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This study explored the related factors of FQOL in parents of children with ASD and examined whether social support mediates the relationship between parental self-efficacy and FQOL in parents of children with ASD.Using a cross-sectional design, a total of 260 parents of children with ASD were recruited from September 2019 to November 2020. They completed the Beach Center Family Quality of Life Scale, the Parenting Sense of Competence Scale, and the Social Support Rating Scale.Parental self-efficacy and social support explained approximately 49.5% of the variance in FQOL. After controlling for the confounding influence of parents' education level, parental self-efficacy had a direct effect on FQOL (β = 0.292, SE = 0.108, P 0.01) and an indirect effect on FQOL (β = 0.165, SE = 0.069, P 0.01). Effects were mediated through social support, with partial mediating effects accounting for 36.11% of the total effect.Both parental self-efficacy and social support are critical to promoting FQOL, and a partial mediating effect of social support was established.Interventions for families with children with ASD should focus on enhancing parental self-efficacy, followed by a perceived social support and FQOL prompt.

Exposure to bioaerosols in enclosed livestock facilities have been reported to pose health risks to workers and animals. Environment-friendly methods for reducing bioaerosol levels in enclosed animal production units could provide important environmental control options. In this study, laboratory-scale electrospray modules were developed to generate engineered water nanostructures (EWNS) to inactivate microbes. The EWNS were generated using three spray liquids (reverse osmosis (RO) water, saline water, and NaOH solution). The physicochemical properties (size, lifetime, reactive oxygen species (ROS) content) of the generated EWNS were characterised. Results showed that the average diameter of the EWNS droplets ranged from 40 to 45 nm. It was found that approximately 17% of the generated EWNS was still present after 4.5 h, and that the most predominant ROS generated was OH·. Furthermore, the efficacy of the generated EWNS in inactivating Escherichia coli was assessed under conditions relevant to livestock facilities. The electrospray modules were installed in an acrylic chamber, which was used to simulate the airspace in an animal barn. After 60-min treatment, reductions in E. coli concentrations inside the chamber were 69%, 64%, and 50% using RO water, saline water, and NaOH solution, respectively, at a ventilation rate of seven air changes per hour (ACH). At 15 ACH, the efficacy of the EWNS generated using RO water was 37%. The results show the potential of the EWNS technology as a microbial decontamination method for animal confinement buildings; however, in-barn tests are necessary before it can be fully implemented in commercial livestock barns.

Virtual reality (VR) is used to improve specific health needs by combining multiple technologies; it is increasingly being used in the medical field, showing satisfactory effects, especially in the management of chronic disease. The aim of this study was to assess the effects of VR cognitive training for individuals with mild cognitive impairment (MCI).Peer-reviewed articles were searched from the PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, the Cochrane Library, Science Direct, and EBSCOhost databases, as well as CNKI, Sinomed, Vip. and Wan Fang, through 23 May 2021. We only included randomized controlled trials (RCTs) enrolling participants with MCI.Seventeen RCTs were included, with a total of 744 participants. Evidence of moderate quality showed that VR cognitive training significantly enhanced MCI patients' global cognitive function, as measured by the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (standardized mean difference [SMD] = 0.42; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.04-0.79; p = 0.03) and executive function, as measured by trail making test A (SMD = -0.58; 95% CI, -0.80 to -0.35; p 0.001). The meta-analysis indicated that the effects of VR cognitive training on delayed memory, immediate memory, attention and instrumental activities of daily living were not statistically significant (p 0.05).The available data showed that VR cognitive training might be beneficial for improving global cognitive function and executive function in individuals with MCI, although the effects were short term.

Lung inflammation is a hallmark of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). In this study, we show that mice develop inflamed lung tissue after being administered exosomes released from the lung epithelial cells exposed to severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) Nsp12 and Nsp13 (exosomesNsp12Nsp13). Mechanistically, we show that exosomesNsp12Nsp13 are taken up by lung macrophages, leading to activation of nuclear factor κB (NF-κB) and the subsequent induction of an array of inflammatory cytokines. Induction of tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α, interleukin (IL)-6, and IL-1β from exosomesNsp12Nsp13-activated lung macrophages contributes to inducing apoptosis in lung epithelial cells. Induction of exosomesNsp12Nsp13-mediated lung inflammation was abolished with ginger exosome-like nanoparticle (GELN) microRNA (miRNA aly-miR396a-5p. The role of GELNs in inhibition of the SARS-CoV-2-induced cytopathic effect (CPE) was further demonstrated via GELN aly-miR396a-5p- and rlcv-miR-rL1-28-3p-mediated inhibition of expression of Nsp12 and spike genes, respectively. Taken together, our results reveal exosomesNsp12Nsp13 as potentially important contributors to the development of lung inflammation, and GELNs are a potential therapeutic agent to treat COVID-19., Graphical Abstract, COVID-19 is a disease affecting the pulmonary system with devastating inflammation. Teng et al. have shown that exosomes released from SARS-CoV-2-infected lung epithelia cells are preferentially taken up by lung macrophages that subsequently induce lung inflammation. Ginger exosome-like nanoparticle miRNA inhibits SARS-CoV-2-induced lung inflammation and viral replication.

Objective: Interstitial cystitis (IC)/bladder pain syndrome (BPS) is a chronic inflammatory disease that can cause bladder pain and accompanying symptoms, such as long-term urinary frequency and urgency. IC/BPS can be ulcerative or non-ulcerative. The aim of this study was to explore the core genes involved in the pathogenesis of ulcerative IC, and thus the potential biomarkers for clinical treatment. Materials and Methods: First, the gene expression dataset GSE11783 was downloaded using the Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) database and analyzed using the limma package in R to identify differentially expressed genes (DEGs). Then, the Database for Annotation, Visualization and Integrated Discovery (DAVID) was used for Gene Ontology (GO) functional analysis, and the Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) was used for pathway enrichment analysis. Finally, the protein-protein interaction (PPI) network was constructed, and key modules and hub genes were determined using the STRING and Cytoscape software. The resulting key modules were then analyzed for tissue-specific gene expression using BioGPS. Results: A total of 216 up-regulated DEGs and 267 down-regulated genes were identified, and three key modules and nine hub genes were obtained. Conclusion: The core genes (CXCL8, CXCL1, IL6) obtained in this study may be potential biomarkers of interstitial cystitis with guiding significance for clinical treatment.

