Effect of Compressive Modulus of Porous PVA Hydrogel Coating on the Preventing Adhesion of Polypropylene Mesh.

PP mesh is a widely used prosthetic material in hernia repair. However, visceral adhesion is one of the worst complications of this operation. Hence, an anti-adhesive PP mesh was developed by coating porous polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) hydrogel on PP surface via freezing-thawing process method. The compressive modulus of porous PVA hydrogel coating was first regulated by the addition of porogen sodium bicarbonate (NaHCO3) at various quality ratios with PVA. As expected, the porous hydrogel coating displayed modulus more closely resembling that of native abdominal wall tissue. In vitro tests demonstrated the modified PP mesh showed superior coating stability, excellent hemocompatibility, and good cytocompatibility. In vivo experiments illustrated that PP mesh coated by the PVA4 hydrogel that mimicked the modulus of native abdominal wall could prevent adhesion effectively. Based on this, the rapamycin (RPM) was loaded into the porous PVA4 hydrogel coating to further improve anti-adhesive property of PP mesh. The Hematoxylin and eosin (H&E) and Masson trichrome (MT) staining results verified that the resulting mesh could alleviate the inflammation response and reduce the deposition of collagen around the implantation zone. The biomimetic mechanical property and anti-adhesive property of modified PP mesh make it a valuable candidate for application in hernioplasty. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.

Luteoloside mitigates premature age-related macular degeneration by suppressing p53-p21-Rb1 axis: Insights from transcriptomic analysis, serum metabolomics and gut microbiota analysis.

Transcriptomics of dry age-related macular degeneration (AMD) patients with premature aging revealed the upregulated pathways involved in glycerolipid metabolism, tyrosine metabolism, and pentose and glucuronate interconversion. To investigate natural strategies for modulating these implicated pathways, we examined the impact and underlying mechanism of luteoloside on premature AMD using a stress-induced premature senescence (SIPS)-associated AMD animal model in middle-aged mice that mimicked the dysregulated pathways observed in dry AMD patients with premature aging. Luteoloside supplementation resulted in a significant reduction in serum levels of the pro-inflammatory cytokine IL-1ß and lipofuscin, along with increased serum activity of the antioxidant enzyme superoxide dismutase (SOD) and elevated levels of pigment epithelium-derived factor (PEDF), and preserved retinal thickness and structure in AMD mice. Furthermore, luteoloside supplementation effectively reversed the abnormal serum levels of metabolites, particularly by reducing harmful lysophosphatidylcholine (LysoPC) and increasing beneficial 4-guanidinobutanoic acid. In addition to its impact on metabolites, luteoloside modulated the composition of gut microbiota, promoting the enrichment of beneficial bacterial populations, including Lactobacillus, while reducing the abundance of harmful bacterial populations, including Bacteroides. Overall, our findings highlight the potential of luteoloside supplementation in regulating the dysregulated intestinal microbiota and metabolites in premature AMD, thereby reducing ocular levels of senescence-associated secretory phenotype (SASP) factors through the suppression of the p53-p21-retinoblastoma protein 1 (Rb1) axis.

The association of Cortisol, Testosterone, and Cortisol/Testosterone Ratio with Stroke: a cross-sectional study.

AIMS: We aimed to investigate the association between serum cortisol, testosterone, and cortisol/testosterone (C/T) ratio and stroke. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 6157 subjects were included in this study. The serum levels of cortisol and testosterone were determined by liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry method. The relationships of serum cortisol, testosterone, and C/T ratio levels with the odds ratios (ORs) of stroke were calculated using logistic regression analysis. The dose-response associations between serum cortisol, testosterone, and C/T ratio levels with stroke estimated by restricted cubic splines. RESULTS: After adjusting for multiple variables, serum testosterone levels were negactively associated with stroke in males (per 1 unit, odds ratio (OR)=0.83, 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.70, 0.97). The serum C/T ratio is positively associated with stroke in both males and females (OR=1.16, 95% CI:1.04,1.34 in males and OR=1.15, 95% CI:1.02,1.31 in females). Restricted cubic splines showed a significant linear dose-response relationship between testosterone and C/T ratio and stroke in males (P for overall association <0.05, P for nonlinearity >0.05). CONCLUSION: Our study findings show that serum testosterone levels are negatively correlated with stroke in males; meanwhile, serum C/T ratio is positively correlated with stroke in both males and females.

