Search

Using one-dimensional branching Brownian motion in a periodic environment, we give probabilistic proofs of the asymptotics and uniqueness of pulsating traveling waves of the Fisher–Kolmogorov–Petrovskii–Piskounov (F-KPP) equation in a periodic environment. This paper is a sequel to ‘Branching Brownian motion in a periodic environment and existence of pulsating travelling waves’ (Ren et al., 2022), in which we proved the existence of the pulsating traveling waves in the supercritical and critical cases, using the limits of the additive and derivative martingales of branching Brownian motion in a periodic environment.

Objective. We herein aim to explore the relationship between the triglyceride-glucose (TyG) index and metabolic syndrome (MS). Methods. We enrolled 298,652 individuals with an average age of 47.08 ± 12.94 years and who underwent health check-ups at the First Affiliated Hospital of Wuhu Wannan Medical College in this cross-sectional study from 2014 to 2016. We enlisted 125,025 women (41.86%) and 173,627 men (58.14%). The survey information included a questionnaire survey, a physical examination, and a laboratory examination. Results. The prevalence of MS increased gradually in the TyG-index subgroups (Q1, TyG

BeiDou Global Navigation Satellite System (BDS-3) was formally commissioned to provide satellite navigation services worldwide in 2020. It not only has the normal positioning, navigation and timing (PNT) functions, but also provides several kinds of featured services. The paper focuses on the featured services of BDS-3 and their applications in various geoscience fields. First, the featured services of BDS-3 and their performances are introduced. Then different application examples are described and analyzed based on the Geostationary Orbit (GEO) satellite-based featured services and Middle Earth Orbit (MEO) satellite-based featured services. Finally, some possible improvements to BDS in the future are discussed.

Background The clinical symptoms of invasive fungal infections (IFI) are nonspecific, and early clinical diagnosis is challenging, resulting in high mortality rates. This study reports the development of a novel aptamer-G-quadruplex/hemin self-assembling color system (AGSCS) based on (1 → 3)-β-D-glucans’ detection for rapid, specific and visual diagnosis of IFI. Methods We screened high affinity and specificity ssDNA aptamers binding to (1 → 3)-β-D-glucans, the main components of cell wall from Candida albicans via Systematic Evolution of Ligands by EXponential enrichment. Next, a comparison of diagnostic efficiency of AGSCS and the (1 → 3)-β-D-glucans assay (“G test”) with regard to predicting IFI in 198 clinical serum samples was done. Results Water-soluble (1 → 3)-β-D-glucans were successfully isolated from C. albicans ATCC 10,231 strain, and these low degree of polymerization glucans ( Conclusion This newly developed visual diagnostic method for detecting IFI showed promising results and is expected to be developed as a point-of-care testing kit to enable quick and cost effective diagnosis of IFI in the future.

Objective To systematically evaluate the clinical effect of Xiaoke Decoction in the treatment of type 2 diabetes. Methods Chinese databases such as CNKI, Wanfang, Weipu Chinese Biomedical Journal Database, and Chinese Medical Biological Literature Database, PubMed, Cochrane Library, Embase, and Web of Science were searched for English language literature from their inception until November 2019. A Meta-analysis was performed using RevMan 5.3 and Stata 12.0. Results Thirty-eight studies were included in this study, with a total of 3757 patients. It was found that adding Xiaoke Decoction could improve total efficiency. The Xiaoke Decoction groups surpassed the western medicine groups regarding improvement in total efficiency (OR = 3.49; 95% CI: 2.78–4.39, P Conclusion Compared with western medicine alone, Xiaoke Decoction has more advantages for the treatment of type 2 diabetes with respect to total efficiency, FPG, 2hPG, HbAlc, and TCM syndrome score.

The assembly of 2D MOF nanosheet with coumarin 6 afforded an efficient artificial light-harvesting system, which shows a high “on–off” photocurrent ratio up to 1000.

The pollution and damage caused by antibiotics in water have aroused serious concern. Metal–organic frameworks (MOF), which have been hotly investigated as a novel kind of sensing materials, have been tentatively applied to the detection of antibiotics in recent years. In this work, four new Zn(II)/Cd(II) coordination polymers, [Cd(opda)(mbib)(H2O)] (1), [Cd(opda)(pbib)(H2O)] (2), [Cd(ppda)(mbib)] (3), and [Zn2(mpda)2(mbib)2]·2H2O (4), (H2opda = 1,2-phenylenediacetic acid, H2mpda = 1,3-phenylenediacetic acid, H2ppda = 1,4-phenylenediacetic acid, mbib = 1,3-bis(imidazolyl)benzene, pbib = 1,4-bis(imidazolyl)benzene), have been synthesized using bis(imidazole) and phenylenediacetate isomers under hydrothermal conditions. The flexible pda and bib ligands in 1–3 afford 2D (4,4)-connected layers, which are further stacked in an offset fashion with an ABAB sequence to propagate into a 3D supramolecular architecture through strong C–H⋯π and C–H⋯O interactions. In contrast, the flexible cis-conformation mpda and mbib ligands in 4 can be seen as “V”-type building blocks, linking Zn(II) atoms to form a 1D loop chain. The structural diversity of these complexes is mainly attributed to the different coordination modes and isomer conformations of the flexible phenylenediacetic acid and bis(imidazole) ligands. The application of the fluorescence properties of the four complexes for detecting the antibiotics cefixime (CEF) and tetracycline (TEC) and the related mechanisms have been researched. Complexes 1–4 exhibit high quenching percentages in low-concentration aqueous solutions, with values of 94.9%, 97.8%, 95.5%, and 97.2% (toward CEF) and 97.7%, 96.7%, 96.4%, and 97.4% (toward TEC), respectively. Compared with 1–3, complex 4 has a higher quenching percentage, which may be because 4 is a 3D porous supramolecular network. The detection limits of complexes 1–4 have been measured to be 0.278 μM, 0.379 μM, 0.52 μM, and 0.171 μM (for CEF) and 0.384 μM, 0.189 μM, 0.421 μM, and 0.137 μM (for TEC), which surpass/approach those of most of the reported MOF-based fluorescent sensing materials. Systematic analysis of the sensing mechanism reveals that photoinduced electron transfer and the inner filter effect contribute to the realization of the sensing process.

