Correlation between postoperative chemotherapy regimen and survival in patients with resectable gastric adenocarcinoma accompanied with vascular cancer thrombus.

BACKGROUND: Patients with resectable gastric adenocarcinoma accompanied by vascular cancer thrombus (RGAVCT) have a poor prognosis, with a 5-year survival rate ranging from 18.42%-53.57%. These patients need a reasonable postoperative treatment plan to improve their prognosis. AIM: To determine the most effective postoperative chemotherapy regimen for patients with RGAVCT. METHODS: We retrospectively collected the clinicopathological data of 530 patients who underwent radical resection for gastric cancer between January 2017 and January 2022 and who were pathologically diagnosed with gastric adenocarcinoma with a choroidal cancer embolus. Furthermore, we identified the high-risk variables that can influence the prognosis of patients with RGAVCT by assessing the clinical and pathological features of the patients who met the inclusion criteria. We also assessed the significance of survival outcomes using Mantel-Cox univariate and multivariate analyses. The subgroups of patients with stages I, II, and III disease who received single-, dual-, or triple-drug regimens following surgery were analyzed using SPSS 25.0 and the ggplot2 package in R 4.3.0. RESULTS: In all, 530 eligible individuals with RGAVCT were enrolled in this study. The median overall survival (OS) of patients with RGAVCT was 24 months, and the survival rates were 80.2%, 62.5%, and 42.3% at 12, 24, and 59 months, respectively. Preoperative complications, tumor size, T stage, and postoperative chemotherapy were identified as independent factors that influenced OS in patients with RGAVCT according to the Cox multivariate analysis model. A Kaplan-Meier analysis revealed that chemotherapy had no effect on OS of patients with stage I or II RGAVCT; however, chemotherapy did have an effect on OS of stage III patients. Stage III patients who were treated with chemotherapy consisting of dual- or triple-agent regimens had better survival than those treated with single-agent regimens, and no significant difference was observed in the survival of patients treated with chemotherapy consisting of dual- or triple-agent regimens. CONCLUSION: For patients with stage III RGAVCT, a dual-agent regimen of postoperative chemotherapy should be recommended rather than a triple-agent treatment, as the latter is associated with increased frequency of adverse events.

Numerical simulations on compression behaviors of the laminated shale based on the digital image technology and the discrete element method.

As an unconventional reservoir sedimentary rock, shale contains a series of layers and various microstructures that lead to complex mechanical properties, such as the anisotropy of stiffness and strength. This study is directed towards the anisotropy caused by the microstructures of the shale, employing the 2D particle flow code (PFC2D) to explore stiffness, strength, failure mode, and micro-crack evolution. More realistic microstructures and the calibration of microscopic parameters of the shale are reasonably considered through the computed tomography (CT) images and mineral analysis. The corresponding numerical simulation results are fully compared with the experimental results. In what follows, the sensitivity analysis is conducted on the key microscopic parameters and microstructure characteristics in numerical samples with laminated characteristics. The results show that the influence of microscopic parameters of the parallel bonding model on macroscopic parameters is related to the layering angle and the face type, and the microstructures and initial cracks of numerical samples can considerably affect the macroscopic mechanical behaviors of the laminated samples. Next, the effect of confining pressure on the mechanical properties of layered shale is also discussed based on the numerical results. These findings highlight the potential of this approach for applications in micro-scaled models and calibration of microscopic parameters to probe mechanical behaviors of the laminated rock.

ATP6V0A1-dependent cholesterol absorption in colorectal cancer cells triggers immunosuppressive signaling to inactivate memory CD8+ T cells.

