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This study aimed to investigate the relationship between the IL-28B SNP rs8099917 genotype, miRNA-122 expression, and the immune mechanism of ACR after LT using anti-HCV antibody calibration. A total of 45 patients with HCV received LT. IL-28B SNP rs8099917 genotyping was used to divide patients into TT and GT groups. The relative expression levels of miRNA-122 were calculated by quantitative PCR. Anti-HCV titers before and after LT were tracked to observe the relationship with ACR. The ACR rates were 27.6% for genotype TT and 62.5% for genotype GT, indicating a significantly higher rate in the GT group compared to the TT group (p = 0.024). In the rs8099917 genotype, TT was significantly associated with higher serum miRNA-122 levels than GT (p < 0.001). The TT group had significantly better outcomes than the GT group (p = 0.005). The Mann–Whitney U test showed significant differences in pre-LT and post-LT anti-HCV titers between the IL-28B genotypes (TT and GT) (p values of 0.006 and 0.027, respectively). These results suggested that the IL-28B rs8099917 genotype TT may play a significant role in modulating immune responses, both in terms of anti-HCV titers and the risk of ACR, possibly mediated through miRNA-122 levels.

Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) significantly improve survival, while immune-mediated hepatotoxicity (IMH) has been reported. To evaluate the incidence and potential risk factors of IMH among cancer patients treated by ICIs, PubMed/Medline, Web of Science, Cochrane, and Embase were searched before 30 March 2024 for systematic review and meta-analysis. Odds ratios (ORs) with 95% confidence intervals (CI) were calculated. Quality assessment was completed using the Newcastle–Ottawa scale. Of 1217 articles identified, 24 consisting of 9076 patients were included, with one study being prospective and the rest retrospective. The overall incidence of any grade IMH and grade ≥ 3 secondary to ICIs was 14% and 7%, respectively. The cholestatic pattern was more prevalent than the hepatocellular and mixed patterns. The meta-analysis revealed that ICI treatment was related to reduced risk of IMH in older patients (SMD: −0.18; 95% CI: −0.33 to −0.04), individuals with higher body mass index (WMD: −2.15; 95% CI: −3.92 to −0.38), males (OR: 0.44; 95% CI: 0.27 to 0.72), and patients with lung cancer (OR: 0.58, 95%CI 0.41 to 0.83). On the other hand, patients with liver metastasis (OR: 1.80; 95% CI: 1.47 to 2.20), history of ICI treatment (OR: 3.09; 95% CI: 1.21 to 7.89), diabetes (OR: 2.19; 95% CI: 1.36 to 3.51), chronic HBV (OR: 3.06; 95% CI: 1.11 to 8.46), and concomitant use of ICIs (OR: 8.73; 95% CI: 2.41 to 31.59) increased the risk of developing IMH. This study will provide clinicians with information on potentially high-risk groups for IMH, who need to be cautiously monitored for liver function when receiving immunotherapy.

While Ginsenoside Re has been shown to protect the central nervous system, reports of its effects on memory in the model of scopolamine-induced memory impairment are rare. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of Ginsenoside Re on scopolamine (SCOP)-induced memory damage and the mechanism of action. Male ICR mice were treated with SCOP (3 mg/kg) for 7 days and with or without Ginsenoside Re for 14 days. As evidenced by behavioral studies (escape latency and cross platform position), brain tissue morphology, and oxidative stress indicators after Ginsenoside Re treatment, the memory damage caused by SCOP was significantly ameliorated. Further mechanism research indicated that Ginsenoside Re inhibited cell apoptosis by regulating the PI3K/Akt/Nrf2 pathway, thereby exerting a cognitive impairment improvement effect. This research suggests that Ginsenoside Re could protect against SCOP-induced memory defects possibly through inhibiting oxidative stress and cell apoptosis.

Due to continuous application as a flavoring agent in the pesticide, pharmaceutical, and food industries, methyl eugenol (ME) persists in the environment and causes deleterious impacts including cytotoxicity, genotoxicity, and liver damage. This study utilized a comprehensive approach, integrating toxicokinetics, metabolomics, and gut microbiota analysis, to explore the mechanisms behind ME-induced hepatotoxicity in mice. The study observed significant rises in ALT and AST levels, along with significant weight loss, indicating severe liver damage. Toxicokinetic data showed delayed Tmax and plasma accumulation after 28 days of repeated ME exposure at doses of 20 mg/kg, 40 mg/kg, and 60 mg/kg. The metabolomic analysis pinpointed four critical pathways—TCA cycle; alanine, aspartate, and glutamate metabolism; arginine biosynthesis; and tyrosine metabolism—linked to 20 potential biomarkers. Gut microbiota analysis revealed that extended ME exposure led to microbial imbalance, particularly altering the populations of Akkermansia, Prevotella, and Ruminococcus, which are key to amino acid metabolism and the TCA cycle, thus contributing to hepatotoxicity. However, the causal relationship between changes in gut microbiota and liver metabolite levels still requires further in-depth research. This study underscores the significant role of liver metabolites and gut microbiota in ME-induced liver damage.

The utilization of heavy-panicle hybrid rice exemplifies the successful integration of architectural enhancement and heterosis, which has been widely adopted in the southwest rice-producing area of China. Iterative improvement in disease resistance and grain quality of heavy-panicle hybrid rice varieties is crucial to promote their sustainable utilization. Here, we performed a molecular design breeding strategy to introgress beneficial alleles of broad-spectrum disease resistance and grain quality into a heavy-panicle hybrid backbone restorer line Shuhui 600 (R600). We successfully developed introgression lines through marker-assisted selection to pyramid major genes (Wxb + ALKA-GC + Pigm + Xa23) derived from three parents (Huanghuazhan, I135, I488), which significantly enhance grain quality and confer resistance to rice blast and bacterial blight (BB). The improved parental R600 line (iR600) exhibited superior grain quality and elevated disease resistance while maintaining the heavy-panicle architecture and high-yield capacity of R600. Moreover, the iR600 was crossed with male sterility line 608A to obtain a new heavy-panicle hybrid rice variety with excellent eating and cooking quality (ECQ) and high yield potential. This study presents an effective breeding strategy for rice breeders to expedite the improvement of grain quality and disease resistance in heavy-panicle hybrid rice.

Background: Lymphadenectomy plays a crucial role in the surgical management of early- stage esophageal cancer. However, few studies have examined lymphadenectomy outcomes in advanced stages, particularly in patients who initially underwent concurrent chemoradiation therapy. This retrospective study investigates the effect of lymphadenectomy in patients diagnosed with AJCC 8th-edition clinical stage III esophageal squamous cell carcinoma who received concurrent preoperative chemoradiation. Methods: Data from 1994 to 2023 were retrieved from our retrospective database. All patients underwent a uniform evaluation and treatment protocol, including preoperative concurrent chemoradiation therapy comprising cisplatin and 5-fluorouracil, followed by esophagectomy. The analysis encompassed clinical T and N stages, tumor location, tumor grade, pathological T and N stages, pathological stage, and the extent of lymph node dissection. Overall survival, “Free-To-Recurrence”, and disease-free survival were assessed via Kaplan–Meier survival curves and the Cox regression model for multivariate analysis. Results: The dataset was stratified into two groups according to extent of lymph node dissection, with one group having Conclusions: The quantity of lymphadenectomy is a crucial determinant for patients with AJCC 8th-edition clinical stage III esophageal squamous cell carcinoma receiving preoperative concurrent chemoradiation.

Anthocyanins, flavonoid pigments, are responsible for the purple and red hues in potato tubers. This study analyzed tubers from four potato cultivars—red RR, purple HJG, yellow QS9, and white JZS8—to elucidate the genetic mechanisms underlying tuber pigmentation. Our transcriptomic analysis identified over 2400 differentially expressed genes between these varieties. Notably, genes within the flavonoid biosynthesis pathway were enriched in HJG and RR compared to the non-pigmented JZS8, correlating with their higher levels of anthocyanin precursors and related substances. Hierarchical clustering revealed inverse expression patterns for the key genes involved in anthocyanin metabolism between pigmented and non-pigmented varieties. Among these, several MYB transcription factors displayed strong co-expression with anthocyanin biosynthetic genes, suggesting a regulatory role. Specifically, the expression of 16 MYB genes was validated using qRT-PCR to be markedly higher in pigmented HJG and RR versus JZS8, suggesting that these MYB genes might be involved in tuber pigmentation. This study comprehensively analyzed the transcriptome of diverse potato cultivars, highlighting specific genes and metabolic pathways involved in tuber pigmentation. These findings provide potential molecular targets for breeding programs focused on enhancing tuber color.

