Protective Effect of Vitamin K2 (MK-7) on Acute Lung Injury Induced by Lipopolysaccharide in Mice.

Vitamin K2 (MK-7) has been shown to cause significant changes in different physiological processes and diseases, but its role in acute lung injury (ALI) is unclear. Therefore, in this study, we aimed to evaluate the protective effects of VK2 against LPS-induced ALI in mice. The male C57BL/6J mice were randomly divided into six groups (n = 7): the control group, LPS group, negative control group (LPS + Oil), positive control group (LPS + DEX), LPS + VK2 (L) group (VK2, 1.5 mg/kg), and LPS + VK2 (H) group (VK2, 15 mg/kg). Hematoxylin-eosin (HE) staining of lung tissue was performed. Antioxidant superoxide dismutase (SOD) and total antioxidant capacity (T-AOC) activities, and the Ca2+ level in the lung tissue were measured. The effects of VK2 on inflammation, apoptosis, tight junction (TJ) injury, mitochondrial dysfunction, and autophagy were quantitatively assessed using Western blot analysis. Compared with the LPS group, VK2 improved histopathological changes; alleviated inflammation, apoptosis, and TJ injury; increased antioxidant enzyme activity; reduced Ca2+ overload; regulated mitochondrial function; and inhibited lung autophagy. These results indicate that VK2 could improve tight junction protein loss, inflammation, and cell apoptosis in LPS-induced ALI by inhibiting the mitochondrial dysfunction and excessive autophagy, indicating that VK2 plays a beneficial role in ALI and might be a potential therapeutic strategy.

First-in-human validation of enzymolysis clearance strategy for decreasing renal radioactivity using modified [68Ga]Ga-HER2 Affibody.

PURPOSE: Enzymolysis clearance strategy, characterized by releasing the non-reabsorbable radioactive fragment under the specific cleavage of enzymes, is confirmed to be a safe and effective way to reduce the renal radioactivity accumulation in mice. However, the effectiveness of this strategy in humans remains unknown. Human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2) is overexpressed in various types of tumors, and radiolabeled HER2 Affibody is believed to be an attractive tool for HER2-targeted theranostics. However, its wide application is limited by the high and persistent renal uptake. In this study, we intend to validate the effectiveness of enzymolysis clearance strategy in reducing renal accumulation by using a modified HER2 Affibody. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A new HER2 Affibody ligand, NOTA-MVK-ZHER2:2891, containing a cleavable Met-Val-Lys (MVK) linker was synthesized and labeled with 68Ga. The microPET imaging study was performed in SKOV-3 tumor mice to assess the uptakes of the control ligand and the MVK one in tumors and kidneys. Seven healthy volunteers were included for biodistribution and dosimetric studies with both the control and MVK ligands performed 1 week apart. Urine and blood samples from healthy volunteers were collected for in vivo metabolism study of the two ligands. Four HER2-positive and two HER2-negative patients were recruited for [68Ga]Ga-NOTA-MVK-ZHER2:2891 PET/CT imaging at 2 and 4 h post-injection (p.i.). RESULTS: [68Ga]Ga-NOTA-MVK-ZHER2:2891 was stable both in PBS and in mouse serum. MicroPET images showed that the tumor uptake of [68Ga]Ga-NOTA-MVK-ZHER2:2891 was comparable to that of [68Ga]Ga-NOTA-ZHER2:2891 at all the time points, while the kidney uptake was significantly reduced 40 min p.i. (P < 0.05). The biodistribution study in healthy volunteers showed that the kidney uptake of MVK ligand was significantly lower than that of the control ligand at 1 h p.i. (P < 0.05), with the SUVmean of 34.3 and 45.8, respectively, while the uptakes of the two ligands in the other organs showed negligible difference. The effective doses of the MVK ligand and the control one were 26.1 and 28.7 µSv/MBq, respectively. The enzymolysis fragment of [68Ga]Ga-NOTA-Met-OH was observed in the urine samples of healthy volunteers injected with the MVK ligand, indicating that the enzymolysis clearance strategy worked in humans. The PET/CT study of patients showed that the range of SUVmax of HER2-positive lesions was 9.4-21, while that of HER2-negative lesions was 2.7-6.2, which suggested that the MVK modification did not affect the ability of ZHER2:2891 structure to bind with HER2. CONCLUSION: We for the first time demonstrated that enzymolysis clearance strategy can effectively reduce renal radioactivity accumulation in humans. This strategy is expected to decrease renal radiation dose of peptide and small protein-based radiotracers, especially in the field of radionuclide therapy.

