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[Display omitted] • In vivo , Fn OMVs promoted lung metastasis in tumour-bearing mice, while chloroquine (CHQ; an autophagy inhibitor) reduced the number of pulmonary metastases resulting from intratumoral Fn OMV injection. • Fn OMVs promoted cancer cell invasion and migration in vivo , leading to changes in the expression of EMT related proteins. • RNA-seq showed that Fn OMVs activate intracellular autophagy pathways. Blocking autophagic flux with CHQ not only reduced Fn OMV-induced cancer cell migration in vitro and in vivo but also reversed the expression changes in EMT-related proteins. Metastasis is an important cause of high mortality and lethality of oral cancer. Fusobacterium nucleatum (Fn) can promote tumour metastasis. Outer membrane vesicles (OMVs) are secreted by Fn. However, the effects of Fn-derived extracellular vesicles on oral cancer metastasis and the underlying mechanisms are unclear. We aimed to determine whether and how Fn OMVs mediate oral cancer metastasis. OMVs were isolated from brain heart infusion (BHI) broth supernatant of Fn by ultracentrifugation. Tumour-bearing mice were treated with Fn OMVs to evaluate the effect of OMVs on cancer metastasis. Transwell assays were performed to determine how Fn OMVs affect cancer cell migration and invasion. The differentially expressed genes in Fn OMV-treated/untreated cancer cells were identified by RNA-seq. Transmission electron microscopy, laser confocal microscopy, and lentiviral transduction were used to detect changes in autophagic flux in cancer cells stimulated with Fn OMVs. Western blotting assay was performed to determine changes in EMT-related marker protein levels in cancer cells. Fn OMVs' effects on migration after blocking autophagic flux by autophagy inhibitors were determined by in vitro and in vivo experiments. Fn OMVs were structurally similar to vesicles. In the in vivo experiment, Fn OMVs promoted lung metastasis in tumour-bearing mice, while chloroquine (CHQ, an autophagy inhibitor) treatment reduced the number of pulmonary metastases resulting from the intratumoral Fn OMV injection. Fn OMVs promoted the migration and invasion of cancer cells in vivo , leading to altered expression levels of EMT-related proteins (E-cadherin downregulation; Vimentin/N-cadherin upregulation). RNA-seq showed that Fn OMVs activate intracellular autophagy pathways. Blocking autophagic flux with CHQ reduced in vitro and in vivo migration of cancer cells induced by Fn OMVs as well as reversed changes in EMT-related protein expression. Fn OMVs not only induced cancer metastasis but also activated autophagic flux. Blocking autophagic flux weakened Fn OMV-stimulated cancer metastasis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fangji Huangqi Tang (FHT) is a well‐known Chinese herbal formula that is prescribed as treatment for rheumatoid diseases. In this study, we aimed to investigate the potential therapeutic targets, efficacy, and safety of FHT in the treatment of Sjogren's syndrome (SS). The Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) database was used to screen differentially expressed genes (DEGs) in SS. Further, gene ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) enrichment analyses were performed to explore the potential biological functions of the DEGs. Subsequently, an FHT‐herb‐active compound‐target network was constructed to identify the relationship between the active compounds in FHT and the related targets. Then, enrichment analysis involving the DEGs and protein–protein interaction (PPI) network analysis were performed to analyze the biological functions of potential targets and screen hub genes. Further, molecular docking was employed to verify the binding affinity between the active compounds and the hub targets, and in vivo experiments involving NOD/LtJ mice were conducted to verify the therapeutic effects of FHT on SS‐like symptoms. Finally, inhibition of PIK3CK/Akt pathway by FHT was validated by WB and rt‐qPCR. A total of 1836 DEGs were identified in SS based on the GSE159574 dataset, and 114 targets of the active compounds in FHT were screened. Further, via network pharmacology analysis and molecular docking, six active compounds and five hub targets were obtained, and enrichment analysis showed that the anti‐SS effect of FHT was predominantly associated with immune cells, such as T cells and neutrophils. In vivo, FHT effectively reduced lymphocyte infiltration foci, increased saliva flow rate, and inhibited increases in the levels of SS‐related autoantibodies (anti‐SSA and anti‐SSB). Furthermore, the biosafety of FHT was verified via the serological examination of liver and kidney function. WB and rt‐qPCR analysis confirmed that FHT could inhibit the expression of PIK3CG and the activation of PIK3CG/Akt pathway. Via network pharmacological analysis, molecular docking, and in vivo verification, we demonstrated the multicomponent and multitarget characteristics of FHT in SS treatment, thereby providing novel insights into the pathogenesis of SS and the therapeutic targets of FHT for SS. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To increase the utilization of redundant soil generated during construction waste treatment, cement and lime are used as solidification components to produce high flow mixture. The effects of lime content on the working performance and comprehensive strength of the mixture were studied, and the performance changes of the mixture under dry wet cycle and freeze-thaw cycle were studied. The results show that with the increase of lime content, the water demand of the mixture increases and the compressive strength increases; The bleeding rate of the mixture is between 2%~3%, and the work-ability is good; After the dry wet cycle, the compressive strength of the mixture is improved and the durability is good; The recycled fluid mixture makes full use of the low-quality materials produced by construction waste and improves the utilization level of solid waste. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The oxygen atom of N-phenylhydroxylamine (NPHA) was alkylated during the methylation of the complex with methylarenesulfonates in DMSO. The alkylation of the oxygen atom during the methylation of NPHA was mediated by the nitrogen atoms of both nucleophiles and hindered by electron withdrawal. The oxygen atom of NPHA also exhibited greater steric freedom to connect with the CH3 group compared with the nitrogen atom.

