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Background and objective. This study was designed to investigate the p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) signaling pathway involved in Aquaporin1 (AQP1) expression caused by staphylococcal peptidoglycan (PGN) in cultured rat pleural mesothelial cells (rPMCs) in vitro. Methods. RT-PCR and immunoblot analysis were used to determine the relative mRNA and protein levels of AQP1 by PGN in rPMCs. P38 kinase inhibitor SB203580, JNK inhibitor SP600125, and ERK1/2 inhibitor PD98059 were used to determine the effects of PGN-induced AQP1 expression by immunoblot. Activation of p38 by PGN was reflected by detecting the phosphorylation constituent of p38, using immunoblot. The shift of localization after activation of p38 by PGN was investigated by immunofluorescence assay. Results. AQP1 transcription and protein expression were decreased by PGN in dose-dependent and time-dependent manners in rPMCs. Down-regulation of AQP1 by PGN was blocked only by SB203580, neither by SP600125 nor by PD98059. Furthermore, rPMCs exposed to PGN showed activation of p38 MAPK. Phospho-p38 protein production was increased by PGN stimulation in rPMCs. The localization of phospho-p38 was both in the cytosol and nuclei after PGN treatment, while its normal distribution is mainly in the cytosol in rPMCs. Conclusion. AQP1 expression was decreased by PGN in both dose-dependent and time-dependent manners in rPMCs. This down-regulation by PGN-induced AQP1 in rPMCs may be mediated by the activation of p38 MARK pathway. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Southern rice black-streaked dwarf virus ( SRBSDV) causes southern rice black-streaked dwarf and maize rough dwarf diseases, which lead to severe yield losses of crops in Southeast Asia. We report here a SYBR Green I-based One- Step Real Time RT- PCR assay for quantifying SRBSDV in rice rapidly and accurately. Primers used for assay were designed from the conserved sequence in S9 RNA among SRBSDV isolates. The RNA standards targeting the S9 region were obtained by transcription in vitro for generation of a standard curve. The assay developed in this study was found to be 100 times more sensitive than the conventional RT- PCR for SRBSDV detection. The primers were very specific for SRBSDV. This study clearly demonstrated the potential usefulness of developed assay for detection and quantitation of SRBSDV in rice samples. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The horizontal wells in low permeability tight sandstone gas reservoirs of Sugeli were featured by multiple layers, long gas-bearing section and poor physical properties, so open hole packer staged fracturing is an effectively measure to enhance single well gas production. The key points of hydraulic fracturing for tight sandstone gas reservoirs are mainly improving reservoir percolation capacity on the plane and increasing the producing degree and validity of reservoir profile in the vertical, and there is an obviously positive correlation between stimulated volumes of reservoir and yield increasing effect. Volume fracturing mode adaptable to open hole horizontal well of Zone Su53 was investigated, and then this paper proposed the technique and realize method of multiple crack volume fracturing. Great stimulation effect in field has established a new technique thought for high efficient development of Sugeli gas reservoir. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • Rice grain quality is impacted by both abiotic and biotic stresses. • RBSDVD is one of the most destructive rice viral diseases. • Rice appearance qualities were most impacted by RBSDVD. • Some eating and cooking qualities remarkably declined with RBSDV infection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Trichinella spiralis (T. spiralis) or its excretory-secretory products (TsES) protect hosts from autoimmune diseases, which depend on inducing host T helper (Th) 2 immune response and inhibiting inflammatory factors. Sepsis is a systemic inflammatory response syndrome (SIRS) evoked by infection. Little is known about the effects of helminths or their excretory-secretory products on sepsis. Here, we investigated the effects of TsES in a mice model of polymicrobial sepsis. TsES improved survival, reduced organ injury, and enhanced bacterial clearance in septic mice. To investigate the molecular mechanism, macrophages from septic patients or the control group were incubated with