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Abstract Objective To establish a practical risk stratification system (RSS) based on ultrasonography (US) and clinical characteristics for predicting soft tissue masses (STMs) malignancy. Methods This retrospective multicenter study included patients with STMs who underwent US and pathological examinations between April 2018 and April 2023. Chi-square tests and multivariable logistic regression analyses were performed to assess the association of US and clinical characteristics with the malignancy of STMs in the training set. The RSS was constructed based on the scores of risk factors and validated externally. Results The training and validation sets included 1027 STMs (mean age, 50.90 ± 16.64, 442 benign and 585 malignant) and 120 STMs (mean age, 51.93 ± 17.90, 69 benign and 51 malignant), respectively. The RSS was constructed based on three clinical characteristics (age, duration, and history of malignancy) and six US characteristics (size, shape, margin, echogenicity, bone invasion, and vascularity). STMs were assigned to six categories in the RSS, including no abnormal findings, benign, probably benign (fitted probabilities [FP] for malignancy: 0.001–0.008), low suspicion (FP: 0.008–0.365), moderate suspicion (FP: 0.189–0.911), and high suspicion (FP: 0.798–0.999) for malignancy. The RSS displayed good diagnostic performance in the training and validation sets with area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC) values of 0.883 and 0.849, respectively. Conclusion The practical RSS based on US and clinical characteristics could be useful for predicting STM malignancy, thereby providing the benefit of timely treatment strategy management to STM patients. Critical relevance statement With the help of the RSS, better communication between radiologists and clinicians can be realized, thus facilitating tumor management. Key Points There is no recognized grading system for STM management. A stratification system based on US and clinical features was built. The system realized great communication between radiologists and clinicians in tumor management. Graphical Abstract

Abstract Porcine epidemic diarrhea virus (PEDV) has emerged in American countries, and it has reemerged in Asia and Europe, causing significant economic losses to the pig industry worldwide. In the present study, the 17GXCZ-1ORF3d strain, which has a naturally large deletion at the 172–554 bp position of the ORF3 gene, together with the 17GXCZ-1ORF3c strain, was serially propagated in Vero cells for up to 120 passages. The adaptability of the two strains gradually increased through serial passages in vitro. Genetic variation analysis of the variants of the two strains from different generations revealed that the naturally truncated ORF3 gene in the 17GXCZ-1ORF3d variants was stably inherited. Furthermore, the survival, viral shedding and histopathological lesions following inoculation of piglets demonstrated that the virulence of 17GXCZ-1ORF3d-P120 was significantly attenuated. These results indicate that the naturally truncated ORF3 gene may accelerate the attenuation of virulence and is involved in PEDV virulence together with mutations in other structural genes. Importantly, immunization of sows with G2b 17GXCZ-1ORF3d-P120 increased PEDV-specific IgG and IgA antibody levels in piglets and conferred partial passive protection against heterologous G2a PEDV strains. Our findings suggest that an attenuated strain with a truncated ORF3 gene may be a promising candidate for protection against PEDV.

Abstract Background Although the adverse impact of substandard informal housing has been widely documented, most studies concentrated on developing societies, thereby leaving informal housing in developed regions underexplored. This study examines Hong Kong, where limited dwelling size is a distinctive feature that characterises informal housing, to explore the impact of housing informality on mental health, with a particular focus on dwelling size. It centers on subdivided units (SDUs), which are tiny compartments partitioned from a large domestic quarter, to understand how housing informality and housing size affect the mental well-being of female caregivers, who typically bear the brunt of the housework. Methods In partnership with nongovernment organisations in three SDU-abundant districts, this mixed-methods study conducted a survey on 413 female caregivers aged 18—65 and qualitative research combining ethnographic observations and in-depth interviews on 36 families living in SDUs in Hong Kong between 2021 and 2023. The mental health outcomes and health-related quality of life (HRQoL) of the participants were assessed by using the Depression, Anxiety, and Stress Scale-21 and a EuroQol-5 Dimension-5 Level questionnaire. Results Depression, anxiety and stress were prevalent across the female caregivers living in SDUs (12.4%), as well as a significantly lower HRQoL compared with that of the general population (0.882 vs. 0.919). Findings showed that a total floor area smaller than 13.0 m2 was associated with increased likelihood of experiencing anxiety and depression and reduced HRQoL. Cramped living space adversely affected the caregivers’ well-being through the 1) physical, 2) relational and 3) personal aspects of home experiences. Negative experiences at home can cause housework burnout, exacerbate family conflicts and lead to feelings of repression and low self-efficacy. Conclusions This study contributes to the understanding of the consequences of housing informality in diverse geographical contexts and illuminates the effect of dwelling size by identifying the mechanisms through which housing size can affect the mental well-being of residents, which may vary depending on their family status. The findings yield important policy implications, including the need to establish a minimum space standard for subdivided residential dwellings and ensure equitable access to community spaces for deprived families.

为了快速、准确检测市售橄榄油中非法添加的脂溶性色素，建立了一种测定橄榄油中铜-焦脱镁素a的高效液相色谱串联质谱法（HPLC-MS/MS）。使用SPE柱对样品进行净化前处理，随后通过HPLC-MS/MS进行定性和定量检测，色谱分析采用C8色谱柱，以甲醇-1 mol/L乙酸铵水溶液（体积比8∶ 2）和甲醇-丙酮(体积比6∶ 4)作为流动相，进行梯度洗脱；质谱分析采用大气压化学电离，负离子扫描模式，多重反应监测模式，电子倍增电压600 V，碎裂电压260 V，用外标法进行定量。经过方法学验证，该方法的检出限和定量限分别为12 μg/kg和64 μg/kg，回收率为910%~106.0%，相对标准偏差为3.9%~5.7%。该方法具有较高的灵敏度和精密度，能够准确、快速地检测市售橄榄油中的铜-焦脱镁素a。An analytical method for determining copper pyropheophytin-a in olive oil utilizing high performance liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (HPLC-MS/MS) was established to accurately and quickly detect illegally added liposoluble pigments in commercial olive oil. Purification of the sample was performed using a SPE column for pre-treatment, followed by qualitative and quantitative detection using HPLC-MS/MS. The Chromatographic analysis was carried out on C8 column, with methanol-1 mol/L aqueous solution of ammonium acetate (volume ratio 8∶ 2) and methanol-acetone (volume ratio 6∶ 4) as mobile phases for gradient elution. Atmospheric pressure chemical ionization at negative ion mode and multi reaction monitoring scanning were used for mass spectrometry analysis under the conditions of electronic multiplication voltage 600 V and fragmentation voltage 260 V, and the analyte was quantified by external standard method. The results of the methodological validation showed that this method exhibited a limit of detection of 12 μg/kg and a limit of quantification of 64 μg/kg, with spiked recovery rates ranging from 91.0% to 106.0%, with relative standard deviations varying from 3.9% to 5.7%. This method had advantages of high sensitivity and precision, and can detect of copper pyropheophytin-a in olive oil rapidly.