Cell death is of great significance in maintaining tissue homeostasis and bodily functions. With considerable research coming to the fore, it has been found that programmed cell death presents in multiple modalities in the body, which is not only limited to apoptosis, but also can be divided into autophagy, pyroptosis, ferroptosis, mitotic catastrophe, entosis, netosis, and other ways. Different forms of programmed cell death have disparate or analogous characteristics with each other, and their occurrence is accompanied by multiple signal transduction and the role of a myriad of regulatory factors. In recent years, scholars across the world have carried out considerable in-depth research on programmed cell death, and new forms of cell death are being discovered continually. Concomitantly, the mechanisms of intricate signaling pathways and regulators have been discovered. More critically, cancer cells tend to choose distinct ways to evade cell death, and different tumors adapt to different manners of death. Therefore, targeting the cell death network has been regarded as an effective tumor treatment strategy for a long time. The objective of our paper is to review the signaling pathways and gene regulation in several typical types of programmed cell death and their correlation with cancer.

The distribution of oil and gas phases around ball–raceway local regions is an important basis and foundation for determining whether a bearing is sufficiently lubricated. To obtain the oil phase distribution law in the inner raceway–ball contact local region (IBCR) and outer raceway–ball contact local region (OBCR) of the ball bearing with under-race lubrication, the numerical simulation method is used. The effects of bearing rotation speed, oil flow rate, oil viscosity, and oil density on these two regions are studied. The results indicate that the oil phase exhibited significant periodic changes in both time and space. Compared with that in the IBCR, the oil phase distribution in the OBCR is more uniform. Increasing the bearing rotation speed and reducing the oil flow rate made the IBCR and OBCR more uniform. Changing the oil viscosity only alters the distribution pattern of the OBCR. The oil density may not affect the fluid flow state or the oil phase distribution in the bearing.

Denervation-induced calcium/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase II (CaMKII) activation and inflammation can result in muscle atrophy. Curcumin and bisdemethoxycurcumin are well known to exhibit an anti-inflammatory effect. In addition, curcumin has been shown to attenuate CaMKII activation in neuronal cells. This study aimed to examine the effect of curcumin or bisdemethoxycurcumin on CaMKII activation, inflammation, and muscle cross-sectional area (CSA) in spinal nerve ligated rats. Sixteen female rats were assigned to sham (CON), spinal nerve ligation (SNL), SNL+ curcumin 100 mg/kg BW (100CUR), and SNL+ bisdemethoxycurcumin 50 mg/kg BW (50CMO) for 4 weeks. Ipsilateral (surgical) soleus and tibialis anterior (TA) muscles was stained for dystrophin to measure CSA. Ipsilateral and contralateral (non-surgical) plantaris muscles were analyzed for protein content for acetylcholine receptor (AChR), CaMKII, CaMKIIThr286, nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB), NF-κBSer536, and interleukin-1β (IL-1β) and normalized to α-tubulin and then CON. A significant (p < 0.050) group effect was observed for TA CSA where CON (11,082.25 ± 1617.68 μm2; p < 0.001) and 100CUR (9931.04 ± 2060.87 μm2; p = 0.018) were larger than SNL (4062.25 ± 151.86 μm2). In the ipsilateral plantaris, the SNL (4.49 ± 0.69) group had greater CaMKII activation compared to CON (1.00 ± 0.25; p = 0.010), 100CUR (1.12 ± 0.45; p = 0.017), and 50CMO (0.78 ± 0.19; p = 0.009). The ipsilateral plantaris (2.11 ± 0.66) had greater IL-1β protein content than the contralateral leg (0.65 ± 0.14; p = 0.041) in the SNL group. In plantaris, the SNL (1.65 ± 0.51) group had greater NF-κB activation compared to CON (1.00 ± 0.29; p = 0.021), 100CUR (0.61 ± 0.10; p = 0.003), 50CMO (0.77 ± 0.25; p = 0.009) groups. The observed reduction in Ca2+ signaling and inflammation in type II plantaris muscle fibers might reflect the changes within the type II TA muscle fibers which may contribute to the mitigation of TA mass loss with curcumin supplementation.

Medium-chain-length polyhydroxyalkanoates (mcl-PHAs) are semi-crystalline elastomers with a low melting point and high elongation at break, allowing for a wide range of applications in domestic, agricultural, industrial, and mainly medical fields. Utilizing low-cost cellulose hydrolyzed sugar as a carbon source and metabolic engineering to enhance synthesis in Pseudomonas putida is a promising strategy for commercializing mcl-PHAs, but little has been attempted to improve the utilization of glucose for synthesizing mcl-PHAs. In this study, a multi-pathway modification was performed to improve the utilization of substrate glucose and the synthesis capacity of PHAs. To enhance glucose metabolism to flow to acetyl-CoA, which is an important precursor of mcl-PHA, multiple genes in glucose metabolism were inactive (branch pathway and negative regulatory) and overexpressed (positive regulatory) in this study. The two genes, gcd (encoding glucose dehydrogenase) and gltA (encoding citrate synthase), involved in glucose peripheral pathways and TCA cycles were separately and jointly knocked out in Pseudomonas putida QSRZ6 (ΔphaZΔhsdR), and the mcl-PHA synthesis was improved in the mutants; particularly, the mcl-PHA titer of QSRZ603 (ΔgcdΔgltA) was increased by 33.7%. Based on the glucose branch pathway truncation, mcl-PHA synthesis was further improved with hexR-inactivation (encoding a negative regulator in glucose metabolism). Compared with QSRZ603 and QSRZ6, the mcl-PHA titer of QSRZ607 (ΔgcdΔgltAΔhexR) was increased by 62.8% and 117.5%, respectively. The mutant QSRZ609 was constructed by replacing the endogenous promoter of gltB encoding a transcriptional activator of the two-component regulatory system GltR/GltS with the ribosome subunit promoter P33. The final mcl-PHA content and titers of QSRZ609 reached 57.3 wt% and 2.5 g/L, an increase of and 20.9% and 27.3% over that of the parent strain QSRZ605 and an increase of 110.4% and 159.9% higher as compared to QSRZ6, respectively. The fermentation was optimized with a feeding medium in shaker flacks; then, the mcl-PHA contents and titer of QSRZ609 were 59.1 wt% and 6.8 g/L, respectively. The results suggest that the regulation from glucose to acetyl-CoA by polygenic modification is an effective strategy for enhancing mcl-PHA synthesis, and the mutants obtained in this study can be used as chassis to further increase mcl-PHA production.

Citrus maxima ‘Shatian Yu’ displays varying nutritional profiles influenced by its production area. This study evaluated pomelo fruits from four primary and one developing ‘Shatian Yu’ production area. Notably, ‘Shatian Yu’ from the Guilin area exhibited higher sugar and alcohol content, suggesting enhanced taste. Principal component analysis and OPLS-DA revealed significant metabolite differences among production areas. In Guilin, variations were observed in a few substances, including sugars, alcohols, and phenolic acids. When compared with Rong City, Guilin showed a decrease in four phenolic acids and an increase in three organic acids, eighteen amino acids, eighteen lipids, and one vitamin. This comprehensive analysis provides valuable insights for the development of ‘Shatian Yu’ cultivation, highlighting the impact of production areas on fruit quality.

