Bifunctionalization of α-Bromophenone: An Access to Functionalized ß-Keto Thiosulfones.

A simple and high-yielding strategy to produce a variety of ß-keto sulfides using asymmetrical and symmetrical thiosulfonates with ketones under mild conditions is reported. It was found that the various substituted compounds, with both electron-withdrawing and electron-donating substituents, afforded a wide range of ß-keto thiosulfones (α-thioaryl-ß-keto sulfones) in moderate to high yields. The transformations were reliable at the gram-scale, thus illustrating their efficiency and practicality. A plausible mechanism for the protocol is also proposed.

Biochanin A suppresses Klf6-mediated Smad3 transcription to attenuate renal fibrosis in UUO mice.

BACKGROUND: Renal fibrosis is a hallmark of chronic kidney disease (CKD). Smad3 serves as the principal transcription factor mediating the pro-fibrosis effects of TGF-ß signaling in renal fibrosis. Biochanin A (BCA), a natural isoflavone, has been shown to attenuate renal fibrosis by inhibiting TGF-ß signaling but the detailed mechanisms remain unresolved. This study aimed to elucidate the specific mechanisms by which BCA modulates TGF-ß signaling. METHODS: Renal fibrosis models were established both in vitro, using TGF-ß1-stimulated mouse renal tubular TCMK1 cells, and in vivo, employing mice with unilateral ureter obstruction (UUO). RNA-seq was conducted to identify BCA-regulated genes. The AnimalTFDB4.0 database was utilized to predict transcription factors with potential binding to Smad3 promoter. The activities of TGF-ß signaling and the cloned mouse Smad3 promoter were assessed using luciferase reporter assays. Plasmid transfection was performed using polyethylenimine in TCMK1 cells or ultrasound microbubbles in UUO kidneys. Gene expression was analyzed by RT-PCR, western blot, and immunohistochemistry assays. RESULTS: BCA significantly inhibited TGF-ß signaling activity and suppressed TGF-ß1-induced fibrotic gene expression in TCMK1 cells. RNA-seq and in silico analyses identified Smad3 as the key gene downregulated by BCA, while leaving Smad2 unaffected. This selective transcriptional suppression of Smad3 by BCA was validated by luciferase reporter assays using the cloned Smad3 promoter. Furthermore, transcription factor binding prediction identified that Klf6, a transcription factor downregulated by BCA, has binding potential to the Smad3 promoter and promotes Smad3 transcription. Klf6 expression was induced in TGF-ß1-stimulated TCMK1 cells and UUO kidneys, but this induction was abolished upon BCA treatment. Importantly, Klf6 overexpression restored Smad3 expression and counteracted the anti-fibrosis effects of BCA in both TGF-ß1-stimulated TCMK1 cells and UUO kidneys. CONCLUSION: TGF-ß-responsive Klf6 transcriptionally transactivates Smad3 expression. BCA exerts anti-renal fibrosis effects by inhibiting the Klf6-Smad3 signaling axis, underscoring its therapeutic potential in the treatment of CKD.

Self-templated fabrication of P-doped CoMoO4-Co3O4 hollow nanocages for the efficient oxygen evolution reaction.

Finding reservoir-rich and efficient electrocatalysts for the alkaline oxygen evolution reaction (OER) is crucial for further sustainable energy development. Despite the advantages of high earth abundance, easy availability, and tunable composition, transition-metal oxides are typically considered poor electrocatalysts for the OER. In this study, a composite P-doped CoMoO4-Co3O4 hollow nanocage is deliberately synthesized through a cation-exchange, pyrolysis, and phosphorization approach using an innovative self-template strategy with ZIF-67 as the sacrificial template. Hollow nanocages provide large surface areas and abundant active sites, enhancing electron transfer. Hybridization with other components increases the number of electrochemically reactive sites and optimizes the advantages of different element components. As a result, the P-CoMoO4-Co3O4 hollow nanocage catalyst demonstrates high OER performance, with an overpotential of 279 mV at a current density of 10 mA cm-2. Additionally, P-CoMoO4-Co3O4 catalysts exhibit good dispersibility and excellent long-term stability. Experimental findings and density functional theory (DFT) calculations indicate that the phosphorus-doping effect in various aspects contributes significantly to the superior catalytic activity of P-CoMoO4-Co3O4. This work provides a valuable method for designing cost-effective P doped Co-based bimetal oxide catalysts with outstanding OER performance for industrial applications.

