Ceftazidime/avibactam versus polymyxin B in carbapenem-resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae infections: a propensity score-matched multicenter real-world study.

OBJECTIVES: In this retrospective observational multicenter study, we aimed to assess efficacy and mortality between ceftazidime/avibactam (CAZ/AVI) or polymyxin B (PMB)-based regimens for the treatment of Carbapenem-resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae (CRKP) infections, as well as identify potential risk factors. METHODS: A total of 276 CRKP-infected patients were enrolled in our study. Binary logistic and Cox regression analysis with a propensity score-matched (PSM) model were performed to identify risk factors for efficacy and mortality. RESULTS: The patient cohort was divided into PMB-based regimen group (n = 98, 35.5%) and CAZ/AVI-based regimen group (n = 178, 64.5%). Compared to the PMB group, the CAZ/AVI group exhibited significantly higher rates of clinical efficacy (71.3% vs. 56.1%; p = 0.011), microbiological clearance (74.7% vs. 41.4%; p < 0.001), and a lower incidence of acute kidney injury (AKI) (13.5% vs. 33.7%; p < 0.001). Binary logistic regression revealed that the treatment duration independently influenced both clinical efficacy and microbiological clearance. Vasoactive drugs, sepsis/septic shock, APACHE II score, and treatment duration were identified as risk factors associated with 30-day all-cause mortality. The CAZ/AVI-based regimen was an independent factor for good clinical efficacy, microbiological clearance, and lower AKI incidence. CONCLUSIONS: For patients with CRKP infection, the CAZ/AVI-based regimen was superior to the PMB-based regimen.

Sustainable Implementation of Physician-Pharmacist Collaborative Clinics for Diabetes Management in Primary Healthcare Centers: A Qualitative Study.

BACKGROUND: Although physician-pharmacist collaborative clinics for diabetes management have been shown to be effective and cost-effective worldwide, there is limited understanding of the factors that influence their sustainable implementation. This study aims to identify the associated factors and provide sustainability strategy to better implement physician-pharmacist collaborative clinics for diabetes management in primary healthcare centers in China. METHODS: A sample of 43 participants were participated in face-to-face, in-depth, semi-structured interviews. Consolidated Framework for Implementation Research was used to identify facilitators and barriers to implementing physician-pharmacist collaborative clinics for diabetes management in primary healthcare centers, and to explore discriminating factors between low and high implementation units. A sustainable strategy repository based on dynamic sustainability framework was established to inform further implementation. RESULTS: This study demonstrated that clear recognition of intervention benefits, urgent needs of patients, adaptive and tailored plan, highly collaborative teamwork and leadership support were the major facilitators, while the major barriers included process complexity, large number and poor health literacy of patients in primary areas, inappropriate staffing arrangements, weak financial incentives and inadequate staff competencies. Six constructs were identified to distinguish between high and low implementation units. Sixteen strategies were developed to foster the implementation of physician-pharmacist collaborative clinics, targeting Intervention, Practice setting, and Ecological system. CONCLUSION: This qualitative study demonstrated facilitators and barriers to implementing physician-pharmacist collaborative clinics for diabetes management in primary healthcare centers and developed theory-based strategies for further promotion, which has the potential to improve the management of diabetes and other chronic diseases in under-resourced areas.

Effects of sulfur nanoparticles on rhizosphere microbial community changes in oilseed rape plantation soil under mercury stress.

In the present study, experiments were conducted to assess the influence of nanoscale sulfur in the microbial community structure of metallophytes in Hg-contaminated rhizosphere soil for planting rapeseed. The results showed that the richness and diversity of the rhizobacteria community decreased significantly under Hg stress, but increased slightly after SNPs addition, with a reduction in the loss of Hg-sensitive microorganisms. Moreover, all changes in the relative abundances of the top ten phyla influenced by Hg treatment were reverted when subjected to Hg + SNPs treatment, except for Myxococcota and Bacteroidota. Similarly, the top five genera, whose relative abundance decreased the most under Hg alone compared to CK, increased by 19.05%-54.66% under Hg + SNPs treatment compared with Hg alone. Furthermore, the relative abundance of Sphingomonas, as one of the dominant genera for both CK and Hg + SNPs treatment, was actively correlated with plant growth. Rhizobacteria, like Pedobacter and Massilia, were significantly decreased under Hg + SNPs and were positively linked to Hg accumulation in plants. This study suggested that SNPs could create a healthier soil microecological environment by reversing the effect of Hg on the relative abundance of microorganisms, thereby assisting microorganisms to remediate heavy metal-contaminated soil and reduce the stress of heavy metals on plants.

