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In the context of advancing medical procedures, postoperative infections in cancer patients, particularly those involving multidrug-resistant organisms, have become a significant clinical concern. This study aims to comprehensively and systematically evaluate the effectiveness of infection prevention and control for multidrug-resistant organisms (MDROs) in postoperative cancer patients using Failure Mode and Effects Analysis (FMEA). This study was conducted in a tertiary A-level cancer specialty hospital in China, employing Failure Mode and Effects Analysis (FMEA) to assess the risks of hospital infections. Intervention measures were implemented for high-risk and medium-high-risk factors. Through the hospital's infection information system, data on patients who underwent surgical treatment from 2017 to 2022 were extracted. Data from 2017 to 2019 served as the control group, and data from 2020 to 2022 as the intervention group, to compare the changes in hospital infection incidence and MDRO infection incidence before and after the intervention. Categorical data were described in terms of frequency and percentage. The chi-square test was utilized for statistical inference to assess the differences in infection rates before and after the intervention. Prior to the intervention (2017-2019), the incidence rate of hospital infections was 1.66%, which decreased to 1.22% after the intervention (2020-2022), showing a statistically significant difference (χ 2  = 48.83, P < 0.001). The incidence rate of MDRO infections also decreased from 1.808‰ before the intervention to 1.136‰ after the intervention, with a statistically significant difference (χ 2  = 11.417, P = 0.001). This study confirms the effectiveness of the FMEA method in preventing and controlling MDRO infections in postoperative cancer patients. It highlights the practicality and value of widespread adoption of this method, particularly in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic., Competing Interests: Declarations Competing interests The authors declare no competing interests. Consent to participate declaration For this study, all data were sourced from the hospital information system and anonymized to ensure patient confidentiality and privacy. Patients were informed at the time of admission that their medical records might be used for research purposes with ensured privacy, thus negating the need for separate consent for this study. This article does not contain any studies with animals conducted by any of the authors., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

Uneven energy distribution of femtosecond lasers presents a significant challenge for single-spot analysis, which often leads to concave ablation craters. This study assesses the performance of a femtosecond laser ablation system for in situ analysis using novel galvanometer scanners. A galvanometer rapidly moved the laser beam focus to create craters with a small beam spot. We first examined the inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) signal sensitivity to laser parameters, establishing a strong linear correlation with the laser energy, repetition rate, scanning ablation area, and galvanometer scanning frequency. Elemental fractionation analysis of NIST SRM 610 suggests minimal bias, with fractionation indices of different elements approaching unity. Subsequently, the elemental concentration of six reference material glasses was measured by fsLA-ICP-MS to evaluate the elemental quantification capabilities of the Galvo-femtosecond laser (Galvo-fsLA). The laser's capability for in situ U-Pb dating was demonstrated by concordant U-Pb ages of five zircon reference materials that are highly consistent with the ID-TIMS ages reported previously. Finally, the reliability of the new Galvo-fsLA for isotope analysis was verified by the accurate determination of radiogenic Hf, Pb isotopes, and stable Cu isotopes, all agreeing well with their reference values within uncertainties. These assessments underscore the significant potential of Galvo-fsLA for enhanced accuracy and precision of single-spot in situ analysis.

Vitiligo is characterized by the depletion of melanocytes due to the activation of CD8 + T cells. Taurine-upregulated gene 1 (TUG1), a long noncoding RNA, is involved in melanogenesis. This study aimed to explore the role and mechanism of TUG1 in vitiligo. RT-qPCR and western blot analyses demonstrated decreased TUG1 levels and increased miR-375 levels in patients with vitiligo. MTT and transwell assays indicated that TUG1 upregulation facilitated melanocyte survival and inhibited CD8 + T cell migration. Dual luciferase reporter and chromatin immunoprecipitation assays verified that Forkhead box O3 (FOXO3) directly interacted with the TUG1 promoter, leading to the positive regulation of TUG1 expression. In addition, FOXO3 promoted melanocyte survival by enhancing the transcription of TUG1. Luciferase reporter assay and RNA immunoprecipitation assay confirmed that TUG1 upregulated GATA binding protein 3 (GATA3) expression by targeting miR-375. TUG1 facilitated melanocyte survival by regulating the miR-375/GATA3 axis. In vitiligo, melanocyte survival is promoted by the induction of the TUG1-mediated miR-375/GATA3 axis by FOXO3, which offers new therapeutic targets for vitiligo treatment., (© 2024 Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology.)

Soil salinization is a global environmental problem. To investigate the spatiotemporal heterogeneity of soil salinity and the coupling relationship of soil salinity ions under water-saving renovation conditions, we chose Shenwu Irrigation Area, where water-saving renovation projects are being conducted comprehensively. Specifically, for our field experiments, we chose 46 soil sampling points. Specifically, we used different spatial interpolation methods and coupling coordination models were applied to study the spatial and temporal distribution of soil salinity and soil salt-based ion coupling relationship changes during different water-saving periods in the irrigation area between 2015 and 2022. The results showed that (1) the emergence of soil salinity extremes after water-saving renovation project led to an increase in the variability of soil salinity. (2) Compared with the Inverse Distance Weighted, Radial Basis Function, and Universal Kriging interpolations, the Mean Absolute Error of the Ordinary Kriging interpolation was reduced by 12.68 %, 43.96 %, and 38.77 %, the Root Mean Square Error was reduced by 14.34 %, 60.85 %, and 36.53 %, reflective of a significant improvement in accuracy, and thus confirming this method to be optimal for elucidating soil salinity. (3) Compared with pre-water-saving renovation project, the average soil desalination rates in the 0-50 cm soil layer during and after project implementation were 5.71 % and 35.67 %. The impact of the water-saving renovation project was highest in channelside areas, followed by croplands, and lowest in lakeside areas. (4) The growth rates of soil salt-based ion coupling degree and coupling coordination degree after project implementation, compared with before implementation, were 17.07 % and 10.81 %. The implementation of water-saving renovation project improved soil quality. This study provides scientific support for the prevention and control of soil salinization in irrigation areas., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024. Published by Elsevier B.V.)

Catalytic CO x (CO and CO 2 ) hydrogenation to valued chemicals is one of the promising approaches to address challenges in energy, environment, and climate change. H 2 O is an inevitable side product in these reactions, where its existence and effect are often ignored. In fact, H 2 O significantly influences the catalytic active centers, reaction mechanism, and catalytic performance, preventing us from a definitive and deep understanding on the structure-performance relationship of the authentic catalysts. It is necessary, although challenging, to clarify its effect and provide practical strategies to tune the concentration and distribution of H 2 O to optimize its influence. In this review, we focus on how H 2 O in CO x hydrogenation induces the structural evolution of catalysts and assists in the catalytic processes, as well as efforts to understand the underlying mechanism. We summarize and discuss some representative tuning strategies for realizing the rapid removal or local enrichment of H 2 O around the catalysts, along with brief techno-economic analysis and life cycle assessment. These fundamental understandings and strategies are further extended to the reactions of CO and CO 2 reduction under an external field (light, electricity, and plasma). We also present suggestions and prospects for deciphering and controlling the effect of H 2 O in practical applications.

Immune-mediated glomerular diseases lead to chronic kidney disease (CKD), primarily through mechanisms such as immune cell overactivation, mitochondrial dysfunction and imbalance of reactive oxygen species (ROS). We have developed an ultra-small nanodrug composed of Mn 3 O 4 nanoparticles which is functionalized with biocompatible ligand citrate (C-Mn 3 O 4 NPs) to maintain cellular redox balance in an animal model of oxidative injury. Furthermore, this ultra-small nanodrug, loaded with tacrolimus (Tac), regulated the activity of immune cells. We established a doxorubicin (DOX)-induced CKD model in SD rats using conditions of oxidative distress. The results demonstrate the ROS scavenging capability of Mn 3 O 4 NPs, which mimics enzymatic activity, and the immunosuppressive effect of tacrolimus. This combination promotes targeted accumulation in the renal region with sustained drug release through the enhanced permeability and retention (EPR) effect. Tac@C-Mn 3 O 4 protects the structural and functional integrity of mitochondria from oxidative damage while eliminating excess ROS to maintain cellular redox homeostasis, thereby suppressing the overexpression of pro-inflammatory cytokines to restore kidney function and preserve a normal kidney structure, reducing inflammation and regulating antioxidant stress pathways. This dual-pronged treatment strategy also provides novel strategies for CKD management and demonstrates substantial potential for clinical translational application.

