Advances of antimicrobial dressings loaded with antimicrobial agents in infected wounds.

Wound healing is a complex process that is critical for maintaining the barrier function of the skin. However, when a large quantity of microorganisms invade damaged skin for an extended period, they can cause local and systemic inflammatory responses. If left untreated, this condition may lead to chronic infected wounds. Infected wounds significantly escalate wound management costs worldwide and impose a substantial burden on patients and healthcare systems. Recent clinical trial results suggest that the utilization of effective antimicrobial wound dressing could represent the simplest and most cost-effective strategy for treating infected wounds, but there has hitherto been no comprehensive evaluation reported on the efficacy of antimicrobial wound dressings in promoting wound healing. Therefore, this review aims to systematically summarize the various types of antimicrobial wound dressings and the current research on antimicrobial agents, thereby providing new insights for the innovative treatment of infected wounds.

Spatial Identification of Mott-Schottky Effect at Electrocatalytic Pd/Metal Oxide Interfaces for the Oxygen Reduction Reaction.

To elucidate the microstructure and charge transfer behavior at the interface of Pd/metal oxide semiconductor (MOS) catalysts and systematically explore the crucial role of the Mott-Schottky effect in the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) electrocatalysis process, this study established a testing system for spatially identifying Mott-Schottky effects and electronic properties at Pd/MOS interfaces, leveraging highly sensitive Kelvin probe force microscopy (KPFM). This system enabled visualization and quantification of the surface potential difference and Mott-Schottky barrier height (ΦSBH) at the Pd/MOS heterojunction interfaces. Furthermore, a series of Pd/MOS Mott-Schottky catalysts were constructed based on differences in work functions between Pd and n-type MOS. The abundant oxygen vacancies in these catalysts facilitated the adsorption and activation of oxygen molecules. Notably, the intensity of the built-in electric field in the Pd/MOS Mott-Schottky catalysts was calculated through surface potential and zeta potential analysis, systematically correlating the Mott-Schottky effect at the heterojunction interface of Pd/MOS with ORR activity and kinetics. By comprehensively exploring the correlation between the Mott-Schottky effect and ORR performance in Pd/MOS catalysts using the KPFM testing system, this study provides necessary tools and approaches for a deep understanding of heterogeneous interface charge transfer mechanisms, as well as for optimizing catalyst design and enhancing ORR performance.

One-Step Spraying Strategy for Fabricating Bioinspired, Graphene-Based, and Multifunctional-Integrated Coatings on Structural Steel with Good Water Repellency, Fireproofing, Anticorrosion, and Durability.

Traditionally, many coatings were merely concentrated on settling the inherent fire protection problem of steel structures, while surface contamination and corrosion susceptibility should also be considered. Concurrently addressing these problems in fireproof efficiency and surface multifunctionality has become an issue of great significance in further expanding the application value in industrial and daily scenarios. Based on this condition, ecofriendly, graphene-based, and superhydrophobic coatings with multifunctional integration were constructed on steel via a one-step spraying method. The as-prepared coatings mainly consist of epoxy resin (EP), silicone resin (SR), a cyclodextrin-based flame retardant (MCDPM), expandable graphite (EG), and multilayered graphene (MG). The results demonstrate that the water contact angle (WCA) and water sliding angle (WSA) of as-prepared coatings can reach 156.8 ± 1.6 and 5.8 ± 0.7°, respectively, revealing good water repellency and self-cleaning properties. The coatings can also exhibit adequate adaptability for various substrates including wood, polyurethane foam, and cotton fabrics. Besides, good durability and robustness of coatings have been also verified via acid/alkali immersion, outdoor exposure, O2/plasma etching, and linear abrasion tests. Simultaneously, the coatings can exhibit excellent anticorrosion capacity for steel materials via a double barrier effect. Most importantly, the coatings have exhibited the lowest backside temperature (234.5 °C) during fire impact tests, suggesting excellent fireproof and heat insulation performance. This fact can be ascribed to the conjunct action between the physical/chemical charring process of flame retardants and the remarkable thermal stability of graphene. Consequently, this article can be expected to further promote the development and application of multifunctional-integrated coatings for steel structures in more fields.

