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The intracellular pathogen Salmonella can cause systemic diseases via its survival and replication in host macrophages. Xylose is the second most abundant sugar in nature and Salmonella can use xylose as its sole carbon source for growth. However, whether xylose utilization contributes to the pathogenicity and intracellular growth of Salmonella has not yet been determined. In this study, we observed that the xylose concentration in macrophages increased during Salmonella infection. Moreover, there was an increase in expression of Salmonella xylose catabolic genes (xylA and xylB) and the transcriptional regulatory gene of xylose metabolism (xylR) in macrophages, revealing the possibility of using host-accumulated xylose by Salmonella for intracellular growth. Mutation of either xylAB or xylR reduced Salmonella replication in macrophages and attenuated the colonization of mouse systemic loci (e.g. the liver and spleen), indicating that xylose utilization promotes Salmonella replication within macrophages and systemic infection in mice. Moreover, we found that xylose utilization by intracellular Salmonella was activated by the cAMP-CRP complex upon detection of low glucose levels in the infected macrophages. Collectively, these findings reveal that although the available glucose decreases during infection, Salmonella can use xylose, which accumulates in infected macrophages, as an alternative carbon source to promote intracellular replication and virulence.

Abstract Drugs that are poorly soluble in water are difficult to absorb orally, resulting in low bioavailability. Flurbiprofen (FLU) is an arylpropionic acid nonsteroidal anti‐inflammatory drug belonging to BCS class II, with low water solubility. In this study, a novel flurbiprofen‐ethylenediamine salt (FLU‐EDA) was successfully prepared via solvent crystallization. Its crystal structure was determined via single‐crystal X‐ray diffraction (SXRD). Further, the physicochemical properties of FLU‐EDA salt were characterized by powder X‐ray diffraction (PXRD), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT‐IR). The solubility and intrinsic dissolution rate (IDR) of FLU‐EDA salt in water were investigated. The results showed that compared with FLU, the solubility and IDR of FLU‐EDA salt increased by 57‐fold and 32‐fold, respectively. This indicates that FLU‐EDA salt can significantly enhance the solubility and dissolution rate of flurbiprofen in water. This study provides basic data and theory for the development of new formulations of flurbiprofen.

Treatment of glomerulonephritis presents several challenges, including limited therapeutic options, high costs, and potential adverse reactions. As a recognized Chinese patent medicine, Tripterygium wilfordii poly-glycosides (TWP) have shown promising benefits in managing autoimmune diseases. To evaluate clinical effectiveness and safety of TWP in treating glomerulonephritis, we systematically searched PubMed, Cochrane Library, Web of Science, and Embase databases for controlled studies published up to 12 July 2023. We employed weighted mean difference and relative risk to analyze continuous and dichotomous outcomes. This meta-analysis included 16 studies that included primary membranous nephropathy (PMN), type 2 diabetic kidney disease (DKD), and Henoch-Schönlein purpura nephritis (HSPN). Analysis revealed that additional TWP administration improved patients’ outcomes and total remission rates, reduced 24-h urine protein (24hUP) and decreased relapse events. The pooled results demonstrated the non-inferiority of TWP to glucocorticoids in achieving total remission, reducing 24hUP, and converting the phospholipase A2 receptor (PLA2R) status to negative. For DKD patients, TWP effectively reduced 24hUP levels, although it did not significantly improve the estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR). Compared to valsartan, TWP showed comparable improvements in 24hUP and eGFR levels. In severe cases of HSPN in children, significant clinical remission and a reduction in 24hUP levels were observed with the addition of TWP treatment. TWP did not significantly increase the incidence of adverse reactions. Therefore, TWP could offer therapeutic benefits to patients with PMN, DKD, and severe HSPN, with a minimal increase in the risk of side effects.

Salix psammophila was converted to value-added chemicals in the presence of 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium chloride ([Bmim]Cl) and water by the hydrothermal liquefaction method. [Bmim]Cl acted as both liquefier and catalyst, while water served as both co-solvent and reactant. The optimal reaction parameters for the highest liquefaction yield were determined by an orthogonal experiment. The possibility of application of the recycled [Bmim]Cl was investigated. FT-IR spectra results of the fresh used, the firstly reused, and the secondary reused IL [Bmim]Cl confirmed the high stability of [Bmim]Cl. Moreover, an explanation of the possible liquefaction mechanism for S. psammophila was also provided. This study may provide fundamental data for S. psammophila conversion and application.

Quantum dot light-emitting diodes (QLEDs), as an emerging display technology, have garnered widespread attention due to their excellent color rendering, high efficiency, and long lifespan. However, the inherent differences in the properties of charge transport layer materials inevitably lead to charge injection imbalances and low device performance. Herein, we developed a simple technique by using femtosecond laser scanning over the QLED devices. The results indicate that scanning with a femtosecond laser improves the conductivity of the hole transport layer and increases the external quantum efficiency of the QLED devices. Our work provides an effective route for realizing high performance QLED devices with efficient post-treatment.

Abstract Nitric oxide (NO) is produced as an innate immune response against microbial infections. Salmonella Typhimurium (S. Typhimurium), the major causative pathogen of human gastroenteritis, induces more severe systemic disease in mice. However, host factors contributing to the difference in species-related virulence are unknown. Here, we report that host NO production promotes S. Typhimurium replication in mouse macrophages at the early infection stage by activating Salmonella pathogenicity island-2 (SPI-2). The NO signaling-induced SPI-2 activation is mediated by Fnr and PhoP/Q two-component system. NO significantly induced fnr transcription, while Fnr directly activated phoP/Q transcription. Mouse infection assays revealed a NO-dependent increase in bacterial burden in systemic organs during the initial days of infection, indicating an early contribution of host NO to virulence. This study reveals a host signaling-mediated virulence activation pathway in S. Typhimurium that contributes significantly to its systemic infection in mice, providing further insights into Salmonella pathogenesis and host–pathogen interaction.

ABSTRACT Salmonella is one of the most important enteric pathogens worldwide, which is able to cause lethal systemic infection via survival and replication in host macrophages. Lactate, a byproduct of anaerobic or aerobic glycolysis, can induce macrophage M2 polarization, but the relationship between lactate-mediated macrophage M2 polarization and bacterial infection is poorly understood. Here, we evaluated the role of lactate and lactate-mediated macrophage M2 polarization in the pathogenicity of Salmonella. We found that lactate levels were significantly increased in Salmonella-infected macrophages, and the increased lactate was derived from the host. Macrophage and mouse infection assays showed that the addition of lactate enhanced Salmonella replication within macrophages and the colonization of mouse systemic loci, while pharmacological or genetic inhibition of host lactate production impaired Salmonella intracellular replication and its virulence in mice. Further analysis revealed that lactate promotes M2 polarization of Salmonella-infected macrophages, and the induction of macrophage M2 polarization by lactate is responsible for lactate-mediated Salmonella growth promotion. Moreover, we showed that macrophage-derived lactate induces the Salmonella pathogenicity island (SPI)-2 type III secretion system, leading to increased translocation of the SPI-2 effector SteE, which is responsible for driving M2 polarization. Overall, these findings suggest that lactate promotes Salmonella intracellular replication and systemic infection via driving macrophage M2 polarization and highlight the complex interactions between Salmonella and macrophages. IMPORTANCE The important enteropathogen Salmonella can cause lethal systemic infection via survival and replication in host macrophages. Lactate represents an abundant intracellular metabolite during bacterial infection, which can also induce macrophage M2 polarization. In this study, we found that macrophage-derived lactate promotes the intracellular replication and systemic infection of Salmonella. During Salmonella infection, lactate via the Salmonella type III secretion system effector SteE promotes macrophage M2 polarization, and the induction of macrophage M2 polarization by lactate is responsible for lactate-mediated Salmonella growth promotion. This study highlights the complex interactions between Salmonella and macrophages and provides an additional perspective on host-pathogen crosstalk at the metabolic interface.

