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Lv Y, Kan J, Luo M, et al. Int J Nanomedicine. 2022;17:4619-4638. The equal contribution statement was missing from the author list on page 4619. The correct author and affiliation list is as follows: Yijie Lv1,*, Junnan Kan1,*, Mingfang Luo2, Changfeng Yang1, Xunrong Luo2, Xiaoqian Lin1, Hao Li1, Xueming Li1, Yuping Li1, Caixia Yang1, Yan Liu1, Xianglin Li1 1School of Medical Imaging, Binzhou Medical University, Yantai, Shandong, 264003, People’s Republic of China; 2Department of Radiology, Sichuan Provincial People’s Hospital, Chengdu, Sichuan, 610072, People’s Republic of China *These authors contributed equally to this work The authors apologize for this error.

Yijie Lv,1 Junnan Kan,1 Mingfang Luo,2 Changfeng Yang,1 Xunrong Luo,2 Xiaoqian Lin,1 Hao Li,1 Xueming Li,1 Yuping Li,1 Caixia Yang,1 Yan Liu,1 Xianglin Li1 1School of Medical Imaging, Binzhou Medical University, Yantai, Shandong, 264003, People’s Republic of China; 2Department of Radiology, Sichuan Provincial People’s Hospital, Chengdu, Sichuan, 610072, People’s Republic of ChinaCorrespondence: Yan Liu; Xianglin Li, School of Medical Imaging, Binzhou Medical University, Yantai, Shandong, 264003, People’s Republic of China, Tel +86 535 6919135 ; +86 535 6919175, Email liuericyan@hotmail.com; xlli@bzmc.edu.cnIntroduction: Accurate tumor diagnosis is essential to achieve the ideal therapeutic effect. However, it is difficult to accurately diagnose cancer using a single imaging method because of the technical limitations. Multimodal imaging plays an increasingly important role in tumor treatment. Photodynamic therapy (PDT) has received widespread attention in tumor treatment due to its high specificity and controllable photocytotoxicity. Nevertheless, PDT is susceptible to tumor microenvironment (TME) hypoxia, which greatly reduces the therapeutic effect of tumor treatment.Methods: In this study, a novel multifunctional nano-snowflake probe (USPIO@MnO2@Ce6, UMC) for oxygen-enhanced photodynamic therapy was developed. We have fabricated the honeycomb-like MnO2 to co-load chlorin e6 (Ce6, a photosensitizer) and ultrasmall superparamagnetic iron oxide (USPIO, T1-T2 double contrast agent). Under the high H2O2 level of tumor cells, UMC efficiently degraded and triggered the exposure of photosensitizers to the generated oxygen, accelerating the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) during PDT. Moreover, the resulting USPIO and Mn2+ allow for MR T1-T2 imaging and transformable PAI for multimodal imaging-guided tumor therapy.Results: TEM and UV-vis spectroscopy results showed that nano-snowflake probe (UMC) was successfully synthesized, and the degradation of UMC was due to the pH/ H2O2 responsive properties. In vitro results indicated good uptake of UMC in 4T-1 cells, with maximal accumulation at 4 h. In vitro and in vivo experimental results showed their imaging capability for both T1-T2 MR and PA imaging, providing the potential for multimodal imaging-guided tumor therapy. Compared to the free Ce6, UMC exhibited enhanced treatment efficiency due to the production of O2 with the assistance of 660 nm laser irradiation. In vivo experiments confirmed that UMC achieved oxygenated PDT under MR/PA imaging guidance in tumor-bearing mice and significantly inhibited tumor growth in tumor-bearing mice, exhibiting good biocompatibility and minimal side effects.Conclusion: The multimodal imaging contrast agent (UMC) not only can be used for MR and PA imaging but also has oxygen-enhanced PDT capabilities. These results suggest that UMC may have a good potential for further clinical application in the future.Graphical Abstract: Keywords: photodynamic therapy, oxygen generation, magnetic resonance imaging, photoacoustic imaging, theranostics, nanoprobe

