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.

Plasma complement proteins as biomarkers and therapeutic targets in chronic kidney disease: a Mendelian randomization analysis.

Background: Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD) is a progressive condition leading to End-Stage Kidney Disease (ESKD). With limited treatment options, identifying biomarkers related to CKD onset and progression is essential. The complement system, an immune network, has shown potential involvement in CKD pathogenesiss.

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.

Status and influencing factors of balance in middle-aged and older adults with Parkinson's disease: a national longitudinal study.

Background: To examine the current status and influencing factors of balance in middle-aged and older adults with Parkinson's disease (PD) and explore the correlations of these factors with balance.

Methods: The China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study (CHARLS) Database in 2015, 2018 and 2020 were utilized as the data source, from which the missing value samples were excluded and 1,390 participants aged ≥45 years were recruited. Using the chi-square test, balance comparisons were made among middle-aged and older adults PD patients under different indicators.

Gene editing, metabolomics, network pharmacology strategies to explore terpenoid content and anti-TMV activity in NtSPS1 knockout Nicotiana tabacum.

The content of terpenoids in tobacco can alter its resistance to TMV. NtSPS1, a pivotal structural gene in tobacco, is capable to regulate the terpenoid content. In this study, we investigated the effect of NtSPS1 knockout in HD on the content of terpenoids and the anti-TMV activity of this mutant using gene editing, widely targeted metabolomics, network pharmacology, and molecular docking.

Plasma proteomic signatures for type 2 diabetes and related traits in the UK Biobank cohort.

Objective: The plasma proteome holds promise as a diagnostic and prognostic tool that can accurately reflect complex human traits and disease processes. We assessed the ability of proteins to predict type 2 diabetes and related traits.

Study Design: We analyzed clinical, genetic, and proteomic data from three UK Biobank subcohorts for associations with truncal fat, estimated maximum oxygen consumption (VOmax), and type 2 diabetes.

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.

Premorbid predictors of death at initial presentation of coronary heart disease in the Women's Health Initiative study.

Background: Premorbid health traits that increase the risk of dying at the time of initial presentation of coronary heart disease (CHD) remain poorly characterized.

Methods: We followed 148,230 post-menopausal participants in the Women's Health Initiative for a median of 13.3 years.

Associations between accurate measures of adiposity and fitness, blood proteins, and insulin sensitivity among South Asians and Europeans.

Objective: South Asians (SAs) may possess a unique predisposition to insulin resistance (IR). We explored this possibility by investigating the relationship between 'gold standard' measures of adiposity, fitness, selected proteomic biomarkers, and insulin sensitivity among a cohort of SAs and Europeans (EURs).

Methods: A total of 46 SAs and 41 EURs completed 'conventional' (lifestyle questionnaires, standard physical exam) as well as 'gold standard' (dual energy X-ray absorptiometry scan, cardiopulmonary exercise test, and insulin suppression test) assessments of adiposity, fitness, and insulin sensitivity.

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.

Case report: Autoimmune glial fibrillary acidic protein astrocytopathy with overlapping autoimmune syndrome.

Autoimmune glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) astrocytopathy is a rare autoimmune disease, which is characterized by the immune system attacking astrocytes in the central nervous system, resulting in inflammation and damage to the nervous system. We reported a 41-year-old female patient with only drowsiness for 3 months, who was, otherwise, healthy with no other signs of meningoencephalitis or myelitis. There were no obvious abnormalities in her neurological and ophthalmic tests.

A plasma proteomic signature for atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease risk prediction in the UK Biobank cohort.

Background: While risk stratification for atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD) is essential for primary prevention, current clinical risk algorithms demonstrate variability and leave room for further improvement. The plasma proteome holds promise as a future diagnostic and prognostic tool that can accurately reflect complex human traits and disease processes. We assessed the ability of plasma proteins to predict ASCVD.

Associations between accurate measures of adiposity and fitness, blood proteins, and insulin sensitivity among South Asians and Europeans.

Objective: South Asians (SAs) may possess a unique predisposition to insulin resistance (IR). We explored this possibility by investigating the relationship between 'gold standard' measures of adiposity, fitness, selected proteomic biomarkers, and insulin sensitivity among a cohort of SAs and Europeans (EURs).

Methods: A total of 46 SAs and 41 EURs completed 'conventional' (lifestyle questionnaires, standard physical exam) as well as 'gold standard' (dual energy X-ray absorptiometry scan, cardiopulmonary exercise test, and insulin suppression test) assessments of adiposity, fitness, and insulin sensitivity.

A violet light-emitting diode-based gas-phase molecular absorption device for measurement of nitrate and nitrite in environmental water.

