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Enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli (ETEC) infection is a severe threat to global public health because of its high morbidity and mortality among children and infants. Enteric glial cells (EGCs) are involved in host–bacteria communication. However, the mechanisms through which EGCs interact with ETEC remain unclear. We attempted to assess whether γ-aminobutyric acid type B receptor (GABABR) activation participated in EGC autophagy during Escherichia coli K88 (ETECK88) infection. Alterations in autophagy and EGC activity were observed in the intestines of the ETECK88-infected mice, and similar results were obtained from experiments in which the EGCs were directly infected with ETECK88. EGC pretreatment with specific autophagy agonists significantly decreased the inflammatory response and bacterial burden, whereas pretreatment with inhibitors had the opposite effect. Interestingly, in EGCs, GABABR activation notably increased Beclin 1 and LC3 levels and autophagosome and autolysosome numbers, thus promoting autophagy activation and enhancing antimicrobial responses against ETECK88 infection. Furthermore, GABABR defense was mediated via myeloid differentiation factor 88 (MyD88) signaling in EGCs, which was proven to be based on the inhibition or overexpression of MyD88. Notably, comparable results of GABABR activation in vivo were observed in response to ETECK88, implicating this as a defense mechanism that reinforced antibacterial activity to alleviate intestinal inflammation in mice. Our study revealed previously unappreciated roles for GABABR in linking EGC antibacterial autophagy to strengthen host defense against ETECK88 infection, thus identifying GABABR as an important target for the treatment of infective enteritis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Urbanization-related human activities, such as population aggregation, rapid industrial expansion, and intensified traffic, are key factors that impact local polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon emissions and their associated health risks. Consequently, regions with varying degrees of urbanization within a megacity may exhibit diverse spatiotemporal patterns in the presence and distribution of soil polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, resulting in different levels of ecological risks for local inhabitants following the same period of development. In this study, we measured the concentrations of 16 polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in soil samples collected from industrial district and rural district in Tianjin (China) in 2018, and compared with polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon data in 2001 from a previous study to characterize these regional variations in occurrence, source, and human risk of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons induced by urbanization with time and space. The results indicate the 20-year rapid urbanization and industrialization has differentially affected the composition, distribution and sources of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in soils from different economic functional zones in Tianjin. Additionally, its impact on health risks in rural district appeared to be more significant than that in industrial district. • Urbanization had different effects on industrial and rural soil PAHs. • Regional socioeconomic patterns and residential behaviors influenced local PAH source profiles. • Risk regions and affected population were estimated quantitatively. • Urbanization-related impact on cancer risks in rural district seemed more notable. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • 1D skin-core multilayer structure was fabricated by a facile template method. • Bicontinuous electron/ion transport during the charge/discharge process. • The large specific surface area and hollow hierarchical porous structure. • Adjusting active layers or sites can obviously improve the capacitive properties. • The maximum energy density of 8.77 Wh kg−1 at a power density of 0.25 kW kg−1. The fast transport of electrons and ions within electrodes is crucial to the final electrochemical properties. Herein, we have developed a unique ultra-long one-dimensional (1D) skin-core multilayer structure based on electrospun carbon nanofibers mainly through a facile Stöber method combined with resorcinol–formaldehyde resin, which not only achieves bicontinuous electron/ion transport during the charge/discharge process, but also provides large surface area for ion adsorption. Particularly, controlling the number of active layers as well as regulating the active sites in layer both can obviously improve capacitive properties. Benefiting from the synergistic effects of the desirable architecture, such the rational-designed