Dynamic Jahn-Teller effect in the strong spin-orbit coupling regime.

Exotic quantum phases, arising from a complex interplay of charge, spin, lattice and orbital degrees of freedom, are of immense interest to a wide research community. A well-known example of such an entangled behavior is the Jahn-Teller effect, where the lifting of orbital degeneracy proceeds through lattice distortions. Here we demonstrate that a highly-symmetrical 5d1 double perovskite Ba2MgReO6, comprising a 3D array of isolated ReO6 octahedra, represents a rare example of a dynamic Jahn-Teller system in the strong spin-orbit coupling regime. Thermodynamic and resonant inelastic x-ray scattering experiments, supported by quantum chemistry calculations, undoubtedly show that the Jahn-Teller instability leads to a ground-state doublet, resolving a long-standing puzzle in this family of compounds. The dynamic state of ReO6 octahedra persists down to the lowest temperatures, where a multipolar order sets in, allowing for investigations of the interplay between a dynamic JT effect and strongly correlated electron behavior.

A Liquid Band-Aid with Mesenchymal Stem Cell-Derived Exosomes for Wound Healing in Mice.

INTRODUCTION/OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to examine the effect of a human umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cell-derived exosome (hUC-MSC-Exo) liquid band-aid on wound healing in mice. METHODS: hUC-MSC-Exos were prepared from the supernatant via ion exchange chromatography. The composition ratio of the chitosan liquid band-aid was optimized to form a film and encapsulate hUC-MSC-Exo. The biological effects of chitosan exosome liquid band-aid on human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) were observed, and its anti-bacterial properties were tested. BALB/c mice with back skin injury were randomly divided into chitosan exosome liquid band-aid group (CS-Exo), chitosan liquid band-aid group (CS), and normal saline control group (Con), and wound healing was evaluated post-treatment. Skin tissue samples posttreatment were collected for H&E staining. RESULTS: The hUC-MSC-Exo was prepared and characterized. The optimum conditions for film formation were 1% chitosan solution and 15% poloxamer 407/poloxamer 188 (pH 5.0 ~ 7.0). The chitosan exosome liquid band-aid promoted HUVEC proliferation and migration and markedly inhibited Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus growth in vitro. In vivo, the wound healing rate in the CS-Exo group was higher than that in the Con and CS groups. Fourteen days post-treatment, the wounds completely healed, and hair grew normally, which was consistent with H&E results. Mouse weights in each group did not change significantly after administration, indicating that the chitosan exosome liquid band-aid had no obvious toxic side effects. CONCLUSION: Local chitosan exosome liquid band-aid application can promote wound healing in mice, and the mechanism could be related to hUC-MSC-Exo-induced vascular endothelial cell proliferation and migration.

Inhalation of Microplastics Induces Inflammatory Injuries in Multiple Murine Organs via the Toll-like Receptor Pathway.

Previous studies have detected microplastics (MPs) in human biological samples, such as lungs, alveolar lavage fluid, and thrombus. However, whether MPs induce health effects after inhalation are unclear. In this study, fluorescent polystyrene microplastics (PS-MPs) were found in the thymus, spleen, testes, liver, kidneys, and brain on day 1 or day 3 after one intratracheal instillation. Furthermore, mice showed inflammation in multiple organs, manifested as obvious infiltration of neutrophils and macrophages, increased Toll-like receptors (TLRs), myeloid differentiation primary response protein 88 (MyD88) and nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB), as well as proinflammatory cytokines (tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α and interleukin (IL)-1ß) in the lungs, thymus, spleen, liver, and kidneys after four intratracheal instillations of PS-MPs at once every 2 weeks. Hepatic and renal function indexes were also increased. Subsequently, the inflammatory response in multiple murine organs was significantly alleviated by TLR2 and TLR4 inhibitors. Unexpectedly, we did not find any elevated secretion of monocyte chemotactic protein (MCP)-1 or TNF-α by RAW264.7 macrophages in vitro. Thus, PS-MPs induced inflammatory injuries in multiple murine organs via the TLRs/MyD88/NF-κB pathway in vivo, but not macrophages in vitro. These results may provide theoretical support for healthy protection against PS-MPs and their environmental risk assessment.

Clinical Efficacy of Electroacupuncture at Sacral Four Points Combined with Moxibustion at Abdominal Three Points for Treating Post-Stroke Urinary Incontinence: Observations on Urodynamics, Quality of Life, and Safety.

