Search

Academic research trends involving public health education may reflect a certain degree of talent construction status. This study systematically reviews the data for published literature on graduate public health education, aiming to provide evidence for the optimization of public health postgraduate training mechanisms in China. Keyword cooccurrence analysis was performed based on high-frequency keywords. From 1992 to 2008, the annual number of publications in this field was relatively low in China, averaging fewer than 5 articles. The number of publications showed a steep increase after 2009. The publications were mostly from single research institutions, including comprehensive universities and military medical universities, concentrated in Beijing and Shanghai. The high-frequency keywords were public health and preventive medicine, postgraduate training, professional degree, MPH, curriculum, and teaching reform. Hotspots consisted of practical teaching research, training, educational reform and comparative education research. Research on public health postgraduate education has not reached scale and has insufficient support. Moreover, many problems in graduate public health education still cannot be solved by existing studies: authentic and practical learning, a unified approach to cultivate graduate students, organizational change of graduate public health education, and international cooperation and public health education.

Abstract To evaluate the clinical efficacy and safety of transvaginal natural orifice transluminal endoscopic surgery (vNOTES) for treating benign ovarian tumors in obese patients. A retrospective analysis was conducted on the clinical data of 35 obese patients who underwent vNOTES for benign ovarian tumor resection and 41 obese patients who underwent multi-port laparoscopic surgery (MPLS) during the same period from January 2021 to June 2024 at Qinghai Red Cross Hospital. Key parameters such as operative time, intraoperative blood loss, intraoperative and postoperative complications, hospitalization duration, postoperative anal exhaust time, postoperative visual analog scale (VAS) score, and SF-36 score were analyzed. No statistical differences were observed between the two groups regarding baseline characteristics such as age, body mass index (BMI), tumor diameter, parity, and history of pelvic surgery. The vNOTES group exhibited shorter operative times compared to the MPLS group, with no significant differences in tumor pathology, intraoperative blood loss, or tumor rupture rates. Postoperatively, the vNOTES group had shorter hospital stays, fewer postoperative complications, lower 24-hour postoperative VAS scores, and higher three-month postoperative SF-36 scores compared to the MPLS group. No differences were found between the groups concerning anal exhaust time, sexual satisfaction rate, or 24-hour postoperative VAS scores. vNOTES is a safe and feasible surgical method for treating benign ovarian tumors in obese patients, offering advantages such as no abdominal incisions and quicker postoperative recovery.

Abstract Background Sarcopenia, characterized by loss of muscle mass and strength, has been linked to various health outcomes, including diabetes mellitus. This study aims to investigate the association of sarcopenia index, based on serum creatinine and cystatin C levels, with incident diabetes mellitus in middle-aged and older adults in China. Methods This study extracted data from 2015 to 2020 China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study (CHARLS), including age ≥ 45-year adults without diabetes mellitus at baseline. Sarcopenia index was calculated based on serum creatinine and cystatin C levels, and incident diabetes mellitus was assessed through follow-up surveys. Cox proportional hazards regression models were used to analyze the association between sarcopenia index and incident diabetes mellitus, adjusting for potential confounders, with hazard ratio (HR) with 95% confidence interval (95% CI) reported. Results During a mean follow-up period of 5.0 years, a total of 501 new cases of diabetes were recorded. A total of 7718 participants were included in the analysis. The median age was 60 years, and 46.2% were male. During a mean follow-up period of 5.0 years, 501 cases of incident diabetes mellitus were identified. After adjusting for covariates, Compared with participants in the lowest quartile, the corresponding diabetes HRs (95% CIs) for participants in the second, third, and fourth quartiles were 0.930 (95% CI 0.724–1.193; P = 0.567); 0.892 (95% CI 0.685–1.162; P = 0.398), 0.869 (95% CI 0.657–1.150; P = 0.327). Restricted cubic spline curves revealed that incident rate decreased with increase in sarcopenia index. Conclusions This study provides national longitudinal evidence in China on the association of sarcopenia index, based on serum creatinine and cystatin C levels, with incident diabetes mellitus in middle-aged and older adults. Our findings suggest that sarcopenia index may be a useful biomarker for predicting the risk of diabetes mellitus in this population.

Abstract An effective fault detection strategy has always been the focus of smart grid system research. Fast and accurate fault detection is the basis for complex systems to maintain reliability and security. However, traditional fault detection methods often ignore the interpretability of the model while pursuing high detection accuracy. Complex models can usually provide higher detection accuracy, but often lack transparency and interpretability, making it difficult for operators to understand and trust the detection results of the model. Therefore, a new fault detection strategy based on an adaptive interpretable belief rule base (AI-BRB) is proposed. This method considers the adaptive updating of the search domain of the model accuracy to achieve the balance and optimization between the two conflicting objectives of the model interpretability and the detection accuracy. The fault detection model based on AI-BRB considers the interpretability of modeling, inference and optimization processes. In the optimization process, interpretability constraints are added to maintain the interpretability of the optimized model. In addition, in order to avoid falling into the local optimal solution in the optimization process, the search domain is updated adaptively according to the accuracy of the model, which improves the interpretability and robustness of the fault detection model. Finally, an example is given to prove that the proposed method can improve the accuracy of fault detection and the interpretability of the model compared with the existing methods.

Abstract The increasing use of antiviral drugs, combined with an aging population, has resulted in a growing number of older adults living with HIV. Unfortunately, high-risk sexual behavior among older individuals with HIV has led to HIV retransmission. Our study aimed to analyze the sexual behavior of elderly men with HIV in Chongqing and evaluate the factors influencing high-risk sexual behavior using a logistic regression model. The study involved 774 participants with an average age of 62 years. Of the participants, 45.74% (N = 354) reported having sex in the past year, and 13.70% (N = 106) reported high-risk sexual behavior in the same period. Our study identified several factors associated with high-risk sexual behavior, such as low education level, commercial and temporary sexual partners, and lack of awareness and use of condoms. The results highlight the significant prevalence of high-risk sexual behavior among HIV-infected older men in Chongqing, and the potential risk of secondary transmission. Therefore, targeted interventions and education programs are needed, particularly for men over 50 years old, those with low education level, and those who engage in commercial or temporary sexual partnerships. Specifically, promoting condom use and increasing awareness of HIV/AIDS knowledge should be prioritized to decrease the prevalence of high-risk sexual behavior and prevent further transmission of the virus.

Abstract To observe the current situation of fertility preservation among female breast cancer patients ≤ 40 years old and analyze the related factors which influence the utilization of fertility preservation. A single-center retrospective questionnaire was conducted investigating patients diagnosed with breast cancer attending The First Affiliated Hospital of Xian JiaoTong University between January 2016 and December 2019. The questionnaire was redesigned based on previous similar research and the questions needed in this study. Rates of utilization of preservation services were compared based on patients’ demographic and economic-social information, disease characteristic information and fertility related information. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression analysis was used to assess the relationship between utilization of fertility preservation and sociodemographic factors, previous reproductive-related problems. 313 patients were successfully interviewed. 60/313patients (19.2%) had utilized fertility preservation. Younger patients (

Abstract Background Sepsis is one of the most challenging and complex clinical states, with persistently high mortality rates. Guidelines recommend the early identification of sepsis patients and immediate initiation of the Hour-1 Bundle treatment to reduce mortality from sepsis. Emergency nurses play a vital role in the early screening of sepsis. Studies indicate that mind mapping and In-Situ Simulation (ISS) training not only aid healthcare professionals in reinforcing theoretical knowledge retention but also enhance skills in coordination, task management, and communication during simulation exercises. This, in turn, promotes the effective implementation of various treatments during resuscitation. The combination of theoretical and practical training methods is more effective than a single training approach. In June 2023, our hospital's emergency department conducted training for emergency nurses on sepsis mind mapping combined with ISS. Objective To explore the effect of mind mapping combined with ISS training in promoting the emergency nurses' implementation of the Hour-1 Bundle in sepsis patients. Methods Using mind mapping and ISS training methods, 24 emergency nurses were divided into 6 groups for a 12-week training period. The study compared their pre- and post-training knowledge of sepsis, identification and diagnostic time, Hour-1 Bundle treatment completion rate, and non-technical skill scores. Post-training, the emergency nurses evaluated the effectiveness of the training. Results The scores for sepsis knowledge among emergency nurses before and after training were 44.17 ± 9.21 and 60.42 ± 5.29, respectively. The identification and diagnostic times (hours) were 0.63 ± 0.18 and 0.49 ± 0.13, respectively. The Hour-1 Bundle treatment completion rates were 58.33% and 85.7%, respectively. There was a significant increase in all non-technical skill scores, with statistical significance (P

