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Chronic kidney disease (CKD) causes a significant health and economic burden across the world. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of zinc on CKD-mineral bone disorder (CKD-MBD) and autophagy in CKD rats by a diet containing 0.25% adenine and low vitamin K and to explore its mechanism of action on autophagy and calcification in a vascular smooth muscle cell (VSMC) calcification model using 10 mM β-glycerophosphate (β-GP). In vivo experiments showed that zinc supplementation improved blood and urinary biochemistry, corrected abnormalities related to bone metabolism in rats with CKD, promoted autophagy, and reduced aortic calcification. In vitro, zinc reduced the calcification of VSMCs induced by β-GP. During VSMC calcification, zinc further upregulated autophagy levels and the phosphorylated extracellular regulatory kinase1/2 (ERK1/2) levels in a high-phosphorus environment. Pretreatment with 3-methyladenine (3-MA), an autophagy inhibitor, or with U0126, an ERK1/2 pathway inhibitor, decreased autophagy and increased calcification. In conclusion, zinc improved CKD-MBD by inhibiting vascular calcification (VC) and ameliorating bone metabolism disorders. Furthermore, zinc alleviates VC in CKD by activating ERK1/2-mediated autophagy.

To investigate the characteristics of atmospheric brown carbon (BrC) in the semiarid region of East Asia, PM2.5 and size-resolved particles in the urban atmosphere of Xi'an, inland China, during the winter and summer of 2017 were collected and analyzed for optical properties and chemical compositions. Methanol extracts (MeOH extracts) were more light-absorbing than water extracts (H2O extracts) in the optical wavelength of 300–600 nm and well correlated with nitrophenols, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and oxygenated PAHs (r > 0.78). The light absorptions (absλ=365 nm) of H2O extracts and MeOH extracts in winter were 28±16 and 49±32 M m−1, respectively, which are about 10 times higher than those in summer, mainly due to the enhanced emissions from biomass burning for house heating. Water-extracted BrC predominately occurred in the fine mode (< 2.1 µm) during winter and summer, accounting for 81 % and 65 % of the total absorption of BrC, respectively. The light absorption and stable carbon isotope composition measurements showed an increasing ratio of absλ=365 nm-MeOH to absλ=550 nm-EC along with an enrichment of 13C in PM2.5 during the haze development, indicating an accumulation of secondarily formed BrC (e.g., nitrophenols) in the aerosol aging process. Positive matrix factorization (PMF) analysis showed that biomass burning, fossil fuel combustion, secondary formation, and fugitive dust are the major sources of BrC in the city, accounting for 55 %, 19 %, 16 %, and 10 % of the total BrC of PM2.5, respectively.

Phenolic compounds (PhCs) are aromatic compounds with benzene rings that have one or more hydroxyl groups. They are found or formed in the atmosphere due to various factors such as combustion processes, industrial emissions, oxidation of volatile organic compounds (VOCs), and other photochemical reactions. Due to properties such as relatively high Henry’s law constants and moderate/high water solubility, PhCs are vulnerable to reactions in atmospheric liquid phase conditions with high relative humidity, fog or cloudy conditions. PhCs can lead to the formation of secondary organic aerosols (SOAs), which can have negative effects on atmospheric conditions and human health. Changes in the optical properties of PhCs impact solar radiation absorption and scattering, potentially influencing climate. Additionally, PhCs may interact with other atmospheric constituents, potentially affecting cloud or fog formation and properties, which in turn can impact climate and precipitation patterns. Therefore, monitoring and controlling the emission of PhCs is essential. This paper discusses the transformation processes of PhCs in the atmosphere, including direct conversion of phenol, nitrate-induced and nitrite-induced reactions, hydroxylation reactions and oxidation processes involving triplet excited state organics, also providing a detailed analysis of the transformation processes. The findings lay a theoretical foundation for the future monitoring and control of atmospheric pollutants.

