Myocardial reperfusion injury exacerbation due to ALDH2 deficiency is mediated by neutrophil extracellular traps and prevented by leukotriene C4 inhibition.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: The Glu504Lys polymorphism in the aldehyde dehydrogenase 2 (ALDH2) gene is closely associated with myocardial ischaemia/reperfusion injury (I/RI). The effects of ALDH2 on neutrophil extracellular trap (NET) formation (i.e. NETosis) during I/RI remain unknown. This study aimed to investigate the role of ALDH2 in NETosis in the pathogenesis of myocardial I/RI. METHODS: The mouse model of myocardial I/RI was constructed on wild-type, ALDH2 knockout, peptidylarginine deiminase 4 (Pad4) knockout, and ALDH2/PAD4 double knockout mice. Overall, 308 ST-elevation myocardial infarction patients after primary percutaneous coronary intervention were enrolled in the study. RESULTS: Enhanced NETosis was observed in human neutrophils carrying the ALDH2 genetic mutation and ischaemic myocardium of ALDH2 knockout mice compared with controls. PAD4 knockout or treatment with NETosis-targeting drugs (GSK484, DNase1) substantially attenuated the extent of myocardial damage, particularly in ALDH2 knockout. Mechanistically, ALDH2 deficiency increased damage-associated molecular pattern release and susceptibility to NET-induced damage during myocardial I/RI. ALDH2 deficiency induced NOX2-dependent NETosis via upregulating the endoplasmic reticulum stress/microsomal glutathione S-transferase 2/leukotriene C4 (LTC4) pathway. The Food and Drug Administration-approved LTC4 receptor antagonist pranlukast ameliorated I/RI by inhibiting NETosis in both wild-type and ALDH2 knockout mice. Serum myeloperoxidase-DNA complex and LTC4 levels exhibited the predictive effect on adverse left ventricular remodelling at 6 months after primary percutaneous coronary intervention in ST-elevation myocardial infarction patients. CONCLUSIONS: ALDH2 deficiency exacerbates myocardial I/RI by promoting NETosis via the endoplasmic reticulum stress/microsomal glutathione S-transferase 2/LTC4/NOX2 pathway. This study hints at the role of NETosis in the pathogenesis of myocardial I/RI, and pranlukast might be a potential therapeutic option for attenuating I/RI, particularly in individuals with the ALDH2 mutation.

Pore Structure Evolution and Failure Mechanism of Limestone in the Taiyuan Formation of the Ordos Basin under High Temperature.

The study on the destruction of the limestone microstructure after high-temperature treatment has a significant value in the airtightness and safety of underground high-temperature geotechnical engineering. In order to truly simulate the influence of the underground high-temperature environment on limestone, taking seven groups of limestones of the Taiyuan Formation in the Ordos Basin as examples, we carried out a high-temperature (25-1200 °C) heating experiment of limestone in an argon atmosphere. The pore structure of limestone after the high temperature is studied based on scanning electron microscopy (SEM), mercury intrusion porosimetry (MIP), porosity, and permeability, and the change in the fractal dimension of the limestone pore structure was discussed based on the thermodynamic fractal theory, combined with X-ray diffraction (XRD) and thermogravimetry differential scanning calorimetry (TG-DSC), the variation of mineral composition with temperature is characterized, and the evolution mechanism of the limestone microstructure under high temperature is discussed. The results show that the evaporation of pore water does not destroy the lattice structure of limestone minerals; however, with the increase of temperature, the complete decomposition of dolomite and calcite occurs, along with the tensile fracture of calcite crystals under the effect of swelling stress. Moreover, the new minerals generated by the decomposition products under the effect of temperature severely damage the crystal structure, leading to the rapid increase of porosity and permeability. The comprehensive results show that the decomposition, expansion, and recrystallization of calcite and dolomite minerals after 800 °C led to the development of limestone macropores and fissures, increased the pore throat radius, enhanced the pore connectivity, simplified the pore structure, and sharply increased the permeability; thus, 800 °C can be used as the critical temperature to change the limestone pores and fractures. The research results can provide data support for subsurface high-temperature geotechnical engineering.

