The association between systemic inflammatory response index and contrast-associated acute kidney injury in patients undergoing elective percutaneous coronary intervention.

BACKGROUND: The systemic inflammatory response index (SIRI), served as a novel inflammatory biomarker, is the synthesis of neutrophils, monocytes and lymphocytes. AIMS: We hypothesized that SIRI has predictive value for contrast-associated acute kidney injury (CA-AKI) and long-term mortality in patients undergoing elective percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). METHODS: We retrospectively observed 5685 patients undergoing elective PCI from January 2012 to December 2018. Venous blood samples were collected to obtain the experimental data on the day of admission or the morning of the next day. SIRI = neutrophil count × monocyte count/lymphocyte count. CA-AKI was defined as an increase of 50% or 0.3 mg/dl in SCr from baseline within 48 h after contrast exposure. RESULTS: The incidence of CA-AKI was 6.1% (n = 352). The best cutoff value of SIRI for predicting CA-AKI was 1.39, with a sensitivity of 52.3% and a specificity of 67.3%. [AUC: 0.620, 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.590-0.651, p < 0.001]. After adjusting for potential confounders, multivariate analysis showed that the high SIRI group (SIRI > 1.39) was a strong independent predictor of CA-AKI in patients undergoing elective PCI compared with the low SIRI group (SIRI ≤ 1.39) (odds ratio = 1.642, 95% CI: 1.274-2.116, p < 0.001). Additionally, COX regression analysis showed that SIRI > 1.39 was significantly associated with long-term mortality at a median follow-up of 2.8 years. [Hazard ratio (HR)=1.448, 95%CI: 1.188-1.765; p < 0.001]. Besides, Kaplan-Meier survival curve also indicated that the cumulative rate of mortality was considerably higher in the high SIRI group. CONCLUSIONS: High levels of SIRI are independent predictors of CA-AKI and long-term mortality in patients undergoing elective PCI.

Recent trends in extraction, purification, structural characterization, and biological activities evaluation of Perilla frutescens (L.) Britton polysaccharide.

Perilla frutescens (L.) Britton is an annual herb plant of the Perilla genus in the Labiatae family, which is commonly utilized as an edible and medicinal resource. Polysaccharides are among the major components and essential bioactive compounds of P. frutescens, which exhibit a multitude of biological activities, including antioxidant, antitumor, anti-fatigue, immunoregulation, hepatoprotective, anti-inflammatory, and lipid-lowering effects. As a natural carbohydrate, P. frutescens polysaccharide has the potential to be utilized in the development of drugs and functional materials. In this paper, we provide an overview of progress made on the extraction, purification, structural characterization, and bioactivity of polysaccharides from different parts of P. frutescens. The challenges and opportunities for research are discussed, along with the potential development prospects and future areas of focus in the study of P. frutescens polysaccharides.

In silico genome-wide analysis of homeodomain-leucine zipper transcription factors in Cannabis sativa L.

HD-Zip (Homeodomain-Leucine Zipper) is a family of transcription factors unique to higher plants and plays a vital role in plant growth and development. Increasing research results show that HD-Zip transcription factors are widely involved in many life processes in plants. However, the HD-Zip transcription factor for cannabis, a valuable crop, has not yet been identified. The sequence characteristics, chromosome localization, system evolution, conservative motif, gene structure, and gene expression of the HD-Zip transcription factor in the cannabis genome were systematically studied. Real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) was used to verify its function. The results showed that cannabis contained 33 HD-Zip gene members. The number of amino acids is 136-849aa, the isoelectric point is 4.54-9.04, and the molecular weight is 23264.32-93147.87Da. Many cis-acting elements are corresponding to hormone and abiotic stress in the HD-Zip family promoter area of cannabis. Sequencing of the transcriptome at 5 tissue sites of hemp, stems, leaves, bracts, and seeds showed similar levels of expression of 33 members of the HD-Zip gene family at 5 tissue sites. Bioinformatics results show that HD-Zip expression is tissue-specific and may be influenced by hormones and environmental factors. This lays a foundation for further research on the gene function of HD-Zip.

Development of D-π-A organic dyes for discriminating HSA from BSA and study on dye-HSA interaction.

