Search

Jinjin Xu,1– 3,&ast; Yan Yang,1– 3,&ast; Guixue Guan,1– 3,&ast; Yuan Gao,1– 3 Qian Sun,1– 3 Guangwei Yuan,4 Xiaozuo Zhang,1– 3 Jingyun Yang,5,6 Wen Yang,1– 3 Zuobin Zhu,7 Conghui Han8,9 1Department of Gynecology, The First People’s Hospital of Lianyungang, Lianyungang, Jiangsu, People’s Republic of China; 2Department of Gynecology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Kangda College of Nanjing Medical University, Lianyungang, Jiangsu, 22206, People’s Republic of China; 3Medical University, Lianyungang, Jiangsu, China & Department of Gynecology, Xuzhou Medical University Affiliated Hospital of Lianyungang, Lianyungang, Jiangsu, People’s Republic of China; 4College of Professional Studies, Northeastern University, Boston, MA, USA; 5Rush Alzheimer’s Disease Center, Rush University Medical Center, Chicago, IL, USA; 6Department of Neurological Sciences, Rush University Medical Center, Chicago, IL, USA; 7Department of Genetics, Xuzhou Engineering Research Center of Medical Genetics and Transformation, Key Laboratory of Genetic Foundation and Clinical Application, Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou, Jiangsu, People’s Republic of China; 8Department of Urology, Xuzhou Clinical School of Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou, Jiangsu, People’s Republic of China; 9Department of Urology, Xuzhou Central Hospital, Xuzhou, Jiangsu, People’s Republic of China&ast;These authors contributed equally to this workCorrespondence: Wen Yang, Department of Gynecology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Kangda College of Nanjing Medical University, Zhenhua Road, Lianyungang, Jiangsu, 222061, People’s Republic of China, Tel +86-18961325910, Email wen_yang0@163.com Conghui Han, Department of Urology, Xuzhou Clinical School of Xuzhou Medical University, 199 Jiefang South Road, Xuzhou, Jiangsu, 221000, People’s Republic of China, Tel +86-13813461893, Email hanchdoctor@st.btbu.edu.cnObjective: This study investigates the thromboelastography (TEG) changes in patients with unexplained recurrent spontaneous abortion (URSA) to identify effective diagnostic markers for URSA.Methods: We retrospectively analyzed 160 URSA patients from the Gynecology Department of the First People’s Hospital of Lianyungang (June 2017 - June 2020) and compared them with 190 healthy, fertile women without adverse pregnancy histories (control group). TEG parameters were assessed using logistic regression, applying stepwise selection for model optimization. Model performance was evaluated using Receiver Operating Characteristic (ROC) curves, determining sensitivity and specificity. The Youden index identified optimal cut points for predictive probabilities.Results: Significant differences were observed between the URSA and control groups in coagulation reaction time (R), clot formation time (K), clot formation rate (Angle-α), and maximum clot strength (MA) (P< 0.05). Multivariable logistic regression identified R, Angle-α, and MA as independent URSA risk factors. The model demonstrated excellent discrimination (AUC: 0.940; 95% CI: 0.918– 0.962). The optimal cut point of predictive probability (Youden index) was P=0.355, yielding a sensitivity of 0.925 and specificity of 0.795.Conclusion: URSA patients exhibit a hypercoagulable state even when not pregnant. More research is needed to validate our findings and explore the potential clinical implications of anticoagulants in treating URSA.Keywords: unexplained recurrent spontaneous abortion, thromboelastography, prothrombotic state, coagulation function

Yuhai Zou,1,&ast; Dongdong Li,1,&ast; Ge Guan,1 Wenting Liu2 1Department of Cardiology, General Hospital of Southern Theatre Command of PLA, Guangzhou, 510010, People’s Republic of China; 2Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Guangzhou First People’s Hospital, Guangzhou, 510180, People’s Republic of China&ast;These authors contributed equally to this workCorrespondence: Wenting Liu, Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Guangzhou First People’s Hospital, Guangzhou, 510180, People’s Republic of China, Tel +86-13533976302, Email liuwt2023@126.comBackground: Coronary artery calcification (CAC) is in almost all patients with coronary artery disease and requires more effective therapies. We aim to explore the effects of phosphoglycerate dehydrogenase (PHGDH) on CAC.Methods: We identified the differentially expressed genes through bioinformatic analysis and selected PHGDH for further verification. Human coronary artery smooth muscle cells (HCASMCs) cultured with calcifying medium were used as models of CAC in vitro. Erastin was administered to induce ferroptosis. We determined the cell viability by the cell count kit-8 assay. The alkaline phosphatase activity, calcium content, and the expression of glutathione were evaluated by the corresponding detection kits. The calcification level was detected by alizarin red staining. Then we performed Western blot to examine the expression of runt-related transcription factor 2, bone morphogenetic protein 2, cyclooxygenase 2, glutathione peroxidase 4, P53, and solute carrier family 7a member 11 (SLC7A11).Results: We acquired 201 differentially expressed genes and selected PHGDH to verify. In calcifying medium-induced HCASMCs, PHGDH overexpression increased the cell viability and decreased the alkaline phosphatase activity, calcium content, calcification level, and the expression of bone morphogenetic protein 2 and runt-related transcription factor 2. Additionally, we found higher levels of glutathione, glutathione peroxidase 4, and SLC7A11 and lower levels of cyclooxygenase 2 and P53 after up-regulating PHGDH. Erastin reversed the effects of PHGDH on calcification of HCASMCs.Conclusion: PHGDH overexpression suppresses the calcification level of HCASMCs by inhibiting ferroptosis through the P53/SLC7A11 signaling pathway, suggesting PHGDH as a promising therapeutic target of CAC.Keywords: coronary artery calcification, PHGDH, the P53/SLC7A11 signaling pathway

