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Sepsis is one of the leading causes of death in critical patients worldwide and its occurrence is related to the excessive activation of macrophages. Chloride loss worsens the prognosis of patients with sepsis but the underlying mechanism is currently unclear. In this study, we founded that macrophages deficient in intracellular Cl - secrete more inflammatory cytokines such as IL-1β, IL-6 and TNF-α compared with control group. The intracellular chloride level decreased in WNK1 deficiency or activity inhibited macrophages with more severe inflammatory response after LPS treatment. Remimazolam, as classic GABAa receptor agonist, alleviates excessive inflammation cascade by promoting macrophage chloride influx during sepsis progression. Collectively, this study proves that macrophage WNK1 acts as a negative regulator of inflammatory response by sensing chloride to maintain intracellular chloride balance during sepsis coupled with hypochloremia., 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 The Author(s). Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Objective: Acute-on-chronic liver failure (ACLF) is a syndrome characterized by a high short-term mortality rate, and effective interventions are still lacking. This study aims to investigate whether the small molecule baicalein can mitigate ACLF and elucidate the molecular mechanisms., Methods: The ACLF mouse model was induced through chronic liver injury using carbon tetrachloride, followed by acute inflammation induction with lipopolysaccharide (LPS). Baicalein was administered through intraperitoneal injection to explore its therapeutic effects. In vitro experiments utilized the iBMDM macrophage cell line to investigate the underlying mechanisms. Peripheral blood was collected from clinical ACLF patients for validation., Results: In the LPS-induced ACLF mouse model, baicalein demonstrated a significant reduction in acute inflammation and liver damage, as evidenced by histopathological evaluation, liver function analysis, and inflammatory marker measurements. Transcriptomic analysis, coupled with molecular biology experiments, uncovered that baicalein exerts its effects in ACLF by activating the TrKB-CREB1 signaling axis to upregulate the surface expression of the TREM2 receptor on macrophages. This promotes M2 macrophage polarization and activates efferocytosis, thereby inhibiting inflammation and alleviating liver damage. Furthermore, we observed a substantial negative correlation between postoperative peripheral blood plasma soluble TREM2 (sTREM2) levels and inflammation, as well as adverse outcomes in clinical ACLF patients., Conclusion: Baicalein plays a protective role in ACLF by enhancing the surface expression of the TREM2 receptor on macrophages, leading to the suppression of inflammation, mitigation of liver damage, and a reduction in mortality. Additionally, plasma sTREM2 emerges as a critical indicator for predicting adverse outcomes in ACLF patients., 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.)

Heavy metal pollution of the soil affects the environment and human health. Masson pine is a good candidate for phytoremediation of heavy metal in mining areas. Microorganisms in the rhizosphere can help with the accumulation of heavy metal in host plants. However, studies on its rhizosphere bacterial communities under heavy metal pollution are still limited. Therefore, in this study, the chemical and bacterial characteristics of Masson pine rhizosphere under four different levels of heavy metal pollution were investigated using 16 S rRNA gene sequencing, soil chemistry and analysis of plant enzyme activities. The results showed that soil heavy metal content, plant oxidative stress and microbial diversity damage were lower the farther they were from the mine dump. The co-occurrence network relationship of slightly polluted soils (C1 and C2) was more complicated than that of highly polluted soils (C3 and C4). Relative abundance analysis indicated Sphingomonas and Pseudolabrys were more abundant in slightly polluted soils (C1 and C2), while Gaiella and Haliangium were more abundant in highly polluted soils (C3 and C4). LEfSe analysis indicated Burkholderiaceae, Xanthobacteraceae, Gemmatimonadaceae, Gaiellaceae were significantly enriched in C1 to C4 site, respectively. Mantel analysis showed that available cadmium (Cd) contents of soil was the most important factor influencing the bacterial community assembly. Correlation analysis showed that eight bacterial genus were significantly positively associated with soil available Cd content. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study to investigate the rhizospheric bacterial community of Masson pine trees under different degrees of heavy metal contamination, which lays the foundation for beneficial bacteria-based phytoremediation using Masson pines in the future., 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 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Background: Extending the dosing interval of a primary series of mRNA COVID-19 vaccination has been employed to reduce myocarditis risk in adolescents, but previous evaluation of impact on vaccine effectiveness (VE) is limited to risk after second dose., Methods: We quantified the impact of the dosing interval based on case notifications and vaccination uptake in Hong Kong from January to April 2022, based on calendar-time proportional hazards models and matching approaches., Results: We estimated that the hazard ratio (HR) and odds ratio (OR) of infections after the second dose for extended (28 days or more) versus regular (21-27 days) dosing intervals ranged from 0.86 to 0.99 from calendar-time proportional hazards models, and from 0.85 to 0.87 from matching approaches, respectively. Adolescents in the extended dosing groups (including those who did not receive a second dose in the study period) had a higher hazard of infection than those with a regular dosing interval during the intra-dose period (HR 1.66; 95% CI 1.07, 2.59; p = 0.02) after the first dose., Conclusions: Implementing an extended dosing interval should consider multiple factors including the degree of myocarditis risk, the degree of protection afforded by each dose, and the extra protection achievable using an extended dosing interval., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

Immune thrombocytopenia (ITP) represents an uncommon hematological side effect associated with nivolumab, and its distinct clinical attributes remain poorly defined. This research aimed to explore the clinical manifestations and outcomes of ITP induced by nivolumab. Reports on nivolumab induced ITP up to April 30, 2024, were collected for retrospective analysis. The study involved 34 patients with a median age of 67 years (range 32, 82). The onset of ITP varied from 10 to 100 days post initial dosage, with a median onset at 70 days. The majority of patients exhibited no symptoms, with only 23.5% experiencing clinically significant bleeding and 11.8% facing non-clinically significant bleeding. The median platelet count was 12 × 10 9 /L (range 0, 115), with 67.6% of patients having platelet levels below 25 × 10 9 /L. Bone marrow biopsy revealed mainly elevated megakaryocytes. Platelet-associated IgG levels were elevated with a median of 210 ng/10 7 cells (range 73, 1130). Subsequent interventions, which included cessation of nivolumab, administration of systemic corticosteroids, intravenous immunoglobulin therapy, a thrombopoietin receptor agonist, platelet transfusion, and rituximab treatment, resulted in 82.4% of subjects achieving normalized platelet counts, whereas 5.9% passed away due to ITP. ITP is a rare life-threatening immune-related adverse event and necessitates close monitoring. Systemic steroids are the primary treatment for ITP, while intravenous immunoglobulin, thrombopoietin receptor agonist and rituximab are other options., (© 2024. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Science+Business Media, LLC, part of Springer Nature.)

Rationally designed molecules with versatile conformations are ideal candidates for creating challenging single component-based multicolor emissive materials. Herein, a new strategy is presented by introducing a C-C double bond in an o -carborane derivative. Compared to a linear connection using a C-C triple bond (CbPyY), a C-C double bond connection (CbPyE) exhibited a zigzag structure and unique fluorescence behavior. Yellow, yellowish orange, and red crystals or films of CbPyE can be obtained, while only orange ones of CbPyY were achieved under the same condition. Single crystal XRD and theoretical calculation studies revealed the zigzag structure brings asymmetry to one arm of CbPyE, which causes conformation diversity and leads to the multicolor emission. Interestingly, different emissions showed different responses to acetone vapor; the yellow one showed much higher sensitivity and faster response than the other two. It is believed that the prepared materials and the proposed strategy would contribute to future advances in single-fluorophore-based multicolor emissive materials.

Introduction: Patients with acute exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (AECOPD) admitted to intensive care unit (ICU) are exposed to poor clinical outcomes, and no specific prognostic models are available among these population. We aimed to develop and validate a risk score for prognosis prediction for these patients., Methods: This was a multicenter observation study. AECOPD patients admitted to ICU were included for model derivation from a prospective, multicenter cohort study. Logistic regression analysis was applied to identify independent predictors for in-hospital death and establish the prognostic risk score. The risk score was further validated and compared with DECAF, BAP-65, CURB-65 and APACHE Ⅱ score in another multicenter cohort., Results: Five variables were identified as independent predictors for in-hospital death in APCOPD patients admitted to ICU, and a corresponding risk score (PD-ICU score) was established, which was composed of Procalcitonin>0.5ug/L, Diastolic Blood Pressure<60mmHg, Need for Invasive Mechanical Ventilation, Disturbance of Consciousness and Blood Urea Nitrogen>7.2mmol/L. Patients were classified into three risk categories according to PD-ICU score. The in-hospital mortality of low-risk, intermediate-risk, and high-risk patients were 0.3%, 7.3%, and 27.9%, respectively. PD-ICU score displayed excellent discrimination ability with an area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC) of 0.815 in the derivation cohort and 0.754 in the validation cohort which outperformed other prognostic models., Conclusion: We derived and validated a simple and clinician-friendly prediction model (PD-ICU score) for in-hospital mortality among AECOPD patients admitted to ICU. With good performance and clinical practicability, this model may facilitate early risk stratification and optimal decision-making among these patients., (S. Karger AG, Basel.)