Abstract Background There is a severe shortage of intensive care nurses worldwide, and training a qualified ICU nurse is hard since it takes a very long time to accumulate the intensive care knowledge and skills needed. This study aimed to examine the effect of an escape room teaching method on teamwork attitudes and intensive care knowledge of ICU new nurses, their satisfaction with, and willingness to participate in escape room training. Methods A convenience sampling approach was utilized to enlist new nurses from April 2023 to March 2024 in China. ICU nurses with less than two years of experience in the First Affiliated Hospital of Kunming Medical University were involved in our study. Most of them were female (85.71%) with bachelor’s degrees (85.71%), and without escape room experiences (92.86%). Teamwork attitudes were collected through the TeamSTEPPS Teamwork Attitudes Questionnaire (T-TAQ) developed by the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ); intensive care knowledge were collected by researchers-made online intensive care knowledge tests; satisfaction with escape room training, and willingness to participate in the escape room training were collected by researchers-made online questionnaires. Finally, the data were analyzed with SPSS v.26. Descriptive statistics, the paired samples test, the Wilcoxon signed-rank test, multivariate regression, and Pearson correlation were utilized for analysis. Results Fifteen groups of new nurses participated in the escape room training. For teamwork attitudes, there were significant differences in the mean T-TAQ total score (p

Abstract Psychological stress causes gut microbial dysbiosis and cancer progression, yet how gut microbiota determines psychological stress-induced tumor development remains unclear. Here we showed that psychological stress promotes breast tumor growth and cancer stemness, an outcome that depends on gut microbiota in germ-free and antibiotic-treated mice. Metagenomic and metabolomic analyses revealed that psychological stress markedly alters the composition and abundance of gut microbiota, especially Akkermansia muciniphila (A. muciniphila), and decreases short-chain fatty acid butyrate. Supplement of active A. muciniphila, butyrate or a butyrate-producing high fiber diet dramatically reversed the oncogenic property and anxiety-like behavior of psychological stress in a murine spontaneous tumor model or an orthotopic tumor model. Mechanistically, RNA sequencing analysis screened out that butyrate decreases LRP5 expression to block the activation of Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway, dampening breast cancer stemness. Moreover, butyrate as a HDAC inhibitor elevated histone H3K9 acetylation level to transcriptionally activate ZFP36, which further accelerates LRP5 mRNA decay by binding adenine uridine-rich (AU-rich) elements of LRP5 transcript. Clinically, fecal A. muciniphila and serum butyrate were inversely correlated with tumoral LRP5/β-catenin expression, poor prognosis and negative mood in breast cancer patients. Altogether, our findings uncover a microbiota-dependent mechanism of psychological stress-triggered cancer stemness, and provide both clinical biomarkers and potential therapeutic avenues for cancer patients undergoing psychological stress.

[Objective] To evaluate the efficacy and practicality of autologous platelet-rich plasma (aPRP) in patients undergoing total aortic arch replacement for aortic dissection. [Methods] A retrospective analysis was performed on 483 patients diagnosed with type A aortic dissection who underwent total aortic arch replacement between January 2016 and November 2023. Patients were categorized into two groups based on whether they received aPRP. Baseline characteristics, intraoperative blood product usage and postoperative outcomes were compared between the two groups. [Results] The aPRP group exhibited reduced usage of allogeneic platelets (1.55±1.04 vs 1.60±1.27)U, allogeneic plasma (480.89±432.49 vs 746.50±508.81)mL, allogeneic RBC (red blood cell)(5.95±1.91 vs 6.17±3.52)U, bivalirudin (2.66±1.51 vs 3.31±1.59)U and coagulation factor Ⅶ (0.67±1.03 vs 1.22±1.43)mg compared to the non-aPRP group (P0.05). [Conclusion] The application of aPRP in total aortic arch replacement effectively diminishes intraoperative blood product usage and the incidence of lung injury-related complications. However, it does not demonstrate significant benefits in terms of mortality, cerebral infarction and other complications.

Abstract Background Research priority setting has the potential to bridge knowledge gaps, optimize resource allocation, foster collaborations, and inform funding directions for implementation science and practice when these priorities are properly acted upon. This systematic review aims to determine the extent of research in priority setting for implementation science and practice, examine the methodologies employed, synthesize these research priorities, and identify strategies for evaluating and implementing these priorities. Methods We will conduct a living systematic review following the Cochrane guidance. We will search literature from six databases, the website of James Lind Alliance, five implementation science-focused journals and several related journals, Google Scholar, and the reference lists of included studies. Two reviewers will independently screen studies based on the eligibility criteria. The characteristics of the included documents, their prioritization methods, and outcomes, as well as the evaluation and implementation strategies, will be extracted. We will critically appraise these documents using the nine common themes of good practice for research priority setting, and synthesize data using a narrative approach. We will re-run the search 12 months after the original search date to monitor the development of new literature and determine the time to update the review. Discussions By conducting this living systematic review, we will gain a comprehensive and dynamic understanding of the potential research gaps and hotspots in implementation science as perceived by researchers and practitioners. The findings of this review will inform the future research directions of implementation science and practice. Systematic review registration This review has been registered with the Open Science Framework ( https://osf.io/sr69k ).

Abstract This study aimed to describe self-efficacy (SE) for coping with cancer in patients with head and neck cancer and to assess its relationship with patients’ quality of life, which will be a guide for interventions to enhance quality of life and improve self-efficacy for coping with cancer in this target population. Between September 2023 and July 2024, 200 patients with head and neck tumors from a tertiary care hospital in Liaoning Province, China, participated in a cross-sectional study. SE for coping with cancer was measured by the Cancer Behavior Inventory (Version 3.0) in Chinese (CBI-V3.0-C). Quality of life was assessed using Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy-Head & Neck (FACT-H&N). Data were analyzed using a t-test, Pearson correlation analysis, and Multivariate linear analysis. Self-efficacy of seeking and understanding medical information was the highest-ranked subscale while using spiritual coping was the lowest-ranked subscale. Self-efficacy of age, maintaining activity and independence, maintaining a positive attitude, and coping with treatment-related side effects contributed significantly to QoL as measured by FACT-H&N. Self-efficacy for coping with cancer contributes significantly to QoL in patients with head and neck cancer. It is recommended that SE for coping with cancer be evaluated in practice. Considering its contribution to patients’ QoL, interventions to improve self-efficacy for coping with cancer need to be sought in future studies.

Abstract Accurate flood forecasting in advance is crucial for planning and implementing watershed flood prevention measures. This study developed the PSO–TCN–Bootstrap flood forecasting model for the Tailan River Basin in Xinjiang by integrating the particle swarm optimisation (PSO) algorithm, temporal convolutional network (TCN), and Bootstrap probability sampling method. Evaluated on 50 historical flood events from 1960 to 2014 using observed rainfall-runoff data, the model showed, under the same lead time conditions, a higher Nash efficiency coefficient, along with lower root mean square and relative peak errors in flood forecasting. These results highlight the PSO–TCN–Bootstrap model’s superior applicability and robustness for the Tailan River Basin. However, when the lead time exceeds 5 h, the model’s relative peak error remains above 20%. Future work will focus on integrating flood generation mechanisms and enhancing machine learning models’ generalisability in flood forecasting. These findings provide a scientific foundation for flood management strategies in the Tailan River Basin.

