A dendritic cell-recruiting, antimicrobial blood clot hydrogel for melanoma recurrence prevention and infected wound management.

Surgical resection, the mainstay for melanoma treatment, faces challenges due to high tumor recurrence rates and complex postoperative wound healing. Chronic inflammation from residual disease and the risk of secondary infections impede healing. We introduce an innovative, injectable hydrogel system that integrates a multifaceted therapeutic approach. The hydrogel, crosslinked by calcium ions with sodium alginate, encapsulates a blood clot rich in dendritic cells (DCs) chemoattractants and melanoma cell-derived nanovesicles (NVs), functioning as a potent immunostimulant. This in situ recruitment strategy overcomes the limitations of subcutaneous tumor vaccine injections and more effectively achieves antitumor immunity. Additionally, the hydrogel incorporates Chlorella extracts, enhancing its antimicrobial properties to prevent wound infections and promote healing. One of the key findings of our research is the dual functionality of Chlorella extracts; they not only expedite the healing process of infected wounds but also increase the hydrogel's ability to stimulate an antitumor immune response. Given the patient-specific nature of the blood clot and NVs, our hydrogel system offers customizable solutions for individual postoperative requirements. This personalized approach is highlighted by our study, which demonstrates the synergistic impact of the composite hydrogel on preventing melanoma recurrence and hastening wound healing, potentially transforming postsurgical melanoma management.

A new pressure-densified orthogonal hard superconducting phase of RhB4.

A new hard superconducting phase of RhB4 with the space group Cmca is predicted, and the phase transition and mechanical and superconducting properties of RhB4 under 300 GPa are studied using first principles. We predict a new high-pressure phase of RhB4 by substituting the most stable Cmca structure of OsB4, known for its excellent mechanical properties. The calculated enthalpy shows that above 112.6 GPa, Cmca is superior to Pmmn as was previously predicted by particle swarm optimization. The stability of the predicted phase is checked using formation enthalpy, elastic constant and phonon dispersion. Additionally, the convex hull of the Rh-B system confirms that the phase is expected to be synthesized experimentally. The Cmca phase is an incompressible hard material with a hardness of 23.75 GPa at 300 GPa attributed to strong intralayer covalent B-B bonds. Furthermore, the phase is a relatively pressure-insensitive superconductor, with a Tc of 8.6 K at 112.6 GPa and a pressure-dependent coefficient of -0.03 K GPa-1. The finding reveals a superconducting hard material that is well-suited for extreme high-pressure environments.

A retrospective analysis of simultaneous bilateral uniportal thoracoscopic surgeries for multiple primary bilateral pulmonary nodules.

BACKGROUND: There are no standard treatment options for bilateral multiple pulmonary nodules requiring resection. This study aimed to summarize the experience of simultaneous bilateral uniportal video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery for the treatment of bilateral multiple primary pulmonary nodules. METHODS: The clinical data of 65 cases of simultaneous bilateral uniportal thoracoscopic surgery for bilateral multiple primary pulmonary nodules treated were retrospectively analyzed. These cases were treated within The Ninth Medical Center of PLA General Hospital between January 2018 and November 2020. Parameters related to the surgery, perioperative aspects, surgical techniques, pathology results, and postoperative complications were examined. RESULTS: All surgeries were conducted through uniportal video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery, with no instances of intraoperative conversion to thoracotomy. Fifty-three patients further underwent CT-guided Hookwire localization for the localization of pulmonary nodules. A total of 189 nodules were resected using multiple surgical procedures, with a malignancy rate of 86.2%. The average operation time was 226 ± 77.4 min, the average thoracic drainage duration was 3.1 ± 1.5 days, the average 24 h pleural drainage was 385.9 ± 157.4 mL, the average postoperative hospital stay was 8.6 ± 2.4 days, and the average blood loss was 77.2 ± 33.8 mL. Post-surgery, all patients were transferred to the ward safely within 12 h. 15.38% of patients have prolonged drainage time, and 12.31% of patients experience complications such as lung infection, arrhythmia, and venous thrombosis. CONCLUSION: The selected cases undergoing simultaneous bilateral uniportal video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery for the management of bilateral multiple primary pulmonary nodules demonstrated favorable outcomes. Our observations indicate the safety and feasibility of this procedure, providing an individualized and precise treatment approach for affected patients.

