Hinokiflavone resists HFD-induced obesity by promoting apoptosis in an IGF2BP2-mediated Bim m6A modification dependent manner.

Obesity has emerged as a major health risk on a global scale. Hinokiflavone (HF), a natural small molecule, extracted from plants like cypress, exhibits diverse chemical structures and low synthesis costs. Using high-fat diet-induced obese mice models, we found that HF suppresses obesity by inducing apoptosis in adipose tissue. Adipocyte apoptosis helps maintain tissue health by removing aging, damaged, or excess cells in adipose tissue, which is crucial in preventing obesity and metabolic diseases. We found that HF can specifically bind to insulin-like growth factor 2 mRNA binding protein 2 to promote the stability of N6-methyladenosine-modified Bim, inducing mitochondrial outer membrane permeabilization. Mitochondrial outer membrane permeabilization leads to Caspase9/3-mediated adipocyte mitochondrial apoptosis, alleviating obesity induced by a high-fat diet. The proapoptotic effect of HF offers a controlled means for weight loss. This study reveals the potential of small molecule HF in developing new therapeutic approaches in drug development and biomedical research.

S100A8/A9-activated IFNγ+ NK cells trigger ß-cell necroptosis in hepatitis B virus-associated liver cirrhosis.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Hepatitis B virus (HBV)-associated liver cirrhosis (LC), a common condition with high incidence and mortality rates, is often associated with diabetes mellitus (DM). However, the molecular mechanisms underlying impaired glucose regulation during HBV-associated LC remain unclear. METHODS: Data from 63 patients with LC and 62 patients with LC-associated DM were analysed. Co-culture of NK cells and islet ß cell lines were used to study the glucose regulation mechanism. A mouse model of LC was used to verify the effect of S100A8/A9 on the glucose regulation. RESULTS: Higher levels of interferon (IFN)-γ derived from natural killer (NK) cells and lower levels of insulin emerged in the peripheral blood of patients with both LC and DM compared with those from patients with LC only. IFN-γ derived from NK cells facilitated ß cell necroptosis and impaired insulin production. Furthermore, S100A8/A9 elevation in patients with both LC and DM was found to upregulate IFN-γ production in NK cells. Consistently, in the mouse model for LC, mice treated with carbon tetrachloride (CCL4) and S100A8/A9 exhibited increased blood glucose, impaired insulin production, increased IFN-γ, and increased ß cells necroptosis compared with those treated with CCL4. Mechanistically, S100A8/A9 activated the p38 MAPK pathway to increase IFN-γ production in NK cells. These effects were diminished after blocking RAGE. CONCLUSION: Together, the data indicate that IFN-γ produced by NK cells induces ß cell necroptosis via the S100A8/A9-RAGE-p38 MAPK axis in patients with LC and DM. Reduced levels of S100A8/A9, NK cells, and IFN-γ could be valuable for the treatment of LC with DM. Accumulation of S100A8/A9 in patients with LC may indicate the emergence of DM.

Floquet Engineering of Excitons in Two-Dimensional Halide Perovskites via Biexciton States.

Layered two-dimensional halide perovskites (2DHPs) exhibit exciting non-equilibrium properties that allow the manipulation of energy levels through coherent light-matter interactions. Under the Floquet picture, novel quantum states manifest through the optical Stark effect (OSE) following intense subresonant photoexcitation. Nevertheless, a detailed understanding of the influence of strong many-body interactions between excitons on the OSE in 2DHPs remains unclear. Herein, we uncover the crucial role of biexcitons in photon-dressed states and demonstrate precise optical control of the excitonic states via the biexcitonic OSE in 2DHPs. With fine step tuning of the driven energy, we fully parametrize the evolution of exciton resonance modulation. The biexcitonic OSE enables Floquet engineering of the exciton resonance with either a blue-shift or a red-shift of the energy levels. Our findings shed new light on the intricate nature of coherent light-matter interactions in 2DHPs and extend the degree of freedom for ultrafast coherent optical control over excitonic states.