The surface localized charges in colloidal quantum dots induce a degradation that limits the electroluminescence performance. Here, Chen et al. propose quantum dots with monmonotonically-graded core/shell/shell structures to boost the device’s performance by reducing the surface-bulk coupling.

Colloidal quantum dots are promising for next-generation displays, yet the technology to realise high-resolution and uniform patterning is still scarce. Here, the authors report full-colour QD large area patterning by combining photolithography and selective electrophoretic deposition technique.

Abstract With its high theoretical capacity, lithium (Li) metal is recognized as the most potential anode for realizing a high‐performance energy storage system. A series of questions (severe safety hazard, low Coulombic efficiency, short lifetime, etc.) induced by uncontrollable dendrites growth, unstable solid electrolyte interface layer, and large volume change, make practical application of Li‐metal anodes still a threshold. Due to their highly appealing properties, carbon‐based materials as hosts to composite with Li metal have been passionately investigated for improving the performance of Li‐metal batteries. This review displays an overview of the critical role of carbon‐based hosts for improving the comprehensive performance of Li‐metal anodes. Based on correlated mainstream models, the main failure mechanism of Li‐metal anodes is introduced. The advantages and strategies of carbon‐based hosts to address the corresponding challenges are generalized. The unique function, existing limitation, and recent research progress of key carbon‐based host materials for Li‐metal anodes are reviewed. Finally, a conclusion and an outlook for future research of carbon‐based hosts are presented. This review is dedicated to summarizing the advances of carbon‐based materials hosts in recent years and providing a reference for the further development of carbon‐based hosts for advanced Li‐metal anodes.

Designing efficient and scalable quantum dot LEDs meeting industrial requirements remains a challenge. Here, the authors, by leveraging the liquid phase exchange of d-MX2 ligands, present printed quantum dot LEDs with external quantum efficiency over 16% and half lifetime of more than 1,721,000 hours.

Wide application of quantum dot light emitting diodes (QLED) in display technology is hindered by the poor lifetime of the blue QLEDs. Here, the degradation mechanism is shown to originate from space charge accumulation in the electron-transporting layer enabling improvements in blue QLED lifetimes.

The commercialization of light-emitting diodes based on emissive quantum dots (e.g. QLEDs) is hindered by their inherent poor operational lifetime. Using an intelligent energy-level design strategy, Qian et al. demonstrate QLEDs with operational lifetime that meets industrial display standards.

As a member of the S100 protein family, S100A10 has already been purified. However, its purity, or even yield, have often not been reported in the literature. To facilitate future biophysical experiments with S100A10, we aimed to obtain it at a purity of at least 95% in a reasonably large amount. Here, we report optimized conditions for the transformation, overexpression and purification of the protein. We obtained a purity of 97% and performed stability studies by circular dichroism. Our data confirmed that the S100A10 obtained is suitable for experiments to be performed at room temperature up to several days.

Abstract Mutations in the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) gene are common driver oncogenes in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Studies have shown that afatinib is beneficial for NSCLC patients with rare EGFR mutations. However, the effectiveness of tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) against the G719X (G719A, G719C and G719S) mutation has not been fully established. Herein, using the CRISPR method, the EGFR G719X mutant cell lines were constructed to assess the sensitivity of the rare mutation G719X in NSCLC. WZ3146, a novel mutation-selective EGFR inhibitor, was conducted transcriptome sequencing and in vitro experiments. The results showed that WZ3146 induced cytotoxic effects, inhibited growth vitality and proliferation via ERK and AKT pathway in the EGFR G719X mutant cells. Our findings suggest that WZ3146 may be a promising treatment option for NSCLC patients with the EGFR exon 18 substitution mutation G719X.

Abstract Background Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the third most prevalent cancer worldwide, with the tumor microenvironment (TME) playing a crucial role in its progression. Aggregated autophagy (AA) has been recognized as a factor that exacerbates CRC progression. This study aims to study the relationship between aggregated autophagy and CRC using single-cell sequencing techniques. Our goal is to explain the heterogeneity of the TME and to explore the potential for targeted personalized therapies. Objective To study the role of AA in CRC, we employed single-cell sequencing to discern distinct subpopulations within the TME. These subpopulations were characterized by their autophagy levels and further analyzed to identify specific biological processes and marker genes. Results Our study revealed significant correlations between immune factors and both clinical and biological characteristics of the tumor microenvironment (TME), particularly in cells expressing TUBA1B and HSP90AA1. These immune factors were associated with T cell depletion, a reduction in protective factors, diminished efficacy of immune checkpoint blockade (ICB), and enhanced migration of cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs), resulting in pronounced inflammation. In vitro experiments showd that silencing TUBA1B and HSP90AA1 using siRNA (Si-TUBA1B and Si-HSP90AA1) significantly reduced the expression of IL-6, IL-7, CXCL1, and CXCL2 and inhibition of tumor cell growth in Caco-2 and Colo-205 cell lines. This reduction led to a substantial alleviation of chronic inflammation and highlighted the heterogeneous nature of the TME. Conclusion This study marks an initial foray into understanding how AA-associated processes may potentiate the TME and weaken immune function. Our findings provide insights into the complex dynamics of the TME and highlight potential targets for therapeutic intervention, suggesting a key role for AA in the advancement of colorectal cancer.

ObjectiveThis systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to evaluate the efficacy of combination scalp acupuncture in treating post-stroke cognitive impairment.MethodsA comprehensive search was conducted across eight databases: PubMed, Web of Science, Cochrane Database, Embase, CBM, CNKI, WanFang, and VIP, targeting randomized controlled trials (RCTs) published from the inception of these databases until October 24, 2024. The inclusion criteria focused on RCTs that compared scalp acupuncture with conventional treatments as therapeutic interventions for patients suffering from post-stroke cognitive impairment (PSCI). The effectiveness of these treatments was evaluated using various outcome measures, including the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE), the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA), the Loewenstein Occupational Therapy Cognitive Assessment (LOTCA), as well as P300 latency and amplitude, which collectively assess cognitive function. Two independent reviewers conducted a risk of bias (ROB2) assessment, and data analysis was performed using Review Manager (RevMan) version 5.4.ResultsThis analysis included a total of 28 studies involving 1,995 patients. However, according to the standards of the ROB2 tool, most of these studies exhibited various methodological issues. The comprehensive analysis indicates that the efficacy of combined scalp acupuncture in treating post-stroke cognitive impairment (PSCI) is superior to that of single treatments, as evidenced by improvements across multiple scales, including the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA), Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE), Loewenstein Occupational Therapy Cognitive Assessment (LOTCA), P300 latency, and amplitude. Specifically, the overall effective rate was reported as (RR = 1.28, 95% CI: 1.14–1.45, p