Aim: To investigate the level of compassion fatigue among frontline nurses during the COVID-19 pandemic and to explore the relationship between occupational stressors and compassion fatigue among frontline nurses based on structural equation modelling., Background: Three years into the COVID-19 pandemic, nurses on the frontlines of the battle were overwhelmed by affective and emotional inputs while caring for patients, and they generally experienced varying degrees of psychological problems. High levels of compassion fatigue can affect nursing quality and patient safety and therefore should be taken seriously by nursing managers., Methods: A cross-sectional survey of 1432 frontline nurses in Sichuan Province, China, was conducted from January to March 2023 via convenience sampling methods. The General Information Questionnaire, the Nurses' Occupational Stressors Scale, the Ego-Resilience Scale, the Chinese version of the Compassion Fatigue Brief Scale, and the Perceived Organizational Support Scale were used to collect the data. Hypotheses were tested using structural equation models and bootstrapping methods., Results: Nurse occupational stressors had a significant direct effect on compassion fatigue (B = 2.429, p < 0.001). Perceived organizational support exerted a mediating effect of 11.36% between occupational stressors and compassion fatigue. In addition, ego-resilience had a moderating role in the relationship between nurses' occupational stressors and compassion fatigue, between nurses' occupational stressors and perceived organizational support, and between perceived organizational support and compassion fatigue. Multiple linear regression analysis revealed that the most influential dimension of occupational stressors on compassion fatigue was work-family conflict (β = 0.253, p < 0.001), followed by organizational issues (β = 0.153, p < 0.001), work demands (β = 0.103, p < 0.001) and difficulty taking leave (β = 0.102, p < 0.001)., Conclusion: Nurse occupational stressors are positively associated with compassion fatigue and influence nurse compassion fatigue through the mediating effect of perceived organizational support and the moderating mechanism of ego-resilience. Managers can reduce nurses' compassion fatigue levels by reducing occupational stressors, promoting nurses' perceived organizational support, and fostering ego-resilience., Implications for Nursing Management: This study further integrated the external and internal factors affecting compassion fatigue and constructed a structural equation model of the mechanism of compassion fatigue in frontline nurses, which has implications for the early identification and intervention of compassion fatigue in nurses., Competing Interests: Declarations Ethics approval and consent to participate This study was performed in line with the principles of the Declaration of Helsinki and was approved by the Ethics Board at Sichuan Provincial People ‘s Hospital (No.2023-012,issued on 6 January 2023) and followed informed consent and voluntary participation principles. Study participants were briefed in detail about the purpose and methodology of this study prior to being surveyed so that they could make their own choices about whether or not they wished to participate in the study. All study participants was anonymous can withdraw from the study at any time. Informed consent was obtained from all participants. Consent for publication Not applicable. Competing interests Sichuan Science and Technology Program surpports our study，but all authors declare we have no relevant interests to disclose, include financial and non-financial competing interests., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

Nowadays, the overuse of antibiotics has escalated bacterial infections into an increasingly severe global health threat. Developing non-antibiotic treatments has emerged as a promising strategy for treating bacterial infections. Notably, nanozyme-based composite materials have garnered growing interest. Therefore, the efficient preparation of nanozyme is important. Herein, we have presented an efficient method to prepare Fe-based nanozyme through polymerization-induced self-assembly assay to kill bacteria efficiently, which could significantly enhance the healing of infected wounds. Through polymerization-induced self-assembly assay, a large number of uniformly sized micelles, bearing imidazole groups, could be efficiently prepared. These nanoparticles subsequently chelate with Fe ions, followed by pyrolysis and etching processes, resulting in the production of uniformly small-sized nanozymes with high adsorption activity in the near-infrared region. The composite materials could effectively eradicate bacteria via a synergistic strategy of photothermal and catalytic therapies under infected microenvironments. In vivo animal models with full-thickness wounds showed that combination therapy not only eradicates 98 % of the bacteria but also significantly accelerates wound healing. This work underscores the utility of polymerization-induced self-assembly in the preparation of nanozymes and reveals promising applications of nanozymes in wound healing. STATEMENT OF SIGNIFICANCE: This research introduces a functional nanozyme with photothermal activity, synthesized through polymerization-induced self-assembly, offering a promising non-antibiotic strategy to combat bacterial infections. This strategy enhances wound healing by combining photothermal and catalytic therapies, effectively eradicating drug-resistant bacteria while minimizing damage to healthy tissue. Our findings hold significant implications for the development of advanced antibacterial treatments and offer a robust assay to prepare nanozyme with small sizes. The prepared functional nanoparticles have a potential in wound healing, addressing a critical need in the face of rising antibiotic resistance., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 Acta Materialia Inc. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

During the reproductive life, most primordial follicles remain dormant for years or decades, while some are progressively activated for development. Misactivation of primordial follicles can cause ovarian diseases, for example, premature ovarian insufficiency (POI). Our results show that p300 expression increased with primordial follicle activation. Using a p300 inhibitor resulted in premature activation of primordial follicles in cultured mouse ovaries. Conversely, the ratio of primordial follicle activation was markedly decreased upon culturing with the p300 agonist. Furthermore, p300 regulated primordial follicle activation by inhibiting Vegfa transcription in granulosa cells. Additionally, this study was extended to potential clinical applications, showing that short-term treatment with a p300 inhibitor in vitro significantly increased primordial follicle activation in newborn mouse ovaries after dorsal kidney membrane transplantation in female NSG mice. Our results revealed that p300 controls the activation of primordial follicles in mammalian ovaries.

Carbon materials are considered among the most promosing candidates for sodium ion batteries because of their competitive performance. Nevertheless, they suffer from low initial coulombic efficiencies (ICEs) and limited electrochemical performance. Herein, nitrogen-doped hollow carbon spheres (NHCSs) with a distinct porous structure are developed by a template-assisted carbonization of dopamine, followed by a template removal procedure. This advanced structural design, coupled with the surface chemistry of carbonized polydopamine, leads to an impressive ICE of 89.18% and a reversible capacity stabilized at ∼700 mA h g -1 at 50 mA g -1 after 100 cycles. Compared to commercial hard carbon anodes, NHCSs demonstrate superior rate performance, delivering a capacity of ∼200 mA g h -1 at 5 A g -1 with minimal capacity fading of ∼0.057 mA h g -1 per cycle over 1000 cycles. These findings highlight the potential of NHCSs as a high-performance anode material for sodium-ion batteries, offering both high efficiency and excellent cycling stability.

"Just Accepted" papers have undergone full peer review and have been accepted for publication in Radiology: Artificial Intelligence . This article will undergo copyediting, layout, and proof review before it is published in its final version. Please note that during production of the final copyedited article, errors may be discovered which could affect the content. Purpose To develop a deep learning model for the morphologic measurement of unruptured intracranial aneurysms (UIAs) based on CT angiography (CTA) data and validate its performance using a multicenter dataset. Materials and Methods In this retrospective study, patients with CTA examinations, including those with and without UIAs, in a tertiary referral hospital from February 2018 to February 2021 were included as the training dataset. Patients with UIAs who underwent CTA at multiple centers between April 2021 to December 2022 were included as the multicenter external testing set. An integrated deep-learning (IDL) model was developed for UIA detection, segmentation and morphologic measurement using an nnU-net algorithm. Model performance was evaluated using the Dice similarity coefficient (DSC) and intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC), with measurements by senior radiologists serving as the reference standard. The ability of the IDL model to improve performance of junior radiologists in measuring morphologic UIA features was assessed. Results The study included 1182 patients with UIAs and 578 controls without UIAs as the training dataset (55 years [IQR, 47-62], 1,012 [57.5%] females) and 535 patients with UIAs as the multicenter external testing set (57 years [IQR, 50-63], 353 [66.0%] females). The IDL model achieved 97% accuracy in detecting UIAs and achieved a DSC of 0.90 (95%CI, 0.88-0.92) for UIA segmentation. Model-based morphologic measurements showed good agreement with reference standard measurements (all ICCs > 0.85). Within the multicenter external testing set, the IDL model also showed agreement with reference standard measurements (all ICCs > 0.80). Junior radiologists assisted by the IDL model showed significantly improved performance in measuring UIA size (ICC improved from 0.88 [0.80-0.92] to 0.96 [0.92-0.97], P < .001). Conclusion The developed integrated deep learning model using CTA data showed good performance in UIA detection, segmentation and morphologic measurement and may be used to assist less experienced radiologists in morphologic analysis of UIAs. ©RSNA, 2024.

Purpose: The detection of pathogenic microorganisms plays a significant role in the diagnosis and management of pneumonia that are responsible for a substantial number of deaths worldwide. However, conventional microbiological tests (CMT) have low accuracy and are time-consuming. In this study, we aim to evaluate the clinical value of Chips for Complicated Infection Detection (CCID) in detecting pneumonia pathogens., Patients and Methods: This study was conducted at nine hospitals in China from January 2021 to September 2022. Respiratory samples from adult pneumonia patients were collected from each patient. CMT and CCID were performed in parallel to identify the pathogens., Results: A total of 245 patients were included, with 73% being elderly. CCID identified pathogenic microbes in 78.0% of patients and conventional microbiological tests (CMT) in 57.1% of the patients (p<0.001). The overall positive and negative percent agreements between CCID and CMT for pathogen detection were 90.07% and 38.46%, respectively. 38.8% of patients were diagnosed with mixed infections with at least two pathogens by CCID. Bacterial infections identified by CCID accounted for 60.0% of 245 patients, with the top 3 being Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Klebsiella pneumoniae, and Enterococcus faecium, respectively. K. pneumoniae was the most common pathogen in elderly patients, with a significantly higher prevalence compared to non-elderly patients (p = 0.0011). Among the 197 patients who had used antibiotics before sample collection, the positive rate of CCID was significantly higher than that of CMT (p < 0.001)., Conclusion: This study indicates that compared to CMT, this novel chip has significant advantages in detecting pathogens in pneumonia patients, especially in the elderly., Competing Interests: The authors report there are no competing interests to declare., (© 2024 Zhang et al.)

