Carboxyfullerene C60 preserves porcine sperm by enhancing antioxidant capacity and inhibiting apoptosis and harmful bacteria.

This study used a porcine model to systematically investigate whether carboxyfullerene C60  (CF-C60) can be used for the sperm preservation. The results indicated that CF-C60 supplementation can preserve porcine sperm quality during storage at 17 °C. This effect was attributable to improvement in the antioxidant capacity of sperm through a decrease in the reactive oxygen species (ROS) level. Additionally, CF-C60 can maintain mitochondrial function, inhibit sperm apoptosis through the ROS/Cytochrome C (Cyt C)/Caspase 3 signaling pathway, and mediate suppression of bacterial growth through the effects of ROS. Finally, the results of artificial insemination (AI) experiments indicated that insemination with CF-C60-treated sperm can increase the total number of offspring born and reduce the number of deformed piglets. Thus, CF-C60 is safe for use as a component of semen diluent for sperm storage.

Transcriptomic analysis of the antibacterial mechanism of ε-polylysine-functionalized magnetic composites against Alicyclobacillus acidoterrestris and its application in apple juice.

BACKGROUND: Alicyclobacillus acidoterrestris is a common microorganism in fruit juice. It can produce off-odor metabolites and has been considered to be an important factor in juice contamination. Thus, the development of new strategy for the control of A. acidoterrestris has important practical significance. The primary objective of this work was to assess the antibacterial performance of ε-polylysine-functionalized magnetic composites (Fe3O4@MoS2@PAA-EPL) in apple juice and its effect on juice quality. Moreover, the molecular mechanism of Fe3O4@MoS2@PAA-EPL against A. acidoterrestris was explored by RNA sequencing (RNA-Seq). RESULTS: Experimental results indicated that the synthesized composites possessed the ability to inhibit the viability of A. acidoterrestris vegetative cells and spores. Besides, investigation on the quality of apple juice incubated with Fe3O4@MoS2@PAA-EPL implied that the fabricated composites displayed negligible adverse effects on juice quality. In addition, the results of RNA-Seq demonstrated that 833 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were identified in Fe3O4@MoS2@PAA-EPL-treated A. acidoterrestris, which were associated with translation, energy metabolism, amino acid metabolism, membrane transport and cell integrity. CONCLUSION: These results suggested that the treatment of Fe3O4@MoS2@PAA-EPL disrupted energy metabolism, repressed cell wall synthesis and caused membrane transport disorder of bacterial cells. This work provides novel insights into the molecular antibacterial mechanism for ε-polylysine-functionalized magnetic composites against A. acidoterrestris. © 2024 Society of Chemical Industry.

Association between psoriasis and asthma: a systematic review and bidirectional meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: The risk of asthma in patients with psoriasis has been identified in previous studies, but the bidirectional association between the two has not been fully explored. METHODS: We thoroughly searched PubMed, Embase, and the Cochrane Library to find relevant observational studies published from the inception of these databases to October 2023. All the risk and bias assessments were analyzed by STATA 16.0. Where the heterogeneity was less than 50%, the fixed effect model was utilized. While where the level of heterogeneity was more than 50%, the random effect model was applied. Moreover, to identify publication bias, a visual funnel chart, and Egger's test were applied. RESULTS: A total of 12,396,911 participants from 16 studies, published between 2011 and 2023 were included in this meta-analysis. We found that psoriasis patients had a higher risk of developing asthma (OR = 1.48, 95%CI 1.28-1.68). Meanwhile, asthma patients also had a higher overall risk of developing psoriasis (OR = 1.33, 95%CI 1.23-1.44). In the subgroup analysis, we found that the type of study, age, and severity of the psoriasis were significant factors in the survey of asthma risk in psoriasis patients. CONCLUSIONS: In the present systematic review and meta-analysis, we found a bidirectional association between psoriasis and asthma with significantly increased risk. As a result, clinicians should make patients aware of the connection between the two, particularly adolescents or patients with moderate to severe psoriasis who need to be informed about the rising likelihood of developing asthma. TRIAL REGISTRATION: Registration number CRD42023390111 .

