neonatology, Provincial Hospital Affiliated to Anhui Medical University from January 2019 to May 2023. The infants were randomly assigned to different angles for injection of pulmonary surfactant groups: 0° group (34 cases), 30° group (36 cases), 45° group (38 cases), and 60° group (38 cases). Clinical indicators and outcomes were compared among the groups. RESULTS: The oxygenation index was lower in the 60° group compared with the other three groups, with shorter invasive ventilation time and oxygen use time, and a lower incidence of bronchopulmonary dysplasia than the other three groups (P<0.05). The incidence of intracranial hemorrhage was lower in the 60° group compared to the 0° group (P<0.05). The cure rate in the 60° group was higher than that in the 0° group and the 30° group (P<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: The clinical efficacy of injection of pulmonary surfactant at a 60° angle is higher than other angles, reducing the incidence of intracranial hemorrhage and bronchopulmonary dysplasia in preterm infants.

Iguratimod prevents renal fibrosis in unilateral ureteral obstruction model mice by suppressing M2 macrophage infiltration and macrophage-myofibroblast transition.

Iguratimod is a novel synthetic, small-molecule immunosuppressive agent used to treat rheumatoid arthritis. Through ongoing exploration of its role and mechanisms of action, iguratimod has been observed to have antifibrotic effects in the lung and skin; however, its effect on renal fibrosis remains unknown. This study aimed to investigate whether iguratimod could affect renal fibrosis progression. Three different concentrations of iguratimod (30 mg/kg/day, 10 mg/kg/day, and 3 mg/kg/day) were used to intervene in unilateral ureteral obstruction (UUO) model mice. Iguratimod at 10 mg/kg/day was observed to be effective in slowing UUO-mediated renal fibrosis. In addition, stimulating bone marrow-derived macrophages with IL-4 and/or iguratimod, or with TGF-ß and iguratimod or SRC inhibitors in vitro, suggested that iguratimod mitigates the progression of renal fibrosis in UUO mice, at least in part, by inhibiting the IL-4/STAT6 signaling pathway to attenuate renal M2 macrophage infiltration, as well as by impeding SRC activation to reduce macrophage-myofibroblast transition. These findings reveal the potential of iguratimod as a treatment for renal disease.

Stability and Assembly Mechanisms of Butterfly Communities across Environmental Gradients of a Subtropical Mountain.

Mountain ecosystems harbor evolutionarily unique and exceptionally rich biodiversity, particularly in insects. In this study, we characterized the diversity, community stability, and assembly mechanisms of butterflies on a subtropical mountain in the Chebaling National Nature Reserve, Guangdong Province, China, using grid-based monitoring across the entire region for two years. The results showed that species richness, abundance, and Faith's phylogenetic diversity decreased with increasing elevation; taxonomic diversity played a considerable role in mediating the effects of environmental changes on stability. Moreover, our results showed that stochastic processes are dominant in governing the assembly of butterfly communities across all elevational gradients, with habitats at an elevation of 416-580 m subjected to the strongest stochastic processes, whereas heterogeneous selection processes displayed stronger effects on the assembly of butterfly communities at 744-908 m, 580-744 m, and 908-1072 m, with abiotic factors inferred as the main driving forces. In addition, significant differences were detected between the barcode tree and the placement tree for the calculated ß-NTI values at 416-580 m. Overall, this study provides new insights into the effects of environmental change on the stability and assembly of butterflies in Chebaling, which will be beneficial for biodiversity conservation and policy development.

The Long Noncoding RNA Gall Bladder Cancer-Associated Suppressor of Pyruvate Carboxylase Inhibits the Proliferation, Migration, and Invasion of Colorectal Cancer Cells and Induces Their Apoptosis.