TsES. TsES reduced sepsis-inducing inflammatory cytokines mediated by Toll-like receptors (TLR) in vitro by suppressing TLR adaptor-transducer myeloid differentiation factor 88 (MyD88) and nuclear factor- (NF-)-κB. Furthermore, TsES upregulated mannose receptor (MR) expression during sepsis. MR blocking attenuated the effects of TsES on MyD88 and NF-κB expression. In vivo, MR RNAi reduced the survival rate of septic mice treated with TsES, suggesting that TsES-mediated protection against polymicrobial sepsis is dependent on MR. Thus, TsES administration might be a potential therapeutic strategy for treating sepsis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: To assess the effect of weekly 1% atropine use on children's myopia progression and whether the effect is sustainable., Methods: Medical records of myopic children aged 3-15 years receiving weekly 1% atropine for more than 1 year were retrospectively reviewed. Axial length (AL) and spherical equivalent refraction (SER) at every visit were collected. The changes in AL or SER over time were analysed using generalised estimating equation. The related factors of myopic progression were performed by multiple linear regression. The performance of short-term AL change to predict atropine-poor responders (AL change >0.2 mm/year) was assessed using receiver operating characteristic analysis., Results: A total of 694 participants with a mean age of 8.83 years were included. The participants with follow-up time reached 1, 2, 3 and 4 years were 256 (36.9%), 250 (36.0%), 143 (20.6%) and 45 (6.5%) separately. The cumulative change in AL was 0.05 mm, 0.24 mm, 0.47 mm, 0.56 mm separately for 1-year, 2-year, 3-year and 4- year treatment. Approximate 0.20 mm elongation per year was observed since the second-year of the treatment. Older age and lower initial myopic refraction were independently associated with less myopic progression. A decrease in AL of more than 0.04 mm during the initial 2 months could serve as an indicator for identifying fast progressors (AL change >0.2 mm/year) over a 2-year period, with sensitivity and specificity rates of 0.78 and 0.73, respectively., Conclusion: Weekly 1% atropine may be a potentially effective treatment with longer lasting effects for children with myopia control especially in those with older age and lower myopia., Competing Interests: Competing interests: The authors all confirm that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (© Author(s) (or their employer(s)) 2025. Re-use permitted under CC BY-NC. No commercial re-use. See rights and permissions. Published by BMJ Group.)

In mainland China, cancer registration relies on household-registered populations, overlooking migrant populations. Estimating cervical cancer incidence among permanent residents, including migrants, offers a more accurate representation of the true burden. The data from 487 cancer registries across China in 2016 were analyzed using a Bayesian spatial regression model with the integrated nested Laplace approximation-stochastic partial differential equation method. The study estimated cervical cancer incidence among household-registered populations and adjusted for migrant populations using a weighting method based on interprovincial distribution and age stratification to derive the incidence of cervical cancer in the permanent residents. Data from the China Population Census, the China Migrants Dynamic Survey, and the Urban Statistical Yearbook were incorporated. The estimated crude incidence rate of cervical cancer among permanent residents was 17.4/100,000 in mainland China, with an age-standardized incidence rate (ASIR) of 17.2/100,000. The largest disparities in cervical cancer crude incidence rate between permanent residents and household-registered populations were observed in Guizhou (2.4/100,000, 95% CI 1.9-2.9/100,000), Zhejiang (-1.2/100,000, 95% CI -1.8 to -0.6/100,000) and Tianjin (-1.1/100,000, 95% CI -1.5 to -0.7/100,000). The number of the estimated cervical cancer incident cases was 8948. Guangdong saw an increase of 887 cases, while Henan had a decrease of 1430 cases. Guizhou had the highest ASIR (28.1/100,000), and Beijing had the lowest ASIR (11.0/100,000). The significance of this study is that it improves the accuracy of cervical cancer data in China. These findings provide evidence for developing cervical cancer prevention and control strategies, and offer insights for other countries and regions facing migration challenges., (© 2025 UICC.)

