Clinical characteristics and risk factors associated with diverse manifestations of COVID-19 in patients aged 85 years and older.

Objective: The goal of this study is to assess the clinical attributes exhibited by patients aged 85 years and older who present different manifestations of COVID-19, and to examine the factors influencing the classification of the disease severity. Method: This retrospective study was conducted at a single center, encompassing an analysis of clinical data obtained from patients with COVID-19 admitted to a general geriatric hospital in Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China, during the period from December 20, 2022, to February 1, 2023. The study focused on 91 eligible patients whose disease severity was compared based on the imaging findings. Results: A total of 91 patients aged 85 years and older, with a median age of 92, including 46 males, 10 exhibiting mild symptoms, 48 moderate cases, and 33 severe cases met the inclusion criteria. Notably, disease severity displayed a significant correlation with age (p < 0.011). All patients presented with complicated chronic underlying conditions and a history of prolonged medication use. Rheumatic immune diseases (p = 0.040) and endocrine medications, primarily hypoglycemic agents (p = 0.034), exhibited statistical significance. Additionally, markers such as lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) (p = 0.030), interleukin 6 (IL-6) (p = 0.014), and D-dimer (p = 0.007) revealed significant associations with disease severity. Chest computed tomography scans predominantly revealed inflammatory features (n = 81, 89.0%). Notably, patients classified as having mild or moderate conditions exhibited eventual improvement, while 13 patients (39.4%) among the severe cases succumbed to the disease. Conclusion: The classification of disease among patients aged 85 years or older old is correlated with advanced age, concurrent rheumatic immune diseases, and prolonged administration of endocrine medications. Furthermore, patients with elevated levels of LDH, IL-6, and D-dimer demonstrated a higher propensity for developing severe diseases.

Association between physical activity and mental health problems among children and adolescents: A moderated mediation model of emotion regulation and gender.

BACKGROUND: Studies suggests a correlation between physical activity and mental health, particularly in children and adolescents. However, the specific mechanisms underlying this relationship is not fully understood. This study was designed to investigate the potential mediating role of emotion regulation and the moderating influence of gender through a moderated mediation model. METHODS: A sample size of 4763 students (mean age = 11.12 ±â€¯1.48 years, 52.8 % females) from seven schools in Shenzhen, China, was recruited during the period of October to November 2023. The participants were administered self-reported questionnaires assessing physical activity, mental health, and emotion regulation. The moderated mediation model was analyzed. Data analysis was conducted using SPSS 25.0. RESULTS: The results indicate a negative correlation between physical activity and mental health problems (all p < 0.001). This association was partially mediated by both cognitive reappraisal and expressive suppression (all p < 0.001). Additionally, gender significant moderated the path between physical activity and emotion regulation, specifically cognitive reappraisal (p < 0.001) and expressive suppression (p < 0.01). LIMITATIONS: As a result of the cross-sectional design, no causal relationship could be established, and measurement bias should be noted. CONCLUSION: Physical activity is found to have a positive effect on the mental health problem of children and adolescents with emotion regulation serve as a partial mediator in the relationship. Additionally, in the mediation model, gender influences the first half of the path.

A natural language processing system for the efficient extraction of cell markers.

Single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) has emerged as a pivotal tool for exploring cellular landscapes across diverse species and tissues. Precise annotation of cell types is essential for understanding these landscapes, relying heavily on empirical knowledge and curated cell marker databases. In this study, we introduce MarkerGeneBERT, a natural language processing (NLP) system designed to extract critical information from the literature regarding species, tissues, cell types, and cell marker genes in the context of single-cell sequencing studies. Leveraging MarkerGeneBERT, we systematically parsed full-text articles from 3702 single-cell sequencing-related studies, yielding a comprehensive collection of 7901 cell markers representing 1606 cell types across 425 human tissues/subtissues, and 8223 cell markers representing 1674 cell types across 482 mouse tissues/subtissues. Comparative analysis against manually curated databases demonstrated that our approach achieved 76% completeness and 75% accuracy, while also unveiling 89 cell types and 183 marker genes absent from existing databases. Furthermore, we successfully applied the compiled brain tissue marker gene list from MarkerGeneBERT to annotate scRNA-seq data, yielding results consistent with original studies. Conclusions: Our findings underscore the efficacy of NLP-based methods in expediting and augmenting the annotation and interpretation of scRNA-seq data, providing a systematic demonstration of the transformative potential of this approach. The 27323 manual reviewed sentences for training MarkerGeneBERT and the source code are hosted at https://github.com/chengpeng1116/MarkerGeneBERT .