skin-core structural carbon nanofibers as supercapacitor electrode can deliver a high specific capacitance up to 255 F g−1 at 0.5 A g−1, favorable rate capability with 89% capacitance retention of initial capacitance at 8 A g−1, and excellent cycling stability with nearly 93% capacity retention after 10,000 cycles at 2 A g−1. Furthermore, the as-assembled symmetric supercapacitor devices also present a maximum energy density of 8.77 Wh kg−1 at 0.25 kW kg−1 and a maximum power density of 3.70 kW kg−1 at 6.74 Wh kg−1. Such skin-core carbon nanofibers provide an effective strategy to design high-performance supercapacitor electrode for the next-generation energy storage devices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Normobaric hyperoxia (NBO) is a potentially promising stroke treatment strategy that could protect the ischemic penumbra and could be administered as an adjunct before vascular recanalization. However, the efficacy and safety of NBO have not been confirmed by randomized controlled trials. The study aims to assess the efficacy and safety of NBO for ischemic stroke due to large artery occlusion (LVO) of acute anterior circulation among patients who had endovascular treatment (EVT) and were randomized within 6 h from symptom onset. Based on the data of the modified Rankin Scale (mRS) score at 90 days from the normobaric hyperoxia combined with EVT for acute ischemic stroke (OPENS: NCT03620370) trial, 284 patients will be included to achieve a 90% power by using Wilcoxon-Mann-Whitney test and the proportional odds model to calculate the sample size. The study is a prospective, multicenter, blinded, randomized controlled trial. The NBO group is administered with mask oxygen therapy of 10 L/min, while the sham NBO group is with that of 1 L/min. The primary outcome is the mRS score at 90 days. Secondary endpoints include cerebral infarct volume at 24–48 h, functional independence (mRS ≤2) at 90 days, and improvement in neurological function at 24 h. Safety outcomes include 90-day mortality, oxygen-related adverse events, and serious adverse events. This study will indicate whether NBO combined with EVT is superior to EVT alone for acute ischemic stroke caused by LVO in subjects randomized within 6 h from symptom onset and will provide some evidence for NBO intervention as an adjunct to thrombectomy for acute stroke. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Methods Results Conclusions Arg‐gingipain A (RgpA) is the primary virulence factor of Porphyromonas gingivalis and contains hemagglutinin adhesin (HA), which helps bacteria adhere to cells and proteins. Hemagglutinin's functional domains include cleaved adhesin (CA), which acts as a hemagglutination and hemoglobin‐binding actor. Here, we confirmed that the HA and CA genes are immunogenic, and using adjuvant chemokine to target dendritic cells (DCs) enhanced protective autoimmunity against P. gingivalis–induced periodontal disease.C57 mice were immunized prophylactically with pVAX1‐CA, pVAX1‐HA, pVAX1, and phosphate‐buffered saline (PBS) through intramuscular injection every 2 weeks for a total of three administrations before P. gingivalis–induced periodontitis. The DCs were analyzed using flow cytometry and ribonucleic acid sequencing (RNA‐seq) transcriptomic assays following transfection with CA lentivirus. The efficacy of the co‐delivered molecular adjuvant CA DNA vaccine was evaluated in vivo using flow cytometry, immunofluorescence techniques, and micro‐computed tomography.After the immunization, both the pVAX1‐CA and pVAX1‐HA groups exhibited significantly elevated P. gingivalis–specific IgG and IgG1, as well as a reduction in bone loss around periodontitis‐affected teeth, compared to the pVAX1 and PBS groups (p < 0.05). The expression of CA promoted the secretion of HLA, CD86, CD83, and DC‐specific intercellular adhesion molecule‐3‐grabbing non‐integrin (DC‐SIGN) in DCs. Furthermore, the RNA‐seq analysis revealed a significant increase in the chemokine (C–C motif) ligand 19 (p < 0.05). A notable elevation in the quantities of DCs co‐labeled with CD11c and major histocompatibility complex class II, along with an increase in interferon‐gamma (IFN‐γ) cells, was observed in the inguinal lymph nodes of mice subjected to CCL19‐CA immunization. This outcome effectively illustrated the preservation of peri‐implant bone mass in rats afflicted with P. gingivalis–induced peri‐implantitis (p < 0.05).The co‐administration of a CCL19‐conjugated CA DNA vaccine holds promise as an innovative and targeted immunization strategy against P. gingivalis–induced periodontitis and peri‐implantitis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Lead-free inorganic perovskites have attracted intensive attention in the field of photodetectors owing to their high stability, non-toxicity, and remarkable photoelectric