Ruirui Zhang,1 Fanfu Jin,1 Lanlan Zheng,1 Tingwei Liao,1 Guangling Guan,1 Jianfei Wang,1 Shoucai Zhao,1 Shizao Fei,2,&ast; Zhaohu Chu,1,&ast; Yang Xu1,3,&ast; 1Department of Neurology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Wannan Medical College, Wuhu, People’s Republic of China; 2Wuhu Hospital, East China Normal University, Wuhu, People’s Republic of China; 3Key Laboratory of Non-coding RNA Transformation Research of Anhui Higher Education Institutes, Wannan Medical College, Wuhu, Anhui Province, China; Department of Neurology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Wannan Medical College, Wuhu, People’s Republic of China&ast;These authors contributed equally to this workCorrespondence: Yang Xu; Zhaohu Chu, Department of Neurology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Wannan Medical College, Wuhu, Anhui, 241000, People’s Republic of China, Tel/Fax +86 0553-5739542, Email southtv@163.com; chuzhaohu878@163.comBackground: Hemorrhagic transformation (HT) is one of the most common and severe complications in patients with acute ischemic stroke (AIS). It indicates a poor prognosis in AIS patients. However, the association of neutrophil to high-density lipoprotein ratio (NHR) with HT remains unclear.Purpose: This study examined whether the NHR has a predictive effect on HT in AIS patients and explored the predictive cutoff value of the NHR.Methods: This is a retrospective study and consecutively included AIS patients admitted to the Department of Neurology of the First Affiliated Hospital of Wannan Medical College between December 2019 and January 2022. All subjects had blood samples collected within 24 h of admission, and neutrophil counts and high-density lipoprotein counts were detected. HT was diagnosed with hemorrhage on subsequent magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) or computed tomography (CT) of the brain. Univariate logistic regression analysis was performed to identify confounding factors, and multivariate logistic regression analysis determined the correlation between NHR and HT. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves were used to evaluate the clinical predictive value of NHR.Results: A total of 725 patients were finally included in this study, of which 87 (12%) developed HT. The median NHR value in the HT group was 4.31, which was significantly higher than that in the non-HT group, and the difference was statistically significant [4.31 (3.54– 6.24) vs 3.63 (2.68– 4.64), p < 0.001]. The binary logistic regression analysis showed that NHR was independently associated with HT in AIS patients (OR: 1.180, 95% CI: 1.036– 1.344, p = 0.013). The area under ROC curve (AUC) of NHR for predicting HT in AIS patients was 0.633 (95% CI: 0.567– 0.699, p < 0.001), and its optimal cutoff were 3.52.Conclusion: The NHR was a reliable and simple independent predictor of HT in AIS patients.Keywords: neutrophil to high-density lipoprotein ratio, neutrophil, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, hemorrhagic transformation, acute ischemic stroke, neuroinflammation

Xingming Liu, Guoxin Guan, Xinye Cui, Yaqing Liu, Yinghan Liu, Fuwen Luo Department of General Surgery, The Second Affiliated Hospital, Dalian Medical University, Dalian, 116023, People’s Republic of ChinaCorrespondence: Fuwen Luo Email dyeylfw@163.comObjective: Systemic immune-inflammation index (SII) is a new systemic inflammatory prognostic indicator associated with outcomes in patients with different tumors. Studies have shown an association between SII and many chronic/acute inflammatory diseases. This study aimed at exploring whether SII can be used as an effective parameter for predicting the severity of acute pancreatitis (AP).Methods: A total of 101 acute pancreatitis patients were enrolled in this study (mild acute pancreatitis (MAP): n = 73 and severe acute pancreatitis (SAP): n = 28). Patient demographics and SII were analyzed using the chi-square test, Student’s t-test, and Mann–Whitney U-test. A receiver operating characteristic curve was generated to test the potential of using neutrophil to lymphocyte ratio (NLR), platelet to lymphocyte ratio (PLR), and SII to predict AP’s severity. Logistic regression analysis was performed to determine major risk factors.Results: Patients with SII value ≥ 2207.53 had a higher probability of having SAP (sensitivity = 92.9%, specificity = 87.7%, and AUC = 0.920), and SII was a significantly better predictive value than PLR and NLR. Logistic regression analysis results showed SII could differentiate MAP from SAP as a major risk factor.Conclusion: This study has shown that SII is a potential indicator for predicting the severity of acute pancreatitis. The findings suggested that SII is more sensitive and specific than NLR and PLR in predicting the severity of acute pancreatitis.Keywords: acute pancreatitis, severity, systemic immune inflammation index