Postoperative abdominal herpes zoster complicated by intestinal obstruction: A case report.

BACKGROUND: Intestinal obstruction is a common occurrence in clinical practice. However, the occurrence of herpes zoster complicated by intestinal obstruction after abdominal surgery is exceedingly rare. In the diagnostic and treatment process, clinicians consider it crucial to identify the primary causes of its occurrence to ensure effective treatment and avoiding misdiagnosis. CASE SUMMARY: Herein, we present the case of a 40-year-old female patient with intestinal obstruction who underwent laparoscopic appendectomy and developed herpes zoster after surgery. Combining the patient's clinical manifestations and relevant laboratory tests, it was suggested that the varicella zoster virus reactivated during the latent period after abdominal surgery, causing herpes zoster. Subsequently, the herpes virus invaded the visceral nerve fibers, causing gastrointestinal dysfunction and loss of intestinal peristalsis, which eventually led to intestinal obstruction. The patient was successfully treated through conservative treatment and antiviral therapy and subsequently discharged from the hospital. CONCLUSION: Pseudo-intestinal obstruction secondary to herpes zoster infection is difficult to distinguish from mechanical intestinal obstruction owing to various causes. In cases of inexplicable intestinal obstructions, considering the possibility of a viral infection is essential to minimize misdiagnosis and missed diagnoses.

Potential for the development of Taraxacum mongolicum aqueous extract as a phytogenic feed additive for poultry.

Introduction: Taraxacum mongolicum (TM) is a kind of medicinal and edible homologous plant which is included in the catalogue of feed raw materials in China. It is rich in polyphenols, flavonoids, polysaccharides and other active substances, and shows many benefits to livestock, poultry and aquatic products. The study aimed to assess the potential of TM aqueous extract (TMAE) as a substitute for poultry AGPs. Methods: A total of 240 one-day-old Arbor Acker broilers were randomly assigned to four groups and fed a basal diet (Con) supplemented with 500, 1000, and 2000 mg/kg TMAE (Low, Medium, and High groups). The growth performance of the broilers was measured on day 21 and day 42. At the end of the trial, the researchers measured slaughter performance and collected serum, liver, spleen, ileum, and intestinal contents to investigate the effects of TMAE on serum biochemistry, antioxidant capacity, immune function, organ coefficient, intestinal morphology, flora composition, and short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs). Results: The results showed that broilers treated with TMAE had a significantly higher average daily gain from 22 to 42 days old compared to the Con group. Various doses of TMAE resulted in different levels of improvement in serum chemistry. High doses increased serum alkaline phosphatase and decreased creatinine. TMAE also increased the antioxidant capacity of serum, liver, and ileum in broilers. Additionally, middle and high doses of TMAE enhanced the innate immune function of the liver (IL-10) and ileum (Occludin) in broilers. Compared to the control group, the TMAE treatment group exhibited an increase in the ratio of villi length to villi crypt in the duodenum. TMAE increased the abundance of beneficial bacteria, such as Alistipes and Lactobacillus, while reducing the accumulation of harmful bacteria, such as Colidextracter and Sellimonas. The cecum's SCFAs content increased with a medium dose of TMAE. Supplementing broiler diets with TMAE at varying doses enhanced growth performance and overall health. The most significant benefits were observed at a dose of 1000 mg/kg, including improved serum biochemical parameters, intestinal morphology, antioxidant capacity of the liver and ileum, immune function of the liver and ileum, and increased SCFAs content. Lactobacillus aviarius, norank_f_norank_o__Clostridia_UCG-014, and Flavonifractor are potentially dominant members of the intestinal microflora. Conclusion: In conclusion, TMAE is a promising poultry feed additive and 1000 mg/kg is an effective reference dose.

Removal of diclofenac sodium from aqueous solution using different ionic liquids functionalized tragacanth gum hydrogel prepared by radiation technique.