Oxysophocarpine (OSC), a quinolizidine alkaloid, shows neuroprotective potential, though its mechanisms are unclear. The aim of the present study was to investigate the neuroprotective effects of OSC through the nuclear factor erythroid 2−related factor 2 (Nrf2)/ heme oxygenase−1 (HO–1) signaling pathway using the HT–22 cell line. Assessments of cell viability were conducted utilizing the 3−(4,5−dimethylthiazol−2−yl)−2,5−diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay. Assessments of oxidative stress (OS) were conducted through the quantification of reactive oxygen species (ROS). The integrity of the mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP) was scrutinized using fluorescent probe technology. Apoptosis levels were quantified using terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase dUTP nick end labeling (TUNEL) staining. The trafficking of Nrf2 within the cell nucleus was examined through immunofluorescence analysis. Furthermore, Western blotting (WB) was applied to evaluate the expression levels of proteins implicated in apoptosis and the Nrf2/HO–1 pathway. To further probe the influence of OSC on the overexpression of antioxidant enzymes, cells were subjected to transfection with HO–1 siRNA. The results showed that OSC inhibited glutamate-induced OS, as evidenced by reduced cell viability and ROS levels. Furthermore, the apoptotic condition induced by glutamate in HT–22 cells was significantly reduced following OSC treatment. More interestingly, the Nrf2/HO–1 signaling pathway was upregulated following OSC treatment. These results suggest that OSC can exert neuroprotective effects by regulating the Nrf2/HO–1 pathway to inhibit neuronal cell apoptosis, potentially aiding in the treatment of neurodegenerative diseases.

Cadmium (Cd) exposure can induce follicular atresia and laying performance reduction in hens, which is linked to autophagy within the granulosa cells. Selenium (Se) can influence autophagy and counteract Cd toxicity. This study aimed to investigate the protective effect of Se on Cd-induced follicular atresia in laying hens. Sixty-four laying hens were randomly allocated into 4 treatments: control group: basal diet; Se group: basal diet + 0.4 mg/kg Se from selenized yeast; Cd group: basal diet + 25 mg/kg Cd from CdCl2; and Cd+Se group: basal diet + 25 mg/kg Cd + 0.4 mg/kg Se. Compared to the Cd group, Se supplementation alleviated the ovarian pathological changes and oxidative stress in the follicles, serum, liver, and ovary, increased daily laying production, ovarian weight and F5–F1 follicle amounts, serum levels of progesterone and oestradiol, and up-regulated mTOR expression (p < 0.05), while decreasing the count of autophagic vacuoles, ovarian atresia follicle numbers, and Cd deposition, and down-regulated expression levels of autophagy-related mRNAs, including ATG5, LC3-I, and LC3-II, Beclin1, and Dynein in the follicles (p < 0.05). In conclusion, 0.4 mg/kg Se supplementation protected against Cd-induced laying performance reduction and follicular atresia, which were achieved via decreasing oxidative stress and inhibiting mTOR pathways of autophagy.

Background: This multicenter and retrospective study investigated the additive value of tumor morphologic features derived from the functional tumor volume (FTV) tumor mask at pre-treatment (T0) and the early treatment time point (T1) in the prediction of pathologic outcomes for breast cancer patients undergoing neoadjuvant chemotherapy. Methods: A total of 910 patients enrolled in the multicenter I-SPY 2 trial were included. FTV and tumor morphologic features were calculated from the dynamic contrast-enhanced (DCE) MRI. A poor response was defined as a residual cancer burden (RCB) class III (RCB-III) at surgical excision. The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC) was used to evaluate the predictive performance. The analysis was performed in the full cohort and in individual sub-cohorts stratified by hormone receptor (HR) and human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2) status. Results: In the full cohort, the AUCs for the use of the FTV ratio and clinicopathologic data were 0.64 ± 0.03 (mean ± SD [standard deviation]). With morphologic features, the AUC increased significantly to 0.76 ± 0.04 (p < 0.001). The ratio of the surface area to volume ratio between T0 and T1 was found to be the most contributing feature. All top contributing features were from T1. An improvement was also observed in the HR+/HER2- and triple-negative sub-cohorts. The AUC increased significantly from 0.56 ± 0.05 to 0.70 ± 0.06 (p < 0.001) and from 0.65 ± 0.06 to 0.73 ± 0.06 (p < 0.001), respectively, when adding morphologic features. Conclusion: Tumor morphologic features can improve the prediction of RCB-III compared to using FTV only at the early treatment time point.

Objective: Protein tyrosine phosphatase non-receptor type 6 (PTPN6) is a cytoplasmic phosphatase that acts as a key regulatory protein in cell signaling to control inflammation and cell death. In order to investigate the role of PTPN6 in hematologic tumor myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS), this study infected SKM-1 cell line (MDS cell line) with packaged H_PTPN6-shRNA lentivirus to obtain H_PTPN6-shRNA SKM-1 stable strain. The effect of PTPN6 knockdown on apoptosis, erythroid differentiation, and inflammations in SKM-1 cell line was examined. Methods: The stable knockdown SKM-1 cell line was validated using qPCR and Western blot assays. The proliferation activity, apoptosi, erythroid differentiation, and inflammatory cytokines in SKM-1 cells were assessed before and after transfection. Results: qPCR confirmed that the expression level of H_PTPN6-shRNA in SKM-1 cells was significantly reduced, and Western blot showed that the protein expression level of H_PTPN6-shRNA in SKM-1 cells was also significantly reduced. The CCK-8 cell viability assay confirmed that stable gene knockdown did not affect cell viability. Flow cytometry revealed that the apoptosis rate of cells in the PTPN6 knockdown group was 0.8%, lower than the 2.7% observed in the empty plasmid group; the expression rate of the erythroid differentiation marker CD235a was 13.2%, lower than the 25.0% observed in the empty plasmid group. The expression levels of the proinflammatory factors IL-6 and IL-8 increased, and the expression levels of the inhibitor factor IL-4 decreased. Conclusions: The PTPN6 gene was successfully knocked down using lentivirus-mediated transduction, and the constructed cell line was validated using PCR and Western blot. The CCK-8 cell viability assay confirmed that stable gene knockdown did not affect cell proliferation viability. Flow cytometry analysis of apoptosis and erythroid differentiation indicated that PTPN6 knockdown inhibits apoptosis and erythroid differentiation in SKM-1 cells and also alters the level of inflammations in the bone marrow microenvironment. It suggests that the PTPN6 gene acts as a tumor suppressor in myelodysplastic syndrome cells, influencing hematopoietic cell apoptosis, erythroid differentiation, and inflammations. This provides a reliable experimental basis for further in-depth studies on the mechanism of PTPN6 in MDS and related pharmacological research.

Autoimmune diseases are among the most prevalent diseases across the world with genetic and environmental factors that contribute to their etiology. Because the exact causes of autoimmune diseases are largely unknown, a Mendelian randomization (MR) approach is used here to examine the potential causal association between gene expression levels and disease risk across various tissues. Specifically, this study focuses on six autoimmune diseases including Crohn’s disease, ulcerative colitis, rheumatoid arthritis, multiple sclerosis, type 1 diabetes mellitus, and systemic lupus erythematosus. Several of these diseases are currently treatable with immunosuppressants that target specific genes, such as TNF-alpha, IL-23, CD20, and more. In this study, a two-sample MR analysis is performed with multitissue expression quantitative trait loci (eQTLs) and large-scale genome-wide association studies to investigate how gene expression can influence the risk of developing these diseases. Our results show that genes HLA-DQA1/2, HLA-DRB1/6, HLA-DQB2, C4A, CYP21A2, and HLA-DQB1-AS1 have a high causal effect across several diseases and tissues, and almost all of these findings originate from the major histocompatibility complex (MHC) region on Chromosome 6. Our findings support the current knowledge of genes associated with these diseases while also revealing novel genes that can be used for drug therapies in the future. Although several drug therapies currently exist to treat this selection of autoimmune diseases, we provide further insights into the main, common pathways responsible for autoimmune disease pathogenesis and discuss novel genes that lack research focus.

