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Hypertrophic scar (HS) formation is a cutaneous fibroproliferative disease that occurs after skin injuries and results in severe functional and esthetic disability. To date, few drugs have shown satisfactory outcomes for the treatment of HS formation. Transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-β)/Notch interaction via small mothers against decapentaplegic 3 (Smad3) could facilitate HS formation; therefore, targeting TGF-β/ Notch interaction via Smad3 is a potential therapeutic strategy to attenuate HS formation. In addition, optic atrophy 1 (OPA1)-mediated mitochondrial fusion contributes to fibroblast proliferation, and TGF-β/Smad3 axis and the Notch1 pathway facilitate OPA1-mediated mitochondrial fusion. Thus, the aim of this study was to investigate whether drugs targeting TGF-β/Notch interaction via Smad3 suppressed fibroblast proliferation to attenuate HS formation through OPA1-mediated mitochondrial fusion. We found that the TGF-β pathway, Notch pathway, and TGF-β/Notch interaction via Smad3 were inhibited by pirfenidone, the gamma- secretase inhibitor DAPT, and SIS3 in human keloid fibroblasts (HKF) and an HS rat model, respectively. Protein interaction was detected by co-immunoprecipitation, and mitochondrial morphology was determined by electron microscopy. Our results indicated that pirfenidone, DAPT, and SIS3 suppressed the proliferation of HKFs and attenuated HS formation in the HS rat model by inhibiting TGF-β/Notch interaction via Smad3. Moreover, pirfenidone, DAPT, and SIS3 hindered OPA1-mediated mitochondrial fusion through inhibiting TGF-β/Notch interaction, thereby suppressing the proliferation of HS fibroblasts and HS formation. In summary, these findings investigating the effects of drugs targeting TGF-β/Notch interaction on HS formation might lead to novel drugs for the treatment of HS formation., (© 2023. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Science+Business Media, LLC, part of Springer Nature.)

The utilization of agricultural by-products for the synthesis of hybrid nanomaterials represents an environmentally sustainable approach. This research aims to comprehensively investigate high-performance silver and copper nanoparticles hybrid materials based on carboxymethyl-modified cellulose / lignin derived from rice husks (CMC / CML-AgNPs and CMC / CML-CuONPs) and apply them for antimicrobial activities. CMC / CML was used to reduce Ag / Cu cations to the atomic level and then efficiently stabilize Ag / CuO nanoparticles, an eco-friendly method and sustainable development. The hybrid nanomaterials were successfully synthesized with spherical shapes and particle sizes ranging from 4 to 16 nm. The diffraction peaks at 38.46°, 46.57°, 64.93°, and 77.55° were ascribed to the face-centered cubic crystal lattice (111), (200), (220), and (311) of silver nanoparticles in the CMC / CML-AgNPs. The peaks were 32.26°, 46.06°, 52.16°, 61.71°, 63.80°, and 71.23° associating with the (110,20-2), (112), (11-3), (310), and (221) plane orientations of CuO nanoparticles. The proposed materials demonstrated highly efficient antimicrobial performances. Particularly, CMC-AgNPs and CML-CuONPs exhibited an inhibitory capability of up to 100 % against E. coli and S. aureus within 72 h. Simultaneously, the antifungal results showed that hybrid nanomaterials have a better ability to inhibit the A. niger than A. flavus fungus. When experimenting on peanut seeds, hybrid nanomaterials showed an inhibitory capability of up to 99.0 % against A. niger. IC 50 values of the hybrid nanomaterials range from 0.872 mg/mL to 1.188 mg/mL, confirming that these materials are non-cytotoxic. These materials exhibit significant stability and enduring antimicrobial efficacy, making them ideal for sustainable development of various antibacterial and antifungal blocks for the near future., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Most Pb/Zn smelter contaminated sites in China are often encountered natural phenomenon known as freeze-thaw (F-T) cycles and acid rain. However, the coupled effects of F-T cycles and acidification on the release behavior of potentially toxic elements (PTEs) from soils remains unclear. A mechanistic study on PTEs release from soils was conducted by revealing the physicochemical weathering characteristics of minerals under F-T cycles combined with acidification. The results from F-T test indicated that among F-T parameters, F-T frequency were the more important factors influencing PTEs release, with the corresponding contribution ranges of 21.20-94.40 %. As pH decreased, the leaching concentrations of As, Cd, Cu, Mn, Pb and Zn did not increase under the same F-T frequency. As F-T frequency increased, the leaching concentrations of these studied PTEs also did not increase under the same pH condition. Microstructure characteristics revealed that the soils were a complex system with multi-mineral aggregates, which had experienced complex physicochemical weathering after F-T combined with acidification treatment. Combined with geochemical modeling results, PTEs release was found to be mainly influenced by the microstructure damage and proton corrosion of minerals, while little affected by their precipitation and dissolution. The mutual coupling relationships of mineral weathering and PTEs release were conducive to the better understanding of the migration behavior of PTEs in contaminated sites under complex environment scenarios. The present study results would provide theoretical instruction and technical support for the longevity evaluation of multi-metal stabilization remediation., Competing Interests: Declaration of Competing Interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Background: Psoriasis is a chronic inflammatory disease that causes significant disability. However, little is known about the underlying metabolic mechanisms of psoriasis. Our study aims to investigate the causality of 975 blood metabolites with the risk of psoriasis., Materials and Methods: We mainly applied genetic analysis to explore the possible associations between 975 blood metabolites and psoriasis. The inverse variance weighted (IVW) method was used as the primary analysis to assess the possible association of blood metabolites with psoriasis. Moreover, generalized summary-data-based Mendelian randomization (GSMR) was used as a supplementary analysis. In addition, linkage disequilibrium score regression (LDSC) was used to investigate their genetic correction further. Metabolic pathway analysis of the most suggested metabolites was also performed using MetaboAnalyst 5.0., Results: In our primary analysis, 17 metabolites, including unsaturated fatty acids, phospholipids, and triglycerides traits, were selected as potential factors in psoriasis, with odd ratios (OR) ranging from 0.986 to 1.01. The GSMR method confirmed the above results (β = 0.001, p < 0.05). LDSC analysis mainly suggested the genetic correlation of psoriasis with genetic correlations (rg) from 0.088 to 0.155. Based on the selected metabolites, metabolic pathway analysis suggested seven metabolic pathways including ketone body that may be prominent pathways for metabolites in psoriasis., Conclusion: Our study supports the causal role of unsaturated fatty acid properties and lipid traits with psoriasis. These properties may be regulated by the ketone body metabolic pathway., (© 2024 The Author(s). Skin Research and Technology published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.)

The transformation of solid wastes from industrial production into effective adsorbents could significantly contribute to wastewater treatment. In this study, after acidizing and burning soft scale (SS) from coal gasification system, two magnetic adsorbents (mag-ASS and mag-BASS) were prepared via the combination of magnetite with ultrasonic, respectively. The treatment effects of mag-ASS and mag-BASS were then investigated for simulated wastewater containing macromolecular organic matter [i.e., methylene blue (MB)] and Ca 2+ . The results indicated that the pseudo second order kinetic, Elovich, Freundlich, Langmuir and Temkin model could well describe the adsorption behavior of MB and Ca 2+ onto mag-ASS and mag-BASS. The maximum adsorption capacities of mag-ASS for MB and mag-BASS for Ca 2+ were 600.53 mg/g and 102.54 mg/g, respectively. Surprisingly, the adsorption abilities of mag-ASS for MB and mag-BASS for Ca 2+ show significantly higher than the others. The adsorption mechanisms of MB mainly included electrostatic interaction, π-π conjugate interaction and cation exchange, while those of Ca 2+ were mainly electrostatic interaction and cation exchange. The diffusion of MB and Ca 2+ onto the magnetic adsorbents might be controlled by the combined effects of intraparticle and liquid film diffusion. There was no significant reduction in adsorption capacity after 8 cycles of adsorption and desorption, indicating that SS-based magnetic adsorbents had good recyclability and stability. Moreover, the removal efficiency of mag-BASS for total hardness and total organic carbon in real coal gasification gray water (CGGW) was 82.60 and 64.10%, respectively. The treatment of CGGW and the resource of wastes would significantly promote the reasonable disposal of coal gasification scales., (© 2024. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer-Verlag GmbH Germany, part of Springer Nature.)