EtROP38 suppresses apoptosis of host cells infected with Eimeria tenella by inhibition of the p38MAPK pathway.

Coccidiosis is an important parasitic disease that has serious adverse effects on the global poultry industry. The mechanism by which the pathogenic factors of Eimeria tenella damage host cells is unknown. Some kinases from the rhoptry compartment can regulate apoptosis of host cells. This study focused on revealing the role and critical nodes of E. tenella rhoptry protein (EtROP) 38 in controlling the apoptosis of host cells via the P38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) signaling pathway. The cells were treated with EtROP38 protein, siRNA p38MAPK, or both. The rate of infection, apoptosis, and the dynamic changes in the expression and activation of key factor genes of the P38MAPK signaling pathway in host cells infected with E. tenella were measured. The results showed that the addition of EtROP38 and/or knockdown of the host cells p38 gene reduced the apoptosis rate of cecal epithelial cells (CECS), decreased the mRNA expressions of p38, p53, c-myc, c-fos, and c-jun and increased the expression of p65, decreased the protein expressions of c-myc, c-fos, and c-jun, decreased the p38 protein phosphorylation level, and increased the p65 protein phosphorylation level in CECS. When E. tenella was inoculated for 4-96 h, the addition of Et ROP38 and/or host cell p38 knockdown both increased the infection rate of host cells, and this effect was more pronounced with the addition of EtROP38 with the host cell p38 knockdown. These observations indicate that E. tenella can inhibits the activation of the p38MAPK signaling pathway in host cells via EtROP38, which suppresses apoptosis in host cells.

Impacts of root exudates on the toxic response of Chrysanthemum coronarium L. to the co-pollution of nanoplastic particles and tetracycline.

Nano polystyrene (PS) particles and antibiotics universally co-exist, posing a threat to crop plants and hence human health, nevertheless, there is limited research on their combined toxic effects along with major influential factors, especially root exudates, on crop plants. This study aimed to investigate the response of Chrysanthemum coronarium L. to the co-pollution of nanoplastics and tetracycline (TC), as well as the effect of root exudates on this response. Based on a hydroponic experiment, the biochemical and physiological indices of Chrysanthemum coronarium L. were measured after 7 days of exposure. Results revealed that the co-pollution of TC and PS caused significant oxidative damage to the plants, resulting in reduced biomass. Amongst the two contaminants, TC played a more prominent role. PS could enter the root tissue, and the uptake of TC and PS by plant roots was synergetic. Malic acid, oxalic acid, and formic acid could explain 65.1% of the variation in biochemical parameters and biomass of the roots. These compounds affected the photosynthesis and biomass of Chrysanthemum coronarium L. by gradually lowering root reactive oxygen species (ROS) and leaf ROS. In contrast, the impact of rhizobacteria on the toxic response of the plants was relatively minor. These findings suggested that root exudates could alleviate the toxic response of plants to the co-pollution of TC and PS. This study enhances our understanding of the role of root exudates, providing insights for agricultural management and ensuring food safety.

Genome-wide analysis of the AP2/ERF gene family in Pennisetum glaucum and the negative role of PgRAV_01 in drought tolerance.