BACKGROUND: Urinary incontinence is a common complication following a stroke. No specific drugs are available in Western medicine, and surgical treatment is highly traumatic, limiting its clinical application. This study aimed to observe the clinical efficacy of electroacupuncture at the "Sacral Four Points" combined with moxibustion at the "Abdominal Three Points" on post-stroke urinary incontinence, exploring its impact on urodynamics and quality of life. METHODS: Patients with post-stroke urinary incontinence treated at our Hospital from January 2021 to December 2023 were recruited. The study included 117 patients: 57 in the electroacupuncture group and 60 in the combined group. Urodynamic parameters were measured, and scores from the International Consultation on Incontinence Questionnaire-Urinary Incontinence Short Form (ICIQ-UI SF) and the Incontinence Quality of Life Questionnaire (I-QOL) were recorded before, and after the first and third courses of treatment. Clinical efficacy and adverse reactions were evaluated post-treatment. RESULTS: The study found no significant differences in clinical characteristics between the groups (p > 0.05), providing a baseline for comparison. Both groups showed substantial decreases in leakage volume after one course of treatment (p < 0.05), with a reduction in the ICIQ-UI SF score (p < 0.05) and an increase in the I-QOL score (p < 0.05). After three courses of treatment, the leakage volume of patients in both groups significantly decreased (p < 0.05), the ICIQ-UI SF score decreased (p < 0.05), and the I-QOL score increased (p < 0.05). The combined group showed a lower leakage volume compared to the electroacupuncture group (p < 0.05), with lower ICIQ-UI SF scores (p = 0.027) and higher I-QOL scores (p = 0.048). Importantly, the total effective rate was significantly higher in the combined group (88.33% vs 64.91%, p = 0.037), demonstrating the safety and efficacy of the treatment. CONCLUSIONS: Electroacupuncture at the "Sacral Four Points" combined with moxibustion at the "Abdominal Three Points" improves the clinical symptoms and enhances the quality of life for patients with post-stroke urinary incontinence, showing superior results compared to electroacupuncture alone.

Synthesis of a Palladium Dimer Supported by a C-Bound Trifluoroacetonate Bridge Formed by Cleavage of a Hexafluoroacetylacetonate Ligand.

Palladium(II) hexafluoroacetylacetonate (Pd(Hfacac)2) is known to form adducts of bases, such as lutidine (2,6-dimethylpyridine). When treated with approximately 3 equiv of lutidine, Pd(Hfacac)2 yields a 1:1 complex as reported in the literature, Pd(O,O-Hfacac)(C-Hfacac)(lutidine), 1. However, when the amount of excess lutidine is increased, a new complex, 2, is formed. A single-crystal X-ray structure of 2 proves it is a rare example of a dimeric palladium complex containing two Pd(Hfacac)(lutidine) fragments bridged by a dianionic trifluoroacetonate ligand, µ-CHC(O)CF3. The formation of 2 is accompanied by a white precipitate determined to be a mixture of trans-Pd(O2CCF3)2(lutidine)2 (3), confirming the fate of the missing trifluoroacetate fragment from the cleavage of the Hfacac ligand, and [lutidinium][Hfacac] (4). Subsequent experiments revealed the determinative role that water played in this reaction. The mechanism of cleavage of the Hfacac ligand was explored by DFT methods.

Preparation of Multistage Pore TS-1 with Enhanced Photocatalytic Activity, Including Process Studies and Artificial Neural Network Modeling for Synergy Assessment.

Antibiotic residues have been found in several aquatic ecosystems as a result of the widespread use of antibiotics in recent years, which poses a major risk to both human health and the environment. At present, photocatalytic degradation is the most effective and environmentally friendly method. Titanium silicon molecular sieve (TS-1) has been widely used as an industrial catalyst, but its photocatalytic application in wastewater treatment is limited due to its small pores and few active sites. In this paper, we report a method for preparing multistage porous TS-1 with a high specific surface area by alkali treatment. In the photocatalytic removal of CIP (ciprofloxacin) antibiotic wastewater experiments, the alkali-treated catalyst showed better performance in terms of interfacial charge transfer efficiency, which was 2.3 times higher than that of TS-1 synthesized by the conventional method, and it was found to maintain better catalytic performance in the actual water source. In addition, this research studied the effects of solution pH, contaminant concentration, and catalyst dosage on CIP degradation, while liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS) was used to identify intermediates in the degradation process and infer possible degradation pathways and the toxicity of CIP, and its degradation product was also analyzed using ECOSAR 2.2 software, and most of the intermediates were found to be nontoxic and nonharmful. Finally, a 3:5:1 artificial neural network model was established based on the experiments, and the relative importance of the influence of experimental conditions on the degradation rate was determined. The above results confirmed the feasibility and applicability of photocatalytic treatment of wastewater containing antibiotics using visible light excitation alkali post-treatment TS-1, which provided technical support and a theoretical basis for the photocatalytic treatment of wastewater containing antibiotics.

