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Introduction: IgG4-related disease (IgG4-RD) is a multiorgan autoimmune disorder that causes irreversible injury. Deteriorated kidney functions are common but easily ignored complications associated with IgG4-RD. Yet the clinical manifestations and prognosis of this specific entity have not been fully illustrated., Method: Three hundred fifty patients with IgG4-RD were retrospectively enrolled and divided into 119 IgG4-RD with chronic kidney disease (IgG4-RD CKD+) and 231 IgG4-RD without CKD (IgG4-RD CKD-). Demographic clinical and laboratory characteristics and survival of two cohorts were compared using restricted cubic splines, logistic and Cox regression, and Kaplan-Meier analysis. A nomogram was generated for calculating the probability of CKD in IgG4-RD., Results: The spectrum of organ involvement was different between IgG4-RD CKD+ and CKD- cohorts (p<0.001). Lung (26.89%) and retroperitoneum (18.49%) involvement were more common in the IgG4-RD CKD+ cohort. Increased serum potassium and phosphorus, reduced calcium levels, and hypocomplementemia (all p<0.05) were observed in IgG4-RD CKD+. Restricted cubic splines revealed a U-shaped plot regarding associations between serum potassium and CKD. Kaplan-Meier analysis demonstrated significantly lower long-term survival rates in IgG4-RD patients with kidney function at CKD stages 4-5. Cox regression revealed declined kidney functions (G4 HR 6.537 (95% CI: 1.134-37.675)) associated with increased all-cause mortality in IgG4-RD patients. A nomogram was constructed to predict CKD in IgG4-RD promptly with a discrimination (C-index) of 0.846., Conclusions: CKD in IgG4-RD was associated with poor outcomes and electrolyte disturbances. Patients with IgG4-RD should be aware of possible deterioration in kidney function. The nomogram proposed would help to identify the subtle possibility of CKD in IgG4-RD. Key points • IgG4-related diseases with deteriorated kidney function have specific clinical and laboratory characteristics. • It is crucial to recognize and address the negative impact of deteriorating kidney function in IgG4-related diseases to prevent further harm. • The nomogram proposed would help to identify subtle kidney involvement by evaluating the possibility of CKD in IgG4-related diseases., (© 2023. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to International League of Associations for Rheumatology (ILAR).)

Objective: To analyze the development status and trend of related research in the health management of hyperuricemia and provide a theoretical basis for clinical treatment., Methods: A bibliometric analysis was conducted on hyperuricemia health management research data from 2000 to 2024 using the Web Science Core Collection database, PubMed, and SINOMED. A total of 789 articles were evaluated for specific characteristics, such as year of publication, journal, author, institution, country/region, reference, and keyword. The VOSviewer was used for co-author, co-occurrence, co-citation, and network visualization. Important sub-topics identified by bibliometric characteristics were discussed and reviewed., Results: The number of articles published in the last 24 years has generally followed a year-on-year trend, and the total number of papers published is increasing. Over 200 affiliations from 70 countries and regions contributed papers, and PLOS ONE has the highest number of linked publications. Dalbeth N, is the author with the most publications, with an H-index of 17. Hyperuricemia, gout, management, prevalence, allopurinol, risk, and other keywords were often used. Researchers formed mature teams, and the teams' study directions intersect and are comparable. However, these teams demonstrated a lack of communication and coordination., Conclusions: This study highlights research hotspots, global cooperation models, and emerging frontiers in hyperuricemia, focusing on uric acid control, disease screening, health education, and epidemiological investigation in hyperuricemia-associated complications over the past two decades. However, there is still a lack of standardized management processes and systems, and the communication between research teams needs to be enhanced. Key Points • The study analyzed hyperuricemia health management research data from 2000 to 2024 using the Web Science Core Collection database, PubMed, and SINOMED, evaluating 789 articles and discussing key sub-topics using VOSviewer. • Over 200 articles from 70 countries, including PLOS ONE, have been published over the past 24 years, focusing on hyperuricemia, gout, management, prevalence, allopurinol risk, etc. • Our study outlines research hotspots, global cooperation models, and emerging hyperuricemia frontiers, emphasizing the need for standardized management processes and improved communication between research teams., Competing Interests: Compliance with ethical standards. Ethics approval: Not applicable. Disclosures: None., (© 2024. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to International League of Associations for Rheumatology (ILAR).)

The colored dyes are extensively applied in diverse industrial setups such as textiles, paper, leather, and cosmetics. The unutilized dyes are released in the waste and pose a serious menace to the environment, ecological balance, and human health. Because of their chemical nature, they are extremely resistant to common methods of treatment and often persist in the aquatic environment. A sustainable and eco-friendly approach for treating dye-contaminated wastewater is "bioremediation." This manuscript aims to discuss the exclusive role of diversified microorganisms and plants, immobilized microbial cells/enzymes, microbial consortia, nanomaterials, and combination approaches in the bioremediation of dyes. It also provides a comprehensive understanding of different bio-remedial technologies used to remove dyes from wastewater. In addition, the underlying mechanisms affecting the efficacy of bio-remedial technologies, the latest breakthroughs, challenges, and potential solutions in scaling up, and prospects in this area are also explored. We also detail the noteworthiness of genetic engineering in different bioremediation technologies to solve the issues associated with dye contamination in wastewater and its removal from the environment., Competing Interests: Declarations. Competing interests: The authors declare no competing interests., (© 2024. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Nature Switzerland AG.)

Lake ecosystems in northern Pakistan are the most critical resources that maintain and regulate water flow for downstream agricultural, domestic, industrial, and ecological processes. One consequence of these processes is that ecosystems deposit heavy metals (HMs), where lake stagnant conditions result in high vulnerability of water resources. For this purpose, the present study examined HMs such as cadmium (Cd), chromium (Cr), cobalt (Co), iron (Fe), manganese (Mn), nickel (Ni), lead (Pb), and zinc (Zn) concentrations in high-altitude lakes (HAL) sediments of Mansehra district, northern Pakistan. Sediment samples were collected from the five HAL. This study used HM concentrations in lake sediments for the pollution factors such as contamination factor (C f ), pollution load index (PLI), sediment pollution index (SPI), ecological risk assessment (ERA), and risk index (RI). Among HMs, Fe showed the uppermost levels of 1410 mg/kg in lake sediment, while Cd with lowermost levels of 1.05 mg/kg. Results revealed that most HM concentrations in HAL sediments were within the threshold of sediments quality guidelines (SQGs), except for Cd. Among lakes, the sediments of Siri Lake showed higher contamination of HMs than others. Siri Lake sediments also showed higher C f , PLI, ERA, and RI values than others. The majority of HMs in HAL sediments showed no contamination, except for Cd (considerable) and Pb (moderate) levels to the exposed aquatic ecosystem. This study revealed that 95% of sediment samples in HAL were noted low to medium-level risks to the exposed aquatic communities. Statistical and geospatial analyses revealed that geogenic sources of contamination are a significant contributor to HM contamination of HAL sediments compared to others., Competing Interests: Declarations Ethics approval Not applicable. Consent to participate All authors reviewed and approved the final manuscript. Consent for publication All authors are approved for this publication. Conflict of interest The authors declare no competing interests., (© 2024. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Nature Switzerland AG.)

D-allulose is a rare monosaccharide and a C-3 epimer of D-fructose. It has physiological functions, such as antihyperglycemic, obesity-preventing, neuroprotective, and reactive oxygen species (ROS) scavenging effects, making it an ideal sugar substitute. The synthesis methods for D-allulose include chemical synthesis and biosynthesis. Chemical synthesis requires strict reaction conditions and tends to produce byproducts. Biosynthesis is mainly an enzymatic process. Enzymatic catalysis for the conversion of starch or glycerol to D-allulose is performed mainly by enzymes such as isoamylase (IA), glucose isomerase (GI), D-allulose 3-epimerase (DPE), D-allulose-6-phosphate 3-epimerase (A6PE), D-allulose 6-phosphate phosphatase (A6PP), ribitol 2-dehydrogenase (RDH), glycerophosphate kinase (GK), glycerophosphate oxidase (GPO), and dihydroxyacetone phosphate (DHAP)-dependent aldolase. Biosynthesis is a more energy-efficient process, producing fewer harmful by-products and pollutants, and significantly reducing negative environmental impacts. Furthermore, the specific catalytic activity of enzymes facilitates the production of compounds of higher purity, thereby facilitating the isolation and purification of the products. It has thus become the main method for producing D-allulose. This article reviews the progress in research on the biosynthetic production of D-allulose, focusing on the enzymes involved and their enzymatic properties, and discusses the production prospects for D-allulose., (© 2024. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Nature B.V.)