Chromosome-level genome of the parthenogenetic booklouse Liposcelis bostrychophila reveals high heterozygosity and a nonhomologous chromosome.

Psocodean species are emerging as significant sanitary and stored-product pests, posing threats to human health and global food security. Out of an estimated 10 000 species, the whole genome sequences of only 4 species have been published. Genomic resources are crucial for establishing effective pest control and enhancing our understanding of the evolution of psocodean species. In this study, we employed Illumina and PacBio sequencing along with Hi-C scaffolding techniques to generate a chromosome-level genome assembly for the parthenogenetic booklouse Liposcelis bostrychophila. The assembled genome of this booklouse measures 291.67 Mb in length and comprises 9 chromosomes. Notably, the genome of L. bostrychophila exhibits a high level of heterozygosity and features a distinctive nonhomologous chromosome. This heterozygous characteristic of the parthenogenetic booklouse genome may arise from high mutation rates, based on genomic variations analysis across multiple generations. Our analysis revealed significantly expanded gene families, primarily associated with the detoxification and feeding habits of L. bostrychophila. These include integument esterases (ESTs), ATP-binding cassette (ABC) transporter genes and gustatory receptors (GRs). The high-quality genome sequence of L. bostrychophila provides valuable resources for further study on the molecular mechanisms of stress resistance. It enables researchers to identify crucial functional genes and facilitates research on the population genetics, evolution and phylogeny of booklice.

Overexpression of an Integument Esterase Gene LbEST-inte4 Infers the Malathion Detoxification in Liposcelis bostrychophila (Psocoptera: Liposcelididae).

Liposcelis bostrychophila, commonly known as booklouse, is an important stored-product pest worldwide. Studies have demonstrated that booklices have developed resistance to several insecticides. In this study, an integument esterase gene, LbEST-inte4, with upregulated expression, was characterized in L. bostrychophila. Knockdown of LbEST-inte4 resulted in a substantial increase in the booklice susceptibility to malathion. Overexpression of LbEST-inte4 in Drosophila melanogaster significantly enhanced its malathion tolerance. Molecular modeling and docking analysis suggested potential interactions between LbEST-inte4 and malathion. When overexpressed LbEST-inte4 in Sf9 cells, a notable elevation in esterase activity and malathion tolerance was observed. HPLC analysis indicated that the LbEST-inte4 enzyme could effectively degrade malathion. Taken together, the upregulated LbEST-inte4 appears to contribute to malathion tolerance in L. bostrychophila by facilitating the depletion of malathion. This study elucidates the molecular mechanism underlying malathion detoxification and provides the foundations for the development of effective prevention and control measures against psocids.

Polypropylene mesh coated with hyaluronic acid/polyvinyl alcohol composite hydrogel for preventing bowel adhesion.

Polypropylene (PP) mesh is the most widely used prosthetic material in hernia repair. However, the efficacy of implanted PP mesh is often compromised by adhesion between viscera and PP mesh. Thus, there is a recognized need for developing an anti-adhesive PP mesh. Here, a composite hydrogel coated PP mesh with the prevention of adhesion after hernia repair was designed. The composite hydrogel coating was prepared from polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) and hyaluronic acid (HA) by using the freezing-thawing (FT) method. To overcome the shortcoming of the long time of the traditional freezing-thawing method, a small molecule 3,4-dihydroxyphenylacetic acid (DHPA) was introduced to promote the formation of composite hydrogel. The as-prepared composite hydrogel coating displayed modulus more closely resembling that of native abdominal wall tissue. In vitro studies illustrated that the resulting meshes showed excellent coating stability, hemocompatibility, and non-cytotoxicity. In vivo experiments using a rat abdominal wall defect model demonstrated that the composite hydrogel coated PP mesh could prevent the formation of adhesion, alleviate the inflammatory response, and reduce the deposition of collagen around the damaged tissue. These disclosed results manifested that the PP mesh coated with HA/PVA composite hydrogel might be a promising application in preventing adhesion for hernia repair.