In this manuscript, we first comprehensively investigated the changes in the rhizosphere microbial community structure of metallophytes in Hg-contaminated soil with SNPs addition, as well as the relationship between soil microbiology and plant resistance to Hg stress. Our results demonstrated that SNPs exhibit a significant advantage in improving rhizosphere microecology by increasing the abundance of beneficial rhizobacteria, thereby alleviating heavy metal toxicity, and promoting plant growth. This study is the first study describing the response of soil microorganisms coexposed to heavy metals and SNPs, providing valuable information for the potential use of SNPs to assist phytoremediation of toxic metal pollution and its impact on soil microbial communities.

Nitrogen starvation modulates the sensitivity of rhizobacterial community to drought stress in Stevia rebaudiana.

Alterations in water regimes or nitrogen (N) availability lead to shifts in the assemblage of rhizosphere microbial community; however, how the rhizosphere microbiome response to concurrent changes in water and N availability remains largely unclear. Herein, we investigated the taxonomic and functional characteristics of rhizobacteria associated with stevia (Stevia rebaudiana Bertoni) under varying combinations of water and N levels. Community diversity and predicted functions of rhizobacteria were predominantly altered by drought stress, with N-starvation modulating these effects. Moreover, N fertilization simplified the ecological interactions within rhizobacterial communities and heightened the relative role of stochastic processes on community assembly. In terms of rhizobacterial composition, we observed both common and distinctive changes in drought-responsive bacterial taxa under different N conditions. Generally, the relative abundance of Proteobacteria and Bacteroidetes phyla were depleted by drought stress but the Actinobacteria phylum showed increases. The rhizobacterial responses to drought stress were influenced by N availability, where the positive response of δ-proteobacteria and the negative response of α- and γ-proteobacteria, along with Bacteroidetes, were further heightened under N starvation. By contrast, under N fertilization conditions, an amplified negative or positive response to drought were demonstrated in Firmicutes and Actinobacteria phyla, respectively. Further, the drought-responsive rhizobacteria were mostly phylogenetically similar, but this pattern was modulated under N-rich conditions. Overall, our findings indicate an N-dependent specific restructuring of rhizosphere bacteria under drought stress. These changes in the rhizosphere microbiome could contribute to enhancing plant stress tolerance.

Dual tagging of GFP and Degron on endogenous COSA-1 in Caenorhabditis elegans as a crossover investigation tool.

COSA-1 is essential for accurate meiosis in C. elegans . Two null mutants ( cosa-1 ( me13 ) and cosa-1 ( tm3298 ) ) have been notably studied. These null mutants exhibit severe meiotic defects, hindering the observation of the subtle or dynamic nature of COSA-1 function. To overcome these limitations, we developed a C. elegans strain with inducible COSA-1 degradation using the Auxin-Inducible Degron (AID) system. This strain exhibits normal fertility and COSA-1::GFP foci. Auxin treatment successfully depletes COSA-1, resulting in a 96% decrease in progeny viability and 12 univalent chromosomes in diakinesis oocytes. This strain serves as a valuable tool for studying the dynamics of COSA-1.

Inflammation in Metal-Induced Neurological Disorders and Neurodegenerative Diseases.