Yiyi Zhang,1,&ast; Bingjie Guan,2,&ast; Yong WU,1,&ast; Fan Du,3,&ast; Jinfu Zhuang,1 Yuanfeng Yang,1 Guoxian Guan,1 Xing Liu1 1Department of Colorectal Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, People’s Republic of China; 2Department of Radiation Oncology, Fujian Medical University Union Hospital, Fuzhou, People’s Republic of China; 3Department of Gastroenterology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University, Nanchang, Jiangxi, 330006, People’s Republic of China&ast;These authors contributed equally to this workCorrespondence: Xing Liu; Guoxian GuanDepartment of Colorectal Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Fujian Medical University, 20 Chazhong Road, Fuzhou City, 350001, Fujian, People’s Republic of ChinaEmail fjmufylx@163.com; fjxhggx@163.comBackground: There are only limited studies on the long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) associated with neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy (NCRT) response and prognosis of locally advanced rectal cancer (LARC) patients. This study identified lncRNAs associated with NCRT response and prognosis in CRC patients and explored their potential predictive mechanisms.Methods: The study subjected the LncRNA expression profiles from our previous gene chip data to LASSO and identified a four-lncRNA signature that predicted NCRT response and prognosis. A Cox regression model was subsequently performed to identify the prognostic risk factors. The function of LINC00909, the lncRNA with the most powerful predictive ability, was finally identified in vivo and in vitro using CRC cell lines.Results: A comparison of the relative lncRNA expression of NCRT-responsive and non-responsive patients revealed four hub lncRNAs: DBET, LINC00909, FLJ33534, and HSD52 with AUC = 0.68, 0.73, 0.73, and 0.70, respectively (all p < 0.05). COX regression analysis further demonstrated that DBET, LINC00909 and FLJ33534 were associated with the DFS in CRC patients. The expression of the four lncRNAs was also significant in LARC patients who had not undergone NCRT (all p < 0.05). A risk score model was subsequently constructed based on the results of the multivariate COX analysis and used to predict NCRT response and prognosis in the CRC and LARC patients. The expression and prognosis of DBET, LINC00909 and FLJ33534 in the CRC tissues were further validated in the R2 platform and Oncomine database. Notably, overexpression of the LINC00909 increased the cell line resistance to the 5-FU and radiotherapy in vivo and in vitro.Conclusion: DBET, LINC00909, and FLJ33534 are potential novel biomarkers for predicting NCRT response and prognosis in CRC patients. In particular, LINC00909 is an effective oncogene in CRC that could be used as a novel therapeutic target to enhance NCRT response.Keywords: rectal cancer, chemoradiotherapy, lncRNA, prognosis

Fu He,1,2 Kangjian Song,1,2 Ge Guan,3 Junyu Huo,1,2 Yang Xin,1 Tianxiang Li,3 Chao Liu,1 Qingwei Zhu,1,2 Ning Fan,1 Yuan Guo,1 Liqun Wu1 1Liver Disease Center, The Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University, Qingdao, 266003, Shandong, People’s Republic of China; 2Department of Clinical Medicine, Qingdao University, Qingdao, 266071, Shandong, People’s Republic of China; 3Organ Transplant Center, The Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University, Qingdao, 266003, Shandong, People’s Republic of ChinaCorrespondence: Liqun WuLiver Disease Center, The Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University, No. 59 Haier Road, Qingdao, 266003, Shandong Province, People’s Republic of ChinaTel +86 18661809789Email wulq5810@126.comPurpose: Gene rearrangements (GRs) have been reported to be related to adverse prognosis in some tumours, but the relationship in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) remains less studied. The objective of our study was to explore the clinicopathological characteristics and prognosis of HCC patients (HCCs) with GRs (GR-HCCs).Patients and Methods: This retrospective study included 297 HCCs who underwent hepatectomy and had their tumours sequenced by next-generation sequencing. Categorical variables between groups were compared by the chi-square test. The impact of variables on disease-free survival (DFS) and survival after relapse (SAR) was analysed by the Kaplan–Meier method and Cox regression.Results: We observed four repetitive GR events in 297 HCCs: BRD9/TERT, ARID2/intergenic, CDKN2A/intergenic and OBSCN truncation. GR-HCCs frequently presented with low tumour differentiation, tumour necrosis, microvascular invasion, elevated AFP and gene mutations (TP53, NTRK3 and BRD9). The 1-, 2-, and 3-year cumulative DFS rates in GR-HCCs were 45.1%, 31.9%, 31.9%, respectively, which were significantly lower than those of GR-negative HCCs (NGR-HCCs) (72.5%, 57.9%, and 49.0%, respectively; P = 0.001). GR was identified as an independent risk factor for inferior DFS in HCCs (HR = 1.980, 95% CI = 1.246– 3.147; P = 0.004). However, there was no significant difference in SAR between GR-HCCs and NGR-HCCs receiving targeted therapy or immunotherapy.Conclusion: GR is frequently associated with TP53 mutations and significantly affects DFS following radical resection for HCC. We recommend that GR-HCCs should be closely followed up as a high-risk group for postoperative recurrence.Keywords: hepatocellular carcinoma, gene rearrangement, next-generation sequencing, prognosis, risk factors

Kangjian Song, Fu He, Yang Xin, Ge Guan, Junyu Huo, Qingwei Zhu, Ning Fan, Yuan Guo, Yunjin Zang, Liqun Wu Liver Disease Center, The Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University, Qingdao, 266003, People’s Republic of ChinaCorrespondence: Liqun WuLiver Disease Center, The Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University, No. 59 Haier Road, Laoshan District, Qingdao, Shandong, 266003, People’s Republic of ChinaTel +86 15315328331Email wulq5810@126.comPurpose: To explore the value of Tuberous sclerosis complex 2 (TSC2) mutations in evaluating the early recurrence of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) patients underwent hepatectomy.Patients and Methods: A total of 183 HCC patients were enrolled. Next-generation sequencing was performed on tumor tissues to analyze genomic alterations, tumor mutational burden and variant allele fraction (VAF). The associations between TSC2 mutations and recurrence rate within 1 year, RFS and OS after hepatectomy were analyzed.Results: Our results showed that TSC2 mutation frequency in HCC was 12.6%. Compared to patients without TSC2 mutation, the proportion of microvascular invasion (MVI) and Edmondson grade III–IV was significantly higher in patients with a TSC2 mutation (p< 0.05). The VAF of mutated TSC2 was higher in patients with maximum diameter of tumor > 5cm or MVI than that of other patients (p< 0.05). The frequency of TP53 mutation was significantly higher in patients with a TSC2 mutation than those without TSC2 mutation (p=0.003). Follow-up analysis showed that patients with a TSC2 mutation had significantly higher recurrence rate within 1 year (p=0.015) and poorer median recurrence-free survival (RFS) (p=0.010) than patients without TSC2 mutation. TSC2 mutations did not significantly affect overall survival of patients (p=0.480). The multivariate analysis results showed that the Barcelona Clinic Liver Cancer (BCLC) B-C stage, TSC2 mutations and preoperative serum alpha-fetoprotein level ≥ 400μg/L were independently associated with recurrence within 1 year after hepatectomy (HR=8.628, 95% CI: 3.836– 19.405, p=0.000; HR=3.885, 95% CI: 1.295– 11.653, p=0.015; HR=2.327, 95% CI: 1.018– 5.323, p=0.045; respectively), and poorer RFS after hepatectomy (HR=3.070, 95% CI: 1.971– 4.783, p=0.000; HR=1.861, 95% CI: 1.061– 3.267, p=0.030; HR=1.715, 95% CI: 1.093– 2.693, p=0.019; respectively).Conclusion: TSC2 mutations were significantly associated with MVI in liver para-carcinoma tissue and Edmondson grade III–IV in patients with HCC and were independently associated with recurrence within 1 year and poorer RFS after hepatectomy. The TSC2 mutation may be a potential predictor for early recurrence in HCC patients underwent hepatectomy.Keywords: hepatocellular carcinoma, tuberous sclerosis complex 2, next-generation sequencing, gene mutation, early recurrence