Obesity shapes anti-tumor immunity through lipid metabolism; however, the mechanisms underlying how colorectal cancer (CRC) cells utilize lipids to suppress anti-tumor immunity remain unclear. Here, we show that tumor cell-intrinsic ATP6V0A1 drives exogenous cholesterol-induced immunosuppression in CRC. ATP6V0A1 facilitates cholesterol absorption in CRC cells through RAB guanine nucleotide exchange factor 1 (RABGEF1)-dependent endosome maturation, leading to cholesterol accumulation within the endoplasmic reticulum and elevated production of 24-hydroxycholesterol (24-OHC). ATP6V0A1-induced 24-OHC upregulates TGF-ß1 by activating the liver X receptor (LXR) signaling. Subsequently, the release of TGF-ß1 into the tumor microenvironment by CRC cells activates the SMAD3 pathway in memory CD8+ T cells, ultimately suppressing their anti-tumor activities. Moreover, we identify daclatasvir, a clinically used anti-hepatitis C virus (HCV) drug, as an ATP6V0A1 inhibitor that can effectively enhance the memory CD8+ T cell activity and suppress tumor growth in CRC. These findings shed light on the potential for ATP6V0A1-targeted immunotherapy in CRC.

Cultivation of novel Atribacterota from oil well provides new insight into their diversity, ecology, and evolution in anoxic, carbon-rich environments.

BACKGROUND: The Atribacterota are widely distributed in the subsurface biosphere. Recently, the first Atribacterota isolate was described and the number of Atribacterota genome sequences retrieved from environmental samples has increased significantly; however, their diversity, physiology, ecology, and evolution remain poorly understood. RESULTS: We report the isolation of the second member of Atribacterota, Thermatribacter velox gen. nov., sp. nov., within a new family Thermatribacteraceae fam. nov., and the short-term laboratory cultivation of a member of the JS1 lineage, Phoenicimicrobium oleiphilum HX-OS.bin.34TS, both from a terrestrial oil reservoir. Physiological and metatranscriptomics analyses showed that Thermatribacter velox B11T and Phoenicimicrobium oleiphilum HX-OS.bin.34TS ferment sugars and n-alkanes, respectively, producing H2, CO2, and acetate as common products. Comparative genomics showed that all members of the Atribacterota lack a complete Wood-Ljungdahl Pathway (WLP), but that the Reductive Glycine Pathway (RGP) is widespread, indicating that the RGP, rather than WLP, is a central hub in Atribacterota metabolism. Ancestral character state reconstructions and phylogenetic analyses showed that key genes encoding the RGP (fdhA, fhs, folD, glyA, gcvT, gcvPAB, pdhD) and other central functions were gained independently in the two classes, Atribacteria (OP9) and Phoenicimicrobiia (JS1), after which they were inherited vertically; these genes included fumarate-adding enzymes (faeA; Phoenicimicrobiia only), the CODH/ACS complex (acsABCDE), and diverse hydrogenases (NiFe group 3b, 4b and FeFe group A3, C). Finally, we present genome-resolved community metabolic models showing the central roles of Atribacteria (OP9) and Phoenicimicrobiia (JS1) in acetate- and hydrocarbon-rich environments. CONCLUSION: Our findings expand the knowledge of the diversity, physiology, ecology, and evolution of the phylum Atribacterota. This study is a starting point for promoting more incisive studies of their syntrophic biology and may guide the rational design of strategies to cultivate them in the laboratory. Video Abstract.

Anti-HMGB1 mAb Therapy Reduces Epidural Hematoma Injury.

Epidural and subdural hematomas are commonly associated with traumatic brain injury. While surgical removal is the primary intervention for these hematomas, it is also critical to prevent and reduce complications such as post-traumatic epilepsy, which may result from inflammatory responses in the injured brain areas. In the present study, we observed that high mobility group box-1 (HMGB1) decreased in the injured brain area beneath the epidural hematoma (EDH) in rats, concurrent with elevated plasma levels of HMGB1. Anti-HMGB1 monoclonal antibody therapy strongly inhibited both HMGB1 release and the subsequent increase in plasma levels. Moreover, this treatment suppressed the up-regulation of inflammatory cytokines and related molecules such as interleukin-1-beta (IL-1ß), tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), and inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) in the injured areas. Our in vitro experiments using SH-SY5Y demonstrated that hematoma components-thrombin, heme, and ferrous ion- prompted HMGB1 translocation from the nuclei to the cytoplasm, a process inhibited by the addition of the anti-HMGB1 mAb. These findings suggest that anti-HMGB1 mAb treatment not only inhibits HMGB1 translocation but also curtails inflammation in injured areas, thereby protecting the neural tissue. Thus, anti-HMGB1 mAb therapy could serve as a complementary therapy for an EDH before/after surgery.

