Contamination and ecological risk of heavy metals in sediments of urban rivers in a typical economic development zone, southern China.

Urban rivers are one of the main water sources for local residents. However, the rapid industrialization and urbanization caused serious heavy metals pollution in urban rivers, which posed harmful impact on human health and ecosystem. In this study, 134 sediment samples were collected from urban rivers in a typical Economic and Technological Development Zone (ETDZ) to evaluate the contamination status, ecological risk, biotoxicity, and potential source of 8 heavy metals including arsenic (As), cadmium (Cd), chromium (Cr), copper (Cu), mercury (Hg), nickel (Ni), plumbum (Pb), and zinc (Zn).

In situ arsenic immobilization by natural iron (oxyhydr)oxide precipitates in As-contaminated groundwater irrigation canals.

Arsenic-contaminated groundwater is widely used in agriculture. To meet the increasing demand for safe water in agriculture, an efficient and cost-effective method for As removal from groundwater is urgently needed. We hypothesized that Fe (oxyhydr)oxide (FeOOH) minerals precipitated in situ from indigenous Fe in groundwater may immobilize As, providing a solution for safely using As-contaminated groundwater in irrigation.

[Transaminases: high-throughput screening a ketone-fluorescent probe and applications].

Transaminases are a class of enzymes that catalyze the transfer of amino between amino acids and keto acids, playing an important role in the biosynthesis of organic amines and the corresponding derivatives. However, natural enzymes often have low catalytic efficiency against non-natural substrates, which limits their widespread applications. Enzyme engineering serves as an effective approach to improve the catalytic properties and thereby expand the application scope of transaminases.

Virtual consultation in kidney care: a mixed-methods study on a model for safe and effective integration into routine clinical care.

Rationale And Objective: Globally, the COVID-19 pandemic necessitated a rapid introduction of virtual care delivery via telephone or videoconference. The rapid advancements in e-health technology facilitated options for virtual care, including asynchronous data transfer in virtual clinic models and patient-facing smartphone applications for communications and self-care. However, the clinical benefits of virtual consultation have not been consistently demonstrated in all facets of kidney care, and the adoption of this innovation alters workflows and health professionals' perceptions of care delivery.

Chondroitin sulfate-based dissolvable microneedles loaded with NIR-II photothermal and natural anticancer agents for synergistic melanoma therapy.

Melanoma is characterized by its aggressiveness, high metastatic potential, and numerous mutations, which limit the effectiveness of current treatments. To address this issue, we developed a dissolvable microneedle (MN) system composed of poly(2-ethyl-2-oxazoline) (PEtOz) and chondroitin sulfate (CS). This MN system was loaded with liposomes containing both a NIR-II photothermal small molecule (IRLy) and the natural anticancer agent Gambogic acid (GA), forming Lip(IRLy + GA) MNs.

Novel anionic functionalized magnetic β-cyclodextrin composites with excellent adsorption capacity for moxifloxacin and wide pH adaptive adsorption capability for copper ion.

Antibiotics and heavy metals pose severe risks to human health and ecological environment. Therefore, developing a multifunctional adsorbent to remove these contaminants from wastewater is an urgent need. Herein, novel anionic sulfonic acid groups functionalized magnetic β-cyclodextrin (β-CD) composites (FCD@AA) were synthesized by coating poly(2-acrylamido-2-methyl-1-propane sulfonic acid (AMPS)) on the surface of magnetic β-CD particles (FCD).

Qige Decoction attenuated non-alcoholic fatty liver disease through regulating SIRT6-PPARα-mediated fatty acid oxidation.

Background: Sirtuin 6 (SIRT6), a potential therapeutic target for non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), has been shown to regulate fatty acid oxidation (FAO) by interacting with peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor α (PPARα). However, the impact of SIRT6-PPARα pathway on NAFLD phenotype has not yet been reported. Qige decoction (QG), a traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) formula, is widely applied to treat disorders of glycolipid metabolism.