Lightweight biobased insulation polyurethane (BPU) composite foams with high fire-resistance efficiency are interested in building effective energy and low environmental impact today. This study focuses on manufacturing lightweight BPU from liquefied bamboo polyols and biomass resources, including rice husk and wood flour. Then, they are combined with three flame retardant (FR) additives, such as aluminum diethyl phosphinate, aluminum trihydroxide, and diammonium phosphate, to improve their fire resistance performance. The physicochemical properties, microstructure, thermal stability, mechanical properties, and flame-retardant properties of the BPU composites are characterized to optimize their compromise properties. The results showed that composites with optimized FRs achieved UL94 V-0 and those with nonoptimized FRs reached UL94 HB. The limiting oxygen index exhibited that the fire resistance of BPU composites could increase up to 21-37% within FR additives. In addition, the thermal stability of BPU composites was significantly improved in a temperature range of 300-700 °C and the compressive strength of the BPU composites was also enhanced with the presence of FRs. The scanning electron microscopy observation showed an influence of FRs on the morphology and cell size of the BPU composites. The bio-PU-derived samples in this study showed significantly low thermal conductivity values, demonstrating their remarkable thermal insulation effectiveness., Competing Interests: The authors declare no competing financial interest., (© 2024 The Authors. Published by American Chemical Society.)

The re-mobilization risks of potentially toxic elements (PTEs) during stabilization deserve to be considered. In this study, artificial simulation evaluation methods based on the environmental stress of freeze-thaw (F-T), acidification and variable pH were conducted to assess the long-term effectiveness of PTEs stabilized by MgO in Pb/Zn smelter contaminated soils. Among common stabilizing materials, MgO was considered as the best remediation material, since PTEs bioavailability reduced by 55.48% for As, 19.58% for Cd, 10.57% for Cu, and 26.33% for Mn, respectively. The stabilization effects of PTEs by MgO were best at the dosage of 5 wt%, but these studied PTEs would re-mobilize after 30 times F-T cycles. Acid and base buffering capacity results indicated that the basicity of contaminated soils with MgO treatment reduced under F-T action, and the leached PTEs concentrations would exceed the safety limits of surface water quality standard in China (GB3838-2002) after acidification of 2325 years. No significant changes were found in the pH-dependent patterns of PTEs before and after F-T cycles. However, after F-T cycles, the leaching concentrations of PTEs increased due to the destruction of soil microstructure and the functionality of hydration products formed by MgO, as indicated by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) coupled with energydispersive Xray spectroscopy (EDS) results. Hence, these findings would provide beneficial references for soil remediation assessments of contaminated soils under multi-environmental stress., (© 2024. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer-Verlag GmbH Germany, part of Springer Nature.)

Urinary tract infection has long been considered a complication rather than etiology of calcium oxalate (CaOx) nephrolithiasis. This study aimed to explore the role of lipopolysaccharide (LPS), an important component of Gram-negative bacteria, on CaOx nephrolithiasis formation and antagonistic effect of melatonin. Male C57BL/6 mice were intraperitoneally injected with glyoxylate acid (80 mg/kg) daily for 7 days to construct CaOx nephrolithiasis model. A single dose of LPS (2.0 mg/kg) was given 2 h before the second glyoxylate acid treatment in the presence or absence of melatonin (25 mg/kg). Our results found that LPS promoted adhesion of CaOx crystals to renal tubular epithelial cells (RTECs) and intrarenal CaOx crystals deposition. Protein levels of cleaved Caspase-11, N-terminal of cleaved GSDMD (GSDMD-N), NOD-like receptor thermal protein domain associated protein 3 (NLRP3) and cleaved Caspase-1, several markers of non-classical inflammasome activation were upregulated in LPS-treated mouse kidneys and HK-2 cells. Moreover, the number of GSDMD pores was increased in LPS-treated HK-2 cell membrane. Melatonin inhibited Caspase-11 cleavage and antagonized the subsequent LPS-mediated upregulation of GSDMD-N, NLRP3 and cleaved Caspase-1 in kidney tissues and HK-2 cells. In addition, melatonin reduced membrane localization of GSDMD-N and the number of GSDMD pores in LPS-treated HK-2 cells. Accordingly, melatonin inhibited LPS-induced IL-1β and IL-18 in mouse serum and HK-2 culture supernatant. Importantly, melatonin alleviated LPS-induced crystal-cell interactions and intrarenal CaOx crystals deposition. We provide experimental evidence that LPS promoted CaOx nephrolithiasis formation by inducing non-canonical inflammasome-mediated RTECs pyroptosis. Melatonin alleviated CaOx nephrolithiasis formation through inhibiting LPS-induced non-canonical inflammasome-mediated RTECs pyroptosis., Competing Interests: Declaration of Competing Interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2023. Published by Elsevier B.V.)

Chromium (Cr) is a highly toxic element, which is widely present in environment due to industrial activities. One of most applicable technique to clean up Cr pollution is chemical reduction. However, the Cr(VI) concentration in soil increases again after remediation, and meanwhile the yellow soil would appear, which is commonly called as "yellowing" phenomenon. To date, the reason behind the phenomenon has been disputed for decades. This study aimed to introduce the possible "yellowing" mechanism and the influencing factors based on the extensive literature review. In this work, the concept of "yellowing" phenomenon was explained, and the most potential reasons include the reoxidation of manganese (Mn) oxides and mass transfer were summarized. Based on the reported finding and results, the large area of "yellowing" is likely to be caused by the re-migration of Cr(VI), since it could not sufficiently contact with the reductant under the effects of the mass transfer. In addition, other driving factors also control the occurrence of "yellowing" phenomenon. This review provides valuable reference for the academic peers participating in the Cr-contaminated sites remediation., Competing Interests: Declaration of Competing Interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2023 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Gene knockout is a technique routinely used in basic experimental research, particularly in mouse skeletal and developmental studies. Tamoxifen-induced Cre/loxp system is known for its temporal and spatial precision and commonly utilized by researchers. However, tamoxifen has been shown its side effects on affecting the phenotype of mouse bone directly. This review aimed to optimize tamoxifen administration regimens including its dosage and duration, to identify an optimal induction strategy that minimizes potential side effects while maintaining recombination efficacy. This study will help researchers in designing gene knockout experiments in bone when using tamoxifen., Competing Interests: Declaration of Competing Interest The authors declare that there are no conflicts of interests., (Copyright © 2023. Published by Elsevier Masson SAS.)

Lactic acid bacteria (LAB) have exhibited strain/species specificity for different food matrices. We investigated the impact of LAB fermentation on the flavor, chemical profile, and bioactivity of goji juice. The colony counts of five selected strains reached above 8.5 log CFU/mL. The fermentation increased the organic acids, decreased the sugars, and improved the sensory quality of goji juice. The majority of the strains had increased acetic acid, heptanoic acid, ethyl phenylacetate, and linalool levels. Specific strains suppressed α-glucosidase and pancreatic lipase activities and increased the antioxidant activities of fermented goji juice. Based on non-targeted metabolomics and activities, 23 important differential metabolites were screened among 453 metabolites. The quantification results showed that isoquercitrin and m-coumaric content varied among strains, reflecting the strain specificity in flavone and flavonol biosynthesis and phenylalanine, tyrosine, and tryptophan biosynthesis. These findings will provide useful information for fermented goji juice biochemistry research., Competing Interests: Declaration of Competing Interest The authors declare the following financial interests/personal relationships which may be considered as potential competing interests: Authors Fang-Zhou Wang and Ran Lu are employed by the company Ningxia Red Power Goji Co., ltd. The remaining authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2022. Published by Elsevier Ltd.)

