Differences in F pocket impact on HLA I genetic associations with autoimmune diabetes.

Introduction: Human leukocyte antigen (HLA) I molecules present antigenic peptides to activate CD8+ T cells. Type 1 Diabetes (T1D) is an auto-immune disease caused by aberrant activation of the CD8+ T cells that destroy insulin-producing pancreatic ß cells. Some HLA I alleles were shown to increase the risk of T1D (T1D-predisposing alleles), while some reduce this risk (T1D-protective alleles). Methods: Here, we compared the T1D-predisposing and T1D-protective allotypes concerning peptide binding, maturation, localization and surface expression and correlated it with their sequences and energetic profiles using experimental and computational methods. Results: T1D-predisposing allotypes had more peptide-bound forms and higher plasma membrane levels than T1D-protective allotypes. This was related to the fact that position 116 within the F pocket was more conserved and made more optimal contacts with the neighboring residues in T1D-predisposing allotypes than in protective allotypes. Conclusion: Our work uncovers that specific polymorphisms in HLA I molecules potentially influence their susceptibility to T1D.

2,2'-Bipyridine-Enabled Photocatalytic Radical [4+2] Cyclization of N-Aryl-α-amino Acids for Synthesizing Polysubstituted Tetrahydroquinolines.

A facile photocatalytic radical [4+2] cyclization of N-aryl-α-amino acids with various alkenes to access structurally polysubstituted tetrahydroquinolines has been developed. Using a simple bipyridine as a catalyst, different N-aryl-α-amino acids could be utilized as the radical precursors to react with diverse electrophilic alkenes, including exocyclic terminal alkenes, acyclic terminal alkenes, and cycloalkenes, producing 10 types of nitrogen-containing heterocyclic compounds fused in multiple frameworks in generally moderate yields with good diastereoselectivities. Scale-up synthesis and transformations of the products further demonstrated the synthetic application of this protocol. Moreover, a decarboxylative radial pathway via a proton-coupled electron transfer process for illustration of this [4+2] cyclization was proposed on the basis of the control experiments. This process is highlighted by a simple bipyridine photocatalysis, mild reaction conditions, various N-aryl-α-amino acids and alkene materials, and application for the modification of natural products.

Iron(II)-Catalyzed Radical [3 + 2] Cyclization of N-Aryl Cyclopropylamines for the Synthesis of Polyfunctionalized Cyclopentylamines.

A facile iron(II)-catalyzed radical [3 + 2] cyclization of N-aryl cyclopropylamines with various alkenes to access the structurally polyfunctionalized cyclopentylamine scaffolds has been developed. Using low-cost FeCl2·4H2O as catalyst, N-aryl cyclopropylamines could be utilized to react with a wide range of alkenes including exocyclic/acyclic terminal alkenes, cycloalkenes, alkenes from the natural-occurring compounds (Alantolactone, Costunolide), and known drugs (Ibuprofen, l-phenylalanine, Flurbiprofen) to obtain a variety of cyclopentylamines fused with different useful motifs in generally good yields and diastereoselectivities. The highlight of this protocol is also featured by no extra oxidant, no base, EtOH as the solvent, gram-scale synthesis, and further diverse transformations of the synthetic products. More importantly, an iron(II)-mediated hydrogen radical dissociation pathway was proposed based on the mechanism research experiments.

Correlation between the development of phage resistance and the original antibiotic resistance of host bacteria under the co-exposure of antibiotic and bacteriophage.

