Bromine-Functionalized Covalent Organic Frameworks Enhancing the Desorption Efficiency and Enabling Preconcentration of Brominated Pollutants for Mass Spectrometry Detection.

Covalent organic frameworks (COFs) exhibit exceptional adsorption capacity but suffer from challenging desorption. In this study, a bromine-functionalized magnetic COF composite (FeO@COF-Br) was synthesized via bromodimethylsulfonium bromide-mediated bromination of imine-linked COF on FeO nanospheres (FeO@COF), where the COF framework was constructed by 1,3,5-tris(4-formylphenyl)benzene and 2,6-diamino-3,5-diethynylpyridine. Compared with pristine FeO@COF, FeO@COF-Br enhanced desorption efficiencies for brominated contaminants by about 30% while maintaining adsorption capacity.

Accelerating cartilage regeneration with DNA-SF hydrogel sustained release system-based cartilage organoids.

Background: Cartilage repair remains a considerable challenge in regenerative medicine. Despite extensive research on biomaterials for cartilage repair in recent years, issues such as prolonged repair cycles and suboptimal outcomes persist. Organoids, miniature three-dimensional (3D) tissue structures derived from the directed differentiation of stem or progenitor cells, mimic the structure and function of natural organs.

Microplasma Optical Emission Spectrometry with MWCNT-Assisted Extraction and Ultrasonic Nebulization-Enhanced Photochemical Vapor Generation for Sensitive Determination of Trace Heavy Metals in Seafood.

Field analysis of heavy metals in seafood is crucial for assessing the hazards and potential risks associated with human exposure to heavy metals through dietary intake. However, a low analyte concentration and complex pretreatment procedures pose significant challenges for microplasma-optical emission spectrometry (OES). Herein, multiwall carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs)-assisted extraction and ultrasonic nebulization-enhanced photochemical vapor generation (PVG) are integrated into a point discharge microplasma-OES system for field analysis of trace Hg, Fe, Co and Ni in seafood.

Dissecting Exosomal-Tumoral-Vascular Interactions of Single Tumor Cells and Clusters Using a Tumoral-Transendothelial Migration Chip.

The complex interplay between tumor cells and clusters with endothelial tissues during metastasis, in particular with regard to the exosomes in mediating intercellular communication, is still not well understood. Here, we develop a tumoral-transendothelial migration model to replicate the microenvironment of circulating tumor cells infiltrating blood vessels during metastasis. We propose an exosome-integrated approach combining a tumoral-transendothelial migration chip (TEMOC) with machine learning (ML) to enable the simulation and prediction of exosome-mediated invasion into the endothelial layer at both the single-cell and cluster levels.

A Microfluidic Droplet Array Promotes Trastuzumab Sensitivity Exploration of Single Breast Cancer Cells.

Drug sensitivity is a major determinant influencing the efficiency of cancer treatment, and its evaluation faces critical challenges due to the cancer cell heterogeneity. Herein, a droplet-driven compartmentalization array (SCell chip) is presented to uncover single-cell trastuzumab sensitivity. Leveraging the differential flow resistance principle, the chip enables the flexible generation of single droplets orderly situated at designated spots.

JuJing formula protects retinal by regulating Nrf2/HO-1 pathways and sphingolipid rheostat and its key protein levels on liver-kidney Yin deficient retinal damage mice.

Ethnopharmacological Relevance: Dry age-related macular degeneration (AMD) has a high rate of blindness, which still lacks effective treatment. JuJing Formula (JJF) is a traditional herbal prescription known for its hepatorenal tonic effects and therapeutic applications in ocular disorders. Previous investigations have demonstrated its efficacy in the management of dry AMD.

LncRNA MALAT1 Facilitates HIV-1 Replication by Upregulation of CHCHD2 and Downregulation of IFN-I Expression.

Long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) are effective regulators of both RNA and protein functions throughout cell biology, including viral replication. Emerging studies have shown that lncRNAs activate or inhibit the replication and latency of HIV-1 by regulating different cellular mechanisms. Metastasis-associated lung adenocarcinoma transcript 1 (MALAT1) is an oncogenic lncRNA required for paraspeckle integrity and has been proven to be linked to viral infection.

Do-It-Yourself De Novo Antibody Sequencing Workflow that Achieves Complete Accuracy of the Variable Regions.

Antibodies are widely used as research tools or therapeutic agents. Knowing the sequences of the variable regions of an antibody─both the heavy chain and the light chain─is a prerequisite for the production of recombinant antibodies. Mass spectrometry-based de novo sequencing is a frequently used, and sometimes the only approach to gaining this information.