A reasonable porous transport layer (PTL) is crucial to decreasing the mass-transfer loss in proton-exchange membrane water electrolyzers (PEMWEs). In this study, it was experimentally demonstrated that the gradient porosity PTL is beneficial in improving the performance of electrolyzers. The research comprehensively investigates the impact of gradient porosity PTL structures on the performance of the PEMWE, considering mass transfer and interfacial contact. It offers insights into the two-phase (oxygen-water) flow transport mechanisms within the PTLs using a 2D numerical model based on the actual PTL geometry. At the microscopic level, it analyzes how the interfacial contact impacts proton and electron transport mechanisms, affecting not only the contact resistance but also the number of effective catalytic sites for the oxygen evolution reaction. Experimental results demonstrate that the cis-gradient porosity PTL leads to a performance enhancement of 9.3% at 2.2 A/cm 2 . Numerical simulations reveal that the drivers of oxygen transport include the surface tension of the fibers and the pressure drop influenced by the local PTL porosity. Further analysis indicates that the lower oxygen saturation in the bottom region of the PTL with cis-gradient porosity favors a lower oxygen coverage area in the catalyst layers (CL) since the narrower pore space and higher capillary pressure increase the number of water flow paths into the CL. Overall, this study provides valuable insights for designing high-performance PTLs for use in electrolyzers.

Two-dimensional (2D) MXene superconductors have been currently attracting considerable interest due to their unique electronic properties and diverse applicability. Utilizing first-principles computational methods, we have designed two distinct configurations of hydrogenated 2D Ti 2 N MXene materials, namely Ti 2 NH 2 and Ti 2 NH 4 , and have conducted an exhaustive analysis of their structural stability, electronic characteristics, and superconductivity. Hydrogenation endows monolayer Ti 2 N with inherent metallic characteristics, as evidenced by an elevated density of states (DOS) at the Fermi level ( E f ). Notably, Ti 2 NH 4 exhibits a superconducting critical temperature ( T c ) of 15.8 K, which is predominantly ascribed to the electronic contributions stemming from the Ti 3d orbitals. Analysis of phonon dispersion underscores the pivotal role that diverse lattice vibrational modes play in electron-phonon coupling (EPC), particularly the significance of low-frequency vibrations for facilitating electron pairing and the emergence of superconductivity. Furthermore, strain engineering can effectively modulate the superconducting properties of Ti 2 NH 4 , with a 2% tensile strain enhancing the EPC strength ( λ ) to 0.857 and increasing T c to 18.7 K. This research elucidates the superconducting mechanisms of hydrogenated Ti 2 N structures, offering valuable insights for the development of novel 2D superconducting materials.

Rapeseed is an important oil crop in the world. Wood vinegar could increase the yield and abiotic resistance of rapeseed. However, little is known about the underlying mechanisms of wood vinegar or its valid chemical components on rapeseed. In the present study, wood vinegar and butyrolactone (γ-Butyrolactone, one of the main components of wood vinegar) were applied to rapeseed at the seedling stage, and the molecular mechanisms of wood vinegar that affect rapeseed were studied by combining transcriptome and metabolomic analyses. The results show that applying wood vinegar and butyrolactone increases the biomass of rapeseed by increasing the leaf area and the number of pods per plant, and enhances the tolerance of rapeseed under low temperature by reducing membrane lipid oxidation and improving the content of chlorophyll, proline, soluble sugar, and antioxidant enzymes. Compared to the control, 681 and 700 differentially expressed genes were in the transcriptional group treated with wood vinegar and butyrolactone, respectively, and 76 and 90 differentially expressed metabolites were in the metabolic group. The combination of transcriptome and metabolomic analyses revealed the key gene-metabolic networks related to various pathways. Our research shows that after wood vinegar and butyrolactone treatment, the amino acid biosynthesis pathway of rapeseed may be involved in mediating the increase in rapeseed biomass, the proline metabolism pathway of wood vinegar treatment may be involved in mediating rapeseed's resistance to low-temperature stress, and the sphingolipid metabolism pathway of butyrolactone treatment may be involved in mediating rapeseed's resistance to low-temperature stress. It is suggested that the use of wood vinegar or butyrolactone are new approaches to increasing rapeseed yield and low-temperature resistance.

In this study, we investigated the potential therapeutic mechanism of ginsenoside Rg1 (GRg1) in chronic heart failure (CHF), focusing on its regulation of ERK1/2 protein phosphorylation. H9c2 cardiomyocytes and SD rats were divided into the control group, CHF (ADR) group, and CHF+ginsenoside Rg1 group using an isolated cardiomyocyte model and an in vivo CHF rat model induced by adriamycin (ADR). Cell viability, proliferation, apoptosis, and the expression of relevant proteins were measured to assess the effects of GRg1. The results showed that treatment with GRg1 increased cell activity and proliferation, while significantly reducing levels of inflammatory and apoptotic factors compared to the CHF (ADR) group. Moreover, the CHF+ginsenoside Rg1 group exhibited higher levels of Bcl-2 mRNA and protein expression, as well as lower levels of Caspase3 and Bax mRNA and protein expression, compared to the CHF (ADR) group. Notably, the CHF+ginsenoside Rg1 group displayed decreased serum NT-proBNP levels and heart weight/body weight (HW/BW) index. Furthermore, the electrocardiogram of rats in the CHF+ginsenoside Rg1 group resembled that of rats in the control group. Overall, our findings suggested that GRg1 alleviated CHF by inhibiting ERK1/2 protein phosphorylation, thereby inhibiting apoptosis, enhancing cell activity and proliferation, and reducing cardiac inflammatory responses., (© 2024. The Society for In Vitro Biology.)

Photo-transduction of solid-state optoelectronics occurs in semiconductors or their interfaces. Considering the confined active area and interfacial capacitance of solid-state materials, solid-state optoelectronics faces inherent limitations in photo-transduction, especially for bionic vision, and the performance is lower than that of living systems. For example, a photoreceptor generates pA-level photocurrent when absorbing a single photon. Here, a liquid-solid dual-state phototransistor is demonstrated, in which photo-transduction and modulation take place at the microporous interface between semiconductors and water, mimicking principles of the photoreceptor. When operating in the water, an orderly stacked photo-harvesting covalent organic framework layer generates supercapacitively photogating modulation of the channel conductivity via a dual-state interface, achieving responsivity of 4.6 × 10 10 A W -1 and detectivity of 1.62 × 10 16 Jones at room temperature, several orders of magnitude higher than other photodetectors. Such bio-inspired dual-state optoelectronics enables high-contrast scotopic neuromorphic imaging with responsivity greater than photoreceptors, holding promise for constructing optoelectronic systems with performance beyond conventional solid-state optoelectronics., (© 2024 Wiley‐VCH GmbH.)

Ultrasonic treatment and optimal cultivation techniques are both conducive to the high yield of super rice in South China. Many previous studies have shown that the increase in intercepted photosynthetically active radiation (IPAR) and radiation use efficiency (RUE) is an important reason for high rice yield. Field experiments were conducted over two years to evaluate the effects of IPAR and RUE on the yield under different treatments (CK: conventional cultivation technique without ultrasonic treatment; T1: conventional cultivation technique with ultrasonic treatment; T2: super rice-specific cultivation technique without ultrasonic treatment and T3: super rice-specific cultivation technique with ultrasonic treatment), with two representative rice varieties, Wufengyou-615 (WFY) and Jingnongsimiao (JNSM) during the late seasons of rice cultivation in South China. The super rice-specific cultivation technique and the ultrasonic treatment could significantly increase the yield, which was significantly ( p < 0.01) and positively correlated with panicle number, grain-filling rate, and aboveground total dry weight. The higher grain yield depended more highly on higher RUE in the mid-tillering stage and maturity stage. The results of multiple-regression models also showed that the contributions of IPAR and RUE to yield were significant ( p < 0.01). Conclusively, IPAR and RUE contributed a lot to yield progress of super rice in both super rice-specific cultivation techniques with fewer times of topdressing and ultrasonic treatment in South China. It is worth further studying how to reasonably improve the RUE of high-RUE varieties through other means.