Type 2 diabetes (T2D) is associated with increased inflammation and reactive oxygen species (ROS) in muscles, leading to basal satellite cell (SC) myogenic impairment (i.e., reduction in SC pool), which is critical for maintaining skeletal muscle mass. T2D may contribute to muscle atrophy, possibly due to reductions in the SC pool. Geranylgeraniol (GGOH) and ginger can reduce inflammation and enhance SC myogenesis in damaged muscles, thereby alleviating muscle atrophy; however, their effect on basal SC myogenic state and muscle mass in T2D rats is limited. Rats consumed a control diet (CON), high-fat diet with 35 mg/kg of streptozotocin (HFD), a HFD with 800 mg/kg body weight of GGOH (GG), or a HFD with 0.75% ginger root extract (GRE). In the eighth week, their soleus muscles were analyzed for Pax7, MyoD, and MSTN gene and protein expression, SC myogenic state, and muscle cross-sectional area (CSA). The HFD group had a significantly lower number of Pax7+/MyoD− and Pax7+/MSTN+ cells, less Pax7 and MyoD gene expression, and less MyoD and MSTN protein expression, with a smaller CSA than the CON group. Compared to the GG and GRE groups, the HFD group had a significantly lower number of Pax7+/MSTN+ cells, less MyoD protein expression, and smaller CSA. The GRE group also had a significantly lower number of Pax7−/MyoD+ and greater MSTN protein expression than the HFD group. Nevertheless, the CON group had a significantly greater number of Pax7+/MyoD− than the GG and GRE groups, and a greater number of Pax7−/MyoD+ cells than the GRE group with a larger CSA than the GG group. GGOH and ginger persevered muscle CSA, possibly through increased MyoD and the ability to maintain the SC pool in T2D rats.

The genus Neocaridina, originating from East Asia and representing a small-size landlocked shrimp group of the family Atyidae, is an important group of ornamental shrimps and plays significant ecological roles in their natural habitats. Owing to the considerable variability of the taxonomic characters it employed, Neocaridina is constantly under revision, and the validation of several species is currently questionable. In the present study, several Neocaridina shrimps were collected from the Baiyangdian drainage area. Through morphological examination, they exhibited delicately diagnostical differences in the dactyli of the third pereiopod and the endopod of the first and second pleopod and were classified into morph A, morph B and morph C. According to the literature description, morph A and morph C were identified as N. denticulata denticulata and N. denticulata sinensis, respectively. Among them, morph B presents an intermediate state between morph A and morph C. Subsequently, we determined the mitogenomes of morph A, morph B and morph C. Based on the morphological characteristics, genetic variation and phylogenetic tree, we contend that N. davidi, N. d. denticulata, N. d. sinensis and N. heteropoda should belong to the same species, and we propose retaining the name N. denticulata. The reconstructed mitogenomic phylogeny indicated that the monophyly of several genera within Atyidae has been challenged, suggesting that the established classification of Atyidae requires substantial taxonomic revision at all taxonomic levels. Furthermore, the tree’s topologies supported Atyidae at a deeper base within Caridea. More comprehensive taxon sampling is still needed to resolve the explicit internal relationships among Caridea.

Background: Although screening for distress is recommended by many cancer care guidelines, the uptake of such screening in cancer centers remains limited. Improving the acceptability of screening programs in cancer centers requires a reduction in clinical burden and an improved detection of distress. The purpose of this study was to validate the performance of the two-step screening algorithm used in the Distress Assessment and Response Tool (DART) for identifying cases of anxiety and depression. Methods: This retrospective validation study consisted of patients at the Princess Margaret Cancer Centre (PM) who completed the DART, which includes the Edmonton Symptom Assessment System depression (ESAS-D) and anxiety (ESAS-A) items, the Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9), and the Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD-7). We evaluated the performance of a two-step screening approach, which modeled the ESAS-D, followed by the PHQ-9 and ESAS-A, then the GAD-7 for predicting a diagnosis of depression and anxiety disorders, respectively. A clinical psychiatric assessment was used as the gold standard reference. Results: A total of 172 patients with cancer were included in this study. A total of 59/172 (34%) and 39/172 (23%) were diagnosed with a depression or anxiety disorder, respectively. The sequential administration of the PHQ-9 ≥15 following the ESAS-D (>2) significantly increased the post-test probability of depression from 37% to 60% and improved the performance of predicting depression compared to both the ESAS-D or the PHQ-9 as standalone tests. The sequential administration of the GAD-7 after the ESAS-A did not improve the predictability of an anxiety diagnosis beyond the performance of the ESAS-A or the GAD-7 as standalone tests. Conclusions: The present study is among the first to demonstrate that a two-step screening algorithm for depression may improve depression screening in cancer using real-world data. Further research on optimal screening approaches for anxiety in cancer is warranted.

We present a case of a lung adenocarcinoma patient harboring a novel kinesin family member 5B (KIF5B)-NTRK1 gene fusion that responds well to entrectinib. Moreover, KIF5B-NTRK1 gene chimera has been shown to be an oncogene, activating both the MAPK and PI3K/AKT signaling pathways. The biopsy sample was analyzed using various methods such as hematoxylin–eosin staining (HE), immunohistochemistry (IHC), fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH), and next-generation sequencing (NGS) based on a 1267-gene panel. Additionally, human lung adenocarcinoma cell lines A549 and H1755 were used to obtain a stable expression of chimera gene products. The cell proliferation was confirmed using CCK8 and adhesion-dependent colony formation assay. Cell invasion was confirmed using the transwell invasion assay. The protein levels of the MAPK and PI3K/AKT signaling pathways were assessed using Western blotting. The patient, a 66-year-old Chinese male, was diagnosed with adenocarcinoma (stage IVB) located in the upper lobe of the left lung. NGS analysis identified a novel KIF5B-NTRK1 fusion gene, which was further confirmed by FISH and IHC analyses. As a first-line therapy, entrectinib was administered to the patient at a dose of 600 mg once daily, resulting in a partial response. The patient’s progression-free survival (PFS) has now been more than 12 months, and no serious toxicities have been observed so far. Furthermore, stable KIF5B-NTRK1-expressing cells were generated and the experimental results demonstrate enhanced proliferation abilities, along with increased levels of proteins involved in the MAPK and PI3K/AKT signaling pathways. Our study reports a novel KIF5B-NTRK1 genetic rearrangement that supports favorable responses to entrectinib. Moreover, in vitro experiments showed that the fusion gene could exert oncogenic properties by activating the MAPK and PI3K/AKT signaling pathways. To summarize, our findings broaden the spectrum of NTRK gene fusions in the context of lung adenocarcinoma.

In the context of increasingly deteriorating global ecological conditions and rising carbon emissions from buildings, campus architecture, as the primary environment for youth learning and living, plays a crucial role in low-carbon energy-efficient design, and green environments. This paper takes the case of Yezhai Middle School in Qianshan, Anhui Province, to explore wind environment optimization and facade energy-saving strategies for mountainous campus buildings under existing building stock renovation. In the context of smart city development, integrating advanced technologies and sustainable practices into public infrastructure has become a key objective. Through wind environment simulations and facade energy retrofitting, this study reveals nonlinear increases in wind speed with building height and significant effects of ground roughness on wind speed variations. Adopting EPS panels and insulation layers in facade energy retrofitting reduces energy consumption for winter heating and summer cooling. The renovated facade effectively prevents cold air intrusion and reduces external heat gain, achieving approximately 24% energy savings. This research provides a scientific basis and practical experience for low-carbon energy retrofitting of other campus and public buildings, advancing the construction industry towards green and low-carbon development goals within the framework of smart city initiatives.

Background: Existing methods for MRI brain tumor segmentation often suffer from excessive model parameters and suboptimal performance in delineating tumor boundaries. Methods: For this issue, a lightweight MRI brain tumor segmentation method, enhanced by hierarchical feature fusion (EHFF), is proposed. This method reduces model parameters while improving segmentation performance by integrating hierarchical features. Initially, a fine-grained feature adjustment network is crafted and guided by global contextual information, leading to the establishment of an adaptive feature learning (AFL) module. This module captures the global features of MRI brain tumor images through macro perception and micro focus, adjusting spatial granularity to enhance feature details and reduce computational complexity. Subsequently, a hierarchical feature weighting (HFW) module is constructed. This module extracts multi-scale refined features through multi-level weighting, enhancing the detailed features of spatial positions and alleviating the lack of attention to local position details in macro perception. Finally, a hierarchical feature retention (HFR) module is designed as a supplementary decoder. This module retains, up-samples, and fuses feature maps from each layer, thereby achieving better detail preservation and reconstruction. Results: Experimental results on the BraTS 2021 dataset demonstrate that the proposed method surpasses existing methods. Dice similarity coefficients (DSC) for the three semantic categories ET, TC, and WT are 88.57%, 91.53%, and 93.09%, respectively.

