Kill two birds with one stone: simultaneous removal of volatile organic compounds and ozone secondary pollution by a novel photocatalytic process.

Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) originating from diverse sources with complex compositions pose threats to both environmental safety and human health. Photocatalytic treatment of VOCs has garnered attention due to its high efficacy at room temperature. However, the intricate photochemical reaction generates ozone (O3), causing secondary pollution. Herein, our work developed a novel "synergistic effect" system for photocatalytic co-treatment of VOCs and O3 secondary pollution. Under the optimized reactor conditions simulated with computational fluid dynamics (CFD), MgO-loaded g-C3N4 composites (MgO/g-C3N4) were synthesized as efficient catalysts for the photocatalytic synergistic treatment process. Density functional theory (DFT) calculations, characterization, and electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) tests revealed that the addition of MgO reduced the band gap of g-C3N4, and increased O3 molecule adsorption in the composites, efficiently harnessing the synergistic effect of O3 to generate a significant quantity of reactive oxygen radicals, thereby facilitating the removal of VOCs and O3. This study provides new insights for simultaneous elimination of VOCs and O3 secondary pollution by a photocatalytic process.

Efficacy and safety evaluation of Ginkgo biloba dropping pill (GBDP) on stable angina pectoris complicated with depression: A placebo-controlled, randomized, double-blind, multicenter study.

BACKGROUND: Stable angina pectoris (SAP) is a clinical condition characterized by reversible and temporary myocardial ischemia and hypoxia. A majority of SAP patients also experience depressive disorders, which adversely affect their disease prognosis and overall quality of life. However, the clinical utility of existing antidepressants is constrained by their side effects. Ginkgo biloba dropping pill (GBDP), a Chinese patented medication, has demonstrated efficacy in the treatment of both coronary heart disease and mental disorders. This prospective, randomized, double-blind, multicenter clinical trial aimed to assess the effectiveness and safety of GBDP as an adjuvant therapy for SAP complicated by depression. METHODS: Participants were randomly assigned in a 1:1 ratio to receive either GBDP or a placebo (5 pills, three times a day) in addition to standard therapy for a duration of 12 weeks. The Seattle Angina Questionnaire (SAQ) was administered every 4 weeks during the treatment, and angina event frequency was assessed weekly. The 36-item Short-Form (SF-36) and Hamilton Depression Scale (HAMD) scores were measured both before and after the treatment. RESULTS: Out of the 72 patients, 68 (n = 34 per group) completed the entire study. At the first visit (4 weeks ± 3 days), the SAQ-Angina Stability score in the GBDP group was significantly higher than that in the placebo group (p < 0.05). While the average weekly frequency of angina episodes in the placebo group notably increased after 12 weeks of treatment (p < 0.05), it displayed an improving trend in the GBDP group (p > 0.05). By the endpoint, each subcategory score of SF-36 in the GBDP group exhibited significant improvement compared to baseline (p < 0.05). The comparison of score improvement between the two groups revealed that the SF-PCS score of the GBDP group was higher than that of the placebo group (p < 0.05). HAMD scores in both groups significantly increased after treatment (p < 0.05). No discernible difference in the incidence of adverse reactions was observed between the two groups (p > 0.05). CONCLUSION: In patients with SAP complicated by depression, GBDP, when combined with standard treatment, rapidly and safely alleviates angina pectoris symptoms. It demonstrates therapeutic potential in enhancing the quality of life and alleviating depressive symptoms.

SPOCK2 modulates neuropathic pain by interacting with MT1-MMP to regulate astrocytic MMP-2 activation in rats with chronic constriction injury.