Prospective Study Comparing [99mTc]Tc-DP-FAPI Quantitative SPECT/CT with [68Ga]Ga-FAPI-04 PET/CT in Patients with Gastrointestinal Tumors.

Over the past decade, [68Ga]Ga-FAPI-04 positron emission tomography (PET)/CT imaging has been widely used for the treatment of various tumors. However, the application of 99mTC-labeled fibroblast activation protein inhibitors in tumors has been less studied. Our team previously demonstrated the safe biological distribution of [99mTc]Tc-DP-FAPI in the human body. Based on this, this study reports the accuracy of [99mTc]Tc-DP-FAPI in the imaging diagnosis of gastrointestinal tumors and compares it with that of [68Ga]Ga-FAPI-04 to evaluate the differences. A total of 24 patients with clinically diagnosed gastrointestinal tumors were prospectively included. All patients received [99mTc]Tc-DP-FAPI quantitative SPECT/CT imaging on the first day and [68Ga]Ga-FAPI-04 PET/CT imaging on the second day. And the effectiveness of the two imaging probes in detecting suspicious lesions was analyzed and compared. The primary tumors of all 24 patients were well detected by two imaging probes, and the sensitivity of [99mTc]Tc-DP-FAPI and [68Ga]Ga-FAPI-04 to the primary lesions was 100%. [99mTc]Tc-DP-FAPI examined 21 lymph nodes with a sensitivity and specificity of 32.8% and 10.9%, and [68Ga]Ga-FAPI-04 detected 57 lymph nodes with a sensitivity and specificity of 89.1% and 67.2%, respectively. Three distant metastases were detected by [99mTc]Tc-DP-FAPI and nine metastases by [68Ga]Ga-FAPI-04. The study showed that [99mTc]Tc-DP-FAPI is highly sensitive to detecting primary lesions of gastrointestinal tumors. Compared with [68Ga]Ga-FAPI-04, [99mTc]Tc-DP-FAPI has the same sensitivity in detecting primary tumors but has certain limitations in detecting metastases. [99mTc]Tc-DP-FAPI is of great value for preliminary screening of tumor lesions and early diagnosis of disease in patients who are suspected of having gastrointestinal tumors.

Environmental-Friendly, Long-Lastingly Moist Phase Change Gel with Tunable Cross-Linking Time for Effective Borehole Sealing.

Flexible environmental phase change gel (EPCG) is a promising and attractive material for borehole sealing due to its relatively lower usage, tunable cross-linking time, and potential degradable properties. However, conventional borehole sealing materials lack a lower manufacturing cost, lower reaction temperature, remarkable antimold function, and admirable hole sealing performance for long-term high-performance borehole sealing. Hence, it remains a critical challenge to realize a flexible phase-change gel featuring tunable cross-linking time, antimold ability and degradability, and long-lasting moist performance for high-performance borehole sealing. Herein, we illustrate a facile approach to fabricate the borehole sealing materials based on environmentally friendly, antimold, long-lasting moist composite phase-change gel fabricated from a modified cellulose gel polymer network. The prepared phase change gel presents adjustable cross-linking time with the initial setting time of 30-60 min, which could be used to seal holes with different drilling parameters. Furthermore, the fabricated gel illustrates reliable water retentiveness performance and antimold ability, assuring the long-period borehole sealing effect. Furthermore, EPCG has been applied for borehole sealing and shows great sealing ability and gas extraction performance. Therefore, this work paves the way to fabricate a flexible phase-change gel featuring tunable cross-linking time, antimold ability, and long-lasting moist performance for high performance borehole sealing.