Abstract Background To investigate the association between white matter changes and ventricular expansion in idiopathic normal pressure hydrocephalus (iNPH) based on diffusion spectrum imaging (DSI). Methods We included 32 patients with iNPH who underwent DSI using a 3T MRI scanner. The lateral ventricles were manually segmented, and ventricular volumes were measured. Two methods were utilised in the study: manual region-of-interest (ROI) delineation and tract diffusion profile analysis. General fractional anisotropy (GFA) and fractional anisotropy (FA) were extracted in different white matter regions, including the bilateral internal capsule (anterior and posterior limbs) and corpus callosum (body, genu, and splenium) with manual ROI delineation. The 18 main tracts in the brain of each patient were extracted; the diffusion metrics of 100 equidistant nodes on each fibre were calculated, and Spearman’s correlation coefficient was used to determine the correlation between diffusion measures and ventricular volume of iNPH patients. Results The GFA and FA of all ROI showed no significant correlation with lateral ventricular volume. However, in the tract diffusion profile analysis, lateral ventricular volume was positively correlated with part of the cingulum bundle, left corticospinal tract, and bilateral thalamic radiation posterior, whereas it was negatively correlated with the bilateral cingulum parahippocampal (all p

The air supported membrane structure is a typical nonlinear flexible long-span space structure, the wind-induced drift and the resulting accumulation and distribution of snow particles on the structure may be the primary design concern among all loads in heavy-snowfall region. Thus, an accurate prediction of snow distribution on membrane surface is vital to structural design. A numerical simulation method is used to estimate snowdrift in this paper. Based on Euler-Euler method in multi-phase flow theory, this numerical model adopted Mixture model and combined with the snow deposition and erosion model, the snowdrift on an air-supported membrane coal shed is simulated, the distribution factor for roof snow load is given under different wind speed and different directions to estimate the worst load case, snow load on the air-supported membrane structure is significantly affected by snowdrift which causes significant non-uniform snow load. Furthermore, the response analysis of the air-supported membrane structure under snow load is studied, for comparison, uniform snow load case, non-uniform snow load case, and simulated snow load case under 0° wind direction are all considered. The results show that non-uniform snow load caused by snow drifting is more dangerous and should be considered. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The vulnerable eco-environment of Yellow River Basin (YRB) has become a significant bottleneck restricting its sustainable development. Thus, it is critical to thoroughly elucidate the spatiotemporal pattern and contributors of its eco-environment vulnerability (EV). In this paper, we constructed an EV evaluation system from the dimensions of “exposure, sensitivity, and adaptive capacity” based on the Vulnerability Scoping Diagram (VSD) framework and used the Entropy weight-TOPSIS model and contribution degree model to analyze the spatiotemporal patterns of EV from 2011 to 2020 and its main contributors. The results show that: (1) Temporally, the EV index ranged from 0.2875 to 0.4167, showing an overall fluctuating downward trend. Regarding the subsystems, a declining trend was observed in the index of eco-environmental exposure (EE) and sensitivity (ES), while the eco-environmental adaptive capacity (EA) index demonstrated a rising tendency. (2) Spatially, the EV index followed a pattern of “lower reaches (0.4384) > upper reaches (0.3527) > middle reaches (0.3369)”. Moreover, both the EE index and EA index followed a pattern of “ lower reaches > middle reaches > upper reaches ”, while the ES index followed a pattern of “ lower reaches > upper reaches > middle reaches ”. (3) The contribution analysis revealed that the contribution of the subsystems to EV in YRB followed a trend of “ EA (49.97 %) > ES (29.11 %) > EE (20.93 %)”. From the viewpoint of regions, the upstream basin’s strong ES and EA had a major impact on its EV, whereas the EV of the downstream was predominantly attributed to its high EE. This study can provide a basis for strengthening the governance of EV in the basin and maintaining its ecological security.

Summary: The association between anti-obesity medications (AOMs) as well as their weight-loss effects and cardiovascular outcomes need to be comprehensively investigated. We searched PubMed, Embase, the Cochrane Center Register of Controlled Trials for Studies, and Clinicaltrial.gov website from the inception to April 2024 and included 129 randomized controlled trials (RCTs) of AOMs. When compared with placebo, every 5 kg weight reduction mediated by AOMs was associated with the reduced risks of 3-point major adverse cardiovascular events (relative risk [RR] 0.72, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.60–0.85), myocardial infarction (RR 0.75, 95% CI 0.60–0.95), stroke (RR 0.60, 95% CI 0.42–0.85), and heart failure (RR 0.71, 95% CI 0.54–0.95). As for glucagon-like peptide 1 receptor agonist (GLP-1RA)-users, similar cardiovascular benefits were also observed with 5 kg weight loss. This study indicated that the weight reductions mediated by AOMs were associated with cardiovascular benefits observed in AOM-users.

Coal-gangue object detection has attracted substantial attention because it is the core of realizing vision-based intelligent and green coal separation. However, most existing studies have been focused on laboratory datasets and prioritized model lightweight. This makes the coal-gangue object detection challenging to adapt to the complex and harsh scenes of real production environments. Therefore, our project collected and labeled image datasets of coal and gangue under real production conditions from a coal preparation plant. We then designed a one-stage object model, named STATNet, following the “backbone-neck-head” architecture with the aim of enhancing the detection accuracy under industrial coal preparation scenarios. The proposed model utilizes Swin Transformer as backbone module to extract multi-scale features, improved path augmentation feature pyramid network (iPAFPN) as neck module to enrich feature fusion, and task-aligned head (TAH) as head module to mitigate conflicts and misalignments between classification and localization tasks. Experimental results on a real-world industrial dataset demonstrate that the proposed STATNet model achieves an impressive AP50 of 89.27 %, significantly surpassing several state-of-the-art baseline models by 2.02 % to 5.58 %. Additionally, it exhibits stronger robustness in resisting image corruption and perturbation. These findings demonstrate its promising prospects in practical coal and gangue separation applications.

Abstract Background To establish a nomogram to predict the probability of survival of patients with stage II/III gastric cancer (GC) who received incomplete peri-operative adjuvant chemotherapy (PAC). Methods The medical records of stage II/III GC patients who received curative resection and 1 to 5 cycles of PAC from two tertiary hospitals were retrospectively reviewed. Patients were randomly classified into either a training group or validation group at a ratio of 7:3. The nomogram was constructed based on various prognostic factors using Cox regression analysis in the training cohort, and was validated by the validation group. Concordance index and calibration curves were used to evaluate the discrimination and calibration of the nomogram. Additionally, decision curve analysis (DCA) was used to compare the net clinical benefits of the nomogram and eighth version of TNM staging system. Results A total of 1,070 consecutive patients were included and 749 patients were enrolled into the training group. Lower body mass index (

Abstract Objective To translate the Stressors in Breast Cancer Scale (SBCS) from English to Chinese and assess its psychometric properties. Methods The Brislin’s translation model was applied to perform forward translation, back translation, cross-cultural adaptation, Whereas the Chinese version of the SBCS was formed by conducting pre-testing. A cohort of 878 breast cancer patients participated in this methodological study. Content validity, construct validity, convergent validity, discriminant validity, and criterion-related validity were used to establish validity. Internal consistency reliability, split-half reliability, and test-retest reliability were used to establish reliability. Results The final scale contained five dimensions and 24 items, including interpersonal relationship and healthcare strains, worries and concerns about the future, physical appearance and sex strains, daily difficulties and health. The average content validity index of the scale was 0.975. The goodness-of-fit index (χ2/DF = 2.416, RMSEA = 0.057, GFI = 0.896, CFI = 0.947, IFI = 0.947, and TLI = 0.939) indicated that the model was well-fitted. The composite reliability (CR) of the dimensions ranged from 0.825 to 0.934, the average variance extracted (AVE) ranged from 0.539 to 0.712, and the correlation coefficients of each dimension with the other dimensions were less than the square root of the AVE for that dimension. The Criterion-related validity was 0.511. The Cronbach’s alpha was 0.938, and the dimensions ranged from 0.779 to 0.900. Split-half reliability was 0.853, with dimensions ranging from 0.761 to 0.892. Test-retest reliability was 0.855. Conclusions The Chinese version of the SBCS has good reliability and validity, which can be applied to the assessment of stressors in breast cancer patients in China.

