Biological detoxification and application of emerging control strategies of zearalenone in food.

Zearalenone (ZEA) is a mycotoxin produced by filamentous fungi of the Ascomycota phylum, widely present in grains such as corn and wheat. The global contamination of ZEA is becoming increasingly severe, with a significant rise in its detection rate in grains and animal feed, posing serious threats to the health of livestock and poultry, the safety of processed grain products, and human health. This paper reviews the residual risks of ZEA, particularly its significant effects on the reproductive system and liver.

Self-assembled hybrid hydrogel microspheres create a bone marrow-mimicking niche for bone regeneration.

Bone marrow (BM), a natural niche rich in growth factors and bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs), provides an optimal regenerative microenvironment and is widely used in clinical applications. However, the limited proliferative capacity of BMSCs and the mismatch between bone regeneration and growth factors release constrain their effectiveness in treating critical bone defects. Drawing inspiration from the regenerative properties of BM, we developed self-assembled hybrid microspheres to replicate its function and address these challenges through a tissue engineering approach.

Mechanisms underlying the freezing and melting behavior of water confined in silica nanopores as a function of pore size and pore filling.

Uncovering the mechanisms of freezing and melting behavior in nanoconfined fluids can unlock fundamental insights into the fate and transport of fluids in soils present in cold climates. From a scientific perspective, the structural and thermodynamic behavior of confined and interfacial water has sparked significant discussions, particularly regarding the characteristics of phase transitions and spatial heterogeneity as a function of temperature and pressure. Observations frequently report interfacial unfrozen liquid layers on hydrophilic surfaces, distorted ice crystals and suppressed freezing and melting points in confined water compared to bulk water.

Development and Validation of QuEChERS Extraction Coupled with Ultrahigh-Performance Liquid Chromatography-Tandem Mass Spectrometry for the Detection of Nine Macrolides in Fish Products.

Veterinary drug residues in aquatic products are often overlooked, yet they pose significant environmental risks and potential threats to human health. In this study, a rapid and sensitive analytical method was developed for the simultaneous determination of nine commonly used macrolide antibiotics in largemouth bass () muscle using ultrahigh-performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (UHPLC-MS/MS). Sample extraction was performed using 80% acetonitrile in water, followed by purification with Cleanert MAS-Q cartridges.

Resolution enhancement in evanescent light illumination microscopy using microsphere lenses.

Weakly scattering samples such as low-refractive-index nanomaterials present significant challenges in super-resolution imaging, because their weak scattering signals are difficult to distinguish from background noise. Here, we propose microsphere-enhanced evanescent light illumination microscopy (MS-EIM) for the label-free super-resolution imaging of weakly scattering samples. We used the MS-EIM method to perform simulated imaging of transparent samples with a 100-nm gap to investigate its imaging performance.

The Age-Male-Albumin-Bilirubin-Platelet Risk Score Predicts Postoperative Prognosis of Intrahepatic Cholangiocarcinoma: A Multicenter Retrospective Study.

Introduction: The age-male-albumin-bilirubin-platelets (AMAP) score serves as a specific model for assessing liver fibrosis among individuals with chronic hepatitis B. However, there remains ambiguity regarding its ability to reliably predict the long-term outcomes for patients diagnosed with intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (ICC) after undergoing radical surgical interventions.

Methods: This retrospective multicenter investigation included 681 participants diagnosed with ICC who had undergone radical surgical procedures.

The key glycolytic enzyme phosphofructokinase is involved in Eimeria tenella resistance to maduramycin.

The protozoan parasite Eimeria tenella causes coccidiosis in poultry, which results in substantial economic losses to the global poultry industry. Understanding the molecular mechanisms of drug resistance in E. tenella is essential for developing effective control strategies.

Effectiveness of Sodium-Glucose Transporter 2 Inhibitors and Semaglutide on Body Composition in Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus and Chronic Kidney Disease: A Real-World Cohort Study with Bioelectrical Impedance Analysis.

Background: Sodium-glucose transporter 2 inhibitors (SGLT-2Is) and Semaglutide may increase the risk of sarcopenia and bone fragility in vulnerable populations, yet their effects on body composition in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and chronic kidney disease (CKD) remain unclear. This study evaluated changes in body composition by SGLT-2Is alone or combined with Semaglutide.

Methods: This retrospective cohort included T2DM-CKD patients treated with SGLT-2Is ± Semaglutide for ≥6 months.

Protein arginine methyltransferase 1 stimulates basal cell proliferation and migration to maintain corneal epithelial homeostasis.

