Climate change exacerbates the environmental impacts of agriculture.

Agriculture's global environmental impacts are widely expected to continue expanding, driven by population and economic growth and dietary changes. This Review highlights climate change as an additional amplifier of agriculture's environmental impacts, by reducing agricultural productivity, reducing the efficacy of agrochemicals, increasing soil erosion, accelerating the growth and expanding the range of crop diseases and pests, and increasing land clearing. We identify multiple pathways through which climate change intensifies agricultural greenhouse gas emissions, creating a potentially powerful climate change-reinforcing feedback loop. The challenges raised by climate change underscore the urgent need to transition to sustainable, climate-resilient agricultural systems. This requires investments that both accelerate adoption of proven solutions that provide multiple benefits, and that discover and scale new beneficial processes and food products.

Effects of low-frequency pulsed electrical stimulation at the common peroneal nerve on chronic refractory wounds of the lower limb: A randomized controlled trial.

Background and aims: Electrical stimulation (ES) has been shown to substantially enhance the quality of life by alleviating pain in patients with chronic wounds. This study aimed to observe the effects of low-frequency pulsed wearable ES at the common peroneal nerve on chronic refractory wounds of the lower limb. Methods: Forty-eight participants were randomly divided into control group (n = 24) and treatment group (n = 24) in this study. The control group received standard wound care (SWC) exclusively, whereas the treatment group was administered both SWC and the wearable low-frequency ES targeting the common peroneal nerve. Measurements of wound area, pain intensity, wound status, and quality of life scores were systematically recorded both before and after 4 weeks treatment. Results: After 4 weeks of intervention, the percentage area reduction was significantly higher in the treatment group compared to the control group (Z = -3.9, p < 0.001), and the healing rate of the treatment group was significantly higher than that of the control group (33% vs. 4%). Moreover, the visual Analog Scale for Pain score (ß = -0.65, p = 0.019), the Bates-Jensen Wound Assessment Tool score (p < 0.05), and the questionnaire on quality of life with chronic wounds (Wound-Qol) score (ß = -4.23, p = 0.003) were significantly decreased in the patients in the treatment group compared to the control group. Conclusion: The wearable low-frequency pulsed ES at the common peroneal nerve for the treatment of chronic refractory wounds showed significant improvement and were far superior compared to SWC. Future research should broaden its scope to include a diverse range of wound types and benefit from collaboration across multiple research centers.

Concurrent ozone and high temperature exacerbates nasal epithelial barrier damage in allergic rhinitis mice: Insights from the nasal transcriptome and nasal microbiota.

The global ambient temperature has been rising in recent decades and high temperature is usually accompanied by ozone (O3) pollution. Environmental change is an underlying factor for the increased prevalence of respiratory allergic disease. However, the potential mechanisms are complex and remain elusive. This study was performed to reveal toxic effects and molecular mechanisms of O3 or/and high temperature induced allergic rhinitis (AR) deterioration. The results indicated that O3 and high temperature co-exposure exacerbated rhinitis symptoms, destroyed ultrastructure of nasal mucosa and down-regulated the expression of nasal epithelial barrier structural proteins ZO-1 and occludin. Moreover, the levels of total protein and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) in nasal lavage fluid and the levels of IL-1ß and TNF-α in serum also exhibited a significant upward trend. Transcriptomic analysis revealed that immune and inflammatory signaling pathways such as IL-17 signaling pathway was involved in the combined toxicity of O3 and high temperature. Microbiome examination showed that Prevotella and Elizabethkingia were linked to nasal injury. What's more, spearman correlation analysis revealed correlations among nasal microbiota dysbiosis, inflammation and injury. To sum up, the present study assessed the combined toxicity of O3 and high temperature and found potential mechanisms, which provided important experimental evidence for making preventive intervention strategies and protecting vulnerable populations.

Permeation characteristics and cross-linking efficacy of iontophoresis-assisted riboflavin delivery for accelerated riboflavin-ultraviolet A scleral collagen cross-linking in porcine eyes.

