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The performance of electrocatalysts is critical for renewable energy technologies. While the electrocatalytic activity can be modulated through structural and compositional engineering following the Sabatier principle, the insufficiently explored catalyst-electrolyte interface is promising to promote microkinetic processes such as physisorption and desorption. By combining experimental designs and molecular dynamics simulations with explicit solvent in high accuracy, we demonstrated that dimethylformamide can work as an effective surface molecular pump to facilitate the entrapment of oxygen and outflux of water. Dimethylformamide disrupts the interfacial network of hydrogen bonds, leading to enhanced activity of the oxygen reduction reaction by a factor of 2 to 3. This strategy works generally for platinum-alloy catalysts, and we introduce an optimal model PtCuNi catalyst with an unprecedented specific activity of 21.8 ± 2.1 mA/cm2 at 0.9 V versus the reversible hydrogen electrode, nearly double the previous record, and an ultrahigh mass activity of 10.7 ± 1.1 A/mgPt.
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Objective: The objective of the study is to investigate the changes in the composition of intestinal microecology in severe acute pancreatitis (SAP) patients with or without intra-abdominal infection and also to analyze the expression of antibiotic resistance genes to provide evidence for early warning of infectious diseases and the rational use of antibiotics. Methods: Twenty patients with SAP were enrolled in the study. According to whether the enrolled patients had a secondary intra-abdominal infection, they were divided into two groups, each consisting of 10 patients. Stool specimens were collected when the patients were admitted to the emergency intensive care unit (EICU), and nucleic acid extraction was performed. Next-generation gene sequencing was used to compare the differences in intestinal microflora diversity and drug resistance gene expression between the two groups. Results: The gut microbiota of patients in the infection group exhibited distribution on multiple clustered branches with some intra-group heterogeneity, and their flora diversity was compromised. The infected group showed an enrichment of various opportunistic bacteria in the gut microbiota, along with a high number of metabolic functions, stress functions to external signals, and genes associated with pathogenesis. Drug resistance genes were expressed in the gut microbiota of both groups, but their abundance was significantly lower in the non-infected group. Conclusion: The intestinal microbiota of patients in the infection group exhibited distribution on multiple clustered branches with some intra-group heterogeneity, and their flora diversity was compromised. Additionally, drug resistance genes were expressed in the gut microbiota of both groups, although their abundance was significantly lower in the non-infected group.
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Vacuum collected toilet wastewater (VCTW) contains high and fluctuating contents of organics and nitrogen, which exerts technological challenges to biological treatment processes. A partial nitrification-denitrification and anammox (PND-AMX) process was developed in sequencing batch reactor (SBR) and moving bed biofilm reactor (MBBR) to achieve effective nitrogen removal in VCTW at low ambient temperature. Stable PND was achieved, and nitrogen removal efficiency in SBR could be manipulated by adjusting influent COD/N ratios. As temperature ≥18 °C, 91.0% nitrogen was removed in PND-AMX process. In spite of the decreased anammox activity at 13-18 °C, more than 90% nitrogen removal could be obtained by adjusting SBR influent COD/N to 2.43 ± 0.32 with methanol. In MBBR reactor, Candidatus Kuenenia was the dominant anammox bacteria and contributed to more than 90% nitrogen removal capacity. Co-existing anammox and denitrifying bacteria synergistically contributed to the removal of ammonium, nitrite, nitrate, and COD in MBBR.
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AIMS: Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a neurodegenerative disorder with limited treatment options. This study aimed to investigate the therapeutic effects of Ginkgo biloba leaf extract (GBE) on AD and explore its potential mechanisms of action. METHODS: Key chemical components of GBE, including quercetin, luteolin, and kaempferol, were identified using network pharmacology methods. Bioinformatics analysis revealed their potential roles in AD through modulation of the PI3K/AKT/NF-κB signaling pathway. RESULTS: Mouse experiments demonstrated that GBE improved cognitive function, enhanced neuronal morphology, and reduced serum inflammatory factors. Additionally, GBE modulated the expression of relevant proteins and mRNA. CONCLUSION: GBE shows promise as a potential treatment for AD. Its beneficial effects on cognitive function, neuronal morphology, and inflammation may be attributed to its modulation of the PI3K/AKT/NF-κB signaling pathway. These findings provide experimental evidence for the application of Ginkgo biloba leaf in AD treatment and highlight its potential mechanisms of action.