This study aimed to assess the associations between sprint force–velocity profile variables with change of direction (COD) performance and to investigate the impact of these variables on asymmetries in COD speed performance. Ninety-nine participants (volleyball players: n = 44, basketball players: n = 55) performed 40 m sprints for Fv relationship calculation, two COD tests (Modified Agility T-test and 505 test). A partial least squares (PLS) regression analysis was conducted to determine the relationships between the variables. The V0 was the most influential variable; it was negatively associated with COD performance variables (β = −0.260, −0.263 and −0.244 for MAT, 505-D and 505-ND, respectively), and F0 (β = 0.169, 0.163) was associated with the COD performance variables (COD deficit D and COD deficit ND, respectively), slightly larger than the effects of Fvslope (β = −0.162, −0.146), DRF (β = −0.159, −0.142) and Pmax (β = −0.162, −0.146). For COD deficit imbalance, the DRF (β = −0.070) was the most influential variable followed by Fvslope (β = −0.068), F0 (β = 0.046) and gender (β = 0.031). V0 and RFmax were the critical variables for improving COD performance that includes linear sprints, while DRF, Fvslope, F0 and Pmax collectively influence 180° COD performance. Meanwhile, DRF and Fvslope were important factors for asymmetries in COD speed performance. It is recommended to use the Fv profile to diagnose different COD movement patterns and then develop training plans accordingly for team sports played on smaller courts, such as basketball and volleyball.

Introduction: Neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder (NMOSD) is a central nervous system demyelinating disease. Current therapy methods, however, have limited effect on acute attacks except for intravenous methylprednisolone (IVMP). Efgartigimod is a first-in-class novel human immunoglobulin G1 (IgG1) Fc fragment approved for the treatment of generalized myasthenia gravis. Its capacity to rapidly decrease serum IgG levels, including pathogenic autoantibodies, positions it as a potentially effective option for managing the acute phase of NMOSD. Case presentation: We report the case of a 59-year-old female patient with acute NMOSD, presenting with vision loss and numbness in all four limbs. Despite an initial inadequate response to intravenous methylprednisolone (IVMP), the addition of Efgartigimod to her treatment regimen led to rapid improvement, notably including a significant reduction in serum aquaporin-4 antibody titers, total IgG levels, and inflammation cytokine levels. Furthermore, no adverse events were reported during a four-month follow-up period. Conclusion: As an adjunct to glucocorticoid therapy, Efgartigimod has proven effective and safe for this patient. However, to ascertain its potential as a novel therapeutic option for acute NMOSD, larger-scale prospective clinical trials are required.

There are multiple disease-modifying immunotherapies showing the potential of preventing or delaying the progression of type 1 diabetes (T1D). We designed and performed this systematic review and meta-analysis to gain an overview of what a role immunotherapy plays in the treatment of T1D. We searched PubMed, Embase and Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL) from inception to December 2023. We included clinical trials of immunotherapy conducted in patients with T1D that reported the incidence of hypoglycemia or changes from baseline in at least one of following outcomes: 2 h and 4 h mixed-meal-stimulated C-peptide area under the curve (AUC), fasting C-peptide, daily insulin dosage, glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) and fasting plasma glucose (FPG). The results were computed as the weighted mean differences (WMDs) or odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) in random-effect model. In all, 34 clinical trials were included. When compared with control groups, 2 h C-peptide AUC was marginally higher in patient treated with nonantigen-based immunotherapies (WMD, 0.04nmol/L, 95% CI, 0.00–0.09 nmol/L, P=0.05), which was mainly driven by the effects of T cell-targeted therapy. A greater preservation in 4 h C-peptide AUC was observed in patients with nonantigen-based immunotherapies (WMD, 0.10nmol/L, 95% CI, 0.04–0.16 nmol/L, P=0.0007), which was mainly driven by the effects of tumor necrosis factor α (TNF-α) inhibitor and T cell-targeted therapy. After excluding small-sample trials, less daily insulin dosage was observed in patient treated with nonantigen-based immunotherapies when compared with control groups (WMD, −0.07units/kg/day, 95% CI, −0.11 to −0.03units/kg/day, P=0.0004). The use of antigen-based immunotherapies was also associated with a lower daily insulin dosage versus control groups (WMD, −0.11units/kg/day, 95% CI, −0.23 to −0.00units/kg/day, P=0.05). However, changes of HbA1c or FPG were comparable between nonantigen-based immunotherapies or antigen-based immunotherapies and control groups. The risk of hypoglycemia was not increased in patients treated with nonantigen-based immunotherapies or patients treated with antigen-based immunotherapies when compared with control groups. In conclusion, nonantigen-based immunotherapies were associated with a preservation of 2 h and 4 h C-peptide AUC in patients with T1D when compared with the controls, which was mainly driven by the effects of TNF-a inhibitor and T cell-targeted therapy. Both nonantigen-based immunotherapies and antigen-based immunotherapies tended to reduce the daily insulin dosage in patients with T1D when compared with the controls. However, they did not contribute to a substantial improvement in HbA1c or FPG. Both nonantigen-based immunotherapies and antigen-based immunotherapies were well tolerated with not increased risk of hypoglycemia in patients with T1D.

Abstract Global food production faces challenges in balancing the need for increased yields with environmental sustainability. This study presents a six-year field experiment in the North China Plain, demonstrating the benefits of diversifying traditional cereal monoculture (wheat–maize) with cash crops (sweet potato) and legumes (peanut and soybean). The diversified rotations increase equivalent yield by up to 38%, reduce N2O emissions by 39%, and improve the system’s greenhouse gas balance by 88%. Furthermore, including legumes in crop rotations stimulates soil microbial activities, increases soil organic carbon stocks by 8%, and enhances soil health (indexed with the selected soil physiochemical and biological properties) by 45%. The large-scale adoption of diversified cropping systems in the North China Plain could increase cereal production by 32% when wheat–maize follows alternative crops in rotation and farmer income by 20% while benefiting the environment. This study provides an example of sustainable food production practices, emphasizing the significance of crop diversification for long-term agricultural resilience and soil health.