Inhibition of P2X7 receptor mitigates atrial fibrillation susceptibility in isoproterenol-induced rats.

Background: Atrial fibrillation (AF) is a common cardiac arrhythmia that is characterized by atrial electrical remodeling. The P2X7 receptor (P2X7R), an ATP-gated ion channel, has been implicated in cardiovascular pathologies; however, its role in atrial electrical remodeling remains unclear. This study investigated whether inhibition of P2X7R could mitigate isoproterenol (ISO)-induced atrial electrical remodeling in rats and explored the underlying mechanisms.

Detection of aflatoxin B level and revelation of its dynamic accumulation process using visible/near-infrared hyperspectral and microscopic imaging.

Understanding and controlling the dynamic process of aflatoxin B (AFB) accumulation by Aspergillus flavus (A. flavus) remains challenging. In this study, the A.

Questionnaire and analysis of the standardized use of home self-monitoring portable blood glucose meters.

To evaluate the accuracy of home self-monitoring portable blood glucose meters, we analyzed the current problems of patients using portable blood glucose meters and put forward reasonable suggestions. A self-designed questionnaire was used to survey 142 patients and 132 healthcare professionals. The questionnaire consisted of 16 items with an overall score ranging from 1 to 13 (with a higher score indicating better experience).

Observation of Robust Compressed CuO Octahedra and Exotic Spin Structure in CaCuFeO.

CuO octahedra usually show elongated distortion, leading to active orbitals and planar exchange interactions, while compressed CuO octahedra with active orbitals and unidirectional exchange interactions are exceptionally rare. Here, we design and synthesize a new frustrated antiferromagnet CaCuFeO through a high-pressure and high-temperature approach, in which robust compressed CuO octahedra are realized, separating the FeO sheets that comprise zigzag spin ladders. Magnetic susceptibility and specific heat measurements exhibit a long-range antiferromagnetic order below the Néel temperature of 165 K, which is further confirmed by neutron diffraction.

The efficacy of acupuncture in relieving postoperative pain in patients with low simple anal fistula: Protocol of a prospective, randomised, controlled trial.

Background: Anal fistula surgery often leads to postoperative pain, which can hinder recovery and negatively impact patients' quality of life. This prospective, randomised, controlled trial (RCT) aims to investigate the efficacy of acupuncture in alleviating postoperative pain and reducing the usage of analgesic medications following anal fistula surgery.

Methods: This single-centre, patient-blinded, assessor-blinded, placebo-controlled randomised controlled trial (RCT) will be conducted at a tertiary referral hospital.

Influences of roughness and filling degree on the shear strength and damage evolution characteristics of cement-filled joints.

The shear resistance of filling joints is an important factor affecting the stability of rock joints. Pressure-shear tests of cement-filled joints were carried out. Combined with the acoustic emission (AE) technique, the effects of normal stress, roughness and filling degree on the shear strength, damage morphology and damage evolution of cement-filled joints were investigated.

Metalgel Fiber with Excellent Electrical and Mechanical Properties.

With the rapid advancement of soft electronics, particularly the rise of fiber electronics and smart textiles, there is an urgent need to develop high-performance fiber materials with both excellent electrical and mechanical properties. However, existing fiber materials including metal fibers, carbon-based fibers, intrinsically conductive polymer fibers, and composite fibers struggle to simultaneously meet the requirements. Here, we introduce a metalgel fiber with a unique structure.

A novel model of central precocious puberty disease: Paternal MKRN3 gene-modified rabbit.

Background: Makorin ring finger protein 3 gene (MKRN3) gene mutation is the most common genetic cause of central precocious puberty (CPP) in children. Due to the lack of ideal MKRN3-modified animal model (MKRN3-modified mice enter puberty only 4-5 days earlier than normal mice), the related research is limited.

Methods: Therefore, the MKRN3-modified rabbit was developed using CRISPR (clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats) gene editing technology.

Revealing the Surface Reconstruction on the High OER Catalytic Activity of Ni3S2.

