Search

Introduction: The development of the digital economy has a profound impact on industrial economics. The article starts from the perspective of industrial organization theory. The thesis aims to analyze the industrial development of the digital economy and its three structural variables: digital manufacturing industry, digital service industry, and the development of industrial digitization on carbon emission intensity. Method: Based on the data of Input-output Tables with extended tables of 30 provinces, this paper analyzes the industrial development of digital economy and its three structural variables: digital manufacturing industry, digital service industry, and the development of industrial digitization on carbon emission intensity. Results and discussion: The empirical results show that: 1) at the national level, the development of China's digital economy industries has a suppressive effect on carbon emission intensity; 2) in terms of spatial effects, the development of digital economy has significant carbon spillover effects, but digital industrialization and industrial digitization present different spatial effect results; 3) from the analysis of regional heterogeneity, in the northeast, central and western regions, the direction of influence of digital industrialization and industrial digitalization on carbon emission intensity is consistent; in the eastern region, the development of digital industrial service sector and industrial digitalization has a suppressive effect on carbon emission intensity, while digital industrial manufacturing sector presents a pro-increasing effect; 4) Non-linear relationship analysis shows that the development of the digital industrial manufacturing sector has a "promoting and then inhibiting" effect on carbon emission intensity. Overall, the impact of digital industry development on carbon intensity exhibits a "promoting increase, then suppressing, then promoting increase" trend. In conclusion, the findings suggest that China's digital economy industry has entered the low-carbon development stage. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Early mobilization (EM) is acknowledged for its safety and benefits in the recovery of critically ill patients, yet its implementation in intensive care units (ICU) remains inconsistently aligned with established guidelines. This discrepancy highlights a gap between theoretical endorsement and practical application. While barriers to EM have been extensively studied, the intentions and perceived practices of ICU nurses towards EM, especially in certain geographical regions, have not been adequately understood. Aim: The objective of this study is to assess the perceptions, actual practices and intentions of ICU nurses regarding the implementation of EM for patients in the ICU setting. Study Design: A cross‐sectional, multi‐centre, survey‐based study. Results: The study collected data through an electronic questionnaire from 227 ICU nurses across eight hospitals in Beijing, China, concerning their experiences, practices and intentions related to EM. The survey response rate was 50% (114 of 227), indicating a moderate level of engagement by the target population. Among the surveyed participants, 68.7% (n = 156) reported having experience with EM for critically ill patients. Of these experienced nurses, 49.3% (n = 77) indicated they carried out EM less frequently than once per week, while only 29.5% (n = 46) reported dedicating more than 20 min to EM activities per patient. Only 24.2% (n = 55) of participants confirmed the presence of specific EM guidelines in their workplace. Notably, guideline adherence could be influenced by the patient's condition severity, which may affect how these protocols are applied. Notably, the approach and frequency of EM practices showed significant variation across different ICUs. A substantial majority (75%, n = 170) of participants expressed a strong intention towards implementing EM, correlating significantly with factors such as having a higher education level (bachelor's degree or higher), receiving departmental support, encountering fewer perceived barriers, and belonging to specific departments like respiratory (SICU) and surgery (RICU). The EM guidelines mentioned by participants were primarily focused on specific protocols and guidance, highlighting the emphasis on structured approaches to EM in their clinical settings. Conclusions: Despite the recognized experience with EM among ICU nurses, there is a notable divergence between their practices and the recommendations outlined in EM guidelines. This study underscores the need for the establishment of clear, actionable guidelines, alongside the provision of targeted educational programmes and robust support systems, to foster the consistent and effective implementation of EM in ICU settings. Relevance to Clinical Practice: This study underscores the clinical relevance of EM in ICU settings, advocating for the development of precise EM guidelines to improve patient outcomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The E‐twenty‐six variant 1 (ETV1)‐dependent transcriptome plays an important role in atrial electrical and structural remodelling and the occurrence of atrial fibrillation (AF), but the underlying mechanism of ETV1 in AF is unclear. In this study, cardiomyocyte‐specific ETV1 knockout (ETV1f/fMyHCCre/+, ETV1‐CKO) mice were constructed to observe the susceptibility to AF and the underlying mechanism in AF associated with ETV1‐CKO mice. AF susceptibility was examined by intraesophageal burst pacing, induction of AF was increased obviously in ETV1‐CKO mice than WT mice. Electrophysiology experiments indicated shortened APD50 and APD90, increased incidence of DADs, decreased density of ICa,L in ETV1‐CKO mice. There was no difference in VINACT,1/2 and VACT,1/2, but a significantly longer duration of the recovery time after inactivation in the ETV1‐CKO mice. The recording of intracellular Ca2+ showed that there was significantly increased in the frequency of calcium spark, Ca2+ transient amplitude, and proportion of SCaEs in ETV1‐CKO mice. Reduction of Cav1.2 rather than NCX1 and SERCA2a, increase RyR2, p‐RyR2 and CaMKII was reflected in ETV1‐CKO group. This study demonstrates that the increase in calcium spark and SCaEs corresponding to Ca2+ transient amplitude may trigger DAD in membrane potential in ETV1‐CKO mice, thereby increasing the risk of AF. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Inflammatory myofibroblastic tumor (IMT) is a rare pathological entity first described in 1939. This lesion is most commonly found in the lungs, but cases involving other systems, such as the central nervous system known as intracranial IMT (IIMT), have also been reported. Diagnosis currently relies on pathological results due to the lack of characteristic imaging changes. Surgical resection is an effective treatment, though the disease is invasive and may recur. Previous literature has reported a high level of programmed death 1 (PD-1) expression in IMT tissues, suggesting that immunotherapy may be effective for this condition. In this case report, we present a middle-aged male who received PD-1 inhibitor and oncolytic adenovirus (Ad-TD-nsIL12) treatment after IIMT resection surgery. This successful approach provides a new direction for the treatment of IIMT. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Solar photocatalytic hydrogen generation is crucial for addressing energy and environmental challenges. The high recombination rate and limited redox capability of photocatalysts hamper the broad utilization of photocatalytic water splitting for hydrogen generation, necessitating the development of efficient co-catalysts for effective separation of photo-generated electron–hole pairs. In this work, a strategy was developed for the rapid preparation of triazine-graphdiyne (TA-GDY) using mechanical ball milling and its complexation with CdS, with a hydrogen production activity as high as 62.48 mmol g−1. The experimental results demonstrate that TA-GDY not only enhances the carrier separation efficiency, but more importantly, the nitrogen atoms and the alkyne bonds collectively facilitate electron migration, leading to the formation of a centre for aggregating photogenerated electrons. This provides an adsorption-reduced active site for efficient H2 production and exhibits a strong H+ trapping ability. Moreover, the construction of Schottky heterojunctions in photocatalytic hydrogen production was corroborated by in situ XPS and theoretical calculations. This work presents a viable approach for the design and induction of electron-directed migration of novel graphdiyne in heterojunction photocatalysts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Neighborhood socioeconomic deprivation has been linked to adverse health outcomes, yet it is unclear whether neighborhood-level social determinants of health (SDOH) measures affect overall survival in adolescent and young adult patients with cancer. Methods This study used a diverse cohort of adolescent and young adult patients with cancer (N = 10 261) seen at MD Anderson Cancer Center. Zip codes were linked to Area Deprivation Index (ADI) values, a validated neighborhood-level SDOH measure, with higher ADI values representing worse SDOH. Results ADI was statistically significantly worse (P  < .050) for Black (61.7) and Hispanic (65.3) patients than for White patients (51.2). Analysis of ADI by cancer type showed statistically significant differences, mainly driven by worse ADI in patients with cervical cancer (62.3) than with other cancers. In multivariable models including sex, age at diagnosis, cancer diagnosis, and race and ethnicity, risk of shorter survival for people residing in neighborhoods with the least favorable ADI quartile was greater than for individuals in the most favorable ADI quartile (hazard ratio = 1.09, 95% confidence interval = 1.00 to 1.19, P  = .043). Conclusion Adolescent and young adult patients with cancer and the worst ADI values experienced a nearly 10% increase in risk of dying than patients with more favorable ADI values. This effect was strongest among White adolescent and young adult survivors. Although the magnitude of the effect of ADI on survival was moderate, the presence of a relationship between neighborhood-level SDOH and survival among patients who received care at a tertiary cancer center suggests that ADI is a meaningful predictor of survival. These findings provide intriguing evidence for potential interventions aimed at supporting adolescent and young adult patients with cancer from disadvantaged neighborhoods. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: Plants face a relentless onslaught from a diverse array of pathogens in their natural environment, to which they have evolved a myriad of strategies that unfold across various temporal scales. Cell surface pattern recognition receptors (PRRs) detect conserved elicitors from pathogens or endogenous molecules released during pathogen invasion, initiating the first line of defence in plants, known as pattern‐triggered immunity (PTI), which imparts a baseline level of disease resistance. Inside host cells, pathogen effectors are sensed by the nucleotide‐binding/leucine‐rich repeat (NLR) receptors, which then activate the second line of defence: effector‐triggered immunity (ETI), offering a more potent and enduring defence mechanism. Moreover, PTI and ETI collaborate synergistically to bolster disease resistance and collectively trigger a cascade of downstream defence responses. This article provides a comprehensive review of plant defence responses, offering an overview of the stepwise activation of plant immunity and the interactions between PTI‐ETI synergistic signal transduction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To investigate the effects of biogas slurry substitution for fertilizer on rice yield, fertilizer utilization efficiency, and soil fertility, a field experiment was conducted on rice–wheat rotation soil in the Chaohu Lake Basin for two consecutive years, with the following six treatments: no fertilization (CK), conventional fertilization (CF), optimized fertilization (OF), biogas slurry replacing 15% of fertilizer (15% OFB), biogas slurry replacing 30% of fertilizer (30% OFB), and biogas slurry replacing 50% of fertilizer (50% OFB). The field experiment results showed that, compared with CF treatment, OF treatment in 2022 and 2023 significantly increased (p < 0.05) rice yield, promoted the uptake of nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), and potassium (K) by grains and straws, improved fertilizer utilization efficiency, and increased the contents of soil organic C (SOC), NH4+-N, NO3−-N, hydrolysable N, and available P. The 15% OFB and 30% OFB treatments significantly increased (p < 0.05) rice grain and straw yields compared with CF treatment, and rice grain and straw yields were the highest in the 30% OFB treatment. Compared with CF and OF treatments, 30% OFB treatment significantly increased (p < 0.05) the N, P, and K uptake of grains and straws and increased the fertilizer utilization efficiency. Compared with CF treatment, the grain yield of 50% OFB treatment was significantly decreased (p < 0.05) in 2022, and there was no significant difference in 2023, which may be because the biogas slurry was applied before planting in 2023 to provide more nutrients for early rice growth. Compared with CF treatment, 30% OFB treatment significantly increased (p < 0.05) the contents of SOC, NH4+-N, available K, and hydrolysable N. In summary, optimizing N and K topdressing methods can increase rice yield and improve the fertilizer utilization efficiency and soil fertility. The 30% OFB treatment resulted in the highest rice yield, fertilizer utilization efficiency, and improved soil fertility, indicating that biogas slurry replacing 30% of fertilizer was the best application mode for rice in this region. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Maintaining agricultural machinery is crucial for efficient mechanized farming. Specifically, diagnosing faults in rolling bearings, which are essential rotating components, is of significant importance. Domain-adaptive technology often addresses the challenge of limited labeled data from a single source domain. However, information transfer can sometimes fall short in providing adequate relevant details for supporting target diagnosis tasks, leading to poor recognition performance. This paper introduces a novel fault diagnosis model based on a multi-source locally adaptive graph convolution network to diagnose rolling bearing faults in agricultural machinery. The model initially employs an overlapping sampling method to enhance sample data. Recognizing that two-dimensional time–frequency signals possess richer spatial characteristics in neural networks, wavelet transform is used to convert time series samples into time–frequency graph samples before feeding them into the feature network. This approach constructs a sample data pair from both source and target domains. Furthermore, a feature extraction network is developed by integrating the strengths of deep residual networks and graph convolutional networks, enabling the model to better learn invariant features across domains. The locally adaptive method aids the model in more effectively aligning features from the source and target domains. The model incorporates a Softmax layer as the bearing state classifier, which is set up after the graph convolutional network layer, and outputs bearing state recognition results upon reaching a set number of iterations. The proposed method's effectiveness was validated using a bearing dataset from Jiangnan University. For three different groups of bearing fault diagnosis tasks under varying working conditions, the proposed method achieved recognition accuracies above 99%, with an improvement of 0.30%-4.33% compared to single-source domain diagnosis models. Comparative results indicate that the proposed method can effectively identify bearing states even without target domain labels, showcasing its practical engineering application value. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Two pairs of new isobenzofuranone derivative enantiomers, (±)-penicifurans E (1) and (±)-penicifurans F (2), together with four know compounds (3–6) were isolated from the solid fermentation of Penicillium canescens DWS225. The structures of these enantiomers were elucidated by extensive NMR spectroscopic data, and their absolute configurations were assigned by the experimental and calculated ECD data. The neuroprotective effects of all the isolates against oxygen-glucose deprivation/reperfusion injury in pheochromocytoma-12 cells (PC12) were investigated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: To compare color Doppler ultrasound and contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) in evaluating vascular invasion in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC). Materials and methods: This retrospective study included 210 patients with PDAC who were evaluated by color Doppler ultrasound, CEUS, and contrast-enhanced computed tomography (CECT) at our institution between January 2017 and December 2020. Pathologic results were used as the gold standard in patients who underwent surgical and intraoperative exploration. For nonsurgical patients, CECT results were used as the reference standard. The vessels evaluated included those in the peripancreatic arterial system and venous system. The diagnostic performances of color Doppler ultrasound and CEUS for vascular invasion were compared. Results: In 51 patients who underwent surgery and intraoperative exploration, color Doppler ultrasound and CEUS differed only in assessing venous system invasion in patients with PDAC of the pancreatic body and tail, with the former being superior to the latter. In 159 nonsurgical patients, there was no difference between CEUS and color Doppler ultrasound in assessing superior mesenteric arteriovenous invasion. CEUS was superior to color Doppler ultrasound in evaluating the celiac artery and its branches, with an accuracy of up to 97.8% for some vessels. Color Doppler ultrasound was ideal for evaluating the splenic and portal veins. Conclusion: CEUS is more suitable for the evaluation of peripancreatic arteries than color Doppler. CEUS combined with color Doppler ultrasound can be used as a potential supplement to CECT and is also expected to be used to evaluate vascular invasion of PDAC after chemotherapy. Critical relevance statement: Contrast-enhanced US and color Doppler in the assessment of vascular invasion in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma have their respective advantages, through standardized ultrasound processes are expected to improve the efficiency of inspection. Key Points: Contrast-enhanced US has unique advantages in assessing pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma invasion of the celiac artery. Doppler imaging is of high value in assessing venous system invasion. Standardization of ultrasound imaging procedures for pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma is expected to improve efficiency. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Orthogonal Latin hypercube designs (LHDs) and maximum projection (MaxPro) LHDs are widely used in computer experiments. They are efficient for estimating the trend part and the Gaussian process part of the universal Kriging (i.e., the Gaussian process) model, respectively, especially when only some of the factors are active. Yet, the orthogonality and the MaxPro criteria often do not agree with each other. In this work, we propose a new class of optimal designs, called orthogonal-MaxPro LHDs, optimizing a well-defined multi-objective criterion combining the correlation and the MaxPro metrics. An efficient parallel algorithm via level permutations and expansions is developed, whose efficiency is guaranteed by theories. Numerical results are presented to show that the construction is fast and the obtained designs are attractive, especially for large computer experiments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Perovskite solar cells (PSCs) have seen remarkable progress in recent years, largely attributed to various additives that enhance both efficiency and stability. Among these, fluorine-containing additives have garnered significant interest because of their unique hydrophobic properties, effective defect passivation, and regulation capability on the crystallization process. However, a targeted structural approach to design such additives is necessary to further enhance the performance of PSCs. Here, fluoroalkyl ethylene with different fluoroalkyl chain lengths (CH2CH(CF2)nCF3, n = 3, 5, and 7) as liquid additives is used to investigate influences of fluoroalkyl chain lengths on crystallization regulation and defect passivation. The findings indicate that optimizing the quantity of F groups plays a crucial role in regulating the electron cloud distribution within the additive molecules. This optimization fosters strong hydrogen bonds and coordination effects with FA+ and uncoordinated Pb2+, ultimately enhancing crystal quality and device performance. Notably, 1H,1H,2H-perfluoro-1-hexene (PF3) with the optimal number of F presents the most effective modulation effect. A PSC utilizing PF3 achieves an efficiency of 24.05%, and exhibits exceptional stability against humidity and thermal fluctuations. This work sheds light on the importance of tailored structure designs in additives for achieving high-performance PSCs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The association between Hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection and colorectal liver metastases (CRLM) remains ambiguous in current population‐based evidence. To clarify this, we present a retrospective analysis of 5871 colorectal cancer (CRC) patients. Propensity score matching (PSM) was applied to harmonize age and sex disparities within HBV+ (n = 1696) and HBV‐ (n = 4175) groups and further within HBV+ subgroups of chronic (CHB, n = 474) and occult (OHB, n = 1222) infections. Our initial results indicated a significant association between HBV infection and synchronous colorectal liver metastasis (SYN‐CRLM); however, this association dissipated after PSM was employed to adjust for confounding variables. No significant association was observed between HBV infection and metachronous colorectal liver metastases (MET‐CRLM) both before and after PSM. Further analysis revealed that HBV replication status did not influence the incidence of CRLM. However, HBV+ participants demonstrated an increased incidence of metachronous extrahepatic metastases, particularly to the lungs. Our findings imply that neither past nor present HBV infection is significantly correlated with the occurrence of SYN‐CRLM or MET‐CRLM. The absence of an association between HBV replication status and CRLM incidence highlights the importance of incorporating a broader range of factors in the clinical management of CRLM beyond the status of HBV infection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The impact of government behavior on emission reductions has gained widespread attention, but fewer studies have explored the relationship between vertical transfers (VT) and carbon emissions (CE). We empirically test the CE reduction mechanism of VT by constructing two‐way fixed effects models based on data of 278 Chinese cities from 2005 to 2020. Empirical analysis finds that VT reduce the taxing efforts of local governments and the tax burden of enterprises, promote the upgrading of enterprises' production technology, and ultimately reduces CE. Conclusions suggest that transfer payments should be actively used to establish preferential policies to assist enterprises in reducing CE. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hairy tofu is a famous Chinese snack that is made from soybeans and rich in various nutrients. In order to further explore the antioxidant peptides of hairy tofu hydrolysates, seven proteases were used to hydrolyze hairy tofu. The results of in vitro radical scavenging activity showed that hairy tofu hydrolysates obtained by pancreatin exhibited the highest antioxidant activity. After Sephadex G‐25 gel filtration and reversed‐phase high‐performance liquid chromatography (RP‐HPLC), 97 peptides were identified in the most antioxidant fraction using liquid chromatography‐mass spectrometry/mass spectrometry (LC–MS/MS). Among them, nine peptides were synthesized and their antioxidant activities were assessed using a H2O2‐induced oxidative 293T cell model. Finally, four peptides (QCESHK, LAWNEGR, NLQGENEWDQK, and FTEMWR) at concentrations of < 50 μg/ml significantly decreased the malondialdehyde content compared with the model group, displaying in vivo antioxidant activity and low cytotoxicity. Overall, this research provided the choice of using hairy tofu peptides as antioxidant products in the pharmaceutical and food industries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The parent HZSM-5 was modified with oxide M (M = Fe, Cu, La, P) via the incipient impregnation method by using ferric nitrate, copper nitrate, lanthanum nitrate and diammonium hydrogen phosphate as precursors to prepare a series of oxide M modified HZSM-5 (M/HZSM-5). And the M/HZSM-5 used as solid acid was physically mixed with commercial Cu/ZnO/Al2O3 to obtain bifunctional catalysts for steam reforming of dimethyl ether (SRD) reaction. The samples were systematically characterized by XRD, FTIR, N2 adsorption–desorption, and NH3-TPD techniques. The results showed that HZSM-5 structure remained basically unchanged after it was modified by oxide M; however, its specific surface area, pore volume, total acid amount, especially strong acid amount was decreased, and then affecting the DME conversion, H2 yield and carbon-containing product selectivity of the corresponding bifunctional catalyst. Among them, the bifunctional catalyst composed of Cu/ZnO/Al2O3 and La/HZSM-5 with the larger specific surface area and lower strong acid sites showed best SRD performance, and the dimethyl ether conversion and H2 yield reached 90.4% and 73.9% at TOS of 10 h under the conditions of reaction temperature 300 °C, pressure 0.1 MPa, space velocity 5000 mL/(g h), respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and Purpose: Protein palmitoylation is involved in learning and memory, and in emotional disorders. Yet, the underlying mechanisms in these processes remain unclear. Herein, we describe that A‐kinase anchoring protein 150 (AKAP150) is essential and sufficient for depressive‐like behaviours in mice via a palmitoylation‐dependent mechanism. Experimental Approach: Depressive‐like behaviours in mice were induced by chronic restraint stress (CRS) and chronic unpredictable mild stress (CUMS). Palmitoylated proteins in the basolateral amygdala (BLA) were assessed by an acyl‐biotin exchange assay. Genetic and pharmacological approaches were used to investigate the role of the DHHC2‐mediated AKAP150 palmitoylation signalling pathway in depressive‐like behaviours. Electrophysiological recording, western blotting and co‐immunoprecipitation were performed to define the mechanistic pathway. Key Results: Chronic stress successfully induced depressive‐like behaviours in mice and enhanced AKAP150 palmitoylation in the BLA, and a palmitoylation inhibitor was enough to reverse these changes. Blocking the AKAP150‐PKA interaction with the peptide Ht‐31 abolished the CRS‐induced AKAP150 palmitoylation signalling pathway. DHHC2 expression and palmitoylation levels were both increased after chronic stress. DHHC2 knockdown prevented CRS‐induced depressive‐like behaviours, as well as attenuating AKAP150 signalling and synaptic transmission in the BLA in CRS‐treated mice. Conclusion and Implications: These results delineate that DHHC2 modulates chronic stress‐induced depressive‐like behaviours and synaptic transmission in the BLA via the AKAP150 palmitoylation signalling pathway, and this pathway may be considered as a promising novel therapeutic target for major depressive disorder. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper focuses on the fault-tolerant consensus problem for a class of nonlinear multi-agent systems subject to channel noises and actuator/sensor faults in the presence of the denial-of-service (DoS) attacks. Different from existing results, we propose a novel estimation/control algorithm to deal with the unknown states, faults, noises and DoS attacks, simultaneously. For the estimation process, a class of complementary dynamic sector regions depending on the system measurements is first developed. In these regions, a novel distributed proportional-integral observer is constructed. To suppress the lag caused by persistent integration, a reset dynamic derived from the above sector regions is selected and then combined with the observer. The corresponding reset behavior can interrupt the integral process of observer, which enhances the systems transient performance. Based on the method, the states, faults and noises can be quickly estimated. For the control process, a fault-tolerant controller with the dynamic compensation and reset mechanism is designed. The reset behavior improves the compensation effect for the faults, noises and DoS attacks, which restrains the negative impact of the unknown inputs. This finally achieves the objective of the leader-follower consensus. The effectiveness of the proposed strategy is illustrated by simulation results. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is marked by hepatic steatosis accompanied by an inflammatory response. At present, there are no approved therapeutic agents for NAFLD. Dendrobium Huoshanense polysaccharide (DHP), an active ingredient extracted from the stems of Dendrobium Huoshanense, and exerts a protective effect against liver injury. However, the therapeutic effects and mechanisms of action DHP against NAFLD remain unclear. DHP was extracted, characterized, and administered to mice in which NAFLD had been induced with a high-fat and high-fructose drinking (HFHF) diet. Our results showed that DHP used in this research exhibits the characteristic polysaccharide peak with a molecular weight of 179.935 kDa and is composed primarily of Man and Glc in a molar ratio of 68.97:31.03. DHP treatment greatly ameliorated NAFLD by significantly reducing lipid accumulation and the levels of liver function markers in HFHF-induced NAFLD mice, as evidenced by decreased serum levels of aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), total cholesterol (TC) and total triglyceride (TG). Furthermore, DHP administration reduced hepatic steatosis, as shown by H&E and Oil red O staining. DHP also inhibited the Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4)/nuclear factor- kappa B (NF-κB) signaling pathway expression, thereby reducing levels of hepatic proinflammatory cytokines. Besides, untargeted metabolomics further indicated that 49 metabolites were affected by DHP. These metabolites are strongly associated the metabolism of glycine, serine, threonine, nicotinate and nicotinamide, and arachidonic acid. In conclusion, DHP has a therapeutic effect against NAFLD, whose underlying mechanism may involve the modulation of TLR4/NF-κB, reduction of inflammation, and regulation of the metabolism of glycine, serine, threonine, nicotinate and nicotinamide metabolism, and arachidonic acid metabolism. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) can lead to intestinal injury, endotoxemia, and disturbance of intestinal flora. Additionally, as a crucial component of the endocannabinoid system, some studies have demonstrated that cannabinoid 1 (CB1) receptors are closely linked to the multiple organ dysfunction triggered by OSA. However, the role of the CB1 receptor in alleviating OSA-induced colon injury remains unclear. Here, through the construction of the OSA classic model, we found that the colon tissue of chronic intermittent hypoxia (CIH)–induced mice exhibited an overexpression of the CB1 receptor. The results of hematoxylin-eosin staining and transmission electron microscopy revealed that inhibition of the CB1 receptor could decrease the gap between the mucosa and muscularis mucosae, alleviate mitochondrial swelling, reduce microvilli shedding, and promote the recovery of tight junctions of CIH-induced mice. Furthermore, CB1 receptor inhibition reduced the levels of metabolic endotoxemia and inflammatory responses, exhibiting significant protective effects on the colon injury caused by CIH. At the molecular level, through western blotting and real-time polymerase chain reaction techniques, we found that inhibiting the CB1 receptor can significantly increase the expression of ZO-1 and Occludin proteins, which are closely related to the maintenance of intestinal mucosal barrier function. Through 16S rRNA high-throughput sequencing and short-chain fatty acid (SCFA) determination, we found that inhibition of the CB1 receptor increased the diversity of the microbial flora and controlled the makeup of intestinal flora. Moreover, butyric acid concentration and the amount of SCFA-producing bacteria, such as Ruminococcaceae and Lachnospiraceae, were both markedly elevated by CB1 receptor inhibition. The results of the spearman correlation study indicated that Lachnospiraceae showed a positive association with both ZO-1 and Occludin but was negatively correlated with the colon CB1 receptor, IL-1β, and TNF-α. According to this study, we found that inhibiting CB1 receptor can improve CIH-induced colon injury by regulating gut microbiota, reducing mucosal damage and promoting tight junction recovery. Key points: •CIH leads to overexpression of CB1 receptor in colon tissue. •CIH causes intestinal flora disorder, intestinal mucosal damage, and disruption of tight junctions. •Inhibition of CB1 receptor can alleviate the colon injury caused by CIH through regulating the gut microbiota, reducing mucosal injury, and promoting tight junction recovery. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Females with existing high‐risk HPV (HR‐HPV) infections remain at risk of subsequent multiple or recurrent infections, on which benefit from HPV vaccines was under‐reported. We pooled individual‐level data from four large‐scale, RCTs of AS04‐HPV‐16/18 vaccine to evaluate efficacy and immunogenicity in females DNA‐positive to any HR‐HPV types at first vaccination. Females receiving the AS04‐HPV‐16/18 vaccine in the original RCTs constituted the vaccine group in the present study, while those unvaccinated served as the control group. Vaccine efficacy (VE) against new infections and associated cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN) 2+ in females DNA‐negative to the considered HR‐HPV type but positive to any other HR‐HPV types, VE against reinfections in females DNA‐positive to the considered HR‐HPV type but cleared naturally during later follow‐up, and levels of anti‐HPV‐16/18 IgG were assessed. Our final analyses included 5137 females (vaccine group = 2532, control group = 2605). The median follow‐up time was 47.88 months (IQR: 45.72‐50.04). For the prevention of precancerous lesions related to the non‐infected HR‐HPV types at baseline, VE against HPV‐16/18 related CIN 2+ was 82.70% (95% CI: 63.70‐93.00%). For the prevention of reinfections related to the infected HR‐HPV types following natural clearance, VE against HPV‐16/18 12MPI was non‐significant (p >.05), albeit robust immunity persisted for at least 48 months. Females with existing HR‐HPV infections at first vaccination still benefit from vaccination in preventing precancers related to the non‐infected types at baseline. VE against reinfections related to the infected types following natural clearance remains to be further investigated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Clinical trials have demonstrated the potential neuroprotective effects of uric acid (UA) in Alzheimer's disease (AD). However, the specific mechanism underlying the neuroprotective effect of UA remains unclear. In the present study, we investigated the neuroprotective effect and underlying mechanism of UA in AD mouse models. Various behavioral tests including an elevated plus maze, Barnes maze, and Morris water maze were conducted to evaluate the impact of UA on cognitive function in β-amyloid (Aβ) microinjection and APP23/PS45 double transgenic mice models of AD. Immunohistochemical staining was employed to visualize pathological changes in the brains of AD model mice. Western blotting and immunofluorescence techniques were used to assess levels of autophagy-related proteins and transcription factor EB (TFEB)-related signaling pathways. BV2 cells were used to investigate the association between UA and microglial autophagy. We reported that UA treatment significantly alleviated memory decline in Aβ-induced AD model mice and APP23/PS45 double transgenic AD model mice. Furthermore, UA activated microglia and upregulated the autophagy-related proteins such as LC3II/I ratio, Beclin-1, and LAMP1 in the hippocampus of AD model mice. Similarly, UA protected BV2 cells from Aβ toxicity by upregulating the expressions of Beclin-1, LAMP1, and the LC3II/I ratio, whereas genetic inhibition of TFEB completely abolished these protective effects. Our results indicate that UA may serve as a novel activator of TFEB to induce microglia autophagy and facilitate Aβ degradation, thereby improving cognitive function in AD model mice. Therefore, these findings suggest that UA may be a novel therapeutic agent for AD treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: In plants under drought stress, sugar content in roots increases, which is important for drought resistance. However, the molecular mechanisms for controlling the sugar content in roots during response to drought remain elusive. Here, we found that the MdDOF3‐MdHT1.2 module‐mediated glucose influx into the root is essential for drought resistance in apple (Malus × domestica). Drought induced glucose uptake from the rhizosphere and up‐regulated the transcription of hexose transporter MdHT1.2. Compared with the wild‐type plants, overexpression of MdHT1.2 promoted glucose uptake from the rhizosphere, thereby facilitating sugar accumulation in root and enhancing drought resistance, whereas silenced plants showed the opposite phenotype. Furthermore, ATAC‐seq, RNA‐seq and biochemical analysis demonstrated that MdDOF3 directly bound to the promoter of MdHT1.2 and was strongly up‐regulated under drought. Overexpression of MdDOF3 in roots improved MdHT1.2‐mediated glucose transport capacity and enhanced plant resistance to drought, but MdDOF3‐RNAihr apple plants showed the opposite phenotype. Moreover, overexpression of MdDOF3 in roots did not attenuate drought sensitivity in MdHT1.2‐RNAi plants, which was correlated with a lower glucose uptake capacity and glucose content in root. Collectively, our findings deciphered the molecular mechanism through which glucose uptake from the rhizosphere is mediated by MdDOF3‐MdHT1.2, which acts to modulate sugar content in root and promote drought resistance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Endothelial dysfunction is crucial factor to the hypertension occurrence, and controversy remains regarding the effect of exercise on improving endothelial function in hypertensive patients. The authors used meta‐analysis to evaluate the intervention effect of exercise on endothelial function in hypertensive patients and to investigate exercise protocols that may have a greater intervention effect. A total of 37 studies and a total of 2801 participants were included. The results were as follows: endogenous nitric oxide (NO)[SMD =.89, 95% CI (.48, 1.30), p <.0001], endothelin‐1 (ET‐1): [SMD = −.94, 95% CI (−1.15, −.73), p <. 