Accurate assessment of N staging in patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is critical for the development of effective treatment plans, the optimization of therapeutic strategies, and the enhancement of patient survival rates. This study proposes a hybrid model based on 3D convolutional neural networks (CNNs) and transformers for predicting the N-staging and survival rates of NSCLC patients within the NSCLC radiogenomics and Nsclc-radiomics datasets. The model achieved accuracies of 0.805, 0.828, and 0.819 for the training, validation, and testing sets, respectively. By leveraging the strengths of CNNs in local feature extraction and the superior performance of transformers in global information modeling, the model significantly enhances predictive accuracy and efficacy. A comparative analysis with traditional CNN and transformer architectures demonstrates that the CNN-transformer hybrid model outperforms N-staging predictions. Furthermore, this study extracts the one-year survival rate as a feature and employs the Lasso–Cox model for survival predictions at various time intervals (1, 3, 5, and 7 years), with all survival prediction p-values being less than 0.05, illustrating the time-dependent nature of survival analysis. The application of time-dependent ROC curves further validates the model’s accuracy and reliability for survival predictions. Overall, this research provides innovative methodologies and new insights for the early diagnosis and prognostic evaluation of NSCLC.

Esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) is a malignant tumor of the digestive tract with strong migratory and invasive abilities. Gas6 is closely associated with the progression of many malignant tumors; however, the role of Gas6 in the progression of esophageal cancer is unclear. Here, we report that the knockdown of Gas6 inhibited esophageal cancer cell proliferation, migration, and invasion. In addition, Gas6 knockdown downregulated the levels of P-PI3K and P-AKT. Taken together, the findings confirm that Gas6 knockdown can inhibit esophageal cancer progression and can exert anti-tumor effects on esophageal cancer through the PI3K/AKT pathway.

Ammopiptanthus mongolicus is an ancient remnant species from the Mediterranean displaying characteristics such as high-temperature tolerance, drought resistance, cold resistance, and adaptability to impoverished soil. In the case of high-temperature tolerance, heat shock transcription factors (HSFs) are integral transcriptional regulatory proteins exerting a critical role in cellular processes. Despite extensive research on the HSF family across various species, there has been no analysis specifically focused on A. mongolicus. In this study, we identified 24 members of the AmHSF gene family based on the genome database of A. mongolicus, which were unevenly distributed over 9 chromosomes. Phylogenetic analysis showed that these 24 members can be categorized into 5 primary classes consisting of a total of 13 subgroups. Analysis of the physical and chemical properties revealed significant diversity among these proteins. With the exception of the AmHSFB3 protein, which is localized in the cytoplasm, all other AmHSF proteins were found to be situated in the nucleus. Comparison of amino acid sequences revealed that all AmHSF proteins contain a conserved DNA-binding domains structure, and the DNA-binding domains and oligomerization domains of the AmHSF gene exhibit conservation with counterparts across diverse species; we investigated the collinearity of AmHSF genes in relation to those of three other representative species. Through GO enrichment analysis, evidence emerged that AmHSF genes are involved in heat stress responses and may be involved in multiple transcriptional regulatory pathways that coordinate plant growth and stress responses. Finally, through a comprehensive analysis using transcriptome data, we examined the expression levels of 24 AmHSFs under 45 °C. The results revealed significant differences in the expression profiles of AmHSFs at different time intervals during exposure to high temperatures, highlighting their crucial role in responding to heat stress. In summary, these results provide a better understanding of the role and regulatory mechanisms of HSF in the heat stress response of A. mongolicus, meanwhile also establishing a foundation for further exploration of the biological functions of AmHSF in the adversity response of A. mongolicus.

Metamorphosis control is pivotal in preventing the outbreak of jellyfish, and it is often studied using common model organisms. The widespread use of the ultraviolet blocking agent homosalate in cosmetics poses a threat to marine ecosystems. Although the impact of homosalate on marine organisms has been extensively examined, there is a notable absence of research on its effects on jellyfish metamorphosis and the underlying mechanisms, warranting further investigation. In this study, we first established a study model by using 5-methoxy-2-methylindole to induce Aurelia coerulea metamorphosis, and selected homosalate as a PI3K agonist and an ERK agonist, while we used YS-49 as a specific PI3K agonist, as well as ERK knockdown, to observe their effect on the metamorphosis of Aurelia coerulea. The results showed that an Aurelia coerulea metamorphosis model was established successfully, and the PI3K agonist homosalate, YS-49, and the knockdown of ERK molecules could significantly delay the metamorphosis development of Aurelia coerulea. We propose that activating PI3K/Akt and inhibiting the ERK pathway are involved in the delayed development of Aurelia coerulea, which provides a new strategy for the prevention and control of jellyfish blooms.

Interleukin-12 (IL-12) is considered to be a promising cytokine for enhancing an antitumor immune response; however, recombinant IL-12 has shown significant toxicity and limited efficacy in early clinical trials. Recently, many strategies for delivering IL-12 to tumor tissues have been developed, such as modifying IL-12, utilizing viral vectors, non-viral vectors, and cellular vectors. Previous studies have found that the fusion of IL-12 with extracellular matrix proteins, collagen, and immune factors is a way to enhance its therapeutic potential. In addition, studies have demonstrated that viral vectors are a good platform, and a variety of viruses such as oncolytic viruses, adenoviruses, and poxviruses have been used to deliver IL-12—with testing previously conducted in various cancer models. The local expression of IL-12 in tumors based on viral delivery avoids systemic toxicity while inducing effective antitumor immunity and acting synergistically with other therapies without compromising safety. In addition, lipid nanoparticles are currently considered to be the most mature drug delivery system. Moreover, cells are also considered to be drug carriers because they can effectively deliver therapeutic substances to tumors. In this article, we will systematically discuss the anti-tumor effects of IL-12 on its own or in combination with other therapies based on different delivery strategies.

Fusarium solani KMZW-1 is recognized for its potential as a biocontrol agent against agricultural and forestry pests, particularly due to its compatibility with integrated pest management (IPM) strategies. This study aimed to investigate the complete genome of F. solani KMZW-1 and assess its pathogenicity against Bactrocera dorsalis. Whole-genome sequencing revealed a genome size of 47,239,278 bp, comprising 27 contigs, with a GC content of 51.16% and fungus identified as F. solani KMZW-1. The genome completeness was assessed as 97.93% using BUSCO analysis, the DFVF sequence identifier was Fusarium 0G092560.1, and AntiSMASH analysis identified 35 gene clusters associated with secondary metabolite biosynthesis, providing insights into the genetic basis of its pathogenic mechanisms and biocontrol potential. Comparative genomic analysis found 269 unique genes for F. solani KMZW-1, and collinearity analysis exhibited a high degree of synteny with Fusarium solani-melongenae. The pathogenicity of F. solani KMZW-1 was assessed using concentrations ranging from 1 × 104 to 1 × 1011 conidia/mL. Higher concentrations (1 × 1010 to 1 × 1011 conidia/mL) resulted in significantly increased cumulative mortality rates of B. dorsalis adults compared to the control group. Notably, the pathogenicity was higher in male adults than in females. Probit analysis yielded LC50 (50% lethal concentration) values of 5.662 for female and 4.486 for male B. dorsalis adults. In summary, F. solani, KMZW-1 exhibits strong insecticidal activity against B. dorsalis and shows potential as a biocontrol agent with IPM strategies. These findings provide robust genomic evidence supporting the use of F. solani KMZW-1 in managing against B. dorsalis populations.

