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Objective: To solve the problems of low accuracy and poor efficiency in the existing rice quality testing methods of food enterprises. Methods: Based on a hyperspectral data acquisition system, a fast and non-destructive detection method for stored rice quality was proposed, which combined an improved bacterial foraging algorithm and least squares support vector machine. By applying the improved bacterial foraging algorithm, the hyperparameters (regularization parameter and kernel parameter) of the least squares support vector machine were optimized to achieve rapid and non-destructive detection of rice quality. its performance was analyzed through experiments. Results: The proposed method can achieve rapid and non-destructive detection of fatty acid content in stored rice, with a determination coefficient of 0.940 5, root mean square error of 0.543 5, and an average detection time of 1.12 seconds. Conclusion: The proposed detection method has high detection performance, which can be used for the identification and detection of rice quality.

Cervical cancer (CC) is the fourth most common cancer among women worldwide. NLR Family CARD Domain Containing 5 (NLRC5) plays an important role in tumorigenesis. However, its effect and mechanism in CC remains unclear. In this study, we aimed to investigate the function of NLRC5 in CC. NLRC5 was found to be down-regulated in CC tissues compared with normal cervical tissues. However, patients with higher NLRC5 expression had better prognosis, patients with higher age, HPV infection, lymph node metastasis, recurrence and histological grade had worse prognosis. Univariate and multivariate analyses showed NLRC5 to be a potential prognostic indicator for CC. Pearson correlation analysis showed that NLRC5 might exert its function in CC through autophagy related proteins, especially LC3. In vitro experiments demonstrated that NLRC5 inhibited LC3 levels and promoted the proliferation, migration, and invasion of CC cells by activating the PI3K/AKT signaling pathway. Treatment with LY294002 reversed the above phenotype. Taken together, our finding suggested that NLRC5 would participate in cervical tumorigenesis and progression by regulating PI3K/AKT signaling pathway. In addition, NLRC5 and LC3 combined as possible predictors in CC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: There is limited research on whether Proton Pump Inhibitors (PPIs) will affect the efficacy of immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) in treating hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).This study aimed to determine whether PPIs affect the survival outcomes of patients with HBV-associated advanced HCC receiving combination therapy based on ICIs. Methods: We retrospectively analyzed patients with hepatitis B virus (HBV)-associated advanced HCC who underwent ICIs combination therapy from January 1, 2020, to December 30, 2022. Patients were stratified into PPI and non-PPI groups based on whether they received PPI treatment within 30 days before or after ICIs therapy. Patients' survival and the risk of PPI-associated mortality was assessed. Adverse events were also evaluated. Results: A total of 183 patients with HBV-associated HCC treated with ICI combination therapy were included. The median survival time (12.5 months vs 13.7 months, P = 0.285) and incidence of adverse events (P = 0.729) did not significantly differ between the PPI and non-PPI groups. Even after propensity score matching, the difference in median overall survival (OS) between the two groups was not significant (10.7 months vs 11.4 months; P = 0.596) and the patient's OS is not significantly related to the dosage of PPI application (P > 0.05).However, according to our subgroup analysis, among HCC patients with a serum HBV DNA concentration ≥ 200 IU/mL, the use of PPIs significantly increased the risk of mortality in patients receiving ICI combination therapy (P = 0.024). Conclusion: PPIs do not notably influence the survival prognosis of patients receiving ICI combination therapy for HBV-associated advanced HCC. However, among patients with high levels of HBV DNA, PPIs increase the risk of mortality. Therefore, antiviral therapy should be intensified in the patients with HBVDNA > 200 IU/mL. Additionally, PPIs do not impact the incidence of adverse reactions in these patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study focuses on determining the optimal MRI scanning parameters for precise localization of MR-line markers, and to investigate their apical reconstruction error. In the study, it was assumed that the front seal of each MR-line marker was identical. Three MR-line markers were individually placed at the tips inside the tubes of plastic sharp needles. The position of the plastic-tipped sharp needles was marked with three additional MR-line markers. These needles, along with the markers, were then fixed into the same L-shaped (rectangular) mold to ensure that the plastic sharp needles and their corresponding MR-line markers maintained a stable, horizontal alignment and were immobilized during the process. The physical distance measured between the tips of the two MR line markers, one located inside and the other outside the plastic sharp needle, was approximately 2.30mm. To evaluate the apical reconstruction error of the MR-line marker,10 sets of MR images were acquired with varying slice thicknesses, including T1-weighted images with thicknesses of 3 mm, 2 mm, and 1.4 mm, and T2 -weighted images with thicknesses of 3 mm, 2 mm, and 1 mm. The analysis of the image distance between the MR-line marker tips, both inside and outside plastic sharp needle, revealed that the probability of the measurement of the MR-line marker being within 1 mm accuracy was 92.59%. It was observed that the thickness of the MR images positively correlated with both the mean and standard deviation of the image measurement value in T1-weighted scans. Additionally, the standard deviation of MR-line marker image measurements in T2-weighted scans showed a slight increase as the layer thickness was reduced to 2mm. Upon comparing the results from the three sets of MR-line marker image measurements, it was found that the overall results of T2-weighted scans at 3 mm and T1-weighted scans at 1.4 mm were similar. However, it is important to note that the thinner slice parameter not only restricts the length of the scan, but also leads to increased scanning time and additional time required for contouring before brachytherapy treatment, resulting in increased discomfort for the patient. Therefore, a scanning parameter of T2-weighted scans at 3 mm is recommended for the reconstruction of the MR-line marker. The study demonstrated that the MR-line marker possesses significant potential for clinical application, particularly in the precise localization of plastic sharp needles. This finding is pivotal as it provides a crucial experimental foundation for the implementation of an MR-only workflow in interstitial gynecologic brachytherapy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