Nonlinear evolution equations (NLEEs) have a wide range of applications in various fields, including physics, engineering, biology, economics, and more. These equations are used to describe complex systems that change over time, where the state or behavior of the system not only depends on the current situation, but may also be related to the past. A deep understanding of the solutions to NLEEs is of great significance for predicting and controlling the behavior of complex systems. The (3 + 1)-dimensional Kadomtsev-Petviashvili-Boussinesq-like (KPB-like) equation represents a partial differential equation that describes nonlinear wave phenomena in multi-dimensional spaces. This model is commonly employed in fields such as fluid dynamics, plasma physics, and nonlinear optics to study wave behaviors. This paper investigates the KPB-like equations, which have meaningful physical implications in describing nonlinear wave phenomena. Hirota bilinear method is employed to derive the bilinear form for the KPB-like equation and 1-soliton, 2-soliton, lump, and travelling wave solutions are studied to this kind of nonlinear model. In addition, the chaotic behaviors of soliton and lump solutions are explored via applying the Duffing chaotic system. To have a better understanding of dynamic structures, 3D, line, density and contour map plots of begotten results are displayed. Our results indicate the directness and effectiveness of the applied method for analyzing high-dimensional differential equations that arise in nonlinear science., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

Water resources are essential for desert oases and are key drivers of local ecological processes critical to the growth of desert vegetation. In this study, the oasis in the hinterland of the Taklamakan Desert, China, was selected as the research subject. Using high-precision classification of oasis vegetation through machine learning, surface water within the oasis was identified and extracted from multi-year Landsat remote sensing data. The spatial distribution patterns of the main community-building species, Populus euphratica and Tamarix ramosissima, were studied under different moisture gradients using environmental covariates and measured groundwater depth to invert its spatial distribution and K-mean clustering to construct surface water and groundwater moisture gradients. The results indicated that the classification accuracy for the two species reached 0.917. Gradients 1-5 were used to categorize the water resources, dividing surface water and groundwater into five gradients. Gradient 3 exhibited the optimal moisture conditions, with a high surface water distribution frequency (0.017) and shallow groundwater depth (3.158 m), while Gradient 4 showed the least optimal moisture conditions, characterized by a low surface water distribution frequency (0.008) and deep groundwater depth (4.820 m). The water gradient decreased in the following order: Gradient 3 > Gradient 5 > Gradient 1 > Gradient 2 > Gradient 4. The optimum gradients for growth of P. euphratica and T. ramosissima were gradients 5, 1, and 2. The normalized vegetation index spatial distribution patterns of the two species were consistent with that of the moisture gradient. Tamarix ramosissima was found to be more tolerant to salinity and drought than P. euphratica. Overall, this study provides valuable information on the effect of the spatial distribution of water resource gradients on oasis vegetation and can guide future water delivery policies in oases., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no competing financial interests or personal relationships that may have influenced the work reported in this study., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Monoamine neurotransmitters generated by de novo synthesis are rapidly transported and stored into synaptic vesicles at axon terminals. This transport is essential both for sustaining synaptic transmission and for limiting the toxic effects of monoamines. Here, synthesis of the monoamine histamine by histidine decarboxylase (HDC) and subsequent loading of histamine into synaptic vesicles are shown to be physically and functionally coupled within Drosophila photoreceptor terminals. This process requires HDC anchoring to synaptic vesicles via interactions with N-ethylmaleimide-sensitive fusion protein 1 (NSF1). Disassociating HDC from synaptic vesicles disrupts visual synaptic transmission and causes somatic accumulation of histamine, which leads to retinal degeneration. We further identified a proteasome degradation system mediated by the E3 ubiquitin ligase, purity of essence (POE), which clears mislocalized HDC from the soma, thus eliminating the cytotoxic effects of histamine. Taken together, our results reveal a dual mechanism for translocation and degradation of HDC that ensures restriction of histamine synthesis to axonal terminals and at the same time rapid loading into synaptic vesicles. This is crucial for sustaining neurotransmission and protecting against cytotoxic monoamines., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

Chestnuts become sweetened with better tastes for fried products after cold storage, but the possible mechanism is not clear. The dynamics of sugar components and related physiological responses, as well as the possible molecular mechanism in chestnuts during cold storage, were investigated. Sucrose accumulation and starch degradation contributed to taste improvement. Sucrose content reached the peak after two months of cold storage, along with the accumulation of reducing sugars of maltose, fructose and glucose to a much lesser extent. Meanwhile, alpha-amylase and beta-amylase maintained high levels, and the activities of acid invertase and sucrose synthase increased. Transcriptome data demonstrated that differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were significantly enriched in the process of starch and sucrose metabolism pathway, revealing the conversion promotion of starch to sucrose. Furthermore, DEGs involved in multiple phytohormone biosynthesis and signal transduction, as well as the transcription regulators, indicated that sucrose accumulation might be interconnected with the dormancy release of chestnuts, with over 90% germinated after two months of cold storage. Altogether, the results indicated that cold storage improved the taste of chestnuts mainly due to sucrose accumulation induced by DEGs of starch and sucrose metabolism pathway in this period, and the sweetening process was interconnected with dormancy release.

Diabetic nephropathy (DN) is a leading cause of end-stage renal disease in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). This meta-analysis aims to evaluate the association between the triglyceride glucose (TyG) index, a novel marker reflecting insulin resistance, and the risk of developing DN in patients with T2DM. We conducted a comprehensive literature search in PubMed, Embase, and Web of Science databases up to May 12, 2024. Studies assessing the TyG index in relation to DN risk among T2DM patients were included. The pooled relative risks (RRs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated using a random-effects model. A total of eight longitudinal follow-up studies encompassing 15 889 patients with T2DM were included. The pooled analysis revealed a significant association between a higher TyG index and an increased risk of DN in patients with T2DM (RR=1.53, 95% CI: 1.37-1.71, p<0.001; I 2 =35%). The results of meta-regression analysis suggested that the cutoff of TyG index was positively associated with the RR for the association between TyG index and DN. Subgroup analyses demonstrated that the association was stronger in studies with cutoff of TyG index ≥9.5 as compared to those with the cutoff <9.5 (RR: 1.73 vs. 1.40, p for subgroup difference <0.05). The association was not significantly affected by study design, mean age of the patients, proportion of men, or follow-up durations. In conclusion, higher TyG index is significantly associated with an increased risk of DN in patients with T2DM., Competing Interests: The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest., (Thieme. All rights reserved.)

Perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) as emerging pollutants was largely produced and stable in nature environment. Its fate and effect to the wasted sludge digestion process and corresponding microbial mechanism was rarely reported. This study investigated the different dose of PFOA to the wasted sludge digestion process, where the methane yield and microbial mechanism was illustrated. The PFOA added before digestion were 0-10000 μg/L, no significant variation in daily and accumulated methane production between each group. The 9th day methane yield was significantly higher than other days (p < 0.05). The soluble protein was significantly decreased after 76 days digestion (p < 0.001). The total PFOA in sludge (R 2  = 0.8817) and liquid (R 2  = 0.9083) phase after digestion was exponentially correlated with PFOA dosed. The PFOA in liquid phase was occupied 54.10 ± 18.38% of the total PFOA in all reactors. The dewatering rate was keep decreasing with the increase of PFOA added (R 2  = 0.7748, p < 0.001). The mcrA abundance was significantly correlated with the pH value and organic matter concentration in the reactors. Chloroflexi was the predominant phyla, Aminicenantales, Bellilinea and Candidatus&#95;Cloacimonas were predominant genera in all reactors. Candidatus&#95;Methanofastidiosum and Methanolinea were predominant archaea in all reactors. The function prediction by FAPROTAX and Tax4fun implied that various PFOA dosage resulted in significant function variation. The fermentation and anaerobic chemoheterotrophy function were improved with the PFOA dose. Co-occurrence network implied the potent cooperation among the organic matter degradation and methanogenic microbe in the digestion system. PFOA has little impact to the methane generation while affect the microbe function significantly, its remaining in the digested sludge should be concerned to reduce its potential environmental risks., 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.)

