Danshen injection ameliorates unilateral ureteral obstruction-induced renal fibrosis by inhibiting ferroptosis via activating SIRT1/GPX4 pathway.

Introduction: The pathogenesis of renal fibrosis is related to blood stasis, and the method of promoting blood circulation and removing blood stasis is often used as the treatment principle. Danshen injection (DSI) is a commonly used drug for promoting blood circulation and removing blood stasis in clinic. However, whether DSI slows the progression of renal fibrosis or the potential mechanism is uncertain.

Child exposure to N-(1,3-dimethylbutyl)-N'-phenyl-p-phenylenediamine (6PPD) and its derived quinone (6PPDQ) in e-waste areas: Urinary concentrations, sources, and health effect assessment.

N-(1,3-dimethylbutyl)-N'-phenyl-p-phenylenediamine quinone (6PPDQ) and its parent 6PPD are ubiquitous in the environment and may induce multi-endpoint toxicity. Electronic waste (e-waste) dismantling is an under-recognized source of 6PPD and 6PPDQ emissions, and there is a lack of epidemiological investigations into their presence and health effects in local populations. This study aimed to determine the urinary concentrations of 6PPD and 6PPDQ in children aged 2-7 years from e-waste dismantling areas and evaluate their potential risk to physical growth.

Design, Synthesis, and Evaluation of Selective PDE4 Inhibitors for the Therapy of Pulmonary Injury.

Pulmonary inflammation is the main cause of lung injury. Phosphodiesterase 4 (PDE4) is a promising anti-inflammatory target for the treatment of respiratory diseases. Herein, we designed and synthesized 43 compounds in two novel series of benzimidazole derivatives as PDE4 inhibitors.

Construction of anticancer drug incorporated aptamer-functionalized cationic β-lactoglobulin: induction of cell cycle arrest and apoptosis in colorectal cancer.

Nanoscale drug delivery systems that are both multifunctional and targeted have been developed using proteins as a basis, thanks to their attractive biomacromolecule properties. A novel nanocarrier, aptamer (AS1411)-conjugated β-lactoglobulin/poly-l-lysine (BLG/Ap/PL) nanoparticles, was developed in this study. To this unique formulation, the as-prepared nanocarrier blends the distinctive features of an aptamer as a chemotherapeutic targeting agent with those of protein nanocarriers.

Associations of co-exposure to polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and lead (Pb) with IGF1 methylation in peripheral blood of preschool children from an e-waste recycling area.

Background: Childhood exposure to polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) or lead (Pb) is associated with epigenetic modifications. However, the effects of their co-exposures on IGF1 (Insulin-like growth factor 1) methylation and the potential role in child physical growth are unclear.

Methods: From our previous children study (N = 238, ages of 3-6), 75 children with higher total concentrations of urinary ten hydroxyl PAH metabolites (∑OH-PAHs) from an e-waste recycling area, Guiyu, and 75 with lower ∑OH-PAHs from Haojiang (reference area) were included.

TGF-β Promotes Hepatocellular Carcinoma Metastasis Through Through m6A Modification of PCDHGA9.

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a highly lethal cancer with significant mortality, primarily attributed to metastasis. Although Protocadherin Gamma Subfamily A, 9 (PCDHGA9) has been identified as a tumor suppressor gene in cancer metastasis, its role in HCC remains ambiguous. This study clarifies the role of PCDHGA9 in HCC by examining its expression, clinical significance, and molecular activities.

Semaglutide alleviates gut microbiota dysbiosis induced by a high-fat diet.

This study investigated the effects of semaglutide (Sema) on the gut microbiota of obese mice induced with high-fat diet (HFD). Male C57BL/6 J mice aged 6 weeks were enrolled and randomly distributed to four groups, which were provided with a normal control diet (NCD,NCD + Sema) and a 60% proportion of a high-fat diet (HFD,HFD + Sema), respectively. HFD was given for 10 weeks to develop an obesity model and the intervention was lasted for 18 days.

Synergistic quorum sensing inhibition and mild-temperature photothermal therapy of integrated nanoplatform for implant-associated biofilm infections.