Structural characterization, anti-aging activity and mechanisms investigation in vivo of a polysaccharide from Anthriscus sylvestris.

Anthriscus sylvestris (L.) Hoffm has a long history of use for anti-aging, although the anti-aging properties of its decoction ingredients have been seldom explored. This study marks the first detailed examination of the in vivo anti-aging activity of A. sylvestris roots polysaccharide (AP). Structural analyses revealed that AP is a neutral heteropolysaccharide with an average molecular weight (Mw) of 34.17 kDa, comprising glucose, xylose, galactose, mannose, and arabinose, with a backbone primarily of 1,4-α-D-Glc and minor branching at 1,4,6-α-D-Man. Its advanced structure is characterized by stable triple-helical chains and nanoscale agglomerated spherical particles. Using a D-gal-induced aging mouse model, further investigation showed that AP boosts the activity of various antioxidant enzymes via the Nrf2/HO-1/NQO1 signaling pathway. Aging-related immune decline was also mitigated by an increase in lymphocyte production in thymus. Moreover, AP reduced inflammation and downregulated aging genes p53 and p21 in hippocampus and liver tissues, enhanced the cholinergic system, and improved liver functions and lipid metabolism. The collective impact of these mechanisms underscores the robust anti-aging properties of AP. These findings highlight the anti-aging and immunomodulatory potential of A. sylvestris polysaccharide, broadening the understanding of its active components.

Evaluating deep learning techniques for identifying tongue features in subthreshold depression: a prospective observational study.

Objective: This study aims to evaluate the potential of using tongue image features as non-invasive biomarkers for diagnosing subthreshold depression and to assess the correlation between these features and acupuncture treatment outcomes using advanced deep learning models. Methods: We employed five advanced deep learning models-DenseNet169, MobileNetV3Small, SEResNet101, SqueezeNet, and VGG19_bn-to analyze tongue image features in individuals with subthreshold depression. These models were assessed based on accuracy, precision, recall, and F1 score. Additionally, we investigated the relationship between the best-performing model's predictions and the success of acupuncture treatment using Pearson's correlation coefficient. Results: Among the models, SEResNet101 emerged as the most effective, achieving an impressive 98.5% accuracy and an F1 score of 0.97. A significant positive correlation was found between its predictions and the alleviation of depressive symptoms following acupuncture (Pearson's correlation coefficient = 0.72, p<0.001). Conclusion: The findings suggest that the SEResNet101 model is highly accurate and reliable for identifying tongue image features in subthreshold depression. It also appears promising for assessing the impact of acupuncture treatment. This study contributes novel insights and approaches to the auxiliary diagnosis and treatment evaluation of subthreshold depression.

Stabilizing hexagonally close-packed phase in single-component block copolymers through rational symmetry breaking.

Despite being predicted to be a thermodynamically equilibrium structure, the absence of direct experimental evidence of hexagonally close-packed spherical phase in single-component block copolymers raises uncomfortable concerns regarding the existing fundamental phase principles. This work presents a robust approach to regulate the phase behavior of linear block copolymers by deliberately breaking molecular symmetry, and the hexagonally close-packed lattice is captured in a rigorous single-component system. A collection of discrete A1BA2 triblock copolymers is designed and prepared through an iterative growth method. The precise chemical composition and uniform chain length eliminates inherent size distribution and other molecular defects. Simply by tuning the relative chain length of two end A blocks, a rich array of ordered nanostructures, including Frank-Kasper A15 and σ phases, are fabricated without changing the overall chemistry or composition. More interestingly, hexagonally close-packed spherical phase becomes thermodynamically stable and experimentally accessible attributed to the synergistic contribution of the two end blocks. The shorter A blocks are pulled out from the core domain into the matrix to release packing frustration, while the longer ones stabilize the ordered spherical phase against composition fluctuation that tends to disrupt the lattice. This study adds a missing puzzle piece to the block copolymer phase diagram and provides a robust approach for rational structural engineering.