Objective: To explore the potential application value of animal model training in improving the comprehensive clinical ability of postgraduate students of dentistry and to provide reference for new methods of preclinical skills teaching., Methods: A total of 40 postgraduate students of dentistry were assigned to two groups, an experimental group and a control group. The control group took the routine teaching course on root canal treatment for the right mandibular first molar, using a simulated model of human head. The experimental group also took a teaching course on root canal therapy for the right mandibular first molar, but an animal model was used for the group. After the course was completed, the instructor conducted comprehensive evaluation of the students' psychological quality, patient communication skills, diagnosis and treatment logic, speed of performing procedures, and treatment plan design. A questionnaire survey was conducted to examine the students' attitudes toward and evaluation of animal model training., Results: The scores for psychological quality (0.430±0.024 vs. 0.115±0.036), patient communication skills (0.878±0.065 vs. 0.115±0.036), diagnosis and treatment logic (0.630±0.066 vs. 0.372±0.033), speed of performing procedures (0.8975±0.019 vs. 0.055±0.080), and treatment plan design (0.539±0.036 vs. 0.396±0.017) of the experimental group were significantly higher than those of the control group ( P <0.0001). The total score of the experimental group (3.374±0.184) was significantly higher than that of the control group (1.053±0.082) and the difference was statistically significant ( P <0.001). 95% of the students in the control group and 100% of those in the experimental group were willing to participate in animal model training to improve their level of diagnosis and treatment skills for dental and endodontic diseases, showing no statistically significant difference ( χ 2 =1.026, P =0.3112). In the experimental group, 30% of the students believed that their psychological qualities had been improved, 50% believed that their procedure skills had been improved, and 20% believed that animal model training had expanded the scope of their theoretical knowledge., Conclusion: Adding animal model training can improve dentistry graduate students' comprehensive abilities, including their psychological quality, patient communication skills, diagnosis and treatment logic, speed of performing procedures, and treatment plan design. In addition, it helps students familiarize themselves in advance with animal experimental operations for basic research, thus helping them acquire dual professional skills., (Copyright© by Editorial Board of Journal of Sichuan University (Medical Sciences).)

Background: Platelet lysate (PL), a novel platelet derivative, has been widely used in regenerative medicine and is a potential therapy for improving hair growth. It is necessary to fully clarify the potential mechanism and evaluate preliminary clinical effect of PL on hair growth., Methods: We used the C57BL/6 model, organ-cultured hair follicles, and RNA-seq analysis to explore the mechanisms of PL regulating hair growth. Then, we performed a randomized, controlled, double-blind study of 107 AGA patients to verify the therapeutic efficacy of PL., Results: The results confirmed that PL improved hair growth and accelerated hair cycling in mice. Organ-cultured hair follicle evaluation confirmed that PL prolonged anagen remarkably and down-regulated IL-6, C-FOS, and p-STAT5a. Clinically, diameter, hair counts, absolute anagen counts and changes from baseline in the PL group showed a significant improvement at 6 months., Conclusions: We elucidated the specific molecular mechanism of PL action on hair growth and proved equal changes in hair follicle performance after PL vs PRP in AGA patients. This study provided novel knowledge of PL, making it ideal for AGA., Competing Interests: Declaration of Interest All authors disclosed no relevant relationships., (Copyright © 2023 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Masson SAS.. All rights reserved.)

As one of the earliest and most visible phenomenon of aging, gray hair makes it a unique model system for investigating the mechanism of aging. Ionizing radiation successfully induces gray hair in mice, and also provides a venue to establish an organ-cultured human gray hair model. To establish a suitable organ-cultured human gray HF model by IR, which imitates gray hair in the elderly, and to explore the mechanisms behind the model. By detecting growth parameters, melanotic and senescence markers of the model, we found that the model of 5 Gy accords best with features of elderly gray hair. Then, we investigated the formation mechanisms of the model by RNA-sequencing. We demonstrated that the model of organ-cultured gray HFs after 5 Gy irradiation is closest to the older gray HFs. Moreover, the 5 Gy inhibited the expression of TRP-1, Tyr, Pmel17, and MITF in hair bulbs/ORS of HFs. The 5 Gy also significantly induced ectopically pigmented melanocytes and increased the expression of DNA damage and senescence in HFs. Finally, RNA-seq analysis of the model suggested that IR resulted in cell DNA damage, and the accumulation of oxidative stress in the keratinocytes. Oxidative stress and DNA damage caused cell dysfunction and decreased melanin synthesis in the gray HFs. We found that HFs irradiated at 5 Gy successfully constructed an appropriate aging HF model. This may provide a useful model for cost-effective and predictable treatment strategies to human hair graying and the process of aging., (© 2022. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to American Aging Association.)

Antibacterial materials have been developed for a long time but bacteria adapt very quickly and become resistant to these materials. This study focuses on the synthesis of a hybrid material system from lignin and silver/silica nanoparticles (Lig@Ag/SiO 2 NPs) which were used against bacteria including Escherichia coli (E. coli) and Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) and inhibited the growth of the fungal Aspergillus flavus (A. flavus). The results showed that the spherical diameter of Lig@Ag/SiO 2 NPs has narrow Gaussian distribution with a range from 15 nm to 40 nm in diameter. Moreover, there was no growth of E. coli in samples containing Lig@Ag/SiO 2 NPs during 72-h incubation while colonies of S. aureus were only observed at high concentrations (10 6  CFU/mL) although both species of bacteria were able to thrive even at low bacterial concentration when they were exposed to Ag/SiO 2 or lignin. For fungal resistance results, Lig@Ag/SiO 2 NPs not only reduced mycelial growth but also inhibited sporulation in A. flavus, leading to decreasing the spreading of spores into the environment. This result represents a highly effective fungal growth inhibition of Lig@Ag/SiO 2 NPs compared to lignin or Ag/SiO 2 , which could not inhibit the growth of sporulation., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2023 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

To prevent the scale formation in the equipments and pipelines after pre-treated coal gasification gray water (CGGW) entering the reuse system and reduce the influence of various pollutants in the effluent on subsequent biochemical treatment, this study presented a coupled use of pulse electrocoagulation (PEC) and chemical precipitation (CP) coupling method for the pretreatment of coal gasification gray water (CGGW). In addition, the operation parameters of PEC and the reaction conditions of PEC-CP were optimized based on iron plate as electrode and total hardness, turbidity and sludge yield as assessment indicators. Due to the formation of multi-hydroxyl iron by several minutes of pulse current, and the addition of pH regulator and coagulant aid, the efficient removal of various ions, hardness and turbidity was significantly reduced via various mechanism such as redox, precipitation, adsorption and coagulation reaction. The result indicated that under the optimal operation conditions, the total hardness, turbidity, and Fe n+ of PEC-CP effluents were 275.0 mg/L, 3.0 NTU and 5.6 mg/L, respectively and sludge amount was 0.88 kg/m 3 . The removal rates of Si, B, Mn, Ba, COD, NPOC and NH 4 + -N by PEC-CP reached 80.0%, 75.4%, 97.0%, 99.8%, 35.0%, 33.6% and 23.8%, respectively. The present results suggested that the CGGW pretreatment effluents could be not only reused directly, but also greatly alleviate the scaling problem of water pipeline and coal gasification production facilities., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2022 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

In the context of novel environmental and energy regulations in construction (RE2020), biocomposites derived from bamboo fibers, bamboo powders, and biodegradable poly(lactic)acid polymer, all of which are renewable resources, have been investigated to meet the criteria of the novel regulations. In this work, the biocomposites were manufactured by twin-screw internal mixing at 170 °C for 5 min with a rotation speed of 60 rpm. The composites sheets were then shaped on a hydraulic press at 185 °C. Pore characterization including pore volume fraction, 3D-pore structure and morphology, and pore distribution of these materials were investigated using X-ray tomography combined with image processing (Avizo). The results show that when the bamboo fibers content is increased, an augmentation in the pore volume fraction and the number of large-volume pores could be observed. In turn, the bamboo powder-containing sheet had a significant increase in pore volume fraction, while a higher quantity of smaller pores, with uniform size, could be observed. The water absorption capacity of these composite increases with the increase of the amount of pore distribution, pore connection, and pore volume fraction. In addition, the orientation of the fibers in 3D observation, flexural mechanical properties, and thermal stability of the biocomposites are also reported in this study., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2022 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