Spike proteins of coronaviruses activate mast cells for degranulation via stimulating Src/PI3K/AKT/Ca intracellular signaling cascade.

Unlabelled: Mast cells (MCs) are strategically located at the interface between host and environment. The non-allergic functions of MCs in immunosurveillance against pathogens have been recently underscored. However, the activation of MCs by pathogens may beneficially or detrimentally regulate immune inflammation to combat or promote pathogen invasion.

HIV-1 Nef activates proviral DNA transcription by recruiting Src kinase to phosphorylate host protein Nef-associated factor 1 to compromise its viral restrictive function.

Unlabelled: HIV-1 accessory protein Nef is a multifunctional pathogenic factor that mediates immune evasion, enhances virion infectivity, antagonizes host restrictive factors, and promotes viral dissemination. However, the modulation of Nef on proviral DNA transcription of latently infected viruses is not well understood. In this study, we found that Nef activated HIV-1 proviral DNA transcription by recruiting Src Family Kinases (SFKs) member Src to stimulate the downstream PI3K/AKT/mTOCR1/CDK9 cellular pathway, and that Naf1 (Nef-associated factor 1), a host protein that is known to suppress HIV-1 transcription, was required for this function of Nef.

Investigation on effects of TiO on cucumber seedlings using ICP-OES and LA-ICP-MS.

With the expansion of TiO applications in various fields, TiO inevitably enters the soil, increasing the possibility of plant roots being exposed to high concentrations of TiO. Therefore, it is important to study plant growth under TiO exposure conditions. In this study, the combination method of inductively coupled plasma emission spectroscopy (ICP-OES) and laser ablation inductively coupled plasma mass spectroscopy (LA-ICP-MS) was used to evaluate the effect of TiO on the content and distribution of nutrient elements in different parts of cucumber seedlings.

Efficient and Discriminative Isolation of Circulating Cancer Stem Cells and Non-Stem-like Circulating Tumor Cells Using a Click-Handle-Loaded M13 Phage-Based Surface.

Circulating tumor cells (CTCs) are crucial for cancer research and clinical applications, with circulating cancer stem cells (cCSCs) being a rare but key subpopulation responsible for metastasis, recurrence, and therapy resistance. Current limitations in efficiently isolating these cells, particularly distinguishing cCSCs from non-stem-like CTCs (nsCTCs), hinder our understanding of cancer progression and precision medicine strategies. Herein, we developed a novel CTC isolation approach that integrates cell metabolic chemical tagging with a lick-andle-loaded M13 age-based surf (CHPhace).

Atovaquone-Coordinated Copper-Polyphenol Nanoplatform Orchestrates Dual Metabolic Interference for Synergistic Cuproptosis and Apoptosis.

Cuproptosis, a copper-dependent cell death mechanism, is hindered by tumor microenvironment (TME)-driven resistance including glutathione (GSH)-mediated copper detoxification and hypoxia-induced metabolic adaptation. We propose a "dual metabolic interference" strategy to amplify cuproptosis by synergistically targeting iron-sulfur (Fe-S) cluster proteins and suppressing oxidative phosphorylation (OXPHOS). A TME-responsive nanoplatform (ACH NPs) was constructed based on a copper-shikonin coordination network (CuSK), the OXPHOS inhibitor atovaquone (ATO), and hyaluronic acid (HA).

Host factor Naf1 restricts HIV-1 infection of myeloid cells and compromises the capacity of dendritic cell to prime CD4 T cell.

Naf1 (Nef-associated factor 1) is a host protein that interacts with human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) Nef protein. We and others have previously demonstrated that Naf1 restricts HIV-1 infection of T-lymphocytes. Myeloid cells are targets for HIV infection, but Naf1 expression in myeloid cells and whether it also regulates HIV infection in these cells are not yet identified.

Computer-Aided Design of 3D Non-Enzymatic Catalytic Cascade Systems for In Situ Multiplexed mRNA Imaging in Single-Cells.

mRNA, a critical biomarker for various diseases and a promising target for cancer therapy, is central to biological and medical research. However, the development of multiplexed approaches for in situ monitoring of mRNA in live cells are limited by their reliance on enzyme-based signal amplification, challenges with in situ signal diffusion, and the complexity of nucleic acid design. In this study, we introduce a nonenzymatic catalytic DNA assembly (NEDA) technique to address these limitations.

Magnetic Field-Accelerated Nonthermal Plasma Digestion for Field Pretreatment and Determination of Heavy Metals in Biological Samples.

