Characterization and source apportionment of heavy metal contamination in agricultural soils in the complex genesis region of western Yunnan.

The genesis of heavy metal contamination in arable soils is complex, and scientifically identifying risks and precisely analyzing contamination sources are essential for safely using contaminated arable land. In this study, we systematically evaluated the pollution characteristics of Cu, Zn, As, Hg, Cd, Pb, Ni, and Cr in soil, and then applied the APCS-MLR and PMF models to jointly analyze pollution sources and their contributions. The results showed that the concentrations of the eight heavy metals were significantly higher than the background values for soils in Yunnan Province, exhibiting clear spatial heterogeneity.

Role of dynamic contrast-enhanced and dynamic susceptibility contrast imaging in evaluating the biological features of glioma.

Background: Given the limitations of conventional imaging in accurately grading gliomas, predicting molecular subtypes, and assessing tumor proliferation and angiogenesis, there is a growing need for advanced quantitative magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) biomarkers. This study aimed to compare the diagnostic performance of histogram features of dynamic contrast enhanced (DCE) and dynamic susceptibility contrast (DSC) imaging in predicting glioma grade and genotyping, as well as to explore the association between DCE and DSC with Ki-67 and microvascular density (MVD).

Methods: Forty-six patients with gliomas were enrolled prospectively.

Hepatoprotective effects of the active extracts from Chrysanthemi Indici Flos via regulating epigenetic networks.

Chrysanthemi Indici Flos, traditionally known for its heat-clearing, detoxifying, liver-dredging, and vision-improving properties, targets the liver meridian and has a long history of use in China. Our previous study demonstrated that extracts of Chrysanthemi Indici Flos (CIC) exert multiple effects on hepatic disorders, including anti-hepatitis B virus activity and immune modulation, particularly in liver protection. However, the exact mechanism underlying its hepatoprotective effects remains unclear.

dbscATAC: a resource of single-cell super-enhancers/enhancers and gene markers derived from scATAC-seq data.

Motivation: scATAC-seq enables high-resolution mapping of cis-regulatory elements. It has been widely applied to uncover cell-type-specific regulatory networks and complement scRNA-seq analysis in numerous studies. However, a large number of datasets generated by scATAC-seq remain underutilized due to limited exploration of super-enhancers/typical enhancers and gene markers.

A single-cell transcriptomic atlas of immune cells in Wilson disease identifies copper-specific immune regulation.

Wilson disease (WD) is caused by mutations of the copper-transporting gene, , leading to abnormal copper metabolism. A better characterization of WD is essential in understanding the effects of excess copper and how it disrupts immune regulation and hematopoietic development. Furthermore, the exploration of the relationship between copper-mediated proliferation or cuproptosis and immune regulation is critical for developing new immune therapies.

Bispecific antibodies in immunotherapy for acute leukemia: latest updates from the 66th annual meeting of the American society of hematology, 2024.

Bispecific antibodies (BsAbs) are cutting-edge immunotherapy agents that can bind two distinct antigens or epitopes simultaneously. They hold significant potential in targeting leukemic cell markers and activating immune cells like T cells or NK cells to eliminate malignant cells. BsAb treatments showed encouraging outcomes for both acute myeloid leukemia (AML) and acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL).

Differentiating patterns of neuro-circuitry abnormalities in tremor dominant parkinson's disease and multiple system atrophy: a resting-state fMRI study.

This study aimed to elucidate distinctive patterns of brain functional activity in tremor-dominant Multiple System Atrophy (MSA) and Parkinson's Disease (PD) patients and develop a diagnostic model distinguishing between the two conditions based on these changes. Resting-state fMRI data from 45 MSA patients, 55 PD patients, and 48 healthy controls were analyzed using Percent Amplitude of Fluctuation (PerAF), Functional (FC) and Effective Connectivity (EC) analyses. The Support Vector Machine (SVM) was used to create the diagnostic model from the identified functional alterations.

Interpretable adaptive fault detection method for smart grid based on belief rule base.

An effective fault detection strategy has always been the focus of smart grid system research. Fast and accurate fault detection is the basis for complex systems to maintain reliability and security. However, traditional fault detection methods often ignore the interpretability of the model while pursuing high detection accuracy.

(Apo)Lipoprotein Profiling with Multi-Omics Analysis Identified Medium-HDL-Targeting PSRC1 with Therapeutic Potential for Coronary Artery Disease.