HSA (human serum albumin), a most abundant protein in blood serum, plays a key role in maintaining human health. Abnormal HSA level is correlated with many diseases, and thus has been used as an essential biomarker for therapeutic monitoring and biomedical diagnosis. Development of small-molecule fluorescent probes allowing the selective and sensitive recognition of HSA in in vitro and in vivo is of fundamental importance in basic biological research as well as medical diagnosis. Herein, we reported a series of new synthesized fluorescent dyes containing D-π-A constitution, which exhibited different optical properties in solution and solid state. Among them, dye M-H-SO3 with a hydrophilic sulfonate group at electron-acceptor part displayed selectivity for discrimination of HSA from BSA and other enzymes. Upon binding of dye M-H-SO3 with HSA, a significant fluorescence enhancement with a turn-on ratio about 96-fold was triggered. The detection limit was estimated to be âˆ¼ 40 nM. Studies on the interaction mechanism revealed that dye M-H-SO3 could bind to site III of HSA with a 1:1 binding stoichiometry. Furthermore, dye M-H-SO3 has been applied to determine HSA in real urine samples with good recoveries, which provided a useful method for HSA analysis in biological fluids.

The Association of Intraindividual Difference Between Cystatin- and Creatinine-Based Estimated GFR and Contrast-Associated Acute Kidney Injury.

Purpose: The estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) based on creatinine is crucial for the risk assessment of contrast-associated acute kidney injury (CA-AKI). In recent, the difference between cystatin C-based eGFR (eGFRcys) and creatinine-based eGFR (eGFRcr) has been widely documented. We aimed to explore whether intraindividual differences between eGFRcys and eGFRcr had potential value for CA-AKI risk assessment in patients undergoing elective percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). Patients and Methods: From January 2012 to December 2018, we retrospectively observed 5049 patients receiving elective PCI. To determine eGFR, serum creatinine and cystatin C levels were measured. CA-AKI was defined as serum creatinine being increased ≥ 50% or 0.3 mg/dL within 48 h after contrast agents exposure. Chronic kidney disease (CKD) was defined as the eGFR < 60 mL/min/1.73 m2. Results: Approximately half of the participants (2479, 49.1%) had a baseline eGFRdiff (eGFRcys-eGFRcr) between -15 and 15 mL/min/1.73 m2. Restricted cubic splines analysis revealed a nonlinear relationship between eGFRdiff and CA-AKI. Multivariable logistic regression analysis indicated that compared with the reference group (-15 to 15 mL/min/1.73 m2), the negative-eGFRdiff group (less than -15 mL/min/1.73 m2) had a higher risk of CA-AKI (OR, 3.44; 95% CI, 2.57-4.64). Furthermore, patients were divided into four groups based on CKD identified by eGFRcys or eGFRcr. Multivariable logistic analysis revealed that patients with either CKDcys (OR, 2.94; 95% CI, 2.19-3.95, P < 0.001) or CKDcr (OR, 2.44; 95% CI, 1.19-4.63, P < 0.001) had an elevated risk of CA-AKI compared to those without CKDcys and CKDcr. Conclusion: There are frequent intraindividual differences between eGFRcys and eGFRcr, and these differences can be used to forecast the risk of CA-AKI.

Biochemical characterization, structure-guided mutagenesis, and application of a recombinant D-allulose 3-epimerase from Christensenellaceae bacterium for the biocatalytic production of D-allulose.

D-Allulose has become a promising alternative sweetener due to its unique properties of low caloric content, moderate sweetness, and physiological effects. D-Allulose 3-epimerase (DAEase) is a promising enzyme for D-Allulose production. However, the low catalytic efficiency limited its large-scale industrial applications. To obtain a more effective biocatalyst, a putative DAEase from Christensenellaceae bacterium (CbDAE) was identified and characterized. The recombinant CbDAE exhibited optimum activity at pH 7.5°C and 55°C, retaining more than 60% relative activity from 40°C to 70°C, and the catalytic activity could be significantly increased by Co2+ supplementation. These enzymatic properties of purified CbDAE were compared with other DAEases. CbDAE was also found to possess desirable thermal stability at 55°C with a half-life of 12.4 h. CbDAE performed the highest relative activity towards D-allulose and strong affinity for D-fructose but relatively low catalytic efficiency towards D-fructose. Based on the structure-guided design, the best double-mutation variant G36N/W112E was obtained which reached up to 4.21-fold enhancement of catalytic activity compared with wild-type (WT) CbDAE. The catalytic production of G36N/W112E with 500 g/L D-fructose was at a medium to a higher level among the DAEases in 3.5 h, reducing 40% catalytic reaction time compared to the WT CbDAE. In addition, the G36N/W112E variant was also applied in honey and apple juice for D-allulose conversion. Our research offers an extra biocatalyst for D-allulose production, and the comprehensive report of this enzyme makes it potentially interesting for industrial applications and will aid the development of industrial biocatalysts for D-allulose.