Feasibility analysis of reclaimed water reuse based on water quality data and microbial community structure study.

The ecological recharge of urban landscapes with reclaimed water plays a crucial role in alleviating urban water shortage. In Yinchuan, we examined the effects of recharging urban rivers with either Yellow River or reclaimed water on the abundance and diversity of microbial communities. This study aimed to support the effective utilization of reclaimed water. We monitored six sites: three in the reclaimed water recharge area (Lucaowa inlet (ZLJ), Lucaowa channel (ZLH), and Lucaowa outlet (ZLC)) and three in the Yellow River water recharge area (Ningcheng lock (FNCZ), Qingfengjie (FQFJ), and Laifosi (FLFS)). Various indicators (pH, turbidity, temperature (T), dissolved oxygen (DO), electrical conductivity (EC), chemical oxygen demand (COD), total phosphorus (TP), total nitrogen (TN), ammonia nitrogen (NH3-N), and nitrate nitrogen (NO3-N)) were used to assess the water quality. The microbial community abundance and diversity were evaluated using 16S rRNA high-throughput sequencing. The results indicated that throughout the monitoring period, the reclaimed water recharge area exhibited increased water transparency and greater microbial community abundance and diversity than the Yellow River water recharge area. However, the reclaimed water recharge area also showed significantly higher levels of nitrogen, phosphorus, organic matter, and electrical conductivity, along with an increase in Firmicutes. Seasonal changes significantly influenced water quality factors, significantly affecting Cyanobacteria and Campylobacter populations, as demonstrated by RDA analysis, which showed a close relationship between microbial communities and environmental factors. Further comparative analysis revealed that erythrocytic bacteria were predominant in the reclaimed water recharge area, whereas Actinobacteria, Planktonia, and Aspergillus spp. were more significant in the Yellow River water recharge area. Predictive analysis of microbial functions suggested that carbon and nitrogen cycle-related functions were more abundant in the reclaimed water recharge area, indicating that reclaimed water recharge could improve the self-purification capacity of the water body.

Eosinophilic myenteric ganglionitis: A case in a 14-year-old-male.

Chronic intestinal pseudo-obstruction (CIPO) is a rare, severe, and often debilitating condition that can result in significant morbidity and mortality amongst the pediatric population. Eosinophilic myenteric ganglionitis (EMG) is a rare inflammatory neuropathy of the myenteric plexus with characteristic eosinophilic infiltration with and without hypogangliosis. The disorder has been previously documented as a cause of CIPO. We report the case of a 14-year-old male with no clear obstructive cause who, after multiple visits with a myriad of tests and workups, underwent surgical exploratory laparoscopy with the pathology returning a diagnosis of EMG with unique lymphocytic and eosinophilic cell components.

A solar-driven nanocellulose Janus aerogel with excellent floating stability and dual functions of oil-water separation and photocatalytic degradation of organic pollutants.

Effective and practical cleanup of viscous crude oil spills is extremely important in real harsh marine environments. Herein, we designed a solar-driven, nanocellulose-based Janus aerogel (Janus-A) with excellent floating stability and dual function of oil-water separation and degradation of aqueous organic pollutants. Janus-A, with its amphiprotic nature, was prepared through polypyrrole (PPy) deposition, freeze-drying, octyltrichlorosilane (OTS) impregnation, TiO2 spraying on the bottom surface, and UV irradiation treatment. The photothermal conversion effect of PPy coating raised the surface temperature of aerogel to 75.8 °C within 6 min under one simulated solar irradiation, which greatly reduced the viscosity of the crude oil and increased the absorption capacity of the aerogel to 36.7 g/g. Benefiting from the balance between the buoyancy generated by the hydrophobic part and water absorption of the hydrophilic part, Janus-A showed excellent floating stability under simulated winds and waves. In addition, Janus-A exhibited high degradation efficiency for organic pollutants in water owing to the synergistic photocatalytic properties of TiO2 and PPy. These excellent performances make Janus-A ideal for integrated water-oil separation and water remediation.