Bacteriophages (phages) are viruses capable of regulating the proliferation of antibiotic resistant bacteria (ARB). However, phages that directly cause host lethality may quickly select for phage resistant bacteria, and the co-evolutionary trade-offs under varying environmental conditions, including the presence of antibiotics, remains unclear as to their impact on phage and antibiotic resistance. Here, we report the emergence of phage resistance in three distinct E. coli strains with varying resistance to ß-lactam antibiotics, treated with different ampicillin (AMP) concentrations. Hosts exhibiting stronger antibiotic resistance demonstrated a higher propensity to develop and maintain stable phage resistance. When exposed to polyvalent phage KNT-1, the growth of AMP-sensitive E. coli K12 was nearly suppressed within 18 h, while the exponential growth of AMP-resistant E. coli TEM and super-resistant E. coli NDM-1 was delayed by 12 h and 8 h, respectively. The mutation frequency and mutated colony count of E. coli NDM-1 were almost unaffected by co-existing AMP, whereas for E. coli TEM and K12, these metrics significantly decreased with increasing AMP concentration from 8 to 50 µg/mL, becoming unquantifiable at 100 µg/mL. Furthermore, the fitness costs of phage resistance mutation and its impact on initial antibiotic resistance in bacteria were further examined, through analyzing AMP susceptibility, biofilm formation and EPS secretion of the isolated phage resistant mutants. The results indicated that acquiring phage resistance could decrease antibiotic resistance, particularly for hosts lacking strong antibiotic resistance. The ability of mutants to form biofilm contributes to antibiotic resistance, but the correlation is not entirely positive, while the secretion of extracellular polymeric substance (EPS), especially the protein content, plays a crucial role in protecting the bacteria from both antibiotic and phage exposure. This study explores phage resistance development in hosts with different antibiotic resistance and helps to understand the limitations and possible solutions of phage-based technologies.

Polymorphism in F pocket affects peptide selection and stability of type 1 diabetes-associated HLA-B39 allotypes.

HLA-B*39:06, HLA-B*39:01, and HLA-B*38:01 are closely related HLA allotypes differentially associated with type 1 diabetes (T1D) risk and progression. B*39:06 is highly predisposing, while B*39:01 and B*38:01 are weakly predisposing and protective allotypes, respectively. Here, we aimed to decipher molecular mechanisms underlying the differential association of these allotypes with T1D pathogenesis. We addressed peptide binding and conformational stability of HLA-B allotypes using computational and experimental approaches. Computationally, we found that B*39:06 and B*39:01 allotypes had more rigid peptide-binding grooves and were more promiscuous in binding peptides than B*38:01. Peptidomes of B*39:06 and B*39:01 contained fewer strong binders and were of lower affinity than that of B*38:01. Experimentally, we demonstrated that B*39:06 and B*39:01 had a higher capacity to bind peptides and exit to the cell surface but lower surface levels and were degraded faster than B*38:01. In summary, we propose that promiscuous B*39:06 and B*39:01 may bind suboptimal peptides and transport them the cell surface, where such unstable complexes may contribute to the pathogenesis of T1D.

Rosiglitazone regulates astrocyte polarization and neuroinflammation in a PPAR-γ dependent manner after experimental traumatic brain injury.

BACKGROUND: Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is a leading cause of high mortality and disability worldwide. Overactivation of astrocytes and overexpression of inflammatory responses in the injured brain are characteristic pathological features of TBI. Rosiglitazone (ROS) is a peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-γ (PPAR-γ) agonist known for its anti-inflammatory activity. However, the relationship between the inflammatory response involved in ROS treatment and astrocyte A1 polarization remains unclear. OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to investigate whether ROS treatment improves dysfunction and astrocyte A1 polarization induced after TBI and to elucidate the underlying mechanisms of these functions. METHODS: SD rats were randomly divided into sham operation group, TBI group, TBI+ROS group, and TBI+ PPAR-γ antagonist group (GW9662 + TBI). The rat TBI injury model was prepared by the CCI method; brain water content test and wire grip test scores suggested the prognosis; FJB staining showed the changes of ROS on the morphology and number of neurons in the peripheral area of cortical injury; ELISA, immunofluorescence staining, and western blotting analysis revealed the effects of ROS on inflammatory response and astrocyte activation with the degree of A1 polarization after TBI. RESULTS: Brain water content, inflammatory factor expression, and astrocyte activation in the TBI group were higher than those in the sham-operated group (P < 0.05); compared with the TBI group, the expression of the above indexes in the ROS group was significantly lower (P < 0.05). Compared with the TBI group, PPAR-γ content was significantly higher and C3 content was considerably lower in the ROS group (P < 0.05); compared with the TBI group, PPAR-γ content was significantly lower and C3 content was substantially higher in the inhibitor group (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: ROS can exert neuroprotective effects by inhibiting astrocyte A1 polarization through the PPAR-γ pathway based on the reduction of inflammatory factors and astrocyte activation in the brain after TBI.