Development and validation of a lung metastases-predicting nomogram for intermediate- to high-risk differentiated thyroid carcinoma patients.

Aim: This research aimed to construct a clinical model for forecasting the likelihood of lung metastases in differentiated thyroid carcinoma (DTC) with intermediate- to high-risk.Methods: In this study, 375 DTC patients at intermediate to high risk were included. They were randomly divided into a training set (70%) and a validation set (30%). A nomogram was created using the training group and then validated in the validation set using calibration, decision curve analysis (DCA) and receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve.Results: The calibration curves demonstrated excellent consistency between the predicted and the actual probability. ROC analysis showed that the area under the curve in the training cohort was 0.865 and 0.845 in the validation cohort. Also, the DCA curve indicated that this nomogram had good clinical utility.Conclusion: A user-friendly nomogram was constructed to predict the lung metastases probability with a high net benefit.

[Box: see text].

Impact of butylparaben on growth dynamics and microcystin-LR production in Microcystis aeruginosa.

The presence of butylparaben (BP), a prevalent pharmaceutical and personal care product, in surface waters has raised concerns regarding its impact on aquatic ecosystems. Despite its frequent detection, the toxicity of BP to the cyanobacterium Microcystis aeruginosa remains poorly understood. This study investigates the influence of BP on the growth and physiological responses of M. aeruginosa. Results indicate that low concentrations of BP (below 2.5 mg/L) have negligible effects on M. aeruginosa growth, whereas higher concentrations (5 mg/L and 10 mg/L) lead to significant growth inhibition. This inhibition is attributed to the severe disruption of photosynthesis, evidenced by decreased Fv/Fm values and chlorophyll a content. BP exposure also triggers the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS), resulting in elevated activity of antioxidant enzymes. Excessive ROS generation stimulates the production of microcystin-LR (MC-LR). Furthermore, lipid peroxidation and cell membrane damage indicate that high BP concentrations cause cell membrane rupture, facilitating the release of MC-LR into the environment. Transcriptome analysis reveals that BP disrupts energy metabolic processes, particularly affecting genes associated with photosynthesis, carbon fixation, electron transport, glycolysis, and the tricarboxylic acid cycle. These findings underscore the profound physiological impact of BP on M. aeruginosa and highlight its role in stimulating the production and release of MC-LR, thereby amplifying environmental risks in aquatic systems.

Unraveling docking and initiation of mRNA export through the nuclear pore complex.

The nuclear export of mRNA through the nuclear pore complex (NPC) is a process required for the healthy functioning of human cells, making it a critical area of research. However, the geometries of mRNA and the NPC are well below the diffraction limit of light microscopy, thereby presenting significant challenges in evaluating the discrete interactions and dynamics involved in mRNA nuclear export through the native NPC. Recent advances in biotechnology and single-molecule super-resolution light microscopy have enabled researchers to gain granular insight into the specific contributions made by discrete nucleoporins in the nuclear basket of the NPC to the export of mRNA. Specifically, by expanding upon the docking step facilitated by the protein TPR in the nuclear basket as well as identifying NUP153 as being the primary nuclear basket protein initiating export through the central channel of the NPC.

Distinct roles of nuclear basket proteins in directing the passage of mRNA through the nuclear pore.