BACKGROUND: Neuropathic pain (NP) is a kind of intractable pain. The pathogenesis of NP remains a complicated issue for pain management practitioners. SPARC/osteonectin, CWCV, and Kazal-like domains proteoglycan 2 (SPOCK2) are members of the SPOCK family that play a significant role in the development of the central nervous system. In this study, we investigated the role of SPOCK2 in the development of NP in a rat model of chronic constriction injury (CCI). METHODS: Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly grouped to establish CCI models. We examined the effects of SPOCK2 on pain hpersensitivity and spinal astrocyte activation after CCI-induced NP. Paw withdrawal threshold (PWT) and paw withdrawal latency (PWL) were used to reflects the pain behavioral degree. Molecular mechanisms involved in SPOCK2-mediated NP in vivo were examined by western blot analysis, immunofluorescence, immunohistochemistry, and co-immunoprecipitation. In addition, we examined the SPOCK2-mediated potential protein-protein interaction (PPI) in vitro coimmunoprecipitation (Co-IP) experiments. RESULTS: We founded the expression level of SPOCK2 in rat spinal cord was markedly increased after CCI-induced NP, while SPOCK2 downregulation could partially relieve pain caused by CCI. Our research showed that SPOCK2 expressed significantly increase in spinal astrocytes when CCI-induced NP. In addition, SPOCK2 could act as an upstream signaling molecule to regulate the activation of matrix metalloproteinase-2 (MMP-2), thus affecting astrocytic ERK1/2 activation and interleukin (IL)-1ß production in the development of NP. Moreover, in vitro coimmunoprecipitation (Co-IP) experiments showed that SPOCK2 could interact with membrane-type 1 matrix metalloproteinase (MT1-MMP/MMP14) to regulate MMP-2 activation by the SPARC extracellular (SPARC_EC) domain. CONCLUSIONS: Research shows that SPOCK2 can interact with MT1-MMP to regulate MMP-2 activation, thus affecting astrocytic ERK1/2 activation and IL-1ß production to achieve positive promotion of NP.

Extent and Resistance Patterns of Gram-negative Bacteria Isolated From 13 Hospitals in Shaoxing, Zhejiang Province.

Gram-negative bacteria are increasingly recognized as the sauce of severe infections. In recent years, epidemiological data has indicated that the drug resistance rate of Gram-negative bacteria has significantly increased. We analyzed the epidemiological surveillance data of gram-negative bacteria in Shaoxing City in 2021 by retrospectively collecting drug susceptibility data of Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Proteus mirabilis, Enterobacter cloacae, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Acinetobacter baumannii, and Burkholderia cepacian from thirteen tertiary hospitals. A total of 24,142 strains were collected from thirteen hospitals. The isolation rates of E. coli, K. pneumoniae, P. aeruginosa, A. baumannii, P. mirabilis, E. cloacae, and B. cepacian were 29.25%, 18.83%, 11.03%, 8.43%, 3.80%, 3.12%, and 0.75%, respectively. Among them, 2.86% were carbapenem-resistant E. coli, 12.98% were CRKP, 31.27% were CRPA, and 34.77% were CRAB. Carbapenem-resistant Enterobacterales were more sensitive to ceftazidime-avibactam and polymyxin. The drug resistance rates of P. aeruginosa and A. baumannii to polymyxin were 0 and 1.3%, but the resistance rates to ceftazidime-avibactam were 10.5% and 26.0%, respectively. Based on results from epidemiological data, CRKP had a high isolation rate and non-fermenting bacteria had a high resistance rate to ceftazidime-avibactam. All hospitals should strengthen monitoring and enact continuous intervention to reduce the generation and spread of drug-resistant bacteria.

Inverse androgenic alopecia.

A man in his 50s presented to our clinic with obvious progressive hair thinning in the occipital area below the creeping alopecia crown vertex accompanied by the typical Hamilton-Norwood pattern of male androgenetic alopecia (MAGA) hair loss. Based on his clinical features, trichoscopy findings and histological features, as well as his good response to conventional anti-MAGA therapeutic drugs, such as finasteride and minoxidil, a novel isotype of MAGA, named inverse-MAGA, was first identified, and this isotype should be widely evaluated in future studies.

Research progress of the artificial intelligence application in wastewater treatment during 2012-2022: a bibliometric analysis.

This study identified literatures from the Web of Science Core Collection on the application of artificial intelligence in wastewater treatment from 2011 to 2022, through bibliometrics, to summarize achievements and capture the scientific and technological progress. The number of papers published is on the rise, and especially, the number of papers issued after 2018 has increased sharply, with China contributing the most in this regard, followed by the US, Iran and India. The University of Tehran has the largest number of papers, WATER is the most published journal, and Nasr M has the largest number of articles. Collaborative network has been developed mainly through cooperation between European countries, China and the US. Remote sensing in developing countries needs to be further integrated with water quality monitoring programs. It is worth noting that artificial neural network is a research hotspot in recent years. Through keyword clustering analysis, 'machine learning' and 'deep learning' are hot keywords that have emerged since 2019. The use of neural networks for predicting the effectiveness of treatment of difficult to degrade wastewater is a future research trend. The rapid advancement of deep learning provides the opportunity to build automated pipeline defect detection systems through image recognition.