The purpose of this study is to investigate whether the iontophoresis-assisted riboflavin delivery to posterior sclera with less delivery time, can achieve the same riboflavin permeation efficiency as the passive soaking way, and its effect on the mechanical properties of posterior sclera for accelerated scleral collagen cross-linking (A-SXL). In this study, 0.1% riboflavin solution was applied into the posterior sclera of porcine eyes either by the iontophoresis-assisted or passive soaking method, with delivery time of 5, 7.5, 10, 12.5, 15, 17.5, and 20 min, respectively. The fluorescence intensity and the distribution of riboflavin concentration in the 10 µm frozen sections of the sclera were evaluated by fluorescence inverted microscope. The posterior sclera with riboflavin treatment through either the iontophoresis-assisted or the passive soaking method for different durations ranging from 5 to 20 min was treated with ultraviolet A (UVA) irradiation at an intensity of 10 mW/cm2 for 9 min. The elastic modulus was determined at the physiological strain level using the uniaxial tensile test after ASXL. The results showed that the fluorescence intensity of riboflavin increased by prolonging the delivery time in both the iontophoresis and passive soaking groups, and the permeation depth of riboflavin remained constant over 15 min. The fluorescence intensity in the iontophoresis group was significantly higher than in the passive soaking group at 12.5 min and 15 min, respectively. The elastic modulus at 12.5 min in the iontophoresis group was significantly higher than in the passive soaking group at the same delivery time and showed no significant difference compared to the passive soaking group at 20 min. In conclusion, it indicated that iontophoresis-assisted delivery could not only shorten the surgery time but also achieve similar mechanical performance to the passive soaking method in ASXL.

Synthesis and characterization of pH-responsive sodium alginate/humic acid composite hydrogels for sustained drug release of l-ascorbic acid.

Addressing the challenges of poor biocompatibility and degradability of artificial drug carriers and poor stability of natural monomer gels in the current pharmaceutical market, this study utilized green natural sodium alginate (SA) and humic acid (HA) as raw materials. SA/HA-Ca2+ hydrogel spheres were prepared using Ca2+ as a crosslinking agent and loaded with l-ascorbic acid (L-AA), and the drug-retardation study was conducted using the droplet method. Various analysis techniques confirmed the formation of a three-dimensional network structure through coordination between HA, SA, and Ca2+, resulting in hydrogel spheres with good thermal stability. Meanwhile, the drug-loading rate, swelling, and in vitro drug release of SA/HA-Ca2+ gel spheres were investigated. Results showed that the hydrogel spheres exhibited strong pH responsiveness and satisfactory pore structure favorable for the loading of L-AA. The solubility of the SA/HA-Ca2+ hydrogel in buffer solutions at pH = 1.4 and 7.4 was 1.7315 and 5.1235 g/g, respectively, while the swelling kinetics followed a second-order swelling kinetic equation; the maximum release of L-AA was 23.67 % and 82.64 %. The release profiles of L-AA from different drug-loaded gels conformed to Langmuir's quasi-primary and quasi-secondary kinetic models. In conclusion, this study provides a theoretical basis for achieving slow drug release using SA/HA-Ca2+.

Hepatotoxic assessment in a microphysiological system: Simulation of the drug absorption and toxic process after an overdosed acetaminophen on intestinal-liver-on-chip.

To compensate the limitation of animal models, new models were proposed for drug safety evaluation to refine and reduce existing models. To mimic drug absorption and metabolism and predict toxicokinetic and toxic effects in an in vitro intestinal-liver microphysiological system (MPS), we constructed an intestinal-liver-on-chip and detected the acute liver injury process after an overdose of acetaminophen (APAP). Caco-2 and HT29-MTX-E12 cell lines were utilized to establish intestinal equivalents, along with HepG2, HUVEC-T1, and THP-1 induced by PMA and human hepatic stellate cell to establish liver equivalents. The APAP concentration was determined using high-performance liquid chromatography, and the toxicokinetic parameters were fitted using the non-compartmental analysis method by Phoenix. Changes in liver injury biomarkers aspartate aminotransferase and alanine aminotransferase, and liver function marker albumin indicated that the short-term culture of the two organs-on-chip model was stable for 4 days. Reactive oxygen species signaling was enhanced after APAP administration, along with decreased mitochondrial membrane potential, activated caspase-3, and enhanced p53 signaling, indicating a toxic response induced by APAP overdose. In the gut-liver MPS model, we fitted the toxicokinetic parameters and simulated the hepatotoxicity procedure following an APAP overdose, which will facilitate the organ-on-chips application in drug toxicity assays.

