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BackgroundCardiac hypertrophy induced by pressure overload is one of the important causes of heart failure and sudden cardiac death. At present, there are few studies on the outcome of left ventricular hypertrophy and left ventricular function after complete pressure load removal. ObjectiveThis study aims to better simulate the changes of left ventricular structure and function during the process of left ventricular pressure overload and deloading, and to explore the application of echocardiography in it. MethodsIn this study, healthy male (BALB/C) mice were used as research objects to establish an ascending aorta constriction model, to carry out echocardiographic and hemodynamic examinations, to establish an ascending aorta deconstriction model in mice, and to carry out echocardiographic and hemodynamic examinations. ResultsCompared with the sham operation group, the left ventricular end-systolic diameter (LVESD), left ventricular end-diastolic diameter (LVEDD), interventricular septal (IVS), and left ventricular posterior wall (LVPW) in the constriction operation group were significantly increased (P=.02, P=.02, P=.02, and P=.02, respectively). LVESD, LVEDD, IVS, and LVPW in the early and late constriction groups were significantly decreased, and the degree of decrease in the early group was greater than that in the late group; compared with the sham operation group, left ventricular diastolic pressure in the constriction operation group increased significantly at 9 and 15 weeks after operation (P=.03). Left ventricular systolic pressure at 15 weeks after operation decreased to a certain extent but was higher than that of the sham operation group (P=.02). The maximal rate of the increase of left ventricular pressure at 3 weeks, 9 weeks, and 15 weeks after operation decreased significantly (P=.03, P=.02, and P=.02, respectively). ConclusionsIn this study, the ascending aorta coarctation model and descending aorta coarctation model were successfully established, which verifies the value of echocardiography information data monitoring in the treatment of left ventricular circulation disorders and the evaluation of surgical treatment.

As new energy sources scale up for integration into urban power grids， there is a growing spatiotemporal mismatch between supply and demand in power systems. This mismatch could gradually undermine the static voltage stability of the power systems， jeopardizing electrical safety. To counter this challenge， a novel method for the optimal allocation of energy storage in urban power grids is proposed， with a special focus on maintaining static voltage stability under a mismatch of supply and demand. The method begins with a characteristic analysis of the mismatch between supply and demand in urban power grids. Assessment indicators for the mismatch in space and time are established. Following this， the number of power flow solutions is analyzed using the discriminant of a quadratic equation based on power flow equations of transmission lines， leading to the introduction of an index for assessing the static voltage stability of urban power grids. Subsequently， an optimal allocation model for energy storage devices is developed by weighting the aforementioned indicators of the spatiotemporal mismatch as well as static voltage stability. Lastly， the effectiveness and superiority of the proposed method are verified through simulation.

Abstract Objectives To compare color Doppler ultrasound and contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) in evaluating vascular invasion in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC). Materials and methods This retrospective study included 210 patients with PDAC who were evaluated by color Doppler ultrasound, CEUS, and contrast-enhanced computed tomography (CECT) at our institution between January 2017 and December 2020. Pathologic results were used as the gold standard in patients who underwent surgical and intraoperative exploration. For nonsurgical patients, CECT results were used as the reference standard. The vessels evaluated included those in the peripancreatic arterial system and venous system. The diagnostic performances of color Doppler ultrasound and CEUS for vascular invasion were compared. Results In 51 patients who underwent surgery and intraoperative exploration, color Doppler ultrasound and CEUS differed only in assessing venous system invasion in patients with PDAC of the pancreatic body and tail, with the former being superior to the latter. In 159 nonsurgical patients, there was no difference between CEUS and color Doppler ultrasound in assessing superior mesenteric arteriovenous invasion. CEUS was superior to color Doppler ultrasound in evaluating the celiac artery and its branches, with an accuracy of up to 97.8% for some vessels. Color Doppler ultrasound was ideal for evaluating the splenic and portal veins. Conclusion CEUS is more suitable for the evaluation of peripancreatic arteries than color Doppler. CEUS combined with color Doppler ultrasound can be used as a potential supplement to CECT and is also expected to be used to evaluate vascular invasion of PDAC after chemotherapy. Critical relevance statement Contrast-enhanced US and color Doppler in the assessment of vascular invasion in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma have their respective advantages, through standardized ultrasound processes are expected to improve the efficiency of inspection. Key Points Contrast-enhanced US has unique advantages in assessing pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma invasion of the celiac artery. Doppler imaging is of high value in assessing venous system invasion. Standardization of ultrasound imaging procedures for pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma is expected to improve efficiency. Graphical Abstract

