Joint effects of air pollution and genetic susceptibility on incident primary open-angle glaucoma.

BACKGROUND: Air pollutants are important exogenous stimulants to eye diseases, but knowledge of associations between long-term exposure to air pollutants and the risk of primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG) is limited. This study aimed to determine whether long-term exposure to air pollutants, genetic susceptibility, and their joint effects lead to an elevated risk of incident POAG. METHODS: This is a population-based prospective cohort study from UK Biobank participants with complete measures of air pollution exposure and polygenetic risk scores. Cox proportional hazard models were fitted to assess the individual and joint effects of long-term exposure to air pollutants and genetics on the risk of POAG. In addition, the effect modification of genetic susceptibility was examined on an additive or multiplicative scale. RESULTS: Among 434,290 participants with a mean (SD) age of 56.5 (8.1) years, 6651 (1.53 %) were diagnosed with POAG during a median follow-up of 13.7 years. Long-term exposure to air pollutants was associated with an increased risk of POAG. The hazard ratios associated with per interquartile range increase in PM2.5, PM2.5 absorbance, PM10, NO2, and NOX individually ranged from 1.027 (95 % CI: 1.001-1.054) to 1.067 (95 % CI: 1.035-1.099). Compared with individuals residing in low-pollution areas and having low polygenic risk scores, the risk of incident POAG increased by 105.5 % (95 % CI: 78.3 %-136.9 %), 79.7 % (95 % CI: 56.5 %-106.5 %), 103.2 % (95 % CI: 76.9 %-133.4 %), 89.4 % (95 % CI: 63.9 %-118.9 %), and 90.2 % (95 % CI: 64.8 %-119.5 %) among those simultaneously exposed to high air pollutants levels and high genetic risk, respectively. Genetic susceptibility interacted with PM2.5 absorbance and NO2 in an additive manner, while no evidence of multiplicative interaction was found in this study. Stratification analyses revealed stronger effects in Black people and the elderly. CONCLUSION: Long-term air pollutant exposure was associated with an increased risk of POAG incidence, particularly in the population with high genetic predisposition.

Oxidative stress-mediated deleterious effects of hypoxia in the brackish water flea Diaphanosoma celebensis.

In this study, we investigated the acute toxicity, in vivo effects, oxidative stress, and gene expression changes caused by hypoxia on the brackish water flea Diaphanosoma celebensis. The no-observed-effect concentration (NOEC) of 48 h of hypoxia exposure was found to be 2 mg/L O2. Chronic exposure to NOEC caused a significant decline in lifespan but had no effect on total fecundity. The induction of reactive oxygen species increased in a time-dependent manner over 48 h, whereas the content of antioxidant enzymes (superoxide dismutase and catalase) decreased. The transcription and translation levels were modulated by hypoxia exposure. In particular, a significant increase in hemoglobin level was followed by up-regulation of hypoxia-inducible factor 1α gene expression and activation of the mitogen-activated protein kinase pathway. In conclusion, our findings provide a better understanding of the molecular mechanism of the adverse effects of hypoxia in brackish water zooplankton.

The impact of artificial light pollution at night on the life history parameters of rotifer Brachionus plicatilis with different food experiences.

Artificial light at night (ALAN) may pose threat to rotifer Brachionus plicatilis. Additionally, the food of rotifer, i.e. algal community composition, often fluctuates. Thus, we selected five wavelengths of ALAN (purple, blue, green, red, white) and a three-colored light flashing mode (3-Flash) to test their impacts on life history traits of B. plicatilis with different food experiences, including those feeding Chlorella vulgaris (RC) or Phaeocystis globosa (RP). Results indicated purple ALAN promoted RC development, white ALAN inhibited RC development, while 3-Flash and white ALAN promoted RP development. Under red and white ALAN, RP increased fecundity but decreased lifespan. High-quality food enhanced rotifer's resistance to the impact of ALAN on lifespan. ALAN and food experience interacted on B. plicatilis. The effect of blue ALAN has less negative effects on B. plicatilis, based on hierarchical cluster analysis. Such findings are helpful to evaluate the potential impact of ALAN on marine zooplankton.

