Platycodon D protects human nasal epithelial cells from pyroptosis through the Nrf2/HO-1/ROS signaling cascade in chronic rhinosinusitis.

BACKGROUND: Pyroptosis has been demonstrated being closely associated with the inflammatory progression in chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS). However, platycodon D (PLD) has emerged as a key anti-inflammatory mediator in the inflammatory progression of various respiratory diseases. This study aims at investigating whether PLD could reduce inflammatory progression of CRS by inhibiting pyroptosis. METHODS: Nasal mucosal tissues from patients with CRS and the control group (simple nasal septal deviation) were analyzed for morphological difference using hematoxylin & eosin staining and for the expression of pyroptosis-related makers by immunofluorescence (IF). Human nasal epithelial cells (HNEpCs) were cultured and co-stimulated with lipopolysaccharide (LPS)/adenosine triphosphate (ATP) to construct an in vitro cellular model simulating CRS. After pretreatment with PLD, EthD-I staining, TUNEL staining, transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and GSDMD-NT detection were performed to evaluate pyroptosis markers. The NLRP3 inflammasome was detected by IF and western blotting (WB). Reactive oxygen species (ROS) were detected by H2DCFDA staining, and mitochondrial membrane potential was evaluated by JC-1 staining. Mitochondrial morphology and structure were observed using TEM. The Nrf2/HO-1 antioxidant signaling pathway was detected using WB. RESULTS: The nasal mucosa structure of patients with CRS exhibited significant damage, with a marked increase in the expression of pyroptosis-related proteins compared with the control group. LPS/ATP co-stimulation resulted in an increased expression of IL-18 and IL-1ß in HNEpCs, causing significant damage to nuclear and cell membranes, GSDMD-NT accumulation around the cell membrane, and intracellular NLRP3 inflammasome activation. Furthermore, it led to increased ROS expression, significantly decreased mitochondrial membrane potential, and damaged mitochondrial structure. However, pretreatment with PLD significantly reversed the aforementioned trends and activated the Nrf2/HO-1 antioxidant signaling pathway. CONCLUSIONS: The results of this study confirm that NLRP3-mediated pyroptosis plays a crucial role in the pathological process of nasal mucosal impairment in patients with CRS. PLD inhibits NLRP3-mediated pyroptosis, preventing inflammatory damage in HNEpCs of patients with CRS by activating the Nrf2/HO-1 antioxidant signaling pathway, which in turn reduces ROS production and ameliorates mitochondrial damage.

NIPBL-mediated RAD21 facilitates tumorigenicity by the PI3K pathway in non-small-cell lung cancer.

It is urgent to identify novel early diagnostic markers and therapeutic targets for non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC), which accounts for 85% of lung cancer cases and has a 5-year survival rate of 4-17%. Here, chromatin immunoprecipitation (ChIP) was used to identify DNA‒protein interactions, RNA methylation was determined by methylated RNA immunoprecipitation (MeRIP), RNA stability was tested by an RNA decay assay. We showed that RAD21, a member of the cohesin complex, is upregulated in NSCLC tissues and cell lines and found to be an independent prognostic factor for overall survival (OS) of NSCLC patients. Mechanistically, the cohesin loading factor Nipped-B-Like Protein (NIPBL) promoted RAD21 gene transcription by enhancing histone H3 lysine 27 (H3K27) demethylation via recruiting lysine demethylase 6B (KDM6B) to the RAD21 gene promoter. RAD21 enhanced phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K) gene transcription, and NIPBL reversed the effect of enhancer of zeste 2; catalytic subunit of polycomb repressive complex 2 (EZH2) on RAD21-mediated PI3K gene transcription by disrupting the association between EZH2 and RAD21. Moreover, NIPBL level was increased by stabilization of its transcripts through mRNA methylation. These findings highlight the oncogenic role of RAD21 in NSCLC and suggest its use as a potential diagnostic marker and therapeutic target for NSCLC.

Xiaoqinglong decoction improves allergic rhinitis by inhibiting NLRP3-mediated pyroptosis in BALB/C mice.