Blood cell counts and nonalcoholic fatty liver disease: Evidence from Mendelian randomization analysis.

BACKGROUND: Previous research has highlighted correlations between blood cell counts and chronic liver disease. Nonetheless, the causal relationships remain unknown. AIM: To evaluate the causal effect of blood cell traits on liver enzymes and nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) risk. METHODS: Independent genetic variants strongly associated with blood cell traits were extracted from a genome-wide association study (GWAS) conducted by the Blood Cell Consortium. Summary-level data for liver enzymes were obtained from the United Kingdom Biobank. NAFLD data were obtained from a GWAS meta-analysis (8434 cases and 770180 controls, discovery dataset) and the Fingen GWAS (2275 cases and 372727 controls, replication dataset). This analysis was conducted using the inverse-variance weighted method, followed by various sensitivity analyses. RESULTS: One SD increase in the genetically predicted haemoglobin concentration (HGB) was associated with a ß of 0.0078 (95%CI: 0.0059-0.0096), 0.0108 (95%CI: 0.0080-0.0136), 0.0361 (95%CI: 0.0156-0.0567), and 0.0083 (95%CI: 00046-0.0121) for alkaline phosphatase (ALP), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase, and gamma-glutamyl transferase, respectively. Genetically predicted haematocrit was associated with ALP (ß = 0.0078, 95%CI: 0.0052-0.0104) and ALT (ß = 0.0057, 95%CI: 0.0039-0.0075). Genetically determined HGB and the reticulocyte fraction of red blood cells increased the risk of NAFLD [odds ratio (OR) = 1.199, 95%CI: 1.087-1.322] and (OR = 1.157, 95%CI: 1.071-1.250). The results of the sensitivity analyses remained significant. CONCLUSION: Novel causal blood cell traits related to liver enzymes and NAFLD development were revealed through Mendelian randomization analysis, which may facilitate the diagnosis and prevention of NAFLD.

Synergistic Effect of Ubiquitin-Specific Protease 14 and Poly(ADP-Ribose) Glycohydrolase Co-Inhibition in BRCA1-Mutant, Poly(ADP-Ribose) Polymerase Inhibitor-Resistant Triple-Negative Breast Cancer Cells.

Purpose: The clinical benefits of poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP) inhibitors are limited to triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) with BRCA deficiency due to primary and acquired resistance. Thus, there is a pressing need to develop alternative treatment regimens to target BRCA-mutated TNBC tumors that are resistant to PARP inhibition. Similar to PARP, poly(ADP-ribose) glycohydrolase (PARG) plays a role in DNA replication and repair. However, there are conflicting reports on the vulnerability of BRCA1-deficient tumor cells to PARG inhibition. This study aims to investigate the synergistically lethal effect of the PARG inhibitor COH34 and the ubiquitin-specific protease (USP) 14 inhibitor IU1-248 and the underlying mechanisms in BRCA1-mutant, PARP inhibitor-resistant TNBC cells. Methods: The cytotoxicity of PARG inhibition alone or in combination with USP14 inhibition in the BRCA-mutant, PARP inhibitor-resistant TNBC cell lines, HCC1937 and SUM149PT, was analyzed using cell viability and proliferation assays and flow cytometry. The molecular mechanisms underlying the synergistic effects of IU1-248 and COH34 were evaluated by immunofluorescence staining, DNA repair reporter assays and Western blot analysis. Results: It was found that HCC1937 and SUM149PT cells exhibited moderate responsiveness to PARG inhibition alone. To the best of our knowledge, this research is the first to demonstrate that the combination of IU1-248 and COH34 produces synergistic effects against TNBC cells in the same setting. Mechanistically, the blockade of USP14 by IU1-248 was shown to increase DNA damage and promote error-prone non-homologous end joining (NHEJ), as evidenced by the accumulation of γH2AX and 53BP1 in the nucleus and the activation of a reporter assay. Additionally, it was demonstrated that the inhibition of NHEJ repair activity attenuates the synergistic effects of concomitant PARG and USP14 inhibition. IU1-248 promotes NHEJ repair through the downregulation of the expression of c-Myc. Conclusion: USP14 inhibition may be a plausible strategy for expanding the utility of PARG inhibitors in TNBC in BRCA-mutant, PARP inhibitor-resistant settings.