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Enfermedad de Alzheimer , Ginkgo biloba , Extractos Vegetales , Hojas de la Planta , Extractos Vegetales/farmacología , Extractos Vegetales/uso terapéutico , Animales , Enfermedad de Alzheimer/tratamiento farmacológico , Enfermedad de Alzheimer/metabolismo , Ratones , Masculino , Hojas de la Planta/química , FN-kappa B/metabolismo , Cognición/efectos de los fármacos , Transducción de Señal/efectos de los fármacos , Aprendizaje por Laberinto/efectos de los fármacos , Ratones Endogámicos C57BL , Extracto de GinkgoRESUMEN
Expressed on the surface of CD8+ T cells, the CD8 co-receptor is a key component of the T cells that contributes to antigen recognition, immune cell maturation, and immune cell signaling. While CD8 is widely recognized as a co-stimulatory molecule for conventional CD8+ αß T cells, recent reports highlight its multifaceted role in both adaptive and innate immune responses. In this review, we discuss the utility of CD8 in relation to its immunomodulatory properties. We outline the unique structure and function of different CD8 domains (ectodomain, hinge, transmembrane, cytoplasmic tail) in the context of the distinct properties of CD8αα homodimers and CD8αß heterodimers. We discuss CD8 features commonly used to construct chimeric antigen receptors for immunotherapy. We describe the molecular interactions of CD8 with classical MHC-I, non-classical MHCs, and Lck partners involved in T cell signaling. Engineered and naturally occurring CD8 mutations that alter immune responses are discussed. The applications of anti-CD8 monoclonal antibodies (mABs) that target CD8 are summarized. Finally, we examine the unique structure and function of several CD8/mAB complexes. Collectively, these findings reveal the promising immunomodulatory properties of CD8 and CD8 binding partners, not only to uncover basic immune system function, but to advance efforts towards translational research for targeted immunotherapy.
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Antígenos CD8 , Linfocitos T CD8-positivos , Inmunomodulación , Humanos , Antígenos CD8/metabolismo , Antígenos CD8/inmunología , Animales , Linfocitos T CD8-positivos/inmunología , Transducción de Señal/inmunología , Relación Estructura-Actividad , Inmunoterapia/métodosRESUMEN
In order to solve the problem of difficult separation of audio signals collected in pig environments, this study proposes an underdetermined blind source separation (UBSS) method based on sparsification theory. The audio signals obtained by mixing the audio signals of pigs in different states with different coefficients are taken as observation signals, and the mixing matrix is first estimated from the observation signals using the improved AP clustering method based on the "two-step method" of sparse component analysis (SCA), and then the audio signals of pigs are reconstructed by L1-paradigm separation. Five different types of pig audio are selected for experiments to explore the effects of duration and mixing matrix on the blind source separation algorithm by controlling the audio duration and mixing matrix, respectively. With three source signals and two observed signals, the reconstructed signal metrics corresponding to different durations and different mixing matrices perform well. The similarity coefficient is above 0.8, the average recovered signal-to-noise ratio is above 8 dB, and the normalized mean square error is below 0.02. The experimental results show that different audio durations and different mixing matrices have certain effects on the UBSS algorithm, so the recording duration and the spatial location of the recording device need to be considered in practical applications. Compared with the classical UBSS algorithm, the proposed algorithm outperforms the classical blind source separation algorithm in estimating the mixing matrix and separating the mixed audio, which improves the reconstruction quality.