Associations of serum glucocorticoid levels on hypertension and blood pressure-related indicators: a nested case-control study in rural China.

BACKGROUND: The relationship between glucocorticoids and hypertension has shown inconsistent findings in previous studies. To address this, our study employed a nested case-control design in rural areas to further investigate the association between serum glucocorticoid levels and hypertension, and blood pressure-related indicators. METHODS: This study employed a nested case-control design, involving 560 pairs of hypertensive cases and matched controls. The concentrations of serum cortisol (F), cortisone (E) and 11-deoxycortisol (S) were determined using liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry. We employed various methods, including generalized linear model (GLM), conditional logistic regression model, restricted cubic spline regression, subgroup analysis, interaction, and joint effects, with adjustments for multiple covariates to analyze the relationships between glucocorticoids, hypertension, and blood pressure-related indicators. RESULTS: After multivariable adjustments, ln-F, ln-F/E, and ln-S were positively associated with SBP, DBP, pulse pressure (PP), and mean arterial pressure (MAP), while ln-E was negatively associated with DBP and MAP (P < 0.05). Interestingly, ln-S showed no statistically significant association with hypertension prevalence (P > 0.05), whereas ln-F and ln-F/E were positively associated with it (P < 0.05). The adjusted odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were 1.153 (1.011-1.315) for ln-F and 2.072 (1.622-2.645) for ln-F/E, respectively. In contrast, ln-E exhibited a negative association with hypertension prevalence (adjusted OR = 0.837, 95% CI 0.714-0.982). Moreover, a significant association was observed between the combined use of high-dose F/E and high-dose S with hypertension prevalence (adjusted OR = 3.273, 95% CI 2.013-5.321). Blood pressure indicators and hypertension prevalence significantly increased with elevated serum F and F/E concentrations (P < 0.05). Interaction analysis further revealed that among women, the positive association between F/E and hypertension prevalence was more pronounced than in men (P < 0.05), and S exhibited a more significant positive association with hypertension prevalence in the overweight population (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: Serum F/E and S levels demonstrated positive associations with hypertension and blood pressure-related indicators, and their combined influence exhibited a synergistic effect on hypertension. Notably, F, F/E, and S were associated with heightened hypertension risk, warranting particular attention in women and overweight populations.

New findings on the risk of hypertension from organophosphorus exposure under different glycemic statuses: The key role of lipids?

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Considering the widespread use of organophosphorus pesticides (OPs) and the global prevalence of hypertension (HTN), as well as studies indicating that different glycemic statuses may respond differently to the biological effects of OPs. Therefore, this study, based on the Henan rural cohort, aims to investigate the association between OPs exposure and HTN, and further explores whether lipids mediate these associations. METHODS: We measured the plasma levels of OPs in 2730 participants under different glycemic statuses using gas chromatography-triple quadrupole mass spectrometry (GC-MS/MS). A generalized linear model, Quantile g-computation (QGC), adaptive elastic net (AENET), and Bayesian kernel machine regression (BKMR) models were used to assess the impact of OPs exposure on HTN, with least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO) penalty regression identifying main OPs. Mediation models were used to evaluate the intermediary role of blood lipids in the OPs-HTN relationship. RESULTS: The detection rates for all OPs were high, ranging from 76.35 % to 99.17 %. In the normal glucose tolerance (NGT) population, single exposure models indicated that malathion and phenthoate were associated with an increased incidence of HTN (P-FDR < 0.05), with corresponding odds ratios (ORs) and 95 % confidence intervals (CIs) of 1.624 (1.167,2.260) and 1.290 (1.072,1.553), respectively. QGC demonstrated a positive association between OP mixtures and HTN, with malathion and phenthoate being the primary contributors. Additionally, the AENET model's Exposure Response Score (ERS) suggested that the risk of HTN increases with higher ERS (P < 0.001). Furthermore, BKMR revealed that co-exposure to OPs increases HTN risk, with phenthoate having a significant impact. Furthermore, triglycerides (TG) mediated 6.55 % of the association between phenthoate and HTN. However, no association was observed in the impaired fasting glucose (IFG) and type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) populations. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings suggest that in the NGT population, OPs may significantly contribute to the development of HTN, proposing TG as a potential novel target for HTN prevention.