Coptis Chinensis Franch: Substance Basis, Mechanism of Action and Quality Control Standard Revealed Based on the Q-marker Concept and New Strategy of Systemic Pharmacology and Biosynthesis Research.

Coptis chinensis Franch. (Ranunculaceae, Coptis), a traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) with thousands of years of clinical use history, also a natural medicine available in many countries, has wide pharmacological mechanisms and significant bioactivity according to its traditional efficacy combined with modern scientific research. The quality marker (Q-marker) of C. chinensis Franch. is predicted in this paper based on the chemical composition and pharmacological effects of the plant, as well as the current system pharmacology, plant relatedness, biosynthetic pathways and quantitative analysis of multi-components (QAMS). Natural medicine has the advantage of being multi-component, multi-pathway and multi-target. However, there are few reports on safety evaluation. This review predicts the Q-marker of C. chinensis, and the safety and efficacy of C. chinensis is provided. Studies from 1975 to 2023 were reviewed from PubMed, Elsevier, ScienceDirect, Web of Science, SpringerLink, and Google Scholar. Alkaloids and organic acids are the two main component categories of Q-Markers. The specific alkaloids identified through predictive results include berberine, coptisine, palmatine, epiberberine, jatrorrhizine, columbamine, and berberrubine. Quinic acid and malic acid, due to their influence on the content of alkaloids and their ability to aid in identifying the active components of C. chinensis, are also considered Q-markers. The research strategy of "exploring chemical components, exploring pharmacological activities, constructing pharmacological mechanism network and locating biosynthetic pathways" was used to accurately screen the quality markers of C. chinensis in this review and summarise the quality evaluation methods and criteria. In addition, we updated the biosynthetic pathway of C. chinensis and refined the specific synthetic pathways of jatrorrhizine (quality markers) and epiberberine (quality markers). Finally, we summarised the quality evaluation methods of C. chinensis, which provide an important reference for resource evaluation and provide a key reference for the discovery of new functional chemical entities for natural medicines.

Interfacial Engineering of Polymer Membranes with Intrinsic Microporosity for Dendrite-free Zinc Metal Batteries.

Metallic zinc has emerged as a promising anode material for high-energy battery systems due to its high theoretical capacity (820 mA h g-1), low redox potential for two-electron reactions, cost-effectiveness and inherent safety. However, current zinc metal batteries face challenges in low coulombic efficiency and limited longevity due to uncontrollable dendrite growth, the corrosive hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) and decomposition of the aqueous ZnSO4 electrolyte. Here, we report an interfacial-engineering approach to mitigate dendrite growth and reduce corrosive reactions through the design of ultrathin selective membranes coated on the zinc anodes. The submicron-thick membranes derived from polymers of intrinsic microporosity (PIMs), featuring pores with tunable interconnectivity, facilitate regulated transport of Zn2+-ions, thereby promoting a uniform plating/stripping process. Benefiting from the protection by PIM membranes, zinc symmetric cells deliver a stable cycling performance over 1500 h at 1 mA/cm² with a capacity of 0.5 mAh while full cells with NaMnO2 cathode operate stably at 1 A g-1 over 300 cycles without capacity decay. Our work represents a new strategy of preparing multi-functional membranes that can advance the development of safe and stable zinc metal batteries.

Progress based on a multi-omics research strategy in the biosynthesis and modernization of active ingredients of Herpetospermum pedunculosum seeds.

Herpetospermum pedunculosum seeds also known as Herpetospermum caudigerum Wall. is the mature seed of the Herpetospermum pedunculosum(Ser.) C. B. Clarke,Cucurbitaceae. Modern pharmacological studies have shown that H. pedunculosum has hepatoprotective, anti-inflammatory, anti-gout and antibacterial pharmacological activities. The biologically active chemical components include lignin compounds such as Herpetin, Herpetetrone, Herpetoriol and so on. The natural product displays considerable skeletal diversity and structural complexity, offering significant opportunities for novel drug discovery. Based on the multi-omics research strategy and the 'gene-protein-metabolite' research framework, the biosynthetic pathway of terpenoids and lignans in H. pedunculosum has has been elucidated at multiple levels. These approaches provide comprehensive genetic information for cloning and identification of pertinent enzyme genes. Furthermore, the application of multi-omics integrative approaches provides a scientific means to elucidate entire secondary metabolic pathways. We investigated the biosynthetic pathways of lignin and terpene components in H. pedunculosum and conducted bioinformatics analysis of the crucial enzyme genes involved in the biosynthetic process using genomic and transcriptomic data. We identified candidate genes for six key enzymes in the biosynthetic pathway. This review reports on the current literature on pharmacological investigations of H. pedunculosum, proposing its potential as an antidiabetic agent. Moreover, we conclude, for the first time, the identification of key enzyme genes potentially involved in the biosynthesis of active compounds in H. pedunculosum. This review provides a scientific foundation for the discovery of novel therapeutic agents from natural sources.