Fabrication, characterization and simulated gastrointestinal digestion of sea buckthorn pulp oil microcapsule: effect of wall material and interfacial bilayer stabilization.

BACKGROUND: Sea buckthorn (Hippophae rhamnoides L.) pulp oil is rich in functional components; however, low water solubility and stability limit its applications. This study fabricated sea buckthorn pulp oil microcapsules using whey protein isolate (WPI), soy protein isolate (SPI), sodium caseinate (NaCN), gum arabic (GA), starch sodium octenylsuccinate (OSAS) and SPI mixed with chitosan (CHI). The influences of these wall materials on physicochemical properties, release behavior and digestibility were explored. RESULTS: Protein-based wall materials (WPI, NaCN, SPI) demonstrated lower bulk densities due to their porous structures and larger particle sizes, while GA and OSAS produced denser microcapsules. Encapsulation efficiency was the highest for protein-based microcapsules (79.41-89.12%) and the lowest for GA and OSAS. The surface oil percentage of protein-based microcapsules (1.41-4.40%) was lower than that of the other microcapsules. Protein-based microcapsules showed concave and cracked surfaces, while GA and OSAS microcapsules were spherical and smooth. CHI improved reconstitution performance, leading to faster dissolution. During simulated gastrointestinal digestion, protein-based microcapsules released more free fatty acids (FFAs) in the intestinal phase, while CHI-modified SPI microcapsules showed a delayed release pattern due to thicker walls. CONCLUSION: Protein-based wall materials were more effective for sea buckthorn pulp oil microencapsulation, providing higher encapsulation efficiency, better flow properties and releasing more FFAs. The addition of CHI led to the layer-by-layer self-assembly of the microcapsule wall and resulted in sustained release during in vitro intestinal digestion. These findings suggested the potential of protein-based microcapsules for targeted delivery and improved applications of bioactive oils in the food industry. © 2024 Society of Chemical Industry. Published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.

Improving the sulfite-detection performance of a fluorescent probe via post-synthetic modification with a metal-organic framework.

In this work, a post-synthetic modification strategy was attempted to improve the performance of the probe for sulfite detection. The assembled platform UiO-66-NH-DQA, which was acquired by anchoring the sulfite-response fluorescent probe DQA onto the surface of UiO-66-NH2via amide covalent bonds, exhibited enhanced fluorescence intensity and practical intracellular imaging capability. In spite of the structural similarity, as verified by characterization tests, the conversion rate of post-synthetic modification was calculated as 35%, equaling an approximate assembly ratio of 1 : 2 between UiO-66-NH2 and DQA. Most significantly, conversion into UiO-66-NH-DQA led to a 5.6-fold enhancement in the reporting signal with a red shift of 20 nm. For sulfite detection, the linear range was 0-150 µM, with a limit of detection value of 0.025 µM. UiO-66-NH-DQA retained advantages including high stability (within pH 5.0-9.0), rapid response (within 15 min) and high selectivity. Based on low cytotoxicity and relatively rapid cellular uptake, UiO-66-NH-DQA achieved the imaging of both the exogenous and endogenous sulfite levels in living cells. In particular, its rapid cell-permeating capability was guaranteed during the modification. The post-synthetic modification strategy reported herein has potential for improving the practical properties of fluorescent monitoring materials.

The Role of Indigenous Yeasts in Shaping the Chemical and Sensory Profiles of Wine: Effects of Different Strains and Varieties.

The microbial terroir is an indispensable part of the terroir panorama, and can improve wine quality with special characteristics. In this study, eight autochthonous yeasts (Saccharomyces cerevisiae), selected in Huailai country, China, were trailed in small-scale and pilot fermentations for both white (Riesling and Sémillon) and red (Cabernet Sauvignon and Syrah) wines and evaluated by GC-MS analysis and the rate-all-that-apply (RATA) method. Compared to commercial yeast strains, the indigenous yeasts were able to produce higher concentrations of ethyl esters and fatty acid ethyl esters, and higher alcohol, resulting in higher odor activity values of fruity, floral attributes. Marked varietal effects were observed in the pilot fermentation, but yeast strains exerted a noticeable impact in modulating wine aroma and sensory profile. Overall, indigenous yeast could produce more preferred aroma compounds and sensory characteristics for both white and red wines, demonstrating the potential for improving wine quality and regional characteristics.