Mitochondrial coding genes mediate insecticide tolerance in the oriental fruit fly, Bactrocera dorsalis (Hendel).

The oriental fruit fly, Bactrocera dorsalis (Hendel), an invasive insect pest infesting fruits and vegetables, possesses a remarkable capacity for environmental adaptation. The investigation of behind mechanisms of the stress adaptability in B. dorsalis holds significantly practical relevance. Previous studies on the molecular mechanism underlying stress resistance in B. dorsalis have predominantly focused on nuclear-coding genes, with limited exploration on organelle-coding genes. In this study, we assessed alterations in the mitochondrial physiological parameters of B. dorsalis under exposure to malathion, avermectin, and beta-cypermethrin at LD50 dosages. The results showed that all three insecticides were capable of reducing mitochondrial complex IV activity and ATP content. Expression patterns of mitochondrial coding genes across different developmental stages, tissues and insecticide exposures were analyzed by RT-qPCR. The results revealed that these mitochondrial coding genes were expressed in various tissues and at different developmental stages. Particularly noteworthy, atp6, cox2, and cytb exhibited substantial up-regulation in response to malathion and avermectin treatment. Furthermore, RNAi-mediated knockdown of atp6 and cox2 resulted in the increased toxicity of malathion and avermectin against B. dorsalis, and cox2 silencing was also associated with the decreased complex IV activity. These findings suggest that atp6 and cox2 most likely play pivotal roles in mediating tolerance or resistance to malathion and avermectin in B. dorsalis. Our results provide novel insights into the role of mitochondrial coding genes in conferring tolerance to insecticides in B. dorsalis, with practical implications for controlling this pest in the field.

Reciprocal inhibition between TP63 and STAT1 regulates anti-tumor immune response through interferon-γ signaling in squamous cancer.

Squamous cell carcinomas (SCCs) are common and aggressive malignancies. Immune check point blockade (ICB) therapy using PD-1/PD-L1 antibodies has been approved in several types of advanced SCCs. However, low response rate and treatment resistance are common. Improving the efficacy of ICB therapy requires better understanding of the mechanism of immune evasion. Here, we identify that the SCC-master transcription factor TP63 suppresses interferon-γ (IFNγ) signaling. TP63 inhibition leads to increased CD8+ T cell infiltration and heighten tumor killing in in vivo syngeneic mouse model and ex vivo co-culture system, respectively. Moreover, expression of TP63 is negatively correlated with CD8+ T cell infiltration and activation in patients with SCC. Silencing of TP63 enhances the anti-tumor efficacy of PD-1 blockade by promoting CD8+ T cell infiltration and functionality. Mechanistically, TP63 and STAT1 mutually suppress each other to regulate the IFNγ signaling by co-occupying and co-regulating their own promoters and enhancers. Together, our findings elucidate a tumor-extrinsic function of TP63 in promoting immune evasion of SCC cells. Over-expression of TP63 may serve as a biomarker predicting the outcome of SCC patients treated with ICB therapy, and targeting TP63/STAT/IFNγ axis may enhance the efficacy of ICB therapy for this deadly cancer.