Abstract Background Evidence is scarce on the effect of free fatty acid (FFA) level in the prognosis of coronary artery disease (CAD) patients with hypertension. This study. Methods A large prospective cohort study with a follow-up period of average 2 years was conducted at Xinjiang Medical University Affiliated First Hospital from December 2016 to October 2021. A total of 10,395 CAD participants were divided into groups based on FFA concentration and hypertension status, and then primary outcome mortality and secondary endpoint ischemic events were assessed in the different groups. Results A total of 222 all-cause mortality (ACMs), 164 cardiac mortality (CMs), 718 major adverse cardiovascular events (MACEs) and 803 major adverse cardiovascular and cerebrovascular events (MACCEs) were recorded during follow-up period. A nonlinear relationship between FFA and adverse outcomes was observed only in CAD patients with hypertension. Namely, a “U -shape” relationship between FFA levels and long-term outcomes was found in CAD patients with hypertension. Lower FFA level (

Objective: This case demonstrated the possibility of using GATA3-positive circulating tumor cells (CTCs) to detect early-stage breast cancer (BrC). Case report: The 86 years old female patient received a mammographic examination with no evidence of malignancy (Breast Imaging Reporting and Data System, (BI-RADS category 2). However, CTC testing on the same day revealed four GATA3-positive CTCs in 4 ml of peripheral blood. Core needle biopsy was performed in the suspicious area even with no evidence of malignant image on breast ultrasound. Pathologic examination showed invasive carcinoma of no special type of the breast. The patient then received an oncoplastic partial mastectomy of right breast and sentinel lymph node biopsy. The surgical staging was cT1N0M0. Post-operation follow-up examination showed absence of GATA3-positive CTCs and the presence of HER2/ER positive CTCs. Conclusion: The role of GATA3-positive CTCs as a potential biomarker for early-stage BrC should be explored.

Abstract Background NUP98 rearrangements (NUP98-r) are rare but overrepresented mutations in pediatric acute myeloid leukemia (AML) patients. NUP98-r is often associated with chemotherapy resistance and a particularly poor prognosis. Therefore, characterizing pediatric AML with NUP98-r to identify aberrations is critically important. Methods Here, we retrospectively analyzed the clinicopathological features, genomic and transcriptomic landscapes, treatments, and outcomes of pediatric patients with AML. Results Nine patients with NUP98-r mutations were identified in our cohort of 142 patients. Ten mutated genes were detected in patients with NUP98-r. The frequency of FLT3-ITD mutations differed significantly between the groups harboring NUP98-r and those without NUP98-r (P = 0.035). Unsupervised hierarchical clustering via RNA sequencing data from 21 AML patients revealed that NUP98-r samples clustered together, strongly suggesting a distinct subtype. Compared with that in the non-NUP98-r fusion and no fusion groups, CMAHP expression was significantly upregulated in the NUP98-r samples (P

Abstract Objective The purpose of this study is to construct an organ system-centered undergraduate nursing professional training model and explore its application effect. Methods This study is divided into two steps. In the early stage, literature review and expert consultation were used to establish the training mode (curriculum and assessment standard) of nursing undergraduate specialty based on organ system reform. Secondly, a cross-sectional survey method was used to investigate the training quality of nursing students who graduated from Jinzhou Medical University from 2007 to 2017 under this model. Results A five-module curriculum system was established, including general courses, public basic courses, professional education courses, expanding elective courses and concentrated practical teaching. Under the teaching reform of organ system, the nursing graduates of Jinzhou Medical University, who are mainly employed in public hospitals, are generally not satisfied with their jobs, salaries, contents and prospects. Their overall satisfaction with their alma mater is very high; Graduates have certain independent core competence; Employers are basically satisfied with graduates. Conclusion The training mode of undergraduate nursing specialty based on organ system reform basically meets the training requirements and objectives.

Abstract Background Colorectal cancer is the third most common cancer and the second leading cause of cancer death. There are limited therapeutic options for the treatment of locally advanced or metastatic colorectal cancers which fail first-line chemotherapy. Phase I/II studies showed that the combined application of the raltitrexed and irinotecan has significant synergistic effect and acceptable toxicity. However, most of these previous studies have relatively small sample size. Methods This is a prospective open-label, single-arm, multi-center, Phase II trial. Brief inclusion criteria: patients were aged 18 to 75 years with locally advanced or metastatic colorectal cancer after failure of 5-FU and oxaliplatin therapy. Enrolled patients received raltitrexed (3 mg/m2, d1) and irinotecan (180 mg/m2, d1) each 21-day cycle until disease progression or unacceptable toxicity. The primary endpoint was progression-free survival, and the secondary endpoints were disease control rate, objective response rate, overall survival and safety. Results A total of 108 patients were enrolled between September 2016 and May 2020. The median age was 61 years, ECOG 1 score accounts for 67.6%, the rest were ECOG 0. A total of 502 cycles were completed, with an average of 4.6 cycles and a median of 4 cycles. 108 patients were evaluated, with an objective response rate of 17.6%, and disease control rate of 76.9%. The median follow-up time was 27 months (range:3.1–61.0 m) at data cut-off on March 2023. Median progression-free survival was 4.9 months (95% CI 4.1–5.7) and median overall survival was 13.1 months (95% CI 12.2–15.5). The most common adverse events that were elevated are alanine aminotransferase increased, aspartate aminotransferase increased, fatigue, diarrhoea, neutrocytopenia, thrombocytopenia, hypohemoglobin, and leukocytopenia. Most of the adverse events were Grade I/II, which were relieved after symptomatic treatment, and there were no treatment-related cardiotoxicities and deaths. Conclusions The combination of raltitrexed and irinotecan as second-line treatment for mCRC could be a reliable option after failure of standard 5-Fu-first-line chemotherapy in locally advanced or metastatic colorectal cancers, especially for patients with 5-FU intolerance (cardiac events or DPD deficiency patients). Trial registration ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT03053167, registration date was 14/2/2017.

Abstract Background Carboxylesterase 1(CES1) is expressed mainly in the liver and adipose tissue and is highly hypothesized to play an essential role in metabolism. Our study aimed to investigate the association between CES1 and metabolic syndrome (MetS) and metabolic dysfunction associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) in children with obesity in China. Methods This study included 72 children with obesity aged 6-13years (including 25(35%) diagnosed as MetS and 36(50%) diagnosed as MASLD). All subjects were measured in anthropometry, serum level of biochemical parameters related to obesity, circumstance levels of insulin-like growth factor1, adipokines (adiponectin, leptin and growth differentiation factor 15) and CES1. Results Higher serum CES1 level were found in the MetS group (P = 0.004) and the MASLD group (P

Abstract Background Central obesity was considered as a risk factor for falls among the older population. Waist circumference (WC), lipid accumulation product (LAP), visceral adiposity index (VAI), and the Chinese visceral adiposity index (CVAI) are considered as surrogate markers for abdominal fat deposition in increasing studies. Nevertheless, the longitudinal relationship between these indices and falls among the older population remains indistinct. This study aimed to explore the association between abdominal obesity indices and falls among older community-dwellers. Methods Our study included 3501 individuals aged ≥ 65 years from the Guangzhou Falls and Health Status Tracking Cohort at baseline in 2021 and then prospectively followed up in 2022. The outcome of interest was the occurrence of falls. The Kaplan-Meier curves and multivariable Cox regression analysis were used to explore the associations between abdominal obesity indices and falls. Moreover, the restricted cubic spline analysis (RCS) was conducted to test the non-linear relationships between abdominal obesity indices and hazards of falls incident. Results After a median follow-up period of 551 days, a total of 1022 participants experienced falls. The cumulative incidence rate of falls was observed to be higher among individuals with central obesity and those falling within the fourth quartile (Q4) of LAP, VAI, and CVAI. Participants with central obesity and those in Q4 of LAP, VAI, and CVAI were associated with higher risk of falls, with hazard ratios (HRs) of 1.422 (HR 95%CI: 1.255–1.611), 1.346 (1.176–1.541), 1.270 (1.108–1.457), 1.322 (1.154–1.514), respectively. Each 1-SD increment in WC, LAP, VAI, and CVAI was a significant increased risk of falls among participants. Subgroup analysis further revealed these results were basically stable and appeared to be significantly stronger among those females, aged 65–69 years, and with body mass index (BMI) ≥ 28 kg/m2. Additionally, RCS curves showed an overall upward trend in the risk of falls as the abdominal indices increased. Conclusions Abdominal obesity indices, as WC, LAP, VAI, and CVAI were significantly associated with falls among older community-dwellers. Reduction of abdominal obesity indices might be suggested as the strategy of falls prevention.