Field analysis of heavy metals in biological samples is essential for assessing their potential threats to human health. The development of portable pretreatment and detection devices is crucial to address this challenge. Herein, a magnetic field-accelerated nonthermal plasma digestion device using dielectric barrier discharge (DBD) is designed for the rapid and environmentally friendly pretreatment of biological samples and subsequently combined with point discharge-optical emission spectrometry (PD-OES) for sensitive determination of heavy metals.

Comparative efficacy analysis of laparoscopic-assisted transanal total mesorectal excision laparoscopic transanal mesorectal excision for low-lying rectal cancer.

Background: With the continuous development of laparoscopic techniques in recent years, laparoscopic total mesorectal excision (LapTME) and laparoscopic-assisted transanal total mesorectal excision (TaTME) have gradually become important surgical techniques for treating low-lying rectal cancer (LRC). However, there is still controversy over the efficacy and safety of these two surgical modalities in LRC treatment.

Aim: To compare the efficacy of LapTME TaTME in patients with LRC.

Dual-stage excitation source improves the analytical sensitivity of miniaturized optical emission spectrometer.

Miniaturized optical emission spectrometric (OES) devices based on various microplasma excitation sources provide a reliable tool for in-situ elemental analysis. The key to improving analytical performance is enhancing the excitation capability of the microplasma source in these devices. Here, dielectric barrier discharge (DBD) and point discharge (PD) technologies are combined to construct an enhanced dual-stage excitation source (called DBD-PD), which improves the overall excitation efficiency and OES signal sensitivity.

Electrothermal desolvation-enhanced microplasma optical emission spectrometry for sensitive determination of Cd, Zn Pb and Mn in environmental water samples.

Herein, a novel electrothermal desolvation (ED) introduction approach is developed to enhance the analytical sensitivity of the point discharge (PD)-based microplasma-optical emission spectrometric (PD-MIP-OES) system for detecting trace Cd, Zn, Pb and Mn in environmental water samples. Liquid samples are converted into aerosols through a miniature ultrasonic nebulizer, and subsequently desolvated by electric heating at 350 °C. The analytes obtained after condensation (referring to the smaller apertures aerosols and volatile analytes after ED and condensation) are excited and detected by PD-MIP-OES.

A duplex HiFi-LAMP assay for screening of two novel human circoviruses HCirV-1 and HCirV-2.

Circoviruses belong to the family Circoviridae, which is classified into two genera, Circovirus and Cyclovirus. Some circoviruses have been identified in various organisms and/or their fecal samples and might be associated with diseases in their hosts. However, few circoviruses are reported in human.

Kartogenin-Loaded Exosomes Derived From Bone Marrow Mesenchymal Stem Cells Enhance Chondrogenesis and Expedite Tendon Enthesis Healing in a Rat Model of Rotator Cuff Injury.

Background: The insufficient regeneration of fibrocartilage at the tendon enthesis is the primary cause of retearing after surgical reattachment of the rotator cuff. Exosomes derived from bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells (BMSC-Exos) and kartogenin (KGN) have been demonstrated to induce fibrocartilage formation. Loading drugs into exosomes may lead to a synergistic effect, significantly enhancing the inherent activity of both components.

Identification of common and specific cold resistance pathways from cold tolerant and non-cold tolerant mango varieties.

Mango has frequently encountered severe climate and environmental challenges such as low temperatures, seriously affecting the sustainable development of the industry. In the study, physiological measurements showed that the activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and peroxidase (POD) were found to be higher in Jinhuang (JH) mango plants than those of Tainong (TN) mango plants under cold stress, indicating cold tolerant (JH) and non-cold tolerant (TN) mango varieties were firstly determined. Subsequently, transcriptomics showed 8,337 and 7,996 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were respectively identified in JH and TN mango varieties treated at 4 °C for 36 h, while more DEGs (10,683 and 10,723) were screened when treated at 4 °C for 72 h.

Inertial and Deterministic Lateral Displacement Integrated Microfluidic Chips for Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition Analysis.

With the aim of efficiently sorting rare circulating tumor cells (CTCs) from blood and minimizing damage to CTCs during isolation, we constructed an inertia-assisted single-cell focusing generator (I-SCF) and a water droplet deterministic lateral displacement cell sorting (D-DLD) microfluidic system (IDIC) based on different sizes, the device is initially sorted by a continuous fluid swing and Dean flow-assisted helical micromixers, then flows through a droplet shaped DLD region, enabling single-cell focused sequencing and precise separation, improving cell separation efficiency (>95%) and purity, while ensuring a high single cells survival rate of more than 98.6%. Subsequently, breast cancer cell lines were run through our chip, and then the downstream epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) process induced by TGF-β was detected, and the levels of three proteins, EpCAM, PD-L1, and N-cadherin, were analyzed to establish the relationship between PD-L1 and the EMT process.