How to control non-point source pollution caused by leaching of soil nitrate and phosphate from agricultural land is currently an extremely important global environmental problem facing human society. Biochar, a carbon-rich material produced from various organic feedstocks using thermochemical technologies, has attracted much attention because of its great potential in soil improvement. Many studies have been carried out to investigate the effects of biochar application on the retention, utilization, and use efficiency of soil nutrients. Unfortunately, the results from individual experimental studies regarding the effects of biochar on soil nitrate leaching and phosphate retention differed greatly. Consequently, the underlying mechanisms related to reduction in nitrate and phosphate leaching/retention by biochar application, as well as the appropriate preparation conditions (or biochar type), remain unclear. In this study, the effects of biochar application on soil nitrate leaching and phosphate retention were systematically examined using the method of Meta-analysis (MA); based on these results, the inhibition mechanisms for nitrate leaching and enhancement mechanisms for phosphate retention were also explored. In total, 149 paired datasets from 41 articles and 180 paired datasets from 36 articles were collected for nitrate and phosphate, respectively. The MA results demonstrated that, regardless biochar and soil properties, biochar application could significantly reduce soil nitrate leaching by 37.1% and increase soil phosphate retention by 20.8%. Furthermore, the C/N ratio of biochar, heating treatment temperature, and biochar application amount indicated a significant effect on the response of soil nitrate leaching to biochar application. The specific surface area of biochar, heating treatment temperature, and soil organic carbon content had a significant effect on the response of soil phosphate retention to biochar application. Based on the results from MA, the potential mechanisms of soil nitrite leaching reduction and phosphate retention enhancement were further explored from different perspectives. Lastly, the biochars prepared from straw or wood materials and pyrolyzed at a medium temperature (400-600℃) or high temperature (>600℃) were recommended for reducing soil nitrate leaching and improving soil phosphate retention, respectively. In sum, the results presented in this study can provide a scientifically theoretical basis for the practical application of biochar in the control of soil non-point source pollution of nitrate and phosphate.

Background: Local tumescent anesthesia relieves postoperative pain., Objective: The objective of the study was to compare the effect of injecting a tumescent solution with/without ropivacaine on postoperative pain., Methods: A randomized, double-blind control study was conducted in 314 patients who underwent first follicular unit excision after obtaining informed consent and ethics committee approval. The patients were randomly divided into three groups: intra-groups (group 1, injected with tumescent solution with ropivacaine; group 2, without ropivacaine) and inter-group (group 3, right-head/left-head side with/without ropivacaine). Postoperative pain was recorded using the 5-point Wong-Baker Faces Pain Scale. No preoperative analgesic was administered to any patient. The survival rate of hair follicles was measured using dermoscopy during follow-up. Data were statistically analyzed., Results: Of the 314 patients included in the study, 166 were men and 148 were women with a mean age of 32.15 ± 4.58 (range, 25-45) years. Postoperative pain with ropivacaine was significantly more relieved compared with that without ropivacaine in both groups (p < 0.05). There was no significant difference between sex and survival rate of hair follicles in the intra- or inter-group., Conclusion: A tumescent solution with ropivacaine has proven to relieve postoperative pain and is a safe and valuable form of local anesthesia in follicular unit excision., (© 2022 Wiley Periodicals LLC.)

Finding and developing safe and effective tyrosinase (TYR) regulators is of great significance for the prevention and treatment of melanin-related skin diseases in the medical and cosmetic industries. In the current research, an approach based on offline two-dimensional liquid chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry (offline 2D LC-MS) was established to screen TYR modulators from Vernonia anthelmintica (L.) Willd. (VA) extract. Firstly, the reliability of the proposed method was evaluated by using kojic acid (inhibitor), psoralen (activator) and ranitidine as positive and negative control, respectively. Some significant parameters including incubation time, TYR concentrations, and reaction temperature were investigated. Then, the developed new method was successfully applied to rapidly discover the active compounds from VA extract. Seven TYR ligands were successfully screened by comparing the chromatographic profiles of VA extract incubated with active and denatured TYR, respectively. To verify the activity of the screened compounds, in vitro bioassay was carried out and the result showed two of them, isorhamnetin and luteolin, had good TYR inhibitory activity with IC 50 value of 0.86 and 1.00 mg/mL, respectively, while the other five compounds including eriodictyol, butochalcone, chlorogenic acid, isochlorogenic acid B, and isochlorogenic acid C showed strong activation against TYR. Furthermore, molecular docking displayed that these compounds could bind to the amino acid residues in TYR catalytic pocket. The results demonstrate that the established technique can be efficiently used for rapid screening of TYR-active compounds from plant extracts., (Copyright © 2022 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Since lager quantities of the zinc (Zn) smelting slags were traditionally dumped at the indigenous Zn smelting sites, the release characterization of potentially toxic elements (PTEs) from the Zn smelting slags under various environmental conditions were of great significance for an environmental risk analysis. The acidification of the Zn smelting slags to pH= 4 and 6 would result in the leaching concentrations of Cd and Mn exceeding the fourth-class standard of surface water quality standard in China (GB3838-2002). Notably, most metals exhibited an amphoteric leaching pattern, where the highest leached concentrations of As, Cd, Cu, Mn, Pb, and Zn were 4.15, 4.21, 140.0, 78.1, 156.9 and 477.0 mg/L, respectively. In addition, the highest release of toxic metals within 96 h reached 0.17 % of As, 3.50 % of Cd, 2.77 % of Cu, 6.92 % of Mn, 0.13 % of Pb, and 2.57 % of Zn, respectively. The combined results of various characterization techniques suggested that the PTEs remobilization effected by rhizosphere-like organic acids were mainly controlled by the precipitation of newly formed Fe, Mn and Al (hydr) oxides and the complexation of organic ligands. The present study results could provide valuable insights into the long-term leaching behaviors of PTEs from the Zn smelting slags to reduce ecological hazard., (Copyright © 2022 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Mineralogy was an important driver for the environmental release of heavy metals. Therefore, the present work was conducted by coupling mineral liberation analyzer (MLA) with complementary geochemical tests to evaluate the geochemical behaviors and their potential environmental risks of heavy metals in the smelter contaminated soil. MLA analysis showed that the soil contained 34.0% of quartz, 17.15% of biotite, 1.36% of metal sulfides, 19.48% of metal oxides, and 0.04% of gypsum. Moreover, As, Pb, and Zn were primarily hosted by arsenopyrite (29.29%), galena (88.41%), and limonite (24.15%), respectively. The integrated geochemical results indicated that among the studied metals, Cd, Cu, Mn, Pb, and Zn were found to be more bioavailable, bioaccessible, and mobile. Based on the combined mineralogical and geochemical results, the environmental release of smelter-driven elements such as Cd, Cu, Mn, Pb, and Zn were mainly controlled by the acidic dissolution of minerals with neutralizing potential, the reductive dissolution of Fe/Mn oxides, and the partial oxidation of metal sulfide minerals. The present study results have confirmed the great importance of mineralogy analysis and geochemical approaches to explain the contribution of smelting activities to soil pollution risks., (© 2022. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer-Verlag GmbH Germany, part of Springer Nature.)

Bone remodeling, which is well orchestrated by osteogenesis of osteoblasts and osteoclastogenesis of osteoclasts, maintains the homeostasis of osteal development and metabolism under physiological conditions. Bone morphogenetic protein receptor type 1A, also known as activin receptor-like kinase 3 (ALK3), which exists on cytomembrane, is one of the key receptors of BMP factors, and is an important "gateway" that regulates the entrance of BMP signaling into cells in order to perform biological functions. The roles of BMP signaling in bone remodeling have been extensively studied. Many new discoveries have been reported in recent years through research based on transgenic mice models and focused on ALK3 as targets, shedding new light on the regulations of bone remodeling, cartilage and joint development, and the occurrence and treatment of bone-related diseases. Established understanding has been expanded, but new challenges on existing clinical application of BMPs also appeared. Hence, we reviewed recent studies on ALK3's involvement in bone formation and bone resorption, analyzed its mechanism of action in bone regulation, summarized the roles of ALK3 in the development of cartilage and temporomandibular joint, and reported the latest progress in treatment in preclinical studies, intending to provide references for subsequent studies and clinical applications in the future., (Copyright© by Editorial Board of Journal of Sichuan University (Medical Sciences).)

