TiO2 Nanotube Arrays Inside Ultrafine Ti Tubes with an Aspect Ratio of 2500 for Sensing Needles: The Bubble Effect in a Confined Space.

Capillary metal tubes have attracted considerable interest for flexible electronics, portable devices, trace sampling, and detection. Tailoring the microstructure and wettability inside the capillary tubes is of paramount importance, yet it presents great difficulty because of the spatial confinement. Here, the coupling effect is revealed between the fluidic and electric field induced by bubble motion in a confined space during anodic oxidation. By controlling the bubble regeneration and flow rate, uniform and superhydrophilic TiO2 nanotube arrays are developed throughout the inner surface of an ultrafine Ti tube with a diameter of 0.4 mm and length of 1000 mm, equivalent to an aspect ratio of 2500 that is the largest value being ever reported. The inner surface of a capillary tube is further coated with a polytetrafluoroethylene layer and explored as a sensing needle for liquid detection in terms of concentration and species. This study provides an innovative approach to tailor the microstructure and wettability in a confined space for functional capillary tubes.

Clinical features and prognosis of ANCA-associated vasculitis patients who were double-seropositive for myeloperoxidase-ANCA and proteinase 3-ANCA.

Anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic antibody (ANCA)-associated vasculitis (AAV) patients with dual positivity for proteinase 3-ANCA (PR3-ANCA) and myeloperoxidase-ANCA (MPO-ANCA) are uncommon. We aimed to investigate these idiopathic double-positive AAV patients' clinical features, histological characteristics, and prognosis. We reviewed all the electronic medical records of patients diagnosed with AAV to obtain clinical data and renal histological information from January 2010 to December 2020 in a large center in China. Patients were assigned to the MPO-AAV group or PR3-AAV group or idiopathic double-positive AAV group by ANCA specificity. We explored features of idiopathic double-positive AAV. Of the 340 patients who fulfilled the study inclusion criteria, 159 (46.76%) were female, with a mean age of 58.41 years at the time of AAV diagnosis. Similar to MPO-AAV, idiopathic double-positive AAV patients were older and had more severe anemia, lower Birmingham Vasculitis Activity Score (BVAS) and C-reactive protein (CRP) levels, less ear, nose, and throat (ENT) involvement, higher initial serum creatinine and a lower estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) when compared with PR3-AAV (P < 0.05). The proportion of normal glomeruli of idiopathic double-positive AAV was the lowest among the three groups (P < 0.05). The idiopathic double-positive AAV patients had the worst remission rate (58.8%) among the three groups (P < 0.05). The relapse rate of double-positive AAV (40.0%) was comparable with PR3-AAV (44.8%) (P > 0.05). Although there was a trend toward a higher relapse rate of idiopathic double-positive AAV (40.0%) compared with MPO-AAV (23.5%), this did not reach statistical significance (P > 0.05). The proportion of patients who progressed to ESRD was 47.1% and 44.4% in the idiopathic double-positive AAV group and MPO-AAV group respectively, without statistical significance. Long-term patient survival also varied among the three groups (P < 0.05). Idiopathic double-positive AAV is a rare clinical entity with hybrid features of MPO-AAV and PR3-AAV. MPO-AAV is the "dominant" phenotype in idiopathic double-positive AAV.

The diagnosis of acute interstitial nephritis caused by infection versus antibiotic-induced interstitial nephritis: a narrative review.