Four-stranded G-quadruplex (G4) structures formed by guanine-rich nucleic acids play a role in many essential physiological processes. To date, studies have focused almost exclusively on monomeric intramolecular G4s with three or more G-tetrads. Based on the analysis of Okazaki fragment syntheses and G4 probing, we report here a massive genome-wide formation of a hybrid type of G4s (hG4s), composed of G-tracts from both DNA and RNA, in the genome of live yeast cells. We found that hG4s can form with as few as one G-tract in DNA, increasing the total number of G4 sites from 38 to 127841. Furthermore, we also effectively detected hG4s of two G-tetrads, bringing the total number of G4 sites to a final of 587694, an increase of >15,000-fold. We even found that hG4s dominate in DNAs capable of forming the canonical intramolecular DNA G4s by themselves. Taken together, our results reveal a previously unrecognized rule governing G4 formation in eukaryotic genomes that makes hG4s the overwhelmingly dominant G4 species. They are present in all genes, with greater structural diversity and a wider dynamic range. More importantly, the involvement of RNA gives hG4s the ability to function in a transcription-dependent manner. These new findings thus emphasize a complete renewal and expansion of our current perspective on the existence and functional role of G4s in eukaryotic cells.SignificanceOur work reveals a massive and genome-wide formation of a virtually unnoticed, but in reality overwhelmingly dominant type of G-quadruplexes (G4s), i.e. DNA:RNA hybrid G-quadruplexes (hG4s), in living yeast cells. The involvement of RNA confers several unique properties to hG4s: 1) it allows genomic DNA to form G4s with as few as one G-tract, resulting in complete hG4 dominance over canonical monomeric DNA G4s (dG4s) and their ubiquitous presence in genes; 2) it increases the structural diversity of G4s by offering different combinations of DNA and RNA G-tracts; and 3) it couples G4 formation to transcription, such that hG4s function in a transcription-dependent manner. The discovery of hG4s reveals the physiological reality of the prevalence and functionality of G4s in the context of transcription.

Background Mycobacterial interspersed repetitive unit-variable number tandem repeat (MIRU-VNTR) is a frequently used typing method for identifying the Beijing genotype of Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb), which is easily transformed into rifampicin (RIF) resistance. The RIF resistance of Mtb is considered to be highly related with the mutation of rpoB gene. Therefore, this study aimed to analyze the relationship between the repetitive number of MIRU loci and the mutation of rpoB gene. Methods An open-source whole-genome sequencing data of Mtb was used to detect the mutation of rpoB gene and the repetitive number of MIRU loci by bioinformatics methods. Cochran-Armitage analysis was performed to analyze the trend of the rpoB gene mutation rate and the repetitive number of MIRU loci. Results Among 357 rifampicin-resistant tuberculosis (RR-TB), 304 strains with mutated rpoB genes were detected, and 6 of 67 rifampicin susceptible strains were detected mutations. The rpoB gene mutational rate showed an upward trend with the increase of MIRU10, MIRU39, QUB4156 and MIRU16 repetitive number, but only the repetitive number of MIRU10, MRIU39 and QUB4156 were risk factors for rpoB gene mutation. The Hunter-Gaston discriminatory index (HGDI) of MIRU10 (0.65) and QUB4156 (0.62) was high in the overall sample, while MIRU39 (0.39) and MIRU16 (0.43) showed a moderate discriminatory Power. Conclusion The mutation rate of rpoB gene increases with the addition of repetitive numbers of MIRU10, QUB4156 and MIRU39 loci.

Background Both age and gender are the influence factors of hemoglobin concentration. However, the changing trend of hemoglobin levels between males and females with age remains unclear. This study aimed to explore their changing characteristics in different genders. Methods A cross-sectional study was conducted in Physical Examination Center of the First Affiliated Hospital of Wannan Medical College in Wuhu, China from 2014 to 2016. The generalized linear model was applied to explore the relationship between age, gender and hemoglobin levels. Results Among the 303,084 participants, the mean age for females and males was 46.9 ± 13.4(15–98) and 48.1 ± 13.7(14–98) years old, respectively. Generalized smoothing splines showed that hemoglobin levels increased up to age 25 and then decreased in men; in women the levels increased up until age 20, and then decreased, with slight increase again (β = 0.244, P β = 0.257, P Conclusions Hemoglobin concentration changes with age and the curve is different in males and females. The slightly upward trend of female hemoglobin in the age range of 50–59 years old should be considered in developing the reference range of hemoglobin making.

The development of ecological economy is one of the core elements of the ecological civilization system and an essential means to optimize the social-ecological systems. The key to developing ecological economy lies in preparing the development plan to realize concrete implementation. Given the objective and realistic demand for the development of ecological economy, it is critically needed to propose the approach of eco-economic planning and conduct empirical research. We sorted out the connotation of ecological economy, proposed the general idea of "object identification-resource evaluation-principal construction-target setting-task content-mechanism guarantee", and proposed three work modules, including "preliminary preparation, content design, reviewapproval", and finally built a technical system for the preparation of provincial-scale ecological economy planning. We outlined the 14th Five-Year Plan for Eco-Economic Development of Liaoning Province, and discussed critical issues such as the connotation definition and index system establishment for eco-economic development plan. This work provides ideas for the scientific and standardized preparation of ecological economy development plan at the provincial level in China.发展生态经济是生态文明建设体系的核心内容之一,也是优化社会生态系统管理的重要手段,其关键抓手在于编制生态经济发展规划从而实现在行动上的具体落实。当前,面对发展生态经济的客观现实需求,提出生态经济规划编制方法并开展实证研究显得尤其迫切。本研究系统梳理了生态经济的发展内涵,面向省级尺度的生态经济发展规划需求,提出了“对象界定-本底评价-原则确立-目标制定-任务部署-机制支撑”的总体思路,以及“前期准备、内容编制、论证与审批”三大工作模块并依此构建了省级尺度生态经济规划编制技术体系。随后,以《辽宁省“十四五”生态经济发展规划》为例总结了工作经验,具体讨论了生态经济发展规划的内涵界定、指标体系建立等关键问题,以期为我国省级尺度生态经济发展规划编制的科学性和规范性提供思路借鉴。.

