Investigating the Mechanism of Neurotoxic Effects of PFAS in Differentiated Neuronal Cells through Transcriptomics and Lipidomics Analysis.

Per- and polyfluorinated alkyl substances (PFAS) are pervasive environmental contaminants that bioaccumulate in tissues and pose risks to human health. Increasing evidence links PFAS to neurodegenerative and behavioral disorders, yet the underlying mechanisms of their effects on neuronal function remain largely unexplored. In this study, we utilized SH-SY5Y neuroblastoma cells, differentiated into neuronal-like cells, to investigate the impact of six PFAS compounds─perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), perfluorooctanesulfonic acid (PFOS), perfluorodecanoic acid (PFDA), perfluorodecanesulfonic acid (PFDS), 8:2 fluorotelomer sulfonate (8:2 FTS), and 8:2 fluorotelomer alcohol (8:2 FTOH)─on neuronal health.

Decoding derogation: The impact of environmental values and political ideology on the effect of persuasive message about recycle and reuse behaviors.

Although persuasive messages are designed to motivate individuals to engage in intended behaviors, they do not always work. Often, people follow previously established values and ideologies and dismiss persuasive messages. We examine how participants react to a persuasive message related to plastic pollution and how these reactions shape their willingness to recycle and reuse.

Structure, orientation, and dynamics of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substance (PFAS) surfactants at the air-water interface: Molecular-level insights.

Hypothesis: Understanding the intricate molecular-level details of toxic per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) partitioning to the air-water interface holds paramount importance in evaluating their fate and transport, as well as for finding safer alternatives for various applications, including aqueous film forming foams. The behavior of these substances at interfaces strongly depends on molecular architecture, chemistry, and concentration, which define molecular packing, self-assembly, interfacial diffusion, and the surface tension.

Simulations: Modeling of three PFAS surfactants, namely, longer-tail (perfluorooctanoate (PFOA)) and shorter-tail (perfluorobutanoate (PFBA) and 2,3,3,3-tetrafluoro-2-(heptafluoropropoxy) propanoate (GenX)) has been conducted using atomistic molecular dynamics simulations.

Control of myopia using diffusion optics spectacle lenses: 4-year results of a multicentre randomised controlled, efficacy and safety study (CYPRESS).

Aims: To evaluate the myopia control efficacy of Diffusion Optics Technology (DOT) spectacle lenses in children over a 4-year treatment period.

Methods: CYPRESS Part 1 (NCT03623074) was a 3-year multicentre, randomised, controlled, double-masked trial comparing two investigational spectacle lens DOT designs (Test 1, Test 2) and standard single vision Control lenses in 256 North American children aged 6-10 years. Children completing Part 1 (n=200) were invited to enrol in CYPRESS Part 2 (NCT04947735) for an additional 1-year period.

Resting vagally-mediated heart rate variability in the laboratory is associated with momentary negative affect and emotion regulation in daily life.

Vagally-mediated heart rate variability (vmHRV) is a physiological index reflecting parasympathetic activity that has been linked to emotion regulation (ER) capacity. However, very limited research has examined associations of physiological indices of regulation such as vmHRV with emotional functioning in daily life. The few studies that exist have small samples sizes and typically focus on only a narrow aspect of ER or emotional functioning.

Multi-modal transformer architecture for medical image analysis and automated report generation.

Medical practitioners examine medical images, such as X-rays, write reports based on the findings, and provide conclusive statements. Manual interpretation of the results and report generation by examiners are time-consuming processes that lead to potential delays in diagnosis. We propose an automated report generation model for medical images leveraging an encoder-decoder architecture.

Interatrial Wall Abnormality is Associated with Adverse Same-Admission Outcomes Following Total Knee Arthroplasty.

Total knee arthroplasty (TKA) is the most common joint arthroplasty procedure and is shown to be a reliable and efficacious way to improve quality of life. Individuals with interatrial wall abnormalities (IAWAs), such as atrial septal defect or patent foramen ovale (PFO), are at increased baseline risk for stroke and overall lifetime morbidity. The purpose of our study was to elucidate the association between IAWAs and perioperative TKA outcomes.