Aim: To evaluate the short-term effects of different sunlight exposure on fundus blood flow perfusion (BFP) after near work., Methods: In this parallel randomised controlled trial, 81 students aged 7-15 with spherical equivalent refraction between -2.00 and +3.00 diopters were randomly assigned to either a low-illuminance (4k lux) group (N=40) or high-illuminance (10k lux) (N=41). Following 1 hour indoor reading, participants had sunlight exposure matching their group's intensity for 15 minutes. BFPs in the superficial retina, deep retina and choroid were measured at four time points: pre-reading, post-reading, 5th-minute and 15th-minute sunlight exposure., Results: Within the initial 5 minutes of sunlight exposure, the 10k lux group showed a tendency for decreased BFP, particularly in the choroid (superficial retina: -0.2, 95% CI -0.9 to 0.5; deep retina: -0.1, 95% CI -0.6 to 0.4; choroid: -0.4, 95% CI -0.8 to 0.0), while the 4k lux group exhibited an increase (superficial retina: 0.7, 95% CI 0.1 to 1.3; deep retina: 0.3, 95% CI -0.2 to 0.8; choroid: 0.1, 95% CI -0.2 to 0.5). From 5 to 15 minutes, BFP decreased in both groups. At the 5th-minute mark, the 10k lux group exhibited a greater decrease in choroid (10k -0.4 vs 4k 0.1, p=0.051). No significant difference was observed after 15 minutes of exposure., Conclusion: Higher illuminance sunlight exposure can restore fundus BFP more rapidly than lower; however, duration remains pivotal. To prevent myopia, continuous sunlight exposure for over 15 minutes is recommended to aid in reinstating the fundus BFP increased by near work., Trial Registration Number: NCT05594732., Competing Interests: Competing interests: None declared., (© Author(s) (or their employer(s)) 2025. Re-use permitted under CC BY-NC. No commercial re-use. See rights and permissions. Published by BMJ Group.)

Background: Firefighters are frequently exposed to traumatic events and stressful environments and are at particularly high risk of depressive symptoms., Aims: The present study aimed to examine the impact of a combined internet-delivered cognitive behavioral therapy (iCBT) and attention bias modification (ABM) intervention to reduce depressive symptoms in firefighters., Method: The study was a randomized controlled trial carried out in Kunming, China, and involved the recruitment of 138 active firefighters as participants. The intervention lasted for an 8-week duration, during which participants participated in ABM exercises on alternating days and concurrently underwent eight modules of iCBT courses delivered through a smartphone application. Baseline and post-intervention assessments were conducted to evaluate the effects of the intervention., Results and Discussion: Results indicated that the combined iCBT and ABM intervention was significantly effective in reducing symptoms of depression compared with the no intervention control group ( U =1644, p <0.001, Wilcoxon r =0.280). No significant change was observed in attention bias post-intervention ( U =2460, p =0.737, Wilcoxon r =0.039), while a significant increase was observed in attention-bias variability ( U =3172, p <0.001, Wilcoxon r =-0.287). This study provides evidence for the effectiveness of the combined iCBT and ABM intervention in reducing depressive symptoms among firefighters. This study provides conceptual support and preliminary evidence for the effectiveness of the combined iCBT and ABM intervention in reducing depressive symptoms among firefighters.

Background: The role of video laryngoscopy in critically ill patients requiring emergency tracheal intubation remains controversial. This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to evaluate whether video laryngoscopy could improve the clinical outcomes of emergency tracheal intubation., Methods: We searched the PubMed, Embase, Scopus and Cochrane databases up to 5 September 2024. Randomised controlled trials comparing video laryngoscopy with direct laryngoscopy for emergency tracheal intubation were analysed. The primary outcome was the first-attempt success rate, while secondary outcomes included intubation time, glottic visualisation, in-hospital mortality and complications., Results: Twenty-six studies (6 in prehospital settings and 20 in hospital settings) involving 5952 patients were analysed in this study. Fifteen studies had low risk of bias. Overall, there was no significant difference in first-attempt success rate between two groups (RR 1.05, 95% CI 0.97 to 1.13, p=0.24, I 2 =89%). However, video laryngoscopy was associated with a higher first-attempt success rate in hospital settings (emergency department: RR 1.13, 95% CI 1.03 to 1.23, p=0.007, I 2 =85%; intensive care unit: RR 1.16, 95% CI 1.05 to 1.29, p=0.003, I 2 =68%) and among inexperienced operators (RR 1.15, 95% CI 1.03 to 1.28, p=0.01, I 2 =72%). Conversely, the first-attempt success rate with video laryngoscopy was lower in prehospital settings (RR 0.75, 95% CI 0.57 to 0.99, p=0.04, I 2 =95%). There were no differences for other outcomes except for better glottic visualisation (RR 1.11, 95% CI 1.03 to 1.20, p=0.005, I 2 =91%) and a lower incidence of oesophageal intubation (RR 0.42, 95% CI 0.24 to 0.71, p=0.001, I 2 =0%) when using video laryngoscopy., Conclusions: In hospital settings, video laryngoscopy improved first-attempt success rate of emergency intubation, provided superior glottic visualisation and reduced incidence of oesophageal intubation in critically ill patients. Our findings support the routine use of video laryngoscopy in the emergency department and intensive care units., Prospero Registration Number: CRD 42023461887., Competing Interests: Competing interests: None declared., (© Author(s) (or their employer(s)) 2024. Re-use permitted under CC BY-NC. No commercial re-use. See rights and permissions. Published by BMJ.)