BeiDou Global Navigation Satellite System (BDS-3) not only performs the normal positioning, navigation and timing (PNT) functions, but also provides featured services, which are divided into geostationary orbit (GEO) and medium earth orbit (MEO) satellite-based featured services in this paper. The former refers to regional services consisting of the regional short message communication service (RSMCS), the radio determination satellite service (RDSS), the BDS satellite-based augmented service (BDSBAS) and the satellite-based precise point positioning service via B2b signal (B2b-PPP). The latter refers to global services consisting of the global short message communication service (GSMCS) and the MEO satellite-based search and rescue (MEOSAR) service. The focus of this paper is to describe these featured services and evaluate their performances. The results show that the inter-satellite link (ISL) contributes a lot to the accuracy improvement of orbit determination and time synchronization for the whole constellation. Compared with some other final products, the root mean squares (RMS) of the BDS-3 precise orbits and broadcast clock are 25.1 cm and 2.01 ns, respectively. The positioning accuracy of single frequency is better than 6 m, and that of the generalized RDSS is usually better than 12 m. For featured services, the success rates of RSMCS and GSMCS are better than 99.9% and 95.6%, respectively; the positioning accuracies of single and dual frequency BDSBAS are better than 3 and 2 m, respectively; the positioning accuracy of B2b-PPP is better than 0.6 m, and the convergence time is usually smaller than 30 min; the single station test shows that the success rate of MEOSAR is better than 99%. Due to the ISL realization in the BDS-3 constellation, the performance and capacities of the global featured services are improved significantly.

The SiO2 @SiO2 :Tb(1,2-BDC)3 phen microspheres with monodispersed core-shell structure, are kind of fluorescent particles, which are prepared by a seeded growth method under the catalysis of glacial acetic acid (1,2-BDC, 1,2-benzenedicarboxylic acid; phen, 1,10-phenanthroline). Firstly, silica seed was fabricated by the hydrolysis of ethyl orthosilicate, and the Tb(1,2-BDC)3 phen was prepared by using 1,2-BDC and phen. Then, a thin mesoporous silica shell doped with Tb(1,2-BDC)3 phen was grown on the prepared monodisperse silica colloids. The prepared phosphor was analyzed by Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction analysis, scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, thermogravimetric and fluorescence spectroscopy. The experimental results showed that the diameter of the SiO2 @SiO2 :Tb((1,2-BDC)3 phen microsphere was about 200 nm with a typical core-shell structure, among which the diameter of the silica core was 180 nm, and that of the mesoporous silicon shell doped with terbium complex was about 10 nm. The fluorescence intensity of SiO2 @SiO2 :Tb((1,2-BDC)3 phen microsphere is nearly three times higher than that of Tb((1,2-BDC)3 phen complexes. The prepared microspheres could be widely used in bio-imaging, optoelectronic appliances and medical diagnosis.

Background: Rifampicin resistant tuberculosis is a serious problem faced by tuberculosis control in China, and rapid detection of rifampicin resistance is urgently needed. Objectives: This study aimed to describe the molecular characteristics and frequency of RNA polymerase β subunit (rpoB) gene mutations in rifampicin-resistant tuberculosis (RR-TB) in the Anqing area. Methods: The rpoB gene fragment was amplified by polymerase chain reaction (PCR), and all isolates were sequenced for mutations in the rpoB gene. The mutations were obtained by comparing the sequencing results with the MUBII database. In addition, logistic regression was used to analyze the relationship between rpoB mutations and rifampicin (RIF) resistance. Results: There were 152 males and 42 females in this study, and the mean age was 56.60 ± 17.91 years. Mutations in the rpoB gene were a risk factor for rifampicin resistance (β = 5.271, P < 0.001 OR = 195.192). Among the 19 RR-TB strains, 16 (84.21%) had mutations in the ropB gene, and three (1.71%) of 175 rifampicin-sensitive strains were mutated. The mutation sites of five strains (31.58%) were at the codon 526 and five strains (31.58%) at the codon 531. However, there were two strains at the codon 513 and two strains at the codon 533 (15.79%), and two strains (10.53%) were double mutations. Conclusions: The mutation characteristics of the rpoB gene in the Anqing area are complex, and rpoB mutation detection can be used as an indicator to screen drug resistance of RIF.

Quinoa (Chenopodium quinoa, Willd.) as a new health food in the 20th century, its comprehensive nutritional composition, stress resistance and other characteristics have been paid much of attention, and enjoys the reputation of "nutritional gold", "vegetarian king" and "food in the future" in the world. In recent years, with the rapid development of genomics and high-throughput sequencing technology, the high-quality whole genome sequence of quinoa has been completed, and the omics analysis and functional research of a series of key genes have been gradually carried out. In this review, we summarize the research progress in quinoa genomics, gene family analysis of important transcription factors, genetic map construction, QTL mapping of important traits, and genes for important agronomic and yield traits. Moreover, according to the current status of quinoa breeding, this paper also put forward five key problems in quinoa breeding, and pointed out four important directions of genetic improvement and breeding of quinoa in the future, so as to provide reference for the realization of directional genetic improvement of quinoa in the future.藜麦(Chenopodium quinoa Willd.)作为20世纪新兴的健康食物，因其营养成分全面、抗逆性强等特性备受关注，在国际上享有“营养黄金”、“素食之王”、“未来食品”的美誉。近年来随着基因组学和高通量测序技术的快速发展，藜麦高质量的全基因组序列得以完成并开展了系列关键基因功能研究。本文总结了藜麦基因组学、重要转录因子基因家族分析、遗传图谱构建和重要性状QTL定位和重要农艺和产量性状基因的研究进展。此外，针对目前藜麦育种的现状，本文还提出了藜麦育种存在的5个关键问题，并指出了未来藜麦遗传改良和育种的4个重要方向，旨在为实现未来藜麦的定向遗传改良提供参考。.