The aberrant fibrillization of huntingtin exon 1 (Httex1) characterized by an expanded polyglutamine (polyQ) tract is a defining feature of Huntington's disease, a neurodegenerative disorder. Recent investigations underscore the involvement of a small EDRK-rich factor 1a (SERF1a) in promoting Httex1 fibrillization through interactions with its N terminus. By establishing an integrated approach with size-exclusion-column-based small- and wide-angle X-ray scattering (SEC-SWAXS), NMR, and molecular simulations using Rosetta, the analysis here reveals a tight binding of two NT17 fragments of Httex1 (comprising the initial 17 amino acids at the N terminus) to the N-terminal region of SERF1a. In contrast, examination of the complex structure of SERF1a with a coiled NT17-polyQ peptide (33 amino acids in total) indicates sparse contacts of the NT17 and polyQ segments with the N-terminal side of SERF1a. Furthermore, the integrated SEC-SWAXS and molecular-simulation analysis suggests that the coiled NT17 segment can transform into a helical conformation when associated with a polyQ segment exhibiting high helical content. Intriguingly, NT17-polyQ peptides with enhanced secondary structures display diminished interactions with SERF1a. This insight into the conformation-dependent binding of NT17 provides clues to a catalytic association mechanism underlying SERF1a's facilitation of Httext1 fibrillization.

AIM:To test and compare the perceptual eye position and fixation stability of adolescents with emmetropia and adolescents with low myopia, investigating the characteristics of the perceptual eye position and fixation stability of adolescents with low myopia.METHODS: Cross-sectional study. A total of 132 adolescents(264 eyes)who visited in the ophthalmology clinic of our hospital from April to December 2023 were randomly selected as the research subjects. Participants were categorized into normal control group(n=45, 90 eyes), simple low myopia group(n=45, 90 eyes)and low myopia with anisometropia group(n=42, 84 eyes)according to their refractive status and were underwent assessments for perceptual eye position and fixation stability.RESULTS: Compared with the normal control group, the static and dynamic horizontal perceptual eye position deviation of the simple low myopia group and the low myopia with anisometropia group were significantly increased(P0.05); compared with the normal control group, the horizontal and vertical fixation stability of the simple low myopia group and the low myopia with anisometropia group were significantly worse(all P0.05).CONCLUSION: Abnormalities are observed in perceptual eye position and fixation stability function in adolescents with low myopia compared with those adolescents with emmetropia, even at best corrected visual acuity. The occurrence of anisometropia could lead to an increased degree of horizontal perceptual eye position displacement.

This paper mainly studies the sum-of-linear-ratios problems, which have important applications in finance, economy and computational vision. In this process, we first propose a new method to re-represent the original problem as an equivalent problem (EP). Secondly, by relaxing these constraints, a nonlinear relaxation subproblem is constructed for EP. In view of the special structure of the relaxation, it is reconstructed as a second-order cone programming (SOCP) problem, which is essentially a SOCP relaxation of EP. Thirdly, through the structural characteristics of the objective function of EP, a region reduction technique is designed to accelerate the termination of the algorithm as much as possible. By integrating the SOCP relaxation and acceleration strategy into the branch and bound framework, a new global optimization algorithm is developed. Further, the theoretical convergence and computational complexity of the algorithm are analyzed. Numerical experiment results reveal that the algorithm is effective and feasible.

Abstract Objective Explore the efficacy and safety of involved-field irradiation (IFI) combined with S-1 as definitive concurrent chemoradiotherapy (dCRT) for locally advanced elderly esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC), under the premise of intensity-modulated radiotherapy (IMRT). Methods We designed a prospective single-arm phase II study. The study enrolled 91 patients aged 75 to 92 years. Eligible participants had histologically confirmed squamous cell carcinoma, stage II to IV disease based on the 8th edition of the American Joint Committee on Cancer (AJCC). All elderly patients (EPs) received dCRT with S-1. which was administered orally twice daily for 28 days. The radiotherapy dose was 61.2 Gy delivered in 34 fractions or 50.4 Gy delivered in 28 fractions. The primary endpoint was 2-year overall survival (OS), and the secondary endpoints were progression-free survival (PFS), local control rate (LCR), and safety. Results From July 2017 to July 2021, we enrolled EPs with ESCC who were treated at the Jiangsu Cancer hospital. As of August 1, 2023, the median follow-up of surviving EPs was 31.4 months (IQR: 25.2 to 72.6 months). 83 patients (91.2%) completed the whole course of treatment. The 2-year OS rate was 59.2%, and the PFS rate was 43.7%. The most common grade 1 to 2 adverse effects (AEs) were radiation esophagitis (79.1%), and then were radiation pneumonia (46.2%). Anemia (41.8%) was the most common of grade 1 to 2 hematologic toxicity. The incidence of grade 3 or above AEs was 24.2%, and the incidence of leukopenia was the highest (11.0%). There was not one death due to treatment-related toxicity. In a subgroup analysis of radiotherapy doses, we found no statistically significant differences in PFS (P = 0.465) and OS (P = 0.345) in EPs with ESCC who received 50.4 Gy and 61.2 Gy, and that patients in the 50.4 Gy group had lower dermatitis (P = 0.045) and anemia (P = 0.004). Conclusions IF-IMRT combined with S-1 is a promising regimen for elderly ESCC. And the radiotherapy dose of 50.4 Gy remains the standard dose for EPs with ESCC undergoing CCRT.

Abstract Background This study was intended to investigate the correlation between depression and suicidal ideation among Chinese college students during the COVID-19 pandemic and the potential mediating roles of chronotype and sleep quality in this relationship . Methods A sample of 4,768 college students was selected from four institutions in Anhui Province, China, and the study was conducted during the COVID-19 pandemic (November to December 2020) using a stratified, cluster, multi-stage sampling method. This study used the two-item Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-2) to assess depressive symptoms, the Morningness-Eveningness Questionnaire 19 (MEQ-19) to determine individual sleep chronotypes (i.e., morning or evening preference), and the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) to evaluate sleep quality. Participants were asked about suicidal ideation. MPLUS 8.3 software was used to analyze the mediating effect of chronotype and sleep quality on the relationship between depression and suicidal ideation. Results During the COVID-19 pandemic, the prevalence of suicidal ideation among Chinese college students was 5.4%. Depression was inversely correlated with chronotype (beta = − 0.346, P

Abstract Background Several studies have demonstrated that older adults with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) have a higher risk of falls compared to those without T2DM, which may lead to disability and a lower quality of life. While, limited prospective studies have quantified the associations in southern China. We conducted a longitudinal cohort study to quantify the associations between T2DM and falls and investigate the risk factors of falls among community-dwelling elderly people in Guangzhou, China. Methods The population-based study included 8800 residents aged 65 and over in 11 counties of Guangzhou at baseline in 2020 and then prospectively followed up through 2022. Of 6169 participants had complete follow-up and were included in the present study. A fall event was identified by self-reported. The Cox regression was applied to quantify the associations between T2DM and falls, and hazard ratios (HRs) were calculated to the factors associated with falls among participants. Results The median follow-up time for participants was 2.42 years. During the follow-up period, the incidence of falls among all participants was 21.96%. After adjusting for covariates in Cox regression models, T2DM remained a significant risk factor for falls, with HR of 1.781 (95% CI: 1.600-1.983) in the unadjusted covariates model and 1.757 (1.577–1.957) in the adjusted covariates model. Female (1.286, 1.136–1.457), older age (≥ 80: 1.448, 1.214–1.729), single marital status (1.239, 1.039–1.477), lower education level (primary school and below: 1.619, 1.004–1.361), hypertension (1.149, 1.026–1.286) and stroke (1.619, 1.176–2.228) were associated with a higher risk of falls, whereas everyday physical exercise (0.793, 0.686–0.918) was associated with a lower risk of falls. Conclusion Falls are common, with risks between T2DM and falls quantified and several factors investigated in the longitudinal cohort study among community-dwelling elderly people in Guangzhou, China. Targeted action on the risk factors may reduce the burden of falls in elderly people with T2DM in the future.