Silver-catalyzed direct conversion of epoxides into cyclopropanes using N-triftosylhydrazones.

Epoxides, as a prominent small ring O-heterocyclic and the privileged pharmacophores for medicinal chemistry, have recently represented an ideal substrate for the development of single-atom replacements. The previous O-to-C replacement strategy for epoxides to date typically requires high temperatures to achieve low yields and lacks substrate range and functional group tolerance, so achieving this oxygen-carbon exchange remains a formidable challenge. Here, we report a silver-catalyzed direct conversion of epoxides into trifluoromethylcyclopropanes in a single step using trifluoromethyl N-triftosylhydrazones as carbene precursors, thereby achieving oxygen-carbon exchange via a tandem deoxygenation/[2 + 1] cycloaddition. The reaction shows broad tolerance of functional groups, allowing routine cheletropic olefin synthesis in a strategy for the net oxygen-carbon exchange reaction. The utility of this method is further showcased with the late-stage diversification of epoxides derived from bioactive natural products and drugs. Mechanistic experiments and DFT calculations elucidate the reaction mechanism and the origin of the chemo- and stereoselectivity.

Comparative evaluation of four Lycium barbarum cultivars on NaIO3-induced retinal degeneration mice via multivariate statistical analysis.

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE: The fruit of Lycium barbarum L. (goji berry) is a traditional Chinese medicine and is often used to improve vision. While various goji cultivars may differentially treat retinal degeneration, however their comparative effectiveness remains unclear. AIM OF THE STUDY: To evaluate the protective effects of four goji cultivars on NaIO3-induced retinal degeneration mouse model and identify the most therapeutically potent cultivar. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The principal compounds in the extracts of four goji cultivars were characterized by UPLC-Q-TOF/MS. A retinal degeneration mouse model was established via NaIO3 injection. Dark-light transition and TUNEL assays were used to assess visual function and retinal apoptosis. The levels of antioxidative, inflammatory, and angiogenic markers in serums and eyeballs were measured. Hierarchical cluster analysis, principal component analysis and partial least squares-discriminant analysis were used to objectively compare the treatment responses. RESULTS: Sixteen compounds were identified in goji berry extracts. All goji berry extracts could reverse NaIO3-induced visual impairment, retinal damage and apoptosis. The samples from the cultivar of Ningqi No.1 significantly modulated oxidative stress, inflammation, and vascular endothelial growth factor levels, which are more effectively than the other cultivars based on integrated multivariate profiling. CONCLUSION: Ningqi No.1 demonstrated a stronger protective effect on mouse retina than other goji cultivars, and is a potential variety for further research on the treatment of retinal degeneration.

Acquisition of a stable and transferable plasmid coharbouring hypervirulence and MDR genes with low fitness cost: Accelerating the dissemination of ST11-KL64 CR-HvKP.

OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to delineate the ability of a plasmid, pS130-4, which harboured both hypervirulence and multidrug resistance genes, to disseminate within Klebsiella pneumoniae, as well as its potential formation mechanism. METHODS: We employed whole-genome sequencing to decipher the genetic architecture of pS130-4. Its capability to conjugate and transfer was assessed through a series of experiments, including plasmid stability, competitive growth, and growth curve analysis. Its expression stability was further evaluated using drug sensitivity, larval survival, and biofilm formation tests. RESULTS: pS130-4 contained four intact modules typical of self-transmissible plasmids. BLAST analysis revealed a sequence identity exceeding 90% with other plasmids from a variety of hosts, suggesting its broad prevalence. Our findings indicated the plasmid's formation resulted from IS26-mediated recombination, leading us to propose a model detailing the creation of this conjugative fusion plasmid housing both blaKPC-2 and hypervirulence genes. Our conjugation experiments established that pS130-4, when present in the clinical strain S130, was self-transmissible with an estimated efficiency between 10-5 and 10-4. Remarkably, pS130-4 showcased a 90% retention rate and did not impede the growth of host bacteria. Galleria mellonella larval infection assay demonstrated that S130 had pronounced toxicity when juxtaposed with high-virulence control strain NTUH-K2044 and low-toxicity control strain ATCC700603. Furthermore, pS130-4's virulence remained intact postconjugation. CONCLUSION: A fusion plasmid, encompassing both hypervirulence and multidrug resistance genes, was viable within K. pneumoniae ST11-KL64 and incurred minimal fitness costs. These insights underscored the criticality of rigorous monitoring to pre-empt the escalation and distribution of this formidable super-plasmid.

