Derivation of a health-based guidance value for bisphenol A via the weight of evidence approach.

There remains a debate over the health-based guidance value of bisphenol A (BPA) worldwide. Through the weight of evidence approach, this study systematically searched and evaluated the updated BPA toxicological data following the guidelines for evaluating the relevance and reliability of toxicological data developed by the China National Center for Food Safety Risk Assessment. Benchmark dose and no observed adverse effect dose/lowest observed adverse effect level methods were used for dose-relationship analysis.

A micro-lung chip with macrophages for targeted anti-fibrotic therapy.

Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is a lethal lung disease of unknown etiology. Macrophages are implicated in the fibrotic process, but exhibit remarkable plasticity in the activated immune environment, presenting significant challenges as therapeutic targets. To explore the influence of macrophages on IPF and develop macrophage-targeted therapies, we engineered a micro-lung chip with a lung epithelium-interstitium tissue unit to establish a controlled immune environment containing only macrophages.

Resveratrol Alleviated T-2 Toxin-Induced Liver Injury via Preservation of Nrf2 Pathway and GSH Synthesis.

T-2 toxin is a trichothecene mycotoxin and is considered as an extremely inevitable pollutant with potent hepatotoxicity. However, the approach to alleviation of T-2 toxin-triggered hepatotoxicity has been recognized as a serious challenge. Resveratrol (Res) is a polyphenol natural product isolated from various plant species, but its protective effect against T-2 toxin hepatotoxicity and detailed mechanism remains obscure.

Standard: human intestine-on-a-chip.

Organs-on-chips are microphysiological systems that allow to replicate the key functions of human organs and accelerate the innovation in life sciences including disease modeling, drug development, and precision medicine. However, due to the lack of standards in their definition, structural design, cell source, model construction, and functional validation, a wide range of translational application of organs-on-chips remains a challenging. "Organs-on-chips: Intestine" is the first group standard on human intestine-on-a-chip in China, jointly agreed and released by the experts from the Chinese Society of Biotechnology on 29th April 2024.

Long-Lifespan Fibrous Aqueous Ni//Bi Battery Enabled by BiO-BiS Hierarchical Heterostructures.

Bismuth oxide (BiO) materials are considered as great promising anodes for aqueous batteries on account of the high capacity as well as wide potential plateau. Nevertheless, the low conductivity and severe volumetric change of BiO in the course of cycling are the main limiting factors for their application in energy-storage systems. Herein, we propose and design unique hierarchical heterostructures constructed by BiO and BiS nanosheets (NSs) manufactured immediately on the surface of carbon nanotube fibers (CNTFs).

Estimating the direction of arrival of spatially spread sources using block-sparse Bayesian learning with an extended dictionary.

Estimating the direction of arrival (DOA) of spatially spread sources is a significant challenge in array signal processing. This work introduces an effective method within the sparse Bayesian framework to tackle this issue. A spatially spread source is modeled using a multi-dimensional Slepian signal subspace that expands the dictionary and results in a block-sparse structured solution.

T-2 toxin-induced testicular impairment by triggering oxidative stress and ferroptosis.

T-2 toxin is a trichothecene mycotoxin of significant danger to humans and animals. Its impact on reproductive toxicity is attributed to oxidative stress, which ultimately leads to cell death. Ferroptosis is a programmed cell death that characterized by lipid peroxidation.

The phosphoproteome is a first responder in tiered cellular adaptation to chemical stress followed by proteomics and transcriptomics alteration.

Next-generation risk assessment (NGRA) for environmental chemicals involves a weight of evidence (WoE) framework integrating a suite of new approach methodologies (NAMs) based on points of departure (PoD) obtained from in vitro assays. Among existing NAMs, the omic-based technologies are of particular importance based on the premise that any apical endpoint change indicative of impaired health must be underpinned by some alterations at the omics level, such as transcriptome, proteome, metabolome, epigenome and genome. Transcriptomic assay plays a leading role in providing relatively conservative PoDs compared with apical endpoints.

Laser waterless cleaning of residual organic solvents on the surface of polyurethane coatings.

Residual organic solvents have a great impact on the physical and mental health of equipment operators in industry and agriculture. Laser waterless cleaning technology of residual organic solvents on the surface of polyurethane coatings has great application prospects and is a good way to tackle the pollution problem. In this paper, the evolutionary behavior of a laser waterless cleaning mechanism and substrate surface state is analyzed.

T-2 toxin induces cardiotoxicity by activating ferroptosis and inhibiting heme oxygenase-1.