Deep convolutional neural network model ResNeSt for discrimination of papillary thyroid carcinomas and benign nodules in thyroid nodules diagnosed as atypia of undetermined significance.

Background: A deep convolutional neural network (DCNN) model was employed for the differentiation of thyroid nodules diagnosed as atypia of undetermined significance (AUS) according to the 2023 Bethesda System for Reporting Thyroid Cytopathology (TBSRTC). The aim of this study was to investigate the efficiency of ResNeSt in improving the diagnostic accuracy of fine-needle aspiration (FNA) biopsy. Methods: Fragmented images were used to train and test DCNN models. A training dataset was built from 1,330 samples diagnosed as papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC) or benign nodules, and a test dataset was built from 173 samples diagnosed as AUS. ResNeSt was trained and tested to provide a differentiation. With regard to AUS samples, the characteristics of the cell nuclei were compared using the Wilcoxon test. Results: The ResNeSt model achieved an accuracy of 92.49% (160/173) on fragmented images and 84.78% (39/46) from a patient wise viewpoint in discrimination of PTC and benign nodules in AUS nodules. The sensitivity and specificity of ResNeSt model were 95.79% and 88.46%. The κ value between ResNeSt and the pathological results was 0.847 (P<0.001). With regard to the cell nuclei of AUS nodules, both area and perimeter of malignant nodules were larger than those of benign ones, which were 2,340.00 (1,769.00, 2,807.00) vs. 1,941.00 (1,567.50, 2,455.75), P<0.001 and 190.46 (167.64, 208.46) vs. 171.71 (154.95, 193.65), P<0.001, respectively. The grayscale (0 for black, 255 for white) of malignant lesions was lower than that of benign ones, which was 37.52 (31.41, 46.67) vs. 45.84 (31.88, 57.36), P <0.001, indicating nuclear staining of malignant lesions were deeper than benign ones. Conclusions: In summary, the DCNN model ResNeSt showed great potential in discriminating thyroid nodules diagnosed as AUS. Among those nodules, malignant nodules showed larger and more deeply stained nuclei than benign nodules.

Somatic GNA11/GNAQ variants in a cohort of Chinese children with phakomatosis pigmentovascularis.

Importance: Postzygotic mutations in the GNAQ/GNA11 genes, which encode the G-protein nucleotide binding protein alpha subunits, have been identified in patients with phakomatosis pigmentovascularis (PPV). However, little is known about the Chinese population. Objective: To identify pathogenic mutations in pediatric patients with PPV within the Chinese population. Methods: We performed whole-exome sequencing (WES) using skin lesion tissues from pediatric patients diagnosed with PPV. Additionally, ultradeep-targeted sequencing was conducted to validate the somatic mutations. A genotype-phenotype correlation was analyzed by integrating data from previous reports with the findings of the present study. Results: Thirteen patients were enrolled, all diagnosed with the cesioflammea type of PPV, except for one patient with an unclassifiable type. We identified somatic GNA11 c.547C>T (p.R183C) variant in seven patients and GNAQ c.548G>A (p.R183Q) in four patients, with low allelic fractions ranging from 2.1% to 8.6% through ultradeep sequencing. Besides, a GNAQ c.548G>A (p.R183Q) variant was detected through targeted sequencing in one of two patients who did not exhibit detectable variants via WES. The genotype-phenotype correlation analysis, involving 15 patients with a GNA11 variant and 10 with a GNAQ variant, revealed that facial capillary malformation (87% vs. 50%, P = 0.075) and ocular melanocytosis (80% vs. 40%, P = 0.087) appeared to be more frequent in patients with GNA11 mutation compared to those with GNAQ mutations. All four patients diagnosed with cesiomarmorata type or overlapping cesioflammea and cesiomarmorata type PPV carried the GNA11 variant. Interpretation: Our study demonstrated that the majority of PPV patients in the Chinese population carried a postzygotic variant of GNAQ/GNA11, thus further confirming the pathogenic role of GNAQ/GNA11 mosaicism in the development of PPV cesioflammea type.

Metal-Organic Framework-Based Surface-Enhanced Raman Scattering Sensing Platform for Trace Malondialdehyde Detection in Tears.

