Ion-Exchange Catalyst Marries Cationic Ring-Opening Polymerization with Functional Carboxylic Acid Initiators.

Compared with the conventionally used strong acid/electrophile initiators, carboxylic acids are much more compatible with other functional groups but are incapable of initiating cationic polymerization for the one-step synthesis of end-functionalized polymers. Using lithium bis(trifluoromethanesulfonyl)imide (LiTFSI) as a catalyst, we realized carboxylic acid-initiated cationic ring-opening polymerization (CROP) of 2-ethyl-2-oxazoline (EtOx). The dynamic exchange between carboxylate and TFSI anions, driven by Li-carboxylate interaction, significantly enhances the activity of oxazolinium propagating species and ensures uniform chain growth, as shown by both experiments and calculations.

Magnetic relaxation switching biosensor based on CRISPR-mediated cascade reaction for the amplification-free detection of Salmonella.

Sensitive and accurate detection of foodborne pathogens is crucial for preventing foodborne outbreaks and ensuring public health safety, but challenged by extremely low infectious doses of many foodborne pathogens and matrix interference effects. In this study, we developed a magnetic relaxation switching biosensor boosted by CRISPR/Cas12a-mediated enzymatic cascade reaction (CMCR-MRS) for amplification-free detection of Salmonella typhimurium (S. typhimurium).

From Gut to Heart: Mendelian Randomization Study Reveals the Causal Relationship Between Gut Microbiota and N-Terminal Pro-B-Type Natriuretic Peptide.

Background: This study aimed to clarify the potential causal relationship between gut microbiota (GM) and N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) using Mendelian randomization (MR) analysis.

Methods: Genome-wide association study of intestinal flora and NT-proBNP was conducted, and the instrumental variables (IVs) were screened out to assess the causal association between intestinal flora and NT-proBNP. The 2-sample MR analysis was performed using the inverse variance weighted (IVW), MR-Egger, weighted model and simple model methods, respectively, to assess the causal association between intestinal flora and NT-proBNP using the odds ratio.

Efficacy of different storage methods and duration of blood samples on biochemical indexes in healthy blood donors.

Objective: To explore the efficacy of different blood specimen preservation methods and time on biochemical indicators of healthy blood donors.

Method: This was a retrospective observational study. Two hundred healthy blood donors were selected as the study participants at Beijing Aerospace General Hospital from April 2023 to September 2023.

Dispersity-controlled ring-opening polymerization of epoxide.

Dispersity or molar mass distribution (Ð) profoundly influences polymer properties, but its control remains a challenge, especially for ring-opening polymerization (ROP). We report here a simple approach to tailor Ð of aliphatic polyethers, e.g.

Structure characterization and repair of UVB-induced skin inflammation of rhamnomannan derived from Roseomonas mucosa DL-1.

The skin microbiome plays a crucial role in both (epi-) dermal immune and defense responses, with the skin commensal microbiota being closely associated with various skin diseases. While the therapeutic applications of skin microbiota are expanding, there are still gaps in the understanding of specific mechanisms and applications. In this study, a low-molecular-weight exopolysaccharide (DLEPS) derived from Roseomonas mucosa DL-1 was structurally analyzed using nuclear magnetic resonance and methylation techniques.

Decoding the pancreatic cancer microenvironment: The multifaceted regulation of microRNAs.

Pancreatic cancer (PC) is an extremely deadly type of cancer, and the 5-year survival rate remains less than 10%. The tumour microenvironment (TME) affects the occurrence, progression and treatment outcomes of PC. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are essential to regulate PC TME.

Slice-Inference-Assisted Lightweight Small Object Detection Model for Holographic Digital Immunoassay Quantification.

Sensitive and cost-effective detection methods utilizing portable equipment are crucial for applications in food safety inspection, environmental monitoring, and clinical diagnosis. In this study, we propose a sliced inference-assisted lightweight small object detection model (SIALSO) holographic biosensor for digital immunoassay-based quantification of chloramphenicol in food samples. This innovative biosensor combines a lens-free holographic imaging system with a lightweight deep learning model, capitalizing on the extensive field of view (FOV) of holography to facilitate precise signal detection of microsphere probes.

Lactylation: the regulatory code of cellular life activity and a barometer of diseases.

Lactylation is a novel post-translational modification of proteins, which has attracted extensive attention since its discovery. Lactylation takes lactate, a common metabolite, as its substrate and mediates the modification under the action of lactyltransferases. Although lactylation modification was initially found to undergo in histones, subsequent studies have shown that this novel modification is not limited to specific protein classes, and can undergo in both histone and non-histone proteins.

Protein-truncating variants in UQCRC1 are associated with Parkinson's disease: evidence from half-million people.

Recent studies have suggested a potential but inconsistent link between UQCRC1 and Parkinson's disease (PD). For the first time, we systematically investigated the association between non-synonymous variants in UQCRC1 and PD risk using data from the UK Biobank with half-million participants, which provide evidence supporting the role of UQCRC1 Protein-truncating variants (PTVs) in PD (P = 1.20 × 10, OR = 6.

Biomass-Derived Functional Polyacetals via Controlled Cascade Enyne Metathesis Polymerization: Tunable Degradability, Postpolymerization Modification, and Self-Assembly.

We present a versatile platform for the synthesis of functional polyacetals from sugar and furfuryl alcohol derivatives using controlled cascade enyne metathesis polymerization. A range of monomers with defined stereochemistry were explored that featured broad functional group tolerance. The polymerization showed living character and permitted preparation of functionalized polyacetals with targetable molecular weights and more complex architectures.