characteristics. Herein, we designed and developed a series of thus-far unreported lead-free all inorganic perovskite single crystals, K7Bi3X16 (X = Cl, Br). In particular, we resorted to cooling crystallization and intercalated K+ to inorganic Bi–Br and Bi–Cl frameworks as inorganic A-site cations, obtaining zero-dimensional (0D) K7Bi3X16 (X = Cl, Br) perovskite single crystals, which display suitable bandgaps, excellent electron mobility and low trap-state density, as analysed by experimental characterization and density functional theory (DFT) calculations. Accordingly, the vertical structure K7Bi3Br16 photodetector can achieve a fast ON/OFF switch under the irradiation of 395 nm light. When the light intensity is 5 mW cm−2 and the voltage is 3 V, the responsivity is calculated to be 0.052 mA W−1. The above characteristics make K7Bi3Br16 a promising material for fabricating ultraviolet photodetectors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Previous studies have almost exclusively examined the between-person associations between couple communication and marital satisfaction. However, relationship dynamics have also been theorized at the within-person level. This study examined the bidirectional associations between routine communication and marital satisfaction at the between-person (interindividual) level and within-person (intraindividual) level using three annual waves of data from 268 Chinese newlyweds (Mage = 29.59, SD = 3.25 for husbands; Mage = 28.08, SD = 2.51 for wives). Participants reported separately on their experiences of routine communication and marital satisfaction. The cross-lagged panel model (CLPM) was applied to examine between-person concurrent and lagged effects, and the random intercept cross-lagged panel model (RI_CLPM) was applied to examine within-person concurrent and lagged effects. Results from the CLPM revealed unidirectional lagged between-person associations from positive routine communication to marital satisfaction (instead of reciprocal associations). Results from the RI_CLPM showed a unidirectional lagged within-person association from positive routine communication to marital satisfaction (husbands only). Additionally, significant concurrent associations emerged in both models. This study provides additional insight into the within-person examination of non-conflict communication processes and highlights the importance of disaggregating between-person and within-person effects in understanding the nature of the dynamic association between routine communication and marital satisfaction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

AbstractHydrogen peroxide (H2O2) is widely used in the food industry as a bactericide due to its strong oxidizing ability. However, excess H2O2 in food can lead to chronic diseases, making it necessary to develop a rapid monitoring method. An electrochemical electrode based upon a glassy carbon electrode (GCE) modified with combined covalent organic framework (COF) and amino-modified multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWNT-NH2) has been developed. The modifier was prepared by assembling the COF onto the surface of MWNT-NH2. Under optimal conditions, the performance of the modified electrode was evaluated by differential pulse voltammetry (DPV) with a linear range from 20 to 140 μM and a detection limit of 0.14 μM. In addition, the modified electrode had good stability and reproducibility. Good selectivity in presence of potential interferences and the successful application for the determination H2O2 in environmental water and chicken feet suggest its potential for practical analysis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A new sensor based on copper-zinc bimetal embedded and nitrogen-doped carbon-based composites (CuZn@NC) was prepared for triclosan (TCS) detection by pyrolyzing the precursor of Cu–Zn binuclear metal–organic framework (MOF). The performance for detecting TCS was evaluated using linear scanning voltammetry (LSV) and differential pulse voltammetry (DPV), and the proton and electron numbers during TCS oxidation have been proved to be one-to-one. The results indicated that CuZn@NC can present a satisfactory analysis performance for TCS detection. Under the optimized conditions, the linear response range was 0.2–600 µM and the detection limit was 47.9 nM. The sensor presented good stability (signal current dropped only 2.5% after 21 days) and good anti-interference of inorganic salts and small molecular organic acids. The good recovery (97.5–104.1%) for detecting spiked TCS in commercial products (toothpaste and hand sanitizer) suggested its potential for routine determination of TCS in real samples. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Due to the widespread presence of nanoplastics (NPs) in daily essentials and drinking water, the potential adverse effects of NPs on human health have become a global concern. Human serum albumin (HSA), the most abundant and multi-functional protein in plasma, has been chosen to understand the biological effects of NPs after entering the blood. The esterase activity and the transport of bisphenol A in the presence of polystyrene nanoplastics (PSNPs) under physiological conditions (pH 4.0 and 7.4) have been investigated to evaluate the possible biological effects. The interactions between PSNPs and HSA have also been systematically studied by multispectral methods and dynamic light scattering techniques. The esterase activity of HSA presented a decreased trend with increasing PSNPs; conversely, higher permeabilities are accompanied by higher amounts of PSNPs. Compared with the unchanged hydrodynamic diameter and weaker interactions at pH 7.4, stronger binding between HSA and PSNPs at pH 4.0 led to a significant increase in the particle size of the PSNPs-HSA complex. The quenching mechanism belonged to the static quenching type. The electrostatic force is proposed to be the dominant factor for PSNPs binding to HSA. The work provides some information about the toxicity of NPs when exposed to humans. [Display omitted] • PSNPs can disrupt the conformation and function of HSA. • PSNPs quenched the fluorescence of HSA by static binding modes. • At pH 4.0, the binding of PSNPs to HSA was stronger. • The electrostatic interaction between PSNPs and HSA can be regulated by acidity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Cisplatin (CDDP) is the first-line chemotherapeutic strategy to treat patients with ovarian cancer (OC). The development of CDDP resistance remains an unsurmountable obstacle in OC treatment and frequently induces tumor recurrence. Circular RNAs (circRNAs) are noncoding RNAs with important functions in cancer progression. Whether circRNAs function in CDDP resistance of OC is unclear. Methods: Platinum-resistant circRNAs were screened via circRNA deep sequencing and examined using in situ hybridization (ISH) in OC. The role of circPLPP4 in CDDP resistance was assessed by clone formation and Annexin V assays in vitro, and by OC patient-derived xenografts and intraperitoneal tumor models in vivo. The mechanism underlying circPLPP4-mediated activation of miR-136/PIK3R1 signaling was examined by luciferase reporter assay, RNA pull-down, RIP, MeRIP and ISH. Results: circPLPP4 was remarkably upregulated in platinum resistant OC. circPLPP4 overexpression significantly enhanced, whereas circPLPP4 silencing reduced, OC cell chemoresistance. Mechanistically, circPLPP4 acts as a microRNA sponge to sequester miR-136, thus competitively upregulating PIK3R1 expression and conferring CDDP resistance. The increased circPLPP4 level in CDDP-resistant cells was caused by increased RNA stability, mediated by increased N6-methyladenosine (m6A) modification of circPLPP4. In vivo delivery of an antisense oligonucleotide targeting circPLPP4 significantly enhanced CDDP efficacy in a tumor model. Conclusions: Our study reveals a plausible mechanism by which the m6A -induced circPLPP4/ miR-136/ PIK3R1 axis mediated CDDP resistance in OC, suggesting that circPLPP4 may serve as a promising therapeutic target against CDDP resistant OC. A circPLPP4-targeted drug in combination with CDDP might represent a rational regimen in OC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) is one of the most devastating forms of stroke. However, studies on ICH at high altitude are insufficient. We aimed to compare the initial manifestations, imaging features and short-term functional outcomes of ICH at different altitudes, and further explore the effect of altitude on the severity and prognosis of ICH. We retrospectively recruited ICH patients from January 2018 to July 2021 from two centers at different altitudes in China. Information regarding to clinical manifestations, neuroimages, and functional outcomes at discharge were collected and analyzed. Association between altitude and initial severity, neuroimages, and short-term prognosis of ICH were also investigated. A total of 724 patients with 400 lowlanders and 324 highlanders were enrolled. Compared with patients from the plain, those at high altitude were characterized by more severe preliminary manifestations (P < 0.0001), larger hematoma volume (P < 0.001) and poorer short-term functional outcome (P < 0.0001). High altitude was independently associated with dependency at discharge (adjusted P = 0.024), in-hospital mortality (adjusted P = 0.049) and gastrointestinal hemorrhage incidence (adjusted P = 0.017). ICH patients from high altitude suffered from more serious initial manifestations and worse short-term functional outcome than lowlanders. Control of blood pressure, oxygen supplementation and inhibition of inflammation may be critical for ICH at high altitude. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Soil organic carbon (SOC) pool, the largest part of terrestrial ecosystem, controls global terrestrial carbon balance and consequently presented carbon cycle-climate feedback in climate projections. Microplastics, (MPs, <5 mm) as common pollutants in soil ecosystems, have an obvious impact on soil-borne carbon circulation by affecting soil microbial processes, which play a central role in regulating SOC conversion. In this review, we initially presented the sources, properties and ecological risks of MPs in soil ecosystem, and then the differentiated effects of MPs on the component of SOC, including dissolved organic carbon, soil microbial biomass carbon and easily oxidized organic carbon varying with the types and concentrations of MPs, the soil types, etc. As research turns into a broader perspective, greenhouse gas emissions dominated by the mineralization of SOC coming into view since it can be significantly affected by MPs and is closely associated with soil microbial respiration. The pathways of MPs impacting soil microbes-driven carbon conversion include changing microbial community structure and composition, the functional enzyme's activity and the abundance and expression of functional genes. However, numerous uncertainties still exist regarding the microbial mechanisms in the deeper biochemical process. More comprehensive studies are necessary to explore the affected footprint and provide guidance for finding the evaluation criterion of MPs affecting climate change. • Soil organic carbon pool presents carbon cycle-climate feedback in global warming. • MPs can regulate soil organic carbon turnover by impacting soil microbial processes. • Greenhouse gas emission is closely associated with soil microbial respiration. • MPs can affect soil microbial community, enzyme's activity and functional genes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hyperlipidemia-induced osteoporosis is marked by increased bone marrow adiposity, and treatment with statins for hyperlipidemia often leads to new-onset osteoporosis. Endosome-associated trafficking regulator 1 (ENTR1) has been found to interact with different proteins in pathophysiology, but its exact role in adipogenesis is not yet understood. This research aimed to explore the role of ENTR1 in adipogenesis and to discover a new small molecule that targets ENTR1 for evaluating its effectiveness in treating hyperlipidemia-induced osteoporosis. We found that ENTR1 expression increased during the adipogenesis of bone marrow mesenchymal cells (BMSCs). ENTR1 gain- and loss-of-function assays significantly enhanced lipid droplets formation. Mechanistically, ENTR1 binds peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ (PPARγ) and enhances its expression, thereby elevating adipogenic markers including C/EBPα and LDLR. Therapeutically, AN698/40746067 attenuated adipogenesis by targeting ENTR1 to suppress PPARγ. In vivo , AN698/40746067 reduced bone marrow adiposity and bone loss, as well as prevented lipogenesis-related obesity, inflammation, steatohepatitis, and abnormal serum lipid levels during hyperlipidemia. Together, these findings suggest that ENTR1 facilitates adipogenesis by PPARγ involved in BMSCs' differentiation, and targeted inhibition of ENTR1 by AN698/40746067 may offer a promising therapy for addressing lipogenesis-related challenges and alleviating osteoporosis following hyperlipidemia. [Display omitted] • ENTR1 promotes adipogenesis by binding PPARγ during BMSCs' differentiation. • AN698/40746067 is a targeted inhibitor of ENTR1 to suppress PPARγ expression. • AN698/40746067 reduces bone marrow adiposity to improve hyperlipidemic osteoporosis. • AN698/40746067 relieves multiple lipogenesis-related diseases in hyperlipidemic rats. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

New particle formation (NPF) is a key process occurring in the planetary boundary layer (PBL). Newly formed particles are an important source of aerosols and cloud condensation nuclei (CCN) that influence clouds and climate. However, the distribution of these new particles at different altitudes has rarely been studied. In-situ measurements of ultrafine particles (UFP) observed at the ground level and at the top of the Canton Tower (454 m) located in downtown Guangzhou in southern China were analyzed, along with measurements of multiple meteorological and physicochemical quantities observed during a field campaign carried out from December 2019 to March 2020 and simulated with the Weather Research and Forecasting (WRF-Chem) model. We found that turbulence and NPF characteristics vary considerably with height, with UFP concentrations diminishing by half from the surface to the tower top. This indicates that UFP are transported upward from the ground in the lower boundary layer. A