Effects of the Hydroxy-Regulated Li-Montmorillonite Atomic Interface Arrangement on Li Cycle of Marine Sedimentation and pH.

The reaction of ubiquitous clay is related to the global cycle of the key metals, but the relationship between the Li occurrence interface and the sedimentation in the Li cycle remains unclear. We investigated the atomic interface arrangement of Li-montmorillonite (Li-Mt) during low-temperature water-rock reactions and Li migration. The results show that, in Cl-rich systems, deprotonation and exposure of Na adsorption sites cause Li enrichment and O pairing, which lead to the weakening of the shielding effect of Mt on anions and the formation of a Mt-Li-Cl atomically interfacial arrangement. Only up to 20.3% of the Li is contained in the atomic interface of Li-Mt. In F-rich system, the dehydroxylation of F paired with Al in octahedral sites causes Li accumulation via local crystallization of LiF, and co-complexation of F and Li forms a Mt(Al)-F-Li atomic interface, in which up to 46.8% of the Li is enriched by the Mt. The participation of F and Cl in the complexation intensifies lattice collapse of the Li-Mt edge. The sedimentation velocity decreases with the smaller particle size affected by the Li loading. Lithium leached from igneous rocks serves as the marine Li source, which contributes up to 99.8% and 99.5% of the Li in Cl- and F-rich systems, respectively. The response of Mt(OH) to Li migration with a time accumulating effect may make an important regulatory of oceanic pH by either acidification or alkalization.

Unveiling complete natural reductive dechlorination mechanisms of chlorinated ethenes in groundwater: Insights from functional gene analysis.

Monitored natural attenuation (MNA) of chlorinated ethenes (CEs) has proven to be a cost-effective and environment-friendly approach for groundwater remediation. In this study, the complete dechlorination of CEs with formation of ethene under natural conditions, were observed at two CE-contaminated sites, including a pesticide manufacturing facility (PMF) and a fluorochemical plant (FCP), particularly in the deeply weathered bedrock aquifer at the FCP site. Additionally, a higher abundance of CE-degrading bacteria was identified with heightened dechlorination activities at the PMF site, compared to the FCP site. The reductive dehalogenase genes and Dhc 16 S rRNA gene were prevalent at both sites, even in groundwater where no CE dechlorination was observed. vcrA and bvcA was responsible for the complete dechlorination at the PMF and FCP site, respectively, indicating the distinct contributions of functional microbial species at each site. The correlation analyses suggested that Sediminibacterium has the potential to achieve the complete dechlorination at the FCP site. Moreover, the profiles of CE-degrading bacteria suggested that dechlorination occurred under Fe3+/sulfate-reducing and nitrate-reducing conditions at the PMF and FCP site, respectively. Overall these findings provided multi-lines of evidence on the diverse mechanisms of CE-dechlorination under natural conditions, which can provide valuable guidance for MNA strategies implementation.

Chromium immobilization from wastewater via iron-modified hydrochar: Different iron fabricants and practicality assessment.

The recycling of industrial solid by-products such as red mud (RM) has become an urgent priority, due to their large quantities and lack of reutilization methods can lead to resource wastage. In this work, RM was employed to fabricate green hydrochar (HC) to prepare zero-valent iron (ZVI) modified carbonous materials, and conventional iron salts (IS, FeCl3) was applied as comparison, fabricated HC labeled as RM/HC and IS/HC, respectively. The physicochemical properties of these HC were comprehensively characterized. Further, hexavalent chromium (Cr(VI)) removal performance was assessed (375.66 and 337.19 mg/g for RM/HC and IS/HC, respectively). The influence of dosage and initial pH were evaluated, while isotherms, kinetics, and thermodynamics analysis were also conducted, to mimic the surface interactions. The stability and recyclability of adsorbents also verified, while the practical feasibility was assessed by bok choy-planting experiment. This work revealed that RM can be used as a high value and green fabricant for HC the effective removal of chromium contaminants from the wastewater.

Complications and psychological impact of pressure ulcers on patients and caregivers.