In the current study, the transition of the flow pattern in a 1000 mm × 237 mm continuous casting mold with the injected argon gas was measured using nail boards and the effect of flow pattern on the distribution of non-metallic inclusions along slab thickness was analyzed using an automatic SEM. The flow pattern in the mold transformed from double roll to complex flow and single roll as the argon flow rate increased from 16 to 20 and 30 NL/min. The surface level fluctuation increased with the increasing argon flow rate. The gas flow rate for the mold with the current dimension and a 1.7 m/min casting speed should be less than 16 NL/min to achieve a double roll flow pattern in the mold. Along slab thickness, there were accumulation bands both at the loose side and the fixed side when the flow in the mold was a double roll flow pattern. Only one accumulation band of inclusions near the fixed side was observed when the flow was a single roll in the mold, while inclusions were uniform along the thickness of the slab when the flow was a complex flow in the mold. As the argon flow rate increased from 8 to 20 and 30 NL/min, the number density of 5 μm inclusions gradually decreased along the thickness of the slab. In addition, the area of exposed eyes at the flux layer of the mold and the probability of slag entrainment increased with the increasing of argon flow rate.

The effect of electromagnetic stirring at a continuous casting strand on the distribution of inclusions along the thickness of gear steel blooms was investigated. Inclusions in the subsurface of continuous casting blooms were Al2O3·CaO·CaS·MgO, similar to those in the molten steel of continuous casting tundish. Inclusions at 1/4 thickness from the loose side and the center of the bloom were Al2O3·CaS·MgO. The spatial distribution in the number density and composition of inclusions along the thickness from the loose side to the fixed side of the bloom was non-uniform but symmetric. The electromagnetic stirring efficiently improved steel cleanliness by lowering the average number density and area fraction of inclusions in the whole section of the CC bloom from 58.14 #/mm2 and 176.82 ppm to 30.90 #/mm2 and 111.67 ppm, respectively, and by increasing the average size and the maximum size of inclusions from 2.73 and 20.84 μm to 2.99 and 76.02 μm, respectively. More large-size inclusions contained K and Na by the slag entrainment in the mold with electromagnetic stirring were detected than those without electromagnetic stirring. Seven mm of the bloom from the loose side was analyzed for inclusions with size > 1.0 μm every 1 mm depth. The average CaO content of inclusions with size > 1.0 μm within the 7 mm subsurface of the bloom increased from 5.67 wt pct without electromagnetic stirring to 16.12 wt pct with electromagnetic stirring and increased from 10.24 wt pct without electromagnetic stirring to 21.31 wt pct with electromagnetic stirring for > 3.0 μm inclusions, which confirmed that unreasonable current electromagnetic stirring operation parameters will lead to slag entrainment.

The aim of this study was to investigate the efficacy and safety of initial Gamma Knife radiosurgery (GKRS) for elderly patients with nonfunctioning pituitary adenomas (NFPAs). We retrospectively reviewed 45 elderly patients underwent GKRS as the initial treatment for NFPAs at our institution between December 2007 and December 2017. Patients’ radiographic and clinical data were collected. The median age of patients at the time of GKRS was 71 years (range 65–82 years). The median tumor volume was 2.6 cm3 (range 0.3–21.8 cm3). The median marginal dose was 13 Gy (range 6–23 Gy). The median maximum dose to the optic apparatus was 6.5 Gy (range 2.3–10.3 Gy). Thirty-five patients (77.8%) achieved tumor regression, 6 patients (13.3%) had tumor stable and 4 patients (8.9%) occurred tumor progression during a median radiological follow-up time of 51.4 months (range 11.1–158.7 months). The crude tumor control rate was 91.1%. The actuarial tumor control rates were 100%, 95.0%, 87.6%, and 87.6%, at 1, 3, 5, and 10 years after initial GKRS, respectively. New-onset hypopituitarism occurred in 6 patients. Two patients with pre-GKRS visual dysfunction developed further deterioration of visual function. No other radiation-induced complications were noted. Initial GKRS can provide a high tumor control rate as well as low risk of postradiosurgical complications for elderly patients with NFPAs. Attention should be paid to avoid radiation-related adverse effects including hypopituitarism, optic neuropathy and cranial neuropathy in elderly patients.

Bladder cancer is one of the most common malignant tumors worldwide. Accordingly, its incidence and mortality are high. One of the characteristics of cancer is genomic instability. New studies suggest that long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) play an important role in maintaining genomic instability. This study aimed to identify a genomic instability-associated lncRNA signature to predict the outcome of patients with bladder cancer. We downloaded data for bladder cancer patients from The Cancer Genome Atlas database to obtain lncRNA expression profiles as well as somatic mutation profiles. Using the lncRNA computational framework, a genomic instability-related lncRNA signature (GIlncSig) was established and the prognostic value of this signature was assessed and validated. A five-lncRNA signature based on genomic instability (CFAP58-DT, MIR100HG, LINC02446, AC078880.3, and LINC01833) was obtained from 58 differentially expressed lncRNAs. Patients were divided into high-risk and low-risk groups, with the high-risk group having a substantially worse prognosis than the low-risk group. Univariate and multivariate Cox analyses indicated that GIlncSig may be an independent prognostic factor; this finding was subsequently validated. In addition, enrichment analysis indicated that GIlncSig is associated with genomic instability in bladder cancer. GIlncSig has a predictive value for the prognosis of bladder cancer patients and provides guidance for the clinical treatment of these patients.