Background Knee osteoarthritis (KOA) with varus alignment and medial space stenosis is a common degenerative disorder in the elderly. To reallocate the force bearing from the medial to the lateral compartment, the anti-varus osteotomy, including high tibial osteotomy (HTO) and proximal fibular osteotomy (PFO), corrects the mechanical lines of lower extremities using surgical methods, which alleviates the abrasion of medial cartilage and relieves pain. PFO is based on the “non-uniform settlement” theory. It is to cut small section of the proximal fibula, i.e., below the fibula head, which breaks the fibula and weakens its support for the lateral of the tibial plateau, lastly reduces the gap on the lateral side of the knee joint and offsets the knee varus deformity caused by weight bearing. We conducted this systematic review and meta-analysis to compare the clinical outcomes of PFO versus HTO intervention. Methods Twenty-three studies were acquired from PubMed, Embase, CNKI (China National Knowledge Infrastructure), Wanfang Database and Cochrane Library. The data were extracted by two of the coauthors independently and were analyzed by RevMan5.3. Mean differences (MDs), odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated. Cochrane Collaboration’s Risk of Bias Tool and Newcastle–Ottawa Scale were used to assess risk of bias. Results Twenty-three studies including 14 randomized controlled trials and 9 observational studies were assessed. The methodological quality of the trials ranged from low to high. The pooled results of the mean operation time (MD = − 38.75, 95% CI = − 45.66 to − 31.85, P P P P = 0.16) showed that the differences were statistically significant between the two interventions. The postoperative differences of visual analogue score (VAS) (MD = 0.15 95% CI = − 0.39 to 0.69, P = 0.58), hospital for Special Surgery knee score (HSS) (MD = − 2.68, 95% CI = − 6.30 to 0.94, P = 0.15), American knee society (AKS) score (MD = 0.04, 95% CI = − 0.69 to 0.77, P = 0.91), western Ontario and McMaster university of orthopedic index (WOMAC) (MD = 8.09, 95% CI = 2.06–14.13, P = 0.009) and femur–tibia angle (FTA) (MD = − 0.03, 95% CI = − 5.39 to 5.33, P = 0.99) were not statistically significant. Sensitivity analysis proved the stability of the pooled results and the publication bias was not apparent. Conclusions PFO and HTO have the same short-term efficacy in the treatment of KOA, but PFO can reduce the operation time, intraoperative bleeding, hospital stay and postoperative complications, which has certain advantages. Clinically, for patients with many complications and poor surgical tolerance, PFO can be preferred.

PurposeThe present study was performed to detect the prevalence of myopia among primary-school students in Xi'an, north-western of China.MethodsThe present study was a school-based study with students aged from 6 to 13 years old. All the individuals underwent ophthalmological examination and spherical equivalent (SE) of refractive error were measured with non-cycloplegic refraction. Myopia was defined as a SE of ≤ -0.5 diopters (D), and further divided into three stratified groups based on SE: low myopia (≤ -0.5 to >-3.0 D), moderate myopia (≤ -3.0 to >-6.0 D), and high myopia (≤ -6.0 D). Relative risk factors, including age, sex, grade and ethnicity were investigated using questionnaire.ResultsA total of 4,680 individuals were eligible for this survey and 4,654 (99.4% participation rate) were finally included (51.2% boys). The mean age of participants was 8.756 ± 1.727 years. The whole city-level prevalence of total myopia was 57.1% (95% CI: 55.7–58.6%). Additionally, the prevalence of low, moderate, and high myopia was 45.0% (95% CI: 43.5–46.4%), 11.1% (95% CI: 10.2–12.0%), and 1.0% (95% CI: 0.7–1.3%), respectively. Moreover, grade (education level) instead of age, sex and ethnicity was the most essential risk factor for prevalence of overall myopia (OR = 1.844, 95% CI: 1.605–2.119), and an increase of prevalence by 84.4% per grade was seen. Furthermore, similar associations of grade were significant with low myopia (OR = 1.613, 95% CI: 1.385–1.877) and moderate myopia (OR = 2.186, 95% CI: 1.693–2.823), meanwhile, prevalence of low myopia and moderate myopia demonstrated an increase of prevalence by 61.3 and 118.6% per grade, respectively. None of the factors included in the present study was significant risk factor for high myopia.ConclusionsThe present study investigated a non-negligible high prevalence of myopia among primary-school students in Xi'an, north-western of China, and a gradual increasing in proportion with education level.

Rural environments and microbiota are linked to a reduction in the prevalence of allergies. However, the mechanism underlying the reduced allergies modulated by rural residency is unclear. Here, we assessed gut bacterial composition and metagenomics in urban and rural children in the EuroPrevall-INCO cohort. Airborne dusts, including mattress and rural henhouse dusts, were profiled for bacterial and fungal composition by amplicon sequencing. Mice were repeatedly exposed to intranasal dust extracts and evaluated for their effects on ovalbumin (OVA)-induced allergic airway inflammation, and gut microbiota restoration was validated by fecal microbiota transplant (FMT) from dust-exposed donor mice. We found that rural children had fewer allergies and unique gut microbiota with feweriBacteroides/iand moreiPrevotella/i. Indoor dusts in rural environments harbored higher endotoxin level and diversity of bacteria and fungi, whereas indoor urban dusts were enriched withiAspergillus/iand contained elevated pathogenic bacteria. Intranasal administration of rural dusts before OVA sensitization reduced respiratory eosinophils and blood IgE level in mice and also led to a recovery of gut bacterial diversity andiRuminiclostridium/iin the mouse model. FMT restored the protective effect by reducing OVA-induced lung eosinophils in recipient mice. Together, these results support a cause-effect relationship between exposure to dust microbiota and allergy susceptibility in children and mice. Specifically, rural environmental exposure modulated the gut microbiota, which was essential in reducing allergy in children from Southern China. Our findings support the notion that the modulation of gut microbiota by exposure to rural indoor dust may improve allergy prevention.