T-2 toxin, a natural secondary sesquiterpenoid metabolite produced by numerous strains of Fusarium fungi, is prevalent in both contaminated food and the environment. T-2 toxin is known to be highly toxic to the cardiovascular system, but the precise mechanisms that lead to T-2 toxin-induced cardiotoxicity are not yet fully understood. Recent findings indicate that ferroptosis is a pivotal factor in cardiovascular damage and exhibits a strong correlation with the detrimental impacts of T-2 toxin.

Metformin Ameliorates 2.856 GHz Microwave- Radiation-Induced Reproductive Impairments in Male Rats via Inhibition of Oxidative Stress and Apoptosis.

The reproductive system has been increasingly implicated as a sensitive target of microwave radiation. Oxidative stress plays a critical role in microwave radiation -induced reproductive damage, though precise mechanisms are obscure. Metformin, a widely used antidiabetic drug, has emerged as an efficient antioxidant against a variety of oxidative injuries.

Emerging Amorphous to Crystalline Conversion Chemistry in Ca-Doped VO Cathodes for High-Capacity and Long-Term Wearable Aqueous Zinc-Ion Batteries.

Amorphous transition metal oxides have attracted significant attention in energy storage devices owing to their potentially desirable electrochemical properties caused by abundant unsaturated dangling bonds. However, the amorphization further amplifies the shortcoming of the poor intrinsic electronic conductivity of the metal oxides, resulting in unsatisfying rate capability and power density. Herein, freestanding amorphous Ca-doped V O (a-Ca-V O ) cathodes are successfully prepared via in situ electrochemical oxidation of Ca-doped VO nanoarrays for wearable aqueous zinc-ion batteries.

Free-standing conductive nickel metal-organic framework nanowires as bifunctional electrodes for wearable pressure sensors and Ni-Zn batteries.

Free-standing metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) with controllable structure and good stability are emerging as promising materials for applications in flexible pressure sensors and energy-storage devices. However, the inherent low electrical conductivity of MOF-based materials requires complex preparation processes that involve high-temperature carbonization. This work presents a simple method to grow conductive nickel MOF nanowire arrays on carbon cloth (Ni-CAT@CC) and use Ni-CAT@CC as the functional electrodes for flexible piezoresistive sensor.

Effect of flocculant dosage on the settling properties and underflow concentration of thickener for flocculated tailing suspensions.

Flocculation is important in the thickening process to improve the underflow concentration in thickeners for tailing suspensions. Traditional zone settling velocity (ZSV) functions ignore the effect of flocculant dosage on the ZSV and the thickening behavior of thickeners. To investigate the effect of flocculant dosage on the settling flux function, a series of batch settling tests were conducted at various flocculant dosages for unclassified and fine tailings.

Role of FOXO3a Transcription Factor in the Regulation of Liver Oxidative Injury.

Oxidative stress has been identified as a key mechanism in liver damage caused by various chemicals. The transcription factor FOXO3a has emerged as a critical regulator of redox imbalance. Multiple post-translational changes and epigenetic processes closely regulate the activity of FOXO3a, resulting in synergistic or competing impacts on its subcellular localization, stability, protein-protein interactions, DNA binding affinity, and transcriptional programs.

Vanadium Dioxide Nanosheets Supported on Carbonized Cotton Fabric as Bifunctional Textiles for Flexible Pressure Sensors and Zinc-Ion Batteries.

Flexible pressure sensors and aqueous batteries have been widely used in the rapid development of wearable electronics. The synergistic functionalities of versatile materials with multidimensional architectures are recognized to have a significant impact on the performance of flexible electronics. Herein, a facile hydrothermal strategy was demonstrated to conformally grow vanadium dioxide nanosheets on carbonized cotton fabrics (VO/CCotton), which is a candidate material used in flexible piezoresistive sensors.

NRF2/PGC-1α-mediated mitochondrial biogenesis contributes to T-2 toxin-induced toxicity in human neuroblastoma SH-SY5Y cells.

The T-2 toxin is a highly toxic trichothecene mycotoxin that would cause serious toxicity in humans and animals. Recent studies suggest that the central nervous system (CNS) is susceptible to T-2 toxin, which can easily cross the blood-brain barrier, accumulate in brain tissues, and cause neurotoxicity. The growing evidence indicates that oxidative damage and mitochondrial dysfunction play a critical role in T-2 toxin-induced neurotoxicity, but the mechanisms are still poorly understood.

Dynamic cerebral blood flow changes with FOXOs stimulation are involved in neuronal damage associated with high-altitude cerebral edema in mice.