Capsaicin pretreatment attenuates salt-sensitive hypertension by alleviating AMPK/Akt/Nrf2 pathway in hypothalamic paraventricular nucleus.

Background: Long term hypertension seriously promotes target organ damage in the brain and heart, and has increasingly become serious public health problem worldwide. The anti-hypertensive effects of capsaicin has been reported, however, the role and mechanism of capsaicin within the brain on salt-induced hypertension have yet to be elucidated. This study aimed to verify the hypothesis that capsaicin attenuates salt-induced hypertension via the AMPK/Akt/Nrf2 pathway in hypothalamic paraventricular nucleus (PVN). Methods: Dahl salt-sensitive (Dahl S) rats were used as animal model for the present study. Rats were randomly divided into four groups based on their dietary regimen (0.3% normal salt diet and 8% high salt diet) and treatment methods (infusion of vehicle or capsaicin in the PVN). Capsaicin was chronically administered in the PVN throughout the animal experiment phase of the study that lasted 6 weeks. Results: Our results demonstrated that PVN pretreatment with capsaicin can slow down raise of the blood pressure elevation and heart rate (HR) of Dahl S hypertensive rats given high salt diet. Interestingly, the cardiac hypertrophy was significantly improved. Furthermore, PVN pretreatment with capsaicin induced decrease in the expression of mRNA expression of NADPH oxidase-2 (NOX2), inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), NOX4, p-IKKß and proinflammatory cytokines and increase in number of positive cell level for Nrf2 and HO-1 in the PVN of Dahl S hypertensive rats. Additionally, the protein expressions of phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (p-PI3K) and phosphorylated protein kinase-B (p-AKT) were decreased, phosphorylated adenosine monophosphate-activated protein kinase (p-AMPK) were increased after the PVN pretreatment with capsaicin. Conclusion: Capsaicin pretreatment attenuates salt-sensitive hypertension by alleviating AMPK/Akt/iNOS pathway in the PVN.

Phillyrin and its metabolites treat pulmonary embolism by targeting PLCß3 to inhibit platelet activation.

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE: Lian Qiao (LQ), the dried fruit of Forsythia suspensa (Thunb.) Vahl, is a well-documented traditional Chinese medicine known for its detoxifying and heat-clearing properties. Clinically, compounds containing LQ are widely used to treat thrombotic diseases, indicating that it may have antithrombotic effects. However, its exact mechanism of action remains unknown. AIM OF THE STUDY: This study aimed to verify the antithrombotic effect of LQ and further explore the material basis and target mechanism of its antithrombotic effect using various biological methods. MATERIALS AND METHODS: An epinephrine-collagen-thrombin-induced mouse model of acute pulmonary embolism (APE) was established to study the effects of LQ on thrombus development. A UPLC/Q/TOF-MS screening and identification system based on the inhibition of platelet aggregation and Ca2+ antagonism was established to determine the pharmacodynamic components of LQ that inhibit platelet activation. The inhibitory effect of active ingredients on platelet activation, and the determination of the target of their inhibitory effect on platelet activation have been studied using chemical proteomics. Furthermore, based on the structure and function of the target protein, a multidisciplinary approach was adopted to analyze the molecular mechanism of active ingredient binding to target proteins and to evaluate the effects of active ingredients on the downstream signaling pathways of target proteins. RESULTS: LQ showed significant anticoagulant effects in APE model mice. Phillyrin and phillygenin were the antiplatelet-activating components of LQ. PLCß3 was identified as a target for inhibiting platelet activation by phillyrin and its metabolites. The mechanism underlying the effect involves phillyrin and its metabolites inhibiting PLCß3 activity by blocking the binding of PLCß3 to Gαq through non-covalently targeting the ASN260 of PLCß3, thus inhibiting the downstream Gαq-PLCß3-Ca2+ signaling pathway, effectively hindering platelet activation and therefore playing an anticoagulant role. CONCLUSION: This study not only proposes and validates the antithrombotic effect of LQ for the first time but also finds that phillyrin and phillygenin are the main pharmacological substances through which LQ exerts antithrombotic activity and reveals a novel mechanism by which they exert antiplatelet activity by directly targeting and inhibiting PLCß3 activity. These findings significantly contribute to our understanding of the therapeutic potential of phillyrin and provide important clues for the discovery and development of new antiplatelet drugs.

