[Role of macrophage polarization in hypertension and traditional Chinese medicine intervention: a review].

Hypertension is known to be a chronic inflammatory state and a key risk factor for heart failure, coronary heart disease, and atherosclerosis. Macrophages in the circulatory system are the main cell group that constitutes the immune system and participates in the inflammatory response. Depending on the local microenvironment, macrophages can be polarized into pro-inflammatory(M1) and anti-inflammatory(M2) phenotypes. When blood pressure is elevated, M1 macrophages can release pro-inflammatory cytokines and chemokines to generate an immune response. However, an excessive immune response can lead to tissue damage, and M2 macrophages release anti-inflammatory cytokines to promote the repair of wounds and tissue damage. It is clear that the dynamic balance between M1 and M2 macrophages resembles the traditional Chinese medicine(TCM) theory of Yin and Yang. That is, when Yin and Yang are imbalanced, the human body will exhibit pathological states, e.g., altered blood pressure rhythms. Studies have confirmed that TCM can produce positive therapeutic effects on hypertension by regulating macrophage polarization. Therefore, this study reviews the studies about the TCM regulation of macrophage polarization and summarized the mechanisms of TCM intervention in hypertension, with the aim of providing evidence for clinical treatment and ideas for scientific research design.

Transcriptomic-based analysis to identify candidate genes for blue color rose breeding.

KEY MESSAGE: Analysis of the flower color formation mechanism of 'Rhapsody in Blue' by BF and WF transcriptomes reveals that RhF3'H and RhGT74F2 play a key role in flower color formation. Rosa hybrida has colorful flowers and a high ornamental value. Although rose flowers have a wide range of colors, no blue roses exist in nature, and the reason for this is unclear. In this study, the blue-purple petals (BF) of the rose variety 'Rhapsody in Blue' and the white petals (WF) of its natural mutant were subjected to transcriptome analysis to find genes related to the formation of the blue-purple color. The results showed that the anthocyanin content was significantly higher in BF than in WF. A total of 1077 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were detected by RNA-Seq analysis, of which 555 were up-regulated and 522 were down-regulated in the WF vs. BF petals. Gene Ontology and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes analyses of the DEGs revealed that a single gene up-regulated in BF was related to multiple metabolic pathways including metabolic process, cellular process, protein-containing complex, etc. Additionally, the transcript levels of most of the structural genes related to anthocyanin synthesis were significantly higher in BF than in WF. Selected genes were analyzed by qRT-PCR and the results were highly consistent with the RNA-Seq results. The functions of RhF3'H and RhGT74F2 were verified by transient overexpression analyses, and the results confirmed that both affect the accumulation of anthocyanins in 'Rhapsody in Blue'. We have obtained comprehensive transcriptome data for the rose variety 'Rhapsody in Blue'. Our results provide new insights into the mechanisms underlying rose color formation and even blue rose formation.

[Potential targets for traditional Chinese medicine treatment of chronic inflammation in obesity: macrophage polarization].

Obesity has been identified as a chronic low-grade systemic inflammation and a key risk factor for diseases such as diabetes, hypertension, and malignancies, and has become an urgent global health burden. Adipose tissue macrophages play a significant role in adipose immune homeostasis and inflammatory responses. Under different conditions, they can be polarized into pro-inflammatory M1 phenotype or anti-inflammatory M2 phenotype. In obese individuals, there is abnormal polarization of macrophages in adipose tissue, leading to an imbalance in the M1/M2 phenotype dynamic equilibrium and the development of pathological inflammation. Therefore, restoring the balance of M1/M2 macrophage polarization is an important potential target for the treatment of chronic inflammation in obesity. Studies have shown that traditional Chinese medicine(TCM) can positively modulate macrophage polarization and produce beneficial effects on obesity. Based on existing evidence, this paper systematically reviewed the potential mechanisms of TCM in improving chronic inflammation in obesity from the perspective of macrophage polarization, in order to provide evidence for the clinical diagnosis and treatment of chronic inflammation in obesity with TCM and offer new insights for related research design and the development of new TCM.