Base catalysts were studied for the dehydration of fatty alcohols to linear alpha olefins (LAOs). For the gas phase dehydration of 1-octanol to 1-octene, 15% Cs/SiO2 catalyst was 56% selective at 10% conversion. Diluting a feed of C8, C10, and C14 fatty alcohols to 50% in undecane increased the selectivity to alpha olefins to 77–99%. 15% Cs/SiO2 was further investigated for the gas phase dehydration of a 4.2 g L−1 mixed C8–C14 fatty alcohol in tridecane feed and showed linear alpha olefin selectivities of 78–100% at initial conversions of 51–91% with the conversion lowering to 32–77% over 30 h. Catalytic activity was totally regenerated through calcination. A feed of biologically derived alcohols was produced with E. coli strain CM24 transformed with three plasmids (pBTRCk–pVHb–maACR, pACYC–pVHb–seFadBA, pTRC99A–pVHb–tdTER–fdh) which yielded a 5.5 g L−1 of C8–C14 fatty alcohol in tridecane. This biologically-derived feed was successfully dehydrated to linear alpha olefins over 15% Cs/SiO2 at selectivities of 60–100% with initial conversions of 35–75% which decreased to 22–55% over 30 h. Techno-economic analysis (TEA) of the integrated process for fatty alcohol production and subsequent dehydration to alpha olefins was conducted across the potential fermentation TRY (titer, rate, yield) landscape. Baseline fermentation performance resulted in a minimum product selling price (MPSP) double the market price for LAOs due to low titers and high costs associated with managing water and tridecane solvent flows through the system. However, targeted improvements in fermentation performance (e.g., achieving 40 g L−1 titer, 0.5 g L−1 h−1 productivity, 80% theoretical yield) can enable financially viable production of biologically derived LAOs.

The correlation between G388R or V10I polymorphisms of fibroblast growth factor receptor (FGFR) 4 gene and the risk of carcinoma has been investigated previously, but the results are contradictory. Odds ratios (ORs) with 95% confidence intervals (95%CIs), in silico tools, and immunohistochemical staining (IHS) were adopted to assess the association. In total, 13,793 cancer patients and 16,179 controls were evaluated in our pooled analysis. Summarization of all the studies showed that G388R polymorphism is associated with elevated susceptibility to cancer under homozygous comparison (OR = 1.21, 95%CI = 1.03–1.43, P = 0.020) and a recessive genetic model (OR = 1.21, 95%CI = 1.04–1.41, P = 0.012). In the stratification analysis by cancer type and ethnicity, similar findings were indicated for prostate cancer, breast cancer, and individuals of Asian descendant. Polyphen2 bioinformatics analysis showed that the G388R mutation is predicted to damage the protein function of FGFR4. IHS analysis indicated that FGFR4 expression is increased in advanced prostate cancer. These findings may guide personalized treatment of certain types of cancers. Up-regulation of FGFR4 may be related to a poor prognosis in prostate cancer.

HighlightsThe efficacy of EWNS to disinfect surfaces was assessed at a bacterial concentration similar to pig barns.Liquid pH, liquid conductivity, and applied voltage were found to directly affect the efficacy of EWNS.The efficacy increased as liquid flow rate and distance between needle tip and counter electrode decreased.An E. coli reduction of 3.0 log was achieved on a stainless-steel surface after 15 min exposure to EWNS.Abstract. Several studies have shown the potential of engineered water nanostructures (EWNS) generated using a capillary electrospray system to inactivate foodborne bacteria; however, there is a lack of data on EWNS performance in inactivating microbes in livestock facilities. Thus, this laboratory-scale study investigated the effects of operating conditions on the efficacy of EWNS in inactivating Escherichia coli (E. coli) on coupons made of stainless steel, a common surface material in pig barns, at a bacterial concentration similar to levels found on pig barn surfaces. The electrospray module was composed of a capillary needle that was connected to a high-voltage power supply. The efficacy of the technology in inactivating E. coli was assessed with various operating parameters (i.e., applied voltage, distance between needle tip and counter electrode, and liquid flow rate, pH, and conductivity). The efficacy of the EWNS was found to be directly related to the liquid pH, liquid conductivity, and applied voltage, but inversely related to the liquid flow rate and distance between the needle tip and counter electrode. An E. coli reduction of 3.0 log was obtained after 15 min exposure to EWNS under the following operating conditions: liquid flow rate of 1 µL min-1, pH of 12, liquid conductivity of 14.72 mS cm-1, 2 cm distance between the needle tip and counter electrode, and -7.6 kV applied voltage. The results of this study can serve as an initial basis for the application of EWNS on surfaces in a real barn environment, where the presence of other factors, such as gases, dust, and other organic matter and microbial species, must be taken into account. Keywords: Electrospray, Engineered water nanostructures, E. coli, Stainless-steel surface, Surface decontamination.

Introduction: Gamma Knife radiosurgery (GKRS) has been used to treat cavernous malformations (CMs) located in basal ganglia and thalamus. However, previous reports are limited by small patient population. Methods: We retrospectively reviewed the clinical and radiological data of 53 patients with CMs of basal ganglia and thalamus who underwent GKRS at West China Hospital between May 2009 and July 2018. All patients suffered at least once bleeding before GKRS. The mean volume of these lesions was 1.77 cm3, and the mean marginal dose was 13.2 Gy. After treatment, patients were followed to determine the change in symptom and hemorrhage event. Results: The mean follow-up period was 52.1 months (6.2–104.3 months). The calculated annual hemorrhage rate (AHR) was 48.5% prior to GKRS and 3.0% after treatment (p < 0.001). The Kaplan-Meier analysis revealed that 2-, 3-, and 5-year hemorrhage-free survival were 88, 80.9, and 80.9%, respectively. Preexisting symptoms were resolved in 11 patients, improved in 14, and stable in 5. Only 2 patients (3.8%) developed new neurological deficit. Conclusion: Our study suggests that AHR after GKRS was comparable to the recorded AHR of natural history (3.1–4.1%) in previous studies. GKRS is a safe and effective treatment modality for CMs of basal ganglia and thalamus. Considering the relative insufficient understanding of natural history of CMs, future study warrants longer follow-up.