Background: The World Health Organization declared mpox an international public health emergency. Since January 1, 2022, China has been ranked among the top 10 countries most affected by the mpox outbreak globally. However, there is a lack of spatial epidemiological studies on mpox, which are crucial for accurately mapping the spatial distribution and clustering of the disease., Objective: This study aims to provide geographically accurate visual evidence to determine priority areas for mpox prevention and control., Methods: Locally confirmed mpox cases were collected between June and November 2023 from 31 provinces of mainland China excluding Taiwan, Macao, and Hong Kong. Spatiotemporal epidemiological analyses, including spatial autocorrelation and regression analyses, were conducted to identify the spatiotemporal characteristics and clustering patterns of mpox attack rate and its spatial relationship with sociodemographic and socioeconomic factors., Results: From June to November 2023, a total of 1610 locally confirmed mpox cases were reported in 30 provinces in mainland China, resulting in an attack rate of 11.40 per 10 million people. Global spatial autocorrelation analysis showed that in July (Moran I=0.0938; P=.08), August (Moran I=0.1276; P=.08), and September (Moran I=0.0934; P=.07), the attack rates of mpox exhibited a clustered pattern and positive spatial autocorrelation. The Getis-Ord Gi * statistics identified hot spots of mpox attack rates in Beijing, Tianjin, Shanghai, Jiangsu, and Hainan. Beijing and Tianjin were consistent hot spots from June to October. No cold spots with low mpox attack rates were detected by the Getis-Ord Gi * statistics. Local Moran I statistics identified a high-high (HH) clustering of mpox attack rates in Guangdong, Beijing, and Tianjin. Guangdong province consistently exhibited HH clustering from June to November, while Beijing and Tianjin were identified as HH clusters from July to September. Low-low clusters were mainly located in Inner Mongolia, Xinjiang, Xizang, Qinghai, and Gansu. Ordinary least squares regression models showed that the cumulative mpox attack rates were significantly and positively associated with the proportion of the urban population (t 0.05/2,1 =2.4041 P=.02), per capita gross domestic product (t 0.05/2,1 =2.6955; P=.01), per capita disposable income (t 0.05/2,1 =2.8303; P=.008), per capita consumption expenditure (PCCE; t 0.05/2,1 =2.7452; P=.01), and PCCE for health care (t 0.05/2,1 =2.5924; P=.01). The geographically weighted regression models indicated a positive association and spatial heterogeneity between cumulative mpox attack rates and the proportion of the urban population, per capita gross domestic product, per capita disposable income, and PCCE, with high R 2 values in north and northeast China., Conclusions: Hot spots and HH clustering of mpox attack rates identified by local spatial autocorrelation analysis should be considered key areas for precision prevention and control of mpox. Specifically, Guangdong, Beijing, and Tianjin provinces should be prioritized for mpox prevention and control. These findings provide geographically precise and visualized evidence to assist in identifying key areas for targeted prevention and control., (©Shuli Ma, Jie Ge, Lei Qin, Xiaoting Chen, Linlin Du, Yanbo Qi, Li Bai, Yunfeng Han, Zhiping Xie, Jiaxin Chen, Yuehui Jia. Originally published in JMIR Public Health and Surveillance (https://publichealth.jmir.org), 19.06.2024.)