Hexin Lin,1,2,* Jiabian Lian,3,4,* Lu Xia,4,5,* Guoxian Guan,2 Jun You1,4 1Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Xiamen University, Xiamen, People’s Republic of China; 2Department of Colorectal Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, People’s Republic of China; 3Department of Laboratory Medicine, Xiamen Key Laboratory of Genetic Testing, The First Affiliated Hospital of Xiamen University, Xiamen, People’s Republic of China; 4School of Clinical Medicine, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, People’s Republic of China; 5Laboratory of Cancer Center, The First Affiliated Hospital of Xiamen University, Xiamen, People’s Republic of China*These authors contributed equally to this workCorrespondence: Jun YouDepartment of Gastrointestinal Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Xiamen University, Teaching Hospital of Fujian Medical University, 55 Zhenhai Road, Xiamen, Fujian 361000, People’s Republic of ChinaTel +86-13906051681Email junyou_fahxm@163.comBackground: Chromobox 3 (CBX3) is a member of the chromobox family proteins, which plays a critical role in tumor progression, but the exact function of CBX3 in gastric cancer remains unknown. The current research mainly investigates the underlying mechanisms and clinical value of CBX3 in gastric cancer.Methods: Gene expression cohorts from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) and Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) were analyzed to assess the effect of CBX3 in gastric cancer. CBX3 expression was further determined by immunohistochemistry (IHC). The function of CBX3 on proliferation, migration and the cell cycle was explored via colony-forming, cell cycle and transwell assays, respectively. Moreover, RNA sequencing (RNA-seq) in AGS cells and two cohorts was utilized to explore the specific mechanism of CBX3.Results: CBX3 expression was upregulated in human gastric cancer tissues and the expression level was closely associated with adverse signs. Knockdown of CBX3 in gastric cancer cells significantly inhibited the malignant phenotype. In addition, RNA-seq analysis revealed that CBX3 regulates genes related to the cell cycle, mismatch repair and immune-related pathways. Furthermore, the expression of CBX3 was significantly and inversely related to the abundance of tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs), PDCD1 and PDCD1LG2 expression and immunotherapy responses. Moreover, CBX3 influences the effectiveness of chemotherapy, thereby impacting the prognosis of gastric cancer patients.Conclusion: CBX3 contributes to gastric cancer progression and is associated with chemotherapy and immunotherapy response. CBX3 may serve as a new diagnostic biomarker and potential target for immunotherapy and chemotherapy in gastric cancer.Keywords: chromobox 3, gastric cancer, tumorigenesis, survival, chemotherapy, immunotherapy

Immobilization of organometallic catalyst were attempted by using cyclodextrin-based metal-organic framework (CD-MOF) with the characteristic nanoporous structure. Water-soluble Co(II)TCPP was prepared as an organometallic catalyst and introduced into hydrophilic nanopores in CD-MOF by co-crystallization method. In order to evaluate the catalytic properties of the obtained Co(II)TCPP/CDMOF, the oxidative coupling reaction of creosol was performed. At a catalyst concentration of 0.2 mol%, the catalytic activity of the heterogeneous Co(II)TCPP/CDMOF catalyst was almost the same as that of the homogeneous Co(II)TCPP catalyst. The conversion for Co(II)TCPP/CD-MOF catalyst reached 92% after 2-hour reaction.

Yang Liu,1,2 Ming Xu,3 Qing Chen,1 Guannan Guan,1 Wen Hu,3 Xiuli Zhao,1 Mingxi Qiao,1 Haiyang Hu,1 Ying Liang,2 Heyun Zhu,1 Dawei Chen1 1School of Pharmacy, Shenyang Pharmaceutical University, Shenyang, 2Department of Pharmacy, Bengbu Medical College, Bengbu, 3College of Pharmaceutical Science, Soochow University, Suzhou, People’s Republic of China Abstract: Photothermal therapy (PTT) is widely regarded as a promising technology for cancer treatment. Gold nanorods (GNRs), as excellent PTT agent candidates, have shown high-performance photothermal conversion ability under laser irradiation, yet two major obstacles to their clinical application are the lack of selective accumulation in the target site following systemic administration and the greatly reduced photothermal conversion efficiency caused by self-aggregating in aqueous environment. Herein, we demonstrate that tLyp-1 peptide-functionalized, indocyanine green (ICG)-containing mesoporous silica-coated GNRs (I-TMSG) possessed dual-function as tumor cells-targeting near-infrared (NIR) fluorescent probe and PTT agents. The construction of the nanostructure began with synthesis of GNRs by seed-mediated growth method, followed by the coating of mesoporous silica, the chemical conjugation of PEG and tLyp-1 peptide, and the enclosure of ICG as an NIR imaging agent in the mesoporous. The as-prepared nanoparticles could shield the GNRs against their self-aggregation, improve the stability of ICG, and exhibit negligible dark cytotoxicity. More importantly, such a theranostic nanocomposite could realize the combination of GNRs-based photothermal ablation under NIR illumination, ICG-mediated fluorescent imaging, and tLyp-1-enabled more easy endocytosis into breast cancer cells. All in all, I-TMSG nanoparticles, in our opinion, possessed the strong potential to realize the effective diagnosis and PTT treatment of human mammary cancer. Keywords: theranostic nanoagents, photothermal therapy, indocyanine green, gold nanorods, mesoporous silica, anti-mammary cancer