Abstract Trace element levels in the circulation (blood, serum, plasma) are believed to play a role in the pathophysiologic processes of Alzheimer’s disease (AD); however, there is heterogeneity in the available findings. This study conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis of trace elements (including: copper (Cu), iron (Fe), zinc (Zn), selenium (Se), lead (Pb), cadmium (Cd), mercury (Hg), manganese (Mn), aluminum (Al), arsenic (As), and magnesium (Mg)) in AD patients and controls to assess the variation of trace elements in the circulation of AD patients. By systematically screening case–control studies on circulatory trace element levels in AD patients from 2000 to the present in the PubMed, Web of Science, and MEDLINE databases, 52 studies were included in the final meta-analysis. The results of the random-effects model showed significantly elevated circulatory levels of Cd (SMD = 0.79, 95% CI: 0.35, 1.24), Hg (SMD = 0.59, 95% CI: 0.03, 1.16), and Cu (SMD = 0.70, 95% CI: 0.37, 1.04) in AD patients, while levels of Fe (SMD = − 0.58, 95% CI: − 1.03, − 0.13), Se (SMD = − 0.53, 95% CI: − 0.85, − 0.21), and Zn (SMD = − 0.99, 95% CI: − 1.52, − 0.46) were significantly lower. The database formed in this study provides reliable population-based research evidence for exploring changes in circulating trace element levels in AD patients. Monitoring and stabilization of circulatory trace element levels in the elderly may be a potential preventive target for AD.

Abstract Imbalance of proinflammatory and anti-inflammatory responses plays a crucial role in the progression of abdominal aortic aneurysms. ILF3, a known modulator of the innate immune response, is involved in cardiovascular diseases. This study aims to investigate the role of ILF3 in abdominal aortic aneurysm formation. Here, we use multi-omics analyzes, transgenic male mice, and multiplex immunohistochemistry to unravel the underlying involvement of ILF3 in abdominal aortic aneurysms. The results show that macrophage ILF3 deficiency attenuates abdominal aortic aneurysm progression, while elevated macrophage ILF3 exacerbates abdominal aortic aneurysm lesions. Mechanistically, we reveal that macrophagic ILF3 increases NF-κB activity by hastening the decay of p105 mRNA, leading to amplified inflammation in macrophages. Meanwhile, ILF3 represses the anti-inflammatory action by inhibiting the Keap1-Nrf2 signaling pathway through facilitating the ILF3/eIF4A1 complex-mediated enhancement of Keap1 translational efficiency. Moreover, Bardoxolone Methyl treatment alleviates the severity of abdominal aortic aneurysm lesions in the context of elevated ILF3 expression. Together, our findings underscore the significance of macrophage ILF3 in abdominal aortic aneurysm development and suggest its potential as a promising therapeutic target for abdominal aortic aneurysms.

Abstract Background and purpose Radiomics offers little explainability. This study aims to develop a radiomics model (Rad-Score) using diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) to predict high-risk patients for nodal metastasis or recurrence in endometrial cancer (EC) and corroborate with choline metabolism. Materials and methods From August 2015 to July 2018, 356 EC patients were enrolled. Rad-Score was developed using LASSO regression in a training cohort (n = 287) and validated in an independent test cohort (n = 69). MR spectroscopy (MRS) was also used in 230 patients. Nuclear MRS measured choline metabolites in 70 tissue samples. The performance was compared against European Society for Medical Oncology (ESMO) risk groups. A P

Abstract Introduction ARDS (acute respiratory distress syndrome) is the most severe form of acute hypoxic respiratory failure. Most studies related to ARDS have excluded patients with hematologic diseases, let alone allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (allo-HSCT) recipients. Numerous patients experiencing severe hypoxic respiratory failure do not meet the Berlin definition due to the limitations of diagnosis and treatment. A new definition of ARDS, remove some diagnosis restrictions, was proposed in 2023. Based on the 2023 new definition of ARDS, we investigated the clinical features of ARDS in allo-HSCT recipients and reported risk factors for in-hospital mortality in allo-HSCT recipients defined by the Berlin definition and the new definition of ARDS respectively. Methods From Jan 2016 to Dec 2020, 135 allo-HSCT recipients identified with the new definition and 87 identified with the Berlin definition at three teaching hospitals were retrospectively included in this study. Variables (demographic information, characteristics of hematologic disease and ARDS episode, laboratory tests and SOFA score) with P

Abstract Cisplatin is the most commonly used platinum-based treatment for nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC). However, its clinical application is limited owing to its nephrotoxicity and gastrointestinal reactions. Proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) have been reported to increase nephrotoxicity risk in previous studies. We aimed to evaluate whether PPIs increase cisplatin-induced nephrotoxicity in patients with NPC. In total, 295 patients were included in this prospective cohort study: 145 in the PPIs group and 150 in the non-PPIs group. All patients underwent cisplatin-based induction chemotherapy, followed by cisplatin-based concurrent chemoradiotherapy. The PPIs group received 40 mg of intravenous esomeprazole sodium for 7 days in each chemotherapy cycle. Chi-squared test and logistic regression analyses with odds ratios and 95% confidence intervals were applied to assess the association between PPIs and the risk of acute kidney injury (AKI). AKI incidence in the PPIs group was significantly higher than that in the non-PPIs group (P = 0.005). After adjusting for various confounders including demographic features, clinical features, and renal function indices, PPIs use was significantly associated with a higher AKI risk (odds ratio: 2.775; 95% confidence interval 1.280–6.020; P = 0.010). The incidences of acute and chronic kidney diseases were similar between both groups (P > 0.05), whereas the incidence of nausea was lower in the PPIs group than in the non-PPIs group (P = 0.029). This study has shown that PPIs use may increase the risk of cisplatin-induced acute nephrotoxicity in patients with NPC.

Abstract Rhein, a component derived from rhubarb, has been proven to possess anti-inflammatory properties. Here, we show that rhein mitigates obesity by promoting adipose tissue thermogenesis in diet-induced obese mice. We construct a macrophage-adipocyte co-culture system and demonstrate that rhein promotes adipocyte thermogenesis through inhibiting NLRP3 inflammasome activation in macrophages. Moreover, clues from acetylome analysis identify SIRT2 as a potential drug target of rhein. We further verify that rhein directly interacts with SIRT2 and inhibits NLRP3 inflammasome activation in a SIRT2-dependent way. Myeloid knockdown of SIRT2 abrogates adipose tissue thermogenesis and metabolic benefits in obese mice induced by rhein. Together, our findings elucidate that rhein inhibits NLRP3 inflammasome activation in macrophages by regulating SIRT2, and thus promotes white adipose tissue thermogenesis during obesity. These findings uncover the molecular mechanism underlying the anti-inflammatory and anti-obesity effects of rhein, and suggest that rhein may become a potential drug for treating obesity.