Purpose: This study investigated the distribution of fundus tessellation density (FTD) in a Chinese pediatric population and its potential in reflecting early myopic maculopathy (tessellated fundus)., Methods: Participants were enrolled from kindergartens, primary schools, and middle schools, with cluster sampling in Shanghai, China. A series of ophthalmic examinations was conducted. Based on fundus photograph, FTD was quantitatively assessed using an artificial intelligence algorithm, and tessellated fundus was diagnosed by well-trained ophthalmologists., Results: A total of 14,234 participants aged four to 18 years were included, with 7421 boys (52.1%). Tessellated fundus was observed in 2200 (15.5%) participants. The median of FTD was 0.86% (range 0.0-42.1%). FTD increased with age and axial length. In the logistics regression, larger FTD was independently associated with tessellated fundus (P < 0.001). The area under curves of receiver operating characteristic curve for categorizing tessellated fundus using FTD was 0.774, and the cutoff point of FTD was 2.22%., Conclusions: The density of fundus tessellation was consistent with the severity of myopia. FTD could help diagnose the early stage of myopic maculopathy, tessellated fundus, providing a new pattern for myopia screening and detection of early myopic fundus changes., Translational Relevance: Quantification of fundus tessellation with artificial intelligence could help detect early myopic maculopathy.

Introduction: Rice black-streaked dwarf virus disease (RBSDVD) is one of the most destructive rice viral diseases, leading to severe yield losses in rice production. However, little is known about the yield-related components associated with the disease and no resistance cultivars have been successfully used in rice breeding., Methods: Seven rice cultivars were analyzed in this study, including six commercial rice varieties and a new line Zhongjian No. 201 (ZJ201) containing the resistance gene OsAP47 . Resistance levels of these cultivars were evaluated by artificial inoculation and yield components were collected, including panicle length (PL), spikelets per panicle (SPP), ripened grains per panicle (RGPP), as well as panicles per square meter (PPSM) and 1000-grain weight (TGW). Seed setting rate (SSR) were calculated with the data of SPP and RGPP., Results and Discussion: The results showed that ZJ201 displayed the highest resistance level and most of the commercial rice cultivars exhibited susceptible to RBSDVD. Yields of all the rice cultivars were significantly declined except ZJ201 and yield losses produced by RBSDVD were mainly due to the reduction of PL, SPP, RGPP, and TGW, suggesting that developments of these traits are associated with RBSDV infection. Resistant rice cultivar could reduce yield losses by maintaining normal development of these traits. Significant correlations were identified between resistance levels and the yield components except SSR and PPSM. The results provided useful clues for understanding the mechanisms of RBSDV invasion and its effect on rice production. ZJ201 was demonstrated as a resistance material that could be used in rice breeding., 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 © 2023 Sun, Jing, Zhang, Du, Li, Lan, Lin and Zhou.)

Key Message: A major resistance QTL was identified on chromosome 6 in rice variety Wuke; both overexpression and knockdown experiments confirmed that OsGLK1 is the candidate gene for association with Rice black-streaked dwarf virus disease. Rice black-streaked dwarf virus disease is one of the most destructive rice viral diseases in China and East Asia. Progress has been limited in RBSDVD resistance breeding due to inadequate knowledge on the underlying functional genes. In this study, a major QTL for RBSDV (rice black-streaked dwarf virus) independent of SBPH (small brown planthopper) resistance was mapped in a 1.8 Mb interval on chromosome 6 by using an F 2:3 population originated from resistant rice variety Wuke. Representative transcripts within this region were analysed and three genes showing amino acid sequence variation in functional domains were selected for transformation. Overexpression experiments showed that one gene exhibited significant enhanced resistance compared to control lines, encoding protein involving Myb domain and probable transcription factor Golden 2-like1 (GLK1). Furthermore, OsGLK1 knockdown rice lines were investigated and the resistance ability was significantly declined without this gene compared to the wild type. Taken together, both overexpression and knockdown experiments strongly suggested that OsGLK1 plays an important role for RBSDV resistance and contributes to the major QTL. The study paves the way for elucidating the molecular mechanism underlying RBSDVD resistance and the molecular markers associated with OsGLK1 may be used for marker-assisted selection., (© 2022. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer-Verlag GmbH Germany, part of Springer Nature.)