Phosphoinositide 3-kinases (PI3Ks) are a class of key regulatory factors in eukaryotes that can inhibit viral replication by influencing autophagy. Currently, cyprinid herpesvirus 3 (CyHV-3) poses a serious threat to common carp culture. However, PI3K has not yet been identified in common carp. In this study, full-length PI3KC3 from common carp (CcPI3KC3), consisting of an open reading frame (ORF) of 2664 bp encoding a polypeptide of 887 amino acids, with a predicted molecular mass of 101.19 kDa and a theoretical isoelectric point (pI) of 5.97, was cloned. The amino acid and nucleotide sequences of CcPI3KC3 displayed high similarity to yellow catfish’s (Tachysurus fulvidraco) PI3KC3. The tissue expression profile revealed that the mRNA levels of CcPI3KC3 in the liver, spleen, and head kidney were significantly greater than those in the brain, heart, intestines, gills, eyes, testes, and ovaries of common carp. We compared the expression patterns of CcPI3KC3 between “Longke-11” mirror carp (CyHV-3-resistant carp) and German mirror carp (non-resistant to CyHV-3) at different times (0, 48, 96, 144 h, 192, 240, 288 h post-infection (hpi)) after CyHV-3 infection. The results revealed that CcPI3KC3 mRNA expression significantly increased in the early infection stage. In the CyHV-3-resistant mirror carp variety, the relative expression of CcPI3KC3 was significantly greater at 48, 96, and 144 hpi compared with the nonbreeding strain groups after infection (p < 0.001). These results indicate that the full-length CcPI3KC3 sequence was successfully cloned from common carp for the first time, and it might play an important role in the immune system of common carp against CyHV-3 infection. This study provides a theoretical basis for the molecular mechanism of CyHV-3 resistance.

Background: Variations in the fusion (F) protein of respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) with main antigenic sites I–V and Ø may affect the development of RSV vaccines and therapies. Methods: In the study, 30 respiratory specimens positive for RSV were randomly selected from children with acute lower respiratory infections (ALRI) in Beijing every year from 2012 to 2021 for F gene sequencing. Then, 300 F gene sequences and 508 uploaded to GenBank from China were subjected to phylogenetic analysis. Results: The results indicated the nucleotide identities were 95.4–100% among 446 sequences of RSV A, and 96.3–100% among 362 of RSV B. The most common variant loci were N80K (100.00%) and R213S (97.76%) for site Ø, and V384I/T (98.43%) for site I among sequences of RSV A, and M152I (100.00%), I185V (100.00%), and L172Q/H (94.48%) for site V, and R202Q (99.45%) for site Ø among sequences of RSV B. N276S appears in 95.29% sequences of RSV A, while S276N and N262 I/S appear in 1.38% and 0.55% sequences of RSV B, respectively. No variation was found in all sequences at the binding sites of 14N4 and motavizumab. Conclusions: There were cumulative variations of the RSV F gene, especially at some binding sites of antigenic sites.

Background: Studying causality relationships between different brain regions using the fMRI method has attracted great attention. To investigate causality relationships between different brain regions, we need to identify both the brain network structure and the influence magnitude. Most current methods concentrate on magnitude estimation, but not on identifying the connection or structure of the network. To address this problem, we proposed a nonlinear system identification method, in which a polynomial kernel was adopted to approximate the relation between the system inputs and outputs. However, this method has an overfitting problem for modelling the input–output relation if we apply the method to model the brain network directly. Methods: To overcome this limitation, this study applied the least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO) model selection method to identify both brain region networks and the connection strength (system coefficients). From these coefficients, the causality influence is derived from the identified structure. The method was verified based on the human visual cortex with phase-encoded designs. The functional data were pre-processed with motion correction. The visual cortex brain regions were defined based on a retinotopic mapping method. An eight-connection visual system network was adopted to validate the method. The proposed method was able to identify both the connected visual networks and associated coefficients from the LASSO model selection. Results: The result showed that this method can be applied to identify both network structures and associated causalities between different brain regions. Conclusions: System identification with LASSO model selection algorithm is a powerful approach for fMRI effective connectivity study.

Polyols such as 1,5-pentadiol, 1,6-hexanediol, and 1,2,6-hexanetriol are crucial chemicals, traditionally derived from non-renewable fossil sources. In the pursuit of sustainable development, exploring renewable and environmentally benign routes for their production becomes imperative. Furfural and 5-hydroxymethylfurfural are C5 and C6 biomass-derived platform molecules, which have potential in the synthesis of various polyols through hydrogenation and hydrogenolysis reactions. Currently, there is an extensive body of literature exploring the transformation of biomass-derived furan compounds. However, a comprehensive review of the transformation of furan compounds to polyols is lacking. We summarized the literature from recent years about the ring-opening reaction involved in converting furan compounds to polyols. This article reviews the research progress on the transformation of furfural, furfuryl alcohol, and 2-methylfuran to 1,2-pentadiol, 1,4-pentadiol, 1,5-pentadiol, and 1,2,5-pentanetriol, as well as the transformation of 5-hydroxymethylfurfural to 1,2-hexanediol, 1,6-hexanediol, and 1,2,6-hexanetriol. The effects of the supported Pd, Pt, Ru, Ni, Cu, Co, and bimetallic catalysts are discussed through examining the synergistic effects of the catalysts and the effects of metal sites, acidic/basic sites, hydrogen spillover, etc. Reaction parameters like temperature, hydrogen pressure, and solvent are considered. The ring opening catalytic reaction of furan rings is summarized, and the catalytic mechanisms of single-metal and bimetallic catalysts and their catalytic processes and reaction conditions are discussed and summarized. It is believed that this review will act as a key reference and inspiration for researchers in this field.

In recent years, transdermal drug delivery systems have gained considerable attention for their ability to enhance patient compliance and provide consistent drug release. However, the barrier function of the skin’s outermost layer remains the foremost challenge in these systems. As a result, there is a growing interest in the use of ethosomes as a cutting-edge nanocarrier in drug delivery. This review presents the concept and mechanism of action of ethosomes as well as the numerous types and preparation techniques available. It also discusses the significance of characterization methods and how they impact ethosomal properties along with recent advancements and applications in the realm of transdermal drug delivery. Ethosomes exhibit tremendous potential for the pharmaceutical industry, and optimizing preparation methods, performing comprehensive property studies, and exploring their applications are critical areas for future research.

To explore the mitogenome characteristics of Tetratomidae and the phylogenetic position of this family in Tenebrionoidea, the mitogenome of Penthe kochi Mařan, 1940 was sequenced, annotated, and analyzed. The P. kochi mitogenome is consistent with Tenebrionoidea species in gene length, genomic organization, codon usage, and secondary structures of transfer genes (tRNAs). Most protein-coding genes (PCGs) originate with a typical ATN start codon, except nad1 and nad3, which start with TTG. In total, 10 PCGs are terminated with complete stop codon TAA and TAG, while cox1, cox2, and nad 4 contain an incomplete stop codon T-. Among the 13 PCGs, nad2 (Pi = 0.282) has the most diverse nucleotide composition, and cox2 is the most conserved gene with the lowest value (Pi = 0.154). The Ka/Ks ratio of cox1 (0.076) and cox2 (0.124) has a lower value. All the tRNAs can be folded in a typical clover-leaf secondary structure, except trnS1, which lacked a dihydrouridine arm. And phylogenetic analyses were performed based on 13 PCGs using the Bayesian inference (BI) method. The results showed that the clade of Tenebrionoidea was well separated from the outgroups, and Tetratomidae and Mycetophagidae were not well resolved. Phylogenetic analyses with more mitogenome samplings are needed to resolve the phylogeny of Tenebrionoidea.

Abstract: To investigate the differential expression of the chemokine signaling pathway in lacrimal gland benign lymphoepithelial lesion (LGBLEL) and lacrimal lymphoma, providing insights into the mechanisms underlying malignant transformation and aiding clinical differentiation. Transcriptome analysis was conducted on patients with LGBLEL, lymphoma, and orbital cavernous hemangioma (CH). Three cases of LGBLEL and three cases of lymphoma were randomly selected as control and experimental groups, respectively. A real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) was used to validate genes associated with the chemokine signaling pathway. Immunohistochemical (IHC) staining and quantitative Western blotting (WB) were performed for precise protein quantification. Transcriptome analysis revealed differential expression of the chemokine signaling pathway between the LGBLEL and lymphoma groups, identifying ten differentially expressed genes: CCL17, VAV2, CXCR5, NRAS, HCK, RASGRP2, PREX1, GNB5, ADRBK2, and CCL22. RT-qPCR showed that, compared to the lymphoma group, the LGBLEL group had significantly higher expression of CCL28, CXCL17, HCK, GNB5, NRAS, and VAV2 (p = 0.001, CCR1 (p = 0.002). IHC staining and quantitative analysis confirmed significant differences in protein expression between the groups for CCL28, CCR1, CXCL17, HCK, GNB5, NRAS, and VAV2 (p = 0.003, 0.011, 0.001, 0.024, 0.005, 0.019, and 0.031, respectively). While IHC provided localization, WB offered greater precision. WB revealed that, compared to the lymphoma group, the LGBLEL group exhibited significantly higher expression of CCL28, CXCL17, HCK, GNB5, NRAS, and VAV2 (p = 0.012, 0.005, 0.009, 0.011, 0.008, and 0.003, respectively) and lower expression of CCR1 (p = 0.014). The chemokine signaling pathway plays a role in the malignant transformation of LGBLEL. The decreased expression of CCL28 and CXCL17, coupled with the increased expression of CCR1, may be linked to the progression of LGBLEL into lymphoma.