Tris (1-chloro-2-propyl) phosphate (TCPP) is one of the most frequently detected organophosphorus flames in the environment. Continuous daily exposure to TCPP may harm human skin. However, little is known about the adverse effects of TCPP on human skin. In this study, we first evaluated the detrimental effects and tried to uncover the underlying mechanisms of TCPP on human skin keratinocytes (HaCaT) after 24 h exposure. We found that TCPP caused a concentration-dependent decrease in HaCaT cell viability after exposure to 1.56–400 μg/mL for 24 h, with an IC50 of 275 μg/mL. TCPP also promoted the generation of intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) and triggered DNA damage, evidenced by an increase of phosphorylated histone H2A.X (γH2A.X) in the nucleus. Furthermore, the cell cycle was arrested at the G1 phase at 100 μg/mL by upregulation of the mRNA expression of p53 and p21 and downregulation of cyclin D1 and CDK4 expression. Additionally, both the senescence-associated-β-galactosidase activity and related proinflammatory cytokine IL-1β and IL-6 were elevated, indicating that TCPP exposure caused cellular senescence may be through the p53-dependent DNA damage signal pathway in HaCaT cells. Taken together, our data suggest that flame-retardant exposure may be a key precipitating factor for human skin aging.

Objective To evaluate the effects of calcium supplementation on bone mineral density in children. Methods The PubMed, Embase, and Cochrane library were systematically searched. The retrieve inception date was between October 2001 and October 2019. Two reviewers independently performed the data extraction and assessed methodology quality. Studies were limited to randomized clinical trials comparing calcium supplement with a placebo for bone mineral density in children. A meta-analysis was performed to calculate standard mean difference (SMD) and 95% confidence interval (CI). Results A total of 6 randomized controlled trials involving 408 participants (calcium supplementation group: 198; placebo group: 210) were finally included in this study. The meta-analysis revealed that, compared with placebos, calcium supplementation had no effect on the bone mineral densities [the whole-body: SMD with CI = 0.43 (−0.05–0.91), P=0.08, I 2 = 75%; the 2nd–4th lumbar vertebrae: SMD with 95% CI = 0.27 (−0.17 to 0.70), P = 0.07, I 2 = 0%)]. Sensitivity analysis revealed that the results of the whole-body bone mineral density were unstable and that the bone density of the 2nd–4th lumbar spine was robust. Conclusions The results of this meta-analysis suggested that calcium supplementation did not improve bone mineral density in children. However, there continues to be a need for more high-quality studies to verify this fact in the future.

Objective This study aims to establish the predictive model of carotid plaque formation and carotid plaque location by retrospectively analyzing the clinical data of subjects with carotid plaque formation and normal people, and to provide technical support for screening patients with carotid plaque. Methods There were 4300 subjects in the ultrasound department of Maanshan People's Hospital collected from December 2013 to December 2018. We used demographic and biochemical data from 3700 subjects to establish predictive models for carotid plaque and its location. The leave-one-out cross-validated classification, 600 external data validation, and area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC) were used to verify the accuracy, sensitivity, specificity, and application value of the model. Results There were significant difference of age (F = − 34.049, p χ2 = 191.067, p χ2 = 4.762, p χ2 = 8.306, p F = 15.322, p F = 13.840, p F = 52.074, p (F = 2.679, p p p p p Conclusion Demographic characteristics and blood biochemical indexes were used to establish the carotid plaque and its location discriminant models based on Fisher discriminant analysis (FDA), which has high application value in community screening.

Background Avian haemosporidia infect both domestic and wild birds, causing anemia, acute tissue degeneration, and depopulation in wild birds. Poultry and wild birds have been reported as common reservoirs of haemosporidia, but limited information is available for red junglefowl (Gallus gallus) in China. The present study investigated the prevalence and molecular characterization of haemosporidia in red junglefowl. Methods Blood samples were collected from 234 red junglefowl from Jinghong City of Yunnan Province, and genomic DNA was extracted from these samples. The prevalence of haemosporidia was determined by nested PCR targeting the mitochondrial cytochrome b (cytb) gene. Molecular characterization was investigated based on phylogenetic analysis of cytb sequences, and associated risk factors were analyzed using the Chi-square (χ2) test. Results The overall prevalence of haemosporidia was 74.8% (175/234), and three species were identified, namely Haemoproteus enucleator, Leucocytozoon californicus, and Plasmodium juxtanucleare. The prevalence of haemosporidia in adult fowl (81.1%, 107/132) was significantly higher (χ2 = 6.32, df = 1, P = 0.012) than that in juveniles (66.7%, 68/102). Three novel haemosporidian lineages were revealed. Conclusions This study examined the prevalence and identified species of avian haemosporidians in red junglefowl, providing new information on the molecular epidemiology and geographical distribution of haemosporidian parasites. Our results indicated high prevalence and diverse species distribution of these haemosporidians in red junglefowl. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first record of haemosporidian infection in red junglefowl in China. Graphical Abstract