Intensive Treatment of Organic Wastewater by Three-Dimensional Electrode System within Mn-Loaded Steel Slag as Catalytic Particle Electrodes.

Developing a green, low-carbon, and circular economic system is the key to achieving carbon neutrality. This study investigated the organics removal efficiency in a three-dimensional electrode reactor (3DER) constructed from repurposed industrial solid waste, i.e., Mn-loaded steel slag, as the catalytic particle electrodes (CPE). The CPE, a micron-grade material consisting primarily of transition metals, including Fe and Mn, exhibited excellent electric conductivity, catalytic ability, and recyclability. High rhodamine B (RhB) removal efficiency in the 3DER was observed through a physical modelling experiment. The optimal operating condition was determined through a single-factor experiment in which 5.0 g·L-1 CPE and 3 mM peroxymonosulfate (PMS) were added to a 200 mL solution of 10 mM RhB under a current intensity of 0.5 A and a 1.5 to 2.0 cm distance between the 2D electrodes. When the initial pH value of the simulated solution was 3 to 9, the RhB removal rate exceeded 96% after 20 min reaction. In addition, the main reactive oxidation species in the 3DER were determined. The results illustrated that HO• and SO4•- both existed, but that the contribution of SO4•- to RhB removal was much lower than that of HO• in the 3DER. In summary, this research provides information on the potential of the 3DER for removing refractory organics from water.

Design and Experimentation of a Machine Vision-Based Cucumber Quality Grader.

The North China type cucumber, characterized by its dense spines and top flowers, is susceptible to damage during the grading process, affecting its market value. Moreover, traditional manual grading methods are time-consuming and labor-intensive. To address these issues, this paper proposes a cucumber quality grader based on machine vision and deep learning. In the electromechanical aspect, a novel fixed tray type grading mechanism is designed to prevent damage to the vulnerable North China type cucumbers during the grading process. In the vision grading algorithm, a new convolutional neural network is introduced named MassNet, capable of predicting cucumber mass using only a top-view image. After obtaining the cucumber mass prediction, mass grading is achieved. Experimental validation includes assessing the electromechanical performance of the grader, comparing MassNet with different models in predicting cucumber mass, and evaluating the online grading performance of the integrated algorithm. Experimental results indicate that the designed cucumber quality grader achieves a maximum capacity of 2.3 t/hr. In comparison with AlexNet, MobileNet, and ResNet, MassNet demonstrates superior cucumber mass prediction, with a MAPE of 3.9% and RMSE of 6.7 g. In online mass grading experiments, the grading efficiency of the cucumber quality grader reaches 93%.

Novel practical stereoselective synthesis of a bicyclic hydantoino-thiolactone as the key intermediate for production of (+)-biotin.

Bicyclic hydantoinothiolactone (1), as the key intermediate for production of (+)-biotin, has been efficiently and high-stereoselectively synthesized from the cheap starting material l-cystine via nine steps in 44% overall yield. In this new practical synthesis, there are two characteristic steps worthy of note. One step is TMSOTf-catalyzed efficient cyanation of (3S,7aR)-6-benzyl-5-oxo-3-phenyltetrahydro-1H,3H-imidazo[1,5-c]thiazol-7-yl acetate, the other step is DBU-catalyzed rapid isomerization of trans-isomer to cis-isomer of the bicyclic hydantoinothiolactone.

Outcomes of hospital-acquired pressure injuries and present-on-admission pressure injuries: A propensity score matching analysis.