ABSTRACT Clinical studies of tenofovir amibufenamide (TMF) and tenofovir alafenamide (TAF) treatment in patients with HBV‐related decompensated cirrhosis (HBV‐DC) are limited. This study evaluated the efficacy and safety of TMF versus TAF in naive‐treated patients with first‐time HBV‐DC. Based on the antiviral drug used, patients were categorised into the TMF group and the TAF group. Virological and serological responses, hepatic and renal functions and blood lipid changes in both groups were evaluated during 48 weeks of treatment. A total of 98 patients were enrolled, 45 in the TMF group and 53 in the TAF group. At 48 weeks of treatment, the proportions of patients who achieved complete virological response (CVR) were 85.7% and 90.7%, respectively (p = 0.791). Improvement of at least 2 points in Child–Turcotte–Pugh scores was observed in 64.3% versus 79.1% (p = 0.169) of the patients. There were no significant changes in serum creatinine, estimated glomerular filtration rate or total cholesterol from baseline to week 48 between the two groups. Cystatin C remained stable in the TMF group but increased over time in the TAF group (p < 0.001). Low‐density lipoprotein cholesterol remained stable in the TMF group but increased significantly in the TAF group at week 48 (p = 0.015). These results suggest that both TMF and TAF can rapidly suppress HBV replication, improve hepatic function and have no negative effects on renal function among patients with HBV‐DC. Regarding lipid metabolism, both showed a better safety, while regular monitoring of blood lipid levels is recommended. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Low temperature seriously limited the development of grass and crops in plateau. Thus, it is urgent to develop an effective strategy for improving the plant cold tolerance and elucidate the underlying mechanisms., Results: We found that MT alleviated the effects of cold stress on suppressing ENG growth, then improved cold tolerance of ENG. Integration of transcriptome and metabolome profiles showed that both cold exposure (TW) and MT reprogrammed the transcription pattern of galactose and flavonoids biosynthesis, leading to changes in compositions of soluble sugar and flavonoids in ENG. Additionally, TW inhibited the photosynthesis, and destroyed the antioxidant system of ENG, leading to accumulation of oxidant radicals represented by MDA. By contrast, MT promoted activities of antioxidant enzymes and flavonoid accumulation in ENG under cold condition, then reduced the MDA content and maintained normal expression of photosynthesis-related genes in ENG even under TW. Importantly, MT mainly enhanced cold tolerance of ENG via activating zeatin synthesis to regulate flavonoid biosynthesis in vivo. Typically, WRKY11 was identified to regulate MT-associated zeatin synthesis in ENG via directly binding on zeatin3 promoter., Conclusions: MT could enhance ENG tolerance to cold stress via strengthening antioxidant system and especially zeatin synthesis to promote accumulation of flavonoids in ENG. Thus, our research gain insight into the global mechanisms of MT in promoting cold tolerance of ENG, then provided guidance for protecting plant from cold stress in plateau., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

Introduction: Although acupuncture is recommended by chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) treatment guidelines owing to its effects on dyspnea, the underlying neurobiological mechanisms of these effects remain unclear. This study aims to evaluate the efficacy of acupuncture in patients with stable COPD and explore the possible involvement of specific brain regions., Methods: This is a prospective, multicenter, single-blind, randomized controlled trial. A total of 90 participants will be recruited from three centers and will be randomly assigned in a 1:1 ratio to undergo acupuncture at acupoints on the disease-affected meridian (DAM) or non-acupoints on the non-affected meridian (NAM), in addition to routine pharmacological treatments. All participants will undergo 30 min of acupuncture three times a week for 8 weeks and will be followed up for 12 months. The primary outcome will be the severity of dyspnea, as measured using the Borg Dyspnea Scale and a visual analog scale at rest and after exercise. The secondary outcomes will include the multidimensional profile of dyspnea using Dyspnea-12, the modified Medical Research Council Dyspnea Scale, and the COPD assessment test; quality of life assessments using St George's Respiratory Questionnaire and the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale; and additional measurements of exacerbation frequency, pulmonary function, and the 6-min walking distance. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) will be performed before and after exercise to explore the potential neurobiological mechanisms of exertional dyspnea. Anxiety and depression will be measured and analyzed for their correlation with the activation of specific brain areas involved in dyspnea., Discussion: This randomized controlled trial aims to use a multidimensional evaluation of the efficacy of acupuncture in relieving dyspnea in patients with COPD in terms of emotion and quality of life and explore the neurobiological mechanisms underlying the effects of acupuncture on dyspnea from an imaging perspective. It is expected to provide strong evidence to support the use of acupuncture in relieving dyspnea in patients with COPD and those with aother diseases involving dyspnea. Additionally, it provides novel insights into the central mechanisms of acupuncture intervention and dyspnea., Trial Registration: Chinese Clinical Trial Registry (https://www.chictr.org.cn/): ChiCTR2300071725., Competing Interests: The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2024 Chen, Xiong, Xiao, Du, Liu, Yu, Liao, Zhang, Li, Mao and Fu.)

Chronic respiratory diseases (CRDs) are among the most common noncommunicable diseases globally, with high morbidity and mortality rates. Acupuncture, a treatment method derived from Traditional Chinese Medicine, has been shown to be effective at treating CRDs, with little risk of adverse effects. Scientific research on the mechanisms underlying the effects of acupuncture, especially, its immune regulatory function, has rapidly advanced in recent years. Herein, the diverse immune regulatory mechanisms underlying the beneficial effects of acupuncture are summarized from the perspectives of innate immunity, adaptive immunity, and neuroimmunity. A better understanding of these mechanisms will ultimately provide a scientific basis for the clinical use of acupuncture for the treatment of CRDs.