Polylactic Acid Micro/Nanoplastic Exposure Induces Male Reproductive Toxicity by Disrupting Spermatogenesis and Mitochondrial Dysfunction in Mice.

Although considered an "eco-friendly" biodegradable plastic, polylactic acid (PLA) microplastic (PLA-MP) poses a growing concern for human health, yet its effects on male reproductive function remain underexplored. This study investigated the reproductive toxicity of PLA in male mice and its potential mechanisms. To this end, our in vivo and in vitro experiments demonstrated that after degradation in the digestive system, a significant number of PLA-MP-derived nanoparticles could penetrate the blood-testis barrier (BTB) and localize within the spermatogenic microenvironment.

Discovery of Metabolic Reprogramming 2-Quinolones as Effective Antimicrobials for MRSA-Infected Wound Therapy.

To date, the abuse of antibiotics and a gradual decline in novel antibiotic discovery enlarge the threat of drug-resistant bacterial infections, especially methicillin-resistant (MRSA). Herein, inspired by the unique structures and antibacterial activities of 2-quinolones, a class of novel 2-quinolones with substituted pyridines was synthesized. Notably, compound , the derivative with a methylpyridine fragment, showed potent antibacterial and antibiofilm activities, especially for MRSA strains (MIC = 0.

Technical advances in laboratory diagnosis of bloodstream infections.

Introduction: Rapid and accurate laboratory diagnosis is essential for the effective treatment of bloodstream infection (BSI).

Areas Covered: This review aims to address novel and traditional approaches that exhibit different performance characteristics in the diagnosis of BSI. In particular, the authors will discuss the pros and cons of the blood culture-based phenotypic methods, nucleic acid-targeted molecular methods, and host response-targeted biomarker detection in the diagnosis of BSI.

Postoperative fever after elective minimally invasive resection for gastric and colorectal cancer: incidence, risk factors and characteristics.

Purpose: To analyze the incidence and risk factors of postoperative fever (POF) in gastrointestinal cancer (GIC), discuss the influence of POF on short-term clinical outcomes, and predict anastomotic leakage (AL) based on POF characteristics.

Methods: Overall, 1362 patients that underwent radical resection for GIC were retrospectively analyzed. POF was defined as a postoperative temperature ≥38°C during hospitalization.

MetaLigand: A database for predicting non-peptide ligand mediated cell-cell communication.

Non-peptide ligands (NPLs), including lipids, amino acids, carbohydrates, and non-peptide neurotransmitters and hormones, play a critical role in ligand-receptor-mediated cell-cell communication, driving diverse physiological and pathological processes. To facilitate the study of NPL-dependent intercellular interactions, we introduce MetaLigand, an R-based and web-accessible tool designed to infer NPL production and predict NPL-receptor interactions using transcriptomic data. MetaLigand compiles data for 233 NPLs, including their biosynthetic enzymes, transporter genes, and receptor genes, through a combination of automated pipelines and manual curation from comprehensive databases.

Frontoparietal activity related to neuropsychological assessment of working memory.

Executive functions, including working memory, are typically assessed clinically with neuropsychological instruments. In contrast, computerized tasks are used to test these cognitive functions in laboratory human and animal studies. Little is known of how neural activity captured by laboratory tasks relates to ability measured by clinical instruments and, by extension, clinical diagnoses of pathological conditions.

Exploring the Impact of Systemic Inflammatory Regulators on Rosacea Risk: A Bidirectional Mendelian Randomization Analysis.

Objective: Rosacea is a common chronic inflammatory disorder primarily affecting the face. While inflammatory factors are known to play a pivotal role in its pathogenesis, their causal relationship with rosacea remains unclear. This study employed a two-sample bidirectional Mendelian randomization (MR) analysis to investigate the causal links between systemic inflammatory regulators and rosacea.

Risk factors analysis and nomogram model construction for postoperative atrial fibrillation after off-pump coronary artery bypass grafting.

Objective: To explore the risk factors associated with postoperative atrial fibrillation (POAF) after off-pump coronary artery bypass grafting (OPCABG) and to construct a nomogram predictive model.

