Ambient air pollution, low-grade inflammation, and lung function: Evidences from the UK Biobank.

The associations of ambient air pollution exposure and low-grade inflammation with lung function remain uncertain. In this study, 276,289 subjects were enrolled in the UK Biobank. Individual exposure to ambient air pollution (including nitrogen dioxide [NO], nitrogen oxides [NO]), and particulate matter [PM, PM PM]) were estimated by using the land-use regression model.

Integrating chemistry knowledge in large language models via prompt engineering.

This paper presents a study on the integration of domain-specific knowledge in prompt engineering to enhance the performance of large language models (LLMs) in scientific domains. The proposed domain-knowledge embedded prompt engineering method outperforms traditional prompt engineering strategies on various metrics, including capability, accuracy, F1 score, and hallucination drop. The effectiveness of the method is demonstrated through case studies on complex materials including the MacMillan catalyst, paclitaxel, and lithium cobalt oxide.

Interleukin-11 drives fibroblast metabolic reprogramming in crystalline silica-induced lung fibrosis.

Environmental exposure to crystalline silica (CS) particles is common and occurs during natural, industrial, and agricultural activities. Prolonged inhalation of CS particles can cause silicosis, a serious and incurable pulmonary fibrosis disease. However, the underlying mechanisms remain veiled.

Associations between long-term night shift work and incidence of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: a prospective cohort study of 277,059 UK Biobank participants.

Background: Little is known about the effects of night shifts and their interactions with genetic factors on chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). In this study, we aim to investigate relationships between long-term night shift work exposure and COPD risk, and assess modification effects of genetic predisposition.

Methods: A total of 277,059 subjects who were in paid employment or self-employed were included in the UK Biobank.

Translation and psychometric properties of the Mandarin Chinese version of the COVID-19 Impact Scale in college students.

The COVID-19 pandemic has caused significant long psychological impacts that require a novel measurement tool to capture the changes in such impacts. To this end, the COVID-19 Impact Scale (CIS) was developed as an instrument to evaluate psychological responses associated with the pandemic, and has shown evidence of a one-factor structure. The CIS was initially created using an Korea University students sample, and has since been translated and validated in Turkish.

Efficient removal of As(III) from groundwaters through self-alkalization in an asymmetric flow-electrode electrochemical separation system.

It remains a great challenge to efficiently remove As(III) from groundwater using traditional technologies due to its stable electroneutral form. This study constructed an asymmetric flow-electrode electrochemical separation (AFES) system, which overcomes the drawback of H release from anodic carbon oxidation and achieves continuous self-alkalization function and highly efficient removal of As(III) from groundwater. At the applied voltage of 1.

ALKBH5 mediates silica particles-induced pulmonary inflammation through increased mA modification of Slamf7 and autophagy dysfunction.

Silica particles are commonly encountered in natural and industrial activities. Long-term environmental exposure to silica can result in silicosis, which is characterized by chronic inflammation and abnormal tissue repair in lung. To uncover the role of mA modification in silica-induced pulmonary inflammation, we conducted this study using established mouse and macrophage models.

Rational engineering of a carbon skeleton supported tin dioxide nanocomposite from MOF on graphene precursor for superior lithium and sodium ion storage.

Tin dioxide (SnO) is being investigated as a promising anode material for both lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) and sodium-ion batteries (SIBs). Effectively dispersing small sized SnO crystals in well-designed carbonaceous matrices using eco-friendly materials and simplified methods is an urgent task. Herein, gallic acid (GA) molecules, abundant in plant kingdom, are firstly selected to react with few-layered graphene oxide (GO) in mild hydrothermal condition, and the GA modulated reduced graphene oxide (GA@RGO) supporting skeleton can be obtained.

Mechanical properties, biosafety, and shearing bonding strength of glass fiber-reinforced PEEK composites used as post-core materials.

Objective: To investigate the mechanical properties, biosafety, and shearing bonding strength of glass fibers-reinforced polyether-ether-ketone (PEEK-GF) for post-core materials.

Methods: PEEK-GF composites with different glass fiber contents were prepared by extrusion injection and named PEEK-GF30, PEEK-GF40, and PEEK-GF50. Mechanical properties including flexural modulus, flexural strength, Vickers hardness, and compression strength were tested.

The emerging role of epigenetic regulation in the progression of silicosis.

Silicosis is one of the most severe occupational diseases worldwide and is characterized by silicon nodules and diffuse pulmonary fibrosis. However, specific treatments for silicosis are still lacking at present. Therefore, elucidating the pathogenesis of silicosis plays a significant guiding role for its treatment and prevention.

Characterization of Cathepsin B in Mediating Silica Nanoparticle-Induced Macrophage Pyroptosis via an NLRP3-Dependent Manner.

Introduction: Silica nanoparticles (SiNPs) are one of the most widely used inorganic nanomaterials, and exposure to SiNP has been demonstrated to induce pulmonary inflammation, primarily promoted by the NLRP3-mediated macrophage pyroptosis. However, mechanisms underlying the activation of NLRP3 signaling are complex, and whether cathepsin B (CTSB), an enzyme released by the ruptured lysosome, could trigger NLRP3 assembly is controversial.