Influence of different forms of folic acid supplementation on pregnancy outcomes under various exposure factors.

BACKGROUND: Folic acid supplementation has been shown to provide benefits in preventing neural tube defects and other birth defects, as well as reducing adverse pregnancy outcomes. OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to examine the impact of various folic acid supplementation methods on pregnancy. METHODS: TaqMan-MGB technology was used to detect polymorphisms in the folate metabolism-related genes, MTHFR C677T and A1298C. Blood-related biochemical indicators, including HCY levels and history of adverse pregnancy, were examined in relation to different exposure factors (MTHFR gene polymorphism, HCY levels, and adverse pregnancy history) and their impact on pregnancy outcomes. Various forms of folic acid intervention were implemented in a population with an adverse pregnancy history and high HCY levels to analyze the effects of reducing HCY levels and improving pregnancy outcomes. RESULTS: Exposure factors, such as adverse pregnancy history, HCY, and medium-to-high risk of gene metabolism, were closely associated with pregnancy outcomes. Interestingly, methylfolate efficiently reduced the serum HCY levels. More importantly, the methylfolate group exhibited a significantly lower incidence of adverse pregnancies than the synthetic folic acid group. CONCLUSION: In this study, the risk factors, including adverse pregnancy history, HCY, and medium-to-high risk of gene metabolism, were confirmed to lead to the poorer pregnancy outcomes in our cohort. 5-methyltetrahydrofolate may be an effective approach for decreasing the incidence of adverse pregnancy outcomes.

Efficient adsorptive separation of Cu(II) from Ph by ZIF-8 constructed with sodium alginate polymer backbone.

With the rapid development of industrialization, the removal of heavy metal ions and small organic molecules from wastewater has triggered a hot debate. ZIF-8 was grown on a sodium alginate backbone using an in situ growth technique, the core-shell P-SMG@ZIF-8 was synthesized. It was also characterized by FTIR, XRD, SEM, UV-Vis and XPS, and the optimal conditions and mechanism of adsorption were explored. At pH 2.0, a contact time of 200 min, and 298 K, removal of Cu(II) and Ph up to 80.2 %, 65.6 % by P-SMG@ZIF-8, adsorption behavior consistent with Langmuir model for pseudo-secondary rates, the saturated adsorption of Cu(II) and Ph could reach up to 83.5812 mg/g and 78.1779 mg/g, respectively. And the adsorbed P-SMG@ZIF-8 is easy to separate and reusable, which is a cost-effective and efficient natural product-based adsorption material.

Nomograms for Predicting High Hospitalization Costs and Prolonged Stay among Hospitalized Patients with pAECOPD.

This study aimed to develop nomograms to predict high hospitalization costs and prolonged stays in hospitalized acute exacerbations of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (AECOPD) patients with community-acquired pneumonia (CAP), also known as pAECOPD. A total of 635 patients with pAECOPD were included in this observational study and divided into training and testing sets. Variables were initially screened using univariate analysis, and then further selected using a backward stepwise regression. Multivariable logistic regression was performed to establish nomograms. The predictive performance of the model was evaluated using the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve, area under the curve (AUC), calibration curve, and decision curve analysis (DCA) in both the training and testing sets. Finally, the logistic regression analysis showed that elevated white blood cell count (WBC>10 × 109 cells/l), hypoalbuminemia, pulmonary encephalopathy, respiratory failure, diabetes, and respiratory intensive care unit (RICU) admissions were risk factors for predicting high hospitalization costs in pAECOPD patients. The AUC value was 0.756 (95% CI: 0.699-0.812) in the training set and 0.792 (95% CI: 0.718-0.867) in the testing set. The calibration plot and DCA curve indicated the model had good predictive performance. Furthermore, decreased total protein, pulmonary encephalopathy, reflux esophagitis, and RICU admissions were risk factors for predicting prolonged stays in pAECOPD patients. The AUC value was 0.629 (95% CI: 0.575-0.682) in the training set and 0.620 (95% CI: 0.539-0.701) in the testing set. The calibration plot and DCA curve indicated the model had good predictive performance. We developed and validated two nomograms for predicting high hospitalization costs and prolonged stay, respectively, among hospitalized patients with pAECOPD. This trial is registered with ChiCTR2000039959.