Methods: In this retrospective cohort study, clinical data of 193 patients who received OPCABG in Huai'an First People's Hospital Affiliated to Nanjing Medical University from June 2021 to November 2023 were retrospectively analyzed. Based on the established diagnosis of POAF, patients were divided into the POAF group (n=75) and the non-POAF group (n=118).

Effects of combined inoculation of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi and plant growth-promoting rhizosphere bacteria on seedling growth and rhizosphere microecology.

The effects of rhizosphere microorganisms on plant growth and the associated mechanisms are a focus of current research, but the effects of exogenous combined inoculation with arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) and plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) on seedling growth and the associated rhizosphere microecological mechanisms have been little reported. In this study, a greenhouse pot experiment was used to study the effects of single or double inoculation with AM fungi () and two PGPR ( sp., sp.

Investigation of Biocrude Production from Spirulina via Catalytic Hydrothermal Liquefaction with the Ru/ZrO-SiO Catalyst.

Hydrothermal liquefaction (HTL) is a promising technology for converting wet biomass to liquid fuels. However, the biocrude yield and quality in this process are unsatisfactory without catalysts. Herein, a Ru/ZrO-SiO catalyst was prepared with the NaBH reducing method for the HTL of .

Altered expression of miRNA profile in peripheral blood mononuclear cells following the third dose of inactivated COVID-19 vaccine.

COVID-19 vaccination is the most effective strategy for preventing severe disease and death. Inactivated vaccines are the most accessible type of COVID-19 vaccines in developing countries. Several studies, including work from our group, have demonstrated that the third dose (booster vaccination) of inactivated COVID-19 vaccine induces robust humoral and cellular immune responses.

Hypophysectomy, pituitary neuroadenolysis and pituitary radiosurgery for the treatment of refractory cancer pain: a historical review and mechanism investigation.

Refractory cancer pain affects 10-20% of patients with advanced malignancies and is not adequately controlled by opioids. The intrathecal therapy is an effective interventional procedure for referral, but the implanted infusion pumps are costly and the refilling requires technical expertise. Hypophysectomy, in its three stages-surgical, chemical, and radiosurgical-has emerged as an alternative for managing this pain.

Comprehensive analysis reveals PLK3 as a promising immune target and prognostic indicator in glioma.

Background: PLK3, which played an important role in cell cycle progression and stress response, was identified as highly expressed in various carcinomas. However, the functions, molecular characteristics, and prognostic value of PLK3 in glioma remained unexplored.

Methods: We analyzed PLK3 expression in glioma samples from multiple databases.

A mixed-methods investigation of a digital mental health tool to manage posttrauma anger.

Problematic anger affects up to 30% of individuals who have experienced trauma. Digital mental health approaches, such as ecological momentary assessment (EMA) delivered via smartphone and wearable devices (i.e.

In-Situ Construction of LiCl-Rich Artificial Solid Electrolyte Interphase for High-Performance Lithium Metal Anode.

In the pursuit of high-energy-density lithium metal batteries (LMBs), the development of stable solid electrolyte interphase (SEI) is critical to address issues such as lithium dendrite growth and low Coulombic efficiency. Herein, we propose a facile strategy for the in-situ fabrication of a LiCl-rich artificial SEI layer on Li surfaces through reaction of MoCl5 with Li (Li@MoCl5). The resulting artificial SEI significantly enhances the uniformity of Li deposition, effectively suppresses dendrite formation, and improves electrochemical performance.

miR-208a-3p discriminates osteoporosis, predicts fracture, and regulates osteoclast activation through targeting STC1.

Background: Osteoporosis (OP) frequently occurs in post-menopausal women, increasing the risk of fracture. Early screening OP could improve the prevention of fractures.This study focused on the significance of miR-208a-3p in diagnosing OP and development regulation, aiming to explore a novel biomarker and therapeutic target for OP.

Hybrid technique and total arch replacement combined with frozen elephant trunk in acute aortic dissection involving the aortic arch: a multi-center propensity-matched cohort study.

Background: The aim of this study was to investigate whether the hybrid technique yields superior outcomes in comparison with the total arch replacement combined with frozen elephant trunk (TAR + FET) for acute aortic dissection (AAD) involving the aortic arch.