This study aimed to determine the role of the long noncoding RNA (lncRNA) gall bladder cancer-associated suppressor of pyruvate carboxylase (SOD2-1) in the progression of colorectal cancer (CRC). A total of 23 pairs of specimens, including CRC tissues and adjacent normal tissues, were collected, and the expression of lncRNA SOD2-1 (lnc-SOD2-1) was measured. lnc-SOD2-1 function was examined using HCT15 and HCT116 cells. A lnc-SOD2-1 overexpression vector was designed and transfected into both cell lines. MTS and colony formation assays were used to determine cell viability. Flow cytometry and terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated dUTP-biotin nick end-labeling assays were performed to measure apoptosis. Cell migration and invasion were evaluated using the Transwell assay. Migration and invasion markers were validated using quantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction and western blot analysis. The results indicated that the expression of lnc-SOD2-1 was downregulated in CRC tissues. lnc-SOD2-1 overexpression evidently decreased cell viability and led to the formation of fewer cell colonies. lnc-SOD2-1 overexpression induced ~ twofold higher apoptosis than the control group. lnc-SOD2-1 overexpression reduced the proportion of migratory and invasive cells to 50% and 75% of the control group, respectively. lnc-SOD2-1 overexpression significantly decreased the expression of matrix metalloproteinase-2 and -9. In conclusion, lnc-SOD2-1 may act as a tumor suppressor that inhibits the proliferation, migration, and invasion of CRC cells and induces their apoptosis.

Olink proteomics analysis uncovers inflammatory proteins in patients with different states of bipolar disorder.

STUDY DESIGN: A prospective study. BACKGROUND: This study aims to investigate the relationship between different states of bipolar disorder (BD) and plasma inflammatory proteins, which may be used as their biomarkers. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We totally collected admission plasma from 16 healthy subjects and 32 BD patients, including 16 patients with BD manic episodes (BD-M) and 16 patients with BD depressive episodes (BD-D). Ten samples in each group were analyzed by proximity extension assays of 92 inflammation-related proteins, and all samples were verified by ELISA. Receiver-operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis was performed to identify the diagnostic ability and cut-off values of potential biomarkers. RESULTS: Our findings showed that BD patients had significantly higher levels of IL6, MCP-1, TGF-α, IL8, and IL10-RB in comparison with healthy subjects, and their cut-off values were 0.531 pg/ml, 0.531 pg/ml, 0.469 pg/ml, 0.406 pg/ml, and 0.406 pg/ml, respectively. The levels of IL6, MCP-1, TGF-α, and IL8 in BD-M patients were significantly greater than in healthy individuals, and their cut-off values were 0.813 pg/ml, 0.688 pg/ml, 0.438 pg/ml, and 0.625 pg/ml, respectively. Moreover, we found cut-off values of 0.500 pg/mL and 0.688 ng/mL for TGF-α and ß-NGF, respectively, even though the levels in the BD-D group were much higher than in the control group. Furthermore, BD-M patients had significantly higher levels of IL6, FGF-19, IFN-γ, and IL-17C in comparison with BD-D patients. Likewise, 0.687 pg/ml, 0.500 pg/ml, 0.438 pg/ml, and 0.375 pg/ml were their cut-off values, respectively. Our findings also showed that the combination of these proteins had the highest diagnostic accuracy. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings showed that plasma inflammatory proteins were related to BD and its subtypes, which may be utilized as potential biomarkers of different stages of BD. Furthermore, we also found their cut-off values and their combinations to have the highest diagnostic accuracy, providing clinicians with a new method to rapidly differentiate BD and its subtypes and manage early targeted interventions.

Exploration of markers in oxidized rancidity walnut kernels based on lipidomics and volatolomics.

Walnut kernels are prone to oxidation and rancidity due to their rich lipid composition, but the existing evaluation indicators are not sensitive enough to promote their industrial development. This study aims to investigate the potential markers in oxidative rancidity walnut kernels using lipidomics and volatolomics. The results showed that the antioxidant capacity of walnut kernels significantly decreased after oxidation, with the decreasing of total phenolic content from 36276.34 mg GAE/kg to 31281.53 mg GAE/kg, the DPPH and ABTS free radical scavenging activity from 89.25% to 73.54%, and 61.69% to 43.73%, respectively. The activities of lipoxygenase (LOX) and lipase (LPS) increased by 6.08-fold and 0.33-fold, respectively. By combining volatolomics and chemometrics methods, it was found that significant differences existed in the content of hexanal, caproic acid, 1-pentanol, (E)-2-octenal, and 2-heptanenal before and after walnut kernel oxidation (VIP > 1). Based on the results of lipidomics, it can be concluded that the above five compounds can serve as characteristic markers for walnut kernel oxidative rancidity, mainly produced through glycerol phospholipid (GPL), glyceride, linoleic acid (LA), and α-linolenic acid (ALA) metabolism pathways. Possible mechanisms of lipid degradation in oxidized walnut kernels were also proposed, providing technical support for the storage, preservation, and high-value utilization of walnut kernels.