Attraction of Nicotiana benthamiana to Bemisia tabaci is related to a chemical signal in plant volatile, undecane.

BACKGROUND: The whitefly Bemisia tabaci is one of the world's foremost agricultural pests. Recently, we found that a wild relative of tobacco (Nicotiana benthamiana) demonstrates remarkable attractiveness and nearly 100% lethality towards whiteflies. Therefore, it can act as a dead-end trap crop for whitefly control in the field. However, the underlying mechanism of the significant attractiveness of N. benthamiana towards whiteflies is unclear. RESULTS: Binary-choice assays and olfactory experiments showed that compared to common tobacco (N. tabacum), the volatile of N. benthamiana has a greater attraction to whiteflies. Then we analyzed and compared volatiles from these two Nicotiana species by thermal desorption-gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (TD-GC-MS). We identified 16 chemical compounds that are more abundant in N. benthamiana than in N. tabacum. Seven compounds were further tested with olfactometer assays and we found that, among them, undecane strongly attracted whiteflies. Further experiments revealed that even 0.005 µg mL-1 undecane is attractive to whiteflies. We also silenced the genes that may influence the biosynthesis of undecane and found the production of undecane decreased after silencing NbCER3, and that N. benthamiana plants with less undecane lost their attraction to whiteflies. In addition, we found that applying 0.005 µg mL-1 undecane on yellow sticky traps can increase the number of stuck insects on the traps by ≈40%. CONCLUSION: Undecane from the volatile of N. benthamiana is a critical chemical signal that attracts whiteflies and NbCER3 involved in the biosynthesis of undecane. Undecane may be used to improve the efficiency of yellow sticky traps for whitefly control. © 2024 Society of Chemical Industry.

Diagnostic Value of Serum Amylase and Coagulation Function Indices in Distinguishing Acute Pancreatitis from Aortic Dissection.

BACKGROUND: Due to similar symptoms of abdominal pain, acute pancreatitis (AP) is often difficult to differentiate from acute aortic dissection (AAD) in clinical practice. It is unknown whether serum amylase and coagulation function indices can be used to distinguish AP from AAD. METHODS: In this retrospective study, 114 AP patients (AP group) and 48 cases with AAD (AAD group) admitted for acute abdominal pain were enrolled for a final analysis. The levels of serum amylase and coagulation function indices, including prothrombin time (PT), international normalized ratio (INR), activated partial thromboplastin time (APTT), fibrinogen (FIB), and D-dimer (DD), were tested before or on admission and compared between the two groups. Student's t-test was adopted for comparing the mean. Model discrimination was evaluated by using the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC). Comparison of AUC was performed by using the Z-test. RESULTS: Compared with the AAD group, amylase and FIB were both significantly increased, while DD was significantly lower in the AP group (all p < 0.01). There were no statistically significant differences of PT, INR, and APTT between AP and AAD (all p > 0.05). The AUCs in distinguishing AP from AAD were 0.913, 0.854, and 0.837 for amylase, FIB, and DD, respectively, but there were no significant differences observed among amylase, FIB, and DD (all p > 0.05). Finally, the cutoff values (specificity, sensitivity, and Youden index) in distinguishing between AP and AAD were 114 µ/L (80.70%, 95.83%, 0.765) for amylase, 2.62 g/L (76.32%, 85.42%, 0.617) for FIB, and 2.74 mg/L (95.61%, 62.50%, 0.581) for DD, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Amylase, FIB, and DD can demonstrate accurate and reliable diagnostic values, suggesting that they are useful and potential biomarkers in distinguishing AP from AAD.

A pan-cancer analysis of Wnt family member 7B in human cancers.