BACKGROUND: Pressure injuries (PIs) continue to present significant challenges. In recent years, the number of patients with present-on-admission pressure injury (POA-PI) has increased, but researchers have devoted little attention to it, and little is known about its clinical outcome. AIMS: To compare the clinical outcomes of POA-PI and hospital-acquired pressure injury (HAPI) patients. METHODS: In this study, hospitalized patients with pressure injuries were divided into two groups based on whether they acquired the injury in the hospital or already present at the time of their admission. The disease prognosis, duration of stay, and healthcare costs of patients with HAPI and POA-PI were evaluated using propensity score matching analysis (PSM), t-tests, and Mann-Whitney U tests. RESULTS: The information on 1871 patients was retrieved from the electronic case system retroactively. A total of 305 pairs of patients were effectively matched between the two groups using propensity score matching (HAPI group = 305, POA-PI group = 305). There was no statistically significant difference at characteristics between the two groups (P > 0.05). The percentage of POA-PI group patients who were discharged from the hospital was greater than that of the HAPI group (P < 0.05). Conversely, the percentage of POA-PI group patients who died, ceased receiving treatment, or transferred to the hospital was lower than that of the HAPI group. Patients in the POA-PI group had shorter hospital stays than those in the HAPI group (P < 0.05). Patients in the POA-PI group had lower healthcare costs than those in the HAPI group (P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Patients with POA-PI have superior clinical outcomes than patients with HAPI, but make up the overwhelming majority of hospitalized patients. It is imperative that future research focuses on the reduction of POA-PI and HAPI incidence and the identification of therapies that will enhance patient prevention for these conditions.

HSP70 attenuates neuronal necroptosis through the HSP90α-RIPK3 pathway following neuronal trauma.

BACKGROUND: Necroptosis, a newly defined regulatable necrosis with membrane disruption, has been demonstrated to participate in trauma brain injury (TBI) related neuronal cell death. Heat shock protein 70 (HSP70) is a stress protein with neuroprotective activity, but the potential protective mechanisms are not fully understood. METHODS AND RESULTS: Here, we investigated the effects of HSP70 regulators in a cellular TBI model induced by traumatic neuronal injury (TNI) and glutamate treatment. We found that necroptosis occurred in cortical neurons after TNI and glutamate treatment. Neuronal trauma markedly upregulated HSP70 protein expression within 24 h. The results of immunostaining and lactate dehydrogenase release assay showed that necroptosis following neuronal trauma was inhibited by HSP70 activator TRC051384 (TRC), but promoted by the HSP70 inhibitor 2-phenylethyenesulfonamide (PES). In congruent, the expression and phosphorylation of receptor interacting protein kinase 3 (RIPK3) and mixed lineage kinase domain-like protein (MLKL) were differently regulated by HSP70. Furthermore, the expression of HSP90α induced by neuronal trauma was further promoted by PES but decreased by TRC. The data obtained from western blot showed that the phosphorylation of RIPK3 and MLKL induced by HSP70 inhibition were reduced by RIPK3 inhibitor GSK-872 and HSP90α inhibitor geldanamycin (GA). Similarly, inhibition of HSP90α with GA could partially prevented the increased necroptosis induced by PES. CONCLUSIONS: Taken together, HSP70 activation exerted protective effects against neuronal trauma via inhibition of necroptosis. Mechanistically, the HSP90α-mediated activation of RIPK3 and MLKL is involved in these effects.

Effect of miR-145 on intracardiac thrombosis in patients with rheumatic heart disease complicated with atrial fibrillation: A retrospective analysis.

Patients with rheumatic heart disease (RHD) and atrial fibrillation (AF) often have a risk of intracardiac thrombosis. Exfoliated thrombus is easy to cause embolic diseases. This study revealed the risk of intracardiac thrombosis in patients with RHD with AF by exploring the expression of plasma microRNA miR-145. The expression of plasma miR-145 in 58 patients with RHD complicated with AF was detected by real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction [28 cases in thrombus (TH) group and 30 cases in non-thrombus (NTH) group]. At the same time, a healthy control group (33 cases) was established. The correlation between miR-145 and thrombosis in RHD was analyzed. The expression of plasma miR-145 in TH group and NTH group decreased significantly, especially in TH group (P < .01). In TH group and NTH group, the expression of miR-145 was negatively correlated with D-Dimer level, Factor XI concentration and tissue factor level as well as left atrial diameter (all P < .01, respectively). The receiver operating curve analysis showed that the expression of miR-145 had diagnostic significance for RHD and its intracardiac thrombosis. In this study, we suggest that the change of plasma miR-145 expression in patients with RHD is related to coagulation activity and fibrinolysis, which can predict the risk of intracardiac thrombosis.