Disease biomarkers in tears are crucial for clinical diagnosis and health monitoring. However, the limited volume of tear samples, low concentration of tear biomarkers, and complex tear composition present challenges for precise testing. We introduce a spot-on testing platform of metal-organic framework (MOF)-based surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) capillary column, which is capable of target molecules selective separation and enrichment for tear biomarkers in situ detection. It consists of Au nanostars for effective SERS signal and a porous MOF shell for separating impurities through molecular sieving effect. This platform allows for simultaneous collection and detection of tear, capturing the disease biomarker malondialdehyde in tears with a 9.38 × 10-9 mol/L limit of detection. Moreover, we designed a hand-held device based on this tubular SERS sensor, successfully diagnosing patients with dry eye disease. This functional capillary column enables noninvasive and rapid diagnosis of biomarkers in biofluids, providing potential for disease diagnosis and healthcare monitoring.

Global associations between long-term exposure to PM2.5 constituents and health: A systematic review and meta-analysis of cohort studies.

Existing studies on the most impactful component remain controversial, hindering the optimization of future air quality standards that concerns particle composition. We aimed to summarize the health risk associated with PM2.5 components and identify those components with the greatest health risk. We performed a meta-analysis to quantify the combined health effects of PM2.5 components, and used the meta-smoothing to produce the pooled concentration-response (C-R) curves. Out of 8954 initial articles, 80 cohort studies met the inclusion criteria, including a total of 198.08 million population. The pooled C-R curves demonstrated approximately J-shaped association between total mortality and exposure to BC, and NO3-, but U-shaped and inverted U-shaped relationship withSO42- and OC, respectively. In addition, this study found that exposure to various elements, including BC,SO42-NO3-, NH4+, Zn, Ni, and Si, were significantly associated with an increased risk of total mortality, with Ni presenting the largest estimate. And exposure to NO3-, Zn, and Si was positively associated with an increased risk of respiratory mortality, while exposure to BC, SO42-, and NO3- showed a positive association with risk of cardiovascular mortality. For health outcome of morbidity, BC was notably associated with a higher incidence of asthma, type 2 diabetes and stroke. Subgroup analysis revealed a higher susceptibility to PM2.5 components in Asia compared to Europe and North America, and females showed a higher vulnerability. Given the significant health effects of PM2.5 components, governments are advised to introduce them in regional monitoring and air quality control guidelines. ENVIRONMENTAL IMPLICATION: PM2.5 is a complex mixture of chemical components from various sources, and each component has unique physicochemical properties and uncertain toxicity, posing significant threat to public health. This study systematically reviewed cohort studies on the association between long-term exposure to 13 PM2.5 components and the risk of morbidity and mortality. And we applied the meta-smoothing approach to establish the pooled concentration-response associations between PM2.5 components and mortality globally. Our findings will provide strong support for PM2.5 components monitoring and the improvement of air quality-related regulations. This will aid in helping to enhance health intervention strategies and mitigating public exposure to detrimental particulate matter.

Bilirubin influences the predictive effect of body mass index on hospital mortality in critically ill patients.

Introduction: Body mass index (BMI) can predict mortality in critically ill patients. Moreover, mortality is related to increased bilirubin levels. Thus, herein, we aimed to investigate the effect of bilirubin levels on the usefulness of BMI in predicting mortality in critically ill patients. Methods: Data were extracted from the Medical Information Mart for Intensive Care (MIMIC IV) database. Patients were divided into two groups according to their total bilirubin levels within 24 h. Cox proportional hazard regression models were applied to obtain adjusted hazard ratios and 95 % confidence intervals for the correlation between BMI categories and hospital mortality. The dose-response relationship was flexibly modeled using a restricted cubic spline (RCS) with three knots. Results: Of the 14376 patients included, 3.4 % were underweight, 29.3 % were of normal body weight, 32.2 % were overweight, and 35.1 % were obese. For patients with total bilirubin levels <2 mg/dL, hospital mortality was significantly lower in patients with obesity than in normal body weight patients (p < 0.05). However, the opposite results were observed for patients with total bilirubin levels ≥2 mg/dL. The Cox proportional hazard regression models suggested that the risk of death was lower in patients with overweightness and obesity than in normal body weight patients when the total bilirubin levels were <2 mg/dL, but not in the other case (total bilirubin levels ≥2 mg/dL). RCS analyses showed that, for patients with total bilirubin levels <2 mg/dL, the risk of death gradually decreased with increasing BMI. Conversely, for patients with total bilirubin levels ≥2 mg/dL, this risk did not decrease with increasing BMI until reaching obesity, after which it increased rapidly. Conclusion: BMI predicted the risk of death differently in critically ill patients with different bilirubin levels.