0001], flow‐mediated dilation (FMD) [SMD = −.57, 95% CI (.36,.79), p <.000001]. In subgroup analysis, high‐intensity aerobic exercise, with a single exercise duration of 35–50 min, 3–4 times/week for a total of 10–12 weeks, had the largest amount of intervention effect on NO, and moderate‐intensity resistance exercise, with a single exercise duration of ≥60 min, 6 times/week for a total of 15–18 weeks, had the largest amount of intervention effect on ET‐1. In conclusion, exercise can improve NO levels, FDM levels, and reduce ET‐1 secretion of hypertension patients, thereby improve their endothelial function. The ideal intervention effect of improving NO level was more likely to be obtained by taking the exercise prescription of high‐intensity aerobic exercise with a single exercise duration of 35–50 min, 3–4 times/week for 10–12 weeks; the ideal intervention effect of improving ET‐1 was more likely to be obtained by taking the exercise prescription of oderate ‐intensity resistance exercise with a single exercise duration of ≥60 min, 6 times/week for 15–18 weeks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Adolescents with borderline personality disorder (BPD) may have impaired executive functions. There are few functional MRI (fMRI) studies in adolescents with BPD and the neuroimaging markers of this disorder are unknown. The aim of this study was to investigate the functional connectivity (FC) of BPD in adolescents, and to explore the relationship between FC changes and executive function in adolescents with BPD. 50 adolescents aged 12 to 17 years with BPD and 21 gender-and-age matched healthy controls (HC) were enrolled into the study. Brain MRI scan including a 3D-T1 weighted structural sequence and a resting-state fMRI was acquired. A seed-based FC analysis was performed. We used the Stroop color-word test (SCWT) and the trail making test (TMT) to evaluate the executive function of the participants. Correlative analysis of FC alterations with executive function and clinical symptoms was also performed. Compared to the HCs, adolescents with BPD showed increased FC in the limbic—cortical circuit, such as the FC between the left hippocampus and right parahippocampal gyrus, between the right middle occipital gyrus and the left middle temporal gyrus, and between the left medial superior frontal gyrus and the right inferior temporal gyrus. FC in the default mode network (DMN) was decreased between the left angular gyrus and the left precuneus but increased between the left angular gyrus and the right anterior cingulate cortex (voxel P < 0.001, cluster P < 0.05, FWE corrected). The BPD group demonstrated significantly lower cognitive testing scores than the HC group on the SCWT-A (P < 0.001), SCWT-B (P < 0.001), and SCWT-C (P = 0.034). The FC alterations between limbic system and cortical regions were associated with SCWT and TMT (P < 0.05). FC alterations were noted in both limbic—cortical circuit and DMN in adolescents with BPD, which were associated with impaired executive function. This study implicated the FC alterations as the neural correlates of executive functioning in adolescents with BPD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Histone deacetylase 6 (HDAC6) belongs to a class of epigenetic targets that have been found to be a key protein in the association between tumors and cardiovascular disease. Recent studies have focused on the crucial role of HDAC6 in regulating cardiovascular diseases such as atherosclerosis, myocardial infarction, myocardial hypertrophy, myocardial fibrosis, hypertension, pulmonary hypertension, and arrhythmia. Here, we review the association between HDAC6 and cardiovascular disease, the research progress of HDAC6 inhibitors in the treatment of cardiovascular disease, and discuss the feasibility of combining HDAC6 inhibitors with other therapeutic agents to treat cardiovascular disease. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

While light at night (LAN) and noise levels have been linked to suboptimal sleep outcomes, little is known about the link between these factors and long-term suboptimal sleep trajectories. The current study examined the association of neighborhood LAN and nighttime noise with long-term sleep trajectories in a cohort of Black individuals and White individuals predominantly from low-income communities. We used data from the Southern Community Cohort Study (N = 28,759 Black individuals and 16,276 White individuals). Sleep duration was self-reported at baseline and after an average of five years of follow-up, based on which we constructed nine sleep trajectories: normal–normal (optimal, reference), short–short, long–long, short–long, long–short, normal–short, normal–long, short–normal, and long–normal. LAN and nighttime noise were derived from satellite imagery and model-based estimates, respectively. Multinomial logistic regression was used to determine the relationship between LAN and noise exposures and sleep trajectories. Higher exposures to LAN and nighttime noise were associated with multiple suboptimal long-term sleep trajectories. In the total sample, higher LAN was associated with higher odds of long–long (OR Q5 vs. Q1 = 1.23 (CI = 1.02, 1.48)) and long–short (OR = 1.35 (CI = 1.06, 1.72)) trajectories, while higher nighttime noise was associated with short–short (1.19 (1.07, 1.31)), long–short (1.31 (1.05, 1.64)), and normal–song (1.16 (1.01, 1.34)) trajectories. Black and White individual-specific results showed qualitatively similar patterns between Black individuals and White individuals, although we also observed suggestive evidence for Black–White individual differences. In conclusion, elevated LAN and nighttime noise levels were associated with various suboptimal long-term sleep trajectories. However, it is noteworthy that the light and noise measures in our study may not accurately reflect individual-level exposures, and residual confounding from other factors is a concern. Future studies should use more accurate exposure measurements, collect information on and control for a wider range of factors, and examine whether reductions in neighborhood light and noise levels may contribute to improved long-term sleep health. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Blue phases (BPs), as highly chiral liquid crystalline phases with soft photonic structures, have recently emerged as competitive candidates for advanced optical applications. However, to date, it is still a big challenge to fabricate monodomains of BPs with programmed lattice orientation and manipulate their geometric phase optical properties, especially for BPI with body-centered cubic structures. In this work, we propose an electrically modulated polarization grating based on polymer-stabilized BP (PSBP) monodomains, with each monodomain being composed of BPI crystals with a programmed azimuthal orientation. The in situ experiments reveal that under a biased direct current (DC) electric field, the BPI crystals confined in polymer networks experience a serial 3D lattice deformation that is different from that of pure BPI crystals, which further enables a reversible tuning of the Bragg reflection band of the element over 200 nm in the visible range with a high diffraction efficiency. Our work provides new insights into the future applications of soft crystals in geometric phase optical elements, such as new displays and integrated photonics with 3D tunable optical properties. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Well‐engineered buried interfaces play a pivotal role in achieving high‐performance perovskite solar cells (PSCs). A superior buried interface involves controlled perovskite crystallization, efficient charge transfer across interfaces, and robust interfacial bonding. Here, a class of innovative additives, benzoyl sulfonyl molecules including 4‐sulfobenzoic acid monopotassium salt (K‐SBA), and 4‐sulfamoylbenzoic acid (SBA) is introduced to tailer the SnO2/perovskite buried interface, aiming to meet these essential criteria. Among them, K‐SBA performed better. The findings reveal that the functional groups of K‐SBA establish interactions with both SnO2 and perovskite, leading to effective bilateral passivation and mitigation of interface stress. This results in the formation of a pore‐free buried interface and high‐quality perovskite films with substantial crystal sizes. Consequently, PSCs incorporating K‐SBA exhibited a notable increase in efficiency, achieving 24.56% efficiency compared to the control device's 22.27%. Furthermore, these K‐SBA‐enhanced PSCs maintain 90% of their original efficiency even after 500 h of maximum power point tracking. This work provides valuable insights for further refinement and advancement of buried interfaces in PSCs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purinergic receptor P2Y11, a G protein-coupled receptor that is stimulated by extracellular ATP, has been demonstrated to be related to the chemotaxis of granulocytes, apoptosis of neutrophils, and secretion of cytokines in vitro. P2Y11 mutations were associated with narcolepsy. However, little is known about the roles of P2RY11 in the occurrence of narcolepsy and inflammatory response in vivo. In this study, we generated a zebrafish P2Y11 mutant using CRISPR/Cas9 genome editing and demonstrated that the P2Y11 mutant replicated the narcolepsy-like features including reduced HCRT expression and excessive daytime sleepiness, suggesting that P2Y11 is essential for HCRT expression. Furthermore, we accessed the cytokine expression in the mutant and revealed that the P2RY11 mutation disrupted the systemic inflammatory balance by reducing il4, il10 and tgfb, and increasing il6, tnfa, and il1b. In addition, the P2RY11-deficient larvae with caudal fin injuries exhibited significantly slower migration and less recruitment of neutrophils and macrophages at damaged site, and lower expression of anti-inflammatory cytokines during tissue damage. All these findings highlight the vital roles of P2RY11 in maintaining HCRT production and secreting anti-inflammatory cytokines in the native environment, and suggested that P2RY11-deficient zebrafish can serve as a reliable and unique model to further explore narcolepsy and inflammatory-related diseases with impaired neutrophil and macrophage responses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Pressure injuries are present in all healthcare environments and not only pose a significant health risk to individuals but also impose a heavy economic burden on society and families. Nurses, as the primary caregivers responsible for the prevention and management of pressure injuries, have knowledge that directly determines the incidence of pressure injuries. Aim: To understand the current status of nurses' knowledge of pressure injuries in Shaanxi Province and the factors influencing it. Design: A cross-sectional survey. Methods: In April - May 2022, 16,599 nurses from hospitals at all levels in Shaanxi Province were selected as survey subjects by convenience sampling method. They were surveyed using the general information questionnaire and the Pieper-Zulkowski pressure injury Knowledge Questionnaire through the Questionnaire Star platform. Results: 16,599 nurses had a pressure injury knowledge score of (44.32± 10.11). Wound description and pressure ulcer staging dimensions were less than 60% correct. Comparison of pressure injury knowledge scores of nursing staff with different genders, hospital levels, titles, education, whether they were specialized nurses in wound stoma when they last attended a lecture on pressure ulcers, when they last read literature or books on pressure ulcers, and whether they ever looked for information about pressure ulcers on the Internet showed that the differences were statistically significant (P < 0.05), which were the influencing factors of the knowledge scores of the nursing staff in Shaanxi Province. Conclusion: Clinical nurses' awareness of stress-related injuries still needs to be improved, and nursing administrators can improve the quality of pressure-related injury care by increasing nursing staff's awareness through continuing education, tiered training, and other measures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A bipartite graph Γ is a bi-Cayley graph over a group H if H ⩽ Aut Γ acts regularly on each part of Γ . A bi-Cayley graph Γ is said to be a normal bi-Cayley graph over H if H ⊴ Aut Γ , and bi-primitive if the bipartition preserving subgroup of Aut Γ acts primitively on each part of Γ . In this paper, a classification is given for 2-arc-transitive bi-Cayley graphs which are bi-primitive and non-normal. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Under the background of global climate change, crop leaves usually experience fluctuating light (FL) under compound stresses of drought and heat in the field. However, photoinhibition and photosynthetic regulation in FL under these compound stresses are little known. To elucidate this, we measured gas exchange, chlorophyll fluorescence, P700 redox state and electrochromic shift signals for tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) leaves exposed to FL under individual and compound stresses of moderate drought and heat stresses. After treatment with short‐term FL, photosystem I (PSI) activity decreased slightly in all treatments. By comparison, photosystem II (PSII) activity was reduced slightly under individual stress but largely decreased by 46% under compound stresses. Therefore, PSI is more tolerant than PSII when exposed to FL under compound stresses of drought and heat. Under compound stresses, PSII photoinhibition largely downregulated linear electron flow and photorespiration became a major electron sink downstream. Concomitantly, cyclic electron flow (CEF) was highly enhanced to help the building up of trans‐thylakoid proton gradient. This study highlights the importance of PSII activity and CEF in crop tolerance under future compound climate extremes such as drought and heat. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ulcerative colitis (UC) is a chronic recurrent inflammatory disease affecting the rectum and colon. Numerous epidemiological studies have identified smoking as a protective factor for UC. Dysbiosis of intestinal microbiota and release of inflammatory factors are well-established characteristics associated with UC. Therefore, we have observed that nicotine exhibits the potential to ameliorate colitis symptoms in UC mice. Additionally, it exerts a regulatory effect on colonic microbiota dysbiosis by promoting the growth of beneficial bacteria while suppressing harmful bacteria. Combined in vivo and in vitro investigations demonstrate that nicotine primarily impedes the assembly of NLRP3, subsequently inhibiting downstream IL-1β secretion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

