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Due to the poor solubility, permeability, stability and tumor-targeting ability of norcantharidin (NCTD), currently commercially available NCTD formulations require patients to take the medicine more frequently. Moreover, the formulation of NCTD themselves have certain toxicity, thus showing unsatisfactory therapeutic outcomes and serious systemic side effects. Based on the specific acidic environment at the tumor site, in this study, the pH-sensitive NCTD solid self-microemulsion (NCTD@CS-DMMA SSME) was prepared by introducing 2,3-dimethylmaleic acid amide modified chitosan (CS-DMMA), and it was wrapped in colon-coated capsule to achieve stable and controlled drug release in the acidic environment of colonic tumors. After self-emulsification, it had a particle size of 75.88 ± 0.85 nm and carried a negative charge. Under the condition of pH 6.5, NCTD@CS-DMMA SSME exhibited first-order release kinetics characteristics. Moreover, the cumulative release under the condition of pH 6.5 was 2.04-fold higher than that under the condition of pH 7.4. The in situ intestinal absorption assay elucidated that the prepared formulation could effectively improve the absorption rate constant and apparent permeability coefficients of NCTD in colon tumor site. The antitumor effect in vivo and in vitro showed that it could not only improve the inhibition ability of tumor growth, migration and invasion in mice, but also increase the tumor-infiltrating T lymphocytes in mice with colon cancer, thus inhibiting tumor growth. In summary, the NCTD@CS-DMMA SSME can deliver drugs to the site of colon tumors and continuously release drugs, providing new insights into improving the treatment effectiveness of colon cancer., Competing Interests: Declarations. Conflict of Interest: The authors declared that they had no conflict of interest., (© 2025. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to American Association of Pharmaceutical Scientists.)

The developing foetus is particularly sensitive to neurotoxic metals. The placenta is considered an ideal tissue for biomonitoring prenatal cumulative metal exposure. Based on the Ma'anshan Birth Cohort study (MABC) in China, this study investigated associations of non-essential metals and essential metals in placenta, including arsenic (As), cadmium (Cd), mercury (Hg), lead (Pb), cobalt (Co), selenium (Se) and zinc (Zn), with cognitive development in children among 1586 mother-child pairs. Also, we explored potential interactions between the metals and modifying role of the sex. Children's cognitive development was tested at preschool age using the Wechsler Preschool and Primary Scale of Intelligence, Fourth Edition (WPPSI-IV). Analyses used multiple linear regression, Bayesian kernel machine regression (BKMR), the quantile g-computation (Qgcomp), interaction and marginal effects models, and restricted cubic spline in R and STATA. In this study, the geometric means [GMs (SD)] for placental metal concentrations were 8.10 (7.54) ng/g for As, 32.32 (29.20) ng/g for Cd, 11.89 (13.33) ng/g for Hg, 32.21 (28.24) ng/g for Pb, 15.05 (8.91) ng/g for Co, 508.82 (192.35) ng/g for Se, 18481.60 (14030.61) ng/g for Zn. In individual models, placental As levels were negatively associated with the Fluent Reasoning Index (FRI) in the overall sample. Cd levels were negatively associated with the full-scale intelligence quotient (FSIQ), the Verbal Comprehension Index (VCI) and the Visual Spatial Index (VSI). The four metal mixture (As, Cd, Hg and Pb) was negatively associated with FSIQ, VCI, VSI and FRI. Placental Cd and As were the largest contributors to the negative mixture association on the FSIQ. The negative associations of placental As, Cd and Hg with FSIQ in children were gradually attenuated with increasing Zn and Se. After stratifying by sex, the individual and mixture associations between elevated placental non-essential metal exposures and reduced cognitive scores were significant only in boys. Zn and Se were the major contributors to the positive mixture associations on the FSIQ. In summary, prenatal exposure to As, Cd and Hg has sex-specific adverse associations on children's cognitive development. A more accurate assessment of the necessity of prenatal supplementation of micronutrients including Zn and Se is needed., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Microfluidics has significantly advanced the field of single-cell analysis, particularly in studies related to cell growth, division, and heterogeneity. Electrical impedance spectroscopy (EIS), a label-free and non-invasive biosensing technique, has been integrated into microfluidic devices for high-throughput and long-term monitoring of single budding yeast cells. Accurate interpretation of EIS measurements of cell growth dynamics necessitates the establishment of theoretical equivalent circuit models for the single-cell sensing system. Here, we report on the development of equivalent circuit models of an in situ EIS sensing system to elucidate cell growth. Firstly, finite element modeling and simulation of an EIS measurement of cell growth in the EIS sensing unit were performed, guiding the fittings of electrical components for an established equivalent circuit model (ECM). From the ECM, we extracted an equivalent volume fraction applicable to various cell and sensing unit geometries to describe the geometry-dependent sensing characteristics corresponding to the electrical response in the model. Then, EIS measurements of an immobilized cell in a microfluidic device were conducted via peripheral circuits. A lumped parameter model for the entire EIS measurement system was established, with electrical components determined by fitting to experimental data. The rationality of the proposed theoretical model was validated through the long-term impedance variation induced by cell growth in experiments, demonstrating its feasibility in linking EIS data with the bio-physics underlying the experimental phenomenon.

Hydroxylamine (NH 2 OH) is a key intermediate in the formation of numerous high value-added organonitrogen compounds. The traditional synthesis of NH 2 OH requires the use of precious metals under high temperature conditions, which leads to high cost, high energy consumption, and environmental pollution. The NH 2 OH-mediated cascade reaction integrates the electrochemical synthesis of NH 2 OH and the chemical synthesis of organonitrogen compounds, offering a facile, green, and efficient alternative. This review presents the recent advances on electrosynthesis of high value-added organonitrogen compounds by NH 2 OH-mediated cascade reactions. We present key concepts and the transformation process of different N-species to NH 2 OH, discuss suitable substrates and electrocatalysts, and elucidate the reaction mechanisms involved in generating compounds such as amino acids, cyclohexanone oxime, urea, amine, etc.. Finally, we address current challenges and future directions in this emerging field to encourage further research effort and the development of NH 2 OH-mediated cascade reaction., (© 2025 Wiley-VCH GmbH.)

The role of MUTYH, a DNA repair glycosylase in the pathogenesis of acute kidney injury (AKI) is unclear. In this study, it is found that MUTYH protein levels are significantly decreased in the kidneys of cisplatin- or folic acid (FA)-induced mouse AKI models and patients with AKI. MUTYH deficiency aggravates renal dysfunction and tubular injury following cisplatin and FA treatment, along with the accumulation of 7, 8-dihydro-8-oxoguanine (8-oxoG) and impairs mitochondrial function. Importantly, the overexpression of type 2 MUTYH (nuclear) significantly ameliorates cisplatin-induced apoptosis, oxidative stress, mitochondrial dysfunction, and DNA damage in vivo and in vitro. In contrast, overexpression of type 1 MUTYH (mitochondrial) shows a marginal effect against cisplatin-induced injury, indicating the chief role of type 2 MUTYH in antagonizing AKI. Interestingly, the results also indicate that the upregulation of the E3 ligase HUWE1 causes the ubiquitination and degradation of MUTYH in tubular epithelial cells. HUWE1 knockout or treatment with the HUWE1 inhibitor BI8622 significantly protect against cisplatin-induced AKI. Taken together, these results suggest that the ubiquitin E3 ligase HUWE1-mediates ubiquitination and degradation of MUTYH can aggravate DNA damage in the nucleus and mitochondria and promote AKI. Targeting the HUWE1/MUTYH pathway may be a potential strategy for AKI treatment., (© 2025 The Author(s). Advanced Science published by Wiley‐VCH GmbH.)

Long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) are closely associated with tumor development, and increasing evidence suggests that small open reading frame (smORF) within lncRNAs also have the capability to encode smORF-encoded peptides (SEPs). Here, we thoroughly uncovered the SEP expression profile of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) from tumor and adjacent nontumor tissues of 154 HCC patients using high-throughput mass spectrometry (MS). A total of 208 SEPs were identified, with no significant difference in abundance and stability compared with coding region proteins. Notably, the peptide encoded by LINC01007 (LINC01007-33AA) was significantly upregulated in HCC tissues ( p < 0.05) and could serve as an independent risk factor affecting prognosis (HR [95% CI]: 1.31[1.01-1.7]). This endogenous peptide was further confirmed at both the mRNA and protein levels, and its overexpression significantly enhances the invasion and migration of HCC cells. These findings highlight the potential of MS-based methods to identify novel noncoding sequence encoded functional peptides associated with tumor progression.

One of the significant technological challenges in safeguarding electronic devices pertains to the modulation of electromagnetic (EM) wave jamming and the recycling of defensive shields. The synergistic effect of heterodimensional materials can effectively enable the manipulation of EM waves by altering the nanostructure. Here we propose a novel approach for upcycling by-products of silver nanowires that can fabricate shape-tunable aerogels which enable the modulation of its interaction with microwaves by heterodimensional structure of by-products. By-product heterodimensionality was used to design EM-wave-jamming-dissipation structures and therefore two typical tunable aerogel forms were studied. The first tunable form was aerogel film, which shielded EM interference (EMI shielding effectiveness (EMI SE) > 89 dB) and the second tunable form was foam, which performed dual EM functions (SE > 30 dB& reflective loss (RL) < -35 dB, effective absorption bandwidth (EAB) > 6.7 GHz). We show that secondary recycled aerogels retain nearly all of their EM protection properties, making this type of closed-loop cycle an appealing option. Our findings pave the way for the development of adaptive EM functions with nanoscale regulation in a green and closed-loop cycle, and they shed light on the fundamental understanding of microwave interactions with heterodimensional structures., Competing Interests: Declarations. Conflict of Interest: The authors declare no interest conflict. They have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (© 2025. The Author(s).)