Sevoflurane is used in anesthesia for surgery including in organ transplantation. We investigated the role of a non-coding single-stranded microRNA, miR-495-3p, in the sevoflurane-induced neurotoxicity using a mouse hippocampal neuronal cell line (HT22).The levels of miR-495-3p in sevoflurane-exposed mice and HT22 cells were determined via RT-qPCR. The role of miR-495-3p on cell viability and apoptosis were determined by CCK-8 and flow cytometric assay, respectively. Western blotting was explored to measure levels of Bax, Bcl-2, active caspase 3, BDNF, p-ERK/ERK and p-CREB/CREB in HT22 cells. ELISA assay was used to examine the levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS), superoxide dismutase (SOD) and glutathione peroxidase (GPX) in cells. Dual luciferase reporter assay was used to explore the interaction of miR-495-3p and BDNF.The level of miR-495-3p was increased sevoflurane-exposed mice and in sevoflurane-treated HT22 cells. Downregulation of miR-495-3p inhibited sevoflurane-induced apoptosis and promoted cell proliferation by upregulating the proteins of Bcl-2 and downregulating the expressions of Bax and active caspase-3 in HT22 cells. In addition, inhibition of miR-495-3p alleviated sevoflurane-induced oxidative injuries in HT22 cells via decline of ROS and upregulation of SOD and GPX. MiR-495-3p can inhibit the ERK/CREB pathway by targeting BDNF.Downregulation of miR-495-3p can decrease oxidative status in HT22 cells and alleviate sevoflurane-induced cytotoxicity through stimulating the BDNF/ERK/CREB pathway.

The aim of this study is to evaluate the value of the triglyceride-glucose (TyG) index and the risk of large artery atherosclerotic (LAA) stroke. Information on general demographic and clinical characteristics, magnetic resonance angiography (MRA) examination, and blood biochemical index determination were obtained. Based on age stratification, three models to evaluate the odds ratio (OR) and the 95% confidence interval (95% CI) were employed to determine the correlation between the TyG index and the risk of LAA stroke. The most effective TyG index threshold in predicting a high risk of LAA stroke was identified using receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis. Logistic regression verified the association between the risk of LAA stroke and the TyG index. Both with and without age stratification, logistic regression analysis showed that the TyG index was a significant predictor of the occurrence of LAA stroke ( P < 0.05 ). The maximum Youden index for determining a high risk of LAA stroke was found at a TyG index of 4.60. The area under the ROC curve was 0.69 (95% CI: 0.646–0.742, P < 0.05 ), sensitivity was 78.0%, and specificity was 63.4%. An elevated TyG index was remarkably associated with a high risk of LAA stroke.

To investigate the anti-oxidative effect of ethyl pyruvate (EP) and taurine (TAU) on the quality of red blood cells stored at 4±2 ℃, hemolysis, energy metabolism and lipid peroxidation of the red blood cells in the preservation solution were studied at different intervals.At 4±2 ℃, the deleukocyte red blood cells were stored in the citrate-phosphate-dextrosesaline-adenine-1 (CPDA-1) preservation (control group), preservation solution with EP (EP-AS), and TAU (TAU-AS) for long-term preservation. The enzyme-linked immunoassay and automatic blood cell analyzer were used to detect hemolysis and erythrocyte parameters. Adenine nucleoside triphosphate (ATP), glycerol 2,3-diphosphate (2,3-DPG) and malondialdehyde (MDA) kits were used to test the ATP, 2,3-DPG and MDA concentration.During the preservation, the rate of red blood cell hemolysis in EP-AS and TAU-AS groups were significantly lower than that in CPDA-1 group (P0.01). The MCV of EP-AS group was increased with the preservation time (r=0.71), while the MCV of the TAU-AS group was significantly lower than that in the other two groups (P0.05). The concentration of ATP and MDA in EP-AS and TAU-AS groups were significantly higher than that in CPDA-1 group at the 14th day (P0.01). The concentrations of 2,3-DPG in the EP-AS and TAU-AS groups were significantly higher than that in the CPDA-1 group from the 7th day (P0.01).EP and TAU can significantly reduce the red blood cell hemolysis rate, inhibit the lipid peroxidation level of red blood cells, and improve the energy metabolism of red blood cells during storage. The mechanism of EP and TAU may be related to their antioxidation and membrane protection effect, so as to improve the red blood cell quality and extend the preservation time.丙酮酸乙酯、牛磺酸的抗氧化作用对红细胞4 ℃保存的影响.研究丙酮酸乙酯(EP)或牛磺酸(TAU)的保存液对红细胞4±2 ℃保存时溶血、能量代谢和脂质过氧化等指标随保存时间延长的变化，探讨上述物质对红细胞4±2 ℃保存质量的影响.在4±2 ℃，将去白细胞浓缩红细胞分别保存在CPDA-1（对照组）以及添加EP (EP-AS组)或TAU (TAU-AS组)的保存液中，进行长期保存。应用酶联免疫检测仪和全自动血细胞分析仪定期对各组保存红细胞进行溶血和红细胞参数测定；采用腺嘌呤核苷三磷酸(ATP)、2,3-二磷酸甘油酯(2,3-DPG)和丙二醛(MDA)检测试剂盒对上述指标进行检测.保存中后期，EP-AS组和TAU-AS组红细胞溶血率均显著低于CPDA-1组(P0.01)。EP-AS组MCV随保存时间延长而增加(r=0.71)，d 49时TAU-AS组MCV显著低于其余2组(P0.05)。从d 14开始，EP-AS和TAU-AS组ATP和MDA浓度均显著高于CPDA-1组(P0.01)；从d 7开始，EP-AS和TAU-AS组2,3-DPG浓度均显著高于CPDA-1组(P0.01).添加EP和TAU能显著降低4±2 ℃保存期间红细胞溶血率，且一定程度上抑制红细胞脂质过氧化水平和改善红细胞能量代谢。EP和TAU的作用机制可能与其抗氧化和膜保护作用有关，从而可以提高红细胞的保存质量并延长保存时间.