APETALA2/ethylene-responsive (AP2/ERF) plays crucial roles in resisting diverse stresses and in regulating plant growth and development. However, little is known regarding the structure and function of the AP2/ERF genes in pearl millet (Pennisetum glaucum). The AP2/ERF gene family may be involved in the development and maintenance of P. glaucum resilience to abiotic stresses, central to its role as a vital forage and cereal crop. In this study, PgAP2/ERF family members were identified and comprehensive bioinformatics analyses were performed, including determination of phylogenetic relationships, gene structures, conserved motifs, chromosomal localization, gene duplication, expression pattern, protein interaction network, and functional characterization of PgRAV_01 (Related to ABI3/VP1). In total, 78 PgAP2/ERF members were identified in the P. glaucum genome and classified into five subfamilies: AP2, ERF, DREB, RAV, and soloist. Members within the same clade of the PgAP2/ERF family showed similar gene structures and motif compositions. Six duplication events were identified in the PgAP2/ERF family; calculation of Ka/Ks values showed that purification selection dominated the evolution of PgAP2/ERFs. Subsequently, a potential interaction network of PgAP2/ERFs was generated to predict the interaction relationships. Additionally, abiotic stress expression analysis showed that most PgAP2/ERFs were induced in response to drought and heat stresses. Furthermore, overexpression of PgRAV_01 negatively regulated drought tolerance in Nicotiana benthamiana by reducing its antioxidant capacity and osmotic adjustment. Taken together, these results provide valuable insights into the characteristics and functions of PgAP2/ERF genes, with implications for abiotic stress tolerance, and will ultimately contribute to the genetic improvement of cereal crop breeding.

Risk perception and quality of working life of nurses in infectious disease department in China: The chain-mediating effects of psychological resilience and social support.

AIM: To determine whether social support and psychological resiliency are significant mediators of the associations between risk perception and quality of working life in Chinese nurses working with infectious diseases. DESIGN: A cross-sectional study. METHODS: A cross-sectional survey of 879 nurses in infectious diseases department of specialty or general hospitals in China completed online questionnaires on the nurses' risk perception questionnaire, quality of working life, psychological resilience and the social support rating scale. RESULTS: Our study observed that risk perception directly negatively influences the quality of working life of infectious disease nurses, while psychological resilience and social support positively chain mediate this relationship. CONCLUSION: Critical elements impacting the quality of working life of infectious disease nurses are risk perception, psychological resilience and social support. Managers may think about decreasing the level of risk perception and enhancing the quality of working life of infectious disease nurses by enhancing their psychological resilience and providing support. PUBLIC CONTRIBUTION: The quality of working life of infectious disease nurses should be a priority for nursing management; it is critical to maintain their health and well-being, raise the quality of care and lower turnover. Managers should create resilience-building programmes and support tools to assist nurses properly perceive risks and adopt protective strategies to deal with them to improve the quality of working life for nurses.

Diallyl trisulfide alleviates dextran sulphate sodium-induced colitis in mice by inhibiting NLRP3 inflammasome activation via ROS/Trx-1 pathway.

Diallyl trisulfide (DATS), a sulphur-containing compound isolated from the medicinal food plant garlic, has been previously reported to attenuate experimental colitis induced by either dextran sodium sulphate (DSS) or 2,4,6-trinitrobenzenesulfonic acid (TNBS) in mice; however, the underlying mechanism remains to be identified. In this study, we deciphered the key mechanism by which DATS alleviates ulcerative colitis (UC). We showed that oral administration of DATS for 10 consecutive days greatly restrained the infiltration of macrophages and the pathological changes in colonic tissues of mice with DSS-induced colitis. DATS treatment notably dampened the content of IL-1ß and IL-18 and suppressed NLRP3 inflammasome activation in colon. Mechanistically, DATS effectively diminished the generation of ROS in macrophages. The suppressive effect of DATS on the activation of NLRP3 inflammasome and downregulation of IL-18 and IL-1ß levels was blunted by xanthine oxidase. Further studies revealed that DATS inhibited NF-κB pathway activation by suppressing the expression of Trx-1, thereby inhibiting NLRP3 inflammasome activation. Trx-1 overexpression and interference in macrophages promoted and diminished NLRP3 inflammasome activation, respectively. In summary, garlic and its main active ingredient DATS have potentials to prevent and treat UC, and DATS functions by inhibiting NLRP3 inflammasome activation via Trx-1/ROS pathway.