Acute interstitial nephritis (AIN) is a significant contributor to acute kidney injury and can be attributed to a variety of factors, including but not limited to allergens or drugs, infections, autoimmune or systemic diseases, and idiopathic forms of the disease. In some cases, AIN requires a therapeutic action according to a single specific etiology by handling the offending agent and applying an immunosuppressant. Although AIN can be diagnosed through renal biopsy, it is not able to pinpoint the precise cause when multiple causes are suspected to be present simultaneously. Such situations arise when a patient suffering from infection develops AIN during antibiotic therapy, the exact causative factor of which becomes a challenge for the clinicians to determine. This is attributed to the different approaches employed in different etiologies, wherein clinicians are required to maintain the current antibiotic therapy or augment the dose in cases of infection as AIN etiology, without resorting to immunosuppressant therapy as the primary objective is infection killing. In contrast, antibiotics as an etiology for AIN require an alternative drug from the antibiotics group, along with an immunosuppressant. In the interim, delaying the identification of the precise cause may result in interstitial fibrosis and chronic kidney disease. This narrative review highlights certain findings that can be typical of infection-associated ATIN compared with antibiotic-associated ATIN based on clinical history and physical examination, clinical presentation of different antibiotic drug classes, histopathological features, classical and novel biomarkers, serum and urine cytokines and chemokines, cellular biomarkers, and genetic biomarkers. Although these findings cannot provide conclusive and clear recommendations that can be useful in the clinical practice, they can entice researchers to conduct original research on these features to discover clear recommendations.

Adjuvant Transarterial Chemoembolization With Sorafenib for Portal Vein Tumor Thrombus: A Randomized Clinical Trial.

Importance: Certain patients with hepatocellular carcinoma with portal vein tumor thrombus could benefit from surgical resection, and postoperative adjuvant therapy may lower the incidence of tumor recurrence. Objective: To compare the efficacy and safety of sorafenib plus transarterial chemoembolization vs sorafenib alone as postoperative adjuvant therapy for patients with hepatocellular carcinoma with portal vein tumor thrombus. Design, Setting, and Participants: This was a phase 3, multicenter, randomized clinical trial conducted in 5 hospitals in China. A total of 158 patients were enrolled and randomized from October 2019 to March 2022, with a median follow-up of 28.4 months. Portal vein tumor thrombus was graded by the Cheng classification. Eligible patients with hepatocellular carcinoma with Cheng grade I to III portal vein tumor thrombus (ie, involving segmental or sectoral branches, right- or left-side branch, or main trunk of portal vein) were included. Interventions: Patients were randomly assigned 1:1 to receive transarterial chemoembolization with sorafenib or sorafenib alone as postoperative adjuvant therapy. Sorafenib treatment was started within 3 days after randomization, with an initial dose of 400 mg orally twice a day. In the transarterial chemoembolization with sorafenib group, transarterial chemoembolization was performed 1 day after the first administration of sorafenib. Main Outcomes and Measures: The primary end point was recurrence-free survival. Efficacy was assessed in the intention-to-treat population and safety was assessed in patients who received at least 1 dose of study treatment. Results: Of 158 patients included, the median (IQR) age was 54 (43-61) years, and 140 (88.6%) patients were male. The median (IQR) recurrence-free survival was significantly longer in the transarterial chemoembolization with sorafenib group (16.8 [12.0-NA] vs 12.6 [7.8-18.1] months; hazard ratio [HR], 0.57; 95% CI, 0.39-0.83; P = .002). The median (IQR) overall survival was also significantly longer with transarterial chemoembolization with sorafenib than with sorafenib alone (30.4 [20.6-NA] vs 22.5 [15.4-NA] months; HR, 0.57; 95% CI, 0.36-0.91; P = .02). The most common grade 3/4 adverse event was hand-foot syndrome (23 of 79 patients in the transarterial chemoembolization with sorafenib group [29.1%] vs 24 of 79 patients in the sorafenib alone group [30.4%]). There were no treatment-related deaths in either group. The transarterial chemoembolization with sorafenib group did not show additional toxicity compared with the sorafenib monotherapy group. Conclusion and Relevance: In this study, the combination of sorafenib and transarterial chemoembolization as postoperative adjuvant therapy in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma with portal vein tumor thrombus resulted in longer recurrence-free survival and overall survival than sorafenib alone and was well tolerated. Trial Registration: ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT04143191.

Assistive device utilization among disabled elderly in China: A cross-sectional study.

