Association analyses between urinary concentrations of multiple trace elements and gastric precancerous lesions and gastric cancer in Anhui province, eastern China.

Background: Limited epidemiological evidence suggests that exposure to trace elements adversely impacts the development of gastric precancerous lesions (GPL) and gastric cancer (GC). This study aimed to estimate the association of individual urinary exposure to multiple elements with GPL and GC.

Methods: A case-control investigation was conducted in Anhui Province from March 2021 to December 2022.

Synergistic effects of low-dose arsenic and N-methyl-N'-nitro-N-nitrosoguanidine co-exposure by altering gut microbiota and intestinal metabolic profile in rats.

Biological organisms are exposed to low-dose arsenic or N-nitro compounds (NOCs) alone or in combination worldwide, especially in areas with high cancer prevalence through drinking water or food exposure; however, information on their combined exposure effects is limited. Here, we conducted an in-depth study of the effects on the gut microbiota, metabolomics, and signaling pathways using rat models exposed to arsenic or N-methyl-N'-nitro-N-nitrosoguanidine (MNNG), one of the most active carcinogenic NOCs, separately or in combination with metabolomics and high-throughput sequencing. Compared to exposure alone, combined exposure to arsenic and MNNG exacerbated damage to gastric tissue morphology, interfered with intestinal microflora and substance metabolism, and exerted a stronger carcinogenic effect.

Double-Layer MWCNTs@HPPS Photothermal Paper for Water Purification with Strong Acid-Alkali Corrosion Resistance.

Solar-driven interfacial evaporation technology has been identified as a promising method to relieve the global water crisis, and it is particularly important to design an ideal structure of the solar thermal conversion evaporation device. In this paper, hydrophilic polyphenylene sulfide (HPPS) paper with loose structure and appropriate water transmission performance was designed as the based-material, and multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) layer with excellent photothermal conversion performance was constructed to realize the high-efficiency solar-driven evaporation. Under tail swabbing mode, the cold evaporation surface on the back of the evaporator greatly improved the evaporation rate, cut off the heat transfer channel to bulk water, and achieved the maximum evaporation rate of 1.

Epidermal stem cells participate in the repair of scalds via Nanog and Myc regulation.

Epidermal stem cells (EpSCs) with high expression of regulatory factor Nanog can promote wound healing. The aim of the present study was to investigate the effectiveness and mechanism of epidermal stem cells (EpSCs) in healing scalds and the underlying molecular mechanism. Mouse EpSCs were isolated from skin tissues and cultured .

A multi-module soft robotic arm with soft actuator for minimally invasive surgery.

Background: Compared to traditional rigid robotic arms, soft robotic arms are flexible, environmentally adaptable and biocompatible. Recently, most minimally invasive cardiac procedures still rely on traditional rigid surgical tools. However, rigid tools lack sufficient bending angles, which are high-risk in terms of contact with tissues and organs.

Bioorthogonal Lanthanide Molecular Probes for Near-Infrared Fluorescence and Mass Spectrometry Imaging.

We report here the development of clickable and highly near-infrared (NIR) fluorescent lanthanide (Ln) complexes for bioorthogonal labeling of biomolecules. These azide- or alkyne-functionalized Ln complexes are hydrophilic and fluorogenic, exhibiting a strong increase of NIR fluorescence upon conjugation with biomolecules. Metabolic labeling of biomolecules with azide or alkyne, followed by click labeling with the Ln complexes, enables NIR fluorescence (NIRF) imaging of DNA, RNA, proteins, and glycans in cells.

Lanthanide porphyrinoids as molecular theranostics.

In recent years, lanthanide (Ln) porphyrinoids have received increasing attention as theranostics. Broadly speaking, the term 'theranostics' refers to agents designed to allow both disease diagnosis and therapeutic intervention. This Review summarises the history and the 'state-of-the-art' development of Ln porphyrinoids as theranostic agents.

Luminescent Metal Complexes for Bioassays in the Near-Infrared (NIR) Region.

Near-infrared (NIR, 700-1700 nm) luminescent imaging is an emerging bioimaging technology with low photon scattering, minimal autofluorescence, deep tissue penetration, and high spatiotemporal resolution that has shown fascinating promise for NIR imaging-guided theranostics. In recent progress, NIR luminescent metal complexes have attracted substantially increased research attention owing to their intrinsic merits, including small size, anti-photobleaching, long lifetime, and metal-centered NIR emission. In the past decade, scientists have contributed to the advancement of NIR metal complexes involving efforts to improve photophysical properties, biocompatibility, specificity, pharmacokinetics, in vivo visualization, and attempts to exploit new ligand platforms.