Water column removal in streams is a nitrogen (N) cycling pathway that has been historically overlooked. Studies filling this knowledge gap have focused on the role of water column N removal in mid‐to‐large‐order rivers with consistently high suspended sediment concentrations. However, smaller streams may provide comparable suspended sediment concentrations during and after storm events, creating favorable conditions for water column N removal. To assess the presence, magnitude, and control of water column N removal during storms in low‐order watersheds, we measured water column denitrification and heterotrophic assimilatory N uptake rates at three locations in a Mid‐Atlantic watershed during five storm events of different magnitude, sediment loads, and nutrient availability. We found large variations in water column denitrification (0–5.56 mg N g−1 d−1) and assimilatory uptake (0.003–1.67 mg N g−1 d−1). Higher rates of N removal occurred during flow recession, with a correlation between suspended sediment organic matter content and denitrification. On average, denitrification rates in the water column were higher when flashy responses to storm events occurred. In contrast to denitrification, water column N removal rates (as both denitrification and heterotrophic assimilation) during storm events were comparable to those measured at baseflow in larger rivers. However, water column denitrification could only account for less than 10% of potential reach‐scale N removal during most of the storm events. Our findings provide insight into the ecological relevance of small stream water columns and suggest that more research is needed to understand the magnitude of stream water column processing on watershed‐scale N removal. Plain Language Summary: In freshwater ecosystems, microorganisms facilitate the transfer of nutrients from the surrounding environment to other organisms. Through a process known as nitrogen removal, microbes capture and modify nitrogen—an essential element for life—into forms that other organisms can use. In streams, microbes that perform nitrogen removal can live on the streambed, or on the surface of small sediment particles suspended in the water column. During storms, the amount of suspended particles in a stream increases dramatically, potentially providing more surface area where nitrogen removal can occur. Our study measured how much nitrogen removal takes place in the water column of streams during storms. We also determined whether other environmental factors influence the rates of removal. We found that higher rates of nitrogen removal occur after the peak of a storm, when the stream water level is decreasing. Additionally, we found that the rate of nitrogen removal increases with the amount of organic matter present in the suspended sediment. Overall, the rates of uptake we measured were comparable to those observed in much larger rivers, suggesting that nitrogen uptake in the water column during storms may be an important but overlooked component of the nitrogen cycle in small streams. Key Points: More flashy storms showed higher rates of water column denitrificationWater column removal rates were higher during flow recession than during rising flowsDenitrification was positively related to organic matter content in suspended sediment, whereas N uptake decreased with suspended chlorophyll [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Alignment, longitudinal growth, and function of the musculoskeletal unit of the pediatric hand is complex due to the combination of open growth plates, ossification variations, and their relationship with finger tendinous and ligamentous attachments. This review presents the basics of normal development, acquired and congenital variations, and traumatic conditions of the pediatric hand from the perspective of the pediatric musculoskeletal radiologist and hand surgeon. This multimodality imaging article focuses on non-oncologic and non-rheumatologic conditions of the pediatric hand, inclusive of fingers, thumb, and metacarpal bones. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: In adults with anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) tears, bone bruises on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans provide insight into the underlying mechanism of injury. There is a paucity of literature that has investigated these relationships in children with ACL tears. Purpose: To examine and compare the number and location of bone bruises between contact and noncontact ACL tears in pediatric patients. Study Design: Cohort study; Level of evidence, 3. Methods: Boys ≤14 years and girls ≤12 years of age who underwent primary ACL reconstruction surgery between 2018 and 2022 were identified at 3 separate institutions. Eligibility criteria required detailed documentation of the mechanism of injury and MRI performed within 30 days of the initial ACL tear. Patients with congenital lower extremity abnormalities, concomitant fractures, injuries to the posterolateral corner and/or posterior cruciate ligament, previous ipsilateral knee injuries or surgeries, or closed physes evident on MRI scans were excluded. Patients were stratified into 2 groups based on a contact or noncontact mechanism of injury. Preoperative MRI scans were retrospectively reviewed for the presence of bone bruises in the coronal and sagittal planes using fat-suppressed T2-weighted images and a grid-based mapping technique of the tibiofemoral joint. Results: A total of 109 patients were included, with 76 (69.7%) patients sustaining noncontact injuries and 33 (30.3%) patients sustaining contact injuries. There were no significant differences between the contact and noncontact groups in terms of age (11.8 ± 2.0 vs 12.4 ± 1.3 years; P =.12), male sex (90.9% vs 88.2%; P >.99), time from initial injury to MRI (10.3 ± 8.1 vs 10.4 ± 8.9 days; P =.84), the presence of a concomitant medial meniscus tear (18.2% vs 14.5%; P =.62) or lateral meniscus tear (69.7% vs 52.6%; P =.097), and sport-related injuries (82.9% vs 81.8%; P =.89). No significant differences were observed in the frequency of combined lateral tibiofemoral (lateral femoral condyle + lateral tibial plateau) bone bruises (87.9% contact vs 78.9% noncontact; P =.41) or combined medial tibiofemoral (medial femoral condyle [MFC] + medial tibial plateau) bone bruises (54.5% contact vs 35.5% noncontact; P =.064). Patients with contact ACL tears were significantly more likely to have centrally located MFC bruising (odds ratio, 4.3; 95% CI, 1.6-11; P =.0038) and less likely to have bruising on the anterior aspect of the lateral tibial plateau (odds ratio, 0.27; 95% CI, 0.097-0.76; P =.013). Conclusion: Children with contact ACL tears were 4 times more likely to present with centrally located MFC bone bruises on preoperative MRI scans compared with children who sustained noncontact ACL tears. Future studies should investigate the relationship between these bone bruise patterns and the potential risk of articular cartilage damage in pediatric patients with contact ACL tears. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Pulmonary abscesses may be cavitary lesions on thoracic radiographs and computed tomography (CT). Case report: A 26‐day‐old, cross‐breed lamb presented for respiratory distress despite procaine penicillin treatment. Thoracic radiographs revealed several pulmonary ovoid thin‐walled gas and soft tissue opacity structures. CT showed that these gas‐filled structures enclosed mildly contrast enhancing soft tissue attenuating material and surrounded the lobar bronchus to the right middle and caudal lung lobes. Imaging revealed pulmonary cavitary lesions, and chronic pulmonary abscesses was confirmed with histopathology on samples obtained from a right caudal lung lobectomy. Conclusion: To the authors' knowledge, this is the first radiographic and CT report of cavitary pulmonary lesions in a lamb. The pulmonary abscesses in this case were suspected to be due aspiration pneumonia occurring during bottle feeding, along with the high possibility of failure of passive transfer from its orphan history. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Microbes are core to driving biogeochemical cycles and differ between sun-drenched surface and relatively dark deep oceans. However, their distinct contributions to the organization and association of communities are still remaining elusive. Here, their assembly and co-occurrence stability are systematically researched along the surface and vertical gradients in the eastern Indian Ocean. The distribution of surface microbes was grouped tightly with closer phylogenetic distance and broader niche breadth, and separately from those vertical samples. Clear distance-decay of community similarity was observed in surface microbes with lower richness, while more diverse microeukaryotes and prokaryotes were observed in surface and vertical environments, respectively. Co-occurrence microbes along vertical gradients had a more complex network that was dominated by prokaryotes, while exhibited a lower modularity compared to the surface network. Microbial associations along vertical gradients were more stable and resilient, with lower robustness, higher vulnerability, and a relatively consistent fragmentation. Moreover, prokaryotes contribute greatly to the network topology and stability compared to microeukaryotes in surface environments, emphasizing their distinct functions and survival strategies in maintaining community stability across spatial variations. Environmental selection and community differentiation led to the divergence in organization and potential function of microbes. This study shed light on new perspectives on how marine microbes were associated with and influenced by spatial heterogeneity and their distinct roles in community organization in the face of environmental fluctuations., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