A Psychometric Evaluation of the Revised Version of the Adult ADHD Self-Report Scale in Chinese Adolescents.

BACKGROUND: Adolescent-specific ADHD self-report screening measures can greatly increase the likelihood of correct diagnosis and timely treatment of ADHD in adolescents. This study provides preliminary evidence for evaluating the reliability and validity of the Adult ADHD Self-Report Scale-Revised (ASRS-R) in a school-based sample of Chinese adolescents. METHODS: The ASRS-R and the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ) were administered to 867 adolescents aged 12 to 16 years (Mage = 13.08 years). Construct validity was assessed using correlation analysis of the ASRS-R with the SDQ. Moreover, confirmatory factor analysis (CFA), internal consistency, retest reliability, and measurement invariance of the scales were examined by gender. RESULTS: CFA showed a two-dimensional factor structure of the ASRS-R, and the model fitted the data well (χ2/df = 4.370, RMSEA = 0.062, TLI = 0.932, CFI = 0.940, GFI = 0.927, AGFI = 0.907, and SRMR = 0.038). The ASRS-R scale was invariant across gender and had satisfactory internal consistency (Cronbach's alpha = .934) and test-retest reliability (intraclass correlation coefficient = .874). The construct validity, as calculated using the SDQ, was also acceptable. CONCLUSION: The ASRS-R can be a psychometrically reliable self-report instrument and provide preliminary support as a simple tool for identifying ADHD symptoms in Chinese adolescents. The findings provide evidence for extending the application of the ASRS, previously limited to adults, to the adolescent populations.

Development and validation of an infectious disease control competency scale for public health professionals.

BACKGROUND: Infectious diseases persistently pose global threats, and it is imperative to accelerate the professionalization of public health workforce. This study aimed to develop and validate the infectious disease control competency scale (IDCCS) for public health professionals to fill a theoretical gap and elevate practical capabilities by informing public health professionals' development goals. METHODS: The initial item pool was generated through a literature review, and categorized into three dimensions (knowledge, practical skills, and leadership) based on the competency iceberg model and public health leadership framework. A two-round Delphi process was conducted to determine indicators within the scale. A pilot survey was utilized for item analysis and exploratory factor analysis (EFA). A formal survey was employed for confirmatory factor analysis (CFA). The weight value of each indicator was calculated using the analytic hierarchy process. RESULTS: An initial scale with three primary items, 14 secondary items, and 81 tertiary items was generated. Twenty experts participated in the two rounds of the Delphi process. Authority coefficients exceeded 0.9 in both rounds. Kendall's W was 0.29 and 0.19, respectively (both P < 0.001). Item analysis presented a Cronbach's Alpha of 0.98, with corrected item-total correlation coefficients ranging from 0.33 to 0.78. EFA demonstrated that cumulative variance explanations for the four primary dimensions (knowledge, practical skills, leadership, and personal quality) were 77.463%, 73.976%, 81.174%, and 68.654%, respectively. CFA indicated that all composite reliability values and average variance extracted surpassed 0.8 and 0.5, respectively. The standardized factor loadings of the items ranged from 0.630 to 0.977. Among the seven model fit indices, each of the four dimensions satisfied at least five criteria. A final three-level scale comprising four primary items, 14 secondary items, and 64 tertiary items was constructed. The weight values for the four primary items were 0.4064, 0.2878, 0.2082, and 0.0981, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: The IDCCS was established to evaluate the competencies of knowledge, practical skills, leadership, and personal quality for public health professionals in infectious disease control. This scale demonstrates good reliability and validity, and can be used for performance evaluation, recruitment processes, curriculum development, and individual self-assessment.

Effect of intravenous different drugs on the prevention of restlessness during recovery period of pediatric laparoscopic surgery: a randomized control trial.