Background: Previous studies have highlighted the crucial role of Wnt7B in the development of various cancers, including breast, pancreatic, and gastric cancers. However, research into the involvement of Wnt7B is often confined to specific tumor types, with a noticeable lack of comprehensive studies spanning multiple cancer forms. The potential of Wnt7B as a diagnostic or prognostic cancer biomarker has not been fully explored. Methods: In this study, we combined bioinformatics and immunohistochemistry analyses to examine the expression patterns and functions of Wnt7B in cancerous and adjacent noncancerous tissues across a range of tumors. Results: Our data indicate that Wnt7B may serve as a novel prognostic biomarker and therapeutic target in certain cancers. Conclusion: We found significant upregulation of Wnt7B expression levels in the majority of cancer cases examined. Furthermore, Wnt7B can influence cancer prognosis by modulating the tumor microenvironment, immune cell infiltration, and tumor stemness, among other factors. Additionally, we examined the associations between anticancer drug sensitivity and Wnt7B expression, which could aid in the development of more precise clinical therapies.

Metabolic and Molecular Insights Into Nicotiana benthamiana Trichome Exudates: An Ammunition Depot for Plant Resistance Against Insect Pests.

Nicotiana benthamiana, a widely acknowledged laboratory model plant for molecular studies, exhibits lethality to certain insect pests and can serve as a dead-end trap plant for pest control in the field. However, the underlying mechanism of N. benthamiana's resistance against insects remains unknown. Here, we elucidate that the lethal effect of N. benthamiana on the whitefly Bemisia tabaci arises from the toxic glandular trichome exudates. By comparing the metabolite profiles of trichome exudates, we found that 51 metabolites, including five O-acyl sugars (O-AS) with medium-chain acyl moieties, were highly accumulated in N. benthamiana. Silencing of two O-AS biosynthesis genes, branched-chain keto acid dehydrogenase (BCKD) and Isopropyl malate synthase-C (IPMS-C), significantly reduced the O-AS levels in N. benthamiana and its resistance against whiteflies. Additionally, we demonstrated that the higher expression levels of BCKD and IPMS-C in the trichomes of N. benthamiana contribute to O-AS synthesis and consequently enhance whitefly resistance. Furthermore, overexpression of NbBCKD and NbIPMS-C genes in the cultivated tobacco Nicotiana tabacum enhanced its resistance to whiteflies. Our study revealed the metabolic and molecular mechanisms underlying the lethal effect of N. benthamiana on whiteflies and presents a promising avenue for improving whitefly resistance.

Study of obesity research using machine learning methods: A bibliometric and visualization analysis from 2004 to 2023.

BACKGROUND: Obesity, a multifactorial and complex health condition, has emerged as a significant global public health concern. Integrating machine learning techniques into obesity research offers great promise as an interdisciplinary field, particularly in the screening, diagnosis, and analysis of obesity. Nevertheless, the publications on using machine learning methods in obesity research have not been systematically evaluated. Hence, this study aimed to quantitatively examine, visualize, and analyze the publications concerning the use of machine learning methods in obesity research by means of bibliometrics. METHODS: The Web of Science core collection was the primary database source for this study, which collected publications on obesity research using machine learning methods over the last 20 years from January 1, 2004, to December 31, 2023. Only articles and reviews that fit the criteria were selected for bibliometric analysis, and in terms of language, only English was accepted. VOSviewer, CiteSpace, and Excel were the primary software utilized. RESULTS: Between 2004 and 2023, the number of publications on obesity research using machine learning methods increased exponentially. Eventually, 3286 publications that met the eligibility criteria were searched. According to the collaborative network analysis, the United States has the greatest volume of publications, indicating a significant influence on this research. coauthor's analysis showed the authoritative one in this field is Leo Breiman. Scientific Reports is the most widely published journal. The most referenced publication is "R: a language and environment for statistical computing." An analysis of keywords shows that deep learning, support vector machines, predictive models, gut microbiota, energy expenditure, and genome are hot topics in this field. Future research directions may include the relationship between obesity and its consequences, such as diabetic retinopathy, as well as the interaction between obesity and epidemiology, such as COVID-19. CONCLUSION: Utilizing bibliometrics as a research tool and methodology, this study, for the first time, reveals the intrinsic relationship and developmental pattern among obesity research using machine learning methods, which provides academic references for clinicians and researchers in understanding the hotspots and cutting-edge issues as well as the developmental trend in this field to detect patients' obesity problems early and develop personalized treatment plans.