BACKGROUND. Radiologists generally treat pediatric ileocolic intussusceptions emergently given the potential for worse outcomes resulting from delayed reduction attempts. However, the relevant literature is conflicting. OBJECTIVE. The purpose of this study was to identify factors associated with successful image-guided ileocolic intussusception reduction in children, with attention given to the time since diagnosis. METHODS. This retrospective study included patients younger than 6 years old who underwent attempted image-guided enema reduction of ileocolic intussusception between May 2009 and July 2023. Patients were separated into two groups: those who presented directly to the institution (i.e., nontransferred patients, who all underwent attempted reduction < 8 hours after ultrasound diagnosis) and those who transferred to the study institution from outside facilities. EHR data were extracted. Each patient's first image-guided reduction attempt was classified as successful or unsuccessful. Univariable and multivariable analyses were performed. RESULTS. The study included 1065 patients (649 male and 416 female patients; mean age, 18.1 months; age range, 2.2-71.0 months; 793 nontransferred and 272 transferred patients). For nontransferred patients, the mean interval between ultrasound diagnosis and the initial reduction attempt was 150.8 minutes; among transferred patients, the mean interval between advanced imaging at an outside facility (when documented) and the reduction attempt was 460.2 minutes ( p < .001). Successful reduction occurred in 84.6% and 81.6% of nontransferred and transferred patients, respectively ( p = .25). For nontransferred patients, success occurred in 85.6% of attempts performed less than 2 hours after diagnosis versus 84.0% of attempts performed 2 to less than 8 hours after diagnosis ( p = .54); the mean interval from diagnosis to attempted reduction was 149.7 and 156.8 minutes for successful and unsuccessful attempts, respectively ( p = .53). In multivariable analysis, factors showing independent associations with success were proximal intussusception location (OR = 3.63, p < .001) and absence of high-risk ultrasound findings (OR = 2.57, p < .001); success was not independently associated with age, sex, bloody stools, reduction method used, or time since diagnosis of less than 2 hours ( p > .05). For transferred patients, the mean interval from advanced imaging performed at an outside facility to attempted reduction was 463.1 and 440.2 minutes for successful and unsuccessful attempts, respectively ( p = .74). CONCLUSION. Intussusception reduction may not require completion emergently (within 2 hours after diagnosis) but potentially may be safely performed on an urgent basis (within 8 hours). CLINICAL IMPACT. The findings have implications for determining the standard of care, including criteria for on-call activation of radiologic resources, in the management of pediatric intussusception.

Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) poses a significant threat to human health, with its incidence and mortality rates increasing annually. This study investigated the hypoglycemic effects and underlying mechanisms of pure Hovenia dulcis (Guaizao) polysaccharide (HDPs-2A) in rats subjected to a high-fat and high-sugar diet combined with streptozotocin-induced T2DM. Oral administration of HDPs-2A resulted in significant increases in body weight and liver glycogen levels compared to untreated controls. Moreover, a reduction in fasting blood glucose levels, alleviation of hyperinsulinemia, enhanced glucose tolerance, and improved insulin resistance were observed in the HDPs-2A-treated group. HDPs-2A also effectively reversed diabetes-induced dyslipidemia, as evidenced by decreased total cholesterol and triglyceride levels, alongside increased high-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels. Histopathological analyses confirmed that HDPs-2A partially repaired liver tissue damage by mitigating oxidative stress responses in the liver. Additionally, treatment with HDPs-2A significantly elevated short-chain fatty acid levels in T2DM rats. Real-time quantitative PCR and Western blot analyses indicated that HDPs-2A significantly enhanced the expression of InsR, IRS2, PI3K, Akt, and GLUT4, suggesting that HDPs-2A regulates insulin resistance and glycometabolism through the activation of the PI3K/Akt signaling pathway. Furthermore, HDPs-2A appeared to modulate the expression of GS, GSK-3β, and FoxO1 to improve glucose metabolism and reduce insulin resistance. It also improved glucose metabolism by activating the AMPK pathway and modulating G6Pase and PEPCK expression. This study provides novel insights into the antidiabetic effects of HDPs, positioning them as promising nutritional agents for the management of T2DM., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare no competing financial interest., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Cognitive dysfunction has become an important central nervous system (CNS)-related adverse reaction of intravenous anesthetics. Therefore, to further understand the role of H 2 O 2 , a potential marker of cognitive dysfunction, we constructed a fluorescent probe (LJ-1), which could specifically enable real-time detection of H 2 O 2 in cells during anesthesia.