Flow backward alleviated the river algal blooms.

Mechanistic understanding and prediction of river algal blooms remain challenging. It is generally believed that these blooms are formed by the slowdown of water dynamics in tributaries due to the support of the main stream. However, few studies have investigated the impact of flow backward caused by the difference in water dynamics between the main stream and tributaries. Here, we focus on the eutrophication issue in the middle-lower reaches of the Han River, which is affected by the Middle Route of the South-to-North Water Diversion Project (SNWDP), the largest inter-basin water transfer project in Asia. We discover that the reversal of the Yangtze River water level could effectively alleviate the occurrence of Han River water blooms. The Yangtze River frequently back flows into the lower reaches of the Han River, with the probability of such events increasing as it nears the confluence (20 km from the Yangtze: 9.5 %, 10 km: 19.0 %, 8 km: 28.6 %). This flow backward carries nutrients that reduce the nitrogen to phosphorus ration (N:P), leading to a shift in the nutrient structure of the Han River. This change is concomitant with a significant decline in algae biomass (Chlorophyll-a = 11.19 µg·L-1 and algae density = 0.41×107 cells·L-1 under natural flow, Chlorophyll-a = 5.19 µg·L-1 and algae density = 0.18×107 cells·L-1 under flow backward), as well as a weakening of the correlation (R) between diatom density and chlorophyll-a concentration, i.e., R = 0.38 (p>0.05) under flow backward conditions versus R = 0.72 (p<0.01) under natural flow conditions. As phosphorus limitation typically suppresses algae growth, the correlation between diatom density and chlorophyll-a concentration can help to reveal the dominance of diatoms, with stronger correlations indicating greater diatom dominance. Consequently, our study provides evidence that the flow backward can alleviate river algal blooms by weakening the growth advantage of diatoms. This study could prove valuable in investigating the eutrophication mechanism within the complex hydrodynamic conditions of rivers. SYNOPSIS: Flow backward caused by the water level difference between the main streams and tributary alleviated the occurrence of river algal blooms in the confluence area.

Association of carbohydrate intake from different sources with all-cause and cardiovascular mortality among chronic kidney disease populations: assessment of 1999-2018 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey participation.

This study analysed the data from the NHANES (1999-2018) to examine how different sources of carbohydrate intake affected the all-cause and cardiovascular mortality of 11,302 chronic kidney disease (CKD) patients. The data were adjusted for other factors using various methods. The results showed that CKD patients (stages 1-2 and 3-5) who consumed more carbohydrates from whole grains, fruits, vegetables and less carbohydrates from fruit juice or sauces had lower mortality rates. Replacing fat intake with carbohydrates from whole grains (HR = 0.86[0.78-0.95]), fruits (raw) (HR = 0.79[0.70-0.88]) and non-starchy vegetables (HR = 0.82[0.70-0.96]), but not protein intake, was linked to lower all-cause mortality. The fibre content in carbohydrates might partly account for the benefits of selected carbohydrate intake. This study provided practical recommendations for optimising the carbohydrate sources in CKD patients.

Incidence, Predictors, and Strategies for Retrograde Wire Tracking Failure via Poor Septal Collateral Channels in Chronic Total Occlusion.

Background: Retrograde guidewire (GW) tracking success via a poor septal collateral channel (CC) when an antegrade approach fails is crucial for successful revascularization of coronary chronic total occlusion (CTO) with poor septal CC. However, the incidence, predictors, and management strategies for retrograde GW tracking failure via poor septal CC remain unclear. Methods: In total, 122 CTO patients who underwent retrograde septal percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) with poor CC between January 2017 and May 2022 were retrospectively analyzed. Patients were divided into the retrograde GW tracking success group (success group) and the retrograde GW tracking failure group (failure group). Clinical and angiographic data were compared to investigate the predictors of retrograde GW tracking failure. Results: The incidence of GW tracking failure was 22.1% (27/122). Patients in the failure group had a higher prevalence of left anterior descending artery (LAD) CTO (66.7% vs 37.9%; p = 0.009) and a higher incidence of well-developed non-septal collateral (66.7% vs 30.5%; p = 0.001). Patients with a septal CC diameter ≥ 1 mm (48.1% vs 70.5%; p = 0.040), ≥ 3 septal CCs (44.4% vs 66.3%; p = 0.046), and initial retrograde application of Guidezilla (37.0% vs 60.0%; p = 0.048) were significantly lower in the failure group than in the success group. The binary logistics regression model showed that a CC diameter < 1 mm, well-developed non-septal collateral, and LAD CTO were independent predictors for GW tracking failure in patients undergoing retrograde CTO PCI via poor septal CC. Conclusion: The success rate of retrograde GW tracking via poor septal CC was high, with a relatively high procedural success rate. A CC diameter < 1 mm, well-developed non-septal collateral, and LAD CTO were independent predictors of GW tracking failure in patients undergoing retrograde CTO PCI via poor septal CC.