Metal-support spin orders: Crucial effect on electrocatalytic oxygen reduction.

Magnetic property (e.g. spin order) of support is of great importance in the rational design of heterogeneous catalysts. Herein, we have taken the Ni-supported ferromagnetic (FM) CrBr3 support (Nix/CrBr3) to thoroughly investigate the effect of spin-order on electrocatalytic oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) via spin-polarized density functional theory calculations. Specifically, Ni loading induces anti-FM coupling in Ni-Cr, leading to a transition from FM-to-ferrimagnetic (FIM) properties, while Ni-Ni metallic bonds create a robust FM direct exchange, benefiting the improvement of the phase transition temperature. Interestingly, with the increase in Ni loading, the easy magnetic axis changes from out-of-plane (2D-Heisenberg) to in-plane (2D-XY). The adsorption properties of Nix/CrBr3, involving O2 adsorption energy and configuration, are not governed by the d-band center but strongly correlate with magnetic anisotropy. It is noteworthy that the applied potential and electrolyte acidity triggers spin-order transition phenomena during the ORR and induces the catalytic pathway change from 4e- ORR to 2e- ORR with the excellent onset potential of 0.93 V/reversible hydrogen electrode, comparable to the existing most excellent noble-metal catalysts. Generally, these findings offer new avenues to understand and design heterogeneous catalysts with magnetic support.

Experimental study of different dehydration methods in the process of preparing frozen brain sections.

This study aimed to provide a recommendable protocol for the preparation of brain cryosections of rats to reduce and avoid ice crystals. We have designed five different dewatering solutions (Scheme 1: dehydrate with 15%, 20%, and 30% sucrose-phosphate-buffered saline solution; Scheme 2: 20% sucrose and 30% sucrose; Scheme 3: 30% sucrose; Scheme 4: 10%, 20%, and 30% sucrose; and Scheme 5: the tissue was dehydrated with 15% and 30% sucrose polyacetate I until it sank to the bottom, followed by placement in 30% sucrose polyacetate II) to minimize the formation of ice crystals. Cryosections from different protocols were stained with Nissl staining and compared with each other by density between cells and the distance of intertissue spaces. The time required for the dehydration process from Scheme 1 to Scheme 5 was 24, 23, 24, 24, and 33 h, respectively. Density between cells gradually decreased from Scheme 1 to Scheme 5, and the distance of intertissue spaces was differentiated and irregular in different schemes according to the images of Nissl staining. We recommend the dewatering method of Scheme 4 (the brain tissues were dehydrated in 10%, 20% and 30% sucrose solution in turn until the tissue samples were completely immersed in the solution and then immersed in the next concentration solution for dehydration).

Construction of 2D/2D ZnIn2S4/Nb2CTx (MXene) hybrid with hole transport highway and active facet exposure boost photocatalytic hydrogen evolution.

