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Abstract Introduction Despite improvement in the management of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) during the past two decades, 10–22% of patients with lupus nephritis (LN) will progress to end-stage renal disease (ESRD). Kidney transplantation is among the possible treatment for patients with SLE progressing to ESRD. However, the issue with kidney transplantation in patients with SLE is controversial. In this analysis, we aimed to compare the complications associated with kidney transplantation, causes of graft failure and causes of mortality following kidney transplantation in patients with SLE with ESRD. Methods The sources of data included http://www.ClinicalTrials.gov , EMBASE, MEDLINE, Google Scholar, Web of Science and the Cochrane database. Revman software version 5.4 was used for the data analysis whereby risk ratio (RR) with 95% confidence intervals (CI) were used to represent data following analysis. In addition, the Q statistic test and the I 2 statistic test were used to assess heterogeneity. A random effect statistical model was used and a subgroup outcome with a P-value less than 0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results A total number of 149,330 participants enrolled between the years 1968 and 2018 were included in this analysis with 7534 participants with SLE. Results of this analysis showed that mortality (RR 1.07, 95% CI 0.89–1.29; P = 0.45), graft failure (RR 1.22, 95% CI 0.99–1.55; P = 0.07) and delayed graft function (RR 1.01, 95% CI 0.44–2.34; P = 0.98) were not significantly higher in renal transplant patients with SLE versus a control group. When the causes of graft failure were analysed in renal transplant patients with SLE versus without SLE, acute graft rejection (RR 1.20, 95% CI 0.98–1.47; P = 0.07), chronic graft rejection (RR 0.76, 95% CI 0.57–1.03; P = 0.08), graft thrombosis (RR 1.47, 95% CI 0.83–2.63; P = 0.19), recurrence of disease (RR 3.08, 95% CI 1.00–9.47; P = 0.05) and chronic allograft nephropathy (RR 1.08, 95% CI 0.60–1.95; P = 0.80) were also not significantly higher in patients with SLE. On the basis of the analysis, mortality from any cardiac cause (RR 0.82, 95% CI 0.67–1.01; P = 0.06), sepsis (RR 1.19, 95% CI 0.93–1.53; P = 0.17), malignancy (RR 0.79, 95% CI 0.51–1.24; P = 0.31) and cerebrovascular attack (RR 0.76, 95% CI 0.44–1.30; P = 0.31) were not significantly different in kidney transplantation patients with versus without SLE. Conclusions Complications associated with kidney transplantation including mortality, graft failure and delayed graft function were not significantly higher in patients with SLE when compared with a control group. The causes of graft failure and mortality after kidney transplantation were also comparable in both groups. Therefore, kidney transplantation represents a promising treatment in patients with SLE with ESRD.

BackgroundHeterologous booster vaccines are more effective than homologous booster vaccines in combating the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) outbreak. However, our understanding of homologous and heterologous booster vaccines for COVID-19 remains limited.MethodsWe recruited 34 healthy participants from two cohorts who were primed with two-dose inactivated COVID-19 vaccine before, vaccinated with COVID-19 inactivated vaccine and adenovirus-vectored vaccine (intramuscular and aerosol inhalation of Ad5-nCoV) as a third booster dose. We assessed the immune responses of participants before and 14 days after vaccination, including levels of neutralizing antibodies, IgG, and cytokines, and quantified the transcriptional profile of peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs).ResultsThe Ad5-nCoV group showed a significantly higher neutralizing antibody geometric mean titer (GMT) compared to the ICV group after 14 days of heterologous boosting. The intramuscular Ad5-nCoV group had a GMT of 191.8 (95% CI 129.0, 285.1) compared to 38.1 (95% CI 23.1, 62.8) in the ICV1 group (p

AimsThis study aims to explore the gender differences in cognitive improvements after two months of atypical antipsychotic treatment in first episode schizophrenia (FES).Methods82 patients with FES, including 50 male patients and 32 female patients, were enrolled in the present study. Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS) and MATRICS Consensus Cognitive Battery (MCCB) were respectively conducted to evaluate the clinical symptoms and cognitive function of patients with FES at baseline and after treatment. Repeated measure ANOVA was performed to compare gender differences in cognitive domains scores between baseline and 2-month follow-up. Stepwise liner regression model was performed to explore the effect factors of cognitive improvements in patients.ResultsThere was no significant difference in age of onset, education years, PANSS scores, duration of untreated psychosis and Olanzapine equivalent doses between male and female patients (all p > 0.05). In the comparisons of cognition function, male patients exhibited better performance in social cognition compared with female patients at baseline (t = 3.20, p < 0.05). After treatment, improvements of attention/vigilance and working memory were both found in male patients and female patients (attention/vigilance, F = 11.867, p < 0.05; working memory, F = 18.265, p < 0.05). In addition, improvement of speed of information processing was only found in female patients (F = 11.65, p < 0.01). Significant interaction between time and gender was found in speed information of processing (F = 4.140, p = 0.045). Stepwise liner regression model revealed that improvements of negative symptoms promote improvements of cognitive function in female patients (all p < 0.05).ConclusionsOur findings revealed gender differences of cognitive improvements in patients with FES after 2-month treatment. It provides new evidence for gender differences in cognitive symptoms of schizophrenia, and also provides preliminary clues for further individualized cognitive intervention strategies.