Diclofenac sodium (DCF) was reported as an important emerging environmental pollutant and its removal from wastewater is very urgent. In this study, different alkyl substituted ionic liquids (1-alkyl -3-vinyl- imidazolium bromide [CnVIm]Br, n = 4, 6, 8, 10, 12) functionalized tragacanth gum (TG-CnBr) are prepared by radiation induced grafting and crosslinking polymerization. The adsorption behaviors of ionic liquids functionalized tragacanth gum for diclofenac sodium from aqueous solutions are examined. The adsorption capacity of TG-CnBr for diclofenac sodium increases with the increasing of alkyl chain length of the imidazolium cation and the hydrophobicity of the hydrogels. The maximum adsorption capacity by TG-C12Br for diclofenac sodium at 30, 40 and 50 °C were 327.87, 310.56 and 283.29 mg/g, respectively. The adsorption of TG-C12Br towards diclofenac sodium was little decreased with NaCl increasing. The removal efficiency was still remained 94.55 % within 5 adsorption-desorption cycles by 1 M HCl. Also, the adsorption mechanism including electrostatic attraction, hydrophobic interaction, hydrogen bonding, and π - π interaction was proposed.

Anomalously bright single-molecule upconversion electroluminescence.

Efficient upconversion electroluminescence is highly desirable for a broad range of optoelectronic applications, yet to date, it has been reported only for ensemble systems, while the upconversion electroluminescence efficiency remains very low for single-molecule emitters. Here we report on the observation of anomalously bright single-molecule upconversion electroluminescence, with emission efficiencies improved by more than one order of magnitude over previous studies, and even stronger than normal-bias electroluminescence. Intuitively, the improvement is achieved via engineering the energy-level alignments at the molecule-substrate interface so as to activate an efficient spin-triplet mediated upconversion electroluminescence mechanism that only involves pure carrier injection steps. We further validate the intuitive picture with the construction of delicate electroluminescence diagrams for the excitation of single-molecule electroluminescence, allowing to readily identify the prerequisite conditions for producing efficient upconversion electroluminescence. These findings provide deep insights into the microscopic mechanism of single-molecule upconversion electroluminescence and organic electroluminescence in general.

Plasma and urine proteomics and gut microbiota analysis reveal potential factors affecting COVID-19 vaccination response.

The efficacy of COVID-19 vaccination relies on the induction of neutralizing antibodies, which can vary among vaccine recipients. In this study, we investigated the potential factors affecting the neutralizing antibody response by combining plasma and urine proteomics and gut microbiota analysis. We found that activation of the LXR/FXR pathway in plasma was associated with the production of ACE2-RBD-inhibiting antibodies, while urine proteins related to complement system, acute phase response signaling, LXR/FXR, and STAT3 pathways were correlated with neutralizing antibody production. Moreover, we observed a correlation between the gut microbiota and plasma and urine proteins, as well as the vaccination response. Based on the above data, we built a predictive model for vaccination response (AUC = 0.85). Our study provides insights into characteristic plasma and urine proteins and gut microbiota associated with the ACE2-RBD-inhibiting antibodies, which could benefit our understanding of the host response to COVID-19 vaccination.

Arthroscopic Linear Chain Fixation for the Treatment of Medial Meniscus Posterior Root Tear: A Case Study.

BACKGROUND: The repair and reconstruction of medial meniscus posterior root tears (MMPRTs) is an important issue in the field of orthopedic sports medicine. This study reports the first application of arthroscopic linear chain fixation for the treatment of MMPRTs. CASE PRESENTATION: A 78-year-old female patient presented with a 1.5-month history of right knee pain accompanied by a locked facet joint. The patient underwent surgery with the new linear chain fixation method. In this method, the suture and the loop part of the buckle-strap titanium plate were combined into a linear chain mechanical complex, and the tension of the posterior root stump was gradually increased by pulling on the two attachment lines at the external mouth of the tibial tunnel. The postoperative Lysholm score was 89, and the visual analogue scale score was 0.9, indicating a significant improvement in knee joint function. At the 7-month and 1-year post-surgery follow-up, physical and MRI examinations confirmed satisfactory healing of the MMPRTs. CONCLUSION: This surgical approach offers several benefits, including a simplified instrumentation setup, preservation of natural anatomical structures, and reliable residual stump fixation. It has the potential for clinical implementation.

Exercise-induced Musclin determines the fate of fibro-adipogenic progenitors to control muscle homeostasis.