Abstract Background More than half of patients with tuberous sclerosis complex (TSC) suffer from drug-resistant epilepsy (DRE), and resection surgery is the most effective way to control intractable epilepsy. Precise preoperative localization of epileptogenic tubers among all cortical tubers determines the surgical outcomes and patient prognosis. Models for preoperatively predicting epileptogenic tubers using 18F-FDG PET images are still lacking, however. We developed noninvasive predictive models for clinicians to predict the epileptogenic tubers and the outcome (seizure freedom or no seizure freedom) of cortical tubers based on 18F-FDG PET images. Methods Forty-three consecutive TSC patients with DRE were enrolled, and 235 cortical tubers were selected as the training set. Quantitative indices of cortical tubers on 18F-FDG PET were extracted, and logistic regression analysis was performed to select those with the most important predictive capacity. Machine learning models, including logistic regression (LR), linear discriminant analysis (LDA), and artificial neural network (ANN) models, were established based on the selected predictive indices to identify epileptogenic tubers from multiple cortical tubers. A discriminating nomogram was constructed and found to be clinically practical according to decision curve analysis (DCA) and clinical impact curve (CIC). Furthermore, testing sets were created based on new PET images of 32 tubers from 7 patients, and follow-up outcome data from the cortical tubers were collected 1, 3, and 5 years after the operation to verify the reliability of the predictive model. The predictive performance was determined by using receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis. Results PET quantitative indices including SUVmean, SUVmax, volume, total lesion glycolysis (TLG), third quartile, upper adjacent and standard added metabolism activity (SAM) were associated with the epileptogenic tubers. The SUVmean, SUVmax, volume and TLG values were different between epileptogenic and non-epileptogenic tubers and were associated with the clinical characteristics of epileptogenic tubers. The LR model achieved the better performance in predicting epileptogenic tubers (AUC = 0.7706; 95% CI 0.70–0.83) than the LDA (AUC = 0.7506; 95% CI 0.68–0.82) and ANN models (AUC = 0.7425; 95% CI 0.67–0.82) and also demonstrated good calibration (Hosmer‒Lemeshow goodness-of-fit p value = 0.7). In addition, DCA and CIC confirmed the clinical utility of the nomogram constructed to predict epileptogenic tubers based on quantitative indices. Intriguingly, the LR model exhibited good performance in predicting epileptogenic tubers in the testing set (AUC = 0.8502; 95% CI 0.71–0.99) and the long-term outcomes of cortical tubers (1-year outcomes: AUC = 0.7805, 95% CI 0.71–0.85; 3-year outcomes: AUC = 0.8066, 95% CI 0.74–0.87; 5-year outcomes: AUC = 0.8172, 95% CI 0.75–0.87). Conclusions The 18F-FDG PET image-based LR model can be used to noninvasively identify epileptogenic tubers and predict the long-term outcomes of cortical tubers in TSC patients.

Abstract Based on China’s new development philosophy, and following the idea of “assessing the overall levels firstly, then anchoring the subsystems contributions and finally identifying the obstacle factors”, an evaluation system of high-quality development (HQD) levels is constructed from five subsystems of innovative development (ID), coordinated development (CD), green development (GD), open development (OD) and shared development (SD). In this paper, the entropy weight TOPSIS model is used to measure the HQD levels of 19 provincial units located in the Yellow River Basin (YRB) and the Yangtze River Economic Belt (YREB) in 2010–2019, and with the assistance of the Obstacle Degree Model, the obstacle factors affecting the HQD of both are depicted. The results show that: (1) between 2010 and 2019, the HQD indices in YRB and YREB have been on an increasing trend, and the subsystems indices all show a trend of “GD > CD > SD > ID > OD”, but the overall levels of HQD in both is not high, and there is still much room for improvement. (2) YREB has a significantly higher HQD level than YRB. From 2010 to 2019, the average values of the HQD indices in YRB and YREB were 0.2886 and 0.4073, respectively, but the index in YRB improves at a faster pace than YREB, and the gap of HQD levels between the two show a trend of continuous reduction towards regional balance and coordination. (3) The analysis of obstacle factors shows that while OD and ID are the main obstacles to HQD in both basins, the impact of both on the resistance to HQD in both basins is on a decreasing trend. GD is another bottleneck for the HQD of YRB, and the pressure on GD in the middle and upper reaches of the provincial units in the basin is increasing, and the obstacles are on a rising trend.

Abstract Background In the new International League Against Epilepsy (ILAE) classification of seizure types, generalized seizures such as absence seizures (ASs) may originate from a focal point and rapidly spread to the bilaterally distributed brain network. Increasing evidence from animal and clinical studies has indicated that focal changes may occur prior to ASs; however, the relationship of ASs with epileptogenic lesions remains unclear. Methods We retrospectively collected and analyzed the clinical, imaging, and electrophysiological data of 16 patients who had ASs and structural lesions with seizure-free outcomes after lesion resection. Results In semiology analysis, nine patients displayed focal onset; only two patients showed simple ASs, and seizure types other than ASs were observed in the remaining patients. On ictal electroencephalography (EEG), four patients showed bilateral synchronous symmetric 3 Hz generalized spike-wave discharges (GSWDs), and the remaining patients showed bilateral 1.5–2.5 Hz GSWDs. Moreover, most patients (13/16, 81.3%) exhibited focal features in addition to ASs, while interictal EEG was the same in 12 patients. Furthermore, on stereoelectroencephalogram (SEEG), 2/5 patients showed focal discharges before bilateral burst GSWDs. Additionally, all patients had structural lesions on imaging. In four typical AS patients, the lesions were located in deep brain regions. Notably, in 9 patients (9/16, 56%), the lesions were located in the posterior cortex. All patients underwent lesion resection and had seizure-free outcomes during follow-up, and intelligence quotient (IQ) also improved by 10.71 ± 3.90 one year after surgery. Conclusions Patients with lesion-related epilepsy may present with ASs that have a focal onset and are associated with good surgical outcomes.

Abstract Background Erector spinae plane block (ESPB) improves postoperative analgesia and significantly enhances the quality of recovery (QoR) after video-assisted thoracoscopic lobectomy surgery (VATLS). However, it is not known whether the use of dexmedetomidine (Dex) as an adjunct for ropivacaine to ESPB affects the QoR after VATLS. The purpose of this study was to explore the effects of different Dex dosages as an adjunct for ropivacaine in combination with ultrasound-guided ESPB on the quality of postoperative recovery in patients with VATLS. Methods In this single-center, double-blind, randomized study, 120 patients between the ages of 18 and 65 who were scheduled for VATLS from december 2021 and october 2022 in our hospital under general anesthesia were randomly divided into three groups: ultrasound-guided ESPB with 30 mL of 0.5% ropivacaine (Group R), ultrasound-guided ESPB 0.5% ropivacaine plus 0.5 µg/kg Dex (Group RD1), and ultrasound-guided ESPB 0.5% ropivacaine plus 1.0 µg/kg Dex (Group RD2), ultrasound-guided ESPB was administrated at the T5 vertebral level before surgery. The primary outcome was the QoR-15 score 24 h after the surgery. The secondary outcomes included the QoR-15 scores at 12 h, 48 h, and 72 h after the operation, visual analogue scale (VAS) scores at 8 h, 12 h, 24 h, and 48 h after surgery, cumulative flurbiprofen consumption, postoperative nausea and vomiting (PONV), postoperative bradycardia, and hypotension. Results The QoR-15 scores were higher in group RD2 than the R and RD1 groups on postoperative day 1 (P