Coal, a sedimentary rock harbours a complex microbial community that plays a significant role in its formation and characteristics. However, coal metagenome sequencing and studies were less, limiting our understanding of this complex ecosystem. This study aimed to reconstruct high-quality metagenome-assembled genomes (MAGs) from the coal sample collected in the Neyveli mine to explore the unrevealed diversity of the coal microbiome. Using Illumina sequencing, we obtained high-quality raw reads in FASTQ format. Subsequently, de novo assembly and binning with metaWRAP software facilitated the reconstruction of coal MAGs. Quality assessment using CheckM identified 10 High-Quality MAGs (HQ MAGs), 7 medium-quality MAGs (MQ MAGs), and 6 low-quality MAGs (LQ MAGs). Further analysis using GTDB-Tk revealed four HQ MAGs as known species like Dermacoccus abyssi, Sphingomonas aquatilis, Acinetobacter baumannii, and Burkholderia cenocepacia. The remaining six HQ MAGs were classified as Comamonas, Arthrobacter, Noviherbaspirillum, Acidovorax, Oxalicibacterium, and Bordetella and designated as novel genomes by the validation of digital DNA-DNA hybridization (dDDH). Phylogenetic analysis and further pangenome analysis across the phylogenetic groups revealed a similar pattern with a high proportion of cloud genes. We further analysed the functional potential of these MAGs and closely related genomes using COG. The comparative functional genomics revealed that novel genomes are highly versatile, potentially reflecting adaptations to the coal environment. BlastKOALA was used to conduct a detailed analysis of the metabolic pathways associated with the MAGs. This study highlights the comparative genomic analysis of novel coal genomes with their closely related genomes to understand the evolutionary relationships and functional properties., (© 2024. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Nature B.V.)

In the spectrum of breast malignancies, triple-negative breast cancer is the most widely spreading subtype of breast cancer due to a low availability of therapeutic remedies. Recently, antibody-drug conjugates dramatically resolved the landscape for the treatment of triple-negative breast cancer. This review mainly focuses on the chemistry, structure, mechanism of action, and role of antibody-drug conjugates in triple-negative breast cancer. Datopotecan Deruxtecan (Dato-DXd) is a new-generation ADC showing encouraging results for TNBC. In this review, we have also emphasized TROP-2-directed Datopotamab deruxtecan ADCs to treat triple-negative breast cancer, its synthesis, mechanism of action, pharmacokinetics, pharmacodynamics, adverse events, and their ongoing clinical trials., (© 2024. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Science+Business Media, LLC, part of Springer Nature.)

Purpose: Solitary fibrous tumors (SFTs) are a rare type of mesenchymal tumors. The World Health Organization reclassified SFTs in 2021. Currently, guidelines concerning treatment and follow-up are lacking. We performed a retrospective case series with reclassification of SFTs, according to the most recent WHO classification, to explore tumor-behavior. The purpose is to build a framework for long-term patient surveillance., Methodology: A retrospective case study was performed according to the PROCESS guidelines. Inclusion criteria were: patients operated on between 2013 and 2023 in two neurosurgical centers with the diagnosis of 'hemangiopericytoma' or SFT on histopathological stains. Patients were excluded if the original stains of the primary tumor were unavailable. The following demographic, radiologic and therapeutic parameters were included in the review: age, sex, original and reclassified anatomopathological diagnosis, location, extent of resection, use of postoperative radiotherapy, location of and time to recurrence, location of-and time to metastasis, and survival. Histological material was re-examined by experienced neuropathologists., Results: Ten patients were identified with a solitary fibrous tumor of the central nervous system (CNS) (three females) between 2013 and 2023. Age at diagnosis ranged from 38 up to 81. Eight patients were treated by gross total resection (GTR) and postoperative radiotherapy (RT) was applied in five cases. Initial WHO grading consisted of three grade I, two grade II, and six grade III lesions. Reclassification according to the WHO 2021 classification of CNS tumors resulted in seven reclassifications, all towards a lower grade. Four patients showed local recurrence, six to eight years after diagnosis, and five patients developed systemic metastases, nine to 13 years after diagnosis., Discussion: Although rare, SFT should be included in the differential diagnosis of intracranial tumors with extra-axial growth patterns. The current histological grade according to the WHO 2021 does not seem to account for local recurrence rate or systemic metastasis. When a solitary fibrous tumor is presumed, gross total resection is the recommended treatment. Lifelong patient follow-up is necessary due to the risk of delayed recurrence and distant metastasis, even after gross-total resection. We would advocate for the use of CT thorax-abdomen or full body PET in the detection of systemic metastases at diagnosis and during follow-up, however optimal intervals remain unclear., (© 2024. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer-Verlag GmbH Austria, part of Springer Nature.)

Hyperuricemia, defined as elevated serum concentrations of uric acid (UA) above 416 µmol L -1 , is related to the development of cardiometabolic disorders, probably via induction of endothelial dysfunction. Hyperuricemia causes endothelial dysfunction via induction of cell apoptosis, oxidative stress, and inflammation; however, it's interfering with insulin signaling and decreased endothelial nitric oxide (NO) availability, resulting in the development of endothelial insulin resistance, which seems to be a major underlying mechanism for hyperuricemia-induced endothelial dysfunction. Here, we elaborate on how hyperuricemia induces endothelial insulin resistance through the disruption of insulin-stimulated endothelial NO synthesis. High UA concentrations decrease insulin-induced NO synthesis within the endothelial cells by interfering with insulin signaling at either the receptor or post-receptor levels (i.e., proximal and distal steps). At the proximal post-receptor level, UA impairs the function of the insulin receptor substrate (IRS) and phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K)/protein kinase B (Akt) in the insulin signaling pathway. At the distal level, high UA concentrations impair endothelial NO synthase (eNOS)-NO system by decreasing eNOS expression and activity as well as by direct inactivation of NO. Clinically, UA-induced endothelial insulin resistance is translated into impaired endothelial function, impaired NO-dependent vasodilation, and the development of systemic insulin resistance. UA-lowering drugs may improve endothelial function in subjects with hyperuricemia., (© 2021. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer-Verlag GmbH Germany, part of Springer Nature.)

Stroke in China is distinguished by its high rates of morbidity, recurrence, disability, and mortality. The ultra-early administration of rtPA is essential for restoring perfusion in acute ischemic stroke, though it concurrently elevates the risk of hemorrhagic transformation. High-mobility group box 1 (HMGB1) emerges as a pivotal player in neuroinflammation after brain ischemia and ischemia-reperfusion. Released passively by necrotic cells and actively secreted, including direct secretion of HMGB1 into the extracellular space and packaging of HMGB1 into intracellular vesicles by immune cells, glial cells, platelets, and endothelial cells, HMGB1 represents a prototypical damage-associated molecular pattern (DAMP). It is intricately involved in the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis, thromboembolism, and detrimental inflammation during the early phases of ischemic stroke. Moreover, HMGB1 significantly contributes to neurovascular remodeling and functional recovery in later stages. Significantly, HMGB1 mediates hemorrhagic transformation by facilitating neuroinflammation, directly compromising the integrity of the blood-brain barrier, and enhancing MMP9 secretion through its interaction with rtPA. As a systemic inflammatory factor, HMGB1 is also implicated in post-stroke depression and an elevated risk of stroke-associated pneumonia. The role of HMGB1 extends to influencing the pathogenesis of ischemia by polarizing various subtypes of immune and glial cells. This includes mediating excitotoxicity due to excitatory amino acids, autophagy, MMP9 release, NET formation, and autocrine trophic pathways. Given its multifaceted role, HMGB1 is recognized as a crucial therapeutic target and prognostic marker for ischemic stroke and hemorrhagic transformation. In this review, we summarize the structure and redox properties, secretion and pathways, regulation of immune cell activity, the role of pathophysiological mechanisms in stroke, and hemorrhage transformation for HMGB1, which will pave the way for developing new neuroprotective drugs, reduction of post-stroke neuroinflammation, and expansion of thrombolysis time window., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

Ror-family receptors, Ror1 and Ror2, are type I transmembrane proteins that possess an extracellular cysteine-rich domain, which is conserved throughout the Frizzled-family receptors and is a binding site for Wnt ligands. Both Ror1 and Ror2 function primarily as receptors or co-receptors for Wnt5a to activate the β-catenin-independent, non-canonical Wnt signaling, thereby regulating cell polarity, migration, proliferation, and differentiation depending on the context. Ror1 and Ror2 are expressed highly in many tissues during embryogenesis but minimally or scarcely in adult tissues, with some exceptions. In contrast, Ror1 and Ror2 are expressed in many types of cancers, and their high expression often contributes to the progression of the disease. Therefore, Ror1 and Ror2 have been proposed as potential targets for the treatment of the malignancies. In this review, we provide an overview of the regulatory mechanisms of Ror1/Ror2 expression and discuss how Wnt5a-Ror1/Ror2 signaling is mediated and regulated by their interacting proteins., (© 2024. The Society for In Vitro Biology.)