Pressure ulcers are persistent skin lesions that have substantial detrimental effects on the physical well-being of patients. Moreover, their psychological ramifications for both patients and their caregivers are becoming more widely acknowledged. This research was conducted to examine the psychological ramifications of pressure ulcers and ascertain efficacious approaches to mitigate these effects and improve overall well-being. A cross-sectional study was conducted from March 2022 to December 2023 across tertiary care centres located in Beijing. The cohort consisted of 431 participants, which included primary caregivers and patients who were diagnosed with pressure ulcers. The data were gathered through the utilization of structured questionnaires and semi-structured interviews. These methods encompassed demographic details, clinical characteristics and validated scales that assessed psychological parameters, including quality of life, anxiety, stress and depression. The research exposed substantial psychological toll on both individuals receiving care and those providing care, with caregivers enduring diminished quality of life and elevated levels of anxiety, depression and stress (p < 0.05). A significant positive correlation was identified between the degree of psychological distress and severity of pressure ulcers (p < 0.05). Both location of the ulcer and duration of care were substantial contributors to the psychological burden (p < 0.05). In spite of the apparent necessity, a significant proportion of the participants refrained from obtaining psychological counselling. The results underscored the significant psychological ramifications of pressure ulcers for both individuals receiving care and the caregivers. As a result, comprehensive care strategies that incorporate psychological assistance into the prescribed treatment plan are imperative. This research highlighted the criticality of implementing all-encompassing, interdisciplinary approaches to tackle the complex issues presented by pressure ulcers in an effort to enhance the general welfare of those influences.

Comparative analysis of surgical outcomes in children with type 3 and type 4 lateral physeal condylar humerus fractures in China: Closed Reduction-PerCutaneous Pinning (CRPP) vs. Open Reduction-Internal Fixation (ORIF).

Background: Lateral physeal condylar humerus fractures in pediatric patients aged 1-13 rank as the second most common elbow injury, occurring with a frequency ranging from 5% to 16.8%. There exists an ongoing debate regarding the surgical management of these fractures. This study aims to evaluate the efficacy of Open Reduction and Internal Fixation (ORIF) and Closed Reduction and Percutaneous Pinning (CRPP) as suitable surgical treatments for displaced unstable fractures of the lateral condyle physeal humerus in children. The comparison encompasses the results of ORIF and CRPP, alongside clinical and radiographic outcomes and complication rates. Method: A retrospective review was conducted at the Department of Orthopedic Surgery in the research hospital. A cohort of 27 patients treated between 2016 and 2023 were analyzed, 19 patients meeting inclusion criteria. The fracture pattern and degree of displacement were assessed, with specialized radiologists, doctors, and surgeons in agreement. Among the patients, 11 underwent CRPP 7 type 3and 4 type 2, while 16 received ORIF 12 type 4 and 4 type 5. Data collection included fracture type, surgical method, operation time, pre and post-operative displacement, casting period, bone union condition, follow-up records, range of motion, complications, delayed union, lateral spurring, and pin removal records. Results: For CRPP, the mean time for pin removal was 5.42 weeks, with excellent bone union and an average operation time of 34.57 min. Criteria of Hardacre showed 28.57% of cases as good and 71.42% as excellent. Similarly, ORIF demonstrated a mean operation time of 42.5 min, with the fracture healing within 5.33 weeks and the pin being removed after 15 days on average. Criteria of Hardacre indicated 25% of cases as good and 75% as excellent. Both groups showed satisfactory outcomes, with no complications such as osteomyelitis, nonunion, malunion, delayed union, myositis ossificans, physeal growth arrest, tardy ulnar nerve palsy, cubitus valgus, or varus, and no cases requiring re-surgery. Conclusion: Both CRPP and ORIF are effective surgical methods for treating lateral physeal condylar humeral fractures (types 3 and 4 according to the Song classification) in children, demonstrating satisfactory outcomes. Notably, regardless of displacement (2 mm and >2 mm), both methods yield similar results, albeit with CRPP offering the advantage of avoiding incisions. Overall, both procedures are safe, with favorable bone healing outcomes.

Anchoring Active Li Metal in Oriented Channel by In Situ Formed Nucleation Sites Enabling Durable Lithium-Metal Batteries.