Yang Liu,1,2 Qing Chen,1 Ming Xu,3 Guannan Guan,1 Wen Hu,3 Ying Liang,2 Xiuli Zhao,1 Mingxi Qiao,1 Dawei Chen,1 Hao Liu2 1School of Pharmacy, Shenyang Pharmaceutical University, Shenyang, 2Department of Pharmacy, Bengbu Medical College, Bengbu, 3College of Pharmaceutical Science, Soochow University, Suzhou, People’s Republic of China Background: The purpose of this study was to construct hollow mesoporous silica nanoparticles (HMSN) decorated with tLyp-1 peptide (tHMSN) for dual-targeting drug delivery to tumor cells and angiogenic blood vessel cells.Methods: HMSN were synthesized de novo using a novel cationic surfactant-assisted selective etching strategy and were then modified with tLyp-1. Multiple methods, including transmission electron microscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, thermogravimetric analysis, bicinchoninic acid assay, and nitrogen adsorption and desorption isotherms, were used to characterize the tHMSN. Doxorubicin were chosen as the model cargo, and the uptake of doxorubicin-loaded tHMSN into MDA-MB-231 cells and human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs), as models of tumor cells and tumor neovascular endothelial cells, respectively, were observed and detected by confocal laser scanning microscopy and flow cytometry. An in vitro pharmacodynamic study and a study of the mechanism via which the nanoparticles were endocytosed were also performed.Results: HMSN with a highly uniform size and well oriented mesopores were synthesized. After tHMSN were characterized, enhanced uptake of the cargo carried by tHMSN into MDA-MB-231 cells and HUVECs compared with that of their unmodified counterparts was validated by confocal laser scanning microscopy and flow cytometry at the qualitative and quantitative levels, respectively. Further, the pharmacodynamic study suggested that, compared with their unmodified counterparts, doxorubicin-loaded tHMSN had an enhanced inhibitory effect on MDA-MB-231 cells and HUVECs in vitro. Finally, a preliminary study on the mechanism by which the nanoparticles were endocytosed indicated that the clathrin-mediated endocytosis pathway has a primary role in the transport of tHMSN into the cytoplasm.Conclusion: tHMSN might serve as an effective active targeting nanocarrier strategy for anti-mammary cancer drug delivery. Keywords: hollow mesoporous silica nanoparticles, tLyp-1 peptide, drug delivery, anti-mammary cancer

Abstract This study employs China's Yangtze River Economic Belt strategy as a quasi‐natural experiment to investigate the impact of prioritizing green development on economic growth. Our empirical findings show that the strategy significantly reduces urban industrial wastewater discharge. It helps transition the region's industries towards technology‐driven service sectors while maintaining a steady economic growth rate. On average, cities in the Yangtze River Economic Belt see a 21.9% decrease in annual industrial wastewater discharge, a 1.9% increase in economic growth rate, a 4.9% rise in the proportion of service industries' contribution to GDP, and a 2.4% increase in the number of employees in productive service industries. Moreover, our empirical results highlight the heterogeneity in the effects of the strategy across different regions, which can be attributed to factors such as population density, infrastructure, levels of human capital, and government governance. The implementation of the Yangtze River Economic Belt strategy offers valuable insights for developing countries on how to balance between economic development and environmental protection.

Processing parameters of melt mixing (one of the most conventional techniques in polymer processing) play a significant role in the quality and properties of the resulting material, especially when nanoreinforcements are involved. The current study investigates varying processing temperature, rotation speed and elements of the screw extruder, aiming to enhance mechanical properties of polyethylene (PE) nanocomposites by improving dispersion of nanoparticles from a commercial masterbatch in two grades of PE. The study investigates the effect of a common compatibilizer (MAPE) and shearing forces at varying amounts of graphene nanoplatelets (GNPs) in polyethylene. A comparison is made on mechanical properties, morphology, and changes in the microstructure. Results show that increasing amounts of GNPs lead to expected continuous increase of mechanical properties with reference to the base polymer. Addition of MAPE did not result in significant improvement in the performance of the studied systems. Use of stronger shear forces resulted in mostly negative impact on the properties.

