Comprehensive bibliometric and visualized analysis of research on gut-liver axis published from 1998 to 2022.

Background: The concept of the gut-liver axis was proposed by Marshall in 1998, and since then, this hypothesis has been gradually accepted by the academic community. Many publications have been published on the gut-liver axis, making it important to assess the scientific implications of these studies and the trends in this field. Methods: Publications were retrieved from the Web of Science Core Collection. Microsoft Excel, CiteSpace, VOSviewer, and Scimago Graphica software were used for bibliometric analysis. Results: A total of 776 publications from the Web of Science core database were included in this study. In the past 25 years, the number of publications on the gut-liver axis has shown an upward trend, particularly in the past 3 years (2020-2022). China had the highest number of publications (267 articles, 34.4%). However, the United States was at the top regarding influence and international cooperation in this field. The University of California San Diego had contributed the most publications. Suk, Ki Tae and Schnabl, Bernd were tied for the first rank in most publications. Thematic hotspots and frontiers were focused on gut microbiota, microbial metabolite, intestinal permeability, bacterial translocation, bile acid, non-alcoholic steatohepatitis, and alcoholic liver disease. Conclusion: Our study is the first bibliometric analysis of literature using visualization software to present the current research status of the gut-liver axis over the past 25 years. The damage and repair of intestinal barrier function, as well as the disruption of gut microbiota and host metabolism, should be a focus of attention. This study can provide a reference for later researchers to understand the global research trends, hotspots, and frontiers in this field.

GTS-21 attenuates ACE/ACE2 ratio and glycocalyx shedding in lipopolysaccharide-induced acute lung injury by targeting macrophage polarization derived ADAM-17.

Acute lung injury (ALI) has received considerable attention in intensive care owing to its high mortality rate. It has been demonstrated that the selective alpha7 nicotinic acetylcholine receptor agonist Gainesville Tokushima scientists (GTS)-21 is promising for treating ALI caused by lipopolysaccharides (LPS). However, the precise underlying mechanism remains unknown. This study aimed to investigate the potential efficacy of GTS-21 in the treatment of ALI. We developed mouse models of ALI and alveolar epithelial type II cells (AT2s) injury following treatment with LPS and different polarized macrophage supernatants, respectively. Pathological changes, pulmonary edema, and lung compliance were assessed. Inflammatory cells count, protein content, and pro-inflammatory cytokine levels were analysed in the bronchoalveolar lavage fluid. The expression of angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE), ACE2, syndecan-1 (SDC-1), heparan sulphate (HS), heparanase (HPA), exostosin (EXT)-1, and NF-κB were tested in lung tissues and cells. GTS-21-induced changes in macrophage polarization were verified in vivo and in vitro. Polarized macrophage supernatants with or without recombination a disintegrin and metalloproteinase-17 (ADAM-17) and small interfering (si)RNA ADAM-17 were used to verify the role of ADAM-17 in AT2 injury. By reducing pathological alterations, lung permeability, inflammatory response, ACE/ACE2 ratio, and glycocalyx shedding, as well as by downregulating the HPA and NF-κB pathways and upregulating EXT1 expression in vivo, GTS-21 significantly diminished LPS-induced ALI compared to that of the LPS group. GTS-21 significantly attenuated macrophage M1 polarization and augmented M2 polarization in vitro and in vivo. The destructive effects of M1 polarization supernatant can be inhibited by GTS-21 and siRNA ADAM-17. GTS-21 exerted a protective effect against LPS-induced ALI, which was reversed by recombinant ADAM-17. Collectively, GTS-21 alleviates LPS-induced ALI by attenuating AT2s ACE/ACE2 ratio and glycocalyx shedding through the inhibition of macrophage M1 polarization derived ADAM-17.

Puerarin inhibits inflammation and oxidative stress in female BALB/c mouse models of Graves' disease.