Rice seed germination is a crucial phase in rice growth and development, but its molecular mechanism has not been fully elucidated. In this study, we investigated the function of rice pfkB family gene OsPUKI in seed germination. Compared with WT (ZH11), ospuki mutants showed delayed seed germination and shorter shoot length. QRT-PCR results showed that OsPUKI was highly expressed in leaves and developing seeds of 21-day after pollination, and was highly expressed at the early stage of seed germination. GC-MS analysis demonstrated that content of abscisic acid (ABA) in ospuki-3 was higher than that in WT. QRT-PCR analysis revealed that ospuki mutants had higher transcription levels of ABA synthesis-related genes OsNCED2, OsNCED3, OsNCED4, and OsZEP1. Furthermore, it was shown that ospuki mutants were more sensitive to fluridone (Flu) during seed germination and seedling growth than WT according to exogenous Flu treatment experiments. In short, our findings suggest that OsPUKI may positively regulates rice seed germination by influencing ABA synthesis., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Background: Recent advancements in artificial intelligence (AI) like ChatGPT have expanded possibilities for patient education, yet its impact on perioperative anxiety in total knee arthroplasty (TKA) patients remains unexplored., Methods: In this single-blind, randomized controlled pilot study from April to July 2023, 60 patients were randomly allocated using sealed envelopes to either ChatGPT-assisted or traditional surgeon-led informed consent groups. In the ChatGPT group, physicians used ChatGPT 4.0 to provide standardized, comprehensive responses to patient queries during the consent process, while maintaining their role in interpreting and contextualizing the information. Outcomes were measured using Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scales (HADS), Perioperative Apprehension Scale-7 (PAS-7), Visual Analogue Scales for Anxiety and Pain (VAS-A, VAS-P), Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index (WOMAC), and satisfaction questionnaires., Results: Of 55 patients completing the study, the ChatGPT group showed significantly lower anxiety scores after informed consent (HADS-A: 10.48 ± 3.84 vs 12.75 ± 4.12, P = .04, Power = .67; PAS-7: 12.44 ± 3.70 vs 14.64 ± 2.11, P = .01, Power = .85; VAS-A: 5.40 ± 1.89 vs 6.71 ± 2.27, P = .02, Power = .75) and on the fifth postoperative day (HADS-A: 8.33 ± 3.20 vs 10.71 ± 3.83, P = .01, Power = .79; VAS-A: 3.41 ± 1.58 vs 4.64 ± 1.70, P = .008, Power = .85). The ChatGPT group also reported higher satisfaction with preoperative education (4.22 ± 0.51 vs 3.43 ± 0.84, P<.001, Power = .99) and overall hospitalization experience (4.11 ± 0.65 vs 3.46 ± 0.69, P = .001, Power = .97). No significant differences were found in depression scores, knee function, or pain levels., Conclusions: ChatGPT-assisted informed consent effectively reduced perioperative anxiety and improved patient satisfaction in TKA patients. While these preliminary findings are promising, larger studies are needed to validate these results and explore broader applications of AI in preoperative patient education., (Copyright © 2025 The Author(s). Published by Wolters Kluwer Health, Inc.)

Rucheng Baimaocha ( Camellia pubescens ) black tea (RCBT) exhibits floral and sweet attributes with a unique minty-like aroma, distinguishing it from traditional and other innovative black teas. However, its key odorants remain unknown. In this study, gas chromatography-olfactometry (GC-O) combined with aroma extraction dilution analysis detected 26 aroma-active compounds (ACCs), of which 20 ACCs were quantified as odorants of RCBT infusion. In addition, aroma recombination models well simulated the overall aroma characteristics of RCBT infusion, which proved the accuracy of identification and quantification. Omission experiments showed that 12 key odorants played crucial roles in aroma formation of RCBT. Among these, four odorants (methyl salicylate, ( E , Z )-2,6-nonadienal, methyl geranate, and ( E )-2-nonenal), were of great importances for unique minty-like aroma, with significantly higher concentrations compared to other black tea varieties. This study offered a foundational theoretical framework for the processing and quality control of RCBT., Competing Interests: The authors have explicitly stated and declared that they do not have any financial, personal, or professional conflicts or competing interests that could potentially influence or bias the results, conclusions, or interpretations presented in their study., (© 2025 The Authors.)

Chlorobenzene (CB), extensively used in industrial processes, has emerged as a significant contaminant in soil and groundwater. The eco-friendly and cost-effective microbial remediation has been increasingly favored to address this environmental challenge. In this study, a degrading bacterium was isolated from CB-contaminated soil at a pesticide plant, identified as Pandoraea sp. XJJ-1 (CCTCC M 2021057). This strain completely degraded 100 mg·L -1 CB and showed extensive degradability across a range of pH (5.0-9.0), temperature (10-37 °C), and CB concentrations (100-600 mg·L -1 ). Notably, the degradation efficiency was 85.2% at 15 °C, and the strain could also degrade six other aromatic hydrocarbons, including benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, and xylene (o-, m-, p-). The metabolic pathway of CB was inferred using ultraperformance liquid chromatography, gas chromatography-mass spectrometry, and genomic analysis. In strain XJJ-1, CB was metabolized to o-chlorophenol and 3-chloroxychol by CB monooxygenase, followed by ortho-cleavage by the action of 3-chlorocatechol 1,2-dioxygenase. Moreover, the presence of the chlorobenzene monooxygenation pathway metabolism in strain XJJ-1 is reported for the first time in Pandoraea. As a bacterium with low-temperature resistance and composite pollutant degradation capacity, strain XJJ-1 has the potential application prospects in the in-situ bioremediation of CB-contaminated sites., Competing Interests: Declarations. Ethics approval: This is an observational study. The East China University of Science and Technology Research Ethics Committee has confirmed that no ethical approval is required. Consent to participate: Not applicable. Consent for publication: Not applicable. Competing interests: The authors have no relevant financial or non-financial interests to disclose., (© 2024. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Nature Switzerland AG.)

Purpose: Body mass index (BMI) is associated with the prognosis of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) receiving immunotherapy. Body compositions are considered to account for this association, but this hypothesis has yet to be verified conclusively., Material and Methods: Our study included 305 patients received immunotherapy at 3 centers between August 2018 and February 2022. We calculated skeletal muscle index (SMI), mean skeletal muscle density (SMD), subcutaneous adipose tissue index (SATI), visceral adipose tissue index (VATI), and visceral to subcutaneous adipose tissue area ratio (VSR) at lumbar 3 level. The influences of BMI and body compositions on overall survival (OS) were comprehensively described., Results: Sarcopenia (Low SMI, HR = 2.203, 95% CI:1.425-3.405, P < 0.001), myosteatosis (low SMD, HR = 2.013, 95% CI:1.246-3.252, P = 0.004) and visceral adipose deposition (high VATI, HR = 0.658, 95% CI:0.453-0.957, P = 0.028) were independent predictors of OS, while BMI was not. The prognosis of underweight (BMI < 20.0 kg/m 2 , P = 0.009) and obesity (BMI ≥ 25.0 kg/m 2 , P = 0.003) were significantly worse than normal weight (20.0 ≤ BMI ≤ 24.9 kg/m 2 ), which might attribute to the differences in body compositions. High VATI had significantly improved OS than low VATI (P = 0.002), and the difference remained significant after propensity score matching (P = 0.017)., Conclusion: In HCC receiving immunotherapy, sarcopenia, myosteatosis, and visceral adipose deposition independently predicted OS, and visceral adipose was protective in OS. The effects of BMI on OS depended on body compositions., Competing Interests: Declarations. Conflict of interest: All authors have completed the ICMJE uniform disclosure form and have no conflicts of interest to declare. Ethical approval: This retrospective study was conducted by the Declaration of Helsinki (as revised in 2013) and its amendments, and was approved by the ethical committee of the Henan Cancer Hospital (No. 2023-KY-0075002). Written informed consent for treatment was obtained from all patients. The requirement for written informed consent for participating this study was waived, owing to its retrospective study., (© 2024. Italian Society of Medical Radiology.)

