Structure-phase transformation of bismuth oxide to BiOCl/Bi24O31Cl10 shoulder-by-shoulder heterojunctions for efficient photocatalytic removal of antibiotic.

Developing heterojunction photocatalyst with well-matched interfaces and multiple charge transfer paths is vital to boost carrier separation efficiency for photocatalytic antibiotics removal, but still remains a great challenge. In present work, a new strategy of chloride anion intercalation in Bi2O3 via one-pot hydrothermal process is proposed. The as-prepared Ta-BiOCl/Bi24O31Cl10 (TBB) heterojunctions are featured with Ta-Bi24O31Cl10 and Ta-BiOCl lined shoulder-by-shouleder via semi-coherent interfaces. In this TBB heterojunctions, the well-matched semi-coherent interfaces and shoulder-by-shoulder structures provide fast electron transfer and multiple transfer paths, respectively, leading to enhanced visible light response and improved photogenerated charge separation. Meanwhile, a type-II heterojunction for photocharge separation has been obtained, in which photogenerated electrons are drove from the CB (conduction band) of Ta-Bi24O31Cl10 to the both of bilateral empty CB of Ta-BiOCl and gathered on the CB of Ta-BiOCl, while the photogenerated holes are left on the VB (valence band) of Ta-Bi24O31Cl10, effectively hindering the recombination of photogenerated electron-hole pairs. Furthermore, the separated electrons can effectively activate dissolved oxygen for the generation of reactive oxygen species (·O2-). Such TBB heterojunctions exhibit remarkably superior photocatalytic degradation activity for tetracycline hydrochloride (TCH) solution to Bi2O3, Ta-BiOCl and Ta-Bi24O31Cl10. This work not only proposes a Ta-BiOCl/Bi24O31Cl10 shoulder-by-shoulder micro-ribbon architectures with semi-coherent interfaces and successive type-II heterojunction for highly efficient photocatalytic activity, but offers a new insight into the design of highly efficient heterojunction through phase-structure synergistic transformation strategy.

Body Roundness Index Trajectories and the Incidence of Cardiovascular Disease: Evidence From the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study.

BACKGROUND: Several previous cross-sectional studies suggested that body roundness index (BRI) may be associated with cardiovascular disease (CVD). However, the association should be further validated. Our study aimed to assess the association of the BRI trajectories with CVD among middle-aged and older Chinese people in a longitudinal cohort. METHODS AND RESULTS: A total of 9935 participants from the CHARLS (China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study) with repeated BRI measurements from 2011 to 2016 were included. The BRI trajectories were identified by group-based trajectory modeling. The primary outcome was incident CVD (stroke or cardiac events), which occurred in 2017 to 2020. Cox proportional hazards regression models were used to examine the association of BRI trajectories with CVD risk. Participants were divided into 3 BRI trajectories, named the low-stable BRI trajectory, moderate-stable BRI trajectory and high-stable BRI trajectory, accounting for 49.81%, 42.35%, and 7.84% of the study population, respectively. Compared with participants in the low-stable BRI trajectory group, those in the moderate-stable and high-stable BRI trajectory groups had an increased risk of CVD, with multivariable adjusted hazard ratios of 1.22 (95% CI, 1.09-1.37) and 1.55 (95% CI, 1.26-1.90), respectively. Furthermore, simultaneously adding the BRI trajectory to the conventional risk model improved CVD risk reclassification (all P<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: A higher BRI trajectory was associated with an increased risk of CVD. The BRI can be included as a predictive factor for CVD incidence.

Periorbital purpura can be the only initial symptom of primary light chain amyloidosis: A case report.

BACKGROUND: Primary light chain amyloidosis is a rare and complex disease with complex clinical features and is highly susceptible to misdiagnosis and underdiagnosis in the early stages. CASE SUMMARY: We report a case of a 47-year-old female patient whose only initial symptom was periorbital purpura, which was not taken seriously enough. As the disease progressed, pleural effusion gradually appeared, and after systematic diagnosis and treatment, she was diagnosed with "primary light chain amyloidosis". She achieved rapid hematological remission after treatment with a daratumumab + bortezomib + cyclophosphamide + dexamethasone regimen. CONCLUSION: Periorbital purpura can be the only initial symptom of primary light chain amyloidosis; we should pay attention to the cases where the initial clinical symptoms are only periorbital purpura.