The oxygen atom of N-phenylhydroxylamine (NPHA) was alkylated during the methylation of the complex with methylarenesulfonates in DMSO. The alkylation of the oxygen atom during the methylation of NPHA was mediated by the nitrogen atoms of both nucleophiles and hindered by electron withdrawal. The oxygen atom of NPHA also exhibited greater steric freedom to connect with the CH3 group compared with the nitrogen atom.

A cheaper, greener approach for the synthesis of highly monodisperse and tunable size CdSe semiconductor quantum dots was developed by thermolysis of a mixed solution of CdO and Se in non-coordinating solvent 1-octadecene at 240°C. Systematic vary of the precursor molar ratios allowed the particle size (from 2.5 nm to 5.5 nm) to be tuned and the size distribution (full width at half maximum of photoluminescence spectra from 26 nm to 37 nm) to be controlled. The results revealed that initial Cd:Se molar ratios play an important role in controlling both the size and size distribution of the as-prepared CdSe quantum dots. Moreover, the obtained CdSe quantum dots are all of zinc blende phase. The possible reason was discussed. The reaction has been conducted in relatively low temperature at 210°C in the absence of expensive organic phosphine ligands, such as trioctylphoshine and trioctylphoshine oxide. This approach has great value for both the laboratory research and industrial application in term of 'green chemical principles'. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nearly 90% of rare earths worldwide currently originate from bastnaesite (REFCO 3 ). Oxidative roasting, an effective method for the treatment of bastnaesite, has been extensively employed in industrial production practice. However, the roasting decomposition mechanism of bastnaesite at the molecular level remains controversial. In this study, two roasting atmospheres (i.e., Ar and O 2 ) were adopted for the treatment of the mixed rare earth concentrate in Bayan Obo. Ar-Roasting ore was skillfully treated as an intermediate and then underwent oxidation roasting. The results achieved using research methods (e.g., XRD, FT-IR, TEM, and XPS) first revealed that the oxidation roasting of bastnaesite was performed in several stages. The first stage was the thermal decomposition of bastnaesite and the oxidation of cerium (REFCO 3 → REOF + CO 2 ). The second stage was the escape pathway of fluorine (REOF + O 2 → RE x O y + O x F and O x F → O 2 + F 2 ), describing the migration rules of F and O elements and the oxidation behavior of Ce. The results of this study can provide more theoretical support and guidance for the clean extraction of bastnaesite and mixed rare earth in Bayan Obo., Competing Interests: The authors declare no competing financial interest., (© 2024 The Authors. Published by American Chemical Society.)

Background: Current drugs for treating osteoporosis may lead to toxic side effects. Echinacoside (ECH) is a natural small molecule drug. This study examined and compared the therapeutic effects of cross-linker (CL)-ECH and ECH-free nanoparticles on osteoporosis., Methods: Echinocandin-based CL-ECH nanoparticles were prepared, and the nanoparticle size and drug loading were optimized and characterized by adjusting the ratio. The antioxidant effect of CL-ECH nanoparticles on bone marrow-derived macrophages (BMDMs) was analyzed using flow cytometry, immunofluorescence staining and quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR). Bone marrow stromal cells (BMSCs)-based detection of bone-producing effects was conducted using alkaline phosphatase (ALP), Alizarin Red S (ARS) and qRT-PCR. TRAP, phalloidin staining, and qRT-PCR was performed to detect osteogenesis-inhibiting effect on BMDMs. CL-ECH nanoparticles were applied to treat an ovariectomized (OVX) mouse model at low doses., Results: Compared to ECH, CL-ECH nanoparticles suppressed oxidative stress in BMDMs by promoting NRF-2 nuclear translocation, which inhibited the production of both reactive oxygen species (ROS) and osteoclast production through downregulating NF- κ B expression, with limited effect on the osteogenesis of BMSCs. In vivo studies showed that low-dose CL-ECH nanoparticles markedly improved bone trabecular loss compared to ECH administration in the treatment of osteoporosis., Conclusions: The current discoveries provided a solid theoretical foundation for the development of a new generation of anti-bone resorption drugs and antiosteoporosis drugs., Competing Interests: The authors declare there are no competing interests., (©2024 Hu et al.)

We introduce an organocatalytic approach for oxaziridinium-mediated C-H hydroxylation that employs secondary amines as catalysts. We also demonstrate the advantages of this operationally simple catalytic strategy for achieving high yielding and highly selective remote hydroxylation of compounds bearing oxidation-sensitive functional groups such as alcohols, ethers, carbamates, and amides. By employing hexafluoroisopropanol as the solvent in the absence of water, a proposed hydrogen bonding effect leads to, among other advantages, as high as ≥99:1 chemoselectivity for remote aliphatic hydroxylation of 2° alcohols, an otherwise unsolved synthetic challenge normally complicated by substantial amounts of alcohol oxidation. Initial studies of the reaction mechanism indicate the formation of an oxaziridinium salt as the active oxidant, and a C-H oxidation step that proceeds in a stereospecific manner via concerted insertion or hydrogen atom transfer/radical rebound. Furthermore, preliminary results indicate that site selectivity can be affected by amine catalyst structure. In the long term, we anticipate that this will enable new strategies for catalyst control of selectivity based on the abundance of catalytic scaffolds that have proliferated over the last twenty years as a result of Nobel Prize-winning discoveries., Competing Interests: The authors declare no competing financial interest.