Background and Objective: Colorectal cancer (CRC) is a common malignant tumor of the digestive system; it is associated with high morbidity and mortality. However, an early prediction of colorectal adenoma (CRA) that is a precancerous disease of most CRC patients provides an opportunity to make an appropriate strategy for prevention, early diagnosis and treatment. It has been aimed to develop a machine learning model to predict CRA that could assist physicians in classifying high-risk patients, make informed choices and prevent CRC. Methods: Patients who had undergone a colonoscopy to fill out a questionnaire at the Sixth People Hospital of Shanghai in China from July 2018 to November 2018 were instructed. A classification model with the gradient boosting decision tree (GBDT) was developed to predict CRA. This model was compared with three other models, namely, random forest (RF), support vector machine (SVM), and logistic regression (LR). The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC) was used to evaluate performance of the models. Results: Among the 245 included patients, 65 patients had CRA. The area under the receiver operating characteristic (AUCs) of GBDT, RF, SVM ,and LR with 10 fold-cross validation was 0.8131, 0.74, 0.769 and 0.763. An online prediction service, CRA Inference System, to substantialize the proposed solution for patients with CRA was also built. Conclusion: Four classification models for CRA prediction were developed and compared, and the GBDT model showed the highest performance. Implementing a GBDT model for screening can reduce the cost of time and money and help physicians identify high-risk groups for primary prevention.

Introduction: In this study, the efficacy, advantages, and disadvantages of transurethral cystoscopic silver nitrate renal pelvic instillation and retroperitoneoscopic renal pedicle lymphatic disconnection for chyluria were compared to provide a clinical reference. Methods: Forty patients with chyluria who were admitted to our hospital between June 2007 and June 2017 were selected as the research subjects and divided into two groups. The patients in group A (n=25) were treated with transurethral cystoscopic silver nitrate renal pelvic instillation regimen, while those in group B (n=15) were treated by retroperitoneoscopic renal pedicle lymphatic disconnection. Operative time, intraoperative blood loss volume, length of postoperative hospital stay, cure rate, complication rate and recurrence rate were compared between the two groups. Results: All the 40 patients were successfully treated. Group B had a higher cure rate, lower complication rate and lower recurrence rate than in group A, the differences were statistically significant (P < 0.05). But group A had a shorter length of hospital stay and less surgical trauma, the differences were statistically significant (P < 0.05). Conclusion: Retroperitoneoscopic renal pedicle lymphatic disconnection for chyluria can be used as one of the first choices of treatment for chyluria. Although the recurrence rate with transurethral cystoscopic silver nitrate renal pelvic instillation is high, the treatment can be administered again when the disease recurs. At the same time, it is less invasive to the patients and they are more receptive.

Objective: To compare the clinical effects and safety of two methods of laparoscopic total cystectomy for female bladder cancer patients with retention and resection of the urethra. Methods: Female bladder cancer patients with bladder invasive urothelial carcinoma were selected in grade II~III from January 2008 to March 2018. Patients were divided into two groups based on the surgical method: group A laparoscopic radical cystectomy, and group B laparoscopic radical cystectomy + urethrectomy, to observe the clinical efficacy, operation duration, blood loss during surgery, hospitalization time, and complications. Results: The operation times in groups A and B were 262.54 ± 27.95 min and 310.28 ± 32.99 min, respectively. The volumes of intraoperative blood loss in groups A and B were 439.46 ± 44.52 mL and 456.74 ± 47.18 mL, respectively. There were no discernable differences in the probability of postoperative complications in the two groups. In group A, four patients experienced bladder cancer recurrence and metastasis, and 50% of these cases had a urethral recurrence. In group B, one patient experienced bladder cancer recurrence and metastasis; however, there was no urethral recurrence. Conclusion: Although laparoscopic radical cystectomy + urethrectomy extended the operation times; prophylactic urethrectomy can further shorten the bladder cancer recurrence and metastasis and improve patient prognosis without an increase in complications. However, its long-term clinical efficacy needs further study and supplement.

Renal cell carcinoma (RCC) is a common kidney cancer worldwide. Even though current treatments show promising therapeutic effectiveness, metastatic RCC still has limited therapeutic options so that novel treatments were urgently needed. Here, we identified that MUC12 was overexpressed in RCC patients and served as poor prognostic factor for RCC progression. Overexpression of MUC12 increased RCC cell growth and cell invasion while deficiency of MUC12 exerted opposite effects on RCC cells. Mechanistic dissection demonstrated that MUC12‐mediated RCC cell growth and cell invasion were dependent of TGF‐β1 signalling because they could be blocked in the presence of TGF‐β1 inhibitor. Moreover, the regulation of TGF‐β1 by MUC12 relied on the transactivation of c‐Jun. MUC12 promoted the recruitment of c‐Jun on the promoter of TGF‐β1, leading to its transcription. Importantly, knockdown of c‐Jun also attenuated MUC12‐mediated TGF‐β1 induction and RCC cell invasion. In summary, our study defines the role of MUC12 in RCC progression and provides rational to develop novel targeted therapy to battle against RCC.

This study compares the seasonal and interannual-to-decadal variability in the strength and position of the Kuroshio Extension front (KEF) using high-resolution satellite-derived sea surface temperature (SST) and sea surface height (SSH) data. Results show that the KEF strength has an obvious seasonal variation that is similar at different longitudes, with a stronger (weaker) KEF during the cold (warm) season. However, the seasonal variation in the KEF position is relatively weak and varies with longitude. In contrast, the low-frequency variation of the KEF position is more distinct than that of the KEF strength even though they are well correlated. On both seasonal and interannual-to-decadal time scales, the western part of the KEF (142°–144°E) has the greatest variability in strength, while the eastern part of the KEF (149°–155°E) has the greatest variability in position. In addition, the relationships between wind-forced Rossby waves and the low-frequency variability in the KEF strength and position are also discussed by using the statistical analysis methods and a wind-driven hindcast model. A positive (negative) North Pacific Oscillation (NPO)-like atmospheric forcing generates positive (negative) SSH anomalies over the central North Pacific. These oceanic signals then propagate westward as Rossby waves, reaching the KE region about three years later, favoring a strengthened (weakened) and northward (southward)-moving KEF.

The neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) has been reported to relate to the prognosis of various cancers. The aim of this study was to elucidate the efficiency of pre-treatment NLR as a predictor of outcomes of brain metastasis underwent gamma knife radiosurgery (GKRS). We analyzed 195 cases with brain metastasis underwent GKRS at our institution between January 2015 and April 2018. Patients’ clinical and radiographic data were collected. We identified 458 brain metastases in 195 patients. Optimal dichotomous cutoff values of NLR determined by receiver operating characteristic analysis for local control, distant control and overall survival (OS) were 2.48, 2.74 and 3.13, respectively. The actuarial local control rates of patients with high NLR were 87.4% at 6 months and 76.1% at 12 months, whereas that of patients with low NLR were 94.2% at 6 months and 88.3% at 12 months (P = 0.001). The actuarial distant control rates of patients with high NLR were 31.4% at 6 months and 18.9% at 12 months, whereas that of patients with low NLR were 58.5% at 6 months and 31.3% at 12 months (P = 0.001). The median OS of patients with high and low NLR were 10.0 months and 14.5 months, respectively (P = 0.001). Multivariate analysis demonstrates that high NLR independently predicts local failure (hazard ratio [HR], 2.281; P = 0.003), distant brain failure (HR 1.775; P = 0.002) and poorer overall survival (HR 1.494; P = 0.034). The pre-SRS NLR, a systemic inflammatory marker for treatment response, inversely predicts local control, distant control and OS in patients with brain metastasis.

Background: The correlation between superoxide dismutase 2 (SOD2) V16A variant and urological cancer susceptibility has been widely studied, however, with divergent results. Results: Totally, 9,910 cancer patients and 11,239 control subjects were enrolled. V16A variant is associated with an increased susceptibility to urological cancer (A-allele vs. V-allele: OR = 1.06, 95% CI = 1.00 – 1.13, P = 0.047; AA+AV vs. VV: OR = 1.09, 95% CI = 1.02 – 1.16, P = 0.008), especially for prostate cancer (PCa). Serum SOD2 level of PCa patients with VV+VA genotypes was lower than in those with AA genotypes. SOD2 expression is downregulated in both prostate and bladder cancer, as compared to the control. Furthermore, SOD2 was found to be downregulated in more advanced PCa participants, as compared to the ones in early stages. PCa subjects with low SOD2 expression displayed a shorter disease-free survival (DFS) time compared to that of the high SOD2 expression counterparts. Conclusions: The SOD2 V16A variant may be associated with increased urological cancer susceptibility, especially for prostate cancer. Methods: A pooled analysis utilizing odds ratios (ORs), in silico tools and ELISA was adopted to demonstrate this association. We also used immunohistochemical staining (IHS) to assess SOD2 expression.

Traumatic arthritis is a common orthopedic surgery disease that seriously affects the health of patients. The expression and role of Galectins in traumatic osteoarthritis remains unclear. SD rats were divided into control group and osteoarthritis model group. Real-time PCR and ELISA were used to analyze Galectins-1 expression. Chondrocytes were isolated and cultured and divided into control group, Galectins-1 siRNA group and Galectins-1 group followed by analysis of proliferation of chondrocytes by MTT assay, cell migration by Transewell chamber, expression of RUNX2 and ADAMTS-4/5 by Real-time PCR, and PI3K/Akt by Western blot. Galectins-1 mRNA and secretion in synovial fluid was significantly reduced in model group compared to control (P < 0.05). Transfection of Galectins-1-pcDNA3.1 plasmid into chondrocytes of osteoarthritic rats significantly increased the expression of Galectins-1, promoted chondrocyte proliferation and cell migration, and downregulated RUNX2 and ADAMTS-4/5 (P < 0.05). Up-regulation of Galectins-1 blocked the expression of PI3K/Akt signaling pathway. Transfection of Galectins-1 siRNA significantly reduced the expression of Galectins-1, inhibited chondrocyte proliferation and cell migration, and upregulated RUNX2 and ADAMTS-4/5 (P < 0.05). Down-regulation of Galectins-1 up-regulated PI3K/Akt signaling pathway. Galectins-1 expression is reduced in joint tissues in rat model of traumatic osteoarthritis. Up-regulation of Galectins-1 expression can promote chondrocyte proliferation and migration by regulating PI3K/Akt signaling pathway, which may reduce chondrocyte damage in rats with traumatic osteoarthritis.

Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) have been indicated as the candidate factors to predict cancer prognosis. However, it is still unknown whether lncRNA combinations may be utilized for predicting overall survival (OS) of prostate cancer (PCa). The present work focused on selecting the potent OS-related lncRNA signature for PCa and studying its molecular mechanism to enhance the prognosis prediction accuracy. Differentially expressed lncRNAs (DElncRNAs) or differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were obtained based on TCGA database by R software “edgeR” package. lncRNAs or mRNAs significantly related to PCa were screened through univariate as well as multivariate Cox regression, for the construction of the risk model for prognosis prediction. Moreover, this constructed risk model was validated through ROC analysis, univariate regression, and Kaplan–Meier (KM) analysis. Additionally, we built a lncRNA–miRNA–mRNA ceRNA network through bioinformatics analysis. Colony formation, CCK-8, flow cytometry, scratch, and Transwell assays were performed based on PCa cells subjected to small interfering RNA (siRNA) targeting LINC01679/SLC17A9 and vector expressing LINC01679/SLC17A9 transfection. Thereafter, the ceRNA mechanism was clarified via qRT-PCR, Western blotting (WB), RNA pull-down, and luciferase reporter assays. Nude mouse tumor xenograft was established to examine LINC01679’s oncogenicity within PCa cells. According to our results, LINC01679 depletion promoted cell proliferation, metastasis, tumor growth, and inhibited cell apoptosis in vivo and in vitro, which was also associated with poor survival. LINC01679 regulated miR-3150a-3p level by sponging it. Importantly, miR-3150a-3p overexpression was related to the increased proliferation and decreased apoptosis of PCa cells. Rescue assays suggested that miR-3150a-3p mimics rescued the repression on PCa progression mediated by LINC01679 upregulation, but SLC17A9 downregulation reversed the miR-3150a-3p inhibitor-mediated repression on PC progression. Importantly, SLC17A9 downregulation rescued the repression on PCa progression mediated by LINC01679 upregulation. LINC01679 and SLC17A9 are tightly associated with certain clinicopathological characteristics of PCa and its prognostic outcome. In addition, LINC01679 is the ceRNA that suppresses PCa development through modulating the miR-3150a-3p/SLC17A9 axis.