The effects of exercise on fibro-adipogenic progenitors (FAPs) are unclear, and the direct molecular link is still unknown. In this study, we reveal that exercise reduces the frequency of FAPs and attenuates collagen deposition and adipose formation in injured or disused muscles through Musclin. Mechanistically, Musclin inhibits FAP proliferation and promotes apoptosis in FAPs by upregulating FILIP1L. Chromatin immunoprecipitation (ChIP)-qPCR confirms that FoxO3a is the transcription factor of FILIP1L. In addition, the Musclin/FILIP1L pathway facilitates the phagocytosis of apoptotic FAPs by macrophages through downregulating the expression of CD47. Genetic ablation of FILIP1L in FAPs abolishes the effects of exercise or Musclin on FAPs and the benefits on the reduction of fibrosis and fatty infiltration. Overall, exercise forms a microenvironment of myokines in muscle and prevents the abnormal accumulation of FAPs in a Musclin/FILIP1L-dependent manner. The administration of exogenous Musclin exerts a therapeutic effect, demonstrating a potential therapeutic approach for muscle atrophy or acute muscle injury.

Aldehyde dehydrogenase 2 serves as a key cardiometabolic adaptation regulator in response to plateau hypoxia in mice.

High-altitude heart disease (HAHD) is a complex pathophysiological condition related to systemic hypobaric hypoxia in response to transitioning to high altitude. Hypoxia can cause myocardial metabolic dysregulation, leading to an increased risk of heart failure and sudden cardiac death. Aldehyde dehydrogenase 2 (ALDH2) could regulate myocardial energy metabolism and plays a protective role in various cardiovascular diseases. This study aims to determine the effects of plateau hypoxia (PH) on cardiac metabolism and function, investigate the associated role of ALDH2, and explore potential therapeutic targets. We discovered that PH significantly reduced survival rate and cardiac function. These effects were exacerbated by ALDH2 deficiency. PH also caused a shift in the myocardial fuel source from fatty acids to glucose; ALDH2 deficiency impaired this adaptive metabolic shift. Untargeted/targeted metabolomics and transmission electron microscopy revealed that ALDH2 deficiency promoted myocardial fatty-acid deposition, leading to enhanced fatty-acid transport, lipotoxicity and mitochondrial dysfunction. Furthermore, results showed that ALDH2 attenuated PH-induced impairment of adaptive metabolic programs through 4-HNE/CPT1 signaling, and the CPT1 inhibitor etomoxir significantly ameliorated ALDH2 deficiency-induced cardiac impairment and improved survival in PH mice. Together, our data reveal ALDH2 acts as a key cardiometabolic adaptation regulator in response to PH. CPT1 inhibitor, etomoxir, may attenuate ALDH2 deficiency-induced effects and improved cardiac function in response to PH.

High-Density Energetic Materials with Low Mechanical Sensitivity and Twinning Derived from Nitroimidazole Fused Ring.

The innovative synthesis of 3,8-dibromo-2,9-dinitro-5,6-dihydrodiimidazo [1,2-a:2',1'-c]pyrazine and 3,9-dibromo-2,10-dinitro-6,7-dihydro-5H-diimidazo [1,2-a:2',1'-c][1,4]diazepine is described in this study. The tricyclic fused molecular structures are formed by the respective amalgamation of piperazine and homopiperazine with the imidazole ring containing nitro. Compound 1 and 2 possess excellent high-density physical properties (ρ1 = 2.49 g/cm3, ρ2 = 2.35 g/cm3) due to the presence of a fused ring structure and Br atom. In addition to their high density, they have high decomposition temperatures (Td > 290 °C) which means that they have excellent thermal stability and can be used as potential heat-resistant explosives. Low mechanical sensitivities (IS > 40 J, FS > 360 N) are observed. The twinning structure of 2 was resolved by X-ray diffraction. Non-covalent interaction analysis, Hirshfeld surfaces, 2D fingerprint plot, and Electrostatic potential analysis were used to understand the intramolecular interactions in relation to physicochemical properties. The unique structures of this type of compound provide new potential for the evolution of energetic materials.

Development of mobile health-based interventions to promote physical activity in patients with head and neck cancer: a qualitative study.