Background: Graves' disease (GD) is an autoimmune thyroid disorder. Our previous study has demonstrated a significant decrease in flavone levels among children with GD compared to the control group. Puerarin, a well-known flavonoid with anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties. We wanted to investigate its potential impact on GD pathogenesis, aiming to determine whether increasing puerarin intake could prevent or delay the onset of GD. Methods: Adenovirus with TSHR-289 subunit was used to establish a GD mice model, and mice were intragastrically administered with puerarin or sterilized water daily. Thyroid function and inflammatory cytokine levels were quantified using ELISA, lymphocyte subsets were analyzed via flow cytometry, oxidative stress (OS) markers were measured with a microplate reader, and the expression of pertinent signaling pathway proteins were assessed by Western blot. Results: The results demonstrated that puerarin treatment significantly decreased thyroxin levels and alleviated thyroid pathological changes in GD mice. Furthermore, the immune imbalance of GD mice was improved, as evidenced by reduced inflammatory indexes, elevated antioxidant levels, and decreased malondialdehyde (MDA) levels compared to untreated GD mice. Puerarin-treated GD mice exhibited significantly lower expressions of heat shock protein (HSP): HSP70, HSP90, phosphorylated extracellular regulated kinases (p-ERK) and phosphorylated protein kinase B (p-AKT) than untreated GD mice. Moreover, low dosage puerarin (400 mg/kg) was associated with a better protective effect than high dosage (1,200 mg/kg). Conclusions: Puerarin may have the potential to mitigate GD by inhibiting inflammatory and OS, through downregulating the expression of HSP70 and HSP90 and suppressing the activation of the PI3K/AKT/ERK signaling pathway. Furthermore, a lower dose exhibited superior protective effects compared to a higher dose.

Integrated network pharmacology and metabolomics reveal the action mechanisms of vincristine combined with celastrol against colon cancer.

Colon cancer is associated with a high mortality rate. Vincristine (VCR) is a commonly used chemotherapeutic drug. Celastrol (CEL) is an effective component which exerts inhibitory effects on colon cancer. Combination treatment improves resistance to chemotherapeutic drugs and enhances their efficacy. Therefore, we aimed to explore the molecular mechanisms of VCR combined with CEL in colon cancer treatment. We verified the effects of VCR combined with CEL on the proliferation, cell cycle, and apoptosis of HCT-8 cells. Non-targeted metabolomic techniques were used to analyse the changes in cellular metabolites after administration. Finally, network pharmacology technology was used to screen the potential targets and pathways. VCR combined with CEL had synergistic inhibitory effects on HCT-8 colon cancer cells. Cell metabolomics identified 12 metabolites enriched in metabolic pathways, such as the phenylalanine, tyrosine and tryptophan biosynthesis pathways. Network pharmacology revealed that MAPK1, AKT1, PIK3CB, EGFR, and VEGFA were the key targets. Western blotting revealed that VCR combined with CEL activated the P53 pathway by suppressing the PI3K/AKT signalling pathway activation and Bcl-2 expression, promoting the Bax expression. Therefore, VCR combined with CEL potentially treats colon cancer by increasing the apoptosis, improving energy metabolism, and inhibiting PI3K/AKT pathway in colon cancer cells.

Galectin-3 Mediates Endotoxin Internalization and Caspase-4/11 Activation in Tubular Epithelials and Macrophages During Sepsis and Sepsis-Associated Acute Kidney Injury.