Background: Pulmonary hypertension, characterized by vascular remodeling, currently lacks curative therapeutic options. The dysfunction of pulmonary artery endothelial cells plays a pivotal role in the initiation and progression of pulmonary hypertension (PH). ErbB3 (human epidermal growth factor receptor 3), also recognized as HER3, is a member of the ErbB family of receptor tyrosine kinases., Methods: Microarray, immunofluorescence, and Western blotting analyses were conducted to investigate the pathological role of ErbB3. Blood samples were collected for biomarker examination from healthy donors or patients with hypoxic PH. The pathological functions of ErbB3 were further validated in rodents subjected to chronic hypoxia- and Sugen-induced PH, with or without adeno-associated virus-mediated ErbB3 overexpression, systemic deletion, or endothelial cell-specific ErbB3 knockdown. Primary human pulmonary artery endothelial cells and pulmonary artery smooth muscle cells were used to elucidate the underlying mechanisms., Results: ErbB3 exhibited significant upregulation in the serum, lungs, distal pulmonary arteries, and pulmonary artery endothelial cells isolated from patients with PH compared with those from healthy donors. ErbB3 overexpression stimulated hypoxia-induced endothelial cell proliferation, exacerbated pulmonary artery remodeling, elevated systolic pressure in the right ventricle, and promoted right ventricular hypertrophy in murine models of PH. Conversely, systemic deletion or endothelial cell-specific knockout of ErbB3 yielded opposite effects. Coimmunoprecipitation and proteomic analysis identified YB-1 (Y-box binding protein 1) as a downstream target of ErbB3. ErbB3 induced nuclear translocation of YB-1 and subsequently promoted hypoxia-inducible factor 1/2α transcription. A positive loop involving ErbB3-periostin-hypoxia-inducible factor 1/2α was identified to mediate the progressive development of this disease. MM-121, a human anti-ErbB3 monoclonal antibody, exhibited both preventive and therapeutic effects against hypoxia-induced PH., Conclusions: Our study reveals, for the first time, that ErbB3 serves as a novel biomarker and a promising target for the treatment of PH., Competing Interests: None.

Graphene-based metal selenides, are increasingly recognized for their potential in sodium-ion battery applications due to their superior electrochemical properties. The unique structure of graphene facilitates rapid in-plane transport of sodium ions, but the interlayer diffusion remains a significant challenge. The Ni 0.85 Se@CoSe heterojunctions, strategically grown adjacent to the graphene pores, offer a novel solution by creating in-plane holes that serve as direct channels for vertical ion transport, thereby enhancing cross-layer sodium ion permeation. The incorporation of Ni 0.85 Se@CoSe heterojunctions with holey graphene (NCS/HG) significantly enhances the reaction dynamics between sodium ions and anode material. These heterojunctions not only promote easier sodium ion insertion/extraction process by reducing the Na + adsorption energy, but also improve the electrical conductivity by adjusting the band gap. The configuration supports high current density applications (573.5 mAh/g at 5.0 A/g), and ensures robust cycle stability with a capacity retention rate of 97 % after 1000 cycles at 2.0 A/g. Therefore, the development and etching techniques employed in engineering the Ni 0.85 Se@CoSe/HG graphene-based anodes exemplify a significant advancement in anode material design, highlighting the importance of material architecture in the development of high-performance energy storage devices., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Polyploidy is an important driving force in speciation and evolution; however, the genomic basis for parallel selection of a particular trait between polyploids and ancestral diploids remains unexplored. Here we construct graph-based pan-genomes for diploid (A 2 ) and allotetraploid (AD 1 ) cotton species, enabled by an assembly of 50 genomes of genetically diverse accessions. We delineate a mosaic genome map of tetraploid cultivars that illustrates genomic contributions from semi-wild forms into modern cultivars. Pan-genome comparisons identify syntenic and hyper-divergent regions of continued variation between diploid and tetraploid cottons, and suggest an ongoing process of sequence evolution potentially linked to the contrasting genome size change in two subgenomes. We highlight 43% of genetic regulatory relationships for gene expression in diploid encompassing sequence divergence after polyploidy, and specifically characterize six underexplored convergent genetic loci contributing to parallel selection of fiber quality. This study offers a framework for pan-genomic dissection of genetic regulatory components underlying parallel selection of desirable traits in organisms., (© 2024. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Nature America, Inc.)

Due to the different physicochemical properties of lead (Pb) and arsenic (As), coupled remediation processes of contaminated soils containing Pb and As have always been a technical challenge. In the present study, a novel solidifying agent (BER) was synthesized using alkaline oxygen furnace slag (BOFS), modified electrolytic manganese residue (EMR) and red mud (RM). The solidifying agent was synergistically used with Fenton reagent for solidifying/stabilizing Pb- and As-contaminated soils. The experimental results indicated that the low stability of Ca-As(III) complexes, which serve as the primary fixation mechanism for As in BER-solidified soil, led to inadequate stabilization of As by BER. As a result, the leaching concentration of As in the BER-solidified soil reached 2.61 mg/L. The incorporation of Fenton reagent had minimal effect on the strength of the solidified soil and Pb stabilization, but it substantially improved As stabilization. The immobilization efficiency of the BER-Fenton for lead and arsenic reached 99% and 98%, respectively. The strength of solidified/stabilized soil using BER-Fenton was close to that of cement-based solidified/stabilized soil. Microscopic analysis showed that the incorporation of Fenton reagent increased the content of goethite and ettringite, which effectively filled the soil pores and enhanced the adsorption of Pb and As. The use of BER and Fenton reagent increased the content of As(V) to 88%, which promoted the complexation between As and Fe(III)/Mn(IV). This study provides a novel method for efficient remediation of heavy metal-contaminated sites, as well as a useful reference for ensuring the safe reuse of hazardous wastes., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Cardiac hypertrophy results from the heart reacting and adapting to various pathological stimuli and its persistent development is a major contributing factor to heart failure. However, the molecular mechanisms of cardiac hypertrophy remain unclear. Small GTPases in the Ras, Rho, Rab, Arf and Ran subfamilies exhibit GTPase activity and play crucial roles in regulating various cellular responses. Previous studies have shown that Ras, Rho and Rab are closely linked to cardiac hypertrophy and that their overexpression can induce cardiac hypertrophy. Here, we review the functions of small GTPases in cardiac hypertrophy and provide additional insights and references for the prevention and treatment of cardiac hypertrophy.

We present a case study highlighting prenatal ultrasound findings in monozygotic twins with chromosome 17q12 deletion syndrome. Fetus A exhibited bilateral fetal pyelectasis and talipes equinovarus, while fetus B showed hyperechogenic kidneys. Despite sharing the same de novo variant, the twins displayed distinct clinical phenotypes, suggesting the presence of non-genetic factors influencing the phenotypic variability of this syndrome. This case represents the first documented instance of prenatally identified identical twins affected by 17q12 deletion syndrome., (© 2024 The Author(s). Journal of Clinical Ultrasound published by Wiley Periodicals LLC.)

Objective: We assessed the impact and prognostic significance of alterations in muscle quality and quantity (myosteatosis and sarcopenia, respectively) in patients with esophageal cancer treated with radiotherapy (RT)., Methods: We retrospectively pooled 258 patients with esophageal squamous cell cancer who underwent RT. Myosteatosis and sarcopenia were determined based on the skeletal muscle index derived from the muscle area and attenuation at the L3 level from computed tomography images. Subgroups were formed as 2 subgroups of non-sarcopenia/myosteatosis and sarcopenia/myosteatosis (with or without other muscle status) at either timepoint of RT, 3 subgroups of only-sarcopenia, only myosteatosis (without other muscle status), and the co-presence of sarcopenia and myosteatosis at either timepoint of RT, as well as 4 subgroups of continuous sarcopenia/myosteatosis, developed sarcopenia/myosteatosis, reduced sarcopenia/myosteatosis and non-sarcopenia/myosteatosis according to alterations of muscle status at both timepoints of RT. Overall survival (OS) was compared. Univariate and multivariate analyses based on Cox regression identified independent risk factors for prognosis., Results: Either pre- or post-RT, patients with sarcopenia and myosteatosis (with or without other muscle status) had poor OS. Patients with only myosteatosis (without other muscle status) showed the best OS (1352 days pre-RT vs. 1648 days post-RT), while patients with concurrent myosteatosis and sarcopenia had the worst OS (907 days pre-RT vs. 706 days post-RT). The ascending order of OS for sarcopenia alterations was as follows: continuous sarcopenia (1093 days), non-sarcopenia (1740 days), developed sarcopenia (2187 days), and reduced sarcopenia (2208 days) (P = 0.002). The ascending order of OS for myosteatosis alterations was ranked as follows: continuous myosteatosis (1165 days), reduced myosteatosis (1275 days), developed myosteatosis (1783 days), and non-myosteatosis (1942 days) (P = 0.061). Univariate and multivariate Cox regression analyses revealed that increased age, longer tumor length, developed myosteatosis, and continuous myosteatosis were independent prognostic factors for OS., Conclusions: Muscle mass status at presentation and alterations in patients with esophageal cancer before and after RT should be considered prognostic indicators., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this article., (Copyright © 2024. Published by Elsevier Inc.)