Photoinduced Free Radical Promoted Cationic RAFT Polymerization toward "Living" 3D Printing.

Three-dimensional (3D) printing utilizing controlled polymerization systems is emerging as a powerful approach to fabricate "living" objects, which can be further modified with various functionalities. Here, we report photoinduced free radical-promoted cationic reversible addition-fragmentation chain transfer (RAFT) polymerization under broad wavelengths from ultraviolet (UV) to near-infrared (NIR) light. A commercially available iron catalyst, cyclopentadienyl iron dicarbonyl dimer (Fe(Cp)(CO)), was used as the photocatalyst, and several diphenyliodonium salts were examined as oxidants.

Gadolinium(III) Porphyrinoid Phototheranostics.

Molecular phototheranostics as an emerging field of modern precision medicine has recently attracted increasing research attention owing to non-invasiveness, high precision, and controllable nature of light. In this work, we reported promising gadolinium (Gd ) porphyrinoids as phototheranostic agents for magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and photodynamic therapy (PDT). The synthesized Gd-1-4-Glu featured with meso-glycosylation and β-lactonization to endow good biocompatibility and improved photophysical properties.

Recent progress in metal-based molecular probes for optical bioimaging and biosensing.

Biological imaging and biosensing from subcellular/cellular level to whole body have enabled non-invasive visualisation of molecular events during various biological and pathological processes, giving great contributions to the rapid and impressive advances in chemical biology, drug discovery, disease diagnosis and prognosis. Optical imaging features a series of merits, including convenience, high resolution, good sensitivity, low cost and the absence of ionizing radiation. Among different luminescent probes, metal-based molecules offer unique promise in optical bioimaging and biosensing in vitro and in vivo, arising from their small sizes, strong luminescence, large Stokes shifts, long lifetimes, high photostability and tunable toxicity.

Celecoxib reverses the glioblastoma chemo-resistance to temozolomide through mitochondrial metabolism.

Temozolomide (TMZ) is used for the treatment of high-grade gliomas. Acquired chemoresistance is a serious limitation to the therapy with more than 90% of recurrent gliomas showing little response to a second line of chemotherapy. Therefore, it is necessary to explore an alternative strategy to enhance the sensitivity of glioblastoma (GBM) to TMZ in neuro-oncology.

Electric-Field-Induced Gradient Ionogels for Highly Sensitive, Broad-Range-Response, and Freeze/Heat-Resistant Ionic Fingers.

Human fingers exhibit both high sensitivity and wide tactile range. The finger skin structures are designed to display gradient microstructures and compressibility. Inspired by the gradient mechanical Young's modulus distribution, an electric-field-induced cationic crosslinker migration strategy is demonstrated to prepare gradient ionogels.

Near-Infrared, Light-Induced Cationic and Radical RAFT Polymerization Catalyzed by Iron Complex.

A near-infrared (NIR) light induced controlled cationic polymerization is presented here. The halide abstraction reaction between the cyclopentadienyl iron dicarbonyl dimer (Fe(Cp)(CO)) and an organic halide is utilized to generate initial radicals or cations under mild conditions, which can be further combined with both radical and cationic reversible addition-fragmentation chain transfer (RAFT) polymerization. Well-defined poly(vinyl ether)s and polyacrylates are prepared successfully under NIR light by this method.

Porpholactone Chemistry: Shining New Light on an Old Cofactor.

Invited for this month's cover is the group of Jun-Long Zhang, Peking University, Beijing. The cover picture shows the porpholactone cofactor, which play unique roles in molecular imaging and therapy (or theranostics), catalysis, as well as energy and optical materials. This class of molecules is ideal for more intriguing scientific research and future practical applications.

Efficient synthesis of 2-aryl-2H-indazoles by base-catalyzed benzyl C-H deprotonation and cyclization.

A straightforward and efficient method for the preparation of 2-aryl-2H-indazoles from ortho-alkyl substituted azoxybenzenes is presented. The reaction proceeds through base-catalyzed benzyl C-H deprotonation and cyclization to afford 2-aryl-2H-indazoles in good yields. This synthetic strategy can be applied to the construction of several fluorescent and bioactive molecules.

Porpholactone Chemistry: Shining New Light on an Old Cofactor.