Sustainable development between sports facilities and ecological environment based on the dual carbon background.

The sustainable development of sports facilities and their integration with the ecological environment are crucial in addressing global environmental challenges. This study examines the coupling coordination between sports facilities and the ecological environment in nine prefecture-level cities in Fujian Province, China, from 2013 to 2020, within the framework of China's "Dual Carbon" strategy. Using a multidisciplinary approach that integrates economics, sociology, and geography, the study employs the entropy method and coupling coordination models to analyze the temporal evolution and spatial distribution of the coupling coordination between sports facilities and the ecological environment. The findings reveal that the overall trend of coupling coordination is positive, with the degree of coordination improving over time from severe imbalance in 2013 to high-quality coordination by 2020. Economic factors, such as per capita GDP, positively influence the coupling coordination, while factors like population density and regional GDP have a negative impact. Coastal cities, such as Xiamen and Zhangzhou, demonstrate stronger regional correlations and play a critical role in improving the overall coupling level of the province. This research provides several recommendations for promoting orderly and optimal development, considering the distinct characteristics of sports facilities and the ecological environment.

Enrichment and characterization of thermophilic anaerobic ammonium oxidizing bacteria from hot spring.

Anaerobic ammonium oxidization (Anammox) process plays a crucial role in the global nitrogen cycle and sustainable biological nitrogen removal from wastewater. Although Anammox bacteria have been detected across mesophilic and thermophilic conditions, the direct cultivation of Anammox bacteria from thermal environments has remained elusive. This impedes limiting our understanding of their physiology and ecology in high-temperature habitats. Here, we successfully enriched Anammox bacteria from hot spring sediments at 45 °C, achieving an ammonium oxidation rate of 158.0 mg NH4+-N l-1d-1, with the genus 'Candidatus Brocadia' presenting 22.9 % of the total microbial community after about 500 days of operation. Metagenomic analysis recovered two high-quality genomes of novel Anammox bacteria, which we designed as 'Candidatus Brocadia thermophilus' and 'Candidatus Brocadia thermoanammoxidans'. Both of them encoded and actively expressed key metabolic genes involved in Anammox process and several genes associated with thermotolerance, demonstrating their remarkable ability to perform Anammox reaction in thermophilic environments. Notably, phylotypes related to 'Candidatus Brocadia thermoanammoxidans' have frequently been retrieved from geographically distinct natural habitats. These findings expand our understanding of thermophilic Anammox bacteria and underscore their potential in the nitrogen cycle of thermal natural and engineering ecosystems.

Structural and Functional Differences in Small Intestinal and Fecal Microbiota: 16S rRNA Gene Investigation in Rats.

To compare the differences in floral composition and functions between the two types of microbiota, ileal contents and feces were collected from Sprague Dawley (SD) rats fed in a conventional or specific-pathogen free (SPF) environment and rats fed a high-fat diet (HFD), and the V3-V4 region of the 16S ribosomal ribonucleic acid (rRNA) gene in these rats was then amplified and sequenced. Compared with feces, about 60% of the bacterial genera in the ileum were exclusive, with low abundance (operational taxonomic units (OTUs) < 1000). Of bacteria shared between the ileum and feces, a few genera were highly abundant (dominant), whereas most had low abundance (less dominant). The dominant bacteria differed between the ileum and feces. Ileal bacteria showed greater ß-diversity, and the distance between in-group samples was nearer than that between paired ileum-feces samples. Moreover, the ileum shared various biomarkers and functions with feces (p < 0.05). The HFD and SPF conditions had a profound influence on α-diversity and abundance but not on the exclusive/shared features or ß-diversity of samples. The present findings suggested that, under conventional circumstances, fecal bacteria can represent approximately 40% of the low abundant ileal bacterial genera and that dominant fecal bacteria failed to represent the ileal dominant flora. Moreover, fecal flora diversity does not reflect ß-diversity in the ileum.