Abstract Gene fusions are one of the most important molecular biomarkers for tumor diagnosis, classification and targeted therapy. How to accurately detect them is a key issue in clinical work. In this study, a custom-designed integration of DNA and RNA-based next generation sequencing (NGS) assay including 16 targeted therapy related genes was developed and validated to identify gene fusions in solid tumors. This assay accurately identified all 10 different types of fusion in 8 commercial fusion spiked-in reference standards and 29 fusions including 16 different fusion forms in 60 clinical solid tumor samples previously identified by clinical testing methods. In addition, a TPM3::NTRK1 fusion was additionally identified and validated by Sanger sequencing, which showed a false-negative result for the previous result. Mutational abundance limit of detection for the assay was assessed with a series of dilution experiments. These fusions can be stably detected when the mutational abundance is down to 5% for DNA and 250–400 copies/100 ng for RNA. The intra-assay and inter-assay reproducibility was observed in three samples and three replicates. This integration of DNA and RNA-based NGS assay shows excellent performance on formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded samples, results at different levels can complement each other, thereby facilitating precise diagnosis and treatment.

Abstract Ectomycorrhizal fungi (EMF) play pivotal roles in determining temperate forest ecosystem processes. We tracked root EMF community succession across saplings, juveniles, and adults of three temperate broadleaf trees (Acer mono, Betula platyphylla, and Quercus mongolica) in Northeast China. Adult stages showed higher alpha diversity but lower community dissimilarity compared to earlier stages. In particular, the EMF alpha diversity of Quercus mongolica marginally increased along with host developmental stages and ranked as sapling 99%). LEfSe was employed to identify stage- and/or host-specific EMF indicators. This study highlighted the assembly of EMF community during the development of broadleaf trees in temperate forests, thereby advancing understanding of the succession and coevolution of symbiotic relationships.

Abstract Aquaporin1 (AQP1) facilitates water transport. Its ability to be a biomarker at the pan-cancer level remains uninvestigated. We performed immunohistochemical staining on tissues from 370 individuals with kidney neoplasms to measure AQP1 expression. We utilized Kaplan-Meier survival analysis, Chi-square tests, and multivariate Cox regression analyses to assess the prognostic relevance of AQP1 expression. In the pan-cancer context, we explored AQP1’s competing endogenous RNAs network, protein-protein interactions, genomic changes, gene set enrichment analysis (GSEA), the correlation of AQP1 expression with survival outcomes, drug sensitivity, drug molecular docking, tumor purity and immunity. AQP1 shRNA expressing 786-O cells were established. Cell proliferation was assessed by Cell Counting Kit-8 and colony formation. Transwell migration, invasion, and cell scratch assays were conducted. In our study, AQP1 expression was an independent protective factor for OS and PFS in renal cancer patients. AQP1 expression significantly correlated with survival outcomes in renal cancers, LGG, SARC, HNSC and UVM. PI-103 sensitivity was related to AQP1 expression and had potential binding cite with AQP1 protein. Knockdown of AQP1 reduced cell proliferation, migration and invasion. Our study uncovered AQP1 as a biomarker for favorable survival outcomes in renal cancers. Furthermore, the bioinformatic analysis promoted its implication in pan-cancer scope.

Abstract Background The Jumonji domain-containing protein 6 (JMJD6), a histone arginine demethylase, is known to have a multifaceted and significant role on cancer progression. However, the specific function and mechanism of JMJD6 in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) have yet to be fully elucidated. Methods The elevated expression of JMJD6 in lung cancer tissues was confirmed through a combination of bioinformatics and immunohistochemical analysis. Utilizing lung cancer cell lines H460, H157, A549, and H1299, we further investigated the impact of JMJD6 on various cellular processes such as ferroptosis, proliferation, migration, and invasion both in vivo and in vitro. The acetylation of JMJD6 was characterized using immunoprecipitation, co-immunoprecipitation, GST pull down, and immunofluorescence techniques. The regulatory role of JMJD6 acetylation in ferroptosis was assessed by measuring levels of ROS, MDA, and JC-1. WB, qRT-PCR, ChIP and MeRIP techniques were employed to investigate the relationship between the JMJD6 acetylation/METTL14/m6A/SLC3A2 axis. Results This study revealed elevated levels of JMJD6 in tumor tissue, with high expression correlating strongly with advanced clinical stage in lung cancer patients, and identified JMJD6 as a significantly poor prognostic factor for lung cancer. Functional experiments verified that ectopic overexpression of JMJD6 enhanced the proliferation and migratory capacities of lung cancer cells, while JMJD6 knockdown showed opposite effects. We further find that JMJD6 functions as a negative modulator in regulating ferroptosis process. Mechanistically, JMJD6 affects METTL14 expression in an arginine demethylase dependent manner, and mediates m6A modification of SLC3A2 to regulate its expression level, thereby affecting the sensitivity of lung cancer cells to ferroptosis. Besides, our findings indicate that acetyltransferase p300/CBP associated factor (PCAF) interacts with and acetylates JMJD6 at lysine 375. Acetylation weakens the activity of JMJD6 demethylase, thereby enhancing METTL14 expression and affecting its mediated m6A modification to regulate SLC3A2. Acetylation at lysine 375 also augment the modulation of ferroptosis in lung cancer cells by JMJD6, consequently impeding the lung cancer progression. Conclusion Taken together, we elucidated the JMJD6 acetylation/METTL14/m6A/SLC3A2 axis as a key mediator of lung cancer progression, indicating that JMJD6 may serve as a potentially prognostic biomarker and therapeutic target for NSCLC.

Abstract Background Preimplantation genetic testing for aneuploidy and for chromosomal structural rearrangement (PGT-A/-SR) can improve clinical pregnancy rates and live birth rates, and shorten the time to pregnancy. The large-scale statistics on their efficacy and accuracy across different centres, as well as the frequency of abnormalities for each chromosome, will provide a valuable supplement to previous research. Methods Patients who had PGT-A or -SR procedures at five reproductive centres from 2018 to 2022 were recruited based on PGT-A/-SR indications. ChromInst and next-generation sequencing (NGS)-based PGT technology were utilised to detect copy number variations in embryos. Sequencing data metrics such as median absolute pairwise difference (MAPD) and detection success rate were analysed to evaluate the robustness of ChromInst. To assess ChromInst’s accuracy, the chromosomal results from amniocentesis, abortions, and neonatal blood was as the gold standard for negative PGT results; the fluorescence in situ hybridisation (FISH), which was performed on embryos that identified as aneuploid through PGT was as the gold standard for positive PGT results. The frequency of abnormalities in each chromosome was also explored in aneuploid embryos. Results A total of 5,730 embryos were tested from 1,015 patients in the study, 391 of whom had PGT-A and 624 of whom had PGT-SR. 99.5% (5,699/5,730) of the embryos had an NGS sequencing MAPD value

Abstract The emergence of XBB- and JN.1-lineages with remarkable immune evasion characteristics have led to rises in breakthrough infections within populations. In addition, the unfavorable impacts of immune imprinting, stemming from continuous exposure to antigens from circulated viruses, have been observed to incline immune response against earlier lineages, thereby declining the neutralization to newly emerged Omicron subvariants. In response to this, the advancement of next-generation vaccines against COVID-19 targeting components from new subvariants such as XBB-lineage is imperative. In the current study, a self-assembled trimeric recombinant protein (RBDXBB.1.5-HR) was generated by concatenating the sequences of the receptor binding domain (RBD) derived from XBB.1.5 with heptad-repeat 1 (HR1) and HR2 sequences from the spike S2 subunit. Adjuvanted-RBDXBB.1.5-HR induced robust humoral and cellular immune responses, characterized by elevated neutralization against JN.1-inculuded subvariants and a substantial population of antigen-specific T memory cells. Protective immunity conferred by RBDXBB.1.5-HR vaccine was preserved post-immunization, as evidenced by germinal center B (GC B) and T follicular helper (Tfh) responses, sustained neutralization potency, and an increase in memory B cells (MBCs) and long-lived plasma cells (LLPCs). The RBDXBB.1.5-HR vaccine showed a favorable boosting effect when administered heterologously after three doses of inactivated virus (IV) and mRNA vaccines. Significantly, it provided protection against live Omicron EG.5.1 viruses in vivo. The monovalent RBDXBB.1.5-HR vaccine showed favorable safety and immunogenicity, boosting neutralizing antibodies against JN.1- and XBB-lineage subvariants in individuals with prior COVID-19 vaccinations. These findings highlight its clinical potential in safeguarding against circulating Omicron subvariants.

