Mechanistic insights into baicalein's anti-inflammatory effects in COPD: Targeting oxidative stress and CD8⁺ T cell cytotoxicity.

Background: Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is ​​defined by chronic airway inflammation. Traditional Chinese herb Pinellia ternata is used to treat COPD, but its bioactive components and mechanisms are unclear.

Purpose: To identify the key active component of Pinellia ternate and explore its therapeutic mechanisms in COPD.

Synergistic adsorption mechanisms of self-N-doped biochar for levofloxacin elimination: integrated experimental and DFT studies.

The efficient removal of fluoroquinolone antibiotics from water is critical for water pollution control. In this study, a novel self-nitrogen doped porous biochar (KBC) was synthesized using waste peanut meal as a precursor, combined with high-temperature pyrolysis (900 °C) and an activating agent (CHKO) at an optimal mass ratio of 1:2. The KBC exhibited excellent adsorption capacity for levofloxacin (LEV) with the maximum capacity of 717.

Impact of pre-transplant body mass index on outcomes in AML patients aged ≥ 50 years after allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation.

Introduction: The prognostic significance of body mass index (BMI) in elderly acute myeloid leukemia (AML) patients undergoing allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation (allo-HCT) remains controversial.

Methods: This retrospective study analyzed 142 AML patients aged ≥50 years receiving allo-HCT (2013-2022), stratified by Chinese BMI criteria: low BMI (<24 kg/m², n = 83) vs. high BMI (≥24 kg/m², n = 59).

Plasticity of the anatomical traits of L. (Ericaceae) leaves and its implications in adaptation to the plateau environment.

There is a variety of plants in the Tibetan plateau; yet, little is known about their variations in leaf anatomical traits and the implications for environmental adaptation. In this study, we investigated the anatomical traits of leaves in five L. species from Shergyla Mountain on the Tibetan plateau.

Prenatal exposure to PM constituents and newborn leukocyte telomere length in a prospective study: Windows of susceptibility and modification by maternal folic acid supplementation.

Prenatal exposure to fine particulate matter (PM) is related to alterations in newborn telomere length (TL), an indicator of cellular aging. However, the specific effects of PM constituents and windows of susceptibility are unknown. We aimed to identify the susceptibility windows for prenatal PM constituents affecting newborn leukocyte TL (LTL) and examine the modifying role of folic acid (FA) supplementation.

Identifying KL-6-Associated Immune Cell Signatures and Key Genes in Emphysematous COPD.

Background: This study aimed to evaluate the potential of Krebs von den lungen-6 (KL-6) as a biomarker for distinguishing emphysematous chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD-E) from non-emphysematous COPD (COPD-NE), and to explore the underlying mechanisms associated with KL-6 expression.

Methods: We enrolled 154 patients with COPD and 170 healthy controls to assess serum KL-6 levels. Receiver operating characteristic curve was used to determine the diagnostic sensitivity and specificity.

The Impact of Asthma Control on the Clinical and Depressive Symptoms in Pediatric Asthma Patients.

Background: Asthma is a common chronic respiratory disease that severely affects children's health and leads to anxiety and depressive symptoms. Therefore, this study aims to investigate the correlation between asthma control status and depressive symptoms in children with asthma.

Methods: This study included pediatric asthma patients (n = 117) who were admitted to Jiaozhou Central Hospital of Qingdao between January 2021 and January 2023.

Nanocellulose composites with enhanced mechanical and flame-retardant properties based on grafting of inorganic organic/multilayer core-shell matter - MSNs-TMSB/DA/TOCNF.

Flame retardant materials are essential for safety, yet their development is often hindered by trade-offs between efficiency, aging resistance, and mechanical properties. Traditional organic flame retardants are inefficient and degrade over time, while inorganic alternatives, despite their effectiveness, are difficult to integrate into composites. Here we showed the synthesis of a novel inorganic silica-based flame retardant, PDA@MSNs-TMSB, which chemically modified nanocellulose fibrils, enhancing flame retardancy, aging resistance, and toughness without compromising integrity.

Interaction mechanisms between α-glucosidase and procyanidin dimers with different galloyl moiety: Multi-spectral analysis and molecular dynamics simulation.