Antimony (Sb) pollution in soils is an important environmental problem, and it is imperative to investigate the migration and transformation behavior of Sb in soils. The adsorption behaviors and interaction mechanisms of Sb in soils were studied using integrated characterization techniques and the batch equilibrium method. The results indicated that the adsorption kinetics and isotherms of Sb onto soils were well fitted by the first-order kinetic, Langmuir, and Freundlich models, respectively, while the maximum adsorbed amounts of Sb (III) in soil 1 and soil 2 were 1314.46 mg/kg and 1359.25 mg/kg, respectively, and those of Sb (V) in soil 1 and soil 2 were 415.65 mg/kg and 535.97 mg/kg, respectively. In addition, pH ranging from 4 to 10 had little effect on the adsorption behavior of Sb. Moreover, it was found that Sb was mainly present in the residue fractions, indicating that Sb had high geochemical stability in soils. SEM analysis indicated that the distribution positions of Sb were highly coincident with Ca, which was mainly due to the existence of calcium oxides, such as calcium carbonate and calcium hydroxide, that affected Sb adsorption, and further resulted in Sb and Ca bearing co-precipitation. XPS analysis revealed the valence state transformation of Sb (III) and Sb (V), suggesting that Fe/Mn oxides and reactive oxygen species (ROS) served as oxidant or reductant to promote the occurrence of the Sb redox reaction. Sb was mobile and leachable in soils and posed a significant threat to surface soils, organisms, and groundwater. This work provides a fundamental understanding of Sb adsorption onto soils, as well as a theoretical guide for studies on the adsorption and migration behavior of Sb in soils.

Objective To assess the psychological status of staff at the centers for disease control and prevention(CDC) in Sichuan during the outbreak of coronavirus disease 2019(COVID-19) and explore the influencing factors. Methods The staff at Sichuan provincial,municipal,and county(district)-level CDC were selected by convenience sampling.Their basic information,work status,training status,work difficulties,and support from the work group were collected from the self-filled questionnaires online.The Generalized Anxiety Disorder Scale and the 9-question Patient Health Questionnaire were respectively employed to measure the anxiety and depression of the staff.The stepwise Logistic regression was carried out to analyze the influencing factors of anxiety and depression in CDC staff. Results Among the 653 staff,58.35% and 50.06% presented anxiety and depression,respectively.The regression results showed that age( OR =0.95,95% CI =0.92-0.97) and mental support from the work group( OR =0.61,95% CI =0.45-0.82) were the protective factors while physical fatigue( OR =1.82,95% CI =1.20-2.74),work pressure( OR =1.61,95% CI =1.21-2.12),and insufficient protective equipment( OR =1.92,95% CI =1.06-3.49) were the risk factors for depression of CDC staff.Age( OR =0.97,95% CI =0.94-0.99),length of sleep per day( OR =0.74,95% CI =0.56-0.96),and participation in technical training( OR =0.33,95% CI =0.12-0.95) were the protective factors while mental fatigue( OR =1.68,95% CI =1.18-2.41),work pressure( OR =2.94,95% CI =2.08-4.17),and unclear incentive system for overtime( OR =1.99,95% CI =1.23-3.23) were the risk factors for the anxiety of CDC staff. Conclusion The anxiety and depression status of CDC staff during the COVID-19 outbreak were worrying,which were mainly affected by age,sleep,supply of protective equipment,incentive system,fatigue,and work pressure.

Smelting slags is a well-known industrial solid waste, while there were limited studies on the key factors controlling the potential health risks caused by these smelting slags. In this work, the metal bioaccessibility in the size fractionated-zinc smelting slags was examined using various In vitro assays, in combination with multidisciplinary methods. The results indicated that the bioaccessible fractions of heavy metals showed a significant difference, but no statistical difference among different particle sizes of the zinc smelting slags. The bioaccessible metal fractions in the gastric (GP) and gastrointestinal (GIP) phases were 0 (Cr) - 91.39% (Cd)) and 0 (Cr) - 47.80% (Ni). Among the studied metals, Cd, Cu, Mn, Pb and Zn were the most bioaccessible to human. The Pearson correlation analysis showed that the carbonate bound phases of heavy metals were responsible for their bioaccessibility in GP and GIP. Moreover, the combined results of multidisciplinary characterization also further implied that the solubility behaviors of toxic elements in the smelting slags were dominated by soluble metal bearing- mineral phases and absorbable Fe, Mn and Al-rich minerals and metal bearing-precipitates during SBRC extractions. Therefore, these study results provide a insight into the potential controls of metal bioaccessibility in the zinc smelting slags, which was of great significance from the aspects of their resource recycling and risk management., (Copyright © 2021 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

This study comprehensively investigated the potential roles of soil mineralogy identified by the automated mineral liberation analysers (MLA) in the prediction of geochemical behavior of toxic metals in the smelter polluted soils. The results from modal mineralogy revealed that the non-reactive silicate phases such as quartz (42.05%) and biotite (40.43%) were the major mineralogical phases. The element deportment showed that fayalite, lead oxide, apatite, galena and wollastonite were identified as the dominant As, Cd, Pb and Zn bearing minerals. Furthermore, MLA analysis also confirmed that Pb was most concentrated in the smaller particles of lead oxide, which significantly enhanced Pb release in reaction with the chemical extractant during chemical kinetic tests. The results from pH-dependent leaching tests indicated that the leaching concentrations of As, Pb and Zn increased at low and high pH values, but were lowest at the neutral pH range. In addition, the results from the kinetic study demonstrated that the second order model provided the best description for the release patterns of the main metal contaminants in the bioavailability and bioaccessibility tests. The integrated geochemical analysis demonstrated that among these studied elements, As showed a typical geochemical pattern, which was predominantly controlled by 90.09% of fayalite. The above study results would have significant implications for soil remediation and risk management of smelter contaminated sites., (Copyright © 2021 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Imbibition of water and silicone oil in poplar and spruce is investigated at the anatomical level by X-ray tomography observations and at the macroscopic level by imbibition kinetics. Imbibition mechanisms depend on both liquid and species. In poplar, oil penetrates vessels with a small contact angle, consistent with the value measured on solid wood (ca. [Formula: see text]). Surprisingly, no direct penetration of water was observed in vessels. The large contact angle for water blocks the capillary rise at the scars between vessel cells. In spruce, oil and water penetrate primarily in latewood, where bordered pits remain open. Subsequently, water slowly invades the rest of the growth ring, while transversal migration is quasi-absent for oil. These 3D observations were quantified to feed a simple imbibition model that satisfactorily simulates macroscopic imbibition kinetics. A 1D approach is sufficient for oil imbibition while a 2D approach is required for water, revealing dual scale effects., (© 2022. The Author(s).)

Objective: To study the effect of co-culturing chondrocytes with osteoblasts on hypoxia-inducible factor (HIF)-1 pathway of chondrocytes and its mechanism., Methods: Chondrocytes and osteoblasts were separately extracted from the knee joint and skull of newborn mice by trypsin digestion. The co-culturing system of osteoblasts and chondrocytes was constructed by using Transwell inserts to culture the osteoblasts and 6-well plate to culture the chondrocytes. We used qRT-PCR to examine changes in the mRNA expression of HIFs and its target gene pyruvate dehydrogenase kinase 1 ( PDK 1) in chondrocytes co-cultured for 24 h. Western blot was used to analyze changes in the protein expression of HIFs and PDK1 and the changes in the activation of mitogen activated protein kinase (MAPK) signaling pathway after the cells were co-cultured for 48 h. Reactive oxygen species (ROS) staining was done to show the changes of ROS production in chondrocytes co-cultured for 48 h., Results: The results of qRT-PCR and Western blot showed upregulated levels of HIF-1α gene and protein expression ( P <0.05) in the chondrocytes after they were co-cultured with osteoblasts. The gene and protein expression levels of PDK 1 , the target gene of HIF-1, were also upregulated ( P <0.05). ROS staining showed that co-culturing of chondrocytes with osteoblasts decreased ROS production in chondrocytes. Western blot revealed that extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) 1/2 and p38 signaling of co-cultured chondrocytes were enhanced ( P <0.05)., Conclusion: Co-culturing with osteoblasts enhanced the ERK1/2 and p38 signaling of chondrocytes and upregulated the HIF-1 pathway of chondrocytes., (Copyright© by Editorial Board of Journal of Sichuan University (Medical Sciences).)

The proper development and the homeostasis maintenance of bones are important prerequisites for the normal functioning of the human body. Bone developmental deformities or homeostasis disorders, such as Kashin-Beck disease, craniosynostosis, cleft palate and osteoarthritis, severely affect the life of patients, causing significant stress to the family and the society. Fibroblast growth factor 8 (FGF8) plays multiple functions through the course of the life of organisms. Abnormal expression of FGF8 may cause disorders of bone homeostasis and developmental abnormalities of bones. More and more studies have found that FGF8 may play an important role in bone development and may become a potential therapeutic target. Herein, we reviewed the role of FGF8 in a variety of skeletal abnormalities, intending to provide new perspectives for the prevention and treatment of related diseases in the future., (Copyright© by Editorial Board of Journal of Sichuan University (Medical Sciences).)