Immunomodulatory hydrogel orchestrates pro-regenerative response of macrophages and angiogenesis for chronic wound healing.

Chronic wound healing often encounters challenges characterized by prolonged inflammation and impaired angiogenesis. While the immune response plays a pivotal role in orchestrating the intricate process of wound healing, excessive inflammation can hinder tissue repair. In this study, a bilayer alginate hydrogel system encapsulating polyelectrolyte complex nanoparticles (PCNs) loaded with anti-inflammatory cytokines and angiogenic growth factors is developed to address the challenges of chronic wound healing. The alginate hydrogel is designed using two distinct crosslinking methods to achieve differential degradation, thereby enabling precise spatial and temporal controlled release of PCNs. Initially, interleukin-10 (IL-10) is released to mitigate inflammation, while unsaturated PCNs bind and remove accumulated pro-inflammatory cytokines at the wound site. Subsequently, angiogenic growth factors, including vascular endothelial growth factor and platelet-derived growth factor, are released to promote vascularization and vessel maturation. Our results demonstrate that the bilayer hydrogel exhibits distinct degradation kinetics between the two layers, facilitating the staged release of multiple signaling molecules. In vitro experiments reveal that IL-10 can activate the Jak1/STAT3 pathway, thereby suppressing pro-inflammatory cytokines and chemokines while down-regulating inflammation-related genes. In vivo studies demonstrate that application of the hydrogel in chronic wounds using diabetic murine model promotes healing by positively modulating multiple integral reparative mechanisms. These include reducing inflammation, promoting macrophage polarization towards a pro-regenerative phenotype, enhancing keratinocyte migration, stimulating angiogenesis, and expediting wound closure. In conclusion, our hydrogel system effectively mitigates inflammatory responses and provides essential physiological cues by inducing a synergistic angiogenic effect, thus offering a promising approach for the treatment of chronic wounds.

Veillonella parvula acts as a pathobiont promoting the biofilm virulence and cariogenicity of Streptococcus mutans in adult severe caries.

Adult severe caries (ASC) brings severe oral dysfunction and treatment difficulties to patients, and yet no clear pathogenic mechanism for it has been found. This study is focused on the composition of dental plaque microbiome profiles in order to identify disease-relevant species and to investigate into their interactions with the S. mutans. Samples of dental plaque were collected for metagenomic analysis. The acidification, aciduricity, oxidative stress tolerance, and gtf (glucosyltransferase) gene expression of S. mutans cocultured with V. parvula which was identified as ASC-related dominant bacterium. The biofilm formation and extracellular exopolysaccharide (EPS) synthesis of dual-strain were analyzed with scanning electron microscopy (SEM), crystal violet (CV) staining, live/dead bacterial staining, and confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM). Furthermore, rodent model experiments were performed to validate the in vivo cariogenicity of the dual-species biofilm. The most significantly abundant taxon found associated with ASC was V. parvula. In vitro experiments found that V. parvula can effectively promote S. mutans mature biofilm formation with enhanced acid resistance, hydrogen peroxide detoxicity, and biofilm virulence. Rodent model experiments revealed that V. parvula was incapable of causing disease on its own, but it significantly heightened the biofilm virulence of S. mutans when being co-infected and augmented the progression, quantity, and severity of dental caries. Our findings demonstrated that V. parvula may act as a synergistic pathobiont to modulate the metabolic activity, spatial structure, and pathogenicity of biofilms of S. mutans in the context of ASC.IMPORTANCEAdult severe caries (ASC), as a special type of acute caries, is rarely reported and its worthiness of further study is still in dispute. Yet studies on the etiology of severe caries in adults have not found a clear pathogenic mechanism for it. Knowledge of the oral microbiota is important for the treatment of dental caries. We discovered that the interaction between V. parvula and S. mutans augments the severity of dental caries in vivo, suggesting V. parvula may act as a synergistic pathobiont exacerbating biofilm virulence of S. mutans in ASC. Our findings may improve the understanding of ASC pathogenesis and are likely to provide a basis for planning appropriate therapeutic strategies.