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE: Xiaoqinglong decoction (XQLD), first recorded in Shang Han Lun, is a traditional Chinese medicine prescribed for the treatment of allergic rhinitis (AR). XQLD alleviates the clinical symptoms of AR by inhibiting the occurrence of an inflammatory response, but the specific regulatory mechanism remains unclear. AIM OF THE STUDY: NLRP3-mediated pyroptosis is closely related to AR pathogenesis. Hence, this study aimed to explore the potential role of NLRP3-mediated pyroptosis pathway in the AR-associated pharmacological mechanism of XQLD. MATERIALS AND METHODS: BALB/C mice models of AR was established by using ovalbumin (OVA) and aluminum hydroxide sensitization. After intragastric administration of different dosages of XQLD, nasal allergic symptoms were observed. The expression of OVA-sIgE and Th2 inflammatory factors (IL-4, IL-5, and IL-13) in serum was detected by ELISA. The histopathological morphology and expression of inflammatory factors in nasal mucosa along with pyroptosis were investigated. Molecular docking was performed to analyze the binding of representative compounds of XQLD with NLRP3. Activation of the NLRP3 inflammasome was detected by immunofluorescence and western blotting. RESULTS: XQLD significantly improved the nasal allergic symptoms of mice, reduced the degree of goblet cell proliferation, mast cell infiltration, and collagen fiber hyperplasia in nasal mucosa. Meanwhile, it could downregulate the expression of Th2 inflammatory factors (IL-4, IL-5, and IL-13) in serum and nasal mucosa. XQLD significantly reduced the number of GSDMD and TUNEL double-positive cells and IL-1ß and IL-18 expression. Molecular docking confirmed that seven representative compounds of XQLD had good binding properties with NLRP3 and were able to inhibit the activation of the NLRP3 inflammasome. CONCLUSIONS: The representative compounds of XQLD might inhibit pyroptosis in nasal mucosa mediated by the NLRP3 inflammasome to helping the recovery of AR, which provides a new modern pharmacological proof for XQLD to treat AR.

[Metabolomics of nasal lavage fluid in patients with allergic rhinitis treated by Xiaoqinglong Decoction].

This study used nasal lavage fluid for metabolomics to explore its feasibility, and applied it to the clinical metabolomics study of Xiaoqinglong Decoction in the treatment of allergic rhinitis(AR), aiming to investigate the molecular mechanism of Xiaoqing-long Decoction in the treatment of AR through differential changes in local nasal metabolism. AR patients were selected as the research subjects, and nasal lavage fluid was collected as the sample. Metabolomics analysis using liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry was performed on normal group, AR group, and Xiaoqinglong Decoction group. The differences in metabolic profiles among the groups were compared using principal component analysis and partial least squares discriminant analysis, and differential metabolites were identified and subjected to corresponding metabolic pathway analysis. The results showed that Xiaoqinglong Decoction significantly improved the symptoms of AR patients. The metabolomics analysis revealed 20 differential metabolites between AR group and Xiaoqinglong Decoction group. The core metabolite with a trending return in comparison to normal group was trimethyladipic acid. The metabolites were involved in multiple pathways, including ß-alanine metabolism, glutathione metabolism, and phenylalanine, tyrosine, and tryptophan biosynthesis. The feasibility of applying nasal lavage fluid in nasal metabolomics was preliminarily demonstrated. Differential metabolites and enriched pathways in the treatment of AR patients with Xiaoqinglong Decoction were identified, indicating that it may improve rhinitis symptoms through the regulation of various metabolites, including antioxidant effects and correction of Th1/Th2 imbalance.

[Treatment of Ideberg type â ¡ scapular glenoid fracture with compression screw combined with Buttress plate through direct axillary approach].