The purpose of this study was to identify the correlates of depressive symptoms and the prevalence of depression, distress, and demoralization among patients with cancer in Taiwan in relation to their sociodemographics. A cross-sectional study design with convenience sampling was used to recruit 191 consecutive patients with cancer from the Cancer Center of a teaching hospital in northern Taiwan. Multiple linear regression was applied to analyze the determinants of depressive symptoms. The prevalence rates of depression (including suspected cases), distress, and demoralization were 17.8%, 36.1%, and 32.5%, respectively. The regression model explained 42.2% of the total variance, with significant predictors including marital status, life dependence, comorbidity, demoralization, and distress. The results demonstrated that higher levels of distress and demoralization were associated with more depressive symptoms. Demoralization and distress played vital roles in moderating depressive symptoms among patients with cancer. Nursing interventions should integrate appropriate mental health services, such as alleviating distress and demoralization, to prevent the occurrence of depression in patients with cancer.

Yellow nail syndrome (YNS) is a rare clinical syndrome characterized by nail bed changes, pulmonary involvement, and lymphatic drainage disorders. Pulmonary involvement usually manifests as bronchiectasis, bronchiolitis, and pleural effusion. There are few studies on yellow nail syndrome combined with opportunistic infection. Here, we report a case of clinically diagnosed YNS combined with Nocardia cyriacigeorgica infection and the course of treatment used, which can provide some useful information for clinicians to better understand this rare illness.

The topography measurement accuracy of coherence scanning interferometry (CSI) suffers from the local characteristic of micro-structured surfaces, such as local surface slopes. A cylindrical reference artefact made of single-mode fiber with high roundness and low roughness has been proposed in this manuscript to traceably investigate the surface tilting induced measurement deviations using coherence scanning interferometry with high NA objectives. A feed-forward neural network (FF-NN) is designed and trained to model and thereafter compensate the systematic measurement deviations due to local surface tilting. Experimental results have verified that the FF-NN approach can well enhance the accuracy of the CSI for radius measurement of cylindrical samples up to 0.3%. Further development of the FF-NN for modelling of the measurement errors in CSI due to the optical properties of surfaces including areal roughness is outlined.

Microbial electrochemical cells (MxCs) offer a sustainable approach for wastewater treatment and energy recovery by harnessing the electroactive properties of microorganisms. This study explores the enrichment of Geobacter species on anode biofilms in single-(S-MxCs) and double-chambered (D-MxCs) MxCs, using domestic wastewater without an external anode potential. Stable current densities were achieved within 10 days for S-MxCs (9.52 ± 0.8 A/m2) and 14 days for D-MxCs (4.28 ± 0.9 A/m2), with S-MxCs showing a superior electrochemical performance. Hydrogen production rates were higher in D-MxCs (14.93 ± 0.66 mmol H2/L/day) compared to S-MxCs (9.46 ± 0.8 mmol H2/L/day), with cumulative production rates of 12.9 ± 1.3 mmol H2/g COD and 6.48 ± 1.4 mmol H2/g COD, respectively. Cyclic voltammetry confirmed enhanced bioelectrocatalytic activity in S-MxCs, while SEM imaging showed denser biofilms on S-MxC anodes. The novelty of this study lies in its demonstration of efficient biofilm development and microbial community resilience under non-potentialized conditions, providing insights that advance the practical application of MxCs in environmental biotechnology.

Background: This study examined the impact of apolipoprotein ɛ4 (APOEɛ4) allele frequency and sex on the phenotype of Alzheimer’s disease (AD). Methods: This post hoc study evaluated the baseline characteristics, cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and neuroimaging biomarkers, and cognition scores collected from 45 patients aged 50–74 years with CSF-biomarker-confirmed mild cognitive impairment or mild dementia due to AD from clinical trial NCT03186989. Results: A phenotypic spectrum was observed from a predominant amyloid and limbic–amnestic phenotype in male APOEɛ4 homozygotes to a predominantly tau, limbic-sparing, and multidomain cognitive impairment phenotype in female APOEɛ4 noncarriers. Amyloid pathology was inversely correlated with tau pathophysiology, glial activation, and synaptic injury, with the strongest associations observed in male APOEɛ4 carriers. Tau pathophysiology was correlated with glial activation, synaptic injury, and neuroaxonal damage, with the strongest correlation observed in female APOEɛ4 noncarriers. Conclusions: These data support the hypothesis that functional glial activation is influenced by apoE isoform and sex and might explain much of the biological and clinical heterogeneity in early clinical AD in those aged 50–74 years. Conclusions are limited because of the retrospective nature and small sample size. Trial Registration: Clinical Trial NCT03186989.

Background: Consistent use of effective contraceptives is directly associated with a lower risk of unintended pregnancies, a significant public health burden in the U.S. The Asian American population is heterogeneous and fast-growing. However, patterns and disparities in contraceptive use among Asian American women, particularly within racial/ethnic subgroups, have been understudied, hindering effective family planning. Objectives: This study aimed to identify the prevalence of contraceptive use and its pattern in Asian American women using the 2015–2016 California Health and Interview Survey (CHIS) data, with a focus on different Asian ethnic subgroups. Study Design: A composite score of acculturation level (0–5) was created based on place of birth, years in the U.S., and language spoken at home. Data on demographics, self-rated health, contraceptive use, and related information were collected from women aged 18–44 years who were at risk of unintended pregnancy. Adjusted multivariable logistic regressions were conducted to examine contraceptive use and patterns in relation to race/ethnicity and other factors. Results: Over 18.20% of the overall sample (pop estimated N = 16,177,759) were Asian Americans, and among them, 24.62% were Chinese, followed by other Asian subgroups (28.83%), Filipina (25.49%), Korean (11.25%), and Vietnamese (9.80%). Overall, Filipina, Korean, and Vietnamese women were less likely to use contraception compared to their non-Hispanic White (NHW) peers, whereas acculturation level was positively associated with contraceptive use. Among different types of contraceptives, Filipina, Korean, and Vietnamese women were less likely to use long-acting reversible contraceptives compared to NHW. Such racial/ethnic disparities were not observed with less or moderately effective contraceptives. Conclusions: Patterns of contraceptive use and associated disparities varied among Asian American subgroups. Providers working with Asian American women should be aware of these racial disparities in contraceptive use and seek ways to address barriers to effective contraception use in this diverse population in order to provide culturally competent family planning services.

This study aims to provide an understanding of the preferences of student tourists regarding service attributes related to domestic accommodation. To clarify how lodging firms formulate policies for the student travel market, a “Relative to an Identified Distribution” (RIDIT) analysis in which responses are treated as ordinal data instead of equally spaced data is performed to examine the Likert-scale data obtained from 296 university students in Taiwan. In our RIDIT analytical results, respondents’ preferences are sorted in descending importance. Of the examined attributes, “Cleanliness of rooms” is the attribute most prioritized by the students, followed by “Located in a safe neighborhood/feeling safe in the room” and “Close to scenic area for meeting the trip requirement”. The attribute least prioritized by the students is “Interaction with other guests”. This analysis provides conclusions that differ from those obtained through commonly used techniques including the arithmetic average and exploratory factor analysis. The preference rankings indicate that managers should focus on the most prioritized service attributes and implement the necessary measures to enhance their service quality and maximize customer satisfaction.