OBJECTIVE: We aimed at comparing the curative effect of proximal femoral nail antirotation (PFNA) and dynamic hip screw (DHS) in the treatment of Seinsheimer type V (type V) subtrochanteric fractures with sarcopenia. PATIENTS AND METHODS: A retrospective analysis was performed on 59 patients with type V subtrochanteric fractures complicated with sarcopenia admitted to the Department of Orthopedics of the affiliated Jiangning Hospital with Nanjing Medical University from January 2016 to December 2021. Sarcopenia was diagnosed based on grip strength and skeletal muscle index (SMI). According to different surgical methods, they were divided into PFNA group (32 cases) and DHS group (27 cases). The age, gender, time from injury to operation, SMI value, incision length, operation time, intraoperative blood loss, fluoroscopy times, perioperative blood transfusion, lower limb full weight-bearing time, visual analogue scale (VAS) for pain at 3 months after operation and at the last follow-up, Harris score as well as postoperative complications were compared between the two groups. RESULTS: There were no significant differences in age, gender, time from injury to operation, and SMI between the two groups. The length of surgical incision, blood loss and blood transfusion in the PFNA group were less than those in the DHS group; however, the number of intraoperative fluoroscopies was more than that in the DHS group. The PFNA group had earlier full weight-bearing time, lower VAS score and higher Harris score at 3 months after operation, while there was no statistically significant difference in VAS score and Harris score between the two groups at the last follow-up. The incidence of complications in the PFNA group was lower than that in the DHS group, and the difference was statistically significant. CONCLUSIONS: Both PFNA and DHS are effective methods for the treatment of type V subtrochanteric fractures complicated with sarcopenia. Strikingly, PFNA is preferred because of its short surgical incision, less blood loss, faster recovery, and lower incidence of complications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To quantitatively and qualitatively analyse the content, reliability and quality of TikTok videos related to orthodontic fixed appliances.

To investigate the non-attendance of patients at orthodontic appointments and to determine related reasons.

In machine learning (ML)-based hydrological forecasting, particularly in medium- and long-term prediction, judicious predictor selection is paramount, as it ultimately determines the forecast accuracy. This study pioneered an advanced predictor-screening method that synergizes the mutual information (MI) and random forest (RF) technologies through minimum-redundancy-maximum-relevance-recursive feature elimination-random forest (mRMR-RFE-RF) method, blending both filtering and wrapping techniques. This method was rigorously tested through a detailed case study in the Danjiangkou basin, where a comprehensive analysis of 1560 meteorological factors was conducted. Employing three sophisticated ML algorithms—RF, eXtreme Gradient Boosting (XGB), and Light Gradient Boosting (LGB)—we developed precipitation forecasting models. Furthermore, we performed an in-depth rationality analysis of high-frequency predictors. The findings from our study show that this novel hybrid screening strategy markedly outperformed conventional singular predictor-screening methods in enhancing the accuracy of precipitation forecasting when integrated into these forecasting models. Moreover, it assured the validity of the high-frequency forecast factors employed. Therefore, this innovative method not only elevates the accuracy of medium- and long-term precipitation forecasting but also contributes a novel perspective to the methodology of predictor selection in hydrological forecasting models.

Accurate medium- and long-term hydrological forecasting is crucial for sustainable water management, infrastructure planning, and ecosystem conservation. This study integrates visual geometry group convolution neural network algorithm (VGGNet)-driven precipitation similarity analysis with hydrological modeling to enhance streamflow forecasting accuracy. Traditional process-driven hydrological models, which rely on detailed physical mechanisms, often falter in data-scarce regions, whereas data-driven models, despite their simplicity, lack interpretability. By combining these approaches, we propose a novel methodology that leverages the image recognition capabilities of convolutional neural network, specifically VGGNet, to perform precipitation similarity analysis. This method transforms monthly precipitation data into daily forecasts, addressing the challenge of temporal downscaling. The Danjiangkou Basin in China serves as the study area, with historical precipitation and streamflow data from 1982 to 2015. The VGGNet model identifies historical months with similar precipitation patterns, and the Soil and Water Assessment Tool model is used to predict streamflow. Results demonstrate significant improvements in forecasting accuracy, with Pearson Correlation Coefficient of 0.89 and Nash-Sutcliffe Efficiency of 0.79. This integrated approach shows promise for advancing medium- and long-term hydrological forecasting techniques, providing a robust tool for effective water resource management.

The accurate prediction of climate patterns is crucial for effective environmental management and strategic planning, particularly in the face of increasing climate variability and extreme weather events. This study focuses on enhancing the predictive accuracy of global climate models by integrating a random forest algorithm with seasonal bias correction, which is aimed at forecasting changes in precipitation and temperature across various climate scenarios. Our approach significantly improves the precision of climate forecasts by using a comprehensive dataset that includes historical climate data and future projections under Representative Concentration Pathways. For precipitation, after implementing seasonal bias correction, the Correlation Coefficient improved from 0.826 to 0.860, and the Nash–Sutcliffe Efficiency increased from 0.633 to 0.735. In addition, the Mean Absolute Error and Root Mean Square Error decreased, thereby enhancing the model's reliability in predicting extreme precipitation events. Temperature forecasts also benefited from the Random Forest model, achieving a Correlation Coefficient of up to 0.987, indicating a strong predictive performance. These improvements highlight the potential of machine learning methods in refining climate models, thus providing more accurate tools for policymakers and planners to manage climate risks. Furthermore, the successful application of these advanced statistical techniques underscores the importance of continuous innovation in climate science, ensuring that climate projections remain relevant and reliable in informing global climate resilience and adaptation strategies.