Background: Central obesity is a risk factor for chronic kidney disease (CKD). However, the exact correlation between the cardiometabolic index (CMI), an indicator of central obesity, and CKD remains unclear. Here, we aimed to investigate the correlation between the CMI and CKD in the general American population., Methods: This cross-sectional study involved 64,313 members of the general population (≥ 20 years of age) with data in the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) 1999-2020. The individuals were grouped into three categories by CMI tertile: T1 group (n = 7,029), T2 group (n = 7,356), and T3 group (n = 7,380). Logistic regression analysis was performed, with NHANES recommended weights, to assess the association between the CMI and CKD., Results: A total of 21,765 participants were included; the overall prevalence of CKD was 12.2%. From the low to the high CMI tertile, the prevalence of CKD increased from 8.9% to 16.0% (P < 0.001). After full adjustment for confounders, the higher tertile of CMI (OR: 1.08, 95% CI: 1.03 - 1.13, P = 0.002) had the higher risk of CKD. Compared with the T1 group, the groups with higher CMI levels had a higher CKD risk (T2: OR: 1.01, 95%CI: 0.87-1.18, P = 0.812; T3: OR: 1.22, 95%CI: 1.05-1.43, P = 0.013)., Conclusions: Higher CMI was independently associated with higher CKD risk in the general population., (© 2023. The Author(s).)

Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is a chronic and progressive interstitial lung disease that has been well-reported in the medical literature. Its incidence has risen, particularly in light of the recent COVID-19 pandemic. Conventionally, IPF is treated with antifibrotic drugs-pirfenidone and nintedanib-along with other drugs for symptomatic treatments, including corticosteroids, immunosuppressants, and bronchodilators based on individual requirements. Several drugs and biologicals such as fluorofenidone, thymoquinone, amikacin, paclitaxel nifuroxazide, STAT3, and siRNA have recently been evaluated for IPF treatment that reduces collagen formation and cell proliferation in the lung. There has been a great deal of research into various treatment options for pulmonary fibrosis using advanced delivery systems such as liposomal-based nanocarriers, chitosan nanoparticles, PLGA nanoparticles, solid lipid nanocarriers, and other nanoformulations such as metal nanoparticles, nanocrystals, cubosomes, magnetic nanospheres, and polymeric micelles. Several clinical trials are also ongoing for advanced IPF treatments. This article elaborates on the pathophysiology of IPF, its risk factors, and different advanced drug delivery systems for treating IPF. Although extensive preclinical data is available for these delivery systems, the clinical performance and scale-up studies would decide their commercial translation., (© 2024. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to American Association of Pharmaceutical Scientists.)

Background: Cancer-associated fibroblasts exhibit diversity and have several subtypes. The underlying relationship between the diversity of cancer-associated fibroblasts and their effect on gastric cancer progression remains unclear. In this study, mesenchymal stem cells were differentiated into cancer-associated fibroblasts with gastric cancer cell lines; clinical specimens were used to further investigate the impact of cancer-associated fibroblast diversity on cancer progression., Methods: Nine gastric cancer cell lines (NUGC3, NUGC4, MKN7, MKN45, MKN74, FU97, OCUM1, NCI-N87, and KATOIII) were used to induce mesenchymal stem cell differentiation into cancer-associated fibroblasts. The cancer-associated fibroblasts were classified based on ACTA2 and PDPN expression. Cell function analysis was used to examine the impact of cancer-associated fibroblast subtypes on cancer cell phenotype. Tissue samples from 97gastric patients who underwent gastrectomy were used to examine the clinical significance of each subtype classified according to cancer-associated fibroblast expression., Results: Co-culture of mesenchymal stem cells with nine gastric cancer cell lines revealed different subtypes of ACTA2 and PDPN expression in differentiated cancer-associated fibroblasts. Cancer-associated fibroblast subtypes with high ACTA2 plus PDPN expression levels significantly increased gastric cancer cell migration, invasion, and proliferation. The cancer-associated fibroblast subtype with ACTA2 plus PDPN expression was an independent prognostic factor along with lymph node metastasis for patients who had gastric cancer and were undergoing surgery., Conclusions: Cancer-associated fibroblasts are educated by gastric cancer cells during the development of cancer-associated fibroblast diversity. Differentiated cancer-associated fibroblasts with distinct expression patterns could affect gastric cancer progression and enable prognostic stratification for gastric cancer., (© 2023. Society of Surgical Oncology.)

Musculoskeletal disorders and low back pain (LBP) are common global afflictions, with a higher prevalence observed in females. However, the cause of many LBP cases continues to elude researchers. Current approaches seldom consider differences in male and female spines. Thus, this study aimed to compare the load distribution between male and female spines through finite element modeling. Two finite element models of the spine, one male and one female, were developed, inclusive of sex-specific geometry and material properties. The models consisted of the vertebrae, intervertebral discs (IVD), tendons, surrounding spinal muscles, and thoracolumbar fascia and were subjected to loading conditions simulating flexion and extension. Following extensive validation against published literature, intersegmental rotation, IVD stress, and vertebral body stress were evaluated. The female model demonstrated increased magnitudes for rotation and stresses when compared to the male model. Results suggest that the augmented stresses in the female model indicate an increased load distribution throughout the spine compared to the male model. These findings may corroborate the higher prevalence of LBP in females. This study highlights the importance of using patient- and sex-specific models for patient analyses and care., (© 2023. International Federation for Medical and Biological Engineering.)

Swine dysentery, spirochetal colitis, and salmonellosis are production-limiting enteric diseases of global importance to the swine industry. Despite decades of efforts, mitigation of these diseases still relies on antibiotic therapy. A common knowledge gap among the 3 agents is the early B-cell response to infection in pigs. Thus, this study aimed to characterize the porcine B-cell response to Brachyspira hyodysenteriae, Brachyspira hampsonii (virulent and avirulent strains), Brachyspira pilosicoli, and Salmonella Typhimurium, the agents of the syndromes mentioned above. Immortalized porcine B-cell line derived from a crossbred pig with lymphoma were co-incubated for 8 h with each pathogen, as well as E. coli lipopolysaccharide (LPS) and a sham-inoculum (n = 3/treatment). B-cell viability following treatments was evaluated using trypan blue, and the expression levels of B-cell activation-related genes was profiled using reverse transcription quantitative PCR. Only S. Typhimurium and LPS led to increased B-cell mortality. B. pilosicoli downregulated B-lymphocyte antigen (CD19), spleen associated tyrosine Kinase (syk), tyrosine-protein kinase (lyn), and Tumour Necrosis Factor alpha (TNF-α), and elicited no change in immunoglobulin-associated beta (CD79b) and swine leukocyte antigen class II (SLA-DRA) expression levels, when compared to the sham-inoculated group. In contrast, all other treatments significantly upregulated CD79b and stimulated responses in other B-cell downstream genes. These findings suggest that B. pilosicoli does not elicit an immediate T-independent B-cell response, nor does it trigger antigen-presenting mechanisms. All other agents activated at least one trigger within the T-independent pathways, as well as peptide antigen presenting mechanisms. Future research is warranted to verify these findings in vivo., (© 2023. Springer Nature B.V.)

Traumatic brain injury (TBI), as a serious central nervous system disease, can result in severe neurological dysfunction or even disability and death of patients. The early and effective intervention of secondary brain injury can improve the prognosis of TBI. Endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress is one of the main reasons to recover TBI. ER stress inhibition may be beneficial in treating TBI. Sestrin2 is a crucial regulator of ER stress, and its activation can significantly improve TBI. In this paper, we analyze the biological function of sestrin2, the latest findings on ER stress, and the relationship between ER stress and TBI. We elucidate the relationship of sestrin2 inhibiting ER stress via activating the AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK)/mammalian target of rapamycin complex 1 (MTORC1) signaling. Finally, we elaborate on the possible role of sestrin2 in TBI and explain how its activation potentially improves TBI., (© 2023. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Science+Business Media, LLC, part of Springer Nature.)

Biological and environmental factors produce biochemical processes that modify the bone structure. A few studies have attempted to show the adverse biological effects of sun radiation. The bone tissue exposures to infrared and sunlight radiation are analyzed by using focused sound, characterization spectroscopy techniques, and image processing. The study is complemented with a finite element method simulation on temperature behaviors. The crystal morphology on the bone hydroxyapatite and functional groups was characterized by X-ray diffraction and infrared spectroscopy. The infrared spectra confirmed the hydroxyl group of bovine hydroxyapatite, amines, and lipids are also correlated with modifications of the hydroxyapatite. The diffractograms showed the characteristic peaks of hydroxyapatite, with the main intensity at 2θ = 32.02°. Bone samples exposed to sun radiation presented a peak at 2θ = 27.5°, evidencing the possible formation of β-TCP y α-TCP. The analysis with the spectroscopy techniques about the structural changes in the samples suggests interpreting an increase of sound obtained by expanding the exposure time. It is possible to verify that there are some structural changes in the bone samples due to exposure to non-ionizing radiation. These results show an increase in the registered intensity sound correlated with the interpretation of the structural changes of bone. Thanks to the different novel analysis techniques established in the present study, it could establish the changes that experienced the bone structure under different sources of radiation, which will help to better detect scenarios of bone deficiency., (© 2023. International Federation for Medical and Biological Engineering.)