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OBJECTIVES: To investigate the clinical phenotypes and genotypes of children with congenital fibrinogen disorder (CFD). METHODS: A retrospective analysis was conducted on the clinical data of 16 children with CFD. Polymerase chain reaction was used to amplify all exons and flanking sequences of the FGA, FGB, and FGG genes, and sequencing was performed to analyze mutation characteristics. RESULTS: Among the 16 children, there were 9 boys (56%) and 7 girls (44%), with a median age of 4 years at the time of attending the hospital. Among these children, 9 (56%) attended the hospital due to bleeding events, and 7 (44%) were diagnosed based on preoperative examination. The children with bleeding events had a significantly lower fibrinogen activity than those without bleeding events (P<0.05). Genetic testing was conducted on 12 children and revealed a total of 12 mutations, among which there were 4 novel mutations, i.e., c.80T>C and c.1368delC in the FGA gene and c.1007T>A and C.1053C>A in the FGG gene. There were 2 cases of congenital afibrinogenemia caused by null mutations of the FGA gene, with relatively severe bleeding symptoms. There were 7 cases of congenital dysfibrinogenemia mainly caused by heterozygous missense mutations of the FGG and FGA genes, and their clinical phenotypes ranged from asymptomatic phenotype to varying degrees of bleeding. CONCLUSIONS: The clinical phenotypes of children with CFD are heterogeneous, and the severity of bleeding is associated with the level of fibrinogen activity, but there is a weak association between clinical phenotype and genotype.
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Afibrinogenemia , Fibrinógeno , Genotipo , Mutación , Fenotipo , Humanos , Masculino , Femenino , Afibrinogenemia/genética , Preescolar , Niño , Fibrinógeno/genética , Lactante , Estudios Retrospectivos , Adolescente , Hemorragia/genética , Hemorragia/etiologíaRESUMEN
The preparation of polyolefins with high polar monomer contents (above 20 mol %) has long been a challenge. Half-titanocenes (Cp')[HC(Ar)N]2BOTiCl2 bearing bulky electron-donating N-heterocyclic boryloxy ligands have been designed and synthesized. The complexes (Cp*)[HC(Ar)N]2BOTiCl2 (2, Ar = 2,6-iPr2C6H3; 5, Ar = 2,4,6-Me3C6H2) supported by Cp* and the bulky boryloxy ligands have been shown to efficiently catalyze the copolymerization of ethylene with long chain α-olefins. In particular, precatalyst 5 enabled the controlled synthesis of poly(ethylene-co-9-decen-1-ol) with unprecedented high polar monomer contents up to 32.1 mol% while maintaining high catalytic activity. The structural analysis and DFT calculations disclosed that the bulky and strong electron-donating boryloxy ligands could effectively stabilize cationic active species. The mechanical studies on the hydroxyl-functionalized copolymers disclosed that they exhibited high strength and toughness because of the existence of hydrogen bonds in the polymer network.
