Nano zero-valent iron with a self-forming Co-catalytic surface for enhanced Fenton-like reactions.

Fenton reactions, commonly employed in environmental remediation, decompose H₂O₂ using Fe⁺ to generate free radicals. However, the efficiency is often limited by the slow conversion of Fe³⁺ to Fe⁺. In this study, we synthesize zero-valent iron nanoparticles (nZVI) via a green, plant extract-mediated reduction method, resulting in nZVI coated with a reductive polyphenolic layer that enhances Fe³⁺/Fe⁺ cycling.

A Dry Patch with Solid-to-Gel Transformation for All-in-One Skin Wound Care.

Hydrogel-based dressing materials offer significant potential in expediting skin wound healing. Nevertheless, they face several challenges: poor adhesion to wound tissues, difficulties in preservation under ambient conditions, and limited multifunctionality to support all wound healing stages. In this work, a dry patch is designed to address these persistent issues by featuring an solid-to-gel transformation and Janus wet tissue adhesiveness.

Alginate-based injectable probiotic/squid ink composite hydrogels for accelerated wound healing of MRSA infected abscess through photothermally synergized probiotic therapy.

Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) infections pose great challenges to skin wound care due to the severe drug resistance developed in the clinic. There is an urgent need to exploit next-generation bactericidal therapeutics that are both antibiotic-free and multifunctional for enhanced wound healing. Herein, we designed a Ca-crosslinked alginate hydrogel (EcNSIN@Alg) containing two naturally derived bioactive components, probiotics Escherichia coli Nissle1917 (EcN) and Squid ink nanoparticles (SIN), to treat MRSA-infected wounds.

Insights into the role of RNA mA modification in the metabolic process and related diseases.

According to the latest consensus, many traditional diseases are considered metabolic diseases, such as cancer, type 2 diabetes, obesity, and cardiovascular disease. Currently, metabolic diseases are increasingly prevalent because of the ever-improving living standards and have become the leading threat to human health. Multiple therapy methods have been applied to treat these diseases, which improves the quality of life of many patients, but the overall effect is still unsatisfactory.

Transforming growth factor-β and bone morphogenetic protein signaling pathways in pathological cardiac hypertrophy.

Pathological cardiac hypertrophy (referred to as cardiac hypertrophy) is a maladaptive response of the heart to a variety of pathological stimuli, and cardiac hypertrophy is an independent risk factor for heart failure and sudden death. Currently, the treatments for cardiac hypertrophy are limited to improving symptoms and have little effect. Elucidation of the developmental process of cardiac hypertrophy at the molecular level and the identification of new targets for the treatment of cardiac hypertrophy are crucial.

8-Bromo-cAMP attenuates human airway epithelial barrier disruption caused by titanium dioxide fine and nanoparticles.

Titanium dioxide fine particles (TiO-FPs) and nanoparticles (TiO-NPs) are the most widely used whitening pigments worldwide. Inhalation of TiO-FPs and TiO-NPs can be harmful as it triggers toxicity in the airway epithelial cells. The airway epithelium serves as the respiratory system's first line of defense in which airway epithelial cells are significant targets of inhaled pathogens and environmental particles.

High plasma nesfatin-1 level in Chinese adolescents with depression.

Depression is a common psychiatric disorder with high prevalence and mortality rates as well as high risk of serious harm in adolescents that have significant negative impact on families and society. The feeding inhibitor Nesfatin-1 contributes to the regulation of stress and emotion. The purpose of this project was to compare the differences in the levels of Nesfatin-1 between adolescents with depression and healthy adolescents, and verify the association between the levels of Nesfatin-1 and severity of depression in adolescents.

Electronic cigarette exposure disrupts airway epithelial barrier function and exacerbates viral infection.

The use of electronic cigarettes (e-cigs), especially among teenagers, has reached alarming and epidemic levels, posing a significant threat to public health. However, the short- and long-term effects of vaping on the airway epithelial barrier are unclear. Airway epithelial cells are the forefront protectors from viruses and pathogens.

Iron-overload-induced ferroptosis in mouse cerebral toxoplasmosis promotes brain injury and could be inhibited by Deferiprone.

Iron is a trace metal element that is essential for the survival of cells and parasites. The role of iron in cerebral toxoplasmosis (CT) is still unclear. Deferiprone (DFP) is the orally active iron chelator that binds iron in a molar ratio of 3:1 (ligand:iron) and promotes urinary iron excretion to remove excess iron from the body.

Deficiency of Cullin 3, a Protein Encoded by a Schizophrenia and Autism Risk Gene, Impairs Behaviors by Enhancing the Excitability of Ventral Tegmental Area (VTA) DA Neurons.

The dopaminergic neuromodulator system is fundamental to brain functions. Abnormal dopamine (DA) pathway is implicated in psychiatric disorders, including schizophrenia (SZ) and autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Mutations in Cullin 3 (CUL3), a core component of the Cullin-RING ubiquitin E3 ligase complex, have been associated with SZ and ASD.

Vitamin D protects against respiratory syncytial virus-induced barrier dysfunction in airway epithelial cells via PKA signaling pathway.

Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is the leading cause of acute lower respiratory tract infection in infants and young children globally and is responsible for hospitalization and mortality in the elderly population. Virus-induced airway epithelial barrier damage is a critical step during RSV infection, and emerging studies suggest that RSV disrupts the tight junctions (TJs) and adherens junctions (AJs) between epithelial cells, increasing the permeability of the airway epithelial barrier. The lack of commercially available vaccines and effective antiviral drugs for RSV emphasizes the need for new management strategies.

The characteristics of HIV-1 subtype B on phylogenetic dynamic and molecular transmission network in Fuyang City, China, 2011 to 2019.