Abstract Objective Pregnancy care can improve maternal pregnancy outcomes. Cluster nursing, an evidence-based, patient-centered model, enhances pregnancy care, can provide patients with high-quality nursing services, has been widely used in clinical practice in recent years. However, most previous studies evaluated cluster nursing program only for a single clinical scenario. In this study, we developed and implemented a antenatal cluster care program for various prenatal issues faced by puerpera to analyze its application effect. Methods This is a historical before and after control study. 89 expectant mothers who had their prenatal information files registered in the outpatient department of a grade III, level A hospital from June 2020 to September 2021 were finally enrolled in observation group, and received prenatal cluster management. Another set of 89 expectant mothers from January 2019 to December 2019 were included in the control group and received traditional routine prenatal management. The effect of cluster nursing management on maternal delivery and postpartum rehabilitation was evaluated and compared between the two groups. Results Compared with the control group, the observation group had a significantly higher natural delivery rate, better neonatal prognosis, higher rates of exclusive breastfeeding, lower incidence of postpartum complications, shorter postpartum hospital stay, better postpartum health status, and higher satisfaction with nursing services. Compared with before intervention, the SAS and SDS scores of the observation group showed significant improvement after intervention. Conclusion Antenatal cluster care is beneficial to improve maternal and neonatal outcomes, and can have positive effects on natural pregnancy and breastfeeding, while improving the multimedia health education ability of medical care and emphasizing the importance of social support.

Abstract Plastic pollution is an emerging environmental issue, with microplastics and nanoplastics raising health concerns due to bioaccumulation. This work explored the impact of polystyrene nanoparticle (PS-NPs) exposure during prepuberty on male reproductive function post maturation in rats. Rats were gavaged with PS-NPs (80 nm) at 0, 3, 6, 12 mg/kg/day from postnatal day 21 to 95. PS-NPs accumulated in the testes and reduced sperm quality, serum reproductive hormones, and testicular coefficients. HE staining showed impaired spermatogenesis. PS-NPs disrupted the blood-testis barrier (BTB) by decreasing junction proteins, inducing inflammation and apoptosis. Transcriptomics identified differentially expressed genes related to metabolism, lysosome, apoptosis, and TLR4 signaling. Molecular docking revealed Cordycepin could compete with polystyrene for binding to TLR4. Cordycepin alleviated oxidative stress and improved barrier function in PS-NPs treated Sertoli cells. In conclusion, prepubertal PS-NPs exposure induces long-term reproductive toxicity in male rats, likely by disrupting spermatogenesis through oxidative stress and BTB damage. Cordycepin could potentially antagonize this effect by targeting TLR4 and warrants further study as a protective agent. This study elucidates the mechanisms underlying reproductive toxicity of PS-NPs and explores therapeutic strategies.

Abstract Background Rating scales and linear indices of surface electromyography (sEMG) cannot quantify all neuromuscular conditions associated with ankle-foot dysfunction in hemiplegic patients. This study aimed to reveal potential neuromuscular conditions of ankle-foot dysfunction in hemiplegic patients by nonlinear network indices of sEMG. Methods Fourteen male patients with hemiplegia and 10 age- and sex-matched healthy male adults were recruited and tested in static standing position. The characteristics of the root mean square (RMS), median frequency (MF), and three nonlinear indices, the clustering coefficient (C), the average shortest path length (L), and the degree centrality (DC), of eight groups of muscles in bilateral calves were observed. Results Compared to those of the control group, the RMS of the medial gastrocnemius (MG), flexor digitorum longus (FDL), and extensor digitorum longus (EDL) on the affected side were significantly lower (P

Abstract Previous studies in small samples have identified inconsistent cortical abnormalities in major depressive disorder (MDD). Despite genetic influences on MDD and the brain, it is unclear how genetic risk for MDD is translated into spatially patterned cortical vulnerability. Here, we initially examined voxel-wise differences in cortical function and structure using the largest multi-modal MRI data from 1660 MDD patients and 1341 controls. Combined with the Allen Human Brain Atlas, we then adopted transcription-neuroimaging spatial correlation and the newly developed ensemble-based gene category enrichment analysis to identify gene categories with expression related to cortical changes in MDD. Results showed that patients had relatively circumscribed impairments in local functional properties and broadly distributed disruptions in global functional connectivity, consistently characterized by hyper-function in associative areas and hypo-function in primary regions. Moreover, the local functional alterations were correlated with genes enriched for biological functions related to MDD in general (e.g., endoplasmic reticulum stress, mitogen-activated protein kinase, histone acetylation, and DNA methylation); and the global functional connectivity changes were associated with not only MDD-general, but also brain-relevant genes (e.g., neuron, synapse, axon, glial cell, and neurotransmitters). Our findings may provide important insights into the transcriptomic signatures of regional cortical vulnerability to MDD.

Mesenchymal stem cell (MSC) migration determines the healing capacity of bone and is crucial in promoting bone regeneration. Migration of MSCs is highly dependent on degradation of extracellular matrix by proteolytic enzymes. However, the underlying mechanisms of how enzymolysis paves the way for MSCs to migrate from their niche to the defect area is still not fully understood. Here, this study shows that high-temperature requirement A3 (HtrA3) overcomes the physical barrier and provides anchor points through collagen IV degradation, paving the way for MSC migration. HtrA3 is upregulated in MSCs at the leading edge of bone defect during the early stage of healing. HtrA3 degrades the surrounding collagen IV, which increases the collagen network porosity and increases integrin β1 expression. Subsequently, integrin β1 enhances the mechanotransduction of MSCs, thus remodeling the cytoskeleton, increasing cellular stiffness and nuclear translocation of YAP, eventually promoting the migration and subsequent osteogenic differentiation of MSCs. Local administration of recombinant HtrA3 in rat cranial bone defects significantly increases new bone formation and further validates the enhancement of MSC migration. This study helps to reveal the novel roles of HtrA3, explore potential targets for regenerative medicine, and offer new insights for the development of bioactive materials.

The objective of this research was to investigate and compare the effects of various protein or protein-based powders (WPC, SPI, BSA and hemoglobin) addition on transform of texture properties in egg white (EW)/egg yolk (EY) gels. Results showed that the highest hardness value (38.5 N) was detected in BSA-treated EW gels, while the lowest values (46.6 N) were obtained in hemoglobin-treated EY gels. Additionally, significantly increased value of free –SH groups was obtained in SPI/BSA/hemoglobin-treated EW/EY solutions, and increased value of protein solubility was obtained in EY solutions treated by WPC/SPI/BSA/hemoglobin relative to those of the control. The EW solutions treated by BSA/hemoglobin reached significantly higher H0 values than those of other groups. SDS-PAGE analysis showed that the hemoglobin-treated EW solution had slightly intense bands of ovoinhibitor, ovotransferrin and ovalbumin, and the EY solutions treated by WPC/SPI/BSA had higher level of covalent crosslinking. The EW gels treated by WPC/hemoglobin exhibited relatively more ordered protein secondary structures (α-helix and β-sheet) than those of the SPI group. SEM results suggested that WPC/BSA-treated EW gels developed uniform, porous and fiber-like structure, while SPI/BSA-treated EY gels developed rougher structure.