Lithium metal is the ultimate anode material for pursuing the increased energy density of rechargeable batteries. However, fatal dendrites growth and huge volume change seriously hinder the practical application of lithium metal batteries (LMBs). In this work, a lithium host that preinstalled CoSe nanoparticles on vertical carbon vascular tissues (VCVT/CoSe) is designed and fabricated to resolve these issues, which provides sufficient Li plating space with a robust framework, enabling dendrite-free Li deposition. Their inherent N sites coupled with the in situ formed lithiophilic Co sites loaded at the interface of VCVT not only anchor the initial Li nucleation seeds but also accelerate the Li+ transport kinetics. Meanwhile, the Li2 Se originated from the CoSe conversion contributes to constructing a stable solid-electrolyte interphase with high ionic conductivity. This optimized Li/VCVT/CoSe composite anode exhibits a prominent long-term cycling stability over 3000 h with a high areal capacity of 10 mAh cm-2 . When paired with a commercial nickel-rich LiNi0.83 Co0.12 Mn0.05 O2 cathode, the full-cell presents substantially enhanced cycling performance with 81.7% capacity retention after 300 cycles at 0.2 C. Thus, this work reveals the critical role of guiding Li deposition behavior to maintain homogeneous Li morphology and pave the way to stable LMBs.

Fetal growth restriction exhibits various mTOR signaling in different regions of mouse placentas with altered lipid metabolism.

Fetal growth restriction (FGR) is a common complication of pregnancy and can have significant impact on obstetric and neonatal outcomes. Increasing evidence has shown that the inhibited mechanistic target of rapamycin (mTOR) signaling in placenta is associated with FGR. However, interpretation of existing research is limited due to inconsistent methodologies and varying understanding of the mechanism by which mTOR activity contributes to FGR. Hereby, we have demonstrated that different anatomic regions of human and mouse placentas exhibited different levels of mTOR activity in normal compared to FGR pregnancies. When using the rapamycin-induced FGR mouse model, we found that placentas of FGR pregnancies exhibited abnormal morphological changes and reduced mTOR activity in the decidual-junctional layer. Using transcriptomics and lipidomics, we revealed that lipid and energy metabolism was significantly disrupted in the placentas of FGR mice. Finally, we demonstrated that maternal physical exercise during gestation in our FGR mouse model was associated with increased fetal and placental weight as well as increased placental mTOR activity and lipid metabolism. Collectively, our data indicate that the inhibited placental mTOR signaling contributes to FGR with altered lipid metabolism in mouse placentas, and maternal exercise could be an effective method to reduce the occurrence of FGR or alleviate the adverse outcomes associated with FGR.

Synergistic acceleration of machine learning and molecular docking for prostate-specific antigen ligand design.

Prostate-specific antigen (PSA) serves as a critical biomarker for the early detection and continuous monitoring of prostate cancer. However, commercial PSA detection methods primarily rely on antigen-antibody interactions, leading to issues such as high costs, stringent storage requirements, and potential cross-reactivity due to PSA variant sequence homology. This study is dedicated to the precise design and synthesis of molecular entities tailored for binding with PSA. By employing a million-level virtual screening to obtain potential PSA compounds and effectively guiding the synthesis using machine learning methods, the resulting lead compounds exhibit significantly improved binding affinity compared to those developed before by researchers using high-throughput screening for PSA, substantially reducing screening and development costs. Unlike antibody detection, the design of these small molecules offers promising avenues for advancing prostate cancer diagnostics. Furthermore, this study establishes a systematic framework for the rapid development of customized ligands that precisely target specific protein entities.

Advances in reprogramming of energy metabolism in tumor T cells.

Cancer is a leading cause of human death worldwide, and the modulation of the metabolic properties of T cells employed in cancer immunotherapy holds great promise for combating cancer. As a crucial factor, energy metabolism influences the activation, proliferation, and function of T cells, and thus metabolic reprogramming of T cells is a unique research perspective in cancer immunology. Special conditions within the tumor microenvironment and high-energy demands lead to alterations in the energy metabolism of T cells. In-depth research on the reprogramming of energy metabolism in T cells can reveal the mechanisms underlying tumor immune tolerance and provide important clues for the development of new tumor immunotherapy strategies as well. Therefore, the study of T cell energy metabolism has important clinical significance and potential applications. In the study, the current achievements in the reprogramming of T cell energy metabolism were reviewed. Then, the influencing factors associated with T cell energy metabolism were introduced. In addition, T cell energy metabolism in cancer immunotherapy was summarized, which highlighted its potential significance in enhancing T cell function and therapeutic outcomes. In summary, energy exhaustion of T cells leads to functional exhaustion, thus resulting in immune evasion by cancer cells. A better understanding of reprogramming of T cell energy metabolism may enable immunotherapy to combat cancer and holds promise for optimizing and enhancing existing therapeutic approaches.