Influence of carboxy-terminated hyperbranched polyester and polyethylene glycol on the mechanical and thermal properties of polylactic acid/straw flour composites.

Polylactic acid (PLA) wood-plastic composites have a significant advantage over traditional petroleum-based plastics due to their biodegradability. However, PLA has several shortcomings, including high brittleness, low heat resistance, slow crystallization, and poor compatibility with biomass materials, which have limited its potential applications. In this paper, we investigated the effects of carboxy-terminated hyperbranched polyester (CHBP) on the mechanical, crystalline, and thermal properties of PLA/straw flour (SF) blends through extrusion injection molding. Additionally, we added the traditional plasticizer polyethylene glycol (PEG) to synergize with CHBP to enhance the toughness of PLA/SF composites. Our results showed that the appropriate addition of CHBP effectively improved the interfacial bonding between PLA and straw flour. The incorporation of CHBP also improved the tensile strength, bending strength, impact strength, elongation at break, thermal stability, and crystallization rate of the composites. Furthermore, the addition of both CHBP and PEG significantly improved the impact strength of the composites compared to using PEG alone. This method also improved the heat resistance of the material and reduced the migration of plasticizers. Our study demonstrates the feasibility of using hyperbranched polymers and plasticizers to enhance the toughness, thermal stability, and crystalline properties of PLA wood-plastic composites, providing a new approach to improving the properties of these composites.

Gelatin-based ionic hydrogel for intelligent fire-alarm system with considerable toughness, flame retardancy, and thermoelectric performance.

Temperature-responsive materials with excellent reliability, sensitivity, and flame-retardant properties have always been an urgent need in the field of intelligent fire protection. In this discourse, we introduce a novel thermosensitive ionic hydrogel coating (gelatin/poly(acrylamide-co-acrylic acid)/CaCl2/spindle-shaped aluminum hydroxide nanosheet/glycerol, HCA) synthesized via free radical polymerization. HCA not only demonstrates considerable mechanical properties with a fracture strain of up to 842.5 % and a maximum tensile strength of 0.77 MPa but also exhibits notable flame retardancy and adhesion. It effectively covers combustible surfaces, providing outstanding fire protection. Notably, HCA boasts a Seebeck coefficient of up to 10.1 mV/K, significantly surpassing conventional thermoelectric materials. The well-established linear relationship between the generated voltage and temperature variation enables HCA-based intelligent fire-alarm system to accurately emit continuous alerts during fire incidents and swiftly transmit alarm signals to terminal devices. The development of this intelligent fire-alarm system presents new avenues in intelligent fire-safety technologies.

Generation and Characterization of Rat Uterus Organoids from Rat Endometrial Epithelial Stem Cells.

Endometrial organoids offer valuable insights into the development and pathophysiology of endometrial diseases and serve as platforms for drug testing. While human and mouse endometrial organoids have been developed, research on rat endometrial organoids remains limited. Given that rats can better simulate certain endometrial pathologies, such as intrauterine adhesions, this study aimed to establish rat endometrial organoids. We present a detailed protocol for the isolation and culture of rat endometrial epithelial stem cells (reESCs) and the generation of rat endometrial organoids. Using a refined reESCs expansion medium, we successfully isolated and stably expanded reESCs, demonstrating their long-term culture potential. The reESC-generated organoids exhibited typical structural and functional characteristics of the endometrium, including hormone responsiveness. Our results showed that rat endometrial organoids could be cultured over a long term with stable proliferation, maintaining the glandular structure, cell polarity, and functional characteristics of the endometrial epithelium. This novel rat-derived endometrial organoid model provides a valuable platform for studying endometrial diseases and testing therapeutic interventions, with potential applications across various mammalian species.