Making and Breaking of Exciton Cooling Bottlenecks in Halide Perovskite Nanocrystals.

Harnessing quantum confinement (QC) effects in semiconductors to retard hot carrier cooling (HCC) is an attractive approach for enabling efficient hot carrier extraction to overcome the Shockley-Queisser limit. However, there is a debate about whether halide perovskite nanocrystals (PNCs) can effectively exploit these effects. To address this, we utilized pump-probe and multipulse pump-push-probe spectroscopy to investigate HCC behavior in PNCs of varying sizes and cation compositions. Our results validate the presence of an intrinsic phonon bottleneck with clear manifestations of QC effects in small CsPbBr3 PNCs exhibiting slower HCC rates compared to those of larger PNCs. However, the replacement of inorganic Cs+ with organic cations suppresses this intrinsic bottleneck. Furthermore, PNCs exhibit distinct size-dependent HCC behavior in response to changes in the cold carrier densities. We attribute this to the enhanced exciton-exciton interactions in strongly confined PNCs that facilitate Auger heating. Importantly, our findings dispel the existing controversy and provide valuable insights into design principles for engineering QC effects in PNC hot carrier applications.

Protein Corona-Mediated Inhibition of Nanozyme Activity: Impact of Protein Shape.

During biomedical applications, nanozymes, exhibiting enzyme-like characteristics, inevitably come into contact with biological fluids in living systems, leading to the formation of a protein corona on their surface. Although it is acknowledged that molecular adsorption can influence the catalytic activity of nanozymes, there is a dearth of understanding regarding the impact of the protein corona on nanozyme activity and its determinant factors. In order to address this gap, we employed the AuNR@Pt@PDDAC [PDDAC, poly(diallyldimethylammonium chloride)] nanorod (NR) as a model nanozyme with multiple activities, including peroxidase, oxidase, and catalase-mimetic activities, to investigate the inhibitory effects of the protein corona on the catalytic activity. After the identification of major components in the plasma protein corona on the NR, we observed that spherical proteins and fibrous proteins induced distinct inhibitory effects on the catalytic activity of nanozymes. To elucidate the underlying mechanism, we uncovered that the adsorbed proteins assembled on the surface of the nanozymes, forming protein networks (PNs). Notably, the PNs derived from fibrous proteins exhibited a screen mesh-like structure with smaller pore sizes compared to those formed by spherical proteins. This structural disparity resulted in a reduced efficiency for the permeation of substrate molecules, leading to a more robust inhibition in activity. These findings underscore the significance of the protein shape as a crucial factor influencing nanozyme activity. This revelation provides valuable insights for the rational design and application of nanozymes in the biomedical fields.

SOX4 regulates proliferation and apoptosis of human ovarian granulosa-like tumor cell line KGN through the Hippo pathway.

The proliferation and apoptosis of ovarian granulosa cells are important for folliculogenesis. As a transcription factor, SRY-box transcription factor 4 (SOX4) has important roles in regulating cellular proliferation and apoptosis. Nonetheless, the regulatory mechanisms of SOX4 on proliferation and apoptosis of granulosa cells remain elusive. Therefore, a stably overexpressed SOX4 ovarian granulosa cell line KGN was generated by lentivirus encapsulation. We observed that overexpression of SOX4 inhibits apoptosis, promotes proliferation and migration of KGN cells. Comparative analysis of the transcriptome revealed 868 upregulated and 696 downregulated DEGs in LV-SOX4 in comparison with LV-CON KGN cell lines. Afterward, further assessments were performed to explore the possible functions about these DEGs. The data showed their involvement in many biological processes, particularly the Hippo signaling pathway. Moreover, the expression levels of YAP1, WWTR1, WTIP, DLG3, CCN2, and AMOT, which were associated with the Hippo signaling pathway, were further validated by qRT-PCR. In addition, the protein expression levels of YAP1 were markedly elevated, while p-YAP1 were notably reduced after overexpression of SOX4 in KGN cells. Thus, these results suggested that SOX4 regulates apoptosis, proliferation and migration of KGN cells, at least partly, through activation of the Hippo signaling pathway, which might be implicated in mammalian follicle development.

