NS2B-D55E and NS2B-E65D Variations Are Responsible for Differences in NS2B-NS3 Protease Activities Between Japanese Encephalitis Virus Genotype I and III in Fluorogenic Peptide Model.

Japanese encephalitis virus (JEV) NS2B-NS3 is a protein complex composed of NS3 proteases and an NS2B co-factor. The N-terminal protease domain (180 residues) of NS3 (NS3(pro)) interacts directly with a central 40-amino acid hydrophilic domain of NS2B (NS2B(H)) to form an active serine protease. In this study, the recombinant NS2B(H)-NS3(pro) proteases were prepared in and used to compare the enzymatic activity between genotype I (GI) and III (GIII) NS2B-NS3 proteases.

The novel β-hairpin antimicrobial peptide D-G(RF)3 demonstrates exceptional antibacterial efficacy.

The clinical application of most natural antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) is hindered by their lack of a synergistic combination of high antibacterial efficacy, low toxicity, and stability, necessitating frequent complex modifications that incur significant labor and economic costs. Therefore, it is imperative to optimize the antibacterial properties of AMPs using some simplified approach. In this study, we designed a library of β-hairpin AMPs with identical β-turn sequences (-D-Pro-Gly-) and varying repetition units (IR, FR, and WK).

Lewis Acid Sites Assisted PtCu/CeO-C Enabling High-Performance for Oxygen Reduction.

Improvement in the durable and active low-Pt nanocatalysts for oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) is the essential target for clean energy. Herein, an efficient CeO supported PtCu alloy catalyst (PtCu/CeO-C) for ORR in acid media is developed. The CeO support can effectively anchor the PtCu particles and inhibit their migration during the long-life cycling, which is beneficial to the catalytic performance.

Signal pathways involved in contrast-induced acute kidney injury.

Contrast-induced acute kidney injury (CI-AKI) has emerged as a global public health concern, ranking as the third most prevalent cause of hospital-acquired acute kidney injury, which is related to adverse outcomes. However, its precise pathogenesis remains elusive. Consequently, researchers are dedicated to uncovering CI-AKI's pathophysiology and signaling pathways, including inflammation, oxidative stress, apoptosis, and ferroptosis, to improve prevention and treatment.

Refining Metal-Free Carbon Nanoreactors through Electronic and Geometric Comodification for Boosted HO Electrosynthesis toward Efficient Water Decontamination.

Hydrogen peroxide (HO) electrosynthesis using metal-free carbon materials via the 2e oxygen reduction pathway has sparked considerable research interest. However, the scalable preparation of carbon electrocatalysts to achieve satisfactory HO yield in acidic media remains a grand challenge. Here, we present the design of a carbon nanoreactor series that integrates precise O/N codoping alongside well-regulated geometric structures targeting high-efficiency electrosynthesis of HO.

Azocarboxamide-enabled enantioselective regiodivergent unsymmetrical 1,2-diaminations.

Enantioenriched unsymmetrical vicinal diamines are important basic structural motifs. While catalytic asymmetric intermolecular 1,2-diamination of carbon-carbon double bonds represents the most straightforward approach for preparing enantioenriched vicinal-diamine-containing heterocycles, these reactions are often limited to the installation of undifferentiated amino functionalities through metal catalysis and/or the use of stoichiometric amounts of oxidants. Here, we report organocatalytic enantioselective unsymmetrical 1,2-diaminations based on the rational design of a bifunctional 1,2-diamination reagent, namely, azocarboxamides (ACAs).

Synthesis, Performance Evaluation, and Adsorption-Dispersion Mechanism of Sulfonic Acid-Terminated Long Side Chain Polycarboxylate Superplasticizers.

Polycarboxylate superplasticizers (PCEs) achieve dispersion mainly via steric hindrance from poly(ether) side chains. However, long side chains may cause structural collapse. This study mitigates this issue by introducing sulfonic acid terminations to the long side chains, synthesizing sulfonic-terminated polycarboxylates (PCEPS).