Abstract Background Damage in the ischemic core and penumbra after stroke affects patient prognosis. Microglia immediately respond to ischemic insult and initiate immune inflammation, playing an important role in the cellular injury after stroke. However, the microglial heterogeneity and the mechanisms involved remain unclear. Methods We first performed single-cell RNA-sequencing (scRNA-seq) and spatial transcriptomics (ST) on middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) mice from three time points to determine stroke-associated microglial subclusters and their spatial distributions. Furthermore, the expression of microglial subcluster-specific marker genes and the localization of different microglial subclusters were verified on MCAO mice through RNAscope and immunofluorescence. Gene set variation analysis (GSVA) was performed to reveal functional characteristics of microglia sub-clusters. Additionally, ingenuity pathway analysis (IPA) was used to explore upstream regulators of microglial subclusters, which was confirmed by immunofluorescence, RT-qPCR, shRNA-mediated knockdown, and targeted metabolomics. Finally, the infarct size, neurological deficits, and neuronal apoptosis were evaluated in MCAO mice after manipulation of specific microglial subcluster. Results We discovered stroke-associated microglial subclusters in the brains of MCAO mice. We also identified novel marker genes of these microglial subclusters and defined these cells as ischemic core-associated (ICAM) and ischemic penumbra-associated (IPAM) microglia, according to their spatial distribution. ICAM, induced by damage-associated molecular patterns, are probably fueled by glycolysis, and exhibit increased pro-inflammatory cytokines and chemokines production. BACH1 is a key transcription factor driving ICAM generation. In contrast, glucocorticoids, which are enriched in the penumbra, likely trigger IPAM formation, which are presumably powered by the citrate cycle and oxidative phosphorylation and are characterized by moderate pro-inflammatory responses, inflammation-alleviating metabolic features, and myelinotrophic properties. Conclusions ICAM could induce excessive neuroinflammation, aggravating brain injury, whereas IPAM probably exhibit neuroprotective features, which could be essential for the homeostasis and survival of cells in the penumbra. Our findings provide a biological basis for targeting specific microglial subclusters as a potential therapeutic strategy for ischemic stroke.

Abstract Background Emerging evidence has shown that myeloid cells that infiltrate into the peri-infarct region may influence the progression of ischemic stroke by interacting with microglia. Properdin, which is typically secreted by immune cells such as neutrophils, monocytes, and T cells, has been found to possess damage-associated molecular patterns (DAMPs) properties and can perform functions unrelated to the complement pathway. However, the role of properdin in modulating microglia-mediated post-stroke neuroinflammation remains unclear. Methods Global and conditional (myeloid-specific) properdin-knockout mice were subjected to transient middle cerebral artery occlusion (tMCAO). Histopathological and behavioral tests were performed to assess ischemic brain injury in mice. Single-cell RNA sequencing and immunofluorescence staining were applied to explore the source and the expression level of properdin. The transcriptomic profile of properdin-activated primary microglia was depicted by transcriptome sequencing. Lentivirus was used for macrophage-inducible C-type lectin (Mincle) silencing in microglia. Conditioned medium from primary microglia was administered to primary cortex neurons to determine the neurotoxicity of microglia. A series of cellular and molecular biological techniques were used to evaluate the proinflammatory response, neuronal death, protein–protein interactions, and related signaling pathways, etc. Results The level of properdin was significantly increased, and brain-infiltrating neutrophils and macrophages were the main sources of properdin in the ischemic brain. Global and conditional myeloid knockout of properdin attenuated microglial overactivation and inflammatory responses at the acute stage of tMCAO in mice. Accordingly, treatment with recombinant properdin enhanced the production of proinflammatory cytokines and augmented microglia-potentiated neuronal death in primary culture. Mechanistically, recombinant properdin served as a novel ligand that activated Mincle receptors on microglia and downstream pathways to drive primary microglia-induced inflammatory responses. Intriguingly, properdin can directly bind to the microglial Mincle receptor to exert the above effects, while Mincle knockdown limits properdin-mediated microglial inflammation. Conclusion Properdin is a new medium by which infiltrating peripheral myeloid cells communicate with microglia, further activate microglia, and exacerbate brain injury in the ischemic brain, suggesting that targeted disruption of the interaction between properdin and Mincle on microglia or inhibition of their downstream signaling may improve the prognosis of ischemic stroke.