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Members of the gasdermin (GSDM) family are critical for inducing programmable pyroptosis by forming pores on the cell membrane. GSDMB, GSDMC, GSDMD, and GSDME are activated by caspases or granzyme, leading to the release of their autoinhibitory domains. The protease SpeB from group A Streptococcus has been shown to cleave and activate GSDMA-mediated pyroptosis. Meanwhile, African Swine Fever Virus infection regulates pyroptosis by cleaving porcine GSDMA (pGSDMA) via active caspase-3 and caspase-4. However, it is not known whether virus-encoded proteases also target GSDMA. Here, we show that residues 1-252 of pGSDMA (pGSDMA1-252) is the pore-forming fragment that induces lytic cell death and pyroptosis. Interestingly, Seneca Valley Virus (SVV) infection induces the cleavage of both pGSDMA and human GSDMA and suppresses GSDMA-mediated cell death. Mechanistically, SVV protease 3C cleaves pGSDMA between Q187 and G188 to generate a shorter fragment, pGSDMA1-186, which fails to induce lytic cell death and lactate dehydrogenase release. Furthermore, pGSDMA1-186 does not localize to the plasma membrane and does not induce cell death, thereby promoting viral replication by suppressing host immune responses. These studies reveal a sophisticated evolutionary adaptation of SVV to bypass GSDMA-mediated pyroptosis, allowing it to overcome host inflammatory defenses. IMPORTANCE: Gasdermin A (GSDMA) remains a protein shrouded in mystery, particularly regarding its regulation by virus-encoded proteases. Previous studies have identified human GSDMA (hGSDMA) as a sensor and substrate of the SpeB from group A Streptococcus, which initiates pyroptosis. However, it is not clear if viral proteases also cleave GSDMA. In this study, we show that a fragment of porcine GSDMA (pGSDMA) containing the first 252 residues constitutes the pore-forming domain responsible for inducing lytic cell death and pyroptosis. Interestingly, picornavirus Seneca Valley Virus (SVV) protease 3C cleaves both pGSDMA and hGSDMA, generating a shorter fragment that fails to associate with the plasma membrane and does not induce pyroptosis. This cleavage by SVV 3C suppresses GSDMA-mediated lactate dehydrogenase release, bactericidal activity, and lytic cell death. This study reveals how SVV subverts host inflammatory defense by disrupting GSDMA-induced pyroptosis, thereby advancing our understanding of antiviral immunity and opening avenues for treating GSDMA-associated autoimmune diseases.
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Background: Endothelin-1 (ET-1) is an endogenous vasoconstrictor implicated in coronary artery disease (CAD) and diabetes. This study aimed to determine the prognostic value of ET-1 in the patients with stable CAD under different glucose metabolism states. Methods: In this prospective, large-cohort study, we consecutively enrolled 7,947 participants with angiography-diagnosed stable CAD from April 2011 to April 2017. Patients were categorized by baseline glycemic status into three groups (normoglycemia, prediabetes, and diabetes) and further divided into nine groups by circulating ET-1 levels. Patients were followed for the occurrence of cardiovascular events (CVEs), including nonfatal myocardial infarction, stroke, and cardiovascular mortality. Results: Of the 7,947 subjects, 3,352, 1,653, and 2,942 had normoglycemia, prediabetes, and diabetes, respectively. Over a median follow-up of 37.5 months, 381 (5.1%) CVEs occurred. The risk for CVEs was significantly higher in patients with elevated ET-1 levels after adjustment for potential confounders. When patients were categorized by both status of glucose metabolism and plasma ET-1 levels, the high ET-1 levels were associated with higher risk of CVEs in prediabetes (adjusted hazard ratio [HR], 2.089; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.151 to 3.793) and diabetes (adjusted HR, 2.729; 95% CI, 1.623 to 4.588; both P<0.05). Conclusion: The present study indicated that baseline plasma ET-1 levels were associated with the prognosis in prediabetic and diabetic patients with stable CAD, suggesting that ET-1 may be a valuable predictor in CAD patients with impaired glucose metabolism.
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BACKGROUND: Sepsis, a complex and life-threatening disease, poses a significant global burden affecting over 48 million individuals. Recently, it has been reported that programmed death-ligand 1 (PD-L1) expressed on neutrophils is involved in both inflammatory organ dysfunction and immunoparalysis in sepsis. However, there is a dearth of strategies to specifically target PD-L1 in neutrophils in vivo. METHODS: We successfully developed two lipid nanoparticles (LNPs) specifically targeting neutrophils by delivering PD-L1 siRNA via neutrophil-specific antibodies and polypeptides. In vivo and in vitro experiments were performed to detect lipid nanoparticles into neutrophils. A mouse cecal ligation and puncture (CLP) model was used to detect neutrophil migration, neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs) level, and organ damage. RESULT: The PD-L1 siRNA-loaded LNPs that target neutrophils suppressed inflammation, reduced the release of NETs, and inhibited T-lymphocyte apoptosis. This approach could help maintain homeostasis of both the immune and inflammatory responses during sepsis. Furthermore, the PD-L1 siRNA-loaded LNPs targeting neutrophils have the potential to ameliorate the multi-organ damage and lethality resulting from CLP. CONCLUSIONS: Taken together, our data identify a previously unknown drug delivery strategy targeting neutrophils, which represents a novel, safe, and effective approach to sepsis therapy.
