Small Extracellular Vesicles Detection by Dielectrophoresis-Based Microfluidic Chip Filled with Transparent Antibody-Conjugated Microbeads for Breast Cancer Diagnosis.

Small extracellular vesicles (sEVs) are ideal biomarkers for early diagnosis of tumors, but their low density and small size make them difficult to enrich and detect in body fluid samples. This study combined dielectrophoresis (DEP) with immunoaffinity methods and proposed a novel, fast, and efficient acDEP-sEV immunochip, in which by filling the chip reaction chamber with antibody-conjugated microbeads, a nonuniform electric field can be constructed, laminar flow can be disrupted, mass transfer efficiency can be improved, and fluorescence signals can be focused, ultimately achieving rapid, sensitive, and adjustable sEVs capture and detection. This method only requires 20-50 μL of plasma sample for liquid biopsy in less than 35 min.

Individual and mixture effects of BTEX occupational exposure with hematologic and hepatic profiles in petrochemical workers and the metabolic mechanism.

Evidence on the association of occupational exposure to benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, and xylene (BTEX) with hematologic and hepatic profiles were equivocal, and few studies have investigated overall effect of BTEX mixtures. Herein, significant higher concentrations (p < 0.05) of hippuric acid, 1,2-dihydroxybenzene, mandelic acid, trans, trans-muconic acid and phenylglyoxylic acid were found in petrochemical workers than the controls, in accordance with higher levels of hematologic and hepatic profiles found in petrochemical workers (p < 0.

Immunofluorescent analysis of exosomes using a microchip filled with transparent antibody-conjugated beads for breast cancer liquid biopsy.

Background: Exosomes represent optimal biomarkers for liquid biopsy. Current exosome-based methods are still limited by isolation methods, long processing times, complex structure, low accuracy, large sample volume consumption, and the influence of chemical reagents on the analysis results.

Result: To overcome these challenges, a novel microfluidic approach that employs continuous, rapid, and efficient processes is proposed for the capture and enriching exosomes using the optical transparent antibody-conjugated microbeads within the chip.

National urinary metabolites of organophosphate flame retardants in urban Chinese residents.

Organophosphate flame retardants (OPFRs) are extensively added to household products for fire safety. However, little is understood about the national scale of human exposure levels and the factors influencing OPFRs in developing countries. In this study, five metabolites of OPFRs (mOPFRs) were determined for the first time in the urine of 1184 general population in 26 provincial capitals of mainland China.

The association between estrogenic activity evolution and the formation of different products during the photochemical transformation of parabens in water.

Photochemical transformation is a critical factor influencing the environmental fate of pharmaceutical and personal care products in aquatic ecosystems. However, the relationship between toxicity evolution and the formation of various transformation products has been seldom explored. This study investigates the behavior and changes in estrogenic activity during the photochemical transformation of a series of typical endocrine-disrupting parabens (PBs), focusing on the effects of increasing alkyl-chain length (MPB, EPB, PPB and BPB).

Urinary metabolic alterations associated with occupational exposure to metals and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons based on non-target metabolomics.

Long-term occupational exposure to metals and organics have been reported to be under great health risks. However, limited data are available on the molecular mechanism between combined exposure to metals and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and harmful health effects. In present work, non-target metabolomics study was conducted based on urine samples from nonferrous metal smelting workers (n = 207), surrounding residents (n = 180), and the control residents (n = 187) by using ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography coupled with quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry (UHPLC-QTOF-MS).

Combined pollution of heavy metals and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in non-ferrous metal smelting wastewater treatment plant: Distribution profiles, removal efficiency, and ecological risks to receiving river.

Combined pollution status of heavy metals (HMs) and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) from non-ferrous metal smelting (NFMS) industry is crucial but has not been explored. Herein, the co-distribution of HMs and PAHs in a NFMS wastewater treatment plant and the impacts on the receiving river were investigated. Cu, As, and Ni were found to be the characteristic HMs, while Acenaphthylene was the characteristic PAHs in the NFMS wastewater.

Chemical Vapor Deposition Growth of 2D Nonlayered CuInSe for Vacancy-Assisted Broadband Photodetection.

The properties and device applications of 2D semiconductors are highly sensitive to intrinsic structural defects due to their ultrathin nature. CuInSe (CIS) materials own excellent optoelectronic properties and ordered copper vacancies, making them widely applicable in photovoltaic and photodetection fields. However, the synthesis of 2D CIS nanoflakes remains challenging due to the nonlayered structure, multielement composition, and the competitive growth of various by-products, which further hinders the exploration of vacancy-related optoelectronic devices.

Insights into the Metabolism, Disposition, and Quantitative Profile of mGlu5 NAM AE90015 with Metabolite Identification and a Novel Integration Method.

AE90015 is a highly specific and effective negative allosteric modulator (NAM) for the human mGlu5 receptor, showing significant promise for treating Parkinson's disease. An in vivo rat oral dose study was conducted on AE90015, which involved the collection of urine and bile samples over a 24 h period. At the study's endpoint, plasma, liver, brain, and renal tissues were also collected.

Concentration, pathogenic composition, and exposure risks of bioaerosol in large indoor public environments: A comparative study of urban and suburban areas.