Reduced Adenoma Miss Rate With 9-Minute vs 6-Minute Withdrawal Times for Screening Colonoscopy: A Multicenter Randomized Tandem Trial.

INTRODUCTION: Although the 9-minute mean withdrawal time (m-WT) is often reported to be associated with the optimal adenoma detection rate (ADR), no randomized trials of screening colonoscopy have confirmed the impact of a 9-minute m-WT on adenoma miss rate (AMR) and ADR. METHODS: A multicenter tandem trial was conducted in 11 centers. Seven hundred thirty-three asymptomatic participants were randomized to receive segmental tandem screening colonoscopy with a 9-minute withdrawal, followed by a 6-minute withdrawal (9-minute-first group, 9MF, n = 366) or vice versa (6-minute-first group, 6MF, n = 367). The primary outcome was the lesion-level AMR. RESULTS: The intention-to-treat analysis revealed that 9MF significantly reduced the lesion-level (14.5% vs 36.6%, P < 0.001) and participant-level AMR (10.9% vs 25.9%, P < 0.001), advanced adenoma miss rate (AAMR, 5.3% vs 46.9%, P = 0.002), multiple adenomas miss rate (20.7% vs 56.5%, P = 0.01), and high-risk adenomas miss rate (14.6% vs 39.5%, P = 0.01) of 6MF without compromising detection efficiency ( P = 0.79). In addition, a lower false-negative rate for adenomas ( P = 0.002) and high-risk adenomas ( P < 0.05), and a lower rate of shortening surveillance schedule ( P < 0.001) were also found in 9MF, accompanying with an improved ADR in the 9-minute vs 6-minute m-WT (42.3% vs 33.5%, P = 0.02). The independent inverse association between m-WT and AMR remained significant even after adjusting ADR, and meanwhile, 9-minute m-WT was identified as an independent protector for AMR and AAMR. DISCUSSION: In addition to increasing ADR, 9-minute m-WT also significantly reduces the AMR and AAMR of screening colonoscopy without compromising detection efficiency.

Source and sequestration of sediment organic carbon from different elevation zones in estuarine wetland, North China.

Estuarine wetland plays an important role in regulating global carbon cycle due to high terrestrial carbon input and burial. However, it is unclear how the source and sequestration of sediment organic carbon (SOC) in estuarine wetlands changes under the anthropogenic impact in the past century. In this study, combining parameters of TOC/TN ratios, δ13C, δ15N and 210Pb-chronology, temporal trends of SOC source and sequestration flux in Liaohe estuarine wetland were studied. The results showed that the source of organic carbon in Liaohe estuarine wetland was dominated by terrestrial input (contribution >60 %). Due to vegetation, TOC in shallow reed marsh was significantly higher than that of bare beach and subtidal flat. Affected by elevation, the sediment mass accumulation rate (MAR, kg·m-2·yr-1) showed differences in reed marsh (C1), bare beach (C2) and subtidal flat (C3), which were 6.57, 13.56 and 13.25 respectively in the past century. MAR fluctuated over time, it showed an overall increasing trend, especially since the 1980s. Correspondingly, the sequestration flux of SOC (SF-SOC, g·m-2·yr-1) showed an overall increasing trend with average of 82.84 (reed marsh), 151.93 (bare beach) and 123.71 (subtidal flat). Comparing to TOC, the higher MAR had a more distinct effect on carbon sequestration in Liaohe estuarine wetland. The difference in sedimentation rate and carbon sequestration are linked to the changes in sediment flux of riverine input and land utilization in the catchment area due to human activities in recent decades, including the construction of reservoirs, dams and local ditch wharf.

Transcriptome-wide identification of NAC (no apical meristem/Arabidopsis transcription activation factor/cup-shaped cotyledon) transcription factors potentially involved in salt stress response in garlic.