Temperature measurements were made using a novel microoptical sensor based on dielectric microspheres that are excited by coupling light from optical fibers. The technique exploits the morphology-dependent shifts in resonant frequencies that are commonly referred to as the whispering gallery modes. A change in the temperature of the microsphere leads to a change in both the size and the index of refraction of the sphere which results in a shift of the resonant frequency. By monitoring this shift, the temperature of the environment surrounding the sphere can be determined. The whispering gallery mode shifts are observed by scanning a tunable diode laser that is coupled into the optical fiber on one end and monitoring the transmission spectrum by a photodiode on the other. When the microsphere is in contact with a bare section of the fiber, the optical modes are observed as dips in the intensity of the light transmitted through the fiber. Temperature measurements were made in both air and water using this novel technique. Measurements by the microoptical sensor were compared to those by thermocouples with good agreement between the two sets of results

Abstract Clinical prediction models play an important role in the field of medicine. These can help predict the probability of an individual suffering from disease, complications, and treatment outcomes by applying specific methodologies. Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a common disease with a high incidence rate, huge heterogeneity, short- and long-term complications, and complex treatments. In this systematic review study, we reviewed the progress of clinical prediction models in PCOS patients, including diagnosis and prediction models for PCOS complications and treatment outcomes. We aimed to provide ideas for medical researchers and clues for the management of PCOS. In the future, models with poor accuracy can be greatly improved by adding well-known parameters and validations, which will further expand our understanding of PCOS in terms of precision medicine. By developing a series of predictive models, we can make the definition of PCOS more accurate, which can improve the diagnosis of PCOS and reduce the likelihood of false positives and false negatives. It will also help discover complications earlier and treatment outcomes being known earlier, which can result in better outcomes for women with PCOS.

Oracle is a data supply mechanism that provides real-world data for blockchain. It serves as a bridge between blockchain and the IoT world, playing a crucial role in solving problems such as data sharing and device management in the IoT field. The main challenge at this stage is determining how to achieve data privacy protection in distributed Oracle machines to safeguard the value hidden in data on the blockchain. In this paper, we propose an improved scheme for distributed Oracle data aggregation based on Paillier encryption algorithm, which achieves end-to-end data privacy protection from devices to users. To address the issue of dishonest distributed Oracle machines running out of funds, we have designed an algorithm called PICA (Paillier-based InChain Aggregation). Based on the aggregation on the Chainlink chain and the Paillier encryption algorithm, random numbers are introduced to avoid the problem of dishonest Oracle machines running out of funds. We use the traffic coverage method to solve the problem of exposed request paths in distributed Oracle machines. Simulation and experimental results show that in small and medium-sized IoT application scenarios with 10,000 data nodes, each additional false request in a single request will result in a delay of about 2 s in data acquisition and can achieve a request response time of 20 s. The proposed method can achieve user data privacy protection.

IntroductionDetermining the causal relationship between polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) and gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) holds significant implications for GDM prevention and treatment. Despite numerous observational studies suggesting an association between PCOS and GDM, it remains unclear whether a definitive causal relationship exists between these two conditions and which specific features of PCOS contribute to increased incidence of GDM.MethodsThe causal relationship between polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), its characteristic indices, and gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) was investigated using a two-sample Mendelian randomization study based on publicly available statistics from genome-wide association studies (GWAS). The inverse-variance weighted method was employed as the primary analytical approach to examine the association between PCOS, its characteristic indices, and GDM. MR Egger intercept was used to assess pleiotropy, while Q values and their corresponding P values were utilized to evaluate heterogeneity. It is important to note that this study adopts a two-sample MR design where PCOS and its characteristic indices are considered as exposures, while GDM is treated as an outcome.ResultsThe study results indicate that there is no causal relationship between PCOS and GDM (all methods P > 0.05, 95% CI of OR values passed 1). The IVW OR value was 1.007 with a 95% CI of 0.906 to 1.119 and a P value of 0.904. Moreover, the MR Egger Q value was 8.141 with a P value of 0.701, while the IVW Q value was also 8.141 with a P value of 0.774, indicating no significant heterogeneity. Additionally, the MR Egger intercept was 0.0004, which was close to zero with a P value of 0.988, suggesting no pleiotropy. However, the study did find a causal relationship between several other factors such as testosterone, high-density lipoprotein, sex hormone-binding globulin, body mass index, waist-hip ratio, apolipoprotein A-I, number of children, diabetes illnesses of mother, father and siblings, hemoglobin A1c, fasting insulin, fasting blood glucose, years of schooling, and GDM based on the IVW method.ConclusionWe observed no association between genetically predicted PCOS and the risk of GDM, implying that PCOS itself does not confer an increased susceptibility to GDM. The presence of other PCOS-related factors such as testosterone, high-density lipoprotein, and sex hormone-binding globulin may elucidate the link between PCOS and GDM. Based on these findings, efforts aimed at preventing GDM in individuals with PCOS should prioritize those exhibiting high-risk features rather than encompassing all women with PCOS.

3D printing technology has subverted the traditional process manufacturing process. The main algorithms used in the model data processing is a key step that affects the accuracy of the model printing. This paper focuses on the 3D printing path planning algorithm. Analyze the realistic requirements for the coexistence of artistry and craftsmanship in 3D printing products and develop a design scheme. Visualize the 3D printing path planning suggested for contour information in the partition linear scanning corner filling algorithm. Set the 45° scanning direction of the X-axis, adjust the fitted spline curve function reciprocally, and even out the path of the printer in the corner of the partitioned scanning path. Improve printing accuracy. Combined with the experimental equipment to set up the 3D printer’s operating code, the proposed Hilbert filling curve method, combined with three groups of comparison tests, verified the accuracy improvement benefits of the composite scanning algorithm in this paper. Taking the experimental data of the uncovered box group as an example, the composite scanning algorithm of this paper changes the maximum warpage from 0.23mm to 0.16mm, which is an improvement of 30.43%, and the average warpage from 0.1675mm to 0.095mm, which is an improvement of 43.28%. The reduction and optimization of warpage not only shows the improvement of accuracy of 3D printing technology but also optimizes the shape of 3D products.