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Wide-bandgap (WBG) absorbers in tandem configurations suffer from poor crystallinity and weak texture, which leads to severe mixed halide-cation ion migration and phase segregation during practical operation. We control WBG film growth insensitive to compositions by nucleating the 3C phase before any formation of bromine-rich aggregates and 2H phases. The resultant WBG absorbers show improved crystallinity and strong texture with suppressed nonradiative recombination and enhanced resistance to various aging stresses. Perovskite/silicon tandem solar cells achieve power conversion efficiencies of 29.4% (28.8% assessed by a third party) in a 25-square centimeter active area and 32.5% in a 1-square centimeter active area. These solar cells retained 98.3 and 90% of the original efficiency after 1301 and 800 hours of operation at 25° and 50°C, respectively, at the maximum power point (AM 1.5G illumination, full spectrum, 1-sun) when encapsulated.
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Due to the success of halide perovskites in the photovoltaic field, halide perovskite-derived semiconductors have also been widely studied for optoelectronic applications. However, the photovoltaic performance of these perovskite derivatives still lags significantly behind their perovskite counterparts, mainly due to deficiencies at the B-site or X-site of the derivatives, which disrupt the connectivity of the key [BX6] octahedra units. Herein, we developed a class of antiperovskite-derived materials with the formula , achieved by splitting the A anion, originally at the corner site of the cubic antiperovskite structure, into three edge-centered sites. This structural transformation maintains the three-dimensional octahedral framework. The thermodynamic stability, dynamical stability, and band gaps of 80 compounds were calculated using first-principles calculations. Based on criteria including stability and electronic properties, we identified 9 promising antiperovskite derivatives for further evaluation of their photovoltaic performance. Notably, the calculated theoretical maximum efficiencies of Ba3BiI3, Ba3SbI3, and Ba3BiBr3 all exceed 24.5%, which is comparable to that of CH3NH3PbI3 solar cells. Interpretable machine learning analysis was further carried out to identify critical physical descriptors influencing thermodynamic stability and band gap. Our work provides a novel approach for designing high performance perovskite-type structure-inspired semiconductors with potential for optoelectronic applications.
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To achieve high power conversion efficiency in perovskite/silicon tandem solar cells, it is necessary to develop a promising wide-bandgap perovskite absorber and processing techniques in relevance. To date, the performance of devices based on wide-bandgap perovskite is still limited mainly by carrier recombination at their electron extraction interface. Here, we demonstrate assembling a binary two-dimensional perovskite by both alternating-cation-interlayer phase and Ruddlesden-Popper phase to passivate perovskite/C60 interface. The binary two-dimensional strategy takes effects not only at the interface but also in the bulk, which enables efficient charge transport in a wide-bandgap perovskite solar cell with a stabilized efficiency of 20.79% (1 cm2). Based on this absorber, a monolithic perovskite/silicon tandem solar cell is fabricated with a steady-state efficiency of 30.65% assessed by a third party. Moreover, the tandem devices retain 96% of their initial efficiency after 527 h of operation under full spectral continuous illumination, and 98% after 1000 h of damp-heat testing (85 °C with 85% relative humidity).