In this study, leveraging the tunable surface groups of MXene, the two-dimensional (2D) Nb2CTx with OH terminal (NC) was synthesized. 2D ZnIn2S4 (ZIS) nanosheets were prepared with the aid of sodium citrate, enhancing the exposure ratio of active (110) facet. On this basis, 2D/2D ZnIn2S4/Nb2CTx heterojunctions were fabricated to improve photocatalytic hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) performance. The optimized 6 wt%Nb2CTx/ZnIn2S4-450 (6NC/ZIS-450) photocatalyt exhibits a remarkable HER rate of 3603 µmol g-1h-1, which is 10 times superior to that of the original ZnIn2S4. Its apparent quantum efficiency (AQE) at 380 nm reaches 14.9 %. Meanwhile, even after 5 rounds of HER, the activity of 2D/2D ZnIn2S4/Nb2CTx heterojunction remained at 90 %, far superior to that of pure ZnIn2S4 (34 % and 31 %). Energy band structure analysis and density functional theory (DFT) calculation indicate that Nb2CTx adsorbed with OH exhibit a low work function. By serving as a hole cocatalyst, it effectively boosts the photocatalytic HER rate of ZnIn2S4/Nb2CTx heterojunction and inhibits the photocorrosion of ZnIn2S4. This unique insight, via hole transport highways and increased exposure of active facets, effectively enhances the activity and stability of sulfides photocatalysts.

Lithium Promotes Osteogenesis via Rab11a-Facilitated Exosomal Wnt10a Secretion and ß-Catenin Signaling Activation.

Both bone mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs) and their exosomes suggest promising therapeutic tools for bone regeneration. Lithium has been reported to regulate BMSC function and engineer exosomes to improve bone regeneration in patients with glucocorticoid-induced osteonecrosis of the femoral head. However, the mechanisms by which lithium promotes osteogenesis have not been elucidated. Here, we demonstrated that lithium promotes the osteogenesis of BMSCs via lithium-induced increases in the secretion of exosomal Wnt10a to activate Wnt/ß-catenin signaling, whose secretion is correlated with enhanced MARK2 activation to increase the trafficking of the Rab11a and Rab11FIP1 complexes together with exosomal Wnt10a to the plasma membrane. Then, we compared the proosteogenic effects of exosomes derived from lithium-treated or untreated BMSCs (Li-Exo or Con-Exo) both in vitro and in vivo. We found that, compared with Con-Exo, Li-Exo had superior abilities to promote the uptake and osteogenic differentiation of BMSCs. To optimize the in vivo application of these hydrogels, we fabricated Li-Exo-functionalized gelatin methacrylate (GelMA) hydrogels, which are more effective at promoting osteogenesis and bone repair than Con-Exo. Collectively, these findings demonstrate the mechanism by which lithium promotes osteogenesis and the great promise of lithium for engineering BMSCs and their exosomes for bone regeneration, warranting further exploration in clinical practice.

Photosensitive and dual-targeted chromium nanoparticle delivering small interfering RNA YTHDF1 for molecular-targeted immunotherapy in liver cancer.

Tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs) are a promising target for cancer immunotherapy, but delivering therapeutic agents to TAMs within the tumor microenvironment (TME) is challenging. In this study, a photosensitive, dual-targeting nanoparticle system (M.RGD@Cr-CTS-siYTHDF1 NPs) was developed. The structure includes a shell of DSPE-modified RGD peptides targeting integrin receptors on tumor cells and carboxymethyl mannose targeting CD206 receptors on macrophages, with a core of chitosan adsorbing m6A reading protein YTHDF1 siRNA and chromium nanoparticles (Cr NPs). The approach is specifically designed to target TAM and cancer cells, utilizing the photothermal effect of Cr NPs to disrupt the TME and deliver siYTHDF1 to TAM. In experiments with tumor-bearing mice, M.RGD@Cr-CTS-siYTHDF1 NPs, when exposed to laser irradiation, effectively killed tumor cells, disrupted the TME, delivered siYTHDF1 to TAMs, silenced the YTHDF1 gene, and shifted the STAT3-STAT1 equilibrium by reducing STAT3 and enhancing STAT1 expression. This reprogramming of TAMs towards an anti-tumor phenotype led to a pro-immunogenic TME state. The strategy also suppressed immunosuppressive IL-10 production, increased expression of immunostimulatory factors (IL-12 and IFN-γ), boosted CD8 + T cell infiltration and M1-type TAMs, and reduced Tregs and M2-type TAMs within the TME. In conclusion, the dual-targeting M.RGD@Cr-CTS-siYTHDF1 NPs, integrating dual-targeting capabilities with photothermal therapy (PTT) and RNA interference, offer a promising approach for molecular targeted cancer immunotherapy with potential for clinical application.