Cavitation erosion-corrosion properties of as-cast TC4 and LPBF TC4 in 0.6 mol/L NaCl solution: A comparison investigation.

In this work study, a comparative analysis was undertaken to investigate investigation into the cavitation erosion (CE) and corrosion behavior of laser powder bed fusion (LPBF) TC4 and as-cast TC4 in 0.6 mol/L NaCl solution. Relevant results indicated that LPBF TC4 revealed a rectangular checkerboard-like pattern with a more refined grain size compared to as-cast TC4. Meanwhile, LPBF TC4 surpassed its as-cast counterpart in CE resistance, demonstrating approximately 2.25 times lower cumulative mass loss after 8 h CE. The corrosion potential under alternating CE and quiescence conditions demonstrated that both LPBF TC4 and as-cast TC4 underwent a rapid potential decrease at the initial stages of CE, while a consistent negative shift in corrosion potential was observed with the continuously increasing CE time, indicative of a gradual decline in repassivation ability. The initial surge in corrosion potential during the early CE stages was primarily attributed to accelerated oxygen transfer. As CE progressed, the significant reduction in corrosion potential for both LPBF TC4 and as-cast TC4 was attributed to the breakdown of the passive film. The refined and uniform microstructure in LPBF TC4 effectively suppresses both crack formation and propagation, underscoring the potential of LPBF technology in enhancing the CE resistance of titanium alloys. This work can provide important insights into developing high-quality, reliable, and sustainable CE-resistant materials via LPBF technology.

GATA binding protein 2 mediated ankyrin repeat domain containing 26 high expression in myeloid-derived cell lines.

BACKGROUND: Thrombocytopenia 2, an autosomal dominant inherited disease characterized by moderate thrombocytopenia, predisposition to myeloid malignancies and normal platelet size and function, can be caused by 5'-untranslated region (UTR) point mutations in ankyrin repeat domain containing 26 (ANKRD26). Runt related transcription factor 1 (RUNX1) and friend leukemia integration 1 (FLI1) have been identified as negative regulators of ANKRD26. However, the positive regulators of ANKRD26 are still unknown. AIM: To prove the positive regulatory effect of GATA binding protein 2 (GATA2) on ANKRD26 transcription. METHODS: Human induced pluripotent stem cells derived from bone marrow (hiPSC-BM) and urothelium (hiPSC-U) were used to examine the ANKRD26 expression pattern in the early stage of differentiation. Then, transcriptome sequencing of these iPSCs and three public transcription factor (TF) databases (Cistrome DB, animal TFDB and ENCODE) were used to identify potential TF candidates for ANKRD26. Furthermore, overexpression and dual-luciferase reporter experiments were used to verify the regulatory effect of the candidate TFs on ANKRD26. Moreover, using the GENT2 platform, we analyzed the relationship between ANKRD26 expression and overall survival in cancer patients. RESULTS: In hiPSC-BMs and hiPSC-Us, we found that the transcription levels of ANKRD26 varied in the absence of RUNX1 and FLI1. We sequenced hiPSC-BM and hiPSC-U and identified 68 candidate TFs for ANKRD26. Together with three public TF databases, we found that GATA2 was the only candidate gene that could positively regulate ANKRD26. Using dual-luciferase reporter experiments, we showed that GATA2 directly binds to the 5'-UTR of ANKRD26 and promotes its transcription. There are two identified binding sites of GATA2 that are located 2 kb upstream of the TSS of ANKRD26. In addition, we discovered that high ANKRD26 expression is always related to a more favorable prognosis in breast and lung cancer patients. CONCLUSION: We first discovered that the transcription factor GATA2 plays a positive role in ANKRD26 transcription and identified its precise binding sites at the promoter region, and we revealed the importance of ANKRD26 in many tissue-derived cancers.