Overexpression of METTL14 mediates steatohepatitis and insulin resistance in mice.

Background: Lipid accumulation and redox imbalance, resulting from dysregulation of hepatic fatty acids oxidation, contribute to the development of steatohepatitis and insulin resistance. Recently, dysregulated RNA N6-methyladenosine (m6A) methylation modification has been found involving fatty liver. However, the role of methyltransferase-like 14 (METTL14), the core component of m6A methylation, in the development of steatohepatitis is unknown. Herein, we aimed to explore the role of METTL14 on steatohepatitis and insulin resistance in mice with metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD). Methods: The liver tissues of mice and patients with MASLD were collected to detect the expression of METTL14. METTL14 overexpression and METTL14 silence were used to investigate the effect of METTL14 on lipid metabolism disorder in vivo and in vitro. Knockout of METTL14 in primary hepatocytes was used to investigate the role of Sirtuin 1 (SIRT1) on lipid accumulation induced by METTL14. Results: METTL14 was dramatically up-regulated in the livers of db/db mice, high-fat diet (HFD)-fed mice, and patients with MASLD. METTL14 overexpression exacerbated MASLD and promoted lipid metabolism disorder and insulin resistance in mice. Conversely, METTL14 knockout ameliorated lipid deposition and insulin resistance in HFD-fed mice. Furthermore, METTL14 overexpression facilitated lipid accumulation, while METTL14 knockout reduced lipid accumulation in HepG2 cells and primary hepatocytes. In addition, METTL14 lost up-regulated SIRT1 expression in hepatocytes. SIRT1 deficiency abrogated the ameliorating effects of METTL14 downregulation in MASLD mice. Conclusions: These findings suggest that dysfunction of the METTL14-SIRT1 pathway might promote hepatic steatosis and insulin resistance.

Elevated serum IGFBP-1 levels correlate with cognitive deficits in treatment-resistant and chronic medicated schizophrenia patients.

BACKGROUND: Schizophrenia is a debilitating psychiatric disorder with diverse cognitive impairments. Insulin-like growth factor binding protein 1 (IGFBP-1), a ubiquitous negative regulator of IGF signaling, crosses the blood-brain barrier after peripheral synthesis. Given the crucial role of IGF signaling in cognitive function, we reasoned that altered serum IGFBP-1 concentrations might be associated with cognitive impairments in schizophrenia. To test this hypothesis, we examined the relationship between serum IGFBP-1 levels and cognitive performance in both medicated and treatment-resistant schizophrenia (TRS) patients. METHODS: Serum IGFBP-1 was measured in 31 TRS patients, 49 chronic medicated schizophrenia (CMS) patients, and 53 healthy controls. Clinical symptom severity was evaluated using the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS) and cognitive functions using the Repeatable Battery for the Assessment of Neuropsychological Status (RBANS). RESULTS: Both TRS and CMS patients exhibited cognitive deficits compared to healthy controls (p < 0.05). Serum IGFBP-1 concentration differed significantly among groups (F=36.805, p < 0.001) and post hoc tests demonstrated significantly higher concentrations in both schizophrenia groups compared to controls (p < 0.001). Further, serum IGFBP-1 concentration was higher in the TRS group than the CMS group (p = 0.048). Correlation analysis identified a significant relationship between serum IGFBP-1 and attention in the TRS group (r = 0.411, p = 0.021), immediate memory in the CMS group (r = -0.417, p = 0.003), and RBANS total score in the CMS group (r = -0.368, p = 0.009). Multiple regression analysis adjusting for confounding factors revealed that serum IGFBP-1 was independently associated with attention in TRS patients (p = 0.016, 95 %CI. 0.002-0.015) and immediate memory in CMS patients (p = 0.022, 95 %CI-0.012 to -0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Elevated serum IGFBP-1 concentration may serve as a predictive biomarker for distinct cognitive deficits in TRS and CMS patients. Further investigations are warranted.