Multi-omic analysis revealed the immunological patterns and diagnostic value of exhausted T cell-derived PTTG1 in patients with psoriasis.

BACKGROUND: Psoriasis, characterized by chronic inflammation, is a persistent skin condition that is notoriously challenging to manage and prone to relapse. Despite significant advancements in its treatment, many adverse reactions still occur. Therefore, exploring the mechanisms behind the occurrence and development of psoriasis is extremely important. METHODS: The weighted correlation network analysis (WGCNA) algorithm was used to identify phenotype-related genes in patients with psoriasis. We recruited clinical samples of patients with psoriasis, and used single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) to visualize divergent genes and metabolisms of varied cells for the psoriasis. Various machine-learning methods were used to identify core genes, and molecular docking was used to analyze the stability of leptomycin B targeting pituitary tumor transforming 1 (PTTG1). Immunofluorescence (IHC) analysis, multiplex immunofluorescence (mIF) analysis, and quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) were used to validate the results. RESULTS: Our results identified 1391 genes associated with the phenotype in patients with psoriasis and highlighted the significant alterations in T-cell functionality observed in the disease by WGCNA. There were nine distinct cellular clusters in psoriasis analyzed with the aid of scRNA-seq data. Each subtype of cell exhibited distinct genetic profiles, functional roles, signaling mechanisms, and metabolic characteristics. Machine-learning methods further demonstrated the potential diagnostic value of T cell-derived PTTG1 and its relationship with T-cell exhaustion in psoriasis. Lastly, the leptomycin B was scrutinized and verified had high stability targeting PTTG1. CONCLUSIONS: This study elucidates the biological basis of psoriasis. At the same time, it was discovered that PTTG1 derived from exhausted T cells serves as a diagnostic biomarker for psoriasis. Leptomycin B could be a potential drug for targeted treatment of psoriasis on PTTG1.

A Biomimetic Se-nHA/PC Composite Microsphere with Synergistic Immunomodulatory and Osteogenic Ability to Activate Bone Regeneration in Periodontitis.

Accumulation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in periodontitis exacerbates the destruction of alveolar bone. Therefore, scavenging ROS to reshape the periodontal microenvironment, alleviate the inflammatory response and promote endogenous stem cell osteogenic differentiation may be an effective strategy for treating bone resorption in periodontitis. In this study, sericin-hydroxyapatite nanoparticles (Se-nHA NPs) are synthesized using a biomimetic mineralization method. Se-nHA NPs and proanthocyanidins (PC) are then encapsulated in sericin/sodium alginate (Se/SA) using an electrostatic injection technique to prepare Se-nHA/PC microspheres. Microspheres are effective in scavenging ROS, inhibiting the polarization of macrophages toward the M1 type, and inducing the polarization of macrophages toward the M2 type. In normal or macrophage-conditioned media, the Se-nHA/PC microspheres effectively promoted the osteogenic differentiation of human periodontal ligament stem cells (hPDLSCs). Furthermore, the Se-nHA/PC microspheres demonstrated anti-inflammatory effects in a periodontitis rat model by scavenging ROS and suppressing pro-inflammatory cytokines. The Se-nHA/PC microspheres are also distinguished by their capacity to decrease alveolar bone loss, reduce osteoclast activity, and boost osteogenic factor expression. Therefore, the biomimetic Se-nHA/PC composite microspheres have efficient ROS-scavenging, anti-inflammatory, and osteogenic abilities and can be used as a multifunctional filling material for inflammatory periodontal tissue regeneration.

Kojic acid inhibits pig sperm apoptosis and improves capacitated sperm state during liquid preservation at 17°C.