A versatile bilayer smart packaging based on konjac glucomannan/alginate for maintaining and monitoring seafood freshness.

This study introduces a novel multi-functional double-layer intelligent packaging. It focuses on developing a dual-function system capable of real-time monitoring and freshness preservation. Specifically, cellulose nanocrystalline (CNC) was obtained through acid hydrolysis, and then CNC/soybean protein isolate (CNC/SPI) complex colloid particles were prepared via antisolvent method. These particles served as stabilizers to prepare oil-in-water (O/W) cinnamon essential oil Pickering emulsion (CSCEO). The CSCEO was then integrated into the emulsified hydrophobic layer of a konjac glucomannan (Kgm) matrix through intermolecular hydrogen bonding. Finally, alginate (Alg) matrix containing alizarin (Al) as an indicator was added to construct the bilayer structure using a layer-by-layer casting strategy. The inner layer Alg/Al was the pH/NH3-responsive indicator layer, while the outer layer Kgm/CSCEO acted as the high-barrier bacteriostatic layer. The obtained dual-function, double-layer film (Alg/Al-Kgm/CSCEO), which possesses a sensitive, reversible and rapid response towards pH/NH3, shows exceptional antibacterial and antioxidant properties, as well as excellent mechanical property, light-blocking capability and hydrophobicity. For monitoring and maintaining the actual freshness of shrimp, such a bilayer packaging displays smallest change of ∆E and TVB-N (18.65 mg/100 g) even after 72 h, which further highlighting its potential in enhancing food safety and extending shelf life.

Identification of porcine fast/slow myogenic exosomes and their regulatory effects on lipid accumulation in intramuscular adipocytes.

BACKGROUND: Pork quality is affected by the type of muscle fibers, which is closely related to meat color, tenderness and juiciness. Exosomes are tiny vesicles with a diameter of approximately 30-150 nm that are secreted by cells and taken up by recipient cells to mediate communication. Exosome-mediated muscle-fat tissue crosstalk is a newly discovered mechanism that may have an important effect on intramuscular fat deposition and with that on meat quality. Various of adipose tissue-derived exosomes have been discovered and identified, but the identification and function of muscle exosomes, especially porcine fast/slow myotube exosomes, remain unclear. Here, we first isolated and identified exosomes secreted from porcine extensor digitorum longus (EDL) and soleus (SOL), which represent fast and slow muscle, respectively, and further explored their effects on lipid accumulation in longissimus dorsi adipocytes. RESULTS: Porcine SOL-derived exosomes (SOL-EXO) and EDL-derived exosomes (EDL-EXO) were first identified and their average particle sizes were approximately 84 nm with double-membrane disc- shapes as observed via transmission electron microscopy and scanning electron microscopy. Moreover, the intramuscular fat content of the SOL was greater than that of the EDL at 180 days of age, because SOL intramuscular adipocytes had a stronger lipid-accumulating capacity than those of the EDL. Raman spectral analysis revealed that SOL-EXO protein content was much greater than that of EDL-EXO. Proteomic sequencing identified 72 proteins that were significantly differentially expressed between SOL-EXO and EDL-EXO, 31 of which were downregulated and 41 of which were upregulated in SOL-EXO. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings suggest that muscle-fat tissue interactions occur partly via SOL-EXO promoting adipogenic activity of intramuscular adipocytes.

Multifunctional Microneedle Patch Based on Metal-Phenolic Network with Photothermal Antimicrobial, ROS Scavenging, Immunomodulatory, and Angiogenesis for Programmed Treatment of Diabetic Wound Healing.