The heavy metals (HMs) spatial distribution in soil is intricately shaped by aggregation processes involving chemical reactions and biological activities, which modulate HMs toxicity, migration, and accumulation. Pioneer plants play a central role in preventing HMs at source, yet the precise mechanisms underlying their involvement in soil aggregation remain unclear. This study investigates HMs distribution within rhizosphere and bulk soil aggregates of Miscanthus sp. grown in tailings to elucidate the impact of root exudates (REs) and rhizosphere microbes. The results indicate that Miscanthus sp. enhance soil stability, increasing the proportion of macroaggregates by 4.06 %-9.78 %. HMs tend to concentrate in coarse-aggregates, particularly within rhizosphere environments, while diminishing in fine-aggregates. Under HMs stress, lipids and lipid-like molecules are the most abundant REs produced by Miscanthus sp., accounting for under up to 26.74 %. These REs form complex with HMs, promoting microaggregates formation. Charged components such as sugars and amino acids further contribute to soil aggregation. REs also regulates rhizosphere bacteria and fungi, with Acidobacteriota, Chloroflexi were the dominant bacterial phyla, while Ascomycota and Basidiomycota dominate the fungal community. The synergistic effect of REs and microorganisms impact soil organic matter and nutrient content, facilitating HMs nanoparticle heteroaggregation and macroaggregates formation. Consequently, soil structure and REs shape the distribution of HMs in soil aggregation. Pioneer plants mediate REs interaction with rhizosphere microbes, promoting the distribution of HMs into macroaggregates, leading to immobilization. This study sheds light on the role of pioneer plants in regulating soil HMs, offering valuable insights for soil remediation strategies., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Background: This study evaluated the clinical data on ophthalmic follow-up and treatment efficacy of hereditary vitreoretinal amyloidosis kindred due to transthyretin Gly83Arg variant over a 15-year follow-up period., Methods: The clinical data of patients with hereditary ATTRG83R amyloidosis from 2006 to 2021 were analysed retrospectively. Sanger sequencing of the transthyretin gene, detailed medical history, pedigree charting, and systemic and ophthalmic examinations were carried out in all patients. The changes of best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) after vitrectomy and the associations of amyloidosis recurrence and post-vitrectomy glaucoma were analysed., Results: Fourteen patients with ATTRG83R were included, all experiencing vision loss due to vitreous opacities. The average age of onset was 40.93 ± 6.96 (29 to 52) years. The preoperative BCVA was 2.20 ± 0.69 logMAR, whereas the postoperative BCVA improved to 0.13 ± 0.35 logMAR (P < 0.05). The recurrence time was 58.83 ± 20.85 months after vitrectomy. At 90 months after vitrectomy, the cumulative recurrence rate was 94.7%. Eight eyes developed glaucoma after vitrectomy. None of the 5 eyes without vitrectomy developed glaucoma. Paired chi-square test showed a significant difference in the incidence rate of glaucoma between eyes with or without vitrectomy (P < 0.05). However, retinal amyloid angiopathy and cataract surgery were not associated with glaucoma (P > 0.05). Poor intraocular pressure control in 7 eyes resulted in severe visual impairment., Conclusions: Hereditary ATTRG83R amyloidosis predominantly manifests as vitreous opacity, and vitrectomy can improve the visual acuity in affected patients. However, the recurrence of amyloidosis and related complications significantly impact long-term visual outcomes. Thus, delaying vitrectomy appropriately and maintaining regular follow-up visits is advisable., (© 2024. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to The Royal College of Ophthalmologists.)

Metals are vital in human physiology, which not only act as enzyme catalysts in the processes of superoxide dismutase and glucose phosphorylation, but also affect the redox process, osmotic adjustment, metabolism and neural signals. However, metal imbalances can lead to diseases such as diabetes, which is marked by chronic hyperglycemia and affects wound healing. The hyperglycemic milieu of diabetes impairs wound healing, posing significant challenges to patient quality of life. Wound healing encompasses a complex cascade of hemostasis, inflammation, proliferation, and remodeling phases, which are susceptible to disruption in hyperglycemic conditions. In recent decades, metals have emerged as critical facilitators of wound repair by enhancing antimicrobial properties (e.g., iron and silver), providing angiogenic stimulation (copper), promoting antioxidant activity and growth factor synthesis (zinc), and supporting wound closure (calcium and magnesium). Consequently, research has pivoted towards the development of metal ion-based therapeutics, including innovative formulations such as nano-hydrogels, nano-microneedle dressings, and microneedle patches. Prepared by combining macromolecular materials such as chitosan, hyaluronic acid and sodium alginate with metals, aiming at improving the management of diabetic wounds. This review delineates the roles of key metals in human physiology and evaluates the application of metal ions in diabetic wound management strategies., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Halide solid electrolytes (SEs) are attracting great attention, owing to their high ionic conductivity and excellent high-voltage compatibility. However, severe moisture sensitivity, poor thermal stability, and instability at the lithium metal anode interface with chloride and bromide SEs retard their applications in solid-state lithium metal batteries. Fluoride SEs are expected to solve these problems, but they are now plagued by inadequate room-temperature (RT) ionic conductivity. Herein, a low-temperature molten salt (LiCl+1.33AlCl 3 ) ablation method is proposed to enhance the ionic conductivity of monoclinic Li 3 GaF 6 by particle boundary doping. The RT ionic conductivity of Li 3 GaF 6 is correspondingly increased by 2 orders of magnitude, and the conductivity reaches 10 -4 S cm -1 at 60 °C. The improved ionic conductivity benefits from the enhancement of interfacial ion transport, with the formation of more conductive chlorine-doped Li 3 GaF 6- x Cl x and in situ binder LiAlCl 4 to cement surrounding nanoparticles. The as-synthesized Li 3 GaF 6 demonstrates outstanding humidity tolerance without conductivity degradation after exposure to a relative humidity of up to 35%. It also exhibits the widest electrochemical stability window experimentally (close to 6 V) compared with other state-of-the-art SEs. The solid-state Li/Li 3 GaF 6 /LiFePO 4 cell with a stable Li + -conductive polymer interface is successfully driven for at least 200 cycles at 0.5C. Our study provides a solution to various chemical and electrochemical stability issues encountered by the halide SE family.

The bacterial ability to adhere and colonize in the gut is a key prerequisite to become a probiotic. Lactobacillus spp. surface layer proteins (SLPs) play an important role for such functions in the human body. Interestingly, all SLPs in spite of their structural variation promote adhesion and colonization. A clear understanding about the binding sites of SLPs with the host and their binding modes would help to precisely reveal the process of Lactobacillus spp.-host interaction. Therefore, in this paper, we have sorted out the Lactobacillus spp. SLPs and their adhesion sites in human intestinal cells. Such SLPs included surface layer protein, motif proteins, binding proteins and moonlighting proteins, while enterocyte adhesion receptors included transmembrane glycoproteins and extracellular matrix proteins. We also summarized the tools to assess the adhesion by Lactobacillus spp. Finally, we recommended that three-dimensional cell models and intestinal microarrays could be major tools for assessing adhesion in the future., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare no competing financial interest., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Strong excitonic effects are common in organic conjugated polymer semiconductors, severely hindering the generation of free charge carriers for conducting photocatalysis. Therefore, exploring new channels to modulate exciton dissociation in polymers is far-reaching in facilitating photocatalysis. A series of B-N Lewis pair functionalized conjugated polymers have been developed to minimize exciton effects by modulating charge transfer pathways. Theoretical studies have shown that introducing B-N Lewis pairs can dramatically increase the distance of charge transfer (D index) and the amount of electron transfer and reduce the Coulomb attraction energy (E C ), which contributes to breaking the equilibrium of the coexistence of excitons and charge carriers. Further experimental results show that the singlet excitons are efficiently dissociated into more free-charge carriers under photoexcitation to participate in surface reactions. The optimized polymer PyPBM shows an exponential increase in photocatalytic hydrogen and hydrogen peroxide production performance by visible light illumination., (© 2024 Wiley-VCH GmbH.)