Abstract Schizophrenia (SCZ) is a chronic, highly relapsing, severe mental disorder with an unclear etiology. Cytokine-mediated neuroimmune abnormalities have been repeatedly revealed. IL-1β was reported to play a vital role in expanding the inflammatory response. However, the underlying molecular mechanism is poorly understood. In this study, we found that miR-3653-3p with the NLRP3 binding site in Targetscan was differentially expressed in miRNA high-throughput sequencing in schizophrenia (SCZ), and indeed, its downregulation in SCZ peripheral blood was also verified by RT-qPCR (P-value = 0.015). Furthermore, we found that the mRNAs of caspase 1 and IL-1β are elevated in people who suffer from SCZ (P = 0.044 and P = 0.001, respectively). Moreover, the interaction of NLRP3, Caspase1, and IL-1β was found in the peripheral blood of patients with SCZ. The expression level of miR-3653-3p was negatively correlated with NLRP3 and IL-1β mRNA contents (r = 0.487, P = 0.04 and r = 0.508, P = 0.037, respectively). NLRP3 mRNA was positively correlated with caspase1 mRNA. Meanwhile, the expression of miR-3653-3p was also negatively correlated with negative symptom subscores of PANSS (r = 0.450, P = 0.046). IL-1β mRNA is positively correlated with the total scores of PANSS (r = 0.690, P = 0.002) and the sub-scores of general psychopathology of PANSS (r = 0.583, P = 0.014). Additionally, a significant positive relationship exists between IL-1β and the total duration (r = 0.638, P = 0.006). We found that the combination of miR-3653-3p, caspase 1, and IL-1β have better diagnostic values. The results indicate that miR-3653-3p, caspase 1, and IL-1β can potentially be biomarkers of SCZ, identifying negative symptoms or a chronic course. A further understanding of the involvement of IL-1β in SCZ may be a crucial molecular effector for the chronic course to intervene.

Abstract This paper presents a linear-nonlinear switching control strategy, called Switching Active Disturbance Rejection Control (SADRC), to enhance the disturbance rejection capability of the speed controller in a servo system. SADRC combines the advantages of Linear Active Disturbance Rejection Control (LADRC) and Nonlinear Active Disturbance Rejection Control (NLADRC), and introduces a parameter to switch between nonlinear and linear control, thereby improving the robustness of the servo system. Firstly, the mathematical model of the motor is analyzed as the starting point of the paper. Then, the basic principles of Active Disturbance Rejection Control (ADRC) are analyzed, and improvements are made to address its limitations, resulting in the design of SADRC. The parameters introduced in SADRC are analyzed to determine their appropriate ranges. Finally, the performance of SADRC is validated by comparing the rotational effects of Permanent Magnet Synchronous Motor (PMSM).

BackgroundPrimary cardiac tumors are uncommon, with the majority being benign myxomas. Cystic myxoma, a particularly rare type of benign cardiac tumor, demands cautious differential diagnosis from other cardiac tumors.Case summaryA 43-year-old male patient presenting with intermittent dyspnea was referred to our department for surgical evaluation. Transthoracic echocardiography (TTE) and transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) unveiled an intra-left atrial cyst, which was subsequently found to be blood-filled during a video-assisted microinvasive heart surgery. Pathological examination depicted a cyst wall filled with small stellate and fat spindle cells, along with a mucoid matrix, indicating a diagnosis of cystic myxoma.ConclusionsWe herein presented a rare case of an adult patient with cystic myxoma, initially misdiagnosed as an intracardiac blood cyst (CBC) prior to surgery, and ultimately verified via pathological findings.