Global school plate waste estimates highlight the need for building a sustainable food education system.

Food waste reduction is essential for supporting the sustainability of food systems. Wasteful behaviours are difficult to change after they have been formed, highlighting the importance of early interventions. Here we present an assessment of school plate food waste from 29 countries, and examine the environmental implications, causes, and interventions. School plate waste ranged from 4% to 46% per capita per meal and was positively correlated with country income levels. On a global scale, this waste embodies ∼150 Mha of cropland and ∼770 MtCO2e of greenhouse gas emissions; hence, reducing school plate food waste offers potentially large environmental gains. We propose a comprehensive, multistakeholder framework centred around sustainable food education that cultivates food systems knowledge and skills, and an appreciation for nature and food labour to reduce the psychological distance between youth and their food waste. To effectively implement the framework requires the support and engagement of families, communities and the broader society beyond the confines of schools.

A-site cation manipulation of exemplary second harmonic generation response and optical anisotropy in rare-earth borates.

Ultraviolet nonlinear optical (UV NLO) materials have garnered significant interest for their prospective applications in advanced laser technologies. However, tailoring the desired structure in these materials remains a formidable challenge. Here, we propose a simple yet effective strategy for synthesizing rare-earth borates, K x Na3-x La2B3O9 (x = 2-3), by manipulating the A-site cations to induce structural evolution. Notably, K x Na3-x La2B3O9 undergoes a phase transition from the Pnc2 to the Amm2 space group by adjusting the K+ content to reach x = 2.6. Moreover, the target compounds exhibit strong phase-matching second harmonic generation (SHG) efficiencies, ranging from 1.3 to 3.3 times that of KDP (KH2PO4), and feature short UV cutoff edges of around 204-208 nm. Additionally, the correlation between microscopic polarizability, optical anisotropy, and the structural evolution of these materials was characterized through structural and theoretical analyses. These findings highlight the potential applications of K x Na3-x La2B3O9 as UV NLO materials and underscore the viability of manipulating A-site cations to fabricate NLO crystals with desirable properties.

Intracranial pressure variability associates with 3-month outcomes in spontaneous intracerebral hemorrhage: a retrospective analysis of 597 patients.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Spontaneous intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) is a devastating type of stroke but most favorable treatments to improve patients' neurological outcomes are not clear. Invasive intracranial pressure (ICP) monitoring is a common treatment of ICH, but whether ICH patients could benefit from ICP monitoring is controversial. ICP variability (IPV) has been shown to correlate with poor outcomes in patients with subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) and traumatic brain injury (TBI), but this association has not been clearly elucidated in ICH patients. We hypothesized that 72 hour-IPV from time of ICP probe implantation is associated with outcomes in ICH patients. METHODS: A retrospective chart review analysis of adult ICH patients, who received ICP monitoring at Huashan Hospital Fudan University between Jan. 2008 and Jan. 2023, was performed. We included ICH patients within 6 hours of signs or symptoms onset. Outcomes of ICH patients were assessed using 3-month mRS, and were dichotomized into poor (mRS 4 to 6) and good (mRS 0 to 3) outcome group. ICPs were recorded from the implantation of invasive ICP probe until it was removed. ICP was analyzed in the acute period, from 0 to 72 hours after ICP implantation. IPV was analyzed by SD (Standard deviation), CV (Coefficient of variation) and SV (Successive variation) of ICP. RESULTS: We analyzed 597 patients' charts. The 1st ICP assessment, immediately after ICP implantation, at median 117 minutes (interquartile range, 82-231 minutes) after admission was mean 20.5±7.8 mmHg. The 2nd ICP assessment, on NICU arrival after operation, was mean 14.6±8.3 mmHg. Poor outcomes occurred in 213 patients (35.68%). In univariate analysis, univariate quintile analysis or multivariate analysis, ICPSD, ICPCV and ICPSV were associated with poor outcomes. CONCLUSIONS: IPV during the first 72 hours after ICP implantation in patients with ICH was independently associated with poor functional outcome at 3-month. Stabilization of IPV during hyperacute and acute period maybe a potential therapeutic target to improve functional outcomes of these patients.

Image dataset for cattle biometric detection and analysis.

