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Background: We aim to report the latest pooled analyses to evaluate the additive efficacy and safety of probiotics in the treatment of ulcerative colitis (UC). Methods: We systematically searched the relevant literature investigating the efficacy and/or safety of probiotics in patients with UC from PubMed, Embase and Web of Science up to January 2023. Two researchers independently screened the literature, extracted data, and evaluated the quality of the included studies according to the inclusion and exclusion criteria. Any discrepancies throughout these processes were solved by consensus. All statistical analyses were performed by Review Manager version 5.4 and Stata version 15.0. Results: A total of 13 articles were included in the pooled analyses, and the studies were all randomized controlled trials with a total of 930 patients. There were no significant differences between the probiotics and placebo groups concerning demographic and baseline characteristics. For patients with active UC, the probiotic group boosted the remission rate by 87% compared to the placebo group, but failed to reach a statistical difference (OR: 1.87; 95% CI 0.98, 3.57; P = 0.06, I2 = 67%); furthermore, there were no statistical differences in maintenance of clinical remission, clinical response, change in UCDAI scores, or mucosal healing outcomes in the probiotic group compared to the placebo group. For patients in clinical remission, the clinical relapse rates were significantly lower in the probiotic group than in the placebo group (OR: 0.34; 95% CI 0.14, 0.79; P = 0.01). Moreover, this study did not observe a significant difference between the two groups for general adverse events rate (OR: 1.98; 95% CI 0.69, 5.68; P = 0.20). Conclusion: Probiotic-assisted therapy may be effective in inhibiting UC recurrence in patients in clinical remission without increasing the risk of treatment-related adverse events; furthermore, probiotics may increase the rate of clinical remission in patients with active UC. However, caution is needed when interpreting the clinical efficacy of probiotics in improving the clinical outcome of patients with active UC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Primary glomerular disease (PGD) is an idiopathic cause of renal glomerular lesions that is characterized by proteinuria or hematuria and is the leading cause of chronic kidney disease (CKD). The identification of circulating biomarkers for the diagnosis of PGD requires a thorough understanding of the metabolic defects involved. In this study, ultra-high performance liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry was performed to characterize the amino acid (AA) profiles of patients with pathologically diagnosed PGD, including minimal change disease (MCD), focal segmental glomerular sclerosis (FSGS), membranous nephropathy, and immunoglobulin A nephropathy. The plasma concentrations of asparagine and ornithine were low, and that of aspartic acid was high, in patients with all the pathologic types of PGD, compared to healthy controls. Two distinct diagnostic models were generated using the differential plasma AA profiles using logistic regression and receiver operating characteristic analyses, with areas under the curves of 1.000 and accuracies up to 100.0% in patients with MCD and FSGS. In conclusion, the progression of PGD is associated with alterations in AA profiles, The present findings provide a theoretical basis for the use of AAs as a non-invasive, real-time, rapid, and simple biomarker for the diagnosis of various pathologic types of PGD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article reviews the preparation of cyclic carbonates from alkylene oxides and CO2 catalyzed by metalloporphyrin polymers. It is found that metalloporphyrin-based porous polymers have high specific surface area, central metal of the porphyrin ring and nucleophilicity in small molecule polymerized monomers, which are the key points for efficiently catalyzing the cycloaddition reaction of epoxides and CO2 under mild conditions. However, currently synthesized metalloporphyrin polymers have some problems, such as easy pore size, unstable structure, and difficulty in adapting to large-sized epoxides. In the future, we should focus on designing and preparing dual-active site metalloporphyrin-based porous polymers with small steric hindrance, stable performance, and a large number of Lewis acid-base highly active centers, which is the direction we need to research in the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Highlights: What are the main findings? A comprehensive simulation model including particle flow and radiation transfer was developed for a CPC photocatalytic reactor. The ray tracing method was utilized to determine the radiation reaching the surface of the receiving tube, while the discrete ordinates method (DOM) was also employed to solve the radiative transfer equation (RTE), which shows the complete process of solar energy transfer. What is the implication of the main finding? Local volume radiative power absorption (LVRPA) and total radiative power absorption (TRPA) inside the receiving tube was obtained by this study, which is critical data for the photocatalytic reactor. Natural convection with intermittent disturbances is demonstrated to be effective operating mode for the CPC photocatalytic reactor. Compound parabolic concentrator (CPC) photocatalytic reactors are commonly used for photocatalytic water splitting in hydrogen production. This study aimed to gain a better understanding of the physical processes in CPC photocatalytic reactors and provide theoretical support for their design, optimization, and operation. The analysis involved the ray tracing approach, Euler–Euler two-fluid model, and discrete ordinates method (DOM) to study solar radiation transfer and particle flow in the reactor. The distribution of solar radiation on the receiving tube's surface after CPC concentration was obtained by conducting the ray tracing approach. This solar radiation distribution was then coupled into the Euler–Euler two-fluid model to solve for the natural convection flow field, the temperature field, and particle phase volume fraction distribution inside the receiving tube over a period of 120 s. Lastly, the discrete ordinates method (DOM) was used to analyze the transfer of radiation inside the receiving tube at different times, obtaining the distribution of local volume radiative power absorption (LVRPA) and the total radiative power absorption (TRPA) inside the tube. The results showed that the TRPA reached its maximum at 120 s, accounting for 66.61% of the incident solar UV radiation. According to the above results, it could be suggested that adopting an intermittent operation mode in CPC photocatalytic reactors is reasonable and efficient. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Analyses of urban hierarchy and scale distribution are crucial in urban research, as they examine the laws of urban development and the functional layout of urban spatial systems. However, previous studies have focused on the macro-spatial distribution of the economy, businesses, and population at the regional level, whereas systematic research on the scale distribution of retail formats in central urban areas is lacking. Therefore, this study investigated the hierarchical scale distribution of retail formats in the top ten cities in China by GDP, using the Public Service Facilities Index Method to define central district boundaries, using scale as an epistemological framework of order and analyzing the spatial distribution patterns of retail formats. The results revealed that the spatial hierarchical scale follows a power law within a certain range; the spatial distribution exhibits stage characteristics, providing a quantitative method for defining retail centres; and the dominant functions, development directions, and morphological characteristics of central districts influence the hierarchical scale distribution of retail formats. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The thin film deposition engineering of layer‐by‐layer (LbL) non‐fullerene organic solar cells (OSCs) favors vertical phase distributions of donor:acceptor (D:A), effectively boosting the power conversion efficiency (PCE). However, previous deposition strategies mainly aimed at optimizing the morphology of LbL films, and paid limited attention to the reproducibility of device performance. To achieve high device performance and maintain reproducibility, a strategy for hierarchical morphology manipulation in LbL OSCs is developed. A series of LbL devices are fabricated by introducing vacuum‐assisted molecular drift treatment (VMDT) to the donor or acceptor layer individually or simultaneously to elucidate the functionalities of this treatment. Essentially, the VMDT provides an extended drift driving force to manipulate the donor and acceptor molecules, resulting in a well‐defined vertical phase distribution and ordered molecular packing. These enhancements facilitate improvement in the D:A interface area and charge transport channel, ultimately contributing to impressive PCEs of 19.18% from 18.27% in the LbL devices. More importantly, using VMDT overcomes the notorious batch‐dependent and heat treatment degradation issues of OSCs, leading to excellent batch‐to‐batch reproducibility and enhanced stability of the devices. This reported method provides a promising strategy available for industrial and laboratory use to controllably manipulate the morphology of LbL OSCs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We previously demonstrated that orally supplemented Bifidobacterium breve MCC1274 (B. breve MCC1274) mitigated Alzheimer's disease (AD) pathologies in both 7-month-old AppNL-G-F mice and wild-type mice; thus, B. breve MCC1274 supplementation might potentially prevent the progression of AD. However, the possibility of using this probiotic as a treatment for AD remains unclear. Thus, we investigated the potential therapeutic effects of this probiotic on AD using 17-month-old AppNL-G-F mice with memory deficits and amyloid beta saturation in the brain. B. breve MCC1274 supplementation ameliorated memory impairment via an amyloid-cascade-independent pathway. It reduced hippocampal and cortical levels of phosphorylated extracellular signal-regulated kinase and c-Jun N-terminal kinase as well as heat shock protein 90, which might have suppressed tau hyperphosphorylation and chronic stress. Moreover, B. breve MCC1274 supplementation increased hippocampal synaptic protein levels and upregulated neuronal activity. Thus, B. breve MCC1274 supplementation may alleviate cognitive dysfunction by reducing chronic stress and tau hyperphosphorylation, thereby enhancing both synaptic density and neuronal activity in 17-month-old AppNL-G-F mice. Overall, this study suggests that B. breve MCC1274 has anti-AD effects and can be used as a potential treatment for AD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Tetrahymenosis is caused by the ciliated protozoan Tetrahymena and is responsible for serious economic losses to the aquaculture industry worldwide. However, information regarding the molecular mechanism leading to tetrahymenosis is limited. In previous transcriptome sequencing work, it was found that one of the two β-tubulin genes in T. pyriformis was significantly expressed in infected fish, we speculated that β-tubulin is involved in T. pyriformis infecting fish. Herein, the potential biological function of the β-tubulin gene in Tetrahymena species when establishing infection in guppies was investigated by cloning the full-length cDNA of this T. pyriformis β-tubulin (BTU1) gene. The full-length cDNA of T. pyriformis BTU1 gene was 1873 bp, and the ORF occupied 1134 bp, whereas 5′ UTR 434 bp, and 3′ UTR 305 bp whose poly (A) tail contained 12 bases. The predicted protein encoded by T. pyriformis BTU1 gene had a calculated molecular weight of 42.26 kDa and pI of 4.48. Moreover, secondary structure analysis and tertiary structure prediction of BTU1 protein were also conducted. In addition, morphology, infraciliature, phylogeny, and histopathology of T. pyriformis isolated from guppies from a fish market in Harbin were also investigated. Furthermore, qRT-PCR analysis and experimental infection assays indicated that the expression of BTU1 gene resulted in efficient cell proliferation during infection. Collectively, our data revealed that BTU1 is a key gene involved in T. pyriformis infection in guppies, and the findings discussed herein provide valuable insights for future studies on tetrahymenosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The improper disposal of plastic waste raises significant concerns due to its severe threat to ecosystems and public health. Artificial photosynthesis, compared with the conventional strategies (e.g., pyrolysis) operated under harsh conditions, has emerged as a green and sustainable approach to convert plastic waste into commodity chemicals under ambient conditions. In this study, we have developed a partially oxidized CuIn5S8 nanosheet photocatalyst (O-CuIn5S8) to promote the conversion of polyethylene terephthalate (PET) waste into value-added chemicals while producing hydrogen fuel. After oxygen incorporation, the as-obtained O-CuIn5S8 catalyst demonstrates significantly improved activity, with a hydrogen evolution rate of 2.57 ± 0.02 mmol g−1 h−1, which is 7 times higher than that of the pristine CuIn5S8. Furthermore, O-CuIn5S8 allows an effective transformation of pretreated PET into a range of valuable commodity chemicals, including formate, acetate, and glycolate, via a hole-induced oxidation mechanism. This work paves the way for the rational development of photocatalysts to manage plastic pollution and meanwhile reclaim the carbon source within PET plastic waste. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Diabetic kidney disease (DKD), a highly prevalent complication of diabetes mellitus, is a major cause of mortality in patients. However, identifying circulatory markers to diagnose DKD requires a thorough understanding of the metabolic mechanisms of DKD. In this study, we performed ultra-performance liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (UPLC-MS/MS) to reveal altered metabolic profiles of amino acids (AAs) in patients with DKD. We found decreased plasma levels of histidine and valine, increased urine levels of proline, decreased urine levels of histidine and valine, and increased saliva levels of arginine in patients with DKD compared with the levels in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and in healthy controls. Our analyses of the key metabolites and metabolic enzymes involved in histidine and valine metabolism indicated that the AAs level alterations may be due to enhanced carnosine hydrolysis, decreased degradation of homocarnosine and anserine, enhanced histidine methylation, and systemic enhancement of valine metabolism in patients with DKD. Notably, we generated a distinct diagnostic model with an AUC of 0.957 and an accuracy up to 92.2% on the basis of the AA profiles in plasma, urine and saliva differing in patients with DKD using logistic regression and receiver operating characteristic analyses. In conclusion, our results suggest that altered AA metabolic profiles are associated with the progression of DKD. Our DKD diagnostic model on the basis of AA levels in plasma, urine, and saliva may provide a theoretical basis for innovative strategies to diagnose DKD that may replace cumbersome kidney biopsies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Amyloid-β (Aβ) accumulation caused by an imbalance of the production and clearance of Aβ in the brain is associated with the development of Alzheimer's disease (ad). Apolipoprotein E (ApoE) (the strongest genetic risk factor) enhances Aβ clearance, preventing Aβ deposition. Sirtuin 2 (Sirt2) is an NAD+-dependent histone deacetylase and its inhibition has been reported to ameliorate memory impairment in ad -like model mice. However, the role of Sirt2 in ApoE secretion is unknown. Here, we found that inhibition of Sirt2 activity in primary cultured astrocytes and BV2 cells decreased ApoE secretion, resulting in the accumulation of intracellular ApoE and inhibiting extracellular Aβ degradation. However, the reduction of Sirt2 protein level by Sirt2 siRNA decreased ApoE protein level, which ultimately reduces ApoE secretion. In addition, the knockdown of Sirt2 in the HEK293-APP cells also decreased levels of intracellular ApoE leading to reduction of its secretion, which is accompanied by increased Aβ levels without altering APP and APP processing enzymes. Our findings provide a novel role of Sirt2 in ApoE secretion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Accurate modeling of threshold voltage is necessary in the integrated circuit design of strained silicon devices. Thoroughly researching the factors that affect threshold voltage and establishing a more precise threshold voltage model, can provide essential theoretical support for integrated circuit design. By solving a Poisson equation, in this paper, we demonstrate a comprehensive physical model for the threshold voltage of strained Si NMOSFETs using the gradual channel approximation theory and a quasi-two-dimensional analysis. The model investigates the physical effects such as short-channel, narrow-channel, non-uniform doping, and drain-induced barrier lowering effects on the threshold voltage. After substituting the extracted parameters into the model, a comparison was made with experimental results to validate the accuracy and correctness of the established model. Additionally, variations in the tunneling current of small-sized devices were studied. The two models provide essential references for the analysis and design of strained Si large-scale integrated circuits. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Enrofloxacin (ENR) residue is harmful to humans and the ecosystem. Therefore, it is necessary to develop a method for the detection of ENR residues in food. Herein, we have prepared novel biomass-derived carbon dots (BCDs) by a one-step hydrothermal method to detect ENR. The precursor material is cicada slough, which is one of the traditional crude drugs. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and X-ray diffraction (XRD) results confirmed the formation of BCDs. The average particle size of the prepared BCDs is 19.6 ± 0.2 nm, and the maximum excitation/emission wavelength is 355/436 nm. Under the optimal conditions, the detection linear of ENR ranged from 0.13 to 16.67 µM, and the detection limit was 0.069 µM. According to the experimental results, it can be applied in the detection of ENR in aquatic products with a good recovery rate (88.6%–104.7%), demonstrating its potential in detecting ENR in aquatic products. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

When it comes to seawater desalination in the small- to medium-electricity ranges, the organic Rankine cycle (ORC) powered by solar energy stands out as the most energy-efficient technology currently available. Various solar techniques have been developed to capture and absorb solar energy. Among them, the parabolic trough collector (PTC) has gained recognition as a low-cost solar thermal collector with a long operating life. This study investigates the thermodynamic performance and economic parameters of a PTC-powered ORC using Dowtherm A and toluene as working fluids for the solar cycle and ORC cycle, respectively. Thermo-economic multi-objective optimization and decision-making techniques are applied to assess the system's performance. Four key parameters are analyzed for their impact on exergy efficiency and total hourly cost. Using TOPSIS decision-making, the best solution from the Pareto frontier is identified, featuring an ORC exergy efficiency of 30.39% and a total hourly cost of 39.38 US$/h. The system parameters include a mass flow rate of fresh water at 137.7 m3/h, a total output net power of 577.9 kJ/kg, and a district heating supply of 1074 kJ/kg. The cost analysis reveals that the solar collector represents approximately 68% of the total hourly cost at 26.77 US$/h, followed by the turbine, thermoelectric generator, and reverse osmosis (RO) unit. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Tetrahymenosis, caused by about 10 Tetrahymena species, is an emerging problem inflicting a significant economic loss on the aquaculture industry worldwide. However, in the order Tetrahymenida, there are many unresolved evolutionary relationships among taxa. Here we report 21 new sequences, including SSU‐rRNA, ITS1‐5.8S‐ITS2 rRNA and LSU‐rRNA, genes of 10 facultative parasitic Tetrahymena associated with tetrahymenosis, and conduct phylogenetic analyses based on each individual gene and a three‐gene concatenated dataset. The main findings are: (1) All the parasitic and facultative parasitic species cluster in borealis group. (2) With the addition of new sequences, Tetrahymena is still divided into three groups, namely the "borealis group", the "australis group," and the "paravorax group." (3) the cluster pattern of all the newly sequenced facultative parasitic Tetrahymena species shows that members of the "borealis" group may be more susceptible to parasitism. (4) phylogeny based on concatenated genes show that T. pyriformis, T. setosa, and T. leucophrys have close relationship. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The accumulation of plastic wastes in landfills and the environment threatens our environment and public health, while leading to the loss of potential carbon resources. The urgent necessary lies in developing an energy‐saving and environmentally benign approach to upgrade plastic into value‐added chemicals. Artificial photosynthesis holds the ability to realize plastic upcycling by using endless solar energy under mild conditions, but remains in the initial stage for plastic upgrading. In this review, we aim to look critically at the photocatalytic conversion of plastic wastes from the perspective of resource reutilization. To begin with, we present the emerging conversion routes for plastic wastes and highlight the advantages of artificial photosynthesis for processing plastic wastes. By parsing photocatalytic plastic conversion process, we demonstrate the currently available routes for processing plastic, including plastic photodegradation, tandem decomposition of plastic and CO2 reduction, selective plastic oxidation, as well as photoreforming of plastic. This review concludes with a personal perspective for potential advances and emerging challenges in photocatalytic plastic conversion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A new type of lubricating material (BTA-P4444-Lig) was synthesized by combining lignin with tetrabutylphosphorus and benzotriazole. The tribological properties, corrosion resistance, and anti-oxidation properties of BTA-P4444-Lig as a lubricant were investigated. The lubricating material exhibits excellent friction reduction and wear resistance, as well as good thermal stability and excellent oxidation resistance. Mechanistic analysis reveals that the active elements N and P in the lubricating material react with the metal substrate, and the reaction film effectively blocks direct contact between the friction pairs, affording excellent friction reduction and wear resistance. At the same time, the phenolic hydroxyl group in lignin reacts with oxygen free radicals to form a resonance-stable semi-quinone free radical, which interrupts the chain reaction and affords good anti-oxidant activity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Four oil‐soluble ionic liquids (ILs) with different structures were synthesised: N88816‐Doss (N/S), P88816‐Doss (P/S), N88816 phosphate (N/P) and P88816 phosphate (P/P). The effects of the four ILs synthesised with conventional lubricating additives isobutylene sulfide (T321), zinc dialkyl dithiophosphate (ZDDP) and tricresyl phosphate (T306) as PAO10 additives on the physicochemical properties of the prepared oil samples were systematically investigated at the same dosing rates. The antifriction and antiwear properties and extreme pressure performance of oil samples prepared by four ILs and three conventional additives were investigated by a four‐ball friction and a wear testing machine. The results showed that P/S improved the thermal stability of PAO10. The addition of N/S significantly improved the tribological performance of PAO10 at room temperature and under heavy loading. The coefficient of friction was reduced by 90%, the wear spot diameter is decreased by 28%, the last non‐seizure load PB is doubled, and the resistance to sintering did not improve. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We previously demonstrated that the Alzheimer's disease (AD)-like model mice, Tg2576, housed at a high ambient temperature of 30 °C for 13 months, exhibited increased body temperature, which increased amyloid-β (Aβ) levels and tau stability, leading to tau phosphorylation and ultimately inducing memory impairment. Here, we aimed to exclude the possible effect of environmental factors associated with the difference in ambient temperature (23 °C vs. 30 °C) and to further clarify the effects of elevated body temperature on AD-like pathologies. We generated uncoupling protein 1 (UCP1) deletion in Tg2576 mice, Tg2576/UCP1−/−, because UCP1 deletion mice show a sustained rise in body temperature at normal room temperature. As expected, the body temperature in Tg2576/UCP1−/− mice was higher than that in Tg2576/ UCP1+/+ mice at 23 °C, which was accompanied by upregulated Aβ levels due to increased β-secretase (BACE1) and decreased neprilysin (NEP) protein levels in the brains of Tg2576/UCP1−/− mice compared with those in the Tg2576/ UCP1+/+ mice. Elevated body temperature also increased total tau levels, leading to enhanced phosphorylation, heat shock protein induction, and activated tau kinases. Furthermore, elevated body temperature enhanced glial activation and decreased synaptic protein levels in the brain. Taken together, these findings demonstrate that elevated body temperatures exacerbate AD-like pathologies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: We previously reported the effects of a probiotic strain, Bifidobacterium breve MCC1274, in improving cognitive function in preclinical and clinical studies. Recently, we demonstrated that supplementation of this strain led to decreased amyloid-β production, attenuated microglial activation, and suppressed inflammation reaction in the brain of APP knock-in (AppNL - G - F) mice.Objective: In this study, we investigated the plasma metabolites to reveal the mechanism of action of this probiotic strain in this Alzheimer's disease (AD)-like model.Methods: Three-month-old mice were orally supplemented with B. breve MCC1274 or saline for four months and their plasma metabolites were comprehensively analyzed using CE-FTMS and LC-TOFMS.Results: Principal component analysis showed a significant difference in the plasma metabolites between the probiotic and control groups (PERMANOVA, p = 0.03). The levels of soy isoflavones (e.g., genistein) and indole derivatives of tryptophan (e.g., 5-methoxyindoleacetic acid), metabolites with potent anti-oxidative activities were significantly increased in the probiotic group. Moreover, there were increased levels of glutathione-related metabolites (e.g., glutathione (GSSG)_divalent, ophthalmic acid) and TCA cycle-related metabolites (e.g., 2-Oxoglutaric acid, succinic acid levels) in the probiotic group. Similar alternations were observed in the wild-type mice by the probiotic supplementation.Conclusion: These results suggest that the supplementation of B. breve MCC1274 enhanced the bioavailability of potential anti-oxidative metabolites from the gut and addressed critical gaps in our understanding of the gut-brain axis underlying the mechanisms of the probiotic action of this strain in the improvement of cognitive function. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In order to further improve the high-frequency characteristics of highly scaled SiGe HBT and consider the compatibility with the mature CMOS technology, a new SiGe HBT structure is proposed by introducing an embedded Si1−yGey stress raiser to produce additional uniaxial stress in the bulk collector region. The energy-band configuration of multi-layered emitter has been investigated by the estimation of the strain effect, and then the influence of stress raiser on the electrical properties and frequency response has been studied by employing the SILVACO TCAD tools. The results show that the device performance has been enhanced to different degrees by altering the Ge fraction (y) in the stress raiser. At y = 0.3, the current gain is increased by approximately 6% compared to the case without stress in the collector region (y = 0). For the case of a uniform Si0.75Ge0.25 base, the cut-off frequency (fT) and the maximum oscillating frequency (fmax) are, respectively, peaked at 507.7 GHz and 730.7 GHz. Approximately 29.1% improvement in fT and 71.5% improvement in fmax have been achieved for the proposed HBT device in comparison with an equivalent traditional SiGe HBT. At y = 0.1, the frequency characteristic is considered the best due to the maximum of fT × fmax product. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Surfactants are one of the major pollutants in laundry powder, which have an impact on the environment and human health. Carbon quantum dots (CQDs) are spherical zero-dimensional fluorescent nanoparticles with great potential for fluorescent probing, electrochemical biosensing and ion sensing. Herein, a bottom-up approach was developed for the synthesis of CQDs from biomass to detect laundry detergent and laundry powder. Waste chicken bones were used as carbon precursors after being dried, crushed and reacted with pure water at 180 °C for 4 h to generate CQDs, which exhibited a monodisperse quasi-spherical structure with an average particle size of 3.2 ± 0.2 nm. Functional groups, including -OH, C=O, C=C and C-O, were identified on the surface of the prepared CQDs. The optimal fluorescence excitation wavelength of the yellow-brown CQDs was 380 nm, with a corresponding emission peak at 465 nm. CQDs did not significantly increase cell death in multiple cell lines at concentrations of 200 µg·mL−1. Fluorescence enhancement of CQDs was observed after addition of sodium dodecyl benzene sulphonate, a major anionic surfactant in laundry powder. A linear relationship between fluorescence enhancement CQDs and the concentration of laundry powder was established. Thus, a hydrothermal method was developed to generate CQDs from waste biomass that may be used as a fluorescent probe to detect laundry powder. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Accumulating evidence suggests that insulin deficiency is a risk factor for Alzheimer's disease (AD); however, the underlying molecular mechanisms are not completely understood. Here, we investigated the effects of insulin deficiency on AD-like pathologies using an insulin-deficient amyloid-β (Aβ) precursor protein (APP) transgenic mouse model (Tg2576 mice). Female Tg2576 mice were injected intraperitoneally with streptozotocin (STZ) to induce insulin deficiency, and their body weights, serum glucose levels, and serum insulin levels were evaluated. STZ-treated mice showed exacerbated Aβ accumulation, tau hyperphosphorylation, glial activation, neuroinflammation, and increased Sirt2 protein levels in the brain, as determined by two-dimensional gel electrophoresis (2-DE) coupled with liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry (LC–MS/MS) and Western blotting. Furthermore, our in vitro experiments revealed that insulin depletion or interleukin-6 treatment increased Sirt2 protein levels in both Neuro2a and Neuro2a-P301L cells. The overexpression of Sirt2 in these cells induced tau hyperphosphorylation through extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) activation. Conversely, Sirt2 knockdown reversed tau hyperphosphorylation in these cells. We showed for the first time that Sirt2 is upregulated in the brains of STZ-treated Tg2576 mice and is involved in tau phosphorylation through ERK activation. Our findings suggest that Sirt2 is a promising therapeutic target for the treatment of AD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Global warming is a serious public health threat to people worldwide. High body temperature is one of the important risk factors for Alzheimer's disease (AD), and the body temperature of AD patients has been found to be significantly higher than that of elderly control subjects. However, the effects of high body temperature on cognitive function and AD pathologies have not been completely elucidated. We report here that Tg2576 mice housed at a high ambient temperature of 30 °C for 13 months showed an increase in the body temperature, which is accompanied by memory impairment and an enhancement of amyloid-β peptides (Aβ) generation through the upregulation of β-site APP cleaving enzyme 1 (BACE1) level and decrease in the level of an Aβ-degrading enzyme, neprilysin (NEP) in the brain, compared with those of Tg2576 mice at 23 °C. High body temperature also increased the levels of heat shock proteins (HSPs), stress-stimulated kinases such as JNK, and total tau, leading to the enhancement of tau phosphorylation at 30 °C. Taken together, our findings suggest that high body temperature exacerbates cognitive function and AD pathologies, which provides a mechanistic insight for its prevention. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Global warming is a serious public health threat to people worldwide. High body temperature is one of the important risk factors for Alzheimer's disease (AD), and the body temperature of AD patients has been found to be significantly higher than that of elderly control subjects. However, the effects of high body temperature on cognitive function and AD pathologies have not been completely elucidated. We report here that Tg2576 mice housed at a high ambient temperature of 30 °C for 13 months showed an increase in the body temperature, which is accompanied by memory impairment and an enhancement of amyloid-β peptides (Aβ) generation through the upregulation of β-site APP cleaving enzyme 1 (BACE1) level and decrease in the level of an Aβ-degrading enzyme, neprilysin (NEP) in the brain, compared with those of Tg2576 mice at 23 °C. High body temperature also increased the levels of heat shock proteins (HSPs), stress-stimulated kinases such as JNK, and total tau, leading to the enhancement of tau phosphorylation at 30 °C. Taken together, our findings suggest that high body temperature exacerbates cognitive function and AD pathologies, which provides a mechanistic insight for its prevention. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Protein-bound uremic toxins (PBUTs) are reported to be one of the major culprits in chronic kidney disease–cardiovascular disease (CKD–CVD) development, yet its mechanism is not fully clear. Our previous study confirmed elevated expression of integrin-β1 (ITGβ1) in vascular smooth muscle cells of uremic patients. Thus, this study aimed to explore the relationship between PBUTs and ITGβ1 in uremic vasculature injury. Methods: Human umbilical vein smooth muscle cells (HUVSMCs) and endothelial cells (HUVECs) were treated with two representative PUBTs, indoxyl sulfate (IS) and p-cresyl sulfate (PC). Both cells were measured for the expression of ITGβ1 and downstream signaling pathways and assayed for proliferation, migration, adhesion and apoptosis. Results: The IS treatments were observed with significantly up-regulated ITGβ1 in HUVSMCs but not in HUVECs, while PC did not induce ITGβ1 alteration in either HUVSMCs or HUVECs. Furthermore, overexpression of ITGβ1 revealed activated downstream signal-regulated kinase (ERK) signaling pathway with promoted focal adhesion, migration, proliferation but no apoptosis in HUVSMCs by IS. These functional and pathway alterations could be