ObjectiveTo compare the long-term survival outcomes of patients with T1-2N0M0 duodenal neuroendocrine tumor (DNET) after endoscopic resection (ER) or surgical resection (SR). MethodsPatients diagnosed with T1-2N0M0 DNET between January 1, 2004, and December 31, 2015, were extracted from the SEER database. Kaplan-Meier survival curve and log-rank test were used to compare overall survival (OS) rate and cancer-specific survival (CSS) rate between patients undergoing ER or SR. Propensity score matching (PSM) was used to reduce grouping differences, and multivariate Cox regression was used to analyze factors affecting OS and CSS before and after PSM. ResultsA total of 656 patients were included, with 457 in ER group and 199 in SR group. Before PSM, there was no significant difference in the 5-year OS rate between the ER and SR groups (88.9% vs 89.6%), but there was a significant difference in the 5-year CSS rate (99.3% vs 96.9%, P＝0.017). Before PSM, multivariate Cox regression analysis showed advanced age was an independent risk factor for decreased OS (P＜0.001). After PSM, there was no significant difference between the ER group (n＝187) and SR group (n＝187) in 5-year OS rate (90.2% vs 88.9%) or CSS rate (98.9% vs 96.7%). After PSM, multivariate Cox regression also showed advanced age was an independent risk factor for decreased OS, while resection method was not an independent factor for OS or CSS. ConclusionsThere is no significant difference in OS or CSS after endoscopic treatment and surgical treatments for patients with T1-2N0M0 DNET, and advanced age is an independent factor for OS.

Bone injuries and diseases are associated with profound changes in the biophysical properties of living bone tissues, particularly their electrical and mechanical properties. The biophysical properties of healthy bone are attributed to the complex network of interactions between its various cell types (i.e., osteocytes, osteoclast, immune cells and vascular endothelial cells) with the surrounding extracellular matrix (ECM) against the backdrop of a myriad of biomechanical and bioelectrical stimuli arising from daily physical activities. Understanding the pathophysiological changes in bone biophysical properties is critical to developing new therapeutic strategies and novel scaffold biomaterials for orthopedic surgery and tissue engineering, as well as provides a basis for the application of various biophysical stimuli as therapeutic agents to restore the physiological microenvironment of injured/diseased bone tissue, to facilitate its repair and regeneration. These include mechanical, electrical, magnetic, thermal and ultrasound stimuli, which will be critically examined in this review. A significant advantage of utilizing such biophysical stimuli to facilitate bone healing is that these may be applied non-invasively with minimal damage to surrounding tissues, unlike conventional orthopedic surgical procedures. Furthermore, the effects of such biophysical stimuli can be localized specifically at the bone defect site, unlike drugs or growth factors that tend to diffuse away after delivery, which may result in detrimental side effects at ectopic sites.

Abstract Aim This study compared the effects of hypoglycaemic drugs on beta-cell function among type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) patients through a network meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials (RCTs). Methods We searched the PubMed, EMBASE, and Cochrane Library databases for RCTs of different hypoglycaemic drugs as T2DM treatment from database inception to December 1, 2024. The primary outcome was homeostasis model assessment-β (HOMA-β), and the secondary outcome was glycated haemoglobin (HbA1c). Direct and indirect evidence types were combined to calculate weighted mean difference (WMD) and 95% confidence interval (CI) values for the change in (△) HOMA-β and △HbA1c, and to determine surface under the cumulative ranking curve (SUCRA) values. Results A total of 58 RCTs involving 16,345 T2DM patients were incorporated into this network meta-analysis. The mean patient age was 66.70 years, and 54.14% were male. For improving HOMA-β, the top treatments were glimepiride + rosiglitazone (WMD = 81.83, 95% CI 45.85–117.82) and glibenclamide + rosiglitazone (WMD = 79.51, 95% CI 40.66–118.36). Acarbose (WMD = 60.90, 95% CI 27.56–94.25) ranked third as monotherapy. For reducing HbA1c, glibenclamide + rosiglitazone was the most efficacious treatment (WMD = − 2.48, 95% CI − 3.67 to − 1.29), followed by metformin + exenatide (WMD = − 1.77, 95% CI − 2.25 to − 1.29) and liraglutide (WMD = − 1.77, 95% CI − 2.33 to − 1.21). The treatment with the highest SUCRA value for HOMA-β improvement was glimepiride + rosiglitazone (95.1%), followed by glibenclamide + rosiglitazone (94.9%). For HbA1c improvement, glibenclamide + rosiglitazone had the highest SUCRA value (97.6%). Conclusions The combination of glimepiride/glibenclamide and rosiglitazone was the most effective hypoglycaemic regimen for protecting beta-cell function and improving glycaemic control in T2DM treatment, possibly due to control of HbA1c and glycotoxicity.

Abstract This study aimed to assess the feasibility and safety of robotic-assisted navigation system for percutaneous transthoracic needle biopsy (PTNB), compare it with conventional freehand technique, and evaluate its generalizability across operators with varying experience levels. After excluding 5 patients in whom robotic-assisted PTNB could not be performed due to technical problems, a total of 50 patients with robotic-assisted PTNB and 200 patients who performed freehand puncture were included. Using propensity score matching (PSM) to match two groups of patients and simulate a randomized controlled scenario. The results showed that robotic-assisted PTNB significantly reduced the number of punctures, CT scans, and total procedure time (P

Abstract To promote the engineering application of polymer-based cement joint sealant (PCJS), the durability of PCJS was studied by testing the bonding, tensile and shear properties of PCJS under different service conditions. The results show that PCJS has excellent water resistance, acid/alkali corrosions resistance, UV aging resistance and low temperature resistance. The retention rate of bonding property of PCJS can achieve 85%. After water soaking, dry–wet cycle, acid/alkali corrosion, the retention rates of tensile and shear properties of PCJS can achieve 80%. After UV aging and low temperature treatment, the tensile and shear properties of PCJS are improved. After gasoline corrosion and high temperature treatment, the retention rates of tensile and shear properties of PCJS exhibit larger than 60%. The durability indexes of PCJS fulfill the technical requirements, and PCJS exhibits even more superior properties. Consequently, PCJS can be applied to joint engineering of cement concrete pavement.

Abstract Echinococcosis poses a significant health burden in China, yet previous studies have mainly concentrated on its prevalence rather than incidence trends. This study analyzes echinococcosis incidence from 2010 to 2021 and projects future trends to enhance prevention and control strategies. The annual percentage change (APC) and average annual percentage change (AAPC) were calculated to determine temporal trends, while the time series was decomposed to assess seasonal patterns. During this period, China documented 53,141 new echinococcosis cases (excluding Hong Kong, Macao, and Taiwan), averaging 0.320 cases per 100,000 annually. The AAPC indicated a non-significant decline of -2.718%. The analysis identified two critical inflection points in 2014 and 2017, leading to three distinct trends: a non-significant decline from 2010 to 2014, a significant rise from 2014 to 2017, and a significant decrease from 2017 to 2021. Cases peaked in December, and predictions from the Seasonal Autoregressive Integrated Moving Average (SARIMA) model suggest a slight rise in incidence from September 2022 to August 2025, advising intensified efforts in preventive measures to prevent resurgence.

Abstract Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is an age-related interstitial lung disease of unknown cause. Oxidative stress, an imbalance between oxidants and antioxidants, is implicated in IPF pathogenesis and prognosis but needs further study. We used transcriptome sequencing data (GSE70866) and oxidative stress-related genes from GeneCards. A prognostic risk model for IPF patients was constructed using LASSO. Functional and pathway differences were analyzed between risk score groups, along with comparisons of immune cells and functions. An IPF rat model with vitamin D3 (VD3) intervention was also established. Finally, we used IL-4 to induce M2 macrophages to explore the mechanism of action of CCL2. We identified 483 DEGs and 50 oxidative stress-related DEGs (OSDEGs). Single-factor COX regression identified 34 prognostic OSDEGs, and LASSO identified an 8-gene signature for the risk model. The high-risk group had more CD8 + T cells, macrophages, APC costimulation, and cytokine-cytokine receptor activity. CCL2 was significantly correlated with macrophages in IPF. VD3 inhibited the TGF-β signaling pathway and reduced macrophage M2 infiltration in the rat model. In the IL-4 induced M2 macrophage model, we found that M2 macrophages produced more CCL2, and the production of CCL2 was significantly reduced after VD3 intervention. We established prognostic markers of eight oxidative stress-related genes. The risk score effectively predicts adverse outcomes in IPF. VD3 may alleviate IPF by reducing macrophage infiltration and inhibiting the TGF-β signaling pathway.