ABSTRACTBackground Traditional vaccine development, often a lengthy and costly process of three separated phases. However, the swift development of COVID-19 vaccines highlighted the critical importance of accelerating the approval of vaccines. This article showcases a seamless phase 2/3 trial design to expedite the development process, particularly for multi-valent vaccines.Research Design and Methods This study utilizes simulation to compare the performance of seamless phase 2/3 design with that of conventional trial design, specifically by re-envisioning a 9-valent HPV vaccine trial. Across three cases, several key performance metrics are evaluated: overall power, type I error rate, average sample size, trial duration, the percentage of early stop, and the accuracy of dose selection.Results On average, when the experimental vaccine was assumed to be effective, the seamless design that performed interim analyses based solely on efficacy saved 555.73 subjects, shortened trials by 10.29 months, and increased power by 3.70%. When the experimental vaccine was less effective than control, it saved an average of 887.73 subjects while maintaining the type I error rate below 0.025.Conclusion The seamless design proves to be a compelling strategy for vaccine development, given its versatility in early stopping, re-estimating sample sizes, and shortening trial durations.

AbstractContext Pileostegia tomentella Hand. Mazz (Saxifragaceae) total coumarins (TCPT) show antitumour activity in colorectal cancer (CRC) with unknown mechanism of action. Tumour angiogenesis mediated by exosomes-derived miRNA exhibits the vital regulation of endothelial cell function in metastasis of CRC.Objective To investigate the effect of TCPT on exosomal miRNA expression and angiogenesis of CRC cells.Materials and methods HT-29-derived exosomes were generated from human CRC cells (HT-29) or either treated with TCPT (100 μg/mL) for 24 h, followed by identification by transmission electron microscope, nanoparticle tracking analysis (NTA) and Western blot. Co-culture experiments for human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) and exosomes were performed to detect the uptake of exosomes in HUVECs and its influence on HUVECs cells migration and lumen formation ability. Potential target miRNAs in exosomes were screened out by sequencing technology. Rescue assays of angiogenesis were performed by the transfecting mimics or inhibitors of targeted miRNA into HUVECs.Results HT-29-derived exosomes, after TCPT treatment (Exo-TCPT), inhibited the migration and lumen formation of HUVECs, reduced the expression levels of vascular marker (FLT-1, VCAM-1 and VEGFR-2) in HUVECs. Furthermore, the level of miR-375-3p was significantly upregulated in Exo-TCPT. Rescue assays showed that high expression of miR-375-3p in HUVECs inhibited migration and lumen formation abilities, which was consistent with the effects of Exo-TCPT, whereas applying miR-375-3p inhibitors displayed opposite effects.Discussion and conclusion TCPT exhibits anti-angiogenesis in CRC, possibly through upregulating exosomal miR-375-3p. Our findings will shed light on new target exosomes miRNA-mediated tumour microenvironment and the therapeutic application of Pileostegia tomentella in CRC.

Elaeocarpus duclouxii, an evergreen tree species, is renowned for its fruits rich in flavonoids exhibiting potent antioxidant properties. Despite its significance, the chloroplast genome of this plant has remained unexplored until now. Our study presents the first comprehensive sequencing and analysis of the E. duclouxii chloroplast genome, revealing a circular DNA molecule of 158,148 base pairs. This genome comprises a large single-copy region of 85,700 base pairs, a small single-copy region of 17,672 base pairs, and a pair of inverted repeat regions totaling 27,388 base pairs. The genome encodes 132 genes, including 87 protein-coding genes, 37 transfer RNA genes, and 8 ribosomal RNA genes. Phylogenetic analyses indicate a close evolutionary relationship between E. duclouxii and E. sylvestris. This study not only represents the first phylogenetic investigation of E. duclouxii but also establishes a crucial genomic foundation for future research area such as conservation genetics, evolutionary biology, and potential biotechnological applications.

Begonia pedatifida has persistently been utilized as a traditional folk herbal medicine. This study has sequenced the chloroplast genome of B. pedatifida to establish its genomic characteristics and to discern its phylogenetic relationships with other closely related species. The chloroplast genome structure of B. pedatifida reveals a circular molecule with a length of 169,606 bp, including a large single copy (LSC) region of 76,086 bp, a small single copy (SSC) region of 18,314 bp, and a pair of inverted repeats (IRS) region of 37,603 bp. The entire genome contains 138 genes, which consist of 88 protein-coding genes, 42 tRNA genes, and 8 rRNA genes. Phylogenetic analysis suggests that B. pedatifida is closely related to Begonia emeiensis, Begonia jinyunensis, and Begonia pulchrifolia, sharing a common ancestor and forming sister lineages. This research provides genetic information for further study on B. pedatifida.

Abstract Laser wireless energy transmission is a widely utilized method, yet its efficiency is constrained by a variety of factors. In order to improve the conversion efficiency of the receivers of the laser wireless power transmission (LWPT) system, the square elliptic hyperboloid (SEH) concentrating module designed for LWPT system receivers is developed. By analysing the I–V characteristic curves from the results of the experiments and employing non‐linear parameter regression, a corrected battery characteristic curve was derived within a specific laser irradiation range. On this basis, an optical–thermal–electric multi‐field coupling characteristic model was developed. The finite element method is used to simulate the multi‐field coupling characteristics and conversion efficiency of the receiving end under diverse working conditions (including different rotation angles and different divergence angles) of the concentrating photovoltaic module. Research shows: First, the larger the divergence half‐angle β of the laser beam, the more obvious the improvement of the effective optical efficiency of the system by the SEH concentrator. Second, the short‐circuit current and the maximum output power of the PV cell at the receiving end are significantly improved by the SEH concentrator, and the improvement effect is more obvious with the increase of the divergence angle and the rotation angle. Third, SEH concentrators did not significantly affect the fill factor of PV cells.

Abstract. Background:. Clinical opportunistic screening is a cost-effective cancer screening modality. This study aimed to establish an easy-to-use diagnostic model serving as a risk stratification tool for identification of individuals with malignant gastric lesions for opportunistic screening. Methods:. We developed a questionnaire-based diagnostic model using a joint dataset including two clinical cohorts from northern and southern China. The cohorts consisted of 17,360 outpatients who had undergone upper gastrointestinal endoscopic examination in endoscopic clinics. The final model was derived based on unconditional logistic regression, and predictors were selected according to the Akaike information criterion. External validation was carried out with 32,614 participants from a community-based randomized controlled trial. Results:. This questionnaire-based diagnostic model for malignant gastric lesions had eight predictors, including advanced age, male gender, family history of gastric cancer, low body mass index, unexplained weight loss, consumption of leftover food, consumption of preserved food, and epigastric pain. This model showed high discriminative power in the development set with an area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC) of 0.791 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.750–0.831). External validation of the model in the general population generated an AUC of 0.696 (95% CI: 0.570–0.822). This model showed an ideal ability for enriching prevalent malignant gastric lesions when applied to various scenarios. Conclusion:. This easy-to-use questionnaire-based model for diagnosis of prevalent malignant gastric lesions may serve as an effective prescreening tool in clinical opportunistic screening for gastric cancer.

Recent studies on male infertility reveal a growing worry: more infertile men are dealing with inflammation in the testis. Analyzing testicular biopsies from infertile men highlights a significant presence of inflammation. This connection, supported by clinical and pathological evidence, emphasizes that testicular inflammation hampers sperm production, leading to lasting declines in sperm count and quality. However, the exact reasons behind male infertility due to orchitis, a type of testicular inflammation, are still uncertain. Understanding these fundamental aspects of molecular signals and cellular mechanisms in testicular inflammation is crucial. Our review delves into recent literature with a dual objective: elucidating potential mechanisms involving immune cells, non-immune cells, and cytokines that link orchitis to male infertility, while also paving the way for precise interventions and solutions to address the challenges of male infertility.