Japanese encephalitis virus-induced DNA methylation contributes to blood-brain barrier permeability by modulating tight junction protein expression.

Japanese encephalitis virus (JEV) is a neurotropic and neuroinvasive flavivirus causing viral encephalitis, which seriously threatens the development of animal husbandry and human health. DNA methylation is a major epigenetic modification involved in viral pathogenesis, yet how DNA methylation affects JEV infection remains unknown. Here, we show genome-wide DNA methylation profiles in the brains of JEV-infected mice compared to mock-infected mice.

Impact of HHIP gene polymorphisms on phenotypes, serum IL-17 and IL-18 in COPD patients of the Chinese Han population.

Background: Genetic factors, including the Hedgehog Interacting Protein (HHIP) gene, play a crucial role in Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) susceptibility. This study examines the association between HHIP gene polymorphisms and COPD susceptibility, phenotypes, and serum IL-17 and IL-18 levels in a Han Chinese population.

Methods: A case-control study was conducted with 300 COPD patients and 300 healthy controls in Chinese Han population.

F-Fluoro-2-Deoxyglucose Positron Emission Tomography/Computed Tomography Measures of Spatial Heterogeneity for Predicting Platinum Resistance of High-Grade Serous Ovarian Cancer.

Background: The purpose of this study is to construct models for predicting platinum resistance in high-grade serous ovarian cancer (HGSOC) derived from quantitative spatial heterogeneity indicators obtained from F-FDG PET/CT images.

Methods: A retrospective study was conducted on patients diagnosed with HGSOC. Quantitative indicators of spatial heterogeneity were generated using conventional features and Haralick texture features from both CT and PET images.

The effect of hand and body position on chest compression quality and rescuer fatigue in prone cardiopulmonary resuscitation.

Aim: This study aimed to compare the quality of compressions in supine cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and prone CPR by performing chest compressions on a manikin. Evaluating the effect of prone CPR using different hand and body position on the quality of manual chest compressions and fatigue of participants.

Methods: After completing 2 min of chest compression in the supine position (Supine Group), 25 participants randomly performed three sets of 2-minutes chest compressions on a prone position manikin.

Picotesla-sensitivity microcavity optomechanical magnetometry.

Cavity optomechanical systems have enabled precision sensing of magnetic fields, by leveraging the optical resonance-enhanced readout and mechanical resonance-enhanced response. Previous studies have successfully achieved mass-produced and reproducible microcavity optomechanical magnetometry (MCOM) by incorporating Terfenol-D thin films into high-quality (Q) factor whispering gallery mode (WGM) microcavities. However, the sensitivity was limited to 585 pT Hz, over 20 times inferior to those using Terfenol-D particles.

Rational Design and Fine Fabrication of Passive Daytime Radiative Cooling Textiles Integrate Antibacterial, UV-Shielding, and Self-Cleaning Characteristics.

Passive daytime radiative cooling (PDRC) textiles hold substantial potential for localized outdoor cooling of the human body without additional energy consumption, but their limited multifunctional integration severely hinders their practical application. Herein, aluminum-doped zinc oxide (AZO) nanoparticles were purposefully introduced into poly(vinylidene fluoride) (PVDF) nanofibers via a facile electrospinning process, forming a large-scale and flexible PDRC textile with the desired antibacterial, UV-shielding, and self-cleaning capabilities. These prepared PDRC textiles present a weighted sunlight reflection rate of 92.

SNAI1: a key modulator of survival in lung squamous cell carcinoma and its association with metastasis.

Background: Snail family zinc finger 1 (SNAI1) has been implicated in cancer progression and prognosis across various malignancies. This study aims to elucidate the prognostic significance of SNAI1 expression in Lung Squamous Cell Carcinoma (LUSC) using data from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) database.

Methods: SNAI1 expression levels in LUSC patients were stratified using X-tile software to establish optimal cut-off values.

alcohol dehydrogenase YahK is a protein that binds both iron and zinc.