Pheromones mediate species-level communication in the search for mates, nesting, and feeding sites. Although the role of pheromones has long been discussed by various authors, their existence was not proven until the mid-twentieth century when the first sex pheromone was identified. From this finding, much has been speculated about whether this communication mechanism has acted as a regulatory agent in the process of speciation, competition, and sexual selection since it acts as an intraspecific barrier. Chrysomelidae is one of the major Phytophaga lineages, with approximately 40,000 species. Due to this immense diversity the internal relationships remain unstable when analyzed only with morphological data, consequently recent efforts have been directed to molecular analyses to establish clarity for the relationships and found their respective monophyly. Therefore, our goals are twofold 1) to synthesize the current literature on Chrysomelidae sex pheromones and 2) to test whether Chrysomelidae sex pheromones and their chemical structures could be used in phylogenetic analysis for the group. The results show that, although this is the first analysis in Chrysomelidae to use pheromones as a phylogenetic character, much can be observed in agreement with previous analyses, thus confirming that pheromones, when known in their entirety within lineages, can be used as characters in phylogenetic analyses, bringing elucidation to the relationships and evolution of organisms., (© 2023. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Science+Business Media, LLC, part of Springer Nature.)

The occurrence of pharmaceutical compounds in water is a rising issue in the environment. These drugs in the waste may be toxic to aquatic organisms and humans as they disrupt the endocrine system, cause genotoxicity, etc. Several techniques were used for the treatment of pharmaceutical wastewater, such as physical, chemical, physiochemical, and biological processes like adsorption, chemical coagulation, and activated sludge processes, but these techniques possess several merits and demerits, such as higher installation and operation costs. This technique is used to remove color and turbidity; reduce biochemical oxygen demand (BOD), chemical oxygen demand (COD), and total suspended solids (TSS) to permissible limits for reuse of effluent; and prevent diseases caused by pharmaceutical wastewater. This review focuses on the treatment of pharmaceutical wastewater containing drugs like antibiotics, depressants, and hormones, with the activated sludge process having several advantages like good quality effluent and low installation costs., (© 2023. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Nature Switzerland AG.)

Purpose: The incidence of linezolid-induced thrombocytopenia (LIT) has been reported to vary widely across studies. We performed a meta-analysis to identify the risk factors for thrombocytopenia among patients who received linezolid treatment., Methods: The PubMed, Embase and Cochrane Library databases were searched from inception to November 2022 to identify eligible studies. Data on the potential predictors of incidence in LIT were pooled using a random effects model. Sensitivity analyses were performed to determine the robustness of the results when significant heterogeneity was observed., Results: Forty observational studies involving 6454 patients treated with linezolid were included in the analysis. LIT was estimated to occur in 37% of patients. The following important factors were associated with the incidence of LIT: advanced age, body mass index, concurrent renal impairment or liver disease, abnormal laboratory parameters (including white blood cell count, serum creatinine, baseline platelet count, albumin, creatinine clearance rate, and estimated glomerular filtration rate), treatment duration and renal replacement therapy., Conclusions: A variety of risk factors related to the occurrence of LIT were revealed in our analysis. Early identification of these factors could help patients improve clinical outcomes., (© 2023. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer-Verlag GmbH Germany, part of Springer Nature.)

Antibiotic-contaminated water is a crucial issue worldwide. Thus, in this study, the MgFeCa-layered double hydroxides were supported in date palm-derived biochar (B) using co-precipitation, hydrothermal, and co-pyrolysis methods. It closes gaps in composite design for pharmaceutical pollutant removal, advances eco-friendly adsorbents, and advances targeted water cleanup by investigating synthesis methodologies and gaining new insights into adsorption. The prepared B-MgFeCa composites were investigated for tetracycline (TC) adsorption from an aqueous solution. The B-MgFeCa composites synthesized through co-precipitation and hydrothermal methods exhibited better crystallinity, functional groups, and well-developed LDH structure within the biochar matrix. However, the co-pyrolysis method resulted in the LDH structure breakage, leading to the low crystalline composite material. The maximum adsorption of TC onto all B-MgFeCa was obtained at an acidic pH range (4-5). The B-MgFeCa composites produced via hydrothermal and co-pyrolysis methods showed higher and faster TC adsorption than the co-precipitation method. The kinetic results can be better described by Langmuir kinetic and mixed order models at low and high TC concentrations, indicating that the rate-limiting step is mainly associated with active binding sites adsorption. The Sip and Freundlich models showed better fitting with the equilibrium data. The TC removal by B-MgFeCa composites prepared via hydrothermal, the highest estimated uptake which is around 639.76 mg.g -1 according to the Sips model at ambient conditions, and co-pyrolysis was mainly dominated by physical and chemical interactions. The composite obtained via the co-precipitation method adsorbed TC through chemical bonding between surface functional groups with anionic species of TC molecule. The B-MgFeCa composite showed excellent reusability performance for up to five cycles with only a 30% decrease in TC removal efficiency. The results demonstrated that B-MgFeCa composites could be used as promising adsorbent materials for effective wastewater treatment., (© 2023. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer-Verlag GmbH Germany, part of Springer Nature.)

Glioblastoma (GBM) is a malignant cancer that is fatal even after standard therapy and the effects of current available therapeutics are not promising due its complex and evolving epigenetic and genetic profile. The mysteries that lead to GBM intratumoral heterogeneity and subtype transitions are not entirely clear. Systems medicine is an approach to view the patient in a whole picture integrating systems biology and synthetic biology along with computational techniques. Since the GBM oncogenesis involves genetic mutations, various therapies including gene therapeutics based on CRISPR-Cas technique, MicroRNAs, and implanted synthetic cells endowed with synthetic circuits against GBM with neural stem cells and mesenchymal stem cells acting as potential vehicles carrying therapeutics via the intranasal route, avoiding the risks of invasive methods in order to reach the GBM cells in the brain are discussed and proposed in this review. Systems medicine approach is a rather novel strategy, and since the GBM of a patient is complex and unique, thus to devise an individualized treatment strategy to tailor personalized multimodal treatments for the individual patient taking into account the phenotype of the GBM, the unique body health profile of the patient and individual responses according to the systems medicine concept might show potential to achieve optimum effects., (© 2023. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Science+Business Media, LLC, part of Springer Nature.)

Many studies have pointed out that inflammation plays a pivotal role in pathophysiology of acute coronary syndromes (ACS) because several inflammatory molecules impair the endothelial functions in the coronary circulation and promote atherothrombotic events. Recently, many clinical/experimental evidences indicate that elevated plasma levels of uric acid (UA) might be considered a risk factor for developing ACS. It has been reported that elevated UA doses impair physiologic functions of endothelial cells, shifting them toward a pro atherothrombotic phenotype. In the present manuscript, we investigated the relationship between UA plasma levels, inflammatory burden, and extension of coronary atherosclerotic disease in patients with ACS. Patients with a clinical presentation of ACS (ST-elevated and non-ST-elevated myocardial infarction) admitted to the Vanvitelli Catheterization Laboratory at Monaldi Hospital in 2019, before the COVID-19 pandemia, were retrospectively analyzed. Biochemical profile, type of ACS presentation, as well as extension of coronary atherosclerosis were assessed. A total of 132 ACS patients were included in the analysis, and grouped into 3 tertiles according to the UA values (UA < 4.72 mg/dl, UA between 4.72 and 6.15 mg/dl, and UA > 6.15 mg/dl). Patients with UA plasma levels ≥ 6.15 mg/dL showed higher levels of C-reactive protein (mean of 5.1 mg/dL) as compared to patients with lower UA plasma levels. Moreover, the former group of patients showed higher levels of cardiac troponin and CPK, and presented more often with multivessel disease and complex coronary stenosis (type C of Ellis classification). Even though monocentric and with limited sample size, the present study shows that plasma levels of UA and hs-CRP are elevated in ACS patients and are associated with a more severe coronary disease, suggesting a potential role of UA in the pathophysiology of acute coronary events., (© 2023. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Società Italiana di Medicina Interna (SIMI).)