Objective: To investigate the effectiveness of compression screw combined with Buttress plate through direct axillary approach for Ideberg typeⅡ scapular glenoid fractures. Methods: A retrospective analysis was conducted on 11 patients with Ideberg type Ⅱ scapular glenoid fractures treated with compression screws combined with Buttress plate fixation through the direct axillary approach between January 2014 and June 2022. There were 7 males and 4 females, aged from 34 to 75 years, with an average of 56.0 years. The causes of injury included 4 cases of falling from height injury, 4 cases of heavy object injury, and 3 cases of traffic accident injury. The time from injury to operation was 2-5 days, with an average of 3.8 days. The operation time, intraoperative blood loss, hospital stay, complications, and fracture healing time were recorded. The Constant-Murley score, American Society of Shoulder and Elbow Surgeons (ASES) score, and shoulder joint flexion, abduction, external rotation (neutral position), and internal rotation (neutral position) range of motion were used to evaluate shoulder joint pain and function. Results: The operation time was 45-105 minutes, with an average of 79.0 minutes; the intraoperative blood loss was 80-200 mL, with an average of 99.2 mL; the hospital stay was 3-8 days, with an average of 5.8 days. One patient had poor wound healing after operation, and the wound healed after strengthening dressing change; the rest wounds had primary healing, and no axillary nerve paralysis occurred. Except for 1 patient lost follow-up, the remaining 10 patients were followed up 10-54 months, with an average of 26.4 months. The postoperative X-ray film examination showed that the fractures healed well within 8-15 weeks, with an average of 11.0 weeks. There was no complication such as fracture displacement, internal fixator failure or fracture during follow-up. At last follow-up, the patient's shoulder joint flexion, abduction, external rotation (neutral position), and internal rotation (neutral position) range of motion, Constant-Murley score, and ASES score significantly improved when compared with those before operation ( P<0.05). Conclusion: Compression screw combined with Buttress plate through direct axillary approach is an effective way to treat Ideberg typeⅡ scapular glenoid fracture, with advantages of small trauma, concealed incision, and good effectiveness.

Application of bridge-link type combined fixation system in the treatment of trifocal femoral fractures.

PURPOSE: Ipsilateral combined fractures of the proximal femur, femoral shaft, and distal femur, though uncommon, present significant treatment challenges for orthopaedic surgeons. This retrospective study aims to investigate the intraoperative and long-term postoperative outcomes of this combination fracture when treated using a bridge-link type combined fixation system (BCFS). PATIENTS AND METHODS: Four individuals received treatment at a level 1 trauma centre between January 2013 and December 2017 for combined fractures of the proximal femur, femoral shaft, and distal femur. The medical records of these patients were retrospectively examined. In addition to minimally invasive percutaneous plate osteosynthesis (MIO), all patients underwent BCFS. RESULTS: The median follow-up period for each patient was 28.5 months. The median duration of the surgical procedure was 176.0 min, with intraoperative haemorrhage measured at 470.0 ml. Among the cases, three patients showed firm union of the femoral shaft fractures. However, one patient experienced nonunion 12 months after the procedure, while another patient suffered from refracture of the femoral shaft and postoperative avascular necrosis of the femoral head. At the time of the last follow-up, the Friedman-Wyman functional scores were excellent in one case, good in two cases, and fair in one case. CONCLUSIONS: Trifocal femoral fractures lack a widely approved therapeutic strategy. Nonetheless, BCFS may present itself as a viable alternative for treating this type of fracture, offering positive clinical outcomes.

Xiao-qing-long-tang ameliorates OVA-induced allergic rhinitis by inhibiting ILC2s through the IL-33/ST2 and JAK/STAT pathways.

BACKGROUND: Allergic rhinitis (AR) is a chronic inflammatory disease of the nasal mucosa that is mediated by immunoglobulin E (IgE). Xiao-qing-long-tang (XQLT) is a traditional Chinese medicine compound that is widely used to treat respiratory diseases such as AR. However, the underlying mechanism of the effect of XQLT on AR remains unclear. PURPOSE: To elucidate the effect of XQLT on ovalbumin (OVA)-induced AR and the mechanisms of action. METHODS: The therapeutic efficacy of XQLT was evaluated in a well-established OVA-induced AR mouse model. Nasal symptoms were analyzed, type 2 cytokines and OVA-sIgE levels were measured, nasal mucosa tissues were collected for histological analysis, and the changes of Group 2 innate lymphoid cells (ILC2s) and the IL-33/ST2 and JAK/STAT signaling pathways in the nasal mucosa were observed. RESULTS: XQLT significantly alleviated the nasal symptoms and histological damage to the nasal mucosa in AR mice, and reduced the levels of type 2 cytokines and OVA-sIgE. In addition, after XQLT treatment, the numbers of ILC2s in the nasal mucosa of AR mice were reduced, and the mRNA levels of the transcription factors GATA3 and ROR-α were decreased. Moreover, IL-33/ST2 signaling pathway was inhibited. The costimulatory cytokine associated JAK/STAT signaling pathway was also inhibited in ILC2s. CONCLUSION: Our study demonstrated that XQLT regulated ILC2s through the IL-33/ST2 and JAK/STAT pathways to ameliorate type 2 inflammation in OVA-induced AR. These findings suggest that XQLT might be used to treat AR.