Essential metals play critical roles in maintaining human health as they participate in various physiological activities. Nonetheless, both excessive accumulation and deficiency of these metals may result in neurotoxicity secondary to neuroinflammation and the activation of microglia and astrocytes. Activation of these cells can promote the release of pro-inflammatory cytokines. It is well known that neuroinflammation plays a critical role in metal-induced neurotoxicity as well as the development of neurological disorders, such as Alzheimer's disease (AD), Parkinson's disease (PD), and multiple sclerosis (MS). Initially seen as a defense mechanism, persistent inflammatory responses are now considered harmful. Astrocytes and microglia are key regulators of neuroinflammation in the central nervous system, and their excessive activation may induce sustained neuroinflammation. Therefore, in this review, we aim to emphasize the important role and molecular mechanisms underlying metal-induced neurotoxicity. Our objective is to raise the awareness on metal-induced neuroinflammation in neurological disorders. However, it is not only just neuroinflammation that different metals could induce; they can also cause harm to the nervous system through oxidative stress, apoptosis, and autophagy, to name a few. The primary pathophysiological mechanism by which these metals induce neurological disorders remains to be determined. In addition, given the various pathways through which individuals are exposed to metals, it is necessary to also consider the effects of co-exposure to multiple metals on neurological disorders.

Influence of nanoscale sulfur on mercury accumulation and plant growth in oilseed rape seedlings (Brassica napus L.) grown on mercury-contaminated soil.

Mercury (Hg) pollution has seriously threatened the crop productivity and food security. In the present research, experiments were conducted to assess the influence of nanoscale sulfur/sulfur nanoparticles and the corresponding bulk and ionic sulfur forms on the growth and Hg accumulation of oilseed rape seedlings grown on Hg-contaminated soil, as well as the transformation of soil Hg fractions. The results showed a significant reduction in fresh biomass for seedlings grown on 80-200 mg/kg Hg-polluted soil after 30 days. At 120 mg/kg Hg treatment, 100-300 mg/kg sulfur nanoparticles (SNPs) application counteracted Hg toxicity more effectively compared to the corresponding bulk sulfur particles (BSPs) and ionic sulfur (sulfate) treatments. The seedlings treated with 120 mg/kg Hg + 300 mg/kg SNPs gained 54.2 and 56.9% more shoot and root biomass, respectively, compared to those treated with Hg alone. Meanwhile, 300 mg/kg SNPs application decreased Hg accumulation by 18.9 and 76.5% in shoots and roots, respectively, relative to Hg alone treatment.SNPs treatment caused more Hg to be blocked in the soil and accumulating significantly less Hg in plants as compared to other S forms. The chemical fractions of Hg in the soil were subsequently investigated, and the solubility of Hg was significantly decreased by applying SNPs to the soil. Especially 200-300 mg/kg SNPs treatments caused the ratio of the soluble/exchangeable and the specifically absorbed fraction to be the lowest, accounting for 1.95-4.13% of the total Hg of soil. These findings suggest that adding SNPs to Hg-contaminated soils could be an effective measure for immobilizing soluble Hg and decreasing the Hg concentration in the edible parts of crops. The results of the current study hold promise for the practical application of SNPs to Hg-contaminated farmland for better yields and simultaneously increasing the food safety.

The novelty of this study is the selection of oilseed rape and nanoscale sulfur (NS) or sulfur nanoparticles (SNPs) as nontoxic nanomaterial to counteract the Hg toxicity and accumulation. Oilseed rape was selected due to its wide adaptability to various environmental conditions and the high-value oil for human consumption and biofuels production. These advantages make oilseed rape a highly valuable crop for various applications. NS was selected due to its reported ability to limit the uptake of heavy metals in oilseed rape, rice, and wheat along with other crops and subsequently restrict the toxicity of heavy metals in these plants and improve food safety. In this study, we evaluated the growth, Hg accumulation, and the resulting toxicity in oilseed rape grown on Hg-contaminated soil, with or without amendments with NS. The outcomes from this study provided evidence of the significant potential of NS in preventing Hg bioaccumulation and improving crop yields in oilseed rape. This provides opportunity to use NS as an ideal non-GMO approach to limit toxic metals in crops.

Application of the Six-Minute Walk Test in Assessment of the Cardiopulmonary Function of Children With Idiopathic Scoliosis.

