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IntroductionAs research advances in vascularized composite allotransplantation (VCA), large animal models are essential for translational studies related to immune rejection and graft survival. However, procurement of large flaps can cause significant defects, complicating wound closure and increasing postoperative risks. This study details the surgical techniques and outcomes of autologous vertical rectus abdominis myocutaneous (VRAM) flap transplantation and neck flap isolation with induced ischemia in a swine model. The purpose of this study was to identify the most effective control procedure for use in future VRAM flap allotransplantation research.MethodsWe performed two left heterotopic autologous VRAM flap transplants and two right anterolateral neck flap isolations using female Yucatan pigs. Postoperatively, animals were monitored for complications and flap healing, with punch biopsies taken on POD1, 5, and at the end of the study for histological analysis. Transcutaneous oxygen and temperature were also recorded.ResultsBoth autologous flaps survived after vessel anastomosis, with effective closure of abdominal defects using suturable mesh, and no postoperative complications were observed. Histology revealed mild dermal edema and perivascular inflammation on POD5. In the neck flap group, both flaps survived temporary ischemia, however, postoperative complications included dorsal flap necrosis and wound dehiscence, requiring reoperation. No gross inflammation or edema was observed following surgery and histologically there was only mild dermal edema on POD5.DiscussionWe have developed a low-risk, technically feasible porcine autologous VRAM flap transplantation model and our findings support its use in future VCA studies.

IntroductionAs the scale of Lentinus edodes cultivation expands, challenges such as substrate shortages and rising production costs in mushroom cultivation have become increasingly prominent. Fruit tree pruning residue has the potential to serve as an alternative substrate, offering a sustainable solution. This study evaluates the feasibility of incorporating various types of fruit tree pruning residues into L. edodes cultivation.MethodsDifferent ratios of Quercus sawdust (QS), Malus pumila pruning (MPP), Vitis vinifera pruning (VVP), Actinidia deliciosa pruning (ADP), Ziziphus jujuba pruning (ZJP), and Morus alba pruning (MAP) were tested as substrates. The effects on yield, amino acid profiles, and protein content of L. edodes fruiting bodies were analyzed. The control substrate comprised 80% QS, and the experimental groups incorporated varying ratios of fruit tree residues.ResultsCompared with the control, yields increased by 14.86% (QS-MPP), 8.1% (QS-VVP), 18.92% (QS-ZJP), and 22.97% (QS-MAP). The MAP group had 21.21% higher ash content, while the QS-MAP group exhibited the highest crude protein content (10.84% increase). The QS-MPP group showed the highest crude fiber content (1.72 g/100 g). Crude polysaccharide and fat contents in the ZJP group increased by 110.77% and 10.15%, respectively. Mineral content varied, with QS-MPP showing the highest calcium, potassium, manganese, and magnesium levels, and VVP exhibiting the highest iron and copper levels. Amino acid analysis revealed QS-MPP had the highest levels of threonine, valine, isoleucine, serine, cysteine, glycine, and histidine, while QS-VVP had the highest leucine, aspartate, glutamate, and arginine levels. The best formulation was determined as 40% QS, 40% MPP, 17% bran, 1% sucrose, 1% CaCO3, and 1% gypsum.DiscussionThese results highlight the potential of fruit tree pruning residues as a sustainable substrate for L. edodes cultivation, ensuring high yields and enhanced nutritional quality. This approach can contribute to cost-effective and environmentally friendly mushroomproduction.

BackgroundComputer-aided design/manufacturing (CAD/CAM) materials are widely used in resin-bonded fixed partial dentures (RBFPDs), but their suitability across different designs has not been fully assessed. This study compares the stress distribution and failure probability of mandibular incisors restored by RBFPDs with various CAD/CAM materials.Materials and methodsFinite-element models of single- and double-ended RBFPDs were created using cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) data. Five CAD/CAM materials (IPS e.max CAD, IPS e.max ZirCAD, Vita Enamic, Lava Ultimate, Vitablocs MarkII) were tested under vertical and oblique (45°) loading with a 100 N force. Stress distribution and failure risk were evaluated for each material and design.ResultsOblique loading produced the highest stress and displacement for single-ended RBFPDs. Lava Ultimate had the largest displacement and principal stress, while IPS e.max ZirCAD showed the highest equivalent stress. IPS e.max CAD exhibited the lowest displacement and principal stress among double-ended RBFPDs under oblique loading.ConclusionThis study demonstrated that double-ended RBFPDs experience lower stress and strain compared to single-ended designs, particularly under oblique loading. Vita Enamic had the highest failure risk, while IPS e.max ZirCAD had the lowest. These insights into stress distribution and material performance offer valuable guidance for material selection and restoration design, aiming to improve the longevity and success of RBFPDs in mandibular incisor restorations.

Rumen-protected methionine (RPM) such as coated methionine (CM) and 2-hydroxy-4-(methylthio)-butanoic acid isopropyl ester (HMBi) was usually used in dairy cows, but how RPM affects meat goats remains unclear. In this study, thirty weaned male Jianzhou Da’er goats were randomly assigned to one of three treatments: fed basal diet or basal diet supplemented with 0.12% CM or 0.22% HMBi, with the aim of examining their impact on growth performance, serum biochemistry, rumen fermentation, rumen microbiota, and intestinal development in meat goats. The findings indicate that HMBi supplementation led to an increase in body weight, feed intake, and feed-to-gain ratio, whereas CM only resulted in an increase in feed intake (all p

Rhizosphere microbial communities strongly affect outbreaks of root-knot nematode (RKN) disease. However, little is known about the interactions among fungi, bacteria and RKN. The bacterial and fungal community compositions in the rhizospheres of four representative tobacco varieties, both resistant and susceptible to RKN, were characterized using 16S rRNA gene sequencing for bacteria and internal transcribed spacer gene sequencing for fungi. Our findings revealed that the fungi played crucial roles in facilitating the cross-kingdom and symbiotic fungal–bacterial interactions to suppress RKN. Moreover, our investigation suggested Microbacterium as a potential microbial antagonist against RKN based on its enhanced presence in RKN-resistant tobacco genotypes, and the relative abundance of Microbacterium was 34.49% greater in the rhizosphere of resistant tobacco than that of susceptible tobacco significantly. Notably, the richness of fungal community enhanced tobacco’s microbe-associated resistance to RKN through the positive regulation of the richness and diversity of bacterial community and the relative abundance of Microbacterium. This study underscores the critical role of the fungus–dominated fungal–bacterial community in bolstering tobacco resistance against RKN. The potential antagonistic role of Microbacterium presents promising avenues for innovative RKN management strategies.

Primary cardiac synovial sarcoma (PCSS) is a rare and highly aggressive tumor with a significant mortality rate. Treatment guidelines have not been defined given the relative rarity of the condition, especially for pregnant women. Described herein is a 36-year-old pregnant woman at 29 weeks with gestation who was hospitalized due to chest tightness and nausea, and echocardiography found a mass involved in the right heart and the tricuspid valve. She had to undergo cardiac surgery because the mass almost blocked the opening of the tricuspid valve. She underwent a radical resection of the masses and tricuspid valve, followed by replacement of the tricuspid valve with a mechanical valve. She successfully delivered a healthy baby boy. The diagnosis of synovial sarcoma is confirmed by positive results indicating rearrangement of the SYT gene. The patient survived throughout the 30-month follow-up period. There are no reported cases of pregnant women diagnosed with cardiac synovial sarcoma and have undergone cardiac surgery and cesarean section. Our treatment plan not only maximizes patient survival but also ensures fetal survival. This situation is rare and needs documentation.