The in vivo characterization of the exact copy number and the specific function of each composite protein within the nuclear pore complex (NPC) remains both desirable and challenging. Through the implementation of live-cell high-speed super-resolution single-molecule microscopy, we first quantified the native copies of nuclear basket (BSK) proteins (Nup153, Nup50, and Tpr) prior to knocking them down in a highly specific manner via an auxin-inducible degron strategy. Second, we determined the specific roles that BSK proteins play in the nuclear export kinetics of model messenger RNA (mRNA) substrates. Finally, the three-dimensional (3D) nuclear export routes of these mRNA substrates through native NPCs in the absence of specific BSK proteins were obtained and further validated via postlocalization computational simulations. We found that these BSK proteins possess the stoichiometric ratio of 1:1:1 and play distinct roles in the nuclear export of mRNAs within live cells. The absence of Tpr from the NPC predominantly reduces the probability of nuclear mRNAs entering the NPC for export. Complete depletion of Nup153 and Nup50 results in an mRNA nuclear export efficiency decrease of approximately four folds. mRNAs can gain their maximum successful export efficiency as the copy number of Nup153 increased from zero to only half the full complement natively within the NPC. Lastly, the absence of Tpr or Nup153 seems to alter the 3D export routes of mRNAs as they pass through the NPC. However, the removal of Nup50 alone has almost no impact upon mRNA export route and kinetics.

Polystyrene microplastics exacerbated the toxicity of okadaic acid to the small intestine in mice.

Microplastics (MPs) and okadaic acid (OA) are known to coexist in marine organisms, potentially impacting humans through food chain. However, the combined toxicity of OA and MPs remains unknown. In this study, mice were orally administered OA at 200 µg/kg bw and MPs at 2 mg/kg bw. The co-exposure group showed a significant increase in malondialdehyde (MDA) content and significant decreases in superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity and glutathione (GSH) level compared to the control, MPs and OA groups (p < 0.05). Additionally, the co-exposure group exhibited significantly higher levels of IL-1ß and IL-18 compared to other groups (p < 0.05). These results demonstrated that co-exposure to MPs and OA induces oxidative stress and exacerbates inflammation. Histological and cellular ultrastructure analyses suggested that this combined exposure may enhance gut damage and compromise barrier integrity. Consequently, the concentration of OA in the small intestine of the co-exposure group was significantly higher than that in the OA group. Furthermore, MPs were observed in the lamina propria of the gut in the co-exposure group. Transcriptomic analysis revealed that the co-exposure led to increased expression of certain genes related to the NF-κB/NLRP3 pathway compared to the OA and MPs groups. Overall, this combined exposure may disrupt the intestinal barrier, and promote inflammation through the NF-κB/NLRP3 pathway. These findings provide precious information for the understanding of health risks associated with MPs and phycotoxins.

Effects of Sjogren's syndrome and high sugar diet on oral microbiome in patients with rampant caries: a clinical study.

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to assess the composition of the oral microbial flora of adults with rampant caries in China to provide guidance for treatment. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Sixty human salivary and supragingival plaque samples were collected. They were characterized into four groups: patients with rampant caries with Sjogren's syndrome (RC-SS) or high-sugar diet (RC-HD), common dental caries (DC), and healthy individuals (HP). The 16S rRNA V3-V4 region of the bacterial DNA was detected by Illumina sequencing. PCoA based on OTU with Bray-Curtis algorithm, the abundance of each level, LEfSe analysis, network analysis, and PICRUSt analysis were carried out between the four groups and two sample types. Clinical and demographic data were compared using analysis of variance (ANOVA) or the nonparametric Kruskal-Wallis rank-sum test, depending on the normality of the data, using GraphPad Prism 8 (P < 0.05). RESULTS: OTU principal component analysis revealed a significant difference between healthy individuals and those with RC-SS. In the saliva of patients with rampant caries, the relative abundance of Firmicutes increased significantly at the phylum level. Further, Streptocpccus, Veillonella, Prevotella, and Dialister increased, while Neisseria and Haemophilus decreased at the genus level. Veillonella increased in the plaque samples of patients with rampant caries. CONCLUSION: Both salivary and dental plaque composition were significantly different between healthy individuals and patients with rampant caries. This study provides a microbiological basis for exploring the etiology of rampant caries. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: This study provides basic information on the flora of the oral cavity in adults with rampant caries in China. These findings could serve as a reference for the treatment of this disease.

Systematic dissection of genomic features determining the vast diversity of conotoxins.