High estrogen during ovarian stimulation induced loss of maternal imprinted methylation that is essential for placental development via overexpression of TET2 in mouse oocytes.

BACKGROUND: Ovarian stimulation (OS) during assisted reproductive technology (ART) appears to be an independent factor influencing the risk of low birth weight (LBW). Previous studies identified the association between LBW and placenta deterioration, potentially resulting from disturbed genomic DNA methylation in oocytes caused by OS. However, the mechanisms by which OS leads to aberrant DNA methylation patterns in oocytes remains unclear. METHODS: Mouse oocytes and mouse parthenogenetic embryonic stem cells (pESCs) were used to investigate the roles of OS in oocyte DNA methylation. Global 5-methylcytosine (5mC) and 5-hydroxymethylcytosine (5hmC) levels were evaluated using immunofluorescence or colorimetry. Genome-wide DNA methylation was quantified using an Agilent SureSelectXT mouse Methyl-Seq. The DNA methylation status of mesoderm-specific transcript homologue (Mest) promoter region was analyzed using bisulfite sequencing polymerase chain reaction (BSP). The regulatory network between estrogen receptor alpha (ERα, ESR1) and DNA methylation status of Mest promoter region was further detected following the knockdown of ERα or ten-eleven translocation 2 (Tet2). RESULTS: OS resulted in a significant decrease in global 5mC levels and an increase in global 5hmC levels in oocytes. Further investigation revealed that supraphysiological ß-estradiol (E2) during OS induced a notable decrease in DNA 5mC and an increase in 5hmC in both oocytes and pESCs of mice, whereas inhibition of estrogen signaling abolished such induction. Moreover, Tet2 may be a direct transcriptional target gene of ERα, and through the ERα-TET2 axis, supraphysiological E2 resulted in the reduced global levels of DNA 5mC. Furthermore, we identified that MEST, a maternal imprinted gene essential for placental development, lost its imprinted methylation in parthenogenetic placentas originating from OS, and ERα and TET2 combined together to form a protein complex that may promote Mest demethylation. CONCLUSIONS: In this study, a possible mechanism of loss of DNA methylation in oocyte caused by OS was revealed, which may help increase safety and reduce epigenetic abnormalities in ART procedures.

Differential Morpho-Physiological, Ionomic, and Phytohormone Profiles, and Genome-Wide Expression Profiling Involving the Tolerance of Allohexaploid Wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) to Nitrogen Limitation.

Common wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) is a global staple food, while nitrogen (N) limitation severely hinders plant growth, seed yield, and grain quality of wheat. Genetic variations in the responses to low N stresses among allohexaploid wheat (AABBDD, 2n = 6x = 42) genotypes emphasize the complicated regulatory mechanisms underlying low N tolerance and N use efficiency (NUE). In this study, hydroponic culture, inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry, noninvasive microtest, high-performance liquid chromatography, RNA-seq, and bioinformatics were used to determine the differential growth performance, ionome and phytohormone profiles, and genome-wide expression profiling of wheat plants grown under high N and low N conditions. Transcriptional profiling of NPFs, NRT2s, CLCs, SLACs/SLAHs, AAPs, UPSs, NIAs, and GSs characterized the core members, such as TaNPF6.3-6D, TaNRT2.3-3D, TaNIA1-6B, TaGLN1;2-4B, TaAAP14-5A/5D, and TaUPS2-5A, involved in the efficient transport and assimilation of nitrate and organic N nutrients. The low-N-sensitivity wheat cultivar XM26 showed obvious leaf chlorosis and accumulated higher levels of ABA, JA, and SA than the low-N-tolerant ZM578 under N limitation. The TaMYB59-3D-TaNPF7.3/NRT1.5-6D module-mediated shoot-to-root translocation and leaf remobilization of nitrate was proposed as an important pathway regulating the differential responses between ZM578 and XM26 to low N. This study provides some elite candidate genes for the selection and breeding of wheat germplasms with low N tolerance and high NUE.

Interactions between overweight/obesity and alcohol dependence impact human brain white matter microstructure: evidence from DTI.