This review critically examines the integration of Virtual Reality (VR) and Augmented Reality (AR) in medical training across Low- and Middle-Income Countries (LMICs), offering a novel perspective by combining quantitative analysis with qualitative insights from medical students in Egypt and Ghana. Through a systematic review process, 17 peer-reviewed studies published between 2010 and 2023 were analysed. Altogether, these studies involved a total of 887 participants. The analysis reveals a growing interest in VR and AR applications for medical training in LMICs with a peak in published articles in 2023, indicating an expanding research landscape. A unique contribution of this review is the integration of feedback from 35 medical students assessed through questionnaires, which demonstrates the perceived effectiveness of immersive technologies over traditional 2D illustrations in understanding complex medical concepts. Key findings highlight that VR and AR technologies in medical training within LMICs predominantly focus on surgical skills. The majority of studies focus on enhancing surgical training, particularly general surgery. This emphasis reflects the technology’s strong alignment with the needs of LMICs, where surgical skills training is often a priority. Despite the promising applications and expanding interest in VR and AR, significant challenges such as accessibility and device limitations remain, demonstrating the need for ongoing research and integration with traditional methods to fully leverage these technologies for effective medical education. Therefore, this review provides a comprehensive analysis of existing VR and AR applications, their evaluation methodologies, and student perspectives to address educational challenges and enhance healthcare outcomes in LMICs.

Black soldier fly larvae (BSFL) treatment offers a promising avenue for manure valorization. However, there is a lack of larval density studies and ton-scale exploration in swine manure bioconversion. This study delves into the efficiency of larval fatty acid (FA) bioconversion, examining the impact of larval density on a kilogram scale and extending the analysis to a ton scale. Across a range of 50 to 600 larvae/kg, the larval FA content decreased from 15.3% to 7.85%. The peak larval FA yield, at 3.04% (based on manure dry matter), occurred at a density of 200 larvae/kg. Both low (50 larvae/kg) and high (600 larvae/kg) densities adversely affected BSFL bioconversion performance. Dominant larval FAs included C12:0 (39.7%), C16:1 (24.2%), C18:1 (17.5%), and C16:0 (8.3%). The scaling-up process maintained a consistent larval FA content and composition but resulted in decreased larvae FA yield due to increased larval mortality. Ultimately, each ton of swine manure yielded 12.4 kg of fresh larvae or 0.71 kg of larval FA components, corresponding to a 1.14% larval FA yield. This study underscores the feasibility of upscaling swine manure treatment using BSFL for FA bioconversion and emphasizes the necessity for large-scale studies to enhance larval survivorship and bioconversion efficiency.

Recent studies have confirmed that melatonin and N6-methyladenosine (m6A) modification can influence bone cell differentiation and bone formation. Melatonin can also regulate a variety of biological processes through m6A modification. Heterogeneous nuclear ribonucleoprotein A2/B1 (hnRNPA2B1) serves as a reader of m6A modification. In this study, we used the hindlimb unloading model as an animal model of bone loss induced by simulated microgravity and used 2D clinorotation to simulate a microgravity environment for cells on the ground. We found that hnRNPA2B1 was downregulated both in vitro and in vivo during simulated microgravity. Further investigations showed that hnRNPA2B1 could promote osteoblast differentiation and that overexpression of hnRNPA2B1 attenuated the suppression of osteoblast differentiation induced by simulated microgravity. We also discovered that melatonin could promote the expression of hnRNPA2B1 under simulated microgravity. Moreover, we found that promotion of osteoblast differentiation by melatonin was partially dependent on hnRNPA2B1. Therefore, this research revealed, for the first time, the role of the melatonin/hnRNPA2B1 axis in osteoblast differentiation under simulated microgravity. Targeting this axis may be a potential protective strategy against microgravity-induced bone loss and osteoporosis.

Porcine sapelovirus (PSV) is a new pathogen that negatively impacts the pig industry in China. Affected pigs experience severe diarrhea and even death. Vaccination is used to control disease outbreaks, and sensitive diagnostic methods that can distinguish infected animals from vaccinated animals (DIVA) are essential for monitoring the effectiveness of disease control programs. Tests based on the detection of the nonstructural protein (NSP) 3AB are reliable indicators of viral replication in infected and vaccinated animals. In this study, the recombinant PSV 3AB protein was expressed by a prokaryotic expression system, and an indirect ELISA method was established. Serum samples from healthy animals, immunized animals, and infected animals were evaluated. The ELISA method identified 3AB with high sensitivity (99.78%) and specificity (100.0%), and no cross-reaction was observed with serum antibodies against porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (PRRSV), infection with classical swine fever virus (CSFV), pseudorabies virus (PRV), bovine viral diarrhea virus (BVDV), porcine epidemic diarrhea virus (PEDV), or foot-and-mouth disease virus (FMDV). The ELISA method described here can effectively distinguish infected and vaccinated animals and is an important inexpensive tool for monitoring serum and controlling PSV.

In the era of antiretroviral therapy (ART), mortality among people living with the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) has significantly decreased, yet the population of people living with HIV remains substantial. Among people living with HIV (PLWH), HIV-associated lymphoma (HAL) has surpassed Kaposi’s sarcoma to become the most common tumor in this population in developed countries. However, there remains a dearth of comprehensive and systematic understanding regarding HIV-associated lymphomas. This review aims to shed light on the changes in the immune system among PLWH and the characteristics of the immune microenvironment in HIV-associated lymphoma, with a specific focus on the immune system’s role in these individuals. Additionally, it seeks to explore recent advancements in immunotherapy for the treatment of HIV-associated lymphoma, intending to enhance strategies for immunotherapy in this specific population.

Dermatan sulfate and chondroitin sulfate are dietary supplements that can be utilized as prophylactics against thrombus formation. Low-molecular-weight dermatan sulfate (LMWDS) is particularly advantageous due to its high absorbability. The enzymatic synthesis of low-molecular-weight dermatan sulfates (LMWDSs) using chondroitin B lyase is a sustainable and environmentally friendly approach to manufacturing. However, the industrial application of chondroitin B lyases is severely hampered by their low catalytic activity. To improve the activity, a semi-rational design strategy of engineering the substrate-binding domain of chondroitin B lyase was performed based on the structure. The binding domain was subjected to screening of critical residues for modification using multiple sequence alignments and molecular docking. A total of thirteen single-point mutants were constructed and analyzed to assess their catalytic characteristics. Out of these, S90T, N103C, H134Y, and R159K exhibited noteworthy enhancements in activity. This study also examined combinatorial mutagenesis and found that the mutant H134Y/R159K exhibited a substantially enhanced catalytic activity of 1266.74 U/mg, which was 3.21-fold that of the wild-type one. Molecular docking revealed that the enhanced activity of the mutant could be attributed to the formation of new hydrogen bonds and hydrophobic interactions with the substrate as well as neighbor residues. The highly active mutant would benefit the utilization of chondroitin B lyase in pharmaceuticals and functional foods.

Ophiocordyceps sinensis (Berk.) is a complex is formed by Hepialidae larvae and Hirsutella sinensis. Infestation by H. sinensis, interaction with host larvae, and fruiting body development are three crucial processes affecting the formation of O. sinensis. However, research on the molecular mechanism of O. sinensis formation has been hindered by the lack of effective genetic transformation protocols. Therefore, Agrobacterium tumefaciens-mediated transformation (ATMT) was adopted to genetically transform two H. sinensis strains and optimize the transformation conditions. The results revealed that the most suitable Agrobacterium strain for H. sinensis transformation was AGL1, and that the surfactant Triton X-100 could also induce ATMT, although less effectively than acetosyringone (AS). In addition, the endogenous promoters of H. sinensis genes had a stronger ability to drive the expression of the target gene than did the exogenous promoter. The optimal transformation conditions were as follows: AS and hygromycin B concentrations of 100 μM and 50 μg/mL, respectively; A. tumefaciens OD600 of 0.4; cocultivation at 18 °C for 24 h; and H. sinensis used within three passages. The results lay a foundation for the functional study of key regulatory genes involved in the formation of O. sinensis.