Identifying biological markers and sociodemographic factors that influence the gap between phenotypic and chronological ages.

INTRODUCTION: The world's population is aging rapidly, leading to increased public health and economic burdens due to age-related cardiovascular and neurodegenerative diseases. Early risk detection is essential for prevention and to improve the quality of life in elderly individuals. Plus, health risks associated with aging are not directly tied to chronological age, but are also influenced by a combination of environmental exposures. Past research has introduced the concept of "Phenotypic Age," which combines age with biomarkers to estimate an individual's health risk. METHODS: This study explores which factors contribute most to the gap between chronological and phenotypic ages. We combined ten machine learning regression techniques applied to the NHANES dataset, containing demographic, laboratory and socioeconomic data from 41,474 patients, to identify the most important features. We then used clustering analysis and a mixed-effects model to stratify by sex, ethnicity, and education. RESULTS: We identified 28 demographic, biological and environmental factors related to a significant gap between phenotypic and chronological ages. Stratifying for sex, education and ethnicity, we found statistically significant differences in the outcome distributions. CONCLUSION: By showing that health risk prevention should consider both biological and sociodemographic factors, we offer a new approach to predict aging rates and potentially improve targeted prevention strategies for age-related conditions.

Correction: Grifola frondosa polysaccharides ameliorate lipid metabolic disorders and gut microbiota dysbiosis in high-fat diet fed rats.

Correction for 'Grifola frondosa polysaccharides ameliorate lipid metabolic disorders and gut microbiota dysbiosis in high-fat diet fed rats' by Lu Li et al., Food Funct., 2019, 10, 2560-2572, https://doi.org/10.1039/C9FO00075E.

EDC-3 and EDC-4 regulate embryonic mRNA clearance and biomolecular condensate specialization.

Animal development is dictated by the selective and timely decay of mRNAs in developmental transitions, but the impact of mRNA decapping scaffold proteins in development is unclear. This study unveils the roles and interactions of the DCAP-2 decapping scaffolds EDC-3 and EDC-4 in the embryonic development of C. elegans. EDC-3 facilitates the timely removal of specific embryonic mRNAs, including cgh-1, car-1, and ifet-1 by reducing their expression and preventing excessive accumulation of DCAP-2 condensates in somatic cells. We further uncover a role for EDC-3 in defining the boundaries between P bodies, germ granules, and stress granules. Finally, we show that EDC-4 counteracts EDC-3 and engenders the assembly of DCAP-2 with the GID (CTLH) complex, a ubiquitin ligase involved in maternal-to-zygotic transition (MZT). Our findings support a model where multiple RNA decay mechanisms temporally clear maternal and zygotic mRNAs throughout embryonic development.

Construction of Recombinant Marek's Disease Virus Co-Expressing VP1 and VP2 of Chicken Infectious Anemia Virus.

The chicken infectious anemia virus (CIAV) has been reported in major poultry-producing countries and poses a significant threat to the poultry industry worldwide. In this study, two Marek's disease virus (MDV) recombinants, rMDV-CIAV-1 and rMDV-CIAV-2, were generated by inserting the CIAV VP1 and VP2 genes into the MDV vaccine strain 814 at the US2 site using the fosmid-based rescue system. For rMDV-CIAV-1, an internal ribosome entry site was inserted between VP1 and VP2, so that both proteins were produced from a single open reading frame. In rMDV-CIAV-2, VP1 and VP2 were cloned into different open reading frames and inserted into the MDV genome. The recombinant viruses simultaneously expressed VP1 and VP2 in infected chicken embryo fibroblasts and exhibited growth kinetics similar to those of the parent MDV. The two recombinant viruses induced antibodies against CIAV in chickens. A single dose of the recombinant viruses provided strong protection against CIAV-induced anemia in chickens. These recombinant VP1- and VP2-expressing MDVs are potential vaccines against CIAV in chickens.

Microbiome regulation for sustainable wastewater treatment.