Besides being recognized by membrane receptor TLR4, lipopolysaccharide (LPS) can also be internalized into the cytosol and activate Caspase-4/11 pyroptotic pathways to further amplify inflammation in sepsis. The objective of this study was to investigate whether Galectin-3 (Gal3) could promote the uptake of LPS by governing RAGE or administering endocytosis, consequently activating Caspase 4/11 and mediating pyroptosis in sepsis-associated acute kidney injury (SA-AKI). By pinpointing Gal3, LPS, and EEA1 (endosome-marker) or LAMP1 (lysosome-marker) respectively, immunofluorescence discovered that Gal3 and LPS were mainly aggregated in early endosomes initially and translocated into lysosomes afterwards. In cells and animal models, Gal3 and the Caspase-4/11 pathways were simultaneously activated, and the overexpression of Gal3 could exacerbate pyroptosis, whereas inhibition of Gal3 or the knockdown of its expression could ameliorate pyroptosis, reduce the pathological changes of SA-AKI and improve the survival of the animals with SA-AKI. Silencing RAGE reduced pyroptosis in primary tubular epithelial cells (PTCs) activated by Gal3 and LPS but not in cells activated by Gal3 and outer membrane vesicles (with LPS inside), whereas pyroptosis in both was reduced by blockade of Gal3, indicating Gal3 promoted pyroptosis through both RAGE-dependent and RAGE-independent pathways. Our investigation further revealed a positive correlation between serum Gal3 and pyroptotic biomarkers IL-1 beta and IL-18 in patients with sepsis, and that serum Gal3 was an independent risk factor for mortality. Through our collective exploration, we unraveled the significant role of Gal3 in the internalization of LPS and the provocation of more intense pyroptosis, thus making it a vital pathogenic factor in SA-AKI and a possible therapeutic target. Gal3 enabled the internalization of endotoxin into endosomes and lysosomes via both RAGE-dependent (A) and RAGE-independent (B) pathways, leading to pyroptosis. The suppression of Gal3 curbed Caspase4/11 noncanonical inflammasomes and diminished sepsis and SA-AKI.

A ratiometric fluorescence imprinted sensor based on N-CDs and metal-organic frameworks for visual smart detection of malathion.

Sensitive and rapid detection of pesticide residues in food is essential for human safety. A ratiometric imprinted fluorescence sensor N-CDs@Eu-MOF@MIP (BR@MIP) was constructed to sensitively detect malathion (Mal). Europium-based metal organic frameworks (Eu-MOF) were used as supporters to improve the sensitivity of the BR@MIP. N-doped carbon dots (N-CDs) were used as fluorescent source to produce fluorescent signal. A linear relationship between the concentration of Mal and the fluorescence response of the sensor was found in the Mal concentration range of 1-10 µM with a limit of detection (LOD) of 0.05 µM. Furthermore, the sensor was successfully applied for the detection of Mal in lettuce, tap water, and soil samples, with recoveries in the range of 93.0 % - 99.3 %. Additionally, smartphone-based sensors were used to detect Mal in simulated real samples. Thus, the construction of ratiometric imprinted fluorescence sensor has provided a good strategy for the detection of Mal.

KLF5 promotes esophageal squamous cell cancer through the transcriptional activation of FGFBP1.

Krüpple-like factor 5 (KLF5) is a zinc-finger-containing transcription factor implicated in several human malignancies, but its potential regulatory mechanisms implicated in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) remain elusive. Here, we show that KLF5 is upregulated in ESCC, where its level was significantly associated with tumor differentiation and lymph node metastasis status. Upregulated KLF5 expression promoted the proliferation, migration, and invasion of ESCC cells. Reduced KLF5 showed the opposite effects. Mechanistically, KLF5 exerts its tumor promotion effect by up-regulating fibroblast growth factor binding protein 1 (FGF-BP1) and snail family transcriptional repressor 2 (SNAIL2). KLF5 binds to the promoter regions of FGF-BP1 and transcriptionally activates its expression. Our study indicated that KLF5 could promote esophageal squamous cell cancer proliferation, migration, and invasion by upregulating FGF-BP1/SNAIL2 signaling. Our work suggests that KLF5 might be a proto-oncogene in ESCC and implicated in ESCC metastasis.

Unveiling the Nature of Superior Sodium Storage in the CoSe2/rGO Nanocomposite.

Sodium-ion batteries (SIBs) are considered the most promising alternatives to lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) due to the abundant availability of sodium and their cost-effectiveness. Transition metal selenides (TMSes) are considered promising anodes for SIBs due to their economic efficiency and high theoretical capacity. Nevertheless, overcoming the challenges of sluggish reaction kinetics and severe structural damage is crucial to improving cycle life and rate capability. Herein, a simple microwave hydrothermal process was used to synthesize a nanocomposite of CoSe2 nanoparticles uniformly anchored on reduced graphene oxide nanosheets (CoSe2/rGO). The influences of rGO on the structure and electrochemical performance and Na+ diffusion kinetics are investigated through a series of characterization and electrochemical tests. The resulting CoSe2/rGO nanocomposite exhibits a remarkable initial specific capacity of 544 mAh g-1 at 0.5 A g-1, impressive rate capability (368 mAh g-1 at 20 A g-1), and excellent cycle life and maintains 348 mAh g-1 at 5 A g-1 over 1200 cycles. In addition, the in situ electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS), ex situ X-ray diffraction (XRD), and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) tests are selected to further investigate the sodium storage mechanism.