The dataset of cattle biometric features is a pivotal asset for improving livestock management and promoting smart agriculture innovation. We obtained a dataset of images capturing the side and back views of Horqin yellow cattle from a farm in eastern Inner Mongolia, China. These data consist of images of 72 free-range Horqin yellow cattle taken with a mobile camera on the grasslands. Each cattle is accompanied by detailed annotations, including oblique body length, withers height, heart girth, hip length, as well as body weight among other crucial data points. This information is considered as high-quality biological feature data. In the field of computer vision, utilizing this dataset can facilitate the construction of deep learning models to develop an automated livestock monitoring system. The aim is to enhance management efficiency and operational effectiveness within the livestock industry. By integrating biological feature information, specific model tools can be employed for body condition assessment and health monitoring research. This approach enables the effective identification and prevention of disease conditions, ultimately providing a deeper level of care and support for livestock welfare and health. The cattle dataset offers support for smart agriculture by enabling the development of intelligent farm management systems. These systems facilitate real-time alerts for livestock health and environmental monitoring. This advancement will drive the modernization and digitization of animal husbandry, fostering agricultural intelligence and sustainable development.

Investigation and Regulation of DNA Nanostructures on Activating cGAS-STING Signaling.

DNA nanostructures have shown great potential in biomedical fields. However, the immune responses, especially the activation of the cGAS-STING signaling (A-cGSs), induced by DNA nanostructures, remain incompletely understood. Here, the ability of various DNA nanostructures from double-stranded DNA (dsDNA), single-stranded tiles (SSTs) to DNA origami is investigated on A-cGSs. Unlike natural dsDNA which triggers potent A-cGSs, the structural interconnectivity of various DNA configurations can substantially reduce the occurrence of A-cGSs, irrespective of their form, dimensions, and conformation. However, wireframe DNA nanostructures can activate the cGAS-STING signaling, suggesting that decreasing A-cGSs is dsDNA compactness-dependent. Based on this, a reconfigurable DNA Origami Domino Array (DODA) is used to systematically interrogate how dsDNA influences the A-cGSs and demonstrates that the length, number, and space of dsDNA array coordinately influence the activation level of cGAS-STING signaling, realizing a regulation of innate immune response. The above data and findings enhance the understanding of how DNA nanostructures affect cellular innate immune responses and new insights into the modulation of innate immune responses by DNA nanomedicine.

The association of psychological and trauma-related factors with biological and facial aging acceleration: evidence from the UK Biobank.

BACKGROUND: Psychological and trauma-related factors are associated with many diseases and mortality. However, a comprehensive assessment of the association between psycho-trauma exposures and aging acceleration is currently lacking. METHODS: Using data from 332,359 UK Biobank participants, we calculated biological aging acceleration, indexed by the presence of leukocyte telomere length (LTL) deviation (i.e., the difference between genetically determined and observed LTL > 0). The acceleration of facial aging (i.e., looking older than the chronological age) was assessed using a self-report question. Then, we estimated the associations of each psycho-trauma factor with biological and facial aging acceleration, using logistic regression models adjusted for multiple important covariates. Furthermore, restricted to 99,180 participants with complete psychological and trauma-related data, we identified clusters of individuals with distinct psycho-trauma patterns using the latent class analysis method and assessed their associations with aging acceleration using similar models. RESULTS: We observed most of the studied psycho-trauma factors were associated with biological and facial aging acceleration. Compared to the "Absence of trauma and psychopathology" cluster, the "adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) with psychopathology" cluster showed strong associations with those aging measurements (odds ratio [OR] = 1.13 [1.05 - 1.23] for biological and 1.52 [1.18 - 1.95] for facial aging acceleration), while no such association was observed for the "ACEs without psychopathology" cluster (1.04 [0.99 - 1.09] and 1.02 [0.84 - 1.24]. CONCLUSIONS: Our study demonstrated significant associations of psycho-trauma factors with both biological and facial aging acceleration. The differential aging consequences observed among ACEs exposed individuals with and without psychopathology prompt interventions aimed to improve individuals' psychological resilience to prevent aging acceleration.

Cleavage of Stau2 by 3C protease promotes EV-A71 replication.