The renewable nature, high carbon content, and unique hierarchical structure of wood-derived carbon make it an optimal self-supporting electrode for energy storage. However, the limitations in specific surface area and electrical conductivity defects pose challenges to achieving satisfactory charge storage in wood-derived carbon electrodes. Therefore, exploring diverse and effective surface strategies is crucial for enhancing the electrochemical energy storage performance. Herein, a decoration technique for enhancing aesthetic appeal involves applying a metal-organic framework (Ni/Co-MOF) containing nickel and cobalt onto the inner walls of wood tracheids. The sequential modification steps include carbonization, oxidation activation, and acid-etching. The Ni/NiO/CoO-CW-4 electrode, made by acid-etching carbonized wood (CW) doped with nickel, nickel oxide, and cobalt oxide for 4 h, has excellent surface area and pore size distribution, high graphitization degree, and exceptional conductivity. Furthermore, surface modification optimizes the surface chemistry and phase composition, resulting in a 0.8 mm thick Ni/NiO/CoO-CW-4 electrode with an exceptionally high areal capacitance of 16.76 F cm -2 at 5 mA cm -2 . Meanwhile, the fabricated solid-state supercapacitor achieves an impressive energy density of 0.67 mWh cm -2 (8.38 mWh cm -3 ) at 2.5 mW cm -2 (31.25 mW cm -3 ), surpassing representative modified wood-based carbon electrodes by approximately 2-7 times. Additionally, the supercapacitor demonstrates exceptional stability, maintaining 96.21 % of capacitance even over 10,000 cycles. The parameters presented here demonstrate a significant improvement compared to those typically observed in most modified wood-derived carbon-based supercapacitors, effectively addressing common issues of low energy density and suboptimal cycling performance with wood carbon composites., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Background: The SLC25 family of transport proteins has been implicated in colorectal cancer (CRC) tumorigenesis. However, the potential role of SLC25A34 in CRC remains unclear. This study was designed to elucidate the role and mechanism of SLC25A34 in CRC., Methods: By screening differentially expressed genes in the GSE141174 and GSE184093 datasets and colorectal adenocarcinoma in the GEPIA database, we identified SLC25A34 as an important gene in CRC. Expression of SLC25A34, NKRF, and MYLIP in CRC cells was examined by RT-qPCR and western blot analysis. CCK-8, colony formation, TUNEL, and Transwell assays were used to detect CRC cell proliferation, growth, mobility, and apoptosis. Mice were injected subcutaneously or intravenously to explore the effects of MYLIP, NKRF, and SLC25A34 on xenograft formation and lung metastasis. The underlying molecular mechanisms were further investigated using RT-qPCR, western blot, immunoprecipitation, protein stability, and ubiquitination assays., Results: SLC25A34 was reduced in CRC tissues and cells, and overexpression of SLC25A34 repressed the malignant phenotype of CRC cells. NKRF inhibited SLC25A34 transcription in CRC cells, and silencing SLC25A34 overturned the suppressive effects of NKRF knockdown on cell proliferation, growth, and mobility. Overexpression of MYLIP in CRC cells inhibited NKRF expression by degrading NKRF to activate SLC25A34 transcription and inhibit xenograft formation and lung metastases., Conclusion: Our study revealed a novel role for MYLIP-mediated NKRF ubiquitination and degradation in the induction of SLC25A34 transcription, which may act as a therapeutic target for CRC., Competing Interests: Declarations. Conflict of interest: The authors declare no competing interests. Ethical approval: All animal experiments were approved by the Animal Health and Ethics Committee of Hefei First People’s Hospital of Anhui Province., (© 2024. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Science+Business Media, LLC, part of Springer Nature.)

Objective: To observe the efficacy of EarWell ear orthotics in treating congenital ear deformities in older children (≥7 weeks) within 98 days., Method: A retrospective study was conducted on 58 infants (69 ears) aged 7-14 weeks after birth. Divided into three groups: A (7-9 weeks old, 26 ears), B (10-12 weeks old, 23 ears), and C (13-14 weeks old, 20 ears). Analyze the differences in treatment time, effective rate, six-month recurrence rate, and incidence of complications among three age groups., Result: Age group A had the shortest treatment time (25.13 ± 3.28d) and the highest effective rate (84.61 %), while age group C had the longest treatment time (48.35 ± 7.64d) and the lowest effective rate (60.00 %), with statistically significant differences (p < 0.05); The six-month recurrence rate and incidence of complications in the A age group were lower than the other two groups, and the difference was statistically significant (p < 0.05); The recurrence cases in the three age groups are mainly concentrated in the cup ear and the prominent ear., Conclusion: EarWell ear orthotics can still be chosen for morphological correction of congenital ear deformities in children aged 7-14 weeks. However, the effectiveness of treatment may be affected by the age of treatment and the type of malformation. The older the age of treatment, the lower the effectiveness of orthosis treatment, the longer the treatment time, and the higher the probability of complications. Cup ears and prominent ear over 7 weeks old have a higher recurrence rate after treatment, and it is recommended to correct them as soon as possible., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The author(s) declared no potential conflicts of interest with respect to the research, author-ship, and/or publication of this article., (Copyright © 2025 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Background: Metagenomic next-generation sequencing (mNGS) is an effective method for detecting pathogenic pathogens of bloodstream infection (BSI). However, there is no consensus on whether the use of antibiotics affects the diagnostic performance of mNGS. We conducted a prospective clinical study aiming to evaluate the effect of antimicrobial treatment on mNGS., Methods: Blood samples were collected for mNGS testing within 24 h of culture-confirmed with BSI, with re-examination conducted every 2-3 days., Results: A total of 38 patients with BSI were enrolled. The mNGS positive (mNGS-pos) rate declined sharply after the use of antibiotics, with only 17 (44.78%) patients remaining mNGS-pos while the rest were mNGS negative (mNGS-neg). The median duration of pathogen identification was significantly longer for mNGS compared to blood culture (BC) (4 days vs 1 days; P < 0.0001). A positivity duration of ≥ 3 days was an independent risk factor of septic shock (OR, 20.671; 95% CI, 1.958-218.190; P = 0.012). Patients with mNGS-pos and mNGS-neg differed by the median duration of fever (6 days vs 3 days; P = 0.038), rates of drug resistance (35.3% vs 4.8%; P = 0.017), rates of septic shock (47.1% vs 14.3%; P = 0.029), and 28-day mortality (29.4% vs 4.8%; P = 0.041)., Conclusions: The antimicrobial treatment will greatly reduce the positive rate of mNGS. The duration of mNGS is significantly longer than that of BC. The prolonged duration of mNGS suggests an increased risk of septic shock and could be identified as a high-risk factor of adverse infection outcome, requiring more aggressive anti-infective treatment measures., Competing Interests: Declaration of Competing Interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2025 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Ltd.. All rights reserved.)

Background: Non-obstructive azoospermia (NOA) is a prevalent cause of male infertility, characterized by the lack of sperm in the ejaculate due to impaired spermatogenesis. Accurate prediction of testicular sperm extraction (TESE) outcomes is pivotal for counseling and managing patients, yet remains challenging due to variability in clinical presentations. This study aimed to establish a predictive model for TESE outcomes in patients with NOA., Methods: We retrospectively analyzed 425 patients who visited the Andrology Outpatient Clinic of the First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University between January 2010 and January 2024. Of these, 216 had positive sperm retrieval, and 209 had negative outcomes. We compared testicular volume, reproductive hormone levels, and other clinical parameters between two groups. Multivariate logistic regression was used to identify independent risk factors that were used to establish a predictive nomogram. A calibration curve was used to evaluate the model's fit, whereas receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves and decision curve analysis (DCA) were used to assess diagnostic effectiveness and net benefit., Results: The differences were significant in serum follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) (P<0.001), body mass index (P=0.04), elastase levels (P=0.005), and testicular microlithiasis levels (P=0.005) between the groups. Multivariate regression identified FSH (P<0.001), testicular volume (P<0.001), and testosterone levels (P=0.003) as independent risk factors for TESE outcomes. FSH levels were negatively correlated [odds ratio (OR) =0.905, 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.876-0.935, P<0.001], while testicular volume (OR =1.453, 95% CI: 1.328-1.591, P<0.001) and testosterone (OR =1.326, 95% CI: 1.098-1.601, P=0.003) were positively correlated. Nomogram based on these factors showed a good fit with an area under the ROC curve of 0.879. The DCA plot demonstrated substantial clinical benefits., Conclusions: In patients with NOA, low testicular volume, low testosterone levels, and high FSH levels were independent risk factors for unsuccessful TESE. The predictive nomogram provided excellent predictive power for positive TESE outcomes., Competing Interests: Conflicts of Interest: All authors have completed the ICMJE uniform disclosure form (available at https://tau.amegroups.com/article/view/10.21037/tau-24-531/coif). The authors have no conflicts of interest to declare., (Copyright © 2025 AME Publishing Company. All rights reserved.)

Background: A significant number of primiparous women lack awareness of labor epidural analgesia, resulting in lower acceptance of labor epidural analgesia. Additional prenatal education may help primiparas understand labor epidural analgesia and increase labor epidural analgesia rates. This randomized controlled trial (RCT) will evaluate the effects of an online and offline prenatal labor epidural analgesia education program for primiparas to improve their labor epidural analgesia rate and to reduce their misunderstanding of labor epidural analgesia and fear of birth., Methods: A single-blinded, randomized, controlled, parallel-design trial will be conducted. Based on the Theory of Planned Behavior, online and offline prenatal labor epidural analgesia education program has five modules: (a)elementary knowledge, (b)attitude, (c)subjective norm, (d) perceived behavioral control and (e)behavioral intention. Primiparous women will be recruited in the obstetrics department or midwife clinic of a tertiary hospital in Shenzhen, China. The participants (N = 196) will be randomly allocated to the intervention group (N = 98) that receives routine prenatal education and access to the online and offline prenatal labor epidural analgesia education program and the control group (N = 98) that receives routine prenatal education. Labor epidural analgesia rate will be extracted from the electronic medical record; misunderstanding and intention of labor epidural analgesia and fear of birth will be measured at baseline and immediately after the intervention. The study was ethically approved in November 2023., Discussion: If the online and offline prenatal labor epidural analgesia education program has positive outcomes, it may offer an effective intervention program to decrease misperceptions of labor epidural analgesia and fear of birth and to improve the labor epidural analgesia rate for Chinese primiparas. As the first RCT study to evaluate the effect of the online and offline prenatal labor epidural analgesia education program with a strict research design and a theoretical framework, this research will provide evidence on prenatal labor analgesia health education for clinical practice in China., Trial Registration: Registered at the Chinese Clinical Trials.gov on January 11th, 2024., Trial Registration Number: ChiCTR2400079767., Competing Interests: Declarations. Ethics approval and consent to participate: The study was approved by the Ethics Committee for Scientific Research of Shenzhen University General Hospital (Approval Number: KYLL-20231102 A). Consent for publication: Not applicable. Competing interests: The authors declare no competing interests. Roles and responsibilities: During the clinical implementation, the Scientific Research Ethics Committee of Shenzhen University General Hospital will supervise this study. Individuals who have obtained China GCP (Good Clinical Practice) certification will manage the study. Given that this study will not involve biological samples and will present minimal risk, a specialized Data Monitoring Committee (DMC) will not be established; instead, data management will be overseen solely by designated individuals., (© 2025. The Author(s).)