In diabetic patients with skin injuries, bacterial proliferation, accumulation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in the tissues, and impaired angiogenesis make wound healing difficult. Therefore, eliminating bacteria, removing ROS, and promoting angiogenesis are necessary for treating acute diabetic wounds. In this study, benefiting from the ability of polyphenols to form a metal-phenolic network (MPN) with metal ions, TA-Eu MPN nanoparticles (TM NPs) were synthesized. The prepared photothermal agent CuS NPs and TM NPs were then loaded onto the supporting base and needle tips of PVA/HA (PH) microneedles, respectively, to obtain PH/CuS/TM microneedles. Antibacterial experiments showed that microneedles loaded with CuS NPs could remove bacteria by the photothermal effect. In vitro experiments showed that the microneedles could effectively scavenge ROS, inhibit macrophage polarization to the M1 type, and induce polarization to the M2 type as well as have the ability to promote vascular endothelial cell migration and angiogenesis. Furthermore, in vivo experiments showed that PH/CuS/TM microneedles accelerated wound healing by inhibiting pro-inflammatory cytokines and promoting angiogenesis in a diabetic rat wound model. Therefore, PH/CuS/TM microneedles have efficient antibacterial, ROS scavenging, anti-inflammatory, immunomodulatory, and angiogenic abilities and hold promise as wound dressings for treating acute diabetic wounds.

NIR-responsive CN-Pt-GEM hydrogel induces necroptosis and immunotherapeutic responses prevent postoperative recurrence and wound infection in lung carcinoma.

BACKGROUND: Cancer recurrence following surgical resection is a major cause of treatment failure. Finding effective methods to prevent postoperative recurrence and wound infection is an important component of successful surgery. With the development of new nanotechnology, more treatment options have been provided for postoperative adjuvant therapy. This study presents an innovative hydrogel system that stimulates tumoricidal immunity after surgical resection of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) and prevents cancer relapse. RESULTS: The hydrogel system is based on the excellent photothermal conversion performance of single-atom platinum (CN-Pt) along with the delivery and release of the chemotherapy drug, gemcitabine (GEM). The system is coated onto the wound surface after tumor removal with subsequent near-infrared (NIR) photothermal therapy, which efficiently induces necroptosis of residual cancer cells, amplifies the levels of damage-associated molecular patterns (DAMPs), and increases the number of M1 macrophages. The significantly higher levels of phagocytic macrophages enhance tumor immunogenicity and sensitize cancer cells to CD8 + T-cell immunity to control postoperative recurrence, which has been verified using an animal model of postoperative lung cancer recurrence. The CN-Pt-GEM-hydrogel with NIR can also inhibit postoperative wound infection. CONCLUSIONS: These findings introduce an alternative strategy for supplementing antitumor immunity in patients undergoing resection of NSCLC tumors. The CN-Pt-GEM-hydrogel with the NIR system also exhibits good biosafety and may be adaptable for clinical application in relation to tumor resection surgery, wound tissue filling, infection prevention, and recurrence prevention.

Correlation between diameter of esophageal varices and early rebleeding following endoscopic variceal ligation: a multicenter retrospective study based on artificial intelligence-based endoscopic virtual rule.

Background and objective: Bleeding following endoscopic variceal ligation (EVL) may occur as a result of numerous factors, including a diameter of esophageal varices (EV) that is too large to be completely ligated. The present study aimed to develop an artificial intelligence-based endoscopic virtual ruler (EVR) to measure the diameter of EV with a view to finding more suitable cases for EVL. Methods: The present study was a multicenter retrospective study that included a total of 1,062 EVLs in 727 patients with liver cirrhosis with EV, who underwent EVL from April 2016 to March 2023. Patients were divided into early rebleeding (n = 80) and non-rebleeding groups (n = 982) according to whether postoperative bleeding occurred at 6 weeks. The characteristics of patient baseline data, the status of rebleeding at 6 weeks after surgery and the survival status at 6 weeks after rebleeding were analyzed. Results: The early rebleeding rate following 1,062 EVL procedures was 7.5%, and the mortality rate at 6 weeks after bleeding was 16.5%. Results of the one-way binary logistic regression analysis demonstrated that the risk factors for early rebleeding following EVL included: high TB (P = 0.009), low Alb (P = 0.001), high PT (P = 0.004), PVT (P = 0.026), HCC (P = 0.018), high Child-Pugh score (P < 0.001), Child-Pugh grade C(P < 0.001), high MELD score(P = 0.004), Japanese variceal grade F3 (P < 0.001), diameter of EV (P < 0.001), and number of ligature rings (P = 0.029). Results of the multifactorial binary logistic regression analysis demonstrated that Child-Pugh grade C (P = 0.007), Japanese variceal grade F3 (P = 0.009), and diameter of EV (P < 0.001) may exhibit potential in predicting early rebleeding following EVL. ROC analysis demonstrated that the area under curve (AUC) for EV diameter was 0.848, and the AUC for Japanese variceal grade was 0.635, which was statistically significant (P < 0.001). Thus, results of the present study demonstrated that EV diameter was more optimal in predicting early rebleeding following EVL than Japanese variceal grade criteria. The cut-off value of EV diameter was calculated to be 1.35 cm (sensitivity, 70.0%; specificity, 89.2%). Conclusion: If the diameter of EV is ≥1.4 cm, there may be a high risk of early rebleeding following EVL surgery; thus, we recommend caution with EVL.