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to examine the characteristics of assistive device users and influencing factors among disabled elderly in China. METHODS: A total of 13,510 disabled elderly in Sichuan Province were surveyed. Disability was assessed using the Barthel Activities of Daily Living Scale, mental status, sensory perception, and social engagement evaluation. Univariate analysis and logistic regression analysis were employed to identify the impact factors. RESULTS: The prevalence of assistive device utilization among participants was 79.2% (10,700/13,510, 95% CI 78.5%-79.9%), with the wheelchair being the most commonly used device. Various factors were found to influence the usage of the device, including disability level, somatic disability, age, caregivers, income, caregiver fees, and living situation (p < .05). Additionally, several factors were identified associated with the frequency of device usage, such as somatic disability, education background, income, caregiver fees, living situation, access to acquire assistive devices, duration of assistive device usage, education on assistive devices, and satisfaction level (p < .05). CONCLUSIONS: The use of assistive devices among elderly individuals in China is prevalent. There are many factors that affect the use of assistive devices, which can provide a reference for the formulation of policies in the field of assistive devices.

Two novel Fe(III)-reducing bacteria, Geothrix campi sp. nov. and Geothrix mesophila sp. nov., isolated from paddy soils.

In this research, two novel Fe(III)-reducing bacteria, SG10T and SG198T of genus Geothrix, were isolated from the rice field of Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University in Fuzhou, Fujian Province, China. Strains SG10T and SG198T were strictly anaerobic, rod-shaped and Gram-stain-negative. The two novel strains exhibited iron reduction ability, utilizing various single organic acid as the elector donor and Fe(III) as a terminal electron acceptor. Strains SG10T and SG198T showed the highest 16S rRNA sequences similarities to the type strains of Geothrix oryzisoli SG189T (99.0-99.5%) and Geothrix paludis SG195T (99.0-99.7%), respectively. The phylogenetic trees based on the 16S rRNA gene and genome 120 conserved core genes showed that strains SG10T and SG198T belong to the genus Geothrix. Average nucleotide identity (ANI) and digital DNA-DNA hybridization (dDDH) values between the phylogenetic neighbors and the two isolated strains were 86.1-94.3% and 30.7-59.5%, respectively. The major fatty acids were iso-C15:0, anteiso-C15:0, C16:0 and iso-C13:0 3OH, and MK-8 was the main respiratory quinone. According to above results, the two strains were assigned to the genus Geothrix with the names Geothrix campi sp. nov. and Geothrix mesophila sp. nov. Type strains are SG10T (= GDMCC 1.3406 T = JCM 39331 T) and SG198T (= GDMCC 62910 T = KCTC 25635 T), respectively.

Characteristics and Differences in Mpox Patients with and without HIV Infection: A Retrospective Cross-Sectional Study in Chengdu, China.

Purpose: To date, there are few reports about mpox case series in China, and scarce information is available about the in-vivo kinetics of T-cell responses in the early stage of mpox infection. This study aims to investigate the clinical difference among mpox patients with and without human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection. Patients and Methods: A total of 56 patients diagnosed with mpox by Chengdu Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and hospitalized in Public Health Clinical Center of Chengdu were retrospectively included and divided into an HIV-infected group (n=23) and a non-HIV-infected group (n=33). Clinical characteristics and serum chemistry findings of mpox patients were collected in order to analyze the differences between the HIV-infected group and the non-HIV-infected group. Results: Multiple laboratory abnormalities, including elevated C-reactive protein (69.1%), hypocalcemia (50.9%), elevated CD3+CD8+T counts (47.0%) and inverted ratio of CD3+CD4+T to CD3+CD8+T (64.7%) were common in mpox cases. There were statistically significant differences (all P < 0.05) in age, serum calcium levels, CD3+CD4+T counts, the ratio of CD3+CD4+T to CD3+CD8+T, proportion with >10 rashes, incidence of proctitis anus and time from rash growth to rash scab shedding between HIV-infected group and non-HIV-infected group. In the early stage of mpox infection, the median of CD3+CD8+T counts in the non-HIV-infected group was significantly higher than that in healthy donors (P<0.001), and the median of CD3+CD4+T/CD3+CD8+T ratio was significantly lower (P<0.001). The median of CD3+CD4+T counts in mpox patients co-infected with HIV significantly decreased compared to the pre-infection level (p =0.033). Conclusion: Our study indicates that mpox co-infected with HIV patients have longer lasting rash lesions and a higher incidence of proctitis anus. T-cell responses may be different between HIV-infected and non-HIV-infected individuals in the early stage of mpox infection.