This study investigates the combined efficacy of orthokeratology lenses and 0.01% atropine in controlling the progression of pediatric progressive myopia. The study, conducted retrospectively on 33 children aged 8-14, measured key parameters, including axial length growth, uncorrected visual acuity (UCVA), intraocular pressure (IOP), tear film breakup time (TBUT), and pupil diameter. The results revealed a significant reduction in axial length growth with the combined treatment compared to orthokeratology alone, while UCVA and IOP remained stable. TBUT decreased, and pupil diameter increased post-treatment. The findings suggest that combining orthokeratology with low-dose atropine offers a safe and effective strategy for managing pediatric myopia, particularly in younger patients., Competing Interests: Declaration of conflicting interestsThe author(s) declared no potential conflicts of interest with respect to the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article.

Rationale and Objectives: The purpose of this study was to demonstrate the impact of postoperative adjuvant transarterial chemoembolization (TACE) on the prognosis of patients with macrotrabecular-massive hepatocellular carcinoma (MTM-HCC)., Materials and Methods: This retrospective study used the clinical records of patients with resected MTM-HCC with/without adjuvant TACE at three centers between January 2015 and December 2022. The primary end point was recurrence free survival (RFS). The secondary end points were overall survival (OS) and safety., Results: A total of 559 eligible patients were classified into the adjuvant TACE group and the observation group. After propensity score matching analysis, both RFS (HR 0.62 [95% CI, 0.48 to 0.80]; P < 0.001) and OS (HR 0.59 [95% CI, 0.42 to 0.84]; P = 0.013) in the adjuvant TACE group were significantly better than the observation group. By Cox regression models, mALBI grade, types of hepatectomy, number, satellite lesion, without adjuvant TACE were identified as independent risk factors for RFS, and mALBI grade, number, maximum tumor size, satellite lesion, microvascular invasion, high AFP level, without adjuvant TACE were identified as independent risk factors for OS. The incidence of surgery-related adverse events (AEs) had no significant difference between the two groups (P = 0.609). The majority of AEs associated with adjuvant TACE were grade I (84.4%), and no treatment-related deaths occurred in either group., Conclusions: Adjuvant TACE significantly improved the RFS and OS of patients with resected MTM-HCC with acceptable toxicity., Competing Interests: Declaration of Competing Interest All authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2025 The Association of University Radiologists. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Background: Osteopenia (ON) and osteoporosis (OP) are highly prevalent among postmenopausal women and poses a challenge for early diagnosis. Therefore, identifying reliable biomarkers for early prediction using metabolomics is critically important., Methods: Initially, non-targeted metabolomics was employed to identify differential metabolites in plasma samples from cohort 1, which included healthy controls (HC, n = 23), osteonecrosis (ON, n = 36), and osteoporosis (OP, n = 37). Subsequently, we performed targeted metabolomic validation of 37 amino acids and their derivatives in plasma samples from cohort 2, consisting of healthy controls (HC, n = 10), osteonecrosis (ON, n = 10), and osteoporosis (OP, n = 10)., Results: The non-targeted metabolomic analysis revealed an increase in differential metabolites with the progression of the disease, showing abnormalities in lipid and organic acid metabolism in ON and OP patients. Several substances were found to correlate positively or negatively with bone mineral density (BMD), for example, N-undecanoylglycine, sphingomyelins, and phosphatidylinositols exhibited positive correlations with BMD, while acetic acid, phenylalanine, taurine, inosine, and pyruvic acid showed negative correlations with BMD. Subsequently, targeted validation of 37 amino acids and their metabolites revealed six amino acids related to ON and OP., Conclusion: Significant metabolomic features were identified between HC and patients with ON/OP, with multiple metabolites correlating positively or negatively with BMD. Integrating both targeted and non-targeted metabolomic results suggests that lipid, organic acid, and amino acid metabolism may represent important metabolomic characteristics of patients with OP, offering new insights into the development of metabolomic applications in OP., Competing Interests: Declarations. Informed consent: was obtained from all subjects involved in the study.Written informed consent has been obtained from the patient(s) to publish this paper. Institutional review board statement: The study was conducted in accordance with the Declaration of Helsinki, and approved by the Institutional Ethics Committee of The Third Hospital of Mian Yang (2024,Reviewed, No.3 and February 26, 2024). Competing interests: The authors declare no competing interests., (© 2025. The Author(s).)

The early diagnosis of diabetic retinopathy (DR) is challenging, highlighting the urgent need to identify new biomarkers. Immune responses play a crucial role in DR, yet there are currently no reports of machine learning (ML) algorithms being utilized for the development of immune-related molecular markers in DR. Based on the datasets GSE102485 and GSE160306, differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were screened using Weighted Gene Co-expression Network Analysis (WGCNA). Five ML algorithms including Bayesian, Learning Vector Quantization (LVQ), Wrapper (Boruta), Random Forest (RF), and Logistic Regression were employed to select immune-related genes associated with DR (DR.Sig). Seven ML algorithms including Naive Bayes (NB), RF, Support Vector Machine (SVM), AdaBoost Classification Trees (AdaBoost), Boosted Logistic Regressions (LogitBoost), K-Nearest Neighbors (KNN), and Cancerclass were utilized to construct a predictive model for DR. The relationship between DR.Sig genes and immune cells was analyzed using single-sample Gene Set Enrichment Analysis (ssGSEA). Additionally, drug sensitivity prediction of DR.Sig genes and molecular docking were performed. Through the utilization of 5 ML algorithms, 6 immune-related biomarkers closely related to the occurrence of DR were identified, including FCGR2B, CSRP1, EDNRA, SDC2, TEK, and CIITA. The DR predictive model constructed based on these 6 DR.Sig genes using the Cancerclass algorithm demonstrated superior predictive performance compared to 4 previously published DR-related biomarkers. In vivo and in vitro experiments also provided strong validation of the expression of the 6 genes in DR. Positive correlations were observed between these genes and 22 types of immune cells. Molecular docking results revealed that CSRP1, EDNRA, and TEK exhibited the highest affinities with the small molecule compounds etoposide, FR-139317, and camptothecin, respectively. The models constructed based on various ML algorithms can effectively predict the occurrence of DR events and hold potential for targeted drug therapies, providing a basis for the early diagnosis and targeted treatment of DR., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Under mild conditions, formic acid effectively separates the components of lignocellulose, removing the majority of the hemicellulose and lignin from the cellulose. However, it has not yet been determined if multiple treatments with fresh formic acid may totally remove hemicellulose and lignin. In this study, fresh formic acid was used to repeatedly pretreat the bamboo powder, and the effect of multiple treatments on the physicochemical structure of the bamboo powder was investigated using changes in fractions, enzymatic hydrolysis, hydrophilicity, cellulose crystallinity, and lignin structure. Although the hydrophilicity of the powder rose as the number of treatments increased and the number of β-O-4 links in the lignin decreased, it was found that the bamboo powder still contained 5.4% lignin and 2.5% hemicellulose. The 48 h enzymatic yield increased with the number of treatments, with a 59.3% yield obtained at the fifth cycle. This study can serve as a foundation for further research into the mechanism of the influence of organic solvent pretreatment on lignocellulose structural integrity.

The study investigates how Sphingosine-1-phosphate receptor 3 (S1PR3) and the Chronic Unpredictable Mild Stress (CUMS) affects depression-like behaviors. The S1P/S1PR3 signaling pathway is known to play a role in mood regulation, but it is not yet fully understood how it is connected to depression. This study looks to further explore this topic. To investigate the effect of CUMS on S1PR3 expression in hippocampus neurons and the synaptic plasticity, we observed animals' behavior with Sucrose Preference Test (SPT), Forced Swim Test (FST) and Open Field Test (OFT). Combining molecular and histological analysis, we investigated the S1PR3 expression, the change in synapse density, and synaptic structure change in the hippocampus. The CUMS caused a significant decrease in the S1PR3 expression, the density of the synaptic spine and synaptic ultrastructure change in mice. On the other hand, over-expression of S1PR3 by adeno-associated virus (AAV) in hippocampal neurons alleviated the depressive-like behaviors and synaptic deficits observed in stress-susceptible animals. Furthermore, the depressive-like phenotype and synaptic impairments were normalized by the expression of RhoA, implicating the RhoA/ROCK1 pathway in S1PR3 actions. Collectively, our findings provide strong evidence that S1PR3 plays a key role in hippocampal synaptic plasticity and depression and that modulation of S1PR3/RhoA/ROCK1 signaling may offer a novel therapeutic strategy for MDD. This study not only underscores the therapeutic potential of S1PR3 but also provides novel insights into the molecular mechanisms underlying depression., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors have no relevant financial or non-financial interests to disclose., (Copyright © 2025 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Background: The efficacy of dexmedetomidine (DEX) in treating sepsis-induced myocardial injury (SIMI) remains unclear. In this study, we explored the relationship between DEX use and clinical outcomes of patients with SIMI, focusing on the dosage and treatment duration., Methods: In this retrospective cohort analysis, we identified patients with SIMI from the Medical Information Mart for Intensive Care IV (MIMIC-IV) database and categorized them into the DEX and non-DEX groups based on intensive care unit treatment. The baseline bias was reduced through propensity score matching (PSM). The primary outcome was 28-day mortality, whereas the secondary outcomes were in-hospital mortality and mortality rates at 7 days, 90 days, and 1 year. The association between DEX use and in-hospital mortality was assessed using Kaplan-Meier analysis and Cox proportional hazards models., Results: After PSM, 373 patients in the DEX group were matched with 579 patients in the non-DEX group to achieve a balanced distribution of the covariates. The Cox regression model demonstrated a significant reduction in the 28-day mortality associated with DEX use, yielding a hazard ratio (HR) of 0.61 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.47-0.78, P < 0.001). In-hospital mortality also significantly decreased (HR = 0.43, 95% CI: 0.33-0.57, P < 0.001). Lower mortality rates were observed at 7 days, 90 days, and 1 year. DEX doses >0.4 μg/kg/h, particularly in the range of 0.400-0.612 μg/kg/h, total doses >3.113 mg during hospitalization, and treatment durations exceeding 72 h were associated with improved mortality risk at all intervals. Regarding DEX efficacy at 28 days, our subgroup analyses indicated a significant interaction between the Sequential Organ Failure Assessment score and invasive mechanical ventilation., Conclusion: DEX administration was associated with improved in-hospital mortality and reduced mortality rates at 7 days, 28 days, 90 days, and 1 year in patients with SIMI. These findings require validation in future studies., Competing Interests: The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2025 Liu, Ouyang, Zhang, Niu, Shang, Yao, Shi and Zou.)

