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Objectives: Stem cell therapy shows great promise for treating Alzheimer's disease (AD). Cholinesterase inhibitors (ChEIs) like donepezil are well-established for alleviating AD symptoms. This study aimed to determine if combining ChEI treatment with stem cell therapy could improve therapeutic outcomes. Methods: Neural stem cells (NSCs) were injected into the hippocampus of the 5xFAD AD mice using a stereotactic technique. Following this, donepezil or a placebo was administered for one month. We assessed behavioral improvements, survival and health of the grafts, and changes in synaptic density. Results: The AD mice demonstrated cognitive impairment in both the Morris water maze and novel object recognition tests. In groups receiving stem cell therapy, donepezil enhanced the survival and neuronal differentiation of grafted NSCs, promoting the establishment of synaptic connections with the host brain. The combined treatment with donepezil and NSC transplantation more effectively increased synaptic density and improved behavioral performance in AD mice compared to NSC transplantation alone. Conclusion: Combining ChEIs with NSC transplantation produces synergistic effects in AD treatment. This approach highlights the potential of integrating these therapies to develop more effective strategies for managing Alzheimer's disease. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: Acute undifferentiated leukemia (AUL) is a clinical rare leukemia with an overall poor prognosis. Currently, there are no well-established treatment guidelines for AUL, further exploration of optimal treatment options is now required. Methods: We report an AUL patient who was complicated by a NRAS mutation and del5q was admitted to our hospital and we present the clinical features. In addition, we conducted a literature review. Results: The "VA" scheme combines agents Venetoclax and Azacitidine that have synergistic therapeutic effect with a tolerable safety profile. There is no previous report of the "VA" scheme employed in AUL treatment. An AUL patient who was complicated by a NRAS mutation and del5q was admitted to our hospital. The "VA" scheme was administrated, and complete remission (CR) was achieved at the end of the first cycle. The patient then underwent HLA-identical sibling allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation. Discussion: The "VA" scheme has been extensively used in AML treatment, but its application in AUL treatment has not yet been reported. This study is the first to report an AUL patient treated with the "VA" scheme and achieved CR. Our result preliminarily suggested the effectiveness and safety of the "VA" scheme in AUL treatment, but validation is required in more clinical samples. The "VA" scheme provides a new treatment option for AUL patients and deserves further clinical promotion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Human papillomavirus (HPV) infection is the main cause of cervical cancer. Different types of HPV have varying carcinogenic capabilities, and viral load is one of the key indicators of pathogenicity. Currently, there is a lack of clinical data on HPV26. This study analyzed the clinical characteristics of patients with HPV26 single infection. Methods: Exfoliated cervical cells were collected for HPV genotyping from women who attended gynecological outpatient clinics or physical examinations. The clinical characteristics of HPV26 single infections in both cross-sectional and follow-up studies were examined, and the association of viral load with HPV26 persistent infection and pathogenicity was investigated. Results: The HPV26 positive rate among women visiting hospitals for gynecological medical consultation or physical examination was approximately 0.09% (379/435,072). Among the HPV types tested, the detection rate of HPV26 was 0.37% (379/103,608). In the cross-sectional histopathological study of 101 patients with HPV26 single infection, 62.37% (63/101) presented lesion-free. The numbers of patients with cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN) 1, CIN2, and CIN3 were 25, eight, and five, respectively. Cervical cancer was not detected in any patient. 71 patients attended follow-up examinations as well as HPV26 retesting up to two years, during which, 28.57% (6/21) of CIN1 patients have developed into high-grade lesions, and 9.61% (5/52) of lesion-free patients have progressed to CIN stage. The viral load in the CIN group was significantly higher than that in the lesion-free group (p = 0.012). Similarly, the viral load in the persistent infection group was significantly higher than that in the viral-clearance group (p < 0.001). Conclusions: The pathogenicity of single HPV26 infections is moderate among high-risk types, warranting the inclusion of HPV26 in expanded screening for HPV. High viral load is an important factor in the persistent infection and pathogenicity of HPV26. Viral load is expected to serve as a screening risk factor for persistent infection and disease progression associated with HPV26. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Carvacrol (CAR), a naturally occurring phenolic monoterpene compound, has recently received attention for its potential use in food preservation. However, whether it is effective in controlling brown blotch disease caused by Pseudomonas tolaasii in edible mushrooms is unknown. The results of this study showed that CAR effectively inhibits and kills P. tolaasii in vitro by disrupting cell membrane integrity and causing the leakage of cellular components. Intracellular proteins and the DNA of P. tolaasii may not be the targets of CAR. CAR fumigation at a concentration as low as 20 μmol L−1 CAR effectively inhibited P. tolaasii-caused brown blotch disease in Agaricus bisporus, accompanied by a decrease in polyphenol oxidase activation, melanin production, and malondialdehyde accumulation. CAR treatment also significantly increased the activities of β-1,4-N-acetyl-glucosaminnidase, three antioxidant enzymes, and phenylpropanoid pathway-related enzymes, as well as promoting the accumulation of phenolic, flavonoid, and lignin substances in mushrooms, thereby inducing the resistance of mushrooms to the disease. These results demonstrate the potential application of carvacrol to control bacterial disease in A. bisporus mushrooms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To identify differences in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) risky behavior and healthy practices between rural and urban men who have sex with men (MSM) in Southeast China, a cross-sectional study was conducted on MSM aged ≥ 18 years recruited from four community-based organizations (CBOs) in seven cities in Zhejiang Province between October 2022 and March 2023. An electronic survey questionnaire was completed by the study participants to collect HIV risky behavior and healthy practices. The chi-square test and multiple logistic regression were used for analysis. Among the 1,993 MSM participants, 21.1% (420) were rural MSM. Compared with urban MSM, rural MSM was more likely to have a low level of education (high school and below; 46.2% vs. 40.2%, p = 0.028) and a low annual income (≤ 90,000 RMB; 71.2% vs. 64.7%, p = 0.013). Multiple logistic regression showed that, compared with urban MSM in the past 6 months behaviors, rural MSM had lower odds of finding casual sex partners on the Internet (adjusted odds ratio [aOR]: 0.790, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.633–0.986), using stimulants with online casual sex partners (aOR: 0.688, 95% CI: 0.506–0.936), and high odds of ever having sex with a female (aOR: 1.460, 95% CI:1.036–2.058). Rural MSM reported lower odds of an HIV knowledge score of 2–3 (aOR: 0.586, 95% CI: 0.454–0.756), HIV testing more than twice (aOR: 0.583, 95% CI: 0.455–0.748), and obtaining four to five types of HIV information (aOR: 0.661, 95% CI: 0.529–0.826), as well as higher odds of high/very high awareness of HIV infection risk (aOR: 2.312, 95% CI: 1.638–3.263), compared to urban MSM. Rural MSM and urban MSM reported discrepancies in HIV risky behavior, HIV knowledge and HIV-related healthy practices. Paying more attention to HIV risky behavior and improving healthy practices in rural areas may help to prevent HIV transmission. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: We tested whether the PARP inhibitor, Olaparib, can effectively enhance radiosensitivity while inhibiting OSCC growth and metastasis in vitro and in vivo. Patient samples were used for survival validation. Methods: The present study investigated the effect of Olaparib and ionizing radiation (IR) on clonogenic, migratory, and invasive ability in human IR-sensitive (OML1) and IR-resistant (OML1-R) OSCC cell lines. We next explored the underlying mechanism with ELISA and a Western blotting assay. Two in vivo mouse models were established to investigate the efficacy of Olaparib combined with radiotherapy (RT) on local tumor growth and lung metastasis. IL-17 A expression was confirmed in tissue specimens of OSCC patients by immunohistochemistry. Results: We found that Olaparib, in combination with IR, substantially inhibited cell growth, migration, and invasion in vitro. Mechanistically, the Olaparib treatment significantly reduced the secretion of IL-17 A in irradiated OSCC cells by attenuating NF-κB and p38 activity. Consistently, Olaparib enhanced the radiosensitivity and, with RT, synergistically reduced both tumor growth and lung metastasis in mice. In addition, OSCC patients with high IL-17 A expression were substantially associated with an increased risk of lymph node involvement and worse survival. Conclusions: This study has highlighted that Olaparib displays radiosensitizing and antimetastatic effects by inhibiting the IL-17 A-dependent signal. Remarkably, Olaparib could provide a remarkable anticancer efficacy to improve treatment response in OSCC patients with recurrent/metastatic disease after RT. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: To present a case of conjunctival growth on the amniotic membrane and subsequent pathology revealing conjunctival squamous metaplasia in a patient with Stevens-Johnson syndrome. Case presentation: A 21-year-old female presented with painful, blurred vision in both eyes for two weeks. She was diagnosed with Stevens-Johnson syndrome 5 weeks before. Due to bilateral corneal epithelial defects, ProKera®, an amniotic membrane corneal bandage with a polycarbonate ring, was placed in both eyes. However, three weeks later, a slit-lamp examination revealed vascularized tissue growth from the palpebral conjunctiva to the amniotic membrane, along with symblepharon formation in the left eye. The patient underwent conjunctival biopsy, amniotic membrane removal, and symblepharon release. Pathology report showed the growth of squamous epithelium on the acellular amniotic membrane. Immunohistochemistry further supported the diagnosis, revealing squamous markers through p40 staining and highlighting the presence of the amniotic membrane using trichrome stain. Three months later, the patient's visual acuity had improved to 20/25 and no symblepharon was noted. Conclusions: This is the first case of conjunctival squamous metaplasia on amniotic membrane associated with Stevens-Johnson syndrome. Our case indicates that, despite the anti-inflammatory properties of amniotic membrane, conjunctival squamous metaplasia may arise after amniotic membrane grafting due to intense inflammation in Stevens-Johnson syndrome. Clinicians should conduct regular monitoring before amniotic membrane dissolution to preclude the development of conjunctival squamous metaplasia on the membrane and potential invasion into the cornea. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, a special case of the generalized 4-block n-fold IPs is investigated, where B i = B and B has a rank at most 1. Such IPs, called almost combinatorial 4-block n-fold IPs, include the generalized n-fold IPs as a subcase. We are interested in fixed parameter tractable (FPT) algorithms by taking as parameters the dimensions of the blocks and the largest coefficient. For almost combinatorial 4-block n-fold IPs, we first show that there exists some λ ≤ g (γ) such that for any nonzero kernel element g , λ g can always be decomposed into kernel elements in the same orthant whose ℓ ∞ -norm is bounded by g (γ) (while g itself might not admit such a decomposition), where g is a computable function and γ is an upper bound on the dimensions of the blocks and the largest coefficient. Based on this, we are able to bound the ℓ ∞ -norm of Graver basis elements by O (g (γ) n) and develop an O (g (γ) n 3 + o (1) L ^ 2) -time algorithm (here L ^ denotes the logarithm of the largest absolute value occurring in the input). Additionally, we show that the ℓ ∞ -norm of Graver basis elements is Ω (n) . As applications, almost combinatorial 4-block n-fold IPs can be used to model generalizations of classical problems, including scheduling with rejection, bi-criteria scheduling, and a generalized delivery problem. Therefore, our FPT algorithm establishes a general framework to settle these problems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Tung oil samples were prepared by physical pressing method using Vernicia fordi tung seeds in Wenshan, Yunnan Province as raw materials, the oil yield of tung seeds was determined and the changes of chemical components of tung oil with the age and harvest time of tung oil were analyzed and summarized by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) analysis after methylation. The results showed that: the unsaturated fatty acid content of tung oil in Wenshan prefecture of Yunnan Province was over 93.72%, and the content of tung acid was over 78.14%. During the period from cold dew to start of winter, the oil yield decreased with the harvest time, and the oil yield decreased with the harvest time, while the content of oleic acid, linoleic acid and palmitic acid basically increased with the harvest time, and had a high and significant correlation. Oil yield decreased with tree age, tung acid decreased with tree age, oleic acid, linoleic acid, palmitic acid and stearic acid increased with tree age, but there was no significant correlation. The content of tung acid was mainly affected by the conversion process from palmitic acid to stearic acid and the conversion process from linoleic acid to tung acid in the synthetic pathway. The results of this study could provide a reference for the development and actual production of tung oil high value-added product. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: Roxarsone, a feed addictive to promote animal growth, has been found to induce angiogenesis. This study aimed to investigate the effect of a recombinant lentiviral Vegfr2-silencing vector on angiogenesis and carcinogenesis by roxarsone. The results showed that silencing the Vegfr2 gene by RNA interference through lentiviral vector attenuated roxarsone-induced growth of rat vascular endothelial cells and angiogenesis in matrigel plugs and B16F10 xenografts. The finding from this work provides a promising approach in the prevention and treatment of angiogenesis and tumorigenesis promoted by roxarsone. Roxarsone (ROX) is widely used as a feed addictive for livestock and poultry. ROX promotes angiogenesis, which can lead to health problems, and it is necessary to identify methods to counter this angiogenic effect of ROX. The VEGF/VEGFR2 signaling pathway is involved in the growth and reconstruction of new blood vessels during angiogenesis. In this study, a recombinant lentiviral vector encoding Vegfr2 shRNA was transfected into rat vascular endothelial cells and used in mouse matrigel plug and melanoma xenograft models to investigate its potential to regulate ROX-induced angiogenesis and tumor growth. Treating endothelial cells with ROX increased cell proliferation, migration, and a tube-like structure of growth relative to the control group. The addition of the lentiviral Vegfr2-silencing vector significantly attenuated the effects of ROX on endothelial cells. The hemoglobin content of mouse matrigel plugs treated with ROX was increased significantly. This effect was dramatically attenuated by the co-administration of shRNA targeting Vegfr2. The volume, weight and CD34 staining of the melanoma xenograft tumors increased by ROX were also attenuated by Vegfr2 silence. These results indicate that the down-regulation of VEGFR2 protein plays an inhibitory role in the ROX-promoted angiogenesis in vivo and in vitro. These data support the targeting of Vegfr2 gene as an effective means to treat ROX-induced angiogenesis and tumor growth. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We prove a criterion of existence of solutions conjectured by Chen and Lin (J Differ Geom 57:67–171, 2001) for the prescribed scalar curvature problem on the standard n-dimensional sphere, n ≥ 3 . [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Probing regional glycogen metabolism in humans non-invasively has been challenging due to a lack of sensitive approaches. Here we studied human muscle glycogen dynamics post-exercise with a spatial resolution of millimeters and temporal resolution of minutes, using relayed nuclear Overhauser effect (glycoNOE) MRI. Data at 5T showed a homogeneous distribution of glycogen in resting muscle, with an average concentration of 99 ± 13 mM. After plantar flexion exercise following fasting with recovery under fasting conditions, the calf muscle showed spatially heterogeneous glycogen depletion and repletion kinetics that correlated with the severity of this depletion. Three types of regional glycogen kinetics were observed: (i) single exponential repletion (type a); (ii) biphasic recovery of rapid repletion followed by additional depletion (type b); (iii) biphasic recovery where continued depletion is followed by an exponential recovery (type c). The study of the complex patterns of glycogen kinetics suggests that glycogen breakdown may be quantitatively important during the initial recovery. The non-invasive spatial measurement of glycogen in humans has been challenging due to a lack of sensitive approaches. Here, the authors characterize regional glycogen dynamics in human muscle under exercise using MRI, providing insights into the complex patterns of muscle energy consumption and recovery. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: To clarify the prognostic role of pretreatment albumin-bilirubin (ALBI) grade in lung cancer patients. Methods: The PubMed, EMBASE, Web of Science and CNKI databases were searched up to April 20, 2024. Primary outcomes included the overall survival (OS), progression-free survival (PFS) and cancer-specific survival (CSS). Hazard ratios (HRs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were combined and subgroup analysis based on the type of lung cancer [non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) vs. small cell lung cancer (SCLC)] and treatment [surgery vs. immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) vs. chemotherapy] was conducted. Results: Eight studies with 2,057 patients were included. Pooled results indicated that elevated pretreatment ALBI grade was significantly related to poor OS (HR = 2.50, 95% CI: 2.03–3.09, P<0.001), PFS (HR = 1.91, 95% CI: 1.56–2.33, P<0.001) and CSS (HR = 1.90, 95% CI: 1.11–3.11, P = 0.018). Subgroup analysis for OS based on the pathological type and primary treatment manifested similar results. Conclusion: Pretreatment ALBI grade is associated with prognosis in lung cancer and patients with elevated ALBI grade are more likely to experience worse survival. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

One favorable solution to the issue of hunting instability of high‐speed trains is to install hunting dampers. However, the nonlinearity of dampers and their interaction with a train present significant challenges in accurately analyzing the dynamic behaviors of both dampers and trains. To address these challenges, we present and investigate a real‐time hybrid simulation (RTHS) for hunting dampers of high‐speed trains and propose an improved two‐stage adaptive time‐delay compensation method to resolve its demanding delay issue. This innovative approach combines a numerical train model with a full‐scale physical hunting damper, providing a versatile method for simulating and analyzing various dynamic behaviors. The train model incorporates 17 degrees of freedom and accounts for the nonlinear wheel–rail contact relationship to more faithfully represent the dynamic response of the train. A virtual RTHS platform with a loading system model has been developed. Both numerical simulations on this platform and real tests are conducted using the RTHS approach. Results demonstrate that time delays can reduce the hunting stability of a high‐speed train, and the improved two‐stage adaptive time‐delay compensation method outperforms other comparative methods. This research reveals the feasibility and efficacy of the RTHS method for hunting dampers of high‐speed trains. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Epithelioid sarcomas are rare soft tissue tumors and have possibility to involve the peripheral nerve and present as sensory and motor disorders. The symptoms are similar to those of nerve compression diseases. This situation is extremely rare in clinic and was only reported as several case reports in literature. It can be easily ignored and misdiagnosed in clinic and may bring out severe outcomes. From January 2003 to December 2017, a retrospective analysis of ten patients with epithelioid sarcomas which involved the peripheral nerves was made. The medical data, detailed clinical courses and the follow-up results were stated. In these cases, the tumors invaded the median nerve, ulnar nerve, radial nerve, brachial plexus, sciatic nerve and presented as relative symptoms. Early diagnosis and treatment are the keys to better prognosis. We recommended high-resolution ultrasound as a standard diagnostic tool for nerve compression syndromes not only reveal the morphological structure of the peripheral nerve, but also discover the tumor involving the nerve. Adequate surgical methods including wide resection and lymph node dissection if necessary. The manners of functional reconstruction need to be applied flexibly by the doctors. Postoperative rehabilitation is important for functional recovery. We want to share our experiences in the diagnosis and treatment to overcome this particular condition. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Oxidative stress may be involved in the progression of hypothyroidism in patients with Hashimoto thyroiditis (HT). Vitamin C is a well-known powerful antioxidant. To our knowledge, whether vitamin C intake relates to hypothyroidism in patients with HT remains unclear. In this cross-sectional study based on the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, 2007–2012, we aimed to explore the relationship between total vitamin C intake and hypothyroidism in patients with HT, using multivariate logistic regression models and restricted cubic spline analyses. Our results showed a significant negative linear association between total vitamin C intake (log10-transformed data) and hypothyroidism in HT. Compared with those with the lowest quartile of total vitamin C intake (log10-transformed), participants with the highest quartile were at lower odds of having hypothyroidism (adjusted OR 0·40, 95 % CI: 0·18, 0·88, P trend = 0·027). This association was consistent in subgroups stratified by sex (P for interaction = 0·084) and age (≥ 60 years and < 60 years, P for interaction = 0·330). This study revealed that total vitamin C intake was inversely associated with hypothyroidism among individuals with HT, indicating that higher vitamin C intakes (4·57–1258·9 mg/d) may be associated with a lower likelihood of hypothyroidism among HT participants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

High-fat diet (HFD) induces low-grade chronic inflammation, contributing to obesity and insulin resistance. However, the precise mechanisms triggering obesity-associated metabolic inflammation remain elusive. In this study, we identified epigenetic factor Brd4 as a key player in this process by regulating the expression of Ccr2/Ccr5 in colonic macrophage. Upon 4-week HFD, myeloid-lineage-specific Brd4 deletion (Brd4-CKO) mice showed reduced colonic inflammation and macrophage infiltration with decreased expression of Ccr2 and Ccr5. Mechanistically, Brd4 was recruited by NF-κB to the enhancer regions of Ccr2 and Ccr5, promoting enhancer RNA expression, which facilitated Ccr2/Ccr5 expression and macrophage migration. Furthermore, decreased infiltration of Ccr2/Ccr5-positive colonic macrophages in Brd4-CKO mice altered gut microbiota composition and reduced intestinal permeability, thereby lowering metabolic endotoxemia. Finally, Brd4-CKO mice subjected to a 4-week LPS infusion exhibited restored susceptibility to HFD-induced obesity and insulin resistance. This study identifies Brd4 as a critical initiator of colonic macrophage-mediated inflammation and metabolic endotoxemia upon HFD, suggesting Brd4 as a potential target for mitigating HFD-induced inflammation, obesity, and its metabolic complications. Identification of Brd4 as a critical regulator of the initiation of colonic inflammation upon high-fat diet by regulating the expression of Ccr2/Ccr5. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Neural activation induced by upper extremity robot-assisted training (UE-RAT) helps characterize adaptive changes in the brains of poststroke patients, revealing differences in recovery potential among patients. However, it remains unclear whether these task-related neural activities can effectively predict rehabilitation outcomes. In this study, we utilized functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS) to measure participants' neural activity profiles during resting and UE-RAT tasks and developed models via machine learning to verify whether task-related functional brain responses can predict the recovery of upper limb motor function. Methods: Cortical activation and brain network functional connectivity (FC) in brain regions such as the superior frontal cortex, premotor cortex, and primary motor cortex were measured using fNIRS in 82 subacute stroke patients in the resting state and during UE-RAT. The Fugl-Meyer Upper Extremity Assessment Scale (FMA-UE) was chosen as the index for assessing upper extremity motor function, and clinical information such as demographic and neurophysiological data was also collected. Robust features were screened in 100 randomly divided training sets using the least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO) method. Based on the selected robust features, machine learning algorithms were used to develop clinical models, fNIRS models, and combined models that integrated both clinical and fNIRS features. Finally, Shapley Additive Explanations (SHAP) was applied to interpret the prediction process and analyze key predictive factors. Results: Compared to the resting state, task-related FC is a more robust feature for modeling, with screening frequencies above 90%. The combined models built using artificial neural networks (ANNs) and support vector machines (SVMs) significantly outperformed the other algorithms, with an average AUC of 0.861 (± 0.087) for the ANN and an average correlation coefficient (r) of 0.860 (± 0.069) for the SVM. Furthermore, predictive factor analysis of the models revealed that FC measured during tasks is the most important factor for predicting upper limb motor function. Conclusion: This study confirmed that UE-RAT-induced FC can serve as an important predictor of rehabilitation, especially when combined with clinical information, further enhancing the accuracy of model predictions. These findings provide new insights for the early prediction of patients' recovery potential, which may contribute to personalized rehabilitation decisions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Herein, we report a ball milling-promoted difunctionalization of alkynyl sulfonium salts with sulfinic acids under catalyst-, additive- and solvent-free conditions. This reaction enables the synthesis of various Z-selective 1,2-disulfonylethenes with a wide substrate scope and satisfactory yields. A short reaction time (about 10 minutes), room temperature, and a simple work-up procedure without the need for an extraction process make this method practical and sustainable in organic synthesis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: We attempted to establish correlations between intraoperative variables such as time-to-isolation (TTI) and temperature (T) at the 30-second mark, and the sustained efficacy