significantly suppressed by RNA interference of ITGβ1. More importantly, the application of ERK1/2 inhibitor significantly suppressed the focal adhesion, migration and proliferation of HUVSMCs. Conclusion: We first demonstrated that ITGβ1/ERK signaling pathway mediated abnormal focal adhesion, migration and proliferation of vascular smooth muscle cells stimulated by IS. ITGβ1/ERK signaling may serve as a novel therapeutic target for CKD-CVD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Probiotics improve brain function, including memory and cognition, via the microbiome–gut–brain axis. Oral administration of Bifidobacterium breve MCC1274 (B. breve MCC1274) improves cognitive function in AppNL-G-F mice and mild cognitive impairment (MCI) subjects, and mitigates Alzheimer's disease (AD)-like pathologies. However, its effects on wild-type (WT) mice have not yet been explored. Thus, the effects of B. breve MCC1274 on AD-like pathologies in two-month-old WT mice were investigated, which were orally administered B. breve MCC1274 for four months. Aβ levels, amyloid precursor protein (APP), APP processing enzymes, phosphorylated tau, synaptic protein levels, glial activity, and cell proliferation in the subgranular zone of the dentate gyrus were evaluated. Data analysis was performed using Student's t-test, and normality was tested using the Shapiro–Wilk test. Oral administration of B. breve MCC1274 in WT mice decreased soluble hippocampal Aβ42 levels by reducing presenilin1 protein levels, and reduced phosphorylated tau levels. It also activated the protein kinase B (Akt)/glycogen synthase kinase-3β (GSK-3β) pathway, which may be responsible for the reduction in presenilin1 levels and inhibition of tau phosphorylation. B. breve MCC1274 supplementation attenuated microglial activation and elevated synaptic protein levels in the hippocampus. These findings suggest that B. breve MCC1274 may mitigate AD-like pathologies in WT mice by decreasing Aβ42 levels, inhibiting tau phosphorylation, attenuating neuroinflammation, and improving synaptic protein levels. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: To specifically diagnose malignant tumors in DWI using the human telomerase reverse transcriptase (hTERT) promoter–driven AQP1 expression. Methods: The human telomerase reverse transcriptase (hTERT) promoter–driven AQP1 gene overexpression lentivirus system (hTERT-AQP1) and cytomegalovirus (CMV) promoter–driven AQP1 gene overexpression lentivirus system (CMV-AQP1) were prepared, and transduced into telomerase-positive and -negative cells. The AQP1 expression and DWI signal intensity (SI) change in transduced cells were analyzed. Balb/C nude mice subcutaneous xenograft models derived from lentivirus-transduced telomerase-positive and -negative cells were used to evaluate AQP1 expression and DWI SI change in vivo. We further established another group of subcutaneous xenograft model using pristine telomerase-positive and -negative cells, followed by injecting the lentiviral vectors intratumorally or intravenously, to determine the malignant tumor-targeted imaging of hTERT-AQP1. Results: The hTERT-AQP1 and CMV-AQP1 were successfully prepared. After transduction, hTERT-AQP1 could induce the specific overexpression of AQP1 in telomerase-positive cells. Compared with untransduced cells, all CMV-AQP1-pretransduced cells and hTERT-AQP1-pretransduced telomerase-positive cells showed decreased SI and increased apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) in DWI, while hTERT-AQP1-pretransduced telomerase-negative cells showed no obvious SI and ADC change. Correspondingly, hTERT-AQP1-transduced telomerase-positive tumors and CMV-AQP1-transduced telomerase-positive and -negative tumors showed decreased DWI SI and increased ADC, while hTERT-AQP1-transduced telomerase-negative tumor had no SI and ADC changes. After intratumoral or intravenous injection, CMV-AQP1 could upregulate AQP1 expression and induce DWI SI and ADC alteration in both telomerase-positive and -negative tumors, while hTERT-AQP1 worked in telomerase-positive tumors specifically. Conclusion: Cancers can be specifically visualized based on the DWI signal alteration which triggered by hTERT-AQP1 lentivirus system that combined AQP1 gene and hTERT promoter. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Two new phosphate organic guanidine salt water-based additives (P4-G, P8-G) were synthesized, and their tribological properties and anti-corrosion performance were investigated. Friction tests revealed the lubricity and anti-wear performance of P8-G to be superior to that of P4-G. Moreover, it had good anti-corrosion properties. In addition, the P8-G as the water-based lubricant additives have better friction-reducing, extreme-pressure and anti-wear properties than a commercial water-based lubricant additive of CCFS. The Three-dimensional profile, scanning electron microscope, and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy were used to analyze the wear spot surface and clarify the friction mechanism. Overall, P8-G was found to exhibit excellent anti-friction and anti-wear properties, which can be attributed to its excellent adsorption properties on the metal surface and the tribochemical reactions with metal substrates to form stable tribochemical reaction films. More importantly, the system is pollution-free and is expected to develop into a highly efficient lubricant additive applied in water-based hydraulic fluids, which serves as a guide for the design and synthesis of water-based additives. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Probiotic supplementation reestablishes microbiome diversity and improves brain function in Alzheimer's disease (AD); their molecular mechanisms, however, have not yet been fully illustrated.Objective: We investigated the effects of orally supplemented Bifidobacterium breve MCC1274 on cognitive function and AD-like pathologies in AppNL-G-F mice.Methods: Three-month-old AppNL-G-F mice were orally supplemented with B. breve MCC1274 for four months. The short-term memory function was evaluated using a novel object recognition test. Amyloid plaques, amyloid-β (Aβ) levels, Aβ fibril, amyloid-β protein precursor and its processing enzymes, its metabolic products, glial activity, and cell proliferation in the subgranular zone of the dentate gyrus were evaluated by immunohistochemistry, Aβ ELISA, western blotting, and immunofluorescence staining. The mRNA expression levels of pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokines were determined by qRT-PCR analysis.Results: We found that the oral B. breve MCC1 274 supplementation prevented memory impairment in AppNL-G-F mice and decreased hippocampal Aβ levels through the enhancement of the a-disintegrin and metalloproteinase 10 (ADAM10) level. Moreover, administration of the probiotic activated the ERK/HIF-1α signaling pathway responsible for increasing the ADAM10 level and also attenuated microglial activation, which in turn led to reduction in the mRNA expression levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines in the brain. In addition, B. breve MCC1274 supplementation increased the level of synaptic proteins in the hippocampus.Conclusion: Our findings support the possibility that oral B. breve MCC1274 supplementation might be used as a potential preventive therapy for AD progression. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: This study assessed the prognostic value of red blood cell distribution width (RDW) and cancer antigen 125 (CA125) in predicting the prognosis of endometrial cancer (EC) patients. Patients and Methods: In this study, we included 525 patients with EC between January 2013 and January 2019. Demographic and clinical indicators were collected, and the receiver operating characteristics curve (ROC) and cutoff values were calculated between the early and advanced stages of EC. Independent risk factors associated with EC prognosis were assessed using Cox regression analyses and the Kaplan–Meier method. Results: Compared to women in the early stage of EC, women with advanced stage had significantly elevated RDW coefficient of variation (RDW-CV) and CA125 levels and lower mean corpuscular volume (MCV) and mean corpuscular hemoglobin (MCH) (both P < 0.05). Consequently, RDW-CV and CA125 were found to be independent risk factors for EC by using ROC curve and multivariate logistic regression analysis. The survival analysis curve was used to assess the diagnostic value of RDW-CV, CA125, and their combination in the prognosis of EC. The results showed that patients with high expression of RDW-CV and CA125 had worse overall survival than those with low expression. Moreover, multivariate Cox regression analysis indicated that RDW-CV+CA125=2 was an independent prognostic factor. Conclusion: These findings suggest that CA125 combined with RDW-CV has a good prognostic value for EC. Thus, the RDW-CV+CA125 score is a promising prognostic marker for the clinical decision-making process regarding EC outcomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Epidemiological studies have shown that tooth loss is associated with Alzheimer's disease (AD) and dementia. However, the molecular and cellular mechanisms by which tooth loss causes AD remain unclear.Objective: We investigated the effects of tooth loss on memory impairment and AD pathogenesis in AppNL-G-F mice.Methods: Maxillary molar teeth on both sides were extracted from 2-month-old AppNL-G-F mice, and the mice were reared for 2 months. The short- and long-term memory functions were evaluated using a novel object recognition test and a passive avoidance test. Amyloid plaques, amyloid-β (Aβ) levels, glial activity, and neuronal activity were evaluated by immunohistochemistry, Aβ ELISA, immunofluorescence staining, and western blotting. The mRNA expression levels of neuroinflammatory cytokines were determined by qRT-PCR analysis.Results: Tooth loss induced memory impairment via an amyloid-cascade-independent pathway, and decreased the neuronal activity, presynaptic and postsynaptic protein levels in both the cortex and hippocampus. Interestingly, we found that tooth loss induced glial activation, which in turn leads to the upregulation of the mRNA expression levels of the neuroinflammation cytokines tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), interleukin-6 (IL-6), and IL-1β in the hippocampus. We also found that tooth loss activated a stress-activated protein kinase, c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK), and increased heat shock protein 90 (HSP90) levels in the hippocampus, which may lead to a glial activation.Conclusion: Our findings suggest that taking care of teeth is very important to preserve a healthy oral environment, which may reduce the risk of cognitive dysfunction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article titled "High-Reproducibility Layer-by-Layer Non-Fullerene Organic Photovoltaics with 19.18% Efficiency Enabled by Vacuum-Assisted Molecular Drift Treatment" introduces a new method for improving the efficiency of non-fullerene organic solar cells. The researchers, led by Xixiang Zhu, utilize a spatially extended driving force to create an ideal vertical phase distribution in the solar cells, addressing issues related to thermal degradation and chemical incompatibility. This approach has the potential to enhance the fabrication of high-performance organic solar cells used in both laboratory and industrial settings. The article is authored by Yongchao Xie, Chunyu Zhou, Xiaoling Ma, Sang Young Jeong, Han Young Woo, Fulong Huang, Yiyi Yang, Haomiao Yu, Jinpeng Li, Fujun Zhang, Kai Wang, and Xixiang Zhu. [Extracted from the article]

Lactoferrin (LF) is present in senile plaques and neurofibrillary tangles in the brains of Alzheimer's disease (AD) patients and amyloid-β protein precursor transgenic (AβPP-Tg) mice. LF has anti-inflammatory and antioxidant functions, which exert neuroprotective effects against AD. However, its effects on memory impairment and AD pathogenesis have not been fully examined. In this study, we examined the effects of LF on memory impairment and AD pathogenesis in AβPP-Tg mice (J20 mice). Nine-month-old J20 mice were fed with control, 2% lactoferrin-containing (LF), and 0.5% pepsin-hydrolyzed lactoferrin-containing (LF-hyd) diets for 3 months. We found that both the LF and LF-hyd diets attenuated memory impairment in J20 mice and decreased brain Aβ40 and Aβ42 levels through the inhibition of amyloidogenic processing of AβPP, as it decreased β-site amyloid protein precursor cleaving enzyme 1 (BACE1) levels. Furthermore, we found for the first time that LF and LF-hyd treatments increased both ApoE secretion and ATP-binding cassette A1 (ABCA1) protein levels in the brains of J20 mice and in primary astrocyte cultures. Moreover, LF and LF-hyd promoted extracellular degradation of Aβ in primary astrocyte cultures. These findings indicate that the reduction in Aβ levels in the brains of mice fed with both the LF and LF-hyd diets may also be mediated by increased ApoE secretion and ABCA1 protein levels, which in turn leads to the enhanced degradation of Aβ in the brains of J20 mice. Our findings suggest that LF and LF-hyd can be used for the treatment and/or prevention of the development of AD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mitochondrial dysfunctions and oxidative stress play important roles in the early pathogenesis of Alzheimer's disease (AD), which also involves the aberrant expression levels of mitochondrial proteins. However, the molecular mechanisms underlying the aberrant expression levels of these proteins in the pathogenesis of AD are still not completely understood. Tid1 (DnaJA3/mtHsp40), a mammalian homolog of the Drosophila tumor suppressor Tid56, is reported to induce mitochondrial fragmentation associated with an increase in reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels, resulting in cell death in some cancer cells. However, the involvement of Tid1 in AD pathogenesis is as yet unknown. In this study, we found that the Tid1 protein levels were upregulated in the hippocampus of AD patients and Tg2576 mice. Our in vitro studies showed that Aβ42 increased the expression levels of Tid1 in primary rat cortical neurons. The knockdown of Tid1 protected against neuronal cell death induced by Aβ42, and Tid1-mediated neuronal cell death, was dependent on the increased ROS generation and caspase-3 activity. The overexpression of Tid1 in