The relationship between cooking fuel use and sex hormone levels: A cross-sectional study and Mendelian randomization study.

PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of solid fuel use on serum sex hormone levels. Furthermore, the effects of improved kitchen ventilation and duration of cooking time on the relationship between solid fuel use and serum sex hormone levels will be further explored. METHODS: In this cross-sectional study, 5386 individuals were recruited. Gender and menopausal status modified associations between solid fuel type and serum sex hormone levels was investigated through generalized linear models and further analyzed by improving kitchen ventilation and length of cooking time on the relationship between solid fuel use and serum sex hormone levels. To identify the causal association, mendelian randomization of two-sample was performed. RESULTS: In observational analyses, for ln-17-hydroxyprogesterone, ln-testosterone, and ln-androstenedione among premenopausal women, the estimated ß and 95 % CI of sex hormone levels for the effect of solid fuel users was -0.337 (-0.657, -0.017), -0.233 (-0.47, 0.005), and - 0.240 (-0.452, -0.028) respectively, and - 0.150 (-0.296, -0.004) in ln-progesterone among postmenopausal women. It was found that combining solid fuels with long cooking periods or no ventilation more effectively reduced testosterone and androstenedione in premenopausal women. We further found the adverse effects of using solid fuel on progesterone, testosterone, and androstenedione levels were enhanced with the increases of PM1, PM2.5, PM10, and NO2. Corresponding genetic, the causal risk effect of solid fuel were - 0.056 (-0.513, 0.4) and 0.026 (-3.495, 3.547) for testosterone levels and sex hormone binding globulin, respectively. CONCLUSION: Using gas or solid fuel was negatively related to sex hormone levels. A combination of using solid fuels, cooking for a long time, or cooking without ventilation had a stronger effect on sex hormone levels. However, genetic evidence did not support causality for the associations. WHAT IS ALREADY KNOWN ON THIS TOPIC?: The mechanisms underlying these associations household air pollution (HAP) from incomplete combustion of such fuels and occurrence of chronic diseases remained obscure. Recent years, extensive evidences from animal as well as human researches have suggested that progestogen and androgen hormones are involved in the development of diabetes, hypertension, and cardiovascular disease, which indicated that changes in serum progestogen and androgen hormones levels might play a role in these pathological mechanisms. However, limited evidence exists examining the effect of HAP from solid fuel use on serum sex hormone levels.

A Visible Light Cross-Linked Underwater Hydrogel Adhesive with Biodegradation and Hemostatic Ability.

Hydrogel adhesives with integrated functionalities are still required to match their ever-expanding practical applications in the field of tissue repair and regeneration. A simple and effective safety strategy is reported, involving an in situ injectable polymer precursor and visible light-induced cross-linking. This strategy enables the preparation of a hydrogel adhesive in a physiological environment, offering wet adhesion to tissue surfaces, molecular flexibility, biodegradability, biocompatibility, efficient hemostatic performance, and the ability to facilitate liver injury repair. The proposed one-step preparation process of this polymer precursor involves the mixing of gelatin methacryloyl (GelMA), poly(thioctic acid) [P(TA)], poly(acrylic acid)/amorphous calcium phosphate (PAAc/ACP, PA) and FDA-approved photoinitiator solution, and a subsequent visible light irradiation after in situ injection into target tissues that resulted in a chemically-physically cross-linked hybrid hydrogel adhesive. Such a combined strategy shows promise for medical scenarios, such as uncontrollable post-traumatic bleeding.