Mimics of Host Defense Peptides Derived from Dendronized Polylysines for Antibacterial and Anticancer Therapy.

Bacteria in tumor microenvironments promote carcinogenesis and trigger complications, suggesting the significance of intervening in bacterial growth in cancer treatment. Here, dendrimer-derived mimics (DMs) of host defense peptides (HDPs) were designed for antibacterial and anticancer therapy, which feature a dendronized polylysine core and polycaprolactone arms. DMs displayed not only remarkable activities against Staphylococcus aureus and human lung cancer cells, but also exceptional selectivity. The membranolytic mechanism revealed by morphology analysis explained their low susceptibility to induce resistance. Further, the optimized DM inhibited tumor growth in the subcutaneous tumor model when administered via intraperitoneal injection and exhibited negligible toxicity to tissues. Overall, we combined the superiority of dendrimers and the mechanism from HDPs to design agents with dual antibacterial and anticancer activities that possess great potential for clinical oncology therapy.

The aberrant tonsillar microbiota modulates autoimmune responses in rheumatoid arthritis.

Palatine tonsils are the only air-contacted lymphoid organs that constantly engage in crosstalk with commensal microorganisms and serve as the first handling sites against microbial antigens. While tonsil inflammations have been implicated in various autoimmune diseases, including rheumatoid arthritis (RA), the precise role of tonsillar microbiota in autoimmune pathogenesis remains inadequately characterized. In this study, we conducted a profiling of the tonsillar microbiota and identified a notable dysbiosis in RA patients, particularly within the Streptococcus genus. Specifically, RA patients exhibited an enrichment of pathogenic Streptococcus species, including S. pyogenes, S. dysgalactiae, and S. agalactiae. Colonization with these bacteria significantly exacerbated arthritis severity and increased autoimmune responses in collagen-induced arthritis (CIA). Furthermore, immunization with peptides derived from these pathogenic Streptococcus species directly induced experimental arthritis. Conversely, RA patients demonstrated a marked deficiency in commensal Streptococcus members, notably S. salivarius. Treatment of CIA mice with S. salivarius attenuated the progression of arthritis and downregulated autoimmune responses. These findings highlight a functional link between tonsillar microbiota and RA, shedding light on their contribution to autoimmunity.

Radiopaque and Biocompatible PMMA Bone Cement Triggered by Nano Tantalum Carbide and Its Osteogenic Performance.

Poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) bone cements have been widely used in orthopedics; thanks to their excellent mechanical properties, biocompatibility, and chemical stability. Barium sulfate and zirconia are usually added into PMMA bone cement to enhance the X-ray radiopacity, while the mechanical strength, radiopacity, and biocompatibility are not well improved. In this study, an insoluble and corrosion-resistant ceramic, tantalum carbide (TaC), was added into the PMMA bone cement as radiopacifies, significantly improving the mechanical, radiopaque, biocompatibility, and osteogenic performance of bone cement. The TaC-PMMA bone cement with varied TaC contents exhibits compressive strength over 100 MPa, higher than that of the commercial 30% BaSO4-PMMA bone cement. Intriguingly, when the TaC content reaches 20%, the radiopacity is equivalent to the commercial bone cement with 30% of BaSO4 in PMMA. The cytotoxicity and osteogenic performance indicate that the incorporation of TaC not only enhances the osteogenic properties of PMMA but also does not reduce cell viability. This study suggests that TaC could be a superior and multifunctional radio-pacifier for PMMA bone cement, offering a promising avenue for improving patient outcomes in orthopedic applications.

Strategies and Mechanisms of First-Row Transition Metal-Regulated Radical C-H Functionalization.