Diabetes is a major risk factor for all types of dementia. The underlying reasons are not fully understood, and preventive therapeutic strategies are lacking. Previously we have shown that diabetic but not control rats developed a progressive cognitive decline in a microemboli (ME) model of vascular contributions to cognitive impairment & dementia (VCID). Given the cerebrovascular dysfunction is a mutual pathological change between diabetes and VCID, we hypothesized that the cognitive impairment in this ME model can be prevented by improving the endothelial function in diabetes. Our treatment paradigm was based on the LACI-2 Trial which assessed the efficacy of isosorbide mononitrate (ISMN) and cilostazol (Cil) treatments in small vessel disease progression. Control and diabetic rats were treated with ISMN/Cil or vehicle for 4 weeks, then injected with cholesterol crystal ME and the behavioral outcomes were monitored. Brain microstructure integrity was assessed by diffusion MRI. Plasma biomarkers were assessed using angiogenesis, neurology and amyloid β 42/40 panels recommended by the MarkVCID consortium. Behavioral deficits and the loss of tissue integrity previously observed in untreated diabetic rats were not noted in the treated animals in this study. Treatment improved tissue perfusion but there were no differences in plasma biomarkers. These results suggest that restoration of endothelial function with ISMN/Cil before ME injection prevented the possible deleterious effects of ME in diabetic rats by improving the endothelial integrity and it is a practical preventive and therapeutic strategy for VCID., (Copyright © 2024. Published by Elsevier Inc.)

Background: Orexin is an excitatory neuropeptide produced in the lateral hypothalamus, playing a role in various physiological functions in humans. There is a growing body of literature on orexins. This paper utilizes CiteSpace software to organize and analyze a significant number of articles on orexin, providing readers with an intuitive overview of research trends and emerging hot topics in this field., Methods: The electronic database, Web of Science Core Collection (WoSCC), was searched for publications related to orexins. Annual publications, countries/regions, institutions, authors and keywords were analyzed, and the results were visualized via CiteSpace software., Results: A total of 5486 publications were included, with articles making up 85.30% and reviews 14.70%. The top 3 countries publishing the most papers on orexins were the United States (2057 papers), Japan (778), and China (556). The leading institutions included Research Libraries UK (278), Harvard University (250), and Stanford University (221). The most prolific authors in the field were Yves Dauvilliers (69), Abbas Haghparast (67), and Takeshi Sakurai (66). The most frequently used keywords were "neurons" (981), followed by "sleep" (824), "food intake" (612), "receptors" (547), and "neuropathology" (535). Recent research hotspots include melanin-concentrating hormone neurons, Alzheimer disease, gamma-aminobutyric acid neurons, oxidative stress, suvorexant, the orexin system, prevalence, and stress. Based on keyword clustering analysis, the top 5 research hotspots from 2003 to 2022 were: the effects of orexins on sleep and metabolism, potential pathways of orexin signaling, the relationship between orexin and immunity, new findings on depression and hypertension related to orexin, and possible targets for neurodegenerative diseases., Conclusion: Orexin, a neuropeptide linked to various physiological and pathological processes, plays a crucial role in sleep/wakefulness, reward mechanisms, stress responses, and neurodegenerative diseases. Its significant research value and potential medical applications are underscored by the rapid expansion of studies, particularly in the USA and Japan. However, the lack of collaboration among researchers highlights the need for enhanced academic exchange and cooperation to further advance the field of orexin research., Competing Interests: The authors have no conflicts of interest to disclose., (Copyright © 2024 the Author(s). Published by Wolters Kluwer Health, Inc.)

Objectives: This study aims to reveal the current knowledge map, research hotspots of functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) studies on depression, as well as identify the brain regions associated with depression., Methods: CiteSpace was conducted to analyze the publication outputs, country, institution, cited journals, author and cited author, references, keyword cocurrence and burst keywords of fMRI studies in depression from 2010 to 2024. And a meta-analysis of fMRI was used to identify brain regions associated with depression using Neurosynth., Results: A total of 4,049 publications were included, and Gong Qiyong was the most prolific authors. Neuroimage, Biological Psychiatry, and Human Brain Mapping were prominent journals. Default mode network (DMN), prefrontal cortex, amygdala, and anterior cingulate cortex were the popular keywords. The fMRI studies on depression have mainly focused on major depression, especially the DMN. Functional connectivity and regional homogeneity of brain regions were research hotspots. The meta-analysis revealed significant differences in brain regions between patients with depression and healthy controls, including the Amygdala&#95;L, Insula&#95;R, Frontal&#95;Inf&#95;Oper&#95;R, Cingulum&#95;Post&#95;L, Putamen&#95;L, Thalamus&#95;R, Angular&#95;L, Precuneus&#95;R, Frontal&#95;Sup&#95;R, Occipital&#95;Inf&#95;L., Conclusions: This study sheds light on key issues and future directions in fMRI research on depression, elucidating the brain regions related to depression., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

The dried root of Gentiana dahurica Fisch. has an intensive flavour, which suggests the presence of volatile compounds. Thus, this study aimed to develop an effective extraction method for GC-MS profiling of volatile compounds of G. dahurica . Hydro-distillation and subsequent resin enrichment (HDRE) was developed and applied to the analysis of G. dahurica in comparison with simultaneous distillation and extraction (SDE), and ultrasonic assisted dichloromethane extraction (uDCM). The major components were azulene (33.83%), 1-hexanoic acid (14.19%) and octanoic acid (11.39%) in the HDRE; octanoic acid (17.24%), nonanoic acid (13.29%) and 2,4-di-t-butylphenol (12.73%) in the SDE; and α-amyrin (25.05%), β-amyrin acetate (15.11%) and β-amyrone (4.61%) in the uDCM. Moreover, the HDRE extract was shown to have certain antimicrobial activity against four bacterial strains. Thus, the HDRE method is a promising sample preparation method for GC-MS chemical profiling of volatile components of the dried roots of medicinal plants.

Objective: To explore the role of tumor necrosis factor receptor-associated factor 4 (TRAF4) in promoting the abnormal activation of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) and its effect on lung cancer cell proliferation, migration and invasion. Methods: Tumor tissues from patients who underwent lung adenocarcinoma resection at The First Affiliated Hospital of Second Military Medical University, from January 2015 to May 2017 were collected, and the expressions of TRAF4 and Ki-67 in lung cancer tissues were detected by immunohistochemistry, the mRNA levels of Cyclin D and Vimentin were detected by real-time fluorescence quantitative PCR (qRT-PCR). The effect of TRAF4 on the tumor growth ability of lung cancer A549 cells was investigated by the xenograft model, the effect of TRAF4 or EGFR on the tumor proliferation ability was detected by using cell counting kit 8 (CCK8) and BrdU assay, and the migration and invasion abilities of tumor cells were detected by Transwell assay. Different structural domain deletion expression vectors of TRAF4 and EGFR were constructed to transfect cells, and the interaction mode of TRAF4 and EGFR was investigated by immunoprecipitation assay. Results: The expression of TRAF4 in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) tissues was positively correlated with the expressions of Ki-67, cyclin D, and vimentin ( r 2 : 0.438, 0.695, and 0.736, respectively, all P ＜0.01). Immunohistochemical assay of tumor tissues from NSCLC patients showed that tissues with high expression of TRAF4 were also high in Ki-67. Patients with high TRAF4 expression (TRAF4 positivity >30%) had a shorter progression-free survival (PFS) time than that of patients with low TRAF4 expression (TRAF4 positivity ≤30%) (median PFS of 12 and 19 months, respectively; P =0.034). Traf4 -/- cells had a weakened proliferative capacity than traf4 +/+ cells and formed tumors with smaller size ( P ＜0.05). The expression level of Ki-67 in the tumor tissues formed by traf4 -/- cells [(45.6±8.7)%] was lower than that in the tumor tissues formed by traf4 +/+ cells [(62.3±10.3)%, P =0.015], the mRNA levels of cyclin D (1.01±0.15) and vimentin (1.01±0.12) in the traf4 -/- cells were lower than those of the traf4 +/+ cells (3.41±0.32 and 3.12±0.18, respectively, both P ＜0.05).The western blot results showed that, with the elevated intracellular expression level of TRAF4, phosphorylation level of EGFR was significantly increased in both wild-type EGFR and activation mutant EGFR-expression cells. The capacities of proliferation, migration and invasion of A549 cells was weakened after EGFR knockdown (all P ＜0.01). Immunoprecipitation experiments showed that TRAF4 binds to the peptide segment of the near-membrane region of EGFR through the TRAF structural domain, and the mutual binding between EGFR molecules was enhanced under TRAF4 overexpression conditions. Increasing TRAF4 expression promoted EGFR molecular phosphorylation and activation of downstream signaling. Conclusions: TRAF4 expression is elevated in NSCLC tissues and tumor cells, which promotes tumor proliferation, migration and invasion. TRAF4 directly binds to EGFR molecules, enhances its own phosphorylation and activates the downstream signaling pathway by promoting the interaction between EGFR molecules.