Profiling of m6A methylation in porcine intramuscular adipocytes and unravelling PHKG1 represses porcine intramuscular lipid deposition in an m6A-dependent manner.

Intramuscular fat (IMF) content is mainly determined by intramuscular preadipocyte adipogenesis. Epigenetic modifications are known to have a regulatory effect on IMF. As N6-methyladenosine (m6A) is the most abundant epigenetic modification in eukaryotic RNAs. In the present study, we used m6A methylation and RNA sequencing (seq) to identify the m6A-modified RNAs associated with the adipogenic differentiation of intramuscular preadipocytes. Among them, the expression and m6A level of phosphorylase kinase subunit G1 (PHKG1) were found to be significantly changed during adipogenesis. Further studies revealed that knockdown of the methylase METTL3 decreased the m6A methylation of PHKG1 and led to a reduction in PHKG1. Moreover, knockdown of PHKG1 promoted adipogenic differentiation by upregulating the expression of adipogenic genes. In addition, we found that the IMF content in the longissimus thoracis (LT) of Bamei (BM) pigs was greater than that in Large White (LW) pigs, whereas the m6A and PHKG1 expression levels were lower in BM pigs. These findings indicate that the m6A level and expression of PHKG1 were significantly correlated with IMF content and meat quality. In conclusion, this study sheds light on the mechanism by which m6A modification regulates IMF deposition.

Effects of Phloroglucinol on Embryo Transfer: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

INTRODUCTION: Phloroglucinol may be able to improve embryo transfer outcomes. We aimed to systematically evaluate the effects of phloroglucinol on embryo transfer outcomes. METHODS: The databases searched were PubMed, Ovid MEDLINE, Web of Science, Wanfang, CQVIP, China National Knowledge Infrastructure, and ClinicalTrials.gov. The last search was on February 7, 2023. The included studies were written in English or Chinese. Randomized controlled trials and cohort studies aiming to assess the effect of phloroglucinol on embryo transfer outcomes were included. The studies reported at least one of the primary outcomes (biochemical pregnancy rate, clinical pregnancy rate, and live birth rate). The odds ratio (OR) and 95% confidence interval (CI) were calculated. A random-effects or fixed model was used where applicable to estimate the results. RESULTS: Seventeen articles reporting 5,953 cycles were included. Biochemical pregnancy rate (OR = 1.58, 95% CI = 1.20-2.08, I2 = 71%), clinical pregnancy rate (OR = 1.69, 95% CI = 1.35-2.10, I2 = 64%), and live birth rate (OR = 1.45, 95% CI = 1.23-1.71, I2 = 36%) were improved by phloroglucinol. Less miscarriage (OR = 0.46, 95% CI = 0.35-0.60, I2 = 0%), less ectopic pregnancy (OR = 0.45, 95% CI = 0.28-0.72, I2 = 0%), higher implantation rate (OR = 1.45, 95% CI = 1.24-1.71, I2 = 62%) but more multiple pregnancy rate (OR = 1.48, 95% CI = 1.13-1.94, I2 = 0%) were induced by phloroglucinol. Endometrial peristaltic waves were improved by phloroglucinol (OR = 22.87, 95% CI = 5.52-94.74, I2 = 72%). CONCLUSION: Phloroglucinol may improve the outcomes of embryo transfer, including biochemical pregnancy, clinical pregnancy, and live birth rates. Further studies are warranted.