The emergence of porpholactone chemistry, discovered over 30 years ago, has significantly stimulated the development of biomimetic tetrapyrrole chemistry. It offers an opportunity, through modifications of non-pyrrolic building blocks, to clarify the relationship between chemical structure and excited-state properties, deciphering the structural code for the biological functions of life pigments. With intriguing photophysical properties in the red to near-infrared (NIR) regions, facile modulation of their electronic nature by fine-tuning chemical structures, and coordination ability with diverse metal ions, these novel porphyrinoids have favorable prospects in the fields of optical materials, bioimaging and therapy, and catalysis.

Synthesis of selenated isochromenones by AgNO-catalyzed three-component reaction of alkynylaryl esters, selenium powder and ArB(OH).

Reported is the AgNO-catalyzed three-component reaction of alkynylaryl esters, selenium powder and ArB(OH), providing a facile entry to selenated isochromenones. This work highlights the use of selenium powder as a selenium reagent in the synthesis of selenated isochromenones for the first time.

Integrated systematic approach increase greenhouse tomato yield and reduce environmental losses.

High input - high output greenhouse vegetable systems are responsible for nutrient surpluses and environmental losses. Integrated strategies that improve soil, crop and nutrient management are needed to ensure more sustainable production systems. We conducted a two-year field experiment to evaluate the potential of integrated soil-crop system management (ISSM) practices to improve the productivity and environmental outcomes from an intensive greenhouse tomato production system in the Yangtze River Basin, China.

Joint influence of genetic origin and climate on the growth of Masson pine (Pinus massoniana Lamb.) in China.

Adaptive of trees and its correlation with the climatic are causing changes in tree species performance and distribution, which will change breeding programs and influence forest productivity. To further evaluate the joint influence of climatic factors and provenance on the ring width (RW) and ring density (RD) of Masson pine. We selected 18 provenances at Chun'an (CA) and Taizi Mountain (TZS) test site, which representing four different breeding regions, including the south, west, north and east-central regions.

3D Printed Multi-Functional Hydrogel Microneedles Based on High-Precision Digital Light Processing.

Traditional injection and extraction devices often appear painful and cumbersome for patients. In recent years, polymer microneedles (MNs) have become a novel tool in the field of clinical medicine and health. However, the cost of building MNs into any shapes still remains a challenge.

Porpholactone Chemistry: An Emerging Approach to Bioinspired Photosensitizers with Tunable Near-Infrared Photophysical Properties.

Chlorophylls, known as the key building blocks of natural light-harvesting antennae, are essential to utilize solar energy from visible to near-infrared (NIR) region during the photosynthesis process. The fundamental studies for the relationship between structure and photophysical properties of chlorophylls disclosed the importance of -peripheral modification and thus boosted the fast growth of NIR absorbing/emissive porphyrinoids via altering the extent of π-conjugation and the degree of distortion from the planarity of macrocycle. Despite the tremendous progress made in various porphyrin-based synthetic models, it still remains a challenge to precisely modulate photophysical properties through fine-tuning of -peripheral structures in the way natural chlorophylls do.

Suppression of miRNA let-7i-5p promotes cardiomyocyte proliferation and repairs heart function post injury by targetting CCND2 and E2F2.

MiRNAs regulate the cardiomyocyte (CM) cell cycle at the post-transcriptional level, affect cell proliferation, and intervene in harmed CM repair post-injury. The present study was undertaken to characterize the role of let-7i-5p in the processes of CM cell cycle and proliferation and to reveal the mechanisms thereof. In the present study, we used real-time qPCR (RT-qPCR) to determine the up-regulated let-7i-5p in CMs during the postnatal switch from proliferation to terminal differentiation and further validated the role of let-7i-5p by loss- and gain-of-function of let-7i-5p in CMs and We found that the overexpression of let-7i-5p inhibited CM proliferation, whereas the suppression of let-7i-5p significantly facilitated CM proliferation.

Sirt1 Antisense Long Noncoding RNA Promotes Cardiomyocyte Proliferation by Enhancing the Stability of Sirt1.

Background Antisense long noncoding RNAs (lnc RNA s) are single-stranded RNA s that overlapped gene-coding regions on the opposite DNA strand and play as critical regulators in cardiovascular diseases. The high conservation and stability may be good advantages for antisense lnc RNA s. However, the roles of antisense lnc RNA s in cardiomyocyte proliferation and cardiac regeneration are still unknown.