Background: Despite the well-grounded benefits of physical activity (PA), poor compliance with the PA guidelines has been reported among head and neck cancer (HNC) patients. Mobile health (mHealth)-based interventions can help cancer survivors increase their PA levels and increase the reach or efficiency of rehabilitation services. However, there is limited knowledge about the needs and perceptions of HNC patients regarding these interventions. This study explored the perceptions and needs of HNC patients regarding mHealth-based PA programs before developing such interventions to ensure their improved effectiveness. Study design: A constructivist qualitative study. Methods: We purposively selected 17 adult HNC patients aged 40-80 years to determine their needs and perceptions of future mHealth-based PA programs. Semi-structured face-to-face interviews were conducted, and the data were analyzed via thematic analysis. The report followed the Consolidated Criteria for Qualitative Research Reports guidelines. Results: Four themes were analyzed from the interview transcripts regarding the needs and perceptions of mHealth-based PA programs: (1) functionality needs; (2) system usage requirements; (3) social support; and (4) perceived barriers and facilitators. HNC patients expect highly customized and specialized mHealth interventions that consider individual factors, address their concerns about security, network, and cost, and prefer improved comfort. Moreover, they expect to receive support from their healthcare providers, families, and peers. Conclusion: The study provides pragmatic ready-to-use recommendations to design interventions for inactive HNC patients to achieve the recommended PA levels. Future mHealth interventions should be tailored according to the needs of the HNC patients by utilizing perceived facilitators and removing perceived barriers to help them engage in PA actively.

Multitissue Circadian Proteome Atlas of WT and Per1-/-/Per2-/- Mice.

The molecular basis of circadian rhythm, driven by core clock genes such as Per1/2, has been investigated on the transcriptome level, but not comprehensively on the proteome level. Here we quantified over 11,000 proteins expressed in eight types of tissues over 46 h with an interval of 2 h, using WT and Per1/Per2 double knockout mouse models. The multitissue circadian proteome landscape of WT mice shows tissue-specific patterns and reflects circadian anticipatory phenomena, which are less obvious on the transcript level. In most peripheral tissues of double knockout mice, reduced protein cyclers are identified when compared with those in WT mice. In addition, PER1/2 contributes to controlling the anticipation of the circadian rhythm, modulating tissue-specific cyclers as well as key pathways including nucleotide excision repair. Severe intertissue temporal dissonance of circadian proteome has been observed in the absence of Per1 and Per2. The γ-aminobutyric acid might modulate some of these temporally correlated cyclers in WT mice. Our study deepens our understanding of rhythmic proteins across multiple tissues and provides valuable insights into chronochemotherapy. The data are accessible at https://prot-rhythm.prottalks.com/.

Corrigendum: Applications and techniques for fast machine learning in science.

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.3389/fdata.2022.787421.].

Analysis of Variables Associated with Positive Micro-Embolic Signals Detected by Transcranial Doppler in Patients with Atrial Fibrillation and Their Predictive Value for Embolic Risk.

Objective: This study examined the factors associated with positive micro-embolic signals (MES) on transcranial Doppler monitoring in patients with atrial fibrillation (AF), as well as the predictive value of MES for the risk of embolism in AF. Methods: Sixty-six patients who had micro emboli with AF were included in the positive group, and 75 patients who did not have micro emboli with AF served as the control group. The clinical data, congestive heart failure, hypertension, age ≥ 75 (doubled), diabetes mellitus, prior stroke or transient ischemic attack (doubled), vascular disease, age 65-74, female (CHA2DS2-VASc) score, D-dimer (D-d) level, echocardiography results, and brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) findings were compared between the two groups. Logistic regression models were used to analyze the relationship between positive micro emboli with CHA2DS2-VASc score, D-d, left atrial anteroposterior diameter (LAD), and silent cerebral ischemia (SCI) occurrence. Results: The CHA2DS2-VASc score, D-d level, and LAD were significantly higher in the positive group than in the control group (P < 0.05) and were accompanied by a higher detection rate of SCI by brain MRI (P < 0.01). Elevated D-d levels, increased LAD, and the detection rate of SCI were all highly positively correlated with positive micro emboli. Also, CHA2DS2-VASc score ≥ 2 showed a significant positive correlation with positive micro emboli, and the higher CHA2DS2-VASc score was associated with a stronger correlation. The multivariate regression analysis demonstrated that positive micro-embolic was independently associated with SCI and a CHA2DS2-VASc score of ≥ 4. Conclusion: Positive micro emboli in patients with persistent AF are consistent with an increased risk of embolism, and are independently associated with a higher CHA2DS2-VASc score and SCI, which can be used as an indicator of individual embolic risk in patients with AF.