HEK293-APP cells increased the BACE1 levels, resulting in increased Aβ production. Conversely, Tid1 knockdown in HEK293-APP cells and primary cultured neurons decreased Aβ production through the reduction in the BACE1 levels. We also found that the overexpression of Tid1 activated c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK) leading to increased Aβ production. Taken together, our results suggest that upregulated Tid1 levels in the hippocampus of patients with AD and Tg2576 mice induce apoptosis and increase Aβ production, and Tid1 may therefore be a suitable target in therapeutic interventions for AD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Highly efficient bimetallic heterogeneous photo-Fenton catalysts (Fe2O3/CuO@MCM-41, FCM and MnOx/CuO@MCM-41, MCM) have been successfully prepared via wet impregnation over a mesoporous MCM-41 silica support. FESEM images demonstrate that the metal oxides are highly dispersed on the surface of the MCM-41 matrix consisting of the ordered 2D hexagonal mesostructure. XPS results indicate that the bimetallic oxides species in FCM and MCM are Fe2O3, CuO and MnOx, CuO, respectively. The as-prepared dual-heterojunctions have a significant enhancement of catalytic activities under visible light, compared with the material containing monometal, and prevents the leaching of metal ions species. The degradation efficiencies of MB can be up to 99.65% and 98.22% within 45 min irradiation for FCM1:2 and MCM1:0.5, respectively. And the degradation efficiencies still can reach up to 92% after 10 cycles. Moreover, the synthesized bimetallic dual-heterojunctions catalysts can be employed in very mild condition, and little difference in catalytic effect was observed under different pH value (3.0–9.0). The improved photocatalytic activity can be ascribed to the sufficient interfacial contact between different components for photo energy transfer and e−/h+ pairs separation, which greatly enhance cycle reaction of Fe3+/Fe2+ or Mn4+/Mn3+/Mn2+ after introducing CuO. This research provides a new approach for the development of an effective heterogeneous photo-induced Fenton (Fenton like) catalyst with vast potential for organic pollutant removal. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Patients with uremia have an excessive mortality from cardiovascular disease (CVD). Arterial remodeling is mainly responsible for uremia-induced CVD and has been well studied, yet venous remodeling is poorly understood. Here we investigate the histopathology and proteomic profiles of venous remodeling in uremic patients. Methods: Forearm cephalic veins were isolated from nine uremic patients during surgeries for arteriovenous fistula, and from nine healthy controls when applying surgical debridement. Hematoxylin–eosin, Masson's trichrome, von Kossa, and immunohistochemistry (IHC) against proliferating cell nuclear antigen were stained for histopathology. Isobaric tags for relative and absolute quantitation (iTRAQ) proteomic analysis was executed to explore the proteome of the veins. The core regulatory protein was validated by western blot, IHC, and immunofluorescence. Results: Phlebosclerosis, characterized by intimal rarefaction and medial thickening with disordered proliferation of vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs), was the prominent pathological manifestation of peripheral veins in uremic patients, while inflammatory cell infiltration, atherosclerosis or calcification were not obviously detected. iTRAQ analysis showed that 350 proteins were significantly changed in phlebosclerosis of uremic patients compared with healthy controls, of which integrin-β1 (ITGβ1) exhibited the strongest regulatory ability by intermolecular interaction network analysis. The enhanced ITGβ1 expression was mainly co-expressed with the disordered proliferation of VSMCs while a little with vascular endothelial cells in the forearm cephalic veins of uremic patients. Conclusions: Phlebosclerosis is the prominent pathological manifestation in peripheral veins of uremic patients. This pathological alteration mainly attributes to the disordered proliferation of VSMCs, which is potentially mediated by ITGβ1. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The herbicide paraquat (1, 1′-dimethyl-4, 4′-bipyridylium dichloride; PQ) is a poison well-known to cause delayed mortality due to acute kidney injuries (AKI). This study examines the changes in serum amino acids (AAs) metabolite profiles as surrogate markers of renal cell metabolism and function after paraquat poisoning. Methods: To identify the metabolic profiling of free serum AAs and its metabolites, serum from 40 paraquat-poisoned patients with or without AKI is collected. LC-MS/GC-MS is performed to analyze AA molecules. A Cox proportional hazard model was used to assess for incidence of AKI. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve is applied to evaluate AKI occurrence and prognosis. Results: A total of 102 serum AAs and its metabolites were identified. Compared with non-AKI patients, 37 varied significantly in AKI patients. The univariate Cox proportional hazard model analysis revealed that the estimated PQ amount, plasma PQ concentration, urine PQ concentration, APACHE, SOFA scores and 16 amino acids correlated with the incidence of AKI. Further analyses revealed that 3-methylglutarylcarnitine, 1-methylimidazoleacetate, and urea showed higher cumulative hazard ratios for the occurrence of AKI during follow-up (P < 0.05). The area under the curve (AUC) of 3-methylglutarylcarnitine, 1-methylimidazoleacetate and urea were 0.917, 0.857, 0.872, respectively. Conclusion: 3-methylglutarylcarnitine, 1-methylimidazoleacetate and urea were associated with AKI in patients with paraquat intoxication. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study was conducted to investigate whether chronic kidney disease (CKD) affects intestinal inflammation and intestinal motility and the underlying mechanisms. Rats were randomized into control group and uremic group. Uremia rats were induced by the 5/6 kidney resection, while the control went through the same procedures but without any kidney resection. Intestinal motility was assessed by charcoal transport assay; intestinal inflammation was assessed by analyses of levels of tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α, interleukin (IL)-6, and IL-10 in the ileum tissue. The inducible nitric oxide synthesis (iNOS) activity was assessed in the ileum tissue. The results showed that the intestinal motility in uremic group was significantly decreased compared with that in the control group on postoperative weeks 8 and 10. Meanwhile, the uremic group presented significantly higher concentrations of TNF-α, IL-6, and IL-10 than control group on postoperative weeks 8 and/or 10, and higher gene expression on postoperative weeks 6, 8, and 10. Furthermore, the intestinal iNOS activity in the uremic group was significantly increased compared with that in control group on postoperative weeks 8 and 10. These results suggest that CKD could induce intestinal inflammation and lead to intestinal dysmotility, which may be associated with iNOS activation in the intestine. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]