The protective effect of inactivated Flavobacterium columnare vaccine in grass carp (Ctenopharyngodon idellus).

Flavobacterium columnare, which causes columnaris disease, is responsible for significant mortality in grass carp. Vaccination is a safe and effective measure to combat this disease, and this study aimed to investigate the immune protective effects of different treatments using an inactivated F. columnare vaccine. The vaccine was prepared by inactivating the bacteria with 0.05% formaldehyde at 4°C for 24 hours. The experiments involving grass carp were divided into two parts. In Experiment 1, the immune effects of two isolates, JX-01 (genomovar I) and MU-04 (genomovar II), were compared, along with the impact of white oil adjuvant and the number of immunizations. The results showed that when the white oil adjuvant was used as a booster, the relative percent survival (RPS) of the JW2 group and MW2 group after 8 weeks of the first immunization was 34% and 61%, respectively. In Experiment 2, only the MU-04 (genomovar II) isolate was used as an antigen, with the white oil adjuvant as a booster. The effects of different doses (CFU=108, 107, and 106 bacteria/mL) on immune responses were compared, and the RPS values in the MW6, MW7, and MW8 groups after 4 weeks of the first immunization were found to be 38%, 57%, and 71%, respectively. Furthermore, in the cross-antigen protection experiment, the MW2 group exhibited an RPS of 55% against the JX-01 isolate, which was significantly higher than the control group (33%). These findings suggest that an inactivated vaccine comprising an appropriate antigen isolate when administered with a white oil adjuvant as a booster, can provide effective protection in grass carp.

LncRNA PWRN2 promotes polycystic ovary syndrome progression via epigenetically reducing ATRX by recruiting LSD1.

Long non-coding RNA has been shown to mediate the progression of polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). However, the role and mechanism of Prader-Willi region nonprotein coding RNA 2 (PWRN2) in PCOS progression remain unclear. In our study, Sprague-Dawley rat was injected with dehydroepiandrosterone to mimic PCOS rat models. HE staining was used to assess the number of benign granular cells, and serum insulin and hormone levels were detected by ELISA kit. The expression of PWRN2 was examined by qRT-PCR. Ovarian granulosa cells (GCs) proliferation and apoptosis were examined by CCK-8 assay and flow cytometry. The protein levels of apoptosis markers and Alpha thalassemia retardation syndrome X-linked (ATRX) were determined by western blot. The interaction between lysine-specific demethylase 1 (LSD1) and PWRN2 or ATRX was confirmed by RIP and ChIP assay. Our data showed that PWRN2 was upregulated and ATRX was downregulated in the ovarium tissues and serum of PCOS rat. PWRN2 knockdown promoted GCs proliferation and inhibited apoptosis. In the mechanism, PWRN2 inhibited ATRX transcription by binding with LSD1. In addition, downregulation of ATRX also eliminated the effect of sh-PWRN2 on GCs growth. In conclusion, our data suggested that PWRN2 might restrain GCs growth to promote PCOS progression, which was achieved by binding with LSD1 to inhibit ATRX transcription.

Diagnosis and Treatment Strategy of Nasogenic Olfactory Dysfunction.

Since the global outbreak of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), a symptom of the onset of SARS-CoV-2, olfactory dysfunction (OD), has attracted tremendous attention. OD is not only a negative factor for quality of life but also an independent hazard and early biomarker for various diseases, such as Parkinson's and Huntington's diseases. Therefore, early identification and treatment of OD in patients are critical. Many etiological factors are responsible for OD based on current opinions. Sniffin'Sticks are recommended to identify the initial position (central or peripheral) for OD when treating patients clinically. It is worth emphasizing that the olfactory region in nasal cavity is recognized as the primary and critical olfactory receptor. Many nasal diseases, such as those with traumatic, obstructive and inflammatory causes, can lead to OD. The key question is no refined diagnosis or treatment strategy for nasogenic OD currently. This study summarizes the differences in medical history, symptoms, auxiliary examination, treatment and prognosis of different types of nasogenic OD by analyzing the current studies. We propose using olfactory training after 4-6 weeks of initial treatment for nasogenic OD patients with no significant improvement in olfaction. We hope that our research can provide valuable clinical guidance by systematically summarizing the clinical characteristics of nasogenic OD.