For the serious situation of heavy metal pollution, the use of cheap, clean, and efficient biochar to immobilize heavy metals is a good treatment method. In this paper, SA@ZIF-8/BC was prepared for the adsorption of Pb2+ in solution using sodium alginate (SA) and zeolitic imidazolate framework-8 (ZIF-8) modified corn cob biochar. The results showed that the specific surface area of modified biochar was greatly improved, with good adsorption capacity for Pb2+, strong anti-interference ability, and good economy. At the optimal adsorption pH of 5, the adsorption model of Pb2+ by SA@ZIF-8/BC was more consistent with the pseudo-second-order kinetic model and Langmuir isotherm model. This indicates that the adsorption of Pb2+ by SA@ZIF-8/BC is chemisorption and monolayer adsorption. The maximum adsorption of modified biochar was 300 mg g−1, which was 2.38 times higher than that of before modified BC (126 mg g−1). The shift in binding energy of functional groups before and after adsorption of SA@ZIF-8/BC was studied by XPS, and it was found that hydroxyl and carboxyl groups played an important role in the adsorption of Pb2+. It was demonstrated that this novel adsorbent can be effectively used for the treatment of Pb pollution in wastewater. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), characterized by low survival rates and a high recurrence rate, is a major cause of cancer-related mortality. Aberrant activation of the PI3K/AKT/mTOR signaling pathway is a common driver of NSCLC. Within this study, the inhibitory activity of (+)-anthrabenzoxocinone ((+)-ABX), an oxygenated anthrabenzoxocinone compound derived from Streptomyces, against NSCLC is demonstrated for the first time both in vitro and in vivo. Mechanistically, it is confirmed that the PI3K/AKT/mTOR signaling pathway is targeted and suppressed by (+)-ABX, resulting in the induction of S and G2/M phase arrest, apoptosis, and autophagy in NSCLC cells. Additionally, the augmentation of intracellular ROS levels by (+)-ABX is revealed, further contributing to the inhibition of the signaling pathway and exerting inhibitory effects on tumor growth. The findings presented in this study suggest that (+)-ABX possesses the potential to serve as a lead compound for the treatment of NSCLC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Sarcopenia and multimorbidity are common in older adults, and most of the available clinical studies have focused on the relationship between specialist disorders and sarcopenia, whereas fewer studies have been conducted on the relationship between sarcopenia and multimorbidity. We therefore wished to explore the relationship between the two. Methods: The study subjects were older patients (aged ≥ 65 years) who were hospitalized at the Department of Geriatrics of the First Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University between March 2016 and September 2021. Their medical records were collected. Based on the diagnostic criteria of the Asian Sarcopenia Working Group in 2019, the relationship between sarcopenia and multimorbidity was elucidated. Results: 1.A total of 651 older patients aged 65 years and above with 2 or more chronic diseases were investigated in this study, 46.4% were suffering from sarcopenia. 2. Analysis of the relationship between the number of chronic diseases and sarcopenia yielded that the risk of sarcopenia with 4–5 chronic diseases was 1.80 times higher than the risk of 2–3 chronic diseases (OR 1.80, 95%CI 0.29–2.50), and the risk of sarcopenia with ≥ 6 chronic diseases was 5.11 times higher than the risk of 2–3 chronic diseases (OR 5.11, 95% CI 2.97–9.08), which remained statistically significant, after adjusting for relevant factors. 3. The Charlson comorbidity index was associated with skeletal muscle mass index, handgrip strength, and 6–meter walking speed, with scores reaching 5 and above suggesting the possibility of sarcopenia. 4. After adjusting for some covariates among 14 common chronic diseases in older adults, diabetes (OR 3.20, 95% CI 2.01–5.09), cerebrovascular diseases (OR 2.07, 95% CI 1.33–3.22), bone and joint diseases (OR 2.04, 95% CI 1.32–3.14), and malignant tumors (OR 2.65, 95% CI 1.17–6.55) were among those that still a risk factor for the development of sarcopenia. Conclusion: In the hospitalized older adults, the more chronic diseases they have, the higher the prevalence of sarcopenia. When the CCI is 5, attention needs to be paid to the occurrence of sarcopenia in hospitalized older adults. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Uremic pruritus (UP) is a prevalent symptom in patients suffering from uremia, yet its underlying etiology and mechanisms remain incompletely elucidated. Given the significant incidence of UP, identifying specific alterations in proteins present in the blood of UP patients could offer insights into the potential biological pathways associated with UP and facilitate the exploration of biomarkers. Methods: In this study, we employed LC-MS/MS-based data-independent acquisition (DIA) mode to analyze serum samples obtained from 54 UP patients categorized as DKD-UP, HN-UP, and GN-UP (n = 18 for each subgroup), along with 18 uremic patients without pruritus (Negative) and 18 CKD patients without pruritus (CKD). Through DIA mode analysis, a total of 7075 peptides and 959 proteins were quantified. Within these, we identified four upregulated and 13 downregulated Differentially Expressed Proteins (DEPs) in DKD-UP versus Negative, five upregulated and 22 downregulated DEPs in HN-UP versus Negative, and three upregulated and 23 downregulated DEPs in GN-UP versus Negative. Furthermore, we conducted an intersection analysis of the DEPs across these three comparison groups to derive a set of common DEPs (COMP). Subsequently, a total of 67 common DEPs were identified in the three UP groups when compared to the CKD group, with 40 DEPs showing upregulation and 27 DEPs displaying downregulation. Results: Following Gene Ontology (GO), Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG), and Protein-Protein Interaction (PPI) analyses, we observed that the DEPs distinguishing UP from CKD were primarily associated with mitochondrial function (MT-CYB, PRDX2, TOMM22), inflammation (CD59, CSF1), renal injury (WFDC2), and neural function (CAP1, VGF). Discussion: Our findings contribute to a potential molecular comprehension of UP pathogenesis, shedding light on the identification of these DEPs as plausible biomarkers for UP. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mounting evidence suggests that meal timing and frequency are associated with cardiometabolic health by influencing circadian rhythms. However, the evidence is inconsistent and limited, especially in non-Western cultures. This cross-sectional study aims to investigate the association between temporal habits of dietary intake, such as nightly fasting duration and meal frequency, and metabolic syndrome among Kuwaiti adults. A 24-hour recall was used to assess temporal habits of dietary intake. Meal frequency was defined as the number of daily eating episodes. The study included a total of 757 adults aged 20 years and older. The participants' mean age was 37.8 ± 12.3 years. After adjusting for all confounders, higher meal frequency was found to be associated with a lower prevalence of metabolic syndrome in adults (OR, 0.43; 95%CI, 0.19–0.96) and a lower prevalence of elevated triglycerides in men only (OR, 0.23; 95%CI, 0.09–0.60). No association was found between nightly fasting and metabolic syndrome, but a longer fasting duration was associated with a lower prevalence of elevated triglycerides (OR, 0.19; 95%CI, 0.06–0.63). The findings suggest that having frequent meals and longer durations of nightly fasting may help decrease the risk of metabolic syndrome and elevated triglycerides. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]