COVID-19 vaccination and long COVID among 50 years older and above European: The role of chronic multimorbidity.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: We aimed to explore the association between coronavirus disease-19 (COVID-19) vaccination and long COVID according to the status of chronic multimobidity. METHODS: A total of 1913 participants were recruited in the cross-sectional study on the basis of the Survey of Health and Retirement in Europe. COVID-19 vaccination was defined as vaccination within the last 12 months. Chronic multimorbidity was defined as history of 2 + chronic disease. The study outcome was long COVID during the 12-month follow-up. Multivariable logistic models were performed to estimate the influence of chronic multimorbidity on the association of vaccination with long COVID. Net reclassification improvement (NRI) and integrated discrimination improvement (IDI) were calculated. RESULTS: Chronic multimorbidity significantly modified the association of COVID-19 vaccination with long COVID (Pinteraction = 0.024). The rates of study outcome were significantly lower among vaccinated participants in the chronic multimorbidity subgroup, but not in the other subgroup. Multivariable odds ratios (95 % confidence intervals) of study outcome for unvaccination vs. vaccination were 1.494 (1.013-2.203) in those with multimorbidity and 0.915 (0.654-1.280) in those without multimorbidity, respectively. Adding COVID-19 vaccination to a model containing conventional risk factors significantly improved risk reclassification for study outcome among those with chronic multimobidity (continuous NRI was 25.39 % [P = 0.002] and IDI was 0.42 % [P = 0.075]) CONCLUSION: An inverse association of COVID-19 vaccination with long COVID was found among participants with chronic multimorbidity, but not among those without chronic multimorbidity. Chronic multimorbidity might expand the influence of unvaccination on developing long COVID among European aged ≥50 years.

Downregulation of LOX Overexpression Promotes Retinal Ganglion Cells Survival in an Acute Ocular Hypertension Model.

PURPOSE: To investigate the effect of reducing Lysyl oxidase (LOX) overexpression on retinal ganglion cells (RGCs) apoptosis in an acute ocular hypertension (AOH) rat model. METHODS: AOH rat model was performed by anterior chamber perfusion and either received an intravitreal injection with ß-aminopropionitrile (BAPN) or normal saline. After 2wk, Quantification of survival RGCs in the retina was performed using Retrograde FluoroGold labeling. The mRNA expression levels of LOX, LOXL1-4, collagen 1a1 (Col1a1), collagen 3a1 (Col3a1), collagen4a1 (Col4a1), elastin (Eln), fibronectin1 (Fbn1), fibronectin4 (Fbn4) were determined by RT-qPCR. LOX expression was determined by Western blot (WB) analysis and immunohistochemistry. The RNA expression of LOX, Eln and Col1a1 in RGCs retrograde-labeled with 1,1'-dioctadecyl-3,3,3',3' tetra-methylindocarbocyanine perchlorate(DiI)that selected through FACS sorting were determined by RT-qPCR analysis. Changes of the retinal function were detected by Electroretinogram (ERG) analysis. RESULTS: Results showed that significant LOX overexpression and loss of RGCs related to IOP exposure in AOH retinas. PCR analysis indicated significant increased mRNA level of Col1a1, Col3al and Eln in AOH retinas. Significant increase mRNA expression of LOX, Col1a1 and Eln in the RGCs were observed in AOH group compared with CON group. AOH rats injected with BAPN showed a significant decrease in LOX expression, reduced the loss of RGCs and retinal function damage. CONCLUSIONS: The results demonstrated that changes of LOX and specific ECM components in retina were correlated with AOH. Findings from this study indicated that preventing LOX over-expression may be protective against RGCs loss and retinal function damage in AOH animal model.

Metabolic health and genetic predisposition in inflammatory bowel disease: Insights from a prospective cohort study.