Selenium is a trace element that has been shown to inhibit the growth of various cancer cell types. However, its role in cervical cancer and its underlying mechanisms remains largely unknown. Herein, we explored the anti-cervical cancer effect of selenium and its potential mechanisms through xenograft and in vitro experiments. HeLa cell xenografts in female nude mice showed tumor growth retardation, with no obvious liver and kidney toxicity, after being intraperitoneally injected with 3 mg/kg sodium selenite (SS) for 14 days. Compared to the control group, selenium levels in the tumor tissue increased significantly after SS treatment. In vitro experiments, SS inhibited the viability of HeLa and SiHa cells, blocked the cell cycle at the S phase, and enhanced apoptosis. RNA-sequencing, Kyoto encyclopedia of genes and genomes pathway analysis showed that forkhead box protein O (FOXO) was a key regulatory signaling pathway for SS to exhibit anticancer effects. Gene Ontology analysis filtered multiple terms associated with apoptosis, anti-proliferation, and cell cycle arrest. Further research revealed that SS increased intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) and impaired mitochondrial function, which activated adenosine 5'-monophosphate (AMP)-activated protein kinase (AMPK) via phosphorylation at Thr172, resulting in activation of FOXO3a and its downstream growth arrest and DNA damage-inducible alpha (GADD45a). In summary, SS exhibited anti-cervical cancer effects, and their mechanisms may be that SS is involved in inducing cell cycle arrest and potentiating cell apoptosis caused by ROS-dependent activation of the AMPK/FOXO3a/GADD45a axis., 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 © 2022 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Irrigation with mine water not only improves water resource utilization rates and alleviates water shortages but can also promote crop growth and yields. However, long-term irrigation with mine water can significantly change the physicochemical properties of soil due to its unique mineral content. In this study, two groups of experiments were conducted (pot experiments and soilless cultivation) using mine water from the Fushun mining area to explore its effects on the physiological and photosynthetic characteristics of ryegrass, as well as soil properties. Mine water irrigation inhibited all of the indicators evaluated in this study, whereas a mixture of clean water and mine water had a stimulatory effect. Interestingly, this stimulatory effect was weakened as the proportion of mine water increased but reached its maximum when the ratio was 2:1. Moreover, the inhibitory effect of the irrigation water was weakened as the proportion of clean water increased. The contents of K + , Na + , Ca 2+ and Mg 2+ in soil were higher than those in the soil matrix, and the content of the nutrient elements N, P and K, and metal cations increased gradually as the mine water ratio increased, and the electrical conductivity increased significantly. Moreover, the pH of the soil decreased steadily (i.e. acidity increased) with increased soil salinity. Our findings indicated that a mixture of mine water from Fushun mining area and clean water at a 1:2 ratio could improve the physiological, growth, and photosynthetic characteristics of ryegrass by enhancing soil quality. Our study thus provides an experimental precedent for the utilization of mine water in ecological restoration and agricultural irrigation, and could therefore serve as a basis for the development of novel strategies for environmental restoration and the utilization of water resources., (© 2022. The Author(s).)

Purpose: To investigate the difference of spherical equivalent (SE) and pupil diameter in adult patients with intermittent exotropia (IXT) under various viewing conditions before and after surgery., Methods: We retrospectively analyzed the medical records of 23 adult patients who underwent a surgery for IXT. The angle of deviation was measured by the prism and alternative cover test. Refractive error and pupil diameter were measured using the Grand Seiko WAM-5500 open-field autorefractor under binocular and monocular viewing conditions when patients stared at distance (6 m) and near (33 cm). Regression analyses were performed between accommodative load and the angle of deviation., Results: Twenty-three patients (10 males, 13 females) with a mean age of 31.17±8.95 years, of whom 13 (56.5%) had the right eye as the dominant eye. The mean angle of deviation at near and at distance was 69.57±26.37 and 65.43±28.92 prism diopters respectively. There were no significant differences in accommodative response and pupil diameter between the dominant and non-dominant eyes. SE decreased when patients changed from monocular to binocular viewing, and from distant to near viewing (all P< 0.05), so as the pupil diameter (all P< 0.001). During binocular, not monocular viewing, SE was significantly greater after operation than it was before operation (P< 0.001). Accommodative load and pupillary constriction narrowed (p< 0.001) after the operation. Linear regression analysis showed a correlation between the angle of deviation at distance and accommodative load at distance (r 2 =0.278, p=0.010) and at near (r 2 =0.332, p=0.005)., Conclusion: In order to maintain ocular alignment, patients with IXT suffer a large accommodative load, which is related to the angle of deviation. Surgery helps eliminating extra accommodation., (© 2022. The Author(s).)