Since the beginning of this century, three types of coronavirus have widely transmitted and caused severe diseases and deaths, which strongly indicates that severe infectious diseases caused by coronavirus infection are not accidental events. Coronavirus-infected diseases are mainly manifested by respiratory symptoms, with multiple organ dysfunctions. Precisely investigating the pathological process, characteristics and pathogenesis of coronavirus-infected diseases will be beneficial for us to understand clinical manifestations and provide targeted suggestions on prophylaxis and treatment. This paper briefly reviews the pathological findings of three known coronavirus-infected diseases, and attempts to construct the pathological spectrum of coronavirus-infected diseases, aiming to provide reference and thinking for autopsy, histopathological examination and animal infection model study of coronavirus-infected diseases.

The characteristics of aerogel materials such as the low density and large surface area enable them to adsorb large amounts of substances, so they show great potential for application in industrial wastewater treatment. Herein, using a combination of completely environmentally friendly materials such as cellulose nanofibers (CNFs) extracted from the petioles of the nipa palm tree and graphene oxide (GO) fabricated by simple solvent evaporation, a composite aerogel was prepared by a freeze-drying method. The obtained aerogel possessed a light density of 0.0264 g/cm 3 and a porosity of more than 98.2%. It was able to withstand a weight as much as 2500 times with the maximum force (1479.5 N) to break up 0.2 g of an aerogel by compression strength testing and was stable in the aquatic environment, enabling it to be reused five times with an adsorption capacity over 90%. The CNF/GO aerogel can recover higher than 85% after 30 consecutive compression recovery cycles, which is convenient for the reusability of this material in wastewater treatments. The obtained aerogel also showed a good interaction between the component phases, a high thermal stability, a 3D network structure combined with thin walls and pores with a large specific surface area. In addition, the aerogel also exhibited a fast adsorption rate for methylene blue (MB) adsorption, a type of waste from the textile industry that pollutes water sources, and it can adsorb more than 99% MB in water in less than 20 min. The excellent adsorption of MB onto the CNF/GO aerogel was driven by electrostatic interactions, which agreed with the pseudo-second-order kinetic model with a correlation coefficient R 2 = 0.9978. The initial results show that the CNF/GO aerogel is a highly durable "green" light material that might be applied in the treatment of domestic organic waste water and is completely recoverable and reusable., Competing Interests: The authors declare no competing financial interest., (© 2021 The Authors. Published by American Chemical Society.)

Rice husk is one of the most abundant biomass resources in the world, yet it is not effectively used. This study focuses on the sustainably rice-husk-extracted lignin, nano-lignin (n-Lignin), lignin-capped silver nanoparticles (LCSN), n-Lignin-capped silver nanoparticles (n-LCSN), and lignin-capped silica-silver nanoparticles (LCSSN), and using them for antibacterial activities. The final n-Lignin-based products had a sphere-like structure, of which the size varied between 50 and 80 nm. We found that while n-Lignin and lignin were less effective against Escherichia coli than against Staphylococcus aureus , n-Lignin/lignin-based hybrid materials, i.e., n-LCSN, LCSN, and LCSSN, were better against E. coli than against S. aureus . Interestingly, the antimicrobial behaviors of n-LCSNs could be further improved by decreasing the size of n-Lignin. Considering the facile, sustainable, and eco-friendly method that we have developed here, it is promising to use n-Lignin/lignin-based materials as highly efficient antimicrobials without environmental concerns.

Chondrocytes have a limited supply of glucose and oxygen for metabolism since articular cartilages are relatively avascular. We herein reviewed the characteristics of chondrocyte glucose metabolism and the new research progress in chondrocyte glucose metabolism in the osteoarthritis process. Current research has shown that chondrocytes obtain glucose from synovial fluids and subchondral bones, take in glucose via specific glucose transporters, and metabolize glucose mainly through glycolysis and mitochondrial respiration to produce adenosine triphosphate (ATP). Glucose metabolism in chondrocytes is distinctive because it relies much more on glycolysis rather than mitochondrial respiration for ATP production, and shows Warburg effect and Crabtree effect. In osteoarthritic chondrocytes, the glucose metabolism disorder is presented as further suppression of mitochondrial respiration, over-active or impaired glycolysis, and decreased total production of ATP. However, the significance of the glucose supply for chondrocytes from synovial fluids and subchondral bones remains undefined. There are still disputes in the understanding of the changes in glycolytic pathways in osteoarthritic chondrocytes. Therefore, future research is needed to explore the characteristics of glucose metabolism in normal and osteoarthritic chondrocytes in order to develop new diagnostic and therapeutic strategies for osteoarthritis., (Copyright© by Editorial Board of Journal of Sichuan University (Medical Sciences).)

The aim of this paper is to synthesize montmorillonite/TiO 2 -nanoparticles (MMT/TiO 2 and montmorillonite/TiO 2 -nanotubes (MMT/TiO 2-NTs ) photocatalysts through a simple wet agitation method based on TiO 2 nanoparticles and MMT. They are likely to accumulate the effect of adsorption and photodegradation. Then, the photocatalysts are applied to degrade the rhodamine B in dye effluents. The structural characterizations of photocatalysts are investigated using transmission electron microscopy (TEM), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX). The photocatalytic activities and effectiveness of photocatalysts are evaluated through rhodamine B degradation at different concentrations under dark and UV-C irradiation conditions. The results show that the synthesized TiO 2-NTs have an average tube diameter of 5 nm and a tube length at least about 110 nm, which are intercalated into MMT sheets in MMT/TiO 2-NTs photocatalyst. Meanwhile, TiO 2 nanoparticles are immobilized on the surface of MMT sheets in the MMT/TiO 2 photocatalyst. The photocatalytic effectiveness of rhodamine B degradation of TiO 2-NTs shows a significantly enhance compared to that of TiO 2 nanoparticles. However, photocatalytic performance of MMT/TiO 2-NTs is lower than that of MMT/TiO 2 . The degradation effectiveness of MMT/TiO 2 photocatalyst reaches to 100% for 3 ppm and 90% at 10 ppm of rhodamine B, while these values are 97.5% and 85.5%, respectively, recorded for MMT/TiO 2-NTs ., (Copyright © 2021 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Glioma is a kind of common malignant tumor in neurosurgery and has a high mortality and morbidity rate, which poses a serious threat to the health of people all over the world. Surgery is the preferred treatment for patients with glioma, radiotherapy or chemotherapy can be used after surgery. Although there are clear therapeutic protocols, the efficacy and safety of these protocols are clinically proven, a large number of patients are still dissatisfied with the treatment and the health of the patient remains unsatisfactory. Therefore, it is crucial to look for other treatments or complementary treatments. In the modern medical treatment, hyperbaric oxygen (HBO) therapy is widely used in various kinds of pathological state of adjuvant therapy, and existing studies confirm the efficacy of HBO therapy in combination with surgery, radiotherapy, chemotherapy, and photodynamic therapy. Studies have shown that HBO can inhibit the growth of tumor tissue as an adjunctive therapy. This provides novel insights into the clinical treatment of glioma patients. Although HBO is not licensed for use in cancer treatment, as a kind of adjuvant therapy, the treatment effect of HBO can be accepted by the patients and its cost lower, which could be regarded as an ideal safe treatment., Competing Interests: None

