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Papers
16 resultsShowing papers from Shandong Provincial Hospital
ClearThe quest for nanoparticle-powered vaccines in cancer immunotherapy
This review explores how nanoparticles are being developed as cancer vaccine delivery systems to train the immune system to fight tumors more effectively. While focused on cancer immunotherapy rather than microplastics, the research highlights that understanding how nanoparticles interact with the immune system is crucial -- the same principles apply to understanding how nanoplastics may affect immune responses in the body.
Polystyrene nanoplastics induced learning and memory impairments in mice by damaging the glymphatic system
Mice exposed to polystyrene nanoplastics through different routes developed learning and memory problems linked to damage in their brain's waste-clearing system, called the glymphatic system. Amino-modified nanoplastics caused the most severe effects, disrupting the channels that normally flush toxins from the brain during sleep, suggesting a mechanism by which plastic pollution could contribute to cognitive decline.
Quantitative and sensitive analysis of polystyrene nanoplastics down to 50 nm by surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy in water
Researchers developed a highly sensitive method using surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy to detect and quantify polystyrene nanoplastics as small as 50 nanometers in water samples. The technique achieved detection limits far below what conventional methods can measure, enabling the identification of nanoplastics at environmentally relevant concentrations. This advancement addresses a critical gap in nanoplastic monitoring, as most existing methods cannot reliably detect particles at such small sizes.
Intestinal flora and pregnancy complications: Current insights and future prospects
This review examines how changes in gut bacteria during pregnancy can contribute to complications like preeclampsia, gestational diabetes, and preterm birth. An imbalanced gut microbiome during pregnancy poses risks to both mother and baby, and the review explores whether gut bacteria may even colonize the uterus and placenta. While not directly about microplastics, this is relevant because microplastic ingestion has been shown to disrupt gut bacteria, meaning microplastic exposure during pregnancy could potentially worsen these risks.
Advances in Immunomodulatory Mechanisms of Mesenchymal Stem Cells-Derived Exosome on Immune Cells in Scar Formation
This review examines how exosomes, tiny vesicles released by stem cells, can modulate immune responses and reduce excessive scarring during wound healing. While not directly about microplastics, the immune pathways discussed, particularly inflammation and tissue repair signaling, overlap with those disrupted by microplastic exposure. Understanding these healing mechanisms provides context for how microplastic-driven inflammation might interfere with normal wound repair and tissue recovery in the body.
Revealing transport, uptake and damage of polystyrene microplastics using a gut-liver-on-a-chip
Using an advanced gut-liver organ-on-a-chip system that mimics human digestion, researchers tracked how polystyrene microplastics travel from the intestine to the liver. The microplastics crossed the intestinal barrier, accumulated in liver tissue, and caused dose-dependent damage to liver cells. This human-relevant model provides strong evidence that microplastics ingested through food and water can reach and harm the liver.
Exposure to polystyrene microplastics during lactational period alters immune status in both male mice and their offspring
This study found that when male mice were exposed to polystyrene microplastics during the nursing period, both the adult mice and their offspring showed changes in immune cell populations in the spleen. The microplastics altered the balance of different types of immune cells, suggesting the immune system was being disrupted. This is especially concerning because it shows that microplastic exposure during early life can affect immune development in the next generation.
MORN2 regulates the morphology and energy metabolism of mitochondria and is required for male fertility in mice
Researchers identified a protein called MORN2 that plays a critical role in shaping mitochondria and supporting their energy production in sperm cells. When this protein was absent in mice, the animals became infertile due to defective mitochondrial structures in their sperm. The study adds to our understanding of the molecular requirements for male reproductive health.
Role of p38 MAPK Signalling in Testis Development and Male Fertility
This review detailed how p38 MAPK signaling plays a crucial role in testis development by regulating spermatogenesis and the function of key reproductive cells. The study also examined how this signaling pathway is involved in decreased male fertility when exposed to various harmful stimuli, including environmental contaminants.
Gut‐on‐a‐Chip Reveals Enhanced Peristalsis Reduces Nanoplastic‐Induced Inflammation
Researchers built a miniature gut-on-a-chip device that mimics intestinal movement to study how nanoplastics affect the digestive system. They found that nanoplastic exposure caused significant inflammation and cell damage in the simulated gut lining. Notably, increasing the intensity of gut-like contractions substantially reduced the inflammatory response, suggesting that healthy intestinal movement may help protect against nanoplastic-related harm.
Enhanced toxic effects of photoaged microplastics on the trophoblast cells
Researchers investigated how light-aged polystyrene microplastics affect placental function in pregnant mice and found that aged particles caused greater harm than pristine ones. Oral exposure to microplastics starting early in pregnancy impaired fetal growth and damaged the placental tissue layer. The enhanced toxicity of aged microplastics appears to be linked to changes in their physical properties and increased lipid peroxidation in trophoblast cells.
Microplastics enhance the risk of cross-genus dissemination of carbapenemase resistance plasmids in ICU patients
Researchers demonstrated that hospital-derived microplastics significantly increase the conjugation rate of carbapenemase resistance plasmids between drug-resistant bacteria by stimulating biofilm formation, with the effect amplified more than 3.9-fold under conditions simulating diabetic patient urine — identifying medical plastics as a potential environmental driver of untreatable ICU infections.
Polystyrene Nanoplastics Induce Pyroptosis in HepG2 Cells via the YAP1-cGAS-STING Signaling Axis.
Scientists found that tiny plastic particles from polystyrene (commonly used in disposable cups and food containers) can trigger a harmful type of cell death in liver cells. When these microscopic plastic pieces enter liver cells, they activate a specific pathway that causes the cells to essentially self-destruct, which could potentially damage the liver over time. This research helps explain how the plastic pollution we're exposed to daily might be harming our bodies, particularly our liver health.
Vitamin K2 prevents postoperative cognitive impairments, anxiety-like behavior, and motor dysfunction induced by nanoplastics in young adult mice
Researchers found that young adult mice exposed to nanoplastics for 30 days before surgery developed postoperative cognitive impairment, anxiety, and motor problems that surgery alone did not cause. Pretreatment with Vitamin K2 reversed these behavioral and brain changes by reducing inflammation and cell death in the hippocampus and prefrontal cortex, suggesting a potential protective role for this nutrient against nanoplastic-worsened surgical complications.
Emerging Trends and Research on Hydroxychloroquine Treatment in Diseases From 1991 to 2020
This bibliometric review analyzed 30 years of published research on hydroxychloroquine, a drug that gained attention during the COVID-19 pandemic. This pharmacological review is not directly related to microplastic research.
The Mechanism Insight into Bacterial Degradation of Pentachlorobiphenyl
Researchers identified a new pentachlorobiphenyl-degrading bacterium, Microbacterium paraoxydans, and systematically characterized its intracellular enzymes, proteome variation, and metabolome changes during degradation to elucidate the bacterial mechanism for breaking down this highly chlorinated, poorly biodegradable PCB congener.