BACKGROUND: Metabolic disorders exhibit strong inflammatory underpinnings and vice versa. This study aimed to investigate the association between metabolic health status, genetic predisposition, and the risk of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), and to explore the potential benefits of maintaining ideal metabolic status for individuals with a predetermined genetic risk of IBD. METHOD: This population-based prospective study included 385,820 unrelated European descent participants from the UK Biobank. Using multivariable Cox regression, we assessed the relationship of metabolic phenotypes with risk of IBD and its subtypes. We also developed a polygenic risk score to examine how metabolic health status interacted with genetic risk in relation to IBD risk. RESULTS: During the follow-up period of 4,328,895 person-years, 2,044 newly-diagnosed IBD cases were identified. Higher genetic risk and an increasing number of abnormal metabolic phenotypes were associated with elevated IBD risk (p-trend <0.001). Individuals with high genetic risk and poor metabolic health had a significantly higher risk of IBD (HR=4.56, 95 % CI=3.27-6.36) compared to those with low genetic risk and ideal metabolic health. These results remained consistent for IBD subtypes. Maintaining ideal metabolic status reduced IBD risk within each genetic risk category and jointly decreased subsequent risk by 40 % in high genetic risk individuals. CONCLUSION: Our study reveals a combined impact of poor metabolic health and genetic risk on IBD incidence. Those with low genetic risk and optimal metabolic health exhibit the lowest IBD risk, offering insights into potential management strategies for individuals at predefined genetic risk.

Comprehensive Analysis of Immune Cell Infiltration and M2-Like Macrophage Biomarker Expression Patterns in Atrial Fibrillation.

Background: Macrophages play a crucial role in the progression of AF, closely linked to atrial inflammation and myocardial fibrosis. However, the functions and molecular mechanisms of different phenotypic macrophages in AF are not well understood. This study aims to analyze the infiltration characteristics of atrial immune cells in AF patients and further explore the role and molecular expression patterns of M2 macrophage-related genes in AF. Methods: This study integrates single-cell and large-scale sequencing data to analyze immune cell infiltration and molecular characterization of the LAA in patients with AF, using SR as a control group. CIBERSORT assesses immune cell types in LAA tissues; WGCNA identifies signature genes; cell clustering analyzes cell types and subpopulations; cell communication explores macrophage interactions; hdWGCNA identifies M2 macrophage gene modules in AF. AF biomarkers are identified using LASSO and Random Forest, validated with ROC curves and RT-qPCR. Potential molecular mechanisms are inferred through TF-miRNA-mRNA networks and single-gene enrichment analyses. Results: Myeloid cell subsets varied considerably between the AF and SR groups, with a significant increase in M2 macrophages in the AF group. Signals of inflammation and matrix remodeling were observed in AF. M2 macrophage-related genes IGF1, PDK4, RAB13, and TMEM176B were identified as AF biomarkers, with RAB13 and TMEM176B being novel markers. A TF-miRNA-mRNA network was constructed using target genes, which are enriched in the PPAR signaling pathway and fatty acid metabolism. Conclusion: Over infiltration of M2 macrophages may be an important factor in the progression of AF. The M2 macrophage-related genes IGF1, RAB13, TMEM176B and PDK4 may regulate the progression of AF through the PPAR signaling pathway and fatty acid metabolism.

Family caregivers use a Hand-Under-Hand online course to improve the nutritional status of patients with severe dementia: A quasi-experimental study.

AIM: In Taiwan, over 90% of dementia patients received home care. Severe dementia-linked food refusal significantly affects nutrition, thereby straining caregivers. Family caregivers can reduce their burden by learning feeding and dementia nutrition online, thus preserving patient oral feeding. The study aim for family caregivers learn online Hand-Under-Hand (UH) techniques to ease feeding in severe dementia, enhancing nutrition and reducing their burden. METHODS: In this quasi-experimental study, participants in the experimental group received 2-h UH courses online, while the control group received their usual care. The primary outcome indicators were abnormal eating behavior, nutritional status, and caregiver burden, with outcomes tracked at 0, 1, and 3 months. At the neurology outpatient clinic of a medical center in Taipei, 65 dyads-comprising patients with severe dementia and their caregivers-were randomly assigned to groups. RESULTS: The study participants comprised 36 female and 29 male caregivers, with an average age of 58.09 years. The patient group included 43 females and 22 males, with a mean age of 83.32 years. Patients in the experimental group exhibited reduced abnormal eating behavior, and caregiver burden was reduced at 1 and 3 months, patients demonstrated improved nutritional status by month 3. CONCLUSIONS: The accessibility and convenience of online courses enabled family caregivers to use UH feeding techniques to effectively improve the nutritional status and correct the abnormal eating behavior of patients with dementia, while also decreasing caregiver burden. Geriatr Gerontol Int 2024; ••: ••-••.