Cell injury is a necessary and critical event during CaOx kidney stone formation. Sirt1 exerts a number of pleiotropic effects, protecting against renal cell injury. This study aims to explore the relationship between Sirt1 and CaOx kidney stone formation and the underlying mechanism. Sirt1 expression in renal tissues or HK-2 cells was detected by Western blot, immunohistochemistry and immunofluorescence. Apoptosis in renal tissues was examined by TUNEL staining. Renal pathological changes and the crystals deposition were detected by hematoxylin-eosin and Von Kossa staining. Crystal-cell adhesion and cell injury in HK-2 cells were assessed by atomic absorption spectrometry and flow cytometry, respectively. Sirt1 expression in nephrolithiasis patients was downregulated and the level of apoptosis was increased. Further study found that Sirt1 expression was decreased in both in vivo and in vitro models. Interestingly, the levels of cell injury were elevated in vivo and in vitro models. Suppressing Sirt1 expression promoted COM-induced crystal-cell adhesion and exacerbated cell injury. In contrast, increasing the expression of Sirt1 by lentivirus transfection in vitro and resveratrol administration in vivo, alleviated crystal deposition and cell damage. Our findings suggest that Sirt1 could inhibit kidney stone formation, at least in part, through attenuating CaOx -induced cell injury., (Copyright © 2021 The Authors. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Despite recent studies have investigated the strong influences of smelting activities on heavy metal contamination in the soil environment, little studies have been conducted on the current information about the potential environmental risks posed by toxic heavy metals in smelting contaminated sites. In the present study, a combination of the bioavailability, speciation, and release kinetics of toxic heavy metals in the indigenous zinc smelting contaminated soil were reliably used as an effective tool to support site risk assessment. The bioavailability results revealed that the bioavailable metal concentrations were intrinsically dependent on the types of chemical extractants. Interestingly, 0.02 mol/L EDTA + 0.5 mol/L CH 3 COONH 4 was found to be the best extractant, which extracted 30.21% of Cu, 31.54% of Mn, 2.39% of Ni and 28.89% of Zn, respectively. The sequential extraction results suggested that Cd, Pb, and Zn were the most mobile elements, which would pose the potential risks to the environment. The correlation of metal bioavailability with their fractionation implied that the exchangeable metal fractions were easily extracted by CaCl 2 and Mehlich 1, while the carbonate and organic bound metal fractions could be extracted by EDTA and DTPA with stronger chelating ability. Moreover, the kinetic modeling results suggested that the chemical desorption mechanism might be the major factor controlling heavy metal release. These results could provide some valuable references for the risk assessment and management of heavy metals in the smelting contaminated sites.

Objective: To investigate the influence of Runt-related transcription factor 1 (RUNX1) on the proliferation, osteogenic differentiation and adipogenic differentiation of dental pulp stem cells (DPSC) in vitro ., Methods: DPSCs were transfected through lentiviral vector carrying the target gene RUNX1 and green fluorescent protein (GFP). After 48 h, transfection efficiency was determined with the fluorescent marking of GFP and Western blot. The effect of the overexpression of RUNX 1 on DPSC proliferation and colony formation was determined with CCK-8 and colony formation assay; cell cycle of DPSC was detected by flow cytometry. RUNX 1 siRNA was transfected into the DPSCs. After mineralized induction, the effect of RUNX 1 overexpression/silencing on the osteogenetic differentiation of DPSC was tested by alkaline phosphatase (ALP) staining and alizarin red staining. After adipogenic induction, oil red O staining was done in order to observe the effect of overexpression/silencing of RUNX 1 on the adipogenic differentiation of DPSC., Results: RUNX1 protein was overexpressed in DPSC after lentiviral transfection. Fluorescent test showed successful transfection of lentiviral transfection and over 70% of the cells showed stable expression of GFP protein. The proliferation and colony-formation efficiency of DPSC was enhanced significantly and the proportion of DPSCs in the S phase was significantly increased in the RUNX 1-overexpessed group ( P <0.05). ALP activity and mineralized nodule formation ability increased, while lipid droplets decreased in the RUNX 1-overexpessed group ( P <0.05). ALP activity and mineralized nodule formation ability decreased, while lipid droplets increased in the RUNX 1 knockdown group ( P <0.05) ., Conclusion: RUNX1 promotes DPSC proliferation and osteogenic differentiation while it inhibits DPSC adipogenic differentiation., (Copyright© by Editorial Board of Journal of Sichuan University (Medical Sciences).)

Objectives: Stretchers are commonly used for transporting cardiac arrest patients, but their use may be limited in confined spaces, like elevators. Use of transfer sheet as an alternative has not been explored. We aimed to compare manual chest compression quality between these two methods. Methods: In this prospective, open-label, randomized cross-over manikin study, the subjects included emergency medical technicians who were assigned to 12 three-person crews. Scenarios included transport of a cardiac arrest in a high-rise building and elevator using transfer sheet (TS) and stretchers adjusted to 45° (S45) and 90° (S90). Chest compression quality was measured using a recording manikin and that before (on-scene phase) and after (transport phase) the manikin moved via transfer sheet or stretcher were compared. Results: The final analysis included 72 simulation runs. Chest compression quality did not differ among the groups in the on-scene phase. In the transport phase, the transfer sheet group provided greater mean compression depth (54.4 ± 4.2 vs 39.6 ± 7.2 mm, p < 0.01 and 54.4 ± 4.2 vs 40.6 ± 8.3 mm, p < 0.01, respectively) than stretchers of S45 and S90, and higher percentage of deep-enough compression (TS: 51.0 [23.8-74.8]% vs S45: 19.5 [5.8-29.5]%, p < 0.01) than the S45 group. Transfer sheet use showed a trend of lower percentages of full recoil (TS: 40.0 [12.8-64.5]% vs S45: 70.5 [47.0-79.8]% vs S90: 52.5 [25.3-76.0]%, p = 0.09). Chest compression fraction, compressions with correct hand position, and mean compression rates did not differ between groups in the transport phase. The TS group showed shorter time intervals of simulation start-to-first-compression (TS: 13.9 [12.4-15.1] sec vs S90: 15.9 [13.3-16.4] sec, p = 0.04) and total run time (TS: 145.7 [135.1-151.4] sec vs S90: 160.0 [151.9-175.4] sec, p < 0.01) than the S90 group. Conclusion: In this simulation, using transfer sheet outperform using stretcher for transporting cardiac arrest patients from high-rise buildings. Rescuers need to be aware of full chest recoil.

Background: AdipoR2, which belongs to the seven-transmembrane-domain receptor family, has been shown to play an important role in the development of human tumours, but the underlying mechanisms are poorly understood. In this study, we found that AdipoR2 expression correlates with glioma grade. In addition, we also investigated the mechanisms behind the antiproliferative effects of AdipoR2 in U251 cells (a human glioma cell line) using colony formation and WST-8 growth assays., Methods: The U251 cell line was cultured in vitro. Western blotting was used to detect the expression of relevant proteins. Quantitative RT-PCR was used to detect AdipoR1 and AdipoR2 expression. Flow cytometry was used to detect cell cycle assay results. The gene expression profiles of glioma samples from the CGGA database were analysed by MATLAB and GSEA software., Results: The AMPK/mTOR pathway plays a central role in the regulation of cell proliferation, differentiation and migration and may promote tumorigenesis. Therefore, we can control cancer progression by modulating the AMPK/mTOR pathway. However, there is no information on the relationship between AdipoR and AMPK/mTOR in central nervous system tumours such as GBM. In this study. We found 648 upregulated genes and 436 downregulated genes correlated with AdipoR2 expression in 158 glioma samples. GSEA suggested that AdipoR2 is a cell cycle-associated gene. The results of the flow cytometry analysis indicated that AdipoR2 induced G0/G1 cell cycle arrest in U251 cells. Furthermore, we identified the AMPK/mTOR signalling axis to be involved in AdipoR2-induced cell cycle arrest., Conclusions: Our results suggest that AdipoR2 may represent a novel endogenous negative regulator of GBM cell proliferation. These findings also suggest that AdipoR2 may be a promising therapeutic target in GBM patients.