Sustainable wastewater treatment is imperative for attaining clean water and sanitation, aligning with a UN Sustainable Development Goal. Wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) have utilized environmental microbiomes in biological treatment processes in this effort for over a century. However, the inherent complexity and redundancy of microbial communities, and emerging chemical and biological contaminants, challenge the biotechnology applications. Over the past decades, understanding and utilization of microbial energy metabolism and interaction relationships have revolutionized the biological system. In this review, we discuss how microbiome regulation strategies are being used to generate actionable performance for low-carbon pollutant removal and resource recovery in WWTPs. The engineering application cases also highlight the real feasibility and promising prospects of the microbiome regulation approaches. In conclusion, we advocate for the identification of environmental risks associated with chemical and biological contaminants transformation as a prerequisite. We propose the integration of gene editing and enzyme design to precisely regulate microbiomes for the synergistic control of both chemical and biological risks. Additionally, the development of integrated technologies and engineering equipment is imperative in addressing the ongoing water crisis. This review advocates for the innovation of conventional wastewater treatment biotechnology to ensure sustainable wastewater treatment.

Advanced alginate-based nanofiber aerogels: A synthetic matrix for high-efficiency lysozyme adsorption and controlled release.

The development of materials with high lysozyme adsorption is critical for drug delivery and skin wound applications, as it enhances antibacterial properties, stability, and controlled release of therapeutic agents, thereby improving treatment efficacy and safety. Alginate-based nanofiber scaffolds, featuring high surface area and multiple adsorption sites, can efficiently absorb lysozyme and regulate its release through tunable pore channels, offering a promising approach to chronic wound management. In this study, we fabricated poly (vinyl alcohol-co-ethylene) (EVOH) nanofiber-based sodium alginate (ENSA) aerogels using a simple two-step crosslinking procedure. The resulting aerogels, with controllable porosity formed via high-pressure spraying techniques (aerogel film) and molding (aerogel sponge), were evaluated for their high-loading capacity and controllable release of lysozyme. The aerogel film exhibited a remarkable lysozyme adsorption capacity of 1965 ±â€¯36 mg/g, while the aerogel sponge sustained lysozyme release over 14 days. Analysis of the drug-release mechanism through four kinetic models revealed two distinct processes: cation exchange and matrix diffusion. The aerogel's pore structure influenced the diffusion processes, enabling tailored drug release profiles. Additionally, the ENSA aerogels demonstrated good mechanical properties, non-cytotoxicity, and potent antibacterial activity, positioning them as promising materials for skin wound dressings.

Enhanced exciton-phonon coupling in pseudohalide 2D perovskite for X-ray to visible light detection.

Two-dimensional Cs2Pb(SCN)2I2 perovskite has an ultra-small interlayer spacing, inducing a series of interesting semiconductor properties, such as efficient interlayer carrier transport as well as lower exciton binding energy compared to perovskites with long alkylammonium cations. The prepared Cs2Pb(SCN)2I2 photodetector achieves a high on/off ratio of 2.1 × 104 with a specific detectivity of 6.2 × 1011 jones to 450 nm visible light, and a high sensitivity of 2747 µC Gyair-1 cm-2 to X-rays.

A Multifunctional Coating with Active Corrosion Protection Through a Synergistic pH- and Thermal-Responsive Mechanism.

This article aims to develop CeO2 nanocontainer-constructed coating with a synergistic self-healing and protective nature through a simple mechanical blending technique to manage metal corrosion. The proposed coating exhibits excellent corrosion resistance, which is primarily attributed to the combination of thermal-driven healing and active corrosion inhibition. Paraffin wax and 2-polybenzothiazole-loaded CeO2 nanotubes (CeO2-MBT) are directly doped into epoxy coating to perform such a multifunctional role. CeO2 nanocontainers and encapsulated corrosion inhibitor MBT can be released by pH triggers to achieve instant corrosion inhibition upon the surface of metal substrate. In addition, any physical defects in the coating are responsively repaired by heating incorporated paraffin wax to regain structural integrity and consequent barrier function. Corrosion protection efficiency remains sufficient even after ten cycles of damage and healing. Such a multiple-functional coating strategy provides an alternative pathway toward efficient and sustainable performance to tackle corrosion-related challenges of metal components in both short-term and long-term services.

