Sources identification and health risk assessment of heavy metals in total suspended particulates (TSP) in a geochemical anomaly area influenced by historical indigenous zinc smelting activities.

The superposition of heavy metals (HMs) from multiple anthropogenic sources in geochemical anomaly areas makes it difficult to discriminate prime sources in atmospheric HMs. This study utilized a combination of microscopic features, positive matrix factorisation, and Pb isotope fingerprints to trace the main sources of HMs bound to total suspended particulates (TSP) at a pollution site (Msoshui: MS) and control site (Lushan: LS) in northwestern Guizhou. The results reveal that the concentrations of Cd, Pb, Cr, As, Cu, Ni, and Zn in the TSP of LS are 3.

RNF128 deficiency in macrophages promotes colonic inflammation by suppressing the autophagic degradation of S100A8.

Macrophages play important roles in maintaining intestinal homeostasis and in the pathogenesis of inflammatory bowel diseases (IBDs). However, the underlying mechanisms that govern macrophage-mediated inflammation are still largely unknown. In this study, we report that RNF128 is downregulated in proinflammatory macrophages.

Stigmasterol from Prunella vulgaris L. Alleviates LPS-induced mammary gland injury by inhibiting inflammation and ferroptosis.

Background: Dairy mastitis, a prevalent condition affecting dairy cattle, represents a significant challenge to both animal welfare and the quality of dairy products. However, current treatment options remain limited. Stigmasterol (ST) is a bioactive component of Prunella vulgaris L.

Long non-coding RNA NEAT1 promotes ovarian granulosa cell proliferation and cell cycle progression via the miR-29a-3p/IGF1 axis.

Background: Granulosa cell proliferation and survival are essential for normal ovarian function and follicular development. Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) have emerged as important regulators of cell proliferation and differentiation. Nuclear paraspeckle assembly transcript 1 (NEAT1) has been implicated in various cellular processes, but its role in granulosa cell function remains unclear.

Pyrrolopyrrole Cyanine Aggregates with Amplified Superoxide Radical Generation, GSH Depletion, and Photothermal Action for Hypoxic Cancer Phototherapy.

The elevated glutathione (GSH) level and hypoxia in tumor cells are two key obstacles to realizing the high performance of phototherapy. Herein, the electron-donating rotors are introduced to wings of electron-withdrawing pyrrolopyrrole cyanine (PPCy) to form donor-acceptor-donor structure -aggregates for amplified superoxide radical generation, GSH depletion, and photothermal action for hypoxic cancer phototherapy to tackle this challenge. Three PPCy photosensitizers (PPCy-H, PPCy-Br, and PPCy-TPE) produce hydroxyl radicals (•OH) and superoxide radicals (O) in hypoxia tumors exclusively as well as excellent photothermal performances under light irradiation.

Impacts of Lifestyle Intervention by a Nurse-Led Smartphone Application on Blood Pressure, Weight, and Pregnancy Outcomes in Pregnant Women With Gestational Hypertension: A Randomized Controlled Trial.

High blood pressure and excess weight during pregnancy can have adverse outcomes. This randomized controlled trial evaluated the effects of a nurse-led smartphone application-based lifestyle intervention on blood pressure, body weight, and pregnancy outcomes in pregnant women with gestational hypertension between August and December 2023. Pregnant women, between 20 and 28 weeks of gestation, were allocated to the intervention or control group.

Hypocrellin A-Mediated Photodynamic Antibacterial Activity Against Cutibacterium acnes: An In Vitro Study.

Skin dysbiosis caused by Cutibacterium acnes contributes greatly to the complex pathogenesis of acne, and antimicrobial photodynamic therapy has emerged as a promising treatment option for acne treatment. Hypocrellin, a photosensitizer extracted from a traditional Chinese medicinal fungus, has showed effective antimicrobial activity. This study aimed to evaluate the antibacterial ability of hypocrellin mediated PDT against Cutibacterium acnes.

HCAR2 Modulates the Crosstalk between Mammary Epithelial Cells and Macrophages to Mitigate Staphylococcus aureus Infection in the Mouse Mammary Gland.

Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) is a major zoonotic pathogen, with mammary gland infections contributing to mastitis, a condition that poses significant health risks to lactating women and adversely affects the dairy industry. Therefore, understanding the immune mechanisms underlying mammary infections caused by S.

Advances and applications in single-cell and spatial genomics.

The applications of single-cell and spatial technologies in recent times have revolutionized the present understanding of cellular states and the cellular heterogeneity inherent in complex biological systems. These advancements offer unprecedented resolution in the examination of the functional genomics of individual cells and their spatial context within tissues. In this review, we have comprehensively discussed the historical development and recent progress in the field of single-cell and spatial genomics.

Effect of hyperbaric oxygen therapy for non-motor symptoms among patients with Parkinson's disease: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Objective: To systematically evaluate the efficacy of hyperbaric oxygen therapy for non-motor symptoms in patients with Parkinson's disease.

Data Sources: A systematic search was performed across several databases, including the Chinese Science and Technology Periodical Database, Web of Science, SinoMed, PubMed, Cochrane Library, Embase and Wanfang databases up to 1 December 2025. Studies considered for inclusion comprised randomised controlled trials and pre-post control studies.

A powerful but frequently overlooked role of thermodynamics in environmental microbiology: inspirations from anammox.

Thermodynamics has long been applied in predicting undiscovered microorganisms or analyzing energy flows in microbial metabolism, as well as evaluating microbial impacts on global element distributions. However, further development and refinement in this interdisciplinary field are still needed. This work endeavors to develop a whole-cycle framework integrating thermodynamics with microbiological studies, focusing on representative nitrogen-transforming microorganisms.

Rational Design of NIR-II Fluorescence/Photoacoustic Nanosensor Tailored for Mechanisms of Diabetes-Related Breast Cancer.

Breast cancer (BC) is the second most common cause of cancer induced death worldwide. Current statistics has disclosed that the diabetic BC patients have significantly worse survival rate compared with nondiabetic BC patients. However, the specific mechanism is still being explored.

Association between alcohol consumption and risk of type 2 diabetes in Japan: a population-base longitudinal cohort study.

Heavy alcohol consumption is a known risk factor for type 2 diabetes (T2D), However, the moderating effect of fasting plasma glucose (FPG) levels remains unclear. This study explores the relationship between alcohol intake and T2D risk across FPG strata in a Japanese cohort. Data from 15,453 participants in the NAGALA cohort were analyzed over 5.

The time-stamped effects of screen exposure on food intake in adults: A meta-analysis of experimental studies.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to examine time-stamped impacts of screen exposure on food intake among healthy adults.

Methods: Four electronic databases were searched up to August 31, 2024, including ProQuest, PubMed, Web of Science and Embase. A meta-analysis of inverse variance was used to calculate the standardized mean difference (SMD) in food intake between watching and not watching screen groups, and groups with different screen contents (e.

Key enzymatic activities and metabolic pathway dynamics in acidogenic fermentation of food waste: Impact of pH and organic loading rate.

Acidogenic fermentation was an effective technology to recover volatile fatty acids (VFAs) ethanol and lactic acid from food wastes (FW) as bioresources. However, the impact of process controls on key functional enzymes and metabolic pathways has been inadequately understood. In this study, the metabolite distribution, key functional enzymes and metabolic pathways were completely elucidated using 16S rRNA gene high-throughput sequencing combined with PICRUSt2.

Clinicopathological and therapeutic comparisons of esophageal cancer between China and the USA: a multicenter hospital-based study.

Background: Esophageal cancer (EC) remains a global health challenge due to its poor prognosis. China and the United States of America (USA) represent two distinct epicenters of EC burden. Understanding the EC disparities in these two countries is vital for tailoring prevention strategies, optimizing treatment, and enhancing outcomes in both countries.

Ovarian reserve modulates the impact of vitamin D deficiency on assisted reproductive outcomes in patients undergoing controlled ovarian hyperstimulation.

Objective: The association between vitamin D deficiency and ovarian reserve-specific outcomes of assisted reproductive technology (ART) remains uncertain. This study aimed to investigate the role of ovarian reserve in the association between basal serum vitamin D levels and ART outcomes in patients undergoing controlled ovarian hyperstimulation (COH).