A novel Sm-metal–organic framework (MOF) sensor with the molecular formula Sm8(HDBA)6·H2O has been prepared based on a penta-carboxyl organic ligand (H5DBA = 3,5-di(2′,4′-dicarboxylphenyl)benzoic acid) and samarium nitrate under solvothermal conditions. Sm-MOF is characterized by single-crystal X-ray diffraction analysis, elemental analysis, thermogravimetric analysis, and powder X-ray diffraction analysis. Structural analysis shows that the dimer metal units are alternately connected to form a one-dimensional chain, and this chain is connected by the bridging carboxyl oxygen of the ligand H5DBA to form a two-dimensional double-layer plane, which then expands into a three-dimensional microporous framework. Fluorescence detection studies show that Sm-MOF can detect Ag+ ions, MnO4– anions, and cimetidine tablets with high sensitivity and selectivity and can also be used to electrochemically detect o-nitrophenol in water. High-sensitivity detection capability of the Sm-MOF can enrich the application of samarium complexes in multifunctional sensors.

Suaeda salsa L. (Chenopodiaceae) is a wild vegetable distributed along the northern coast of China. Searching for potential agents with health benefits from S. salsa L. led to the identification of 14 flavonoids (1-14), eight phenolic acids (15-22), one coumarin (23), one benzoquinone (24), two sesquiterpenes (25, 26), and three lignins (27-29) from an aqueous ethanol (EtOH) extract of the above-ground whole plant using various column chromatographic methods. High-resolution electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (HRESIMS) analyses and nuclear magnetic resonance (

Oxycodone is one of the most prescribed narcotic medications for the treatment of moderate to severe pain in clinical practice. During long-term stability studies of oxycodone hydrochloride for injection performed as per ICH Q1A (R2) guidelines, an unknown degradation product, impurity-I, increased over time and reached a level of 0.21% after 24 months, based on the results of HPLC analysis. The observed impurity was preliminarily characterized as an oxycodone aldol dimer by using two-dimensional (2D) liquid chromatography (LC) coupled with quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry (QTOF MS/MS) analysis. Impurity-I was synthesized and its molecular structure confirmed based on detailed analysis of 1D-NMR (1H, 13C, and DEPT) and 2D-NMR (1H–1H COSY, HSQC, and HMBC) spectroscopy data. The plausible mechanism for the formation of impurity-I was an aldol condensation reaction under weakly acidic conditions. In addition, the potential toxicity of impurity-I was assessed by in silico toxicity predictions using the TOPKAT software.

Six new Co(II)/Ni(II) coordination polymers, [Ni3(opda)3(mbib)4(H2O)4]·2H2O (1), [Ni(mpda)(mbib)]·H2O (2), [Ni(ppda)(mbib)]·H2O (3), [Co(opda)(pbib)(H2O)] (4), [Co(mpda)(pbib)1.5] (5), and [Co(ppda)(pbib)(H2O)2]·2H2O (6) (H2opda = 1,2-phenylenediacetic acid, H2mpda = 1,3-phenylenediacetic acid, H2ppda = 1,4-phenylenediacetic acid, mbib = 1,3-bis(1-imidazoly)benzene, and pbib = 1,4-bis(1-imidazoly)benzene), were synthesized using Co(II)/Ni(II) salts and the bis(imidazole) ligand in the presence of three different flexible phenylenediacetate isomers under hydrothermal conditions. In 1, the opda2− ligand exhibits a trans-conformation and acts as a bridging building block extending a 1D loop-containing (Ni–mbib) polymer chain into a 2D network. In 2 and 3, mpda2− and ppda2− ligands possess a cis-conformation and can be seen as a “V”-type building block, linking Ni(II) atoms to form a 1D loop-containing chain together with the mbib ligand. Utilizing the isomer bridging ligand pbib and a different metal ion, Co(II), instead of the mbib ligand and Ni(II) ion, 2D (4), 1D (5), and 2D (6) coordination polymers were obtained. The structural diversity of these complexes is mainly attributed to the different coordination modes and isomer conformations of flexible phenylenediacetic acids and the bis(imidazole) ligand. Furthermore, six Co(II)/Ni(II) coordination polymers could accelerate the degradation rate of methylene blue (MB) under visible light irradiation, especially complex 4. Complex 2 exhibited a high performance in the oxygen evolution reaction (OER). Results will provide an effective way to develop coordination polymers towards electrochemical applications.

A novel three-dimensional microporous terbium(III) metal-organic framework (Tb-MOF) named as [Tb10 (DBA)6(OH)4(H2O)5]·(H3O)4 (1), was successfully obtained by a solvothermal method based on terbium nitrate and 5-di(2',4'-dicarboxylphenyl) benzoic acid (H5DBA). The Tb-MOF has been characterized by single crystal X-ray diffraction, elemental analysis, thermogravimetry, and fluorescence properties, and the purity was further confirmed by powder X-ray diffraction (PXRD) analysis. Structural analysis shows that there are two kinds of metal cluster species: binuclear and tetranuclear, which are linked by H5DBA ligands in two μ7 high coordination fashions into a three-dimensional microporous framework. Fluorescence studies show that the Tb-MOF can detect H2O2, Fe3+, and Cr2O7 2- with high sensitivity and selectivity and can also be used for electrochemical detection of exposed 2,4,6-trinitrophenylamine (TPA) in water. The highly selective and sensitive detection ability of the Tb-MOF might make it a potential multifunctional sensor in the future.

Organic polymers have been found widespread commercial applications due to their easy processing and attractive mechanical properties. Concurrently, inorganic polyoxometalates (POMs), a class of metal-oxygen anionic and nanosized clusters of early transition metals, have a wide range of attractive functions and are used in industrial catalysis. In this communication, we report a new approach to creating the first linear poly(polyoxometalate)s that combine the advantages of polymers and POM clusters. In the experiment, a POM-containing norbornene monomer was first synthesized by linking a Wells-Dawson-type POM with a norbornene derivative. The monomer was polymerized in the presence of a Grubbs catalyst under mild conditions with yields nearly 100% in a living and controllable manner. The resulting poly(polyoxometalate)s have controllable molecular weights and a well-defined hybrid structure of an organic polynorbornene backbone with large pendant groups of the nanosized POM clusters. Thus, they form good films and have a good catalytic performance. Our findings not only pave the way for incorporating the POM clusters into polymers with well-defined structures and high molecular weights, but also offer a competitive strategy for developing more novel catalytic systems by introducing the poly(polyoxometalate)s.