A simple and sensitive device for the detection of nitrite and nitrate in environmental waters was developed based on visible light gas-phase molecular absorption spectrometry. By integrating a detection cell (DC), semiconductor refrigeration temperature-controlling system (SRTCY), and nitrite reactor into a sequential injection analysis system, trace levels of nitrite and nitrate in complex matrices were successfully measured. A low energy-consuming light-emitting diode (violet, 400-405 nm) was coupled with a visible light-to-voltage converter (TSL257) to measure the gas-phase molecular absorption.

A hydrodynamic-based dual-function microfluidic chip for high throughput discriminating tumor cells.

A hydrodynamic-based microfluidic chip consisted of two function units that could not only separate tumor cells (TCs) from whole blood but also remove residual blood cells was designed. The separation of TCs was achieved by a straight contraction-expansion array (CEA) microchannel on the front end of the chip. The addition of contractive structure brought a micro-vortex like Dean vortex that promoted cell focusing in the channel, while when cells entered the dilated region, the wall-induced lift force generated by the channel wall gave cells a push away from the wall.

Multiplex Profiling of Biomarker and Drug Uptake in Single Cells Using Microfluidic Flow Cytometry and Mass Spectrometry.

To perform multiplex profiling of single cells and eliminate the risk of potential sample loss caused by centrifugation, we developed a microfluidic flow cytometry and mass spectrometry system (μCytoMS) to evaluate the drug uptake and induced protein expression at the single cell level. It involves a microfluidic chip for the alignment and purification of single cells followed by detection with laser-induced fluorescence (LIF) and inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS). Biofunctionalized nanoprobes (BioNPs), conjugating ∼3000 6-FAM-Sgc8 aptamers on a single gold nanoparticle (AuNP) ( = 0.

Tracking and imaging nano-plastics in fresh plant using cryogenic laser ablation inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry.

Tracking and imaging of nano-plastics are extremely challenging, especially in fresh biological samples. Here, we propose a new strategy in which polystyrene (PS) was doped with the europium chelate Eu (DBM)bpy to quantify, track, and in situ image nano-plastics in fresh cucumber based on inherent metals using cryogenic laser ablation inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (cryo-LA-ICP-MS). The cryogenic conditions provide a stable condition for imaging fresh cucumber, suppressing the evaporation of water in fresh plants, and maintaining the original structure of plants with respect to room temperature imaging in LA-ICP-MS.

Interaction of Cellular Uptake of Nanosilver and Metallothionein Stress Expression Elucidated by 2D Single-Cell Analyses Based on LIF and ICP-MS.

The exploration of cytology mechanisms of nanosilver uptake, toxicity, and detoxification has become an important issue due to its widespread applications. Previous studies have shown differences in the toxic response of mammalian cells to nanosilver. However, the analysis results based on cell populations ignore the impact of cell uptake heterogeneity on the expression of associated stress proteins and cellular physiological activities.

Single Cell Phenotypic Analysis for Cancer Stem Cell Identification by Dual-Isotope ICP-QMS.

Single cell phenotypic analysis is significant for clinical diagnosis, treatment, and prognosis of cancer. Accurate differentiation of cancer stem cell (CSC) subpopulations from a large number of cancer cells may become a cancer surveillance tool and provide important implications for the development of new CSC-targeted therapy strategies. Herein, we report a new approach based on dual-isotope inductively coupled plasma quadrupole mass spectrometry (ICP-QMS) for single cell phenotypic analysis.

Two-Dimensional Multi-parameter Cytometry Platform for Single-Cell Analysis.

A 2D flow cytometry platform, known as CytoLM Plus, was developed for multi-parameter single-cell analysis. Single particles or cells after hydrodynamic alignment in a microfluidic unit undergo first-dimension fluorescence and side scattering dual-channel optical detection. They were thereafter immediately directed to ICP-MS by connecting the microfluidic unit with a high-efficiency nebulizer to facilitate the second-dimension ICP-MS detection.

[Impacts of Climate Change and Human Activities on NDVI Change in Eastern Coastal Areas of China].

Based on the datasets of normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI), temperature, precipitation, and solar radiation and the methods of trend, partial correlation, and residual analyses, this study explored the spatiotemporal variation in NDVI and its response to climate change from 1982 to 2019 in eastern coastal areas of China. Then, the effects of climate change and non-climatic factors (e.g.

Open flow cytometer with the combination of 3D hydrodynamic single cell focusing and confocal laser-induced fluorescence detection.

Flow cytometry is among the most powerful tools for single-cell analysis, while the high cost and mechanical complexity of the commercial instrumentation limit the applications in personalized single-cell analysis. For this issue, we hereby construct an open and low-cost flow cytometer. It is highly compact to integrate the functions of (1) single cell aligning by a lab-made modularized 3D hydrodynamic focusing device, and (2) fluorescence detection of the single cells by a confocal laser-induced fluorescence (LIF) detector.