Impact of inflammation and anti-inflammatory modalities on diabetic cardiomyopathy healing: From fundamental research to therapy.

Diabetic cardiomyopathy (DCM) is a prevalent cardiovascular complication of diabetes mellitus, characterized by high morbidity and mortality rates worldwide. However, treatment options for DCM remain limited. For decades, a substantial body of evidence has suggested that the inflammatory response plays a pivotal role in the development and progression of DCM. Notably, DCM is closely associated with alterations in inflammatory cells, exerting direct effects on major resident cells such as cardiomyocytes, vascular endothelial cells, and fibroblasts. These cellular changes subsequently contribute to the development of DCM. This article comprehensively analyzes cellular, animal, and human studies to summarize the latest insights into the impact of inflammation on DCM. Furthermore, the potential therapeutic effects of current anti-inflammatory drugs in the management of DCM are also taken into consideration. The ultimate goal of this work is to consolidate the existing literature on the inflammatory processes underlying DCM, providing clinicians with the necessary knowledge and tools to adopt a more efficient and evidence-based approach to managing this condition.

First-principles predictions of enhanced thermoelectric properties for Cs2SnI2Cl2and Cs2PbI2Cl2monolayers with spin-orbit coupling.

Inspired by the exceptional charge transport properties and ultra-low thermal conductivity of halide perovskite, we investigate the electronic nature, thermal transport, and thermoelectric properties for Ruddlesden-Popper all-inorganic perovskite, Cs2SnI2Cl2and Cs2PbI2Cl2monolayers, using first-principles calculations. During the calculations, spin-orbit coupling has been considered for electronic transport as well as thermoelectric properties. The results show that the Cs2SnI2Cl2and Cs2PbI2Cl2monolayers exhibit high carrier mobility and low thermal conductivity. Stronger phonon-phonon interaction is responsible for the fact that thermal conductivity of Cs2SnI2Cl2monolayer is much lower than that of Cs2PbI2Cl2monolayer. At 700 K, the values of the figure of merit (ZT) for the n-type doped Cs2SnI2Cl2and Cs2PbI2Cl2monolayers are about 1.05 and 0.32 at the optimized carrier concentrations 5.42 × 1012cm-2and 9.84 × 1012cm-2. Moreover, when spin-orbit coupling is considered, the correspondingZTvalues are enhanced to 2.73 and 1.98 at 5.27 × 1011cm-2and 6.16 × 1011cm-2. These results signify that Cs2SnI2Cl2and Cs2PbI2Cl2monolayers are promising thermoelectric candidates.

Schwann cell-derived amphiregulin enhances nerve regeneration via supporting the proliferation and migration of Schwann cells and the elongation of axons.

Peripheral nerves have limited regeneration ability following nerve injury. Applying growth factors with neurotrophic roles is beneficial for accelerating peripheral nerve regeneration. Here we show that after rat sciatic nerve injury, growth factor amphiregulin (AREG) is upregulated in Schwann cells of sciatic nerves. Elevated AREG stimulates the proliferation and migration of Schwann cells by activating ERK1/2 cascade. Schwann cell-secreted AREG further facilitates the outgrowth of neurites and the elongation of injured axons. Administration of AREG to injured sciatic nerves stimulates the proliferation of Schwann cells to replace lost cell population, encourages the migration of Schwann cells to form cell cords, and facilitates the regrowth of axons. Overall, our results identify AREG as an important neurotrophic factor and thus provide a promising therapeutic avenue towards peripheral nerve injury.