STUDY DESIGN: A retrospective observational study. OBJECTIVE: To assess whether the six-minute walk test (6MWT) can predict cardiopulmonary function in children with idiopathic scoliosis (IS) as an alternative to the cardiopulmonary exercise test (CPET). SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA: Cardiopulmonary functional impairment in the setting of IS is a common health problem. A simple and convenient assessment method is needed. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We recruited 65 children (eight male, 57 female) aged 10.70 to 14.84 years old with IS. Radiographic characteristics of the cohort were measured, including Risser's sign and Cobb angle. We measured cardiopulmonary exercise tolerance using both the 6MWT and CPET and their corresponding indicators, including six-minute walking distance (6MWD) and peak oxygen uptake (peak VO 2 ), respectively. Pearson correlation analysis was used to determine the relationship between 6MWT indicators and IS parameters. Linear regression models were used to explore the relationship between 6MWT and CPET response indicators. RESULTS: Over a third of the cohort (35.4%) had a Risser's sign grade of 0, with 21.5% in grade 2 and 3, respectively. The cohort's mean Cobb angle was 26.02°. 6MWD was significantly positively correlated with Risser's sign ( R =0.258; P =0.038) and change in respiratory rate positively correlated with vertebral rotation ( R =0.264; P =0.034). 6MWD positively correlated with peak VO 2 , peak VO 2 /heart rate (HR), and metabolic equivalents, and negatively correlated with the ventilation equivalent of the carbon dioxide slope (VE/VCO 2 slope) ( P <0.05). These four CPET indicators were found to be predicted from 6MWD in the linear regression model ( P <0.05). CONCLUSIONS: CPET response indicators, especially peak VO 2 , can be predicted using 6MWD, among other factors. The 6MWT can therefore be used to rapidly and efficiently predict the cardiorespiratory tolerance of children with IS. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: 3.

Phosphorus fertiliser application mitigates the negative effects of microplastic on soil microbes and rice growth.

Soil microplastics (MPs) have attracted widespread attention recently. Most studies have explored how soil MPs affect the soil's physicochemical parameters, matter circulation, and soil microbial community assembly. Similarly, a key concern in agricultural development has been the use of phosphorus (P) fertiliser, which is essential for plant health and development. However, the relationship between MPs and phosphate fertilisers and their effects on the soil environment and plant growth remains elusive. This study assessed the influence of adding low-density polyethylene MPs (1%) with different phosphate fertiliser application rates on microbial communities and rice biomass. Our results showed that MPs changed the structure of soil bacterial and phoD-harbouring microbial communities in the treatment with P fertiliser at the same level and suppressed the interactions of phoD-harbouring microorganisms. In addition, we found that MPs contamination inhibited rice growth; however, the inclusion of P fertiliser in MP-contaminated soils reduced the inhibitory action of MPs on rice growth, probably because the presence with P fertiliser promoted the uptake of NO3--N by rice in MP-contaminated soils. Our results provide further insights into guiding agricultural production, improving agricultural management, and rationally applying phosphate fertilisers in the context of widespread MPs pollution and global P resource constraints.

Origin of Ligand and Acid Effects on the Pd-Catalyzed Regiodivergent Coupling Reaction of Indazoles and Isoprene: A DFT Study.

Comprehensive computational studies were carried out to explore the mechanisms and origin of regioselectivity in the Pd-catalyzed regiodivergent coupling reaction of indazoles and isoprene. Three different insertion models were investigated for regioselectivity 1,2- or 4,3-insertion with respect to the electrophilic sites on isoprene under two different ligands (L1 and L2) and acids ((PhO)2PO2H, (nBuO)2PO2H) via PdII-H species, allyl-π-PdII-O, and indazoles-acid-assisted PdII-π-allyl. The calculated results show that the PdII-π-allyl coordinated mechanism is the most preferred one. The noncovalent interactions between the less bulky ligand L1, substrates, and (PhO)2PO2- are found to be key factors for 1,2-insertion. The 4,3-insertion selectivity is primarily controlled by the steric repulsion of the t-Bu group of bulky ligand L2 and substrate, as well as the geometry distortion. Therefore, the regioselectivity difference of the 1,2- and 4,3-insertion on electrophilic sites is controlled by the synergistic effect of ligands and acids instead of the size of the ligand. Similarly, nucleophilic site selectivity at N1 or N2 of indazoles is governed by cooperative acid BF3 and solvent iPrOH rather than BF3 alone. Overall, our findings might open a new avenue for designing more efficient regioselective 1,2- or 4,3-addition or N1-/N2-selective nucleophilic reactions.