Abstract Lipid levels in women with gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) have been extensively studied, whether low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) is a risk factor for GDM development remains unclear. This study aimed to investigate the correlation between serum LDL-C levels and the risk of GDM. A case–control study was conducted. Glycolipid metabolic and oxidative stress indicators were measured in 696 women with GDM and 1048 healthy pregnant women. Serum LDL-C levels were significantly lower in the GDM group than in the control group (P

Abstract The watershed is the optimal natural division for ecosystems, playing a crucial role in carbon reduction and sequestration. Exploring the carbon sequestration potential of terrestrial ecosystems under different land use scenarios and enhancing regional carbon storage capacity is of significant importance. In this study, the LUCC in the Lijiang River basin under the scenarios of natural evolution (NE), natural conservation (NC), urban developmentand (UD) and farmland protection (FP) in 2040 was simulated by using grid data, driver grid data and carbon density data, based on the PLUS model and the InVEST model. Then, the effects of land use change on carbon stock in the Lijiang River Basin from 2000 to 2040 were evaluated. The results show that, (1)from 2000 to 2020, the area of arable land significantly increased in the Li River Basin, while forest and grassland areas decreased significantly. The distribution pattern of land use in the Li River Basin is mainly influenced by factors such as economy, population density, topography, and roads. Population growth and economic development require more arable land, forest land, and construction land. (2)Due to land use change, the carbon stock in the Li River Basin decreased by 3.69 × 106 t over the 20-year period, particularly in the northern and southern regions of the basin. (3)Meanwhile, there was a significant change in the land use pattern, with forest carbon stock accounting for a reduced proportion (90.76%) of the total ecosystem carbon stock in 2020. (4)According to the projected natural evolution scenario, the carbon stock in 2040 will decrease by 3.13 × 106 t compared to 2020 in the Li River Basin. Under the scenario of arable land protection, the carbon stock will decrease significantly. Under the ecological protection scenario, the carbon stock of the terrestrial ecosystem will increase by 2.75 × 105 t. Under the urban development scenario, the carbon stock caused by land use change will be uncertain; however, construction land increase will definitely cause the decrease of carbon stock.This study examines the impact of land use change scenarios on carbon storage in the Li River Basin, highlighting the potential carbon gains under the ecological conservation scenario, providing valuable insights for regional land use planning and carbon reduction strategies.

Abstract 5-Fluorouracil (5-FU) is a widely used chemotherapeutic agent whose incorporation into nucleic acid plays an essential role in its therapeutic efficacy. 5-FU induces severe reproductive toxicity, which has been shown to be reversible. However, the underlying mechanisms have not been fully elucidated. Since single-strand-selective monofunctional uracil-DNA glycosylase 1 (Smug1) is a key enzyme in the excision of 5-FU, we investigated its potential role in the reversible reproductive toxicity of 5-FU by integrating knockdown, overexpression and LC‒MS/MS approaches. 5-FU treatment increased Smug1 and Dkc1 expression but blocked rRNA maturation in preimplantation embryos. Smug1 knockdown inhibited Dkc1 expression and impaired rRNA maturation, leading to reduced preimplantation embryo development. In contrast, Smug1 overexpression alleviated the inhibitory effects of 5-FU on rRNA and oocyte maturation and partially rescued 5-FU-induced developmental defects in preimplantation embryos. LC‒MS/MS analysis further revealed that overexpression of Smug1 reduced the levels of RNA incorporated 5-FUrd, the metabolite of 5-FU, indicating that Smug1 potentially alleviates reproductive toxicity by excising 5-FU from RNA. Our findings revealed the active involvement of Smug1 in counteracting 5-FU-induced reproductive toxicity and provide valuable references for the development of new strategies to reduce the adverse effects of 5-FU.

Abstract Background Radiotherapy is commonly used for locoregionally advanced NSCLC, but radioresistance is a clinical challenge. The long non-coding RNA CBR3-AS1 mediates radioresistance in NSCLC, yet the underlying molecular mechanism is unclear. This study aims to explore whether and how N6-methyladenosine (m6A) modification regulates CBR3-AS1 expression and promotes NSCLC radioresistance. Methods Integrative bioinformatics analyses were used to investigate the m6A methyltransferases that were associated with CBR3-AS1 expression and radioresistance of patients using data from The Cancer Genome Atlas of lung adenocarcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma. Clinical samples of 133 patients with NSCLC was collected to validate the correlation of the methyltransferase with radioresistance. The functional role and molecular mechanism of the methyltransferase in radioresistance was investigated through a series of in vitro experiments including m6A MeRIP-PCR, lentivirus transfection, RNA immunoprecipitation, Luciferase reporter, Colony formation, Transwell invasion, Flow cytometry, ELISA and TUNEL assay and in vivo experiments. Results The methyltransferase RNA binding motif protein 15 (RBM15) was identified as it was significantly positively correlated with CBR3-AS1 expression and overall survival of NSCLC patients receiving radiotherapy. The clinical samples demonstrated that the high protein expression of RBM15 was significantly enriched in patients with radioresistance as well as associated with poor prognosis of patients receiving radiotherapy. In vitro, RBM15 silencing enhanced the effects of radiation on the growth and invasion inhibition, and apoptosis induction of NSCLC cells; RBM15 overexpression had the opposite effects. Mechanistically, RBM15 induced CBR3-AS1 upregulation via an m6A-IGF2BP3-dependent mechanism, inducing CXCL1 expression by sponging miR-409-3p to recruit myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSCs) and inhibit T cell activity. In vivo, RBM15 silencing suppressed MDSC invasiveness and enhanced CD8 + and CD4 + T cell infiltration, causing NSCLC cells to overcome radioresistance. Conclusion Our study identifies methyltransferase RBM15 as a potential therapeutic target for NSCLC radioresistance whose inhibition reverses resistance through limiting MDSC recruitment via the m6A-IGF2BP3-CBR3-AS1/miR-409-3p/CXCL1 axis. Graphical Abstract

Background Insulin resistance (IR) is associated with atrial fibrillation (AF) and atrial remodeling, and the correlation of triacylglycerol glucose (TyG) index, a novel, simple, and valuable indicator of IR, with the development of AF in patients with chronic heart failure (CHF) has been poorly studied. Objective To investigate the correlation between TyG index and AF in patients with CHF. Methods A total of 417 CHF patients hospitalized in the Department of Cardiovascular Medicine of the Second Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University from January 2021 to January 2022 were retrospectively selected for the study, and the CHF patients were divided into two groups according to whether they developed AF: the AF group (138 patients) and the non-AF group (279 patients). The TyG index was categorized into four levels based on quartiles: Q1 (TyG index ≤8.20), Q2 (8.208.84). Patients' baseline data, including TyG index and basic information, laboratory test indexes, and echocardiographic data, were collected through the hospital's electronic medical record system. The LASSO regression algorithm was used for variable screening, and multivariate Logistic regression was used to analyze the correlation between TyG index and the risk of AF occurrence in patients with CHF and to construct a regression model. The predictive value of TyG index for the occurrence of AF in CHF patients was also analyzed using the subject work characteristics curve. Restricted cubic spline plots of the correlation between TyG index and the risk of developing AF in CHF patients were plotted. Results Patients in the AF group had higher BMI, New York Heart Association cardiac function class Ⅲ-Ⅳ, proportion of hypertension, serum uric acid (SUA), triacylglycerol, blood urea nitrogen (BUN), fasting blood glucose, N-terminal B-type natriuretic peptide precursor, TyG index, left atrial diameter (LAD), the proportions of β-blockers, calcium antagonists, and diuretics were higher than those in the non-AF group; total cholesterol (TC), endogenous creatinine clearance (Ccr), left ventricular ejection fraction, and the proportion of angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors/angiotensin Ⅱ receptor blockers (ACEI/ARB) class of drug use was lower than that of the non-AF group (P