BACKGROUND: Enterovirus A71 (EV-A71), as a neurotropic virus, mainly affects infants and young children under the age of 5. EV-A71 infection causes hand-foot-mouth disease and herpetic angina, and even life-threatening neurological complications. However, the molecular mechanism by which EV-A71 induces nervous system damage remains elusive. The viral protease 3C plays an important role during EV-A71 infection and is also a key intersection of virus-host interactions. Previously, we used yeast two-hybrid to screen out the host protein Double-stranded RNA-binding protein Staufen homolog 2 (Stau2), an important member involved in neuronal mRNA transport, potentially interacts with 3C. METHODS: We used coimmunoprecipitation (Co-IP) and immunofluorescence assay (IFA) to confirm that EV-A71 3C interacts with Stau2. By constructing the mutant of Stau2, we found the specific site where the 3C protease cleaves Stau2. Detection of VP1 protein using Western blotting characterized EV-A71 viral replication, and overexpression or knockdown of Stau2 exhibited effects on EV-A71 replication. The effect of different cleavage products on EV-A71 replication was demonstrated by constructing Stau2 truncates. RESULTS: In this study, we found that EV-A71 3C interacts with Stau2. Stau2 is cleaved by 3C at the Q507-G508 site. Overexpression of Stau2 promotes EV-A71 VP1 protein expression, whereas depletion of Stau2 by small interfering RNA inhibits EV-A71 replication. Stau2 is essential for EV-A71 replication, and the product of Stau2 cleavage by 3C, 508-570 aa, has activity that promotes EV-A71 replication. In addition, we found that mouse Stau2 is also cleaved by EV-A71 3C at the same site. CONCLUSIONS: Our research provides an example for EV-A71-host interaction, enriching key targets of host factors that contribute to viral replication.

Mitochondrial dysfunction induced by ambient fine particulate matter and potential mechanisms.

Air pollution is one of the major environmental threats contributing to the global burden of disease. Among diverse air pollutants, fine particulate matter (PM2.5) poses a significant adverse health impact and causes multi-system damage. As a highly dynamic organelle, mitochondria are essential for cellular energy metabolism and vital for cellular homeostasis and body fitness. Moreover, mitochondria are vulnerable to external insults and common targets for PM2.5-induced cellular damage. The resultant impairment of mitochondrial structure and function initiates the pathogenesis of diverse human diseases. This review mainly summarizes the in vivo and in vitro findings of PM2.5-induced mitochondrial dysfunction and its implication in PM2.5-induced health effects. Furthermore, recent advances toward the underlying mechanisms of PM2.5 and its components-induced mitochondrial dysfunction are also discussed, with an attempt to provide insights into the toxicity of PM2.5 and basic information for devising appropriate intervention strategies.

Targeted Delivery of Circular Single-Stranded DNA Encoding IL-12 for the Treatment of Triple-Negative Breast Cancer.

Interleukin-12 (IL-12) is a critical cytokine with notable anticancer properties, including enhancing T-cell-mediated cancer cell killing, and curbing tumor angiogenesis. To date, many approaches are evaluated to achieve in situ overexpression of IL-12, minimizing leakage and the ensuing toxicity. Here, it is focused on circular single-stranded DNA (Css DNA), a type of DNA characterized by its unique structure, which could be expressed in mammals. It is discovered that Css DNA can induce sustained luciferase expression for half a year by intramuscular injection and showed effective antitumor results by intratumoral injection. Motivated by these findings, a folate-modified LNP system is now developed for the delivery of Css DNA expressing IL-12 for the therapy of 4T1 triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC). This delivery system effectively activates anti-cancer immune responses, slows tumor growth, significantly prolongs survival in animal models, and prevents tumor recurrence. After 6 months of long-term observation, the elevated level of IL-12 is still detectable in the lymph nodes and serum of the cured mice. This study highlights the long-term sustained expression capacity of Css DNA and its ability to inhibit recurrence, and the potential of tumor-targeted LNPs for Css DNA-based cancer therapy, providing a new insight into gene overexpression strategy.

Co-exposure of polyvinyl chloride microplastics with cadmium promotes nonalcoholic fatty liver disease in female ducks through oxidative stress and glycolipid accumulation.