The water-intensive conventional winter wheat–summer maize (WM) double cropping system in the North China Plain (NCP) has significantly decreased the groundwater table. To address this issue, we undertook a two-year field experiment to explore the potential and mechanisms of water-saving and yield increase of five newly designed diversified crop rotations incorporating spring crops (sweet potato, soybean, peanut, spring maize, and millet) into cereal crops compared with the conventional WM (as control). The results revealed that the five diversified crop rotations significantly decreased annual actual crop evapotranspiration by 7–12% and net groundwater use by 21–31% compared to the conventional WM. Sweet potato and peanut-based rotations significantly enhanced annual average equivalent yields up to 32% and economic benefit (+50%, +7%) while improving water productivity by 24–68% compared to WM. Shallow-rooted crops (sweet potato, soybean, peanut, and millet), when used as the preceding crop, improved soil water storage in the 0–180 cm soil layer at the start of the succeeding wheat planting season by 3–9% compared to the conventional WM. These shallow-rooted crops mainly concentrated their root systems in the 0–120 cm soil water, particularly the top 80 cm, complementing the deeper root systems of wheat, which extended down to 180 cm. Consequently, this optimal soil water use regime in diversified crop rotations increased the leaf area index and aboveground biomass of the succeeding wheat and maize crops, increasing total grain yields by 4–11%. Thus, introducing shallowed-root annual crops as preceding crops to the current WM rotation is beneficial for decreasing irrigation inputs, enhancing overall crop productivity, and mitigating groundwater table decline in the NCP.

BackgroundAcupuncture is a widely used clinical treatment method, and studies have confirmed its therapeutic effects on stroke patients. It can also reduce the burden on patients and society. Acupuncture treatment is a complementary and preventive treatment for stroke. However, there has yet to be a visual bibliometric analysis of the field of acupuncture for stroke rat models. This study explores future trends, research hotspots, and frontiers in acupuncture for stroke rat models over the past 20 years through investigation and visualization.MethodsWe collected literature data on acupuncture treatment of stroke in rats from the Web of Science Core Collection (WOSCC) database from January 1, 2004, to December 31, 2023. Import into CiteSpace (version 6.2.R4) and RStudio for analysis by author, country/region, affiliation, annual publication, keywords, and journal visualization.ResultsA total of 379 articles were retrieved, including articles from 16 countries, 258 research institutions, and 123 academic journals. The countries and institutions with the most publications were the People’s Republic of China (338) and the Fujian University of Traditional Chinese Medicine (43). Tao, Jing had the highest number of co-citations (144). The keywords and co-citation clustering show the main research directions in the field, including “artery occlusion,” “neural regeneration,” “stimulation,” “rapid tolerance,” “receptor,” “signaling pathway,” “apoptosis,” “oxidative stress,” “inflammatory response,” “endogenous neurogenesis,” “tolerance of local cerebral ischemic tissues,” “proliferation of reactive astrocytes” and “neuroprotective effect.” The intervention combines classical acupuncture treatment and modern technology (electricity) with electroacupuncture as a new intervention modality.ConclusionThis study demonstrates the increasing research on acupuncture for treating stroke in rat models. The country/region with the most publications is the People’s Republic of China. However, international cooperation still needs to be improved, and future researchers must strengthen international cooperation. In addition, in future studies, researchers should improve the overall quality of research results in this area and enhance research protocols.

Background: The knowledge of normal‒appearing cortical gray matter (NAGM) in multiple sclerosis (MS) remains unclear. In this study, we aimed to identify diagnostic biomarkers and explore the immune infiltration characteristics of NAGM in MS through bioinformatic analysis and validation in vivo. Methods: Differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were analyzed. Subsequently, the functional pathways of the DEGs were determined. After screening the overlapping DEGs of MS with two machine learning methods, the biomarkers’ efficacy and the expression levels of overlapping DEGs were calculated. Quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (qRT‒PCR) identified the robust diagnostic biomarkers. Additionally, infiltrating immune cell populations were estimated and correlated with the biomarkers. Finally, the characteristics of immune infiltration of NAGM from MS were evaluated. Results: A total of 98 DEGs were identified. They participated in sensory transduction of the olfactory system, synaptic signaling, and immune responses. Nine overlapping genes were screened by machine learning methods. After verified by ROC curve, four genes, namely HLA‒DRB1, RPS4Y1, EIF1AY and USP9Y, were screened as candidate biomarkers. The mRNA expression of RPS4Y1 and USP9Y was significantly lower in MS patients than that in the controls. They were selected as the robust diagnostic biomarkers for male MS patients. RPS4Y1 and USP9Y were both positively correlated with memory B cells. Moreover, naive CD4+ T cells and monocytes were increased in the NAGM of MS patients compared with those in controls. Conclusions: Low expressed Y‒linked genes, RPS4Y1 and USP9Y, were identified as diagnostic biomarkers for MS in male patients. The inhomogeneity of immune cells in NAGM might exacerbate intricate interplay between the CNS and the immune system in the MS.

Positioned in the era of the transformation of China's primary social contradictions, this study delves into the new connotations of regional coordinated development(RCD) from the perspective of “factors” coordination within the region and constructs an RCD evaluation system from five subsystems of regional economic coordination(REC), urban-rural coordination(URC), economic and social coordination(EASC), resource and environmental coordination(RAEC), and material and spiritual civilization coordination(MASCC). Then, the Entropy weight-TOPSIS model is used to evaluate the RCD levels of the 19 provinces located in the Yangtze River Economic Belt(YREB) and Yellow River Basin(YRB) from 2010 to 2019, and the two-way fixed-effects model is employed to illustrate the driving mechanisms of various influencing factors on the RCD in YRB and YREB. The results show that:(1)the RCD levels of YRB and YREB show a fluctuating upward trend during 2010 and 2019, however, both regions have low RCD levels, as seen by the mean RCD indices for YREB and YRB, which are only 0.433 and 0.309, respectively. (2) The RCD level of YREB is higher than that of YEB. In 2019, the “coordinated” provinces in YRB and YREB account for 37.50% and 81.82% of the total number of provinces in the basins, respectively, the “uncoordinated” and “low coordinated” provinces all located in YRB. (3) The RCD of YRB and YREB is significantly improved by REC, URC and RAEC, but not significantly positively by MASCC or EASC, and insufficient development of MASCC is the main contradiction limiting the increase in the RCD level of YRB, while the low level of EASC has become the main obstacle limiting the RCD of YREB. (4)Finally, based on the varying impact degrees and directions of different influencing factors on the RCD in YRB and YREB, the recommendations to promote RCD are proposed.

ABSTRACT: This paper aimed to evaluate the effect of 3 kinds of TCM polysaccharides instead of antibiotics in preventing salpingitis in laying hens. After feeding the laying hens with Lotus leaf polysaccharide, Poria polysaccharide, and Epimedium polysaccharide, mixed bacteria (E. coli and Staphylococcus aureus) were used to infect the oviduct to establish an inflammation model. Changes in antioxidant, serum immunity, anti-inflammatory, gut microbiota, and serum metabolites were evaluated. The results showed that the 3 TCM polysaccharides could increase the expression of antioxidant markers SOD, GSH, and CAT, and reduce the accumulation of MDA in the liver; the contents of IgA and IgM in serum were increased. Decreased the mRNA expression of TLR4, NFκB, TNF-α, IFN-γ, IL1β, IL6, and IL8, and increased the mRNA expression of anti-inflammatory factor IL5 in oviduct tissue. 16sRNA high-throughput sequencing revealed that the 3 TCM polysaccharides improved the intestinal flora disturbance caused by bacterial infection, increased the abundance of beneficial bacteria such as Bacteroides and Actinobacillus, and decreased the abundance of harmful bacteria such as Romboutsia, Turicibacter, and Streptococcus. Metabolomics showed that the 3 TCM polysaccharides could increase the content of metabolites such as 3-hydroxybutyric acid and isobutyl-L-carnitine, and these results could alleviate the further development of salpingitis. In conclusion, the present study has found that using TCM polysaccharides instead of antibiotics was a feasible way to prevent bacterial salpingitis in laying hens, which might make preventing this disease no longer an issue for breeding laying hens.