Establishing mouse and human oral esophageal organoids to investigate the tumor immune response.

Organoid culture systems are very powerful models that recapitulate in vivo organ development and disease pathogenesis, offering great promise in basic research, drug screening and precision medicine. However, the application of organoids derived from patients with cancer to immunotherapeutic research is a relatively untapped area. Esophageal cancer is one of the most lethal malignancies worldwide, including two major pathological subtypes: esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) and esophageal adenocarcinoma. ESCC shares many biological and genomic features with oral squamous cell cancers. Herein, we provide a versatile protocol for the establishment and maintenance of oral and esophageal organoid cultures derived from both murine and human samples. We describe culture conditions for organoids derived from normal tongue, esophagus and gastroesophageal junction, esophageal cancer and Barrett's esophagus. In addition, we establish an ex vivo model by co-culturing patient tumor-derived organoids and autologous CD8+ T lymphocytes to assess CD8+ T cell-mediated tumor killing. Our protocol can also be modified for organoid establishment from other squamous epithelia and carcinomas. The co-culture model can serve as a template for studies of other tumor-immune cell interactions and the efficacy of immune checkpoint blockade therapy.

Lipidomics Reveals the Effects of Detergents on Skin Surface Lipids in Young Adults.

BACKGROUND: Detergent is a chemical product commonly used in people's daily life. Contact with detergent solutions can damage the human skin barrier and cause skin diseases. Skin surface lipids (SSLs) play a decisive role in skin barrier function. This study aimed to observe the changes of SSLs in young adults after exposure to detergent solutions to explore the underlying mechanism of skin barrier function damage. METHODS: A self-controlled study on youth adults was conducted in Zhengzhou, China, in November 2020. The study lasted for a total of 1 week, and skin barrier function was assessed by trans-epidermal water loss (TEWL) values. The changes of SSLs before and after exposure to the detergent with subjects were measured using ultra-performance liquid chromatography quadrupole time of flight mass spectrometry. RESULTS: The skin barrier function of subjects' hands was impaired after exposure to detergent (TEWL value increased, p < 0.001). A total of 520 SSLs were detected, divided into 6 main categories. The average relative abundance of these 6 major lipids decreased after exposure. Sphingolipids (mainly ceramides), free fatty acids (mainly long-chain fatty acids), cholesterol lipids, and glycerophospholipids are the most severely damaged lipids. CONCLUSION: Detergent solutions can damage the skin barrier function and SSLs of young hands; interventions targeting SSLs to eliminate detergent damage to human skin may be of value.

Combined effects of organochlorine pesticides on type 2 diabetes mellitus: Insights from endocrine disrupting effects of hormones.

Association between organochlorine pesticides (OCPs) exposure and type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) remains contradictory, and the evidence is mostly focused on a single exposure. Here, we assessed the associations between individual and combined OCPs exposure and T2DM, and explored the underlying mechanism of sex hormones and the methylation levels of sex hormone receptors in above associations. A case-control study with 1812 participants was performed. Gas chromatography mass spectrometry, liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry, and pyrosequencing were used to measure plasma OCPs, serum sex hormones, and whole blood methylation levels of sex hormone receptors, respectively. Generalized linear models were used to analyze the relationships between OCPs, sex hormones, the methylation levels of sex hormone receptors, and T2DM. Quantile based g-computation (QGC) and Bayesian Kernel Machine Regression (BKMR) were employed to assess the combined OCPs exposure. The roles of sex hormones and the methylation levels of their receptors were evaluated by moderating mediation models. After adjusting for covariates, each unit (2.718 ng/ml) increase in p,p'-DDE was associated with a higher risk of T2DM in males (odds ratio (OR) and 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.066 (1.023, 1.112)). QGC and BKMR showed a positive combined effect in the associations of OCPs mixtures on T2DM among premenopausal females, and positive effects but not statistically significant among males and postmenopausal females. p,p'-DDE was the largest contributor for the positive associations. Furthermore, testosterone mediated 21.149% of the associations of p,p'-DDE with T2DM moderated by the androgen receptor methylation (ARm) located in CpG island 1. Individual and mixtures of OCPs exposure were positively linked to elevated risk of T2DM. Testosterone and ARm may participate in the related processes of OCPs with T2DM, providing new insights into the adverse endocrine effects caused by OCPs and specific pathways for the etiology and control of diabetes.