BackgroundThe gut microbiome has a significant impact on human wellness, contributing to the emergence and progression of a range of health issues including inflammatory and autoimmune conditions, metabolic disorders, cardiovascular problems, and psychiatric disorders. Notably, clinical observations have revealed that these illnesses can display differences in incidence and presentation between genders. The present study aimed to evaluate whether the composition of gut microbiota is associated with sex-specific differences and to elucidate the mechanism.Methods16S-rRNA-sequencing technology, hormone analysis, gut microbiota transplantation, gonadectomy, and hormone treatment were employed to investigate the correlation between the gut microbiome and sex or sex hormones. Meanwhile, genes and proteins involved bile acid signaling pathway were analyzed both in the liver and ileum tissues.ResultsThe composition and diversity of the microbiota from the jejunum and feces and the level of sex hormones in the serum differed between the sexes in young and middle-aged Sprague Dawley (SD) rats. However, no similar phenomenon was found in geriatric rats. Interestingly, whether in young, middle-aged, or old rats, the composition of the microbiota and bacterial diversity differed between the jejunum and feces in rats. Gut microbiota transplantation, gonadectomy, and hormone replacement also suggested that hormones, particularly testosterone (T), influenced the composition of the gut microbiota in rats. Meanwhile, the mRNA and protein level of genes involved bile acid signaling pathway (specifically SHP, FXR, CYP7A1, and ASBT) exhibited gender-specific differences, and T may play a significant role in mediating the expression of this pathway.ConclusionSex-specific differences in the structure of the gut microbiota are mediated by T through the bile acid signaling pathway, pointing to potential targets for disease prevention and management techniques by indicating that sex differences and T levels may alter the composition of the gut microbiota via the bile acid signaling pathway.

BackgroundAntiphospholipid syndrome (APS) is a systemic autoimmune disorder that can manifest as thrombosis in the pediatric population, characterized by persistently positive antiphospholipid antibodies. APS is infrequently observed in children and could represent non-criteria manifestations.Case presentationA six-year-old Chinese female presented with jaundice and dark urine, leading to a diagnosis of hemolytic anemia. Prednisone therapy initially improved her complexion, but she later developed neurological symptoms. Further laboratory tests showed intravascular hemolysis, coagulation abnormalities, and a positive lupus anticoagulant (LA) test result. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scan revealed abnormal signals in the pons and cerebellar hemispheres, and an occluded part of the basilar artery. She was subsequently diagnosed with autoimmune encephalitis and received IG(immunoglobulin) and high-dose glucocorticoid (GC) treatment, leading to improvement in her clinical symptoms. However, the symptoms of hemolytic anemia worsened after two years. Subsequent laboratory assessments demonstrated the presence of intravascular hemolysis, coagulation abnormalities, and positive tests of anticardiolipin, LA, and anti-beta2 glycoprotein I antibodies. Elevated troponin I and N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide levels, along with electrocardiogram and echocardiogram findings, indicated a myocardial infarction and a thrombus-like mass in the left auricle. Brain MRI showed multifocal infarction and cerebrovascular obstruction. She was diagnosed with APS accompanied by hemolytic anemia, cerebrovascular obstruction, and myocardial infarction. After several weeks of treatment with GC, IG, rituximab, hydroxychloroquine alone with low-molecular-weight heparin sodium, and warfarin, there was a marked improvement in the patient's condition.ConclusionPediatricians should be familiar with various presentations of pediatric APS to promptly detect possible aPL-related complications and initiate appropriate management strategies early on.

ObjectiveTo predict postoperative anastomotic leakage (AL) following radical resection of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) based on clinical data and preoperative enhanced Computed tomography(CT) radiomics of the esophagus.MethodWe retrospectively analyzed the clinicopathological and radiological data of 213 patients with ESCC who received radical resection at Xiangyang No.1 People’s Hospital from July 2011 to February 2024. 3D slicer software was used in combination with Lasso extraction and 10-fold cross-validation to extract texture parameters from contrast-enhanced CT images and generate Delta-Radscores. Several models were built using logistic regression to predict postoperative AL in ESCC.ResultsIn the training set, the univariate analysis confirmed that duration of surgery, surgical method, delta radscore 1, delta radscore 2, contrast enhancement patterns, peripheral lymph node metastasis, post thoracotomy pulmonary infection(PTPI), and hot pot were risk factors for ESCC-AL (P

BackgroundExisting studies investigating the impact of serum calcium (Ca), phosphate (P), 25 hydroxyvitamin D (25[OH]D), and parathyroid hormone (PTH) levels on kidney function have produced inconsistent results. Further research is needed to establish the direct causal relationship between these factors and kidney function.MethodsThe study used genome-wide association study datasets for exposure and outcome, mainly derived from the UK Biobank and CKDGen Consortium, with sample sizes ranging from 3,310 to 480,699 individuals of European ancestry. Heritability and genetic correlations among these phenotypes were assessed using linkage disequilibrium score regression (LDSC) and phenotypes with a heritability z-score

Multi-site PM2.5 prediction has emerged as a crucial approach, given that the accuracy of prediction models based solely on data from a single monitoring station may be constrained. However, existing multi-site PM2.5 prediction methods predominantly rely on recurrent networks for extracting temporal dependencies and overlook the domain knowledge related to air quality pollutant dispersion. This study aims to explore whether a superior prediction architecture exists that not only approximates the prediction performance of recurrent networks through feedforward networks but also integrates domain knowledge of PM2.5. Consequently, we propose a novel spatio-temporal attention causal convolutional neural network (Causal-STAN) architecture for predicting PM2.5 concentrations at multiple sites in the Yangtze River Delta region of China. Causal-STAN comprises two components: a multi-site spatio-temporal feature integration module, which identifies temporal local correlation trends and spatial correlations in the spatio-temporal data, and extracts inter-site PM2.5 concentrations from the directional residual block to delineate directional features of PM2.5 concentration dispersion between sites; and a temporal causal attention convolutional network that captures the internal correlation information and long-term dependencies in the time series. Causal-STAN was evaluated using one-year data from 247 sites in mainland China. Compared to six state-of-the-art baseline models, Causal-STAN achieves optimal performance in 6-hour future predictions, surpassing the recurrent network model and reducing the prediction error by 8%–10%.

The aurora arc is a separate auroral structure from the aurora oval, whose location and morphology are related to various solar-terrestrial circumstances. However, because of the low occurring frequency of aurora arc and the lack of the automatic identification technique, it can only be manually distinguished from a huge number of observed images, which is very inefficient. In order to improve the identification efficiency, we propose an identification algorithm based on YOLOX network and Convolutional Block Attention Module attention mechanism. Using the aurora images observed by Special Sensor Ultraviolet Spectrographic Imager carried by the Defense Meteorological Satellite Program F16-F19 satellites from 2013 to 2019, the automatic detection models for global and local areas were trained separately. The identification outputs will be integrated by calculating the intersection. According to the test results, the event identification precision is 86% and the position identification precision is 79%, both of which are greater than the results before integration. Therefore, the proposed method is not only able to identify whether the image contains the aurora arcs, but also accurately locate them, making it a highly effective tool for the advancement of future study.

