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Astrocytes are one of the key glial types of the central nervous system (CNS), accounting for over 20% of total glial cells in the brain. Extensive evidence has established their indispensable functions in the maintenance of CNS homeostasis, as well as their broad involvement in neurological conditions. In particular, astrocytes can participate in various neuroinflammatory processes, e.g., releasing a repertoire of cytokines and chemokines or specific neurotrophic factors, which result in both beneficial and detrimental effects. It has become increasingly clear that such astrocyte-mediated neuroinflammation, together with its complex crosstalk with other glial cells or immune cells, designates neuronal survival and the functional integrity of neurocircuits, thus critically contributing to disease onset and progression. In this review, we focus on the current knowledge of the neuroinflammatory responses of astrocytes, summarizing their common features in neurological conditions. Moreover, we highlight several vital questions for future research that promise novel insights into diagnostic or therapeutic strategies against those debilitating CNS diseases.

Lipid nanoparticles (LNPs) have emerged as leading non-viral carriers for messenger RNA (mRNA) delivery in clinical applications. Overcoming challenges in safe and effective mRNA delivery to target tissues and cells, along with controlling release from the delivery vehicle, remains pivotal in mRNA-based therapies. This review elucidates the structure of LNPs, the mechanism for mRNA delivery, and the targeted delivery of LNPs to various cells and tissues, including leukocytes, T-cells, dendritic cells, Kupffer cells, hepatic endothelial cells, and hepatic and extrahepatic tissues. Here, we discuss the applications of mRNA–LNP vaccines for the prevention of infectious diseases and for the treatment of cancer and various genetic diseases. Although challenges remain in terms of delivery efficiency, specific tissue targeting, toxicity, and storage stability, mRNA–LNP technology holds extensive potential for the treatment of diseases.

Understanding how to effectively treat neurological deficits after stroke remains difficult, as both the therapeutic targets and clinical outcomes are still uncertain. Although intermittent Theta burst stimulation (iTBS) has recently been shown to protect neural tissue in stroke-induced rats, its underlying biology has not been clearly defined. To clarify how iTBS acts at the cellular level, we applied single-cell transcriptome sequencing to a rat model of middle cerebral artery occlusion. After receiving the iTBS protocol, rats underwent behavioral assessments to determine the extent of neurological recovery. We then profiled gene expression across neuronal subtypes using 10x Genomics technology. iTBS markedly alleviated neurological impairment, and single-cell profiling indicated that the stimulation was associated with changes in microglial transcripts (e.g., Vav3 and Cblb ) alongside coordinated responses in other cell populations. Together, these data suggest that iTBS is associated with changes in post-ischemic microglial state composition and transcriptional programs, highlighting candidate neuroinflammatory processes for future mechanistic investigation.

Biofilm formed by Staphylococcus aureus significantly enhances antibiotic resistance by inhibiting the penetration of antibiotics, resulting in an increasingly serious situation. This study aimed to assess whether baicalein can prevent Staphylococcus aureus biofilm formation and whether it may have synergistic bactericidal effects with antibiotics in vitro. To do this, we used a clinically isolated strain of Staphylococcus aureus 17546 (t037) for biofilm formation. Virulence factors were detected following treatment with baicalein, and the molecular mechanism of its antibiofilm activity was studied. Plate counting, crystal violet staining, and fluorescence microscopy revealed that 32 μg/mL and 64 μg/mL baicalein clearly inhibited 3- and 7-day biofilm formation in vitro. Moreover, colony forming unit count, confocal laser scanning microscopy, and scanning electron microscopy showed that vancomycin (VCM) and baicalein generally enhanced destruction of biofilms, while VCM alone did not. Western blotting and real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction analyses (RTQ-PCR) confirmed that baicalein treatment reduced staphylococcal enterotoxin A (SEA) and α-hemolysin (hla) levels. Most strikingly, real-time qualitative polymerase chain reaction data demonstrated that 32 μg/mL and 64 μg/mL baicalein downregulated the quorum-sensing system regulators agrA, RNAIII, and sarA, and gene expression of ica, but 16 μg/mL baicalein had no effect. In summary, baicalein inhibited Staphylococcus aureus biofilm formation, destroyed biofilms, increased the permeability of vancomycin, reduced the production of staphylococcal enterotoxin A and α-hemolysin, and inhibited the quorum sensing system. These results support baicalein as a novel drug candidate and an effective treatment strategy for Staphylococcus aureus biofilm-associated infections.

This study examines the effects of paternalistic leadership on teachers’ emotional labor strategies and absorption, and it explores the mediating role played by leader-member exchange. A sample of 2974 primary and secondary school teachers in China participated in the study. The results showed that paternalistic leadership had a dual effect on teachers. Benevolent and authoritarian leadership enhanced teachers’ deep and surface acting. Authoritarian leadership had a positive association with teachers’ absorption, while moral leadership had the opposite effect. Leader-member exchange played a significant role in mediating the influence of benevolent and moral leadership on teachers’ emotional labor strategies and absorption. The results highlight the importance of abandoning stereotyped leadership styles and utilizing all three dimensions of paternalistic leadership. It is suggested that school principals show benevolence with sincerity and to an appropriate degree. They should promote their communications with teachers to mitigate the negative effects of authoritarian leadership and promote leader-member exchange.