Organic-inorganic hybrid perovskite solar cells (OIH-PSCs) have developed rapidly in the past decade, and the commercialization of OIH-PSCs demands low-cost hole-transport materials (HTMs) with high performance and stability. The present study synthesized two organic HTMs containing dibenzothiophene S-dioxide as the acceptor unit and triphenylamine as the donor (denoted by TPAF-SO2 and TPA-SO2). In TPAF-SO 2 , the methoxy group and adjacent fluorine atom were introduced to decrease the highest occupied molecular orbital energy level. In TPA-SO 2 , the methyl sulfide group is the end group that can passivate the lead ion. TPAF-SO 2 and TPA-SO 2 exhibit hole-transport mobilities as high as 1.12 × 10 -3 and 2.31 × 10 -3 cm 2 v -1 s -1 , respectively, and strongly passivate Pb vacancies. Compared with TPAF-SO 2 , TPA-SO 2 is more suitable for the growth of perovskite crystals. The perovskite grown on the latter has a lower trap density and higher carrier mobility; thus, both the nonradiative recombination and the charge-transport loss are decreased. The OIH-PSC based on TPA-SO 2 as the HTM achieved a power conversion efficiency (PCE) as high as 22.08%, whereas the device based on TPAF-SO 2 achieved a PCE of only 18.42%. In addition, the unencapsulated device based on TPA-SO 2 can maintain 85% of the initial PCE after being stored in N 2 for 1200 h, whereas the device based on TPAF-SO 2 decayed rapidly to zero in 800 h under the same conditions.

X-linked adrenoleukodystrophy (X-ALD) is caused by mutations in the ABCD1 gene, leading to the accumulation of very long-chain fatty acids (VLCFAs) in plasma and tissues. It primarily affects the central nervous system white matter and the adrenal cortex. Clinical manifestations include myeloneuropathy, leukodystrophy, and adrenal insufficiency. Reliable methods for diagnosis include VLCFAs and genetic testing. We report the case of a 31-year-old male X-ALD patient who mainly presented with unilateral lower limb weakness. Adrenal insufficiency was not observed, and there was no evidence of peripheral nerve involvement in nerve conduction studies. MRI revealed only mild atrophy of thoracic spinal cord without other relevant abnormalities. Ultimately, Next-Generation Sequencing (NGS) and VLCFAs testing confirmed the diagnosis of X-ALD, and the NGS indicated a novel missense mutation., (© 2024. Fondazione Società Italiana di Neurologia.)

The reversibility and stability of aqueous zinc-ion batteries (AZIBs) are largely limited by water-induced interfacial parasitic reactions. Here, dimethyl(3,3-difluoro-2-oxoheptyl)phosphonate (DP) is introduced to tailor primary solvation sheath and inner-Helmholtz configurations for robust zinc anode. Informed by theoretical guidance on solvation process, DP with high permanent dipole moments can effectively substitute the coordination of H 2 O with charge carriers through relatively strong ion-dipolar interactions, resulting in a water-lean environment of solvated Zn 2+ . Thus, interfacial side reactions can be suppressed through a shielding effect. Meanwhile, lone-pair electrons of oxygen and fluorinated features of DP also reinforce the interfacial affinity of metallic zinc, associated with exclusion of neighboring water to facilitate reversible zinc planarized deposition. Thus, these merits endow the Zn anode with a high-stability performance exceeds 3800 hours at 0.5 mA cm -2 and 0.5 mAh cm -2 for Zn||Zn batteries and a high average Coulombic efficiency of 99.8 % at 4 mA cm -2 and 1 mAh cm -2 for Zn||Cu batteries. Benefiting from the stable zinc anode, the Zn||NH 4 V 4 O 10 cell maintains 80.3 % of initial discharge capacity after 3000 cycles at 5 A g -1 and exhibits a high retention rate of 99.4 % against to the initial capacity during the self-discharge characterizations., (© 2024 Wiley-VCH GmbH.)

The effects of environmental polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) exposure on glycemic regulation and the underlying genetic mechanism were still unclear. This study aimed to analyze the longitudinal joint effects of PAHs exposure and genetic susceptibility on fasting plasma glucose (FPG) through a longitudinal study. We included 4104 observations (2383 baseline participants and 1721 6-year follow-up participants) from Wuhan-Zhuhai cohort. Ten urinary PAHs metabolites and FPG were measured at both baseline and follow-up. We constructed the polygenic risk scores (PRS) of FPG from the corresponding genome-wide association studies. Linear mixed models were used to explore the associations of urinary PAHs metabolites or FPG-PRS on FPG levels in the repeated-measure analysis. Besides, the longitudinal relationships of urinary PAHs metabolites, FPG-PRS, and their joint effects on FPG change over 6 years were evaluated by linear regression models. Compared with participants with persistent low levels of urinary total PAHs metabolites, hydroxynaphthalene, and hydroxyphenanthrene, participants with persistent high levels had average decreases of 0.180, 0.200, and 0.261 mmol/L for FPG change over 6 years, respectively. Each 1-unit increase of FPG-PRS was associated with a 0.521 mmol/L for FPG change over 6 years. Besides, compared with participants with high FPG-PRS and persistent low levels of urinary total hydroxynaphthalene, hydroxyfluorene, and hydroxyphenanthrene, participants with low FPG-PRS and persistent high levels had average decreases of 0.330, 0.557, and 0.421 mmol/L for FPG change over 6 years. Our findings demonstrated that high-level PAHs exposure was longitudinally associated with an average decrease of FPG over 6 years, and low FPG genetic risk can enhance the above associations. Our findings emphasized the hypoglycemic effect of PAHs exposure, shed new light on the complex effects between PAHs exposure and genetic factors in the prevention of high FPG, and might provide some clues for the development of potential hypoglycemic agents., Competing Interests: Declaration of Competing Interest ☒ The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper. ☐ The authors declare the following financial interests/personal relationships which may be considered as potential competing interests:, (Copyright © 2024. Published by Elsevier Ltd.)

Purpose: To investigate the outcomes of first-line image-guided microwave ablation (MWA) plus tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) in untreated epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR)-mutant advanced lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD) and to compare with TKIs alone., Materials and Methods: This retrospective cohort study included patients between December 2015 and December 2021 and was divided into 2 groups (Group A: first-line MWA+TKIs; Group B: TKIs alone). Progression-free survival (PFS) was the primary end point, whereas overall survival (OS) was the secondary end point and were compared via the Kaplan-Meier methods. Univariate and multivariate analyses were used to investigate the predictors of PFS and OS. Propensity score matching (1:1 ratio) was applied between Group B and the subgroup of complete ablation in Group A., Results: A total of 117 patients were included (Group A: n = 43; Group B: n = 74). In a mean follow-up of 47.0 months (SD ± 19.4), Group A had significantly longer median PFS (19.0 vs 10.0 months; P < .001) and OS (41.0 vs 25.0 months; P = .044) than Group B. Predictors of PFS included first-line MWA (P < .001) and tumor stage (P = .020), while that of OS included first-line MWA (P = 0.039), tumor stage (P = 0.014), and usage of third-generation TKIs (P = 0.001). There were 23 pairs of patients obtained after propensity score matching (Group A1: complete ablation+TKIs; Group B1: TKIs alone). Group A1 had significantly longer median PFS (24.0 vs 10.0 months; P < .001) and OS (48.0 vs 24.0 months; P = .012) than Group B1., Conclusions: First-line MWA significantly improved the outcomes of patients with untreated EGFR-mutant advanced LUAD treated with TKIs. Complete ablation predicts a better prognosis., (Copyright © 2024 SIR. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Congenital nephrogenic diabetes insipidus (NDI) primarily arises from an X-linked recessive inheritance caused by mutations in the AVPR2 gene, which is responsible for approximately 90% of cases. This condition has an incidence rate of 4-8 per million male live births, with females being much less frequently affected. Symptoms typically manifest shortly after birth, predominantly in males. The key clinical features of NDI include excessive urination (polyuria), compensatory excessive thirst (polydipsia), cognitive impairment, consistently low urine specific gravity, dehydration, and imbalances in electrolyte levels. This case study highlights an unusual occurrence of NDI in a 50-year-old Chinese woman attributed to a mutation in the AVPR2 gene. For more than a year, she had been suffering from excessive urination and severe thirst. The patient, who had undergone surgery for cervical cancer, developed polyuria and hypernatremia postoperatively. Initial laboratory analyses revealed normal blood sodium and chloride levels but reduced urine osmolality and specific gravity. Imaging assessments revealed no irregularities. To validate the diagnosis of NDI, she participated in a water deprivation and vasopressin test. Subsequent genetic tests revealed a thymine (T) to adenine (A) mutation, leading to a missense mutation in the AVPR2 gene. As part of her treatment, she was placed on a low-sodium diet and prescribed oral hydrochlorothiazide and indomethacin for 1 month, resulting in a marked improvement in her symptoms. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first documented case of NDI diagnosed postoperatively in an older female patient with AVPR2 heterozygosity. This case highlights an unusual instance of an X-linked recessive clinical presentation of NDI in an elderly female patient. This study also underscores the importance of conducting water deprivation, vasopressin tests, and genetic testing in establishing the underlying cause for individuals diagnosed with NDI., Competing Interests: The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest., (© 2024 Ding, Nie, Chen, Wang and He.)