BackgroundTumor immunotherapy is an innovative treatment today, but there are limited data on the quality of immunotherapy information on social networks. Dissemination of misinformation through the internet is a major social issue. ObjectiveOur objective was to characterize the quality of information and presence of misinformation about tumor immunotherapy on internet-based videos commonly used by the Chinese population. MethodsUsing the keyword “tumor immunotherapy” in Chinese, we searched TikTok, Tencent, iQIYI, and BiliBili on March 5, 2022. We reviewed the 118 screened videos using the Patient Education Materials Assessment Tool—a validated instrument to collect consumer health information. DISCERN quality criteria and the JAMA (Journal of the American Medical Association) Benchmark Criteria were used for assessing the quality and reliability of the health information. The videos’ content was also evaluated. ResultsThe 118 videos about tumor immunotherapy were mostly uploaded by channels dedicated to lectures, health-related animations, and interviews; their median length was 5 minutes, and 79% of them were published in and after 2018. The median understandability and actionability of the videos were 71% and 71%, respectively. However, the quality of information was moderate to poor on the validated DISCERN and JAMA assessments. Only 12 videos contained misinformation (score of >1 out of 5). Videos with a doctor (lectures and interviews) not only were significantly less likely to contain misinformation but also had better quality and a greater forwarding number. Moreover, the results showed that more than half of the videos contain little or no content on the risk factors and management of tumor immunotherapy. Overall, over half of the videos had some or more information on the definition, symptoms, evaluation, and outcomes of tumor immunotherapy. ConclusionsAlthough the quality of immunotherapy information on internet-based videos commonly used by Chinese people is moderate, these videos have less misinformation and better content. Caution must be exercised when using these videos as a source of tumor immunotherapy–related information.

In this paper, we give the necessary and sufficient conditions for the existence of general solutions, self-adjoint solutions, and positive solutions to the system of AiXBi+CiYDi+EiZFi=Gi(i=1,2) under additional conditions. In addition, we derive the representation of general solutions to the system of AiXBi+CiYDi+EiZFi=Gi(i=1,2), and provide the matrix representation of the self-adjoint solutions and the positive solutions in the sense of the star order.

In the global context of rural development in developing countries, the integration of digital technology into agriculture has emerged as a pivotal strategy for modernizing rural areas and boosting agricultural productivity. A focal point of policy initiatives, digital village construction aims to harness digital technology to empower rural development. Despite widespread recognition of its potential benefits for agricultural development, empirical evidence on its specific impacts, particularly on farmland scale operation, remains scarce. This study investigates the relationship between digital village construction and farmland scale operation in China, leveraging data from Sichuan Province’s rural revitalization strategy and Peking University’s Digital Village Index. Our analysis reveals a significant enhancement in farmland scale operation, particularly in non-poverty and non-border villages, after addressing potential endogeneity in the estimation. Mechanism analysis demonstrates that digital village construction drives scaled operation and management through improved agricultural production efficiency, the establishment of agricultural industry systems, and the advancement of agricultural engineering projects. However, its impact varies across village types, underscoring potential disparities in rural development. These findings suggest that continued investment in digital village construction is essential to stimulate rural development, focusing on leveraging digital technologies to enhance agricultural productivity and providing targeted support for remote and underserved rural areas to bridge the digital gap and foster inclusive growth.

Advanced paternal age has been overlooked, and its effect on fertility remains controversial. Previous studies have focused mainly on intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) cycles in men with oligozoospermia. However, few studies have reported on men with semen parameters within reference ranges. Therefore, we conducted a retrospective cohort study analyzing the reproductive outcomes of couples with non-male-factor infertility undergoing in vitro fertilization (IVF) cycles. In total, 381 cycles included were subgrouped according to paternal age ( 0.05). The pregnancy rate was not significantly different in the 35–39-year-old group (42.0%; P > 0.05), but was significantly lower in the ≥40-year-old group (26.1%; P < 0.05) than that in the 0.05), but showed a declining trend. The miscarriage rate significantly increased in the 35–39-year-old group (44.8%) compared with that in the

As “fuel” for atmospheric photochemical reactions, volatile organic compounds (VOCs) play a key role in the secondary generation of ozone (O3) and fine particulate matter (PM2.5, an aerodynamic diameter ≤ 2.5 μm). To determine the characteristics of VOCs in a high-level ozone period, comprehensive monitoring of O3 and its precursors (VOCs and NOx) was continuously conducted in an industrial area in Shanghai from 18 August to 30 September 2021. During the observation period, the average concentration of VOCs was 47.33 ppb, and alkanes (19.64 ppb) accounted for the highest proportion of TVOCs, followed by oxygenated volatile organic compounds (OVOCs) (13.61 ppb), alkenes (6.92 ppb), aromatics (4.65 ppb), halogenated hydrocarbons (1.60 ppb), and alkynes (0.91 ppb). Alkenes were the predominant components that contributed to the ozone formation potential (OFP), while aromatics such as xylene, toluene, and ethylbenzene contributed the most to the secondary organic aerosol production potential (SOAFP). During the study period, O3, NOx, and VOCs showed significant diurnal variations. Industrial processes were the main source of VOCs, and the second largest source of VOCs was vehicle exhaust. While the largest contribution to OFP was from vehicle exhaust, the second largest contribution was from liquid petroleum gas (LPG). High potential source contribution function (PSCF) values were observed in western and southeastern areas near the sampling sites. The results of a health risk evaluation showed that the Hazard Index was less than 1 and there was no non-carcinogenic risk, but 1,3-butadiene, benzene, chloroform, 1,2-dibromoethane, and carbon tetrachloride pose a potential carcinogenic risk to the population.