Antiphospholipid syndrome (APS) is an autoimmune disorder characterized by vascular thrombosis and obstetric morbidity, with accurate laboratory examination of antiphospholipid antibodies (aPLs) being crucial for diagnosis. This study focused on anti-β2 glycoprotein I (aβ2GPI) antibodies and aimed to establish the first population-based cutoff values for aβ2GPI IgA/IgM/IgG antibodies in non-pregnant women of reproductive age in Southwest China. The study cohort comprised 181 healthy women of reproductive age for study. Blood samples were collected on an early morning fast. Anti-β2GPI antibodies including IgA, IgM and IgG were measured in serum using the HOB ® BioCLIA kit. According to the Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute (CLSI) guidelines, the study used non-parametric percentile methods to calculate the 95th, 97.5th, and 99th percentiles cutoff values for aβ2GPI IgA/IgM/IgG antibodies, along with corresponding 90% confidence intervals (CI), while excluding outliers. A total of 168 independent samples were collected for verification, including 85 samples from healthy subjects and 83 samples from APS patients, in order to evaluate the analytical performance of the obtained cutoff values. The 99th percentile cutoff values were 3.36 RU/mL for aβ2GPI IgA, 27.54 RU/mL for aβ2GPI IgM and 1.81 RU/mL for aβ2GPI IgG, which indicated that the levels of aβ2GPI IgM antibodies were generally higher compared to those of IgA and IgG antibodies. Our established reference range was confirmed to be successful in validating the detected values of aβ2GPI antibodies in all healthy controls. With the 99th percentile cutoff value, the sensitivity was 14.46% for aβ2GPI IgA, 22.89% for aβ2GPI IgG, and 9.64% for aβ2GPI IgM in APS patients. This study established population-based cutoff values that are applicable to the local population for the accurate laboratory examination of aβ2GPI antibodies in non-pregnant women of reproductive age. The study also recommends paying more attention to IgM positivity in women of reproductive age., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

Current-driven dynamics of topological spin textures, such as skyrmions and antiskyrmions, have garnered considerable attention in condensed matter physics and spintronics. As compared with skyrmions, the current-driven dynamics of their antiparticles - antiskyrmions - remain less explored due to the increased complexity of antiskyrmions. Here, we design and employ fabricated microdevices of a prototypical antiskyrmion host, (Fe 0.63 Ni 0.3 Pd 0.07 ) 3 P, to allow in situ current application with Lorentz transmission electron microscopy observations. The experimental results and related micromagnetic simulations demonstrate current-driven antiskyrmion dynamics confined within stripe domains. Under nanosecond-long current pulses, antiskyrmions exhibit directional motion along the stripe regardless of the current direction, while the antiskyrmion velocity is linearly proportional to the current density. Significantly, the antiskyrmion mobility could be enhanced when the current flow is perpendicular to the stripe direction. Our findings provide novel and reliable insights on dynamical antiskyrmions and their potential implications on spintronics., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

Aim: Low birthweight is an issue during pregnancy associated with an increased risk of developing liver disease later in life. Previous Mendelian randomisation (MR) studies which explored this issue have not isolated the direct impact of the foetus on birthweight. In the present study, MR was used to assess whether direct foetal effects on birthweight were causally associated with liver structure, function and disease risk independent of intrauterine effects., Materials and Methods: We extracted single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) from genome-wide association studies (GWAS) about direct foetal-affected birthweight (321 223 cases) to conduct univariable and multivariable MR analyses to explore the relationships between birthweight and 4 liver structure measures, 9 liver function measures and 18 liver diseases. A two-step MR analysis was used to further assess and quantify the mediating effects of the mediators., Results: When isolating direct foetal effects, genetically predicted lower birthweight was associated with a higher risk of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) (odds ratios [OR], 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.61, 1.29-2.02, p < 0.001), higher magnetic resonance imaging [MRI] proton density fat fraction (PDFF) and higher serum gamma glutamyltransferase (GGT). Two-step MR identified two candidate mediators that partially mediate the direct foetal effect of lower birthweight on NAFLD, including fasting insulin (proportion mediated: 22.29%) and triglycerides (6.50%)., Conclusions: Our MR analysis reveals a direct causal association between lower birthweight and liver MRI PDFF, as well as the development of NAFLD, which persisted even after accounting for the potential influence of maternal factors. In addition, we identified fasting insulin and triglycerides as mediators linking birthweight and hepatic outcomes, providing insights for early clinical interventions., (© 2024 John Wiley & Sons Ltd.)

Radioactive iodine ( 131 I) with a short half-life of ~8.02 days is one of the most commonly used nuclides in nuclear medicine. However, 131 I easily poses a significant risk to human health and ecological environment. Therefore, there is an urgent need to develop a secure and efficient strategy to capture and store radioactive iodine. Metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) are a new generation of sorbents with outstanding physical and chemical properties, rendering them attractive candidates for the adsorption and immobilization of iodine. This review focuses on recent research advancements in mechanisms underlying iodine adsorption over MOFs and their derivatives, including van der Waals interactions, complexing interactions, and chemical precipitation. Furthermore, this review concludes by outlining the challenges and opportunities for the safe disposal of radioactive iodine from the perspective of the material design and system evaluation based on our knowledge. Thus, this paper aims to offer necessary information regarding the large-scale production of MOFs for iodine adsorption.

To evaluate the efficacy of neuronavigation-assisted stereotactic drilling drainage compared with that of craniotomy in the treatment of massive intracerebral haemorrhage (ICH) in elderly patients. This was a randomized, controlled, blind endpoint clinical study. Elderly patients with massive ICH treated at our neurosurgery department, without the formation of brain herniation preoperatively, all underwent neurosurgical intervention. Patients were randomly assigned to two groups: the minimally invasive surgery (MIS) group, which received neuronavigation-assisted stereotactic drilling drainage, and the craniotomy haematoma removal surgery (CHRS) group. Patient characteristics, surgical anaesthesia methods, surgery duration, intraoperative bleeding volume, duration of ICU stay duration of hospital stay, complications, and modified Rankin scale (mRS) scores at 90 days posttreatment were compared between the two groups. Statistical analysis was performed on the collected data. A total of 67 patients were randomly assigned, with 33 (49.25%) in the MIS group and 34 (50.75%) in the CHRS group. Compared with the CHRS group, the MIS group had advantages, including the use of local anaesthesia, shorter surgery duration, less intraoperative bleeding, shorter ICU stay, and fewer complications (P < 0.05). The MIS group had a significantly improved patient prognosis at 90 days (mRS 0-3). However, there were no significant differences in hospital stay or 90-day survival rate between the two groups (P > 0.05). For elderly patients with massive ICH without brain herniation, stereotactic drilling drainage is a simple surgical procedure that can be performed under local anaesthesia. Patients treated with this approach seem to have better outcomes than those treated with craniotomy. In clinical practice, neuronavigation-assisted stereotactic drilling drainage is recommended for surgical treatment in elderly patients with massive ICH without brain herniation.Clinical trial registration number: NCT04686877., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

Efficient treatment and utilization of organic pollutants in water are difficult for environmental remediation. A new hyper-cross-linked polymer (PIn-HCP) with high specific surface area was constructed via polyindole (PIn) as building blocks. Rich pore structures and abundant adsorption sites in PIn-HCP were obtained by hyper-cross-linking. The specific surface area of PIn-HCP was enhanced from 14.85 to 431.89 m 2 /g. The adsorption capacities of PIn-HCP-2 for methylene blue (MB), methyl orange (MO), rhodamine B (RhB), and tetracycline hydrochloride (TH) are 902.0, 275.2, 16.0, and 0.0 mg/g, respectively. PIn-HCP also realized selective adsorption of MB, which can better separate MB/RhB and MB/TH. MB is adsorbed onto PIn-HCP via a synergistic mechanism including π-π stacking, electrostatic interaction, cation-π interaction, hydrogen bonding interaction, and ion exchange. The huge conjugated structure of PIn promotes PIn-HCP to selectively adsorb MB. In addition, PIn-HCP also retains the electrochemical properties of PIn. MB can improve the specific capacitance of PIn-HCP up to five times, and it has potential as a supercapacitor electrode. PIn-HCP offers a promising and practical solution for the efficient treatment and utilization of organic pollutants in water.

Epithelial homeostasis is fundamental for the physiological functions of colon tissue. Dysregulation of colon epithelial structure leads to abnormal immune responses and diseases such as inflammatory bowel disease. In this work we found long non-coding RNA DANCR was a novel regulator to colon epithelial homeostasis. Silencing DANCR resulted in decreased expression of epithelial barrier proteins and enhanced susceptibility to TNFα stimulation, which was accompanied by hyperactivation of the NF-κB pathway. Mechanistical studies revealed DANCR modulated the expression of a protein methyltransferase SET7 to suppress responses to TNFα, as well as the activity of NF-κB pathway. In summary, DANCR regulated colon epithelial homeostasis through modulating the TNFα/NF-κB axis. These findings cast light on the discovery of novel regulators to colon epithelial homeostasis and added new evidence to the physiological functions of DANCR., 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.)