PurposeAimed to assess the impact of wearable device-based aerobic exercise on the physical and mental well-being of women with breast cancer (BC) undergoing chemotherapy.MethodsForty adult women with BC who underwent anthracycline-based chemotherapy were randomly allocated to the exercise group (n = 21) or the control group (n = 19). Both groups received standard health education and oncology care. In addition, the exercise group wore wearable devices to engage in moderate to high-intensity (50–90% HRmax) aerobic exercise during chemotherapy, while the control group did not carry out exercise intervention. Health-related physical fitness level, physical activity energy expenditure (PAEE), anxiety and depression scores, sleep quality, cancer-related fatigue, and overall quality of life (QoL), were assessed both before (prior to the first chemotherapy session) and after (prior to the fifth chemotherapy session) the exercise intervention. Exercise-related adverse events, exercise compliance, number and severity of gastrointestinal reactions and myelosuppression occurred were recorded during the exercise intervention.ResultsAfter the intervention, compared to the control group, the exercise group (1) had significantly higher relative VO2peak (p = 0.003) and handgrip strength (p

ObjectiveNumerous studies emphasize the pivotal role of inflammation in metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) development. Some link specific systemic immune biomarkers (e.g., systemic immuno-inflammatory index [SII], neutrophil-to-albumin ratio [NPAR] and neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio [NLR]) to hepatic steatosis risk. However, the relevance of other markers like systemic immune-inflammation index [SIRI], platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio [PLR] and lymphocyte/monocyte ratio [LMR] in MASLD remains unclear. Limited literature covers all six markers together. This study aims to investigate the association between SII, SIRI, LMR, NLR, PLR, and NPAR and MASLD, assessing their predictive value.MethodsIn this cross-sectional analysis of adults from NHANES (2007–2018), we investigated the relationship between six systemic immune biomarkers, stratified by quartiles: quartile1 (Q1), quartile2 (Q2), quartile3 (Q3) and quartile4 (Q4), and the outcome of MASLD assessed by Fatty Liver Index (FLI) and United States Fatty Liver Index (USFLI). Logistic regression and restricted cubic splines (RCS) were employed to assess the association between systemic immune biomarkers and MASLD risks. Propensity score matching controlled for potential confounders, and receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis evaluated the biomarkers’ predictive performances for MASLD. Subgroup and interaction analysis were conducted to explore the effects of systemic immune biomarkers on MASLD risks. Multicollinearity was quantified using the variance inflation factor.ResultsIn total, 14,413 participants were included and 6,518 had MASLD. Compared with non-MASLD, participants with MASLD had higher SII, SIRI, NLR, PLR, and NPAR (p 0.05). The prevalence of MASLD increased with the Q4 of SII [OR = 1.47, 95%CI (1.24, 1.74)], SIRI [OR = 1.30, 95%CI (1.09, 1.54)], NLR [OR = 1.25, 95%CI (1.04, 1.49)], PLR [OR = 1.29, 95%CI (1.09, 1.53)] and NPAR [OR = 1.29, 95%CI (1.09, 1.54)] compared to the Q1 after adjusting for the bias caused by potential confounders. However, the propensity score matching analysis only supported an association between the highest SII, SIRI, NLR NPAR and the risk of MASLD. The results of the subgroup analysis showed considerable robustness in the relationship.ConclusionHigher SII, SIRI, NLR and NPAR were positively associated with a heightened risk of MASLD. NPAR showed the superior predictive value, followed by SII, SIRI and NLR. This needs to be validated in additional longitudinal studies and clinical trials.

Deep learning models have made great accomplishments in space weather forecasting. The critical frequency of the ionospheric F2 layer (foF2) is a key ionospheric parameter, which can be understood and predicted by some advanced new deep learning technologies. In this paper, we utilized an Informer architecture model to predict foF2 for several hours up to 48 h and analyzed its variations during periods of quiet, moderate, and intense geomagnetic conditions. The Informer method forecasts the temporal variations of foF2 by processing and training the past and present foF2 data from the Haikou station, China, during 2006–2014. It is evident that the Informer–foF2 model achieves better prediction performance than the widely used long short-term memory model. The Informer–foF2 model captures the correlation features within the foF2 time series and better predicts the variations ranging for hours up to days during different geomagnetic activities.

IntroductionThe impact of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) on diabetic kidney disease (DKD) patients in China is not fully understood. This study aimed to investigate infection status in a DKD cohort post-renal biopsy and analyze vaccination and infection rates, as well as symptom severity, across various renal pathologies in DKD patients.MethodsThis epidemiological survey, centered on COVID-19, employed a Chinese DKD and renal puncture follow-up cohort. A customized questionnaire enabled standardized data gathering. It collected data on clinical characteristics, vaccination and infection statuses, and diverse pathological types. The study analyzed the relationship between vaccination and infection statuses across various pathological types, evaluating characteristics and treatment outcomes in patients with infections.ResultsIn total, 437 patients with DKD from 26 Chinese provinces were followed up for a median of 44.6 ± 20 months. COVID-19 infection, vaccination, and novel coronavirus pneumonia (NCP) rates were 73.68%, 59.3%, and 6.63%, respectively. Ten patients with NCP had severe pneumonia or died of COVID-19. Renal pathology revealed that 167 (38.22%) patients had diabetic nephropathy (DN), 171 (39.13%) had non-diabetic renal disease (NDRD), and 99 had DN and NDRD (22.65%). The DN group had the lowest vaccination (54.5%), highest all-cause mortality (3.6%), and highest endpoint rates (34.10%). Compared to patients who were not vaccinated pre-infection (117 cases), vaccinated patients (198 cases) had reduced NCP (6.6% vs. 13.7%), severity (1.0% vs. 3.4%), and endpoint (9.10% vs. 31.60%) rates.ConclusionVaccination can prevent infection and diminish COVID-19 severity in patients with DKD; therefore, increasing vaccination rates is particularly important.Clinical Trial registrationClinicalTrails.gov, NCT05888909.

BackgroundColorectal cancer (CRC) is an aggressive primary intestinal malignancy with the third-highest incidence and second-highest mortality among all cancer types worldwide. Transcription factors (TFs) regulate cell development and differentiation owing to their ability to recognize specific DNA sequences upstream of genes. Numerous studies have demonstrated a strong correlation between TFs, the etiology of tumors, and therapeutic approaches. Here, we aimed to explore prognosis-related TFs and comprehend their carcinogenic mechanisms, thereby offering novel insights into the diagnosis and management of CRC.Materials and MethodsDifferentially expressed TFs between CRC and normal tissues were identified leveraging The Cancer Genome Atlas database, Weighted correlation network analysis and Cox regression analysis were performed to identify prognosis-related TFs. The cellular functions of hub TF zinc finger E-box binding homeobox 1 (ZEB1) were determined using by 5-ethynyl-2′-deoxyuridine and cell invasion assays in CRC cells. RNA-sequencing, Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes enrichment, and gene set enrichment analyses were used to identify the cellular processes in which ZEB1 participates. Immunoaffinity purification, silver staining mass spectrometry, and a chromatin immunoprecipitation assay were conducted to search for proteins that might interact with ZEB1 and the target genes they jointly regulate.ResultsThirteen central TFs related to prognosis were identified through bioinformatics analysis techniques. Among these TFs, ZEB1 emerged as the TF most closely associated with CRC, as determined through a combination of regulatory network diagrams, survival curves, and phenotype analyses. ZEB1 promotes CRC cell growth by recruiting the NuRD(MTA1) complex, and the ZEB1/NuRD(MTA1) complex transcriptionally represses glycolysis-associated tumor suppressor genes.ConclusionOur study not only identified a hub biomarker related to CRC prognosis but also revealed the specific molecular mechanisms through which ZEB1 affects cancer progression. These insights provide crucial evidence for the diagnosis of CRC and potential treatment opportunities.