Biological contamination in larger indoor environments can lead to the outbreak of various infectious diseases. This study aimed to compare the pollution profiles and associated health risks of airborne microorganisms in different indoor settings between urban and suburban areas by culturing, sequencing, and toxicological evaluation. The results indicated that the average level of culturable bacteria was higher in urban areas (955 ± 259 CFU/m) compared to suburban areas (850 ± 85 CFU/m), with the highest concentrations found in the market (2170 ± 798 CFU/m) and gymnasium (2010 ± 300 CFU/m).

Biofilm formation mechanisms of mixed antibiotic-resistant bacteria in water: Bacterial interactions and horizontal transfer of antibiotic-resistant plasmids.

Over 95 % of bacteria on water supply pipeline surfaces exist in biofilms, which are hotspots for antibiotic resistance gene (ARG) transmission. This study established mixed biofilm culture systems on a metal iron substrate using Escherichia coli: antibiotic-sensitive bacteria (ASB) and antibiotic-resistant bacteria (ARB). The growth rate and extracellular polymeric substances (EPS) content of mixed biofilm surpassed single-species biofilms due to synergistic interactions among different bacteria.

[Retracted] Long non‑coding RNA TMCC1‑AS1 predicts poor prognosis and accelerates epithelial‑mesenchymal transition in liver cancer.

[This retracts the article DOI: 10.3892/ol.2021.

Promoting ClO Generation from the HOCl + HOCl Reaction on Aqueous/Frozen Air-Water Interfaces.

Hypochlorous acid (HOCl) is considered a temporary reservoir of dichlorine monoxide (ClO). Previous studies have suggested that ClO is difficult to generate from the reaction of HOCl + HOCl in the gas phase. Here, we demonstrate that ClO can be generated from the HOCl + HOCl reaction at aqueous/frozen air-water interfaces, which is confirmed by ab initio molecular dynamic calculations.

1-Nitropyrene Metabolism and Health Risk: Identification of Key Enzymes, Pathways, and Metabolites Using a Multimethod Approach.

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) derivatives have a widespread presence in the environment and even the human body, but their metabolism and potential risk remain unclear. In this study, we used molecular dynamics simulations and density functional theory to calculate the metabolic mechanism of 1-nitropyrene (1-NP), an important PAH derivative. The results showed that cytochrome P450 enzymes (CYPs) can metabolize 1-NP, with CYP 2A13 and CYP 2E1 being important enzyme isoforms, because they had lower binding affinities (-16.

Selective enrichment of high-risk antibiotic resistance genes and priority pathogens in freshwater plastisphere: Unique role of biodegradable microplastics.

Microplastics (MPs) has been concerned as emerging vectors for spreading antibiotic resistance and pathogenicity in aquatic environments, but the role of biodegradable MPs remains largely unknown. Herein, field in-situ incubation method combined with metagenomic sequencing were employed to reveal the dispersal characteristics of microbial community, antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs), mobile genetic elements (MGEs), and virulence factors (VFs) enriched by MPs biofilms. Results showed that planktonic microbes were more prone to enrich on biodegradable MPs (i.

Chitosan based fluorescent probe with AIE property for detection of Fe and bacteria.

Fluorescent probe with aggregation-induced emission (AIE) property has been widely used because of the advantages of high sensitivity, good selectivity and non-destructive testing. The development of fluorescent probe with good biocompatibility, photostability and biodegradability is of great significance in biomedicine and environmental detection. Herein, a novel type of fluorophore CS-TPE for detection of Fe and bacteria was prepared by the Schiff base reaction of chitosan (CS) and 4-(1,2,2-triphenylethenyl) benzaldehyde (TPE-CHO).

Continuous measurement of the dynamics of residential indoor and outdoor NO and the contributions to human exposure.

In residential environment, NO is an important air pollutant. Yet, the dynamics of indoor NO and source contributions to human exposure are not well understood. Here, we conducted a continuous NO measurement in and out of eight households in Guangzhou, China.

Impact of coking plant to heavy metal characteristics in groundwater of surrounding areas: Spatial distribution, source apportionment and risk assessments.

Coking industry is a potential source of heavy metals (HMs) pollution. However, its impacts to the groundwater of surrounding residential areas have not been well understood. This study investigated the pollution characteristics and health risks of HMs in groundwater nearby a typical coking plant.

Toxicity evolution of triclosan during environmental transformation and human metabolism: Misgivings in the post-pandemic era.

In the context of pandemic viruses and pathogenic bacteria, triclosan (TCS), as a typical antibacterial agent, is widely used around the world. However, the health risks from TCS increase with exposure, and it is widespread in environmental and human samples. Notably, environmental transformation and human metabolism could induce potentially undesirable risks to humans, rather than simple decontamination or detoxification.

The effects of different lung parts, age, and batches on the lung microbiota of healthy rats.

Background: Rat models are valuable tools to study the lung microbiota in diseases. Yet the impacts of different lung parts, young and mature adult stages, and the different batches of the same conditions on the healthy rat lung microbiome have not been investigated.

Methods: The rat lung microbiome was analyzed to clarify the lung part-dependent and age-dependent differences and to evaluate the effects of several 'batch environmental factors' on normal rats, after eliminating potential contamination.