In current clinical practice, the presence of biofilms poses a significant challenge in the effective elimination of bacterial infections because of the physical and chemical barriers formed by biofilms, which offer persistent protection to bacteria. Here, we developed hollow mesoporous polydopamine (hMP) nanoparticles (NPs) loaded with luteolin (Lu) as a quorum sensing inhibitor, which were further coated with hyaluronic acid (HA) shells to create hMP-Lu@HA NPs. We observed that upon reaching the infection site, the HA shells underwent initial degradation by the hyaluronidase enzyme present in the bacterial infection's microenvironment to expose the hMP-Lu NPs.

Risk assessment and partitioning behavior of PFASs in environmental matrices from an e-waste recycling area.

Objective: Perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substance (PFAS) contamination and their human exposure risks are a major concern. However, knowledge of PFAS contamination in environments near e-waste recycling sites and their health risk assessment are scarce.

Methods: We measured the concentrations of PFASs in soil (n = 12), water (n = 12) and atmospheric samples (n = 26) by LCP-MS/MS, analyzed the source apportionment of PFASs by PCA, and investigated the child health risk assessment from an e-waste recycling area (Guiyu) and a reference area (Haojiang).

Design, synthesis and anti-inflammatory activity study of lansiumamide analogues for treatment of acute lung injury.

Acute lung injury (ALI) is an inflammation-mediated respiratory disease with a high mortality rate. Medications with anti-inflammatory small molecules have been demonstrated in phase I and II clinical trials to considerably reduce the ALI mortality. In this study, two series of lansiumamide analogues were designed, synthesized, and evaluated for anti-inflammatory activity for ALI treatment.

Carboxymethyl Chitosan/Sodium Alginate/Chitosan Quaternary Ammonium Salt Composite Hydrogel Supported 3J for the Treatment of Oral Ulcer.

Oral ulcer is a common inflammatory disease of oral mucosa, causing severe burning pain and great inconvenience to daily life. In this study, compound with anti-inflammatory activity was synthesized beforehand. Following that, an intelligent composite hydrogel supported was designed with sodium alginate, carboxymethyl chitosan, and chitosan quaternary ammonium salt as the skeleton, and its therapeutic effect on the rat oral ulcer model was investigated.

Plastic or plastic-free life: From formation to removal.

Microplastics (MPs) and nanoplastics (NPs) have caused global environmental concerns due to their ubiquitous existence in our surrounding environment and the potential threats posed to the ecosystem and human health. This review aims to extend current knowledge on the formation and degradation of MPs and NPs. The paper presents the potential sources of MPs and NPs including plastic containers, textiles, cosmetics, personal care products, COVID-19 wastes, and other plastic products.

Blood lead levels of children exposed to e-waste: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Blood lead levels (BLLs) have been decreasing worldwide for decades. However, systematic reviews and quantitative syntheses of BLLs in electronic waste (e-waste)-exposed children are lacking. To summarize temporal trend of BLLs among children in e-waste-recycling areas.

Design, synthesis, and biological evaluation of diaryl heterocyclic derivatives targeting tubulin polymerization with potent anticancer activities.

A series of diaryl heterocyclic analogues were designed and synthesized as tubulin polymerization inhibitors. Among them, compound 6y showed the highest antiproliferative activity against HCT-116 colon cancer cell line with an IC values of 2.65 μM.

Extensive identification of serum metabolites related to microbes in different gut locations and evaluating their associations with porcine fatness.

Gut microbiota plays important roles in host metabolism. Whether and how much the gut microbiota in different gut locations contributes to the variations of host serum metabolites are largely unknown, because it is difficult to obtain microbial samples from different gut locations on a large population scale. Here, we quantified the gut microbial compositions using 16S rRNA gene sequencing for 1070 samples collected from the ileum, cecum and faeces of 544 F6 pigs from a mosaic pig population.

Epidemiological evidence for the effect of environmental heavy metal exposure on the immune system in children.

Heavy metals exist widely in daily life, and exposure to heavy metals caused by environmental pollution has become a serious public health problem worldwide. Due to children's age-specific behavioral characteristics and imperfect physical function, the adverse health effects of heavy metals on children are much higher than in adults. Studies have found that heavy metal exposure is associated with low immune function in children.