Cellulose nanocrystals from agriculture and forestry biomass: synthesis methods, characterization and industrial applications.

Agricultural and forestry biomass wastes, often discarded or burned without adequate management, lead to significant environmental harm. However, cellulose nanocrystals (CNCs), derived from such biomass, have emerged as highly promising materials due to their unique properties, including high tensile strength, large surface area, biocompatibility, and renewability. This review provides a detailed analysis of the lignocellulosic composition, as well as the elemental and proximate analysis of different biomass sources. These assessments help determine the yield and characteristics of CNCs. Detailed discussion of CNC synthesis methods -ranging from biomass pretreatment to hydrolysis techniques such as acid, mineral, solid acid, ionic liquid, and enzymatic methods-are provided. The key physical, chemical, and thermal properties of CNCs are also highlighted, particularly in relation to their industrial applications. Recommendations for future research emphasize the need to optimize CNC synthesis processes, identify suitable biomass feedstocks, and explore new industrial applications.

Treadmill exercise improves cerebral ischemia injury by regulating microglia polarization via downregulation of MMP12.

BACKGROUD: Exercise training is the main strategy for stroke rehabilitation, and it has shown that shifting microglia toward M2 phenotype is beneficial for the recovery of neurological function after stroke. The mechanisms governing exercise training and inflammatory response after cerebral ischemia remain largely unexplored. Herein, the aim of this study was to investigate the role of exercise training in immune response after cerebral ischemia. METHODS: The transient middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) rat model and primary microglia under oxygen-glucose deprivation/reoxygenation (OGD/R) conditions were used to mimic the ischemic stroke in vivo and in vitro respectively. Treadmill exercise with gradually increased intensity was initiated the second day after MCAO for a maximum of 14 days. The beam balance test, forelimb placement test, cornering test, modified adhesive removal test were used to assess the behavioral recovery. The right peri-infarct cortex was taken from 3 rats per group for RNA sequencing (RNA-seq) analysis. Real-time PCR, western blot, immunofluorescence, and phagocytosis assay was performed after MCAO and/or OGD/R. RESULTS: Treadmill exercise could significantly improve behavioral outcomes and reduce the infarct volumes. In addition, treadmill exercise switched microglia polarization toward M2 phenotype (Iba+/CD206+) in the peri-infarct cortex, and significantly increased the levels of anti-inflammatory factors (TGF-ß, IL10, Arg-1, CD206) and decreased a pool of pro-inflammatory factors (IL-1ß, IL-6, TNF-α, iNOS, CD68) in the peri-infarct areas. RNA-seq analysis and further studies demonstrated that exercise training could significantly reduce the expression of MMP12. Through further immunofluorescence co-labeling analysis, we found that treadmill exercise predominantly reduced the expression of MMP-12 in microglia but not in neuron after MCAO. In primary microglia after OGD/R, MMP12 inhibition switched microglia polarization toward to M2 phenotype, increased the expression of M2 markers, and enhanced its phagocytic capacities. CONCLUSIONS: Our data demonstrate that treadmill exercise could improve the inflammatory microenvironment in the brain after ischemic stroke, which may be caused by inhibition of MMP12 expression. MMP12 suppression in primary microglia could remodel microglia immune functions. In summary, this study may provide novel insights into the immune mechanism of exercise training for stroke and suggests potential targets for therapeutic approaches.

TIGAR relieves PCOS by inhibiting granulosa cell apoptosis and oxidative stress through activating Nrf2.