A highly sensitive and colorimetric fluorescent probe for visualizing hydroxylamine in immune cells.

BACKGROUND: Hydroxylamine (HA) is vital industrial raw material and pharmaceutical intermediate. In addition, HA is an important cellular metabolite, which is intermediate in the formation of nitric oxide and nitroxide. However, excessive amounts of HA are toxic to both animals and plants. Conventional methods for the detection of HA are cumbersome and complicated. The detection of HA with fluorescent probes is convenient and sensitive. There are few probes available for the detection of hydroxylamine. Therefore, a fluorescent probe for the sensitive and selective detection of HA was developed in this work. RESULTS: A coumarin derivative SWJT-22 was synthesized as a colorimetric fluorescent probe to detect hydroxylamine (HA), with high sensitivity and selectivity. The detection limit of the probe to HA was 0.15 µM, which was lower than most probes of HA. Upon the addition of HA to aqueous solution containing SWJT-22, the color of the solution changed from orange to yellow, and the fluorescence color also changed from orange to green. The reaction mechanism of SWJT-22 to HA was confirmed by 1H NMR titrations, mass spectrometry and round bottom flask experiments. Moreover, SWJT-22 had been fabricated into portable test strips for the detection of HA. SWJT-22 had been successfully used in cellular imaging and could detect both endogenous and exogenous HA in HeLa cells and RAW 264.7 cells. SIGNIFICANCE: Due to the physiological role of hydroxylamine in organisms, it is crucial to detect hydroxylamine selectively and sensitively. This work provided a convenient tool for the detection of hydroxylamine, not only to detect endogenous and exogenous HA in cells, but also made into portable test strips. The HA fluorescent probe SWJT-22 is expected to promote the study of HA in physiological processes.

Prediction of two-dimensional C3N2 semiconductors with outstanding stability, moderate band gaps, and high carrier mobility.

Two-dimensional (2D) semiconductors with suitable band gaps, high carrier mobility, and environmental stability are crucial for applications in the next generation of electronics and optoelectronics. However, current candidate materials each have one or more issues. In this work, two novel C3N2 monolayers, P-C3N2 and I-C3N2 are proposed by first-principles calculations. Both structures have demonstrated excellent dynamical and mechanical stability, with thermal stability approaching 3000 K. Importantly, P-C3N2 shows a distinct advantage in formation energy compared to currently synthesized 2D carbon nitride materials, indicating its potential for experimental synthesis. Electronic structure calculations reveal that both P-C3N2 and I-C3N2 are intrinsic semiconductors with moderate band gaps of 2.19 and 1.81 eV, respectively. Additionally, both C3N2 monolayers display high absorption coefficients up to 105 cm-1, with P-C3N2 showing significant absorption capabilities in the visible light region. Remarkably, P-C3N2 possesses an ultra-high carrier mobility of up to 104 cm2 V-1 s-1. These findings provide theoretical insights and candidates for future applications in the electronics and optoelectronics fields.

Screening of active components in Astragalus mongholicus Bunge and Panax notoginseng formula for anti-fibrosis in CKD: nobiletin inhibits Lgals1/PI3K/AKT signaling to improve renal fibrosis.