Identification of (apo)lipoprotein subclasses causally underpinning atherosclerosis may lead to identification of novel drug targets for treatment of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD). In this study, observational and genetic associations between (apo)lipoprotein profile and carotid intima-media thickness-assessed atherosclerosis, and risks of coronary artery disease (CAD) and ischemic stroke (IS) are assessed, using data from the UK Biobank study, with further exploration of potential drug target for these two ASCVD subtypes through multi-omics analysis integrating genetic, transcriptomic, and proteomic data. Cholesteryl ester content in medium high-density lipoprotein causally protective of atherosclerosis is identified, plus a target gene, PSRC1, with therapeutic potential for CAD, but not IS, supported by consistent evidence from multi-omics layers of data, which also reveals that such therapeutic potential may be through downregulation of circulating proteins including TRP1, GRNs, and Pla2g12b, and upregulation of Neo1.

The complete mitochondrial genome of camphor lace bug, (Hemiptera: Tingidae) and its phylogenetic analysis.

Drake, 1948 (Hemiptera: Tingidae) is an important pest of camphor trees. The complete mitochondrial genome of was sequenced and assembled in this paper. The circular genome is 15,407 bp in length and contains 37 genes (13 protein-coding genes, 22 transfer RNA genes, 2 ribosomal RNA genes) as well as one AT-rich region (GenBank accession no.

Chromosome-level genome assembly of the sweet potato rot nematode Ditylenchus destructor.

Ditylenchus destructor, commonly known as the potato rot nematode, is a significant plant-parasitic pathogen affecting over 120 plant species globally. Effective control measures for D. destructor are limited, underscoring the need a high-quality reference genome to understand its pathogenic mechanisms.

Sovleplenib in patients with primary or secondary warm autoimmune haemolytic anaemia: results from phase 2 of a randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled, phase 2/3 study.

Background: Spleen tyrosine kinase inhibitors are potential treatment options for warm autoimmune haemolytic anaemia. This study aimed to assess the preliminary efficacy and safety of sovleplenib-an oral spleen tyrosine kinase inhibitor-in patients with warm autoimmune haemolytic anaemia in China. Here we report on the phase 2 results.

Exosome-Mediated Lectin Pathway and Resistin-MIF-AA Metabolism Axis Drive Immune Dysfunction in Immune Thrombocytopenia.

Immune thrombocytopenia (ITP) is an autoimmune disorder characterized by reduced platelet levels and heightened susceptibility to bleeding resulting from augmented autologous platelet destruction and diminished thrombopoiesis. Although antibody-mediated autoimmune reactions are widely recognized as primary factors, the precise etiological agents that trigger ITP remain unidentified. The pathogenesis of ITP remains unclear owing to the absence of comprehensive high-throughput data, except for the belated emergence of autoreactive antibodies.

Reducing Cd and Pb Accumulation in Potatoes: The Role of Soil Passivators in Contaminated Mining Soils.

This work aimed to explore safe techniques for the utilization of farmland surrounding mining areas contaminated with heavy metals-specifically cadmium (Cd) and lead (Pb)-in order to achieve food security in agricultural production. A potato variety (Qingshu 9) with high Cd and Pb accumulation was used as the test crop, and seven treatments were set up: control (CK), special potato fertilizer (T1), humic acid (T2), special potato fertilizer + humic acid (T3), biochar (T4), calcium magnesium phosphate fertilizer (T5), and biochar + calcium magnesium phosphate fertilizer (T6). The remediation effect of the combined application of different passivators on the accumulation of cadmium and lead in potatoes in the contaminated soil of a mining area was studied.

Unveiling Key Genes Modulating Retinal Cell Survival and Autophagy in Glaucoma.

Glaucoma is a leading cause of irreversible blindness, with rising incidence globally. Effective treatment is challenging due to limited understanding of the disease mechanisms. Growth factor activity is crucial in glaucoma, with potential to reduce retinal ganglion cell (RGC) apoptosis and slow disease progression.

Targeted metabolomics identified novel metabolites, predominantly phosphatidylcholines and docosahexaenoic acid-containing lipids, predictive of incident chronic kidney disease in middle-to-elderly-aged Chinese adults.

Background: Evidence is limited regarding the association of circulating metabolites with decline of kidney function, letting alone their value in prediction of development of chronic kidney disease (CKD).

Methods: This study included 3802 participants aged 64.1 ± 7.