The corneal epithelium is a constantly self-renewing, stratified squamous tissue that protects the inner eye from external stimuli. The organization of the corneal epithelium involves multiple biological activities, including basal cell proliferation and centripetal migration. However, the underlying molecular mechanisms remain unclear.

Multi-class brain tumor diagnosis using MRI: A dynamic reinforcement ensemble learning approach.

Background: Early and accurate diagnosis is essential for effective clinical decision-making, particularly when working with complex and imbalanced medical datasets. Traditional static ensemble models often struggle to adapt to such challenges, limiting their generalization and performance.

Purpose: This study aims to develop a novel dynamic ensemble learning framework that enhances diagnostic accuracy by addressing the limitations of static ensemble strategies through adaptive model selection and dynamic weight adjustment.

Engineering broadband near-infrared emission via the strategic assembly of Cr ion pairs in aluminum-based spinels.

Broadband near-infrared (NIR) phosphors have emerged as essential components for next-generation portable and intelligent NIR lights. Nevertheless, the concurrent realization of long-wavelength emission (LWE), wide bandwidth, and high performance remains challenging. Herein, a combined strategy of engineering crystal field and assembling Cr ion pairs within ZnMgAlO spinel solid solutions synergistically induces the evolution of Cr emission from sharp red ( = 709 nm, bandwidth = 24 nm) to broadband NIR region ( = 890 nm, bandwidth = 283 nm).

Targeted Therapy with Dalpiciclib in a Pediatric Patient with Anaplastic Ependymoma: A Case Study and Literature Review.

Introduction: Ependymoma is the third most common brain tumor in children, with a high recurrence rate and poor prognosis. The traditional treatment of ependymoma is surgery and radiation therapy. However, the effectiveness of conventional chemotherapy has been modest.

Ketogenic Diet, Serum Ketone Bodies and Risk of End-Stage Renal Disease in Patients With Diabetic Kidney Disease: A Multi-Cohort Study.

Aim: This study aims to explore the effect of the ketogenic diet (KD) on the occurrence of end-stage renal disease (ESRD) and the longitudinal relationship between circulating β-hydroxybutyrate (β-OHB) and kidney outcomes.

Methods: We used the dietary ketogenic ratio (DKR) to estimate the nutritional ketosis probability of KD and analyzed the association with ESRD using NHANES cross-sectional data by Spearman correlation coefficient and multivariate logistic regression model. We also used the Kaplan-Meier method, Cox regression analysis, and restricted cubic splines (RCS) to analyze the relationship between circulating β-OHB and renal outcomes in the T2DM-DKD longitudinal cohort of West China Hospital.

Study on the micellar structure of pullulan modified by dodecenyl succinic anhydride in aqueous solution.

Dodecenyl succinic anhydride (DDSA, a relatively longer alkyl chain) was used to hydrophobically modified pullulan (PUL) to obtain the PUL-DDSA with four different DS (degrees of substitution) samples. The micellar structure of PUL-DDSA in 0.05 M NaCl aqueous solution was investigated using two techniques: small-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS) and pyrene-probe fluorescence.

Beauty Is in the Eye of the Beholder: Research on the Mate Selection Preferences of the Contemporary Chinese Youth.

This study analyzed how the objective conditions of potential mates and individual conditions affected the mate selection satisfaction of Chinese youth, with a focus on the moderating role of gender and the mediating effect of education. Using data from the 2021 China General Social Survey (N = 1767), this study incorporated correlation analysis, variance analysis, linear regression model and structural equation model, Key findings include: (1) Physical appearance (β = 0.25, p < 0.

Accelerating Effects of Poloxamer and Its Structural Analogs on the Crystallization of Nitrendipine Polymorphs.

Surfactants can be added into polymer-amorphous drug systems to further enhance solubility. However, this may cause amorphous drugs to become physically unstable, and the inherent mechanism at play here is not fully understood. We explored the effects of poloxamer, a poly (ethylene oxide)-poly (propylene oxide)-poly (ethylene oxide) (PEO-PPO-PEO) triblock copolymer surfactant, and its segments on the nucleation and growth kinetics of amorphous nitrendipine (NTP) from the melt through polarized light microscopy.

Epidemiology, characteristics, management, and survival of patients with malignant carotid body tumors: A systematic review and meta-analysis of current evidence.

Background and AimMalignant carotid body tumors (CBTs) represent a rare clinical entity, with existing studies limited by small sample sizes and fragmented data. This systematic review aims to: (1) Pool epidemiological estimates of malignant CBTs; (2) Characterize clinicopathological profiles; (3) Evaluate treatment modalities and survival outcomes; (4) Identify risk factors for malignant transformation.MethodsA comprehensive search of PubMed, Scopus, Cochrane Library, and Web of Science was conducted through January 1, 2024 for literatures with malignant CBTs.