Gut microbiota and serum metabolomic alterations in modulating the impact of fecal microbiota transplantation on ciprofloxacin-induced seizure susceptibility.

Introduction: The gut microbiota and the microbiota-gut-brain axis have gained considerable attention in recent years, emerging as key players in the mechanisms that mediate the occurrence and progression of many central nervous system-related diseases, including epilepsy. In clinical practice, one of the side effects of quinolone antibiotics is a lower seizure threshold or aggravation. However, the underlying mechanism remains unclear. Methods: We aimed to unravel the intrinsic mechanisms through 16S rRNA sequencing and serum untargeted metabolomic analysis to shed light on the effects of gut microbiota in ciprofloxacin-induced seizure susceptibility and lithium pilocarpine-induced epilepsy rat models. Results: We observed that ciprofloxacin treatment increased seizure susceptibility and caused gut dysbiosis. We also found similar changes in the gut microbiota of rats with lithium pilocarpine-induced epilepsy. Notably, the levels of Akkermansia and Bacteroides significantly increased in both the ciprofloxacin-induced seizure susceptibility and lithium pilocarpine-induced epilepsy rat models. However, Marvinbryantia, Oscillibacter, and Ruminococcaceae_NK4A214_group showed a coincidental reduction. Additionally, the serum untargeted metabolomic analysis revealed decreased levels of indole-3-propionic acid, a product of tryptophan-indole metabolism, after ciprofloxacin treatment, similar to those in the plasma of lithium pilocarpine-induced epilepsy in rats. Importantly, alterations in the gut microbiota, seizure susceptibility, and indole-3-propionic acid levels can be restored by fecal microbiota transplantation. Conclusion: In summary, our findings provide evidence that ciprofloxacin-induced seizure susceptibility is partially mediated by the gut microbiota and tryptophan-indole metabolism. These associations may play a role in epileptogenesis, and impacting the development progression and treatment outcomes of epilepsy.

Elucidating the mechanisms of Buyang Huanwu Decoction in treating chronic cerebral ischemia: A combined approach using network pharmacology, molecular docking, and in vivo validation.