The combined toxicity of polystyrene microplastic and arsenate: From the view of biochemical process in wheat seedlings (Triticum aestivum L.).

Microplastics (MPs) are important carriers of various toxic metals and can alter their toxicity pattern in agricultural soil, leading to combined pollution, therefore posing new challenges to soil pollution management and environmental risk assessment. In this study, we observed the internalization of MPs in plants and conducted incubation experiments to evaluated the effects of arsenate (As(V)) alone and in combination with polystyrene (PS) MPs on wheat seedlings (Triticum aestivum L.). Under As(V) alone and combined with PS-MP exposure, dose-dependent toxicity in terms of root and stem elongation and biomass accumulation was observed. Compared with As(V) alone, the presence of PS-MPs reduced the accumulation of As in wheat roots by 11.43-58.91%, but PS-MPs intensified the transport of As to the aboveground parts of wheat, increasing As accumulation in wheat stems by 27.77-1011.54%. This causes more serious mechanical damage and oxidative stress to plant cells, increasing the accumulation of reactive oxygen species and lipid peroxidation in wheat roots and upregulating the activities of antioxidant enzymes such as superoxide dismutase (SOD) and peroxidase (POD). In addition, the co-exposure of As(V) and PS-MPs disrupts the photosynthetic system of wheat leaves and the secretion activities of roots. Therefore, the combination of As(V) and PS-MPs caused greater damage to wheat growth. Our findings contribute to a more comprehensive assessment of the combined toxicity of MPs and heavy metal to crops.

Pickering emulsions stabilized by cellulose nanofibers with tunable surface properties for thermal energy storage.

Cellulose nanofibers (CNFs) have been widely used as a renewable emulsifier to stabilize two immiscible liquids due to their intrinsic amphiphilicity and excellent emulsifying ability. However, it remains challenging to fully understand the effects of carboxylate group content and surface charge density on the emulsifying ability of CNFs and the stability of Pickering emulsion. Herein, carboxymethylated CNFs were extracted from bleached kraft pulp using etherification reaction and high-pressure homogenization, allowing for easy surface charge density and size adjustment by changing sodium chloroacetate content and homogenization cycles. The optimizing CNFs possessed a high Zeta potential (-71.2 mV) and a suitable carboxylate group content (1.81 mmol/g), which enabled CNFs to irreversibly adsorb at the hydrophobic paraffin wax (PW) droplet surface and form interfacial steric barriers, providing large electrostatic repulsion between the PW droplets against coalescence. Thus, the CNF-stabilized PW emulsions could be stored for more than 6 months. Moreover, the phase change enthalpy of the freeze-dried emulsion is as high as 193.7 J/g, which provides the emulsion to reversibly store and release heat. This work provides a comprehensive insight into the interfacial stability mechanism of CNFs as stabilizers and facilitates the potential application in thermal energy storage.

Electrochemical behavior and reaction mechanism of nano-BiOBr/rGO composite micro flower with strong interface coupling as potassium-ion battery anodes.

To explore the potential of bismuth oxybromide (BiOBr) as anodes for high-performance potassium (K)-ion batteries and understand its potassium storage mechanism, a novel nano-BiOBr/reduced graphene oxide (rGO) composite micro flower (labelled as SI-coupled nano-BiOBr/rGO micro flower), where nano-BiOBr slices are firmly anchored on rGO by strong interface coupling, is constructed. Unique microstructure accompanied by C-Bi bonds at the interface between BiOBr and rGO endows it with abundant high-speed charge transfer channels and excellent structural stability. As a result, it exhibits an excellent rate performance (a high reversible capacity of 278 mAh/g at 5 A/g) and a remarkable long-term cycling stability maintaining 95.4 % after 1000 cycles at 2.5 A/g. Furthermore, it is also found that SI-coupled nano-BiOBr/rGO micro flower anode undergoes intercalation, conversion, and alloying (BiOBr â†’ KzBiOBr â†’ Bi â†’ KBi2 â†’ K3Bi2 â†’ K3Bi) at the initial discharge process, and the subsequent charge process is only reversible dealloying and conversion reaction (K3Bi â†’ K3Bi2 â†’ KBi2 â†’ Bi â†’ BiOxBry). This work not only demonstrates the large potential of BiOBr as high-performance K-ion battery anodes, but also elucidates for the first time its K storage mechanism.