Subwavelength dichroic demultiplexer based on double Fabry-Perot cavities.

Plasmonic demultiplexers hold promise for the realization of the subwavelength and high-splitting ratio dichroic splitter and have a wide range of applications from optical communication, and manipulation to ultrafast data treatment. However, this vision has not been realized for a long time due to lacking the suitable splitting structure design, which limits its further development of integrated photonic circuits. Here, we demonstrate a plasmonic demultiplexer with subwavelength feature size (0.54 µm) and broadband spectral (620-870 nm) range, and high-splitting ratio (17 dB in experiments and 20 dB in calculations). It consists of two adjacent Fabry-Perot cavities (covered by PMMA polymer) and coupling gratings, which are integrated with the Au waveguide. The relatively simple double cavities design of our device has a simple theoretical analysis and fabrication process. Our work has relevance for various optical applications, such as multiple wavelength photodetectors and optical multichannel interconnects.

Melatonin exerts neuroprotective effects by inhibiting neuronal pyroptosis and autophagy in STZ-induced diabetic mice.

Diabetes mellitus (DM) patients are at a higher risk of developing brain injury characterized by neuronal death. Melatonin, a hormone produced by the pineal gland, exerts neuroprotective effects against brain damage. However, the effect of melatonin on diabetes-induced brain injury has not been elucidated. This study was to evaluate the role of melatonin against neuronal death in DM and to elucidate the underlying mechanisms. Herein, we found that melatonin administration significantly alleviated the neuronal death in both streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetic mice and high glucose (HG)-treated neuronal cells. Melatonin inhibited neuronal pyroptosis and excessive autophagy, as evidenced by decreased levels of NLRP3, cleaved caspase-1, GSDMD-N, IL-1ß, LC3, Beclin1, and ATG12 both in vivo and in vitro. MicroRNA-214-3p (miR-214-3p) was decreased in DM mice and HG-treated cells, and such a downregulation was corrected by melatonin, which was accompanied by repression of caspase-1 and ATG12. Furthermore, downregulation of miR-214-3p abrogated the anti-pyroptotic and anti-autophagic actions of melatonin in vitro. Our results indicate that melatonin exhibits a neuroprotective effect by inhibiting neuronal pyroptosis and excessive autophagy through modulating the miR-214-3p/caspase-1 and miR-214-3p/ATG12 axes, respectively, and it might be a potential agent for the treatment of brain damage in the setting of DM.

pH and Thermo Dual-Responsive Fluorescent Hydrogel Actuator.

As one of the most important smart materials, fluorescent hydrogel actuators can produce both color and shape changes under external stimuli. In the present work, an effective approach to develop a novel fluorescent hydrogel actuator with pH and thermo dual responsiveness is proposed. Through incorporating pH-responsive perylene tetracarboxylic acid (PTCA), which is a typical fluorescent moiety with aggregation-caused quenching (ACQ) effect, into an anisotropic poly(N-isopropylacrylamide)-polyacrylamide (PNIPAm-PAAm) structure, the obtained hydrogel exhibits stable thermoresponsive shape deformation and switchable fluorescence performance upon a pH trigger. Therefore, fluorescence-quenching-based and actuation-based information can be revealed when exposed to UV light and immersed into warm water, respectively. Moreover, the thermoresponsive actuating behavior can be applied to further hide the fluorescence-quenching-based images. The present work may provide new insights into the design and preparation of novel stimuli-responsive hydrogel actuators.

Translocation of PKG1α acts on TRPV4-C1 heteromeric channels to inhibit endothelial Ca(2+) entry.