Background/purpose: Dental pulp stem cells (DPSCs) have demonstrated significant potential for neuroregeneration. However, a full understanding of the specific mechanism underpinning the neural differentiation of DPSCs is still required. The Wnt signaling is crucial for the development of the embryonic neural system and the maintenance of adult neural homeostasis. This study aimed to investigate the role of the Wnt/Ca2+ pathway in the neural differentiation of human DPSCs (hDPSCs) and its modulation of the Wnt/β-catenin pathway. Materials and methods: hDPSCs were cultured and divided into the control group and the neurogenic induction group (Neuro group). The mRNA and protein levels of neurogenic markers, Wnt/Ca2+, and Wnt/β-catenin pathway indicators were determined using Quantitative real-time PCR and Western blotting. After inhibition of the Wnt/Ca2+ pathway using a WNT5A short hairpin RNA (shRNA) plasmid and subsequent neurogenic induction, neurogenic markers and Wnt/β-catenin pathway indicators in the NC-sh-Neuro group and WNT5A-sh-Neuro group were determined using Quantitative real-time PCR and Western blotting. Results: Compared with the control group, the expression of the Wnt/Ca2+ pathway indicators (WNT5A, Frizzled 2, calmodulin-dependent protein kinase IIa, and nuclear factor of active T cells 1) decreased in the Neuro group. Conversely, the expression of WNT3A, total β-catenin and active β-catenin in the Wnt/β-catenin pathway increased. Moreover, compared with the NC-sh-Neuro group, the WNT5A-sh-Neuro group exhibited a greater level of mature neural differentiation alongside elevated expression of the Wnt/β-catenin pathway indicators. Conclusion: The Wnt/Ca2+ pathway inhibited neural differentiation of hDPSCs and has a negative effect on the Wnt/β-catenin pathway in vitro.

The combination method of numerical simulation and experimental verification was used to optimize the current evaluation method of tear strength of rubber unnicked angle test piece. Firstly, the tear energy at angle position of rubber test piece with different clamp distances was simulated by the simulation software, and then advanced video extensometer-digital image correlation analysis software was used to obtain the strain distribution cloud nephograms and the multi-location strain curves of the test piece with time. A new method was proposed to evaluate comprehensively the unnicked angle tear property by combining strain distribution cloud nephogram and corrected tear strength, and the method applicability was verified by the tear strength test of pure natural rubber and natural rubber/synthetic rubber blends. The results showed that the tensile degree of the non-effective test region and the tear energy at angle position were all different with the different clamp distances, when the other para-meters of the test piece were the same, which increased the volatility of the test results. Compared with the standard currently in effect, the variation coefficient of parallel test results could be reduced by using the corrected tear strength, and the test results was positively correlated with the carbon black dispersion in the vulcanizates.

Abstract Non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), characterized by low survival rates and a high recurrence rate, is a major cause of cancer-related mortality. Aberrant activation of the PI3K/AKT/mTOR signaling pathway is a common driver of NSCLC. Within this study, the inhibitory activity of (+)-anthrabenzoxocinone ((+)-ABX), an oxygenated anthrabenzoxocinone compound derived from Streptomyces, against NSCLC is demonstrated for the first time both in vitro and in vivo. Mechanistically, it is confirmed that the PI3K/AKT/mTOR signaling pathway is targeted and suppressed by (+)-ABX, resulting in the induction of S and G2/M phase arrest, apoptosis, and autophagy in NSCLC cells. Additionally, the augmentation of intracellular ROS levels by (+)-ABX is revealed, further contributing to the inhibition of the signaling pathway and exerting inhibitory effects on tumor growth. The findings presented in this study suggest that (+)-ABX possesses the potential to serve as a lead compound for the treatment of NSCLC. Graphical abstract

Ischemic heart disease refers to the imbalance between the supply and demand of myocardial blood; it has various causes and results in a class of clinical diseases characterized by myocardial ischemia (MI). In recent years, the incidence of cardiovascular disease has become higher and higher, and the number of patients with ischemic heart disease has also increased year by year. Traditional treatment methods include drug therapy and surgical treatment, both of which have limitations. The former maybe develop risks of drug resistance and has more significant side effects, while the latter may damage blood vessels and risk infection. At this stage, a new cell-free treatment method needs to be explored. Many research results have shown that exosomes from different cell sources can protect the ischemic myocardium via intercellular action methods, such as promoting angiogenesis, inhibiting myocardial fibrosis, apoptosis and pyroptosis, and providing a new basis for the treatment of MI. In this review, we briefly introduce the formation and consequences of myocardial ischemia and the biology of exosomes, and then focus on the role and mechanism of exosomes from different sources in MI. We also discuss the role and mechanism of exosomes pretreated with Chinese and Western medicines on myocardial ischemia. We also discuss the potential of exosomes as diagnostic markers and therapeutic drug for MI.