Background With the rapid development of the society, the detection rate of dyslipidemia in children has gradually increased. At present, there are few data on the application of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) constitution identification in sub-health of children, and there is a lack of clinical correlation data analysis. Objective To observe the trend of changes in TCM constitution and blood lipid metabolism in children, and to analyze the correlation between them, thus providing relevant basis for subsequent continuous monitoring research. Methods Sourced from the Shanghai Child and Adolescent Health Cohort (SCAHC), a total of 2 080 healthy primary school students in the second and third grade from Pudong New Area, Shanghai were selected as the research subjects. Using the＂Zhaoming System＂that was independently developed by Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, physical information of included subjects in 2021 (first year) and 2022 (second year) was collected. Based on the TCM constitution classification of facial complexion and tongue appearance, clinical symptoms and signs and questionnaire information, children were divided into five types of constitution, including the spleen-deficiency constitution, balanced constitution, Qi-stagnation constitution, deficiency-heat constitution, and excess heat constitution (unbalanced constitution referred to all constitutions except for the balanced constitution). Blood samples were collected to detect on triglycerides (TG), high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), and total cholesterol (TC). To analyze and compare the incidence of blood lipid abnormalities in children of different genders, as well as the distribution characteristics and changes of TCM constitution in different ages and genders. Multivariate Logistic regression analysis was performed to explore the correlation between TCM constitution and dyslipidemia in children. Results Among the 2 080 children, 1 122 (53.9%) were males and 958 (46.1%) were females, with an average age of (8.2±0.4) years. There were 522 children with dyslipidemia (25.09%), including 272 males (52.1%) and 250 females (47.9%). In 2021, there were 815 (39.2%) cases of the balanced constitution and 1 265 (60.8%) cases of the unbalanced constitution. In 2022, 764 (36.7%) children had a balanced constitution and 1 316 (63.3%) had a unbalanced constitution. There was a statistically significant difference in the distribution of TCM constitution in children between 2021 and 2022 (χ2=106.28, P

Abstract Ruminants fed high concentrate diets (HCD) are highly susceptible to foamy rumen bloat, but up to now the cause of rumen foam formation is unknown, making it difficult to prevent effectively. Exp. 1 of this study investigated the relationship between saccharide content in rumen fluid (RF) and foaming performance, and explored the effect of supplementing non-starch polysaccharides (NSP) enzymes to RF on foaming performance. The RF of 16 HCD-fed goats was used as experimental material to correlate RF viscosity, foaming performance, and saccharide content. Subsequently, the RF from 4 goats with severe rumen bloat was collected as experimental material, divided into 5 equal portions and randomly assigned to 5 treatment groups, namely adding 0, 100, 300, 500, and 700 mg/kg NSP enzymes to the RF. The viscosity and foaming performance of the RF, as well as the saccharide content, were determined for each treatment group. The results showed that polysaccharide was significantly and positively correlated with viscosity and foaming performance (P 0.05). In summary, polysaccharide is an important factor affecting the foaming performance of RF, and supplementation of NSP enzymes in HCD can prevent the occurrence of rumen bloat.

Abstract To evaluate the effect of recombinant human thrombopoietin (rhTPO) on platelet engraftment after autologous stem cell transplantation (ASCT) in newly diagnosed multiple myeloma (NDMM) patients. Clinical data of 40 NDMM patients who underwent high-dose melphalan conditioning and ASCT were analyzed, with 26 receiving rhTPO and 14 in the control group. The primary study endpoint was the median time to platelet engraftment. The secondary study endpoints included the median time to neutrophil engraftment, number of blood cells transfused, treatment-related adverse events, long-term hematopoietic reconstitution, and economic cost-effectiveness. The median time to neutrophil engraftment was 10.92 and 11.14 days in the rhTPO and control groups, respectively (p = 0.405). The median time to platelet engraftment (11.5 vs. 11.36 days, p = 0.776), median number of erythrocyte infusions (0.23 vs. 0 units, p = 0.326), and median number of platelet infusions (1.615 vs. 1.5 units, p = 0.721) did not significantly differ between the groups. The median hospitalization duration was 27.08 and 25.07 days in the rhTPO and control groups, respectively (p = 0.193). The median hospitalization cost was RMB 73,846 and RMB 54,136 in the rhTPO and control groups, respectively (p

Abstract Coal-rock-gas composite dynamic disaster is one of the most serious disasters in deep coal mining. Many studies have shown that energy-absorbing materials can effectively prevent composite disasters, but the current research on this kind of materials is in the exploratory stage, and there are problems such as low economy, poor efficiency, and unclear microscopic mechanism. In this paper, the microcosmic potential of polyoxyethylene (PEO) to prevent and control coal-rock-gas composite dynamic disaster was investigated from the perspective of molecular simulation (MD). Firstly, the adsorption energy of CH4-coal (C-C), PEO-coal (C-P), and CH4-PEO-coal (C-P-C) cell systems, the mean square displacement (MSD), radial distribution function (RDF), the accessible surface area (CSA), and the relative concentration distributions of CH4 in different components along the Z-axis were calculated and analyzed. The results show that PEO has a stronger adsorption capacity on the coal surface than CH4, and the adsorption capacity of the C-P system after PEO adsorption on the coal surface is weaker than that of the raw coal system, which proves that PEO can form a competitive adsorption situation with CH4 on the coal surface, effectively weaken the adsorption capacity of coal to CH4 and isolate CH4. The potential mechanism of PEO to isolate gas and prevent coal and gas outburst is revealed. Then, uniaxial compression simulations of the raw coal and the C-P systemin the Z-axis direction were carried out to clarify the microscopic mechanism of PEO to improve the mechanical properties of coal. The stress-strain curves of the two systems are divided into microscopic compaction stage, microscopic linear elasticity stage, microscopic yielding stage, microscopic strengthening stage, and microscopic full compaction stage. Secondly, the pore development of coal under different pressures (sliding, dislocation, crack increase, deformation, compactness, etc.) is obtained by inversion of CSA analysis results of the two systems. At the same time, in order to clarify the deformation and failure characteristics of coal under different pressures, the distribution of RDF curves of N atoms in the molecular structure of coal in different systems is calculated. The mechanical simulation results show that PEO can effectively improve the compressive properties of coal molecular structure after adsorption on coal surface, and can play a good energy absorption effect when used in mine line. Finally, the feasibility of using PEO as an energy-absorbing auxiliary material in the mine line is discussed, and the micro-mechanism of its action to prevent and control coal-rock-gas composite dynamic disaster is clarified. This study can provide some technical support and theoretical guidance for the development of energy-absorbing materials.