ER stress-driven unfolded protein response fuels aging-related tumor aggressiveness in gliomas.

Background: Gliomas are the most prevalent and aggressive primary brain tumors. Aging significantly influences glioma incidence and progression, yet the molecular mechanisms linking aging-related pathways to tumor aggressiveness remain poorly understood. Here, we aimed to decipher aging-related molecular mechanisms regulating tumor aggressiveness in gliomas.

Meta-Omics Analysis Reveals Global Distribution of Toxic Pseudo-nitzschia and Enhanced Neurotoxin Production Under Climate Warming.

The harmful diatom Pseudo-nitzschia produces the neurotoxin domoic acid (DA), threatening human health and seafood safety in a changing climate. However, global patterns of Pseudo-nitzschia abundance and the responses of DA production to underlying environmental drivers remain poorly understood, hindering accurate projections of their responses to environmental change. Using global meta-omics data from Tara Oceans, alongside field survey data from the Chinese coasts and the Southern Ocean, we present the first evidence that four of the most toxic species-Pseudo-nitzschia multiseries, Pseudo-nitzschia multistriata, Pseudo-nitzschia delicatissima, and Pseudo-nitzschia pungens-are prevalent not only in coastal ecosystems but also in open ocean environments, spanning from pole to pole.

Biomaterial-Assisted Senescence-Targeting Treatment Strategy for Central Nervous System Injury.

Central nervous system (CNS) injury triggers a series of complex pathophysiological reactions, including neuroinflammation, oxidative stress, and DNA damage. These factors play key roles in inducing cellular senescence, thereby disrupting the balance of the microenvironment and seriously hindering tissue regeneration and repair processes. Thus, targeting cellular senescence presents a promising target for the treatment of CNS injuries.

Preparation, characterization and antioxidative activity analysis of recombinant humanized collagen type III-loaded liposomes.

To improve the bioavailability and biological activity of recombinant type III humanized collagen (rhCol III), we optimized the preparation process of recombinant type III humanized collagen-loaded liposomes (rhCol III-LIPS) using the film dispersion and periplasmic extrusion methods, with the encapsulation rate as the response value. Then we analyzed the antioxidative activity of rhCol III-LIPS by determining the scavenging rate of free radicals. We investigated the protective effect of rhCol III-LIPS against HO-induced injuries in HaCaT cells by detecting cell vitality, contents of reactive oxygen species (ROS), malondialdehyde (MDA), and activities of antioxidases superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), glutathione peroxidase dismutase (GSH-Px).

Hydrodynamics and dissolved organic matter regulate partitioning behaviour of heavy metals in seawater in a human-impacted subtropical estuary.

The partitioning behaviour of heavy metals (HMs) plays a crucial role in influencing their mobility and pollution risks in estuaries. However, this process remains poorly understood in dynamic estuaries subject to intense anthropogenic and terrestrial inputs, which substantially alter the hydrodynamics and organic matter characteristics. Here, we performed our study in the Pearl River Estuary, which records serious anthropogenic activities and contains vibrant hydrodynamic processes, via runoff alteration and organic matter component shift, with the aim of probing the partitioning mechanisms of HMs between the particulate and dissolved phases in the water column.

[Advances in hydrogel drug delivery systems for myocardial infarction treatment].

Myocardial infarction is a cardiovascular disease with high morbidity and mortality rates. Hydrogel biomaterials mimicking the extracellular matrix have recently been shown to demonstrate excellent biocompatibility, low immunogenicity, favorable biodegradability, and multifunctionality, showcasing significant potential for treatment of myocardial infarction. Hydrogels can provide mechanical support to the damaged myo-cardium, alleviating pathological remodeling.

TGF-β3 promotes vascular normalization of prostate cancer to potentiate immunotherapy and chemotherapy.

Background: Prostate cancer (PCa) has previously been established as a cold tumor with highly complex tumor environment. Transforming growth factor (TGF)-β1 plays pro-oncogenic roles in PCa. TGF-β3, another isoform of the TGF-β family, is reported to have different and even opposite regulatory roles to TGF-β1.

Study on Effect of Germination on Flavonoid Content and Nutritional Value of Different Varieties of Chickpeas.

Chickpeas ( L.) were popular for their high nutritional profile and abundance of bioactive constituents, making them highly sought after in the consumer market. This investigation evaluated the impact of germination on the levels of total phenolics, total flavonoids, and other bioactive compounds, as well as free amino acids, soluble proteins, dietary fiber, and starch, in two chickpea sprout cultivars.