BACKGROUND: Conus, a highly diverse species of venomous predators, has attracted significant attention in neuroscience and new drug development due to their rich collection of neuroactive peptides called conotoxins. Recent advancements in transcriptome, proteome, and genome analyses have facilitated the identification of conotoxins within Conus' venom glands, providing insights into the genetic features and evolutionary patterns of conotoxin genes. However, the underlying mechanism behind the extraordinary hypervariability of conotoxins remains largely unknown. RESULTS: We analyzed the transcriptomes of 34 Conus species, examining various tissues such as the venom duct, venom bulb, and salivary gland, leading to the identification of conotoxin genes. Genetic variation analysis revealed that a subset of these genes (15.78% of the total) in Conus species underwent positive selection (Ka/Ks > 1, p < 0.01). Additionally, we reassembled and annotated the genome of C. betulinus, uncovering 221 conotoxin-encoding genes. These genes primarily consisted of three exons, with a significant portion showing high transcriptional activity in the venom ducts. Importantly, the flanking regions and adjacent introns of conotoxin genes exhibited a higher prevalence of transposon elements, suggesting their potential contribution to the extensive variability observed in conotoxins. Furthermore, we detected genome duplication in C. betulinus, which likely contributed to the expansion of conotoxin gene numbers. Interestingly, our study also provided evidence of introgression among Conus species, indicating that interspecies hybridization may have played a role in shaping the evolution of diverse conotoxin genes. CONCLUSIONS: This study highlights the impact of adaptive evolution and introgressive hybridization on the genetic diversity of conotoxin genes and the evolution of Conus. We also propose a hypothesis suggesting that transposable elements might significantly contribute to the remarkable diversity observed in conotoxins. These findings not only enhance our understanding of peptide genetic diversity but also present a novel approach for peptide bioengineering.

Safety, Biodistribution, and Dosimetry Study of Meplazumab, a Potential COVID-19 Therapeutic Drug, with 131I-Labeling and SPECT Imaging.

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is a serious threat to public health and is in urgent need of specific drugs. Meplazumab, a humanized monoclonal antibody targeting CD147, was confirmed to competitively block the binding between the spike of syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) and CD147, making meplazumab a promising candidate drug for COVID-19. In this study, biodistribution and dosimetry of 131I-labeled meplazumab were performed to further evaluate its potential as a therapeutic drug for COVID-19. 131I-meplazumab was both safe and tolerant in mice and healthy volunteers. A biodistribution study was performed in normal mice, and blood samples were used for pharmacokinetic analysis. Three healthy volunteers were included and subjected to single-photon-emission computed tomography (SPECT) imaging of 131I-meplazumab within 2 weeks. The distribution in mice and humans was consistent with the in vivo distribution of CD147. Biodistribution and SPECT imaging results exhibited that the liver was the organ with the highest uptake for both mice and humans. Deiodination of 131I-meplazumab can be observed in vivo, and taking Lugol's solution can protect the thyroid gland effectively. The pharmacokinetic characteristics of 131I-meplazumab in mice and humans best fit the two-compartment model. The clearance half-life (T1/2ß) in mice and humans was 117.4 and 223.5 h, respectively. The results indicated that its pharmacokinetic properties in vivo were ideal. The effective dose calculated from healthy volunteers was 0.811 ± 0.260 mSv·MBq-1, which was twice the value calculated from mice. It was safe and feasible to perform human clinical imaging experiments using a diagnostic dose of 131I-meplazumab after thyroid closure by Lugol's solution. This study will provide more experimental basis for advancing the clinical translation of meplazumab and will be valuable in evaluating therapeutic interventions for patients with COVID-19, as well as providing a reference for clinical translation studies of other antibody drugs.

Possible Role of Docosahexaenoic Acid in Response to Diarrhetic Shellfish Toxins in the Mussel Perna viridis.