Dasatinib is effective in the treatment of chronic and acute myeloid leukemia, which could cause the side effect of gastrointestinal bleeding by overdose or longtime use. Ruscogenin (RUS) from the traditional Chinese medicine Ophiopogon japonicas could protect endothelial microvascular barrier function. In this study, the therapeutic effect and underlying mechanisms of RUS were investigated on intestinal barrier dysfunction induced by dasatinib. Male C57BL/6 J mice were given three doses of dasatinib (70, 140, 210 mg/kg, ig) and RUS (3, 10, 30 μg/kg, ip) to explore the effect of dasatinib on intestinal barrier and the intervention of RUS. It was proved that dasatinib could reduce intestinal blood flow, inhibit phosphorylation of EGFR family member v-erb-b2 avian erythroblastic leukemia viral oncogene homolog 4 (ErbB4)/YES-associated protein (YAP) and activation of Rho-associated coiled coil-containing protein kinase (ROCK)/phosphorylation of (myosin light chain) MLC. RUS could significantly increase intestinal blood flow, improve intestinal injury, reduce Evans blue leakage and serum content of FITC-dextran 4 kDa, and increase the expression of connexin (ZO-1, Occludin and VE-cadherin). Meanwhile, the in vitro effect of RUS (0.01, 0.1, 1 μM) on the dysfunction of the endothelial barrier was observed in dasatinib (150 nM)-pretreated HUVECs. The results showed that RUS suppressed dasatinib-induced the leakage of Evans blue, and degradation of F-actin and connexin. Furthermore, RUS could significantly increase the phosphorylation of ErbB4 at Tyr1284 site and YAP at Ser397 site, and inhibit ROCK expression and phosphorylation of MLC at Ser19 site in vivo and in vitro. In conclusion, the present research proved that RUS could suppress the side effects of dasatinib-induced intestinal barrier dysfunction by regulating ErbB4/YAP and ROCK/MLC pathways., (© 2023. The Author(s) under exclusive licence to The Japanese Society of Pharmacognosy.)

Human T-cell lymphotropic virus type 1 (HTLV-1) is a retrovirus known to be associated with adult T-cell lymphoma and HTLV-1-associated myelopathy/tropical spastic paraparesis (HAM/TSP). Previous researches and brain imaging techniques have suggested cognitive abnormalities as well as brain damage in individuals infected with this virus. Given the insufficient amount of studies on how this virus can impact the affected person's cognition, we aimed to assess and compare the cognitive abnormalities of HAM/TSP patients, asymptomatic HTLV-1 carriers, and healthy controls. This cross-sectional study was conducted on 51 patients divided into 3 groups; a group of HAM/TSP patients, a group of asymptomatic HTLV-1 carriers, and an uninfected control group. Each group contained 17 members. The cognitive state of the studied population was assessed using the Mini-Mental State Exam (MMSE), Symbol Digit Modalities Test (SDMT), Rey-Osterrieth complex figure test (ROCF), the "Verbal Fluency Test" and the "Trail Making Test" (TMT) components of the Delis-Kaplan executive function system (D-KEFS) test, the Rey Auditory Verbal Learning Test (RAVLT), and digit span memory test. Patients diagnosed with HAM/TSP received significantly lower scores on the SDMT, ROCF, TMT, RAVLT, digit span memory test, and the orientation, calculation, and recall component of the MMSE assessment (p-value < 0.001). In addition, the asymptomatic HTLV-1 carriers obtained lower scores on the SDMT, ROCF, digit span memory test, and the orientation, calculation, and recall component of the MMSE assessment compared to the control group (p-value < 0.001). Overall, the findings suggest that HAM/TSP, or an asymptomatic infection with HTLV-1 could lead to cognitive deficits in the affected individuals. This can further emphasize the importance of assessing the cognitive function and psychiatric abnormalities of those infected with this virus., (© 2023. The Author(s) under exclusive licence to The Journal of NeuroVirology, Inc.)

Malic acid is mainly produced by chemical methods which lead to various environmental sustainability concerns associated with CO 2 emissions and resulting global warming. Since malic acid is naturally synthesized, microorganisms offer an eco-friendly and cost-effective alternative for its production. An additional advantage of microbial production is the synthesis of pure L-form of malic acid. Due to its numerous applications, biotechnologically- produced L-malic acid is a much sought-after platform chemical. Malic acid can be produced by microbial fermentation via oxidative/reductive TCA and glyoxylate pathways. This article elaborates the potential and limitations of high malic acid producing native fungi belonging to Aspergillus, Penicillium, Ustilago and Aureobasidium spp. The utilization of industrial side streams and low value renewable substrates such as crude glycerol and lignocellulosic biomass is also discussed with a view to develop a competitive bio-based production process. The major impediments present in the form of toxic compounds from lignocellulosic residues or synthesized during fermentation along with their remedial measures are also described. The article also focuses on production of polymalic acid from renewable substrates which opens up a cost-cutting dimension in production of this biodegradable polymer. Finally, the recent strategies being employed for its production in recombinant organisms have also been covered., (© 2023. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Nature B.V.)

Mechanically activated factors are important in organogenesis, especially in the formation of secretory organs, such as salivary glands. Piezo-type mechanosensitive ion channel component 1 (Piezo1), although previously studied as a physical modulator of the mechanotransduction, was firstly evaluated on its developmental function in this study. The detailed localization and expression pattern of Piezo1 during mouse submandibular gland (SMG) development were analyzed using immunohistochemistry and RT-qPCR, respectively. The specific expression pattern of Piezo1 was examined in acinar-forming epithelial cells at embryonic day 14 (E14) and E16, which are important developmental stages for acinar cell differentiation. To understand the precise function of Piezo1 in SMG development, siRNA against Piezo1 (siPiezo1) was employed as a loss-of-function approach, during in vitro organ cultivation of SMG at E14 for the designated period. Alterations in the histomorphology and expression patterns of related signaling molecules, including Bmp2, Fgf4, Fgf10, Gli1, Gli3, Ptch1, Shh, and Tgfβ-3, were examined in acinar-forming cells after 1 and 2 days of cultivation. Particularly, altered localization patterns of differentiation-related signaling molecules including Aquaporin5, E-cadherin, Vimentin, and cytokeratins would suggest that Piezo1 modulates the early differentiation of acinar cells in SMGs by modulating the Shh signaling pathway., (© 2023. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer-Verlag GmbH Germany, part of Springer Nature.)

Objective: To describe the clinical characteristics and risk factors of clinical recurrence in interstitial lung disease related to antisynthetase syndrome (ARS-ILD)., Methods: Patients diagnosed as ARS-ILD in Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital between January 2015 and November 2020 were retrospectively analyzed. Clinical information and treatment course were reviewed. The primary endpoint was the disease recurrence, and the secondary point was mortality. Univariate and multivariable Cox regression analyses were performed to identify risk factors for recurrence., Results: Totally, 132 patients with ARS-ILD received immunomodulation treatment from diagnosis. During follow-ups, sixty-nine patients showed recurrence, with a recurrency rate yielding 52.3%. The median duration from treatment initiation to recurrence was 11 (5-18) months. The median tapering course in the recurrence group was 8 (3-12.5) months, which was significantly shorter than the 16 (10-32) months in the no-recurrence group (p < 0.001). Fifty-eight patients experienced recurrence when the glucocorticoids (GC) dose dropped to 10 (9.375-15) mg/day. Twelve patients discontinued GC with a median treatment course of 11.5 (8-16.75) months, and 11 patients developed recurrence after discontinuing GC for 3 (1-4) months. Twelve patients died, with a mortality rate of 9.1%, and recurrence was not associated with increased mortality. The adjusted multivariate analysis showed that age, increased serum lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) level, relatively shorter tapering duration, and inappropriate GC discontinuation were associated with recurrence., Conclusion: Recurrence of ARS-ILD was common during medication intensity reduction. Age, LDH, medication tapering duration, and discontinuation were risk factors for recurrence. Further efforts to reduce recurrence should take into consideration of these factors. Key Points • Recurrence is observed commonly with a recurrency rate 52.3% in patients with interstitial lung disease related to antisynthetase syndrome (ARS-ILD) when glucocorticoids (GC) tapering or discontinuation. • Age, increased serum lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) level, medication tapering duration, and GC discontinuation were identified to be significantly associated with the recurrence of ARS-ILD., (© 2022. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to International League of Associations for Rheumatology (ILAR).)

Purpose: Thrombocytopenia is a major event associated with linezolid (LZD) therapy. Factors affecting LZD-induced thrombocytopenia (LIT) have been reported in previous studies. However, several issues pertaining to LIT have not yet been clarified. In the present study, we used Japanese big data to investigate associated factors and their high-risk combinations that influence LIT., Methods: Patients administered LZD between May 2006 and October 2020 were included in this study. LIT was defined as either a 30% or more reduction from the baseline platelets or platelet values of < 100,000/µL. We evaluated factors affecting LIT and combinations of factors that alter LIT risk according to a decision tree (DT) analysis, a typical machine learning method., Results: We successfully enrolled 1399 patients and LIT occurred in 44.7% of the patients (n = 626). We classified the laboratory data on renal function, LZD duration, age, and body weight (BW) into smaller categories. The results of multivariate analysis showed that prolonged LZD therapy, BW < 45 kg, estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) < 30 mL/min/1.73 m 2 , and dialysis were risk factors for LIT. The DT analysis revealed that the highest risk was a combination of LZD duration ≥ 14 days and eGFR < 30 mL/min/1.73 m 2 ., Conclusions: The present study extracted four risk factors and identified high-risk combinations for LIT. Patients with these risk factors should be closely monitored., (© 2023. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer-Verlag GmbH Germany, part of Springer Nature.)