BackgroundCancers arise from genetic and epigenetic abnormalities that affect oncogenes and tumor suppressor genes, compounded by gene mutations. The N6-methyladenosine (m6A) RNA modification, regulated by methylation regulators, has been implicated in tumor proliferation, differentiation, tumorigenesis, invasion, and metastasis. However, the role of m6A modification patterns in the tumor microenvironment of gastric cancer (GC) remains poorly understood.Materials and methodsIn this study, we analyzed m6A modification patterns in 267 GC samples utilizing 31 m6A regulators. Using consensus clustering, we identified two unique subgroups of GC. Patients with GC were segregated into high- and low-infiltration cohorts to evaluate the infiltration proportions of the five prognostically significant immune cell types. Leveraging the differential genes in GC, we identified a “green” module via Weighted Gene Co-expression Network Analysis. A risk prediction model was established using the LASSO regression method.ResultsThe “green” module was connected to both the m6A RNA methylation cluster and immune infiltration patterns. Based on “Module Membership” and “Gene Significance”, 37 hub genes were identified, and a risk prediction model incorporating nine hub genes was established. Furthermore, methylated RNA immunoprecipitation and RNA Immunoprecipitation assays revealed that YTHDF1 elevated the expression of DNMT3B, which synergistically promoted the initiation and development of GC. We elucidated the molecular mechanism underlying the regulation of DNMT3B by YTHDF1 and explored the crosstalk between m6A and 5mC modification.Conclusionm6A RNA methylation regulators are instrumental in malignant progression and the dynamics of tumor microenvironment infiltration of GC. Assessing m6A modification patterns and tumor microenvironment infiltration characteristics in patients with GC holds promise as a valuable prognostic biomarker.

The Yongle blue hole (YBH), situated in the South China Sea, represents a compelling subject of study in marine microbiology due to its unique redox-layered microbial ecosystems. However, the diversity and ecology of microbial eukaryotes within the YBH remains underexplored. This study endeavors to bridge this gap through the application of the in situ microbial filtration and fixation (ISMIFF) device to collect 0.22–30 μm microbial samples from 21 water layers of YBH. Subsequent extraction of 18S rRNA metagenomic reads of 21 metagenomes and 10 metatranscriptomes facilitated a comprehensive analysis of community structures. Findings revealed a pronounced superiority in the diversity and richness of eukaryotic microorganisms in the oxic zone compared to its suboxic and anoxic counterparts. Notably, Dinophyceae and Maxillopoda emerged as the predominant taxa based on the analysis of the 18S rRNA reads for the V4 and V9 regions, which showed stratification In their relative abundance and suggested their potential role in the thermo-halocline boundaries and oxic-anoxic interface. Specifically, In these eukaryotic microbial communities, Dinophyceae exhibited significant abundance at 20 m (20.01%) and 105 m (26.13%) water depths, while Maxillopoda was prevalent at 40 m (22.84%), 80 m (23.19%), and 100 m (15.42%) depths. A part of these organisms, identified as larvae and protists, were likely attracted by swarming chemosynthetic bacterial prey prevailing at the thermo-halocline boundaries and oxic-anoxic interface. Furthermore, the phylogenetic relationships of the major 18S operational taxonomic units (OTUs) showed a close adjacency to known species, except for three Dinophyceae OTUs. In conclusion, this study provides critical insights into the vertical distribution and transcriptional activity of

Existing transient stability analysis of grid-following (GFL) converters mainly focuses on the dynamics of the phase-locked loop (PLL), while current loop dynamics are usually neglected due to their faster response than PLL. However, this article reveals that active current may not be able to track its reference quickly during severe grid faults even with high current loop bandwidth, which leads to a non-negligible impact on the transient stability of GFL converters. Furthermore, this article discusses the intrinsic mechanism of why active current cannot track its reference quickly during severe grid faults and establishes a refined third-order transient synchronization model that offers a more accurate assessment of transient stability during severe grid faults than the conventional second-order model.

In the contemporary epoch, cancer stands as the predominant cause of premature global mortality, necessitating a focused exploration of molecular markers and advanced therapeutic strategies. N6-methyladenosine (m6A), the most prevalent mRNA modification, undergoes dynamic regulation by enzymes referred to as methyltransferases (writers), demethylases (erasers), and effective proteins (readers). Despite lacking methylation activity, RNA-binding motif protein 15 (RBM15), a member of the m6A writer family, assumes a crucial role in recruiting the methyltransferase complex (MTC) and binding to mRNA. Although the impact of m6A modifications on cancer has garnered widespread attention, RBM15 has been relatively overlooked. This review briefly outlines the structure and operational mechanism, and delineates the unique role of RBM15 in various cancers, shedding light on its molecular basis and providing a groundwork for potential tumor-targeted therapies.

The cathode in lithium-selenium (Li-Se) batteries has garnered extensive attention owing to its superior specific capacity and enhanced conductivity compared to sulfur. Nonetheless, the adoption and advancement of Li-Se batteries face significant challenges due to selenium’s low reactivity, substantial volume fluctuations, and the shuttle effect associated with polyselenides. Single-atom catalysts (SACs) are under the spotlight for their outstanding catalytic efficiency and optimal atomic utilization. To address the challenges of selenium’s low chemical activity and volume expansion in Li-Se batteries, through electrospun, we have developed a lotus root-inspired carbon nanofiber (CNF) material, featured internal multi-channels and anchored with molybdenum (Mo) single atoms (Mo@CNFs). Mo single atoms significantly enhance the conversion kinetics of selenium (Se), facilitating rapid formation of Li2Se. The internally structured multi-channel CNF serves as an effective host matrix for Se, mitigating its volume expansion during the electrochemical process. The resulting cathode, Se/Mo@CNF composite, exhibits a high discharge specific capacity, superior rate performance, and impressive cycle stability in Li-Se batteries. After 500 cycles at a current density of 1 C, it maintains a capacity retention rate of 82% and nearly 100% coulombic efficiency (CE). This research offers a new avenue for the application of single-atom materials in enhancing advanced Li-Se battery performance.

BackgroundMany studies demonstrated the safety and efficacy of SBRT in the treatment of elderly patients with early-stage non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). However, those studies focused on patients with peripheral lung cancer. This study aimed to evaluate the clinical efficacy and toxicity of SBRT in elderly patients with stage I-II central NSCLC in single institution.MethodsFrom April 2009 to January 2020, a retrospective study was conducted on patients ≥ 65 years old with stage I-II NSCLC that was centrally localized and treated with SBRT at a single institution. Absolute C-reactive protein (CRP)/albumin ratio (CAR) and body mass index (BMI) recorded at pretreatment were analyzed. Endpoints included overall survival (OS), progression-free survival (PFS), cancer-specific death, noncancer-specific death, local progression (LP) and distant progression (DP).ResultsStereotactic body radiation treatment (SBRT) was administered to a total of 44 patients. The most common dose fractionation schedule was 60 Gy given in 5 fractions. The median PFS of the cohort was 31 months (95% CI, 19.47–42.53 months). The median OS of all patients was 69 months (95% CI, 33.8–104.2 months). The median time to noncancer-specific death was 54.5 months. The median time to cancer-specific death was 36 months. The cumulative incidences of cancer-specific death at 1 year, 5 years, and 10 years were 11.63% (95%CI, 4.2–23.23%), 42.99% (95%CI, 27.56–57.53%), and 65.94% (95%CI, 45.76–80.1%), respectively. pre-SBRT BMI of ≤ 22.77 (HR 4.60, 95% CI 1.84–11.51, P=0.001) and pre-SBRT CAR of ≤0.91 (HR 5.19, 95% CI 2.15–12.52, P

BackgroundThis study aimed to investigate whether quantitative radiomics features extracted from conventional ultrasound (CUS) and contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) of primary breast lesions can help noninvasively predict axillary lymph nodes metastasis (ALNM) in breast cancer patients.MethodA total of 111 breast cancer patients with 111 breast lesions were prospectively enrolled. All the included patients received presurgical CUS screening and CEUS examination and were randomly assigned to the training and validation sets at a ratio of 7:3 (n = 78 versus 33). Radiomics features were respectively extracted based on CUS and CEUS using the PyRadiomics package. The max-relevance and min-redundancy (MRMR) and least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO) analyses were used for feature selection and radiomics score calculation in the training set. The variance inflation factor (VIF) was performed to check the multicollinearity among selected predictors. The best performing model was selected to develop a nomogram using binary logistic regression analysis. The calibration and clinical utility of the nomogram were assessed.ResultsThe model combining CUS reported ALN status, CUS radiomics score (CUS-radscore) and CEUS radiomics score (CEUS-radscore) exhibited the best performance. The areas under the curves (AUC) of our proposed nomogram in the training and external validation sets were 0.845 [95% confidence interval (CI), 0.739-0.950] and 0.901 (95% CI, 0.758-1). The calibration curves and decision curve analysis (DCA) demonstrated the nomogram’s robust consistency and clinical utility.ConclusionsThe established nomogram is a promising prediction tool for noninvasive prediction of ALN status. The radiomics features based on CUS and CEUS can help improve the predictive performance.