Background: Anti-human T lymphocyte porcine immunoglobulin (p-ATG) is a potent immunosuppressive agent derived from porcine sources used in various immunotherapy applications. It is compared with similar products derived from other species, such as rabbit anti-thymocyte globulin (r-ATG) and ATG-Fresenius (ATG-F), which have distinct biological and therapeutic properties. This study aims to elucidate the mechanisms of action and comparative efficacy of p-ATG in relation to r-ATG and ATG-F through a comprehensive in vitro analysis., Methods: A comparative analysis of p-ATG, r-ATG and ATG-F was performed, focusing on E rosette inhibitory potency, lymphocyte toxic potency, blocking activities of 24 CD molecules, and flow quantitative potency. Flow cytometric analysis was used to quantify these characteristics and assess the potency of the immunoglobulins., Results: p-ATG exhibited lower E rosette inhibitory and lymphocyte toxic potencies compared to r-ATG but was significantly more potent than ATG-F at equivalent concentrations. At protein concentrations above 12.5 µg/mL, p-ATG showed slightly lower potency than r-ATG and much higher potency than ATG-F in flow cytometry assays. Both p-ATG and r-ATG exhibited similar killing effects on lymphocytes within the peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs), including CD3 + T cells, with a dose-dependent response. Notably, p-ATG displayed more pronounced blocking activities against CD8, CD99, and TCR α/β compared to r-ATG., Conclusion: p-ATG offers certain advantages over r-ATG and ATG-F, particularly in its ability to inhibit specific CD molecules and its overall potency in immunosuppressive assays, providing valuable insights for assisting clinical decision-making regarding the selection of ATG types based on patient-specific needs and treatment objectives., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

This study addresses the problem that the traditional method is not effective in improving the adsorption performance of vacuum suckers. From the perspective of bionics, the adsorption performance of bionic suckers based on the excellent adsorption of the abalone abdominal foot was studied. A bionic sucker was designed by extracting the sealing ring structure of the abdominal foot tentacle. The bionic sucker was subjected to tensile experiments using an orthogonal experimental design, and the adsorption of the bionic sucker was simulated and analyzed to explore its adsorption mechanism. The results show that the primary and secondary factors affecting the adsorption of the sucker are the number of sealing rings, the width of sealing rings and the spacing of sealing rings. At 60% vacuum, the bionic sucker with two sealing rings, a 1.5 mm sealing ring width and 3 mm sealing ring spacing has the largest adsorption force, and its maximum adsorption force is 15.8% higher than that of the standard sucker. This study shows that the bionic sucker design can effectively improve the adsorption performance of the sucker. The bionic sucker had a different stress distribution on the sucker bottom, which resulted in greater Mises stress in the sealing ring and the surrounding area, while the Mises stress in the central area of the sucker was smaller.

Aims: Atherosclerosis (AS) is a leading cause of cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. Atherosclerotic lesions show increased levels of proteins associated with the fibroblast growth factor receptor (FGFR) pathway. However, the functional significance and mechanisms governed by FGFR signalling in AS are not known. In the present study, we investigated fibroblast growth factor receptor 1 (FGFR1) signalling in AS development and progression., Methods and Results: Examination of human atherosclerotic lesions and aortas of Apoe-/- mice fed a high-fat diet (HFD) showed increased levels of FGFR1 in macrophages. We deleted myeloid-expressed Fgfr1 in Apoe-/- mice and showed that Fgfr1 deficiency reduces atherosclerotic lesions and lipid accumulations in both male and female mice upon HFD feeding. These protective effects of myeloid Fgfr1 deficiency were also observed when mice with intact FGFR1 were treated with FGFR inhibitor AZD4547. To understand the mechanistic basis of this protection, we harvested macrophages from mice and show that FGFR1 is required for macrophage inflammatory responses and uptake of oxidized LDL. RNA sequencing showed that FGFR1 activity is mediated through phospholipase-C-gamma (PLCγ) and the activation of nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) but is independent of FGFR substrate 2., Conclusion: Our study provides evidence of a new FGFR1-PLCγ-NF-κB axis in macrophages in inflammatory AS, supporting FGFR1 as a potentially therapeutic target for AS-related diseases., Competing Interests: Conflict of interest: none declared., (© The Author(s) 2024. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the European Society of Cardiology. All rights reserved. For commercial re-use, please contact reprints@oup.com for reprints and translation rights for reprints. All other permissions can be obtained through our RightsLink service via the Permissions link on the article page on our site—for further information please contact journals.permissions@oup.com.)

To investigate the dynamic changes and potential correlations between microbial diversity and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) during Chinese medium-temperature Daqu (MTD) manufacturing at different key stages, in this study, high-throughput sequencing (HTS) and gas chromatography-ion mobility spectrometry (GC-IMS) were employed to analyze the microbial diversity and VOCs of MTD, respectively. The results showed that Weissella , Staphylococcus , Thermoactinomyces , Kroppenstedtia , and Lactobacillus were the dominant bacterial genera, while Aspergillus , Alternaria , Thermoascus , Thermomyces , Wickerhamomyces , and Saccharomyces were the dominant fungal genera. A total of 61 VOCs were detected by GC-IMS, among which, 13 differential VOCs (VIP > 1) were identified, that could be used as potential biomarkers to judge the fermentation stage of MTD. Kroppenstedtia and Saccharopolyspora were positively correlated with 3-methyl-2-butenal and 2,2,4,6,6-pentamethylheptane-D, respectively, and both of these were positively correlated with butanal-D. Acetobacter , Streptomyces , and lactic acid bacteria (LAB) including Leuconostoc , Pediococcus , Weissella , and Lactobacillus were negatively correlated with their associated VOCs, while fungi were generally positively correlated with VOCs. Wickerhamomyces , Saccharomyces , and Candida were positively correlated with butan-2-one-M. This study provides a theoretical basis for explaining the mechanisms of MTD flavor formation and screening functional microorganisms to improve the quality of MTD.

Background: Cisplatin (DDP) resistance in gastric cancer (GC) is likely to come from gastric cancer stem cells (GCSC). It is a new idea to study the mechanism of the DDP-resistance in GCSC from miRNA., Materials and Methods: CD44+ GCSCs and CD44- control cells were constructed based on the HGC27 gastric cancer cell line. DDP sensitivities in CD44+ and CD44- cells were detected via CCK-8 assay. The differential expression of miR-21-5p in these cell lines was detected by RT‒qPCR. The expression levels of downstream TGF-β2, SMAD2 and SMAD3 were determined through RT‒PCR and Western blotting. A luciferase assay was used to detect the relationship between miR-21-5p and TGFB2, and the TCGA database, clinical data from our centre, and vivo experiment were used for validation. Finally, we knocked down miR-21-5p to detect changes in cisplatin resistance in GCSCs and to verify changes in the levels of downstream pathways in GCSCs., Results: CD44+ GCSCs induced cisplatin resistance compared with CD44- cells. miR-21-5p was highly expressed in GCSCs, and the TGF-β2/SMAD pathway was also highly expressed. TGFB2 was proven to be a downstream target gene of miR-21-5p and had a positive relationship with it in phenotype. After knockdown of miR-21-5p, the TGF-β2/SMAD pathway was also inhibited, and the resistance of GCSCs to cisplatin was specifically decreased., Conclusion: MiR-21-5p promotes cisplatin resistance in gastric cancer stem cells by regulating the TGF-β2/SMAD signalling pathway., Competing Interests: The all authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest., (© 2024 Nie et al.)

Background: Src family kinases (SFKs) contribute to migraine pathogenesis, yet its role in regulating photophobia behaviour, one of the most common forms of migraine, remains unknown. Here, we addressed whether SFKs antagonism alleviates photophobia behavior and explored the underlying mechanism involving hypothalamus and trigeminal ganglion activity, as measured by the alteration of neuropeptide levels and transcriptome respectively., Methods: A rapid-onset and injury-free mouse model of photophobia was developed following intranasal injection of the TRPA1 activator, umbellulone. The role of SFKs antagonism on light aversion was assessed by the total time the mouse stays in the light and transition times between the dark and light compartments. To gain insight to the preventive mechanism of SFKs antagonism, hypothalamic neuropeptides levels were assessed using enzyme linked immunofluorescent assay and trigeminal ganglion activity were assessed using RNA-sequencing and qPCR analysis., Results: SFKs antagonism by a clinically relevant SFKs inhibitor saracatinib reduced the total time in light and transition times in male mice, but not in females, suggesting SFKs play a crucial role in photophobia progressing and exhibit a male-only effect. SFKs antagonism had no effect on hypothalamic calcitonin gene-related peptide and pituitary adenylate cyclase-activating polypeptide levels of all mice investigated, suggesting the gender-different effect of saracatinib on light aversion appears to be independent of these hypothalamic neuropeptide levels. In trigeminal ganglion of male mice, photophobia is associated with profound alteration of differentially expressed genes, part of which were reversed by SFKs antagonism. Subsequent qPCR analysis showed SFKs antagonism displayed gender-different modulation of expression in some candidate genes, particularly noteworthy those encoding ion channels (trpm3, Scn8a), ATPase signaling (crebbp, Atp5α1) and kinase receptors (Zmynd8, Akt1)., Conclusions: In conclusion, our data revealed that SFKs antagonism reduced photophobia processing in male mice and exhibited gender-different modulation of trigeminal ganglion activity, primarily manifesting as alterations in the transcriptome profile. These findings underscore the potential of SFKs antagonism for allieving photophobia in males, highlighting its value in the emerging field of precision medicine., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