Objectives: To summarize the pharmacokinetics of linezolid to optimize the dosing regimen in special populations., Methods: A literature search was performed in three largest medical databases, including Embase, Scopus, and PubMed. The main applied keywords were linezolid and pharmacokinetics. Of 3663 retrieved publications in the English language, 35 original research articles, clinical studies, and case reports about linezolid pharmacokinetics in different populations such as pregnant women, pediatrics, elderly subjects, obese people, individuals with organ dysfunction, and critically ill patients were included. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: Dose adjustment is not currently recommended for linezolid in patients with mild to moderate renal or hepatic impairment, older adults, and pregnant women. Although dose adjustment is not recommended in patients with severe renal or hepatic impairment, it should be considered that these patients are more vulnerable to linezolid adverse effects and drug interactions. In pediatrics, reducing the linezolid dosing interval to 8 h is suggested. Despite the lack of sufficient information in obese individuals, dosing based on body weight or use of higher dose seems to be justifiable to prevent sub-therapeutic concentrations. Although dose adjustment of linezolid is not recommended in critically ill patients, administration of linezolid as continuous intravenous infusion is suggested in this population. Blood level monitoring should be considered in populations that are vulnerable to linezolid underexposure (such as critically ill patients with augmented renal clearance, pediatrics, overweight, and obese patients) or overexposure (such as elderly, patients with hepatic and renal impairment). To assess the efficacy and safety of linezolid, the area under the concentration-time curve over 24 h to minimum inhibitory concentration (AUC0-24 h/MIC) equal to 80-120, percentage of time above the MIC ≥ 85%, and serum trough concentration between 2 and 7 mg/L are suggested., (© 2022. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer-Verlag GmbH Germany, part of Springer Nature.)

Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) represents a spectrum of disorders, associated with hyperandrogenism, oligoanovulation, and polycystic ovaries. Aldose reductase (AR), a rate-limiting enzyme of polyol pathway, is responsible for maintenance of intracellular osmotic balance, facilitation of oocyte development, and organization of the granulosa cells in the ovary. Cyclic changes in the aldose reductase level were found during the 4-5 days estrus cycle in rat, which is regulated by gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH). Irregular GnRH secretion in PCOS patients may lead to altered aldose reductase expression and ovarian dysfunction. Treatment with a novel AR inhibitor, fidarestat, has been reported to improve erythrocyte sorbitol content in diabetic patients. Hence, the potential role AR in pathogenesis of PCOS was investigated by inhibiting AR with fidarestat in PCOS-induced rats. Pre-pubertal female Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into five groups. PCOS is induced either by administering letrozole or by feeding high-fat diet for 90 days. After induction of PCOS, fidarestat treatment was given for 28 days and various parameters were measured. In PCOS-induced rats, parameters like food intake, body weight, insulin, OGTT, triglycerides, cholesterol, prolonged diestrus phase, ovary weight, and immunohistological localization AR were found to be significantly altered. Fidarestat treatment significantly improved ovary weight, ovarian aldose reductase localization in PCOS-induced rats. Improvement in all these parameters suggest involvement of aldose reductase in the pathogenesis of PCOS., (© 2022. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Society for Reproductive Investigation.)

The photosynthetic apparatus is a major reactive oxygen species (ROS) proliferator, especially in high-light environments. The role of ROS in photoinhibition and photoacclimation mechanisms has been extensively explored, primarily in model plant species. However, little work has been performed on the topic in non-Archaeplastida organisms, such as the model heterokont species Nannochloropsis oceanica. To investigate the photoacclimation and damaging impact of singlet oxygen and superoxide anions on the photosynthetic apparatus of N. oceanica, we subjected cells to two doses of methyl viologen and rose bengal. Significant findings: Rose bengal (a singlet-oxygen photosensitizer) induced changes to the photosynthetic apparatus and PSII photochemistry mirroring high-light-acclimated cells, suggesting that singlet-oxygen signaling plays a role in the high-light acclimation of PSII. We further suggest that this singlet-oxygen pathway is mediated outside the plastid, given that rose bengal caused no detectable damage to the photosynthetic apparatus. Methyl viologen (a superoxide-anion sensitizer) induced an enhanced non-photochemical quenching response, similar to what occurs in high-light-acclimated cells. We propose that superoxide anions produced inside the plastid help regulate the high-light acclimation of photoprotective pathways., (© 2022. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to European Photochemistry Association, European Society for Photobiology.)

Background: Portal vein system thrombosis (PVST) is a common postoperative complication brought by laparoscopic splenectomy and pericardial disconnection (LSD) among patients who suffered from portal hypertension and hypersplenism. This research lies mainly in probing into the risk factors of PVST and evaluating the effects of warfarin on PVST prevention., Materials and Methods: We took 131 individuals who have carried out LSD from January 2015 to January 2021. Patients were divided into warfarin group (n = 68) and aspirin group (n = 63). Meanwhile, thrombosis factors were analyzed in PVST arm (n = 48) and non-PVST arm (n = 83)., Results: We analyzed the early postoperative anticoagulation effect, 20 patients (29.4%) in the warfarin group developed PVST, and 28 patients (44.4%) in the aspirin group. The chance to PVST during the first year after operation was lower in the warfarin group than in the aspirin group (F = 13.43, P = 0.006). Risk factors for PVST were analyzed, and diabetes, the diameter of the portal vein and splenic vein, and the velocity of portal blood flow were statistically significant between the PVST arm and non-PVST arm (P <  < 0.05). Multiple logistic regression analyses have shown that diabetes, portal vein diameter, splenic vein diameter, and the velocity of portal blood flow were the risk factors of PVST., Conclusions: The portal vein diameter, splenic vein diameter, portal vein flow velocity, and diabetes are risk factors for the PVST after LSD. The prophylactic use of warfarin anticoagulation markedly decreases the probability of occurrence of the PVST in patients with portal hypertension after LSD compared to aspirin., (© 2022. The Author(s).)

Hazardous dyes used in textile industries are considered high-risk pollutants to the environment. The raw as well as acid-treated Plumeria alba (white frangipani) leaf powder (WFLP and SWFLP) were used for the adsorption of methylene blue (MB) that is available in industrial wastewaters following the batch adsorption technique. The characterizations of adsorbents were done by FTIR, SEM, EDX, TGA, and zeta potential parameters. The adsorption was considered for the effects of temperature, initial dye concentration, solution pH, adsorbent dosage, and contact time. The experimental results obtained in the adsorption of MB were examined by nonlinear error functions like chi-square (χ 2 ), ARE, and MPSD for three isotherm models: Langmuir, Freundlich, and Temkin. The maximum monolayer adsorption capacity, q max (mg/g), was 45.45 mg/g for raw WFLP and 250 mg/g for SWFLP. The adsorbents fitted to the pseudo-second-order kinetic model (R 2  = 0.99) using the experimental data of batch adsorption. The thermodynamic studies explained the spontaneity and nature of adsorption for raw and acid-treated adsorbents. The batch experimental results and characterizations of the adsorbents revealed that the selected adsorbents would be the best adsorbents for the removal of MB from the wastewater solution., (© 2022. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Nature Switzerland AG.)

Metabolic syndrome is of increasing concern globally. The aspects of this disease and its interaction with other morbidities should be discussed in detail. By investigating the effects of metabolic syndrome on the bone fracture rate, we have shown a protective role for metabolic syndrome in the male population., Purpose: There is controversy on the effects of metabolic syndrome on bone health and fracture risk. This systematic review and meta-analysis reappraises the literature on the subject and quantitatively evaluates the fracture risk in individuals with metabolic syndrome., Methods: PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, and Scopus were searched for all relevant articles. Studies were selected if they included the rate of any type of fracture in individuals with metabolic syndrome. Non-English studies, review articles, case reports, and editorials were excluded. The titles and abstracts were screened to identify relevant studies and the data was extracted from these. The data were analyzed to determine the estimated effect at a 95% confidence interval. Publication bias was assessed using the Egger's test, and funnel plots were drawn. The heterogeneity of the results was determined according to I 2 statistics., Results: Of the 3141 articles from the initial search, 20 studies were selected for review and included 13 cross-sectional and seven cohort studies. A meta-analysis of all studies showed no association between metabolic syndrome and fractures across the entire population (HR = 0.954; p = 0.410). However, separate analysis of the cohort studies showed a decreased risk over the entire population (HR = 0.793; p = 0.000) and in males (HR = 0.671; p = 0.000), but not in females (HR = 1.029; p = 0.743)., Conclusion: This systematic review and meta-analysis showed that the current literature suggests that metabolic syndrome is a protective factor for bone fractures in males but has no net effect on fractures among females., (© 2022. International Osteoporosis Foundation and Bone Health and Osteoporosis Foundation.)