Inflammatory markers and androstenedione modify the effect of serum testosterone on obesity among men: Findings from a Chinese population.

BACKGROUND: Few studies are available on the relationship of androstenedione with inflammation and obesity and the effect of androstenedione and inflammation on the association between testosterone and obesity. This study intended to examine the mediation effect of inflammatory markers on the association of testosterone with obesity and the moderation effect of androstenedione on the association of testosterone with inflammation and obesity in Chinese rural men. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This cross-sectional research enrolled 2536 male rural inhabitants from the Henan Rural Cohort study. The serum concentrations of testosterone and androstenedione were determined by liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry. Linear and logistic regression were used to examine the relationships between testosterone, inflammatory markers, and obesity. Mediation and moderation analyses were carried out to evaluate the potential effects of inflammatory markers on the relationship between testosterone and obesity, as well as androstenedione on the relationships of testosterone with inflammation and obesity. RESULTS: After adjusting for confounding factors, the results showed that testosterone and androstenedione were negatively related to obesity, and inflammatory markers were positively associated with obesity. Besides, testosterone and androstenedione were negatively associated with inflammatory markers. Mediation analysis showed that white blood cell, neutrophil, monocyte, and high-sensitivity C-reactive protein had mediating effects on the association between testosterone and obesity. The most vital mediator was high-sensitivity C-reactive protein, and its proportion of the effect was 11.02% (defined by waist circumference), 11.15% (defined by waist-to-hip ratio), 12.92% (defined by waist-to-height ratio), and full mediating effect (defined by body mass index). Moreover, androstenedione played negative moderation effects on the associations of testosterone with inflammation and obesity. CONCLUSION: Inflammatory markers and androstenedione were first found to have modifying effects on the association of testosterone with obesity. Higher levels of testosterone and androstenedione could reduce the inflammation level and risk of obesity, indicating their potential roles in the prevention and treatment of chronic diseases.

Laponite nanoparticle-crosslinked carboxymethyl cellulose-based injectable hydrogels with efficient underwater-specific adhesion for rapid hemostasis.

Tissue adhesives have attracted intense and increasing interest due to their multiple biomedical applications. Despite the rapid development of adhesive hydrogels, huge challenges remain for materials that can ensure strong adhesion and seal hemostasis in aqueous and blood environments. To address this issue, we have developed an innovative design of PAA-based coacervate hydrogel with strong wet adhesion capability through a simple mixture of PAA copolymers with oxidized-carboxymethylcellulose (OCMC), and tannic acid (TA) as the main components, and structurally enhanced with natural clays (Laponite XLG). The absorbed TA provides solid adhesion to dry and wet substrates via multiple interactions, which endows the XLG-enhanced coacervate with the desired underwater adhesive strength. More importantly, the dielectric constant is introduced to evaluate the polarity of the tested samples, which may be used as guidance for the design of mussel-inspired adhesives with even better underwater adhesive properties. In vivo hemorrhage experiments further confirmed that the hydrogel adhesive dramatically shortened the hemostatic time to tens of seconds. Overall, the persistent adhesion and acceptable cytocompatibility of the hydrogel nanocomposite make it a promising alternative suture-free approach for rapid hemostasis at different length scales and is expected to be extended to clinical application for other organ injuries.