Introduction:The diagnostic accuracy of traditional imaging examination in predicting ypT stage of rectal cancer after neoadjuvant therapy is significantly reduced, which would affect patients’ subsequent treatment choices. This study aimed to investigate the use of endorectal shear wave elastography (SWE) for diagnosing ypT0 stage of rectal cancer after neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy (nCRT).Methods:Sixty patients with rectal cancer were prospectively recruited in this study. Data on endorectal ultrasound (ERUS) and SWE parameters were collected before nCRT and 6–8 weeks after nCRT. Postoperative pathological results were the gold standard for evaluating the diagnostic accuracy of SWE and ERUS in predicting the ypT0 stage of rectal cancer after nCRT. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis was used to determine the cut-off values of the SWE parameters that best corresponded to the ypT0 stage and analyze the sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy.Results:The diagnostic accuracies of using ERUS to predict the ypT and ypT0 stages of rectal cancer after nCRT were 58.1% (18/31) and 64.3% (9/14), respectively. The ROC curve was constructed with the lesion’s Emean, Emean corrected (EC), Emean difference (ED), Emean corrected differencede (ECD), Emean descendding rate (EDR) and Emean corrected descendding rate (ECDR) values after nCRT, the cut-off values of diagnosing the ypT0 stage were 64.40 kPa, 55.45 kPa, 72.55 kPa, 73.75 kPa, 50.15%, and 55.93%, respectively; the area under the curve (AUC) for diagnosing the ypT0 stage was 0.924, 0.933, 0.748, 0.729, 0.857 and 0.861, respectively. The EC value showed the best diagnostic performance.Conclusion:SWE could improve the accuracy of conventional ERUS in diagnosing the ypT0 stage of rectal cancer after nCRT. It is expected to become a new method to help predict pathological complete responses in clinical practice and provide new evidence for the watch-and-wait approach.

Background and aimsCuproptosis has emerged as a significant contributor in the progression of various diseases. This study aimed to assess the potential impact of cuproptosis-related genes (CRGs) on the development of hepatic ischemia and reperfusion injury (HIRI).MethodsThe datasets related to HIRI were sourced from the Gene Expression Omnibus database. The comparative analysis of differential gene expression involving CRGs was performed between HIRI and normal liver samples. Correlation analysis, function enrichment analyses, and protein-protein interactions were employed to understand the interactions and roles of these genes. Machine learning techniques were used to identify hub genes. Additionally, differences in immune cell infiltration between HIRI patients and controls were analyzed. Quantitative real-time PCR and western blotting were used to verify the expression of the hub genes.ResultsSeventy-five HIRI and 80 control samples from three databases were included in the bioinformatics analysis. Three hub CRGs (NLRP3, ATP7B and NFE2L2) were identified using three machine learning models. Diagnostic accuracy was assessed using a receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve for the hub genes, which yielded an area under the ROC curve (AUC) of 0.832. Remarkably, in the validation datasets GSE15480 and GSE228782, the three hub genes had AUC reached 0.904. Additional analyses, including nomograms, decision curves, and calibration curves, supported their predictive power for diagnosis. Enrichment analyses indicated the involvement of these genes in multiple pathways associated with HIRI progression. Comparative assessments using CIBERSORT and gene set enrichment analysis suggested elevated expression of these hub genes in activated dendritic cells, neutrophils, activated CD4 memory T cells, and activated mast cells in HIRI samples versus controls. A ceRNA network underscored a complex regulatory interplay among genes. The genes mRNA and protein levels were also verified in HIRI-affected mouse liver tissues.ConclusionOur findings have provided a comprehensive understanding of the association between cuproptosis and HIRI, establishing a promising diagnostic pattern and identifying latent therapeutic targets for HIRI treatment. Additionally, our study offers novel insights to delve deeper into the underlying mechanisms of HIRI.

When detecting tomato leaf diseases in natural environments, factors such as changes in lighting, occlusion, and the small size of leaf lesions pose challenges to detection accuracy. Therefore, this study proposes a tomato leaf disease detection method based on attention mechanisms and multi-scale feature fusion. Firstly, the Convolutional Block Attention Module (CBAM) is introduced into the backbone feature extraction network to enhance the ability to extract lesion features and suppress the effects of environmental interference. Secondly, shallow feature maps are introduced into the re-parameterized generalized feature pyramid network (RepGFPN), constructing a new multi-scale re-parameterized generalized feature fusion module (BiRepGFPN) to enhance feature fusion expression and improve the localization ability for small lesion features. Finally, the BiRepGFPN replaces the Path Aggregation Feature Pyramid Network (PAFPN) in the YOLOv6 model to achieve effective fusion of deep semantic and shallow spatial information. Experimental results indicate that, when evaluated on the publicly available PlantDoc dataset, the model’s mean average precision (mAP) showed improvements of 7.7%, 11.8%, 3.4%, 5.7%, 4.3%, and 2.6% compared to YOLOX, YOLOv5, YOLOv6, YOLOv6-s, YOLOv7, and YOLOv8, respectively. When evaluated on the tomato leaf disease dataset, the model demonstrated a precision of 92.9%, a recall rate of 95.2%, an F1 score of 94.0%, and a mean average precision (mAP) of 93.8%, showing improvements of 2.3%, 4.0%, 3.1%, and 2.7% respectively compared to the baseline model. These results indicate that the proposed detection method possesses significant detection performance and generalization capabilities.

Durability is a desired characteristic for all battery packs in Electric Vehicles. In this study, the service life of the EV battery pack under real-world operating conditions is projected using an Arrhenius mathematical simulation model. The model comprises a 39.2 kWh EV Lithium-Ion battery pack integrated with a three-phase inverter to convert the battery pack’s Direct Current output to Alternating Current. In addition, the Alternating Current output is coupled to a 100 kW permanent magnet synchronous motor, which is regarded as the load. A field-oriented controller provides pulse width-modulated output signals that are supplied back to the inverter to generate the correct driving current. Variable conditions of charge rate (C-rate: 1.25C − 4C), discharge rate (C-rate: 0.5C − 4C), temperature (25°C–60°C), and depth of discharge (30%–90%) are evaluated to determine the battery pack’s service life. Under a 4C charge rate/0.5C discharge rate and 50% depth of discharge, the modeling results indicate the battery pack has a service life of approximately 6,000 h at low temperatures (25°C) and roughly 3,000 h at high temperatures (60°C). The model has been validated by comparing the results with experimental data from the literature.