The parameters of sperm apoptosis and capacitation during liquid storage at 17°C can indicate the quality of pig sperm and the potential development of early embryos. However, the effect of kojic acid (KA) on semen preservation and its mechanism has not been fully understood. In this study, we discovered that adding KA to the diluent improved the antioxidant capacity of sperm mitochondria, maintained the normal structure of sperm mitochondria, and reduced sperm apoptosis. Western blot analysis revealed that KA prevented the release of Cytochrome c from mitochondria to the cytoplasm, reduced the expression of pro-apoptosis proteins cleaved Caspase-3 and cleaved Caspase-9, and increased the expression of the antiapoptosis protein Bcl-XL. Furthermore, KA also enhanced the motility parameters, oxidative phosphorylation level, adenosine triphosphate level, and protein tyrosine phosphorylation of capacitated sperm, while preserving the acrosome integrity and plasma membrane integrity of capacitated sperm. In conclusion, this study offers new insights into the molecular mechanism of how KA inhibits porcine sperm apoptosis and improves capacitated sperm parameters. Additionally, it suggests that KA can serve as an alternative to antibiotics.

Protein Corona-Directed Cellular Recognition and Uptake of Polyethylene Nanoplastics by Macrophages.

The widespread use of plastic products in daily life has raised concerns about the health hazards associated with nanoplastics (NPs). When exposed, NPs are likely to infiltrate the bloodstream, interact with plasma proteins, and trigger macrophage recognition and clearance. In this study, we focused on establishing a correlation between the unique protein coronal signatures of high-density (HDPE) and low-density (LDPE) polyethylene (PE) NPs with their ultimate impact on macrophage recognition and cytotoxicity. We observed that low-density and high-density lipoprotein receptors (LDLR and SR-B1), facilitated by apolipoproteins, played an essential role in PE-NP recognition. Consequently, PE-NPs activated the caspase-3/GSDME pathway and ultimately led to pyroptosis. Advanced imaging techniques, including label-free scattered light confocal imaging and cryo-soft X-ray transmission microscopy with 3D-tomographic reconstruction (nano-CT), provided powerful insights into visualizing NPs-cell interactions. These findings underscore the potential risks of NPs to macrophages and introduce analytical methods for studying the behavior of NPs in biological systems.

NIR-responsive CN-Pt-GEM hydrogel induces necroptosis and immunotherapeutic responses prevent postoperative recurrence and wound infection in lung carcinoma.

BACKGROUND: Cancer recurrence following surgical resection is a major cause of treatment failure. Finding effective methods to prevent postoperative recurrence and wound infection is an important component of successful surgery. With the development of new nanotechnology, more treatment options have been provided for postoperative adjuvant therapy. This study presents an innovative hydrogel system that stimulates tumoricidal immunity after surgical resection of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) and prevents cancer relapse. RESULTS: The hydrogel system is based on the excellent photothermal conversion performance of single-atom platinum (CN-Pt) along with the delivery and release of the chemotherapy drug, gemcitabine (GEM). The system is coated onto the wound surface after tumor removal with subsequent near-infrared (NIR) photothermal therapy, which efficiently induces necroptosis of residual cancer cells, amplifies the levels of damage-associated molecular patterns (DAMPs), and increases the number of M1 macrophages. The significantly higher levels of phagocytic macrophages enhance tumor immunogenicity and sensitize cancer cells to CD8 + T-cell immunity to control postoperative recurrence, which has been verified using an animal model of postoperative lung cancer recurrence. The CN-Pt-GEM-hydrogel with NIR can also inhibit postoperative wound infection. CONCLUSIONS: These findings introduce an alternative strategy for supplementing antitumor immunity in patients undergoing resection of NSCLC tumors. The CN-Pt-GEM-hydrogel with the NIR system also exhibits good biosafety and may be adaptable for clinical application in relation to tumor resection surgery, wound tissue filling, infection prevention, and recurrence prevention.

Comprehensive assessment of fine motor movement and cognitive function among older adults in China: a cross-sectional study.