To improve the utilization of by-products of the Hyriopsis cumingii, this study investigated the effect of Hyriopsis cumingii polysaccharide (HCP) on the proliferation and migration of normal cells, as well as its reparative effects on ultraviolet radiation-B (UVB)-damaged cells. First, HCP was isolated and purified using DEAE Cellulose-52 column chromatography, Sephadex G-100 column chromatography and nanofiltration. Then, structural analysis was conducted using high-performance liquid chromatography, high-performance gel permeation chromatography, and infrared spectroscopy. Following this, cell proliferation experiments, cell scratch tests, UVB damage experiments, and protein expression analyses were employed to explore the anti-UVB damage effects and corresponding mechanisms of polysaccharide components. The results indicated the three substances obtained by isolation and purification were all homogeneous polysaccharide components. Among them, HCP-2 played a major role in promoting cell proliferation in HCP and facilitated the migration of HaCaT cells. The recovery of UVB-damaged cell vitality was raised by the increasing concentration of HCP-2. Furthermore, the reparative effect was more substantial than the protective effect at the same sample concentration. It was also observed that HCP-2 up-regulated the expression of the anti-apoptotic protein bcl-2 while inhibited the expression of apoptosis-related proteins casp9, p-Akt, and p-p38, indicating that HCP-2 could repair HaCaT cells by regulating apoptosis of cells damaged by UVB. In conclusion, HCP had the ability to inhibit cell apoptosis which provide a theoretical basis for its future application in the development of food and health products.

AIM: To investigate the involvement of pericyte-Müller glia interaction in retinal damage repair and assess the influence of suppressing the platelet-derived growth factor receptor β (PDGFRβ) signaling pathway in retinal pericytes on photoreceptor loss and Müller glial response. METHODS: Sprague-Dawley rats were exposed to intense light to induce retinal injury. Neutralizing antibody against PDGFRβ were deployed to block the signaling pathway in retinal pericytes through intravitreal injection. Retinal histology and Müller glial reaction were assessed following light injury. In vitro, normal and PDGFRβ-blocked retinal pericytes were cocultured with Müller cell line (rMC-1) to examine morphological and protein expression changes upon supplementation with light-injured supernatants of homogenized retinas (SHRs). RESULTS: PDGFRβ blockage 24h prior to intense light exposure resulted in a significant exacerbation of photoreceptor loss. The upregulation of GFAP and p-STAT3, observed after intense light exposure, was significantly inhibited in the PDGFRβ blockage group. Further upregulation of cytokines monocyte chemoattractant protein 1 (MCP-1) and interleukin-1β (IL-1β) was also observed following PDGFRβ inhibition. In the in vitro coculture system, the addition of light-injured SHRs induced pericyte deformation and upregulation of proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) expression, while Müller cells exhibited neuron-like morphology and expressed Nestin. However, PDGFRβ blockage in retinal pericytes abolished these cellular responses to light-induced damage, consistent with the in vivo PDGFRβ blockage findings. CONCLUSION: Pericyte-Müller glia interaction plays a potential role in the endogenous repair process of retinal injury. Impairment of this interaction exacerbates photoreceptor degeneration in light-induced retinal injury.

AIM: To examine the disparities in macular retinal vascular density between individuals with connective tissue disease-related interstitial lung disease (CTD-ILD) and healthy controls (HCs) by optical coherence tomography angiography (OCTA) and to investigate the changes in microvascular density in abnormal eyes. METHODS: For a retrospective case-control study, a total of 16 patients (32 eyes) diagnosed with CTD-ILD were selected as the ILD group. The 16 healthy volunteers with 32 eyes, matched in terms of age and sex with the patients, were recruited as control group. The macular retina's superficial retinal layer (SRL) and deep retinal layer (DRL) were examined and scanned using OCTA in each individual eye. The densities of retinal microvascular (MIR), macrovascular (MAR), and total microvascular (TMI) were calculated and compared. Changes in retinal vascular density in the macular region were analyzed using three different segmentation methods: central annuli segmentation method (C1-C6), hemispheric segmentation method [uperior right (SR), superior left (SL), inferior left (IL), and inferior right (IR)], and Early Treatment Diabetic Retinopathy Study (ETDRS) methods [superior (S), inferior (I), left (L), and right (R)]. The data were analyzed using Version 9.0 of GraphPad prism and Pearson analysis. RESULTS: The OCTA data demonstrated a statistically significant difference (P

AIM: To assess whether there is a possible causal link between the intake of cheese and the risk of diabetic retinopathy (DR) utilizing a two-sample Mendelian randomization (MR) analysis. METHODS: The research data were obtained from summary statistics of genome-wide association studies (GWAS). Genetic loci closely related to cheese intake were extracted as instrumental variables (IVs), and DR was the outcome variable. The data were extracted from individuals of European ethnicity. The data of cheese intake consisted of 451 486 samples with 9 851 867 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs), while the DR data consisted of 206 234 samples with 16 380 446 SNPs. Sixty-one genetic loci closely related to cheese intake were selected as IVs. MR analysis was performed by inverse-variance weighted (IVW) method and MR-Egger regression respectively. The causal relationship between cheese intake and DR was evaluated using odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs). Egger-intercept test was used to test horizontal pleiotropy and sensitivity analysis was performed by leave-one-out test. RESULTS: The P value of the IVW method was less than 0.05, indicating a significant negative correlation between cheese intake and DR. MR-Egger regression showed that the intercept was 0.01 with a standard error of 0.022, and a P-value of 0.634, indicating no evidence of horizontal pleiotropy affecting the IVs related to the exposure factors. Besides, heterogeneity tests confirmed the absence of heterogeneity, and the “leave-one-out” sensitivity analysis demonstrated that the results were stable. CONCLUSION: Cheese intake is causally negatively correlated with the occurrence of DR, and cheese intake could reduce the risk of DR.

AIM: To investigate the mechanism of action of Qingxuan Runmu Yin(QRY)in the treatment of dry eye(DE)based on transcriptomics and network pharmacology, and to validate the efficacy and key targets of QRY through a animal model of DE.METHODS:RNA-sequencing(RNA-seq)technology was used to detect differentially expressed genes(DEGs)between mice in the DE group and mice in the normal control group, the active ingredients and potential targets of QRY were screened through database, and gene ontology(GO)and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes(KEGG)enrichment analysis were carried out after overlapping the results and obtaining key targets. Additionally, “drug-component-target signaling pathways” network was built and the protein-protein interaction(PPI)was analyzed. Mice were examined for Schirmer I test(SⅠt), tear film breakup time(BUT), and corneal fluorescein staining(FL)every 7 d from the beginning of the animal experiments. Hematoxylin-eosin staining(HE)was performed to observe pathologic changes in mouse corneal tissues. Enzyme linked immunosorbent assay(ELISA), Western blot and quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction(qRT-PCR)were performed to verify the mRNA and protein expression levels of the core targets in mouse corneal tissues.RESULTS:Totally 2 234 DEGs, 233 active ingredients and 457 related targets of QRY were collected, with a total of 64 key targets obtained. GO function and KEGG pathway results showed that QRY was closely related to inflammatory mediators, and 19 core targets such as interleukin-1β(IL-1β)were screened by PPI network construction; SⅠt, BUT and FL results in the QRY group were statistically significantly different compared with the model group(all P

AIM: To explore the value of the corneal/refractive analyzer OPD-Scan III in assessing visual quality after Nd:YAG laser surgery in patients with posterior capsular opacification.METHODS: A total of 98 patients(98 eyes)with posterior capsular opacification who underwent Nd:YAG laser posterior capsulotomy in our hospital from May 2021 to April 2023 were retrospectively selected as the research subjects, and higher-order aberration parameters(coma, spherical aberration and trefoil aberration)and visual quality parameters [Strehl ratio(SR)and 4 mm area ratio(AR)in the human eye modulation transfer function(MTF)curve] were obtained using the corneal/refractive analyzer OPD-Scan III. The patient's visual acuity, higher-order aberration parameters and visual quality before surgery, and at 1 wk and 3 mo after surgery were compared.RESULTS: There were statistically significant differences in uncorrected distance visual acuity(UDVA), uncorrected intermediate visual acuity(UIVA)and uncorrected near visual acuity(UNVA), coma, spherical aberration, trefoil aberration, SR and AR before and after surgery(all P0.05). Furthermore, the spherical aberration, trefoil aberration were negatively correlated with SR(rs=-0.427, P=0.009; rs=-0.436, P=0.010), and the trefoil aberration was negatively correlated with AR(rs=-0.406, P=0.015).CONCLUSION: The visual acuity of patients with posterior capsular opacification improved after Nd:YAG laser surgery, and the corneal/refractive analyzer OPD-Scan III system has a high clinical value in reflecting patient's visual quality.