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to explore the potential mechanisms of Buyang Huanwu Decoction (BHD) in regulating the AKT/TP53 pathway and reducing inflammatory responses for the treatment of chronic cerebral ischemia (CCI) using UHPLC-QE-MS combined with network pharmacology, molecular docking techniques, and animal experiment validation. METHODS: Targets of seven herbal components in BHD, such as Astragalus membranaceus, Paeoniae Rubra Radix, and Ligusticum chuanxiong, were identified through TCMSP and HERB databases. CCI-related targets were obtained from DisGeNET and Genecards, with an intersection analysis conducted to determine shared targets between the disease and the herbal components. Functional enrichment analysis of these intersecting targets was performed. Networks of gene ontology and pathway associations with these targets were constructed and visualized. A pharmacological network involving intersecting genes and active components was delineated. A protein-protein interaction network was established for these intersecting targets and visualized using Cytoscape 3.9.1. The top five genes from the PPI network and their corresponding active components underwent molecular docking. Finally, the 2-vessel occlusion (2-VO) induced CCI rat model was treated with BHD, and the network pharmacology findings were validated using Western blot, RT-PCR, behavioral tests, laser speckle imaging, ELISA, HE staining, Nissl staining, LFB staining, and immunohistochemistry and immunofluorescence. RESULTS: After filtration and deduplication, 150 intersecting genes were obtained, with the top five active components by Degree value identified as Quercetin, Beta-Sitosterol, Oleic Acid, Kaempferol, and Succinic Acid. KEGG pathway enrichment analysis linked key target genes significantly with Lipid and atherosclerosis, AGE-RAGE signaling pathway, IL-17 signaling pathway, and TNF signaling pathway. The PPI network highlighted ALB, IL-6, AKT1, TP53, and IL-1ß as key protein targets. Molecular docking results showed the strongest binding affinity between ALB and Beta-Sitosterol. Behavioral tests using the Morris water maze indicated that both medium and high doses of BHD could enhance spatial memory in 2-VO model rats, with high-dose BHD being more effective. Laser speckle results showed that BHD at medium and high doses could facilitate CBF recovery in CCI rats, demonstrating a dose-response relationship. HE staining indicated that all doses of BHD could reduce neuronal damage in the cortex and hippocampal CA1 region to varying extents, with the highest dose being the most efficacious. Nissl staining showed that nimodipine and medium and high doses of BHD could alleviate Nissl body damage. LFB staining indicated that nimodipine and medium and high doses of BHD could reduce the pathological damage to fiber bundles and myelin sheaths in the internal capsule and corpus callosum of CCI rats. ELISA results showed that nimodipine and BHD at medium and high doses could decrease the levels of TNF-α, IL-6, IL-17, and IL-1ß in the serum of CCI rats (p < 0.05). Immunohistochemistry and immunofluorescence demonstrated that BHD could activate the AKT signaling pathway and inhibit TP53 in treating CCI. Western blot and RT-PCR results indicated that nimodipine and all doses of BHD could upregulate Akt1 expression and downregulate Alb, Tp53, Il-1ß, and Il-6 expression in the hippocampus of CCI rats to varying degrees (p < 0.05). CONCLUSION: BHD exerts therapeutic effects in the treatment of CCI by regulating targets, such as AKT1, ALB, TP53, IL-1ß, and IL-6, and reducing inflammatory responses.

Mechanistic insight into near-infrared light-driven Cu2O/WO2 Ohmic contact photothermal catalysts for high-efficiency antibiotic wastewater purification.

Near-infrared (NIR) light-induced photothermal effect is beneficial for accelerating catalytic processes; thus, it is imperative to develop novel photothermal catalysts for promoting practical application. Herein, we synthesized NIR-responsive Cu2O/WO2 Ohmic contact photothermal catalysts through a facile ethylene glycol-assisted liquid-phase reduction method. In this photothermal catalyst, a new-type NIR-responsive Cu2O semiconductor is integrated with an NIR-responsive WO2 semimetal component to form an Ohmic contact, which is more beneficial for simultaneously promoting photocharge separation and enhancing NIR light absorption for a high-efficiency photothermal effect. As expected, the Cu2O/WO2 composite displays higher NIR light-driven photothermal catalytic performance for tetracycline removal from wastewater. Various characterization methods and density functional theory calculations were performed to obtain in-depth mechanistic insights into the NIR light-driven Cu2O/WO2 Ohmic contact photothermal catalysts. Hopefully, this research could provide a useful guideline for researchers focusing on the photothermal engineering of new composite photocatalysts.

The Uptake, Transfer, and Detoxification of Cadmium in Plants and Its Exogenous Effects.

Cadmium (Cd) exerts a toxic influence on numerous crucial growth and development processes in plants, notably affecting seed germination rate, transpiration rate, chlorophyll content, and biomass. While considerable advances in Cd uptake and detoxification of plants have been made, the mechanisms by which plants adapt to and tolerate Cd toxicity remain elusive. This review focuses on the relationship between Cd and plants and the prospects for phytoremediation of Cd pollution. We highlight the following issues: (1) the present state of Cd pollution and its associated hazards, encompassing the sources and distribution of Cd and the risks posed to human health; (2) the mechanisms underlying the uptake and transport of Cd, including the physiological processes associated with the uptake, translocation, and detoxification of Cd, as well as the pertinent gene families implicated in these processes; (3) the detrimental effects of Cd on plants and the mechanisms of detoxification, such as the activation of resistance genes, root chelation, vacuolar compartmentalization, the activation of antioxidant systems and the generation of non-enzymatic antioxidants; (4) the practical application of phytoremediation and the impact of incorporating exogenous substances on the Cd tolerance of plants.