Tobacco mild green mosaic virus (TMGMV), a member species of the genus Tobamovirus, infects pepper (Capsicum annuum) and a number of other economically important species in the Solanaceae family. TMGMV infections had seriously impacted pepper production worldwide, including China. A reverse-transcription loop-mediated isothermal amplification (RT-LAMP) assay was developed to detect TMGMV in pepper field samples and seed. This assay was based on four primers that matched to six sequences in the C-terminal region of the TMGMV genome. RT-LAMP assay could detect the presence of the virus in 3.0 × 10 -7 µg of total RNA extract from pepper leaves, which was ten times more sensitive than the corresponding reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) assay. This method specifically detected TMGMV but not the closely related species of the same genus Pepper mild mottle virus, Cucumber green mottle mosaic virus and Tomato mosaic virus. In addition, the use of SYBR Green I facilitated the detection of the TMGMV RT-LAMP products by the naked eye. These results indicated that the RT-LAMP assay was a simple, sensitive, specific and affordable diagnostic tool that has the potential to detect and monitor TMGMV infection in field samples., (Copyright © 2021. Published by Elsevier B.V.)

Exposure to fine particulate matter (PM 2.5 ) has been linked to a substantial disease burden globally, yet little has been done to estimate the population health risks of PM 2.5 in South Africa due to the lack of high-resolution PM 2.5 exposure estimates. We developed a random forest model to estimate daily PM 2.5 concentrations at 1 km 2 resolution in and around industrialized Gauteng Province, South Africa, by combining satellite aerosol optical depth (AOD), meteorology, land use, and socioeconomic data. We then compared PM 2.5 concentrations in the study domain before and after the implementation of the new national air quality standards. We aimed to test whether machine learning models are suitable for regions with sparse ground observations such as South Africa and which predictors played important roles in PM 2.5 modeling. The cross-validation R 2 and Root Mean Square Error of our model was 0.80 and 9.40 μg/m 3 , respectively. Satellite AOD, seasonal indicator, total precipitation, and population were among the most important predictors. Model-estimated PM 2.5 levels successfully captured the temporal pattern recorded by ground observations. Spatially, the highest annual PM 2.5 concentration appeared in central and northern Gauteng, including northern Johannesburg and the city of Tshwane. Since the 2016 changes in national PM 2.5 standards, PM 2.5 concentrations have decreased in most of our study region, although levels in Johannesburg and its surrounding areas have remained relatively constant. This is anadvanced PM 2.5 model for South Africa with high prediction accuracy at the daily level and at a relatively high spatial resolution. Our study provided a reference for predictor selection, and our results can be used for a variety of purposes, including epidemiological research, burden of disease assessments, and policy evaluation., 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.