The Astragalus mongholicus Bunge and Panax notoginseng formula (A&P) has been clinically shown to effectively slow down the progression of chronic kidney disease (CKD) and has demonstrated significant anti-fibrosis effects in experimental CKD model. However, the specific active ingredients and underlying mechanism are still unclear. The active ingredients of A&P were analyzed by Ultra-high performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (UPLC-HR-MS). A mouse model of CKD was constructed by 5/6 nephrectomy. Renal function was assessed by creatinine and urea nitrogen. Real-time PCR and Western Blot were performed to detect the mRNA and protein changes in kidney and cells. An in vitro fibrotic cell model was constructed by TGF-ß induction in TCMK-1 cells. The results showed that thirteen active ingredients of A&P were identified by UPLC-HR-MS, nine of which were identified by analysis with standards, among which the relative percentage of NOB was high. We found that NOB treatment significantly improved renal function, pathological damage and reduced the expression level of fibrotic factors in CKD mice. The results also demonstrated that Lgals1 was overexpressed in the interstitial kidney of CKD mice, and NOB treatment significantly reduced its expression level, while inhibiting PI3K and AKT phosphorylation. Interestingly, overexpression of Lgals1 significantly increased fibrosis in TCMK1 cells and upregulated the activity of PI3K and AKT, which were strongly inhibited by NOB treatment. NOB is one of the main active components of A&P. The molecular mechanism by which NOB ameliorates renal fibrosis in CKD may be through the inhibition of Lgals1/PI3K/AKT signaling pathway.

An AIE-active tetra-aryl imidazole-derived chemodosimeter for turn-on recognition of hydrazine and its bioimaging in living cells.

A new chemodosimeter SWJT-31 with an aggregation-induced emission (AIE) effect was designed and constructed. Upon increasing the water fraction in the solution, it exhibited typical AIE, which showed bright red fluorescence at 610 nm. SWJT-31 could sensitively and specifically recognize hydrazine by the TICT effect with an LOD of 33.8 nM, which was much lower than the standard of the USEPA. A portable test strip prepared using SWJT-31 was also developed for the visual detection of hydrazine. Eventually, it was successfully used for the detection of hydrazine in water samples and HeLa cells.

Oxidation Mechanism and Toxicity Evolution of Linalool, a Typical Indoor Volatile Chemical Product.

Linalool, a high-reactivity volatile chemical product (VCP) commonly found in cleaning products and disinfectants, is increasingly recognized as an emerging contaminant, especially in indoor air. Understanding the gas-phase oxidation mechanism of linalool is crucial for assessing its impact on atmospheric chemistry and human health. Using quantum chemical calculations and computational toxicology simulations, we investigated the atmospheric transformation and toxicity evolution of linalool under low and high NO/HO2· levels, representing indoor and outdoor environments. Our findings reveal that linalool can undergo the novel mechanisms involving concerted peroxy (RO2·) and alkoxy radical (RO·) modulated autoxidation, particularly emphasizing the importance of cyclization reactions indoors. This expands the widely known RO2·-dominated H-shift-driven autoxidation and proposes a generalized autoxidation mechanism that leads to the formation of low-volatility secondary organic aerosol (SOA) precursors. Toxicological analysis shows that over half of transformation products (TPs) exhibited higher carcinogenicity and respiratory toxicity compared to linalool. We also propose time-dependent toxic effects of TPs to assess their long-term toxicity. Our results indicate that the strong indoor emission coupled with slow consumption rates lead to significant health risks under an indoor environment. The results highlight complex indoor air chemistry and health concerns regarding persistent toxic products during indoor cleaning, which involves the use of linalool or other VCPs.

Unraveling the activity trends of T-C2N based Single-Atom catalysts for electrocatalytic nitrate reduction via high-throughput screening.

Electrochemical nitrate reduction reaction (NO3RR) offers a cost-effective and environmentally friendly method to simultaneously yield valuable NH3and alleviate NO3-pollution under mild operating conditions.However, this complicated eight-electron reaction suffers from low selectivity and Faradaic efficiency, which highlight the importance of developing efficient catalysts, but still a critical challenge. Here, a theoretical screening is performed on transition metal-tetragonal carbon nitride (TM@T-C2N) as active and selective electrocatalysts for NO3RR, where detailed reaction mechanisms and activity origins are explored. In addition, five-step screening criteria and volcano plots enable fast prescreening among numerous candidates.We identify that V@T-C2N and Cr@T-C2N are promising candidates with low overpotentials and high selectivity and stability. In particular, a significant negative correlation between the adsorption strength ofnitrate and the Gibbs free energy for the last proton-electron coupling step (*NH2→*NH3) was existed, which is considerably advantaged to track the activity trend and reveal the origin of activity. This work provides theoretical insights into the rational design of TM-N4/C catalysts for NO3RR andpaves a valuable electrochemical screening framework for other multi-step reactions.