A recently discovered environmental contaminant, microplastics (MP) are capable of amassing within the body and pose a grave threat to the health of both humans and animals. It is widely acknowledged that the combination of cadmium (Cd), a hazardous heavy metal, and microplastics produces synergistic deleterious effects. Nevertheless, the mechanism by which co-exposure to polyvinyl chloride microplastics (PVC-MP) and Cd damages the liver of avian females is unknown. Globally prevalent and the subject of extensive research in mammals, nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is a chronic liver condition. However, the mechanisms underlying injury to the avian digestive system caused by NAFLD remain unknown. Two months of co-exposure to Cd and PVC-MPs, pure water, solitary Cd exposure, single microplastics exposure, and pure water were administered to female Muscovy ducks in this study. The objective of this research was to examine whether the co-exposure of duck liver to PVC-MPs and Cd-induced oxidative stress resulted in NAFLD and subsequent apoptosis of hepatic cells. The study's findings showed that hepatocyte shape and functional activity were negatively impacted by PVC-MP and Cd buildup in liver tissues. Reduced liver organ coefficients, increased alanine aminotransferase (ALT) content, and ultrastructural damage to hepatocyte nuclei and mitochondria are indicators of this. These results point to a possible impairment in liver function. phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase 1 (PCK1) deficiency activates the protein kinase B/phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K/AKT) pathway in the livers of female reproductive ducks that have been damaged by oxidative stress. This stimulation induces lipid deposition, fibrosis, and glycogen accumulation, which ultimately results in hepatocyte apoptosis. In summary, our research provides evidence that PVC-MPs cause oxidative harm to the liver, which subsequently results in fibrosis of liver tissue, hepatic glucolipid metabolism, and ultimately apoptosis.

The efficacy and safety of anti-vascular endothelial growth factor combined with Ahmed glaucoma valve implantation in the treatment of neovascular glaucoma: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background: The intraocular injections of anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (anti-VEGF) demonstrates significant efficacy in inhibiting the formation of ocular neovascularization in neovascular glaucoma (NVG). Ahmed glaucoma valve implantation (AGVI) is extensively employed for the management of diverse glaucoma types. Objective: To further evaluate the efficacy and safety of anti-VEGF combined with AGVI in the treatment of neovascular glaucoma. Methods: A thorough search for randomized controlled trials (RCTs) was conducted across eight databases: PubMed, EMBASE, the Cochrane Library, Web of Science, China National Knowledge Infrastructure, Wanfang, SinoMed, and VIP. The search period was set from the inception of each database until March 2, 2024, to identify RCTs investigating the effectiveness and safety of combining AGVI with anti-VEGF therapy for NVG. We used the Cochrane Risk of Bias Assessment Tool to evaluate the quality of the literature and performed statistical analysis using Stata 15.0 software. Results: Fourteen RCTs were included in this study. Compared with AGVI alone, the combination of anti-VEGF drugs and AGVI can reduce postoperative intraocular pressure (IOP) at 1 week [WMD = -4.03, 95% CI (-5.73, -2.34), p < 0.001], 1 month [WMD = -5.39, 95% CI (-7.05, -3.74), p < 0.001], 3 months [WMD = -6.59, 95% CI (-7.85, -5.32), p < 0.001], 6 months [WMD = -4.99, 95% CI (-9.56, -0.43), p = 0.032], and more than 12 months [WMD = -3.86, 95% CI (-6.82, -0.90), p = 0.011], with a higher Effective rate [RR = 1.27, 95% CI (1.18, 1.37), p < 0.001], decreased incidence of postoperative hyphema [RR = 0.24, 95% CI (0.15, 0.39), p < 0.001], reduced use of postoperative antiglaucoma medications [WMD = -0.48, 95% CI (-0.61, -0.35), p < 0.001], and decreased aqueous humor VEGF levels [SMD = -2.84, 95% CI (-4.37, -1.31), p < 0.001]. Conclusion: In comparison to AGVI alone, the combination of AGVI with anti-VEGF therapy has better effects in reducing IOP at various time intervals, diminishing postoperative antiglaucoma medication requirements and reducing aqueous humor VEGF levels. Furthermore, it effectively minimizes the incidence of postoperative hyphema. Nevertheless, due to the variability in the quality of the trials included, further high-quality experiments will be required in the future to substantiate this conclusion. Systematic review registration: PROSPERO, identifier CRD42024519862, https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/prospero/display_record.php?ID=CRD42024519862.