Introduction: Immunotherapy is a new promising treatment for patients with advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), but is costly and potentially associated with considerable side effects. This study aimed to evaluate the role of machine learning (ML) models in predicting the 1-year cancer-related mortality in advanced HCC patients treated with immunotherapy., Method: 395 HCC patients who had received immunotherapy (including nivolumab, pembrolizumab or ipilimumab) between 2014 and 2019 in Hong Kong were included. The whole data sets were randomly divided into training (n = 316) and internal validation (n = 79) set. The data set, including 47 clinical variables, was used to construct six different ML models in predicting the risk of 1-year mortality. The performances of ML models were measured by the area under receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC) and their performances were compared with C-Reactive protein and Alpha Fetoprotein in ImmunoTherapY score (CRAFITY) and albumin-bilirubin (ALBI) score. The ML models were further validated with an external cohort between 2020 and 2021., Results: The 1-year cancer-related mortality was 51.1%. Of the six ML models, the random forest (RF) has the highest AUC of 0.92 (95% CI 0.87-0.98), which was better than logistic regression (0.82, p = 0.01) as well as the CRAFITY (0.68, p < 0.01) and ALBI score (0.84, p = 0.04). RF had the lowest false positive (2.0%) and false negative rate (5.2%), and performed better than CRAFITY score in the external validation cohort (0.91 vs 0.66, p < 0.01). High baseline AFP, bilirubin and alkaline phosphatase were three common risk factors identified by all ML models., Conclusion: ML models could predict 1-year cancer-related mortality in HCC patients treated with immunotherapy, which may help to select patients who would benefit from this treatment., (© 2022. Asian Pacific Association for the Study of the Liver.)

Myocardial infarction (MI) is a significant contributor to the development of heart failure. Histidine decarboxylase (HDC), the unique enzyme that converts L-histidine to histamine, is highly expressed in CD11b + immature myeloid cells. However, the relationship between HDC-expressing macrophages and cardiac myofibroblasts remains to be explained. Here, we demonstrate that the GFP (green fluorescent protein)-labeled HDC + CD11b + myeloid precursors and their descendants could differentiate into fibroblast-like cells in myocardial interstitium. Furthermore, we prove that CD11b + Ly6C + monocytes/macrophages, but not CD11b + Ly6G + granulocytes, are identified as the main cellular source for bone marrow-derived myofibroblast transformation, which could be regulated via histamine H1 and H2 receptor-dependent signaling pathways. Using HDC knockout mice, we find that histamine deficiency promotes myofibroblast transformation from Ly6C + macrophages and cardiac fibrosis partly through upregulating the expression of Krüppel-like factor 5 (KLF5). Taken together, our data uncover a central role of HDC in regulating bone marrow-derived macrophage-to-myofibroblast transformation but also identify a histamine receptor (HR)-KLF5 related signaling pathway that mediates myocardial fibrosis post-MI. CD11b + Ly6C + monocytes/macrophages are the main cellular source for bone marrow-derived myofibroblast transformation. Histamine inhibits myofibroblasts transformation via H1R and H2R-dependent signaling pathways, and ameliorates cardiac fibrosis partly through upregulating KLF5 expression., (© 2021. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Science+Business Media, LLC, part of Springer Nature.)

This work presents a new approach and a comprehensive mechanism to study the kinetics of the photodegradation of the organic pollutants. The vital role of various operational factors on the degradation of the organic pollutants is explained using this method. The proposed approach is based on the simple strategies and a powerful computational method. Two new variables "the effective concentration of photon" (I eff ) and "the effective concentration of the reactive centers" (RC) are defined to better understand the effect of operational parameters on the organic pollutant photodegradation. The optimum conditions of the photocatalytic degradation can be determined with the help of this method. This approach was used to study the kinetics of photodegradation of the organic pollutants on the [Formula: see text] photocatalysts. The provided mechanism has been examined with the some experimental data. The high correlations between the experimental data and the fitting results under different conditions prove this mechanism could be reliable., (© 2022. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer-Verlag GmbH Germany, part of Springer Nature.)

Oysters are major transmission vectors of noroviruses (NoVs) in the environment. Outbreaks of NoVs are often associated with the consumption of NoV-contaminated oysters. Laboratory confirmation of suspected oyster samples is a critical step in the surveillance and control of NoVs. Because of non-specific amplification, false-positive results are frequently obtained by semi-nested RT-PCR with the presently widely used primer set (G2SKF/G2SKR). Here, a novel universal PCR primer set N (NG2OF/NG2OR) specific for genogroup II (GII) NoVs was designed based on all GII NoV sequences available in public databases. Specific products were obtained with the primer set N when the NoV-positive oysters, spiked with each of five representative genotypes of GII NoVs (GII.17, GII.13, GII.4, GII.3, and GII.12), were subjected to analyzing. No products were detected with the primer set N for the NoV-negative oysters, while the primer set C gave various non-specific bands. Twenty-three out of 156 fresh oyster samples were NoV-positive with both the primer set N and the classic primer set, while eight were NoV-positive solely with the primer set N. Compared with the classic primer set, the newly designed primer set N had a higher detection rate and improved specificity for GII NoVs in oyster samples. These results show that the novel PCR primer pair is specific and applicable for the detection of GII NoVs in oysters., (© 2022. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Science+Business Media, LLC, part of Springer Nature.)

Objectives: This study aims to clarify the relationship between the changes of pancreatic size after glucocorticoid (GC) therapy and relapse in IgG4-related autoimmune pancreatitis (AIP)., Methods: We prospectively enrolled 205 newly diagnosed IgG4-related AIP patients. 145 patients were followed up for more than 3 years. These patients were divided into three groups according to the changes of pancreatic size after treatment of 6 months: pancreatic swelling, normal size, and pancreatic atrophy. Baseline clinical and laboratory parameters were compared among three groups. Kaplan-Meier survival analysis was performed in the 134 patients based on GC therapy. Besides, Cox regression analysis and logistic regression analysis were performed to identify risk factors associated with relapse and the potential variables affecting changes of pancreatic size after treatment., Results: Age at diagnosis, white blood cell count, and serum IgG1 level at baseline were significantly different among the three groups. After treatment of 6 months, the pancreas of most patients (n = 81, 55.9%) could return to normal size, while persistent pancreatic swelling was found in 24.1% patients (n = 35), and atrophy was observed in 20.0% of the patients (n = 29). Kaplan-Meier survival analysis presented patients with pancreatic swelling after 6 months of GC therapy were more likely to relapse in the follow-up of 3 years. Persistent pancreatic swelling after treatment and salivary gland involvement at baseline were independent risk variables associated with relapse in IgG4-related AIP patients, while GC-based therapy was a protective factor of relapse. Logistic regression analysis revealed that older age at diagnosis was associated with pancreatic atrophy and higher baseline serum IgG1 level was associated with pancreatic swelling after treatment of 6 months., Conclusions: Patients with persistent pancreatic swelling after GC-based therapy of 6 months were more likely to relapse in the follow-up of 3 years. Older age at diagnosis and higher baseline serum IgG1 level were potential variables associated with pancreatic atrophy or swelling after treatment of 6 months. Key Points • Patients with persistent pancreatic swelling after glucocorticoid-based therapy were more likely to relapse in IgG4-related autoimmune pancreatitis. • Older age at diagnosis was associated with pancreatic atrophy after glucocorticoid-based therapy. • Higher baseline serum IgG1 level was associated pancreatic swelling after glucocorticoid-based therapy., (© 2022. International League of Associations for Rheumatology (ILAR).)

Cancer cachexia can be defined as a complex metabolic syndrome characterized by weight loss, anorexia, and emaciation due to the wasting of adipose tissue and skeletal muscle. In the last decade, much research has been done to decipher the role of lipid metabolism in cancer cachexia. Tumors, as well as host-derived factors, cause major metabolic changes in the body. Metabolic changes lead to higher energy expenditure by the host. To meet the high energy demand, the host utilizes fat depots stored in adipose tissues by a process known as lipolysis. High catabolic and low anabolic response leads to loss of adipose tissue. A significant insight has been made regarding adipose tissue "browning" bestow on thermogenic activities of adipocytes that result in catabolic energy expenditure. Both lipolysis and WAT browning play an important role in exhaustion adipose tissue. The goal of this review is to summarise what is currently known and about altered lipid metabolism and its utilization in cancer cachexia., (© 2022. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Science+Business Media, LLC, part of Springer Nature.)