Effect of different types of biochar on soil properties and functional microbial communities in rhizosphere and bulk soils and their relationship with CH4 and N2O emissions.

Biochar as an agricultural soil amendment plays vital roles in mediating methane (CH4) and nitrous oxide (N2O) emissions in soils. The link between different types of biochar, bulk soil, and rhizosphere microbial communities in relation to CH4 and N2O emissions is being investigated in this study. The rice pot experiment was conducted using biochar at two temperatures (300°C and 500°C) in combination with three biochar levels (0, 2, 10% w/w). Soil properties and the abundance of genes associated with CH4 and N2O emissions from both rhizosphere and bulk soils were investigated. The study also aimed to examine the structure of microbial communities (pmoA, nosZ) in rhizosphere and bulk soils whereas CH4 and N2O emissions were monitored while growing rice. Results showed that biochar at 300°C and 10% incorporation significantly increased the CH4 emissions by up to 59% rise compared to the control group. Random Forest analysis revealed that the ratio of mcrA/pmoA along with the abundance of mcrA from both rhizosphere and bulk soils, the abundance of AOA, TN, DOC, and the community composition of pmoA-harboring microorganisms from both bulk and rhizosphere soils were important predictors of CH4 emissions. Therefore, the ratio of mcrA/pmoA in rhizosphere soil and the abundance of AOA in bulk soil were the main factors influencing CH4 emissions. Variation Partitioning Analysis (VPA) results indicated that the effects of these factors on bulk soil were 9% of CH4 emissions variations in different treatments, which contributed more than rhizosphere soils' factors. Moreover, random forest analysis results indicated that the abundance of AOB in bulk soil was the most important predictor influencing N2O emissions. The VPA result revealed that the factors in rhizosphere soil could explain more than 28% of the variations in N2O emissions. Our study highlights that rhizosphere soil has a more significant effect than bulk soil on N2O production. Our findings further the understanding of the link between bulk and rhizosphere attributes, and their impact on CH4 and N2O emissions in paddy soils. In summary, we recommend the application of biochar at 500°C and 2% incorporation rate for agricultural production in the area.

Effect of particle sizes of biochar on CO2 emissions in a poplar plantation of ancient Yellow River channel, China.

Forest soil is a vital pool of organic carbon, which is sensitive to management. Biochar addition could change the CO2 emissions from soil, but its effects are still ambiguous. Moreover, the impacts of particle sizes of biochar on CO2 emissions are still unknown. In this study, a series of field experiments were conducted to investigate the effects of biochar addition on CO2 emissions in a poplar plantation (Populus nigra), China. Biochar with two application rates of (10 and 50 t/ha) and three particle sizes (3-1 mm, 1-0.1 mm, and <0.1 mm) was applied into the surface soil (0-10 cm), and the soil without biochar was set as control. The results showed that a high level of fine biochar addition (1-0.1 mm and <0.1 mm) had similar and positive effects on CO2 emissions by increasing the contents of soil ammonium, available phosphorus, easily oxidizable carbon, soil moisture, soil capillary pore, and the activity of ß-glucosidase. However, biochar addition (1-0.1 mm and <0.1 mm) reduced the bioavailability of dissolved organic carbon (DOC), producing a negative relationship between DOC content and CO2 emissions. This investigation highlights the importance of biochar with different particle sizes in adjusting CO2 emissions from temperate soils.

IlAP2, an AP2/ERF Superfamily Gene, Mediates Cadmium Tolerance by Interacting with IlMT2a in Iris lactea var. chinensis.