BackgroundsThe value of circulating microRNA (miR)-155 for breast cancer (BC) diagnosis may differ in different studies. Therefore, we conducted this systematic review and meta-analysis to evaluate the potential application of circulating miR-155 in the diagnosis of BC.MethodsArticles published before December 2023 and in English were searched in these databases: PubMed, Web of Science, Medline, EMBASE and Google Scholar. A summary of sensitivity, specificity, positive likelihood ratios (PLR), negative likelihood ratios (NLR), and diagnostic odds ratio (DOR) were calculated from the true positive (TP), true negative (TN), false positive (FP) and false negative (FN) of each study. Additionally, the summary receive-operating characteristics (SROC) curve was constructed to summarize the TP and FP rates.ResultsThe pooled parameters calculated were as follows: sensitivity, 0.93 (95% CI: 0.83-0.97); specificity, 0.85 (95% CI: 0.74-0.92); PLR, 6.4 (95% CI: 3.4-11.9); NLR, 0.09 (95% CI: 0.04-0.20); and DOR, 74 (95% CI: 22-247). The analysis showed a significant heterogeneity (sensitivity, I2 = 95.19%, p < 0.001; specificity, I2 = 95.29%, p < 0.001; DOR, I2 = 92.9%, p < 0.001). The SROC curve was with an area under curve (AUC) of 0.95 (95% CI: 0.93-0.97).ConclusionCirculating miR-155 has a potential in the diagnosis of BC.

ObjectiveAcute myocardial infarction (AMI) is a severe cardiovascular disease that threatens human life and health globally. N6-methyladenosine (m6A) governs the fate of RNAs via m6A regulators. Nevertheless, how m6A regulators affect AMI remains to be deciphered. To solve this issue, an integrative analysis of m6A regulators in AMI was conducted.MethodsWe acquired transcriptome profiles (GSE59867, GSE48060) of peripheral blood samples from AMI patients and healthy controls. Key m6A regulators were used for LASSO, and consensus clustering was conducted. Next, the m6A score was also computed. Immune cell infiltration, ferroptosis, and oxidative stress were evaluated. In-vitro and in-vivo experiments were conducted to verify the role of the m6A regulator ALKBH5 in AMI.ResultsMost m6A regulators presented notable expression alterations in circulating cells of AMI patients versus those of controls. Based on key m6A regulators, we established a gene signature and a nomogram for AMI diagnosis and risk prediction. AMI patients were classified into three m6A clusters or gene clusters, respectively, and each cluster possessed the unique properties of m6A modification, immune cell infiltration, ferroptosis, and oxidative stress. Finally, the m6A score was utilized to quantify m6A modification patterns. Therapeutic targeting of ALKBH5 greatly alleviated apoptosis and intracellular ROS in H/R-induced H9C2 cells and NRCMs.ConclusionAltogether, our findings highlight the clinical significance of m6A regulators in the diagnosis and risk prediction of AMI and indicate the critical roles of m6A modification in the regulation of immune cell infiltration, ferroptosis, and oxidative stress.

Both overall survival (OS) and disease-specific survival (DSS) are significant when determining a patient’s prognosis for breast cancer (BC). The effect of DSS-related microRNAs on BC susrvival, however, is not well understood. Here, we spotted differentially expressed miRNAs (DEMs) in the TCGA database of BC DSS, identified eight DSS-related miRNAs, and constructed a risk model. AUC values at 1, 3, and 5 years were 0.852, 0.861, and 0.868, respectively, indicating a risk model’s excellent prognostic prediction ability. Then, we validated miRNA roles in BC OS and finally defined miR-551b as an independently prognostic miRNA in BC. According to function analysis, miR-551b is strongly linked with the emergence and spread of cancer, including protein ubiquitination, intracellular protein transport, metabolic pathways, and cancer pathways. Moreover, we confirmed the low expression of miR-551b in BC tissue and cells. After miR-551b inhibition or overexpression, cell function was either dramatically increased or diminished, respectively, indicating that miR-551b could regulate BC proliferation, invasion, and migration. In conclusion, we thoroughly clarified BC-related miRNAs on DSS and OS and verified miR-551b as a crucial regulator in the development and prognosis of cancer. These results can offer fresh ideas for BC therapy.

BackgroundEnhanced recovery after surgery (ERAS) has been widely used in adult surgery. However, few studies have reported the efficacy of ERAS in paediatric patients with Meckel's diverticulum (MD), the aim of the study was to prospectively evaluate the safety and efficacy of ERAS in treating MD.MethodsA prospective randomised controlled study of children with MD admitted to our hospital from Jan 1, 2021 to Dec 31, 2023 were conducted, we developed and implemented an ERAS program for this patients. All cases were strictly selected according to the inclusion and exclusion criteria. Among these patients, they were randomly assigned to the ERAS group or the traditional (TRAD) group with random number table row randomization. The main observational indicators were operation time, intraoperative hemorrhage, FLACC pain scale results on 2 h, 6 h, 12 h, 24 h after surgery, length of postoperative stay (LOPS), time to first defecation, time to first eating after surgery, time to discontinuation of intravenous infusion, total treatment cost, incidence of postoperative complications, 30-day readmission rate and parental satisfaction rate.ResultsA total of 50 patients underwent Meckel's diverticulectomy during this period, 7 patients were excluded, 23 patients were assigned to the ERAS group and 20 patients were assigned to the TRAD group. There were no significant differences in demographic data and operation time, intraoperative hemorrhage. The FLACC pain scale results on 2 h, 6 h, 12 h, 24 h after surgery were significantly lower in the ERAS group. The LOPS was 6.17 ± 0.89 days in the ERAS group and 8.30 ± 1.26 days in the TRAD group, resulting in a significantly shorter LOPS in ERAS group. ERAS could also reduce the first postoperative defecation time, the time to first eating after surgery and the time to discontinuation of intravenous infusion. The treatment cost was decreased in the ERAS group. The rate of complications and 30-day readmission were not significantly different between the two groups.ConclusionsIn this single-center study, the ERAS protocol for patients with MD requiring surgery was safe and effective.

ObjectiveRecently, 10 plasmid-mediated mobile colistin resistance genes, mcr-1 to mcr-10, and their variants have been identified, posing a new threat to the treatment of clinical infections caused by Gram-negative bacteria. Our objective was to develop a rapid, sensitive, and accurate molecular assay for detecting mcr genes in clinical isolates.MethodsThe primers and corresponding TaqMan-MGB probes were designed based on the sequence characteristics of all reported MCR family genes, multiplex Taqman-MGB probe-based qPCR assays were developed and optimized, and the sensitivity, specificity and reproducibility of the method were evaluated. The assay contained 8 sets of primers and probes in 4 reaction tubes, each containing 2 sets of primers and probes.ResultsThe standard curves for both the single and multiplex systems showed good linearity (R2 > 0.99) between the starting template amount and the Ct value, with a lower limit of detection of 102 copies/μL. The specificity test showed positive amplification results only for strains containing the mcr genes, whereas the other strains were negative. The results of intra-and inter-group repeatability experiments demonstrated the stability and reliability of the newly developed method. It was used to detect mcr genes in 467 clinically-obtained Gram-negative isolates, which were multidrug-resistant. Twelve strains containing the mcr genes were detected (seven isolates carrying mcr-1, four isolates carrying mcr-10, and one isolate carrying mcr-9). The products amplified by the full-length PCR primer were identified by sequencing, and the results were consistent with those of the multiplex qPCR method.ConclusionThe assay developed in this study has the advantages of high specificity, sensitivity, and reproducibility. It can be used to specifically detect drug-resistant clinical isolates carrying the mcr genes (mcr-1 to mcr-10), thus providing a better basis for clinical drug treatment and drug resistance research.

In the context of developing a new era, the pharmaceutical supply chain market has gradually transformed from a seller’s market to a buyer’s market. The closer the consumers are, the greater the market pricing power, so the pharmaceutical market power of manufacturers and retailers has also changed. This study considers the effect of service on the pricing strategy of the pharmaceutical platform supply chain. The study aimed to coordinate optimization, and the coordination strategy of the pharmaceutical platform supply chain of complementary products is discussed mainly by researching the price and service factors. Various situations are studied by hypothesis and model solving. This study uses Stackelberg game decision-making. Manufacturers are at the forefront of platform supply chain decisions. The research found that the price was lower under centralized decision-making than under decentralized decision-making. Coordination between price and service levels needs attention in the pharmaceutical platform supply chain of complementary products, and the service level should be controlled within a certain range. Only by improving the service level can enterprises maximize profits, providing a theoretical basis for pharmaceutical supply chain pricing strategy research. Supply chain members must strive to improve service levels to improve medical supply consumers’ (patients) psychological satisfaction level. Service levels do not fully mitigate channel conflict. Therefore, pharmaceutical complements have become a way to alleviate the conflicts in the pharmaceutical platform supply chain.