AIM: TRPV4-C1 heteromeric channels contribute to store-operated Ca(2+) entry in vascular endothelial cells. However, the negative regulation of these channels is not fully understood. This study was conducted to investigate the inhibitory effect of PKG1α on TRPV4-C1 heteromeric channels. METHODS: Immuno-fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET) was used to explore the spatial proximity of PKG1α and TRPC1. Phosphorylation of endogenous TRPC1 was tested by phosphorylation assay. [Ca(2+)]i transients and cation current in MAECs were assessed with Fura-2 fluorescence and whole-cell recording, respectively. In addition, rat mesenteric arteries segments were prepared, and vascular relaxation was examined with wire myography. RESULTS: In immuno-FRET experiments, after exposure of these cells to 8-Br-cGMP, more PKG1α was observed in the plasma membrane, and PKG1α and TRPC1 were observed to be in closer proximity. TAT-TRPC1(S172) and TAT-TRPC1(T313) peptide fragments, which contain the PKG targeted residues Ser172 and Thr313, respectively, were introduced into isolated endothelial cells to abrogate the translocation of PKG1α. Furthermore, a phosphorylation assay demonstrated that PKG directly phosphorylates TRPC1 at Ser172 and Thr313 in endothelial cells. In addition, PKG activator 8-Br-cGMP markedly reduced the magnitude of the 4αPDD-induced and 11,12-EET-induced [Ca(2+)]i transients, the cation current and vascular relaxation. CONCLUSION: This study uncovers a novel mechanism by which PKG negatively regulates endothelial heteromeric TRPV4-C1 channels through increasing the spatial proximity of TRPV4-C1 to PKG1α via translocation and through phosphorylating Ser172 and Thr313 of TRPC1.

Comparison of Undernutrition Prevalence of Children under 5 Years in China between 2002 and 2013.

OBJECTIVE: To describe the undernutrition status of children under 5-year in China, and study the trend between 2002 and 2013). METHODS: The study was based on two national surveys. Undernutrition was determined against WHO's 2006 growth standards. The prevalence in 2013 and 2002 was weighted by China sixth National Population Census (2010). The relationship between undernutrition and gender/age groups/different areas use weighted logistic regression. RESULTS: The results indicated the overall prevalence of stunting, underweight, and wasting of Chinese children under 5-year was 8.1%, 2.4%, and 1.9% in 2013, respectively. The prevalence of stunting was higher for children aged 12-47 month, while underweight was higher for children aged 48-59 month. The prevalence of undernutrition was higher in rural areas than in urban areas, especially in poor rural areas. There was a decline of stunting, underweight, and wasting between 2002 and 2013 among the children, with greater reduction in rural areas than in urban areas. CONCLUSION: The prevalence of undernutrition of children under 5-year remains high in rural areas especially in poor rural areas in China. It is urgent to take action to control undernutrition in the vulnerable areas and subgroups.

[Three-dimensional finite element analysis of influence of occlusal surface height on stress distribution around posterior implant-supported single crown].

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effect of the occlusal surface height of a mandibular posterior implant-supported single crown on stress in bone tissues. METHODS: Three-dimensional finite element models of the implant-supported single crown replacing the missing right lower second premolar, mesial and distal natural teeth, periodontal membrane, alveolar bone, loaded rigid body and analog food of almond were established. Using the Federation Dentaire International (FDI) system, the first premolar, the second premolar and the first molar were represented with 44, 45, 46. Three occlusal surface heights of the crown were studied: (1) normal height; (2) 15 µm reduction in height; (3) 30 µm reduction in height. The models were loaded by independent loading with maximal occlusal force(44 by 280 N, 45 by 360 N, and 46 by 480 N) and average occlusal force(44 by 140 N, 45 by 180 N, and 46 by 240 N)on the single crown; combined loading (maximal occlusal force transformed into uniform load of 3.7 MPa on top of rigid body, in contact with points on the occlusal surface), and analog almond-like food loading (average occlusal force transformed into uniform load of 1.67 MPa in simulated food chewing, in contact with points on the occlusal surface). RESULTS: For maximal biting force under independent loading, Von Mises stress peak values in bone tissues around 44, 45, and 46 were 82.57 MPa, 45.26 MPa and 27.79 MPa; For average biting force, peak values were 41.28 MPa, 22.63 MPa and 13.89 MPa. Under combined loading, compared with the normal occlusal surface height group, Von Mises stress peak values decreased 4.6 MPa, by 0.84%; increased 7.52 MPa, by 20.04%, and decreased 1.8 MPa, by 5.84%, for 45, 46, and 44 in the 30 µm infra-occlusion group, respectively. Under food loading, Von Mises stress peak values decreased 0.34 MPa, by 1.62%; increased 1.11 MPa, by 2.66%; and increased 0.06 MPa, by 0.54%, and for 45, 46, and 44 in the 30 µm infra-occlusion group, respectively. CONCLUSION: Within the limitation of this study, within 30 µm reduction of the occlusal surface height of implant-supported single crown, no significant difference of the peak values was observed.