Advances in Biomarkers for Diagnosis and Treatment of ARDS.

Acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) is a common and fatal disease, characterized by lung inflammation, edema, poor oxygenation, and the need for mechanical ventilation, or even extracorporeal membrane oxygenation if the patient is unresponsive to routine treatment. In this review, we aim to explore advances in biomarkers for the diagnosis and treatment of ARDS. In viewing the distinct characteristics of each biomarker, we classified the biomarkers into the following six categories: inflammatory, alveolar epithelial injury, endothelial injury, coagulation/fibrinolysis, extracellular matrix turnover, and oxidative stress biomarkers. In addition, we discussed the potential role of machine learning in identifying and utilizing these biomarkers and reviewed its clinical application. Despite the tremendous progress in biomarker research, there remain nonnegligible gaps between biomarker discovery and clinical utility. The challenges and future directions in ARDS research concern investigators as well as clinicians, underscoring the essentiality of continued investigation to improve diagnosis and treatment.

Monitoring of surface deformation in mining area integrating SBAS InSAR and Logistic Function.

SBAS InSAR has long been used to monitor the mining surface deformation, and its research has been of great interest to researchers worldwide. For the unsatisfactory accuracy of SBAS InSAR-monitored mining surface deformation results, a new corrected model is proposed by integrating SBAS InSAR and Logistic Function. Firstly, the time series deformation results of the mining area were obtained by SBAS InSAR, and the variation law of the differences between SBAS InSAR- and leveling-monitored deformation values was statistically analyzed. Subsequently, the corrected model was constructed using the logistic linear regression analysis function and solved using the Levenberg-Marquardt algorithm. Finally, the corrected high-precision time series deformation results in the mining area were obtained. A mining area in Shandong Province of China was taken as the research object, and the practical application effect of the proposed corrected model was verified. Results showed that the Logistic Function could describe the variation law of the differences relatively accurately, and the corrected results were significantly better than the SBAS InSAR-monitored results, and the RMSEs of the corrected results were improved by 33-58%. The accuracy of SBAS InSAR-monitored mining surface deformation was effectively improved.

Unleashing the wind: The role of carbon reduction revenue in Shanghai's distributed wind power investments.

Distributed wind power has the potential to contribute significantly to China's carbon neutrality goals. However, the recent policy shift away from wind power subsidies necessitates a thorough examination of alternative revenue streams, such as carbon emission reduction benefits. In response to this need, our paper aims to assess the impact of carbon reduction revenue on the investment viability of distributed wind power projects. Employing the Monte Carlo method, we construct investment models for a case study based in Shanghai, incorporating variables like feed-in tariffs and carbon trading prices. Our analysis reveals that, although distributed wind power investments are generally feasible, optimal investment should be deferred until 2031 according to real options analysis. We further note that carbon reduction revenue can enhance the investment value and shorten the dynamic payback period of these projects; however, current low trading volumes and prices for carbon credits do not sufficiently compensate for the absence of subsidies.

Relationship among Chinese herb polysaccharide (CHP), gut microbiota, and chronic diarrhea and impact of CHP on chronic diarrhea.