According to the characteristics of corridor valley pattern cities, this paper presents four aspects of terrain space perception. Using a structural equation model (SEM), the four-dimensional terrain space perception is analyzed through second-order confirmatory factor analysis. A random parameter Logit model (RPLM) was developed to examine the impact of individual socioeconomic attributes, objective built environment, travel characteristics, and terrain space perception on travelers' Park and Ride (P&R) use behavior during snowfall conditions. Additionally, a Logit model was utilized to assess how individual socioeconomic attributes of travelers in corridor valley pattern cities influence their perception of terrain space during snowfall weather. The findings indicate that the four latent variables related to terrain space perception proposed in this paper effectively explain travelers' perception of terrain space in corridor valley pattern cities, and the observed variables also support these latent variables. The subjective and objective built environment of corridor valley pattern cities significantly affect travelers' P&R usage behavior during snowfall weather, and there is heterogeneity in the terrain space perception during snowfall weather among different travelers in corridor valley pattern cities. Furthermore, the gender, age, income, and experience of using P&R of travelers in corridor valley pattern cities play a significant role in moderating terrain space perception., Competing Interests: Declarations. Ethics approval: The implement at this study followed the principles of the Helsinki Declaration and the study was approved by Ethics Committee of Lanzhou Jiaotong University in manuscript file. Participants provided written informed consent to participate in this study. Informed consent: The authors confirm that informed consent was obtained from all participants and/or their legal guardians. Before participating in the study, all participants were informed of the details of the study and were able to withdraw from answering the questionnaire at any time. They can choose to participate or not. They made a verbal informed consent statement: “I have read and understood the information in the questionnaire, and when I complete and submit the questionnaire, I voluntarily agree to participate in the study and publish my data.” In this research, the coordinator was responsible for clarifying the issue and answering the possible questions of the research participants. Competing interests: The authors declare no competing interests., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

This study aimed to compare the angular, platform, and apical deviation of zygoma implants placed with the aid of a dynamic navigation (DN) device compared with the implants placed freehand. Eight cadaver heads were used for the study. Preoperative cone beam computerized tomography (CBCT) scans were made for the heads, and an implant-planning software was used to plan zygoma implants bilaterally in each scanned head. A total of 16 zygoma implants were placed using each surgical technique. Postimplant CBCT scans were merged with the preoperative plan to evaluate and compare the accuracy of the implants using each technique. Angular and linear deviations of the implants were measured and compared. The effect of implant length and position on the deviation was also investigated. The results showed a mean angular deviation of 2.44° ± 1.10° for implants placed using DN compared with 6.63° ± 4.81° for implants placed freehand. The mean apical deviation for implants placed using DN and for implants placed freehand was 2.14 ± 1.02 mm and 3.80 ± 2.49 mm, respectively. Finally, the mean platform deviation for implants placed using DN and for implants placed freehand was 1.66 ± 0.9 mm and 2.81 ± 2.1 mm, respectively. The analysis showed a significant difference between the two techniques in angular and apical deviation (p = .001 and .029, respectively). Zygoma implants placed with a DN device resulted in less apical and angular deviation than implants placed freehand.

This study aimed to investigate the accuracy of implants placed by clinicians with varying dental implant experience using dynamic navigation (DN) and static guidance (SG). Sixty identical custom-made, drillable maxillary models were fabricated, missing the right central incisor (#8) and left first molar (#14) with simulated gingival tissue. Models planned with a DN system and guided surgery software were randomly allocated to an experienced clinician, an inexperienced clinician, and a nonexperienced clinician. The accuracy of implant placement was evaluated by overlaying the preoperative virtual surgical plan with the postoperative cone beam computerized tomography scan. Deviations between the placed and planned implants were quantified using a mathematical algorithm. Independent-sample t tests revealed significant differences (p < .001) in angular deviation but not in coronal and apical deviations when comparing DN with SG for all 3 clinicians. One-way analysis of variance and Tukey post hoc test found no significant differences between clinicians of varying dental implant experience in DN and SG groups. The study concluded that the level of dental implant experience and surgical site do not significantly impact the accuracy of implant placement when either DN or SG is used, and DN produced less angular deviation in comparison with SG. This finding suggests DN could benefit clinical settings, particularly for less experienced clinicians.