Sluggish oxygen evolution reaction (OER) is a crucial part of water splitting and solar fuel generation, which limits their utilization. Ni3S2 is a promising OER catalyst, in which surface reconstruction is an important step to improve performance. In this study, DFT calculations were employed to investigate the effect of surface reconstruction on (001), (110), and (101) surfaces of Ni3S2 in alkaline OER.

Design of Carbon Materials with Selective Ion Separation in Capacitive Deionisation and Their Applications.

Capacitive deionization (CDI) is a novel, cost-effective and environmentally friendly desalination technology that has garnered significant attention in recent years. Carbon materials, owing to their excellent properties, have become the preferred electrode materials for CDI. Given the significant differences between different ions, ion-selective performance has emerged as a critical aspect of CDI applications.

Photooxidation Cross-Linked, Glutaraldehyde Cross-Linked, or Enzyme and Hydrostatic Pressure Processed Decellularized Biomaterials for Cardiovascular Repair Do Not Affect Host Response in a Rat Right Ventricular Outflow Flow Tract Reconstruction (RVOT) Model.

Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) were responsible for approximately 19 million deaths in 2020, marking an increase of 18.7% since 2010. Biological decellularized patches are common therapeutic solutions for CVD such as cardiac and valve defects.

IRAP Drives Ribosomal Degradation to Refuel Energy for Platelet Activation during Septic Thrombosis.

Platelets play crucial roles in multiple pathophysiological processes after energy-dependent activation. It is puzzling how such a small cellular debris has abundant energy supply. In this study, it is shown that insulin-regulated aminopeptidase (IRAP), a type II transmembrane protein, is a key regulator for platelet activation by promoting energy regeneration during septic thrombosis.

High-Performance Overall Water Splitting Dominated by Direct Ligand-to-Cluster Photoexcitation in Metal-Organic Frameworks.

Expanding the spectral response of photocatalysts to facilitate overall water splitting (OWS) represents an effective approach for improving solar spectrum utilization efficiency. However, the majority of single-phase photocatalysts designed for OWS primarily respond to the ultraviolet region, which accounts for a small proportion of sunlight. Herein, we present a versatile strategy to achieve broad visible-light-responsive OWS photocatalysis dominated by direct ligand-to-cluster charge transfer (LCCT) within metal-organic frameworks (MOFs).

Acid sphingomyelinase downregulation alleviates diabetic myocardial fibrosis in mice.

Increased activity of acid sphingomyelinase (ASMase) has been linked to diabetes and organ fibrosis. Nevertheless, the precise influence of ASMase on diabetic myocardial fibrosis and the corresponding molecular mechanisms remain elusive. In this study, we aim to elucidate whether ASMase contributes to diabetic myocardial fibrosis through the phosphorylation mediated by MAPK, thereby culminating in the development of diabetic cardiomyopathy (DCM).

Upregulation of CD19 by low-dose chidamide promotes CAR T cells functionality in B-cell non-Hodgkin lymphoma.

B-cell non-Hodgkin lymphoma (B-NHL) is a highly heterogeneous group of lymphopoietic malignancies that account for 85% to 90% of all non-Hodgkin lymphomas. In recent years, CD19 Chimeric antigen receptor T (CAR T) cell immunotherapy has significantly improved the cure rate of B-NHL patients, but there are still some patients who cannot achieve remission after treatment, or relapse after remission. Therefore, it is of great importance to overcome the drug resistance of CD19 CAR T cells after B-NHL treatment and reduce the recurrence rate of CD19 CAR T cells after B-NHL treatment.

Revealing the role of natural killer cells in ankylosing spondylitis: identifying diagnostic biomarkers and therapeutic targets.

Background: Ankylosing spondylitis (AS) is a chronic autoimmune disease that primarily affects the axial joints. Immune cells play a key role in the pathogenesis of AS. This study integrated bioinformatics methods with experimental validation to explore the role of natural killer (NK) cells in AS.