Highly Thermally Conductive Triple-Level Ordered CNT/PVA Nanofibrous Films.

The escalating thermal power density in electronic devices necessitates advanced thermal management technologies. Polymer-based materials, prized for their electrical insulation, flexibility, light weight, and strength, are extensively used in this field. However, the inherent low thermal conductivity of polymers requires enhancement for effective heat dissipation. This work proposes a novel paradigm, emphasizing ordered structures with functional units, to create triple-level, ordered, low-filler loading of multi-walled carbon nanotube (MWCNT)/poly(vinyl alcohol)(PVA) nanofibrous films. By addressing interfacial thermal resistance through -OH groups, the coupling between polymer and MWCNT is strengthened. The triple-level ordered structure comprises aligned PVA chains, aligned MWCNTs, and aligned MWCNT/PVA composite fibers. Focusing on the filler's impact on thermal conductivity and chain orientation, the thermal transport mechanisms have been elucidated level by level. Our MWCNT/PVA composite, with lower filler loadings (10 wt.%), achieves a remarkable TC exceeding 35.4 W/(m·K), surpassing other PVA composites with filler loading below 50 wt.%.

Heterologous Expression and Characterization of a Novel Mesophilic Maltogenic α-Amylase AmyFlA from Flavobacterium sp. NAU1659.

A novel amylase AmyFlA from Flavobacterium sp. NAU1659, AmyFlA, was cloned and expressed in Esherichia coli. Based on phylogenetic and functional analysis, it was identified as a novel member of the subfamily GH13_46, sharing high sequence identity. The protein was predicted to consist of 620 amino acids, with a putative signal peptide of 25 amino acids. The enzyme was able to hydrolyze soluble starch with a specific activity of 352.97 U/mg at 50 °C in 50 mM phosphate buffer (pH 6.0). The Km and Vmax values of AmyFlA were respectively 3.15 mg/ml and 566.36 µmol·ml-1·min-1 under optimal conditions. Its activity towards starch was enhanced by 63% in the presence of 1 mM Ca2+, indicating that AmyFlA was a Ca2+-dependent amylase. Compared to the reported maltogenic amylases, AmyFlA produced a lower variety of intermediate oligosaccharides at the start of the reaction so that the product mixture contained a higher proportion of maltose. These results indicate that AmyFlA may be potential application value in the production of high-maltose syrup.

Biological characteristics of mechanosensitive channels MscS and MscL in Actinobacillus pleuropneumoniae.

Actinobacillus pleuropneumoniae is an important respiratory pathogen that can cause porcine contagious pleuropneumonia (PCP), resulting in significant economic losses in swine industry. Microorganisms are subjected to drastic changes in environmental osmolarity. In order to alleviate the drastic rise or fall of osmolarity, cells activate mechanosensitive channels MscL and MscS through tension changes. MscL not only regulates osmotic pressure but also has been reported to secrete protein and uptake aminoglycoside antibiotic. However, MscL and MscS, as the most common mechanosensitive channels, have not been characterized in A. pleuropneumoniae. In this study, the osmotic shock assay showed that MscL increased sodium adaptation by regulating cell length. The results of MIC showed that deletion of mscL decreased the sensitivity of A. pleuropneumoniae to multiple antibiotics, while deletion of mscS rendered A. pleuropneumoniae hypersensitive to penicillin. Biofilm assay demonstrated that MscL contributed the biofilm formation but MscS did not. The results of animal assay showed that MscL and MscS did not affect virulence in vivo. In conclusion, MscL is essential for sodium hyperosmotic tolerance, biofilm formation, and resistance to chloramphenicol, erythromycin, penicillin, and oxacillin. On the other hand, MscS is only involved in oxacillin resistance.IMPORTANCEBacterial resistance to the external environment is a critical function that ensures the normal growth of bacteria. MscL and MscS play crucial roles in responding to changes in both external and internal environments. However, the function of MscL and MscS in Actinobacillus pleuropneumoniae has not yet been reported. Our study shows that MscL plays a significant role in osmotic adaptation, antibiotic resistance, and biofilm formation of A. pleuropneumoniae, while MscS only plays a role in antibiotic resistance. Our findings provide new insights into the functional characteristics of MscL and MscS in A. pleuropneumoniae. MscL and MscS play a role in antibiotic resistance and contribute to the development of antibiotics for A. pleuropneumoniae.