Establishment and optimization of an in vitro guinea pig oocyte maturation system.

Guinea pigs are a valuable animal model for studying various diseases, including reproductive diseases. However, techniques for generating embryos via embryo engineering in guinea pigs are limited; for instance, in vitro maturation (IVM) technique is preliminary for guinea pig oocytes. In this study, we aimed to establish and optimize an IVM method for guinea pig oocytes by investigating various factors, such as superovulation induced by different hormones, culture supplementation (e.g., amino acids, hormone, and inhibitors), culture conditions (e.g., oocyte type, culture medium type, and treatment time), and in vivo hCG stimulation. We found that oocytes collected from guinea pigs with superovulation induced by hMG have a higher IVM rate compared to those collected from natural cycling individuals. Moreover, we found that addition of L-cysteine, cystine, and ROS in the culture medium can increase the IVM rate. In addition, we demonstrated that in vivo stimulation with hCG for 3-8 h can further increase the IVM rate. As a result, the overall IVM rate of guinea pig oocytes under our optimized conditions can reach ~69%, and the mature oocytes have high GSH levels and normal morphology. In summary, we established an effective IVM method for guinea pig oocytes by optimizing various factors and conditions, which provides a basis for embryo engineering using guinea pigs as a model.

Antiviral Activity of trans-Hexenoic Acid against Coxsackievirus B and Enterovirus A71.

Enterovirus infections are life-threatening viral infections which occur mainly among children and are possible causes of viral outbreak. Until now, treatment and management of infections caused by members of the genus Enterovirus largely depended on supportive care, and no antiviral medications are currently approved for the treatment of most of these infections. The urgency of discovering new therapeutic options for the treatment of enterovirus infection is increasing. In the present study, we identified that trans-2-hexenoic acid (THA), a natural product from a dietary source, possesses antiviral activity against coxsackievirus B (CVB) and enterovirus A71 (EV-A71) in a dose-dependent manner. We found that THA possesses antiviral activity at 50% effective concentrations (EC50) of 2.9 µM and 3.21 µM against CVB3 and EV-A71 infections, respectively. The time of addition assay revealed that THA inhibits both CVB3 and EV-A71 replication at the entry stage of infection. Additional results from this study further suggest that THA inhibits viral replication by blocking viral entry. Given that THA has received approval as a food additive, treatment of enterovirus infections with THA might be a safe therapeutic option or could pave the way for semisynthetic manufacturing of more antiviral drugs in the future.

HDAC Downregulation of Xiaoqinglong Decoction in the Treatment of Allergic Rhinitis.

INTRODUCTION: As one of the most common allergic diseases, allergic rhinitis (AR) has attracted wide attention all over the world. More appropriate treatment of AR should be explored thoroughly. In recent years, traditional Chinese medicine has attracted more attention in AR treatment. As a classical Chinese medicine prescription, Xiaoqinglong decoction (XQLD) has been commonly used in treating AR. Even though its therapeutic effect on AR has been clinically confirmed, more molecular mechanism remains to be further investigated. Our research aimed to investigate the therapeutic mechanism of XQLD for AR management. METHODS: The study was evaluated in an ovalbumin sensitized mouse model and liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry was adopted to test the stability of XQLD's effective components. RESULTS: The results confirmed the stability and safety of the effective components of XQLD. XQLD significantly downregulated the expression of HDACs (HDAC1, HDAC3, and HDAC4) and Th2 inflammatory factors (IL4, IL5, and IL13) in AR mice. XQLD and the HDAC inhibitor JNJ-26481585 promoted the expression of epithelial tight junction proteins (claudin-1 and ZO-1) and decreased the expression of mucins (Muc5ac and Muc5b) in the nasal mucosa of AR mice. CONCLUSIONS: In conclusion, our findings present the beneficial effects of XQLD on AR and recovery of the nasal epithelium. We also identify the decreased HDAC as a potential target of XQLD for AR treatment. This study provides an important experimental proof for elucidating the therapeutic mechanism of XQLD.