Cadmium (Cd) stress has a major impact on ecosystems, so it is important to find suitable Cd-tolerant plants while elucidating the responsible molecular mechanism for phytoremediation to manage Cd soil contamination. Iris lactea var. chinensis is an ornamental perennial groundcover plant with strong tolerance to Cd. Previous studies found that IlAP2, an AP2/ERF superfamily gene, may be an interacting partner of the metallothionein gene IlMT2a, which plays a key role in Cd tolerance. To study the role of IlAP2 in regulating Cd tolerance in I. lactea, we analyzed its regulation function and mechanism based on a yeast two-hybrid assay, a bimolecular fluorescence complementation test, quantitative real-time PCR, transgenics and transcriptome sequencing. The results showed that IlAP2 interacts with IlMT2a and may cooperate with other transcription factors to regulate genes involved in signal transduction and plant hormones, leading to reduced Cd toxicity by hindering Cd transport. These findings provide insights into the mechanism of IlAP2-mediated stress responses to Cd and important gene resources for improving plant stress tolerance in phytoremediation.

Bone mineral density in children and young adults with idiopathic scoliosis: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

PURPOSE: Osteoporosis is a risk factor for idiopathic scoliosis (IS) progression, but it is still unclear whether IS patients have bone mineral density (BMD) loss and a higher risk of osteoporosis than asymptomatic people. This systematic review aims to explore the differences in BMD and prevalence of osteoporosis between the IS group and the control group. METHODS: We searched 5 health science-related databases. Studies that were published up to February 2022 and written in English and Chinese languages were included. The primary outcome measures consisted of BMD z score, the prevalence of osteoporosis and osteopenia, and areal and volumetric BMD. Bone morphometry, trabecular microarchitecture, and quantitative ultrasound measures were included in the secondary outcome measures. The odds ratio (OR) and the weighted mean difference (WMD) with a 95% confidence interval (CI) were used to pool the data. RESULTS: A total of 32 case-control studies were included. The pooled analysis revealed significant differences between the IS group and the control group in BMD z score (WMD -1.191; 95% CI - 1.651 to -0.732, p < 0.001). Subgroup analysis showed significance in both female (WMD -1.031; 95% CI -1.496 to -0.566, p < 0.001) and male participants (WMD -1.516; 95% CI -2.401 to -0.632, p = 0.001). The prevalence of osteoporosis and osteopenia in the group with IS was significantly higher than in the control group (OR = 6.813, 95% CI 2.815-16.489, p < 0.001; OR 1.879; 95% CI 1.548-2.281, p < 0.000). BMD measures by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry and peripheral quantitative computed tomography showed a significant decrease in the IS group (all p < 0.05), but no significant difference was found in the speed of sound measured by quantitative ultrasound between the two groups (p > 0.05). CONCLUSION: Both the male and female IS patients had a generalized lower BMD and an increased prevalence of osteopenia and osteoporosis than the control group. Future research should focus on the validity of quantitative ultrasound in BMD screening. To control the risk of progression in IS patients, regular BMD scans and targeted intervention are necessary for IS patients during clinical practice.

PCLassoLog: A protein complex-based, group Lasso-logistic model for cancer classification and risk protein complex discovery.

Risk gene identification has attracted much attention in the past two decades. Since most genes need to be translated into proteins and cooperate with other proteins to form protein complexes to carry out cellular functions, which significantly extends the functional diversity of individual proteins, revealing the molecular mechanism of cancer from a comprehensive perspective needs to shift from identifying individual risk genes toward identifying risk protein complexes. Here, we embed protein complexes into the regularized learning framework and propose a protein complex-based, group Lasso-logistic model (PCLassoLog) to discover risk protein complexes. Experiments on deep proteomic data of two cancer types show that PCLassoLog yields superior predictive performance on independent datasets. More importantly, PCLassoLog identifies risk protein complexes that not only contain individual risk proteins but also incorporate close partners that synergize with them. Furthermore, selection probabilities are calculated and two other protein complex-based models are proposed to complement PCLassoLog in identifying reliable risk protein complexes. Based on PCLassoLog, a pan-cancer analysis is performed to identify risk protein complexes in 12 cancer types. Finally, PCLassoLog is used to discover risk protein complexes associated with gene mutation. We implement all protein complex-based models as an R package PCLassoReg, which may serve as an effective tool to discover risk protein complexes in various contexts.