Chronic diarrhea, including diarrhea-predominant irritable bowel syndrome (IBS-D), osmotic diarrhea, bile acid diarrhea, and antibiotic-associated diarrhea, is a common problem which is highly associated with disorders of the gut microbiota composition such as small intestinal bacterial overgrowth (SIBO) and so on. A growing number of studies have supported the view that Chinese herbal formula alleviates the symptoms of diarrhea by modulating the fecal microbiota. Chinese herbal polysaccharides (CHPs) are natural polymers composed of monosaccharides that are widely found in Chinese herbs and function as important active ingredients. Commensal gut microbiota has an extensive capacity to utilize CHPs and play a vital role in degrading polysaccharides into short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs). Many CHPs, as prebiotics, have an antidiarrheal role to promote the growth of beneficial bacteria and inhibit the colonization of pathogenic bacteria. This review systematically summarizes the relationship among gut microbiota, chronic diarrhea, and CHPs as well as recent progress on the impacts of CHPs on the gut microbiota and recent advances on the possible role of CHPs in chronic diarrhea.

Fluoride derivatization-enabled sensitive and simultaneous detection of biomarkers for nitrogen mustard in human plasma and urine via gas chromatography tandem mass spectrometry.

Methyl-diethanolamine (CAS: 105-59-9), ethyl-diethanolamine (CAS: 139-87-7), and triethanolamine (CAS: 102-71-6) were identified as the degradation products and bio-markers of nitrogen mustard exposure. Sensitive and convenient detection methods for amino alcohol are of great importance to identify nitrogen mustard exposure in forensic analysis. Herein, analytical methods including gas chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry combined with heptafluorobutyryl derivatization and solid phase extraction were established for retrospective detection of the biomarkers in human plasma and urine samples. The efficiency of the method was improved by optimizing the conditions for sample preparation and the GC-MS/MS method. The optimization included the derivatization temperature, reaction time, reagent dosage and solid phase extraction cartridges, eluent and pH of the loading sample. The results indicated that the SCX cartridge resulted in better enrichment and purification effects, and the best recovery could be obtained with pH = 3-4 for the loading samples and an eluent of 2 mL 10% NH4OH/MeOH. The GC-MS/MS parameters were also optimized for better specificity and sensitivity. The established method was fully validated for each analyte both in plasma and urine matrixes. The linear range of analytes in plasma was 1.0-1000 ng mL-1 with a correlation parameter (R2) of ≥0.994, intra-day/inter-day accuracy of 93.7-117%, and relative standard deviation (RSD) of ≤6.5%. Meanwhile the results in urine were 1.0-1000 ng mL-1 with R2 of ≥0.996, intra-day/inter-day accuracy of 94.3-122%, and RSD of ≤6.6%. The detection limit of the analytes was 1.0 ng mL-1. The method was applied for the detection and identification of trace amino alcohols present in urine samples dispatched by the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) and the results were confirmed to be correct.

[Genetic analysis of a child with Meier-Gorlin syndrome due to a variant of ORC6 gene].

OBJECTIVE: To analyze the genetic characteristics of a child with Meier-Gorlin syndrome (MGS) due to a homozygous variant of the ORC6 gene. METHODS: A child who was admitted to the Children's Hospital Affiliated to Soochow University on March 25, 2019 due to growth retardation was selected as the study subject. Clinical data of the child was collected. Whole exome sequencing was carried out for the child. Candidate variant was validated by Sanger sequencing and bioinformatic analysis. RESULTS: The child, a 8-year-and-3-month-old male, has featured short stature, small ears, bilateral cryptorchidism and patellar dysplasia. His parents were of first cousins. The child was found to harbor a homozygous c.712A>T (p.K238*) missense variant of the ORC6 gene, which may lead to premature termination of protein translation. Sanger sequencing confirmed that both of his parents were heterozygous carriers. Based on the guidelines from the American College of Medical Genetics and Genomics, the variant was classified as pathogenic (PVS1_Moderate+PM2_Supporting+PM3+PP3+PP4). CONCLUSION: The homozygous c.712A>T (p.K238*) variant probably underlay the MGS in this child.

Unveiling glutamic acid-functionalized LDHs: understanding the Cr(VI) removal mechanism from microscopic and macroscopic view points.