PURPOSE: To explored the impact of dexmedetomidine and esketamine in mitigating restlessness during the postoperative recovery phase following laparoscopic surgery in children. METHODS: 102 individuals aged 1 to 7 years experiencing laparoscopic surgery were randomly allocated into three groups, each accepting 1 µg/kg of dexmedetomidine, 0.3 mg/kg of esketamine, or saline immediately at the end of carbon dioxide pneumoperitoneum. Emergence agitation (EA) occurrence was assessed by PAED scale and 5-point agitation scale. Pain was judged using Face, Legs, Activity, Cry, and Consolability (FLACC) scale. The recovery time, extubation time, and post-anesthesia care unit (PACU) stay time were recorded for all three groups. RESULTS: Patients administered 1 µg/kg of dexmedetomidine (8.8%) and individuals given 0.3 mg/kg of esketamine (11.8%) showed lower incidences of emergence agitation compared to those receiving saline (35.5%; P = 0.009). There was no statistically significant difference in the time to discharge from the PACU among the three groups of patients (P > 0.05). The recovery time and extubation time were notably extended in the dexmedetomidine group (40.88 ± 12.95 min, 42.50 ± 13.38 min) when compared to the saline group (32.56 ± 13.05 min, 33.29 ± 11.30 min; P = 0.009, P = 0.010). CONCLUSION: Following CO2 pneumoperitoneum in pediatric laparoscopic surgeries, the intravenous administration of 1 µg/kg dexmedetomidine or 0.3 mg/kg esketamine effectively lowers EA occurrence without extending PACU time.

A novel anti-CD47 antibody with therapeutic potential for NK/T-cell lymphoma.

NK/T-cell lymphoma (NKTCL) is a rare type of non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL). Although L-asparaginase-based chemotherapy has significantly improved survival in early-stage patients, the prognosis is poor in advanced and relapsed or refractory patients. CD47 is a promising target for cancer immunotherapy. However, the expression of CD47 in NKTCL and the antitumor effect and mechanism of the anti-CD47 monoclonal antibody (mAb) AK117 in NKTCL remain unclear. Firstly, the expression level of CD47 protein in NKTCL cells was detected by immunoblot and flow cytometry. Secondly, in order to validate the role of CD47 downregulation in the proliferation, apoptosis, and cell cycle of NKTCL cells, we used shRNA transfection to knock down CD47 expression. We determined the effect of knocking down CD47 and the novel anti-CD47 antibody AK117 on the phagocytosis of NKYS and YTS cells by M2 macrophages in vitro. Finally, we assessed the ability of AK117 to inhibit tumor growth in an NKTCL xenograft model in which YTS cells were engrafted in SCID mice. The results showed that CD47 is relatively highly expressed in NKTCL cells. CD47 knockdown in NKTCL promoted phagocytosis by M2 macrophages in an in vitro coculture assay. The study also demonstrated that anti-CD47 mAb AK117 promoted phagocytosis of NKTCL cells by M2 macrophages. In addition, in vivo experiments showed that the anti-CD47 mAb AK117 significantly inhibited the growth of subcutaneous xenograft tumors in SCID mice compared to the control antibody IgG. Our results indicate that targeting CD47 monoclonal antibodies is a potential therapeutic strategy for NKTCL.

Brief Pup Separation in Lactation Confers Stress Resistance with Increased Prolactin and Adult Hippocampal Neurogenesis in Postpartum C57BL/6J Dams.