Methods: This retrospective cohort study using propensity-score matching included patients with AAD involving the aortic arch admitted to Nanjing First Hospital and Shanghai General Hospital from January 2015 to June 2020. The in-hospital and mid-term outcomes were compared between patients who received hybrid treatment (n = 136) and those who received TAR + FET (n = 415).

Intraoperative initial intracranial pressure demonstrates high diagnostic efficacy for postoperative intestinal mucosal barrier dysfunction following severe traumatic brain injury.

Objective: To investigate the risk factors and their diagnostic efficacy for postoperative intestinal mucosal barrier dysfunction (IBD) following severe traumatic brain injury (sTBI).

Methods: There were 140 patients with sTBI enrolled in this study. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses were conducted to assess the relationship between the clinical data and postoperative IBD in sTBI patients and determine the independent risk factors.

Association of pentachlorophenol in urine and follicular fluid with ovarian reserve and reproductive outcomes among women undergoing in vitro fertilization based on a prospective cohort study.

Pentachlorophenol (PCP), a persistent organic pollutant, has endocrine disrupting properties and there may be a link between its exposure and reproductive outcomes. In this study, we assessed the relationship of PCP exposure levels with ovarian reserve markers and reproductive health outcomes in women (N = 656) undergoing in vitro fertilization (IVF). PCP concentrations were determined in urine (n = 1,968; repeated measures) and follicular fluid samples (n = 603).

Hidden Threat in Turbid Waters: Quantifying and Modeling the Bioaccumulation and Risks of Particulate Metals to Clams.

A major proportion of metal contaminants in aquatic environments is bound to suspended particulate matter (SPM), yet environmental monitoring typically focuses on dissolved metals, with the filtration step removing SPM. This step may inadvertently hide the potential risks posed by particulate metals. In this study, we used stable isotope tracers to quantify the contributions of SPM-bound metals to the bioaccumulation of nickel (Ni), copper (Cu), zinc (Zn), cadmium (Cd), and lead (Pb) in Ruditapes philippinarum, a widely distributed clam crucial to global aquaculture.

TFII-I/GTF2I regulates globin gene expression and stress response in erythroid cells.

Transcription factor TFII-I/GTF2I is ubiquitously expressed and has been shown to play a role in the differentiation of hematopoietic cells and in the response to various cellular stressors. We previously demonstrated that TFII-I acts as a repressor of adult β-globin gene transcription and positively regulates expression of stress response proteins, including ATF3. Here we analyzed the function of TFII-I in TF-1 cells during erythroid differentiation and in response to cellular stress, including unfolded protein response, hypoxia, and oxidative stress.

Immune evasion of Omicron variants JN.1, KP.2, and KP.3 to the polyclonal and monoclonal antibodies from COVID-19 convalescents and vaccine recipients.

The Omicron BA.2.86 subvariants, JN.

Polylactic acid microplastics before and after aging induced neurotoxicity in zebrafish by disrupting the microbiota-gut-brain axis.

Polylactic acid (PLA) is a biodegradable alternative to traditional plastics due to its excellent biocompatibility. However, PLA is challenging to fully degrade and can easily become microplastics (MPs) in surface water, a process accompanied by aging. This study found that aged PLA (APLA) MPs exhibited increased surface roughness, decreased surface potential, and more oxygen-containing functional groups compared to PLA.

Integrated metabolomic and transcriptomic strategies to reveal adaptive mechanisms in barley plant during germination stage under waterlogging stress.

Barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) is an important cereal crop used in animal feed, beer brewing, and food production. Waterlogging stress is one of the prominent abiotic stresses that has a significant impact on the yield and quality of barley.

DNA damage triggers heritable alterations in DNA methylation patterns in Arabidopsis.

It has been hypothesized that DNA damage has the potential to induce DNA hypermethylation, contributing to carcinogenesis in mammals. However, there is no sufficient evidence to support that DNA damage can cause genome-wide DNA hypermethylation. Here, we demonstrated that DNA single-strand breaks with 3'-blocked ends (DNA 3'-blocks) can not only reinforce DNA methylation at normally methylated loci but also can induce DNA methylation at normally nonmethylated loci in plants.