This study investigated the interaction mechanisms between α-glucosidase and procyanidin dimers containing varying galloyl moieties. The in vitro inhibitory assay demonstrated that a dose-dependent inhibition on α-glucosidase with IC₅₀ values spanning from 0.29 mg/mL (PCBDG) to 80.

Gastrobronchial fistula after esophageal cancer surgery treated by silicone plug.

Gastrobronchial fistula (GBF) is a rare but serious complication following esophagectomy, associated with high morbidity and mortality. The use of silicone plugs has proven effective in closing bronchial fistulas in other contexts, but its application in GBF has not been widely described. In this article, we report the successful closure of a GBF using a self-made silicone plug under bronchoscopic guidance in a patient with a history of esophagectomy for esophageal cancer.

Advanced Phosphorus-Protein Hybrid Coatings for Fire Safety of Cotton Fabrics, Developed Through the Layer-by-Layer Assembly Technique.

An advanced, eco-friendly, and fully bio-based flame retardant (FR) system has been created and applied to the cellulose structure of the cotton fabric through a layer-by-layer coating method. This study examines the flame-retardant mechanism of protein-based and phosphorus-containing coatings to improve fire resistance. During combustion, the phosphate groups (-PO₄) in phosphorus containing flame retardant layers interact with the amino groups (-NH) of protein, forming ester bonds, which results in the generation of a crosslinked network between the amino groups and the phosphate groups.

Global Critical Drought Thresholds of Terrestrial Carbon Sink-Source Transition.

Drought is considered a major contributor to carbon sink fluctuations in terrestrial ecosystems and is expected to lead to more frequent carbon sink-source transitions under future climate change. The drought threshold for carbon sink-source transition reflects the critical inflection point at which the carbon sequestration capacity of vegetation is affected by water deficit. However, the spatiotemporal patterns of the global drought threshold and their underlying mechanisms remain poorly understood.

Exposure to green space and leukocyte mitochondrial DNA copy number in children and adolescents.

Mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) is vulnerable to environmental exposure and is related to various diseases. However, the relationship of green space exposure with mtDNA copy number (mtDNAcn) is not yet well clarified. In this study, we sought to explore how green space exposure influences mtDNAcn in children and adolescents.

Prevalence and clinical implications of the rare arc of Bühler using computed tomography angiography and digital subtraction angiography: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background: Knowledge of the rare arc of Bühler (AOB) is limited but clinically important. At present, there is no publication of systematic review and meta-analysis on AOB in computed tomography angiography (CTA) and digital subtraction angiography (DSA) examinations.

Objective: The objective of this study was to evaluate the pooled prevalence and clinical implications of the AOB by using CTA and DSA examinations.

Phosphorylated chitosan@MXene biomass-based coating with high flame retardancy and environmental friendliness for cotton fabric.

To obtain cotton fabrics with high-efficiency flame retardancy, a novel nanohybrid MXene modified with phosphorylated chitosan (CS) was successfully prepared through a simple chemical modification strategy. It was subsequently employed in the fabrication of PC@T-MXene-functionalized cotton fabric (PC@T-MXene-C) through an impregnation process. The thermal stability and flame retardancy of the pure and treated cotton textiles were analyzed via TGA, LOI, VBT flammability tests and cone calorimetry.

The Change of Skeletal Muscle Caused by Inflammation in Obesity as the Key Path to Fibrosis: Thoughts on Mechanisms and Intervention Strategies.

Obesity leads to a chronic inflammatory state throughout the body, with increased infiltration of immune cells and inflammatory factors in skeletal muscle tissue, and, at the same time, the level of intracellular mitochondrial oxidative stress rises. Meanwhile, obesity is closely related to the development of skeletal muscle fibrosis and can affect the metabolic function of skeletal muscle, triggering metabolic disorders such as insulin resistance (IR) and type 2 diabetes (T2D). However, whether there is a mutual regulatory effect between the two pathological states of inflammation and fibrosis in obese skeletal muscle and the specific molecular mechanisms have not been fully clarified.

Retrieval of Entrapped Embolic Protection Device during Carotid Artery Stenting: A Case Report.

Aim: This study aims to report a rare case of an embolization protection device (EPD) entrapment during Carotid Artery Stent (CAS) and to discuss the management strategy, including open surgery and concurrent carotid endarterectomy (CEA).