Mushroom oils: A review of their production, composition, and potential applications.

This review delves into the world of mushroom oils, highlighting their production, composition, and versatile applications. Despite mushrooms' overall low lipid content, their fatty acid composition, rich in essential fatty acids like linoleic acid and oleic acid, proves nutritionally significant. Variations in fatty acid profiles across mushroom species and the prevalence of unsaturated fats contribute to their cardiovascular health benefits. The exploration extends to mushroom essential oils, revealing diverse volatile compounds through extraction methods like hydrodistillation and solvent-assisted flavor evaporation (SAFE). The identification of 1-octen-3-ol as a key contributor to the distinct "mushroom flavor" adds a nuanced perspective. The focus broadens to applications, encompassing culinary and industrial uses with techniques like cold pressing and supercritical fluid extraction (SFE). Mushroom oils, with their unique nutritional and flavor profiles, enhance gastronomic experiences. Non-food applications in cosmetics and biofuels underscore the oils' versatility. The nutritional composition, enriched with essential fatty acids, bioactive compositions, and trace elements, is explored for potential health benefits. Bioactive compounds such as phenolic compounds and terpenes contribute to antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties, positioning mushroom oils as nutritional powerhouses. In short, this concise review synthesizes the intricate world of mushroom oils, emphasizing their nutritional significance, extraction methodologies, and potential health benefits. The comprehensive overview underscores mushroom oils as a promising area for further exploration and utilization. The characteristics of mushroom biomass oil for the use in various industries are influenced by the mushroom species, chemical composition, biochemical synthesis of mushroom, and downstream processes including extraction, purification and characterization. Therefore, further research and exploration need to be done to achieve a circular bioeconomy with the integration of SDGs, waste reduction, and economic stimulation, to fully utilize the benefits of mushroom, a valuable gift of nature.

A systematic review of epigenetic interplay in kidney diseases: Crosstalk between long noncoding RNAs and methylation, acetylation of chromatin and histone.

The intricate crosstalk between long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) and epigenetic modifications such as chromatin/histone methylation and acetylation offer new perspectives on the pathogenesis and treatment of kidney diseases. lncRNAs, a class of transcripts longer than 200 nucleotides with no protein-coding potential, are now recognized as key regulatory molecules influencing gene expression through diverse mechanisms. They modulate the epigenetic modifications by recruiting or blocking enzymes responsible for adding or removing methyl or acetyl groups, such as DNA, N6-methyladenosine (m6A) and histone methylation and acetylation, subsequently altering chromatin structure and accessibility. In kidney diseases such as acute kidney injury (AKI), chronic kidney disease (CKD), diabetic nephropathy (DN), glomerulonephritis (GN), and renal cell carcinoma (RCC), aberrant patterns of DNA/RNA/histone methylation and acetylation have been associated with disease onset and progression, revealing a complex interplay with lncRNA dynamics. Recent studies have highlighted how lncRNAs can impact renal pathology by affecting the expression and function of key genes involved in cell cycle control, fibrosis, and inflammatory responses. This review will separately address the roles of lncRNAs and epigenetic modifications in renal diseases, with a particular emphasis on elucidating the bidirectional regulatory effects and underlying mechanisms of lncRNAs in conjunction with DNA/RNA/histone methylation and acetylation, in addition to the potential exacerbating or renoprotective effects in renal pathologies. Understanding the reciprocal relationships between lncRNAs and epigenetic modifications will not only shed light on the molecular underpinnings of renal pathologies but also present new avenues for therapeutic interventions and biomarker development, advancing precision medicine in nephrology.

Research on the global trends of COVID-19 associated acute kidney injury: a bibliometric analysis.