Radical C-H functionalization represents a useful means of streamlining synthetic routes by avoiding substrate preactivation and allowing access to target molecules in fewer steps. The first-row transition metals (Ti, V, Cr, Mn, Fe, Co, Ni, and Cu) are Earth-abundant and can be employed to regulate radical C-H functionalization. The use of such metals is desirable because of the diverse interaction modes between first-row transition metal complexes and radical species including radical addition to the metal center, radical addition to the ligand of metal complexes, radical substitution of the metal complexes, single-electron transfer between radicals and metal complexes, hydrogen atom transfer between radicals and metal complexes, and noncovalent interaction between the radicals and metal complexes. Such interactions could improve the reactivity, diversity, and selectivity of radical transformations to allow for more challenging radical C-H functionalization reactions. This review examines the achievements in this promising area over the past decade, with a focus on the state-of-the-art while also discussing existing limitations and the enormous potential of high-value radical C-H functionalization regulated by these metals. The aim is to provide the reader with a detailed account of the strategies and mechanisms associated with such functionalization.

Defective endomembrane dynamics in Rab27a deficiency impairs nucleic acid sensing and cytokine secretion in immune cells.

Endosomal Toll-like receptors (eTLRs) are essential for the sensing of non-self through RNA and DNA detection. Here, using spatiotemporal analysis of vesicular dynamics, super-resolution microscopy studies, and functional assays, we show that endomembrane defects associated with the deficiency of the small GTPase Rab27a cause delayed eTLR ligand recognition, defective early signaling, and impaired cytokine secretion. Rab27a-deficient neutrophils show retention of eTLRs in amphisomes and impaired ligand internalization. Extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) signaling and ß2-integrin upregulation, early responses to TLR7 and TLR9 ligands, are defective in Rab27a deficiency. CpG-stimulated Rab27a-deficient neutrophils present increased tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α) secretion and decreased secretion of a selected group of mediators, including interleukin (IL)-10. In vivo, CpG-challenged Rab27a-null mice show decreased production of type I interferons (IFNs) and IFN-γ, and the IFN-α secretion defect is confirmed in Rab27a-null plasmacytoid dendritic cells. Our findings have significant implications for immunodeficiency, inflammation, and CpG adjuvant vaccination.

Heat-stress memory enhances the acclimation of a migratory insect pest to global warming.

In the face of rising global temperatures, the mechanisms behind an organism's ability to acclimate to heat stress remain enigmatic. The rice leaf folder, Cnaphalocrocis medinalis, traditionally viewed as temperature-sensitive, paradoxically exhibits robust larval acclimation to heat stress. This study used the heat-acclimated strain HA39, developed through multigenerational exposure to 39°C during the larval stage, and the unacclimated strain HA27 reared at 27°C to unravel the transgenerational effects of heat acclimation and its regulatory mechanisms. Heat acclimation for larvae incurred a fitness cost in pupae when exposed to high temperature, yet a significant transgenerational effect surfaced, revealing heightened fitness benefit in pupae from HA39, even without additional heat exposure during larval recovery at 27°C. This transgenerational effect exhibited a short-term memory, diminishing after two recovery generations. Moreover, the effect correlated with increased superoxide dismutase (SOD) enzyme activity and expression levels of oxidoreductase genes, representing physiological and molecular foundations of heat acclimation. Heat-acclimated larvae displayed elevated DNA methylation levels, while pupae from HA39, in recovery generations, exhibited decreased methylation indicated by the upregulation of a demethylase gene and downregulation of two methyltransferase genes at high temperatures. In summary, heat acclimation induces DNA methylation, orchestrating heat-stress memory and influencing the expression levels of oxidoreductase genes and SOD activity. Heat-stress memory enhances the acclimation of the migratory insect pest to global warming.

Iodophor-/H2O2-Mediated 2-Sulfonylation of Indoles and N-Methylpyrrole in Aqueous Phase.

A convenient and efficient strategy for the preparation of 2-sulfonylindoles has been achieved through iodophor-/H2O2-mediated 2-sulfonylation of indoles with readily available sulfonyl hydrazides in the aqueous phase. Iodophor is commercially available and serves as the green catalyst and aqueous phase. A series of 2-sulfonylated products from indoles and N-methylpyrrole were synthesized in moderate yields in only 10 min. Control experiments were also conducted to reveal the mechanism of action. This method is environment friendly, easy to operate and suitable for a wide range of substrates.

Global, regional, and national time trends in incidence for depressive disorders, from 1990 to 2019: an age-period-cohort analysis for the GBD 2019.