Characterization of size-resolved effective density of atmospheric particles in an urban atmosphere in Southern China.

Effective density (ρeff) is one of the most important physical properties of atmospheric particles, providing important references in exploring the emissions and aging processes of fresh particles. In this study, a combined system of differential mobility analyzer, centrifugal particle mass analyzer, and condensation particle counter was used to periodically measure the ρeff of atmospheric particles in Shenzhen from Oct. 2021 to Jan. 2022. Results showed that the ρeff of particles with various size presented a bimodal distribution, which could be divided into main density (ρm, main peak, corresponding to relatively dense particles after aging) and sub density (ρs, sub peak, corresponding to fresh particles). The occurrence frequencies of ρs of particles with diameters of 50 and 80 nm were less than 20%, but were as high as about 40% of that with diameters from 120 to 350 nm. The ρm showed increasing trend with the size of particles, while ρs decreased as the increasing of the size of particles. The ρeff on pollution day varied significantly with chemical compositions. The increasing of the proportion of sulfate could promote the increasing of ρeff, while black carbon and organic matter caused opposite effects, which may be related to various factors, including the difference of the material density and morphology of various chemical components. The ρeff of 50, 80 and 120 nm particles decreased considerably during the new particle formation event, indicating that organic condensation was an important contributor to new particle growth.

Evaluation of supercritical fluid chromatography coupled to tandem mass spectrometry for the analysis of pesticide residues in grain.

A supercritical fluid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (SFC-MS/MS) technique was developed for the rapid and simultaneous detection of nine pesticides (carbendazim, isoprocarb, paclobutrazol, isoprothiolane, flusilazole, quinalphos, piperonylbutoxide, propargite, and bioresmethrin) in rice, wheat, and maize. The cereal samples were extracted with a solution of 0.5% acetic acid in acetonitrile and purified using quick, easy, cheap, effective, rugged, and safe method. The samples were characterized using multi-reaction monitoring and quantified with the external standard method. Excellent linearities (R2  > 0.9991) and limits of quantification (0.4-40.0 µg/kg) were established for all nine pesticides. Satisfactory pesticide recovery rates (62.2%-107.4%) were obtained at three standard concentrations (50, 100, and 200 µg/kg), with relative standard deviations in the range of 2.1%-14.3%. The results confirmed that the proposed method was suitable for the routine detection of these pesticides in grain samples. Compared with high-performance liquid chromatography-MS/MS, the overall test run time and the amount of solvent required were reduced by 66% and 90%, respectively, when SFC-MS/MS was applied. Therefore, the use of SFC-MS/MS permits a shorter run time and affords greater analytical efficiency, such that it is both economical and environmentally sustainable.

A study on identifying synergistic prevention and control regions for PM2.5 and O3 and exploring their spatiotemporal dynamic in China.

Air pollutants, notably ozone (O3) and fine particulate matter (PM2.5) give rise to evident adverse impacts on public health and the ecotope, prompting extensive global apprehension. Though PM2.5 has been effectively mitigated in China, O3 has been emerging as a primary pollutant, especially in summer. Currently, alleviating PM2.5 and O3 synergistically faces huge challenges. The synergistic prevention and control (SPC) regions of PM2.5 and O3 and their spatiotemporal patterns were still unclear. To address the above issues, this study utilized ground monitoring station data, meteorological data, and auxiliary data to predict the China High-Resolution O3 Dataset (CHROD) via a two-stage model. Furthermore, SPC regions were identified based on a spatial overlay analysis using a Geographic Information System (GIS). The standard deviation ellipse was employed to investigate the spatiotemporal dynamic characteristics of SPC regions. Some outcomes were obtained. The two-stage model significantly improved the accuracy of O3 concentration prediction with acceptable R2 (0.86), and our CHROD presented higher spatiotemporal resolution compared with existing products. SPC regions exhibited significant spatiotemporal variations during the Blue Sky Protection Campaign (BSPC) in China. SPC regions were dominant in spring and autumn, and O3-controlled and PM2.5-dominated zones were detected in summer and winter, respectively. SPC regions were primarily located in the northwest, north, east, and central regions of China, specifically in the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei urban agglomeration (BTH), Shanxi, Shaanxi, Shandong, Henan, Jiangsu, Xinjiang, and Anhui provinces. The gravity center of SPC regions was distributed in the BTH in winter, and in Xinjiang during spring, summer, and autumn. This study can supply scientific references for the collaborative management of PM2.5 and O3.