Identification of a major QTL and candidate genes analysis for branch angle in rapeseed (Brassica napus L.) using QTL-seq and RNA-seq.

Introduction: Branching angle is an essential trait in determining the planting density of rapeseed (Brassica napus L.) and hence the yield per unit area. However, the mechanism of branching angle formation in rapeseed is not well understood. Methods: In this study, two rapeseed germplasm with extreme branching angles were used to construct an F2 segregating population; then bulked segregant analysis sequencing (BSA-seq) and quantitative trait loci (QTL) mapping were utilized to localize branching anglerelated loci and combined with transcriptome sequencing (RNA-seq) and quantitative real-time PCR (qPCR) for candidate gene mining. Results and discussion: A branching angle-associated quantitative trait loci (QTL) was mapped on chromosome C3 (C3: 1.54-2.65 Mb) by combining BSA-seq as well as traditional QTL mapping. A total of 54 genes had SNP/Indel variants within the QTL interval were identified. Further, RNA-seq of the two parents revealed that 12 of the 54 genes were differentially expressed between the two parents. Finally, we further validated the differentially expressed genes using qPCR and found that six of them presented consistent differential expression in all small branching angle samples and large branching angles, and thus were considered as candidate genes related to branching angles in rapeseed. Our results introduce new candidate genes for the regulation of branching angle formation in rapeseed, and provide an important reference for the subsequent exploration of its formation mechanism.

Vaccination with Adenovirus Type 5 Vector-Based COVID-19 Vaccine as the Primary Series in Adults: A Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Phase 1/2 Clinical Trial.

This randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled phase 1/2 trial aimed at evaluating the safety and immunogenicity of Ad5-nCoV via aerosolized or intramuscular or intramuscular-aerosolized routes in SARS-CoV-2-negative adults aged over 18 years. In the phase 1 trial, participants were sequentially enrolled into one of five regimen cohorts: Low-Dose (two doses of aerosolized Ad5-nCoV with 0.5 × 1010 viral particles [vps] per dose), Middle-Dose (two doses of aerosolized Ad5-nCoV with 1.0 × 1010 vps per dose), High-Dose (two doses of aerosolized Ad5-nCoV with 2.0 × 1010 vps per dose), Mixed (intramuscular Ad5-nCoV with 5.0 × 1010 vps [first dose] and aerosolized Ad5-nCoV with 2.0 × 1010 vps [second dose]), and Single-Dose (one dose of aerosolized Ad5-nCoV with 1.0 × 1010 vps). Eligible participants in the phase 2 trial were stratified by 18-59 years old or ≥60 years old and then were sequentially enrolled into one of six regimen cohorts: Low-Dose, Middle-Dose, High-Dose, Mixed, Single-Dose, and Intramuscular (one dose of intramuscular Ad5-nCoV with 1.0 × 1010 vps). The intervals between the two doses were 56 days. Participants were randomly allocated in 3:1 (phase 1) and 5:1 (phase 2) ratios to receive either Ad5-nCoV or the placebo in each cohort. This study is registered on ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT04840992. Most adverse reactions that occurred during the solicited period were mild and moderate. One serious adverse event (myelodysplastic syndrome) was considered potentially related to the aerosolized Ad5-nCoV. The GMTs of neutralizing antibodies in the Mixed group were the highest with 57.03 (95% CI: 23.95, 135.80) and 97.37 (95% CI: 74.30, 127.59) in phase 1 and 2 trials, respectively, 28 days after the second dose (p < 0.0001), which showed significantly higher immune responses compared to other regimens with aerosolized or intramuscular Ad5-nCoV alone.

Use of cardiac contractility modulation combined with left bundle branch pacing CRT-P in a female with a 22-year history of non-ischemic dilated cardiomyopathy: A case report.