BACKGROUND: Fine motor skills are closely related to cognitive function. However, there is currently no comprehensive assessment of fine motor movement and how it corresponds with cognitive function. To conduct a complete assessment of fine motor and clarify the relationship between various dimensions of fine motor and cognitive function. METHODS: We conducted a cross-sectional study with 267 community-based participants aged ≥ 60 years in Beijing, China. We assessed four tests performance and gathered detailed fine motor indicators using Micro-Electro-Mechanical System (MEMS) motion capture technology. The wearable MEMS device provided us with precise fine motion metrics, while Chinese version of the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) was used to assess cognitive function. We adopted logistic regression to analyze the relationship between fine motor movement and cognitive function. RESULTS: 129 (48.3%) of the participants had cognitive impairment. The vast majority of fine motor movements have independent linear correlations with MoCA-BJ scores. According to logistic regression analysis, completion time in the Same-pattern tapping test (OR = 1.033, 95%CI = 1.003-1.063), Completion time of non-dominant hand in the Pieces flipping test (OR = 1.006, 95%CI = 1.000-1.011), and trajectory distance of dominant hand in the Pegboard test (OR = 1.044, 95%CI = 1.010-1.068), which represents dexterity, are related to cognitive impairment. Coordination, represented by lag time between hands in the Same-pattern tapping (OR = 1.663, 95%CI = 1.131-2.444), is correlated with cognitive impairment. Coverage in the Dual-hand drawing test as an important indicator of stability is negatively correlated with cognitive function (OR = 0.709, 95%CI = 0.6501-0.959). Based on the above 5-feature model showed consistently high accuracy and sensitivity at the MoCA-BJ score (ACU = 0.80-0.87). CONCLUSIONS: The results of a comprehensive fine-motor assessment that integrates dexterity, coordination, and stability are closely related to cognitive functioning. Fine motor movement has the potential to be a reliable predictor of cognitive impairment.

Association between psoriasis and asthma: a systematic review and bidirectional meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: The risk of asthma in patients with psoriasis has been identified in previous studies, but the bidirectional association between the two has not been fully explored. METHODS: We thoroughly searched PubMed, Embase, and the Cochrane Library to find relevant observational studies published from the inception of these databases to October 2023. All the risk and bias assessments were analyzed by STATA 16.0. Where the heterogeneity was less than 50%, the fixed effect model was utilized. While where the level of heterogeneity was more than 50%, the random effect model was applied. Moreover, to identify publication bias, a visual funnel chart, and Egger's test were applied. RESULTS: A total of 12,396,911 participants from 16 studies, published between 2011 and 2023 were included in this meta-analysis. We found that psoriasis patients had a higher risk of developing asthma (OR = 1.48, 95%CI 1.28-1.68). Meanwhile, asthma patients also had a higher overall risk of developing psoriasis (OR = 1.33, 95%CI 1.23-1.44). In the subgroup analysis, we found that the type of study, age, and severity of the psoriasis were significant factors in the survey of asthma risk in psoriasis patients. CONCLUSIONS: In the present systematic review and meta-analysis, we found a bidirectional association between psoriasis and asthma with significantly increased risk. As a result, clinicians should make patients aware of the connection between the two, particularly adolescents or patients with moderate to severe psoriasis who need to be informed about the rising likelihood of developing asthma. TRIAL REGISTRATION: Registration number CRD42023390111 .

Effects of Phloroglucinol on Embryo Transfer: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