Multi-stimuli-responsive cyanostilbene derivatives: Their fluorescent and mechanochromic properties, and potential application in water sensing and anti-counterfeiting.

In recent years, aggregation-induced emission luminogens (AIEgens) have witnessed numerous groundbreaking advances in fundamental theoretical research and functional applications. Notably, stimuli-responsive AIEgens have achieved remarkable results, demonstrating immense potential for application in various fields such as chemistry, materials science, biology, and medicine. Herein, two multi-stimuli-responsive cyanostilbene derivatives TPE-CNTPA and PH-CNTPA were synthesized by introducing tetraphenylethylene (TPE) and trifluoromethyl groups, respectively. Primarily, under the combined mechanism of aggregation-induced emission (AIE) and twisted intramolecular charge transfer (TICT), TPE-CNTPA and PH-CNTPA exhibit "on-off-on" fluorescent emission characteristics in solution. Secondly, under 365 nm ultraviolet light irradiation, the photo-induced isomerization of PH-CNTPA causes changes in photophysical property, demonstrating its responsiveness to ultraviolet light. In addition, TPE-CNTPA and PH-CNTPA exhibit high-contrast mechanochromic properties, providing broader possibilities for their potential applications in various fields. Moreover, owing to the unique fluorescence emission characteristics, TPE-CNTPA and PH-CNTP have enormous potential for application in the field of encryption anti-counterfeiting. Besides, PH-CNTPA can be utilized for the detection of trace water in single or mixed solvents, demonstrating outstanding sensitivity and anti-interference properties in different solvents. This research work reveals the potential in the fields of water sensing and anti-counterfeiting for these two multi-stimuli-responsive compounds.

Changes in life history parameters and expression of key genes of Brachionus plicatilis exposed to a combination of organic and inorganic ultraviolet filters.

The increasing use of ultraviolet filters has become an emerging contaminant on the coast, posing potential ecological risks. Rotifers are essential components of marine ecosystems, serving as an association between primary producers and higher-level consumers. These organisms frequently encounter ultraviolet filters in coastal waters. This study aimed to assess the comprehensive effects of organic ultraviolet filters, specifically 2-ethylhexyl-4-methoxycinnamate (EHMC), and inorganic ultraviolet filters, namely, titanium dioxide nanoparticles (TiO2 NPs), on the rotifer Brachionus plicatilis. We exposed B. plicatilis to multiple combinations of different concentrations of EHMC and TiO2 NPs to observe changes in life history parameters and the expression of genes related to reproduction and antioxidant responses. Our findings indicated that increased EHMC concentrations significantly delayed the age at first reproduction, reduced the total offspring, and led to considerable alterations in the expression of genes associated with reproduction and stress. Exposure to TiO2 NPs resulted in earlier reproduction and decreased total offspring, although these changes were not synchronised in gene expression. The two ultraviolet filters had a significant interaction on the age at first reproduction and the total offspring of rotifer, with these interactions extending to the first generation. This research offers new insights into the comprehensive effects of different types of ultraviolet filters on rotifers by examining life history parameters and gene expression related to reproduction and stress, highlighting the importance of understanding the impacts of sunscreen products on zooplankton health.

Declining aqueous calcium and fish predation risk interactively modify the phenotypic plasticity in Daphnia pulex.

Aqueous calcium (Ca) decline is threatening freshwater ecosystems worldwide. There are great concerns about the possible ecological consequences of Ca limitation combined with biological pressures like predation. Here we investigated the interactions between Ca restriction and fish predation risk on the phenotypic plasticity in the keystone herbivore Daphnia, together with physiological responses underlying the plastic trait changes. Fish predation risk induced D. pulex to mature earlier and produce more but smaller offspring at adequate Ca. Declining Ca inhibited the expression of defensive traits, with the inhibitive degree showing a linear or threshold-limited dynamic. The presence of predation risk mitigated the negative effect of declining Ca on reducing body size but exacerbated the delay in maturity, indicating a life history trade-off for larger body size rather than the current reproduction in multi-stressed Daphnia. Actin 3-mediated cytoskeleton and AMPK ß-mediated energy metabolism were highly correlated with these plastic trait changes. Altered phenotypic plasticity in planktonic animals is expected to trigger many ecological impacts from individual fitness to community structure, thus providing new insights into the mechanisms underlying decreased Ca affecting lake ecosystems.