Immobilization of pancreatin based on ultrasound-assisted polydopamine functionalized magnetic porous chitosan for the detoxification of ochratoxin A in wine.

Ochratoxin A (OTA) is a mycotoxin that globally contaminates fruits and their products. Since OTA have a huge negative impact on health hazards and economic losses, it is imperative to establish an effective and safe strategy for detoxification. Here, pancreatin was immobilized on the surface of polydopamine functionalized magnetic porous chitosan (MPCTS@ PDA) for the degradation of OTA. Compared with free pancreatin, MPCTS@ PDA@ pancreatin displayed excellent thermal stability, acid resistance, storage stability and OTA detoxification in wine (>58%). Moreover, the MPCTS@ PDA@ pancreatin retained 43% initial activity after 8 reuse cycles. There was no significant change in the quality of wine after MPCTS@ PDA@ pancreatin treatment. Moreover, it did not exhibit cytotoxicity which facilitated its application in wine. These results demonstrated that MPCTS@ PDA@ pancreatin can be used as a highly effective biocatalysate for OTA detoxification in wine.

Enzymatically green-produced bacterial cellulose nanoparticle-stabilized Pickering emulsion for enhancing anthocyanin colorimetric performance of versatile films.

To enhance the colorimetric performance of anthocyanin (Ant), a konjac glucomannan (KGM)-based multifunctional pH-responsive indicator film was fabricated by introducing enzymatically prepared bacterial nanocellulose (EBNC) stabilized camellia oil/camellia essential oil Pickering emulsion (BCCE). Specifically, optimized enzymatic hydrolysis time (36 h) was determined based on the particle size and microstructure. Then BCCE (containing 0.4% EBNC) was incorporated into Ant-containing KGM, and the novel active indicator film (KGM-Ant-BCCE) was constructed. Films with varying BCCE concentrations (3%-11%) exhibited enhanced UV shielding, thermal stability, mechanical strength, water vapor and oxygen permeability, hydrophobicity, and antioxidant performance. The pronounced color change of KGM-Ant-BCCE indicated its potential for visually detecting shrimp freshness. Moreover, the biodegradability (25 days) confirmed the environmentally benign property of the film. In summary, incorporating green-produced EBNC nanoparticle-stabilized BCCE offers an innovative pathway to improve the color indication capability of polysaccharide-based smart packaging.

Single-cell sequencing technology in diabetic wound healing: New insights into the progenitors-based repair strategies.

Diabetes mellitus (DM), an increasingly prevalent chronic metabolic disease, is characterised by prolonged hyperglycaemia, which leads to long-term health consequences. Although much effort has been put into understanding the pathogenesis of diabetic wounds, the underlying mechanisms remain unclear. The advent of single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNAseq) has revolutionised biological research by enabling the identification of novel cell types, the discovery of cellular markers, the analysis of gene expression patterns and the prediction of developmental trajectories. This powerful tool allows for an in-depth exploration of pathogenesis at the cellular and molecular levels. In this editorial, we focus on progenitor-based repair strategies for diabetic wound healing as revealed by scRNAseq and highlight the biological behaviour of various healing-related cells and the alteration of signalling pathways in the process of diabetic wound healing. ScRNAseq could not only deepen our understanding of the complex biology of diabetic wounds but also identify and validate new targets for intervention, offering hope for improved patient outcomes in the management of this challenging complication of DM.

Segmentation of liver CT images based on weighted medical transformer model.