Cardiac contractility modulation (CCM) is a novel device-based therapy used to treat patients with heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF). In both randomized clinical trials and real-life studies, CCM has been shown to improve exercise tolerance and quality of life, reverse left ventricular remodeling, and reduce hospitalization in patients with HFrEF. In this case report, we describe for the first time the use of CCM combined with left bundle branch pacing (LBBP) cardiac resynchronization therapy pacemaker (CRT-P) implantation therapy in a female with a 22-year history of non-ischemic dilated cardiomyopathy. With the optimal medical therapy and cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) strategies, the patient's quality of life initially recovered to some extent, but began to deteriorate in the past year. Additionally, heart transplantation was not considered due to economic reasons and late stage systolic heart failure. This is the first case of CCM implantation in Fujian Province and the first report of a combined CCM and left bundle branch pacing CRT-P implantation strategy in a patient with non-ischemic etiology dilated cardiomyopathy in China.

The Finkelstein-Schoenfeld Test: A Note on Some Overlooked Issues Concerning Power.

In this note, we express our viewpoint regarding power considerations, via simulation studies, in clinical study design using hierarchical composite endpoint and Finkelstein-Schoenfeld test.

Three Fe(III)-reducing and nitrogen-fixing bacteria, Anaeromyxobacter terrae sp. nov., Anaeromyxobacter oryzisoli sp. nov. and Anaeromyxobacter soli sp. nov., isolated from paddy soil.

Three microaerophilic bacterial strains, designated SG22T, SG63T and SG29T were isolated from paddy soils in PR China. Cells of these strains were Gram-staining-negative and long rod-shaped. SG22T, SG63T and SG29T showed the highest 16S rRNA gene sequence similarities with the members of the genus Anaeromyxobacter. The results of phylogenetic and phylogenomic analysis also indicated that these strains clustered with members of the genus Anaeromyxobacter. The main respiratory menaquinone of SG22T, SG63T and SG29T was MK-8 and the major fatty acids were iso-C15 : 0, iso-C17 : 0 and C16 : 0. SG22T, SG29T and SG63T not only possessed iron reduction ability but also harboured genes (nifHDK) encoding nitrogenase. The genomic DNA G+C contents of SG22T, SG63T and SG29T ranged from 73.3 to 73.5 %. The average nucleotide identity (ANI) and digital DNA-DNA hybridisation (dDDH) values between SG22T, SG63T and SG29T and the closely related species of the genus Anaeromyxobacter were lower than the cut-off values (dDDH 70 % and ANI 95-96 %) for prokaryotic species delineation. On the basis of these results, strains SG22T, SG63T and SG29T represent three novel species within the genus Anaeromyxobacter, for which the names Anaeromyxobacter terrae sp. nov., Anaeromyxobacter oryzisoli sp. nov. and Anaeromyxobacter soli sp. nov., are proposed. The type strains are SG22T (= GDMCC 1.3185T = JCM 35581T), SG63T (= GDMCC 1.2914T = JCM 35124T) and SG29T (= GDMCC 1.2911T = JCM 35123T).

Influence of dextrans on the textural, rheological, and microstructural properties of acid-induced faba bean protein gels.

Dextrans (DXs) are a group of natural polysaccharides with different branching patterns. Previous studies examining the effects of DXs on plant protein gels have only focused on α-(1 â†’ 3)-branched DXs. Here, we compared the effects of α-(1 â†’ 3)-branched DX L12 with those of two α-(1 â†’ 2)-branched DXs on the properties of glucono-δ-lactone-induced faba bean protein isolate (FPI) gels. DX L12 showed stronger effects in decreasing gel hardness and enhancing gel viscoelasticity than the other two DXs. Moreover, DX L12 decreased the water-holding capacity of FPI gels, whereas the other DXs enhanced it. Microstructural analysis revealed that DX addition promoted phase separation during gel formation. However, FPI/L12 gels exhibited greater phase separation than the other two gels and contained larger void spaces. These differences could be attributed to the varying water adsorption and self-association properties of the DXs. These findings could guide the application of DX in the tailored preparation of plant protein gels.