Wood aerogels decorated amino-functionalized MIL-101(Cr) as efficient filter for multistage purification of wastewater.

Exploring novel water purifier to efficiently remove heavy metal ions from the wastewater is of vital importance. Inspired by the hierarchical structure of natural wood and the chelation of amino group, a high-efficiency water purifier with ethylenediamine functionalized MIL-101(Cr) octahedrons anchored on the wood aerogel (MIL-101(Cr)-ED/WA) was constructed. Benefiting from the two-pronged approach with the hierarchical structure of the wood aerogel frame for multistage filtration and the -NH2 that capable of chelation with metal ions, the fabricated MIL-101(Cr)-ED/WA exhibits excellent water purification performances, and its adsorption capacity of toxic Pb2+ ions could reach up to 6.46 mmol g-1. Furthermore, it demonstrates superior recyclability without secondary pollution and is also suitable for simultaneous treatment of multiple metal species. In general, this work will broaden the utilization of wood-based structural engineering materials in the treatment of heavy metal wastewater.

Early childhood SARS experience leads to long-lasting impacts on adulthood mental health in China.

The association between pandemic experience and immediate mental health risks, such as depression, is well-documented, yet the long-term effects remain unclear. This study examines the impact of early childhood exposure to the 2003 SARS pandemic on adulthood mental health after 17 years in China, using data from the 2020 China Family Panel Studies (CFPS). The analysis included 6289 participants, aged 3 to 30 years during the SARS outbreak, with an average age of 35.3 years at the time of survey. Adulthood mental health was assessed using Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale (CESD) and an indicator of clinical depression. The severity of local SARS outbreaks was assessed by cumulative cases per 10,000 population. Results show that each additional case per 10,000 population was linked to a 1.617-fold (95% confidence interval (CI): 1.425-1.836) increase in odds of depression after 17 years for younger children (aged 3-12 years in 2003) relative to older cohorts (aged 13-30). This risk was higher in children from rural areas (adjusted odds ratio (aOR) 3.64; 95% CI 2.92-4.55), with poor physical health (1.98; 1.59-2.48), and from low-income families (2.87; 2.03-4.05). The childhood pandemic experience elevated the probability of developing depression-prone personality traits, which contributes to the enduring impact of childhood pandemic experiences on adulthood mental health. These findings highlight the long-lasting psychological impact of early-childhood pandemic exposure, underscoring the need for targeted interventions to mitigate its effects on the younger generation and emphasizing the importance of monitoring long-term mental health and personality development in children post-pandemics, particularly in light of COVID-19.

Circular RNA circIGF2BP3 Promotes the Proliferation and Differentiation of Chicken Primary Myoblasts.