Marine bivalves are rich in docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), a polyunsaturated fatty acid known to be beneficial for human health; however, the potential role of DHA in protecting shellfish from the toxicity of diarrhetic shellfish toxins (DSTs) remains poorly understood. Here, we aimed to study the effect of DHA on the response of the bivalve, Perna viridis, to DSTs by using LC-MS/MS, RT-qPCR, and histological examination. In this study, we observed that the DHA content decreased significantly with esterification of DSTs in the digestive gland of the mussel P. viridis after 96 h of exposure to Prorocentrum lima, a DST-producing dinoflagellate. The addition of DHA significantly increased the esterification level of DSTs and increased the expression of Nrf2 signaling pathway-related genes and enzyme activities, alleviating the damage of DSTs to digestive glands. These results suggested that DHA may mediate the esterification of DSTs and activation of the Nrf2 signaling pathway in P. viridis to protect mussels from the toxic effects of DSTs. This study may provide new insights regarding the response of bivalves to DSTs and lay the foundation for uncovering the role of DHA in environmental adaptation of bivalves.

Near-hysteresis-free soft tactile electronic skins for wearables and reliable machine learning.

Electronic skins are essential for real-time health monitoring and tactile perception in robots. Although the use of soft elastomers and microstructures have improved the sensitivity and pressure-sensing range of tactile sensors, the intrinsic viscoelasticity of soft polymeric materials remains a long-standing challenge resulting in cyclic hysteresis. This causes sensor data variations between contact events that negatively impact the accuracy and reliability. Here, we introduce the Tactile Resistive Annularly Cracked E-Skin (TRACE) sensor to address the inherent trade-off between sensitivity and hysteresis in tactile sensors when using soft materials. We discovered that piezoresistive sensors made using an array of three-dimensional (3D) metallic annular cracks on polymeric microstructures possess high sensitivities (> 107 Ω â‹… kPa-1), low hysteresis (2.99 ± 1.37%) over a wide pressure range (0-20 kPa), and fast response (400 Hz). We demonstrate that TRACE sensors can accurately detect and measure the pulse wave velocity (PWV) when skin mounted. Moreover, we show that these tactile sensors when arrayed enabled fast reliable one-touch surface texture classification with neuromorphic encoding and deep learning algorithms.

Targeting hexokinase 1 alleviates NLRP3-mediated inflammation in apical periodontitis: A laboratory investigation.

AIM: The aim of the study was to explore whether hexokinase 1 (HK1) is involved in the inhibition of inflammation mediated by nucleotide-binding oligomerization domain-like receptor protein 3 (NLRP3) signalling pathway in the development of apical periodontitis (AP). METHODOLOGY: Human AP tissues and normal control tissues were collected in the clinic. First, the levels of glucose, pyruvate, lactate and hexokinase activity were examined in human AP tissues. ECAR and OCR were further measured to detect the level of glycolysis in vitro model of inflammation, which established with lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated RAW264.7 cell line. Secondly, the expression of HK1, NLRP3, caspase-1 and interleukin (IL)-1ß were measured by Western blot, immunohistochemistry or RT-qPCR. Finally, lentiviral short hairpin RNA (shRNA) silencing technique or the inhibitor 2-deoxy-d-glucose (2-DG) were used to further detect the relationship between HK1-mediated glycolysis and NLRP3-mediated inflammation in the development of AP in vitro. RESULTS: Initially, the level of glycolysis was significantly increased in human AP tissues. Subsequently, the expression of HK1, NLRP3, caspase-1 and IL-1ß were upregulated significantly in human AP tissues. Furthermore, in the model of AP in vitro, a high level of glycolysis and the high expression of HK1, NLRP3, caspase-1 and IL-1ß was observed. Finally, the expression of NLRP3, caspase-1 and IL-1ß mediated by LPS stimulation was significantly reduced via HK1 knockdown or 2-DG treatment in vitro. CONCLUSIONS: Our data support that HK1-mediated glycolysis plays a crucial role in the development of AP via upregulating the NLRP3 signalling pathway. Moreover, targeting HK1 may contribute to prevent the progression of AP, which has a potential clinical translation.

Exposure to okadaic acid could disrupt the colonic microenvironment in rats.