Starting from the inheritance and promotion of Chinese life philosophy and traditional Chinese medicine wisdom by Chinese narrative medicine practice, this paper discusses the inheritance and echo relationship between the “close textual reading ability” in Chinese narrative medicine practice and the “four diagnoses” in traditional Chinese medicine wisdom, narrative mediation and the “mind-body holistic philosophy” in traditional Chinese medicine, and narrative wisdom and Dao Sheng in Chinese life philosophy. Meanwhile, by analyzing the stories of contemporary doctors’ practice of narrative intelligence, this paper expounds that Chinese narrative medicine is a new model of medical education and clinical practice based on the absorption of Chinese traditional life wisdom and the essence of traditional Chinese medicine culture, and the integration of western narrative medicine concepts. It also advocates Chinese scholars to actively build the discipline of “narrative traditional Chinese medicine,” constantly translate the academic achievements to foreign countries, and create a good narrative ecology of traditional Chinese medicine.

In this report, we describe 2 cases of rare intracranial extranodal Rosai-Dorfman disease. The occurrence of this type of non-Langerhans cell histiocytosis in the central nervous system is infrequent, with less than 5% of cases. The first patient was a 35-year-old male who presented with recurring headaches, and the second patient was a 50-year-old male who reported sudden onset of dizziness and vomiting. Computed tomography scans were performed in both cases, but magnetic resonance imaging played a crucial role in the characterization of the lesions and their locations in the thalamus, third ventricle, lateral ventricles, and cerebellopontine angle area. The final diagnosis was confirmed through pathological examination and immunohistochemistry following brain tumor resection. These cases underscore the significance of magnetic resonance imaging in the early diagnosis of intracranial extranodal Rosai-Dorfman disease.

Abstract This study examined whether active commuting to school in childhood and adolescence predicted active commuting to work and overall physical activity (PA) in adulthood. Participants from the Young Finns Study (N = 2436) were aged 9–18 years in 1980 and followed up until 2018/2020. Their commuting modes to school were assessed with a self-reported questionnaire in 1980. Adulthood PA was assessed through self-reports regarding commuting modes to work (2001–2018), leisure-time physical activity (LTPA) (2001–2018), and objectively measured daily steps (2007–2018/2020). Associations between childhood commuting and adulthood PA were evaluated using regression analyses and multilevel models. Demographic, socioeconomic and environmental covariates were adjusted for in the analyses. Active commuting to school in childhood contributed favourably to LTPA in 2001 (B = .38, p

Signaling pathways are responsible for transmitting information between cells and regulating cell growth, differentiation, and death. Proteins in cells form complexes by interacting with each other through specific structural domains, playing a crucial role in various biological functions and cell signaling pathways. Protein–protein interactions (PPIs) within cell signaling pathways are essential for signal transmission and regulation. The spatiotemporal features of PPIs in signaling pathways are crucial for comprehending the regulatory mechanisms of signal transduction. Bimolecular fluorescence complementation (BiFC) is one kind of imaging tool for the direct visualization of PPIs in living cells and has been widely utilized to uncover novel PPIs in various organisms. BiFC demonstrates significant potential for application in various areas of biological research, drug development, disease diagnosis and treatment, and other related fields. This review systematically summarizes and analyzes the technical advancement of BiFC and its utilization in elucidating PPIs within established cell signaling pathways, including TOR, PI3K/Akt, Wnt/β-catenin, NF-κB, and MAPK. Additionally, it explores the application of this technology in revealing PPIs within the plant hormone signaling pathways of ethylene, auxin, Gibberellin, and abscisic acid. Using BiFC in conjunction with CRISPR-Cas9, live-cell imaging, and ultra-high-resolution microscopy will enhance our comprehension of PPIs in cell signaling pathways.

This study investigates variations in radiofrequency- (RF-) induced energy absorption by orthopedic plates within the human body during 1.5T and 3T magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans, considering diverse postures. Using the poseable Duke model, we developed typical postures (O-posture, X-posture, Y-posture, and Z-posture) and placed anatomically correct representations of various orthopedic plates within these postures. Numerical simulations were conducted to evaluate electromagnetic fields and RF-induced energy absorption in these postures near orthopedic plates during MRI scans. Comparing RF-induced energy absorption (peak spatial averaged SAR over 1 g, pSAR1g) in postured models to the original posture reveals substantial variations. The pSAR1g differences for X-posture, Y-posture, and Z-posture reach 48%, 134%, and 32% at 1.5T, and 36%, 83%, and 101% at 3T, respectively. Changing posture can lead to higher or lower pSAR1g. These findings underscore the impact of patient posture on RF-induced energy absorption in orthopedic plates on the ulna bone. The study recommends considering representative body postures in future evaluations for MR conditional labeling of passive implants. Until then, maintaining a neutral posture during MR scans is advised to mitigate unforeseen RF-induced heating risks.

BackgroundEpilepsy is associated with a significant global burden of disease, affecting over 50 million people worldwide. The specific aim of this study is to compare the burden of epilepsy in the People’s Republic of China (PRC) with the global burden, and to analyze the epidemiological trends of epilepsy, the relationship between the burden of epilepsy and social demographic index (SDI), and the relative contributions of epidemiological factors.MethodsThis is a retrospective population-based study, data were obtained from the Global Burden of Disease (GBD) study in 2019. We employed Joinpoint software and the age-period-cohort (APC) model to analyze epilepsy’s epidemiological trends. Health inequality analysis was conducted to investigate the impact of SDI on epilepsy burden. Decomposition analysis was performed to examine the relative contributions of age, population, and epidemiological changes to epilepsy.ResultsBetween 1990 and 2019, the incidence rate in the PRC increased by 45%, significantly surpassing the global incidence of epilepsy. However, Disability-Adjusted Life Years (DALY) decreased notably, and the proportion of Years of Life Lost (YLL) decreased from 62.73 to 39.03%. Concerning incidence, the period Rate Ratio (RR) in the PRC initially increased and then decreased, while the cohort RR in the PRC and globally exhibited a consistent upward trend. In terms of mortality, period RR and cohort RR in the PRC displayed a gradual decrease, with mortality starting higher but eventually falling below the global mortality. The net drifts of incidence were greater than 0, whereas the net drifts of mortality were less than 0, both were lower in the PRC than at the global level. Decomposition analysis indicated that the changes of incidence and mortality in the PRC were mainly attributed to epidemiological changes. Additionally, global disparities in epilepsy decreased, with the burden concentrating in low SDI countries.ConclusionThe incidence of epilepsy in the PRC rose during the 30-year study period, while epilepsy mortality decreased. The improved survival rate in the PRC is predominantly attributable to epidemiological changes. The burden of epilepsy in the PRC predominantly affects males, children, and the elderly, Chinese government should focus on specific populations.