Exposure to disrespectful maternity care and perceptions of respectful maternity care among nursing and midwifery pre-registration students in China: A national cross-sectional study.

AIMS: To 1) determine the prevalence and types of disrespectful maternity care witnessed by students; 2) describe students' perceptions of respectful maternity care and associated factors; and 3) investigate whether witnessing disrespectful care influences their perceptions of respectful maternity care. BACKGROUND: Limited evidence exists about nursing and midwifery students' perceptions of respectful maternity care and prevalence of disrespectful maternity care in China. Understanding students' perceptions can inform pre-registration curricula and clinical practice programs, promoting the implementation of respectful maternity care. DESIGN: An exploratory national online survey was conducted. METHODS: Data were analysed using bivariate analysis and multi-factor analysis of variance. RESULTS: Among 733 students, positive perceptions towards respectful maternity care were common. Approximately one-fifth witnessed disrespect, with physical violence, lack of communication and untimely care most frequently reported. A better understanding of respectful maternity care was associated with female students of Han ethnicity, majoring in midwifery, undertaking a longer internship/practicum and reporting fewer instances of observed disrespect. Although students reported positive perceptions of respectful maternity care, inadequate understanding was evident. Incorporating relevant content about respectful care into the curriculum is suggested. Reducing students' exposure to disrespectful maternity care may ensure that certain forms of disrespect or abuse do not become normalized among students. This requires system-level efforts to create a safe and supportive working environment for maternity health providers. CONCLUSION: To promote respectful maternity care in China, system-level changes are warranted. Respectful maternity care needs to be essential content in pre-registration midwifery and nursing curricula. Encouraging students to identify poor practice and discuss good practice in a safe learning environment is warranted.

Silk fibroin promotes H3K9me3 expression and chromatin reorganization to regulate endothelial cell proliferation.

Silk fibroin (SF), which is extensively utilized in tissue engineering and vascular grafts for enhancing vascular regeneration, has not been thoroughly investigated for its epigenetic effects on endothelial cells (EC). This study employed RNA sequencing analysis to evaluate the activation of histone modification regulatory genes in EC treated with SF. Subsequent investigations revealed elevated H3K9me3 levels in SF-treated EC, as evidenced by immunofluorescence and western blot analysis. The study utilized H2B-eGFP endothelial cells to demonstrate that SF treatment results in the accumulation of H2B-marked chromatin in the nuclear inner cavities of EC. Inhibition of H3K9me3 levels by a histone deacetylase inhibitor TSA decreased cell proliferation. Furthermore, the activation of the MAPK signaling pathway using chromium picolinate decreased the proliferative activity and H3K9me3 level in SF-treated EC. SF also appeared to enhance cell growth and proliferation by modulating the H3K9me3 level and reorganizing chromatin, particularly after oxidative stress induced by H2O2 treatment. In summary, these findings indicate that SF promotes EC proliferation by increasing the H3K9me3 level even under stress conditions.

A theory based study on diabetes self-management in older Chinese adults.

Approximately 1 in 3 (or 80 million) Chinese age 60 years or older are living with type 2 diabetes in China. New perspectives are needed to understand the intricate phenomenon of diabetes self-management (DSM) in older Chinese adults. Guided by the expanded Tripartite Model of Self-Management, this study aimed to identify the inter-relationships between the tripartite components simultaneously and their influencing factors. This cross-sectional study included a stratified random sample of 98 community-dwelling adults age 60 or older with type 2 diabetes. Findings revealed distinct predictors for knowledge about DSM, DSM behaviors and coping. There were significant inter-relationships among the tripartite components. The theoretical model was a good fit for the data. This study provides valuable insights into the complex relationships between knowledge about DSM, DSM behaviors, and coping strategies, offering direct implications for improving the health outcomes of older adults with diabetes.