Magnesium-Mediated Cross-Electrophile Couplings of Aryl 2-Pyridyl Esters with Aryl Bromides for Ketone Synthesis through In Situ-Formed Arylmagnesium Intermediates.

Aryl 2-pyridyl esters could efficiently undergo cross-electrophile couplings with aryl bromides with the aid of magnesium as a reducing metal in the absence of a transition-metal catalyst, leading to the unsymmetrical diaryl ketones in modest to good yields with wide functionality compatibility. In addition, the reaction could be easily scaled up and applied in the late-stage modification of biologically active molecules. Preliminary mechanistic study showed that the coupling reaction presumably proceeds through the in situ formation of arylmagnesium reagents as key intermediates.

Hydraulic loss experiment of straight-through Tesla valve in forward and reverse directions.

Tesla valves are widely used in the field of fluid control. To study the hydraulic performance of straight-through Tesla valves in forward and reverse flow, 16 straight-through Tesla valves with diverse blade parameters were designed in this paper, and hydraulic loss tests were carried out in forward and reverse flow under different working conditions. The results show that the hydraulic loss increases with the increasing working flow rate in forward and reverse flow; at the identical flow rate, the reverse loss is higher than the forward loss. Both the hydraulic loss through the valve and the unidirectional conductivity of the valve increase with increasing blade length, pitch, and number of blades, but too long of a length results in weakened unidirectional conductivity. The hydraulic loss increases with the increase of blade angle, and the unidirectional conductivity decreases with the increase of blade angle. When the blades are arranged in perfect symmetry, the hydraulic loss through the valve is maximum, and the valve has the best unidirectional conductivity.

A Small "Tent" in the Esophagus.

Cite this article as: Zong Z, Xu J, Zhang H, Xu H, Tang X, Shi L. A small "tent" in the esophagus. Turk J Gastroenterol. 2024;35(7): 587-588.

Astrocyte-derived lactate aggravates brain injury of ischemic stroke in mice by promoting the formation of protein lactylation.

Aim: Although lactate supplementation at the reperfusion stage of ischemic stroke has been shown to offer neuroprotection, whether the role of accumulated lactate at the ischemia phase is neuroprotection or not remains largely unknown. Thus, in this study, we aimed to investigate the roles and mechanisms of accumulated brain lactate at the ischemia stage in regulating brain injury of ischemic stroke. Methods and Results: Pharmacological inhibition of lactate production by either inhibiting LDHA or glycolysis markedly attenuated the mouse brain injury of ischemic stroke. In contrast, additional lactate supplement further aggravates brain injury, which may be closely related to the induction of neuronal death and A1 astrocytes. The contributing roles of increased lactate at the ischemic stage may be related to the promotive formation of protein lysine lactylation (Kla), while the post-treatment of lactate at the reperfusion stage did not influence the brain protein Kla levels with neuroprotection. Increased protein Kla levels were found mainly in neurons by the HPLC-MS/MS analysis and immunofluorescent staining. Then, pharmacological inhibition of lactate production or blocking the lactate shuttle to neurons showed markedly decreased protein Kla levels in the ischemic brains. Additionally, Ldha specific knockout in astrocytes (Aldh1l1 CreERT2; Ldha fl/fl mice, cKO) mice with MCAO were constructed and the results showed that the protein Kla level was decreased accompanied by a decrease in the volume of cerebral infarction in cKO mice compared to the control groups. Furthermore, blocking the protein Kla formation by inhibiting the writer p300 with its antagonist A-485 significantly alleviates neuronal death and glial activation of cerebral ischemia with a reduction in the protein Kla level, resulting in extending reperfusion window and improving functional recovery for ischemic stroke. Conclusion: Collectively, increased brain lactate derived from astrocytes aggravates ischemic brain injury by promoting the protein Kla formation, suggesting that inhibiting lactate production or the formation of protein Kla at the ischemia stage presents new therapeutic targets for the treatment of ischemic stroke.