Using strong electromagnetic fields generated by lasers to interact with electrons for precise diagnosis and manipulation of electron beams represents a recent focal point in accelerator technology. This approach surpasses the limitations of conventional RF technology, such as low electric field gradients and timing jitters, effectively enhancing the accuracy of ultrafast electron beam diagnostics and manipulations. As demands for precision continue to rise, the precise diagnosis of crucial parameters of ultrafast electron beams remains challenging. This study delves into the electromagnetic behavior of THz-driven devices and proposes an all-optical method utilizing single-cycle THz radiation to compress and characterize a 3 MeV electron beam. Particle tracking simulations demonstrate an astonishing compression effect, reducing the bunch length from 54.0 fs to 4.3 fs, and achieving sub-femtosecond bunch length measurement resolution. Moreover, when combined with an orthogonal THz streak camera, this method shows even greater potential in multi-bunch scenarios.

Verticillium dahliae is an important fungal pathogen affecting cotton yield and quality. Therefore, the mining of V. dahlia-resistance genes is urgently needed. Proteases and protease inhibitors play crucial roles in plant defense responses. However, the functions and regulatory mechanisms of the protease inhibitor PR6 gene family remain largely unknown. This study provides a comprehensive analysis of the PR6 gene family in the cotton genome. We performed genome-wide identification and functional characterization of the cotton GhPR6 gene family, which belongs to the potato protease inhibitor I family of inhibitors. Thirty-nine PR6s were identified in Gossypium arboreum, G. raimondii, G. barbadense, and G. hirsutum, and they were clustered into four groups. Based on the analysis of pathogen-induced and Ghlmm transcriptome data, GhPR6-5b was identified as the key gene for V. dahliae resistance. Virus-induced gene silencing experiments revealed that cotton was more sensitive to V. dahliae V991 after PR6-5b silencing. The present study established that GhWRKY75 plays an important role in resistance to Verticillium wilt in cotton by positively regulating GhPR6-5b expression by directly binding to the W-box TTGAC(T/C). Our findings established that GhWRKY75 is a potential candidate for improving cotton resistance to V. dahliae, and provide primary information for further investigations and the development of specific strategies to bolster the defense mechanisms of cotton against V. dahliae.

Background/purpose: 2016 American College of Rheumatology/European League Against Rheumatism (ACR/EULAR) primary Sjögren's syndrome (SS) diagnostic criteria did not incorporate radiographic examination while staging SS according to salivary gland imaging and serological autoantibody tests was not discussed. The aim is to study the value of parotid sialography for diagnosing SS, and to initially explore the method of staging SS based on the results of imaging and serological autoantibody tests. Materials and methods: 287 patients’ clinical records were included. The sensitivity and specificity of parotid sialography in the diagnosis of SS were investigated. SS patients were categorized into early stage (autoantibody positive, imaging does not support SS), active stage (autoantibody positive, imaging supports SS), and quiescent stage (autoantibody negative, imaging supports SS), clinical characteristics of different stages were compared. Results: The sensitivity of parotid sialography for the diagnosis of SS was 82.6%, the specificity was 71.5%. 10-minute USFR of the patients in the active stage (0.18 ± 0.38 ml/10min) was significantly lower than that of early stage (0.34 ± 0.47 ml/10min) and quiescent stage (0.54 ± 0.52 ml/10min), P = 0.010, and the rate of confirmed SS was significantly higher in the active stage (82.9%) than that in the early stage (44.4%) and the quiescent stages (14.8%), P

Background/purpose: Dental pulp stem cells (DPSCs) have demonstrated significant potential for neuroregeneration. However, a full understanding of the specific mechanism underpinning the neural differentiation of DPSCs is still required. The Wnt signaling is crucial for the development of the embryonic neural system and the maintenance of adult neural homeostasis. This study aimed to investigate the role of the Wnt/Ca2+ pathway in the neural differentiation of human DPSCs (hDPSCs) and its modulation of the Wnt/β-catenin pathway. Materials and methods: hDPSCs were cultured and divided into the control group and the neurogenic induction group (Neuro group). The mRNA and protein levels of neurogenic markers, Wnt/Ca2+, and Wnt/β-catenin pathway indicators were determined using Quantitative real-time PCR and Western blotting. After inhibition of the Wnt/Ca2+ pathway using a WNT5A short hairpin RNA (shRNA) plasmid and subsequent neurogenic induction, neurogenic markers and Wnt/β-catenin pathway indicators in the NC-sh-Neuro group and WNT5A-sh-Neuro group were determined using Quantitative real-time PCR and Western blotting. Results: Compared with the control group, the expression of the Wnt/Ca2+ pathway indicators (WNT5A, Frizzled 2, calmodulin-dependent protein kinase IIa, and nuclear factor of active T cells 1) decreased in the Neuro group. Conversely, the expression of WNT3A, total β-catenin and active β-catenin in the Wnt/β-catenin pathway increased. Moreover, compared with the NC-sh-Neuro group, the WNT5A-sh-Neuro group exhibited a greater level of mature neural differentiation alongside elevated expression of the Wnt/β-catenin pathway indicators. Conclusion: The Wnt/Ca2+ pathway inhibited neural differentiation of hDPSCs and has a negative effect on the Wnt/β-catenin pathway in vitro.

Background/purpose: The use of computed tomography (CT) for craniofacial measurements is common in medical imaging, but concerns about accuracy and reliability persist, especially with different CT technologies. This study assessed the accuracy of twenty-six common measurements on consecutive CT images from the same patients, using multidetector CT (MDCT) and cone-beam CT (CBCT) with two software programs (Amira and Dolphin). Materials and methods: Ten adult subjects with consecutive CBCT scans within one year were randomly selected. Another ten subjects with consecutive MDCT scans were paired with the CBCT group based on age, gender, race, occlusion, and craniofacial pattern. All digital imaging and communications in medicine (DICOM) files were randomly coded and analyzed using the two software programs. Intra-examiner reliability was assessed using the intraclass correlation coefficient. Successive measurement errors from consecutive scans for both imaging modalities and software programs were compared. Results: For most skeletal linear and angular measurements, Dolphin showed greater successive measurement errors compared to Amira. Eight of the 26 common measurements had errors greater than one unit (millimeter or degree). Despite almost perfect intra-examiner reliability for upper airway analysis, average successive measurement errors were notably high, particularly for intraoral and oropharyngeal airway volumes. The successive Dolphin measurement error for oropharyngeal airway volume on CBCT images was over three times that on MDCT images. Conclusion: Given the substantial successive measurement errors observed during consecutive CT scanning for the upper airway, this study does not support the quantitative use of CT for analyzing changes in airway dimensions for research purposes.