The challenge of "false positive" signals significantly complicates tumor localization and surgical resection, which are pivotal for successful tumor surgeries. Therefore, the development of a method for preoperative tumor localization and intraoperative margin determination holds considerable promise for improving surgical outcomes. In this study, a zero-crosstalk ratiometric tumor-targeting near-infrared (NIR) fluorescent probe was developed for precise cancer diagnosis and intraoperative navigation via NIR fluorescence imaging. This probe integrates a tumor-targeting moiety that selectively homes in on hepatocellular carcinoma cells and exhibits a highly sensitive ratiometric response to γ-glutamyltranspeptidase (GGT), characterized by a substantial emission shift from 830 to 650 nm. This unique NIR ratiometric emission property significantly enhances its effectiveness in early diagnosis and imaging-guided surgery resection. Furthermore, this zero-crosstalk probe successfully monitors GGT activity in blood, cells, and in vivo, endowing its potential for early cancer diagnosis in the clinic. Due to its efficient targeting and sensitive in situ response to GGT in both subcutaneous tumors and orthotopic hepatic tumors, the probe exhibits accurate detection capability for hepatic tumors. Additionally, by leveraging zero-crosstalk ratiometric NIR fluorescence imaging, this tumor-targeting probe can serve as a sprayable tool for delineating tumor margins with precision, thereby furnishing real-time intraoperative imaging guidance during tumor resection surgery.

Ground-level ozone concentrations rebounded significantly across China in 2022, challenging air quality management and public health. Identifying the drivers of this rebound is crucial for designing effective mitigation strategies. Commonly used methods, such as chemical transport models and machine learning, provide valuable insights but face limitations-chemical transport models are computationally intensive, while machine learning often fails to address confounding factors or establish causality. Here we show that elevated temperatures and increased solar radiation, as primary meteorological drivers, collectively account for 57 % of the total ozone increase, based on an integrated analysis of ground-based monitoring data, satellite observations, and meteorological reanalysis information using explainable machine learning and causal inference techniques. Compared to the year 2021, 90 % of the stations reported an increase in the Formaldehyde to Nitrogen ratio, implying a growing sensitivity of ozone formation to nitrogen oxide levels. These findings highlight the significant causal role of meteorological changes in the ozone rebound, urging the adoption of targeted ozone mitigation strategies under climate warming, particularly through varied regional strategies that consider existing anthropogenic emission levels and the prospective increase in biogenic volatile organic compounds. This identification of causal relationships in air pollution dynamics can support data-driven and accurate decision-making., Competing Interests: The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (© 2025 The Authors.)

To achieve efficient size tuning of printed microstructures on insulating substrates, an integrated process parameter intelligent optimization design framework for alternating current pulse modulation electrohydrodynamic (AC-EHD) printing is proposed for the first time. The framework is comprised of two stages: the construction of a prediction model and the acquisition of process parameters. The first stage employs the elk herd optimizer(EHO)-artificial neural network(ANN) to establish a mapping relationship between printing process parameters and the size of deposited droplets. The analysis of the prediction performance of the EHO-ANN model across various datasets reveals that the model exhibits commendable accuracy and robustness in predicting printed droplet size. In the second stage, the process parameters of AC-EHD printing are intelligently determined by utilizing the error between the model output and the desired droplet size as the fitness value for EHO. By comparing three sets of experimental cases with varying droplet sizes, it is observed that the actual printed droplet sizes closely align with the desired values, thus validating the effectiveness of this framework. The framework proposed in this paper mitigates the time and material wastage caused by adjusting AC-EHD printing process parameters on insulating substrates, thereby significantly enhancing the usability of the technology., (© 2025 Wiley‐VCH GmbH.)

Objective: To understand the burden of chronic kidney disease (CKD) and its risk factors in Fujian Province during 1990-2019. Methods: Based on the Global Burden of Disease Study 2019, the incidence rate, mortality rate and disability-adjusted life years (DALYs) of CKD in Fujian from 1990 to 2019 were calculated. An age-period-cohort model was used to estimate the effects of age, period, and cohort on age-standardized incidence rate (ASIR), age-standardized mortality rate (ASMR), and age-standardized DALY rate (ASDR) of CKD. Comparative risk assessment theory was used to calculate the potential attributable DALYs due to risk factors. Results: In 2019, the ASIR of CKD in Fujian exceeded the national average. The ASIR of CKD showed an increasing trend from 1990 to 2019, but the ASMR and ASDR of CKD exhibited decreasing trends during the same period. In 2019, the ASIR of CKD was higher in women than in men, while the ASMR and ASDR were higher in men than in women. Age-period-cohort analysis indicated that ASIR, ASMR, and ASDR of CKD increased with age. The period effect for ASIR decreased first before increase, while the period effect for ASMR and ASDR displayed fluctuating trends. The cohort effect showed an upward trajectory for ASIR, but a stable status before downward trajectories for ASMR and ASDR. Compared with 1990, except the increase in the ASDR of CKD attributed to high BMI and high temperatures, the ASDR of CKD attributed to other risk factors all showed decreases in 2019. However, the ASDR attributed to high sodium intake remained higher compared with the global average. Conclusion: The burden of CKD remains heavy in Fujian, and it is necessary to reduce the attributable risk factors, such as high sodium intake and high BMI, to address this problem.

Background: Immune thrombocytopenia (ITP) is characterized by immune-mediated platelet destruction and impaired megakaryocyte maturation. Hypoxia-inducible factor-1α (HIF-1α), pivotal in the development of megakaryocytes and immune regulation, is downregulated in ITP. Roxadustat, which stabilizes HIF-1α, has emerged as a potential therapeutic drug for ITP that acts by enhancing HIF-1α-mediated megakaryocyte development and modulating immune responses., Objectives: This study evaluates the safety profile of roxadustat and its therapeutic efficacy for ITP treatment using Mendelian randomization (MR) analysis., Methods: We used expression quantitative trait loci data for roxadustat's target genes (EGLN1, EGLN2, and EGLN3) and genetic associations with ITP and adverse outcomes from the Open Genome-Wide Association Study project. MR analysis included inverse-variance weighted, MR-Egger regression, weighted median, and MR pleiotropy residual sum and outlier methods to evaluate pleiotropy. Heterogeneity was assessed using Cochran's Q statistic and I 2 measure with sensitivity analyses. A meta-analysis was performed to integrate effect sizes from multiple literature sources., Results: MR analysis revealed a significant association between roxadustat and reduced ITP risk (odds ratio, 0.79; 95% CI, 0.66-0.95; P = .01) with no evidence of horizontal pleiotropy. Meta-analysis confirmed the protective effect of roxadustat on ITP. Utilizing the expression quantitative trait loci of roxadustat's target gene EGLN1 as instrumental variables, an MR analysis of 39 potential adverse reactions revealed no significant increase, suggesting a favorable safety profile for roxadustat., Conclusion: Roxadustat demonstrates a potential protective effect against ITP without increasing the risk of adverse outcomes, suggesting its promise as a therapeutic option for ITP and warranting further investigation., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interests There are no competing interests to disclose., (Copyright © 2024. Published by Elsevier Inc.)

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to investigate the contribution and natural progression of ABCA4 deep intronic variants (DIVs) among a Chinese Stargardt disease (STGD) cohort., Methods: For unsolved STGD probands, DIVs in ABCA4 were detected by next-generation sequencing, and splicing effects were evaluated by in silico tools and validated through minigene experiments. Comprehensive ocular examinations, especially fundus changes, were carried out and analyzed. These and long-term follow-up data were compared with data of patients carrying biallelic coding variants of ABCA4., Results: Seven DIVs in ABCA4 were identified in 18 of 40 (45.0%) unsolved STGD probands, involving 2 novel and 5 known variants. Four DIVs were confirmed to effect splicing through minigene assay. The c.161-395G>A was the most prevalent DIV allele (30.6%, 11/36). In the early 5-year duration, localized maculopathy was predominant, accounting for 51.9% (14/27) of fundus recordings. Expanded macular lesion within the vascular arch, with or without flecks, was observed in 75.0% (12/16) of recordings beyond the 5-year duration, whereas generalized retinal dystrophy was rarely observed. Compared with those in the non-DIV group, the patients in the DIV group manifested milder fundus change at all disease stages (P < 0.05). Follow-up visits utilizing wide-field fundus autofluorescence (FAF) further validated the slower development of lesions. Optical coherence tomography angiography (OCTA) documented a gradual reduction in perfusion in each layer's capillaries and high-reflective deposits below the sub-RPE layer., Conclusions: DIVs contribute to nearly half of STGD cases with missing heritability, totally occupying 7.8% of all STGD families. Based on optimized grading criteria, patients with DIV alleles manifested localized macular lesions with slow progress. The amount of residual correctly spliced mRNA might play a role, suggesting that adding or enhancing normal ABCA4 expression might be a potential approach of intervention.