Prolactin (PRL) assumes a pivotal role during the postpartum phase, particularly within the hippocampus-a region densely populated with receptors for stress hormones, where stress significantly inhibits adult hippocampal neurogenesis (AHN). The reduction in neurogenesis is implicated in the pathogenesis of anxiety and depression. Mothers are at an increased risk of developing depression when exposed to chronic stress. Therefore, it is imperative to investigate the potential role of PRL in depression-like behaviors stemming from prolonged postpartum stress, and to explore any underlying mechanisms. Despite pup separation (PS) being a natural postpartum care practice, the impact of various PS methods on lactating dams remains uncertain. Lactating C57BL/6J mice, from postpartum day (PPD) 1 to PPD 21, underwent no PS (NPS), brief PS (15 min per day, PS15), or long PS (180 min per day, PS180), followed by 21 days of chronic restraint stress (CRS). Behavioral tests were conducted, and measurements included serum PRL concentration, PRL-R expression, and AHN in the hippocampus. Dams with CRS exhibited cognitive decline, depressive- and anxiety-like behaviors, and reduced PRL secretion, correlating with lower levels of AHN. PS15 dams displayed lower levels of depressive- and anxiety-like behaviors and cognitive decline compared to NPS and PS180 dams. Significantly, PS15 dams exhibited higher levels of AHN, PRL-R expression in the hippocampus, and serum PRL concentration. This study collectively reveals reduced serum PRL and AHN in dams with cognitive decline and depressive- and anxiety-like behaviors after CRS. Brief PS confers resistance to behavioral deficits after CRS, increasing serum PRL concentration and reversing AHN decrease in dams.

m6A mRNA methylation in brown fat regulates systemic insulin sensitivity via an inter-organ prostaglandin signaling axis independent of UCP1.

Brown adipose tissue (BAT) regulates systemic metabolism by releasing signaling lipids. N6-methyladenosine (m6A) is the most prevalent and abundant post-transcriptional mRNA modification and has been reported to regulate BAT adipogenesis and energy expenditure. Here, we demonstrate that the absence of m6A methyltransferase-like 14 (METTL14) modifies the BAT secretome to improve systemic insulin sensitivity independent of UCP1. Using lipidomics, we identify prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) and prostaglandin F2a (PGF2a) as BAT-secreted insulin sensitizers. PGE2 and PGF2a inversely correlate with insulin sensitivity in humans and protect mice from high-fat-diet-induced insulin resistance by suppressing specific AKT phosphatases. Mechanistically, METTL14-mediated m6A promotes the decay of PTGES2 and CBR1, the genes encoding PGE2 and PGF2a biosynthesis enzymes, in brown adipocytes via YTHDF2/3. Consistently, BAT-specific knockdown of Ptges2 or Cbr1 reverses the insulin-sensitizing effects in M14KO mice. Overall, these findings reveal a novel biological mechanism through which m6A-dependent regulation of the BAT secretome regulates systemic insulin sensitivity.

[Mechanism of Paeoniae Radix Rubra and Aconiti Lateralis Radix Praeparata herbal pair in promoting hepatocellular regeneration in chronic acute liver failure based on HGF/PI3K/Akt signaling axis].

Based on the hepatocyte growth factor(HGF)/phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase(PI3K)/protein kinase B(Akt) signaling axis, this study investigated the therapeutic effect of Paeoniae Radix Rubra and Aconiti Lateralis Radix Praeparata(PRR-ALRP) her-bal pair on acute-on-chronic liver failure(ACLF) rats and its impact on hepatocellular regeneration. The rat model of ACLF was constructed by subcutaneous and tail vein injection of bovine serum albumin combined with intraperitoneal injection of lipopolysaccharides(LPS)+D-galactosamine(D-GalN). The rats were divided into normal control(NC) group, model(vehicle) group, PRR-ALRP(5.85 g·kg~(-1)) group, and hepatocyte growth factor granules(HGFG, 4.05 g·kg~(-1)) group. Hematoxylin-eosin(HE) staining was used to observe pathological changes in rat liver tissues. Serum alanine aminotransferase(ALT), aspartate transaminase(AST), and total bilirubin(TBIL) were detected using an automatic biochemical analyzer. The levels of interleukin-1ß(IL-1ß) and tumor necrosis factor-α(TNF-α) inflammatory factors were detected by ELISA. Immunofluorescence staining was used to detect the positive expression of proliferating cell nuclear antigen(PCNA), antigen identified by monoclonal antibody(Ki67), and cell cycle protein B1(CyclinB1). Real-time fluorescence-based quantitative polymerase chain reaction(RT-qPCR) and Western blot were used to detect the mRNA and protein expression levels of HGF, growth factor receptor-bound protein 1(Gab1), PI3K, Akt, phosphorylated PI3K(p-PI3K), and phosphorylated Akt(p-Akt). The results showed that compared with the vehicle group, the PRR-ALRP group had reduced liver tissue pathological scores, improved liver function, and reduced inflammatory response, with enhanced PCNA, Ki67, and CyclinB1 fluorescence expression. Furthermore, compared with the model group, the PRR-ALRP group showed upregulated expression of HGF and Gab1 proteins, as well as activation of PI3K and Akt phosphorylation. These findings suggest that PRR-ALRP herbal pair exerts anti-liver failure effects by alleviating hepatocyte inflammatory damage and promoting hepatocellular regeneration, and its specific regulatory mechanism may be related to the activation of the HGF/PI3K/Akt signaling pathway.