The formation conditions and functional property differences of esterified starch (ES) and granular esterified-pregelatinized starch (EPS) synchronously prepared by octenyl succinic anhydride (OSA) modification remain unclear. In this study, we explored the formation conditions and physicochemical properties of ES and EPS after OSA modification. The modification temperature controlled the formation amount and time for both starch types during OSA modification. Compared to ES, EPS exhibited a higher degree of substitution, cold-water swelling power, water-absorption capacity and apparent viscosity in cold water. The structural characterization confirmed the molecular weight and short/long-range molecular order of ES and EPS decreased. Moreover, scanning electron microscopy indicated EPS retained its granular morphology. The X-ray diffraction patterns confirmed the presence of more starch-lipid complexes formed in EPS than in ES. This study provides a novel method for preparing esterified and granularly esterified-pregelatinized starches that could be used as promising additives in low-energy formula foods., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

To comprehensively explore the contribution and mechanisms of identified low-threshold bitter substances in Idesia polycarpa var. vestita Diels (I. vestita) fruit, we performed quantification and elucidated their interactions with main bitter taste receptors through molecular docking. The established method for quantifying bitter compounds in I. vestita fruit was validated, yielding satisfactory parameters for linearity, stability, and accuracy. Idescarpin (17.71-101.05 mg/g) and idesin (7.88-77.14 mg/g) were the predominant bitter compounds in terms of content. Taste activity values (TAVs) exceeded 10 for the bitter substances, affirming their pivotal role as major contributors to overall bitterness of I. vestita fruit. Notably, idescarpin with the highest TAV, played a crucial role in generating the bitterness of I. vestita fruit. Hydrogen bonds and hydrophobic interactions were the main driving forces. This study holds potential implications for industrial development of I. vestita fruit by providing novel insights into the mechanism underlying its bitterness formation., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024. Published by Elsevier Ltd.)

Background: Sarcopenia and knee osteoarthritis are common age-related diseases that have become important public health issues worldwide. Few studies have reported the association between muscle mass loss and knee osteoarthritis. This may be due to the high level of heterogeneity between studies stemming from different definitions of muscle mass loss., Methods: The systematic searches were carried out in PubMed and Web of Science from the inception of the databases until 13 January 2023, by two independent researchers. Pooled odds ratios (ORs) for overall and subgroup analyses were obtained using either a random effects model (I 2 >50%) or fixed effects model (I 2 ≤50%) in Stata., Results: Of the 1,606 studies identified, we ultimately included 12 articles on the association between muscle mass and knee osteoarthritis (prospective: n  = 5; cross-sectional: n  = 7). Low-quality evidence indicated that low muscle mass index and sarcopenic obesity increase the odds of knee osteoarthritis (low muscle mass index OR: 1.36, 95% CI: 1.13-1.64; sarcopenic obesity OR: 1.78, 95% CI: 1.35-2.34). However, no association was observed between general sarcopenia or low muscle mass with knee osteoarthritis., Conclusion: This systematic review and meta-analysis revealed that low muscle mass index and sarcopenic obesity were associated with an increased risk of developing knee osteoarthritis.

Some wheat-based foods require different doses of oil to moderate quality of dough during processing and the influence mechanisms remain unclear. Therefore, the effect of rapeseed oil addition on physicochemical characteristics and fine structure of dough and underlying mechanism were elucidated by rheometer, scanning microscope and molecular spectroscopic method. Results showed that compared with native dough (without exogenous rapeseed oil), the addition of rapeseed oil changed the fine structure, improved extensibility, but reduced viscoelasticity of the dough. Moreover, high addition especially 20 wt% oil (based on wheat flour) significantly changed gelatinization and retrogradation behaviors of the dough, whilst disrupted gluten network and increased random coil content (32.1%) of dough except that decreased its α-helix (21.2%), β-sheet (23.1%), disulfide bond (7.9 μmol/g) compared with native dough which were 16.3%, 29.2%, 33.1%, 11.0 μmol/g, respectively. Results in the study could provide a certain understanding for application of vegetable oils in wheat-based products., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

There is a growing body of evidence suggesting that dietary polysaccharides play a crucial role in preventing metabolic syndrome (MetS) through their interaction with gut microbes. Tea (Camellia sinensis L.) flower polysacchride (TFPS) is a novel functional compound known for its diverse beneficial effects in both vivo and vitro. To further investigate the effects of TFPS on MetS and gut microbiota, and the possible association between gut microbiota and their activities, this study was carried out on mice that were fed a high-fat diet (HFD) and given oral TFPS at a dose of 400 and 800 mg/kg·body weight (BW)/d, respectively. TFPS treatment significantly mitigated HFD-induced MetS, evidenced by reductions in body weight, fat accumulation, plasma levels of total cholesterol (TC), triglycerides (TG), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), and pro-inflammatory cytokines tumor necrosis factor α (TNF-α), interleukin 6 (IL-6), and IL-1β, along with an increase in plasma IL-10 levels. Furthermore, TFPS induced alterations in the diversity and composition of HFD-induced gut microbiota. Specifically, TFPS influenced the relative abundance of 11 genera, including Lactobacillus and Lactococcus, which showed strong correlations with metabolic improvements and likely contributed to the amelioration of MetS. In conclusion, TFPS exhibits promising prebiotic properties in preventing MetS and regulating gut microbiota., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Background: It is currently uncertain whether the combination of a proprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin type 9 (PCSK9) inhibitor and high-intensity statin treatment can effectively reduce cardiovascular events in patients with acute coronary syndrome (ACS) who have undergone percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) for culprit lesions., Methods: This study protocol describes a double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled, multicenter study aiming to investigate the efficacy and safety of combining a PCSK9 inhibitor with high-intensity statin therapy in patients with ACS following PCI. A total of 1,212 patients with ACS and multiple lesions will be enrolled and randomly assigned to receive either PCSK9 inhibitor plus high-intensity statin therapy or high-intensity statin monotherapy. The randomization process will be stratified by sites, diabetes, initial presentation and use of stable (≥4 weeks) statin treatment at presentation. PCSK 9 inhibitor or its placebo is injected within 4 hours after PCI for the culprit lesion. The primary endpoint is the composite of cardiovascular death, myocardial infarction, stroke, re-hospitalization due to ACS or heart failure, or any ischemia-driven coronary revascularization at 1-year follow-up between 2 groups. Safety endpoints mean PCSK 9 inhibitor and statin intolerance., Conclusion: The SHAWN study has been specifically designed to evaluate the effectiveness and safety of adding a PCSK9 inhibitor to high-intensity statin therapy in patients who have experienced ACS following PCI. The primary objective of this study is to generate new evidence regarding the potential benefits of combining a PCSK9 inhibitor with high-intensity statin treatment in reducing cardiovascular events among these patients., Competing Interests: Conflict of interest None declared., (Copyright © 2024. Published by Elsevier Inc.)