of pulmonary vein isolation. Methods: One hundred patients underwent repeat procedures subsequent to their index ablation. Five time intervals were delineated based on TTI metrics of 30, 35, 40, 45, and 60 s during the initial procedure. Subsequently, temperatures of -25 °C, -29 °C, -30 °C, and − 31 °C were determined at 30 nodes during repeat procedures, guided by the findings from the initial intervention. The prevalence of re-established pulmonary vein (PV) potentials was assessed both prior to and post each TTI and temperature assessment at the 30-second node. Results: The incidence of reconnected PV potentials demonstrated a noteworthy reduction in the group with TTI < 30 s group than in the TTI ≥ 30. Similarly, there was a notable decrease in the incidence of reconnected PV potentials in the group with T at 30 s of < -31 ℃ than ≥ -31 ℃. The sensitivity, specificity, and positive predictive values (PPVs) for predicting durable pulmonary vein isolation were 13.19%, 94.44%, and 83.72%, respectively, in cases where the TTI was < 30 s and T at 30 s was < -31 ℃. Conclusion: Integrating both TTI30s and T30s could potentially serve as an effective method for predicting the persistence of pulmonary vein isolation using second-generation cryoballoons. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: To assess the correlation of body mass index (BMI), diet and lifestyle with allergic conjunctivitis (AC) in children. Methods: This prospective case-control study included 105 children with AC and 105 age- and sex-matched children with no AC. Clinical data were collected, including BMI, dietary habits, physical activity, and sleep time. Multivariate regression analysis was used to analyze the risk factors for AC. Results: Dietary habits including vitamin A supplement use (χ2 = 0.00; P = 1.00), the consumption of sweet food (χ2 = 6.70; P = 0.08), fast food (χ2 = 3.74; P = 0.29), beverages (χ2 = 1.17; P = 0.76), and seafood and fish (χ2 = 6.15; P = 0.10) and snacking before sleep (χ2 = 2.23; P = 0.53), were not associated with AC. There were significant differences in physical activity (χ2 = 12.64; P < 0.01) between the children with AC and healthy children. Physical activity of less than 1 h per day is more found among AC and more than 2 h of exercise per day is more found in healthy children. There were no differences in sleep duration (χ2 = 5.39; P = 0.07). Multivariate regression analysis revealed that a high BMI (overweight and obesity) (OR = 3.05; 95% CI: 1.30–7.20; P = 0.01) was a significant risk factor for AC. The consumption of fish oil supplements (OR = 0.38; 95% CI: 0.17–0.81; P = 0.01) and having been breastfed (OR = 0.34; 95% CI: 0.16–0.72; p = 0.005) were protective factors against AC. Conclusion: A high BMI (overweight and obesity) can increase the incidence of AC. Breastfeeding and dietary supplementation with fish oil are recommended for children susceptible to AC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Predicting mortality in sepsis-related acute kidney injury facilitates early data-driven treatment decisions. Machine learning is predicting mortality in S-AKI in a growing number of studies. Therefore, we conducted this systematic review and meta-analysis to investigate the predictive value of machine learning for mortality in patients with septic acute kidney injury. Methods: The PubMed, Web of Science, Cochrane Library and Embase databases were searched up to 20 July 2024 This was supplemented by a manual search of study references and review articles. Data were analysed using STATA 14.0 software. The risk of bias in the prediction model was assessed using the Predictive Model Risk of Bias Assessment Tool. Results: A total of 8 studies were included, with a total of 53 predictive models and 17 machine learning algorithms used. Meta-analysis using a random effects model showed that the overall C index in the training set was 0.81 (95% CI: 0.78–0.84), sensitivity was 0.39 (0.32–0.47), and specificity was 0.92 (95% CI: 0.89–0.95). The overall C-index in the validation set was 0.73 (95% CI: 0.71–0.74), sensitivity was 0.54 (95% CI: 0.48–0.60) and specificity was 0.90 (95% CI: 0.88–0.91). The results showed that the machine learning algorithms had a good performance in predicting sepsis-related acute kidney injury death prediction. Conclusion: Machine learning has been shown to be an effective tool for predicting sepsis-associated acute kidney injury deaths, which has important implications for enhancing risk assessment and clinical decision-making to improve sepsis patient care. It is also eagerly anticipated that future research efforts will incorporate larger sample sizes and multi-centre studies to more intensively examine the external validation of these models in different patient populations, allowing for a more in-depth exploration of sepsis-associated acute kidney injury in terms of accurate diagnostic efficacy across a diverse range of model and predictor types. Trial registration: This study was registered with PROSPERO (CRD42024569420). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Accumulating evidences have indicated that cancer stem cells (CSCs) can initiate tumor progression and cause recurrence after therapy. However, specific markers of gastric CSCs (GCSCs) from different origins have not been comprehensively revealed. Here, we further detected whether cell populations labelled with CD44 and Lgr5, well-recognized stem markers for gastric cancer (GC), can better emphasize cancer initiation, therapeutic resistance and recurrence. Flow cytometry was utilized to sort the CD44 + Lgr5 + and CD44 + Lgr5- cells from GC cell line HGC-27 and primary GC cells. The influences of CD44 and Lgr5 GCSCs on the malignant behaviors and their potential mechanisms was investigated, respectively. In our study, we reported the identification and validation of CD44 + Lgr5 + cells that presented stronger stemness characteristics, as evidenced by increase of sphere forming ability, elevation of stem cell transcriptional activity. Additionally, CD44 + Lgr5 + double positive cells have lower apoptosis, greater chemotherapy resistance, and higher EMT capacity and LC3 density compared with CD44 + Lgr5- cells. Tumor xenograft experiments also verified the faster carcinogenesis of CD44 + Lgr5 + GCSCs. Furthermore, a series of key proteins in the Wnt, Hedgehog, Notch, and TGF-β pathways were elevated in the CD44 + Lgr5 + double positive subpopulation, except for Notch 1 and Smad 1. In conclusion, the binding of CD44 and Lgr5 can serve as a precise GCSCs marker that initiate malignant progression and chemotherapy resistance in GC by activating Wnt, Hedgehog, Notch, TGF-β pathways. Those evidences raise the needs to target both markers simultaneously as a potential approach for the GC treatment. 1. CD44+Lgr5+ GCSCs exhibited the activation of Hedgehog pathway, and Wnt/β-catenin pathway. 2. In terms of the Notch pathway, all Notch proteins and NICD were elevated in CD44+Lgr5+ GCSCs except Notch 1 protein. 