Effects of Landscape Features on Bird Community in Winter Urban Parks.

Urban parks, as critical components of the urban green space, have practical significance in studying the influence of landscape characteristics on birds. Nine urban parks in Fuzhou, China, were used as study objects to explore the influence of landscape features (patch, landscape, and surrounding environment indices) on bird communities. The results showed that (1) from December 2021 to February 2022, we found a total of 2874 individuals belonging to 61 species of 9 orders, 32 families, which were dominated by the birds of Passeriformes (37 species of 24 families, accounting for 89.91% of the total number of individuals) and resident birds in Fuzhou urban parks (n = 30; 85.46%); (2) The park area, park perimeter, woodland area, grassland area, and the park shape index increased as the distance to the city center increases; (3) Bird diversity responds differently to different landscape features. The total abundance of birds, the abundance of winter migrant birds, and the richness of winter migrant birds increased with the park area. And the park shape index affects positively for the the α-diversity of birds and the abundance of resident birds. Woodland proportion and waterbody shape index affected positively on the richness and α-diversity of resident birds. To promote the diversity of regional birds, it is recommended that the construction and planning of urban parks should enlarge the park area as much as possible, increase the proportion of woodland, and make shorelines more irregular. Our study could serve as a reference for the construction of biodiversity enhancements in core green areas of urban parks.

Relationship between Vegetation Habitats and Bird Communities in Urban Mountain Parks.

The coastal areas of southeast China have typical high-density urbanization characteristics, and urban mountain parks are important green spaces in these urban green space systems. Our study was conducted in five typical urban mountain parks in Fuzhou, China. The bird survey was carried out in 25 transects of different vegetation habitats for 10 months, and the vegetation survey was conducted in 25 habitats to investigate the characteristics of bird communities in different vegetation habitats and the causes of their differences. The results showed: (1) From 1 October 2021 to 15 July 2022, we recorded a total of 90 bird species in 8 orders, 37 families, and 64 genera, with 1879 individuals in five vegetation habitats in the urban mountain parks. (2) Abundance and diversity of trees are vegetation variables affecting bird diversity (bird species richness, abundance, and Shannon diversity) in urban mountain parks, and the average branch height under trees has a significant effect on bird evenness. (3) We found more bird species and higher bird diversity in both sparse and dense forest habitats, but fewer bird species in waterfront, shrub, and grassland habitats; (4) Average tree height (AVE_HEIt) was only present in the best model of bird abundance and evenness. However, none of the best models found a significant effect of the number of tourists and predators on bird diversity. Our results could provide a theoretical basis and guidance for the future improvement of ecological service functions of bird habitats in urban mountain parks in subtropical coastal areas.

In Situ Direct Monitoring of the Morphological Transformation of Single Au Nanostars Induced by Iodide through Dual-Laser Dark-Field Microscopy: Unexpected Mechanism and Sensing Applications.

Single nanoparticle imaging is a significant technique to help reveal the reaction mechanism and provides insight into the nanoparticle transformation. Here, we monitor the in situ morphological transformation of Au nanostars (GNSs) induced by iodide (I-) in real time using dark-field microscopy (DFM) with 638 nm red (R) and 534 nm green (G) laser coillumination. The two lasers are selected because the longitudinal localized surface plasmon resonance of GNSs is located at 638 nm and that for GNSs after transformation is at 534 nm. Interestingly, I- can interact with GNSs directly without the engagement of other reagents, and upon increasing I- concentrations, GNSs undergo color changes from red to orange, yellow, and green under DFM. Accordingly, green/red channel intensities (G/R ratios) are extracted by obtaining red and green channel intensities of single nanoparticles to weigh the morphological changes and quantify I-. A single nanoparticle sensor is constructed for I- detection with a detection limit of 6.9 nM. Finally, a novel mechanism is proposed to elucidate this shape transformation. I- absorbed onto the surface of GNSs binds with Au atoms to form AuI-, lowering the energy of its bond with other Au atoms, which facilitates the diffusion of this atom across the nanoparticle surface to low-energy sites at the concaves, thus deforming to spherical Au nanoparticles.