We aimed to evaluate the effectiveness or efficacy of heterologous or homologous COVID-19 vaccine regimens against COVID-19-related outcomes after primary immunization with two doses of CoronaVac or Sinopharm COVID-19 vaccines. PubMed, EMBASE, Web of Science, and Cochrane Library databases were searched up to 31 October 2022. The primary measure was vaccine effectiveness against COVID-19 infection with homologous or heterologous booster. The results showed heterologous and homologous booster significantly improved effectiveness against COVID-19 infection compared to primary immunization. The effectiveness against COVID-19 infection was 89.19% (95%CI 78.49, 99.89) for heterologous mRNA vaccine booster, 87.00% (95%CI 82.14, 91.85) for non-replicating vector vaccine booster, 69.99% (95%CI 52.16, 87.82) for homologous booster, and 51.48% (95%CI 41.75, 61.21) for two doses of inactivated vaccine. Homologous and heterologous regimens were also effective against SARS-CoV-2 variants, and more evidence is still needed to confirm our findings.

The problem is that the low temperature waste heat pump system for temperature measurement is not accurately measured. A method of improving measurement accuracy of the Pt1000 temperature sensor was proposed. First, the Pt1000 temperature sensor is date calibrated. Second, the least square method is used to fit the data of actual measurement. Finally, by using the principle of error evaluation, the most suitable corrective equation in the range of 10–100 °C for the Pt1000 temperature sensor was identified. Through actual verification, the calibration equation obtained by this method takes less memory space, has fast calculation speed and high accuracy in operation, and can effectively improve the accuracy of temperature measurement of the low temperature waste heat pump system.

Summary: Ischemic stroke is the second leading cause of death worldwide, and there are limited effective treatment strategies. QHRD106, a polyethyleneglycol (PEG)-modified long-acting tissue kallikrein preparation, has not been reported previously. In this study, we aimed to investigate the therapeutic effect of QHRD106 in ischemic stroke and its possible mechanism. We found that QHRD106 treatment alleviated brain injury after stroke via bradykinin (BK) receptor B2 (B2R) instead of BK receptor B1 (B1R). Mechanistically, QHRD106 reduced high-mobility group box 1 (HMGB1)-induced apoptosis and inflammation after ischemic stroke in vivo and in vitro. Moreover, we confirmed that QHRD106 reduced the level of acetylated HMGB1 and reduced the binding between heat shock protein 90 alpha family class A member 1 (HSP90AA1) and HMGB1, thus inhibiting the translocation and release of HMGB1. In summary, these findings indicate that QHRD106 treatment has therapeutic potential for cerebral ischemic stroke.

IntroductionThere are not enough nurses around the world, and there are even fewer male nurses. It has not been easy for men to become nurses because of stereotypes about the roles of men and women in the workplace, which lead to prejudice and discrimination. This study explored how the self-esteem of male nurses and male nursing students affects their professional identity in an environment where stereotypes and social prejudice exist. This study also examined the differences of relevant variables in different sociodemographic characteristics of the research subjects in a Chinese social context.MethodsBy purposive and snowball sampling, 464 male nurses and male nursing students were surveyed through questionnaires from November 2021 to January 2022. Data analysis was performed using SPSS 25.0 and PROCESS Macro 3.3.ResultsSelf-esteem could indirectly affect professional identity through perceived prejudice and psychological distress. Nonetheless, self-esteem still had a significant direct effect on professional identity. The total mediating effect accounted for 32.816% of the total effect, and the direct effect accounted for 67.184% of the total effect. Also of note was that 81.7% of participants reported experiencing psychological distress.DiscussionTo improve the professional identity of male nurses and male nursing students, nursing educators and administrators should do the following: protect and improve their self-esteem; take steps to reduce social prejudice against them; value their mental health and alleviate their psychological distress.