Toll-interacting protein participates in immunity and development of the lepidopteran insect Antheraea pernyi.

Toll-interacting protein (Tollip) participates in multiple biological processes. However, the biological functions of Tollip proteins in insects remain to be further explored. Here, the genomic sequence of tollip gene from Antheraea pernyi (named Ap-Tollip) was identified with a length of 15,060 bp, including eight exons and seven introns. The predicted Ap-Tollip protein contained conserved C2 and CUE domains and was highly homologous to those tollips from invertebrates. Ap-Tollip was highly expressed in fat body compared with other determined tissues. As far as the developmental stages were concerned, the highest expression level was found at the 14th day in eggs or the 3rd day of the 1st instar. Ap-Tollip was also obviously regulated by lipopolysaccharide, polycytidylic acid or 20E in different tissues. In addition, the interaction between Ap-Tollip and ubiquitin was confirmed by western blotting and pull-down assay. RNAi of Ap-Tollip significantly affected the expression levels of apoptosis and autophagy-related genes. These results indicated that Ap-Tollip was involved in immunity and development of A. pernyi.

Prevalence, predictors, and management for balloon uncrossable or undilatable lesions in patients undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention with in-stent restenosis chronic total occlusion.

Background: Percutaneous coronary intervention for in-stent restenosis (ISR) chronic total occlusion (CTO) has been a great challenge. There are occasions when the balloon is uncrossable or undilatable (BUs) even though the guidewire has passed, leading to failure of the procedure. Few studies have focused on the incidence, predictors, and management of BUs during ISR-CTO intervention. Methods: Patients with ISR-CTO were recruited consecutively between January 2017 and January 2022 and divided into two groups based on the presence of BUs. The clinical data of the two groups (BUs group and non-BUs group) were retrospectively analyzed and compared to explore the predictors and clinical management strategies of BUs. Results: A total of 218 patients with ISR-CTO were included in this study, 23.9% (52/218) of whom had BUs. The percentage of ostial stents, stent length, CTO length, the presence of proximal cap ambiguity, moderate to severe calcification, moderate to severe tortuosity, and J-CTO score were higher in the BUs group than in the non-BUs group (p < 0.05). The technical success rate and the procedural success rate were lower in the BUs group than in the non-BUs group (p < 0.05). Multivariable logistic regression analysis showed that ostial stents (OR: 2.011, 95% CI: 1.112-3.921, p = 0.031), the presence of moderate to severe calcification (OR: 3.383, 95% CI: 1.628-5.921, p = 0.024) and moderate to severe tortuosity (OR: 4.816, 95% CI: 2.038-7.772, p = 0.033) were independent predictors of BUs. Conclusion: The initial rate of BUs in ISR-CTO was 23.9%. Ostial stents, presence of moderate to severe calcification, and moderate to severe tortuosity were independent predictors of BUs.

Mechanisms of adsorption and diffusion of Na on a VSe2 monolayer with engineering-induced vacancies.

Although research on vacancy engineering of anode materials has sufficiently advanced to obtain heightened battery capacity, the effect on the diffusion barrier underlying the mechanism remains to be elucidated. Herein, we investigated the effect of vacancy engineering on Na adsorption and diffusion on a vanadium diselenide (VSe2) monolayer using first-principles calculations to reveal the underlying physics behind the performance optimization of anode materials in a sodium-ion battery. The results demonstrate that the structure of the substrate is responsible for the difference between the adsorption energy and diffusion barrier that resulted from cation and anion vacancies. As there is an absent Se atom (VSe) on the surface layer of the substrate, diffusion of Na on the surface could become pressurized with a high diffusion barrier up to 0.33 eV and a high adsorption energy (-1.92 eV) to capture additional Na atoms. However, because the V layer is sandwiched between two Se layers, there is less interaction with Na, and the adsorption energy and diffusion barrier are -1.58 and 0.13 eV, respectively, when a V atom is nonexistent (VV). Moreover, the defective VSe2 increased the battery capacity, with little impact on open-circuit voltage. In this work, we analyzed the effect of vacancy engineering on VSe2 monolayer material, which provides theoretical clues for the design of efficient sodium-ion batteries with heightened capacity.

Lobetyolin Alleviates Ferroptosis of Skeletal Muscle in 5/6 Nephrectomized Mice via Activation of Hedgehog-GLI1 Signaling.