Compensation Techniques for Photosensors Used in High-Precision Accelerometers.

Temperature exerts a profound influence on the fidelity of photosensors, making the attainment of reliable temperature compensation a formidable task within engineering realms. This research delves into the intricacies of photosensors used in high-precision accelerometers, proposing an innovative, high-precision, adaptive, closed-loop compensation mechanism. Our design stands in stark contrast to traditional open-loop models, demonstrating superior performance by achieving a remarkable reduction in compensation error-nearly 98%. This advancement in consistency and precision marks a significant leap forward for the application of high-precision photosensors in engineering contexts.

Impact of Time Period and Birth Cohort on the Trend of Advanced Neoplasm Prevalence in the 40-49 Average-Risk Screening Population.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Early-onset colorectal cancer (CRC) is increasing globally. While the United States have lowered the age of initiation of screening to 45 years, other countries still start screening at 50 years of age. In Taiwan, the incidence of CRC has declined in 55- to 74-year-olds after the initiation of screening, but still increased in those 50-54 years of age, potentially due to rising precancerous lesion incidence in 40- to 49-year-olds. This study aimed to explore the chronological trend of the prevalence of colorectal advanced neoplasms (AN) in the screening population 40-54 years of age. METHODS: We retrospectively analyzed a screening colonoscopy cohort for prevalence of AN in average-risk subjects 40-54 years of age from 2003 to 2019. Logistic regression was used to distinguish cohort effect from time-period effect on the prevalence of AN. RESULTS: In total, 27,805 subjects (52.1% male) men were enrolled. There were notable increases in prevalence of AN in all 3 age groups during the 17-year span, but these were more rapid in those 40-44 years of age (0.99% to 3.22%) and 45-49 years of age (2.50% to 4.19%). Those 50-54 years of age had a higher risk of AN (adjusted odds ratio [aOR], 1.62; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.19-2.19) in 2003-2008 but not in later periods (2009-2014: aOR, 1.08; 95% CI, 0.83-1.41; 2015-2019: aOR, 0.76; 95% CI, 0.56-1.03) when compared with those 45-49 years of age. CONCLUSION: The prevalence of AN in those 40-54 years of age increased in the Taiwanese population, with a later birth cohort having a higher prevalence of AN. However, the prevalence of AN in those 45-49 years of age increased more remarkably and approximated that in those 50-54 years of age, which may justify earlier initiation of CRC screening in those 45 years of age.

The Effect of Novel AI-based Cecum Recognition System on Adenoma Detection Metrics at Screening Colonoscopy Setting.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Cecal intubation of colonoscopy relies on self-reporting. We developed an artificial intelligence-based cecum recognition system (AI-CRS) for post hoc verification of cecal intubation and explored its impact on adenoma metrics. METHODS: Quality metrics, including cecal intubation rate (CIR), adenoma detection rate (ADR), and other ADR-related metrics were compared both before (2015-2018) and after (2019-2022) the implementation of AI-CRS. RESULTS: While CIR did not change significantly after the implementation of AI-CRS, ADR and AADR significantly increased. While ADR significantly increased in all segments, the most significant increase in AADR was observed in the proximal colon. Implementation of AI-CRS was associated with a higher likelihood of detecting adenoma (aOR=1.35, 95%CI=1.26-1.45) and advanced adenoma (aOR=1.23, 95%CI=1.07-1.41), respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Implementation of a post hoc verification of cecal intubation using an AI-CRS significantly improved various adenoma metrics in screening colonoscopy.