Application of UPLC-MS/MS Method for Analyzing B-vitamins in Human Milk.

OBJECTIVE: To determine ten B-vitamins in human milk by ultra-high performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (UPLC-MS/MS). METHODS: The pretreated human milk samples were adequately separated and quantified within 11 min by UPLC-MS/MS with an Acquity UPLC HSS T3 column (2.1×100 mm, 1.8 µm). The mobile phase was a gradient of 2.5 mmol/L ammonium formate aqueous solution and acetonitrile at a flow rate of 0.35 mL/min. Stable isotope internal standards were used in the analysis, to correct for the method variability, including matrix and ionization effects. The homogenized human milk samples were deproteinzed using methanol, unknown contaminants were extracted with diethyl ether and hydrophobic phase was discarded. The analytes were monitored via ESI+ionization and detected in multiple reaction monitoring (MRM) with three acquisition functions. RESULTS: Calibration curves ranged from 0.5-160 ng/mL (thiamin, riboflavin, biotin, nicotinic acid, pyridoxine, pyridoxamine, pyridoxal), and 2.5-800 ng/mL (pantothenic acid, FAD and nicotinamide) (R2=0.990-0.999). The relative recovery ranged from 80.1% to 120.2%; accuracy was determined to be 98.3% to 108.0%. Intra-day and inter-day variation were 3.4%-19.9% and 5.9%-18.1%, respectively. The limit of quantification (LOQ) for all vitamins was between 0.25 and 3 µg/L. CONCLUSION: This method was successfully applied for simultaneous analysis of ten B-vitamins in human milk.

[Vegetation index estimation by chlorophyll content of grassland based on spectral analysis].

Comparing the methods of existing remote sensing research on the estimation of chlorophyll content, the present paper confirms that the vegetation index is one of the most practical and popular research methods. In recent years, the increasingly serious problem of grassland degradation. This paper, firstly, analyzes the measured reflectance spectral curve and its first derivative curve in the grasslands of Songpan, Sichuan and Gongger, Inner Mongolia, conducts correlation analysis between these two spectral curves and chlorophyll content, and finds out the regulation between REP (red edge position) and grassland chlorophyll content, that is, the higher the chlorophyll content is, the higher the REIP (red-edge inflection point) value would be. Then, this paper constructs GCI (grassland chlorophyll index) and selects the most suitable band for retrieval. Finally, this paper calculates the GCI by the use of satellite hyperspectral image, conducts the verification and accuracy analysis of the calculation results compared with chlorophyll content data collected from field of twice experiments. The result shows that for grassland chlorophyll content, GCI has stronger sensitivity than other indices of chlorophyll, and has higher estimation accuracy. GCI is the first proposed to estimate the grassland chlorophyll content, and has wide application potential for the remote sensing retrieval of grassland chlorophyll content. In addition, the grassland chlorophyll content estimation method based on remote sensing retrieval in this paper provides new research ideas for other vegetation biochemical parameters' estimation, vegetation growth status' evaluation and grassland ecological environment change's monitoring.