Background: Impaired decidualization is a major cause of infertility in patients with adenomyosis (AM). However, the effect of transcription factor 21 (TCF21) on AM and the underlying mechanism of associated-impaired decidualization remain unclear. The aim of this study was to investigate the expression of TCF21 in endometrial tissues of AM patients and the specific mechanisms by which it impairs the decidualization of human endometrial stromal cells (HESCs), with a view to improving the reproductive outcome of AM infertile patients., Methods: We compared gene expressions via transcriptomics between the control and AM-associated recurrent implantation failure (RIF) groups. qRT-PCR, western blot, and IHC were performed to confirm the expression and location of TCF21 in the endometrium. Furthermore, we confirmed that high expression of TCF21 impairs decidualization by qRT-PCR, immunofluorescence, and western blot. RNA-seq following overexpression of TCF21 in HESCs was conducted to identify TCF21-related molecular changes during in vitro decidualization. Then we performed ChIP-seq/qPCR and dual-luciferase reporter assay to explore the exact interaction between TCF21 and PDE4C. The related downstream mechanisms were further proved using IHC, qRT-PCR, western blot, and ELISA., Results: According to the RNA-seq analysis, TCF21 expression was remarkably higher in the endometrium of the AM-related RIF group compared to the control group. We confirmed the same results using samples from patients with AM and controls. TCF21 overexpression in HESCs impaired decidualization through suppression of decidual markers and cytoskeleton alterations. The mechanistic analysis revealed that TCF21 inhibited intracellular cAMP levels by directly increasing PDE4C expression and suppressing FOXO1 expression., Conclusions: TCF21 compromises decidualization in patients with AM via the PDE4C/cAMP-FOXO1 axis, which offers valuable insights on the pathology of decidualization-related infertility and indicates a potential treatment to improve endometrial receptivity in AM., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest Authors have no conflict of interest to declare., (Copyright © 2024 The Authors. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Genome maintenance is essential for the integrity of the genetic blueprint, of which only a small fraction is transcribed in higher eukaryotes. DNA lesions occurring in the transcribed genome trigger transcription pausing and transcription-coupled DNA repair. There are two major transcription-coupled DNA repair pathways. The transcription-coupled nucleotide excision repair (TC-NER) pathway has been well studied for decades, while the transcription-coupled homologous recombination repair (TC-HR) pathway has recently gained attention. Importantly, recent studies have uncovered crucial roles of RNA transcripts in TC-HR, opening exciting directions for future research. Transcription also plays pivotal roles in regulating the stability of highly specialized genomic structures such as telomeres, centromeres, and fragile sites. Despite their positive function in genome maintenance, transcription and RNA transcripts can also be the sources of genomic instability, especially when colliding with DNA replication and forming unscheduled pathological RNA:DNA hybrids (R-loops), respectively. Pathological R-loops can result from transcriptional stress, which may be induced by transcription dysregulation. Future investigation into the interplay between transcription and DNA repair will reveal novel molecular bases for genome maintenance and transcriptional stress-associated genomic instability, providing therapeutic targets for human disease intervention., (© 2024 Federation of European Biochemical Societies.)

Mycoplasma pneumoniae (M. pneumoniae), as one of the susceptible pathogens during childhood, may lead to severe mycoplasmal pneumonia and affect platelet fluctuations. We prospectively collected data on persistent/chronic ITP children who were infected with M. pneumoniae infection from August 2023 to December 2023. There were 64 patients (40 males) with a median age of 7.08 years (range 4.30 to 9.76) enrolled in this study. Overall, 33 (51.6%) children received TPO-RAs therapy and 31 (48.4%) received other treatments. The impact of M. pneumoniae infection on platelet count is bidirectional, but thrombocytopenia remains predominant. During M. pneumoniae infection, platelet changes in the TPO-RA group were higher than in the non-TPO-RA group. Thrombocytosis was observed in 6 patients (5 in the TPO-RA group vs. 1 in the non-TPO-RA group). Rescue treatment was implemented in 18 patients (7 in the TPO-RA group vs. 11 in the non-TPO-RA group). Monitoring platelets should be strengthened during M. pneumoniae infection., Competing Interests: Declarations. Ethical approval: This study was performed in line with the principles of the Declaration of Helsinki. The local ethics committee of Capital Medical University approved. Informed consent was obtained from all participants or their legal guardians included in the study. Competing interests: The authors declare no competing interests., (© 2025. The Author(s).)

Lipids are indispensable components of living organisms and play pivotal roles in cell-membrane fluidity, energy provision, and neurotransmitter transmission and transport. Lipids can act as potential biomarkers of diseases given their abilities to indicate cell-growth status. For example, the lipid-metabolism processes of cancer cells are distinct from those of normal cells owing to their rapid proliferation and adaptation to ever-changing biological environments. As a result, the ability to rapidly detect, identify, and monitor lipid components is critical for tracking life-related processes and may enhance cancer diagnosis and treatment efficacy. Mass spectrometry (MS) is regarded to be among the most efficient methods for directly obtaining molecular-structural information, and is distinctly advantageous for identifying lipids. Recent years have witnessed the emergence of ambient mass spectrometry (AMS), which enables direct analyte sampling and ionization without the need for sample preprocessing. These characteristics endow AMS with special advantages for identifying and monitoring lipids. Furthermore, the ongoing development of soft ionization technologies has led to the widespread use of AMS for the detection of complex and diverse lipid molecules. Electrospray ionization (ESI) is a gentle ionization method that can be used to detect medium-to-high-polarity compounds and provide detailed chemical information for lipids by producing a fine mist of charged droplets from a liquid sample. Consequently, a series of ESI-based ionization methods have been developed for fabricating different AMS systems capable of rapidly detecting lipids in a simple manner. For example, desorption electrospray ionization (DESI) is among the most extensively employed ambient ionization techniques, and has been used to detect a wide range of samples, including solids, liquids, and gases. DESI involves spraying a charged solvent onto the surface of a sample, after which the solvent is desorbed, the analyte is ionized, and the generated ions are transferred to the detector of the mass spectrometer via a gas plume. DESI can easily and precisely regulate the sampling space, thereby offering a highly effective approach for the in-situ detection of lipids from tissue samples. Additionally, single-cell lipid analysis is limited by small cell volumes, complex cellular matrices, and minimal absolute amounts of analyte. Common detection methods for single cells include flow cytometry and fluorescence microscopy, both of which require fluorescent labeling to detect specific target molecules, which limits detection selectivity and reproducibility to some extent. ESI-based single-cell mass spectrometry has emerged as a more-effective method for detecting cellular lipids owing to advantages that include high sensitivity, low sample consumption, high throughput, and multiple-detection capabilities. Moreover, lipid chemical diversity poses a significant challenge for determining structural details. Therefore, AMS-based lipid detection has been augmented with a series of chemical-treatment methods that provide more-comprehensive structural information for lipids. For example, diverse gas-phase dissociation techniques have been used to discriminate between lipid C=C-bond isomers and their sn -positions. Strategies that involve chemically modifying specific target C=C bonds prior to MS detection have also been employed. For example, the Paternò-Büchi (P-B) photochemical reaction oxidizes C=C bonds in unsaturated lipids to form oxetane structures, C=C bonds can be epoxidized to form the corresponding oxaziridines, the N-H aziridination reaction converts C=C bonds into aziridines, and the 1 ΔO 2 ene reaction adds an OOH group to a C=C bond. In this review, we discuss various environmental ionization techniques for lipid AMS developed over the past five years, with an emphasis on typical chemical strategies used to analyze lipid fine structures. Obtaining a high-coverage, high-sensitivity lipid-detection platform based on AMS remains challenging and requires further in-depth studies despite significant improvements in lipid MS-based detection techniques.

Most thermal barrier coating materials exhibit transparent/semi-transparent properties at higher temperatures, causing the surface heat flow to directly heat the substrate with infrared radiation, which significantly reduces the thermal barrier effectiveness. Herein, composite ceramic materials composed of GdFeO 3 diffusely dispersed within the Gd 3 TaO 7 are produced. Specifically, the 0.9Gd 3 TaO 7 /0.1GdFeO 3 composition demonstrates an ultra-low near-infrared (NIR) transmittance of less than 0.1% across the 400-2500 nm range. The introduction of variable-valence behavior and oxygen vacancies contribute to the narrow bandgap of GdFeO 3 . The incorporated GdFeO 3 produces extra multimode vibrations, resulting in the strong infrared emissivity of Gd 3 TaO 7 /GdFeO 3 composite ceramics. Besides, the refractive index difference between Gd 3 TaO 7 and GdFeO 3 can contribute to the potential photons scattering within the composites, severely impeding the infrared radiation penetration. The upward curvature of the thermal conductivity curve of 0.9Gd 3 TaO 7 /0.1GdFeO 3 at high temperature is significantly suppressed, confirming its excellent IR radiation shielding properties. Moreover, the Gd 3 TaO 7 / GdFeO 3 composite ceramic exhibits thermal suitability, with a thermal expansion coefficient (9.47-9.67 × 10 -6 K -1 at 1400 °C) comparable to YSZ. These combined benefits position the Gd 3 TaO 7 / GdFeO 3 composite ceramic system as a promising candidate for the development of infrared radiation shielding and high-emissivity thermal radiation materials., (© 2024 Wiley‐VCH GmbH.)