Petroleum-based plastic packaging materials have negative impacts on the environment and food safety. Natural biopolymer-based food packaging materials are the proper substitutes for plastic-based ones, which is because biopolymers are nontoxic, biodegradable and even edible. The incorporation of bioactive and functional substances into a biopolymer-based film matrix can produce novel smart packaging materials. Anthocyanins, one class of natural colorants with potent antioxidant activity and pH-response color-changing ability, are suitable for producing biopolymer-based smart packaging films. The purple sweet potato is a functional food rich in anthocyanins. In the past decade, numerous studies have reported the extraction of anthocyanins from purple sweet potato and the utilization of purple sweet potato anthocyanins (PSPAs) in biopolymer-based smart packaging film production. However, no specific review has summarized the recent advances on biopolymer-based smart packaging films containing PSPAs. Therefore, in this review, we aim to systematically summarize the progress on the extraction, isolation, characterization, purification and functional properties of PSPAs. Moreover, we thoroughly introduce the preparation methods, physical properties, antioxidant and antimicrobial activity, pH sensitivity, stability and applications of biopolymer-based smart packaging films containing PSPAs. Factors affecting the extraction and functional properties of PSPAs as well as the properties of biopolymer-based films containing PSPAs are discussed.

Background: Flowers are important plant organs, and their development is correlated with yield in woody fruit trees. For Pyrus pyrifolia cultivar 'Sucui 1', the research on how DNA methylation accurately regulates the expression of TFs and affects the specific regulatory mechanism of flower bud wizening will help reduce wizened buds., Methods: Here, the DNA methylomes and transcriptomes of two types of flower buds from the Pyrus pyrifolia cultivar 'Sucui 1' were compared., Results: 320 differentially expressed transcription factors (TFs), in 43 families, were obtained from the wizened bud transcriptome versus the normal bud transcriptome. Most were members of the AP2/ERF, bHLH, C2H2, CO-like, MADS, MYB, and WRKY families, which are involved in flower development. As a whole, the methylation level of TFs in the 'Sucui 1' genome increased once flower bud wizening occurred. A cytosine methylation analysis revealed that the methylation levels of the same gene regions in TFs from two kinds of buds were similar. However, differentially methylated regions were found in gene promoter sequences. The combined whole-genome bisulfite sequencing and RNA-Seq analyses revealed 162 TF genes (including 164 differentially methylated regions) with both differential expression and methylation differences between the two flower bud types. Among them, 126 were classified as m CHH-type methylation genes. Furthermore, the transcriptional down regulation of PpbHLH40 , PpERF4 , PpERF061 , PpLHW , PpMADS6 , PpZF-HD11 , and PpZFP90 was accompanied by increased DNA methylation. However, PpbHLH130 , PpERF011 , and PpMYB308 displayed the opposite trend. The expression changes for these TFs were negatively correlated with their methylation states., Conclusions: Overall, our results offer initial experimental evidence of a correlation between DNA methylation and TF transcription in P. pyrifolia in response to bud wizening. This enriched our understanding of epigenetic modulations in woody trees during flower development.

Extracellular vesicles (EVs), which play significant regulatory roles in maintaining homeostasis and influencing immune responses, significantly impact gut microbiota composition and function, affecting overall gut health. Despite considerable progress, there are still knowledge gaps regarding the mechanisms by which EVs, including plant-derived EVs (PDEVs), animal-derived EVs (ADEVs), and microbiota-derived EVs (MDEVs), modulate gut health. This review delves into the roles and mechanisms of EVs from diverse sources in regulating gut health, focusing on their contributions to maintaining epithelial barrier integrity, facilitating tissue healing, eliciting immune responses, controlling pathogens, and shaping microbiota. We emphasize open challenges and future perspectives for harnessing EVs in the modulation of gut health to gain a deeper understanding of their roles and impact. Importantly, a comprehensive research framework is presented to steer future investigations into the roles and implications of EVs on gut health, facilitating a more profound comprehension of this emerging field., Competing Interests: The authors declare the following financial interests/personal relationships which may be considered as potential competing interests: Jun Du reports financial support was provided by Amway China Co., Limited. Yuyu Zhang reports financial support was provided by National Natural Science Foundation of China. Caili Fu reports financial support was provided by Science and Technology Project of Jiangsu Province. Caili Fu reports financial support was provided by Key Research and Development Project of Hainan Province. If there are other authors, they declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (© 2024 The Authors. Published by Elsevier B.V.)