consistent relationship is established between the occurrences of NPF and the evolution of turbulence. The correlation between the exchange ratio at the tower top correlates well with nucleation growth, suggesting that turbulence can play an important role in episodes of NPF growth. The growth rate is closely related to the turbulence exchange ratio, effectively dictating the UFP concentration before and during the COVID-19 lockdown period. A new mechanism is thus hypothesized: NPF happens earlier near the surface and grows faster in the upper PBL, attributed to condensable vapor being transported by turbulent vertical mixing in the boundary layer. Model simulations using the WRF-Chem model reveal that the exchange ratio changed NPF parameters, supporting the proposed mechanism that the evolution of the PBL has a significant impact on NPF. This should not be neglected in NPF research because this physical factor may be the dominant one underlying the NPF mechanism. • New particle formation (NPF) observed at the ground and the top of the Canton Tower (454 m) found the feature vary considerably at different heights. • Turbulence evolution is closely related to the growth rate. • NPF happens earlier near the surface and grows faster at the upper PBL attributed to turbulent mixing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] Stem cells from the apical papilla(SCAPs) exhibit remarkable tissue repair capabilities, demonstrate anti-inflammatory and pro-angiogenic effects, positioning them as promising assets in the realm of regenerative medicine. Recently, the focus has shifted towards exosomes derived from stem cells, perceived as safer alternatives while retaining comparable physiological functions. This study delves into the therapeutic implications of exosomes derived from SCAPs in the methionine-choline-deficient (MCD) diet-induced mice non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) model. We extracted exosomes from SCAPs. During the last two weeks of the MCD diet, mice were intravenously administered SCAPs-derived exosomes at two distinct concentrations (50 μg/mouse and 100 μg/mouse) biweekly. Thorough examinations of physiological and biochemical indicators were performed to meticulously evaluate the impact of exosomes derived from SCAPs on the advancement of NASH in mice induced by MCD diet. This findings revealed significant reductions in body weight loss and liver damage induced by the MCD diet following exosomes treatment. Moreover, hepatic fat accumulation was notably alleviated. Mechanistically, the treatment with exosomes led to an upregulation of phosphorylated adenosine monophosphate-activated protein kinase (p-AMPK) levels in the liver, enhancing hepatic fatty acid oxidation and transporter gene expression while inhibiting genes associated with fatty acid synthesis. Additionally, exosomes treatment increased the transcription levels of key liver mitochondrial marker proteins and the essential mitochondrial biogenesis factor. Furthermore, the levels of serum inflammatory factors and hepatic tissue inflammatory factor mRNA expression were significantly reduced, likely due to the anti-inflammatory phenotype induced by exosomes in macrophages. The above conclusion suggests that SCAPs-exosomes can improve NASH. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nanoplastics (NPs) and antibiotics have attracted more attention due to the potential toxicity to humans. Studies on their interactions as well as their subsequent combinations can provide useful information for understanding their health risks. In this study, bovine serum albumin (BSA) was used as the model protein to study the effects of polystyrene nanoplastics (PSNPs) on the binding of ciprofloxacin (CPFX) to BSA. The results showed that both the esterase-like activity of BSA in the presence and absence of PSNPs presented an increasing trend when increasing CPFX, and the enhancement when adding PSNPs could be attributed to the alteration of BSA conformation caused by PSNPs. The spectral analysis results indicated that the intrinsic fluorescence quenching of BSA in presence of CPFX is less affected by PSNPs, and PSNPs cannot directly affect the interactions between BSA and CPFX. Additionally, the binding experiments indicated that the presence of PSNPs is likely to promote the binding of CPFX to BSA molecules. This work will provide useful information on the influences of NPs to the health risks of antibiotics, and new insights into the toxic effects in the scene of co-existence. [Display omitted] • Potential toxic effects of co-existence with CPFX and PSNPs on bovine serum albumin. • The presence of PSNPs is likely to promote the binding of CPFX to BSA molecules. • PSNPs enhance esterase-like activities of BSA-CPFX system by indirect interaction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]