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The interlayer strategy has emerged as an effective approach for modulating the interfacial polymerization process and improving the permeability and selectivity of polyamide membranes. However, the underlying mechanisms by which charged interlayers influence the interfacial polymerization process remain inadequately understood. In this study, we utilized two distinct charged cellulose nanofibers, namely, carboxylated cellulose (â-CNF) and quaternized cellulose ([Formula: see text]-CNF), as interlayers to regulate the interfacial polymerization process. Through simulation results, isothermal titration calorimetry (ITC) and UV tests, we demonstrated that the [Formula: see text]-CNF interlayer, which possesses stronger hydration capability and better piperazine affinity, enhanced the diffusion of piperazine across the reaction interface compared with the â-CNF interlayer. This led to an acceleration of the interfacial polymerization process and the formation of a denser membrane structure. Further investigation revealed that the charged interlayers significantly influenced the surface charging properties of the resulting nanofiltration membranes within a 30 nm range of electrostatic effects. Specifically, the â-CNF interlayer conferred a higher negative charge to the membrane surface, while the [Formula: see text]-CNF interlayer endowed the membranes with a lower surface negative charge. Leveraging these differences, the â-i-TFC membranes exhibited exceptional separation performance for divalent anions, achieving a SO42-/Cl- selectivity of 136. Conversely, the [Formula: see text]-i-TFC membrane demonstrated an enhanced separation of divalent cations, displaying a Mg2+/Na+ selectivity of 3.5. This study lays the groundwork for regulating the surface charging properties of polyamide membranes, offering potential advancements in nanofiltration applications.
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OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the predictive value of fasting plasma glucose (FPG) for in-hospital mortality in patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI) with different glucose metabolism status. METHODS: We selected 5,308 participants with AMI from the prospective, nationwide, multicenter CAMI registry, of which 2,081 were diabetic and 3,227 were nondiabetic. Patients were divided into high FPG and low FPG groups according to the optimal cutoff values of FPG to predict in-hospital mortality for diabetic and nondiabetic cohorts, respectively. The primary endpoint was in-hospital mortality. RESULTS: Overall, 94 diabetic patients (4.5%) and 131 nondiabetic patients (4.1%) died during hospitalization, and the optimal FPG thresholds for predicting in-hospital death of the two cohorts were 13.2 mmol/L and 6.4 mmol/L, respectively. Compared with individuals who had low FPG, those with high FPG were significantly associated with higher in-hospital mortality in diabetic cohort (10.1% vs. 2.8%; odds ratio [OR] = 3.862, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 2.542-5.869) and nondiabetic cohort (7.4% vs. 1.7%; HR = 4.542, 95%CI: 3.041-6.782). After adjusting the potential confounders, this significant association was not changed. Furthermore, FPG as a continuous variable was positively associated with in-hospital mortality in single-variable and multivariable models regardless of diabetic status. Adding FPG to the original model showed a significant improvement in C-statistic and net reclassification in diabetic and nondiabetic cohorts. CONCLUSIONS: This large-scale registry indicated that there is a strong positive association between FPG and in-hospital mortality in AMI patients with and without diabetes. FPG might be useful to stratify patients with AMI.
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Candida albicans stably colonizes humans but is the leading cause of hospital-acquired fungemia. Traditionally, masking immunogenic moieties has been viewed as a tactic for immune evasion. Here, we demonstrate that C. albicans blocks type I interferon (IFN-I) signaling via translocating an effector protein Cmi1 into host cells. Mechanistically, Cmi1 binds and inhibits TANK-binding kinase 1 (TBK1) to abrogate IFN-regulatory factor 3 (IRF3) phosphorylation, thereby suppressing the IFN-I cascade. Murine infection with a cmi1 mutant displays an exaggerated IFN-I response in both kidneys and bone-marrow-derived macrophages, leading to rapid fungal clearance and host survival. Remarkably, the lack of CMI1 compromises gut commensalism and increases IFN-I response in mouse colonic cells. These phenotypes of cmi1 are rescued by the depletion of IFN-I receptor. This work establishes the importance of TBK1 inhibition in fungal pathogenesis and reveals that a human commensal-pathogenic fungus significantly impacts host immunity during gut colonization and infection via delivering effector proteins into host cells.