BACKGROUND: Muscle wasting increases morbidity and mortality and is related to chronic kidney disease (CKD) and dialysis. It is still unclear whether ferroptosis occurs during this progression and whether it is a potential intervention target for the treatment of CKD-related muscle injury. PURPOSE: The objective is to identify potential compounds for treating ferroptosis and muscle wasting and explore the potential mechanisms in vivo/in vitro. METHODS: Initially, we explored whether ferroptosis is present in the skeletal muscle of 5/6 nephrectomized (NPM) mice via RNA-Seq analysis, TUNEL staining, Oil red O staining, MDA/GSH/GSSG level detection and real-time quantitative PCR (qPCR). Subsequently, utilizing our established molecular phenotyping strategy, we screened potential traditional Chinese herb-derived compounds for alleviation of muscle wasting and ferroptosis. HE staining, Oil red O staining, TUNEL staining, immunofluorescence staining, MDA/GSH/GSSG level detection, Fe level detection, western blotting and qPCR were applied to assess the effects of the identified compound on muscle wasting and ferroptosis and explore the potential mechanism. Furthermore, RNA-Seq analysis, ChIP-Seq analysis and further experiments in vitro were performed to determine the role of Hedgehog signaling in the effect of Lobetyolin (LBT) on ferroptosis. RESULTS: In NPM mice, skeletal muscle dysfunction, lipogenesis, reduced GSH/GSSG ratio, decreased GSH content, increased MDA production and and higher levels of ferroptosis markers were observed. LBT treatment (30 mg/kg or 50 mg/kg) significantly alleviates skeletal muscle injury by inhibiting ferroptosis. Additionally, in an in vitro investigation, C2C12 cells exposed to Indolyl sulfate (IS) induced ferroptosis and LBT treatment (20 µM and 50 µM) protected C2C12 from such injury, consistent with the results from the in vivo analysis. Furthermore, it was found LBT increased the levels of protein involving Hedgehog signaling pathway (SMO and GLI1), and rescue analysis revealed that this pathway played a crucial role in the regulation of ferroptosis. Further experiments demonstrated that LBT upregulated a series of suppressors of ferroptosis by activating Gli1 transcription. CONCLUSION: LBT alleviates CKD-induced muscle injury by inhibiting ferroptosis through activation of the Hedgehog signaling pathway.

Melanocyte stem cells and hair graying.

OBJECTIVES: To explore the relationship between melanocyte stem cells in the hair follicle bulge and hair graying so as to fully understand their key role in the pathogenesis of hair graying. METHODS: The published articles about "hair graying, hair color, pigmentation disorders" and "melanocyte stem cells, melanocyte" were searched and analyzed in PubMed to explore their relationship. RESULTS: Melanocytes in hair bulb are involved in the pathogenesis of hair graying as well as the melanocyte stem cells in hair follicle bulge also play important roles in the formation of hair graying through some ways. CONCLUSION: Loss of melanocyte stem cells in hair follicle bulge is one of the main reasons of hair graying, and more researches are needed to explain the underlying mechanisms of ectopic differentiation of melanocyte stem cells in different individual.

Phosphorus - The main limiting factor in riverine ecosystems in China.

River receive substantial nutrient inputs, and serve as the main channel for nitrogen and phosphorus to enter the lake, their nutrient control is of great significance to the alleviation of lake eutrophication. While nutrient limitation affects the primary productivity of water ecosystems and the biodiversity of aquatic communities, identifying the limiting factors in riverine ecosystems across China remains elusive. Here, we explore which nutrients have a stronger effect on nutritional balance and aquatic ecosystems in China's rivers based on the total nitrogen (TN) and total phosphorus (TP) observations from 1412 sampling sites in 2018. This study supports the following three main conclusions. Though the percentages of the sites with TN or TP exceeding the limits varied as per different mesotrophic targets, and TP (53.7 %) contributed more to nutrient enrichment than TN (46.3 %). In addition, the spatial distribution characteristics of river nutrients were high in the north (arid zone) and low in the south (humid zone) in China. According to four classification criteria of N:P ratio, 70.8 % of the sampling sites were attributed to phosphorus limiting, much higher than the sites with nitrogen limiting (4.1 %). TN and TP have a synergistic effect on river nutrients, while TP has a stronger regulation framework. Our results reveal that the nutrients in China's rivers are mainly phosphorus limiting, which implies that phosphorus-oriented best management practices are more likely to maintain the nutrient balance of rivers towards healthy aquatic ecosystems. Synopsis: Phosphorus is the key factor that affecting the stability and nutrient balance of riverine ecosystem.