This study aimed to elucidate the role of TP53-induced glycolysis and apoptosis regulator (TIGAR) in polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). A rat model PCOS was constructed by subcutaneous injection with dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA). Follicular atresia and reduced granular cells (GCs) in ovaries suggested successful modeling. The low expression of TIGAR was observed in ovarian tissue of PCOS rat. To explore the role of TIGAR in PCOS, lentivirus carrying the TIGAR were used to up-regulate TIGAR expression. TIGAR overexpression reduced the DHEA-induced increase of ovarian weight, the levels of estradiol (E2), and the ratio of luteinizing hormone/follicle-stimulating hormone (LH/FSH) in the serum, as well as improved the morphology of the follicle, especially increased the thickness of the GC layer, which attributed to the inhibition of apoptosis by TIGAR. In addition, high expression of TIGAR inhibited oxidative stress in ovaries of PCOS rat, as evidenced by decreased level of malondialdehyde (MDA), and reactive oxygen species (ROS), and enhanced activity of glutathione peroxidase (GPX) and superoxide dismutase (SOD). Mechanically, Nrf2/OH-1 signal pathway was activated by TIGAR. The effect of TIGAR on PCOS were verified in the primary rat GCs treated with dihydrotestosterone, but also the rescue experiment was performed. Downregulation of Nrf2 reversed the effects of TIGAR, indicating that TIGAR suppressed oxidative stress and GC apoptosis by activating Nrf2/OH-1 pathway in PCOS. Finally, non-targeted metabolomics revealed that TIGAR might affect the energy metabolic pathway, thereby altering the metabolic profile of primary rat GCs. This study provided new insights into the prevention and treatment of PCOS.

Hydrodynamic solar-driven interfacial evaporation - Gone with the flow.

Evaporation has been one of the most classic desalination processes on the Earth. When we try to use the power of water flow itself, the evaporation process can perform even better. Here, we report a hydrodynamic solar-driven interfacial evaporation process which water evaporation rate can achieve 6.58 kg·m-2·h-1 (over 100 times higher than natural evaporation). A waterwheel-structure solar interfacial evaporator was designed and assembled by printed filter papers. The evaporator can both rapidly distribute solution on the evaporation interface and be hydraulically driven to rotate continuously to improve the evaporation rate by water flow. The hydrodynamic solar-driven interfacial evaporation process successfully overcomes the problem of slow diffusion of water vapor, but also realizes the day-and-night operation of process and the self-cleaning of salt fouling. Apart from the application in solar desalination, the developed evaporator has great potentials in vapor production and salt recovery for industrial use.

An atoxigenic Aspergillus flavus PA67 from Shandong province exhibits potential in biocontrol against toxigenic Aspergillus flavus, Sclerotium rolfsii, and Fusarium proliferatum.

Peanuts and corn are susceptible to various soil-borne fungi, leading to significant economic losses. Atoxigenic Aspergillus flavus have been widely used as biocontrol agents for managing aflatoxin contamination because of their minimal environmental impact, strong competitive ability, and sustained inhibition effect. After multiple identifications and cluster amplification pattern (CAP) analysis, three atoxigenic A. flavus PA04, PA10 and PA67 were isolated from peanut samples in Shandong Province, which can reduce aflatoxin levels by up to 90 %. Our study revealed that atoxigenic A. flavus also competed vigorously with Sclerotium rolfsii and Fusarium proliferatum for nutrition and space, achieving notable inhibition rates of up to 90.4 % and 90.6 %, respectively. The supernatants of atoxigenic A. flavus also inhibited the growth of S. rolfsii and F. proliferatum, with PA67 demonstrating the most significant effect. Whole genome sequencing revealed that PA67 contains multiple glycoside hydrolases and metabolites with antifungal activity. The kojic acid production of PA67 was higher than that of PA04 and PA10, reaching 17.48 g/L, which has a significant inhibition on sclerotia germination. PA67 supernatant significantly inhibited the hyphae growth of S. rolfsii and F. proliferatum, and down-regulated genes related to sclerotia and fumonisin formation. This study demonstrates the biocontrol potential of PA67 against three soil-borne fungi and is the first investigation of atoxigenic A. flavus to inhibit S. rolfsii and F. proliferatum.

Hydroxychloroquine as an add-on therapy for the induction therapy of MPO-AAV: a retrospective observational cohort study.