β-Galactosidases are crucial carbohydrate-active enzymes that naturally catalyze the hydrolysis of galactoside bonds in oligo- and disaccharides. These enzymes are commonly used to degrade lactose and produce low-lactose and lactose-free dairy products that are beneficial for lactose-intolerant people. β-galactosidases exhibit transgalactosylation activity, and they have been employed in the synthesis of galactose-containing compounds such as galactooligosaccharides. However, most β-galactosidases have intrinsic limitations, such as low transglycosylation efficiency, significant product inhibition effects, weak thermal stability, and a narrow substrate spectrum, which greatly hinder their applications. Enzyme engineering offers a solution for optimizing their catalytic performance. The study of the enzyme's structure paves the way toward explaining catalytic mechanisms and increasing the efficiency of enzyme engineering. In this review, the structure features of β-galactosidases from different glycosyl hydrolase families and the catalytic mechanisms are summarized in detail to offer guidance for protein engineering. The properties and applications of β-galactosidases are discussed. Additionally, the latest progress in β-galactosidase engineering and the strategies employed are highlighted. Based on the combined analysis of structure information and catalytic mechanisms, the ultimate goal of this review is to furnish a thorough direction for β-galactosidases engineering and promote their application in the food and dairy industries.

Cathodic electrochemical intercalation/exfoliation of transition metal dichalcogenides (TMDs) with bulky tetraalkylammonium-based cations is gaining popularity as it avoids the semiconducting (2H) to metallic (1T) phase transformation in TMDs like molybdenum disulfide (MoS 2 ) and, generally, produces sheets with a larger aspect ratio - important for achieving conformal sheet-to-sheet contact in optoelectronic devices. Large single crystals are typically used as the precursor, but these are expensive, often inaccessible, and result in limited quantities of material. In this paper, a 3D-printable electrochemical cell capable of intercalating gram-scale quantities of commercially available TMD powders is presented. By incorporating a reference electrode in the cell and physically restraining the powder with a spring-loaded mechanism, the system can probe the intercalation electrochemistry, for example, determining the onset of intercalation to be near -2.5 V versus the ferrocene redox couple. While the extent of intercalation depends on precursor quantity and reaction time, a high yield of exfoliated product can be obtained exhibiting average aspect ratios as high as 49 ± 44 similar to values obtained by crystal intercalation. The intercalation and exfoliation of a wide variety of pelletized commercial powders including molybdenum diselenide (MoSe 2 ), tungsten diselenide (WSe 2 ), tungsten disulfide (WS 2 ), and graphitic carbon nitride (gCN) are also demonstrated., (© 2024 National Research Council Canada and The Author(s). Small Methods published by Wiley‐VCH GmbH. Reproduced with the permission of the Minister of Innovation, Science, and Economic Development.)

Background: Musculoskeletal disorders often present with abnormalities in neuromuscular control. Hallux valgus (HV) is considered a risk factor for falls in the elderly, and it is one of the foot conditions most associated with falls. The onset of falls is associated with neuromuscular modulation of the lower extremity. However, there is a lack of clarity regarding the muscle and kinematic synergy patterns i.e., neuromuscular control in elderly HV., Research Question: How the changes in neuromuscular control in elderly HV based on muscle and kinematic synergies analysis?, Methods: The study included three groups: young controls (YC), elderly controls (EC), and elderly hallux valgus (HVE). All participants were assessed for gait at their natural walking speed. Data were analyzed using non-negative matrix factorization (NNMF) for electromyography (EMG) and joint motion to compare muscle and kinematic synergies across the groups. The center of plantar pressure (COP) was used to evaluate self-balancing ability., Results: The EC group demonstrated the additional activation of calf muscle groups accompanied by decreased ankle motion and increased hip abduction. Compared to the EC group, the HVE group required more thigh flexor muscle groups to compensate for the lack of function of the ankle movements during gait and showed decreased hip abduction but increased knee flexion. During gait, the COP were significantly large than YC and EC groups (P < 0.05) in the HVE group., Significance: Our finding indicate that the elderly individuals with hallux valgus exhibit under-activated calf muscles around foot joints, and despite compensations from thigh muscles, they maintain an imbalance and increased risk of falls. This study will help to evaluate HVE control strategies and provide personalized treatment based on these vulnerabilities to reduce the risk of HVE falls., Competing Interests: Declaration of Competing Interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2025 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Background: The use of tourniquets (TQ) during the total knee arthroplasty (TKA) induced ischemia-reperfusion (I/R) injury in the limb, resulting in the release of inflammatory cytokines and reactive oxygen species (ROS), therefore leading to myocardial damage. This study aimed to investigate the effects and molecular mechanism of Esketamine on myocardial injury (MI) caused by TQ-induced I/R injury., Methods: A randomized numerical table method was used to divide 23 patients into the C group (11 cases, ACB + conventional anesthesia) and M group (12 cases, ACB + conventional anesthesia + 0.5 mg/kg Esketamine). The levels of lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), Malondialdehyde (MDA), Fe 2+ , Glutathione Peroxidase (GSH-Px), glutathione (GSH), IL-6, TNF-α, Creatine Kinase (CK) and CreatineKinase-MB (CKMB) were determined by reagent kits. The expression of CGAMP interaction factor (STING), Glutathione Peroxidase 4 (GPX4), and Ferritin Heavy Chain 1 (FTH1) was examined by Western blot. The ROS level was tested by flow cytometry. The expression of STING was validated by immunofluorescence., Results: Compared with the C group, the levels of GSH-Px and GSH were increased while the levels of IL-6, TNF-α, MDA, Fe 2+ , CK, CKMB, and LDH were decreased in the M group. Furthermore, esketamine relieved the OGD/R-induced increase of MDA, Fe 2+ , and ROS and the decrease of GSH-Px, GSH, GPX4, and FTH1, which were reversed by STING overexpression., Conclusion: Esketamine alleviated cardiomyocyte ferroptosis via STING, which might be the molecular mechanism of Esketamine to ameliorate the MI caused by TQ-induced I/R injury., Supplementary Information: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s10616-025-00723-9., Competing Interests: Conflict of interestThe author declare that they have no conflict of interest to declare., (© The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Nature B.V. 2025. Springer Nature or its licensor (e.g. a society or other partner) holds exclusive rights to this article under a publishing agreement with the author(s) or other rightsholder(s); author self-archiving of the accepted manuscript version of this article is solely governed by the terms of such publishing agreement and applicable law.)

Grain size and weight are critical determinants of rice yield and quality, yet their underlying genetic and regulatory mechanisms remain largely unexplored. In this study, we identified a protein containing TPR domain, named OsTPR028, which is localized in the cytoplasm. The gene encoding this protein is highly expressed during grain development. Homozygous ostpr028 mutant exhibited significant reductions in grain size, grain filling rate, and grain weight, accompanied by decreased levels of starch, amylose, and lipids. Transcriptomic and qRT-PCR analyses demonstrated that OsTPR028 regulates the expression of genes involved in starch biosynthesis and lipid transport. Protein interaction assays revealed that OsTPR028 interacts with an endosperm-specific protein, OsEnS45, whose knockout similarly resulted in reduced grain size and weight. Further investigations indicated that impaired spikelet cell division is the primary cause of these phenotypic defects in both ostpr028 and osens45 mutants. Together, our findings elucidate the critical role of the OsTPR028-OsEnS45 module in grain development and offer promising molecular targets for improving rice yield and quality through breeding programs., Competing Interests: Declaration of Competing Interest The authors declare no conflicts of interest., (Copyright © 2025 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Purpose: Hyperuricemia (HUA) is an important factor leading to chronic kidney disease (CKD). The kidney tubular inflammatory response is activated in HUA. This study aimed to investigate whether lactate dehydrogenase A (LDHA) is involved in mediating uric acid-induced kidney tubular inflammatory response., Methods: In vivo, an HUA mouse model was established by continuous intraperitoneal injection of potassium oxonate (PO) for one week. A total of 18 C57BL/6J male adult mice were divided into three groups: control group, HUA group, and HUA+oxamate group, with six mice in each group. Oxamate was intraperitoneally injected into the mice one hour after PO injection. In vitro, an HUA model was simulated by stimulating HK-2 cells with uric acid. Oxamate and tempol inhibited LDHA and reactive oxygen species (ROS) in HK-2 cells., Results: In HUA mice, blood uric acid levels were significantly elevated. LDHA in kidney tubular cells was significantly increased in both in vivo and in vitro HUA models, accompanied by an increase in kidney tubular inflammation and ROS. Mechanistically, LDHA mediates uric acid-induced inflammation to kidney tubular cells through the ROS/NLRP3 pathway. Pharmacologic inhibition of LDHA or ROS in kidney tubular cells can significantly ameliorate inflammation response caused by uric acid., Conclusions: LDHA in kidney tubular cells significantly was increased in HUA models. LDHA mediates kidney inflammation response induced by uric acid through the ROS/NLRP3 pathway. This study may provide a new intervention target for preventing kidney tubular inflammation caused by uric acid.