3. TGF/β components including TGF-β1 and Smad 2, 3, and 4 were involved in stemness phenotypes of CD44+Lgr5+ GCSCs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Herein, we report an effective copper-catalyzed cascade strategy for the synthesis of sulfonylated benzothiophenes, where the sulfonyl source used in the reaction system is a commercially available bulk sulfonyl chloride. This approach avoids multi-step synthesis of sulfone radical precursors and the use of expensive photocatalysts, as well as shows good functional group tolerance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The subtypes diagnosis of disease symptom clusters, grounded in the theory of "Treatment in Accordance with Three Categories of Etiologic Factors" and International Classification of Diseases 11th Revision (ICD-11), is a vital strategy for Chinese Medicine (CM) in treating unknown respiratory infectious diseases. However, the classification of disease symptom clusters continues to depend on empirical observations and lacks robust scientific evidence. Consequently, this study seeks to explore the temporal, spatial and demographic distributions characteristics of Corona Virus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) symptom clusters in China. Methods: PubMed, Web of Science, Science direct, WHO, Litcovid, CNKI databases were searched from inception until December 31, 2023. Optical character recognition technology and image recognition technology were employed to identify tables within the papers. Four researchers independently screened and extracted data, resolving conflicts through discussion. Heat mapping and hierarchical clustering techniques were utilized to analyze COVID-19 symptom clusters. Data analysis and visualization were conducted using R software (4.2.0), while the association analysis of symptom clusters was performed using Cytoscape (3.10.2). Results: A total of 366 COVID-19 clinical trials with 86,972 cases including 66 clinical symptoms of 7 disease systems and other clinical manifestations in China were included. In temporal distribution, 63 symptoms centered around fatigue and 44 symptoms focused on chest tightness are characteristic of symptom clusters in spring and winter, respectively. With the addition of spatial distribution, the symptom clusters in middle and low latitudes during spring are characterized by 53 symptoms centered around fatigue and cough, and 51 symptoms focused on fatigue, respectively. During winter, the symptom clusters in middle and low latitudes are characterized by 38 symptoms centered around chest tightness and 37 symptoms focused on fever, respectively. When considering demographic distribution, the symptom clusters for < 50 years are characterized by fatigue as the core symptom in middle (44 symptoms)/low (28 symptoms) latitudes during spring and middle latitude (25 symptoms) during winter. For ≥ 50 years, the symptom clusters in middle latitude (49 symptoms) during spring and low latitudes (35 symptoms) during winter are centered around cough, while in low latitude (27 symptoms) focuses on diarrhea during spring, and middle latitude (35 symptoms) emphasizes both diarrhea and chest tightness during winter. Conclusion: In summary, variations in symptom clusters and core symptoms of COVID-19 in temporal, spatial and demographic distributions in China offer a scientific rationale for the "Treatment in Accordance with Three Categories of Etiologic Factors" theory. These interesting findings prompt further investigation into CM patterns in the ICD-11, and suggest potential strategies for personalized precision treatment of COVID-19. High-quality clinical studies focusing on individual symptoms are warranted to enhance understanding of respiratory infectious diseases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background/Aims: microRNAs (miRNAs) contribute to tumorigenesis, progression and drug resistance of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). miR-3191 is a newly discovered miRNA, and its function and mechanism of action in biological processes and diseases are not completely understood. Methods: miR-3191 expression is determined via quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction. Knockdown and overexpression of miR-3191 influence the proliferation and metastasis of HCC cells, which is measured by Cell Counting Kit-8 assay, Colony Formation assay and Cell metastasis assay. Protein expression is estimated by Western blot. The interplay between miR-3191 and target is validated by dual-luciferase reporter assay. Results: Here, we show that miR-3191 is upregulated in HCC tissues and associated with poor prognosis of HCC patients. Mechanistically, p21-activated protein kinase 6 (PAK6) was identified as a direct target of miR‑3191 in HCC. PAK6 knockdown partially recovered interference of miR‑3191‑induced decrease in cell proliferation and invasion. The accuracy of HCC patient prognosis could be improved by employing a combination of miR-3191 and PAK6 values. Conclusions: miR-3191 promotes the proliferation and metastasis of HCC cells via targeting PAK6 and may serve as a prognostic biomarker and potential therapeutic target. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Prolonged postoperative ileus (PPOI) reportedly leads to compromised postoperative recovery and increased healthcare costs. However, the evidence for this claim was obtained from studies that included patients with both primary and secondary PPOI. How primary PPOI affects the hospital length of stay (LOS) and healthcare costs is not well documented. A multicenter cohort analysis was performed to investigate the potentially detrimental effect of primary PPOI on hospital LOS and healthcare costs. Methods: In total, 2083 patients who underwent open abdominal surgery from 22 tertiary hospitals in China were prospectively registered in a PPOI cohort. Of these, 1863 patients without secondary PPOI were analyzed. Poisson regression for hospital LOS and log-transformed linear regression for healthcare costs were performed to identify whether primary PPOI was an independent risk factor. Results: The incidence of primary PPOI was 13.2% (246/1863). The median LOS was significantly longer in the PPOI than non-PPOI group (12 vs. 11 days, p < 0.001). The median healthcare cost was significantly higher in the PPOI than non-PPOI group (70,672 vs. 67,597 CNY, p = 0.016). Multivariate Poisson regression and log-transformed linear regression showed that 12% of prolonged LOS and 4.6% of healthcare costs were due to primary PPOI. Conclusions: Primary PPOI is a potential source of prolonged hospital LOS and extra healthcare costs for patients undergoing open abdominal surgery. Cost-effective approaches are needed to manage and prevent primary PPOI. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Torenia fournieri L. is a popular ornamental plant in the genus Torenia, widely used in commercial landscaping, especially during the summer. Additionally, Torenia has served as a model ornamental plant in many studies exploring ornamental characteristics and pest control through genetic engineering. To date, no research has been reported on developing insect-resistant Torenia expressing genes from Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt). In this study, a recombinant vector carrying the Cry1Ab gene from Bt, pBI121-Cry1Ab, was constructed and transferred into T. fournieri via Agrobacterium tumefaciens-mediated transformation. A total of 13 shoots survived on the kanamycin selection medium, among which four putative transgenic lines, designated L1, L2, L7, and L11, were molecularly confirmed by PCR and Southern blot analysis, indicating successful integration of the Cry1Ab gene into the genomes of these lines. Quantitative real-time PCR and ELISA results further verified the successful expression of the Cry1Ab gene in the leaves of all four transgenic lines. Insect bioassay results demonstrated that all four transgenic lines showed strong resistance to the insect pest, Mythimna separata, with mortality rates ranging from 59.9% to 100.0%, in contrast to a larval mortality rate of 16.2% in the wild-type Torenia. Additionally, these transgenic lines significantly decreased in larval survival rates compared to those fed on wild-type plants. Furthermore, these transgenic lines activated superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity at 12 and 24 h, and catalase (CAT) activity at 72 h, while suppressing SOD activity at 72 h, and peroxidase (POD) activity over time. Our findings indicate that these transgenic lines exhibit high resistance to the insect pest and provide new insights into controlling insect pests in ornamental plants through genetic approaches. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sarcopenia and AD are both classic degenerative diseases, and there is growing epidemiological evidence of their comorbidity with aging; however, the mechanisms underlying the biology of their commonality have not yet been thoroughly investigated. APP is a membrane protein that is expressed in tissues and is expressed not only in the nervous system but also in the NMJ and muscle. Deposition of its proteolytic cleavage product, Aβ, has been described as a central component of AD pathogenesis. Recent studies have shown that excessive accumulation and aberrant expression of APP in muscle lead to pathological muscle lesions, but the pathogenic mechanism by which APP and its proteolytic cleavage products act in skeletal muscle is less well understood. By summarizing and analyzing the literature concerning the role, pathogenicity and pathological mechanisms of APP and its cleavage products in the nervous system and muscles, we aimed to explore the intrinsic pathological mechanisms of myocerebral comorbidities and to provide new perspectives and theoretical foundations for the prevention and treatment of AD and sarcopenia comorbidities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cyclopropenium salts, being the smallest class of aromatic compounds, have garnered extensive scientific interests across several realms of study. Herein, we report a phase‐transfer catalyzed cascade reaction of cyclohexane‐1,3‐dione‐derived enaminones and 3‐aromacyl coumarins utilizing triaminocyclopropenium salts. This reaction efficiently synthesized a diverse set of quinoline‐2,5‐diones in good yields (78%–92%) and notably exhibited excellent diastereoselectivities, often furnishing the products as a single diastereoisomer. The successful gram‐scale reaction and structural modifications of the product fully demonstrated the application potential of this protocol. Mechanistic studies implied that the triaminocyclopropenium ion transported the carbonate ion from the solid phase to the liquid phase to abstract protons, thus dramatically accelerating the reaction process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A circular economy of the wind energy industry has attracted global attention. Poly(ethylene terephthalate) (PET) foam is widely used in wind turbine blades to lighten their weight, but it is highly flammable and difficult to recycle without catalysts. Herein, a coating-triggered "proactive fireproofing and recycling" strategy is proposed to achieve high fire safety during the service life and chemical recyclability after the decommissioning of PET foam. The coating is prepared by self-emulsifying polyester (containing phosphaphenanthrene and guanidine-sulfonate groups) in water without emulsifiers, organic solvents, stirring or heating and exhibits 80% ultrahigh solid content. At high temperature in fire accidents (>292 °C), the coating, as a protective layer, ensures the high fire safety of PET foam by radical scavenging and acid-catalyzed char formation. At a lower temperature (160 °C), the coating, as a macromolecular catalyst, triggers the chemical recycling of both PET foam and the coating by hydrogen bond catalysis. Thus, this work enables the life cycle management of PET foam from the service stage to decommissioning, paving the way for a green sustainable circular economy of wind turbine blades. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Semi-dry electrodes combine the advantages of conventional wet and dry electrodes for wearable devices for electrophysiological signal monitoring but face severe difficulties in providing sustainable signal acquisition with low impedance. Herein, we developed a new semi-dry electrode that can achieve smart electrolyte-replenishment for long-term stability and highly comfortable electrophysiological signal acquisition. By combining an Ag nanoparticle-loaded sponge (ANLS) with a poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) (PNIPAM)/polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) hydrogel (PPH), a heterogenous interpenetrating network (H-IPN) conductive sensing layer (ANLS-PPH) was obtained, which was then integrated with an outer protective polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) layer and Ag/AgCl connection central layer to fabricate a three-layer semi-dry electrode. Most importantly, PPH enabled smart electrolyte-replenishment triggered by body temperature. This controlled, external force-free release of electrolytes ensured optimal user comfort while significantly lowering scalp–electrode impedance to 8–18 kΩ. Furthermore, owing to the outer PDMS layer, this semi-dry electrode could retain water without it evaporating into the air, thereby maintaining low contact impedance for at least 6 hours. Finally, the H-IPN structure endowed this semi-dry electrode with highly enhanced mechanical performance (258.5 kPa tensile strength) and provided stability to the electrode structure during signal acquisition. Thus, this semi-dry electrode could stably acquire electroencephalogram (EEG) and electrocardiogram (ECG) electrophysiological signals for a long time, exhibiting a high degree of consistency with conventional wet electrodes (97.9% of spectral correlation). This study presents a smart electrolyte-replenishing semi-dry electrode for sustainable electrophysiological signal acquisition, inspiring new strategies for wearable electrophysiological devices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Liver cancer presents a significant challenge to global health and is currently ranked as the sixth most common form of cancer worldwide. Recent research indicates that phosphodiesterases play a role in various physiological and pathological processes, with a specific focus on their impact on cancer advancement. There is a scarcity of studies investigating the function and mechanisms of phosphodiesterases in the development and progression