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Summary: There is an urgent need for an oral, efficient and safe regimen for high‐risk APL under the pandemic of COVID‐19. We retrospectively analysed 60 high‐risk APL patients. For induction therapy (IT), in addition to all‐trans retinoic acid (ATRA) and oral arsenic (RIF), 22 patients received oral etoposide (VP16) as cytotoxic chemotherapy (CC), and 38 patients received intravenous CC as historical control group. The median dose of oral VP16 was 1000 mg [interquartile rage (IQR), 650–1250]. One patient died during IT in the control group, 59 evaluable patients (100%) achieved complete haematological remission (CHR) after IT and complete molecular remission (CMR) after consolidation therapy. The median time to CHR and CMR was 36 days (33.8–44) versus 35 days (32–42; p = 0.75) and 3 months (0.8–3.5) versus 3.3 months (2.4–3.7; p = 0.58) in the oral VP16 group and in the control group. Two (9.1%) and 3 (7.9%) patients experienced molecular relapse in different group respectively. The 2‐year estimated overall survival and event‐free survival were 100% versus 94.7% (p = 0.37) and 90.9% versus 89.5% (p = 0.97) respectively. A completely oral, efficient and safe induction regimen including oral VP16 as cytoreductive chemotherapy combined with ATRA and RIF is more convenient to administer for patients with high‐risk APL. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Coordination polymers (CPs) with a d10-configuration containing metal cations offer interesting photoluminescent properties and hence can be employed as sensors to detect various classes of analytes. Moreover, due to their tuneable pore size they can be employed as adsorbents for various species. Herein, a new d10-configuration Cd(II)-based CP with composition {[Cd(bip)4(H2O)2]n·2NO3} (1) (bip = 3,5-bis(1-imidazol)pyridine) has been synthesized and characterized. Single-crystal X-ray analysis reveals that the Cd(II) center adopts octahedral geometry that is satisfied by four N atoms from the four bip linkers and two aqua ligands, and the resultant CP displays sql topology with the point symbol of (44·62). The CP offers prospective application as a photoluminescent sensor for dichromate anions with a limit of detection of 1.28 ppm and a Stern–Volmer constant (KSV) of 1.51 × 105. Furthermore, CP 1 was employed as an efficient adsorbent for dichromate ions, reaching an equilibrium adsorption capacity of 389.82 mg g−1 within 80 min. The effects of temperature, pH and concentration of dichromate were further investigated, which revealed that CP 1 displays the best adsorption at 30 °C and pH 4 with a dichromate concentration of 200 mg L−1. The possible adsorption mechanism has been proposed with the aid of Hirshfeld surface analysis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: We analyzed the effect of dexmedetomidine (DEX) as a local anesthetic adjuvant on postoperative delirium (POD) in elderly patients undergoing elective hip surgery. Methods: In this study, 120 patients undergoing hip surgery were enrolled and randomly assigned to two groups: fascia iliaca compartment block with DEX + ropivacaine (the Y group, n = 60) and fascia iliaca compartment block with ropivacaine (the R group, n = 60). The primary outcomes: presence of delirium during the postanesthesia care unit (PACU) period and on the first day (D1), the second day (D2), and the third day (D3) after surgery. The secondary outcomes: preoperative and postoperative C-reactive protein (CRP) and erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), occurrence of insomnia on the preoperative day, day of operation, D1 and D2; HR values of patients in both groups before iliac fascia block (T1), 30 min after iliac fascia block (T2), at surgical incision (T3), 20 min after incision (T4), when they were transferred out of the operating room (T5) and after leaving the recovery room (T6) at each time point; VAS for T1, PACU, D1, D2; the number of patients requiring remedial analgesics within 24 h after blockade and related complications between the two groups. Results: A total of 97 patients were included in the final analysis, with 11 and 12 patients withdrawing from the R and Y groups, respectively. The overall incidence of POD and its incidence in the PACU and ward were all lesser in the Y group than in the R group (p <0.05). Additionally, fewer cases required remedial analgesia during the PACU period, and more vasoactive drugs were used for maintaining circulatory system stability in the Y group as compared to the R group (p <0.05). At the same time, the incidence of intraoperative and postoperative bradycardia in the Y group was higher than that in the R group, accompanied by lower postoperative CRP and ESR (all p <0.05). Conclusion: Ultrasound-guided high fascia iliaca compartment block with a combination of ropivacaine and DEX can reduce the incidence of POD, the use of intraoperative opioids and postoperative remedial analgesics, and postoperative inflammation in elderly patients who have undergone hip surgery, indicating that this method could be beneficial in the prevention and treatment of POD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Electrochemical CO2 transformation to fuels and chemicals is an effective strategy for conversion of renewable electric energy into storable chemical energy in combination with reducing green-house gas emission. Metal–nitrogen–carbon (M–N–C) single atom catalysts (SAC) have shown great potential in the electrochemical CO2 reduction reaction (CO2RR). However, exploring advanced SACs with simultaneously high catalytic activity and high product selectivity remains a great challenge. In this study, density functional theory (DFT) calculations are combined with machine learning (ML) for rapid and high-throughput screening of high performance CO reduction catalysts. Firstly, the electrochemical properties of 99 M–N–C SACs were calculated by DFT and used as a database. By using different machine learning models with simple features, the investigated SACs were expanded from 99 to 297. Through several effective indicators of catalyst stability, inhibition of the hydrogen evolution reaction, and CO adsorption strength, 33 SACs were finally selected. The catalytic activity and selectivity of the remaining 33 SACs were explored by micro-kinetic simulation based on Marcus theory. Among all the studied SACs, Mn–NC2, Pt–NC2, and Au–NC2 deliver the best catalytic performance and can be used as potential catalysts for CO2/CO conversion to hydrocarbons with high energy density. This effective screening method using a machine learning algorithm can promote the exploration of CO2RR catalysts and significantly reduce the simulation cost. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To assess the extent of recurrent laryngeal nerve (RLN) and superior laryngeal nerve (SLN) damage in patients with idiopathic vocal cord paralysis (IVCP) exhibiting different paralytic sides. Methods: A total of 84 IVCP cases were evaluated using stroboscopic laryngoscopy, voice analysis, and laryngeal electromyography (LEMG). The results were compared between patients with left‐sided paralysis and right‐sided paralysis based on different disease courses (less than or more than 3 months). Results: Initially, the average age and disease progression of IVCP patients were found to be similar regardless of the side of paralysis (p >.05). Additionally, there were no significant variations in voice indicators, such as MPT, DSI, and VHI, between IVCP patients with left and right vocal cord paralysis (p >.05). Furthermore, no disparities were detected in the latencies and amplitudes of the paralyzed RLN and SLN, as well as the durations and amplitudes of the action potentials in the paralyzed TM and PCM, among IVCP patients with left and right vocal cord paralysis (p >.05). Notably, the amplitudes of the left paralytic CM were significantly lower than those of the right paralytic CM (0.45 vs. 0.53, Z = −2.013, p =.044). In addition, no disparities were observed in APDs and amplitudes between the ipsilateral PCM and TM, either for patients with left or right vocal fold paralysis (p >.05). Finally, all the IVCP patients were subdivided into two subgroups according to different disease course (less than or more than 3 months), and in each subgroup, the comparison of voice indicators and LEMG results in IVCP patients with left or right vocal fold paralysis were similar with the above findings (p >.05). Conclusion: Overall, the degree of RLN and SLN damage appeared to be similar in IVCP patients with left and right vocal cord paralysis, provided that the disease course was comparable. Level of Evidence: 4. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sphingolipids are critically significant in a range of biological processes in animals, plants, and fungi. In mammalian cells, they serve as vital components of the plasma membrane (PM) in maintaining its structure, tension, and fluidity. They also play a key role in a wide variety of biological processes, such as intracellular signal transduction, cell polarization, differentiation, and migration. In plants, sphingolipids are important for cell development and for cell response to environmental stresses. In pathogenic fungi, sphingolipids are crucial for the initiation and the development of infection processes afflicting humans. However, our knowledge on the metabolism and function of the sphingolipid metabolic pathway of pathogenic fungi affecting plants is still very limited. In this review, we discuss recent developments on sphingolipid pathways of plant pathogenic fungi, highlighting their uniqueness and similarity with plants and animals. In addition, we discuss recent advances in the research and development of fungal-targeted inhibitors of the sphingolipid pathway, to gain insights on how we can better control the infection process occurring in plants to prevent or/and to treat fungal infections in crops. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recalcitrant rice blast disease is caused by Magnaporthe oryzae, which has a significant negative economic reverberation on crop productivity. In order to induce the disease onto the host, M. oryzae positively generates many types of small secreted proteins, here named as effectors, to manipulate the host cell for the purpose of stimulating pathogenic infection. In M. oryzae, by engaging with specific receptors on the cell surface, effectors activate signaling channels which control an array of cellular activities, such as proliferation, differentiation and apoptosis. The most recent research on effector identification, classification, function, secretion, and control mechanism has been compiled in this review. In addition, the article also discusses directions and challenges for future research into an effector in M. oryzae. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Magnaporthe oryzae is a pathogenic fungus that seriously harms rice production. Phosphatases and carbon metabolism play crucial roles in the growth and development of eukaryotes. However, it remains unclear how serine/threonine phosphatases regulate the catabolism of triglycerides, a major form of stored lipids. In this study, we identified a serine/threonine protein phosphatase regulatory subunit, Smek1, which is required for the growth, conidiation, and virulence of M. oryzae. Deletion of SMEK1 led to defects in the utilization of lipids, arabinose, glycerol, and ethanol. In glucose medium, the expression of genes involved in lipolysis, long‐chain fatty acid degradation, β‐oxidation, and the glyoxylate cycle increased in the Δsmek1 mutant, which is consistent with ΔcreA in which a carbon catabolite repressor CREA was deleted. In lipid medium, the expression of genes involved in long‐chain fatty acid degradation, β‐oxidation, the glyoxylate cycle, and utilization of arabinose, ethanol, or glycerol decreased in the Δsmek1 mutant, which is consistent with Δcrf1 in which a transcription activator CRF1 required for carbon metabolism was deleted. Lipase activity, however, increased in the Δsmek1 mutant in both glucose and lipid media. Moreover, Smek1 directly interacted with CreA and Crf1, and dephosphorylated CreA and Crf1 in vivo. The phosphatase Smek1 is therefore a dual‐function regulator of the lipid and carbohydrate metabolism, and controls fungal development and virulence by coordinating the functions of CreA and Crf1 in carbon catabolite repression (CCR) and derepression (CCDR). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]