Methods: A total of 1,333 infertile women undergoing COH cycles were retrospectively analyzed.

Long-Term Cognitive Safety of Achieving Very Low LDL Cholesterol with Evolocumab.

Background: Concerns persist regarding the cognitive safety of achieving very low levels of low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol. Although short-term studies are reassuring, the long-term cognitive effects of sustained exposure to very low LDL cholesterol levels through combined proprotein convertase subtilisin-kexin type 9 (PCSK9) inhibition and statin therapy remain unknown.

Methods: This prospective study enrolled a subset of adults with atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease who had completed a neurocognitive substudy (EBBINGHAUS) of a placebo-controlled randomized trial of evolocumab (FOURIER) and were eligible for a long-term open-label extension.

Application of indocyanine green-human serum albumin complex in fluorescence image-guided laparoscopic anatomical liver resection: study protocol for a randomized controlled trial.

Background: Indocyanine green (ICG) is a near-infrared fluorescent dye widely used for intraoperative navigation during liver surgeries because of its non-radioactive nature, high safety, and minimal impact on liver function. However, variability in its dosage and concentration and its low imaging success rates have limited its widespread application. To address these issues, we developed a novel ICG-human serum albumin (ICG-HSA) complex to enhance fluorescence visualization during laparoscopic anatomical liver resection.

Microbial diversity and metabolomics analysis of colon contents exposed to cadmium and polystyrene microplastics.

Cadmium and microplastics, common pollutants, can accumulate in the body, impacting the intestinal barrier and harming livestock breeding. In order to explore the damage mechanism of cadmium and cadmium combined microplastic on the colon of mice, 60 mice were divided into three groups: The control group (0.2 mL of saline), cadmium group (Cd group, 0.

Biomimetic flame retardant adhesive via combining polysiloxane, chitosan and vermiculite nanosheets inspired by nacre and arthropod cuticle.

The wood industry's dependence on traditional petrochemical adhesives, which pose environmental and health risks, has spurred research into sustainable alternatives. Sustainable bio-based polysaccharide materials show promise due to their inherent adhesive properties, despite challenges related to mechanical weaknesses and water resistance. Inspired by the hardening mechanisms of nacre and arthropod cuticles, we have developed a novel biomimetic flame-retardant HPA/OCTS/VMT NSs-NH adhesive.

Effects of Bifidobacterium and rosuvastatin on metabolic-associated fatty liver disease via the gut-liver axis.

Background/aims: Research has indicated that treatment with rosuvastatin can improve liver pathology in metabolic-associated fatty liver disease (MAFLD) patients and that treatment with Bifidobacterium can improve MAFLD. Therefore, the effects of Bifidobacterium, rosuvastatin, and their combination on related indices in a rat model of diet-induced MAFLD need to be investigated.

Methods: Forty rats were divided into five groups: the normal diet group (N), high-fat diet (HFD) model group (M), HFD + probiotic group (P), HFD + statin group (S), and HFD + probiotic + statin group (P-S).

Relevance of macrophages in the wound healing process among individuals afflicted with diabetic foot ulcers.

In this paper, we provide a commentary on an article focusing on diabetic foot ulcer (DFU) as a dreadful complication of diabetes mellitus. The development of this condition is influenced by factors such as diabetic peripheral neuropathy, lower extremity artery disease, and infection. However, the underlying mechanism remains elusive.

Unsupervised clustering approach to assess heterogeneity of treatment effects across patient phenotypes in randomized clinical trials.

Background: Primary results from randomized clinical trials (RCT) only inform on the average treatment effect in the studied population, and it is critical to understand how treatment effect varies across subpopulations. In this paper we describe a clustering-based approach for the assessment of Heterogeneity of Treatment Effect (HTE) over patient phenotypes, which maintains the unsupervised nature of classical subgroup analysis while jointly accounting for relevant patient characteristics.

Methods: We applied phenotype-based stratification in the ENGAGE AF-TIMI 48 trial, a non-inferiority trial comparing the effects of higher-dose edoxaban regimen (direct anticoagulant) versus warfarin (vitamin K antagonist) on a composite endpoint of stroke and systemic embolism in 14,062 patients with atrial fibrillation.