Efficacy and Safety of QiShen YiQi Dripping Pills in the Treatment of Coronary Heart Disease Complicating Chronic Heart Failure (Syndrome of Qi Deficiency with Blood Stasis): Study Protocol for a Randomized, Placebo-Controlled, Double-Blind and Multi-Centre Phase II Clinical Trial.

Background: Heart failure (HF) is a serious and terminal stage of various cardiac diseases and the most common complication of coronary heart disease (CHD). Previous clinical studies have shown that Qishen Yiqi dropping pills (QSYQ) have the effect of treating chronic heart failure. This study aims to evaluate the clinical efficacy, safety and optimal effective dose of QSYQ in treating CHD complicating chronic HF with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF). Methods: We will conduct a randomized, double-blind, placebo controlled, multicenter clinical trial. A total of 228 individuals from 16 hospitals in China will be randomly assigned to the low-dose, high-dose, and placebo groups in a ratio of 1:1:1. The trial consists of a screening period (standard medical treatment for at least 2 weeks) and a 12-week treatment period. After randomization, follow-up will be conducted at the 4th, 8th and 12th week. The primary outcomes will be the 6-Minute Walk Test (6MWT) at Week 12. Secondary outcomes will include 6MWT distance at Week 4 and 8, New York Heart Association (NYHA) functional classification, Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) Syndrome score, echocardiography indices, N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP), oxyhemoglobin saturation, Minnesota living with heart failure questionnaire (MLHFQ) score, grasp strength body mass index test and cardiovascular adverse events (AE). Ethics and Dissemination: This trial has been approved by the Research Ethics Committee of the First Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, China (approval number: ZYYEC [2021]005). Written informed consent will be obtained from all participants. The results of this trial will be publicly shared through academic conferences and peer-reviewed journals. Study Registration: Clinical Trials Registry (NCT04983043, Date: 07/08/2021, https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT04983043).

A molecular phenotypic screen reveals that lobetyolin alleviates cardiac dysfunction in 5/6 nephrectomized mice by inhibiting osteopontin.

BACKGROUND: Cardiovascular diseases are the major cause of mortality in patients with advanced chronic kidney diseases. The predominant abnormality observed among this population is cardiac dysfunction secondary to myocardial remodelings, such as hypertrophy and fibrosis, emphasizing the need to develop potent therapies that maintain cardiac function in patients with end-stage renal disease. AIMS: To identify potential compounds and their targets as treatments for cardiorenal syndrome type 4 (CRS) using molecular phenotyping and in vivo/in vitro experiments. METHODS: Gene expression was assessed using bioinformatics and verified in animal experiments using 5/6 nephrectomized mice (NPM). Based on this information, a molecular phenotyping strategy was pursued to screen potential compounds. Picrosirius red staining, wheat germ agglutinin staining, Echocardiography, immunofluorescence staining, and real-time quantitative PCR (qPCR) were utilized to evaluate the effects of compounds on CRS in vivo. Furthermore, qPCR, immunofluorescence staining and flow cytometry were applied to assess the effects of these compounds on macrophages/cardiac fibroblasts/cardiomyocytes. RNA-Seq analysis was performed to locate the targets of the selected compounds. Western blotting was performed to validate the targets and mechanisms. The reversibility of these effects was tested by overexpressing Osteopontin (OPN). RESULTS: OPN expression increased more remarkably in individuals with uremia-induced cardiac dysfunction than in other cardiomyopathies. Lobetyolin (LBT) was identified in the compound screen, and it improved cardiac dysfunction and suppressed remodeling in NPM mice. Additionally, OPN modulated the effect of LBT on cardiac dysfunction in vivo and in vitro. Further experiments revealed that LBT suppressed OPN expression via the phosphorylation of c-Jun N-terminal protein kinase (JNK) signaling pathway. CONCLUSIONS: LBT improved CRS by inhibiting OPN expression through the JNK pathway. This study is the first to describe a cardioprotective effect of LBT and provides new insights into CRS drug discovery.