IntroductionThe development of the digital economy has a profound impact on industrial economics. The article starts from the perspective of industrial organization theory. The thesis aims to analyze the industrial development of the digital economy and its three structural variables: digital manufacturing industry, digital service industry, and the development of industrial digitization on carbon emission intensity.MethodBased on the data of Input-output Tables with extended tables of 30 provinces, this paper analyzes the industrial development of digital economy and its three structural variables: digital manufacturing industry, digital service industry, and the development of industrial digitization on carbon emission intensity.Results and discussionThe empirical results show that: 1) at the national level, the development of China’s digital economy industries has a suppressive effect on carbon emission intensity; 2) in terms of spatial effects, the development of digital economy has significant carbon spillover effects, but digital industrialization and industrial digitization present different spatial effect results; 3) from the analysis of regional heterogeneity, in the northeast, central and western regions, the direction of influence of digital industrialization and industrial digitalization on carbon emission intensity is consistent; in the eastern region, the development of digital industrial service sector and industrial digitalization has a suppressive effect on carbon emission intensity, while digital industrial manufacturing sector presents a pro-increasing effect; 4) Non-linear relationship analysis shows that the development of the digital industrial manufacturing sector has a “promoting and then inhibiting” effect on carbon emission intensity. Overall, the impact of digital industry development on carbon intensity exhibits a “promoting increase, then suppressing, then promoting increase” trend. In conclusion, the findings suggest that China’s digital economy industry has entered the low-carbon development stage.

BackgroundAlterations in metabolites and metabolic pathways are thought to be important triggers of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF), but our lack of a comprehensive understanding of this process has hampered the development of IPF-targeted drugs.MethodsTo fully understand the metabolic profile of IPF, C57BL/6 J male mice were injected intratracheally with bleomycin so that it could be used to construct a mouse model of IPF, and lung tissues from 28-day and control IPF mice were analyzed by pathology and immunohistochemistry. In addition, serum metabolites from IPF mice were examined using LC-ESI-MS/MS, and the differential metabolites were analyzed for KEGG metabolic pathways and screened for biomarkers using machine learning algorithms.ResultsIn total, the levels of 1465 metabolites were detected, of which 104 metabolites were significantly altered after IPF formation. In IPF mouse serum, 52% of metabolite expression was downregulated, with lipids (e.g., GP, FA) and organic acids and their derivatives together accounting for more than 70% of the downregulated differentially expressed metabolites. In contrast, FA and oxidised lipids together accounted for 60% of the up-regulated differentially expressed metabolites. KEGG pathway enrichment analyses of differential metabolites were mainly enriched in the biosynthesis of unsaturated fatty acids, pentose phosphate pathway, and alanine, aspartate, and glutamate metabolism. Seven metabolites were screened by machine learning LASSO models and evaluated as ideal diagnostic tools by receiver operating characteristic curves (ROCs).DiscussionIn conclusion, the serum metabolic disorders found to be associated with pulmonary fibrosis formation will help to deepen our understanding of the pathogenesis of pulmonary fibrosis.

BackgroundOutside of pregnancy, intuitive eating (IE) is associated with lower body weight, blood glucose, and higher positive mood. However, little was known about the relationship between IE and anxiety-depression in the GDM population. Thus, this study aimed to investigate the association of IE with anxiety and depression, pregnancy weight and pregnancy blood glucose in the first and second GDM visit.MethodsData from 310 pregnant women with GDM from the Fujian Maternal and Child Health Hospital Trial (Approval Number: 2020Y9133) were analyzed. IE was assessed using the Intuitive Eating Scale-2 subscales of Eating for Physiological Reasons rather than Emotional Reasons (EPR), Relying on Hunger and Satiety Cues (RHSC) and Body-Food Choice Consistency (B-FCC). Observations included weight, body mass index (BMI), fasting plasma glucose (FPG) and 2-h postprandial blood glucose; the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) was used to assess the level of anxiety and depression in pregnant women with GDM. Linear regression analysis was used to assess the correlation between IE and anxiety, depression, pregnancy blood glucose and weight.ResultsThe cross-sectional analysis showed that the EPR eating behavior was negatively correlated with anxiety and depression, and the B-FCC eating behavior was negatively correlated with depression at both the first and second GDM visit; in addition, the B-FCC eating behavior was associated with lower BMI in the third trimester (all p

Inflammatory myofibroblastic tumor (IMT) is a rare pathological entity first described in 1939. This lesion is most commonly found in the lungs, but cases involving other systems, such as the central nervous system known as intracranial IMT (IIMT), have also been reported. Diagnosis currently relies on pathological results due to the lack of characteristic imaging changes. Surgical resection is an effective treatment, though the disease is invasive and may recur. Previous literature has reported a high level of programmed death 1 (PD-1) expression in IMT tissues, suggesting that immunotherapy may be effective for this condition. In this case report, we present a middle-aged male who received PD-1 inhibitor and oncolytic adenovirus (Ad-TD-nsIL12) treatment after IIMT resection surgery. This successful approach provides a new direction for the treatment of IIMT.