High-level ab initio computations have been performed to investigate molecular structures, potential energy curves, vibrational energy levels and spectroscopic constants for twelve Λ-S states of the first four dissociation limits of MgBi. Characterizations of seven Ω states, corresponding to the first and the second Λ-S dissociation limits, have been explored for the first time. The spin-orbit coupling effect is revealed to have introduced a significant impact on the pattern of these electronic states and interactions among them. Our predictions for molecular structures and spectroscopic constants of MgBi are compared with available data of other magnesium-group 18 family species. Regular tendencies of these parameters are clearly exhibited when the group 18 atom is replaced by another one in the group. Information associated with transition dipole moments, Franck-Condon factors, vibrational branching ratios and radiative lifetimes between the Ω states are obtained and their transitional properties are analyzed and discussed. The results and data determined in this work are expected to guide and assist laboratorial detections of MgBi and to extend our understanding for the magnesium-group 18 species., Competing Interests: Declaration of Competing Interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2020 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Connexins and Pannexins play important roles in osteocytes and osteoblasts differentiation, intracellular signal transduction, maintenance of bone balance, and bone regeneration. This article reviews the progress and limitations of Connexins-mediated gap junctions and Pannexins mediated hemichannel in bone. Current research has shown that these molecules, in the form of gap junctions or separate hemichannels, deliver external stimuli to the skeletal system. However, little is known about the role of other cell types in bone development and homeostasis, such as pre-osteoblasts and bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells, in maintaining normality. In addition, at present, the most well-studied member of the Connexins family is Connexin43 (Cx43), while the roles and mechanisms of other members in bone development are still behind the veil. Gene-edited animal models provide basic information on the role of Connexins and Pannexins in the skeletal system, but the similarities and differences between Connexins and Pannexins remain to be discovered. Targeting a specific function of Connexins or Pannexins for bone stimulation and bone disease remains a challenge, with pharmacological selective overlap between channels, compensation of other subtypes, differences in methods for assessing channel function, and genetic changes associated with transgenic mouse models. Therefore, better tools and research pathways are needed to understand the role of these pathways in bone and cartilage. An essential task for future research will be to identify specific compounds that regulate Connexins or Pannexins subtypes to enable them to be used as pharmaceutical agents in the treatment of bone diseases, providing the possibility to develop new therapeutic strategies for improving bone health and treating diseases of the skeletal system., (Copyright© by Editorial Board of Journal of Sichuan University (Medical Science Edition).)

Higher alcohols such as butanol (C4 alcohol) and hexanol (C6 alcohol) are superior biofuels compared to ethanol. Clostridium carboxidivorans P7 is a typical acetogen capable of producing C4 and C6 alcohols natively. In this study, the composition of trace metals in culture medium was adjusted, and the effects of these adjustments on artificial syngas fermentation by C. carboxidivorans P7 were investigated. Nickel and ferrous ions were essential for growth and metabolite synthesis during syngas fermentation by P7. However, a decreased dose of molybdate improved alcohol fermentation performance by stimulating carbon fixation and solventogenesis. In response to the modified trace metal composition, cells grew to a maximum OD 600 nm of 1.6 and accumulated ethanol and butanol to maximum concentrations of 2.0 and 1.0 g/L, respectively, in serum bottles. These yields were ten-fold higher than the yields generated using the original composition of trace metals. Furthermore, 0.5 g/L of hexanol was detected at the end of fermentation. The results from gene expression experiments examining genes related to carbon fixation and organic acid and solvent synthesis pathways revealed a dramatic up-regulation of the Wood-Ljungdahl pathway (WLP) gene cluster, the bcs gene cluster, and a putative CoA transferase and butanol dehydrogenase, thereby indicating that both de novo synthesis and acid re-assimilation contributed to the significantly elevated accumulation of higher alcohols. The bdh35 gene was speculated to be the key target for butanol synthesis during solventogenesis., (Copyright © 2020 Han, Xie, Wu, Guo, Li and Huang.)

The present study was initiated to investigate the geochemical features and associated pollution risks of selected heavy metals in sediments near an active copper sulfide mines, south China. These results indicated that legacy contamination in sediments were mainly Cd (11.9 mg/kg), Cu (0.106%), Pb (0.189%), Zn (0.0958%), and As (0.158%). Furthermore, the geochemical variability of most elements, ranging from 5.66% for K 2 O to 24.99% for Cd, was relatively lower. On the spatial scale, the variation patterns of multi-elements did not show a decreasing trend. The multivariate statistical analysis revealed that the significant enrichment of the studied elements was mostly related to the geochemical background and anthropogenic sources. Besides that, the stable climate might have positive influences on the leachability patterns of heavy metals in sediment profiles. According to the results of the potential ecological risk index (PERI), Cd, Cu, Pb, and As were identified as the riskiest elements due to their rather higher contribution ratios to pollution risk. In response to continuous exposure risks, the significant enrichment of these mining-derived elements should be preferentially concerned. Finally, some reasonable action is proposed for aquatic environment protection. Graphical abstract.

This study aims to produce novel composite artificial marble materials by bulk molding compound processes, and improve their thermal and mechanical properties. We employed stearic acid as an efficient surface modifying agent for CaCO 3 particles, and for the first time, a pretreated, recycled, polyethylene terephthalate (PET) fibers mat is used to reinforce the artificial marble materials. The innovative aspects of the study are the surface treatment of CaCO 3 particles by stearic acid. Stearic acid forms a monolayer shell, coating the CaCO 3 particles, which enhances the compatibility between the CaCO 3 particles and the matrix of the composite. The morphology of the composites, observed by scanning electron microscopy, revealed that the CaCO 3 phase was homogeneously dispersed in the epoxy matrix under the support of stearic acid. A single layer of a recycled PET fibers mat was pretreated and designed in the core of the composite. As expected, these results indicated that the fibers could enhance flexural properties, and impact strength along with thermal stability for the composites. This combination of a pretreated, recycled, PET fibers mat and epoxy/CaCO 3 -stearic acid could produce novel artificial marble materials for construction applications able to meet environmental requirements.

Abstract: Autopsy is of great significance to the elucidation of the pathological changes, pathogeneses and causes of death of corona virus disease 2019 （COVID-19） and can provide theoretical basis for more scientific and accurate prevention and control of the outbreak. Based on related laws and regulations, such as the Law of the People's Republic of China on Prevention and Control of Infectious Diseases, the clinical manifestations and epidemiological characteristics of COVID-19, and the related guidelines on the prevention and control of the outbreak, combined with the practical work of forensic pathology examination, the Guide to the Forensic Pathology Practice on Death Cases Related to Corona Virus Disease 2019 （COVID-19） （Trial Draft） has been developed. This guide includes information on the background investigation of the cases, autopsy room requirements, personal prevention and protections, external examinations, autopsy, auxiliary examinations, and so on. This guide can be used as a reference by forensic and pathological examination institutions, as well as examination staff., Competing Interests: The authors of this article and the planning committee members and staff have no relevant financial relationships with commercial interests to disclose., (Copyright© by the Editorial Department of Journal of Forensic Medicine.)

Medium- and long-chain triglyceride (MCT/LCT) propofol is widely used as an intravenous anesthetic, especially in the intensive care unit. The present study aimed to assess whether MCT/LCT propofol is safe in the hyperlipidemic population for long-term use. Free fatty acids (FFAs) were used to establish high-fat stimulation of HepG2 and Huh7 cells. Subsequently, these cells were treated with propofol at the concentration of 0, 4, or 8 µg/ml for 24 and 48 h. The results indicated that the cell viability was notably decreased when the cells were stimulated with 2 mmol/L FFAs and treated with 12 µg/ml MCT/LCT propofol. Accordingly, we chose 2 mmol/L FFAs along with 4 and 8 µg/ml MCT/LCT propofol for the subsequent experiments. Four and 8 µg/ml MCT/LCT propofol inhibited FFA-induced lipid accumulation in the cells and significantly reversed acetyl coenzyme A carboxylase (ACC) activity. In addition, MCT/LCT propofol not only significantly promoted the phosphorylation of AMPK and ACC, but also reversed the FFA-induced decreased phosphorylation of AMPK and ACC. In conclusion, MCT/LCT propofol reverses the negative effects caused by FFAs in HepG2 and Huh7 cells, indicating that MCT/LCT propofol might positively regulate lipid metabolism., Competing Interests: CONFLICTS OF INTEREST: The authors declare no conflicts of interest., (Copyright © 2020 The Korean Physiological Society and The Korean Society of Pharmacology.)

A total of 100 samples were collected from the sediments of a typical copper mining area, south China. Leaching concentrations of selected heavy metals (Ni, Cd, Cu, Pb, Zn, Ba, As, and Hg) were measured to evaluate their distribution patterns and associated health risk. Leaching concentrations of Cu (3.58 ± 1.49 mg/L), Pb (1.50 ± 1.06 mg/L), and Zn (4.04 ± 1.68 mg/L) were significantly higher than the other metals in the samples. By evaluating the spatial heterogeneity, it was found that leaching metal concentrations did not decrease with environmental gradients, mostly caused by diverse distribution in pollution sources. The hazard index and carcinogenic risk indices showed significant risks of human exposure. For public safety, priority governance should be given to the main pollutants (Cd, Cu, Pb, Zn, and As) in sediments. In future studies, the integrated data will be urgently required for local stakeholders to conduct environmental monitoring and remediation scenarios., (Copyright © 2019. Published by Elsevier Ltd.)