of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Methods: Real-time fluorescence quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) and Western blotting were employed to analyze the expression of PDE7B in hepatocellular carcinoma tissues and cells. The biological role of PDE7B in HCC was investigated by both overexpressing and knocking down PDE7B in liver cancer cell lines. Furthermore, potential target proteins of PDE7B were identified through transcriptome sequencing. Results: PDE7B is conspicuously reduced in tissues and cells of hepatocellular carcinoma, showing a connection with an unfavorable prognosis. Inhibiting PDE7B boosts the growth, movement, and infiltration of liver cancer cells, while its increased expression has the reverse impact. According to our trials relating to oxidative stress, PDE7B appears to control cell death in liver cancer cells by impacting the production of reactive oxygen species. Therefore, we propose that PDE7B could hinder the initiation and advancement of HCC through an oxidative stress pathway. Conclusion: The research we conducted reveals that PDE7B, a gene with minimal levels of activity in hepatocellular carcinoma, possesses the capacity to inhibit the proliferation, invasion, and migration of HCC cells. PDE7B can impact the development of hepatocellular carcinoma by adjusting mechanisms related to oxidative stress. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Correction Notice from the Journal of Ovarian Research addresses errors in Table 1 of the original article on in vitro drug testing using patient-derived ovarian cancer organoids. The corrected table provides details on patients with ovarian cancer, including cancer type, treatment regimens, and outcomes. The correction ensures accurate information for research on ovarian cancer treatments and patient outcomes. [Extracted from the article]

Subgrains and recrystallisation are common microstructural features in solder joints that have been subjected to thermal fatigue or mechanical loading. Here we study similar features in Sn-Ag and Sn-Ag-Cu solder balls after solidification. It is shown that four types of misorientation features exist to different extents in solder balls examined shortly after solidification: (i) small variations in orientation created by dendrite growth and eutectic solidification, (ii) partial polygonisation into subgrains, (iii) small grains with high angle boundaries and (iv) large anomalous grains surrounded by interlacing where the grain boundaries do not correlate with the dendrite growth pattern. The subgrains often have a boundary plane and rotation axis consistent with dislocations from a facile slip system. The recovery and misorientation features were more extensive in regions that solidified at deeper melt undercooling. The findings highlight the importance of distinguishing between the solidification and solid-state components of microstructure evolution when interpreting solder microstructures after solidification. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective To establish a method for detecting four arsenic species--As (III), DMA, MMA, and as (V)--in seafood using liquid chromatography-atomic fluorescence spectrometry (LC-AFS). Methods The detection conditions were optimized, including the type and concentration of the carrier liquid, concentration of potassium borohydride, lamp current, negative high voltage, mobile phase concentration, and pH. Parameters of the established detection method were evaluated, including linear range, accuracy, precision, and detection limit. Results Under the conditions of 5% hydrochloric acid, 5 g/L sodium hydroxide-20 g/L potassium borohydride, a negative high voltage of 270 V, lamp main current of 60 mA, mobile phase A as ammonium dihydrogen phosphate (1 mmol/L, pH 8.5), and mobile phase B as ammonium dihydrogen phosphate (25 mmol/L, pH 8.0), the linear range for As(III), DMA, MMA, and As(V) was 0-100 µg/L, with correlation coefficients exceeding 0.999. The relative standard deviation (RSD) for retention time ranged from 0.2% to 1.2%, while the RSD for peak area ranged from 2.1% to 4.4%. The recovery rate for spiked samples was between 81.2% and 111.6%. Conclusion The method demonstrates high sensitivity, accuracy, and precision, with a short analysis time and high detection efficiency, while requiring minimal reagent usage, yielding satisfactory results. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: Mythimna separata (Walker) is a migratory pest that is widely distributed in many Asian countries, including China. Though it is known to have a wide range of hosts, few studies have assessed the insect's fitness on various host plants, especially weeds. Understanding the fundamental biology and ecology of this pest is crucial for developing effective control methods. The present study examined the oviposition preference of female adults, larval preference, development, reproduction, and survival of M. separata on cultivated wheat and a weed, wild oat (Avena fatua). We found that although M. separata females showed no oviposition preference on both plants, the larvae exhibited a strong preference for wheat compared to wild oat. M. separata reared on wheat had a shorter development time from egg to adult emergence compared to wild oat. M. separata reared on wild oat achieved high larval survival, adult longevity, and fecundity, which were not significantly different from those reared on wheat. Our results highlight that wild oat could serve as a bridge host for M. separata to complete its life cycle and sustain populations when cultivated hosts such as wheat are absent. Mythimna separata (Walker), a significant migratory pest in many Asian countries, can cause severe damage to wheat crops. Understanding whether wild oat can serve as an alternate host is important for informing predictive models of M. separata infestation levels in wheat fields and can improve pest and weed management strategies. We first conducted both choice and no-choice experiments and found that M. separata readily laid eggs on both wheat and wild oat, with no significant oviposition preference. However, newly hatched larvae exhibited a strong preference for wheat, with 53.34% more larvae feeding on wheat compared to wild oat. Development time from egg to adult emergence was significantly shorter in M. separata fed on wheat than on wild oat, although the durations of the larval and pupal stages varied depending on the host plant. Despite these differences in development time, host plants did not significantly affect larval survival, pupal weight, fecundity, and adult longevity. The mean number of eggs laid by females that fed on wheat and wild oat were 1202.12 and 1270.54 eggs/female, and larval survival rates were 81% and 84%, respectively. Our findings suggest that wild oat can serve as a suitable host for M. separata and may act as a refuge when wheat fields are treated with insecticides. The high larval preference for wheat over wild oat indicates that M. separata on wild oat may easily disperse to wheat, complicating pest control and highlighting the need to include wild oat in pest management strategies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]