Case Presentation: A 71-year-old female presented with left limb weakness and unclear speech following CAS. Imaging revealed a new cerebral infarction and right internal carotid artery stenosis.

Analysis of Clinical Features and Pathogen Characteristics of Urinary Tract Infections in Neonates: A Retrospective Study.

Purpose: Urinary tract infections (UTIs) in neonates pose notable challenges in diagnosis and management because of non-specific clinical manifestations and unique physiological characteristics. Understanding the clinical features and pathogen characteristics of UTIs in this population is crucial for tailored diagnostic and therapeutic strategies. This study aimed to investigate varying clinical features and pathogen characteristics of UTIs, thereby offering a holistic perspective on the multifaceted aspects of UTIs in neonates.

Inhibitory mechanisms of galloylated forms of theaflavins on α-glucosidase.

Theaflavins, oxidation product of tea polyphenols, have demonstrated significant inhibitory effects on α-glucosidase, which is beneficial in alleviating hyperglycemia. This study found that the inhibition of four monomers of theaflavins on α-glucosidase was related to the presence of the galloyl moiety (GM), with IC values ranging from TFDG (0.26 mg/mL) < TF3'G (0.

Exposure to multiple metals and leukocyte telomere length in children and adolescents: The mediating effect of thyroid hormones.

Exposure to metals has been related to alterations in leukocyte telomere length (LTL), an aging marker. However, the evidence regarding this relationship in children and adolescents, as well as the underlying mechanisms, remains unclear. Therefore, we aimed to explore the individual and mixture effects of metals on LTL in children and adolescents and to assess the mediating role of thyroid hormones and the modifying effect of a healthy lifestyle.

Phosphorylated octa-aminopropyl POSS grafting on proanthocyanidin interface decorated 2D MXene for enhanced flame-retardancy of cotton fabric nanocomposites.

Two-dimensional (2D) nanosheet materials (MXenes) have unparalleled advantages in the field of flame-retardant multifunctional composites, but their dispersibility, flame retardancy and compatibility with the matrix are poor and need to be enhanced. In this research, we employed interfacial decoration and grafting modification to firstly introduce proanthocyanidins (PCs) onto MXenes surface (forming PC-MXenes) to increase the number of available active sites. On this basis, phosphorylated A-POSS was grafted onto PC-MXene (resulting in PAP@P-MXene) via a one-pot method, organic-inorganic hybrid flame-retardant PAP@P-MXene nano-coatings were subsequently constructed on the surface of cotton fabrics via an immersion method, and their structure-property relationships were verified.

Protonation Weakens the Influence of Ribose on Triplet Decay of 2-Thiocytidine.

Long-lived triplet states are critical intermediates of thiobases for their applications in photodynamic therapy and as photoprobes for DNA/RNA-protein interactions, where thiobases are embedded in DNA/RNA and exist as thionucleosides. However, sugar moieties accelerate triplet decay rates, which is a common issue that must be resolved for thionucleosides. Here, we explore whether protonation of 2-thiocytosine (2tCyt) and 2-thiocytidine (2tCyd) under acidic pH can alter their triplet decays.

Reproductive factors and biological aging: the association with all-cause and cause-specific premature mortality.

Study Question: Are reproductive factors associated with biological aging, and does biological aging mediate the associations of reproductive factors with premature mortality?

Summary Answer: Multiple reproductive factors are related to phenotypic age acceleration (PhenoAge-Accel), while adherence to a healthy lifestyle mitigates these harmful effects; PhenoAge-Accel mediated the associations between reproductive factors and premature mortality.

What Is Known Already: Accelerated aging is a key contributor to mortality, but knowledge about the effect of reproductive factors on aging is limited.

Study Design, Size, Duration: This prospective cohort study included 223 729 women aged 40-69 years from the UK biobank in 2006-2010 and followed up until 12 November 2021.

Monocyte-lymphocyte ratio predicts cardiovascular diseases death in individuals with type 2 diabetes.

Purpose: Previous studies have shown higher cardiovascular mortality risk with higher monocyte-lymphocyte ratio levels in general population. However, the levels of oxidative stress in individuals with type 2 diabetes are higher than those in the general population, which may affect the link between monocyte-to-lymphocyte ratio and cardiovascular disease deaths. And the association between the monocyte-to-lymphocyte ratio and mortality risk in people with type 2 diabetes still be unknown.