Previous studies have shown that PM2.5 is associated with airway inflammation and lung injury. However, the association between traffic-related PM2.5 (TR-PM) exposure and OVA-induced allergic inflammation is not fully elucidated. In this study, we assessed allergic inflammatory responses of mice induced by TR-PM. PM2.5 was collected from a roadside with heavy traffic, and its soluble extract was prepared. Mice were treated with OVA, TR-PM alone, and OVA + TR-PM. The inflammatory cells were counted, and inflammation-related cytokines IL-4, IL-17A, and IL-10 in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) were determined by the radioimmunity assay. Allergy-induced inflammation and lung injury were investigated by histopathological analyses. The expression of IL-4, IL-17A, and IL-10 mRNA was analyzed by RT-PCR. Our results revealed that TR-PM exposure, combined with OVA allergen sensitization, increased the inflammatory cells in BALF as well as levels of IgE in lung tissue; increased the IL-4 and IL-17A levels in BALF significantly, but decreased IL-10 level. The histopathologic results demonstrated that TR-PM markedly exacerbated the OVA-induced neutrophilic granulocyte, lymphocyte, and macrophage infiltration. Furthermore, the expression of IL-4, IL-17A and IL-10 mRNA was well in agreement with the results of the inflammatory cytokines. In conclusion, during the sensitization to allergic antigens, TR-PM exposure triggers severe allergic inflammation and lung injury. These findings suggest that commuters should use public transportation instead of riding motorcycles or walking during rush hours.

Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) is the cause of the ongoing coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. Understanding the influence of mutations in the SARS-CoV-2 gene on clinical outcomes is critical for treatment and prevention. Here, we analyzed all high-coverage complete SARS-CoV-2 sequences from GISAID database from January 1, 2020, to January 1, 2021, to mine the mutation hotspots associated with clinical outcome and developed a model to predict the clinical outcome in different epidemic strains. Exploring the cause of mutation based on RNA-dependent RNA polymerase (RdRp) and RNA-editing enzyme, mutation was more likely to occur in severe and mild cases than in asymptomatic cases, especially A > G, C > T, and G > A mutations. The mutations associated with asymptomatic outcome were mainly in open reading frame 1ab (ORF1ab) and N genes; especially R6997P and V30L mutations occurred together and were correlated with asymptomatic outcome with high prevalence. D614G, Q57H, and S194L mutations were correlated with mild and severe outcome with high prevalence. Interestingly, the single-nucleotide variant (SNV) frequency was higher with high percentage of nt14408 mutation in RdRp in severe cases. The expression of ADAR and APOBEC was associated with clinical outcome. The model has shown that the asymptomatic percentage has increased over time, while there is high symptomatic percentage in Alpha, Beta, and Gamma. These findings suggest that mutation in the SARS-CoV-2 genome may have a direct association with clinical outcomes and pandemic. Our result and model are helpful to predict the prevalence of epidemic strains and to further study the mechanism of mutation causing severe disease.

Background: Osteoporotic thoracolumbar burst fracture (OTLBF) is common in seniors. Due to the fracture of the posterior vertebra and spinal canal occupancy, the risk of cement leakage and spine injury is high in OTLBF patients, thus the application of vertebroplasty is limited in these patients. This study aims to investigate the efficacy and safety of vertebroplasty for treating OTLBF via bilateral pedicle approach combined with postural reduction. To determine whether percutaneous vertebroplasty (PVP) combined with body reduction is an alternative method for treating OTLBF that prevents major surgical complications.Methods: Thirteen patients (aged≥65years) with thoracolumbar fractures but without neurological deficits underwent vertebroplasty. In all fracture cases, the anterior and middle columns of the vertebrae were affected and the canal was mildly compressed. To assess the clinical symptoms and the effects of the procedure, patient mobility and pain were assessed prior to the procedure and at 1 day and 3 months after the procedure. Kyphosis correction, wedge angle, and height restoration were also observed and measured. Results: Improvements in pain and mobility were observed immediately after vertebroplasty in all patients. These results were observed for 6 months. Significant improvements were also noted at 1 day and 6 months after vertebroplasty. Pain was reduced by at least 4 levels after 6 months. No comorbidities were observed. Kyphosis Correction, Wedge Angle and height recovery were improved. Postoperative computed tomography revealed polymethylmethacrylate leakage through the endplate fracture site into the disc space and paravertebral spacein one patient. No intraspinal leakage was found in all patients. Conclusions: Vertebroplasty is assumed to be contraindicated in patients with osteoporotic thoracolumbar fractures with posterior body involvement. However, this procedure was successfully performed to safely treat such fractures without causing neurological deficits. PVP combined with body reduction may be an alternative method for treating OTLBF that prevents major surgical complications. Moreover, it helps patients achieve early mobilization and pain relief.