Introduction: HIV-1 subtype B, as once one of the earliest strains introduced into mainland China rapidly spread in commercial plasma donors and heterosexuals in 1990s. Here, we aim to investigate the origin and evolutionary history of HIV-1 subtype B in Fuyang city, China.

Methods: We collected sequences tested from Fuyang in the east of China where higher prevalence of HIV-1 among commercial plasma donors and heterosexuals to construct a phylogenetic tree using the Markov chain Monte Carlo (MCMC) algorithm, infer molecular transmission network using TN93 model and visualize it with Cytoscape software.

Airway Epithelial Cell Junctions as Targets for Pathogens and Antimicrobial Therapy.

Intercellular contacts between epithelial cells are established and maintained by the apical junctional complexes (AJCs). AJCs conserve cell polarity and build epithelial barriers to pathogens, inhaled allergens, and environmental particles in the respiratory tract. AJCs consist of tight junctions (TJs) and adherens junctions (AJs), which play a key role in maintaining the integrity of the airway barrier.

LFA-1/ ICAM-1 promotes NK cell cytotoxicity associated with the pathogenesis of ocular toxoplasmosis in murine model.

Ocular toxoplasmosis (OT) is one of the most common causes of posterior uveitis. However, the pathogenic mechanisms of OT have not been well elucidated. Here, we used C57BL/6 (B6) mice to establish OT by peroral infection with 20 cysts of the TgCtWh6 strain, and severe ocular damage was observed by histopathological analysis in the eyes of infected mice.

Protective effects of ZIP8 on Toxoplasma gondii-induced acute hepatocyte injury in mice.

Toxoplasma gondii (T. gondii), as an intracellular protozoan parasite, has the potential to disturb the homeostasis of trace metal elements in host cells. Zinc (Zn) is one of those essential metals that is required for combating infection.

NCX1 coupled with TRPC1 to promote gastric cancer via Ca/AKT/β-catenin pathway.

Plasma membrane Na/Ca exchanger 1 (NCX1) is a bidirectional ion transporter to operate in Ca entry or exit modes, and TRPC1 is Ca-permeable channel. Both NCX1 and TRPC1 play critical roles in maintaining cytosolic free Ca ([Ca]) homeostasis in mammalian cells. Although either TRPC1 channel or Ca entry mode of NCX1 is implicated in some tumorigenesis, it has not been explored if a coordination of NCX1 and TRPC1 involves in the pathogenesis of H.

Respiratory syncytial virus disrupts the airway epithelial barrier by decreasing cortactin and destabilizing F-actin.

Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) infection is the leading cause of acute lower respiratory tract infection in young children worldwide. Our group recently revealed that RSV infection disrupts the airway epithelial barrier in vitro and in vivo. However, the underlying molecular pathways were still elusive.

Differences in Postnatal Growth of Preterm Infants in Northern China Compared to the INTERGROWTH-21st Preterm Postnatal Growth Standards: A Retrospective Cohort Study.

Background: The INTERGROWTH-21st preterm postnatal growth standards (IPPGS) have increasingly been used to evaluate the growth of preterm infants worldwide. However, the validity of IPPGS's application to specific preterm populations remains controversial. This retrospective cohort study aimed to formulate reference growth charts for a preterm cohort in northern China and compare them to the IPPGS.

A novel spinal neuron connection for heat sensation.

Heat perception enables acute avoidance responses to prevent tissue damage and maintain body thermal homeostasis. Unlike other modalities, how heat signals are processed in the spinal cord remains unclear. By single-cell gene profiling, we identified ErbB4, a transmembrane tyrosine kinase, as a novel marker of heat-sensitive spinal neurons in mice.

A New Birthweight Reference by Gestational Age: A Population Study Based on the Generalized Additive Model for Location, Scale, and Shape Method.

Background: It is important to choose a suitable birthweight reference to assess newborns, especially those that are small for gestational age (SGA). Currently, there is no regional standard reference for the north of China or for Shandong province.

Methods: A total of 130,911 data records of singleton, live neonates born at 24-42 weeks of gestation were collected from 2016 to 2018 in Shandong province.

Effect of lncRNA H19 on nerve degeneration and regeneration after sciatic nerve injury in rats.

Hundreds of millions of people worldwide suffer from peripheral nerve damage resulting from car accidents, falls, industrial accidents, residential accidents, and wars. The purpose of our study was to further investigate the effects of Wallerian degeneration (WD) after rat sciatic nerve injury and to screen for critical long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) in WD. We found H19 to be essential for nerve degeneration and regeneration and to be highly expressed in the sciatic nerves of rats with WD.

Artificial intelligence-assisted system for precision diagnosis of PD-L1 expression in non-small cell lung cancer.

Standardized programmed death-ligand 1 (PD-L1) assessment in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is challenging, owing to inter-observer variability among pathologists and the use of different antibodies. There is a strong demand for the development of an artificial intelligence (AI) system to obtain high-precision scores of PD-L1 expression in clinical diagnostic scenarios. We developed an AI system using whole slide images (WSIs) of the 22c3 assay to automatically assess the tumor proportion score (TPS) of PD-L1 expression based on a deep learning (DL) model of tumor detection.

Baculoviral inhibitor of apoptosis protein repeat-containing protein 3 delays early Wallerian degeneration after sciatic nerve injury.

Wallerian degeneration is a complex biological process that occurs after nerve injury, and involves nerve degeneration and regeneration. Schwann cells play a crucial role in the cellular and molecular events of Wallerian degeneration of the peripheral nervous system. However, Wallerian degeneration regulating nerve injury and repair remains largely unknown, especially the early response.