INTRODUCTION: Phloroglucinol may be able to improve embryo transfer outcomes. We aimed to systematically evaluate the effects of phloroglucinol on embryo transfer outcomes. METHODS: The databases searched were PubMed, Ovid MEDLINE, Web of Science, Wanfang, CQVIP, China National Knowledge Infrastructure, and ClinicalTrials.gov. The last search was on February 7, 2023. The included studies were written in English or Chinese. Randomized controlled trials and cohort studies aiming to assess the effect of phloroglucinol on embryo transfer outcomes were included. The studies reported at least one of the primary outcomes (biochemical pregnancy rate, clinical pregnancy rate, and live birth rate). The odds ratio (OR) and 95% confidence interval (CI) were calculated. A random-effects or fixed model was used where applicable to estimate the results. RESULTS: Seventeen articles reporting 5,953 cycles were included. Biochemical pregnancy rate (OR = 1.58, 95% CI = 1.20-2.08, I2 = 71%), clinical pregnancy rate (OR = 1.69, 95% CI = 1.35-2.10, I2 = 64%), and live birth rate (OR = 1.45, 95% CI = 1.23-1.71, I2 = 36%) were improved by phloroglucinol. Less miscarriage (OR = 0.46, 95% CI = 0.35-0.60, I2 = 0%), less ectopic pregnancy (OR = 0.45, 95% CI = 0.28-0.72, I2 = 0%), higher implantation rate (OR = 1.45, 95% CI = 1.24-1.71, I2 = 62%) but more multiple pregnancy rate (OR = 1.48, 95% CI = 1.13-1.94, I2 = 0%) were induced by phloroglucinol. Endometrial peristaltic waves were improved by phloroglucinol (OR = 22.87, 95% CI = 5.52-94.74, I2 = 72%). CONCLUSION: Phloroglucinol may improve the outcomes of embryo transfer, including biochemical pregnancy, clinical pregnancy, and live birth rates. Further studies are warranted.

Antibiotic Resistance Characterization and Molecular Characteristics of Enterococcus Species Isolated from Combination Probiotic Preparations in China.

Enterococci can act as reservoirs for antibiotic-resistant genes that are potentially at risk of being transferred to other bacteria that inhabit in the gastrointestinal tract. The aim of this study was to determine the phenotypic and molecular characteristics of antibiotic-resistant enterococci isolated from probiotic preparations. In total, we isolated 15 suspected Enterococcus species from 5 compound probiotics, which were identified by 16S rDNA as 12 Enterococcus faecium and 3 Enterococcus faecalis. Determination of antimicrobial susceptibility by the microdilution broth method showed widespread resistance to sulfamethoxazole (100%), norfloxacin (99.3%), azithromycin (99.3%), gentamicin (86.7%), and chloramphenicol (20%). Whole genome sequencing of five resistant strains revealed that all had circular DNA chromosomes and that E. faecium J-1-A to J-4-A contained a plasmid, while E. faecalis J-5-A did not. The results of the resistance gene analysis revealed that each strain contained approximately 30 resistance genes, with the antibiotic resistance genes and the multidrug resistance efflux pump genes mdtG, lmrC, and lmrD detected in all strains. The chloramphenicol resistance genes ykkC and ykkD were first identified in E. faecalis. And there were 21, 19, 21, 21, and 29 virulence factors involved in strains, respectively. Further analysis of the gene islands (GIs) revealed that each strain contained more than 10 GIs. The above results confirm the existence of hidden dangers in the safety of probiotics and remind us to carefully select probiotic preparations containing enterococcal strains to avoid the potential spread of resistance and pathogenicity.

Transcriptomic analysis of the antibacterial mechanism of ε-polylysine-functionalized magnetic composites against Alicyclobacillus acidoterrestris and its application in apple juice.

BACKGROUND: Alicyclobacillus acidoterrestris is a common microorganism in fruit juice. It can produce off-odor metabolites and has been considered to be an important factor in juice contamination. Thus, the development of new strategy for the control of A. acidoterrestris has important practical significance. The primary objective of this work was to assess the antibacterial performance of ε-polylysine-functionalized magnetic composites (Fe3O4@MoS2@PAA-EPL) in apple juice and its effect on juice quality. Moreover, the molecular mechanism of Fe3O4@MoS2@PAA-EPL against A. acidoterrestris was explored by RNA sequencing (RNA-Seq). RESULTS: Experimental results indicated that the synthesized composites possessed the ability to inhibit the viability of A. acidoterrestris vegetative cells and spores. Besides, investigation on the quality of apple juice incubated with Fe3O4@MoS2@PAA-EPL implied that the fabricated composites displayed negligible adverse effects on juice quality. In addition, the results of RNA-Seq demonstrated that 833 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were identified in Fe3O4@MoS2@PAA-EPL-treated A. acidoterrestris, which were associated with translation, energy metabolism, amino acid metabolism, membrane transport and cell integrity. CONCLUSION: These results suggested that the treatment of Fe3O4@MoS2@PAA-EPL disrupted energy metabolism, repressed cell wall synthesis and caused membrane transport disorder of bacterial cells. This work provides novel insights into the molecular antibacterial mechanism for ε-polylysine-functionalized magnetic composites against A. acidoterrestris. © 2024 Society of Chemical Industry.