Turning Non-Sticking Surface into Sticky Surface: Correlation between Surface Topography and Contact Angle Hysteresis.

We present a surface modification technique that turns CuNi foam films with a high contact angle and non-sticking property into a sticky surface. By decorating with mesh-like biaxially oriented polypropylene (BOPP) and adjusting the surface parameters, the surface exhibits water-retaining capability even when being held upside down. The wetting transition process of droplets falling on its surface were systematically studied using the finite element simulation method. It is found that the liquid filled the surface microstructure and curvy three-phase contact line. Moreover, we experimentally demonstrated that this surface can be further applied to capture underwater air bubbles.

Effects of Long-Term Simulated Weightlessness on Retinal Microcirculation and Visual Electrophysiology.

Objective: To investigate the mechanisms of ocular injuries in astronauts due to gravity deficit by examining changes in retinal microcirculation and visual electrophysiology in macaques subjected to simulated weightlessness. Methods: The head-down recumbency of macaques was used to simulate the movement of blood to the side of the head that occurs without microgravity. Head-down recumbency was performed with the head tilted downwards at a recommended angle of 10°. The macaques in the control group were similarly tethered to the rope but could be held in a normal position. The whole experiment lasted for 6 weeks and retinal microcirculation and visual electrophysiology information was collected at weeks 0, 3 and 6. Results: The retinal microcirculation of macaques was affected by 3 weeks of weightlessness. This includes morphological changes, such as dilation and tortuosity of the retinal microvasculature in macaques at day 21. OCT and OCTA results showed an increase in retinal and choroidal thickness and a significant decrease in vessel length density within 6×6 mm of the macula. Sustained simulated weightlessness (42 days) significantly exacerbated retina-related damage. This was evidenced by a significant decrease in the perfusion density of microcirculatory vessels, such as the macular 3×3 mm mesial vessels and the macular 6*6 mm central and medial vessels. The FAZ density in the macula 3×3 mm area began to increase. Retinal oxygen saturation testing showed a slight increase in arterial oxygen saturation. Simultaneous changes in visual electrophysiology occurred, including a significant decrease in a- and b-wave amplitudes on the dark-vision electroretinogram and a significant decrease in the amplitude of the bright-vision negative wave response. The peak timing of the flash visual evoked potential component P1 was significantly delayed compared to its baseline and time-matched control. Conclusions: Sustained simulated weightlessness (42 days) significantly exacerbated retina-related damage, with both reduced macular blood supply and increased FAZ density suggesting the development of retinal ischemic changes, which disrupt visual electrophysiology. Retinal damage in human astronauts under long-term outer space conditions may be prevented by intervening in ischemic changes in the retina during the early stages of weightlessness.

Rising trend and regional disparities of the global burden of disease attributable to ambient low temperature, 1990-2019: An analysis of data from the Global Burden of Disease 2019 study.

Background: Previous studies on the effect of global warming on the global burden of disease have mainly focussed on the impact of high temperatures, thereby providing limited evidence of the effect of lower temperatures. Methods: We adopted a three-stage analysis approach using data from the Global Burden of Disease 2019 study. First, we explored the global burden of disease attributable to low temperatures, examining variations by gender, age, cause, region, and country. Second, we analysed temporal trends in low-temperature-related disease burdens from 1990 to 2019 by meta-regression. Finally, we fitted a mixed-effects meta-regression model to explore the effect modification of country-level characteristics. Results: In 2019, low temperatures were responsible for 2.92% of global deaths and 1.03% of disability-adjusted life years (DALYs), corresponding to a death rate of 21.36 (95% uncertainty interval (UI) = 18.26, 24.73) and a DALY rate of 335 (95% UI = 280, 399) per 100 000 population. Most of the deaths (85.12%) and DALYs (94.38%) attributable to low temperatures were associated with ischaemic heart disease, stroke, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. In the last three decades, we observed an upward trend for the annual number of attributable deaths (P < 0.001) and a downward trend for the rates of death (P < 0.001) and DALYs (P < 0.001). The disease burden associated with low temperatures varied considerably among regions and countries, with higher burdens observed in regions with middle or high-middle socio-demographic indices, as well as countries with higher gross domestic product per capita and a larger proportion of ageing population. Conclusions: Our findings emphasise the significance of raising public awareness and prioritising policies to protect global population health from the adverse effects of low temperatures, even in the face of global warming. Particular efforts should be targeted towards individuals with underlying diseases (e.g. cardiovascular diseases) and vulnerable countries or regions (e.g. Central Asia and central Europe).