Abstract The objective of this study was to investigate whether serum anion gap (AG), which may serve as an indicator for multiple organic dysfunctions in the condition of hypoxia, could be utilized as a reliable prognostic marker for short-term mortality and a potential therapeutic target in patients with acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). A retrospective cohort study was conducted using data from the Medical Information Mart for Intensive Care (MIMIC-IV) electronic database (version 2.2), including 11,227 confirmed patients with ARDS. Multivariate Cox proportional hazards analysis revealed a significant association between elevated AG levels and all-cause mortality. After adjusting for confounding factors, elevated AG levels were strongly correlated with 90-day mortality [adjusted hazard ratio (HR) 1.23; 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.10–1.37; P

Abstract The impact of neutrophil percentage-to-albumin ratio (NPAR) on the outcome of acute-on-chronic liver failure (ACLF) is scant. A retrospective cohort study was conducted in patients with ACLF treated with artificial liver support system (ALSS). The ACLF was diagnosed according to the Chinese Group on the Study of Severe Hepatitis B-ACLF (COSSH ACLF) criteria. Disease severity was rated according to the COSSH ACLF score. Restricted cubic splines, linear or Cox regression models were used to investigate the relationships of baseline NPAR with disease severity and 90-day prognosis. The 90-day transplant-free and overall survival rates of 258 eligible patients were 58.5% and 66.3%, respectively. The NPAR in transplant-free survivors was lower than that in transplant or death patients (22.8 ± 4.4 vs. 25.3 ± 3.7, P 0, P 1, P

Abstract Background The widespread application of nuclear technology has markedly heightened the risk of extensive, uncontrolled exposure to radiation. Nevertheless, in contrast to external irradiation, the biological impacts and countermeasures against internal irradiation from radionuclides remain inadequately characterized. Methods Mice were administered yttrium-90 (Y90) carbon microspheres via gavage at different dosages (0–5.0 mCi) to establish a radionuclides exposure model. A multi-omics analysis was employed to access alterations in gut microbiota, fecal and colonic metabolites profiles, and intestinal mRNA expression post-irradiation. The function of significant metabolite was validated at both cellular levels and organismal levels. Additionally, ChIP-Seq and RNA-Seq techniques were utilized to investigate the molecular mechanism underlying the actions of key metabolite. Results Exposure to Y90 resulted in intestinal damage and hematological impairment. Multi-omics analysis revealed significant alternations of gut microbiota, fecal metabolites, colonic metabolites, and intestinal mRNA expression following internal radiation exposure. Notably, L-citrulline was identified as a metabolite with changes observed in both fecal and colonic tissues, demonstrating radioprotective properties in vitro and in vivo. Mechanistically, L-citrulline facilitated the citrullination of histone H3 at the 17th site (H3Cit17), and multiple mRNAs including C-X-C motif chemokine ligand 3 (Cxcl3), were transcriptionally regulated by H3Cit17 post L-citrulline treatment. Furthermore, Cxcl3 conferred protective effects for intestinal epithelial cells against ionizing radiation. Conclusions The research offers critical perspectives on the intestinal and gut microbiota’s reaction to radionuclides exposure. It underscores the promise of L-citrulline as a radioprotective compound, which may have substantial ramifications for the formulation of strategies to mitigate radiation exposure.

The specific role of lysophosphatidic acid 2 (LPA2) in deep vein thrombosis (DVT) remains unclear.

Abstract Accurate segmentation of skin lesions is crucial for reliable clinical diagnosis and effective treatment planning. Automated techniques for skin lesion segmentation assist dermatologists in early detection and ongoing monitoring of various skin diseases, ultimately improving patient outcomes and reducing healthcare costs. To address limitations in existing approaches, we introduce a novel U-shaped segmentation architecture based on our Residual Space State Block. This efficient model, termed ‘SSR-UNet,’ leverages bidirectional scanning to capture both global and local features in image data, achieving strong performance with low computational complexity. Traditional CNNs struggle with long-range dependencies, while Transformers, though excellent at global feature extraction, are computationally intensive and require large amounts of data. Our SSR-UNet model overcomes these challenges by efficiently balancing computational load and feature extraction capabilities. Additionally, we introduce a spatially-constrained loss function that mitigates gradient stability issues by considering the distance between label and prediction boundaries. We rigorously evaluated SSR-UNet on the ISIC2017 and ISIC2018 skin lesion segmentation benchmarks. The results showed that the accuracy of Mean Intersection Over Union, Classification Accuracy and Specificity indexes in ISIC2017 datasets reached 80.98, 96.50 and 98.04, respectively, exceeding the best indexes of other models by 0.83, 0.99 and 0.38, respectively. The accuracy of Mean Intersection Over Union, Dice Coefficient, Classification Accuracy and Sensitivity on ISIC2018 datasets reached 82.17, 90.21, 95.34 and 88.49, respectively, exceeding the best indicators of other models by 1.71, 0.27, 0.65 and 0.04, respectively. It can be seen that SSR-UNet model has excellent performance in most aspects.

Abstract The manufacture, modification, and application of surface-functionalized Fe3O4 nanoparticles in the extraction and isolation of antibiotics are reviewed in this paper. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) can be used to characterize the morphological features of Fe3O4 nanoparticles, while Fourier Transform Infrared Spectrometer (FTIR) and X-ray diffractometry (XRD) can be used to determine the crystalline shapes and distinctive functional groups of these particles. We gathered a lot of data to investigate the effects of experimental parameters like pH, adsorbent dosage, contact time, and ionic strength on the extraction of antibiotics from Fe3O4 magnetic nanoparticles. We additionally talked about the mechanism of action of magnetic nanoparticles for the extraction of separated antibiotics and how they are utilized in practical detection methods. This work concluded with an overview of the potential for environmental friendliness and dispersion of functionalized Fe3O4 nanoparticles, as well as potential challenges and directions.

Abstract Multi-object imaging can obtain more comprehensive information to analyze the surrounding environment better and is widely used in many fields. While most multi-object imaging methods require objects not to be coaxial, which must ensure that each object is within the line-of-sight (LOS) of beam progression. In this paper, we present an approach for imaging multiple coaxial objects utilizing an Airy beam array, which can see hidden objects and is conducive to expanding the range of information perception. The feasibility of our scheme is verified through numerical simulations and experiments, and the imaging capability influenced by the axial distance and size of objects is studied. In addition, the minimum imaging distance of the imaging system is also derived. The results will open new ideas for non-line-of-sight (NLOS) imaging and may find applications in queue target imaging.

Abstract Impatiens spp. are well-known ornamental and medicinal plants that are widely distributed in the highlands and mountains of southwestern China. This area is one of the hotspots for the distribution of Impatiens species, with typical karst landforms and abundant wild resources. Many of these species are endemic to a narrow distribution area, but their classification and relationships are relatively unclear because of insufficient field investigations, diverse morphological characteristics and lack of molecular information. In this study, chloroplast genome analysis of 13 species (including 2 synonyms) in karst habitats was conducted to study their characteristics and phylogenetic relationships. The results revealed that these chloroplast genomes all had double-stranded tetrad structures ranging in length from 151,284 bp to 152,421 bp, including a total of 113 genes, including 80 protein-coding genes, 29 transfer RNAs, and 4 ribosomal RNAs. SSRs mainly consist of A/T repeats and AT/AT repeats, while INEs mainly consist of positive repeats and palindromic repeats. The frequency of codon usage was essentially the same, with a total of 31 high-frequency codons detected, the vast majority ending in A/U. Five mutation hotspots were detected: rps16-trnQ-UUG, ndhF, ccsA-ndhD, ycf1, and trnN-GUU, among which ycf1 had the highest Pi value and the greatest potential as a DNA barcode marker. Our phylogenetic tree shows that all 13 species belong to Section Impatiens. And supported the classification of I. reptans and I. rhombifolia should as synonyms (BS = 100/PP = 1.00). This study comprehensively analyzed the cp genomes of different taxa, sheds light on the taxonomic intricacies of Impatiens species, provide valuable information into its phylogenetic and taxonomy.

Abstract The distribution range of soil-rock mixtures (S-RM) in fault zones is wide, with significant differences in mechanical properties, making them the main sites for rock instability and support structure failure in mines. This paper takes the Sanshan Island fault zone as the engineering background, and uses a self-designed small-scale test device to conduct triaxial compression tests to study the strength and deformation failure laws of S-RMs with different rock block proportions (20%, 40%, 60%, and 80%). Combined with numerical simulation test results, the spatial transport laws and microscopic deformation failure characteristics of particles with different particle sizes in the S-RM are revealed. The main conclusions drawn are as follows: (1) For S-RMs with rock block proportions (RBP) of 20%, 40%, and 60%, there is a linear positive correlation between confining pressure and peak strength. When the RBP increases to 80%, there is a non-linear positive correlation between the confining pressure and peak strength of the S-RM sample. Under the same increase in confining pressure, the increase in peak strength of the sample decreases. The influence of confining pressure on the strength and deformation characteristics of S-RMs with high RBP is reduced. (2) During the process of increasing the RBP from 20 to 60%, there is a linear positive correlation between the RBP and peak strength of the S-RM sample. When the RBP increases to 80%, the peak strength of the sample experiences a sudden increase, with an increase of nearly 80 kPa in peak strength. When the RBP is high, the S-RM sample exhibits the mechanical properties of block rocks. (3) The cohesion and internal friction angle of the S-RM sample are positively correlated with the RBP. During the process of increasing the RBP from 20 to 80%, the cohesion increases from 83.12 kPa to 119.38 kPa, and the friction angle increases from 6° to 11°. (4) When the RBP is low (20% and 40%), as the experiment progresses, a significant conjugate shear deformation zone will form within the S-RM sample, and block rock particles will migrate towards this area and undergo shear slip failure between particles. When the RBP is high (60% and 80%), splitting failure mainly occurs at the bonding surface between block rock particles and soil particles inside the sample, and the contact force between particles is relatively large. The relevant research results have important social and economic value for revealing the fracture failure laws of rock masses in fault zones and ensuring the safe development of human engineering activities.