Deep convolutional neural networks have made significant strides in the field of medical image segmentation. Although existing convolutional structures enhance performance by leveraging local image information, they often lose the interdependence information between contexts. Therefore, the article utilizes the multi-attention mechanism of the Transformer structure to more comprehensively express relationships between contexts and introduced the Transformer network architecture into the field of medical image segmentation. Most models based on this Transformer structure typically require large datasets for training. However, in the medical field, the limited size of datasets makes training models with the Transformer structure challenging. To address this, the article propose a Weighted Medical Transformer (WMT) model that imposes low requirements on dataset quantity. The weighting mechanism in the WMT model aims to improve the issue of inaccurate relative positional coding when dealing with small medical datasets. Additionally, a coarse-grained and fine-grained segmentation mechanism is introduced, focusing on both the detailed aspects within image blocks and the boundary information connecting blocks. Experimental results on a liver dataset demonstrate that the model achieves F1 and IoU scores of 88.48% and 79.41%, respectively. Results on the MoNuSeg dataset show comparable high F1 and IoU scores of 79.58% and 66.19%, respectively. The model's accuracy surpasses that of U-Net++ and U-Net models. Compared to other models, this approach is applicable to scenarios with limited datasets, exhibiting high execution efficiency and accuracy.

Protein Corona-Mediated Inhibition of Nanozyme Activity: Impact of Protein Shape.

During biomedical applications, nanozymes, exhibiting enzyme-like characteristics, inevitably come into contact with biological fluids in living systems, leading to the formation of a protein corona on their surface. Although it is acknowledged that molecular adsorption can influence the catalytic activity of nanozymes, there is a dearth of understanding regarding the impact of the protein corona on nanozyme activity and its determinant factors. In order to address this gap, we employed the AuNR@Pt@PDDAC [PDDAC, poly(diallyldimethylammonium chloride)] nanorod (NR) as a model nanozyme with multiple activities, including peroxidase, oxidase, and catalase-mimetic activities, to investigate the inhibitory effects of the protein corona on the catalytic activity. After the identification of major components in the plasma protein corona on the NR, we observed that spherical proteins and fibrous proteins induced distinct inhibitory effects on the catalytic activity of nanozymes. To elucidate the underlying mechanism, we uncovered that the adsorbed proteins assembled on the surface of the nanozymes, forming protein networks (PNs). Notably, the PNs derived from fibrous proteins exhibited a screen mesh-like structure with smaller pore sizes compared to those formed by spherical proteins. This structural disparity resulted in a reduced efficiency for the permeation of substrate molecules, leading to a more robust inhibition in activity. These findings underscore the significance of the protein shape as a crucial factor influencing nanozyme activity. This revelation provides valuable insights for the rational design and application of nanozymes in the biomedical fields.

Enhanced lignin degradation by Irpex lacteus through expanded sterilization further improved the fermentation quality and microbial community during the silage preservation process.

Traditional autoclaving, slow degradation rate and preservation of biomass treated by fungi are the main factors restricting biological treatment. In our previous studies, strains with high efficiency and selective lignin degradation ability were obtained. To further solve the limiting factors of biological treatment, this paper proposed a composite treatment technology, which could replace autoclaves for fungal treatment and improve the preservation and utilization of fungal-pretreated straw. The autoclaved and expanded buckwheat straw were, respectively, degraded by Irpex lacteus for 14 days (CIL, EIL), followed by ensiling of raw materials (CK) and biodegraded straw of CIL and EIL samples with Lactobacillus plantarum for different days, respectively (CP, CIP, EIP). An expansion led to lactic acid bacteria, mold, and yeast of the samples below the detection line, and aerobic bacteria was significantly reduced, indicating a positive sterilization effect. Expansion before I. lacteus significantly enhanced lignin selective degradation by about 6%, and the absolute content of natural detergent solute was about 5% higher than that of the CIL. Moreover, EIL decreased pH by producing higher organic acids. The combination treatment created favorable conditions for ensiling. During ensiling, EIP silage produced high lactic acid about 26.83 g/kg DM and the highest acetic acid about 22.35 g/kg DM, and the pH value could be stable at 4.50. Expansion before I. lacteus optimized the microbial community for ensiling, resulting in EIP silage co-dominated by Lactobacillus, Pediococcus and Weissella, whereas only Lactobacillus was always dominant in CP and CIP silage. Clavispora gradually replaced Irpex in EIP silage, which potentially promoted lactic acid bacteria growth and acetic acid production. In vitro gas production (IVGP) in EIL was increased by 30% relative to CK and was higher than 24% in CIL. The role of expansion was more significant after ensiling, the IVGP in EIP was increased by 22% relative to CP, while that in CIP silage was only increased by 9%. Silage of fungal-treated samples reduced methane emissions by 28% to 31%. The study demonstrated that expansion provides advantages for fungal colonization and delignification, and further improves the microbial community and fermentation quality for silage, enhancing the nutrition and utilization value. This has practical application value for scaling up biological treatment and preserving the fungal-treated lignocellulose.