BACKGROUND: Even with advances in primary health care, depressive disorders remain a major global public health problem. We conducted an in-depth analysis of global, regional and national trends in depressive disorders incidence over the past 30 years. METHODS: Data on the incidence of depressive disorders were obtained by sex (female, male, and both), location (204 countries), age (5-84 years), year (1990-2019) from the Global Burden of Disease Study (GBD) 2019. Further, age-period-cohort modeling was used to estimate the net drift, local drift, age, period and cohort effects between 1990 and 2019. RESULTS: In 2019, although the incidence of depressive disorders has increased by 59.3% to 290 million (95% UI: 256, 328), the age-standardized incidence rate has decreased by 2.35% to 3588.25 per 100,000 people (3152.71, 4060.42) compared to 1990. There was an emerging transition of incidences from the young and middle-aged population to the old population. From 1990 to 2019, the net drift of incidence rate ranged from -0.54% (-0.61%, -0.47%) in low-middle Socio-demographic Index (SDI) regions to 0.52% (0.25%, 0.79%) in high SDI regions. Globally, the incidence rate of depressive disorders increases with age, period effects showing a decreasing risk and cohort effects beginning to decline after the 1960s. CONCLUSIONS: Our current findings reflect substantial health disparities and potential priority-setting of depressive disorders incidence in the three dimensions of age, period and cohort across SDI regions, countries. The scope of healthcare to improve the progression of depressive disorders events can be expanded to include males, females of all ages.

Treatment of HER2-Positive Breast Cancer with Brain Metastases Using Anlotinib and Trastuzumab Deruxtecan: A Case Report.

Breast cancer with brain metastasis accounts for the second largest number of brain metastases among solid malignancies. Despite advances in HER2-targeted therapy, 50% of patients with human epidermal growth factor receptor 2-positive (HER2+) breast cancer develop brain metastases and are associated with poor outcomes. In this article, we report the case of a patient with HER2+ metastatic breast cancer who developed brain metastases, despite experiencing a durable effect on extracranial metastases after treatment with trastuzumab and pertuzumab. The patient exhibited intracranial progression while receiving treatment with trastuzumab deruxtecan monotherapy after secondary brain radiotherapy and multiple lines of therapy with anti-HER2 agents, such as pyrotinib, lapatinib, tucatinib, and ado-trastuzumab emtansine. However, the administration of anlotinib (an antiangiogenesis medication) and trastuzumab deruxtecan resulted in intracranial and extracranial partial response and was linked to manageable side effects. The present case indicates that the combination of anlotinib and trastuzumab deruxtecan may be a promising treatment option for patients with HER2+ breast cancer with brain metastasis. Nevertheless, further studies are warranted to verify the present findings.

Enhanced protection for interfacial lipid ozonolysis by sulfur-containing amino acids.

Sulfur-containing amino acids have been proposed as drugs for lipid oxidation associated with diseases for a long time, but the molecular-level mechanism on the effectiveness of sulfur-containing amino acids against lipid oxidation remains elusive. In this work, with the interfacial sensitivity mass spectrometry method, oxidation of 1-palmitoyl-2-oleoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphatidylglycerol (POPG), a widely used model lipid, was significantly inhibited on hung droplet surface in presence of sulfur-containing amino acids, such as cysteine (Cys) and methionine (Met). Both the Cys and Met showed a self-sacrificing protection. The amino acids with -S-R tails (R referring to methyl or t-butyl group) showed more effective against POPG oxidation than those with -SH tails, and this process was not related to the conformations of amino acids. The low effectiveness of Cys during the interfacial chemistry was proved to arise from the formation of disulfide bond. This study extends the current understanding of chemistry of sulfur-containing amino acids and provides insights to aid the sulfur-containing amino acids against cell oxidation.

Correlation between abdominal computed tomography signs and postoperative prognosis for patients with colorectal cancer.