Abstract Ovarian cancer (OC) is the most deadly gynecological tumor. OC cells utilize cellular metabolic reprogramming to gain a survival advantage, particularly through aberrant lipid metabolic process. As the primary ingredient in exogenous cannabinoids, cannabidiol (CBD) has been confirmed to exhibit antitumor activity in preclinical studies. However, it is still unclear whether CBD can disrupt fatty acid metabolism and induce apoptosis in OC cells. In this study, we have demonstrated that CBD significantly inhibits the proliferation of OCs through a cannabinoid receptor type 1 (CB1R)-mediated manner. Fatty acid metabolic profiling and flow cytometry analysis revealed that CBD has the ability to decrease fatty acid levels and significantly suppress the transcription of genes involved in fatty acid uptake and synthesis in ES-2 cells. In addition, the analysis from RNA-seq and real-time RT-PCR revealed that CBD activated the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress pathway. Conversely, by supplementation with unsaturated fatty acid or blocking CB1R, ER stress or reactive oxygen species (ROS) signals with specific inhibitors could significantly relieve CBD induced, dose-dependent, ER stress associated apoptosis, G0-G1 phase arrest, and mitochondrial dysfunction. Taken collectively, these data indicate that CBD may disrupt lipid metabolism, and lead to ER stress-related apoptosis in OCs. Our findings may provide a theoretical mechanism for anti-ovarian cancer using CBD.

Abstract To improve the economic benefits, exogenous hormones are used to control follicular development and synchronize ovulation in the batch flow management of gilts and weaned sows. Equine chorionic gonadotropin (eCG) is widely used to stimulate follicular development in both experimental and farm animals. Despite its effectiveness, several side effects have been found, including the occurrence of follicular cysts, follicular premature luteinization, and increased follicular atresia. As eCG is a heterologous protein, the generation of antibodies has been found in the superovulation of cattle. Moreover, the extraction of eCG from pregnant mare serum raises concerns regarding animal welfare, as well as potential risks for disease transmission. Follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) controls the follicular growth and maturation in the porcine ovary under physiological conditions. In the current study, we developed a novel long-acting recombinant porcine FSH (rpFSH-pFc) consisting of porcine FSH and porcine fragment crystallizable (Fc) via (G4S)3 linker by using the available protein fusion technology to control the follicular development and maturation. The results of pharmacokinetic studies indicated that rpFSH-pFc exhibited a prolonged half-life in both rats and sows. The efficacy of rpFSH-pFc was confirmed by cAMP level evaluation and germinal vesicle breakdown (GVBD) analysis in vitro. Through ovarian weight gain, superovulation and fertility testing assays, our results revealed that a single rpFSH-pFc treatment could effectively promote follicular development and maturation in vivo. Meanwhile, the mRNA expression levels of the target genes associated with follicular development, maturation and ovulation were significantly up-regulated after rpFSH-pFc treatment. Taken together, our results revealed that rpFSH-pFc could bind to the FSH receptor, stimulate follicular growth and development in female mice, and possess a prolonged half-life in both rats and sows. These characteristics suggest that rpFSH-pFc may be an ideal candidate for promoting follicular growth and development in livestock production.

Abstract Due to the aging of the global population and lifestyle changes, cardiovascular disease has become the leading cause of death worldwide, causing serious public health problems and economic pressures. Early and accurate prediction of cardiovascular disease is crucial to reducing morbidity and mortality, but traditional prediction methods often lack robustness. This study focuses on integrating swarm intelligence feature selection algorithms (including whale optimization algorithm, cuckoo search algorithm, flower pollination algorithm, Harris hawk optimization algorithm, particle swarm optimization algorithm, and genetic algorithm) with machine learning technology to improve the early diagnosis of cardiovascular disease. This study systematically evaluated the performance of each feature selection algorithm under different population sizes, specifically by comparing their average running time and objective function values to identify the optimal feature subset. Subsequently, the selected feature subsets were integrated into ten classification models, and a comprehensive weighted evaluation was performed based on the accuracy, precision, recall, F1 score, and AUC value of the model to determine the optimal model configuration. The results showed that random forest, extreme gradient boosting, adaptive boosting and k-nearest neighbor models performed best on the combined dataset (weighted score of 1), where the feature set consisted of 9 key features selected by the cuckoo search algorithm when the population size was 25; while on the Framingham dataset, the k-nearest neighbor model performed best (weighted score of 0.92), and its feature set was derived from 10 features selected by the whale optimization algorithm when the population size was 50. The results of this study show that swarm intelligence algorithms can effectively screen key and informative feature sets, significantly improve model classification accuracy, and provide strong support for the early diagnosis of cardiovascular diseases.

Abstract We aimed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of adding apatinib, to sintilimab and chemotherapy in the neoadjuvant treatment of early triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC). In the phase 2 NeoSAC trial, patients with early TNBC received six cycles of apatinib, sintilimab, nab-paclitaxel, and carboplatin followed by surgery. The primary endpoint was pathological complete response (pCR) rate. Specimens collected pre-neoadjuvant therapy and post-surgery were retained for comprehensive analysis of predictive biomarkers and the impact on the tumor microenvironment. Among 34 enrolled patients, 24 achieved pCR (70.6%; 95% confidence interval (CI), 53.0-85.3), and 79.4% (95% CI, 65.1-93.7) had residual cancer burden 0-I. Imaging evaluation showed 21 complete responses (61.8%) and 13 partial responses (38.2%). The most common grade 3-4 adverse events were leukopenia (47%), neutropenia (36%), and thrombocytopenia (24%). The 36-month disease-free survival rate stood at 94.1% with a median follow-up of 39.1 months. Notably, baseline high ImmuneScore, immune cell infiltration, and enrichment of interferon-related pathways correlated with pCR. Comparison of pre-neoadjuvant and post-surgery data revealed that the pCR group treated with this novel regimen exhibited an upregulation of distinct immune cell subsets, thereby activating the tumor microenvironment. Moreover, higher oxeiptosis scores were associated with an increased likelihood of achieving pCR. Following neoadjuvant therapy, the pCR group showed a decrease in oxeiptosis score, whereas the non-pCR group exhibited an increase. Our study suggests that apatinib, sintilimab combined with carboplatin and nab-paclitaxel chemotherapy showed a promising clinical activity and manageable safety profile in early TNBC and merits further study. ClinicalTrials.gov registration: NCT04722718.

Objectives This study examined the potential of a new analytical framework for the Korea Community Health Survey (KCHS) with classification criteria for the sub-national governmental level, the degree of urbanization including an urban-rural multimodal category, and population size as a more effective tool to address local health problems and deduce practical implications. Methods Retrospective survey data from 2023 KCHS were obtained. Frequency analyses were performed for self-rated good health status, current smoking status, and unmet medical needs as proxies for health status, as well as health behavior and healthcare utilization, utilizing individual weights to represent national community residents. Results We established a new classification of local governments into 7 types to facilitate regional comparisons. These local government types are presumably composed of populations showing statistically significant differences in demographic characteristics. There were evident differences in health status, health behavior, and healthcare utilization in comparisons of groups categorized by local government types. Conclusions This study suggests that regional disparities can be analyzed using a new typology of local governments. This practically effective approach could be used in decision-making for community-centered health projects in terms of community health planning. Future research should conduct analyses of KCHS data that use these 7 local government types to comprehensively reflect regional characteristics.