Lipopolysaccharide (LPS) triggers a severe systemic inflammatory reaction in mammals, with the dimerization of TLR 4 /MD-2 upon LPS stimulation serving as the pivotal mechanism in the transmission of inflammatory signals. Ginsenoside Rh 2 (G-Rh 2 ), one of the active constituents of red ginseng, exerts potent anti-inflammatory activity. However, whether G-Rh 2 can block the TLR 4 dimerization to exert anti-inflammatory effects remains unclear. Here, we first investigated the non-cytotoxic concentration of G-Rh 2 on RAW 264.7 cells, and detected the releases of pro-inflammatory cytokines in LPS-treated RAW 264.7 cells, and then uncovered the mechanisms involved in the anti-inflammatory activity of G-Rh 2 through flow cytometry, fluorescent membrane localization, Western blotting, co-immunoprecipitation (Co-IP), molecular docking and surface plasmon resonance (SPR) analysis in LPS-stimulated macrophages. Our results show that G-Rh 2 stimulation markedly inhibited the secretion of LPS-induced interleukin-6 (IL-6), tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) and nitric oxide (NO). Additionally, G-Rh 2 blocked the binding of LPS with the membrane of RAW 264.7 cells through direct interaction with TLR 4 and MD-2 proteins, leading to the disruption of the dimerization of TLR 4 and MD-2, followed by suppression of the TLR 4 /NF-κB signaling pathway. Our results suggest that G-Rh 2 acts as a new inhibitor of TLR 4 dimerization and may serve as a promising therapeutic agent against inflammation.

Objective: This study aimed to optimize the formulation of magnetically targeted lidocaine microspheres, reduce the microsphere particle size, and increase the drug loading and encapsulation rate of lidocaine. The optimized microspheres were characterized, and their pharmacokinetics and effective radii of action were studied., Methods: The preparation of magnetically targeted lidocaine microspheres was optimized using ultrasonic emulsification-solvent evaporation. The Box-Behnken design method and response surface method were used for optimization. The optimized microspheres were characterized and tested for their in vitro release. Blood concentrations were analyzed using a non-compartment model, and the main pharmacokinetic parameters (half-life ( t 1/2 ), maximum blood concentration, area under the blood concentration-time curve (AUC), time to peak ( T max ), and mean retention time (MRT) were calculated. Pathological sections were stained to study the safety of the microsphere tissues. A rabbit sciatic nerve model was used to determine the "standard time ( t 0 )" and effective radius of the microspheres., Results: The optimized lidocaine microspheres exhibited significantly reduced particle size and increased drug loading and encapsulation rates. Pharmacokinetic experiments showed that the t 1/2 , T max , and MRT of magnetically targeted lidocaine microspheres were significantly prolonged in the magnetic field, and the AUC 0-48 and AUC 0-∞ were significantly decreased. Its pharmacodynamic radius was 31.47 mm., Conclusion: Magnetically targeted lidocaine microspheres provide sustained long-lasting release, neurotargeting, nerve blocking, and high tissue safety. This preparation has a significantly low blood concentration and a slow release in vivo, which can reduce local anesthetic entry into the blood. This may be a novel and effective method for improving postoperative comfort and treating chronic pain. This provides a countermeasure for exploring the size of the magnetic field for the application of magnetic drug-carrying materials., Competing Interests: Competing interests: None declared., (© American Society of Regional Anesthesia & Pain Medicine 2024. No commercial re-use. See rights and permissions. Published by BMJ.)

Electrolytes endowed with high oxidation/reduction interfacial stability, fast Li-ion desolvation process and decent ionic conductivity over wide temperature region are known critical for low temperature and fast-charging performance of energy-dense batteries, yet these characteristics are rarely satisfied simultaneously. Here, we report anchored weakly-solvated electrolytes (AWSEs), that are designed by extending the chain length of polyoxymethylene ether electrolyte solvent, can achieve the above merits at moderate salt concentrations. The -O-CH 2 -O- segment in solvent enables the weak four-membered ring Li + coordination structure and the increased number of segments can anchor the solvent by Li + without largely sacrificing the ionic dissociation ability. Therefore, the single salt/single solvent AWSEs enable solvent co-intercalation-free behavior towards graphite (Gr) anode and high oxidation stability towards high-nickel cathode (LiNi 0.8 Co 0.1 Mn 0.1 O 2 -NCM811), as well as the formation of inorganic rich electrode/electrolyte interphase on both of them due to the anion-rich solvation shells. The capacity retention of Gr||NCM811 Ah-class pouch cell can reach 70.85 % for 1000 cycles at room-temperature and 75.86 % for 400 cycles at -20 °C. This work points out a promising path toward the molecular design of electrolyte solvents for high-energy/power battery systems that are adaptive for extreme conditions., (© 2024 Wiley-VCH GmbH.)

Prurigo nodularis (PN) is a chronic and debilitating skin disease with severe itching that negatively impacts patients' quality of life and mental state. However, the treatment options for PN remain limited. Global metabolomics analysis can offer effective information on energy metabolism, pathogenesis and potential diagnostic biomarkers. No study on metabolomic analysis of PN has been reported. To further understand the mechanisms of PN and analyse the plasma metabolite profiles in patients with PN. Targeted-metabolome analysis of 306 metabolites in plasma from 18 patients with PN and 19 healthy controls was performed using Liquid Chromatography-tandem Mass Spectrometer analysis. We identified 31 differential metabolites. Most acylcarnitines, long-chain fatty acids, alpha-aminobutyric acid, hydroxybutyric acid and lactic acid among these metabolites were up-regulated in patients with PN; in contrast, glucaric acid, suberic acid, bile acid derivatives and most amino acids were down-regulated. Positive correlations exist between glucaric acid and itching severity and acylcarnitines and insomnia. Suberic acid and the Investigator's Global Assessment (IGA) scores correlate negatively. Metabolite variation reflects the dysregulation of energy metabolism and chronic systematic inflammation in PN. Several metabolites, such as glucaric acid, suberic acid and acylcarnitines, merit further study as potential biomarkers of disease severity in PN., (© 2024 John Wiley & Sons A/S. Published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.)

Objective: Cardiovascular disease (CVD) represents the primary cause of mortality in patients afflicted with end-stage renal disease and undergoing peritoneal dialysis (PD) treatment. Galectin-3 (Gal-3), a molecule known to exhibit a correlation with CVD mortality garners considerable interest. The objective of this study was to explore the potential association between serum Gal-3 levels and other CVD risk factors among PD patients., Methods: In this cross-sectional study, a total of 114 PD patients with a minimum of 3 months of PD treatment were enrolled. Serum Gal-3 levels were quantified using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. The data of patients with Gal-3 levels higher and lower than 26.744 pg/ml were compared using Mann-Whitney U tests or t tests. Pearson's correlation or Spearman's correlation analysis and multivariate regression were used to assess the associations between the known risk factors for CVD and Gal-3., Results: In comparison to the inter-group baseline data, the low Gal-3 group exhibited a higher glomerular filtration rate (GFR). Gal-3 levels correlate positively with PD duration, B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP), growth differentiation factor 15 (GDF-15), interventricular septal thickness in diastolic (IVST), and left ventricular mass index (LVMI). Conversely, Gal-3 exhibited a negative correlation with albumin levels. Multivariate linear regression analysis demonstrated a positive correlation between Gal-3 levels and BNP, GDF-15, PD duration, IVST and LVMI. Gal-3 levels were negatively correlated with albumin levels., Conclusions: Gal-3 was strongly associated with BNP, GDF-15, IVST and LVMI in patients undergoing PD treatment. Prospective studies should be carried out to determine whether Gal-3 can be a promising biomarker in predicting increased risk of adverse cardiovascular events in PD patients., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

Aim: To construct a nursing assessment framework for patients in anaesthesia recovery period., Design: A three-round modified Delphi method was employed to capture the consensus of 22 panellists., Methods: The initial items in the nursing assessment framework for patients in anaesthesia recovery period were developed based on the mini-clinical evaluation exercise (mini-CEX). A panel of 22 experts participated in this study. The panellists have more than 10 years of experience in either clinical anaesthesia, or post-anesthesia nursing, or operating room nursing, or surgical intensive nursing. Between March and April 2023, the panellists evaluated and recommended revisions to the initial framework., Results: This study resulted in the development of a nursing assessment framework for patients in anaesthesia recovery period. The initial version of the framework consisted of six dimensions with 27 items. Six items were modified after the first round of consultation. After the second round, five modifications and four deletions were made based on expert opinion. The third round resulted in a convergence of expert opinion. The framework, which consists of 24 items across five dimensions, was refined. The five dimensions are as follows: History-taking, Physical assessment, Clinical judgement, Organizational efficiency and Humanistic concern., Conclusion: The nursing assessment framework for patients in anaesthesia recovery period was reached consensus between the 22 experts' opinions., Implications for the Profession and Patient Care: The assessment framework constructed in this study could be used for the process evaluation of post-anesthesia nursing. The framework may guide perianesthesia nurses in the timely and effective assessment of patients during this critical phase of care. It may be used for perianesthesia nursing education or to evaluate nurses' assessment skills., Reporting Method: The study is reported in accordance with the Guidance on Conducting and Reporting DElphi Studies (CREDES) recommendations., Patient or Public Contribution: No patient or public contribution., (© 2024 John Wiley & Sons Ltd.)