Background: Side branch stenting is often required during provisional stenting, leading to suboptimal results. Drug-coated balloons (DCB) for the compromised side branch have emerged as an attractive strategy. However, the benefit of DCB for coronary bifurcations remains unclear., Objectives: This study aimed to investigate whether DCB, compared with a noncompliant balloon (NCB), for the pinched side branch improves the outcomes of provisional stenting in patients with simple, true coronary bifurcations., Methods: In this multicenter, randomized controlled trial, patients with true coronary bifurcations who had side branch diameter stenosis of ≥70% after main vessel stenting at 22 centers in China, Indonesia, Italy, and Korea were randomly assigned to either DCB or NCB intervention. The primary endpoint was major adverse cardiac events, a composite of cardiac death, target vessel myocardial infarction, or clinically driven target-lesion revascularization at the 1-year follow-up., Results: Between September 8, 2020, and June 2, 2023, 784 patients with true coronary bifurcation lesions undergoing main vessel stenting and having a severely compromised side branch were randomly assigned to the DCB (n = 391) or NCB (n = 393) group. One-year follow-up was completed in all patients. The primary endpoint occurred in 28 patients in the DCB group and 49 patients in the NCB group (Kaplan-Meier rate: 7.2% vs 12.5%; HR: 0.56; 95% CI: 0.35-0.88; P = 0.013), driven by a reduction in myocardial infarction. There were no significant differences between groups in procedural success, crossover to a 2-stent approach, all-cause death, revascularization, or stent thrombosis., Conclusions: In patients with simple and true coronary bifurcation lesions undergoing provisional stenting, main vessel stenting with a DCB for the compromised side branch resulted in a lower 1-year rate of the composite outcome compared with an NCB intervention for the side branch. The high rates of periprocedural myocardial infarction, which occurred early and did not lead to revascularization, are of unclear clinical significance., Competing Interests: Funding Support and Author Disclosures This trial was funded by the National Key Research and Development Plan (2022YFC2503503), the Chinese Society of Cardiology (grant number CSCF 2019-A0003), the National Natural Scientific Foundation of China (grant numbers NSFC 91639303, 81770441, and 82121001), and the Jiangsu Provincial and Nanjing Municipal Clinical Trial Project (grant number BE 2019615) and jointly supplied by B Braun Medical (Melsungen, German), Shenqi Medical (Shanghai, China), Yinyi Medical (Dalian, China), Yingsheng Medical (Shanghai, China), and Kaidenuo Medical (Wuhan, China). The authors have reported that they have no relationships relevant to the contents of this paper to disclose., (Copyright © 2024 American College of Cardiology Foundation. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Nine varieties of lotus root ( Suining , Xinhe , Zaohua , Zhonghua , L0014 , L0013 , Cuiyu , L0011 , and Zhenzhu ) were selected as the research materials to compare their differences in physical, chemical, and starch characteristics before and after boiling, frying, and microwaving. The results showed that Zhenzhu , Xinhe , L0013 , Cuiyu , and Zhonghua belong to the crispy lotus root type, while L0011 , L0014 , Zaohua , and Suining belong to the powdery lotus root type. Furthermore, the nine varieties were characterized for their starch by optical micrograph (OM), polarized micrograph (PM), scanning electron micrograph (SEM), attenuated total reflection Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (ATR-FTIR), X-ray diffraction (XRD), carbon-13 cross-polarization/magic angle spinning nuclear magnetic resonance ( 13 C CP/MAS NMR), and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). The starch granule of powdery lotus root appeared to be larger than that of crispy lotus, and ATR-FTIR studies revealed that the outer layer of starch granules from nine different varieties of lotus root had a highly organized structure. Moreover, XRD and 13 C CP/MAS NMR analyses revealed that starch from eight lotus varieties ( Suining , Xinhe , Zaohua , Zhonghua , L0014 , L0013 , Cuiyu , L0011 ) belong to the A-crystal type, while starch from Zhenzhu belongs to the C A -crystal type. The starch from powdery lotus root exhibited higher crystallinity, as well as increased gelatinization temperature and enthalpy, indicating that its crystal structure was relatively superior compared to that of crispy lotus starch. The short-range order degree, crystallinity, gelatinization temperature, and heat enthalpy of lotus starch decreased after boiling and frying but increased to varying extents after microwaving. Additionally, the heat resistance and stability of starch particles from crispy lotus root were improved after microwave treatment.