Morusinol Extracted from Morus alba Inhibits Cell Proliferation and Induces Autophagy via FOXO3a Nuclear Accumulation-Mediated Cholesterol Biosynthesis Obstruction in Colorectal Cancer.

The incidence rate of colorectal cancer (CRC) has been increasing significantly in recent years, and it is urgent to develop novel drugs that have more effects for its treatment. It has been reported that many molecules extracted from the root bark of Morus alba L. (also known as Cortex Mori) have antitumor activities. In our study, we identified morusinol as a promising anticancer agent by selecting from 30 molecules extracted from Morus alba L. We found that morusinol treatment suppressed cell proliferation and promoted apoptosis of CRC cells in vitro. Besides this, we observed that morusinol induced cytoprotective autophagy. The GO analysis of differentially expressed genes from RNA-seq data showed that morusinol affected cholesterol metabolism. Then we found that key enzyme genes in the cholesterol biosynthesis pathway as well as the sterol regulatory element binding transcription factor 2 (SREBF2) were significantly downregulated. Furthermore, additional cholesterol treatment reversed the anti-CRC effect of morusinol. Interestingly, we also found that morusinol treatment could promote forkhead box O3 (FOXO3a) nuclear accumulation, which subsequently suppressed SREBF2 transcription. Then SREBF2-controlled cholesterol biosynthesis was blocked, resulting in the suppression of cell proliferation, promotion of apoptosis, and production of autophagy. The experiments in animal models also showed that morusinol significantly impeded tumor growth in mice models. Our results suggested that morusinol may be used as a candidate anticancer drug for the treatment of CRC.

The Effectiveness of White Light Endoscopy Combined With Narrow Band Imaging Technique Using Ni Classification in Detecting Early Laryngeal Carcinoma in 114 Patients: Our Clinical Experience.

INTRODUCTION: By displaying tumor-specific neoangiogenesis, narrow band imaging (NBI), a novel imaging approach, enhances the diagnosis of head and neck cancers and makes it more accurate OBJECTIVE: To determine the effect of NBI in combination with white light endoscopy (WLE) for diagnosis of preneoplastic or neoplastic laryngeal cancers according to Ni classification and to conclude if higher Ni classification and tumor stage are related. METHODS: We enrolled 114 patients with various laryngeal cancer between December 2018 and June 2021. Patients were examined with WLE and NBI. Squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) accounted for 46 cases, benign lesions 30 cases, and nondysplastic, low-grade, and severe dysplasias for 38 cases. Based on characteristics of the intraepithelial papillary capillary loop (IPCL), endoscopic NBI results were divided into five categories (I, II, III, IV, and V). Type I-IV are regarded to be benign, while type V is considered to be cancerous. An incisional biopsy was conducted to assess histopathology, and the histopathology was compared to the NBI results. We assessed the negative predictive value (NPV), positive predictive value (PPV), specificity, and sensitivity for WLE alone and WLE combined with NBI. Analyses were conducted using SPSS software version 26. RESULTS: The WLE combined with NBI showed excellent sensitivity (96%) compared to WLE (86.4%). Specificity was higher in the WLE combined with NBI (96.4%) than WLE alone (91.7%). WLE combined with NBI saw a NPV of 89% as compared with WLE with 88%. WLE and WLE in combination with NBI, recorded a PPV of 90% and 98%, respectively. CONCLUSION: The accuracy of detecting laryngeal cancer increases when WLE and NBI are combined. Combined NBI with WLE remains highly sensitive to early glottis cancer. Accuracy of preoperative NBI was high. In the diagnosis of laryngeal cancer, a higher Ni classification closely correlates with the late stages of the glottis tumor.