Iodine Nutrition, Thyroid-stimulating Hormone, and Related Factors of Postpartum Women from three Different Areas in China: A Cross-sectional Survey.

Objective: Studies on the relationship between iodine, vitamin A (VA), and vitamin D (VD) and thyroid function are limited. This study aimed to analyze iodine and thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) status and their possible relationships with VA, VD, and other factors in postpartum women. Methods: A total of 1,311 mothers (896 lactating and 415 non-lactating) from Hebei, Zhejiang, and Guangxi provinces were included in this study. The urinary iodine concentration (UIC), TSH, VA, and VD were measured. Results: The median UIC of total and lactating participants were 142.00 µg/L and 139.95 µg/L, respectively. The median TSH, VA, and VD levels in all the participants were 1.89 mIU/L, 0.44 µg/mL, and 24.04 ng/mL, respectively. No differences in the UIC were found between lactating and non-lactating mothers. UIC and TSH levels were significantly different among the three provinces. The rural UIC was higher than the urban UIC. Obese mothers had a higher UIC and a higher prevalence of excessive TSH. Higher UICs and TSHs levels were observed in both the VD deficiency and insufficiency groups than in the VD-sufficient group. After adjustment, no linear correlation was observed between UIC and VA/VD. No interaction was found between vitamins A/D and UIC on TSH levels. Conclusion: The mothers in the present study had no iodine deficiency. Region, area type, BMI, and VD may be related to the iodine status or TSH levels.

Diagnostic accuracy of magnetically guided capsule endoscopy with a detachable string for detecting oesophagogastric varices in adults with cirrhosis: prospective multicentre study.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the diagnostic accuracy and safety of using magnetically guided capsule endoscopy with a detachable string (ds-MCE) for detecting and grading oesophagogastric varices in adults with cirrhosis. DESIGN: Prospective multicentre diagnostic accuracy study. SETTING: 14 medical centres in China. PARTICIPANTS: 607 adults (>18 years) with cirrhosis recruited between 7 January 2021 and 25 August 2022. Participants underwent ds-MCE (index test), followed by oesophagogastroduodenoscopy (OGD, reference test) within 48 hours. The participants were divided into development and validation cohorts in a ratio of 2:1. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: The primary outcomes were the sensitivity and specificity of ds-MCE in detecting oesophagogastric varices compared with OGD. Secondary outcomes included the sensitivity and specificity of ds-MCE for detecting high risk oesophageal varices and the diagnostic accuracy of ds-MCE for detecting high risk oesophagogastric varices, oesophageal varices, and gastric varices. RESULTS: ds-MCE and OGD examinations were completed in 582 (95.9%) of the 607 participants. Using OGD as the reference standard, ds-MCE had a sensitivity of 97.5% (95% confidence interval 95.5% to 98.7%) and specificity of 97.8% (94.4% to 99.1%) for detecting oesophagogastric varices (both P<0.001 compared with a prespecified 85% threshold). When using the optimal 18% threshold for luminal circumference of the oesophagus derived from the development cohort (n=393), the sensitivity and specificity of ds-MCE for detecting high risk oesophageal varices in the validation cohort (n=189) were 95.8% (89.7% to 98.4%) and 94.7% (88.2% to 97.7%), respectively. The diagnostic accuracy of ds-MCE for detecting high risk oesophagogastric varices, oesophageal varices, and gastric varices was 96.3% (92.6% to 98.2%), 96.9% (95.2% to 98.0%), and 96.7% (95.0% to 97.9%), respectively. Two serious adverse events occurred with OGD but none with ds-MCE. CONCLUSION: The findings of this study suggest that ds-MCE is a highly accurate and safe diagnostic tool for detecting and grading oesophagogastric varices and is a promising alternative to OGD for screening and surveillance of oesophagogastric varices in patients with cirrhosis. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrials.gov NCT03748563.