[Genetic characterization and drug resistance analysis of Salmonella Kentucky ST314 in Shenzhen in 2010-2021].

OBJECTIVE: To understand the prevalence, genetic characteristics and drug resistance features of Salmonella Kentucky ST314 in Shenzhen. METHODS: Whole genome sequencing of 14 strains of Salmonella Kentucky ST314 collected from 2010-2021 by the Foodborne Disease Surveillance Network of Shenzhen Center for Disease Control and Prevention for phylogenetic evolutionary analysis, drug resistance gene and plasmid detection; drug susceptibility experiments were performed by micro-broth dilution method. RESULTS: A total of 57 strains of Salmonella Kentucky were collected from the foodborne disease surveillance network, 14 of which were ST314. The Shenzhen isolates were clustered with isolates from Southeast Asian countries such as Vietnam and Thailand on clade 314.2, and the single nucleotide polymorphism distance between local strains in Shenzhen was large, indicating dissemination. In this study, a total of 17 drug resistance genes/mutations in 9 categories were detected in the genome of Salmonella Kentucky ST314, carrying 3 extended spectrum beta-lactamases(ESBLs), including bla_(CTX-M-24)(14.3%, 2/14), bla_(CTX-M-55)(7.1%, 1/14), and bla_(CTX-M-130)(14.3%, 2/14), all located on plasmids. Regarding quinolone resistance factors, two plasmid-mediated quinolone resistance(PMQR) genes were identified in the genome: qnrB6(71.4%, 10/14) and aac(6')Ib-cr(78.6%, 11/14), a quinolone resistance quinolone resistance-determining regions(QRDR) mutation T57 S(100%, 14/14). The multi-drug resistance rate of Salmonella Kentucky ST314 in Shenzhen was 92.86%(13/14)with the highest rate of resistance to tetracycline and cotrimoxazole(100%, 14/14), followed by chloramphenicol(92.86%, 13/14), cefotaxime and ampicillin(78.57%, 11/14), ciprofloxacin and nalidixic acid(71.43%, 10/14), and ampicillin-sulbactam had the lowest resistance rate(21.43%, 3/14). CONCLUSION: ST314 is the second most prevalent ST type among Salmonella Kentucky in Shenzhen, mainly isolated from food, especially poultry; phylogenetic analysis suggests that ST314 is a disseminated infection and the genome shows a highly genetically conserved phenotype. Drug resistance of Salmonella Kentucky ST314 is very serious, especially QRDR mutation, PMQR gene co-mediated quinolone resistance and plasmid-mediated cephalosporin resistance are prominent and deserve extensive attention.

Weakly Confined Organic-Inorganic Halide Perovskite Quantum Dots as High-Purity Room-Temperature Single Photon Sources.