Exploiting tertiary lymphoid structures gene signature to evaluate tumor microenvironment infiltration and immunotherapy response in colorectal cancer.

Background: Tertiary lymphoid structures (TLS) is a particular component of tumor microenvironment (TME). However, its biological mechanisms in colorectal cancer (CRC) have not yet been understood. We desired to reveal the TLS gene signature in CRC and evaluate its role in prognosis and immunotherapy response. Methods: The data was sourced from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) and the Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) databases. Based on TLS-related genes (TRGs), the TLS related subclusters were identified through unsupervised clustering. The TME between subclusters were evaluated by CIBERSORT and xCell. Subsequently, developing a risk model and conducting external validation. Integrating risk score and clinical characteristics to create a comprehensive nomogram. Further analyses were conducted to screen TLS-related hub genes and explore the relationship between hub genes, TME, and biological processes, using random forest analysis, enrichment and variation analysis, and competing endogenous RNA (ceRNA) network analysis. Multiple immunofluorescence (mIF) and immunohistochemistry (IHC) were employed to characterize the existence of TLS and the expression of hub gene. Results: Two subclusters that enriched or depleted in TLS were identified. The two subclusters had distinct prognoses, clinical characteristics, and tumor immune infiltration. We established a TLS-related prognostic risk model including 14 genes and validated its predictive power in two external datasets. The model's AUC values for 1-, 3-, and 5-year overall survival (OS) were 0.704, 0.737, and 0.746. The low-risk group had a superior survival rate, more abundant infiltration of immune cells, lower tumor immune dysfunction and exclusion (TIDE) score, and exhibited better immunotherapy efficacy. In addition, we selected the top important features within the model: VSIG4, SELL and PRRX1. Enrichment analysis showed that the hub genes significantly affected signaling pathways related to TLS and tumor progression. The ceRNA network: PRRX1-miRNA (hsa-miR-20a-5p, hsa-miR-485-5p) -lncRNA has been discovered. Finally, IHC and mIF results confirmed that the expression level of PRRX1 was markedly elevated in the TLS- CRC group. Conclusion: We conducted a study to thoroughly describe TLS gene signature in CRC. The TLS-related risk model was applicable for prognostic prediction and assessment of immunotherapy efficacy. The TLS-hub gene PRRX1, which had the potential to function as an immunomodulatory factor of TLS, could be a therapeutic target for CRC.

Three-Dimensional-Printed Composite Structures: The Effect of LSCF Slurry Solid Loading, Binder, and Direct-Write Process Parameters.

In this research, a direct-write 3D-printing method was utilized for the fabrication of inter-digitized solid oxide fuel cells (SOFCs) using ceramic materials. The cathode electrode was fabricated using the LSCF (La0.6Sr0.2Fe0.8Co0.2O3-δ) slurry loading and the Polyvinyl butyral (PVB) binder. The rheological parameters of slurries with varying LSCF slurry loading and PVB binder concentration were evaluated to determine their effect on the cathode trace performance in terms of microstructure, size, and resistance. Additionally, the dimensional shrinkage of LSCF lines after sintering was investigated to realize their influence on cathode line width and height. Moreover, the effect of the direct-write process parameters such as pressure, distance between the nozzle and substrate, and speed on the cathode line dimensions and resistance was evaluated. LSCF slurry with 50% solid loading, 12% binder, and 0.2% dispersant concentration was determined to be the optimal value for the fabrication of SOFCs using the direct-write method. The direct-write process parameters, in addition to the binder and LSCF slurry concentration ratios, had a considerable impact on the microstructure of cathode lines. Based on ANOVA findings, pressure and distance had significant effects on the cathode electrode resistance. An increase in the distance between the nozzle and substrate, speed, or extrusion pressure of the direct writing process increased the resistance of the cathode lines. These findings add to the ongoing effort to refine SOFC fabrication techniques, opening the avenues for advanced performance and efficiency of SOFCs in energy applications.