[Association between 1019C/T polymorphism of Connexin 37 gene and restenosis after coronary stenting].

OBJECTIVE: To assess the association between 1019C/T polymorphism of Connexin 37 (CX37) gene and susceptibility to restenosis after percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) in ethnic Han Chinese patients from Wuxi. METHODS: Five hundred and thirty-two patients with coronary artery disease (CAD) who had undergone PCI underwent coronary angiography (CAG) in 3 months, and were divided into in stent restenosis (ISR) group (n=67) and no instent restenosis (NISR) group (n=465). Five hundred and one healthy individuals have served as the control group. All cases were genotyped with DNA sequencing. RESULTS: Compared with healthy controls, the frequency of CX37 C allele was higher in CAD patients (57.05% vs. 41.32%, P< 0.01). The frequency of C carries (CC+TC) was 79.32% in CAD patients, against 65.47% in healthy controls (P<0.01). The risk for CAD was significantly increased in carriers of C allele (CC+TC) compared with TT homozygotes (OR=2.03, 95% CI: 1.53-2.80). Stratified analysis has indicated a significant difference in the frequency of C allele carriers between both male and female CAD patients and healthy controls (79.63% vs. 72.45%, P=0.02; 78.00% vs. 51.50%, P< 0.01). For both genders, carriers of C allele had a higher risk for CAD compared with TT homozygotes (males: OR=1.48, 95% CI: 1.06-2.09; females: OR=3.34, 95% CI: 1.90-5.86). Compared with NISR group, the frequency of CX37 C allele and C carries (CC+TC) were significantly higher in ISR group (72.39% vs. 54.84%, P< 0.01; 89.55% vs. 77.85%, P=0.027). Compared with TT homozygotes, the risk for restenosis has significantly increased in carriers of C allele (CC+TC) (OR=2.44, 95% CI: 1.08-5.50). Stratified analysis also suggested that the frequency of C carriers was significantly higher in male ISR group compared with male NISR group (92. 86% vs. 77.66%, P=0.008). The risk for restenosis has increased by nearly four fold in carriers of C allele (CC+TC) compared with TT homozygotes (95% CI: 1.32-10.64). However, for female patients, no significant difference was detected in the ISR risk between carriers of CC+TC type and TT homozygotes (P=0.655). CONCLUSION: The C allele of 1019C/T polymorphism in the CX37 gene is associated with susceptibility to CAD as well as restenosis after coronary stenting in male patients from Wuxi.

[Effect of circRASA2 targeting miR-543/TRAF6 axis on LPS-induced periodontal ligament cell proliferation and osteogenic differentiation].

PURPOSE: To investigate the possible role of circRASA2 in periodontitis and its potential regulatory mechanism. METHODS: Periodontitis cell model was established by lipopolysaccharide(LPS)-induced periodontal ligament cells(PDLCs). Cell proliferation activity was detected by CCK-8 assay, cell migration ability was detected by Transwell chamber assay, and the expression of osteogenic differentiation-related proteins in cells was detected by Western blot. The target miRNA of circRASA2 and its downstream target genes were predicted using the databases circinteractome and starBase, respectively, and the targeting relationship between the target genes was verified by dual-luciferase reporter gene experiment. GraphPad Prism 8.0 software package was used to analyze the data. RESULTS: circRASA2 was highly expressed in LPS-treated PDLCs cells. LPS-induced PDLCs cell proliferation activity, migration ability and osteogenic differentiation ability decreased, while knockdown of circRASA2 promoted proliferation, migration and osteogenic differentiation ability of PDLCs under LPS treatment. circRASA2 targeted and negatively regulated the expression of miR-543, and overexpression of miR-543 promoted proliferation, migration and osteogenic differentiation of PDLCs under LPS treatment. TRAF6 was a downstream target gene of miR-543, knockdown of circRASA2 down-regulated the expression of TRAF6 through the sponge action of miR-543. Overexpression of TRAF6 reversed the promotion of circRASA2 knockdown on proliferation, migration and osteogenic differentiation of PDLCs. CONCLUSIONS: circRASA2 accelerated the pathological process of periodontitis in vitro through miR-543/TRAF6 axis, and might improve periodontitis by targeting down the expression of circRASA2.