Diagnostic Value of 3.0 T Magnetic Resonance Imaging in Active Crohn's Disease.

BACKGROUND: Magnetic resonance enteroclysis (MRE) has been widely applied to diagnose Crohn's disease (CD). Magnetic resonance (MR) at 3.0 T improves signal-to-noise ratio (SNR), shortens image acquisition time, and shows more advantages. OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to retrospectively analyze the diagnostic value of 3.0 T MR imaging for active CD. METHODS: 48 CD patients hospitalized in our hospital from January 2021 to December 2022 were selected as the study subjects. These 48 CD patients underwent both double-balloon enteroscopy and 3.0 T MRE. All patients' arterial phase signal, venous phase signal, bowel wall, and bowel lumen of MRE were observed to identify whether they suffered from active CD. Based on the results of enteroscopy, the number of true positives, true negatives, false negatives, and false positives diagnosed by MRE were screened; next, the diagnostic accuracy, sensitivity, and specificity of MRE in assessing active CD were calculated. RESULTS: Of the 48 patients, 39 were diagnosed with small bowel CD by MRE, which was not significantly different from the results of enteroscopy (P>0.05). According to MRE diagnostic results, the arterial phase predominantly presented high signal intensity, and the venous phase mainly presented low signal intensity or isointensity. Small bowel CD lesions were primarily characterized by bowel wall thickening, rare pneumatosis enhancement of the bowel wall, bowel lumen pneumatosis or dilatation, and rare strictures. Besides, MRE presented an accuracy of 93.75%, sensitivity of 97.37%, and specificity of 80.00% in diagnosing CD. CONCLUSION: 3.0 T MR imaging has diagnostic value for active CD and shows certain clinical application value.

Green Synthesis of Carbon Quantum Dots and Carbon Quantum Dot-Gold Nanoparticles for Applications in Bacterial Imaging and Catalytic Reduction of Aromatic Nitro Compounds.

This study delves into the green synthesis and multifaceted applications of three types of carbon quantum dots (CQDs), namely, CQDs-1, CQDs-2, and CQDs-3. These CQDs were innovatively produced through a gentle pyrolysis process from distinct plant-based precursors: genipin with glucose for CQDs-1, genipin with extracted gardenia seeds for CQDs-2, and genipin with whole gardenia seeds for CQDs-3. Advanced analytical techniques, including X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), were employed to detail the CQDs' structural and surface characteristics, revealing their unique functional groups and surface chemistries. The study further explores the CQDs' bioimaging potential, where confocal fluorescence microscopy evidenced their swift uptake by Escherichia coli bacteria, indicating their suitability for bacterial imaging. These CQDs were also applied in the synthesis of gold nanoparticles (AuNPs), acting as reducing agents and stabilizers. Among these, CQD3-AuNPs were distinguished by their remarkable stability and catalytic efficiency, achieving a 99.7% reduction of 4-nitrophenol to 4-aminophenol in just 10 min and maintaining near-complete reduction efficiency (99.6%) after 60 days. This performance notably surpasses that of AuNPs synthesized using sodium citrate, underscoring the exceptional capabilities of CQD3-AuNPs. These insights pave the way for leveraging CQDs and CQD-stabilized AuNPs in bacterial imaging and catalysis, presenting valuable directions for future scientific inquiry and practical applications.

Hierarchical supramolecules composed of starch-based nanocluster aggregates with light-responsive mechanical strain for remotely rapid and precise actuation.