CXCL12-CXCR4 mediates CD57+ CD8+ T cell responses in the progression of type 1 diabetes.

CD57+ CD8+ T cells, also referred as effector memory cells, are implicated in various conditions including tumor immunity, virus immunity, and most recently with autoimmunity. However, their roles in the progression and remission of T1D are still unclear. Here, we noted an increase in peripheral CD57+ CD8+ T cells in a T1D patient harboring an activator of transcription 3 (STAT3) mutation. Our in-depth study on the role of CD57+ CD8+ T cells within a T1D patient cohort revealed that these cells undergo significant compositional shifts during the disease's progression. Longitudinal cohort data suggested that CD57+ CD8+ T cell prevalence may be a harbinger of ß-cell function decline in T1D patients. Characterized by robust cytotoxic activity, heightened production of pro-inflammatory cytokines, and increased intracellular glucose uptake, these cells may be key players in the pathophysiology of T1D. Moreover, in vitro assays showed that the CXCL12-CXCR4 axis promotes the expansion and function of CD57+ CD8+ T cells via Erk1/2 signaling. Notably, the changes of serum CXCL12 concentrations were also found in individuals during the peri-remission phase of T1D. Furthermore, treatment with the CXCR4 antagonist LY2510924 reduced the immunological infiltration of CD57+ CD8+ T cells and mitigated hyperglycemia in a STZ-induced T1D mouse model. Taken together, our work has uncovered a novel role of the CXCL12-CXCR4 axis in driving CD57+ CD8+ T cells responses in T1D, and presented a promising therapeutic strategy for delaying the onset and progression of diabetes.

Deacetylase Sirtuin 1 mitigates type I IFN- and type II IFN-induced signaling and antiviral immunity.

Type I and type II IFNs are important immune modulators in both innate and adaptive immunity. They transmit signaling by activating JAK-STAT pathways. Sirtuin 1 (SIRT1), a class III NAD+-dependent deacetylase, has multiple functions in a variety of physiological processes. Here, we characterized the novel functions of SIRT1 in the regulation of type I and type II IFN-induced signaling. Overexpression of SIRT1 inhibited type I and type II IFN-induced interferon-stimulated response element activation. In contrast, knockout of SIRT1 promoted type I and type II IFN-induced expression of ISGs and inhibited viral replication. Treatment with SIRT1 inhibitor EX527 had similar positive effects. SIRT1 physically associated with STAT1 or STAT3, and this interaction was enhanced by IFN stimulation or viral infection. By deacetylating STAT1 at K673 and STAT3 at K679/K685/K707/K709, SIRT1 downregulated the phosphorylation of STAT1 (Y701) and STAT3 (Y705). Sirt1+/- primary peritoneal macrophages and Sirt1+/- mice exhibited enhanced IFN-induced signaling and antiviral activity. Thus, SIRT1 is a novel negative regulator of type I and type II IFN-induced signaling through its deacetylase activity.IMPORTANCESIRT1 has been reported in the precise regulation of antiviral (RNA and DNA) immunity. However, its functions in type I and type II IFN-induced signaling are still unclear. In this study, we deciphered the important functions of SIRT1 in both type I and type II IFN-induced JAK-STAT signaling and explored the potential acting mechanisms. It is helpful for understanding the regulatory roles of SIRT1 at different levels of IFN signaling. It also consolidates the notion that SIRT1 is an important target for intervention in viral infection, inflammatory diseases, or even interferon-related therapies.

Sub-Second Long Lifetime Triplet Exciton Reservoir for Highly Efficient and Stable Organic Light-Emitting Diode.