Okadaic acid (OA) is one of the most prevalent marine phycotoxin with complex toxicity, which can lead to toxic symptoms such as diarrhea, vomiting, nausea, abdominal pain, and gastrointestinal discomfort. Studies have shown that the main affected tissue of OA is digestive tract. However, its toxic mechanism is not yet fully understood. In this study, we investigated the changes that occurred in the epithelial microenvironment following OA exposure, including the epithelial barrier and gut bacteria. We found that impaired epithelial cell junctions, mucus layer destruction, cytoskeletal remodeling, and increased bacterial invasion occurred in colon of rats after OA exposure. At the same time, the gut bacteria decreased in the abundance of beneficial bacteria and increased in the abundance of pathogenic bacteria, and there was a significant negative correlation between the abundance of pathogenic bacteria represented by Escherichia/Shigella and animal body weight. Metagenomic analysis inferred that Escherichia coli and Shigella spp. in Escherichia/Shigella may be involved in the process of cytoskeletal remodeling and mucosal layer damage caused by OA. Although more evidence is needed, our results suggest that opportunistic pathogens may be involved in the complex toxicity of OA during OA-induced epithelial barrier damage.

Preparation of Neohesperidin-Taro Starch Complex as a Novel Approach to Modulate the Physicochemical Properties, Structure and In Vitro Digestibility.

Neohesperidin (NH), a natural flavonoid, exerts multiple actions, such as antioxidant, antiviral, antiallergic, vasoprotective, anticarcinogenic and anti-inflammatory effects, as well as inhibition of tumor progression. In this study, the NH-taro starch complex is prepared, and the effects of NH complexation on the physicochemical properties, structure and in vitro digestibility of taro starch (TS) are investigated. Results showed that NH complexation significantly affected starch gelatinization temperatures and reduced its enthalpy value (ΔH). The addition of NH increased the viscosity and thickening of taro starch, facilitating shearing and thinning. NH binds to TS via hydrogen bonds and promotes the formation of certain crystalline regions in taro starch. SEM images revealed that the surface of NH-TS complexes became looser with the increasing addition of NH. The digestibility results demonstrated that the increase in NH (from 0.1% to 1.1%, weight based on starch) could raise RS (resistant starch) from 21.66% to 27.75% and reduce RDS (rapidly digestible starch) from 33.51% to 26.76% in taro starch. Our work provided a theoretical reference for the NH-taro starch complex's modification of physicochemical properties and in vitro digestibility with potential in food and non-food applications.

Calmodulin binds and modulates K+-dependent Na+/Ca2+-exchanger isoform 4, NCKX4.

The family of K+-dependent Na+/Ca2+-exchangers, NCKX, are important mediators of cellular Ca2+ efflux, particularly in neurons associated with sensory transduction. The NCKX family comprises five proteins, NCKX1-5, each being the product of a different SLC24 gene. NCKX4 (SLC24A4) has been found to have a critical role in termination and adaptation of visual and olfactory signals, melanocortin-dependent satiety signaling, and the maturation of dental enamel. To explore mechanisms that might influence the temporal control of NCKX4 activity, a yeast two-hybrid system was used to search for protein interaction partners. We identified calmodulin as a partner for NCKX4 and confirmed the interaction using glutathione-S-transferase fusion pull-down. Calmodulin binding to NCKX4 was demonstrated in extracts from mouse brain and in transfected HEK293 cells. Calmodulin bound in a Ca2+-dependent manner to a motif present in the central cytosolic loop of NCKX4 and was abolished by the double-mutant I328D/F334D. When cotransfected in HEK293 cells, calmodulin bound to NCKX4 under basal conditions and induced a ∼2.5-fold increase in NCKX4 abundance, but did not influence either cellular location or basal activity. When purinergic stimulation of NCKX4 was examined in these cells, coexpression of wild-type calmodulin, but not a Ca2+ binding-deficient calmodulin mutant, suppressed NCKX4 activation in a time-dependent manner. We propose that Ca2+ binding to calmodulin prepositioned on NCKX4 induces a slow conformational rearrangement that interferes with purinergic stimulation of the exchanger, possibly by obscuring T331, a previously identified potential protein kinase C site.