BackgroundIncreased arterial stiffness and low handgrip strength (HGS) are associated with poor health outcomes and are a severe health risk for older adults. However, there is limited evidence and mixed results on whether there is an association between them. Therefore, this study focused on the association between arterial stiffness and HGS in relatively healthy older adults in Beijing, China.MethodsIn 2016, 2,217 adult volunteers were recruited in Beijing. Brachial-ankle pulse wave velocity (baPWV) and the ankle-brachial index were measured using an automatic vascular profiling system. Carotid artery intima-media thickness and common carotid artery-internal diameter (CCAID) were evaluated using Doppler ultrasound, and HGS was measured with a dynamometer. Low HGS was determined using the Asian Sarcopenia Working Group 2019 criteria. Multivariate linear and logistic regressions evaluated the relationship between arterial stiffness and HGS.ResultsUltimately, 776 relatively healthy older adults (mean age 69.05 ± 6.46 years) were included. Based on the AWGS2019 criteria, 137 participants were defined as having low HGS. Compared to the normal HGS group, the low HGS group was older and had higher baPWV (p

IntroductionThere are no standardized assessment criteria for selecting nutritional risk screening tools or indicators to assess reduced muscle mass (RMM) in the Global Leadership Initiative on Malnutrition (GLIM) criteria. We aimed to compare the consistency of different GLIM criteria with Subjective Global Assessment (SGA) and protein-energy wasting (PEW).MethodsIn this study, nutritional risk screening 2002 first four questions (NRS-2002-4Q), Nutritional Risk Screening 2002 (NRS-2002), Malnutrition Universal Screening Tool (MUST), and Mini-Nutritional Assessment Short-Form (MNA-SF) tools were used as the first step of nutritional risk screening for the GLIM. The RMM is expressed using different metrics. The SGA and PEW were used to diagnose patients and classify them as malnourished and non-malnourished. Kappa (κ) tests were used to compare the concordance between the SGA, PEW, and GLIM of each combination of screening tools.ResultsA total of 157 patients were included. Patients with Chronic kidney disease (CKD) stage 1–3 accounted for a large proportion (79.0%). The prevalence rates of malnutrition diagnosed using the SGA and PEW were 18.5% and 19.7%, respectively. The prevalence of GLIM-diagnosed malnutrition ranges from 5.1% to 37.6%, depending on the different screening methods for nutritional risk and the different indicators denoting RMM. The SGA was moderately consistent with the PEW (κ = 0.423, p

Low temperature is a critical environmental stress factor that restricts crop growth and geographical distribution, significantly impacting crop quality and yield. When plants are exposed to low temperatures, a series of changes occur in their external morphology and internal physiological and biochemical metabolism. This article comprehensively reviews the alterations and regulatory mechanisms of physiological and biochemical indices, such as membrane system stability, redox system, fatty acid content, photosynthesis, and osmoregulatory substances, in response to low-temperature stress in plants. Furthermore, we summarize recent research on signal transduction and regulatory pathways, phytohormones, epigenetic modifications, and other molecular mechanisms mediating the response to low temperatures in higher plants. In addition, we outline cultivation practices to improve plant cold resistance and highlight the cold-related genes used in molecular breeding. Last, we discuss future research directions, potential application prospects of plant cold resistance breeding, and recent significant breakthroughs in the research and application of cold resistance mechanisms.

The use of human aging markers, which are physiological, biochemical and molecular indicators of structural or functional degeneration associated with aging, is the fundamental basis of individualized aging assessments. Identifying methods for selecting markers has become a primary and vital aspect of aging research. However, there is no clear consensus or uniform principle on the criteria for screening aging markers. Therefore, we combine previous research from our center and summarize the criteria for screening aging markers in previous population studies, which are discussed in three aspects: functional perspective, operational implementation perspective and methodological perspective. Finally, an evaluation framework has been established, and the criteria are categorized into three levels based on their importance, which can help assess the extent to which a candidate biomarker may be feasible, valid, and useful for a specific use context.

BackgroundRecently, the triglyceride glucose (TyG) index has emerged as a reliable predictive indicator for adverse outcomes of cardiovascular disease. However, the roles of the TyG index in patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI) and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C)≤1.8 mmol/L after percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) remain unclear.MethodsA total of 599 patients diagnosed with AMI and LDL-C ≤ 1.8 mmol/L at the 1-month follow-up after PCI were consecutively enrolled between January 2017 and January 2020. The patients were subsequently divided into three groups based on tertiles of the TyG index. The parameters, including the TyG index, were compared to explore the risk factors associated with major adverse cardiovascular and cerebrovascular events (MACCEs) during the 1-year follow-up.ResultsSixty-nine patients (11.5%) with 90 MACCEs were recorded during the 1-year follow up, including 13 patients (8.6%) in the Tertile 1 group, 36 (12.0%) in the Tertile 2 group, and 20 (13.4%) in the Tertile 3 group. Patients with a higher TyG index had a significantly increased incidence of MACCEs compared to those with a lower TyG index (22.1% vs. 14.0% vs. 9.9%, p=0.010). Kaplan–Meier analysis demonstrated that patients with a higher TyG index had a significantly lower probability of survival without MACCEs. Furthermore, a binary logistic regression model indicated that the TyG index was the only independent predictor for MACCEs in these patients.ConclusionA higher TyG index was associated with a higher incidence of MACCEs in patients with AMI and well-controlled LDL-C levels after PCI. This suggests that the TyG index can serve as a predictive indicator for adverse cardiovascular outcomes in these patients.

A highly efficient composite sealing material was prepared using drilling cuttings as the base material and a binder, a coagulant, and other additives as auxiliaries. A four-factor, three-level orthogonal test was designed based on the response surface method (RSM), and a response surface regression model was constructed using compressive strength, fluidity, expansion rate, and setting time as performance indexes to analyze the effects of each factor on material performance and optimize the material proportion. The samples were prepared by simulating the grouting process, the permeability of the samples was measured, and the sealability of the material was verified by analyzing the material microscopic morphology. Results showed that the regression model had a high level of confidence and accuracy and could predict the test results accurately within the range of the test. The effects of the interaction between factors on material performance were also examined. The low permeability of the sealing material samples verified the material’s feasibility. Gradual optimization of material performance revealed that the optimal proportion was 52.6% drill cuttings, 44.3% binder, 0.6% coagulant promoter, and 2.5% expansive agent. Under these conditions, the error between the predicted and test values of each material property was less than 5%, and the comprehensive performance was superior. These findings verify the accuracy of RSM and its applicability to the optimization of material performance. This work provides reasonable theoretical guidance for the preparation of drilling cuttings composite (DC) materials in practical engineering.