Colloidal perovskite quantum dots (PQDs) have emerged as highly promising single photon emitters for quantum information applications. Presently, most strategies have focused on leveraging quantum confinement to increase the nonradiative Auger recombination (AR) rate to enhance single-photon (SP) purity in all-inorganic CsPbBr3 QDs. However, this also increases the fluorescence intermittency. Achieving high SP purity and blinking mitigation simultaneously remains a significant challenge. Here, we transcend this limitation with room-temperature synthesized weakly confined hybrid organic-inorganic perovskite (HOIP) QDs. Superior single photon purity with a low g(2)(0) < 0.07 ± 0.03 and a nearly blinking-free behavior (ON-state fraction >95%) in 11 nm FAPbBr3 QDs are achieved at room temperature, attributed to their long exciton lifetimes (τX) and short biexciton lifetimes (τXX). The significance of the organic A-cation is further validated using the mixed-cation FAxCs1-xPbBr3. Theoretical calculations utilizing a combination of the Bethe-Salpeter (BSE) and k·p approaches point toward the modulation of the dielectric constants by the organic cations. Importantly, our findings provide valuable insights into an additional lever for engineering facile-synthesized room-temperature PQD single photon sources.

Assessment of TUFT1 and Rac1-GTP levels in triple-negative breast cancer patients: clinical and pathological correlations.

OBJECTIVE: The primary goal of this study was to investigate the expressions of TUFT1 (Tuftelin) and Rac1-GTP in the cancerous tissues of individuals with triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC). Additionally, we aimed to explore the correlation between TUFT1 and Rac1-GTP expressions and examine the associations of TUFT1 and Rac1-GTP expressions with the clinical and pathological indicators of the patients. METHODS: Ninety-six patients diagnosed with TNBC, scheduled for surgery between May 2022 and November 2022, were enrolled in this study. Cancerous tissue specimens were collected from these patients, and immunohistochemistry was employed to evaluate the levels of TUFT1 and Rac1-GTP expressions in the cancerous tissues. Subsequent to data collection, a comprehensive analysis was conducted to examine the correlation between TUFT1 and Rac1-GTP expressions. Furthermore, we sought to assess the associations of TUFT1 and Rac1-GTP expressions with the clinical and pathological indicators of the patients. RESULTS: The TUFT1 protein was expressed in both the membrane and cytoplasm of TNBC cancer cells, with notably higher expression observed in the cytoplasm. Rac1-GTP was primarily expressed in the cytoplasm. There was a positive correlation between the levels of TUFT1 and Rac1-GTP expressions (χ2 = 9.816, P < 0.05). The levels of TUFT1 and Rac1-GTP protein expressions showed no correlation with patient age (χ2 = 2.590, 2.565, P > 0.05); however, they demonstrated a positive correlation with tumor size (χ2 = 5.592,5.118), histological grading (χ2 = 6.730, 5.443), and lymph node metastasis (χ2 = 8.221, 5.180) (all with a significance level of P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: A significant correlation was identified between the levels of TUFT1 and Rac1-GTP expressions in the cancerous tissues of patients with TNBC, suggesting a close association with the progression of TNBC. The two molecules play significant roles in facilitating an early diagnosis and treatment of TNBC.

Kojic acid inhibits pig sperm apoptosis and improves capacitated sperm state during liquid preservation at 17°C.

The parameters of sperm apoptosis and capacitation during liquid storage at 17°C can indicate the quality of pig sperm and the potential development of early embryos. However, the effect of kojic acid (KA) on semen preservation and its mechanism has not been fully understood. In this study, we discovered that adding KA to the diluent improved the antioxidant capacity of sperm mitochondria, maintained the normal structure of sperm mitochondria, and reduced sperm apoptosis. Western blot analysis revealed that KA prevented the release of Cytochrome c from mitochondria to the cytoplasm, reduced the expression of pro-apoptosis proteins cleaved Caspase-3 and cleaved Caspase-9, and increased the expression of the antiapoptosis protein Bcl-XL. Furthermore, KA also enhanced the motility parameters, oxidative phosphorylation level, adenosine triphosphate level, and protein tyrosine phosphorylation of capacitated sperm, while preserving the acrosome integrity and plasma membrane integrity of capacitated sperm. In conclusion, this study offers new insights into the molecular mechanism of how KA inhibits porcine sperm apoptosis and improves capacitated sperm parameters. Additionally, it suggests that KA can serve as an alternative to antibiotics.