Background Although oral hygiene is closely related to various diseases, it is sub-optimal in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU). Oral care in the ICU is challenged by nursing workloads, low staffing, and higher acuity patients, there are few policies and written guidelines for oral care. Nurses often delegate oral care to nursing assistants (NAs) whose role is overlooked. This study is to explore the perspectives, obstacles, and challenges of NAs in the oral care of the ICU. Methods A qualitative study and semi-structured interviews were conducted with NAs in three ICU units, and Colaizzi’s phenomenological method was used to analyze the records. Results Initially, 13 NAs met the inclusion criteria, and two did not participate in this study as they refused to be recorded. Finally, 11 ICU NAs were interviewed, with three receiving face-to-face interviews and eight receiving telephone interviews. Using Colaizzi’s phenomenological method, two themes and eight subthemes emerged from the data, we examined the self-perception, barriers and challenges of NAs regarding oral care and identified the subthemes: (1) The target audience, frequency, and importance; (2) Role; (3) Evaluation; (4) Patient-related factors; (5) Oral care tools; (6) Psychology of NAs; (7) Lack of education and training; (8) Lack of team support. Conclusion Nursing assistants whose roles are overlooked by the nursing team are important members of the ICU team. Though oral care is closely related to disease prevention, it is rarely considered an essential task. Major barriers to implementing oral care in the ICU environment and patients include the psychological quality of participants, non-standard education and training, and inadequate team support. The expectation is that medical personnel will prioritize oral hygiene and recognize the significance of NAs in nursing work. Furthermore, future ICU oral care should investigate suitable tools and mouthwashes, simplified and standardized processes, standardized training, and multidisciplinary team collaboration.

The systemic inflammatory response (SIR), defined as elevated levels of circulating C-reactive protein (CRP), is an important predictor of impaired survival in colorectal cancer. The aim of this study was to explore the prognostic role of SIR and its association with tumour mismatch repair status and the immune response. Immune activity profiles of mononuclear cells isolated from CRC tissues and blood in the U-CAN exploration cohort ( n  = 69), were analysed by flow cytometry. In the U-CAN validation cohort ( n  = 257), T-helper cells (T-bet + ), cytotoxic T cells (CD8 + ), regulatory T cells (FoxP3 + ), B cells (CD20 + ), and macrophages (CD68 + ) were analysed by multispectral imaging. Microsatellite instability was determined using five mononucleotide-repeat microsatellite markers. Patients with high CRP levels (> 10 mg/l) were significantly more often diagnosed with high-grade tumours and tumours exhibiting microsatellite instability. However, some patients with high CRP levels were found to have microsatellite-stable tumours. Furthermore, high CRP levels were associated with specific tumour immune traits including an augmented macrophage response and were significantly linked to poorer cancer-specific survival, particularly in patients with microsatellite-stable tumours. In conclusion, our findings suggest an interplay between SIR and mismatch repair status in CRC prognosis which needs to be further explored.

Volatile phenols in the atmosphere are important precursors of ozone and secondary organic aerosols (SOAs). Despite their importance, the lack of effective observation and analysis methods has led to less attention paid to them, leading to gaps in our understanding of their behavior and effects on atmospheric chemistry. This study aimed to evaluate the concentration levels, sources, and environmental impacts of volatile phenols in ambient air, focusing on the urban area of Beijing and the suburban district of Heze in the North China Plain during winter. Samples were collected using an XAD-7 column and analyzed by high-performance liquid chromatography with ultraviolet detection (UPLC-UV). Results indicated that a higher concentration of 11 detected phenols was found in Beijing than that in Heze, with the average concentration of 23.60 ± 8.99 ppbv and 18.38 ± 2.34 ppbv. Phenol and cresol with strong photochemical activity were the predominant species, accounting for about 52% (Heze) and 66% (Beijing) of the total phenols, which indicates that more attention should be paid to volatile phenols in urban areas. Higher levels of LOH in Beijing (36.86 s−1) and Heze (22.06 s−1) compared to other studies about PAMS and carbonyls indicated that these volatile phenols play an undeniable role in atmospheric oxidation reactions. Positive Matrix Factorization (PMF) identified major sources as pesticide usage (15.6%), organic chemicals (31.9%), and combustion or secondary conversion (52.5%). These findings underscore the multifaceted impact of phenols, influencing both gaseous pollutant concentrations and particulate matter formation, with potential implications for environmental and public health.

Perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) are a class of synthetic organic compounds with extremely high chemical stability and environmental persistence that are widely used in the industrial sector and in consumer goods. Their strong C-F bonds make them difficult to degrade, meaning they can migrate through the atmosphere and settle over long distances, posing long-term risks to the global ecological environment and human health. This article systematically reviews the classification, physicochemical properties, concentration levels, spatial distribution, migration and transformation behaviors, and health and ecological impacts of PFASs in the atmosphere, along with related analytical detection techniques and pollution control methods. Studies show that short-chain PFASs are more likely to migrate through the atmosphere due to their high water solubility and volatility, while long-chain PFASs tend to be adsorbed onto particulate matter and display stronger bioaccumulation. Although atmospheric research on PFASs lags behind that focused on their dynamics in water and soil, the existing data still reveal a difference in their distribution and regional pollution characteristics in the gas and particle phases. Toxicological studies have confirmed that PFAS exposure is associated with liver injury, immunosuppression, developmental toxicity, and cancer risk and can threaten ecological security through the food chain. Currently, governance technologies are confronted with the challenges of low efficiency and high cost. In the future, it will be necessary to combine multi-media models, new analytical techniques, and international collaboration to promote the development of source control and innovative governance strategies.