When a multicarboxylate aromatic ligand, 3,5-di(2',4'-dicarboxylphenyl)benzoic acid (H

Le-Cao-Shi (LCS) has long been used as a folk traditional Chinese medicine formula against liver injuries, whereas its pharmacological mechanisms remain elusive. Our study aims to investigate the underlying mechanism of LCS in treating liver injuries via integrated network pharmacology, metabonomics, and experimental validation. By network pharmacology, 57 compounds were screened as candidate compounds based on ADME parameters from the LCS compound bank (213 compounds collected from the literature of three single herbs). According to online compound–target databases, the aforementioned candidate compounds were predicted to target 87 potential targets related to liver injuries. More than 15 pathways connected with these potential targets were considered vital pathways in collectively modulating liver injuries, which were found to be relevant to cancer, xenobiotic metabolism by cytochrome P450 enzymes, bile secretion, inflammation, and antioxidation. Metabonomics analysis by using the supernatant of the rat liver homogenate with UPLC-Q-TOF/MS demonstrated that 18 potential biomarkers could be regulated by LCS, which was closely related to linoleic acid metabolism, glutathione metabolism, cysteine and methionine metabolism, and glycerophospholipid metabolism pathways. Linoleic acid metabolism and glutathione metabolism pathways were two key common pathways in both network pharmacology and metabonomics analysis. In ELISA experiments with the CCl4-induced rat liver injury model, LCS was found to significantly reduce the levels of inflammatory parameters, decrease liver malondialdehyde (MDA) levels, and enhance the activities of hepatic antioxidant enzymes, which validated that LCS could inhibit liver injuries through anti-inflammatory property and by suppressing lipid peroxidation and improving the antioxidant defense system. Our work could provide new insights into the underlying pharmacological mechanisms of LCS against liver injuries, which is beneficial for its further investigation and modernization.

Background Avian haemosporidians are critical hematocytozoon that infect both poultry and wild birds, responsible for anemia, acute tissue degeneration, and depopulation in wild birds. Poultry and wild birds have been reported as common reservoirs of hematocytozoon, but limited information was available for red jungle fowl (Gallus gallus) in China. The present study firstly investigated the prevalence and molecular characterization of haemosporidians in red jungle fowls. Methods Blood samples were collected from 234 red jungle fowls from Jinghong City of Yunnan province, and then the samples were stained and observed by using microscopy. The genomic DNA samples were extracted from these samples. The prevalence of avian haemosporidians was determined by the nested PCR targeting the mitochondrial cytochrome b (cytb) gene and staining morphology observation. Associated risk factors were analyzed by chi-square (χ2) test. Molecular characterization was investigated based on phylogenetic analysis of cytb sequence. Results Overall prevalence of avian haemosporidium was 74.8% (175/234), with Haemoproteus enucleator, Leucocytozoon californicus, Plasmodium juxtanucleare, and the prevalence of haemosporidians in adult fowls (81.1%, 107/132) was significantly higher (P = 0.012 df = 1, χ2 = 6.32) than juvenile gulls (66.7%, 68/102). Three representative novel lineages were revealed. Conclusions This study combined morphological and molecular phylogenetic analyses to identify avian haemosporidium in red jungle fowls, providing new information on the morphology, molecular epidemiology and geographical distribution of haemosporidian parasites. Our results suggested high prevalence and diverse genetic variations in these haemosporidians in fowls. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first records of haemosporidians infection in red jungle fowls in China.

The prevalence of constipation in the Chinese population over 60 years of age is 11.5%, and this prevalence increases with age, which seriously affects the quality of life in older adults. Therefore, reducing the incidence of constipation in older adults is necessary to promote a healthy lifestyle as well as biochemical health.To explore the value of preoperative guidance and education to improve the effects of bowel cleaning in older adult patients undergoing colonoscopy.In this study, 160 older adult patients with constipation requiring colonoscopy at Shandong Provincial Hospital between January 2019 and March 2021 were selected and randomly divided into a study group and a control group, with 80 patients in each group. The study group received medication guidance and targeted educational guidance before the operation, while the control group received only medication and dietary guidance. The baseline data, colonoscopy duration, bowel preparation compliance, Boston bowel preparation (BBPS) assessment score, intestinal bubble score, the incidence of adverse reactions during bowel preparation, and nursing appointment satisfaction were compared between the two groups.The colonoscopy duration times and intestinal bubble scores of the study group were shorter than those of the control group, with statistically significant differences. The BBPS scores for the right, left, and interrupted colon in the study group were also higher than those in the control group, and the difference was statistically significant. Additionally, the study group had a higher rate of liquid diet one day before the examination, higher rate of correct bowel-clearing agent dilution method, higher rate of accurate time of ingesting the bowel-clearing agent, and a higher proportion of patients ingesting bowel-clearing agent at the specified time than the control group, with statistically significant differences. The incidence of nausea and vomiting during bowel clearance in the study group was significantly lower than that in the control group. The incidence of abdominal pain, abdominal distension, dizziness, and fatigue was compared between the two groups, but the difference was not statistically significant. The scores of service attitude, detailed notification of dietary precautions, clear and easy-to-understand health educational content, and receiving care and comfort in the study group were significantly higher than those in the control group.Preoperative special guidance and education were shown to significantly improve bowel clearance and compliance and reduce the incidence of adverse reactions in older adult patients with constipation undergoing colonoscopy. These factors are beneficial for improving patient satisfaction with nursing services.

The literature related to TMZ research in the Web of Science (WOS) database was analyzed using bibliometrics and visualization by Citespace and VOSviewer.The publication status (number of publications, institutions, and frequency of citations), collaborations, and research focus was analyzed to clarify the current situation of TMZ research. And the recent research on TMZ provides a detailed summary. Based on objective data analysis, this study provides a complete analysis portraying the progression of historical milestones in TMZ development and future research directions from various TMZ research domains.