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Background: Glucose 6 phosphatase dehydrogenase (G6PD) is a key regulator of the pentose phosphate pathway (PPP). However, the exact role of G6PD in gastrointestinal cancers remains unclear. The purpose of this study is to explore the correlation of G6PD with clinical features, pathological stages, diagnosis and prognosis of gastrointestinal cancers, as well as uncover possible mechanisms of G6PD on mutations, immunity and signaling pathways. Methods: G6PD mRNA expression data were downloaded from TCGA and GEO databases. Protein expression was examined by the HPA database. The correlation of G6PD expression with clinical and pathological characteristics was explored. The pROC package in R language was used to evaluate the diagnostic value of G6PD expression in gastrointestinal cancers. We accessed the correlation of disease-free survival (DFS) with G6PD online by Kaplan-Meier plotter. Univariate Cox regression and stepwise multiple Cox regression analysis were performed to determine the association between G6PD and patient’s overall survival. In addition, genomic alterations, mutation profiles, immune infiltration, drug sensitivity and enrichment analysis related with G6PD were visualized. Results: After a pan-cancerous genomic analysis, we found that G6PD expression was the highest in African American esophageal carcinoma (ESCA) patients (P

Background: Nocardiosis is a rare suppurative infectious disease caused by Nocardia, a gram-positive filamentous bacterium that is widely distributed in air, water, soil and other media. It usually occurs in patients treated with immunosuppressants but can also occur in healthy people. The aim of this study was to describe the course of two patients with rheumatic immune diseases who died of pneumonia and brain, renal, liver abscesses and sepsis caused by Nocardia farcinica infection. Case presentation: A 74-year-old retired male, diagnosed with dermatomyositis (DM), and a 54-year-old female farmer, diagnosed with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), both taking glucocorticoids and immunosuppressants, suffered from pneumonia and brain, renal, and liver abscesses and sepsis caused by Nocardia farcinica. Their medical treatment processes were very complicated, and they underwent multiple examinations and multidisciplinary consultations. They were finally diagnosed with pneumonia, brain, renal, and liver abscesses and sepsis caused by Nocardia farcinica infection through blood, sputum and bronchoalveolar lavage fluid culture. They were treated with antibacterial drugs, but the course was insufficient because of economic reasons, and eventually, they died. Conclusions: Nocardia farcinica is a rare but possible cause of pneumonia or brain, renal, liver abscesses or sepsis inpatients with rheumatic immune diseases. If infection is not ruled out in the lungs or other organs, it is necessary to actively utilise a variety of pathogenic tests, including blood culture. Once patients with immunosuppressive agents get pneumonia, brain abscesses, renal abscesses, liver abscesses or sepsis caused by Nocardia farcinica, they are in a critical condition and easily die.

Table S8. Primers and their sequences used in the quantitative real-time PCR of the pyroptosis-related genes

The drastic increase in the generation of construction and demolition waste (CDW) is causing serious pollution to the natural environment, such as space reduction, heavy metal contamination, and resource shortage. In this research, steel fibre and recycled coarse aggregate (RCA) are used to form a steel-fibre-reinforced recycled aggregate concrete (SFRAC) to improve the recycling and reuse rate of CDW. Different quality replacement rates of the recycled aggregate (RAR) and volume percentage of the steel fibres (Vf) are used to explore the influence on the tensile behaviour of the concrete. When the Vf increased, the tensile strength and peak strain of SFRAC increased by 10.41–55.90% and 9.70–48.03%, respectively, compared to those of the recycled aggregate concrete (RAC). SFRAC has an energy absorption capacity 5.71–13.31 times higher than that of RAC. The experimental results demonstrate that the internal defects of the RAC on the tensile property can be compensated by the bridging and anchoring effect of the steel fibres. In addition, mathematical formulas are established for predicting the tensile strength, peak strain, and stress-strain curves of the SFRAC. Moreover, SFRAC is recyclable and can be reused at least twice. The method for recycling SFRAC is feasible and cost-effective from an industrial point of view.

Recycled aggregate concrete (RAC) has the potential to escape the predicament of our cities being surrounded by construction waste, while its application is limited due to the defective mechanical properties. This paper aims to improve the performance behavior of RAC, thereby extending its engineering application. A new-style green RAC is prepared by recycled aggregate, steel fiber and sulphoaluminate cement, as infilling into steel tube to manufacture CFST columns. A comprehensive study for 41 concrete mixes and 54 CFST columns subjected to bending is presented. The parameters are steel fiber volume content, recycled aggregate dosage, water cement ratio, cement type and steel tube thickness. The test result reveals that, through reasonable mix design, steel fiber reinforced self-stressing recycled aggregate concrete-filled steel tube can exhibit similar flexural behavior with the normal CFST. Steel fibers prolong the elastic extent and improve the flexural capacity, meanwhile 1.2% of steel fiber is recommended for the optimal improvement. Self-stress induced by the expansive sulphoaluminate cement contributes to the elastic stage, and is beneficial to flexural capacity and stiffness.

In the present study, we used a proteomics approach based on a two-dimensional electrophoresis (2-DE) reference map to investigate protein expression in the ovarian tissues of pubertal Swiss-Webster mice subjected to carbon ion radiation (CIR). Among the identified proteins, ubiquitin carboxy-terminal hydrolase L1 (UCH-L1) is associated with the cell cycle[1] and that it influences proliferation in ovarian tissues. We analyzed the expression of UCH-L1 and the proliferation marker proliferation cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) following CIR using immunoblotting and immunofluorescence. The proteomics and biochemical results provide insight into the underlying mechanisms of CIR toxicity in ovarian tissues.

The aim of the present study was to investigate the effects of PS-341 on vascular remodeling in an experimental rat model of high blood flow-induced pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH), as well as to elucidate its mechanisms of action. We established the PAH model by a surgical method that implanted a left-to-right shunt. Three days post-surgery, the animals were randomly assigned to 3 groups (n=15 in each group): sham-operated (control), shunt (model) and PS-341 (treated) groups. Eight weeks post-surgery, hemodynamic parameters were significantly improved in the PS-341 group compared with the shunt group (P