Current status of indoor dust PBDE pollution and its physical burden and health effects on children.

Polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) are widely detected in indoor dust, which has been identified as a more important route of PBDE exposure for children than food intake. The physical burden and health hazards to children of PBDE exposure in house dust have not been adequately summarized; therefore, this article reviews the current status of PBDE pollution in indoor dust associated with children, highlighting the epidemiological evidence for physical burden and health risks in children. We find that PBDEs remain at high levels in indoor dust, including in homes, schools, and cars, especially in cars showing a significant upward trend.

A novel biocompatible Eu-based coordination polymers of cytarabine anticancer drug: Preparation, luminescence properties and anticancer activity studies.

In this study, we use cytarabine anticancer drug to synthesize a new rare earth complex with Europium ion. The study work is an attempt to investigate luminescence and biological properties of the Eu-based coordination polymers of cytarabine (Eu-CP-Ara) anticancer drug which have been prepared by us. Eu-CP-Ara has luminescence properties with emission centering at about 619 nm excited with 394 nm.

A pre-column derivatization high-performance liquid chromatography method for simultaneous determination of short-chain and medium-chain fatty acids in a fecal sample.

Short-chain and medium-chain fatty acids have plentiful biological functions, which play a crucial role in the diagnosis and therapy of many diseases. Herein, a new method for simultaneous quantifying 17 short-chain and medium-chain fatty acids with high-performance liquid chromatography coupled with an ultraviolet detector was developed and the pre-column derivatization by indole-3-acetic acid hydrazide was performed to improve the separation and detection. The conditions of the derivatization reaction were systematically investigated.

HIV-1 pretreatment drug resistance and genetic transmission network in the southwest border region of China.

Background: HIV drug resistance increased with the widespread use of antiretroviral drugs, and posed great threat to antiretroviral therapy (ART). Pu'er Prefecture, lying in the southwest of Yunnan Province, China, borders Myanmar, Laos and Vietnam, is also the area where AIDS was discovered earlier, however, in which there has been no information on HIV drug resistance.

Methods: A cross-sectional survey of pretreatment drug resistance (PDR) was conducted in Pu'er Prefecture in 2021.

Kindergarten indoor dust metal(loid) exposure associates with elevated risk of anemia in children.

Exposure to metals and metalloids in indoor dust is associated with adverse health effects in young children, but there is limited evidence for an association with anemia, which is at high risk in children. The aim of this study was to investigate the association between exposure to multiple metal(loid)s in indoor dust in kindergartens and the risk of anemia in children. In 2021, 2165 children from 25 kindergartens in eastern China were included in the study and had their hemoglobin (Hb) measured.

[Effect of Gegen Qinlian Decoction on methylation and expression of Scd1gene in adipose tissue of insulin resistant rats and correlations between methylation and physiological and biochemical parameters].

This study aimed to explore the effect of Gegen Qinlian Decoction(GQD) on the methylation and mRNA expression level of stearoyl CoA desaturase(SCD) gene in the adipose tissue of rats with insulin resistance(IR) induced by high-fat diet as well as the correlations between methylation and physiological and biochemical indicators. The animals were divided into seven groups, namely, blank control(C) group, IR model group, low-(1.65 g·kg~(-1)), medium-(4.

Maternal exposure to atmospheric PM and fetal brain development: Associations with BAI1 methylation and thyroid hormones.

Maternal exposure to atmospheric fine particulate matter (PM) during pregnancy is associated with adverse fetal development, including abnormal brain development. However, the underlying mechanisms and influencing factors remain uncertain. This study investigated the roles of DNA methylation in genes involving neurodevelopment and thyroid hormones (THs) in fetal brain development after maternal exposure to PM from e-waste.

Identification of significant prognostic risk markers for pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma: a bioinformatic analysis.

Objective: This study aimed to identify novel prognostic biomarkers of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) using bioinformatics analyzes.

Methods: Clinical information, microRNAs (miRNAs), and genes expression profile data from PDAC cases were downloaded from the Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) database. The potential prognostic risk miRNAs and genes were screened using the Elastic Net Cox proportional risk regression hazards (EN-COX) model.