Removal of ochratoxin A in wine by Cryptococcus albidus and safety assessment of degradation products.

BACKGROUND: Ochratoxin A (OTA) is a mycotoxin that contaminates grape-based products and is extremely harmful to the health of the host. It is effectively removed by yeast during the fermentation of wine, whereas the removal mechanism of OTA remains unclear. Therefore, the present study aimed to investigate the removal mechanism of ochratoxin A by yeast and to evaluate the safety of its degradation products. RESULTS: Cryptococcus albidus (20-G) with better effect on ochratoxin A (OTA) was screened out in the main fermentation stage of wine. The results showed that 20-G removed OTA through biosorption and biodegradation. Intracellular enzymes played the main role (18.44%) and yeast cell walls adsorbed a small amount of OTA (8.44%). Furthermore, the identification of proteins in 20-G revealed that the decrease in OTA content was mainly a result of the action of peroxidase, and validation tests were carried out. By analyzing the degradation products of OTA, OTα and phenylalanine with lower toxicity were obtained. Animal experiments showed that the intervention of yeast 20-G reduced the damage and adverse effects caused by OTA toxicity to the mice. CONCLUSION: The present study demonstrates the mechanism of OTA removal by 20-G and the toxicity of OTA was reduced by peroxidase in 20-G. © 2023 Society of Chemical Industry.

[Genetic characterization and drug resistance analysis of Salmonella Kentucky ST314 in Shenzhen in 2010-2021].

OBJECTIVE: To understand the prevalence, genetic characteristics and drug resistance features of Salmonella Kentucky ST314 in Shenzhen. METHODS: Whole genome sequencing of 14 strains of Salmonella Kentucky ST314 collected from 2010-2021 by the Foodborne Disease Surveillance Network of Shenzhen Center for Disease Control and Prevention for phylogenetic evolutionary analysis, drug resistance gene and plasmid detection; drug susceptibility experiments were performed by micro-broth dilution method. RESULTS: A total of 57 strains of Salmonella Kentucky were collected from the foodborne disease surveillance network, 14 of which were ST314. The Shenzhen isolates were clustered with isolates from Southeast Asian countries such as Vietnam and Thailand on clade 314.2, and the single nucleotide polymorphism distance between local strains in Shenzhen was large, indicating dissemination. In this study, a total of 17 drug resistance genes/mutations in 9 categories were detected in the genome of Salmonella Kentucky ST314, carrying 3 extended spectrum beta-lactamases(ESBLs), including bla_(CTX-M-24)(14.3%, 2/14), bla_(CTX-M-55)(7.1%, 1/14), and bla_(CTX-M-130)(14.3%, 2/14), all located on plasmids. Regarding quinolone resistance factors, two plasmid-mediated quinolone resistance(PMQR) genes were identified in the genome: qnrB6(71.4%, 10/14) and aac(6')Ib-cr(78.6%, 11/14), a quinolone resistance quinolone resistance-determining regions(QRDR) mutation T57 S(100%, 14/14). The multi-drug resistance rate of Salmonella Kentucky ST314 in Shenzhen was 92.86%(13/14)with the highest rate of resistance to tetracycline and cotrimoxazole(100%, 14/14), followed by chloramphenicol(92.86%, 13/14), cefotaxime and ampicillin(78.57%, 11/14), ciprofloxacin and nalidixic acid(71.43%, 10/14), and ampicillin-sulbactam had the lowest resistance rate(21.43%, 3/14). CONCLUSION: ST314 is the second most prevalent ST type among Salmonella Kentucky in Shenzhen, mainly isolated from food, especially poultry; phylogenetic analysis suggests that ST314 is a disseminated infection and the genome shows a highly genetically conserved phenotype. Drug resistance of Salmonella Kentucky ST314 is very serious, especially QRDR mutation, PMQR gene co-mediated quinolone resistance and plasmid-mediated cephalosporin resistance are prominent and deserve extensive attention.