A Meso Butterfly-Like Ce(III)-Containing Antimonotungstate with Catalytic Activity for Synthesizing Isoindolinones.

A unique meso Ce(III)-containing antimonotungstate, {Na(OAc)(H2O)2[Ce4(tar)(Htar)2(Sb2W21O72)2(H2O)7]}244- (Ce4tar3; H4tar = tartaric acid), consisting of two enantiomeric parts with a butterfly-like configuration, was successfully synthesized by a one-pot in situ method and characterized. The coordination of d- or l-tar ligands induced the formation of Dawson-like {Ce2Sb2W21} with right or left configurations, thereby determining the d/l configurations of {Na(OAc)(H2O)2[Ce4(tar)(Htar)2(Sb2W21O72)2(H2O)7]}22-. Carboxyl groups link these two enantiomeric parts with Ce(III) ions from each other around the symmetric center of the P1̅ space group. The three types of tar ligands exhibit distinct coordination modes, and all coordinate with at least one W(VI) atom using one carboxylate oxygen atom and one α-OH. Ce4tar3 represents the largest case among those meso-dl-tar-functionalized polyoxometalates. Furthermore, Ce4tar3 exhibits excellent catalytic activity for synthesizing isoindolinones via the three-component reaction of 2-acetylbenzoic acids, amines, and phosphine oxides.

Superparamagnetic composites of lignin regenerated from ionic liquid solutions for the efficient and selective removal of cationic dyes.

Magnetic lignin nanoparticles (MLNs) were prepared by inducing their self-assembly through lignin regeneration in the [N-methyl-2-pyrrolidone][C1-C4 carboxylic acid] ionic liquids ([NMP]ILs), which are low-cost protic ionic liquid. [NMP]ILs are self-assembling solvent that can enhance the adsorption capacity of MLNs to a greater degree than tetrahydrofuran or H2O. Additionally, the anion types of [NMP]IL greatly influence the physiochemical properties of MLNs. The MLNs prepared through self-assembly with [NMP][formate] (MLN/[NMP][For]) exhibited a higher maximum adsorption capacity (134.53 mg/g) than the [NMP]ILs of C2-C4 carboxylate anions. MLN/[NMP][For] demonstrated stable adsorption within a pH range of 6-10 or at high salt concentrations (0.01-0.5 mol/L), retaining over 80 % of its regeneration efficiency after 5 cycles. In addition, MLN/[NMP][For] selectively removed cationic dyes in mixed binary anionic-cationic dye solutions. This work demonstrated the feasibility of preparing magnetic biosorbents with good selectivity and stability though regeneration and by adjusting the anions of ionic liquids.

Hydrogen attenuates ischaemia-reperfusion injury in skeletal muscles post-limb replantation by activating the NRF2/HO-1 signalling pathway to reduce BAX expression.