Achieving Free-Standing PEDOT:PSS Solar Generators with Efficient All-in-One Photothermoelectric Conversion.

Poly(3,4-ethylene dioxythiophene):poly(styrene sulfonate) (PEDOT:PSS) has attracted widespread attention in solar generation due to its unique all-in-one photothermoelectric effect. However, the poor photothermal conversion, low conductivity, and unsatisfied mechanical properties limit its practical application. Herein, ionic liquids (IL) were first used to improve the conductivity of PEDOT:PSS through ion exchange, then surface-charged nanoparticles SiO2-NH2 (SiO2+) were added to promote the dispersion of IL and as a thermal insulator to decrease thermal conductivity. It resulted in a largely enhanced electrical conductivity and decreased thermal conductivity of PEDOT:PSS simultaneously. The obtained PEDOT:PSS/Ionic Liquid/SiO2+ (P_IL_SiO2+) film generated an excellent photothermal conversion of 46.15 °C, which improved ∼134 and ∼82.3% compared with PEDOT:PSS and PEDOT:PSS/Ionic Liquid (P_IL) composites, respectively. In addition, the thermoelectric performance increased by ∼270% more than P_IL films. As a result, the photothermoelectric effect for the self-supported three-arm devices produced an enormous output current and power of ∼50 µA and 13.57 nW, respectively, which showed significant improvement compared with other PEDOT:PSS films reported in the literature. Furthermore, the devices demonstrated outstanding stability with an internal resistance variation of less than 5% after 2000 cycles of bending. Our research offered significant insights into the flexible, high-performance, all-in-one photothermoelectric integration.

Designing Poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) Polystyrene Sulfonate/Graphene Oxide/Graphene Nanosheet/Polyethylene Glycol Phase-Change Composites with Superior Thermal Management for Photo-thermoelectric Generators.

Recently, growing interest in self-powered devices has led to the invention of new energy conversion devices. Photo-thermoelectric generators (PTEGs) have rapidly developed for their ability to harvest both light and thermal energy, but these devices are overly dependent on the continuity of energy input and cannot sustain output in an emergency situation. In the current study, poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) polystyrene sulfonate (PEDOT:PSS)/graphene oxide (GO)/graphene nanosheets (GNPs)/polyethylene glycol (PEG) phase-change composites (PCCs) were prepared with freeze-drying and vacuum-filling processes to acquire materials suitable for imparting energy storage characteristics to PTEGs. The melting and crystallization enthalpies of the PCCs fabricated based on the PEDOT:PSS/GO/GNP aerogels can reach 211.5 and 207.6 J g-1, respectively, which increase by nearly 5% compared with pure PEG, and the growth rate of thermal conductivity of the composites is as high as 262.7% (1.12 W m-1 K-1). Meanwhile, the excellent photothermal properties and high-temperature shape stability that pure PEG does not possess can also be imparted to PCCs by the aerogels. The PTEG assembled with PCCs and thermoelectric components can achieve a continuous output of over 1500 s after 300 s of light irradiation. After integrating the output of the device during the lamp on/off period, it is found that the total output of the device during the light-off period (8.4 V and 9.6 mW) can far exceed its total output during the light-on period (2.7 V and 4.4 mW). This work provides guidance for modulating the performance of PCCs and giving PTEGs the ability to operate under emergency or extremely harsh conditions and the prepared PTEGs are highly promising for practical use.

The role of tracheal wall injury in the development of benign airway stenosis in rabbits.