The postnatal injection of AAV9-FOXG1 rescues corpus callosum agenesis and other brain deficits in the mouse model of FOXG1 syndrome.

Heterozygous mutations in the gene manifest as FOXG1 syndrome, a severe neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by structural brain anomalies, including agenesis of the corpus callosum, hippocampal reduction, and myelination delays. Despite the well-defined genetic basis of FOXG1 syndrome, therapeutic interventions targeting the underlying cause of the disorder are nonexistent. In this study, we explore the therapeutic potential of adeno-associated virus 9 (AAV9)-mediated delivery of the gene.

Injectable shear-thinning hydrogels promote oligodendrocyte progenitor cell survival and remyelination in the central nervous system.

Cell therapy for the treatment of demyelinating diseases such as multiple sclerosis is hampered by poor survival of donor oligodendrocyte cell preparations, resulting in limited therapeutic outcomes. Excessive cell death leads to the release of intracellular alloantigens, which likely exacerbate local inflammation and may predispose the graft to eventual rejection. Here, we engineered innovative cell-instructive shear-thinning hydrogels (STHs) with tunable viscoelasticity and bioactivity for minimally invasive delivery of primary human oligodendrocyte progenitor cells (hOPCs) to the brain of a mouse, a model of congenital hypomyelinating disease.

Diabetes surpasses obesity as a risk factor for low serum testosterone level.

Background: Male obesity is one of the most associated factors with substandard testosterone levels. However, there is growing evidence linking low testosterone levels to insulin resistance and diabetic complications. We aimed to study the impact of diabetes mellitus on testosterone levels and to assess the correlation of various clinical and biochemical factors with hypogonadism.

Building Chemical Intuition about Physicochemical Properties of C8-Per-/Polyfluoroalkyl Carboxylic Acids through Computational Means.

We have predicted acid dissociation constants (p ), octanol-water partition coefficients ( ), and DMPC lipid membrane-water partition coefficients ( ) of 150 different eight-carbon-containing poly-/perfluoroalkyl carboxylic acids (C8-PFCAs) utilizing the COnductor-like Screening MOdel for Realistic Solvents (COSMO-RS) theory. Different trends associated with functionalization, degree of fluorination, degree of saturation, degree of chlorination, and branching are discussed on the basis of the predicted values for the partition coefficients. In general, functionalization closest to the carboxylic headgroup had the greatest impact on the value of the predicted physicochemical properties.

KDM7A-DT induces genotoxic stress, tumorigenesis, and progression of p53 missense mutation-associated invasive breast cancer.

Stress-induced promoter-associated and antisense lncRNAs (si-paancRNAs) originate from a reservoir of oxidative stress (OS)-specific promoters via RNAPII pausing-mediated divergent antisense transcription. Several studies have shown that the KDM7A divergent transcript gene (), which encodes a si-paancRNA, is overexpressed in some cancer types. However, the mechanisms of this overexpression and its corresponding roles in oncogenesis and cancer progression are poorly understood.

Human surfactant protein A inhibits SARS-CoV-2 infectivity and alleviates lung injury in a mouse infection model.

Introduction: SARS coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infects human angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (hACE2)-expressing lung epithelial cells through its spike (S) protein. The S protein is highly glycosylated and could be a target for lectins. Surfactant protein A (SP-A) is a collagen-containing C-type lectin, expressed by mucosal epithelial cells and mediates its antiviral activities by binding to viral glycoproteins.

Sex-Related Differences in Utilization and Outcomes of Extracorporeal Cardio-Pulmonary Resuscitation for Refractory Cardiac Arrest.

Sparse data exist on sex-related differences in extracorporeal cardiopulmonary resuscitation (ECPR) for refractory cardiac arrest (rCA). We explored the role of sex on the utilization and outcomes of ECPR for rCA by retrospective analysis of the Extracorporeal Life Support Organization (ELSO) International Registry. The primary outcome was in-hospital mortality.

Carboxymethyl hydroxypropyl guar gum physicochemical properties in dilute aqueous media.