The manipulation of trap states plays a crucial role in the development of efficient photocatalysts. An ultrathin-shelled Zn-AgIn5S8/ZnS quantum dots (QDs) photocatalyst was synthesized via in situ growth using a low-temperature hydrothermal method. The optical properties of the samples coated with ZnS shell were studied vis UV-vis absorption and fluorescence spectra. The ultrathin ZnS shell plays an important role in the Zn-AgIn5S8/ZnS core–shell heterostructure photocatalytic water splitting system, which could reduce surface defects, prolong the carrier lifetime and improve the photo-generated electron–hole pair separation effectively, resulting in the improved photocatalytic efficiency and enhanced stability of the catalyst. The results provide an effective guideline for shell thickness design in future constructions of the core–shell heterostructure photocatalyst.

Remote sensing images acquired by different sensors exhibit different characteristics due to their distinct imaging mechanisms. The fusion of Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) and optical remote sensing images is valuable for specific remote sensing image applications, as it enables the extraction of texture features from SAR images while preserving the spectral information of optical images. Several existing fusion approaches have been proposed in recent years, including the Nonsubsampled Shearlet Transform Pulse Coupled Neural Network (NSST-PCNN), which is a typical and effective fusion method. However, it suffers from the inconsistency in regional edge information. To address this issue, we propose a new method called MS-NSST-PCNN for multi-model fusion of SAR and optical remote sensing images. This method incorporates the multiScale morphological gradient (MSMG) into NSST-PCNN to detect edges and enhance the utilization of edge characteristics. The fusion results of two polarization modes, VV and VH are evaluated in combination with existing methods, using image fusion accuracy and visual interpretation criteria. The results demonstrate that for Sentinel 1 and Landsat 8 OLI image fusion the proposed MS-NSST-PCNN method achieves higher correlation coefficients and lower spectral distortion with VV polarization compared to traditional methods in two study areas. Moreover, the proposed method also exhibits better performance for GF3 and GF2 images with higher spatial resolution. In subsequent applications of land classification in urban and rural scenarios, the fusion results of the proposed method achieve higher accuracy than those of other fusion methods or source images applied directly.

Sialadenosis is an asymptomatic, bilateral enlargement of salivary glands which most commonly affects the parotid glands. Dental practitioners must be able to differentiate gland enlargement to inflammatory, autoimmune and neoplastic processes to prevent unnecessary management and allow for correct referrals to specialists. Adipose replacement has been recognised as an uncommon feature of sialadenosis that may be linked to several systemic conditions; however, fatty infiltration of the glands to the degree of this case report has been rarely presented. The authors report on an unusual presentation of sialadenosis with extensive adipose replacement in the parotid glands, and review on the current literature for associated causes, clinicopathological features, various diagnostic tools and the appropriate management of sialadenosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In order to solve the problems in centralized learning, a lightweight decentralized learning-based AMC method was proposed.By the proposed decentralized learning, a global model was trained through local training and model weight sharing, which made full use of the dataset of each communication nodes and avoided the user data leakage.The proposed lightweight network was stacked by a number of different lightweight neural network blocks with a relatively low space complexity and time complexity, and achieved a higher recognition accuracy compared with traditional DL models, which could effectively solve the problems of computing power and storage space limitation of edge devices and high communication overhead in decentralized learning based AMC method.The experimental results show that the classification accuracy of the proposed method is 62.41% based on RadioML.2016.10 A.Compared with centralized learning, the training efficiency is nearly 5 times higher with a slight classification accuracy loss (0.68%).In addition, the experimental results also prove that the deployment of lightweight models can effectively reduce communication overhead in decentralized learning.

ObjectiveTo perform the analysis of influenza surveillance in Dehong from 2016 to 2020 and determine the epidemic situation of influenza and prevalent virus strains， so as to provide evidence for local influenza prevention and control.MethodsThe influenza surveillance data in Dehong Prefecture was collected from January 2016 to December 2020. Statistical analysis was conducted by descriptive epidemiological methods.ResultsA total of 4 146 samples from influenza-like illness cases were examined. The 502 specimens tested positive for influenza virus， including 311 cases with influenza A virus and 136 cases with influenza B virus， resulting in a positive rate of 12.11%. The positive rate was the highest in 2017， followed by 2019， and the lowest in 2020 （P < 0.05）. It peaked in winter and fall. Furthermore， it was the lowest among children aged 0‒4 years and the highest among adults aged 25‒59 （P < 0.001）. In addition， positive rate did not differ significantly by gender（P>0.05）ConclusionThe positive rate of influenza has decreased in Dehong since January 2020. The influenza epidemic is seasonal， mainly in fall and winter， except 2020. Influenza A virus is predominant， compared to alternating influenza B virus.

Diabetic cardiomyopathy is mediated by multiple molecular mechanisms including endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress. Curcumin, a phenolic compound, has cytoprotective properties, but its potential protective action against diabetic cardiomyopathy and the related molecular mechanisms are not fully elucidated. In this study, we evaluated the effects of curcumin on cell viability and apoptosis in palmitic acid (PA)-treated H9C2 cardiomyocytes and investigated the signaling pathways involved. Treatment with PA reduced cell viability, induced apoptosis, enhanced apoptosis-related protein expression (Caspase 3 and BCL-2 associated X protein (BAX)), and activated ER stress marker protein expression (glucose-regulated protein 78 (GRP78) and CCAAT/enhancer binding protein homologous protein (CHOP)). Curcumin attenuated PA-induced reduction in cell viability and activation of apoptosis, Caspase 3 activity, BAX, CHOP, and GRP78 expression. 4-Phenylbutyric acid (4-PBA) attenuated the PA-induced effects on cell viability and apoptosis, similar to curcumin. Both curcumin and 4-PBA also attenuated PA-induced increase in ER stress protein (CHOP and GRP78) expression. Curcumin also protected against cytotoxicity, apoptosis, and ER stress induced by thapsigargin. These findings indicate that PA triggers apoptosis in H9C2 cells via ER stress pathways and curcumin protects against this phenomenon. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]