The causal effect of exposure to air pollution on risk of adverse pregnancy outcomes: A two-sample Mendelian randomisation study.

BACKGROUND: Epidemiological studies have examined the relation between air pollution (NOx, NO2, PM2.5, PM2.5-10, and PM10) and adverse pregnancy outcomes (APOs). There's increasing evidence that air pollution increases the risk of APOs. However, the results of these studies are controversial, and the causal relation remains uncertain. We aimed to assess whether a genetic causal link exists between air pollution and APOs and the potential effects of this relation. METHODS: A novel two-sample Mendelian randomisation (MR) study used pooled data from a large-scale complete genome correlation study. The primary analysis method was inverse variance weighting (IVW), which explored the expose-outcome relationship for assessing single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) associated with air pollution. Further sensitivity analysis, including MR-PRESSO, MR-Egger regression, and leave-one analysis, was used to test the consistency of the results. RESULTS: There was a significant correlation between air pollution-related SNPs and APOs. A robust causal link was found between genetic susceptibility to air pollution and APOs. CONCLUSIONS: Our MR analysis reveals a genetic causal relation between air pollution and APOs, which may help provide new insights into further mechanisms and clinical studies in air pollution-mediated APOs.

Changes in Induced-Antipredation Defense Traits and Transcriptome Regulations of Daphnia magna in Response to 5-HT1A Receptor Antagonist.

The serotonin signaling system plays a crucial role in regulating the ontogeny of crustaceans. Here, we describe the effects of different concentrations of the 5-hydroxytryptamine 1A receptor antagonist (WAY-100635) on the induced antipredation (Rhodeus ocellatus as the predator), morphological, behavioral, and life-history defenses of Daphnia magna and use transcriptomics to analyze the underlying molecular mechanisms. Our results indicate that exposure to WAY-100635 leads to changes in the expression of different defensive traits in D. magna when faced with fish predation risks. Specifically, as the length of exposure to WAY-100635 increases, high concentrations of WAY-100635 inhibit defensive responses associated with morphological and reproductive activities but promote the immediate negative phototactic behavioral defense of D. magna. This change is related to the underlying mechanism through which WAY-100635 interferes with gene expression of G-protein-coupled GABA receptors by affecting GABBR1 but promotes serotonin receptor signaling and ecdysteroid signaling pathways. In addition, we also find for the first time that fish kairomone can significantly activate the HIF-1α signaling pathway, which may lead to an increase in the rate of immediate movement. These results can help assess the potential impacts of serotonin-disrupting psychotropic drugs on zooplankton in aquatic ecosystems.

Facile and efficient synthesis of sweater-ball shaped metal-organic framework/nickel sulfide nanoheterojunction for boosting electrochemical glucose sensing.

The synthesis of heterojunction materials is regarded as an efficient way to enhance catalytic activities in various catalytic reactions. However, the existing fabrication approaches often rely on complex multi-step synthesis process. In this work, we fabricate sweater-ball shaped nanostructured MOF/TMS (Ni-MOF/NiS1.03) heterojunction by one-pot, one-step solvothermal method. According to the results of discrete Fourier transform (DFT) calculations and experiments, the formation of Ni-MOF/NiS1.03 heterojunction interfaces improves electron transfer and charge redistribution, and increases the adsorption energy of glucose molecules as well, which is conducive to enhance electrochemical activity of electrode materials. The as-prepared Ni-MOF/NiS1.03 heterojunction exhibit enhanced glucose sensitivity, wide detection range and low detection limit. This study paves the way towards the development of MOF-based heterojunctions for electrochemical applications.