Whole genome sequencing reveals hidden transmission of carbapenemase-producing Enterobacterales.

Carbapenemase-producing Enterobacterales (CPE) infection control practices are based on the paradigm that detected carriers in the hospital transmit to other patients who stay in the same ward. The role of plasmid-mediated transmission at population level remains largely unknown. In this retrospective cohort study over 4.7 years involving all multi-disciplinary public hospitals in Singapore, we analysed 779 patients who acquired CPE (1215 CPE isolates) detected by clinical or surveillance cultures. 42.0% met putative clonal transmission criteria, 44.8% met putative plasmid-mediated transmission criteria and 13.2% were unlinked. Only putative clonal transmissions associated with direct ward contact decreased in the second half of the study. Both putative clonal and plasmid-mediated transmission associated with indirect (no temporal overlap in patients' admission period) ward and hospital contact did not decrease during the study period. Indirect ward and hospital contact were identified as independent risk factors associated with clonal transmission. In conclusion, undetected CPE reservoirs continue to evade hospital infection prevention measures. New measures are needed to address plasmid-mediated transmission, which accounted for 50% of CPE dissemination.

High-Throughput Color Imaging Hg2+ Sensing via Amalgamation-Mediated Shape Transition of Concave Cube Au Nanoparticles.

Mercury, as one type of toxic heavy metal, represents a great threat to environmental and biological metabolic systems. Thus, reliable and sensitive quantitative detection of mercury levels is particularly meaningful for environmental protection and human health. We proposed a high-throughput single-particle color imaging strategy under dark-field microscopy (DFM) for mercury ions (Hg2+) detection by using individual concave cube Au nanoparticles as optical probes. In the presence of ascorbic acid (AA), Hg2+ was reduced to Hg which forms Au-Hg amalgamate with Au nanoparticles, altering their localized surface plasmon resonance (LSPR). Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) images demonstrated that the concave cube Au nanoparticles were approaching to sphere upon increasing the concentration of Hg2+. The nanoparticles underwent an obvious color change from red to yellow, green, and finally blue under DFM due to the shape-evolution and LSPR changes. In addition, we demonstrated for the first time that the LSPR of Au-Hg amalgamated below 400 nm. Inspired by the above-mentioned results, single-particle color variations were digitalized by converting the color image into RGB channels to obtain (green+blue)/red intensity ratios [(G+B)/R]. The concentration-dependence change was quantified by statistically analyzing the (G+B)/R ratios of a large number of particles. A linear range from 10 to 2000 nM (R2 = 0.972) and a limit of detection (LOD) of 1.857 nM were acquired. Furthermore, many other metal ions, like Cu2+, Cr3+, etc., did not interfere with Hg2+ detection. More importantly, Hg2+ content in industrial wastewater samples and in the inner regions of human HepG2 cells was determined, showing great potential for developing a single-particle color imaging sensor in complex biological samples using concave cube Au nanoparticles as optical probes.

Does Bird Diversity Affect Public Mental Health in Urban Mountain Parks?-A Case Study in Fuzhou City, China.

Intensified urbanization has caused a linear decline in the quality of urban biodiversity and indirectly harms our current human settlement environment. Urban mountain parks provide a refuge for the animals and plants and play a vital role in satisfying residents' lives. At present, few studies are focusing on the impact of biodiversity on human mental health benefits of urban mountain parks in high-density construction areas along the coast of the Eastern Hemisphere. Here, we examined the relationship between bird abundance, Shannon diversity, Simpson diversity, and Richness and momentary mental health (positive, negative, and anxiety) in urban mountain parks. The timed species counts method was used to conduct three surveys of birds in urban mountain parks, and linear regression was performed on the relationship between bird diversity and mental health among sites. According to the regression model results, we found no significant correlation in any disturbance levels. As urban mountain parks are an essential part of the human settlement environment, how to improve the biodiversity and mental health of urban mountain parks is one of the focuses of research on biodiversity well-being in the future. Urban planning authorities and public mental health researchers should pay attention to the importance of biodiversity in urban development and consider how to realize the beautiful vision of the harmonious coexistence of humans, animals, plants, and the environment in which we live.