Ouabain-mediated downregulation of ALKBH5 and IGF2BP2 inhibits the malignant progression of DLBCL.

m6A modification is a crucial epigenetic regulatory mechanism in diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL). Low-dose cardiotonic drugs have been shown to induce apoptosis in DLBCL cells through epigenetic modulation. However, the involvement of the cardiotonic drug ouabain in the malignant progression of DLBCL remains unclear. Our study revealed that ouabain indeed contributes to the malignant progression of DLBCL through m6A modification. Through qPCR analysis, we observed a negative correlation between ouabain concentration and the expression levels of the demethylase ALKBH5 and the m6A-binding protein IGF2BP2 in DLBCL cells. Furthermore, high expression levels of ALKBH5 and IGF2BP2 were identified in both the GEO database and DLBCL patient tissue samples. Notably, elevated ALKBH5 and IGF2BP2 promoted cell proliferation both in vitro and in vivo. Inhibition of their expression rendered DLBCL cells more sensitive to ouabain treatment, resulting in significant suppression of cell proliferation, G1/S phase cell cycle arrest, and increased apoptosis. In summary, our results clarify that the demethylase ALKBH5 and the m6A-binding protein IGF2BP2 are involved in the malignant progression of DLBCL, and that the cardiotonic drug ouabain can inhibit the proliferation of DLBCL cells by inhibiting the expression of ALKBH5 and IGF2BP2, which provides new insights into the targeted treatment of DLBCL.

Epiphytic bacterial community composition on four submerged macrophytes in different regions of Taihu Lake.

The epiphytic bacteria in aquatic ecosystems, inhabiting a unique ecological niche with significant ecological function, have long been the subject of attention. Habitat characteristics and plant species are believed to be important in controlling the assembly of epiphytic bacteria. However, the underlying principle governing the assembly of the epiphytic bacterial community on macrophytes is far from clear. In this study, we systematically compared the diversity and community composition of epiphytic bacteria both in different habitats and on different species of macrophytes where they were attached. Results suggested that neither the plant species nor the habitat had a significant effect on the diversity and community of epiphytic bacteria independently, indicating that the epiphytic bacterial community composition was correlated to both geographical distance and individual species of macrophytes. Furthermore, almost all of the abundant taxa were shared between different lake regions or macrophyte species, and the most abundant bacteria belonged to Proteobacteria and Firmicutes. Our results demonstrated that the competitive lottery model may explain the pattern of epiphytic bacterial colonization of submerged macrophyte surfaces. This research could provide a new perspective for exploring plant-microbe interaction in aquatic systems and new evidence for the lottery model as the mechanism best explaining the assembly of epiphytic bacteria.

Exposure to Gynura japonica (Thunb.) Juel plants induces hepatoxicity in rats and Buffalo rat liver cells.

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE: Gynura japonica (Thunb.) Juel is often confused with the non-pyrrolizidine alkaloid-producing herbs, Tu-San-Qi (Sedum aizoon L.) and San-Qi (Panax notoginseng L.), due to similarities in name, appearance, and medicinal use. It contains pyrrolizidine alkaloids, which cause over 50% of cases of hepatic sinus obstruction syndrome. However, the mechanisms underlying G. japonica-induced hepatotoxicity remain poorly understood. AIM OF THE STUDY: In this study, we aimed to investigate the toxic effects of a G. japonica decoction on liver and Buffalo rat liver (BRL) cells and elucidate the associated mechanisms. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This study employed G. japonica decoction and examined its effects on liver function and tissue damage in Sprague-Dawley rats. Bioinformatics analysis was employed to identify gene expression and enriched pathways related to hepatotoxicity. Laser scanning confocal microscopy and flow cytometric annexin V/PI labeling assays were utilized to observe apoptosis in BRL cells induced by G. japonica. Transmission electron microscopy and JC-1 staining were used to determine the effects of G. japonica on mitochondrial ultrastructure and membrane potential in BRL cells. The bicinchoninic acid method and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays were used to detect the expression of apoptosis-related proteins and caspase-3 activity, respectively. RESULTS: Comparisons of body weight, liver histopathology, and serum liver function-related indices in rats, t showed that exposure to G. japonica may cause liver damage. Bioinformatics analysis indicated that hepatotoxicity might be related to apoptotic signaling pathways, the positive regulation of programmed cell death, and responses to toxic substances. BRL cells exposed to the G. japonica decoction exhibited mid-to late-stage apoptosis and necrosis, along with alterations in mitochondrial morphology and membrane potential. Furthermore, expression of cytochrome C (Cyt C) and pro-apoptotic proteins was increased, anti-apoptotic proteins decreased, and caspase-3 activity elevated. CONCLUSIONS: These findings indicate that G. japonica-induced hepatotoxicity involves the activation of mitochondria-mediated apoptosis. Our research enhances the scientific and theoretical foundation for clinical therapy and improves public awareness of the potential toxicity of herbal remedies.