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Candida albicans , Factor 3 Regulador del Interferón , Interferón Tipo I , Macrófagos , Proteínas Serina-Treonina Quinasas , Candida albicans/inmunología , Candida albicans/patogenicidad , Proteínas Serina-Treonina Quinasas/metabolismo , Animales , Ratones , Factor 3 Regulador del Interferón/metabolismo , Humanos , Interferón Tipo I/metabolismo , Interferón Tipo I/inmunología , Macrófagos/inmunología , Macrófagos/microbiología , Fosforilación , Ratones Endogámicos C57BL , Transducción de Señal , Candidiasis/inmunología , Candidiasis/microbiología , Evasión Inmune , Interacciones Huésped-Patógeno/inmunología , Riñón/microbiología , Riñón/inmunología , Simbiosis , Proteínas Fúngicas/metabolismo , Proteínas Fúngicas/genéticaRESUMEN
Introduction: Rhubarb is a frequently used and beneficial traditional Chinese medicine. Wild resources of these plants are constantly being depleted, meaning that rhubarb products have been subjected to an unparalleled level of adulteration. Consequentially, reliable technology is urgently required to verify the authenticity of rhubarb raw materials and commercial botanical drugs. Methods: In this study, the barcode-DNA high-resolution melting (Bar-HRM) method was applied to characterize 63 rhubarb samples (five Polygonaceae species: Rheum tanguticum, Rh. palmatum, Rh. officinale, Rumex japonicus and Ru. sp.) and distinguish the rhubarb contents of 24 traditional Chinese patent medicine (TCPM) samples. Three markers, namely ITS2, rbcL and psbA-trnH, were tested to assess the candidate DNA barcodes for their effectiveness in distinguishing rhubarb from its adulterants. A segment from ITS2 was selected as the most suitable mini-barcode to identify the botanical drug rhubarb in TCPMs. Then, rhubarbs and TCPM samples were subjected to HRM analysis based on the ITS2 barcode. Results: Among the tested barcoding loci, ITS2 displayed abundant sites of variation and was effective in identifying Polygonaceae species and their botanical origins. HRM analysis based on the ITS2 mini-barcode region successfully distinguished the authenticity of five Polygonaceae species and eight batches of TCPMs. Of the 18 TCPM samples, 66.7 % (12 samples) were identified as containing Rh. tanguticum or Rh. officinale. However, 33.3 % were shown to consist of adulterants. Conclusions: These results demonstrated that DNA barcoding combined with HRM is a specific, suitable and powerful approach for identifying rhubarb species and TCPMs, which is crucial to guaranteeing the security of medicinal plants being traded internationally.
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Tendon injuries are common orthopedic ailments with a challenging healing trajectory, especially in cases like the Achilles tendon afflictions. The healing trajectory of tendon injuries is often suboptimal, leading to scar formation and functional impairment due to the inherent low metabolic activity and vascularization of tendon tissue. As pressing is needed for effective interventions, efforts are made to explore biomaterials to augment tendon healing. However, tissue engineering approaches face hurdles in optimizing tissue scaffolds and nanomedical strategies. To navigate these challenges, an injectable hydrogel amalgamated with human umbilical vein endothelial cells-derived exosomes (HUVECs-Exos) was prepared and named H-Exos-gel in this study, aiming to enhance tendon repair. In our research involving a model of Achilles tendon injuries in 60 rats, we investigated the efficacy of H-Exos-gel through histological assessments performed at 2 and 4 weeks and behavioral assessments conducted at the 4-week mark revealed its ability to enhance the Achilles tendon's mechanical strength, regulate inflammation and facilitate tendon regeneration and functional recovery. Mechanically, the H-Exos-gel modulated the cellular behaviors of macrophages and tendon-derived stem cells (TDSCs) by inhibiting inflammation-related pathways and promoting proliferation-related pathways. Our findings delineate that the H-Exos-gel epitomizes a viable bioactive medium for tendon healing, heralding a promising avenue for the clinical amelioration of tendon injuries.