Hodgkin Reed-Sternberg (HRS) cells of classic Hodgkin lymphoma (cHL), like many solid tumors, elicit ineffective immune responses. However, patients with cHL are highly responsive to PD-1 blockade, which largely depends on HRS cell-specific retention of MHC class II and implicates CD4 + T cells and additional MHC class I-independent immune effectors. Here, we utilize single-cell RNA sequencing and spatial analysis to define shared circulating and microenvironmental features of the immune response to PD-1 blockade in cHL. Compared with non-responders, responding patients have more circulating CD4 + naïve and central memory T cells and B cells, as well as more diverse CD4 + T cell and B cell receptor repertoires. Importantly, a population of circulating and tumor-infiltrating IL1β + monocytes/macrophages is detectable in patients with cHL but not healthy donors, and a proinflammatory, tumor-promoting signature of these circulating IL1β + monocytes is associated with resistance to PD-1 blockade in cHL. Altogether, our findings reveal extensive immune rewiring and complementary roles of CD4 + T cells, B cells and IL1β + monocytes in the response to PD-1 blockade and suggest that these features can be captured with a peripheral blood test., Competing Interests: Competing interests: M.T. is a full-time employee of Astra Zeneca. K.L. is a full-time employee of PathAI. F.Z.C. is a full-time employee of AstraZeneca. J.O. is a full-time employee of Bristol Myers Squibb. P.A. consults for Merck, Bristol Myers Squibb, A.D.C. Therapeutics, GenMab, Enterome, Genentech/Roche, ATB Therapeutics, Foresight Diagnostics, AstraZeneca, MSD, Tessa Therapeutics, Regeneron, Xencor, and receives institutional research funding from Merck, Bristol Myers Squibb, Genentech/Roche, KITE/Gilead, Adaptive Biotechnologies, IGM, AstraZeneca, MSD, Aamed Therapeutics and honoraria from Merck. S.J.R. receives institutional research funding from Bristol Myers Squibb, KITE/Gilead and is an advisory board member of Immunitas Therapeutics. X.S.L. is the founder and CEO of GV20 Therapeutics, LLC. M.A.S. has received research funding from Bristol Myers Squibb, AstraZeneca, Bayer Abbvie, Genentech and Novartis and has served on advisory boards for Bristol Myers Squibb and AstraZeneca. The remaining authors declare no competing financial interests. No authors have non-financial competing interests., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

Catalyzing hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) is a key process in high-efficiency proton exchange membrane water electrolysis (PEMWE) devices. To replace the use of Pt-based HER catalyst, tungsten carbide (W 2 C) is one of the most promising non-noble-metal-based catalysts with low cost, replicable catalytic performance, and durability. However, the preparation access to scalable production of W 2 C catalysts is inevitable. Herein, we introduced a facile protocol to achieve the tungsten carbide species by plasma treatment under a CH 4 atmosphere from the WO 3 precursor. Moreover, the heterogeneous structure of the tungsten carbide/tungsten oxide nanosheets further enhances the catalytic activity for HER with the enlarged specific surface area and the synergism on the interfaces. The prepared tungsten carbide/tungsten oxide heterostructure nanosheets (WO 3-x -850-P) exhibit exceptional HER catalytic activity and stable longevity in acid electrolytes. This work provides a facile and effective method to construct high-performance and non-precious-metal-based electrocatalysts for industrial-scale water electrolysis.

This study aims to explore predictors of high-grade atherosclerotic renal artery stenosis (ARAS) in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD). This was a retrospective study, and univariate analysis such as independent-sample t test or nonparametric test where appropriate was used to explore variables with significant difference between patients with high-grade ARAS and patients with low-grade ARAS. Then, multivariate logistic regression and receiver operating characteristic curve (ROC) analysis were performed for further research. In univariate analysis, we found that there was a significant difference in smoking history, estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR), cystatin C, fasting blood glucose and lymphocyte-to-monocyte ratio (LMR) between the 2 groups. Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that eGFR (OR = 0.979, 95% CI: 0.962-0.996, P = .017), cystatin C (OR = 2.123, 95% CI: 1.118-4.030, P = .021) and LMR (OR = 0.639, 95% CI: 0.421-0.969, P = .035) were still associated with high-grade ARAS in patients with CKD. ROC analysis showed that eGFR (AUC: 0.681; sensitivity: 64.1%, specificity: 65.1%), cystatin C (AUC: 0.658; sensitivity: 74.6%, specificity: 53.85%) and LMR (AUC: 0.650; sensitivity: 66.70%, specificity: 62.00%). In patients with CKD, eGFR, and cystatin C and LMR were predictive parameters of high-grade ARAS, and among them, eGFR and LMR held the greatest predictive value for high-grade ARAS in patients with CKD., Competing Interests: The authors have no conflicts of interest to disclose., (Copyright © 2024 the Author(s). Published by Wolters Kluwer Health, Inc.)

Antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) are regarded as promising candidates for combating antimicrobial resistance. Previously we identified an AMP named Cm -CATH2 from the green sea turtle, which exhibited potent antibacterial activity and attractive potential in application. However, natural AMPs including Cm -CATH2 frequently suffer from structural instability and sensitivity to physiological conditions, limiting their effectiveness. Herein, we explored various strategies to enhance the efficacy and stability of Cm -CATH2, including peptide truncation, non-natural amino acid substitutions, disulfide bond-based cyclization, and stapled peptide techniques. The results demonstrated that the truncated NCM4 significantly improved the antimicrobial capability of Cm -CATH2 while also enhancing its anti-inflammatory and antibiofilm activities with minimal cytotoxicity. Further ornithine-substituted peptide oNCM markedly enhanced the stability of NCM4 without compromising its antimicrobial efficacy. This study successfully designed a lead peptide oNCM with significant development potential, while providing valuable insights into the advantages and limitations associated with diverse strategies for enhancing the stability of AMPs.

While PTSD continues to be researched in great depth, less attention has been given to the continuum of traumatic responses that resides outside this diagnosis. This investigation begins with a literature review examining the spectrum of responses through the lens of the default mode network (DMN). To build upon this literature, a systematic exploratory study was incorporated, examining DMN-related neuropsychological functioning of 27 participants (16 trauma-exposed, and 11 non-trauma-exposed), with a subset (15 participants) completing neuroimaging. This study revealed that in comparison to the control group, the trauma-exposed group had reductions in their capacity for self-referential processing, social cognition, autobiographical recall, prospection, and increased mind-wandering. While correlations were encountered between cognitive findings and brain volume, comparative volumetric findings between trauma-exposed and non-t rauma exposed were insignificant. This suggests that the conservation of DMN structural integrity may play a role in resilience, supporting the existing theory that reduced hippocampal volume may be a pre-existing vulnerability to PTSD rather than a consequence and that reductions in DMN related cognition are functionally mediated., Competing Interests: The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest. The author(s) declared that they were an editorial board member of Frontiers, at the time of submission. This had no impact on the peer review process and the final decision., (Copyright © 2024 Chan, Harvey, Hernandez-Cardenache, Alperin, Lee, Hunt, Petersen, Northoff, Robertson, Ouyang, Karasik and Williams.)

A novel method is reported to synthesize various pyrazolones through transition-metal-free and redox-neutral 1°, 2°, or 3° C(sp 3 )-H carbonylative cyclization using 1 atm of CO 2 as a green carbonyl source, featuring good functional group tolerance, a broad substrate scope, facile scalability, and easy product transformation. The utility of this method could be demonstrated by the applications in preparing useful synthetic intermediates and bioactive compounds.

This study investigated the effects of Fructus Aurantii extract (FAE) on growth performance, nutrient apparent digestibility, serum parameters, fecal microbial composition, and short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) in finishing pigs. In total, 75 Duroc × Landrace × Yorkshire pigs (equally divided by sex), with an initial body weight of 79.49 ± 4.27 kg, were randomly assigned to three treatment groups. The pigs were fed either a basic diet (CON) or a basal diet supplemented with 500 mg/kg of FAE (FAE500) and 1000 mg/kg of FAE (FAE1000). The FAE1000 group exhibited a significantly higher final body weight (FBW) ( p < 0.05), and the average daily feed intake (ADFI) showed an increasing tendency in the FAE500 and FAE1000 groups ( p = 0.056) compared to the CON group. Additionally, the inclusion of FAE resulted in the significantly higher apparent digestibility of crude ash (Ash), gross energy (GE), and crude protein (CP) ( p < 0.05), with a tendency to the increased digestibility of dry matter (DM) ( p = 0.053). Dietary FAE supplementation led to elevated serum levels of reduced glutathione (GSH) and decreased levels of serum L-lactic dehydrogenase (LDH), along with a tendency to increase serum glucose (GLU) levels ( p = 0.084). The FAE500 group demonstrated higher serum concentrations of motilin (MTL) and gastrin (GAS) ( p < 0.05), and a tendency for reduced serum glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) level ( p = 0.055) compared to the CON group. Furthermore, alpha diversity analysis revealed that the FAE500 group significantly increased the Chao 1 and Observed&#95;species indexes ( p < 0.05). Similarly, beta diversity analysis indicated that FAE feeding altered the fecal microbial structure ( p = 0.083). Notably, compared with the control group, CF231 , Pediococcus , and Mogibacterium displayed higher relative abundance in the feces of the FAE500 group, whereas Tenericutes showed a reduction in relative abundance ( p < 0.05). Additionally, the relative abundance of Tenericute was negatively correlated with the digestibility of DM, GE, Ash, and CP ( p < 0.05). Serum MTL and GAS levels correlated positively with the Coprococcus , Dorea , Pediococcus , and Mogibacterium relative abundances ( p < 0.05). Collectively, dietary FAE supplementation could enhance growth performance by boosting beneficial bacteria in feces, stimulating gastrointestinal hormone secretion, and improving nutrient digestibility.