Background: Intravascular ultrasound (IVUS)-guided percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) reduces the risk for clinical events in patients with acute coronary syndromes (ACS), compared with angiographic guidance. However, the benefits of IVUS guidance in high-risk patients with diabetes with ACS is uncertain., Objectives: The aim of this prespecified stratified subgroup analysis from the IVUS-ACS randomized trial was to determine the effectiveness of IVUS-guided PCI vs angiography-guided PCI in patients with diabetes with ACS., Methods: From August 20, 2019, to October 27, 2022, 1,105 patients with diabetes with ACS were randomized, including 554 patients in the IVUS-guided group and 551 in the angiography-guided group. The primary endpoint was the rate of target vessel failure (TVF) at 1 year, defined as the composite of cardiac death, target vessel myocardial infarction, or clinically driven target vessel revascularization., Results: At 1-year follow-up, TVF occurred in 20 patients in the IVUS guidance group and in 46 patients in the angiographic guidance group (Kaplan-Meier rates 3.6% vs 8.3%; HR: 0.46; 95% CI: 0.27-0.81; P = 0.007), driven by a reduction in clinically driven target vessel revascularization (0.9% vs 3.8%; P = 0.003). IVUS-guided PCI also reduced the risk for TVF without procedural myocardial infarction (2.0% vs 6.7%; HR: 0.29; 95% CI: 0.15-0.57; P < 0.001) and all-cause mortality (HR: 0.30; 95% CI: 0.10-0.93; P = 0.037). There were no significant differences in the rates of stent thrombosis or major bleeding between the groups., Conclusions: In the large-scale IVUS-ACS trial, IVUS-guided PCI improved 1-year clinical outcomes in high-risk patients with diabetes with ACS. (1-Month vs 12-Month DAPT for ACS Patients Who Underwent PCI Stratified by IVUS: IVUS-ACS and ULTIMATE-DAPT Trials; NCT03971500)., Competing Interests: Funding Support and Author Disclosures This trial was funded by the National Key Research and Development Plan (2022YFC2503503), the Chinese Society of Cardiology (grant CSCF 2019-A0003), the National Natural Scientific Foundation of China (grants NSFC 91639303, 81770441, and 82121001), and the Jiangsu Provincial and Nanjing Municipal Clinical Trial Project (grant BE 2019615). Dr Stone has received speaker honoraria from Medtronic, Amgen, Boehringer Ingelheim, and Abiomed; has served as a consultant to Ablative Solutions, Daiichi-Sankyo, Robocath, Vectorious, Miracor, Apollo Therapeutics, Abbott, Elucid Bio, Cardiac Success, Occlutech, Valfix, Zoll, HeartFlow, Shockwave Medical, Ancora, Impulse Dynamics, Adona Medical, Millennia Biopharma, Oxitope, HighLife, Elixir, RCE, and Aria; has equity or options with Cardiac Success, Ancora, Cagent, Applied Therapeutics, the Biostar family of funds, SpectraWAVE, Orchestra Biomed, Aria, Valfix, Xenter; and receives research support to his employer, Mount Sinai Hospital, from Shockwave, Biosense Webster, Abbott, Abiomed, Bioventrix, Cardiovascular Systems, Phillips, Vascular Dynamics, Pulnovo, and V-Wave. Dr Chen has received speaker fees from MicroPort, Pulnovo, Boston Scientific International, Medtronic, Sanofi, and BioMed; and has received grants from the National Scientific Foundation of China. All other authors have reported that they have no relationships relevant to the contents of this paper to disclose., (Copyright © 2024 American College of Cardiology Foundation. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Agricultural practices affect soil microbes which are critical to soil health and sustainable agriculture. To understand prokaryotic and fungal assembly under agricultural practices, we use machine learning-based methods. We show that fertility source is the most pronounced factor for microbial assembly especially for fungi, and its effect decreases with soil depths. Fertility source also shapes microbial co-occurrence patterns revealed by machine learning, leading to fungi-dominated modules sensitive to fertility down to 30 cm depth. Tillage affects soil microbiomes at 0-20 cm depth, enhancing dispersal and stochastic processes but potentially jeopardizing microbial interactions. Cover crop effects are less pronounced and lack depth-dependent patterns. Machine learning reveals that the impact of agricultural practices on microbial communities is multifaceted and highlights the role of fertility source over the soil depth. Machine learning overcomes the linear limitations of traditional methods and offers enhanced insights into the mechanisms underlying microbial assembly and distributions in agriculture soils., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

Background: Immediate implant placement (IIP) has shown predictable outcomes when specific requirements are met. The aim of the present study was to radiographically evaluate the dimensions of mandibular incisors and the alveolar bone to further determine the feasibility of IIP in this area., Materials and Methods: A total of 404 intact mandibular incisor CBCT images from 101 patients (42 males, 59 females; mean age 49 ± 16.84 years) were analyzed. The mesiodistal tooth width and the distance between the incisal edge (IE), cementoenamel junction (CEJ), facial bone crest (BC), root apex (RA), and fenestration point (F) were registered, together with the alveolar bone width at 1 and 3 mm below BC. Finally, the angular discrepancy between the dental and the alveolar bone long axis (BLA) was recorded as the tooth torque (TT)., Results: The CEJ to BC distance was 3.23 ± 1.67 mm. The RA to F mean distance was 15.02 ± 3.97 mm. The mean alveolar bone buccolingual widths at 1 and 3 mm below the facial BC were 7.12 ± 0.82 and 6.32 ± 0.71 mm in the lateral and central incisors, respectively (P 0.001). The buccolingual width was less than 6 mm in more than 33% of the central incisors, but only in 3% of the lateral incisors, displaying increased alveolar width. The average was 165.66 ± 7.47 degrees., Conclusions: The results presented in this study point toward the need for careful consideration of the requirements for anterior mandibular IIP for success and predictability purposes.