Interlayer functionalization modulation is essential for modifying LDHs and improving their selectivity and adsorption capacity for target pollutants. In this work, Glu@NiFe-LDH was synthesized using a simple one-step hydrothermal method and tested for its ability to remove CrO42- from wastewater. The modification significantly increased the composite material's removal ability by 2-3 times, up to 98.36 mg g-1. The behavior of CrO42- adsorption on Glu@NiFe-LDH was further studied by adjusting the affecting factors (i.e., temperature, pH, contact time, initial concentration, and interfering substance), and the adsorption behavior was confirmed as a spontaneous and chemisorption process. And the result was that Glu@NiFe-LDH demonstrated high capacity, efficiency, stability, and selectivity for the adsorption of CrO42- in a single electrolyte and natural water containing competing anions. Furthermore, molecular dynamics simulations (NVT ensemble) were employed to further reveal the mechanism of glutamic acid modification on LDH at the microscopic scale. Additionally, the IRI analysis method revealed the mechanism of weak interaction between glutamic acid molecules and CrO42-. This study provides a detailed understanding of the intercalation mechanism involved in the amino acid modification of LDHs. It explains the adsorption mechanism of metal oxo-acid radicals by amino acid-modified LDHs from a theoretical perspective. The findings offer experiments and a theoretical basis for designing targeted adsorbents in the future.

3D-Printed river-type thick carbon electrodes for docking possible practical application-level capacitive deionization.

The low carbon mass loading along with serious imbalance between the carbon mass loading and the electrode performance greatly hinders practical applications of capacitive deionization (CDI). Traditional thick bulk-type (BT) carbon electrodes often suffer from extremely limited active sites, thereby being vital to explore a basic strategy to unlock the performance. Herein, 3D-printed thick carbon electrodes were utilized for CDI desalination for the first time. The experimental outcomes revealed that BT electrodes existed a serious salt adsorption capacity (SAC) drop under variable mass loading of 3-30 mg/cm2. In contrary, 3D-printed river-type (RT) electrodes acquired a superior SAC of 10.67 mg/g and achieved 54.1 % SAC rise compared with that of BT electrodes (500 mg/L; 1.0 V; 30 mg/cm2). Meanwhile, RT electrodes took only 12 min to reach the equilibrium SAC of BT electrodes, being 44 min faster. Further, RT electrodes with diverse mass loading of 30-45 mg/cm2 were investigated, and it still kept 7.13 mg/g SAC under ultrahigh mass loading of 45 mg/cm2. This strategy has been successfully extended and carbons with proper micro-meso pore distribution, high specific capacitances and low resistance may be a better selection. Besides, the impact of electrode channel structure on the desalting performance was investigated, and the influence mechanism was revealed via COMSOL simulation. Overall, this work demonstrates the splendid feasibility of utilizing 3D-printed thick carbon electrodes for possible practical application-level CDI desalination.

Jian-Pi-Yin decoction attenuates lactose-induced chronic diarrhea in rats by regulating GLP-1 and reducing NHE3 ubiquitination and phosphorylation.

Objectives: Jian-Pi-Yin decoction (JPY), a prescription derived from the traditional Chinese medicine Shen-Ling-Bai-Zhu-San, has shown good clinical efficacy in the treatment of diarrhea caused by lactose intolerance. However, the mechanism of action of JPY in the treatment of diarrhea is not fully understood. Design: In this study, a rat diarrhea model was induced by high lactose feeding combined with standing on a small platform to investigate the ameliorating effect of JPY on hyper lactose-induced diarrhea in rats and its possible mechanism. Methods: The rat model of hyper lactose diarrhea was given high, medium, and low doses of JPY and the positive control drug Smida by gavage for 1 week. At the same time, NA+-H+ exchanger 3 (NHE3) inhibitor Tenapanor was administered orally for 3 weeks. Body weight, food intake, water intake, grip strength, and severity of diarrhea symptoms were measured in rats throughout the study. The serum, colon, and jejunum tissues of the model and drug-treated rats were collected for histopathological examination and analysis of relevant indicators. Results: JPY significantly alleviated the symptoms of fatigue, diet reduction and diarrhea in the model group. Glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) and cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP) expression were also down-regulated after JPY treatment. JPY can significantly promote NHE3 in intestinal tissues of rats with diarrhea, and the mechanism is related to the decrease of GLP-1, inhibition of cAMP/PKA pathway activation, an increase of ubiquitin-specific protease 7 (USP7) and USP10 expression, and decrease of NHE3 ubiquitination and phosphorylation. Conclusion: JPY can reduce the expression of GLP-1, reduce the ubiquitination and phosphorylation of NHE3, regulate the expression of NHE3, at least partly improve ion transport in the intestinal epithelium, and improve the imbalance of electrolyte absorption, thus significantly reducing the diarrhea symptoms of rats with high lactose combined with small platform standing. Innovation: In this study, we explored the mechanism of intestinal GLP-1 activation of cAMP/PKA signaling pathway from multiple dimensions, and increased its expression by reducing phosphorylation and ubiquitination of NHE3, thereby treating chronic diarrhea associated with lactose intolerance.