In organic light-emitting diode (OLED), achieving high efficiency requires effective triplet exciton confinement by carrier-transporting materials, which typically have higher triplet energy (ET ) than the emitter, leading to poor stability. Here, an electron-transporting material (ETM), whose ET is 0.32 eV lower than that of the emitter is reported. In devices, it surprisingly exhibits strong confinement effect and generates excellent efficiency. Additionally, the device operational lifetime is 4.9 times longer than the device with a standard ETM, 1,3,5-tri(1-phenyl-1H-benzo[d]imidazol-2-yl) phenyl (whose ET 0.36 eV is higher than the emitter). This anomalous finding is ascribed to the exceptionally long triplet state lifetime (≈0.2 s) of the ETM. It is named as long-lifetime triplet exciton reservoir effect. The systematic analysis reveals that the long triplet lifetime of ETM can compensate the requirement for high ET with the help of endothermic energy transfer. Such combination of low ET and long lifetime provides equivalent exciton confinement effect and high molecular stability simultaneously. It offers a novel molecular design paradigm for breaking the dilemma between high efficiency and prolonged operational lifetime in OLEDs.

Research development on gut microbiota and vulnerable atherosclerotic plaque.

The relationship between gut microbiota and its metabolites with cardiovascular disease (CVD) has been proven. In this review, we aim to conclude the potential mechanism of gut microbiota and its metabolites on inducing the formation of vulnerable atherosclerotic plaque, and to discuss the effect of intestinal metabolites, including trimethylamine-N-oxide (TMAO), lipopolysaccharide (LPS), phenylacetylglutamine (PAG), short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) on plaque stability. Finally, we include the impact of gut microbiota and its metabolites on plaque stability, to propose a new therapeutic direction for coronary heart disease. Gut microbiota regulation intervenes the progress of arteriosclerosis, especially on coronary atherosclerosis, by avoiding or reducing the formation of vulnerable plaque, to lower the morbidity rate of myocardial infarction.

Air quality improvements can strengthen China's food security.

Air pollution exerts crucial influence on crop yields and impacts regional and global food supplies. Here we employ a statistical model using satellite-based observations and flexible functional forms to analyse the synergistic effects of reductions in ozone and aerosols on China's food security. The model consistently shows that ozone is detrimental to crops, whereas aerosol has variable effects. China's maize, rice and wheat yields are projected to increase by 7.84%, 4.10% and 3.43%, respectively, upon reaching two air quality targets (60 µg m-3 for peak-season ozone and 35 µg m-3 for annual fine particulate matter). Average calories produced from these crops would surge by 4.51%, potentially allowing China to attain grain self-sufficiency 2 years earlier than previously estimated. These results show that ozone pollution control should be a high priority to increase staple crop edible calories, and future stringent air pollution regulations would enhance China's food security.

Enhancement of hydrogenotrophic methanogenesis for methane production by nano zero-valent iron in soils.

Nanoscale zero-valent iron (nZVI) is attracting increasing attention as the most commonly used environmental remediation material. However, given the high surface area and strong reducing capabilities of nZVI, there is a lack of understanding regarding its effects on the complex anaerobic methane production process in flooded soils. To elucidate the mechanism of CH4 production in soil exposed to nZVI, paddy soil was collected and subjected to anaerobic culture under continuous flooding conditions, with various dosages of nZVI applied. The results showed that the introduction of nZVI into anaerobic flooded rice paddy systems promoted microbial utilization of acetate and carbon dioxide as carbon sources for methane production, ultimately leading to increased methane production. Following the introduction of nZVI into the soil, there was a rapid increase in hydrogen levels in the headspace, surpassing that of the control group. The hydrogen levels in both the experimental and control groups were depleted by the 29th day of culture. These findings suggest that nZVI exposure facilitates the enrichment of hydrogenotrophic methanogens, providing them with a favorable environment for growth. Additionally, it affected soil physicochemical properties by increasing pH and electrical conductivity. The metagenomic analysis further indicates that under exposure to nZVI, hydrogenotrophic methanogens, particularly Methanobacteriaceae and Methanocellaceae, were enriched. The relative abundance of genes such as mcrA and mcrB associated with methane production was increased. This study provides important theoretical insights into the response of key microbes, functional genes, and methane production pathways to nZVI during anaerobic methane production in rice paddy soils, offering fundamental insights into the long-term fate and risks associated with the introduction of nZVI into soils.