Back focal plane imaging for light emission from a tunneling junction in a low-temperature ultrahigh-vacuum scanning tunneling microscope.

We report the design and realization of the back focal plane (BFP) imaging for the light emission from a tunnel junction in a low-temperature ultrahigh-vacuum (UHV) scanning tunneling microscope (STM). To achieve the BFP imaging in a UHV environment, a compact "all-in-one" sample holder is designed and fabricated, which allows us to integrate the sample substrate with the photon collection units that include a hemisphere solid immersion lens and an aspherical collecting lens. Such a specially designed holder enables the characterization of light emission both within and beyond the critical angle and also facilitates the optical alignment inside a UHV chamber. To test the performance of the BFP imaging system, we first measure the photoluminescence from dye-doped polystyrene beads on a thin Ag film. A double-ring pattern is observed in the BFP image, arising from two kinds of emission channels: strong surface plasmon coupled emissions around the surface plasmon resonance angle and weak transmitted fluorescence maximized at the critical angle, respectively. Such an observation also helps to determine the emission angle for each image pixel in the BFP image and, more importantly, proves the feasibility of our BFP imaging system. Furthermore, as a proof-of-principle experiment, electrically driven plasmon emissions are used to demonstrate the capability of the constructed BFP imaging system for STM induced electroluminescence measurements. A single-ring pattern is obtained in the BFP image, which reveals the generation and detection of the leakage radiation from the surface plasmon propagating on the Ag surface. Further analyses of the BFP image provide valuable information on the emission angle of the leakage radiation, the orientation of the radiating dipole, and the plasmon wavevector. The UHV-BFP imaging technique demonstrated here opens new routes for future studies on the angular distributed emission and dipole orientation of individual quantum emitters in UHV.

A novel mouse model of heart failure with preserved ejection fraction after chronic kidney disease induced by retinol through JAK/STAT pathway.

Heart failure is the leading cardiovascular comorbidity in chronic kidney disease (CKD) patients. Among the types of heart failure according to ejection fraction, heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) is the most common type of heart failure in CKD patients. However, the specific animal model of HFpEF afer CKD is currently missing. In this study, we determined the heart failure characteristics and dynamic progression in CKD mice. Based on these features, we established the practical HFpEF after CKD mouse model using 5/6 subtotal nephrectomy and retinol administration. Active apoptosis, impaired calcium handling, an imbalance between eNOS and oxidative stress and engaged endoplasmic reticulum stress were observed in our model. RNSseq revealed distinct gene expression patterns between HFpEF after CKD and metabolic induced-HFpEF. Furthermore, we revealed the potential mechanism of the pro-HFpEF effect of retinol. Serum accumulation of retinol in CKD prompts myocardial hypertrophy and fibrosis by activating JAK2 and phosphorylating STAT5. Finally, using small molecule inhibitor AC-4-130, we found STAT5 phosphorylation inhibitor may be a potential intervention target for HFpEF after CKD. In conclusion, we provide a novel animal model and a potential drug target for HFpEF intervention in CKD.

Risk assessment and source apportionment of heavy metals pollution from atmospheric deposition in Nanjing, China.

Heavy metals (HMs) are the toxic pollutants in urban environment, and their sources are complex. Dust might be a good carrier of HMs into ecosystem and human. In this study, 48 dust samples were collected in Nanjing, an industrial city and transportation hub in the Yangtze River Delta, China. The concentrations, spatial distribution, sources and risks of heavy metals (Cr, Ni, Cu, Zn, Cd and Pb) in dust were determined and analyzed. The results showed that although the health risks of some HMs had decreased, Cr, Zn, and Cd had high concentrations and high risks on ecosystem/human. And thus, the total risks of the target HMs were higher than the threshold of non-risks. Especially, children may face the highest possible risks due to the frequent hand-oral ingestion when children play. The hot spot regions of the HMs were mainly in the industrial district in the north, urban, and rural region in south, relating with the industrial, traffic, and agricultural sources, respectively. The analysis for the risks of individual sources further confirmed these sources should be further controlled. The results in this study will provide information on the priority of HMs' monitoring and source management.