To investigate the role of tracheal wall injury in the development of benign airway stenosis in rabbits. Prospective study. We injured the tracheal walls of 28 New Zealand white rabbits using four different methods. Experimental group: Group A (n = 7, mild injury of tracheal mucosa by ordinary brush under bronchoscopy); Group B (n = 7, severe injury of tracheal mucosa by nylon brush under tracheotomy); Group C (n = 7, tracheal cartilage was injured by vascular clamp after tracheotomy); Group D (n = 7, the tracheal cartilage was injured with vascular forceps and the tracheal mucosa was injured with a nylon brush after tracheotomy). Bronchoscopy was performed on each experimental rabbit at 1, 2, 3 and 4 weeks after operation. High-resolution computed tomography (HRCT) and endobronchial optical coherence tomography (EB-OCT) were performed at 4 weeks, and the rabbits were sacrificed after the examination. Their gross and histological findings were comparatively determined whether the experimental rabbit stenosis was established. No airway stenosis was observed in group A. In group B, 28.57% of experimental rabbits developed tracheal stenosis (granulation tissue proliferation was observed in rabbits No. 2 and No. 6 at 1, 2 and 3 weeks after operation, and the tracheal scar contracture was observed in No.6 rabbit at 4 weeks after operation). Fourteen rabbits in group C and group D had tracheal stenosis caused by granulation tissue proliferation at 1, 2 and 3 weeks after operation. At the fourth week after operation, 71.43% of experimental rabbits had tracheal stenosis due to granulation tissue hyperplasia, 7.14% of experimental rabbits had tracheal stenosis due to scar contracture and granulation hyperplasia, and 21.43% of experimental rabbits had tracheal stenosis due to scar contracture. EB-OCT scan showed that the cartilage layer with low signal reflection band was discontinuous. The injury of cartilage is the key factor of benign airway stenosis. Acute injury of airway mucosa alone is unlikely to cause airway stenosis, but combined with cartilage injury may aggravate airway stenosis. EB-OCT can clearly identify the airway layers of rabbits, which is helpful to evaluate the damage of tracheal cartilage and mucosa. The diagnostic potential of this technique makes EB-OCT a promising approach for the study and monitoring of airway diseases.

Uncovering the prominent role of satellite cells in paravertebral muscle development and aging by single-nucleus RNA sequencing.

To uncover the role of satellite cells (SCs) in paravertebral muscle development and aging, we constructed a single-nucleus transcriptomic atlas of mouse paravertebral muscle across seven timepoints spanning the embryo (day 16.5) to old (month 24) stages. Eight cell types, including SCs, fast muscle cells, and slow muscle cells, were identified. An energy metabolism-related gene set, TCA CYCLE IN SENESCENCE, was enriched in SCs. Forty-two skeletal muscle disease-related genes were highly expressed in SCs and exhibited similar expression patterns. Among them, Pdha1 was the core gene in the TCA CYCLE IN SENESCENCE; Pgam2, Sod1, and Suclg1 are transcription factors closely associated with skeletal muscle energy metabolism. Transcription factor enrichment analysis of the 42 genes revealed that Myod1 and Mef2a were also highly expressed in SCs, which regulated Pdha1 expression and were associated with skeletal muscle development. These findings hint that energy metabolism may be pivotal in SCs development and aging. Three ligand-receptor pairs of extracellular matrix (ECM)-receptor interactions, Lamc1-Dag1, Lama2-Dag1, and Hspg2-Dag1, may play a vital role in SCs interactions with slow/fast muscle cells and SCs self-renewal. Finally, we built the first database of a skeletal muscle single-cell transcriptome, the Musculoskeletal Cell Atlas (http://www.mskca.tech), which lists 630,040 skeletal muscle cells and provides interactive visualization, a useful resource for revealing skeletal muscle cellular heterogeneity during development and aging. Our study could provide new targets and ideas for developing drugs to inhibit skeletal muscle aging and treat skeletal muscle diseases.