Sustainable-Macromolecule-Assisted Preparation of Cross-linked, Ultralight, Flexible Graphene Aerogel Sensors toward Low-Frequency Strain/Pressure to High-Frequency Vibration Sensing.

Ultralight and highly flexible aerogel sensors, composed of reduced graphene oxide cross-linked by sustainable-macromolecule-derived carbon, are prepared via facile freeze-drying and thermal annealing. The synergistic combination of cross-linked graphene nanosheets and micrometer-sized honeycomb pores gives rise to the exceptional properties of the aerogels, including superior compressibility and resilience, good mechanical strength and durability, satisfactory fire-resistance, and outstanding electromechanical sensing performances. The corresponding aerogel sensors, operated at an ultralow voltage of 0.2 V, can efficiently respond to a wide range of strains (0.1-80%) and pressures (13-2750 Pa) even at temperatures beyond 300 °C. Moreover, the ultrahigh-pressure sensitivity of 10 kPa-1 and excellent sensing stability and durability are accomplished. Strikingly, the aerogel sensors can also sense the vibration signals with ultrahigh frequencies of up to 4000 Hz for >1 000 000 cycles, significantly outperforming those of other sensors. These enable successful demonstration of the exceptional performance of the cross-linked graphene-based biomimetic aerogels for sensitive monitoring of mechanical signals, e.g., acting as wearable devices for monitoring human motions, and for nondestructive monitoring of cracks on engineering structures, showing the great potential of the aerogel sensors as next-generation electronics.

Combined Probe Strategy to Increase the Enzymatic Digestion Rate and Accelerate the Renal Radioactivity Clearance of Peptide Radiotracers.

High and sustained renal radioactivity accumulation is a major challenge in peptide-based radionuclide imaging and therapy. However, neutral endopeptidase (NEP)-based enzymatic hydrolysis to release and excrete the radioactive fragments has been proven to be an effective and promising way to reduce renal accumulation. Despite the improvement, the effect is still far from being satisfactory. To further reduce kidney uptake, we studied the relationship between the enzymatic reaction rate and the substrate concentration and came up with a combined probe strategy. Model compounds Boc-MVK-Dde and Boc-MFK-Dde were used for an in vitro enzymatic digestion study. NOTA-Exendin 4 and NOTA-MVK-Exendin 4 were labeled with 64Cu for in vivo dose-dependent micro-positron emission tomography (PET) studies. Groups 1 and 2 were injected with 0.2 and 0.8 nmol of 64Cu-NOTA-Exendin 4, respectively. Groups 3-6 were injected with 0.2, 0.8, 1.0, and 1.4 nmol of 64Cu-NOTA-MVK-Exendin 4, respectively. Groups 7 and 8 were co-injected with 0.2 nmol of 64Cu-NOTA-MVK-Exendin 4 and NOTA-MVK-PEG5K (1.3 and 2.6 nmol). The radioactivity uptakes were determined and compared within and among the groups. The in vitro cleavage study for both Boc-MVK-Dde and Boc-MFK-Dde indicated that within a certain concentration range, the enzyme digestion rate increased with increasing substrate concentration. The microPET images showed that the renal clearance could be accelerated significantly by increasing the injection dose of 64Cu-NOTA-MVK-Exendin 4, with the kidney uptakes being 60.98, 43.01, and 16.10 % ID/g at 1 h for groups 3, 4 and 5, respectively. Unfortunately, the tumor uptakes were also significantly inhibited as the injected dose of the tracer increased. However, with the co-injection of NOTA-MVK-PEG5K, the renal accumulation was significantly decreased without hampering the tumor uptake. As a result, the tumor-to-kidney ratios were significantly improved, which were 1.93, 3.47, 1.74, and 3.38 times that of group 3 at 1, 4, 24, and 48 h, respectively. The enzymatic reaction rate of NEP is dependent on the concentration of the substrates both in vitro and in vivo. The combined probe strategy developed in this study can dramatically reduce the renal accumulation of a peptide radioligand without affecting the tumor uptake, which shows great potential in peptide-based radiotheranostics.