BACKGROUND: Patients with different stages of colorectal cancer (CRC) exhibit different abdominal computed tomography (CT) signs. Therefore, the influence of CT signs on CRC prognosis must be determined. AIM: To observe abdominal CT signs in patients with CRC and analyze the correlation between the CT signs and postoperative prognosis. METHODS: The clinical history and CT imaging results of 88 patients with CRC who underwent radical surgery at Xingtan Hospital Affiliated to Shunde Hospital of Southern Medical University were retrospectively analyzed. Univariate and multivariate Cox regression analyses were used to explore the independent risk factors for postoperative death in patients with CRC. The three-year survival rate was analyzed using the Kaplan-Meier curve, and the correlation between postoperative survival time and abdominal CT signs in patients with CRC was analyzed using Spearman correlation analysis. RESULTS: For patients with CRC, the three-year survival rate was 73.86%. The death group exhibited more severe characteristics than the survival group. A multivariate Cox regression model analysis showed that body mass index (BMI), degree of periintestinal infiltration, tumor size, and lymph node CT value were independent factors influencing postoperative death (P < 0.05 for all). Patients with characteristics typical to the death group had a low three-year survival rate (log-rank χ 2 = 66.487, 11.346, 12.500, and 27.672, respectively, P < 0.05 for all). The survival time of CRC patients was negatively correlated with BMI, degree of periintestinal infiltration, tumor size, lymph node CT value, mean tumor long-axis diameter, and mean tumor short-axis diameter (r = -0.559, 0.679, -0.430, -0.585, -0.425, and -0.385, respectively, P < 0.05 for all). BMI was positively correlated with the degree of periintestinal invasion, lymph node CT value, and mean tumor short-axis diameter (r = 0.303, 0.431, and 0.437, respectively, P < 0.05 for all). CONCLUSION: The degree of periintestinal infiltration, tumor size, and lymph node CT value are crucial for evaluating the prognosis of patients with CRC.

Grp78 regulates NLRP3 inflammasome and participates in Sjogren's syndrome.

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of the present study was to potential effects of forsythiaside A (FA) on Sjogren's syndrome (SS). METHODS: Enzyme linked immunosorbent assay for detecting cytokines and Western blotting was used for detecting related protein expression. RESULTS: FA effectively reduced the secretion of inflammatory cytokines, the expression of Caspase-1 and NLRP3 proteins and the expression of p65 in SS. FA also effectively inhibited the high expression of Grp78 in SS. When Grp78 expression was silenced, it effectively reduced the secretion of inflammatory cytokines, the expression of Caspase-1 and NLRP3 proteins and the expression of p65 in the nucleus in SS. FA effectively inhibit the secretion of inflammatory cytokines induced by overexpression of Grp78, the expression of Caspase-1 and NLRP3 proteins and the expression of p65 in the nucleus in SS. CONCLUSION: FA induces the degradation of Grp78 protein, regulates the NF-κB signaling pathway in SS and inhibited NLRP3 inflammasome activation and reduced the release of inflammatory cytokines to alleviate SS.

Anionic Metal-Organic Framework Derived Cu Catalyst for Selective CO2 Electroreduction to Hydrocarbons.

Metal-organic frameworks (MOFs)-related Cu materials are promising candidates for promoting electrochemical CO2 reduction to produce valuable chemical feedstocks. However, many MOF materials inevitable undergo reconstruction under reduction conditions; therefore, exploiting the restructuring of MOF materials is of importance for the rational design of high-performance catalyst targeting multi-carbon products (C2). Herein, a facile solvent process is choosed to fabricate HKUST-1 with an anionic framework (a-HKUST-1) and utilize it as a pre-catalyst for alkaline CO2RR. The a-HKUST-1 catalyst can be electrochemically reduced into Cu with significant structural reconstruction under operating reaction conditions. The anionic HKUST-1 derived Cu catalyst (aHD-Cu) delivers a FEC2H4 of 56% and FEC2 of ≈80% at -150 mA cm-2 in alkaline electrolyte. The resulting aHD-Cu catalyst has a high electrochemically active surface area and low coordinated sites. In situ Raman spectroscopy indicates that the aHD-Cu surface displays higher coverage of *CO intermediates, which favors the production of hydrocarbons.