Background: Ischaemia-reperfusion injury (IRI) is a critical complication post-limb replantation. The oxidative stress and cellular apoptosis due to IRI considerably hinder the healing process. This study aimed to investigate the modulatory effects of pre-perfusion with hydrogen-rich heparin sodium on the nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (NRF2)/haeme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) pathway and its potential mechanisms in mitigating skeletal muscle IRI post-limb replantation. Methods: Forty healthy Sprague-Dawley rats (250-300 g) were classified into five groups (n = 8 each): normal control, IRI + heparin sodium pre-perfusion (heparin group), IRI + hydrogen-rich heparin sodium pre-perfusion (hydrogen-rich heparin group), IRI + hydrogen-rich heparin sodium pre-perfusion + NRF2 inhibitor (hydrogen-rich heparin + all-trans retinoic acid [ATRA] group), and IRI + heparin sodium pre-perfusion + NRF2 inhibitor (heparin + ATRA group). The activation of the NRF2/HO-1 pathway in skeletal muscle IRI was evaluated based on HO-1 expression using western blotting and immunofluorescence. Furthermore, haematoxylin and eosin staining and transmission electron microscopy were employed to determine the histopathological characteristics. Additionally, superoxide dismutase and malondialdehyde levels in skeletal muscle tissue were measured to assess antioxidant capacity and the degree of oxidative stress damage. Tissue hypoxia was assessed based on hypoxia-inducible factor 1-alpha expression, whereas apoptosis markers BCL-2-associated X protein (BAX) and Caspase-3 in skeletal muscle tissues were analysed using western blotting with terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase dUTP nick end labelling staining to quantify cell apoptosis. Results: Compared with the control group, the heparin group exhibited significant pathological changes, including inflammatory infiltration and cellular hypertrophy, with increased apoptosis and oxidative stress. Notably, NRF2 suppression aggravated these effects. However, hydrogen-rich heparin sodium prominently activated the NRF2/HO-1 pathway, enhancing antioxidant defence and reducing BAX/Caspase-3-mediated apoptosis, thereby mitigating IRI-induced damage. The use of an NRF2 inhibitor to inhibit NRF2 excitation by hydrogen-rich heparin sodium notably weakened NRF2 activation and the antioxidant response, resulting in a substantial increase in cellular apoptosis. Conclusion: Pre-perfusion with hydrogen-rich heparin sodium markedly diminishes the BAX/Caspase-3-mediated apoptotic pathway in skeletal muscle tissues with IRI through the excitation of the NRF2/HO-1 pathway.

Association between sleep regularity and arterial stiffness among middle-age adults in Southwestern China.

BACKGROUND: Sleep regularity has been linked to a risk of arterial stiffness (AS). However, the association between sleep regularity indicators, which reflect 24-hour sleep variability, and AS has not yet been examined. METHODS: We analyzed data from 516 adults, aged 40-65 years (the median age of 51 years), from the 'Follow-up Study of Sleep Characteristics and Chronic Diseases in the Middle-aged and Elderly Population in Guizhou Province'. Participants underwent assessments of AS (OMRON HBP-8000, baPWV ≥ 1400 cm/s) and sleep (wrist smart band (Honor band 5i) for ≥ 7 days). Logistic regression was utilized to evaluate the odds ratio (OR) and 95% confidence interval (CI) of the association between sleep regularity and AS. RESULTS: A total of 516 people were included in this study, of which 279 (54.07%) were in the AS group. The univariate results showed that the AS group (Median 71.18) had lower SRI compared to the No-AS group (Median 75.00) (p < 0.001). The multifactorial results showed participants with higher SRI scores were more likely to have a lower risk of AS compared to those with lower SRI scores (ORQ4 VS. Q1=0.46, 95%CI: 0.25-0.85, p = 0.013). The SRI effect was more pronounced in male (ORQ4 VS. Q1=0.28, 95%CI: 0.12-0.69, p = 0.005), snoring populations (ORQ4 VS. Q1=0.13, 95%CI: 0.04-0.48, p = 0.002), and non-retired populations (ORQ4 VS. Q1=0.45, 95%CI: 0.22-0.92, p = 0.028). CONCLUSIONS: The present findings indicated that the effect between SRI and AS may be more sensitive than the standard deviation of sleep duration as well as the standard deviation of sleep onset.