Hierarchical supramolecular systems, characterized by nanoscale sensitivity and macroscopic tangible changes, offer promising perspectives for the design of remotely controllable, rapid, and precise actuation materials, serving as a potential substitution for non-intelligent and complex actuation switches. Herein, we reported on the disassembly of orderly and rigid starch helical covalent structures, and their subsequent reassembly into a hierarchical supramolecular gel composed of nanocluster aggregates, integrating supramolecular interactions of three different scales. The incorporation of photo-sensitive FeIIITA, a complex of trivalent iron ions and tannic acid, significantly enhances the photo-responsive strain capacity of the hierarchical supramolecular gel. The supramolecular gel exhibits its features in a rapid light-responsive rate of hardness and viscosity, enabling the actuation of objects within 22 s under light exposure when employed as a remote actuation switch. Meanwhile, this actuation mechanism of the hierarchical supramolecular gel also has a promising perspective in precise control, identifying and actuating one of the two objects in distances of 0.8 mm even smaller scales. Our work provides a reliable reference for replacing complex actuation switches with intelligent materials for remote, rapid, and accurate actuation, and offers valuable insights for actuation in harsh and vacuum outdoor environments.

Evaluating the role of DNA methyltransferases in trophoblast fusion and preeclampsia development: Insights from methylation-regulated genes.

The etiology of preeclampsia (PE), a complex and multifactorial condition, remains incompletely understood. DNA methylation, which is primarily regulated by three DNA methyltransferases (DNMTs), DNMT1, DNMT3A, and DNMT3B, plays a vital role in early embryonic development and trophectoderm differentiation. Yet, how DNMTs modulate trophoblast fusion and PE development remains unclear. In this study, we found that the DNMTs expression was downregulated during trophoblast cells fusion. Downregulation of DNMTs was observed during the reconstruction of the denuded syncytiotrophoblast (STB) layer of placental explants. Additionally, overexpression of DNMTs inhibited trophoblast fusion. Conversely, treatment with the DNA methylation inhibitor 5-aza-CdR decreased the expression of DNMTs and promoted trophoblast fusion. A combined analysis of DNA methylation data and gene transcriptome data obtained from the primary cytotrophoblasts (CTBs) fusion process identified 104 potential methylation-regulated differentially expressed genes (MeDEGs) with upregulated expression due to DNA demethylation, including CD59, TNFAIP3, SDC1, and CDK6. The transcription regulation region (TRR) of TNFAIP3 showed a hypomethylation with induction of 5-aza-CdR, which facilitated CREB recruitment and thereby participated in regulating trophoblast fusion. More importantly, clinical correlation analysis of PE showed that the abnormal increase in DNMTs may be involved in the development of PE. This study identified placental DNA methylation-regulated genes that may contribute to PE, offering a novel perspective on the role of epigenetics in trophoblast fusion and its implication in PE development.

GC/MS-based untargeted metabolomics reveals the differential metabolites for discriminating vintage of Chenxiang-type baijiu.

The "outstanding and unique aged aroma" of Chinese Chenxiang-type baijiu (CXB)-Daoguang 25 (DG25) mainly originates from a "extraordinary storage technology" of Mujiuhai (a wooden container), so it is mysterious and interesting. In this study, an untargeted GC/MS-based metabolomics was used to reveals the volatile differential metabolites for discriminating six different vintages of DG25 combing with chemometrics. A total of 100 volatile metabolites (including unknowns) were extracted and identified, including esters (41%), alcohols (10%) and acids (7%) so on. Finally, 33 differential metabolites were identified as aging-markers. Among them, 25 aging-markers showed a downtrend, including 17 esters such as ethyl acetate, ethyl hexanoate and ethyl palmitate so on. Moreover, it was interesting and to further study that furans showed a significant downtrend. Statistically speaking, ethyl benzoate played an important role in discriminating vintage of 1Y and 3Y, and the other 24 differential metabolites with downtrend discriminating the unstored (0Y-aged) DG25. Eight differential metabolites, such as ethyl octanoate, benzaldehyde, 3-methylbutanol and 1,1-diethoxyaccetal so on increased during aging of DG25, and they played a statistical role in discriminating the 5Y-, 10Y- and 20Y-aged DG25. This study provides a theoretical basis way for the formation mechanism of aging aroma for CXB.