ObjectiveAs a result of the inconsistency between reports, a meta-analysis was designed to appraise the clinical implications of long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) in exosomes for the diagnosis of bladder cancer.MethodsThe PubMed, EMBASE, and Cochrane library databases were searched to identify the relevant literature on lncRNAs in exosomes for bladder cancer diagnosis from database inception to May 2021. The literature was screened according to the inclusion and exclusion criteria, and the Quality Assessment of Diagnostic Accuracy Studies-2 entry tool was applied to evaluate the quality of the literature, and the sources of heterogeneity were explored using meta-regression and subgroup analysis. Stata 14.0 and RevMan 5.3 software were used for statistical analysis.ResultsA total of 23 studies described in 10 articles were included, with a total of 1883 patients with bladder cancer and 1721 patients in the non-cancerous control group. The exosome-derived lncRNAs performed better in the diagnosis of bladder cancer with a pooled sensitivity of 0.74 (95% CI, 0.69-0.77), specificity of 0.76 (95% CI, 0.72-0.80), and area under the curve of 0.83. The heterogeneity between studies was partly as a result of differences in specimen type, number of lncRNAs, lncRNA expression form, and reference gene type. Subgroup analysis showed that the detection efficacy based on the combination of multiple lncRNAs (0.86, 95% CI, 0.82-0.88) was higher than that based on a single lncRNA (0.81, 95% CI, 0.78-0.85), and exosomal lncRNAs with blood as the detection sample had a high diagnostic efficacy (0.86, 95% CI, 0.82-0.86).ConclusionsExosome-derived lncRNAs hold great promise as non-invasive diagnostic biomarkers of bladder cancer. However, their clinical value needs to be examined in further comprehensive prospective studies.

Bupivacaine (BUP) is a long-acting amide local anesthetic that may induce strong neurotoxicity and neurological complications. In this study, we elucidate the influence of microRNA-494-3p (miR-494-3p) in BUP-induced neurotoxicity in primary mouse hippocampal neuronal cells. In this study, primary hippocampal neurons were isolated from neonatal C57BL/6 mice. The isolated neurons were treated with various doses of BUP. MTT assay was conducted to analyze neuronal viability. Gene expression measurement was done by RT-qPCR. The impact of miR-494-3p in BUP-mediated neural injury was examined using TUNEL, flow cytometry, western blotting, and ROS activity detection. The regulatory relationship between miR-494-3p and cyclin-dependent kinases 4 and 6 (CDK6) was identified using a luciferase reporter assay. BUP treatment led to neurotoxicity and miR-494-3p upregulation in primary cultured hippocampal neurons. Functionally, miR-494-3p depletion alleviated neuronal apoptosis and oxidative damage induced by BUP. We verified that miR-494-3p targeted and negatively modulated CDK6. MiR-494-3p depletion also activated PI3K/AKT signaling by elevating CDK6 expression in BUP-treated neurons. Furthermore, CDK6 knockdown or PI3K/AKT inactivation attenuated the neuroprotective role of miR-494-3p depletion. Silencing miR-494-3p exerts neuroprotective function in hippocampal neuronal cells against BUP-induced injury by the CDK6-PI3K/AKT pathway.

Identifying prognostic indicators of clear cell renal cell carcinoma (ccRCC) and elucidating the mechanisms underlying ccRCC progression are crucial for improving ccRCC patient prognosis. This study investigated the clinical significance and biological role of Ring finger protein 43 ( RNF43) in ccRCC. Two independent cohorts of patients with ccRCC were employed to determine the prognostic significance of RNF43 by immunohistochemistry and statistical analyses. In vitro and in vivo experiments, RNA-seq, and other techniques were used to determine the biological role of RNF43 in ccRCC and related molecular mechanisms. RNF43 expression was commonly decreased in ccRCC specimens, and low expression of RNF43 indicated a higher TNM stage, SSIGN score, and WHO/ISUP grade and short survival in patients with ccRCC. Additionally, RNF43 overexpression suppressed the proliferation, migration, and targeted drug resistance of ccRCC cells, while the knockdown of RNF43 enhanced these characteristics of ccRCC. RNF43 knockdown activated YAP signaling by decreasing YAP phosphorylation by p-LATS1/2 and increasing the transcription and nuclear distribution of YAP. By contrast, RNF43 overexpression showed the opposite effects. Decreasing YAP abolished the effect of RNF43 knockdown in promoting the malignant features of ccRCC. Additionally, restoring RNF43 expression suppressed the resistance of the targeted drug pazopanib in in vivo orthotopic ccRCC. Furthermore, combining the expression of RNF43 andYAP with TNM stage or the SSIGN score exhibited greater accuracy than any of these indicators alone in assessing the postoperative prognosis of ccRCC patients. In summary, our study identified a novel tumor suppressor, RNF43, which is also a prognostic indicator and potential target for ccRCC potential target for ccRCC.

Objectives: To investigate the association between muscle dysmorphia (MD), social physique anxiety, and body-checking behavior in male college students with weight exercise, and to reveal the association between them.Methods: A total of 492 male college students with weight exercise from 18 Fitness Clubs or bodybuilding centers in Chengdu, China, participated in this study.Results: First, the social physique anxiety scores, body checking frequency, and weight exercise behavior (i.e., frequency, time, and intensity) in male college students with MD were significantly higher than those without MD; it indicated that the higher the exercise frequency they had, the longer the exercise time they cost, and the higher exercise intensity carried out, and the higher the social physique anxiety scores tended to be, the higher the frequency of body checking on “global muscles,” “chest and shoulder muscles,” “comparison with others” and “posture measurement” they did. Second, the mediating effect of the social physique anxiety on MD and body checking was established in the “MD → global muscle checking,” “MD → chest and shoulder muscle checking,” “MD → comparison with others,” and “muscle dysmorphia → posture measurement.”Conclusion: Male college students with MD not only have a higher social physique anxiety, but also a higher frequency of body-checking behavior than the ordinary individuals. Social physique anxiety is one of the important mediating factors to those with MD which affects the body-checking behavior.