Power line communication (PLC) faces a wide range of illegal device access, wiretapping and data tampering. To ensure the confidentiality and integrity of data information, protection technologies based on data encryption and identity authentication are widely used. As one of the defense methods against wiretapping attacks, this paper takes into account the characteristics of the physical layer channel, and proposes a method for locating PLC wire-tapping equipment. First, the physical layer channel characteristics are extracted based on the communication protocol as the device fingerprint. Then the collected fingerprints are compared with the fingerprint library for device identity authentication. And when the identity authentication fails, a branch location method for wiretapping devices based on fingerprint transfer vectors is further proposed. Finally, by modeling the PLC channel and simulating eavesdropping scenarios, it is verified that the proposed method has a high accuracy rate of wiretapping equipment locating.

The collapse disaster has the characteristics of high concealment, strong paroxysm and serious harmfulness. Its early warning monitoring is an important research work in the preparation phase and construction period of various major foundation projects, and it is also an important scientific basis for the on-site command of collapse disaster monitoring and rescue. In this paper, combined with GB-InSAR and the latest multiple input multiple output(MIMO) technologies, the measurement range of emergency slope rescue radar S-SAR II has expanded by 60 times.The radar deformation map is generated by monitoring the potential collapse points on the southwest side of a open pit in Inner Mongolia, and the occurrence time of collapse is predicted by using DEM and various prediction models. The results show that S-SAR Ⅱ accurately determines the deformation area and corresponding magnitude and predicts that the time of collapse is between 9:32 a.m. and 10:27 a.m. on August 29, and the actual time of collapse is 10:26 on August 29. Therefore, S-SAR Ⅱcan predict the occurrence time of collapse disaster and guarantee the production safety of the mining regions. Through practical application analysis, it is proved that the range of S-SAR Ⅱ system has been significantly improved after optimization to meet the needs of collapse monitoring, and the telemetry and early warning technology represented by S-SAR Ⅱ has obvious technical advantages in geological disaster risk disposal and emergency rescue.

Abstract Dairy cows often develop different degrees of endometritis after calving and this is attributed to pathogenic bacterial infections such as by Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus. Infection of the bovine endometrium causes tissue damage and increases the expression of prostaglandin D2 (PGD2), which exerts anti-inflammatory effects on lung inflammation. However, the roles of PGD2 and its DP1 receptor in endometritis in cows remain unclear. Here, we examined the anti-inflammatory roles of the lipocalin-type prostaglandin D2 synthase (L-PGDS)/PGD2 and DP1 receptor regulatory pathways in bovine endometritis. We evaluated the regulatory effects of PGD2 on inflammation and tissue damage in E. coli- and S. aureus-infected bovine endometrial cells cultured in vitro. We found that the secretion of pro-inflammatory cytokines interleukin (IL)-6, IL-1β, and tumour necrosis factor (TNF)-α as well as expression of matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-2, platelet-activating factor receptor (PAFR), and high mobility group box (HMGB)-1 were suppressed after DP1 receptor agonist treatment. In contrast, IL-6, IL-1β, and TNF-α release and MMP-2, PAFR, and HMGB-1 expression levels were increased after treatment of bovine endometrial tissue with DP1 receptor antagonists. DP1-induced anti-inflammatory effects were dependent on cellular signal transduction. The L-PGDS/PGD2 pathway and DP1 receptor induced anti-inflammatory effects in bovine endometrium infected with S. aureus and E. coli by inhibiting the mitogen-activated protein kinase and nuclear factor-κB signalling pathways, thereby reducing tissue damage. Overall, our findings provide important insights into the pathophysiological roles of PGD2 in bovine endometritis and establish a theoretical basis for applying prostaglandins or non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs for treating endometrial inflammatory infertility in bovines.

ABSTRACT: This study aimed to determine whether the lotus leaf extract (LLE) had the effect of treating salpingitis in laying hens. First, the salpingitis model was established by the method of bacterial infection. Differential genes between salpingitis and healthy laying hens were identified by transcriptome sequencing, and GO and KEGG enrichment analyses were performed. Groups of treatment of antibiotics and LLE were established to verify the feasibility of the lotus leaf extract in treating salpingitis. Furthermore, the active component and pharmacological effects of LLE were identified using the UPLC-Q-TOF-MS and network pharmacology technique. At last, the mechanism of LLE treating salpingitis was further evaluated by DF-1 cells infected with bacteria. The results showed that LLE significantly reduced the levels of TLR4 and IFN-γ (P < 0.05), accelerated the levels of IgA and IgG (P < 0.05), regulated the levels of SOD and MDA (P < 0.05) in laying hens with salpingitis. A total of 1,874 differential genes were obtained according to the transcriptome sequencing. It was revealed a significant role in cell cycle and apoptosis by enrichment analysis. In addition, among the 28 components identified by UPLC-Q-TOF-MS, 20 components acted on 58 genes, including CDK1, BIRC5, and CA2 for treating salpingitis. After bacterial infection, cells were damaged and unable to complete the normal progression of the cell cycle, leading to cell cycle arrest and further apoptosis formation. However, with the intervention of LLE, bacterial infection was resisted. The cells proliferation was extensively restored, and the expression of NO was increased. The addition of LLE significantly decreased cell apoptosis. The G1 phase increased, the S phase and the G2 phase decreased in the model group; after the intervention of LLE, the G1 phase gradually returned to the average level, and G2 and S phases increased. The mRNA expression levels of BIRC5, CDK1, and CA2 were consistent with the predicted results in network pharmacology. At the same time, the mRNA expression levels of Caspase-3 and Caspase-7 were reduced after added with LLE. The mRNA expression levels of TNF-α, TRADD, FADD, Caspase-8, Caspase-10, and Caspase-9 (P < 0.05), which would inhibit death receptor activation and decrease the apoptotic cascade, were upregulated after bacterial infection. However, the results in LLE groups were downregulated (P < 0.05). Meanwhile, the mRNA expression levels of BCL-2 in LLE groups were increased significantly compared with it in model group (P < 0.05). Notably, LLE administration inhibited apoptosis and regulated the cell cycle distribution in the salpingitis induced by bacterial infection. These results indicated that the LLE attenuated bacterial-induced salpingitis by modulating apoptosis and immune function in laying hens.

As a common endocrine disease, type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) has a rising incidence year by year, which is producing various complications seriously threatening human health. Therefore, great attention has been paid to T2DM treatment, in which medicinal and food homologous plants play key roles because of their natural, healthy and widely used characteristics. Corni Fructus (CF) has been used centuries for the hypoglycemics and hypolipidemics. However, the detailed mechanism of CF on T2DM is still far from elucidated. This study aimed to investigate the effect of different extracts of CF on T2DM hepatic lipid metabolism and the underlying mechanisms. The results showed that CF can inhibit the body weight loss, decrease blood glucose and regulate serum lipid contents in T2DM mice. It also restored the islet function of the mice and reversed their abnormal lipid metabolism. Additionally, the mechanism of CF extracts to improve T2DM was explored, CF enhanced the activation of AMP-activating protein kinase and upregulated lipid oxidation related proteins, such as ACC and CPT-1, these data suggested that CF significantly improved T2DM mice at least partially through AMPK/ACC/CPT-1 signaling pathway. Taken together, our data demonstrated that CF may be a novel potential agent for T2DM treatment.