Background: Previous studies have highlighted the catalytic activity of alcohol dehydrogenase YahK in the presence of coenzyme nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD) and metal zinc. Notably, competitive interaction between iron and zinc ligands has been shown to influence the catalytic efficiency of several key proteases. This study aims to unravel the intricate mechanisms underlying YahK's catalytic action, with a particular focus on the pivotal roles played by metal ions zinc and iron.

As a novel prognostic model for breast cancer, the identification and validation of telomere-related long noncoding RNA signatures.

Background: Telomeres are a critical component of chromosome integrity and are essential to the development of cancer and cellular senescence. The regulation of breast cancer by telomere-associated lncRNAs is not fully known, though. The goals of this study were to describe predictive telomere-related LncRNAs (TRL) in breast cancer and look into any possible biological roles for these RNAs.

Rational Tuning the Proton Conductivity and Stability of Hydrogen-Bonded Organic Frameworks.

In the development of proton conductors, it is crucial to regulate proton conduction pathways and enhance structural stability. In this study, we designed and constructed three hydrogen-bonded organic frameworks (HOFs), namely, NKM-HOF-9, NKM-HOF-10, and NKM-HOF-11, with different dimensional hydrogen-bonding pathways using 4,4'-sulfonyldibenzoic acid and various bases. They are cost-effective and easy to synthesize, allowing for their large-scale production at room temperature.

High Therapeutic Index α-Helical AMPs and Their Therapeutic Potential on Bacterial Lung and Skin Wound Infections.

Antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) possess strong antibacterial activity and low drug resistance, making them ideal candidates for bactericidal drugs for addressing the issue of traditional antibiotic resistance. In this study, a template (G(XXKK)I, G = Gly; X = Leu, Ile, Phe, or Trp; = 2, 3, or 4; K = Lys; I = Ile.) was employed for the devised of a variety of novel α-helical AMPs with a high therapeutic index.

Novel pleuromutilin derivatives conjugated with phenyl-sulfide and boron-containing moieties as potent antibacterial agents against antibiotic-resistant bacteria.

In response to the escalating threat of microbial resistance, a series of novel pleuromutilin derivatives, conjugated with phenyl-sulfide and boron-containing moieties, were designed and synthesized. Most derivatives, especially 14b and 16b, demonstrated significant efficacy against Gram-positive bacteria, including multidrug-resistant strains, as well as pleuromutilin-resistant strains. Compound 16b showed high stability in the liver microsomes of rats and humans, along with acceptable tolerance in vitro and in vivo.

Postoperative body weight change and its influencing factors in patients with gastric cancer.

Background: The high incidence and mortality of gastric cancer (GC) pose a significant threat to human life and health, and it has become an important public health challenge in China. Body weight loss is a common complication after surgical treatment in patients with GC and is associated with poor prognosis and GC recurrence. However, current attention to postoperative weight change in GC patients remains insufficient, and the descriptions of postoperative weight change and its influencing factors are also different.

Enhancing radiation-resistance and peroxidase-like activity of single-atom copper nanozyme via local coordination manipulation.

The inactivation of natural enzymes by radiation poses a great challenge to their applications for radiotherapy. Single-atom nanozymes (SAzymes) with high structural stability under such extreme conditions become a promising candidate for replacing natural enzymes to shrink tumors. Here, we report a CuN-centered SAzyme (CuN-SAzyme) that exhibits higher peroxidase-like catalytic activity than a CuN-centered counterpart, by locally regulating the coordination environment of single copper sites.

Enantiodivergent Cyclization of Racemic Cyclohexadienones via Parallel Kinetic Asymmetric Transformation.

Strategies that fully convert available racemic substrates into valuable enantioenriched products are urgently needed in organic synthesis. Reported herein is the first parallel kinetic asymmetric transformation of racemic cyclohexadienones. Racemic cyclohexadienones are first diastereoselectively converted into a new pair of racemic transient dienol intermediates, which are then parallel protonated by chiral phosphoric acid to deliver two sets of hydroindole products bearing a quaternary stereocenter with generally excellent enantioselectivity.