Design, Bioactivity, and Action Mechanism of Pyridinecarbaldehyde Phenylhydrazone Derivatives with Broad-Spectrum Antifungal Activity.

Replacing old pesticides with new pesticide varieties has been the main means to solve pesticide resistance. Therefore, it is necessary to research and develop new antifungal agents for plant protection. In this study, a series of pyridinecarbaldehyde phenylhydrazone derivatives were designed and evaluated for their inhibition activity on plant pathogenic fungi to search for novel fungicide candidates.

Dysregulated T-cell homeostasis and decreased CD30 Treg proliferating in aplastic anemia.

Aplastic anemia (AA) is an autoimmune hematopoietic disease mediated by autoreactive T cells leading to bone marrow failure. However, the precise role of autoreactive T cells in the development of AA is not fully understood, hindering the advancement of therapeutic and diagnostic strategies. In this study, we conducted a single-cell transcriptome analysis of CD8 T cells, conventional CD4 T (CD4 Tconv) cells, and Treg cells, to elucidate the potential disruption of T cell homeostasis in patients with AA.

CO-19 PDB 2.0: A Comprehensive COVID-19 Database with Global Auto-Alerts, Statistical Analysis, and Cancer Correlations.

Biological databases serve as critical basics for modern research, and amid the dynamic landscape of biology, the COVID-19 database has emerged as an indispensable resource. The global outbreak of Covid-19, commencing in December 2019, necessitates comprehensive databases to unravel the intricate connections between this novel virus and cancer. Despite existing databases, a crucial need persists for a centralized and accessible method to acquire precise information within the research community.

Metabolic health and genetic predisposition in inflammatory bowel disease: Insights from a prospective cohort study.

Background: Metabolic disorders exhibit strong inflammatory underpinnings and vice versa. This study aimed to investigate the association between metabolic health status, genetic predisposition, and the risk of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), and to explore the potential benefits of maintaining ideal metabolic status for individuals with a predetermined genetic risk of IBD.

Method: This population-based prospective study included 385,820 unrelated European descent participants from the UK Biobank.

Enhancement of Calcium Chelating Activity in Peptides from Sea Cucumber Ovum through Phosphorylation Modification.

Recently, phosphorylation has been applied to peptides to enhance their physiological activity, taking advantage of its modification benefits and the extensive study of functional peptides. In this study, water-soluble peptides (WSPs) of sea cucumber ovum were phosphorylated in order to improve the latter's calcium binding capacity and calcium absorption. Enzymatic hydrolysis methods were screened via ultraviolet-visible absorption spectroscopy (UV-Vis), the fluorescence spectrum, and calcium chelating ability.

Nickel-Catalyzed Multicomponent Assembly of Alkynes toward α-CF-Alkenes.

We disclose an efficient nickel catalytic system for expediting the coupling of alkynes with fluoroalkyl hydrazones and boronic acids, thus facilitating the synthesis of stereospecific α-fluoroalkyl-alkene derivatives. 3-Pyrazoles might be involved as key intermediates through a nitrogen-releasing process, enabling subsequent coupling with boronic acids to afford 1,2-difunctional alkenes in a highly efficient and step-economical fashion. This tandem platform demonstrates broad functional group tolerance, including complex natural products and drug-like molecules.

Hydraulic properties and drought response of a tropical bamboo ().

Bamboo plants are an essential component of tropical ecosystems, yet their vulnerability to climate extremes, such as drought, is poorly understood due to limited knowledge of their hydraulic properties. , a commonly used tropical bamboo species, exhibited a substantially higher mortality rate than other co-occurring bamboos during a severe drought event in 2019, but the underlying mechanisms remain unclear. This study investigated the leaf and stem hydraulic traits related to drought responses, including leaf-stem embolism resistance (P; P) estimated using optical and X-ray microtomography methods, leaf pressure-volume and water-releasing curves.

Personalized therapy guided by longitudinal liquid biopsies for treatment of leptomeningeal disease from lung adenocarcinoma: A case report.

Molecular-based targeted therapies have significantly benefited certain patients with cancer; however, those with leptomeningeal disease (LMD) persistently exhibit a poor prognosis and are often excluded from clinical trials. Tumor-derived cell-free (cf)DNA, found in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) of patients with LMD, can assist in diagnosis and tracking of disease progression. However, the utilization of CSF to direct targeted cancer therapy has yet to be extensively explored.