Summary Diet and bile play critical roles in shaping gut microbiota, but the molecular mechanism underlying interplay with intestinal microbiota is unclear. Here, we showed that lemon-derived exosome-like nanoparticles (LELNs) enhance lactobacilli toleration to bile. To decipher the mechanism, we used Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG (LGG) as proof of concept to show that LELNs enhance LGG bile resistance via limiting production of Msp1 and Msp3, resulting in decrease of bile accessibility to cell membrane. Furthermore, we found that decline of Msps protein levels was regulated through specific tRNAserUCC and tRNAserUCG decay. We identified RNase P, an essential housekeeping endonuclease, being responsible for LELNs-induced tRNAserUCC and tRNAserUCG decay. We further identified galacturonic acid-enriched pectin-type polysaccharide as the active factor in LELNs to increase bile resistance and downregulate tRNAserUCC and tRNAserUCG level in the LGG. Our study demonstrates a tRNA-based gene expression regulation mechanism among lactobacilli to increase bile resistance., Graphical abstract, Highlights • LELN-derived pectin selectively enhances lactobacilli toleration to bile • LELNs enhance LGG bile resistance via limiting production of Msp1 and Msp3 • LELNs decrease translation of Msps via specific tRNAserUCC and tRNAserUCG decay • LELNs-mediated induction of RNase P is responsible for tRNAserUCC and tRNAserUCG decay, Nanoparticles; Molecular biology; Microbiology

To define and analyze the learning curve of percutaneous endoscopic transforaminal decompression (PETD) for lumbar spinal stenosis (LSS). From July 2015 to September 2016, 78 patients underwent PETD; one of whom was converted to open surgery, two were lost, and 75 were included in this study. Clinical results were assessed by using the Oswestry Disability Index (ODI) and visual analog scale (VAS). The learning curve was assessed by a logarithmic curve-fitting regression analysis. Of these 75 patients, 35 were defined as the “early” group, and 40 were defined as the “late” group for comparison. The mean follow-up was 25.37 ± 4.71 months. The median operative time gradually decreased from 95 (interquartile range, IQR, 85–110) minutes for the early group to 70 (IQR, 60–80) minutes for the late group (P

Low thermal conductivity carbon fibers from polyacrylonitrile (PAN) are currently being explored as an alternative for traditional rayon-based carbon fibers with a thermal conductivity of 4 W/m K. Compared to multiple component electrospinning, this research demonstrated another feasible way to make low thermal conductivity carbon fibrous material by electrospinning PAN followed by carbonization and alkali activation. The effects of activation condition on microstructure, pore formation, and thermal conductivity of the resultant carbon nanofibrous material were investigated. The processing-structure-thermal conductivity relationship was revealed and mechanism of thermal conductivity reduction was discussed. The overall thermal conductivity of the prepared carbon nanofibrous material is a result of combined effects from factors of carbon structure and number of pores rather than volume of pores or specific surface area. The activated carbon nanofibrous materials showed thermal conductivity as low as 0.12 W/m K, which is a reduction of ~ 99% when compared to that of solid carbon film and a reduction of ~ 95% when compared to that of carbon nanofibrous material before activation.

The vegetation in the Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region (henceforth, Ningxia) of north-western China plays an important role in guarding regional ecological safety and sustainable development. However, it is unclear how climate affects vegetation growth in terms of seasonality and various vegetation types in Ningxia. Based on remote sensing vegetation index from 2001 to 2016, climatic parameters, and the Chinese vegetation type data, this article examines the spatiotemporal effects of climate parameters on vegetation. The relative importance to variability in the normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI) for different seasons and various vegetated types is also determined. The results demonstrate that the vegetation increased from 2001 to 2016 in Ningxia. The rate of NDVI increase was fastest in summer and slowest in spring. Areas with significant increases in vegetation occurred primarily in the southern mountain, Liupan Mountain, and central arid areas. Degraded vegetation occurred in the Yellow River irrigation area with intense human activity influence. The vegetation in most areas of Ningxia will continue to increase in the future. The sensitivity of vegetation to temperature, precipitation, sunshine duration, and wind velocity showed significantly seasonal variability. Sunshine duration and wind velocity were important climatic factors affecting vegetation growth in Ningxia. However, the impact of summer precipitation variation on summer NDVI (SMN) demonstrated a time lag effect. The impact of climate variation on vegetation was distinct among various vegetation types. Moreover, the spatial pattern of vegetation in Ningxia was also impacted by human activities.

Background Dexmedetomidine (Dex) was reported to exhibit anti-inflammatory effect in the nervous system. However, the mechanism by which Dex exhibits anti-inflammation effects on LPS-stimulated BV2 microglia cells remains unclear. Thus, this study aimed to investigate the role of Dex in LPS-stimulated BV2 cells. Methods The BV2 cells were stimulated by lipopolysaccharides (LPS). BV2 cells were infected with short-hairpin RNAs targeting NF-κB (NF-κB-shRNAs) and NF-κB overexpression lentivirus, respectively. In addition, miR-340 mimics or miR-340 inhibitor was transfected into BV2 cells, respectively. Meanwhile, the dual-luciferase reporter system assay was used to explore the interaction of miR-340 and NF-κB in BV2 cells. CCK-8 was used to detect the viability of BV2 cells. In addition, Western blotting was used to detect the level of NF-κB in LPS-stimulated BV2 cells. The levels of TNF-α, IL-6, IL-1β, IL-2, IL-12, IL-10 and MCP-1 in LPS-stimulated BV2 cells were measured with ELISA. Results The level of miR-340 was significantly upregulated in Dex-treated BV2 cells. Meanwhile, the level of NF-κB was significantly increased in BV2 cells following infection with lenti-NF-κB, which was markedly reversed by Dex. LPS markedly increased the expression of NF-κB and proinflammatory cytokines in BV2 cells, which were reversed in the presence of Dex. Moreover, miR-340 mimics enhanced the anti-inflammatory effects of Dex in LPS-stimulated BV2 cells via inhibiting NF-κB and proinflammatory cytokines. Furthermore, Dex obviously inhibited LPS-induced phagocytosis in BV2 cells. Conclusion Taken together, our results suggested that Dex might exert anti-inflammatory effects in LPS-stimulated BV2 cells via upregulation of miR-340. Therefore, Dex might serve as a potential agent for the treatment of neuroinflammation.