Soil salinity has been an increasing problem worldwide endangering crop production and human food security. It is an ideal strategy to excavate stress resistant genes and develop salt tolerant crops. NAC (no apical meristem/Arabidopsis transcription activation factor/cup-shaped cotyledon) transcription factors have been demonstrated to be involved in salt stress response. However, relevant studies have not been observed in garlic, an important vegetable consumed in the world. In this study, a total of 46 AsNAC genes encoding NAC proteins were identified in garlic plant by transcriptome data. Phylogenetic analysis showed that the examined AsNAC proteins were clustered into 14 subgroups. Motif discovery revealed that the conserved domain region was mainly composed of five conserved subdomains. Most of the genes selected could be induced by salt stress in different tissues, indicating a potential role in salt stress response. Further studies may focus on the molecular mechanisms of the AsNAC genes in salt stress response. The results of the current work provided valuable resources for researchers aimed at developing salt tolerant crops.

An Experimental Study on the Preparation of Soft Rock Similar Materials Using Redispersible Latex Powder as a Modifier.

The engineering geological problems of soft rock are common in large slope engineering and underground engineering surrounding rock. In order to study the change in mechanical properties of soft rock under the action of loading, excavation and rainfall, this paper carried out experimental research on similar materials of soft rock. The similar material of soft rock is prepared by using iron fine powder, barite powder and quartz sand as aggregate, gypsum as binder and redispersible latex powder as regulator. A single-factor influence test was designed with the content of redispersible latex powder as variation parameter. Analysis the influence of redispersible latex powder from the perspectives of physical and mechanical indexes, failure forms, stress-strain states and changes after water seepage. In addition, evaluate the feasibility of this similar material in geomechanical model test. Experimental results show that the density, compressive strength and Poisson's ratio of similar materials can be improved to a certain extent by the redispersible latex powder with low dosage. However, the above indexes show a significant downward trend with the increase in dosage when the dosage exceeds 2%. The deformation modulus always shows a downward trend, and this trend becomes more significant especially when the dosage exceeds 2%. With the increase in the redispersible latex powder, the stress-strain curves of similar materials show obvious elastic and plastic stages. The failure mode gradually changes to X-shaped conjugate failure, which is common in soft rock, and the material changes from brittle failure to plastic failure. In addition, this type of similar material with gypsum as cementing agent will cause serious damage and loss of bearing capacity after seepage. These methods produce similar materials with low strength, low deformation modulus and plastic failure form, which can be used to simulate the stability of soft rock engineering caused by loading or excavation. At the same time, it also sheds lights on preparing similar materials of hard rock.

FIT-based risk-stratification model effectively screens colorectal neoplasia and early-onset colorectal cancer in Chinese population: a nationwide multicenter prospective study.

No fully validated risk-stratification strategies have been established in China where colonoscopies resources are limited. We aimed to develop and validate a fecal immunochemical test (FIT)-based risk-stratification model for colorectal neoplasia (CN); 10,164 individuals were recruited from 175 centers nationwide and were randomly allocated to the derivation (n = 6776) or validation cohort (n = 3388). Multivariate logistic analyses were performed to develop the National Colorectal Polyp Care (NCPC) score, which formed the risk-stratification model along with FIT. The NCPC score was developed from eight independent predicting factors and divided into three levels: low risk (LR 0-14), intermediate risk (IR 15-17), and high risk (HR 18-28). Individuals with IR or HR of NCPC score or FIT+ were classified as increased-risk individuals in the risk-stratification model and were recommended for colonoscopy. The IR/HR of NCPC score showed a higher prevalence of CNs (21.8%/32.8% vs. 11.0%, P < 0.001) and ACNs (4.3%/9.2% vs. 2.0%, P < 0.001) than LR, which was also confirmed in the validation cohort. Similar relative risks and predictive performances were demonstrated between non-specific gastrointestinal symptoms (NSGS) and asymptomatic cohort. The risk-stratification model identified 73.5% CN, 82.6% ACN, and 93.6% CRC when guiding 52.7% individuals to receive colonoscopy and identified 55.8% early-onset ACNs and 72.7% early-onset CRCs with only 25.6% young individuals receiving colonoscopy. The risk-stratification model showed a good risk-stratification ability for CN and early-onset CRCs in Chinese population, including individuals with NSGS and young age.