Dynamic Reconstruction of Two-Dimensional Defective Bi Nanosheets for Efficient Electrocatalytic Urea Synthesis.

Catalyst surface dynamics drive the generation of active species for electrocatalytic reactions. Yet, the understanding of dominant site formation and reaction mechanisms is limited. In this study, we thoroughly investigate the dynamic reconstruction of two-dimensional defective Bi nanosheets from exfoliated Bi2Se3 nanosheets under electrochemical CO2 and nitrate (NO3 -) reduction conditions. The ultrathin Bi2Se3 nanosheets obtained by NaBH4-assisted cryo-mediated liquid-phase exfoliation are more easily reduced and reconstructed to Bi nanosheets with high-density grain boundaries (GBs; GB-rich Bi). The reconstructed GB-rich Bi catalyst affords a remarkable yield rate of 4.6 mmol h-1 mgcat. -1 and Faradaic efficiency of 32 % for urea production at -0.40 V vs. RHE. Notably, this yield rate is 2 and 8.2 times higher than those of the low-GB Bi and bulk Bi catalysts, respectively. Theoretical analysis demonstrates that the GB sites significantly reduce the *CO and *NH2 intermediate formation energy and C-N coupling energy barrier, enabling selective urea electrosynthesis on the GB-rich Bi catalyst. This work will trigger further research into the structure-activity interplay in dynamic processes using in situ techniques.

Increased pyramidal and VIP neuronal excitability in rat primary auditory cortex directly correlates with tinnitus behaviour.

Tinnitus affects roughly 15%-20% of the population while severely impacting 10% of those afflicted. Tinnitus pathology is multifactorial, generally initiated by damage to the auditory periphery, resulting in a cascade of maladaptive plastic changes at multiple levels of the central auditory neuraxis as well as limbic and non-auditory cortical centres. Using a well-established condition-suppression model of tinnitus, we measured tinnitus-related changes in the microcircuits of excitatory/inhibitory neurons onto layer 5 pyramidal neurons (PNs), as well as changes in the excitability of vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP) neurons in primary auditory cortex (A1). Patch-clamp recordings from PNs in A1 slices showed tinnitus-related increases in spontaneous excitatory postsynaptic currents (sEPSCs) and decreases in spontaneous inhibitory postsynaptic currents (sIPSCs). Both measures could be correlated to the rat's behavioural evidence of tinnitus. Tinnitus-related changes in PN excitability were independent of changes in A1 excitatory or inhibitory cell numbers. VIP neurons, part of an A1 local circuit that can control the excitation of layer 5 PNs via disinhibitory mechanisms, showed significant tinnitus-related increases in excitability that directly correlated with the rat's behavioural tinnitus score. That PN and VIP changes directly correlated to tinnitus behaviour suggests an important role in A1 tinnitus pathology. Tinnitus-related A1 changes were similar to findings in studies of neuropathic pain in somatosensory cortex suggesting a common pathology of these troublesome perceptual impairments. Improved understanding between excitatory, inhibitory and disinhibitory sensory cortical circuits can serve as a model for testing therapeutic approaches to the treatment of tinnitus and chronic pain. KEY POINTS: We identified tinnitus-related changes in synaptic function of specific neuronal subtypes in a reliable animal model of tinnitus. The findings show direct and indirect tinnitus-related losses of normal inhibitory function at A1 layer 5 pyramidal cells, and increased VIP excitability. The findings are similar to what has been shown for neuropathic pain suggesting that restoring normal inhibitory function at synaptic inputs onto A1 pyramidal neurons (PNs) could conceptually reduce tinnitus discomfort.