Microbiota-Derived Inosine Suppresses Systemic Autoimmunity via Restriction of B Cell Differentiation and Migration.

The role of gut microbiota dysbiosis in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) pathogenesis remains elusive. Here, it is shown that fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) from healthy mice to lupus mice ameliorates lupus-like symptoms. Microbiota reconstitution effectively reduces systemic class switch recombination (CSR) and elevates immunoglobulin heavy chain (IGH) naïve isotype.

-Triflylation Enables δ-Valerolactam-Epoxide Alternating Copolymerization.

δ-Valerolactam (VL), a six-membered cyclic amide, is easily accessible but hardly polymerizable, unlike other-membered homologues. We have discovered that simple -triflylation effectively activates VL for undergoing copolymerization with epoxides. The strong electron-withdrawing triflyl group allows mild organobases, in cooperation with triethyl borane and an alcohol initiator, to trigger the reaction at room temperature, affording strictly alternating poly(ester-sulfonamide) with controlled molar mass and low dispersity.

Mesenchymal Stromal Cell-Based Therapy: A Promising Approach for Autoimmune Diseases.

Autoimmune diseases are characterized by immune dysregulation, resulting in aberrant reactivity of T cells and antibodies to self-antigens, leading to various patterns of inflammation and organ dysfunction. However, current therapeutic agents exhibit broad-spectrum activity and lack disease-specific selectivity, leading to enduring adverse effects, notably severe infections, and malignancies, and patients often fail to achieve the intended clinical goals. Mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs) are multipotent stromal cells that can be easily derived from various tissues, such as adipose tissue, umbilical cords, Wharton's jelly, placenta, and dental tissues.

Lens-Free Holographic Imaging-Based Immunosensor Using Unpaired Data Set Signal-to-Noise Ratio-Enhanced Modal Transformation for Biosensing.

Conventional microscopes have limited capacities to reconcile the trade-off between the lens and field of view (FOV). Thus, the imaging field and accuracy of immunosensors remain restricted. In this study, a holographic deep learning unpaired modal transformation-assisted immunosensor is presented, combining a portable lens-free holographic imaging device with a CuO@SiO nanoparticle-based click reaction signal amplification strategy for accurate antibiotic detection.

CuO@SiO nanoparticle assisted click reaction-mediated magnetic relaxation biosensor for rapid detection of Salmonella in food.

Foodborne pathogens seriously threaten people's life and well-being. In this study, we developed a novel magnetic relaxation time (PCuMRS) biosensor by integrating phage, differential magnetic separation technology, and copper catalyzed click reaction to enable rapid and sensitive detection of viable Salmonella typhimurium (S. typhimurium) in food within 80 min.

Acidity Reversal Enables Site-Specific Ring-Opening Polymerization of Epoxides from Biprotonic Compounds.

Polyethers are versatile materials extensively used in advanced as well as everyday applications. The incorporation of primary amine functionality into polyethers is particularly attractive due to its well-established coupling chemistries. However, the inherent nucleophilicity of amine group poses a challenge in the anionic ring-opening polymerization (ROP) of epoxides and requires the use of robust protecting groups that can withstand the harsh conditions of ROP without triggering undesirable side reactions.

A Pseudo-Block Copolymerization Access to Cyclic Alternating Copolymers through Segment-Selective Transesterification.

Efficient synthesis of cyclic polymers remains a frontier challenge. We report here that macromolecular transesterification during a pseudoblock copolymerization process can be utilized for such a purpose. Organobase-catalyzed ring-opening alternating copolymerization of 3,4-dihydrocoumarin and epoxide is conducted with four-armed poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO) as a macroinitiator.

A study of the risk factors for Ureaplasma urealyticum infection and the predictive role of immunoinflammation.

Introduction: Despite increasing awareness on the prevention of Ureaplasma urealyticum (Uu) infection, the high-risk factors responsible for infection in female patients in China are yet to be determined.

Methodology: The study included 3043 Chinese women. Cervical secretion samples were collected for Uu identification.

Polyglycidamides: from Backbone-Promoted Amidation to Degradable Polyether with Wide-Range LCST.

Amide groups occur extensively in natural and synthetic polymers cultivating their vital roles in biological and industrial worlds. We report here an efficient and controlled pathway to amide-functionalized polyethers through ring-opening polymerization (ROP) of commercially available ethyl glycidate followed by amidation of the pendant ester groups. Transesterification is inhibited during the ROP by use of a two-component organocatalyst.

Unsupervised Learning-Assisted Acoustic-Driven Nano-Lens Holography for the Ultrasensitive and Amplification-Free Detection of Viable Bacteria.

Bacterial infection is a crucial factor resulting in public health issues worldwide, often triggering epidemics and even fatalities. The accurate, rapid, and convenient detection of viable bacteria is an effective method for reducing infections and illness outbreaks. Here, an unsupervised learning-assisted and surface acoustic wave-interdigital transducer-driven nano-lens holography biosensing platform is developed for the ultrasensitive and amplification-free detection of viable bacteria.

Selective Ring-Opening Polymerization of Silyl Glycidyl Ether through Organocatalysis.

Silyl ether constitutes a multipurpose (macro)molecular functionality for being, e.g., SuFEx-clickable and easily cleavable as a hydroxyl precursor.