Uncovering the shared molecule and mechanism between ulcerative colitis and atherosclerosis: an integrative genomic analysis.

Background: Ulcerative colitis (UC) and atherosclerosis (AS) are closely related. However, the pathologic mechanisms underlying the co-occurrence of UC and AS are not well understood. Objects: To reveal the hub molecule and mechanism involved in the co-occurrence of UC and AS. Methods: Differentially expressed genes (DEGs) of UC and AS were obtained, and the shared DEGs of UC and AS were explored for biological function. Next, the hub genes were explored using the cytoHubba plugin. The predictive ability of the hub genes was measured by constructing the receiver operating characteristic curve. Analyses of immune infiltration and the single-gene gene set enrichment analysis (GSEA) for the hub genes were further carried out. Results: Identification of 59 DEGs (55 were upregulated and four were downregulated) shared by both UC and AS was performed. Enriched pathways of the shared DEGs were mainly related to immunity and inflammation. Protein tyrosine phosphatase, receptor type, C (PTPRC) was identified as the hub crosstalk gene for the comorbidity of UC and AS. The upregulation of PTPRC was correlated with mast cells resting, T cells CD4 memory resting, macrophages M0, and macrophages M1. Pathways of immune and inflammatory processes, including NF-kappa B, viral protein interaction with cytokine and cytokine receptor, and cytokine-cytokine receptor interaction, were significantly correlated with high expression of PTPRC in UC and AS. Conclusion: At the transcriptional level, our study reveals that imbalanced inflammatory and immune responses are the key pathological mechanisms underlying the comorbidity of UC and AS and that PTPRC is a key biomarker for the comorbidity of UC and AS.

Tunable zirconium-based metal organic frameworks synthesis for dibutyl phthalate efficient removal: An investigation of adsorption mechanism on macro and micro scale.

The tunable porous structure of metal organic frameworks (MOFs) plays a crucial role in determining their adsorption performance. In this study, we developed and employed a strategy involving monocarboxylic acid assistance to synthesize a series of zirconium-based MOFs (UiO-66-F4) for the removal of aqueous phthalic acid esters (PAEs). The adsorption mechanisms were investigated by combining batch experiments, characterization and theoretical simulation. By adjusting the affecting factors (i.e., initial concentration, pH values, temperature, contact time and interfering substance), the adsorption behavior was confirmed as a spontaneous and exothermic chemisorption process. The Langmuir model provided a good fit, and the maximum expected adsorption capacity of di-n-butyl phthalate (DnBP) on UiO-66-F4(PA) was calculated to be 530.42 mg·g-1. Besides, through carrying out the molecular dynamics (MD) simulation, the multistage adsorption process in the form of DnBP clusters was revealed on a microcosmic scale. The independent gradient model (IGM) method showed the types of weak interactions of inter-fragments or between DnBP and UiO-66-F4. Furthermore, the synthesized UiO-66-F4 displayed excellent removal efficiency (>96 % after 5 cycles), satisfactory chemical stability and reusability in the regeneration process. Hence, the modulated UiO-66-F4 will be regarded as a promising adsorbent for PAEs separation. This work will provide referential significance in tunable MOFs development and actual applications of PAEs removal.