Methods: To further characterize the role of CTSB in silica-induced pyroptosis, we conducted this study by establishing SiNP exposure models in vitro.

NF-κB mediates silica-induced pulmonary inflammation by promoting the release of IL-1β in macrophages.

Long-term exposure to respirable silica particles causes pulmonary inflammation and fibrosis primarily promoted by cytokines released from alveolar macrophages, yet the underlying mechanism is still unclear. From the perspective of nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB), we studied the mechanism of IL-1β biosynthesis and release. Utilizing BAY 11-7082, an NF-κB specific inhibitor, we showed the alteration of macrophage viability and examined the expression of both IL-1β and NF-κB in vitro.

Acute Silica Exposure Triggers Pulmonary Inflammation Through Macrophage Pyroptosis: An Experimental Simulation.

Silica is an essential substrate of various materials, and inhaling silica induces pulmonary diseases potentially associated with macrophage pyroptosis. Utilizing silica of micro- and nano- sizes, we explored the role of macrophage pyroptosis in silica-induced pulmonary inflammation. Under the transmission electron microscopy, we found that the internalization of silica nanoparticle induced membrane rupture and increased the number of intracellular vacuoles, and both sizes of silica could suppress cell viability and proliferation.

Effect of pyrethroid pesticides on the testis of male rats: A meta-analysis.

This study quantitatively evaluated the effects of pyrethroid pesticides on the testis of male rats. An extensive literature search for relevant studies was conducted on PubMed, Web of Science, Excerpta Medica Database, the Chinese National Knowledge Infrastructure, and Chinese Biomedical Literature Database. Pooled standard mean difference with corresponding 95% confidence interval was calculated via the random-effects model.

Chemical conjugation of FITC to track silica nanoparticles in vivo and in vitro: An emerging method to assess the reproductive toxicity of industrial nanomaterials.

Previous studies have demonstrated that silica nanoparticle (SiNP) exposure induces pulmonary and cardiovascular diseases, yet their transportation and degradation in vivo have not been fully elucidated. From the perspective of reproduction, this study was implemented to examine the uterine accumulation of SiNP and explore its reproductive toxicity and pathogenic mechanisms. First, we coupled FITC onto SiNPs and intratracheally instilled them into pregnant mice on the fifth gestational day, and the toxic effect of SiNP was evaluated in vitro and in vivo.

Uterine metabolic disorder induced by silica nanoparticles: biodistribution and bioactivity revealed by labeling with FITC.

Extensive application of nanomaterials has dramatically increased the risk of silica nanoparticle (SiNP, SiO) exposure, yet their biological effect on reproduction has not been fully elucidated. By tracking the uterine biodistribution of SiNP in pregnant mice, this study was conducted to evaluate the biological effect of SiNP on reproduction. First, SiNP was conjugated with FITC, and then the FITC-SiNP was administrated to trophoblast (100 µg/mL, 24 h) in vitro and pregnant mice (0.

Uterine pyruvate metabolic disorder induced by silica nanoparticles act through the pentose phosphate pathway.

Silica nanoparticles (SiNPs) have drawn considerable attention due to their environmental health effects, while enhanced understanding of metabolic disorders has provided insight into related diseases. To investigate the impacts of SiNPs exposure on reproduction and reveal their pathogenic mechanisms, this study was designed and conducted from a metabolic perspective. First, fluorescein isothiocyanate (FITC)-SiNPs were chemically synthesized and applied to track SiNPs in vitro and in vivo.

In vitro and in vivo uterine metabolic disorders induced by silica nanoparticle through the AMPK signaling pathway.

Exposure to silica nanoparticles (SiNPs) has been suggested to cause physical disorders, yet the effects of SiNPs on female reproduction have not been illustrated. This study was implemented to explore the reproductive toxicity of SiNPs on female and reveal its underlying mechanisms. Methodologically, the fluorescein isothiocyanate (FITC)-SiNPs were synthesized by coupling with FITC and then used to track the biodistribution of SiNPs in vitro and in vivo.

Mechanism of PM-induced human bronchial epithelial cell toxicity in central China.

Exposure to PM has been linked to respiratory disorders, yet knowledge of the molecular mechanism is limited. Here, PM was monitored and collected in central China, and its cytotoxicity mechanism on human bronchial epithelial cells (BEAS-2B) was investigated. With the average concentration of 109 ± 69 μg/m, PM was rich in heavy metals and organic pollutants.

Comprehensive characterization of endometrial competing endogenous RNA network in infertile women of childbearing age.

Endometriosis is widely associated with infertility in women of childbearing age, for which there have been no effective treatments. Recent studies suggest that the dysregulation of RNAs contributes to the pathogenesis of endometriosis, so we conduct the case-control genetic analysis to characterize the expression and interaction of different subtypes of RNAs in infertile women with endometriosis. The ectopic and eutopic endometrium of patients undergoing infertility treatment were collected and subjected to high throughput sequencing, and bioinformatics analysis was conducted to construct the competing endogenous RNA (ceRNA) network.