Co-exposure of sulfur nanoparticles and Cu alleviate Cu stress and toxicity to oilseed rape Brassica napus L.

Experiments were performed to explore the impact of sulfur nanoparticles (SNPs) on growth, Cu accumulation, and physiological and biochemical responses of oilseed rape (Brassica napus L.) inoculated with 5 mg/L Cu-amended MS medium supplemented with or without 300 mg/L SNPs exposure. Cu exerted severe phytotoxicity and inhibited plant growth. SNPs application enhanced the shoot height, root length, and dry weight of shoot and root by 34.6%, 282%, 41.7% and 37.1%, respectively, over Cu treatment alone, while the shoot and root Cu contents and Cu-induced lipid perodixation as the malondialdehyde (MDA) levels in shoots and roots were decreased by 37.6%, 35%, 28.4% and 26.8%. Further, the increases in superoxide dismutase (SOD), peroxidase (POD), catalase (CAT), ascorbate peroxidase (APX), glutathione reductase (GR) and glutathione S-transferase (GST) enzyme activities caused by Cu stress were mitigated in shoots (10.9%-37.1%) and roots (14.6%-35.3%) with SNPs addition. SNPs also positively counteracted the negative effects on shoot K, Ca, P, Mg, Mn, Zn and Fe contents and root K, Ca, Mg and Mn contents from Cu exposure alone, and significantly promoted the nutrients accumulation in plant. Additionally, in comparison with common bulk sulfur particles (BSPs) and sulfate, SNPs showed more positive effects on promoting growth in shoots (6.7% and 19.5%) and roots (10.9% and 15.1%), as well as lowering the shoot Cu content (40.1% and 43.3%) under Cu stress. Thus, SNPs application has potential to be a green and sustainable technology for increasing plant productivity and reducing accumulation of toxic metals in heavy metal polluted soils.

Linking ecological niches to bacterial community structure and assembly in polluted urban aquatic ecosystems.

Introduction: Bacterial communities play crucial roles in the functioning and resilience of aquatic ecosystems, and their responses to water pollution may be assessed from ecological niches. However, our understanding of such response patterns and the underlying ecological mechanisms remains limited. Methods: In this study, we comprehensively investigated the effects of water pollution on the bacterial structure and assembly within different ecological niches, including water, sediment, submerged plant leaf surfaces, and leaf surfaces, using a 16S high-throughput sequencing approach. Results: Ecological niches had a greater impact on bacterial community diversity than pollution, with a distinct enrichment of unique dominant phyla in different niches. This disparity in diversity extends to the bacterial responses to water pollution, with a general reduction in α-diversity observed in the niches, excluding leaf surfaces. Additionally, the distinct changes in bacterial composition in response to pollution should be correlated with their predicted functions, given the enrichment of functions related to biogeochemical cycling in plant surface niches. Moreover, our study revealed diverse interaction patterns among bacterial communities in different niches, characterized by relatively simply associations in sediments and intricate or interconnected networks in water and plant surfaces. Furthermore, stochastic processes dominated bacterial community assembly in the water column, whereas selective screening of roots and pollution events increased the impact of deterministic processes. Discussion: Overall, our study emphasizes the importance of ecological niches in shaping bacterial responses to water pollution. These findings improve our understanding of the complicated microbial response patterns to water pollution and have ecological implications for aquatic ecosystem health.

Visible Light-Induced Coupling Cyclization Reaction of α-Diazosulfonium Triflates with α-Oxocarboxylic Acids or Alkynes.

A photocatalyst-free radical cleavage of α-diazo sulfonium salts has been developed for the first time. The reaction provides an efficient method for the generation of diazomethyl radicals from α-diazosulfonium triflates under photochemical conditions. Utilizing the in situ generated diazomethyl radicals as key intermediate, the coupling cyclization reaction of α-diazosulfonium triflates with α-oxocarboxylic acids or alkynes has been achieved. The method affords a diverse set of important 2,5-disubstituted 1,3,4-oxadiazoles and 3,5-disubstituted-1H-pyrazoles with excellent regioselectivity in a single step. A reaction mechanism involving a radical pathway was further supported by control experiments and DFT calculations.