Primary syphilis without chancre - A case report of rare syphilitic balanitis of Follmann.

Introduction: Syphilitic balanitis of Follmann (SBF) is a rare condition of primary syphilis which is characterized by any kind of balanitis with or without chancre on the penis combined with the presence of swollen inguinal lymph nodes confirmed by the finding of Treponema pallidum in the lesions or by the positive serological syphilitic testing. Timely identification of the SBF is very important in properly treating the disease stopping the spread of syphilis. Case presentation: A 42year-old heterosexual male patient came to our clinic and complained of a painless, hard erythema nodule with a whitish scale in his coronal sulcus of the penis for about a week. The dermatologic examination revealed an infiltrative, hard erythematous lesion surrounding the coronal sulcus of the patient's penis, with mild erosion and a small amount of exudation. There was a whitish pseudomembrane-like covering on the surface of the erythematous lesion in the coronal sulcus, which is mimicked as candidal balanitis. The result of the fungus microscopic examination was negative, while the laboratory findings showed positive results in serologic syphilitic testing. The patient was diagnosed with primary syphilis and intramuscularly treated with a dose of benzylpenicillin of 2.4 million units. The patient's skin lesions disappeared completely 60 days after penicillin treatment. Conclusion: To our knowledge, this is the first SBF case reported in China. Syphilitic balanitis of Follmann may have variable clinical appearances. We emphasize that when balanitis with risky sexual activities or with sexually transmitted diseases, the diagnosis of SBF should be kept in mind.

Microglial polarization in TBI: Signaling pathways and influencing pharmaceuticals.

Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is a serious disease that threatens life and health of people. It poses a great economic burden on the healthcare system. Thus, seeking effective therapy to cure a patient with TBI is a matter of great urgency. Microglia are macrophages in the central nervous system (CNS) and play an important role in neuroinflammation. When TBI occurs, the human body environment changes dramatically and microglia polarize to one of two different phenotypes: M1 and M2. M1 microglia play a role in promoting the development of inflammation, while M2 microglia play a role in inhibiting inflammation. How to regulate the polarization direction of microglia is of great significance for the treatment of patients with TBI. The polarization of microglia involves many cellular signal transduction pathways, such as the TLR-4/NF-κB, JAK/STAT, HMGB1, MAPK, and PPAR-γ pathways. These provide a theoretical basis for us to seek therapeutic drugs for the patient with TBI. There are several drugs that target these pathways, including fingolimod, minocycline, Tak-242 and erythropoietin (EPO), and CSF-1. In this study, we will review signaling pathways involved in microglial polarization and medications that influence this process.

Performance of a Three-Dimensional Electrochemical Reactor (3DER) on Bisphenol A Degradation.

This study constructed a three-dimensional electrochemical reactor (3DER) using meshed stainless steel sheets and titanic magnetite particles (TMP) to investigate bisphenol A (BPA) degradation through the synergistic action of electrical current and TMP. We examined some TMP characteristics, such as particle size, specific surface areas, X-ray diffraction, surface imaging, elemental constituents, and electrical resistivity. It was found that TMP was a micron-level material with excellent electrical conductivity, and it could be regarded as a magnetite-based material comprising Fe(II) and Fe(III). The single-factor experiment determined the optimal conditions for BPA removal in 3DER, specifically by introducing 200 ml of BPA-simulated wastewater (10 mg L-1) into 3DER. At the initial pH of 9.00, current and electrodes gap of 300 mA and 15 mm, respectively, and adding 1 ml of 0.5 M potassium peroxymonosulfate and 1 g TMP, > 98% of BPA was removed after 55 min of electrochemical reaction. In addition, liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry identified the intermediates formed during the BPA treatment, showing two possible pathways for BPA degradation. The final degradation intermediates were chain organics with simple molecular structures. This research provided an understanding of the potential application of 3DER for BPA removal in water.