Background: Total hip arthroplasty (THA) aims to restore joint function and relieve pain. New technology, such as robot assistance, offers the potential to reduce human error, improve precision, and improve postoperative outcomes. The aim of this study was to compare outcomes between conventional and robot-assisted THA., Methods: This is a retrospective cohort study utilizing a national database from 2016 to 2019. Patients undergoing THA, conventional or robot-assisted, were identified via the International Classification of Diseases, Tenth Revision code. Multivariate regressions were performed to assess outcomes between groups. Negative binomial regressions were performed to assess discharge disposition, readmission, and reoperation. Gamma regressions with log-link were used to assess total charges and lengths of hospital stays. Patient demographics and comorbidities, measured via the Elixhauser comorbidity index, were controlled for in our analyses. A total of 1,216,395 patients undergoing THA, 18,417 (1.51%) with robotic assistance, were identified., Results: Patients undergoing robot-assisted procedures had increased surgical complications (odds ratio [OR] 1.31 [95% confidence interval [CI] 1.14 to 1.53]; P < .001), including periprosthetic fracture (OR 1.63 [95% CI 1.35 to 1.98]; P < .001). Notably, these patients also had significantly greater total charges (OR 1.20 [95% CI 1.11 to 1.30]; P < .001)., Conclusions: Robotic assistance in THA is associated with an increased risk of surgical complications, including periprosthetic fracture, while incurring greater charges., Study Design: Level III; Retrospective Cohort Study., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Aims: To retrospectively analyze the diagnostic efficacy of Xpert MTB/RIF (Xpert) in lymph node tuberculosis (LNTB)., Methods: Sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value (PPV), negative predictive value (NPV) and area under the curve (AUC) of Xpert, pathological examination and culture for LNTB were calculated., Results: 421 suspected LNTB cases were categorized into the LNTB group (377 cases) and non-LNTB group (44 cases). The sensitivities of Xpert, pathological examination, and culture were 72.15%, 20.69%, 30.24%, respectively, with NPVs of 29.53%, 12.83%, 14.33%. The AUC values were 0.861, 0.603, 0.651, respectively. The sensitivity of Xpert varied across sample types: tissue (64.73%), puncture fluid (74.42%), and pus (96.05%). For specific lymph node locations, the sensitivity was head-and-neck (72.51%), mediastinal (84.21%), and axillary (45.83%)., Conclusions: Xpert demonstrates high diagnostic value for LNTB, particularly in pus samples. It also performs better in mediastinal and head-and-neck lymph node samples compared to axillary lymph node samples., 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 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

In this study, responsive Janus nanospheres were prepared by grafting LMA and DMAEMA monomers on both sides of SiO 2 nanospheres using the Pickering emulsion stencil method and RAFT polymerization. The successful synthesis was verified through infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) characterizations. Subsequently, Pickering emulsion was formulated using Janus nanospheres as emulsifiers. The particle size of the emulsion droplets was systematically investigated by manipulating factors such as pH, nanosphere dosage, water to oil ratio, and oil phase polarity. Notably, the Pickering emulsion exhibited responsive properties to pH, temperature, and CO 2 . Furthermore, Janus nanospheres exhibited excellent emulsification property for real oil phases, including canola oil, kerosene, gasoline, and diesel oil. Building upon this, a smart antibacterial Pickering emulsion was developed using Janus nanospheres, and its inhibition rate against E. coli could reach 100% within 4 h, which would be beneficial for its application in the food field., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors claim that they have no known competing economic interests or personal relationships that may affect the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Objective: To explore the association between insomnia symptoms and cognitive flexibility among undergraduates, along with its potential neural mechanisms., Method: A total of 102 participants were divided into insomnia (n = 55) and control (n = 47) groups based on sleep status. Cognitive flexibility was assessed using the Cognitive Flexibility Inventory (CFI) and the Number-Letter Task (N-L task). EEG data were recorded during the N-L task., Results: The insomnia group exhibited lower CFI scores and higher switch costs in reaction time and accuracy compared to the control group. ERP analysis showed differences in P2, N2, and P3 component amplitudes between the two groups, with reduced N2 amplitude in the insomnia group under repeat trials. Time-frequency analysis revealed larger theta band event related synchronization in the frontal region and smaller theta band ERS in the parietal region under switch trials in the control group; the alpha band event-related desynchronization in the parietal region under repeat trials was significantly smaller in the control group compared to switch trials., Conclusion: Compared to undergraduates with normal sleep, those with insomnia symptoms exhibited reduced cognitive flexibility, which may be associated with some alterations in brain electrophysiological activities., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors have no conflicts of interest to declare., (Copyright © 2024 The Authors. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Purpose: The relationship between vitamin intake and cancer risk in the chronic kidney disease (CKD) population is unknown. For this reason, we investigated the relationship between dietary vitamin intake and cancer risk in CKD patients and looked for effective vitamin dietary patterns., Methods: This study included 3518 CKD patients from 2007 to 2018 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey database. All participants were categorized into four groups based on vitamin intake by K-mean clustering. The data were collected and analyzed from June 2023 to December 2023., Results: A total of 3518 CKD patients with a mean age of (61.8 ± 16.3) years were included in the study. During a median follow-up of 7.3 years, 137 participants died of cancer. In the multivariate adjusted cox proportional hazards model for single vitamin intake, vitamin E Q4 intake (reference Q1) reduced cancer mortality (HR (95% CI) = 0.45 (0.24-0.87), P = 0.018). Further plotting of the restricted cubic spline curve revealed a linearly decreasing relationship between vitamin E intake and cancer mortality (Poverall = 0.010 Pnon-linear = 0.163). In the multivariate adjusted cox proportional hazards model for multivitamin co-intake, the vitamin C/K intake group reduced cancer mortality compared to the low vitamin intake group (HR (95% CI) = 0.42 (0.20-0.88), P = 0.022)., Conclusion: Increased vitamin C intake was independently associated with reduced cancer risk in CKD patients, and a vitamin dietary pattern with high vitamin C/K intake was also effective in reducing cancer risk., (© 2024. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Nature B.V.)

Background and Objectives: Hypoglycemia is a known risk of intensive postoperative glucose control in neurosurgical patients. However, the impact of postoperative hypoglycemia after craniotomy remains unexplored. This study aimed to determine the association between postoperative hypoglycemia and mortality in patients undergoing elective craniotomy., Methods: This study involved adult patients who underwent elective craniotomy at the West China Hospital, Sichuan University, between January 2011 and March 2021. We defined moderate hypoglycemia as blood glucose levels below 3.9 mmol/L (70 mg/dL) and severe hypoglycemia as blood glucose levels below 2.2 mmol/L (40 mg/dL). The primary outcome was postoperative 90-day mortality., Results: This study involved 15 040 patients undergoing an elective craniotomy. Overall, 504 (3.4%) patients experienced moderate hypoglycemia, whereas 125 (0.8%) patients experienced severe hypoglycemia. Multivariable analysis revealed that both moderate hypoglycemia (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] 1.86, 95% CI 1.24-2.78) and severe (aOR 2.94, 95% CI 1.46-5.92) hypoglycemia were associated with increased 90-day mortality compared with patients without hypoglycemia. Moreover, patients with moderate (aOR 2.78, 95% CI 2.28-3.39) or severe (aOR 16.70, 95% CI 10.63-26.23) hypoglycemia demonstrated a significantly higher OR for major morbidity after adjustment, compared with those without hypoglycemia. Patients experiencing moderate (aOR 3.20, 95% CI 2.65-3.88) or severe (aOR 14.03, 95% CI 8.78-22.43) hypoglycemia had significantly longer hospital stays than those without hypoglycemia. The risk of mortality and morbidity showed a tendency to increase with the number of hypoglycemia episodes in patients undergoing elective craniotomy (P for trend = .01, <.001)., Conclusion: Among patients undergoing an elective craniotomy, moderate hypoglycemia and severe hypoglycemia are associated with increased mortality, major morbidity, and prolonged hospital stays. In addition, the risk of mortality and major morbidity increases with the number of hypoglycemia episodes., (Copyright © Congress of Neurological Surgeons 2024. All rights reserved.)