Sepsis induced myocardial dysfunction (SIMD) results in high morbidity and mortality. However, the effective therapeutic strategies for SIMD treatment remain limited. Sirt3 is the main mitochondrial Sirtuin member and is a key modulator of mitochondrial metabolism and function. In this study, we aimed to investigate the effect and mechanism of Sirt3 on SIMD. SIMD was induced by 20 mg/kg Lipopolysaccharides (LPS) injection for 6 h in mice. Sepsis could induce the reduction of cardiac Sirt3 expression and global deficiency of Sirt3 exacerbated cardiac function. Quantitative acetyl-proteomics and cardiac metabolomics analysis revealed that loss of Sirt3 led to hyper-acetylation of critical enzymes within cardiac tricarboxylic acid (TCA) cycle and generation of lactate and NADH, subsequently promotion of cardiac dysfunction after sepsis. Additionally, to evaluate whether Emodin could be utilized as a potential Sirt3 modulator to treat SIMD, male wild type mice (WT mice) or global Sirt3 deficient mice (Sirt3 -/- mice) were intraperitoneally injected with 40 mg/kg Emodin for 5 days followed by 20 mg/kg LPS administration for another 6 h and observed that exogenous administration of Emodin could attenuate myocardial dysfunction in septic WT mice. However, septic Sirt3 -/- mice can not gain benefit on cardiac performance from Emodin infusion. In conclusion, this study presented the protective role of Sirt3 targeting SIMD, which may provide a potential novel approach to maintain normal cardiac performance after sepsis., (Copyright © 2020 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Background: Although Staphylococcus aureus bloodstream infections (SA-BSI) are a common and important infection, polymicrobial SA-BSI are infrequently reported. The aim of this study was to investigate the clinical characteristics and risk factors of polymicrobial SA-BSI in comparison with monomicrobial SA-BSI., Methods: A single-center retrospective observational study was performed between Jan 1, 2013, and Dec 31, 2018 at a tertiary hospital. All patients with SA-BSI were enrolled, and their clinical data were gathered by reviewing electronic medical records., Results: A total of 349 patients with SA-BSI were enrolled including 54 cases (15.5%) with polymicrobial SA-BSI. In multivariable analysis, burn injury (adjusted odds ratio [OR], 7.04; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.71-28.94), need of blood transfusion (aOR, 2.72; 95% CI, 1.14-6.50), use of mechanical ventilation (aOR, 3.11; 95% CI, 1.16-8.30), the length of prior hospital stay (aOR, 1.02; 95% CI, 1.00-1.03), and pneumonia as primary site of infection (aOR, 4.22; 95% CI, 1.69-10.51) were independent factors of polymicrobial SA-BSI. In comparison with monomicrobial SA-BSI, patients with polymicrobial SA-BSI had longer length of ICU stay [median days, 23(6.25,49.25) vs. 0(0,12), p < 0.01] and hospital stay [median days, 50(21.75,85.75) vs. 28(15,49), p < 0.01], and showed a higher 28-day mortality (29.6% vs. 15.3%, p = 0.01)., Conclusions: Burn injury, blood transfusion, mechanical ventilation, the length of prior hospital stay, and pneumonia as a primary site of infection are independent risk factors for polymicrobial SA-BSI. In addition, patients with polymicrobial SA-BSI might have worse outcomes compared with monomicrobial SA-BSI.

Purpose: Cancer stem cell-tumor microenvironment ecosystem is proposed to drive tumor heterogeneity. Tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs) in breast cancer ecosystem were demonstrated to indicate better prognosis and benefit from chemotherapy. This study sought to detect the association between breast cancer stem cells and TILs., Methods: 92 patients with breast cancer were enrolled. Matched cancerous and paracancerous tissues were assembled in a tissue microarray and immunohistochemistry was employed to test expression of breast cancer stem cells (BCSCs) markers. TILs counts were estimated with global hematoxylin-eosin staining. The association between TILs and BCSCs phenotypes was analysed by multivariate analysis., Results: Although it was unable to find direct significant association between BCSCs phenotypes and TILs, the BCSCs phenotype with CD44(+)CD24(-)ALDH1A1(+)EpCAM(+)CD49f(+) was proved to be associated with worse DFS and OS (P=0.037 and 0.001). This result was confirmed by cox proportional-hazards regression model (for DFS and OS respectively, HR=2.438 and 3.383, P=0.019 [95%CI 1.418-3.457] and 0.025 [95%CI 1.162-9.843]). Additionally, in results of TILs, plasma cell-predominant breast cancer (PPBC) was unexpectedly found to indicate worse OS and HR was 2.686 (P=0.038 [95%CI 1.582-3.789])., Conclusions: The BCSCs phenotype and PPBC may be helpful stratified factors in future clinical trials. The underlying mechanism needs further research., (Copyright © 2016 Elsevier GmbH. All rights reserved.)