Background: The remission rate of myeloperoxidase (MPO)-antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibody (ANCA)-associated vasculitis (AAV) patients who received standard induction therapy is far from satisfactory. Improving the remission rate of MPO-AAV patients is essential. Hydroxychloroquine (HCQ), one of the classic antimalarial drugs, has been widely used in various autoimmune rheumatic diseases. This retrospective observational cohort study is aimed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of HCQ during induction treatment for MPO-AAV. Methods: The medical records of patients diagnosed with MPO-AAV at Xiangya Hospital, Central South University from January 2021 to September 2023 were collected. They were assigned to the HCQ group or control group according to whether they used HCQ. The patients included were screened by propensity score matching. To evaluate whether MPO-AAV patients benefited from HCQ, we compared the prognosis of the two groups. The adverse effects of HCQ during follow-up were recorded. Results: The composition ratio of complete remission, response and treatment resistance between HCQ group and control group were different statistically (P = .021). There was no significant difference between the two groups in 1-year renal survival (P = .789). The HCQ group had better 1-year patient survival than the control group (P = .049). No serious adverse effects were documented in the HCQ group. Conclusions: HCQ together with standard induction treatment may improve the remission rate of MPO-AAV patients, and HCQ had good safety in our study.

Evaluating the Efficacy of Wrist-Ankle Acupuncture Combined With Patient-Controlled Intravenous Analgesia for Managing Post Uvulopalatopharyngoplasty.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study is to investigate the impact of combining wrist-ankle acupuncture with patient-controlled intravenous analgesia (PCIA) on active pain and food intake in patients with obstructive sleep apnea-hypopnea syndrome (OSAHS) after undergoing uvulopalatopharyngoplasty (UPPP). METHODS: Sixty patients with OSAHS who underwent UPPP at our hospital's Department of Otorhinolaryngology from January 2020 to October 2023 were selected and randomly divided into 2 groups of 30 each: an observation group and a control group. The control group received general anesthesia administered by an anesthesiologist and used a PCIA pump. In addition to this treatment, the observation group received the combined intervention of wrist-ankle acupuncture. Active pain levels were monitored at 0, 6, 12, 24, 36, and 48 hours after UPPP, and food intake was observed at 24, 36, and 48 hours postoperation. The results were compared and recorded for both groups. RESULTS: The analgesic effect on active pain in the observation group was significantly greater than in the control group at 6, 12, 24, 36, and 48 hours postoperation, and the differences were statistically significant (P<0.05). In addition, when comparing food intake scores at 24, 36, and 48 hours postoperation, the observation group had significantly higher food intake than the control group, and the differences were statistically significant (P<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: The combined intervention of wrist-ankle acupuncture and PCIA provides effective pain relief for OSAHS patients after UPPP, enhances their food intake, improves their quality of life, and supports early recovery.

Safety evaluation of extracorporeal shockwave lithotripsy for pancreatic stones: Experience based on a large chronic pancreatitis cohort.

BACKGROUND: The safety of extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy for pancreatic stones (P-ESWL) and adverse events were not evaluated and classified within large sample population. This study aimed to evaluate the safety and classify the adverse events of P-ESWL based on a large sample cohort. METHODS: This is an observational study based on the large prospective chronic pancreatitis (CP) cohort. Patients with painful pancreatic stones over 5 mm who underwent P-ESWL between March 2011 and June 2018 at Shanghai Changhai Hospital were included. Adverse events after P-ESWL including complications and transient adverse events (TAEs) were recorded. Risk factors of adverse events were analyzed through univariable and multivariable logistics regression analysis. Sensitivity analysis was conducted to test the stability of the study. RESULTS: Totally 2,071 patients underwent 5,002 sessions of P-ESWL were included. The overall complication rate and TAEs rate after all P-ESWL procedures were 5.2% and 20.9%. The complications and TAEs rate decreased obviously within the first 6 sessions. Several independent risk factors for adverse events after P-ESWL were identified. Sensitivity analysis suggested the stability of the results. CONCLUSIONS: P-ESWL is a safe treatment for pancreatic stones. Multiple P-ESWL sessions did not increase the complications and TAEs rate. ClincialTrials.gov number, NCT05916547.

Clinical diagnostic value of metagenomic next-generation sequencing in patients with acute infection in emergency department.