Objective: To evaluate the safety and effectiveness of endoscopic treatments with Allium® metal ureteric stent (AMUS) for ureteric strictures after kidney transplantation (KT)., Patients and Methods: In a prospective manner, we gathered clinical data from 68 patients who underwent endoscopic treatments with AMUS for ureteric strictures after KT between January 2019 and March 2022. The definition of surgical success was the unobstructed drainage of the AMUS, or in cases where there was AMUS migration, occlusion or encrustation and subsequently removed, there is no worsening of renal hydronephrosis in the patient during the follow-up period., Results: Based on the specific circumstances of the ureteric strictures, three distinct types of surgery were selected for treatment. The overall success rate of endoscopic treatments for ureteric strictures following KT was 90% (61/68) during a follow-up period of 1 year. Surgical complications included haematuria (18%), pain (10%), urinary tract infections (7.4%), and lower urinary tract symptoms (7.4%). The incidences of stent migration, occlusion, and encrustation were 10%, 2.9%, and 1.5%, respectively. Postoperatively, significant improvements were observed in various parameters. At 1 month after surgery, there was a notable decrease in blood creatinine levels (105.5 vs 90.4 mol/L), urea nitrogen levels (6.6 vs 5.4 mmol/L), and hydronephrosis volume (64.4 vs 43.9 mL). Additionally, the serum estimated glomerular filtration rate increased from 49.5 to 64.4 mL/min/1.73 m 2 . The follow-up results of patients at 1 year after surgery were similar to those observed at 1 month after surgery., Conclusions: Systemic endoscopic treatments with AMUS were found to be safe and effective for ureteric strictures after KT with short-term follow-ups. This technique offers a novel option for the treatment of post-KT strictures., (© 2024 BJU International.)

Purpose: In metastatic breast cancer, differences in expression patterns of estrogen receptor (ER), progesterone receptor (PR), and human epidermal growth factor receptor-2 (HER2) between the primary tumor (PT) and metastatic site (MET) have been reported. However, there is limited understanding of the relationship of tumor subtype discordance and overall survival (OS). We evaluated patterns of ER/PR/HER2 in PTs and corresponding METs and assessed the relationship between these patterns and OS., Methods: Patients diagnosed at our center with metastatic breast cancer (2011-2020) were included. ER/PR were stratified as < 1%/1-10%/ > 10% by immunohistochemistry and HER2 as positive/negative by immunohistochemistry/FISH. Tumor subtypes were classified as ER or PR + /HER2-, HER2+ , or triple-negative. Biomarker discordance data from PTs to METs were analyzed for expression patterns. OS was assessed., Results: Of 254 patients, 41 (16.1%) had synchronous and 213 (83.9%) had metachronous METs. Category change of ER/PR/HER2 expression was observed in 56 (22.0%), 117 (40.5%), and 30 (11.8%) patients, respectively. Tumor subtype changed in 56 (22.0%) patients. We identified a difference between PT and MET from ER > 10% to ER < 1% (n = 28,16.2% p < 0.01); PR > 10% to PR < 1% (n = 54,48.2%, p < 0.001); PR > 10% to PR 1-10% (n = 18,16.1%, p < 0.001), and ER or PR+/HER2- to triple-negative (n = 19,13.0%, p = 0.03). In log-rank analysis, change from an ER or PR+/HER2- (5-year OS 88.6%) PT to a HER2+(67.5%) or triple-negative (54.6%) MET was associated with decreased survival (p < 0.01); however, in multivariate analysis, discordant biomarker expression was not associated with decreased survival (p > 0.05)., Conclusion: Tumor expression of ER/PR/HER2 can differ between the PT and MET. Loss of ER/PR expression is common and may be related to worse survival. Routine assessment of MET tumor markers could inform prognosis and therapeutic decision-making., (© 2024. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Science+Business Media, LLC, part of Springer Nature.)

Atherosclerosis is a primary contributor to cardiovascular disease. Current studies have highlighted the association between the immune system, particularly immune cells, and atherosclerosis, although treatment options and clinical trials remain scarce. Immunotherapy for cardiovascular disease is still in its infancy. Bruton's tyrosine kinase (BTK), widely expressed in various immune cells, represents a promising therapeutic target for atherosclerosis by modulating the anti-inflammatory function of immune cells. This study introduces a polydopamine-based nanocarrier system to deliver the BTK inhibitor, ibrutinib, to atherosclerotic plaques with an active targeting property via an anti-CD47 antibody. Leveraging polydopamine's pH-sensitive reversible disassembly, the system offers responsive, controlled release within the pathologic microenvironment. This allows precise and efficient ibrutinib delivery, concurrently inhibiting the activation of the NF-κB pathway in B cells and the NLRP3 inflammasome in macrophages within the plaques. This treatment also modulates both the immune cell microenvironment and inflammatory conditions in atherosclerotic lesions, thereby conveying promising therapeutic effects for atherosclerosis in vivo. This strategy also provides a novel option for atherosclerosis treatment., (© 2024 Wiley‐VCH GmbH.)

Responsive release systems have received extensive attention to enhance pesticide utilization efficiency and reduce environmental pollution. In this study, pH/GSH dual responsive release system based on brush-like silica (bSiO 2 ) carriers was constructed to enhance the utilization of pesticides. The bSiO 2 carriers present core-shell structure, length of 550 nm, diameter of 350 nm and shell thickness of 100 nm. The carrier had a high pesticide loading (20.0 %, w/w) for dinotefuran (Din). After loading Din, zein was covalently linked with cysteine-bridge to seal the loaded pesticides (namely Din@bSiO 2 @Zein). The Din@bSiO 2 @Zein exhibited superior foliar affinity, retention and photostability, and retention rate still remain above 95 % with 220 min UV irradiation. Din@bSiO 2 @Zein displayed pH/GSH responsive release and the cumulative release within 92 h was up to 81 % under pH=9/C GSH =6 mM, mimicking the microenvironment of lepidopteran. The Din@bSiO 2 @Zein possessed good control efficacy against Plutella xylostella. Appreciably, Din@bSiO 2 @Zein could be transported bi-directionally to various regions of tobacco plants within 24 h, which had potential to promote pesticide efficacy. This work offers a strategy to minimize the pesticide dosage and encourage sustainable agricultural development., 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.)

The World Health Organization (WHO) diagnostic criteria for malignant phyllodes tumor (MPT) may miss a significant number of MPTs with metastatic potential. New refined diagnostic criteria (Refined Criteria) for MPT were recently proposed. The aim of this study is to validate the Refined Criteria. This validation study included 136 borderline (borderline phyllodes tumor [BoPT]) and MPT cases that were not included in the initial study. We evaluated tumor classifications based on both the Refined Criteria and the WHO criteria. The Refined Criteria defines MPT when these criteria are met (1) stromal overgrowth with ≥ 1 feature(s) of marked stromal cellularity, marked stromal cytologic atypia, or ≥10 mitoses per 10 high-power fields (10 mitoses/10 HPFs) or (2) marked stromal cellularity with ≥1 feature(s) of marked stromal cytologic atypia, ≥10 mitoses/10 HPFs or permeative border. The WHO criteria require all 5 morphologic features (stromal overgrowth, permeative border, marked stromal cellularity, marked stromal cytologic atypia, and ≥10 mitoses/10 HPFs) for an MPT diagnosis. Using the Refined Criteria, none of the 61 BoPTs developed metastasis and 40.0% of the 75 MPTs developed metastases; local recurrence was seen in 11.5% BoPTs and 25.3% MPTs. Using the WHO criteria, 9.6% of the 94 BoPTs developed metastases and 50.0% of the 42 MPTs developed metastases; 14.9% of the BoPTs had local recurrence and 28.6% of the MPTs had local recurrence. Nine (30.0%) of the 30 tumors that developed distant metastases were diagnosed as BoPTs by the WHO criteria. When we combined the 75 MPTs from this validation cohort with the 65 MPT cases from the published data using the Refined Criteria, 50 (35.7%) of the 140 MPTs developed metastases, whereas 8 cases with metastases were <5 cm. In the univariate analysis with log-rank test, stromal overgrowth, marked stromal cellularity, marked stromal cytologic atypia, ≥10 mitoses/10 HPFs, presence of heterologous components other than liposarcomatous component, and presence of stromal necrosis were significantly associated with the risk of metastasis (all with P < 0.05). In multivariate analysis with Cox proportional hazard regression, stromal overgrowth and marked stromal cellularity were significantly associated with metastasis (both with P < 0.001). The Refined Criteria are superior to the WHO criteria in predicting the clinical outcomes of BoPTs and MPTs. Using the Refined Criteria, 35.7% of 140 patients with MPT developed metastases, whereas none (0%) of the patients with BoPT developed metastases. Patients with MPT have a high metastatic rate; these patients may benefit from systemic chemotherapy or targeted therapies. In contrast, patients with BoPT may be managed with complete local excision alone without chemotherapy., Competing Interests: Conflicts of Interest and Source of Funding: X.L. has served as an advisor for Astra Zeneca, Roche, Eli Lilly, and Onviv, and Champions Oncology has funded research in Xiaoxian Li’ lab. S.W. has served as Breast Pathology Faculty Advisory Board for Daiichi Sankyo Inc. and AstraZeneca. For the remaining authors, none were declared., (Copyright © 2024 Wolters Kluwer Health, Inc. All rights reserved.)