Acute hypobaric hypoxia (AHH) exposure causes altitude mountain sickness (AMS) and life-threatening high altitude cerebral edema (HACE). Despite decades of research, the role of cerebral blood flow (CBF) changes in the pathophysiology of severe AMS remains unclear. The current study evaluated spatiotemporal responses of CBF associated with HACE in mice during the early stages of ascent to high altitudes.

Synergistic effects of Rapamycin and Fluorouracil to treat a gastric tumor in a PTEN conditional deletion mouse model.

The tumor suppressor gene phosphatase and tensin homolog (PTEN) in PI3K/Akt/mTOR pathway is essential in inhibiting tumor growth and metastasis. However, whether the mutation of PTEN gene could induce tumorigenesis and impact the treatment of gastric cancer is still unclear. The purpose of the study was to investigate the combined treatment of gastric tumorigenesis using Rapamycin and Fluorouracil (5-Fu) through interfering with the Akt/mTOR pathway in a mouse model with PTEN conditional deletion.

NRF2 deficiency sensitizes human keratinocytes to zinc oxide nanoparticles-induced autophagy and cytotoxicity.

Zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO NPs) are one of the most commonly used metal oxide particles in many industrial fields. Many studies have shown that ZnO NPs induce harmful effects to human skin, but the mechanisms remain poorly understood. Our results showed that ZnO NPs concentration-dependently induced cytotoxicity, ROS accumulation, and mitochondrial dysfunction in HaCaT cells.

Next generation risk assessment (NGRA): Bridging in vitro points-of-departure to human safety assessment using physiologically-based kinetic (PBK) modelling - A case study of doxorubicin with dose metrics considerations.

Using the chemical doxorubicin (DOX), the objective of the present study was to evaluate the impact of dose metrics selection in the new approach method of integrating physiologically-based kinetic (PBK) modelling and relevant human cell-based assays to inform a priori the point of departure for human health risk. We reviewed the literature on the clinical consequences of DOX treatment to identify dosing scenarios with no or mild cardiotoxicity observed. Key concentrations of DOX that induced cardiomyocyte toxicity in vitro were derived from studies of our own and others.

A highly-sensitive "turn on" probe based on coumarin β-diketone for hydrazine detection in PBS and living cells.

Herein, a new "turn on" fluorescent probe C-1 is developed to specifically detect hydrazine using coumarin nucleus as the fluorophore and β-diketone as the recognition group. The probe shows high selectivity towards hydrazine over other common ions and amine-containing species, as well as good water solubility and quantitative detectability of hydrazine in concentration range of 1-200 μM. The detection limit is as low as 1.

Zinc Oxide Nanoparticles Induce Mitochondrial Biogenesis Impairment and Cardiac Dysfunction in Human iPSC-Derived Cardiomyocytes.

Background: Zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO NPs) are one of the most widely used nanomaterials in a variety of fields such as industrial, pharmaceutical, and household applications. Increasing evidence suggests that ZnO NPs could elicit unignorable harmful effect to the cardiovascular system, but the potential deleterious effects to human cardiomyocytes remain to be elucidated. Human-induced pluripotent stem cell-derived cardiomyocytes (hiPSC-CMs) have been increasingly used as a promising in vitro model of cardiomyocyte in various fields such as drug cardiac safety evaluation.

Integration of in vitro data from three dimensionally cultured HepaRG cells and physiologically based pharmacokinetic modeling for assessment of acetaminophen hepatotoxicity.

Selection of appropriate fit-for-purpose in vitro and in silico models is critical for non-animal safety assessment of chemical-induced hepatoxicity. The present study evaluated the feasibility of integrating in vitro data from three-dimensionally (3D)-cultured HepaRG cells and physiologically based pharmacokinetic (PBPK) modeling to predict chemical-induced liver toxicity. A 3D organoid culture system was established using an ultralow attachment method.

Integrating in vitro testing and physiologically-based pharmacokinetic (PBPK) modelling for chemical liver toxicity assessment-A case study of troglitazone.

In vitro to in vivo extrapolation (IVIVE) for next-generation risk assessment (NGRA) of chemicals requires computational modeling and faces unique challenges. Using mitochondria-related toxicity data of troglitazone (TGZ), a prototype drug known for liver toxicity, from HepaRG, HepG2, HC-04, and primary human hepatocytes, we explored inherent uncertainties in IVIVE, including cell models, cellular response endpoints, and dose metrics. A human population physiologically-based pharmacokinetic (PBPK) model for TGZ was developed to predict in vivo doses from in vitro point-of-departure (POD) concentrations.