Critically ill COVID-19 patients may exhibit various clinical symptoms of renal dysfunction including severe Acute Kidney Injury (AKI). Currently, there is a lack of bibliometric analyses on COVID-19-related AKI. The aim of this study is to provide an overview of the current research status and hot topics regarding COVID-19 AKI. The literature was retrieved from the Web of Science Core Collection (WoSCC) database. Subsequently, we utilized Microsoft Excel, VOSviewer, Citespace, and Pajek software to revealed the current research status, emerging topics, and developmental trends pertaining to COVID-19 AKI. This study encompassed a total of 1507 studies on COVID-19 AKI. The United States, China, and Italy emerged as the leading three countries in terms of publication numbers, contributing 498 (33.05%), 229 (15.20%), and 140 (9.29%) studies, respectively. The three most active and influential institutions include Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan University and Harvard Medical School. Ronco C from Italy, holds the record for the highest number of publications, with a total of 15 papers authored. Cheng YC's work from China has garnered the highest number of citations, totaling 470 citations. The co-occurrence analysis of author keywords reveals that 'mortality', 'intensive care units', 'chronic kidney disease', 'nephrology', 'renal transplantation', 'acute respiratory distress syndrome', and 'risk factors' emerge as the primary areas of focus within the realm of COVID-19 AKI. In summary, this study analyzes the research trends in the field of COVID-19 AKI, providing a reference for further exploration and research on COVID-19 AKI mechanisms and treatment.

Dual-mode SERS/colorimetric sensing of nitrite in meat products based on multifunctional au NPs@COF composite.

The presence of nitrite in food products has generated significant public concern. A simple and rapid dual-mode surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS)/colorimetric detection of nitrite is proposed based on a diazo reaction and multifunctional gold nanoparticle-doped covalent organic framework (Au@COF) composite. Under acidic conditions, the reaction between toluidine blue and nitrite yielded a colorless diazo salt, simultaneously attenuating its characteristic absorption peak and Raman signal. The multifunctional Au@COF materials enhanced the Raman signal and ensured good reproducibility. Additionally, the reaction rates improved, and the sensitivity was enhanced due to the excellent adsorption capacity of the COF. The proposed method demonstrated high sensitivity and excellent recovery rates for nitrite detection in food samples. This approach shows potential for precisely detecting nitrite content in real-world food samples by integrating the simplicity of colorimetric analysis with the enhanced sensitivity of SERS.

Calycosin inhibited MIF-mediated inflammatory chemotaxis of macrophages to ameliorate ischemia reperfusion-induced acute kidney injury.

BACKGROUND: Inflammatory macrophage infiltration plays a critical role in acute kidney disease induced by ischemia-reperfusion (IRI-AKI). Calycosin is a natural flavone with multiple bioactivities. This study aimed to investigate the therapeutic role of calycosin in IRI-AKI and its underlying mechanism. METHODS: The renoprotective and anti-inflammatory effects of calycosin were analyzed in C57BL/6 mice with IRI-AKI and lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated RAW 264.7 cells. RNA-seq was used for mechanism investigation. The molecular target of calycosin was screened by in silico methods and validated by surface plasmon resonance (SPR). Macrophage chemotaxis was analyzed using Transwell and agarose gel spot assays. RESULTS: Calycosin treatment significantly reduced serum creatinine and urea nitrogen and attenuated tubular destruction in IRI-AKI mice. Additionally, calycosin markedly suppressed NF-κB signaling activation and the expression of inflammatory mediators IL-1ß and TNF-α in IRI-AKI kidneys and LPS-stimulated RAW 264.7 cells. Interestingly, RNA-seq revealed calycosin remarkably downregulated chemotaxis-related pathways in RAW 264.7 cells. Among the differentially expressed genes, Ccl2/MCP-1, a critical chemokine mediating macrophage inflammatory chemotaxis, was downregulated in both LPS-stimulated RAW 264.7 cells and IRI-AKI kidneys. Consistently, calycosin treatment attenuated macrophage infiltration in the IRI-AKI kidneys. Importantly, in silico target prediction, molecular docking, and SPR assay demonstrated that calycosin directly binds to macrophage migration inhibitory factor (MIF). Functionally, calycosin abrogated MIF-stimulated NF-κB signaling activation and Ccl2 expression and MIF-mediated chemotaxis in RAW 264.7 cells. CONCLUSIONS: In summary, calycosin attenuates IRI-AKI by inhibiting MIF-mediated macrophage inflammatory chemotaxis, suggesting it could be a promising therapeutic agent for the treatment of IRI-AKI.