Selective catalytic NH 3 -to-N 2 oxidation (NH 3 -SCO) is highly promising for abating NH 3 emissions slipped from stationary flue gas after-treatment devices. Its practical application, however, is limited by the non-availability of low-cost catalysts with high activity and N 2 selectivity. Here, using defect-rich nitrogen-doped carbon nanotubes (NCNT-AW) as the support, we developed a highly active and durable copper-based NH 3 -SCO catalyst with a high abundance of cuprous (Cu + ) sites. The obtained Cu/NCNT-AW catalyst demonstrated outstanding activity with a T 50 (i.e. the temperature to reach 50% NH 3 conversion) of 174°C in the NH 3 -SCO reaction, which outperformed not only the Cu catalyst supported on N-free O-functionalized CNTs (OCNTs) or NCNT with less surface defects, but also those most active Cu catalysts in open literature. Reaction kinetics measurements and temperature-programmed surface reactions using NH 3 as a probe molecule revealed that the NH 3 -SCO reaction on Cu/NCNT-AW follows an internal selective catalytic reaction (i-SCR) route involving nitric oxide (NO) as a key intermediate. According to mechanistic investigations by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, Raman spectroscopy, and X-ray absorption spectroscopy, the superior NH 3 -SCO performance of Cu/NCNT-AW originated from a synergy of surface defects and N-dopants. Specifically, surface defects promoted the anchoring of CuO nanoparticles on N-containing sites and, thereby, enabled efficient electron transfer from N to CuO, increasing significantly the fraction of SCR-active Cu + sites in the catalyst. This study puts forward a new idea for manipulating and utilizing the interplay of defects and N-dopants on carbon surfaces to fabricate Cu + -rich Cu catalysts for efficient abatement of slip NH 3 emissions via selective oxidation., Competing Interests: Declaration of Competing Interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2023. Published by Elsevier B.V.)

Dual antiplatelet therapy with aspirin and clopidogrel has reduced ischemic vascular events significantly. Genetic influence, especially those in clopidogrel pharmacokinetic-relevant genes partially accounts for interindividual pharmacodynamic variability of clopidogrel. However, most studies have concentrated on the genetic variations in introns, exons, or promoters of the candidate genes, and the association between genetic variations in 3'-UTR in clopidogrel pharmacokinetic-relevant genes and clopidogrel response is unknown. In our study, ten different algorithms were applied to pick potential miRNAs targeting the clopidogrel pharmacokinetic-relevant genes. Furthermore, the correlation between miRNA expression profiles and mRNA expression of corresponding clopidogrel pharmacokinetic-relevant genes was analyzed. Through comprehensive analysis, including bioinformatics prediction and correlation analysis of miRNA and mRNA expression profiles, miR-218-5p and miR-506-5p were supposed to regulate the expression of PON1 via binding with its 3'-UTR. Moreover, PON1 rs854551 and rs854552 were located in miRNA recognizing sequences and may serve as potential miRSNPs possibly affecting PON1 expression. The rs854552 polymorphism was genotyped and platelet reactivity index (PRI) indicative of clopidogrel response was measured in 341 Chinese coronary artery disease (CAD) patients 24 h after administration of 300 mg clopidogrel. Our results showed that PON1 rs854552 had a significant influence on PRI in CAD patients, especially in patients with CYP2C19 extensive metabolic phenotype. In conclusion, PON1 rs854552 polymorphisms may affect clopidogrel response. Bioinformatics prediction followed by functional validation could aid in decoding the contribution of unexplained variations in the 3'-UTR in drug-metabolizing enzymes on clopidogrel response., Competing Interests: Conflict of interest The authors declare that there is no conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2024. Published by Elsevier B.V.)

Background and Aims: For chronic hepatitis B (CHB) patients, there is still a need to improve hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) clearance rates. This study aimed to assess the predictive effectiveness of soluble programmed cell death-1 (sPD-1) and soluble programmed cell death ligand-1 (sPD-L1) for HBsAg clearance in HBeAg-negative CHB patients undergoing peginterferon (Peg-IFN)-based antiviral treatment., Methods: This study encompassed 280 patients undergoing treatment with Peg-IFNα. Serum levels of sPD-1 and sPD-L1 were measured using ELISA kits at baseline, as well as at 12, 24 and 48 weeks. The primary endpoint of the study was the determination of HBsAg clearance at 48 weeks. Logistic regression analysis was employed to identify predictors of HBsAg clearance., Results: The clearance group demonstrated significantly lower serum sPD-L1 levels compared to the non-clearance group. While both groups exhibited an increase in sPD-1 levels, only the clearance group showed a rise in sPD-L1 levels. Multivariate analysis identified sPD-L1 increase at 24 weeks, and HBsAg decline at 24 weeks as predictors for HBsAg clearance at 48 weeks. The combined use of these indicators showed a predictive performance for HBsAg clearance with an AUROC of 0.907 (95% CI: 0.861-0.953, p < 0.001)., Conclusions: The study revealed an inverse relationship between the trends of sPD-1/sPD-L1 and HBsAg clearance during combined IFN and NAs treatment. Moreover, the magnitude of HBsAg reduction and sPD-L1 increase emerged as significant predictors for HBsAg clearance., (© 2024 John Wiley & Sons Ltd.)

Introduction: Cardiac hypertrophy is an important contributor of heart failure, and the mechanisms remain unclear. Leucine zipper protein 1 (LUZP1) is essential for the development and function of cardiovascular system; however, its role in cardiac hypertrophy is elusive., Objectives: This study aims to investigate the molecular basis of LUZP1 in cardiac hypertrophy and to provide a rational therapeutic approach., Methods: Cardiac-specific Luzp1 knockout (cKO) and transgenic mice were established, and transverse aortic constriction (TAC) was used to induce pressure overload-induced cardiac hypertrophy. The possible molecular basis of LUZP1 in regulating cardiac hypertrophy was determined by transcriptome analysis. Neonatal rat cardiomyocytes were cultured to elucidate the role and mechanism of LUZP1 in vitro., Results: LUZP1 expression was progressively increased in hypertrophic hearts after TAC surgery. Gain- and loss-of-function methods revealed that cardiac-specific LUZP1 deficiency aggravated, while cardiac-specific LUZP1 overexpression attenuated pressure overload-elicited hypertrophic growth and cardiac dysfunction in vivo and in vitro. Mechanistically, the transcriptome data identified Stat3 pathway as a key downstream target of LUZP1 in regulating pathological cardiac hypertrophy. Cardiac-specific Stat3 deletion abolished the pro-hypertrophic role in LUZP1 cKO mice after TAC surgery. Further findings suggested that LUZP1 elevated the expression of Src homology region 2 domain-containing phosphatase 1 (SHP1) to inactivate Stat3 pathway, and SHP1 silence blocked the anti-hypertrophic effects of LUZP1 in vivo and in vitro., Conclusion: We demonstrate that LUZP1 attenuates pressure overload-induced cardiac hypertrophy through inhibiting Stat3 signaling, and targeting LUZP1 may develop novel approaches to treat pathological cardiac hypertrophy., 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. Production and hosting by Elsevier B.V.)