Establishing and evaluating physician-pharmacist collaborative clinics to manage patients with type 2 diabetes in primary hospitals in Hunan province: study protocol of a multi-site randomized controlled trial in the era of COVID-19 pandemic.

BACKGROUND: The COVID-19 pandemic has exerted an unprecedented and universal impact on global health system, resulting in noticeable challenges in traditional chronic disease care, of which diabetes was reported to be most influenced by the reduction in healthcare resources in the pandemic. China has the world's largest diabetes population, and current diabetes management in China is unsatisfactory, particularly in rural areas. Studies in developed countries have demonstrated that physician-pharmacist collaborative clinics are efficient and cost-effective for diabetes management, but little is known if this mode could be adapted in primary hospitals in China. The aim of this proposed study is to develop and evaluate physician-pharmacist collaborative clinics to manage type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) in primary hospitals in Hunan province. METHODS: A multi-site randomized controlled trial will be conducted to evaluate the effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of the physician-pharmacist collaborative clinics compared with usual care for Chinese patients with T2DM. Six primary hospitals will participate in the study, which will recruit 600 eligible patients. Patients in the intervention group will receive services from both physicians and pharmacists in the collaborative clinics, while the control group will receive usual care from physicians. Patients will be followed up at the 3rd, 6th, 9th and 12th month. Comparison between the two groups will be conducted by assessing the clinical parameters, process indicators and costs on diabetes. A satisfaction survey will also be carried out at the end of the study. DISCUSSION: If effective, the physician-pharmacist collaborative clinics can be adapted and used in primary hospitals of China to improve glycemic control, enhance medication adherence, decrease incidence of complications and reduce patients' dependence on physicians. Findings from the present study are meaningful for developing evidence-based diabetes care policy in rural China, especially in the COVID-19 pandemic era. TRIAL REGISTRATION: Chinese Clinical Trial Registry, ChiCTR2000031839 , Registered 12 April 2020.

Dietary Calcium Alleviates Fluorine-Induced Liver Injury in Rats by Mitochondrial Apoptosis Pathway.

Excessive fluoride (F) exposure can lead to liver damage; moreover, recent studies found that the addition of appropriate calcium (Ca) can alleviate the symptom of skeletal fluorosis. However, whether Ca can relieve F-induced liver damage through the mitochondrial apoptosis pathway has not been reported yet. Therefore, we assessed the liver morphology, serum transaminase content, liver oxidative stress-related enzymes, and apoptosis-related gene and protein expression in Sprague Dawley (SD) rats treated with 150 mg/L sodium fluoride (NaF) and different concentrations of calcium carbonate (CaCO3) for 120 days. Our results showed that NaF brought out pathological changes in liver morphology, serum aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and alanine aminotransferase (ALT) levels increased, total antioxidant capacity (T-AOC), superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) content decreased, and malondialdehyde (MDA) content increased, suggesting that NaF caused hepatotoxicity and oxidative stress. In addition, the results of quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR) and immunohistochemistry showed that NaF exposure upregulated the expression of Bcl-2-associated x protein (Bax), rho-related coiled-coil kinase 1 (ROCK1), cytochrome C (Cyto-C) mRNA and protein (P < 0.01), and downregulated B cell lymphoma 2 (Bcl-2) protein and mRNA (P < 0.01), indicating that excessive F exposure activated mitochondrial-mediated apoptosis in the liver. However, the addition of 1% CaCO3 to the diet significantly increased the expression of anti-apoptotic gene Bcl-2 (P < 0.01), inhibited the activation of the mitochondrial apoptosis pathway, and reduced mitochondrial damage. In summary, supplementing 1% CaCO3 in the diet can alleviate the NaF-induced liver cell damage through the mitochondrial apoptosis pathway.