Breast cancer with bone metastasis accounts for serious cancer‐associated pain which significantly reduces the quality of life of affected patients and promotes cancer progression. However, effective treatment using nanomedicine remains a formidable challenge owing to poor drug delivery efficiency to multiple cancer lesions and inappropriate management of cancer‐associated pain. In this study, using engineered macrophage membrane (EMM) and drugs loaded nanoparticle, we constructed a biomimetic nanoplatform (EMM@DJHAD) for the concurrent therapy of bone metastatic breast cancer and associated pain. Tumor tropism inherited from EMM provided the targeting ability for both primary and metastatic lesions. Subsequently, the synergistic combination of decitabine and JTC801 boosted the lytic and inflammatory responses accompanied by a tumoricidal effect, which transformed the tumor into an ideal decoy for EMM, resulting in prolonged troop migration toward tumors. EMM@DJHAD exerted significant effects on tumor suppression and a pronounced analgesic effect by inhibiting µ‐opioid receptors in bone metastasis mouse models. Moreover, the nanoplatform significantly reduced the severe toxicity induced by chemotherapy agents. Overall, this biomimetic nanoplatform with good biocompatibility may be used for the effective treatment of breast cancer with bone metastasis. The schematic diagram of EMM@DJHAD NPs destroys tumor cells via the synergism of DAC and JTC. The former enriches the level of gasdermin E in tumor by demethylation of the DFNA5 gene and the latter activates the caspase‐3 pathway, triggering pyroptosis of tumor cells. Importantly, JTC‐mediated µ‐opioid receptor (MOR) inhibition is responsible for both tumor suppression and pain relief. Interestingly, highly‐inflammatory pyroptosis makes tumor an ideal decoy for EMM, amplifying the nanodrug targeting effect.

Black carbon (BC) aerosols are important for absorbing aerosols, affecting global climate change and regional air quality, and potentially harming human health. From March to May 2023, we investigated black carbon aerosol levels and air pollution in Beijing. Employing methods such as linear regression, Potential Source Contribution Function (PSCF) and Concentration-Weighted Trajectory (CWT), we analyzed the characteristics and sources of black carbon aerosols in the region. Results indicate that the light absorption coefficients of BC and BrC decrease with increasing wavelength, with BrC accounting for less than 40% at 370 nm. Daily variations in BC and PM2.5 concentrations exhibit similar trends, peaking in March, and BC displays a distinct bimodal hourly concentration structure during this period. Aethalometer model results suggest that liquid fuel combustion contributes significantly to black carbon (1.08 ± 0.71 μg·m−3), surpassing the contribution from solid fuel combustion (0.31 ± 0.2 μg·m−3). Furthermore, the significant positive correlation between BC and CO suggests that BC emissions in Beijing predominantly result from liquid fuel combustion. Potential source area analysis indicates that air masses of spring in Beijing mainly originate from the northwest (40.93%), while potential source areas for BC are predominantly distributed in the Beijing–Tianjin–Hebei region, as well as parts of the Shandong, Shanxi and Henan provinces. Moreover, this study reveals that dust processes during spring in Beijing have a limited impact on black carbon concentrations. This study’s findings support controlling pollution in Beijing and improving regional air quality.

This study focuses on the application of electrical resistivity tomography (ERT) for monitoring the growth process of CO2 hydrate in subsea carbon sequestration, aiming to provide technical support for the safety assessment of marine carbon storage. By designing single-target, dual-target, and multi-target hydrate samples, convolutional neural networks (CNNs), recurrent neural networks (RNNs), and residual neural networks (ResNets) were constructed and compared with traditional image reconstruction algorithms (e.g., back-projection) to quantitatively analyze ERT imaging accuracy. The experiments used boundary voltage as the input and internal conductivity distribution as the output, employing the relative image error (RIE) and image correlation coefficient (ICC) to evaluate algorithmic performance. The results demonstrate that neural network algorithms—particularly RNNs—exhibit superior performance compared to traditional image reconstruction methods due to their strong noise resistance and nonlinear mapping capabilities. These algorithms significantly improve the edge clarity in target identification, enabling the precise capture of the hydrate distribution during carbon sequestration. This advancement effectively enhances the monitoring capability of CO2 hydrate reservoir characteristics and provides reliable data support for the safety assessment of hydrate reservoirs.