Background: Solid pseudopapillary neoplasm of the pancreas (SPN) is a rare and low-grade malignant tumor. It mainly occurs in women of reproductive age, accounting for approximately 1-3% of all pancreatic tumors. SPN has a low incidence rate and is difficult to diagnose before surgery. Some cases may show local infiltration, but distant metastasis rarely occurs. Currently, there is no standardized treatment protocol for SPN., Patient and Methods: We have collected clinical data from 5 patients with solid pseudopapillary neoplasm (SPN) of the pancreas who presented with distant metastasis at our hospital. This study retrospectively analyzes their clinical manifestations, imaging characteristics, pathological findings, and treatment outcomes. The aim is to summarize the clinical features of SPN with distant metastasis, thereby improving the diagnosis, treatment, and prognosis prediction of this disease. This study also reviews relevant literature., Results: The median age of the 5 patients was 32 years old, with a male-to-female ratio of 1:4. All patients underwent enhanced CT scans and were diagnosed with SPN through biopsy or surgical pathology. All 5 patients had liver metastases, and one patient had clavicular lymph node metastasis. Another patient had both lung and clavicular lymph node metastases. Three patients underwent curative surgery, one patient received chemotherapy combined with targeted immunotherapy and subsequently underwent TACE(Transcatheter arterial chemoembolization) and HAIC (Hepatic artery infusion chemotherapy) treatments due to progression. One patient received internal radiation therapy but experienced multiple relapses and eventually died due to complications. The follow-up period ranged from 7 to 53 months, with 2 patients succumbing to the disease., Conclusion: As a low-grade tumor, SPN has a low rate of distant metastasis, typically occurring in only 5%-15% of cases. These metastases often lack characteristic clinical symptoms. Diagnosis can only be confirmed after exclusion of other lesions through imaging and pathological examination. The primary treatment for metastatic SPN is curative surgery, which can lead to a favorable prognosis., Competing Interests: The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2024 Hu, Gui, Nie and Duan.)

As a terrestrial ecosystem, alpine grasslands feature diverse vegetation types and play key roles in regulating water resources and carbon storage, thus shaping global climate. The dynamics of soil nutrients in this ecosystem, responding to regional climate change, directly impact primary productivity. This review comprehensively explored the effects of climate change on soil nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), and their balance in the alpine meadows, highlighting the significant roles these nutrients played in plant growth and species diversity. We also shed light on machine learning utilization in soil nutrient evaluation. As global warming continues, alongside shifting precipitation patterns, soil characteristics of grasslands, such as moisture and pH values vary significantly, further altering the availability and composition of soil nutrients. The rising air temperature in alpine regions substantially enhances the activity of soil organisms, accelerating nutrient mineralization and the decomposition of organic materials. Combined with varied nutrient input, such as increased N deposition, plant growth and species composition are changing. With the robust capacity to use and integrate diverse data sources, including satellite imagery, sensor-collected spectral data, camera-captured videos, and common knowledge-based text and audio, machine learning offers rapid and accurate assessments of the changes in soil nutrients and associated determinants, such as soil moisture. When combined with powerful large language models like ChatGPT, these tools provide invaluable insights and strategies for effective grassland management, aiming to foster a sustainable ecosystem that balances high productivity and advanced services with reduced environmental impacts., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that there is no conflict of interest related to this publication., (Crown Copyright © 2024. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

The estuarine ecological environment faces significant threats from contaminants of emerging concern (CECs); yet, the risk posed by CECs to resident organisms remains poorly understood. Here, we employed tiered toxicity testing to investigate the adverse effects and potential mechanisms of tris (1-chloro-2-propyl) phosphate (TCPP) on the early life stages of an estuarine fish, Mugilogobius chulae. TCPP affected the development of M. chulae embryos, including survival, morphology, hatching, and behavior. A concentration-dependent transcriptomic analysis showed that TCPP disrupted 12 neurodevelopment-related KEGG pathways in M. chulae embryos, with five of the 30 % top-ranked pathways related to neurotransmitter signaling. Besides the cholinergic synapse signaling pathway, the glutamatergic signaling pathway (including NMDAR and AMPAR subtypes) may also mediate TCPP-induced neurodevelopmental toxicity. The NMDAR subtype GRIN2B was downregulated at high concentrations. Molecular dynamics simulations revealed a strong interaction between TCPP and GRIN2B, with TCPP binding to the residues Ile153 and Ile188. The results suggest that NMDARs play a crucial role in TCPP-induced neurodevelopmental toxicity toward M. chulae. AOP network analysis predicted that TCPP may impact cognitive functions and memory. Our study provides a novel testing strategy for identifying the mechanisms of toxicity of CECs, a crucial component of ecological risk assessment., Competing Interests: Declaration of Competing Interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Key Message: The genomic organization, phylogenetic relationship, expression patterns, and genetic variations of m6A-related genes were systematically investigated in wild emmer wheat and the function of TdFIP37 regulating salt tolerance was preliminarily determined. m6A modification is one of the most abundant and crucial RNA modifications in eukaryotics, playing the indispensable role in growth and development as well as stress response in plants. However, its significance in wild emmer wheat remains elusive. Here, a genome-wide search of m6A-related genes was conducted in wild emmer wheat to obtain 64 candidates, including 21 writers, 17 erasers, and 26 readers. Phylogenetic and collinearity analysis demonstrated that segmental duplication and polyploidization contributed mainly to the expansion of m6A-related genes in wild emmer. A number of cis-acting elements involving in stress and hormonal regulation were found in the promoter regions of them, such as MBS, LTR, and ABRE. Genetic variation of them was also investigated using resequencing data and obvious genetic bottleneck was occurred on them during wild emmer wheat domestication process. Furthermore, the salt-responsive candidates were investigated through RNA-seq data and qRT-PCR validation using the salt-tolerant and -sensitive genotypes and the co-expression analysis showed that they played the hub role in regulating salt stress response. Finally, the loss-function mutant of Tdfip37 displayed the significantly higher salt-sensitive compared to WT and then RNA-seq analysis demonstrated that FIP37 mediated the MAPK pathway, hormone signal transduction, as well as transcription factor to regulate salt tolerance. This study provided the potential m6A genes for functional analysis, which will contribute to better understand the regulatory roles of m6A modification and also improve the salt tolerance from the perspective of epigenetic approach in emmer wheat and other crops., (© 2024. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer-Verlag GmbH Germany, part of Springer Nature.)

Competing Interests: Competing interests: None declared.

N6-methyladenosine (m 6 A) is a widespread post-transcriptional modification in eukaryotic mRNAs. Proteins with the YTH structural domain act as m 6 A-binding proteins by recognizing the m 6 A modification and regulating mRNA through this recognition. In this study, SlYTHDF2 , a prototypical m 6 A -binding protein gene in the YTH family was expressed in various tissues, and subcellular localization analyses indicated that the SlYTHDF2 protein was localized in the nucleus and cytoplasm. SlYTHDF2 knockout lines were obtained using CRISPR/Cas9 technology and showed the senesced leaves prematurely increased endogenous ABA accumulation compared with the wild type. Moreover, we found that dark promoted leaf senescence in SlYTHDF2 knockout lines and exogenous ABA further accelerated leaf senescence under dark conditions. The qRT-PCR analysis revealed significant alterations in the expression of genes associated with the ABA pathway. Relative to the wild type, the CR-slythdf2 plants exhibited reduced levels of photosynthetic pigments, higher accumulation of reactive oxygen species, and increased damage to cell membranes. Additionally, we discovered that SlYTHDF2 interacts with the chloroplast-binding protein SlRBCS3 through yeast two-hybrid and BiFC experiments. Overall, our data suggest the important role of SlYTHDF2 in regulating tomato leaf senescence.

The accurate determination of the electronic structure of strongly correlated materials using first principle methods is of paramount importance in condensed matter physics, computational chemistry, and material science. However, due to the exponential scaling of computational resources, incorporating such materials into classical computation frameworks becomes prohibitively expensive. In 2016, Bauer et al. proposed a hybrid quantum-classical approach to correlated materials [B. Bauer et al., Hybrid quantum-classical approach to correlated materials, Phys. Rev. X 6, 031045 (2016).PRXHAE2160-330810.1103/PhysRevX.6.031045] that can efficiently tackle the electronic structure of complex correlated materials. Here, we experimentally demonstrate that approach to tackle the computational challenges associated with strongly correlated materials. By seamlessly integrating quantum computation into classical computers, we address the most computationally demanding aspect of the calculation, namely the computation of the Green's function, using a spin quantum processor. Furthermore, we realize a self-consistent determination of the single impurity Anderson model through a feedback loop between quantum and classical computations. A quantum phase transition in the Hubbard model from the metallic phase to the Mott insulator is observed as the strength of electron correlation increases. As the number of qubits with high control fidelity continues to grow, our experimental findings pave the way for solving even more complex models, such as strongly correlated crystalline materials or intricate molecules.