Objectives: To compare the efficacy and safety of percutaneous ethanol injection (PEI) combined with transarterial chemoembolization (TACE + PEI) vs. TACE alone for the treatment of patients with advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and portal vein tumor thrombus (PVTT)., Methods: A total of 130 HCC patients with PVTT treated from May 2014 to August 2018 were retrospectively evaluated. Among them, 33 patients received TACE + PEI and 97 patients received TACE alone. PVTT was classified according to the Japanese Society of Hepatology; 97 patients had VP3 PVTT. Propensity score matching (PSM) was used to reduce selection bias., Results: Before PSM, the median overall survival (mOS) was 11 months (95% CI: 7.8-14.2) in the TACE + PEI group and 6 months (95% CI: 5.1-6.9) in the TACE group (p < 0.001), and the median progression-free survival (mPFS) was 5 months (95% CI: 3.7-6.3) in the TACE + PEI group and 2.5 months (95% CI: 2.1-2.9) in the TACE group (p < 0.001). Similar results were seen after PSM. Subgroup analysis showed that in patients with tumors > 5 cm in diameter and the VP3 subgroup, TACE + PEI brought a significant survival advantage over TACE alone before and after PSM. In the adverse event analysis, severe abdominal pain and bleeding after operation were seen in more patients in the TACE + PEI group than in the TACE group before PSM (P < 0.05)., Conclusions: For HCC patients with PVTT (especially those with tumor diameters > 5 cm and grade VP3), TACE combined with PEI for HCC patients with PVTT is safe and may provide better survival outcomes., (© 2021. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Science+Business Media, LLC, part of Springer Nature.)

Different molecular signaling pathways have been involved in the incidence and progression of CRC. We aimed to examine the correlation between eight candidate genes, including TFGβ, SMAD2, SMAD4, RhoA, EGFR, MAP2K1, MTA1, and LEF1 in the progression of colorectal cancer (CRC) and their association with clinicopathological variables and CRC patients prognosis. Immunohistochemistry and quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) analysis 2 -ΔΔct , were performed to assess the expression of eight genes in 64 and 122 patients with CRC, respectively and 20 normal samples were added for verification. We showed a positive correlation between SMAD2 and MAP2K1 (r = 0.337, P < 0.001), MAP2K1 and LEF1 (r = 0.187, P = 0.03), SMAD4 and RhoA (r = 0.214, P = 0.01) and as well, a negative correlation between SMAD2 and TGFβ (r =  - 0.197, P = 0.02), and RhoA and LEF1 (r =  - 0.180, P = 0.04) in tumor tissues. A decrease in RhoA mRNA expression was associated with the advanced TNM stage (P = 0.01), while the EGFR and SMAD2 mRNA expression upregulated in advanced stages (P = 0.03, P = 0.03), respectively. Also, an increase in EGFR and SMAD4 protein expression was significantly associated with the advanced TNM stage (P = 0.000) (P = .002), respectively. Perceiving the connections between canonical and non-canonical Transforming growth factor (TGF-β) signaling pathway along with the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) and WNT cascades may trigger the development of novel approaches for CRC prediction., (© 2022. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Science+Business Media, LLC, part of Springer Nature.)

Members of the order Rodentia are among the best-studied mammals for understanding the patterns, outcomes, and biological determinants of maternal and paternal caregiving. This research has provided a wealth of information but has historically focused on just a few rodents, mostly members of the two Myomorpha families that easily breed and can be studied within a laboratory setting (including laboratory rats, mice, hamsters, voles, gerbils). It is unclear how well this small collection of animals represents the over 2000 species of extant rodents. This chapter provides an overview of the hormonal and neurobiological systems involved in parental care in rodents, with a purposeful eye on providing information known or could be gleaned about parenting in various less-traditional members of Rodentia. We conclude from this analysis that the few commonly studied rodents are not necessarily even representative of the highly diverse members of Myomorpha, let alone other rodent suborders, and that additional laboratory and field studies of members of this order more broadly would surely provide invaluable information toward revealing a more representative picture of the rich diversity in rodent parenting., (© 2022. The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Nature Switzerland AG.)

In the exhaust pipe, the adsorption process of diesel exhaust particulate matter (PM) is affected by the combination of its adsorption capacity and the environment. A diesel exhaust particle collection system was established to collect samples with different environmental conditions. The adsorption capacity of the samples was characterized by an isothermal adsorption test. Changes in sample characteristics were investigated by scanning electron microscope and thermogravimetric analyzer. The correlation analysis of the factors influencing the adsorption process was performed. The results showed that the diesel exhaust particulate matter has adsorption capacity, the pore diameter is distributed continuously in the range of 8 to 80 nm, and the specific surface area and pore structure parameters are similar to carbon black and belong to the category of mesopores and macropores. As the engine speed increased from 1500 to 3600 r·min -1 , the specific surface area of samples increased from 65.408 to 101.885 m 2 ·g -1 , and the pore volume expanded from 0.093 to 0.152 mL·g -1 , with a more complex pore structure and enhanced adsorption capacity. The samples at the outlet of the exhaust pipe had increased box dimension (D B ), moisture, and soluble organic fraction (SOF) content compared to the samples at the inlet of the exhaust pipe. The activation energies (E) of the three samples were reduced by 34.77 kJ∙mol -1 , 38.88 kJ∙mol -1 , and 47.43 kJ∙mol -1 , respectively. Among the influencing factors, the increase of hydrocarbon concentration contributes to the increase of adsorption volume and the reduction of E. The increase of the average temperature inhibits the increase of the D B , and the increase of the temperature difference between the inlet and outlet facilitates the adsorption of water and SOF by samples. The reduction of adsorption time is one of the main reasons for delaying the increase of D B . Average pore diameter has the largest positive correlation with the variation amount of D B , and the growth of the specific surface area and pore volume is the dominant reason for the improvement of adsorption capacity and oxidation activity., (© 2021. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer-Verlag GmbH Germany, part of Springer Nature.)

Environmentally friendly economic development has become a global concern, whereas the existing literature has ignored the human resources management in the green economy. This study utilizes the basic Cobb-Douglas production function and examines the nonlinear effect of labour productivity on the environment in China. Non-linear findings infer that a positive change in labour productivity has a positive and negative change in labour productivity, and has a negative effect on CO 2 emissions in the short run, while results persisted and stable in the long run in China. The crux of this study is that labour productivity is vital for understanding the evolution of a green economy. Conventionally, capital productivity and energy consumption also tend to follow dirty productivity growth and thus, increased environmental pollution. Indeed, research and development is a forceful input to environmental quality. Based on findings, policymakers should need to focus on human resource productivity, green business, and ecosystem protection., (© 2021. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer-Verlag GmbH Germany, part of Springer Nature.)

Many neurodevelopmental disorders (NDDs) share common learning and behavioural impairments, as well as features such as dysregulation of the oxytocin hormone. Here, we examined DNA methylation (DNAm) in the 1st intron of the oxytocin receptor gene, OXTR, in patients with autism spectrum (ASD), attention deficit and hyperactivity (ADHD) and obsessive compulsive (OCD) disorders. DNAm of OXTR was assessed for cohorts of ASD (blood), ADHD (saliva), OCD (saliva), which uncovered sex-specific DNAm differences compared to neurotypical, tissue-matched controls. Individuals with ASD or ADHD exhibiting extreme DNAm values had lower IQ and more social problems, respectively, than those with DNAm within normative ranges. This suggests that OXTR DNAm patterns are altered across NDDs and may be correlated with common clinical outcomes., (© 2021. Springer Science+Business Media, LLC, part of Springer Nature.)

This study is to determine the role of the fractional CO2 laser in topical drug delivery and the impact of local immune responses. Experimental rabbit nails were treated with fractionated CO2 laser at varied fluencies of 20 mJ, 25 mJ, and 30 mJ and half of which were coated with rhodamine B (RhB). Histological examination was performed by hematoxylin and eosin staining; the penetration of RhB was assessed by the use of confocal laser scanning microscopy; and the expressions of IFN-γ and IL-4 mRNA in situ were detected by means of qPCR at 12 h, 24 h, 3 days, and 7 days post-laser irritation. The fractional CO2 laser could generate microscopic treatment zones in nail plates, and the depths of these micropores as well as the permeation of RhB in nails increased significantly in an energy-dependent manner. Importantly, the laser irritation led an upregulation of local IFN-γ mRNA expression accompanied by a downregulation of IL-4 mRNA expression. The ultrapulsed ablative fractionated CO2 laser may assist topical drug delivery, and may drive stronger local Th1 responses due to an imbalance of IFN-γ/IL-4 expressions, suggesting that the combination of ablative fractionated CO2 laser with topical agents would be an effective option for the treatment of onychomycosis., (© 2021. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer-Verlag London Ltd. part of Springer Nature.)