The quality and quantity of animal meat are closely related to the development of skeletal muscle, which, in turn, is determined by myogenic cells, including myoblasts and skeletal muscle satellite cells (SMSCs). Circular RNA, an endogenous RNA derivative formed through specific reverse splicing in mRNA precursors, has the potential to influence muscle development by binding to miRNAs or regulating gene expression involved in muscular growth at the transcriptional level. Previous high-throughput sequencing of circRNA in chicken liver tissue revealed a circular transcript, circIGF2BP3, derived from the gene encoding insulin-like growth factor 2 mRNA binding protein 3 (IGF2BP3). In this study, we confirmed the presence of the natural circular molecule of circIGF2BP3 through an RNase R enzyme tolerance assay. RT-qPCR results showed high circIGF2BP3 expression in the pectoral and thigh muscles of Yuexi frizzled feather chickens at embryonic ages 14 and 18, as well as at 7 weeks post-hatch. Notably, its expression increased during embryonic development, followed by a rapid decrease after birth. As well as using RT-qPCR, Edu, CCK-8, immunofluorescence, and Western blot techniques, we demonstrated that overexpressing circIGF2BP3 could promote the proliferation and differentiation of chicken primary myoblasts through upregulating genes such as proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA), cyclin D1 (CCND1), cyclin E1 (CCNE1), cyclin dependent kinase 2 (CDK2), myosin heavy chain (MyHC), myoblast-determining 1 (MyoD1), myogenin (MyoG), and Myomaker. In conclusion, circIGF2BP3 promotes the proliferation and differentiation of myoblasts in chickens. This study establishes a foundation for further investigation into the biological functions and mechanisms of circIGF2BP3 in myoblasts proliferation and differentiation.

Physicochemical Characterization and Oxidative Potential of Iron-Containing Particles Emitted from Xuanwei Coal Combustion.

Respiratory diseases have been proven to be directly related to air pollutants. Xuanwei, located in South China, has been known to have the highest mortality rate for lung cancer in China because of the air pollutants emitted through local coal combustion. However, the mechanism of lung cancer induced by air pollutants is not clear. Based on the fact that a large number of iron-bearing mineral particles was found in Xuanwei coal combustion particles, the iron-containing particles were hypothesized to play important roles in the pathogenesis of the high incidence rate of lung cancer in this area. In this study, raw coal samples were collected from a coal mine in the Xuanwei area. Size-resolved particles emitted from the raw coal samples were collected using an Anderson high-volume sampler. Mineralogical characterization and an assessment of the oxidative potential of the iron-containing particles were conducted using cutting-edge technologies, and the biological activity of the particles were evaluated via DTT assay. Our data showed that the iron-containing minerals accounted for more than 10% of the measured particles emitted from Xuanwei coal combustion samples. The content analysis of ·OH generated from Xuanwei coal combustion particles showed that ·OH content was dependent on the size of particles in the surrogated lung fluid. The concentration of ·OH increased as the particle size decreased. The DTT assay data further demonstrated that when the mass concentration of dissolved irons increased, the oxidation potential of the particles increased. The highest proportion of divalent iron in the total dissolved iron was found in the submicron particles in low pH solution(pH = 1), which indicated that the oxidative potential induced by submicron particles was stronger than that induced by coarse particles and fine particles. Armed with the above data, the toxicological mechanism of the iron-containing mineral particles can be investigated further.

[Platelet-rich Plasma Induces M2 Macrophage Polarization via Regulating AMPK Singling Pathway].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the role of platelet-rich plasma (PRP) in inducing the M2 macrophage polarization via regulating AMPK singling pathway. METHODS: The expressions of M1 marker CD11c and M2 marker CD206 in macrophages of blank control group, LPS group, LPS+PRP group, and LPS+PRP+Compound C group were detected by flow cytometry. Western blot was used to observe the effects of PRP on the expression of AMPK-mTOR signaling pathway-related proteins at different times (12 h, 18 h and 24 h) after LPS treatment. RNA interference technology was used to silence the expression of AMPK in macrophages, and the expression of TGF-ß protein was subsequently examined by Western blot. RESULTS: LPS significantly reduced the expression of CD206 and increased the expression of CD11c (P <0.05). After the addition of PRP, the expression of CD206 was significantly increased (P <0.05), while the expression of CD11c was significantly decreased (P <0.05). Compared with LPS group, PRP treatment significantly increased the expressions of p-AMPK and p-ULK1 proteins at 12 h, 18 h and 24 h, while significantly decreased the expression of p-mTOR protein (P <0.05). After the addition of AMPK inhibitor Compound C, the expression of CD206 was significantly reduced (P <0.05) and the expression of CD11c was significantly increased compared with LPS+PRP group (P <0.05). After silencing the expression of AMPK in macrophages, the promotion effect of PRP on TGF-ß was significantly reduced (P <0.05). CONCLUSION: PRP can stimulate the transformation of macrophages to M2 type via AMPK signalling pathway.