We investigate carboxymethyl hydroxypropyl guar gum (CMHPG) solution properties in water and NaCl, KCl, and CaCl aqueous solutions. The Huggins, Kraemer, and Rao models were applied by fitting specific and relative viscosity of CMHPG/water and CMHPG/salt/water to determine the intrinsic viscosity [η]. The Rao models yielded better results (R = 0.

Pysanky to Microfluidics: An Innovative Wax-Based Approach to Low Cost, Rapid Prototyping of Microfluidic Devices.

A wax-based contact printing method to create microfluidic devices is demonstrated. This printing technology demonstrates a new pathway to rapid, cost-effective device prototyping, eliminating the use of expensive micromachining equipment and chemicals. Derived from the traditional Ukrainian Easter egg painting technique called "pysanky" a series of microfluidic devices were created.

Effects of Ionic Liquids on the Cylindrical Self-Assemblies Formed by Poly(ethylene oxide)-Poly(propylene oxide)-Poly(ethylene oxide) Block Copolymers in Water.

Aiming at the fundamental understanding of solvent effects in amphiphilic polymer systems, we considered poly(ethylene oxide)-poly(propylene oxide)-poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO-PPO-PEO) block copolymers in water mixed with an ionic liquid-ethylammonium nitrate (EAN), 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium hexafluorophosphate (BMIMPF), or 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium tetrafluoroborate (BMIMBF)-and we investigated the hexagonal lyotropic liquid crystal structures by means of small-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS). At 50% polymer, the hexagonal structure (cylinders of self-assembled block copolymer) was maintained across the solvent mixing ratio. The effects of the ionic liquids were reflected in the characteristic length scales of the hexagonal structure and were interpreted in terms of the location of the ionic liquid in the self-assembled block copolymer domains.

MiMultiCat: A Unified Cloud Platform for the Analysis of Microbiome Data with Multi-Categorical Responses.

The field of the human microbiome is rapidly growing due to the recent advances in high-throughput sequencing technologies. Meanwhile, there have also been many new analytic pipelines, methods and/or tools developed for microbiome data preprocessing and analytics. They are usually focused on microbiome data with continuous (e.

Salt and Temperature Effects on Xanthan Gum Polysaccharide in Aqueous Solutions.

Xanthan gum (XG) is a carbohydrate polymer with anionic properties that is widely used as a rheology modifier in various applications, including foods and petroleum extraction. The aim was to investigate the effect of Na, K, and Ca on the physicochemical properties of XG in an aqueous solution as a function of temperature. Huggins, Kraemer, and Rao models were applied to determine intrinsic viscosity, [], by fitting the relative viscosity () or specific viscosity () of XG/water and XG/salt/water solutions.

Influence of Phenotypes on the Metabolic Syndrome of Women with Polycystic Ovary Syndrome over a Six-Year Follow-Up in Brazil.

Background: We followed polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) women with metabolic syndrome (MS) over a six-year treatment period and evaluated the influence of PCOS phenotypes on MS and on the risk for type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM).

Methods: This was an observational study of 457 PCOS women, whose demographic, clinical, hormonal, and metabolic data underwent analysis. The PCOS women were divided into four groups per NIH recommendations.

Supplementation with fibroblast growth factor 7 during maturation of porcine cumulus-oocyte complexes improves oocyte maturation and early embryonic development.

generation of porcine embryos is an indispensable method in the realms of both agriculture and biomedicine. Nonetheless, the extant procedures encounter substantial obstacles pertaining to both the caliber and efficacy of the produced embryos, necessitating extensive research to maturation (IVM), the seminal commencement phase. One potentially fruitful approach may lie in refining the media and supplements composition utilized for oocyte maturation.

Public thoughts on incentivizing COVID-19 vaccine uptake in the United States: testing hostile media bias with user-generated comments.

Facebook is the most popular social media platform and often used by news organizations to distribute content to broad audiences. Features of this online news environment, especially user-generated comments shown to news consumers, have the potential to induce audience perceptions of hostile media bias. This study furthers investigation into the influence of exposure to Facebook comments and news topics on consumers.