BackgroundLiver cancer due to hepatitis C (LCDHC) is one of the leading causes of cancer-related deaths worldwide, and the burden of LCDHC is increasing. We aimed to report the burden of LCDHC at the global, regional, and national levels in 204 countries from 1990 to 2019, stratified by etiology, sex, age, and Sociodemographic Index.MethodsData on LCDHC were available from the Global Burden of Disease, Injuries, and Risk Factors (GBD) study 2019. Numbers and age-standardized mortality, incidence, and disability-adjusted life year (DALY) rates per 100,000 population were estimated through a systematic analysis of modeled data from the GBD 2019 study. The trends in the LCDHC burden were assessed using the annual percentage change.ResultsGlobally, in 2019, there were 152,225 new cases, 141,810 deaths, and 2,878,024 DALYs due to LCDHC. From 1990 to 2019, the number of incidences, mortality, and DALY cases increased by 80.68%, 67.50%, and 37.20%, respectively. However, the age-standardized incidence, mortality, and DALY rate had a decreasing trend during this period. In 2019, the highest age-standardized incidence rates (ASIRs) of LCDHC were found in high-income Asia Pacific, North Africa and the Middle East, and Central Asia. At the regional level, Mongolia, Egypt, and Japan had the three highest ASIRs in 2019. The incidence rates of LCDHC were higher in men and increased with age, with a peak incidence in the 95+ age group for women and the 85–89 age group for men in 2019. A nonlinear association was found between the age-standardized rates of LCDHC and sociodemographic index values at the regional and national levels.ConclusionsAlthough the age-standardized rates of LCDHC have decreased, the absolute numbers of incident cases, deaths, and DALYs have increased, indicating that LCDHC remains a significant global burden. In addition, the burden of LCDHC varies geographically. Male and older adult/s individuals have a higher burden of LCDHC. Our findings provide insight into the global burden trend of LCDHC. Policymakers should establish appropriate methods to achieve the HCV elimination target by 2030 and reducing the burden of LCDHC.

ATP-induced cell death has emerged as a captivating realm of inquiry with profound ramifications in the context of osteoporosis. This study unveils a paradigm-shifting hypothesis that illuminates the prospective involvement of ATP-induced cellular demise in the etiology of osteoporosis. Initially, we explicate the morphological attributes of ATP-induced cell death and delve into the intricacies of the molecular machinery and regulatory networks governing ATP homeostasis and ATP-induced cell death. Subsequently, our focus pivots towards the multifaceted interplay between ATP-induced cellular demise and pivotal cellular protagonists, such as bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells, osteoblasts, and osteoclasts, accentuating their potential contributions to secondary osteoporosis phenotypes, encompassing diabetic osteoporosis, glucocorticoid-induced osteoporosis, and postmenopausal osteoporosis. Furthermore, we probe the captivating interplay between ATP-induced cellular demise and alternative modalities of cellular demise, encompassing apoptosis, autophagy, and necroptosis. Through an all-encompassing inquiry into the intricate nexus connecting ATP-induced cellular demise and osteoporosis, our primary goal is to deepen our comprehension of the underlying mechanisms propelling this malady and establish a theoretical bedrock to underpin the development of pioneering therapeutic strategies.

It is widely accepted that the weight distribution of plant fruits conforms to a standard normal distribution. However, some overlooked evidence suggests that some fruits, including strawberries, exhibit positive skewness in fruit weight distribution. This intriguing observation has received limited attention thus far. To shed light on this phenomenon, we conducted a comprehensive simulation study utilizing greenhouse-grown strawberries as our research subject. We modeled the entire process from bee pollination to pollen fertilization on the stigma and fruit growth. The experimental results demonstrated the reliability of the proposed simulation model and revealed that the positive skewness of the fruit weight distribution was the result of the multiplication of several complex intermediate variable distributions, which led to an approximately lognormal distribution. The simulation model and the derived conclusions presented in this paper offer a plausible explanation for the weight distribution patterns observed in strawberry production systems. Furthermore, research results have the potential to be applied to other berry plants that undergo similar bee pollination processes, thereby expanding our understanding of fruit weight distributions across different species.

Osteoarthritis (OA) stands as a prevalent degenerative joint ailment, demanding immediate attention towards the development of efficacious therapeutic interventions. Presently, a definitive cure for OA remains elusive, and when conservative treatment modalities prove ineffective, resorting to a joint prosthesis becomes imperative. Temporary distraction emerges as a pivotal joint-preserving intervention in human OA patients, conferring both clinical amelioration and structural enhancements. Although extant clinical investigations exist, they are characterized by relatively modest sample sizes. Nonetheless, these studies furnish compelling evidence affirming that joint distraction engenders sustained clinical amelioration and structural refinement. Despite substantial strides in the last decade, a bibliometric analysis of joint distraction within the realm of osteoarthritis treatment research has been conspicuously absent. In this context, we have undertaken a comparative investigation utilizing bibliometric methodologies to scrutinize the landscape of joint distraction within osteoarthritis treatment. Our comprehensive analysis encompassed 469 scholarly articles. Our findings evince a consistent escalation in global research interest and publication output pertaining to this subject. The United States emerged as the frontrunner in international collaboration, publication count, and citation frequency, underscoring its preeminence in this domain. The journal “Osteoarthritis and Cartilage” emerged as the principal platform for disseminating research output on this subject. Notably, Mastbergen SC emerged as the most prolific contributor in terms of authorship. The identified keywords predominantly revolved around non-surgical interventions and joint arthroscopy procedures. This bibliometric analysis, augmented by visual representations, furnishes invaluable insights into the evolutionary trajectory of joint distraction as an osteoarthritis treatment modality spanning from 2003 to 2023. These insights will serve as a compass for the scientific community, facilitating further exploration in this promising domain.

Background & aimsThis multicenter retrospective study evaluated the efficacy and safety of transarterial chemoembolization (TACE) combined with donafenib and a programmed death-1 (PD-1) inhibitor (TACE+DP) and TACE combined with donafenib (TACE+D) for unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma (uHCC).MethodsThe clinical data of 388 patients with uHCC who received TACE+DP or TACE+D as first-line treatment at six Chinese academic centers from July 2021 to July 2022 were collected and analyzed retrospectively. Patients in the TACE+DP group received an intravenous administration of a PD-1 inhibitor every three weeks and oral donafenib (0.2 g) twice daily until intolerable toxicity or disease progression. Patients in the TACE+D group received the same dose of donafenib for 3–5 days after TACE. Overall survival (OS) and progression-free survival (PFS)were analyzed by Kaplan-Meier method and log-rank test. The tumor response was compared between the two groups according to modified RECIST criteria. Adverse events were also analyzed between the two groupsResultsThe TACE+D group included 157 patients and the TACE+DP group included 166 patients. Patients in the TACE+DP group had a longer median OS (18.1 vs. 13.2 months, P

ObjectiveWe investigated the association between bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD) and 3 years death or neurodevelopmental impairment (NDI) in very preterm infants without severe brain injury.MethodOur prospective cohort study recruited preterm infants who were born prior to 32 weeks of gestational age and survived in the neonatal intensive care unit until 36 weeks of corrected age. Upon reaching 3 years of age, each infant was assessed for death or NDI such as cerebral palsy, cognitive deficit, hearing loss, and blindness. Correlations between BPD and death or NDI were determined using multiple logistic regression analyses adjusted for confounding factors.ResultA total of 1,417 infants without severe brain injury who survived until 36 weeks of corrected age were initially enrolled in the study. Over the study period, 201 infants were lost to follow-up and 5 infants were excluded. Our final dataset, therefore, included 1,211 infants, of which 17 died after 36 weeks of corrected age and 1,194 were followed up to 3 years of age. Among these infants, 337 (27.8%) developed BPD. Interestingly, by 3 years of age, BPD was demonstrated to be independently associated with death or NDI, with an adjusted odds ratio of 1.935 (95% confidence interval: 1.292–2.899, p = 0.001), in preterm infants without severe neonatal brain injury.ConclusionOur findings indicate that BPD is strongly associated with death or NDI in preterm infants without severe neonatal brain injury at 3 years of age. Further research is needed to understand the mechanisms linking the development of BPD with death or NDI and whether appropriate treatment of BPD may ameliorate or prevent the development of neurological complications.