Post-stroke insomnia (PSI) is a critical biological barrier to neurorehabilitation afflicting over half of all stroke survivors. Traditional sedatives often force clinicians into a therapeutic dilemma between sleep efficacy and cognitive suppression. The microbiota-gut-brain (MGB) axis has recently emerged as a transformative target to resolve this impasse. Acute stroke triggers profound autonomic dysfunction, causing immediate intestinal barrier collapse. This “leaky gut” facilitates the systemic translocation of lipopolysaccharides (LPS) and activates the NLRP3 inflammasome. The resulting inflammatory storm hijacks central tryptophan metabolism via the indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase (IDO) enzyme. This “tryptophan steal” diverts serotonin precursors toward neurotoxic kynurenine pathways, driving severe cortical hyperarousal. Sleep fragmentation then prevents the glymphatic system from clearing metabolic waste, further exacerbating neuroinflammation. To break this vicious cycle of neurotoxicity, we propose a phase-dependent therapeutic framework. During the highly vulnerable acute phase, interventions must prioritize gut barrier protection using postbiotics to mitigate infection risks under CNS injury-induced immunodepression (CIDS), often discussed as stroke-induced immunosuppression. As patients enter the chronic phase, therapy shifts toward metabolic restoration using live therapeutics, such as washed microbiota transplantation (WMT) and next-generation psychobiotics like Akkermansia muciniphila . Targeting the MGB axis offers a mechanism-based strategy to achieve precision sleep medicine, restoring the biological foundation necessary for optimal neuroplasticity and recovery.

Both of O -glycosides and nucleosides are important biomolecules with crucial rules in numerous biological processes. Chemical synthesis is an efficient and scalable method to produce well-defined and pure carbohydrate-containing molecules for deciphering their functions and developing therapeutic agents. However, the development of glycosylation methods for efficient synthesis of both O -glycosides and nucleosides is one of the long-standing challenges in chemistry. Here, we report a highly efficient and versatile glycosylation method for efficient synthesis of both O -glycosides and nucleosides, which uses glycosyl ortho -(1-phenylvinyl)benzoates as donors. This glycosylation protocol enjoys the various features, including readily prepared and stable donors, cheap and readily available promoters, mild reaction conditions, good to excellent yields, and broad substrate scopes. In particular, the applications of the current glycosylation protocol are demonstrated by one-pot synthesis of several bioactive oligosaccharides and highly efficient synthesis of nucleosides drugs capecitabine, galocitabine and doxifluridine. O -glycosides and nucleosides are important biomolecules. Here, the authors developed a protocol for the synthesis of such molecules with a broad substrate scope using glycosyl ortho-(1-phenylvinyl)benzoates as glycosyl donors that allow for mild reaction conditions and high yields.

Salmonella , a significant threat to public safety, inflicts substantial economic losses on the poultry industry. The unique “parental feeding” breeding model of pigeon farms, against the “all-in & all-out” biosecurity strategy, makes them susceptible to Salmonella infections and subsequent outbreaks of pigeon paratyphoid. This study initially studied three pigeon paratyphoid outbreak incidents in Henan, China, in which 53 strains of pigeon-origin Salmonella Typhimurium (STM) were identified. Whole-genome sequencing (WGS) and antimicrobial-resistant profile analysis revealed that the three outbreaks were caused by distinct STM clones (ST128-DT2, ST19-DT99). Global phylogenetic analysis suggested that the United States is a possible origin, indicating a risk of intercontinental transmission via pigeon eggs. Further bacterial virulence and invasion assays, including in vitro and in vivo assays, revealed that pigeon-host-adaptive STM, compared to broad-host-range STM, carried fewer resistance genes, exhibited higher invasion indices and pseudogene levels, displayed a non-rdar (red dry and rough) phenotype, and had strong biofilm formation capability. Additionally, they showed reduced virulence and invasiveness in mice but a pigeon-adaptive feature in cogent models. The collective results support the host adaptation for pigeons among DT2 and DT99 phage-type isolates.

Herein, a practical ultra-high-performance concrete (UHPC) was created by adding two different shapes of steel fibers and curing them at ambient temperature using palygorskite-nanofiber (PN) as the modifier. The compressive strength, flexural strength, water absorption capacity, and porosity were analyzed to determine the effects of the steel fibers and PNs on the UHPC mechanical and physical properties. The steel fibers and PNs were found to improve these properties. The UHPC mechanical properties were outstanding at 1.5% fiber dosage, while physical properties were excellent at 1.0% fiber dosage. The mechanical and physical characteristics of UHPC were preferably at a PN dosage of 0.2% and the fiber dosage of 1.0%. The compressive and flexural strengths of straight-steel-fiber UHPC were 145.57 and 19.67 MPa, respectively, i.e., 42.0 and 109.4% higher than those of the reference specimens (i.e., those without fibers or PNs); the water absorption capacity and porosity decreased by 50.1 and 60.7%, respectively. The compressive and flexural strengths of hooked-end-steel-fiber UHPC were 18.3 and 96.0% higher than those of the reference specimens, respectively, and the water absorption capacity and porosity decreased by 43.2 and 29.8%, respectively. These results could provide vital information for the promotion and practical application of UHPC.