Objective: To explore the value of metagenomic next-generation sequencing (mNGS) and culture in microbial diagnosis of patients with acute infection. Methods: We retrospectively analyzed 206 specimens from 163 patients who were admitted to the emergency department of The First Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University between July 2020, and July 2021. We evaluated the diagnostic efficacy of mNGS and in-hospital traditional culture. Results: The total positive rate of mNGS was significantly higher than that culture methods (71.4 % vs 40.8 %, p < 0.001), while the sensitivity and accuracy of mNGS were found to be 92.9 % and 88.2 % respectively. However, culture exhibited superior specificity with a value of 92.6 % compared to 75.9 % for mNGS. The detection efficiency of mNGS and culture for fungi was comparable, but mNGS showed superior performance for bacterial detection. In the analysis of sepsis samples, mNGS outperformed traditional culture methods in diagnosing various types of samples, especially for sputum and bronchoalveolar lavage fluid. Among the identified infections, bacterial infections were the most common single infection (37.5 %). Additionally, bacterial-fungal infections represented the most prevalent form of mixed infection (77.3 %). Candida albicans and Staphylococcus aureus were identified as the predominant pathogens in the survival and death groups, respectively. No significant differences in microbial diversity were observed. Conclusion: Compared to culture methods, mNGS demonstrates superior positive rates, sensitivity, and accuracy in the rapid detection of acute infections, particularly in critically ill patients such as those with sepsis. This capability establishes a foundation for the swift and precise identification of pathogens, allowing for the analysis of clinical indicators and patient prognosis based on the extensive data generated from mNGS.

Regulation and Crosstalk of Cells and Factors in the Pancreatic Cancer Microenvironment.

Pancreatic cancer is a highly malignant form of cancer that distinguishes itself from other gastrointestinal tumors through significant fibrosis and unique perineural invasion. These characteristics underscore the complexity of neural regulation within the pancreatic cancer Tumor Microenvironment (TME). This review aimed to explore the regulatory mechanisms and crosstalk among stromal cells and their factors within the pancreatic cancer microenvironment. We begin by reviewing the major components of the pancreatic cancer microenvironment, analyzing interactions among crucial cell types, such as Cancer-associated Fibroblasts (CAFs) and immune cells, and revealing the dynamic changes between tumor cells and surrounding nerves, immune, and stromal cells. We discuss the role of neural factors, including the Nerve Growth Factor (NGF) and Brain-derived Neurotrophic Factor (BDNF), in the progression of pancreatic cancer and the mechanisms by which the sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous systems regulate tumor cell growth, migration, and invasion. Interactions among stromal cells, cytokines, and neural factors in the pancreatic cancer microenvironment promote fibrosis and perineural invasion. A deeper understanding of the regulation and crosstalk among components in the pancreatic cancer microenvironment offers new perspectives for inhibiting fibrosis and perineural invasion in pancreatic cancer.

Bombyx mori serpin 3 is involved in innate immunity by interacting with serine protease 7 to regulate prophenoloxidase activation.

A subfamily of conserved proteins called serpins plays crucial roles in various physiological functions, particularly in the activation pathway of the serine protease cascade, an essential component of insect innate immunity. Here, we found Bombyx mori serpin 3 (BmSerpin3) was most highly expressed in the fat body, and was up-regulated after exposure to bacteria, fungus and virus. Further, the expression of BmSerpin3 in the hemocytes, fat body, midgut of silkworm larvae, and BmN cells was up-regulated upon Bombyx mori nucleopolyhedrovirus (BmNPV) infection. Through Bac-to-Bac expression system, we obtained the active protein of BmSerpin3, and the enzyme activity assay showed that BmSerpin3 significantly inhibited the activity of both subtilisin and trypsin. In addition, BmSerpin3 could inhibit the activation of prophenoloxidase (PPO) in larvae. The knockdown of BmSerpin3 showed increased phenoloxidase (PO) activity compared to control after BmNPV infection. Ultimately, we confirmed that BmSerpin3 interacts with B. mori Serine Protease 7 (BmSP7). Hence, we hypothesize that BmSerpin3 is involved in innate immunity by interacting with BmSP7 to regulate the PPO activation cascade. Taken together, these results showed that BmSerpin3 play a role in silkworm innate immunity and lay a foundation for studying its functions.