There is inconsistent evidence for an association of obesity with white matter microstructural alterations. Such inconsistent findings may be related to the cumulative effects of obesity and alcohol dependence. This study aimed to investigate the possible interactions between alcohol dependence and overweight/obesity on white matter microstructure in the human brain. A total of 60 inpatients with alcohol dependence during early abstinence (44 normal weight and 16 overweight/obese) and 65 controls (42 normal weight and 23 overweight/obese) were included. The diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) measures [fractional anisotropy (FA) and radial diffusivity (RD)] of the white matter microstructure were compared between groups. We observed significant interactive effects between alcohol dependence and overweight/obesity on DTI measures in several tracts. The DTI measures were not significantly different between the overweight/obese and normal-weight groups (although widespread trends of increased FA and decreased RD were observed) among controls. However, among the alcohol-dependent patients, the overweight/obese group had widespread reductions in FA and widespread increases in RD, most of which significantly differed from the normal-weight group; among those with overweight/obesity, the alcohol-dependent group had widespread reductions in FA and widespread increases in RD, most of which were significantly different from the control group. This study found significant interactive effects between overweight/obesity and alcohol dependence on white matter microstructure, indicating that these two controllable factors may synergistically impact white matter microstructure and disrupt structural connectivity in the human brain.

Tunable templating of photonic microparticles via liquid crystal order-guided adsorption of amphiphilic polymers in emulsions.

Multiple emulsions are usually stabilized by amphiphilic molecules that combine the chemical characteristics of the different phases in contact. When one phase is a liquid crystal (LC), the choice of stabilizer also determines its configuration, but conventional wisdom assumes that the orientational order of the LC has no impact on the stabilizer. Here we show that, for the case of amphiphilic polymer stabilizers, this impact can be considerable. The mode of interaction between stabilizer and LC changes if the latter is heated close to its isotropic state, initiating a feedback loop that reverberates on the LC in form of a complete structural rearrangement. We utilize this phenomenon to dynamically tune the configuration of cholesteric LC shells from one with radial helix and spherically symmetric Bragg diffraction to a focal conic domain configuration with highly complex optics. Moreover, we template photonic microparticles from the LC shells by photopolymerizing them into solids, retaining any selected LC-derived structure. Our study places LC emulsions in a new light, calling for a reevaluation of the behavior of stabilizer molecules in contact with long-range ordered phases, while also enabling highly interesting photonic elements with application opportunities across vast fields.

N-acetylserotonin alleviates retinal ischemia-reperfusion injury via HMGB1/RAGE/NF-κB pathway in rats.

AIM: To observe the effects of N-acetylserotonin (NAS) administration on retinal ischemia-reperfusion (RIR) injury in rats and explore the underlying mechanisms involving the high mobility group box 1 (HMGB1)/receptor for advanced glycation end-products (RAGE)/nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-κB) signaling pathway. METHODS: A rat model of RIR was developed by increasing the pressure of the anterior chamber of the eye. Eighty male Sprague Dawley were randomly divided into five groups: sham group (n=8), RIR group (n=28), RIR+NAS group (n=28), RIR+FPS-ZM1 group (n=8) and RIR+NAS+ FPS-ZM1 group (n=8). The therapeutic effects of NAS were examined by hematoxylin-eosin (H&E) staining, and retinal ganglion cells (RGCs) counting. The expression of interleukin 1 beta (IL-1ß), HMGB1, RAGE, and nod-like receptor 3 (NLRP3) proteins and the phosphorylation of nuclear factor-kappa B (p-NF-κB) were analyzed by immunohistochemistry staining and Western blot analysis. The expression of HMGB1 protein was also detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). RESULTS: H&E staining results showed that NAS significantly reduced retinal edema and increased the number of RGCs in RIR rats. With NAS therapy, the HMGB1 and RAGE expression decreased significantly, and the activation of the NF-κB/NLRP3 pathway was antagonized along with the inhibition of p-NF-κB and NLRP3 protein expression. Additionally, NAS exhibited an anti-inflammatory effect by reducing IL-1ß expression. The inhibitory of RAGE binding to HMGB1 by RAGE inhibitor FPS-ZM1 led to a significant decrease of p-NF-κB and NLRP3 expression, so as to the IL-1ß expression and retinal edema, accompanied by an increase of RGCs in RIR rats. CONCLUSION: NAS may exhibit a neuroprotective effect against RIR via the HMGB1/RAGE/NF-κB signaling pathway, which may be a useful therapeutic target for retinal disease.